Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Examination of Potential Measures of Vine Maturity in Potato

Plant maturity is a complex physiological trait routinely evaluated by plant breeders because of its agronomic, economic, and breeding implications. In potato, plant maturity is typically estimated by monitoring vine characteristics. This study investigates several reported measures of vine maturity in potato cultivars, including examination of flower development, leaf chlorophyll content, and leaf peroxidase activity to see what method is most appropriate for maturity classification in temperate production regions. These three measures were evaluated multiple times throughout a single growing season across two locations. The data were analyzed using canonical discriminant and dichotomous tree analyses. Both methods revealed that flower development is not an accurate indicator of maturity, even though it is a common component of maturity screening protocols. Peroxidase measures were slightly better, but the optimal period of time to assess this trait was variable across locations and a considerable time commitment is required to collect and process samples. Monitoring leaf chlorophyll content throughout plant development was most appropriate for predicting vine maturity under these conditions, as this trait showed the most consistency and greatest prediction accuracy (69% - 71%) relative to peroxidase activity and flowering development. Additionally, chlorophyll measurements are a more practical method of measuring maturity due to the ease of data collection. Leaf chlorophyll content best distinguished late cultivars from early-medium and medium-late cultivars. However, it did not separate early-medium from medium-late cultivars. Combining chlorophyll monitoring with peroxidase and flowering measures improved the ability to distinguish among the early-medium and medium-late maturity classes. However, doing so only increased classification accuracy by 3%.
Cosmic-ray hydrodynamics: Alfvén-wave regulated transport of cosmic rays

Star formation in galaxies appears to be self-regulated by energetic feedback processes. Among the most promising agents of feedback are cosmic rays (CRs), the relativistic ion population of interstellar and intergalactic plasmas. In these environments, energetic CRs are virtually collisionless and interact via collective phenomena mediated by kinetic-scale plasma waves and large-scale magnetic fields. The enormous separation of kinetic and global astrophysical scales requires a hydrodynamic description. Here, we develop a new macroscopic theory for CR transport in the self-confinement picture, which includes CR diffusion and streaming. The interaction between CRs and electromagnetic fields of Alfv\'enic turbulence provides the main source of CR scattering, and causes CRs to stream along the magnetic field with the Alfv\'en velocity if resonant waves are sufficiently energetic. However, numerical simulations struggle to capture this effect with current transport formalisms and adopt regularization schemes to ensure numerical stability. We extent the theory by deriving an equation for the CR momentum density along the mean magnetic field and include a transport equation for the Alfv\'en-wave energy. We account for energy exchange of CRs and Alfv\'en waves via the gyroresonant instability and include other wave damping mechanisms. Using numerical simulations we demonstrate that our new theory enables stable, self-regulated CR transport. The theory is coupled to magneto-hydrodynamics, conserves the total energy and momentum, and correctly recovers previous macroscopic CR transport formalisms in the steady-state flux limit. Because it is free of tunable parameters, it holds the promise to provide predictable simulations of CR feedback in galaxy formation.
Corruption as a Barrier to Entry: Theory and Evidence

Conventional wisdom depicts corruption as a tax on incumbent firms. This paper challenges this view in two ways. First, by arguing that corruption matters not so much because of the value of the bribe ("tax"), but because of another less studied feature of corruption, namely bribe unavoidability. Second, we argue that the social costs of corruption arise not because corruption hurts incumbent firms, but mostly because it acts as a powerful barrier to the entry of new firms. Corruption sands and greases in tandem: it helps incumbent firms (on balance) and it hurts potential entrants. We put forward a model in which a bureaucrat chooses entry barriers to optimize bribe revenues. When the capacity to collect bribes is high, it is optimal to allow high levels of oligopoly power to incumbents. Conversely, the more avoidable are the bribes, the more firms are allowed into the market. These ideas are tested using a unique, representative sample of Brazilian manufacturing firms. Consistently with our theoretical model, we show that corruption (a) is ranked as the most important barrier to entry (above finance, taxes and regulation) and (b) while bribes' unavoidability is positively related to firm performance, the size of the bribe is not.
COMPARATIVE STUDY OF As, Cr AND Cu ACCUMULATION BY MAIZE (ZeaMays L) AND OKRA (Abelmoschus esculentus) PLANTS IN CCACONTAMINATED SOIL.

