Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Genetic diversity and genetic structure of Puya raimondii (Bromeliaceae) for its conservation in the Peruvian Andes

Puya raimondii is an endemic species from the high Andes of Peru and Bolivia. In Peru it is distributed from 8.068501°S, 16.170280°W to 16.180580°S, 70.658873°W, between 3600 and 4800 m, living in extreme climatic conditions typical of the Puna, where it plays an important ecological role. Despite the wide distribution of P. raimondii populations in Peru, they appear to be fairly uniform morphologically. The following questions arise: Will the current molecular tools be able to show differences between the numerous populations? Are the conservation areas established for P. raimondii sufficient since they harbor the existing variability? To answer these questions, this work aimed to evaluate the genetic diversity and genetic structure in a northern population, Pachapaqui (Ancash department), a central population, Yanacancha (Junin), and a southern population, Lampa - Choconchaca sector (Puno), using microsatellite markers (SSR) specific for the species. The genetic diversity parameters used included number of alleles (A), exclusive alleles (RA), observed heterozygosity (Ho), expected heterozygosity (He), and polymorphic content index (PIC). The results showed that the total number of A varied from 2 - 13, the He values were 0 ‒ 0.723 and Ho 0 ‒ 0.929, with an average He of 0.217, indicating a moderate to high genetic diversity, being the population of Lampa-Choconchaca sector, the one that presented the greatest allelic diversity and the greatest genetic diversity. The Hardy-Weinberg test showed that the populations are in HW disequilibrium, the statistical analysis indicates 65% of the genetic variation at the population level and values of FST (0.426) and RST (0.650) that indicate high genetic differentiation among populations, with two genetic groups (K=2) that correspond to the populations of northern-central and southern Peru. The results provide useful information to establish conservation strategies for P. raimondii, which lead to the creation of an additional conservation area to protect the populations in southern Peru.
Design of an advanced PLL for accurate phase angle extraction under grid voltage HIHs and DC offset

The presence of direct current (DC) offset and harmonics–interharmonics (HIHs) in grid voltage input signal of phase-locked loop (PLL) results in inaccurate controller response. The inaccuracies are due to the low- and high-frequency oscillations that appear in the PLL estimated phase, amplitude and frequency. The suppression of fundamental frequency oscillations caused by DC offset (DO) in the input voltage signal must be carried out without compromising the dynamic response of the system. The use of low-pass filters, for example, results in undesirable, slow response. This study proposes an accurate and fast decoupling of fundamental frequency oscillations using a mathematic-cancellation decoupling cell. Higher-frequency oscillations generated by HIHs are eliminated by a different harmonic compensation network (HCN) that is also proposed in this study. The performance of conventional techniques is limited because they eliminate only specifically selected harmonics. The proposed PLL, however, eliminates any number of HIHs present in the grid with the least computational complexity and without any prior knowledge. Furthermore, its advanced features provide accurate synchronisation under any abnormal grid condition at the lowest computational complexity when compared with the existing state-of-the-art PLLs. The advanced performance of the proposed HIHDO-PLL is verified through simulation and experimental results.
The Indonesian Government Capacity in Responding to the COVID-19 Impacts on the Creative Economy Sector

Extensive research has been carried out on government capacity to cope with the pandemic. However, little study on this issue exists examining it in the context of the creative economy sector. It has been argued that the successful organizations to address changes in the environment are determined by their organizational capacity. In this paper, we analyze the Indonesian government’s capacity to recover the creative economy sector during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic. The qualitative content analysis method and key informant interviews were undertaken to understand government capacity. The paper extended the RISE (resilience, intention, sustain, and endurance) model to understand the process of government actions in recovering the creative economy sector from the adverse effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. The RISE model portrays the government’s capacity to respond to the hostile and uncertain environment through tax and loan relaxation, social and health assistance, and capacity building. This paper provides valuable insight into public administration by highlighting government responses to the global pandemic. By analyzing four stages of government actions in restoring the creative economy sector, this study shows that the expected outcomes are far from satisfactory. The government intervention during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic becomes ineffective because the government is weak in preparing the creative economy recovery policies according to the needs of creative economy actors and accurate data. These findings suggest that the central and local government should improve their collaborative capacity to upgrade the creative economy recovery programs according to the local aspiration.
Four Facts about Human Capital

This paper synthesizes what economists have learned about human capital since Becker (1962) into four stylized facts. First, human capital explains at least one-third of the variation in labor earnings within countries and at least half of the variation across countries. Second, human capital investments have high economic returns throughout childhood and young adulthood. Third, we know how to build foundational skills such as literacy and numeracy, and resources are often the main constraint. Fourth, higher-order skills such as problem-solving and teamwork are increasingly valuable, and the technology for producing these skills is not well understood. We know that investment in education works and that skills matter for earnings, but we do not always know why.
Effect of Regulated Deficit Irrigation on Agronomic Parameters of Three Plum Cultivars (Prunus salicina L.) under Semi-Arid Climate Conditions

