Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A new endophytic species of Preussia ( Sporormiaceae ) inferred from morphological observations and molecular phylogenetic analysis

A new species of Preussia as an endophyte of different typical Mediterranean plant species is newly described and illustrated based on molecular and morphological features. Preussia mediterranea resembles P. australis, P. africana and P. similis from a morphological point of view, but appeared closer to P minima and P. isabellae by molecular analysis. Phylogenetic analysis of the entire ITS region combined with the D1-D2 domains of the 28S rRNA gene, and a fragment of the elongation factor EF-1α gene, using Maximum Likelihood and a Bayesian Markov Chain Monte Carlo approach, generally resulted in statistically wellsupported clades for all the species studied. Morphological data and molecular phylogenetic analysis supported the recognition of the new taxon.
Degree of Financial Development and Economic Growth in Qatar: Cointegration and Causality Analysis

Utilizing the cointegration technique and Granger causality test based on the Error Correction Model (ECM), this study empirically investigates the long-run relationship and the direction of causality between the financial development and economic growth in Qatar over the period 1990–2012. The financial development is measured by three alternative indicators: a broad money supply (M2) to GDP ratio, bank credit to the private sector as ratio to GDP, and domestic credit provided by bank sector as ratio to GDP. The economic growth is measured by the growth rate of real GDP. The results suggest that a positive long-run equilibrium relationship exists between all three financial development indicators and the growth rate of real GDP. The causality test results indicate that in the long-run, there is a bidirectional causal relationship between the broad money supply to the GDP ratio and the growth rate of real GDP as well as a unidirectional causality, which runs from domestic credit provided by the bank sector as a percentage of GDP to the growth rate of real GDP. However, a causality relationship does not exist between bank credits to the private sector ratio to GDP and economic growth. In the short-run, the findings show a unidirectional causality running from the growth rate of real GDP to domestic credit provided by the banking sector. However, no causal relationship between the growth rate of real GDP and the other two financial development indicators has been found.
Analysis of Small Signal Behaviour of Transparent Gate Recessed Channel ( TGRC ) MOSFET for High Frequency / RF Applications

In this paper, small signal behavior have been investigated for Transparent Gate Recessed Channel (TGRC) MOSFET in terms of Y-parameters and Z-parameters, the results are compared with Conventional Recessed Channel (CRC) MOSFET at THz frequency range, using ATLAS device simulator. Small-signal Y-parameters and Z-parameters are commonly employed for those networks which are operating at RF and microwave frequencies, where admittances are more easily computed in compared to voltages and currents. Since, at high frequency it is very difficult to estimate current and voltages.
What determines workers' preferences for efficiency over equity wages?

What makes workers consider it fair for wages to be indexed on job performance or efficiency? In this paper we attempt to answer this question using the 2005 wave of the World Values Survey data for 43 countries to investigate what socio-economic characteristics condition employees’ preference for efficiency over equity wages. Our results suggest that employees’ preference for efficiency wages increases with education and globalization while it decreases with unemployment, income inequality and income tax rates. Given that conventional economic theory demonstrates the importance of labour efficiency, which improves when workers are remunerated according to their efficiency, for economic growth; our results suggest that institutions and specifically public policies that promote education, and globalization, along with policies that reduce unemployment, income inequality and income tax rates could be used to promote efficiency-based wages.
Evaluation of the Antimalarial and Liver Function Potentials of Methanol Extract of Chrysophyllum albidum Stem Bark in Plasmodium berghei - Infected Mice

