Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Response of Wheat to Different Rates and Ratios of Organic Residues on Yield and Chemical Composition under Two Types of Soil

Two field experiments were conducted in two successive seasons (2007-2008 and 2008-2009) at Atta, Giza -Governorate and Nubaria region to study the effect of different rates and ratios of organic residues (Farmyard manure and filter mud) on yield and chemical composition of wheat under two types of soils (sandy and Calcareous soil). Results showed that, application of farmyard manure and filter mud residue gave a significant increase in grain and straw weight, total yield, crop index, harvest index, curd protein, N, P and K compared to the control treatment. Data also, indicated that significant increase grain, straw and total yield in sandy soil compared with calcareous soil under study in all treatments. On the other hand, the addition of organic materials (Farmyard manure and filter mud) were effective either individual or mixed with other. The pronounced increase in grain and straw weight, N, P and K content and uptake was noticed when farmyard manure was combined with filter mud at the rate of 2% compared with 1% of organic residues. (Yassen, A.A; Khaled, S.M and Sahar, M. Zaghloul. Response of Wheat to Different Rates and Ratios of Organic Residues on Yield and Chemical Composition under Two Types of Soil. Journal of American Science 2010;6(12):858-864). (ISSN: 1545-1003). http://www.americanscience. org.
Approaches to Improving Cardiac Structure and Function During and After an Acute Myocardial Infarction

While progress has been made in improving survival following myocardial infarction, this injury remains a major source of mortality and morbidity despite modern reperfusion therapy. While one approach has been to develop therapies to reduce lethal myocardial cell reperfusion injury, this concept has not translated to the clinics, and several recent negative clinical trials raise the question of whether reperfusion injury is important in humans undergoing reperfusion for acute ST segment elevation myocardial infarction. Therapy aimed at reducing myocardial cell death while the myocytes are still ischemic is more likely to further reduce myocardial infarct size. Developing new therapies to further reduce left ventricular remodeling after the acute event is another approach to preserving structure and function of the heart after infarction. Such therapy may include chronic administration of pharmacologic agents and/or therapies developed from the field of regenerative cardiology, including cellular or non-cellular materials such as extracellular matrix. The optimal therapy will be to administer agents that both reduce myocardial infarct size in the acute phase of infarction as well as reduce adverse left ventricular remodeling during the chronic or healing phase of myocardial infarction. Such a dual approach will help optimize the preservation of both cardiac structure and function.
Reconstructing the Qo Site of Plasmodium falciparum bc 1 Complex in the Yeast Enzyme

The bc 1 complex of the mitochondrial respiratory chain is essential for Plasmodium falciparum proliferation, the causative agent of human malaria. Therefore, this enzyme is an attractive target for antimalarials. However, biochemical investigations of the parasite enzyme needed for the study of new drugs are challenging. In order to facilitate the study of new compounds targeting the enzyme, we are modifying the inhibitor binding sites of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae to generate a complex that mimics the P. falciparum enzyme. In this study we focused on its Qo pocket, the site of atovaquone binding which is a leading antimalarial drug used in treatment and causal prophylaxis. We constructed and studied a series of mutants with modified Qo sites where yeast residues have been replaced by P. falciparum equivalents, or, for comparison, by human equivalents. Mitochondria were prepared from the yeast Plasmodium-like and human-like Qo mutants. We measured the bc 1 complex sensitivity to atovaquone, azoxystrobin, a Qo site targeting fungicide active against P. falciparum and RCQ06, a quinolone-derivative inhibitor of P. falciparum bc 1 complex.The data obtained highlighted variations in the Qo site that could explain the differences in inhibitor sensitivity between yeast, plasmodial and human enzymes. We showed that the yeast Plasmodium-like Qo mutants could be useful and easy-to-use tools for the study of that class of antimalarials.
Large-Scale 6-DOF SLAM With Stereo-in-Hand

In this paper, we describe a system that can carry out simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM) in large indoor and outdoor environments using a stereo pair moving with 6 DOF as the only sensor. Unlike current visual SLAM systems that use either bearing-only monocular information or 3-D stereo information, our system accommodates both monocular and stereo. Textured point features are extracted from the images and stored as 3-D points if seen in both images with sufficient disparity, or stored as inverse depth points otherwise. This allows the system to map both near and far features: the first provide distance and orientation, and the second provide orientation information. Unlike other vision-only SLAM systems, stereo does not suffer from ldquoscale driftrdquo because of unobservability problems, and thus, no other information such as gyroscopes or accelerometers is required in our system. Our SLAM algorithm generates sequences of conditionally independent local maps that can share information related to the camera motion and common features being tracked. The system computes the full map using the novel conditionally independent divide and conquer algorithm, which allows constant time operation most of the time, with linear time updates to compute the full map. To demonstrate the robustness and scalability of our system, we show experimental results in indoor and outdoor urban environments of 210 m and 140 m loop trajectories, with the stereo camera being carried in hand by a person walking at normal walking speeds of 4--5 km/h.
Correlation between central corneal thickness, anterior chamber depth, and corneal keratometry as measured by Oculyzer II and WaveLight OB820 in preoperative cataract surgery patients.

