Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
AFLP and SSR markers for characterization and identification of Tunisian millennium olive varieties

Olive (Olea europaea L.) is one of the oldest agricultural tree crops in Tunisia, where its cultivation started before about 3000 years. Although the importance of millennium olives, studies about molecular biodiversity and evaluation are scarce. In order to investigate intra cultivar variability on the molecular level, millennium olive samples from nine different archeological sites were studied using AFLP and SSR techniques.6 AFLP primers amplified 237 reproducible bands of which 84 were polymorphic and 10 SSR loci revealed 37 alleles with a mean number of 3.7 alleles per locus and an average heterozygosity rate ranged from 40% to 100% with a mean percentage of 74%. The principal coordinate analysis (PCO) based on AFLP and SSR similarity matrix revealed that the genetic diversity was predominantly structured according to the morphological parameters of the fruit and the endocarp. The data obtained can be used for the varietal survey and construction of a database of millennium olive varieties in Tunisia and providing also additional information that could form the basis for the national design of breeding programs.
Genetic variability of farmed and free-living populations of red foxes (Vulpes vulpes)

Abstract This study was designed to determine the degree of genetic distinctiveness between farmed and wild foxes (Vulpes vulpes). Analysis of polymorphism in 16 microsatellite sequences led to the conclusion that red foxes raised on Polish farms and wild foxes living in Poland are two groups of genetically distinct animals. Farmed Polish foxes are genetically more similar to the population of wild animals from North America than they are to the free-living population in Poland, as confirmed by the fact that the farmed animals are descended from animals raised in Canada. The small genetic distance between wild Canadian foxes (indicated as the progenitor of farmed Polish foxes) and farmed Polish foxes possibly suggests that the differences between the farmed and wild Polish populations may result from the fact that Canadian and Polish foxes took separate evolutionary paths. Sreszczenie Polimorfizm szesnastu sekwencji mikrosatelitarnych (Ren01E05, Ren02K21, Ren06C11, Ren13J22, Ren37H09, Ren39L15, Ren41D20, Ren44K10, Ren67C18, Ren02C20, Ren02P03, Ren04M22, INU013, INU014, INU019, INU020) badano w celu oceny zróżnicowania genetycznego polskiej populacji hodowlanej oraz dwóch populacji wolno żyjących (z Polski i Kanady) należących do gatunku Vulpesvulpes. Wyższymi wartościami indeksu stopnia polimorfizmu oraz heterozygotyczności obserwowanej i oczekiwanej charakteryzowały się obie grupy osobników dziko żyjących. Na podstawie frekwencji alleli ustalono dystans genetyczny dzielący badane populacje zwierząt. Stwierdzono, iż polskie lisy hodowlane wykazują większe podobieństwo genetyczne do populacji osobników dzikich z Ameryki Północnej niż do rodzimej populacji wolno żyjącej. Zatem lisy pospolite hodowane na polskich fermach i lisy dziko żyjące zamieszkujące tereny Polski stanowią dwie grupy zwierząt wysoce odrębne pod względem genetycznym.
Quality of mechanized peanut digging in function of the auto guidance

Within the context of precision agriculture, the use of automatic guidance is without a doubt one of the most popular tools among farmers, however, are few producers of peanuts using this technology, the benefits from this technology can bring significant gains for culture even more when thinking about reducing the indices of losses in the digging. Thus, it objective was to evaluate the variability of quantitative losses of peanut mechanized digging with use the autopilot, using the Statistical Process Control. The treatments consisted of absence of autopilot use in sowing and digging, pilot's absence at sowing and presence in the digging, pilot use at sowing and absence in the digging and the pilot use in sowing and digging. In each treatment, 15 points of each variable was collected from distance of 50 m apart. Visible, invisible and total losses in the digging and parallelism were evaluated. The reduction of the plant material on the vibratory mat affected the levels of visible losses. Total losses are strongly correlated with the invisible losses. The use of the autopilot allows the operator to pay more attention to the digging operation improving the quality of the operation. The average error found between passes of the mechanized set using autopilot was 0.35 m. The variability of the losses as well as of parallelism was reduced when using the autopilot in two operations, providing a higher quality process. Key words: RTK (Real Time Kinematic), automatic guidance, precision agriculture, statistical process control.
Analysis of Essential Meteorological Elements Surrounding Typhoon Sinlaku by Unmanned Aerial Vehicle

