Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Solar Tides in the Middle and Upper Atmosphere of Mars

Solar tides are responsible for much of the spatial‐temporal variability of Mars' upper atmosphere (100–∼200 km). However, the tidal spectrum, its latitude versus Ls variability, and its vertical evolution remain uncertain. In this paper, Mars Climate Sounder temperature measurements at 76 km above Mars' areoid are used to construct a multiyear latitude versus Ls climatology of the tidal spectrum. The most important spectral components include the solar‐synchronous (“migrating”) components DW1, SW2, and the solar‐asynchronous (“nonmigrating”) tides DE3, DE2, DE1, SE1, S0, and SW1. The Mars Climate Database (MCD), which provides predictions from the Laboratoire de Météorologie Dynamique Global Climate Model, captures particularly well the amplitudes and key structural features of the solar‐asynchronous tides at 76 km that furthermore underly the large longitudinal structures in density that are observed between 100 and 200 km. Height‐latitude and latitude‐Ls structures of MCD density perturbations are therefore examined between 76 and 172 km and interpreted in terms of mean wind and dissipation effects. In particular, due to the smaller radius and more intense zonal‐mean zonal winds at Mars compared to Earth, Doppler‐shift effects are significantly exaggerated compared to Earth. Evidence is also provided for nonnegligible contributions to density variability from stationary planetary waves which arise from tide‐tide nonlinear interactions. It is moreover shown that MCD captures the salient amplitude and phase characteristics of the ∼±30–60% longitudinal density perturbations measured by the Mars Global Surveyor accelerometer. This, and the excellent MCD‐MCS agreement at 76 km, lends credibility to the ability of MCD to provide new insights into thermosphere density variability at Mars due to vertical coupling by solar tides.
Energy efficiency improvement of water pumping system using synchronous reluctance motor fed by perovskite solar cells

Perovskite solar cells (PSCs) are in the forefront of third‐generation of photovoltaics and gained a lot of attention as a very promising green technology toward direct solar energy conversion to electricity. PSCs are fabricated following solution‐processed techniques at low temperature and they present high power conversion efficiency exceeding 25%, enabling them to be attractive alternative to the silicon‐based devices. This research work proposes an efficient and cost‐effective photovoltaic (PV) pumping system based on PSCs. For this purpose, lab‐scale PSCs were fabricated and their characteristics were determined. In parallel, the geometry of a synchronous reluctance motor (SynRM) driving a 350 m3/day water pump was optimized for maximizing the output power, while minimizing the torque ripple simultaneously. In addition, a perovskite solar array feeding the SynRM via an inverter was designed and implemented. The inverter was properly regulated by a control system which optimized the maximum available power of the PSCs solar array and the SynRM characteristics. Finally, laboratory measurements were performed, including a power generator simulating the behavior of the PSCs array feeding the SynRM. The obtained results confirmed the experimental validation of the proposed approach.
Structure and dynamic of planktonic ciliate community in a large Neotropical river: the relevance of the pluviosity and tributaries in the biodiversity maintenance

Abstract: Aim : We investigated the spatial and temporal patterns of abundance and diversity of planktonic ciliate community, in the last undammed stretch of the Upper Parana River, Brazil. Methods : In order to reach this result, seven field campaigns were performed over two years. Plankton samples were collected from 10 transects through this stretch of the river (230 Km), near the banks and on the center, as well on seven of its tributaries. Results : 95 ciliates species were identified, among which the peritrichs were the most abundant while the order Hymenostomatida was the most specious group. We recorded a remarkable increase in abundance and species richness along the river, especially in the rainy period. Moreover, in this period we found an increase in the beta-diversity along the river, which consists in a remarkable distinction among the low, middle and high stretch of the river. In this way, continuous changes in the community structure of planktonic ciliates were evidenced, highlighting the importance of the precipitation and tributaries in the maintenance of the highest regional diversity in the studied area. Conclusion : Our results strongly suggest the requirement for conservation actions with the purpose to maintain those tributaries undammed, in order to avoid biotic homogenization processes and the consequent reduction of aquatic biodiversity in this important tropical ecosystem.
Modelling the synergy between fiscal incentives and foreign direct investment in Ghana

