Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effects of Poultry Manure, Urban Waste Compost and NPK-20-10-10 on the Growth, Yield and Shelf-Life of Two Varieties of Cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) in the Western Highlands of Cameroon

Organic and inorganic farm inputs in the form of fertilizers is a management practice to improve soil fertility for the growth and development of cultivated crops. A field experiment was conducted to evaluate the growth, yield and shelf-life response of cucumber (Classico F1 and Poinsett-76) to fertilizer applications. The experimental design was a randomized complete block in split plots with three repetitions of the treatments; Control (To: No fertilizer application), poultry manure (T1:20t ha-1), urban waste compost (T2:20t ha-1), NPK-20-10-10 (T3:0.7t ha-1), poultry manure (10t ha-1)+NPK-20-10-10 (0.35t ha-1) (T4), poultry manure (10t ha-1)+urban waste compost (10t ha-1) (T5), urban waste compost (10t ha-1)+NPK-20-10-10 (0.35t ha-1) (T6). Collected data on growth and yield variables from emergence till harvest were analyzed for variation in R version 4.0. 1. Results showed that variety and fertilizer had a significant effect (P < 0.05) on all growth variables with Classico F1 variety recording the highest mean values for all growth and yield variables. T1 recorded the highest in all growth variables (vine length, No. of leaves and stem diameter), except for the leaf area in T5 of Classico F1 (404.20 cm2) with the lowest in T0 of Poinsett-76 (87.87cm2). Variety, fertilizer treatments and interactions showed significant effects (P < 0.05) on yield variables. Classico F1 was superior to Poinsett-76, yielding 31.91tha-1 in T1 while Poinsett-76 produced 20.36tha-1 in the same treatment. The lowest yield was recorded in the control treatments (4.45 tha-1 for Poinsett-76 and 7.55 tha-1 for Classico F1). Shelf-life evaluation showed the highest weight loss (20%) in fruits obtained in NPK-20-10-10 treatments within 21 days of storage. These results revealed that the integration of poultry manure or urban waste compost and chemical fertilizer (NPK-20-10-10) improves the growth and yield of cucumber as well as the shelf-life of harvested fruits in the western highlands of Cameroon.
Capsaicin Ameliorates High-Fat Diet-Induced Atherosclerosis in ApoE−/− Mice via Remodeling Gut Microbiota

Capsaicin is a pungent alkaloid abundantly present in peppers with outstanding biological activities, including the anti-atherosclerosis effect. Previous studies revealed that gut microbiota played an important role in the beneficial effects of capsaicin, but whether it is essential for the anti-atherosclerosis effect of capsaicin is unclear. This study evaluated the anti-atherosclerosis effect of capsaicin in ApoE−/− mice and further explored the role of depleting gut microbiota in the improvement of atherosclerosis. The results showed that capsaicin administration could prevent the development of atherosclerosis and improve serum lipids and inflammation, while antibiotic intervention abolished the alleviation of atherosclerosis by capsaicin. In addition, capsaicin administration could significantly increase the abundance of Turicibacter, Odoribacter, and Ileibacterium in feces, and decrease the abundance of deoxycholic acid, cholic acid, hypoxanthine, and stercobilin in cecal content. Our study provides evidence that gut microbiota plays a critical role in the anti-atherosclerosis effect of capsaicin.
Sequential Medical Trials (Stopping Rules/Asymptotic Optimality).

Abstract : A model for sequential clinical trials is discussed. Three proposed stopping rules are studied by Monte Carlo for small patient horizons and mathematically for large patient horizons. They are shown to be about equally effective and asymptotically optimal from both Bayesian and frequentist points of view. Their advantage over any fixed sample size rule is emphasized. (Author)
Adaptive time-varying formation tracking for multi-agent systems with input saturation via low-gain feedback approach

In this paper, the time-varying formation tracking problem is addressed for a class of multi-agent systems, in which the input of followers is saturated and the input of the leader is unknown. Based on detectable state and undetectable state, a novel kind of protocols is proposed for solving time-varying formation tracking problem, without using any global information for the agents. Then, using the low-gain feedback approach and the Lyapunov stability theory, we can prove that the protocols steer the followers to accomplish and maintain the expected formation and track the leader under the appropriate assumptions. A numerical simulation is provided to verify the performance and effectiveness of our obtained main results.
Exploration of Antimicrobial Ingredients in Psoralea corylifolia L. Seed and Related Mechanism against Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus

With the abuse of antibiotics, bacterial antibiotic resistance is becoming a major public healthcare issue. Natural plants, especially traditional Chinese herbal medicines, which have antibacterial activity, are important sources for discovering potential bacteriostatic agents. This study aimed to develop a fast and reliable method for screening out antimicrobial compounds targeting the MRSA membrane from Psoralea corylifolia Linn. seed. A UPLC-MS/MS method was applied to identify the prenylated flavonoids in major fractions from the extracts of Psoralea corylifolia Linn. seed. The broth microdilution method was used to determine the minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of different fractions and compounds. The morphological and ultrastructural changes of MRSA were determined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The membrane-targeting mechanism of the active ingredients was explored by membrane integrity assays, membrane fluidity assays, membrane potential assays, ATP, and ROS determination. We identified eight prenylated flavonoids in Psoralea corylifolia Linn. seed. The antibacterial activity and mechanism studies showed that this type of compound has a unique destructive effect on MRSA cell membranes and does not result in drug resistance. The results revealed that prenylated flavonoids in Psoralea corylifolia Linn. seeds are promising candidates for the development of novel antibiotic agents to combat MRSA-associated infections.
Episomes and Transposases—Utilities to Maintain Transgene Expression from Nonviral Vectors

The efficient delivery and stable transgene expression are critical for applications in gene therapy. While carefully selected and engineered viral vectors allowed for remarkable clinical successes, they still bear significant safety risks. Thus, nonviral vectors are a sound alternative and avoid genotoxicity and adverse immunological reactions. Nonviral vector systems have been extensively studied and refined during the last decades. Emerging knowledge of the epigenetic regulation of replication and spatial chromatin organisation, as well as new technologies, such as Crispr/Cas, were employed to enhance the performance of different nonviral vector systems. Thus, nonviral vectors are in focus and hold some promising perspectives for future applications in gene therapy. This review addresses three prominent nonviral vector systems: the Sleeping Beauty transposase, S/MAR-based episomes, and viral plasmid replicon-based EBV vectors. Exemplarily, we review different utilities, modifications, and new concepts that were pursued to overcome limitations regarding stable transgene expression and mitotic stability. New insights into the nuclear localisation of nonviral vector molecules and the potential consequences thereof are highlighted. Finally, we discuss the remaining limitations and provide an outlook on possible future developments in nonviral vector technology.
Merger relics of cluster galaxies

Context. Sheen and collaborators recently found that a surprisingly large portion (38%) of massive early-type galaxies in heavy clusters show strong merger-related disturbed features. This contradicts the general understanding that massive clusters are hostile environments for galaxy mergers. Considering the significance of mergers in galaxy evolution, it is important to understand this. Aims. We aim to present a theoretical foundation that explains galaxy mergers in massive clusters. Methods. We used the N-body simulation technique to perform a cosmological-volume simulation and derive dark-halo merger trees. Then, we used the semi-analytic modeling technique to populate each halo with galaxies. We ran hydrodynamic simulations of galaxy mergers to estimate the lifetime of merger features for the imaging condition used by Sheen and collaborators. We applied this merger feature lifetime to our semi-analytic models. Finally, we counted the massive early-type galaxies in heavy model clusters that would show strong merger features. Results. While there still are substantial uncertainties, our preliminary results are remarkably close to the observed fraction of galaxies with merger features. Key ingredients for the success are twofold: firstly, the subhalo motion in dark haloes has been accurately traced, and, second, the lifetime of merger features has been properly estimated. As a result, merger features are expected to last very long in cluster environments. Many massive early-type galaxies in heavy clusters therefore show merger features not because they experience mergers in the current clusters in situ, but because they still carry their merger features from their previous halo environments. Conclusions. Investigating the merger relics of cluster galaxies is potentially important, because it uniquely allows us to backtrack the halo merger history.
Supergroupoids, double structures, and equivariant cohomology

Q-groupoids and Q-algebroids are, respectively, supergroupoids and superalgebroids that are equipped with compatible homological vector fields. These new objects are closely related to the double structures of Mackenzie; in particular, we show that Q-groupoids are intermediary objects between Mackenzie's LA-groupoids and double complexes, which include as a special case the simplicial model of equivariant cohomology. There is also a double complex associated to a Q-algebroid, which in the above special case is the BRST model of equivariant cohomology. Other special cases include models for the Drinfel'd double of a Lie bialgebra and Ginzburg's equivariant Poisson cohomology. Finally, a supergroupoid version of the van Est map is used to give a homomorphism from the double complex of a Q-groupoid to that of a Q-algebroid.
Natural Regeneration of Parkia biglobosa (Néré): Status and variation along the South-North climatic gradient in Mali

