Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Assessing the Ability of Durum Wheat-Thinopyrum ponticum Recombinant Lines to Suppress Naturally Occurring Weeds under Different Sowing Densities

The use of synthetic chemicals in cropping systems is becoming more controversial and highly debated worldwide, owing to its impacts on the environment, food safety, and human health. For this reason, sustainable crop management strategies are gaining increasing interest. In this perspective, agronomic practices and use of disease-resistant and competitive genotypes represent valuable tools in the hands of farmers. The competitive ability of two durum wheat-Thinopyrum ponticum recombinant lines (named R5 and R112), carrying effective resistance genes towards main rust diseases and enhanced yield-related traits in their alien chromosome segments, was investigated in comparison with that of a widely grown commercial cultivar (Tirex), under two sowing densities (250 and 350 seeds m−2), in the presence or absence of weeds. Yield-related traits and specific attributes that confer competitive ability were recorded in two subsequent seasons. R5 was the most weed-suppressive genotype, whereas Tirex was the least competitive. R112 was the best yield performer under favorable weather conditions (5.6 t ha−1), while it suffered the presence of weeds in the drier year (−38% grain yield). Although 350 seeds m−2 appeared to be the most effective sowing density for suppression of weeds (−16% weed biomass), adoption of the lower density can optimize grain yield and limit weed infestation in dry seasons. A suitable combination of sowing density and genotype choice can improve yield performance. R112 required the higher sowing rate to maximize grain yield (+43% as compared to the lower sowing rate), while R5 proved to be a density-neutral genotype.
Mooring scientific instruments on the seabed—Design, deployment protocol and performance of a recoverable frame for acoustic receivers

Acoustic telemetry is increasingly used to observe and monitor animal movements in aquatic environments. Practical deployment mechanisms are needed to sustain consistent data flows in challenging environments. A tripod frame was developed to facilitate the deployment of acoustic receivers on the seabed, allowing for the recovery of all equipment with an acoustic release system. The procedures of deployment and recovery proved to be practical and efficient during a field trial in the North Sea. Compared to a common cabled design, the tripod frame realized a significantly higher detection probability and performed consistently better at greater distance and louder ambient noise. In the context of ocean observation in challenging environments, the tripod frame is a useful tool for temporary and continuous monitoring of tagged fish presence, potentially fitted with additional instruments.
COMPARISON OF GLIADIN AND GLUTENIN SUBUNITS IN THE TRITICINAE BY SDS-POLYACRYLAMIDE GEL ELECTROPHORESIS

Protein subunits obtained by reduction of gliadin and glutenin from Triticum aestivum L. em. Thell. (AABBDD), Triticum monococcum L. (AA), Aegilops squarrosa L. (DD) and Secale cereale L. (RR) were examined by sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Seven of the twelve gliadin subunits and nine of the fifteen glutenin subunits present in T. aestivum had molecular weights (MW’s) similar to subunits present in both T. monococcum and A. squarrosa. An additional five gliadin and five glutenin subunits present in T. aestivum had MW’s similar to subunits present in T. monococcum or A. squarrosa. S. cereale had a lower number of gliadin and glutenin subunits. However, three of four gliadin subunits and eight of nine glutenin subunits had MW’s similar to subunits present in the Triticum–Aegilops groups. These results have been used to consider evolutionary relationships in the Triticinae.
Phenotypic parameters of macromineral and phenolic compound concentrations and selection of Andean bean lines with nutritional and functional properties