Regulated deficit irrigation (RDI) strategies may greatly contribute to save irrigation water, especially in low water availability conditions. The effects of RDI on the growth process, photosynthesis, fruit yield, and some quality traits were assessed for two years on three plum (Prunus salicina Lindl.) cultivars (‘Black Diamond’, ‘Black Gold’ and ‘Black Star’) grown in Midwest Tunisia. The experiment was conducted during two successive seasons (2011–2012). Two water regimes were applied per cultivar during the phase of fruit growth until fruit ripening. Stressed trees receive 50% of the amount of irrigation compared to controls (CI). Several eco-physiological parameters and some pomological criteria were measured, based on the climatic condition (ETo, ETc, and VDP). Results showed that the three cultivars had an aptitude for tolerance for moderate stress with varying degrees of response time to drought stress. Globally, a slight decrease in the gas exchange rate (AN and gs) and the water status (RWC, Ψmin, and Ψos) was registered. Tree yields, size and weight show a slight decrease under water stress. Nevertheless, there was an improvement in the total soluble solid content (SSC) and firmness in same cultivars. Our results proved that the Black Star cultivar was the most tolerant to deficit irrigation, in reason that it maintains a good water status and a high photosynthetic activity.
Evaluation of Serum CXCL10 Level as a Prognostic Marker in Colorectal Cancer Patients: A Retrospective Cohort Study

Background: One of the current challenges in cancer management is finding diagnostic and prognostic markers for various cancers. CXCL10 is a small protein that is defined as an ‘inflammatory’ chemokine and binds to CXCR3 to mediate immune responses through the activation and recruitment of leukocytes such as T cells, eosinophils, monocytes and natural killer cells. It facilitates the immune system antitumor activity, and causes tumor regression through induction of angiostasis and cellular apoptosis. Most previous studies have reported the anti-tumor activity of CXCR10, while studies on its role in colorectal cancer are limited. Objectives: The present study aimed to evaluate the correlation of serum CXCL10 level with the prognosis of patients with colorectal cancer. Methods: This retrospective cohort study was performed on 69 patients with a histopathological diagnosis of colorectal cancer in the oncology ward of Razavi Hospital, Mashhad, Iran, between July 2018 and September 2019. The relationship between the serum CXCL10 concentration and colorectal cancer prognosis was investigated. Results: The results of Cox regression analysis indicated a significant relationship between the patients’ mortality and metastasis rate and a high concentration of CXCL10 (P = 0.018 and P = 0.045, respectively); however, a high concentration of CXCL10 was not significantly correlated with the recurrence rate (P = 0.81) during the four-year follow-up. Conclusions: The level of CXCL10 was significantly associated with incidence of mortality and metastasis in colorectal cancer patients during a four-year follow-up.
Promising Health Benefits of Adjuvant Acmella and Zingiber Extracts Combined with Coenzyme Q10 Phytosomes, Supplementation in Chronic Pain Treated with Medical Cannabis: A Prospective and Open-Label Clinical Study

Background Chronic pain is a condition where pain persists for months or even years. Nowadays, several drugs comprising of medical cannabis are utilized for chronic pain relief. Even if there are some associated side effects, the use of supplements can widen the reliable tools available for improving an individual's quality of life. Objective The aim of the present study was to evaluate the efficacy in terms of pain intensity, psychological well-being, and quality of life of a new dietary supplement in chronic pain subjects under current treatment with medical cannabis. Methods In this pilot study, 48 medical cannabis-treated subjects were supplemented with a dietary supplement containing a combination of standardized Zingiber officinalis and Acmella oleracea extracts in phytosome (Mitidol), coenzyme Q10 phytosome (Ubiqsome), and group B vitamins (B1, B6, and B12), twice daily for 90 days. In order to explore the benefits of the product as an adjuvant supplementation for pain relief, the pain intensity, measured by the visual analogue scale (VAS), the pain type, and quality, evaluated by the Italian Pain Questionnaire (QUID) and the possible reduction of therapeutic and/or painkiller doses were recorded. Results After 90 days, significant pain relief was detected in almost 70% of the subjects receiving the new dietary supplement, with sensory, emotional, and pain amelioration in one-third of them. A reduction in both tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD) doses was also observed after 3 months of supplementation. These findings demonstrate new perspectives for the use of an innovative dietary supplement that combines Acmella and Zingiber extracts, Coenzyme Q10, and group B vitamins resulting in a beneficial long-term adjuvant in cannabis-treated pain subjects.
Robust Synchronized Data Acquisition for Biometric Authentication

