Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
DEFOLIATION ENHANCES GREEN FORAGE PERFORMANCE BUT INHIBITS GRAIN YIELD IN BARLEY (HORDEUM VULGARE L.)

SUMMARY To evaluate the effects of defoliation on green forage performance and grain yield (GY) variation in barley, five barley genotypes were imposed on three levels of defoliation treatments over two consecutive growing seasons in this study. The results indicated that green forage yields were significantly improved by repeated defoliation. The traits of green forage quality, including the ratio of dry weight to fresh weight, crude ash and calcium content were improved, while crude protein and crude fat were reduced, and crude fiber and phosphorus contents appeared not to be influenced by repeated defoliation. Plant height (PH), GY and other yield components, grain number per spike and thousand kernel weight, were significantly reduced by defoliation over the two growing seasons, while internode length below spike was less affected. Reduction in spike length and the number of spikes per plant were identified in only one year. Correlation analysis revealed that only PH exhibited a positive correlation with GY. Effects of genotype, interaction between genotype and defoliation, and environments on changes of forage yield and quality and GY were also discussed. Our current work provides a feasible approach to select elite barley cultivars with optimal defoliation treatments for both forage and grain uses in barley breeding programme.
Book Review: Darwin's Duel with Descartes

Most social scientists explicitly denounce mind-body dualism as an anachronistic theory that was decisively refuted by modern advances in biology and neuroscience. In practice, however, many implicitly harbor dualistic beliefs, especially when theorizing about potentially incendiary topics such as sex or race differences. The physiognomies and physiques of the sexes or races may vary, but their minds do not. This selective dualism implicitly assumes that the material inside the skull is impervious to selective forces and that the mind, like Descartes’ res cogitans, mysteriously transcends the laws of physics. Because this belief is completely at odds with current knowledge about the world, and with the explicit pronouncements of most social scientists, it is difficult not to see it as a manifestation of political ideology. This does not mean that every researcher or scholar who harbors such beliefs does so because of his or her political preferences; rather, it means that selective dualism has achieved near fixation in academia because it coheres with the ideology of egalitarianism 1 that is a prominent component of the worldview of most educated citizens, including professors (see Inglehart and Welzel, 2005; also, many social scientists are liberal, which might compound this problem—see Inbar and Lammers, 2012). Haidt (2013) and others (e.g., Tetlock, 2002) have noted that conscious and unconscious ideologies, like small and imperceptible fluctuations on a superficially smooth surface, can subtly direct the path of science. If these ideologies are wedded to strong political or moral commitments, they can create a “moral tribe” who values ideological consistency more than open and honest inquiry. As indicated by the responses to previous proposals about racial variation in cognitive or temperamental traits (e.g., The Bell Curve:
Deuterium marking of chemical emissions: detectability and fitness consequences of a novel technique for insect behavioural studies

Behavioural studies often need to employ marking techniques to identify and track individuals. Marks ideally have no influence on behaviour or fitness of marked individuals or on the organisms with which they interact. A newly developed internal marking technique uses deuterium to manipulate the chemical emissions of bethylid wasps that are parasitoids of lepidopteran larvae. Wasps are deuterated indirectly by injecting deuterium oxide (heavy water) into the host on which they feed as larvae. Adult wasps emit a volatile chemical under stressful conditions and the emissions of deuterated and undeuterated wasps can be clearly and readily distinguished by measuring the ratio of deuterated/undeuterated molecules using real‐time mass spectrometry. Deuterated female wasps are, however, detectably disadvantaged in dyadic contests for host resources, a component of female fitness. In this study, we evaluated potential side‐effects of this deuterium marking technique on three further correlates of female Goniozus legneri Gordh (Hymenoptera: Bethylidae) fitness: longevity, lifetime fecundity, and offspring developmental mortality. We found that deuterium enrichment has no overall adverse effects on these parameters. We further showed that injecting hosts with different concentrations of deuterium results in distinguishably different volatile emissions of adult wasps, such that at least three individuals can be simultaneously identified by their chemical signatures. We also showed that deuterium marking remains effective beyond a wasp's death: deuterated and undeuterated wasps remain readily distinguishable after storage. We discuss potential applications of deuterium marking for the laboratory and field study of chemical communication, dispersal, and mating structure in parasitoid wasps and other insects.
COLLISION AVOIDANCE USING THE LGMD MODEL MEAN RESPONSE

