Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Impact of vegetable extracts on selected cariogenic bacteria

Dental caries is a localized, transmissible infection that ends up in the destruction of hard dental tissue. It results from the accumulation of plaque on the surface of teeth and biochemical activities of complex microorganisms. Streptococcus mutans is one of the main opportunist pathogen of dental caries, which plays a major role in fermenting carbohydrates that result in acid production, leading to the corrosion of tooth enamel. In addition, other microorganisms like Lactobacillus species, Pseudomonas aeruginosa , and Staphylococcus aureus are also associated with active caries lesions. Lactobacillus acidophilus is one of the most common organisms. The in vitro antimicrobial activity of lemon juice, tomato juice, aqueous extracts of mint leaves, coriander leaves and ginger were studied against Streptococcus mutans, Lactobacillus acidophilus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa , and Staphylococcus aureus which are associated with dental caries. The aqueous extracts of the selected plants exhibited antimicrobial activity against all the tested microorganisms. The largest mean zone of inhibition was obtained with fresh lemon juice (28.66 mm) followed by the aqueous extracts of mint leaves (25.66 mm), ginger (22.00 mm), coriander leaves (14.66 mm) and tomato juice (10.33 mm). This study depicts that aqueous extracts of few vegetables can be used as a potential source of novel antimicrobial agents used to cure dental caries. Keywords: Antimicrobial activity, dental caries, zone of inhibition.
Fighting Software Piracy: Which IPRs Laws Matter in Africa?

The proliferation of technology to produce pirated software has prompted key questions in policy decision making on how to tackle the situation. The paper will employ Dynamic panel Generalized Methods of Moments and Two Stage Least Squares to address this. IPRs (Intellectual Property Rights) laws are instrumented with government quality dynamics to assess their incidence on software piracy. In essence, government quality variables are used as instrumental variables in investigating the role of IPRs laws on software piracy. The following findings are established. (1) Government institutions are crucial in enforcing IPRs laws in the fight against software piracy. (2) Main IP laws enacted by the legislature and Multilateral IP laws are most effective in combating piracy. (3) IPRs laws, WIPO Treaties and Bilateral Treaties do not have significant negative incidences on software piracy. Policy implications are discussed.
The Liquidity Service of Benchmark Securities

We demonstrate that benchmark securities allow heterogeneously informed investors to create trading strategies that are perfectly aligned with their signals. Investors who are informed about security-specific risks but uninformed about systematic risks can take an offsetting position in benchmark securities to eliminate exposure to adverse selection in systematic risks, while investors who are informed about systematic risks but uninformed about security-specific risks can trade systematic risks exclusively using benchmark securities. We further show that introduction of benchmark securities encourages more investors to acquire both security-specific and systematic-factor information, which leads to increased liquidity and price informativeness for all individual securities.
Exotic Seeds on the Feathers of Migratory Birds on a Stopover Island in Korea

Migratory birds, by crossing significant ecological barriers, carry and may subsequently introduce exotic seeds into new ecological zones during period of migration. The study of epizoochory, which includes seed dispersal by adhesion to bird feathers, has been relatively neglected compared to the study of seed dispersal by frugivores. To determine whether exotic seeds are being imported to stopover islands by migrating birds, and to estimate the quantity of seeds of exotic species being introduced, we examined migratory birds that were captured in mist nets for attached exotic plant diaspores in 2008 and 2009 on Hongdo Island, Korea. From a total of 3,947 birds examined, we found exotic seeds of Japanese Chaff Flowers (Achyranthes japonica) attached to three species of migratory birds (0.08%; Eurasian Bittern Botaurus stellaris, Swinhoe's Rail Coturnicops exquisitus and Oriental Turtle Dove Streptopelia orientalis). Despite the low occurrence of A. japonica seeds on the external parts of birds, the results suggest that migratory birds may be potential dispersing agents for A. japonica, a species that is currently threatening native ecosystems on many islands in Korea.
Bacterial Degradation of the Saturate Fraction of Arabian Light Crude oil: Biosurfactant Production and the Effect of ZnO Nanoparticles