Pot experiments were carried out to examine the phytoextraction capacity of maize and okra plants for As, Cr and Cu from poultry manure amended chromated-copper-arsenate (CCA) contaminated soil. The physico-chemical properties of the soil: pH 6.20 ± 0.040; organic matter content 2.15 ± 0.40%; cation exchange capacity 47.86 ± 0.62meq/100g; clay 25%, silt 2% and sand 73% and pseudototal levels of As, Cr and Cu of 32.09 ± 2.48mg. kg-1; 155.82 ± 12.98mg. kg-1 and 265.84 ± 33.0mg. kg-1 respectively classified the soil as moderately-to-highly contaminated sandy loam soil. The contaminated soil samples were treated with various amounts (0, 2, 5, 10 and 20%) of poultry manure (pH 698 ± 0.50; organic matter 5.99 ± 0.11%, cation exchange capacity 10.15 ± 0.60meq/100g); and sown with four viable maize grains and four viable okra seeds in each of the pots. Plants seedlings were harvested 20days after germination and analysed for their As, Cr and Cu contents by AAS. Plant uptake and accumulation levels varied in the order As > Cr > Cu the order of apparent order of relative mobile fractions of the metals, and were generally higher by about an order of magnitude in maize plant than in okra plant. These results indicate the potential for the application of poultry manure in in-place immobilization of heavy metals in contaminated soil of maize plant in the phytoextraction of metals from diffusely contaminated soil.
Cerebral protection by electroacupuncture pretreatment : a mechanism via autophagy involving the mTORC 1 pathway

On the basis of our previous studies that Electroacupuncture (EA) pretreatment exerts protection on brain by inhibiting the autophagy, but the mechanism how it to modulate the autophagy is only poorly understood. We aimed to identify the effect of EA pretreatment on mTOR pathway. We mainly evaluated the effect of EA on the autophagic upstream protein mammalian target rapamycin (mTOR), the AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), the protein kinase B (AKT) and the two mTOR complex (regulatory associated protein of TOR, mTORC1) and rapamycininsensitive companion of mTOR, mTORC2). First, EA at the acupoint “baihui (GV20)” 30 min/day, for five consecutive days before the ischemia reperfusion significantly increased the level of the phosphorylation of mTOR (p-mTOR) especially the site of 2481, and inhibited the expression of autophagy. While the specific inhibitor of mTOR Rampaycin inversed the inhibition of EA on p-mTOR, and upregulated the expression of autophagy, as a result, weaken the protection of EA on brain ischemia/reperfusion (IR). In addition, EA obviously raised the mTOR complex Raptor, but almostly have no effect on the other mTOR complex (Rictor). Second, EA increased the level of phosphorylation of AKT (p-AKT), and the p-AKT and p-mTOR (2481) were positively correlated (r = 0.897, P < 0.05). This study demonstrated that EA pretreatment of Baihui leads to the phosphorylation of AKT, thereby promoting mTOR phosphorylation and ultimately inhibiting autophagy and protecting the brain.
Sorption of lead ions from aqueous solution using tree fern as a sorbent

This study is on sorption of lead ions on an agricultural by-product, tree fern. Equilibrium isotherms have been measured and modeled. The equilibrium sorption capacity of lead(II) was determined from the Langmuir isotherm and found to be 40.0 mg/g. Based on the assumption of the pseudo-second order mechanism, a batch sorption model was developed to predict the rate constant of sorption, the equilibrium sorption capacity and the initial sorption rate with the effect of initial lead(II) concentration and temperature. The sorption rate was found to increase with temperature, and an activation energy of approximately 87 kJ/mol was determined from the pseudo-second order rate constants. The findings of this investigation suggest that chemical sorption plays a role in controlling the sorption rate. D 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Adherence to Lipid Lowering Drugs and Level of Low-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol among Patients with Type 2 Diabetes , King Fahd Hospital , Al Khobar , Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Method: A cross-sectional study was conducted at the Outpatient Pharmacy in King Fahad Hospital; Al Khobar; KSA during March -April 2018. Adult (> 20 years) patients with type 2 diabetes and dyslipidemia were included. A convenience method of sampling was adopted. Data was collected through face-toface interview method using a structurequestionnaire. Adherence was measured by the 4items Morisky scale. Data analysis was done by SPSS. Logistic regression analysis was performed. P value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.
Optimism and Poverty in Africa : Adaptation or a Means to Survival ?