Parkia biglobosa offers food, medicine and income to rural populations. A study, was undertaken in three agro-climatic zones in southern Mali, to characterise P. biglobosa populations. Plots of 0.25 ha each were established in fields and fallows and adult trees in the plots were monitored. Natural regeneration was monitored in five subplots of 12.5 m x 12.5 m = 156.25 m2 each within each plot and data were collected from 2019 to 2021. Natural regeneration of P. biglobosa was found to be very weak in all sites. The mean density of seedlings varied from 11 to 24 seedlings ha-1 with a decreasing trend from 2019 to 2021. In Zanzoni, where the weakest regeneration was observed, the density varied from 0 to 8 seedlings ha-1. The highest density of seedlings was observed in Somasso in 2019 (42 seedlings ha-1) and 2020 (30 seedlings ha-1). In 2021, the highest density was observed in Diou (25 seedlings ha-1). The weakness of natural regeneration is very alarming for this tree species facing several other threats (ageing and decreasing adult tree populations, sanitary constraints, several pressures, etc.). It is therefore very important and imperative to investigate ways for regenerating the species for its sustainability and for maintaining the parklands biodiversity. Artificial regeneration (planting), could be the one and ultimate way to ensure the sustainability of P. biglobosa.
Legitimation strategies of Russian companies: a bricolage of social responsibility

ABSTRACT Russian companies, with their long-established tradition of social responsibility, still operate social and infrastructure projects at the regional and local levels. Adopting the framework of organisational “bricolage”, this article explores how managers combine various ideas and understandings about social responsibility, creating narratives addressed to multiple audiences, including the market, state, employees and local community. The analysis builds on 116 semi-structured interviews with company representatives and stakeholders, conducted in Russia in 2018. The empirical findings show that managers construct a bricolage of social responsibility that prioritises business interests and highlights loyalty towards the authorities; Soviet-era remnants are of minor importance.
AMPK Amplifies IL2–STAT5 Signaling to Maintain Stability of Regulatory T Cells in Aged Mice

AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), an important regulator of the aging process, is expressed in various immune cells. However, its role in regulatory T cell (Treg) stability during aging is poorly understood. Here, we addressed the role of AMPK in Treg function and stability during aging by generating Treg-specific AMPKα1 knockout mice. In this study, we found that AMPKα1-deficient Tregs failed to control inflammation as effectively as normal Tregs did during aging. AMPK knockout from Tregs reduces STAT5 phosphorylation in response to interleukin (IL)-2 stimulation, thereby destabilizing Tregs by decreasing CD25 expression. Thus, our study addressed the role of AMPK in Tregs in sensing IL-2 signaling to amplify STAT5 phosphorylation, which, in turn, supports Treg stability by maintaining CD25 expression and controlling inflamm-aging.
Household debt, student loan forgiveness, and human capital investment: a neo-Kaleckian approach

Abstract This paper aims to analyze the sustainability of student debt in the US. For this purpose, I build a neo-Kaleckian model in which households can borrow to either consume or invest in human capital. Next, I calibrate the model using US data to simulate the economic effects of specific policies such as student loan forgiveness. To my knowledge, this is the first study that considers household borrowing for two different purposes, consumption and human capital accumulation, in a demand-led macro-modeling framework. The main findings are that (i) household debt is sustainable in the long run (i.e., the debt servicing is compatible with the long-term economic growth) for a consumption level greater than 90% of household income; (ii) new borrowing boosts short-term economic activity while having ambiguous long-term effects because of its outcomes to household indebtedness and debt servicing; and (iii) student loan cancelation has only short-run economic effects, whereas reducing loan interest rates and changing the eligibility criterion for student loan forgiveness result in long-term effects.
Carbon flux estimates are sensitive to data source: a comparison of field and lab temperature sensitivity data

A large literature exists on mechanisms driving soil production of the greenhouse gases CO2 and CH4. Although it is common knowledge that measurements obtained through field studies vs. laboratory incubations can diverge because of the vastly different conditions of these environments, few studies have systematically examined these patterns. These data are used to parameterize and benchmark ecosystem- to global-scale models, which are then susceptible to the biases of the source data. Here, we examine how greenhouse gas measurements may be influenced by whether the measurement/incubation was conducted in the field vs. laboratory, focusing on CO2 and CH4 measurements. We use Q 10 of greenhouse gas flux (temperature sensitivity) for our analyses because this metric is commonly used in biological and Earth system sciences and is an important parameter in many modeling frameworks. We predicted that laboratory measurements would be less variable, but also less representative of true field conditions. However, there was greater variability in the Q 10 values calculated from lab-based measurements of CO2 fluxes, because lab experiments explore extremes rarely seen in situ, and reflect the physical and chemical disturbances occurring during sampling, transport, and incubation. Overall, respiration Q 10 values were significantly greater in laboratory incubations (mean = 4.19) than field measurements (mean = 3.05), with strong influences of incubation temperature and climate region/biome. However, this was in part because field measurements typically represent total respiration (Rs), whereas lab incubations typically represent heterotrophic respiration (Rh), making direct comparisons difficult to interpret. Focusing only on Rh-derived Q 10, these values showed almost identical distributions across laboratory (n = 1110) and field (n = 581) experiments, providing strong support for using the former as an experimental proxy for the latter, although we caution that geographic biases in the extant data make this conclusion tentative. Due to a smaller sample size of CH4 Q 10 data, we were unable to perform a comparable robust analysis, but we expect similar interactions with soil temperature, moisture, and environmental/climatic variables. Our results here suggest the need for more concerted efforts to document and standardize these data, including sample and site metadata.
Digital Signal Processing: Mathematical and Computational Methods, Software Development and Applications

