Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Botanical Origin of Pollen Collected by Apis mellifera scutellata Lepeletier (Hymenoptera: Apidae) in a Suburb of Pretoria, South Africa

The savannah honeybee, Apis mellifera scutellata Lepeletier (Hymenoptera: Apidae), is a eusocial insect that forages for nectar and pollen on a variety of flowering plants. However, it is selective of plants from which it forages. The preferred species are called bee-plants. The concept of bee-plants recognises that flowers do not have the same pollen and nectar value to honeybees. Thus, the strength of honeybee colonies is dependent on the presence of bee-plants throughout the year at any given locality. A study was conducted during March 2013–February 2015 to establish the presence of bee-plants and their phenology within 2 km radius of the apiary at ARC-Plant Protection Research Institute's farm in Rietondale, a suburb of Pretoria. A total of 247 flowering plant species from 70 families, comprising indigenous and exotic trees, shrubs and grasses, was recorded during March 2013–February 2014. Most plant species flowered during April, a smaller proportion during February and October, and only a few during June. Flowers of each plant species were sampled in order to make reference pollen grain slides. To determine bee-plants, a pollen trap was fitted to the entrance of one of five Langstroth hives on a fortnightly rotation during March 2014–February 2015 in order to intercept pollen pellets from the hind legs of returning foragers. A total of 2403 pollen pellets were recovered, most of which (1263) were collected during April and none during October. At the laboratory, about a quarter of each pellet was dissolved in distilled water and pollen grain slides were prepared. These slides were matched against reference pollen grain slides using a compound microscope. It was established that honeybees foraged from only 30 plant species. During summer (December–February), pollen was collected mostly from Persicaria capitata (Polygonaceae), Tithonia rotundifolia (Asteraceae) during autumn (March-May), Acacia galpinnii (Fabaceae) during winter (June–August), and Ageratum conyzoides (Asteraceae) during spring (September–November). These results show that honeybees had access to pollen sources that were sufficient to sustain their colonies throughout the year. As bee-plants were continuously available in the vicinity of the Rietondale farm, this site could be ideal for urban beekeeping.
Using sigma-ligands as part of a multi-receptor approach to target diseases of the brain

ABSTRACT Introduction The sigma receptors are found abundantly in the central nervous system and are targets for the treatment of various diseases, including Alzheimer’s (AD), Parkinson’s (PD), Huntington’s disease (HD), depression, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), and multiple sclerosis (MS). However, for many of these diseases, other receptors and targets have been the focus of the most, such as acetylcholine esterase inhibitors in Alzheimer’s and dopamine replacement in Parkinson’s. The currently available drugs for these diseases have limited success resulting in the requirement of an alternative approach to their treatment. Areas covered In this review, we discuss the potential role of the sigma receptors and their ligands as part of a multi receptor approach in the treatment of the diseases mentioned above. The literature reviewed was obtained through searches in databases, including PubMed, Web of Science, Google Scholar, and Scopus. Expert opinion Given sigma receptor agonists provide neuroprotection along with other benefits such as potentiating the effects of other receptors, further development of multi-receptor targeting ligands, and or the development of multi-drug combinations to target multiple receptors may prove beneficial in the future treatment of degenerative diseases of the CNS, especially when coupled with better diagnostic techniques.
On estimation of stress–strength reliability with log-Lindley distribution

The log-Lindley distribution was recently introduced in the literature as a viable alternative to the Beta distribution. This distribution has a simple structure and possesses useful theoretical properties relevant in insurance. Classical estimation methods have been well studied. We introduce estimation of parameters from Bayesian point of view for this distribution. Explicit structure of stress–strength reliability and its inference under both classical and Bayesian set-ups is addressed. Extensive simulation studies show marked improvement with Bayesian approach over classical given reasonable prior information. An application of a useful metric of discrepancy derived from stress–strength reliability is considered and computed for two categories of firm with respect to a certain financial indicator.
Allopatric divergence, local adaptation, and multiple Quaternary refugia in a long-lived tree (Quercus spinosa) from subtropical China

