Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
CHEMICAL FRONT PROPAGATION IN PERIODIC FLOWS:

We investigate the influence of steady periodic flows on the propagation of chemical fronts in an infinite channel domain. We focus on the sharp front arising in Fisher–Kolmogorov– Petrovskii–Piskunov (FKPP) type models in the limit of small molecular di↵usivity and fast reaction (large Péclet and Damköhler numbers, Pe and Da) and on its heuristic approximation by the G equation. We introduce a variational formulation that expresses the two front speeds in terms of periodic trajectories minimizing the time of travel across the period of the flow, under a constraint that di↵ers between the FKPP and G equations. This formulation makes it plain that the FKPP front speed is greater than or equal to the G equation front speed. We study the two front speeds for a class of cellular vortex flows used in experiments. Using a numerical implementation of the variational formulation, we show that the di↵erences between the two front speeds are modest for a broad range of parameters. However, large di↵erences appear when a strong mean flow opposes front propagation; in particular, we identify a range of parameters for which FKPP fronts can propagate against the flow while G fronts cannot. We verify our computations against closed-form expressions derived for Da ⌧ Pe and for Da Pe.
Effect of nano fertilization on sugar beet

Sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L.) ranks second important sugar crop in the world. The aim of the herein trial is to study the effect of mineral and nano-nitrogen fertilizer (Sissay) and a mix of three micro elements (boron, zinc and manganese) on growth and yield in sugar beet plants. Two greenhouse experiments were carried out at the experimental farm of the Faculty of Agriculture, Nasr city, Al-Azhar University, Cairo, Egypt during 2016/2017 and 2017/2018 seasons. The experiments were laid out in a complete randomized block design with four replications. The obtained results showed that the treatment had mineral nitrogen at a rate of 54 or 90 Kg N per feddan + nano Sissay (810 g/ feddan) + a mix of nano micro elements (200 ppm) gave the highest values of relative growth rate, net assimilation rate over 60 to 90 days from sowing date, root weight, sucrose percentage and sugar yield per plant at harvest time as compared with all other studied treatments in both seasons. Control treatment (without fertilization) gave the lowest values. In conclusion, using nano-nitrogen fertilizer (Sissay) and micronutrients (B, Zn and Mn) with mineral nitrogen fertilizer can save around 40% from recommended doses of mineral nitrogen fertilizer.
Comparing Carbon Stock and Increment Estimation using Destructive Sampling and Inventory Guideline of Acacia Catechu, Dalbergia Sissoo, Eucalyptus Camaldulensis and Pylunthus emblica Plantations, Mahottary Nepal

This research was objectively carried out to compare the forest carbon stock estimation and increment applying destructive sampling and community forest inventory guideline (CFIG). Plantation of Acacia catechu, Dalbergia sissoo, Eucalyptus camaldulensis and Pylunthus emblica at Pragatinagar community forest, Mahottary Nepal was selected for this study. Altogether 62 random points were distributed to select the plant applying stratified random sampling for harvesting purpose. The diameter and height of plants were recorded and these were uprooted. Total 192 discs were slashed each from stem and branches and eight discs cut from the root of plants. The samples were dried in lab. The carbon stock and mean annual carbon increment (MACI) were calculated using both methods to compare the values statistically. The moisture content was about 45.34% in leaves of Eucalyptus camaldulensis and there was about 51 – 58% contribution of stem in total carbon of Pylunthus emblica. Total carbon stock was 3.61±1.32 t/plant of Acacia catechu applying destructive sampling which was 5.37±0.88 t/plant using CFIG and the MACI was 0.72 t/plant of same species using destructive sampling which was 1.07 t/plant using CFIG. The t-test showed significance difference in values of carbon stocks and MACIs at 95% confidence level employing the methods. Keywords— Destructive, Inventory, Carbon, Increment,
Effect of farmyard manure and mineral fertilization on growth and yield of early potato (Solanum tuberosum) under the Mediterranean conditions in Turkey

