Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Stability and adaptability in assai palm tree progenies by gge biplot

TThe increasing demand for the fruit of the assai palm has generated the need for research to enable higher productivity. A GGE biplot was used to analyze the behavior of 30 assai palm tree genotypes from Anajas city and grown in Tome-Acu, Para, in a randomized complete block design, with 30 treatments (progenies G1 until G30), three replicates and five plants per plot in four years (A1 until A4). The following characteristics were evaluated: total weight of bunches (PTC), in grams; total weight of fruit (PTF), in grams; and average weight of 100 fruit (PCF). Obtaining as conclusions that the progenies G10 for PTC and PTF; G19 for large fruits or G25 for “chumbinho” fruits for PCF are closest to the ideotype, with better average performance and also in terms of stability and adaptability; most progenies with higher averages have poor stability in PTC and PTF, differently for PCF whose progenies were very close averages and concentrated in terms of stability; the GGE biplots allow us to visualize of the progenies behavior, of the years, of the interrelationship between progenies and years and identify the superior progenies. By graphical analysis of GGE Biplot the environments contribute more intensely to the interaction G x E in relation to the progenies, highlighting A3 for PTC; A2 for PTF and; A4 to PCF. The years A1 and A2 for PTC; A1 for PTF and; A2 for PCF represent the average from all years.
Predicting nitrogen supply from dairy effluent applied to contrasting soil types

ABSTRACT A closed incubation assay was conducted to identify attributes that can be used to predict nitrogen (N) supply from dairy cattle effluents applied to contrasting soil types. The experimental design included six slurry (DM 7.9–13%) and six solid (DM 15.9–42.5%) effluents applied to a Horotiu sandy loam or a Templeton silt loam with treatments incubated at 70% of field capacity at 20°C for 2, 5, 14, 21, 35, 42, 63, 96, 119 and 175 days. After 175 days, inorganic N supply (INS) ranged from −38.6 to 82.8% of total effluent N applied while net N mineralisation (NNM) ranged from −107.4 to 65.1% of organic effluent N applied. The best predictor of INS at day 175 was the log ratio of total C to water extractable N (P < 0.001, r = −0.85) and the log ratio of DM to water extractable N (P < 0.001, r = −0.85) (water extractable N = water soluble N + hot water extractable N). These measures were inversely related to INS and effective at explaining both net mineralisation and immobilisation effects. Importantly, correlations between INS and C:N ratio measures were improved considerably when total N was substituted for a labile N measure, in this case water extractable N. We were unable to identify an effluent measure to consistently predict NNM.
PAYG challenge for preferential migration

Abstract The current study assesses the role of the pay-as-you-go system as an intergenerational redistributive mechanism while immigration control is considered. A theoretical model of a small open economy populated with overlapping generations of heterogeneous agents is used to show that skill-favouring immigration policies are, under rather permissive conditions, welfare depriving for the overall population. However, the policy-setting generation is shown to benefit from immigration control, thus decreasing the welfare for the future population.
Pandemic Response as Border Politics

Abstract Pandemics are imbued with the politics of bordering. For centuries, border closures and restrictions on foreign travelers have been the most persistent and pervasive means by which states have responded to global health crises. The ubiquity of these policies is not driven by any clear scientific consensus about their utility in the face of myriad pandemic threats. Instead, we show they are influenced by public opinion and preexisting commitments to invest in the symbols and structures of state efforts to control their borders, a concept we call border orientation. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, border orientation was already generally on the rise worldwide. This trend has made it convenient for governments to “contain” the virus by externalizing it, rather than taking costly but ultimately more effective domestic mitigation measures. We argue that the pervasive use of external border controls in the face of the coronavirus reflects growing anxieties about border security in the modern international system. To a great extent, fears relating to border security have become a resource in domestic politics—a finding that does not bode well for designing and implementing effective public health policy.
Effects of Scent and Scent Emission Methods: Implications on Workers’ Alertness, Vigilance, and Memory under Fatigue Conditions

