Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Investigations into the Ecological Determinants of Distribution of Anopheles Gambiae S.S. (Diptera: Culicidae) Larval Populations in Urban Accra, Ghana

Anopheles gambiae s.s. larval habitats are important determinants o f adult distribution and abundance, which also determine the geographical pattern of malaria disease. Information on their habitat characteristics can contribute greatly to a better planning of its control strategies through environmental management. To identify the environmental parameters, which influence the distribution of An. gambiae s.s. larval populations in urban Accra, Ghana, 30 habitats with An. gambiae s.I. and 24 without but with other mosquito species were studied Wosquito larvae and pupae were collected and reared to adults Water samples were taken al the same time of mosquito collection for physico1 chemical analyses. The adult mosquitoes obtained were morphologically separated into An. gambiae s.l. and other species and counted. Then PCR-based methods were used on 300 mosquitoes to identify the members of An. gambiae s.l. and for microsatellite DNA analyses of An. gambiae s.s. AGXH7 locus using published oligonucleotide rnicrosateilite primers. The microsatellite DNA data generated was used to determine the population structure and construct the phylogenetic relationships between An. gambiae s.s. populations. Twenty-eight physico-chemical parameters o f each water sample were measured and those that on comparison were found to be significant were analysed further using linear discriminant function analysis and multiple regression analysis to reveal the best predictors of present o or absence, and abundance o f An. gambiae s.s. in habitats. Then hierarchical cluster analysis using these water parameters was performed to reveal similar habitats, which was then compared with molecular phylogeny obtained. University of Ghana http://ugspace.ug. edu.gh
Nectar Production in Anagyris foetida (Fabaceae): Two Types of Concentration in Flowers with Hanging Droplet

In Anagyris foetida, a shrubby legume with autumn–winter flowering, the flowers produce great amounts of very dilute nectar during the first half of their life, consonant with their pollination by passeriforms. With advancing age, the volume of nectar diminishes and the concentration increases to values characteristic of bee‐pollinated flowers. The daily nectar secretion is greatest in volume early in the morning, damping during the day, whereas the concentration usually undergoes a gradual rise from morning to evening. The flowers visited for the first time in any day in the first half of anthesis have greater accumulated final nectar volumes than those first visited in the second half of anthesis. The accumulated nectar per flower is less in flowers that receive one visit per day than in those that receive three visits per day and is less in shrubby plants than in arboreal plants. In unvisited flowers, the rate of production of nectar depends on the environmental conditions, and at the end of their life there is a major loss of volume due to evaporation and of solutes possibly due to reabsorption. These flowers usually present a large hanging droplet of nectar that has a greater concentration and sugar content than does the nectar inside the calyx. The sugar, hexose dominant, is homogeneous in both locations.
Iron limitation, grazing pressure and oceanic high nutrient-low chlorophyll (HNLC) regions

Deficiency in bioavailable iron and grazing pressure have been proposed as alternative explanations for the existence of oceanic high nutrient-low chlorophyll (HNLC) regions. We present a four-component population model, describing the dynamics of two classes each of phytoplankton and zooplankton, having different growth rates, grazing habits and response to iron availability. The model shows that the two explanations should be regarded as complementary, rather than alterna- tives. Results from the model, which displays excitable dynamics, are compared with results of recent large-scale iron fertilization experiments (IRONEX I and II).
INTEGRATION OF FAULT DETECTION AND DIAGNOSIS WITH CONTROL FOR A THREE-TANK SYSTEM USING ROBUST RESIDUAL GENERATOR

In this paper an algorithms is developed for fault diagnosis and fault tolerant control strategy for nonlinear systems subjected to an unknown time-varying fault in the presence of modeling error. In this paper, a design procedure for robust residual generators is developed using reference model and optimization criterion, based on robust H∞ filtering, used to synthesize the residual generator. The fault magnitude and time of occurrence of fault is obtained through a transformation of robust residuals in to structured residuals. The estimated magnitude of the disturbance variable is used by the feed-forward control algorithm to make appropriate changes in the manipulated variable to keep the controlled variable near its set value. The feedforward controller acts along with feed-back controller to control the multivariable system. The performance of the proposed scheme is applied to a threetank process for various types of disturbance inputs and modeling errors to show the effectiveness of the proposed approach
Synergistic Evaluation of Moringa oleifera, Hunteria umbellate and Azadirachta indica with Antibiotics Against Environmental MRSA Isolates: An In-vitro Study

