Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A review of the current taxonomic status of foliose Bangiales (Rhodophyta) in the Philippines

Causes of taxonomic confusion are lamentably well known in foliose Bangiales. A magnitude of these uncertainties stems from the paucity of available taxonomic traits in morphologically homoplastic species. At present, the taxonomic identity and systematics of many of the Philippine foliose Bangiales are in a state of flux. A critical examination of published literature on Philippine records of 10 species of foliose Bangiales has rendered the need for re-confirmation of the presence of Porphyra atropurpurea, Porphyra marcosii, Pyropia denticulata, and Pyropia suborbiculata while records of Porphyra umbilicalis , Pyropia vietnamensis , Wildemania variegata, and the invalid name Porphyra crispata have been omitted from the list. Currently, there are only two confirmed species of foliose Bangiales in the Philippines, which are Pyropia acanthophora and Pyropia tanegashimensis . Thus, this review exhorts a re-examination of collected Philippine foliose Bangiales materials using both morphological and molecular analysis.
Expression of Penicillium marneffei Chitin Synthase Genes in Response to Cell-Wall Stressors

iii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS.v TABLE OF CONTENTS.vii LIST OF FIGURES.ix CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION.1 1.1 BACKGROUND.1 1.2 BIOLOGY.3 1.3 AGROBACTERIUM TUMEFACIENS-MEDIATED TRANSFORMATION.4 1.4 PENICILLIUM MARNEFFEI MUTANT I231 ΔyakA. 5 1.5 CHITIN.7 CHAPTER 2: SPECIFIC AIMS AND HYPOTHESIS.9 2.1 SPECIFIC AIMS.9 2.2 HYPOTHESIS.9 CHAPTER 3: MATERIALS AND METHODS.11 3.1 PENICILLIUM MARNEFFEI STRAINS AND FUNGAL CULTURING.11 3.2 CULTURE PREPARATION FOR STRESS TESTS AND STRESS INDUCTION.11 3.3 RNA ISOLATION AND SPECTROPHOTOMETRY.13 3.4 PRIMER ASSESSMENT THROUGH RT-PCR, GEL ELECTROPHORESIS, AND STANDARD CURVE GENERATION.13 3.5 qRT-PCR.15 3.6 STATISTICAL DATA ANALYSIS.15
Culture, collectivism-individualism and college student plagiarism

ABSTRACT We tested a model in which individualist and collectivist orientations mediate the association between cultural background and students’ self-reported plagiarism. A sample of 430 Jewish and non-Jewish undergraduates at a college in northern Israel completed a questionnaire to assess individualist and collectivist orientation and demographics, and answered a question regarding whether they had committed plagiarism during their studies. The results partly supported the model; individualism, but not collectivism, mediated the association between cultural background and admitting plagiarism. The model and some unexpected results offer new insights into the role of culture in academic behavior and raise further questions.
Colletotrichum systematics: Past, present and prospects

Colletotrichum is one of the serious plant pathogens, with worldwide distribution, causing anthracnose in economically important crops. Every year many research papers and reports are published on Colletotrichum phylogeny and taxonomy. Many novel Colletotrichum species have been described based on morphological characters and multi-locus phylogenetic analysis. There is, however, a need to develop a consensus among researchers on the gene sets to be used in sequence-based identification and resolution of cryptic species of Colletotrichum . Though a polyphasic approach is recommended, it is not fully enforced in many publications. In this paper, the methods prevalent in Colletotrichum systematics are discussed, which is followed by our suggestions towards developing a stable and reliable classification system for Colletotrichum .
Identification and Classification of Complex Agricultural Croplands Using Multi-Temporal ALOS-2/PALSAR-2 Data: A Case Study in Central Java, Indonesia

