Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Male Meiotic and Morphometric Analysis in the 2x and 4x Cytotypes in Arabis recta Vill. (Brassicaceae) from Cold Desert Regions of North-West Himalayas

The present communication reports the first record of intraspecific euploid cytotypes (2x, 4x) in Arabis recta from the cold deserts of North-West Himalayas in India. The study included the detailed male meiosis, microsporogenesis, pollen fertility and morphometric parameters in the accessions of 2x and 4x cytotypes. Both the diploid and tetraploid cytotypes exhibited normal meiotic behaviour characterized by normal chromosome pairing, regular segregation of chromosomes and nearly cent percent fertility. The 2x and 4x cytotypes grow under similar extreme cold desert conditions on mountain slopes between 2800 to 4500 m altitudes. The 4x plants grow much taller and possessed much larger sized pubescent leaves. The two cytotypes could also be differentiated on the basis of size of stomata and pollen grains, which are significantly larger in the 4x compared to the 2x.
Investigating Students’ Attitudes Towards Listening and Speaking in the English Classroom at Al Istiqlal University: An Action Research

This study sought to investigate students’ attitudes towards listening and speaking in the English classroom at Al Istiqlal University. The researchers noticed that freshmen students at Al Istiqlal University were de-motivated and reluctant to get involved in listening and speaking activities in the English classroom. One root cause may be students’ prior experience of learning English in Palestinian state schools where Arabic is the dominant language (Hamdallah, 1999) and where there may be little provision of speaking and listening to English. The researchers sought to experiment with innovative teaching methods to address these problems. These included using group work, giving students clearly defined roles, using technological applications and drawing on students’ personal lives as strategies to motivate students and change their attitudes towards listening and speaking activities. A stratified–purposeful sample consisting of 18 freshman students was selected. The researchers used a quantitative approach to measure changes. The researchers also used qualitative instrument for the purpose of the study. A questionnaire was administered at the beginning and end of the study to determine changes in students’ attitudes. Also, interviews were organized to decide and get comments on the influence of the strategies which were used. Results indicated that there was a significant difference in students’ attitudes towards listening and speaking activities in English class. When the researchers used different strategies such as: role plays cards, group activities, technology and different assessment forms, students expressed positive feelings, enjoyment and fun. The researchers recommend that teachers in similar university-level context should implement different strategies such as: group wok, role plays, cards, videos and some applications i.e. Padlet to motivate students bridge the gap between school life and university life. It was also found that such strategies help to change students’ attitudes to listening and speaking.
Preparation, Characterization and Antioxidant Evaluation of Cu(II) and Zn(II) Tannates

The interest in the antioxidant materials increased due to their free radical scavenging properties avoiding various pathologies. Tannic Acid (TA) is known to have high free radical scavenging activity, but its application is still limited. This paper had the objective of synthesis, characterization and evaluation of free radical scavenging activity of TA associated with Cu (II) and Zn (II) ions, in a buffered aqueous medium. Techniques of FTIR, simultaneous TG-DSC characterized the obtained compounds, and the evaluation of free radical scavenging activity was made using 2,2–diphenyl–1–picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical. The FTIR analysis of the compounds showed significant displacement of the main bands in the TA spectrum (νC=O, δO-H, σO-H), suggesting an association of metal ions with the oxygen of the hydroxyl group of TA. TG-DSC curves showed information about the thermal stability, stoichiometry, hydration water, and residues formation. The TA association with the metal ions Cu(II) and Zn(II) decreased the antioxidant activity of the molecule significantly, showing that these compounds could be potentially used as pro-oxidant agents.
Preparation, structure elucidation, and antioxidant activity of new bis(thiosemicarbazone) derivatives

