Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effect of Al on the growth and nutrients uptake of blueberries (Vaccinium spp.)

Aluminum (Al) is the major factor limiting plant growth on acidic soils. Blueberry (Vaccinum spp.) is an acidophilic plant. Highbush blueberry and rabbiteye blueberry are the main commercially cultivated species, while the response of which to Al is still unclear. Therefore, hydroponic experiments were conducted to determine the effect of Al (0 and 100 μmol L) on the growth and nutrient uptake of highbush blueberry ‘Brigitta’ and rabbiteye blueberry ‘Brightwell’. The results showed that root biomass, root length per fresh weight, root activity and foliar nitrogen (N) concentration of ‘Brigitta’ were significantly decreased by Al, and root lipid peroxidation was increased by Al. In contrast, the biomass and root activity of ‘Brightwell’ were not affected by Al treatment, and root lipid peroxidation was significantly decreased, root length and surface area per fresh weight were increased compared with the control, which was beneficial for nutrients absorption. In fact, foliar N concentration of ‘Brightwell’ was increased in Al treatments. However, fewer Al was accumulated in leaves of ‘Brightwell’ compared to ‘Brigitta’. Therefore, it could be concluded that growth and nutrients uptake of ‘Brightwell’ was not negative affected by Al, which meant ‘Brightwell’ was resistant to Al, compared to ‘Brigitta’.
The Psycho-Social Impact of Urinary Incontinence on the Quality of Life among Kuwaiti Women with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

This study was conducted to determine the psycho-social impact of urinary incontinence (UI) on the quality of life of 250 Kuwaiti women with type 2 diabetic mellitus (DM). A survey method, using a 33-item 5-point Likert scale Arabic questionnaire adapted from the King’s Health Questionnaire (KHQ), was employed for data collection from February to May, 2014 while all the participants were receiving treatment for UI at a specialized urology center in Kuwait. Participants with UI and a co-morbidity of type 2 DM and obesity were 20 to 65 years old. Results showed the following variables were statistically significant for frequency of urine leak: Age was (χ2 = 36.877, df = 3, P ≤ 0.000). Parity showed nulliparous women reported less urine leak compared to parous women: Chi-square was (χ2 = 24.83, df = 12, P ≤ 0.016). Type 2 DM for more than 3 years duration had the highest incidence of several leaks per day. BMI of above 25 kg/m2 caused daily urine leak: Chi-square (χ2 = 17.912, df = 9, P ≤ 0.036). Participants’ self reports of good general health were those who leaked urine either 2 - 3 times weekly or occasionally. Finally, the impact of incontinence on their lifestyle was reported as extreme by 128 (51.2%), and 6 (2.4%) reported little or no impact on their quality of life: Chi-square was (χ2 = 52.392, df = 18, P ≤ 0.000). In conclusion, this study showed a clear correlation between UI and reduced quality of life. Midwives are well positioned to correct the myth that UI is an inevitable byproduct of childbearing. Midwives should explain to all pregnant women how childbirth can be a risk factor and provide anticipatory guidance by teaching preventive measures like pelvic floor exercises before and after delivery. Family members should assist sufferers in coping with their challenges by dispelling any form of stigmatization, joining them in practicing pelvic floor exercises, and encouraging, empathizing and supporting them emotionally.
Indexing surface smoothness and fiber softness by sound frequency analysis for textile clustering and classification

Cutting-edge technology is being used in the fashion industry for three-dimensional (3D) virtual fitting programs to meet the demand for clothing manufacturing as well as textile simulating. For expanding the textile choices of the program users, this research looks at the indexation of tactile sensations, the texture of fabrics, which has been subjectively evaluated by the human hand. Firstly, this study objectively measured and indexed the surface smoothness and fiber softness of 749 fabrics through a tissue softness analyzer that mimics human hands. Secondly, after statistical analyses of the drape coefficient, each bending distance and Young's modulus for the initial tensile strength in the warp–weft directions, the thickness, and the weight of the fabrics, it was found that drape (Pearson coefficient = 0.532) and bending properties are the key factors in the fabric surface smoothness (TS750), while the fiber softness (TS7) showed a weak correlation with thickness (Pearson coefficient = 0.364), followed by the log value of the Young's modulus in the weft direction. Thirdly, we classified nine clusters for TS750 based on the 11 regression variables with significant Pearson coefficients, and characterized each cluster in order of surface smoothness (TS750) after Duncan post-hoc tests and analyses of variance (all statistically significant, p < 0.01) with microscopic surface images of one sample for each cluster. For precise TS750 classification, we finally trained the 267 samples with the same 11 variables, resulting in 93.3% prediction through an artificial neural network with multiple hidden layers. This prediction with Fisher discriminants for the clusters will enable the 3D virtual program users to predict further clustering of newly added fabrics.
A Study of Demotivators in Chinese University’s English as a Foreign Language Teaching and Learning

