Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Influence of soil and foliar application of silicon on vegetative characters, fruit yield and nutrients content of sapota leaf

Field experiments were conducted on crop nutrition to study the influence of soil and foliar application of silicon on vegetative characters, fruit yield and nutrients content of sapota leaf at Regional Horticultural Research and Extension Centre, Mudigere, Karnataka during the years 2010 and 2011. Silicon sources like potassium silicate as foliar spray and calcium silicate as soil application were tried in RCBD design with three replicates. The results revealed that foliar spray of potassium silicate @ 4 ml/l+half dose of pesticide significantly increased the number of leaves/shoot (135.87), shoots/m2 (26.83), flowers/m2 (298.33), fruit length (5.584 cm), fruit diameter (5.85 cm), volume (102.38 ml), fruit weight (100.67 g), highest number of fruits (1147) per tree, fruit yield per tree (144.75 kg), fruit yield per hectare (14.47 t/ha) and minimum number of mummified fruits (27.67) compared to soil application of calcium silicate @ 2.5 kg/tree. Foliar spray of potassium silicate alone increased the shelf life period and TSS content of sapota. Sapota leaf recorded significantly higher content of N (1.60%), P (0.19%), K (2.42%), Fe (169.40 ppm), Cu (6.38 ppm), Zn (24.63 ppm) and Si (1.37%) and lesser content of Mn (74.06 ppm) and B (40.85 ppm) due to foliar spray of potassium silicate @ 4 ml/l+half dose of pesticide. But soil application of calcium silicate @ 2.5 kg/tree recorded significantly higher Ca (1.41%), Mg (0.45%), Mn (81.60 ppm) and B (43.34 ppm) content in the sapota leaf.
A method for defining management units based on genetically determined close relatives

Okland, J-M. , Haaland, O. A. , and Skaug, H. J. 2010. A method for defining management units based on genetically determined close relatives. - ICES Journal of Marine Science, 67: 551-558.We propose a new method for identifying management units from genetic samples (DNA profiles). The main idea is to look at the geographic distribution of genetically determined close relatives and to use these to separate different breeding populations. The method has the potential to detect population structure emerging on a demographic time-scale, as opposed to classical population genetic methods. It is not required that the breeding populations have different allele frequencies. Using simulated datasets, the proposed method has good statistical properties throughout the range of migration rates considered. This may be a powerful method for setting management boundaries.
Digital nudging and privacy: improving decisions about self-disclosure in social networks

ABSTRACT Self-disclosure on social network sites (SNSs) constitutes a feedback necessity as well as a potential privacy risk. We integrate both perspectives by studying privacy-related factors that influence self-disclosure: perceived control, trust in provider and perceived privacy risk. We further propose the application of digital nudging as a conceptual basis for interventions that is similar to persuasion but focuses on informed and consistent decision-making. In a qualitative assessment of persuasive elements used by the SNS Facebook, we collect and present currently-used intervention and behaviour change strategies. Two privacy-related nudges are selected for a quantitative study with N = 382 in Germany. Regression analyses show effects of control, trust and risk on self-disclosure. The identified nudges aiming at a higher privacy awareness do not yield clear results. We find indications that nudges may have a converse effect, meaning that reminders to change privacy settings trigger privacy concerns. The results are discussed in respect to short- and long-term changes of perceptions. Furthermore, we propose perceived control as the best influential factor. The study contributes by depicting the current usage of persuasive elements on Facebook and studying their impact on privacy factors.
DNA evidence of whale sharks (Rhincodon typus) feeding on red crab (Gecarcoidea natalis) larvae at Christmas Island, Australia

