Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Efficacy of plant leaf extracts and bio-agent against leaf blight of Safflower caused by Alternaria carthami

An experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of four plant leaf extract, one bioagent and one fungicide (treated control) in-vivo against Alternaria carthami causing leaf blight of safflower. The plant leaf extracts and bio-agent found effective in-vivo were tested against the alternaria leaf blight of safflower under field condition during rabi season 2016-2017 minimum plant disease intensity (%) was observed in Datura (30.97%) followed by Lantana (34.18%), Neem (37.30%), Eucalyptus (42.45%), Trichoderma harzianum (46.36%) as compared to the treated control SAAF (22.82%) and Untreated Control (56.73%) on Alternaria carthami.
Stage life testing with random stage changing times

Abstract In progressive Type-II censoring, it is often claimed that the withdrawn items are further tested under different conditions but a model incorporating this information has not been discussed so far. Introducing the model of Type-II stage life testing, we propose an approach to include information from progressively censored units subject to additional life testing by assuming a cumulative exposure model. Postulating exponentially distributed lifetimes, we establish the exact (conditional) distribution of the maximum likelihood estimators which is applied to construct (exact) confidence intervals for the distribution parameters. Further, we investigate the model with Weibull distributed lifetimes as well as the problem of missing information about the stage of failure. The study is supplemented by illustrative simulations.
Pancreatic islet transplantation: toward definitive treatment for diabetes mellitus.

Since the late 20th century, advances in pancreatic islet transplantation have targeted improved glycemic control and fewer hypoglycemic events in patients with type 1 diabetes, and some important milestones have been reached. Following the Edmonton group's success in achieving insulin independence in all transplanted patients with type 1 diabetes, clinical islet transplantation is now performed worldwide. β cell replacement therapy for type 1 diabetes was established based on the favorable outcomes of a phase 3, prospective, open-label, single-arm, clinical study conducted at 8 centers in North America, in which 42 of 48 patients who underwent islet transplantation from 2008 to 2011 achieved HbA1c < 7.0% (53 mmol/mol) at day 365, which was maintained at 2 years in 34 patients. In Japan, a phase 2 multicenter clinical trial of islet transplantation for type 1 diabetes patients is currently ongoing and will end soon, but the interim results have already led to positive changes, with allogeneic islet transplantation being covered by the national health insurance system since April 2020. Current efforts are being made to solve the problem of donor shortage by studying alternative donor sources, such as porcine islets and pancreatic progenitor cells derived from pluripotent stem cells. The results of clinical trials in this area are eagerly awaited. It is hoped that they will contribute to establishing alternative sources for insulin-producing β cells in the near future.
Characteristics and Formation Mechanisms of Winter Particulate Pollution in Lanzhou, Northwest China

The formation mechanisms of particulate pollution in Lanzhou, which used to be one of the most polluted cities across the world, remain unclear even though air pollution in Lanzhou has been improved in recent decades. Multiple online data during 2019–2020 winter was used to analyze the characteristics and reveal the formation mechanisms of particulate pollution in Lanzhou. Organic matter, nitrate, sulfate, and ammonium accounted for 35.8%, 16.6%, 12.7%, and 10.8%, respectively, of PM2.5 mass. The contribution of secondary inorganic aerosols decreased from low to high particulate levels. Nitrate and ammonium concentrations consistently increased with increasing PM2.5 while sulfate concentrations firstly increased but remained stagnant under high particulate conditions. The sulfur and nitrogen oxidation ratios exhibited relatively low values of 0.18 ± 0.12 and 0.11 ± 0.05, respectively. Nitrogen oxidation ratio showed little dependence on relative humidity because of limited aqueous phase generation of nitrate. The increasing nitrate to sulfate ratio and decreasing organic carbon to elemental carbon ratio under high particulate concentrations indicate relative decreasing contribution of coal burning and increasing contribution of vehicle exhaust emissions on particulate pollution. The rapid decreasing trend of secondary organic carbon to elemental carbon ratio under high particulate concentrations was attributed to a combination of the relatively decreasing photochemical generations and increasing accumulation of primary emissions by the weakened atmospheric diffusion ability. Our results suggest that controlling primary carbonaceous species and vehicle exhaust emissions is the most effective measure in order to sustainably mitigate particulate pollution in Lanzhou in the future.
The Balkan Paradox: Are Wages and Labour Productivity Significant Determinants of FDI Inflows?

