Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
High frequency plant regeneration from mature seed- derived callus of Italian ryegrass ( Lolium multiflorum ) cultivars

In the present study, we have developed a high-frequency plant regeneration system for Italian ryegrass via callus culture using mature seeds as explants. Optimal embryogenic callus induction was found to occur in MS medium containing 5 mg l-1 2,4-D, 0.5 mg l-1 BA, 500 mg l-1 L-proline, 1 g l-1 casein hydrolysate, 30 g l-1 sucrose, 7 mg l-1 AgNO3, 2 mg l-1 CuSO4 and solidified with 3 g l-1 Gelrite. The highest regeneration rate was obtained in MS medium containing 1 mg l-1 2,4-D, 5 mg l-1 BA, 500 mg l-1 L-proline, 1 g l-1 casein hydrolysate, 1 mg l-1 thiamine-HCl, 30 g l-1 sucrose, 7 mg l-1 AgNO3, 2 mg l-1 CuSO4 and solidified with 3 g l-1 Gelrite. By using the most effective treatment determined for each parameter, the highest rates of embryogenic callus formation (48.9%) and regeneration (47.6%) were obtained with the Hwasan 101 cultivar. The overall plant regeneration rates of the examined cultivars ranged from 7.5 to 23.2%. Thus, optimization of regeneration frequency using mature seeds as explant material may offer a simple and efficient protocol for Italian ryegrass that may improve molecular breeding of this species.
TASK-BASED LCA FOR ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT OF MULTIPLE HETEROGENOUS SYSTEMS

Life Cycle Impact Assessment (LCIA) is the framework for assessing the environmental impact of a product over its entire lifecycle. There have been numerous LCIA studies in the past conducted on stand-alone heavy-duty machines, but the usefulness of the methods in these studies is limited when the goal is to compare the environmental impact of two cotton stripper designs. Cotton strippers do not operate in isolation  they always operate in unison with supporting machinery such as tractors, or tractor-powered machinery, which means any meaningful comparison of cotton stripper designs must also account for the close coupling between cotton strippers and their supporting machinery. This paper proposes a new framework for comparing the environmental impact generated by two cotton harvesting systems. The proposed framework is task-based in the sense that a series of common tasks defined on a given field serve as a standard unit of work in a fair comparison of the two cotton harvesting systems. A simulation model is used in the proposed framework to simulate the movements and interactions of the machines on the field.
OXIDATIVE STRESS AND IMMUNOGLOBULIN LEVELS IN WORKERS EXPOSED TO COTTON DUST

Background: Among the different occupational hazards to which cotton industry workers are exposed such as accidents, fire, disabilities, noise and heat, of all, the largest health hazard is due to inhalation of cotton dust. Prolonged cotton dust inhalation causes various known diseases in textile industry such as byssinosis and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. These disorders seems at least partly, be mediated by oxidative stress and altered immune system. Objective: To assess oxidative stress and immunoglobulin levels (IgG & IgM) in workers exposed to cotton dust. Setting: Thisstudy was conducted in Misr Helwan Industry for Spinning and Weaving on cotton dust exposed workers in the spinning department. Subjects and methods: Forty two workers exposed to cotton dust were included in this study together with 30 non exposed apparently healthy subjects taken as controls. Every participant of this study was subjected to occupational history taking, detailed questionnaire, thorough clinical examination, assessment of serum malondialdehyde (MDA), nitric oxide, superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase, catalase, and total antioxidant status, andmeasuring of immunoglobulin levels (IgM & IgG). Both groups were matched as regards age, sex, smoking habit, duration of employment and socioeconomic status. Results: The levels of oxidants biomarkers (nitric oxide and MDA) were significantly elevated, and antioxidants (glutathione peroxidase, catalase, SOD and total antioxidant)were significantly decreased in exposed workers compared with the controls. Statistically significant increase in the immunoglobulin levels was observed in cotton exposed workers (vs. controls). No significant difference was found in oxidant / antioxidant status and immunoglobulin levels between exposed smokers and exposed non-smokers. Smoker exposed workers showed statistically significant elevation in their levels of oxidant biomarkers (MDA & nitric oxide) and immunoglobulin M when compared to those in controls. Age and duration of employment in exposed workers were significantly negatively correlated with total antioxidant status while no significant correlation was found with other antioxidants nor with oxidant parameters. Conclusion: Workers exposed to cotton dust were under great oxidative stress as manifested by a rise in oxidant biomarkers and a reduction in antioxidants. Cotton dust stimulates humoral immunity as detected by the increases in the immunoglobulin levels. Smoking may have synergistic effect with cotton dust in induction of oxidative stress. These bio-functional markers might be useful in screening and surveillance for occupational hazard.
New data from Orihuela and Callosa Mountains (Betic Internal Zone, Alicante, SE Spain). Implications for the “Almágride Complex” controversy

