Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effects of NPK fertilizer on growth, drymatter production and yield of eggplant in southwestern Nigeria

The growth, dry matter and yield of eggplant under varying levels of NPK 15:15:15 were evaluated in both pot and field trials. Results from the pot trial showed a significant enhancement in fruit yield with increasing fertilizer level up to 200kg/ha while other shoot’s characteristics (leaf number, branch number and stem length) were favoured up to 300kg/ha. Unexpectedly, a significant branch number increment at 300kg/ha did not lead to a significant yield increase. Field trial’s results showed that growth, yield and other shoot’s characteristics greatly increased up to 200kgNPK/ha application after which there was either insignificant increment or a decline. Increment of dry weight towards maturity suggests that there was no cessation in eggplant growth even when partitioning of assimilates towards fruit development took place. The study concluded that 200kgNPK/ha is adequate for optimum growth, dry matter production (pre-anthesis and anthesis stages) and yield in both field and greenhouse conditions.
Grit, motivational belief, self-regulated learning (SRL), and academic achievement of civil engineering students

ABSTRACT The influence of grit on engineering student’s achievement has been understudied. The association between grit, self-regulated learning (SRL), and academic achievement in civil engineering students was investigated using correlation and regression analysis. One hundred and one civil engineering students from various nationalities completed a self-report questionnaire that contained the Grit 12-item scale and the forty-four questions on motivational beliefs and self-regulated learning practices (MSLQ). Four of the five SRL variables were predicted by perseverance of effort: intrinsic value, self-efficacy, cognitive strategy use, and self-regulation. Initially, perseverance of effort predicted the current grade point average (GPA), but it was no longer a predictor after including SRL indicators. Consistency of interest was a predictor of cognitive strategy usage, but it did not affect students’ academic achievement. GPAs were also predicted by student self-efficacy and age. The connection between academic accomplishment and grit is mediated by SRL engagement. Students’ perceived competency and confidence in completing their degree were shown to be major determinants of their GPA. Furthermore, motivational beliefs had a greater effect on students’ GPAs than grit did. In the majority of the study’s constructs, female students outperformed males. GPAs were higher among younger students than among their older peers.
Validation of Brix refractometer to estimate immunoglobulin G concentration in goat colostrum

Abstract Background and Aim: Immunoglobulin G (IgG) concentration is high in goat colostrum, particularly in the first few hours after parturition, and this is important for the kid’s immunity and growth. IgG levels vary depending on several factors, including breed, disease status, colostrum management, handling, and collection time postpartum. A handheld optical refractometer, an affordable instrument that is simple to use in the field, is used widely in dairy farms to measure total solids. However, it can also be applied to estimate colostrum IgG content on the basis of comparison with standard measurement methods, usually radial immunodiffusion. Studies comparing %Brix values in relation to IgG concentration measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in goats are limited. The present study aimed to evaluate the use of a handheld optical Brix refractometer for the measurement of IgG concentration in goat colostrum, compare results with those using ELISA, and estimate the %Brix cutoff value equating to low-quality colostrum. Materials and Methods: Colostrum samples were collected on day 0 from 21 goats (nine Black Bengal, six Saanen, and six of their crossbred offspring) and were frozen. Subsequently, they were analyzed for IgG concentration using a goat-specific ELISA test and Brix percentage using a handheld refractometer. The optimum %Brix cutoff value for the evaluation of colostrum quality was evaluated. Results: The mean IgG concentration and %Brix in colostrum were 10.60±0.64 mg/mL and 25.0±0.9, respectively. There was a significant (p<0.01) correlation between %Brix and IgG concentration. For an IgG concentration of 6.9 mg/dL, the cutoff value for %Brix was 18.5, equating to high specificity (100%) but low sensitivity (50%). A higher %Brix cutoff value of 21.5 showed high specificity (95%) and high sensitivity (100%). Conclusion: A Brix refractometer can be used to estimate goat colostrum quality with a proposed %Brix cutoff value of <18.5%-21.5% for poor-quality colostrum.
3D pavement macrotexture parameters from close range photogrammetry

