Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Starch Synthesis in the Kernel of Wheat Under High Temperature Conditions

As temperature rises above 18-22oC, the observed decrease in the duration of deposition of dry matter in the kernel is not accompanied by a compensating increase in the rate of grain filling with the result that grain weight (and yield) is diminished at high temperature. Reduced starch content accounts for most of the reduction in grain dry matter at high temperature. Responses to temperature in the low temperature range, 20-30oC (the LTR), could possibly be ascribed to the temperature response characteristics of the reaction catalysed by soluble starch synthase (SSS), the enzyme synthesising starch. However, the rate of cell enlargement and the rate of accumulation of nitrogen in the grain also do not increase much as temperature rises, so other explanations are conceivable for the temperature responses in the LTR. Variation amongst cultivars of wheat in tolerance of high temperature is evident in the LTR. At temperatures above 30oC (in the high temperature range (HTR) between 30 and 40oC), even for short periods, the rate of starch deposition is slower than that observed at lower temperatures, an effect which is carried over after transfer from high to lower temperatures. This response is attributable to a reduction in the activity, possibly due to thermal denaturation, of SSS. Several forms of SSS are found in cereal endosperm, and some forms may be more tolerant of high temperature than others. Loss of enzyme activity at high temperature is swift, but is partly restored some time after transfer from hot to cool conditions. There appear to be two distinct mechanisms of response to elevated temperature, both resulting in a reduced grain weight through reduced starch deposition, but one of them is important only in the range of temperature above 30oC.
Thermophysical Properties and Heat Transfer Performance of TiO2-Distilled Water Nanofluid Using Shell and Tube Heat Exchanger

To date, there is a rise of interest in utilizing nanofluid as an alternative cooler to replace the conventional one. Therefore, this study aimed to find out the effect of adding nanoparticle into a working fluid on its thermophysical properties and heat transfer performance using the laboratory-scaled shell and tube heat exchangers with titanium dioxide (TiO2) as the nanoparticle. The diameter of the dispersed TiO2 was 30 nm. This research utilized distilled water as the base fluid. The thermophysical properties value of nanofluid dispersed with TiO2 had better value compared to the conventional working fluid such as lubricant/oil. This research divided the nanoparticle into four fractions: 0.025% volume, 0.05% volume, 0.075% volume, and 1% volume. The synthesize process used two-step method by adding nanoparticle into the base fluid then mixing it using magnetic stirrer for 30 minutes and ultrasonic sonicator for 2 hours. The cold-water volumetric flow rate in the heat exchanger was 0.5 LPM, 1 LPM, 1.5 LPM. The result showed that TiO2-distilled water nanofluid with 1% nanoparticle concentration in 1.5 LPM water volumetric flow rate had the heat energy value of 94.4%, larger compared to the heat energy of distilled water only.
Joint User Grouping and Decoding Order in Uplink/Downlink MISO/SIMO-NOMA

In this paper, we design and investigate a novel uplink/downlink (UL/DL) non-orthogonal multiple access (NOMA) network using a common relay. Instead of successive interference cancellation (SIC) for UL/DL NOMA systems with fixed decoding order based on the statistical channel state information (CSI), we adopt the dynamic decoding order according to power level of received signals. Specifically, by exploiting the CSI-based dynamic decoding order, better fairness can be achieved and applicable. This decoding scheme is highly suitable for implementing a NOMA system in practice. The closed-form expressions for the users’ outage probabilities are derived, and then an asymptotic analysis is carried out. Insightful discussions with diversity order are provided. Simulations are performed to corroborate the exactness of the theoretical analysis.
The Influence of Website-Based and Company-Based Quality toward Loyalty with Perceived Website Trust as Antecedents

