Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Morphological Characterization and Selection of Spider Plant ( Cleome Gynandra ) Accessions from Kenya and South Africa

Characterization of selected spider plant accessions from Kenya and South Africa was performed in order to individuate those with distinct morphological traits for future improvement programs. For this purpose, thirty two accessions of spider plant, 23 sourced from Kenyan genebank and nine sourced from South African genebank, were planted at the University of Nairobi’s Kabete field station, in a randomized complete block design with 3 replications. Eleven morphological traits based on modified FAO (1995) spider plant descriptors were used in characterization. Traits evaluated were growth habit, flower colour, stem colour, stem hairiness, petiole colour, petiole hairiness, leaf colour, leaf pubescence, leaf shape, leaf blade tip shape, and number of leaflets per leaf. The scored data were analyzed using DARwin software v6 and Genstat v14. Shannon diversity index (H’), multivariate methods of principal component analysis and hierarchical clustering analyses of unweighted pair group method of arithmetic mean were assessed for all the traits. Estimates of Shannon-Weaver diversity index (H’) for the morphological traits were generally high (H’>0.500). The H' index indicated inter-country diversity to be greater than the intra-country diversity. Principal component analysis identified seven important morphological traits (stem colour, stem hairiness, petiole colour, petiole hairiness, leaf hairiness, leaf shape and number of leaflets per leaf) for characterizing spider plant accessions. The hierarchical cluster analysis revealed two major clusters (Cluster I and II) for the 32 accessions grown, with clustering of accessions occurring along regional basis. Cluster I consisted of South African accessions only while cluster II had mainly Kenyan accessions and two South African accessions. The relatively high levels of dissimilarity revealed in this study among the accessions for traits evaluated, especially accessions from the two different countries, indicates high prospects for genetic improvement of the crop through cross breeding by using materials from different geographical origins.
mitochondria Arabidopsis introns in AtnMat 2 , a nuclear-encoded maturase required for splicing of group-II Material Supplemental

Mitochondria (mt) in plants house about 20 group-II introns, which lie within protein-coding genes required in both organellar genome expression and respiration activities. While in nonplant systems the splicing of group-II introns is mediated by proteins encoded within the introns themselves (known as ‘‘maturases’’), only a single maturase ORF (matR) has retained in the mitochondrial genomes in plants; however, its putative role(s) in the splicing of organellar introns is yet to be established. Clues to other proteins are scarce, but these are likely encoded within the nucleus as there are no obvious candidates among the remaining ORFs within the mtDNA. Intriguingly, higher plants genomes contain four maturase-related genes, which exist in the nucleus as self-standing ORFs, out of the context of their evolutionary-related group-II introns ‘‘hosts. ’’ These are all predicted to reside within mitochondria and may therefore act ‘‘in-trans’’ in the splicing of organellar-encoded introns. Here, we analyzed the intracellular locations of the four nuclear-encoded maturases in Arabidopsis and established the roles of one of these genes, At5g46920 (AtnMat2), in the splicing of several mitochondrial introns, including the single intron within cox2, nad1 intron2,
Quantum Light Interaction with Superatoms Candidate