: The Lobula Giant Movement Detector (LGMD) neuron, part of the locust optic lobe, responds selectively to rapidly approaching objects. In this article, we use a neural network that models the LGMD neuron. We propose a LGMD-based obstacles detection system to detect and avoid obstacles. In particular, we propose a new way to analyse the output of the LGMD model which decreases the complexity of the algorithm but increases the precision of the detection. The system performance is verified in an experiment in which a mobile robot equipped with a camera on its top, must autonomously navigate in a simulated environment. The obtained results show the system robustness and reliability.
Empirical Assessment of Tax Aggressiveness of Listed Firms in Nigeria

This study empirically examined the level of tax aggressiveness of listed firms in Nigeria. The population of the study consists of all the quoted nonfinancial firms as at 31st December, 2016. A sample of eighty five (85) quoted firms was selected for the period 2012 to 2016. The data analysis was done throughdescriptive analysis method. The results obtained revealed that twenty six (26) out of the eighty five (85) of the companies in the nonfinancial sector were highly tax aggressive. Thirteen (13) of the listed firms were moderately tax aggressive. Sixteen (16) very of them were tax aggressive at equilibrium while thirty (30) of the firms were not tax aggressive. The study recommends that firm should create a tax department and it should be manned by tax experts / auditors who are deemed to be imbued with wide experience on tax strategies to minimize tax expense payment
HYBRID SPECIATION IN WILD SUNFLOWERS1

Abstract Hybrid speciation refers to the establishment of novel hybrid genotypes that are reproductively isolated from their parental species and genetically stabilized. Most frequently, reproductive isolation is achieved via an increase in ploidy. However, in some instances new hybrid species arise and become reproductively isolated without a change in chromosome number, a process known as diploid or “homoploid” hybrid speciation. The annual sunflowers of the genus Helianthus provide a well-studied example of this latter mode of speciation. Here, I review this work, placing individual studies in their proper context. These include (1) computer simulations that describe the evolutionary conditions under which hybrid speciation is most likely; (2) molecular phylogenetic studies that document the origins of three hybrid sunflower species; (3) comparative genetic mapping studies that describe the karyotypic changes associated with hybrid speciation; (4) experimental re-creations of homoploid hybrid species that allow genotypic and phenotypic comparisons between synthetic and ancient hybrid lineages; (5) quantitative trait locus (QTL) studies that describe the genetic basis of phenotypic differences between the parental species and the mode of gene action underlying the generation of extreme phenotypes in hybrids; (6) phylogeographic studies that estimate the ages and number of origins of each hybrid species; (7) selection studies that measure the strength of selection on individual traits and QTLs in synthetic hybrids transplanted into hybrid habitats; and (8) candidate gene studies that search for correlations between candidate genes for ecological divergence and traits and QTLs shown to be under selection in the habitats of the hybrid species. Ongoing work includes searches for the molecular signature of selection during hybrid speciation, surveys of gene expression shifts associated with hybrid speciation, and experiments that evaluate the role of new hybrid gene combinations versus reproductive isolation in the ecological divergence of hybrid lineages.
Effects of Stakeholder Pressure, Corporate Governance, and Profitability on Carbon Emission Disclosures

This study aims to examine the effect of Stakeholder Pressure, Corporate Governance, and Profitability on Carbon Emission Disclosure. The population in this study are manufacturing and mining companies for the period 2013-2017 which are listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange. The sample in this study was 41 companies that met the criteria. A purposive sampling technique was used in this study for sampling. To test the hypothesis using multiple linear regression. In line with the theory of legitimacy, stakeholder theory, and agency theory the results of this study found that Corporate Governance and Profitability have a positive effect on Carbon Emission Disclosure.
EVALUATION OF LARVICIDAL PROPERTIES OF ARGEMONE MEXICANA LINN. SEED AND LEAF EXTRACTS AGAINST CULEX MOSQUITO (DIPTERA: CULICIDAE) SPECIES

