Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Style, Character, and the Theme of Struggle and Change: Chinua Achebe’s Anthills of the Savannah

Following insights from stylistic studies on European and American literature, as well as a few earlier attempts on African literature, there has been a recent growing interest in the stylistic analysis of the African novel. The present study is meant to contribute to this growing literature by exploring Achebe’s Anthills of the Savannah, primarily from a systemic functional linguistics perspective. Critics of the novel have emphasized that it represents Achebe’s most articulate ideology on the sociopolitical situation of postcolonial Africa, in general, and Nigeria, in particular. The present study sheds new meaning on the thematic concern of the novel by exploring the interaction between narrative situation, transitivity patterning, and symbolism, on the one hand, and the characterization of Chris (one of the protagonists) and the themes of struggle and change, on the other hand. The study demonstrates that the systematic variation in narrative situations and transitivity patterns in which Chris is cast across key passages in the plot of the narrative show a transformation in his character, from powerlessness and ineffectiveness through perplexity and fear to self-reformation and bravery. This narrative and linguistic configuration of Chris’s characterization, together with the symbolic intervention he makes in saving a girl from abuse towards the end of the novel, realizes the theme of struggle and change. Through Chris, Achebe urges the enlightened but apathetic citizen to rise up and transform his society through struggle. The study has implications for studies on Anthills of the Savannah, stylistic analysis, and further research. It particularly shows that linguistic analysis and the tools of literary criticism can complement each other in the interpretation of literature.
Jasmonic Acid-Induced VQ-Motif-Containing Protein OsVQ13 Influences the OsWRKY45 Signaling Pathway and Grain Size by Associating with OsMPK6 in Rice

Jasmonic acid (JA) is a plant hormone that plays an important role in the defense response and stable growth of rice. In this study, we investigated the role of the JA-responsive valine-glutamine (VQ)-motif-containing protein OsVQ13 in JA signaling in rice. OsVQ13 was primarily located in the nucleus and cytoplasm. The transgenic rice plants overexpressing OsVQ13 exhibited a JA-hypersensitive phenotype and increased JA-induced resistance to Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae (Xoo), which is the bacteria that causes rice bacterial blight, one of the most serious diseases in rice. Furthermore, we identified a mitogen-activated protein kinase, OsMPK6, as an OsVQ13-associating protein. The expression of genes regulated by OsWRKY45, an important WRKY-type transcription factor for Xoo resistance that is known to be regulated by OsMPK6, was upregulated in OsVQ13-overexpressing rice plants. The grain size of OsVQ13-overexpressing rice plants was also larger than that of the wild type. These results indicated that OsVQ13 positively regulated JA signaling by activating the OsMPK6–OsWRKY45 signaling pathway in rice.
Social-Driven Information Dissemination for Mobile Wireless Sensor Networks

As we move into the so-called Internet of Things (IoT), the boundary between sensor networks and social networks is likely to disappear. Moreover, previous works argue that mobility in sensor networks may become a consequence of human movement making the understanding of human mobility crucial to the design of sensor networks. When people carry sensors, they become able to use concepts from social networks in the design of sensor network infrastructures. However, to this date, the utilization of social networks in designing protocols for wireless sensor networks has not received much attention. In this paper, we focus on the concept of information dissemination in a framework where sensors are carried by people who, like most of us, are part of a social network. We propose two social-based forwarding approaches for what has been called Social Network of Sensors (SNoS). To this end, we exploit two important characteristics of ties in social networks, namely strong ties and weak ties. The former is used to achieve rapid dissemination to nearby sensors while the latter aims at dissemination to faraway sensors. We compared our results against two well-known approaches in the literature: Epidemic and PRoPHET protocols. We evaluate our approaches according to four criteria: information- dissemination distance, information-dissemination coverage area, the number of messages exchanged, and information delivery time. We believe this is the first work that investigates the issues of information- dissemination distance and information-dissemination coverage area using an approach inspired on social network concepts. Copyright © 2015 IFSA Publishing, S. L.
Sensitivity of Input Parameters in the Spectral Wave Model

Many researches have been done to done the physical parameters for the wave generation and transformation over a coastal region. However, most of these have been limited to the application of particular conditions, as they are generally too empirical. To yield more reasonable wave estimation using a spectral wave model, it is important how understand how they work for the wave estimation. This study involved a comprehensive sensitivity test against the spectral resolution and the physical source/sink terms of the spectral wave model using SWAN and TOMAWAC, which have the same physical background with several different empirical/theoretical formulations. The tests were conducted for the East Anglian coast, UK, which is characterized by a complex bathymetry due to several shoals and offshore sandbanks. For the quantitative and qualitative evaluation of models' performance with differnet input conditions, the wave elements and spectrums predicted at representative sites the East Anglia coast were compared/analyzed. The spectral resolution had no significant effect on the model results, but the lowest resolution on the frequency and direction induced underestimations of the wave height and period. The bottom friction and depth-induced breaking terms produced relatively high variations in the wave prediction, depending on which formulation was applied. The terms for the quadruplet and whitecapping had little effect on the wave estimation, whereas the triads tended to predict shorter and higher waves by energy transferring to higher frequencies.
Hydrogen sulfide alleviates chromium stress on cauliflower by restricting its uptake and enhancing antioxidative system.

