Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A new coryphoid costapalmate palm leaf from the Maastrichtian-Danian of India

ABSTRACT Here, we describe a new impressed palm frond from the latest Maastrichtian (late Cretaceous)-earliest Danian (early Palaeocene) sediments of the Deccan Intertrappean beds of Madhya Pradesh, Central India. The diagnostic characters of the recovered fossil specimen are large palmate fan-shaped leaf with well-preserved long costa (costapalmate), plicate, connate leaf segments with prominent mid-vein emerging at an acute angle from costa and parallel secondary lateral veins on either side of mid-vein. The aforesaid leaf morphological features of the Cretaceous specimen suggest its resemblance with those of modern members of the fan palm sub-family Coryphoideae in the Arecaceae. We recognize it as a new species, Sabalites karondiensis Roy, Hazra T et Khan, sp. nov. The present-day distribution of the comparable modern form of above taxon indicates that coryphoid palms may prefer a warm and humid tropical environment during the deposition.
The Preliminary Study on Effects of Pollinating Insects in Canola (Brassica napus L.) Production

Although canola (Brassica napus L.) plants are mainly self-pollinating, the cross pollination by insect increases yield. The study was carried out at Aegean Agricultural Research Institute (AARI), Menemen/Izmir in 2016/2017 growing season. The experimental design was a Randomized Complete Block with three replications. The treatments consisted of caged with honeybee, caged with bombus, caged without bees and open pollination. 96% of the collected insects from open pollination plots were honeybees. It was determined that flowering period significantly shortened (5.8 days) in plots with bee compared with caged without bee, while seed number per pod (4.6), thousand seed weight (0.25 g), seed yield (1398 kg ha), oil yield (776 kg ha) and oil rate (1.24%) increased. Also, the contents of erucic acid and glucosinolate level resulted in an increase by pollinator visit. It was concluded that pollination by insect affected yield, yield components and composition of fatty acid in canola. The results of this preliminary study should be supported by the research findings from multi locations and years.
The Development of a Standardized Quality Assessment Material to Support Xpert® HIV-1 Viral Load Testing for ART Monitoring in South Africa

The tiered laboratory framework for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) viral load monitoring accommodates a range of HIV viral load testing platforms, with quality assessment critical to ensure quality patient testing. HIV plasma viral load testing is challenged by the instability of viral RNA. An approach using an RNA stabilizing buffer is described for the Xpert® HIV-1 Viral Load (Cepheid) assay and was tested in remote laboratories in South Africa. Plasma panels with known HIV viral titres were prepared in PrimeStore molecular transport medium for per-module verification and per-instrument external quality assessment. The panels were transported at ambient temperatures to 13 testing laboratories during 2017 and 2018, tested according to standard procedures and uploaded to a web portal for analysis. A total of 275 quality assessment specimens (57 verification panels and two EQA cycles) were tested. All participating laboratories met study verification criteria (n = 171 specimens) with an overall concordance correlation coefficient (ρc) of 0.997 (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.996 to 0.998) and a mean bias of −0.019 log copies per milliliter (cp/mL) (95% CI: −0.044 to 0.063). The overall EQA ρc (n = 104 specimens) was 0.999 (95% CI: 0.998 to 0.999), with a mean bias of 0.03 log cp/mL (95% CI: 0.02 to 0.05). These panels are suitable for use in quality monitoring of Xpert® HIV-1 VL and are applicable to laboratories in remote settings.
Impact of ocean–atmosphere coupling on future projection of Medicanes in the Mediterranean sea

Cyclones with tropical characteristics called medicanes (“Mediterranean Hurricanes”) eventually develop in the Mediterranean Sea. They have large harmful potential and a correct simulation of their evolution in climate projections is important for an adequate adaptation to climate change. Different studies suggest that ocean–atmosphere coupled models provide a better representation of medicanes, especially in terms of intensity and frequency. In this work, we use the regionally‐coupled model ROM to study how air‐sea interactions affect the evolution of medicanes in future climate projections. We find that under the RCP8.5 scenario our climate simulations show an overall frequency decrease which is more pronounced in the coupled than in the uncoupled configuration, whereas the intensity displays a different behaviour depending on the coupling. In the coupled run, the relative frequency of higher‐intensity medicanes increases, but this is not found in the uncoupled simulation. Also, this study indicates that the coupled model simulates better the summer minimum in the occurrence of medicanes, avoiding the reproduction of unrealistically intense events that can be found in summer in the uncoupled model.
Physical, Chemical and Sensory Changes in Irradiated Fresh Pork Packaged in Modified Atmosphere