The purpose of the paper was to investigate the role of fiscal incentives in driving foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows into the Ghanaian economy based on data from 1975 to 2017 with the Eclectic paradigm as the theoretical basis. FDI inflows was the dependent variable whiles trade openness, corporate tax rate, exchange rate and market size were the independent variables with corporate tax rate as the main explanatory variable of interest. ,The autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) bounds test technique was employed to investigate Cointegration in the model. The results showed the presence of cointegration among the variables. ,The results revealed that corporate tax rates have a significant negative impact on FDI inflows into the Ghanaian economy in the long run and significant positive impact on FDI inflows in the short run. In the context of Ghana, the positive short-run relationship observed is attributed to the lag effect of tax policy on FDI inflows. ,One obvious limitation of the research is that, it does not identify the specific foreign businesses that are more deserving of a low corporate rate and to what extent can that boost FDI inflows in Ghana. Another limitation is that the data analyzed in the paper is exclusively for Ghana and the findings may not be generalized for other countries. ,Based on the research findings, it is recommended that the Ghana Revenue Service (GRA) restructures the corporate tax regime in the country to deal with the policy lapses. It is also recommended that low corporate rates should be maintained especially in respect of foreign companies that are into the production of goods and services for which indigenous companies in Ghana have a comparative disadvantage in order to drive FDI into the Ghanaian economy. ,This paper is unique for providing up to date and dynamic insights into the tax incentive and FDI nexus in the Ghanaian context.
IMPACT OF BIOACTIVE MOLECULES SECRETED BY LACTOBACILLUS ACIDOPHILUS LA-5 ON CLOSTRIDIUM DIFFICILE VIRULENCE FACTORS

IMPACT OF BIOACTIVE MOLECULES SECRETED BY LACTOBACILLUS ACIDOPHILUS LA-5 ON CLOSTRIDIUM DIFFICILE VIRULENCE FACTORS Afsaneh Najarian Advisors: University of Guelph, 2017 Dr. Mansel W. Griffiths Dr. Shayan Sharif Clostridium difficile is a leading pathogen of hospital-associated diseases including infectious diarrhea and pseudomembranous colitis. Increasing frequency and severity of diseases besides inconsistent results of antibiotic therapy, demand alternative therapeutic candidates using a different strategy to control pathogenicity of C. difficile. Unlike antibiotics, antivirulence compounds control bacterial infection without killing them or developing antibiotic-resistant. Reducing essential virulence factors in C. difficile including toxin production, adherence, and biofilm formation could substantially minimize its pathogenicity and lead to a faster recovery from the disease. This study aimed to investigate antivirulence effects of La-5 bioactive molecules produced by Lactobacillus acidophilus La-5 namely proteobiotics on the pathogenicity of C. difficile. Three clinically important strains of C. difficile (ribotypes 027, 078, and 001) were incubated with or without reconstituted La-5 cell-free supernatant (CFS). The C. difficile culture filtrates were collected for the assessment of quorum sensing, and expression of several virulence genes performing reverse transcription q-PCR. C. difficile attachment and cytotoxicity in human epithelial cells were monitored in vitro using human epithelial cells HT-29 and Caco-2 monolayers. Additionally, L. acidophilus La-5 was incubated in a medium containing whey protein, and inhibitory effects of its CFS were tested performing quantitative biofilm assay then visualized in scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Bioactive molecules caused a significant down-regulation in expression of some of the virulence genes mainly two essential toxin genes tcdA and tcdB and adhesion gene Cwp84 in all C. difficile strains. A substantial down-regulation in luxS expression was observed in ribotype 027 and 078, and 001 (P<0.05). La-5 bioactive molecules also reduced cytotoxicity and cytopathic effect of C. difficile culture filtrate on HT-29 and Caco-2 monolayers significantly (P < 0.0.5). Furthermore, pre-incubation of cell monolayers and La-5 CFS reduced attachment of the C. difficile bacterial cells on both cell monolayers. The biofilm formation and population of C. difficile cells encased in biofilms were significantly decreased within the treated cultures (P < 0.0001). SEM analysis also confirmed quantitative results showing a sufficient reduction in biofilm formation. Our study suggests that La-5 bioactive molecules provide a supportive adjunct therapy for C. difficile infection, prevent relapses, and improve disease outcome.
Studies on the Efficiency of the Impact of Paraffin Inhibitors on Lowering the WAT Temperature and Reducing the Amount of Paraffin Deposit

