Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Response of Total (DNA) and Metabolically Active (RNA) Microbial Communities in Miscanthus × Giganteus Cultivated Soil to Different Nitrogen Fertilization Rates

Miscanthus × giganteus is a promising candidate for bioeconomy cropping systems; however, it remains unclear how the soil microbiome supplies nitrogen to this low-input crop. DNA-based techniques are used to provide community characterization, but may miss important metabolically active taxa. ABSTRACT Miscanthus × giganteus is a promising high-yielding perennial plant to meet growing bioenergy demands; however, the degree to which the soil microbiome affects its nitrogen cycling and subsequently, biomass yield remains unclear. In this study, we hypothesize that contributions of metabolically active soil microbial membership may be underestimated with DNA-based approaches. We assessed the response of the soil microbiome to nitrogen availability in terms of both DNA and RNA soil microbial communities from the Long-term Assessment of Miscanthus Productivity and Sustainability (LAMPS) field trial. DNA and RNA were extracted from 271 samples, and 16S small subunit (SSU) rRNA amplicon sequencing was performed to characterize microbial community structure. Significant differences were observed in the resulting soil microbiomes and were best explained by the sequencing library of origin, either DNA or RNA. Similar numbers of membership were detected in DNA and RNA microbial communities, with more than 90% of membership shared. However, the profile of dominant membership within DNA and RNA differed, with varying proportions of Actinobacteria and Proteobacteria and Firmicutes and Proteobacteria. Only RNA microbial communities showed seasonal responses to nitrogen fertilization, and these differences were associated with nitrogen-cycling bacteria. The relative abundance of bacteria associated with nitrogen cycling was 7-fold higher in RNA than in DNA, and genes associated with denitrifying bacteria were significantly enriched in RNA, suggesting that these bacteria may be underestimated with DNA-only approaches. Our findings indicate that RNA-based SSU characterization can be a significant and complementing resource for understanding the role of soil microbiomes in bioenergy crop production. IMPORTANCE Miscanthus × giganteus is a promising candidate for bioeconomy cropping systems; however, it remains unclear how the soil microbiome supplies nitrogen to this low-input crop. DNA-based techniques are used to provide community characterization, but may miss important metabolically active taxa. By analyzing both DNA- and actively transcribed RNA-based microbial communities, we found that nitrogen cycling taxa in the soil microbiome may be underestimated using only DNA-based approaches. Accurately understanding the role of microbes and how they cycle nutrients is important for the development of sustainable bioenergy crops, and RNA-based approaches are recommended as a complement to DNA approaches to better understand the microbial, plant, and management interactions.
Optimized preparation of activated carbon from municipal sewage sludge and application to the adsorption of azo dye from aqueous solutions

In this study, the conditions for preparation of active carbon from municipal sewage sludge (MSS) were optimized from application to the efficient removal of the azo dye, Acid Orange 7 (AO7), from aqueous solutions. To maximize the adsorption capacity (response variable) of the MSS‐derived activated carbon (MSS‐AC), a 3 k Box–Behnken design based on response surface methodology was used to simultaneously optimize five important conditions (independent variables), that is, carbonizing temperature (400–600°C), carbonizing time (0.5–2.0 h), impregnation ratio (1.0–3.5 g KOH/g MSS), activating temperature (600–800°C), and activating time (0.5–2.0 h). The optimal conditions were established as carbonizing temperature: 509°C, carbonizing time: 1.25 h, impregnation ratio: 2.3 g KOH/g MSS, activating temperature: 681°C, and activating time: 1.21 h, with an overall desirability function of 0.991. Further, the effects of various key parameters (solution pH, ionic strength, adsorbent dosage, initial concentration, contact time, and temperature) on the adsorption of AO7 on the as‐synthesized MSS‐AC were elucidated through a series of batch experiments. Adsorption kinetics and isotherm studies revealed that the adsorption process is accurately described by the pseudo‐second order and Sips models. The theoretical maximum adsorption capacity of AO7 was found to be ~1410 mg/g at 25°C, which is superior to that of the other adsorbents reported to date. Additionally, the intraparticle diffusion model suggested that the adsorption was controlled by both external surface adsorption and intraparticle diffusion. Thermodynamic studies also suggested that the adsorption of AO7 by MASS‐AC is exothermic and is governed by physisorption. © 2018 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Environ Prog, 38: S267–S276, 2019
Effect of Vermicompost Tea on Faba Bean Growth and Yield