PURPOSE To compare and correlate central corneal thickness (CCT), anterior chamber depth (ACD), and keratometric (flat and steep K) measurements using two anterior segment imaging methods, a Scheimpflug camera system (Oculyzer II [Oculus Optikgeräte GmbH]) and a partial coherence biometry system (WaveLight OB820 [Alcon Laboratories Inc]) in eyes undergoing cataract surgery. METHODS Ninety patients (mean age: 66±13 years [range: 32 to 88 years]) underwent preoperative measurement of CCT, ACD, and keratometric measurements by Scheimpflug tomography (Oculyzer II) and optical low coherence reflectometry (WaveLight OB820). Interdevice agreement and correlation between the two techniques were assessed. RESULTS All measurements were highly correlated and showed no clinically significant difference between methods. Mean CCT was 554.21±39.07 μm and 546.59±37.75 μm for the Oculyzer II and WaveLight OB820, respectively (R²=0.9268). Mean ACD was 2.63±0.44 mm and 2.63±0.43 mm for the Oculyzer II and WaveLight OB820, respectively (R(2)=0.9488). The principal meridian keratometric values were also highly correlated. Mean flat K was 42.88±1.50 diopters (D) and 42.96±1.40 D for the Oculyzer II and WaveLight OB820, respectively (R²=0.8741). Mean steep K was 44.08±1.79 D and 44.26±1.95 D for the Oculyzer II and WaveLight OB820, respectively (R(2)=0.9159). CONCLUSIONS Our data show that the Oculyzer II and WaveLight OB820 provide measurements that are in agreement with published values for CCT and ACD in patients. Excellent agreement for CCT and ACD was found between the two devices, as demonstrated by a high degree of correlation and linearity, in addition to minimal bias. Thus, CCT, ACD, and K measurements by these instruments can both be used in clinical preparation, and their agreement is an ensuring precision factor for cataract and refractive surgeons.
Soil Respiration and Organic Carbon Dynamics with Grassland Conversions to Woodlands in Temperate China

Soils are the largest terrestrial carbon store and soil respiration is the second-largest flux in ecosystem carbon cycling. Across China's temperate region, climatic changes and human activities have frequently caused the transformation of grasslands to woodlands. However, the effect of this transition on soil respiration and soil organic carbon (SOC) dynamics remains uncertain in this area. In this study, we measured in situ soil respiration and SOC storage over a two-year period (Jan. 2007–Dec. 2008) from five characteristic vegetation types in a forest-steppe ecotone of temperate China, including grassland (GR), shrubland (SH), as well as in evergreen coniferous (EC), deciduous coniferous (DC) and deciduous broadleaved forest (DB), to evaluate the changes of soil respiration and SOC storage with grassland conversions to diverse types of woodlands. Annual soil respiration increased by 3%, 6%, 14%, and 22% after the conversion from GR to EC, SH, DC, and DB, respectively. The variation in soil respiration among different vegetation types could be well explained by SOC and soil total nitrogen content. Despite higher soil respiration in woodlands, SOC storage and residence time increased in the upper 20 cm of soil. Our results suggest that the differences in soil environmental conditions, especially soil substrate availability, influenced the level of annual soil respiration produced by different vegetation types. Moreover, shifts from grassland to woody plant dominance resulted in increased SOC storage. Given the widespread increase in woody plant abundance caused by climate change and large-scale afforestation programs, the soils are expected to accumulate and store increased amounts of organic carbon in temperate areas of China.
The Positive Effect of Authoritarian Leadership on Employee Performance: The Moderating Role of Power Distance

Based on goal setting theory, this study explores the positive effect and influencing process of authoritarian leadership on employee performance, as well as the moderating role of individual power distance in this process. Data from 211 supervisor-subordinate dyads in Chinese organizations indicates that authoritarian leadership is positively associated with employee performance, and learning goal orientation mediates this relationship. Furthermore, power distance moderates the effect of authoritarian leadership on learning goal orientation, such that the effect was stronger when individual power distance was higher. The indirect effect of authoritarian leadership on employee performance via learning goal orientation is also moderated by power distance. Theoretical and managerial implications and future directions are also discussed.
A Longitudinal Study of Memory Advantages in Bilinguals

