Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Callus and Adventitious Buds Formation from Stem Explants of Balsam Pear （Momordica charantia L.）

The effects of sterilization pretreatment, sampling time and growth regulators on callus formation, explant contamination and adventitious bud induction from stems of balsam pear (Momordica charantia L.) were investigated. Sterilized for 6 min with 0.1% (w/v) mercuric chloride solution is an essential sterilization method for stems. June and July proved to be better for material taking, followed by May. The callus formation rate of balsam pears reached the highest when medium added with IBA 1.0mg/ L and BA 2.0 mg/L, while the optimum medium for adventitious bud induction was MS added with IBA 0.5mg/ L and BA 4.0 mg/L. And it will provide theoretical and technical basis for rapid propagation and breeding.
Human Resource Management–Performance Research: Is Everyone Really on the Same Page on Employee Involvement?

Differences in the treatment of involvement in the human resource management (HRM)&#8211;performance research stream have been underplayed, as commentaries concentrate on showing that HRM produces a performance premium, and more recently on exploring the mechanisms explaining this. This paper first identifies the two initial concerns of the research stream &#8211; the value of employee involvement and the holistic treatment of HRM &#8211; and the way these are joined to present a unified view of the area. It then reviews the studies, confirming that involvement has been underplayed or neglected completely, and is only prioritized in a minority. A divide is identified between HRM as an orientation towards fostering employee involvement &#8211; seen as a managerial philosophy &#8211; and as a technology &#8211; a set of practices constituting high&#8208;performance work systems. The paper then argues that acknowledgement of this divide matters, and concludes by drawing out some implications for how we should progress the research stream.
Portal enlargement in hip arthroscopy preserving the iliofemoral ligament: a novel access technique protecting soft tissue restraints

Abstract Capsulotomy in different modalities has been used to provide adequate exposure to access both the central and peripheral compartment in hip arthroscopy. Even though the hip joint has inherent bony stability, soft tissue restraints may be important in patients with ligaments hyperlaxity or in some cases with diminished bony stability. Biomechanical studies and clinical outcomes have shown the relevant role of the capsule in hip stability, mainly the role of the iliofemoral ligament. Although is not very common, iatrogenic post-arthroscopy subluxation and dislocation have been reported and many surgeons are concerned about the role aggressive capsulotomy or capsulectomy in this situation, thus capsule repair has become very popular. We present a novel technique to access the hip without cutting the iliofemoral ligament. With this technique we can obtain adequate arthroscopic access to the hip joint in order to treat adequately the central compartment pathologies reducing the risk of iatrogenic post-operative hip instability.
Corona-Like Illness: Did we get it before WHO Announcement of the Disease? A Cross-sectional Survey

Background: In Wuhan, cases with pneumonia of unknown etiology were reported in December 2019 and Coronavirus, called SARS-CoV-2 was detected in the lower respiratory tract samples of these patients. WHO has declared the infection a Pandemic on March 11, 2020. The most common symptoms of COVID-19 were fever, dry cough, fatigue, and dyspnea, myalgia. The aim of the study: To determine the frequency of people who assume they got, “Corona-like illness” before WHO announcement of the disease. Describe their demography and character of the disease. Material and Methods: This cross-sectional web- based anonymous survey study included participants who were fulfilling online designed questionnaire. Results: Most of the individuals that fill the questionnaire were in the age group (31-40 years old), most of them were from Egypt 91.5%, 10.7% were smokers, 6.7% of them with cardiac – hypertension and myocardial ischemia, 47.9% of them with allergic rhinitis and 23.4% with asthma. In total, 55.2% of those who fill the questionnaire have the experience of symptoms like coronavirus symptoms in October, November and early December. About 25.9% need to be admitted to ER. Conclusion: Many people may have experienced the disease before the announcement of WHO, especially that the new virus spreads as easily as “Flu”. This may explain the spread of the disease among the families as it is very difficult to stop influenza transmission. The antibodies testing would allow us to check blood samples for antibodies against coronavirus to tell whether remote immunity is found in the population or not.
Pair-wise Comparison Analysis for Multiple Pool-seq: an efficient method identified anthocyanin biosynthesis genes in rice pericarp

