Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Methods of sampling benthic invertebrates in lotic habitats: a spatial and temporal evaluation

Abstract Aim We compared the effectiveness of two sampling devices, the Surber sampler and the D-frame net, commonly used in the analysis of invertebrate fauna structure in biomonitoring programs. These programs use the response of benthic invertebrates to assess changes in aquatic ecosystems because they respond quickly to spatial and temporal variations. However, the lack of consensus on the best method of sampling the fauna may reduce the quality of these studies. Methods We evaluated both devices in four structurally different reaches of streams, two in places with preserved riparian vegetation and two occurring in places with many anthropic disturbances. We repeated the analysis at the dry season of two consecutive years. Results The two samplers were equally effective in analyzing the benthic fauna and sensitive enough to identify spatial and temporal variation in the structure of this fauna, influenced by the presence or absence of riparian vegetation, by the position of the reach with this vegetation (upstream or downstream of the reach without vegetation) and the characteristics of the substrate. Conclusions The analyzed fauna structure was similar for the two samplers, but we consider the use of Surber more advantageous and effective because it collects a smaller number of individuals, reducing the time of processing and identifying in the laboratory, and allows a better definition of the area sampled.
Kinome directed target discovery and validation in unique ovarian clear cell carcinoma models

Advanced stage ovarian clear cell carcinoma (OCCC) is unresponsive to conventional platinum-based chemotherapy. Efforts to improve OCCC chemotherapy responses have focused on combining platinum with other chemotherapeutic agents or targeted therapies, but have unfortunately not led to higher survival rates. SWI/SNF chromatin remodeling complexes are important regulators of chromatin structure and gene transcription. Multiple SWI/SNF subunits are genetically altered in cancer. The SWI/SNF DNA targeting subunit ARID1A is frequently mutated with the highest mutation frequency found in OCCC. Kinases are important for the regulation of proliferation and apoptosis signaling. A number of kinases are mutated in OCCC, including PIK3CA and KRAS, and are known to promote tumor growth. The aim of this thesis was to identify new therapeutic targets for OCCC patients. To this end, we searched for specific kinase vulnerabilities in OCCC with deleterious mutations in ARID1A using kinome-centered shRNA based synthetic lethality screening in ARID1A wild-type and mutant OCCC cell lines. The identified synthetic lethal hit was validated in vitro and in vivo and we found causal evidence for the observed synthetic lethal interaction with ARID1A loss. In addition, we searched for new kinase alterations in a large group of OCCC tumors and cell lines and subsequently tested the druggability of downstream affected pathways in vitro and in patient-derived xenograft (PDX) models of OCCC. Based on the heterogeneous pattern of mutations across PI3K/AKT/mTOR and MAPK proliferation pathways in OCCC, we searched for effective combinations of PI3K/AKT/mTOR and MAPK kinase inhibitors in low-dose concentrations to simultaneously target key kinases in OCCC. Finally, we described the establishment of OCCC PDX models and compared genomic and histopathology characteristics between paired patient and PDX OCCC tumors to determine the level of similarity. In conclusion, new therapeutic targets in OCCC have been identified and a low-dose treatment strategy was preclinically tested in unique OCCC models in this thesis. These results may advance the treatment of OCCC.
Ethnic Comparison of Inner and Outer Intercanthal Distance among Adult Sudanese