ABSTRACT The 3D modelling of pavement surface using digital close-range photogrammetry (CRP) was thoroughly analyzed in this work. The accuracy and precision of the technique were effectively measured. A digital 3D model generated by CRP was compared to the model generated by a laser scanner, considered here as a benchmark for precision. The precision, measured as per cent deviation from a computer-generated model, considered here as the true value, was found to be 3.4% and the accuracy, measured as per cent error, was found to be 4.2%. A study involving 85 locations and 5 different surface types was also conducted to compare the calculated macrotexture parameters to those obtained from the Sand Patch Test and British Pendulum Test (BPT). The creation of a 3D surface model allowed the investigation of parameters other than the averages of height and depth proposed in the current standards. Moreover, the process described in this work can be automated and with proper standardization could be used for management and decision making at the infrastructure's network level. The British pendulum did not show a high correlation to the 3D macrotexture parameters except for the Mean Texture Depth (MTD) calculated from the sand patch itself (R2 = 59.7%).
The Effectiveness of Award Restructuring and the Training Levy in Providing a More Educated Workforce: A Comparative Study

The skill levels of Australian workers and managers have been widely criticised as in adequate to meet the challenges posed by the growing internationalisation of the Australian Economy. Award restructuring and the Training Guarantee Levy are two initiatives aimed at addressing these criticisms. This article presents a comparative study of the impact of these changes on large Australian companies, which are generally the most publicised and seen as the 'norm', with the impact on medium size companies.
Improving Accuracy After Stability Enforcement in the Loewner Matrix Framework

The Loewner matrix (LM) is a powerful macromodeling technique that uses sampled data in the frequency domain for representing dynamical systems in a descriptor form. As stability cannot be enforced during the construction process, a postprocessing step is required to ensure a stable macromodel, which reduces its accuracy. In this article, two techniques are incorporated and evaluated with the LM framework in this postprocessing phase. The first one is an efficient sign-pole-flipping technique for stability enforcement. The other one is a matrix updating technique applied after the stability enforcement of the model. The proposed approaches are evaluated using data in the scattering parameter form for printed circuit board via interconnects examples and an electromagnetic shielding structure and compared to the state-of-the-art stability enforcement algorithms. For completeness, we will also compare the results with respect to the macromodels created by the vector fitting algorithm. It was found that by the proposed flipping and matrix updating approaches, an error reduction by a factor between 2 and 20 was achieved with respect to the previously reported methods.
Conducting systematic literature review in operations management

Abstract Systematic literature review (SLR) is a well-known research method. However, there is a paucity of detailed SLR guidelines in operations management (OM). The recent interest in SLR in OM has not been followed by the same rigour observed in disciplines as medical sciences and public policy. There are no OM-specific SLR protocols, detailed step-by-step methods and reporting procedures. Therefore, this paper provides a step-by-step approach to SLR for OM scholars and an overview of SLR’s evolution as a research method in OM and the resulting progression of themes. The step-by-step approach aims to serve as a guideline sufficiently broad to avoid skipping any significant step, but still being easy to be understood and applied. The paper describes procedures for rigourous SLR, reveals a growing use of literature review in OM, specially for qualitative SLR and traditional narrative reviews, assesses contemporary and emerging themes in OM, and provides a research agenda.
PATTERNS OF BIRD RELATIVE ABUNDANCE, DIVERSITY INDICES AND CONSERVATION STATUS IN SHEIKH BADIN NATIONAL PARK, D. I. KHAN, PAKISTAN

