Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Development of Multi-Component Transplant Mixes for Suppression of Meloidogyne incognita on Tomato ( Lycopersicon esculentum )

The effects of combinations of organic amendments, phytochemicals, and plant-growth promoting rhizobacteria on tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) germination, transplant growth, and infectivity of Meloidogyne incognita were evaluated. Two phytochemicals (citral and benzaldehyde), three organic amendments (pine bark, chitin, and hemicellulose), and three bacteria (Serratia marcescens, Brevibacterium iodinum, and Pseudomonas fluorescens) were assessed. Increasing rates of benzaldehyde and citral reduced nematode egg viability in vitro. Benzaldehyde was 100% efficacious as a nematicide against juveniles, whereas citral reduced juvenile viability to less than 20% at all rates tested. Benzaldehyde increased tomato seed germination and root weight, whereas citral decreased both. High rates of pine bark or chitin reduced plant growth but not seed germination, whereas low rates of chitin increased shoot length, shoot weight, and root weight; improved root condition; and reduced galling. The combination of chitin and benzaldehyde significantly improved tomato transplant growth and reduced galling. While each of the bacterial isolates contributed to increased plant growth in combination treatments, only Brevibacterium iodinum applied alone significantly improved plant growth.
Experimental Evaluation of Dynamic Licensed Shared Access Operation in Live 3GPP LTE System

As next-generation mobile networks are rapidly taking shape driven by the target standardization requirements and initial trial implementations, a range of accompanying technologies prepare to support them with more reliable wireless access and improved service provisioning. Among these are more advanced spectrum sharing options enabled by the emerging Licensed Shared Access (LSA) regulatory framework, which aims to efficiently employ the capacity of underutilized frequency bands in a controlled manner. The concept of LSA promises to equip network operators with the much needed additional spectrum on the secondary basis and thus brings changes to the existing cellular network management. Hence, additional research is in prompt demand to determine the required levels of Quality of Service (QoS) and service provisioning reliability, especially in cases of dynamic geographical and temporal LSA sharing. Motivated by this recent urge and having at our disposal a fully-functional 3GPP LTE cellular deployment, we have committed to implement and trial the principles of dynamic LSA-compatible spectrum management. This paper is our first disclosure on the comprehensive experimental evaluation of this promising technology. We expect that these unprecedented practical results together with the key lessons learned will become a valuable reference point for the subsequent integration of flexible LSA-based services, suitable for inter-operator and multi-tenant spectrum sharing.
GASP: Answer Set Programming with Lazy Grounding

In recent years, Answer Set Programming has gained popularity as a viable paradigm for applications in knowledge representation and reasoning. This paper presents a novel methodology to compute answer sets of an answer set program. The proposed methodology maintains a bottom-up approach to the computation of answer sets (as in existing systems), but it makes use of a novel structuring of the computation, that originates from the non-ground version of the program. Grounding is lazily performed during the computation of the answer sets. The implementation has been realized using Constraint Logic Programming over finite domains.
A New Double-Directional Channel Model Including Antenna Patterns, Array Orientation, and Depolarization

Multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) wireless channel models are often too simplistic to accurately model wireless propagation effects or too complex and/or site specific to be used for analytical purposes. In this paper, we develop a double-directional MIMO channel model that accounts for important propagation effects like scattering, clustering, and channel depolarization and antenna effects like antenna diversity, cross polarization, and random array orientation, while still retaining an intuitive representation. The proposed model can be parameterized using channel measurements obtained from site-specific measurement campaigns or from standard-based channel models. We show, using simulations, that the proposed model captures channel and antenna effects not included in other models, like the third-generation partnership program (3GPP) spatial channel model, the WINNER, and the IEEE 802.11n channel model. We use the model to study the impact of random orientation and channel depolarization on the data rates of a MIMO system.
A simulation study of sample size for DNA barcoding

Abstract For some groups of organisms, DNA barcoding can provide a useful tool in taxonomy, evolutionary biology, and biodiversity assessment. However, the efficacy of DNA barcoding depends on the degree of sampling per species, because a large enough sample size is needed to provide a reliable estimate of genetic polymorphism and for delimiting species. We used a simulation approach to examine the effects of sample size on four estimators of genetic polymorphism related to DNA barcoding: mismatch distribution, nucleotide diversity, the number of haplotypes, and maximum pairwise distance. Our results showed that mismatch distributions derived from subsamples of ≥20 individuals usually bore a close resemblance to that of the full dataset. Estimates of nucleotide diversity from subsamples of ≥20 individuals tended to be bell‐shaped around that of the full dataset, whereas estimates from smaller subsamples were not. As expected, greater sampling generally led to an increase in the number of haplotypes. We also found that subsamples of ≥20 individuals allowed a good estimate of the maximum pairwise distance of the full dataset, while smaller ones were associated with a high probability of underestimation. Overall, our study confirms the expectation that larger samples are beneficial for the efficacy of DNA barcoding and suggests that a minimum sample size of 20 individuals is needed in practice for each population.
Market Potential and the Location of Japanese Investment in the European Union

