Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Controlling denaturation and aggregation of whey proteins during thermal processing by modifying temperature and calcium concentration

Whey protein isolate solutions (8.00 g protein/100 g; pH 6.8) were treated for 2 min at 72, 85 or 85 °C with 2.2 mM added calcium Ca to produce four whey protein systems: unheated control (WPI-UH), heated at 72 °C (WPI-H72), heated at 85 °C (WPI-H85) or heated at 85 °C with added Ca (WPI-H85Ca). Total levels of whey protein denaturation increased with increasing temperature, while the extent of aggregation increased with the addition of Ca, contributing to differences in viscosity. Significant changes in Ca ion concentration, turbidity and colour on heating of WPI-H85Ca, compared to WPI-UH, demonstrated the role of Ca in whey protein aggregation.
On the Use of the Term “Evapotranspiration”

Evaporation is the phenomenon by which a substance is converted from its liquid into its vapor phase, independently of where it lies in nature. However, language is alive, and just like regular speech, scientific terminology changes. Frequently, those changes are grounded on a solid rationale, but sometimes these semantic transitions have a fragile foundation. That is the case with “evapotranspiration. ” A growing generation of scientists have been educated on using this terminology and are unaware of the historical controversy and physical inconsistency that surrounds it. Here, we present what may appear to some as an esoteric linguistic discussion, yet it was originally triggered by the increasing time some of us have devoted to justifying our word choice to reviewers, editors, and peers. By clarifying our arguments for using the term “evaporation,” we also seek to prevent having to revive this discussion every time a new article is submitted, so that we can move directly on to more scientifically relevant matters.
Yields, Fruit Quality, and Water Use in a Jalapeno Pepper and Tomatoes under Open Field and High-tunnel Production Systems in the Texas High Plains

The Texas High Plains has a semi-arid, hot, windy climate that features high evapotranspiration (ET) demands for crop production. Irrigation is essential for vegetable production in the region, but it is constrained by depleting groundwater from the Ogallala Aquifer. High-tunnel (HT) production systems may reduce irrigation water demand and protect crops from severe weather events (e.g., hail, high wind, freezing) common to the region. The objective of this study was to compare yields, fruit quality, crop water use, and crop water use efficiency (WUE) of jalapeno pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) and tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum L.) in HT and open field (OF) production systems. We hypothesized that the protection from dry and high winds by HT would improve yields and quality of fruits and reduce water use of peppers and tomatoes. During the 2018 and 2019 growing seasons, peppers and tomatoes were transplanted on two HT plots and two identical OF plots. Plastic mulch was used in combination with a surface drip irrigation system. Micrometeorological variables (incoming solar irradiance, air temperature, relative humidity, and wind speed) and soil physical variables (soil temperature and volumetric soil water) were measured. Air temperatures were significantly higher during the daytime, and wind speed and light intensity were significantly lower in HT compared with OF. Despite the lower light intensity, yields were greater in HT compared with OF. The fruits grown in HT did not show significant differences in chemical quality attributes, such as ascorbic acid and lycopene contents, compared with those grown in OF. Because of protection from dry, high winds, plants in HT required less total water over the growing seasons compared with OF, resulting in increased WUE. The 2018 and 2019 data showed that HT production is advantageous as compared to conventional OF production in terms of increased WUE and severe weather risk mitigation for high-value vegetable production in the Texas High Plains.
Dust Impacts of Rapid Agricultural Expansion on the Great Plains

Climate change and land use are altering the landscape of the U.S. Great Plains, producing increases in windblown dust. These increases are investigated by combining coarse mode aerosol observations from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) sensor in addition to the Aerosol Robotic Network (AERONET) and Interagency Monitoring of Protected Visual Environments (IMPROVE) aerosol monitoring networks. Increasing trends of up to 5%/year in MODIS aerosol optical depth for dust observations are observed throughout the Great Plains (2000–2018). Cropland coverage has increased 5–10% over the majority of the Great Plains (2008–2018), and positive monthly trends in IMPROVE (1988–2018) and AERONET (1995–2018) coarse mode 90th percentile observations coincide with planting and harvesting seasons of predominant crops. Presently, results suggest increased dust due to agricultural expansion is negatively influencing human health and visibility in the Great Plains. Furthermore, results foreshadow a future where desertification becomes an increasing risk in the Great Plains.
Black hope floats: Racial emotion regulation and the uniquely motivating effects of hope on black political participation

