Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Examination of the microbial status of selected indigenous fermented foods in Nigeria

Four Nigerian traditionally fermented foods (wara, nono, ogi and kunun-zaki) were evaluated for the presence of some microorganisms of public health concern. Among the dairy foods, Staphylococcus aureus and Klebsiella sp. were isolated from wara while Escherichia coli, Salmonella sp. and Klebsiella sp. were isolated from nono. The cereal-based fermented foods (ogi and kunu-zaki) contained Bacillus subtilis, E. coli, S. aureus, Klebsiella sp. and Enterococcus faecalis. The mesophilic aerobic counts were: 5 x 10(5) for wara; nono, 1.53 x 10(7); ogi, 3.6 x 10(6) and kunu-zaki, 2.6 x 10(6) cfu/mL. The enterobacteriaceae counts on nono, wara, ogi and kunu-zaki were 1.79 x 10(7), 4.5 x 10(5), 4.0 x 10(5) and 1.2 x 10(6) cfu/mL, respectively. No Vibrio count (detection limit: < 10 cfu/mL) was recorded in all the food samples considered. The yeast and mold counts ranged from 1.0 x 10(5)-3.31 x 10(7) among the food products. The antimicrobial susceptibility patterns of the organisms isolated from dairy products (nono and wara) revealed that they were resistant to ampicillin (100%) and sensitive to gentamicin (100%) and nalidixic acid (100%). Most isolates from cereal based products (ogi and kunu-zaki) were 100% resistant to penicillin, ampicillin and chloramphenicol. This work highlights the need to maintain hygienic standards in the preparation of our locally fermented cereal and dairy foods.
Effect of polyethylene glycol coating on Salmonella enteritidis in artificially contaminated eggs

This experimental infection study focuses on a specific Salmonella micro-organism commonly found inside hens’ eggs. It outlines the application of polyethylene glycol-based films on hens’ eggs and microbial growth introduced via transovarian contamination. Three molecular weights of polyethylene glycol (PEG) were studied: ranging from 1000 g/mol to 3000 g/mol. PEG coating ratios averaged a PEG film thickness of 0.014 ± 0.006 mm and average eggshell thickness was 0.32 ± 0.022 mm. The effects of molecular weight of PEG coating and storage time on the growth of Salmonella enteritidis of PEG-coated eggs were evaluated during 30 days of incubation in 37°C storage. The initial concentration of 8 log10 CFU/mL was achieved by inoculation. The lowest level of S. enteritidis at the end of 30-day incubation period was 5.07 ± 0.03 log10 CFU/mL, giving an inhibition efficiency of 33.83%. This level was achieved with a PEG coating of 1.0449 ± 0.005 density and 0.02 ± 0.01film thickness.
Glyphosate-Tolerant Cotton: The Composition of the Cottonseed Is Equivalent to That of Conventional Cottonseed

An important aspect of the safety assessment of genetically modified crops to be used for human food and animal feed is the product composition, including nutrients and antinutrients. Cotton lines have been developed that are tolerant to glyphosate, the active ingredient in the herbicide Roundup. The glyphosate-tolerant lines were generated by the stable insertion of a glyphosate tolerance gene in a common variety of cotton. The glyphosate tolerance gene encodes for 5-enolpyruvylshikimate-3-phosphate synthase (EPSPS) from Agrobacterium sp. strain CP4 (CP4 EPSPS). The composition of the cottonseed and oil from two glyphosate-tolerant lines (GTCot), 1445 and 1698, was compared to that of the parental variety Coker 312 and to published values for other commercial cotton varieties. The nutrients measured in the cottonseed were protein, fat, fiber, carbohydrate, calories, moisture, ash, amino acids, and fatty acids. The antinutrients measured in the cottonseed included gossypol, cyclopropenoid fatty acids, and.
Interest Rate and Growth Nexus in Nigeria: The ARDL-Bound Test Approach