Methicillin–Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is known to show resistance to beta-lactam class of antibiotics. MRSA is among the highest superbugs posing dangerous threats to humans. This study aimed at determining the in-vitro synergistic evaluation of Moringa oleifera, Hunteria umbellate and Azadirachta indica extracts with existing antibiotics (Azithromycin, Clindamycin and Vancomycin) on isolated MRSA from fomites. MRSA was isolated using the BBL™ Oxacillin agar screen test (Muller Hinton Agar with 6 μg/mL Oxacillin and 4% NaCl). The Minimum Bactericidal concentration (MBC) of the MRSA were determined by Agar well diffusion using antibiotics in solitary, plant extracts in solitary, combination of these antibiotics with plant extracts at different concentrations. The agar diffusion assay showed that H. umbellate extract-Azithromycin combination had the least zones of inhibition ≥21.00±1.92 mm in 75% of all isolates testedwhile M. oleifera extract-Azithromycin combination had the highest zones of inhibition ≥22.20 ±2.27 mm. Comparison of bactericidal activities of all plant extracts and antibiotics synergy shows Azithromycin to have a significant value of P>0.05. The agar well diffusion method showed synergistic effects between combination of antibiotics and all extracts with significant increase in the zones of inhibition of the test antibiotics against environmental strains of MRSA. The synergistic interactions indicated that the inhibitory potentials of the plant extracts increased hence, combining natural products derived from phytochemicals and antibiotics could be another way to mitigate and fight against resistant infectious bacteria.
Development of a Conceptual and Methodological Framework for the Identification and Management of Barriers and Opportunities in the Adoption of e-Government services

The aim of this thesis is twofold, a conceptual and methodological framework for the management and identification of obstacles and opportunities for the adoption of electronic Government (e-Gov) services was developed. Predicting models of identifying barriers and opportunities of the adoption/use of eGov services were used. A new composition methodology of web usability evaluation of e-Gov services was developed. This method was applied on e-deliberation service of Greece. The synthesis of methodologies consists of the following assessment methods: the Nielsen’s Heuristics, the Cognitive walkthrough method, the Inspection method, Expert testing, Policy analysis method, Questionnaire and Scenario as data collective methods. The questionnaire constructed following the HHS web usability guidelines as well as web usability standard ISO9241-151. The synthesis of methodologies can be applied to any e-Gov service. 125 usability points were tested and discovered that 23% of them had major usability problems 14% had small usability problems and 63% had no usability problems. The identified usability problems were categorized according to Nielsen's Heuristics, and specific usability problems were trucked down. In parallel, the adoption model of UTAUT-PBO (Predominant barriers and opportunities) following the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) was proposed. Four models derived (Total e-Gov use, e-Gov-Obtain Info, e-Gov-Download Info, e-Gov-Filling Forms) identifying barriers or opportunities of use of e-Gov services in the EU (European Union). The data are drawn from “Eurostat" and “United Nations" statistical data bases, EU time series indicators for the years 2001-2011. Methodology of linear regression models with step was used. In the independent variables of the models potential obstacles or opportunities were evaluated. The models were evaluated per country and per year and a total of 164 models were estimated. Significant barriers and opportunities in the adoption/use of services trucked down in geographical areas of the EU. The variable “never use internet" which is negatively associated with the dependent variables of the 4 models, was identified as the predominant obstacle to the use/adoption during the period 2000 to 2011 in EU. A methodological gap in the evaluation of e-Gov in the EU exists. Europe focuses on the supply side and after the e-Gov services have been produced. It is suggested EU to follow a framework for adoption of e-Gov services in the design phase of services that takes into account the barriers and opportunities of adoption of e-Gov services.
NOX2 Is Critical to Endocardial to Mesenchymal Transition and Heart Development

