Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
SOIL REDOX AND pH EFFECTS ON NITRATE REDUCTION UNDER FLOODED CONDITIONS

In an incubation experiment, both biological and chemical reduction of nitrate were studied under flooded conditions at different redox (0, 200 and 400 mV) and pH (5, 7 and 9) values in the presence and absence of HgCl 2 as a sterilant. Nitrate reduction followed a linear pattern with the time of incubation at all combined pH – Eh treatments. At a given pH value, NO -3 reduction increased by 2 to 3 folds due to lowering Eh from 400 to 0 mV. The highest reduction rate was found at pH 9 combined with Eh 0 mV. At 48 hours of incubation, for instance, and pH 9 the reduction was 73% at 0 mV but didn’t exceed 24% at Eh 400 mV in the absence of HgCl 2 . The corresponding values in the presence of HgCl 2 were 80% and 42%, respectively. Catalytic action of HgCl 2 under alkaline conditions was responsible for such increase by enhancing the chemical reduction. Under acid conditions, at 0 and 400 mV without HgCl 2 the values were 64% and 30%, but were 25% and 14% with HgCl 2 . Such decreased values were attributed to the poisoning action of soluble mercury under acid conditions to soil biota. It also indicated the importance of chemical reduction under acid and well aerated conditions which are different than those suitable for nitrate reducing microorganisms.
Self-Frequency Shift of Cavity Soliton in Kerr Frequency Comb

We show that the ultrashort cavity soliton in octave-spanning Kerr frequency comb generation exhibits striking self-adaptiveness and robustness to external perturbations, resulting in a novel frequency shifting/cancellation mechanism and gigantic dispersive wave generation in response to the strong frequency dependence of Kerr nonlinearity, Raman scattering, chromatic dispersion, and cavity Q. These observations open up a great avenue towards versatile manipulation of nonlinear soliton dynamics, flexible spectrum engineering of mode-locked Kerr frequency combs, and highly efficient frequency translation of optical waves.
Perceptions and Attitudes of Patients and Their Family Caregivers on Nebulization Therapy for COPD

Purpose The aim of the survey was to evaluate attitudes and perceptions toward nebulization therapy for the management of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in Indian population. Patients and methods A cross-sectional, multicenter, quantitative survey was conducted from July to August 2019 among 103 COPD patients [>40 years, either gender, belonging to socio-economic class (SEC) A or SEC B] and their family caregivers. One-on-one interviews were conducted telephonically via an online survey platform (KoBo data collection tool) using a structured questionnaire. Patients receiving home nebulization were included, and the usage of nebulizers, satisfaction, and benefits and concerns with nebulizers were assessed. Results Overall, 47% patients were on handheld inhalers + nebulizer, 54% used nebulizer for >8 weeks, and 27% used nebulizers daily for home maintenance. Majority of the patients (77%) were satisfied with nebulization therapy. Around 70% family caregivers opined that the quality of life of COPD patients improved post-nebulization therapy. The benefits of nebulizers perceived by patients were easier breathing (89%), feeling of well-being (86%), and ease of use (86%), while family caregivers reported reduced hospitalization (76%) and easier breathing (75%). Among those with prior experience with inhalers, 72% felt nebulizers gave long-term relief, while 65% perceived having immediate relief compared to inhaler. Overall, 61% opined that benefits with nebulizers outweighed the inconvenience associated with its use. Key concerns regarding nebulizers cited by patients were time-consuming procedure (50%), feeling of dependency (49%), and social embarrassment (48%), while family caregivers highlighted social embarrassment (45%) and multiple daily use (45%) as major concerns. Majority of the patients (73%) were compliant with their recommended frequency of the nebulizer. Conclusion This first-of-its-kind survey highlights that the majority of patients and family caregivers were satisfied with nebulizers and reported improvements in symptoms and reduced hospitalizations with nebulizer therapy. The patients preferred nebulized therapy to inhalers.
Association of Polymorphic Variants in Argonaute Genes with Depression Risk in a Polish Population