Abstract This study investigated the effect of vermicompost tea (VCT) as a natural foliar fertilizer in faba bean. To determine the effect of VCT at different doses on the growth and reproduction of faba bean, VCT was produced and three different concentrations (0, 10, and 20% VCT) were applied as a foliar fertilizer to faba bean plants. Plant height, number of flowers, and pods per plant as well as soluble sugars were measured weekly after treatment for a period of 11 weeks. Treated plants were larger and had more flowers per clump, as well as more clumps and pods per plant than the control. Moreover, treated plants reached the flowering stage at least 3 weeks earlier than the control. This could be explained by the presence of nutrients, humic acid, and probably hormones in VCT, which may positively affect growth, reproduction, and yield. Treatment at 10% VCT presented better values than 20% VCT. The latter contained more humic acid, which probably limited growth and flowering. The soluble sugar and protein contents were higher in treated plants, and the highest values coincided with the flowering and reproductive stages. Similarly, seeds produced by treated plants were richer in protein that control seeds. These results indicate that 10% VCT is a useful fertilizer to improve growth in faba bean. This study highlights the possibility of using VCT as a foliar fertilizer to increase growth in faba bean.
R-loop Mapping and Characterization During Drosophila Embryogenesis Reveals Developmental Plasticity in R-loop Signatures

R-loops are involved in transcriptional regulation, DNA and histone post-translational modifications, genome replication and genome stability. To what extent R-loop abundance and genome-wide localization is actively regulated during metazoan embryogenesis is unknown. Drosophila embryogenesis provides a powerful system to address these questions due to its well-characterized developmental program, the sudden onset of zygotic transcription and available genome-wide ChIP and transcription data sets. Here, we measure the overall abundance and genome localization of R-loops in early and late-stage embryos relative to Drosophila cultured cells. We demonstrate that absolute R-loop levels change during embryogenesis and that resolution of R-loops is critical for embryonic development. R-loop mapping by strand-specific DRIP-seq reveals that R-loop localization is plastic across development, both in the genes which form R-loops and where they localize relative to gene bodies. Importantly, these changes are not driven by changes in the transcriptional program. Negative GC skew and absolute changes in AT skew are associated with R-loop formation in Drosophila. Furthermore, we demonstrate that while some chromatin binding proteins and histone modification such as H3K27me3 are associated with R-loops throughout development, other chromatin factors associated with R-loops in a developmental specific manner. Our findings highlight the importance and developmental plasticity of R-loops during Drosophila embryogenesis.
Analisis Faktor-Faktor yang Mempengaruhi Minat Menabung di Bank Syariah pada Masyarakat Kabupaten Banyumas

This study aims to analyze the effect of financial literacy, trust, location, income, and perception of profit sharing on interest in saving in Islamic banks. This type of research is quantitative. The sampling technique was simple random sampling and a sample of 100 respondents. The method of analysis used multiple linear regression. The results showed that financial literacy and location did not affect the interest in saving in Islamic banks in the people of Banyumas Regency. trust, income and perception of profit sharing have a positive and significant effect on the interest in saving in Islamic banks in the people of Banyumas Regency. the need to improve the provision of information about Islamic banks such as Islamic principles and products in Islamic banks, so that public interest in saving in Islamic banks will increase.
The radiative impact of out-of-cloud aerosol hygroscopic growth during the summer monsoon in southernWest Africa

Abstract. Water in the atmosphere exists as both vapour and liquid water contained in particles. At high humidities, more water vapour condenses onto particles and causes them to swell, sometimes up to several times their original size. This significant change in size and chemical composition is termed hygroscopic growth and alters a particle's optical properties. Even in unsaturated conditions, this can change the aerosol direct effect, for example by increasing the extinction of incoming sunlight. This can have an impact on a region's energy balance and affect visibility. Here, aerosol and relative humidity measurements collected from aircraft and radiosondes during the Dynamics-Aerosol-Chemistry-Cloud Interactions in West Africa (DACCIWA) campaign were used to estimate the effect of highly humid layers of air on aerosol optical properties during the monsoon season in southern West Africa. The effects of hygroscopic growth in this region are of particular interest due to the regular occurrence of high humidity and the high levels of pollution in the region. The Zdanovskii, Stokes and Robinson (ZSR) mixing rule is used to estimate the hygroscopic growth of particles under different conditions based on chemical composition. These results are used to estimate the aerosol optical depth (AOD) for 63 relative humidity profiles. A static aerosol profile was assumed. Therefore, these results show the extent of the AOD frequency distribution that can be explained by humidity alone, rather than predicting actual AOD values. The median AOD in the region from these calculations was 0.46, which compares to a median of 0.36 measured by sun photometers. The shape of the AOD frequency distribution was largely comparable to that of the sun photometer measurements, demonstrating that relative humidity is able to account for a large part of the region's AOD variability. Humid layers are found to have the most significant impact on AOD when they reach relative humidities greater than 98 %, which can result in a wet AOD up to seven times larger than the dry AOD. Unsaturated humid layers were found to reach these high levels of relative humidity in 37 % of observed cases. Aerosol concentrations in southern West Africa are projected to increase substantially in the coming years; results presented here show that the presence of highly humid layers in the region is likely to enhance the consequent effect on AOD significantly.
The role of self-evaluation in predicting attitudes toward supporters of COVID-19-related conspiracy theories: A direct and a conceptual replication of Cichocka et al. (2016)