The present study evaluated the physiological and biochemical mechanisms by which exogenous sodium hydrosulfide (H2 S donor) mitigates chromium (Cr) stress in cauliflower. Different levels of the Cr were (0, 10, 100, 200 μM). Results reported that Cr exposure reduced the growth and the biomass, chlorophylls content, the gas exchange parameters, and enzymatic antioxidants. Chromium stress enhanced the production of electrolyte leakage (EL), the hydrogen peroxide (H2 O2 ) and the malondialdehyde (MDA) contents and increased Cr contents in roots, stem, leaf, and flowers. Exogenous H2 S improved physiological and biochemical attributes of Cr-stressed cauliflower. Hydrogen sulfide decreased Cr contents in different parts of Cr-stressed plants whereas increased the chlorophyll contents and gas exchange attributes. H2 S reduced the EL, H2 O2 , and MDA concentrations and enhancing the antioxidant enzymes activities in Cr-stressed roots and leaves than the Cr treatments alone. Collectively, our results provide an insight into protective role of H2 S in Cr-stressed cauliflower and suggesting H2 S as a potential candidate in reducing Cr toxicity in cauliflower and other crops. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
In vitro efficacy of Quercus infectoria Oliv. and Achillea millefolium L. extracts against Blastocystis spp. isolates.

Blastocystis is a common intestinal parasite that can inhabit the intestinal tract of humans and many animals. Despite it was firstly described almost 100 years ago; many subjects are still under debate about Blastocystis, including its life-cycle, pathogenic potential and treatment of infected individuals. Historically, local plant species have been used for therapeutic purposes by the local people of Anatolia. Here, hexane and methanol extracts of two local plants, Quercus infectoria (Fagaceae) and Achillea millefolium, which have been used against diarrhea in Anatolia, were examined for their in vitro efficacies against Blastocystis. LC50 and EC50 values of the plant extracts were determined by Brine Shrimp and Graphpad Prism 5® methods, respectively. The results showed that LC50 (500 μg/ml) and EC50 (198.8 μg/ml) concentrations of the methanol extract of A. millefolium were lowest compared to other extracts, its anti-Blastocystis activity was found to be comparable to metronidazole and it showed no cytotoxic activity. These initial results suggest that the methanol extract of A. millefolium may be a novel option for the treatment of Blastocystis infections in humans in future, if confirmed by further, larger-scale studies.
The Self-Care in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Inventory: Development and Psychometric Evaluation

This study developed two instruments, the Self-Care in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) Inventory (SC-COPDI) and the COPD-Self-Care Self-Efficacy Scale (SCES), and tested their psychometric properties on a convenience sample of 498 patients from Northern, Central, and Southern Italy. First, the domains and the items of the SC-SCOPDI were generated based on the middle-range theory of self-care of chronic illness, comprising the dimensions of self-care maintenance, self-care monitoring, and self-care management, and the SCES-COPD was developed accordingly. Second, we assessed the content validity of each scale. Third, we conducted a multicenter cross-sectional study to test their structural validity, convergent and discriminative validity, internal consistency, and test–retest reliability. The theoretical dimensions of the two instruments were confirmed through confirmatory factor analysis. Convergent validity was demonstrated by the correlation among the three self-care scales and the Self-Efficacy Scale, and discriminative validity by higher self-care scale scores in individuals with greater COPD severity and poorer health status. The global reliability index ranged from . 78 to . 92 for all scales. The intraclass correlation coefficients were higher than . 70. Further studies are needed to confirm the psychometric properties of the two instruments in different COPD populations and countries to extend their use in clinical practice.
Lobaria pulmonaria abundance as an indicator of macrolichen diversity in Interior Cedar-Hemlock forests of east-central British Columbia

Orographic precipitation over interior mountains has resulted in the formation of the inland temperate rainforest, where certain stands are potentially antique and support a rich flora of epiphytic macrolichens. We documented macrolichen diversity across three age-classes in forests of the Interior CedarHemlock biogeoclimatic zone (i.e., ICHwk3 subzone) east of Prince George, British Columbia. Our objectives were to report changes in lichen communities with stand age, identify potential indicators of antiquity, and investigate the functional role of dominant species in the ecosystem. We identified 41 taxa, including 4 alectorioid lichens, 21 foliose chlorolichens, and 16 old-growth-associated chlorolichens and cyanolichens. Older forests supported more species than young or mature forests. The abundance of Lobaria pulmonaria (L.) Hoffm. was strongly correlated with this increase in diversity and may therefore be an appropriate indicator of stand age in the ICH. The increase in L. pulmonaria and other N2-.
Prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in patients of pregnancy induced hypertension