The agriculture sector makes a significant contribution to the Indonesian economy and has become one of the sources of national income. Therefore, precise agricultural mapping is very important to national and regional administrations. Satellite remote sensing provides the most effective tool for identifying a wide expanse of agriculture croplands. However, cloud coverage in tropical regions limits the use of optical remote sensing. SAR is an active remote sensing technique, which offers completely cloud-free observation data. The multi-temporal ALOS-2/PALSAR-2 data were used in this study, complemented by optical multi-temporal remote sensing data, that is, Landsat 8 OLI for classifying complex agricultural croplands. The study area, located in the Klaten Regency, Central Java Province, with 112 km 2 coverage, was selected because of its dynamic cropping pattern and complex agricultural land use types. In this study, the RGB composite of HH, HV and HV-HH, derived from ALOS-2/PALSAR-2 polarizations, was found to be effective at separating two types of paddy field cropping pattern: all-year paddy (paddy-I) and paddy upland fields (paddy-II). The multi-temporal Landsat 8 data were also found to be useful for observing the cropping pattern. Moreover, the classification accuracy, which was as high as 85.02% in terms of overall accuracy, with a kappa coefficient of 0.824, from multi-temporal ALOS-2/PALSAR-2 data, was obtained. These results show that multi-temporal ALOS-2/PALSAR-2 data are capable of discriminating between two different paddy field cropping types, as well as beneficial for discriminating between the cropping stage and cropping pattern information for several other land uses.
Endophytes isolated from ginger rhizome exhibit growth promoting potential for Zea mays

ABSTRACT Plant growth promoting bacteria (PGPB) are known to colonize ginger rhizome. A total of 57 strains were isolated and identified by 16S rDNA PCR-RFLP fingerprinting, and were grouped into genera Serratia, Enterobacter, Acinetobacter, Pseudomonas, Stenotrophomonas, Agrobacterium, Ochrobactrum, Bacillus and Tetrathiobacter. Out of 34 representative strains, 14 were positive for indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) production (1.02–49.66 µg ml–1), 16 were able to solubilize phosphate (9.3–233.05 µg ml–1) and 18 showed siderophore activities (9.47–70.66%). Six representative strains with plant growth promoting (PGP) activities boosted the growth of Zea mays, where not only the plant height, leaf area, and biomass yield were significantly improved, plant N, P and K uptakes were also increased. Plants co-inoculated with both PGPB and chemical fertilizer also showed an increased yield. Our study thus indicates that there is an abundance of endophytic bacteria in ginger rhizome, some of which possess promising capabilities for enhancing the growth of Z. mays and have the potential to serve as bio-fertilizers for crops.
Using Traditional Methods for Collaborative Fieldwork in a Uranium Food Chain Study on Diné Lands in the US Southwest

Collaborative research between scientists and local community members is often required to collect needed study samples and inform the overall study. This is particularly true in Indigenous communities where local knowledge and practices are integral to data collection, analysis, and dissemination. This study reports on a traditional ecological knowledge (TEK) collaborative methodological approach utilized for data collection in this unique community. In collaboration with Diné (Navajo) tribal harvesters and leaders in northwestern New Mexico, participants were recruited utilizing chain-referral recruitment and selection from a preexisting cohort. The research examined the extent of metal(loid) contamination in the primary food chain in a uranium (U) mining impacted area. Key food chain items (sheep, squash, herbal tea plants), water, and livestock forage samples were collected and determined for metal(loid)s (cesium, cadmium, molybdenum, lead, thorium, U, vanadium, arsenic, and selenium). This paper reports on the five-step process employed that involved local Diné food harvesters incorporating indigenous TEK and practices with Western science-based knowledge and practices. The five steps of harvest-based monitoring are: (1) identify goal and research questions, (2) design the study according to Diné and scientific protocols, (3) determine respective collaborative roles during fieldwork, (4) implement the fieldwork, and (5) analyze and disseminate the findings. Collaborative work supported constructs of respectfulness, trust, kinship, enhanced communication, and provided better understanding of contamination by researchers, community members, and leaders. The study allowed for the collection of baseline data and realistic reassessment goal recommendations for the future.
Investigation of the changes in the amino acids content of shrimps and the suitability of such a change as a method for the routine assessment of their quality