Photons inherently interact weakly with other photons and their environment [1]. This fact makes photons excellent qubit candidates, since the weak coupling implies longevity and protection against decoherence [2]. However, the practically missing interaction between the photons themselves tempers our possibilities to control them like any other state of matter. This thesis aims to study mechanisms enabling effective photon-photon interactions and thus providing methods to directly control single photons. More precisely, we study one-dimensional waveguide systems with broken chirality, i.e., the direction of the traversing photon influences their interaction with the environment. We will show that placing atoms sufficiently close together breaks chirality naturally. In this so-called superradiant phase, all atoms in the ensemble act as one; they are collectively excited and emit any absorbed photon only in its original direction. Building upon this, we study the scattering processes at such superatoms. We first discuss some already solved integrable quantum models and provide some necessary simplifications to make following calculations possible. One such model is the Dicke model, consisting of one bosonicmode resembling the waveguide photons, and one single superatom. We will give a derivation of the N-particle Green’s function by Yudson [3]. Yet, in this original representation, the Green’s function contains so many terms that it is not suitable for further use. We give a transformation to a more applicable form and use it to derive a generating functional for outgoing states. Having said that, not all chiral waveguide systems are integrable and, for many of them, approximations have to be applied. We primarily focus here on a Markovian method, which neglects retardation effects in the time evolution. While this approximation itself seems to be quite justified at the beginning, we will show that these retardation effects are the primary source of entanglement between the photons and the atoms, and dropping them turns out to be a too harsh assumption for most of the cases. Lastly, for integrable models, we will study multi-photon effects, such as the creation of spatial correlations between the photons. We will see that even the simplest model is able to correlate incoming photons, at least for suitably chosen initial photonic wave packets. We will find that to make these correlations strong, the initial wave packet must be so wide it cannot traverse the atoms faster than the reciprocal effective decay rate of the superatoms.
Fundamental challenge in simulation and prediction of summer monsoon rainfall

The scientific basis for two‐tier climate prediction lies in the predictability determined by the ocean and land surface conditions. Here we show that the state‐of‐the‐art atmospheric general circulation models (AGCMs), when forced by observed sea surface temperature (SST), are unable to simulate properly Asian‐Pacific summer monsoon rainfall. All models yield positive SST‐rainfall correlations in the summer monsoon that are at odds with observations. The observed lag correlations between SST and rainfall suggest that treating monsoon as a slave possibly results in the models' failure. We demonstrate that an AGCM, coupled with an ocean model, simulates realistic SST‐rainfall relationships; however, the same AGCM fails when forced by the same SSTs that are generated in its coupled run, suggesting that the coupled ocean‐atmosphere processes are crucial in the monsoon regions where atmospheric feedback on SST is critical. The present finding calls for reshaping of current strategies for monsoon seasonal prediction. The notion that climate can be modeled and predicted by prescribing the lower boundary conditions is inadequate for validating models and predicting summer monsoon rainfall.
Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) as a treatment tool in schizophrenia: A review.

Schizophrenia is a chronic, debilitating psychiatric disorder that has an immense impact on the patients, their families, and the entire society. Schizophrenia is characterized by positive symptoms (e.g., hallucinations, delusions), negative symptoms (e.g., apathy, reduced emotional response), as well as a variety of cognitive dysfunctions. While positive symptoms are often successfully treated with antipsychotic medications, negative symptoms and cognitive impairments tend to be more treatment refractory. Moreover, the occurrence of persistent, systemic side effects in schizophrenia patients taking antipsychotic medications significantly affects their compliance. Thus, more targeted, symptom-specific treatment interventions are critically needed in schizophrenia. Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) allows to directly and noninvasively reach the cortical surface. TMS can therefore target specific cortical areas, which are involved in some of the symptoms or cognitive dysfunctions commonly experienced by schizophrenia patients, while at the same time minimizing systemic side effects. Furthermore, it has been shown that repetitive stimulation (rTMS) delivered at low frequency (≤ 1 Hz) or high frequency (>1 Hz) can respectively increase or decrease neural excitability, including the brain regions involved in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia. Because of these unique features, over the past two decades there has been a burgeoning of studies investigating rTMS as a treatment tool in schizophrenia. In this review, we will systematically analyse these data, focusing on studies that examined the effects of rTMS on positive, negative and cognitive symptoms. Specifically, we will present main findings from these rTMS studies, highlight their strengths and pitfalls, and we will then discuss how these findings may contribute to develop more effective, TMS-based treatment interventions in schizophrenia.
Consumer Attitudes Toward Potential Country-Of-Origin Labeling Of Fresh Or Frozen Beef

A sample of Louisiana households was surveyed by mail to estimate their degree of support for compulsory country-of-origin labeling of fresh or frozen beef in grocery stores and restaurants. This potential requirement for grocery stores and restaurants was supported by 93 and 88 percent of respondents, respectively. Binomial probit analysis identified the socioeconomic characteristics of consumers with respect to their decision on the labeling of fresh or frozen beef in grocery stores and restaurants. Important variables for both types of outlets were "prefer domestic over imported durable goods," "consider domestic beef safer than imported beef," and "male. "
Clinical, Etiological, Anatomical, and Bacteriological Study of “Diabetic Foot” Patients: Results of a Single Center Study

