Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effect of vacuum storage on shelf life of a grain protector based on Peumus boldus Molina foliage powder and lime against Sitophilus zeamais Motschulsk

The maize weevil (Sitophilus zeamais Motschulsky, Coleoptera: Curculionidae) is a key pest of stored grain maize. As an ecological pest control alternative, the use of botanical insecticides, such as powder from boldus (Peumus boldus Molina) foliage singly or mixed with lime, has been evaluated. Unfortunately, its shelf life is very short and does not exceed 15 d. The effectiveness of vacuum storage on insecticidal properties of a natural grain protector produced with boldus powder:lime at proportions of 50:50 and 60:40 against adults of S. zeamais was assessed under laboratory conditions. Treatments were evaluated at 1% and 2% (w/w) for 150 d of storage. All treatments based on boldus powder kept the level of mortality by contact activity over 80% at 150 d of storage. The highest toxicity, as a fumigant, was observed in treatments 50:50 at 2% and 60:40 at 1% and 2% with mortality over 60%. The grain weight loss was less than 1% and seed germination was not affected. With the exception of 0:100 at 2% without vacuum storage, all treatments were repellent to S. zeamais. Vacuum storage extended shelf life of the grain protector for 150 d.
Exploring the physics of the accretion and jet in nearby narrow-line Seyfert 1 galaxies

In this paper, we explore the physics of the accretion and jet in narrow-line Seyfert 1 galaxies (NLS1). Specifically, we compile a sample composed of 16 nearby NLS1 with $L_{\rm bol}/L_{\rm Edd} \gtrsim 0.1$. We investigate the mutual correlation between their radio luminosity $L_{\rm R}$, X-ray luminosity $L_{\rm X}$, optical luminosity $L_{\rm 5100}$ and black hole mass $M_{\rm BH}$. By adopting partial correlation analysis: (1) we find a positive correlation between $L_{\rm X}$ and $M_{\rm BH}$, and (2) we find a weak positive correlation between $L_{\rm R}$ and $L_{5100}$. However, we don't find significant correlations between $L_{\rm R}$ and $L_{\rm X}$ or between $L_{\rm X}$ and $L_{5100}$ after considering the effect of the black hole mass, which leads to a finding of the independence of $L_{\rm X}/L_{\rm Edd}$ on $L_{5100}/L_{\rm Edd}$. Interestingly, the findings that $L_{\rm X}$ is correlated with $M_{\rm BH}$ and $L_{\rm X}/L_{\rm Edd}$ is not correlated with $L_{5100}/L_{\rm Edd}$ support that the X-ray emission is saturated with increasing $\dot{M}$ for $L_{\rm bol}/L_{\rm Edd} \gtrsim 0.1$ in NLS1s, which may be understood in the framework of slim disc scenario. Finally, we suggest that a larger NLS1 sample with high quality radio and X-ray data is needed to further confirm this result in the future.
IL‐6/YAP1/β‐catenin signaling is involved in intervertebral disc degeneration

Yes‐associated protein 1 (YAP1) is a transcriptional coactivator and negative regulator of the Hippo pathway. It regulates diverse cellular processes, such as cell proliferation, contact inhibition, and tissue size. However, the role of YAP1 in intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD) remains elusive. Here, we demonstrated that YAP1 was activated by Interleukin 6 (IL‐6) through tyrosine phosphorylation in nucleus pulposus cells (NP cells). Overexpression of YAP1 decreased Sox‐9, Col‐II, aggrecan expression, whereas increased matrix metalloproteinases 13 level. In contrast, knockdown of YAP1 by small interfering RNA (siRNA) showed opposite effects and rescued IL‐6 induced NP cells degeneration. In addition, western blot showed that IL‐6 treatment increased YAP1 and β‐catenin protein level; co‐immunoprecipitation (Co‐IP) and immunofluorescence analysis showed that IL‐6 enhanced YAP1 and β‐catenin interaction and nuclear accumulation. Knockdown of β‐catenin by siRNA blocked IL‐6 treatment or YAP1 overexpression induced degeneration. Moreover, we found that verteporfin, a specific inhibitor of YAP1, effectively alleviated IDD development in rat disks. Taken together, our findings indicated that YAP1 plays an important role in IDD, and β‐catenin is essential for IL‐6/YAP1 signaling.
Fast Indoor Scene Classification Using 3D Point Clouds

