Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Physiological Performance of White Oat Seeds Treated with Phosphite-based Products

Aims: White oats are considered one of the most important cereals in the world. Currently, fertilizers based on phosphorus and silicon are being studied as inductors of resistance in the treatment of seeds, since they have as advantages such as low costs and excellent absorption by plants. The effects of seed treatment with phosphite resistance inducers are still unknown, being necessary the study in relation to interact with the seed at the time of twinning. Study Design: The experimental design used was completely randomized, with four replications, two commercial products based on phosphite FullTec Mais and Ultra Plus and five doses. Place and Duration of Study: The work was conducted at the Didactic Laboratory of Seed Analysis of the Faculty of Agronomy Eliseu Maciel of the Federal University of Pelotas (UFPel), Pelotas-RS, in 2019. Methodology: White oat seeds were used, produced in the 2018/2019 agricultural kharif and treated with commercial products based on FullTec Mais and Ultra Plus phosphites, in five doses: 0; 1.0; 2.0; 3.0; 4.5 mL for each 100 kg of seeds. The variables evaluated were first germination Original Research Article Monzon et al.; AJAAR, 14(2): 1-8, 2020; Article no.AJAAR. 60277 2 count (CP), germination (G), shoot length (CA), root length (CR), total length (CT), accelerated aging (EV) and total dry mass (MST). The data expressed as a percentage were subjected to analysis of variance to verify the effect of treatments. Then, the Duncan means test (P=0.5) was performed, for the discrimination between the treatment means. Statistical analyzes were performed using the R Core Team (2020). Results: The results showed that the FullTec Mais product stimulates the physiological performance of white oat seeds for the variables first germination count (CP), germination (G) and shoot length (CA), with a dose of 2 mL of the product per 100 kg of seeds that showed the highest expression. For the Ultra Plus product at a dose of 1 mL of the product per 100 kg of seeds it is more efficient in the accelerated aging test (EV), for the other variables it did not show significant differences. Conclusion: It is possible to use phosphite-based micronutrients in seed treatment, without causing physiological damage to the seed during the twinning process.
Identification of authentic and counterfeit Viagra tablets using near-infrared spectroscopic methods and machine learning algorithms

Counterfeit medicinal and lifestyles products are a global issue that impacts public health. Counterfeit products are often made in unsafe and unsanitary conditions before their release to the public without testing by regulatory bodies. One product that is particularly susceptible to online counterfeiting is Viagra, which is one of the highest selling medicines worldwide. A total of 57 Viagra tablets were used for the study; this included 27 authentic and 30 counterfeit tablets which were measured using near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS). Spectra obtained using the NIR spectrometer non-destructively were exported into a multi-paradigm numerical computing environment where machine learning algorithms (MLAs) were applied using Matlab 2007a. Four algorithms were used related to correlation in wavelength space (CWS), K-nearest neighbour (KNN), principal component analysis (PCA) and PCA combined with fuzzy C-mean clustering (PCA-FCM). The algorithms were applied unsupervised to the authentic and counterfeit tables with no prior labelling to any of the tablets. The results showed two clear groups/clusters between the authentic and counterfeit tablets. In particular, PCA and PCA-FCM showed further subgroups among the counterfeit tablets that corresponded to their varying manufacturing sources. In summary, the use of NIRS and MLAs proved an effective method for identifying counterfeit Viagra medicines rapidly and non-destructively.
Experimental Values of the Surface Tension of Supercooled Water

The results of surface-tension measurements for supercooled water are presented. A total of 702 individual measurements of surface tension of triple-distilled water were made in the temperature range, 27 to -22.2 C, with 404 of these measurements at temperatures below 0 C. The increase in magnitude of surface tension with decreasing temperature, as indicated by measurements above 0 C, continues to -22.2 C. The inflection point in the surface-tension - temperature relation in the vicinity of 0 C, as indicated by the International Critical Table values for temperatures down to -8 C, is substantiated by the measurements in the temperature range, 0 to -22.2 C. The surface tension increases at approximately a linear rate from a value of 76.96+/-0.06 dynes per centimeter at -8 C to 79.67+/-0.06 dynes per centimeter at -22.2 C.
Examining Structural Relationships among Night Tourism Experience, Lovemarks, Brand Satisfaction, and Brand Loyalty on “Cultural Heritage Night” in South Korea

