Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effect of Salinity on Seed Germination and Seedling Development of Soybean Genotypes

Soybean is one of the most important staple legume crops worldwide due to its high protein and oil content as well as its nitrogen fixing ability. Soybean is classified as moderate salt sensitive crop, with salinity causing adverse effects on all developmental stages, including seed germination and post-germinative growth. This study aimed at determining seed germination and seedling growth potential under salt stress conditions as a short-cut approach to identify salt tolerant genotypes at early growth stages. To this direction, nine commercial and pre-commercial varieties, whose adaptation to increased soil salinity is unknown, were imposed to salt stress using solutions differing in NaCl concentration (50, 100, 200mM NaCl), while non-stressed plants served as controls. Evaluation of tolerance was performed on the basis of germination percentage, seed water absorbance, seedling water content, root and shoot length and number of seedlings with abnormal phenotype. Overall findings revealed that stress substantially affects all traits associated to seed germination and seedling growth, with the effects being analogous to the stress level applied, yet genotypes exhibited varying response to increased salinity. Overall data suggest that seed germination and seedling growth potential may be readily employed to reveal genetic variability related to salt tolerance in soybean germplasm. Such screening approach may serve for selecting suitable germplasm material at early growth stages, thus upgrading all relevant breeding procedures.
Medication Overuse Headache in Chronic Migraine Patients Using Cannabis: A Case-Referent Study

Objective: To examine whether cannabis use predicts medication overuse headache (MOH) in chronic migraine (CM) patients. Methods: Electronic chart review was conducted by combining the terms “chronic migraine”, “medication overuse”, “cannabis”, “CBD”, “THC” for patients seen at our headache clinics from 2015 to 2019. Of 729 charts identified, 368 (150 using cannabis; 218 not using cannabis) met our inclusion criteria, i.e., adult CM patients with ≥ 1-year CM duration. The following variables were extracted from each patient’s chart: MOH diagnosis as dependent variable, and predictor variables as age, sex, migraine frequency, current CM duration, current cannabis use duration, overused acute migraine medications, current MOH duration, and types of cannabis products used. Logistic regression was employed to identify variables predicting MOH while controlling for remaining predictors. Agglomerative hierarchical clustering (AHC) was conducted to explore natural clusters using all predictor variables. Results: There were 212 CM patients with MOH ( cases ) and 156 CM patients without MOH ( referents ). Current cannabis use statistically significantly predicted cases with MOH – odds ratio 6.0 (3.45, 10.43), p < 0.0001. Current cannabis use, opioid use, and MOH were significantly associated. AHC revealed two major natural clusters. Cluster I patients were younger with less migraine frequency, higher MOH burden, more current cannabis and opioid users than cluster II. Conclusion: Cannabis use significantly contributes to the prevalence of MOH in CM. Bidirectional cannabis-opioid association was observed – use of one increased use of the other. Advising CM patients with MOH to reduce cannabis use may help treat MOH effectively.
Specialization and performance trade‐offs across hosts in cactophilic Drosophila species

1. We assessed the host‐related niche breadth for D. koepferae and D. buzzatii, a pair of sibling cactophilic species with contrasting backgrounds of host use. We tested for the ‘Jack of all trades‐ Master of none’ scenario predicting a more evident exhibition in D. buzzatii rather than in the supposedly specialist D. koepferae.
Measurement of cortisol in blow samples collected from free‐swimming beluga whales (
 
 Delphinapterus leucas
 
 )

