Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Improvement of Fungal Phytase Production and Its In-vitro Application in Ruminant Nutrition

Various fungal genotypes (Aspergillus niger NRRL 3135 (AN1), Aspergillus niger NRRL 326 (AN26), Aspergillus terrus F2-Kh (AT) and Mucor racemosus NRRL 3639 (MI)) were studied for their ability to produce phytase and improve the produced enzyme by ethyl-methane sulfonate (EMS) mutagenesis. AN1 showed the highest phytase activity on phytase screening medium supplemented with glucose (PSMG) after 8 days of incubation (reached 1875.40 IU/mL). The phytase activity of AN1 increased with increasing incubation time and the highest value was achieved at 12 days of incubation (2859.33 IU/mL). The exposure of AN1 spore suspension to 200 mM of EMS for different times enhanced the phytase activity and that mutant 20 Mn exhibited the highest phytase activity (reached 4520.5 IU/mL) therefore it was chosen for the next experiment. An in-vitro gas production procedure was carried out to evaluate the impact of using various amounts of laboratory produced phytase (PE) compared with commercial phytase (Axtra® PHY) on nutrients availability of ruminant's ration. Six levels (0, 400, 800, 1200, 1600 and 2000 IU phytaseKg dry matter) of phytase enzyme were evaluated with tested ration consisted of 40% berseem hay (BH) and 60% concentrate feed mixture (CFM). In-vitro dry and organic matter degradability (IVDMD and IVOMD), total gas production (GP), short chain fatty acids (SCFA’s) and inorganic phosphorus (Pi) concentration were improved significantly (P<0.05) by phytase addition from the two sources of phytase and the highest significant (P<0.05) values achieved at the level of 1200 IU. Results suggest that phytase activity was influenced by exposure to EMS mutagen compared to the wild type. Also, the produced enzyme source has the ability to improve the utilization efficiency of phytate diets as evidenced by the significant (P<0.05) increase in all tested parameters compared to the commercial source.
Development of a membrane integrity monitoring strategy for the UF/RO Heemskerk drinking water treatment plant

At the Heemskerk water treatment plant of N.V. PWN Water Supply Company North Holland the first full scale integrated membrane system in the Netherlands is realized. The 20 Mm3/year (15 MGD) ultrafiltration (UF)/reverse osmosis (RO) plant servicing IJssel Lake water has been in operation since the second half of 1999. Disinfection is a major objective of the direct surface water treatment plant without chemical disinfection. After UF indicator organisms such as E. coli and Clostridia spores were absent. Integer UF membranes removed MS-2 phage spikes completely (<5.4 log), severely compromised membranes removed 2.7 log only. RO showed a high although incomplete removal of MS-2 phages (up to 4.8 log). Therefore integrity monitoring is a critical issue. Before installation, vacuum testing was applied with a criterion of 10 kPa/min. Many standard modules failed to pass the test. During operation UF is monitored by 1 μm particle counting with 0.05 μm particle counting as a quality control. A 3 log removal can be established. At this moment for RO conductivity measurement is applied enabling a 2 log removal monitoring. Short term monitoring of conductivity will be replaced by sulfate, increasing the monitoring range by 1 log unit. The total monitoring range of 5-6 log units easily satisfies the maximum disinfection requirement for the membrane steps for viruses of 3.6 log. To determine a wider range of disinfection requirements PWN together with Norit Membrane Technology developed the Spiked Integrity Monitoring (SIM®) System. Spiking with 14000 PAC particles/ml combined with 1 μm particle counting increased the potential for log removal monitoring of UF to 5.8 log units. Additionally PAC particle spiking increased the potential to detect UF fiber compromising. During the first 200 days of full scale operation, system performance is excellent. Membrane integrity control is very satisfactory and SIM®-System integrity control has proved to be a valid technique to establish a broader range of required inactivation capacities.
Gender-responsive budgeting in Austria: The narrow line between implementation and confirmation

IMPACT The Austrian case emphasizes that Gender-Responsive Budgeting (GRB) is most successful if underpinned by legislation; however, overly detailed and rigorous guidelines might constrain advancements in the framework. This paper shows the ‘blank spots’ where GRB analyses were not undertaken, indicating the importance of formal checks and (independent) policy assessments to ensure meaningful analysis and planning of actions. Political support is crucial for diffusion; however, it is not a guarantee to fully exploit GRB’s potential. Finally, training strengthens the starting basis for implementation and needs to be extended in later periods of the implementation. ABSTRACT The paper studies the adoption of Gender-Responsive Budgeting (GRB), drawing on Rogers’ model for the diffusion of innovations, for two major elements of the Austrian approach to GRB—regulatory gender impact assessments and gender aspects in audits—through document analyses. The study analyses the significant impact of the implementation context (such as the constitutional anchoring, the preparation plan, capacity building and methodological guidelines) on the results of the implementation. The research demonstrates that ‘implementation’ and the ultimate ‘confirmation’ of GRB vary across governmental sectors and successful meaningful application require complementary implementation activities.
Habitats and seasons differentiate the assembly of bacterial communities along a trophic gradient of freshwater lakes

