Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Assessment of delay and cost-overrun in federal road construction project in Abuja

Poor road infrastructure in Nigeria is a significant challenge, just like poverty, insecurity, and unemployment. The construction of road in the country is characterized by numerous challenges throughout the project life cycle. Some of these challenges are project delay and cost overrun, corruption and fraud, faulty contractual process among others. Objectives of this study are to identify factors influencing delays and cost overruns in road construction project, to rank these factors base on their impacts and importance, and to suggest conservative ways to address the future challenges that can result from delays and cost overruns of future road construction projects. The research instruments include in-depth literature review, fieldwork, questionnaire administration, and interview. Inferential statistics such as Relative importance index (RII) and Mean Value techniques were used to analyze collected data. The result of the study identified factors influencing delays and cost overruns in road construction projects as; man related, money-related, machine-related, material related, environmental-related, and method related factors. Analysis using RII and MV ranked man and money related as the highest factors for delay and cost overrun respectively. Hence, the research recommends that the Government should create an enabling environment, making suitable policy for the construction company to operate.
Sensory Profiles of Koumiss with added Crude Ingredients extracted from Flaxseed (Linum usitatissimum L.)

Copyright © 2017 Korean Society of Milk Science and Biotechnology. This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License (http:// creativecommons.org/ licenses/by-nc/3.0) which permits unrestricted non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. Abstract Recently, the health-promoting effects of functional foods have been shown to prevent nutrition-related diseases, improve physical and mental well-being, satisfy hunger, and provide necessary nutrients for the human body. Koumiss is a common type of fermented mare’s milk that has been shown to have beneficial therapeutic effects on cardiovascular disease, tuberculosis, and diarrhea as it can nourish vessels, relieve ill mood, and improve digestion. Hence, in this study, we aimed to prepare health-promoting koumiss using different concentrations of flaxseed (Linum usitatissimmum L.), which has the potential to control heart disease, hypertension, inflammation, and lung function. The pH was decreased to around 4.42–4.43, whereas the total anthocyanin (TA) content was increased to around 0.78~0.82% after fermentation of the koumiss premix. There were no significant differences in pH and TA among the three groups, including the control group. In sensory profile analysis, the taste, flavor, color, texture, and overall acceptability decreased in proportion to the added amount of flaxseed. These findings provided the first data describing the effects of flaxseed on koumiss fermentation, establishing a basis for commercial-scale production of koumiss containing fermented flax seed and for improving the health-promoting activity of koumiss.
Modulation of nutrient digestibility and digestive enzyme activities in aquatic animals: The functional feed additives scenario

Considering the costs of feed costs (nearly 60% of production cost), nutrition, feeding and feed utilization are among the most important factors in commercial aquaculture. During the last decade, administration of functional feed additives has been practiced for enhancing nutrient digestibility and digestive enzyme activities of cultured fish and shellfish. Traditionally, antibiotics were used for boosting growth performance and nutrient digestibility in commercial aquaculture. However, emergence of resistance pathogens and possible risk to human health resulted in limitation or prohibition of prophylactic administration of antibiotics. Recently, there was increasing attentions towards dietary administration of functional feed additives that include probiotics, prebiotics and synbiotics for elevation of digestive enzyme activity and nutrient digestibility. The results of those studies revealed contradictory effects of different pro-, pre- or synbiotics on various fish species. It seems that the effects are species specific and related to modulation of the intestinal microbiota. In view of this issue, the present review provides a comprehensive sight on the effects of different pro-, pre- and synbiotics on digestive enzyme activity and nutrient digestibility in different species with special focus on the mode of action. In addition, the present review highlighted the gaps of existing knowledge as well as suggesting the subjects which needs additional studies.
Genetic relationships and diversity among wild Salvia accessions revealed by ISSR and SCoT markers

