Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Navigating the Brain Drain Challenge: The Role of Compensation, Job Embeddedness, and Commitment in Employee Retention in Pakistan's Telecom Sector

Organizations have a serious problem with employee retention, especially in Pakistan's telecom industry. Through the eyes of job embeddedness and commitment, this study explores how compensation, specifically job-based pay, affects employee retention. According to research, offering technical workers attractive salary packages is essential for luring and keeping them. A significant number of technicians are leaving Pakistan, though, in search of better-paying jobs abroad, endangering the viability of the organizations. Recommendations include updating compensation guidelines, making skill development investments, and putting job embedding programs in place. Offering attractive packages and rewarding success are essential elements to increase retention. This study emphasizes how important it is to match compensation to global norms in order to encourage job embedding and commitment, ultimately ensuring the lifespan of businesses in the developing telecom sector.
Multiplatform Image Synthesis for Distributed Synthetic Aperture Radar in Long Baseline Bistatic Configurations

The capability to synthesize an image of improved performance combining both in amplitude and in phase a stack of low-performance bistatic synthetic aperture radar (SAR) images is qualifying to enable future missions based on the clusters of nanosatellites or CubeSats. This is called multiplatform image synthesis and it is investigated in this article with reference to the challenging scenario in which a cluster of formation-flying receiving-only units realizes a distributed SAR (DSAR), collecting bistatic echoes of signals transmitted by a monostatic SAR that is used as an opportunity illuminator. The article presents a solution for DSAR processing that combines the generality of time domain focusing with the flexibility of beamforming in the spatial domain. The proposed processing scheme is used as a training ground to develop indices for performance characterization under different system parameters, such as pulse repetition frequency and separations among different platforms.
Dendritogenic Potential of the Ethanol Extract from Lippia alba Leaves in Rat Cortical Neurons

A reduced dendritic complexity, especially in regions such as the hippocampus and the prefrontal cortex, has been linked to the pathophysiology of some neuropsychiatric disorders, in which synaptic plasticity and functions such as emotional and cognitive processing are compromised. For this reason, the identification of new therapeutic strategies would be enriched by the search for metabolites that promote structural plasticity. The present study evaluated the dendritogenic potential of the ethanol extract of Lippia alba, an aromatic plant rich in flavonoids and terpenes, which has been widely used in traditional medicine for its presumed analgesic, anxiolytic, and antidepressant potential. An in vitro model of rat cortical neurons was used to determine the kinetics of the plant’s effect at different time intervals. Changes in morphological parameters of the neurons were determined, as well as the dendritic complexity, by Sholl analysis. The extract promotes the outgrowth of dendritic branching in a rapid and sustained fashion, without being cytotoxic to the cells. We found that this effect could be mediated by the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase pathway, which is involved in mechanisms of neuronal plasticity, differentiation, and survival. The evidence presented in this study provides a basis for further research that, through in vivo models, can delve into the plant’s therapeutic potential.
Genome analysis of a halophilic Virgibacillus halodenitrificans ASH15 revealed salt adaptation, plant growth promotion, and isoprenoid biosynthetic machinery

