Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
New cytological data in Ophrys sect. Pseudophrys Godfery and comparative karyomorphological studies in Ophrys L. (Orchidaceae)

Abstract Eight species of Ophrys sect. Pseudophrys (Orchidaceae) were cytogenetically studied. The analysed species possess the most symmetrical karyotypes of the genus (MCA ranged from 10.21 to 15.87 and CVCL from 19.61 to 23.93) with 2n = 2x = 36, being composed of mainly metacentric chromosomes. The karyotype formulae were: 36m for Ophrys archimedea, 32m + 4sm for O. flammeola, 32m + 4sm for O. funerea, 36m for O. laurensis, 36m for O. lojaconoi, 34m + 2sm for O. lucifera, 34m + 2sm for O. obaesa and 36m for O. pallida. Karyotype morphometric characters were evaluated by calculating MCA and CVCL for the assessment of karyotype asymmetry, and CVCI for the evaluation of heterogeneity in the position of the centromeres. The relationships between species were thus finally elucidated. The species characterised by wide distribution show greater karyomorphological distance than those with restricted distribution. The possible evolutionary role of chromosomal rearrangements as well as gene mutations in the speciation of Ophrys is discussed.
In vitro screening of probiotic properties of Lactobacillus plantarum isolated from fermented milk product

The screening of traditional fermented products is essential for the assessment of safety, security, and further development of functional foods for the well-being of human health. The aim of the present study was to isolate and identify bacteria from fermented raw milk samples that exhibit health benefits upon consumption. In order to confirm the isolates as probiotics, several in vitro assays were conducted to assess the probiotic properties of isolated bacteria. The initial screening includes tolerance to acid, bile, pancreatin, and NaCl. The cell surface properties demonstrate their interaction with mucosal epithelium, which includes hydrophobicity and auto-aggregation assay. Safety assessment was done by performing haemolytic test and antibiotic susceptibility test. The antagonistic activity of probiotic strain was further evaluated against some pathogenic bacteria. Lactobacillus plantarum (L. plantarum) isolated from fermented raw milk was preliminarily identified by biochemical tests and further confirmed using 16S rRNA identification. The isolate designated as L. plantarum strain GCC_19M1 demonstrated significant tolerance to low pH, 0.3% bile, 0.5% pancreatin, and 5% NaCl. In the presence of simulated gastric juice (at pH 3), the isolate exhibited a survival rate of 93.48–96.97%. Furthermore, the development of ecological niches in the human gut and their successful accumulation have been revealed by auto-aggregation and hydrophobicity properties. Absence of haemolytic activity ensures the non-virulent nature of the strain. Lactobacillus plantarum strain GCC_19M1 showed susceptibility towards gentamicin, tetracycline, kanamycin, meropenem, and ceftriaxone and exhibited an antagonistic effect on pathogenic bacteria. The obtained results conveyed that L. plantarum strain GCC_19M1 has strong probiotic potential, and its presence in the fermented raw milk products may serve as a potent functional probiotic food.
One more time on the alleged repugnance of Kant's ethics? Schiller's Kallias letters and the entirety of the human being

Correspondence Antonino Falduto, Seminar für Philosophie, Martin-Luther-Universität Halle-Wittenberg, 06099 Halle (Saale), Germany. Email: antonino.falduto@phil.uni-halle.de Abstract In this paper, I consider the Kallias Letters in connection with Kant's account of moral action in order to analyse Schiller's characterisation of Kant's conception of constraint as aesthetically repugnant. I show how Schiller treats the difficulties inherent to the dualistic view that human beings consist in irreducibly sensible and rational natures. After elucidating the fundamental distinctions between Kant's and Schiller's views, I argue that, although Schiller's charge of repugnance appears too weak to pose a serious threat to Kant's ethics, it nevertheless indicates a significant problem in Kant's dualistic conception of the human being.
The Driverless Public Bus Transport Ridership In Malaysia: An Explorative Study

