Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
PROPAGATION OF MAGNOLIA BIONDII PAMP THROUGH STEM CUTTINGS USING EXOGENOUS HORMONES

The effects of exogenous hormones were optimized with different morphological characteristics of cuttings (cuttings from the different crown position, cuttings length and cuttings soaking time) for rooting in successive experiments to enhance the efficiency of vegetative propagation of Magnolia biondii Pamp. For this purpose, a series of experiments were conducted in a greenhouse. Application of exogenous hormones at different concentrations significantly affected the rooting of Magnolia biondii Pamp cuttings, we found that Indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) at 750 mg/L resulted in the highest rooting rate (78.89%). 750 mg/L IBA was further applied in all other experiments. Stem cuttings collected from the lower position of the plant crown showed higher rooting rate (79.67%) than upper and middle position. Hence, IBA 750 mg/L and cuttings collected from the lower position of the crown were further evaluated under different soaking times (60, 120, 240, 360 min) and found that 120 min soaking time significantly affected the rooting and achieved the highest rooting rate of 80.67%. In the last step of optimization of key factors that affect the propagation of Magnolia biondii Pamp, we checked the effect of cutting length by applying all the previously determined factors (IBA 750 mg/L, lower crown position, 120 min). We found longer cuttings (21-25 cm) gave the highest rooting rate (83.11%) rather than short cuttings. Hence, we found that optimal method includes IBA 750 mg/L, the lower part of the crown, 120 min of soaking time, and longer cuttings for vegetative propagation of Magnolia biondii Pamp to produce high-quality planting stock material.
Homegarden Agroforestry as a Tool for Sustainable Production Unit in Ethiopia

Homegarden is the chief center of production unit in Ethiopia, particularly for the poor smallholder families. Homegarden is an area of land in the household’s compounds and its surrounding’s where different annual crops, livestock’s and trees integrated and produced. In the rural part of Ethiopia, homegarden agroforestry has a paramount importance since ancient time. It has been providing different useful products and services to millions of rural households. On the top of these benefits, little attention was given to homegarden agroforestry rather than giving due attention on how to make it more productive unit of land. This review paper was initiated to draw attention of scholars and policy makers through elucidating the production potential and ecological importance of homegarden agroforestry (HGA). HGA encompasses multiple components (tree, crop, livestock’s and etc), and intensive management practice with multistory production system based on the good will of the land user’s, knowledge and skills. HGA provides different goods to the household families’ including food/fruit, fuelwood, fodder, timber and other tree products. It also functions as in-situ conservation of biodiversity. Therefore, inclusion of appropriate multipurpose tree and shrub species is recommended to maximize the production potential of this unit of land. Keywords: Multiple products, production and productivity, Livelihood mechanisms DOI: 10.7176/JRDM/67-02 Publication date: July 31 st 2020
Fecal and Ruminal Microbiome Components Associated With Methane Emission in Beef Cattle.

Background: The impact of extreme changes in weather patterns in the economy and humanity welfare are some of the biggest challenges that our civilization is facing. From the anthropogenic activities that contribute to climate change, reducing the impact of farming activities is a priority, since its responsible for up to 18% of greenhouse gases linked to such activities. To this end, we tested if the ruminal and fecal microbiomes components of 52 Brazilian Nelore bulls, belonging to two experimental groups based on the feed intervention, conventional (A) and byproducts based diet (B), could be used as biomarkers for methane (CH4) emission.Results: We identified a total of 5,693 Amplicon Sequence Variants (ASVs) in the Nelore bulls microbiomes from the experimental group B. Statistical analysis showed that the microbiome populations were significantly different among treatment groups. Differential abundance (DA) analysis with the ANCOM approach identified 30 bacterial and 15 archaea ASVs as DA among treatment groups. Random forest models, using either bacteria or archaea ASVs as predictors, were able to predict the treatment group with high accuracy (r2>0.85). Association analysis using Mixed Linear Models indicate that bacterial and archaea ASVs are linked to the CH4 emission phenotype, of which the most prominent were the ruminal ASV 40 and fecal ASV 35. These ASVs contributed to a 9.7% increase and 7.3% decrease of the variation in CH4 emission, respectively, which indicated their potential as targets for feed interventions and/or biomarkers.Conclusion: The feed composition induced significant differences in abundance and richness of ruminal and fecal microbial populations. The dietary treatment based on industrial byproducts applied had an impact on the microbiome diversity of bacteria and archaea, but not on protozoa. Microbiome components (ASVs) of bacteria and archaea can be successfully used to predict the treatment group, thus giving support to the hypothesis that the feed intervention modulate microbiome abundance and diversity. Microbiome components were associated with CH4 emission in both microbiomes. Therefore, both ruminal and fecal ASVs can be used as biomarkers for methane production and emission.
The Impact of R&D Investments on Eco-Innovation: A Cross-Cultural Perspective of Green Technology Management

