Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
MORPHOGENETIC STUDIES ON HAWORTHIA: ESTABLISHMENT OF TISSUE CULTURE AND CONTROL OF DIFFERENTIATION'

Investigations were carried out on the in vitro morphogenetic responses of inflorescence segments and gynoecia of several species of Haworthia (Liliaceae). Morphogenetic responses of explants were not species specific. It was found that coconut milk was essential for the growth and differentiation of Haworthia tissue if White's basal medium was used. However, growth and differentiation could be supported by a modified Murashige and Skoog's medium, without any supplements. The investigations demonstrated the importance of inositol and ammonium nitrogen in the nutrition of Haworthia tissue cultures. A chemical control of callusing and shoot and root differentiation was obtained by providing appropriate amounts of auxin and cytokinin in the culture medium. IN VITRO morphogenetic studies on monocotyledons have been less extensive than those on the dicotyledons. In the past few years some investigators have reported establishment of monocotyle
The credibility of the ECB's inflation target in times of Corona: New evidence from an online survey

Evidence on the credibility of a central bank's inflation target typically refers to the anchoring of survey-based measures of inflation expectations. However, both the survey question and the anchoring criteria are only loosely connected to the actual inflation target used in monetary policy practice. By using the exact wording of the ECB's definition of price-stability, we started a representative online survey of German citizens in January 2019 that is designed to measure the time-varying credibility of the inflation target. Our results indicate that credibility has significantly decreased in our sample period, particularly in the course of the coronavirus pandemic. Interestingly, even though inflation rates in Germany have been clearly below 2% for several years, credibility has declined mainly because Germans increasingly expect that inflation will be much higher than 2% over the medium term.
Thiosphaera pantotropha gen. nov. sp. nov., a Facultatively Anaerobic, Facultatively Autotrophic Sulphur Bacterium

Summary: During studies on a desulphurizing, denitrifying effluent-treatment system, an organism which is able to grow aerobically and anaerobically on reduced sulphur compounds and hydrogen, while fixing carbon dioxide, was isolated. The new isolate is also capable of mixotrophic and heterotrophic growth on a wide range of substrates, and is therefore a facultatively aerobic, facultative autotroph. Comparisons with two similar species, Thiobacillus A2 and Paracoccus denitrificans, showed that the new isolate is significantly different from the other two, and merits separate classification. In view of its ability to oxidize reduced sulphur compounds, and because it is a chain-forming coccus rather than a rod, the new isolate has been given the generic name of Thiosphaera, and the species name pantotropha in recognition of its wide range of possible substrates.
MACROINVERTEBRATE FAUNA OF A TROPICAL FRESHWATER STREAM IN NIGERIA

Macroinvertebrate fauna of Ogbei stream in Anambra state, Nigeria was studied from monthly samples taken from six stations or sites with a benthic scoop net and a serrated cylindrical sampler(SCS) for 12 months (May, 2002 – Apri 2003). A toal of 11420 macroinvertebrates were colected belonging to 4 classes, 13 orders, 28 families and50 species. The fauna was dominated numerically by Insecta (98.29 %), Arachnida (0.81%) and Oligochaeta (0.66%). Diptera was the most abundant taxon (42.62%), foowed by Odonata (36.89%), Coleopera (9.76 %) and Hemiptera (8.22 %). Station 3 had the highest percentage of abundance of the macrofauna (28.56 %) followed by station 2 (19.54 %). The highest faunal diversiy was recorded in station 6 The macroinvertebrate composition, distribution abundance and diversity were influenced by substrate composition, good water quality and availability of food. Keywords : Tropical freshwater stream, Macroinvertebrate composition, Abundance, Distribution, Diversity Animal Research International Vol. 3 (3) 2006 pp. 553-561
Notes on the Fossil Mammalia of Europe

