Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effects of intra-row spacing and weeding frequency on leaf caterpillar (Hymenia recurvalis F.) infestation on amaranth (Amaranthus sp.) in Wukari, Taraba State, Nigeria

Plant spacing and weeding are among the key factors determining leafy vegetable growth and yield through maximum utilization of space, nutrients, water and sunlight. Amaranthus species is a popular and very important leafy vegetable crop that is infested and damaged by the arthropod pests in Nigeria. Therefore, this study identified the optimum spacing and proper weeding regime required for the control of leafy caterpillars (Hymenia recurvalis F.) and ensuring the potential yield of amaranths. Field experiments were conducted to evaluate the effects of plant spacing and weeding frequency in the control of leafy caterpillar infestation and damage on amaranths (Amaranthus sp.). Four intra-row plant spacing (10 x 10 cm; 20 x 20 cm, 30 x 30 cm and 40 x 40 cm) and four weeding frequencies (0, 1, 2 and 3) were assessed using split-plot laid in randomized complete block design (RCBD) replicated three times. Results showed that 40 x 40 cm intra-row plant spacing and three weeding were found to be effective in reducing the infestation of H. recurvalis on Amaranthus sp. Results further showed that these combined management practices improved the growth and yield of the crop by 35% during the 2020 and 2021 cropping seasons in the study area. The study showed that combining appropriate plant spacing with three weedings is recommended for the control of amaranths leaf caterpillar (H. recurvalis) to poor resource farmers in the study area. Keywords: Intra-row, frequency, amaranth, Hymenia recurvalis, weeding, plant spacing.
Phenotypes of Sarcoidosis-Associated Pulmonary Hypertension—A Challenging Mystery

Sarcoidosis has been a well-recognised risk factor for pulmonary hypertension (PH) for a long time, but still, the knowledge about this concatenation is incomplete. Sarcoidosis-associated PH (SAPH) is an uncommon but serious complication associated with increased morbidity and mortality among sarcoidosis patients. The real epidemiology of SAPH remains unknown, and its pathomechanisms are not fully explained. Sarcoidosis is a heterogeneous and dynamic condition, and SAPH pathogenesis is believed to be multifactorial. The main roles in SAPH development play: parenchymal lung disease with the destruction of pulmonary vessels, the extrinsic compression of pulmonary vessels by conglomerate masses, lymphadenopathy or fibrosing mediastinitis, pulmonary vasculopathy, LV dysfunction, and portal hypertension. Recently, it has been recommended to individually tailor SAPH management according to the predominant pathomechanism, i.e., SAPH phenotype. Unfortunately, SAPH phenotyping is not a straightforward process. First, there are gaps in our understanding of undergoing processes. Second, the assessment of such a pivotal element as pulmonary vasculature on a microscopic level is non-feasible in SAPH patients antemortem. Finally, SAPH is a dynamic condition, multiple phenotypes usually coexist, and patients can switch between phenotypes during the course of sarcoidosis. In this article, we summarise the basic knowledge of SAPH, describe SAPH phenotypes, and highlight some practical problems related to SAPH phenotyping.
Learning from transboundary environmental impact assessment under the Espoo Convention: a case of the Neman Hydropower Plant, Belarus

Transboundary environmental impact assessment (TEIA) is becoming widespread; however, there is still little evidence about its implementation and usefulness in countries in transition, especially where TEIA builds on the convergence of distinct environmental assessment systems. This paper reviews the performance of the Belarusian–Lithuanian TEIA of the Neman Hydropower Plant in order to identify and discuss its strengths and weaknesses across various organizational and procedural aspects and to make suggestions for improvement. The Espoo Convention proved to be capable of bridging two assessment systems. Certain difficulties with implementing some of its provisions were tackled in a doing-by-learning manner. The greatest problems were associated with the lack of screening practice in Belarus, delayed assessment process undermining its usefulness, misunderstanding of what informal cooperation stands for and what constitutes a ‘final decision’, and limited collaboration in establishing a time frame and duties. The paper suggests learning from these issues and the solutions found.
The fate of terrigenous dissolved organic carbon in a river‐influenced ocean margin

