Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
CHARACTERISTICS OF THE SHAPE ASYMMETRY OF LEAF TIP AND BASE IN POPULUS NIGRA L . UNDER INDUSTRIAL DUMP CONDITIONS

The scope of this study is to reveale the nature and variability of shape asymmetry of leaf tip and base in Populus nigra L. under conditions of two types of industrial waste dumps: coal mine and overburden rock dumps. The coefficient of shape asymmetry of leaf tip ranges from 0.000 to 0.253 in the samplings of P. nigra (in ascending order): City Park → coal mine waste dumps → overburden rock dumps. The coefficient of tip shape asymmetry less than 0.050 is characteristic of most leaves of all analyzed samples. The coefficient of shape asymmetry of leaf base varies from 0.000 to 0.152. This value was statistically significantly higher in the leaves sampled in the overburden rock dumps. The asymmetry coefficient of base shape less than 0.015 is characteristic of most leaves of all analyzed samples. The shape asymmetry of leaf tip and base in P. nigra is fluctuating. Among three indices analyzed (overall shape pseudosymmetry index, and coefficients of shape asymmetry of leaf tip and base), the shape asymmetry coefficient of leaf base is the most informative indicator. It is most useful for differentiation of leaf blades sampled in less degraded ecosystems and those sampled in stressful ecosystems.
DIFFERENTIAL RESPONSES OF WHEAT GENOTYPES FOR POTASSIUM UPTAKE AND UTILIZATION EFFICIENCY UNDER ADEQUATE AND DEFICIENT POTASSIUM LEVELS IN SOLUTION CULTURE

Identification of nutrient efficient genotypes as low cost, low input technology is considered one of most efficient approaches for improving crop production in poor resource environments. Potassium (K) deficiency in the soils of Pakistan is spreading rapidly and has become one of the most nutritional limiting factors for crop yield. In the present investigation, six wheat genotypes were evaluated for growth, K uptake and utilization efficiency in the Johnson’ solution modified to 0.3mM (deficient-K) and 3.0 mM (adequate-K) using K2SO4. The experiment was conducted in a factorial, completely randomized design (CRD), replicated thrice. Substantial variation was observed among the genotypes in the biomass accumulation, allocation of K-uptake and -use efficiency in root and shoot at two contrasting K level. Generally, Kdeficiency decreased biomass production, K-uptake and K-use efficiency, however higher genetic potential genotypes maintained their growth and K accumulation even at low K-level. Potassium use efficiency was increased almost four folds in the genotype grown at low K and was positively correlated with K accumulation. The genotype SD-222 is responsive to adequate K-supply, while the genotype 22-03 is efficient to low K-supply. It is suggested that these two genotypes could be used in breeding programmes to improve K-efficiency.
Machine Learning based Mountainous Skyline Detection and Visual Geo-Localization

With the ubiquitous availability of geo-tagged imagery and increased computational power, geo-localization has captured a lot of attention from researchers in computer vision and image retrieval communities. Significant progress has been made in urban environments with stable man-made structures and geo-referenced street imagery of frequently visited tourist attractions. However, geo-localization of natural/mountain scenes is more challenging due to changed vegetations, lighting, seasonal changes and lack of geo-tagged imagery. Conventional approaches for mountain/natural geolocalization mostly rely on mountain peaks and valley information, visible skylines and ridges etc. Skyline (boundary segmenting sky and non-sky regions) has been established to be a robust natural feature for mountainous images, which can be matched with the synthetic skylines generated from publicly available terrain maps such as Digital Elevation Models (DEMs). Skyline or visible horizon finds further applications in various other contexts e.g. smooth navigation of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs)/Micro Aerial Vehicles (MAVs), port security, ship detection and outdoor robot/vehicle localization. Prominent methods for skyline/horizon detection are based on non-realistic assumptions and rely on mere edge detection and/or linear line fitting using Hough transform. We investigate the use of supervised machine learning for skyline detection. Specifically we propose two novel machine learning based methods, one relying on edge detection and classification while other
The paradox of openness revisited : Open innovation and patenting by UK Innovators

The paradox of openness points out that on the one hand, firms are more likely to seek external collaborators if they can protect their innovation by patents, and more generally, guard against unintended knowledge spillovers to partners. On the other hand a focus on patenting and exclusivity makes a firm less efficient in developing collaborative innovations, and hence also, a less attractive partner. Thus, opening up to outside sources of knowledge to innovate may weaken the firm? s power to capture rents from that knowledge. We argue in this paper that the relationship between external sourcing (openness) and patenting is contingent on the technological ability of the firm. Firms will make different choices depending upon whether they are technically superior to their rivals and lead in the market or not. Leading firms are more vulnerable to unintended knowledge spillovers during collaboration as compared to followers, and consequently, the increase in patenting due to openness is higher for leaders than for followers. We test this conjecture by estimating whether the reduced form relationship between patenting and collaboration is stronger for leaders than for followers and find support for our arguments.
Pleiotropic effects of statins in stroke prevention

Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death and disability, and contributes substantially to healthcare budgets. The lipid-lowering drugs, 3-hydroxy-3methylgulutaryl-coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase inhibitor or statins, reducing mortality and cardiovascular morbidity in patients with established cardiovascular disease. Statins therefore have a place in the secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease. Recent experimental and clinical studies suggest that statins may exert vascular protective effect beyond cholesterol reduction. The cholesterol-independet or “pleiotropic” effects of statin include the upregulation and activation of endothelial nitric acid synthase (eNOS) that can increase nitric oxide (NO) production. Augmentation of NO production increases cerebral blood flow, which can lead to neuroprotection during brain ischaemia. By inhibiting mevalonate synthesis, statins prevent the formation of several isoprenoids (including farnesylpyrophosphate and geranylgeranylpyrophosphate). Inhibiting geranylgeranylation of RhoA small G proteins increases the stability of eNOS mRNA through the remodeling of endothelial actin microfilamens. Moreover, statins directly increase eNOS activity within minutes by activating the pathway involving phosphoinositide 3-kinase and protein kinase B. In the secondary prevention of stroke, the use of statins reduces the incidence of either recurrent stroke or other major vascular events and treatment should be initiated soon after the event. The use of statins does not increase hemorrhagic stroke or cancer and may also favor atherosclerotic plaque regression.
A STUDY ON THE GAS – LIQUID MIXTURE FLOW CHARACTERISTICS INSIDE IN-LINE TYPE SUBSEA SEPARATOR

The implementation of subsea separation and liquid boosting is becoming a common development scheme for the exploration of deep water fields. Subsea separation is an attractive and economic solution to develop deep offshore fields producing fluid without hydrate or wax. Recently the subsea separation system is designed for a water depth of 3,000 m and internal design pressure up to 690 bar. Development and application of subsea separation system are relatively common in the developed countries and many studies have been conducted previously, but it is still a new field in Korea and this is the significance of this study. In this study, gas-liquid mixture flow characteristics inside in-line type subsea separation system are investigated by numerical and experimental studies for the development of subsea separator. For the subsea separator designed in this study, it is predicted to have a separating efficiency of 70%.
Ecology and behavior of juvenile Mugil cephalus in Hawaiian streams By Kauaoa

Broad-scale environmental factors are often useful in explaining the distribution and abundance of stream fishes within and among watersheds. In this study, we investigate how watershed-scale factors influence the presence of Mugil cephalus among Hawaiian watersheds, and we explore how reach-scale variables compare between neighboring streams that do and do not contain mullet. For the watershed-scale analysis, we used a model selection framework to test the relative support of 11 models including combinations of the variables channel slope, discharge, watershed area, and watershed health to describe mullet occurrence, using mullet presence-absence and watershed-scale data from 33 streams distributed around Hawai‘i. Our results suggest that slope is the single most influential variable and that mullet tend to occur in watersheds with a lower stream slope in the vicinity of the mouth. Discharge was also important in determining mullet occurrence, but to a lesser degree than slope, with mullet occurring in watersheds with relatively higher discharge. To complement the large-scale analysis, we conducted a reach-scale analysis by comparing the depth, velocity, canopy cover, and wetted width measurements from four neighboring streams that all drain into Kāne‘ohe Bay, O‘ahu, only one of which is used by mullet. Our results suggest that the non-mullet streams tend to be narrower and shallower than the one stream containing mullet, likely related to the higher discharge in this watershed. In contrast, we found no consistent differences in stream velocity or canopy cover among these neighboring streams. Overall, our results suggest that slope and discharge are important drivers of M. cephalus presence in Hawaiian streams and that stream width and depth at the reach-scale may play a role as well. These results suggest that declining baseflows due to diversions or climate change may negatively impact mullet populations by decreasing access to freshwater streams and also points to the potential benefits of restoration efforts, such as barrier removals or flow restoration, for conserving M. cephalus in Hawaiian
Compressibility effects on the Rayleigh – Taylor instability growth between immiscible fluids