Background: Anthropometric pattern of the inner and outer intercanthal distance varies with no universal normative values. This study was conducted on three Sudanese ethnic groups, namely blacks, Arabs, and Hamites to identify normative values and the ethnic and gender influence in the anthropometric pattern of the inner and outer intercanthal distance. Methods: This is a cross sectional study among Sudanese subjects selected randomly from Khartoum Teaching Dental Hospital and Port Sudan Dental Hospital, using a stratified sampling technique. The inner intercanthal distance (IICD) and outer intercanthal distance (OICD) were measured directly using a digital caliber. Result: A total of 280 subjects included with a mean age of 35.76 ± 12.23 years, 122 males and 158 females. The distribution of groups was as follow: 92 (33%) Arabs, 62 (22%) blacks, and 126 (45%) Hamites. The mean IICD of males and females are 31.50 mm ± 2.89 and 32.22 mm ± 3.17, respectively. The mean OICD are 95.09 mm ± 5.78 and 93.95 mm ± 4.27 for males and females, respectively, with a statistically significant relationship. Regarding the ethnic group differences, the mean of IICD was wider among the blacks, followed by the Arabs and Hamites. However, the mean of OICD was wider among the Hamites, followed by the blacks and the Arabs. Conclusion: Intercanthal distance differs across ethnic groups. Gender and ethnicity are two of the main parameters that affect the variation as this study showed in the current study. These findings would be applicable in clinical setup as reference values during surgical planning.
Differences of Morphological Characteristics between Japanese Tomato ‘CF Momotaro York’ and Dutch Tomato ‘Endeavour’ with Single-truss Tomato Plants Grown at High Density

Dutch tomato cultivars have been bred with an emphasis on yield (Higashide and Huevelink, 2009) on the premise of long-term and high-wire system (hereinafter referred to as Dutch cultivation system). Many studies have compared the characteristics of Japanese and Dutch cultivars in order to clarify the factors of high yield (Matsuda et al., 2011a; 2011b; 2013; Kakita et al., 2015). The main reasons for the high yield of Dutch cultivars are low light extinction coefficient and high photosynthesis rate, resulting in high light utilization efficiency (Higashide and Huevelink, 2009). On the other hand, Japanese tomato cultivars have been bred with an emphasis on quality rather than yield (Higashide and Huevelink, 2009), and the selection environments for tomato cultivars differ greatly between Japan and the Netherlands. Japanese cultivars have been selected in open fields subjected to water stress, whereas Dutch cultivars have been selected in a hydroponic condition. In addition, the cultivation method mainly focuses on relatively short plant heights, such as picking meristem in 6 to 8 stages and performed twice a year, or continuous pinching cultivation. In recent years, low-node and high planting density system has attracted attention as a distinctive Japanese cultivation system for stable production of highquality tomatoes (Johkan et al., 2013;2014; Kinoshita et al., 2014; Tewolde et al., 2016). Therefore, in order to clarify the varietal characteristics of Japan and the Netherlands, it is necessary to compare those cultivars in the context of the cultivation methods in Japan and the Netherlands. In this experiment, we focused on morphological characteristics of both Japanese and Dutch cultivars. The morphological difference between Japanese and Dutch cultivars in Dutch cultivation system has been already discussed in detail (Higashide, 2018). However, there is limited information on the morphological characteristics of both cultivars in low-node and high density planting system for high-quality fruit production. In low-node and high-density planting system, the light condition in the community tends to deteriorate due to a decrease in the amount of light transmitted to lower areas caused by the 4― 5 times higher planting density compared with that in the Dutch cultivation system. As a solution to this problem, there are some reports of improvement in the training method and supplemental light within the community (Lu et al., 2012a; 2012b; Johkan et al., 2013), but these were performed using only Japanese tomato cultivars. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to clarify the differences of Japanese and Dutch cultivars by focusing on the morphological characteristics and search for suitable morphological features for the Japanese-style cultivation. In order to evaluate the difference in morphological characteristics, we use ‘CF Momotaro York’ as Japanese cultivar, and ‘Endeavour’ as Dutch cultivar. These cultivars are cultivated widely in their respective country.
Use of horticultural practices in citriculture to survive Huanglongbing.