This study examined the effect interest rate on economic growth in Nigeria. Augmented Dickey – Fuller (ADF), Bound Test and Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) were employed to examine the effect of impact of interest rate on economic growth in Nigeria. The unit root test showed gross domestic product was 1(0) while interest rate, investment and gross capital formation were 1(1). The result of the Bound Test indicated long run relationship among the macroeconomic variables employed in the study. The result of the ARDL indicated that interest rate had negative effect on economic growth both in short run and long run. However, in the long run investment and gross capital formation were established to have positive effect on economic growth with gross capital formation being insignificant. It was concluded that interest rate has a macroeconomic tool is not effective in stimulating economic growth in Nigeria. It was recommended that the level of interest rate should be adequately controlled for the purpose of stimulating economic growth without inflationary pressure. Finally, robust macroeconomic policies aimed at ensuring economic stability should be formulated in order to increase capital formation and attract investment in order to promote economic growth.
The Relation Between Nematode Density and Damage To Plants

An equation for the relation between the density of stem nematodes or virus transmitting nematodes in the soil and the proportion of attacked plants can be derived if two suppositions are made: 1. the "average nematode" is the same at all densities. 2. the nematodes act independently of each other. If now y = the proportion of the plants that is not attacked and P = the density of the nematode then In this equation z is a constant < 1 and equal to the proportion of the plants not attacked at a nematode density P = 1 (competition curve of Nicholson). The results of a pot experiment by Sayre & Mountain and field observations by Kaai are in close agreement with this equation. To describe the relation between the density of populations of root infesting nematodes and the yield of attacked plants an equation must express two phenomena: 1) Up to a certain density (the tolerance limit) the yield is not affected (damage only to tissue that is not essential to the growth of the plant, power of recovery of the plant), 2) a certain minimum yield (Omin) remains unaffected by the nematodes even at the highest densities (because of temporary or continuous inaccessability of part of the host tissue). The equation in which Op = yield at nematode density P, 0max = yield in the absence of nematodes and T = tolerance limit, fulfills these requirements. The results of many experiments reported in the literature are in good agreement with this theoretical relation between nematode density and yield. In most cases Omin is between 0.1 Omax and 0.5 Omax. The tolerance limit depends on the nematode species, the plant species and external conditions.
Redefining E-Banking From Bankers’ Perspectives

Today, e-banking is used as a strategic tool by the global banking sector to attract and retain customers. E-banking is a generic term for delivery of banking services and products through electronic channels, such as the telephone, the internet, the cell phone, etc. The concept and scope of E-banking is still evolving. It facilitates an effective payment and accounting system thereby enhancing the speed of delivery of banking services considerably. The present paper is the outcome of an empirical study with the objective of investigating bankers’ views regarding e-banking. It covers bankers’ perspectives on e-banking activities of respondents, impact of e-banking and promotional measures used by banks to promote e-banking. The customers are generally use e-Banking services on persuasion of bankers. User-ship is mostly concentrated on professionals, business class and males belonging to middle age. The bankers are convinced that e-banking helps in improving the relationship between bankers and customers and that it will bring patent improvement in the overall performance of banks. So far as promotional avenues are concerned, print media is at the top. This paper is an attempt to understand the use and benefits of e-Banking from Bankers’ perspectives. The sources used from secondary level of data.
Efficiency of Institutions NEW2 - From the Perspective of New Institutional Economics with Emphasis on Knighting Uncertainty

The efficiency of institutions, understood in the neoclassical sense, i.e., as the result of constraint optimization of a neoclassical economy is pointless from the perspective of the New Institutional Economics, because the latter assumes incomplete foresight. For such a world one cannot use Newton’s celestial mechanics (Richter 2017). To act under conditions of deficient foresight requires four properties: First, proper institutions or rules of behavior, like contractual obligations or private property (Hume 1969). Second a qualified individual leadership (Knight 1921). Third, a healthy endowment of social capital that permits self-organizing (Fukuyama 1995). Prudent economists have no choice but to use the analytic style of the social sciences – as practiced in the NIE literature – and to be aware of the limits of social engineering. Taking this into account, we discuss stepwise the economic effectiveness of the following four economic institutions of capitalism: Competitive markets, money, contracts, and firms. Their efficiency under incomplete foresight depends not only on the adaptability of institutions to unforeseen events but also on the level of trust among its users (their corporate or national culture) and the skills of entrepreneurial or political leadership. Top executive salaries contain a speculative element. To cap them makes only sense if one caps also increases in share prices. There exists no mathematical concept of economic efficiency of institutions like Pareto efficiency. All we can do is to be aware that we are dealing with complex adaptive social systems that, in a sense, maybe ‘adaptive efficient’ (North 1980).
Rules of Origin in Customs Unions and Global Free Trade

