Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
DETERMINATION OF SHELF LIFE OF CHASTE TREE (Vitex agnus castus) HONEY AND PINE HONEY

Chaste tree and pine honeys were bought from three different producers (natural) and three local markets (commercial). The honey samples were stored for 30 months at room temperature. The shelf life of the samples was estimated for indices of HMF and diastase activity. The values for HMF formation and diastase deactivation fitted to a zero-order reaction. The highest rate of HMF formation was observed in the chaste tree honey as 2.674±0.013 mg/kg/month while the least value was observed in the pine honey as 0.435±0.037 mg/kg/month. The maximum diastase deactivation was determined in the natural chaste tree honey as 0.613±0.000 DU/kg/months and the minimum was 0.318±0.002 DU/kg/month for the commercial chaste tree sample. In terms of HMF, all honeys except commercial chaste tree honey, have exhibited longer shelf life than 30 months of storage. The results showed that the shelf life of the commercial honeys depend on the botanical origin, pH, electrical conductivity, temperature and storage.
Second‐order bias‐corrected AIC in multivariate normal linear models under non‐normality

This paper deals with a bias correction of Akaike's information criterion (AIC) for selecting variables in multivariate normal linear regression models when the true distribution of observation is an unknown non‐normal distribution. It is well known that the bias of AIC is $O(1)$, and there are a number of the first‐order bias‐corrected AICs which improve the bias to $O(n^{-1})$, where $n$ is the sample size. A new information criterion is proposed by slightly adjusting the first‐order bias‐corrected AIC. Although the adjustment is achieved by merely using constant coefficients, the bias of the new criterion is reduced to $O(n^{-2})$. Then, a variance of the new criterion is also improved. Through numerical experiments, we verify that our criterion is superior to others. The Canadian Journal of Statistics 39: 126–146; 2011 © 2011 Statistical Society of Canada
Major substructure in the M31 Outer Halo: the East Cloud

We present the first detailed analysis of the East Cloud, a highly disrupted diffuse stellar substructure in the outer halo of M31. The core of the substructure lies at a projected distance of $\sim100$ kpc from the centre of M31 in the outer halo, with possible extensions reaching right into the inner halo. Using Pan-Andromeda Archaeological Survey photometry of red giant branch stars, we measure the distance, metallicity and brightness of the cloud. Using Hubble Space Telescope data, we independently measure the distance and metallicity to the two globular clusters coincident with the East Cloud core, PA-57 and PA-58, and find their distances to be consistent with the cloud. Four further globular clusters coincident with the substructure extensions are identified as potentially associated. Combining the analyses, we determine a distance to the cloud of $814^{+20}_{-9}$ kpc, a metallicity of $[Fe/H] = -1.2\pm0.1$, and a brightness of $M_V = -10.7\pm0.4$ mag. Even allowing for the inclusion of the potential extensions, this accounts for less than $20$ per cent of the progenitor luminosity implied by the luminosity-metallicity relation. Using the updated techniques developed for this analysis, we also refine our estimates of the distance and brightness of the South-West Cloud, a separate substructure analyzed in the previous work in this series.
Criteria for Performance Appraisal in Saudi Arabia, and Employees Interpretation of These Criteria

This study explores the criteria for evaluating performance, established as recently as 2017, by the Saudi Civil Services body (SCS), and which defines the methods and techniques for a fair and rational implementation of the appraisal system, and examines how employees perceive these criteria. Throughout, the research looked at the attitude of employees within public agencies, in the city of Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, vis-a-vis the newly implemented appraisal system, and at how they interpreted its’ modus operandi and its’ findings. The study made use of Qualitative methodology, wherein data collected from five public agencies on the basis of face-to-face interviews, sought to understand the employees’ perspective of the application of the current appraisal system and to fathom their experience of it. The sample size comprised 10 employees, two from each agency. The findings reveal significant public sector employees’ concern regarding the new appraisal system, the degree of accuracy in implementing the appraisal process. Employees’ concerns extended to the mechanisms are used to link between the appraisal grade and the allowance (pay for performance), to the nefarious influence of nepotism on the factors of fair play and accuracy. The question of how to raise the level of awareness of the new system among raters and ratees came to the fore during the face-to-face interviews.
Hematological, Biochemical and Blood Lead Level Profile among Gasoline Exposed Station Workers in Sulaimaniya City

