Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Genes Forward primer 5 '-3 ' Reverse primer 5 '-3 ' Tm ( ̊C ) N ̊ of cycles

The free aluminum (Al) content in soil can reach levels that are toxic to plants, and this has frequently limited increased productivity of cultures. Four genes encoding nitrate reductase (NR) were identified, named ZmNR1–4. With the aim of evaluating NR activity and the transcriptional modulation of the ZmNR1, ZmNR2, ZmNR3, and ZmNR4 genes in leaves, 30-day-old hybrid maize BRAS 3010 plants were irrigated with a solution of Al2(SO4)3.18H2O for 16 days. The transcriptional levels of ZmNR2, ZmNR3, and ZmNR4 and NR activity will exhibit standard changes similar in the leaves, where, from the second week of stress onwards, there was a decrease in enzymatic activity and in the accumulation of transcripts. An increase ZmNR1 mRNA levels were observed, indicating that this gene may be associated with other metabolic pathways. This study resulted in the identification and characterization of different genes that encode NR and are involved in nitrogen metabolism in maize, in which the ZmNR2, ZmNR3, and ZmNR4 genes regulate the activity of NR in response to aluminum stress. The characterization of these genes may help in our understanding of the genetic-molecular and physiological mechanisms of maize subjected to aluminum stress.
Compressed sensing based underwater acoustic channel estimation using two dimensional frequency characterization

Underwater acoustic (UWA) channel estimation in shallow water depths is a challenging problem due to rapidly fluctuating transients in the acoustic channel impulse response. Transmitted signal undergoes nonstationary reflections at the moving sea surface and rough sea bottom before being received via multiple paths at the receiver. These non-stationary reflections along with unpredictable surges of energy due to surface focusing events render the channel delay spread challenging to localize. In this work, we present compressed sensing (CS) based underwater acoustic channel estimation techniques at the intersection of time, frequency and sparsity. Specifically, following are the key contributions of this work. First, a 2D frequency domain representation of the channel is obtained via a carefully chosen transmitted signal design. This modeling transforms the problem of channel estimation to channel recovery in 2D Fourier domain. Interestingly, this framework is similar to K-space based image reconstruction used in Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) where CS is used extensively for signal recovery. It is observed that the channel is sparser in the 2D Fourier domain in comparison to the channel in time domain. Thus, the proposed frequency domain representation allows CS framework to be inherited naturally. Here, it is pertinent to add that this framework has been proposed for the first time in UWA. Second, we introduce non-uniform compressing sampling for shallow water acoustic communications. Specifically, techniques presented in this work perform random CS at different sampling rates across different frequency bands in the 2D frequency domain. We propose nonuniform CS with prior information and non-uniform modified-CS with the prior information method for channel estimation wherein application domain knowledge is utilized with reference to frequency domain characteristics of the shallow water channel. Thus, this work illustrates the use of CS methods but by appropriately rooting them in this application domain. We present numerical validation of proposed techniques based on channel estimates from field experiments as well as a public domain channel simulator that has recently been tested against data from different field trials.
Female mate choice in a mating system dominated by male sexual coercion

In poeciliid fishes, males can gain copulation either by courting females or through sexual coercion. In some species these two tactics coexist. However, in about half of the poeciliids, males do not display, females never cooperate during copulation and all matings are achieved by thrusting the intromittent organ toward the genital pore of apparently unaware females. In one of these species, the eastern mosquitofish (Gambusia holbrooki), the probability of insemination is influenced by the time females are previously deprived of males, suggesting that females exert some control over the occurrence of mating even in a system apparently dominated by sexual coercion. In the present study we investigated the tendency of female mosquitofish to approach males in relation to their reproductive status and the time they were previously deprived of males. The tendency to approach males increased in females that were previously deprived of males and in females that had recently given birth. When allowed to choose between males, male-deprived females preferred larger males and normally pigmented over melanistic males. Females preferred groups of three males over a single male, whereas the preference for three males over a group of one male and two females was only marginally significant. Collectively, these results suggest that, even when coercive mating is the only tactic adopted by males, females may be able to influence the outcome of these attempts, and thus exert some control over the paternity of their offspring. Key words: sexual selection, female choice, sexual coercion, Gambusia holbrooki, fish, mating tactics. [Behav Ecol 12:59–64 (2001)]
State Capacity, Minority Shareholder Protections, and Stock Market Development

