Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Zinc-Doped Titania Embedded on the Surface of Zirconia: A Potential Visible-Responsive Photocatalyst Material

The preparation and characterization of zirconia-supported titania with a zinc dopant had been studied. Zinc-doped titania was grown on the surface of zirconia by the sol-gel method. Various zinc contents and calcination temperatures were applied to investigate the zinc doping effect and crystal structure of the zirconia-titania composite. X-ray diffraction method, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, and UV-Vis reflectance spectroscopy were performed to characterize the composite. The morphology of the composite was observed by using a scanning electron microscope, and its composition was analyzed by using energy dispersive spectroscopy. Among various zinc dopant contents and calcination temperatures investigated, doping with 5% zinc (Zn wt./Ti wt.) at 900 °C calcination shows the best result in response to visible light with a bandgap of 2.87 eV and absorption edge wavelength of 432.61 nm.
Treating Advanced Gingival Recession: A Review of TreatmentOptions for Advanced Recession Defects

Citation: Nkem Obiechina. “Treating Advanced Gingival Recession: A Review of Treatment Options for Advanced Recession Defects”. EC Dental Science 19.5 (2020): 54-60. Abstract Gingival recession involves apical migration of gingival margin around teeth. It has potential to impair not only esthetics but can result in significant damage to the periodontium. A number of classification systems exist to classify extent of gingival recession. Based on two of the highly utilized classification systems on gingival recession it was noted that Miller Type I and Type II recession as well as Cairo’s RT1 recession seem to have the best overall prognosis for gingival coverage because they do not involve interproximal bone or attachment loss. With more advanced types of recession defects such as the Miller Type III and Cairo RT2 defects, there is diminished potential for complete root coverage, but it is possible that complete root coverage can still occur. The goal of this article is to provide a review of some advanced gingival recession defects and the grafting procedures that best result in gingival coverage, as well as conditions that maximize chances of achieving complete root coverage when advanced gingival recession exists.
Responses to nitrogen, phosphorus and sulphur applications to a Pinus radiata stand in the Tumut region, New South Wales

Summary Two experiments, one in an unthinned stand and one in a thinned stand, both testing the effects of nitrogen, phosporus and sulphur on the growth of 16-year-old Pinus radiata in the Tumut region of N.S. W. are described. In both experiments the only growth responses were to applied nitrogen. In the unthinned stand there was little response in basal area to application of 100 kg N/ha but there was a response to 400 kg N/ha. In the thinned stand there was a large response in basal area at the lower rate of application of fertilizer but little additional response at the higher rate. However, stand form factor increased at the higher rate with the consequence that there was a substantial increase in volume increment due to the higher rate of addition of nitrogen fertilizer. The basic density of wood produced after application of fertilizer was only 5% lower than in non-fertilized stems. Foliar analysis at the commencement of the trial indicated that all of the test nutrients were at adequate concentrati.
IMMUNOCYTOCHEMICAL LOCALIZATION OF CATECHOLESTROGEN IN THE RAT LIVER AFTER USING VARIOUS FIXATIVES

Catecholestrogen was localized in rat liver by immunocytochemical methods to study optimal fixation conditions in paraffin-embeded tissue. Rabbit anti-2-hydroxyestrone antiserum was obtained using 2-hydroxy estrone coupled with bovine serum albumin as the antigen. The most constantly positive staining for catecholestrogen was obtained with periodate-lysine paraformaldehyde (PLP) and buffered picric acid-paraformaldehyde (PAF), although other fixatives also showed staining results.
Hybridization and Evolution in the Phlox pilosa Complex

