Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Identification of Brassica oleracea orthologs of the PEBP family and their expression patterns in curd development and flowering in cauliflower

Abstract The PEBP family members are reported to play important roles in plant flowering and reproductive organ formation. However, this gene family has not been identified nor their functions have been analyzed in Brassica oleracea. In this study, 10 PEBP genes were identified in the B. oleracea genome. These genes were categorized as TFL1, FT and MFT subfamilies according to the phylogeny and gene structure analysis. All the 10 PEBP genes were randomly distributed on seven of the nine chromosomes in B. oleracea. The expression profiles of the 10 PEBP genes in different tissues of cauliflower were evaluated through quantitative Real-Time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR), and we found that FT and TFL1 genes tend to be expressed in reproductive organs and at high levels in the meristem, whereas the MFT genes showed no or very low expression in all tested tissues. Notably, the five TFL1 genes might be sub-functionalized in cauliflower. Bol026421 and Bol032920 were specifically expressed in SAMbr, maintaining the indeterminate growth of shoot apical meristem, whereas the other three genes (Bol015337, Bol005471 and Bol010027) were highly expressed in curd stages. Highly expressed TFL1 group genes with low mRNA levels of the flowering-promoting genes (FT, TSF), might be one of the important reasons of curd formation in cauliflower. Generally, the results obtained in this study will help further studies on the roles of PEBP genes during curd development and flowering initiation, leading to crop improvement.
Increase in cash holdings of U.S. firms: The role of healthcare and technology industries

Abstract We examine whether the high cash ratio and the secular increase in cash holdings of U.S. firms are driven by healthcare and technology industries. We find that these two industries have significantly increased their cash holdings from 1980 to 2015. It is only in these two industries that firms with riskier cash flow, financially constrained firms, R&D firms, low-efficiency firms, and firms with low institutional ownership and high board size dramatically increase their cash holdings. Similar firms in other industries do not substantially accumulate cash reserves. The explanatory powers of firm characteristics, industry characteristics, and industry competition on cash holdings in healthcare and technology industries are stronger than in other industries. Moreover, we find a causal effect of the 2008 financial crisis on the difference in cash holdings between healthcare and technology industries, and other industries.
Detection of the root-lesion nematode, Pratylenchus penetrans (Cobb), in a nematode

in soil and degree ofdamage on the host (Chikaoka, 1983; Ohbayashi,1989), reliable and rapid identification andcounts of the causal agent is critically importantfor successful management of the nematodepest. Mandani et al. (2005) also emphasized thatprecise identification and knowledge about thedensity of nematodes in field soil are necessaryto develop effective integrated pest control.However, identification of nematodes based ontheir morphological characteristics is sometimesdifficult, especially for inexperienced nematolo-gists. In addition, to detect a single
Effect of dry-heat treatment on bacterial fruit blotch and viability of watermelon seeds

Seeds of the diploid watermelon 'Mibao' infected with bacterial fruit blotch caused by Acidovorax citrulli, were dehydrated to 1-7% water content and dry-heated for 24-72 h at 70-80°C. Following germination, seedlings were subjected to vigor tests and a bacterial fruit blotch-bearing test. Test results show that being dry-heated for 72 h at 75°C is a safe and effective treatment for watermelon seeds. However, for treatment at 80°C, seeds should have been previously dehydrated to a water content below 2%, in order to reduce negative effects on seeds.
Eye-specific voluntary attention can induce a shift of perceptual ocular dominance

