Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
QTL Mapping of Fruit and Seed-related Traits in Watermelon Using Genotyping-by-Sequencing-based High-density Linkage Mapping

BackgroundWatermelon is an important vegetable crop with dual use of both fruit and seeds. Understanding the genetic basis of fruit quality and seed size-related traits is important for efficient marker-assisted breeding in watermelon. Linkage mapping in watermelon segregating populations using genotyping-by-sequencing (GBS) provides insights into genetic control of fruit- and seed-related traits and genome collinearity in commercial watermelon cultivars. ResultsIn the present study, we conducted QTL mapping of 12 horticulturally important traits on external and internal fruit quality and seed size/weight using segregating populations derived a cross between two commercial varieties. A high-density genetic map was developed with GBS which contained more than 6,000 SNP loci in 1,004 bins with a total map length of 1261.1 cM and average marker interval of 1.26 cM or 329 kb. Phenotypic data of fruit rind color (RC), rind stripe pattern (RSP), flesh color (FFC), fruit diameter (FD), fruit length (FL), fruit shape index (FSI), fruit weight (FW), Brix content central (BCC), Brix content edge (BCE), seed length (SL), width (SW), and weight (20SWT) were collected from two locations in two years. QTL analysis identified 47 QTL for the 12 traits, of which 24 had moderate- or major-effects, and 34 were novel QTL not identified in previous studies. The QTL for RSP were identified overlapped with previous reports, and mapped the QTL to a small interval on chromosome 6. From the detected novel QTL, we identify FD (qfd2.1), FL (qfl2.1) co-located with FSI (qfsi2.1) QTL on chromosome 2, and the minor QTL qfw3.2 co-located with previously reported fruit shape QTL (qfd3.1, qfl3.1, qfsi3.1), and SW (qsw10.1) co-located with 20SWT QTL (q20swt10.1) on chromosome 10, and 5 minor QTL (qbcc2.1, qbcc5.1, qbce2.1, qbce2.2, qbce5.1) were found to be likely new locus for Brix content.ConclusionWe conducted GBS consisting of 120 F2 individuals and developed a high-density linkage map with more than 6,000 SNP loci in 1004 bins in watermelon. We identified 47 QTL for 12 fruit and seed related traits including 34 novel QTL. Our work expands the molecular breeding toolbox for watermelon to improve the yield and fruit quality.
Solubilities of Carbon Dioxide, Methane, and Ethane in Sodium Chloride Solution Containing Gas Hydrate

Studies on two-phase equilibria between the water-rich phase (LW) and the gas hydrate phase (H) are important in understanding gas behavior in water at hydrate forming conditions for processes such as carbon dioxide sequestration and natural gas recovery. A new indirect method was developed in this study and applied for measurements of gas solubilities of carbon dioxide, methane, and ethane in aqueous solutions containing gas hydrates with and without sodium chloride. Effects of temperature, pressure, and salt concentrations on the solubility of these gases in the aqueous phase in equilibrium with the hydrate phase were investigated for P = (10 to 20) MPa. Solubilities for these gases were found to increase as temperature increases. Methane and ethane were found to show a salting-out effect, whereas carbon dioxide showed a salting-in effect in hydrate forming conditions. Solubilities of methane and ethane decreased with pressure, but those of carbon dioxide showed very weak pressure dependence.
Birds of a Feather Get Recommended Together: Algorithmic Homophily in YouTube’s Channel Recommendations in the United States and Germany

Algorithms and especially recommendation algorithms play an important role online, most notably on YouTube. Yet, little is known about the network communities that these algorithms form. We analyzed the channel recommendations on YouTube to map the communities that the social network is creating through its algorithms and to test the network for homophily, that is, the connectedness between communities. We find that YouTube’s channel recommendation algorithm fosters the creation of highly homophilous communities in the United States (n = 13,529 channels) and in Germany (n = 8,000 channels). Factors that seem to drive YouTube’s recommendations are topics, language, and location. We highlight the issue of homophilous communities in the context of politics where YouTube’s algorithms create far-right communities in both countries.
Smectite Clays as Solid Supports for Immobilization of β-Glucosidase: Synthesis, Characterization, and Biochemical Properties