In this paper, a successful flight with an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) surrounded Typhoon Sinlaku on 15 Sept. , 2008 and the preliminary analysis of all the collected data during the observation period has been presented. It is the first time to adopt surrounding method to observe typhoon in mainland of China. During the 3 h field campaign, the flight altitude is about 500 m to observe the essential meteorological elements in boundary layer of typhoon. The average temperature is 22.57°C and ranged from 21.50°C to 25.80°C, while about the relative humidity, the maximum is 100%, the minimum is 80.60% and the average is 97.98%. As for the wind, the average wind speed is 19.68 m/s and the maximum is 30.03 m/s. The typhoon center is a warm structure, the closer to the center, the higher the temperature is and the lower the wind speed is. In conclusion, the mini-UAV has the capability to observe the boundary layer of typhoon.
Crying and Attachment Style: The Role of Romantic Relationships

Crying is an attachment behavior that functions to elicit support from others (Nelson, 1998); the context in which the crying occurs is important in understanding whether it is adaptive or maladaptive (Hendriks & Vingerhoets, 2006. However, very little research has examined whether and how attachment style is associated with adult crying, and if this association might vary by an individual’s relationship status. Using a sample of 305 first-year college students and a series of hierarchical regressions, we examined the moderating effect of relationship status on the associations between attachment style (measured using the Revised Experiences in Close Relationships Scale; Fraley, Waller, & Brennan, 2000) and crying frequency and tendency. We found that attachment anxiety was positively associated with both crying frequency and tendency, whereas attachment avoidance was negatively associated with crying tendency. However, we found moderation effects only in the case of attachment avoidance; specifically, we found that attachment avoidance was associated with a lower frequency of crying and tendency to cry only for those individuals involved in romantic relationships. Attachment anxiety, on the other hand, was associated with greater crying frequency and tendency regardless of relationship status. These results demonstrate not only that crying may act as an attachment behavior, but also that the activation or deactivation of this particular attachment behavior may be dependent on the existence of a romantic attachment figure.
Children's understandings of algebra 30 years on

In this paper, we outline the design and method of the research project Increasing Student Competence and Confidence in Algebra and Multiplicative Structures (ICCAMS). Phase 1 consists of a large-scale survey of attainment in algebra and multiplicative reasoning, using test items developed during the 1970s for the Concepts in Secondary Mathematics and Science (CSMS) study (Hart, 1981). This will enable a comparison of the current attainment of students aged 11-14 with that of 30 years ago. Phase 2 consists of a collaborative research study with 8 teachers extending the investigation to classroom / group settings and examining how formative assessment can be used to improve attainment. Although the focus of this paper is on reporting the research design, some early analysis of data from the initial survey data from 2008 (n = 2400) is reported.
Comparative study of analgesic effect of intrathecal nalbuphine and tramadol in patients undergoing vaginal hysterectomy

Aims: To compare the analgesic effect and block characteristics of intrathecal nalbuphine and tramadol in patients undergoing vaginal hysterectomy. Settings and design: Prospective, double-blind, randomized study on 80 patients of age 20-60 years, undergoing vaginal hysterectomy under spinal anaesthesia. Methods and Material: Random allocation in two groups, where group T and group N received 25 mg tramdol and 1 mg nalbuphine respectively along with 15 mg 0.5% hyperbaric bupivacine through intrathecal route. Drugs were administered at the L3-4 interspace with the patient in the sitting position. Spinal block was assessed by pin prick and modified bromage scale. In postoperative period time of first request of analgesia, number of rescue analgesia, the duration of motor block from the time of drug administration to the time when patient was able to lift his leg and the adverse effects were recorded. Quantitative variables were compared using Unpaired t-test/Mann-Whitney Test. Qualitative variables were correlated using Chi-Square test /Fisher’s exact test. A p value of 0.05). Conclusion: In terms of sensory and motor block characteristics, nalbuphine provides faster onset, faster peak of analgesia than tramadol. In terms of postoperative analgesia nalbuphine and tramadol were statistically similar. Key message: This study establishes the efficacy of Nalbuphine (1mg) as an intrathecal adjuvant to 15 mg of 0.5% hyperbaric bupivacaine for enhancing the intraoperative sensory block and better haemodynamic stability than Tramadol (25 mg) as an intrathecal adjuvant. In terms of postoperative analgesia and motor block characteristics both the drugs are comparable.
Methane‐flux‐dependent lateral faunal changes in a Late Cretaceous chemosymbiotic assemblage from the Nakagawa area of Hokkaido, Japan