Part I Mathematical Methods for Signal Analysis Introduction to complex analysis the delta function and the Green's function Fourmet series the Fourier transform, convolution and correlation, the sampling theorem, the Laplace transform the Hilbert transform and quadrature detection, modulation and demodulation, the wavelet transform, the z-transform, the Wigner transform. Part II Computational Techniques in Linear Algebra Basic linear algebra, types of linear systems, formal methods of solution direct methods of solution iterative improvement vector and matrix norms, conditioning and the condition number, the least squares method iterative methods of solution the conjugate gradient method the computation of eigen values and eigen vectors. Part III Programming and Software Engineering Number systems and numerical error, programming languages, software design methods, structured and modular programming software engineering for DSP in C. Part IV Digital Signal Processing Methods Algorithms and Building a Library Digital frequency filtering, the DFT and FFT, computing with the FFT, spectral leakage and windowing inverse filters, the Wiener filter, the matched filter, constrained deconvolution, homomorphic filtering noise and chaos Bayesian estimation methods, the maximum entropy method, spectral extrapolation FIR and IIR filters, non-stationary signal processing random fractal and multi-random-fractal signals.
A Study on the Applicability of Agitated Cyanide Leaching and Thiosulphate Leaching for Gold Extraction in Artisanal and Small-Scale Gold Mining

Mercury amalgamation is the method of choice to recover gold in artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM). However, despite the low cost and simplicity of this method, the use of mercury presents serious health and environmental risks, as well as low efficiency in gold extraction. This study investigates the application of cyanide and thiosulphate leaching as alternatives to mercury amalgamation. This investigation was undertaken by conducting leach experiments using cyanide at 1 g/L, 3 g/L, and 5 g/L, and ammonium thiosulphate at 0.1 M and 0.5 M, on three ore samples originating from an artisanal mining area in Zimbabwe. The operating conditions (T = 26 °C, solids loading: 30%, particle size: −300 + 150 µm) were selected to mimic as closely as possible the conditions of artisanal mining processes. It was found that cyanide leaching was the better performing technology compared to thiosulphate leaching, as it achieved gold extractions of 71.6%, 69.7%, and 67.8% for the three ore samples (Sample 1, Sample 2, and Sample 3, respectively), whereas thiosulphate leaching achieved gold extractions of 54.1%, 35.6%, and 38.0% for the three ores, respectively. Both methods outperformed mercury amalgamation, which typically achieves gold recoveries of 30%–50%. Studying the minerology of the ores, using XRF, XRD, QEMSCAN, SEM-EDS, and a diagnostic leach, revealed the presence of sulphide minerals hosting refractory gold which contributed to the low gold extractions observed. Besides achieving higher gold extraction, cyanide leaching proved to be a system that is easier to control compared to thiosulphate leaching, making it much more attractive to artisanal miners.
Role of B Lymphocytes in the Pathogenesis of NAFLD: A 2022 Update

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and its related complications are becoming one of the most important health problems globally. The liver functions as both a metabolic and an immune organ. The crosstalk between hepatocytes and intrahepatic immune cells plays a key role in coordinating a dual function of the liver in terms of the protection of the host from antigenic overload as a result of receiving nutrients and gut microbiota antigenic stimulation via facilitating immunologic tolerance. B cells are the most abundant lymphocytes in the liver. The crucial role of intrahepatic B cells in energy metabolism under different immune conditions is now emerging in the literature. The accumulating evidence has demonstrated that the antibodies and cytokines produced by B cells in the microenvironment play key and distinct roles in the pathogenesis of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Herein, we have aimed to consolidate and update the current knowledge about the pathophysiological roles of B cells as well as the underlying mechanisms in energy metabolism. Understanding how B cells can exacerbate and suppress liver damage by exploiting the antibodies and cytokines they produce will be of great importance for designing B-cell targeting therapies to treat various liver diseases.