Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Estimation of Forest Leaf Area Index Using Meteorological Data: Assessment of Heuristic Models

Leaf Area Index (LAI) is an important structural feature of our ecosystem as it affects energy, carbon, and water exchanges between the land surface and overlying atmosphere. Global scale LAI datasets have been obtained by regression, heuristic data driven, and radiative transfer models using remotely sensed land surface reflectance data. However, the estimation of LAI from remotely sensed data is limited only to clear sky conditions. Also, it is problematic to estimate LAI in forests by using conventional remote sensing image analysis of multi-spectral data. Due to the above-mentioned shortcomings of estimating LAI from remotely sensed data, this study obtained LAI from meteorological data using the Gene Expression Programming (GEP) technique. The new approach was tested in different forest sites with broad-leaf and needle-leaf trees in USA. The results showed that the GEP technique can accurately estimate LAI from meteorological data in different forest sites.
Cross-cultural adaptation and validation of the Leibowitz Social Anxiety Scale (LSAS-SR) Sinhala Version.

Social phobia or social anxiety disorder is characterized by a fear of scrutiny and avoidance of a variety of social and performance situations [1, 2]. In Western societies, it is considered to be among the most common anxiety disorders in adults with a lifetime prevalence of 7-13% [3, 4] and is reported as the third most common psychiatric disorder after major depression and alcohol dependence syndrome [3]. Its prevalence among university students is reported to be between 8-26% [5-7]. Untreated, social phobia is reported to be chronic and unremitting, and also reported to contribute to academic, occupational and relationship problems [4, 6, 8]. Despite the relatively high prevalence and impairments associated with social phobia, most people with the disorder do not seek treatment and, even if they do, they are reported to be unlikely to receive empiricallysupported therapies [9].
Cumulative effects of cyclones and bleaching on coral cover and species richness at Lizard Island

Coral reefs are being subjected to an increase in the frequency and intensity of disturbance, such as bleaching and cyclones, and it is important to document the effects of such disturbance on reef coral assemblages. Between March 2014 and May 2017, the reefs of Lizard Island in the northern section of the Great Barrier Reef were affected by 4 consecutive disturbances: severe tropical cyclones Ita and Nathan in 2014 and 2015, and mass bleaching events in 2016 and 2017. Loss of coral cover following the cyclones was patchy and dependent on the direction of the waves generated. In contrast, loss of cover following bleaching was much more uniform. Overall, coral cover declined 5-fold from 36% pre-cyclone Ita to 7% post-bleaching in 2017, while mean species richness dropped from 10 to 4 species per transect. The spatial scale and magnitude of the loss of coral cover in the region suggests that it will be many years before these reefs recover.
Taxonomic Identity of Arisaema pangii (Araceae) Inferred from Molecular and Morphological Data with a Note on its Distribution

The identity of Arisaema pangii H. Li (Araceae) has been doubtful ever since it was published. Various authors treated it under either A. nepenthoides or under A. wattii. Arisaema pangii is recognized as a distinct species based on morphological and molecular data, and it is placed in sect. Nepenthoidea. A detailed description, notes on the taxonomy and colour images are provided for easy identification.
Genetic variability and association of traits in Ethiopian durum wheat (Triticum turgidium L. var. durum) landraces at Dabat Research Station, North Gondar