The mineralization of terrigenous dissolved organic carbon (tDOC) discharged by rivers can impact nutrient and trace metal cycling, biological productivity, net ecosystem metabolism, and air‐sea CO2 exchange in ocean margins. However, the extreme heterogeneity of river‐influenced ocean margins represents a major challenge for quantitative assessments of tDOC transformations and thereby obscures the role of tDOC in biogeochemical cycles. Here a lignin‐based optical proxy for tDOC and a shelf‐wide mass balance approach were used to quantitatively assess the fate of tDOC discharged from the Mississippi‐Atchafalaya River System (M‐ARS) to the Louisiana shelf. The mass balance revealed that ~40% of the tDOC discharged by the M‐ARS during March 2009–2010 was mineralized to CO2 on the Louisiana shelf, with two thirds of the mineralization taking place in the mixed layer. A strong seasonality in tDOC mineralization was observed, with mineralization rates severalfold higher during summer than during winter. Independent assessments of specific mineralization processes indicated biomineralization accounted for ~94% of the tDOC mineralization on an annual basis and suggest that photochemical transformations of tDOC enhanced biomineralization by ~50% in the mixed layer. Direct photomineralization accounted for a relatively small fraction (~6%) of the tDOC mineralization on an annual basis. This quantitative assessment directly confirms that ocean margins are major sinks of the tDOC discharged by rivers and indicates that tDOC mineralization rates in the shelf mixed layer are sufficiently large to influence whether the Louisiana shelf is a net sink or source of atmospheric CO2.
Macrophage plasticity and differentiation on the decellularized human cornea

Several donated human corneas become unsuitable for transplantation due to lack of cellularity, diseases, and inadequate death to enucleation/preservation time. Here, we utilized discarded human corneas unsuitable for transplantation. Corneas were decellularized using a perfusion bioreactor with Triton-X 100 and cross-linked with chondroitin sulfate to reduce immune response, which FTIR and AFM confirmed. An in vitro study established the morphology of THP-1 cells cultured under three conditions, i.e., native, decellularized, and cross-linked for 10 days, by SEM analysis. The oxidative mechanism in THP-1 cells was determined by nitric oxide and reactive oxygen species in the media during the culture period. Cell surface markers and receptors were examined using RT-PCR. A panel of 40 identified cytokines/chemokines and release factors responsible for the immune response and implant rejection were estimated using cytokine microarray. Our findings elucidated the fundamentals of corneal rejection and helped identify a suitable decellularized matrix with predictive immunological properties.
Seasonal Characteristics of the Perennial Ice Cover of the Beaufort Sea

By definition, ice which survives the summer is classified as multiyear ice. Thus the area covered by multiyear ice during the winter should be nearly equivalent to the ice area during the previous summer's minima. This condition provides a reasonable criterion for the evaluation of ice concentration and ice type retrieval algorithms using remote-sensing data sets. From special sensor microwave imager (SSM/I) data the NASA Team algorithm estimates the multiyear, first-year, and total ice concentrations during the winter using combinations of the polarization and spectral gradient ratios. The Team algorithm provides only estimates of ice concentration in the summer. From ERS 1 synthetic aperture radar (SAR) data the remarkably stable contrast between multiyear ice and first-year ice in winter provides consistent estimates of multiyear ice concentrations. In the summer, multiyear ice concentration cannot be estimated from SAR or SSM/I data because free water on the surface effectively masks the backscatter and emissivity signature of this ice type. From SAR data a technique which takes advantage of the high backscatter of wind-roughened open water as a discrimination feature is used to estimate the total ice concentration in the summer. With a year-long (January 1992 to January 1993) data set from the Beaufort Sea we found that the multiyear ice concentration estimates from the SAR data are stable and are nearly equivalent to the ice concentration estimated at the end of the previous summer. We contrast this with the variability of the multiyear ice concentration and ice fraction estimates obtained using SSM/I data. The Team algorithm produces ice concentration and multiyear ice estimates which are consistently lower than those from the SAR data. We discuss reasons for these discrepancies and the implications of the higher than previously noted multiyear ice concentrations.
Technological Innovation and Financial Performance of Small-Scale Tea Industry in Kenya

