Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effects of Mixed Hardwood and Sugarcane Biochar as Bark-Based Substrate Substitutes on Container Plants Production and Nutrient Leaching

Biochar (BC) has the potential to replace bark-based commercial substrates in the production of container plants. A greenhouse experiment was conducted to evaluate the potential of mixed hardwood biochar (HB) and sugarcane bagasse biochar (SBB) to replace the bark-based commercial substrate. A bark-based commercial substrate was incorporated with either HB at 50% (vol.) or SBB at 50% and 70% (vol.), with a bark-based commercial substrate being used as the control. The total porosity (TP) and container capacity (CC) of all SBB-incorporated mixes were slightly higher than the recommended value, while, the others were within the recommended range. Both tomato and basil plants grown in the BC-incorporated mixes had a similar or higher growth index (GI), leaf greenness (indicated by soil-plant analyses development), and yield than the control. The leachate of all mixes had the highest NO3–N concentration in the first week after transplantation (1 WAT). All BC-incorporated mixes grown with both tomato and basil had similar NO3–N concentration to the control (except 50% SBB at 1 and 5 WAT, and 50% HB at 5 WAT with tomato plants; 50% SBB at 5 WAT with basil plants). In conclusion, HB could replace bark-based substrates at 50% and SBB at 70% for both tomato and basil plant growth, without negative effects.
Dynamic Interaction between Student Learning Behaviour and Learning Environment: Meta-Analysis of Student Engagement and Its Influencing Factors

Student engagement plays a significant role in promoting student learning outcomes in the higher education context. The goal of this meta-analysis was to investigate factors influencing student engagement in higher education institutions in different contexts. The meta-analysis integrated data from 93,188 participants and 148 effects across studies to address this issue. The meta-analysis revealed 14 factors affecting students’ learning participation. The classification was based on internal and external factors, aiming to explore the main factors influencing students’ intention, behavior, and process of learning participation. The external influencing factors with moderate correlations were the teacher-student relationship (R = 0.456, p < 0.001) and positive teacher behavior (R = 0.419, p < 0.001). Additionally, the main external influencing factors were partnership (R = 0.174, p < 0.001), environmental support (R = −0.028), negative teacher behavior (R = −0.064), and negative learning behavior (R = −0145), which were all negatively correlated with learning participation. The results also indicated that factors influencing student engagement can be divided into two categories: promoting factors and hindering factors. The promoting factors include students’ positive emotion, positive learning behavior, positive teacher behavior, the teacher-student relationship and partnership, students’ learning and thinking ability, the support of learning resources, students’ individual and personality characteristics, and teaching factors. The hindering factors include lack of environmental support, negative student behavior, and negative teacher behavior. Further, conceptual and practical implications are discussed in relation to these findings.
Interval Estimation of Parameters of Log-Gamma Distribution Based on Progressively Censored Data

Abstract A conditional method of inference is used to derive confidence intervals for the location and scale parameters as well as the quantiles and the reliability function of the log-gamma distribution when the data are progressively Type-II censored. The method is then compared to the unconditional method of constructing confidence intervals for these parameters. Finally, we illustrate all the methods of inference discussed in this paper with a numerical example.
Efficient estimation of the censored linear regression model

In linear regression or accelerated failure time models, complications in efficient estimation arise from the multiple roots of the efficient score and density estimation. This paper proposes a one-step efficient estimation method based on a counting process martingale, which has several advantages: it avoids the multiple-root problem, the initial estimator is easily available and the variance estimator can be obtained by employing plug-in rules. A simple and effective data-driven bandwidth selector is provided. The proposed estimator is proved to be semiparametric efficient, with the same asymptotic variance as the efficient estimator when the error distribution is known up to a location shift. Numerical studies with supportive evidence are presented. The proposal is applied to the Colorado Plateau uranium miners data. Copyright 2013, Oxford University Press.
Combined Effect of Hall and Ion-Slip Currents on Unsteady MHD Couette Flows in a Rotating System

