Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Kinetic effect of the taping on the ankle during a change of direction in basketball players

The purpose of this study was to compare the kinetic effect, with (WT) and without (WoT) the use of ankle taping, during a change of direction in basketball players. Twenty-two players were evaluated (11 men, 11 women; age = 21.50 ± 1.74 years, mass = 72.80 ± 13.14 kg, height = 1.71 ± 0.11 m). The functional task of “change of direction in 60°” was registered with a 3D motion analysis system and a force plate. The torques of eversion, plantarflexion, and ankle joint reaction force were evaluated during the braking phase, using an inverse dynamics method. To compare between conditions a t-student or Wilcoxon tests were used. The results revealed that the use of ankle taping yield a decrease in the anterior joint reaction force (WoT = 4.21 ± 1.36 N/kg vs WT = 2.92 ± 1.07 N/kg, p < .0001) and the eversion torque (WoT = 0.56 ± 0.24 Nm/kg vs WT = 0.51 ± 0.20 Nm/kg, p = .02) during a change of direction in 60o. In conclusion, according to the sample of assessed basketball players, the use of this bandage could contribute to the functional stability of the ankle, decreasing the torque of fibularis muscles and the shear anterior-posterior between the shank-foot segments.
Evaluation of an agropastoral system introduced into soybean fields in Paraguay: Positive effects on soybean and wheat production

Effects of an agropastoral system on the production of soybean and wheat were investigated by comparing, from 2003 to 2007, agropastoral plots that had been converted from 7-year pasture (guinea grass: Panicum maximum; 1996 to 2003) to crop cultivation, with control plots that had been continuously cropped over 10 years with soybean at the Japan International Cooperation Agency's Paraguay Agricultural Technology Center (CETAPAR-JICA). Soybean productivity in this area increased from 1979 until 1993, when yield peaked at 3.39 t/ha and then declined. In this study, soybean yields ranged from 1.48 to 3.56 t/ha in agropastoral plots and from 0.63 to 2.47 t/ha in control plots. In each year, the yield in the agropastoral plots was 1.1 to 2.4 times more than in the control plots. Wheat yields were also higher in agropastoral plots (1.59 to 3.17 t/ha) than in control plots (1.18 to 2.31 t/ha). In each year, yield in the agropastoral plots was 1.2 to 1.8 times more than in the control plots. Thus, soybean and wheat yields were sustained by introducing an agropastoral system. We also examined the chemical and physical properties of the soil under initial conditions in both plot types. The concentrations of phosphate, potassium and magnesium in surface soil in agropastoral plots were significantly lower than in control plots. The content of organic matter at soil depths of 0 to 60 cm in the agropastoral plots was significantly higher than in the control plots, and the physical properties of the agropastoral plot soil (gaseous phase, bulk density, and soil aggregates) were improved. We conclude that the agropastoral system positively affected all these properties.
Changes of seminal fluid sex steroids and milt quality indices during sequential striping of male Russian sturgeon, Acipenser gueldenstaedtii, Brandt and Ratzeburg (1833)

The present study was conducted to understand changes of seminal fluid sex steroids and milt quality of Russian sturgeon during sequential stripping. Milt samples were collected three times with 24 intervals. According to results, the values of sperm motility duration, sperm production and seminal fluid steroids including 17a-Hydroxyprogesterone (OHP), testosterone (T) and estradiol-17β (E2) decreased significantly during sequential stripping. The levels of OHP showed a close positive correlation with percentage and duration of sperm motility. Similar correlation was found between T and E2 with sperm concentration. The P concentrations did not have significant correlation with sperm quality parameters. Our results revealed that the ability of Russian sturgeon in production of milt with desirable quality decreased with repetition of milt collection. Changes of seminal fluid steroids may be an image of their serum changes during spermiation period. As well as, seminal fluid sex steroids may affect milt quality after spermiation.
Flood Risk Evaluation in Ungauged Coastal Areas: The Case Study of Ippocampo (Southern Italy)