In a three-country Customs Union (CU) formation game, I introduce international trade in intermediate inputs and Rules of Origin (RoO) restrictions. In the case of symmetric countries, I show that as countries become more involved in global supply chains, global free trade is less likely to be a stable equilibrium outcome. RoO can help solving this problem. In the case of asymmetry, depending on the degree of the globalization, free riding (for high) or exclusion motive (for low) prevents global free trade. Correspondingly, it is shown that RoO can have helpful or detrimental effect on attaining global free trade.
Genotype by environment interaction in the southern Swedish breeding population of Picea abies using new climatic indices

Genotype–environment interaction (G × E) has a critical impact on the design of a breeding programme and the resulting genetic gains. The aim of this study was to assess the incidence and predictability of G × E with respect to growth traits in the breeding population of Picea abies (L.) Karst. in southern Sweden. We used across-site genetic correlations as a measure of G × E and multiple linear regression to detect patterns in the correlations. As independent variables in the regression analysis, we used site and geographic factors as well as a comprehensive set of new climatic variables. A main result was that G × E was low to moderate with respect to the growth traits considered and largely unpredictable based on any of the geographic or climatic variables analyzed. However, it seems that the effects of late spring frost damage are important as they created significant differences in across-site correlations and we suggest that models describing frost risks should be developed. One major implication from this study is that the same genetic material could be used over larger areas in southern Sweden than recommended today with only a marginal or no loss in genetic gain.
The Analytical Solution of Trolle-Schwartz Model

In this paper, we analyze Trolle-Schwartz stochastic volatility model and we provide an analytical solution to its characteristic function, which can be used for a fast pricing of plain vanilla options on commodities. Then we explore some technical issues of the model, like the Heston trap, and, after testing, we provide the solutions. All in all the framework developed by Trolle and Schwartz, coupled with the pricing formula described in this article, will have the potential for a rapid calibration and a reliable pricing of complex commodity derivatives.
Antifungal Property of Garlic (Allium sativum Linn.) in Poultry Feed Substrate

Abstract Garlic (Allium sativum Linn.) extract and chips at 3% concentrations inhibited the growth of three test fungi viz. Candida albicans (Pantnagar strain), Aspergillus fumigatus (Pantnager strain), and A.parasiticus (NRRL-3240) inoculated in poultry feed substrate. The viable spore count per gram of feed treated with garlic was approximately ten to one hundred times less than the control feed samples. The extract was more effective than the chips.
The Effects of Mobility in Later Life: A Multidisciplinary Systematic Review

Mobility in later life is a key determinant in modern societies dealing with ageing population. Despite being studied in medicine, sociology and transport, this topic displayed findings which have been exploited within each discipline independently. Thus, potential spillovers have not been pointed out yet. Contributing to filling this gap, this study is a multidisciplinary systematic review aiming at informing about the impacts of elderly mobility on dimensions of well-being and quality of life. We searched for peer-reviewed articles published from 2010-2019, by scanning some relevant electronic databases (Scopus, Web of Science, PubMed and TRID). 78 studies met the inclusion criteria, of which about 70% come from medical, 14% from transport and 16% from sociological literature. Interestingly, a large variability in ways of defining the mobility of the elderly was detected, together with a number of discipline-specific measures and related effects. Since the topic of elderly mobility is indeed multidisciplinary, fruitful synergies among scholars are strongly encouraged in the future.
Comparison of Planktonic Microbial Communities among Nine North American Streams