This article originally seeks to explore the impact of R&D investments and societal culture on green technology management, by applying Hofstede's cross-cultural perspective. At large, we investigate if green innovation is positively associated to country cultural indulgence, as this factor indicates that basic needs are already satisfied and there is room for looking into hierarchically higher concerns. We also argue that governments’ expenditures in green innovation tend to be more effective than those of firms, because governments are more willing to invest and risk in radical innovations than businesses. The analysis is conducted on a large-scale sample of data drawn from Eurostat, including information on R&D expenditures and on eco-innovation index from European firms and governments. The results confirm our model hypotheses: governments’ investments largely predict eco-innovation, differently from firms’ expenditures. Moreover, as supposed, country's cultural indulgence has a positive effect on the eco-innovation index as well.
Recent advances in periodontitis, a prototypic osteo-immunological disease

Periodontitis is a highly prevalent infect-inflammatory disease that can lead to bone destruction, tooth mobility and finally, tooth loss if left untreated. The pathophysiology of bone loss in inflammatory conditions, such as periodontitis, has not been completely elucidated yet, but it appears that inflammation shifts the balance between bone resorption and bone formation in favor of bone loss. Besides the classical T helper cell populations (Th1 and Th2), which contribute to periodontitis, new T cell subsets have been defined and are now implicated in the pathogenesis of periodontitis. Th17 cells are strongly correlated with tissue destruction while regulatory T cells (Tregs) act as immune-modulatory cells. In addition to control immune reactions, several immune cell types directly affect bone cell activity, promoting bone resorption and suppressing bone formation. In this context, the RANKL/OPG (receptor activator of nuclear factor κB ligand/osteoprotegerin) ratio is increased in the inflamed periodontium, which stimulates osteoclastogenesis and bone resorption. More recently, inflammation has been associated with suppressed osteoblast differentiation and bone formation which is at least partially dependent on reduced Wnt signaling. This review aims to highlight the role of host response in inflammatory bone loss during periodontitis, emphasizing the role of Th17 and Treg cells and their relationship with RANKL/OPG and Wnt signaling, in order to better understand the network between skeletal and immune systems from the periodontal point of view.
EVALUATING DIFFERENT MODELS USED FOR PREDICTING THE INDOOR MICROCLIMATIC PARAMETERS OF A GREENHOUSE

A robust adaptive model to predict and to control the greenhouse microclimatic condition is pivotal for better crop production and growth. The current research assesses the use of multiple linear regression (MLR), autoregressive integrated moving average (ARIMA), and multi-layered perceptron (MLR) for predicting indoor microclimate greenhouse, located in South Korea. The data were collected from the local weather station and regional weather station data named M1 (local weather station data combined with the regional weather station data), M2 (regional weather station data), and M3 (local weather station data), which were used as the input variables for the prediction. Four dependent variables were predicted (two temperature variables and two humidity variables) by each of the models using M1, M2, and M3 data sets. Performances of the models were evaluated with the coefficient of determination (R), the root mean square error (RMSE), the mean square error (MSE), and the mean absolute error (MAE). The simulation results showed that the prediction by the MLP model was highly correlated to the measured data with less RMSE, MSE, and MAE. Besides, seasonal based analysis results reinforce that the MLP performs a better simulation in different environmental conditions. Moreover, the M1 data were propitious for better performance than other data sets, which specifically improves the accuracy of the simulation results for humidity predictions. The present study developed a simple and powerful MLP model to predict the microclimate of the greenhouse, which may integrate into greenhouse controller devices through cloud technology in the future.
Client-led culturally responsive CBT – integrating familism in the treatment of chronic depression: a case study

