Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effect of foliar application of moringa leaf extract on growth and fruit yield of Capsicum annuum L. (chilli) cv. MIPC-1

This study was carried out in the Crop Farm of Eastern University, Sri Lanka during the period from January to May 2019 to ascertain the effect of foliar application of moringa leaf extract (MLE) on growth and fruit yield of Capsicum annum L.cv (chilli) MIPC-1. This investigation was followed in a pot experiment with Completely Randomized Design (CRD) with seven treatments and seven replicates. The concentrations of Moringa leaf extract were 10%, 20%, 30% in addition to 0% (distilled water) as control. The treatments included were; T0 - control (Distilled water), T1 - 10% MLE at once a week interval, T2 - 10% MLE at once in two weeks interval, T3 - 20% MLE at once a week interval, T4 - 20% MLE at once in two weeks interval, T5 - 30% MLE at once a week interval and T6 - 30% MLE at once in two weeks interval. The Moringa oleifera leaf extract was sprayed on leaves and axial parts starting from two weeks after transplanting (WAT) and it was continued until pod formation. 25 ml of MLE was sprayed per plant. The results of the experiment showed that the foliar application of MLE with 10% concentration at one-week interval had significant (p<0.05) effects on the plant height, number of branches/plant, dry weight of leaves/plant, stems/plant, roots/plant, fruit/plant and total dry of plant were statistically analysed using Statistically Analytical Software (SAS). The results indicated that the foliar application of moringa leaf extract stimulated the growth and fruit yield of chilli. Based on the results, it was concluded that MLE helps in improving the growth and fruit yield of Chilli and MLE with 10% concentration at one-week interval is recommended for improved growth and fruit yield of Capsicum annuum L.cv. (Chilli) MIPC-1.
The Culturable Mycobiota of Sediments and Associated Microplastics: From a Harbor to a Marine Protected Area, a Comparative Study

Fungi are an essential component of marine ecosystems, although little is known about their global distribution and underwater diversity, especially in sediments. Microplastics (MPs) are widespread contaminants worldwide and threaten the organisms present in the oceans. In this study, we investigated the fungal abundance and diversity in sediments, as well as the MPs, of three sites with different anthropogenic impacts in the Mediterranean Sea: the harbor of Livorno, the marine protected area “Secche della Meloria”; and an intermediate point, respectively. A total of 1526 isolates were cultured and identified using a polyphasic approach. For many of the fungal species this is the first record in a marine environment. A comparison with the mycobiota associated with the sediments and MPs underlined a “substrate specificity”, highlighting the complexity of MP-associated fungal assemblages, potentially leading to altered microbial activities and hence changes in ecosystem functions. A further driving force that acts on the fungal communities associated with sediments and MPs is sampling sites with different anthropogenic impacts.
Tenofovir-Diphosphate as a Marker of HIV Pre-exposure Prophylaxis Use Among East African Men and Women

Background: Controlled pharmacokinetic (PK) studies in United States populations have defined categories of tenofovir-diphosphate (TFV-DP) in dried blood spots (DBS) for various pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) adherence targets. It is unknown how these categories perform in other populations. Therefore, we evaluated the sensitivity and specificity of these PK-derived categories compared to daily medication electronic adherence monitoring (MEMS) data among East African men and women using daily PrEP. Methods: Participants were enrolled as members of HIV serodiscordant couples as part of an open-label PrEP study in Kenya and Uganda. Blood samples were taken at quarterly visits and stored as DBS, which were analyzed for TFV-DP concentrations. Results: Among 150 samples from 103 participants, MEMs data indicated that 87 (58%) took ≥4 doses and 62 (41%) took ≥6 per week consistently over the 4 weeks prior to sample collection. Sensitivities of DBS TFV-DP levels were 62% for the ≥4 doses/week category (≥700 fmol/punch TFV-DP) and 44% for the ≥6 doses/week category (≥1050 fmol/punch TFV-DP); specificities were 86 and 94%, respectively. There were no statistically significant differences in these sensitivities and specificities by gender. Conclusion: In this sample of East African PrEP users, categories of TFV-DP concentrations developed from directly observed PrEP use among United States populations had high specificity but lower than expected sensitivity. Sensitivity was lowest when MEMS data indicated high adherence (i.e., ≥6 doses/week). PrEP studies and implementation programs should carefully consider the sensitivity and specificity of the TFV-DP levels used for adherence feedback.
Assessment of leaf spot disease on water leaf (Talinum triangulare (jacq.) Willd and in vitro effect of three medicinal plant extracts on pathogen(s) in the Northwest Region of Cameroon