Traveloka is a platform that is leading among Southeast Asia online travel company that provides a wide range of travel needs. A rapid change of digital business transformation has brought Traveloka to become the first startup company that has gained the status as unicorn among the other four tech startups and also categorized as the only online travel services in the startups’ unicorn. Unicorn is a startup company that has a valuation of over 1 billion US Dollars. Since the exposure of startups’ unicorn is relatively new in Indonesia, thus there is a need to investigate the market’s preference of using Traveloka’s website by predicting the customer’s loyalty. Moreover, to continue using such startups by conducting research related to the consumergenerated media and measuring the customer’s loyalty in supporting Traveloka to become one of the startups’ unicorn. This proposed investigation applies the antecedents and consequences of the trust model, which describes the constructs of information quality, perceived website quality, and user satisfaction with previous experiences toward loyalty with the dimensions of referral, repurchase intention, and reject others through perceived website trust as an intervening variable. The data were collected from 445 valid respondents with a non-probability purposive sampling technique. Data analysis conducted using the SmartPLS 3.2. 9 software and the results show that the factors that have a significant positive influence on customer loyalty of using Traveloka’s Website through Perceived Website Trust from the highest to the lowest mainly are User Satisfaction with previous experiences, Information Quality, and Perceived Website Quality. These antecedents and consequences of the trust model can be used to utilize further studies with the extensions of unexplored factors.
Bile Acid-binding Protein from Soybean Seed: Isolation, Partial Characterization and Insulin-stimulating Activity

An insulin-stimulating protein was isolated from soybean seed. This protein was the major component of a fraction which was adsorbed on cholic acid-conjugated Sepharose 4B, and is suggested to interact with bile salt anions in a specific fashion/The protein had no insulin-like activity per se, but it enhanced the in vitro inhibitory action of insulin on fat decomposition that was accelerated by epinephrine in rat adipose cells.
Age-Dependent Changes of Adipokine and Cytokine Secretion From Rat Adipose Tissue by Endogenous and Exogenous Toll-Like Receptor Agonists

White adipose tissue but recently also brown adipose tissue have emerged as endocrine organs. Age-associated obesity is accompanied by prolonged and elevated lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced sickness symptoms and increased cytokine and adipokine levels in the circulation partially originating from adipose tissue. In the present study, ex vivo fat explants were used to investigate how the exogenous pathogen-associated molecular pattern (PAMP) LPS or the endogenous danger-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs) high mobility group box-1 protein (HMGB1) and biglycan modulate the release of cytokines and adipokines/batokines and, thus, could influence systemic and/or local inflammation. The response of adipose tissue (epididymal, retroperitoneal, subcutaneous, and brown) was compared between young lean and old obese rats (2 vs. 24 months old). LPS induced a strong interleukin (IL)-6 and tumor necrosis factor (TNF) alpha release into the supernatant of all adipose tissue types investigated. HMGB1 (subcutaneous) and biglycan (retroperitoneal) led to an increased release of IL-6 and TNFalpha (HMGB1) and decreased visfatin and adiponectin (biglycan) secretion from epididymal adipose tissue (young rats). Visfatin was also decreased by HMGB1 in retroperitoneal adipose tissue of old rats. We found significantly higher leptin (all fat pads) and adiponectin (subcutaneous) levels in supernatants of adipose tissue from old compared to young rats, whereas visfatin secretion showed the opposite. The expression of the biglycan receptor Toll-like receptor (TLR) 2 as well as the LPS and HMGB1 receptors TLR4 and receptor for advanced glycation end products (RAGE) were reduced with age (TLR4/RAGE) and by stimulation with their ligands (subcutaneous). Overall, we revealed that adipokines/adipose-tissue released cytokines show some modulation of their release caused by mediators of septic (batokines) and sterile inflammation with potential implication for acute and chronic disease. Moreover, aging may increase or decrease the release of fat-derived mediators. These data show that DAMPS and LPS locally modulate cytokine secretion while only DAMPS but not LPS can locally alter adipokine secretion during inflammation.
Molecular Characteristics, Virulence Gene and Wall Teichoic Acid Glycosyltransferase Profiles of Staphylococcus aureus: A Multicenter Study in China

Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) constantly evolves under host and environment pressures. The monitoring network is essential in assessing the epidemiology of S. aureus infections. A total of 555 S. aureus isolates were collected from five hospitals in three different geographical regions of China for the investigation of molecular characteristics, antibiotic resistance, virulence gene, and wall teichoic acid (WTA) glycosyltransferase gene profiles. 233 (42.0%) isolates were identified as MRSA, and 323 (58.2%) were defined as multidrug-resistant (MDR) isolates. MRSA prevalence showed no significant difference among the three regions. In contrast, the MDR prevalence was significantly higher in central China than that in northern China (63.5% vs. 50.8%, P < 0.05). Thirty-eight sequence types (STs) belonging to 17 clone complexes (CCs) and 126 distinct spa-types were identified. The most prevalent clone was ST59-t437 (9.7%, 54/555), followed by ST22-t309 (7.6%, 42/555) and ST5-t2460 (7.2%, 40/555). Most ST59-t437 and ST5-t2460 were MRSA isolates, whereas most ST22-t309 was MSSA isolates. The predominant clones varied in different geographical areas. The distribution of the pvl, etb, tsst, clfb, sdrC, sdrD, hlg, fnbA, and hla genes showed significant differences among different regions. We found five WTA glycosyltransferase gene profiles, with tarP-/tarS+/tarM-/tagN- being the most common combination. Remarkably, the tarP gene was identified in more CCs than just CC5 and CC398. All of 16 tarP-positive isolates also contained the tarS. Moreover, tarS was present in almost all S. aureus isolates except 10 ST630 isolates. The tagN gene was only detected in 10 of 12 ST630 S. aureus isolates without tarS. The tarM gene was absent in CC5 and CC398. In brief, there were regional differences among molecular characteristics, antibiotic resistance, and virulence gene profiles. The tarS-negative ST630 lineage carried the tagN, which was never found before, indicating that it may be capable of expressing GroP-α-GalNAc WTA and exchanging mobile genetic elements with coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS).
Pulse Shaping for IEEE 802.15.3d Standard Compliant Terahertz Communications

The IEEE 802.15. 3d Standard for point-to-point wireless links in the low-terahertz band calls for judicious pulse shape designs in order to achieve interoperability and interference-free among multiple users. Motivated by these considerations, we propose, a frequency-domain waveform design approach that considers the spectral constraints defined by the IEEE 802.15. 3d Standard. The proposed waveform shows full compliance with the spectral mask requirements as well as outperforming a typical raised cosine waveform, in terms of the sidelobe level, by about 30 dB. Preliminary results are demonstrated experimentally with a photonics-enabled terahertz communication system. A bit error rate performance of less than 10−3 is achieved using uncoded wireless transmission at 1.44 Gbps. This error rate is reducible to less than 10−15 if forward error correction codes are employed. The proposed waveform design approach is potentially simple and cost-effective for implementation in the baseband by using finite impulse response filters.
Monitoring with social media: Experiences from “integrating” WhatsApp in the M&E system under sweet potato value chain

Abstract Dealing with multiple stakeholders in agriculture–nutrition projects often makes communication and the collection of quality, reliable, and low-cost data complex and challenging. Communication bureaucracies among stakeholders often lead to delay, distortion, or loss of information along the communication channel. Social networking platforms can facilitate communication and collection of real-time data useful for project monitoring. This article shares our experience in using the WhatsApp platform for communication and collection of additional monitoring data. A WhatsApp platform for project implementers from the ministries of health (100) and agriculture (52) from Bungoma, Busia, Homa Bay, and Migori counties Kenya was formed in September 2016 for sharing additional monitoring data in the form of photos, videos, and texts. Project monitoring-related costs reduced by 51% and collapsing reporting hierarchies reduced information delays, thereby saving time and communication challenges. A shared understanding among different actors on the project’s indicators, reporting timelines, and data collection guidelines improved the quality of continuous monitoring data. However, staff transfer and replacements called for the continuous induction of new entrants to the forum. WhatsApp is a compelling tool in project monitoring to mitigate communication challenges. It offers an opportunity to share information on one platform among different cadres, facilitating collective action in multisectoral approach projects.
A New Species of Pristidactylus (Sauria: Iguanidae) from Central Chile and Comments on the Speciation in the Genus

