Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Safflower (Carthamus Tinctorius L.) a Potential Source of Drugs against Cryptococcal Infections, Malaria and Leishmaniasis

In this research we present that Carthamus Tinctorius L. (gen. Asteraceae, otherwise known as Safflower) (Fig. 1) may contain agents active in Cryptococcal infections, malaria and Leishmaniasis, as treatment options are becoming scarce due to drug resistance development. Phytochemistry and pharmacological activities (antimicrobial, antimalarial, antileishmanial) of C. tinctorius L. were analyzed. The composition of volatile oil of safflower dried flowers was analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrophotometry with flame ionization detector (GC-FID) and in vitro sensitivity assays were performed to assess biological activity. 8 known and 3 unknown compounds were detected in the extract (Fig. 1). Then the Safflower ointment was manufactured and its acute toxicity study on rats was tested. The volatile oil of C. tinctorius L exhibited activity against Cryptococcus neoformans, Plasmodium falciparum and Leishmania donovani. Safflower volatile oil has anticryptococcal, antimalarial and antileishmanial effects. The prepared ointment had an excellent acute toxicity safety profile.
THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN DISPOSITIONAL ENVY AND KNOWLEDGE SHARING

According to the “Social Value Orientation” model, the value orientation of individuals is divided into two categories as prosocial and proself. Proselfs (individuals with proself value orientation) are reluctant to share their knowledge. Within the scope of this study, individuals with dispositional envy are described as proselfs. There are studies in the literature in which envy is considered as a feeling and associated with sharing knowledge. However, no study is found on the relationship between knowledge sharing and dispositional envy which is a personality trait. In this study, based on the “Social Value Orientation” model, the relationship between dispositional envy and knowledge sharing is investigated. Knowledge sharing is vital in the banking sector, where knowledge management technologies are used extensively. For this reason, this study was carried out on 175 bank employees in the banking sector. Quantitative research methods were used in the study. Findings show that dispositional envy is negatively related to knowledge sharing.
The seminar goes to work: Towards a theory of collaborative literacy

The research and practice are clear: the humanities develop empathy, sensibility, and other individual skills critical to successful employment. But, they also support the development of collective skills that empower productive teams and workplaces. This article explores the collective impact of narrative literature through the lens of an innovative workplace-based learning program. The program uses facilitated conversations about literature to invite colleagues at all levels to practice questioning assumptions, listening to different voices, and connecting to new ideas and to each other. Examining data from over 800 participants, the authors provide scholarly and practice-based evidence that literature discussions support otherwise elusive workplace dynamics. The results establish the link between shared human experience and workplace quality, as colleagues learn to be and work together. In addition, the concept of collaborative literacy that emerges from this study promises a new approach to learning in multiple non-traditional settings and in the academy itself.
Biotic and abiotic effects of flash flooding in a montane desert stream

Flash floods in desert streams can be more sudden, brief, and severe compared to floods in mesic streams. To determine their biotic and abiotic effects, substrate composition, organic detritus abundance, and aquatic animal taxonomic richness and abundance were measured 8-16 d before and 7d after a flash flood in a 122 m reach of a montane desert stream (Chihuahuan Desert, USA). The flash flood severely altered channel morphology by scouring and depositing substrates, but it did not change the overall abundance of any substrate particle size class. The flood removed most coarse detritus from the stream reach, although the quantity of organic particles <2 mm was unchanged. High losses were observed in most animal taxa (95 % overall), and reach-wide taxonomic richness was reduced from 35 to 21 taxa. Ephemeroptera were entirely eliminated from the study reach. The taxon experiencing the lowest percent loss (the belostomatid hemipteran Abedus herberti, 14 % loss) is known to possess behavioral mechanisms for flash flood avoidance. Compared to studies of flooding in mesic streams, this study suggests that flash floods in montane desert streams cause greater mortality in animal populations and remove more detritus. Ecologically, these high local mortality rates stress the importance of recolonization mechanisms. Evolutionarily, flash floods provide a strong selection pressure that may influence the genetic structure of populations.
Setting the Trap:Cleaning Behaviour of Camponotus Schmitzi Ants Increases Long-term Capture Efficiency of Their Pitcher Plant Host, Nepenthes Bicalcarata.