Schiff-base–bearing new bis(thiosemicarbazone) derivatives were prepared from terephthalaldehyde and various thiosemicarbazides. FT–IR, 1H NMR, 13C NMR, and UV–Vis spectroscopic methods and elemental analysis were used to elucidate the identification of the synthesized molecules. The in vitro antioxidant activity of the synthesized compounds was analysed with the 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl hydrazyl free-radical–trapping process. The synthesized compounds exhibited lower antioxidant activity than the standard ascorbic acid. IC50 values of the synthesized molecules measured from 3.81 ± 0.01 to 29.05 ± 0.11 μM. Among the synthesized compounds, compound 3 had the best antioxidant activity. Moreover, this study explained the structure–activity relationship of the synthesized molecules with different substituents in radical trapping reactions.
Reunderstanding Cairo through urban metabolism: Formal versus informal districts resource flow performance in fast urbanizing cities

Urban expansion can be seen as the most pervasive human impact on the environment where its high resource use contributes negatively to climate change and resource scarcity crises. Many experts call for decoupling resource use, economic development, and related urban development especially within cities of the Global South. This paper focuses on investigating resource efficiency through the lens of urban metabolism. It investigates current resource flows, through material flow analysis, from source to sink, in two diverse districts in Cairo: a formal district and an informal one, regarding materials (waste) and mobility. Consequently, the paper discusses locally responsive interventions that address local priorities as opposing to citywide one‐size fits all solution. The paper relies on parcel audits, which are embedded in an Urban Metabolism Information System developed by the Ecocity Builders and their partners, through a joint project with Cairo University. The methodology couples crowd‐sourced data, parcel audits, and experts’ knowledge to better understand resource flows based on a bottom‐up approach, given the unavailability of governmental data on the local level. The paper further correlates the perceived quality of life with the actual resource flows. It utilizes fieldwork investigations to argue against the local misconceptions regarding the inefficiency of informal areas/systems versus the higher efficiency of planned areas/systems. The paper concludes by proposing integrated solutions that respond to local needs and resources. It highlights the challenges and lessons of this tailored bottom‐up approach and its applicability in other cities worldwide.
Effects of HOXB4 downstream targets on the haemopoietic differentiation of pluripotent stem cells

Attempts for the in vitro differentiation of reconstituting human HSCs from ESCs have been unsuccessful as key factors of HSC specification remain unclear. Enforced HOXB4 expression can enhance haemopoietic differentiation of mouse and human ESCs and generate reconstituting HSCs from mouse ESCs. We have previously shown that HOXB4 can enhance haemopoietic differentiation of mouse ESCs in a paracrine manner. Microarray analysis identified a number of secreted factors upregulated by HOXB4 potentially mediating this paracrine effect. The aim of this study was to assess whether these factors alone and/or in combination can enhance the in vitro haemopoietic differentiation of mouse and human ESCs. We first developed a defined, serum and feeder-free protocol to test the effects of these secreted factors on haemopoietic differentiation. This defined protocol allowed us to compare the haemopoietic potential of mouse ESCs with the recently derived epiblast stem cells (EpiSCs), thought to be comparable to hESCs. Haemopoietic colony forming assay and flow cytometry analysis showed that serum-free conditions generated 810 fold more CD144+CD41+ and c-Kit+CD41+ haemopoietic progenitor cells (HPCs) compared to serum conditions from both ESCs and EpiSCs, with ESCs giving the most significant increase. We then validated the panel of HOXB4 target genes by QRT-PCR and selected those increased in expression by at least 2.5-fold when HOXB4 was activated. We used this defined, serum-free protocol to assess the effects of our panel of secreted factors, FGF17, RSPO3 and APLN, on the haemopoietic differentiation of mouse ESCs. We demonstrated that FGF17 can mediate HOXB4 haemopoietic activity by enhancing the generation of c-Kit+ HPCs. On the other hand increasing concentrations of RSPO3 inhibited haemopoietic development by reducing the numbers of CD41+ and CD41+CD45+ HPCs, while, APLN did not have any effects on the haemopoietic activity of the cells. We finally used the secreted factors in human ESC and iPSC differentiation cultures. We observed differences in the activity of the tested factors not only between species but also between human cell lines. These results suggest that HOXB4 haemopoietic activity is partly mediated by paracrine signalling but more complex cell interactions are probably required for it to fully exert its effects. More importantly, HOXB4 regulatory pathways differ between mouse and human cells stressing the need for careful translation of data between the two species and more detailed analysis of key human haemopoietic factors for the successful generation of reconstituting HSCs.
Exploring Dimensions of Empowerment from the Patients’ Perspective in One Specialist Epilepsy Service in Ireland