The unsteady MHD Couette flows of a viscous incompressible electrically conducting fluid between two parallel plates in a rotating system are studied taking hall and ion-slip currents into consideration. The relevant equations are solved analytically using the Laplace transform techniques. A unified closed form analytical expressions for the velocity and the skin friction for the cases; when the magnetic lines of force are fixed relative to the fluid or to the moving plate are derived. The solution obtained shows that the inclusion of Hall and ion-slip currents gives some interesting results. It is found that the influence of the Hall and ion slip parameters have a reducing effect on the magnitude of the secondary velocity especially when the magnetic lines of force are fixed relative to the moving plate. It is also interesting to note that the presence of Hall and ion-slip currents led to an increase in the time it took both the primary and the secondary velocities to achieve their steady state values. On the other hand, the resultant skin friction on the moving plate decreases with an increase in both the Hall and ion-slip parameters when the magnetic field is fixed relative to the fluid, while the opposite behaviour is noticed the magnetic field is fixed relative to the moving plate.
Efficiency of a Linear Combination of the Median and the Sample Mean: The Double Truncated Normal Distribution

Abstract. We characterize all symmetric location models for which a linear combination of the median and the sample mean is an asymptotically efficient estimator of the location parameter. The resulting model can be understood as a symmetrized or double truncated normal distribution. A simple algorithm to estimate the parameters is given and an application is presented.
Nonlinear magnetohydrodynamic dynamo

The self‐consistent nonlinear evolution and saturation of the dynamo, including the back reaction of the magnetic field on the flow through the Lorentz J×B force, is investigated via simulation of the fully compressible magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) equations. The saturated state is found to be highly turbulent. The energy in the saturated magnetic field is only a small fraction of the kinetic energy in the flow which drives the dynamo. However, as the collision frequency decreases and the Reynolds number R increases, the ratio of magnetic to kinetic energy in the saturated state increases gradually. The nonlinear viscosity generated by the turbulent fluctuations rises rapidly relative to the collisional viscosity as R increases, such that the total transport of momentum remains virtually unchanged as the collisional viscosity is reduced. The scale lengths of the magnetic and velocity fluctuations both decrease as R increases, so that the scale size of the magnetic field remains comparable to the scale size o.
Genotype × environment interaction of lowland bread wheat varieties for irrigation in different areas of Oromia

Abstract Ethiopia is the leading wheat producer in Sub‐Saharan Africa, and the productivity has increased in the last few years. There is also a potential for irrigated wheat production in the lowlands, even though its cultivation is at infant stage. The experiment was conducted in the Oromia region at nine locations in 2021 with irrigation. The study aimed to select high yielding and stable bread wheat variety/ies for lowland areas. Twelve released bread wheat varieties were tested using randomized complete block design with two replications. Environment had the largest effect, 76.5% of total variability, while genotypes 5.0% and GE interaction 18.5% explained total sum of squares. The average grain yield of varieties across locations ranged from the lowest 1.40 t ha−1 at Girja to the highest 6.55 t ha−1 at Daro Labu, with a grand mean of 3.14 t ha−1. The result showed that varieties released for irrigated areas, Fentale 1, Ardi, and Fentale 2, were ranked the top three based on overall environment mean grain yield. The first and second principal component account 45.5% and 24.7% of the genotype by environment interaction (G × E), respectively, explained 70.2% of the total variation. Daro Lebu and Bedeno were the most productive environment, while Girja was the least productive of irrigated bread wheat for lowlands of the Oromia region. Genotype Selection Index (GSI) showed that varieties Fentale 2, Fentale 1, Pavon 76, and ETBW9578 are stable and high yielding. Based on AMMI and GGE biplot analysis, Girja indicated the most discriminating area and Sewena as representative environment for selecting wide adaptable irrigated lowland varieties. The results of the present study indicated that Fentale 2 and Fentale 1 showed better yield stability across all test environments, therefore, these bread wheat varieties are recommended for wide cultivation in irrigated areas of the Oromia region.
Hygrothermal transfers through a bio-based multilayered wall: Modeling study of different wall configurations subjected to various climates and indoor cyclic loads