1. Beneficial ‘services’ in mutualistic interactions have often not evolved de novo, but from ancestral traits that had a function before the emergence of the association. These traits can then acquire novel functions in a mutualism. Even in many close insect–plant relationships, the services provided by each partner are still unclear. 2. In the well-known association between the carnivorous pitcher plant, Nepenthes bicalcarata, and Camponotus schmitzi ants in Borneo, the ants benefit by receiving food and nesting space in swollen, hollow pitcher tendrils, but the benefits to the plant are less clear. Previous studies have suggested that the ants protect against herbivory, prevent putrefaction of pitchers by removing prey items from them or increase the pitcher’s prey retention rate by attacking pitcher visitors. 3. Field observations showed that C. schmitzi ants regularly clean the pitcher rim (peristome), which is the main surface responsible for prey capture. We found that this behaviour increases the carnivorous plant’s prey capture efficiency and helps to maintain it over the pitcher’s life span. Running tests with Oecophylla smaragdina ants on colonised and ant-free older pitchers demonstrated 45·8% higher capture efficiency in pitchers inhabited by C. schmitzi. Head counts of trapped ants showed that C. schmitzi-colonised pitchers indeed captured significantly (45·2%) more prey than uncolonised pitchers of the same age. 4. The peristomes of ant-free older pitchers were strongly contaminated by fungal hyphae and other particles. Experimental contamination of clean pitcher peristomes with starch also strongly reduced capture efficiency. While the peristome was cleaned rapidly in ant-colonised pitchers and capture efficiency returned to the previous level within approximately 1 week, no cleaning and recovery were observed in ant-free pitchers. 5. Within the genus Nepenthes, N. bicalcarata has exceptionally long-lived pitchers. We propose that C. schmitzi ants benefit N. bicalcarata by keeping the pitchers effective over long periods of time, likely allowing the plant to acquire more nutrients per pitcher and thereby minimise pitcher construction costs. 6. Our findings demonstrate that the cleaning behaviour typical of many plant–ants has acquired a novel function in this ant–plant association, giving rise to a new type of myrmecotrophic mutualism.
RISK FACTORS AND RESISTANCE FACTORS: ALCOHOL CONSUMPTION AMONG NORMATIVE AND AT-RISK ADOLESCENTS IN ISRAEL

This study was designed to examine the risk factors and resistance factors involved in alcohol consumption among normative and at-risk adolescents. The study population included 211 at-risk adolescents and 271 normative high-school students. Participants filled in questionnaires on demographics, personality variables, and level of alcohol consumption. The research variables were selected in accordance with the four components of the Youth Resiliency model: having a significant adult in the child? s life, positive daily experience in school, sense of self-worth, and sense of healthy social connectedness. The findings revealed similar variables leading to drinking in both groups, with heavier drinking in the at-risk group. Overall, religiosity was a major defense against drinking, although in the normative groups its protective effect was found only among older, financially stable adolescents. Being male, older, and holding a job were risk factors. Self-disclosure to parents, teachers, and friends was found to be a dichotomous contributor to drinking, so that the less adolescents disclose to parents and teachers and the more they disclose to friends, the more they drink. The main distinguishing personality variable between the two groups was avoidance, which contributed only among normative adolescents, acting as a defense against drinking. The significance of the findings and their applications are discussed.
Appraising the Efficacy of Mental Math Strategy on Acquisition of Numeracy Skills: A Case of Literacy Programme in South West, Nigeria

The implementation Literaryprogramme in South West, Nigeria is specifically meant to address the high level of illiteracy. Descriptive survey research design was adopted for this study. The study population comprised, clientele of Literaryprogramme in South West, Nigeria (Ogun, Osun, Oyo, Ondo, Lagos and Ekiti States). The sample size of the study was Three hundred (300) respondents, selected through a purposive sampling technique. Data was collected through self-developed research instrument, entitled “Questionnaire on Appraising the Efficacy of Mental Math Strategy on Acquisition of Literacy Skills in Literacy Programme in South West Nigeria”,developed on Four Likert Rating Scale (Strongly Agreed (SA), Agreed (A), Disagreed (D) and Strongly Disagreed (SD)). It was complemented by primary data (Focus Group Discussion “FGDS”). The research instrument was validated by an expert in Test and Measurement, while its reliability was determined through test retest method at two weeks interval. 0.68 coefficient reliability was obtained. The research questions were analysed, using descriptive statistics (frequency counts, simple percentages and means), while the qualitative data was transcribed and analysed qualitatively. Based on the results, conclusion was made that the mental math strategy could enhance the performance of clientele on numeracy and computation skills in literary programme of South West, Nigeria. Also, that the strategy could also facilitate and motivate clienteles interests towards learning numeracy and computation in the programme. Based on the conclusion, recommendations were made that facilitators should be encouraged to be using the strategy during numeracy lessons. Also, emphasis should be stressed on the usage of the strategy (Mental Math) in Literacy programme in South West, Nigeria.
Diel variations in cell division and biomass production of Emiliania huxleyi—Consequences for the calculation of physiological cell parameters