This paper discusses the issues of the impact of pressure and temperature on the precipitation of paraffin deposits from reservoir fluids in the presence of previously prepared paraffin inhibitors. Using a properly modified PVT apparatus, the temperature of the beginning of paraffin precipitation (wax appearance temperature—WAT) has been determined, below which the solid paraffin phase was captured on a specialized filter in various temperatures. Based on the conducted experiments, a boundary has been established separating the paraffin area (the presence of paraffins as their solid phase) from an area without paraffin. Measurements of the amount of paraffin using the filter allowed the determination of the WPC (wax precipitation curve), due to which additional data is provided regarding the amount of precipitated paraffin deposit below the WAT. The developed methodology enables to conduct the measurements within a wide range of pressures using the sample saturated with reservoir gas, which can test the crude oil sample that corresponds to the actual production conditions. Most known research methods do not allow such preparation of a sample and conducting the measurements under pressurized conditions; therefore, the produced results are subject to errors. The paper describes also the studies of efficiency and differences in the action of various paraffin inhibitors. Based on the performed research, a comparison was made involving the action of agents under the pressureless conditions of dead oil and pressurized crude oil samples saturated with gas. The performed studies allowed the determination of equilibrium conditions (in a pressure–temperature system), under which deposition of the solid paraffin phase occurs during the use of three various inhibitors. Based on the performed experiments, an area with a paraffin hazard was determined, along with an area without paraffins. Due to the separation of the precipitated solid paraffin phase, an increase in the mass of the paraffin deposit associated with a temperature drop was determined (wax precipitation curve), as well as the impact of the applied inhibitors on its course.
Development of Driftwood Capture Trellis for Capturing Driftwood in Agricultural Drainage Ditches

The flow of driftwood and soil into drainage from agricultural areas accelerates sedimentation and inflicts overflow damage after rainfall events due to insufficient discharge capacity, causing flooding on agricultural land. However, there have been few efforts to develop a driftwood capture trellis for agricultural drainage ditches, except for some suggested design criteria. In this study, we developed a driftwood capture trellis to capture driftwood in agricultural drainage ditches and evaluated its performance based on hydraulic characteristics. The facility was designed considering criteria for drainage and driftwood control barriers, as well as the properties of driftwood found near agricultural drainage ditches. Performance evaluation was conducted through hydraulic experiments. Driftwood capture trellises were installed in 400 mm drainage pipes and a total of 216 experimental runs were conducted: six runs each in six different velocity variations and six water depth variations. The results showed that the driftwood capture efficiency of the facility exceeded 60% at a velocity of 0.144 m³/s. Limited conditions for hydraulic experiments should be considered. The driftwood capture trellis for agricultural drainage ditches developed in this study could contribute to a reduction in overflow damage caused by driftwood sedimentation.
Redox status in the blood of ewes in the perinatal period and during lactation

Abstract The aim of the study was to determine the effect of the perinatal period on redox status indicators in the blood of ewes before and after lambing and during lactation. The study was performed on 12 ewes of the synthetic SCP line. Blood for testing of redox parameters was collected seven times: before pregnancy, 1.5 months and 24 h before lambing, 2 and 24 h after lambing, and in the fourth and eighth weeks of lactation. The following blood indices were determined by spectrophotometry: lipid peroxides, malondialdehyde, superoxide dismutase, catalase, plasma total antioxidant capacity, uric acid, urea, bilirubin, and creatinine. The tests showed that during the perinatal period reactions are generated which lead to oxidative stress. Oxidative stress in pregnant ewes was found to increase during the period before lambing and may persist even up to weeks 4-8 of lactation.
Effectiveness of fertilizer policy reforms to enhance food security in Kenya: a macro–micro simulation analysis

