Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Colonization of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in moderately degraded sub-tropical forest stands of Meghalaya, Northeast India.

The roots of eight plants species in six families from moderately degraded sub-tropical forest stands of Meghalaya, Northeast India were examined for arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF). All the surveyed plant species had AMF colonization in the form of arbuscules, vesicles and hyphae. The result of the investigation reveals that the percentage of AMF colonization varied in different plant species. The intensity of colonization ranges from 38.98% to 87.77%, with the lowest in Cinnamomum tamala and highest in Ophiopogon intermedius. Analysis of the rhizosphere soils showed that mycorrhizal spores were present in all locations from where the plant roots were collected. The mean spore density per 25g of soil ranged between 38.67 and 89. Correlation analyses demonstrated that total AMF colonization shows a positive correlation (p < 0.05) with spore density and also with hyphae and vesicles. The hyphal colonization had a negative correlation (p < 0.05) with arbuscules and positive correlation (p < 0.05) with vesicles. The present study indicated that AMF was formed in the roots of various plants in moderately degraded sub-tropical forest of Northeast India with varied rate of colonization and spore density.
The impact of algal toxicity on life-cycle impact assessment of plastic additives and the potential of using QSAR predictions to fill the algae data gap

Purpose There is a need to find a quick way to assess the impacts of the growing amount of globally manufactured and emitted chemical substances. This paper evaluates the use of Quantitative Structure Activity Relationships (QSAR) for predicting environmental effects of plastic additives in Life Cycle Impact Assessment (LCIA). It also evaluates the impact on so called Characterization Factors (CF) when including toxicity on algae as opposed to only chordate and arthropod. Method A review concluded that few (39) toxicity data for algae (experimental and QSAR predicted) were available for the 159 plastic additives of concern. To fill the data gap, a QSAR for algal toxicity was constructed that was able to predict toxicity for 54 substances. CFs were calculated and assessed based on; 1. QSAR predicted data for arthropod and chordate, 2. QSAR predicted data for arthropod, chordate and algae and 3. Experimental data for all three phyla. Results and discussion CFs could be calculated considering algal toxicity for totally 97 out of the 159 substances. Algae were overall less sensitive to the substances leading to lower CFs when it was included. The correlation between the effect data of algae and the other two phyla was very small resulting in an altered internal rank when algal data was included. Conclusions & recommendations - The sensitivity of the species varied both between phyla and between substances. - The inclusion of algal effect data did alter the internal rank of the resulting CFs although not extensively. - Algae generally exhibited lower sensitivity to the additives. Not including algae in LCIA studies might therefore result in more conservative CFs.
The Implication of Fiscal Principles and Rules on Promoting Sustainable Public Finances in the EU Countries

The purpose of this study was to analyze fiscal behavior in the European Union countries, to highlight the implications of institutional constraints on healthy fiscal attitudes, and to test the relationship between government decisions, fiscal responsibility instruments, and the sustainability of public finances during the period 2000–2014. By using panel data analysis, we tested the responsiveness of primary balance to government indebtedness, as well as to some determinants of fiscal responsibility, such as the degree of public spending or fiscal rules effectiveness, and we included two different perspectives regarding fiscal rules status. First, we computed a fiscal responsibility index, which measures the applicability of or compliance with the fiscal rules, referring to legal dimensions and administrative and institutional capacity. Second, we established a fiscal responsibility convergence index, which measures the status of the EU Member States regarding the approach of numerical rules. The empirical findings indicate that fiscal authorities do not act to the existing stock of public debt and highlights a negative response of budget balances to the stock of outstanding debt. Fiscal position improves when the index of fiscal responsibility is involved and countries become more sustainable when they are related to the entire level of fiscal governance, with respect to legal framework, institutional and administrative capacity, but at the debt ratio threshold of over 90%, the effect of the overall fiscal rule comes out as less relevant for the improvement of the primary balance.
Tomato Skin Strength — Its Measurement and Relation to Cracking1

The puncture test was found suitable for evaluating the resistance of tomato fruit to cracking. However, several test conditions must be kept constant and the texture of the flesh supporting the skin may influence the results. Cracking resistance does not appear to be governed by skin thickness, but skin strength and its ability to stretch are contributing factors. These may be governed by the penetration of the cutinized outer layer into the outer cells of the skin.
False-negative results on computer-aided detection software in preoperative automated breast ultrasonography of breast cancer patients