Extant studies have revealed enhancing effects of scent on performance. The role of scent, and emission method, in the context of performing repetitive tasks over prolonged duration in promoting alertness, vigilance, and memory was examined. Seventy-three participants were randomly assigned to one of three conditions (no scent, peppermint scent emitted continuously, or peppermint scent emitted intermittently) while tasked to monitor and identify suspicious cues for close to 2 hr. Pre- and post-intervention surveys, psychomotor vigilance test, and eye tracker were used as study instruments. Results showed that scent directly enhanced information recall and mitigated the deterioration of alertness, especially as subjects became fatigued. Intermittent emission showed stronger effects over continuous emission in marginally enhancing alertness and memory. Scent did not appear to promote greater vigilance. Suggestions for future studies and implications for management of employees in fatigue situations are discussed.
Application of the SBAS-DInSAR technique for deformation monitoring in Tunis City and Mornag plain

Abstract The ground deformation phenomena are the result of the application of natural stress (tectonic) or anthropogenic stress (overexploitation of groundwater, embankment) on the soil. The land deformation may cause several impacts on the environment and human life. A good understanding of the deformation behaviour of the soil is essential to mitigate risks on the infrastructure and environment. In this study, a radar interferometry is carried out to analyse the mobility of an urban and suburban area of Greater Tunis region. The interferometric synthetic aperture radar (SAR) technique has been proven to be an effective methodology for detecting and monitoring soil displacement with millimetre accuracy and also, improving our understanding of the current deformations in the study area. Indeed, the application of differential SAR interferometry made it possible to determine the origin of the surface deformations related to natural or anthropic phenomena. In this paper, the interferometric method of small baseline subset (SBAS) developed by Berardino et al. 2002has been chosen, in order to monitor the spatial and temporal pattern of the deformation phenomena in Greater Tunis region. The analysis of Envisat ASAR (2003–2007, descending satellite orbit) and Sentinel 1B (2016–2018, ascending satellite orbit) SAR data allowed us to create deformation velocity maps associated with line of sight displacement time series. The results obtained by this method showed the existence of subsidence phenomenon in the urban areas (Tunis City) as well as in the rural areas (Mornag plain). In the first site (Tunis City), the subsidence rate reaches up to 13.98 mm/year and 19 mm/year during 2003–2007 and 2016–2018, respectively. The ground deformation that is detected around the region of Tunis Lake and Sebkhet Essijoumi, is probably due to the nature of the highly compressible and thickness alluvial deposits and whose substratum depth sometimes reaches more than 60 m. In the second studied site, ground subsidence was identified in the whole plain of Mornag. Indeed, the comparison between piezometric data and time series deformations shows that the trend of soil subsidence is coherent with the dynamic change in groundwater levels. Furthermore, the analysis of velocity deformation, geological data and hydrogeological information allows us to associate all the detected settlement patterns to groundwater overexploitation and compressible alluvium all over the plain. This overexploitation of groundwater in Mornag plain is mainly caused by the expansion of agricultural and industrial activities and the decrease in annual rainfall in recent years (from 2003 to 2018).
Altered cortical brain structure and increased risk for disease seen decades after perinatal exposure to maternal smoking: A study of 9,000 adults in the UK Biobank

Secondhand smoke exposure is a major public health risk that is especially harmful to the developing brain, but it is unclear if early exposure affects brain structure during middle age and older adulthood. Here we analyzed brain MRI data from the UK Biobank in a population-based sample of individuals (ages 44-80) who were exposed (n=2,510) or unexposed (n=6,079) to smoking around birth. We used robust statistical models, including quantile regressions, to test the effect of perinatal smoke exposure (PSE) on cortical surface area (SA), thickness, and subcortical volume. We hypothesized that PSE would be associated with cortical disruption in primary sensory areas compared to unexposed (PSE-) adults. After adjusting for multiple comparisons, SA was significantly lower in the pericalcarine (PCAL), inferior parietal (IPL), and regions of the temporal and frontal cortex of PSE+ adults; these abnormalities were associated with increased risk for several diseases, including circulatory and endocrine conditions. Sensitivity analyses conducted in a hold-out group of healthy participants (exposed, n=109, unexposed, n=315) replicated the effect of PSE on SA in the PCAL and IPL. Collectively our results show a negative, long term effect of PSE on sensory cortices that may increase risk for disease later in life.
Structure: Function Studies of the Cytosolic, Mo- and NAD+-Dependent Formate Dehydrogenase from Cupriavidus necator