Objective: To examine the clinical pattern of foot-related complications in type 2 diabetes patients. Material and methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among indoor, adult type 2 diabetes patients with risk factors for diabetic foot complications. The diabetic neuropathy symptom score (DNSS), Doppler scanning, ankle brachial pressure index (ABPI) assessment, neuropathy assessment, neuropathic disability score (NDS), biothesiometry evaluation, and bacteriological examination was performed. Diabetic foot risk stratification was done using the NICE risk stratification system. Foot ulcer severity was assessed with the Lipsky severity grading system. Results: Ninety-one patients (mean age 59 years; male 65.9%) were included, of which 20 (22%) had a history of ulcer and 40 (44%) were smokers. Seventy-seven (83.5%) patients had a neuropathy symptom score between 4 and 9. Biothesiometry vibration perception threshold (VPT) was “severe” in 55 (60.4%) patients. Doppler assessment showed triphasic flow in 53 patients (58.2%). Out of 52 patients (57.1%) with neuropathy, 30 (57.7%) had a severe problem. Diabetic foot ulcer, cellulitis, and callus were present in 44 (48.3%), 29 (31.5%), and 11 (12.4%) patients, respectively. Foot ulcers were present on 21 (38%) metatarsal heads, 11 (20%) toes, 10 (18%) heels, 08 (15%) ankles, and 05 (09%) lateral foot borders. Of the 55 patients who underwent culture examination, 30 (33.3%) showed the presence of Staphylococcus aureus. As per NICE risk stratification, 55 patients (60%) were at “very high risk. ” Conclusion: A foot ulcer is the commonest complication in diabetic patients followed by cellulitis. Standardized simple noninvasive testing methods should be used to identify patients at risk for the diabetic foot. Multidisciplinary diabetic foot care could be useful to prevent diabetes-related amputation of the lower extremities.
The Lymphedema Functioning, Disability, and Health Questionnaire for Lower Limb Lymphedema: Translation, reliability, and validation study of the Turkish version

Ça­lış­ma­ pla­nı:­Alt ekstremite lenfödem tanısı konan toplam 50 hastadan (14 erkek, 36 kadın; ort. yaş 50.3±12.9 yıl; dağılım 21-70 yıl) original anketin Türkçe versiyonunu yedi gün arayla iki kez cevaplaması istendi. İç tutarlılık, Cronbach alfa kullanılarak test edildi ve test-tekrar test güvenirliği sınıf içi korelasyon katsayısı hesaplanarak değerlendirildi. Yapısal geçerliği, lenfödem anketi ve Kısa Form-36 anket sonuçları karşılaştırarak araştırıldı.
A framework for large-scale evaluation of deep learning for EEG

EEG is the most common signal source for noninvasive BCI applications. For such applications, the EEG signal needs to be decoded and translated into appropriate actions. A recently emerging EEG decoding approach is deep learning with Convolutional or Recurrent Neural Networks (CNNs, RNNs) with many different architectures already published. Here we present a novel framework for the large-scale evaluation of different deep-learning architectures on different EEG datasets. This framework comprises (i) a collection of EEG datasets currently comprising 100 examples (recording sessions) from six different classification problems, (ii) a collection of different EEG decoding algorithms, and (iii) a wrapper linking the decoders to the data as well as handling structured documentation of all settings and (hyper-) parameters and statistics, designed to ensure transparency and reproducibility. As an applications example we used our framework by comparing three publicly available CNN architectures: the Braindecode Deep4 ConvNet, Braindecode Shallow ConvNet, and EEGNet. We also show how our framework can be used to study similarities and differences in the performance of different decoding methods across tasks. We argue that the deep learning EEG framework as described here could help to tap the full potential of deep learning for BCI applications.
Are Funder Open Access Platforms a Good Idea?