Culex mosquito species transmit various human pathogens including encephalitis, Rift valley fever and lymphatic filariasis. To find out eco-friendly alternatives to replace synthetic chemical pesticides used in mosquito control program present was carried out to evaluate acetone, chloroform, methanolic and distilled water extracts of Argemone mexicana seeds and leaves against IV th instar larvae of Culex mosquito species. The larvicidal property of the plant extracts was tested following WHO method. Results revealed that maximum percentage mortality of 73.3% was observed in 500 ppm concentration after 96 hr exposure period in chloroform extract of leaves. Similar concentration and exposure period was recorded in methanolic extract of seeds with 86.6% mortality. The computed probit analysis results showed minimum LC50 concentration of 567.3 ppm for methanolic extract of leaves after 24 hr exposure period followed by chloroform (407.4 ppm) extract after 48 hr exposure period and 190.1 ppm for acetone extract after 72 hr exposure period. In seed extracts, 670.9 ppm concentration for methanolic extract after 24 hr exposure period, 499.4 ppm concentration for acetone extract after 48 hr exposure period and 64.3 ppm and -289.6 ppm concentration for methanolic extract after 72 and 96 hr exposure period respectively. In general, dose and time dependent larval mortality was observed in the study among the plant extracts tested. These plant extracts may have toxic chemicals to kill the larvae of Culex mosquito species. In Ethiopia, these plants are growing extensively and it can be useful to control larvae of Culex mosquitoes in their breeding site. However, filed validation of the plant extracts, characterization of bioactive molecules and formulations are important to utilize large scale field application.
The Baculoviral Genome

M. Leticia Ferrelli1, Marcelo F. Berretta2, Mariano N. Belaich3, P. Daniel Ghiringhelli3, Alicia Sciocco-Cap2 and Victor Romanowski1 1Instituto de Biotecnologia y Biologia Molecular, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Universidad Nacional de La Plata, CONICET 2Laboratorio de Ingenieria Genetica y Biologia Celular y Molecular Area Virosis de Insectos, Departamento de Ciencia y Tecnologia, Universidad Nacional de Quilmes 3Instituto de Microbiologia y Zoologia Agricola, INTA Castelar Argentina
The Effects of Supplementary L -Arginine Dietary on Metabolism and Performance in Anaerobic Exercise

Arginine exists in the body as a free amino acid; constituent of most proteins and as a precursor to several non-proteins such as nitrogen compounds. This amino acid also functions as an intermediate mediator in urea formation cycle in the production of adenosine tri-phosphate, cell proliferation, vascular dilation, neural transmission, calcium release and the immune system. L-arginine is present most in dietary protein and people normally receive more than 5 grams of it daily. Almost 25 years ago this supplement became popular among athletes. Most scientists describe oral arginine as a growth- enhancing hormone.The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of L-arginine on changes in lactate and ammonium concentrations. The research population included 30 male students randomly picked out from among students representing research population willing to participate in the project. Out of this number 10 were assigned to the experimental group 1 consuming L-arginine supplements and 10 were chosen as experimental group 2 consuming branched amino acid supplements and 10 were assigned to control group. Results showed that consumption of L-arginine supplements reduces ammonium. Although different studies have reported different results in this field it is likely that arginine delays fatigue through interfering in the metabolism of ammonium.
On the Privacy Leakage of Coded Caching