Abstract Britain has increasingly become a multi-cultural society. In order to improve access to primary care psychological therapy including cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), there has been an increase in focus on cultural adaptation and cultural responsiveness. To date, these adaptations have focused on domains such as language, beliefs and values. In this case, familism was the focus for adaptation. The client was a 22-year-old female from a black African-British background. She presented with severe symptoms of chronic depression as measured on routine standard questionnaires and the interview. She had minimal success from previous interventions and was struggling to make progress. Therapy was guided by the client’s views on what issues had a bearing on her difficulties. The client hypothesised that familism factors with themes around ‘my parents’ culture’ and ‘family comes first’ were interacting with her cognitive behavioural factors to maintain her problem. She requested the involvement of her family in her treatment plan. In line with the Improving Access to Psychological Therapies–Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic service user Positive Practice Guide, this was integrated as part of her formulation. Upon involvement of her father in a single session, the client attained reliable improvement. She attributed her improvement to this involvement. By the end of therapy, she reached recovery, which was maintained at 3-month follow-up. This study was responsive to the client’s own perceived cultural needs through the integration of familism into her CBT formulation. It illustrates a client-led cultural adaptation of CBT to treat chronic depression. Key learning aims It is hoped that the reader will increase their understanding of the following from reading this case study:(1) Creating an environment where clients can freely discuss their perceived cultural factors from the outset. (2) Client-led cultural responsiveness to their expressed cultural needs. (3) Familism as a domain for adapting CBT.
Implementing an Integrated First-Year Engineering Curriculum with Mixed Teaching Approaches

Griffith University offers Engineering programmes over two campuses in South East Queensland, Australia. A large proportion of students are the first in their families to attend university, with many from low socio-economic backgrounds. In 2017, Griffith moved to a trimester system, and the School of Engineering and Built Environment restructured the first-year engineering curriculum to provide an improved engineering experience focusing on key educational outcomes for its diverse student population. This article describes and evaluates the new integrated first-year curriculum, which includes a mix of traditionally taught, partially experiential, and fully experiential courses. The curriculum structure is discussed, and the outcomes evaluated in terms of student achievement, progression, and satisfaction. Findings of this evaluation indicate that teaching staff have a crucial role in ensuring courses are well received, traditionally taught mathematics courses do not appear to be meeting the needs of the students, and that ‘C’ is unlikely to be a good choice for a first programming language for engineering students. However, the restructuring shows some preliminary success in terms of increased retention when coupled with proactive outreach. Further research into student perceptions and performance across courses with different teaching approaches is recommended.
The use of encapsulation dehydration for the first time in Bunium persicum to converse this important endangered medicinal plant

India is known as “The Home of Spices”. Seed spices are an important group of agricultural commodities and play a significant role in our national economy. Bunium persicum (Boiss.) Fedtsch, a member of family Apiaceae, is one of the medicinally important spices but it is critically endangered. Plant tissue culture plays a very significant role in production and conservation of an endangered medicinal plant. Hence encapsulation dehydration was carried out for the first time in Bunium persicum to converse this important endangered medicinal plant. For encapsulation shoot buds and somatic embryos were excised from in vitro stock cultures, and these explants were encapsulated into beads. The beads were dehydrated by air drying in laminar flow chamber to reduce the water content, followed by direct immersion in liquid nitrogen in cryovials for one month. Frozen beads were quickly thawed in water bath at 40°C for 3 minutes and cultured on MS medium fortified with 0.25 mg/l TDZ and 200 mg/l activated charcoal for shoot retrieval. A maximum of 45.8 % shoot retrieval was recorded. The technique of encapsulation dehydration would help in making the germplasm available on sustainable basis and save it from the verge of extinction.
Seminal characteristics and sensitivity of Astyanax lacustris (Characiformes: Characidae) sperm to cryoprotective solutions based on dimethylsufoxide and methylglicol

This study aimed to determine the semen characteristics of Astyanax lacustris after hormonal induction and to evaluate the sensitivity of the species sperm to cryoprotective solutions based on the cryoprotectants dimethyl sulfoxide and methyl glycol. Volume, color, sperm concentration, total motility and aspects of sperm movement were analyzed using “Integrated Semen Analysis System”. Three different extenders were tested: A) glucose 5%+egg yolk 10%, B) BTS® 5% and C) glucose 5% and two permeable cryoprotectants: dimethyl sulfoxide (Me2SO) and methyl glycol (MTG). Fresh A. lacustris semen presented total motility of 76.6±11.2%, motility duration of 33.0±2.2s, sperm concentration of 7.22±3.2×109sptz/mL and seminal osmolality of 219±0.03mOsm/ kg-1. The toxicity test showed the highest total motility values at the MTG15%+A, Me2SO15%+B and Me2SO10%+C dilutions, and the Me2SO10%+C and Me2SO15%+C dilutions presented the highest values for curvilinear velocity, linear velocity and average velocity. The tested protocol was not effective at maintaining the viability of A. lacustris semen after freezing because no motility was observed in any of the dilutions. However, the Comet Assay demonstrated that cryoprotectant solutions were effective in protecting the genetic material of cells, as DNA damage levels were low, with no difference between control and Me2SO10% + A, dilutions MTG10%+C, Me2SO10%+B and Me2SO15%+B.
Outsourcing and Organizational Performance: A Comparative Analysis of Nigeria Bottling Company Plant and Camela Vegetable Oil Company, Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria

Achievement of organizations’ already set out goals and the level of attainment of those goals measure how successful the organizations are. They seek numerous strategies to help them in this quest. One of such strategies is outsourcing. Outsourcing is a management strategy where an organization delegates her major non-core functions to a specialized and efficient service provider enabling her to save both time and money. This research took a holistic look at outsourcing as a strategy and its effect on organizational performance using Nigeria Bottling Company Plant and Camela Vegetable Oil Company both situated in Owerri, Imo State as focal points. Core competency theory was used as theoretical framework. The survey research design was used, utilizing questionnaire and interviews as instruments of primary data collection. Library research was source of secondary data used for the analytical discussion. It was observed that outsourcing back office, primary and support activities have significant positive effect on organizational performance. The research therefore, recommends outsourcing as a strategy for improved performance in organizations. Key words: Outsourcing, Organizational performance, Back office activities, Primary activities, Support activities, Core competency theory DOI: 10.7176/RHSS/10-12-09 Publication date: June 30th 2020
Trade Facilitation and Tariï¬€ Evasion

This paper investigates the extent to which trade facilitation measures included in the WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement ai¬€ect tarii¬€ evasion. In a dataset covering 121 countries and the whole set of HS6 product categories in 2012, 2015, and 2017, the paper shows that trade facilitation measures that improve legal certainty for traders moderate tarii¬€ evasion. Holding tarii¬€ rate constant at its mean, one standard deviation improvement in trade facilitation measures related to legal certainty reduces tarii¬€ evasion, as measured by missing imports in trade statistics, by almost 12%. In a counterfactual with full trade liberalization, countries with higher scores on facilitation measures related to legal certainty experience larger reductions in tarii¬€ evasion than countries with lower scores on these measures, even for similar initial tarii¬€ rates. We investigate potential channels and show that improving legal certainty is ei¬€ective in reducing tarii¬€ evasion due to under-reporting of import prices and under-reporting of import quantities, as well as in countries with weakest control of corruption.
Genetic Determinants of Cortical Structure (Thickness, Surface Area and Volumes) among Disease Free Adults in the CHARGE Consortium

Cortical thickness, surface area and volumes (MRI cortical measures) vary with age and cognitive function, and in neurological and psychiatric diseases. We examined heritability, genetic correlations and genome-wide associations of cortical measures across the whole cortex, and in 34 anatomically predefined regions. Our discovery sample comprised 22,822 individuals from 20 cohorts within the Cohorts for Heart and Aging Research in Genomic Epidemiology (CHARGE) consortium and the United Kingdom Biobank. Significant associations were replicated in the Enhancing Neuroimaging Genetics through Meta-analysis (ENIGMA) consortium, and their biological implications explored using bioinformatic annotation and pathway analyses. We identified genetic heterogeneity between cortical measures and brain regions, and 161 genome-wide significant associations pointing to wnt/β-catenin, TGF-β and sonic hedgehog pathways. There was enrichment for genes involved in anthropometric traits, hindbrain development, vascular and neurodegenerative disease and psychiatric conditions. These data are a rich resource for studies of the biological mechanisms behind cortical development and aging.
Interference Channels With Full-Duplex Amplify-and-Forward Receiver Cooperations

This paper considers a two-transmitter and two-receiver interference channel (IC), where each transmitter sends a message to its desired receiver. In particular, the full-duplex (FD) amplify-and-forward (AF) protocol is adopted to build up the receiver cooperations: each receiver can receive the signals from the two transmitters and two receivers, and after self-interference (SI) cancellation and message decoding, it forwards them to its counterpart. With the above scheme, the equivalent channel model is analyzed, and the statistics of the accumulated residual interference and noise (ARIN), generated by the imperfect SI cancellation and the AF scheme at the receivers, is calculated by mathematical induction. Then, the achievable rate regions of both the single-user and joint decoding schemes are derived. It is proved that one-side cooperation, i.e., only one of the two receivers forwards its counterpart’s signal, is optimal to achieve the best system performance. Next, to characterize the obtained rate regions, the rate maximization problems are formulated and approximately solved by a sequential parametric convex approximation (SPCA) method. Simulation results show that the proposed scheme can improve the achievable rate compared to the conventional non-cooperative scheme in several typical scenarios.