The night-time economy is an important part of the urban economy and contributes significantly to modern cities’ GDP. The development of night tourism is one of the crucial means to enrich and prosper the night-time economy. Recently, as a popular topic of sustainable development, night tourism has received extensive attention. However, little attention has been paid to night tourism, especially from the emotional perspective of tourists. Furthermore, discussions on how and why tourists become interested in night tourism are still lacking. To fill the research gap, based on the theory of experience economy, we used the concept of lovemarks to explore the influence of tourists’ tourism experience and lovemarks on their brand satisfaction and brand loyalty. A self-administered questionnaire was completed by 487 tourists of “Cultural Heritage Night”, a night tourism brand in South Korea. The results indicate that tourists’ entertainment and educational experience significantly influence their lovemarks (both of brand love and respect), and esthetic experience only significantly influences brand respect. Furthermore, the influence of tourists’ lovemarks on brand satisfaction and loyalty is also validated. To retain the sustainable development of night-time economy and night tourism, local authorities and destination managers are recommended to provide night tourism brands (products) with optimal experience effects and entirely emotional and functional attributes.
Novel Laser-Based Technique for Measurements of Primary Atomization Characteristics of Liquid Jets

Abstract : The purpose of the research documented herein is to provide guidelines for the application of a novel optical technique, developed uniquely at Imperial College, London, UK, for measurements of primary atomization characteristics of liquid jets in different atomiser geometries. The novel technique measures the optical connectivity of a liquid jet leaving an atomiser by doping the liquid with a fluorescent dye (or using the natural fluorescence of the liquid) and illuminating the liquid body through the injector nozzle by a laser beam at a suitable wavelength. The liquid jet acts as an optical guide, which is interrupted when it breaks up, and, therefore, detection of the spatial, instantaneous fluorescent intensity distribution determines the distribution of the volume of liquid upstream of the breakup position, together with instantaneous intact length of the liquid jet. In addition, the surface wave instabilities along the air-liquid interface and the three dimensional structure of the liquid jet can be identified. The special feature of the novel technique is that the laser light is piped through the liquid nozzle, which provides its unique advantage over other techniques, since it eliminates the interaction of the laser light with the dense droplet field surrounding the liquid core that limits other techniques.
Assimilation Undercuts Authenticity: A Consequence of Women’s Masculine Self-Presentation in Masculine Contexts

We tested whether women’s sense of authenticity can be compromised by the expression of masculine characteristics and whether feelings of authenticity directly or indirectly connect masculine expression to a diminished sense of interest in a science position. In Study 1 (N = 105), we randomly assigned female undergraduates to present themselves as possessing traditionally high masculine characteristics or possessing non-masculine characteristics. They recorded a video “interview” for a science laboratory position and reported on their feelings of authenticity. Women in the masculine-expression condition reported less authenticity, which was in turn associated with less interest in the position. Study 2 (N = 240 women) showed that expressing masculine characteristics in a written “application” led to lower levels of authenticity and, in turn, less interest in the position. This effect occurred most strongly among women relatively high in feminine identification and low in masculine identification. These studies indicate that women who express masculine characteristics in science settings may experience less authenticity, which can in turn contribute to diminished interest in a science position. These findings suggest that efforts to improve women’s experiences in stereotypically masculine settings should focus on mitigating psychological connections between gender and success in those settings. Online slides for instructors who want to use this article for teaching are available on PWQ's website at http://journals.sagepub. com/doi/suppl/10.1177/0361684320947648
Association between elder abuse and telomere shortening in older adults: A 2‐year prospective study

Elder abuse is a public health issue associated with increased morbidity and mortality. Its impact on victims' health at the cellular level, however, remains unknown. This study assessed the association between abuse exposure and shortening of telomere length (TL), a promising molecular marker for biological aging, in older victims.
Effect of tip size and experimental conditions on nano-scale friction testing

Assessment of nano-tribological properties (friction and wear) on polymer surface helps to understand their scratch, mar and wear properties. More polymers are used now for automotive, electronics, appliances, and building and constructions industries due to aesthetics and design freedom. Owing to their lower mechanical properties, polymers are vulnerable to surface damage and deteriorate their morphology, functionality, and aesthetics with time. In this study, nano-indenter was used for measuring friction and wear properties varying test parameters and indenter tips. A Berkovich tip (B-tip) with radius of ∼50 nm and a conical tip (C-tip) with 60° cone angle and tip radius of 1000 nm were used. Polyoxy methylene (POM) with additives were chosen for friction testing. Higher coefficient of friction (COF) for C-tip was observed compared to B-tip and this explained based on the higher tip-material interactional area for C-tip. COF was decreased with higher additive concentration and same trend was followed for wear depth for the B-tip. For C-tip, COF was increased with the testing loads and corresponding wear depth were higher for higher load. Change of COF with test velocity was not showing any specific trend. Shallow wear depth using B-tip compared to C-tip may be better for probing top surface of the materials. Nano-scale tribo-mechanical evaluation techniques are uniquely suited for fundamental understanding and screening many additives quickly. Observed wear properties not only depend on the additives added to the formulation, but may also be influenced by the geometry of the tip.
Development and Testing of a Methodology for the Assessment of Acceptability of LKA Systems