Purpose The purpose of this study was to measure the cancer detection rate of computer-aided detection (CAD) software in preoperative automated breast ultrasonography (ABUS) of breast cancer patients and to determine the characteristics associated with false-negative outcomes. Methods A total of 129 index lesions (median size, 1.7 cm; interquartile range, 1.2 to 2.4 cm) from 129 consecutive patients (mean age±standard deviation, 53.4±11.8 years) who underwent preoperative ABUS from December 2017 to February 2018 were assessed. An index lesion was defined as a breast cancer confirmed by ultrasonography (US)-guided core needle biopsy. The detection rate of the index lesions, positive predictive value (PPV), and false-positive rate (FPR) of the CAD software were measured. Subgroup analysis was performed to identify clinical and US findings associated with false-negative outcomes. Results The detection rate of the CAD software was 0.84 (109 of 129; 95% confidence interval, 0.77 to 0.90). The PPV and FPR were 0.41 (221 of 544; 95% CI, 0.36 to 0.45) and 0.45 (174 of 387; 95% CI, 0.40 to 0.50), respectively. False-negative outcomes were more frequent in asymptomatic patients (P<0.001) and were associated with the following US findings: smaller size (P=0.001), depth in the posterior third (P=0.002), angular or indistinct margin (P<0.001), and absence of architectural distortion (P<0.001). Conclusion The CAD software showed a promising detection rate of breast cancer. However, radiologists should judge whether CAD software-marked lesions are true- or false-positive lesions, considering its low PPV and high FPR. Moreover, it would be helpful for radiologists to consider the characteristics associated with false-negative outcomes when reading ABUS with CAD.
Demonizing the enemy: the influence of Russian state-sponsored media on American audiences

ABSTRACT There is growing anxiety about the influence of international propaganda on public opinion. Under what conditions can countries shift foreign public opinion against an adversary? Does making people aware that news is coming from a foreign source mitigate its influence? I examine these questions in the context of Russian propaganda in the United States. I subject subgroups of Americans to an article from Russia Today (RT), a Russian international television network, criticizing the Ukrainian government. I vary whether audiences are aware of the message source, and/or the intentions, of the Russian-funded network. I show that exposure to information about Ukrainian human rights violations lowers Americans’ evaluations of Ukraine irrespective of source awareness – indicating that making people more aware of foreign propaganda does not attenuate its influence. The findings have important implications for understanding the micro-level effects of international propaganda and the effectiveness of counter-propaganda strategies.
Optic Nerve Crush Activates the Genomic Fabrics of the Complement Cascade and Delta-Notch Signaling

Glaucoma is a multifactorial neurodegenerative disease, characterized by degeneration of the retinal ganglion cells (RGCs). There has been little progress in developing efficient strategies for neuroprotection in glaucoma. We profiled the retina transcriptome of Lister Hooded rats at 2 weeks after optic nerve crush (ONC) and applied systems biology approaches to better understand the molecular mechanisms related with the retinal remodeling after induction of RGC degeneration. We observed a higher Relative Expression Variability after ONC. Gene expression stability was used as a measure of transcription control and disclosed a robust reduction in the number of very stably expressed genes. Enrichment analysis showed that Complement cascade and Notch signaling pathway were the main affected pathways after ONC. To expand our studies of these two pathways, we examined the coordination of gene expressions within each pathway and with the entire transcriptome. ONC increased the number of synergistically coordinated pairs of genes and the number of similar profiles. This study provided novel findings beyond the regulation of individual gene expression and disclosed changes in the control of expression by Complement cascade and Notch signaling functional pathways important for both RGC degeneration and remodeling of the retinal tissue after ONC.
Socio-Economic Characteristics and Composition of Sheep and Goat Farming under Extensive System of Rearing

Sheep and goat play an important role in Indian economy and source of livelihood and employment to millions of rural households. Sheep and goats in India are mostly maintained on natural vegetation on common grazing lands, wastelands and uncultivated (fallow) lands, stubbles of cultivated crops and top feeds (tree loppings). Rarely they are kept on grain, cultivated fodder or crop residue. Sheep and goat rearing is the backbone of the economy of small and landless farmers in India. The study was carried out in Tumakuru, Chitradurga, Belagavi and Kalaburagi districts of Karnataka. The results of the study revealed that majority of the sheep and goat farmers belonged to age group of above 40 years and are illiterate (50-52%). The family size of sheep and goat rearing households have medium size with 4-6 members. The maximum number of farmers were having income of less than `1 lakh per annum, who belonged to backward class, scheduled caste and scheduled tribe. The total number of sheep per household were 25, 67 and 27 under small, medium and large herd size with an overall average of 71 sheep per farm. Similarly, about 17, 29 and 43 goats were found in small, medium and large flock size of goat with an average of 30 goats per flock. Majority of the farmers were having kaccha type of shed for rearing sheep (41.66%) and goat (80%).
The Hedge Fund Industry Is Bigger (and Has Performed Better) Than You Think