We investigate how state capacity—the administrative ability to formulate and implement policy—affects the institutional adoption of new policies and the decoupling of those policies from their original purpose in the face of pressures from professions, multilateral agencies, and imitation among countries. We expect state capacity to reduce the effect of professional and imitation influences, to increase the impact of coercive effects by multilateral agencies, and to lessen decoupling between policies’ adoption and desired outcomes. We tested these predictions using a unique longitudinal dataset on the adoption of minority shareholders’ legal protections and the development of the stock market in 78 countries between 1970 and 2011. We found evidence consistent with the moderating effects of state capacity on institutional adoption and on lessening policy–practice decoupling. Our findings suggest that the strength of state capacity influences which policy models policymakers select and adopt, whether they implement them effectively, and what the consequences of such adoption are.
Subseafloor stratigraphic profiling and soil classification from piezocone tests: A case study in the Gulf of Lion (NW Mediterranean Sea)

We show the results provided by piezocone tests in determining the stratigraphic profile and the soil classification of two drilling sites in the outer shelf and the upper slope of the Gulf of Lion, PRGL2 and PRGL1, respectively. Correlations with grain‐size data indicate that sleeve friction can be used for profiling fine‐grained sediments (site PRGL1), whereas cone tip resistance is the most adequate for sequences made of alternations of coarse‐ and fine‐grained intervals (site PRGL2). Normalized cone resistance and friction ratio proved to be also appropriate for soil stratigraphy as it depicts trends in the coarse fraction of the tested soil. Silts and clays present in similar proportions at site PRGL1 responded to piezocone testing as pure clays usually do. Consequently, classical soil classification methods resulted in erroneous interpretation of these sediments as clays, whereas classification of the heterogeneous deposits at PRGL2 was consistent with the grain size. When tied to a high‐resolution seismic reflection profile, the stratigraphy interpreted from the piezocone profile matches with the main seismic sequences and discontinuities defined from seismic stratigraphy analysis. Graded bedding also matches with cone tip resistance and sleeve friction data.
Voluntary disclosure by Shariah approved companies: an exploratory study

Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to investigate the extent of voluntary disclosure (EVD) (i.e. overall, conventional, and Islamic disclosure) in the annual reports of Design/methodology/approach - A disclosure index was developed, which consists of 59 items (including items related to the Findings - javax.xml. bind.JAXBElement@31c447ed Research limitations/implications - The paper only used one-year annual reports for the year 2003, but it provides a starting point for future research on the issue of voluntary disclosure by Practical implications - The findings provide evidence that Originality/value - The paper is the first empirical study to investigate the EVD, both Islamic and conventional, in the annual reports of
Re‐evaluating the age of the Haughton impact event

Abstract— We have re‐evaluated the published age information for the Haughton impact structure, which was believed to have formed ˜23 Ma ago during the Miocene age, and report new Ar/Ar laser probe data from shocked basement clasts. This reveals an Eocene age, which is at odds with the published Miocene stratigraphic, apatite fission track and Ar/Ar data; we discuss our new data within this context. We have found that the age of the Haughton impact structure is ˜39 Ma, which has implications for both crater recolonization models and post‐impact hydrothermal activity. Future work on the relationship between flora and fauna within the crater, and others at high latitude, may resolve this paradox.
Study of molecular interactions of 2-amino-5-nitrothiazole in NNDMF, acetonitrile, and ethanol using acoustical parameters

Abstract Density, ultrasonic velocity of binary mixture of 2-amino-5-nitrothiazole + N,N-dimethylformamide (NNDMF), 2-amino-5-nitrothiazole + acetonitrile, and 2-amino-5-nitrothiazole + ethanol were measured at different concentrations of 2-amino-5-nitrothiazole and at different temperatures (303.15, 308.15, 313.15, 318.15 and 323.15) K. Acoustical parameters such as adiabatic compressibility, intermolecular free length, acoustical impedance, sound velocity number, and relative association were determined from experimental data of density and ultrasonic velocity. The effect of temperature and concentration variations in the strength of molecular interaction has been studied. Effective correlation was observed in terms of solute–solvent and solvent–solvent interaction at all temperatures and concentration.
Global Socio-Economic and Environmental Dimensions of GM Maize Cultivation

The increased population density, coupled with changes in dietary habits in developing countries towards high quality food and the increasing use of grains for livestock feed is projected to increase demand for food production by 70% by 2050. Crop yields would continue to grow but at a slower rate than in the past. Yield growth will play an important role as only a slow expansion of agricultural land is expected. Future yield increases on lands currently supporting high production levels must come from continued yield enhancing genetic modifications. The most important grain and feed is maize. Genetic improvement has not only contributed to yield increases but also to other desirable plant components such as resistance to lodging and tolerance to increased plant populations, insects, and diseases. Maize production has increased from 200 million tons in 1960 to over 800 million tons in 2011 but has not changed very much recently. The reviews suggest that the overall assessment of farm-level costs and benefits of GM maize has severe limitations. Nonetheless, GM maize is a potential tool to increase farmers’ income and thus might contribute to poverty reduction and sustainable social and rural economic development, especially in developing countries. The results support the contention that the adoption of GM maize leads on average to a higher economic performance, i.e., benefits, for farmers than conventional (non-GM) crops. An important finding of the analysis is that the kind and magnitude of benefits are heterogeneous across crops, traits, countries and regions. However, while the literature on the economic impact of GM crops has grown in recent years there is still a need for more comparative studies across space and time in order to pin down these impacts and allow for a better assessment of the contribution that this technology can make to sustainable development.
Predicting Parturition Time through Ultrasonic Measurement of Posture Changing Rate in Crated Landrace Sows