The Agricultural sector in Kenya has been facing the challenge of increased costs as a result of outdated technology. In an attempt to reduce its costs, the tea sector has invested heavily in technology. The purpose of this study was to establish the effect of technological innovation investment on financial performance of small-scale tea industry in Kenya. The study variable was investment on fermentation innovation on the financial performance of small-scale tea firms in Kenya. This study was anchored on; Schumpeterian Theory on Innovations, Efficiency Theory, Technology Acceptance Model and Theory of Innovation Diffusion. The targeted population was 66 small scale tea factories. Secondary data for a period of 5 years was used for analysis using a panel regression model. Person correlation results indicated that investment on investment technological innovations, are positively and significantly associated with financial performance of small-scale tea industry. Innovations affect the financial performance of small-scale tea firms. The study recommends the management can consider acquiring more fermentation machinery and modern machinery that can be cost effective.
Ionospheric solar flare effects monitored by the ground‐based GPS receivers: Theory and observation

[1] The ionosphere responses to a solar flare observed by using ground-based receivers of the global positioning system (GPS) are investigated in this paper. Two quantities, the total electron content (TEC) and its time rate of change (rTEC), can be derived from the receivers. The theoretical studies show that the rTEC is related to the frequency deviation of the GPS signals. Meanwhile, worldwide ground-based GPS receivers are employed to derive the TEC and associated rTEC to monitor the ionospheric solar flare effect on 14 July (Bastille Day) 2000. It is found that ionospheric solar flare effects can be observed from predawn to postdusk regions, and the most pronounced signatures appear in the midday area. The agreement between theoretical predications and observations demonstrates that the TEC is suitable to monitor the overall variations of flare radiations while the rTEC is capable to detect sudden changes in the flare radiations.
On the importance of time varying eddy viscosity in generating higher tidal harmonics

By using a spectral/modal expansion in the vertical, a method is developed for determining tidal current profiles subject to either a slip or no-slip bottom boundary condition. An arbitrary vertical profile of eddy viscosity can be used in the calculation, the magnitude of which can be related to the flow field. The nature of the modal solution is such that the high shear bottom boundary layer can be accurately resolved using a few modes (of order five), compared with the order of 45 grid boxes on a logarithmic transformation which would be required in a finite difference approach. Calculations show the importance of a time-varying eddy viscosity in generating higher harmonics when a no-slip condition is applied at the seabed. By relating the current one meter above the bed to the bed stress, a value of friction coefficient C100 in reasonable agreement with observations was obtained from these no slip calculations. However the value of friction coefficient was strongly dependent upon the height above the bed, at which the current was calculated, with friction coefficient increasing rapidly in the near-bed region. Current profiles on the continental shelf determined using the modal method developed in the paper were in good agreement with observations, with computed profiles in the Celtic Sea giving the observed midwater maximum.
Internal waves in the Black Sea: satellite observations and in-situ measurements