A field experiment was conducted during the winter and spring months of 2000 and 2001 at Hatay, Turkey (36O 36O 40' E), to study the effects of farmyard manure (0, 10, 20, 30, 40 and 50 tonnestha) and mineral fertiliza- 39. N, tion (no or 200-90-90 kgtha N-P-K respectively) on growth and yield of early potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) crop. Mineral fertilization significantly increased values of morphological traits and tuber yield, while it had negative ef- fect on dry matter content of tuber. The application of farmyard manure also had positive effects on growth and yield with or without mineral fertilization. The farmyard manure also increased the efficiency of mineral fertilization. Tuber yield increased as the farmyard manure levels increased under non-mineral fertilized conditions while no significant increase obtained from 40 and 50 tonnes manuretha rates in mineral-fertilized plots. Aplication of farm- yard manure significantly increased the dry-matter content of tuber and this was more evident in mineral fertilized plots.
The ‘New’ Attention of Merger & Acquisition Announcements

This paper analyses in what way the new form of attention, measured by the amount of ticker searches via thewell-knownsearch engine GoogleTrends,isrelated to the stock performance of target firms during an M&A announcement in the US during the years 2012 to 2016. Wedetermined the abnormal returnsof the targets’stock priceandits correspondingabnormal attentionduring the announcement. We found a positive cumulative abnormal return of approximately 30%(event window (-1,1))and a significant amount of abnormal ticker searches during an M&A announcement. In this paper, we found asignificantpositiverelationship within the abnormal returnsand the abnormal attention during the M&A announcement. Therefore, the search behaviourof investors can declare the stock market response due to an M&A announcement. We did not find evidence for insider trading or information leakage the days prior to the M&A announcement.
Imaging Reservoir Structure of Mt. Pancar Geothermal Prospect Using Audio-Frequency Magnetotelluric (AMT) and Gravity Technology

Mt. Pancar geothermal prospect area is located in Bogor district, West Java. The geological condition of the area is dominated by quaternary volcanic rock which probably associated with Mt. Pancar as a parasitic cone of Mt. Gede-Pangrango. Surface thermal manifestations that can be found in this area are altered rocks, warm grounds, and neutral pH hot springs with temperature range of 45 to 68oC. The manifestations are distributed in the eastern and northern side of Mt. Pancar. However, there is no impressive manifestation found on the top of Mt. Pancar. It indicates that geothermal system in Mt. Pancar is classified as low to moderate temperature system. Based on Na/K geothermometry, the estimation of subsurface temperature in Mt. Pancar geothermal prospect is in the range of 140 to 180oC. In order to develop conceptual model and understand the subsurface structure in the prospect area, geophysical methods including Audio-frequency Magnetotelluric (AMT) and Gravity were then conducted. To overcome the complex volcanic-tectonic structure, 3-D inversion of AMT data was performed using MT3DINV-X Software with frequency ranging from 1 Hz to 10 kHz. The results of 3-D AMT inversion show the presence of conductive layer. It is interpreted as clay cap distributed between Mt Pancar and Kawah Putih and between Mt Pancar and Kawah Merah. The conductive layer has value of less than 15 ohm-m with its thickness varies from 500 meters to 1500 meters. The up-dome shape was found beneath Mt Pancar and it was interpreted as upflow zone. The resistive layer found underlying clay cap layer with resistivity range of 20-100 ohm-m is indicated as reservoir zone. The highest resistivity layer (>100 ohmm) is indicated as basement of Mt Pancar. The indication of geothermal reservoir obtained by AMT data is also indicated by gravity data. Complete bouguer anomaly (CBA) and residual anomaly data show that the region of Mt. Pancar is dominated by low gravity anomaly. Two-dimensional forward modeling result of gravity data also shows the indication of clay cap with low density layer. It supports the indication from AMT data. Therefore, integration of resistivity and density model supported by geological and geochemical data was used to develop conceptual model.
Biologically upgraded cocoa pod husk: Effect on growth performance, haemato-biochemical indices and antioxidant status of broiler chickens