The large number of Phlox taxa whose attributes are intermediate to or are a composite of those of other taxa suggests that hybridization may haveplayed a major role in the evolution of the genus. Of special interest in this regard are the origins of P. pilosa subsp, deamii and P. amoena subsp. ligbtbipei which bridge the morphological hiatis between P. pilosa subsp. pilosa and P. amoena subsp, amoana. The former pair occur as enclaves within the area of distribution of their allies, P. pilosa subsp, deamii in southern Indiana, western Kentucky, and western Tennessee and P. amoena subsp, ligbtbipei in the Coastal Plain of Georgia. These entities may be interpreted as representing steps in an evolutionary series, as representing stabilized hybrid derivatives, or a combination of these viewpoints. Evidence derived from a number of sources strongly suggests that P. pilosa subsp, deamii and P. amoena subsp, ligbtbipei are products of hybridization followed by the rapid fixation of certain recombinant types. The barriers to gene exchange between P. pilosa subsp, pilosa and P. amoena subsp, amoena are moderate when considered singly, strong when considered collectively. Their flowering periods are comparable in season and duration. They are sympatric throughout a large sector of the south, eastern United States, but typically occur in different habitats, P. pilosa subsp, pilosa being the most mesic of the pair. The ecological plasticity of these phloxes is such, however, that on occasion both may occupy the same site thus providing an opportunity for cross-pollination. The barriers to crossing are moderate and can be breached if several crossing combinations are attempted. Gene flow via the hybrids is hampered as evidenced by their partial sterility which has a genic and chromosomal basis. Two instances of rather extensive hybridization have been discovered. Included in the array of hybrid types in the Natural Bridge, Alabama, population were phenotypes virtually identical to P. pilosa subsp, deamii and also P. amoena subsp, lighthipei. The phenotype of the latter also appeared as one of the recombination products in the second composite population from Parsons, Tennessee. These localities are outside of the range of both intermediate taxa. Not only have the aforementioned discoveries demonstrated that the barriers to hybridization can be surmounted in natural populations, but they afford conclusive evidence that the phenotypes of the intermediate taxa can by synthesized during hybridization between P. pilosa subsp, pilosa and P. amoena subsp, amoena and that these phenotypes can survive in an intermediate habitat. We propose that the progenitors P. araoena subsp, ligbtbipei and P. pilosa subsp, dearaii arose in populations similar to those described above. These plants may have become established near the hybrid populations and have given rise to a series of highly variable assemblages which evolved into stable evolutionary lines under the pressures of selection and genetic drift. Stabilization has occurred only along or near the periphery of the range of P. amoena subsp, araoena.
Reproductive Responses of Cowpea to Heat Stress: Genotypic Differences in Tolerance to Heat at Flowering 1

The effect of high temperature on ability of cowpea [Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp. ] to set pods was investigated under field conditions and in controlled environments. During hot weather in the Imperial Valley, Calif. , the cowpea strains TVu 4552, PI 204647, and ‘Prima’ produced substantial numbers of pods, while 55 other strains produced no or few pods, even though they produced numerous open flowers. Studies in growth chambers demonstrated that TVu 4552 has greater tolerance to high night and high day temperatures at flowering than the California cultivar, ‘California Blackeye No. 5’ (CBS), whereas Prima is intermediate. Susceptibility to high temperatures was associated with low pollen viability and indehischent anthers for CB5 and with anther indehiscence for Prima. Artificial pollination demonstrated that pistil viability of all three genotypes was not significantly affected by high temperature. Thus, the flower abscission observed with CB5 and Prima at high temperatures was mainly caused by male sterility. In addition, substantial levels of embryo abortion were observed with CB5 and Prima at high day temperatures. Apparently, Imperial Valley provides a suitable field environment during the summer for screening cowpeas for heat tolerance. This environment is presently being used to screen the segregating populations from crosses designed to incorporate the heat tolerance of TVu 4552 and Prima into genetic backgrounds suitable for the tropics and subtropics
The public and geese: a conflict on the rise?