Sections through the leaf and base of young stems have been made, but the apparatus at hand does not permit of a section thin enough to give structural details. The organic connection between the leaf and the base of the young stem is clearly shown, and the young plant evidently starts in connection with the fibro-vascular bundles of the leaf, but my sections do not clearly show the nature of the connection. The cells of the very base of the young stem and the adjoining leaf cells were crowded with chlorophyll grains, while there were very few in the other leaf cells, showing clearly the much greater constructive activity (anabolism) of these tissues.
Consumer innovativeness and consumer decision styles: a confirmatory and segmentation analysis

Consumer decision styles (CDS) are important for marketers because they determine consumer behaviours that are relatively stable over time and hence are useful for market segmentation. The study has confirmed the existence of the original US characteristics as well as put forward two new characteristics specific to the Indian context, namely, ‘dissatisfied shopping consciousness’ and ‘store loyal’. Thereafter, a multi-step cluster analysis was employed to classify the respondents into groups based on their CDS. Five homogeneous and distinct decision-making segments have been identified. In order to validate the cluster solutions, a K-means clustering procedure was performed by taking random initial seeds to set the cluster centres. The paper also seeks to investigate whether consumers’ innovativeness is associated with their CDS. The findings are discussed and recommendations are proffered for managers and future research.
The negotiated character of performance appraisal: how interrelations between managers matters

This study is based on empirical material that was gathered by interviewing managers, at different hierarchic levels of a company, about their work with employee performance appraisal. The analysis, theoretically based on structuration theory (Giddens 1979, 1984), shows how managers describe the meaning of their work and how it is realised through their interactions with other actors in a social process. The present findings help increase our understanding of what could be called the negotiated character of performance appraisal and the complexity of managerial work, as has been sought after in previous research (see, e.g. Willmott 1987; Whittington 1992; Hales 1999). Through this and similar investigations, more attention will hopefully be focused on the manager's role as a social actor, on the question of the accuracy of performance appraisal as well as on viewing organisational management as a social practice.
NEW EVIDENCE THAT NUCLEAR IMPORT OF ENDOGENOUS β‐CATENIN IS LEF‐1 DEPENDENT, WHILE LEF‐1 INDEPENDENT IMPORT OF EXOGENOUS β‐CATENIN LEADS TO NUCLEAR ABNORMALITIES

The once accepted idea that LEF‐1 transports β‐catenin into nuclei has recently been challenged by experiments using exogenous β‐catenin. Here, we investigated the effects of β‐catenin and LEF‐1 on nuclear import of β‐catenin using different combinations of exogenous and endogenous molecules over longer lengths of time than previously studied. Nuclear β‐catenin is not detectable in corneal fibroblasts and epithelia or NIH 3T3 and MDCK cells. In LEF‐1 transfections, we show that the B‐box of LEF‐1 is required to move cytoplasmic endogenous β‐catenin into the nuclei of such cells, proving that LEF‐1 does transport endogenous β‐catenin into nuclei. Moreover, transfection of uveal melanoma cells with B‐box deficient LEF‐1 inhibits nuclear import of β‐catenin by endogenous LEF‐1. However, the movement of overexpressed exogenous β‐catenin into nuclei is unaffected by the presence or absence of LEF‐1 and forms abnormal nuclear aggregates that are a prelude to subsequent apoptosis. We conclude that nuclear transport of exogenous β‐catenin independently of LEF‐1 has questionable physiological significance.
Establishment of Rhizoma Peanut: Interaction of Cultivar, Planting Date, and Location on Emergence and Rate of Cover