The hygrothermal behavior of a bio-based multilayered wall has been studied by numerical simulations. The key point of these research investigations was to properly describe the hygrothermal transfers occurring inside the studied wall solution. In previous work, the case of the wall subjected to a given real climate (Wroughton HIVE demonstrator, UK, Feb 2018) has been investigated. The present work, focused on the moisture regulation capacity of the wall, considers an improved kinetics model of sorption, different layer configurations, one additional climate (Bordeaux, FR, Apr 2008) and the effect of indoor cyclic loads. Compared to the classical approach, the local kinetics approach results in prediction of stronger and steeper hygric dynamics with larger relative humidity variations at small time scales. The study of the different wall configurations allows to determine the best one in terms of moisture damping: the vapor control membrane is advantageously removed provided the OSB3 12 mm layer is replaced by an OSB4 18 mm layer. Moreover, the simulations show that the Moisture Buffer Value characteristic of each material layer is not a sufficient criterion to evaluate hygric performance of the wall; strong hygric interactions occur with the layer’s permeability independently of its sorption capacity. Finally, water content hysteresis phenomena are studied and it appears that under usual operating conditions, they can be ignored by adjusting the layers’ permeabilities for adequate fits on the Moisture Buffer Value tests.
Minimax Hierarchical Empirical Bayes Estimation in Multivariate Regression

The multivariate normal regression model, in which a vector y of responses is to be predicted by a vector x of explanatory variables, is considered. A hierarchical framework is used to express prior information on both x and y. An empirical Bayes estimator is developed which shrinks the maximum likelihood estimator of the matrix of regression coefficients across rows and columns to nontrivial subspaces which reflect both types of prior information. The estimator is shown to be minimax and is applied to a set of chemometrics data for which it reduces the cross-validated predicted mean squared error of the maximum likelihood estimator by 38%.
Half-Life of 44 Ti as a Probe for Supernova Models

Recent measurements of galactic radioactivity with the Compton Gamma Ray Observatory reported {sup 44}Ti activity from the supernova remnant Cassiopeia A. The absolute amount of {sup 44}Ti provides a stringent test for current supernova models. The main uncertainty is presently the half-life of {sup 44}Ti . We report a new measurement of the half-life of {sup 44}Ti applying a novel technique using a mixed radioactive ion beam containing {sup 44}Ti as well as {sup 22}Na ions. This method allows the reliable determination of the half-life of {sup 44}Ti with high accuracy, t{sub 1/2}=(60.3{plus_minus}1.3) yr . The {sup 44}Ti abundance determined for Cassiopeia A with this half-life agrees with theoretical predictions within the observational uncertainties. {copyright} {ital 1998} {ital The American Physical Society}
Evaluation of Safety and Immunogenicity of a Recombinant Receptor-Binding Domain (RBD)-Tetanus Toxoid (TT) Conjugated SARS-CoV-2 Vaccine (PastoCovac) in Recipients of Autologous Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation Compared to the Healthy Controls; A Prospective, Open-Label Clinical Trial

Background: The urgent need for prompt SARS-CoV-2 immunization of hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) recipients in an endemic area raises many challenges regarding selecting a vaccine platform appropriate for HSCT recipients being economical for widespread use in developing countries. Methods: The trial is a prospective, single-group, open-label study to investigate the safety and serologic response of two doses of the recombinant receptor-binding domain (RBD)-Tetanus Toxoid (TT) conjugated SARS-CoV-2 vaccine (PastoCovac) early after autologous (auto) HSCT. For this reason, a total of 38 patients who completed the two-dose SARS-CoV-2 RBD-based vaccine between three to nine months after auto-HSCT and had an available anti-spike serologic test at three predefined time points of baseline and after the first and second doses and 50 healthy control individuals were included in the analysis. The primary outcome was defined as an increase in IgG Immune status ratio (ISR) to the cut-off value for the positive result (≥1.1) in the semiquantitative test. Findings: The median time between auto-HSCT and vaccination was 127 days. No participant reported any significant adverse effects (Grade 3). Pain at the injection site was the most common adverse event. The ISR increased significantly (p < 0.001) during the three-time point sampling for both patients and healthy control groups. In patients, the mean ISR increased from 1.39 (95% CI: 1.13–1.65) at baseline to 2.48 (1.93–3.03) and 3.73 (3.13–4.38) following the first and second dosages, respectively. In multivariate analysis, the higher count of lymphocytes [OR: 8.57 (95% CI: 1.51–48.75); p = 0.02] and history of obtaining COVID-19 infection before transplantation [OR: 6.24 (95% CI: 1.17–33.15); p = 0.03] remained the predictors of the stronger immune response following two doses of the RBD-TT conjugated vaccine. Moreover, we found that the immunogenicity of the COVID-19 vaccine shortly after transplantation could be influenced by pre-transplant COVID-19 vaccination. Interpretation: The RBD-TT conjugated SARS-CoV-2 vaccine was safe, highly immunogenic, and affordable early after autologous transplants. Funding: This work was mainly financed by the Hematology-Oncology-Stem Cell Transplantation Research Center (HORCSCT) of Tehran University and the Pasteur Institute of Iran.
Role of Hsp70 in Post-Translational Protein Targeting: Tail-Anchored Membrane Proteins and Beyond

