Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Predictors of High School Students' Performance and College Readiness

Identifying the best predictors of academic performance and college readiness is crucial for promoting success in postsecondary institutions. This cross-sectional study of 587 students examined the association between ethnicity and gender on high school students’ 1) high school grade level competence in reading, writing, and mathematics, and 2) a test of college readiness. Additionally, we determined whether the following parental factors were associated with students’ perceptions of attending college and performance on a college readiness test: 1) parents’ highest level of education, 2) parents’ perceptions of students’ level of education, and 3) parents’ perceived reasons of why students might not pursue higher education. Measures of college readiness included the California High School Exit Examination and the Preliminary Scholastic Assessment Test. Ethnic differences were observed with higher scores in Caucasian and Asian students compared to Hispanic and African-American students on college readiness test scores. There was a strong relationship between parental expectations and students’ academic success. Limitations, strengths, and implications for curriculum development were also discussed.
Genome-wide investigation into roles of Arabidosis receptor-like proteins in pathogen defense

Receptor-like proteins (RLPs) are receptors on the surface of plant cells that are important for the activation of disease resistance. Furthermore, some RLPs are important for plant development. The Arabidopsis genome contains 57 genes encoding RLPs. A genome wide collection of RLP gene knock-out mutants was assembled and functionally analyzed for defects in defense and development. This resulted in the identification of an RLP that plays a role in hormone perception, and two RLPs that play a role in non-host resistance, the phenomenon that a plant species is typically resistant to pathogens of other plant species. RNA silencing is a regulatory mechanism by which the expression of genes is downregulated or entirely suppressed. In this thesis, it is demonstrated for the first time that this mechanism is important for defense of Arabidopsis against a fungal pathogen; the vascular wilt fungus Verticillium. This is an extremely important pathogen of over 200 plant species including economically important crops.
Effect of neem products on predatory green lacewing, Chrysoperla carnea Stephens (Chrysopidae; Neuroptera).

Neem seed kernel extract and commercial neem products viz., neem Azal T/S, neem Azal F, Nimbecidine, Neem gold, TNAU neem product 0.03% EC, TNAU neem product NO 60 EC (C) and Indneem were evaluated against eggs, grubs and adults of predatory green lacewing, Chrysoperla carnea Stephens. The products caused 14.66 to 25.33% egg mortality as against 8.00% in control and 6.66 to 16.66% grub mortality as compared to 3.33% in control. The longevity of treated adult ranged between 18.66 and 20.66 d in treatments, while it was 23.66 d in control. Fecundity was also affected slightly by all neem products (599.66 to 741.66 eggs) as against 874.66 eggs in control.
Maculinea arion as an indicator of rare niches in semi-natural acid grasslands in South West England and the role of Myrmica species of ant

Anecdotal evidence suggests that habitat management for the Large Blue butterfly, Maculinea arion, benefits other rare species. Selected plant and invertebrate species were monitored on a degraded site which was under going restoration management for the future re-introduction or natural recolonisation of M. arion. This study measured the shift of the floral and invertebrate community in order to understand the species composition and rate of successional changes in the re-establishment of early seral, semi-natural, acid grassland. Several UK Red Data Book species increased on the restoration site including the Pearl-bordered Fritillary, Boloria euphrosyne and the Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary, Boloria selene. The increase in these two butterfly species coincided with an increase in Viola riviniana, a food plant of these two Boloria species, and ants of the genus Myrmica. A detailed study was undertaken to investigate the processes explaining the increases in Viola and Boloria species, with emphasis on their possible interactions with various Myrmica species. A key question was: Does management for M. arion merely create a scarce niche shared by a guild of other species, or is there a direct impact due to the increase in Myrmica sabuleti or other Myrmica? There was a positive Myrmica affect on Viola density, due to the elaiosomes on the seeds of both Viola species, which were highly attractive to all Myrmica species tested but not to the other ants (Formica spp.) inhabiting the study sites. Myrmica scabrinodis (HOT) preferred Viola lactea seeds, the species of Viola that coincides most within its niche in the field. The relative density of Viola riviniana to V. lactea was primarily determined by microclimate, with V. lactea replacing V. riviniana in the hottest niches. Boloria euphrosyne oviposition sites are also influenced by microclimate and coincide with the niche of M. sabuleti, straddling the warmest microclimates occupied by V. riviniana and the coolest ones occupied by V. lactea. B. selene inhabits a cooler niche, ovipositing mainly on V. riviniana near M. ruginodis. Habitat management for M. arion increases the larval food plant and niches of both Boloria species, but especially that of B. euphrosyne. This is partially due to the creation of a scarce niche that is shared by a guild of species and partly due to the activity of Myrmica species ants acting as ecosystem engineers.
Brassinolide and Salicylic Acid Induced Growth, Biochemical Activities and Productivity of Maize Plants Grown under Salt Stress