Abstract Durum wheat (2 n = 28, AABB, Triticum turgidum L. ssp. durum) is the most commonly cultivated form of allotetraploid wheat and is grown on 8% of the world’s wheat area. The trial was conducted at Dabat station of Gondar Agricultural Research Center, northern Ethiopia, with the objective of assessing the nature, extent, and patterns of genotypic and phenotypic variation in durum wheat accessions for yield, yield-related and quality traits. Sixty-four durum wheat landraces were evaluated using an 8 × 8 simple lattice design. Analysis of variance revealed the presence of highly significant (P < 0.01) variations among Accessions for all traits. The observed wide range of differences among genotypes for these main traits may be due to genetic differences of genotypes and selection can be effective for different breeding programs. High values for both heritability (85.5%) and genetic advance as percent mean (19.96) for plant height indicates better possibility and easiness for improvement of the trait through selection. Genotypic and phenotypic coefficients of variation ranged from 3.08 (days to maturity) to 12.67 (thousand seed weight) and 4.94 (days to maturity) to 18.93 (grain yield t/ha), respectively. Highly significant and positive phenotypic and genotypic correlations were observed between grain yield and biological yield (rp = 0.67, rg = 0.59), thousand seed weight (rp = 0.37, rg = 0.43) and harvest index (rp = 0.58, rg = 0.46) respectively. The highest positive and significant genotypic direct effects on grain yield were exerted by days to maturity, biological yield and harvest index, phenotypic direct effects on grain yield were via days to heading, grain-filling period, biological yield, and plant height. The highest intracluster distance was observed in cluster XI (45.27) and the lowest in cluster IV (5.66). The highest inter-cluster distance was between cluster V and VIII (996.7) followed by cluster I and XI (690.71). The first five principal components, whose eigenvalues greater than one, accounted for 81.58% of the total variation. The variability and diversity of traits, which were exhibited among the genotypes, can serve in planning selection and crossing programs for durum wheat improvement and the selection and hybridization of genotypes based on the traits with a high positive correlation coefficient and direct effects on grain yield can be recommended for further yield improvement of durum wheat.
The meaning of professionalism in activation work: frontline managers’ perspectives

ABSTRACT The issue of professionalism in activation work is at the forefront of scholarly discussions. Due to the importance ascribed to the organisational setting of professional work, it is crucial to investigate if professionalism is requested by organisations and what professionalism means from the perspective of managers acting on their behalf. This article focuses on frontline managers: those who recruit activation workers and are in a position to make judgements about what competencies and qualities are needed. Using interviews with frontline managers and job advertisements for frontline positions in the Norwegian Labour and Welfare Administration (NAV), we investigate whether frontline managers look for professionalism in activation work and, if so, what perceptions of professionalism they hold and what kinds of responsibilities they expect frontline workers to assume. The analysis demonstrates that, in the perception of managers, activation work requires both (1) professional knowledge, skills and capabilities to make discretionary judgements; and (2) responsibility to the professional self, the quality of the work and the social contract of the work as mediated through the mission of the organisation. Ultimately, professional responsibility involves balancing clients’ needs with responsibilities and balancing conflicting values in activation work.
Representative Bureaucracy: Exploring the Factors that Inhibit Active Representation in Indigenous Managers from a Latin American Case

ABSTRACT Today is important that public bureaucracies represent the needs of those citizens considered diverse, being relevant the contribution of the Theory of Representative Bureaucracy. To ensure pluralism and legitimacy in public policies is necessary that public managers activate their sense of representation, making decisions on behalf of those citizens diverse. This article identifies and analyses the main factors that inhibit the emergence of an active representation in indigenous public managers from a Latin American case, considering three levels of analysis: individual, organizational and socio-political context. The main information arises from in-depth interviews applied to 25 key actors who have played a role at different stages in the indigenous policy process, along with press analysis and official documents. The evidence shows important differences in the Chilean case regarding other experiences in Europe and the United States, based principally on political and administrative characteristics, that apply to other Latin American cases.
Sustainability Evaluation of the Maize–Soybean Intercropping System and Maize Monocropping System in the North China Plain Based on Field Experiments

Monocropping systems, which currently dominate China’s major grain production regions, contribute to resource scarcity and environmental pollution. Intercropping has the potential to improve resource use efficiency. However, prior studies of intercropping systems have generally focused on ecological, economic, and social consequences. Here, we make a comparative ecological sustainability analysis on energy capture and efficiency of maize monocropping and maize–soybean intercropping systems through emergy evaluation based on field experiments performed from 2012 to 2014. We find that maize monocropping shows higher sustainability than maize–soybean intercropping in the North China Plain at present. Quantitative results indicate that for maize monocropping, the emergy yield ratio (EYR) and emergy sustainability index (ESI) are 13.7% and 21.1% higher than that of intercropping systems, and the environmental loading ratio (ELR) is 7.3% lower than that of intercropping systems. To further test, we applied three levels of nitrogen fertilizer in intercropping systems (120 kg ha−1, 180 kg ha−1, 240 kg ha−1), and find that a reduced rate of N fertilizer for intercropped system leads to higher sustainability (ESI 5.3% higher) but still lower sustainability than maize monocropping. Key drivers of the different sustainability outcomes are decreased energy output and a larger proportion of labor input associated with intercropping systems.
Socially foraging bats discriminate between group members based on search-phase echolocation calls