In Malaysia, air pollution, accidents and congestion remain to be the significant problems faced by the government. A driverless public bus transport is considered to be an option in addressing these issues. This paper tends to overlay the factors that affect the driverless public bus transport ridership when the driverless vehicle is adopted in Malaysia in the future. Driverless public bus transport is perceived to enhance the accessibility, safety and increase commuter satisfaction. In this study, perceived ease of use, safety and environmental impact are explored on how these factors affect the driverless public bus transport ridership by using a quantitative approach. The results of this study will be beneficial towards urban authorities and town planners in Malaysia by providing the useful information regarding the factors affect the driverless public bus transport ridership in the future urban transportation and the readiness of Malaysian on accepting the driverless public bus transport. 2357-1330 © 2020 Published by European Publisher.
Legacy Effects from Historical Environmental Changes Dominate Future Terrestrial Carbon Uptake

Ecosystems continuously adapt to interacting environmental drivers that change over time. Consequently, the carbon balance of terrestrial ecosystem may presently still be affected by past anthropogenic disturbances (e.g., deforestation) and other environmental changes (e.g., climate change). However, even though such so‐called “legacy effects” are implicitly included in many carbon cycle modeling studies, they are typically not explicitly quantified and therefore scientists might not be aware of their long‐term importance. Here, we use the ecosystem model LPJ‐GUESS to quantify legacy effects for the 21st century and the respective contributions of the following environmental drivers: climate change, CO2 fertilization, land use change, wood harvest, nitrogen deposition, and nitrogen fertilization. According to our simulations, the combined legacy effects of historical (1850–2015) environmental changes result in a land carbon uptake of +126 Gt C over the future (2015–2099) period. This by far exceeds the impacts of future environmental changes (range −53 Gt C to +16 Gt C for three scenarios) and is comparable in magnitude to historical carbon losses (−154 Gt C). Legacy effects can mainly be attributed to ecosystems still adapting to historical increases in atmospheric CO2 (+65 Gt C) and nitrogen deposition (+33 Gt C), but long‐term vegetation regrowth following agricultural abandonment (+8 Gt C) and wood harvest (+19 Gt C) also play a role. The response of the biosphere to historical environmental changes dominates future terrestrial carbon cycling at least until midcentury. Legacy effects persist many decades after environmental changes occurred and need to be considered when interpreting changes and estimating terrestrial carbon uptake potentials.
The effect of internet services on child education outcomes: evidence from poa! Internet in Kenya

ABSTRACT In 2016-2018 poa! Internet, a private internet service provider, distributed free internet services across schools in Nairobi, Kenya. Using inverse probability weighting (IPW) method, the study finds that the intervention significantly increases students’ internet use and training, receipt of information on educational content, and participation in information and communication technologies (ICTs) education programmes. However, the study does not find evidence that internet services increase school attendance. The results suggest that facilitating access to internet services in schools can significantly increase child computer and internet skills and training in developing countries, even if those investments have limited gains on school attendance.
Severe acute respiratory syndrome‐coronavirus‐2 spike (S) protein based vaccine candidates: State of the art and future prospects

Coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid‐19) is caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome‐coronavirus‐2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) which is responsible for a global pandemic that started in late 2019 in Wuhan, China. To prevent the worldwide spread of this highly pathogenic virus, development of an effective and safe vaccine is urgently needed. The SARS‐CoV‐2 and SARS‐CoV share a high degree of genetic and pathologic identity and share safety and immune‐enhancement concerns regarding vaccine development. Prior animal studies with first generation (whole virus‐based) preparations of SARS‐CoV vaccines (inactivated and attenuated vaccine modalities) indicated the possibility of increased infectivity or eosinophilic infiltration by immunization. Therefore, development of second and third generation safer vaccines (by using modern vaccine platforms) is actively sought for this viral infection. The spike (S) protein of SARS‐CoVs is the main determinant of cell entry and tropism and is responsible for facilitating zoonosis into humans and sustained person‐to‐person transmission. Furthermore, ‘S’ protein contains multiple neutralizing epitopes that play an essential role in the induction of neutralizing antibodies (nAbs) and protective immunity. Moreover, T‐cell responses against the SARS‐CoV‐2 ‘S’ protein have also been characterized that correlate to the IgG and IgA antibody titres in Covid‐19 patients. Thus, S protein is an obvious candidate antigen for inclusion into vaccine platforms against SARS‐CoV‐2 viral infection. This manuscript reviews different characteristics of S protein, its potency and ‘state of the art’ of the vaccine development strategies and platforms using this antigen, for construction of a safe and effective SARS‐CoV‐2 vaccine.
Nitrogen‐fixing trees have no net effect on forest growth in the coterminous United States