The aim of this research was to study the influence of nanoparticles and the initial oil amount on the biodegradation of crude oil. Production of biosurfactants was also assessed. Crude oil-utilizing bacteria were isolated from oilfields via enrichment in chemically defined medium with crude oil a sole carbon source. The isolates could be affiliated to the genera Bacillus, Pseudomonas, Achromobacter, and Microbacterium by 16S rDNA sequencing and phylogenetic analysis. GC/FID analysis revealed 52 to 98% degradation of the oil saturate fraction within one month. Nanoparticles of ZnO inhibited growth and crude oil biodegradation by one isolate. (NBHCO4). Two strains, NBHCO2 and NCEOW, emulsified and utilized water-in-oil emulsions (chocolate mousse). Two bacterial strains, I-19 and NBHCO2 grew with crude oil in cultures containing up to 20% oil. Degradation extent in the I-19 culture increased as the oil amount increased. On the contrary, the NBHCO2 culture exhibited a decrease in degradation extent as the oil amount increased. Biosurfactant production in only one crude oil culture (I-19) could be confirmed by the observed reduction in surface tension. Some isolates produced biosurfactants from water-soluble substrates such as glucose. The NBHCO2 strain produced a lipopeptide biosurfactant which reduced the surface tension of the growth medium from 72 to 27mN/m. A gene of catechol dioxygenase was detected in the I-19, NBHCO4, and NCEOW isolates. In conclusion, metal oxide nanoparticles can interfere with crude oil biodegradation. Biosurfactants are not necessarily a prerequisite for crude oil biodegradation. The initial oil amount is a significant determinant of oil biodegradability. The isolates can by applied for bioaugmentation of petroleum-polluted soil and biosurfactants production.
Willingness to pay for ecosystem services provided by irrigated agriculture in Northeast Thailand

ABSTRACT In addition to producing food products, irrigated agroecosystems provide important services that contribute to societal well-being but are often not taken into account by policy-makers. This paper investigates how the public in Northeast Thailand values these services. A choice experiment approach was developed to elicit the implicit prices of these services. We also investigate heterogeneity of respondents using a latent class (LC) approach. The results indicated that individuals are willing to pay for irrigated agricultural services that provide drought mitigation, preserves water quality and environment, and rural landscapes (RL). However, we observed important willingness-to-pay (WTP) heterogeneity related to gender, age, and income. Our results suggest that a society’s demand for the nonmarket services of irrigated agriculture especially drought mitigation, water quality, and RL is significant, even in a middle-income country in Southeast Asia. Therefore, agricultural policies should balance or trade-off between these different services. In short, results from this research could be applied as a useful informative component for the future development of irrigated agricultural policy. EDITED BY Bas Amelung
Correlations between Some Yield and Yield Components in Sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) Hybrid, Line and Varieties

This study was conducted on experimental field of Field Crops Department at Agricultural Faculty of Ankara University in 1995, 1997 and 1998. The trials were designed in randomized block design with three replications. Genetic male sterile lines, hybrids and Ekiz-1, Vn ıı mk-8931 and Super-25 varieties were used as a material. According to the results of correlation analysis; positive correlations between SeY, SY, HD and PH; between OR, TSW, SeY and HD; between SeY, TSW and SY were recorded.
Cultivating Innovative Teen-leadership Programming: Building Evidence of Impact

The Teen Excellence in Leadership Institute (TELI) was created to provide meaningful leadership and civicengagement experiences to teens. We integrated Chickering’s Theory of Identity Development and the 4-H Citizenship Framework to develop program objectives and a model, consisting of four components: understanding of self, developing a network, community problem solving, and advocacy. This study aimed to determine the overall effectiveness of the program, highlight areas for program improvement, and provide a proof of concept for the model. Results on select 4-H Citizenship Common Measures indicated statistically significant gains in the four components of the model for cohorts one and two. Focus group data revealed five themes: diversity, connection, skill development, practical application, and learning about self. Evaluative results substantiate program impact and areas for continued program development.
Spatial and Temporal Distribution of a Biocontrol Bacterium Bacillus licheniformis N1 on the Strawberry Plants

