Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Bayesian Inferences on Uncertain Ranks and Orderings: Application to Ranking Players and Lineups

It is common to be interested in rankings or order relationships among entities. In complex settings where one does not directly measure a univariate statistic upon which to base ranks, such inferences typically rely on statistical models having entity-specific parameters. These can be treated as random effects in hierarchical models characterizing variation among the entities. The current literature struggles to present summaries of order relationships which appropriately account for uncertainty. A single estimated ranking can be highly misleading, particularly as it is common that the entities do not vary widely in the trait being measured, leading to large uncertainty and instability in ranking a moderate to large number of them. We observed such problems in attempting to rank player abilities based on data from the National Basketball Association (NBA). Motivated by this, we propose a general strategy for characterizing uncertainty in inferences on order relationships among parameters. Our approach adapts to scenarios in which uncertainty in ordering is high by producing more conservative results that improve interpretability. This is achieved through a reward function within a decision-theoretic framework. We show that our method is theoretically sound and illustrate its utility using simulations and an application to NBA player ability data.
Fermented foods and beverages of the world

Dietary Cultures and Antiquity of Fermented Foods and Beverages Jyoti Prakash Tamang and Delwen Samuel Diversity of Fermented Foods Jyoti Prakash Tamang Diversity of Fermented Beverages and Alcoholic Drinks Jyoti Prakash Tamang Functional Yeasts and Molds in Fermented Foods and Beverages Kofi E. Aidoo and M. J. Robert Nout Fermented Vegetable Products Carmen Wacher, Gloria Diaz-Ruiz, and Jyoti Prakash Tamang Fermented Legumes: Soybean and Non-Soybean Products Toshirou Nagai and Jyoti Prakash Tamang Fermented Soybean Pastes Miso and Shoyu with Reference to Aroma Etsuko Sugawara Fermented Cereal Products Jean-Pierre Guyot Fermented Milk Products Baltasar Mayo, Mohammed Salim Ammor, Susana Delgado, and Angel Alegria Fermented Fish Products Junus Salampessy, Kasipathy Kailasapathy, and Namrata Thapa Fermented Meat Products Martin Adams Ethnic African Fermented Foods N. A. Olasupo, S. A. Odunfa, and O. S. Obayori Tea, Coffee, and Cacao Ulrich Schillinger, Louis Ban-Koffi, and Charles M. A. P. Franz Probiotic and Prebiotic Fermented Foods Kasipathy Kailasapathy Health Aspects of Fermented Foods Mariam Farhad, Kasipathy Kailasapathy, and Jyoti Prakash Tamang Packaging Concepts for Enhancing Preservation of Fermented Foods Kasipathy Kailasapathy
Fractalkine Is Expressed by Smooth Muscle Cells in Response to IFN-γ and TNF-α and Is Modulated by Metalloproteinase Activity1

Fractalkine/CX3C-chemokine ligand 1 is expressed as a membrane-spanning adhesion molecule that can be cleaved from the cell surface to produce a soluble chemoattractant. Within the vasculature, fractalkine is known to be generated by endothelial cells, but to date there are no reports describing its expression by smooth muscle cells (SMC). In this study we demonstrate that IFN-γ and TNF-α, but not IL-1β, cooperate synergistically to induce fractalkine mRNA and protein expression in cultured aortic SMC. We also report the release of functional, soluble fractalkine from the membranes of stimulated SMC. This release is inhibited by the zinc metalloproteinase inhibitor batimastat, resulting in the accumulation of membrane-associated fractalkine on the SMC surface. Therefore, an SMC-derived metalloproteinase activity is involved in fractalkine shedding. While soluble fractalkine present in SMC-conditioned medium is capable of inducing calcium transients in cells expressing the fractalkine receptor (CX3CR1), blocking experiments using neutralizing Abs reveal that it can be inactivated without affecting the chemotactic activity of SMC-conditioned media on monocytes. However, membrane-bound fractalkine plays a major role in promoting adhesion of monocytic cells to activated SMC. This fractalkine-mediated adhesion is further enhanced in the presence of batimastat, indicating that shedding of fractalkine from the cell surface down-regulates the adhesive properties of SMC. Hence, during vascular inflammation, the synergistic induction of fractalkine by IFN-γ and TNF-α together with its metalloproteinase-mediated cleavage may finely control the recruitment of monocytes to SMC within the blood vessel wall.
Rubber seed (Hevea brasiliensis) oil biodiesel emission profiles and engine performance characteristics using a TD202 diesel test engine

