Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Seasonal changes in the activity of the thyroid follicles in relation to testicular activities in mullet Liza parsia ( Hamilton )

The thyroid gland of Liza parsia was unencapsulated and was in the form of groups of follicles which were scattered mainly around the ventral aorta in the pharyngeal region. Each follicle possessed a central lumen either fully or partially filled up with the agranular eosinophilic colloid materials and the lumen was encircled by a single layer of epithelial cells. The activity of the follicles fluctuated seasonally in harmony with the reproductive cycle of L. parsia. The low active condition of the thyroid follicles during the growth phase i.e. August-September was well in coincidence with the increase of spermatogonial and spermatocyte cells. The most active condition of the thyroid follicles were noted during spawning phase i.e. January and February as revealed by the maximum follicular cell height and also correlated with the highest frequency percentage of spermatozoa. Thereafter, the thyroid activity remained gradually on a low level up to July and revealed an abrupt increase in November at the start commence of active maturation. It was concluded that the peaks of thyroidal and testicular activities correlate well and run parallel. The possible involvement of salinity may have a primary significance in provoking changes of the thyroid as well as reproductive activity of this mullet.
Effect of foliar application of salicylic acid on the response of tomato plants to oxidative stress and salinity

The aim of the study has been to evaluate the effect of an increased salt concentration in a nutrient solution and foliar application of salicylic acid and KMnO4 (the latter causing oxidative stress) on the yield, fruit quality and nutritional status of tomato plants. Salinity stress was stimulated by elevating the electrical conductivity (EC) of a nutrient solution by a proportional increase in the content of all macro- and micronutrients. In 20092010, tomato plants were grown on rockwool, in a heated foil tunnel. The experiment included two sub-blocks with two EC levels (2.5 and 4.5 mS cm –1 ). Within each sub-block, the following foliar application variants were distinguished: 1. control, without foliar application; 2. salicylic acid (SA); 3. SA/KMnO 4 . In the SA/KMnO 4 combination, solutions of these compounds were applied alternately every 7 days. SA was applied in the concentration of 0.01%, while the concentration of KMnO 4 was 0.1%. Foliar treatments were conducted at 7-day intervals from the 3 rd cluster flowering stage until ten days before the first harvesting of fruits. Irrespective of the EC of the nutrient solution, foliar application of SA as well as SA/KMnO 4 had no significant effect on the tomato yield, total acidity and dry matter or soluble sugar content in fruits. Neither did it affect significantly the mineral status of plants except for an increase in the Mn level induced by SA/KMnO 4 . A significantly higher content of ascorbic acid together with a decreased content of phenolic compounds and free amino acids resulted from the foliar application of SA and SA/KMnO4. Salicylic acid counteracted the oxidative stress caused by KMnO 4 .
Probabilistic Seismic Hazard Model for Vanuatu

Abstract This study develops a preliminary probabilistic seismic hazard model for Vanuatu. The area of investigation, formerly referred to as the New Hebrides, lies in the center of a chain of partly vulcanologically active islands that mark the present-day boundary between the Australia-India plate and the microplate of the North Fiji basin. The seismicity of the Vanuatu arc is dominated by an east-dipping subduction zone, which shows striking structural anomalies in the central part between 14° and 18° S. Our historical catalog contains 7519 events within the Vanuatu region for the period from 1964 to 2003, drawn from the global teleseismic catalogs by the United States Geological Survey/National Earthquake Information Center (USGS/NEIC, see Data and Resources section) and Engdahl et al. (1998). As a measure of seismic hazard, we use horizontal peak ground acceleration (PGA) and horizontal spectral ground acceleration (SGA) at a period of 1 sec. The hazard estimates are based on a logic-tree approach to account for the epistemic uncertainties associated with our analysis. Our results suggest that the entire island arc experiences a high and uniform seismic hazard. Typical values for PGAs range from 0.65 g to 0.77 g with a 10% probability of exceedence in 50 yr. For Port Vila, the capital and largest city in Vanuatu, we additionally present a PGA hazard curve and a uniform hazard spectrum over the period range 0.1–2 sec.
Board of Directors' Characteristics and Conditional Accounting Conservatism: Spanish Evidence

