Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Temperature Extreme May Exaggerate the Mortality Risk of COVID-19 in the Low- and Middle-income Countries: A Global Analysis

We performed a global analysis with data from 149 countries to test whether temperature can explain the spatial variability of the spread rate and mortality of COVID-19 at the global scale. We performed partial correlation analysis and linear mixed effect modelling to evaluate the association of the spread rate and motility of COVID-19 with maximum, minimum, average temperatures and temperature extreme (difference between maximum and minimum temperature) and other environmental and socioeconomic parameters. After controlling the effect of the duration after the first positive case, partial correlation analysis revealed that temperature was not related with the spatial variability of the spread rate of COVID-19. Mortality was negatively related with temperature in the countries with high-income economies. In contrast, temperature extreme was significantly and positively correlated with mortality in the low-and middle-income countries. Taking the country heterogeneity into account, mixed effect modelling revealed that inclusion of temperature as a fixed effect in the model significantly improved model skill predicting mortality in the low-and middle-income countries. Our analysis suggest that warm climate may reduce the mortality rate in high-income economies but in low and middle-income countries temperature extreme may increase the mortality risk.
Changeability in Stripe Rust Infection and Grain Yield of Wheat Associated to Climatic Conditions

STRIPE rust infection caused by Pucciniastrii formis f. sp. tritici was investigated in ten Egyptian wheat cultivars under field conditions during two seasons (2016/17 and 2017/18) at two locations (Sakha and Sids) differ climatologically in Egypt. Variable levels of rust infection followed by a significant reduction in grain weight were recorded at both locations. Stripe rust infections for Sids location (20S - 90S) were higher than those of Sakha location (TrMS - 70S). Average coefficient of infection (ACI) and grain weight loss for Sids location, reaching 90 ACI (Gemmeiza-11) and 23.12% (Giza-160), were higher than those of Sakha location up to 70 ACI and 16.72% in Giza-160. Grain weight loss was strongly associated with ACI among cultivars for both locations, recording r=0.9044 for Sakha location and r=0.8866 for Sids location. Climatic variations were recorded at both locations during the first four months of 2017 and 2018. Rainfall and relative humidity for Sakha location were higher than those of Sids location while wind speed for Sids location was higher than that of Sakha location. Temperatures were relatively close at both locations. ACI values for Sids location were higher than those of Sakha location, revealing correlation with climatic factors. This suggests that wind speed may play an important role in dispersal while relatively heavy rainfall may have opposing effects. The temperature was the main limiting factor for stripe rust infection (negatively associated), followed by relative humidity (positively associated). Our discovery represents a powerful tool for predicting disease infection and management.
Three machine learning models for the 2019 Solubility Challenge

We describe three machine learning models submitted to the 2019 Solubility Challenge. All are founded on tree-like classifiers, with one model being based on Random Forest and another on the related Extra Trees algorithm. The third model is a consensus predictor combining the former two with a Bagging classifier. We call this consensus classifier Vox Machinarum, and here discuss how it benefits from the Wisdom of Crowds. On the first 2019 Solubility Challenge test set of 100 low-variance intrinsic aqueous solubilities, Extra Trees is our best classifier. One the other, a high-variance set of 32 molecules, we find that Vox Machinarum and Random Forest both perform a little better than Extra Trees, and almost equally to one another. We also compare the gold standard solubilities from the 2019 Solubility Challenge with a set of literature-based solubilities for most of the same compounds.
Multiple resistance to flumetsulam and MCPA in two clones of Ranunculus acris