Demotivation and motivation study among foreign language learning has been salient and meaningful around the world since they influence the result of language performance. Different demotivators were drawn by different researchers coming from different perspectives. The objective of this paper is to investigate and develop demotivating factors in a Chinese foreign language learning context and explore the implications of these factors on future teaching. This study investigated 588 college students from a Beijing municipal university in a survey on demotivating items which influenced their foreign language learning considering their past personal language study experience. The methodology of the study is both qualitative and quantitative. The key findings of the study were that 7 Demotivators were distracted by using SPSS: teacher-related competence factor, learner-level factor, teaching content and material, inadequate school facilities and judgement, grammar-translation teaching method, confuse of purpose of language study, and testing and grading system. All the factors, especially the teacher-related demotivating factor, were identical with most research findings. While students-related factors were prominent factors in the study. This research is valuable for both secondary and high school teachers as it demonstrates students’ demotivating and negative factors in drawing students back in the process of language study and improves pedagogical means and methods by bridging the gap between researchers and educational practitioners. It can also inform educational bureau and families in the society about this current trend and how it could influence the students' foreign language learning process.
Exploring the Consumers Willingness of Using E-Commerce to Purchase Geographical Indication Based Crops, a Case Study of Udupi Jasmine

Udupi jasmine cultivation has proven to be a successful viable community-based enterprise (CBE) in coastal Karnataka of India. Jasmine cultivation plays a major role in the socio-economic status of this CBE. This study focuses on exploring the consumers willingness of using e-commerce to buy Udupi jasmine. An e-commerce test web application was built and was demonstrated to consumers. Demographic details, jasmine buying purpose and frequency, online shopping details and willingness of consumers to buy jasmine online was captured. Study showed positive correlation between consumers willingness of using e-commerce to buy jasmine and recommending the e-commerce web application to others. The study validates the e-commerce framework using which the web application was built to market Udupi jasmine which has a Geographical Indication (GI) tag. Hence the study provides new approaches in marketing crops that are specific to a geographical location and presents new direction in the sector of GI based crops.
Genetic and biochemical evidence for redundant pathways leading to mycosporine-like amino acid biosynthesis in the cyanobacterium Sphaerospermopsis torques-reginae ITEP-024

Cyanobacteria have been widely reported to produce a variety of UV-absorbing mycosporine-like amino acids (MAAs). Herein, we reported production of the unusual MAA, mycosporine-glycine-alanine (MGA) in the cyanobacterium Sphaerospermopsis torques-reginae ITEP-024 using a newly developed UHPLC-DAD-MS/HRMS (ultra-high performance liquid chromatography–diode array detection–high resolution tandem mass spectrometry) method. MGA had previously been first identified in a red-algae, but S. torques-reginae strain ITEP-024 is the first cyanobacteria to be reported as an MGA producer. Herein, the chemical structure of MGA is fully elucidated from one-dimensional / two-dimensional nuclear magnetic resonance and HRMS data analyses. MAAs are unusually produced constitutively in S. torques-reginae ITEP-024, and this production was further enhanced following UV-irradiance. It has been proposed that MAA biosynthesis proceeds in cyanobacteria from the pentose phosphate pathway intermediate sedoheptulose 7-phos-phate. Annotation of a gene cluster encoded in the genome sequence of S. torques-reginae ITEP-024 supports these gene products could catalyse the biosynthesis of MAAs. However, addition of glyphosate to cultures of S. torques-reginae ITEP-024 abolished constitutive and ultra-violet radiation induced production of MGA, shinorine and porphyra-334. This finding supports involvement of the shikimic acid pathway in the biosynthesis of MAAs by this species.
The Digenic Causality in Familial Hypercholesterolemia: Revising the Genotype–Phenotype Correlations of the Disease