The effects of irradiation dose (0, 0.5 and 1.0 kGy), headspace oxygen (0, 10 and 20% O 2 , balance nitrogen) and storage temperature (5, 15 and 25 o C) on the physical, chemical and sensory changes in fresh pork were studied using factorial design experiments. Irradiation in the absence of oxygen extended the sensory shelf life of pork from 9 to 26 days at 5 o C and from <2 TO 2 DAYS AT 25 o C. Oxygen in the package headspace combined with irradiation adversely affected physical, chemical and sensory characteristics of the end product
The impact of intellectual capital on firm’s financial performance: empirical evidence from Bahrain

This study contributes to the intellectual capital (IC) area of literature by investigating the impact of IC on the firm’s financial performance of two main sectors in the Bahrain Bourse, financial and service sectors, during five years, 2013–2017. The study employs canonical correlation analysis as a unique statistical method to analyze data gathered from 29 sampled companies, representing 145 firm-year observations over the five years. Two groups of variables are employed. The first represents the firm’s financial performance with two variables (return on equity – ROE and return on assets – ROA), while the second includes three intellectual capital components, namely human, customer, and structural capital. Findings related to the financial sector reveal that all IC components (human capital, customer capital, and structural capital) have positive correlations with firm performance except for the labor costs variable (the sub-variable of human capital), which has a negative correlation with firm’s performance. Human capital is also found to be the most significant component of the IC, while structural capital is reported as the lowest effect on the firm’s performance, consistent with some previous research findings. Furthermore, the services sector results revealed that IC is significantly associated with the firm’s performance. Moreover, two sub-variables of human capital (number of Bahraini employees and labor costs) have the most significant impact on the firm’s performance.
Pyrolysis of Pine ( Pinus Brutia Ten.) Chips: 1. Effect of Pyrolysis Temperature and Heating Rate on the Product Yields

In this work, bark-free chips of Turkish red pine ( Pinus Brutia Ten.) were pyrolyzed in a laboratory-scale fixed bed reactor. The influence of final pyrolysis temperature, heating rate, and pyrolysis atmosphere on the product yields were investigated. Pyrolysis runs were performed using reactor temperatures ranging between 300 and 550°C with heating rates of 7 and 40°C/min. The char, gas, and liquid yield obtained ranged between 23 and 36 wt%, 11 and 23 wt%, and 21 and 30 wt%, respectively, at different pyrolysis conditions. The highest liquid yield was obtained at 500°C pyrolysis temperature with a heating rate of 40°C/min and the sweep gas flow rate of 50 cm 3 /min. The results from the pyrolysis of pine chips showed that the clear increments of the pyrolysis conversion in the temperature interval 450 to 500°C is due to the rapid devolatilization of cellulose and hemicellulose.
Quantifying the spatial extent and intensity of recent extreme
drought events in the Amazon rainforest and their impacts on the
carbon cycle

Abstract. Over the last decades, the Amazon rainforest was hit by multiple severe drought events. Here we assess the severity and spatial extent of the extreme drought years 2005, 2010, and 2015/2016 in the Amazon region and their impacts on the carbon cycle. As an indicator of drought stress in the Amazon rainforest, we use the widely applied maximum cumulative water deficit (ΔMCWD). Evaluating an ensemble of ten state-of-the-art precipitation datasets for the Amazon region, we find that the spatial extent of the drought in 2005 ranges from 2.8 to 4.2 (mean = 3.2) million km2 (46–71 % of the Amazon basin, mean = 53 %) where ΔMCWD indicates at least moderate drought conditions (ΔMCWD anomaly
Optothermal measurement of stratum corneum thickness and hydration-depth profile