A representation of space that includes both geometric and semantic information enables a robot to perform high-level tasks in complex environments. Identifying and categorizing environments based on onboard sensors are essential in these scenarios. The Kinect™, a 3D low cost sensor is appealing in these scenarios as it can provide rich information. The downside is the presence of large amount of information, which could lead to higher computational complexity. In this paper, we propose a methodology to efficiently classify indoor environments into semantic categories using Kinect™ data. With a fast feature extraction method along with an efficient feature selection algorithm (DEFS) and, support vector machines (SVM) classifier, we could realize a fast scene classification algorithm. Experimental results in an indoor scenario are presented including comparisons with its counterpart of commonly available 2D laser range finder data.
The Role of the Hamiltonian in Dynamic Price Index Theory

This paper is an attempt to investigate the cost-of-living index problem in a general equilibrium multi-sector growth model. Instead of using the utility function as a compensation criterion as Konus’ (1924) did in his original contribution, we take advantage of the current-value Hamiltonian in constructing our dynamic price index. Since the Hamiltonian is a constancy-equivalent of future utilities (Weitzman, 1976), the dynamic price index is defined in terms of the minimum expenditure that, under alternative prices, would support the constancy-equivalent-utility level in the future. We show that, when properly deflated by the dynamic price index, the real comprehensive net national product becomes an ideal measure for dynamic welfare comparisons. For some special cases, we show that the dynamic price index reduces to the simple static index.
A hybrid methodology for secondary fragmentation prediction in cave mines

Drawing upon numerical studies, published laboratory results and comminution theory, a new methodology has been developed for the prediction of drawpoint size distributions throughout the operational life of a cave mine. The method is ‘hybrid’ because it utilises both numerical modelling and empirical comminution relations to track the evolution of caved rock size distributions reporting at drawpoints. In this paper we review the current knowledge on caved rock fragmentation, present new results analysing the micromechanics of shear-induced attrition of granular materials, and demonstrate via back-analysis, the applicability of the hybrid methodology for predicting drawpoint fragment size-distributions in existing caving operations.
Selenium Status Is Not Associated with Cognitive Performance: A Cross-Sectional Study in 154 Older Australian Adults

Selenium was suggested to play a role in modulating cognitive performance and dementia risk. Thus, this study aimed to investigate the association between selenium status and cognitive performance, as well as inflammatory and neurotrophic markers in healthy older adults. This cross-sectional study included 154 older adults (≥60 years) from Victoria, Australia. Participants were assessed for cognitive performance (Cogstate battery), dietary selenium intake (two 24-h food recalls), plasma selenium concentration, inflammatory markers (interleukin (IL)-6, -8, -10, tumor necrosis factor-alpha and adiponectin) and neurotrophic factors (brain-derived neurotrophic factor, vascular endothelial growth factor and insulin-like growth factor 1). Dietary selenium intake was adequate for 85% of all participants. The prevalence of selenium deficiency was low; only 8.4% did not have the minimum concentration in plasma required for optimization of iodothyronine 5′ deiodinases activity. Multiple linear regression analysis revealed that plasma selenium was not associated with cognitive performance, inflammatory markers nor neurotrophic factors, independent of age, sex, body mass index (BMI), habitual physical activity, APOE status, education, and history of cardiovascular disease. The lack of association might be due to the optimization of selenoproteins synthesis as a result of adequate selenium intake. Future prospective studies are recommended to explore potential associations of selenium status with age-associated cognitive decline.
Improving Efficiency in Keyword Search Using Exact and Fuzzy Methods