2 Abstract: Application by bioregulators brassinolide (B R) and salicylic aci d (SA) as seed soaking and foliar spraying alleviate the harmful effect of NaCl stress on maize plants . In the present study, irrigation by well water plus 50mM or 100mM NaCl markedly decreased s hoot growth parameters (length, number of leaves, leaf area, fresh a nd dry weights and R WC) of 3 and 5 wee ks old maize plants a s compared with plants irrig ated with well water o nly. Treatments w ith 0.25ppm BR or 0 . 15ppm SA significantly increased these parameters under t he same conditions of salt stress. Content of photosynthetic p igments (chl a, chl b, carotenoids and total pigments) s ignificantly decreased in l eaves of stressed plants and increased i n B R and SA - treated pl ants. Levels of some c ompatible s olutes (total soluble s ugars, free amino acids a nd proline) significantly increased in shoots o f salt stressed plants tre ated or u ntreated with both regulators. The highest level was recorded in shoots of BR -t reated plants especially at 3 w eeks old. In addition , presoaking and f oliar spraying by BR and S A g reatly increased c ontent of N, P , K , Ca , ++ 2 and Mg and decreased Na , Na /K and Na /Ca in maize shoots , as c ompared with stressed control. +2 + + + + +2 Levels of both n itrate a nd ammo nia a nd ac tivity of nitrate r eductase g reatly decreased i n s alt stressed plants, and s ignificantly increased i n B R and SA treated pl ants. Finally, maize yield i ncluding plant mass, number o f gra ins, w eight o f gra ins and weight o f 1 00 grains/plant gr adually decreased with increasing salt concentrations. Application wi th bot h bi oregulators greatly increased mai ze productivity a nd BR was higher than SA. Results revealed that application wi th B R and SA as seed soaking plus foliar s praying increased maize resistance against salt stress b y e nhancing growth, metabolic activities and productivity of grain yield.
AIB e substratos no enraizamento de estacas de pessegueiro ‘Okinawa’ coletadas no outono

A propagacao de porta-enxertos de pessegueiro e feita normalmente por meio de sementes, mas esse processo pode levar a perda de caracteristicas geneticas desejaveis, como a resistencia a nematoides do genero Meloidogyne apresentada pelo porta-enxerto ‘Okinawa’. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o enraizamento de estacas de pessegueiro ‘Okinawa’ tratadas com acido indolbutirico (AIB) em diferentes substratos, no outono. As estacas foram submetidas a aplicacao de AIB em tres concentracoes (0; 1.000 e 2.000 mg L -1 ) por imersao rapida da base das estacas, em tres substratos (areia, vermiculita e casca de arroz carbonizada). A estaquia foi realizada em caixas plasticas contendo os substratos, em câmara de nebulizacao. O delineamento experimental foi o inteiramente casualizado, com 5 repeticoes em arranjo fatorial 3 x 3, sendo cada parcela composta por 10 estacas. Apos 108 dias verificou-se que a aplicacao de AIB na concentracao de 2.000 mg L -1 mostrou-se mais eficiente no enraizamento das estacas de pessegueiro nos substratos casca de arroz carbonizada e vermiculita, com enraizamento de 58 a 68%.
Ireland's Junior Certificate mathematics examination through the lens of the PISA and TIMSS frameworks: Has Project Maths made any difference?