ABSTRACT Herbicide dose-responses of seedling progenies of Ranunculus acris populations varying in herbicide exposure history indicate that this weed has evolved multiple resistance to phenoxycarboxylic acid and acetolactate synthase (ALS)-inhibitor herbicides. To test the hypothesis that this ‘multiple-resistance’ can occur in the same plant, we conducted an experiment where 11 clones of R. acris, varying in parental population exposure to these two mode-of-action herbicides, were treated with full- and half-label doses of MCPA and flumetsulam. Aminopyralid and glyphosate (pyridine carboxylic acid and 5-enolpyruvylshikimate 3-phosphate (EPSP) synthase-inhibitor mode-of-actions respectively), both with label recommendations for R. acris, were included for comparison. Two clones, both from the same field population exposed historically to MCPA and to flumetsulam, and with anecdotal records of field control failures, were unaffected by flumetsulam and many plants survived treatment with MCPA, providing conclusive evidence for multiple herbicide resistance to these two herbicides in the same R. acris individuals. By contrast, there was no evidence among the 11 clones for resistance to either aminopyralid or glyphosate (86-100% mortality in all clones). The herbicide-resistant and -susceptible clones of R. acris provide a unique opportunity to investigate the biochemical mechanism(s) and genetics of phenoxycarboxylic acid and ALS-inhibitor resistance in this species.
Strong field ionization of radicals and reaction intermediates

120 Autobiographical Statement . 121
Biofilm structure promotes coexistence of phage-resistant and phage-susceptible bacteria

Encounters among bacteria and their viral predators (bacteriophages) are likely among the most common ecological interactions on Earth. Phage-bacterial coevolution has received abundant theoretical and experimental attention for decades and forms an important basis for molecular genetics and theoretical ecology and evolution. However, at present, relatively little is known about the nature of phage-bacteria interaction inside the surface-bound communities that microbes often occupy in natural environments. These communities, termed biofilms, are encased in a matrix of secreted polymers produced by their microbial residents. Biofilms are spatially constrained such that interactions become limited to neighbors or near neighbors; diffusion of solutes and particulates is often reduced; and there is pronounced heterogeneity in nutrient access and therefore physiological state. These factors can dramatically impact the way phage infections proceed even in simple, single-strain biofilms. Here we investigate how biofilm-specific properties impact bacteria-phage population dynamics using a computational simulation framework customized for implementing phage infection inside biofilms containing phage-resistant and phage-susceptible bacteria. Our simulations predict that it is far more common for phage-susceptible and phage-resistant bacteria to coexist inside biofilms relative to planktonic culture, where phages and hosts are well-mixed. We characterize the population dynamic feedbacks underlying this coexistence, and we then confirm that coexistence is recapitulated in an experimental model of biofilm growth measured with confocal microscopy at single-cell resolution. Our results provide a clear view into the population dynamics of phage resistance in biofilms with microscopic resolution of the underlying cell-cell and cell-phage interactions; they also draw an analogy between phage ‘epidemics’ on the sub-millimeter scale of biofilms and the process of herd immunity studied for decades at much larger spatial scales in populations of plants and animals.
When Does Oil Harm Child Mortality?

When is oil a curse for health outcomes? This paper addresses the question by analyzing the effect of oil wealth on child mortality rates in nondemocratic countries. We argue that oil is particularly likely to harm child mortality when leaders have short time horizons. Such leaders are more likely to use oil revenues to finance private goods and patronage which builds their support coalition at the expense of public goods that benefit the broader population. We test this argument using panel regression and a global sample of nondemocratic regimes, supplemented with a case study of Cameroon. Results from both empirical approaches are consistent with our argument. These findings identify some specific conditions under which oil can be detrimental to child mortality, and thus explain some of the variation in health outcomes across oil-producing states.
Preparation and characterization of composites based on poly(lactic acid)/poly(methyl methacrylate) matrix and sisal fiber bundles: The effect of annealing process