Determining the bird assemblages is utmost important to identify the adequacy and efficiency of habitats. The line transect method was used to determine patterns of bird relative abundance, diversity indices, and conservation status in Sheikh Badin National Park from November 2017 to December 2019. In total, 7,919 individuals (2,592 migrants and 5,327 inhabitants) representing 42 species and 25 families were enlisted. Of 42 species, 27 were native (i.e., 67.26%) utilizing the study area throughout the year, while the remaining 15 species were migrant (e.g., 32.73%) that used the study area during the winter. Passer domesticus (0.06%), Merops persicus (0.05%), Tachymarptis melba, and Ploceus philippinus (each 0.04%) were the overwhelming bird species. In contrast, Francolinus francolinus (0.02%), Falco tinnunculus (0.008%), and Alectoris chukar (0.005%) were the rarest bird species. All species were identified as “Least Concern” based on IUCN RedList. Diversity results showed birds were assorted a diverse, i.e. H’ = 3.608 (resident birds; H’ = 3.608 and migratory birds; H’ = 2.543), rich; i.e. D = 0.031 (resident birds; D = 0.046 and migratory birds D = 0.093) and evenly distributed J = 0.965 (resident birds, J = 0.967 and migratory birds, J = 0.939). The perceptions of local inhabitants and personnel observation shown that bird species are facing confronting threats due to human endeavor, such as illegal hunting, habitat loss due deforestation, and uncontrolled grazing.
Self Tuning PID Control of Antilock Braking System using Electronic Wedge Brake

This paper describes the design of an antilock braking system (ABS) control for a passenger vehicle that employs an electronic wedge brake (EWB). The system is based on a two-degree-of-freedom (2-DOF) vehicle dynamic traction model, with the EWB acting as the brake actuator. The developed control structure, known as the Self-Tuning PID controller, is made up of a proportional-integral-derivative (PID) controller that serves as the main feedback loop control and a fuzzy supervisory system that serves as a tuner for the PID controller gains. This control structure is generated through two structures, namely FPID and SFPID, where the difference between these two structures is based on the fuzzy input used. An ABS-based PID controller and a fuzzy fractional PID controller developed in previous works were used as the benchmark, as well as the testing method, to evaluate the effectiveness of the controller structure. According to the results of the tests, the performance of the SFPID controller is better than that of other PID and FPID controllers, being 10% and 1% faster in terms of stopping time, 8% and 1% shorter in terms of stopping distance, 9% and 1% faster in terms of settling time, and 40% and 5% more efficient in reaching the target slip, respectively.
IL-33, an Alarmin of the IL-1 Family Involved in Allergic and Non Allergic Inflammation: Focus on the Mechanisms of Regulation of Its Activity

Interleukin-33 (IL-33) is a member of the interleukin-1 (IL-1) family that is expressed in the nuclei of endothelial and epithelial cells of barrier tissues, among others. It functions as an alarm signal that is released upon tissue or cellular injury. IL-33 plays a central role in the initiation and amplification of type 2 innate immune responses and allergic inflammation by activating various target cells expressing its ST2 receptor, including mast cells and type 2 innate lymphoid cells. Depending on the tissue environment, IL-33 plays a wide variety of roles in parasitic and viral host defense, tissue repair and homeostasis. IL-33 has evolved a variety of sophisticated regulatory mechanisms to control its activity, including nuclear sequestration and proteolytic processing. It is involved in many diseases, including allergic, inflammatory and infectious diseases, and is a promising therapeutic target for the treatment of severe asthma. In this review, I will summarize the literature around this fascinating pleiotropic cytokine. In the first part, I will describe the basics of IL-33, from the discovery of interleukin-33 to its function, including its expression, release and signaling pathway. The second part will be devoted to the regulation of IL-33 protein leading to its activation or inactivation.
Global Value Chain: Islamic Economics and Finance Position

