Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A Novel Plithogenic MCDM Framework for Evaluating the Performance of IoT Based Supply Chain

: The Internet of Things (IoT) is used in Supply chain management (SCM) systems to respond to the globalization of complex and dynamic markets and competitiveness in various supply chain scopes. Despite the current buzz about IoT and its role in the supply chain, there is not enough empirical data or extensive expertise to guide its implementation. Therefore, this paper addresses the ambiguity of the assessing the performance of the IoT based supply chain by integrating plithogenic set with both of the Best-Worst method (BWM) and Vlse Kriterijumska Optimizacija Kompromisno Resenje (VIKOR) methods in a decision-making framework tailored for this field. The framework is based on 23 criteria that measure different aspects of the performance. The performance of the framework is assess according to plithogenic set theory and neutrosophic set theory using a case study of comparing the performance of IoT implantation with the SC of five e-commerce companies using three experts. The case study showed that the proposed framework has more consideration of the contradiction degree of each criteria to improve the accuracy of the evaluation results
Preliminary studies on extension of the shelflife of pito

Alcoholic sorghum malt beverage, pito is a popular drink in Ghana, however it has a short shelflife of two days. In an attempt to extend its shelflife a study was carried out using malted sorghum. This was milled, mashed by single decoction and fermented by both lactic and ethanolic fermentation by resident microbes and pito wild yeast. The resulting product, pito was treated in two ways, first it was bottled, sodium metabisulphite added and pasteurized, this was coded PL. The second treatment involved filtration of yeast cells and pasteurization, this was coded NL. Bottled samples were stored for 2 months and analysis carried out on samples. Parameters monitored were pH, colour, specific gravity, alcohol content, degree of fermentation, extract content and energy. Sensory evaluation was also carried out on the samples. Results showed that pito can be processed, bottled and stored for about 2 months using one of the 2 treatments. However, the treatment involving PL was more efficient. Sensory results showed that the products were acceptable to the panelists. Keywords : pito, sorghum, shelflife, sensory evaluation Journal Of Science And Technology Vol. 25 (1) 2005: 11-15
Effect of Pasture Management System Change on In-Season Inorganic Nitrogen Pools and Heterotrophic Microbial Communities

It has been assumed that the system of long-term pasture management exerts a significant impact on the soil microorganisms count, subsequently affecting the availability of mineral nitrogen (Nmin). This hypothesis was tested in a three-year experiment on a long-term pasture with two distinct systems of grass sward management, i.e., grazing and mowing. Mowing significantly increased the microorganisms count by 13%, 28%, 86%, and 2% for eubacteria (EU), actinobacteria (AC), molds (MO), and Azotobacter (AZ), respectively. The main reason was drought in 2006, which resulted in the domination of Dactylis glomerata L. in the grass sward, instead of Lolimum perenne L. and Poa pratensis L. The content of Nmin decreased through the vegetative growing season, reaching its lowest value after the 3rd grazing cycle. The impact of microorganisms on the Nmin pools increased in the order: molds < eubacteria < actinobacteria. The count of actinobacteria in the alkaline organic soil increased in response to drought, contribution of Dactylis glomerata L. in the sward, and the shortage of available phosphorus. The sound pasture management system is possible by introducing alternate grazing and mowing cycles. The core of sustainability is the enhanced activity of actinobacteria after changing the system from grazed into mowed.
Retaliation, Seriousness of Wrongdoing, and Whistleblowing: An Experimental Study in Internal Governmental Auditor

Whistleblowing is an anti-fraud mechanism that mitigates fraud in organizations. Studies on whistleblowing largely focus on profit-seeking firms, although fraud also exists in governmental sectors. In this respect, the role of government internal auditors is potentially important to commit whistleblowing. Several factors likely affect whistleblowing intention, including retaliation and seriousness of wrongdoing as situational factors. This study aims to test the causal relationship between retaliation and seriousness of wrongdoing on whistleblowing intention. In doing so, this paper uses a 2x2 between-subjects experimental design with 45 government internal auditors as the participants. The results show that retaliation and seriousness of wrongdoing affect whistleblowing.
Trends in assisted peritoneal dialysis over the last decade: a cohort study from the French Peritoneal Dialysis Registry