Rhizoma perennial peanut (RPP), Arachis glabrata Benth. , has high nutritive value, drought tolerance, and persistence; however, inconsistent establishment success and slow rate of coverage has limited the use of RPP in production systems. The objectives of this study were to determine the effects of planting date (February, April, June, August, and December), location (Brooksville, Gainesville, and Quincy, FL), and cultivar (Florigraze and Arbrook) on emergence (sprouts per square meter at 2 to 12 wk post planting) and rate of RPP cover (percent ground cover at 26, 52, 78, and 104 wk post planting). We also determined the relationship of sprout counts during the emergence period with rate of cover. Number of sprouts per square meter at 12 wk post planting ranged from 0 to >200 and, in most cases, the sprout counts obtained for April, June, August, and December planting dates were lower or equal to those from the February planting date, regardless of location or cultivar. Generally, Arbrook had higher numbers of sprouts per square meter at 12 wk post planting than Florigraze, but this did not translate into higher ground cover ratings at 26 wk. Number of sprouts per square meter was positively correlated with percent ground cover. The highest correlation coefficient (0.69) occurred for the relationship of sprouts per square meter at 12 wk post planting and ground cover at 26 wk post planting; correlations of responses declined from that point as stands aged. Rate of cover was also variable, taking between 26 and >104 wk post planting to reach >60% RPP ground cover. On average, February plantings achieved >60% RPP ground cover 26 wk earlier than any of the other planting dates. This study indicates that establishment times for RPP can be more variable than has been thought. The first criterion for deciding when to plant is the need for reliable soil moisture (from rainfall or irrigation) for 60 to 90 d post planting. Secondly, if there is more than one time of the year that meets this moisture requirement, then the planting date with the longest frost-free period after planting should be chosen.
Associations between perceived employability, employee well-being, and its contribution to organizational success: a matter of psychological contracts?

We investigated interactions between perceived employability and employees' perceptions about psychological contract obligations made by the employer in relation to life and job satisfaction, self-rated performance, and turnover intention. We hypothesized that perceived employability relates positively to job satisfaction, life satisfaction, and self-rated performance and negatively to turnover intention under the condition of many promises. Conversely, perceived employability relates negatively to job satisfaction, life satisfaction, and self-rated performance and positively to turnover intention under the condition of few promises. Analyses using a sample of 463 workers from seven Belgian organizations showed that perceived employability was positively related to all outcomes except job satisfaction. The number of promises was positively related to job and life satisfaction, and to self-rated performance, and negatively to turnover intention. Contradictory to our expectations, with the exception of turnover intention, the relationships between perceived employability and the outcomes were relatively stronger and positive under the condition of few promises compared with many promises.
Effect of a new transmission line on wintering prairie raptors

Wintering prairie raptors were counted along a right-of-way in Colorado before and after construction of a transmission line. Although utility towers constituted 1.5% available perches, 81% of all perched raptors were seen on them. Raptor distribution changed significantly after transmission line construction, as bird density was greatest 0.25 mi from the right-of-way. No density difference was apparent before construction.
Intertemporal stability of the European credit spread co-movement structure1

Abstract Corporate bonds expose the investor to credit risk, which will be reflected in the credit spread. Based on the EMU Broad Market indices, this paper reports studies of the intertemporal stability of the covariance and correlation matrices of credit spread changes on weekly data. For a multivariate framework, the Box and Jennrich tests are the most commonly used test statistics in the literature. However, it is shown that for small samples these tests are not well specified when the normality assumption is relaxed. A bootstrap-based statistical inference provides evidence that correlations and covariances between various (investment grade) credit spread changes are unstable over the 1998–2003 period.
Uterine smooth muscle tumor of uncertain malignant potential: a case diagnosis, management and follow-up in the department of gynecology-obstetrics II of the Hassan II teaching hospital of Fes in Morocco

Rarely diagnosed in authors department, uterine smooth muscle tumor of uncertain malignant potential (STUMP) is one of the histologic types of uterine sarcoma. Among women undergoing hysterectomy or myomectomy for a presumed diagnosis of leiomyoma, 0.01% receive a diagnosis of STUMP. Authors report a case occurring to a patient aged of 55 which was diagnosed, managed successfully and followed-up in authors department.
Puzzling experiences in higher education: critical moments for conversation

