Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effect of organic foliar spray with pulse sprout extract on seed yield and quality of rice (Oryza sativa)

Abstract Organic seed is the basic for organic agriculture, since it is a crucial link in the chain from research, breeding, seed production, to organic production. With organic seeds the grower can complete the chain of organic input. To develop an organic foliar spray technique and for organic seed production, experiments were carried out to study the effect of organic foliar spray with pulse sprout extract on rice. In this study, horse gram and cowpea, the unexploited legumes of the tropics with high nutritional quality and comparatively low cost were used for preparing the pulse sprout extracts, an organic foliar spraying material. Higher accumulation of bioactive substances in sprouted seeds offers immense scope to develop an inexpensive and effective organic foliar spray technology so as to achieve better crop growth and higher seed yield of rice, the major staple food of the world. The biochemical analysis was done in both extracts to estimate the total antioxidants activity, soluble protein content, total soluble sugars, ascorbic acid content and minerals like nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, iron and zinc. Subsequently, the effect of pulse sprout extract spray in improving crop growth, tillering, productivity, and resultant seed quality of was studied by spraying on the parental lines of rice hybrid CORH3 (A, B and R lines) and rice variety CR 1009. The experiment consisted of four trials. In the first trial, four concentrations of pulse extract (1, 2, 3, and 4%) were evaluated in the R line (medium duration variety) of CORH3 (medium duration). In the subsequent trials, the best concentrations (2 and 3% for horse gram and 1 and 2% for cowpea), determined from the first trial, were evaluated again in two medium duration lines of B line multiplication (AXB) and hybrid seed production (AxR). The fourth trial was done with a long duration variety namely CR 1009. Spraying of pulse sprout extract significantly improved majority of the growth and yield attributes culminating in significantly higher seed yield, in all the four trials. The study firmly revealed foliar sprays with either 3% horse gram sprout extracts or 2% cow pea sprout extract during active tillering and seed filling stages of rice crop, can significantly increase the growth and yield attributes, eventually resulting in higher seed yield, irrespective of the cultivars. It could be concluded that foliar spraying of 3% horse gram sprout extract or 2% cow pea sprout extract at active tillering stage and seed filling enhances seed yield attributes and yield in rice.
Managing Water Scarcity Futures: Identifying Factors Influencing Water Quality, Risk Perception and Daily Practices in Urban Environments after the Introduction of Desalination

During the last two decades on a global scale, there has been a significant development of desalination as a strategy to ensure the urban water supply in arid and semi-arid areas. Beyond issues related to the higher economic costs, one of the main barriers that may limit this water source’s development is its supposed negative water quality perception. This research aims to understand better which factors are behind water quality perception in Antofagasta (Chile), where desalinated water was introduced in 2003. Since then, this urban water supply system has increasingly incorporated desalination, creating three parallel areas according to the water sources used in each of them (desalinated water, freshwater and a mix of both). To do so, more than 800 questionnaires to test water quality perception and water consumption habits were conducted in households. Up to six logistic regression models have been implemented to identify which variables better explain water quality satisfaction, risk perception and daily water practices considering the water supply area. It is worth noting that most of this type of research has been carried out in study cases with homogeneous urban water supply systems with conventional water resources. Results indicate that, among other factors, organoleptic water characteristics, such as taste, and socioeconomic status are some of the main factors that explain the perception of water quality and daily practices. In addition, a lower water quality perception and greater risk perception have been identified where desalinated water has been introduced, which makes some households develop averting behaviors to improve water quality, such as boil water.
Mechanistic Insight into Metal Ion-Catalyzed Transamination.

