Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of biorational insecticides against two-spotted spider mite (Acari: Tetranychidae) on Tomato

ii Acknowledgments . v List of Tables . x List of Figures . xi Chapter 1: Introduction and Literature Review . 1 1.1 High Tunnel Tomato Production . 1 1.2 Two-Spotted Spider Mite Taxonomy . 2 1.3 Two-Spotted Spider Mite Damage and Economic Importance . 3 1.4 Chemical Control and Resistance Problem . 4 1.5 Biorational Pesticides . 5 1.5. 1 Biological Control . 5 1.5. 2 Microbials – Entomopathogenic Fungi and Bacteria . 6 1.5. 3 Plant derivatives – Essential Oils, Plant extracts (Botanicals) and Horticultural oils8 1.6 Thesis Goal and Outline . 9 1.8 References . 11 Chapter 2: Laboratory Evaluation of Susceptibility of Two-Spotted Spider Mite (Acari: Tetranychidae to Biorational Acaricides on Tomato . 19 2.1 Abstract . 19 2.2 Introduction . 20 2.3 Materials and Methods . 22 2.3. 1 Spider Mites . 22
A systems perspective on the contribution of project portfolio management practices towards business and IT alignment

Investment in information technology (IT) has significant implications for modern enterprises and requires careful management to ensure value delivery. Not only is the value of IT often transient in nature – as it may erode over time, requiring new investments and ongoing incremental IT enhancements – but it can also be entirely elusive. A further implication of IT investment is the complex management of the dynamic interdependence between operational IT assets, assets being deployed, and new IT systems being considered for future deployment. A key challenge is to understand the impact of IT on the strategic posture of the organisation, and to plan suitable support for the execution thereof. IT influences the ability to execute strategy, as it shapes the value extended to customers and the operational capabilities to create this value. The basic premise of business and IT alignment (BITA) is that organisations are able to reinforce their competitiveness and improve performance only if IT and business strategies are aligned. The continued academic interest in BITA is the result of several studies, with contradictory findings, on the relationship between IT investment and corporate performance. Authors agree that the collaborative development of IT and business strategy is fundamental to ensure BITA. This suggests a dynamic process – similar to managing an active portfolio of interdependent projects – known as project portfolio management (PPM). This research focussed on the contribution of PPM practices to BITA and the gaining of insights from a qualitative system dynamics diagram. Given the lack of universally-accepted BITA success factors and PPM practices, an inductive approach was used to perform two systematic literature reviews to identify BITA success factors and PPM practices. This was followed by the application of the deductive approach to probe the presence of PPM practices and the impact on BITA during in-depth interviews. Qualitative system dynamics diagrams were constructed based on interviews with 23 purposefully sampled senior managers with significant IT experience in the South African financial services industry. Their experiences and observations were captured in causal loop diagrams. The final stage of the research was a validation of the diagrams with six prominent IT researchers who approved of the methods used, and supported further research into IT value using system dynamics. Analysis of the diagrams provided insights about the impact of PPM practices on BITA success factors as well as points of leverage to improve BITA. Six high-level success factors were identified, namely: collaborative planning, effective communication, IT credibility, shared knowledge, executive commitment and user involvement. Three PPM practices had a direct influence on alignment; these are, strategic alignment, portfolio optimisation and resource management. Another four PPM practices were found to have a moderate or low influence on BITA, and one practice had no influence. Stellenbosch University https://scholar.sun.ac.za
Effects of Exercise Training on Heart Failure Measured Using Seismocardiography