Whale sharks (Rhincodon typus) are thought to aggregate in nearshore waters around Christmas Island (105°37′E, 10o29′S) to consume the marine larvae of the endemic red land crab (Gecarcoidea natalis). However, there have been no direct observations of sharks feeding on crab larvae. Whale shark faeces were analysed using genetic testing to confirm the presence of crab larvae in their diet. Primers were designed for amplifying two Gecarcoidea natalis mitochondrial small-subunit (mtSSU) rDNA regions. Gel electrophoresis of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) products amplified from whale shark faecal DNA produced bands of the expected size for G. natalis templates. Specificity of both primer sets for G. natalis mtSSU rDNA was expected to be high from comparisons with mtSSU rDNA regions from closely related crabs and we confirmed their specificity empirically. The amplification of fragments from faecal DNA of the same size as those produced from G. natalis DNA indicates that the whale shark had been feeding on G. natalis and that enough of the crab DNA survived digestion to be detected by these PCRs. Our study provides further evidence that aggregations of whale sharks in coastal waters occur in response to ephemeral but predictable increases in planktonic prey.
The Physiological Ecology of Plant Succession

Succession is a process of continuous colonization of and extinction on a site by species populations. The process has long been central in ecological thinking; much theory and many data about succession have accumulated over the years. Since nearly all species in all communities participate in successional interactions, and because physiological ecology encompasses everything that a plant does during its life cycle, a complete review of physiological ecology of all species in all successions is not possible. Thus in this review I discuss the physiological adaptations of species of one successional gradient-from open field to broad-leaved deciduous forest. I concentrate on the physiological adaptations of early successional plants to environmental variability and collate the literature on tree physiology to make comparisons with early successional plants. My discussion may not be applicable to seres where there is little difference in physiognomy between early and late successional plants or where the designation of species as early or late successional is unjustified (e.g. for certain desert and tundra habitats). I discuss the nature of successional environments, seed germination, seedling and mature plant development, plant growth, photosynthesis, water use, and the physiological ecology of competition and interference.
SEVERITY OF DUODENAL HISTOLOGY AND TISSUE TRANSGLUTAMINASE ANTIBODY LEVELS CORRELATE WELL IN ADULT CELIAC DISEASE IRRESPECTIVE OF CLINICAL FEATURES

Celiac disease (CD) is a chronic immune-mediated enteropathy that occurs in genetically predisposed individuals. The clinical phenotypes range from classical gastrointestinal manifestations to only atypical signs, thus being a challenge to diagnose. Aim: To investigate the relationship between duodenal histology, specific antibody levels and clinical presentation in adult Romanian CD patients. Material and methods: Study design: retrospective retrieval of information prospectively entered into a structured database including 81 adult patients diagnosed with CD admitted with symptoms of abdominal disturbances (diarrhea, heartburn, nausea, vomiting, regurgitation, abdominal pain) to the Iasi Institute of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, “Sf. Spiridon” Emergency Clinical County Hospital between January 2012 and December 2016. The demographic, clinical, serological, and histological characteristics of individuals with CD were reviewed. Results: The female: male ratio was 3:1, 60 (71.1%) female patients, mean age 40.02±12.14 years. A total of 48.1% patients presented with gastrointestinal (GI) complaints and 51.9% presented mostly with non-GI manifestations, with a slightly more advanced age at symptom onset in the latter (38 yrs. vs. 47 yrs.). Marsh-Oberhuber classification was used to assess mucosal injury and Marsh 3c lesions were found in 25 (30.9%) cases. When assessing the serological parameters, IgA anti-tissue transglutaminase (IgA-tTG) antibody (61.45±76.458 u/mL vs.162.02±106.179 u/mL, p=0.001) and IgA anti-gliadin antibody (IgA-AGA) levels (61.83±69.41u/mL vs. 77.15±71.02 u/mL, p=0.001) correlated with intestinal villous atrophy (Marsh 3a and 3c) in CD patients by Spearman rank correlation. Of the symptoms, abdominal distention and diarrhea were associated with abnormal histology. Hemoglobin levels were determined and anemia was diagnosed in 61.7% of the patients with elevated IgA-tTG levels (r= -0.316; p=0.004), IgA-AGA (r= -0.301; p=0.006) and Marsh 3b-3c lesions (p=0.0048). Of the biological markers included in the statistical analysis, low iron levels (cut off 30 mg/dl), hypocholesterolemia and low protein levels were associated with Marsh 3b lesions (p=0.006) and elevated tTG-IgA levels (r= -0.384; p=0.001). Conclusions: IgA-tTG and AGA levels correlate with duodenal villous atrophy in adult CD patients. An IgA-tTG level ˃160 was nearly always associated with severe CD histopathology. GI and non-GI symptoms are not reliable predictors of CD.
Seed mass variation potentially masks a single critical water content in recalcitrant seeds