The growing number of Muslim populations promotes significant development on Islamic economic and finance activities called halal industry. While the halal industry is experiencing positive growth in the last four years, the Global Value Chain (GVC) – the chain of system that drives international trades and global economic activities – remains stagnant. The present study aims to explain the position of the Islamic economics and finance in the GVC. This study employs a qualitative-descriptive method with systematic literature review approach. By collecting secondary data using strict-processing stages and content analysis techniques, the author manages to meet the study’s purpose. The findings suggest that the Islamic economics and finance have opportunities to boost countries' participation in the GVC activities by harmonizing halal standardization, enhancing financial infrastructures, and providing various financial products. This study contributes to generate government policies and enterprises' decisions in developing the Islamic economics and finance within the GVC framework. It further provides initial insights and potential topics for future studies.
Neurogenic Inflammation: The Participant in Migraine and Recent Advancements in Translational Research

Migraine is a primary headache disorder characterized by a unilateral, throbbing, pulsing headache, which lasts for hours to days, and the pain can interfere with daily activities. It exhibits various symptoms, such as nausea, vomiting, sensitivity to light, sound, and odors, and physical activity consistently contributes to worsening pain. Despite the intensive research, little is still known about the pathomechanism of migraine. It is widely accepted that migraine involves activation and sensitization of the trigeminovascular system. It leads to the release of several pro-inflammatory neuropeptides and neurotransmitters and causes a cascade of inflammatory tissue responses, including vasodilation, plasma extravasation secondary to capillary leakage, edema, and mast cell degranulation. Convincing evidence obtained in rodent models suggests that neurogenic inflammation is assumed to contribute to the development of a migraine attack. Chemical stimulation of the dura mater triggers activation and sensitization of the trigeminal system and causes numerous molecular and behavioral changes; therefore, this is a relevant animal model of acute migraine. This narrative review discusses the emerging evidence supporting the involvement of neurogenic inflammation and neuropeptides in the pathophysiology of migraine, presenting the most recent advances in preclinical research and the novel therapeutic approaches to the disease.
Prospective Association of Maternal Educational Level with Child’s Physical Activity, Screen Time, and Diet Quality

Evidence has identified unhealthy lifestyle behaviors as the main contributors to obesity in children, so it is essential to identify factors that could influence children’s lifestyles. The objective of the present study was to analyze the association of baseline maternal educational level with child’s physical activity, screen time, and dietary habits at follow-up. This community-based cohort study was carried out between 2012 and 2014 and included 1405 children aged 8 to 10 years old. Maternal educational level was used as an indicator of child’s socioeconomic status. Physical activity, screen time, and dietary habits were assessed by validated questionnaires. The odds of having commercially baked goods for breakfast [OR 1.47 (95% CI 1.03 to 2.10)], going more than once a week to a fast-food restaurant [OR 1.64 (95% CI 1.20 to 2.26)], and taking sweets and candys several times a day [OR 3.23 (95% CI 2.14 to 4.87) were significantly higher among children whose mothers had a lower educational level compared to their peers whose mothers had a higher level. These associations held for taking sweets and candy several times a day after additional adjustment for the corresponding dietary behavior at baseline. Maternal educational level was inversely associated (p < 0.001) with child’s screen time at follow up and being in the lowest maternal educational category was associated with an increased odds of surpassing the maximum recommended time of screen time of 120 min per day (OR (95% CI) 1.43 (1.07 to 1.90), p = 0.016). Maternal education is a predictor for unhealthy dietary habits and high screen time in children.
Pedagogical photo documentation for play in early childhood education and care

ABSTRACT This study explored options for pedagogical photo documentation in early childhood education and care (ECEC) practices to hear the voices of children, parents, and guardians in ways that make developing the documentation manageable for practitioners. Two Japanese kindergartens participated in an action research project entitled ‘Wall Newspapers for Children’. Classroom teachers composed and provided daily pedagogical photo documentation focused on children’s free play and later shared it with the children and their parents or guardians. A total of 194 parents and guardians completed a questionnaire about the documentation’s influence. Narrative episodes of children’s play revealed that the documentation mediated the following dispositions of children’s participation: (1) encouraging children to participate in their new environment and get involved in subsequent play activities for several days, and (2) getting the children to develop and create play activities by themselves. The questionnaire results showed that the documentation enhanced the parents’ and guardians’ communication with their children and with other parents, practitioners, and children in the classroom, encouraging them to talk about their children’s play and learning. The implications of these findings for capturing and improving the quality of ECEC through meaning-making discourse are discussed.
The Effectiveness of Alpha Mangostin on Kidney Physiology and Histopathology in Type II Diabetes Mellitus