Nitrogen (N)‐fixing trees fulfil a unique and important biogeochemical role in forests through their ability to convert atmospheric N2 gas to plant‐available N. Due to their high N fixation rates, it is often assumed that N‐fixing trees facilitate neighbouring trees and enhance forest growth. This assumption is supported by some local studies but contradicted by others, leaving the overall effect of N‐fixing trees on forest growth unresolved. Here we use the US Forest Service's Forest Inventory and Analysis database to evaluate the effects of N‐fixing trees on plot‐scale basal area change and individual‐scale neighbouring tree demography across the coterminous US. First we discuss the average trends. At the plot and individual scales, N‐fixing trees do not affect the relative growth rates of neighbouring trees, but they facilitate recruitment and inhibit survival rates, suggesting that they are drivers of tree turnover in the coterminous US. At the plot scale, N‐fixing trees facilitate the basal area change of non‐fixing neighbours. In addition to the average trends, there is wide variation in the effect of N‐fixing trees on forest growth, ranging from strong facilitation to strong inhibition. This variation does not show a clear geographical pattern, though it does vary with certain local factors. N‐fixing trees facilitate forest growth when they are likely to be less competitive: under high N deposition and high soil moisture or when neighbouring trees occupy different niches (e.g. high foliar C:N trees and non‐fixing trees). Synthesis. N‐fixing trees have highly variable effects on forest growth and neighbour demographics across the coterminous US. This suggests that the effect of N‐fixing trees on forest development and carbon storage depends on local factors, which may help reconcile the conflicting results found in previous localized studies on the effect of N‐fixing trees on forest growth.
Impact of Climate Change on the Frequency of Dynamic Breakup Events and on the Risk of Ice-Jam Floods in Quebec, Canada

In cold regions, every year, river-ice jams generate sudden, surprising, intense flooding that challenges the capacity of public security services. This type of flood is commonly unpredictable and often appears chaotic because its occurrence depends on multiple, interacting weather, hydrological, ice and morphological parameters. This paper presents the findings of a research project assessing how climate change impacts dynamic river-ice breakup and associated floods along seven rivers of the province of Quebec, Canada. A combination of empirical river-ice breakup models, state-of-the-art hydrological simulations and standardized climate projections was used to estimate the historical (1972–2000) and future (2042–2070) frequencies of dynamic breakup events. Ice jam flood damage reimbursement data were used to predict changes to financial risk associated with dynamic breakup events. Results show that, overall, ice-jam floods will generate more damage in the future, which justifies watershed-based flood adaptation plans that take into account cold regions hydrological processes. The success of the methodology also sets the table for a comparable project that would include more rivers from different regions of Northeastern America.
Inactivation of Salmonella spp. and Escherichia coli O157:H7 on different food commodities by volatile antimicrobials

We determined the ability of carvacrol, cinnamaldehyde and ally isothiocyanate (AIT) in their vapor phase to inactivate E. coli O157:H7 and Salmonella spp. in whole and sliced tomatoes and their effect against E. coli O157:H7 on the surface and within lettuce and spinach tissues. Cultural and microscopic methods were employed to confirm inactivation of internalized cells on lettuce. Tomatoes samples were treated with various concentrations of antimicrobial in the vapor phase at 4, 10, and 25 oC in a closed container. Lettuce and spinach were treated at 0, 4, and 10 oC. On tomatoes, AIT was the most effective antimicrobial followed by cinnamaldehyde. An 8.3 μl/liter AIT reduced Salmonella and E. coli O157:H7 between tomato slices by 1.0 to 3.5 log depending on storage temperature. The same concentration reduced the pathogens to detection limit on tomatoes surface. On lettuce surface, 4 μl/liter AIT, 40 μl/liter carvacrol and cinnamaldehyde reduced O157:H7 by > 4.0 log at 0 and 4 oC in 4 days and at 10 oC in 2 days. However, within lettuce tissue, 16 μl/liter AIT, 80 μl/liter carvacrol and cinnamaldehyde reduced the pathogen by 4.0 log at 0 oC and 2.0 to 4.0 log at 4 oC in 4 days. These concentrations also reduced the pathogen population by 1.0 to 3.0 log at 10 oC in 2 days. Inactivating the pathogen on spinach was 1.0 log and 3.0 log less on the surface and within the tissue, respectively, compared to lettuce. Surface disinfection and CSLM micrographs supported the results obtained on lettuce tissue. Following surface disinfection more reduction occurred on infiltrated pathogens compared to water washed samples. The data supports using antimicrobials in the vapor phase may improve the safety of refrigerated sliced tomatoes and leafy greens marketed in packages containing enclosed headspace. INDEX WORDS: Salmonella spp. , Escherichia coli O157:H7, Surface, Tissue, Tomato, Lettuce, Spinach, Allyl isothiocyanate, Carvacrol, Cinnamaldehyde, Vapor-phase INACTIVATION OF SALMONELLA SPP. AND ESCHERICHIA COLI O157:H7 ON DIFFERENT FOOD COMMODITIES BY VOLATILE ANTIMICROBIALS
Gelling properties of myosin as affected by L-lysine and L-arginine by changing the main molecular forces and microstructure

ABSTRACT This paper investigated the effects of l-lysine (Lys) and l-arginine (Arg) on the water-holding capacity (WHC) and hardness of myosin gel as well as the mechanism of these effects. The results showed that Lys, Arg, and KOH increased the WHC but decreased the hardness in all cases. At pH 6.32, the WHC increased in the order control < KOH < Lys ≈ Arg, while the hardness decreased in the order control > KOH > Lys > Arg. Lys shortened low field nuclear magnetic resonance spin-spin relaxation times (T2), while Arg and KOH slightly affected T2. Lys, Arg, and KOH had different influences on the molecular forces in myosin gels and the distribution of myosin size. Lys formed a gel with porous clusters, while Arg generated a gel with fine caves. Therefore, both Lys and Arg changed the microstructure of myosin gel by changing the distribution of the myosin size as well as the molecular forces that form and/or maintain myosin gel, ultimately contributing to the differences in the WHC, hardness, and T2.
Transcriptional regulation and steady-state modeling of metabolic networks

Metabolite levels and their turnover rates are the main determinants of cellular metabolic state, which can only be indirectly regulated by the cell. Transcription is the first step towards regulating metabolism and elucidation of its link to metabolite concentrations is a fundamental challenge in metabolic systems biology. At the level of individual reactions, intra-cellular metabolite levels are dependent on enzyme abundances through reaction kinetics mechanisms. Another mechanism of metabolite concentration control is due to network connectivity, which has remained relatively less elucidated. We hereby integrate these two distinct mechanisms and develop a modeling framework describing the interplay between metabolite concentrations, mRNA levels and fluxes. We illustrate the key role of network connectivity in determining quantitative relationship between gene expression and metabolite levels through the analysis of experimental data from Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The proposed methodology provides mechanistic explanation for the network-guided organization of transcriptional response in metabolic networks and represents a step towards unraveling the genotype-phenotype relationship. * Manuscript in preparation: Zelezniak A, Sheridan S, Patil KR. Quantitative relationship between gene expression and metabolite levels is jointly determined by reaction mechanism and network connectivity Chapter 3: Concentration change coupling analysis
Suspended Sediment‐Induced Stratification Inferred From Concentration and Velocity Profile Measurements in the Lower Yellow River, China