Blow or respiratory vapor collection is a noninvasive technique for monitoring the physiology of cetaceans and although this technique shows promise, a major challenge of blow collection is difficulty quantifying samples due to variable amounts of seawater contamination. Here, we aimed to (1) determine whether blow samples could be collected from free-swimming belugas, (2) assess whether urea could be used as a dilution marker to normalize blow samples, and (3) determine which factors influenced cortisol and urea concentrations. We collected a total of 252 blow samples from free-swimming belugas in the Churchill River in Manitoba, Canada. Cortisol, an indicator of individual stress and health, was detected in 65.87% of samples with concentrations ranging from 6.73 to 963.17 pg/ml of extract volume, while urea was detected in 90.48% of samples with concentrations ranging from 0.21 to 20.30 mg/L. We were unable to verify the efficacy of urea as a dilution marker to normalize blow samples from free-swimming belugas; however, absolute cortisol concentrations varied based on sample device and quantity rating. Although we demonstrated that blow can be successfully collected from free-swimming belugas, further refinement of this technique is needed before it can be used as a reliable method for physiological assessments. One of the key objectives of this study was to assess whether we could use urea as a dilution marker to normalize cortisol concentrations in beluga blow samples. We collected two blow samples each from nine individuals, on the same type of collection device; however, six samples were removed because they fell below the LOD for either the cortisol or urea assay. We found no correlation between paired blow samples as absolute cortisol concentrations z = 1.567,
Preparation of Silver Nanoparticle Loaded Mesoporous TiO2 and Its Photocatalytic Property

A series of Ag-modified mesoporous titania (TiO2) particles with various silver contents were prepared by photoreduction. The prepared Ag-TiO2 samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscope (TEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry (EDX) and UV-visible diffuse reflectance spectroscopic (DRS) techniques. The visible light photocatalytic property was demonstrated for photodegradation of methylene blue (MB) solution. The results showed that Ag nanoparticles were firmly immobilized on the TiO2 surface, which im- proved electron-hole separation by forming the Schottky barrier at the Ag-TiO2 interface. The diffusion of reflectance UV-Vis spectra were also served as an indication that the Ag-TiO2 samples displayed higher red shifts in comparison with un-modified TiO2 sample. Under visible light, the optimal photoactivity was obtained for the sample m-TiO2-Ag- 2.0wt%. The TiO2-Ag catalyst is likely to be used again for a number of times without any additional treatment.
The impact of digitalisation vision and information technology on organisations' innovation

PurposeBased on the dynamic capability theory (DCT), this study examines the role of digitalisation vision and the impact of key information technology (IT) strategies, such as IT flexibility, IT integration and IT agility, on organisations' process innovation capability and the subsequent impact these may have on innovation performance.Design/methodology/approachData for this study were collected from 153 public listed organisations in Malaysia. The survey questionnaire method was used to collect the data from the organisations' representatives.FindingsResults showed that it is important for organisation to have a strategic digitalisation vision to improve their process innovation capabilities. IT agility and IT integration also had a significant positive relationship with the process innovation capabilities of the organisations, which in turn had a positive impact on innovation performance.Originality/valueDigital transformation and innovation are crucial for organisations to survive in the era of Industry 4.0. However previous studies have not captured the role of digitalisation vision, strategic IT components and its impact on process innovation capabilities. The current study filled up the gap and examined these relationships. The outcome of this study provides valuable insights for managers to understand the importance of digitalisation and the need to focus on key IT strategies. Such insights can be used to improve organisations' process capability which is critical for innovation and performance.
Bridge Integrator 2, a New Specific Target for Improving Reproductive Life Span through RPS6 and NNT

Female ovary is the earliest degenerated organ and it faces distinct medical disadvantages that impair primordial follicle reserve and oocyte quality. Herein, we found that bridge integrator 2 (Bin2) was predominant within mouse ovaries and oocytes, and global-knockout of Bin2 improved both female fertility and oocyte quality with healthy physiology in mice. Ovarian quantitative proteomics and phosphomics showed that Bin2 knockout specifically decreased only p-RPS6 of mTOR pathway; meanwhile, it increased nicotinamide nucleotide transhydrogenase (NNT), the free-radical detoxifier, over 6-fold. Mechanically, phosphorylation at Thr423 & Ser424 translocated membrane Bin2 into cytoplasm to phosphorylate RPS6, while p-RPS6 bound 42-95 bp NNT UTR to inhibit NNT translation. We then synthesized a peptide (BPP) to mimic Bin2 inhibition, and found that 3-week BPP injection improved primordial follicle reserve and oocyte quality in aging or chemotherapeutics-treated mice. In all, Bin2 inhibition improve both primordial follicle reserve and oocyte quality without discernible side effects.
A Novel B5G Frequency Nonstationary Wireless Channel Model

