Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
STRUCTURE AND ASEXUAL REPRODUCTION OF THE ENIGMATIC CHAROPHYCEAN GREEN ALGA ENTRANSIA FIMBRIATA (KLEBSORMIDIALES, CHAROPHYCEAE) 1

As the closest relatives of embryophytes, the charophycean green algae (sensu Mattox and Stewart) may reveal the evolutionary history of characters in this lineage. Recent molecular phylogenetic analysis indicates that the little‐known species Entransia fimbriata Hughes is a member of the charophycean order Klebsormidiales. In this study LM and EM were used to identify and describe additional structural characters of Entransia so that comparisons could be made with Klebsormidium and with other charophycean algae outside the order Klebsormidiales. Features that Entransia shares with various members of the genus Klebsormidium include cylindrical cells in unbranched filaments that may spiral, parietal chloroplasts that cover only part of the circumference of the cell, H‐shaped cross walls, and vegetative reproduction by both fragmentation and formation of zoospores or aplanospores. Among the characteristics that distinguish Entransia from Klebsormidium are a highly lobed chloroplast with multiple pyrenoids; a single large vacuole; short cells that die and collapse, apparently facilitating filament fragmentation; and germinating filaments with condensed adhesive at the base and a tapering spine at the tip. Although Entransia has sometimes been tentatively considered to be a member of the Zygnemataceae, the presence of a flagellate life history stage distinguishes Entransia from this group. The pyrenoids of Entransia are typical of those of charophycean algae in having traversing membranes and surrounding starch. Presence of multiple such pyrenoids in each chloroplast of Entransia supports the hypothesis that the common ancestor of charophycean algae and embryophytes had a single chloroplast with multiple pyrenoids.
Seed and Seedling Nursery Characteristics for 10 USDA Citrus Rootstocks

Six new hybrid rootstocks, ‘US-1279’, ‘US-1281’, ‘US-1282’, ‘US-1283’, ‘US-1284’, and ‘US-1516’, were released from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) citrus breeding program to provide improved tree tolerance to huanglongbing (HLB), the most destructive disease facing the citrus industry in the United States and many other parts of the world. Five of these new rootstocks were released based on field performance in trials with the rootstocks propagated by stem cuttings, rather than the traditional propagation using nucellar seedlings. In this study, we evaluated the fruit, seed, and seedling characteristics of these new rootstocks, along with four other USDA rootstocks of commercial importance. The study included a determination of the percentage of true-to-type and off-type seedlings by both plant morphology and simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers. All 10 rootstocks produced an acceptable number of seeds and good seedling emergence from those seeds. The rootstocks ‘Swingle’, ‘US-802’, ‘US-812’, ‘US-1283’, ‘US-1284’, and ‘US-1516’ had a high percentage of true-to-type seedlings and correspondingly good potential to be propagated by seeds. However, no true-to-type plants were observed among seedlings from the rootstocks ‘US-1279’, ‘US-1281’, and ‘US-1282’, indicating that economical seed propagation will be impossible for these cultivars. The 10 SSR marker sets used in this study were observed to easily differentiate the 10 rootstocks studied, and readily distinguished true-to-type and off-type seedlings among progeny from all 10 rootstock clones. This study presents information of significant value for commercial nurseries involved in propagation of citrus rootstocks, and those involved in citrus rootstock breeding and development around the world. We propose the use of these 10 SSR marker sets as readily applicable for accurate identification of most citrus rootstock cultivars and their true-to-type seedlings.
Demographics and District Managers’ Commitment to Inter-organisational Collaboration during Disasters’Management in Ghana