Spatial and temporal distribution of Bacillus licheniformis N1 was investigated over time on the leaves, petioles and crowns of the strawberry plants. Bacterial population on the strawberry plants was quantified over time by selective plating. Bacterial population of N1 containing a plasmid pWH43G carrying green fluorescent protein (GFP) declined relatively faster on the plant surface as compared to the Strain N1 itself. However, this result was found to be enough to utilize the strain to visualize bacterial colonization on the plant surface. When B. licheniformis N1 was treated together with Silwet L-77 at 0.03%, the bacterial population on plant surface persisted for up to 7 days. B. licheniformis N1 (pWH43G) containing Silwet L-77 was applied on the strawberry plants and the GFP expressing bacteria were visualized by confocal laser scanning microscopy. Bacterial persistence was also investigated in a growth chamber and in a plastic house after N1 bioformulation treatment on the strawberry plant. The Strain N1 colonized three different tissues well and persisted over 3 to 5 days on the strawberry plants. They formed bacterial aggregates on plant surfaces for at least 3 days, resulting in a biofilm to resist fluctuating plant surface environment. However, the bacterial persistence dramatically declined after 7 days in all tested tissues in a plastic house. This study suggest that B. licheniformis N1 colonizes the strawberry plant surface and persists for a long time in a controlled growth chamber, while it can not persist over 7 days on the plant surface in a plastic house.
Study on soil fertility status influenced by direct seeded and transplanted rice under Kohima district of Nagaland

In the present investigation, soil fertility status of directed seeded and transplanted rice under Kohima district of Nagaland were studied. The soils of the study area were strong to moderate acidic in reaction with pH ranged from 4.94 to 5.58 and EC ranged from 0.04 to 0.15 dSm, respectively. The soils were high in organic carbon and potassium. Organic carbon ranged from 0.80 to 2.02 (%) and potassium ranged from 279.6 to 520.4 kg ha, respectively. The available nitrogen, phosphorus and sulphur ranged from low to medium, respectively.
Management of Hyperglycemia in Critically Ill Patients

Hyperglycemia occurs in patients with known or undiagnosed diabetes, or during acute illness (ie, stress hyperglycemia). Stress hyperglycemia is a common problem in critical illness. Although prevalence is difficult to establish due to limited data, stress hyperglycemia confers a high risk for adverse clinical outcomes. In an observational study, ICU patients with newly diagnosed hyperglycemia had significantly higher mortality (31%) compared with patients with known diabetes (10%) or normoglycemia (11.3%). Stress hyperglycemia usually is defined as an increase in blood glucose above 200 mg/dL in the presence of acute illness. Resolution typically occurs after appropriate treatment of the underlying illness. However, if hyperglycemia is left untreated, it can lead to acute kidney injury, sepsis, critical illness polyneuropathy, respiratory failure, and decreased wound healing. Prudent understanding of blood glucose goals and effective glycemic control is essential for appropriate management and optimization of patient outcomes.
Import Substitution with Labor Misallocation

