Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effect of nutritive solution K:N and shading on the "fruit" quality of NFT-grown strawberry

Research was carried out in 1997/98 and 1998/99 in the Naples area with the aim of investigating the “fruit” quality characteristics of strawberry grown in a recirculating hydroponic system. The experimental plan was based on the comparison among sixteen treatments obtained by the factorial combination of eight nutritive solutions differing in K:N ratio (K:N = 0.8, 1.0, 1.2, 1.4, 1.6, 1.8, 2.0, 2.2) and crops arranged in pairs on double vertical layers; a control crop was managed traditionally. The upper crop layer determined higher values of the “fruit” dry and optical residues, sugars, acids and mineral nutrients, among which only the nitrates were unaffected. As regards the K:N ratio, the dry and optical residues, the titratable acidity, the pH and the contents of fructose, citric and succinic acids failed to show any change. By contrast, the concentrations of glucose, sucrose, malic acid and potassium increased parallel to the K:N ratio in the nutritive solution. For the macronutrients a decreasing trend was recorded in the “fruits”. The traditional crop, compared to the hydroponic upper level, displayed the lowest “fruit” values of the dry and optical residues and the glucose and sucrose contents. By contrast, the control titratable acidity was the highest, whereas the citric and malic acid concentrations were higher than some of the K:N ratio treatments. Within the mineral elements, the berry nitrates, calcium, magnesium, chloride, iron, copper and zinc contents were highest with the control, while phosphorus, potassium and sulphur concentrations resulting from the traditional technique were higher only than some of the K:N levels. Compared to the hydroponic lower crop layer, in the control the “fruit” sucrose content was lowest, whereas the citric, malic and succinic acid concentrations were highest. The nutrient levels were highest in the berries harvested in the traditional plots, except for potassium which was better affected by the 0.8-1.6 K:N range.
Variation in tree and shrub diversity across space, along environmental gradients and through time in a temperate forest in eastern North America

iii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS . v TABLE OF CONTENTS . vii LIST OF TABLES AND FIGURES . ix INTRODUCTION . 1 The niche and neutral theories of community assembly . 1 Tropical CTFS forest plots as a tool to study forest communities . 3 Environmental heterogeneity in topography explains plant resource availability . 6 Variation partitioning of space and environment . 8 Spatial distribution and environmental requirements depend on tree size . 10 Outline of this study . 13 METHODS AND MATERIALS . 15 Study site characteristics, location and history . 15 Plant sampling . 16 Data analysis . 18 RESULTS . 27 Environment characteristics: topography and land-use history . 27 Community structural characteristics . 28 Variation partitioning . 31 Prediction of focal tree species abundances . 32 M.Sc. Thesis S. L. Muñoz McMaster University (Biology) viii DISCUSSION . 37 Role of environmental variables . 37 Role of spatial variables . 39 Habitat association of focal species . 43 Habitat association changes with size class . 46 Conclusion . 49 TABLES . 51 FIGURES . 65 REFERENCES . 83 APPENDIX . 101 M.Sc. Thesis S. L. Muñoz McMaster University (Biology) ix LIST OF TABLES AND FIGURES Table 1: Eleven variables used to describe topography and their ranges in the censused area of McMaster Forest. Table 2: A correlation matrix of all 11 topographic variables. Table 3: All principal components of the PCA based on the correlation matrix between all 11 topographic variables. Table 4: Matrix of variable loadings for all 11 topographic variables on the first 4 principal components. Table 5: Count and basal area (BA) of the six focal species and all other censused individuals combined. Table 6: The first 12 principal components of the PCA based on the correlation matrix between 33 species. Table 7: Values of all canonical axes of the RDA based on the explanatory matrix of 8 topographic variables and response matrix of species abundances for 303 sites. Table 8: Matrix of variable loadings for all topographic variables on the first four canonical axes of the RDA based on the explanatory matrix of 8 topographic variables and response matrix of species abundances for 303 sites. Table 9: Goodness of fit for individual focal species showing proportion explained by first four RDA axes as well as the cumulative proportion of variance accounted for in the
Current situation and influencing factors of each turnover of kindergarten teachers – a questionnaire survey