Globally, due to widespread dispersion, intraspecific diversity, and crucial ecological components of halophilic ecosystems, halophilic bacteria is considered one of the key models for ecological, adaptative, and biotechnological applications research in saline environments. With this aim, the present study was to enlighten the plant growth-promoting features and investigate the systematic genome of a halophilic bacteria, Virgibacillus halodenitrificans ASH15, through single-molecule real-time (SMRT) sequencing technology. Results showed that strain ASH15 could survive in high salinity up to 25% (w/v) NaCl concentration and express plant growth-promoting traits such as nitrogen fixation, plant growth hormones, and hydrolytic enzymes, which sustain salt stress. The results of pot experiment revealed that strain ASH15 significantly enhanced sugarcane plant growth (root shoot length and weight) under salt stress conditions. Moreover, the sequencing analysis of the strain ASH15 genome exhibited that this strain contained a circular chromosome of 3,832,903 bp with an average G+C content of 37.54%: 3721 predicted protein-coding sequences (CDSs), 24 rRNA genes, and 62 tRNA genes. Genome analysis revealed that the genes related to the synthesis and transport of compatible solutes (glycine, betaine, ectoine, hydroxyectoine, and glutamate) confirm salt stress as well as heavy metal resistance. Furthermore, functional annotation showed that the strain ASH15 encodes genes for root colonization, biofilm formation, phytohormone IAA production, nitrogen fixation, phosphate metabolism, and siderophore production, which are beneficial for plant growth promotion. Strain ASH15 also has a gene resistance to antibiotics and pathogens. In addition, analysis also revealed that the genome strain ASH15 has insertion sequences and CRISPRs, which suggest its ability to acquire new genes through horizontal gene transfer and acquire immunity to the attack of viruses. This work provides knowledge of the mechanism through which V. halodenitrificans ASH15 tolerates salt stress. Deep genome analysis, identified MVA pathway involved in biosynthesis of isoprenoids, more precisely “Squalene. ” Squalene has various applications, such as an antioxidant, anti-cancer agent, anti-aging agent, hemopreventive agent, anti-bacterial agent, adjuvant for vaccines and drug carriers, and detoxifier. Our findings indicated that strain ASH15 has enormous potential in industries such as in agriculture, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and food.
A Holistic Safe Planner for Automated Driving Considering Interaction With Human Drivers

This article advances state-of-the-art automated driving systems with a comprehensive framework that encompasses decision making, maneuver planning, and trajectory tracking considering safety, computational efficiency, and passenger comfort. In face of the co-existence of automated vehicles (AVs) and human-driven vehicles (HDVs), a decision making framework of AVs is proposed for safe lane keeping or changing. The decision making is based on the HDVs' future motion predicted by a learning-based Long Short-Term Memory model. To quantify the uncertainties in prediction, an error ellipse is used to capture the model deviations from the ground truth to ensure driving safety. This article develops a novel method that leverages lower-order parametric curves to efficiently generate feasible, safe, and comfortable lateral movements for AVs. The planner is complemented by maneuver replanning that can guide the AV back to the original lane when confronted with unexpected blockages from surrounding vehicles. Based on real-world datasets, simulation results show that the proposed method achieves curvature compatibility, shorter trajectory length in lateral maneuvers, accurate trajectory tracking, and effective collision avoidance in lane changing.
Pollination efficacy of honeybee (Apis mellifera) influencing litchi fruit production

Present studies were conducted at local litchi orchards in Muzaffarpur, Bihar, from flowering (March) to harvesting (May) of litchi, during 2023. To understand the impact of wild pollinators and Apis mellifera on pollination and fruit setting of litchi, different experimental pollination treatment were used to quantify qualitative and quantitative characters of litchi. Decline in density of female flower to mature fruit with some variation in all treatments except nylon-bagged inflorescence that produces only 0-2 fruits with minimal qualitative characteristics, per inflorescence were recorded. Fruit setting along with other qualitative character such as fruit weight, peel weight, pulp weight, pH and TSS were higher (20.55 g, 2.19 g, 15.28 g, 4.76 and 22.43 o Brix respectively) in open pollination system with A. mellifera under litchi tree. Based on recorded data productivity can be sequence as pollination treatment with A. mellifera hive under the tree > closed pollination treatment with A. mellifera hive inside nylon cage > open pollination in A. mellifera hive were 500 meter apart > open natural pollination without A. mellifera hive and at last bagged inflorescence. Resultant data show gradual decrease in fruit setting as the hive move away from experimental inflorescence. The result clearly indicate the pollination efficiency of A. mellifera .
Histopathological and Physiological Study of Nerium oleander and Lead on the Liver in the Male Albino Mice.