Animals have evolved diverse strategies to use social information for increasing foraging success and efficiency. Echolocating bats, for example, can eavesdrop on bats foraging nearby because they shift from search-phase calls to feeding buzzes when they detect prey. Feeding buzzes can directly convey information about prey presence, but it is unknown whether search-phase calls also convey social information. Here, we investigated whether search-phase echolocation calls, distinct calls produced by some bat species to scan large open areas for prey, can additionally convey individual identity. We tested this in Molossus molossus, a neotropical insectivorous bat that forages with group members, presumably to find ephemeral insect swarms more efficiently. We caught M. molossus from six different social groups and recorded their search-phase calls during a standardized release procedure, then recaptured and tested 19 marked bats with habituation–dishabituation playback experiments. We showed that they can discriminate between group members based on search-phase calls, and our statistical analysis of call parameters supported the presence of individual signatures in search-phase calls. Individual discrimination is a prerequisite of individual recognition, which may allow M. molossus to maintain contact with group members while foraging without using specialized signals for communication.
Effect of Foliar Application of Nutrients on Growth, Yield and Fruit Quality of Pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) Cv. Bhagwa

A field experiment was conducted to study the effect of foliar application of nutrients on growth, yield and fruit quality of pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) cv. Bhagwa in the experimental farm of the Horticultural Research and Training Station and Krishi Vigyan Kendra Kandaghat, Solan, Dr YS Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry Nauni, Solan, Himachal Pradesh (India), during the year 2016 - 2017. The experiment was laid out in Randomized Block Design (RBD) with four foliar applications of potassium nitrate, KNO3 (0.5%, 1% and 1.5%); calcium chloride, CaCl2 (0.5%, 1% and 1.5%); boric acid, H3BO3 (0.2%, 0.4% and 0.6%) and their combinations. The first spray was applied one month after fruit set, and the remaining three ones were applied at one month interval. Among the various treatments, significant increase in plant height, plant spread, plant volume, fruit size, fruit weight, fruit yield, total soluble solids, total sugars, reduction in fruit drop and fruit cracking were recorded with the application of KNO3 (1%) + CaCl2 (1%) + H3BO3 (0.4%). Leaf N, P, K, Ca and Mg were also significantly affected by the foliar application of KNO3 (1%) + CaCl2 (1%) + H3BO3 (0.4%). Therefore, the combined foliar application of KNO3 (1%), CaCl2 (1%) and H3BO3 (0.4%) was found the best treatment for the improvement of growth, yield and fruit quality of pomegranate.
Quercetin Enhances Phenformin in Inhibition of Cholangiocarcinoma Cell Growth