Cultivation of waterleaf improves the life quality of families and provides additional income for farmers. However, waterleaf production in Cameroon has suffered a major blow from leaf spot disease. Ten farms with dimensions of 4 m by 3 m each in Nkwen, Bamenda, Cameroon were surveyed for leaf spot disease of Talinum triangulare . Disease incidence and severity were assessed by surveying the farms after every fourteen days for three months. Small pieces of infected leaf parts were inoculated on prepared plates of potato dextrose agar. After 7 days of incubation, pure cultures were made, and isolated fungi were identified according to recommended references. Aqueous extracts from Moringa oleifera (Leaves), Ocimum gratissimum (Leaves) and Zingiber officinale (Rhizomes) were evaluated for in vitro antifungal activities on Alternaria and Cercospora. Data collected for disease incidence and severity showed varying intensities at the different locations. Two fungi species were isolated from the diseased leaf samples collected from 5 farms and were identified as Alternaria spp. and Cercospora spp. All the extracts had inhibitory activities on the test fungi with the highest inhibition (79.6%) obtained from Zingiber officinale (Rhizomes) extract and the lowest inhibition (4%) obtained from Ocimum gratissimum extract.
On Graph-Based Convolutional Codes

Today’s communication systems demand increasing capacities but simultaneously decreasing error probabilities in order to provide fast and reliable data transfers. Therefore, channel coding, using proper codes with good errorcorrecting probabilities, like large free distances, has to be applied. In this thesis, focusing on convolutional codes, different distance properties like the column distance, row distance, and, the most important one — the free distance — are presented. Exploiting the first two distances in the rejection rules together with the BEAST (Bidirectional Efficient Algorithm for Searching code Trees), code searches have been performed. Existing tables of optimum free distance (OFD) convolutional codes and optimum distance profile (ODP) convolutional codes have been extended. Several new codes were found with larger free distances than previously known codes of the same rate and complexity. In particular, new tables for rate 1/2 OFD convolutional codes of memories up to 25 and rate 1/2 ODP convolutional codes of memories up to 40 are presented. In the second part of this thesis, so-called woven graph codes, obtained by combining hypergraph-based codes with constituent convolutional codes are introduced. These woven graph codes are specified by their parity-check matrices and since their complexity can be rather large, an efficient method for obtaining their minimal-basic encoding matrices in minimal span form was implemented, as this form is suitable for the BEAST. The thesis concludes by presenting promising examples of woven graph codes, with their free distance calculated by an optimized version of the BEAST. For example, in case of a rate 5/20 woven graph code with overall constraint length 67, its free distance of 120 was verified. Such woven graph codes are of particular interest since they provide good error correcting capabilities while being iteratively decodable.
Bortezomib Use for a Critically Ill Patient with Angioimmunoblastic T-Cell Lymphoma

Angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma (AITL) accounts for 18.5% of all peripheral T-cell lymphomas. There is still no gold standard chemotherapy for treating newly diagnosed AITL. This case describes the use of bortezomib in newly diagnosed AITL. A 53-year-old man with no previous illness presented with erythema and swelling in the left neck. A diagnosis of AITL was made based on the results of lymph node biopsies. AITL progression led the patient to a severely deteriorated general condition. Bortezomib was thus administered, which resulted in a reduction in lymphadenopathies, the disappearance of tumor fever, and a decrease in serum lactate dehydrogenase levels. Subsequently, the patient's general condition gradually improved. Despite the patient's poor condition, bortezomib was well tolerated. After bortezomib administration, the patient did not require chemotherapy for approximately 10 months. The present case indicates that bortezomib is a possible treatment option for patients with AITL.
Impact of fertigation in capsicum (Capsicum annuum) on socio economic status of marginal farmers of Chamba, Himachal Pradesh