The current study prepareded to evaluate histopathological and some physiological parameters changes after treated with Nerium oleander L and lead. Thus study concentrated on some tissue structures in the liver after treated with the aqueous extract of Nerium oleander and lead solution. Its caused intense flaws in tissue structures of liver of treated albino mice. After the expiration of the experimental time, the blood specimens collecting to evaluate the value of Aspartate Transaminase (AST), Alanine Transaminase (ALT), urea (BUN) and creatinine (CR-S) in blood of treatmented animals, then animals sacrificed for histopatolological study The results of present study noted remarkable tissue changes in liver parenchyma, these changes included acute cellular destruction after treated with Nerium oleander and acute blood hemorrhage. The effects of lead showed clear space between hepatocyte of liver tissue, no prominent hepatic cords, most hepatocyte didn’t have normal nuclei. The Physiological alterations observed significantaly increased in the enzymes value (Aspartate Transaminase, Alanine Transaminase, (BUN) and (CR-S) ) when exposure to Oleander and lead compared with control group.
Effect of the Mediterranean diet supplemented with nicotinamide riboside and pterostilbene and/or coconut oil on anthropometric variables in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. A pilot study

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) is a chronic and progressive neurodegenerative disease that causes the death of motor neurons and alters patients’ body composition. Supplementation with the antioxidants nicotinamide riboside (NR) and pterostilbene (PTER) can combat associated oxidative stress. Additionally, coconut oil is an alternative energy substrate that can address mitochondrial dysfunction. The aim of the present study is to assess the impact of a Mediterranean Diet supplemented with NR and PTER and/or with coconut oil on the anthropometric variables of patients with ALS. A prospective, mixed, randomized, analytical and experimental pilot study in humans was performed through a clinical trial (registered with ClinicalTrials.gov under number NCT03489200) with pre- and post-intervention assessments. The sample was made up of 40 subjects categorized into four study groups (Control, Antioxidants, Coconut oil, and Antioxidants + Coconut oil). Pre- and post-intervention anthropometric assessments were carried out to determine the following data: weight, percentage of fat and muscle mass, skinfolds, body perimeters, Body Mass Index (BMI), Waste-to-Hip Index (WHI) and Waist-Height Ratio (WHR). Compared to the Control group, GAx significantly increased muscle mass percentage and decreased fat mass percentage, triceps, iliac crest, and abdominal skinfolds. GCoco significantly increased muscle mass percentage and decreased fat mass percentage, subscapular skinfolds, and abdominal skinfolds. GAx + coco significantly increased muscle mass percentage and decreased abdominal skinfolds. Therefore, our results suggest that the Mediterranean Diet supplemented with NR and PTER and the Mediterranean Diet supplemented with coconut oil (ketogenic diet) are the two nutritional interventions that have reported the greatest benefits, at anthropometric level.
Land Cover Control on the Drivers of Evaporation and Sensible Heat Fluxes: An Observation‐Based Synthesis for the Netherlands

Land cover controls the land‐atmosphere exchange of water and energy through the partitioning of solar energy into latent and sensible heat. Observations over all land cover types at the regional scale are required to study these turbulent flux dynamics over a landscape. Here, we aim to study how the control of daily and midday latent and sensible heat fluxes over different land cover types is distributed along three axes: energy availability, water availability and exchange efficiency. To this end, observations from 19 eddy covariance flux tower sites in the Netherlands, covering six different land cover types located within the same climatic zone, were used in a regression analysis to explain the observed dynamics and find the principle drivers. The resulting relative position of these sites along the three axes suggests that land cover partly explains the variance of daily and midday turbulent fluxes. We found that evaporation dynamics from grassland, peatland swamp and cropland sites could mostly be explained by energy availability. Forest evaporation can mainly be explained by water availability, urban evaporation by water availability and exchange efficiency, and open water evaporation can almost entirely be explained by exchange efficiency. We found that the sensible heat flux is less sensitive to land cover type. This demonstrates that the land‐atmosphere interface plays an active role in the shedding of sensible heat. Our results contribute to a better understanding of the dynamics of evaporation over different land cover types and may help to optimize, and potentially simplify, models to predict evaporation.
Strontium chloride improves bone mass by affecting the gut microbiota in young male rats