The Hsp70 family of molecular chaperones acts as a central ‘hub’ in the cell that interacts with numerous newly synthesized proteins to assist in their biogenesis. Apart from its central and well-established role in facilitating protein folding, Hsp70s also act as key decision points in the cellular chaperone network that direct client proteins to distinct biogenesis and quality control pathways. In this paper, we review accumulating data that illustrate a new branch in the Hsp70 network: the post-translational targeting of nascent membrane and organellar proteins to diverse cellular organelles. Work in multiple pathways suggests that Hsp70, via its ability to interact with components of protein targeting and translocation machineries, can initiate elaborate substrate relays in a sophisticated cascade of chaperones, cochaperones, and receptor proteins, and thus provide a mechanism to safeguard and deliver nascent membrane proteins to the correct cellular membrane. We discuss the mechanistic principles gleaned from better-studied Hsp70-dependent targeting pathways and outline the observations and outstanding questions in less well-studied systems.
M.tb-Rv2462c of Mycobacterium tuberculosis Shows Chaperone-like Activity and Plays a Role in Stress Adaptation and Immunomodulation

Simple Summary Mycobacterium tuberculosis protein tig (Rv2462c) is present in membrane fraction along with the cytosol. It has been previously reported to assist in the folding of nascent polypeptides. We have investigated the role of Mycobacterium tuberculosis tig in stress adaptation; for example, it exhibits roles in thermal and oxidative shock, survival within macrophages, biofilm formation and immunological responses. Our findings establish the contribution of tig to tolerance and adaptation to host-generated stresses, implying its involvement in the infection cycle of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. These attributes of Tig highlights its significance in Mycobacterium tuberculosis virulence and make it an important target for novel therapeutic interventions against tuberculosis. Abstract Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M.tb)-encoded factors protect it against host-generated stresses and support its survival in the hostile host environment. M.tb possesses two peptidyl-prolyl cis-trans isomerases and a probable trigger factor encoded by Rv2462c which has an FKBP-like PPIase domain. PPIases are known to assist the folding of peptidyl-prolyl bonds and are involved in various cellular processes important for bacterial survival in host-generated stresses. In this study, we aim to functionally characterize Rv2462c of M.tb. Our data suggest that the trigger factor of M.tb exhibits chaperone activity both in vitro and in vivo. Heterologous expression of M.tb-Rv2462c locus into Mycobacterium smegmatis enhanced its survival within macrophages, adaptation to oxidative stress and biofilm formation. M.tb-trigger factor has strong immunomodulatory potential and modifies the cytokine profile of the host towards the proinflammatory axis.
Stability of Al2O3 and Al2O3/a-SiNx:H stacks for surface passivation of crystalline silicon

The thermal and ultraviolet (UV) stability of crystalline silicon (c-Si) surface passivation provided by atomic layer deposited Al2O3 was compared with results for thermal SiO2. For Al2O3 and Al2O3/a-SiNx:H stacks on 2 Ω cm n-type c-Si, ultralow surface recombination velocities of Seff 800 °C) used for screen printed c-Si solar cells. Effusion measurements revealed the loss of hydrogen and oxygen during firing through the detection of H2 and H2O. Al2O3 also demonstrated UV stability with the surface passivation improving during UV irradiation.
Drugs Targeting p53 Mutations with FDA Approval and in Clinical Trials