Objective Frequent teacher turnover may damage the development of teachers and the regular operation of kindergartens. This original research presented kindergarten teachers’ first, second, and third turnover rates and occurrence times. This research analyzed the relationship between socio-demographic variables and the varying frequency of kindergarten teacher turnover. These data were used to investigate the characteristics of first, second, and third kindergarten turnover. This research evaluated kindergarten teachers’ occupational ambition, emotional attachment, and self-efficacy. Likewise, this research also analyzed the social context, organizational support, management mechanism, reward, and occupational stress of kindergarten. These data were used to determine the key factors affecting kindergarten teachers’ turnover. Methods This research recruited 1,118 kindergarten teachers (mean age = 31.67, sd = 5.02; 3.85% male, 96.14% female) from China. Based on the existing scales, this research developed the Questionnaire of Kindergarten Teachers’ Turnover and Influencing Factors for the survey. Kindergarten teachers reported basic information and the impact factors of their first, second, and third turnover through online questionnaires. The Chi-square test was used to analyze the correlation between socio-demographic variables and different frequencies of kindergarten teacher turnover. The binary logistic regression explored the eight factors affecting kindergarten teachers’ first, second, and third turnover. Results The results showed that 43.65% of kindergarten teachers had resigned. In detail, 25.60% of kindergarten teachers resigned once, 10.64% of kindergarten teachers resigned twice, and 8.41% of kindergarten teachers resigned thrice. Gender and marital status were significantly correlated with the three frequencies of kindergarten teacher turnover. Occupational stress, reward, management mechanisms, and ambition consistently affected kindergarten teachers’ first, second, and third turnover. Conclusion The relevant management departments should pay attention to the high turnover rate of kindergarten teachers and put forward more strategies to improve their stability. Women and married can be favored in the recruitment of kindergarten teachers. It is crucial to reduce pressure and improve rewards for kindergarten teachers. Also, kindergartens should provide the space to display teachers’ talents and improve management mechanisms. These results provide empirical support for proposing effective policies to promote the stability of kindergarten teachers’ construction.
Prevalence, Genetic Diversity, and Quantification of the RNA Genome of the Hepatitis E Virus in Slaughtered Pigs in Serbia

Simple Summary In surveillance studies conducted in industrialized EU nations, a rise has been noted in hepatitis E infections that are unrelated to travel. According to previous research studies, eating undercooked or uncooked meat and organs, as well as products from pigs or other wild animals (wild boars and deer), was predominantly linked to human hepatitis caused by the hepatitis E virus genotype 3. Furthermore, domestic pigs and wild boars represent nature’s primary reservoirs of this virus, and the liver is the main organ for hosting this virus. Abstract The goal of this study conducted in Serbia was to detect HEV in pig liver samples from slaughterhouses, retail outlets, and environmental swabs over the course of a year. All positive HEV samples were measured and expressed as HEV gene copy numbers per gram of sample, and a representative number of samples were sequenced using the Sanger approach. A total of 45 HEV-positive samples were re-amplified using nested RT-PCR employing CODEHOP primers targeting ORF2 (493 nucleotides). The average prevalence of the HEV genotype 3 in all pig liver samples from the slaughterhouses was 29%, while HEV prevalence was 44% in liver samples from animals younger than 3 months. HEV RNA was found in thirteen out of sixty (22%) environmental swab samples that were taken from different surfaces along the slaughter line. Our findings confirmed seasonal patterns in HEV prevalence, with two picks (summer and winter periods) during the one-year examination. Among HEV-positive samples, the average viral particles for all positive liver samples was 4.41 ± 1.69 log10 genome copies per gram. Phylogenetic analysis revealed the majority of HEV strains (43/45) from Serbia were grouped in the HEV-3a subtype, while two strains were classified into the HEV-3c subtype, and one strain could not be classified into any of the HEV-3 subtypes.
Improving Digital Project Management Competencies: Case Study of a Digital Marketing Agency in Lithuania