This paper aims at examining whether the demographic features of public managers make a difference in terms of their commitment to inter-organisational collaboration in Ghana during disasters’ management. Using quantitative method, questionnaires were distributed to 195 public district managers from Ashanti region but with a return rate of 87%, 170 managers responded to the questionnaires. The data were analyzed using SPSS software (Version, 22). In analysing the data, descriptive frequencies, analysis of variance with Independent-samples t-test and one-way ANOVA, together with the Pearson’s correlation analysis were employed to present the study results. Additionally, to further understand the extent of the various demographic factors’ influence on managers’ commitment to inter-organisational collaboration the regression analyses were performed. From the bivariate analysis, the demographic variables used were- educational qualifications, age, gender, tenure, and marital status. The empirical results suggested that indeed inter-organisational collaboration is influenced by the demographic characteristics of district managers. In particular, the extent of inter-organizational collaboration was found to be influenced positively by gender, tenure of office, age and educational qualifications but negatively influenced by their marital status. It was therefore recommended that in order to ensure effective inter-organisational collaborative activities amongst public managers during disasters, the individual characteristics should be taken into consideration in the strategic plans of public organizations.
Estimating the soil water retention curve from soil particle size distribution using the Arya and Paris model for Iranian soils

The direct measurement of the soil water retention curve (SWRC) in a laboratory is time-consuming, difficult, and costly. Thus, many attempts have been made to predict the water retention curve indirectly from the physical and chemical properties of soil. The particle size distribution curve is one of the indirect methods used to predict the water retention curve. The Arya and Paris (AP) model predicts the soil water retention curve from soil particle size distribution (PSD) data. The AP model estimates pore radius from the radius of spherical particles by using a scaling parameter (a). The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of predicting the scaling parameter with different methods to improve estimation of the SWRC. The evaluation of methods was done on 35 soil samples with different textures from the eastern region of Guilan Province in Iran. The results showed that estimated curves with different a values gave different results that depended highly on the scaling parameter. Therefore, a determination has a key role in estimating the soil water retention curve. The results also showed that a linear a and a constant a with a maximum coefficient of determination and minimum error are the best scaling parameters to estimate the SWRC.
Persistence of Non-Vertigo Symptoms in Meniere Disease During Remission - A Preliminary Report.

BACKGROUND Though the absence of vertigo in Meniere disease is often interpreted as remission, patient-centered subjective assessment of quality of life remains the best indicator of such remission. STUDY OBJECTIVE To assess the presence and severity of aural pressure/tinnitus, hearing loss, unsteadiness, nausea and vomiting in MD patients during remission. SETTING Urban tertiary care referral hospital in a developing country. METHODOLOGY Consecutive patients with diagnosis of Definite Meniere were selected from the Balance and Dizziness Clinic of National Hospital Abuja for the study. Quality of life assessment was carried out using 3 validated tools - Modified MD-POSI, Vertigo Symptom Scale and Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (THI). Patients were included only when they have been vertigo free for at least 4 weeks. Pure tone audiometry was carried out in those with subjective hearing loss at recruitment and 4 weeks later. RESULTS A total of 26 patients completed the study. All had cinnarizine for acute vertigo control and Betahistine for maintenance of vertigo control. There was female preponderance (17:9). The age range was 32-56 years. The duration of MD ranges from 4 months to 12 years. The total and subscale MD-POSI scores for "between attacks" significantly correlated with hearing, unsteadiness and tinnitus/pressure when compared to during attack. 69.2 per cent of participants experienced symptoms of unsteadiness during remission. 13/26 of participants reported persistent, though less annoying tinnitus that poorly correlated with THI score during remission. CONCLUSION Our study showed that significant non-vertigo symptoms affect the quality of life during remission. Perhaps there is need to properly define, in future studies, what constitutes remission in patients with MD.
Subjective Well-being, Personality, and Loneliness as Correlates of Saudade: A Preliminary Study

Abstract Saudade is a psychological reaction to the absence of significant others or familiar places. The correlates of the experience of saudade were examined using a sample of Portuguese adults. Two hundred and twenty-seven participants of both genders, aged 20–65, were presented with (a) the Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS), (b) the Positive and Negative Affect Schedules (PANAS), (c) the brief Loneliness Scale (ULS-6), (d) the Neo Five-Factor Personality Inventory (NEO-FFI), and (e) an experience of saudade two-item scale. Experience of saudade was more often reported by females than by males, and positively correlated with negative affect, loneliness, and neuroticism.
Recognizing Animals as an Important Part of Helping