En este trabajo presentamos los resultados del estudio estratigrafi co y estructural de las sierras de Orihuela y Callosa (provincia de Alicante, SE de Espana), pertenecientes ambas a la Zona Interna Betica. Estas sierras fueron asignadas por autores precedentes al Complejo Ballabona-Cucharon, mas tarde redefi nido como Almagride. Los datos presentados en este trabajo nos llevan a proponer una nueva serie estratigrafi ca, division tectonica y evolucion geodinamica del sector estudiado. Asi mismo, asignamos las unidades reconocidas a la parte inferior del Complejo Alpujarride, confi rmando que el Complejo Almagride no debe ser considerado como elemento singular de la Zona Interna Betica.
A study of perceived stress and coping styles among mid adolescents

Background: The term adolescent is derived from the Latin word “adolescere” meaning to grow, to mature. It is characterized by rapid physical growth, significant physical, emotional, psychological and spiritual changes. They are not only in large numbers but are the citizens and workers of tomorrow so must be stress-free and healthy. Aims & Objective: To study (1) Comparative measurement of level of stress; (2) Preferred method of coping style. Materials and Methods: Study was undertaken in randomly selected two schools one each of central board (private) and state board (government) of Ahmedabad city. 72 apparently healthy students from each school having age 14-16 years were recruited for study after thorough physical examination. Perceived stress measured in 72 students using “perceived stress scale (PSS 14)” developed by Cohen. Coping methods measured by “revised version of coping questionnaire by Folkman and Lazarus”. Results: All students scoring high on PSS 14. Their mean stress score approaching higher limit with no significant difference between two schools. Central board (private) school students adopting positive coping methods while students of state board (government) school adopting negative coping styles (p
Prospects of CZTS solar cells from the perspective of material properties, fabrication methods and current research challenges

The quest for green energy to meet the world’s ever growing energy demand has prompted the scientific community to focus their research activities on the renewable energy field. Among the candidates, thin film solar cells especially those using inexpensive, abundant and nontoxic material copper-zinc-tin-sulphide (CZTS) based solar cell is a promising type of solar which can be realized as a high efficiency and low cost solution for electricity generation. This review paper addresses the material properties, fabrication methods and current research challenges to achieve high efficiency and low cost CZTS thin film solar cells. Cu2ZnSnS4 (CZTS) is a prominent low cost absorber layer to be used as a substitute of CIGS absorber layer in the thin film solar cells. CZTS can lead to production of nontoxic thin film solar cells with high absorption coefficient. The scope of this review aims to evaluate the basics of CZTS solar cells fabricated by a co-evaporation technique which leads to the highest conversion efficiency so far.
Functional studies of the deubiquitinating enzymes USP19, USP4 and UCH-L1