Abstract Using a sample of Spanish listed firms for the period 1997–2002 we find that firms where the CEO has a low influence over the functioning of the board of directors show a greater degree of accounting conservatism. We measure the influence of the CEO over the board of directors using two aggregate indexes combining six (eight) characteristics of the functioning of the board of directors and its monitoring committees: board size, proportion of non-executive directors, proportion of independent directors, whether the chairman of the board is an executive director, the number of board meetings, and the existence of an audit committee, a nomination/remuneration committee and an executive committee. We define conservatism as the asymmetric recognition speed of good and bad news in earnings, and we measure it following Basu (Journal of Accounting and Economics, 24, pp. 3–37, 1997) and Ball and Shivakumar (Journal of Accounting and Economics, 39, pp. 83–128, 2005). Our results are robust to alternative specifications and specific controls for investment opportunities and for the endogenous nature of corporate governance and earnings quality. Overall, our evidence shows that firms with strong boards use conservative accounting numbers as a governance tool, even in an institutional setting with low litigation risk such as Spain.
The Effect of Model Similarity on Girls’ Motor Performance

This investigation examined the effect of model similarity on girls’ acquisition, retention, transfer, and transfer strategies of a novel motor task. Forty girls (mean age = 10 years) were randomly assigned to conditions in a 2 (model skill level) ✓ 2 (model sex) factorial design using four treatment groups: (a) male skilled, (b) male learning, (c) female skilled, and (d) female learning. Quantitative data were collected throughout all phases of the investigation. ANOVA results for transfer strategies revealed a significant main effect for model skill level and model sex. Participants observing a female model or a learning model transferred significantly more learning strategies than did participants observing a male or skilled model. After quantitative data collection, qualitative data were obtained via structured interviews and assessed through content analysis. Results from the interview analyses underscored the need to include models of similar sex, as well as learning models when instructing girls in.
Effect of plumes on measuring the large scale circulation in turbulent Rayleigh-Bénard convection

We studied the properties of the large-scale circulation (LSC) in turbulent Rayleigh-Benard (RB) convection by using results from direct numerical simulations in which we placed a large number of numerical probes close to the sidewall. The LSC orientation is determined by either a cosine or a polynomial fit to the azimuthal temperature or azimuthal vertical velocity profile measured with the probes. We study the LSC in Γ = D/L = 1/2 and Γ = 1 samples, where D is the diameter and L is the height. For Pr = 6.4 in an aspect ratio Γ = 1 sample at Ra = 1 × 108 and 5 × 108, the obtained LSC orientation is the same, irrespective of whether the data of only 8 or all 64 probes per horizontal plane are considered. In a Γ = 1/2 sample with Pr = 0.7 at Ra = 1 × 108, the influence of plumes on the azimuthal temperature and azimuthal vertical velocity profiles is stronger. Due to passing plumes and/or the corner flow, the apparent LSC orientation obtained using a cosine fit can result in a misinterpretation of the character of the large-scale flow. We introduce the relative LSC strength, which we define as the ratio between the energy in the first Fourier mode and the energy in all modes that can be determined from the azimuthal temperature and azimuthal vertical velocity profiles, to further quantify the large-scale flow. For Ra = 1 × 108, we find that this relative LSC strength is significantly lower in a Γ = 1/2 sample than in a Γ = 1 sample, reflecting that the LSC is much more pronounced in a Γ = 1 sample than in a Γ = 1/2 sample. The determination of the relative LSC strength can be applied directly to available experimental data to study high Rayleigh number thermal convection and rotating RB convection
The robust self-esteem proxy: Impressions of self-esteem inform judgments of personality and social value

Abstract People use impressions of an evaluative target’s self-esteem to infer their possession of socially desirable traits. But will people still use this self-esteem proxy when trait-relevant diagnostic information is available? We test this possibility in two experiments: participants learn that a target person has low or high self-esteem, and then receive diagnostic information about the target’s academic success or failure and positive or negative affectivity (Study 1), or watch a video of the target’s extraverted or introverted behavior (Study 2). In both experiments, participants’ impressions of the target’s traits accurately tracked diagnostic information, but impressions also revealed an independent self-esteem proxy effect. Evidently, the self-esteem proxy is robust and influences person perception even in the presence of vivid individuating information.
Synthesis, Permeability and Microstructure of the Optimal Nickel-Zinc Ferrites by Sol-Gel Route

The optimum ferrite can be obtained through free-microstructural defects where such defects are always encountered in the conventional ferrites often caused by chemical inhomogeneity. In this study, Ni-Zn ferrite was synthesized and fabricated by means of a sol-gel route. Thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA) was used to study the thermal transforma-tion of the ferrite in air. Parts of the sol-gel powder heated at elevated temperatures were characterized by X-ray dif-fraction (XRD) method and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) to reveal the crystallized single-phase and the struc-ture of the obtained ferrite. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) was assisted to investigate the structure. The microstructures of the toroidal cores were obtained at two different sintering temperatures and compared with those obtained via the classic method. In addition to that, the magnetic properties were measured. The initial magnetic permeability was found to increase with the increasing of the frequency as a result of the domain wall motions and the corresponding loss was small. Therefore, a well defined polycrystalline microstructure ferrite via an easier preparation methodology as compared to the classic method is obtained.
Investigating the Relationship between the Locus of Control and Self-Esteem of Deaf Students in Ahvaz