The beneficial role of companion animals on human health and wellbeing across the life span is well documented in the rapidly expanding multi disciplinary body of literature known as human animal interactions (HAI). Social workers practice at the interface of people and their diverse environments. The presence of human animal bonds (HAB) within client systems, between people and companion animals in particular, are increasingly acknowledged and valued by social workers. Additionally, some social workers incorporate animals in their practice through animal assisted interventions (AAI). However, there is a paucity of empirical literature on social workers’ knowledge about and experiences with the inclusion of animals. We conducted a survey across three prairie provinces in Canada, replicating a study that was first implemented nationwide in the U.S. and later in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia. The survey explored social workers’ knowledge of HAI in social work. The results, similar to the Nova Scotia and U.S. findings, suggest that s social workers have general knowledge about HAI and the HAB, and that some do incorporate animals in practice. Social workers seem to have increasing knowledge and skills about HAI. While this is a positive trend, there is nonetheless a need for specialized education and training on the beneficial impact that companion animals can have on social work practice. In this paper, the application of zooeyia within social work is adopted as one approach to understanding HAB. Important implications for human health and wellbeing and social work practice at the practitioner and organizational levels are discussed.
Metallic Iron for Environmental Remediation: Starting an Overdue Progress in Knowledge

A critical survey of the abundant literature on environmental remediation and water treatment using metallic iron (Fe0) as reactive agent raises two major concerns: (i) the peculiar properties of the used materials are not properly considered and characterized, and, (ii) the literature review in individual publications is very selective, thereby excluding some fundamental principles. Fe0 specimens for water treatment are typically small in size. Before the advent of this technology and its application for environmental remediation, such small Fe0 particles have never been allowed to freely corrode for the long-term spanning several years. As concerning the selective literature review, the root cause is that Fe0 was considered as a (strong) reducing agent under environmental conditions. Subsequent interpretation of research results was mainly directed at supporting this mistaken view. The net result is that, within three decades, the Fe0 research community has developed itself to a sort of modern knowledge system. This communication is a further attempt to bring Fe0 research back to the highway of mainstream corrosion science, where the fundamentals of Fe0 technology are rooted. The inherent errors of selected approaches, currently considered as countermeasures to address the inherent limitations of the Fe0 technology are demonstrated. The misuse of the terms “reactivity”, and “efficiency”, and adsorption kinetics and isotherm models for Fe0 systems is also elucidated. The immense importance of Fe0/H2O systems in solving the long-lasting issue of universal safe drinking water provision and wastewater treatment calls for a science-based system design.
Econometric Modelling of Rural Farm Household Credit Allocation in Kakamega County, Kenya

This research was financed by African Economics Research consortium (AERC) and Egerton University Abstract Enhanced household access to credit is essential in boosting the performance of small and medium enterprises in developing nations. Despite the role played by micro-finance in enhancing access to credit among poor rural households, there is dearth information on factors determining credit allocation. This study sought to fill the gap by investigating determinants of household allocation of credit accessed to different enterprises. Stratified multiple sampling approaches were used to select 179 smallholder farmers in Kakamega County. The study used semi-structured questionnaires to collect data which was then analysed using Seemingly Unrelated Regression Model (SUR). The results revealed that; gender of household head, land ownership and role played by an individual in socio-economic group were positive and significant determinants of credit allocation on farm enterprises. Moreover, access to training and ownership of off-farm enterprises were negative and significant. Concerning allocation of credit obtained on off-farm non-agriculture enterprises, off-farm income was positive and significant while membership and role played in group was negative and significant. On the other hand, age of household head, ownership of off-farm enterprise and off-farm income were positive and significant determinants of household allocation of credit on off-farm agriculture related enterprises. However, access to training and land ownership were negative and significant. The study recommends the adoption of policy measures aimed at encouraging farmers to diversify their income through engaging in sustainable off-farm activities. It also points out the need to empower women in order to enable them to own productive assets. DOI: 10.7176/JESD/11-4-20 Publication date: February 29 th 2020
Management of complex genital fistula: experience in a tertiary sub-Saharan hospital