Frequency nonstationarity is an important statistical property of beyond fifth generation wireless communication channels due to extremely large bandwidths used in millimeter wave (mmWave) and teraherz communications. In this article, a general averaged power delay profile method is first introduced as a metric to determine the stationarity regions of wireless channels in the time, frequency, and spatial domains. Then, we apply this method to determine the frequency stationarity regions (FSRs) of channel measurements in a sub-6-GHz frequency band (2–4 GHz) and two mmWave frequency bands (14–16 GHz and 28–30 GHz). Frequency nonstationary (FnS) properties are found from all of the three bands. A novel FnS channel model is then proposed to model wireless channels in all frequency bands. We first split a FnS channel into a few frequency stationary (FS) subband channels and model them one by one, which are finally combined as an FnS channel model considering the cluster evolution in the frequency domain and the frequency consistency of subband channels. Simulation results show that the frequency correlation functions of the proposed FnS channel model fit well those of the measured FnS channels.
Spatiotemporal dynamics of the ant community in a dry forest differ by vertical strata but not by successional stage

Ants are diverse and ecologically important organisms in tropical forests, where their spatiotemporal distribution can be highly complex. This complexity arises mainly from marked differences in microclimatic conditions and resource availability through space and time that is even more evident in highly seasonal environments, such as tropical dry forests. However, it is unclear how seasonality interacts with other factors that might shape temporal variation of ant composition (β‐diversity), like vertical strata and habitat disturbance. Our goal was to examine the potential influence of vertical stratification and the successional stage on the spatiotemporal variation of a tropical dry forest's ant species composition. We assessed whether species turnover or nestedness was the main component determining the spatiotemporal β‐diversity of ant communities across the canopy and litter strata. We sampled canopy and litter ants in ten plots, half in the early and half on the late stage of secondary succession at four times, twice in wet and twice in dry season. A high species turnover defined the spatiotemporal β‐diversity of canopy and litter ant communities across years and seasons in our focal dry forests. Importantly, the temporal ant species composition was much more stable in the canopy than in the litter. Moreover, we found that the ant community's temporal dynamics was consistently high across successional stages, not differing in the temporal β‐diversity between early and late succession. Our results provide valuable insights into the potential underlying causes of community assembly and spatiotemporal dynamics in seasonal habitats, like the highly threatened and diverse tropical dry forests.
A 3D geometric morphometric dataset quantifying skeletal variation in birds

Macroevolution is integral to understanding the patterns of the diversiﬁcation of life. As the life sciences increasingly use big data approaches, large multivariate datasets are required to test fundamental macroevolutionary hypotheses. In vertebrate evolution, large datasets have been created to quantify morphological variation, largely focusing on particular areas of the skeleton. We provide a landmarking protocol to quantify morphological variation in skeletal elements across the head, trunk, hindlimb and forelimb using 3-dimensional landmarks and semilandmarks, and present a large pan-skeletal database of bird morphology for 149 taxa across avian phylogeny using CT scan data. This large collection of 3D models and geometric morphometric data is open access and can be used in the future for new research, teaching and outreach.
Effects of different plant extracts at various dietary levels on growth performance, carcass traits, blood serum parameters, immune response and ileal microflora of Ross broiler chickens