1. Freshwater lakes are subject to variable degrees of eutrophication. Within lakes, the planktonic bacterial community (PBC) and sediment bacterial community (SBC) are both significant participants in biogeochemical processes of lake eco-systems. However, how the assembly patterns of bacterial communities vary sea-sonally along a trophic gradient in freshwater lakes is poorly understood. 2. Here, we collected and analysed water and sediment samples from 13 shallow lakes located in an urban region of China during summer and winter, the trophic states of which ranged from mesotrophic to middle eutrophic
Performance Evaluation of Humanities and Social Sciences Scholarship Programs in the Thai Higher Education System

Higher education in Thailand has undergone major changes due to digital disruptions, demographic transitions, and the immense competition which increases the need for continuous education, learning and human resources development. The purposes of this convergent parallel mixed methods study were as follows: (1) to monitor and evaluate humanities and social sciences in scholarship programs in the Thai higher education system; (2) to assess the outcome and the impact of the humanities and social sciences scholarship program; and (3) to provide feedback on how to increase the performance of the program. The quantitative design employed a set of surveys consisting of 114 items with a Cronbach's alpha reliability between . 956-. 996. The sample consisted of 208 faculty members across Thailand in the humanities and social sciences who received government scholarships. The qualitative data purposively conducted interviews with 27 participants from 12 different universities. The quantitative research showed that the factors related to the program outcomes and impact identified a significant relationship between the program Context, Input, Process, and Outcome and with high correlation coefficient (r) at . 579, . 522, . 459 and . 779, respectively. The qualitative research presented comprehensive recommendations to improve the performance of humanities and social science faculty members.
Prominence of Information Richness in Accepting Online Based Self-Service Technologies

Most of the service organizations are now moving to provide their services at a remote basis with Self-Service Technologies (SSTs). This is a natural outcome of technological maturity and would be the norm of many service transactions in future. Currently in many of the services, customers have the choice to use either SSTs or physical service encounters with service employees according to their desire. However, the future is predicted to replace many service employees with self-service machines and humanoid robots. Therefore, it is the responsibility of the service organizations to make their customers ready for such a future. Use of self-service technologies typically take place without the presence of organization’s service staff. Thus, machines should provide necessary guidance and instructions to customers so that they can perform well without difficulties. If SSTs are not rich with information, customers would be in trouble without proceeding with their transactions successfully. Therefore, the quality of information would be a matter for successful online based self -service transactions. Thus, the aim of this study is to understand the information richness in online based self-service technologies from the customer perspective. Using the qualitative approach, semi structured interviews were conducted with 25 individuals who have experience in using online based SSTs. The study found seven key factors which determine the richness of information in online platforms namely ‘Relevance, Timeliness, Accuracy, Clarity, Consistency, Sufficiency and Simplicity’. The study enriches the theoretical landscapes by broadening the understanding on significance of information richness in accepting online based self-service technologies while on practical ground provides insights for service providers in designing their SSTs with rich and necessary information which is required to perform successful transactions.
The Role of Glass Additives in the Properties of Lime-Based Grouts

Various types of additives have been diachronically used in historic mortars, whereas their use in lime-based grouts, used for the restoration of historic structures, is rather limited. In this study, an effort was made to investigate the performance of glass additives in grouts, consisting of lime and natural pozzolan. The additives concerned glass fibers (3 and 6 mm in length), glass beads and bubbles, added in a proportion 0.3–3% w/w of binders. Five grout compositions were manufactured and their properties at fresh and hardened states were tested. From the evaluation of the results, it was asserted that glass additives influenced the grouts’ performance in a favorable way. Their fresh state and physical properties were maintained or slightly improved, while there was a significant enhancement of the long-term mechanical characteristics of the mixes. Additionally, the adhesion capability of grouts was notably increased, which is a crucial aspect indicating their efficacy.
Analysis of the Impact of Ride-Hailing Services on Motor Vehicles Crashes in Madrid