Satellite radar (SAR) and visible band data from Envisat ASAR, ERS-2 SAR, Lansat-5,7,8 sensors were used to investigate internal waves (IWs) in the Black Sea. The three main areas of the Black Sea where surface manifestations of internal waves (SMIWs) were mostly observed are: the Danube Delta, Crimea Peninsula and the northeastern region near Novorossiysk. The main goal of our investigation was to define the mechanisms of IW generation in the non-tidal sea. In the first area, IWs are observed rather often due to surface intrusions of fresh waters of the Danube River. In contrast to usual soliton-like IW trains caused by river plumes, soliton trains near the Danuba Delta propagate in different directions and often subject to nonlinear interactions. The interrelation between location and orientation of IW trains and fresh water fronts is discussed. In the area off Crimea, in our opinion, IWs are generated mainly by upwelling relaxation and interaction between internal inertial waves and bottom topography features. SMIW in the northeastern part of the Black Sea are scarce, though IWs are regularly revealed by in-situ measurements. Field measurements were conducted in the northeastern part of the Black Sea from a small boat and from scientific sea platform near Crimea employing CTD probes, thermistor chain and Acoustic Doppler Current Profilers (ADCP). ADCP measurements allowed us to detect a number of IW trains. Their amplitudes were estimated to reach 5-8 m. Joint analysis of satellite SAR and subsatellite data gave an assessment of their typical wavelength at 90-100 m.
Predicting graduate employment: the relationship among social skills, performance and motivation in cosmetology education graduates

There have been many studies focusing on graduate tracing. However, they were still determining how likely the graduates will work following their interests and the fields of knowledge they have studied. This study aimed at gaining improved awareness of cosmetology education graduates' employment readiness concerning social skills, performance, and work motivation. This explanatory research used the entire research population of the last two years, as many as 70 graduates. Data collection was carried out using a questionnaire on each variable studied. While the analysis method used a structural equation model (Warp-PLS) to confirm the model's accuracy while testing the influence of variables on other variables and verifying that the instruments utilized were valid and dependable. The results proved that social skills, performance and work motivation directly and significantly affect graduate job readiness. Graduates' social skills and performance also affected job readiness in the field. The social skills of graduates were higher in influence than the performance and motivation of graduates in work readiness, with a difference of 0.391. These results implied a need to improve soft communication skills and spiritual provision in addition to the competencies that graduates already have.
The Potential Role of Railway Stations and Public Transport Nodes in the Development of “15-Minute Cities”

In 2016, Carlos Moreno proposed the concept of “15-minute cities” based on the principles of proximity, diversity, density, and ubiquity. In fact, he re-formulated (“re-invented”) some of the already existing planning principles, making them recognized and desired by non-professionals. Moreno, however, paid little attention to the external connectivity of neighborhoods, assuming that most needs would be satisfied locally. This paper aims to discuss the concept of “15-minute cities” from the transport planning point of view and investigate how the concept can contribute to such planning. The research review conducted in this paper suggests that similar actions in the past caused a modal shift from the use of cars to public transport, rather than a radical limitation of total transport needs. To simplify, if a neighborhood is well designed, people are more likely to walk, ride a bike, and use public transport, but the majority will still commute outside of the neighborhood for work. In the metropolis of the ideal “15-minute city”, Barcelona, the majority of the inhabitants travel to work either by car or public transport, which proves that they need to move outside the neighborhood. This leads us to the conclusions that (1) “15-minute cities” should incorporate the transit-oriented development concept and include public transport nodes, such as railways or underground stations, as the central point of walkable, multifunctional neighborhoods, and (2) railway/underground station planners should pay more attention to the creation of a proper mix of services at and around the stations according to “15-minute cities” principles. In the future, there should also be more emphasis on re-allocating workplaces to neighborhoods, as well as on researching the actual impact of the (improved and current) “15-minute cities” design on transport volumes.
Imputation does not reconstruct the ED values of missing species with great