The complex traits are derived from multiple genes and exhibit a large variety of phenotypes. High-throughput sequencing technologies have become the new strategies for mapping the important traits of crops. However, these methods have their own disadvantages and limitations. Here we introduced Pair-wise Comparison Analysis for Multiple Pool-seq (PCAMP) for mapping the candidate genomic regions involved in anthocyanin biosynthesis in rice pericarp. In this protocol, the second filial generation (F2) populations obtained by crossing two parents with different target traits were divided into n (n>=3) subpopulations according to their phenotypes. Thirty phenotypically identical individuals were selected from each subpopulation and DNA samples were extracted to form a pool for sequencing. Finally, we compared the SNP-index between every two Pool-seqs to map the candidate genomic regions. We applied PCAMP to analyse F2 populations and successfully identified five known genes and five new candidate genomic regions for anthocyanin biosynthesis in rice pericarp. These results demonstrate that PCAMP is an efficient new method for dissecting the complex traits of crops.
Feasibility of Self-Emulsifying Drug Delivery System for Dissolution Enhancement of Indapamide

Purpose: Poorly water-soluble drugs when given orally experience limited dissolution due to their low solubility in aqueous solutions. This study aimed to investigate the dissolution enhancement using self-emulsifying drug delivery systems (SEDDS) for Indapamide, a Biopharmaceutical Classification System Type 2 drug. Stability of SEDDS was also assessed. Methods: Drug containing lipid-based systems that could form SEDDS were prepared with vehicles including Labrafil®M1944CS and Labrasol with or without Capryol™90 or Solutol®HS15. The key quality attributes of SEDDS were determined in terms of size distribution and drug dissolution profiles. Other properties evaluated were critical micelle concentration (CMC), zeta potential and solubility profiles. Results: SEDDS formed negatively charged dispersions of typically 170-250nm and their CMC were <110mg/L. All SEDDS achieved rapid and significantly higher drug release, which were maintained over 90min when compared to unprocessed drug powder. Dissolution enhancement and size distribution profiles of SEDDS stored at 25 and 40oC were preserved. Enhancement effect of SEDDS was contributed to formation of stable nano-sized dispersions, high drug solubility in SEDDS and low CMC that withstood dilution by dissolution medium. Conclusions: Lipid-based systems with Labrasol, Labrafil®M1944CS and Capryol™90 produced SEDDS that led to a significant dissolution enhancement of Indapamide regardless of storage conditions.
Do good fundamentals generate alpha?

Objective: To verify abnormal risk-adjusted returns in Brazilian stock portfolios formed according to the F-Score that indicates the presence of good fundamentals. Method: The sample has 146 companies per year on average, includes the period of adoption of the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) from July 2008 to June 2018 and uses equally weighted portfolios formed at the end of June of each year with information from the previous year. Results: The high F-Score portfolio showed greater average returns, lower beta, and a positive and significant alpha that disappeared in the sub-period initiating after the full adoption of IFRS. Significant coefficients for the small capitalization risk premium and egalitarian weighting suggest that large companies do not dominate its performance. High and low F-Score portfolios cannot be characterized as value stocks. The low F-Score portfolio displayed a negative and significant coefficient for the moment factor, suggesting persistence of negative returns. Contributions: Portfolios with high F-Score may have less chance of catastrophic returns. The technique can be employed by less sophisticated investors to build defensive portfolios of companies with good fundamentals.
PREVALENCE OF TRYPANOSOMES IN TRADE BOS INDICUS (CATTLE) AT KANO, NIGERIA.