In most cities, discretionary passenger transport by car is predominantly supplied by taxi services. These services face competition from new digital platforms (UBER, Cabify, etc.) that connect users with the services offered by authorized drivers with a license for rented vehicles with drivers (VTC). However, very little is known about the impacts that these services produce in cities where they operate. So far, most studies on this issue have focused on cities of the United States of America, and they broadly found a positive impact in terms of road safety. Road safety has become one of the priority focuses for ensuring social welfare, to the point of being integrated into the Sustainable Development Goals as a primary value to achieve sustainable, safe and responsible mobility. Within this context, the objective of this paper is to analyze the impact of ride-hailing platforms on the frequency of traffic accidents with at least one fatally or seriously injured person in the municipality of Madrid from 2014 to 2018. To do this, a regression analysis has been carried out using a random effects negative binomial regression (RENB). The results of the model show that Uber and Cabify services are associated with a decrease in fatal and serious accidents in Madrid.
Stress urinary incontinence among Jordanian women living in rural areas: Prevalence, associated factors and self-management behaviours

ABSTRACT Objectives: To assess the prevalence of stress urinary incontinence (SUI) among Jordanian women aged 35–65 years living in in rural areas and its associated risk factors. Patients and methods: A cross-sectional study utilising a convenience sample of 1000 non-pregnant women who were recruited from healthcare centres and community settings. Participants completed a structured questionnaire that included demographic and gynaecological data, and questions about SUI. Descriptive analysis and logistic regression were used to analyse the data. Results: Overall, 551 women (55.1%) reported having SUI with a duration of 37.9–47.6 months. The mean age of the women was 45.38 years and 29.6% were post-menopausal. Moreover, 40.6% were overweight, 38.9% obese, and 16.9% were smokers. Married women comprised 81.8%; with 37.1% having four to six children and 92.8% had a normal delivery, whereas 28% had a history of caesarean section. Coughing was the major precipitating factor for SUI (87.7%). In addition, 64.8% of women with SUI did not avoid activities that precipitated SUI such as housekeeping and lifting, and 78.6% did not seek any medical care. The major significant correlates for SUI were: high body mass index (odds ratio [OR] 2.506, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.744–3.600, P < 0.001), being aged >50 years (OR 1.716, 95% CI 1.183–2.489, P = 0.004), a history of gynaecological/pelvic surgery (OR 1.631, 95% CI 1.206–2.205, P = 0.001), and vaginal delivery (OR 1.052, 95% CI 1.004–1.101, P = 0.033). Conclusion: SUI prevalence among Jordanian women is high with symptoms reported in more than a half of study participants. Older age, obesity, a history of gynaecological surgery, and history of vaginal delivery were the major correlates of SUI. Public awareness is needed to identify the condition for early diagnosis and treatment of SUI. Abbreviations: BMI: high body mass index; OR: odds ratio; (M)(S)(U)UI: (mixed) (stress) (urge) urinary incontinence
The influence of conversational role on phonetic alignment toward voice-AI and human interlocutors

ABSTRACT Two studies investigated the influence of conversational role on phonetic imitation toward human and voice-AI interlocutors. In a Word List Task, the giver instructed the receiver on which of two lists to place a word; this dialogue task is similar to simple spoken interactions users have with voice-AI systems. In a Map Task, participants completed a fill-in-the-blank worksheet with the interlocutors, a more complex interactive task. Participants completed the task twice with both interlocutors, once as giver-of-information and once as receiver-of-information. Phonetic alignment was assessed through similarity rating, analysed using mixed effects logistic regressions. In the Word List Task, participants aligned to a greater extent toward the human interlocutor only. In the Map Task, participants as giver only aligned more toward the human interlocutor. Results indicate that phonetic alignment is mediated by the type of interlocutor and that the influence of conversational role varies across tasks and interlocutors.
The influence of the SSB’s characteristics toward Sharia compliance of Islamic banks

Abstract This paper aims to examine the influence of SSBs’ characteristics toward Sharia compliance of Islamic banks in Asia and Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). An epistemological model of the unity of knowledge was applied to determine the contribution of SSB to the Sharia compliance of Islamic banks that can create the well-being. The samples in this study are Islamic banks in Asia and Gulf Cooperation Countries (GCC) for the period of 2010 to 2018. The characteristics of SSB consist of the number of SSB members, cross membership, level of education, expertise, remuneration and rotation. This study analyzes the data using data panel regression with software of reviews. This study finds that SSB size has negative influence while education and expertise have positive influence toward sharia compliance of Islamic banks. Meanwhile, cross membership, remuneration and rotation of SSB members do not influence sharia compliance of Islamic banks. In general, the role of SSB in carrying out the function of creating well-being for the community has not been carried out optimally. This paper would benefit to formulate the development of Sharia compliance parameter and to increase the roles of SSB in optimizing the operation of Islamic banks particularly in fulfilling Sharia principles. The samples in this study are from countries that have contribution in the infrastructures of Islamic financial institutions around the world. The result may become the model for strengthening the role of SSB in other countries.
Using social network analysis to explore and expand our understanding of a robust environmental learning landscape