Occupational exposure to toxic fumes of leaded gasoline has become a major public health concern. These fumes contain tremendous life threatening toxins, which can cause abnormal alterations in the functioning of many vital organs. The current study intended to find out any changes in the hematological and biochemical profile in correlation to the Blood lead levels among individuals occupationally exposed to gasoline and gasoline vapors as a fist line risk group. The mean Blood lead level among gasoline station workers (6.2±5µg/dL), was significantly higher (P=0.017) than controls (2.1 ± 6.4 µg/dL), and there was a significant (P=0.003) increase in Blood lead level (10.6±3.9 µg/dL) of smoking workers compared to non-smoking workers. The latter is above the permitted value for adult individuals. The workers had higher (P=0.01) concentration of hemoglobin (15.9 gm/dL), whereas, other hematological counts were within the normal limits. Serum alkaline phosphatase and uric acid were significantly higher among the workers (338±49.5 and 6.1±1.7) with P-value of (0.0001 and 0.038 respectively), whereas, no statistically significant differences were found among serum alanine transaminase, aspartate transaminase, creatinine, cholesterol and albumin.
Impact of the inclusion of geriatric dentistry in the curriculum of a brazilian dental faculty = Impacto da inclusão da disciplina odontogeriatria em uma faculdade de odontologia de Alagoas, Brasil

The objective of this study was to analyze the contribution, of the inclusion of the subject of Geriatric Dentistry in the academic curriculum of a dentistry graduation course, to the understanding and attitudes of undergraduates in the care of the elderly. A total of 59 final-year students enrolled in two dental faculties took part in the study: GD Group - where Geriatric Dentistry was included in the curriculum (n=21; 75% of the total) and the NGD Group - where it was not (n=38; 77.5% of the total). The data were obtained by means of a questionnaire completed anonymously by the students, taking into account the following aspects: content and knowledge of geriatric dentistry and professional expectations. The principal source of knowledge of Geriatric Dentistry for both groups was the graduation course, with oral healthcare for the elderly being covered in other areas of study for 79% of the respondents in the NGD Group and 61.9% in the GD Group. Amongst the NGD Group, 5.3% looked for information on the topic outside the faculty, as opposed to the GD Group where no such actions were reported. When questioned as to whether they felt sufficiently prepared to provide elderly clinical care, the frequency of responses related to insecurity was greater in the GD Group. The inclusion of Geriatric Dentistry as a subject in the university curriculum had some positive aspects on students’ knowledge, and made them more aware of the importance of adequate professional preparation for caring for elderly patients, reflected in the lack of security identified with regard to the complexities of caring for people in this age group.
Financial Contracting with Strategic Investors: Evidence from Corporate Venture Capital Backed IPOs

We analyze financial contracting in start-ups backed by corporate venture capitalists (CVCs). CVCs' strategic goals can economically hurt or benefit the start-ups, depending on product market relationships between start-ups and CVC parents. Empirically, start-ups receive funding from both complementary and competitive CVC parents. However, start-up insiders commonly limit the influence of competitive CVCs, awarding them lower board power, while retaining higher board representation for themselves. Second, lead CVCs receive lower board representation, indicating heightened concerns about their greater influence in start-ups' early stages. Finally, start-ups extract higher valuations from competitive CVCs, reflecting greater moral hazard problems. Overall, CVC strategic objectives affect their early inclusion in VC syndicates, their control rights and share pricing.
Modeling rapid stomatal closure with synchronous Boolean network approach

The phytohormone Abscisic acid (ABA) is an endogenous messenger in plant abiotic stress responses. Drought stress increases the level of ABA triggering the fastest adaptive physiological response of plants- closure of stomata (guard cells). Understanding gene/protein expression involved in stomatal closure has great importance to genetic modification of plants to survive in severe climatic conditions. However, systems level information that defines the communication pattern of the related network of cellular molecules is not yet known. This study integrates fragmentary information collected from literature to define the dynamics of ABA signaling in rapid closure of stomata through a synchronous Boolean model. Stomatal closure in broad terms is a combined result of organic and inorganic ion regulation to release water from the guard cells through osmosis, and rearrangement of Actin to facilitate resulting stomatal movement. Our network consists of 57 nodes and their interaction dynamics defined in accordance with past experimental results to regulate stomatal closure. Perturbation analysis was conducted to identify the essential elements crucial for the above mentioned global functions of pumping out water and stomatal movement. It revealed that destruction of ABA receptor complex (PYR/PYL, PP2C and SnRK2 proteins) made stomata insensitive to closure as a result of disruption of signal transmission to downstream regulators. It was identified that plasma membrane outward ion channels GORK and SLAC1 are crucial for pumping out water by reducing the osmotic load inside the guard cell which facilitates osmosis. Inhibition of MAPK kinases and cytosolic alkalization, as being important regulators of SLAC1, and membrane depolarization, important for GORK, showed drastic effect on the stomatal closure. In contrast, overexpression of plasma membrane H + -pumping and potassium-in channels inhibit stomatal closure by enhancing the osmotic concentration and there by attracting water inside. Loss of function of Actin rearrangement resulted in a loss of stomatal closure as structural rearrangement of guard cell are necessary to facilitate the cell shrinkage. Disruption of Reactive Oxygen Species or their regulators (RBOH, PA, PLD or RCN1), SCAB1 protein and overexpression of AtRAC1 showed drastic effects on structural rearrangements. Perturbation analysis revealed that the number of elements crucial to stomatal closure comprises about 30% of the network; and thus stomatal closure is robust against perturbation in the other 70% of network elements. These results are in agreement with experimental findings and indicate potential redundancy with respect to stomatal closure.
Development and Application of Reverse Transcription Loop-mediated Isothermal Amplification (RT-LAMP) for Feline Coronavirus Detection

