Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Leveraging from genotype by environment interaction for bread wheat production in eastern Africa

Developing high yielding and stable genotypes for wide and specific adaptation is important in wheat ( Triticum aestivum L.) production. The objective of this study was to exploit the gains from genotype by environment interaction for increased bread wheat production in eastern Africa. Thirty-three advanced bread wheat lines, along with two check varieties (Danda’a and Hidasse) were evaluated at ten locations in Ethiopia and Kenya. The experiment was laid out in alpha lattice design in three replications. The analysis of variance for AMMI model of grain yield showed that environment, genotypes and genotype by environment interaction (GEI) effects were highly significant (P<0.01), and accounted for 62.4, 4.8 and 15.8% of the total sum of squares variations, respectively. High environmental and significant GEI indicated that the environment had major influence for inconsistent performance. Grain yield of the genotypes ranged from 1.58 t ha-1 (G30) to 9.05 t ha-1 (G31). Genotypes G31, G18 and G35 were the best performing lines across environments. The AMMI biplot, using the first two principal components, showed that testing sites Njoro and Arsi-Robe highly discriminated the tested genotypes. Njoro was negatively interacting with high yielding genotypes, and was a different environment from any of the testing locations of Ethiopia for these sets of genotypes. It may be difficult to develop high yielding and stable varieties for the two countries, but one should look for specific adaptation. Genotypes G31 and G18 produced high grain yield, with low stability across locations which were favouring high yielding environments. However, G21 and G8 had above mean grain yield and good stability across locations. Therefore, wheat breeding for specific adaptability is very important to exploit the genetic advantage of specific genotypic performances across the region. However, extensive testing considering many locations across East African countries is vital for delineating and exploiting wheat environments for marked developments. Key Words : AMMI, GEI, Triticum aestivum
Information Quality in Wikipedia: The Effects of Group Composition and Task Conflict

The success of Wikipedia demonstrates that self-organizing production communities can produce high-quality information-based products. Research on Wikipedia has proceeded largely atheoretically, focusing on (1) the diversity in members' knowledge bases as a determinant of Wikipedia's content quality, (2) the task-related conflicts that occur during the collaborative authoring process, and (3) the different roles members play in Wikipedia. We develop a theoretical model that explains how these three factors interact to determine the quality of Wikipedia articles. The results from the empirical study of 96 Wikipedia articles suggest that (1) diversity should be encouraged, as the creative abrasion that is generated when cognitively diverse members engage in task-related conflict leads to higher-quality articles, (2) task conflict should be managed, as conflict—notwithstanding its contribution to creative abrasion—can negatively affect group output, and (3) groups should maintain a balance of both administrative- and content-oriented members, as both contribute to the collaborative process.
Precise Thickness Measurements of Bowman's Layer, Epithelium, and Tear Film

Purpose. To visualize corneal microstructure such as tear film, epithelium, and Bowman's layer in three dimensions with spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SDOCT) exhibiting 1.3 &mgr;m axial resolution at 100,000 A-scans/s. This enables measurement of epithelial and Bowman layer thickness across an area of 8.4 mm × 8.4 mm and measuring the tear film thickness at the central cornea. Methods. We designed a high-performance SDOCT system, which uses a broad bandwidth TiSapph Laser and a high-speed complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor detector technology, providing a resolution in tissue of 1.3 &mgr;m and an acquisition speed of 100,000 A-scans/s. Such speed and resolution is a prerequisite if precise anatomy is to be determined. The high resolution gives access to corneal microstructure such as the epithelium layer as well as the boundaries of Bowman's layer and stroma. Even more interestingly, the tear film can be distinguished on the surface of the cornea. The Bowman's layer and epithelial thickness for both eyes of nine subjects have been measured out of which two subjects underwent photorefractive keratectomy treatment. Results. Three-dimensional volumes of the human cornea have been recorded in vivo at an A-scan rate of 100,000 scans/s. Epithelial thickness was measured to be 55.8 ± 3.3 &mgr;m and Bowman's layer thickness 18.7 ± 2.5 &mgr;m in normal eyes. Epithelial thickness in the eyes after refractive surgery was measured to be 68.2 ± 5.0 &mgr;m. The Bowman layer was degenerated in these eyes. The average tear film thickness of four eyes was 5.1 ± 0.5 &mgr;m. Conclusions. Using a high-performance SDOCT system with high-imaging speed and ultrahigh resolution, we produced precise thickness maps of the epithelium and for the first time of the Bowman's layer. Such a system will give insight into high-fidelity three-dimensional corneal microstructure helping to precisely plan refractive surgery. It may furthermore yield new perspectives on studying and understanding tear film dynamics.
Streptococcus iniae, a Human and Animal Pathogen: Specific Identification by the Chaperonin 60 Gene Identification Method