Cell division of the coccolithophore Emiliania huxleyi and other phytoplankton typically becomes entrained to diel light/dark cycles under laboratory conditions, with division occurring primarily during dark phases and production occurring during light phases. Under these conditions, increases in cell and biomass concentrations deviate from exponential functions on time scales < 24 h. These deviations lead to significant diel variations in common measurements of phytoplankton physiology such as cellular quotas of particulate organic and inorganic carbon (POC, PIC) and their production rates. Being time‐dependent, only the temporal mean of the various values during the day are comparable between experiments. Deviations from exponential growth furthermore imply that increases in cell and biomass concentrations cannot be expressed by the daily growth rate μ24 h (typically determined from daily increments in cell concentrations). Consequently, conventional calculations of production as the product of a cellular quota (e.g., POC quota) and μ24 h are mathematically incorrect. To account for this, we here describe short‐term changes in cell and biomass concentrations of fast‐dividing, dilute‐batch cultures of E. huxleyi grown under a diel light/dark cycle using linear regression. Based on the derived models, we present calculations for daily means of cellular quotas and production rates. Conventional (time‐specific) measurements of cellular quotas and production differ from daily means by up to 65% in our example and, under some circumstances, cause false “effects” of treatments. Intending to reduce errors in ecophysiological studies, we recommend determining daily means—mathematically or by adjusting the experimental setup or sampling times appropriately.
Dealing with DNA Evidence: A Legal Guide

Introduction to criminal DNA analysis -- Forensic DNA testing -- Interpretation and statistical evaluation of DNA evidence -- Criminal DNA databases -- Pitfalls of DNA testing -- DNA testing errors -- DNA evidence interpretation errors -- DNA evidence during trial -- Challenging DNA evidence in the courtroom -- Post-convictional DNA testing -- Ethical aspects of DNA testing.
Statistical Genetics of Quantitative Traits: Linkage, Maps and QTL

This book introduces the basic concepts and methods that are useful in the statistical analysis and modeling of the DNA-based marker and phenotypic data that arise in agriculture, forestry, experimental biology, and other fields. It concentrates on the linkage analysis of markers, map construction and quantitative trait locus (QTL) mapping, and assumes a background in regression analysis and maximum likelihood approaches. The strength of this book lies in the construction of general models and algorithms for linkage analysis, as well as in QTL mapping in any kind of crossed pedigrees initiated with inbred lines of crops.
Kernel chemical composition and flour quality of wheat in response to nitrogen sources and doses

The chemical composition of wheat kernels (Triticum aestivum L.) directly affects the quality of flour by modifying its functional and technological properties, determining its use by the industry. Field trials were conducted with wheat genotypes BRS 208 and BRS Pardela to evaluate the impact of different forms of urea (conventional, with urease inhibitor, and polymer-protected) and doses of nitrogen applied in topdressing (0, 40, 80 and 120 kg ha-1) in kernel chemical composition and flour technological quality. The experimental design was randomized block with 3x4 factorial structure, with four replications. The data were submitted to analysis of variance (ANOVA) with regression for nitrogen doses, and comparison of means for genotypes and forms of urea by Tukey's test (p≤0.05). Although the genotypes evaluated presented significant differences regarding kernel chemical composition and quality of flour, similar responses were observed for the variables evaluated, forms of urea, and doses of nitrogen. Application of urea with urease inhibitor increased starch content in the kernels, and polymer-protected urea reduced flour yield. A positive linear regression was observed between nitrogen doses and protein (R2=0.706) and ash (R2=0.990; p<0.01), and negative with lipid content (R2=0.836; p<0.01). However, the application of increasing doses of nitrogen reduced kernel volume density (R2=0.864; p<0.01) and brightness of flour (L*; R2=0.977; p<0.01). In addition to breeding, the application of adequate doses using various sources of mineral nitrogen could be used as an additional procedure to obtain raw materials with the desired chemical composition profile.
Influences of the Accessibility and Availability of Green Spaces on the Liveability of Residential Complexes in Erbil City

Liveability refers to the quality of the urban environment in consideration of dwellers’ needs and expectations to increase the attractiveness of the urban environment and promote the overall quality of life. In the last couple of decades, the concept of liveability has been debated in urban studies. The Kurdistan-Iraq Region has witnessed the rise of new issues in terms of rapid urbanization and development. This study aims to assess the influences of the accessibility and availability of green spaces on a neighborhood’s liveability by combining a spatial analysis checklist and a questionnaire survey amongst residents to create an interrelated tool for comprehensively and reliably measuring liveability level. Consequently, ANOVA is used to explore the differences amongst respondents’ satisfaction with the characteristics of public open spaces that affect the liveability of the neighborhood. Moreover, a paired sample t-test is conducted to test the correspondence of measurement tools. Spatial analysis results indicate that inequalities exist between the cases in terms of the studied variables as they are present on the ground. This study also shows significant differences amongst respondents’ satisfaction with the two characteristics that affect the liveability of the neighborhood in the selected cases. Lastly, insignificant differences are found between objective and subjective evaluations, indicating a correspondence between the spatial analysis results of the accessibility and availability of green spaces and the satisfaction of residents.
On resolving domination number of special family of graphs