Drawing upon theories of group based emotion, group based efficacy and appraisal, I propose a model of racial emotion regulation to explain variations in how Black and White Americans respond emotionally and behaviorally to policy opportunity cues. I test the major claims of this model with data from an original experiment and national survey. Findings from the studies indicate that expressions of hope carry a strong and consistent mobilizing effect on the political participation of African Americans, while producing null effects on White participation. I discuss the implications of this model for our understanding of the potential of hope to shape appraisals and perceptions of efficacy among socially marginalized groups, opening up a distinct pathway through which they can be mobilized for political engagement.
Bioefficacy of crude extracts from Jatropha curcas against Spodoptera litura

The crude methanolic extracts of Jatropha curcas (L.) were screened (leaf, bark, seed, seed coat and root) for insecticidal activity against third instar larvae of Spodoptera litura using leaf dip bioassay method. Among the tissues screened (leaf, bark, seed, seed coat and root), the leaf extract was most effective and showed highest mortality (60%) at 5% concentration as compared to other extracts followed by seed (20%), seed coat (20%) and root (20%).
Study of Chemotherapy-Induced Cognitive Impairment in Women with Breast Cancer

Background: Oncology patients experience a large number of symptoms and, those referring to cognitive performance has an ever-increasing importance in clinical practice, due to the increase in survival rates and interest in the patient’s quality of life. The studies reviewed showed that chemotherapy-related cognitive impairment might occur in 15 and 50% of oncology patients. The main objective of this research was to study the impact of chemotherapy on the cognitive function of patients with locoregional breast cancer. Method: Analytical, prospective, longitudinal study using three measures, unifactorial intrasubject design, non-probability, and random selection sampling. The sample comprised women newly diagnosed with locoregional breast cancer in stages I, II, IIIA who received chemotherapy at the University Hospital of Salamanca (Complejo Asistencial Universitario de Salamanca), randomly selected for three years. Semi-structured interviews were conducted, and anxiety and depression (Hospital Anxiety and Depression scale, HAD); quality of life (QLQ-BR23 scale) and the following cognitive variables were assessed—processing speed, attention, memory, and executive functions (subtests of the Wechsler Intelligence Scale and the Trail Making Test). Results: The final sample size included 151 participants; 23 were excluded. A decline in cognitive performance was observed in patients, which did not completely recover two months after chemotherapy was completed. Additionally, worse cognitive performance was observed in patients with anxious or depressive symptoms. There was a negative impact on the quality of life. Conclusion: Chemotherapy had an impact on the cognitive performance of oncology patients in most cognitive domains studied.
External and Internally Generated Task Predictions are Integrated in Prefrontal Cortex to Jointly Guide Cognitive Control

Cognitive control proactively configures information processing to suit expected task demands. Predictions of forthcoming demand can be driven by explicit external cues or be generated internally, based on past experience (cognitive history). However, it is not known whether and how the brain reconciles these two sources of information to guide control. Pairing a probabilistic task-switching paradigm with computational modeling, we found that external and internally generated predictions jointly guide task preparation, with a bias for internal predictions. Using model-based neuroimaging, we then show that the two sources of task prediction are integrated in dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, and jointly inform a representation of the likelihood of a change in task demand, encoded in frontoparietal cortex. Upon task-stimulus onset, dorsomedial prefrontal cortex encoded the need for reactive task-set adjustment. These data reveal, for the first time, how the human brain integrates external cues and cognitive history to prepare for an upcoming task.
Does Corporate Governance Compliance Increase Company Value? Evidence from the Best Practice of the Board