Ocular dominance plasticity in adults has been extensively studied in the recent decade. An interocular imbalance of visual input, e.g. monocular deprivation, has been proved to markedly reshape ocular dominance. As visual attention can be eye-specific, dissimilar visual inputs from the two eyes during monocular deprivation inevitably lead attention to be more allocated to the monocular input that conveys relatively intact information. Does the imbalanced attention across the eyes also contribute to reshaping ocular dominance? Here, using a novel “backwards-movie” adaptation paradigm, we showed that prolonged attention to the input in one eye was sufficient to shift perceptual ocular dominance in favor of the unattended eye. Furthermore, the effect was stronger when eye-specific attention was directed to the dominant eye, possibly due to fewer disturbances from the other eye during the adaptation. Taken together, these findings suggest that top-down attention plays an important role in short-term ocular dominance plasticity. Statement of Relevance An important goal in neuroscience is to understand and take advantage of adaptive neural plasticity. Ocular dominance plasticity resulting from imbalanced visual input signals across the two eyes has been intensively investigated. By developing a novel “backwards-movie” paradigm in which movie images played normally were presented to one eye while movie images of the same episode but played backwards were presented to the other eye, the current study for the first time demonstrates the non-negligible contributions of selective attention in reshaping ocular dominance. These findings expand the homeostatic compensation theory of monocular deprivation by highlighting the contributions of feedback signals. Furthermore, our method could be applied in future work to explore new possibilities in treating adults with amblyopia.
Discriminating permanent from temporary rivers with traits of chironomid genera

Chironomidae are diverse and present a wide variety of ecological preferences. Thus, they have high potential in establishing reference conditions for river bioassessment and in providing functional information, especially when other macroinvertebrates are poorly represented. However, because of taxonomic difficulties and poor knowledge of traits, they are neglected in bioassessment programmes and kept at coarser taxonomic levels, reducing the discrimination power of invertebrate-based diagnostic tools. Here, we compared the efficiency of Chironomidae at the subfamily and genus levels and their biological traits (Eltonian and morphological) in the distinction between permanent (medium altitude and lowland) and temporary Mediterranean streams. We established a priori predictions on the expected Chironomidae trait categories in each stream type, conferring the best adaptations to particular environmental constraints. Genus composition (not subfamily) and respective trait categories differed among the three stream types. Both biological traits identified differences between stream types. Among Eltonian traits, diapause stages segregated permanent medium altitude from lowland and temporary stream assemblages, reflecting adaptations to temperature and flow regime variations. Substrate relation and size distinguished temporary from permanent stream assemblages, interpreted as an adaptation to unstable sediments and irregular flow regimes. Morphological traits associated with mobility and foraging (e.g. , body setae, Lauterborn sensory organs) discriminated temporary from permanent stream assemblages, reflecting differences in temporal and spatial stream heterogeneity. The use of these morphological characteristics relying on the observation of few characteristics, offers an alternative to the use of Chironomidae Eltonian traits in bioassessment and ecological studies, without a need for high taxonomic expertise.
Effect of tamarind seed husk supplementation on ruminal methanogenesis, methanogen diversity and fermentation characteristics

ABSTRACT Tamarind seed husk, an agricultural waste, was evaluated both in vitro & in vivo as a methane-ameliorating agent. Basal diets for in vitro study were formulated using finger millet straw and concentrate in 70:30 proportions, and tamarind seed husk was included as part of the concentrate with equal (w/w) replacement of wheat bran to achieve 2.5 (T1), 5.0 (T2) and 10.0% (T3) levels. Based on the in vitro results, two levels (2.5%, T1 and 5.0%, T2) of tamarind seed husk were selected for the in vivo study in male cattle to investigate the effect on enteric methane emission. Fifteen crossbred cattle divided into three groups were assigned to the following diets: control (T0, no husk), test group 1 (T1, 2.5% husk) and test group 2 (T2, 5.0% husk). The in vivo study showed a decrease of about 17% in enteric methane emission with a higher level (5%) of tamarind seed husk supplementation. The in vivo study demonstrated a non-adverse impact of supplementation on dry matter intake and digestibility, while rumen methanogens notably decreased at 5% inclusion level. It may be concluded that tamarind seed husk supplementation achieved significant methane reduction via direct inhibition of rumen methanogens without affecting fibre degradability.
PROXIMATE, MINERALS AND FATTY ACIDS COMPOSITION OF AFRICAN STAR APPLE SEED (CHRYSOPHYLLUM ALBIDUM)