A Late Cretaceous carbonate body (2 m in maximum diameter) surrounded by clastic rocks, recently discovered in the Nakagawa area (Hokkaido, Japan), is interpreted as a methane‐seep deposit, on the basis of negative carbon isotopic composition (as low as −43.5‰), variable sulphide sulphur isotopic composition, high carbonate content, and in situ fractures. It most likely formed owing to methane‐bearing pore‐water diffusion. We estimate that the concentration of methane decreased toward the margin of the carbonate body, and that only small carbonate concretions were precipitated at a certain distance from the methane‐seep centre. These spatial characteristics coincide well with the observed pattern of faunal distribution. The gastropod‐dominated association (indeterminate abyssochrysids and ataphrids and the acmaeid limpet Serradonta sp. are most common) co‐occurs with lucinid and thyasirid bivalves (Thyasira sp., Myrtea sp., and Miltha sp.), and was found within and just above the methane‐derived carbonate body. Acharax and Nucinella (solemyoid bivalves) are more typical of the peripheral part of the methane‐influenced sediments. We suggest that this pattern of faunal distribution reflects the decreasing concentration of methane and apparently also hydrogen sulphide when moving from the centre of discharge toward the periphery of the methane seep.
Comparative susceptibility of southern and western corn rootworm adults and larvae to vATPase-A and Snf7 dsRNAs

Corn rootworms (CRW) are the most important corn pests in the U.S. Corn Belt. Damage is caused by larval feeding on the plant roots. RNAi has been studied in CRW and has proven to be effective for the management of this insect with effects on both larval and adult stages. The objective of this study was to determine comparative susceptibility of adult and larva of Southern Corn Rootworm (SCR) and Western Corn Rootworm (WCR) to two different lethal RNAi target genes (vacuolar (v)-ATPase-A and Snf7). Adults and larvae were exposed to dsRNAs overlaid on artificial diet five times every other day. WCR larval susceptibility to vATPase-A was approximately 4-fold more tolerant than SCR, but were similar for Snf7 (2.6 ng/cm2 for both species). For adults, LC50s were generally higher for vATPase-A dsRNA relative to larvae with a 20-fold higher LC50 for WCR (SCR=33.3 ng/cm2; WCR=657.3 ng/cm2) relative to Snf7 dsRNAs (SCR=13.2 ng/cm2; WCR=60.2 ng/cm2). Gene silencing was also evaluated in adults and larvae exposed to the LC50 dsRNAs, and gene knockdown ranged from 48% up to 83% in adults fed for eight days in dsRNA, and from 55% to 89% in larvae fed for 24, 48 and 72 h, compared to control treatments. This is the first study to report LC50 values for dsRNA in WCR and SCR adults. The results indicate that both larvae and adults of both species were affected by vATPase-A and Snf7 dsRNAs suggesting that RNAi for the management of CRW should be considered for both stages.
Assessing the Construct Validity of Risk Attitude

Two major approaches to measuring risk attitude are compared. One, based on the expected utility model is derived from responses to lotteries and direct scaling. The other measure is a psychometric approach based on Likert statements that produces a unidimensional risk attitude scale. The data are from computer-assisted interviews of 346 Dutch owner-managers of hog farms, who made decisions about their own businesses. While the measures demonstrate some degree of convergent validity, those measures based on lotteries were better predictors of actual market behavior. In contrast the psychometric scale showed more agreement to selfreported measures of innovativeness, market orientation, and the intention to reduce risk. In light of the higher predictive validity of lottery-based measurements, werecommend elicitation methods based on the expected utility paradigm.
Initial Conditions as Predictors of New Venture Performance: A Replication and Extension of the Cooper et al. study