ii Acknowledgment . iv List of Tables . vii List of Figures . viii List of Appendices . ix List of Abbreviations . x CHAPTER 1: Introduction . 1 1.1 Prevalence of heart failure in North America . 1 1.2 Aetiology of heart failure . 5 1.3 Symptoms and classification of heart failure . 7 1.4 Pathophysiology of heart failure . 8 1.5 Exercise and its effects on heart failure . 13 1.5. 1 Aerobic training in heart failure . 15 1.5. 2 Resistance training in heart failure . 18 1.6 Medications and their effect on heart failure . 20 1.7 Safety of exercise in heart failure . 22 CHAPTER 2: Assessing Cardiac Function . 22 2.1 Methods used to assess cardiac function . 22 2.2 History of seismocardiography (SCG) . 23 2.3 The seismocardiogram . 24 2.4 Reproducibility of the seismocardiogram . 28 2.5 Disease process and the seismocardiogram . 28
Population structure, evolution and detection of blackberry leaf mottle‐associated virus, an emerging emaravirus

Blackberry leaf mottle-associated virus (BLMaV) is a recently described emaravirus associated with yellow vein disease, the main constraint of blackberry production in the southern USA. The population structure and genetic variation of BLMaV, based on the nucleocapsid and movement protein genes was resolved. BLMaV diversity is low when compared to other emaraviruses, with the genes studied being under strong negative selection. Phylogenetic analyses suggest long distance migration of the virus whereas incongruent phylogenetic relatedness and predicted reassortment events suggest that genetic exchange could play an important role in BLMaV evolution. A quantitative PCR (qPCR) protocol was developed based on the knowledge obtained through the population structure of the virus; this is a sensitive test able to detect all the isolates studied. The assay was optimized and applied successfully on multiple samples collected from several regions in the United States. Comparison between a previously developed test and the new protocol illustrated that the latter is at least 1000 times more sensitive.
Fostering inquiry-based pedagogy in primary school: A longitudinal study into the effects of a two-year school improvement project

The dissertation describes the results of a two-year school improvement program in which the complete school staffs of six Dutch primary schools were trained to integrate inquiry-based pedagogy into daily school practice. In the last two decades, the Dutch government has promoted the widespread implementation of science and technology (S&T) teaching in primary education. There is increasing consensus in the scientific literature that primary S&T education should be understood as a transdisciplinary form of inquiry-focused teaching and learning linked to all school subject areas and lesson activities. However, descriptions of longitudinal and experimental intervention studies on the (school-wide) implementation of S&T education in primary schools have so far been scarce. The present study aimed to help fill this void in the literature. It mainly concerned the evaluation of the aforementioned school improvement program. In addition, preliminary research indicated a scarcity of research on the nature and dimensions of pupils’ curiosity in the school context. Because the stimulation of pupils’ curiosity was deemed a main objective of primary S&T education, and should therefore be included as an explicit measure for assessing inquiry-focused school improvement in this context, separate theoretical and empirical research was conducted first. Therefore, the first two studies of the dissertation focus on the operationalization and measurement of pupils’ curiosity. The last two studies focus on the evaluation of the school development program. The main findings of the study indicate that a school-wide approach to the implementation of S&T education, coupled with extensive attitude-focused and didactical professional training, can help primary schools integrate inquiry-focused (S&T) teaching practice in their school organization. At the same time, our findings highlight that it is not easy for primary teachers to implement such teaching practice on their own. Foundations should promote research aimed at more clearly defining and developing assessments of relevant pupil qualities, initially for research purposes, and later for summative and formative assessment. Only when pupils’ inquiry is perceived by primary teachers as integral to school learning, no less so than literacy and numeracy, will we likely see significant changes happen in classroom practice.
Unifying photocycle model for light adaptation and temporal evolution of cation conductance in channelrhodopsin-2