Opto-thermal in-vivo measurements of stratum corneum hydration can now be evaluated to give hydration depth profiles from a mathematical model that incorporates both the surface hydration and the changes of hydration with depth beneath the surface. We now present an analysis of water diffusion in the stratum corneum that can be related to such measurements. The results are compared with measurements of changes of surface hydration and hydration gradient with depth in a stratum corneum stripping experiment. Surface hydration and hydration gradient information can also be combined to yield a measure of stratum corneum thickness, as illustrated with a measured thickness map of the volar forearm.
Influence of land-use pattern on soil quality in a steeply sloped tropical mountainous region, India

ABSTRACT The study investigates the effect of various existing hill land-use practices on soil quality. The land-use types selected for the analysis was based on common land-use types practice in the area. Soil samples were collected from different land-use types and analysed for bulk density (BD), clay, sand, silt content, soil organic carbon, total nitrogen, available phosphorus, microbial biomass carbon and nitrogen (MBC and MBN), and exchangeable cations. Further, the soil fertility index, soil evaluation factor and Principal Component (PC) Analysis suggested that PC1 accounts maximum variance (41.6%) followed by PC2 (19.7%), PC3 (13.5%), PC4 (12.4%) and PC5 has the least variance (10.4%). Weighted soil quality index (SQIw) was computed based on SQIw. The majority of land-use samples showed a moderate quality of soil except for samples of current jhum (CJ) (SQIw = 0.75) which is in the good category. Almost all the soil parameters except BD have a higher concentration in the settled agricultural farm owing to the integration of sustainable approaches (viz., integration of livestock manure, conservation tillage, mixed cropping and terracing). The present study indicates that long term settled sustainable land-uses agricultural practices are the key to maintain soil organic carbon, and soil health in the sloping hilly region of tropics.
Faktor-Faktor Penentu Partisipasi Petani dalam Penyuluhan Pertanian Era Otonomi Daerah Di Kabupaten Bogor

Regional autonomy has made regency governments have broad authority in the implementation of agricultural extension. Agricultural extension activities emphasize the principle of community empowerment through community participation. The research aims to analyze descriptively farmer participation and analyze the factors that influence farmer participation in agricultural extension. The study was conducted in Bogor Regency, West Java. This type of research is a quantitative study with a survey approach. The population in this study were farmers who were members of farmer groups in Bogor Regency. The samples were determined using the Slovin formula and 93 respondents were obtained. Samples were selected using stratified random sampling. The research variables consisted of individual characteristics (X1), external factors (X2), extension activities (X3), program availability (X4) and farmer participation (Y). The data in this study consisted of primary data and secondary data. Primary data were obtained directly from respondents using a questionnaire. Secondary data is data on village monographs, village documents and conditions and a combination of farmer groups or farmer groups previously available that support research activities. Data processing techniques using descriptive statistical analysis and regression analysis. The results showed that farmers' participation in extension activities was high (77.42%). The factors that influence farmers' participation in agricultural extension activities are age, training, apprenticeship, perception, motivation, extension activities and program availability factors.
Effect of heavy metals on ventricular repolarization and depolarization in the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) traffic enforcers’ health study

Abstract We examined the relationships between blood heavy metals [cadmium (B-Cd), mercury (B-Hg), and lead (B-Pb)] and heart rate-corrected QT interval (QTc), JT interval (JTc), and QRS complex duration (QRSc), electrocardiogram markers of ventricular repolarization and depolarization among 60 traffic enforcers in the MMDA traffic enforcers’ health study. We fitted regression models to estimate the mean change effect on QTc, JTc, and QRSc, of B-Cd, B-Hg, and B-Pb concentrations, adjusted for potential confounding factors. We looked at effect modification by sex and smoking status. An interquartile range increase in B-Cd (0.9 μg/L) was related to a 6.6% increase in mean QRSc [95% confidence interval (CI): 2.5, 10.8], and a 1.7% increase in mean QTc (95% CI: 0.2, 3.3). We also found that the associations between B-Cd and QRSc and QTc were higher among participants who were never smokers than ever smokers. Moreover, the association between B-Cd and QRSc was also higher among males than females.
Variation and Reactivity of Organic Matter in the Surface Sediments of the Changjiang Estuary and Its Adjacent East China Sea

