Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Water Content of Sludge-injected Soil Growing Wheat

Municipalities are injecting sewage sludge into soil—as a means of disposal, to avoid the problems of odours, pests, and runoff, and to avert public disapproval associated with application on the surface. The sludge injected is mainly liquid (94–99%), but its effect on soil-water content in the field has not been sufficiently reported on. The objective of the project here described was to determine, in a subhumid region, whether the liquid in sludge changed the water status of soil compared with that of soil with inorganic fertilizer. In addition, growth of Winter Whẽat (Triticum aestivum L. em. Thell.), grown on dryland and fertilized with the sludge or with inorganic fertilizer, was monitored. The experiment, carried out during the 1980–81 growing-season, was done at the Manhattan, Kansas, sewage-sludge farm, where aerobically digested sludge has been injected since 1976.
DNA Barcoding and Related Molecular Markers for Fish Species Authentication, Phylogenetic Assessment and Population Studies

ii Acknowledgments. iv List of Tables . vii List of Figures . ix Introduction . 1 Chapter 1 DNA Barcoding of Catfish: Species Authentication and Phylogenetic Assessment. 22 Abstract . 23 Background . 24 Materials and Methods . 26 Results . 29 Discussion . 33 References . 38 Chapter 2 Catfish Species Identification Using Lab-On-Chip Polymerase Chain Reaction Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (PCRRFLP) . 49 Abstract . 50 Background . 51 Materials and Methods . 53 Results and Discussion . 56 Conclusion . 62 References . 63 Chapter 3 Population Structure of Redeye Bass (Micropterus coosae) in Alabama . 72
Book Reviews

This book written by Robert Shiller and George Akerlof deals with our misunderstanding of the last crisis inherited from the collapse of the subprime market. Despite some precursor signs, nobody expected it. According to the authors, the last crisis (and the resulting recession) appeared unexpected because we always neglect the importance of animal spirit and more generally the place of human being in the economic theories. Akerlof and Shiller aim at restoring ‘from the intellectual history bin’ (p. 6) the (old) Keynesian concept of animal spirit in order to improve our understanding of the last global crisis. Of course, the book, as many others, deals with the current recession, however it can be distinguished from other works because it offers a normative perspective about the way of developing economic theories. Beyond the scope of the book, Akerlof and Shiller claim for a theoretical revolution in economic theory. As Keynes reminded us in 1936, academics and policymakers should restore the place of individual psychology (even if it looks irrational) if we want to understand how economic phenomena works and then improve our ability to forecast the potential emergence of a crisis. In this perspective, Akerlof and Shiller use the contributions developed in cognitive psychology and behavioural economics. As they suggested in the title of their book, the authors emphasize the key concept of ‘animal spirit’. By animal spirit one should understand ‘the state of mind which is underlied by any intellectual and emotional Journal of Interdisciplinary Economics 24(1) 99–113 ©2012 SAGE Publications India Private Limited SAGE Publications Los Angeles, London, New Delhi, Singapore, Washington DC DOI: 10.1177/0260107912471461 http://jie.sagepub. com
Application of SSR Markers for Genetic Purity Analysis of Parental Inbred Lines and Some Commercial Hybrid Maize (Zea mays L.)

Aims: Morphological evaluation of seeds and growing plants used for certification for purity and variety distinctness in Nigeria is time consuming and expensive. This experiment set to evaluate the usefulness of SSR markers to determine genetic purity of commercial hybrids and their inbred lines. Place and Duration of Study: Bioscience unit, International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, Nigeria in December, 2011 Methodology: Seedlings of four F1 hybrids and four inbred lines were grown in the screen house of IITA for DNA extraction using Dellaporta method with some modifications. Six Simple Sequence Repeat (SSR) markers were used for Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) using Touch-Down PCR profile. The analysis is by fragment analysis as present (1) or absent (0) Mathematical equation to determine genetic purity of the genotypes was developed from the genetic distances matrix. Results: Simple descriptive analysis revealed that average genetic diversity and polymorphism information content (PIC) recorded by the markers was 0.592 and 0.512 respectively. Genetic purity level of inbred lines ranged between 91.3% and 98.7% while the hybrids ranged between 81.3% and 95%. Conclusion: SSR markers are powerful biotechnological tool capable of detecting genetic purity status of Nigerian maize hybrids therefore inclusion of DNA analysis of seeds using SSR markers to determine genetic purity of maize seed is recommended. However, further research work with larger number of seed samples per variety will be needed to validate reliability.
Spécialisation de populations sympatriques printanières d’Acyrthosiphon pisum Harris (Hemiptera: Aphididae) selon les Fabacées