เควอซทนเสรมฤทธเฟนฟอรมนในการยบยงการเจรญเตบโตของเซลลมะเรงทอนำด รตนาภรณ ใจด 1 , ศรญญา คงเพชร 1 , เออมเดอน ประวาฬ 1 , ลดดาวลย เสงกนไพร 1 , ยพา คคงวรยพนธ 2 , วรพล คคงวรยพนธ 1* 1 ภาควชาเภสชวทยา คณะแพทยศาสตร มหาวทยาลยขอนแกน 2 ภาควชาสรรวทยา คณะแพทยศาสตร มหาวทยาลยขอนแกน หลกการและวตถประสงค : Phenformin และสารฟลาโวนอยด quercetin และ myricetin มฤทธในการยบยงการเจรญเตบโตของเซลลมะเรงหลายชนด งานวจยนศกษาความสามารถในการยบยงการเจรญเตบโตของเซลลมะเรงทอนำด เมอเซลลไดรบ phenformin รวมกบ quercetin และ myricetin วธการศกษา : งานวจยใชเซลลมะเรงทอนำด KKU-M156 ศกษาความเปนพษตอเซลลดวยเทคนค sulforhodamine-B assay (SRB) และวเคราะหความตางศกยของเมมเบรนไมโทคอนเดรย (Mitochondrial membrane potential; Dym) ดวยใชเทคนค JC-1 assay ผลการศกษา : Phenformin สามารถยบยงการเจรญเตบโตของเซลล KKU-M156 และเมอใหรวมกบ quercetin แตไมใช myricetin สามารถเสรมฤทธ phenformin ในการยบยงการเจรญเตบโตของเซลลมะเรง Phenformin และ Quercetin เมอใหเดยว ๆหรอใหรวมกนสามารถทำใหสญเสยศกยไฟฟาระหวางเมมเบรนของไมโทคอนเดรย สรป : Quercetin สามารถเพม Phenformin ในการยบยงการเจรญของเซลลมะเรงทอนำด โดยกลไกทเสรมเพมการบาดเจบตอไมโทคอนเดรยนำไปสการตายของเซลล ผลการศกษานแสดงในเบองตนวา phenformin รวมกบ quercetin มศกยภาพทจะเพมสรรถนะการรกษามะเรงทอนำด Background and Objective : Phenformin, and flavonoid compounds, quercetin and myricetin are effective against many types of cancers. This study evaluated the treatments of phenformin in combination with quercetin or myricetin in the inhibition of cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) cells. Methods : Cholangiocarcinoma cells, KKU-156, were used in this study. Cell cytotoxicity was evaluated by sulforhodamine-B assay (SRB). Mitochondrial membrane potential (Dym) was analyzed by JC-1 assay. Results : Phenformin significantly inhibited proliferation of cancer cells. Phenformin in combination with quercetin, but not myricetin, could increase the cytotoxicity of cancer cells. Phenformin, quercetin or in the combination induced the loss of mitochondrial transmembrane potential . Conclusions : Quercetin increased phenformin in inhibition of cancer cell growth. The mechanism may be by the increase of induction of mitochondrial damage leading to cell death. This finding suggests that phenformin in combination with quercetin has potential to increase efficacy of chemotherapy of cholangiocarcinoma.
VNF‐Consensus: A virtual network function for maintaining a consistent distributed software‐defined network control plane

Software‐defined networks (SDN) usually rely on a centralized controller, which has limited availability and scalability by definition. Although a solution is to employ a distributed control plane, the main issue with this approach is how to maintain the consistency among multiple controllers. Consistency should be achieved with as low impact on network performance as possible and should be transparent for controllers, without requiring any change of the SDN protocols. In this work, we propose VNF‐Consensus, a virtual network function that implements Paxos to ensure strong consistency among controllers of a distributed control plane. In our solution, controllers can perform their control plane activities without having to execute the expensive tasks required to keep consistency. Experimental results are presented showing the cost and benefits of the proposed solution, in particular in terms of low controller overhead.
Working through the experiences of first-generation students of color, university mission, intersectionality, and post-subjectivity

Abstract This qualitative study investigates how first-generation undergraduate students of Color at a historically white institution in the U.S. make sense and process the university’s mission, especially in relation to the theoretical frameworks of intersectionality and post-subjectivity. U.S. universities are often structured on market-driven ideologies. They do not necessarily deeply take into account the experiences of their first-generation students of Color to the extent that could be observed in the institution’s mission and goals. In this paper, we interacted with data while thinking with theory, philosophy, and concept as a method. Through these interactions, we gained insights about the lived experiences of first-generation undergraduate students of Color and how they perceive themselves to either be represented or not, within their institution’s mission. Studies like this are needed because an institution’s mission communicates central philosophies to stakeholders, and a clear mission statement is warranted to ensure that first-generation students of Color feel a sense of belongingness and affinity to their campuses. We also offer implications for future research and practice.
Rheological and functional properties of Roselle (Hibiscus sabdariffa) leaves puree