Here, we report recent progress our laboratories have made in understanding the maturation and reaction mechanism of the cytosolic and NAD+-dependent formate dehydrogenase from Cupriavidus necator. Our recent work has established that the enzyme is fully capable of catalyzing the reverse of the physiological reaction, namely, the reduction of CO2 to formate using NADH as a source of reducing equivalents. The steady-state kinetic parameters in the forward and reverse directions are consistent with the expected Haldane relationship. The addition of an NADH-regenerating system consisting of glucose and glucose dehydrogenase increases the yield of formate approximately 10-fold. This work points to possible ways of optimizing the reverse of the enzyme’s physiological reaction with commercial potential as an effective means of CO2 remediation. New insight into the maturation of the enzyme comes from the recently reported structure of the FdhD sulfurase. In E. coli, FdhD transfers a catalytically essential sulfur to the maturing molybdenum cofactor prior to insertion into the apoenzyme of formate dehydrogenase FdhF, which has high sequence similarity to the molybdenum-containing domain of the C. necator FdsA. The FdhD structure suggests that the molybdenum cofactor may first be transferred from the sulfurase to the C-terminal cap domain of apo formate dehydrogenase, rather than being transferred directly to the body of the apoenzyme. Closing of the cap domain over the body of the enzymes delivers the Mo-cofactor into the active site, completing the maturation of formate dehydrogenase. The structural and kinetic characterization of the NADH reduction of the FdsBG subcomplex of the enzyme provides further insights in reversing of the formate dehydrogenase reaction. Most notably, we observe the transient formation of a neutral semiquinone FMNH·, a species that has not been observed previously with holoenzyme. After initial reduction of the FMN of FdsB by NADH to the hydroquinone (with a kred of 680 s−1 and Kd of 190 µM), one electron is rapidly transferred to the Fe2S2 cluster of FdsG, leaving FMNH·. The Fe4S4 cluster of FdsB does not become reduced in the process. These results provide insight into the function not only of the C. necator formate dehydrogenase but also of other members of the NADH dehydrogenase superfamily of enzymes to which it belongs.
Influence of astaxanthin supplementation on attainment of puberty and lipid peroxidation in Sahiwal and Karan Fries (Holstein × Tharparkar) heifers during summer season

ABSTRACT Present study was conducted on Sahiwal and Karan Fries (Holstein Friesian X Tharparkar) heifers to investigate the ameliorative effect of astaxanthin supplementation on oxidative stress and attainment of puberty during summer season. The heifers of both the breeds were equally divided into two groups i.e. control (fed as per ICAR, 2013) and treatment groups (additionally supplemented with astaxanthin @ 0.25 mg/kgBW/day/animal). THI was calculated at fortnightly interval during experimental period to assess the level of summer stress. The physiological responses were recorded and blood samples were collected at fortnightly interval from both the groups of both the breeds. The physiological response (RR, PR and RT) and plasma TBARS was (P ≤ 0.05) higher in control compared to treatment group of both the breeds. Plasma TAC and GH were significantly (P ≤ 0.05) higher, while, IGF-1 was numerically higher in treatment group of Sahiwal and Karan Fries heifers than control group. Astaxanthin supplementation alleviated the adverse effect of heat stress and improved the weight gain of heifers and hence helps in early attainment of puberty through conservation of energy, which could be otherwise used in dissipation of heat stress. The result was more pronounced in KF than Sahiwal heifers due to their exotic inheritance.
More Insights into the Relation between DNA Ionization Potentials, Single Base Substitutions and Pathogenic Mutations