Introduction Fruits are parts of the seed bearing structure of a flowering plant and they are usually from matured ovary (Ihenkoronye and Ngoddy, 1985). Fruits play an important role in the diet as they contain virtually all the classes of nutrients and their appealing taste and aroma have increased their acceptability in the diet. African star apple (Chrysophyllum albidum Linn) belongs to the family Sapotaceae. It is primarily a forest tree species and its natural occurrence has been reported in diverse economics in Nigeria, Uganda, Niger Republic and Cameroon (Bada, 1997). This study therefore aims at investigating the proximate, minerals and fatty acids composition of African star apple seeds. It is expected to provide additional information to the composition of food ingredients.
Tectonic control on mass‐transport deposit and canyon‐fed fan system in the Ulleung Basin, East Sea (Sea of Japan)

Extensive 2D multichannel seismic (~17340 km) and well data provide an opportunity to investigate the source to sink processes and triggering factors of the Late Miocene sedimentary record in the Ulleung Basin, East Sea (Sea of Japan). The sedimentary succession of the basin comprises two distinct deep‐water depositional systems, which are characterised by stacked mass‐transport deposits (MTDs) and subsequent submarine fan. Individual MTDs spread downslope over areas as large as ~9000 km2 with NW–SE or N–S flow direction. The deep‐water fan consists of distributary channel‐lobe complexes (DLCs) that are 80 km wide and 140 km long. Two major tectonic periods driven by structural deformation characterised the Late Miocene deep‐water sedimentation growth. During early to middle Late Miocene (10.3–8.2 Ma), the MTDs were sourced from degraded fold triggered by slope oversteepening and seismicity on the southeastern basin margin, where the thrust‐and‐fold belt developed. In the middle to latest Late Miocene (8.2–6.3 Ma), the DLCs were fed by canyon‐channel systems on the southwestern basin margin, where the tectonic uplift of the anticline was active. Therefore, this study suggests that strike variation in shelf‐margin erosional and depositional processes were caused principally by the locations and timings of tectonic deformation.
EFFICACY OF VACCINES AGAINST VARIANT INFECTIOUS BURSAL DISEASE VIRUSES TO CONTROL IMMUNOSUPPRESSION IN THE BROILER CHICKEN INDUSTRY IN CANADA

ii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS . iii TABLE OF CONTENTS . v LIST OF TABLES . x LIST OF FIGURES . xi LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS . xiii CHAPTER 1 : INTRODUCTION AND LITERATURE REVIEW . 1 1.
Conditional secondary transfer effect: The moderating role of moral credentials and prejudice

This survey experiment examined the role of prejudice and moral licensing as two moderators of the secondary transfer effect (STE) of positive and negative intergroup contact. We collected a quota-randomized sample of 299 majority Finns (52.6% female; experimental condition: n = 118, control condition: n = 181) in order to test whether moral credentials prevent attitude generalization (from primary towards secondary outgroup), particularly among prejudiced individuals. The results showed that STEs of both positive and negative contact were prevented among more prejudiced majority group members who had the possibility to obtain moral credentials in the moral licensing task. These results point at the unstable nature of attitude generalization in STE among prejudiced individuals and at the potential of a normative moral act to intervene into the generalization of intergroup attitudes following intergroup contact. We discuss these findings in relation to the literature on moral licensing and moral reinforcement, framing them in the context of an integration of contact research and research on morality in general.
The Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-Cov-2): A Review of the Basics