As open access (OA) to publications continues to gather momentum, we should continuously question whether it is moving in the right direction. A novel intervention in this space is the creation of OA publishing platforms commissioned by funding organizations. Examples include those of the Wellcome Trust and the Gates Foundation, as well as recently announced initiatives from public funders like the European Commission and the Irish Health Research Board. As the number of such platforms increases, it becomes urgently necessary to assess in which ways, for better or worse, this emergent phenomenon complements or disrupts the scholarly communications landscape. This article examines ethical, organizational, and economic strengths and weaknesses of such platforms, as well as usage and uptake to date, to scope the opportunities and threats presented by funder OA platforms in the ongoing transition to OA. The article is broadly supportive of the aims and current implementations of such platforms, finding them a novel intervention which stands to help increase OA uptake, control costs of OA, lower administrative burden on researchers, and demonstrate funders’ commitment to fostering open practices. However, the article identifies key areas of concern about the potential for unintended consequences, including the appearance of conflicts of interest, difficulties of scale, potential lock-in, and issues of the branding of research. The article ends with key recommendations for future consideration which include a focus on open scholarly infrastructure.
Skilled Experience Catalogue: A Skill-Balancing Mechanism for Non-Player Characters using Reinforcement Learning

In this paper, we introduce a skill-balancing mechanism for adversarial non-player characters (NPCs), called Skilled Experience Catalogue (SEC). The objective of this mechanism is to approximately match the skill level of an NPC to an opponent in real-time. We test the technique in the context of a First- Person Shooter (FPS) game. Specifically, the technique adjusts a reinforcement learning NPC’s proficiency with a weapon based on its current performance against an opponent. Firstly, a catalogue of experience, in the form of stored learning policies, is built up by playing a series of training games. Once the NPC has been sufficiently trained, the catalogue acts as a timeline of experience with incremental knowledge milestones in the form of stored learning policies. If the NPC is performing poorly, it can jump to a later stage in the learning timeline to be equipped with more informed decision-making. Likewise, if it is performing significantly better than the opponent, it will jump to an earlier stage. The NPC continues to learn in real-time using reinforcement learning but its policy is adjusted, as required, by loading the most suitable milestones for the current circumstances.
The Detection and Importance of Subtle Biofacies within a Single Lithofacies: The Upper Ordovician Kope Formation of the Cincinnati, Ohio Region

Abstract Environmental controls on the distribution of fossils most commonly are found by recognizing that certain distinctive fossil assemblages are associated with particular lithofacies. Lack of change in lithofacies commonly is used as indicating a lack of significant environmental effects on the stratigraphic distribution of fossils. The results presented here challenge that view. The Upper Ordovician Kope Formation of the Cincinnati, Ohio, area has long been considered a single unit, both lithostratigraphically and in terms of depositional environment. Gradient analysis of over 1000 fossil assemblages reveals subtle environmental control on the distribution of fossils, in the absence of obvious lithologic change. This gradient analysis is used to construct an ecological model of the Kope fauna, with values of preferred depth, depth tolerance, and peak abundance estimated for the most common fossils. This method, conducted within a single lithofacies, offers the potential for reconstructing sequence architecture because faunas can be more sensitive recorders of environment than lithofacies. In addition, the presence of subtle facies control as in the Kope raises the prospect that environmental controls on paleobiologic and biostratigraphic patterns may be more pervasive than generally acknowledged.
Isolation, identification and characterization of Leuconostoc mesenteroides as a new probiotic from intestine of snakehead fish (Channa striatus)