ABSTRACT Although middle-income Balkan countries have attracted substantial FDI inflows, the level of that inflow is still significantly lower than the European average, with no visible redirection towards the Balkans. Both wages and labour productivity have had a significant impact on FDI inflows in European Union (EU) countries. This research aims to explore the significance of those variables in the countries of the Balkans. We have found that, in Balkan countries, FDI inflows respond negatively to shocks in labour productivity, which is contrary to the experience of EU countries. In EU countries, growth in gross wages has a negative impact on FDI inflows, while in Balkan countries, we found a paradoxical scenario, in that increased wages actually have a positive impact on FDI inflows.
The influence of ownership concentration and export in a performance factor of publicly traded companies of B3.

Multinational companies positively impact the growth of emerging countries and to the detriment of this, studies of how these companies operate and generate value is also growing positively in the academic field. Questions widely studied as performance and ownership concentration are now being evaluated in an international context performance. This is at the expense of high concentration is a common feature of developing countries such as Brazil, and due to export strategy occur due to the quest for increased performance and wealth maximization. In view of this, this study sought to determine the influence that the ownership concentration ally export has on a performance factor developed for this work. The results showed that the export relates U-shaped with the variable performance and interaction export-concentration showed a positive relationship with the variable of interest. As future work, it is suggested to add other internationalization variables to consider more ways to foreign entry.
Variations Saisonnières Des Paramètres De Reproduction Et Relation Taille-Poids De Auxis thazard (Lacepède, 1800) Capturé Dans Le Golfe De Guinée Par La Flottille Artisanale Ivoirienne

In this study, the seasonal variation in sex ratio, macroscopic stages of sexual maturity, gonado-somatic ratio, hepatostatic ratio, condition factor, and size-weight relationship in Auxis thazard from Gulf of Guinea were studied from January to December 2016. Sex ratio observed was in favor of males (1: 0,78; X² observed = 20,16 ˃ theoretical X² = 3,84 ; p ˂ 0,05). The variation of maturity stages associated with GSI, HSI, and K during different seasons of the year showed that this specie spawns throughout the year. Length-weight relationship was W = 0,0039 L 3, 4108 (R2 = 0,93 ; N = 291) for males, W = 0,0036 L 3, 4376 (R2 = 0,91 ; N = 227) for females, and W = 0,004 L 3, 4118 (R2 = 0,92 ; N = 519) for the combined sexes. The b value was significantly higher than the theoretical value of 3 for males (t-test, t = 233,218, p ˂ 0,05), for females (t-test, t = 227,776, p ˂ 0,05), and for all individuals (t-test, t = 315,821, p ˂ 0,05). This situation however indicates a faster increase of the fish in weight rather than in length.
The Adoption of Improved Agricultural Technologies - a Meta-Analysis for Africa

Understanding the determinants of improved agricultural technology adoption is an important component of increasing agricultural productivity and incomes of smallholders to reduce poverty and hunger. In this paper, particular attention is given to the identification and promotion of productivity and resilience enhancing agricultural practices. Although numerous seminal reviews of this literature have been published, most of these were theoretical or conceptual reviews and focus on earlier literature from continents other than Africa, which is the continent facing the biggest productivity challenge now. The authors synthesize the findings of this literature with a focus on Africa using a meta-data set that brings together the results of 168 recently published papers. They find that most of this literature focuses on agronomic practices and that agroforestry and livestock related studies make up less than one fifth of the total published papers. Eleven determinants, primarily those related to information access, wealth indicators and tenure security, are found to increase adoption more than chance would dictate in the literature. The findings provide evidence to support recommendations for future policy and research.
A Critical Review of SCWG in the Context of Available Gasification Technologies for Plastic Waste