Abstract Environmental learning occurs through an interconnected web of opportunities. Some arise via organizations with sustainability- or environmental learning-focused missions, while others are facilitated by organizations focused on impacts and outcomes in a range of areas, such as health, social justice, or the arts. To better understand the richness of the community environmental learning landscape, we pursued a social network analysis in one place, the greater San Francisco Bay Area, California, USA. We collected quantitative and qualitative data from 256 organizations, resulting in a network of 950 organizations connected to environmental learning opportunities within the region. Our findings demonstrate that, although self-identified environmental learning providers may comprise the network’s core, the network also includes less-expected providers, primarily around the edges. Those providers often connect with related fields, such as youth development, public safety, or the arts, among others, forming a complex environmental learning landscape. We suggest opportunities to daylight and enhance the efficacy of collaborations among organizations to advance diverse and reinforcing interests. Moreover, we suggest that a network analysis approach is useful for understanding how organizations relate to each other through their connections and collaborations, providing community members with a robust ecosystem of lifelong learning supports.
Awareness of Medication-Related Osteonecrosis of the Jaws amongst Dental Professionals in Poland

Background: Medication-Related Osteonecrosis of the Jaws (MRONJ) is a serious complication of antiresorptive therapy. The aim of the study was to assess the level of knowledge and awareness regarding MRONJ among Polish dentists and students of dentistry. Methods: The online self-administered questionnaire was sent out electronically among dentists in Poland and dentistry students of the Medical University of Gdansk. The results obtained were statistically analyzed. The results were considered statistically significant if the condition p ≤ 0.05 was met. Results: A total of 203 respondents participated in this survey. A total of 94.6% of them declared knowledge of the term MRONJ. However, the length of bisphosphonates persistence in the body was known to 51.5% of participants, while the knowledge of oral and maxillofacial surgeons concerning this topic was significantly higher (87.0%). Conclusion: Dental and maxillofacial surgeons presented the highest level of knowledge about MRONJ. The remaining groups did not differ in their knowledge. It must be noted that the knowledge of the students was similar to that of dentists. A better level of knowledge by dentists could contribute to a decline of the occurrence of the disease in future. Theoretical and practical initiatives should be promoted to improve the knowledge about MRONJ.
Correlation and Path Coefficient Analysis in Coffee (Coffea arabica L.) Germplasm Accessions in Ethiopia

Sufficient information on the nature and magnitude of traits association will facilitate effective selection and hybridization to develop high yielding coffee progenies. The study was conducted at Metu Agricultural Research Sub Center to determine the extent of association among yield and yield related traits of coffee. Sixty four Coffee (Coffea arabica L.) germplasm including two standard check varieties (74110 and 74112) were used for this study. The field experiment was superimposed during 2018 cropping seasons on six years old coffee trees, which was laid down in 8x8 simple lattice design. The orchard was managed as per the coffee agronomic production practices. Data on 19 quantitative traits were recorded from four representative trees per row for each accession. Yield per tree exhibited significant (P<0.05) and positive phenotypic and genotypic association with fruit width (rph=0.19; rg=0.19) and fruit thickness (rph=0.18; rg=0.15). On the other hand, number of primary branches showed positive and significant (P<0.05) phenotypic and genotypic correlations with fruit width (rph=0.23; rg=0.12) and fruit thickness (rph=0.21; rg=0.07). Hence, indirect selection in favor of this trait can improve yield in coffee. Coffee berry disease mainly attacks fruits and beans, however, the disease showed negative phenotypic and genotypic correlation with fruit and bean quantitative traits. Average inter-node length of main stem, number of nodes on primary branches, Number of primary branches, fruit width and thickness, bean width and thickness and hundred beans weight exerted positive direct effect and also had positive genotypic association with yield per tree, while the other traits affected yield indirectly, mainly through average inter-node length of primary branches production. Therefore, these traits could be used as a reliable indicator in indirect selection for higher tree yield.
Enhancement of Remote Vital Sign Monitoring Detection Accuracy Using Multiple-Input Multiple-Output 77 GHz FMCW Radar

Remote non-contact monitoring of human vital signs has recently received lots of attention due to the advancement and availability of millimeter wave (mmWave) radars. These sensors are significantly reduced in size, but still face serious electromagnetic (EM) propagation loss and signal obstructions resulting in lower signal-to-noise ratios (SNR). As mmWave received signals also have higher sensitivity to body motions, these effects typically degrade the accuracy of heart rate (HR) detection. To overcome this challenge, MIMO configuration can be used to improve the SNR level by taking advantage of its channel diversity. We use here a Frequency Modulated Continuous Wave (FMCW) radar from Texas Instruments (TI) at 77 GHz to collect data from 192 channels. Additionally, vital sign information is extracted using Arctangent Demodulation (AD) and Maximal Ratio Combining (MRC) combined with an adapted-wavelet Continuous Wavelet Transform (CWT) are utilized to demonstrate improvement of HR estimation accuracy.