Background: The objectives of this study were to compare the serum Vitamin D levels in pregnant patients of pregnancy induced hypertension (PIH) and healthy normotensive patients and to study the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in patients of PIH.Methods: This study was conducted in Shri Guru Ram Das Institute of Medical Sciences and Research, Vallah, Amritsar in year 2015-2017. In total 100 cases were taken for the study and divided into two groups.Results: Serum Vitamin D levels were quite low in women with pregnancy induced hypertension with a mean vitamin D levels of 13.006±6.24 ng/ml as compared to 23.239±10.601 ng/ml in healthy pregnant women. The prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in PIH group was very high i.e. 94% compared to 46% in normotensive group (Mean Vitamin D levels <20 ng/ml). Conclusions: Vitamin D levels are deficient in patients of PIH and there is increased prevalence of vitamin D deficiency with PIH suggesting that vitamin D deficiency can be a risk factor for the development of PIH.
Inhibition of NF-kappa B activation in macrophages increases atherosclerosis in LDL receptor-deficient mice

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Unsteady Phenomena during Transient Process in Radial Vanelss Diffuser

In centrifugal compressors, diffusers are some of the main components for the pressure recovery function, and they play an important role in the performance of compressors. Generally, as flow rate reduces, compressors have a limited operation range due to rotating stall. This paper describes the unsteady process during the generation of rotating stall in a radial vaneless diffuser. The wall static pressure was measured using pressure transducer attached on the diffuser wall. The acquired data was analyzed using various DSP methods.
An entrepreneur’s external social capital, innovation capability, and fundamental resources in their startup community An analysis of Finnish startups in the knowledge-intensive sector

Providing various social and economic benefits at national and global levels, entrepreneurship becomes a prominent topic in various aspects of academic research. According to resource-based view and knowledge-based view, it regards relational knowledge immersed into interactions among a startup community’s members as a good solution for young ventures to overcome difficulties of resource limitation. Based on literature review, the author explores how knowledge is transmitted across member actors in a defined collective. The central part of the model reflects relationships of a startup’s external social capital, innovative capability and entrepreneurial resources. These relationships are confirmed by hypotheses testing by an empirical research with 68 Finnish startup participants. According to the results, social networks can improve a firm’s innovative capability and have directly positive influences on all three types of organisational resources (namely finance, human and production). However, a firm’s capability to innovation supports only their human and financial resources but is surprisingly not related to their production resource. Lastly, the innovative capability can mediate partly only the relationships between external social capital and financial resources. According to the research’s findings, it concludes that the problem with young ventures is not because they are small, but because they are isolated. Therefore, new ventures’ founders are advised to have proper strategies in their relationship and resource management to broadens their relational knowledge and interactive channels through their selective participation and collaboration in the community.
Which Products Are Best Suited to Mobile Advertising? A Field Study of Mobile Display Advertising Effects on Consumer Attitudes and Intentions

Mobile advertising is one of the fastest-growing advertising formats. In 2013, global spending on mobile advertising was approximately $16.7 billion, and it is expected to exceed $62.8 billion by 2017. The most prevalent type of mobile advertising is mobile display advertising (MDA), which takes the form of banners on mobile web pages and in mobile applications. This article examines which product characteristics are likely to be associated with MDA campaigns that are effective in increasing consumers’ (1) favorable attitudes toward products and (2) purchase intentions. Data from a large-scale test-control field experiment covering 54 U.S. MDA campaigns that ran between 2007 and 2010 and involved 39,946 consumers show that MDA campaigns significantly increased consumers’ favorable attitudes and purchase intentions only when the campaigns advertised products that were higher (vs. lower) involvement and utilitarian (vs. hedonic). The authors explain this finding using established theories of information processing and persuasion and suggest that when MDAs work effectively, they do so by triggering consumers to recall and process previously stored product information.
MicroRNA Profile of HCV Spontaneous Clarified Individuals, Denotes Previous HCV Infection

