Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Parametric and Semi-parametric Estimations of the Return to Schooling in South Africa

This paper estimates return to schooling for african and coloured women in South Africa. It compares parametric and semiparametric estimates of the sample selection model for the case of return to schooling. The parametric estimator is the one proposed by Heckman (1979) and the semiparametric estimator proposed by Newey (1991) and Klein and Spady (1993). It also attempts to correct endogeneity and mesurement error by using instruments of schooling. Following recent literature, the paper uses community variables primary and secondary school proximity and availability as instruments. Using instrumental variables increases the return to schooling substantially. Parametric corrections does not change the results but semiparametric corrections increases the return even more
The complete mitochondrial genome of the freshwater crab Sinolapotamon patellifer (Decapoda: Brachyura: Potamoidea)

Abstract We report the complete mitochondrial genome of Sinolapotamon patellifer for the first time, which is found to be 16,547 base pairs in length, and contains 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), two ribosomal RNA (rRNA) genes, 22 transfer RNA (tRNA), and one non-coding AT-rich region known as the D-loop. In addition, the mitogenome has 17 intergenic regions ranging from 1 to 1512 bp in length. The mitochondrial genome of S. patellifer is the first mitochondrial genome under the genus Sinolapamon, providing DNA data for species identification, enriching the species diversity of Brachyura, and providing a basis for further studies on population genetics and phylogenetics.
Contributions of residential coal combustion to the air quality in Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei (BTH), China: a case study

Abstract. In the present study, the WRF-Chem model is used to assess contributions of residential coal combustion (RCC) emissions to the air quality in Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei (BTH) during a persistent air pollution episode from 9 to 25 January 2014. In general, the predicted temporal variations and spatial distributions of the mass concentrations of air pollutants are in good agreement with observations at monitoring sites in BTH. The WRF-Chem model also reasonably reproduces the temporal variations in aerosol species when compared with the aerosol mass spectrometer measurements in Beijing. The RCC emissions play an important role in the haze formation in BTH, contributing about 23.1 % of PM2.5 (fine particulate matter) and 42.6 % of SO2 during the simulation period on average. Organic aerosols dominate the PM2.5 from the RCC emissions in BTH, with a contribution of 42.8 %, followed by sulfate (17.1 %). The air quality in Beijing is remarkably improved when the RCC emissions in BTH and the surrounding areas are excluded in model simulations, with a 30 % decrease in PM2.5 mass concentrations. However, if only the RCC emissions in Beijing are excluded, the local PM2.5 mass concentration is decreased by 18.0 % on average. Our results suggest that the implementation of the residential coal replacement by clean energy sources in Beijing is beneficial to the local air quality. Should residential coal replacement be carried out in BTH and its surrounding areas, the air quality in Beijing would be improved remarkably. Further studies would need to consider uncertainties in the emission inventory and meteorological fields.
Transcriptomic Analysis Reveals Stress Conditions of Human Gastrointestinal Conditions on Saccharomyce cerevisiae

Yeast has been used for the oral application of vac cines and drugs because it is relatively stable, no n-pathogenic and noninvasive in the gut compared to other microbial del ivery systems. However, been used orally, yeast wil l face new challenges represented by the Gastrointestinal cond itions which include several stress conditions such as heat shock, pH, oxidative and osmotic stress. These conditions will not only affect yeast behaviour but also affect ye ast expression and secretory systems as well. Although several previou s studies have investigated the effect of different stress conditions on yeast behaviour, most of them considered the effect of single stress factor. None of them investigated the multiple stress conditions found in the human gastrointestinal trac t. This study is the first to investigate the effec t of such complex conditions on the yeast. Genome-wide transcriptiona l analysis was performed to show the response of th e yeast cells to various stresses in the human gut including heat sh ock, pH, oxidative, and osmotic stress. Genes showi ng response to these stress conditions were clearly represented .
The Influence of Selected Wilderness Experience Programs in Changing Participant Attitudes toward Wilderness Purism, Privacy, and Tolerated Encounters (a Pilot Study).

The 1964 Wilderness Act was legislated to protect and maintain a portion of the nation's remaining wild areas as they were during pre-settlement times. In part, the intent was to provide the opportunity for primitive forms of recreation in surroundings where wilderness can be experienced on its own terms. However, overuse and related resource degradation have resulted in the loss of the primeval character of many wilderness areas, decreasing the opportunity for solitude. Solitude is specifically mentioned in the Wilderness Act as a critical component of wilderness. A study explored the effects of wilderness experience programs (WEP) on feelings of purism, privacy, and tolerated encounters. Preand posttests were administered to 42 college students who participated in a short-term WEP (about 5 days) and 64 participants in a long-term WEP (10-plus days). Pretest data did not show a relationship between participant concern for solitude and the number of encounters participants would tolerate and still consider their trip a wilderness experience. However, posttest data indicated that following a field experience, participant concern for solitude was significantly related to unwillingness to tolerate encounters with others in the wilderness. These results suggest that WEPs emphasizing wilderness education may effectively influence course participants to become a more educated wildland user constituency and to support use limits and other resource protection measures. (TD) Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made from the original document. The Influence of Selected Wilderness Experience Programs in Changing Participant Attitudes toward Wilderness Purism, Privacy, and Tolerated Encounters (a pilot study)
COPPER-RESISTANT STRAINS OF XANTHOMONAS AXONOPODIS pv. VESICATORIA (Doidge) Dye IN THE EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN REGION OF TURKEY