Typically, studies of cognitive advantages in bilinguals have been conducted previously by using executive and inhibitory tasks (e.g. Simon task) and applying cross-sectional designs. This study longitudinally investigated bilingual advantages on episodic memory recall, verbal letter and categorical fluency during the trajectory of life. Monolingual and bilingual participants (n = 178) between 35–70 years at baseline were drawn from the Betula Prospective Cohort Study of aging, memory, and health. Results showed that bilinguals outperformed monolinguals at the first testing session and across time both in episodic memory recall and in letter fluency. No interaction with age was found indicating that the rate of change across ages was similar for bilinguals and monolinguals. As predicted and in line with studies applying cross-sectional designs, no advantages associated with bilingualism were found in the categorical fluency task. The results are discussed in the light of successful aging.
Changes in Glycyrrhizin Content of Iranian licorice ( Glycyrrhiza glabra L . ) Affected by Different Root Diameter and Ecological Conditions

This study was conducted to determine the effects of soil and climatic conditions on glycyrrhizic acid contents in various Iranian populations of Glycyrrhiza glabra in two root diameters. Twelve populations in arid, semi-arid and Mediterranean climates of different parts of Iran were collected and the content of glycyrrhizic acid was determined using HPLC. The results showed that contents of glycyrrhizic acid varied in roots with different diameters. Average contents of glycyrrhizic acid varied 1.36-3.40% in the studied populations. These changes were not significantly correlated to edaphic parameters, but were significantly influenced by temperature. Cluster analysis of twelve populations of licorice plants regarding glycyrrhizin content categorized these populations in three groups. There was little correlation between glycyrrhizin content and climatic classification, and this reveals that glycyrrhizic content is more affected by genetic factors rather than environmental conditions; therefore, selection of studied liquorices population with high glycyrrhizic acid content would be useful for their genetic improvement.
Polypropylene as a Promising Plastic: A Review

This paper critically reviews polypropylene (PP) material in several aspects. The aim of this study is to prove that polypropylene is a promising plastic by showing its great chemical, physical and mechanical properties, understanding and comparing between PP types as well as thermoplastics to identify their pros and cons, providing a comprehensive explanation regarding to Dow/UNIPOL PP technology process, and including extensive reviews on infinite number of PP applications. It is found that PP is the main output of propylene among other derivatives with two-thirds consumption rate. PP is the lightest type of plastics with a density of 0.90 g/cm 3 . Homo-polymer PP (HPP) has a market share of 65-75%. Branching, reinforcing and filling PP are some techniques to produce plastics with superior mechanical properties. Semi-crystalline isotactic polypropylene (iPP) showed appropriate optical characteristics upon recycling. BOPP and PP-OH films are ideal plastics for electrical applications. There are 26 operating PP plants and 4 PP plants in construction around the globe. PP applications include, but not limited to, fabrics, films, bottles, sheets and automotive products.
Cognitive Declines Precede and Predict Functional Declines in Aging and Alzheimer’s Disease

Objective To investigate the temporal ordering of cognitive and functional declines separately in older adults with or without Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Design and Setting A community-based longitudinal study of aging and dementia in Northern Manhattan (Washington Heights/Hamilton Heights Inwood Columbia Aging Project) and a multicenter, clinic-based longitudinal study of prevalent AD at Columbia University Medical Center, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, and the Hôpital de la Salpêtrière in Paris, France (the Predictors Study). Participants 3,443 initially non-demented older adults (612 with eventual incident dementia) and 517 patients with AD. Main Outcome Measures Cognitive measures included the modified Mini-Mental State Exam and composite scores of memory and language derived from a standardized neuropsychological battery. Function was measured with the Blessed Dementia Rating Scale, completed by the participant (in the sample of non-demented older adults) or an informant (in the sample of prevalent AD patients). Data were analyzed with autoregressive cross-lagged panel analysis. Results Cognitive scores more consistently predicted subsequent functional abilities than vice versa in non-demented older adults, participants with eventual incident dementia, and patients with prevalent AD. Conclusions Cognitive declines appear to precede and cause functional declines prior to and following dementia diagnosis. Standardized neuropsychological tests are valid predictors of later functional changes in both non-demented and demented older adults.
Major publications in the critical care pharmacotherapy literature: January-December 2013.

