Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Potential of Dioscorea bulbifera L. as a bio-insecticide in controlling dry wood termites (Cryptotermes cynocephalus Ligh.)

Currently, chemical control techniques prevent termite attacks, but these chemicals’ effects are concerning because they negatively impact human health and the environment. Therefore, pest control is focused on alternative insecticides that are effective, selective, biodegradable, and environmentally friendly. Several secondary metabolites from the methanolic extract of Dioscorea bulbifera leaves have insecticidal activities. This study aimed to examine the potential of D. bulbifera extract as a bio-insecticide in controlling dry-wood termites (Cryptotermes cynocephalus Light.). The study was conducted using a Completely Randomized Design (CRD) with seven treatments and three replications. The treatment in this study was a combination of concentration and source of D. bulbifera extract. Parameters observed were termite mortality, weight loss percentage of the paper disc, and damage degree. Based on the One-Way ANOVA test at a 5% significance level, the treatment had a significant effect on mortality but had no significant effect on the weight loss percentage and the degree of damage. A concentration of 50% from D. bulbifera extract leaves was able to control dry wood termites with mortality of 70.97%. , a weight loss percentage of 33.88%, and a degree of damage of 65.05%. This result indicates that D. bulbifera has the potential as a bio-insecticide in controlling dry wood termites.
Characterization and pretreatment of breaking seed dormancy Livistona speciosa Kurz, collection of Bogor Botanical Gardens

The palm plant, Livistona speciosa Kurz, belongs to the Arecaceae family. The slow germination of the seeds is just one of the issues this plant faces throughout its growth. This research aims to identify seeds’ morphological traits and the breakdown of seed dormancy. Observations made were testing viability, moisture content, characteristics of fruit and seeds, the effect of pretreatment on seed germination. The dry heat treatment at 50°C, the hot water soak at 50°C, the soak with GA and IAA solution for 1 hour, and the seed scarification treatment are the methods used to treat seeds that are breaking their dormancy. The results revealed the fruit was rounded, average length: 26,755 ± 1,253 mm; Diameter: 21.33 ± 1,356 mm and weight: 7,786 ± 0.906 grams. Ovoid-shaped seeds; average length: 20,772 ± 1.182 mm; diameter: 16.561 ± 1,160 mm and weight: 3.756 ± 0.648 gr. The highest germination capacity (pre-treatment of oven-dry 50°C and immersion with GA and IAA treatments) and the highest germination coefficient and simultaneously (hot water treatment at 50°C).
A Folk Theorem for Repeated Sequential Games

We study repeated sequential games where players may not move simultaneously in stage games. We introduce the concept of effective minimax for sequential games and establish a Folk theorem for repeated sequential games. The Folk theorem asserts that any feasible payoff vector where every player receives more than his effective minimax value in a sequential stage game can be supported by a subgame perfect equilibrium in the corresponding repeated sequential game when players are sufficiently patient. The results of this paper generalize those of Wen (1994), and of Fudenberg and Maskin (1986). The model of repeated sequential games and the concept of effective minimax provide an alternative view to the Anti-Folk theorem of Lagunoff and Matsui (1997) for asynchronously repeated pure coordination games. Copyright 2002, Wiley-Blackwell.
Jump processes and nonlinear fractional heat equations on metric measure spaces

Jump processes on metric‐measure spaces are investigated by using heat kernels. It is shown that the heat kernel corresponding to a σ ‐stable type process decays at a polynomial rate rather than at an exponential rate as a Brownian motion. The domain of the Dirichlet form associated with the jump process is a Sobolev–Slobodeckij space, and the embedding theorems for this space are derived by using the heat kernel technique. As an application, we investigate nonlinear fractional heat equations of the form
Developing a precision spatial information system of smallholder oil palm plantations for sustainable rural development