Several classes of biological reactions that are mediated by an enzyme and a co-factor can occur, to a slower extent, not only without the enzyme but even without the co-factor, under catalysis by metal ions. This observation has led to the proposal that metabolic pathways progressively evolved from using inorganic catalysts to using organocatalysts of increasing complexity. Transamination, the biological process by which ammonia is transferred between amino acids and α-keto acids, has a mechanism that has been well studied under enzyme/co-factor catalysis and under co-factor catalysis, but the metal ion-catalyzed variant was generally studied mostly at high temperatures (70-100 °C), and the details of its mechanism remained unclear. Here, we investigate which metal ions catalyze transamination under conditions relevant to biology (pH 7, 20-50 °C) and study the mechanism in detail. Cu2+, Ni2+, Co2+, and V5+ were identified as the most active metal ions under these constraints. Kinetic, stereochemical, and computational studies illuminate the mechanism of the reaction. Cu2+ and Co2+ are found to predominantly speed up the reaction by stabilizing a key imine intermediate. V5+ is found to accelerate the reaction by increasing the acidity of the bound imine. Ni2+ is found to do both to a limited extent. These results show that direct metal ion-catalyzed amino group transfer is highly favored even in the absence of co-factors or protein catalysts under biologically compatible reaction conditions.
Ultra-thin tunable microwave absorber using liquid crystals

A dynamically adaptive radar absorber is described which is based on a periodic array of microstrip patches that are printed on a 500 µm-thick liquid crystal substrate. The measured reflectivity of the structure is less than −38 dB with a 200 MHz −10 dB bandwidth at 10.19 GHz when a +4 DC bias is applied. It is shown that a 34 dB reduction in signal loss occurs when the bias voltage is increased to 20 V.
TRPM4 Contributes to Subthreshold Membrane Potential Oscillations in Multiple Mouse Pacemaker Neurons

Abstract Select neuronal populations display steady rhythmic neuronal firing that provides tonic excitation to drive downstream networks and behaviors. In noradrenergic neurons of the locus coeruleus (LC), circadian neurons of the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN), and CO2/H+-activated neurons of the brainstem retrotrapezoid nucleus (RTN), large subthreshold membrane potential oscillations contribute to the pacemaker-like action potential discharge. The oscillations and firing in LC and SCN involve contributions from leak sodium (NALCN) and L-type calcium channels while recent work from RTN suggested an additional pivotal role for a secondary calcium-activated and voltage-gated cationic current sensitive to TRPM4 channel blockers. Here, we tested whether TRPM4 contributes to subthreshold oscillations in mouse LC and SCN. By RNAscope in situ hybridization, Trpm4 transcripts were detected in both cell groups. In whole-cell recordings from acute slice preparations, prominent voltage-dependent membrane potential oscillations were revealed in LC and SCN after blocking action potentials. These oscillations were inhibited by two chemically-distinct blockers of TRPM4, 9-phenanthrol (9-pt) and 4-chloro-2-[[2-(2-chlorophenoxy)acetyl]amino]benzoic acid (CBA). Under whole-cell voltage clamp, inward currents evoked by oscillation voltage waveforms were inhibited in LC by blocking L-type calcium channels and TRPM4. These data implicate TRPM4 in the large subthreshold membrane potential oscillations that underlie tonic action potential discharge in LC and SCN, providing a voltage-dependent and calcium-dependent cationic current to augment the depolarizing inward Na+ and Ca2+ currents previously associated with this distinctive electroresponsive property.
Multicenter Comparison of Nucleic Acid Amplification Tests for the Diagnosis of Rectal and Oropharyngeal Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae Infections