The growing concentration of population and the related increase in human activities in coastal areas require numerical simulations to analyze the effects of flooding events that might occur in susceptible coastal areas in order to determine effective coastal management practices and safety measures to safeguard the inhabited coastal areas. The reliability of the analysis is dependent on the correct evaluation of key inputs such as return period of flooding events, vulnerability of exposed assets, and other risk factors (e.g., spatial distribution of elements at risk, their economic value, etc.). This paper defines a methodology to assess the effects of flooding events associated with basin run-off and storm surge in coastal areas. The assessment aims at quantifying in economic terms (e.g., loss of assets) the risk of coastal areas subject to flooding events. The methodology proposed in this paper was implemented to determine the areas subject to inundation on a coastal area in Southern Italy prone to hydrogeological instability and coastal inundation. A two-dimensional hydraulic model was adopted to simulate storm surges generated by severe sea storms coupled with intense rainfalls in order to determine the areas subject to inundation in the low-land area along the Adriatic coast object of this study. In conclusion, the economic risk corresponding to four different flooding scenarios was assessed by correlating the exceedance probability of each flooding scenario with the potential economic losses that might be realized in the inundated areas. The results of the assessment can inform decision-makers responsible for the deployment of risk mitigation measures.
Clonal differences in susceptibility to the dieback of Fraxinus excelsior in southern Sweden

Abstract Ash dieback damage was assessed and analysed on 16–22 year-old grafts in two ash seed orchards (Fraxinus excelsior L.). The grafts originated from 106 plus-tree clones selected from 27 stands in southern Sweden based on their phenotypes. The results obtained indicate that ash dieback disease is strongly genotypically controlled. There was considerable genotypic variation among individuals. None of the clones seemed to be totally resistant, but some exhibited reduced susceptibility and retained this resistance after 6 years under heavy infection pressure. Autumn phenology based on leaf coloration was subject to moderate genetic control (H 2 = 0.19). The genetic correlation between autumn phenology and damage was weak to moderate (r G from 0.38 to 0.60) and positive, indicating that susceptible clones have a prolonged growing season. There was no evidence suggesting that stands differed in susceptibility. Together with the high heritability of resistance, strong age×age correlations and weak genotype×environment interactions, this suggests there is good scope for breeding less susceptible trees for the future.
A study on relationship between human resources and strategic performance: The mediating role of productivity

Article history: Received: March 3, 2020 Received in revised format: March 25 2020 Accepted: May 2, 2020 Available online: May 3, 2020 The objective of the study is to investigate the mediating role of the productivity of the banks sector in Jordan based on the relationship between human resources and strategic performance from the point of view of the senior management managers and functional unit managers (human resources, marketing, finance and accounting). Human resources were measured through human resource activities. The population of the current study represented all the commercial banks in Jordan, the total number of which is 26. A survey questionnaire is prepared based on the published literature, and the data are collected from 371 respondents from the targeted banks. The necessary tests to ensure reliability and validity are performed using SPSS. The results indicate that human resources positively affected strategic performance and productivity. The findings also revealed that productivity positively mediated the relationship between human resources and the commercial banks' strategic performance. © 2020 by the authors; licensee Growing Science, Canada
The complete mitochondrial genome of Sorex minutissimus (Eulipotyphla: Soricidae)

Abstract In this study, the complete mitochondrial genome of Sorex minutissimus was sequenced and deposited to GeneBank for the first time using muscle tissue. This mitochondrial genome is a circular molecule of 16,700 bp in length and sequence analysis showed it contains 2 rRNA genes, 22 tRNA genes, 13 protein-coding genes, rep_origin, and D_loop. Phylogenetic analysis on the basis of 12 protein-coding genes except ND6 of 13 Soricidae species’ mitochondrial genomes using ML and BI demonstrated that S. minutissimus and other Sorex species were clustered into same clade.
Physiological Response of Southern Appalachian High-Elevation Rock Outcrop Herbs to Reduced Cloud Immersion