Argonaute (AGO) proteins, through their key role in the regulation of gene expression, participate in many biological processes, including cell differentiation, proliferation, death and DNA repair. Accurate regulation of gene expression appears to be important for the proper development of complex neural circuits. Loss of AGO proteins is known to lead to early embryonic mortality in mice with various malformations, including anomalies of the central nervous system. Single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of AGO genes can lead to deregulation of the processes in which AGO proteins are involved. The contribution of different SNPs in depression has been extensively studied. However, there are hardly any studies on the contribution of AGO genes. The aim of our research was to assess the relationship between the occurrence of depression and the presence of SNPs in genes AGO1 (rs636882) and AGO2 (rs4961280; rs2292779; rs2977490) in a Polish population. One hundred and one subjects in the study group were diagnosed with recurrent depressive disorder by a psychiatrist. The control group comprised 117 healthy subjects. Study participants performed the HDRS (Hamilton Depression Scale) test to confirm or exclude depression and assess severity. The frequency of polymorphic variants of genes AGO1 (rs636882) and AGO2 (rs4961280; rs2292779; rs2977490) was determined using TaqMan SNP genotyping assays and the TaqMan universal PCR master mix, no AmpErase UNG. The rs4961280/AGO2 polymorphism was associated with a decrease in depression occurrence in the codominant (OR = 0.51, p = 0.034), dominant (OR = 0.49, p = 0.01), and overdominant (OR = 0.58, p = 0.049) models. Based on the obtained results, we found that the studied patients demonstrated a lower risk of depression with the presence of the polymorphic variant of the rs4961280/AGO2 gene—genotype C/A and C/A-A/A.
LTE and NB-IoT Performance Estimation Based on Indicators Measured by the Radio Module

Monitoring the operating parameters of power grids is extremely important for their proper functioning as well as for ensuring the security of the entire infrastructure. As the idea of the Internet of Things becomes more ubiquitous, there are tools for monitoring the state of the complex electrical grid and means to control it. There are also developed new measuring devices and transmission technologies allowing for the transfer of performed measurements from many places to the network management center. However, there are still no devices that act as data concentrators, which would integrate many transmission technologies and protocols in one device, supporting the communication between those different transmission technologies and which would realize edge computing to assist the management center by prioritizing and combining transmitted data. In this article, the authors present a device that meets the above-mentioned requirements. There are presented research results leading to the development of a decision algorithm, called Multilink—ML, dedicated to the presented device. This algorithm enables the selection between LTE and NB-IoT interfaces for packet transmission without the need to burden the communication system with additional transmissions.
Small-scale Farmers’ Information Needs and Obstacles: Evidence from the Volta Region, Ghana

: Agricultural information is assuming increasing importance in the face of current biotic and abiotic stresses, coupled with changing dynamics of agricultural practice globally. This paper contributes to the discourse by examining information needs and obstacles of small-scale farmers in the Volta Region, Ghana. Structured questionnaires were used to collect primary data from six hundred and thirty (630) small-scale farmers, selected through multistage sampling technique. The study showed that information on marketing, post-harvest techniques, and diseases and pests management were the critical information needs of small-scale farmers in the Region. The study further established that majority of small-scale farmers were aware of information sources in the Region with the major information sources consulted by farmers in order of preference being family members, friends, radio, television and extension agents. A chi-square analysis showed that educational level of farmers was not significant at ρ ≤ 0.05 and therefore did not affect farmers’ information needs. Besides, the study showed that the major obstacles facing small-scale farmers were lack of skills to access information, inadequate information resources, insufficient agricultural extension agents, and absence of Agricultural Information Centres. These findings will certainly shape agricultural extension program planning in the Region and inform national extension policy.
Karyotype and COI gene sequences of Chironomusmelanotus Keyl, 1961 from the Yaroslavl region, Russia, and the difficulties with its identification using GenBank and BOLD systems