Abstract Background There is limited information available on the use of assisted peritoneal dialysis (PD) over time and the impact of economic incentives on its utilization. The aim of this study was to describe the trends in assisted PD utilization and the type of assistance provided. We wanted to estimate if an economic incentive implemented in 2011 in France was associated with an increase in the utilization of nurse-assisted PD. Methods This retrospective, multicentre study, based on data from the French Language Peritoneal Dialysis Registry, analysed 11 987 patients who initiated PD in France between 1 January 2006 and 31 December 2015. Adjusted Cox regression with robust variance was used to examine the initiation of assisted PD, both nurse-assisted and family-assisted, accounting for the nonlinear impact of the PD starting time. Results There were 6149 (51%) incident patients on assisted PD, 5052 (82%) on nurse-assisted PD and 1097 (18%) on family-assisted PD over the study period. In the adjusted analysis, calendar time was associated with the assisted PD rate: it declined from 2008 until 2013 before flattening out and then it increased after 2014. Nurse-assisted PD utilization increased significantly after 2012, whereas family-assisted PD utilization decreased linearly over time (prevalence ratio = 0.94, 95% confidence interval 0.92–0.97). Conclusions The assisted PD rate decreased until 2013, mainly because of a decline in family-assisted PD. The uptake in nurse-assisted PD observed from 2013 reflects the effect of an economic incentive adopted in late 2011 to increase PD utilization.
Numerical Study on the Temperature-Dependent Viscosity Effect on the Strand Shape in Extrusion-Based Additive Manufacturing

A numerical model that incorporates temperature-dependent non-Newtonian viscosity was developed to simulate the extrusion process in extrusion-based additive manufacturing. Agreement with the experimental data was achieved by simulating a polylactic acid melt flow as a non-isothermal power law fluid using experimentally fitted parameters for polylactic acid. The model was used to investigate the temperature effect on the flow behavior, the cross-sectional area, and the uniformity of the extruded strand. OpenFOAM, an open source simulation tool based on the finite volume method, was used to perform the simulations. A computational module for solving the equations of non-isothermal multiphase flows was also developed to simulate the extrusion process under a small gap condition where the gap between the nozzle and the substrate surface is smaller than the nozzle diameter. Comparison of the strand shapes obtained from our model with isothermal Newtonian simulation, and experimental data confirms that our model improves the agreement with the experimental data. The result shows that the cross-sectional area of the extruded strand is sensitive to the temperature-dependent viscosity, especially in the small gap condition which has recently increased in popularity. Our numerical investigation was able to show nozzle temperature effects on the strand shape and surface topography which previously had been investigated and observed empirically only.
Prediction of the excretion of allantoin and total purine derivatives by sheep from the ‘creatinine coefficient’

SUMMARY The urinary excretions of creatinine, allantoin and total purine derivatives by Merino ewes were compared with predictions based on the assumptions that creatinine excretion scaled to liveweight (the creatinine coefficient) was constant and was not affected by diet. The creatinine coefficient varied between individuals and was found to be affected by diet (P<0·01). As a result, there were systematic deviations (p<0·01) in the predictions of allantoin and total purine derivative excretion. If predictions of purine derivative excretion are to be made for individual animals in the absence of total urine collections, prior determination of individual creatinine coefficients is required and predictions may be confounded by diet effects on creatinine excretion. Predictions for groups on the basis of general relationships between the creatinine coefficient and liveweight may be subject to errors between diets of > 10%.
The life history of Rhodochorton concrescens in culture

The life history and development of Rhodochorton concrescens in culture have been investigated. Successive generations of tetrasporangium-bearing plants are produced in all environmental conditions tested. There is no cytological or morphological evidence for sexual reproduction in this species. The plants form a pseudoparenchymatous basal disc when in contact with a chitinous substrate; one type of glass substrate also induces the response.
Studies of the green alga Percursaria dawsonii (=Blidingia dawsonii comb. nov., Kornmanniaceae, Ulvales) in British Columbia