Coded caching, introduced by Maddah-Ali and Niesen, jointly designs content placement and delivery policies that achieve order-optimal transmission rate. We first prove that the coded caching scheme cannot protect the anonymity of network users when an eavesdropper in the network has access to the broadcast channel. Then, a three-stage attack is proposed to estimate users file requests by building an X-D table mapping between server transmissions X and users requests D. For a coded caching network having N files and K users, there are NK different demand vectors. We show that the approximate average time complexity of the proposed attack is only a factor of two from the total number of possible demand vectors, while the best case (for the eavesdropper) time complexity is in the order of only NK. Once the X-D table is completely deduced by the eavesdropper, the users seize from having any privacy. Numerical simulations demonstrate that the analytical results for the time complexity of the attack match well with the simulation results.
Association Between Aging, Apoptosis And Related Dysregulations

Aging or Apoptosis research is a rapidly developing area, but the role of apoptosis is still ambiguous and controversial. Aging is more closely related with a progressive deterioration of tissues and organs. While, many hypotheses have been proposed to explain the aging process, the exact mechanism involved is not chiseled. One of the most common characteristic to aging tissues is cell loss and modification in cell death signaling cascades could contribute to cell loss and underlie a number of age-related organ-specific cellular degenerations. Current review paper will focuses on apoptosis and hashes out how dysregulation of the apoptotic signaling cascade could be involved in aging and age-related pathologies. Furthermore, Apoptosis, or programmed cell death, is a biological process that begins during development and continues throughout adulthood. There is evidence that advanced age is associated with dysregulation of apoptosis. Our paper will discourse studies that show age-related changes in the proteins that regulate apoptosis and demonstrate that aging enhances apoptosis and increases the susceptibility of several different cell types to apoptosis. Modification in apoptotic signaling may help to explain the age-associated decrease in immunity, cardiac function in old age and also in the enhancement of neurodegenerative diseases in aging mankind.
War Literature: The Kite Runner and What History Cannot Inform

This paper sheds light on war literature, defining it and highlighting its significance. It also underlines its selective nature as it can magnify, bedim, or even warp certain truths, depending on the perspective from which this literature is delivered. The paper also emphasizes the function of war literature in raising awareness as to the horrors of war and its aftermath as well as its function in promoting peace. Besides, it examines The Kite Runner in this respect. It shows how this novel succeeds in portraying the atrocities of war and its drastic effects long after this war ends. The paper observes how the novel synchronizes the political events with the personal ones in order to show that the war does not only affect those who are directly involved in it but extends to reach the innocent more severely. To underline the parallel between the political and personal events, Husseini employs the rape motif and balances the political turning points with the crucial events at the personal scale. The author also juxtaposes scenes that display the damages of the war with scenes that portray the blissful state before the inauguration of war in order to exhibit the grave impact of war and the irretrievability of this state. Husseini also presents the law of the jungle that becomes prominent during and after the war and exposes the detrimental destruction of the country sites – the destruction that effaces civilizations. The paper also proposes possible topics for future research.
Evaluation of embryonated eggs as an alternative model for studying pathogenicity and virulence of Campylobacter species isolates

Objectives: To evaluate the pathogenicity potential and relative virulence of Campylobacter species isolates using fertile chicken eggs as the model. Methodology and results: Four bacterial isolates, comprising of 4 Campylobacter species from chicken were evaluated using 15-day-old embryonated chicken eggs and yolk sac inoculation technique. The four species, Campylobacter jejuni subsp. jejuni, Campylobacter jejuni subsp. doylei, Campylobacter coli and Campylobacter lari were pathogenic and they killed the embryos, except C. j. subsp. doylei. Embryos inoculated with C. j. subsp. doylei hatched after 6 days post-infection with persistently soiled vent. Respective species/subspecies of Campylobacter were re-isolated from at least 75% of the dead embryos and hatched chicks. Ranked in order of virulence (based on the post-infection time needed to cause death of embryos), the order was Campylobacter lari > Campylobacter jejuni subsp. Jejuni > C. coli > Campylobacter jejuni subsp. doylei. Conclusions and application of findings : The study demonstrated the potential of using embryonated eggs as a model for studies of pathogenicity and relative virulence of Campylobacter isolates in Nigeria or other similar situations where laboratory facilities may not be easily available.
PII: S0166-8641(01)00010-4