ABSTRACT The development of Andean common bean lines that contain high macromineral concentration and a phenolic compound concentration that meets the consumer’s dietary requirements is unprecedented in the literature. The objectives of this study were to obtain estimates of phenotypic parameters for the macromineral and phenolic compound concentrations in a recombinant inbred line (RIL) population of Andean beans and to select lines with nutritional and functional properties. The RIL was obtained from a cross between cultivars Hooter and Cal 96. The lines in the F5:6 and F5:7 generations and the cultivars were evaluated in two consecutive experiments in the same experimental area. The concentrations of potassium (K), phosphorus (P), magnesium (Mg), and calcium (Ca) were determined by acid digestion, whereas the phenolic compound concentration was obtained by the Follin-Ciocalteu method. A significant genotype effect was observed for all traits evaluated in the F5:6 and F5:7 generations. Intermediate-to-high heritability estimates (h2: 43.15 to 98.85%) were obtained for the concentrations of K, P, Mg, Ca and phenolic compounds. These traits exhibited transgressive segregation and quantitative inheritance in the RIL population of Andean beans. Lines DFA 34-18 and DFA 46-18 have high K and P concentrations and low phenolic compound concentration and will be selected by the human nutrition. Lines DFA 04-18 and DFA 05-18 and cultivars Pérola, IPR Siriri, IAC Imperador, and IPR Tangará showed high concentrations of two or more macrominerals and phenolic compounds; therefore, they have nutritional and functional properties and will be selected by the breeding program.
Immobilization of the Solanum tuberosum epoxide hydrolase and its application in an enantioconvergent process

Five supports have been evaluated for the immobilization of the epoxide hydrolase from Solanum tuberosum (StEH) by adsorption. The highest immobilization yield (90–99%) and the maximum EH (epoxide hydrolase) activity (0.6 U g−1 wet support) were obtained by ionic adsorption onto DEAE-cellulose. Although the activity recovered upon immobilization of StEH onto DEAE-cellulose was low, a notable stabilization factor of 6.9 at 65°C was obtained. In addition, the immobilized StEH showed a higher temperature for maximal activity (57°C) and the optimal pH (5.0) was shifted one unit towards the acidic region as compared to the free enzyme. Immobilized StEH was successfully reused in six consecutive hydrolytic kinetic resolutions of rac-pCSO without noticeable loss in activity. Finally, the sequential use of immobilized StEH with the immobilized EH from Aspergillus niger (AnEH) in a repeated batch reactor, operated for five cycles, enabled the enantioconvergent preparation of the corresponding (R)-diol, which was thus obtained with an ee of 89% and an overall yield of 100%.
Factors that Increase Active Participation by Higher Education Students, and Predict the Acceptance and Use of Classroom Response Systems

An increasing number of studies have addressed and proved the positive impact of classroom response systems (CRS) on learning performance in active learning environments but few focus on the parameters for the adoption and use of this technology in the classroom. This paper reviews research that has tested the parameters that influence the acceptance and use of CRS in the higher education context by utilizing the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (Venkatesh, Morris, Davis, & Davis, 2003). The research tested a set of hypotheses that predict the conditions under which CRS technology use was likely to emerge and persist in the active learning environment. The results highlight the importance of students' habit and performance expectancy on CRS use; the added construct of trust also indicates a significant influence on CRS use intention. The findings will better enable educators to effectively use CRS technology to support active learning.
Chemical Composition, Antioxidant and Antimicrobial Activities of Pimpinella enguezekensis : A Novel Species from Anatolia, Turkey- Fruit Essential Oil

Abstract Essential oil was obtained from Pimpinella enguezekensis, a novel species found in Eastern Anatolia, Turkey. The samples were collected in Agilbasi (Engüzek), Malatya, Turkey, where the new species was first discovered. The essential oil was isolated through hydro distillation and analyzed through GC/FID- MS. The average essential oil obtained was 3.7 %, and 21 compounds, accounting for 99.2 % of the essential oil, were identified. The major components of P. enguezekensis essential oil were trans-anethole (86.8 %), methyl chavicol (4.8 %), and pseudoisoeugenol 2-methylbutyrate (3.5 %). DPPH and β-carotene/linoleic acid assays revealed that this essential oil had significant antioxidant activities. It also showed moderate antimicrobial activities against six bacterial and two yeast species. Its composition, antioxidant and antimicrobial properties were studied for the first time.
Group-Size Effect on Vigilance and Foraging in a Predator-Free Population of Feral Goats (Capra hircus) on the Isle of Rum, NW Scotland