End of life packaging is nowadays one of the major environmental problems due to its short usage time, the low biodegradability, and the big volume occupied. In this context, gasification is one of the most promising chemical recycling techniques. Some non-recyclable or non-compostable waste gasification plants are already operating such as Enerkem Alberta Biofuels in Canada or the Sierra’s FastOx Pathfinder in California. In this review, we have examined works about plastic gasification from the last fifteen years with a specific focus on polyolefin (PP, PE), plastics mix, and co-gasification of plastic with biomass. For each of these, the best operating conditions were investigated. A very in-depth section was dedicated to supercritical water gasification (SCWG). The most used reactors in gasification processes are fluidized bed reactors together with air or steam as gasifying agents. Tar removal is commonly performed using olivine, dolomite, or nickel based catalysts. SCWG has numerous advantages including the inhibition of tar and coke formation and can be used to remove microplastics from the marine environment. In co-gasification of plastic material with coal or biomass, synergistic effects are observed between the raw materials, which improve the performance of the process, allowing to obtain higher gas yields and a syngas with a high energy content.
In vitro Ovicidal Activity of Encapsulated Ethanolic Extract of Prosopis juliflora Against Haemonchus contortus Eggs

Haemonchus contortus is one of the most prevalent and highly pathogenic nematode parasites of small ruminants. Development of resistance and degradation of active compounds of conventional anthelmintic drugs prompted evaluation of encapsulated medicinal plant extracts as alternative anthelmintics. The in vitro ovicidal activity of encapsulated extract of Prosopis juliflora was determined using Egg hatch inhibition assay on H.contortus eggs. The tests were evaluated at six concentrations (0.63, 0.13, 0.25, 0.5, 1.0 and 2.0 mg/ml) and in drug to polymer ratios of (1:2, 1:1 and 2:1). The results indicated that there was a significant difference in egg hatch inhibition at different concentrations and ratios (P<0.05). At 2.0 mg/ml, encapsulated leave ethanolic extract (ELEE) at drug to polymer ratio of (2:1), leaf ethanolic extract (LEE) and albendazole (positive control) all exhibited total inhibition of egg hatching. Of the plant extracts tested, ELEE showed higher ovicidal activity (IC50 =0.36 mg/ml) as compared to LEE, root ethanolic extract (REE) and encapsulated root ethanolic extract with IC50 values of 0.49, 0.65 and 0.74 mg/ml respectively. Generally, the mean inhibition rate of egg hatching increased with increase in extract concentration. However, there was no statistically significant difference in egg hatch inhibition between LEE and REE (p>0.05). In conclusion, the encapsulated P. juliflora extract have a potential anthelmintic activity and further in vivo evaluation and characterization of the plant extract is warranted to further ascertain its efficacy and the compounds responsible for the efficacy.
Antisense knockdown of the glial glutamate transporter GLT‐1 exacerbates hippocampal neuronal damage following traumatic injury to rat brain

Traumatic injury to rat brain induced by controlled cortical impact (CCI) results in chronic neuronal death in the hippocampus. In the normal brain, glutamate transporters actively clear the glutamate released synaptically to prevent receptor overactivation and excitotoxicity. Glutamate transporter 1 (GLT‐1) is the most abundant and active glutamate transporter, which mediates the bulk of glutamate uptake. CCI injury significantly decreased GLT‐1 mRNA (by 49–66%, P < 0.05) and protein (by 29–44%, P < 0.05) levels in the ipsilateral hippocampus, compared with either the respective contralateral hippocampus or the sham‐operated control, 24–72 h after the injury. CCI injury in rats infused with GLT‐1 antisense oligodeoxynucleotides (ODNs) exacerbated the hippocampal neuronal death and mortality, compared with the GLT‐1 sense/random ODN‐infused controls. At 7 days after the injury, hippocampal neuronal numbers were significantly lower in the CA1 (reduced by 32%, P < 0.05), CA2 (by 45%, P < 0.01), CA3 (by 68%, P < 0.01) and dentate gyrus (by 31%, P < 0.05) in GLT‐1 antisense ODN‐infused rats, compared with the GLT‐1 sense/random ODN‐infused controls. This study suggested a role for GLT‐1 dysfunction in promoting the hippocampal neuronal death after traumatic brain injury.
Platinum Group Element Enrichment of Natural Quenched Sulfide Solid Solutions, the Norilsk 1 Deposit, Russia