The compound isolate alpha Mangostin was the most dominant compound found in the rind and trunk of the mangosteen fruit tree (Garcinia mangostana L.). Alpha Mangostin compounds have pharmacological activities, including antibacterial, antifungal, anticancer, antidiabetic, and other bioactivities. This study aims to determine the bioactivity of alpha Mangostin on kidney function and histopathology in type II diabetes mellitus. This study used an experimental research design with posttest only control group; this study used 36 rats consisting of 6 groups, namely negative control group, positive control group, standard medicine, and the treatment of lecturers alpha Mangostin 10 mg/kg body weight, 30 mg/kg body weight, and 50 mg/kg BW. Parameters measured in this study were uric acid, BUN, creatinine, and renal histopathological evaluation. The results showed that there was a significant difference (p < 0.05) in the examination of creatinine levels, but the BUN and uric acid did not show significant results (p > 0.05) in each group. Observations on renal histopathology showed that alpha Mangostin could normalize damaged kidney tissue compared to positive controls. So it can be concluded that alpha Mangostin isolates in mangosteen has the potential as kidney bioactivity in type II diabetes.
Sensitivity Study of the RegCM4’s Surface Schemes in the Simulations of West Africa Climate

Two simulations of five years (2003-2007) were conducted with the Regional Climate models RegCM4, one coupled with Land surface models BATS and the other with CLM4.5 over West Africa, where simulated air temperature and precipitation were analyzed. The purpose of this study is to assess the performance of RegCM4 coupled with the new CLM4.5 Land surface scheme and the standard one named BATS in order to find the best configuration of RegCM4 over West African. This study could improve our understanding of the sensitivity of land surface model in West Africa climate simulation, and provide relevant information to RegCM4 users. The results show fairly realistic restitution of West Africa’s climatology and indicate correlations of 0.60 to 0.82 between the simulated fields (BATS and CLM4.5) for precipitation. The substitution of BATS surface scheme by CLM4.5 in the model configuration,
In vitro & In vivo Phytochemical Evaluation of Bioactive Components Against Hyperglycemic-induced Oxidative Stress in Streptozocin Rat Model: A histopathological investigation

The in vitro antidiabetic and antioxidant potential of Punica granatum, Eriobotrya japonica, and Musa acuminata leaves were evaluated using normal and streptozocin (STZ) induced diabetic rats. Experimental diabetes was induced into Wister rats using streptozocin (40 mg/kg), injected intraperitoneal (IP). Orally crude methanolic leaves extracts were administered in streptozocin induced diabetic rats (n=6) along with the fractions (chloroform, ethyl acetate, and aqueous) of P. granatum, E. japonica, and M. acuminata (50 mg/kg) along with standard drug glimepiride (2 mg/kg) for 28 days. Rats' blood samples were tested for blood glucose using glucose oxidase reactive strips and glucometer. Glucose was administered to nondiabetic control rats. The rats were also treated with glimepiride and leaves extracts of P. granatum, E. japonica, and M. acuminata to check the oral glucose tolerance (OGTT). Blood glucose levels were checked at 0, 30, 60, 120 minutes intervals after drug administration. The effect of various fractions of leaf extracts on the bodyweight of rats was also studied. Data obtained was evaluated by two-way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) and expressed as standard deviation. Leaves extracts exhibit significant antidiabetic and antioxidant properties. These medicinal plants with antioxidant and antidiabetic properties could be an economical source of local medicine for diabetes.