In recent years, driving simulators have been widely used by automotive manufacturers and researchers in human-in-the-loop experiments, because they can reduce time and prototyping costs, and provide unlimited parametrization, more safety, and higher repeatability. Simulators play an important role in studies about driver behavior in operating conditions or with unstable vehicles. The aim of the research is to study the effects that the force feedback (f.f.b.), provided to steering wheel by a lane-keeping-assist (LKA) system, has on a driver’s response in simulators. The steering’s force feedback system is tested by reproducing the conditions of criticality of the LKA system in order to minimize the distance required to recover the driving stability as a function of set f.f. b. intensity and speed. The results, obtained in three specific criticality conditions, show that the behaviour of the LKA system, reproduced in the simulator, is not immediately understood by the driver and, sometimes, it is in opposition with the interventions performed by the driver to ensure driving safety. The results also compare the performance of the subjects, either overall and classified into subgroups, with reference to the perception of the LKA system, evaluated by means of a questionnaire. The proposed experimental methodology is to be regarded as a contribution for the integration of acceptance tests in the evaluation of automation systems.
Local Versus National Identity in Hong Kong, 1998–2017

ABSTRACT In understanding why the proportion of Hong Kong people whose local identity overshadows their national identity has been increasing in the past decade, two perspectives have been considered: the birth cohort and the periodic perspectives. However, because previous studies have been based on cross-sectional surveys, they have failed to examine both cohort and period effects on trends in identification in Hong Kong. A cross-sectional survey approach has two limitations: (i) an inability to distinguish the net effects of cohort from that of age, in that there is an exact linear dependency between age and cohort; and (ii) a lack of information on periodic variables. In order to overcome these limitations, this article is based on a pooled dataset of longitudinal surveys combined with official statistics from 1998 to 2017 and employs an age-period-cohort analysis. It is found that both cohort and period effects have contributed to the strengthening of local identity in the past decade. Those born in the 1980s or later are more likely to identify as Hongkongers than as Chinese. An influx of tourists from mainland China and a decrease in satisfaction with the central government have also contributed to the rise of a local over a national identity.
Digital modeling on the nonlinear mapping between multi‐source monitoring data of in‐service bridges

Nonlinear mapping of the fuzzy relation exists between structural inputs and outputs, as well as between structural global and local response. It is difficult for the numerical simulation to introduce the nonlinear effects of the variability of loading effects and the uneven deterioration of structure. The big monitoring data make it feasible to mine these nonlinear effects, and the network of deep learning is a good tool to establish the nonlinear mapping model between the multi‐source monitoring data. Based on the temperature, strain, and dynamic displacement data from the structural health monitoring (SHM) system of an in‐service bridge, the deep learning regression network of long short‐term memory (LSTM) is designed and trained, which is used for modeling the nonlinear mapping between the structural input‐output and the structural global‐local response. The digital model of the nonlinear mapping of the temperature to temperature‐induced strain, dynamic displacement to vehicle‐induced strain, and vehicle‐induced strain to dynamic displacement is established by the deep learning of LSTM regression network. The established nonlinear mapping model can be used to recover the abnormal and missing data with multi‐source data, and it digitally linked the structural input‐output and the structural global‐local response. Then, the utilization of SHM data analytics will be enhanced, and the digital modeling for the in‐service state of the bridge structure will be fast implemented.
Plant Fibre Crafts Production, Trade and Income in Eswatini, Malawi and Zimbabwe

The production of plant fibre products is considered a promising pathway for contributing to people’s livelihoods particularly in developing countries, where economic options might be limited. However, there are limited comparative studies across countries on plant fibre products, making it difficult to examine how local and broader biophysical, socioeconomic, cultural and policy contexts influence craft production patterns in terms of primary plant resources used, products made and contributions to livelihoods. Using household surveys for data collection, this paper presents findings from a comparative analysis of plant fibre craft production and income in three southern African countries, Eswatini, Malawi and Zimbabwe
Where Are White Roofs More Effective in Cooling the Surface?