ABSTRACT In this study, inter-simple sequence repeats (ISSR) and start codon targeted (SCoT) markers were used for genetic diversity and relationship analysis of nine Salvia species. Twenty-one and twenty selected ISSR and SCoT primers amplified 350 and 329 loci, respectively, of which all were polymorphic. The obtained average polymorphism information content (ISSR, 0.38; SCoT, 0.40), average band informativeness (ISSR, 16.67; SCoT, 16.45) and resolving power (ISSR, 9.75; SCoT, 12.52) revealed high genetic diversity prevailing among Salvia accessions. Considering the ISSR and SCoT data, the species with a basic chromosome number of x = 8 showed higher values of the percentage polymorphism loci (PPL), the number of observed alleles (Na) and Shannon index (I) than the other species. The partition of clusters in the neighbour-joining dendrogram based on ISSR, SCoT and combined data was similar and grouped all individuals into four clusters. However, the dendrogram generated based on SCoT separated the individuals into sub-clusters in accordance with their species and section. The Mantel test revealed a similar polymorphism distribution pattern between ISSR and SCoT techniques, the correlation coefficient (r) was 0.83, and the results showed that both techniques were effective to assess the genetic diversity. Our results indicated that SCoT markers can be used as a reliable and informative technique for evaluation of genetic diversity and relationships among Salvia species.
Treatment by Trait Biplot Analysis of Organic Manure and Nano-Fertilizers on Sunflower Production

Abstract This study was performed to study the effects of farmyard manure (zero (M1), 20 (M2) t ha−1) and nano-fertilizers [control (n1), Mn (n2), Fe (n3), Zn (n4)] on sunflower. Traits days to 50% flowering, days to maturity, leaf number, leaf area, plant height, achene yield and harvest index were measured.Treatment by trait (TT) analysis using biplot analysis was used to determine which treatment was best and for what trait which were generated using the standardized values of the traits means. Results showed that the first two principal components (PC1 and PC2) were used to create a two-dimensional TT biplot that accounted percentages of 94% of sums of squares of interaction. The most important vertex treatment in polygon of TT biplot was M2n4 (application of 20 tonnes ha−1 manure and Zn nano-micronutrient) which indicated high performance in leaf number, leaf area, plant height, achene yield and harvest index. The identification of ideal treatment, the treatment that is most favorable treatment among all treatments, showed that the M2n4 might be used in selecting superior traits and it can be considered as the candidate treatment. Finally, nano-fertilizer could increase crop yields and improve the efficiency of manure application. The results of this investigation showed that application of nanoparticles may alleviates the adverse environmental factors and improve the sunflower performance and the integrated application of organic manure and nano-micronutrients is more effective.
Stability Analysis and Parameter Optimization of Deep Excavation Supporting System in Granular Soils

Deep excavations are prone to result in excessive ground surface settlement displacement of surrounding existing structures, which could cause severe economic damage, even casualties. Hence, the optimization of pile parameters and evaluation of the stability of the excavation are of paramount importance. This paper aims to evaluate the security of deep excavation and optimize the parameters of supported piles in granular soils. An excavation case in granular soils is used to evaluate the stability of deep excavation using displacement least squares method. The stability of case history, Changqingqiao subway station, using pile and inner support system is evaluated by using the least square method. Subsequently, the finite element method is used to optimize the critical parameters of the supported piles, and it needs to be emphasized that the correctness and reasonability of the finite element (FE) models are evaluated according to field measurements. The optimum pile diameter and embedment ratio for single- and double-row retaining pile are 1.0 m and 0.4. The maximum vertical displacement of surrounding soil and horizontal displacement of piles can be calculated by the equations obtained in this research which can provide useful guidance for the designing of deep excavation.
RISING PROFILE OF ORAL CAVITY PROTOZOA AMONGST DENTAL PATIENTS IN SOUTH EASTERN NIGERIA