Citriculture is one of the major activities of the Brazilian agribusiness found throughout the entire country in different production environments. The presence of the Huanglongbing (HLB), reported in Brazil in 2004, has led to severe losses in important producing regions, challenging the sustainability of the citrus chain. Current control strategies are based on the use of healthy nursery trees, scouting and systematic eradication of symptomatic plants and chemical control of the insect vector. Research is being carried out at Embrapa and other Brazilian institutions aiming HLB resistance through genetic breeding via biotechnology. However, the inherent limitations to these actions determine that non-excluding and additional propositions could be considered in order to mitigate the effects of the HLB. Horticultural practices for immediate use in the citriculture are presented in order to complement the confrontation to this disease. The following propositions are discussed: selection of naturally occurring tolerant materials, evaluation of new regions for citrus production, unusual concepts of screened nursery trees, repellent and attractive plants, low- input production systems, use of resistance elicitors, protected cultivation, intercropping and ultra high density.
Terrain-Adaptive Planning and Control of Complex Motions for Walking Excavators

This article presents a planning and control pipeline for legged-wheeled (hybrid) machines. It consists of a Trajectory Optimization based planner that computes references for end-effectors and joints. The references are tracked using a whole-body controller based on a hierarchical optimization approach. Our controller is capable of performing terrain adaptive whole-body control. Furthermore, it computes both torque and position/velocity references, depending on the actuator capabilities. We perform experiments on a Menzi Muck M545, a full size 31 Degrees of Freedom (DoF) walking excavator with five limbs: four wheeled legs and an arm. We show motions that require full-body coordination executed in realistic conditions. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first work that shows the execution of whole-body motions on a full size walking excavator, using all DoFs for locomotion.
First and oldest Leptochirini rove beetles illuminate diverse cephalic structures in the Cretaceous (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Osoriinae)

Osoriinae is a highly diverse, globally distributed subfamily of rove beetles (Staphylinidae), but only a single Mesozoic species, Mesallotrochus longiantennatus Cai & Huang, in mid‐Cretaceous Burmese amber is known (age c. 99 Ma). Leptochirini, which is primarily found in decaying wood in the tropics, is one of the four tribes of osoriine rove beetles. The diversity of cephalic tooth shapes in adults has attracted special research attention with regard to the evolution and classification of this group. Here, we report two well‐preserved fossils of Leptochirini for the first time from Burmese amber. Together with M. longiantennatus, they represent the oldest osoriines, highlighting the palaeodiversity of the subfamily in Burmese amber. Based on our observations and phylogenetic analyses, a remarkable new genus and species, †Cretochirus newtoni Yamamoto gen. et sp.n. , is described. Additionally, a new species, †Priochirus thayerae Yamamoto sp.n. , is also described and placed in the extant genus Priochirus Sharp. †Cretochirus gen.n. has a typical body plan of Leptochirini, but it retains several primitive features that have rarely, or never, been known from modern leptochirine taxa, including simple cephalic structures with a largely depressed dorsum, undeveloped cephalic teeth, and the absence of a longitudinal median sulcus of the head, together with the only slightly crenulate external margins of the protibiae. These findings demonstrate the antiquity of Leptochirini rove beetles and even suggest a much older origin of the subfamily. Morphologically diverse leptochirines from Burmese amber also illuminate the remarkable cephalic diversity of the tribe during the Mesozoic. They were already diversified during the mid‐Cretaceous in the tropical forests of Myanmar, and possibly living underneath the bark of rotten wood and logs.
Interrelationship among slope steepness, tillage practice and rainfall properties with surface runoff and soil loss on Mollisols in Northeast China

ABSTRACT Soil erosion and rainfall-induced runoff are well studied yet remain somewhat unpredictable from one natural rainfall to the next, due to interactions between erosion parameters. This study quantified the relationship between annual (2011–2016) and individual (2016) rain events with overland flow (runoff) and soil loss in China’s northern ‘corn-belt’. Two tillage practices and slopes were evaluated (no-till and conventional till, 5° and 7° slopes). Results showed 54 rainfall events for a total of 394 mm precipitation ranging between May and October 2016. Runoff occurred 13 times in the conventional till with 7° slope, accounting for 25.9% of the precipitation volume and caused 15.6 t ha−1 erosion. It occurred twice in the no-till with 5° slope plot and caused 0.2 t ha−1 erosion. , Thus the no-till with 5° slope treatment is the best tillage system to protect soil in Mollisols in Northeast China. Broad analysis coupled with a detail review of three rainfall events demonstrates that water either runs off plots quickly or rapidly infiltrates while sediment moves in a pulsing manner.
Task allocation and trajectory planning for multiple agents in the presence of obstacle and connectivity constraints with mixed‐integer linear programming