Significance Understanding the mechanisms of photoactivated biological processes facilitates the development of new molecular tools, engineered for specific optogenetic applications, allowing the control of neuronal activity with light. Here, we use a variety of experimental and theoretical techniques to examine the precise nature of the light-activated ion channel in one of the most important molecular species used in optogenetics, channelrhodopsin-2. Existing models for the photochemical and photophysical pathway after light absorption by the molecule fail to explain many aspects of its observed behavior, including the inactivation of the photocurrent under continuous illumination. We resolve this by proposing a branched photocycle explaining electrical and photochemical channel properties and establishing the structure of intermediates during channel turnover. Although channelrhodopsin (ChR) is a widely applied light-activated ion channel, important properties such as light adaptation, photocurrent inactivation, and alteration of the ion selectivity during continuous illumination are not well understood from a molecular perspective. Herein, we address these open questions using single-turnover electrophysiology, time-resolved step-scan FTIR, and Raman spectroscopy of fully dark-adapted ChR2. This yields a unifying parallel photocycle model integrating now all so far controversial discussed data. In dark-adapted ChR2, the protonated retinal Schiff base chromophore (RSBH+) adopts an all-trans,C=N-anti conformation only. Upon light activation, a branching reaction into either a 13-cis,C=N-anti or a 13-cis,C=N-syn retinal conformation occurs. The anti-cycle features sequential H+ and Na+ conductance in a late M-like state and an N-like open-channel state. In contrast, the 13-cis,C=N-syn isomer represents a second closed-channel state identical to the long-lived P480 state, which has been previously assigned to a late intermediate in a single-photocycle model. Light excitation of P480 induces a parallel syn-photocycle with an open-channel state of small conductance and high proton selectivity. E90 becomes deprotonated in P480 and stays deprotonated in the C=N-syn cycle. Deprotonation of E90 and successive pore hydration are crucial for late proton conductance following light adaptation. Parallel anti- and syn-photocycles now explain inactivation and ion selectivity changes of ChR2 during continuous illumination, fostering the future rational design of optogenetic tools.
The Potential Effectiveness of Probiotic-Based Sanitation Procedures in Nosocomial Infection Control: A Review Article

The sanitation of the hospital environment for the purpose of preventing the transmission of nosocomial infections has a major role in reducing the infection of hospitalized patients with the bacteria living on hospital surfaces. The excessive use of chemical detergents in recent decades has led to microbial resistance in nosocomial infectious bacteria. Researchers’ attention has therefore been drawn to the use of probiotics for disinfecting hospital surfaces. The present study was conducted to assess the potential effectiveness of probiotic products in controlling the contamination of inert surfaces in the environment and medical instruments in health centers and investigate the claim that the antagonistic property of probiotic microorganisms offers an effective method for controlling nosocomial infections and a suitable alternative to conventional disinfection methods. A search was carried out for relevant articles published from 2000 to 2018 in databases including ISI, PubMed, Scopus, EMBASE, and Google Scholar, using the keywords "nosocomial infections", "disinfection", "sanitation", "probiotics" and "infected surfaces". The articles published from 2000 to 2018 confirmed the greater effectiveness of probiotic disinfection (by up to 90%) compared to conventional chemical disinfection in controlling nosocomial infections. Nevertheless, more extensive studies are needed on probiotics to determine the possibility of replacing good bacteria with bad bacteria in future decades.
Noradrenergic Responsiveness Supports Selective Attention across the Adult Lifespan