The Covid-19 pandemic accelerated an expansion of digital technologies, with many organizations redefining the skills of their workforce. This paper analyses the case of a digital marketing agency, operating in Lithuania for more than a decade. As the company’s revenue model is based on the execution of successful projects, constant employee competency development is crucial to be resilient and maintain a competitive market position. Thus, this paper aims to determine the core digital project management competencies and propose a competence development plan. To achieve this aim, a scientific literature review and a semi-structured interview with project managers were carried out. The results revealed that the most important digital project management competencies are contextual knowledge, planning and communication skills and ability to adapt to a fast-changing environment. It was recommended to implement the following solutions: form an environment conducive to learning, organize internal knowledge-sharing sessions, promote mentoring/job shadowing, use external coaching services, and provide opportunities for the employees to attend professional conferences and online project management courses. These solutions ought to narrow the gap between the available and required digital project management competencies and help in coping with the challenges of rapid technological progress.
The Role of Ultrasonography in the Process of Weaning from Mechanical Ventilation in Critically Ill Patients

Weaning patients from mechanical ventilation (MV) is a complex process that may result in either success or failure. The use of ultrasound at the bedside to assess organs may help to identify the underlying mechanisms that could lead to weaning failure and enable proactive measures to minimize extubation failure. Moreover, ultrasound could be used to accurately identify pulmonary diseases, which may be responsive to respiratory physiotherapy, as well as monitor the effectiveness of physiotherapists’ interventions. This article provides a comprehensive review of the role of ultrasonography during the weaning process in critically ill patients.
Phenolics and Iridoids of Lippia Alba

The phytochemical investigation of polar extracts of Lippia alba led to the isolation of a new acetylated flavonoid, apigenin-7-O-[(3-O-acetyl)β-D-glucopyranuronyl(1→2)]-β-D-glucopyranuronide, and of seventeen known compounds: seven iridoids (theveside, geniposidic acid, shanzhiside methyl ester, caryoptoside, 8-epi-loganin, mussaenoside and geniposide), six phenylpropanoids (cistanoside F, forsythoside B, calceolarioside E, acteoside, isoacteoside and 2-acetylacteoside) and four flavonoids (apigenin-7-O-glucuronide, luteolin-7-O-glucuronide, apigenin-7-O-diglucuronide and luteolin-7-O-diglucuronide).
Inconsistency- and Error-Tolerant Reasoning w.r.t. Optimal Repairs of EL⊥ Ontologies

Errors in knowledge bases (KBs) written in a Description Logic (DL) are usually detected when reasoning derives an inconsistency or a consequence that does not hold in the application domain modelled by the KB. Whereas classical repair approaches produce maximal sub-sets of the KB not implying the inconsistency or unwanted consequence, optimal repairs maximize the consequence sets. In this paper, we extend previous results on how to compute optimal repairs from the DL EL to its extension EL ⊥ , which in contrast to EL can express inconsistency. The problem of how to deal with inconsistency in the context of optimal repairs was addressed previously, but in a setting where the (fixed) terminological part of the KB must satisfy a restriction on cyclic dependencies. Here, we consider a setting where this restriction is not required. We also show how the notion of optimal repairs obtained this way can be used in inconsistency-and error-tolerant reasoning.
Soil Microbes and Plant-Associated Microbes in Response to Radioactive Pollution May Indirectly Affect Plants and Insect Herbivores: Evidence for Indirect Field Effects from Chernobyl and Fukushima