PURPOSE Ten recently published articles with important implications for critical care pharmacotherapy are summarized. SUMMARY The Critical Care Pharmacotherapy Literature Update (CCPLU) group is a national assembly of experienced intensive care unit (ICU) pharmacists across the United States. Group members monitor 25 peer-reviewed journals on an ongoing basis to identify literature relevant to pharmacy practice in the critical care setting. After evaluation by CCPLU group members, selected articles are chosen for summarization and distribution to group members nationwide based on (1) applicability to critical care practice, (2) relevance to pharmacy practitioners, and (3) quality of evidence or research methodology. Hundreds of relevant articles were evaluated by the group during the period January-December 2013, of which 98 were summarized and disseminated nationally to CCPLU group members. Among those 98 publications, 10 deemed to be of particularly high utility to critical care practitioners were included in this review. The 10 articles address topics such as rapid lowering of blood pressure in patients with intracranial hemorrhage, adjunctive therapy to prevent renal injury due to acute heart failure, triple-drug therapy to improve neurologic outcomes after cardiac arrest, and continuous versus intermittent infusion of β-lactam antibiotics in severe sepsis. CONCLUSION There were many important additions to the critical care pharmacotherapy literature in 2013, including an updated guideline on the management of myocardial infarction and reports on advances in research focused on improving outcomes in patients with stroke or cardiac arrest and preventing the spread of drug-resistant pathogens in the ICU.
Habitat requirements and ecological niche of two cryptic amphipod species at landscape and local scales

Cryptic species are phylogenetically diverged taxa that are morphologically indistinguishable and may differ in their ecological and behavioral requirements. This may have important implications for ecosystem services and conservation of biodiversity. We investigated whether two ecologically important cryptic species of the freshwater amphipod Gammarus fossarum (types A and B) are associated with different habitats. We collected data on their occurrence at both the landscape scale (large watersheds) and at the local scale (river reach) to compare macro-and microscale environmental parameters associated with their presence. Analysis of the landscape scale data showed that occurrence of types A and B differ with respect to watershed and river size and, interestingly, human impact on river ecomorphology. Whereas type B was mainly found in less forested areas with higher human impact, type A showed the opposite occurrence pattern. Analyses of the local scale data suggested that habitats occupied by type A were characterized by larger gravel, larger stones and less macrophytes than habitats occupied by type B. The landscape and local data set showed contradicting patterns with regard to stream size. Overall, the observed differences between the two types of G. fossarum most likely reflect ecological differences between them, but alternative explanations (e.g., historical colonization processes) cannot be completely ruled out. Our study underlines that common cryptic species can differ in their ecology and response to anthropogenic influence. Such differences in habitat requirements among difficult-to-identify taxa present a challenge for biodiversity and ecosystem management. Our results emphasize the importance of conservative and precautionary approaches in maintenance of habitat diversity and environmental heterogeneity.
The association between elevated serum uric acid levels and islet β-cell function indexes in newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes mellitus: a cross-sectional study

Background Serum uric acid (UA) has been reported as a risk factor for type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). However, whether serum UA is associated with insulin resistance and insulin secretion, and the effect of gender on it in the case of the existed association, both remain undefined. Methods A cross-sectional study was designed and performed, which enrolled a total of 403 newly diagnosed T2DM patients (mean age, 50.21 ± 13.34 years (62.5% males)). Clinical characteristics and islet function indexes of all participants were analyzed based on gender-specific tertiles of serum UA levels. In addition, multiple linear regression analysis was conducted to investigate covariates associated with islet function indexes. Results The mean levels of serum UA were 331.05 μmol/L (interquartile range (IQR): 60.6, 400.9 μmol/L) and 267.9 μmol/L (IQR: 204.7, 331.9 μmol/L) in men and women, respectively. The values of insulin secretion indexes involving AUCins30/glu30, AUCins120/glu120 and total insulin disposition index (DI120) in females were significantly higher than those in males. Apart from the homeostasis model assessment insulin resistance of men, serum UA was positively associated with insulin secretion and insulin resistance indexes both in men and women. Multivariable linear regression analysis showed serum UA exerted an independent impact on insulin secretion in females, but not on insulin resistance. In males, islet function was simultaneously affected by serum UA age, body mass index (BMI), and serum lipids. Conclusion Serum UA harbored a positive correlation with insulin secretion and insulin resistance indexes in newly diagnosed T2DM patients, which was influenced by gender, BMI, serum lipids. Hence, serum UA may be considered as a predictor for islet function in clinical practice.
Comparison of different diversity techniques in MIMO antennas

In wireless and mobile communication, multiple-input and multiple-output (MIMO) is a technique that multiplies the capacity of a communication system when more than one transmit and receive antennas are available to utilize multipath propagation property of EM waves. MIMO has become an integral element and a standard of wireless communication, incorporated in such technologies as Wi-Fi, 3G and 4G. MIMO can be implemented in a number of ways — precoding, diversity coding and beamforming to name a few. The diversity coding techniques involve antenna diversity in polarization, space, frequency and time. The paper aims to quantitatively compare the BER of different diversity techniques in MIMO antennas. The motivation for deploying a MIMO system over a single antenna system is given, then the cases of temporal and spatial diversity are explored and their BER is plotted.