It is nowadays clear that the single base substitutions that occur in the human genome, of which some lead to pathogenic conditions, are non-random and influenced by their flanking nucleobase sequences. However, despite recent progress, the understanding of these “non-local” effects is still far from being achieved. In order to advance this problem, we analyzed the relationship between the base mutability in gene regions and the electron hole transport along the DNA base stacks, as it is one of the mechanisms that have been suggested to contribute to these effects. More precisely, we studied the connection between the observed frequency of single base substitutions and the vertical ionization potential of the base and its flanking sequence, estimated using MP2/6-31G* ab initio quantum chemistry calculations. We found a good correlation between the two quantities, whose sign depend on whether SBS is in an exon, an intron or an untranslated region. Interestingly, the correlation appears to be higher for synonymous than for missense mutations, and when considering the flanking sequence of the substituted base in the 3’ rather than in the 5’ direction. A weaker but still statistically significant correlation it found between the ionization potentials and the pathogenicity of the base substitutions. Moreover, pathogenicity is also preferentially associated with larger changes in ionization potentials upon base substitution. With this analysis we gained new insights into the complex biophysical mechanisms that are at the basis of mutagenesis and pathogenicity, and supported the role of electron-hole transport in these matters.
Biometrics of exuviae of Cordulegaster boltonii algirica Morton, 1916 (Odonata: Cordulegastridae)

Abstract This study provides the first biometrics analysis of exuviae from Moroccan populations of the Ibero-Maghrebian endemic dragonfly Cordulegaster boltonii algirica Morton, 1916 collected in the Rif Mountains. Among the biometric variables that were measured, tibia length was highly correlated with the exuviae body length (BL), and can, therefore, be used to calculate the BL of partially broken exuviae. The head width exhibited the smallest coefficient of variation for both males and females and, therefore, is a valuable measurement that can be used for biometric comparison of different populations. The data presented herein will be used for future comparison with other North African and European populations of C. boltonii algirica.
The Moderating Role of Work Involvement in Influencing the Relationship between Person-Environment Fit and Organizational Citizenship Behaviour among Public Service Employees

Studies have put considerable effort to examine the influence of personenvironment fit on organizational citizenship behaviour (OCB). However, the findings indicate that the direct relationship is not always satisfactory. Therefore, this study decided to introduce work involvement as a moderator to clearly explained the influence of person-environment fit and OCB. A total of 376 questionnaires were distributed and 371 questionnaires were returned, giving a response rate of 98.67%. The SPSS was used for the analysis. Person-environment fit consists of person-job fit, person-organization fit, person-group fit and person-supervisor fit. The results of this study show that work involvement moderates the relationships between person-job fit and OCB, person-organization fit and OCB and person-supervisor fit and OCB. The implications of the study are discussed in the paper.
The complete chloroplast genome sequence of Korean Lonicera japonica and intra-species diversity

Abstract Lonicera japonica is a traditional medicinal plant well known for its anti-inflammatory effect. The complete chloroplast genome sequence of L. japonica collected from Korea was obtained by de novo assembly using whole genome sequence data. The chloroplast genome is 155,060 bp in length, containing 88,853 bp in a large single copy (LSC), 18,653 bp in a small single copy (SSC) and 23,777 bp in a pair of inverted repeats (IRs). A total of 112 genes including 78 protein-coding genes and 34 structural RNA genes were identified. The sequence comparison of two L. japonica collected from Korea and China revealed 48 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and 45 insertions/deletions (InDels). In addition, phylogenetic analysis represented intraspecific diversity within L. japonica species collected in Korea and China.
INVESTIGATION OF SOME QUALITY CHARACTERISTICS OF SMOKED COMMON CARP (Cyprinus carpio) SAUSAGES SUPPLEMENTED WITH PROPOLIS EXTRACT