ABSTRACT Wild geese are increasing in agricultural and urban settings across Europe, leading to widespread human – geese interactions. This study examined how the public’s acceptance of geese (attitude and acceptance capacity) varied depending on place dimensions, interactions with geese in different settings (place-based experience), and psychological factors, including wildlife value orientations, beliefs about the ecosystem services and disservices geese provide, and emotions. A survey was conducted in two municipalities with large goose populations in Sweden; Kristianstad and Örebro (n = 898). Results revealed a favorable view of the occurrence of geese, although a substantial share believed the number of geese was too high. Place-based experiences of geese were correlated with acceptance (e.g., more experience on beaches was associated with a negative attitude) and the importance of psychological factors for acceptance was confirmed. The study highlights the need to consider the public’s experiences of geese for sustainable goose management.
Sister species within the Triops cancriformis lineage (Crustacea, Notostraca)

We investigated the phylogenetic relationships among the three presently recognized subspecies of the tadpole shrimp, Triops cancriformis, using mitochondrial 16S and 12S rDNA sequences. Our results indicate that the taxon is divided into two distinct lineages. One lineage is formed of T. c. cancriformis populations and samples from northern Spain that had been classified as T. c. simplex in the most recent literature. The second lineage comprises all populations of T. c. mauritanicus and northern African populations of T. c. simplex. These two main lineages separated 2.3 to 8.9 million years ago, based on the range of inferred molecular clocks recognized for crustacean mtDNA sequence divergence. Percentages of divergence are in the range reported for recognized species in other notostracan lineages and we therefore propose to recognize them as two species, Triops cancriformis and Triops mauritanicus. The latter would comprise two subspecies in northern Africa, one consisting of the Moroccan populations of the former T. c. mauritanicus, the other comprising the African populations of the former T. c. simplex. It also includes three as‐yet unnamed lineages. A comparison of morphological characters with the molecular data revealed that the former T. c. simplex cannot be reliably separated from T. c. cancriformis, using morphological characters that have hitherto been used to distinguish among subspecies of T. cancriformis. Our investigation is the first to demonstrate the presence of T. c. cancriformis in Africa (Tunisia). The genetic haplotypes of these populations are identical with haplotypes also occurring in Central and Western Europe, as well as in Sicily. Therefore, we hypothesize that the African populations of T. c. cancriformis represent a result of repeated long‐distance dispersal across the Mediterranean Sea.
Phylogeography of the copper shark (Carcharhinus brachyurus) in the southern hemisphere: implications for the conservation of a coastal apex predator

The copper or bronze whaler shark (Carcharhinus brachyurus) is a large, coastal top predator that is vulnerable to overexploitation. We test the null hypothesis that copper sharks are panmictic throughout the southern hemisphere. We analysed part of the mitochondrial control region (mtCR) in 120 individuals from eight sampling areas, defining 20 mtCR haplotypes (h = 0.76 ± 0.06, π = 0.016 ± 0.0007). Significant genetic structure was detected among the following three major coastal regions separated by oceanic habitat: Australia–New Zealand, South Africa–Namibia and Peru (AMOVA ΦST = 0.95, P < 0.000001). A major phylogeographic discontinuity exists across the Indian Ocean, indicating an absence of at least female-mediated gene flow for ~3 million years. We propose that this species originated in the Atlantic, experienced vicariant isolation of Pacific and Atlantic lineages by the rise of the Isthmus of Panama and, subsequently, dispersed across the Pacific to colonise Australasia. Oceanic expanses appear to be traversed over evolutionary but not ecological timescales, which means that regional copper-shark populations should be assessed and managed independently.
Revisiting the cumulative capability model (CCM) among manufacturing firms in developing countries