El marcaje de proteinas con ubiquitina, conocido como ubiquitinacion, cumple diferentes funciones que incluyen la regulacion de varios procesos celulares, tales como: la degradacion de proteinas por medio del proteosoma, la reparacion del ADN, la senalizacion mediada por receptores de membrana, y la endocitosis, entre otras (1). Las moleculas de ubiquitina pueden ser removidas de sus sustratos gracias a la accion de un gran grupo de proteasas, llamadas enzimas deubiquitinizantes (DUBs) (2). Las DUBs son esenciales para la manutencion de la homeostasis de la ubiquitina y para la regulacion del estado de ubiquitinacion de diferentes sustratos. El gran numero y la diversidad de DUBs descritas refleja tanto su especificidad como su utilizacion para regular un amplio espectro de sustratos y vias celulares. Aunque muchas DUBs han sido estudiadas a profundidad, actualmente se desconocen los sustratos y las funciones biologicas de la mayoria de ellas. En este trabajo se investigaron las funciones de las DUBs: USP19, USP4 y UCH-L1. Utilizando varias tecnicas de biologia molecular y celular se encontro que: i) USP19 es regulada por las ubiquitin ligasas SIAH1 y SIAH2 ii) USP19 es importante para regular HIF-1α, un factor de transcripcion clave en la respuesta celular a hipoxia, iii) USP4 interactua con el proteosoma, iv) La quimera mCherry-UCH-L1 reproduce parcialmente los fenotipos que nuestro grupo ha descrito previamente al usar otros constructos de la misma enzima, y v) UCH-L1 promueve la internalizacion de la bacteria Yersinia pseudotuberculosis.
The first migrants to Madagascar and their introduction of plants: linguistic and ethnological evidence

The Austronesians who settled in Madagascar in the first millennium of the Christian Era were probably different from the Austronesians who reached the East African coast earlier at different times, bringing bananas, taro and yam (Blench 2010). Largely based on linguistic data, this article proposes that four plants were brought by the first Austronesians in Madagascar: rice, the greater yam, coconut and Indian saffron. These plants helped the Austronesians to begin the process of colonising well-watered areas, cultivated both through wet and swidden agriculture. A little later, populations coming from the East African coast introduced other plants (sorghum, cowpea, Bambara pea, ananas…) that allowed them to occupy other ecosystems. At the end of the first millennium, different parts of the island were thus already inhabited, on the coasts and in the Highlands, and cultural blendings were already underway. The continuation of migrations from Southeast Asia, from the East African coast and from India in the second millennium AD brought increasing complexity in the cultural blendings and allowed the repeated introduction of many cultivated plants.
Measuring Mentalizing in Emotionally Focused Therapy for Couples With Childhood Sexual Abuse Survivors and Their Partners

Abstract The purpose of this study was to explore the temporal relationships between Emotionally Focused Therapy for Couples (EFT) therapist interventions and mentalizing responses in couples where one or both partners are survivors of childhood sexual abuse (CSA) by using a novel form of qualitative coding for mentalizing in EFT with CSA couples. Mentalizing can be defined as thinking about thinking. It is a developmental self-capacity that includes being able to flexibly and reflectively make sense of our internal and interpersonal mental worlds and is essential in the development and maintenance of strong interpersonal relationships. Findings of this study indicated that levels of negative mentalizing responses decreased while positive mentalizing responses increased over the course of therapy. Observed temporal relationships between therapist interventions and patient mentalizing were discussed in relation to outcomes in couple satisfaction and posttraumatic symptomatology. This novel form of coding mentalizing, while in depth, proved to be labour intensive and lacking in long-term feasibility.
Rainfall leads to increased pCO2 in Brazilian coastal lakes

Abstract. The variation of partial pressure of CO2 (pCO2), pH, salinity and dissolved organic carbon (DOC) in surface waters of 12 coastal Brazilian lakes was examined following periods of contrasting rainfall. Periods of high rainfall were followed by a large, almost 10 fold, increase in pCO2 and a one unit decrease in pH in the lakes, whereas no consistent changes in DOC were observed. CO2 emissions to the atmosphere from the Brazilian coastal lakes studied here were highly enhanced, on average, from 28.5 ± 6.0 mmol C m−2 d−1 in dry periods to 245.3. 1 ± 51.5 mmol C m−2 d−1 following periods of heavy rainfall. The increased inputs of pCO2 following periods of high rainfall are believed to be derived from increased inputs of pCO2 from groundwaters to the lakes.
Above-ground carbon stock assessment in different forest types of Nepal