In this study, some quality attributes of smoked Cyprinus carpio sausages supplemented with %1 Propolis Extract, stored under cold condition (2°C) for 9 weeks were investigated. Quality of sausages were determined using physicochemical (Thiobarbituric acid (TBA), microbiological (Coagulase-positive Staphylococci, Sulphite-reducing Clostridium, E. coli and Salmonella) and sensory analyzes. During the storage period, propolis added group was measured lower TBA than control (Without propolis) group. E. coli and Salmonella were not detected in the all sausage samples. In addition, significant differences were found each two groups as sensorial quality (p<0.05). Consequently, %1 propolis treatment increased the shelf life of sausages by 3 weeks as compared to the control samples. Therefore, propolis extract as natural preservative can be used on other studies to enhance seafood product quality.
Evaluation of the Vocational Training System in Qatar’s Public Sector

The concept of policing a state has had to undergo a change of mindset due to the global nature of today’s world. There was anecdotal evidence that the training was outdated and did not take into account the cross-cultural differences that exist in Qatar. This study investigates this hypothesis and evaluates the quality of training at the Police Training Institute in Qatar After conducting an exhaustive literature review covering cross cultural differences, systems thinking and different delivery methods a methodological evaluation of public sector training was conducted using the Soft Systems Methodology of Professor Peter Checkland. The key findings to come out of the SSM Analysis were: the police training did not meet the participants’ expectations, course content failed to provide trainees with new skills, the delivery of the courses lacks interaction and courses were not useful or challenging. A conceptual model was developed that dealt with: · new content · cultural differences and; · new delivery methods A new course was designed, delivered, tested and evaluated. This was a course on Systems Thinking. Also, an App was designed for mobile phones which enabled the course to be delivered in a more modern manner which used the concept of social media. The final analysis showed that the Systems Thinking ideas were well received and more courses need to be designed at all levels. It suggested that there is a future for mobile technology in training and it encouraged organizations to experiment with this form of delivery. Recommendations were made for future training at the Police Training Institute and these were well received by the Ministry of Interior of Qatar. It also suggests that the PTI is an ideal candidate for a learning organization, which would help it to understand what is happening in the outside environment and produce creative solutions using the knowledge and skills of all within the organization.
Prevalence and Determinants of Toxoplasma Seropositivity among Women Who had Spontaneous Abortion in Gombe, North-Eastern Nigeria

Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Faculty of Clinical Sciences, College of Medical Sciences, Gombe State University, Gombe, Nigeria. Department of Medical Microbiology, Faculty of Basic Clinical Sciences, College of Medical Sciences, Gombe State University, Gombe, Nigeria. 3 Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Federal Teaching Hospital Gombe, Gombe, Nigeria. Department of Histopathology, Faculty of Basic Clinical Sciences, College of Medical Sciences, Gombe State University, Gombe, Nigeria. Department of Veterinary, Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Usmanu Dan Fodio University, Sokoto, Nigeria.
Public Perception of Social Media Contributions to Political Participation Processes in Delta State, Nigeria

The social media have become a critical component of Nigeria’s democracy, with widely acclaimed potentials for influencing public civic engagement. However, the nature and direction of such influence remains a source of debate among researchers. This study examined public perception of the contributions of social media to political participation processes in Delta State, Nigeria. It adopted the survey method using a sample of 500 respondents selected through a multistage sampling technique. A likert scale questionnaire was used to collect data which were analysed using descriptive statistics. Findings revealed that although the social media were perceived to have positively influenced Nigeria’s democracy by enhancing the flow of political information and awakening public political consciousness, the news and information being disseminated on social media platforms were noted to have increased the spate of hate speech and stoked political unease. The study recommended that citizen journalists should imbibe online responsibility and be sensitive to public needs and expectations while using any of the social media platforms for political ends.