For recalcitrant seeds, mortality curves of germination versus water content typically imply a wide range of desiccation sensitivities within a seed population. However, seed to seed differences in water content, during desiccation, may confound our interpretation of these mortality plots. Here, we illustrate this problem for two batches of Vitellaria paradoxa (Sapotaceae) seeds collected in 1996 and 2002. Whole seeds were desiccated to various target water contents (TWCs) using silica gel. During desiccation, smaller seeds in the population dried most rapidly. Consequently, there was a significant linear relationship between whole-seed water content and seed mass during the drying process. In addition, following desiccation to low TWCs, only the largest seeds in the population retained viability. Taken together, this suggests that the larger seeds survived, not as a consequence of great relative desiccation tolerance, but as a result of taking longer to desiccate. Subsequently, the critical water content (CWC) for viability loss was calculated, based on the assumptions that in the seed population whole-seed water content during desiccation was normally distributed and the smallest, and hence driest, seeds were killed first. Using this approach, the driest seeds in the population that were killed, at each TWC, were always below a single CWC (c. 20% and 26% in 1996 and 2002, respectively). In subsequent experiments the effect of seed size variation on the response to desiccation was confirmed by conducting desiccation screens on seeds sorted into two discrete size classes, i.e. the seed-lot heterogeneity in mass was reduced. Using this approach, the mortality curves had a steeper slope. Furthermore, data for 24 tropical tree species from the Database of Tropical Tree Seed Research (DABATTS) revealed that seed lots with less variability in mass had steeper mortality curves. Thus, taken together, the data suggest that, at least for whole seeds, the wide range of desiccation sensitivities typically inferred is an artefact of seed to seed variation in mass, and hence water contents, during drying.
Three-Dimensional Mapping of the Lesions Induced by β-β'-Iminodiproprionitrile, Methyl Iodide and Methyl Methacrylate in the Rat Nasal Cavity

The nasal cavity is an important target organ for toxicity, and many chemicals induce site-specific lesions in this region. The factors responsible for this site-selectivity have not been unequivocally identified, but probably include regional dosimetry and bioactivation. The purpose of this study was to map, in 3 dimensions, the lesions induced by β-β'-iminodipropionitrile (IDPN), methyl iodide (MeI) and methyl methacrylate (MMA) in the rat nasal cavity. Animals were administered IDPN (150 mg/kg, IP) or exposed via inhalation to MeI (100 ppm, 2 hours) or MMA (400 ppm, 4 hours) and sacrificed after 24 hours. Heads were decalcified, step-sections (1 every 400 μm) cut and stained, and the severity of the epithelial lesion graded as mild (vacuolation and pyknosis), moderate (undulation and mild stripping), or marked (complete stripping). These grades were mapped onto a 3D-model of a rat nasal cavity using the KS400 imaging system (Imaging Associates, Thame, UK). Despite the different routes of exposure the lesions induced by the 3 compounds had very similar distributions, predominantly affecting the dorsal-medial aspects of the ethmoturbinates and, in the case of MMA, the organ of Rodolfo Masera. These results suggest that, with these chemicals, local bioactivation plays a more important role than dosimetry in determining lesion distribution.
Productivity of Chinese Regions and the Location of Multinational Research and Development

This article examines the determinants and interregional spillovers of regional productivity and multinational enterprise (MNE) research and development (R&D) in China. The authors apply a two-equation recursive model to a panel data set of thirty provinces and equivalents from 1998 to 2005. The estimated MNE R&D location equation indicates that the main determinants of MNE R&D location are supply-side factors—the availability of scientists and engineers, the average salary of R&D personnel, regional infrastructure, and spillovers of MNE R&D in the neighboring regions, but not demand-side factors such as the size of regional market and the previous foreign direct investment (FDI). Moreover, MNE R&D has a strong tendency to locate in regions with an export-oriented economy. The productivity equation reveals a significant causal relationship between MNE R&D investment and regional productivity. The estimates further indicate that regional productivity is determined not only by factor inputs within own region but also by productivity in the neighboring regions. In conclusion, the authors briefly discuss the policy implications of the findings for increasing the productivity of different regions and using MNE R&D.
A Dynamical System Approach for Resource-Constrained Mobile Robotics