The observed low knowledge of oral hygiene and the need to investigate the possible cause(s) of the existing oral diseases in our study area motivated this study. This study investigated the prevalence of human oral protozoan parasites amongst dental patients attending the clinic at Federal Teaching Hospital Abakaliki, South Eastern Nigeria. A total of 180 patients (72 males and 108 females) were sampled. Dental plaque, dental calculus, and saliva samples were collected from the patients. Samples were analyzed following standard methods. An overall prevalence rate of 40% occurred. Entamoeba gingivalis was the most encountered 28 (15.56%), followed by Trichomonas tenax 24 (13.33%) while mixed infections were recorded in 20 (11.11%) patients. The prevalence of both protozoans was higher in females 44 (40.74%) than in males 28 (38.89%). The highest prevalence was recorded among patients within the age range of ≤ 50 years (22 (81.48 %)) and least within the age range of ≤ 20 years 4(16.00%). There was an observed significant relationship between age and oral hygiene status. We, therefore report that poor oral hygiene is a predisposing factor that exposes the buccal cavity to frequent colonization by parasites. Constant oral health education should be encouraged especially among dental patients.
Genetic diversity of Jatropha curcas collections from different islands in Indonesia

Abstract Jatropha curcas L. is a potential bioenergy crop but has a lack of improved cultivars with high yields and oil content. Therefore, increasing our understanding of J. curcas germplasm is important for designing breeding strategies. This study was performed to investigate the genetic diversity and population structure of Indonesian J. curcas populations from six different islands. To construct a reference, we de novo assembled the scaffolds (N50 = 355.5 kb) using 182 Gb Illumina HiSeq sequencing data from Thai J. curcas variety Chai Nat. Genetic diversity analysis among 52 Indonesian J. curcas accessions was conducted based on yield traits and single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers detected by mapping genotyping-by-sequencing reads from Indonesian population to Chai Nat scaffolds. Strong variation in yield traits was detected among accessions. Using J. integerrima as an outgroup, 13,916 SNPs were detected. Among J. curcas accessions, including accessions from other countries (Thailand, the Philippines and China), 856 SNPs were detected, but only 297 SNPs were detected among Indonesian J. curcas populations, representing low genetic diversity. Through phylogenetic and structural analysis, the populations were clustered into two major groups. Group one consists of populations from Bangka and Sulawesi in the northern part of Indonesia, which are located at a distance of 1572.59 km. Group two contains populations from islands in the southern part: Java, Lombok-Sumbawa, Flores and Timor. These results indicate that introduction of diverse J. curcas germplasms is necessary for the improvement of the genetic variation in the Indonesian collections.
Visible and NIR Upconverting Er3+–Yb3+ Luminescent Nanorattles and Other Hybrid PMO‐Inorganic Structures for In Vivo Nanothermometry

Lanthanide‐doped luminescent nanoparticles are an appealing system for nanothermometry with biomedical applications due to their sensitivity, reliability, and minimal invasive thermal sensing properties. Here, four unique hybrid organic–inorganic materials prepared by combining β‐NaGdF4 and PMOs (periodic mesoporous organosilica) or mSiO2 (mesoporous silica) are proposed. PMO/mSiO2 materials are excellent candidates for biological/biomedical applications as they show high biocompatibility with the human body. On the other hand, the β‐NaGdF4 matrix is an excellent host for doping lanthanide ions, even at very low concentrations with yet very efficient luminescence properties. A new type of Er3+–Yb3+ upconversion luminescence nanothermometers operating both in the visible and near infrared regime is proposed. Both spectral ranges permit promising thermometry performance even in aqueous environment. It is additionally confirmed that these hybrid materials are non‐toxic to cells, which makes them very promising candidates for real biomedical thermometry applications. In several of these materials, the presence of additional voids leaves space for future theranostic or combined thermometry and drug delivery applications in the hybrid nanostructures.
The Dynamics of Prioritizing: How Actors Temporally Pattern Complex Role–Routine Ecologies