Owing to its unique, concealment and easy customization by combining different wrist and hand gestures, high-density surface electromyogram (HD-sEMG) is recognized as a potential solution to the next generation biometric authentication, which usually adopts a wireless body sensor network (BSN) to acquire the multi-channel HD-sEMG biosignals from distributed electrode arrays. For more accurate and reliable classification, biometric authentication requires the distributed biosignals to be sampled simultaneously and be well aligned, which means that the sampling jitters among the arrays need to be tiny. To synchronize data sampling clocks of a cluster of BSN nodes for biometric authentication, this article modifies the packet-coupled oscillators protocol by using a dynamic controller (D-PkCOs). This protocol only involves one-way single packet exchange, which reduces the communication overhead significantly. For the purpose of maintaining precise sampling of these BSN nodes subject to drifting clock frequency and varying delays, the dynamic controller is designed via the $H_\infty$ robust method, and it is proved that all the BSN nodes’ sampling jitters are bounded. The experimental results demonstrate that the D-PkCOs protocol can keep the sampling jitters less than a microsecond in a 10-node IEEE 802.15. 4 network. The application of D-PkCOs to the BSN shows that the HD-sEMG signal with a high signal-to-noise ratio is obtained, which leads to better gesture classification performance.
Golf Swing Biomechanics: A Systematic Review and Methodological Recommendations for Kinematics

Numerous studies have been conducted to investigate golf swing performance in both preventing injury and injury occurrence. The objective of this review was to describe state-of-the-art golf swing biomechanics, with a specific emphasis on movement kinematics, and when possible, to suggest recommendations for research methodologies. Keywords related to biomechanics and golf swings were used in scientific databases. Only articles that focused on golf-swing kinematics were considered. In this review, 92 articles were considered and categorized into the following domains: X-factor, crunch factor, swing plane and clubhead trajectory, kinematic sequence, and joint angular kinematics. The main subjects of focus were male golfers. Performance parameters were searched for, but the lack of methodological consensus prevented generalization of the results and led to contradictory results. Currently, three-dimensional approaches are commonly used for joint angular kinematic investigations. However, recommendations by the International Society of Biomechanics are rarely considered.
Nonlinear hedge fund index clones?

Cloning hedge fund indexes circumvents the many challenges associated with direct hedge fund investment. Theoretically, hedge fund indexes could have nonlinear exposures to the economic risk factors that drive their returns and may require nonlinear clones. By using flexible statistical models, we enable the choice between linear and nonlinear clones. We demonstrate that for certain hedge fund styles, nonlinear index clones are crucial for high fidelity replication. Nonlinear clones both facilitate economic insights to cloning and enhance the best linear clones. JEL classification: G10, G23, C15
Role of D-Dimer in Covid-19 pneumonia: sensitive marker of inflammation, predictor of mechanical ventilation, thromboembolic events and early marker of post covid-lung fibrosis; Prospective Multicentric, Observational, Interventional study in tertiary care setting in India

Introduction: Covid-19 pneumonia is heterogeneous disease with variable effect on lung parenchyma, airways and vasculature leading to long term effects on lung functions. Materials and methods: Multicentric, prospective, observational and interventional study included 1000 covid-19 cases confirmed with RT PCR. All cases were assessed with HRCT thorax, oxygen saturation, inflammatory marker as D-Dimer at entry point and follow up. Age, gender, Comorbidity and use BIPAP/NIV and outcome as with or without lung fibrosis were key observations. In selected cases, lower limb venous doppler and CT pulmonary angiography to rule out DVT or PTE. Statistical analysis is done by using Chi square test. Observations and analysis: Age (<50 and >50 years) and gender (male versus female) has significant association with D-Dimer level. [p<0.00001] & [p<0.010] respectively. CT severity score at entry point with D-Dimer level has significant correlation. [p<0.00001] D-Dimer level has significant association with duration of illness prior to hospitalization. [p<0.00001] Comorbidities have significant association with D-Dimer level. [p<0.00001] D-Dimer level has significant association with oxygen saturation. [p<0.00001] BIPAP/NIV requirement has significant association with D-Dimer level. [p<0.00001] Timing of BIPAP/NIV requirement during hospitalization has significant association with DDimer level. [p<0.00001] Follow-up D-Dimer titer during hospitalization as compared normal & abnormal to entry point level has significant association with post-covid lung fibrosis, deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary thromboembolism. [p<0.00001]. Conclusion: D-Dimer has documented very crucial role in covid-19 pneumonia in predicting severity of illness and assessing response to treatment during hospitalization and follow up titers have significant role in step-up or step-down interventions in critical care setting.
Map-based dashboard design with open government data for learning and analysis of industrial innovation environment