ABSTRACT Cloud immersion experienced by high-elevation rock outcrop plants reduces the leaf-to-air vapor pressure deficit (VPD), decreasing transpirational water loss. Frequent cloud immersion might ameliorate water stress in shallow-soil outcrop communities, increasing water use efficiency and growth. Current climate pattern predictions propose that Southern Appalachian cloud immersion frequency will decrease, potentially increasing water stress in rock outcrop plant populations. In this experiment, outcrop specialists Hydatica petiolaris (cliff saxifrage) and Solidago simulans (granite dome goldenrod) were grown in microcosms simulating current, reduced, and absent cloud immersion. Maximum photosynthetic rates, light saturation point and water use efficiency (WUE) increased, and transpiration decreased with decreasing immersion duration. Root mass, root-to-shoot ratio, and specific leaf mass were greatest in the reduced immersion treatment. Simulating nonimmersed abiotic conditions while measuring gas exchange in a leaf cuvette resulted in higher VPD, photosynthetic rate, transpiration, and lower WUE across treatments. Results indicate acclimation in response to immersion duration for some physiological parameters, suggesting the ability of these plants to adapt to changing climatic conditions. Further experimentation is needed to determine the effects of reduced cloud immersion on plant fitness.
Burned by Leverage? Flows and Fragility in Bond Mutual Funds

Does leverage drive investor flows in bond mutual funds? Leverage can increase fund returns in good times, but it can also magnify investors’ losses and their response to bad performance. We study bond fund flows to provide new evidence for the link between mutual fund leverage and financial fragility. We find that outflows are greater in leveraged funds during stressed periods and after bad performance, compared with unleveraged funds. We provide supporting evidence that leverage exacerbates the negative externality in investors' redemption decisions. In this regard, we find that fund managers in leveraged funds react more procyclically to net outflows compared with fund managers in unleveraged funds. Such procyclical security sales in leveraged funds may increase investors’ first-mover advantages and their response to bad performance. These findings suggest that leverage amplifies fragility in the bond mutual fund sector. JEL Classification: G01, G20, G23
Heat-No-Service: Reproductive lifetime performance of gilts inseminated on first versus second observed estrus in commercial piglet producing herds

Heat No Service (HNS) is an increasing managerial decision made in commercial piglet producing herds. Performance of gilts has been shown to be influenced by initial decisions made on them at their introduction in the breeding herds. Lifetime Reproductive performance comprising of parity total born piglets and lifetime total born piglets of gilts initially bred on first observed estrus (0HNS) was compared with that of gilts bred on second observed estrus (1HNS). Stored data from Porcitec database consisted of 2.072 gilts bred on first observed estrus (0HNS) and 2.453 gilts bred on second observed estrus (1HNS) totaling to 4.525 gilts. Data was statistically analyzed using the GLM procedure of IBM SPSS version 25. The results showed a significance difference (p<0.001) in lifetime total born performance of gilts bred at 0HNS (mean 93.9) and 1HNS (mean 95.7). There was also a significant difference (p<0.001) of total born piglets in parity 1, 5 and 6 in the 2 groups. There was an observed increased parity total born and lifetime total born when first time insemination of gilts was delayed to second estrus. The findings in this study favor the 1HNS breeding with an overall increased lifetime total born. Gilts inseminated at 1HNS produce 1.57 more pigs for lifetime as compared with those inseminated at 0HNS when observation is made up to P6. Producers in piglet producing herds could re examine their decisions for increased productivity by promoting many gilts into 1HNS but still maintaining the balance between breed targets and production schedules to remain competitive and profitable in the current global swine industry.
Eye for an eye? Frontline service employee reactions to customer incivility