Trypanosomosis has remained a constraint to cattle productivity with serious economic consequences. This study was aimed at investigating the prevalence of Trypanosomes in 560 cattle brought to Kano Abattoir from January to December, 2017, using standard trypanosome detection methods. The result revealed an overall prevalence of 22 (3.93%) with cattle above 3 years of age having higher prevalence, 14 (2.50%, χ2 = 6 .284, df = 3, p = 0.0122) compared to other age groups. Similarly, prevalence of bulls was higher, 18 (3.22%, χ2 = 0.024, df = 1, p = 0.877), than that of cows with Sokoto Gudali breeds having higher prevalence, 12 (2. 14%, χ2 = 0.08 6 , df = 1, p = 0.7 6 9) than White Fulani breeds. C attle with poor BCS had higher prevalence, 18 (3.2 %) compared to cattle with good BCS, 4 (0.71 %) with those scoring II (very thin) having the highest prevalence, 8 (1.43%, χ2 = 11.279, df = 8, p = 0.0008). Moreover, the average Packed Cell Volume (PCV) was reduced in parasitaemic cattle compared to aparasitaemic cattle (p<0.05). Similarly, cattle brought from Wudil had higher prevalence, 8 (1.00%, χ2 = 11.34, df = 7, p <0.0001) compared to other sources. Conclusively, the prevalence reported in this study was lower compared to earlier reports but recorded a higher number of T. vivax in trade cattle which could be an indication that its transmission is highly favoured by the cyclical vector or that the other species respond better to trypanocidal drugs. More epidemiological surveillance is recommended.
Correlation between weather, population size and COVID-19 pandemic: a study of Brazilian capitals

Objective : To analyze the correlation between weather, population size and cases of COVID-19 in the capitals of Brazil. Methods : All confirmed cases of COVID-19 infection, from the first confirmed case from February 26 until May 01, 2020 were included. For weather variables, average temperature (°C), dew point (°C), average humidity (%) and wind speed (m s-1) were extracted from the Instituto de Meteorologia database. The population size of each capital was used as a control variable, with data obtained from Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatistica. Spearman rank correlation tests were utilized to examine the correlation between variables. Results : The analysis showed a significant and strong positive correlation between the total cases of COVID-19 and the population size (p<0,01). There was a significant positive correlation with the average humidity of the air and cumulative cases (p<0,05). There was no significant correlation with other climate variables. Conclusion : Our results confront some expectations commented around the world about a possible seasonality of COVID-19 during periods of low humidity and can assist government and health authorities in decision making to control the pandemic. Studies in other regions are important to strengthen the findings.
The influence of m-marketing tools on consumer buying process: evidence from the dining sector

PurposeThis paper explores the potential impact of mobile marketing tools on consumer buying behaviour within the context of dining. The aim is to examine the influence of mobile marketing tools through their different functions on the stages of the consumer buying process. The study addresses a lack of relevant research with evidence from both customer and supplier perspectives.Design/methodology/approachThe mobile tools that are found useful for dining were considered in this study. Qualitative interviews with marketers and consumer opinion leaders were conducted, given the limited extant research.FindingsThe results reveal that mobile marketing tools influence consumers' decision-making differently and their effect varies according to the customer type. Additionally, it shows that loyalty has a direct influence on mobile marketing effectiveness, as the decision-making process of loyal customers is more affected by mobile marketing tools than the non-loyal customers.Research limitations/implicationsThe limitations are mainly based on the qualitative nature of this study and are relevant to the research context. Further research could examine these findings in different service and geographical contexts.Practical implicationsMarketing activity through the smartphone should focus on loyal customers and opinion leaders with the use of appropriate mobile tools.Originality/valueThe study provides empirical evidence on the variable influence of mobile marketing tools on consumer decision-making and develops a conceptual framework. It is also found that loyalty is an important factor that positively affects smartphone tools adoption.
Effect of turmeric and garlic supplementation to fermented Sauropus androgynus-bay leaves containing diet on fat deposition and broiler meat composition