ABSTRACT It was recently reported that Streptococcus iniae, a bacterial pathogen of aquatic animals, can cause serious disease in humans. Using the chaperonin 60 (Cpn60) gene identification method with reverse checkerboard hybridization and chemiluminescent detection, we identified correctly each of 12 S. iniae samples among 34 aerobic gram-positive isolates from animal and clinical human sources.
Inferring the Relative Resilience of Alternative States

Ecological systems may occur in alternative states that differ in ecological structures, functions and processes. Resilience is the measure of disturbance an ecological system can absorb before changing states. However, how the intrinsic structures and processes of systems that characterize their states affects their resilience remains unclear. We analyzed time series of phytoplankton communities at three sites in a floodplain in central Spain to assess the dominant frequencies or “temporal scales” in community dynamics and compared the patterns between a wet and a dry alternative state. The identified frequencies and cross-scale structures are expected to arise from positive feedbacks that are thought to reinforce processes in alternative states of ecological systems and regulate emergent phenomena such as resilience. Our analyses show a higher species richness and diversity but lower evenness in the dry state. Time series modeling revealed a decrease in the importance of short-term variability in the communities, suggesting that community dynamics slowed down in the dry relative to the wet state. The number of temporal scales at which community dynamics manifested, and the explanatory power of time series models, was lower in the dry state. The higher diversity, reduced number of temporal scales and the lower explanatory power of time series models suggest that species dynamics tended to be more stochastic in the dry state. From a resilience perspective our results highlight a paradox: increasing species richness may not necessarily enhance resilience. The loss of cross-scale structure (i.e. the lower number of temporal scales) in community dynamics across sites suggests that resilience erodes during drought. Phytoplankton communities in the dry state are therefore likely less resilient than in the wet state. Our case study demonstrates the potential of time series modeling to assess attributes that mediate resilience. The approach is useful for assessing resilience of alternative states across ecological and other complex systems.
Assessment of the anterior structures of eyes in a normal Northern Thai group using the Orbscan II.

OBJECTIVES To evaluate the anterior structures of the eyes in normal Northern Thais include the corneal topography and thickness, as well as the anterior chamber depth (ACD) and the white-to-white (WTW) using the Orbscan II system. MATERIAL AND METHOD One hundred and six eyes of 56 normal subjects were investigated using the Orbscan II. The simulated keratometry (SimK), astigmatism, corneal thickness, ACD and WTW were collected. The axial power maps as well as anterior and posterior elevation maps were read and categorized. Corneal thickness was measured in different regions and the pachymetry patterns were classified. RESULTS The mean SimK was 44.18 (1.41)/43.30 (1.46) diopters (D) and the mean astigmatism was 0.93 (0.58) D. Symmetric bow tie was the most common axial power pattern in the anterior cornea (57.6%), followed by asymmetric bow tie (19.8%), irregular patterns (12.3%), round (9.4%), and oval (0.9%). Incomplete ridge (40.6%) and island (34%) were common elevation patterns observed in the anterior corneal surface, and island (92.5%) was the most common topographic pattern in the posterior. The thinnest point on the cornea had an average thickness of 512.49 (35) micron and was located at an average of 0.43 (0.24) mm from visual axis. In the pachymetry maps, round (47.2%) and oval (45.3%) were common patterns. The mean ACD and WTW was 2.79 (0.35) and 11.61 (0.36) mm, respectively. CONCLUSION The present study demonstrated the normal variations of anterior segment structures of the eyes in normal Northern Thais using the Orbscan II topography system. This information may be useful for comparison with further quantitative studies of various abnormal states.
Performance analysis of controlled access phase scheduling for per-session QoS provisioning in IEEE 802.11e WLANs