Frontline service employees (FSEs) face high demands of emotional labor when dealing with difficult, and sometimes even uncivil, customer behavior while attempting to deliver service with a smile. The purpose of this study is to investigate whether employees reciprocate uncivil customer behavior. The authors investigate two potential processes – ego threat and perceived interactional justice – and further address boundary conditions of this effect. ,The data for this paper were collected in three studies: one field experiment and two online experiments using adult samples. Hypotheses were tested and data was analyzed using ANOVA and regression-based modeling approaches. ,Findings from a field-experimental study and online experiments show that FSEs offer lower service levels to uncivil customers. The authors further find that this effect is mediated by a perceived ego threat and that employees’ regulation of emotion (ROE), as part of their emotional intelligence, attenuates the effect of perceived ego threats on service levels. ,This study finds that perceived ego threat (but not perceived interactional justice) explains why employees respond negatively to uncivil customer behavior. Therefore, it offers an emotion-driven explanation of retaliatory behavior in frontline service contexts. Implications for theories focusing on service value co-destruction and customer incivility are discussed. ,The findings from this research show that ROE attenuates the impact of perceived ego threat on employee retaliatory behavior. Managerial implications include developing and training employees on emotion regulation. Furthermore, managers should identify alternative ways for restoring an employee’s ego after the employee experiences uncivil customer behavior. ,The authors propose and test two processes that can explain why employees reciprocate uncivil customer behavior to gain a deeper understanding of which processes, or a combination of the two, drive employee responses. Furthermore, the authors shed insights into boundary conditions and explore when employees are less likely to react to uncivil customer behavior while experiencing ego threat.
Mutations of the BRAF gene in ulcerative colitis‐related colorectal carcinoma

The Raf/MEK/ERK (MAPK) signal transduction cascade is an important mediator of a number of cellular fates including growth, proliferation and survival. The BRAF gene is activated by oncogenic Ras, leading to cooperative effects in cells responding to growth factor signals. Our study was performed to elucidate a possible function of BRAF in ulcerative colitis (UC)‐related colorectal carcinogenesis. Mutations of BRAF and KRAS were determined in 33 UC‐related colorectal cancers by direct DNA sequencing analyses after microdissection. Mismatch‐repair deficiency was assessed by immunohistochemistry for major mismatch‐repair proteins hMLH1, hMSH2 and hMSH6 and microsatellite analyses of the BAT25 and BAT26 loci. Hypermethylation of the hMLH1 promoter was also tested. The results obtained were correlated with histopathologic variables. Activating BRAF missense mutations were identified in 3/33 UC‐related cancers (9%), 2 of which exhibited a loss of hMLH1‐protein expression and hypermethylation of the hMLH1 promoter. Corresponding nondysplastic UC‐mucosa of these patients did not show BRAF mutations. KRAS mutations were found in 6/33 (18%) UC cancers. All 6 UC cancers with KRAS mutations had an intact BRAF gene as the 3 cancers with BRAF mutations had an intact KRAS gene. There was no significant correlation between BRAF or KRAS status and clinicopathologic variables. Our data indicate that BRAF mutations are not an initiating event in UC‐related carcinogenesis and are associated with mismatch‐repair deficiency through hMLH1‐promoter hypermethylation. Disruption of the Raf/MEK/ERK (MAPK) kinase pathway—either through RAS or BRAF mutation—was detected in 27% of all UC‐related cancers and thus plays an important role in UC‐related carcinogenesis. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Complementation of wild strawberry (Fragaria vesca L.) SPATULA (FvSPT) and SPIRAL (FvSPR) genes in Arabidopsis thaliana

: This study assessed the function of genes involved in wild strawberry ( Fragaria vesca L.) fruit development and maturation to better understand the mechanism of non-climacteric fruit ripening. SPATULA ( FvSPT ) and SPIRAL ( FvSPR ) genes of Fragaria vesca displayed differential expression between the green and red ripening stages. SPT , which encodes a bHLH transcription factor, was characterized in Arabidopsis thaliana L. where its recessive mutation caused degenerative carpel and fruit development. The spt mutant of A. thaliana had shorter, smaller, and wider spatula-shaped siliques than the wild type. SPT was expressed throughout the development of marginal and transmission tract tissues, conﬁrming its role in regulating the growth of these tissues. Two A. thaliana SPIRAL genes, SPR1 and SPR2 , are required for directional control of cell elongation. Recessive mutations in either of these genes decreased anisotropic growth of endodermal and cortical root cells and etiolated hypocotyls and caused right-handed helical growth in epidermal cells. The strawberry SPATULA ( FvSPT ) and SPIRAL ( FvSPR ) genes were ampliﬁed and spt and spr mutant A. thaliana plants were transformed with FvSPT::pGWB401 , FvSPR1-1::pGWB401 and FvSPR1-2::pGWB401 vector constructs. Silique length and seed number/silique in the A. thaliana spt mutant were effectively complemented by FvSPT whereas spr was almost fully complemented by FvSPR1-2 , but not by FvSPR1-1 .
Estimation of Variance Components and Heritabilities of Growth Characteristics in Morkaraman Lambs Using Different Statistical Methods