The discourses of academic disciplines in higher education can be confusing and mysterious for those who are new to university study. The confusion can be particularly great for students coming from cultural and language backgrounds that are different to those underpinning the dominant ideologies of higher education institutions. This article explores the experiences of international students at a UK university who were on one‐year master's courses in areas related to business, finance and management. There is a particular focus on the literacy and learning experiences related to written assignments. Through listening to the voices of international students and academic tutors on the different academic courses, potential gaps in expectations are identified and important moments for conversation are highlighted. The article emphasizes the social nature of learning and argues that, when opportunities for dialogue are created, tutors should respond flexibly to the needs of students by providing varying degrees of explicit guidance and less conspicuous facilitation, through interaction and participation. It is also argued that, within this space for dialogue, there is great potential for all the members of a learning and teaching community to learn from the rich mix of cultures which internationalization brings.
Soil seed bank and community dynamics in an annual‐dominated Mediterranean salt‐marsh

8 pages, 3 figures, 3 tables, 35 references. Thanks are due to L.V. Garcia, J. Cara and A. Moreno for help with the field sampling and J.M. Romero with the greenhouse experiments, and to L.V. Garcia, B. Peco, M.E. Figueroa, A. Huiskes and J.P. Bakker for their comments on the manuscript.
Preventive Effect of Dietary Nasunin on Galactosamine-Induced Liver Injury in Rats

The preventive effects of dietary nasunin on a liver injury induced by D-galactosamine (GalN) were investigated in rats. Increases in plasma alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activities, which were induced by GalN, were suppressed by the feeding of nasunin before the intraperitoneal injection of GalN. Increases in liver oxidized-form glutathione (GSSG) concentration and the ratio of GSSG to reduced-form glutathione (GSH) by the injection of GalN were also suppressed by the dietary nasunin. A slight increase in the liver α-tocopherol concentration and an increase in the liver SOD activity due to the injection of GalN tended to return to the level of the control rat by the feeding of the nasunin. These results suggested that nasunin is effective to prevent liver injury and that it is also effective to prevent oxidative stress which may be induced by GalN-induced liver injury.
Identification and Molecular Characterizations of Neoscytalidium dimidiatum Causing Stem Canker of Red‐fleshed Dragon Fruit (Hylocereus polyrhizus) in Malaysia

During the year 2008 to 2009, a new disease of stem canker was noticed in most red-fleshed dragon fruit (Hylocereus polyrhizus) plantations in Malaysia. The symptoms observed were small circular sunken orange spot, black pycnidia and rotted stem. This study was conducted to determine the occurrence of the stem canker on H. polyrhizus in Malaysia, subsequently to isolate, identify and characterize the fungal pathogen based on morphology and molecular characteristics and pathogenicity test. From the surveyed 20 plantations in Malaysia, stem canker was detected in all the plantations. A total of 40 isolates of Scytalidium-like fungus were isolated and identified as Neoscytalidium dimidiatum based on morphological characteristics and ITS region sequences, which showed 99% similarity to N. dimidiatum (FJ648577). From the phylogenetic analysis using maximum-likelihood tree, isolates of N. dimidiatum from stem canker of H. polyrhizus were grouped together and did not show any sequence variation. From pathogenicity test, all 40 isolates of N. dimidiatum were pathogenic causing stem canker on H. polyrhizus. To our knowledge, this is the first report of stem canker of H. polyrhizus caused by N. dimidiatum in Malaysia.
Company investment announcements and the market value of the firm

This paper examines the stock market reaction to 402 company investment announcements made by UK companies during the 1991–1996 period. The market-adjusted abnormal returns are generally positive but small. Investment announcements are classified according to functional categories, and we find the level of abnormal returns to vary according to the type of capital investment being announced. In particular, we find the market to react more favourably to investments that ‘create’ future investment opportunities, than to investments which can be categorized as ‘exercising’ investment opportunities. The market reaction also varies with firm size, with large companies tending to experience smaller responses to announcements than do smaller firms. Chung et al. (1998) reported that the quality of a company's investment opportunities is the primary determinant of market reactions to capital expenditure decisions. The findings presented here lend some support to a role for investment opportunities in market valuations. Project size is also found to have a significant positive impact on the level of abnormal returns.
ASSESSMENT OF CLINICAL PROFILE OF CHILDREN AGED 9–16 YEARS WITH ATOPIC DERMATITIS