The complex geography and climatic changes occurring in subtropical China during the Tertiary and Quaternary might have provided substantial opportunities for allopatric speciation. To gain further insight into these processes, we reconstruct the evolutionary history of Quercus spinosa, a common evergreen tree species mainly distributed in this area. Forty-six populations were genotyped using four chloroplast DNA regions and 12 nuclear microsatellite loci to assess genetic structure and diversity, which was supplemented by divergence time and diversification rate analyses, environmental factor analysis, and ecological niche modeling of the species distributions in the past and at present. The genetic data consistently identified two lineages: the western Eastern Himalaya-Hengduan Mountains lineage and the eastern Central-Eastern China lineage, mostly maintained by populations’ environmental adaptation. These lineages diverged through climate/orogeny-induced vicariance during the Neogene and remained separated thereafter. Genetic data strongly supported the multiple refugia (per se, interglacial refugia) or refugia within refugia hypotheses to explain Q. spinosa phylogeography in subtropical China. Q. spinosa population structure highlighted the importance of complex geography and climatic changes occurring in subtropical China during the Neogene in providing substantial opportunities for allopatric divergence.
Influence of CD80 and CD86 Co-Stimulation in the Modulation of the Activation of Antigen Presenting Cells

The role of CD80 and CD86 costimulatory molecules is well established in the activation of T cells but not an - tigen presenting cells. Recently, many reports in literature have demonstrated categorically the influence of CD80 and CD86 in the activation of B cells and dendritic cells. Stimulation via CD80/CD86 in B cells can modulate their prolifera- tion, IgG secretion and expression of pro-apoptotic and anti-apoptotic molecules, nuclear localization of NF- B p50 subunit, phosphorylation of Rel A (p65) and I B-alpha and increased oct-2 expression. In case of dendritic cells, it has been shown that signals induced via CD80 and CD86 enhance the production of IL-6 and IFN- which in turn, up- regulates the expression of the enzyme indolamine 2, 3-dioxygenase that results in tryptophan catabolism and affects T cell proliferation. Interestingly, it has been shown that co-stimulation through CD80 can restrict the survival of lympho- mas and can also induce apoptosis in neural stem cells. Consequently, it may be concluded that CD28/CD152-CD80/86 interaction delivers a bi-directional co-stimulation, thereby not only having impact on the function of T cells, but also an- tigen presenting cells.
Origin, Impact and Control of Lignocellulosic Inhibitors in Bioethanol Production—A Review

Bioethanol production from lignocellulosic biomass is still struggling with many obstacles. One of them is lignocellulosic inhibitors. The aim of this review is to discuss the most known inhibitors. Additionally, the review addresses different detoxification methods to degrade or to remove inhibitors from lignocellulosic hydrolysates. Inhibitors are formed during the pretreatment of biomass. They derive from the structural polymers-cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin. The formation of inhibitors depends on the pretreatment conditions. Inhibitors can have a negative influence on both the enzymatic hydrolysis and fermentation of lignocellulosic hydrolysates. The inhibition mechanisms can be, for example, deactivation of enzymes or impairment of vital cell structures. The toxicity of each inhibitor depends on its chemical and physical properties. To decrease the negative effects of inhibitors, different detoxification methods have been researched. Those methods focus on the chemical modification of inhibitors into less toxic forms or on the separation of inhibitors from lignocellulosic hydrolysates. Each detoxification method has its limitations on the removal of certain inhibitors. To choose a suitable detoxification method, a deep molecular understanding of the inhibition mechanism and the inhibitor formation is necessary.
MMS Observation of Secondary Magnetic Reconnection Beside Ion‐Scale Flux Rope at the Magnetopause

Using high‐resolution data from Magnetospheric Multiscale (MMS) mission, we report an in situ observation of a secondary reconnection electron diffusion region (EDR) beside the leading edge of an ion‐scale flux rope at the magnetopause. This reconnection EDR is characterized by strong electron current and electron jet reversal, a normal Hall electric field, unmagnetized electrons with nongyrotropic distributions, a large parallel electric field, and strong energy dissipation. The ion‐scale flux rope beside the EDR consists of a force‐free structure with diameter of only ~3 ion inertial lengths. Our observation of secondary reconnection beside the flux rope gives further evidence that flux ropes can be created and evolved in the reconnection exhaust region.
Ovariole number in the brown locust [Locustana pardalina (Walker)] in relation to the environment.