Abstract We examine the applicability of the competitive cumulative capability model among firms in developing economies within the context of the manufacturing industry. We specifically investigate whether the pattern in which competitive capabilities are pursued differs among firms in different developing countries, as well as whether these firms pursue their capabilities in a cumulative fashion. Using a global dataset and focussing on firms in three developing countries that are geographically dispersed – Nigeria, India, and Vietnam – we investigate relationships for firms both within and across countries. Although notions of the cumulative capability model were confirmed, the pattern of the progression is different among firms in the three countries studied. The findings suggest that firms in different developing countries exhibit different manufacturing strategies based on their relative location to their performance frontier, their country’s current state of economic development, as well as the extent of western manufacturing influence in each country.
Characteristics of Yellow Perch Cannibalism in Oneida Lake and the Relation to First Year Survival

Abstract Because adult yellow perch were known to be cannibalistic in Oneida Lake, New York, this species was studied in 1965-71 to identify factors affecting the intensity of cannibalism and to evaluate the effect of cannibalism on the abundance of young perch. Adult perch changed their food habits in response to changes in the availability of different food items from June through September. Although young-of-the-year perch were most abundant in adult stomachs in August of most years, wide variations occurred in the annual intensity of cannibalism. Length and abundance of young perch, abundance of large chironomids and amphipods, and the size of the adult predator were identified as important factors for explaining variations in the frequency of occurrence of young perch in stomachs of adults. Correlations between the annual intensity of perch cannibalism and length and abundance of young perch imply that cannibalism operates as a compensatory or possibly an extrapensatory mortality process. The consump.
Parental origin and genomic evolution of tetraploid Gossypium species by molecular marker and GISH analyses

Polyploidy is a common phenomenon that has played a significant role in the evolutionary history of angiosperms. The allopolyploid Gossypium species (AD-genome) is the result of hybridization between two diploid species (A-genome and D-genome). In order to further explore the possible A- and D-genome donor of extant tetraploid cotton species, two molecular markers (random amplified polymorphic DNA [RPAD] and simple sequence repeat [SSR]) were employed on 13 cotton species including nine diploid (two A-genome and seven D-genome) and four tetraploid cotton species (AD-genome). Genomic in situ hybridization (GISH) was also used to further confirm the genomic origin and organization of tetraploid cotton species. The result showed that 26 of 40 RAPD primers and 49 of 120 SSR primers were polymorphic by 65% and 40.8% respectively. Clustering analyses for RAPD and SSR results indicated that the genome of G. raimondii is the nearest to the D-subgenome of tetraploid species, and it may be the ancestral D-genome donor of the tetraploid cotton. Because of the greatest genetic similarity coefficient between G. herbaceum and G. arboreum, two A-genome diploid species are phylogenetically equidistant from extant tetraploid cotton. GISH using one parental gDNA from A- or D-genome as a labeled probe together with an excess of another as blocking DNA, and tetraploid cotton as target, was found to a superior method for clearly distinguishing between two putative parental genomes. The phylogenetic and GISH results in this paper supported the hypothesis that the donors of the parental genomes are sisters of G. arboreum or G. herbaceum and G. raimondii and provided direct evidence for the origin and monophyly of the polyploidy Gossypium species.
Ecotone delimitation: Epigean-hypogean transition in cave ecosystems

Abstract The ecotone zone between epigean and hypogean environments has been delimited for two limestone caves using a new method proposed herein. The richness and the diversity of the ecotone, epigean and hypogean environments and their similarities have also been determined. The ecotones were delimited using a similarity matrix between the inner and outer sectors of each cave. The ecotone of Dona Rita's cave was estimated to be 12 m long and the ecotone of Retiro's cave 16 m. The richness (S) of arthropods in Dona Rita's cave was higher in the ecotone (S = 131), intermediate in the epigean environment (S = 75) and lower in the hypogean system (S = 45). The invertebrate diversity (H′) was lower in the hypogean environment (H′ = 2.89) and not statistically different between the epigean environment and the ecotone (H′ = 3.56 and H′ = 3.76, respectively). The richness in Retiro's cave was higher in the ecotone (S = 86), intermediate in the epigean environment (S = 39) and lower in the hypogean system (S = 12). The invertebrate diversity was lower in the hypogean environment (H′ = 0.48), intermediate in the ecotone (H′ = 3.02) and higher in the epigean region (H′ = 3.29). Species migration patterns, differential environmental barriers and determination of accidental versus trogloxenes/troglophylous species are topics that are primarily approached by establishing ecotone zones in caves. The aim of the present paper is to establish the delimitation of theses zones.
Assessment of Farmers’ Perception of Land Degradation and Coping Strategies in Yobe State, Nigeria