SUMMARY Bacterial spot, caused by Xanthomonas axonopodis (syn: campestris) pv. vesicatoria is a widespread disease of processing pepper in Adana and Osmaniye (eastern Mediterranean Turkey). According to our and pepper growers’ observations, chemical control by copper compounds has not been effective on the disease in commercial pepper fields for the last three years. Therefore, sensitivities to copper and streptomycin among strains were tested under in vitro conditions. In the summers of 20022004, sixty-seven bacterial strains were isolated from diseased pepper plants in the region. The strains were identified as Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. vesicatoria by morphological, physiological and biochemical tests, hypersensitive reaction on tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum cv. Samsun N), pathogenicity tests on pepper plants (a local cultivar, Bursa Yaglik), das-ELISA and amplification of the 355 bp hrp genes by PCR. Of the 67 strains, all were found to be tolerant to 100 µg ml -1 of cupper sulfate and 7% were resistant to streptomycin (20 µg ml -1 ).
Solution processing of TiO 2 compact layers for 3 rd generation photovoltaics

In this study, we introduce a new method for the deposition of TiO2 compact layers which involves the deposition of a wet film of an inorganic titanium (IV) precursor followed by fast hydrolytic conversion to crystalline TiO2 under near infrared radiative (NIR) treatment. With this, we aim to provide a scalable alternative to methods conventionally employed in laboratories for the fabrication of 3rd generation photovoltaic devices, such as high temperature pyrolysis or spin coating of organic titanium (IV) precursors. Optimization of our solution process is presented in detail. Structural features and crystalline properties of solution processed compact layers are characterized by FEG-SEM imaging and x-ray diffraction analyses and compared to compact layers produced by conventional laboratory techniques. Minimization of electron recombination is evaluated in standard liquid I/I3 dye-sensitized solar cells (DSC). The results show that a compact, homogenous, high coverage yield crystalline TiO2 anatase layer can be produced by sequential deposition of 2 to 3 solution processed titanium oxide layers, each in under 30s. In standard liquid I /I3 DSC the solution processed compact layers strongly increased the electron lifetime, n, when compared to cells prepared on a bare FTO substrate.
Heterologous and cross-species tropism of cancer-derived extracellular vesicles

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are naturally occurring cargo delivery vesicles that have recently received considerable attention for their roles in intercellular communication in many physiological and pathological processes, including tumourigenesis. EVs generated by different tissues demonstrated specific homing: in particular, cancer-derived EVs showed a selective tropism for the tumor tissue from which the vesicles originated. For this property, EVs have been proposed as drug delivery tools for anti-cancer therapies, although the limited knowledge about their in vivo tropism hinders their therapeutic applications. The current study aimed to characterize the targeting properties of cancer-derived EVs in vitro and their biodistribution in vivo, by using an imaging approach. Methods: EVs were generated from: i) murine lung (LL/2) and colon (MC-38) cancer lines, ii) human lung cancer cell line (A549) and iii) human liver biopsy samples from healthy individuals. EVs were loaded with fluorescent dyes alone or in combination with a biopharmaceutical agent, the oncolytic adenovirus (OV), characterized for charge and size and tested for their activity in cancer cell lines. Finally, optical imaging was extensively applied to study in vivo and ex vivo the biodistribution of EVs originated from different sources in different mouse models of cancer, including xenograft, syngeneic graft and the MMTV-NeuT genetically modified animal. Results: We initially demonstrated that even loading EVs even with a large biopharmaceutical oncolytic viruses (OVs) did not significantly change their charge and dimension properties, while increasing their anti-neoplastic activity compared to the virus or EVs alone. Interestingly, this activity was observed even if the EVs derived from lung cancer were applied to colon carcinoma cell lines and vice versa, suggesting that the EV uptake occurred in vitro without any specificity for the cancer cells from which the vesicles originated. When administered i.v (intravenously) to the mouse models of cancer, the tumour-derived EVs, but not the EVs derived from a healthy tissue, demonstrated a selective accumulation of the fluorescence at the tumour site 24 h after injection; adding OVs to the formulation did not change the tumour-specific tropism of the EVs also in vivo. Most interestingly, the in vivo experiments confirmed the in vitro observation of the generalized tropism of tumour-derived EVs for any neoplastic tissue, independent of the tumour type or even the species originating the vesicles. Conclusions: Taken together, our in vitro and in vivo data demonstrate for the first time a heterologous, cross-species tumour-tropism for cancer-derived EVs. This finding challenges our current view on the homing properties of EVs and opens new avenues for the selective delivery of diagnostic/therapeutic agents to solid tumours.
Slot Resonator with PBG Layers