Drawing upon agency theory, we address the limitations of best practice code in the context of emerging governance, emphasizing the role of concentrated ownership. While the code provisions were formulated in developed countries, the transfer of one-size-fits-all guidelines may not address the characteristics and challenges of emerging and post-transition economies. Specifically, we emphasize that provisions of corporate governance codes are aimed at solving the principal–agent conflict between shareholders and managers. These guidelines may remain limited in addressing principal–principal conflicts between majority and minority shareholders and have either a lesser effect on valuation or none at all. Using a unique sample of 155 companies listed on the Warsaw Stock Exchange during the period 2006–2015, with hand-collected data from declarations of conformity, we tested the hypotheses on the link between corporate governance compliance (with board) practice and company value. The period of 2006–2015 was chosen deliberately, due to the relative stability of corporate governance code recommendations over this time. The results of our panel model reveal a negative and statistically significant relation between corporate governance compliance and company value. We contribute to the existing literature providing new evidence on compliance practice in the context of concentrated ownership, and the limited effect of code provisions in addressing structural challenges of corporate governance in emerging post-transition economies and hierarchy-based control systems.
The Implementation of Least Square Method on the Palm Shells Sales Forecasting Application

: Determination of sales targets made by palm shell export companies is often not appropriate and effect the amount of inventory of palm shells sold based on weight which will be reduced if stored too long. Implementation of Least Square method for forecasting the sale of palm shells on web platforms aims to help the company to determine sales targets more accurately. By using this application, companies can forecast for the sale of palm shells for the next month in one year starting from one month after the actual sales period that has been entered. Data testing using Mean Absolute Error (MAPE) shows the error generated is 5.935%, Black Box testing results reach 100%, and User Acceptance Testing shows users agree the application in accordance with the requirements and forecasting results is clearly displayed.
Adherence to Ideal Cardiovascular Health Metrics Is Associated With Reduced Odds of Hepatic Steatosis

The American Heart Association (AHA) introduced Life’s Simple 7 as a metric to define ideal cardiovascular health. We examined the association between cardiovascular health score (CHS) and prevalent nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) among Framingham Heart Study participants with varying genetic risk of NAFLD. Framingham Heart Study participants who underwent abdominal computed tomography scans were included (n = 2,773). We defined hepatic steatosis as the mean Hounsfield unit attenuation of the liver compared to a phantom control. We calculated CHS based on adherence to metrics from the AHA’s Life’s Simple 7 guidelines, including blood sugar, total cholesterol, blood pressure, body mass index (BMI), time spent on physical activity per week, and smoking status. We used multivariable‐adjusted regression models to evaluate the association between CHS and hepatic steatosis, accounting for covariates and stratifying by NAFLD genetic risk. Overall, 12% of the sample achieved 0‐1 goals and 25%, 27%, 21%, 13%, and 2.6% achieved 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6 goals, respectively. For each 1‐unit increase in CHS, there was a decrease in the odds ratio (OR) of prevalent hepatic steatosis (OR, 0.54; 95% confidence interval, 0.49‐0.59). Individually, BMI had the strongest association with NAFLD. Participants with high or intermediate genetic risk of NAFLD demonstrated higher relative decreases in hepatic steatosis with increased CHS compared to those at low genetic risk. Conclusion: Adhering to the AHA Life’s Simple 7 metrics was associated with reduced odds of prevalent NAFLD, particularly for those at high genetic risk. Additional longitudinal studies are needed.
Matrix Decomposition on Graphs: A Functional View

We propose a functional view of matrix decomposition problems on graphs such as geometric matrix completion and graph regularized dimensionality reduction. Our unifying framework is based on a key idea that using reduced basis to represent a function on the product space of graph is sufficient to recover a low rank matrix approximation even from a sparse signal. We validate our framework on several real and synthetic benchmarks (for both problems) where it either outperforms state of the art or achieves competitive results at a fraction of the computational effort of prior work.
Potency of Xanthone Derivatives as Antibacterial Agent Against Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA)