Chrysophyllum albidum (C. albidum) has reputation in Nigeria as remedy for different ailments. This study evaluated the antimalarial potentials of methanol extract of the stem bark of C. albidum and specific Alkaline phosphatase (ALP), Alanine transaminase (ALT) and Aspartate transaminase (AST) activities in both sera and livers of Plasmodium berghei infected mice treated with methanol extract of C. albidum stem bark. The result of the phytochemical screening indicated the presence of anthraquinones, steroids, tannins, alkaloids, glycosides, terpenoides, flavonoids, saponins and phlobatannins. Percentage parasite inhibition was calculated to be 56.97%, 74.10%, 85.26% and 92.83% for groups treated with 200 mg/kg, 400 mg/kg, 600 mg/kg body weight of the methanol extract of C. albidum stem bark and 5 mg/kg body weight of Chloroquine (standard drug) respectively. It was observed that, the specific ALP, ALT and AST activities in both sera and liver samples of the group infected but not treated were significantly higher (p<0.05) than the infected and treated groups. There was significant difference (p<0.05) in the specific ALP, ALT and AST activities between groups treated with 5 mg/kg body weight of Chloroquine and 600mg/kg body weight of the methanol extract of C. albidum stem bark. However, there was no significant difference (p<0.05) in the specific ALP, ALT and AST activities between the groups treated with 200 mg/kg and 400 mg/kg body weight of methanol extract of C. albidum stem bark. The ability of the methanol extract of C. albidum stem bark to inhibit parasite multiplication/progression may be attributed to the presence of various bioactive constituents such as flavonoids, tannins, alkaloid or saponins and further support the ethno medicinal claim of the use of other parts of the plant in the treatment of malaria.
An evaluation of some oxidative and enzymatic biomarkers in different stages of naturally occurring copper poisoning in sheep

BACKGROUND: The early stage of Copper poisoning is difficult to be clinically diagnosed in sheep and has not been documented clearly yet. OBJECTIVES: To assess biomarkers in predicting early Copper poisoning in sheep, blood samples were collected from several groups of animals from a naturally Copper poisoning occurrence in an industrial region. METHODS: Animals were divided into four experimental groups; Group A: far from polluted region (Control group), Group B: inside polluted region, apparently healthy and without any clinically jaundice manifestation, Group C: slightly with jaundice signs and hemolytic crisis phase, and Group D: with clear jaundice signs. After collecting blood samples from each group, the serum was analyzed for evaluation of liver enzymes and oxidative stress parameters in different stages of Copper poisoning. In each blood sample, CPK, GGT, AST, ALT, total thiol (T-SH) group, and total proteins were determined. The Copper concentration in the serum, liver, and kidney of the dead animals in group D were also determined. RESULTS: There were significant differences in the blood parameters in group C illustrated by elevated level of serum AST, CPK, and GGT activities and total thiol (as biomarker of oxidative stress) when compared to control groups. In group D, these enzymes, in addition to T-SH, and the total protein were significantly (p≤ 0.05) different from those of the control and the other groups. Measurement of Copper in serum, liver, and kidney of group D (at the end stage of hemolytic phase) confirmed Copper poisoning in these groups. CONCLUSIONS: Based on the findings of the present study, the measurement of the liver enzyme activities and total thiol just closed to critical hemolytic phase could be reliable biomarkers for predicting Copper poisoning in sheep.
Quantifying barrier effects of roads and seismic lines on movements of female woodland caribou in northeastern Alberta