This paper argues that relying on major policy distortions to create a domestic automotive industry through import substitution generates significant costs for the economy, in terms of foregone output, lower consumption, and reduced overall welfare. To bring this issue into sharp relief, the paper focuses on the extreme case of an outright vehicle import ban (complemented by an export subsidy), which gives rise to a misallocation of resources that will ultimately reduce the overall productivity of labor. More specifically, a share of the labor force is diverted to the production of previously-imported vehicles, which would have not happened in the absence of import restrictions. In particular, the output of the final good goes down; consumption is lowered; and overall welfare is reduced. Importantly, the equilibrium stock of vehicles available in this economy is also reduced, defeating the purpose of the imposition of import substitution. Additionally, the creation of an automotive sector is not neutral with respect to factor prices: the resulting lower wages imply that revenues in the newly-created sector are generated at the expense of labor income. Technological change in the automotive industry might act as a countervailing force for labor misallocation, albeit only partially.
Comparing Irrigation Systems and Strategies for Table Grapes in the Weathered Granite-gneiss Soils of the Lower Orange River Region

Drip and micro-sprinkler irrigation systems were compared in a Thompson Seedless/Ramsey table grape vineyard in a weathered granite-gneiss soil in the Lower Orange River region. For each system, two different irrigation strategies were investigated. Drip irrigation frequencies of two days or longer, induced more water constraints in grapevines compared to micro-sprinkler irrigation applied at the same frequencies in the 1996/97 and 1997/98 seasons. Higher water constraints imposed by drip irrigation had negative effects on vegetative growth, berry size and grape quality compared to micro-sprinkler irrigation. However, responses of drip irrigated grapevines were comparable to micro-sprinkler irrigated grapevines when drip irrigations were applied daily in the 1998/99 and 1999/2000 seasons. Daily, early morning drip irrigation increased evapotranspiration (ET) by 6% compared to drip during the warmest part of the day. Drip irrigation suppressed weed growth considerably compared to micro-sprinklers. Daily ET of the drip irrigated grapevines was substantially lower compared to micro-sprinkler irrigated grapevines that received either two or three irrigations per week. In the case of micro-sprinklers, the higher frequency increased ET by 8% compared to the lower irrigation frequency. Since micro-sprinkler irrigation invariably produced higher yields than drip irrigation during the four seasons, it should be the preferred system for irrigation of table grapes under the given atmospheric and soil conditions. If water resources are limited, or if high water cost reduces table grape profitabifity, drip irrigation merits consideration as an alternative. However, daily drip irrigation will be required during the growing season to maintain acceptable yields and grape quality.
Effects of Absolute Proximity Between Landmark and Platform in a Virtual Morris Pool Task with Humans

In two experiments in a virtual pool the participants were trained to find a hidden platform placed in a specific position in relation to one (Experiment 1) or two (Experiment 2) objects; then, all the participants received a test trial, without the platform, and the time spent in the segment where the platform should have been was measured. In Experiment 1, groups differed in the distance between the landmark and the hidden platform. Test results showed that the control acquired by the landmark was different depending on its relative distance from the platform: Closer landmarks acquired a better control than distant ones. In Experiment 2, two objects, B and F, were simultaneously present during acquisition. Object B was just above the hidden platform (i.e., a beacon for the platform) while object F was above the edge of the pool (i.e., a frame of reference). On the test, the spatial location of B in relation to F was manipulated in the different groups and a generalization gradient was found: Participants spent more time in the segment where B was when B was in front of F (training position), and this time decreased symmetrically with distance of B from F. The two experiments provide convergent evidence of spatial learning effects in a virtual task with humans.
The impact of business group diversification on emerging market multinationals: Evidence from Latin America

El presente articulo explora si los beneficios asociados a los grupos empresariales diversificados en la relacion entre scope de operaciones y performance financiero dependen tanto del nivel de desarrollo de los paises en los que la empresa tiene subsidiarias como de la region geografica donde la empresa concentra sus operaciones. Para testear las hipotesis presentadas, se utilizo un estudio panel con efectos fijos en una muestra de empresas Latino americanas. Los resultados sugieren que los grupos empresariales diversificados tienen la capacidad de generar valor en el proceso de internacionalizacion de sus afiliadas. Sin embargo, estos beneficios se obtienen basicamente dentro de la region (America) pero no estan relacionados con el nivel de desarrollo de los paises en los que la empresa participa.
Hepatitis B and C Single and Co-Infection Patterns Among Emergency Patients in a Resource-Limited Setting