Solitary phase brown locust females were collected from each of four successive generations from each of five fixed sampling areas in the southern and south eastern parts of the outbreak region. Ovariole numbers of females varied from 53 to 74. Mean ovariole numbers of the different populations varied between 604 and 664. Some indication was found of a positive correlation between changes in plant conditions and fluctuations in mean ovariole numbers between successive generations from a given sampling area. The difference in mean ovariole numbers between contemporaneous populations from the different sampling areas, however, seems to have a heleditary basis. The possibility that two populations, as little as 10 miles apart, may differ from each other is strong evidence for the extremely sedentary behaviour of solitary brown locusts.
Public perceptions towards air and water pollution in industrial areas of Himachal Pradesh, India

Industrialization leads to migration of people from rural areas to urban regions leading to overpopulation and overcrowding thus resulting to poor health practices due to congestion and development of slums. Our industrial structure has changed since the economic reforms. However, environmental reforms initiated to curb the negative impact of changing industrial pattern on environment seems to be not sufficient. Therefore, there ABSTRACT
Hegemonic leadership is what states make of it: reading Kindleberger in Washington and Berlin

Abstract What explains the nature of a dominant state’s systemic crisis response? In the wake of the global financial crisis of 2008, the U.S. acted as the hegemon for the world economy, showing ‘benign’ leadership by serving as consumer, investor, and lender of last resort. During the euro crisis two years later, Germany played a rather different role, practicing a more ‘coercive’ form of rules-based leadership within Europe’s regional context. In this paper, I explain how ideas and crisis narratives, informed by national economic traditions, shaped how the leading states behaved. By rescuing Charles Kindleberger’s original version of hegemonic stability theory from both its realist and liberal institutionalist interpreters, the paper clarifies why elites in the U.S. followed a hardheaded path of soft Keynesian ideas resulting in global public goods provision while their counterparts in Germany, be it more constrained, opted for a more principled road of rule enforcing ordo-liberal ideas avoiding public goods provision. The crucial role of ideas – in addition to structural and institutional factors – in defining the national interest during periods of crisis helps us better understand “why hegemonic leadership is what states make of it. ” This led American and German elites to interpret Kindleberger in very different ways.
Operationalising a framework for organisational vulnerability to intentional insider threat: the OVIT as a valid and reliable diagnostic tool

Abstract There are several models and frameworks that assist in understanding insider threat. However, practical limitations in operationalising these models include them being overly complex, too subjective, cumbersome, or lacking dimensionality. In response, this study looks to operationalise a practice-based framework for determining organisational vulnerability to intentional insider threat. The study reports on an Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) to determine the validity and reliability of the Organisational Vulnerability to Intentional Insider Threat (OVIT) diagnostic tool. The EFA results (construct validity and reliability statistics) show promise for the use of the OVIT in operationalising intentional insider threat detection. Limitations of the study are presented and future research progressing this exploratory study are encouraged.
HPTLC fingerprinting analysis and in vitro pharmacological activities of Hermannia geniculata roots phenols

Abstract Hermannia geniculata is a herb that plays an important role in the treatment of an array of diseases including diabetes, ulcer, and colitis in the South African traditional medicine. The bioactive constituent and medicinal properties in phenols of Hermannia geniculata (PoHG) roots were investigated using high pressure thin layer chromatography (HPTLC). The α-amylase inhibitory potentials of PoHG was determined by reacting different concentration of the plant extract with 1% starch solution containing α-amylase. The inhibitory effect of the extract on α-glucosidase was evaluated by pre-incubating α-glucosidase with varying extract concentrations followed by the addition of ρ -nitrophenylglucopyranoside. The reactive oxygen and free radical scavenging potentials of the extract were also analyzed. The result showed the presence of phenolic compounds in the extract with retention factor (Rf) values ranging from 0.14 to 095. The extract scavenged DPPH, ABTS+, hydroxyl, and superoxide anion radicals. The extract was able to chelate metallic ions with a lower IC50 value which differs significantly (p≤0.05) from silymarin. Moreover, PoHG extract inhibited the key enzymes (α-glucosidase and α-amylase) involved in carbohydrate catabolism with IC50 values of 1.76 ±0.14 and 7.52 ±0.23 mg/mL respectively while IC50 value reported for acarbose were 7.62 ±0.12 and 4.38 ±0.25 mg/mL for glucosidase and α-amylase, respectively. The α-glucosidase exhibited non-competitive inhibition by PoHG extract while α-amylase showed uncompetitive inhibition. This study confirmed the presence of phenol in PoHG extract and also showed an appreciable antioxidant and antidiabetic activities in vitro. Therefore, PoHG extract may be of nutraceutical importance.
Sequence stratigraphy in post‐rift river‐dominated lacustrine delta deposits: A case study from the Upper Cretaceous Qingshankou Formation, northern Songliao Basin, northeastern China