This paper develops a theoretical model of location choice under imperfect competition to formalize the notion that firms prefer to locate where the markets are. The profitability of a location depends on a term that weights demand in all locations by accessibility. Using a sample of Japanese firms' choices of regions within European countries, we compare the theoretically derived measure of market potential with the standard form used by geographers. Our results show that market potential matters for location choice but cannot account entirely for the tendency of firms in the same industry to agglomerate.
Ordered subsets linkage analysis of antisocial behavior in substance use disorder among participants in the collaborative study on the genetics of alcoholism

Heterogeneity in complex diseases such as Substance Use Disorder (SUD) reduces the power to detect linkage and makes replication of findings in other populations unlikely. It is therefore critical to refine the phenotype and use methods that account for genetic heterogeneity between families. SUD was operationalized as diagnosis of abuse or dependence to alcohol and/or any one of five illicit substances. Whole‐genome linkage analysis of 241 extended pedigree families from the Collaborative Study on the Genetics of Alcoholism was performed in Merlin using an affected sibship design. An Ordered Subsets Analysis (OSA) using FLOSS sought to increase the homogeneity of the sample by ranking families by their density of childhood and adult antisocial behaviors, producing new maximum Nonparametric Lod (NPL) scores on each chromosome for each subset of families. Prior to OSA, modest evidence for linkage was found on chromosomes 8 and 17. Although changes in NPL scores were not statistically significant, OSA revealed possible evidence of linkages on chromosome 7, near markers D7S1795 and D7S821. NPL scores >3.0 were also observed on chromosomes 2, 3, 5, 9, and 14. However, the number of families used in these latter subsets for linkage may be too small to be meaningful. Results provide some evidence for the ability of OSA to reduce genetic heterogeneity, and add further support to chromosome 7 as a possible location to search for genes related to various SUD related processes. Nonetheless, replication of these results in other samples is essential. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Golden Space–Time Trellis Coded Modulation

In this paper, we present a multidimensional trellis coded modulation scheme for a high rate 2times2 multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) system over slow fading channels. Set partitioning of the Golden code is designed specifically to increase the minimum determinant. The branches of the outer trellis code are labeled with these partitions and Viterbi algorithm is applied for trellis decoding. In order to compute the branch metrics, a sphere decoder is used. The general framework for code design and optimization is given. Performance of the proposed scheme is evaluated by simulation and it is shown that it achieves significant performance gains over the uncoded Golden code
Analysis of Kinase Gene Expression in the Frontal Cortex of Suicide Victims: Implications of Fear and Stress†

Suicide is a serious public health issue that results from an interaction between multiple risk factors including individual vulnerabilities to complex feelings of hopelessness, fear, and stress. Although kinase genes have been implicated in fear and stress, including the consolidation and extinction of fearful memories, expression profiles of those genes in the brain of suicide victims are less clear. Using gene expression microarray data from the Online Stanley Genomics Database1 and a quantitative PCR, we investigated the expression profiles of multiple kinase genes including the calcium calmodulin-dependent kinase (CAMK), the cyclin-dependent kinase, the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), and the protein kinase C (PKC) in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) of mood disorder patients died with suicide (N = 45) and without suicide (N = 38). We also investigated the expression pattern of the same genes in the PFC of developing humans ranging in age from birth to 49 year (N = 46). The expression levels of CAMK2B, CDK5, MAPK9, and PRKCI were increased in the PFC of suicide victims as compared to non-suicide controls (false discovery rate, FDR-adjusted p < 0.05, fold change >1.1). Those genes also showed changes in expression pattern during the postnatal development (FDR-adjusted p < 0.05). These results suggest that multiple kinase genes undergo age-dependent changes in normal brains as well as pathological changes in suicide brains. These findings may provide an important link to protein kinases known to be important for the development of fear memory, stress associated neural plasticity, and up-regulation in the PFC of suicide victims. More research is needed to better understand the functional role of these kinase genes that may be associated with the pathophysiology of suicide.
Local Structure Evolution in Particle Network Formation Studied by Brownian Dynamics Simulation.