Let G be a simple, finite, and connected graph. A dominating set D is a set of vertices such that each vertex of G is either in D or has at least one neighbor in D. The minimum cardinality of such a set is called the domination number of G, denoted by γ(G). For an ordered set W = {w 1, w 2, …, wk } of vertices and a vertex v in a connected graph G, the metric representation of v with respect to W is the k-vector r(v|W ) = (d(v, w 1), d(v, w 2), …, d(v, wk )), where d(x, y) represents the distance between the vertices x and y. The set W is a resolving set for G if distinct vertices of G have distinct representations with respect to W. A resolving set of minimum cardinality is called a minimum resolving set or a basis and the cardinality of a basis for G, denoted by dim(G). A resolving domination number, denoted by γr (G), is the minimum cardinality of the resolving dominating set. In this paper, we study the existence of resolving domination number of special graph and its line graph L(G), middle graph M(G), total graph T(G), and central graph C(G) of Star graph and fan graph. We have found the minimum cardinality of those special graphs.
Translation of a Higher Order Ambisonics Sound Scene Based on Parametric Decomposition

This paper presents a novel 3DoF+ system that allows to navigate, i.e., change position, in scene-based spatial audio content beyond the sweet spot of a Higher Order Ambisonics recording. It is one of the first such systems based on sound capturing at a single spatial position. The system uses a parametric decomposition of the recorded sound field. For the synthesis, only coarse distance information about the sources is needed as side information but not the exact number of them. In an experiment with multiple sources and reverberation, the proposed method shows good performance in terms of an instrumental measure and excellent performance in a subjective evaluation based on a MUSHRA listening test. A variant of the analysis stage increases localization performance and scores median subject ratings between 91 % and 99 % compared to the reference.
Investigating Equity-Minded Migrant Education Policies in Shanghai From Migrant Parents’ Perspectives

Purpose: This article aims to explore how suburban public schools in Shanghai of China have implemented the top-down equity-minded migrant policies of free compulsory education and equal access to public education. Design/Approach/Methods: This qualitative study focuses on public schools in the suburb of Shanghai, one of the top migrant-receiving metropolitan cities in China. Using personal network, referral, snowballing, and “guerrilla interviewing,” the researcher recruited 13 migrant parents that represent 11 cities of 9 provinces and collected interview data between early January and late June of 2015. Data sources include 10 face-to-face interviews, 3 telephone interviews, 6 follow-up interviews, and supplementary policy documents. Findings: It finds that local public schools have fully implemented free compulsory education, but have not supported equal access, revealing an inconsistent and arbitrary policy enactment pattern. Although all the interviewees have worked and lived in Shanghai for an average of 10 years, only those that afford a real property, receive exceptions, or have personal connections can have children enrolled in public schools. Further, parents’ perceptions of the policy implementation vary across cases with most of them not demonstrating an awareness of education equality. Originality/Value: This study synthesizes stories shared by migrant parents and reports an interesting policy implementation pattern. It contributes to the field of migrant education study and confirms that top-down equity-minded reform is likely to encounter challenges.
Sustainability Assessment of Food Redistribution Initiatives in Sweden

Food banks that redistribute surplus food from retailers and the food industry to people in need are not a new concept globally, but their connection to food waste prevention is new. As a result, new types of food redistribution units are emerging and diversifying to find new target groups and distribution methods. The aim of this study was to identify and study surplus food redistribution units in Sweden, and then to assess the impact on several sustainability indicators for selected redistribution units, in order to increase knowledge on the types of values these redistribution concepts generate. The methods used for analyzing the scenarios were Environmental Life Cycle Assessment, Life Cycle Costing and Social Life Cycle Assessment. The results showed that providing food bags to socially exposed people generated the largest reduction of greenhouse gas emissions per kg of redistributed food (−1.2 kg CO2 eq./FU). Reprocessing surplus food to a high-quality end-product was attributed a high social value, due to job creation effects in the high number of working hours required per kg of redistributed food. With regard to economic impacts, all but two scenarios studied had monthly financial losses, and therefore needed other sources of financial support.
Exploring connections in the online learning environment: student perceptions of rapport, climate, and loneliness

ABSTRACT Online learning can be a lonely experience. Social presence and interaction are a few proposed ways to combat students’ feelings of loneliness from peers and their instructor. Given that online course popularity and opportunities continue to grow, it is necessary to examine possible ways to alleviate perceptions of loneliness, especially given its negative outcomes on students’ learning experiences. Thus, the purpose of this study was to explore how connections with those in the course (i.e. rapport and climate) may alleviate perceptions of loneliness in an online classroom, if at all, using rhetorical and relational goals as a theoretical perspective. The results from this study exemplify the importance of the instructor's role in building and maintaining rapport and climate. Practical implications for online instructors are presented in the discussion.