﻿Abstract Karyotype and COI gene sequences of Chironomusmelanotus Keyl, 1961 from the Yaroslavl region (Russia) were analyzed. A low level of chromosomal polymorphism has been confirmed, eventually eight banding sequences were found: melA1, melB1, melC1, melD1, melE1, melF1, and melG1; only melD2 was found in two larvae from the Sunoga river. Analysis of phylogenetic tree and estimated genetic distances has shown not all COI gene sequences of Ch.melanotus in GenBank and BOLD to belong to this species. The lower distance of 0.4% was observed between two sequences from the Yaroslavl region and Finland, apparently these are true Ch.melanotus sequences. The distances between true Ch.melanotus and other sequences from Finland were 9.5% and 12.4%, and from Sweden it was 11%. The average genetic distance between studied sequences of 9.1% is out of the range of the 3% threshold previously determined for chironomids. According to our estimates, there are two sequences with a distance of 2.9% that may belong to Ch.annularius Meigen, 1818, and one sequence with a genetic distance of 2.1%, may belonging to Ch.cingulatus Meigen, 1830, which has been confirmed karyologically. Another two sequences form a separate cluster. We suggest that they either belong to a known species, but are not present in the databases, or belong to a distinct, undescribed species.
A Pilot Study to Assess and Compare Acceptability of an Energy-Dense Nutrient Supplement Among Moderate Underweight Children in Rural and Urban Settings of Pune, Maharashtra

ABSTRACT We developed and tested the reliability of a digital tool to facilitate sensory evaluation (SE) of an energy-dense nutrient supplement among children and elicit their mothers’ perceptions in Phase-I. In Phase-II, SE and two-week acceptability were assessed in children from government preschools in rural and urban Pune (India). Cronbach’s alpha values of 8 and 6.8 indicated good and fairly acceptable reliability for mother and child questions, respectively. “Very-good” rating was obtained from >75% and >60% for appearance and smell, respectively. The acceptability test showed a significantly higher intake among the rural (mean = 102.0 ± 19 gm) compared to the urban children (71.14 ± 13 gm) (p < .05).
Plant fossils from the Gangapur Formation

Plant fossils have been recovered from the Gangapur Formation, originally known as ‘Gangapur beds’ of the Kota ‘Stage’. The material was obtained from 11 localities in the vicinity of Gangapur Village, Adilabad District, Andhra Pradesh. The megafossils belong to the common Upper Gondwana forms. The commonest fossil is Elatocladus. A new species of the genus (E. kingianus) has been identified on the basis of epidermal features. Epidermal features of a species of Pagiophyllum, viz., P. marwarensis, have also been studied. The palynological assemblage comprises about 64 taxa. The dominant element is the Araucariacites-Callialasporites complex. The stratigraphically important forms occurring in the samples are Trilites tuberculiformis, lschyosporites crateris, Cooksonites variabilis, and Microcachryridites antarcticus. After analyzing the available palaeobotanical and palynological data, a basal Lower Cretaceous age for the Gangapur Formation is suggested.
Association Between Leadership Competency, Quality of Work and Readiness For Change Among Head Nurses

Background: Today, all organizations are working in highly competitive atmospheres that need change in order to adapt to changing market conditions. In this atmosphere, examining the impact of numerous human elements in the successful management and implementation of change projects is more essential. As a result, effective leadership is one of the most important factors influencing organizational change. However, in order to effectively manage the change process, leaders must have a specific set of competencies and produce high-quality work. Aim: the study aimed to investigate the association between leadership competencies, quality of work and readiness for change among head nurses at Specialized Medical Hospital. Method: A descriptive correlational research design was used and the study was conducted on 90 head nurses working at Specialized Medical Hospital using three tools: Leadership Competencies Scale, Quality of Work Scale and Organizational Readiness for Change Scale. Results: More than two thirds of head nurses had low level of leadership competencies, more than half of them had low level of quality of work and high level of readiness for change. There was statistically significant positive correlation between leadership competencies, quality of work and readiness for change. Recommendation: Hospital administrator should provide applications such as weekly lectures on how to apply leadership competencies that improves head nurses' leadership skills and satisfaction in order to promote hospital changes and learning organizations.
ASSESSMENT OF THE LEVELS OF PERSISTENT ORGANIC POLLUTANTS IN THE GHABAWI LANDFILL IN JORDAN