Résumé En utilisant des marqueurs allozymiques, nous avons étudié la structuration génétique de populations du puceron du pois prélevées en sympatrie, au printemps, lors de différentes années sur sept espèces de Fabaceae cultivées pérennes ou annuelles et sur une espèce pérenne spontanée (Vicia cracca). Par espèce végétale, nous avons trouvé une faible diversification génétique temporelle (caractérisée par l’indice de fixation) tant à l’échelle d’une saison qu’entre années, sauf dans le cas de la féverole où les génotypes mis en évidence diffèrent entre années. Des différences génétiques importantes se manifestent entre les populations d’aphides provenant de la luzerne par rapport à celles des autres Fabacées annuelles comme le pois. La constitution génétique des populations issues du pois et de V cracca présente de fortes analogies, ce qui fait de cette espèce vivace un hôte alternatif potentiel des pucerons vivant sur le pois.
The combined effect of music and frequency therapy from the BioCor device on stress level in humans

Goals and objectives of the study: The goal of this paper was to study combined effect of music and frequency therapy from the BioCor device on stress levels in humans. Study design: Using GDV/ Bio-Well technology the effect of music and frequency therapy for 10 minutes to human anxiety level for a group of 30 participants was studied with the Mood Mapping Profile Questionnaire and Bio-Well technology, compared with 30 participants resting for 10minutes. Results: The statistically significant positive effect after 10minutes of therapy was demonstrated for all the participants, but stronger effect was recorded for women participants. No changes were recorded for a control group. Conclusions: This study confirms the efficiency of the combined action of music and frequency therapy.
Incorporating Uncertainty into Demographic Modeling: Application to Shark Populations and Their Conservation

Abstract: I explored the effect of uncertainty in demographic traits on demographic analyses of sharks, an approach not used before for this taxon. I used age‐structured life tables and Leslie matrices based on a prebreeding survey and a yearly time step applied only to females to model the demography of 41 populations from 38 species of sharks representing four orders and nine families. I used Monte Carlo simulation to reflect uncertainty in the estimates of demographic traits and to calculate population statistics and elasticities for these populations; I used correlation analysis to identify the demographic traits that explained most of the variation in population growth rates ( λ ). The populations I examined fell along a continuum of life‐history characteristics that can be linked to elasticity patterns. Sharks characterized by early age at maturity, short lifespan, and large litter size had high λ values and short generation times, whereas sharks that mature late and have long lifespans and small litters have low λ values and long generation times. Sharks at the “fast” end of the spectrum tended to have comparable adult and juvenile survival elasticities, whereas sharks at the “slow” end of the continuum had high juvenile survival elasticity and low age–zero survival ( or fertility ) elasticity. Ratios of adult survival to fertility elasticities and juvenile survival to fertility elasticities suggest that many of the populations studied do not possess the biological attributes necessary to restore λ to its original level after moderate levels of exploitation. Elasticity analysis suggests that changes in juvenile survival would have the greatest effect on λ, and correlation analysis indicates that variation in juvenile survival, age at maturity, and reproduction account for most of the variation in λ. In general, combined results from elasticity and correlation analyses suggest that research, conservation, and management efforts should focus on these demographic traits.
Pollination and Seed Dispersal in the Endangered Succulent Euphorbia brevitorta