Genetically inherited defects in lipoprotein metabolism affect more than 10 million individuals around the globe with preponderance in some parts where consanguinity played a major role in establishing founder mutations. Mutations in four genes have been so far linked to the dominant and recessive form of the disease. Those players encode major proteins implicated in cholesterol regulation, namely, the low-density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR) and its associate protein 1 (LDLRAP1), the proprotein convertase substilin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9), and the apolipoprotein B (APOB). Single mutations or compound mutations in one of these genes are enough to account for a spectrum of mild to severe phenotypes. However, recently several reports have identified digenic mutations in familial cases that do not necessarily reflect a much severe phenotype. Yet, data in the literature supporting this notion are still lacking. Herein, we review all the reported cases of digenic mutations focusing on the biological impact of gene dosage and the potential protective effects of single-nucleotide polymorphisms linked to hypolipidemia. We also highlight the difficulty of establishing phenotype–genotype correlations in digenic familial hypercholesterolemia cases due to the complexity and heterogeneity of the phenotypes and the still faulty in silico pathogenicity scoring system. We finally emphasize the importance of having a whole exome/genome sequencing approach for all familial cases of familial hyperlipidemia to better understand the genetic and clinical course of the disease.
Increased Brain Iron Detection by Voxel-Based Quantitative Susceptibility Mapping in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Patients With an Executive Function Decline

Purpose Brain iron accumulation has been suggested as a pathomechanism in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) with cognitive impairment. This research aims to examine the total-brain pattern of iron accumulation in relation to executive function decline in patients with T2DM by voxel-based quantitative susceptibility mapping (QSM) analysis. Materials and Methods A total of 32 patients with T2DM and 34 age- and sex-matched healthy controls (HCs) were enrolled in this study. All participants underwent brain magnetic resonance examination, and 48 individuals underwent cognitive function assessments. Imaging data were collected with three-dimensional fast low-angle shot sequences to achieve magnitude as well as phase images. Using voxel-based QSM analysis, we compared the voxel-wise susceptibility values of the whole brain among groups and explored whether the susceptibility values had correlations with cognitive data. Results Among the 66 participants, cognitive function was estimated in 23 patients with T2DM (11 males and 12 females; average age, 64.65 ± 8.44 years) and 25 HCs (13 males and 12 females; average age, 61.20 ± 7.62 years). T2DM patients exhibited significantly (t = 4.288, P < 0.001) lower Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) scores [T2DM, 27 (27, 28); HCs, 29 (28, 29); normal standard ≥ 26)] and higher Trail-making Test (TMT)-A/TMT-B scores [71 (51, 100)/185 (149, 260)] than HCs [53 (36.5, 63.5)/150 (103, 172.5)] (Z = 2.612, P = 0.009; Z = 2.797, P = 0.005). Subjects with T2DM showed significantly higher susceptibility values than HCs in the caudate/putamen/pallidum, frontal inferior triangular gyrus, and precentral gyrus on the right hemisphere. In contrast (HC > T2DM), no region showed a significant difference in susceptibility values between the groups. The correlation analysis between susceptibility values and cognitive function scores was tested by voxel-based susceptibility value with sex and age as covariates. After multiple comparison correction, in T2DM patients, the left thalamus showed a significant relationship with TMT-A (R2 = 0.53, P = 0.001). The right thalamus and left thalamus showed a significant relationship with TMT-B (R2 = 0.35, P = 0.019; and R2 = 0.38, P = 0.017, respectively). In HCs, the cluster of right precentral/middle frontal gyrus/inferior frontal gyrus/inferior triangular gyrus showed a significant relationship with TMT-B (R2 = 0.59, P = 0.010). No relationship was found between the susceptibility values with MoCA in the brain region in both two groups. Conclusion Patients with T2DM presented declined cognitive assessments and elevated iron deposition in the striatum and frontal lobe, suggesting that executive function decline in T2DM might be associated with the cerebral iron burden and that changes in susceptibility values may represent a latent quantitative imaging marker for early assessment of cognitive decline in patients with T2DM.
Convalescent Plasma a Potential Therapy in Covid-19 Patients in Low Resource Setting: Rapid Review