Antibiotic resistance is increasing worldwide and becoming a serious problem for the treatment of patients and also affecting their economy. One instance of bacteria that is resistant to the antibiotic is Methicillin- Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). MRSA infections are fatal and even deadly. Some MRSA strain has shown resistance towards currently available antibacterial agents. To overcome this, we need new compound alternatives. One of the compounds currently being developed is xanthone derivatives. Xanthones can be found in many kinds of plants, including Garcinia mangostana , in which the active compounds are mangostanin and α-mangostin. Xanthones is effective against several types of Grampositive and Gram-negative bacterias, including Staphylococcus species. Some studies have shown that xanthone derivatives are effective against Staphylococcus aureus, including MRSA. One of the proposed mechanisms of xanthone’s antibacterial activity is the involvement of the bacteria’s cytoplasmic membrane. Xanthone amphiphilic compounds are capable of disrupting bacterial membrane through a mechanism called interfacial activity models. Xanthone can also act as the antioxidant and by inducing the release of lipoteichoic acid (LTA) from the cell wall of MRSA. LTA is the main constituent of the cell wall of Gram-positive bacteria, which are covalently bonded to the outside of peptidoglycan. This structure is important for cell division and bacterial osmotic protection. Thus, it is believed that the mechanism of action of xanthones involved damaging bacterial cell membrane.
Macroeconomic and Bank Specific Determinants of Commercial Bank Profitability in Ethiopia

The purpose of this study was to empirically examine the impacts of the macroeconomic and bank-specific variables on profitability of commercial banks in Ethiopia. For the purpose secondary data collected from seven banks over the period 2000-2017 and other sources were analyzed using a panel ordinary least squares regression model for the fact fixed and random effect model found inappropriate after the Hausman tests and Breusch-Pagan Lagrange multiplier (LM). The results of the study showed statistically significant negative impacts of broad money supply and credit risk. Inflation and GDP on the other hand was found with significant positive impacts. Yet, Cash reserve ratio and bank size showed no significant impact on the profitability of commercial banks in Ethiopia. The results suggested the need for enhancing credit risk management practice, optimizing the leverage ratio in increasing bank size. A thorough understanding of the strategic business environment also found highly relevant in commercial bank management for the fact macroeconomic variables and regulatory factors found to have significant implication on profitability.
Youth Social, Emotional, and Behavioral Problems in the ABCD Study: Minorities' Diminished Returns of Family Income.

Background To investigate ethnic differences in the protective effects of family income against youth social, emotional, and behavioral problems in the US. As proposed by the Marginalization-related Diminished Returns (MDRs), family income may generate fewer tangible outcomes for ethnic minority compared to NHW families. Our existing knowledge is minimal about diminished returns of family income on parental reports of youth social, emotional, and behavioral outcomes. Aim To compare ethnic groups for the effects of family income on parental reports of youth social, emotional, and behavioral problems. Materials and methods In this cross-sectional study, data from wave 1 of the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) study were included. The ABCD, an ongoing national cohort of American youth brain development, included 10,762 American youth between ages 8 and 11 years old. The independent variable was family income. The primary outcomes were 1) anxious and depressed mood, 2) withdrawn and depressed affect, 3) somatic complaints, 4) social and interpersonal problems, 5) thought problems, 6) rule-breaking behaviors, 7) attention problems, and 8) violent and aggressive behaviors. These outcomes were generated based on parent-reported behavioral problems measured using the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL). Results Overall, high family income was associated with lower levels of parental reports of youth social, emotional, and behavioral problems across all domains (p <0.05 for all beta coefficients across multivariable regression models). Ethnicity showed statistically significant interactions with family income on youth fewer social, emotional, and behavioral problems (all domains), net of all confounders (p <0.05 for all beta coefficients that reflected interaction terms across multivariable regression models), indicating smaller tangible gains from their family income for NHB and HW compared to NHW youth. Conclusion The protective effects of family income against behavioral problems are systematically diminished for HW and NHB youth compared to NHW youth. To minimize the ethnic gap in youth social, behavioral, and emotional problems, diminished returns of family income should be addressed. There is a need for programs and interventions that equalize not only SES but also the marginal returns of SES for ethnic groups. Such efforts require addressing structural and societal barriers that hinder HW and NHB families from translating their SES resources into tangible outcomes. There is a need for studies that can minimize MDRs for NHB and HW families. Thus, SES can similarly secure tangible outcomes in the presence of SES resources.
Compensatory Responses of Cyprinus carpio (Linnaeus, 1758) fry under Different Feed-deprivation Regimes in Happas in the Westhern – Cameroon