ABSTRACT The dwarf succulent euphorbia Euphorbia brevitorta (Euphorbiaceae) is a localized and potentially threatened endemic species with limited distributed across rocky grasslands in central and southern Kenya. The pollination ecology and seed dispersal of E. brevitorta was investigated by direct observation. Euphorbia brevitorta relies on pollinators for fruit-set as it bears separate male and female flowers on the same plant, but appears to be self-compatible. Euphorbia brevitorta was found to have a generalist pollination system, with insects being the main pollinators. Pollinators of E. brevitorta comprise a wide range of insects from three different orders: true flies (Diptera), ants, bees and wasps (Hymenoptera) and beetles (Coleoptera). Flies, wasps and honeybees were found to be the most efficient transporters of pollen between different individual plants and carried the highest volumes of pollen. Observations of pollinators revealed adequate pollination and high visitation rates by pollinators. Seed dispersal was found to occur in two stages: localized dispersal from explosive capsules up to∼2 metres from the plant, followed by limited secondary dispersal by ants further away. Euphorbia brevitorta relies on both pollinators and seed dispersal for adequate recruitment and survival in its natural habitat.
THE EFFECT OF SEED WEIGHT AND DEPTH OF SOWING ON THE EMERGENCE AND EARLY SEEDLING GROWTH OF PERENNIAL RYEGRASS (LOLIUM PERENNE)

Seed of S24 perennial ryegrass of two weight ranges, 0.9–2.1 and 2.5–3.6 mg, were sown in soil at depths of 1.25, 2.5, 5.0 and 7.5 cm. Seedling growth was studied during the 3 weeks following germination. Seeds of both weight ranges germinated equally well at soil depths down to 7.5 cm. However, the number of shoots that emerged was reduced as the sowing depth increased. At similar depths of sowing, seedlings from the heavy seed were heavier and developed more leaves and tillers than those from light seed. Deeper sowing reduced seedling weight and the rate of leaf- and tiller-production. After emergence, the relative growth rates of the seedlings which grew from seed of both weight ranges were similar at those depths of sowing which permitted the highest proportion of emerged shoots to seeds sown. This indicates that the weight advantage gained by the seedlings that developed from heavy seed during their non-photosynthetic stage of growth was maintained, and was not increased by a greater relative growth rate after photosynthesis began. The implications of the findings are discussed in relation to plant breeding, commercial seed production and sward establishment.
Andean bear density and abundance estimates — How reliable and useful are they?

Abstract Few attempts have been made to estimate numbers and densities of Andean bears (Tremarctos ornatus). It is understandable that the many challenges involved in these efforts have made it difficult to produce rigorous estimates. A crude estimate of ∼20,000 Andean bears was derived by extrapolating the lowest observed density of American black bears (Ursus americanus) across the range of Andean bears. A second estimate, based on rangewide genetic diversity, produced a wide range of values; however, the low end of the confidence interval roughly matched the population estimate based on minimum black bear density. A mark–recapture analysis of 3 camera-trapped bears in Bolivia also yielded a similar density (4.4–6 bears/100 km2), but overlapping home ranges of 2 radiocollared bears at that same site suggested a higher density (≥12 bears/100 km2). Neither of these estimates can be considered reliable or representative of the wider population because of the small sample sizes. Moreover, the effective sampling area for the camera-trapping study was uncertain. A DNA hair-trapping mark–recapture study in Ecuador sampled a greater number of bears (n = 25) within a larger study area, but a male-biased sex ratio suggested that closure was violated, precluding a simple estimate of density based on the area of the trapping grid. Also, low capture rates in what was perceived (from incidence of bear sign) as prime bear habitat might be indicative of a sampling bias. These issues are not simply incorporated into confidence intervals (CIs): CIs only include uncertainty due to sampling error, not biased sampling or an ambiguous sampling area. Whereas these (low density) estimates may provide guidance for conservation, their greatest usefulness may be in providing directions for improvement of future studies of Andean bears, as well as bears in Asia, which also lack rigorous population estimates.
Characterizing diversity in salmon from the Pacific Northwest