Despite a multitude of models predicting sediment transport dynamics in open‐channel flow, self‐organized vertical density stratification that dampens flow turbulence due to the interaction between fluid and sediment has not been robustly validated with field observations from natural rivers. Turbulence‐suppressing density stratification can develop in channels with low channel‐bed slope and high sediment concentration. As the Yellow River, China, maintains one of the highest sediment loads in the world for a low sloping system, this location is ideal for documenting particle and fluid interactions that give rise to density stratification. Herein, we present analyses from a study conducted over a range of discharge conditions (e.g., low flow, rising limb, and flood peak) from a lower reach of the Yellow River, whereby water samples were collected at targeted depths to measure sediment concentration and, simultaneously, velocity measurements were collected throughout the flow depth. Importantly, sediment concentration varied by an order of magnitude between base and flood flows. By comparing measured concentration and velocity profiles to predictive models, we show that the magnitude of density stratification increases with sediment concentration. Furthermore, a steady‐state calculation of sediment suspension is used to determine that sediment diffusivity increases with grain size. Finally, we calculate concentration and velocity profiles, showing that steady‐state sediment suspensions are reliably predicted over a range of stratification conditions larger than had been previously documented in natural river flows. We determine that the magnitude of density stratification can be predicted by a function considering an entrainment parameter, sediment concentration, and bed slope.
Board Qualification And Firm Performance Of Family Ceo Listed Firm In Malaysia

This paper investigates the relationship between board size, board qualifications and firm performance of family CEO and non-family CEO listed firms in Malaysia mainly in construction, consumer, property and trading and services sectors in Bursa Malaysia. These sectors appeared to have more appropriate samples for the study. The total sample of 38 firms has met the criteria and the data has been collected for the period of 5 years from 2012 until 2016. The 38 samples of family firms were further divided into family CEO (21) and non-family CEO (17) firms. The independent variables are board size (BSIZE) and board qualification as measured by the proportion of board degree (BDEG) and the proportion of board professional qualification (BPRO). Meanwhile, for firm performance measurement, this study applied return on assets (ROA) and return on equity (ROE) for analysing the relationship between board size and board qualifications against firm performance. The findings show that there is a significant difference between family CEO and non-family CEO firms at 5% level for board professional qualification confirming altruism and nepotism practices among family members and support the argument of nepotism’s characteristic which can be granting jobs to family members regardless of merit. In addition, this study also finds board professional qualification is significantly and negatively related to external firm performance in family CEO firms showing that board education is not really been emphasized more among board members. 2357-1330 © 2020 Published by European Publisher.
Groove Generation and Coalescence on a Large‐Scale Laboratory Fault

Faults are the products of wear processes acting at a range of scales from nanometers to kilometers. Grooves produced by wear are a first‐order observable feature of preserved surfaces. However, their interpretation is limited by the complex geological histories of natural faults. Here we explore wear processes on faults by forensically examining a large‐scale controlled, laboratory fault which has a maximum offset between the sides of 42 mm and has been reset multiple times for a cumulative slip of approximately 140 mm. We find that on both sides of the fault scratches are formed with lengths that are longer than the maximum offset but less than the cumulative slip. The grooves are explained as a result of interaction with detached gouge rather than as toolmarks produced by an intact protrusion on one side of the fault. The density of grooves increases with normal stress. The experiment has a range of stress of 1–20 MPa and shows a density of 10 grooves/m/MPa in this range. This value is consistent with recent inferences of stress‐dependent earthquake fracture energy of 0.2 J/m2/MPa. At normal stresses above 20 MPa, the grooves are likely to coalesce into a corrugated surface that more closely resembles mature faults. Groove density therefore appears to be an attractive target for field studies aiming to determine the distribution of normal stress on faults. At low stresses the groove spacing can be measured and contrasted with areas where high stresses produce a corrugated surface.