We examined the role of people’s self-evaluation in predicting their attitudes toward supporters of COVID-19-related conspiracy theories by replicating and extending the findings of a study by Cichocka et al. (2016, Study 3) in two preregistered studies (total N = 1179). Study 1, a direct replication, confirmed that narcissism and self-esteem—two different sources of people’s self-evaluation—differentially predicted their beliefs in a series of well-known conspiracy theories (not related to COVID-19), and served as mutual suppressor variables. Specifically, narcissism was positively related and self-esteem was negatively related to conspiracy beliefs, especially when the respective other predictor was controlled for. Study 2 extended Cichocka’s and our Study 1’s findings by testing the differential role of self-esteem and narcissism in predicting a COVID-19-specific criterion. Specifically, we focused on people’s rejection of supporters of COVID-19 conspiracy theories, a criterion we deem particularly important in curtailing the spread of these theories. Results were generally in line with previous findings, but effects were substantially weaker. As suggested by exploratory analyses, this might be due to the fact that the overall rejection of supporters measure comprises not only items capturing rejection of supporters but also items capturing low beliefs in conspiracy theories. These two distinct components differentially related to self-esteem and narcissism: the differential role of self-esteem and narcissism could only be replicated for the “low belief” subcomponent (thus replicating findings from the original study and from Study 1) but not for the “rejection of supporters” subcomponent. The present work thus contributes to recent research suggesting that low belief in conspiracy theories and the rejection of their supporters might be qualitatively different responses with unique antecedents.
Enhanced mechanical and electrical properties of heteroscaled hydrogels infused with aqueous-dispersible hybrid nanofibers

Despite the widespread use as platforms for various biomedical applications, engineering hydrogels to impart multifunctionality and control physical properties, while closely mimicking the native cellular microenvironment, is still a significant challenge. Herein, nanofibers consisting of hydrophilic and photocrosslinkable biopolymer and conductive polymer (i.e. PEDOT:PSS) are first fabricated via electrospinning, cut into micrometer-lengths, and chemically crosslinked to develop dispersible hybrid nanofiber (dhNF) as heteroscale reinforcing elements for developing nanocomposite hydrogels. The dhNF can be readily dispersed in aqueous precursor solutions without dissolution and incorporated into hydrogels. The resulting ‘heteroscale’ dhNF-infused hydrogels, consisting of molecular and nanofibrous polymeric network, more closely resembles natural extracellular matrix, and show significant improvement on both mechanical strength and electrical conductivity, by dhNF concentration as well as PEDOT:PSS content in dhNF. These properties not only directly help improve the viability and proliferation of encapsulated cells, but also more effectively relayed external electrical stimulation mediated by enhanced conductivity.
Psychological Aspects Among Children and Adolescents of Orphanages at Assiut City

It is a catastrophe for any child the death of one or both parents. Children may feel with depression, hopelessness, loneliness, anger, confusion, helplessness, anxiety and a fear of being alone. This study aimed to assess psychological aspects among children and adolescents of orphanages at Assiut City. Subjects and method: A descriptive research design used to conduct this study. A purposive sample was used. The present study included 120 subjects. Setting: The study was conducted at Lillian Trasher, Dar El Hanan, and Dar El Safa. Tools of study included demographic data, multidimensional child and adolescent depression scale (MCADS) and child behavior checklist (parent form). Results of the study: Three fifth of studied orphans (60%) in the age group from (<1217years old). Also 65% of studied orphans were males. , there were statistically significant relations between age and most of depressive symptoms; also the most predominant problems were aggression, anxiety/depression and attention problem whereas thought problem was the least and internalizing behavioral problems were higher than externalizing behavioral problems (37.5% versus 34.2%). Conclusion: most orphans had different psychological problems and the prevalence of psychological problems/symptoms was more in adolescence age than child ages.Recommendation: Psychosocial counseling program can be designed and administered to orphan children and adolescents to improve depressive symptoms and their psychological status.
Real-time Disaggregation of Residential Energy Consumption Enhanced with User Feedback