The Changjiang Estuary and its adjacent sea make up a highly dynamic ecosystem where the processes influencing the sources and degradation of organic matter (OM) in sediments are still not well understood. In this study, we analyzed the total organic carbon (TOC), total nitrogen (TN), stable carbon isotope (δ13C), and total hydrolysable amino acids (THAA) to investigate the distribution and degradation of sedimentary organic matter (SOM). TOC and TN contents ranged from 0.13% to 0.93% and 0.03% to 0.15%, respectively, with elevated values occurring in the muddy areas near the estuary. The δ13C of SOM became increasingly enriched from inshore (−23.5‰) to offshore (−20.5‰), and the TOC/TN molar ratios (C/N ratios) decreased from 8.16 to 5.84, indicating increasing contributions of marine OM. As the labile fraction of bulk OM, THAA concentrations ranged from 1.36 to 11.76 μmol/g and the distribution of THAA was influenced by terrestrial inputs along with the complex hydrography. The δ13C values and C/N ratios indicated that the SOM in the study area was mainly from marine and terrestrial origins (soil derived). The relatively low degradation index (DI) of SOM (mean: −0.57 ± 0.36) indicated that the OM had already undergone extensive degradation. Consistent with previous findings, our results indicated that the degraded OM was adsorbed by fine‐grained particles and selectively transported southward along the coast. The fresh SOM in the sandy area was mainly from in situ production. Additionally, diatoms appeared to be the primary source of the fresh OM buried in the sediments of the study area.
Nutritional Content of Bone Flour Made from Plecos Fish Pterygoplichthys pardalis from the Ciliwung River, Indonesia

Pterygoplichthys pardalis bones that are thrown into the river is one source of pollutants in the Ciliwung River. P. pardalis bones have a high calcium content, they can be used as an alternative raw material for flour. The purpose of this study was to analyze the nutritional content of P. pardalis bone flour from the Ciliwung River. The research method used was a proximate analysis consisting of moisture, ash, fat, protein, and carbohydrates content analyses. Proximate analysis results showed that the P. pardalis bone plus head flour contained 3% moisture, 35% ash, 34% protein, 23% fat, and 5% carbohydrate. P. pardalis body bone flour contained 4% water, 37% ash, 37% protein, 19% fat, and 3% carbohydrate. Based on the proximate analysis results, P. pardalis bone flours did not met the national standard of SNI 2013 fish flour for quality I, II, and III. Until now, there has been no research that explain the nutritional content of bone flour of P. pardalis from Ciliwung River. This research provides information on the nutritional content of P. pardalis flour. Data obtained from the results of this study can be the basis for consideration in utilizing and processing P. pardalis from the Jakarta Ciliwung River.
The ischemic penumbra: From concept to reality

The discovery that brain tissue could potentially be salvaged from ischaemia due to stroke, has led to major advances in the development of therapies for ischemic stroke. In this review, we detail the advances in the understanding of this area termed the ischaemic penumbra, from its discovery to the evolution of imaging techniques, and finally some of the treatments developed. Evolving from animal studies from the 70s and 80s and translated to clinical practice, the field of ischemic reperfusion therapy has largely been guided by an array of imaging techniques developed to positively identify the ischemic penumbra, including positron emission tomography, computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging. More recently, numerous penumbral identification imaging studies have allowed for a better understanding of the progression of the ischaemic core at the expense of the penumbra, and identification of patients than can benefit from reperfusion therapies in the acute phase. Importantly, 40 years of critical imaging research on the ischaemic penumbra have allowed for considerable extension of the treatment time window and better patient selection for reperfusion therapy. The translation of the penumbra concept into routine clinical practice has shown that “tissue is at least as important as time. ”
Surface of Sputtered and Annealed Polar SrTiO3(111): TiOx-Rich (n × n) Reconstructions