 This paper shows the study and results of the three layers slot resonator with Photonic Band Gap (PBG) substrate. The full wave Transverse Transmission Line (TTL) method is used to calculate the complex resonant frequency, using double spectral variables. This method presents efficient and concise calculus in the determination of the structure parameters. Numerical results for the resonant frequency of three Layer’s substrate slot antenna, for s and p polarization of PBG material, for different thickness substrate and resonator length are presents. Key Worlds  TTL Method, PBG-Photonic Band Gap, Multilayer, Slot antenna.
Inoculation effect of nitrogen-fixing and phosphate-solubilizing bacteria to promote growth of black gram (Phaseolus mungo Roxb; Eng)

A total of 17 bacterial isolates including Azotobacter chroococcum (N=5), Azotobacter beijerinckii (N=4), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (N=4), and Bacillus sp (N=4) were isolated and tested for siderophore, HCN, ammonia and indole acetic acid production in vitro. The bacterial cultures were positive for siderophore, HCN and ammonia. Among the isolates, The amount of IAA produced by Azotobacter chroococcum and Azotobacter beijerinckii were 23.6 and 17.6 μg ml-1 respectiviely, whereas the phosphate solubilizers Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Bacillus sp showed maximum IAA production of 26.5 and 19.8 μg ml-1 of IAA in Luria Bertani broth. The single inoculation effects of N2-fixing and PS bacteria on the growth, chlorophyll content, P and N content of black gram plants in green house experiments varied considerably between the treatments. The N contents in roots and shoots differed considerably among the treatments.
Analysis of Barley Leaf Epidermis and Extrahaustorial Proteomes During Powdery Mildew Infection Reveals That the PR5 Thaumatin-Like Protein TLP5 Is Required for Susceptibility Towards Blumeria graminis f. sp. hordei

Powdery mildews are biotrophic pathogens causing fungal diseases in many economically important crops, including cereals, which are affected by Blumeria graminis. Powdery mildews only invade the epidermal cell layer of leaf tissues, in which they form haustorial structures. Haustoria are at the center of the biotrophic interaction by taking up nutrients from the host and by delivering effectors in the invaded cells to jeopardize plant immunity. Haustoria are composed of a fungal core delimited by a haustorial plasma membrane and cell wall. Surrounding these is the extrahaustorial complex, of which the extrahaustorial membrane is of plant origin. Although haustoria transcriptomes and proteomes have been investigated for Blumeria, the proteomes of barley epidermis upon infection and the barley components of the extrahaustorial complex remains unexplored. When comparing proteomes of infected and non-infected epidermis, several classical pathogenesis-related (PR) proteins were more abundant in infected epidermis. These included peroxidases, chitinases, cysteine-rich venom secreted proteins/PR1 and two thaumatin-like PR5 protein isoforms, of which TLP5 was previously shown to interact with the Blumeria effector BEC1054 (CSEP0064). Against expectations, transient TLP5 gene silencing suggested that TLP5 does not contribute to resistance but modulates susceptibility towards B. graminis. In a second proteomics comparison, haustorial structures were enriched from infected epidermal strips to identify plant proteins closely associated with the extrahaustorial complex. In these haustoria-enriched samples, relative abundances were higher for several V-type ATP synthase/ATPase subunits, suggesting the generation of proton gradients in the extrahaustorial space. Other haustoria-associated proteins included secreted or membrane proteins such as a PIP2 aquaporin, an early nodulin-like protein 9, an aspartate protease and other proteases, a lipase, and a lipid transfer protein, all of which are potential modulators of immunity, or the targets of pathogen effectors. Moreover, the ER BIP-like HSP70, may link ER stress responses and the idea of ER-like properties previously attributed to the extrahaustorial membrane. This initial investigation exploring the barley proteomes of Blumeria-infected tissues and haustoria, associated with a transient gene silencing approach, is invaluable to gain first insight of key players of resistance and susceptibility.
A reverse temperature‐size rule associated with a negative relationship between larval development time and pupal weight in a tropical population of Ostrinia furnacalis