Nanomaterials as solid supports can improve the efficiency of immobilized enzymes by reducing diffusional limitation as well as by increasing the surface area per mass unit and therefore improving enzyme loading. In this work, beta-glucosidase from almonds was immobilized on two smectite nanoclays. The resulting hybrid biocatalysts were characterized by a combination of powder X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, thermogravimetric. analysis, differential thermal analysis, and infrared spectroscopy. Biochemical studies showed an improved thermostability of the immobilized enzyme as well as enhanced performance at higher temperatures and in a wider pH range.
Nitrous Oxide Production by Nondenitrifying Soil Nitrate Reducers

Of 214 soil bacterial isolates able to reduce NO3-, 209 produced nitrous oxide (N2O), even though only 46 were respiratory denitrifiers (competent to carry out complete reduction of NO3- to N gases). Nitrite or NH4+ was the major product of NO3- reduction by the nondenitrifying organisms, but typically about 5 to 10% and up to 34% of the NO3- reduced by them was released as N2O during a 2-week incubation. Bacillus and Enterobacter were the most commonly observed genera of nondenitrifying N2O producers. Fermentative NO2- reduction and N2O production by a Bacillus sp. and a Citrobacter sp. were characterized in pure culture studies. Dinitrogen (N2) was not produced in detectable quantities by these organisms. When added to autoclaved soil, they accumulated more N2O than two denitrifying pseudomonads, since the latter consume and produce N2O. In tryptic soy broth (TSB), which allows active fermentative growth, NH4+ was apparently the major product of NO3- reduction. In nutrient broth (NB), NO2- accumulated. Added NH4+ did not inhibit N2O production or apparent reduction to NH4+, indicating that these processes are not assimilatory. The effect of added glucose on N2O production varied with the organism and media composition. Nitrous oxide production from NO2- by these organisms was shown to be at least partially a biochemical reaction. The N2O evolved slowly in batch cultures and mostly after apparent growth ceased. This is apparently a novel mechanism of N2O generation which differs significantly from respiratory denitrification.
Simulating fire whirls

A numerical investigation of swirling fire plumes is pursued to understand how swirl alters the plume dynamics and combustion. One example is the ‘fire whirl’ which is known to arise naturally during forest fires. This buoyancy-driven fire plume entrains ambient fluid as heated gases rise. Vorticity associated with a mechanism such as wind shear can be concentrated by the fire, creating a vortex core along the axis of the plume. The result is a whirling fire. The current approach considers the relationship between buoyancy and swirl using a configuration based on fixing the heat release rate of the fire and imposing circulation. Large-eddy methodologies are used in the numerical analyses. Results indicate that the structure of the fire plume is significantly altered when angular momentum is imparted to the ambient fluid. The vertical acceleration induced by buoyancy generates strain fields which stretch out the flames as they wrap around the nominal plume centreline. The whirling fire constricts radially and stretches the plume vertically. (Some figures in this article are in colour only in the electronic version; see www.iop.org)
Barriers to Corporate Social Responsibility: perceptions of a leading non-governmental organization

Purpose – This study aims to identify the main barriers to develop Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) from the viewpoint of a leading Non-governmental Organization (NGO). The proposed methodology evaluates the importance attached to different classes of barriers to CSR from the privileged perspective of a Brazilian NGO. Theoretical framework – This study was based on the current theory of barriers to CSR initiatives and multicriteria decision making. Design/methodology/approach – The Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) method was used to assess and prioritize barriers to CSR through expert opinion. The ranking of stability was tested through a sensitivity analysis of the assigned weights. Findings – The results indicate that the main barrier is a lack of commitment of senior management. By contrast, the least determining barriers were a lack of social auditing, diversity, and customer awareness. Originality/value – The article contributes by extending the application of multiple-criteria decision-making methods to CSR and evaluating the relative importance of the barriers. This study also offers empirical results that broaden the discussion on barriers to social responsibility, guiding managers and decision makers who lead CSR initiatives in organizations to understand which barriers should be overcome, and where managers should focus their effects to do so. Keywords - Analytic hierarchy process; Multicriteria decision making; CSR; Non-governmental organizations; Sustainable development.
Evaluation of the Agronomic Traits of 80 Accessions of Proso Millet (Panicum miliaceum L.) under Mediterranean Pedoclimatic Conditions