Aims: Compensatory growth in the fry of Cyprinus carpio was assessed to improve the aquaculture production Place and Duration of Study: The trial was conducted between April 25 and June 19, 2015 in the Westhern Cameroon Highlands. Study Design: For this purpose, four (04) food restriction times (T0, T1, T2 and T3) corresponding respectively to 0, 1, 2 and 3 days in alternation; were tested in stochastic triplicate on fry of mean body weight 1.06 ± 0.19 g and of mean total length 4.1 ± 0.06 cm in 12 happas of 0.5 m 3 each, placed in a concrete tank of 2.2 m 3 . Methodology: Every 14 days in each control fishery and at the end of the test, fishes were harvested and the zootechnical parameters (individual standard and total lengths and individual weight of the fish as well as that of the food) were evaluated using an ichthyometer and electronic balance respectively. The total population was counted in each happa and the food was distributed manually in 3 meals per day. Every day, food refusal were harvested and dried in the sun. Results: The survival rate was higher at T0 (90%) compared to restricted treatments. The fry subjected to two days of food restriction (T2) recorded significantly higher growth performances compared to other treatments. The feed conversion and feed efficiency have evolved respectively with a significant difference between treatments. The cost of producing a kilogram of fry was significantly lower in T2 compared to other treatments. Lot T2 showed a chemical composition of the carcass significantly better than other batches. Conclusion: This study reveals that fry of Cyprinus carpio showed compensatory growth with a 65% reduction in production cost as a result of dietary restriction of two days.
The Association Between Anemia and Skin Autofluorescence, a Marker for Advanced Glycation End Product Accumulation

Advanced glycation end products (AGEs) are formed by glycation and oxidation of proteins and other molecules. Tissue AGE accumulation may be assessed by the non-invasive method of skin autofluorescence (SAF). AGE levels have previously been linked to diabetes, diabetic (micro)vascular complications and cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Accumulation of AGEs increases with advancing age. It has been suggested that AGEs contribute to a multi system decline with aging, including anemia. As one of the major hallmarks of hematopoietic aging, anemia is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Despite increasing diagnostic possibilities, the underlying pathophysiology is currently incompletely understood. A substantial proportion of anemic cases in the elderly remains unexplained. Although AGEs have been studied extensively in the context of other age-related conditions, little is known about the relationship between AGEs and hematopoietic aging phenotypes. Few studies have reported on an association between AGEs and anemia in small cohorts of communitydwelling individuals and diabetic patients. However, data from large cohorts of aging individuals, evaluating the relation between AGEs and anemia, are lacking. We studied SAF levels and their relation to (different subtypes of) anemia in the Lifelines cohort, a multi-disciplinary prospective population-based cohort study examining the health and health-related behaviors of 167,729 persons living in the North
Associations Between Fluctuations in Daytime Sleepiness and Motor and Non‐Motor Symptoms in Parkinson's Disease

Non‐motor fluctuations are a major concern in Parkinson's disease (PD), and they have been categorized into neuropsychiatric, autonomic and sensory fluctuations. However, this categorization does not include sleep and sleep‐related features, and the association between daytime sleepiness and other motor and/or non‐motor fluctuations in PD remains to be elucidated.