Introduction Bone mass accumulated in early adulthood is an important determinant of bone mass throughout the lifespan, and inadequate bone deposition may lead to associated skeletal diseases. Recent studies suggest that gut bacteria may be potential factors in boosting bone mass. Strontium (Sr) as a key bioactive element has been shown to improve bone quality, but the precise way that maintains the equilibrium of the gut microbiome and bone health is still not well understood. Methods We explored the capacity of SrCl2 solutions of varying concentrations (0, 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg BW) on bone quality in 7-week-old male Wistar rats and attempted to elucidate the mechanism through gut microbes. Results The results showed that in a Wistar rat model under normal growth conditions, serum Ca levels increased after Sr-treatment and showed a dose-dependent increase with Sr concentration. Three-point mechanics and Micro-CT results showed that Sr exposure enhanced bone biomechanical properties and improved bone microarchitecture. In addition, the osteoblast gene markers BMP, BGP, RUNX2, OPG and ALP mRNA levels were significantly increased to varying degrees after Sr treatment, and the osteoclast markers RANKL and TRAP were accompanied by varying degrees of reduction. These experimental results show that Sr improves bones from multiple angles. Further investigation of the microbial population revealed that the composition of the gut microbiome was changed due to Sr, with the abundance of 6 of the bacteria showing a different dose dependence with Sr concentration than the control group. To investigate whether alterations in bacterial flora were responsible for the effects of Sr on bone remodeling, a further pearson correlation analysis was done, 4 types of bacteria (Ruminococcaceae_UCG-014, Lachnospiraceae_NK4A136_group, Alistipes and Weissella) were deduced to be the primary contributors to Sr-relieved bone loss. Of these, we focused our analysis on the most firmly associated Ruminococcaceae_UCG-014. Discussion To summarize, our current research explores changes in bone mass following Sr intervention in young individuals, and the connection between Sr-altered intestinal flora and potentially beneficial bacteria in the attenuation of bone loss. These discoveries underscore the importance of the “gut-bone” axis, contributing to an understanding of how Sr affects bone quality, and providing a fresh idea for bone mass accumulation in young individuals and thereby preventing disease due to acquired bone mass deficiency.
Toward an Understanding of the Returns to Cognitive Skills Across Cohorts

Recent research concludes that wage returns to cognitive skills have declined in the U.S. We reassess this finding. Using Yitzhaki (1996) decomposition methods, we document the impact of shifts in the distributions of pre-labor market cognitive skills for white men and women across two cohorts. These shifts explain the declining estimated returns to cognitive skills, especially for men. Measurement error does not seem to be driving this conclusion. Grappling with pre-labor market skill distributions is necessary for capturing the dynamics of returns to cognitive skills. This may prove especially important in the future given evolving pandemic-induced changes in skill development.
The Evolution of Zoos as Conservation Institutions: A Summary of the Transition from Menageries to Zoological Gardens and Parallel Improvement of Mammalian Welfare Management

Zoological institutions, which were once exclusively for entertainment, are now leaders of wildlife conservation. This centuries-long transition was punctuated by key milestones that reformed wild animal exploitation into a mission of protection. Modern zoos perform ex situ activities to preserve natural resources, which are enabled by the housing of wild species. Zoo-managed animals facilitate new scientific knowledge, public education, and strategic breeding to maintain genetic diversity. Prioritizing animal welfare management is a key advancement for modern zoos, as it lessens stress and improves quality of life. Environments enriched with sensory stimuli promote naturalistic behaviors and provide opportunities for instinctual activities like foraging and hunting. This increases resiliency by reducing stress and boredom. However, such approaches only benefit welfare when appropriately matched to the animal. Behavioral responses to environmental cues reflect how animals experience their environment, and properly documenting them informs management decisions. Other modern advancements include enclosure designs, research initiatives, public education programs, species-specific staff training, and collaborative population management among zoos. This review chronicles the milestones that shaped the role of modern zoological institutions in species and habitat preservation. It also discusses opportunities for the continued evolution of welfare management practices, which is fundamental information for zoo employees and stakeholders.
Influence of feeding level on effective rumen degradability of alfalfa hay and maize silage.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of feeding level (FL) on effective rumen degradability (ED) and In situ disappearance kinetics of dry matter and neutral detergent fiber (NDF) of alfalfa hay and maize silage. Standard procedure for nylon bags technique was used to estimate ruminal disappearance of dry matter (DM) and NDF. Nylon bags containing samples were incubated for 8, 16, 24, 48, 72 and 96 h in the rumen of four ruminally cannulated sheep (wether) and the exponential model of Ørskov and McDonald (1979) was used to calculate degradation kinetics. The ruminal degradability of forages samples were measured at four levels of intake. In maize silage, ED of DM decreased from 56.9% to 40.7% as intake increased from 1 to 2.5 times of maintenance. Values for the ED of dry matter of alfalfa hay at FL 1, 1.5, 2 and 2.5 averaged 60.3, 55.3, 44.5 and 42.9% respectively. In general, ED was significantly (p<0.01) higher at the maintenance level of feeding (FL=1) than for other treatments. The same situation was seen in NDF degradation of both forages. ED of NDF decreased from 53.08% at FL 1 to 39.78% at FL 2.5 in alfalfa hay and from 42.58% to 32.18% in maize silage. The results of this experiment indicated that ED of DM and NDF decreased dramatically when FL increased to more than 2 times of maintenance energy
Cancer and Atrial Fibrillation Comorbidities Among 25 Million Citizens in Shanghai, China: Medical Insurance Database Study