Abstract In this study, biodiesel produced from seeds obtained from a Nigerian bioengineered rubber tree (Hevea brasiliensis, NIG800 series) was investigated for engine performance analysis and emission study. All tests were conducted for diesel, biodiesel, and blends over the entire speed range (1500–3500 rpm, at increments of 500 rpm) under full load operating conditions. The results showed that the brake specific fuel consumption is higher for biodiesel and blends compared to diesel due to the lower heating value of the biodiesel, but B20 and diesel results were the same (0.20 kg/kWh) at 2750 rpm. Exhaust gas temperature is significantly higher for biodiesel because the higher oxygen content (10–12%) and higher cetane number assisted complete combustion. Engine power, brake thermal efficiency, and engine torque were higher with diesel fuel compared to biodiesel and blends because of the higher energy content of diesel fuel. There is a significant reduction in carbon monoxide, unburned total hydrocarbons, and smoke opacity with biodiesel, but nitric oxide and carbon dioxide increased slightly. The B20 blend at 2500 rpm shows the best performance, and biodiesel sourced from rubber seeds is environmentally friendly and can be used in modern diesel engines without technical modifications.
The Effects of Sudden Stops on the Turkish Economy: A Structural VAR Approach

This study investigates the effects of the sudden stop problem on the economic performance of emerging market economies in Turkey sampling. In this context, this study is driven by small-open economy assumption and Fed effective funds rate used as an external triggering factor that causes sudden stop by taking into account the related literature. To evaluate the effects of sudden stop problem on domestic economy, interest rate, credits to private sector, current account balance, current financial account, real effective exchange rate, consumer price index and industrial production index are selected as domestic variables which supposed related to the resilience of sudden stops. Data, which used in the study, are monthly and they span from 2003:01 to 2019:09. In addition, the SVAR model with block exogeneity is applied as empirical method. The results of the study show that an unexpected increase in Fed effective interest rate trigger to decreases in capital inflow. As capital inflow decreases, real effective exchange rate, credits to private sector and industrial production decreases, also interest rate and consumer price index and current account balance increase. These results suggest that external factors are effective in triggering sudden stop problem.
“I Am Most Grateful.” Using Gratitude to Improve the Sense of Relatedness and Motivation for Online Volunteerism

ABSTRACT Volunteering benefits those who receive and those who provide help. Yet barriers can inhibit engagement with and motivation for volunteering activities. Online environments on one hand help to lower some of these barriers, but on the other hand they can introduce new obstacles specially when the medium transforms the social interactions important to volunteers. We study the motivational drivers of online volunteering, and how those are affected by design. Specifically, we focus on relatedness as a source of motivation. We describe two studies with volunteers that help medical students to learn and improve their communication skills through mock interviews in an educational program. The volunteers can participate in the program face-to-face or through an online platform. The first study consisted of a survey (n = 66 volunteers), two workshops and one interview (n = 12 volunteers) in which we explored volunteer demographics, motivations, psychological needs, and experiences. Findings suggested relatedness can be an important indicator of volunteer motivations. In the second study, we added a feature to the online platform to display personal gratitude messages from student beneficiaries to the volunteers in order to improve the experience of relatedness between them. In total, n = 30 volunteers completed 196 sessions. We used survey and system data to assess the impact of gratitude on perceived relatedness, motivation, and behavior (immediate, booked, and completed appointments). Results showed that the expression of gratitude by the beneficiary significantly affected the volunteer’s experience of relatedness which then correlated with immediate appointments booking behavior by each volunteer. The implications for design of online volunteering systems are discussed.
The position of glucose linkage in phillyrin.