This paper examines the emergence of temporal coordination among multiple interdependent routines in a complex work setting that does not allow for up-front scheduling. We propose that when actors continuously have to prioritize their expected contributions to multiple interdependent routines, they address this challenge by orienting not just toward routines but also toward person-roles. Drawing on an ethnographic study of an agile consulting project team confronted with continued scheduling failures, we demonstrate how the dynamics of prioritizing enabled the actors to resolve what at first appeared to be an irresolvable and highly complex problem of temporal coordination. We add to the literature on routine dynamics and temporality by setting forth the dynamics of prioritizing as an explanation for the temporal patterning of complex work settings. We introduce the notion of role–routine ecologies as a novel way to conceptualize such complex work settings and contribute to developing a performative theory of person-roles and their significance for coordinating.
Analysis of Medicolegal Cases in a Tertiary Care Hospital of South Kerala

Medicolegal cases (MLC) are presented to Emergency department (ED) of almost all hospitals in our nation after the Supreme Court guidelines stating that ‘the paramount duty of a doctor is to save the life of a person’. Hospitals should be equipped with infrastructure as well as treating doctors in combating such cases where documentation and treatment should be meticulously done. This study is conducted in a tertiary care hospital in South Kerala where profile of MLC was analysed during the years 2016 -17. A total of 10,001 cases were studied which is unique compared to previous studies. Males dominated in the MLC with road traffic accident (RTA), fall from height and work place injuries formed the major share in the pattern of cases. Most of these cases were presented to ED between first and sixth hour of occurrence
Molecular characterization of universal Mycoplasma and Acholeplasma laidlawii from buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis) at Karachi, Pakistan.

The present study was conducted to identify and characterize the bovine Acholeplasma laidlawii from 1120 clinically ill buffaloes and 470 lungs collected from buffaloes at abattoir of Karachi. All buffaloes were clinically examined and around 467 (13.48%) buffaloes had signs of respiratory distress including sticky nasal discharge, sunken eyes, dyspnea and fever. All the culture positive samples were further evaluated by PCR using specific primers of A. laidlawii and the amplified product to re-validate the sequence of the specie. This revealed that suspected buffaloes, 92 (2.66%) from nasal discharge and 44 (4.03%) from lung tissue samples respectively were positive for A. laidlawii. Rests of the samples were still under investigation. However it is first time proclaimed on research basis that A. laidlawii was infecting the buffaloes in Pakistan and precautionary measures should be taken to prevent losses from this specie in the months of October and April.
Global database of plants with root‐symbiotic nitrogen fixation: NodDB

Root symbiotic associations with Nfixing bacteria and mycorrhizal fungi are important evolutionary adaptations of plants to compete for nutrients. Nitrogenfixing plant–bacterial associations are widely distributed across all terrestrial biomes and continents apart from Antarctica. Nodulated plants form important components of plant communities, especially in Nlimited early successional ecosystems, riparian habitats and tropical savanna and shrubland biomes (Cleveland et al., 1999). In early successional habitats, Nfixing plants and their root symbiotic microbes contribute to soil development and facilitate recruitment of other plant species and consumers (Walker, Clarkson, Silvester, & Clarkson, 2003). The global symbiotic biological N fixation amounts roughly to 45 Mt annually, which is the main contributor to natural terrestrial N sources (Vitousek, Menge, Reed, & Cleveland, 2013). Nitrogenfixing mutualistic relationships between plant roots and bacteria have evolved multiple times in both partners (Rai, Söderbäck, & Bergman, 2000; Santi, Bogusz, & Franche, 2013; Werner, Cornwell, Sprent, Kattge, & Kiers, 2014; Doyle, 2016). The differentiated forms of associations occur as root (or additionally stem) nodules, but in multiple instances plants host Nfixing bacteria in undifferentiated leaf, stem or root tissues (Vessey, Pawlowski, & Bergman, 2005; Santi et al., 2013). Rhizobiaceae (αproteobacteria) and Burkholderiaceae (βproteobacteria) are the most well known Nfixing bacterial groups that nodulate mostly legumes (Fabaceae; Sprent, Ardley, & James, 2017). A small genus Parasponia (Cannabaceae) has evolved independently symbiotic associations with Rhizobiaceae (Trinick, 1980). In addition, rhizobial root nodules have been reported in three zygophyllaceous genera, Tribulus, Fagonia and Zygophyllum (Mostafa & Mahmoud, 1951), but Received: 20 November 2017 | Accepted: 12 February 2018 DOI: 10.1111/jvs.12627
Identification of Néel Vector Orientation in Antiferromagnetic Domains Switched by Currents in 
NiO/Pt
 Thin Films