Background With population aging, the prevalence of both cancer and atrial fibrillation (AF) have increased. However, there is scarce epidemiological data concerning the comorbid state of cancer and AF in low- and middle-income countries, including China. Objective We aimed to evaluate the site-, sex-, and age-specific profiles of cancer and AF comorbidities in Chinese populations. Methods Data from the Shanghai Municipal Health Commission database between 2015 and 2020 were screened, covering all medical records of Shanghai residents with medical insurance. Site-specific cancer profiles were evaluated for the population with AF relative to the age- and sex-adjusted population of residents without AF. The sex distribution and peak age of cancer diagnosis were also assessed. Results A total of 25,964,447 adult patients were screened. Among them, 22,185 patients presented cancers comorbid with AF (median 77, IQR 67-82 years of age; men: n=13,631, 61.44%), while 839,864 presented cancers without AF (median 67, IQR 57-72 years of age; men: n=419,020, 49.89%), thus yielding a higher cancer prevalence among residents with AF (8.27%) than among those without AF (6.05%; P<.001). In the population with AF, the most prevalent cancer type was lung cancer, followed by colorectal, male genital organ, stomach, breast, liver, bladder, thyroid, leukemia, and esophageal cancers. AF was associated with an average of nearly 1.4-fold (prevalence ratio [PR] 1.37, 95% CI 1.35-1.38) increased prevalence of cancer after adjusting for age and sex. For site-specific analyses, an increased prevalence of cancer in the population with AF was observed in 20 of 21 cancer sites. This increased prevalence was most prominent for nonsolid tumors, including multiple myeloma (PR 2.56, 95% CI 2.28-2.87), leukemia (PR 1.73, 95% CI 1.57-1.90), and non-Hodgkin lymphoma (PR 1.59, 95% CI 1.43-1.77); intrathoracic malignancies, including mediastinum (PR 2.34, 95% CI 1.89-2.90), lung (PR 1.64, 95% CI 1.59-1.69), and esophageal cancers (PR 1.41, 95% CI 1.28-1.56); bone and soft tissue neoplasms (PR 1.56, 95% CI 1.37-1.77); and kidney cancer (PR 1.53, 95% CI 1.36-1.72). Cancer prevalence in the population with AF relative to that in the population without AF was higher in men than in women in 14 of 18 cancer sites, and female predominance was only observed for thyroid cancer. The peak age of index cancer diagnosis was lower in the population with AF (age group: 70-74 years) than in that without AF (age group: 75-79 years), especially for specific cancer types, including thyroid, central nervous system, mediastinum, esophageal, bladder, and biliary cancers. Conclusions Patients with AF are associated with increased prevalence, heightened male predominance, and younger peak age of cancer. Further studies are needed to determine whether early screening of specific cancers is cost-effective and beneficial for patients with AF.