NADPH oxidases (NOX) are a major source of reactive oxygen species (ROS) production in the heart. ROS signaling regulates gene expression, cell proliferation, apoptosis, and migration. However, the role of NOX2 in embryonic heart development remains elusive. We hypothesized that deficiency of Nox2 disrupts endocardial to mesenchymal transition (EndMT) and results in congenital septal and valvular defects. Our data show that 34% of Nox2−/− neonatal mice had various congenital heart defects (CHDs) including atrial septal defects (ASD), ventricular septal defects (VSD), atrioventricular canal defects (AVCD), and malformation of atrioventricular and aortic valves. Notably, Nox2−/− embryonic hearts show abnormal development of the endocardial cushion as evidenced by decreased cell proliferation and an increased rate of apoptosis. Additionally, Nox2 deficiency disrupted EndMT of atrioventricular cushion explants ex vivo. Furthermore, treatment with N-acetylcysteine (NAC) to reduce ROS levels in the wild-type endocardial cushion explants decreased the number of cells undergoing EndMT. Importantly, deficiency of Nox2 was associated with reduced expression of Gata4, Tgfβ2, Bmp2, Bmp4, and Snail1, which are critical to endocardial cushion and valvoseptal development. We conclude that NOX2 is critical to EndMT, endocardial cushion cell proliferation, and normal embryonic heart development.
Production, formulation and application of the entomopathogenic fungus Beauveria bassiana for insect control: current status.

This review summarizes the progress and achievements made in the last decade in mass production formulation and application technology of the entomopathogenic fungus Beauveria bassiana. Reports published on relevant research from Belgium, Canada, China, Cuba, Czechoslovakia (former), France, Germany, Great Britain, Philippines, Poland, Switzerland, USA and USSR (former) regarding this topic have been covered. Much of the non‐English language literature, particularly that from Eastern European and Chinese sources, has not been translated and is inaccessible to most English or other western language readers. We have done this translation and through this review provide technological details about mass production of B. bassiana in China. Various aspects of B. bassiana growth, substrate use, production of mycelia, conidiospore and blastospores, process technologies associated with separation, drying and milling, formulation, storage and ‘shelf‐life’, and field efficacy are reviewed. Data are presented on: a m.
Attention Optimization Method for EEG via the TGAM

Since the 21st century, noninvasive brain-computer interface (BCI) has developed rapidly, and brain-computer devices have gradually moved from the laboratory to the mass market. Among them, the TGAM (ThinkGear Asic Module) and its encapsulate algorithm have been adopted by many research teams and faculty members around the world. However, due to the limited development cost, the effectiveness of the algorithm to calculate data is not satisfactory. This paper proposes an attention optimization algorithm based on the TGAM for EEG data feedback. Considering that the data output of the TGAM encapsulate algorithm fluctuates greatly, the delay is high and the accuracy is low. The experimental results demonstrated that our algorithm can optimize EEG data, so that with the same or even lower delay and without changing the encapsulate algorithm of the module itself, it can significantly improve the performance of attention data, greatly improve the stability and accuracy of data, and achieve better results in practical applications.
Investigation of the Effect of Cultural Fit in International Construction Joint Venture Performance†1

International joint ventures (IJVs) have a great importance as a strategic alternative in global competition. Cultural differences between partners from different countries may cause lower performance levels in such ventures. The major objective of this study is to investigate the influence of national and organizational culture fit of partners on the IJV performance. In this respect, a questionnaire survey was administered to medium to large scale contractors, which are the members of the Turkish Contractors Association (TCA). A total of 68 project data was studied using regression and correlation analysis. Organizational and national culture fit between Turkish firms and their foreign partners was investigated. It is observed that compared to the national culture, organizational culture has a more significant effect on the IJV performance.
The Effect of Chinese Traditional Medicine Huaiqihuang (HQH) on the Protection of Nephropathy