Of first-order importance to the study of potential systemic risks in hedge funds is the aggregate size of the industry. The worldwide hedge fund industry has been estimated by regulators and industry experts as having total net assets under management of $2.3-3.7 trillion as of the end of 2016. Using a newly combined database of several hedge fund information vendors, augmented by the first detailed, systematic regulatory collection of data on large hedge funds in the United States, we estimate that the worldwide net assets under management were at least $5.2 trillion in 2016, over 40% larger than the most generous estimate. Gross assets, which represent the balance sheet value of hedge fund assets, exceeds $8.5 trillion. We further decompose hedge fund assets by their self-reported strategy and by fund domicile. We also show that the total returns earned by funds that report to the public databases are significantly lower than the returns of funds that report only on regulatory filings, both in aggregate and within nearly every fund strategy. This difference appears to be driven entirely by alpha, rather than by differences in exposures to systematic risk factors. However, net investor flows are considerably higher for funds reporting publicly, suggesting previous estimates of the flow-performance relationship are likely biased. Our new, and much larger, estimates of the size of the hedge fund industry should help regulators and prudential authorities to better gauge the systemic risks posed by the industry, and to better evaluate potential data gaps in private funds. Our results also suggest that systematic risk is roughly similar in publicly and non-publicly reporting funds.
Emerging paradigms of tree phenology in dry tropics

The tropical dry forests constitute a mosaic composed of several phenological functional types adapted to seasonal drought in different ways. Various functional types differ with respect to phenological timing and triggering factors, water relations, extent of deciduousness (∼ leaflessness), etc. Duration of deciduousness in tropical trees (reflecting integrated effect of seasonal drought, tree characteristics and soil moisture conditions) is related to leafing patterns and resource use rates. Vegetative and flowering phenology of trees in dry tropics is primarily affected by the periodicity of rainfall and soil water availability. Occurrence of leaf-flushing as well as flowering during summer in majority of Indian tropical trees, when drought is severe, seems to be a unique adaptation to survive under strongly seasonal climate having a short growth promoting wet period and a long growth constraining dry period. The key phenological themes that need research focus in the dry tropics are: duration of deciduousness, timing of vegetative bud break, leaf strategy, water relations, seasonal flowering types and asynchrony. Analysis of functional types based on the duration of deciduousness and timing of bud break may enable better assessment of future climate change impact. There is a need for long-term quantitative documentation of tree phenological patterns in India through a phenological station network in diverse climatic/vegetational zones.
Vortex shedding frequency in open-channel lateral cavity

This article aims at predicting the oscillation frequency of open-channel lateral cavities, which are common sheltered zones of riverine environments, and have important ecological impact. Using a theoretical analysis based on an existing model for acoustic cavities and a free-surface lateral cavity experiment, we show that the vortex shedding in the mixing layer between the cavity and the open channel is always constrained by gravity waves even for low Froude numbers ($F<0.6$). This expands previous results from the literature showing the impact of gravity waves on the vortex shedding frequency for high Froude number ($F>0.6$). Measurements of the free-surface oscillation and transverse velocity oscillation frequencies reveal a unique frequency along the mixing layer, equal to the free-surface oscillation frequency anywhere in the cavity. Hence, it is shown that the vortex shedding frequency in an open-channel lateral cavity always equals a match between a natural frequency of the cavity and a solution of the feedback model developed herein for low to moderate Froude numbers.
Prediction of Peak and Termination of Novel Coronavirus Covid-19 Epidemic in Iran

The growth and development of Covid-19 transmission have significantly cut the attention of many societies, particularly Iran that has been struggling with this contagious, infectious disease since late February 2020. In the present study, the known SIR model was used for the dynamics of an epidemic to provide a suitable assessment of the COVID-19 virus epidemic in Iran. The epidemic curve and SIR model parameters were obtained with the use of Iran statistical data. The recovered people were considered alongside the official number of confirmed victims as the reliable long-time statistical data of Iran. The results offered many important predictions of the COVID-19 virus epidemic such as realistic number of victims, infection rate, peak time, and other characteristics.
Vegetation‐groundwater dynamics at a former uranium mill site following invasion of a biocontrol agent: A time series analysis of Landsat normalized difference vegetation index data