The recent outbreak of an unusual viral pneumonia in Wuhan, China, and then a pandemic has created a panic world over. Genetic and Phylogenetic studies revealed that the causative virus is SARC-CoV-2 and the disease it caused is given the name COVID-19. It (Coronavirus) is a member of the family Coronaviridae and subfamily Coronavirinae and belongs to the order Nidovirales. The Coronavirus Study Group of the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses termed the virus as SARS-CoV-2. The virus enters into the cell through ACE2 receptors. It is important to understand the basics of genetic and Phylogenetic properties of the virus. This knowledge will ultimately help in the development of vaccines and drug treatment. In this article, an effort is made to explain the basics of coronavirus and its transmission, to the host cell.
Predicting Innovative Work Behavior from Soft Skills and Emotional Demands–Abilities Fit in Knowledge Economy

In knowledge economy there is a shift from industrial work to innovation work. This study examines the influence of soft skills and emotional demands–abilities fit on innovative work behavior among Masters of Business Administration (MBA) students. In a cross-sectional survey, we purposely selected 130 MBA students working in various types of organizations. Data were collected by using structured psychological scales. Detailed data analysis was carried out using statistical techniques: Pearson moment correlation coefficient and multiple regression analysis. Both soft skills and emotional demands–abilities fit jointly accounted for 38.7% of the total variation in innovative work behavior. Soft skills and emotional demands–abilities fit showed independent statistically significant prediction on innovative work behavior. The findings have implication for human capital soft skills as essential in knowledge economy. Furthermore, fit perceptions expect that emotional demands of work match the skills and abilities of the human capital. Recommendations were made in line with management and sustainability development goals.
Forest Cover Change and the Effectiveness of Protected Areas in the Himalaya since 1998

Himalaya, a global biodiversity hotspot, has undergone considerable forest cover fluctuation in recent decades, and numerous protected areas (PAs) have been established to prohibit forest degradation there. However, the spatiotemporal characteristics of this forest cover change across the whole region are still unknown, as are the effectiveness of its PAs. Therefore, here, we first mapped the forest cover of Himalaya in 1998, 2008, and 2018 with high accuracy (>90%) using a random forest (RF) algorithm based on Google Earth Engine (GEE) platform. The propensity score matching (PSM) method was applied with eight control variables to balance the heterogeneity of land characteristics inside and outside PAs. The effectiveness of PAs in Himalaya was quantified based on matched samples. The results showed that the forest cover in Himalaya increased by 4983.65 km2 from 1998 to 2008, but decreased by 4732.71 km2 from 2008 to 2018. Further analysis revealed that deforestation and reforestation mainly occurred at the edge of forest tracts, with over 55% of forest fluctuation occurring below a 2000 m elevation. Forest cover changes in PAs of Himalaya were analyzed; these results indicated that about 56% of PAs had a decreasing trend from 1998 to 2018, including the Torsa (Ia PA), an area representative of the most natural conditions, which is strictly protected. Even so, as a whole, PAs in Himalaya played a positive role in halting deforestation.
Improving the Accuracy of Firearm Identification in a Dynamic Use of Force Scenario

Law enforcement officers are sometimes required to make split-second use of force decisions. One factor that can impact their decision-making process is the presence of a weapon. This experiment sought to improve the speed and accuracy of weapon identification in a dynamic use of force scenario through the principles of deliberate practice. This research utilized randomized control trial with random assignment to either a control or test condition. Eighty-seven participants completed the pretest, intervention, and posttest. Participants’ vision was recorded via a mobile vision-tracker. With only 20 minutes of training, the test group made 1/3 the amount of decision errors as the control group (Cohen’s d = 0.95). The test group was about 16% faster than the control group at visually finding the object in the suspect’s hand and determining if it was a gun or not (Cohen’s d = 0.91).
My Teacher Is a Machine: Understanding Students’ Perceptions of AI Teaching Assistants in Online Education