Pristidactylus volcanensis, a new species from El Volcan, Cordillera de Los Andes, unlike its congeners previously reported for Chile, is not associated with Notophagus forest. It is distinguished from the other Chilean and Argentinean Pristidactylus by coloration, squamation, measurements, and habitus. Males and females have a primitive karyotype of 12 macrochromosomes and 24 microchromo- somes. An hypothetical evolutionary mode of speciation is discussed. The genus Pristidactylus Fitzinger 1843 is restricted to the southern cone of South America. Three species have been de- scribed in Chile, all associated with Noto- phagus forests: P. torquatus (Philippi) 1861, with an extensive north-south distribu-
Genetic kinship of tongkat langit banana (Musa troglodytarum L.) from Moluccas based on rbcL gene sequence

The present study was conducted to investigate the genetic kinship of tongkat langit banana population from Moluccas which was out-grouped into Musa fehi, Ensete glaucum, Ensete superbum dan Ensete ventricosum (NCBI). The results of phylogenetic analysis showed that tongkat langit banana and Musa fehi formed sub-clade I with similarity value of 99–100%. Ensete genus formed clade II with similarity value of 98–99%.
3D-FLARE: A Touchless Full-3D Fingerprint Recognition System Based on Laser Sensing

“The friction ridge pattern is a 3D structure which, in its natural state, is not deformed by contact with a surface”. Building upon this rather trivial observation, the present work constitutes a first solid step towards a paradigm shift in fingerprint recognition from its very foundations. We explore and evaluate the feasibility to move from current technology operating on 2D images of elastically deformed impressions of the ridge pattern, to a new generation of systems based on full-3D models of the natural non-deformed ridge pattern itself. There are already a small number of previous studies that have already started scratching the surface of 3D fingerprint recognition and that should not go overlooked. However, the vast majority of these few successful approaches published so far, are based on the reconstruction of fingerprints from multiple 2D images acquired with different lighting conditions (photometric stereo 3D reconstruction) or acquired from different angles (stereo vision 3D reconstruction). Such reconstruction methods lead in general to 2D fingerprints wrapped over the overall volume of the finger. These volumetric fingerprints have shown some promising performance, but still miss the real depth information of the ridge pattern, which, in the best case scenario, is coarsely estimated during the error-prone reconstruction process. In the present work we take one step further, directly acquiring for the first time in a consistent and repeatable manner, full-3D fingerprint models stored as point-clouds, where each point is defined by its $[x,y,z]$ coordinates. This way, the 3D data is directly measured by the sensor, with no post-processing reconstruction stage required. The complete recognition system developed represents as well an alternative to traditional technology based on minutiae detection. It shows that image-based processing algorithms and descriptors can be successfully applied to the new full-3D data, reaching very competitive results and confirming the high distinctiveness of the models.
A Dynamic Trust Evaluation and Update Mechanism Based on C4.5 Decision Tree in Underwater Wireless Sensor Networks

At present, Underwater Wireless Sensor Networks (UWSNs) have been widely used in enormous applications, and simultaneously face many security threats. The trust management mechanism plays an important role in protecting network security. Many theories, e.g., subjective logic, Bayesian, cloud model, entropy theory, evidence theory, etc., have been adopted to evaluate the node trust of wireless sensor networks. However, due to the unique characteristics of the underwater dynamic environment, the existing trust mechanisms used in traditional networks (such as P2P networks, Ad-hoc networks, etc.) cannot be directly used in UWSNs. Therefore, this paper proposes a new trust evaluation and update mechanism for underwater wireless sensor networks based on the C4.5 decision tree algorithm (TEUC). In the TEUC, trust evidences are first collected including data-based, link-based and node-based trust evidences. Then, the collected trust evidences are used to train the C4.5 decision tree. In addition, the reward and penalty factors are defined to update trust based on the sliding time window. Finally, simulation results demonstrate that the proposed algorithm outperforms the traditional ones in a dynamic network environment in terms of malicious node detection and energy consumption.
Aerial Agility and the Evolution of Reversed Sexual Dimorphism (RSD) in Shorebirds