Background: Hepatitis B and C viral infections continue to constitute major global health problems and are responsible for most liver related deaths. This study is carried out to reveal the hepatitis B and C single and co-infection patterns among emergency patients and their possible liver outcomes. Methods: Two hundred and eighty-eight (288) patients on initial visit from casualty unit were routinely screened for hepatitis B and C viruses over a period of two years in the haematology department. Diaspot one step enzyme immunoassay rapid kits for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and anti-HCV respectively were used. HBsAg and anti-HCV seroprevalence and possible co-infections were evaluated using descriptive statistics of SPSS version 17 and expressed in mean and standard deviation, and male: female ratios. Results: Of the 288 research volunteers, 8.68% and 1.74% were positive for HBsAg and anti-HCV respectively. 1.04% was HBV and HCV co-infected. The overall mean age and male: female ratio were 44.4±17.3 years and 1.4:1 respectively. Lower mean age and higher male: female ratios were observed in HBV and HCV population. HCC remain the major liver outcome in HBV-infected and HBV/HCV co-infected research subjects. Conclusion: Hepatitis B and C viral infections still remain a major public health problem globally. There is need for continued aggressive advocacy on ‘Know your HBV and HCV status’ to reduce the scourge of these infections especially in rural and resource-limited settings where problem of poverty and ignorance have contributed to development of liver complications in these patients.
The Long and the Short of It: Long Memory Regressors and Predictive Regressions

Persistent regressors pose a common problem in predictive regressions. Tests of the forward rate unbiased hypothesis (FRUH) constitute a prime example. Standard regression tests that strongly reject FRUH have been questioned on the grounds of potential long-memory in the forward premium. Researchers have argued that this could create a regression imbalance thereby invalidating standard statistical inference. To address this concern we employ a two-step procedure that rebalances the predictive equation, while still permitting us to impose the null of FRUH. We conduct a comprehensive simulation study to validate our procedure. The simulations demonstrate the good small sample performance of our two-stage procedure, and its robustness to possible errors in the first stage estimation of the memory parameter. By contrast, the simulations for standard regression tests show the potential for significant size distortion, validating the concerns of previous researchers. Our empirical application to excess returns, suggests less evidence against FRUH than found using the standard, but possibly questionable, t-tests.
Individualised or participatory? Exploring late-modern identity and sustainable development

The idea of individualisation is powerful: in late-modern society, people’s sense of identity is based on their individual experience rather than their relationships with others. This is problematic for sustainable development because it conflicts with the ideal of participation enshrined in its theory and practice. It is also unclear how the idea plays out in this field, with emerging evidence that some sustainable development policy and practice is individualising. The realities of individualisation are more complex. Empirical studies outside sustainable development have shown that individualising policy does not necessarily have individualising effects. Considering how the idea and realities of individualisation cast new light on subjectivities imagined in sustainable development theory and practice, I argue that sustainable development scholars and practitioners need to consider a range of late-modern subjectivities, and be critically aware of how individualisation is potentially reproduced in policy and practice.
Recommendation: Use of Various Raindrop Size Distributions for Different Geographical Locations in Calculating the Rain Specific Attenuation

Abstract We recommend the usage of an expanded set of power-law parameters in calculating the rain specific attenuation. We believe that this expansion is needed to accommodate an expanded set of raindrop size distributions, because the raindrop size distribution changes with geographical location and can strongly influence rain attenuation. Generally, the power-law parameters for Laws and Parsons (L-P) and Marshall and Palmer (M-P) distributions are used for estimating rain specific attenuation. We suggest, however, that it is more reasonable to use a gamma raindrop size distribution for high latitude locations and a lognormal raindrop size distribution for tropical regions. We further show that the specific attenuation for L-P raindrop size distribution is nearly the same as the specific attenuation obtained from power-law parameters of the ITU-R model.