Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Land Application of Sewage Sludge: Physiological and Biochemical Response of the Rio Grande Tomato

Treated wastewater produces sewage sludge as a by-product that may have beneficial implications on agricultural practices. The effects of sludge amendments on growth, morphological and biochemical characteristics of the agro-industrial Tomato cultivar Rio Grande were observed. A pot culture experiment was carried out during 4 months (16 February 2019 to 18 June 2019), at an experimental green house in the locality of Salah Soufi, Guelma, north-eastern Algeria. There were significant differences between soil and sewage sludge samples. Total nitrogen (20.58 mg/kg) was more available in sewage sludge than in soil (N = 2.09 ± 0.3 mg/kg). In contrast, sludge contained less phosphorus and organic matter than soil. The observation of the morphological characteristics of the plants showed significant variations between the treatments. The germination rates for treated soils decreased significantly to reach 50%, compared to the control. Growth patterns (dry and fresh weight of leaves and roots) changed significantly (P <0.05) between the treatments. Chlorophyll contents of plants in treated soils were more than twice as high as those of the control, but started decreasing at 75% amendment rates.
Ecological determinants of body size and clutch size in amphipods: a comparative approach

To assess the role of various ecological factors on the evolution of body size and clutch size, a comparative analysis of life-history traits in amphipods was performed across families using phylogenetically independent contrasts. The analysis was based on data from 993 species. There is no difference between the body size of marine amphipod taxa and that of freshwater or terrestrial taxa. Amphipod lineages that are parasitic or obligate associates of other animals display consistently smaller body sizes than their closest free-living relatives. Both latitude and depth correlated positively with amphipod body size. There is no significant tendency for high latitude or deep water amphipod taxa to produce fewer eggs for a given body size than their tropical or shallow-water relatives. The results of the comparative analysis suggest that evolutionary changes in habitat or mode of life had significant effects on amphipod life-history traits.
Can Small Incentives Have Large Payoffs? Health Impacts of a National Conditional Cash Transfer Program in Bolivia †

Conditional Cash Transfers often consist in large payments making it hard to separate income effects from the conditionality component. Most studies in health find that demand for health services increases, however, little is known about the effect of demand side incentives on outcomes such as infant or newborn mortality. We study a Bolivian program that transfers mothers an equivalent to 1% of a household’s per capita consumption, upon compliance with prenatal and child care services. This is not only relatively small in general but also the smallest transfer among similar programs in Latin America. We implement different identification strategies and data sets to study program effects on final outcomes and their pathways. We use plausibly exogenous variation in program restrictions to instrument enrollment rates across municipalities and time and show that the program reduced the rate of stillbirths in 38.8% using administrative data and vital statistics. Consistently, using Census data we find that the program increased the survival rates of cohorts exposed †We thank the Bono Juana Azurduy program for granting us access to program administrative data and UDAPE for acces to the Health and Nutrition Evaluation Survey 2012 data through their website www.udape. gob.bo. We thank Sdenka Claros for excellent research assistance and Dan Black, Chris Blattman, Taryn Dinkelman, Sebastian Galiani, Gaston Gertner, Jeanne Lafortune, Bruce Meyer, and seminar participants at the Inter-American Development Bank, LACEA Conference and University of Chicago for helpful comments. All opinions are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the Government of the Plurinational State of Bolivia, or the Inter-American Development Bank, its Executive Directors or the governments they represent. All errors are our own. ∗Corresponding author Email address: pacelhay@uc.cl (Pablo A. Celhay)
Studies on physico-chemical and functional properties of flaxseed flour

The present work was proposed to study the physico-chemical and nutritional properties of flaxseed flour were investigated. Flaxseed is an oil seed used for the preparation of various nutritious food product as it is the rich source of alpha-linolinic acid which is essential amino acid. Result obtained were indicated that color of the flaxseed was brown in color, length, width, and thickness were, 5.20mm, 2.80mm and 0.80mm. Further chemical composition was reported and results showed that the moisture content 5.6 percent, fat content 35.2 percent, protein content 20.16 percent, ash content 2.6 percent, fiber content 6.3 percent and carbohydrate content 25 percent. Roasted and non-roasted flaxseed flours (Linum Usitatissimum) were evaluated for their proximate composition, mineral profile and functional properties. Significant increase in the crude protein, crude fiber, ash and mineral contents in the both roasted and non-roasted was observed. Roasted flour was observed to have highest value of water absorption capacity, bulk density such as (0.83g/cm3), and (1.80g/g) as compared to non-roasted flour. Mineral profile and proximate composition of the roasted flaxseed flours showed that this can be added in the many types of food applications, while roasting effectively reduces the antinutritional factor of the flaxseed. Finally, it can be concluded from the obtained results that flaxseed was high in nutrients that makes it potential source for value addition in food commercialization.
Path-Integral Calculation of the Second Dielectric and Refractivity
 Virial Coefficients of Helium, Neon, and Argon