A 49 day feeding trial was conducted to determine the effect of biologically upgraded cocoa pod husk meal (BCPHM) on the growth performance, haemato-biochemical indices and antioxidant status of broiler chickens. Three experimental diets were formulated at both starter and finisher phases in which BCPHM was added as an active feed ingredient at 0, 10, 20% and designated as diets 1, 2 and 3 respectively. One hundred and fifty day old Marshal broiler chicks weighing 39±2.5g/bird were allotted to 3 dietary treatments (10birds/replicate, 50birds/treatment) in a completely randomized design. The Average daily weight gain (ADWG), total weight gain (TWG) and final body weight (FBW) of broiler chicks fed diets containing 10% BCPHM was significantly ( p ˂0.05) higher than that of control and diet containing 20% BCPHM at starter phase. At finisher phase, the values of ADWG, TWG and FBW were at par with that of control. Feed Intake was seen to increase as BCPHM increased in the diet at finisher phase. Carcass traits, relative internal organ weight, haemato-biochemcal indices of broiler chickens were similar across dietary treatment. Superoxide dimutase (SOD) and Catalase (CAT) of birds fed control diet were significantly ( p ˂0.05) higher than those of birds fed BCPHM based diets. Ten percent dietary inclusion of BCPHM appears optimal in broiler diet since beyond this level growth performance declined.
Corporate Governance, Ownership Structure and Capital Structure: Evidence From Chinese Real Estate Listed Companies

Purpose This paper aims to contribute to the existing capital structure and board structure literature by examining the relationship among corporate governance, ownership structure and capital structure. Design/methodology/approach The paper uses a panel data of 595 firm-year observations from a unique and comprehensive data set of 119 Chinese real estate listed firms from 2014 to 2018. It uses fixed effect and random effect regression analysis techniques to examine the hypotheses. Findings The results show that the board size, ownership concentration and firm size have positive influences on capital structure. State ownership and firm profitability have inverse influences on capital structure. Research limitations/implications The findings suggest that better-governed companies in the real estate sector tend to have better capital structure. These findings highlight the unique Chinese context and also offer regulators a strong incentive to pursue corporate governance reforms formally and jointly with the ownership structure. Finally, the results suggest investors the chance to shape detailed expectations about capital structure behavior in China. Future research could investigate capital structure using different arrangement, conducting face-to-face meetings with the firm’s directors and shareholders. Practical implications The findings offer support to corporate managers and investors in forming or/and expecting an optimal capital structure and to policymakers and regulators for ratifying laws and developing institutional support to improve the effectiveness of corporate governance mechanisms. Originality/value This paper extends, as well as contributes to the current capital structure and corporate governance literature, by proposing new evidence on the effect of board structure and ownership structure on capital structure. The results will help policymakers in different countries in estimating the sufficiency of the available corporate governance reforms to improve capital structure management.
APPLICATION OF RAW SECONDARY METABOLITES FROM TWO ISOLATES OF Trichoderma harzianum AGAINST ANTHRACNOSE ON RED CHILI PEPPER IN THE FIELD

Anthracnose on red chili pepper is one of the highly damaging diseases that difficult to control by pesticides. This study aimed to determine the effect of raw secondary metabolites isolated from two isolates of Trichoderma harzianum towards anthracnose as well as the growth and yield of red chili pepper plants in the field. The research used a randomized block design with five treatments and seven replicates. The treatments tested were control, raw secondary metabolites of T. harzianum T10 and T213, and their combination. The observed variables were incubation period, disease intensity, the late population density of T. harzianum, plant height, root length, fresh and dry weight of the plant and root, flowering time, number of fruits per plant, fresh weight of fruit, and phenolic compound content analysis. The result showed that the raw secondary metabolites from the combination of the two T. harzianum isolates were the best treatments that could lengthen the incubation period and decrease the disease intensity as 30.2 and 87.05%, respectively. However, these applications could not increase the growth components; while for the yield components, the application could improve the number of fruits per plant and fresh weight of fruit as 15.33 and 34.53%, respectively.
Study of Food Consumption Patterns Specifies Subject Groups in the A.E.R