The widespread deployment of IEEE 802.11 based wireless local area networks (WLAN) has made broadband access a reality for many consumers. As a result, supporting a wide range of applications, in particular networked multimedia applications, has become of increasing importance. Since specific delay and bandwidth requirements of multimedia applications cannot be fulfilled by the current IEEE 802.11-based WLANs, new enhancements are being introduced to the medium access control (MAC) layer of the 802.11 standard under the framework of the IEEE 802.11e. Nevertheless, the 802.11e only provides the means of supporting quality of service (QoS) in the MAC layer and does not mandate a final solution for QoS issues. We present a QoS solution that employs the controlled access features of the 802.11e to provide per-session guaranteed QoS. Our design comprises of a scheduler that assigns guaranteed service times to individual sessions using a fair scheduling algorithm. Through analysis and experiments we prove the fairness of the algorithm and show that the proposed solution outperforms other methods that are contention or priority based
Instructional Grouping for Reading: Teachers' Views

The purpose of this study was to gain understanding of general and special education teachers' perceptions of grouping for reading and the types of grouping patterns that are implemented in classrooms in a diverse urban school district. Forty-nine third-grade teachers (29 general education teachers who had students with learning disabilities in their class for part of the day and 20 special education teachers) participated in the study. Individual and focus group interviews were used. The results of the interviews revealed that teachers value control over their decisions on how to group for reading. General education teachers indicated that they feel constrained by the demands of the district and school administration, whereas special education teachers believe they have more autonomy in their grouping decisions. The majority of the general educators reported predominant use of a whole class grouping format, whereas special education teachers used a more varied format. For the most part, general educators endorsed mixed-ability grouping arrangements for both social and academic reasons. Special educators, on the other hand, supported same-ability groups. The discussion provides insights into why teachers do not differentiate instruction when teaching in classrooms that have culturally, linguistically, and academically diverse student populations. The need for professional development in flexible grouping strategies is also addressed.
GIM, Simulation Software of Meal Glucose—Insulin Model

Background: A simulation model of the glucose—insulin system in normal life conditions can be very useful in diabetes research, e.g., testing insulin infusion algorithms and decision support systems and assessing glucose sensor performance and patient and student training. A new meal simulation model has been proposed that incorporates state-of-the-art quantitative knowledge on glucose metabolism and its control by insulin at both organ/tissue and whole-body levels. This article presents the interactive simulation software GIM (glucose insulin model), which implements this model. Methods: The model is implemented in MATLAB, version 7.0. 1, and is designed with a windows interface that allows the user to easily simulate a 24-hour daily life of a normal, type 2, or type 1 diabetic subject. A Simulink version is also available. Three meals a day are considered. Both open- and closed-loop controls are available for simulating a type 1 diabetic subject. Results: Software options are described in detail. Case studies are presented to illustrate the potential of the software, e.g., compare a normal subject vs an insulin-resistant subject or open-loop vs closed-loop insulin infusion in type 1 diabetes treatment. Conclusions: User-friendly software that implements a state-of-the-art physiological model of the glucose-insulin system during a meal has been presented. The GIM graphical interface makes its use extremely easy for investigators without specific expertise in modeling.
Structural Determinants of the β-Selectivity of a Bacterial Aminotransferase*