Vegetables have been the backbone of agricultural economy of India. The productivity of most of vegetables in Chamba district is low due to non-adoption of improved package of practices. Therefore, efforts have been made through front line demonstrations (FLDs) to demonstrate improved production technologies to increase productivity. FLDs on fertigation with water soluble fertilizers in capsicum (Capsicum annuum L.) were conducted at different locations in Chamba district of Himachal Pradesh during 2018 and 2019. The results of demonstrations showed that farmers could increase the capsicum productivity by switching over to adoption of improved production technology. Most of the farmers who tried it were convinced with fruit yield, quality and colour. During the year 2018, average high yield obtained in demonstration was 675 q/ha with 29.81% increase over check (520 q/ha). During second yearalso demonstration yield was higher (806 q/ha) with 46.54% increase over check (550 q/ha). The benefit:cost ratiowas also high in demonstration (8.0 and 9.4) and low in check (6.8 and 4.8). The adoption of fertigation technologyin farmers’ field greatly affected the economy of the farmers of the district. Technological and extension gaps existin the district which can be bridged by popularizing package of practices and location specific integrated approaches
Evaluation of Levosimendan in Patients with High Risk Severe Mitral Valve Disease Undergoing Mitral Valve Surgery

Background: Levosimendan has anti-ischemic effects, improves myocardial contractility and increases systemic, pulmonary and coronary vasodilatation. Objectives: The present study investigated the perioperative hemodynamic effects of a prophylactic infusion of levosimendan in high-risk mitral valve surgery patients with left ventricle dysfunction, and compared short-term clinical outcomes with a control group in which levosimendan wasn’t used. Patients and methods: Between October 2019 and May 2021, a prospective randomized clinical study was performed in 100 patients with high-risk mitral valve surgery with left ventricular dysfunction and pulmonary hypertension. In the study group, patients received levosimendan infusion at a dose of 0.1 mcg/kg/min after the induction of anesthesia while in control group levosimendan was not used. The intraoperative and postoperative data were recorded for each patient in both groups. The hemodynamic measurements were performed at six predetermined time points (0, 1, 6, 12, 24 and 36 hours postoperatively). Results: Levosimendan had significantly improved postoperative hemodynamic values. It improved mean arterial pressure at different times postoperatively (p < 0.05), heart rate at different times postoperatively (p < 0.05). Also, levosimendan preserved LV systolic performance postoperatively (pulmonary artery pressure (PAP): 51.7 ± 6.4, 57.9 ± 8.6, P<0.001) and (ejection fraction (EF): 37.1 ± 9.3, 33.4 ± 7.1, P=0.03). Conclusion: Prophylactic levosimendan improved the hemodynamics in high-risk mitral valve surgery patients. So levosimendan seems to be a safe and effective choice for preventing left ventricular failure in high-risk mitral valve surgical patients with LV dysfunction.
Collective excitations in deformed sd-shell nuclei from realistic interactions

Background: Collective excitations of nuclei and their theoretical descriptions provide an insight into the structure of nuclei. Replacing traditional phenomenological interactions with unitarily transformed realistic nucleon-nucleon interactions increases the predictive power of the theoretical calculations for exotic or deformed nuclei. Purpose: Extend the application of realistic interactions to deformed nuclei and compare the performance of different interactions, including phenomenological interactions, for collective excitations in the sd-shell. Method: Ground-state energies and charge radii of 20-Ne, 28-Si and 32-S are calculated with the Hartree-Fock method. Transition strengths and transition densities are obtained in the Random Phase Approximation with explicit angular-momentum projection. Results: Strength distributions for monopole, dipole and quadrupole excitations are analyzed and compared to experimental data. Transition densities give insight into the structure of collective excitations in deformed nuclei. Conclusions: Unitarily transformed realistic interactions are able to describe the collective response in deformed sd-shell nuclei in good agreement with experimental data and as good or better than purely phenomenological interactions. Explicit angular momentum projection can have a significant impact on the response.
Toxic and Repellent Effects of Three Oils as Seed Treatment against Aphis craccivora Koch. under Laboratory Conditions