These facts point out the importance of increasing food consumption and its availability so that poverty can be decreased. The present study aimed to assessment of the nutritional status for adult men in variable region in Egypt and evaluates the impact of nutritional intake on anthropometric measurements in the study sample. This study conducted on 100 adult males randomly selected from variable region in Egypt to assess the nutrition status by using questionnaire. Selected information on socioeconomic status, educational levels, and anthropometric measurements were collected. The results revealed that most of them have a deficient of nutritional awareness and overweight. These results have important implications for rural area public policies whose objectives are to smooth consumption over the production cycle in order to reduce the risk of food insecurity during the lean season in rural A.E. R. Our findings suggest the need for strategies and coordinated efforts at all levels (family, university, community and government) to reduce the tendency of overweight and obesity among people and to promote healthy eating habits in our youth.
PrediXcan: Trait Mapping Using Human Transcriptome Regulation

Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have identified thousands of variants robustly associated with complex traits. However, the biological mechanisms underlying these associations are, in general, not well understood. We propose a gene-based association method called PrediXcan that directly tests the molecular mechanisms through which genetic variation affects phenotype. The approach estimates the component of gene expression determined by an individual’s genetic profile and correlates the “imputed” gene expression with the phenotype under investigation to identify genes involved in the etiology of the phenotype. The genetically regulated gene expression is estimated using whole-genome tissue-dependent prediction models trained with reference transcriptome datasets. PrediXcan enjoys the benefits of gene-based approaches such as reduced multiple testing burden, more comprehensive annotation of gene function compared to that derived from single variants, and a principled approach to the design of follow-up experiments while also integrating knowledge of regulatory function. Since no actual expression data are used in the analysis of GWAS data - only in silico expression - reverse causality problems are largely avoided. PrediXcan harnesses reference transcriptome data for disease mapping studies. Our results demonstrate that PrediXcan can detect known and novel genes associated with disease traits and provide insights into the mechanism of these associations.
When Pandemic Hits: Exercise Frequency and Subjective Well-Being During COVID-19 Pandemic

The governmental lockdowns related to the COVID-19 pandemic have forced people to change their behavior in many ways including changes in exercise. We used the brief window of global lockdown in the months of March/April/May 2020 as an opportunity to investigate the effects of externally imposed restrictions on exercise-related routines and related changes in subjective well-being. Statistical analyses are based on data from 13,696 respondents in 18 countries using a cross-sectional online survey. A mixed effects modeling approach was used to analyze data. We tested whether exercise frequency before and during the pandemic would influence mood during the pandemic. Additionally, we used the COVID-19 pandemic data to build a prediction model, while controlling for national differences, to estimate changes in exercise frequency during similar future lockdown conditions depending on prelockdown exercise frequency. According to the prediction model, those who rarely exercise before a lockdown tend to increase their exercise frequency during it, and those who are frequent exercisers before a lockdown tend to maintain it. With regards to subjective well-being, the data show that those who exercised almost every day during this pandemic had the best mood, regardless of whether or not they exercised prepandemic. Those who were inactive prepandemic and slightly increased their exercise frequency during the pandemic, reported no change in mood compared to those who remained inactive during the pandemic. Those who reduced their exercise frequency during the pandemic reported worse mood compared to those who maintained or increased their prepandemic exercise frequency. This study suggests that under similar lockdown conditions, about two thirds of those who never or rarely exercise before a lockdown might adopt an exercise behavior or increase their exercise frequency. However, such changes do not always immediately result in improvement in subjective well-being. These results may inform national policies, as well as health behavior and exercise psychology research on the importance of exercise promotion, and prediction of changes in exercise behavior during future pandemics.
Comparison of Bead-Based Fluorescence Versus Planar Electrochemiluminescence Multiplex Immunoassays for Measuring Cytokines in Human Plasma