The ecological significance of microbial communities in aquatic systems has been documented to varying degrees in marine and lentic systems; however much less is known about their relative abundance and distribution among streams with different environmental conditions. In this study, the relative abundance and distribution of different bacterial taxa, virus-like-particles (VLP) and protozoa in planktonic communities from nine streams in different regions of the USA were examined. There were clear differences in the abundance and distribution of the microorganisms examined among sites within a stream and among the streams. Also, there were strong relationships between the abundance of some of the microbiological variables measured and the environmental conditions of the streams. Most of the bacterial taxa examined were correlated with chlorophyll-a concentrations, while no significant relationships were observed between VLP numbers and any of the environmental or microbiological variables measured in the streams. In contrast, protozoa numbers were correlated with nitrate and dissolved organic carbon (DOC) concentrations. Our results suggest that differences in environmental conditions influence microbial numbers and distribution among the streams examined.
Correlates and Determinants of Child Anthropometrics in Latin America: Background and Overview of the Symposium

This paper provides a summary of the work in seven papers of a Latin American Research Network project intended to identify the following information: The private and public determinants of child anthropometrics; The extent to which the private and public determinants interact and whether interactions suggest gross substitution or complementarities; and The extent to which the influence of the determinants of child anthropometrics vary by the age and gender of the child. Countries for which results are reported included in the project are Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Honduras, Mexico and Nicaragua.
Management of strawberry grey mould using mixtures of biocontrol agents with different mechanisms of action

Abstract Experiments were conducted using combinations of commercially available biological control agents (BCAs) to control infection of detached strawberry leaves by Botrytis cinerea Pers. ;Fr. Combinations were tested either as mixtures, or as sequential treatments before and after disease loading. Five BCAs were initially tested, giving a range of mechanisms of antagonism. Only three (Sentinel™, Serenade™ and Trianum™) were effective in single agent experiments and were taken forward for combinatorial tests. Biocontrol efficacies, relative to the control, varied considerably among replicate trials, but all treatments involving Sentinel (BCA: Trichoderma atroviride P. Karsten LC52) and Trianum (BCA: Trichoderma harzianum Rifai T22) were very effective, either in sequential combination with other BCA or alone. Serenade (BCA: Bacillus subtilis (Ehrenberg) Cohn) was least effective, and sometimes did not result in any significant reduction in disease. Combinations of BCAs as mixtures resulted in less control (i.e., higher disease) than when the most effective BCA within the combination was applied alone, indicating possible antagonism between the BCAs. However, when two BCAs were applied sequentially about 48 h apart, there was no strong evidence for antagonism between the BCAs; this was also confirmed in an experiment using whole plants in controlled environment cabinets. We conclude that there was usually no benefit in applying two BCAs either together or sequentially, so in general we would not advise combinations as the method of choice. Thus, research is necessary to investigate possible interference among specific BCAs, since several BCAs may be applied simultaneously under field conditions to control several diseases.
On the Performance of Certainty-equivalent Pricing

When underlying demand is uncertain and follows a complex stochastic process, pricing problems are difficult to solve. In such cases, certainty equivalent (CE) policies, based on solving the deterministic relaxation of a stochastic pricing problem, can be used as practical alternatives. CE policies have lighter computational and informational requirements compared to solving the optimal problem. This is particularly true when the firm does not have complete information about the underlying demand distribution. <br><br>While the effectiveness of CE pricing policies has been theoretically studied in some settings (e.g, independent demand, continuous price changes), the performance of CE policies are not known in general. This paper analyzes the performance of CE policies in a pricing problem (for a given inventory level) where future demand depends on sales and inventory and the firm has limited opportunities to change price. We show that CE policies are asymptotically optimal: as the problem scale (denoted by m) becomes large, the percentage regret decreases at the rate of O (m^(-1/2)). We also extend the result to the joint pricing and (initial) inventory problem. Our numerical results are even more promising. Even in non-asymptotic settings (small scaling factor and a few price changes), CE policies perform well and often result in revenues that are only a few percentage points lower than optimal. <br><br>In addition, we compare the benefit of a closed-loop CE policy over an open-loop CE policy and provide a theoretical comparison between the two policies.
Keynes, and Only J. M. Keynes, Was Responsible for the Logical and Mathematical Development of the Multiplier Concept in 1921(1908) in His a Treatise on Probability (1921) That He Later Used in the General Theory (1936)