This study tries to adhere to ideals such as Cooper et al's by replicating and extending a theory-driven study of the effects of initial conditions on new venture performance using a very large (700 + cases) and high quality, longitudinal data set. Data on initial conditions were collected in 1995 (within a year after first registration) and outcomes were assessed in 1998. On a conceptual level, the studies results confirm those obtained by Cooper et al . regarding how general human capital, management know-how and industry affect marginal survival probability, as well as concerning the effects of financial and general human capability on the likelihood of becoming a high performance venture. The results sometimes coincide also on a very detailed level, such as the differential effect of gender on marginal survival vs its effect on high performance. Other parts of Cooper et al's results could not be replicated. To some extent this may be due to weak operationalizations of certain constructs, but real samp.
Decentralization and the Quality of Government

How does political decentralization affect the quality of government? Greater decentralization might make governments more honest and efficient by bringing officials “closer to the people” and forcing them to compete for mobile capital. Or it might create coordination problems and obstacles to reform, while exacerbating incentives to predate and shirk on public good provision. Empirical work has often conflated different types of decentralization, and reached inconclusive results. I outline seven arguments about specific types of decentralization, and seek evidence using new data on up to 166 countries. Results suggest that countries with more tiers of government tend to have higher perceived corruption and to provide public healthcare services and infrastructure less effectively. Those with strong, regionally-chosen legislative upper houses also do worse at healthcare and infrastructure provision. Smaller local jurisdictions do not increase discipline by intensifying competition for capital: they were associated with higher perceived corruption.
Role of Calanus sinicus (Copepoda, Calanoida) on dimethylsulfide production in Jiaozhou Bay

Abstract. The role of copepod Calanus sinicus on the production of dimethylsulfide (DMS)/dimethylsulfoniopropionate (DMSP) in Jiaozhou Bay was evaluated in field and laboratory experiments. Samples at 10 sites in the bay were collected monthly from June 2010 to May 2011 (except for March 2011), and zooplankton species composition was analyzed. The relationship between copepod abundance and DMS or DMSP concentration was investigated. Effects of C. sinicus grazing on DMS/DMSP production at different conditions (i.e., algal diets, food concentrations, and salinities) were assessed in the laboratory. Data from the field experiment showed that C. sinicus was the predominant copepod in Jiaozhou Bay (up to 123 individuals m−3 in May 2011) and has no apparent effect on DMS/DMSP production. In the laboratory experiment, compared with Gymnodinium sp. or Emiliania huxleyi, C. sinicus feeding on Isochrysis galbana and Chaetoceros curvisetus exhibited increased DMS concentration, whereas high salinity inhibited DMS production. This study indicated that DMSP was transferred from phytoplankton to copepod body, fecal pellet, and seawater through copepod grazing. Our results provided important information to understand the biogeochemical cycle of DMSP in Jiaozhou Bay.
Scalar transport and the validity of Damköhler’s hypotheses for flame propagation in intense turbulence

The turbulent burning velocity of premixed flames is sensitive to the turbulence intensity of the unburned mixture. Premixed flame propagation models that incorporate these effects of turbulence rest on either of the two hypotheses proposed by Damkohler. The first hypothesis applies to low-intensity turbulence that acts mainly to increase the turbulent burning velocity by increasing the flame surface area. The second hypothesis states that, at sufficiently high intensities of turbulence, the turbulent burning velocity is governed mainly by enhanced diffusivity. Most studies to date have examined the validity of the first hypothesis under increasingly high intensities of turbulence. In the present study, the validity of Damkohler’s second hypothesis is investigated. A range of turbulence intensities is addressed by means of direct numerical simulations spanning the “flamelet” and “broken reaction zones” regimes. The validity of Damkohler’s second hypothesis is found to be strongly linked to the behaviour o.
Does a central clearing counterparty reduce liquidity needs?