Empirical studies demonstrate a negative relationship between body size and temperature [i.e. the temperature‐size rule (TSR)] and a positive relationship between body size and development time (a trade‐off). However, many exceptions are also reported. The present study tests the two relationships in a tropical population of the Asian corn borer Ostrinia furnacalis under a wide range of temperatures from 18 to 31 °C. The results show that larval time is decreased significantly and pupal weight is increased significantly with an increasing rearing temperature, exhibiting the reverse‐TSR. Growth rate is positively correlated with temperature. The relationships between body size and development time among individuals show a negative slope (i.e. pupal weight tends to decrease with increases in development time). Females are significantly larger than males at all temperatures, showing a female‐biased sex size dimorphism. It is also found that development time and pupal weight vary greatly among individuals, particularly at lower temperatures. The results of the present study demonstrate a reverse‐TSR associated with a negative relationship between larval development time and pupal weight in a tropical population of O. furnacalis.
A comprehensive global three‐dimensional model of δ18O in atmospheric CO2: 1. Validation of surface processes

[1] We have built the first comprehensive global three-dimensional model of δ18O in atmospheric CO2. The constructed model goes beyond all other approaches made until now, by simulating the diurnal variations and transport of CO2, δ18O of water, and δ18O of CO2. The CO18O fluxes are thereby dependent on the atmospheric CO18O composition. We have validated the model surface processes, showing that it compares well to other estimates and measurements of NPP, NEE, and stomata-internal CO2 mixing ratio (ci), except for high northern latitudes. Here, the model is considerably lower in NPP and higher in ci than other model estimates. However, estimates derived indirectly from observations tend to support our model findings. The water isotopes of rain are reproduced very well at all latitudes. The soil bucket model used in the model integrates incoming rain in one single value. The bucket approach overattenuates the isotopic variations of rain, and hence our isotopic source signature of respiration shows almost no seasonal cycle and is thus isotopically too depleted during summer.
Arctium minus (Hill) Bernh. (Asteraceae) aspartylendopeptidases with potentialapplication in the formulation of nutraceutical products

Food proteins encrypt bioactive peptides that can be released during gastrointestinal digestion or food processing by enzymatic proteolysis. Flowers of Carduae tribe, family Asteraceae, contain aspartic proteinases with milk clotting activity. Crude enzyme extracts with proteolytic activity were prepared from flowers of Arctium minus at pH 7.0, and were partially purified and characterized. Optimun bovine milk clotting activity was achieved with CaCl2 30 mM at 35 oC. Inhibition of milk clotting activity was only promoted by pepstatin A, a highly selective inhibitor for aspartic peptidases. Analysis of crude extract by isoelectric focusing and zymogram showed an unique active band (pI 5.0). Molecular exclusion chromatography (Sephadex G-25 Fine) was employed to eliminate pigments and phenolic compounds, in order to obtain the partially purified extract (EE). Whey bovine hydrolyzates were performed with EE and analyzed by SDS-PAGE. Hydrolyzed whey was ultrafiltrated, and low molecular fractions (peptide mass ≤ 3000 Da) showed angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitory activity. Therefore, these peptides with antihypertensive activity could be potentially used in food industry for formulation of nutraceutical products.
WOCE-Argo Global Hydrographic Climatology

Abstract. The paper describes the new gridded WOCE-Argo Global Hydrographic Climatology (WAGHC) (Gouretski, 2018). The climatology has a one-fourth degree spatial resolution resolving the annual cycle of temperature and salinity on a monthly basis. Two versions of the climatology were produced differing by the spatial interpolation performed on isobaric or isopycnal surfaces respectively. The WAGHC climatology is based on the quality controlled temperature and salinity profiles obtained before January 2016 with the average climatological year being in the range 2008 to 2012. To avoid biases due to the significant step-like decrease of the data below 2 km the profile extrapolation procedure is implemented. We compare the WAGHC climatology to the one-fourth degree resolution isobarically averaged climatology WOA13, produced by the NOAA Ocean Climate Laboratory (Boyer et al., 2013) and diagnose a generally good agreement between these two gridded products. The differences between the two climatologies are attributed basically to the interpolation method and to the considerably extended data basis. Specifically, the WAGHC climatology improved the representation of the thermohaline structure both in the data poor polar regions and in several data abundant regions like the Baltic sea, Caspian sea, Gulf of California, Caribbean Sea, and the Weddell Sea. Further, the dependence of the ocean heat content anomaly (OHCA) time series on the baseline climatology was tested. Since the 1950s, the both baseline climatologies produce almost identical OHCA time series.
Immigrant diversity and economic development in cities: a critical review

This paper reviews a growing literature investigating how ‘immigrant’ diversity relates to urban economic performance. As distinct from the labor-supply focus of much of the economics of immigration, this paper reviews work that examines how growing heterogeneity in the composition of the workforce may beneficially or harmfully affect the production of goods, services and ideas, especially in regional economies. Taking stock of the existing literature, the paper argues that the low-hanging fruit in this field has now been picked, and lays out a set of open issues that need to be taken up in future research in order to fulfil the promise of this work.