Recent research finds that higher levels of optimism and happiness are associated with other positive traits and behaviors, such as productivity in the labor market, better health, and support for democracy and markets. We compare these findings to new survey data for Africa, in an attempt to understand these relationships in conditions of extreme adversity. We find unusual levels of optimism among the poorest and most insecure respondents there, in contrast to the other regions, where optimism is positively correlated with wealth and education. This suggests that optimism may play a positive role in the survival of the very poor in such adverse circumstances. Future research, based on data which allows us to control for individual specific character traits, is necessary to test whether this proposition has any explanatory power, or whether the findings merely reflect the ability of individuals to adjust their own expectations downward but maintain hope for their children. The poor’s optimism is positively correlated with preference for democracy but not with preference for markets. Attitudinal traits may be more important in respondents’ assessments of democracy as a system, while economic outcomes seem to be more important in respondents’ assessments of the market in a region where its operations are both incomplete and unpredictable.
On magnetic reconnection and flux rope topology in solar flux emergence

We present an analysis of the formation of atmospheric flux ropes in a magnetohydrodynamic solar flux emergence simulation. The simulation domain ranges from the top of the solar interior to the low corona. A twisted magnetic flux tube emerges from the solar interior and into the atmosphere where it interacts with the ambient magnetic field. By studying the connectivity of the evolving magnetic field, we are able to better understand the process of flux rope formation in the solar atmosphere. In the simulation, two flux ropes are produced as a result of flux emergence. Each has a different evolution resulting in different topological structures. These are determined by plasma flows and magnetic reconnection. As the flux rope is the basic structure of the coronal mass ejection, we discuss the implications of our findings for solar eruptions.
The decline of ground-nesting birds in the agrarian landscape of Italy

Le declin des oiseaux terrestres dans les paysages agricoles d'Italie. - Les auteurs resument le statut historique et actuel de quelques oiseaux granivores lies a l'environnement agricole en Italie, en l'occurrence l'Alouette des champs (Alauda arvensis), l'Alouette lulu (Lullula arborea), le Cochevis huppe (Galerida cristata), l'Alouette calandre (Melanocorypha calandra), l'Alouette calandrelle (Calandrella brachydactyla) et le Bruant proyer (Emberiza calandra). Ils soulignent que l'Alouette calandre (sedentaire) et l'Alouette calandrelle (migratrice transaharienne) sont les especes qui declinent le plus, l'Alouette des champs (a la fois sedentaire et migratrice partielle) decline moins tandis que le Cochevis huppe (sedentaire), l'Alouette lulu et le Bruant proyer (tous deux a la fois sedentaires et migrateurs partiels) sont plus ou moins stables. Toutes ces especes sont essentiellement associees a l'agriculture «extensive» pratiquee sur de grandes surfaces mais qui, en realite, l'est de maniere «intensive», ce que les auteurs tiennent pour etre la raison principale du declin de ces oiseaux. Les reformes de developpement planifiees pour la periode 2007-2013 apparaissent comme une opportunite a saisir pour resoudre quelques effets dangereux dus aux mesures appliquees dans la periode precedente. Les mesures agro-environnementales encourageant les agriculteurs a ameliorer leurs terres de maniere a fournir a la faune sauvage de la nourriture, des abris et des sites de reproduction, devraient etre mieux subventionnees en accord avec l'importance des benefices offerts a l'environnement.
Areal rainfall estimation using spatial interpolation techniques

Accuracy in runoff and flood estimation is important for mitigating water related problems. The accuracy depends on the methods used for areal rainfall approximation. The thin plate spline (TPS) technique was introduced in this study for daily areal rainfall approximation in the Upper Ping river basin and was compared with the areal rainfall estimated from two conventional techniques, the isohyetal and Thiessen polygon techniques. Two data sets of maximum rainfall registered in August 2001 and September 2003 at 68 non-automatic rainfall stations located in the basin and nearby areas were used in the analysis. The TPS technique was carried out in conjunction with two separate sources of digital elevation model (DEM), namely, GLOBE-DEM and SRTM-DEM, which were downloaded from the NOAA and NASA websites and have horizontal resolutions of 1 km and 90 m, respectively. The TPS technique proved to provide more accurate results of rainfall estimation than the other two techniques. The coarser DEM resolution (GLOBE-DEM) performed marginally better in rainfall estimation than the finer DEM resolution (SRTM-DEM).
INFLUENCE OF ZINC FERTILIZATION ON MORPHO-PHYSIOLOGICAL ATTRIBUTES , GROWTH , PRODUCTIVITY AND HEMATIC APPRAISAL OF PADDY RICE