The position of glucose linkage in phillyrin (1) was established to be at C-4"by the discussion of 13C nuclear magnetic resonance (13C-NMR) spectra of phillygenin methyl ether (2), phillygenin (3) and phillygenin acetate (4).
Corn and sorghum as rotational crops for management of Meloidogyne arenaria in peanut

The value of corn (Zea mays L.) and sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench) as rotational crops for management of Meloidogyne arenaria (Neal) Chitwood in peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) was studied in two 3-year experiments. The experiments were conducted in a field near Headland, Alabama, and compared several rotational systems with the performance of continuous peanut. At-plant applications of ethylene dibromide (EDB) were included in some of the systems to determine the value of nematicide use in the rotations. Corn and sorghum reduced juvenile populations in soil; however, the populations recovered quickly when peanut followed either of the 2 other crops. The use of EDB to control M. arenaria in a continuous peanut system was not reliable; yield differences between fumigated and unfumigated plots under continuous peanut culture, while significant during the first year, were not so after 3 years. Highest peanut yields were obtained from plots that had been planted with corn or sorghum
NUTRITIONAL EVALUATION OF SOME UNCONVENTIONAL DIETARY ENERGY SOURCES IN RUMINANTS RATIONS

Thirty five Ossimi male lambs with an average LBW 35 Kg were divided randomly into five nutritional groups for 195 days fattening trial. Five iso-caloric and iso- nitrogenous rations based mainly on yellow corn, grease and biscuit residuals were tested. The control ration (R1) based mainly on 45% corn grains (C); (R2) 30% corn and 6.5% grease (G); (R3) 15% corn, 15% bakery by-product (DBP) and 6.5% grease; (R4) 15% corn and 30% (DBP), while R5 was 45% (DBP). Results indicated that; lambs fed rations based mainly on (DBP) and (G) showed higher (p<0.05) DM and OM digestibility. Highest (CP) digestibility (p<0.05) was shown by lambs fed diet contained 30% DBP, however the lowest (P<0.05) CP digestibility was obtained by R5. Results of CF digestibility pointed out to insignificant differences among different experimental rations. Grease and (DBP) supplemented groups recorded higher (P<0.05) EE digestibility. Insignificant differences among different groups, neither in daily nitrogen intake nor in nitrogen retention (g/h/d). Four hrs. post feeding; higher (P<0.05) ruminal pH values were shown by lambs fed ration contained grease, while the control recorded the lowest one, but the highest (P<0.05) NH3-N value. Although, different experimental rations indicated insignificant NH3-N concentration. Grease rations showed lower (P<0.05) TVFA’s, however the control indicated higher (P<0.05) value. Different experimental groups indicated insignificant LBW gain, while animals fed ration contained 45% (DBP) recorded the best (P<0.05) feed conversion ratio.
The Anatomy of the Advertising Budget Decision: How Analytics and Heuristics Drive Sales Performance

The authors investigate how heuristics and analytics contribute to the advertising budget decision by decomposing it into four components: (1) baseline spending, (2) adaptive experimentation, (3) advertising-to-sales ratio, and (4) competitive parity. They propose a methodology to estimate and infer the weights of these four components. Applying this methodology to sales and advertising data across eight brands from three categories substantiates for the first time, and uniformly across all brands, that managers depart from optimality through adaptive experimentation, which is in line with dual control theory that suggests they do so to learn about advertising effectiveness. The adaptive experimentation finding, combined with evidence on the use of heuristic methods, suggests that budget decision making is characterized by bounded rationality. Furthermore, budgeting decisions are brand-specific, reflecting the considerations of a brand’s market position and performance. Finally, simulation studies show that brands from categories with high uncertainty in advertising effectiveness can benefit from double-digit revenue lifts by placing higher emphasis on adaptive experimentation.
Factors on the Accrual Accounting Adoption: Empirical Evidence from Indonesia