We present a method to calculate dielectric and refractivity virial coefficients using the path-integral Monte Carlo formulation of quantum statistical mechanics and validate it by comparing our results with equivalent calculations in the literature and with more traditional quantum calculations based on wavefunctions. We use state-of-the-art pair potentials and polarizabilities to calculate the second dielectric and refractivity virial coefficients of helium (both 3He and 4He), neon (both 20Ne and 22Ne), and argon. Our calculations extend to temperatures as low as 1 K for helium, 4 K for neon, and 50 K for argon. We estimate the contributions to the uncertainty of the calculated dielectric virial coefficients for helium and argon, finding that the uncertainty of the pair polarizability is by far the greatest contribution. Agreement with the limited experimental data available is generally good, but our results have smaller uncertainties, especially for helium. Our approach can be generalized in a straightforward manner to higher-order coefficients.
circRNA Expression Profile in Dental Pulp Stem Cells during Odontogenic Differentiation

Introduction Odontogenic differentiation of human dental pulp stem cells (hDPSCs) is a key step of pulp regeneration. Recent studies showed that circular RNAs (circRNAs) have many biological functions and that competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) is their most common mechanism of action. However, the role of circRNAs in hDPSCs during odontogenesis is still unclear. Methods Isolated hDPSCs were cultured in essential and odontogenic medium. Total RNA was extracted after 14 days of culture, and then, microarray analysis was performed to measure the differential expressions of circRNAs. Quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was then performed to validate the microarray results. Based on microarray data from this study and available in the database, a ceRNA network was constructed to investigate the potential function of circRNAs during odontogenesis. In addition, Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analyses were performed to investigate the potential correlation between signaling pathways and circRNAs. In addition, qRT-PCR and Western blot analysis were used to explore the function of hsa_circRNA_104101. Results We found 43 upregulated circRNAs and 144 downregulated circRNAs during the odontogenic differentiation process (fold change > 1.5 and <-1.5, respectively; P < 0.05). qRT-PCR results were in agreement with the microarray results. Bioinformatic analysis revealed that the Wnt signaling pathway and the TGF-β signaling pathway, as well as the other pathways associated with odontogenic differentiation, were correlated to the differentially expressed circRNAs. hsa_circRNA_104101 was proved to promote the odontogenic differentiation of hDPSCs. Conclusion This study reported 187 circRNAs that were differentially expressed in hDPSCs during odontogenic differentiation. Bioinformatic analysis of the expression data suggested that circRNA-miRNA-mRNA networks might act as a crucial mechanism for hDPSC odontogenic differentiation, providing a theoretical foundation for the study of pulp regeneration regulation by circRNAs.
Understanding and mastering dynamics in computing grids: processing moldable tasks with user-level overlay

Thousands of scientific users witness every day inherent instabilities and bottlenecks of large-scale task processing systems: lost or incomplete jobs and hard-to-predict completion times. They are struggling to resubmit failed jobs and get consistent results. And it is always difficult to catch up with latest deployed software environments or system configurations. In addition, the users have often more than one system to deal with: they continue to use locally available computing power (a desktop PC, a nearby computing center, a small cluster next door) while exploiting global resources such as grids. On top of this, grids use a large variety of middleware stacks, which are customized in different ways by user communities. Quality of Service and usability are the two keywords probably most frequently echoed in the corridors of many "grid-enabled" research labs. This PhD dissertation presents scientific research from the problem statement, system analysis, modeling and simulation, to validation through experimental results. It captures and characterizes complexity and dynamics of global task processing systems using as an example the largest scientific grid to date - the EGEE/EGI Grid. A task processing model developed in this work allows to rigorously explain why the late-binding method is superior to traditional task scheduling based on early binding. A study of statistical properties of task processing times is complemented by Monte Carlo simulation. This book is also addressed to grid practitioners: developers and users. Presenting several successful application examples from diverse domains, it explains how heterogeneity and dynamics of global task processing systems may be addressed and mastered in a cost-effective way directly by the users. It describes a User-level Overlay, based on two software packages, Ganga and DIANE, which are ready to use with little or no customization for your application. Advanced resource selection strategies and scheduling approaches developed in this book may be reused in your environment.
The Ruelle operator for symmetric β-shifts