Information developed during recently completed evaluations of the status of seven species of anadromous Pacific salmonids (Oncorhynchus spp.) in the Pacific Northwest was used to characterize patterns of intraspecific diversity along three major axes: ecology, life history and biochemical genetics. Within the study area, the species' ranges, and therefore the number of distinct ecological regions inhabited differ considerably, with pink and chum salmon limited to the northern areas and chinook salmon and steelhead distributed over the widest geographic range. The species showed comparable differences in the patterns of life history and genetic diversity, with chinook and sockeye salmon and steelhead having the most major diversity groups and pink, chum and coho salmon having the least. Both life history and genetic diversity showed a strong, positive correlation with the extent of ecological diversity experienced by a species, and the correlation between the number of major genetic and life history groups within a species was even stronger (r=0.96; P<0.05). Departures from these general diversity relationships found in some species (especially sockeye and coho salmon and cutthroat trout) can be explained by different interactions with the freshwater environment and, for cutthroat trout, by the occurrence of substantial intrapopulational diversity in life history traits, a hierarchical level not considered in this study.
A Multiple Opening and Closing Plankton Sampler Based on the MOCNESS and N.I.O. Nets

A multiple net zooplankton sampler with 10 1-m2 nets was designed and built using the principles incorporated in the N.I. O. and the MOCNESS zooplankton samplers. The main differences between this net and others are the use of a depressor as part of the design of the sampler and the use of a ridge frame and cables to form the sampler body. The depressor enabled the sampler to be towed at speeds up to 6 knots while still maintaining a wire angle of < 45°. Key words: multiple net zooplankton sampler, net depressor
A Computer Application to Predict Adverse Events in the Short-Term Evolution of Patients With Exacerbation of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Background Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a common chronic disease. Exacerbations of COPD (eCOPD) contribute to the worsening of the disease and the patient’s evolution. There are some clinical prediction rules that may help to stratify patients with eCOPD by their risk of poor evolution or adverse events. The translation of these clinical prediction rules into computer applications would allow their implementation in clinical practice. Objective The goal of this study was to create a computer application to predict various outcomes related to adverse events of short-term evolution in eCOPD patients attending an emergency department (ED) based on valid and reliable clinical prediction rules. Methods A computer application, Prediction of Evolution of patients with eCOPD (PrEveCOPD), was created to predict 2 outcomes related to adverse events: (1) mortality during hospital admission or within a week after an ED visit and (2) admission to an intensive care unit (ICU) or an intermediate respiratory care unit (IRCU) during the eCOPD episode. The algorithms included in the computer tool were based on clinical prediction rules previously developed and validated within the Investigación en Resultados y Servicios de Salud COPD study. The app was developed for Windows and Android systems, using Visual Studio 2008 and Eclipse, respectively. Results The PrEveCOPD computer application implements the prediction models previously developed and validated for 2 relevant adverse events in the short-term evolution of patients with eCOPD. The application runs under Windows and Android systems and it can be used locally or remotely as a Web application. Full description of the clinical prediction rules as well as the original references is included on the screen. Input of the predictive variables is controlled for out-of-range and missing values. Language can be switched between English and Spanish. The application is available for downloading and installing on a computer, as a mobile app, or to be used remotely via internet. Conclusions The PrEveCOPD app shows how clinical prediction rules can be summarized into simple and easy to use tools, which allow for the estimation of the risk of short-term mortality and ICU or IRCU admission for patients with eCOPD. The app can be used on any computer device, including mobile phones or tablets, and it can guide the clinicians to a valid stratification of patients attending the ED with eCOPD. Trial Registration ClinicalTrials.gov NCT00102401; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/results/NCT02434536 (Archived by WebCite at http://www.webcitation.org/76iwTxYuA) International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID) RR2-10.1186/1472-6963-11-322
Optimizing Long-term Social Welfare in Recommender Systems: A Constrained Matching Approach