Kidney disease is one of the common diseases with high morbidity and high mortality, which brings a huge burden to the society and the patient's family. The pathogenesis, treatment, and prognosis of kidney diseases are related to oxidative stress, inflammation, mitochondrial damage, and immune dysfunction. However, existing treatments always cause some damage to the kidneys. Kidney disease and immunosuppressant used together often lead to drug toxicity, patients with weakened immunity, organic rupture of the normal structure of the kidney, damage to the physiological function of the kidney, etc. Huaiqihuang is a kind of traditional Chinese medicine with a history of more than one thousand years. According to research, Robinia pseudoacacia can regulate the immune function by regulating oxidative stress, calcium inflow, and mitochondrial ATP. At the same time, it is also involved in regulating the ways of cell death, such as apoptosis, autophagy, ferroptosis, pyroptosis, and clockophagy, to reduce kidney damage, which has important clinical value. This article reviews the exact mechanism and clinical application of Huaiqihuang in different types of nephropathy. The aim is to provide new ideas for the treatment of clinical nephropathy.
INTELLIGENT MPPT CONTROLLER FOR PV SYSTEM USING GRAVITATIONAL SEARCH ALGORITHM

: In this paper, for maximum power point tracking (MPPT) of photovoltaic (PV), the combination of gravitational search algorithm (GSA) and recurrent neural network (RNN) is proposed. Initially, the panel power, voltage, current and solar irradiance is considered for analysing the PV system. According to these parameters, the maximum power is tracked and generated the control signal for the converter. Here, the objective function is the minimisation of the difference between the maximum power and the actual power. The proposed technique is implemented in Matlab/Simulink platform and their performances are evaluated under the variation of solar irradiance. Based on the solar irradiance, the performances are analysed in the different time instants and considered as the three different cases.
Rose Phytoene Desaturase Gene Silencing by Apple Latent Spherical Virus Vectors

We havesucceededin establishingavirus-inducedgene silencing(VIGS)of rose using Apple latent spherical virus (ALSV) vectors. An ALSV infection on rose did not cause any symptoms like those observed on other plant species and grew healthy. We have cloned and sequenced the phytoene desaturase (PDS) gene in wild rose, then used its fragment for silencing the rose internal PDS gene. The silencing phenotypes such as the highly uniform photo-bleached phenotype with PDS inhibitions were observed on the upper leaves of primary shoots and on a secondary shoot of R. rugosa for more than 5 months. ALSV vectors seemed useful for analyzing gene function and for the molecular breeding of rose.
Adjunct procedures for malperfusion syndrome in complicated acute type B aortic dissection

Acute aortic dissection is a common and often fatal aortic emergency. Treatment of type Baortic dissection typically consists of medical therapy in the uncomplicated cases, with surgical therapy reserved for complicated aortic dissection. Surgical therapy has shifted from traditional open surgical intervention to less invasive endovascular surgical interventions as a first line option. Complicated aortic dissection often presents as visceral or lower limb malperfusion (LLM). Conventional therapy of complicated aortic dissection has been revascularization of the affected vascular bed. Recently, numerous clinical trials and retrospective series have shown that treatment of the proximal aortic entry tear combined with targeted revascularization of the ischemic vascular bed leads to improved short term and long-term patient outcomes. This article outlines the interventional approach to the patient with complicated aortic dissection.
Alternative Herbicides for the Control of Clethodim-Resistant Rigid Ryegrass (Lolium rigidum) in Clearfield Canola in Southern Australia

Rigid ryegrass is the most-troublesome, herbicide-resistant weed in cropping systems of southern Australia. Field experiments were undertaken at Roseworthy, South Australia, in 2013 and 2014, to identify effective herbicide options for the control of clethodim-resistant rigid ryegrass in Clearfield canola. PPI trifluralin + triallate followed by (fb) POST imazamox + imazapyr + clethodim + butroxydim had the lowest plant density of rigid ryegrass in 2014 and provided superior control compared with the standard grower practice of PPI trifluralin + triallate fb POST imazamox + imazapyr + clethodim in 1 of 2 yr. Propyzamide either alone or as a split application (PPI fb POST) or in combination with clethodim provided similar rigid ryegrass control to that of the standard grower practice (38 to 553 plants m−2). Rigid ryegrass treated with PPI dimethenamid-P, pethoxamid, pethoxamid + triallate, and PPI trifluralin fb carbetamide POST produced significantly more seeds than the standard grower practice, which would lead to reinfestation of subsequent crops. Canola yield responded positively to effective herbicide treatments, especially in 2014, when rigid ryegrass density was greater. PPI dimethenamid-P and pethoxamid alone or in combination with triallate and propyzamide were ineffective in reducing rigid ryegrass density and seed production to levels acceptable for continuous cropping systems. Nomenclature: Butroxydim; clethodim; dimethenamid-P; imazamox + imazapyr; pethoxamid; propyzamide; triallate, trifluralin; rigid ryegrass; rigid ryegrass, Lolium rigidum Gaudin; Clearfield canola; Brassica napus L.
Glicerina bruta mista na alimentação de frangos de corte (1 a 42 dias)