8 Faced with the challenge of saving as much diversity as possible given ﬁnancial and time constraints, conser-9 vation biologists are increasingly prioritizing species on the basis of their overall contribution to evolutionary 10 diversity. Metrics such as EDGE (Evolutionary Distinct and Globally Endangered) have been used to set 11 such evolutionarily-based conservation priorities for a number of taxa, such as mammals, birds, corals, am-12 phibians, and sharks. Each application of EDGE has required some form of correction to account for species 13 whose position within the tree of life are unknown. Perhaps the most advanced of these corrections is phy-14 logenetic imputation, but to date there has been no systematic assessment of both the sensitivity of EDGE 15 scores to a phylogeny missing species, and the impact of using imputation to correct for species missing from 16 the tree. Here we perform such an assessment, by simulating phylogenies, removing some species to make 17 the phylogeny incomplete, imputating the position of those species, and measuring (1) how robust ED scores 18 are for the species that are not removed and (2) how accurate the ED scores are for those removed and 19 then imputed. We ﬁnd that the EDGE ranking for species on a tree is remarkably robust to missing species 20 from that tree, but that phylogenetic imputation for missing species, while unbiased, does not accurately 21 reconstruct species’ evolutionary distinctiveness. On the basis of these results, we provide clear guidance for 22 EDGE scoring in the face of phylogenetic uncertainty. 23
Pro‐glacial soil variability and geomorphic activity – the case of three Swiss valleys

Soils in pro‐glacial areas are often approached from a chronosequence viewpoint. In the chronosequence approach, the objective is to derive rates of soil formation from differences in properties between soils of different age. For this reason, in chronosequence studies, soils are sampled in locations that are assumed geomorphically stable and that have different age. As a result, these studies do not necessarily yield a complete view of soil variability in pro‐glacial areas, and may miss important relations between geomorphology and soil development. In this contribution, we present new soil observations from three closely related pro‐glacial areas in Switzerland. These observations were intended to get closer to a complete view of soil variability, and to assess impacts from factors other than time on soil development. About 40 soils were visited in each pro‐glacial valley in a combined design‐convenience sampling scheme and described in the field. Linear modelling was used to assess effects of time and topographic factors on soil properties. The time since glacial retreat turned out to rarely explain more than half of the variation in soil properties, and a linear model combining effects of time and topographic variables explained typically about half of the variation in each pro‐glacial valley. Models differed and were not transferable between valleys. Apparently, time and the present‐day shape of the landscape combined are insufficient information to accurately predict soil properties. Field evidence points to the importance of the geomorphic history and regime of the valleys as a reason for this. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Updates on the roles of epigenetics in the mechanism, diagnosis, and treatment of triple-negative breast cancer: A review

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a very aggressive and diverse kind of breast cancer. Drugs that target the estrogen receptor, progesterone receptor, and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 are less effective against TNBC because it lacks steroid hormone receptors. Recent research has shown that the pathogenesis of TNBC is also associated with epigenetic markers that either activate or silence genes, including DNA methylation, histone remodeling, and noncoding RNA-mediated regulation. Therefore, TNBC patients may benefit therapeutically from epigenetic reprogramming to return these genes to their natural state of expression. Here, we elaborate on the epigenetic alterations linked to the etiology of TNBC and potential treatment options. By reversing the identified epigenetic modifications, the function of the affected genes may be restored, hence improving the treatment response.
Observations of a street of cyclonic eddies in the Indian Ocean sector of the Antarctic divergence

Hydrographic and drifting buoy data from Japanese cruises show that the Antarctic Divergence in the Indian Ocean sector is composed of a street of cyclonic eddies. These eddies measure about 500 km in the zonal direction and 200 km in the meridional. Part of the eastward flowing Antarctic Circumpolar Current (ACC) meanders southward in the regions between the eddies. In the eddy regions, warm, saline Circumpolar Deep Water is upwelled into the shallow layers, while cold, dense coastal water advects into the deep layers; the advection occurs along the isobaths of ridges which extend north from the coast. The combination of the advection with the upwelling produces a water column denser than the surrounding water and leads to the formation and maintenance of the cyclonic eddies. Presence of the northward extending ridges approximately governs the location of eddy formation. The eddy formation recurs year after year, although eddy locations can vary somewhat. A polynya was observed to persistently occur and corresponded with one of the eddies in location, size, and form. The oceanographic observations also suggest that the primary meridional exchanges of heat and salt in the Antarctic are caused through the eddies and ACC meanders within the Antarctic Divergence.