Background: Management of complex genital fistulae is challenging due to the cost and technical skill required. This study reports our experience in the management of patients with complex genital fistulae and to highlight the crucial role of the reconstructive urologists.Methods: This was a retrospective review of female patients managed at a tertiary hospital in Nigeria from 2006 to 2017 for complex urinary fistulae. Data were extracted from patient case notes and the data analysed using the SPSS software.Results: Twenty-four female patients mean age 28.9±11.1 years. Fistulae resulted from prolonged obstructed labour 10 (41.6%), caesarean hysterectomy 7 (29.2%), caesarean section and abdominal hysterectomy 2 (8.4%) respectively. The fistulae were vesicovaginal 16 (66.7%), ureterovaginal 3 (12.5%). Others were vesicocutaneous, urethrovaginal and rectovaginal. Prior attempts at repair were done in 7 (29.2%) and the number of attempts ranged from 1 to 4. Surgical procedures included direct closure in 9 (37.5%), closure and uretero-neocystostomy 7 (29.2%), uretero-neocystostomy only 3 (12.5%) closure and abdominal hysterectomy 2 (8.3%), closure and continent catheterizable neo-bladder 2 (8.3%) and 1 (4.2%) closure, abdominal hysterectomy and uretero-neocystostomy. Post-operative complications were noted in 2 (8.3%) and consisted of gynaeatresia and recurrent RVF. Repair was successful in 70.8% of patients while failed repair was recorded in 16.7% and while stress incontinence was present in 12.5%. Conclusions: Complex genital fistulae in our practice are of obstetric origin involving the bladder, ureters and rectum. The reconstructive urologist has a crucial role the management for a favourable outcome.
Studies on ovicidal effects of some plant extracts against the diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella (L.) infesting cauliflower crop.

Studies on ovicidal effects of aqueous and alcoholic extracts of four different plants namely, Melia azedarach; Lantana camara, Artemisia annua and Cannabis sativa were carried out under laboratory conditions against the diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella (L.) which revealed that extracts of all the plants used had significant effect on the mortality of eggs. However, the alcoholic extracts were found to be better than the aqueous extracts. Alcoholic and aqueous extracts of M. azedarach (leaf) resulted in mean egg hatch of 24.4 per cent and 59.9 per cent at 10 per cent concentration in comparison to control where 90.0 and 88.3 per cent egg hatch was observed. This was followed by A. annua seed extract where the same concentration resulted in 31.1 per cent and 77.7 per cent egg hatch in alcoholic and aqueous extracts respectively. L. camara (seed) and C. sativa (leaf) extracts were followed by these with 64.4 and 75.5 per cent eggs hatch in case of alcoholic extract and 73.2 and 82.2 per cent egg hatch in case of aqueous extract. There was constant increase in the per cent kill of egg masses with the increase in the extract concentration.
Influences of the Cultural Revolution on the education and wages of today’s Chinese laborers

Abstract More than 40 years after the end of the Cultural Revolution, does it still affect today’s Chinese laborers? In this study, data from the 2012 Chinese General Social Survey are used to investigate the possible differences between the education and wage levels of the laborers of parents who have experienced the Cultural Revolution and others who have not. Empirical results show that the average education and wage levels of laborers whose parents have experienced the Cultural Revolution and attained at least primary education qualifications are significantly lower than other groups in the labor market. We believe that during the Cultural Revolution, the political and social climate lowered the public’s recognition of the value of education in society and reduced the incentive for human capital investment.
The Effect of Mergers and Acquisitions on Bank Performance in Ghana