Non-Intrusive Appliance Load Monitoring (NIALM) is a process for deducting what appliances are being used in a household by observing the total energy consumption over time. Such process makes it possible to provide energy management services to a large number of users without installation of per-appliance meters. This paper analyzes the performance of NIALM when used to provide real-time services. In addition, the paper studies how the performance of NIALM could be improved by dynamically selecting the disaggregation model on the basis of user feedback about the correctness of the disaggregation.
Elucidating the Role of Phosphoinositides in Melanogenesis: PIKfyve Regulates Melanogenic Processes through the Synthesis of PI(3,5)P2 and PI(5)P

Author(s): Liggins, Marc Christopher | Advisor(s): Ganesan, Anand K | Abstract: Epidermal melanocytes synthesize melanin within specialized lysosome-related organelles known as melanosomes. These melanosomes are transferred to neighboring keratinocytes where they surround nuclei to protect against ultraviolet-induced UV damage. The synthesis of melanin, a process known as melanogenesis, is subject to complex and intricate regulation at multiple levels. While extensive studies have elucidated many of the transcriptional and regulatory pathways, melanosomal trafficking comparatively far less understood. To further complicate matters, several lysosomal and autophagic components are utilized during these processes, but it is unclear what delineates the specificity of their regulation. To help elucidate these mechanisms, our laboratory conducted a genome-wide siRNA screen, which identified several novel regulators of melanogenesis. Several autophagy components, including the phosphoinositol binding protein WIPI1, were among those implicated in the screen. Through further investigation, it was determined that WIPI1 regulates both melanosomal transcription and trafficking, but the mechanism by which it coordinated both processes was not thoroughly elucidated. WIPI1 binds to three different phosphoinositides, PI(3)P, PI(3,5)P2, and PI(5)P, the latter two of which are synthesized by the PIKfyve kinase complex. PI(3,5)P2 and PI(5)P have been priorly implicated in regulating membrane trafficking and signaling pathways. Furthermore, mutation in select PI(3,5)P2 effectors or in the PIKfyve complex itself has been shown to affect pigment accumulation, though the mechanisms have not been priorly elucidated. In our studies, we have demonstrated that loss of PIKfyve in vivo results in the progressive loss of pigmentation. Disruption of the PIKfyve leads to defects in vesicle trafficking and severe vacuolization. Our in vitro and in vivo studies have identified similar disruption in melanocytes resulting in the inhibition of melanosome maturation and melanosomal acidification. These mechanisms would suggest an important role of PI(3,5)P2 in melanogenesis. In contrast, partial depletion of PIKfyve depleted WIPI1 and resulted in downregulation of these signaling pathways and expression of MITF-M and TYR, while the addition of PI(5)P had the opposite effect. Taken together these studies demonstrate novel regulatory roles of the PIKfyve complex, elucidating distinct roles of PI(3,5)P2 and PI(5)P in melanogenesis. These studies expand upon the fields of knowledge in both melanocyte and phosphoinositide biology and provide significant insight into the regulatory mechanisms of melanocytes.
Semi‐automatic methods for tracking the medial gastrocnemius muscle–tendon junction using ultrasound: a validation study

What is the central question of this study? Is the proposed semi‐automatic algorithm suitable for tracking the medial gastrocnemius muscle–tendon junction in ultrasound images collected during passive and active conditions? What is the main finding and its importance? The validation of a method allowing efficient tracking of the muscle–tendon junction in both passive and active conditions, in healthy as well as in pathological conditions. This method was tested in common acquisition conditions and the developed software made freely available.
Post‐Wildfire Generation of Debris‐Flow Slurry by Rill Erosion on Colluvial Hillslopes

Landscapes after wildfire commonly experience accelerated hillslope erosion, which often contributes to the mobilization and volume of debris flows. However, quantitative studies of the erosion and its relationship to rainfall, runoff, and landscape characteristics have been limited to a narrow range of physiographic conditions. We estimated the volume and delivery rate of slurry (a water‐sediment mixture) supplied to stream channels during a post‐wildfire rainstorm that generated large debris flows in six catchments above Montecito, CA, in 2018. We mapped the distribution of rills and measured their cross‐sectional geometries to quantify the influences of runoff, lithology, and hillslope characteristics on the sediment volumes released by rill erosion, and we scaled the results up to the 19.5 km2 of burned hillslopes in the source catchments. We computed the likely rate of surface runoff during the rainstorm and developed an empirical model for the evolution of a representative hillslope‐spanning rill to illustrate the magnitude and speed of the erosion process. Rilling was the dominant form of erosion across the hillslopes of the source catchments, and the rapid evacuation and mixing of water and sediment during rill formation supplied a slurry with high solids concentrations to stream channels. Colluvium on shale formations was more continuous, finer‐grained, and probably less permeable than colluvium on sandstones, and these differences affected the extent and dimensions of rills. As a result, shale hillslopes were the dominant source of slurry to the debris flows and supplied over twice as much slurry per unit burn area as sandstones.