This study compared two 96-well multiplex immunoassay platforms for analytical performance in assessing cytokine concentrations in standards, quality controls and human plasma samples (n = 62), and evaluated assay time requirements. Assays included a bead-based fluorescence MILLIPLEX® assay/Luminex fluorescence platform (LMX) and three kits from Meso Scale Discovery (MSD) in planar electrochemiluminescence format. The LMX kit evaluated 21 cytokines and the MSD kits evaluated 10 cytokines each, with 16 overlapping cytokines between platforms. Both assays provided good reproducibility in standard curves for all analytes. Interassay CVs of shared analytes showed average kit quality control CVs ranging 1.9–18.2% for LMX and 2.4–13.9% for MSD. The MSD platform had lower LLoQs than LMX for 14/16 shared cytokines. For IL-17, the LLoQ was lower with LMX than MSD, and the LLoQs for IL-6 were similar. Although MSD calibration curves indicated lower LLoQs for most of those analytes, many more cytokines in human plasma samples were not detected by MSD than by LMX. The ULoQs were higher in LMX versus MSD assays for 13/16 shared analytes, lower than MSD for IL-17, and equivalent between assays for IL-6 and MIP-1α. Bland-Altman plots indicated that MSD classified 13/16 shared analytes as concentrations lower than by LMX. Time and motion analysis indicated that total mean assay times were 20 h 28 m and 21 h 33 m for LMX and MSD, respectively, including an overnight (17 h) incubation. The MSD assays employed a manufacturer-approved overnight incubation instead of the standard 2-h incubation, which kit instructions suggest might increase detection sensitivity. Hands-on labor time averaged 1 h 37 m for LMX and 2 h 33 m for MSD. In summary, assay selection factors should include selection of specific markers of interest, time and cost considerations, and anticipated cytokine concentrations in prospective samples.
Gene and Protein Expression in Subjects With a Nystagmus-Associated AHR Mutation

Recently, a consanguineous family was identified in Israel with three children affected by Infantile Nystagmus and Foveal Hypoplasia, following an autosomal recessive mode of inheritance. A homozygous stop mutation c.1861C > T; p.Q621∗ in the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) gene (AHR; MIM 600253) was identified that co-segregated with the disease in the larger family. AHR is the first gene to be identified causing an autosomal recessive Infantile Nystagmus-related disease in humans. The goal of this study is to delineate the molecular basis of this newly discovered human genetic disorder associated with a rare AHR gene mutation. The gene and protein expression levels of AHR and selected AHR targets from leukocyte cultures of healthy subjects and the patients were analyzed. We observed significant variation between mRNA and protein expression of CYP1A1, CYP1B1, and TiPARP under rest and AHR-induced conditions. The CYP1A1 enzymatic activity in induced leukocytes also differs significantly between the patients and healthy volunteers. Intriguingly, the heterozygous subjects demonstrate CYP1A1 and TiPARP gene and protein expression similar to homozygous patients. In contrast, CYP1B1 inducibility and expression vary between hetero- and homozygous subjects. Similarity and differences in gene and protein expression between heterozygotes and homozygous patients can give us a hint as to which metabolic pathway/s might be involved in the Nystagmus etiology. Thus, we have a unique human model for AHR deficiency that will allow us the opportunity to study the biochemical basis of this rare human mutation, as well as the involvement of AHR in other physiological processes.
Production of the Fragrance Geraniol in Peroxisomes of a Product-Tolerant Baker’s Yeast

Monoterpenoids, such as the plant metabolite geraniol, are of high industrial relevance since they are important fragrance materials for perfumes, cosmetics, and household products. Chemical synthesis or extraction from plant material for industry purposes are complex, environmentally harmful or expensive and depend on seasonal variations. Heterologous microbial production offers a cost-efficient and sustainable alternative but suffers from low metabolic flux of the precursors and toxicity of the monoterpenoid to the cells. In this study, we evaluated two approaches to counteract both issues by compartmentalizing the biosynthetic enzymes for geraniol to the peroxisomes of Saccharomyces cerevisiae as production sites and by improving the geraniol tolerance of the yeast cells. The combination of both approaches led to an 80% increase in the geraniol titers. In the future, the inclusion of product tolerance and peroxisomal compartmentalization into the general chassis engineering toolbox for monoterpenoids or other host-damaging, industrially relevant metabolites may lead to an efficient, low-cost, and eco-friendly microbial production for industrial purposes.