This study presents an automatic system to predict parturition time in the crated sows. The system relies on ultrasonic transducers mounted from above along the length of the crate. Using a 40 kHz time of flight (TOF) single envelope wave, the momentary distances between the sensors are measured. Therefore, the local momentary height of the sow and the momentary posture, i.e. standing posture (SDP), kneeling posture (KP), sitting posture (STP) and lateral lying posture (LLP) are determined. Crated sows change their postures from standing to lying and vice versa which follows a characteristic pattern. As parturition approaches, sows exhibit uneasiness, restlessness and the stand up sequence (SUS, the posture transition from LLP to SDP) rate increases because of labor pains. In time series, the SUS rate demonstrates a peak and it happens approximately 0-12 h before parturition. In this paper, the basic parturition threshold value method (BPTVM) and the same hour method (SHM) are proposed for predicting parturition, both of which are based on the SUS rate. The BPTVM mainly detects the peak of the SUS rate. As the SUS rate exceeds the threshold value, the parturition becomes predictable. Moreover, the SHM calculates the difference in the SUS rates between a particular time of day and the corresponding time of the preceding day. Compared to the BPTVM, the SHM can eliminate the circadian rhythm of the SUS rate influenced by feeding behavior. Using the SHM the parturition can be approximately predicted within hours. In an attempt to define the threshold parameters of predicting parturition, a data set with 32 sows of the SUS rate are used to estimate assumable predicting probability. The results show the assumable probability of the parturition prediction within 9 h is 96.9% for the SHM and 84.4% for the BPTVM. Moreover, the SHM can even reach a 75% probability of prediction within three hours of parturition. We conclude that the SHM is more accurate and is more useful for parturition time prediction. When parturition is detected, the proposed algorithm generates a warning signal which can inform human personnel to protect the mother and newborn piglets.
Investigations of weeds as reservoirs of plant-parasitic nematodes in agricultural systems in Northern Florida.

In addition to their direct effects on crop production through competition and allelopathy, weeds can serve as reservoirs of other pests including plant-parasitic nematodes, resulting indirectly in yield loss. Weeds enable plant-parasitic nematodes to survive in the absence or even presence of the crop, thus providing a source of nematode infection for the following season. The purpose of this study was to conduct a survey of common weeds and associated plant-parasitic nematodes at four agricultural sites, thereby demonstrating the importance of weeds as reservoirs of these pests. Two organic farms and two conventional farming systems were visited. Soil samples were taken from the root zones of predominant weed species at each site, and nematodes were extracted, identified, and counted. Purple nutsedge (Cyperus rotundus L.), pigweed (Amaranthus spp.), lambsquarters (Chenopodium album L.), and crabgrass (Digitaria spp.) were the weeds most frequently encountered. Root-knot nematodes (Meloidogyne spp.) were the major plant-parasitic nematodes frequently found in association with these weeds in relatively high numbers. A greenhouse experiment confirmed the susceptibility of American black nightshade (Solanum American Mill.), yellow nutsedge (Cyperus esculentus L.), purple nutsedge (C. rotundus L., Florida pusley (Richardia scabra L.), and bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers. ) to M. incognita, but Virginia pepperweed (Lepidium virginicum L.) was relatively resistant to this nematode. The implications of these results and importance of weeds as hosts for plant-parasitic nematodes are discussed. INTRODUCTION Weeds have long been recognized as a major constraint to agricultural production. Weeds can interfere with crops by competing for soil nutrients, water, and light, and by allelopathic inhibition of crop growth. They also affect crop production indirectly by providing food, shelter, and a reproductive site to maintain populations of pests (Bendixen et al., 1979). Many weeds associated with agricultural crops have been reported as hosts of plant-parasitic nematodes (Hogger and Bird, 1976; Bendixen et al., 1979,1988 a, b, c; Noling and Gilreath, 2002a). In southeastern states such as Florida, the role of weeds as alternate hosts for plant-parasitic nematodes has become increasingly important (Hogger and Bird, 1976; Tedford and Fortnum, 1988; Noling and Gilreath, 2002a). Their importance is related to the dynamic nature of weed populations in fallow situations and their influence in crop rotations in shifting agriculture (Desaeger and Rao, 2000; McSorley and Parrado, 1983; Powell, 2001). Crops grown on the sandy soils of Florida are typically prone to nematode problems because of environmental conditions that favor nematode development and reproduction. As a result, there has been a heavy reliance on chemical control, especially soil fumigation with methyl bromide, as a “silver bullet” to control these pests. However, these organisms can never be eradicated and hence a focus on management is now warranted. Due
Spatiotemporal population dynamics of the banana rind thrips, Elixothrips brevisetis (Bagnall) (Thysanoptera: Thripidae)