Purpose: This study aims to examine the relationship between top management support, implementation costs, and effective project leader and the level of accrual accounting adoption in Indonesia's municipalities. Design/methodology/approach: The hypotheses of the study were tested using the survey data from 220 municipalites in Indonesia. The instrument for content and construct validity and reliability was tested. Then, the hypotheses were tested using Structure Equation Modelling (SEM) by SmartPLS. Finding: This study found that, top management support and implementation cost have significant relationship with the level of accrual accounting adoption. Meanwhile, effective project leader has no significant relationship with the level of accrual accounting adoption. Research limitations/implications: This study contributions to provide input into the adoption of Government Regulation No. 71 of 2010 in order to apply the rule of accrual accounting to the fullest, and to minimize errors in financial reporting with the identification of possible obstacles faced in implementing accrual accounting. This study recommended that, more factors such as human resources, external audit are needed to complement and improve financial reporting with accrual accounting adoption. Originality/value: To the best of the researcher's knowledge, no study of Indonesian municipalities has tested the impact of factor such as top management support, implementation cost, and effective project leader on the level of accrual accounting adoption.
Histopathological changes in intestine of chicken (Gallus domesticus) infected naturally by Ascaridia galli

This study was aimed at finding out the histopathological changes of chicken intestines that were naturally infected by Ascaridia galli. Ten intestines were obtained from wet market in Banda Aceh then measured in length and divided into three sections: duodenum, jejunum and ileum, of which histologic slides were made. The number of Ascaridia galli founded in the lumen and ingesta were counted. Parameter picture of histopathologycal changes were analized descriptively based on desquamation, hiperplasia, and villi fussion occure. Duodenum, jejunum and ileum infected by A. galli showed istopathological changes of villi the cover of desquamation, hyperplasia and fusion. Demage level of the small intestine chicken was largely determined by the number of infecting by A. galli. It was concluded that the more number of A galli infected to chickens, the higher level of damage would be occured in the small intestine of chicken
Antecedents to Online Travel Purchase: Role of Network Benefits, Pilgrimage Packages, Interactivity, Trust and Customer Reviews

ABSTRACT Customers prefer apps over websites for travel search and booking. However, websites offer a competitive advantage over apps in terms of branding and CRM opportunities. Therefore, to retain customers on travel websites, this research investigated the role of monetary incentives resulting from network benefits, cultural adaptation of websites by offering pilgrimage packages, website interactivity, ease of information access, trust, and customer reviews on website continuance intention. Data was collected from 356 travel website customers. The results indicate that network benefits, interactivity, pilgrimage packages act as antecedents to trust, and customer reviews moderate trust and website continuance intention relationship.
Variations of Fatty Acid Composition According to Some Morphological and Physiological Properties and Ecological Regions in Oilseed Plants

Fatty acid composition of 14 different vegetable oils obtained from sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.), safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.), soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr. ), corn (Zea mays L.), peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.), sesame (Sesamum indicum L.), cotton (Gossypium hirsitum L.), rape (Brassica napus L.), poppy (Papaver somniferum L.), tabacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.), cephalaria (Cephelaria syriaca L.), flax (Linum usitatissimum L.) and camalia (Camalina sativa L.) seeds and olive (Olea europea L.) were compared in this study. The position effects in safflower, different seed colours in sesame and poppy, seed development stages in rape and different ecological local varieties in sesame were investigated in order to determine the variations of fatty acids according to some morphological and physiological properties and ecological regions. The results indicated that there were characteristic differences among the oilseed plants for their fatty acid compositon. However, specific composition of each one was not permanent and exposed to continuous changes under effects of various internal and external factors.
NUTRITIONAL EVALUATION OF SUBSTITUTING MORINGA OLEIFERA LEAVES MEAL (MOLM) AS A SOURCE OF PROTEIN INSTEAD OF SOYBEAN MEAL IN DIETS OF GROWING RABBITS IN NORTH SINAI