SrTiO3(111) samples, doped with Nb, are Ar+ ion sputtered and annealed in ultrahigh vacuum (UHV) and in varying pressures of oxygen and investigated using scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) and Auger electron spectroscopy (AES). STM images show that a number of reconstructions constituting a family of (n × n) surfaces are able to form on the surface by varying the sputtering conditions and O2 annealing pressures. The family of (n × n) reconstructions is due to variations in the oxygen stoichiometry, with (3 × 3) the most oxygen-rich, followed by (4 × 4), (6 × 6), and finally (5 × 5). Annealing in atmospheric pressure of air causes a (9/5 × 9/5) reconstruction to form. Highly reducing the surface, through extended UHV annealing, produces a TiO (111)-(2 × 2) nanophase. Step heights are always found to be equivalent to integer multiples of the distance between two similar (111) planes (the d111 lattice parameter). AES analysis indicates no detectable impurities and shows all the surfaces to be Ti-enriched a.
Can Bone Compaction Improve Primary Implant Stability? An In Vitro Comparative Study with Osseodensification Technique

Background: This study aims to analyze bone compaction and osseodensification techniques and to investigate how cancellous bone compaction could influence primary implant stability (PS). Methods: Two different surgical protocols (bone compactors—BC; osseodensification drills—OD) were compared by placing 20 implants into 20 fresh pig ribs for each procedure. Peak insertion torque (PIT) and peak removal torque (PRT) were investigated using an MGT-12 digital torque gauge, and implant stability quotient (ISQ) was analyzed using an Osstell® Beacon device. Results: Analysis of our data (T-test p < 0.05) evidenced no statistically significant difference between BC and OD in terms of PIT (p = 0.33) or ISQ (p = 0.97). The comparison of PRT values showed a statistically significant difference between BC and OD protocols (p = 0.009). Conclusions: Cancellous bone compaction seems to improve PS, preserving a significant amount of bone and evenly spreading trabeculae on the entire implant site. While the PIT and ISQ values obtained are similar, the PRT values suggest different physical responses from the surrounding bone tissue. Nevertheless, a larger sample and further in vivo studies are necessary to validate the usefulness of BC protocol in several clinical settings.
FeIII-ion-catalysed non-enzymatic transformation of ADP in to ATP

Non-enzymatic phosphorylation of ADP to ATP has been found to occur readily when FeIII ion is present in aqueous solutiond of ADP and acetyl phosphate. As long as the reaction temperature is low enough (25 °C or less), the phosphorylation of ADP to ATP proceeds to about 20% conversion with 100% selectivity. At higher temperatures, the yield decreases owing to the hydrolysis of acetyl phosphate. Among several phosphoryl donors studies, acetyl phosphate was found to be the best phosphorylating reagent. Creatine phosphate also produced ATP but the efficiency was very low. The phosphorylation of AMP was unsuccessful, even with acetyl phosphate.
Charge-carrier dynamics in vapour-deposited films of the organolead halide perovskite CH3NH3PbI3-xClx

We determine high charge-carrier mobilities ≥ 33 cm2 V−1 s−1 and bi-molecular recombination rates about five orders of magnitude below the prediction of Langevin's model for vapour-deposited CH3NH3PbI3−xClx using ultrafast THz spectroscopy. At charge-carrier densities below ∼1017 cm−3 intrinsic diffusion lengths are shown to approach 3 microns, limited by slow mono-molecular decay processes.
Thermal stability of thin Ti films on Al single crystal surfaces

Chemical roughness and alloy formation at metallic interfaces can significantly degrade the performance of multilayer thin film magnetic device structures. We have investigated the use of Ti interlayers, one or two atoms thick, to stabilize the interface for ordered growth of Fe films on Al(100), a system characterized by considerable interdiffusion at room temperature. The practicality of the interlayer concept is strongly coupled to the stability of the interlayer at elevated temperatures. In this investigation we have characterized the structure of thin Ti layers on Al single crystal surfaces as a function of temperature using Rutherford backscattering and channeling and low-energy ion scattering. The Ti layers are shown to be stable up to temperatures of about 675 K, at which point diffusion of Ti into the Al lattice occurs. Channeling measurements show that the Ti atoms sit on Al lattice sites as substitutional impurities. The stability of the Ti film appears to increase with the packing density of the Al surface, being slightly more stable for the close-packed Al(111) surface, and diffusing into the more open Al(110) surface at a lower temperature.