Selectively attending to relevant information while blocking out distractors is crucial for goal-directed behavior, yet with advancing age, deficits emerge in attentional selectivity. Decrements in attention have been associated with altered noradrenergic activity in animals. However, research linking noradrenergic functioning to attention in aging humans is scarce, likely reflecting long-standing methodological challenges in noninvasive assessments. We studied whether age-related differences in the noradrenergic system predict differences in attention. We measured pupil dilation, a noninvasive marker of arousal-related norepinephrine (NE) release, while concurrently recording the EEG of male younger (N = 39; 25.2 ± 3.2 years) and older adults (N = 38; 70.6 ± 2.7 years). Arousal was modulated on a trial-by-trial basis using fear-conditioned (CS+) stimuli. During conditioning, pupil and EEG markers related to heightened arousal were identified. Afterward, in a dichotic listening task, participants were cued to direct attention to either the left or right ear while highly similar syllable pairs were presented simultaneously to both ears. During the dichotic listening task, presentation of fear-conditioned stimuli reinstated the acquired arousal response, as reflected in pupil and EEG α-β band responses. Critically, pupil dilation to CS+ was correlated with stronger EEG α-β desynchronization, suggesting a common dependence on NE release. On a behavioral level, stronger arousal reactions were associated with better attention. In particular, structural equation modeling revealed that the responsiveness of the NE system is associated with attention on a latent construct level, measured by several indicator tasks. Overall, our results suggest that the responsiveness of the NE system supports attention across the lifespan. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT In old age, the ability to selectively process relevant aspects of the environment fades. Animal research suggests that the neuromodulator norepinephrine helps to maintain selective attention. We tested younger and older adults across a variety of attention tasks. In addition, we used arousing stimuli to experimentally activate participants' noradrenergic system while recording pupillometry and EEG to infer its functional capacity. Older adults showed compromised attention and reduced noradrenergic responsiveness as indicated by interrelated pupil and EEG markers. Crucially, in both age groups, a more responsive noradrenergic system was strongly associated with attention. Our findings link animal and human studies on the neural underpinning of attention in aging and underscore the importance of the noradrenergic system in late-life cognition.
Targeting Wnt Signaling To Overcome PARP Inhibitor Resistance

Epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) has one of the highest deaths to incidence ratios. High grade serous ovarian carcinoma (HGSOC) is the most common and deadliest EOC histotype because of the lack of secondary therapeutic options following debulking surgery and platinum/taxane-based chemotherapies. For recurrent chemosensitive HGSOC, poly(ADP)-ribose polymerase inhibitors (PARPi; olaparib, rucaparib, or niraparib) represent an emerging treatment strategy. While PARPi are most effective in homologous recombination DNA repair-deficient (HRD) HGSOCs, more recent studies have observed a significant clinical benefit in non-HRD HGSOCs. However, all HGSOC patients are likely to acquire resistance to PARPi. Therefore, there is an urgent clinical need to better understand PARPi resistance, and to introduce novel combinatorial therapies to overcome PARPi resistance and extend HGSOC disease-free intervals. Utilizing a two BRCA2-mutated and one BRCA-wildtype HGSOC cell lines that are olaparib sensitive, we established resistant cells. Transcriptome analysis of the matched olaparib-sensitive versus resistant cells did not detect BRCA2 reversion mutations, but revealed activation of Wnt/TCF signaling pathway, as TCF transcriptional activity was significantly increased in PARPi-resistant cells. In parallel, forced activation of Wnt signaling in PARPi-sensitive cells via WNT3A stimulation reduced response to PARPi. In a recurrent-HGSOC PARPi insensitive patient-derived xenograft model there was an increase in a Wnt/TCF transcriptional target. PARPi resistant cells were sensitive to inhibition of Wnt signaling using the FDA-approved compound, pyrvinium pamoate, which has been shown to inhibit Wnt signaling. We observed that combining pyrvinium pamoate with olaparib resulted in a significant decrease in tumor burden and number of tumor nodules. This study demonstrates that Wnt signaling can mediate PARPi resistance in HGSOC and provides a clinical rationale for combining PARPi and Wnt inhibitors.
Polymethoxylated Flavone Content of Major Cultivars and Local Accessions of Citrus Cultivated in Kagoshima, Japan