Abstract A study was conducted to evaluate the effects of different plant extracts (common nettle, coriander, dill and thyme) at various dietary levels (0, 150, 300 and 450 mg/L) on growth performance, carcass traits, blood serum parameters, immune response and ileal microflora of 650 male Ross chickens (13 treatment groups; five replicates/treatment group; 10 birds/replicate) in a 42-day trial. Plant extracts were added to drinking water. Supplementation, except for coriander, increased feed intake (p < .05). Thyme extracts at 300 mg/L improved both weight gain and feed efficiency (p < .05). Thyme or dill (300 mg/L) improved carcass and drumsticks yields (p < .05). Pre-slaughtered body weight was increased by supplementation with plant extracts at 300 mg/L (p < .05). Plant extracts positively affected blood serum parameters decreasing concentrations (p < .05) of total protein, albumin, urea and total cholesterol. Dill extract increased IgG against sheep red blood cells at d 28 (p < .05) and d 42 (IgG; tendency p= .0698), whereas coriander extract (450 mg/L) raised immune response against avian influence within 42 d from vaccination (p < .05). Plant extracts reduced coliforms (except dill at 300 mg/L level; p < .05) and aerobic bacteria (except dill; p < .05). Negative gram bacteria were increased by thyme and dill treatments at 150 mg/L (p < .05) whereas lactobacilli bacteria were raised by thyme at 150 mg/L level (p < .05). In conclusion, supplementation with thyme at 300 mg/L level had the greatest benefits on the evaluated parameters. HIGHLIGHTS Thyme supplementation at 300 mg/L level could improve broiler chicken growth performance, carcass traits and blood serum parameters. Thyme supplementation at 150 mg/L could positively affect ileal microbiota increasing lactobacilli bacteria and reducing coliforms. However, no relevant effects of the thyme treatment were observed on broiler chicken immune responses.
Preconditioning of overcast-to-broken cloud transitions by riming in
marine cold air outbreaks

Abstract. Marine cold air outbreaks (CAOs) commonly form overcast cloud decks that transition into broken cloud fields downwind, dramatically altering the local radiation budget. In this study, we investigate the impact of frozen hydrometeors on these transitions. We focus on a CAO case in the NW Atlantic, the location of the multi-year flight campaign ACTIVATE. We use MERRA-2 reanalysis fields to drive large-eddy simulations with mixed-phase two-moment microphysics in a Lagrangian framework. We find that transitions are triggered by substantial rain (rainwater paths > 25 g m−2) and only simulations that allow for aerosol depletion result in sustained breakups as observed. Using a range of diagnostic ice nucleating particle concentrations, Ninp, we find that increasing ice progressively accelerates transitions, thus abbreviating the overcast state. Ice particles affect the cloud-topped boundary layer evolution primarily through riming-related processes prior to substantial rain, leading to (1) reduction in cloud liquid water, (2) early consumption of cloud condensation nuclei, and (3) early and light precipitation cooling and moistening below cloud. We refer to these three effects collectively as preconditioning by riming. Greater boundary layer aerosol concentrations delay the onset of substantial rain. However, cloud breakup and low-aerosol concentration final stages are found to be inevitable in this case owing primarily to liquid water path buildup. To address prevailing uncertainties in the model representation of mixed-phase processes, the magnitude of ice formation and riming impacts and, thereby, the strength of an associated negative cloud-climate feedback process, requires further observational evaluation by targeting riming hotspots with in situ imaging probes that allow both for characterization of ice particles and abundance of supercooled droplets.
Genome-wide identification and expression analysis of the vacuolar processing enzyme (VPE) family genes in pear

ABSTRACT Vacuolar processing enzymes (VPEs) are important cysteine proteases and function in the processing and maturation of protein precursors, plant senescence and immunity, programmed cell death, as well as sugar accumulation. This paper investigated VPEs in pear and identified as a key finding eight members of the VPE family in the pear (Pyrus) genome, and their gene structure, protein conserved domains and phylogenetic relationship were analysed by bioinformatics methods. Further key findings were that two of these VPEs (PbrVPE2 and PbrVPE5) represented a vegetative and the others a seed-coat type VPE. Transcriptome data and quantitative real-time PCR were used separately to analyse the expression patterns of the pear VPE gene family. The PbrVPE2 and PbrVPE5 were, in comparison to the other VPEs, abundantly expressed by possibly playing a role during the development and ripening of the pear fruit. A highly expressed PbrVPE2 gene was isolated from a pear fruit and named PpyVPE2. The biological function of the newly PpyVPE2 genes was predicted by recombinant protein expression and subcellular localisation.
Examining cognitive, motivational and environmental factors that relate to reading performance for children with English as a first or additional language.