Zinc (Zn) deficiency is one of the main micronutrient disorders in rice and it may inflict its deficiency in the people feeding on it. Selection of rice genotypes with higher potential of Zn uptake is considered as natural and better way to combat malnutrition. Present study evaluated the potential of foliar and soil applied Zn in improving the performance of paddy rice and Zn bioavailability. In glass house different sources of zinc (ZnSO4.7H2O and ZnCl2) and rate treatments for soil (control, 5 kg ha-1, 10 kg ha-1, 15 kg ha-1and 20 kg ha-1of Zn) and foliar application (control, 0.25%, 0.5%, 0.75% and 1% solution) were used. Selected rate and source treatments were appraised in field experiments. The rice grains harvested thereof were fed to albino rats for Zn bioavailability. Results revealed that soil application with 15 kg ha-1 and foliar application of 0.25% solution using ZnSO4.7H2O improved the early seedling growth of rice genotypes by modulating the agronomic, water related and biochemical attributes. Field experiments confirmed that Zn application through soil and foliar spray improved the performance of rice genotypes by improving growth attributes, chlorophyll pigments, and yield and resulted in Zn enrichment of rice grains in various genotypes. The maximum weekly body weight gain and white blood cells count of albino rats was observed for feeding the kernels of Accession-164 (high Zn) as compared with the minimum for Super Basmati (low Zn) feed. In crux, soil application of ZnSO4 at 15 kg ha-1 followed by foliar application of 0.25% ZnSO4 solution at tillering and heading stage not only recorded the highest growth and grain yield, but also maximum bioavailable Zn in the grain. Such rice grains with high Zn concentrations were also effective for combating malnutrition in the tested rats.
Bioefficacy of newer insecticides against pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan L. Millsp.) pod borers

Among various insecticides under study, rynaxypyr 18.5 SP @ 30 g a.i./ha was most effective insecticide in minimizing the larval population of pigeonpea pod borers viz., gram pod borer, plume moth and pod fly. The treatment application of rynaxypyr 18.5 SP @ 30 g a.i. per ha shown the lowest pod damage (5.59 per cent) due to pigeonpea pod borers and recorded highest gain yield of pigeonpea (7.60 q per ha). The treatment application of profenofos + DDVP @ 2ml + 0.5 ml per lit and rynaxypyr 18.5 SP @ 30 g a.i. per ha recorded highest increase in yield over control i.e. 3.62 and 3.63 q per ha as well as maximum cost benefit ratio of 1:1.75 and 1:1.72. The results indicated that rynaxypyr 18.5 SP was more effective against pigeonpea pod borers and reducing the pod damage with its novel properties which ultimately leads to increase in yield and highest cost benefit ratio.
ASSESSMENT OF FOOT PROTECTION AGAINST ANTI-PERSONNEL LANDMINE BLAST USING A FRANGIBLE SURROGATE LEG

Anti-personnel (AP) landmines pose a threat to soldiers and civilian populations and have come into the focus of the international community. The purpose of our study was to assess the performance of various types of footwear against the blast effects of AP landmines on the lower leg using a Frangible Surrogate Leg (FSL). The FSL is an anthropomorphic model of the lower extremity from the proximal femur to the foot. The FSL consists of anatomically correct bones constructed from Computerised Axial Tomography (CT) images, with synthetic knee and ankle ligaments that are encased in a "soft tissue" envelope made of ballistic gelatine. Load cells and strain gauges placed on the tibia and foot measured the biomechanical parameters imposed by the blast. Radiographs, CT and clinical dissection by medical staff were performed on each FSL following the tests. The FSL performed well and produced consistent results from test to test. Although the FSL soft tissues did not accurately reproduce vascular and nerve details, the extent of bone injury was used to develop a correlation to bone and soft tissue damage observed during human cadavers trials under the US Lower Extremity Assessment Program (LEAP). Based on the Mine Trauma Score (MTS from LEAP), the extent of gross damage to the bones provided some correlation with the human cadaver data. This allowed an objective evaluation of the protective performance for a range of footwear against landmines that contained from 35 grams up to 100 grams of high explosive. Some footwear was effective at preventing or, at least reducing, the severity of injury.
OPTIMAL INFLATION

How should monetary policy be carried out in the long-run? Recent literature proves the optimality of the Friedman rule, implying that the nominal interest rate should on average be zero. Prices are then expected to decrease over time, since the real interest rate is positive. According to the Friedman rule, the Government should not tax money, despite the need to resort to distorting taxes to finance public expenditure.
Ocular indicators for sleepiness during night-time driving