The study examined the consequence of mergers and acquisition on bank performance in Ghana. Specifically, the study investigated the effect of mergers and acquisition on net profit margin, return on assets and return on equity of commercial banks in Ghana. Data from the annual reports of eight (8) commercial banks over a 10-year period (2009-2018) were collected and analysed by the use of descriptive statistics, correlation analysis, and regression analysis. The findings revealed a negative and significant association between mergers and acquisition and net profit margin. There existed a positive but statistically insignificant relationship between mergers and acquisition and return on assets of commercial banks in Ghana. Further, there was a negative but statistically insignificant relationship between mergers and acquisition and return on equity. The results, however, could not establish a conclusive evidence of the impact of mergers and acquisition on bank performance, implying that mergers and acquisition might not necessarily improve bank financial performance.
Did Neanderthals and carnivores compete for animal nutritional resources in the surroundings of the Cave of Zafarraya

This paper proposes a novel approach to study the interactions of Neanderthals and carnivores in the cave of Zafarraya by comparing the lithic archaeological and faunal records with a statistical path analysis, taking into consideration the ecology of the main carnivore predators and large herbivore prey foraging in the surroundings of the cave. The results of the analyses confirm and shed further light on previous taphonomic and zooarcheological research. The findings concur with the two-species Lotka- Volterra competition model for resources which stipulates that when niche overlap is complete the species with the larger fitness excludes the other. Our analysis shows that in the immediate vicinity of the cave, the fitness of Panthera was greater than Neanderthals', i.e. when Panthera was present it excluded Neanderthals as evidenced by the record of Capra and Rupicapra remains. It also shows that further in the southern hills and the polje where large herbivores roamed, Neanderthals had a greater fitness than carnivores which translated into their primary accumulation in the cave of remains of Cervus elaphus and other large herbivores. Coexistence from occasional niche overlap is apparent when one or the other predator scavenged, but from a time prospective it must have been short periods linked to seasonality, weather conditions and occupation randomness. In Zafarraya, the archaeological record would indicate that the degree of fitness of the herbivore prey accumulators, carnivores or Neanderthals, was related to the nature of the geomorphological domains in the vicinity of the cave and the favored foraging areas of hunted herbivores.
VS2 as saturable absorber for Q-switched pulse generation

Abstract Transition metal dichalcogenides have been widely utilized as nonlinear optical materials for laser pulse generation applications. Herein, we study the nonlinear optical properties of a VS2-based optical device and its application as a new saturable absorber (SA) for high-power pulse generation. Few-layer VS2 nanosheets are deposited on the tapered region of a microfiber to form an SA device, which shows a modulation depth of 40.52%. After incorporating the microfiber-VS2 SA into an Er-doped fiber laser cavity, passively Q-switched pulse trains could be obtained with repetition rates varying from 95 to 233 kHz. Under the pump power of 890 mW, the largest output power and shortest pulse duration are measured to be 43 mW and 854 ns, respectively. The high signal-to-noise ratio of 60 dB confirms the excellent stability of the Q-switching state. To the best of our knolowdge, this is the first illustration of using VS2 as an SA. Our experimental results demonstrate that VS2 nanomaterials have a large potential for nonlinear optics applications.
Introducing the recharge–discharge relationship to evaluate the recharge coefficient of karstic aquifers: thematic and indexing approaches

ABSTRACT Karst aquifers and springs are important with respect to their potential for supplying drinking water in regions suffering from water scarcity in Iran. Accordingly, it is essential to determine the recharge potential of the catchment and the regions with higher obtainability potential. This study provides a road map for the Sheshpeer catchment in southern Iran. A recharge potential (RP) map was produced from which a recharge index (RI) was computed for several selected springs in the catchment. Furthermore, the unit discharge (q) – defined as the average annual discharge for a given catchment area and unit rainfall depth for each spring – was calculated. The plot of q versus RI for the springs showed a linear positive relationship between the two variables (R 2 = 0.9). Applying the trend equation of this plot to the whole Sheshpeer karstic catchment reveals that its long-term recharge coefficient is 0.74.