This study aimed to examine the effect of turmeric and garlic inclusion to fermented Sauropus androgynus-bay leaves (FSBL) containing diet on fat deposition, and chemical composition of broiler meats. Two hundred 15-day-old female broilers were distributed into 5 treatment groups with 4 replications as follows. Control feeds with commercial feed additive (T0); Feeds with 1.25% FSBL (T1); Feed with FSBL plus 1 g turmeric (T2); Feed with FSBL plus 2 g garlic (T3); Feed with FSBL plus 1 g of turmeric and 2 g garlic (T4). It was shown that the fat deposition in the abdomen was significantly affected (P<0.01). Furthermore, the inclusion of turmeric and garlic to FSBL containing diet did not affect fat, protein, moisture and ash contents, but increased arginine, methionine and histidine (P<0.01). The addition of turmeric and/or garlic to the FSBL containing diet significantly influenced lauric acid, myristic acid, linolenic acid, cis-11-eicosenoic acid, cis-4,7,10,13,16,19-docosahexaenoic acid (P<0.05), n-3 fatty acid and n-6/n-3 fatty acid ratio (P<0.01). In conclusion, turmeric plus garlic supplementation improved amino acid profiles and changed fatty acid profiles. The possible interaction should be considered when we formulated feed additive from medicinal plant mixtures
Wide-Supply-Voltage-Range CMOS Bandgap Reference for In Vivo Wireless Power Telemetry

The robustness of the reference circuit in a wide range of supply voltages is crucial in implanted devices. Conventional reference circuits have demonstrated a weak performance over wide supply ranges. Channel-length modulation in the transistors causes the circuit to be sensitive to power supply variation. To solve this inherent problem, this paper proposes a new output-voltage-line-regulation controller circuit. When a variation occurs in the power supply, the controller promptly responds to the supply deviation and removes unwanted current in the output path of the reference circuit. The proposed circuit was implemented in a 0.35-μm SK Hynix CMOS standard process. The experimental results demonstrated that the proposed reference circuit could generate a reference voltage of 0.895 V under a power supply voltage of 3.3 V, line regulation of 1.85 mV/V in the supply range of 2.3 to 5 V, maximum power supply rejection ratio (PSRR) of −54 dB, and temperature coefficient of 11.9 ppm/°C in the temperature range of 25 to 100 °C.
The Effect of Foliar Boron Application on Seed Production of Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.)

Boron (B) is an essential micronutrient for plant reproductive growth and seed setting. A better understanding of the reasonable application rate of B could provide guidelines for improving seed yield and quality. In this study, we used five B concentrations (0, 400, 800, 1200, and 1600 mg B L-1) to study the effect of foliar application of B on seed yield and quality of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) in northern China. Our results indicated that foliar B application increased the pollen number, pollen viability, and dry weight and B concentration of alfalfa reproductive organs. The effect of B on alfalfa seed yield can be attributed to affecting the number of inflorescence and the seeds per pod. Foliar application with 800 mg B L-1 made quantitative and qualitative improvements in seed yield and quality of alfalfa. These results help to explain the positive effects of B on alfalfa seed production.
Foreign Direct Investment Attractiveness of Central, Eastern, and Southeastern European Countries: The Importance of Policy-Related Location Advantages

The paper aims to enhance the discussion about foreign direct investment (FDI) attractiveness of Central, Eastern, and Southeastern European (CESEE) countries, by focusing on those location determinants of FDI which fall within the scope of public policy. First, we summarize the literature on location advantages. Second, some general trends in FDI inflows to the CESEE region are outlined. Third, based on data for 15 CESEE countries in 2013 and 2017, we build a composite index, which allows us to rank countries in terms of their FDI attractiveness, as well as its most important policy-related dimensions, such as institutional framework, infrastructure endowment, labor force quality, and cost competitiveness. In addition to allowing comparison between economies across these dimensions, the Svilena Mihaylova University of Economics – Varna, Bulgaria s.mihaylova@ue-varna.bg CroEconSur Vol. 22 No. 1 June 2020 pp. 65-101 Received: December 13, 2019 Accepted: May 5, 2020 Research Article doi:10.15179/ces.22. 1.3
The Effects of Cationic Contamination on Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cells