Because groundwater recharge in dry regions is generally low, arid and semiarid environments have been considered well‐suited for long‐term isolation of hazardous materials (e.g., radioactive waste). In these dry regions, water lost (transpired) by plants and evaporated from the soil surface, collectively termed evapotranspiration (ET), is usually the primary discharge component in the water balance. Therefore, vegetation can potentially affect groundwater flow and contaminant transport at waste disposal sites. We studied vegetation health and ET dynamics at a Uranium Mill Tailings Radiation Control Act (UMTRCA) disposal site in Shiprock, New Mexico, where a floodplain alluvial aquifer was contaminated by mill effluent. Vegetation on the floodplain was predominantly deep‐rooted, non‐native tamarisk shrubs (Tamarix sp.). After the introduction of the tamarisk beetle (Diorhabda sp.) as a biocontrol agent, the health of the invasive tamarisk on the Shiprock floodplain declined. We used Landsat normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) data to measure greenness and a remote sensing algorithm to estimate landscape‐scale ET along the floodplain of the UMTRCA site in Shiprock prior to (2000–2009) and after (2010–2018) beetle establishment. Using groundwater level data collected from 2011 to 2014, we also assessed the role of ET in explaining seasonal variations in depth to water of the floodplain. Growing season scaled NDVI decreased 30% (p < .001), while ET decreased 26% from the pre‐ to post‐beetle period and seasonal ET estimates were significantly correlated with groundwater levels from 2011 to 2014 (r2 = .71; p = .009). Tamarisk greenness (a proxy for health) was significantly affected by Diorhabda but has partially recovered since 2012. Despite this, increased ET demand in the summer/fall period might reduce contaminant transport to the San Juan River during this period.
A high-throughput flow cytometry method for ploidy determination in oil palm.

Non-euploid seedlings occur naturally in many plant species including oil palm but at frequencies usually considered too low for practical purposes. A flow cytometry method is described that overcomes the difficulty of exploiting such low frequency events and provides a practical plant breeding methodology to identify noneuploids/haploids within large sample sizes. In addition, the efficiency of detecting non-euploid seedlings can also be increased greatly by a pre-screen for abnormal phenotypes. Oil palm is relatively difficult to analyse via flow cytometry as tissue disruption initiates secondary metabolite production which interferes with the analyte and data capture. The addition of dithiothreitol and polyvinylpyrrolidone during sample preparation, followed by cold incubation, prior to analysis overcomes these problems. The high-throughput method developed allows the analysis of 1000 samples per day per flow cytometer. The number of haploids produced by this method rivals that of other haploid production systems and is currently the only known method of generating haploids in oil palm. Additionally, the method for oil palm is not season dependent and may be performed all year round. The method can be applied to other species and provides a practical means of harvesting naturally occurring non-euploid. The seedlings selected using this methodology can be grown, thus making the method applicable to a range of species and disciplines including evolutionary studies of speciation of polyploids, reproductive biology, embryology and the production of haploids and doubled haploids for genetic studies and plant breeding of oil palm.
Probabilistic Environmental Risk Assessment for Linear Alkyl Benzene Sulfonate (LAS) in Japan Reduces Assessment Uncertainty

The environmental risk of the anionic surfactant, linear alkylbenzene sulfonate (LAS), in Japanese surface waters is presented using a probabilistic exposure and effects assessment. A chronic toxicity Species Sensitivity Distribution (SSD) (20 species) is used to define the 5th percentile hazardous concentration and compared to experimental stream mesocosm findings following toxicity normalization to various LAS carbon chain lengths (CL) ranging from C10 to C14. CL-dependent ecotoxicity data are combined with environmental monitoring in Japan where CL distributions of LAS are also quantified. Over 9,000 surface water measurements with CL specific LAS concentrations were compiled. Because LAS displays a common polar narcotic mode of action across all CL, a Toxic Unit (TU) concentration-addition approach can be followed whereby TU exceeding 1 correspond to environmental risk of cumulative Predicted Exposure Concentrations (PEC)/Predicted No Effects Concentration (PNEC) also exceeding 1. SSD, mesocosm, and monitoring data confirm that an extremely small number of water samples exceed a TU of 1 (5 of 4748 for SSD PNEC; 0 sites for mesocosm PNEC). Total LAS measurements from > 25,000 sites were compared to CL normalized PNECs demonstrating > 99.99% probability that the PEC would be less than the PNEC indicating negligible risk from LAS in Japan surface waters.
Demystifying Academic Writing in the Doctoral Program: Writing Workshops, Peer Reviews, and Scholarly Identities

ABSTRACT This article discusses a course at The University of Texas at Austinwhich sought to facilitate doctoral students’ development of scholarly articles while simultaneously fostering their sense of scholarly identity. The article was co-authored by the instructor and two cohorts of doctoral students based on immediate as well as retrospective learning outcome assessments. The social constructivist approach to writing pedagogy fostered students’ scholarly identities and demystified the publication process. However, efforts should be made to maintain the practice of writing, sharing, and reviewing and the course should more explicitly foster critical reflections on the relationship between writing, scholarly identity, and knowledge production.