Many previous studies have found that as group size increases, individual vigilance levels decrease and forage intake increases (group-size effect), but few such studies have considered the impact of within-group interactions and other confounding factors on the direction of group-size effects. A free-ranging population of feral goats (Capra hircus), with little predation threat, was studied on the Isle of Rum (northwest Scotland), from Jun. to Nov. 2000, to investigate the effects of group size on individual vigilance levels and foraging efficiency after taking into account the effect of confounding factors (e.g. sex, season, time of day, habitat, predation risk) and within-group interactions (via changes in movement rates while feeding). Our results show that, while group size exerted a negative influence on individual vigilance levels and a positive effect on movement rate, foraging efficiency never increased with group size and even decreased at certain times of day. There was no sex difference in individual vigilance in feral goats, but foraging efficiency was higher in females than in males. Goats were more vigilant in fall than in summer. The results imply that the benefits for foraging obtained from the reduced vigilance level in larger groups may be constrained or offset by increased interaction (or competition) within larger groups even in a population that faces negligible predation risk.
Exploring Race Consciousness among South Korean College Students through Sport

ABSTRACT The purpose of the study was to explore race consciousness among South Korean college students amid the shifting sociocultural dynamics in South Korea and aimed to reveal how their race consciousness intersected with sport. This study was guided by arguments advanced by scholars in Black studies, Whiteness studies, and Critical Race Theory (CRT). Descriptive-qualitative research design was used. The participants were four male and four female South Korean college students (n = 8, mean age = 21.5 years old). Data were collected via in-depth, face-to-face interviews and analyzed through an inductive content analysis approach. The major findings revealed contradicting, conflicting, and paradoxical layers in the participants’ race consciousness related to sport. The participants formed and solidified their ideas about racial others and simultaneously saw the potential to change these ideas—especially about Black people—through sport. In short, the participants viewed sport as a powerful cultural tool to transform their race consciousness.
Model Tests on the Penetration Resistance of Bucket Foundations for Offshore Wind Turbines in Sand

Driven by the rapid development of offshore wind farms, bucket foundations have come to constitute a very promising form of foundation for offshore wind turbines, mainly owing to their efficient construction. However, the penetration resistance of the suction penetration of a bucket foundation, when calculated inaccurately, may lead to installation failure of the foundation. In this study, model tests were performed on the suction penetration of a mono-bucket mono-compartment foundation and a mono-bucket multi-compartment foundation in saturated fine marine sand, aiming to compare their penetration resistances and critical suctions, and the development of a soil plug in the two models was analyzed. The results will provide a design reference for the penetration construction of bucket foundations for offshore wind turbines.
Global adjoint tomography—model GLAD-M25

Building on global adjoint tomography model GLAD-M15, we present transversely isotropic global model GLAD-M25, which is the result of 10 quasi-Newton tomographic iterations with an earthquake database consisting of 1480 events in the magnitude range 5.5 ≤ Mw ≤ 7.2, an almost sixfold increase over the first-generation model. We calculated fully 3-D synthetic seismograms with a shortest period of 17 s based on a GPU-accelerated spectral-element wave propagation solver which accommodates effects due to 3-D anelastic crust and mantle structure, topography and bathymetry, the ocean load, ellipticity, rotation and self-gravitation. We used an adjoint-state method to calculate Fréchet derivatives in 3-D anelastic Earth models facilitated by a parsimonious storage algorithm. The simulations were performed on the Cray XK7 ‘Titan’ and the IBM Power 9 ‘Summit’ at the Oak Ridge Leadership Computing Facility. We quantitatively evaluated GLAD-M25 by assessing misfit reductions and traveltime anomaly histograms in 12 measurement categories. We performed similar assessments for a held-out data set consisting of 360 earthquakes, with results comparable to the actual inversion. We highlight the new model for a variety of plumes and subduction zones.
A scoping review of the resources needed to deliver anterior cruciate ligament physiotherapy rehabilitation in randomised controlled trials