Background: β-Transaminases are promising biocatalysts for the synthesis of β-amino acids. Results: The first three-dimensional structures were obtained of a native β-transaminase and complexes with a keto acid and two covalently bound β-amino acids. Conclusion: Dual functionality of the carboxylate- and side chain-binding pockets allows binding of β- and α-amino acids. Significance: These structures may facilitate the development of improved β-amino acid biocatalysts. Chiral β-amino acids occur as constituents of various natural and synthetic compounds with potentially useful bioactivities. The pyridoxal 5′-phosphate (PLP)-dependent S-selective transaminase from Mesorhizobium sp. strain LUK (MesAT) is a fold type I aminotransferase that can be used for the preparation of enantiopure β-Phe and derivatives thereof. Using x-ray crystallography, we solved structures of MesAT in complex with (S)-β-Phe, (R)-3-amino-5-methylhexanoic acid, 2-oxoglutarate, and the inhibitor 2-aminooxyacetic acid, which allowed us to unveil the molecular basis of the amino acid specificity and enantioselectivity of this enzyme. The binding pocket of the side chain of a β-amino acid is located on the 3′-oxygen side of the PLP cofactor. The same binding pocket is utilized by MesAT to bind the α-carboxylate group of an α-amino acid. A β-amino acid thus binds in a reverse orientation in the active site of MesAT compared with an α-amino acid. Such a binding mode has not been reported before for any PLP-dependent aminotransferase and shows that the active site of MesAT has specifically evolved to accommodate both β- and α-amino acids.
Vaginal Leech Infestation: A Rare Cause of Hypovolumic Shock In Postmenopausal Woman

Background Human leech infestation is a disease of the poor who live in rural areas and use water contaminated with leeches. Like any other body orifices, vagina can also be infested by leech when females use contaminated water for bathing and/or douching. Although this condition is very rare in postmenopausal women, it causes morbidities and mortalities. Case Details A 70 year old Para X (all alive) abortion I mother, postmenopausal for the last 20 years, presented with vaginal bleeding of 3 weeks duration to Gimbie Adventist Hospital, Western Ethiopia. On examination, she had deranged vital signs and there was a dark moving worm attached to the cervical os. She was admitted with the diagnosis of hypovolumic shock and severe anemia secondary to postmenopausal vaginal bleeding. After the patient was stabilized with intravenous crystalloids, the leech was removed from the vagina. She was then transfused with two units of whole blood and discharged with good condition on the 3rd post procedure day with ferrous sulphate. Conclusion Vaginal leech infestation in postmenopausal woman can cause hypovolumic shock and severe anemia. Therefore, in order to decrease morbidities from failure or delay in making the diagnosis, health care providers should consider the possibility of vaginal leech infestation in postmenopausal woman from rural areas and those who use river water for drinking, bathing and/or douching and presented with vaginal bleeding. In addition, the importance of using clean water and improving access to safe water should be emphasized.
SO far away: ThE rOlE Of SubjECTivE TEmpOral DiSTaNCE TO fuTurE GOalS iN mOTivaTiON aND bEhaviOr

The current research examined the self-enhancement, motivational, and behavioral implications of subjective distance to future goals. Study 1 revealed that students felt subjectively closer in time to anticipated success than to expected failure on a midterm, which may reflect a self-protective mechanism keeping self-threats at bay. Additionally, those who felt more distant from the exam performed more poorly (controlling for expectations). Conceivably, increased psychological distance, while self-protective, might also reduce goal pursuit motivation. In Study 2, first-year students who were induced to feel close to their graduation reported greater academic motivation than those induced to feel far from graduation. In Study 3, we examined a model of how distancing predicts motivation, which subsequently promotes goal-oriented behavior. Participants who felt close to an upcoming aptitude test were more motivated to prepare for and to perform well on the test, and in turn, practiced more for the test.
New Paleocene bird fossils from the North Sea Basin in Belgium and France

We describe new avian remains from Paleocene localities of Belgium and France. Four bones from the early to middle Selandian of Maret (Belgium) are among the earliest Cenozoic avian remains known from Europe and include the oldest temporally well constrained European records of the Gastornithidae, as well as tentative records of the palaeognathous Lithornithidae and the Ralloidea. A more comprehensive fossil assemblage from the middle Thanetian of Templeuve (France) contains multiple bones of the Lithornithidae as well as a record of the Pelagornithidae. Specimens from the latest Thanetian of Rivecourt-Petit Pâtis (France) are tentatively assigned to the Ralloidea and Leptosomiformes (cf. Plesiocathartes). Because of the fragmentary nature of the fossils, the taxonomic identity of a number of other specimens remains uncertain. We note, however, that Paleocene avifaunas of Europe and North America appear to have had different compositions and only a few taxa, such as the palaeognathous Lithornithidae, are known from both continents. This suggests that the very similar early Eocene avifaunas of Europe and North America are the result of early Cenozoic dispersal events.
Natural resolution of ill-posedness of inverse kinematics for redundant robots: a challenge to Bernstein's degrees-of-freedom problem