The interest on poly(lactic acid) (PLA)/poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) blends has increased during the last years due to their promising properties. The novelty of the current work focuses on the preparation and characterization of biocomposites based on PLA/PMMA matrix and NaOH-treated sisal fibers. The effect of the addition of treated sisal fibers on the physico-mechanical properties of high polylactide content composites was studied. For this purpose, PLA/PMMA blend (80/20 wt%) was prepared by melt-blending and reinforced with different fiber contents. Although composites showed interesting specific tensile properties, the estimated heat deflection temperature (HDT), that is, the maximum temperature at which a polymer system can be used as a rigid material, barely increased 4°C respect to unreinforced system. After the annealing process, the HDT of the unreinforced polymer blend increased around 25°C, whereas the composites showed an increase of at least 38°C. Nonetheless, the specific tensile strength of composite decreased approximately 48% because the adhesion between fiber and polymer matrix was damaged and cracks were formed during annealing process.
The contrasting hidden consequences of parasitism: Effects of a hematophagous nematode (Uncinaria sp.) in the development of a marine mammal swimming behavior

Abstract Parasites are an important part of ecosystems, playing a critical role in their equilibrium. However, the consequences of parasitism beyond the direct effects associated with disease and mortality are not completely understood. This gap in knowledge is in part due to the difficulties to isolate the effect of single parasite species on physiological and behavioral traits in natural systems. The South American fur seal (Arctocephalus australis)–hookworm (Uncinaria sp.) interaction offers an ideal system to overcome these difficulties and study the behavioral and physiological effects of parasites in their hosts. Hookworms cause stunted growth and anemia in pinniped pups, which could affect early life active behaviors such as swimming. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of hookworms (Uncinaria sp.) on the development of swimming capabilities in A. australis through physiological and ethological analyses. Higher parasite burden was associated with reduced growth rates and lower blood hemoglobin concentrations, whereas scaled body mass and blood hemoglobin levels had an important positive effect on the water activity of the pups. However, antihookworm treatment did not affect the level of water activity of the pups, and pups with high hookworm burden increased their time budget in water. This was probably related to lower maternal attendance in heavily parasitized pups, leaving these pups more time to perform water activities. Therefore, pups with heavy hookworm burden, despite having decreased growth rates and blood hemoglobin concentrations, compensated for their handicap in physiological traits related to swimming by spending more time in the water. This work offers new insights to understand the contrasting effects of parasites on aquatic organisms, and the compensatory mechanisms employed by infected animals to avoid the worst consequences of parasitism.
Regular Languages: To Finite Automata and Beyond Succinct Descriptions and Optimal Simulations

It is well known that regular (or Type 3) languages are equivalent to finite automata. Nevertheless, many other characterizations of this class of lan- guages in terms of computational devices and generative models are present in the literature. For example, by suitably restricting more general models such as context-free grammars, pushdown automata, and Turing machines, that characterize wider classes of languages, it is possible to obtain formal models that generate or recognize regular languages only. These restricted formalisms provide alternative representations of Type 3 languages that may be significantly more concise than other models that share the same express- ing power. The goal of this work is to provide an overview of old and recent re- sults on these formal systems from a descriptional complexity perspective, that is the study of the relationships between the sizes of such devices. We also present some results related to the investigation of the famous ques- tion posed by Sakoda and Sipser in 1978, concerning the size blowups from nondeterministic finite automata to two-way deterministic finite automata.
Hubungan Persepsi dengan Kualitas Hidup Pasien Hipertensi Lanjut Usia di RSUD Sultan Syarif Mohamad Alkadrie Pontianak

Hypertension is still a health problem for the elderly group. The misperception about hypertension still occurs to the elderly. They often ignore hypertension and it impact their quality of life. The aim of this study is to obtain patient perceptions and the elderly’s quality of life who are experiencing hypertension, also the relationship between patient perceptions and the elderly’s quality of life who are experiencing hypertension at Sultan Syarif Mohamad Alkadrie Hospital Pontianak. This study was observational with analytival survey design. EQ-5D-3L (EuroQol five dimensions and B-IPQ (Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire) Indonesian version are instruments used which were valid and reliable. The subjects were hypertensive outpatient attending Sultan Syarif Mohamad Alkadrie Hospital Pontianak at aged> 60 years. The sample size was 118 respondents which were obtained from purposive technique sampling. Data was collected through B-IPQ instruments to measure patient perceptions, and EQ-5D-3L to measure patients' quality of life. The relationship between perception and quality of life was analyzed using Fisher's Exact Test with a 95% confidence level (α = 0.05). The results showed the percentage of respondents who had a positive perception was 74.22%, and good quality of life was 76.56%. The results of statistical analysis show there is a significant relationship between patient perceptions and the quality of life of elderly patients who experience hypertension at Sultan Syarif Mohamad Alkadrie Hospital Pontianak with value of p = 0,000.
The Impact of Organizational Commitment on Employee Motivation: A Study in Vietnamese Enterprises