The present work was undertaken to find a suitable objective quality control method for use in the crustacean markets and in similar situations. Two main types of objective methods used for fish are Available—these are the chemical methods measuring either the trimethylamine-nitrogen (TMA-N) or the hypoxanthine (Hy) concentrations. However, the "K value" is a more simple method for evaluating the nucleotide degradation than the measurement of (Hy) alone, hence the "K value" was preferred in this work. The "Ornithine Equivalent", the separated ornithine and proline, pH, TMA-N and "K value" of pink (Pandalus montagui) and brown (Crangon crangon) shrimps were investigated. These different measurements were assessed as possible methods for the routine quality control of shrimps.
Public opinion on MOOCs: sentiment and content analyses of Chinese microblogging data

ABSTRACT The increasing and widespread usage of social media enables the investigation of public preference using the web as a device. Public sentiment as expressed in 44,319 massive open online course (MOOCs) related microblogs from January to December 2017 was examined on Sina Weibo (the Chinese equivalent of Twitter) to obtain broad insight into how MOOCs are viewed by the public in the Chinese educational landscape. Despite the unstable upward trend of public interest in MOOCs over the past 12 months, the public opinion on MOOCs was largely positive. Content and sentiment analyses were conducted to facilitate a better understanding of what is communicated on social media. A general model of public opinions of MOOCs in China has been developed based on the findings. Individuals were classified into a threefold typology based on the sources and purposes of how this recent form of distance education was perceived. Based on the seven themes, the public views towards MOOCs were differentiated among ‘promoters’, ‘commenters’ and ‘experiencers’. Implications of the findings were also discussed.
Deep Learning as a Tool to Forecast Hydrologic Response for Landslide‐Prone Hillslopes

Empirical thresholds for landslide warning systems have benefitted from the incorporation of soil‐hydrologic monitoring data, but the mechanistic basis for their predictive capabilities is limited. Although physically based hydrologic models can accurately simulate changes in soil moisture and pore pressure that promote landslides, their utility is restricted by high computational costs and nonunique parameterization issues. We construct a deep learning model using soil moisture, pore pressure, and rainfall monitoring data acquired from landslide‐prone hillslopes in Oregon, USA, to predict the timing and magnitude of hydrologic response at multiple soil depths for 36‐hr intervals. We find that observation records as short as 6 months are sufficient for accurate predictions, and our model captures hydrologic response for high‐intensity rainfall events even when those storm types are excluded from model training. We conclude that machine learning can provide an accurate and computationally efficient alternative to empirical methods or physical modeling for landslide hazard warning.
Corporate governance in India: A systematic review and synthesis for future research

Abstract The present study aims to review systematically the state of the art of corporate governance in India. The study uses a sample of 161 published research papers extracted from 101 journals and 17 publishers’ databases. The results indicated that 151 studies investigated the board of directors’ issues, 90 studies analyzed ownership structure, 64 studies discussed audit committee attributes, and 11 articles studied audit quality. The results provided that among corporate governance issues, board and audit committee independence, foreign and institutional ownership have the highest and majority focus of research in India. In terms of the relationship of corporate governance with other areas, the results exhibited that financial performance has a major concern in prior research. The results also indicated that there is a lack of studies that have samples after 2015. Further, the results observed that there are numerous conceptual repetitive studies and the majority of the studies followed either descriptive statistics or basic regression analysis. The current study provides an insight for academicians, policymakers (e.g., Securities and Exchange Board of India and Ministry of Corporate Affairs—Government of India) research organizations and funding agencies of what has been done and what is left to be done. The study makes a novel contribution to the strand literature of corporate governance in India. It highlights the substantial knowledge gaps in this field and provides a potential agenda for academicians, research organizations, and funding agencies for future research.
Absence from Work after the Birth of the First Child and Mothers’ Retirement Incomes: A Comparative Analysis of 10 European Countries