This article addresses the problem of maneuvering multiple agents that must visit a number of target sets, while enforcing connectivity constraints and avoiding obstacle as well as interagent collisions. The tool to cope with the problem is a formulation of model predictive control including binary decision variables. In this regard, two mixed‐integer linear programming formulations are presented, considering a trade‐off between optimality and scalability between them. Simulation results are also shown to illustrate the main features of the proposed approaches.
The Importance Of Work Life Balance To Improve Work Satisfaction

Work-Life Balance as an independent variable consists of three indicators of balance, namely the balance of time, the balance of involvement and the balance of satisfaction. The job satisfaction as a dependent variable is divided into four factors, namely psychological factors, social factors, physical factors and financial factors. This study aims to determine the effect of Work-life balance on employee Job Satisfaction at the Bima Regency Social Service. This type of research uses causal quantitative methods with primary data sources obtained from interviews and questionnaires distributed to 60 respondents. The sampling technique used is simple random interconnection with the Slovin formula. The analytical tool used is the validity and reliability test, simple linear regression, correlation coefficient, coefficient of determination and T-test. The results of this study indicate that Work-life balance has a significant effect on job satisfaction of Bima Regency Social Service employees. This can be seen from the significant value of 0.000 <0.05
Ag and Mn-doped mesoporous bioactive glass nanoparticles incorporated into the chitosan/gelatin coatings deposited on PEEK/bioactive glass layers for favorable osteogenic differentiation and antibacterial activity

Bioactive and antibacterial coatings were developed and characterized in this study. Chitosan/gelatin/Ag–Mn doped mesoporous bioactive glass nanoparticles (Ag–Mn MBGNs) composite coatings (of 5–6 μm thickness) were deposited using electrophoretic deposition (EPD) on PEEK/bioactive glass (BG) layers (of 60–70 μm thickness), which had been deposited by EPD onto stainless steel. The chitosan/gelatin/Ag–Mn MBGNs composite coatings deposited on PEEK/BG layers were optimized by the Taguchi design of experiment (DoE) approach; the resulting microstructure, composition, in vitro bioactivity, antibacterial activity, and cytocompatibility were investigated. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images confirmed the deposition of Ag–Mn MBGNs on the surface of PEEK/BG layers. Energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDX) confirmed the presence of Mn and Ag, which were embedded in chitosan/gelatin (top layer). The presence of BG particles in the PEEK/BG layer and Ag–Mn MBGNs in the top layer allows the multi-structured coatings to form apatite like crystals upon immersion in simulated body fluid (SBF). Moreover, the release of silver ions from the top layer provided an antibacterial effect against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus carnosus.
The Impact of COVID-19 on Small Business Owners: Continued Losses and the Partial Rebound in May 2020

Social distancing restrictions and demand shifts from COVID-19 shuttered many small businesses and entrepreneurs in the first month of widespread shelter-in-place restrictions. Fairlie (2020) finds that 22 percent of small business owners were inactive in April 2020 with disproportionate impacts on African-American, Latinx, immigrant, and female business owners. What happened in the second month of social distancing restrictions? Were there further closures or a rebound? This paper provides the first analysis of impacts of the pandemic on the number of active small businesses in the United States using nationally representative data from the May 2020 CPS – the second month capturing effects from mandated restrictions. The number of active business owners in the United States is down by 2.2 million or 15 percent from February 2020, but up 7 percent since the low in April. The continued losses in May and partial rebound from April were felt across nearly all industries and were not sensitive to using alternative restrictions on hours worked and measures. African-American business owners continue to be the hardest hit by COVID-19 experiencing a drop of 26 percent in business activity from pre-COVID-19 levels. Latinx business owners fell by 19 percent, and Asian business owners dropped by 21 percent. Immigrant business owners experienced substantial losses of 25 percent. Simulations indicate that industry compositions partly placed black, Latinx and immigrant businesses at a higher risk of losses. All of these demographic groups, however, experienced partial rebounds in business activity from April lows. These findings of the continued early-stage losses to small businesses have important policy implications and may portend longer-term ramifications for job losses and economic inequality.
DETERMINANTS OF DIVIDEND POLICY IN PORTUGUESE BANKING SYSTEM