Schlafrigkeit am Steuer gilt als eine der Hauptursachen fur schwere Unfalle, ist aber bis jetzt nicht eindeutig erfassbar. Eye-Tracking-Systeme scheinen eine ideale Losung fur den Gebrauch beim Fahren darzustellen, um Mudigkeitsschwankungen zu messen, wurden aber bisher kaum in realistischen Fahrsituationen getestet. Vermutlich ist die Motivation gegen Schlafrigkeit anzukampfen jedoch ein ganz wesentlicher Faktor, der bei simuliertem Fahren nicht ausreichend untersucht werden kann. Neben der Veranderung von Augencharakteristika mit zunehmender Mudigkeit in einer Feldstudie, war es unser Ziel die Wirkung eines Naps zu untersuchen. 60 Probanden fuhren um 2 Uhr nachts beginnend 2 Stunden lang mit den eigenen Autos. Die Augenaktivitat wurde uber Elektro-Okulographie aufgezeichnet. Schnelle Augenbewegungen, Lidschlag sowie Perioden ohne Augenbewegungen wurden visuell analysiert. Die erstgenannte Kategorie nahm ab, die beiden folgenden hingegen uber die Fahrzeit zu, wie auch in der Literatur geschildert. Allerdings waren die Trends in unseren Daten nur sehr schwach ausgepragt. Signifikant unterschieden sich nur die Probanden untereinander. Ein Nickerchen zeigte keinen Einfluss auf die schlafrigkeitsassoziierten Augencharakteristika. Visueller Input ist absolut essentiell wahrend dem Fahren und wird vermutlich so lange wie moglich aufrecht erhalten. Diese Ergebnisse stellen die rechtzeitige und zuverlassige Vorhersage von Mudigkeit mittels Eye-Tracking-Systemen in Frage. Die grosen inter-individuellen Unterschiede konnten nicht durch Faktoren, wie Alter, Geschlecht oder Chronotyp erklart werden und spiegeln moglicherweise verschiedene Stressantworten und Adaptionsstrategien an diese Extremsituation wieder.
Vegetative , floral and yield attributes of gladiolus in response to gibberellic acid and corm size

Received: 18 July, 2014 Accepted: 24 August, 2014 Published: 20 September, 2014 The influences of four levels of GA3 on gladiolus were studied during summer season at the Horticulture farm of Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University, Dhaka, Bangladesh from May to August 2011. Gibberellic acid and corm size regulated the plant growth and development of spike, corms and cormels. The treatment GA3 @ 150 ppm and corm size 120-125 g was more potential to enhance 80% sprouting of corm and initiation of 80% flowering earlier about 3.74 and 5.87 days, respectively and it also increased number of floret iflorescence and diameter of corm compared to control. In conjugation with GA3 @ 150 ppm and corm size 120-125 g increased the yield of spikes, corms and cormels about 33%, 18% and 14%, respectively compared to control. © 2014 PSCI Publisher All rights reserved.
Development and Validation of a Food Frequency Questionnaire for Assessment of Diet in Lower and Middle Income Countries; A study among People Living with HIV/AIDS in Nepal.

Assessing the validity of a Food FrequencyQuestionnaire (FFQ) by comparison with other established dietary assessmentmethods is essential prior to use of a new FFQ in different population groups.In this study a new FFQ for Nepal was developed with 73 food items andadministered by an interviewer who then carried out a 24-h recall. 73 adults living with HIV/HIDS (43M and 30F)were purposively recruited. A nutrient database to estimate the intake ofenergy and macronutrients (fat, protein, and carbohydrate) and selectedmicronutrients (iron, β-carotene and vitamin C) was compiled from Nepalese,Indian and UK based on food composition tables. Comparison of mean intakes bythe two methods showed good agreement between the FFQ and 24-h recall for themean intake of energy, protein, carbohydrate, iron, vitamin C and Vitamin A(all p>0.20) but fat intake was significantly lower by the FFQ than the 24-hrecall (p<0.001). Pearson correlation coefficients between the methodsranged from 0.50 to 0.60 for energy and macronutrients but were below 0.3 formicronutrients. Bland-Altman analyses showed reasonable agreement between thegroup means but wide individual differences between methods. The newly designedsemi-quantitative FFQ can estimate the group mean intake for selectednutrients.