L.B acknowledges the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program under the Marie Sklodowska-Curie grant agreements ARTES number 793159. L.B. , A.R. , S.D. , M.F. and M.K. acknowledge support from the Graduate School of Excellence Materials Science in Mainz (MAINZ) DFG 266, the DAAD (Spintronics network, Project No.57334897) and all groups from Mainz acknowledge that this work was funded by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG, German Research Foundation) - TRR 173 – 268565370 (projects A01 and B02) and KAUST (OSR-2019-CRG8-4048). M.K. acknowledges financial support from the Horizon 2020 Framework Programme of the European Commission under FET-Open grant agreement no. 863155 (sNebula). We acknowledge Diamond Light Source for time on beamline I06 under proposals MM22448 and MM23819-1. This work was also supported by ERATO “Spin Quantum Rectification Project” (Grant No. JPMJER1402) and the Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research on Innovative Area, “Nano Spin Conversion Science” (Grant No. JP26103005), Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (S) (Grant No. JP19H05600) from JSPS KAKENHI, R.R. also acknowledges support by Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C) (Grant No. JP20K05297) from JSPS KAKENHI, Japan. This work was supported by the Max Planck Graduate Centre with the Johannes Gutenberg Universitat Mainz (MPGC).
Indirect effects of deer on insect pests and soybean plants

White‐tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus Zimmermann) and insect pests negatively affect soybean production; however, little is known about how these herbivores potentially interact to affect soybean yield. Previous studies have shown deer browse on non‐crop plants affects insect density and insect‐mediated leaf damage, which together reduce plant reproductive output. In soybeans, reproductive output is influenced by direct and indirect interactions of different herbivores. Here, we quantified indirect interactions between two groups of herbivores (mammals and insects) and their effects on soybean growth and yield. We examined responses of insect pest communities along a gradient of deer herbivory (29% to 49% browsed stems) in soybean monocultures. Structural equation models showed that deer browse had direct negative effects on soybean plant height and yield. Deer browse indirectly decreased insect‐mediated leaf damage by reducing plant height. Deer browse also indirectly increased pest insect abundance through reductions in plant height. Similarly, deer herbivory had an indirect positive effect on leaf carbon: nitrogen ratios through changes in plant height, thereby decreasing leaf nutrition. These results suggest that pest insect abundance may be greater on soybean plants in areas of higher deer browse, but deer browse may reduce insect herbivory through reduced leaf nutrition.
From Systematic Risk to Systemic Risk: Analysis Over Day-Ahead Market Operation Under High Renewable Penetration by CoVaR and Marginal CoVaR

Traditional power market risk studies focus on systematic risk analysis which relies on value-at-risk (VaR) or conditional value-at-risk (CVaR) to measure potential financial losses resulting from renewable generation uncertainties. However, systematic risk only reflects the risk of a single entity and cannot capture the systemic risk which measures the risk contribution from a market participant to the overall market or the risk connection between two different market participants. With the rapid integration of renewable energy resources, it is essentially important to identify which renewable assets contribute a higher risk to market operations. Therefore, we propose two systemic risk measures, Contagious VaR (CoVaR) and marginal CoVaR (ΔCoVaR), to construct the risk connection network of the energy market under high renewable penetrations. Then, based on ΔCoVaR, a new index called normalized ΔCoVaR is built for market operators to evaluate the per MW impact on ΔCoVaR. Further, this paper proposes two approaches to manage the systemic risk in a day-ahead (DA) market, depending on regulation purposes. Finally, the proposed risk measures and management methods are applied to analyze a DA market with over 30% renewable energy penetration in a modified IEEE 118-bus system.