A robot designed to mimic a human becomes kinematically redundant, i.e.its total degrees of freedom becomes larger than the number of physical variables required for description of a given task. Kinematic redundancy may contribute to enhancement of dexterity and versatility, but incurs a problem of ill-posedness of inverse kinematics from the task-description space to the robot joint space. Such ill-posedness of inverse kinematics was originally found by A.N. Bernstein as the 'degrees-of-freedom problem' in physiology, who also pointed out the importance of unveiling the secret of the central nervous system in how nicely it coordinates a skeletomotor system with so many degrees of freedom interacting in complex ways. However, in the history of robotics research, such ill-posedness of inverse kinematics has not yet been tackled directly, but circumvented by introducing an artificial performance index and determining uniquely an inverse kinematics solution by minimizing it. This paper aims at challenging one of Bernstein's problems and proposes a new method for resolving such an ill-posedness problem in a natural way and in a dynamic sense without invoking any artificial performance index. Instead, a novel concept named 'stability on a manifold' is introduced and it is shown that there exists a sensory feedback signal from the task space to the joint space such that it enables the overall closed-loop dynamics to converge naturally and coordinately to a lower-dimensional manifold describing a set of joint states fulfilling a given motion task. This result is also extended by using the concept of 'transferability to a submanifold' in the case of short- or middle-range movement such as a task of multi-joint reaching.
Applying the Findings of Attribution Theory-Related Research to the College Foreign Language Classroom

In this paper, the author first discusses how attributions, in general, play a role in student motivation regarding effort when attempting tasks and in coming to decisions of whether to continue or discontinue those efforts. In particular, the focus is on the context of Japanese EFL learners and their low self-esteem as competent language learners and users. The importance of enabling such students to gain a clear point of reference regarding their own personal progress and improvement, and the implications this has for their self-perception as successful and competent second language learners is explored through an action research project.
Dopaminergic modulation of early signs of excitotoxicity in visualized rat neostriatal neurons

Cell swelling induced by activation of excitatory amino acid receptors is presumably the first step in a toxic cascade that may ultimately lead to cell death. Previously we showed that bath application of N‐methyl‐d‐aspartate (NMDA) or kainate (KA) produces swelling of neostriatal cells. The present experiments examined modulation of NMDA and KA‐induced cell swelling by dopamine (DA) and its receptor agonists. Nomarski optics and infra‐red videomicroscopy were utilized to visualize neostriatal medium‐sized neurons in thick slices from rat pups (12–18 postnatal days). Increase in somatic cross‐sectional area served as the indicator of swelling induced by bath application of glutamate receptor agonists. NMDA induced cell swelling in a dose‐dependent manner. Activation of DA receptors in the absence of NMDA did not produce swelling. DA and the D1 receptor agonist SKF 38393, increased the magnitude of swelling produced by NMDA. This effect was reduced in the presence of the D1 receptor antagonist, SCH 23390. In contrast, activation of D2 receptors by quinpirole decreased the magnitude of NMDA‐induced cell swelling. DA slightly attenuated cell swelling induced by activation of KA receptors. Quinpirole produced a significant concentration‐dependent reduction in KA‐induced swelling while SKF38393 increased KA‐induced swelling, but only at a low concentration of KA. Together, these results provide additional support for the hypothesis that the direction of DA modulation depends on the glutamate receptor subtype, as well as the DA receptor subtype activated. One possible consequence of these observations is that endogenous DA may be an important contributing factor in the mechanisms of cell death in Huntington's disease.