Introduction: In contemporary societies, especially entering the twentyrst century, the vast majority of people are informed of sanitary principles related to different aspects of their physical status. This important matter is recommended to parents through mass media and to children through schools. The objective: The overall objective of this research is the investigation of the relationship between the source of control on self-esteem of male and female deaf students in Ahvaz in the academic year of 2014 – 2015. The methodology: Instruments used in this research are Cooper Smith self-esteem questionnaire and Rotter locus of control. Using the simple random sampling method, 50 male and 50 female deaf students were selected who answered the mentioned questionnaires. T test and Pearson correlation coefficient were used for data analysis. Findings: according to the results of research between self-esteem and locus of control of male and female groups, there is a signi cant relationship, but no signi cant difference was observed between self-esteem and locus of control of boys to girls. Conclusion: therefore, it can be concluded that there is a signi cant relationship between selfesteem and locus of control.
Pesticide-Residue Relationship and its Adverse Effects on Occupational Workers in Dakahlyia, Egypt

This study was designed to determine pesticide residues in blood, evaluate its effect on biochemical parameters and assess adverse health effects in farmers, pesticide market-workers and pesticide spray-workers. The level of awareness or knowledge about precautionary measures for pesticides safety was also assessed. The field survey indicated that 40.0, 6.7 and 12.0% of farmers, market-workers and spray-workers, respectively, did not wear protective clothing. However, most of them (83.3, 93.3 and 88.0%) had knowledge about the safety precautions to be taken during pesticide formulation and application. Significant decrease in hemoglobin level and platelet count was detected in spray-workers, but significant increase in white blood cell count was noticed in pesticide-market workers and spray-workers. No significant changes were observed in liver function, but significant inhibition in acetylcholine esterase activity and significant increase in prothrombin time were noticed in all pesticide-exposed subjects. A significant rise in urea concentration was observed in pesticide-spray workers, but no significant differences in creatinine level were seen. The residue analysis revealed that 76.7, 92.5 and 100.0% of farmers and market- and spray-workers, respectively, had insecticide residues in their blood. Also, most of the study subjects had multiple residues above the acceptable daily intake. Therefore, creating the awareness among pesticide users to improve and encourage safe use and handling of pesticides through education, proper guidance and fore-warning about the risks involved in misuse of poisonous materials are required.
Antimicrobial susceptibility pattern for Enterococcus species colonizing the GIT of hospitalized and community patients

Objective: To determine the species of Enterococcus prevalent in the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) of patients in hospitals and community and to determine the antimicrobial susceptibility pattern for the isolates. Materials and Methods: Enterococcus species were isolated from stools and rectal swabs using selective media. Antimicrobial susceptibility pattern for 9 antibiotics were evaluated by Kirby-Bauer’s disc diffusion method. Phenotypic characterization of vancomycin resistant enterococcus (VRE) isolate was done by determining the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) to vancomycin and teicoplanin by agar dilution method. Results: Enterococcus species were isolated from gastrointestinal tracts among 74.4% of hospitalized patients and 90% of community patients. E. faecium was the frequent species isolated from both patients. Hospitalized patients had lesser number of other unusual Enterococcus species. Resistance to antibiotics was higher among isolates from hospitalized patients and 1.49% of hospitalized patients showed colonization with VanB phenotype VRE. Conclusion: Gastrointestinal carriage of antibiotic resistant enterococci including VRE among hospitalized patients mandates the need for periodic surveillance among high risk patients in order to prevent infections and dissemination.
A Computational Study of the Aerodynamics and Aeroacoustics of a Flatback Airfoil Using Hybrid RANS-LES

This work compares the aerodynamic and aeroacoustic predictions for flatback airfoil geometries obtained by applying advanced turbulence modeling simulation techniques within Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) methods that resolve the Reynolds-Averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) equations of motion. These flatback airfoil geometries are designed for wind turbine applications. Results from different CFD codes using hybrid RANS-LES and RANS turbulence simulations are correlated and include analysis with experimental data. These data comparisons include aerodynamic and a limited amount of aeroacoustic results. While the mean lift prediction remains relatively insensitive across many simulation techniques and parameters, the mean drag prediction is dependent on both the grid and turbulence simulation method. Aeroacoustic predictions obtained from post-processing of the airfoil surface pressure agree reasonably well with experimental data when consistent boundary layer tripping is used for both the simulation and experimental configuration.
Photo-fermentative Bio-hydrogen Production from Agricultural Residue Enzymatic Hydrolyzate and the Enzyme Reuse