The biological impacts of the nuclear accidents in Chernobyl (1986) and Fukushima (2011) on wildlife have been studied in many organisms over decades, mainly from dosimetric perspectives based on laboratory experiments using indicator species. However, ecological perspectives are required to understand indirect field-specific effects among species, which are difficult to evaluate under dosimetric laboratory conditions. From the viewpoint that microbes play a fundamental role in ecosystem function as decomposers and symbionts for plants, we reviewed studies on microbes inhabiting soil and plants in Chernobyl and Fukushima in an attempt to find supporting evidence for indirect field-specific effects on plants and insect herbivores. Compositional changes in soil microbes associated with decreases in abundance and species diversity were reported, especially in heavily contaminated areas of both Chernobyl and Fukushima, which may accompany explosions of radioresistant species. In Chernobyl, the population size of soil microbes remained low for at least 20 years after the accident, and the abundance of plant-associated microbes, which are related to the growth and defense systems of plants, possibly decreased. These reported changes in microbes likely affect soil conditions and alter plant physiology. These microbe-mediated effects may then indirectly affect insect herbivores through food-mass-mediated, pollen-mediated, and metabolite-mediated interactions. Metabolite-mediated interactions may be a major pathway for ecological impacts at low pollution levels and could explain the decreases in insect herbivores in Fukushima. The present review highlights the importance of the indirect field effects of long-term low-dose radiation exposure under complex field circumstances.
Adapting Self-Supervised Features for Background Speech Detection in Beehive Audio Recordings

The decline in honey bee populations and the labor-intensive nature of manual hive inspection have sparked interest in automating beehive monitoring. Acoustic monitoring has emerged as a versatile modality for this purpose. Beehive audio has proven useful in detecting events such as swarming, queen absence, parasite infestation, and assessing hive strength. However, external factors such as rain, wind, traffic noise, and background voices of beekeepers can degrade the quality of recorded bee audio and impact the effectiveness of beehive monitoring. In this study, we focus on the detection of background beekeepers speech, which has shown to significantly degrade audio-based hive monitoring performance. In particular, we propose the use of universal audio representations extracted from self-supervised models to predict whether a given audio frame contains speech or only bee sounds. Experimental results on the NU-Hive dataset show that the proposed methodology applied on top of the WavLM Base+ model can outperform state-of-the-art voice activity detectors by a relative improvement of 19% and 16% in the ROC-AUC and F1-score metrics, respectively. Furthermore, we show that audio representations can be reliably used for unsupervised anomaly detection.
Evaluation of Tacrolimus’ Adverse Effects on Zebrafish in Larval and Adult Stages by Using Multiple Physiological and Behavioral Endpoints

Simple Summary Despite the clinical usefulness of tacrolimus in preventing organ transplant rejection, numerous studies have demonstrated its adverse effects in humans and animals. However, to date, no study has comprehensively addressed its toxicity toward zebrafish. Using various tests to assess the cardiovascular performance, various behaviors, and cognitive performance of the fish, we found that tacrolimus in relatively low concentrations altered the behaviors, social cohesion, and short-term memory of zebrafish in the larval and adult stages after acute and chronic exposures, respectively, with some alterations occurring in a dose-dependent manner. We hypothesize that tacrolimus may possess anxiotropic properties, which make it capable of modifying anxiety in the fish by affecting their nervous system. Nevertheless, considering the potential toxicity of tacrolimus, its usage, including in clinical applications, should be taken into account and monitored. Abstract Tacrolimus (FK506) is a common immunosuppressant that is used in organ transplantation. However, despite its importance in medical applications, it is prone to adverse side effects. While some studies have demonstrated its toxicities to humans and various animal models, very few studies have addressed this issue in aquatic organisms, especially zebrafish. Here, we assessed the adverse effects of acute and chronic exposure to tacrolimus in relatively low doses in zebrafish in both larval and adult stages, respectively. Based on the results, although tacrolimus did not cause any cardiotoxicity and respiratory toxicity toward zebrafish larvae, it affected their locomotor activity performance in light–dark locomotion tests. Meanwhile, tacrolimus was also found to slightly affect the behavior performance, shoaling formation, circadian rhythm locomotor activity, and color preference of adult zebrafish in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, alterations in the cognitive performance of the fish were also displayed by the treated fish, indicated by a loss of short-term memory. To help elucidate the toxicity mechanism of tacrolimus, molecular docking was conducted to calculate the strength of the binding interaction between tacrolimus to human FKBP12. The results showed a relatively normal binding affinity, indicating that this interaction might only partly contribute to the observed alterations. Nevertheless, the current research could help clinicians and researchers to further understand the toxicology of tacrolimus, especially to zebrafish, thus highlighting the importance of considering the toxicity of tacrolimus prior to its usage.
Ammonia and nitrous oxide gas loss with subsurface drainage and polymer-coated urea fertilizer in a poorly drained soil