Consider m ∈ N and β ∈ (1,m+ 1]. Assume that a ∈ R can be represented in base β using a development in series a = ∑∞ n=1 x(n)β −n where the sequence x = (x(n))n∈N take values in the alphabet Am := {0, . ,m}. The above expression is called the β-expansion of a and it is not necessarily unique. We are interested in sequences x = (x(n))n∈N ∈ Am which are associated to all possible values a which have a unique expansion. We denote the set of such x (with some more technical restrictions) by Xm,β ⊂ Am. The space Xm,β is called the symmetric β-shift associated to the pair (m,β). It is invariant by the shift map but in general it is not a subshift of finite type. Given a Hölder continuous potential A : Xm,β → R, we consider the Ruelle operator LA and we show the existence of a positive eigenfunction ψA and an eigenmeasure ρA for some values of m and β. We also consider a variational principle of pressure. Moreover, we prove that the family of entropies (h(μtA))t>0 converges, when t → ∞, to the maximal value among the set of all possible values of entropy of all A-maximizing probabilities.
Accuracy Dependence on Weather Radar Network 1 Configurations

The relatively low density of weather radar networks can lead to low-altitude coverage gaps. As existing networks are evaluated for gap-fillers and new networks are designed, the benefits of low-altitude coverage must be assessed quantitatively. This study takes a regression approach to modeling quantitative precipitation estimation (QPE) differences based on network density, antenna aperture, and polarimetric bias. Thousands of cases from the warmseason months of May–August 2015–2017 are processed using both the specific attenuation [R(A)] and reflectivity-differential reflectivity [R(Z,ZDR)] QPE methods and are compared against Automated Surface Observing System (ASOS) rain gauge data. QPE errors are quantified based on beam height, cross-radial resolution, added polarimetric bias, and observed rainfall rate. The collected data are used to construct a support vector machine regression model that is applied to the current WSR-88D network for holistic error quantification. An analysis of the effects of polarimetric bias on flash-flood rainfall rates is presented. Rainfall rates based on 2-year/1-hr return rates are used for a CONUS-wide analysis of QPE errors in extreme rainfall situations. These errors are then re-quantified using previously proposed network design scenarios with additional radars that provide enhanced estimate capabilities. Finally, a gap-filling scenario utilizing the QPE error model, flash-flood rainfall rates, population density, and potential additional WSR-88D sites is presented, exposing the highest-benefit coverage holes in augmenting the WSR88D network (or a future network) relative to QPE performance. 15
Intervening Role of Ambidexterity in the HR Practices-Innovation Performance Nexus

Extant empirical evidence has signified that the only way to gain a continuous competitive advantage, offer differentiated goods and services and minimise costs is to enhance employee innovation performance. Therefore, this study aims to explore the predictors of employee innovation performance by investigating the effects of job design, training and development, compensation, and succession planning on employee innovation performance. It aims to do so by using employee ambidexterity as a mediating variable. Data, which was elicited from 350 individuals who hold managerial positions in Bahraini firms through a survey, was analysed using a Smart PLSSEM’s approach (measurement and structural model evaluation). The overall results indicate that employee ambidexterity mediates the relationships between selected HR practices and employee innovation performance. This implies that job design, training & development, compensation, and succession planning are significant drivers of employee innovation performance in the current, increasingly competitive environment. This could be enhanced through a concurrent pursuit of innovation using both explorative and exploitative activities that are carried out by the employees of the organisations (i.e., employee ambidexterity). Lastly, implications for theory and practice and suggestions for future studies were discussed.
Physiological and phylogenetic analysis of Burkholderia sp. HY1 capable of aniline degradation

A new aniline-utilizing microorganism, strain HY1 obtained from an orchard soil, was characterized by using the BIOLOG system, an analysis of the total cellular fatty acids. and a 16S rDNA sequence. Strain HY1 was identified as a Burkholderia species, and was designated Burkholderia sp. HY1. GC and HPLC analyses revealed that Burkholderia sp. HY1 was able to degrade aniline to produce catechol. which was subsequently converted to cis,cis-muconic acid through an ortho-ring fission pathway under aerobic conditions. Strain HY1 exhibited a drastic reduction in the rate of aniline degradation when glucose was added to the aniline media However, the addition of peptone or nitrate to the aniline media dramatically accelerated the rate of aniline degradation. A fatty acid analysis showed that strain HY1 was able to produce lipids 16:0. 16:0 2OH, and 11 methyl 18:1 ω7c approximately 3.7-, 2.2-, and 6-fold more, respectively, when grown on aniline media than when grown on TSA. An analysis of the 16S rDNA sequence revealed that strain HY1 was very closely related to Burkholderia graminis with 95% similarity based on the alignment of a 1,435 bp fragment. A phylogenetic analysis of the 16S rDNA sequence based on a 1,420 bp multi-alignment showed that strain HY1 was placed among three major clonal types of β-Proteobacteria, including Burkholderia graminis. Burkholderia phenazinium, and Burkholderia glathei. The sequence GAT(C or G)G, which is highly conserved in several locations in the 16S rDNA gene among the major clonal type strains of β-Proteobacteria, was frequently replaced with GAT(C or G)A in the 16S rDNA sequence from strain HY1.
The California Quail in New Zealand