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic is caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). At the time of writing, neither a cure nor a vaccine has been approved by the World health organization (WHO) for this disease. Given the fact that the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS) and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) viruses have a genetic sequencing similar to SARS-CoV-2, and since the use of convalescent plasma therapy (CP) has proved its efficacy in SARS and MERS virus infections, researchers are starting to focus more on it as a possible therapy for the COVID-19 disease. The main objective of this rapid review is to report and summarize the published evidence on the role of convalescent plasma therapy in the current COVID-19 pandemic. Method: The PICO method was used to establish the review question. Moreover, papers were gathered from PubMed and Google scholar, critically appraised for the best evidence. Piersons 5-component scheme was used to check the quality of the review papers. Results: After website screening: 10 papers in PubMed and 6 papers from Google scholars were retrieved. There were encouraging reports regarding the uses of CP in the previous viral outbreaks likes SARS and Ebola, yet there is still a doubt on the efficacy of this mode of therapy in the current COVID-19 pandemic. Conclusion: CP is a very promising treatment approach for COVID-19 patients; however, more clinical trials are required to validate the effectiveness of this therapy. Keywords: COVID-19, convalescent plasma therapy, SARS-CoV-2, therapy.
Comparison between Two Strategies for the Collection of Wheat Residue after Mechanical Harvesting: Performance and Cost Analysis

The growing population worldwide will create the demand for higher cereal production, in order to meet the food need of both humans and animals in the future. Consequently, the quantity of crop by-products produced by cereal cropping will increase accordingly, providing a good opportunity for fostering the development of the sustainable supply chain of renewable solid fuels and natural feedstock for animal farming. The conventional machineries used in wheat harvesting do not guarantee the possibility to collect the chaff as additional residue to the straw. The present study investigated the possibility to equip a conventional combine with a specific device, already available on the market, in order to collect the chaff either separately (onto a trailer), or together with the straw (baled). The total residual biomass increased by 0.84 t·ha−1 and 0.80 t·ha−1 respectively, without negatively affecting the performance of the combine when the chaff was discharged on the swath. Farmers can benefit economically from the extra biomass collected, although a proper sizing of the machine chain is fundamental to avoid by-product losses and lower revenue.
Impact des variants génétiques sur la réponse immunitaire des populations humaines

ii Liste des tableaux . vii Liste des figures . viii Liste des sigles . x Remerciements . xii Chapitre 1 : Introduction . 14 Enjeux de la réponse immunitaire . 14 Evolution de l’homme moderne . 17 Ancêtres . 17 Dispersions humaines . 18 Introgression avec l’homme de Néandertal et l’hominidé de Denisova . 20 Variants génétiques . 22 Dérive génétique . 24 Sélection naturelle . 26 Différences entre populations, un héritage de l’adaptation . 27 Impact des variants génétiques sur l’expression des gènes . 29 Mise en contexte du projet . 37 Axe 1 : différences de réponses immunitaires entre populations humaines . 37 Axe 2 : impact des variants génétiques dans la réponse immunitaire . 38 Axe 3 : système immunitaire et histoire évolutive des populations humaines . 38
Does Age Matter? Examination of Hungarian Basketball Coaches’ Pedagogical Beliefs and Professional Attitudes

Sports coaching in Hungary is an established profession. The coaching workforce, which is diverse in terms of age and coaching experience, is trained and paid. This study aimed to illustrate the impact of age on coaches’ values, beliefs and attitudes towards various aspects of their jobs. A total of 152 basketball coaches (105 male and 47 female) working in Hungary, with an average of 12.9 years (±11.5) coaching experience participated in an online survey. They were categorized into five age-groups i.e. 55 years; one-way analysis of variance and Tukey’s post hoc tests were used to identify the differences between groups. Regardless of their ages, coaches shared similar viewpoints on a range of aspects concerning coaching. Significant distinctions were mainly seen between coaches aged over 55 years and other age-groups suggesting that age has some effect on coaches’ beliefs and attitudes. Because respondents’ age and coaching experience were closely related, these differences could be attributed to age and commensurate experience.
Exploring primary school teachers’ use of formative assessment across fee and no-fee schools

Background: Recent initiatives by the Department of Basic Education to support teachers to enhance their use of formative assessment are positive steps for improving teaching and learning. However, the nature and type of support required by teachers is unclear given the dearth of information on teachers’ current pedagogical practices, and the extent to which formative assessment approaches are applied. Aim: This article explores teachers’ pedagogical practices in relation to five key formative assessment strategies: introduction of lesson objectives and assessment criteria, questioning and learner engagement, feedback practices and peer and self-assessment. Setting: This study was conducted in two districts involving 96 foundation and intermediate phase teachers selected from 54 fee- and no-fee-paying schools. Methods: Data were obtained using lesson observations and document review schedules. The analysis comprised descriptive and chi-square statistics. Results: Some evidence of all the formative assessment strategies as well as the range of steps that characterised each strategy was observed in the pedagogical practices of teachers sampled for this study. However, only a minority of teachers were able to demonstrate effective use of any specific strategy. No significant differences were detected between teachers in fee-paying and no-fee-paying schools as well as between the foundation and intermediate phases. Conclusion: Evidence of various aspects of the formative assessment approach in teachers’ pedagogical practices provides a positive platform for enhancing their formative assessment knowledge and skills. The key challenge pertains to ensuring the effective implementation of the formative assessment approach to address the specific learning needs of all learners, in both fee and no-fee schools.
High-order numerical methods with mass and energy conservation for spin–orbit-coupled Bose–Einstein condensates

ABSTRACT In this work, a high-order numerical method with mass and energy conservation obtained by the operator-compensation (OC) technique is proposed for the coupled Gross–Pitaevskii equations (CGPEs) modelling the spin–orbit-coupled Bose–Einstein condensates. The OC technique is utilized to seek high-order approximations to the first- and the second-order spatial derivatives in the CGPEs, after which a time-dependent semi-discrete system is obtained. Then we obtain a fully discrete scheme by applying the Crank–Nicolson method to discretize this system in time. We theoretically show that the semi-discrete system and the fully discrete scheme conserve both mass and energy on the discrete level. In addition, the stability analysis is discussed for the proposed method. Numerical experiments are given to test accuracy and verify conservative properties. The dynamics of the two-dimensional CGPEs and the effects of the parameters in the CGPEs are simulated.
Ameliorative Effect of Apple Pomace and Mango Peels against Hyperlipidemia and Lipid Peroxidation Induced by Hyperlipidemic Diet

Diet induced hyperlipidemia is a major cause for atherosclerosis, lipid peroxidation, and fatty liver diseases. Fruit processing waste rich in dietary fiber and antioxidant capacity can be an economical way to manage such risk factors. The major objective of the present study was to manage hyperlipidemia by including apple pomace and mango peels in daily diet. Dry powder obtained from apple pomace, mango peels and their mixture was added to the normal chow on replacement basis by 12%. These were fed to the rats along with hyperlipidemic diet to the experimental groups (N=30, 10/group), while control group (N=10) was fed hyperlipidemic diet alone. The rats were analyzed for water and feed intake, body weight, organs to body weight ratio, glucose concentration, lipid profile, lipid peroxidation test, liver cholesterol, and liver and renal function tests. The results showed that high cholesterol in diet was well managed by rat groups on apple pomace and mango peels supplement. The mango peels powder was found to be more effective as compared to apple pomace powder against hyperlipidemia. Mango peels and apple pomace powders not only improved the lipid profile but also resulted in lower liver cholesterol concentration and better lipid peroxidation status of the experimental rats as compared to control group. It can be concluded that fruit processing waste specially mango peels can be cost effective tool to manage diet induced hyperlipidemia, lipid peroxidation and fatty liver diseases.