By reflecting more sunlight, white (cool) roofs experience lower surface temperatures and produce less heating of the surrounding air. The effectiveness of cool roofs, quantified by the surface temperature difference between cool and regular roofs (ΔTs), is known to vary spatially. A common perception is that ΔTs is controlled by solar radiation that reaches the roof surface. Here we use an Earth System Model and a surface energy balance model to show that the spatial variability of ΔTs, when normalized by the albedo difference between cool and regular roofs Δα, is also controlled by an energy distribution factor that encodes the efficiencies of surface energy balance components in dissipating heat. Our results suggest that painting the roof white is more effective when the roof has less water‐holding capacity and smaller thermal admittance and is located in places with more solar radiation, less precipitation, and lower wind speed.
Long Non-coding RNA Aerrie Controls DNA Damage Repair via YBX1 to Maintain Endothelial Cell Function

Aging is accompanied by many physiological changes. These changes can progressively lead to many types of cardiovascular diseases. During this process blood vessels lose their ability to maintain vascular homeostasis, ultimately resulting in hypertension, stroke, or myocardial infarction. Increase in DNA damage is one of the hallmarks of aging and can be repaired by the DNA signaling and repair system. In our study we show that long non-coding RNA Aerrie (linc01013) contributes to the DNA signaling and repair mechanism. Silencing of Aerrie in endothelial cells impairs angiogenesis, migration, and barrier function. Aerrie associates with YBX1 and together they act as important factors in DNA damage signaling and repair. This study identifies Aerrie as a novel factor in genomic stability and as a binding partner of YBX1 in responding to DNA damage.
The materiality of air pollution: Urban political ecologies of tourism in Thailand

Abstract Between February and April of each year, air pollution blankets much of northern Thailand and severely impacts the livelihoods of tourism practitioners and farmers in the region. Environmental narratives among lowland, urban residents attribute haze to biomass burning among highland farmers. Highland farmers, however, contend that environmental governance regimes have lengthened and exacerbated what is now regarded as the annually recurring haze crisis. Drawing on ethnographic fieldwork among urban tourism practitioners, rural farmers, and natural scientists, I demonstrate how, as a physical and symbolic entity, air pollution circulates between urban and rural spaces in ways that reshape tourism and urban-rural social relations. In doing so, I bring emerging work at the intersection of urban political ecology and new materialism to bear on tourism to reveal the more-than-human sociality of air pollution in northern Thailand.
Analysis of Fragmentation of Rock Blocks from Real-Scale Tests

Real-scale fragmentation tests provide high quality data in order to study the fragmentation pattern of rock blocks. In the tests carried out, the initial rock mass, in terms of both volume and shape, was reconstructed by means of 3D photogrammetry. The fragments size distribution of the bocks tested was measured by hand using a tape. The drop tests were performed in four different sites, releasing a total of 124 blocks and measuring 2907 fragments. The obtained fragment size distributions may be well fitted using power laws. The survival rate (Sr), which is the proportion of remaining block shows a wide range of values. Observing the fragment distribution, two parameters are needed to characterize the fragmentation: the number of fragments produced and Sr. The intensity of the fragmentation is expressed by the exponent of the fitted power laws. Although the results are highly variable and show a stochastic behavior of the fragmentation, we have identified different patterns that reflect some local test conditions.
Development and Evaluation of 3D‐Printed Dry Microneedle Electrodes for Surface Electromyography

Surface electromyography (sEMG) allows for direct measurement of electrical muscle activity with use in fundamental research and many applications in health and sport. However, conventional surface electrode technology can suffer from poor signal quality, requires careful skin preparation, and is commonly not suited for long‐term recording. These drawbacks have challenged translation of sEMG to clinical applications. In this paper, dry 3D‐printed microneedle electrodes (MNEs) are proposed to overcome some of the limitations of conventional electrodes. Employing a direct‐metal‐laser‐sintering (DMLS) 3D printing process, a two‐step fabrication method is developed to produce sharp medical‐grade stainless steel MNEs. The developed MNEs are compared to needle‐free versions and to standard wet Ag/AgCl electrodes. Functional testing is conducted to analyze the electrode–skin impedance in healthy human volunteers and sEMG data are recorded from the biceps brachii muscle. Results show that microneedle electrodes display a greatly reduced (≈63%) electrode–skin contact impedance with respect to needle‐free electrodes and record sEMG at a signal‐to‐noise ratio comparable to clinical‐grade wet Ag/AgCl electrodes over a period of up to 6 h. Overall, a fabrication method and electrode type are presented which yield high‐quality sEMG signals when evaluated in humans, highlighting the potential of MNEs as a platform for biosignal recording.