ABSTRACT An increase in demand for online education has led to the creation of a new technology, machine teachers, or artificial intelligence (AI) teaching assistants. In fact, AI teaching assistants have already been implemented in a small number of courses in the United States. However, little is known about how students will perceive AI teaching assistants. Thus, the present study investigated students’ perceptions about AI teaching assistants in higher education by use of an online survey. Primary findings indicate that perceived usefulness of an AI teaching assistant and perceived ease of communication with an AI teaching assistant are key to understanding an eventual adoption of AI teaching assistant-based education. These findings provide support for AI teaching assistant adoption. Based on the present study’s findings, more research is needed to better understand the nuances associated with the learning experience one may have from an AI teaching assistant.
Pharmacologically relevant concentrations of berberine transiently stimulate dihydrotestosterone-inducible androgen receptor-mediated luciferase activity in human prostate cancer cells

Background: Herbal medicines containing berberine have a wide spectrum of usage. However, the effect on androgen receptor (AR) activity at plasmatic relevant concentrations is omitted. Therefore, the effect of berberine on AR activity in prostate cancer cell lines was investigated. Methods: We used the reporter gene assay (RGA) and polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) for monitoring the activity of AR. Moreover, we monitored the proliferation of two prostate cancer cell lines treated with Berberine. Results: Berberine significantly potentiated dihydrotestosterone (DHT)-inducible AR-dependent luciferase activity in RGA. It also significantly decreased basal KLK3 mRNA level in 22Rv1 cells, but DHT-inducible KLK3 mRNA was not affected in androgen-independent (22Rv1) or androgen-dependent (LNCaP) cells. Proliferation of both cell lines was significantly inhibited by 100 and 1,000 nM concentrations in similar manner and Berberine increased Annexin V staining, suggesting an apoptotic event. Conclusions: Berberine inhibits proliferation of prostatic cell lines at pharmacologically reachable concentrations but with no apparent link to androgen receptor-driven target gene expression.
Effect of different types of mulches on the germination and seedling growth of mulberry (Morus SP.)

Mulberry (Morus sp.) is the sole food for the silkworm (Bombyx mori L.) and contributes 38.20 per cent towards the success of a cocoon crop. The investigation was carried out at Temperate Sericulture Research Institute (TSRI) Mirgund, SKUASTK, in the year 2015.Amongst various mulches used, plastic mulch and dried weeds seemed to best in terms of quick germination of mulberry seeds and better germination rate, germination percentage and parameters like number of leaves per seeding, thickness of seedling, root-shoot ratio and seedling vigour index. The germination rate and percentage was recorded highest in plastic mulch with values 0.088 and 84.60 percent respectively. Further the parameters like number of leaves per seeding, thickness of seedling, root-shoot ratio and seedling vigour index was highest in the treatment receiving dried weeds. Therefore, in this article we explore the effect of different mulch treatments on the germination success and other growth parameters of mulberry seedlings. Thus, mulching appears to be a viable tool to increase the mulberry production under temperate conditions.
“Pulling the Plug:” Time Allocation between Drug Discovery and Development Projects

Biotechnology and pharmaceutical firms invest billions of dollars in R&D, primarily in new drug discovery. Nonetheless, the industry is facing declining returns on R&D investments. Failure to discontinue less‐promising new drug discovery projects is a key driver of this decreased productivity. Hence, firms are scrambling to restructure the new drug discovery process to improve decision‐making and to limit the attrition rate to the early stages of drug discovery. Drawing on insights from the exploration–exploitation literature, our study addresses this timing problem by using a formal model and empirically testing its implications on how the time to discontinuation of new drug discovery projects are impacted by project‐ and firm‐specific characteristics, so that a firm's resources can be promptly redeployed to more fruitful endeavors. Our findings, based on an analysis of 1274 early‐stage drug discovery projects worldwide, suggest that the time to discontinuation of early‐stage drug discovery projects requires careful consideration of these project‐ and firm‐specific characteristics. These findings hold important implications for the industry, which is undergoing tremendous stress and transformation. The results also contribute to the exploration–exploitation literature by modeling and testing the time‐allocation decision between exploratory and exploitative activities.