We cultured and sequenced newly collected material of Percursaria dawsonii Hollenberg et I. A. Abbott, a poorly known epibiont of limpets found along the west coast of North America. Zoospores, parthenogametes, and zygotes exhibited empty‐spore germination, which produced a prostrate system that expanded by stolon‐like development. A dense carpet of initially uniseriate filaments arose from the prostrate system. These upright filaments soon became biseriate proximally and pluriseriate distally, where they were flat, twisted and distromatic for approximately four‐fifths of their length and rarely became hollow in larger individuals. These fronds became fertile distally and released quadriflagellate zoospores and/or biflagellate isogametes. Individual gametophytic fronds were dioecious, and alternated with isomorphic sporophytic fronds. The gametes moved rapidly and often exhibited an unusual side‐to‐side vibration that made them appear like winged insects. Comparisons of 18S rRNA gene and ITS sequences indicated that P. dawsonii should be included in the genus Blidingia, family Kornmanniaceae.
Photosynthesis in an Encrusting Lichen (Dirinaria picta (Sw.) Schaer.ex Clem., Physiaceae) and its Symbiont, Trebouxia sp., Using Pulse Amplitude Modulation Fluorometry

Premise of research. The encrusting arboreal lichen Dirinaria picta (Sw.) Schaer.ex Clem. (Physiaceae) is commonly found growing on tree trunks in Thailand and globally in the tropics and subtropics. Trebouxia sp. is its chlorophyte symbiont. Pulse amplitude modulation (PAM) techniques have been used to measure photosynthesis of a tropical lichen as well as its cultured symbiont. PAM technology has not been used to full advantage in lichens. Methodology. Absorptance of the thalli and glass fiber disks impregnated with cultured Trebouxia was measured with a leaf absorptance meter. PAM fluorometers measure the light reactions of photo-organisms to estimate gross photosynthesis (Pg; mol O2 m−2 s−1) from the measured electron transport rate through PSII (4 electrons per O2), provided that the absorptance of the photo-organism is known. Photosynthesis-versus-irradiance curves were measured with a blue-diode PAM machine and fitted to the waiting-in-line function. Pivotal results. The absorptance of moist active lichen in blue light is Abt%465 nm = 92.5 ± 0.529 (±95% confidence limit [CL]; n = 48). Maximum yield, maximum Pg (Pg max), quantum efficiency, and nonphotochemical quenching do not show a strong diel cycle. Dirinaria has an optimum irradiance of ≈500 μmol m−2 s−1 PPFD and a Pg max of ≈227 μmol O2 mg Chl a−1 h−1 (Chl a = chlorophyll a). Respiration of Dirinaria is ≈16.2 μmol O2 mg (Chl a)−1 h−1, so net photosynthesis is ≈211 μmol O2 mg Chl a−1 h−1. The Pg of Trebouxia is comparable to that of the Dirinaria lichen, but the two have different nonphotochemical quenching properties. Photosynthesis revives in dry Trebouxia in vitro within a few minutes after wetting. On a chlorophyll basis, the electron transport rates of dry and in vivo Trebouxia are closely comparable: hyphal absorption of light appears to be negligible. Conclusions. Dirinaria can tolerate high irradiances in natural conditions but is dry and dormant most of the time (poikilohydric). The desiccation resistance of Trebouxia is constitutive.
Social heterosis and the maintenance of genetic diversity at the genome level

Social heterosis is when individuals in groups or neighbourhoods receive a mutualistic benefit from across‐individual genetic diversity. Although it can be a viable evolutionary mechanism to maintain allelic diversity at a given locus, its efficacy at maintaining genome‐wide diversity is in question when multiple loci are being simultaneously selected. Therefore, we modelled social heterosis in a population of haploid genomes of two‐ or three‐linked loci. With such linkages, social heterosis decreases gametic diversity, but maintains allelic diversity. Genomes tend to survive as complimentary pairs, with alternate alleles at each locus (e.g. the pair AbC and aBc). The outcomes of selection appear similar to fitness epistasis but are novel in the sense that phenotypic interactions occur across rather than within individuals. The model’s results strongly suggest that strong linkage across gene loci actually increases the probability that social heterosis maintains significant genetic diversity at the level of the genome.
The use of biotelemetry to explore disease progression markers in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