ABSTRACT Conflicting findings exist in the literature regarding the reading skills of children learning English as an additional language (EAL). Moreover, little research has considered how related literacy skills, motivation, and environmental factors may differ between EAL children and monolinguals, and how these factors may contribute to reading outcomes. The present study compared 36 children with EAL and 31 monolingual children (mean age 9 years) on measures of reading, literacy-related abilities (phonology, vocabulary), motivation and environmental factors. No group differences were found in word reading and fluency, phonological awareness, expressive vocabulary, reading motivation, time spent reading with a parent and independently, and parental attitudes to reading. However, maternal education was lower in the EAL group and these children had more children’s books at home than their monolingual peers. The findings confirm the importance of phonological awareness and expressive vocabulary for reading performance in both groups, as well as suggesting that maternal education may indirectly relate to EAL children’s reading abilities through their attitudes towards reading. In contrast, maternal education related to the books in the home for monolingual children. Implications and suggestions for future research are discussed.
Performance Analysis of Channel Estimation in 5G millimeter-Wave-MIMO Heterogeneous Systems

Millimeter Wave (mm-Wave) - massive Multiple-Input Multiple-Output (MIMO) technology has been a subject of today’s growing interest in both industry and academia for future wireless standards and has significant potential to provide considerable gains in data rates, link reliability and Energy Efficiency (EE). Sparse recovery has great capability in Channel Estimation (CE) for mm-Wave - Massive-MIMO (Ma-MIMO) heterogeneous wireless networks and in this context; the existing better candidate “Orthogonal Matching Pursuit” (OMP) algorithm is modified for CE in such networks. This paper will provide an opportunity in setting up of such a network, and the practical observation of the effect of a change in threshold, sparsity and noise levels as well as quantity of Radio Frequency (RF) chain systems. The performance analysis of CE accuracy in terms of Normalized Mean Square Error (NMSE)verses a given Signal-to-Noise (SNR) range in dB is calculated using this modified algorithm, much better than the existing OMP methods and compared against the ideal Genie case under a wide range of noise encountered. It has been observed that in a very high noise environment, NMSE of this noise resistant algorithm is approximate (100.5 to 10-3.5) in low SNR range (-10 to 30) dB and approximate (10-1.5 to10-5.5) in high SNR range (10 to 50) dB. It comes out to be approximate (10-1 to more than 10-5) in case of combined effect involvingthe reduction of quantity of RF chain systems to half and 10 times enhancement of threshold level in a very high noise environment and low SNR range.
The Influence of a Fulvic Acid on the Adsorption of Europium and Strontium by Alumina and Quartz: Effects of pH and Ionic Strength

A batch method has been employed to study the adsorption of trace quantities of Eu and Sr on α-Α1203 and Si02 as a function of pH (3-9), ionic strength (0.10 and 0.01 M NaClOj and the presence of a well-characterized aquatic fulvic acid (FA). A comparison of Eu and Sr adsorption by alumina showed that FA could both reduce and enhance metal ion adsorption. In the absence of FA the adsorption of the metal ions onto alumina was a function of both pH and ionic strength. In the presence of FA the ionic strength effect on the Eu adsorption vanished, while the Sr adsorption showed a clear dependence on ionic strength. The adsorption of Eu and Sr on quartz was lower than the adsorption of the metals on alumina. Additionally, the adsorption of Eu and Sr on quartz was apparently lower than the adsorption on alumina in the presence of FA. For both metal ions the adsorption on quartz was higher at 0.10 M than at 0.01 M NaC104 — an observation that was reversed in the case of alumina. Increasing concentrations of FA lowered the pH at which Eu adsorption on alumina would be reduced.