Oil-palm products are contributes significantly to economic growth, creating jobs and government revenue. Of the 14 million ha of Indonesian oil palm plantation, 40% are smallholder farming characterized by low productivity, irregular distribution, and fragmented. The lack of smallholder farming traceability information is one of the main issues for product certification, which make it difficult to access the international markets and is an obstacle to increasing productivity and developing rural-based processing. The OPTIMAL-IPB technology using Artificial Intelligence (AI) approach provides precise spatial information. The objectives of this research, which were carried out in Jambi Province are to detect precisely: (1) the positions, numbers, and areas of smallholder oil palm plantation in the village with precision; (2) the suitability of the spatial distribution of oil palm plantations compared to the spatial plan (RTRW); (3) potential income of farmers and land tax at village level based on production estimates. The study significantly increased the accuracy and detailed information of palm oil farming data, providing essential information for land use control and the traceability of oil palm products. Village and regency governments can utilize this spatial information system for income tax calculations, preparing various production, and income improvement programs.
Intrinsic ferromagnetism due to cation vacancies in Gd-doped GaN : First-principles calculations

We report total-energy electronic-structure calculations based on density-functional theory that clarify magnetism of Gd-doped GaN. We find that Ga vacancies with the magnetic moment of $3{\ensuremath{\mu}}_{B}$ formed upon Gd doping interact ferromagnetically with each other and thus cause gigantic magnetic moments per Gd atom. Our detailed analyses are indicative of intrinsic ferromagnetism due to cation vacancies rather than magnetic dopants in nitride semiconductors.
Continuum Radiation from Active Galactic Nuclei

Continuum radiation from shocked gas is calculated for a large range of wave-lengths. The basic dynamical processes are jets and winds which produce shock waves by interaction with gaseous inhomogeneities in active galactic nuclei. Four representative cases of emitting gas clouds are considered, and the continuum emission is calculated for each case. In the radio band, synchrotron emission is due to acceleration of particles through the shock front. High temperatures in the postshock zone produce X-rays by free-free emission which extends to the radio range. In addition, the presence of dust, cooling the gas by grain-gas collisions, affects the whole continuum spectrum and produces a strong infrared emission. 37 refs.
A new approach for testing the Rasch model

Though calibration of an achievement test within psychological and educational context is very often carried out by the Rasch model, data sampling is hardly designed according to statistical foundations. However, Kubinger, Rasch, and Yanagida (2009) recently suggested an approach for the determination of sample size according to a given Type I and Type II risk, and a certain effect of model misfit when testing the Rasch model is supported by some new results. The approach uses a three-way analysis of variance design with mixed classification. There is a (fixed) group factor A, a (random) factor B of testees within A, and a (fixed) factor C of items cross-classified with . The simulation study in this article deals with further item parameter ranges and ability parameter distributions, and with larger sample sizes and item numbers than the original paper. The results are: The approach works given several restrictions, and its main aim, the determination of the sample size, is attained.
Debiased estimation of proportions in group testing

Summary. In the assessment of disease, estimation of the proportion of infected units in a population can sometimes be facilitated by pooling units into groups for testing. Such group testing was used in a study of virus infection levels in carnation plants grown in glasshouses. In group testing problems, the maximum likelihood estimator is a biased estimator of the population proportion. We investigate the bias of the maximum likelihood estimator when testing groups of different size, using fixed and sequential procedures. The possibility of obtaining all positive groups contributes substantially to the bias. Analytical methods are shown to correct the bias for fixed procedures satisfactorily. For sequential procedures, with their uneven bias patterns, we propose a numerical method of correction which produces an almost unbiased estimator.
Current Distribution and Input Impedance of a Loop Antenna in a Cold Magnetoplasma

A study is made of the current distribution and the input impedance of a circular thin strip-loop antenna immersed in a cold collisionless uniform magnetoplasma. Assuming the loop axis to be aligned with an external static magnetic field, exact integral equations are formulated for the current distribution on the antenna, when it is subject to the excitation of a slice voltage generator. It is shown that, for a narrow enough strip, the equations can be approximated and solved analytically. Closed-form expressions for the antenna current distribution and the input impedance are derived and analyzed, with special emphasis placed on the resonant plasma case. The results obtained are compared with those following from existing approximate theories, and are applied to the analysis of the antenna characteristics for the whistler frequency band in a magnetoplasma modeled upon the earth's ionosphere.
α-Synuclein and Mechanisms of Epigenetic Regulation