This study investigates whether and how central clearing influences the overall liquidity needs in a network of financial obligations. Utilizing the approach of flow network theory, we show that the effect of adding a central clearing counterparty (CCP) is decomposed into two effects: central routing, and central netting effects. Each effect can produce different liquidity needs according to different liquidity scenarios. The analysis indicates that adding a CCP in times of financial distress successfully reduces the overall liquidity needs if and only if the netting efficiency of the CCP is sufficiently high. Furthermore, once the economy is no longer in financial distress, higher netting efficiency of the CCP could conversely increase the overall liquidity needs. The results have implications for the effectiveness of CCPs in mitigating systemic risk in times of financial distress, and their operating costs once the distress has passed.
EFFECT OF HEAT TREATMENT ON CHLOROPHYLL DEGRADATION AND COLOR LOSS IN GREEN PEAS

Thermal degradation kinetics of chlorophyll and visual green color loss in green peas were investigated at 70°, 80°, 90° and 100 °C. The degradation of chlorophyll a and chlorophyll b followed a first-order kinetic model. The loss of visual green color, as represented by the change of the -a, the ratio -a/b and h (hue) values measured by tristimulus colorimeter, also followed a first-order reaction. The activation energies for chlorophylls a and b were determined as 47.78 and 26.77 kJ mol–1, while those for -a, -a/b and h values were found as 49.75, 56.04 and 55.06 kJ mol–1, respectively.
Visualization, Comprehension of Metacognitive Strategy, and The Importance Of An Evaluation Framework

Visualization metacognitive strategy, either internal or external, has been used for decades to help students comprehend a reading text. Their comprehension is usually evaluated using a reading comprehension test. Without this test, literacy teachers can actually evaluate students’ comprehension by analyzing students’ visual representations that they draw as a summary of a text they read. To do this, the teachers need a framework as the guideline to relate students’ drawing to their comprehension. This paper proposes a framework necessary to evaluate students’ comprehension of a reading text that they transform into a visual representation. The aspects in the framework are created based on the literature on visual literacy and genre-based literacy pedagogy. An example of the analysis is also provided in this paper. Keywords—visualization; comprehension; framework
Evaluation of traditional, mechanical and chemical weed control methods in rice fields.

The effect of different weed control methods and efficiency of weeding in mechanized cultivation was evaluated on rice yield. The treatments consisted of (I) control treatment, where no weeding was accomplished (II) three hand weeding, (III) application of commercial herbicide (Butachlor ® , 2-Chloro-diethyl-N- acetanilide), (IV) application of mechanical weeding without engine power and (V) power mechanical weeding. Results showed that experimental treatments had significantly different effects (p=0.05) on yield traits and number of filled grains per panicle, while treatments had the significant effects on grain weight and dry weight of weeds in the first, second and third weeding methods at 1% of confidence level. Treatment (III) had its most significant effect on number of filled grains per panicle and yield performance standpoint, which was 3869.73 kg ha-1 in its highest peak. Treatment (IV) was ranked as second influential with 3705.97 kg ha -1 . In addition, under (II) and (V) treatments, 3559.8 kg ha -1 and 3444.94 kg ha -1 of yield produced, respectively. The minimum dry weight of weeds in all weeding methods was related to the treatment (III), (I) and (V), respectively. The correlation coefficient analysis showed that total yield had a significant positive correlation with the panicle grain yield per plant (r= 0.56*) and the number of grains per panicle -1 (r= 0.58*) and the number of filled grains (r= 0.62*). Total rice yield also had negative correlation of r = -0. 63* with weed dry weight at second weed sampling time (17 DAT). The weed dry weight at third and fourth sampling times (24 and 40 DAT) had negative correlations of -0.64** and r= -0.60* with rice yield, respectively.
BIOLOGICAL AGING MODELED WITH STOCHASTIC DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS

A family of stochastic differential equation (SDE) models is derived and studied for the aging of biological organisms. The SDE aging models give meaningful mathematical interpretations of the aging process, rate of aging, and maximum age. For the SDE models, the first passage time gives the time to death. Probability densities of first passage times are derived for the SDE models yielding theoretical death event densities. The derived death event probability densities are fitted, using maximum likelihood estimation, to several different mortality table datasets. Mortality data for humans, wild sheep, grasshoppers, and fruit flies are considered. The results of fitting the mortality data indicate that the rate of aging for humans and many other animals undergoes an increase at some point in time. AMS Subject Classification: 60H10, 92C30, 34F05, 92D25