Mutated feline coronavirus (FCoV) causes a highly fatal disease in cats, named feline infectious peritonitis (FIP). Common FIP clinical signs represent an accumulation of fluid in the thorax and/or abdomen. Screening tests currently rely on fluid analysis with cytologic examination to differentiate cellular components. Accordingly, accurate ante-mortem diagnosis is prerequisite for effective treatment strategies. This study focused on developing a rapid diagnostic tool for FCoV by using reverse transcription loop-mediated isothermal amplification (RT-LAMP). Clinical samples composed of bodily fluids, plasma and feces were obtained from FIP-suspected cats (n = 63), apparent healthy cats living with (n = 12) and without (n = 10) clinically ill cats. Following RNA extraction and quantification, the modified RT-LAMP targeting the highly conserved 3’-untranslated region (3’UTR) was thoroughly performed and results were compared to reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The analysis focused on sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV) and negative predictive value (NPV). The results showed that all submitted feline fluid samples were 38% (24/63) positive by RT-PCR and 44% (28/63) positive by RT-LAMP. Cats living in the same household with FIP-suspected cats strikingly displayed 98% (11/12) positivity when detected from plasma and/or feces. For cats with no history of previous FIP exposure, the results demonstrated that 30% (3/10) tested positive by RT-PCR compared to 50% (5/10) by RT-LAMP. Additionally, RT-LAMP represented a diagnostic sensitivity and NPV at 100%, while specificity and PPV were over 80%. In conclusion, RT-LAMP assay is applicable to confirm FIP infection in clinical case and to monitor FCoV carrier in healthy cats.
Medium-term impact of tillage and residue management on soil aggregate stability, soil carbon and crop productivity Abstract

B.K, Paula; B, Vanlauweb; F, Ayuke; A, Gassnerc; M, Hoogmoeda; T.T, Hurissoa; S, Koalab; D, Lelei; T, Ndabamenyea; J, Six; M.M, Pullemana
Constructional Sources of Implicit Agents

Much of the literature studying on-line sentence comprehension focuses on the contributions of individual lexical items, with specific interest in verbs. One aspect of sentence meaning that has been claimed to be rooted in verb representation is event structure. There is a growing body of evidence supporting the claim that the verb is not the sole contributor of event structure, but the syntactic construction also contributes to event structure. One study that is construed to support a verb-based view is Mauner & Koenig (2000). One way to show this constructional influence is through the interpretation of a novel denominal verb (Kaschak & Glenberg 2000). We replicated Mauner & Koenig (2000) with novel denominal verbs suggesting a reinterpretation of their findings. We propose that verbs and constructions each contribute event structure to on-line sentence comprehension, and we discuss how constraintbased models can account for these results.
A comparison between circle hook and J hook performance in the dolphinfish, yellowfish tuna, and wahoo troll fishery off the coast of North Carolina

We compared numbers of strikes, proportions of fish that hooked up after strikes, proportions of fish that stayed on hook (retained) after hook up, and numbers of fish caught between circle and J hooks rigged with dead natural fish bait (ballyhoo)and trolled for three oceanic predator species: dolphinfish (Coryphaena hippurus), yellowfin tuna (Thunnus albacares), and wahoo (Acanthocybium solandri). Interactions were compared between circle and J hooks fished on 75 trips by two user groups (charter and recreational fishermen). Hooks were affixed to three species-specific leader types most commonly fished in this region: monofilament (dolphinfish), fluorocarbon (tuna), and wire (wahoo). Numbers of fish caught per trip and three potential mechanisms that might inf luence numbers caught (i.e., number of strikes, proportion of fish hooked, and proportion retained) were modeled with generalized linear models that considered hook type, leader type, species, user (fishing) group, and wave height as main effects. Hook type was a main effect at the catch level; generally, more fish were caught on J hooks than on circle hooks. The effect of hook type on strike rates was equivocal. However, J hooks had a greater proportion of hook-ups than did circle hooks. Finally, the proportion of fish retained once hooked was generally equal between hook types. We found similar results when data from additional species were pooled as a “tuna” group and a “mackerel” group. We conclude that J hooks are more effective than circle hooks at the hook-up level and result in greater numbers of troll-caught dolphinfish, tunas
High pressure effects on the superconductivity in rare-earth-doped CaFe2As2