Synucleinopathies are a group of neurodegenerative diseases with common pathological lesions associated with the excessive accumulation and abnormal intracellular deposition of toxic species of α-synuclein. The shared clinical features are chronic progressive decline of motor, cognitive, and behavioral functions. These disorders include Parkinson’s disease, dementia with Lewy body, and multiple system atrophy. Vigorous research in the mechanisms of pathology of these illnesses is currently under way to find disease-modifying treatment and molecular markers for early diagnosis. α-Synuclein is a prone-to-aggregate, small amyloidogenic protein with multiple roles in synaptic vesicle trafficking, neurotransmitter release, and intracellular signaling events. Its expression is controlled by several mechanisms, one of which is epigenetic regulation. When transmitted to the nucleus, α-synuclein binds to DNA and histones and participates in epigenetic regulatory functions controlling specific gene transcription. Here, we discuss the various aspects of α-synuclein involvement in epigenetic regulation in health and diseases.
Developmental Inhibitory Changes in the Primary Somatosensory Cortex of the Stargazer Mouse Model of Absence Epilepsy

Childhood absence epilepsy seizures arise in the cortico-thalamocortical network due to multiple cellular and molecular mechanisms, which are still under investigation. Understanding the precise mechanisms is imperative given that treatment fails in ~30% of patients while adverse neurological sequelae remain common. Impaired GABAergic neurotransmission is commonly reported in research models investigating these mechanisms. Recently, we reported a region-specific reduction in the whole-tissue and synaptic GABAA receptor (GABAAR) α1 subunit and an increase in whole-tissue GAD65 in the primary somatosensory cortex (SoCx) of the adult epileptic stargazer mouse compared with its non-epileptic (NE) littermate. The current study investigated whether these changes occurred prior to the onset of seizures on postnatal days (PN) 17–18, suggesting a causative role. Synaptic and cytosolic fractions were biochemically isolated from primary SoCx lysates followed by semiquantitative Western blot analyses for GABAAR α1 and GAD65. We found no significant changes in synaptic GABAAR α1 and cytosolic GAD65 in the primary SoCx of the stargazer mice at the critical developmental stages of PN 7–9, 13–15, and 17–18. This indicates that altered levels of GABAAR α1 and GAD65 in adult mice do not directly contribute to the initial onset of absence seizures but are a later consequence of seizure activity.
The Impact of Community-Level Variables on Individual-Level Outcomes

The authors study alternative estimators of the impacts of higher level variables in multilevel models. This is important since many of the important variables in social science research are higher level factors having impacts on many lower level outcomes such as school achievement and contraceptive use. While the large sample properties of alternative estimators for these models are well known, there is little evidence about the relative performance of these estimators in the sample sizes typical in social science research. The authors attempt to fill this gap by presenting evidence about point estimation and standard error estimation for both two-and three-level models. A major conclusion of the article is that readily available commercial software can be used to obtain both reliable point estimates and coefficient standard errors in models with two or more levels as long as appropriate corrections are made for possible error correlations at the highest level.
The association between body mass index groups and metabolic comorbidities with healthcare and medication costs: a nationwide biobank and registry study in Finland

ABSTRACT Background: The increasing prevalence of obesity imposes a significant cost burden on individuals and societies worldwide. Objective: In this nationally representative study, the association between body mass index (BMI) groups and the number of metabolic comorbidities (MetC) with total direct costs was investigated in the Finnish population. Study design, setting, and participants: The study cohort included 5,587 adults with BMI ≥18.5 kg/m2 who participated in the cross-sectional FinHealth 2017 health examination survey conducted by the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare. Data on healthcare resource utilization (HCRU) and drug purchases were collected from national healthcare and drug registers. Main outcome measure: The primary outcome was total direct costs (costs of primary and secondary HCRU and prescription medications). Results: Class I (BMI 30.0–34.9 kg/m2) and class II – III (BMI ≥35.0 kg/m2) obesity were associated with 43% and 40% higher age- and sex-adjusted direct costs, respectively, compared with normal weight, mainly driven by a steeply increased comorbidity in the higher BMI groups. In all BMI groups combined, individuals with ≥2 MetCs comprised 39% of the total study population and 60% of the total costs. Conclusion: To manage the cost burden of obesity, treatment should be given equal consideration as other chronic diseases, and BMIs ≥30.0 kg/m2 should be considered in treatment decisions.
Undocked Tails, Mycoplasma-like Lesions and Gastric Ulcers in Slaughtering Pigs: What Connection?