The present study was carried out in the laboratory to investigate the repellent and toxic effects of faba bean seed treatment by camphor, mint, and basil oils on Aphis craccivora , and also, the effect of using dry and sprouting seeds was investigated. Data indicated that using sprouting seeds increased the repellent and toxic effects of oils compared with using dry seeds. After 1 hour, the highest repellent effect was recorded on sprouting seed treatment with basil oil (73.68%), followed insignificantly by dry seed treatment with basil oil (71.43%), sprouting seed treatment with mint oil (70.00%), and sprouting seed treatment with camphor oil (67.74%). However, after 24 hours, sprouting seed treatment with mint oil recorded the highest repellent effect (76.74%), followed insignificantly by dry seed treatment with basil oil (75.61%), sprouting seed treatment with basil oil (75.61%), and sprouting seed treatment with camphor oil (70.00%). No mortality percentages were observed by 1 day from treatment. After 2 days, the mortality percentage was almost low to moderate, however, a sharp increase was observed after 3 days, then mortality slightly increased after the fourth and fifth days in all treatments. Sprouting seed treatment with basil oil was the most effective against the adults of A. craccivora with mean mortality of 63.74%, followed insignificantly by sprouting seed treatment with camphor oil (63.02%) and with mint oil (61.36%).
EFFECT OF AN EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM REGARDING CARE OF WOUND HEALING FOR VENOUS LEG ULCER PATIENTS’

Background: Venous leg ulcers (VLUs) are chronic wounds that impose a substantial economic burden on world health care system and significant morbidity. venous leg ulcer patients' require special care for their wounds to promote healing and improving quality of their life. Aim: This study aimed to evaluate the effect of an educational program regarding care of wound healing for venous leg ulcer patients’. Subjects and Method: Design: A quasi-experimental research design was used in the current study . Setting: The study was conducted in general surgical units and outpatient clinic at El-Mansoura university hospital, Egypt. Subjects: A purposive sample included 50 patients with venous leg ulcer. Tools: Two tools were used for data collection; Socio-demographic data assessment tool and Bates-Jensen Wound Assessment tool. Data was collected from patients two times; one time before implementing the wound care program, and a second time after 12 weeks of its implementation Results: It revealed a statistically significant improvement in patients’ wound healing after implementing educational program regarding venous leg ulcer care with (P-value = < 0.001) Conclusion: the study concluded presence of an improvement in patients’ wound healing after implementing educational program. Recommendations: Conducting continues workshops for health care providers about traditional and new trends of dressing and wound care of venous leg ulcer. It is recommend conducting comparative study of effectiveness of different types of wound dressing on venous leg ulcer healing.
Assessing the Functional and Structural Stability of the Met80Ala Mutant of Cytochrome c in Dimethylsulfoxide

The Met80Ala variant of yeast cytochrome c is known to possess electrocatalytic properties that are absent in the wild type form and that make it a promising candidate for biocatalysis and biosensing. The versatility of an enzyme is enhanced by the stability in mixed aqueous/organic solvents that would allow poorly water-soluble substrates to be targeted. In this work, we have evaluated the effect of dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) on the functionality of the Met80Ala cytochrome c mutant, by investigating the thermodynamics and kinetics of electron transfer in mixed water/DMSO solutions up to 50% DMSO v/v. In parallel, we have monitored spectroscopically the retention of the main structural features in the same medium, focusing on both the overall protein structure and the heme center. We found that the organic solvent exerts only minor effects on the redox and structural properties of the mutant mostly as a result of the modification of the dielectric constant of the solvent. This would warrant proper functionality of this variant also under these potentially hostile experimental conditions, that differ from the physiological milieu of cytochrome c.
Effect of dietary tryptophan on blood and plasma parameters of striped bass Morone saxatilis, exposed to acute stressors