Empowerment is integral to patient-centered practice, particularly as this relates to people with chronic conditions, though operationally it is poorly understood in this context. Empowerment, therefore, as experienced by patients with a chronic condition needs exploration. This article reports the experience of empowerment by patients in one specialist epilepsy service in Ireland as an exemplar of broader issues affecting empowerment of patients with chronic conditions. A Frameworks Approach was used to analyze in-depth interviews with patients (n = 10) in one Irish epilepsy service. Analysis was further informed by nonparticipatory observation of service delivery. Results indicate that patients’ negative experiences of empowerment appear to be derived from traditional social norms relating to clinician patient power dimensions and social stigma internalized by clinicians at an unconscious level. With this in mind, educational approaches based upon critical social theory may provide a framework and guide to enable services to engage with these issues and embrace empowerment of patients with chronic conditions within therapeutic engagement.
Title Effective throughput : A unified benchmark for pilot-aidedOFDM / SDMA wireless communication systems

In this paper, we study the uplink performance of an orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) wireless system where multiple antennas are utilized at the base station (BS). Further, capacity can be greatly enhanced through spatial division multiple access (SDMA), so that several users can transmit packets simultaneously to the BS. The system performance is determined by various transmission techniques, including methods for channel estimation, modulation, as well as channel coding. Conventional parameters such as packet error rate (PER) and bit error rate (BER) are unable to reflect the actual system performance because no consideration is given to the overheads incurred by the transmission techniques. Therefore, we are motivated to propose a novel concept called effective throughput to characterize the capacity available to users by incorporating all these factors. The effective throughput for a user can be viewed as the average number of successfully received data bits in an OFDM symbol after excluding erroneously received packets and the overheads due to channel estimation and coding. It also directly relates to the transmission delay of a user packet. The system effective throughput is the aggregated effective throughput of all users. Simulation results demonstrate that effective throughput can serve as a useful and more meaningful benchmark parameter in optimizing system performance. Keywords— Antenna array, diversity, effective throughput, OFDM, SDMA.
EFFECT OF SOCIAL COSTS ACCOUNTING ON PRICE EARNING RATIO OF LISTED FIRMS IN NIGERIA

The effect of globalization had changed the perception of listed firms to develop and implement strategies for competitive positioning. This study therefore investigated the effect of social costs accounting on pricing-earnings ratio of listed firms in Nigeria. It adopted ex post facto research design and extracted relevant data from cross section of 20 listed firms from three sectors which are comparatively very active in social responsibility issues. The paper employed purposive sampling technique to select the sample size. The study covered a period of 11 years from 2005 to 2015, when the economy experienced considerable revitalization and growth. Panel unit root test was conducted and the variables were found to be stationary and integrated at level. The study engaged panel data regression technique where the Hausman’s test favoured the fixed effect regression. It therefore conducted fixed effect regressed with the dummies and established that social costs accounting have significant effect on price-earnings ratio of listed firms in Nigeria. It provided proof that two sectors responded to social activities that significantly influenced their individual price-earning ratios. In addition, the result gave evidence how the consumers goods sector is more socially friendly than the industrial goods sector by 53.53%. The study therefore concludes that social activities has long run relationship with price-earnings ratio of listed firms in Nigeria and recommends that listed firms should endeavor to identify relevant areas that would enhance their reputation in the eyes of the investing public, the financial services, consumer and industrial goods sectors should increase their participation on social issues and its reporting.
Mitigation of cogging torque in transverse‐flux permanent‐magnet machines with flux concentrators by step skewing of stator pole