ABSTRACT Food security represents a key challenge in most Sub-Saharan African countries and in Kenya in particular where still a relevant share of the population lives below a minimum dietary energy consumption. Kenya addresses this concern with a noteworthy policy mix, aiming at giving to the agricultural sector a leading task in improving food security. This paper evaluates the impacts on food security of expanding fertilizer capacities in Kenya, combined with a set of additional policy changes targeting fertilizer use. In a top-down analysis, a specific Computable General Equilibrium (CGE) model is linked with a microsimulation approach. Scenarios present overall positive effects on key food security aggregates. The same is true for welfare. Nevertheless, the heterogeneity of households across and within regions suggests that improving input productivity through better market access and service extension are critical to reducing possible discrepancies across farmers, households and regions. The paper concludes on the need for a sound policy mix since increasing fertilizer production alone is not enough to enhance food security evenly. Among accompanying measures, intensifying extension services are essential especially for smallholders in their acquisition of better knowledge on the use of agricultural inputs.
Using homework tutoring to promote self-regulated learning in deprived pupils: a case study in Hong Kong

ABSTRACT With the aim to provide proper educational support for socially and economically deprived students, the present study examined a homework tutoring programme that focused on self-regulated learning (SRL) and implemented at an afterschool setting in Hong Kong. The programme was designed according to Zimmerman’s SRL model, integrated explicit and implicit instruction, and took a social psychologist perspective. The findings from multiple sources of data showed that the overall effect of the programme was observed as small to moderate yet the tutees’ positive changes in the use of four SRL strategies were reported: managing time, monitoring the use of cognitive strategies in doing homework, maintaining motivation and handling distraction, and arranging the sequence of assignments. The present study confirms the role of SRL-based homework tutoring in the promotion of deprived pupils’ SRL capacity. This result may encourage more research efforts in the future to explore proper educational support for deprived students at after-school settings, with an ultimate aim to reduce the gap of inequality in education.
Introduction of some species of Parastagonospora on poaceous plants in Iran

The main purpose of this study was to identify species of Parastagonospora in association with poaceous plants in Iran. Some species of Parastagonospora like P. nodorum causes a major loss to wheat production in the world. In the present research, two species including P. nodorum,and P. avenae were identified from different poaceous species. Parastagonospora nodorum was identifiedonPhalaris arundinacea. However, P. avenae was divided into two formaespecialsi.e. P. avenae f. sp. avenaria (Paa)onPhalaris arundinacea and Avena sativa, and the identified P. avenae f. sp. tritici5 (Pat5) onPhalaris arundinacea, Bromus hordeaceus and Aegilops tauschii. Species identification was done according to morphology of anamorph and molecular confirmation was performed on the basis of s-xylosidase gene sequence. Pat5 and Paa are reported from Iran for the first time and also all of the identified hosts are new to the world.
Organ specific mouse head coil for improved image quality in magnetic particle imaging

Magnetic particle imaging is a very useful tool in the detection of stroke. To study the ability of stroke in a mouse model the data acquisition is challenging as a mouse brain contains only a very small ratio of blood compared to large animals or humans. The effective concentration within the whole organ is therefore very small, especially compared to the heart or the liver. Typical MPI receiver coils however cover a sensitive region of around 30 mm to 50 mm and have a bore size of above 40 mm. This leads on the one hand to non-optimal signal coupling due to the distance to the particles and on the other hand strong signals from the heart can cause artifacts in the low signal regions. In this work we present a coil optimized for mouse brain imaging, which due to its small size, also dampens signal from regions outside of the coil. Int. J. Mag. Part. Imag. 6(2), Suppl. 1, 2020, Article ID: 2009046, DOI: 10.18416/IJMPI.2020. 2009046
Optimal distinctiveness in platform markets: Leveraging complementors as legitimacy buffers