The deepest terminations of the Mount Rudnaya subvertical massive sulfide offshoots of the Norilsk 1 orebody are composed of exceptionally fine grained sulfides that are believed to be natural quenched sulfide solid solutions. Copper-rich intermediate solid solution (ISS) and Fe-rich monosulfide solid solution (MSS) form an equigranular and lamellar matrix hosting MSS- and ISS-dominant globules. The nonstoichiometric chemical compositions of the solid solutions plot within their high-temperature fields known from experiments. MSS contains 19 to 35 wt % Ni, 0.09 to 0.45 wt % Co, and up to 0.6 wt % Cu and is heterogeneously enriched in Rh (up to 32 ppm), Ir (up to 0.6 ppm), Pt (up to 65 ppm), and Pd (up to 168 ppm). ISS occurs as the lamellar intergrowths of the chalcopyrite (Ccpss) and cubanite (Cubss) solid solutions, which bear up to 4.74 wt % Ni and 0.2 wt % Co and are heterogeneously enriched in Zn, Ag, and In. The assemblage of platinum group minerals (PGMs) is hosted mostly in the ISS and is dominated by Pt-Fe alloys and minerals of the rustenburgite-atokite series, like the set of PGMs at the Norilsk 1 deposit. Similar Pt-Pd-Sn compounds in the laser ablation-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) spectra of profiles through MSS and ISS are interpreted to be trapped microinclusions. The pentlandite contains up to 0.13 wt % Pt, up to 4.62 wt % Pd, <0.53 wt % Co, and <0.4 wt % Cu according to electron microprobe analysis. LA-ICP-MS data and mapping show that Pd content in the pentlandite increases toward contacts with ISS and decreases toward contacts with MSS, supporting a reaction origin of pentlandite. The wide variations of the concentrations of major and trace elements in the solid solutions, as well as the coexistence of Pd-poor (a few ppm Pd) and Pd-rich (over 4.62 wt % Pd) pentlandite within a single sample, seem to characterize the different generations of the MSS to MSS-ISS globules, antecrysts, and phenocrysts with the distinct histories of enrichment due to exchange with fractionated Cu-platinum group element-rich residue. The directional distribution of Pd of high-temperature primary magmatic origin is preserved due to rapid quenching of the sulfides from ~650°C.
Characteristics of Atmospheric Kinetic Energy Spectra during the Intensification of Typhoon Lekima (2019)

The intensification of Typhoon Lekima (2019) is simulated with the Weather Research and Forecasting model to study the atmospheric horizontal kinetic energy (HKE) spectra and corresponding spectral HKE budgets under the control of real tropical cyclone (TC). The results show that the TC has the ability to modify the canonical atmospheric energy spectrum during its evolution, which is dominated by its rotational mode. With the intensification of Lekima, the HKE spectrum in the troposphere swells over the central mesoscale and develops an arc-like shape. The stronger the TC, the more pronounced the arc-like shape is and the smaller scale it extends to. The roles various physical processes play at different heights and horizontal scales during the intensification of Lekima are investigated and the dependence of the effect of physical processes on scale and height is revealed. Meanwhile, the potential relationship between the intensification of TC, the activation of energy activity at smaller scales, and the downscale extension of the arc-like spectral shape is found.
A comparative Study of ecto and endo parasites of free range and captive Fowl in Sangli District, Maharashtra