OF THE DISSERTATION A DYNAMICAL SYSTEM APPROACH FOR RESOURCE-CONSTRAINED MOBILE ROBOTICS by Tauhidul Alam Florida International University, 2018 Miami, Florida Professor Leonardo Bobadilla, Major Professor The revolution of autonomous vehicles has led to the development of robots with abundant sensors, actuators with many degrees of freedom, high-performance computing capabilities, and high-speed communication devices. These robots use a large volume of information from sensors to solve diverse problems. However, this usually leads to a significant modeling burden as well as excessive cost and computational requirements. Furthermore, in some scenarios, sophisticated sensors may not work precisely, the real-time processing power of a robot may be inadequate, the communication among robots may be impeded by natural or adversarial conditions, or the actuation control in a robot may be insubstantial. In these cases, we have to rely on simple robots with limited sensing and actuation, minimal onboard processing, moderate communication, and insufficient memory capacity. This reality motivates us to model simple robots such as bouncing and underactuated robots making use of the dynamical system techniques. In this dissertation, we propose a four-pronged approach for solving tasks in resource-constrained scenarios: 1) Combinatorial filters for bouncing robot localization; 2) Bouncing robot navigation and coverage; 3) Stochastic multi-robot patrolling; and 4) Deployment and planning of underactuated aquatic robots.
Flowering Response of the Olive (Olea Europaea L.) to Certain Growth Regulators Applied Under Inductive and Noninductive Environments

Olive trees grown in containers received outdoor winter chilling until February 27, 1969, then were moved to a greenhouse where several growth regulators were applied by dipping shoots into test solutions. Flowering was promoted by a growth retardant, B-9 (Alar-85) at 100 ppm, and was inhibited by either GA3 at 25 or 50 ppm or ABA at 10 or 50 ppm; in addition, ABA at 10 ppm stimulated lateral buds-normally flower buds-to grow vegetatively NAA at 50 ppm caused total inhibition of bud development. Cytokinin (6-benzylamino purine) at 50 or 250 ppm had no effect. Under noninductive conditions (trees held in a heated greenhouse throughout the winter months), repeated applications (twice a week for 10 weeks) of IAA, GA3, IAA + GA3, a mixture of GA4 and GA7, or ABA failed to substitute for the low-temperature requirement for flower induction, although GA3 strongly stimulated shoot growth.
Effect of Time of Planting and Plant Size on the Productivity of 'Festival' and 'Florida Fortuna' Strawberry Plants in a Subtropical Environment

The effect of time of planting and plant size on the performance of ‘Festival’ and ‘Florida Fortuna’ strawberry (Fragaria ×ananassa) plants was studied at Nambour in southeastern Queensland, Australia, over 2 years. The main objective of the work was to determine whether small plants yielded proportionally less than large plants as planting was delayed. First, bare-rooted transplants of ‘Festival’ were divided into small (crown diameters ranging from 6 to 10 mm) or large plants (10 to 17 mm) and planted in late March, mid-April, or late April. Second, transplants of ‘Florida Fortuna’ were divided into small (5 to 8 mm) or large plants (8 to 17 mm) and planted in early April, mid-April, or early May. The early planting for each cultivar corresponded with the time that the transplants are first available from commercial strawberry nurseries. Yields were generally greater in plants planted in late March/early April compared with plants planted later. Differences in yield between the small and large plants were consistent across the different times of planting, with the small plants always having lower yields. Small transplants are an issue for the productivity of strawberry fields in this environment whether they are planted early or late. Producers should consider paying a premium for large transplants delivered early in the season.
Treatment of unresolved lower back pain with platelet-rich plasma injections