Simple Summary Many factors contribute to the welfare and health of animals in commercial production systems and, if not well managed, might contribute to the onset of abnormal behaviors such as tail biting on pig farms. This is an expensive and welfare-decreasing complication in the current modern swine industry that might be particularly challenging in farms rearing undocked pigs. Legal and market-driven requirements of pork production from undocked pigs are increasing the percentage of animals with long tails and consequences should be evaluated. The aim of the present work was to monitor tail, pluck (lungs, pleurae, and liver), stomach, carcass, and thigh lesions in slaughtering pigs belonging either to conventional docked batches or to batches from farms with the complete ban on tail docking. Results showed a higher prevalence of tail lesions on undocked batches, suggesting that more and alternative efforts to manage long-tailed animals are needed. Moreover, undocked batches showed higher frequencies for mycoplasma-like lesions in lungs and gastric ulcers, even if it is still not clear whether tail lesions share the same predisposing factors of lung lesions and gastric ulcers, or whether tail lesions might have a role in the causality and onset of the other conditions. Abstract Tail biting is an economical and behavioral problem in the pork production system worldwide and systematic tail docking has been applied for decades to decrease the risk of its onset. However, legal and market-driven requirements are leading pig producers to rear undocked animals. The aim of this work was to monitor tail, pluck (lungs, pleurae, and liver), stomach, carcass, and thigh lesions in slaughtering pigs belonging to either docked or undocked batches. A total of 525 batches were evaluated at slaughter: 442 docked and 83 undocked batches. The presence of tail lesions was only recorded in undocked batches (44.0 ± 0.402 vs. 0.2 ± 0.2% compared to docked ones, p < 0.001), with a prevalence of severe chronic lesions of 27.3% ± 0.032, suggesting that more and alternative wide efforts to manage long-tailed animals are needed. On the contrary, docked animals showed more frequent ear lesions (9.6% ± 0.037 vs. 4.6% ± 0.019; p = 0.0001). Severe lung lesions were found more frequently in undocked animals (9.2% ± 0.043 vs. 6.6% ± 0.011, p = 0.006), as well as gastric ulcers (26.1% ± 0.021 vs. 20.3% ± 0.37, p = 0.006). These lesions might share the same predisposing factors of tail lesions; the latter might be investigated as an iceberg indicator for other pathological conditions in undocked pigs and eventual causal association among lesions in these organs should be explored.
A full-chain stochastic tube model for entangled melts and solutions of linear polymers

We describe a full-chain stochastic tube model for entangled melts and solutions of linear polymers. The model incorporates two forces that result from chain confinement: a tensile force along the chain that prevents chain collapse and a transverse force that keeps the chain within the virtual tube. The model tracks conjugate constraint pairs and utilizes a consistent approach to constraint release and renewal. Chain loops within the tube are permitted. A single time-scaling adjustable parameter is required. Model predictions are compared with published transient and steady-state data on two entangled polystyrene solutions.
Time Farms Stay Naïve for Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome

Simple Summary Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome (PRRS) is one of the main infectious diseases affecting swine herds in the U.S. Control and elimination are facing challenges, including the absence of a vaccine that confers sterilizing immunity. Elimination through herd closure can also be a long, uncertain, and costly process, with herds often taking around 41 weeks to start consistently weaning virus-free piglets after an outbreak is detected. Thus, producers and practitioners may hesitate in pursuing elimination if there is a perception that the herd will soon face another PRRS outbreak, opting instead to maintain some level of immunity in the herd indefinitely. Of all the breeding herds monitored over 12 years, only about 1/6 eliminated PRRS from their herds and remained, on average, PRRS-free for two years. After eliminating PRRS, the average percentage of new outbreaks per year was 23%, similar to the national average of 20–25% (regardless of the previous PRRS status). Additional factors might contribute to the decision to pursue elimination, and further studies are warranted. Abstract Background: Hesitation on eliminating Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome virus (PRRSV) from breeding herds exists since it is difficult to predict how long the herd will remain virus-free. We aimed to estimate the time that breeding herds remained virus-free (naïve) after PRRSV elimination was achieved. Methods: Production systems voluntarily shared their breeding herds’ health status weekly between July 2009 and October 2021. PRRSV incidence rate and the total number of days a breeding herd remained virus-free were estimated. Results: A total of 221 (17%) herds reached the naïve status 273 times. The median time sites remained in this status was approximately two years. The overall PRRS incidence rate after sites achieved a naïve status was 23.43 PRRS outbreaks per 100 farm years. Conclusion: Estimates obtained here provide insights on how frequently and for how long sites remain naïve, which contribute to informing management practices for PRRS control.
Transcriptome Analysis of CYP450 Family Members in Fritillaria cirrhosa D. Don and Profiling of Key CYP450s Related to Isosteroidal Alkaloid Biosynthesis

Fritillaria cirrhosa D. Don (known as Chuan-Bei-Mu in Chinese) can synthesize isosteroidal alkaloids (ISA) with excellent medicinal value, and its bulb has become an indispensable ingredient in many patented drugs. Members of the cytochrome P450 (CYP450) gene superfamily have been shown to play essential roles in regulating steroidal alkaloids biosynthesis. However, little information is available on the P450s in F. cirrhosa. Here, we performed full-length transcriptome analysis and discovered 48 CYP450 genes belonging to 10 clans, 25 families, and 46 subfamilies. By combining phylogenetic trees, gene expression, and key F. cirrhosa ISA content analysis, we presumably identify seven FcCYP candidate genes, which may be hydroxylases active at the C-22, C-23, or C-26 positions in the late stages of ISA biosynthesis. The transcript expression levels of seven FcCYP candidate genes were positively correlated with the accumulation of three major alkaloids in bulbs of different ages. These data suggest that the candidate genes are most likely to be associated with ISA biosynthesis. Finally, the subcellular localization prediction of FcCYPs and transient expression analysis within Nicotiana benthamiana showed that the FcCYPs were mainly localized in the chloroplast. This study presents a systematic analysis of the CYP450 gene family in F. cirrhosa and provides a foundation for further functional characterization of the CYPs involved in ISA biosynthesis.
Effect of Yogurt Enrichment with Wood Tannin during Shelf Life: Focus on Physicochemical, Microbiological, and Sensory Characteristics

Six food-grade tannins obtained from different woods were used as a source of polyphenolic compounds at two concentrations (0.5% and 1% w/w) in yogurt formulations and monitored during 3 weeks of storage. Yogurt containing tannins showed significantly higher total phenolic content (+200%), antioxidant activity (+400%), and syneresis (+100%) than control. These changes were higher with fortification at 1%. Tannin origin also significantly influenced the yogurt composition and yogurt obtained from a Turkish gall showed higher values of total phenolic content (4 mg GAE/g) and antioxidant activity (17 μM Trolox/g). Yogurt color was evaluated by CIELab parameters, and their values were influenced by tannin origin and concentration. The addition of tannins did not significantly affect the number of lactic acid bacteria. Yogurt with a lower amount of tannins (0.5% w/w) received higher consumer acceptability but significant differences in preferences were due to tannin origin. In particular, yogurt added with tannin obtained from Quebracho wood at 1% w/w showed higher consumer preference. The obtained results would provide an opportunity for dairy producers to develop a novel dairy food with high nutritional quality.