Striped bass, Morone saxatilis, is a marine species that belongs to the Moronidae family, which has great recreational and commercial importance and high production potential for human consumption. This research examines two acute stress factors that can be frequent in fish production units: a) handling is carried out constantly due to maintenance needs, size separation, growth evaluation, and health state, and b) hypoxia likely occur as the culture tank biomass, temperature, and fish metabolic rate increase. Juvenile fish (initial body weight 200 ± 3.0 g) were distributed in 110 L tanks and fed one week with different dietary tryptophan (Trp) levels: CD0.5 (0.5%), D1.0 (1.0%), D1.5 (1.5%) and D2.0 (2.0%). The fish were then exposed to stress by handling (5 min) or hypoxia (45 min). After that, blood hematocrit (Hct), hemoglobin (HB) and plasma cortisol, glucose (GLU), lactate (LACT), total protein (TP), albumin (AL), and globulin (GLOB) were analyzed, and AL/GLOB ratio was calculated. All analyzed parameters showed great sensitivity to acute stressors. Hypoxia increased Hct, cortisol, and GLU and decreased HB and LACT. Handling decreased HB and TP and increased GLU and LACT. D1.0 and D1.5 prevented Hct and LACT disturbance. D1.5 Trp prevented HB disturbance. All Trp supplemented diets prevented GLU change under hypoxia and TP change after handling. The results suggest that Trp played a role in M. saxatilis homeostasis restoration under acute stress.
How to Promote Attentional Efficacy and Cognitive Control Processes: Experience in Argentine School Children

Attention is one of the cognitive control processes that are clearly relevant for socio-cognitive performance and young children’s school learning. Good attention functioning is one of the important predictors of cognitive level in childhood. Although there is no unified theory of attention, current neurocognitive models have agreed to define it as a cognitive control function responsible for the hierarchical organization of the processes in charge of elaborating information. The capacity of attention can be modified with continuous practice. For this reason, its strengthening in childhood could favour the development of the functioning of cognitive control processes in later years. This article presents two programs for the attention and sociocognitive strengthening in children of pre-elementary and elementary school level, in the province of Mendoza, Argentina. This study provides empirical evidence of the effectiveness of training programs applied in the school context and of the relevance of the involvement of parents and educators.
Optimal Allocation of Work in Production Line Systems with Variable Operation Times.

Abstract : The report investigates the design of multi-station queueing systems such as those arising in production or assembly lines. The main problem considered is to identify the optimal allocation of work in production line systems with variable operation times and limited storage space between the respective stations in series. It is assumed that the operation times have an Erlang distribution. The objective is to maximize the mean output rate (production rate) of the system. The foremost conclusion drawn is that the production rate of such production line systems having more than two stations can be increased by deliberately unbalancing the line (i.e., allocating unequal expected operation times to the respective stations) in an appropriate way. When equal storate spaces are provided, the pattern of the apparently optimal allocation of work follows a 'bowl phenomenon' whereby the plot of the amount of work as a function of station number looks like a cross-section of the interior of a bowl. (Author)
Radiation-Induced Controlled Grafting from Lignocellulosic Fiber Towards Compatibilization for Composite Reinforcement

ABSTRACT Lignocellulosic natural fibers remain at the forefront of eco-friendly and sustainable reinforcement materials in composites. This work addresses the inherent limitations of lignocellulosic fibers in terms of their hydrophilicity and incompatibility to achieve maximum utilization in most commercial resins using a reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer radiation-induced graft polymerization (RAFT-RIGP) approach. The one-pot surface modification technique via RAFT-RIGP was shown to efficiently graft poly(glycidyl methacrylate) onto lignocellulosic fibers like abaca. Results from the analyses of the different grafting parameters and polymerization trends reveal that the employed RAFT-mediation improved grafting yield compared to a conventional RIGP despite retardation effects inherent in the RAFT mechanism. Additionally, sufficient control over the molecular weight and dispersity of grafted chains was exhibited. The modified fibers showed improved tensile strength, higher thermal stability and reduced moisture uptake. Overall, we have demonstrated that RAFT-RIGP can be a facile, environment-friendly technique for the surface compatibilization of lignocellulose fibers without the mechanical deterioration of substrate properties, unlike other fiber modification processes. Therefore, this method has a great potential in natural fiber compatibilization for reinforcement in polymer composites.