Abstract Background: Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) is a non-invasive modality that has been used to treat musculoskeletal conditions for the past two decades. Based on our research, there were no publications that studied the effect of PRP on unresloved lower back pain. The aim of this study was to report the clinical outcomes of patients who received PRP injections to treat unresolved lower back pain. Methods: 67 patients underwent a series one, two, or three PRP injections into the ligaments, muscle, and fascia surrounding the lumbar spine. Patients who received two treatments received injections a mean 24 days apart and patients who received three treatments received injections a mean 20.50 days apart. Baseline and posttreatment outcomes of resting pain, active pain, lower extremity functionality scale, and overall improvement percentage were compared to baseline and between groups. Results: Patients who received one PRP injection reported 36.33% overall improvement and experienced significant improvements in active pain relief. These same patients experienced improvements in resting pain and functionality score, yet these results were not statistically significant. Patients who received a series of two and three treatments experienced significant decreases in resting pain and active pain and reported 46.17% and 54.91% total overall improvement respectively. In addition, they were able to perform daily activities with less difficulty than prior to treatment. Conclusions: These results demonstrate that PRP injections may be a viable conservative approach to treat lower back pain. Additional research is needed to confirm these findings.
The affective production of others: United States policy towards the Israeli–Palestinian conflict

IR scholars have recently turned to emotions to understand and explain events in world politics. Although this turn is appealing, most scholars have failed to critically examine the relationships between emotion, language, identity and foreign policy. This article aims to unpack these relationships. Drawing upon Sara Ahmed’s notion of the ‘emotionality of texts’, this article explores how foreign policy may be an affective practice, which can be defined as a ritualized practice of discursively binding emotions to Others’ identities and legitimating foreign policy through a discursive logic of feeling. In this way, identities are produced and policies are legitimated affectively. Neglecting the emotional narratives that constitute Self/Other relations leads to an insufficient understanding of emotion in global politics, an incomplete understanding of how identities emerge and matter as they do, and forecloses new alternatives of apprehending transformative ruptures and enduring patterns of Self/Other interaction. Through an analysis of United States policy towards the Israeli—Palestinian conflict, this article highlights the importance of emotion and affective practices in world politics.
Level of Fasting C-Peptide as a Predictor of β-Cell Function in Sudanese Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Objective: In this study, we assessed the level of fasting C-peptide as a predictor of β-cell function and insulin resistance in patients with Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), Gezira State-Sudan. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 100 T2DM patients attending the Diabetic patients care Centre were recruited, thirty five patients were males and sixty five were females, the mean age of the patients was 50.29 ± 0.456 years, and body mass index (BMI) was 26.54 ± 0.437. We estimated β-cell function using fasting C-peptide levels; homeostatic model assessment for β-cell function (HOMA-B) and insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) were calculated from C-peptide and fasting blood glucose (FBG). Results: C-peptide was significantly and positively correlated with HOMA-B and HOMA-IR. FBG also showed significant negative correlation with HOMA-B, but was positively and significantly correlated with HOMA-IR. HbA1c was negatively and significantly correlated with HOMA-B. Patients with low C-peptide levels had increased FBG and HbA1c level, while patients with high C-peptide levels were having high HOMA-IR and HOMA-B. Conclusions: Fasting C-peptide is a useful marker of pancreatic β-cell function, and its circulating levels could be used to evaluate insulin secretion and insulin resistance. Moreover, HOMA-IR is an effective index to achieve glycemic control by appropriate pharmacologic treatment of T2DM.
The relationship between cirral activity and oxygen uptake in Balanus balanoides

The rate of cirral beat of Balanus balanoides is related to the logarithm of the body weight as an exponential function. In any one animal, there is little effect of temperature on cirral activity between 7·5° and 10° C. Between 10° and 20° C, however, there is a rapid increase in cirral beat with temperature followed by a fall at temperatures above 20° C. Balanus balanoides exhibits a fast, medium and zero rate of oxygen consumption. These rates of oxygen consumption correspond with (a) normal cirral beating, (b) ‘testing’ activity with no cirral movement, and (c) with the closure of the mantle cavity. Both of the possible levels of oxygen uptake are related to the logarithm of the body weight in a logarithmic fashion over the temperature range 7·5°–22·5° C. Temperature affects the two rates of oxygen consumption differently. In the slower rate (rate B) there is an increase in the rate of oxygen consumption between 7·5° and 14° C but there is no significant increase in the rate of oxygen consumption between 14° and 22·5 C°.