J M Keynes had already developed the theory of the Multiplier concept mathematically, logically, and technically in his "A Treatise on Probability" (1921). The same analysis can be found in his second Cambridge Fellowship Dissertation of 1908. Samuelson explicitly covered the material, Keynes’s risk (R) formula, presented by Keynes on page 315 of the A Treatise on Probability, in his 1977 article in the Journal of Economic Literature. However, Samuelson overlooked the footnote, footnote 1 on page 315 of the A Treatise on Probability, in which Keynes applies an explicit multiplier analysis to a geometric, declining, infinite series because Keynes left out the intermediate steps of taking the limit of the series as n, the number of terms in the series, approached infinity. Keynes simply gave the final answer one will obtain after he has taken the limit. Samuelson also overlooked Keynes’s generalized risk analysis on page 353 of the A Treatise on Probability ,which extended Keynes’s Risk analysis ,which used Chebyshev’s Inequality to derive a lower bound . This would be an imprecise probability that would become more accurate as more observations were obtained, leading eventually to a precise estimate of probability from the normal distribution if the decision maker could afford to delay action for the period of time needed. R. Kent’s 2007 article in the History of Political Economy leaves completely unresolved the issue of where Richard Kahn got the idea for the use of the multiplier from. Kahn, in 1936, stated, in a note on a paper of Neisser’s that appeared in the Review of Economic Statistics, that “…my own ideas were largely derived from Mr. Keynes. ” (Kahn,1936, p.144). Kahn’s contribution originated in private conversations with Keynes, where Keynes showed Kahn his chapter 26 analysis contained in the A treatise on probability on page 315 in footnote 1. Keynes, and no one else in history, was the person who had already originated the mathematical theory of the multiplier, which Keynes in the General Theory called the logical theory of the multiplier. Keynes's discussion of the logical theory of the Multiplier on pp.122-123 of the General Theory is simply a literary description of the mathematical analysis presented by Keynes on page 315 of the A Treatise on Probability. Kent's belief that Keynes had presented a multiplier analysis in 1929 is correct. The issue of whether Keynes made an arithmetic error in adding up the terms of the series is completely irrelevant to the main issue, which is “who is the person who created the theory of the multiplier? ”
Schizonycha kadleci sp. nov. (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Melolonthinae) from Western Yemen

Abstract. Schizonycha kadleci sp. nov. from Jabal Bura' (western Yemen) is described and its diagnostic characters are illustrated. The new species is compared with similar and probably closely related subspecies yemenensis Arrow, 1944 of Schizonycha angustata Kolbe, 1895. Moreover, S. angustata yemenensis is recorded from Oman for the first time.
An anion–radical salt of 1-(4-cyanobenzyl)-4-methylpyridinium cations and 7,7,8,8-tetracyanoquinodimethane anions

# 2007 International Union of Crystallography All rights reserved In the structure of the title compound, 1-(4-cyanobenzyl)-4methylpyridinium 7,7,8,8-tetracyanoquinodimethanide, C14H13N2 + [C8H4(CN)4] , the asymmetric unit contains one cation and one anion. Intraand intermolecular C—H N hydrogen bonds and – stacking interactions seem to be effective in the stabilization of the crystal structure.
Baculovirus-like particles in the reproductive tracts of female parasitoid wasps II: the genus Apanteles

Virus-like particles have been found in the female reproductive tracts of all Apanteles spp. thus far examined. Particles generally consist of putative baculovirus-like nucleocapsids which are enveloped singly or as groups within nuclei of calyx epithelial cells. Enveloped particles are injected into host caterpillars during oviposition. Subsequently, particle nucleocapsids appear in the cytoplasm of many host cells, and appear to be uncoated at nuclear pores.