In today's emerging world, there is a great need to balance and lessen the gap between non -technical and technical ones. Most applications are being developed in order to make people life easier. Search is one of the most basic and important tool utilized by humans in everyday life. Search as-you-type feature allows you to get answers on the fly as a user fires a query character by character. So, we are going to simulate this type of search in our paper with the help of exact and fuzzy search methods. We will study how search as-you-type works on data lying in the backend database. But there are many challenges in the implementation of these methods, which include security issues, application compatibility in all platforms and the most important is the response time of application. We also study how to use indexes in tables that will increase overall performance of searching. We also make declarative solutions and techniques using exact and fuzzy search. Lastly we have tested our application on large and real time data with millions of records that shows far better good results.
The Difference Between Implicit and Explicit Attitudes Towards People with Disability Among Psychology Students

English People tend to answer questionnaires in accordance with what society makes them believe is correct. That can affect the results when explicit attitudes are being measured but not when implicit attitudes are measured. The aim of the current study was to examine if social desirability and working with people with disabilities affect explicit and implicit attitudes towards the disabled. This was examined in a sample of psychology students at Reykjavík University. Two hypotheses were presented. The first one was that, after controlling for social desirability, having worked with disabled people had no effect on explicit attitudes. The second hypothesis proposed that having worked with people with disabilities had significant effects on implicit attitude, and controlling for the effects of social desirability did not have effect on that relationship. Neither of the hypotheses was supported by the data. These results indicate that after controlling for social desirability, working with disabled affected individual’s explicit attitudes towards people with disabilities but not their implicit attitudes.
The application of low pressure storage to maintain the quality of zucchinis

ABSTRACT Zucchini (Cucurbita pepo var. cylindrica) were stored at low pressure (4 kPa) at 10°C at 100% relative humidity for 11 days. Fruit quality was examined upon removal and after being transferred to normal atmosphere (101 kPa) at 20°C for three days. Zucchinis stored at low pressure exhibited a 50% reduction in stem-end browning compared with fruit stored at atmospheric pressure (101 kPa) at 10°C. The benefit of low pressure treatment was maintained after the additional three days storage at normal atmospheric pressure at 20°C. Indeed, low pressure treated fruit transferred to regular atmosphere 20°C for three days possessed a significantly lower incidence of postharvest rot compared to fruit stored at regular atmospheric pressure at 10°C. Zucchinis stored at low pressure showed higher levels of acceptability (28% and 36%, respectively) compared to fruit stored at regular atmospheres at 10°C for both assessment times.
Elementary radical classes

A radical class R of rings is elementary if it contains precisely those rings whose singly generated subrings are in R. Many examples of ele- mentary radical classes are presented, and all those which are either contained in the Jacobson radical class or disjoint from it are described. Attention is given to those elementary radical classes which are de nable by composition subsemigroups of the free ring on one generator. Whether every elementary radical class is of this form remains an open question.
A comparison of hip adduction to abduction strength ratios, in the dominant and non-dominant limb, of elite academy football players

Context: Hip adduction and abduction strength plays an important role in the treatment and prevention of groin injuries in football players. Currently there are no reliable baseline values for uninjured football player’s hip adduction: abduction muscle strength ratios. Objective: To examine whether normal hip adduction: abduction strength ratios can be established in uninjured football players. To compare this data, and establish if there is an asymmetry between the dominant and non-dominant limb. Methods: Twenty, English Premier League academy football players 18.45 (± 2.06) years, 72.6 (± 5.56) kg, 180.15 (± 7.97) cm, 3 left limb dominant, and 17 right limb dominant were included in the study. Eccentric and concentric hip adduction and abduction strength of the dominant and non-dominant leg was tested using a Cybex isokinetic dynamometer. Results: The concentric ratio on the dominant limb was 1.59 (± 0.19) and on the non-dominant limb 1.45 (± 0.31). The eccentric ratio on the dominant limb was 1.45 (± 0.32) and on the non-dominant limb 1.26 (± 0.26). Overall the ratios were higher on the dominant limb and this was statistically significant P ≤ . 05. Abduction strength was similar bilaterally. Adduction strength was 18%-22% greater on the dominant limb. Conclusions: The greater ratios on the dominant limb are due to increased adductor strength as a result of the kicking action. Elite football player’s hip adduction: abduction strength ratios should be 1.45-1.6 on the dominant limb and 1.25-1.45 on the non-dominant limb. The adductors on the dominant limb should be 18%-22% stronger than the non-dominant limb. Ratios outside these parameters could indicate the player is at risk of injury. Further research is required to support muscle imbalance as a cause of injury and identify injury risk thresholds for groin injuries in football players.
Apparent slip at the surface of a small rotating sphere in a dilute quiescent suspension