agility in aerial displays. An increase in aerial agility can result from an isometric decrease in size (Andersson and Norberg 1981). In this case, RSD (the ratio of the average for males divided by that for females) would be equal for all structures and thus, for the measurements given in Murray and Jehl, RSD would be, mass = wing = culmen = tarsus. However, aerial agility is strongly influenced by wing loading and selection for aerial agility should thus favor an increase in RSD in mass more than wing. Selection of RSD of other structures should be neutral, with the result that, mass > culmen = tarsus > wing. I compare below the relationships between RSD in these 4 measurements for the species listed in appendices I and II of Jehl and Murray (1986), using the Wilcoxon matched-pairs signed-ranks test (Siegel 1956). The mean is used where more than one sample of measurements is presented. I follow the convention of using the cube-root of mass for comparisons with the linear measurements of wing, culmen, and tarsus. A species is considered to show RSD if females are larger than males in one of the four measurements; all other species are considered as having "normal" (male larger) dimorphism. Murray and Jehl indicate that the mating system, as well as the kind of display, influences the kind and degree of dimorphism. Dividing the shorebirds into groups of species based on the kind of display and mating system resuits in inadequate sample sizes for most groups. Of the few remaining groups of species all but one contain both species with RSD and species with normal dimorphism in numbers sufficient to frustrate analysis. Fortunately, the one group available for analysis is not only the largest (64 of the 143 species listed in appendix I of Jehl and Murray), not only the most homogenous (only one species shows normal dimorphism in all four measurements), but it is also the group most pertinent to the question of whether selection for aerial displays is the important factor in the evolution of RSD: monogamous pecies with males performing acrobatic aerial displays. In this group, the mean RSD (male/female) for wing is 0.980 + 0.019 SD (range 0.96-1.05); only 3 species how normal di-
The Relationship between Economic Value Added and Market Value Added: An Empirical Analysis in Indian Automobile Industry

The performance measure, Economic Value Added (EVA) is being increasingly adopted by more and more firms and is beginning to appear in the mainstream finance textbooks. Despite such acceptance, not much empirical work has been done on the relationship between EVA and Market Value Added (MVA). This study empirically tests the strength of the relationship between EVA and MVA in Indian Automobile Companies for the period between 2001 and 2005. The results indicate that there is strong evidence to support Stern-Stewart’s claim that EVA is superior to the traditional performance measures, and it is the best internal measure of corporate success in adding value to shareholders’ investments.
Shivatonia turcicus sp. nov., a new species (Acari: Hydrachnidia: Bharatoniinae) of Shivatonia from Turkey

Abstract Shivatonia turcicus sp. nov. is described and illustrated from females. The new species is compared withthe only other two species of Shivatonia, Shivatonia acetabulensis, Panesar, 2004 and Shivatonia ispartaensis, Boyaci and Özkan, 2004. Shivatonia turcicus sp. nov. is the second species of Shivatoniafrom Turkey.
A Distributed TDMA Scheduling Algorithm Using Topological Ordering for Wireless Sensor Networks

In distributed wireless sensor networks (WSNs), TDMA protocols are a widely applied solution when a reliable data-transferring mechanism is in demand. However, to produce a TDMA schedule is not an easy task. During the scheduling, there can be a large number of conflicts due to the nature of radio access, which leads to a waste of operating time and energy. In this paper, we first present and discuss the concept of Topological Ordering, which is based mainly on the local neighborhood size. It is aimed to create an order of scheduling that helps reduce the competition and conflicts. Next, we propose a fast and effective distributed scheduling algorithm using Topological Ordering, called DSTO, to create a collision-free TDMA schedule. This algorithm is promising in terms of reducing running time and message collisions during the scheduling phase, which in turn reduces overall message overhead. At the same time, efficient time slot allocation, which translates to a shorter frame, is guaranteed. We implement DSTO together with two other distributed scheduling algorithms on OPNET Network Modeler and thoroughly analyze the comparative results to prove its validity and effectiveness.
Multisystem infections caused by community-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in an immunocompetent patient

ISSN We describe a case of multisystem community-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus infection in an immunocompetent patient, whose clinical manifestations were versatile. The patient showed a delayed response to vancomycin during the initial vancomycin regimen and was successfully treated after a 6-week course of linezolid combined with trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole. Copyright 2015 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.