Two experiments were conducted to evaluate the effect of inclusion of different levels of crude glycerine mixture in the broilers feeding on performance, carcass yield and carcass composition. 960 broilers were used at 21 days of age distributed in a completely randomized design with six levels of crude glycerine mixture (0; 2; 4; 6; 8 and 10%) and five replicates with 32 birds each. In the Experiment 1, for the growth period (22 to 42 days), was a linear effect in the levels of crude glycerine mixture inclusion on feed intake and a quadratic effect for weight gain, average weight and litter dry matter at 42 days old. There was no effect on broiler chicken carcass yield. In the Experiment 2, in the initial period (1 to 21 days), there was an increasing linear effect for feed intake and feed conversion. The same behavior was observed only for feed conversion in the period of 1 to 42 days. For chemical composition analysis of birds were not observed effects for all variables. The litter moisture at 21 and 42 days increased linearly. The utilization of crude glycerine mixture, byproduct of biodiesel production in feed formulation for broilers is possible, however should be better evaluated, for all the nutrients of its composition that could come into the diet balance, making possible to the broilers to have a nice performance.
COVID-19 severity is predicted by earlier evidence of accelerated aging

With no known treatments or vaccine, COVID-19 presents a major threat, particularly to older adults, who account for the majority of severe illness and deaths. The age-related susceptibility is partly explained by increased comorbidities including dementia and type II diabetes. While it is unclear why these diseases predispose risk, we hypothesize that increased biological age, rather than chronological age, may be driving disease-related trends in COVID-19 severity with age. To test this hypothesis, we applied our previously validated biological age measure (PhenoAge) composed of chronological age and nine clinical chemistry biomarkers to data of 347,751 participants from a large community cohort in the United Kingdom (UK Biobank), recruited between 2006 and 2010. Other data included disease diagnoses (to 2017), mortality data (to 2020), and the UK national COVID-19 test results (to May 31, 2020). Accelerated aging 10-14 years prior to the start of the COVID-19 pandemic was associated with test positivity (OR=1.15 per 5-year acceleration, 95% CI: 1.08 to 1.21, p=3.2x10-6) and all-cause mortality with test-confirmed COVID-19 (OR=1.25, per 5-year acceleration, 95% CI: 1.09 to 1.44, p=0.002) after adjustment for demographics including current chronological age and pre-existing diseases or conditions. The corresponding areas under the curves were 0.669 and 0.803, respectively. Biological aging, as captured by PhenoAge, is a better predictor of COVID-19 severity than chronological age, and may inform risk stratification initiatives, while also elucidating possible underlying mechanisms, particularly those related to inflammaging.
Colonization of marker strains of bacteria in fruit fly, Bactrocera tau

Symbiotic association among Tephritidae has been known since the beginning of century. These symbiotes have some useful functions in fruit flies viz., hydrolization of proteins and degradation of toxic substances. In the present studies antibiotic resistant strains of Pseudomonas putida (fruit fly symbiote), Bacillus subtilis (fruit fly pathogen) and Escherichia coli (non associated strain) were fed to Bactrocera tau, fruit flies to study their establishment and growth in fruit flies. All the three strains could colonize fruit flies, however maximum population was of P. putida, followed by B. subtilis and E. coli. It was concluded that it is possible to establish strains of P. putida modified with toxin genes to suppress fruit fly population in the field.