This study assessed the above-ground carbon stock in the five major forest types, representing two physiographic regions and four districts of Nepal. Altogether, 116 circular sample plots were laid out systematically in different forests types to inventory the forest. Total above-ground biomass was derived with allometric equations. Results indicated variation in age of the stand (18-75 years), above-ground carbon stock per hectare (34.30- 97.86 dry wt. ton ha -1 ) and rate of carbon sequestration (1.30-3.21 t ha -1 yr -1 ), according to different forest types. The rate of carbon sequestration by different forest types depended on the growing nature of the forest stands. Tropical riverine and Alnus nepalensis forest types demonstrated the highest carbon sequestration rates in Nepal. Key Words: Above-ground biomass; carbon; forest types; Nepal DOI: 10.3126/banko.v19i2. 2979 Banko Janakari , Vol. 19, No.2 2009 pp.10-14
Future emissions from shipping and petroleum activities in the Arctic

Abstract. The Arctic sea-ice is retreating faster than predicted by climate models and could become ice free during summer this century. The reduced sea-ice extent may effectively "unlock" the Arctic Ocean to increased human activities such as transit shipping and expanded oil and gas production. Travel time between Europe and the north Pacific Region can be reduced by up to 50 % with low sea-ice levels and the use of this route could increase substantially as the sea-ice retreats. Oil and gas activities already occur in the Arctic region and given the large undiscovered petroleum resources increased activity could be expected with reduced sea-ice. We use a bottom-up shipping model and a detailed global energy market model to construct emission inventories of Arctic shipping and petroleum activities in 2030 and 2050 given estimated sea-ice extents. The emission inventories are on a 1×1 degree grid and cover both short-lived components (SO2, NOx, CO, NMVOC, BC, OC) and the long-lived greenhouse gases (CO2, CH4, N2O). We find rapid growth in transit shipping due to increased profitability with the shorter transit times compensating for increased costs in traversing areas of sea-ice. Oil and gas production remains relatively stable leading to reduced emissions from emission factor improvements. The location of oil and gas production moves into locations requiring more ship transport relative to pipeline transport, leading to rapid emissions growth from oil and gas transport via ship. Our emission inventories for the Arctic region will be used as input into chemical transport, radiative transfer, and climate models to quantify the role of Arctic activities in climate change compared to similar emissions occurring outside of the Arctic region.
Characteristics and Employment of Applicants for Social Security Disability Insurance over the Business Cycle

We investigate the relationship between the unemployment rate and characteristics of applicants for Social Security Disability Insurance using administrative records of the universe of applicants between 1991 and 2008. As the unemployment rate rises, applications shift to those with higher work capacity who are rejected early in the eligibility determination process and have higher pre-application earnings and employment. However, post-application earnings and employment of denied applicants are slightly negatively related to the unemployment rate, suggesting that both compositional changes toward applications with higher work capacity and adverse economic conditions affect their employment and earnings.
Exploring Quantitative Methods to Study Design Behavior in Collaborative Virtual Workspaces

This paper presents a case of exploring and applying quantitative tools to examine design protocol in a collaborative virtual environment. After introducing the motivation, a design ontology along with two methods of analysis are depicted as a foundation for this investigation. The case data of a virtual design session is presented which has been examined together with its counterpart face-to-face design session that act as a base-line. In this case the 3D virtual environment slows down the design activities and it also has an inclination to favor certain design activities.
Effect of water absorption on the Weibull distribution of fatigue test in jute-reinforced polyester composite materials

Composite materials have been manufactured using bidirectional jute yarn in a polyester matrix. The manufactured composite has been subjected to water aging for various times of immersion (90, 180, and 270 days). A significant decrease of fatigue strength has been observed during water aging. The number of cycles to failure of the aged and nonaged specimens were correlated using the two-parameter Weibull distribution function to determine the probability of failure and plot the S–N curves at different reliability levels. The results have shown that the two-parameter Weibull distribution describes the fatigue life probability distributions of jute-reinforced polyester composite material with highly significant statistical correlation coefficients.
AGRONOMIC AND POLYMORPHISM STUDY OF WILD OAT (AVENA FATUA L.) BIOTYPES AT DNA LEVEL