Gaseous nitrogen (N) loss from denitrification and ammonia (NH3) volatilization from poorly drained soils in corn (Zea mays L.) production can be significant, diminish production, and lead farmers to apply a high rate of N. Nitrous oxide (N2O), a greenhouse gas that is emitted during denitrification, has a high global warming potential that contributes to climate change. Reducing gaseous N loss from poorly drained soils through drainage and N management in corn production is essential to minimizing the environmental impact and maintaining high yields. The objective of the study was to determine how subsurface tile drainage and applications of polymer-coated urea (PCU) affect soil N2O emissions and N fertilizer-induced NH3 volatilization loss from a claypan soil. Drainage water management treatments consisted of conventional subsurface tile drainage, managed subsurface tile drainage, and no-drainage in combination with N fertilizer source (noncoated urea [NCU] and PCU). Subsurface drainage treatments did not significantly (p ≤ 0.05) affect cumulative soil N2O emissions and NH3 volatilization loss compared to no-drainage. Averaged over 2010 to 2013, cumulative soil N2O emissions from PCU was 2% of applied N, and NCU was 4% of applied N. Yield-scaled soil N2O emissions were reduced 53% with PCU compared to NCU. The percentage fertilizer loss from NH3 volatilization was significantly (p ≤ 0.05) reduced from 2.8% with NCU to 0.8% with PCU. These results suggest that use of PCU may assist in reducing cumulative losses of N2O and NH3 from poorly drained claypan soils, but drainage systems operating under this study's environmental conditions did not affect gaseous N losses.
Differential Expression of MicroRNA MiR-145 and MiR-155 Downstream Targets in Oral Cancers Exhibiting Limited Chemotherapy Resistance

New evidence has suggested that non-coding microRNAs play a significant role in mediating and modulating chemotherapy resistance, particularly among oral cancers. One recent study found that the upregulation of miR-145 and the downregulation of miR-155 strongly correlated with a limited chemotherapy resistance to Cisplatin, 5-Fluorouracil, and Paclitaxel, although the mechanism(s) responsible for these observations remain unidentified. Using commercially available cell lines of oral squamous cell carcinoma, RNA was isolated, converted into cDNA, and subsequently screened for the expression of downstream targets of miR-145 and miR-155 using qPCR. These results demonstrated the upregulation of miR-21, miR-125, miR-133, miR-365, miR-720, and miR-1246, as well as the downregulation of miR-140, miR-152, miR-218, miR-221, and miR-224. This screening also confirmed the differential expression and regulation of mir-145 and miR-155 among the cell lines with limited chemotherapy resistance (SCC15). In addition, several downstream targets of these specific microRNAs were upregulated by all oral cancer cell lines, such as MBTD1 and FSCN1, or downregulated in all cell lines, such as CLCN3, FLI-1, MRTFB, DAB, SRGAP1, and ABHD17C. However, three miR-145 downstream targets were identified in the least chemotherapy-resistant cells, exhibiting the differential upregulation of KCNA4 and SRGAP2, as well as the downregulation of FAM135A, with this expression pattern not detected in any of the other oral cancer cell lines. These data strongly support that the differential regulation of these three downstream targets may be related to the chemosensitivity of this oral cancer cell line. The potential involvement of these targets must be further investigated to determine how and whether mechanisms of these cellular pathways may be involved in the observed lack of chemotherapy resistance. These data may be important to design targets or treatments to reduce chemotherapy resistance and improve patient treatment outcomes.