The study examines direct and indirect impacts of organizational commitment on employee motivation through two mediating factors – opportunistic behavior and knowledge sharing – in Vietnamese enterprises. The samples were selected by the non-probability sampling method followed convenient sampling, relatively stratified by localities in Vietnam. The sample size was 636 employees in Vietnamese enterprises. The number of collected online questionnaires was 379, while the number of valid questionnaires was 329. In the direct survey, the number of distributed questionnaires was 750, while the number of collected questionnaires was 421 and the number of valid questionnaires was 307. The total number of valid questionnaires used for analysis was 636. The study used quantitative methods with structural equation modeling analysis. The results indicate that among the components of organizational commitment, normative commitment has both direct and indirect impacts on employee motivation through two mediating factors: opportunistic behavior and knowledge sharing. Meanwhile, affective commitment has only an indirect impact on employee motivation through these mediating factors. Continuance commitment has both direct and indirect impacts; however, it has only an indirect impact on employee motivation through opportunistic behavior. In addition, the results show opportunistic behavior has a negative impact on the knowledge sharing of employees in enterprises.
Simultaneous Recovery of Ammonium and Phosphate from Leachate by Using Activated Zeolite

Ammonium and phosphate in leachate are potentially to contaminate both surface and groundwater. Zeolite has a high affinity so it can be used as an adsorbent for ammonium (NH4+), phosphate (PO43-) and other organic compounds. This research work aims to eliminate these pollutants stimulatingly by using activated zeolite. Leachate used for this experiment has initial ammonium concentration of 508.2 mg/L, and phosphate concentration of 7.77 mg/L. The zeolite has particle size of 100 mesh. Adsorption experiments were carried out with physically activated zeolite and physic-chemical activated zeolite with a dose variation of 15 - 120 g / L with a contact time of 12 hours. The results showed that a physical activated zeolite dosage of 120 g/L results in the smallest concentration of ammonium residue of 72.6 mg/L and a phosphate residue of 0.37 mg/L. The 45 g / L chemically-physically activated zeolite dose of 45 g/L produces an ammonium residue of 198 mg/L and phosphate residue of 0.74 mg/L. The ammonium adsorption with the both activated zeolites can be described very well using the 1st order kinetics model.
Extended Spectrum Beta-Lactamases Producers among Gram-negative Bacteria from Clinical and Environmental Sources in Two Tertiary Hospitals in Makurdi, Nigeria