Reducing sugars contained in agricultural residue hydrolyzates can potentially be utilized in microbial fermentations to produce biofuels and biogas. Different types of agricultural residues were employed for photo-fermentative bio-hydrogen production, and the cumulative hydrogen production data fit well to the Modified Gompertz Model. Corncob was determined to have the highest reducing sugar yield and cumulative hydrogen production (12.64 mg mL-1 enzymatic hydrolysate, 228.94 mmol L-1) and maximum hydrogen production rate (5.9677 mmol L-1 h-1). Enzyme reuse was investigated by single factor experiment design to reduce the cost of bio-hydrogen production. Taking reducing sugar yield and activity recovery efficiency as reference, substrate re-adsorption method at different temperature and time, then enzyme immobilization method at different load and pH were investigated in the process of enzymatic hydrolysis. The efficiency of enzyme utilization was enhanced via substrate re-adsorption and enzyme immobilization methods, which resulted in a 4-fold increase in recycling efficiency. The optimal enzyme reuse condition by substrate re-adsorption was a re-adsorption time of 90 min at a temperature of 15 °C, while the optimal condition by enzyme immobilization method was a pH of 4.8 and immobilized enzyme load of 400 mg.
Investigation of ActualRate of Primary and Mixed Infections with some TORCH Agents among Iraqi Gravidas with History of Recurrent Abortions

: Viral and bacterial infections in pregnant women have long been known to play a critical role in pregnancy wastage and adverse fetal consequences in terms of recurrent and spontaneous abortions especially at the first trimester of gestation with the increasing risk of in-utero transmission. Aim of the study: The correlate between the incidence of Rubella, CMV, HSV and Ct primary infection among first trimester gravidas with recurrent abortion, and estimating the rate of mixed infection with these agents. Materials and methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out at the private laboratories of Wasit province/Iraq between September 2015-August 2016 serum level of Rubella, Cytomegalovirus (CMV), Herpes simplex virus 1and 2 (HSV) and Chlamydia trachomatis(Ct) antibodies were evaluated using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method and IgG avidity. Results: 82 serum samples were collected from gravidas in their first trimester, the study group included 67 (81.7%) gravidas suffering from previous history of recurrent abortions. High rate 31(46.27%) of study group were suffering from 1time abortion. the lowest rate7 (10.45%) were for gravida s with≥ 4times abortion. The control group included 15(18.3%) gravidas with no history of abortion and healthy pregnancy. The rate of primary infection among group1 arranged as follow high rate of Ct infection (16.42%) followed by CMV, HSV and Rubella primary infection (14.92%, 5.97% and 4.48% respectively). Conclusion: Early and accurate diagnosis of TORCH agents in first trimester will aid in management of infection especially Ct which infect all ages recurrently. Using of IgG avidity test will decrease false positive results and aid in management of Rubella and CMV and lower the risk of in-utero transmission of infection.
Application of Machine Learning Methodologies for Predicting Corn Economic Optimal Nitrogen Rate

Determination of in-season N requirement for corn ( Zea mays L.) is challenging due to interactions of genotype, environment, and management. Machine learning (ML), with its predictive power to tackle complex systems, may solve this barrier in the development of locally based N recommendations. The objective of this study was to explore application of ML methodologies to predict economic optimum nitrogen rate (EONR) for corn using data from 47 experiments across the US Corn Belt. Two features, a water table adjusted available water capacity (AWC wt ) and a ratio of in-season rainfall to AWC wt (RAWC wt ), were created to capture the impact of soil hydrology on N dynamics. Four ML mod-els—linear regression (LR), ridge regression (RR), least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression, and gradient boost regression trees (GBRT)—were assessed and validated using “leave-one-location-out” (LOLO) and “leave-one-year-out” (LOYO) approaches. Generally, RR outperformed other models in predicting both at planting and split EONR times. Among the 47 tested sites, for 33 sites the predicted split EONR using RR fell within the 95% confidence interval, suggesting the chance of using the RR model to make an acceptable prediction of split EONR is ~70%. When RR was used to test split EONR prediction with input weather features surrogated with 10 yr of historical weather data, the model demonstrated robustness (MAE, 33.6 kg ha –1 ; R 2 = 0.46). Incorporating mechanistically derived hydrological features significantly enhanced the ability of the ML procedures to model EONR.