ABSTRACT Open government data has great potential to support various stakeholders for multiple purposes, such as participatory planning, smart city services, and strategic decision-making. However, many barriers stand in the way of efficient learning and analysis of the data. Suitable tools are needed to overcome these barriers. In this study, we designed and implemented a map-based dashboard called InDash to represent the spatial and semantic information of the industrial innovation environment at different levels of detail. We collected the open data from the statistical yearbook in 2015 Jiangsu, China, and selected 24 relevant factors from the categories of economy, inhabitance, infrastructure, and research & development to illustrate the design. To ensure the usefulness of InDash, we first analyzed and summarized the information needs and design requirements from the potential users. We then proposed the design requirements and designed the interface of InDash. Moreover, we evaluated the effectiveness of InDash using the think-aloud approach with 30 participants. The experiment results show that the users can efficiently learn and reason about the industrial innovation environment through InDash without intensive training.
Team Citizenship Pressure: How Does It Relate to OCB and Citizenship Fatigue

The aim of this research is to shed light on the phenomenon of citizenship pressure as a team-level construct. Building on the conservation of resources theory, the study used a moderated-mediation model to explore whether team organizational citizenship behavior (OCB) mediates the relationship between team citizenship pressure and team citizenship fatigue and whether this mediation is moderated by perceived supervisor support. Results from a study of 91 professional teams in the educational system indicate that team citizenship pressure had a significant and positive relationship with team OCB, as well as with team citizenship fatigue. The results also support the overall moderated-mediation model, but contrary to the hypothesized pattern of interaction, we found that team citizenship pressure was significantly and positively correlated with OCB when perceived supervisor support was low, but not when it was high. Limitations and implications for future research are discussed.
Factors Associated with Food Insecurity among Pregnant Women and Caregivers of Children Aged 0–6 Years: A Scoping Review

With a global focus on improving maternal and child nutrition through the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals, it is important to understand food insecurity in pregnant women and families with young children, as food insecurity at these life stages can have ongoing negative health consequences. However, factors that influence food insecurity among this population group are not well understood. This scoping review investigates the factors that influence food insecurity among pregnant women and households with young children aged 0–6 years living in high-income countries. A scoping literature review was conducted using four electronic databases. The search combined terms relevant to: food security, determinants, pregnancy and family and high-income countries. Only full text and English language articles were included. The search identified 657 titles and abstracts; 29 articles were included in the review. A majority (70%) of the studies were conducted in the United States and were mostly either cross-sectional or secondary data analysis of existing population data. Factors associated with food insecurity were identified and grouped into 13 constructs. These included social, economic and health risk factors, food access and utilization factors and health and dietary outcomes. This scoping review identifies the factors associated with food insecurity among pregnant women and families with young children that could be used to better measure and understand food insecurity, which could assist in developing program and policy responses. This review also highlights the lack of literature from high-income countries outside the US.
Inducible Nitric Oxide Synthase iNOS-954-G>C and Ex16+14-C>T Gene Polymorphisms and Susceptibility to Vitiligo in the Saudi Population

Objective Vitiligo is an acquired pigmentary skin disorder with regional disappearance of melanocytes. Multigenic inheritance has been proposed in the pathogenesis of vitiligo. The present study aimed to investigate the possible association of inducible nitric oxide synthase polymorphisms iNOS-954-G/C (rs1800482 G>C) and iNOS-Ex16+14-C/T (rs2297518 C>T) with vitiligo in the Saudi population, if any. Methods We included 120 vitiligo cases and an equal number of age matched healthy controls. Polymerase chain reaction with restriction fragment length polymorphism method was used for the analysis of genetic polymorphisms. Results The heterozygous (GC), (GC + CC) combined genotype and variant allele; C allele of rs1800482 G>C were associated significantly (p < 0.005, after Bonferroni correction) with increased risk of vitiligo (OR = 3.46, 95% CI = 1.99–6.01, p = 0.001), (OR = 3.30, 95% CI= 1.93–5.65, p = 0.001) and (OR = 1.94, 95% CI = 1.31–2.87, p = 0.001) respectively. When GC genotype of rs1800482 G>C was co-inherited with common genotype (CC) and heterozygous genotype (CT) of rs2297518 C>T, the risk of vitiligo was significantly increased ((OR = 4.51, 95% CI = 2.18–9.33, p = 0.001) and (OR = 3.60, 95% CI = 1.61–8.01, p = 0.001)) respectively. None of the rs1800482 G>C and rs2297518 C>T genotypes and alleles have been associated with non-segmental vitiligo in terms of gender, age of onset, and types of vitiligo. Conclusion The heterozygous (GC), (GC+CC) combined genotype and variants allele; C allele of rs1800482 G>C, may cause overproduction of NO, which has been linked to melanocyte loss by increasing oxidative stress and decreasing melanocyte adhesion to the extracellular matrix components, and thus could be an associative risk factor for vitiligo.