Research using nucleic acid amplification tests (NAATs) have repeatedly found rectal and oropharyngeal infections with Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae to be common and potentially more difficult to treat than genital infections. Unfortunately, public health and patient care efforts have been hampered by the lack of FDA-cleared NAATs with claims for anorectal or oropharyngeal samples. ABSTRACT Research using nucleic acid amplification tests (NAATs) have repeatedly found rectal and oropharyngeal infections with Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae to be common and potentially more difficult to treat than genital infections. Unfortunately, public health and patient care efforts have been hampered by the lack of FDA-cleared NAATs with claims for anorectal or oropharyngeal samples. At the time of the initiation of this study, no commercially available assays had these claims. We formed a novel partnership among academic institutions and diagnostic manufacturers to address this public health need. From May 2018 through August 2019, we recruited 1108 women, 1256 men, and 26 transgender persons each of whom provided 3 anal and 3 oropharyngeal swab specimens. The 3 anal swabs were pooled into a single transport tube as were the 3 oropharyngeal swabs. The performance of each of three study assays was estimated by comparison to the composite result and relative to one another. Percent positivity for chlamydia was 5.9 and 1.2% from anal and oropharyngeal specimens, respectively, compared to 4.2 and 4.1% for gonorrhea. Sensitivity for chlamydia detection ranged from 81.0 to 95.1% and 82.8 to 100% for anal and oropharyngeal specimens, respectively. Gonorrhea sensitivity ranged from 85.9 to 99.0% and 74.0 to 100% for anal and oropharyngeal samples, respectively. Specificity estimates were ≥ 98.9% for all assays, organisms, and sample types. Although there was heterogeneity between sensitivity estimates, these assays offer better ability to detect extragenital infections than culture and potential solutions for providing appropriate sexual health care for populations in which these infections are of concern.
Changes of Key Rate-Limiting Enzyme Activity in Glucose Metabolism After Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation

ABSTRACT Objectives: To investigate the activity of key rate-limiting enzymes of glucose metabolism after restoration of spontaneous circulation (ROSC), to explore the potential pathophysiological mechanism of impaired myocardial energy metabolism after cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). Methods: Twenty-one male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomized into three experimental groups assigned in accordance with different observation times after ROSC: Sham, instrumented rats without induced cardiac arrest or resuscitation; post-resuscitation (PR2 h); PR24 h. In these groups, CPR, including precordial compressions and synchronized mechanical ventilation, was initiated 6 min after asphyxia-induced cardiac arrest. Hearts were harvested after ROSC and samples were used to detect high-energy phosphate and glucose metabolic enzyme activity. Results: Compared with sham, the contents of phosphocreatine and adenosine triphosphate reduced in the PR2 h group, while remained unchanged in the PR24 h group. Activities of hexokinase and pyruvate kinase did not change after ROSC. Phosphofructokinase activity decreased only in the PR24 h group. Activities of pyruvate dehydrogenase and citrate synthase fell in PR2 h group and recovered in the PR24 h group. However, isocitrate dehydrogenase and α-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase activities fell in the PR2 h group, but did not recover in the PR24 h group. Conclusions: Lowered key rate-limiting enzymes activity in glucose metabolism resulted in impairment of energy production in the early stage of ROSC, but partially recovered in 24 h. This process has a role in the mechanism of impaired myocardial energy metabolism after CPR. This investigation might shed light on new strategies to treat post resuscitation myocardial dysfunction.
The fate of sodium chlorite in simulated gastric and intestinal fluids and residues of chlorate in broiler chickens after oral administration of sodium chlorite

ABSTRACT The fate of sodium [36Cl]chlorite in simulated intestinal fluids and residues of chlorate in broiler chickens fed 0, 10, 100, or 1000 mg•kg−1 of dietary sodium chlorite for 7 days was determined. [36Cl]Chlorite was stable in water and simulated intestinal fluid during 6 h incubations but was rapidly degraded to chlorine dioxide, sodium chloride, and sodium chlorate in simulated gastric fluids. Addition of starch, citrate, or soybean shifted the relative proportions of chloroxyanions formed; addition of ferrous chloride caused quantitative formation of sodium chloride in gastric and intestinal fluids. [36Cl]Chlorite underwent reductive transformation when fortified into chicken serum. Residues of chlorate in broiler chickens ranged from 3.5 to 374 ng•g−1 in gizzard, were <6.8 to 126 ng•g−1 in liver and were <7.2 to 190 ng•g−1 in muscle when slaughtered with no withdrawal period. Data are presented suggesting that reductive processes govern the fate of chlorite when present in closed biological systems. GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT
When the LOST Found Teams: A Consideration of Teams within the Individualised Call Centre Environment