Linear developments such as roads, seismic lines, and pipeline rights-of-way are common anthropogenic features in the boreal forest of Alberta. These features may act as barriers to the movement of threatened woodland caribou (Rangifer tarandus caribou). Thirty-six woodland caribou were captured and fitted with global positioning system collars. These collared caribou yielded 43 415 locations during the 12-month study period. We compared rates of crossing roads and seismic lines with rates at which caribou crossed simulated roads and seismic lines created using ArcInfo GIS. Seismic lines were not barriers to caribou movements, whereas roads with moderate vehicle traffic acted as semipermeable barriers to caribou movements. The greatest barrier effects were evident during late winter, when caribou crossed actual roads 6 times less frequently than simulated road networks. Semipermeable barrier effects may exacerbate functional habitat loss demonstrated through avoidance behaviour. This novel approach represents an important develop- ment in the burgeoning field of road ecology and has great potential for use in validating animal-movement models. Resume : Les structures lineaires, telles que les routes, les lignes sismiques et les passages de pipe-lines, sont des elements anthropogenes communs dans la foret boreale de l'Alberta. Ces structures peuvent creer des barrieres aux deplacements du caribou des bois (Rangifer tarandus caribou), une sous-espece menacee. Trente-six caribous des bois ont ete captures et munis d'un collier emetteur relie au systeme de positionnement global. Ces caribous ont fourni 43 415 donnees de reperage au cours des 12 mois qu'a dure l'etude. Nous avons compare la frequence des traversees de routes et de lignes sismiques chez ces caribous et la frequence des traversees de routes et de lignes sismiques simulees creees au moyen du logiciel ArcInfo GIS. Les lignes sismiques n'entravent pas les deplacements des caribous, alors que les routes ou l'achalandage de vehicules est modere ont un effet de barrieres semipermeables aux deplacements des caribous. Les effets inhibiteurs ont ete manifestes surtout a la fin de l'hiver, alors que les caribous ont traverse 6 fois moins de routes reelles que de routes virtuelles. L'effet de barriere semipermeable peut exacerber la perte d'habitat fonctionnel, tel que le demontre le comportement d'evitement. Cette nouvelle approche represente un pas important dans le domaine nouveau de l'ecologie des routes et sera tres utile pour valider les modeles de deplacement des ani- maux. (Traduit par la Redaction) 845
A Fast Algorithm for Single Image Dehazing Based on Estimating Illumination Veil

We propose a new approach based on estimating illumination veil. The algorithm for non-uniform illumination of fog image has a good result. Given a degraded image, minimum intensity of RGB components of each point can be figured out as haze energy veil with the proposed guided filter, subtracting the hazy energy veil form the hazy image, then maximum intensity of residual RGB components of each point can calculated and filtered as the scene illumination veil. Consequently, the RGB reflectance of each point can be obtained from the illumination/reflection imaging model. The proposed approach can dehaze images and enhance contrast simultaneously, and the global atmospheric light does not need to be calculated to avoid the risk of estimation errors. The proposed algorithm can also be applied to eliminating the scene illumination. Experiment results on a variety of outdoor hazy images demonstrate that the proposed method achieves good restoration in terms of visibility and color fidelity. Keywords-Single image dehazing; dark channel prior; scene illumination; illumination veil; guided filter
Recent Advances and Challenges in Underwater Sensor Networks-Survey

In underwater sensor networks (UWSNs), it is important to determine the location of all the sensors. Localization is the process of estimating the location of each node in a sensor network. There are only few localization schemes for UWSNs even though many localization algorithms have been proposed for terrestrial sensor networks. The characteristics of underwater sensor networks are fundamentally different from that of terrestrial networks. The physical layer environments with rigorous bandwidth limitations are the main characteristic of underwater acoustic channels. A unique set of challenges are posed by the long propagation delays and the variable speed of sound under water for localization in UWSNs. This paper explores the different localization algorithms relevant to underwater sensor networks, and the challenges in meeting the requirements posed by emerging the applications for such networks, likes offshore engineering.
Toward Replicability With Confidence Intervals for the Exceedance Probability

Abstract Several scientific fields including psychology are undergoing a replication crisis. There are many reasons for this problem, one of which is a misuse of p-values. There are several alternatives to p-values, and in this article we describe a complement that is geared toward replication. In particular, we focus on confidence intervals for the probability that a parameter estimate will exceed a specified value in an exact replication study. These intervals convey uncertainty in a way that p-values and standard confidence intervals do not, and can help researchers to draw sounder scientific conclusions. After briefly reviewing background on p-values and a few alternatives, we describe our approach and provide examples with simulated and real data. For linear models, we also describe how confidence intervals for the exceedance probability are related to p-values and confidence intervals for parameters.
The Effects of Banning Advertising on Demand, Supply and Welfare: Structural Estimation on a Junk Food Market