by Brian Kienitz Polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) running on hydrogen hold great promise to provide a source of clean energy and reduce our dependence on foreign oil, but fuel cells must become more durable before they can be implemented. The effects of cationic contamination, the process of foreign cations replacing protons in the ionomer phase, reduce fuel cell durability. The purpose of this study was to experimentally determine and subsequently model the effects of cationic contamination on PEMFCs. This was accomplished using a three branched approach. The first branch included experiments evaluating the performance of fuel cell systems. The second branch consisted of theory based models to explain experimental observations by postulating the mechanisms of cationic contamination. The final branch used alternative fuel cell configurations to validate the mechanistic postulates. This study shows the drastic effects that cationic contamination can have on PEMFCs. These effects were quantified by contaminating PEMFCs to known amounts and then assessing fuel cell performance as a function of level of contamination. The maximum power that can be harnessed from contaminated cells decreases proportionally to the percentage of protons that are replaced. This decrease is due to a decrease in electrode
Probing the thermodynamic properties of mantle rocks in solid and liquid states

Our understanding of the structure and evolution of the deep Earth is strongly linked to knowledge of the thermodynamic properties of rocky materials at extreme temperatures and pressures. In this thesis, I present work that helps constrain the equation of state properties of iron-bearing Mg-silicate perovskite as well as oxide-silicate melts. I use a mixture of experimental, statistical, and theoretical techniques to obtain knowledge about these phases. These include laser-heated diamond anvil cell experiments, Bayesian statistical analysis of powder diffraction data, and the development of a new simplified model for understanding oxide and silicate melts at mantle conditions. By shedding light on the thermodynamic properties of such ubiquitous Earth-forming materials, I hope to aid our community’s progress toward understanding the large-scale processes operating in the Earth’s mantle, both in the modern day and early in Earth’s history.
Strategic Use of Technology for Inclusive Education in Hong Kong: A Content-Level Perspective

Purpose: A growing body of research has focused on the topic of inclusive education for ethnic minorities in Hong Kong. At the same time, few scholars have explored the role technology can play in enhancing inclusivity within the context of quality education. This study examines how the differentiated use of technology that takes into account disparities in prior knowledge can benefit students of different learning backgrounds. Design/Approach/Methods: This study adopted an experimental design to investigate how content-specific and content-neutral technologies can be strategically used to support the classroom discussions of Chinese and ethnic minority students’ learning Chinese language and mathematics. One hundred and twenty-one secondary school students participated in the study. Each student was randomly assigned to a condition, in a 2 (ethnicity: Chinese vs. ethnic minority) × 2 (content: content-specific first vs. content-neutral first) design. Findings: The study found that (a) for Chinese language lessons, ethnic minority students preferred to learn with content-neutral and content-specific technologies in prediscussion and postdiscussion activities, respectively; whereas the Chinese students’ preferences were the opposite and (b) for mathematics lessons, both groups of students performed better when content-specific and content-neutral technologies were used in prediscussion and postdiscussion activities, respectively. Originality/Value: The study presents five practical suggestions for the strategic use of technology in inclusive classrooms in Hong Kong.
Highly porous and thermally stable tribopositive hybrid bimetallic cryogel to boost up the performance of triboelectric nanogenerators

There have been tremendous efforts made to investigate various materials to enhance the electrical performance of triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) but there is still demand for some techniques to further enhance the performance of tribomaterials. Therefore, we fabricated a bimetallic hybrid cryogel via cheap and facile UV‐radiation as well as in situ reduction method. Fabricated TENG device made up of porous hybrid bimetallic cryogel film containing silver and gold nanoparticles as tribopositive material and poly dimethyl siloxane (PDMS) as a tribonegative layer with dimension of 1 × 2 cm2 has the ability to produced output voltage of 262.14 V with current density of 27.52 mA/m2 and 7.44 W/m2 peak power density, which was sufficient to light up more than 120 white light emitting‐diodes (LEDs). Porous and rough structure, interaction of nanoparticles was the reason behind the performance enhancement of tribopositive material. Thus, this study introduces a very stable and easily synthesized bimetallic hybrid cryogel as a tribopositive material to enhance the performance of tribomaterials to design high performance TENG devices.