This article investigates whether a prolonged absence from the workforce after the birth of the first child is associated with mothers having a lower retirement income and whether cross-national variations in family policy and pension systems moderate the relationship between work interruptions and retirement incomes in 10 European countries. The analysis, based on five waves of SHARE data, indicates that the longer a mother abstains from work after the birth of her first child, the lower her retirement income is. However, the association is negligible in countries where mothers are historically supported by a comprehensive welfare system, namely Denmark, Sweden and the Netherlands. The findings indicate that generous work–family reconciliation policies and a universally oriented pensions system are most effective in minimising long-term motherhood income penalties when they are jointly present, pointing to the importance of policy packages that combine active and passive measures to achieve dual decommodification.
A novel environmental DNA (eDNA) sampling method for aye-ayes from their feeding traces

Non-invasive sampling is an important development in population genetic monitoring of wild animals. Particularly, the collection of environmental DNA (eDNA) which can be collected without needing to encounter the target animal, facilitates the genetic analysis of cryptic and threatened species. One method that has been applied to these types of sample is target capture and enrichment which overcomes the issue of high proportions of exogenous (non-host) DNA from these lower quality samples. We tested whether target capture of mitochondrial DNA from sampled feeding traces of wild aye-ayes would yield mitochondrial DNA sequences for population genetic monitoring. We sampled gnawed wood from feeding traces where aye-ayes excavate wood-boring insect larvae from trees. We designed RNA probes complementary to the aye-aye’s mitochondrial genome and used these to isolate aye-aye DNA from other non-target DNA in these samples. We successfully retrieved six near-complete mitochondrial genomes from two sites within the aye-aye’s geographic range that had not been sampled previously. This method can likely be applied to alternative foraged remains to sample species other than aye-ayes. Our method demonstrates the application to next-generation molecular techniques to species of conservation concern.
Innovative organization dimensions and the adoption of modern management accounting practices

Purpose: The objective of this study was to analyze the relationship between the innovative organization dimensions and the adoption of modern management accounting (MA). Design: A sample of 79 companies, obtained through a survey, was submitted to descriptive analysis, exploratory factor analysis and logistic regression. Originality: The studies that evaluated the relationship between innovation and management accounting sought to verify how MA practices influenced the innovation capacity of organizations. This work seeks a relationship in another sense, based on the premise that innovations influence the way in which MA is designed. Findings: The results indicate a more intense usage of the traditional second stage MA practices. Regarding to modern MA practices, it has been identified that the innovation dimensions that influence its adoption are people, environment, team work and organizational structure, and these dimensions are those that have a significant relationship with the adoption of these practices, indicating that innovation may be a factor influencing the adoption of modern MA practices. Theoretical contributions: Research on the topic has identified factors that may influence the adoption or diffusion of modern MA practices, such as decentralization and the size of the company. In this regard, it is possible to see that in addition to these factors already identified, innovation, through the dimensions analyzed, may be another factor that influences the adoption of modern MA practices.
Effect of Resveratrol on Liver Histopathology of Lead-induced Toxicity in Wistar Rats

Aims: To investigate the effect of resveratrol on liver histopathology of lead-induced toxicity in wistar rats. Study Design: Experimental Study. Place and Duration of Study: Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria (11° 10' N, 07° 38' E), at the elevation of 650 m above sea level, located in the Northern Guinea Savannah zone of Nigeria and AugustSeptember, 2014. Methodology: The study employed wistar rats (150 250 g) which were administered carboxymethylcellulose 10 g/l (control), lead acetate solution (120 mg/kg), lead acetate solution (120 mg/kg) and succimer (10 mg/kg BW); lead acetate solution (120 mg/kg) and resveratrol (200 mg/kg); lead acetate solution (120 mg/kg) and resveratrol (400 mg/kg); and resveratrol alone (400 mg/kg) then administered lead acetate solution (120 mg/kg) daily for 2 weeks and considered as Original Research Article Highab et al.; JPRI, 20(6): 1-8, 2017; Article no.JPRI. 23253 2 prophylactic group. All treatments were through the oral route for different days. After the animals were euthanized, liver was removed from the rats and fixed in 10% formalin for at least 48 h. Livers were then processed routinely, and the tissues were embedded in paraffin wax. Histological sections was cut at 5 – 6 μm and stained with routine haematoxylin and eosin (H and E). A detailed microscopic examination was carried out by a consultant histopathologist. Photomicrograph of the liver was taken at magnification (x 250). Results: In the liver, necrotic cell (hepatocyte), vacuolated hepatocyte, fatty changes and hydropic degeneration were observed in positive control group. In addition, there was an interrupted liver parenchyma with evidence of hyperemia in the liver sinusoids, complete congested central vein. Conclusion: We concluded that lead poisoning in wistar rats causes toxicopathological changes in the liver of the wistar rats. Furthermore, the use of resveratrol as a protective agent can reduce the toxic effect of lead poisoning and improve the histopathological lesions observed in wistar rats at doses tested.
The Giant Nucleus Impactor (GNI)—A System for the Impaction and Automated Optical Sizing of Giant Aerosol Particles with Emphasis on Sea Salt. Part I: Basic Instrument and Algorithms