It has been argued that the PISA assessment has had a disproportionate impact on Project Maths, the new mathematics curriculum recently implemented in post-primary schools in Ireland, which seeks to emphasise deep conceptual understanding and problem solving in real-life contexts. This paper describes an analysis of the content, cognitive processes and contexts underpinning Junior Certificate mathematics examination questions set for students in Grade 9 in 2003 and 2015, using the frameworks underpinning the PISA and TIMSS studies. Despite a significantly increased reading load for students, the Junior Certificate mathematics examination continues to emphasise lower-order processes, at the expense of higher-level thinking, as defined by PISA and TIMSS, while there has been a small increase in the proportion of items presented in practical contexts. The need to examine the effects of Project Maths in classroom settings is highlighted.
Susceptibility to insecticides in populations of mexican arthropods

La utilización racional de insecticidas contra una plaga en un cultivo determinado requiere de la evaluación previa de la efectividad de los productos a emplear. Esto puede disminuir el uso de productos no efectivos que encarecen la producción y contaminan el medio. Para facilitar los bioensayos en el laboratorio, se presentan los valores de susceptibilidad (DL50) para 64 insecticidas y acaricidas en 33 especies de artrópodos. Estos DL50 se podrían usar para determinar susceptibilidad o resistencia de esas especies en México.
Word cards: an effective or an obsolete strategy to learn the spelling, meaning and grammatical function of new vocabulary

El objetivo de este articulo es presentar un analisis de los cambios en la cantidad de vocabulario en ingles que estudiantes principiantes pueden aprender en un cuatrimestre (14 semanas) mediante el uso de fichas. Los participantes tomaron una prueba previa al inicio de la investigacion y una prueba posterior al final. Cada semana los estudiantes crearon fichas de palabras que no conocian de una lista de 512 palabras estudiadas anteriormente en dos cursos. Se utilizo un “t-test” para comparar los resultados obtenidos. Ademas, los participantes llevaron un control del tiempo que utilizaron repasando con fichas y completaron un cuestionario al final del cuatrimestre. Los resultados obtenidos en la primera evaluacion general y en la segunda evaluacion (71.66-87.33) respectivamente, muestran que hubo mejoria. Los resultados reportados son evidencia para afirmar que el uso de fichas como estrategia ayuda a aprender vocabulario rapidamente.
Impact of human activities on grizzly bear habitat in Jasper National Park.

Grizzly bear (Ursus arctos) populations are subject to increasing human encroachment into their habitats. We gathered data on levels of human activity over 7 months (April-October 1997) to link with data on habitat suitability for grizzly bears in the Maligne Valley of Jasper National Park, Alberta, Canada. We used electronic trail counters, direct counting by observers, and self-counting methods to quantify and compare human use in linear (e.g., trails), point (e.g., campgrounds), and dispersed (e.g., water bodies) landscape features. We then combined the data with habitat data in a Geographic Information System to estimate habitat effectiveness to support bears (the capability of an area to support bears, as influenced by human activities, in relation to the area's inherent ability without human use) and availability of security areas (usable bear habitat that is >9 km2 and >500 m from human activity). To minimize dilution of the effects of human activities on grizzly bear habitat due to large area size, we divided the MaligneValley into 3 bear management units. Weekly averages of the amount of human use rose markedly during the first week of July and declined after the first weekend of September. Increasing recreational activity in habitats with high or very high value for grizzly bears resulted in a decrease in habitat effectiveness values. The 3 bear management units in July and August and one bear management unit in September did not meet Parks Canada's threshold for protected areas of having >80°/0 habitat effectiveness levels. One bear management unit in August failed to meet the recommended >60°j0threshold value for the secure-usable category. Use of the grizzly bear habitat effectiveness model and security area analysis offers a predictive tool for more detailed planning of current and proposed developments in areas containing bear habitat.
Descriptions of new Tortricini from the Oriental and Australian regions (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae)