The continuous increase in the world population and the associated food demands in the wake of climate change are pushing for the development and cultivation of climate-resilient crops that are able to efficiently use natural resources. Proso millet (Panicum miliaceum L.) might be a promising candidate crop thanks to its heat stress resistance and its limited water demand. To date, one of the most important strategies to increase grain yield and to improve other agronomic important traits is through an efficient breeding program based on a wide genetic variability of parental germplasm. In this study, we evaluated the agronomical traits of a world collection of 80 P. miliaceum accessions. The entire collection was evaluated over a 2 year field experiment under Mediterranean pedoclimatic conditions, which exhibited a wide range of variability for plant height (25–111 cm), grain yield (842–3125 kg ha−1), total dry biomass (2767–10,627 kg ha−1), harvest index (HI; 0.25–0.35), Growing Degree Days (GDDs; 581–899), and days to maturity (80–111 d). A non-parametric multivariate analysis of variance (Np-MANOVA) analysis indicated that GDDs to flowering, grain yield, total dry biomass, days to maturity, plant height, and seed yield per plant were useful parameters to differentiate the germplasm accessions. High heritability (>0.60) was observed in both years for plant height, leaf number, basal tiller, seed yield per plant, 100-seed weight, GDDs to flowering, and days to maturity. Grain yield, total dry biomass, and HI reported moderate heritability (0.30–0.60). The findings reported in the present study may provide valuable information that could support researchers in breeding programs to develop high grain-yielding accessions.
Capillary Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometric Analysis of Cooked Ground Beef Aroma

Representative samples of cooked ground beef aroma were isolated onto Tenax TA. Fractionation using capillary GC showed that a cooked meaty odor was associated with only four aroma fractions. These contained relatively high boiling components, and 31 locations on the gas chromatogram were anchored by meaty descriptions using GC odor port assessment. Several of the components identified by GC-MS have not been reported previously from heated beef. They comprise some compounds contributing meaty character e.g. 2-methyl-3-(methylthio)furan and 3-methylcyclopentanone. Several unsaturated alicyclic ketones present resemble the cyclohexenones previously shown to be significant in meaty aroma.
Prognostic factors of chest CT findings for ICU admission and mortality in patients with COVID-19 pneumonia

Background: Studies have shown that CT could be valuable for prognostic issues in COVID-19. Objective: to investigate the prognostic factors of early chest CT findings in COVID-19 patients. Materials and Methods: This retrospective study included 91 patients (34 women, and 57 men) of RT-PCR positive COVID-19 from 3 hospitals in Iran between February 25, 2020, to march 15, 2020. Patients were divided into two groups as good prognosis, discharged from the hospital and alive without symptoms (48 patients), and poor prognosis, died or needed ICU care (43 patients). The first CT images of both groups that were obtained during the first 8 days of the disease presentation were evaluated considering the pattern, distribution, and underlying disease. The total CT-score was calculated for each patient. Univariate and multivariate analysis with IBM SPSS Statistics v.26 was used to find the prognostic factors. Results: There was a significant correlation between poor prognosis and older ages, dyspnea, presence of comorbidities, especially cardiovascular and pulmonary. Considering CT features, peripheral and diffuse distribution, anterior and paracardiac involvement, crazy paving pattern, and pleural effusion were correlated with poor prognosis. There was a correlation between total CT-score and prognosis and an 11.5 score was suggested as a cut-off with 67.4% sensitivity and 68.7% specificity in differentiation of poor prognosis patients (patients who needed ICU admission or died. Multivariate analysis revealed that a model consisting of age, male gender, underlying comorbidity, diffused lesions, total CT-score, and dyspnea would predict the prognosis better. Conclusion: Total chest CT-score and chest CT features can be used as prognostic factors in COVID-19 patients. A multidisciplinary approach would be more accurate in predicting the prognosis.
Effect of Muskmelon, Cucumis melo and Pears, Pyrus communis extract on growth, haematology, immune response and disease resistance in Labeo rohita against Pseudomonas aeruginosa