The intestinal microflora of snakehead ( Channa striatus ) fish was studied to isolate and identify lactic acid bacteria as new probiotic. A total of five lactic acid bacteria were isolated from intestine to evaluate with probiotic properties. Leuconostoc mesenteroides sp. mesenteroides with more ability to inhibit growth o f Aeromonas hydrophila was selected and identified by conventional and molecular techniques. This strain was able to survive and grow from pH 3 to 8 with the highest viability and growth rate at neutral conditions (pH 7). In addition, L. mesenteroides tolerated 0, 0.15 and 0.3% bile salt concentrations. This bacterium also, showed inhibitory activity against three tested fish pathogens which included; A. hydrophila, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Shewanella putrefaciens . Antibiotic sensitivity test indicated that this strain was resistant to Streptomycin, intermediate to Amoxicillin and Kanamycin and sensitive to Gentamycin, Tetracycline, Chloramphenicol, and Ampicillin. Keywords : Isolation, characterization, probiotic, intestine, Leuconostoc mesenteroides , snakehead fish.
HEMIFACIAL SKIN TEMPERATURE CHANGES RELATED TO DECEPTION: BLOOD FLOW OR THERMAL CAPACITANCE?

The relationship between facial skin surface temperature and deception was examined using thermal image data collected during credibility assessment interviews of 21 U. S. Army basic trainees, some of whom had previously engaged in a mock theft. Facial regions of interest included the right hemiface, and three sub-regions overlying the periorbital, carotid, and cheek areas. Successive presentations of interview questions resulted in significant mean hemifacial temperature increases during the first block of testing, followed by temperature decreases throughout the remainder of the question sequence. The only facial temperature region of interest that was significantly related to deception was the cheek sub-region, which has a large soft tissue mass. These results suggest thatthe ability of the cheek region to store thermal energy after it is heated by the blood (thermal capacitance) contributes to the pattern of facial temperature changes seen during a credibility assessment interview
Comparing different approaches for propensity score matching with clustered data: a simulation study

This article focuses on the implementation of propensity score matching for clustered data. Different approaches to reduce bias due to cluster-level confounders are considered and compared using Monte Carlo simulations. We investigated methods that exploit the clustered structure of data in two ways: in the estimation of the propensity score model (through the inclusion of fixed or random effects) or in the implementation of the matching algorithm. In addition to a pure within-cluster matching, we also assessed the performance of a “preferential” within-cluster matching. This approach first searches for control units to be matched to treated units within the same cluster. If matching is not possible within-cluster, then the algorithm searches in other clusters. All considered approaches successfully reduced the bias due to the omission of a cluster-level confounder. The preferential within-cluster matching approach, combining the advantages of withinand between-cluster matching, showed a relatively good performance both in the presence of big and small clusters and it was often the best method. An important advantage of this approach is that it reduces the number of unmatched units as compared to a pure within-cluster matching. We applied these methods to the estimation of the effect of caesarean section on the Apgar score using birth register data.
Contribution of volatile organic compound fluxes to the ecosystem carbon budget of a poplar short‐rotation plantation

Biogenic volatile organic compounds (BVOCs) are major precursors of both ozone and secondary organic aerosols (SOA) in the troposphere and represent a non‐negligible portion of the carbon fixed by primary producers, but long‐term ecosystem‐scale measurements of their exchanges with the atmosphere are lacking. In this study, the fluxes of 46 ions corresponding to 36 BVOCs were continuously monitored along with the exchanges of mass (carbon dioxide and water vapor) and energy (sensible and latent heat) for an entire year in a poplar (Populus) short‐rotation crop (SRC), using the eddy covariance methodology. BVOC emissions mainly consisted of isoprene, acetic acid, and methanol. Total net BVOC emissions were 19.20 kg C ha−1 yr−1, which represented 0.63% of the net ecosystem exchange (NEE), resulting from −23.59 Mg C ha−1 yr−1 fixed as CO2 and 20.55 Mg C ha−1 yr−1 respired as CO2 from the ecosystem. Isoprene emissions represented 0.293% of NEE, being emitted at a ratio of 1 : 1709 mol isoprene per mol of CO2 fixed. Based on annual ecosystem‐scale measurements, this study quantified for the first time that BVOC carbon emissions were lower than previously estimated in other studies (0.5–2% of NEE) on poplar trees. Furthermore, the seasonal and diurnal emission patterns of isoprene, methanol, and other BVOCs provided a better interpretation of the relationships with ecosystem CO2 and water vapor fluxes, with air temperature, vapor pressure deficit, and photosynthetic photon flux density.