Size distributions of giant aerosol particles (dry radius larger than 0.5 μm, sometimes referred to as coarse-mode aerosol particles) are not well characterized in the atmosphere. Measurements are problematic for these particles because they (i) occur in low concentrations, (ii) have difficulty in passing through air inlets, (iii) may be dry or deliquesced particles, and (iv) if sampled by impaction, typically require labor-intensive methods. In this study, a simple, high-volume impaction system called the Giant Nucleus Impactor (GNI), based on free-stream exposure of polycarbonate slides from aircraft, is described along with an automated optical microscope–based system for analysis of the impacted particles. The impaction slides are analyzed in a humidity-controlled chamber (typically 90% relative humidity) that ensures deliquescence of soluble (typically sea salt) particles. A computer-controlled optical microscope with two digital cameras is used to acquire and analyze images of the aerosol particles. At relative humidities above deliquescence (74% RH for sea salt), such particles will form near-spherical cap solution drops on the polycarbonate slides. The sea-salt mass in each giant aerosol particle is then calculated using simple geometry and published water activity measurements. The system has a sample volume of about 10 L s−1 at aircraft speeds of 105 m s−1. For salt particles, the measurement range is from about 0.7 μm dry radius to at least 16 μm dry radius, with a size-bin resolution of 0.2 μm dry radius. The sizing accuracy was tested using polystyrene latex (PSL) beads of known size.
An Adaptive Feed-Forward Phase Locked Loop for Grid Synchronization of Renewable Energy Systems under Wide Frequency Deviations

Synchronization is a crucial problem in the grid-connected inverter’s control and operation. A phase-locked loop (PLL) is a typical grid synchronization strategy, which ought to have a high resistance to power system uncertainties since its sensitivity influences the generated reference signal. The traditional PLL catches the phase and frequency of the input signal via the feedback loop filter (LF). In general, to enhance the steady-state capability during distorted grid conditions generally, a filter tuned for nominal frequency is used. This PLL corrects large frequency deviations around the nominal frequency, which increases the PLL’s locking time. Therefore, this paper presents an adaptive feed-forward PLL, where the input signal frequency and phase under large frequency deviations are tracked precisely, which overcomes the above-mentioned limitations. The proposed adaptive PLL consists of a feedback loop that reduces the phase error. The feed-forward loop predicts the frequency and phase error, and the frequency adaptive FIR filter reduces the ripples in output, which is due to input distortions. The adaptive mechanism adjusts the gain of the filter in accordance with the supply frequency. This reduces the phase and frequency error and also decreases the locking time under wide frequency deviations. To verify the effectiveness of the proposed adaptive feed-forward PLL, the system was tested under different grid abnormal conditions. Further, the stability analysis has been carried out via a developed prototype test platform in the laboratory. To bring the proposed simulations into real-time implementations and for control strategies, an Altera Cyclone II field-programmable gate array (FPGA) board has been used. The obtained results of the proposed PLL via simulations and hardware are compared with conventional techniques, and it indicates the superiority of the proposed method. The proposed PLL effectively able to tackle the different grid uncertainties, which can be observed from the results presented in the result section.