The first liberation of California quail in New Zealand is stated by Thomson to have been in the province of Nelson in 1865 and this date is the one usually accepted. However, Hutton should be more reliable-being almost contemporaneous with the event-when he records that two pairs were liberated by a Mr. W. Hay at Papakura, near Auckland, in 1862. He goes on to say that "these are now in thousands and have spread for many miles. " Credit for the establishment of this now-important species is due to the various acclimatization societies; but when an attempt is made to trace fully the birds' spread throughout the Dominion, one is handicapped by the lack of adequate records in the annual reports of these societies. Therefore it is not claimed that the list of liberations incorporated in the map is completethe best use possible has been made of the material existing. Had full information been available each liberation with
Germination and seedling characteristics of drought-stressed corn seed as influenced by seed priming with potassium nano-chelate and sulfate fertilizers

Effect of seed-priming with potassium (K) sources (K-nano-chelate, KNC, and sulfate (0, 2 and 4 %)) under drought stress (DS) conditions (0, -0.3, -0.6, -0.9, -1.2 and -1.5 MPa water potential) on the corn seedling traits was studied. Drought stress decreased the germination indices and seedling vigor. The highest germination, seminal root fresh and dry mass (RFM and RDM) was obtained in KNC primed seeds at -0.3 MPa DS. Mean germination time increased under DS conditions mainly in non-primed seeds. Increasing DS to -1.2 MPa led to decrease in RFM and RDM. Influence of DS on the fresh mass of shoots was more severe than on seminal roots. The highest shoots and seminal roots length was observed in 4 % KNC without any DS. Proper priming can be suggested to increase the plant tolerance under DS.
UvA-DARE ( Digital Academic Repository ) Endogeneity matters : Essays on cooperation and coordination

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Atypical Chest Computed Tomography Finding of Predominant Interstitial Thickening in a Patient with Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Pneumonia

Patient: Male, 77-year-old Final Diagnosis: COVID-19 pneumonia Symptoms: Cough • shortness of breath Medication:— Clinical Procedure: — Specialty: Radiology Objective: Challenging differential diagnosis Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is caused by a novel coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, and is associated with severe respiratory disease. There are extensive publications on the chest computed tomography (CT) findings of COVID-19 pneumonia, with ground-glass opacities (GGO) and mixed GGO and consolidation being the most common findings. Those with interstitial thickening manifesting as reticular opacities typically show superimposed ground-glass opacities, giving a crazy-paving pattern. Case Report: We report the case of a 77-year-old man with a background of asthma-chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) overlap syndrome (ACOS) who presented with progressive cough and shortness of breath for 2 days. He was in close contact with a confirmed COVID-19 case. Reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction analysis of a nasopharyngeal swab was positive for SARS-CoV-2. The initial chest radiograph was negative for lung consolidation and ground-glass opacities. During admission, he had worsening shortness of breath with desaturation, prompting a chest CT examination, which was performed on day 14 of illness. The chest CT revealed an atypical finding of predominant focal subpleural interstitial thickening in the right lower lobe. He was provided supportive treatment along with steroid and antibiotics. He recovered well and subsequently tested negative for 2 consecutive swabs. He was discharged after 34 days. Conclusions: Interstitial thickening or reticular pattern on CT has been described in COVID-19 pneumonia, but largely in association with ground-glass opacity or consolidation. This case demonstrates an atypical predominance of interstitial thickening on chest CT in COVID-19 pneumonia on day 14 of illness, which is the expected time of greatest severity of the disease.
Immediate outcomes and implementation of a sport for development coach education programme in Belize

While sport for development programmes can be found across the globe, there is a gap in the literature describing and evaluating programmes that have been proven successful in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC). The Belizean Youth Sport Coalition was a two-way coaching exchange project that spanned three years. The goal of this project was to promote positive youth development and social change through sport in the small Central American nation of Belize. The purpose of the current study, which is part of a larger ongoing evaluation, was to assess the immediate outcomes of the education programme provided to 33 youth sport coaches in the first year of the project as well as their subsequent implementation. Multiple data sources indicate the education programme was effective in terms of participants’: (1) satisfaction with the training, (2) content knowledge, (3) attitudes and beliefs, and (4) capacity to implement the contents of the education programme. This study contributes to the sport for development literature by highlighting the important relationship between coach education and programme implementation. Moreover, it contributes to the literature on programmes that have been proven feasible and culturally relevant in the LAC region.