: The objective of this article is to study how the stator step skewing method can lead to the reduction of the cogging torque of a transverse-flux permanent-magnet (TFPM) machine with flux concentrators. Three structures are analysed and compared in terms of their influence of the skewed displacement on the cogging torque using the three-dimensional finite element method (3D-FEM). Thereafter, to validate the FEM results, cogging torque is calculated by applying a Schwarz– Christoffel (SC) conformal mapping. To apply this transformation, the 3D TFPM generator structure with axially magnetised permanent magnets (PMs) is converted into a 2D structure with radially magnetised PMs and the cogging torque of the machine is predicted using both the analytical method and 3D-FEM. The accuracy of the approach is demonstrated by the adequate agreement between the results obtained through this SC mapping and those of the 3D-FEM. In addition, two 100 W prototyped TFPM machines are designed, simulated, manufactured and tested to validate the effects of the step-skewed stator yoke on the predicted cogging torque and back-EMF.
Understanding the Effect of Multiple Domain Deletion in DNA Polymerase I from Geobacillus Sp. Strain SK72

The molecular structure of DNA polymerase I or family A polymerases is made up of three major domains that consist of a single polymerase domain with two extra exonuclease domains. When the N-terminal was deleted, the enzyme was still able to perform basic polymerase activity with additional traits that used isothermal amplification. However, the 3′-5′ exonuclease domain that carries a proofreading activity was disabled. Yet, the structure remained attached to the 5′-3′ polymerization domain without affecting its ability. The purpose of this non-functional domain still remains scarce. It either gives negative effects or provides structural support to the DNA polymerase. Here, we compared the effect of deleting each domain against the polymerase activity. The recombinant wild type and its variants were successfully purified and characterized. Interestingly, SK72-Exo (a large fragment excluding the 5′-3′ exonuclease domain) exhibited better catalytic activity than the native SK72 (with all three domains) at similar optimum temperature and pH profile, and it showed longer stability at 70 °C. Meanwhile, SK72-Exo2 (polymerization domain without both the 5′-3′ and 3′-5′ exonuclease domain) displayed the lowest activity with an optimum at 40 °C and favored a more neutral environment. It was also the least stable among the variants, with almost no activity at 50 °C for the first 10 min. In conclusion, cutting both exonuclease domains in DNA polymerase I has a detrimental effect on the polymerization activity and structural stability.
Optimization of Extraction Conditions for Total Phenolics and Total Flavonoids from Kaempferia parviflora Rhizomes

Kaempferia parviflora plants derived from in vitro culture were grown in the glasshouse. A comparison of the yield of total phenolics and total flavonoids under varying extraction conditions from rhizomes harvested from plants of different ages was undertaken. The results showed that phenolic and flavonoid contents in the rhizomes were highest 8 months after planting. Another study found that 2 g rhizomes extracted in 50 ml of water at 90°C for 120 minutes gave the best yield of phenolics and flavonoids. Under these conditions, an average of 210 mg GAE/g dry weight of total phenolics and 81 μg QCE/g dry weight of total flavonoids were obtained.
Unsupervised classification of three specialty coffees from Java based on principal component analysis and UV-visible spectroscopy

In this research, we investigated the feasibility of using UV-visible spectroscopy and chemometrics to classify three specialty coffees from Java Island: Java Preanger, Java Sindoro-Sumbing dan Java Ijen Raung. Total of 300 samples of Preanger, Sindoro-Sumbing and Ijen Raung ground roasted coffees were used as samples. Samples were extracted using hot distilled water and diluted. The spectral data was acquired using a UV-visible spectrometer in the range of 190-1100 nm. Unsupervised classification based on principal component analysis (PCA) was applied for original and modified spectral data. Using the original full spectrum of 190-1100 nm spectral data, the plot score of the first and second principal components (PC1xPC2) totally can explain 90% of data variance. It was difficult to separate the origin of Preanger, Sindoro-Sumbing and Ijen Raung using original full spectrum data. However, using modified spectral data in the range of 250-450 nm, the clear separation between Preanger, Sindoro-Sumbing and Ijen Raung was demonstrated. In conclusion, it was highly potential to use UV-visible spectroscopy and chemometrics to classify the specialty coffees from Java based on its origin.
Dietary Diversity in School Going Children: Review