The objective of this study was to evaluate the utilization of Moringa oleifera leaves meal (MOLM) as a source of protein in feeding growing rabbits. Thirty six weaned New Zealand white rabbits of both sexes aged 6 wk and weighted 858 g were randomly divided into three groups (12 each). Rabbits were fed ad-libitum diets containing 0, 7.5 and 15% MOLM for groups T0, T7.5 and T15, respectively as a subtitute for soybean meal. Fresh water was supplied ad-libitum during the experimental period (8 wk). At the end of experimental period, digestibility trials were carried out to determine the digestibility of feed nutrients and the feeding values of experimental diets. Three rabbits from each group were slaughtered to evaluate carcass traits and some blood parameters. Results revealed that substituting MOLM instead of soybean meal in rabbit’s diets did not significantly affect live body weight (LBW), daily weight gain (DWG) and total feed intake (TFI). Meanwhile, feed conversion ratio was significantly affected by inclusion of MOLM in the diet, however, control group (T0) recorded the best value (4.28) followed by 15% MOLM (4.43) while 7.5% MOLM reflected worst value (4.65). All nutrient digestibilies, except CF and nutrient values (TDN, DCP and DE) of experimental diets were significantly decreased with increasing MOLM level in the diet. All carcass traits were not affected by dietary treatments. There were no significant differences among dietary treatments in most blood constituents (total protein, bilirubin, cholesterol, urea-N, creatinine, ALT and AST). Glucose, albumin, globulin and Alb/ Glo ratio were significantly affected by MOLM inclusion in the diet. Glucose was increased (p<0.05) in rabbits fed MOLM diets compared to the control. Albumen and Alb/ Glo ratio were decreased (p<0.05). However, globulin was increased in rabbits fed 7.5% MOLM compared to those fed MOLM-free diet or 15 % MOLM. All blood biochemical parameters were within the normal range for healthy rabbits. IgM and Anti-nuclear Antibody (ANA) were increased (p<0.05) in MOLM diets compared with the control. Economic efficiency (E. E) and relative E. E (%) were increased by increasing MOLM level in the diets. It could be concluded that Moringa oleifera leaves meal can be used as a substitute of soybean meal as a source of protein in rabbit’s diets without detrimental effects on productive performance, health status and economic efficiency.
Genomic Imprinting and Modifier Genes in the Mouse

Imprinted genes provide an excellent experimental system to examine the epigenetic control of gene expression. This is, first, because an active and inactive allele of the same gene are present in the same cell, so that the differentiation between expressed and nonexpressed status involves cis -acting genetic elements, and, second, because there must exist a long-lasting memory of the origin of alleles (from sperm or egg) that is sustained through numerous rounds of replication. Here we examine the epigenetic features of the imprinted insulin-like growth factor 2 (Igf2) gene and postulate that some of the methylation and chromatin features in this gene are influenced or controlled by methylation and chromatin modifier genes. In the second part of the chapter, we describe a genetic system for the identification and potential isolation of such modifiers of methylation and chromatin. In mouse and human, the Igf2 gene is almost exclusively expressed from the paternal chromosome (DeChiara et al. 1991; Giannoukakis et al. 1993; Ohlsson et al. 1993). For a number of reasons, this particular gene is important for the study of mechanisms and consequences of imprinting. First, Igf2 has a very strong effect on fetal growth, one of the key phenotypes controlled by imprinted genes. Second, there are at least two other (maternally expressed) imprinted genes, Igf2r and H19, that interact with the Igf2 pathway (Wang et al. 1994; Leighton et al. 1995a). Third, the Igf2 region of imprinted genes is implicated in a number of human diseases, most notably the fetal overgrowth and.
Changes in the herbage nutritive value and yield associated with threshold responses of vegetation to grazing in Mongolian rangelands

We examined the changes in the nutritive value and yield of herbage along a grazing gradient, where abrupt changes in community composition occurred, at multiple ecological sites in Mongolian rangelands. At grassland sites, changes in the herbage nutritive value could be attributed to rapid replacement of perennial grasses or forbs with weedy annual forbs along a grazing gradient. Crude protein (CP) concentration increased sharply in approaching the source of grazing gradient, whereas neutral detergent fibre and metabolizable energy (ME) concentrations decreased sharply. As ME can be utilized as a main index of herbage nutritive value, these results indicated its overall loss with severe grazing. Consequently, gradual increases in the yields of CP and ME in the direction of the gradient source at the grassland sites did not necessarily indicate the improvement of rangeland condition. In contrast, at shrubland sites, we could not generally detect any significant trends in the herbage nutritive value. The yield of ME gradually decreased in the direction of gradient source, suggesting that grazing affects herbage yield rather than herbage feed value at shrubland sites. Thus, the nutritive value and yield of herbage can be modified greatly in association with nonlinear responses of vegetation to livestock grazing.