The Upper Cretaceous Qingshankou Formation in the northern Songliao Basin was deposited in river‐dominated lacustrine delta systems. Three third‐order sequences and two types of sequence architecture were recognized using core observations, logging curve interpretations, and three‐dimensional (3‐D) seismic profiles in Qingshankou Formation. One type of sequence architecture was developed in a syndepositional flexural slope break, and the other was deposited on a gentle slope. The studied sequences were deposited in a high accommodation setting, which was due to the large rate of subsidence of the basin basement, and a tropical to semi‐tropical and a humid to semi‐humid climate. The episodic tectonic/thermal subsidence of the basin controlled the development of the sequence architecture. Turbidite bodies within transgressive systems tracts and early highstand systems tracts were deposited predominantly in the basinward part of the syndepositional flexural slope breaks, and they were favourable exploration targets, particularly for stratigraphic traps.
Eigenbluttherapien und Hyaluronsäure – Injektionsbehandlungen in der Sportmedizin

Infiltrationen sind in der Sportmedizin weit verbreitet. Neben den bewährten Kortikoiden werden zunehmend neuere Präparate wie Hyaluronsäure, Platelet-Rich Plasma und autologes konditioniertes Plasma eingesetzt. In der Laienpresse wird vor allem bei Hochleistungsportlern über diese Therapien mit dramatischen Heilerfolgen berichtet. Eine Übersicht über die einzelnen Verfahren hilft in der Einordnung und realistischen Einschätzung der Möglichkeiten und Grenzen dieser neuen Therapien.
Impact of Inner Heliospheric Boundary Conditions on Solar Wind Predictions at Earth

Predictions of the physical parameters of the solar wind at Earth are at the core of operational space weather forecasts. Such predictions typically use line‐of‐sight observations of the photospheric magnetic field to drive a heliospheric model. The models Wang‐Sheeley‐Arge (WSA) and ENLIL for the transport in the heliosphere are commonly used for these respective tasks. Here we analyze the impact of replacing the potential field coronal boundary conditions from WSA with two alternative approaches. The first approach uses a more realistic nonpotential rather than potential approach, based on the Durham Magneto Frictional Code (DUMFRIC) model. In the second approach the ENLIL inner boundary conditions are based on Inter Planetary Scintillation observations (IPS). We compare predicted solar wind speed, plasma density, and magnetic field magnitude with observations from the WIND spacecraft for two 6‐month intervals in 2014 and 2016. Results show that all models tested produce fairly similar output when compared to the observed time series. This is not only reflected in fairly low correlation coefficients (<0.3) but also large biases. For example, for solar wind speed some models have average biases of more than 150 km/s. On a positive note, the choice of coronal magnetic field model has a clear influence on the model results when compared to the other models in this study. Simulations driven by IPS data have a high success rate with regard to detection of the high speed solar wind. Our results also indicate that model forecasts do not degrade for longer forecast times.
The effect of Breeder Hen age on reproductive characteristics and subsequent embryo and hatchling development and growth of Turkeys and Pekin Ducks