Ten genera and eighteen species are treated, of which six genera (Shafferograptis Tuck & Razowski, gen. n., Merguinia Razowski, gen. n., Cordatijuxta Razowski, gen. n., Sabahtortrix Razowski, gen. n., Spinacleris Razowski, gen. n., Curioseboda Razowski, gen. n.) and eighteen species (Shafferograptis michaeli Tuck & Razowski, sp. n., Merguinia merguinea Razowski, sp. n., Spatalistis alleni Razowski, sp. n., Spatalistis katmandana Razowski, sp. n., Spatalistis phulchokia Razowski, sp. n., Spatalistis viridphantasma Razowski, sp. n., Reptilisocia tarica Razowski, sp. n., Reptilisocia solomensis Razowski, sp. n., Reptilisocia impetigo Razowski, sp. n., Asterolepis dipterocarpi Razowski, sp. n., Asterolepis cypta Razowski, sp. n., Asterolepis engis Razowski, sp. n., Cordatijuxta thailandiae Razowski, sp. n., Sabahtortrix montana Razowski, sp. n., Acleris kerincia Razowski, sp. n., Acleris schiasma Razowski, sp. n., Spinacleris inthanoni Razowski, sp. n., Curioseboda probola Razowski, sp. n.) are described as new.
Reinitiation of translation and ribosome recycling are two distinct mechanisms in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Historically, translation termination was viewed simply as the last step inthe process of cellular protein synthesis. Recent findings have changed thisperception dramatically, indicating that events at this stage decide aboutthe fate of the posttermination ribosome and about the degradation of thetranslated mRNA. In particular, it remains to be elucidated how terminatingribosomes are recycled back to start another round of translation. Thecircularisation model of the polysomal mRNA suggests that this ribosomerecycling might be facilitated by 5' ? 3' interactions mediated by thecap-binding complex eIF4F and the poly(A) binding protein, Pab1p. Incontrast, downstream of a short upstream open reading frame (uORF) in the 5'untranslated region of a gene, posttermination ribosomes can maintain thecompetence to (re)initiate translation. This study shows that recycling andreinitiation are distinct processes in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Recyclingvia the 3'-UTR was assessed by restricting ribosome movement along the mRNAusing a poly(G) stretch or the mammalian iron regulatory protein (IRP1)bound to the iron responsive element (IRE). Although 3'-UTR structures werefound to influence translation, the main pathway of ribosome recycling doesnot depend on scanning-like movement through the 3'-UTR. Changes intermination kinetics or disruption of the Pab1 ? eIF4F interaction do notaffect recycling, yet the maintenance of normal in vivo mRNP structure isimportant to this process. Using bicistronic ACT1-LUC constructs, elongatingyeast ribosomes were found to maintain the competence to (re)initiate overonly short distances. Thus, as the first ORF to be translated isprogressively truncated, reinitiation downstream of an uORF of 105nucleotides is found to be just detectable, and increases markedly inefficiency as uORF length is reduced to 15 nucleotides. Experiments using astrain mutated in the Cca1 nucleotidyltransferase suggest that the uORFlength-dependence of changes in reinitiation competence is affected bypeptide elongation kinetics, but that ORF length per se may also berelevant. Thus, the loss of the reinitiation potential of elongatingribosomes appears to render these incapable to promote intramolecularrecycling via scanning of the 3'-UTR.
ESTIMATION OF CHLOROPHYLL CONTENT IN LEAVES OF SOME MEDICINAL PLANTS OF GENUS SESBANIA

The seasonal variation of chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b and carotenoid have been investigated in leaves of Sesbania rostrata, Sesbania exaltata and Sesbania sesban are important medicinal plants. Comparative account of chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b and carotenoid content of leaves of three medicinal plants revealed that, the highest amount of chlorophyll a (range from 2.98 to 3.36 mg/g fresh wt.), chlorophyll b (range from 2.61 to 3.08 mg/g fresh wt.) and carotenoid (range from 1.88 to 2.12 mg/g fresh wt.) content in the leaves of Sesbania exaltata than Sesbania rostrata and Sesbania sesban in different seasons. Comaratively lowest amount of chlorophyll a (range from 2.62 to 3.04 mg/g fresh wt.), chlorophyll b (range from 2.39 to 2.77 mg/g fresh wt.) and carotenoid (range from 1.43 to 1.82 mg/g fresh wt.) content in the leaves of Sesbania sesban than Sesbania rostrata and Sesbania exaltata in different seasons
A CONCEPTUAL MODEL FOR EVALUATING THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE PROFESSIONAL FIRM SERVICE QUALITY AND CLIENT SATISFACTION IN BUILDING PROJECTS