The 45 days feeding trial was carried out to assess the effects on the Labeo rohita fish growth, biochemical analysis, hematological parameters, disease resistance to against the fish pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The Immune response of L. rohita when fed with using fruits methanol extraction of Cucumis melo (CM) and Pyrus communis (PC) compared to a control diets. The fishes were randomly stocked into five experimental groups, and diets containing different concentrations for control 0% (basal diets), 1% (CM and PC), 2% (CM and PC), were fed to triplicate groups of fish (average weight; 2.60 ± 0.02) for 45 days. At the end of the feeding trail, test fish were intraperitoneal injected with a pathogen, Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Resulted in significant (P < 0.05) higher weight gain and feed intake were noticed in groups of fish fed 2% CM-treated diets compared to PM treated diets. At the same time, none of the biochemical and hematological parameters was significantly affected. After 45 days bacterial challenge, labeo rohita fed 2% Cucumis melo had significantly higher survival rate compare to the PM and control groups. Moreover, Immune parameters such as, phagocytic activities were most significantly enhanced in 2% CM especially after a bacterial challenge. This study revealed that dietary Cucumis melo at 2% could promote the growth, Immune system, Cost effective, eco friendly alternative antibiotics and improved survival of labeo rohita compared to PC.
Quality Characteristics of Breast and Thigh Chicken Meat from Free- Range System: Comparative Antioxidant Profile of Indigenous and Improved Germplasm

Background: New chicken breeds are being evolved for backyard rural poultry production to overcome the slow growth, late sexual maturity and poor production of indigenous breeds. However, autochthonous poultry is epitomized for quality attributes of their products. With this in mind, the present study for the first time explored the antioxidant capacity of meat obtained from a unique Indian chicken, Kadaknath and a synthetic breed of poultry, Jabalpur colour (JBC). Methods: During the period 2018-2020, breast and thigh meat were collected from chickens (n=20/ group) at their commercial slaughter age (20 weeks). Meat extract was used for qualitative evaluation. Antioxidant activity was explored using five well established in vitro methods testing for different antioxidant mechanisms. Result: Both, Kadaknath and JBC meat was proteinaceous with higher protein concentration (g/100 g of wet weight) in the breast (Kadaknath, 25.21±0.31 and JBC, 25.65±0.39) than the thigh (Kadaknath, 19.98±0.29 and JBC, 19.04±0.23). Both the groups exhibited antioxidant capacity in all the assays. They showed good radical scavenging for ABTS and DPPH free radicals. Superiority of Kadaknath meat was ascertained unequivocally by the three assays viz. Ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), lipid oxidation inhibition (TBARS) and metal chelating capacity. FRAP values (mM Fe2+/g of tissue) were 26.97±0.37 and 33.85±0.47 (Kadaknath) and 22.84±0.25 and 26.82±0.36 (JBC) for breast and thigh, respectively. Similarly, Kadaknath meat was more potent (% inhibition) iron chelator (breast, 62.71±0.99 and thigh, 75.07±0.98) in comparison to the JBC (breast, 46.30±2.36 and thigh, 63.12±1.87). Breast meat had better scavenging capacity than the thigh except in FRAP and metal chelating assays. Results provide insight into the antioxidant potential of backyard poultry germplasm thus, laying foundation for developing marketing strategies targeting consumers interested in nutritional quality, animal welfare and environmental sustainability. Furthermore, baseline data has been generated for studying medicinal properties attributed to the black chicken meat of Kadaknath.
Effects of substrate depth and native plants on green roof thermal performance in South-East Australia