Abstract Objective To explore novel, real-world biotelemetry disease progression markers in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and to compare with clinical gold-standard measures. Methods: This was an exploratory, non-controlled, non-drug 2-phase study comprising a variable length Pilot Phase (n = 5) and a 48-week Core study Phase (n = 25; NCT02447952). Patients with mild or moderate ALS wore biotelemetry sensors for ∼3 days/month at home, measuring physical activity, heart rate variability (HRV), and speech over 48 weeks. These measures were assessed longitudinally in relation to ALS Functional Rating Scale-Revised (ALSFRS-R) score and forced vital capacity (FVC); assessed by telephone [monthly] and clinic visits [every 12 weeks]). Results: Pilot Phase data supported progression into the Core Phase, where a decline in physical activity from baseline followed ALS progression as measured by ALSFRS-R and FVC. Four endpoints showed moderate or strong between-patient correlations with ALSFRS-R total and gross motor domain scores (defined as a correlation coefficient of ≥0.5 or >0.7, respectively): average daytime active; percentage of daytime active; total daytime activity score; total 24-hour activity score. Moderate correlations were observed between speech endpoints and ALSFRS-R bulbar domain scores; HRV data quality was insufficient for reliable assessment. The sensor was generally well tolerated; 6/25 patients reported mostly mild or moderate intensity skin and subcutaneous tissue disorder adverse events. Conclusions: Biotelemetry measures of physical activity in this Pilot Study tracked ALS progression over time, highlighting their potential as endpoints for future clinical trials. A larger, formally powered study is required to further support activity endpoints as novel disease progression markers.
Clans and Harems in a Colony of Hamadryas and Hybrid Baboons: Male Kinship, Familiarity and the Formation of Brother-Teams

Three features of the hamadryas society, Papio hamadryas, which are quite unique among Old World monkeys, are its multileveled structure (i.e. harems, clans, bands, troop), the reported pattern of female dispersal (i.e. males tend to remain in their natal clans whereas females tend to move between clans and bands), and the special bonds that develop between adult males. It has also been hypothesized that the males of a clan are genetically related. In this paper a causal approach is adopted in order to investigate the proximate factors which can account for the structure/dynamics of socio-spatial group organization observed over two years in a large colony of hamadryas and hybrid baboons housed in an outdoor enclosure in the Madrid Zoo, containing 18 adult males with known kin relations. I first examined the types of grouping observed in the colony and the alternative social strategies used by the different male individuals during their ontogenetic trajectories for acquiring, and maintaining, females. Since the hamadryas baboon is considered a female-transfer species, I studied whether the sex that stays, that is, the males, developed some kind of mutual affiliative relationship, as one would predict, and whether their inter-male bonding preferences were based on genetic relatedness or on familiarity (i.e. sharing the same developmental environment during socialization).
Modeling Compact Intracloud Discharge (CID) as a Streamer Burst

Narrow Bipolar Pulses are generated by bursts of electrical activity in the cloud and these are referred to as Compact Intracloud Discharges (CID) or Narrow Bipolar Events in the current literature. These discharges usually occur in isolation without much electrical activity before or after the event, but sometimes they are observed to initiate lightning flashes. In this paper, we have studied the features of CIDs assuming that they consist of streamer bursts without any conducting channels. A typical CID may contain about 109 streamer heads during the time of its maximum growth. A CID consists of a current front of several nanosecond duration that travels forward with the speed of the streamers. The amplitude of this current front increases initially during the streamer growth and decays subsequently as the streamer burst continues to propagate. Depending on the conductivity of the streamer channels, there could be a low-level current flow behind this current front which transports negative charge towards the streamer origin. The features of the current associated with the CID are very different from those of the radiation field that it generates. The duration of the radiation field of a CID is about 10–20 μs, whereas the duration of the propagating current pulse associated with the CID is no more than a few nanoseconds in duration. The peak current of a CID is the result of a multitude of small currents associated with a large number of streamers and, if all the forward moving streamer heads are located on a single horizontal plane, the cumulative current that radiates at its peak value could be about 108 A. On the other hand, the current associated with an individual streamer is no more than a few hundreds of mA. However, if the location of the forward moving streamer heads are spread in a vertical direction, the peak current can be reduced considerably. Moreover, this large current is spread over an area of several tens to several hundreds of square meters. The study shows that the streamer model of the CID could explain the fine structure of the radiation fields present both in the electric field and electric field time derivative.
A hard-knock life: the foraging ecology of Cape cormorants amidst shifting prey resources and industrial fishing pressure