Abstract It is commonly accepted that the work processes within call centres are largely individualised, and tightly controlled through technology, with scripted and standardised procedures. However, at the same time, it is also a commonly accepted practice within call centres to organise employees into teams. This paper will explore the teams paradox within a case study organisation, to demonstrate that employees within the same teams take a very different approach to the importance of teams within the primarily individualised workplace of the call centre. In this case study however, one team complicates management policies. This leads to the suggestion that the managers within organisations must be cognisant that even within workplaces, not all teams are equal. Indeed, there is the possibility that the management must develop different policies and practices to deal with different teams within the same workplace.
A framework for investigating blended learning effectiveness

Purpose – The move towards “blended learning”, consisting of a combination of online and face-to-face teaching, continues to gain pace in universities around the world. It is important, however, to question the quality of this learning. The OECD has made use of a model of “Readiness, Intensity and Impact” for investigating the adoption and use of eBusiness technologies. The purpose of this paper is to propose a framework, based on this model and adapted for blended learning, to assess the readiness, intensity of adoption and impact on blended learning offerings. The framework is tested via a description of how one university has adopted and used blended learning, and investigates the quality of the learning from this approach. Design/methodology/approach – The framework is tested via a case study involving the assessment of a blended learning approach to the delivery of a first-year undergraduate accounting unit at Victoria University, Australia. Various approaches to delivery are assessed over a two-year period. The results are drawn from a survey specifically designed to identify students’ attitudes towards blended learning. Findings – Despite having three new online options readily available for students to access, there was strong support for face-to-face delivery methods. In relation to the framework, the assessment suggested that certain aspects of the university's blended learning approach could be investigated further (particularly student readiness for different blended learning options and an overall assessment of the impact of a blended approach), to provide a more holistic view of the readiness to adopt and impact of the blended learning offerings. Originality/value – The value of this contribution lies in the development of a unique framework to assess the impact of blended learning approaches from the viewpoint of student readiness and intensity of separate delivery approaches – whilst maintaining the need to evaluate the effectiveness of blended learning as an overall package.
Properties and heavy metal leaching characteristics of leachate sludge‐derived biochar

Heavy metals and metalloids, in sludge and sediments, are environmental pollutants of concern with long‐term negative effects on human and ecological health. In this study, sludge from biological treatment of municipal waste leachate was pyrolyzed into leachate sludge‐derived biochar (LSDB) at 300°C to 900°C, comprising complex organic and inorganic (particularly heavy metals) species formed from heterogeneous chemical reactions. Based on different advanced material analyses, that is, Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and X‐ray diffraction (XRD) analysis, this study revealed that mass loss and microstructural changes of LSDBs occurred primarily due to decomposition of volatiles, aromatic rings, carbonates, and hydroxides. The leaching behaviors of heavy metals from LSDBs were evaluated using the Synthetic Precipitation Leaching Procedure (SPLP). The final pH in SPLP increased from 7.5 to 12.5 with pyrolysis temperature. The pH increase favored the retention of heavy metals in the LSDBs due to the formation of low soluble precipitates at alkaline pH. The heavy metals and metalloids in the LSDBs were present as surface precipitates due to precipitation and cation exchange rather than surface complexation. The leaching contents of metals and metalloids, such as Cr, Cd, Ni, Pb, and As, were all below their respective maximum discharge standards for the first priority pollutants in China.
The Effect of Government Support for Fuel and Wheat on Economic Growth in Jordan: An Application of Dynamic Autoregressive-Distributed Lag