Three experimental green roofs in Melbourne with depth of 100, 150 and 300 mm have been assessed to quantify their thermal performance. To evaluate the benefit of substrate depth, temperature was recorded every 50 mm along a vertical profile. Green roofs consisted of scoria substrate and a mix of three species of plants: Lomandra longifolia, Dianella admixta and Stypandra glauca. Statistical analyses applying the hierarchical partitioning technique showed that solar radiation is the main driver affecting the green roof surface temperature, air temperature has strong correlations with the variations of the temperatures recorded below the surface, while moisture content has the least influence. Temperature profiles of the green roof show that the first 50 mm do reduce the heat flowing through the green roof substrate regardless the total green roof substrate depth. Differences in thermal performance arise at deeper points, where thicker green roofs are able to delay the change of substrate temperatures. Similar effects were found for the heat fluxes measured at the interface between the green roof and building roof. These results confirmed that green roofs may be used as a sustainable passive technology to reduce building energy consumptions for South-East Australia climate.
Crystallization of Polyolefins from Rheological MeasurementsRelation between the Transformed Fraction and the Dynamic Moduli

Experimental results from the literature and from this work show the reliability of the dynamic mechanical spectroscopy as a complementary tool to follow the crystallization of polymers from the melt. However the problem of the interrelation between the transformed fraction and the mechanical data is not simple and remains a topic open to discussion. To get a better understanding of these relations, the method was applied to the study of two polyolefins which show very different morphologies during their crystallization from the melt. Their morphological study has shown that, though they both crystallize in a well-defined spherulitic structure, because of the differences of size of the crystalline entities, one can be considered as a suspension of spherical particles in a liquid matrix whereas the other behaves as a colloid of small particles. The study of the rheological behavior of the suspension-like material shows the existence of two critical values of the volume fraction. In agreement with the perco.
An analysis of factors affecting the speed of establishment of field-based farmer learning alliances: A case of Farmer Learning Centres (FLCs) in southern Zimbabwe

Farmer learning alliances are an important vehicle for information dissemination and co-innovation among smallholder communities in southern Africa. However, the process of establishing functional farmer learning alliances tends to be uneven, slow, and costly for many development agents. This study explored factors that can be used to account for the unevenness in the speed of establishment of Farmer Learning Centres (FLCs). Twenty FLCs were initiated in Beitbridge District, southern Zimbabwe, and monitored over two years. Three categories of FLCs were observed in terms of time taken to reach maturity and full functionality: Slow, Medium, and Fast. Discriminant analysis was used to identify significant discriminatory factors among the three FLC categories. Results indicated that the number of meetings attended, the main source of livelihoods, age, sex, marital status, and years of formal education of the household head, and support from local leaders, differentially accounted for the speed of FLC establishment. The study recommends that learning alliances should be introduced through extension and local leaders as they are key information disseminators and custodians of local resources, and enterprise-specific training should be done to encourage full commitment to learning alliances to foster quicker establishment.
T-cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia: A Roadmap to Targeted Therapies.

T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) is an aggressive hematologic malignancy characterized by aberrant proliferation of immature thymocytes. Despite an overall survival of 80% in the pediatric setting, 20% of patients with T-ALL ultimately die from relapsed or refractory disease. Therefore, there is an urgent need for novel therapies. Molecular genetic analyses and sequencing studies have led to the identification of recurrent T-ALL genetic drivers. This review summarizes the main genetic drivers and targetable lesions of T-ALL and gives a comprehensive overview of the novel treatments for patients with T-ALL that are currently under clinical investigation or that are emerging from preclinical research. Significance T-ALL is driven by oncogenic transcription factors that act along with secondary acquired mutations. These lesions, together with active signaling pathways, may be targeted by therapeutic agents. Bridging research and clinical practice can accelerate the testing of novel treatments in clinical trials, offering an opportunity for patients with poor outcome.