Extended Spectrum Beta-Lactamases (ESBLs) enzymes are produced by many Gram-negative bacteria to nearly all antibiotics. Clinical bacteria isolates were obtained from various clinical samples from the two healthcare facilities. Sewer wastewater and sediments were also collected from both hospitals using standard sampling techniques and bacteria isolated using pour plate technique. Multiple drug resistant patterns were determined using disc diffusion technique. Antibiotics sensitivity of the isolates was verified using disc diffusion method. Detection of ESBL producing bacteria was done using double disc synergy test. Data obtained were analysed using descriptive statistics. Clinical bacteria (403) were obtained, out of which 299 were confirmed Gram-negative, 218 from Federal Medical Centre (FMC) and 81 from Benue State Teaching Hospital (BSUTH). Thirty-nine Gram-negative bacteria were also isolated from the environmental samples. The ESBL producers in clinical isolates were 69 (FMC) and 42 (BSUTH) while in environmental isolates they were eight and four respectively. Out of a total of 338 environmental and clinical isolates from the two hospitals, 216 shown resistance/intermediate resistance to Ceftazidime. Of these 216, 123(36.39%) were positive for ESBLs production. - space From FMC, ESBLs producing bacteria are highly sensitive to imipenem with sensitivity frequency of 62 while they were highly resistant to ceftazidime with a frequency of 52. Age groups 0-5 had the highest percentage distribution of 21.43% and 10.14% from BSUTH and FMC respectively. ESBLs producing bacteria showed multidrug resistance.
Ambidexterity as a New Research Paradigm: Examining the Mediating Role of Employees Goal Orientation, Exploitation and Exploration

The aim of this study was to empirically validate the impact of ability-enhancing HR bundles on organizational ambidexterity through mediation of employees’ cognitive factors and employees’ exploration and exploitation. The multi-level data was collected from 600 employees of the software companies and analyzed through MEDTHREE analysis and SEM using AMOS software. Data was collected in two-time waves and results revealed positive relationship between ability-enhancing HR bundles and organizational ambidexterity. This study contributes to literature by providing new insights and by investigating links of ability-enhancing HR bundles with organizational ambidexterity directly and indirectly.
A developmental evaluation of research-practice-partnerships and their impacts

Globally, K-12 education systems are grappling with how best to integrate research and evidence into policy and practice. Research-practice-partnerships (RPPs) have arisen as a potentially powerful mechanism for school improvement. This study investigates the ways four research-practice-policy-partnerships are addressing impact by (a) reporting on metrics being used to assess brokering and partnerships, and (b) exploring the ways that network leads and policymakers conceptualize partnerships and impact on the frontlines. Our findings suggest that while metrics being used provide a necessary baseline for number and types of partnerships, more robust methods are needed capture the quality of interactions and to strategically inform network development. Network leads conceptualize impact in relation to collaborative processes (shared goals; new and diverse partnerships; improved student achievement; system alignment); systems and structures (joint-work; funding and sustainability; demand from practitioners; equity); continuous learning (capacity-building; reach; adaptability; storytelling). Our discussion provides ideas about network improvement that include sharing cases of failures (alongside exemplary cases) to maximize learning, and advocates for the use of developmental evaluation to explore the impacts of RPPs.
Association of vaspin rs2236242 gene polymorphism with serum vaspin level, insulin resistance and diabetes in an Iranian diabetic/pre-diabetic population

Background In recent years, the role of vaspin as an insulin-sensitizer has been studied widely. This is the investigation that examined the association of vaspin polymorphism rs2236242 on the vaspin level and the risk of type 2 diabetes and insulin-resistant Iranian pre-diabetic/diabetic population. Methods A case-control study was conducted on 160 participants includes 80 participants holding (FBG) fasting blood glucose 3.88-5.55 (mmol/L) in the normal group, and 80 participants holding FBG≥5.55 (mmol/L) in a diabetic/pre-diabetic group. The serum vaspin and insulin were determined with ELISA (enzyme-linked assay) and biochemical variables by standard method. Tetra arms amplification system for the vaspin gene was performed. Statistical analysis was done using SPSS software version 20. Results The means of age, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), hip circumference (HC), FBG, and vaspin were significantly different between normal and type 2 diabetic/impaired fasting blood group (P-value<0.05). rs2236242 showed association with Hip circumference (P-value<0.05). A significant association between allele A of rs2236242 with type 2 diabetes was seen (P-value<0.001). The vaspin levels showed a negative correlation with FBG (r =-0.296, P=0.001). Conclusions Allele A of rs2236242 is a protective risk for type 2 diabetes, but no association of rs2236242 with insulin resistance was seen. The lower level of vaspin is a predictor for the progression of type 2 diabetes.