Correspondence Karl Taeuscher, Alliance Manchester Business School, University of Manchester, Booth Street West, Manchester M15 6PB, UK. Email: karl.taeuscher@manchester.ac. uk Abstract Research summary: Optimal distinctiveness theory highlights that firms need to balance opposing pressures for differentiation (to gain competitive benefits) and conformity (to gain legitimacy). Yet, extant optimal distinctiveness research rarely considers that the pressure for conformity can substantially vary between competing firms. Studying the positioning and growth performance of competing platforms in the market for Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs), we find that platforms' access to high-status complementors—a common source of legitimacy in platform markets— substantially shapes the relationship between platforms' distinctiveness and user growth. Our longitudinal models show that platforms only benefit from a (moderately) distinctive positioning once they have buffered a certain amount of legitimacy. Our findings strongly suggest that firms can alleviate conformity pressures by accessing alternative sources of legitimacy. Managerial summary: When does differentiation pay off? We study this question in the increasingly important context of platform markets to explain differences in platforms' user growth. Our longitudinal study of Received: 5 July 2018 Revised: 11 July 2020 Accepted: 7 August 2020 Published on: 3 September 2020
Top–down effects of a grazing, omnivorous minnow (Campostoma anomalum) on stream microbial communities

Top–down control exerted by macroconsumers can strongly affect lower trophic levels and ecosystem processes. Studies of effects on primary consumers in streams have been focused on algae, and effects on bacteria are largely unknown. We manipulated the density of an omnivorous, grazing minnow, the central stoneroller (Campostoma anomalum), in experimental stream mesocosms (treatments with 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, or 7 individuals) to understand consumer effects on algal and bacterial abundance (chlorophyll a [Chl a] extraction, bacterial cell counts, biomass measurements) and bacterial diversity and community composition (via Illumina MiSeq sequencing of the V4 region of the 16S ribosomal RNA gene). Increasing C. anomalum density reduced algal biomass until density reached ~2 fish (5 g fish biomass/m2), and higher fish densities did not affect algal biomass. Fish biomass did not affect bacterial cell counts. Biofilm organic matter decreased with increasing C. anomalum biomass. Bacterial community composition was not affected by fish biomass, but variation in community composition was correlated with shifts in bacterial abundances. Evenness of bacterial operational taxonomic units (OTUs) decreased with increasing C. anomalum biomass, indicating that bacterial communities exhibited a greater degree of OTU dominance when fish biomass was higher. These findings suggest that this grazing fish species reduces algal abundance and organic matter in low-nutrient streams until a threshold of moderate fish abundance is reached and that it reduces evenness of benthic bacterial communities but not bacterial biomass. Given the importance of biofilm bacteria for ecosystem processes and the ubiquity of grazing fishes in streams, future researchers should explore both top–down and bottom–up interactions in alternative environmental contexts and with other grazing fish species.
The Effect of Probiotic Yogurt Containing Lactobacillus Acidophilus LA-5 and Bifidobacterium Lactis BB-12 on Selected Anthropometric Parameters in Obese Individuals on an Energy-Restricted Diet: A Randomized, Controlled Trial

Previous studies using probiotics have shown strain-dependent effects on body mass index (BMI), body mass, or fat mass (FM). The aim of this study was to evaluate how the addition of yogurt containing Lactobacillus acidophilus LA-5 and Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis BB-12 strains to a diet plan affects selected anthropometric parameters in obese people on an energy-restricted diet. Fifty-four subjects aged 20–49 (34.52 ± 9.58) years were included in this study. The recruited subjects were assigned to two subgroups: consuming probiotic yogurt along with a hypocaloric diet (GP) (n–27) or the same diet but without an intentional introduction of yogurt (GRD) (n–27) for 12 weeks. Both GP and GRD decreased body weight, BMI, fat mass and visceral fat by 5.59 kg and 4.71 kg, 1.89 and 1.61 kg/m2, 4.80 kg and 4.07 kg, and 0.68 and 0.65 L, respectively, although the obtained differences were not significant. Analysis of GP and GRD results separately at the beginning and end of the intervention showed that fat loss was substantial in both groups (p < 0.05). Consumption of yogurt containing LA-5 and BB-12 does not significantly improve anthropometric parameters in obese patients.