To gain insight into how the age of the hen affects selected reproductive characteristics and subsequent embryonic and posthatching development, experiments were conducted to study; 1) hormonal and initial egg production characteristics as influenced by hen age and age at photostimulation; 2) changes in egg component distribution associated with hen age; 3) effects of hen age on yolk sac lipid mobilization and embryonic growth; 4) hen age effects on post-hatch metabolic homeostasis and intestinal development. Reproductive experiments were conducted with the commercial turkey, whereas embryonic and posthatching experiments were conducted with both the commercial turkey and Pekin duckling as experimental subjects. The results of our initial research demonstrated that embryos from young hens developed more slowly than embryos from older hens during the last week of incubation. We hypothesized that these developmental differences are in part due to a proportional increase in yolk mass in eggs from older hens which allows for a greater mass transfer of yolk lipid to the embryo during the last week of incubation. Hypothetically, developmental differences during incubation may be related to problems that occur during the acclimation period after hatching, especially if hatchlings come from very young hens.
Influence of Carrier Structure and Physicochemical Factors on Immobilisation of Fungal Laccase in Terms of Bisphenol A Removal

Laccase from Pleurotus ostreatus was immobilised on porous Purolite® carriers and amino-functionalised ultrafiltration membranes. The results indicated a correlation between the carrier structure and the activity of laccase immobilised thereon. The highest activity was obtained for carriers characterised by a small particle size and a larger pore diameter (the porous carriers with an additional spacer (C2 and C6) and octadecyl methacrylate beads with immobilised laccase activity of 5.34 U/g, 2.12 U/g and 7.43 U/g, respectively. The conditions of immobilisation and storage of immobilised laccase were modified to improve laccase activity in terms of bisphenol A transformation. The highest laccase immobilisation activity was obtained on small bead carriers with a large diameter of pores incubated in 0.1 M phosphate buffer pH 7 and for immobilisation time of 3 h at 22 °C. The immobilised LAC was stable for four weeks maintaining 80–90% of its initial activity in the case of the best C2, C6, and C18 carriers. The immobilised laccase transformed 10 mg/L of BPA in 45% efficiency and decreased its toxicity 3-fold in the Microtox tests. The effectiveness of BPA transformation, and the legitimacy of conducting this process due to the reduction of the toxicity of the resulting reaction products have been demonstrated. Reusability of immobilised LAC has been proven during BPA removal in 10 subsequent batches.
Research and Development of Natural Vegetable Insulating Oil Based on Jatropha curcas Seed Oil

Jatropha curcas is a natural non-food resource with high oil-content seeds, that has attracted worldwide attention as it is an ideal renewable resource for the production of biofuels. With the increasing use of vegetable insulating oil in related industries, it is valuable to develop the vegetable insulating oils from Jatropha curcas seed oil. This study explores how to use Jatropha curcas seed oil to prepare high-quality natural vegetable insulating oil. A six-step process is first established according to the optimization results of alkali refining, activated clay treatment and alumina treatment of Jatropha curcas seed oil, combined with cold treatment, water washing and high temperature decompression treatment. Physicochemical and electrical performance tests show that most of the properties of the prepared vegetable insulating oil are significantly improved compared with the original seed oil, and meet the standard requirements for vegetable insulating oil, especially with no sulfur corrosion, a breakdown voltage of 72 kV and an acid value (KOH, potassium hydroxide) of 0.012 mg/g.
Construction of SSR Based Genetic Linkage Map and Identification of QTLs Conferring CMD Resistance in Cassava

Cassava (Manihot esculenta) belonging to the family Euphorbiaceae, is one of the most important tuber crops cultivated extensively in tropical and subtropical regions of Africa and Asia. It is a cross pollinating crop with a diploid number of chromosome 2n=36 and DNA content of 1.67pg per cell. It is highly heterozygous, monoecious and protogynous in nature. The tuberous crop is propagated vegetatively by means of stem cuttings and sexually through seeds. According to Food and Agriculture Organization Corporate Statistical Database (FAOSTAT, 2017), the global cassava production was estimated to be 291992646 tonnes in which 61% is accounted by Africa, 29.3% contributed by Asia and remaining 9.6% by America. Indian cassava production was accounted to be 42 mt from an area of 199 mha with a productivity of 2,09,598 hg ha-1.