The purpose of this paper is to give several topological characterizations of Minkowski summands. These techniques allow us to characterize when two convex sets are homothetic. We use these results to give two characterizations of the solid sphere.  2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved. AMS classification: 52A20
Management and Employees Responsibilities as Determinants of Job Performance in Power Holding Company of Nigeria

DOI: 10.21276/sjbms.2018. 3.8. 6 Abstract: The study investigated the extent of fulfillment of employment responsibilities between the management and employees of PHCN, areas of employment responsibilities, with a view to ascertaining how this influenced the job performance of employees of PHCN, Ibadan Zone. The descriptive survey design was used for the study. A total of 40 management staff and 240 employees were selected using simple random sampling technique. Data for the study were collected using two instruments namely “Employment Responsibilities Inventory” (ERI), and Employees’ Job Performance Scale” (EJPS). The reliability of the instruments was confirmed with the Cronbach Alpha and Split-half results yielded ERI = 0.82 and 0.76 and EJPS = 0.88 and 0.83 respectively. The data collected were analysed using simple percentage, mean, standard deviation and t-test statistical analysis. The results showed that provision of safe working environment (X=3,12, S.D = 0.69) and pay increase to maintain standards of living (X=2.99, S.D. = 0.77) were the major responsibilities required by the employees from their management. It was showed that 61.3% of the employees reported that their management rarely discharged their employment responsibilities to the workers. Also, it was revealed that there was a significant effect of employment responsibilities on employees’ job performance (t-test = 128.9, p < 0.05). It thus concluded that poor fulfillment of employment responsibilities has greatly affected the productivity of employees of PHCN, Ibadan Zone.
Recovery-associated resting-state activity and connectivity alterations in Anorexia nervosa

Background Previous studies provided controversial insight on the impact of starvation, disease status as well as of underlying grey matter volume (GMV) changes on resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rsfMRI) alterations in anorexia nervosa (AN). Here we adapt a combined longitudinal and cross-sectional approach to disentangle the effects of these factors on resting-state alterations in AN. Methods Overall, 87 subjects were included in the study: adolescent patients with acute AN scanned at inpatient admission (N = 22) and at discharge (N = 21), 21 patients recovered from AN and two groups of healthy age-matched controls (both N = 22). Whole-brain measures of resting-state activity and functional connectivity were computed (Network Based Statistics, Global Correlation, Integrated Local Correlation, fractional Amplitude of Low Frequency Fluctuations) to assess rsfMRI alterations over the course of AN treatment before and after controlling for underlying GMV. Results Patients with acute AN displayed strong and widespread prefrontal, sensorimotor, parietal, temporal, precuneal and insular reductions of resting-state connectivity and activity. All alterations were independent of GMV and were largely normalized in short- and absent in long-term recovered AN. Conclusions Resting-state fMRI alterations in AN constitute acute and GMV independent presumably starvation-related phenomena. All alterations found here normalized over the course of recovery without evidence for possible preexisting trait- or remaining 'scar'-effects.
Efficient Generation of Error-Inducing Floating-Point Inputs via Symbolic Execution

Floating point is widely used in software to emulate arithmetic over reals. Unfortunately, floating point leads to rounding errors that propagate and accumulate during execution. Generating inputs to maximize the numerical error is critical when evaluating the accuracy of floating-point code. In this paper, we formulate the problem of generating high error-inducing floating-point inputs as a code coverage maximization problem solved using symbolic execution. Specifically, we define inaccuracy checks to detect large precision loss and cancellation. We inject these checks at strategic program locations to construct specialized branches that, when covered by a given input, are likely to lead to large errors in the result. We apply symbolic execution to generate inputs that exercise these specialized branches, and describe optimizations that make our approach practical. We implement a tool named FPGen and present an evaluation on 21 numerical programs including matrix computation and statistics libraries. We show that FPGen exposes errors for 20 of these programs and triggers errors that are, on average, over 2 orders of magnitude larger than the state of the art.