Introduction: In the early 2003s, the Jordanian municipality of Al-Ghabawi began operating a municipal solid waste dump. As a result of inefficient waste management, it might be a substantial source of contaminants in the environment and a hazard to human health. All environmental elements (water, air, soil, and biota) are contaminated as a result of inefficient garbage disposal. The pollution of the environment in the area of garbage dumps and landfills is a big concern, caused by wind, uncontrolled waste burning, and evaporation of organic components. As a result, landfills may be hazardous to employees and the environment. Aim of Work: Residues of selected Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) as chemical pollutants were evaluated in leachate, soil, and groundwater in the Al-Ghabawi site to assess environmental quality in the landfill and the surrounding area. Materials and Methods: Samples were collected during 2020 in order to know their content of Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), Organochlorine Pesticides(OCPs)and their metabolites. The sampling and analysis were conducted according to international standard methods. Results: The results of this study showed that the concentration (µg L −1 ) of PCBs congers ranged between (0.51–0.53 µg L −1 ) in the test1 and (0.15-0.33 µg L −1 ) in the leachate of Ghabawi landfill, whereas less than (1.00 µg L −1 ) in the mixed leachate from five cells. Some targeted PCBs were detected and it was distributed as this order: PCB189 and PCB169 > PCB77 > PCB167 > PCB157, PCB81, PCB126 and PCB156> PCB123 and PCB105> PCB118> PCB114. The concentration of total DDT varied from 2.16 µg/ L to 3.38 µg/L in leachate samples; 3.19 ng/g to 2.91 ng/g in soil samples and 0.25 µg/L to 1.94 µg/L in groundwater into the study area. Conclusion and Recommendations: The study concluded that there were some pollutants in the landfill area and the surrounding environment. These pollutants pose threat to the workers in the landfill. POPs regulations and control measures should be enforced to protect human health and the environment. Ensure safe and sound disposal methods for the waste containing POPs, considering the final destruction of POPs or irreversibly transformed; so no longer have the characteristics of POPs.
Price volatility spillovers between Canadian and US, agricultural and fuel markets

Abstract A good understanding of risk transmission between agricultural and energy industries can be important to the sustainability of agriculture and the development of renewable energy industries. Literature has shown that the volatility of international agricultural and energy markets has mutual influences, and that these influences may change over time and space. This analysis adds value to the literature by identifying whether, and to what extent, price and volatility spillovers exist between the Canadian wheat market and US corn and energy markets (i.e. gasoline and ethanol). Though many studies have investigated pass-through between corn and energy markets, the addition of wheat markets in Canada is of interest because of the increasing use of wheat in producing first generation ethanol, and the potential for second generation ethanol that could use Canadian wheat straw as a feedstock. Our investigation adopts a modified vector error-correction model with a multivariate generalized autoregressive conditional heteroskedasticity framework. Key results include: (1) wheat and ethanol prices adjust to a deviation in the equilibrium relationship with corn and gasoline prices; (2) price volatility in the wheat market is only affected by its own shocks, not by the spillovers from US corn, ethanol or gasoline markets; (3) corn price volatility is not affected by shocks to wheat, ethanol, or gasoline markets. However, corn price volatility is largely affected by the covariance between wheat and corn. This information is useful for developing business strategies, as well as for policy makers interested in the development of a second-generation wheat straw-based ethanol industry in Canada. Our results also improve the understanding of impacts of US energy policies on Canada.
Spectral evolution of galaxies. 1. Early-type systems