Among the agricultural practices poultry is one of the main financial sources in western Maharashtra. In the present research we concentrated on one of the main source economic loss of the poultry farmers, the parasitic infestation. We selected free range birds and captive birds of both male and female. In the present study we observed that females are more resistant to parasitic infestation than male. The captive birds are more prone to parasitic infestation than free range one, indicating the improper caring of the birds in the study localities. Concerned with ectoparasite lice is outnumbered flowed by fleas and mite. Concerned with Endoparasites Ascaridiae is greater cause of infection than Heterakis, Subulura and Raillietina tetragona. This research work will enable the poultry farmers to assess their fowls regarding the various ecto and endo parasite infections and how to manipulate their day to day care of the birds to minimize the parasitic infections and their by increase the productivity, because parasitic infection directly correlates with egg production and meat quality.
Species Richness, Functional Diversity and Assemblage Structure of Insectivorous Bats Along an Elevational Gradient in Tropical West Africa

Rising global temperatures cause severe changes to the environment resulting, for example, in shifts in biomes and assemblages to higher elevational ranges. Therefore, it is integral to understand how species and assemblages will respond to this threat. Elevational gradients present a useful framework to measure potential changes to diversity due to climate change and human land use. Most studies focus on taxonomic diversity, and ignore functional diversity which provides a measure of the ecological roles of species within ecosystems. The aim of this study was to investigate taxonomic and functional diversity of as well as variation in assemblage structure of the insectivorous bat communities along the Mount Nimba elevational gradient. We predicted that both taxonomic and functional diversity would be negatively correlated with elevation, and that bat assemblages would show a nested pattern along the elevational gradient. Taxonomic diversity was calculated using species richness. Functional diversity of univariate and multivariate traits was calculated using two diversity indices: mean pairwise distance and mean nearest taxon distance. As predicted, species richness of bats was significantly negatively correlated with elevation. Functional diversity however, decreased significantly only at the highest elevation (and this may even be a sampling artifact given high human activities there in recent times). Contrary to predictions, metacommunity analyses revealed quasi-Gleasonian structuring of bat assemblages, indicating weak structuring forces along the elevational gradient. These results suggest that bat assemblages shifting in response to climate change along elevational gradients may change taxonomically but stay largely intact functionally.
Within-Site Variability of Field Recordings from Stationary, Passively Working Detectors

Passively working devices (with no operator input) that register bat calls in real time are very important in conservation and environmental risk assessment, but data on their performance and limits under field conditions are mostly missing. We characterized the recording variability among three batcorders placed in proximate vicinity (ca. 10 m apart) to each other at 157 sites in Austria (central Europe). We found this variability perplexingly high, both for bat activity and species richness estimates. Specifically, the ratio of the highest to the lowest total sequence length (all species combined) was over fivefold in 23%, and over tenfold in 8% of the sites. In only 17% of the sites, we found the same number of species for all three devices — in most sites it varied between one and five species. The maximum call ranges of the recorded bat species affected the recording variability between the devices only for short ranges (5 m) but showed similar or relatively low variability for longer ranges. There was significantly less recording variability in sites with no woody vegetation present than in sites with open to dense vegetation structure. The results clearly indicate that the common practice of deploying only one device per site and night very likely leads to several of the resident bat species being missed and produces unreliable activity estimates.
Job seeker attraction to organizational justice mediated by organizational reputation

Abstract This paper seeks to examine the stipulation individuals’ perceptions of organizational justice, organizational reputation, and its effects to organization attractiveness. A total of 327 accounting and finance interns were assumed the role of job seekers. We wanted participants to evaluate organizations in which they are currently undergoing internship to increase the likelihood that they had experience during the internship and knowledge gained about the organization; thus, held informed opinions about organizational justice and reputation, and its attractiveness as a job seeker. We found the organizational justice influences job seeker attraction to an organization, even more intriguing as the relationship associated with organizational reputation. Moreover, organizations have to pay more attention particularly to the informational justice and distribution justice as the most influential variables of organizational justice to organizational reputation, in turn affects job seeker attraction. This study also empirically recognized the notion of signaling theory incorporated with brand equity to publicize a deeper explanation of the job seeker attraction process. This is the first study to show that organizational justice is an instrumental characteristic, organizational reputation is a symbolic characteristic, understanding from signaling theory and brand-equity approach and, the combination plays a substantial role in job seeker attraction concept.