This study aims to investigate the effect of government support for Fuel and Wheat on economic growth in Jordan. This study employs the time series data from 1970-2019. Furthermore, this study applies the powerful unit root to test the stationarity of the variables. The unit root tests are Augmented Dickey-Fuller, Phillips-Perron, Saikonen and Lütkepohl and Zivot-Andrews. Moreover, this study also uses a recent cointegration test developed by Gregory and Hansen to investigate the long-run effect of government support for fuel and Wheat on economic growth. Similarly, this study uses dynamic autoregressive distributive lags. The results of unit root tests show that all the variables are stationary. Also, the results of the cointegration test reveal the long-run effect of government support for fuel and Wheat and trade openness on economic growth in Jordan. Similarly, the long-run and short-run estimates reveal the positive effects of both government support for fuel and Wheat and trade openness on economic growth, respectively. While the 2015 food crisis shows a negative effect on economic growth, conclusively, the policy will be contributed to Jordan to optimize the effects of government support for fuel and Wheat in economic growth. It is also recommended that if government support is utilized in the excess amount, the excessive development support becomes unproductive at the margin. Moreover, fiscal policy can be used as a macroeconomic instrument for economic stability. Intensive government support should be employed as an investment by allocating the funds to productive sectors. In addition, the government needs to make sure that increment in government support does not hurt the economy, particularly the economy of people within the country.
The COVID-19 pandemic in the WHO African region: the first year (February 2020 to February 2021)

Abstract The World Health Organization African region recorded its first laboratory-confirmed coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) cases on 25 February 2020. Two months later, all the 47 countries of the region were affected. The first anniversary of the pandemic occurred in a changed context with the emergence of new variants of concern (VOC) and growing COVID-19 fatigue. This study describes the epidemiological trajectory of COVID-19 in the region, summarises public health and social measures (PHSM) implemented and discusses their impact on the pandemic trajectory. As of 24 February 2021, the African region accounted for 2.5% of cases and 2.9% of deaths reported globally. Of the 13 countries that submitted detailed line listing of cases, the proportion of cases with at least one co-morbid condition was estimated at 3.3% of all cases. Hypertension, diabetes and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection were the most common comorbid conditions, accounting for 11.1%, 7.1% and 5.0% of cases with comorbidities, respectively. Overall, the case fatality ratio (CFR) in patients with comorbid conditions was higher than in patients without comorbid conditions: 5.5% vs. 1.0% (P < 0.0001). Countries started to implement lockdown measures in early March 2020. This contributed to slow the spread of the pandemic at the early stage while the gradual ease of lockdowns from 20 April 2020 resulted in an upsurge. The second wave of the pandemic, which started in November 2020, coincided with the emergence of the new variants of concern. Only 0.08% of the population from six countries received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. It is critical to not only learn from the past 12 months to improve the effectiveness of the current response but also to start preparing the health systems for subsequent waves of the current pandemic and future pandemics.
Routine laboratory parameters predict serious outcome as well as length of hospital stay in COVID-19

Objectives: To validate C-reactive protein (CRP), red cell distribution width (RDW), and neutrophil lymphocyte ratio (NLR) for both serious outcomes and length of hospital stay (LOS) among hospitalized coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) patients. Methods: Laboratory data of adult COVID-19 patients (n=74) was collected in this retrospective cohort. Logistic regression was employed for risk factor evaluation and receiver operating curve was used for comparison of these risk factors for the prediction of serious outcome. Multiple regression was applied to determine the association between routine analytes and LOS. Results: Higher levels of CRP (3 times), white blood cells (20%), and neutrophil counts (40%) were seen in the serious category. Odds ratio for CRP for the serious outcome was 1.052 (p=0.007) and RDW for the serious outcome was 1.218 (p=0.040) in unadjusted model and odds ratio for CRP for the serious outcome was 1.048 (p=0.024) and for RDW 1.286 (p=0.023) in adjusted model. In a multivariate regression analysis for the LOS of the unadjusted models consisting of NLR, monocyte lymphocyte ratio (MLR) and platelet lymphocyte ratio (PLR), the beta coefficients (BC) for the CRP were 0.006 (NLR), 0.005 (MLR) and 0.006 (PLR), whereas -0.029 (NLR), -0.034 (MLR) and -0.027 (PLR) were BCs for mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC). Additionally, in adjusted models, the BCs for MCHC were -0.044 (NLR), -0.047 (MLR) and -0.043 (PLR). However, the CRP was consistent with 0.004 (BC) in all models. Conclusion: We observed that CRP is a better predictor than RDW and NLR for serious outcome among COVID-19 patients. Besides, CRP was positively, whereas MCHC was negatively associated with LOS.