We consider the case of a test sphere (ball) of radius a1 rotating at constant angular velocity ω in an otherwise quiescent unbounded suspension of uniformly sized spheres of radii a2 dispersed in a Newtonian fluid of viscosity μ. To the first order in the volume fraction c of suspended spheres it is shown that when the ball is small compared with the suspended spheres the suspension does not behave as regards the hydrodynamic torque L exerted on the ball like a homogeneous Newtonian fluid characterized by the usual Einstein viscosity coefficient μs=μ(1+5/2c). Explicitly, the torque on the rotating sphere does not obey Kirchoff’s law, L=8πμsa13ω for no slip. Rather, a modified form of Kirchoff’s law is obtained in which the Einstein coefficient of 5/2 is multiplied by a coefficient which is less than unity in magnitude and is functionally dependent only upon the suspended-sphere/test-sphere size ratio, λ=a2/a1. In the “continuum limit,” where λ tends to zero, one recovers Kirchoff’s law. Accordingly, the .
Speciation and preconcentration of chromium from water and food samples by synthesized chelating resin

A resina poli(acido N,N'-dipropionitrila metacrilamida-co-divinilbenzeno-co-2-acrilamida- 2-metil-1-propanosulfonico) foi sintetizada com um novo adsorvente quelante para especiacao de cromo em amostras de agua e alimento por espectrometria de absorcao atomica com chama (FAAS). A resina foi caracterizada por espectroscopia no infravermelho por transformada de Fourier (FTIR), analise elementar, microscopia eletronica de varredura (SEM) e analise termogravimetrica (TGA). Os efeitos do pH, concentracao da solucao eluente, vazao e volume de amostra e ions interferentes na recuperacao de Cr(III) foram investigados. A capacidade de sorcao da resina foi 12,1 mg g−1 para Cr(III). Elevado fator de pre-concentracao (150) e baixo desvio padrao relativo (2,0%, n = 10) foram obtidos. O limite de deteccao do metodo foi 1,11 µg L −1 . A validacao do metodo foi realizada pelas analises de materiais de referencia de padrao certificado (TMDA-70 agua de lago adulterada e SRM 1568a farinha de arroz) e de amostras adulteradas de agua e alimento. O metodo desenvolvido foi aplicado na determinacao de cromo em varias amostras de agua e alimentos. The poly(N,N'-dipropionitrile methacrylamide-co-divinylbenzene-co-2-acrylamido-2-methyl- 1-propanesulfonic acid) resin was synthesized as a new chelating adsorbent for speciation of chromium in water and food samples by flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS). The resin was characterized using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), elemental analysis, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). Effects of pH, concentration of elution solution, sample flow rate, sample volume and interfering ions on the recovery of Cr(III) were investigated. The sorption capacity of the resin was found to be 12.1 mg g −1 for Cr(III). A high preconcentration factor (150) and low relative standard deviation (2.0%, n = 10) were obtained. The limit of detection of the method was 1.11 µg L −1 . The method validation was performed by analyzing certified standard reference materials (TMDA-70 lake water and SRM 1568a rice flour) and spiked water and food samples. The developed method was applied to the determination of the chromium in various water and food samples.
Numerical Modeling of Grain Structure in Continuous Casting of Steel