Background: Atopic dermatitis (AD) or atopic eczema is a chronic, relapsing, remitting, non-contagious, and highly pruritic skin disorder. Objective: The present study was conducted to determine the clinical profile of AD among children aged 9–16 years. Materials and Methods: A prospective hospital-based study was carried among children aged 9–16 years for a period of 2 years from July 2017 to June 2019. The children were examined and looked for signs of AD. A detailed history followed by physical and dermatological examination was carried out for the students diagnosed with AD. Results: Among 1124 students, the prevalence of AD was 1.9%. The majority of them were male (66.6%), aged between 9 and 11 years (76.1%), and hailed from the urban background (57.2%). The most commonly reported aggravating factor was sweating (52.5%). The mean age of onset and duration of illness were 1.14±0.35 years and 0.63±0.38 years, respectively. The majority of the respondents fell under the category of chronic AD (80.9%). The predominant site of involvement was flexor surface (66.6%) and almost all of the children were having a mild form of AD (95.2%). The association between males and type of AD was statistically significant (p=0.03). Conclusion: In our study, the prevalence of AD was 1.9%. We found that AD of chronic type, mild form, and on flexor surface was more common among the children of our study and the association between males and type of AD was statistically significant.
Academic entrepreneurship and traditional academic duties: synergy or rivalry?

This study investigates the influence of academic entrepreneurship on traditional academic duties carried out in a resource-constrained environment, particularly focusing on whether there is synergy or rivalry between these two activities. Using qualitative evidence, we discover that there are funding, resource, knowledge and skill and networking synergies between academic entrepreneurship and traditional academic duties. These synergies are found to be extremely important in overcoming resource barriers to conduct teaching and research. Academic entrepreneurs manage their engagement in multiple activities through symbiotic relationships with other academics. While academic entrepreneurs are the initiators who secure entrepreneurial opportunities, other academics support them as they capitalise on these opportunities. The importance of encouraging academic entrepreneurship as a strategy to overcome resource barriers to traditional academic duties is emphasised. Implications and future research avenues are highlighted.
A new dimension to understanding university teaching

This paper reports the outcomes of a study, undertaken from a phenomenographic perspective, of academics' ways of experiencing or understanding being a university teacher. A range of understandings was found, representing in particular a varying focus on the experience of teaching as a: teacher transmission focused experience; teacher–student relations focused experience; student engagement focused experience; and student learning focused experience. This work builds on previous studies of university teachers' conceptions of teaching. However, the focus taken in this study on the experience of being a teacher, rather than engaging in teaching, has highlighted new aspects of university teaching.
Survey of commercial carnation cultivars for four viruses in California by indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay

Application de la methode ELISA indirecte a la detection des CRSV, CERV, CaMoV, CNFV (virus des taches annulaires de l'œillet, virus de l'«etched ring» de l'œillet, virus de la marbrure de l'œillet, virus de la moucheture necrotique de l'œillet)
Turnover propensity and its causes among Singapore nurses: an empirical study

Nurse turnover has been a serious challenge to the efficiency and effectiveness of any health-care delivery system. Various antecedents of turnover are examined in this study in attempt to identify the most critical causes of the problem. One hundred and eighty nurses from a large hospital in Singapore participated in the survey. The results show that a) stress strikes throughout different stages in turnover development; b) professional commitment is a significant cause of turnover cognition, but not turnover intention; and c) organizational commitment and supervision satisfaction are among the top predictors of turnover intention. These results deviated from the apprehension of many health administrators about the causes of the nursing turnover, thus provided clues as to how to mitigate the problem. And, as they were compatible with the results of studies on Canadian and American nurses, these results contributed to the empirical generalization process. The implication of the findings is discussed in the paper.