In this study, we cultivated 32 major citrus cultivars and local accessions of Kagoshima and one control accession to elucidate the polymethoxylated flavone contents with the purpose of providing information for citrus consumers to promote citrus production in the region. All trees were grafted on trifoliate orange rootstock and cultivated in Kagoshima City, Japan. In general, the Brix values and fruit weights of the major cultivars were higher and heavier than those of the local accessions. The ascorbic acid content of Tankan and Rokugatsu Mikan was high and that of Shiikuwasha, Kabuchii, and Shiikuu was very low. For analysis of polymethoxylated flavones (PMF), important health-promoting components sinensetin, nobiletin, heptamethoxyflavone, and tangeretin were quantified. Cultivar and accession differences in the PMF content were also observed. Nobiletin and tangeretin were found to be major PMF in most accessions, and heptamethoxyflavone was not detected in some species such as Kishu Mikan, Ponkan, Shiikuwasha, and Kuroshima Mikan. In the major cultivars, the PMF contents of Kishu Mikan, Ponkan, and Tankan were found to be high. In the local citrus accessions, Shiikuwasha, its relative, and Kishu Mikan were found to have the highest PMF content, and those of Kabuchii and Kuroshima Mikan were also high. Major cultivars Satsuma mandarin, pummelo, and its relative and the local accession Kunenbo contained little PMF.
Adicción al móvil e internet en adolescentes y su relación con problemas psicopatológicos y variables protectoras

espanolSe analizo la relacion entre psicopatologia y abuso del movil e internet en adolescentes, ademas, se analizaron si ciertas variables protectoras de psicopatologia protegen tambien del abuso del movil e internet y se calcularon los puntos de corte dos cuestionarios que miden el abuso de estas tecnologias. Se empleo una muestra de 269 adolescentes entre 12 y 18 anos (124 chicos y 145 chicas) y se usaron los cuestionarios YSR para medir psicopatologia, CERI abuso de internet y CERM abuso del movil. Los resultados mostraron que el abuso de las nuevas tecnologias se relaciona con sintomatologia externalizante y de deficit de atencion. Se hallo que el numero de clubs a los que pertenecen, relacion con los padres, autonomia y rendimiento escolar en ciencias, son variables protectoras frente al abuso del movil e internet. Ademas, a los 15 anos aumenta significativamente el uso de estas tecnologias y la psicopatologia asociada. EnglishThe objectives of this study were to analyse the relationship between psychopathological problems and mobile phone and internet abuse in adolescents, and whether certain variables that offer protection from psychopathological problems also offer protection against this type of abuse. We administered two questionnaires that measure such abuse. The study included a sample of 269 adolescents aged between 12 and 18 years (124 boys and 145 girls). The YSR, CERI, and CERM questionnaires were used to measure psychopathology, internet abuse, and mobile abuse, respectively. The results showed that the abuse of new technologies is particularly related to externalizing symptoms and attention deficit. It was found that variables such as the number of clubs to which the participants belonged, their relationship with parents, autonomy, and school performance in science are protective variables against mobile phone and internet abuse. At the age of 15 years, there was a significant increase in the use of these technologies and their associated psychopathological problems.
Multi-body Locomotion : Problem Structure and Efficient Resolution

The locomotion problem in robotics is usually written as a large optimization problem. This problem has many undesirable properties, such as large dimensionality, non-linear and non-convex cos! functions, nonlinear constraints, and so on. These diverse features make direct resolution difficult. A classic approach is to simplify numerical optimization by solving reduced models, built heuristically. As a result, these models have a reduced area of validity and are difficult to extend. Our work explores an approach thal attempts to solve this problem of general locomotion, while fully exploiting itsstructure to obtain an effective and feasible solution. Our goal is to provide effective resolution through the proper use of the problem structure. For this, we have generalized the use of traditional models in locomotion in a formulation th at can solve exactly the initial problem. Our contribution consists of a method for the generation of dynamic movements forthe whole body of the humanoid, by the use of alternating direction method of multipliers. The complete problem is separated into (i) its centroidal part, which is highly constrained and unstable, and is solved by a multiple-shooting SQP, and (ii) its Lagrangian part, which is more stable but larger, and is solved by Differentiai Dynamic Programming (DDP). An efficient implementation of the DDP makes it possible to obtain performances allowing the implementation on the real robot, and a use of the feasibility const! raints ("proxy") makes it possible to en sure the feasibility of the reduced models.Our concepts have been validated empirically by calculating and applying different dynamic motions for the humanoid robot HRP-2, and to the robot Pyrene in simulation.