Simple Summary Mutations in the tumor suppressor p53 (p53) occur in ~50% of human cancers, the majority of which are missense mutations. Mutations in p53 not only impair the tumor suppressive function, but also confer missense mutant p53 (mutp53) with oncogenic activities independent of wild-type p53 (wtp53). Since p53 mutations are cancer-specific, several approaches targeting them have been taken to develop novel cancer therapies, including restoration or stabilization of wtp53 conformation from mutp53, rescue of p53 nonsense mutations, depletion of mutp53 proteins, and induction of p53 synthetic lethality or targeting of vulnerabilities imposed by p53 deficiencies (activated retrotransposons) or mutations (enhanced YAP/TAZ). Here, we summarize clinically available investigational and FDA-approved drugs that target p53 mutations for their mechanisms of action and activities to suppress cancer progression. Abstract Mutations in the tumor suppressor p53 (p53) promote cancer progression. This is mainly due to loss of function (LOS) as a tumor suppressor, dominant-negative (DN) activities of missense mutant p53 (mutp53) over wild-type p53 (wtp53), and wtp53-independent oncogenic activities of missense mutp53 by interacting with other tumor suppressors or oncogenes (gain of function: GOF). Since p53 mutations occur in ~50% of human cancers and rarely occur in normal tissues, p53 mutations are cancer-specific and ideal therapeutic targets. Approaches to target p53 mutations include (1) restoration or stabilization of wtp53 conformation from missense mutp53, (2) rescue of p53 nonsense mutations, (3) depletion or degradation of mutp53 proteins, and (4) induction of p53 synthetic lethality or targeting of vulnerabilities imposed by p53 mutations (enhanced YAP/TAZ activities) or deletions (hyperactivated retrotransposons). This review article focuses on clinically available FDA-approved drugs and drugs in clinical trials that target p53 mutations and summarizes their mechanisms of action and activities to suppress cancer progression.
Stage II Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma after Endovascular Repair of Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm: A Case Report and Literature Review

Backgrounds: Concomitant abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA) and gastrointestinal malignancies are uncommon. Endovascular repair (EVAR) is widely used to treat AAA. However, no consensus exists on the optimal strategy for treating AAA when associated with pancreatic adenocarcinoma. In addition, only few reports of pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) after EVAR exist. Presentation of case: A pancreatic tumor was detected during follow-up after EVAR for AAA in an 83-year-old female patient. The diagnosis was high-grade intraepithelial neoplasia. Modified pylorus-preserving pancreaticoduodenectomy was safely performed. The patient recovered moderately and was discharged two weeks after surgery. The pathological diagnosis was middle-grade pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. The patient survived for 24 months with no recurrence or cardiovascular complications. Conclusions: Conducting periodic follow-ups after AAA surgery is helpful for the early discovery of gastrointestinal tumors. EVAR surgery is safe and feasible and thus recommended for AAA patients with pancreatic cancer, although it may increase the risk of cancer. The stage of malignancy and post-EVAR medical history can be valuable in evaluating the benefits of pancreatic surgery for such cases.
Perceptions of the Emotional Self for Adolescents Who Are Gifted

ABSTRACT Self-report, trait-based instruments have provided data about adolescents and their emotional development. However, a holistic and self-referential view of the emotionality of the adolescent who is gifted remains elusive. The theoretical framework of emotionality was tailored for this inquiry by combining two prominent theories of emotional intelligence with emotional development. This merge allowed for the generation of a large body of descriptive statements. These were sampled according to procedures in Q methodology to result in 41 statements, which were sorted by 28 adolescents identified as gifted by their public school district personnel. Q factor analyses revealed four types of emotionality among the gifted adolescents who participated, which were interpreted as Humanitarians, Politicians, Regulators, and Stabilizers. These findings provide insight into the self-descriptions of emotional lives of adolescents who are gifted.