A numerical model is developed for thesimulationofsolidificationgrain structurefor- mation (equiaxed to columnar and columnar to equiaxed transitions) during the continuous cast- ing process of steel billets. The cellular au- tomata microstructure model is combined with the macroscopic heat transfer model. The cellular automata method is based on the Nastac's defini- tion of neighborhood, Gaussian nucleation rule, and KGT growth model. The heat transfer model is solved by themeshless techniqueby using local collocation with radial basis functions. The mi- croscopic model parameters have been adjusted with respect to the experimental data for steel 51CrMoV4. Simulations have been carried out for nominal casting conditions, reduced casting temperature, and reduced casting speed. Proper response of the multiscale model with respect to the observed grain structures has been proved. Keyword: continuous casting of steel, solidifi- cation, multiscale modeling, equiaxed to colum- nar transition, columnar to equiaxed transition, macroscopic model, microscopic model, heat transfer model, cellular automata model, mesh- less methods.
How Institutions and Business Strategies Affect Wages: A Cross-National Study of Call Centers

This paper, drawing on a 2003–2006 establishment-level survey of 1,819 call centers in 15 countries, examines effects of industrial relations institutions and employer strategies on wage variation across coordinated, liberal, and emerging market economies. The authors find several contradictory patterns, which confirm theoretical predictions for some countries and contradict them for others, suggesting diverse institutional reactions to the emergence of a new economic activity. Consistent with prior research, Denmark, France, and Sweden exhibit patterns of low wage dispersion and no union wage premium, and the United States, Canada, and emerging market economies exhibit quite high levels of dispersion. Contrary to prior research, Austria and Germany resemble the United States in their levels of wage dispersion, while the United Kingdom resembles the coordinated market group. Finally, employer strategies of outsourcing and market segmentation explain within-country wage variation in most countries, suggesting considerable flexibility in wage setting at the establishment level.
Return Performance Surrounding Reverse Stock Splits: Can Investors Profit?

We examine the long‐run return performance of over 1,600 firms with reverse stock splits. These stocks record statistically significant negative abnormal returns over the three‐year period following the month of the reverse split. The sample firms experience poor operating performances over the four years that include and follow the year of the reverse split, which suggests informational inefficiencies. Because these stocks have unique financial characteristics, we also show that they would be very difficult to sell short. Thus, arbitrageurs would be restricted in their ability to earn abnormal profits, even if they correctly anticipated a price decline.
Super Rogue Waves: Observation of a Higher-Order Breather in Water Waves

A. Chabchoub,* N. Hoffmann, M. Onorato, and N. Akhmediev Mechanics and Ocean Engineering, Hamburg University of Technology Eisendorfer Strase 42, 21073 Hamburg, Germany Dipartimento di Fisica, Universita degli Studi di Torino, Torino 10125, Italy Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare, INFN, Sezione di Torino, Torino 10125, Italy Optical Sciences Group, Research School of Physics and Engineering, The Australian National University, Canberra ACT 0200, Australia (Received 17 January 2012; revised manuscript received 28 February 2012; published 29 March 2012)
The effects of coaching in employees and organizational performance: the Spanish Case

Purpose: The expansion of coaching in firms reflects its potential use as a tool to improve the development of human capital and of the firm itself. Nevertheless, research into the effects of coaching is lagging some way behind practice and there is a need to establish a theoretical framework capable of explaining how the coaching process proceeds and its outcomes. The goal of this research is to analyze the effects of coaching in both, employees development, and organizational performance. Thus, we extend Joo’s (2005) conceptual model by adding social exchange theory and the resource-based view, so as to to develop a model that allow us to investigate coaching. Design/methodology/approach: We test our model on a sample of 498 Spanish firms. The hypotheses were analyzed using structural equations modeling.