The study was conducted between December 2019 – February 2020 in Nguru, Po-tiskum and Gujba Local Government Areas of Yobe state, Nigeria with sole aim of assessing farmers’ perception of land degradation and coping strategies in the state. Descriptive Survey design involving both quantitative and qualitative methods us-ing structured questionnaire and Focused Group Discussions was adopted. A total of 110 farmers were sampled using Purposive and Convenient techniques. Respondents’ demographic data revealed that the majority of the respondents were uneducated male youth with good years of experience in farming practicing non-mechanised rain fed commercial farming with vast farmlands. Crops commonly grown were corn (Zea mays), groundnut (Arachis hypogeae), maize (Zea mays), beans (Phaseolus vulgaris), sesame (Sesamum indicum) and sorghum (Sorgum bicolor) and commonly observed forms of land degradation included wind erosions, soil nutrient depletion, loss of soil fertility, loss of vegetation cover and break down of soil structure. Other forms of land degradation peculiar to some of the studied places were bio-invasion and salinization in Nguru and serious water erosion in Potiskum. The most common unsustainable farming practices identified included deforestation, bush burning, mono-cropping, in-creased tillage, continuous cultivation, indiscriminate use of fertilizer and other agro-chemicals. The farmers’ perceptions on the causes of land degradation were not more different and included deforestation, bush burning, natural causes, continuous crop-ping etc. while its indicators according to the farmers’ perceptions included loss of soil fertility, poor crop yield etc. The farmers also believed that the major impacts of land degradation were reduced crop yield which translates into increased poverty among farming communities. With regards to the possible solutions to land degra-dation, the farmers believed that measures such as shifting cultivation, reforestation, stopping bush burning, mulching, use of organic manure, application of inorganic fer-tilizer etc. were adopted by the farmers. Besides, to cope with the impacts of droughts and delayed rains, the farmers usually practice early planting and use of improved seeds especially drought resistant seeds. Based on the outcome of the study, it was concluded that despite being fully aware of the environmental impacts of some farming practices such as bush burning, farmers in these areas still engage in many unfriendly farming practices probably due to poverty, culture or ignorance. Hence, it was against this background that a strong recommendation was proffered that special laws and regulations should be enacted to tackle human induced agricultural land degradation.
Effects of Land Use on Stream Water Quality in the Rapidly Urbanized Areas: A Multiscale Analysis

The land use and land cover changes in rapidly urbanized regions is one of the main causes of water quality deterioration. However, due to the heterogeneity of urban land use patterns and spatial scale effects, a clear understanding of the relationships between land use and water quality remains elusive. The primary purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of land use on water quality across multi scales in a rapidly urbanized region in Hangzhou City, China. The results showed that the response characteristics of stream water quality to land use were spatial scale-dependent. The total nitrogen (TN) was more closely related with land use at the circular buffer scale, whilst stronger correlations could be found between land use and algae biomass at the riparian buffer scales. Under the circular buffer scale, the forest and urban greenspace were more influential to the TN at small buffer scales, whilst significant positive or negative correlations could be found between the TN and the areas of industrial land or the wetland and river as the buffer scales increased. The redundancy analysis (RDA) showed that more than 40% variations in water quality could be explained by the landscape metrics at all circular and riparian buffer scales, and this suggests that land use pattern was an important factor influencing water quality. The variation in water quality explained by landscape metrics increased with the increase of buffer size, and this implies that land use pattern could have a closer correlation with water quality at larger spatial scales.