High pressure superconductivity in a rare-earth-doped Ca0.86Pr0. 14Fe2As2 single-crystalline sample has been studied up to 12 GPa and temperatures down to 11 K using the designer diamond anvil cell under a quasi-hydrostatic pressure medium. The electrical resistance measurements were complemented by high pressure and low-temperature X-ray diffraction studies at a synchrotron source. The electrical resistance measurements show an intriguing observation of superconductivity under pressure, with Tc as high as ∼51 K at 1.9 GPa, presenting the highest Tc reported in the intermetallic class of 122 iron-based superconductors. The resistive transition observed suggests a possible existence of two superconducting phases at low pressures of 0.5 GPa: one phase starting at Tc1 ∼ 48 K and the other starts at Tc2 ∼ 16 K. The two superconducting transitions show distinct variations with increasing pressure. High pressure and low-temperature structural studies indicate that the superconducting phase is a collapsed tetragonal ThCr2Si2-type (122) crystal structure.
Th1 and Th2 Cytokines Activity during Transformation and Lymphoma Formation Stage in Chicken Naturally Infected with Marek's disease virus.

Marek's disease virus (MDV), a highly transmissible cell-associated neuropathic oncogenic alphaherpes virus affecting poultry health, resulting in considerable economic losses in poultry industry worldwide.Until now MDV still emerging and re emerging causing great economic losses in chicken despite of intensive vaccination and management policy used in poultry farms. However, cytokines and its role in MD pathogenesis and immunity had been described by some workers under certain experimental conditions by using different MDV strains challenge, they need to be more clarified during the more progressive lymphoma transformation stage. The present study aimed to examine the transcriptional profiling of a panel of cytokines genes in the splenic tissues of special broiler Japanese chickens (70-80 days old) contracted natural infection with MDV despite of intensive care and vaccination policy adopted by HVT and CVI988/Rispene. SYBR Green-based, real-time (RT)-PCR protocol was used to quantitate cytokine mRNA in freshly collected spleen tissue of MDV infected and control chicken. Changes in the levels of spleen interleukins (IL) as IL-6, IL-10, IL18 and IL-12P35, IL-4, interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) mRNA was determined. Relative Messenger RNA (mRNA) expression levels of the above mentioned genes, and β-actin as a reference gene, were achieved. The results of quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) assays using revealed significant up regulation in the expression levels of IL-6, IL-10, IL-18, and IL-12P35). The changes in the mRNA levels of IL-4, IFN-γ and inducible nitric oxide synthesase (iNOS) were minimal and not significant in comparison to those in uninfected age-matched control chicken. In conclusion, these data strongly support the hypothesis that pro-inflammatory responses, including high levels of Th2 cytokines as IL-10 and other interleukins as IL-6, IL-18 and IL12-P35, may play a major role during MDV lymphoma transformation stage induced by MDV strain of high virulence. These cytokines may be involved in maintenance of MDV infection and lymphoma formation. On the other hand, Th1 cytokines as IFN-γ, and iNOS had no or minimal role in induction of MDV-specific immune response during MDV lymphoma transformation stage.
The Effect of Curriculum-Based External Exit Exam Systems on Student Achievement

Two presidents, the National Governors Association, and numerous blue-ribbon panels have called for the development of state or national content standards for core subjects and examinations that assess student achievement of these standards. The Competitiveness Policy Council (1993, 30), for example, advocated that "external assessments be given to individual students at the secondary level and that the results should be a major but not exclusive factor qualifying for college and better jobs at better wages. " It is claimed that curriculum-based external exit exam systems (CBEEESs) based on explicit content standards will improve the teaching and learning of core subjects. What evidence is there for this claim? Outside the United States, such systems are the rule, not the exception. What impacts have such systems had on school policies, teaching, and student learning?
DISSOCIATION OF ATMOSPHERIC MOLECULES H2 AND N2 BY ELECTRON IMPACT - NEUTRAL ATOM PRODUCTION

This paper aims at the estimation of neutral atom pair generation from abundant atmospheric molecules like H2 and N2 upon electron impact. Atmospheres of Jupiter and Titan (one of Saturn’s moons) are largely comprised of H2 and N2 gases respectively. The relative atmospheric chemistry induced by neutral dissociation of H2 and N2 via energetic electrons or via photoelectrons plays an important role in these atmospheres. An attempt is made here to calculate this quantity using total dissociation cross sections for these molecules. The relevant cross sections are employed to estimate the rates for production of neutral atom pairs. While estimating productions of neutrals, cascading from higher states is considered duly, along with dissociative ionization generating a single atom per event.