The understanding of how environmental factors and agricultural practices affect population dynamics of insect pests is necessary for pest management. Here, we provide insight into the ecology of the banana rind thrips Elixothrips brevisetis (Bagnall) (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) by collecting and analysing a spatiotemporal database of population estimates in Martinique (West French Indies). We assessed the influence of climatic variables (which were rainfall and temperature) and biotic variables (which were banana and three weed species) on the adult thrips abundance for different components of the banana plant (sucker, mother plant and bunch) and evaluated the effect of thrips abundance and standard bunch covers on damages. The abundance of thrips on the sucker, the mother plant, and the bunch was significantly related to the abundance on neighbouring banana plants, and spatial autocorrelation indicated that E. brevisetis dispersed for only short distances. The number of thrips on the mother plant and on the bunch was positively related to the number of thrips on the sucker, suggesting that the thrips may disperse from the sucker to the mother plant and then to the bunch. The abundance of thrips on the sucker increased with sucker height and was positively correlated with the mean daily rainfall during the 17 days before sampling; the length of that period might correspond with the time required for an individual to complete its life cycle. Covered bunches had 98% fewer thrips than non‐covered bunches, and the damage caused by thrips was linearly related to the number of thrips present between the 2nd and 4th week after flowering. Finally, we found that the presence of Alocasia cucullata, Dieffenbachia seguine and Peperomia pellucida is significantly related with a decrease in thrips abundance on banana plants, suggesting the use of these weeds as potential trap plants.
Provenance changes of the Drahany Culm greywackes : statistical evaluation

New analytical data obtained during the project named "Exhumation of the Variscan lower crust: constraints from Viséan siliciclastics (Eastern Bohemian Massif)" were statistically evaluated. The paper presents more detailed knowledge on the spatial changes of the detritus deposited within axial turbidity system: translucent heavy mineral assemblages reflect changes of geodynamic conditions (rate of exhumation, erosion, transport, deposition) rather than provenance changes. Chemistry of detrital garnets reflects rather changes of source. For details see descriptions of Figs.
Stability of bubbly liquids and its connection to the process of cavitation inception

This paper presents a potential energy approach for the investigation of the stability of bubbly liquids. Using the system's free energy variations with respect to the void fraction as a stability criterion for the whole system, we consider that sudden bubble expansion occurs only when the bubble cluster expansion is energetically favorable. The results obtained provide new insight into the behavior of pre-nucleated liquids when the inception point is reached as well as a simple method to estimate the energy exchanges between a bubble cluster and its environment when the kinetic energy is negligible compared to the elastic energy stored during tension and compression processes. In addition to the radius of the initial nuclei, the concentration and polydispersity are shown to exert an important influence on the response of the system after inception.
The Curse of Institutional Security: The Erosion of German Trade Unionism

Among all EU member states, German unions have the widest gap between male and female trade union density rates and are least adjusted to the structural changes stemming from the rise of the service sector on the labour market. This development asks for a more subtle understanding of the role of industrial relations institutions for trade union membership. The paper addresses the phenomenon by locating the main problem areas of membership erosion, such as weak service sector membership and the ageing of membership in manufacturing trade unions. It argues that industrial relations institutions have a double effect. Industry unionism is on the one hand a key pillar for centralized bargaining and institutional stability. On the other hand, stable institutional structures might have contributed to the membership decline.
Intelligent Sales Prediction for Pharmaceutical Distribution Companies: A Data Mining Based Approach

One of the problems of pharmaceutical distribution companies (PDCs) is how to control inventory levels in order to prevent costs of excessive inventory and to prevent losing customers due to drug shortage. Consequently, the purpose of this study is to propose a novel method to forecast sales of PDCs. The presented method is a combination of network analysis tools and time series forecasting methods. Due to lack of enough past sales records of each drug, an explorative network based analysis is conducted to find clique sets and group members and to use comembers’ sales data in their sales prediction. Afterwards, time series sales forecasting models were built with three different approaches including ARIMA methodology, neural network, and an advanced hybrid neural network approach. The offered hybrid method by applying each drug and its comembers past records facilitates capturing both linear and nonlinear patterns of sales accurately. The performance of the proposed method was evaluated by a real dataset provided by one of the leading PDCs in Iran. The results indicated that the proposed method is able to cope with low number of past records while it forecasts medicines sales accurately.