The effect of solid content and colloidal interactions on the structure of forming networks of colloidal particles is studied by Brownian dynamics simulation. The different situations are compared in terms of the pair distribution function and the distribution of nearest neighbors around each particle. The results indicate that, in fast coagulation, the higher solid contents lead to a freezing-in of the liquid structure. Nevertheless, this effect can be reduced substantially by the introduction of a shallow secondary minimum and an energy barrier in the interaction potential. However, the structures resulting from such slow coagulation show a substantial degree of porosity, larger than those produced at the same solid content but by fast coagulation. It is also shown how the porosity (defined on a few particle diameters) is reflected in the distribution of nearest neighbors around the center particle, i.e., the very local conformation in the particle network. Fractal analysis shows that, at the relatively high volume fractions considered in this study, no intermediate fractal regime exists. Copyright 2000 Academic Press.
Dimensionality reduction of sample covariance matrices by graph fourier transform for motor imagery brain-machine interface

An efficient method for dimensionality reduction in classification of multi-class electroencephalogram (EEG) during motor imagery (MI) aiming at brain-machine interfacing is proposed. In this method, the reduction of dimensions is achieved by spectral decomposition of a given graph, which is defined by a geometrical distribution of electrodes on the head surface. The resulting subspace reduces the dimension of EEG signals, and therefore, the size of the sample co-variance matrix (SCM) of EEG can also be reduced. The reduction method is combined with a differential geometry-based approach called tangent space mapping (TSM) that can map a SCM in a Riemannian manifold onto an element in an Euclidean space called a tangent space. Thus, any machine learning algorithm that works in the Euclidean space can be applied. Results of two-class and four-class classification of EEG during MI show that the proposed method of dimensionality reduction increases the recognition accuracy even in the case of a training dataset having a small number of elements.
Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Granule Mobilization and Priming of the Neutrophil Response to Helicobacter pylori Peptide Hp(2-20), Which Activates Formyl Peptide Receptor-Like 1

ABSTRACT The cecropin-like bactericidal peptide Hp(2-20) from Helicobacter pylori induces activation of the NADPH oxidase in human neutrophils via formyl peptide receptor-like 1 (FPRL1) (J. Bylund, T. Christophe, F. Boulay, T. Nyström, A. Karlsson, and C. Dahlgren, Antimicrob. Agents Chemother. 45:1700-1704, 2001). Here we investigated the ability of bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) to prime this response. Neutrophils treated with LPS for 30 min at 37°C produced substantially more superoxide anion than control cells upon stimulation with Hp(2-20). Hence, LPS primed the cells for subsequent stimulation through FPRL1. To study the molecular background of this priming phenomenon, we measured the degrees of granule mobilization and concomitant receptor upregulation to the cell surface in LPS-treated cells. Exposure of complement receptors 1 and 3 as well as the formyl peptide receptor (FPR) was markedly increased after LPS treatment. Since approximately 60% of the gelatinase granules were mobilized while the specific granules were retained, we hypothesized that the gelatinase granules were potential stores of FPRL1. The presence of FPRL1 mainly in the gelatinase granules was confirmed by Western blotting of subcellular fractions of resting neutrophils. These results suggest that the mechanism behind the LPS-induced priming of FPRL1-mediated responses lies at the level of granule (receptor) mobilization.
Technical efficiency of business administration courses: a simultaneous analysis using DEA and SFA

The aim of this study is to contribute to the existing literature on the efficiency of higher education institutions. The technical efficiency of higher education has been mostly studied using methods such as data envelopment analysis and stochastic frontier analysis. Many researchers compare either the efficiency among public education institutions or among departments in a university by using variables that give equal importance to teaching and research. In this paper, both these methodologies are applied to measure the efficiency of higher education courses, especially the business administration courses offered by private for-profit institutions that focus just on education and are located in the same geographical region. The variables selected covered the specific aspects of these courses and the results showed the complementarities of these two approaches.
Dispatcher-assisted cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Validation of efficacy.

Dispatcher-delivered telephone instruction in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) has been proposed to increase rates of bystander CPR in cases of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. We tested the efficacy of a previously developed CPR message using a recording mannikin in a high stress, simulated cardiac arrest scenario. Community volunteers were unaware they would perform CPR until immediately before each trial. Performance of volunteers without prior CPR training (group A, n = 65) who received telephone instruction was compared with that of previously trained volunteers (group B, n = 43) who received the same message. Performances of both groups were also compared with a third group (group C, n = 43) composed of previously trained volunteers who did not receive the message. Quality of CPR was graded by three CPR instructors using explicit criteria. Printout strips from the recording mannikins were also analyzed. Evaluators were unaware of the training status of volunteers. The three groups were of comparable sex, race, and educational level, but group C was significantly younger than groups A and B (31.7 vs. 37.7 years, p less than 0.001). Because of the time required for telephone instruction, groups A and B started chest compressions a mean of 4.0 minutes after collapse compared with 1.2 minutes for group C (p less than 0.0001). We found that the previously untrained volunteers of group A performed CPR of an overall quality comparable to that performed by previously trained members of group C. Group A performed chest compressions significantly better than group C (p less than 0.02) but had greater problems performing effective ventilations. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Nutritional Rehabilitation of HIV-Exposed Infants in Malawi: Results from the Drug Resources Enhancement Against AIDS and Malnutrition Program