Restricting advertising is one way governments seek to reduce consumption of potentially harmful goods. There have been increasing calls to apply a similar policy to the junk food market. The effect will depend on how brand advertising influences consumer demand, and on the strategic pricing response of oligopolistic firms. We develop a model of consumer demand and dynamic oligopoly supply in which multi-product firms compete in prices and advertising budgets. We model the impact of advertising on demand in a flexible way, that allows for the possibility that advertising is predatory or cooperative, and we consider how market equilibria would be impacted by an advertising ban. In our application we apply the model to the potato chip market using transaction level data. The implications of an advertising ban for consumer welfare depend on the view one takes about advertising. In the potato chip market advertising has little informational content. The advertising may be a characteristic valued by consumers, or it may act to distort decision-making. We quantify the welfare impacts of an advertising ban under alternative views of advertising, and show that welfare conclusions depend on which view of advertising the policymaker adopts.
The Centrality of Participant Voice in Illuminating the Gender Regime in Education Research Using a Human Capabilities Analysis

The human capabilities approach distinguishes between capabilities (a person’s ability to choose what she wants to do/be) and functionings (actually doing/being what she wants). When used to analyze gender equality in education, it draws attention to the nature of education and the extent to which it is equally empowering for girls and boys. This research synthesis examines the use of the human capabilities approach as an analytical framework for gender and education research. The approach’s emphasis on participant voice as a means of articulating what is valued in education highlights contradictions and similarities within a given community and attends to the way that the gender regime of the school characterizes the educational experience. This is particularly meaningful in relation to the views of student participants including children, whose descriptions of their educational values, goals and experiences are critical in understanding the daily operations and experiences of gender regimes in schools. Résumé L’approche par les capacités humaines fait la distinction entre les capacités (l’habilité d’une personne à choisir ce qu’elle veut faire/être) et les fonctionnements (actuellement faire/être ce qu’elle veut). Lorsqu’elle est utilisée pour analyser l’égalité des sexes en éducation, cette approche attire l’attention sur la nature de l’éducation et l’étendue sur laquelle elle favorise l’autonomisation autant pour les filles que pour les garçons. Cette synthèse de recherche examine l’utilisation de l’approche par les capacités humaines en tant que cadre analytique pour la recherche sur le genre et l’éducation. L’emphase que cette approche met sur la voix du participant comme étant un moyen d’articuler ce qui est valorisé en éducation souligne les contradictions et similarités au sein d’une communauté donnée, et s’occupe de la manière dont le régime de genre de l’école caractérise l’expérience éducative. Ceci est particulièrement significatif en ce qui concerne les points de vue des étudiant-participants, y compris les enfants, dont les descriptions de leurs valeurs, buts et expériences éducatifs sont essentiels pour comprendre les opérations et expériences quotidiennes des régimes de genre dans les écoles.
In vitro and In vivo Evaluation of Propranolol Microspheres Loaded Buccal Gel

The selected propranolol microsphere formulation, S6 was employed for gel formulation with a variety of polymers like Carbopol 934, HPMC and Sodium CMC by mechanical stirring method in order to develop a sustained release propranolol microspheres containing bioadhesive gel. The prepared bioadhesive gels were evaluated for pH, viscosity, %drug content, in vitro drug release studies, bioadhesion, ex vivo permeation studies, accelerated stability and in vivo bioavailability studies. From all the above studies FG3 was found to be optimized formulation. In vitro experiments indicated a sustained release of 98.92% over 12 h and an acceptable bioadhesion quality for formulation FG3. Optimized formulation was characterized for FTIR, SEM and stability studies and found to be stable. Propranolol Optimized formulation exhibited significant increased bioavailability in vivo when compared with marketed tablet. The drug release from the optimized formulation follows zero order kinetics with anomalous Non-fickian diffusion. In vivo studies revealed that Propranolol Optimized formulation FG3 exhibited significant increased bioavailability when compared with marketed product, due to reduced first pass metabolism, when it is administered by the buccal route. Hence, it can be concluded that the formulation FG3 has potential to deliver Propranolol in a controlled and constant manner for prolong period over other formulations and can be adopted for a successful delivery of propranolol for buccal use.
PHYSICAL MODEL OF HYDROGEN ION LASER STRIPPING*