Child malnutrition is a public health problem in developing countries, and dietary diversity is one of the important determinants of undernutrition. Different nutrients are obtained from different food groups and to meet the requirement of recommended Dietary Allowances entitled as Dietary Diversity. The current review revealed that the nutrition status of children is directly related to the food groups consumed. Food diversity depends on many factors such as Socio-economic Status, education level, sex, and age of the subjects. The food group consumed and food items taken from each group were low in the low Socio-Economic Status (SES) subjects, rural areas, females, and less educated families, resulting in malnutrition among children of various countries. Low level of Dietary Diversity can be the reason for undernutrition in children worldwide, especially in developing countries. Many studies thus supported that Dietary Diversity and Food Variety can provide nutritional adequacy.
Mechanisms of Salt Tolerance in Rice Plants: Cell Wall-Related Genes and Expansins

鹽分逆境影響作物生長進而降低產量。 細胞壁是生質量 (biomass) 之主要成分。 鹽分逆境經由影響細胞壁鬆軟而抑制生長。 擴展蛋白 (expansins) 是鬆軟細胞壁之蛋白。 因此，細胞壁相關基因與擴展蛋白對作物調控鹽分逆境耐性扮演重要功用。 本文說明細胞壁相關基因與擴展蛋白在水稻耐鹽重要性之主要研究進展。
Veterans With Hepatitis B, Who Is Being Missed and Why?

Background and Aim: On May 23, 2018 the Veterans Administration (VA) issued a directive to establish policies for improving prevention, early diagnosis, and treatment for all viral hepatitis including Chronic Hepatitis B (CHB). The goals of our study were to identify patients with a positive HBsAg test at the Dayton VA Medical Center who would benefit from medical care for CHB with our gastroenterology (GI) clinic, identify reasons for lack of treatment, and re-establish patients into the GI clinic. Methods : We reviewed patients with a diagnosis of Chronic Hepatitis B using ICD-9 and ICD-10 codes who were receiving care at the Dayton VA Medical Center through May 23, 2018. Data were gathered retrospectively for demographics, clinical labs, imaging, and presence of cirrhosis, treatment status, and hepatocellular carcinoma surveillance. Following American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases guidelines for Hepatitis B, we used patient data to identify those who would benefit from further GI follow-up. Results : A total of 61 patients had a diagnosis of CHB, 11 with cirrhosis and 50 without cirrhosis. Among patients with cirrhosis, four were not on treatment (two noncompliant with follow-up, one with severe comorbidities, one lack of provider knowledge). For patients without cirrhosis, 43/50 were not on treatment. Of these 43, 16/43 (37.2%) patients did not have an indication for treatment. For the remaining 27/43 patients: 22/43 (51.2%) were non-compliant with follow-up visits, 4/43 (9.3%) had severe comorbidities, and 1/43 (2.3%) was not treated due to lack of provider knowledge. Excluding patients with severe comorbidities, loss of surface antigen, normal serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT), or low viral load, 26 patients (3 with cirrhosis and 23 without cirrhosis) would benefit from follow-up with a GI provider. We mailed letters to these patients encouraging them to follow up with the GI department at our facility. One-half of these patients (13/26) responded, with 11/13 (85%) agreeing to re-establish care in the GI clinic and 2/13 (15%) declining. We contacted the primary care provider for the 13 patients who did not respond, requesting patients to be referred to GI after a discussion with their patients. Conclusion : We were successful in re-establishing 50% of patients with HBsAg back with our GI providers through enhanced identification procedures, direct contact with patients, and collaboration with other health care providers. This study can be the framework for future efforts to improve screening, diagnosis, treatment, and surveillance of patients affected by CHB.