Infant malnutrition in sub-Saharan Africa is a public health priority and a challenge in high HIV prevalence areas. The Drug Resources Enhancement Against AIDS and Malnutrition program, with multiple medical centers in Sub-Saharan Africa, developed an innovative intervention for the surveillance and control of malnutrition. In a pilot initiative, 36 HIV-exposed children were evaluated at baseline upon presentation for malnutrition and at six months post- treatment. Parameters included HIV-free survival, nutritional status and change in diet. Food diary data was entered and processed using the Nutrisurvey (WHO) software. At 6 months post-intervention, a significant improvement in anthropometric parameters was noted. Slowing of linear growth was observed in patients with malaria with a mean gain in centimetres of 4.4 ± 1.7 as compared to 5.6 ± 1.7 in children with no malaria, p < 0.048 (CL 95%: −2.32, −0.01). Dietary diversity scores increased from 5.3 ± 1.9 to 6.5 ± 1.3, p < 0.01 at 6 months. A significant increase (+25%, p < 0.02) in the number of children eating fish meals was noted. Our pilot data describes positive outcomes from a rehabilitative nutritional approach based on use of local foods, peer education, anthropometric and clinical monitoring in areas of high food insecurity. The relationship between malaria and linear growth retardation requires further investigation.
The effect of patient characteristics upon uptake of the influenza vaccination: a study comparing community-based older adults in two healthcare systems.

BACKGROUND the uptake of influenza vaccination represents a simple marker of proactive care of older people. However, many still do not receive the vaccine. To understand this challenge better, we investigated the relationship between patient characteristics (demographic, physical and psychological health and health service use) and vaccination uptake in a sample of community-dwelling older people in two adjacent but differently structured healthcare systems (Northern Ireland (NI) and the Republic of Ireland (RoI)). METHODS a total of 2,033 randomly selected community-dwelling older adults (65 years and older) were interviewed in their homes. RESULTS rates of uptake were 78% in NI and 72% in RoI. The uptake was greater with older age (odds ratio (OR) 1.6, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.3-2.1, P < 0.0005), widowhood (OR = 1.5, 95% CI = 1.1-2.3, P = 0.02), living in NI (OR = 0.77, 95% CI = 0.6-0.9, P = 0.04), greater functional impairment (OR RoI 2.0, 95% CI = 0.8-3.5, P = 0.03), more frequent use of family doctor (OR RoI 0.5, 95% CI = 0.3-0.6, P = 0.0001; NI 0.6, 95% CI = 0.4-0.9, P = 0.01) and greater use of services such as chiropody (OR NI 0.6, 95% CI = 0.4-0.9, P = 0.01), meals-on-wheels (OR RoI 1.3, 95% CI = 0.4-2.2, P = 0.03), social work (OR RoI 1.2, 95% CI = 0.3-1.9, P = 0.05) and occupational therapy (OR RoI 1.3, 95% CI = 0.5-2.5, P = 0.02). CONCLUSION the uptake rates in both healthcare systems exceeded targets. Higher rates of vaccination were found among older people, those who were married and those who made greater use of hospital and community services. Increased exposure to health services may enhance trust in health care leading to higher vaccination uptake.
Retinal phototoxicity in a novel murine model of intraocular lens implantation

Purpose To establish a novel murine intraocular lens (IOL) implantation model to study the protective effects of colored-IOLs against retinal phototoxicity. Methods Two-millimeter diameter IOL buttons were created from IOLs for clinical use. Extra-capsular crystalline lens extraction and IOL implantation were performed in BALB/c mice using a technique similar to human cataract surgery. For light exposure experiments, mice were exposed to 5,000 LUX of white light for 24 h on the day after surgery. To investigate the protective effects of yellow IOL against light exposure, ERG measurements were conducted in vivo, followed by TdT-mediated dUTP Nick-End Labeling (TUNEL) and outer nuclear layer (ONL) thickness measurement of retinal tissue in yellow or clear IOL-implanted mice and control mice without surgery. Results IOLs were successfully implanted in all animals, and IOL buttons without haptics were well stabilized in the capsular bag. Murine eyes developed posterior capsule opacification (PCO) after IOL implantation by postoperative day 5 at the latest. In contrast to the clear IOL-implanted animals stimulated by light exposure, the yellow IOL-implanted animals had significantly reduced numbers of TUNEL-positive cells and retained thickness of the ONL. The ERG showed that yellow IOL implantation prevents a decrease of amplitude in both the a-wave and b-wave compared with clear IOL implantation. Conclusions We established a new animal model of IOL implantation and demonstrated the protective effects of colored-IOL against retinal phototoxicity after cataract surgery.