Once one of the most numerous seabirds of the Benguela upwelling system, the population of Cape cormorants Phalacrocorax capensis has decreased by 60% in the past three decades and the species is listed as Near Threatened. Declines in prey availability and/or abundance brought about by recent changes in the distribution of pelagic fish stocks and industrial purse-seine fishing are hypothesised to be a key driver of seabird population decreases in the southern Benguela. We investigated the foraging behaviour of breeding Cape cormorants by deploying GPS and temperature–depth recorders on 24 breeding adults from three islands off the coast of South Africa, two of them to the north of Cape Point and a third farther south on the western Agulhas Bank. This provided the first measures of foraging dispersal by a cormorant in the Benguela system, and enabled a comparison of foraging behaviour between birds from these islands. Foraging trips of Cape cormorants lasted between 17 min and >7 h, at a maximum distance of between 2 and 58 km away from their colony. Foraging effort was significantly greater for birds from farther north off the West Coast in terms of trip duration, distance travelled, number of dives and time spent flying compared to those from the southernmost island (Dyer), which is probably a response to low prey availability in the north. Coastal reserves that exclude pelagic fishing from inshore feeding grounds around Cape cormorant breeding colonies may result in increased local prey availability, which would benefit Cape cormorant populations.
Beef production from native pastures sown to fine-stem stylo in the Burnett region of south-eastern Queensland

At Gayndah, south-eastern Queensland, a native Heteropogon contortus pasture, sown to fine-stem stylo (Stylosanthes guianensis var. intermedia), and invaded by red natal grass (Rhynchelytrum repens), was grazed by weaner steers from June 1 in three treatments : heavy and light put-and-take grazing for five years from 1971, and set-stocked at 1.37 animals ha-1 for two years from 1974. Weight gains in the put-and-take treatments were not significantly different. The mean annual liveweight gain was 167 kg animal-1 at a mean equivalent stocking rate of 1.47 animals ha-1. Over the same period unsown native pasture, cleared of timber, gave a gain of 62 kg animal-1 at 0.62 animals ha-1. In all seasons except summer, weight gains declined linearly with stocking rate and in 1972-73, with a mean equivalent stocking rate of 2.66 animals ha-1, the annual gain was almost halved. When equivalent stocking rates were 0.9, 0.9, 1.8 and 1.2 animals ha-1 in winter, spring, summer and autumn, the respective gains were 4, 73, 65 and 45 kg animal-1. The set-stocked treatment had a mean annual gain of 147 kg animal-1. At another site 116 km north-west of Gayndah, two paddocks of Heteropogon contortus and fine-stem stylo were set-stocked with weaners over four years. One paddock had four applications of superphosphate of 250 kg ha-1. The mean annual liveweight gains were significantly different, being 154 and 143 kg animal-1 in the fertilized and unfertilized paddocks at mean stocking rates of 0.83 and 0.74 animals ha-1, respectively. In a grazing protection experiment the density of fine-stem stylo declined exponentially with an accumulation of pasture dry matter in spring and summer. Heavy continuous grazing, an annual hay cut and an accidental fire all increased the density of fine-stem stylo. Management options to maintain the density of fine-stem stylo and the relative importance of the legume and grass to animal production are discussed.