Most recommender systems (RS) research assumes that a user's utility can be maximized independently of the utility of the other agents (e.g., other users, content providers). In realistic settings, this is often not true---the dynamics of an RS ecosystem couple the long-term utility of all agents. In this work, we explore settings in which content providers cannot remain viable unless they receive a certain level of user engagement. We formulate the recommendation problem in this setting as one of equilibrium selection in the induced dynamical system, and show that it can be solved as an optimal constrained matching problem. Our model ensures the system reaches an equilibrium with maximal social welfare supported by a sufficiently diverse set of viable providers. We demonstrate that even in a simple, stylized dynamical RS model, the standard myopic approach to recommendation---always matching a user to the best provider---performs poorly. We develop several scalable techniques to solve the matching problem, and also draw connections to various notions of user regret and fairness, arguing that these outcomes are fairer in a utilitarian sense.
FWU Journal of Social Sciences, Summer 2018, Part-1, Vol.12, No.1, 75-81 Welfare in Pakistan: A Sui Generes Case of State-Society Strife and Military Oligarchy

Welfare provision has become a state concern in the world beginning from the 19th century. This paper argues that in the case of Pakistan the welfare model is Sui Generes, largely due to the existence of a Military-Bureaucratic oligarchy. It also argues that state policies towards welfare have been inconsistent due to political and social instability. This, as a result, has led to a deepening of social strife in the country. 
Human Erythrocyte Glucose Transporter (GLUT1) Structure, Function, and Regulation: A Dissertation

The structure-function relationship explains how the human erythrocyte glucose transport protein (GLUT1) catalyzes sugar transport across the plasma membrane. This work investigates the glucose transport mechanism, the structural arrangement and dynamics of GLUT1 membrane-spanning α-helices, the molecular basis for glucose transport regulation by ATP, and how cysteine accessibility contributes to GLUT1 structure. A rapid kinetics approach was applied to examine the conformational changes GLUT1 undergoes during the transport cycle. To transition from a global to molecular focus, a novel mass spectrometry technique was developed to resolve GLUT1 sequence that is associated either with membrane embedded GLUT1 subdomains or with water exposed domains. By studying accessibility changes of specific amino acids to covalent modification by a Sulfo-NHS-LC-Biotin probe, specific protein regions associated with glucose transport modulation by ATP were identified. Finally, mass spectrometry was applied to examine cysteine residue accessibility under native and reducing conditions. This thesis presents data supporting the isolation of an intermediate, occluded GLUT1 conformational state that temporally bridges import and export configurations during glucose translocation. Our results confirm that amphipathic α-helices line the translocation pathway and promote interactions with the aqueous environment and substrate. In addition, we show that GLUT1 is conformationally dynamic, undergoes reorganization in the cytoplasmic region in response to ATP modulation, and that GLUT1 contains differentially exposed cysteine residues that affect its folding.
Usefulness of digital velcro crackles detection in identification of interstitial lung disease in patients with connective tissue diseases

Objectives This study aims to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of the VECTOR software in patients with connective tissue diseases (CTDs), compared with the reference standard of high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT). Patients and methods The study included 98 consecutive patients of CTD (24 males, 74 females; median age 66 years; range, 24 to 85 years) with a recent HRCT. Patients were evaluated in a blindly manner by VECTOR and the results obtained by the algorithm were compared with the presence of interstitial lung disease (ILD) according to HRCT. Results Interstitial lung disease was detected in 42.8% of subjects. VECTOR correctly classified 81/98 patients, with a diagnostic accuracy of 82.6%; sensitivity and specificity were 88.1% and 78.6%, respectively. Only 5/42 patients with ILD were not correctly classified by VECTOR, while false positive cases were 21.4%. No significant differences were observed according to the radiologic pattern of ILD. Conclusion VECTOR showed high sensitivity, specificity and diagnostic accuracy, allowing selecting patients to be investigated with HRCT. The relatively high frequency rate of false positive results is acceptable if compared with the lack of effective screening methods for this complication of CTDs.