Abstract Bilgin, O.C. , Esenbuga, N. , Macit, M. and Karaoglu, M. 2004. Estimation of variance components and heritabilities of growth characteristics in Morkaraman lambs using different statistical methods. J. Appl. Anim. Res., 26: 83–88. Henderson's method 3, maximum likelihood (ML), restricted maximum likelihood (REML) and minimum variance quadratic unbiased estimation (MIVQUE) methods were used to estimate variance components and to predict heritabilities of birth weight, weaning weight and daily weight gain until weaning in Morkaraman lambs. The different variance components methods gave similar results. The moderately-high estimate of heritability for weaning weight, demonstrates an opportunity for improvement of this trait through genetic selection.
Comparison of Bray Curtis and Nei’s Genetic Distance on Mantel Test for Chicken Diversity Data

In this study we aimed to examine the effects of both Nei’s genetic distance and Bray Curtis distance versus geographical distance for Mantel test on chicken diversity data. Many researchers used Nei’s genetic distance which measure that genetic differences arise due to mutations and genetic drift but some researchers used Bray Curtis distance which used to quantify the compositional dissimilarity between two different locations. We used molecular data from 28 microsatellite loci with the sample size of 364 local chicken from 45 locations and Euclidean distance of this locations using Google Earth v.4. Mantel test results suggest that relationship between genetic differentiations and geographic distance between populations using Bray Curtis distance could be substituted for Nei’s genetic distance with great reliability on chicken diversity data.
ROLES OF DISTURBANCE, SEDIMENT STRESS, AND SUBSTRATUM RETENTION ON SPATIAL DOMINANCE IN ALGAL TURF

A common assumption of ecological theories addressing the causes of spatial dominance and stability in natural communities is that organisms have trade-offs between resistance to disturbance, environmental tolerance, and competitive abilities, i.e., that different species or groups of species dominate under different regimes of disturbance and stress. A multifactorial field experiment was conducted from June 1994 to October 1995 in a turf-dominated macroalgal assemblage on a rocky subtidal shore south of Livorno (western Mediterranean, Italy) to test the hypothesis that variable patterns of disturbance and stress influence the differential success of species, and to identify functional characteristics resulting in persistent monopolization of space. The experiment, which included manipulation of the depositional environment, was designed specifically to test whether patterns of recovery following abrasion or removal of the biota differed among patches of different sizes, produced at different times of the.
A Submilliwatt K-Band Low-Noise Amplifier for Next Generation Radio Astronomical Receivers in 65-nm CMOS Process

An ultralow-power <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$K$ </tex-math></inline-formula>-band low-noise amplifier (LNA) for next generation radio astronomical receivers fabricated in 65-nm CMOS technology is presented in this letter. A gate–source transformer feedback is utilized for the simultaneous noise and impedance matching. In order to achieve high gain with limited dc power consumption (<inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$P_{\mathrm {dc}}$ </tex-math></inline-formula>), a single-ended neutralization technique is applied to the circuit. According to measurement, the proposed <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$K$ </tex-math></inline-formula>-band LNA achieves a 19.1-dB small signal gain with 2.8-GHz 3-dB bandwidth (21.2–24 GHz) and noise figure of 3.6 dB with only 0.99 mW <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$P_{\mathrm {dc}}$ </tex-math></inline-formula>. To the best of author’s knowledge, this LNA shows the highest figure of merit (FoM), which is 7071 1/W, among published <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$K$ </tex-math></inline-formula>-band low-power LNAs.
Crops that stay green

Summary Genetic variation exists for foliar senescence and has, usually incidentally or empirically, been exploited for crop improvement. We review the incidence of delayed or inoperative senescence in maize, sorghum, oats, rice, wheat, fescue, soybean, french bean, fruit crops, trees and other species. The insights such variants give into the genetic control of leaf senescence, and the practical implications of improved understanding of the stay-green phenomenon are discussed.