Conceptual model helps the researcher to explore variables of study and their clear interactions. Therefore this study aims at proposing a model of a relationship between the professional firm service quality and client satisfaction in building development projects. This is because client satisfaction remains an important factor in the development of engineering and building consulting services. In today’s competitive service market, attaining client satisfaction is very crucial for the continued survival and economic stability of consulting firms. The model is built on the concept of service quality and its effect on client satisfaction. The fundamentals of Servqual theory in addition to competency profile and communication within the consulting arm of building projects constitute the independent variables of the model. The Attribution theory constructs constitute the moderating variables of the study. The proposed model focuses on the relationship between soft service qualities, hard service qualities and the client satisfaction variables of architectural quality, technical quality, functional quality, timeliness of service delivery, cost of services and supervision at implementation stage. The findings will be useful to assist consulting firms in enhancing competitiveness and improve project deliveries in the present global challenges.
Phenotypic characterization of Lactobacillus strains isolated from different biotopes

Thirty three strains of Lactobacillus were isolated from human milk and infant faeces, animal (cow and goat) milks and from plants (Anagalis arvensis and Bromus mango species). The various strains were identified based on phenotypic tests. Amongst them, 12 strains belonged to group 1, which comprised L. acidophilus, L. helveticus and L. delbrueckii ssp. bulgaricus strains; 16 strains belonged to group 2, which comprised L. casei (ssp. casei and ssp. rhamnosus) and L. plantarum strains; and 5 strains belonged to group 3, which comprised L. brevis and L. fermentum. The variance analysis (with onefixed criterion classification) of the potential for milk coagulation after 6 and 24 h of growth made possible the characterization of two homogeneous groups, fast and low acidifying strains. The human strains showed a resistance to acidic pH and to bile, indicating a tolerance to gastric acid. The probiotic potential was confirmed for one strain, owing to its antagonistic effect on Escherichia coli.
How does epistemological knowledge on modelling influence students' engagement in the issue of climate change?

Involvement in climate change has been proven to be hindered by emotional and social barriers, as well as by conceptual difficulties that students may encounter in dealing with scientific content related to particular issues such as the greenhouse effect. In this study, we start from the conjecture that behind many conceptual difficulties and emotional barriers lie particular epistemological obstacles related to a naive and stereotypical view of science. These include, in particular, the belief that science still has the role and power to provide a unique, unquestionable, and certain explanation of events and processes. Such a naive idea clashes strongly with the intrinsic complexity of climate science. This paper sets out to investigate if and how the improvement of epistemological knowledge can influence behavioural habits and foster students’ engagement in climate change. In order to explore such an issue, we focus on five interviews collected at the end of a teaching experience on climate change, carried out with secondary school students (grade 11; 16-year olds). This study is a follow-up of other two analytical studies aimed at investigating, respectively, the impact of the experience on students’ epistemological knowledge and on their behavioural habits.
Mycoflora associated with the seeds of Leucaena leucocephala.

A total of fourteen fungi have been detected by blotter and agar plate methods from the surface sterilized seeds of Lead tree ( Leucaena leucocephala ). These fungi were Alternaria alternata , A. tenuissima , Apispora montagnei , Arthrinium euphorbiae , Aspergillus flavus , A fumigatus , A. niger , Curvularia clavata , C. lunata , Fusarium sp. , F. pallidoroseum (syn. F. semitectum) , Paecilomyces variotii , Penicillium chrysogenum and Phoma sp. All fungi , except A. flavus , A. fumigatus , A. niger , C. lunata and Phoma sp . constitute new host records. Whereas , all except A. niger and F. pallidoroseum , have been reported for the first time from India , hence constitute new records on this host from India as well. Agar plate method was found superior over blotter method for the detection of seed borne fungi.