Pureed form of leaves (Hibiscus sabdariffa L. (Roselle)) was taken for physicochemical and rheological analysis at temperatures and TSS range of 278 K - 318 K and 3 - 5 °Brix respectively. The steady-state rheological analysis was performed with a shear rate of 1 - 100 s-1. Different rheological models are tried; Power-law was best fitted with the experimental data (R2 ≥0.98). Temperature dependence of viscosity was found out using an Arrhenius-type relationship at a shear rate of 10, 50, 100 s-1 IR analysis was done to know the influence of functional groups on rheological properties of purees. Consistency index (K) of puree increases with increase in TSS content but at a fixed TSS, there is a decrease in K with an increase in temperatures but the opposite was observed for flow behavior index (n). Puree showed a shear thinning behavior with an increment in temperature level and puree having 5 °Brix (8.37) has higher activation energy (kJ.mol-1) than 3 °Brix (6.32).
Effects of Olive Leaf Powder on Mechanical Properties of Heat-Induced Surimi Gel

ABSTRACT The effects of addition of olive leaf powder (OLP) to surimi on the mechanical properties of surimi gel were investigated. The OLP contained a high polyphenol content of 7% (w/w). The breaking stress and breaking strain of surimi gel increased with increasing OLP concentration. The addition of 0.3% OLP increased the breaking stress of surimi gel by 80% and the breaking strain by 38%. The addition of 2.0% OLP resulted in a 100% increase in the breaking strain. The OLP gels had finer and denser protein networks than the control gel, probably due to integration of additional crosslinks into the protein networks via polyphenols or their derivatives. Although the addition of OLP had a detrimental effect on whiteness of surimi gel, OLP is still a useful functional ingredient for improving mechanical properties of surimi gel products in which the color is not an important quality.
Decision Aids in Online Review Portals: An Empirical Study Investigating Their Effectiveness in the Sensemaking Process of Online Information Consumers

There is an increasing concern about the trustworthiness of online reviews as there is no editorial process for verification of their authenticity. This study investigated the decision-making process of online consumers when reacting to a review, with the reputation score of the reviewer and the number of previous reviews incorporated along with anonymous and non-anonymous reviews. It recruited 200 participants and developed a 3 × 2 × 2 × 2 × 2 mixed experimental study, with the independent variables being the reaction to a review of a restaurant at 3 levels, the reputation score at 2 levels, the number of previous reviews at 2 levels, the valence of the reviews at 2 levels, and the level of anonymity at 2 levels. Five dependent variables were analyzed: level of trust, likelihood of going to the restaurant, a choice question of whether to go to the restaurant, confidence in the decision and the NASA-TLX workload. This study found that the reputation scores complemented the reaction to a review, improving the trust in the information and confidence in the decision made. The findings suggest that incorporating a user rating scale such as the reputation score of a user deters people from writing false or biased reviews and helps improve their accuracy. Although no significant effect of level of anonymity was found in this study, additional personal information about the users writing the review such as photos or other social media links may make a significant difference in the decision-making process.
The phylogenomic position of the Critically Endangered Largetooth Sawfish Pristis pristis (Rhinopristiformes, Pristidae), inferred from the complete mitochondrial genome

Abstract The complete mitogenome of the Critically Endangered Largetooth Sawfish Pristis pristis (Rhinopristiformes, Pristidae) is presented in this study. The genome is 16,912 bp in length with a nucleotide base composition of 32.0% A, 26.5% C, 13.2% G, and 28.3% T, containing 37 genes typical of vertebrates. Two start (GTG and ATG) and two stop (TAG and TAA/T) codons are found in the protein-coding genes. The 22 tRNA genes range from 66 bp (tRNA-Ser2) to 75 bp (tRNA-Leu1). The tRNA-Pro gene is duplicated with an unknown sequence between the two copies. Bayesian phylogenetic reconstruction showed that P. pristis clusters with the Pristis clade with strong posterior probability (100%).