Factors involved in the spontaneous cleareance of a hepatitis C (HCV) infection are related to both HCV and the interaction with the host immune system, but little is known about the consequences after a spontaneous resolution. The main HCV extrahepatic reservoir is the peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), and their transcriptional profile provides us information of innate and adaptive immune responses against an HCV infection. MicroRNAs regulate the innate and adaptive immune responses, and they are actively involved in the HCV cycle. High Throughput sequencing was used to analyze the miRNA profiles from PBMCs of HCV chronic naïve patients (CHC), individuals that spontaneously clarified HCV (SC), and healthy controls (HC). We did not find any differentially expressed miRNAs between SC and CHC. However, both groups showed similar expression differences (21 miRNAs) with respect to HC. This miRNA signature correctly classifies HCV-exposed (CHC and SC) vs. HC, with the has-miR-21-3p showing the best performance. The potentially targeted molecular pathways by these 21 miRNAs mainly belong to fatty acids pathways, although hippo signaling, extracellular matrix (ECM) interaction, proteoglycans-related, and steroid biosynthesis pathways were also altered. These miRNAs target host genes involved in an HCV infection. Thus, an HCV infection promotes molecular alterations in PBMCs that can be detected after an HCV spontaneous resolution, and the 21-miRNA signature is able to identify HCV-exposed patients (either CHC or SC).
Advances in understanding clouds from ISCCP

Abstract This progress report on the International Satellite Cloud Climatology Project (ISCCP) describes changes made to produce new cloud data products (D data), examines the evidence that these changes are improvements over the previous version (C data), summarizes some results, and discusses plans for the ISCCP through 2005. By late 1999 all datasets will be available for the period from July 1983 through December 1997. The most significant changes in the new D-series cloud datasets are 1) revised radiance calibrations to remove spurious changes in the long-term record, 2) increased cirrus detection sensitivity over land, 3) increased low-level cloud detection sensitivity in polar regions, 4) reduced biases in cirrus cloud properties using an ice crystal microphysics model in place of a liquid droplet microphysics model, and 5) increased detail about the variations of cloud properties. The ISCCP calibrations are now the most complete and self-consistent set of calibrations available for all the weather.
esponses of ammonia-oxidizing bacteria and archaea to nitrogen ertilization and precipitation increment in a typical temperate steppe n Inner Mongolia

As the first and rate-limiting step of nitrification, ammonia oxidation can be realized either by ammoniaoxidizing bacteria (AOB) or archaea (AOA). However, the key factors driving the abundance, community structure and activity of ammonia oxidizers are still unclear, and the relative importance of AOA and AOB in ammonia oxidation is unresolved. In the present study, we examined the effects of long-term (6 years) nitrogen (N) addition and simulated precipitation increment on the abundance and community composition of AOA and AOB based on a field trial in a typical temperate steppe of northern China. We used combined approaches of quantitative PCR, terminal-restriction fragment length polymorphism (T-RFLP) and clone library analyses of amoA genes. The study objective was to determine (1) AOA and AOB diversity and activity in response to N addition and increased precipitation and (2) the relative contributions of AOA and AOB to soil ammonia oxidation in the typical temperate steppe. The results showed that the potential nitrification rate (PNR) increased with N addition, but decreased with increased precipitation. Both N addition and increased precipitation significantly increased AOB but not AOA abundance, and a significant correlation was only observed between PNR and AOB amoA gene copies. The T-RFLP analysis showed that both N and precipitation were key factors in shaping the composition of AOB, while AOA were only marginally influenced. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that all AOA clones fell within the soil and sediment lineage while all AOB clones fell within the Nitrosospira. The study suggested that AOA and AOB had distinct physiological characteristics and ecological niches. AOB were shown to be more sensitive to N and precipitation than AOA, and the ammonia oxidation process was therefore supposed B in to be mainly driven by AO
Surgical and Non‐Surgical Treatment for 3‐Part and 4‐Part Fractures of the Proximal Humerus: A Systematic Review of Overlapping Meta‐Analyses

This systematic review of overlapping meta‐analyses was conducted to propose a principle to make decisions for comparing clinical safety and efficacy of surgical and non‐surgical treatment for displaced 3‐part and 4‐part fractures of the proximal humerus. Three electronic databases (PubMed, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Library) were systematically searched to retrieve available published systematic reviews and meta‐analyses comparing surgical versus non‐surgical treatment for displaced 3‐part and 4‐part fractures of the proximal humerus. Ten meta‐analyses were identified for this investigation. Based on the application of selection with the Jadad algorithm, a meta‐analysis including 6 randomized clinical trials was selected for this systematic review, which demonstrated the best available evidence that no statistically significant differences were found in the Constant score, health‐related quality of life, and mortality between surgical and non‐surgical treatments for displaced 3‐part and 4‐part fractures of the proximal humerus; however, surgical treatment was associated with a significant increase in the incidence of reoperation. This systematic review of overlapping meta‐analyses reveals that although surgical treatment is more advantageous than and superior to non‐surgical treatment for displaced 3‐part and 4‐part fractures of the proximal humerus, the former leads to a higher incidence of postoperative complications.