Abstract Background: The Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) stabilises the knee and is commonly injured in sport. Surgical repair and rehabilitation are common. However, rehabilitation randomised controlled trials do not always report the resources used to deliver ACL rehabilitation. This may lead to suboptimal availability of resources for evidence based care. Objective: To identify the resources used to deliver multimodal ACL rehabilitation in randomised controlled trials Methods: Comprehensive searches, combining ‘anterior cruciate ligament’, and ‘rehabilitation’ with the Cochrane RCT filter, were conducted of Medline, Embase, Cinahl, PeDro, Sports Discus and the Cochrane Library. Adults post ACL reconstruction were included. The intervention and comparator were physiotherapy for post-operative rehabilitation. Outcomes were the resources required to deliver rehabilitation, and study type was randomised controlled trials. Papers were screened against the criteria; data were charted and narrative synthesis applied. Results: Fourteen studies reported on 599 patients. The interventions ranged from 4 to 36 weeks. Physiotherapy was typically an hour and ranged from 1 to 5 sessions/week. Resources included a gym environment with rehabilitation equipment such as resistance machines, free weights, cardiovascular and neuromuscular control equipment, and an experienced physiotherapist. Conclusions: Implications for future studies include the need for a more detailed report of the resources used in RCTs. Accurate reporting would help healthcare decision makers to effectively manage resources when implementing evidence based care. Findings can be considered as criteria against which to audit resource provision.
Preliminary Evidence for Association of Prolactin and Prolactin Receptor Genes with Milk Production Traits in Chinese Holsteins

Abstract Hu, X. , Lü, A. , Chen, H. , Gao, X. , Xu, H. , Zhang, C. , Fang, X. and Lei, C. 2009. Preliminary evidence for association of prolactin and prolactin receptor genes with milk production traits in Chinese Holsteins. J. Appl. Anim. Res., 36: 213–217. Genetic polymorphisms of prolactin (PRL) and prolactin receptor (PRLR) genes in Chinese Holstein cattle were detected by PCR-SSCP methods. Polymorphisms were observed in both genes and direct sequencing confirmed the A>G mutation at position 8398 in exon 4 of PRL gene and the A>C mutation at position 7866 in intron 9 of PRLR gene. The frequencies of allele A/B and C/D were 0.894/0.106 and 0.781/0.219 for PRL and PRLR genes, respectively. Chinese Holstein cows with genotype BB were observed to be higher milk yielders than genotypes AA and AB (P<0.05). It is concluded that the polymorphism in the PRL gene may be a genetic marker in breeding for milk yields in Holsteins, but further validation is required.
Simulation of a Hybrid Energy System for Stratospheric Airships

Effective energy management systems are critical for long endurance stratospheric airships. This article presents a hybrid energy system consisting of one renewable (photovoltaic) and two energy storage (lithium battery/regenerative fuel cell) systems. After examining different models of energy harvesting, balancing, and storage, we present the details of a rule-based energy management strategy. We further validate it by presenting the various power curves and state of charge (SOC) measurements. The results indicate that the strategy is effective for energy management planning.
Methods of Honey Bee Stinger Removal: A Systematic Review of the Literature

Honey bee envenomations are a common occurrence and cause localized morbidity but rarely cause systemic symptoms or death in humans. Honey bee stingers have a uniquely designed venom sac with a piston-containing bifurcated stinger that can remain in human skin and continue injecting venom after stinging. For some time, it has been proposed that a retained honey bee stinger should be scraped out by a dull edge, as opposed to pinching and pulling out the stinger, in order to minimize the volume of venom injected. We undertook a literature review to evaluate the evidence regarding the effectiveness and safety of methods of honey bee stinger removal. The initial search identified 23 articles of interest; following title and abstract screening, two studies met the inclusion criteria. The included articles used different methods and models to evaluate the relationship between venom injection over time, and one of these studies also compared different methods of stinger removal. The literature review was limited by the small number of studies on the topic, but both included studies include findings relevant to the clinical question of interest. Based on the available evidence, a retained honey bee stinger should be removed as quickly as possible, and there appears to be no disadvantage in doing it by pinching and pulling.
Pseudo-3D Vision-Inertia Based Underwater Self-Localization for AUVs

Autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) play an important role in subaqueous construction and oceanographic survey, in which AUV self-localization is a crucial component. Current localization methods mainly depend on expensive acoustic positioning systems, which limit the wide application of AUVs. In this paper, referring to the low-cost visual localization method and focusing on challenges caused by underwater environment, we propose an underwater self-localization method based on Pseudo-3D vision-inertia for AUVs. The proposed method merges depth information into 2D visual image to achieve continuous and robust localization under dramatically changing underwater environment. In order to decrease errors, we propose an online fusion method based on tightly-coupled nonlinear optimization to fuse the measurements of the pre-integrated inertial measurement unit and the observations from the down-looking camera. We also optimize four degrees-of-freedom pose graph to enhance the global consistency and design an online loop detection module to realize the underwater relocalization. In addition, we develop a low-cost, portable, and small volume sensor suite for underwater vehicle localization and test the proposed self-localization method. We test the proposed method in the underwater environment using the custom-made sensor suite, and the experimental results demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method under dramatically changing underwater environment.
Structural and comparative study of water confined in a mesoporous bioglass by X-ray total scattering

ABSTRACT The structural properties of water confined in two silica matrices characterised by well-controlled organised porosity with a narrow pore size distribution: i) a new mesoporous bioactive glass (MBG 92S6) and ii) SiO2 MCM-41 were studied using laboratory total X-ray scattering coupled to molecular pair distribution function (PDF). The PDF analysis shows that the hydrophilic/hydrophobic character of the water-bioglass interface affects the structural properties of the confined water in the same way as water confined in different mesoporous matrices presenting an intermediate hydrophilic and hydrophobic interface regardless of their pore size and distribution. We also compare the effect of the confinement inside MBG 92S6 and different mesoporous hydrophilic and hydrophobic silica matrices. We show that the pore surface properties have a stronger influence on the structural organisation of the confined water than the pore size distribution.
Control, by Brassica seed pomace combined with Pseudomonas boreopolis, of damping-off of watermelon caused by Pythium sp.

A total of 57 isolates of fungi, bacteria, and actinomycetes were screened for their ability to degrade the glucosinolate sinigrin. Pseudomonas boreopolis was the most effective among 26 isolates having the capacity to degrade sinigrin. Treatment with ground Brassica seed pomace and Pseudomonas boreopolis resulted in the release of volatile compounds. Gas-chromatography analyses allowed to identify allyl isothiocyanate and 3-butenyl isothiocyanate as the major volatile compounds released from enzymatic hydrolysis of glucosinolates by Pseudomonas boreopolis. These compounds had strong fungicidal activity against Rhizoctonia solani AG-4, Sclerotium rolfsii, Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, Pythium aphanidermatum, and Phytophthora capsici as revealed by reduced mycelial growth. They were also responsible for reducing the survival of zoospores and oospores of P. aphanidermatum. A large-scale greenhouse trial showed that amendment of growth media (Bas Van Buuren medium No. 4, 7mL; soil, 3 g) with 1% (mass fraction) of the ground Brassica seed pomace and Pseudomonas boreopolis (1 × 108 to 1.8 × 108 cfu/mL) was effective in controlling damping-off of watermelon caused by Pythium sp. , resulting in increased production of healthy, marketable seedlings.
Evaluating Equivalence and Confirming the Null in the Organizational Sciences

Testing and rejecting the null hypothesis is a routine part of quantitative research, but relatively few organizational researchers prepare for confirming the null or, similarly, testing a hypothesis of equivalence (e.g., that two group means are practically identical). Both theory and practice could benefit from greater attention to this capability. Planning ahead for equivalence testing also provides helpful input on assuring sufficient statistical power in a study. This article provides background on these ideas plus guidance on the use of two frequentist and two Bayesian techniques for testing a hypothesis of no nontrivial effect. The guidance highlights some faulty strategies and how to avoid them. An organizationally relevant example illustrates how to put these techniques into practice. A simulation compares the four techniques to support recommendations of when and how to use each one. A nine-step process table describes separate analytical tracks for frequentist and Bayesian equivalence techniques.