Laboratory studies were conducted to compare the biotypes of wild oats collected across North West Frontier Province (NWFP) and Federal capital areas of Pakistan. The wild oats biotypes included were named by their area from where collected i.e., Mardan, Malakand, Karak, D.I. Khan, NARC-Islamabad, Charsada, Peshawar, Swat and Kohat. The data were recorded for plant height (cm), leaf lamina width (cm), leaf lamina length (cm), number of leaves plant -1 and polymorphism at DNA level. Different biotypes appeared to differ in their competitive ability, as due to variation in agronomic parameters. Range of amplified fragments was from 1000 bp in size. The degree of genetic polymorphism ranged from 0 to 100%, indicating that the studied germplasm of wild oat is genetically very diverse and possesses a higher degree of polymorphism. Consequently their competitive ability will also be varying. Thus, in the areas of the more competitive wild oats biotypes more attention will be needed on the control of wild oats as compared to the less competitive genotypes. Alternately, if using wild oat as a food or feed crop, then based on genetic distance estimates and dendrograms analysis, the most diverse biotypes could be used in future breeding programs aimed at improving genetic variability of wild oat germplasm.
Actual and Potential Dividends: Reconciling Theory and Practice

The concept of potential dividends (PD) and its application in valuation models have been subject to an active debate. The opponents of the inclusion of PD into free cash flow to equity point out the logical inconsistencies and theoretical flaws of the concept, while advocates argue that ignoring the PD in value estimation may cause the results to be biased. I argue that while under rigorous assumptions of the Modigliani-Miller theory the PD concept may appear to be disputable, it represents an important part of the valuation model as soon as those assumptions are relaxed to allow for deviations commonly observed in practice. The aim of the paper is to present guidance to the application of PD and actual dividends (AD) concepts in valuation models. I maintain that each of the two methodologies can be used only in the specifically predefined contexts, which are described in the paper. Ultimately, the paper attempts to make practical recommendations regarding the application of the PD and AD concepts in valuation.
More equal than others? A comparative analysis of state and non-state perceptions of interest representation and decision-making in REDD+ negotiations

This paper provides a quantitative analysis of stakeholder perceptions regarding the governance of the UN climate change negotiations on reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation in developing countries (REDD+). Governance quality and legitimacy were evaluated by means of an online survey conducted in 2011, using a normative framework of principles, criteria and indicators. The paper concentrates on national-level stakeholders active in REDD+ in Nepal, and their perceptions of governance quality, with a discussion, given the focus of this special volume, that emphasizes inclusiveness, equality and resources (indicators of interest representation) and democracy, agreement and dispute settlement (indicators of decision-making). Respondents were selected from state (i.e. governmental) and non-state (i.e. civil society) interests from a range of sectors active in REDD+ at the national level. The results show that survey respondents generally found REDD+ to be inclusive, but did not consider that there was the necessary capacity, or resources, for meaningful participation. A concluding section reviews the framework applied, and comments on the nature of multi-stakeholder relations in contemporary global governance, and REDD+ specifically.
Host Residents' Attitude toward Community-based Ecotourism: Empirical Study in Southwestern Cambodia

The main objective of this paper is to find the determinants of perceived impacts of community-based ecotourism (CBET) onto livelihood assets and outcomes and the determinants of support for community-based ecotourism by using sample data collected from two successful CBETs in southwestern Cambodia, Chambok and Chi Phat CBET. The analysis method was Structural Equation Modeling (SEM). The present study concluded that in addition to the determinants of perceived impacts and support for tourism development found by previous studies such as community attachment, community concern, ecocentric attitude, emotional solidarity, tourism dependency, knowledge about the (tourism) industry; natural resource dependency and socio-economic status (as a construct) are also likely to influence residents’ attitude toward CBET. Moreover, as an alternative to the earlier empirical studies that used the residents’ perceived impacts in term of overall economic, socio-cultural, and environmental aspects as determinants of support for tourism development; this study suggests that residents’ perceived impacts of tourism on livelihood assets and outcomes may also affect support for tourism development, especially community-based ecotourism.