The purpose of this article is to identify the factors that influence the payment of dividends in banks operating in the Portuguese market. The study uses advanced financial data, in the period between 2005 and 2018. The model analyzed is tested using multiple regressions with data in the unbalanced panel. The results show that the payment of dividends is mainly driven by the historical distribution and the positive influence of performance. In addition, the size of the bank is significant, although with a sign opposite to that expected. Another valuable result is associated with the changes that occurred before, during and after the financial PEOPLE: International Journal of Social Sciences ISSN 2454-5899 796 crisis. The study supports the hypothesis of the influence of the crisis on dividend policy. Evidence is presented that in the post-crisis period, dividends were conditioned by the policy of retention of results imposed by the authorities. The study presents limitations that must be taken into account as can represent restrictions on the results obtained. The size of the sample and the explicit policy of retention of results, imposed by authorities on some entities, stand out during part of the period under investigation.
Beyond Motivation: Investigating Thai English Major Students' Grit.

Success in language learning has generally been attributed to students‘ motivation. However, beyond motivation is grit, a psychological construct that has rarely been mentioned in language learning research. This study therefore aimed to investigate the grit of 171 Thai students studying English as a Foreign Language (EFL), and the factors that might have influenced their grit as EFL learners. A questionnaire based on adapted grit scales and a focus-group discussion were used to collect the data. A statistical analysis was conducted on the questionnaire-derived data. Meta-inferences were made in relation to the transcribed orally-collected data from the focus group discussion in order to draw relevant conclusions. The findings revealed that participants‘ socio-cultural context influenced their consistency of interest and perseverance of effort at an above moderate level. This may have resulted in making them adaptable in their approach to achieving their learning goals. Future careers, societal needs, life purpose and the reputation as an English major student were found to contribute to the variance. It is suggested that a more perseverance-oriented approach coupled with proper mentoring sessions that is context-relevant should be incorporated into EFL programs to enhance students‘ interest and effort in attaining their goals.
Medicinal plant use and conservation practices by communities in the Togo Plateau Forest Reserve, Ghana

The use of plants for medicine has constituted an important aspect of primary healthcare delivery system of people throughout the world for many centuries. Nonetheless, information on medicinal plants and their conservation are still lacking in some areas, including the Togo Plateau Forest Reserve in Ghana. This paper investigates the ethnobotany of the Togo Plateau Forest Reserve, Ghana, to document the traditional knowledge, uses and conservation of medicinal plants. Information on these plants was sought through a structured questionnaire administered to 384 registered members of the Ghana Federation of Traditional Medicine Practitioners’ Association including certified traditional healers, traditional birth attendants (TBAs), vendors of herbal remedies, managers of herbal medicine centers, and local plant collectors from six communities within the catchment area of the Togo Plateau Forest Reserve. The study recorded 114 medicinal plant species, including 14 herbs, 6 lianas, 21 shrubs and 74 trees that are mostly collected from the wild. The most commonly cited medicinal plant species were Azadirachta indica, Alstonia boonei, Morinda lucidaand Nauclea latifolia, mostly used to treat human conditions such as malaria, jaundice, rheumatism, andcough. Mostof the herbal medicines were prepared as decoctions and administered by drinking. Majority of the informants (75%) were within the age bracket of 41-60 years, with males (39%) out numbering the females (36%). Barks, roots and leaves were the most commonly used plant parts, and these were mostly collected by destructive methods. The unregulated collection of plant parts and harvesting methods may reduce plant species richness and abundance in the area, requiring sustained conservation efforts in order to benefit from them medicinally. Key words: Medicinal plants, Togo Plateau forest reserve, plant diversity.