This work develops models for the spectral evolution of early-type galaxies using population synthesis techniques. Different choices of the initial mass function and the star formation rare allow the construction of models which at the present epoch cover the range of observed galaxy spectra. Special emphasis is given to the ultraviolet region of the spectrum. Ultraviolet spectra of late-type stars and early-type galaxies obtained with the International Ultraviolet Explorer satellite are used in this work. The evolving spectral energy distributions are used to compute galaxy colors, magnitudes, K-corrections, and evolutionary corrections as functions of redshift for different photometric systems.
PREPARATION AND PROPERTIES OF FRUIT WHEY BEVERAGE

Sweet whey was heated at 71 o C for 30 sec. after adding 0.2% stabilizer. Heated whey was divided to three parts, to first part ABT culture (3%) was added without incubation, while the second part was incubated at 45 o C after adding the same concentration of ABT culture. The incubation continued until pH reached 4.6  1. The third part considered as control. Fruit juices (30%) mango, guava and strawberry, also 10% sucrose were added to all previous treatments, after which all treatments were stored at refrigerator (7 o C  1) for 10 days. Chemical and microbiological analysis were followed at 0,3,7 and 10 days of storage. Sensory evaluation were done immediately after processing. Results could be summarized as follows: pH-values gradually decreased in all samples during storage. Total solid (T.S) content of beverage with incubated ABT-culture was higher than that other treatments, while it had slightly lower lactose, total protein and calcium content as compared with other treatments. All whey-fruit beverages showed the highest contents of asperity, glutamic, leisure and lysine acids. Changes in vitamins content of all samples due to added fruit-juices. Gradually increased during storage in total bacterial content (T.B.C) of all samples. Finally all whey-based beverage had good sensory properties but non-fermentation whey showed higher scores in sensory evaluation test than fermented whey.
Palynological record from Chhasra Formation (Early Miocene), Eastern Kutch, Gujarat

A moderately diverse palynoflora consisting of angiospermous pollen and pteridophytic spores has been recorded from poorly known Chhasra Formation (Early Miocene) exposed in a section near Palasawa in eastern Kutch, Gujarat, western India. Dinoflagellate cysts are absent in the section, whereas the fresh water Centropyxis, a testate amoeba, is recorded. Among the important genera recovered are: Hammenisporis, Khariasporites, Acanthotricolpites, Spinizonocolpites, Spinomonocolpites, Retitrescolpites, Meliapollis, Ctenolophonidites, Palaeomalvaceaepollis, Graminidites and Ericipites. Preliminary qualitative and quantitative assessment reveals the dominance of angiospermous pollen grains over pteridophytic spores, and an overall warm and humid coastal climate with tropical rain forest in a lowland coastal setting. Ongoing work in this newly identified section may reveal greater insights into diversity and significance of the Chhasra palynoflora.
Uniform bounds on biorthogonal functions for real exponentials with an application to the control theory of parabolic equations

Abstract : In the report the authors study harmonic properties of sequences (e - (lambda sub k)t) of real exponential functions. Linear independence results, including estimates on the norms of biorthogonal functions, are obtained in the space (L sup 2) over the interval = or > 0, but 0. The results are uniform in that they depend only upon certain separation requirements on the (lambda sub k) rather than upon the individual sequence (lambda sub k). The results are used to study the boundary value controllability of the heat equation in the unit ball of (R sup n). (Author)
Palaeogene palynostratigraphy of Simla Hills

The Palaeogene succession of Simla Hills consists of Subathu, Dagshai and Kasauli formations in ascending order of stratigraphy. The palynostratigraphical information developed from the marine sequence of Subathu sediments throws light on the dating potential of the assemblages and also on the distributional pattern of various palynomorphs. Dependable palynological parameters in effecting correlation of various sections of the formation have been discussed. Reflections on the palynological spectra across the Subathu-Dagshai boundary and in the Kasauli Formation have been made.