Thin carbon foils used as a charge strippers for H־ ions have a limited life time and produce uncontrolled beam loss. Thus, foil based injection is one of the factors limiting beam power in high intensity proton rings. There is a possibility to replace such foils by laser-assisted stripping of negative hydrogen ions, a method developed and demonstrated at the SNS accelerator in Oak Ridge. In this paper we present progress in the physics and computation of H־ laser stripping. We present a physical model which includes such factors as the Stark effect, the polarization of the laser field, and the spontaneous relaxation and autoionization of hydrogen atoms in a strong electro-magnetic field. The model formulates a quantum mechanical problem that can be solved numerically using a module created for the PyORBIT parallel code developed at SNS.
Comparison of growth parameters of the predator, Chrysoperla nipponensis-B (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae) reared on a diet of eggs of Corcyra cephalonica (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) and an artificial diet containing ginger

The growth parameters of the green lacewing, Chrysoperla nipponensis-B (Okamoto), were studied under laboratory conditions. The highest mortality was recorded in the immature stages (instars 1st, 2nd, 3rd and pupae) of C. nipponensis fed on the eggs of Corcyra cephalonica (37.26%). The sex ratios (proportion of female to male) when reared on the eggs of C. cephalonica and an artificial diet with ginger were 0.93 : 1.00 and 0.87 : 1.00, respectively. The maximum life spans of females reared on the eggs of C. cephalonica and an artificial diet with ginger were 63 and 64 days, respectively. The females reared on the eggs of C. cephalonica produced the highest number of eggs (10.4) on the fifth day of oviposition, whereas on the artificial diet with ginger it was 9.26 on the eighth day of oviposition. The net reproductive rate (Ro) and maximum gross reproductive rate (GRR) of C. nipponensis fed on the eggs of C. cephalonica were 69.50 and 223.10 females per female per generation, respectively, whereas for the artificial diet with ginger they were 117.24 and 236.89 females per female per generation, respectively. Mean generation time (T) was 37.06 and 48.16 for the eggs of C. cephalonica and artificial diet with ginger, respectively. The intrinsic rate of natural increase (r) was 0.11 and 0.09 females per female per day for the eggs of C. cephalonica and artificial diet with ginger, respectively. The finite rate of increase (λ) was 1.12 and 1.11 females per female per day for the eggs of C. cephalonica and artificial diet with ginger, respectively. The population doubling time (DT) was 6.05 days on the diet of eggs of C. cephalonica and 7.00 on the artificial diet with ginger.
EMA Review on Cyclodextrins as Excipients

In the context of the revision of the guideline on ‘Excipients in the label and package leaflet of medicinal products for human use’ (CPMP/463/00 Rev. 1) the European Medicines Agency (EMA) published an evaluation on cyclodextrins as pharmaceutical excipients [1]. The toxicology data are summarized according to the administration routes and the safety threshold values are established. These data might be useful for those developing cyclodextrinbased pharmaceutical formulations.
Phylogenetic analyses of combined morphological and molecular data sets on the Aphanocalyx-Bikinia_tetraberlinia group (Leguminosae, Caesalpinoideae, Detarieae s.l.)

Three molecular and one morphological data sets of a group of African tree genera (Leguminosae, Detarieae s.l.) are combined in simultaneous phylogenetic analyses. A few taxa with long branches show an unstable placement, while several other clades remain intact in all analyses. In the genus Aphanocalyx two separate copies of ITS appear to be present. We provide a coding method to circumvent the problems this gives for combining data. Our study strongly supports the monophyly of Aphanocalyx subg. Aphanocalyx, with subg. Antherodontus as its most probable sister group. Bikinia and Tetraberlinia together form a monophyletic group. Bikinia is most likely also a monophyletic group, probably sister to Tetraberlinia, but possibly arising from within it. The internal and terminal branches of this group are relatively short, indicating this group may have radiated fairly recently. Julbernardia is probably monophyletic, and may be sister to Bikinia and Tetraberlinia. The position of the monotypic genus Icuria is still not clear. In the molecular phylogenies this taxon has a long branch with an unstable position. Icuria either has a long separate history or it originates from an anomalous event such as hybridisation. We found strong support for a clade containing Brachystegia, Aphanocalyx, Bikinia, Icuria, Julbernardia and Tetraberlinia.