The linearized Navier–Stokes equations for a system of superposed immiscible compressible ideal fluids are analyzed. The results of the analysis reconcile the stabilizing and destabilizing effects of compressibility reported in the literature. It is shown that the growth rate n obtained for an inviscid, compressible flow in an infinite domain is bounded by the growth rates obtained for the corresponding incompressible flows with uniform and exponentially varying density. As the equilibrium pressure at the interface p` increases~less compressible flow ! , n increases towards the uniform density result, while as the ratio of specific heats g increases~less compressible fluid ! , n decreases towards the exponentially varying density incompressible flow result. This remains valid in the presence of surface tension or for viscous fluids and the validity of the results is also discussed for finite size domains. The critical wavenumber imposed by the presence of surface tension is unaffected by compressibility. However, the results show that the surface tension modifies the sensitivity of the growth rate to a differential change in g for the lower and upper fluids. For the viscous case, the linearized equations are solved numerically for different values of p` andg. It is found that the largest differences compared with the incompressible cases are obtained at small Atwood numbers. The most unstable mode for the compressible case is also bounded by the most unstable modes corresponding to the two limiting incompressible cases. © 2004 American Institute of Physics. @DOI: 10.1063/1.1630800 #
SOÁ T 3-2014 Trang 19 CO interaction with Cu ( I )-MCM-22 zeolite : density functional theory investigation

MCM-22 zeolite has been widely used in many applications for catalysis and adsorption. Especially, this material exchanged with Cu + cation (Cu(I)-MCM-22) is an active catalyst in green chemical reaction, such as decomposition of NO and N2O. The local geometry of Cu + in vicinity of Al (III) replacement in six different Si (IV) sites and CO interaction with the most stable Cu + in each Al site were explored using periodic density functional theory (DFT) method. The CO stretching frequencies were computed applying the /r scaling method in which frequencies were determined at high quantum level (couple cluster) and CO bond length calculated at DFT level. The results showed that Cu + cation located in the channel wall position and intersection position coordinated with 3 or 2 framework oxygen atoms, respectively, before CO adsorption and Cu + cation coordinated with 2 framework oxygen atoms after CO adsorption. The interaction energies between CO and Cu + cation were in range 148 to -195 kJ.mol -1 and CO frequencies exhibit two peaks at 2151 and 2159 cm -1 in good agreement with experimental data. This investigation brought us to understand the Cu + location in MCM-22 and CO adsorption in Cu(I)-MCM-22 zeolite.
Protocol Effects of Video Game Training on Behavioral and Electrophysiological Measures of Attention and Memory : Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial

Background: Neuroplasticity-based approaches seem to offer promising ways of maintaining cognitive health in older adults and postponing the onset of cognitive decline symptoms. Although previous research suggests that training can produce transfer effects, this study was designed to overcome some limitations of previous studies by incorporating an active control group and the assessment of training expectations. Objective: The main objectives of this study are (1) to evaluate the effects of a randomized computer-based intervention consisting of training older adults with nonaction video games on brain and cognitive functions that decline with age, including attention and spatial working memory, using behavioral measures and electrophysiological recordings (event-related potentials [ERPs]) just after training and after a 6-month no-contact period; (2) to explore whether motivation, engagement, or expectations might account for possible training-related improvements; and (3) to examine whether inflammatory mechanisms assessed with noninvasive measurement of C-reactive protein in saliva impair cognitive training-induced effects. A better understanding of these mechanisms could elucidate pathways that could be targeted in the future by either behavioral or neuropsychological interventions. Methods: A single-blinded randomized controlled trial with an experimental group and an active control group, pretest, posttest, and 6-month follow-up repeated measures design is used in this study. A total of 75 cognitively healthy older adults were randomly distributed into experimental and active control groups. Participants in the experimental group received 16 1-hour training sessions with cognitive nonaction video games selected from Lumosity, a commercial brain training package. The active control group received the same number of training sessions with The Sims and SimCity, a simulation strategy game. Results: We have recruited participants, have conducted the training protocol and pretest assessments, and are currently conducting posttest evaluations. The study will conclude in the first semester of 2017. Data analysis will take place during 2017. The primary outcome is transfer of benefit from training to attention and working memory functions and the neural mechanisms underlying possible cognitive improvements. JMIR Res Protoc 2017 | vol. 6 | iss. 1 | e8 | p.1 http://www.researchprotocols. org/2017/1/e8/ (page number not for citation purposes) Ballesteros et al JMIR RESEARCH PROTOCOLS
How NGOs Negotiate State and Individual Responsibility for Health in Croatia 1

Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) have become integral to health care in postsocialist transitional settings. This mandates attention to how such organizations address disparities in health and access to care that have accompanied privatization of services and growing economic inequalities in these areas. Central to their role is how NGOs represent those seeking care and, in particular, the models they invoke to advance both individual and collective claims on state and provider systems. This paper examines health-related NGOs in Croatia in order to assess models of citizenship rights and health consumerism. The concept of bio-(logical) citizenship denotes a broad project of medically-based demands for state support and collective entitlements. Policies based on models of health consumerism promote rational and informed individual decisionmaking. These perspectives originally arose as part of anti-professional movements and more recently trace to neoliberal assumptions of individuals as self-managed consumers. Critical analysis has yet to unpack the different bases for these models and their possible relationship to sources of health inequalities. Based on participant observation, interviews, and public documents, this analysis assesses the applicability of these models to Croatian NGOs addressing health and disability concerns. NGOs adopt diverse approaches, ranging from a focus on rights – including claims to care, support, or recognition – to those centered on personal responsibility and consumer choice. Contextual elements centrally shape the meaning of NGOs’ claims and thus the nature of biocitizenship and health consumerism in their practice. Factors unrelated to health or disability, including the security of institutionalized entitlements and connections with health professionals, appear influential to the framework(s) NGOs deploy. In terms of their importance to NGO missions, questions of social justice, distribution of health resources, and social inclusion eclipse identity claims based in either model. Moreover, notwithstanding the differences among them, NGOs remain subsidiary in a system increasingly affected by health disparities cutting across the categories of people they represent. For NGOs to play a role redressing this would require transformation of their organizational status and missions.
Dowel timber connections with two shear planes loaded parallel-tothe-grain : reliability of the new European design code by means experimental tests

The paper presents the main results of an experimental research on timber-to-timber dowel connections with 2 shear planes loaded parallel-to-the-grain. The study has considered specimens with single dowel connection (of 2 different diameters, 12 and 20 mm) and with different thickness of side timber elements. The experimental programme consists of preliminary tension and bending tests on the dowels, on embedding tests performed on complete joints with thin side timber elements (5 repetitions for each configuration, 2 different distances from the dowel to the loaded end of side element), and tests on connections designed for failure modes II and III. The aims of the experimental study are the verification of the reliability of the Johansen equations (European Yield Model), the evaluation of the effects of changes introduced by the new European design code for timber structures, the evaluation of the effect of thickness of side elements on both strength and stiffness.
WAVESHAPES OF CONTINUING CURRENTS FROM NEGATIVE AND POSITIVE CLOUD-TO- GROUND FLASHES OBSERVED IN SOUTHERN ARIZONA

The CC is a continuous mode of charge transfer to the ground. Regarding its duration, three categories of CC were defined in previous studies. Kitagawa et al. (1962) and Brook et al. (1962) defined “long” CC as indicated by a steady electric field change with a duration in excess of 40 ms. Shindo and Uman (1989) defined “short” CC as indicated by a similar field change with a duration between 10 ms and 40 ms, and “questionable” lasting 1 to 10 ms. Ballarotti et al. (2005), based on data from a high-speed video system and avoiding contamination from what could just be return stroke pulse tails, introduced the term “veryshort” defining continuing currents with a duration less than or equal to 10 ms but greater than 3 ms. Recently, Saba et al. (2006b) found that negative strokes with peak current higher than 20 kA are never followed by CC durations greater than 40 ms, while negative strokes with peak currents lower than 20 kA are followed by CC of any duration. CC are responsible for most serious lightning damage associated with thermal effects, such as burned-through ground wires and optical fiber ground wires (OPGW) of overhead power lines, blowing fuses used to protect distribution transformers, holes in the metal skins of aircraft, etc (Chisholm et al., 2001; Fisher and Plummer, 1977; Rakov and Uman, 1990). The value of the CC is usually estimated to be 100 A, with a range from 30 to 200 A and the charge transfer is typically between 10 and 20 C (Shindo and Uman, 1989). These parameters (commonly reported and used in lightning protection applications) are calculated assuming a constant current value for the CC (IEC, 2006).
2-2018 Systematic Review of Gamification Research in IS Education : A Multi-method Approach

Gamification refers to the use of game mechanics and game dynamics in non-gaming environments and contexts. Gamification is increasingly gaining attention among system designers across various industries especially in education due to the benefits associated with its implementation. The adoption of gamification in information systems (IS) education is promising for engaging and motivating students to complete their degree programs. Call for research in this area is particularly on the increase in the IS field. Accordingly, we need to organize the aggregation of research in this area and use common terminologies to promote progressive research practice in the field. In this paper, we use a multi-method approach to systematically review existing research on gamification in IS education to identify common terminologies, identify trends in topics studied, highlight understudied areas, and, thus, present opportunities for future research. The multi-method approach combines classical systematic review method and social network analysis to provide additional insight into the knowledge structure of researchers involved in the gamification of IS education. This review also highlights possible interventions that can improve student retention in IS education through the design of effective gamified courses.
High Copy Numbers and olymorphisms of the rDNA Operon stimated from Single Cell Analysis f Oligotrich and Peritrich Ciliates

Laboratory of Environmental Microbiology, Yantai Institute of Coastal Zone Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Yantai 264003, China College of Life Sciences, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510631, China Institute of Marine Diversity and Evolution, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266003, China Department of Marine Biology and Oceanography, Institut de Ciències del Mar, CSIC, Passeig Marítim de la Barceloneta 37-49, 08003 Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain