Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Phylogenetic Analysis of Iris yellow spot virus Isolates from Onion (Allium cepa) in Georgia (USA) and Peru

Iris yellow spot virus (IYSV) was first observed in sweet onions in Georgia (USA) in 2003 in the Vidalia region. The virus had been reported in the oniongrowing regions in western USA several years before being detected in Georgia in the east. Although symptoms were observed on onions in Peru several years earlier, the presence of IYSV was not confirmed in Peru until after the virus was detected in Georgia. We characterized nine isolates of IYSV recovered from sweet onions in both Georgia (four isolates) and Peru (five isolates) by sequencing the nucleocapsid (N) gene and compared those sequences with sequences available in GenBank. Sequence divergence between IYSV isolates from Georgia and Peru was low with 1.1%, and comparisons with IYSV isolates from other regions showed divergence of up to 11.4%. Bootstrap analysis indicated with a high degree of confidence that the Georgia and Peruvian isolates fell into the same clade and were different from known isolates from western USA that fell into sister clades. The high degree of similarity between Georgia and Peruvian isolates suggests that gene flow occurred from Peru into Georgia.
Real-World Outcomes and Critical Thinking: Differential Analysis by Academic Major and Gender

The Real-World Outcomes is an inventory that measures everyday problematic behaviors that represent decisions where critical thinking is presumably absent; assessing the negative outcomes of poor daily decisions helps to infer the degree of critical thinking that mediates everyday reasoning. In the present paper, we describe the process of translation and cultural adaptation of this inventory to Portuguese. We present evidence of its administration to 259 college students concerning reliability, and differences based on academic major and gender. No statistically significant differences were found, either due to academic major or gender. Results suggest the value of this instrument to assessing daily decision making and life outcomes, and also, to estimate the quality of critical thinking in everyday life.
How International Reputation Matters: Revisiting Alliance Violations in Context

ABSTRACT We investigate the role of international reputation in alliance politics by developing a signaling theory linking past alliance violations with the formation of future alliance commitments. In our theory, past violations Are useful signals of future alliance reliability conditional on whether they effectively separate reliable from unreliable alliance partners. It follows that states evaluating potential alliance partners will interpret past violations in their context when deciding to enter a new alliance, attaching less weight to violations in “harder times,” when many states are defaulting on their alliance commitments together, and more weight to violations in “easier times,” when fewer states are defaulting on their alliances. We test our theory and find that states are empirically more likely to form new alliances with states that violated in harder times compared to states that violated in easier times. The results have important implications for how scholars understand and estimate the impact of international reputation.
Driving Forces in Disclosure: Self-Disclosure Goals and Intimacy at the Podium

This study examined six underlying motivations (expression, self-clarification, social validation, relationship development, social control, and information sharing) for self-disclosure in a public speaking setting and a dyadic relationship setting. Five of these goals come from Derlega and Grzelak’s (1979) functional approach to self-disclosure and one is an additional goal examined by Bazarova and Choi (2014). This study found that the relative salience of self-disclosure goals in the public speaking classroom was identity clarification, information sharing, self-expression/relief of distress, social validation, relationship development, and social control. Findings indicate that the relative salience of goals in the dyadic relationship setting was self-expression/relief of distress, identity clarification, information sharing, social validation, relationship development, and social control. The relative salience of most of these self-disclosure goals varied across settings (identity clarification, relationship development, social validation, social control, and self-expression/relief of distress). One goal, information sharing, did not differ between the settings. Two key findings show that participants reported a higher salience of relationship development and social validation goals for the dyadic relationship setting compared to the public speaking setting. Self-disclosure in dyadic relationships occurred at higher levels of intimacy than self-disclosure at the podium. Analyses in both settings showed no significant correlations between the salience of relationship development goals and the levels of intimacy.
Effect of Curcumin on Hematological, Biochemical and Antioxidants Parameters in Schistosoma Mansoni Infected Mice

The present study aims to investigate the effect of curcumin on treatment of schistosoma mansoni infected mice. Sixty mice were used in this experiment were divided equally into four groups ,the first kept as control, the second supplemented with curcumin , the third infected with schistosoma mansoni and the fourth infected and treated with curcumin. Our results emphasized on the presence of anemia, leucopenia , neutropenia and eosinophilia in infected groups either treated or non-treated with an improvement in the treated group. The biochemical parameters; ALT, AST, ALP, total protein, albumin, AFP, TNF- I± and lipid profile (TC, TG, HDL-C &LDL-C) improved significantly in infected treated mice compared with infected one. By the same way, results showed an improvement of some anti-oxidant parameters (MAD, GSH, CAT and SOD) in Schistosoma mansoni infected treated mice.
Functional Outcomes after Triceps Splitting versus Triceps Sparing Approach for Extra-Articular Distal Humerus Fractures

Aim: To compare the functional outcome as well as elbow range of motion (ROM) after triceps splitting and triceps sparing approach for AO/OTA TYPE A distal humerus fractures. Materials and Methods: This is a prospective study done at our center between 2011 and 2014. A total of 50 patients presented with extra articular distal humerus fracture (AO/OTA 13 A2, 13A3). Exclusion criteria removed 16 patients from the study while 2 patients died due to medical comorbidities before the final follow up. Out of the remaining 32 patients, they were divided into two groups: triceps splitting (15 patients) and triceps sparing (17 patients). Elbow ROM, along with Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand questionnaire scores, was compared between the two groups. Results: Triceps sparing group had greater elbow flexion (140.0 ± 4.0) compared to triceps splitting group (126.0 ± 10.0) with p Conclusion: As compared to triceps splitting approach, triceps sparing approach results in better elbow ROM with less extension contracture, however both approaches result in similar functional outcome.
Do We Speak Sensor? Cultural Constraints of Embodied Interaction

This paper explores the role of materiality in Digital Musical Instruments and questions the influence of tacit understandings of sensor technology. Existing research investigates the use of gesture, physical interaction and subsequent parameter mapping. We suggest that a tacit knowledge of the ‘sensor layer’ brings with it definitions, understandings and expectations that forge and guide our approach to interaction. We argue that the influence of technology starts before a sound is made, and comes from not only intuition of material properties, but also received notions of what technology can and should do. On encountering an instrument with obvious sensors, a potential performer will attempt to predict what the sensors do and what the designer intends for them to do, becoming influenced by a machine centered understanding of interaction and not a solely material centred one. The paper presents an observational study of interaction using non-functional prototype instruments designed to explore fundamental ideas and understandings of instrumental interaction in the digital realm. We will show that this understanding influences both gestural language and ability to characterise an expected sonic/musical response.
Effects of Continuous Intravenous Infusion of Dexmedetomidine on the Duration of Spinal Anesthesia: A Prospective, Double-Blind, Randomized, Controlled Trial

Background: Spinal anesthesia with sedation is a common anesthetic technique in infraumbilical surgeries. Dexmedetomidine has been widely used as a sedative during spinal anesthesia, and is recognized as an adjuvant that prolongs the duration of spinal anesthesia. We compared the effects of a continuous intravenous infusion of dexmedetomidine to provide intraoperative sedation on the duration of sensory and motor blockade induced by spinal anesthesia, with those of midazolam. Methods: A double-blind randomized controlled trial was performed on 40 patients, aged between 20 and 75 years, who requested intraoperative sedation, and were classified as American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) physical status I-II, and underwent elective surgeries under spinal anesthesia. After spinal anesthesia with 13 mg (2.6 ml) of 0.5% hyperbaric bupivacaine, patients were randomized to receive intravenous dexmedetomidine 3 μg/kg/h for 10 mins followed by an infusion of 0.5 μg/kg/h (Group D), or intravenous midazolam 0.15 mg/kg/h for 10 mins followed by an infusion of 0.025 mg/kg/h (Group M). Sedation was titrated to Observer’s Assessment of Alertness/Sedation (OAA/S) score of 3. Sensory and motor blockade was evaluated using the pinprick test and modified Bromage scale, respectively. Results: The time taken to achieve OAA/S score 3 was similar in the two groups. The maximal level of sensory blockade was 5.3 ± 1.3 min in group D and 4.1 ± 1.5 in group M (P = 0.03). No significant differences were observed in the time taken to achieve the maximal level or the two-segment regression time of sensory blockade between the two groups. The time to sensory regression to the L2 level was significantly longer in group D than in group M (234.6 ± 78.1 mins versus 172.4 ± 41.5 mins, respectively, P = 0.008). The time to motor regression to modified Bromage score 1 was significantly longer in group D than in group M (232.2 ± 79.3 versus 176.5 ± 48.8, respectively, P = 0.02). Conclusion: Continuous intravenous dexmedetomidine to provide sedation during spinal anesthesia significantly prolongs the duration of sensory and motor blockade induced by spinal anesthesia over that with midazolam.
Studies in Graduate and Postdoctoral Education Supporting scientists from underrepresented minority backgrounds : Mapping developmental networks

Purpose – The purpose of this study is to explore the developmental networks of graduate students of color participating in PROMISE, Maryland’s Alliance for Graduate Education and the Professoriate program, a National Science Foundation (NSF)-funded graduate retention and support program. The authors specifically examine how underrepresented minority students gain access to needed supports through building individual mentoring relationships and broader networks of support. Design/methodology/approach – The authors rely on a case study approach to explore developmental networks and support accessed by students participating in the PROMISE program. A total of 16 students of color in STEM fields from three institutions in the University of Maryland System have participated. Findings – Study findings reveal that scientists from underrepresented backgrounds construct and draw from diverse developmental networks that include individuals from within and outside of the academic community. Key relationships include advisors; faculty with whom they share identities, peers in and outside of their programs; and administrators. Developers play distinct roles within the networks including shaping students’ emerging professional identities as scientists and providing psychosocial support. Student agency and initiative as well as faculty engagement and programs like PROMISE further enhanced student access to mentorship. The authors would like to thank PROMISE, Maryland’s AGEP Program and the National Science Foundation for generous funding that supported this research. They would also like to recognize the work and support of Dr Renetta Tull, Dr Andrew Lounder and Erica Aparakakankanage throughout this process. Underrepresented
Global and local aspects of entrainment in temporal plumes

To date, the understanding of the role buoyancy plays in the entrainment process in unstable configurations such as turbulent plumes remains incomplete. Towards addressing this question, we set up a flow in which a plume evolves in time instead of space. We demonstrate that the temporal problem is equivalent to a spatial plume in a strong coflow and address in detail how the temporal plume can be realized via direct numerical simulation. Using numerical data of plume simulations up to $Re_{\unicode[STIX]{x1D706}}\approx 100$ , we show that the entrainment coefficient can be determined consistently using a global entrainment analysis in an integral framework as well as via a local approach. The latter is based on a study of the local propagation of the turbulent/non-turbulent interface relative to the fluid. Locally, this process is dominated by small-scale diffusion which is amplified by interface convolutions such that the total entrained flux is independent of viscosity. Further, we identify a direct buoyancy contribution to entrainment by baroclinic torque, which accounts for 8 %–12 % of the entrained flux locally, comparable to the 15 % buoyancy contribution at the integral level. It appears that the baroclinic torque is a mechanism that might explain higher values of the entrainment coefficient in spatial plumes compared with jets.
Thermal and nonthermal melting of silicon under femtosecond x-ray irradiation

As it is known from visible light experiments, silicon under femtosecond pulse irradiation can undergo the so-called ’nonthermal melting’ if the density of electrons excited from the valence to the conduction band overcomes a certain critical value. Such ultrafast transition is induced by strong changes in the atomic potential energy surface, which trigger atomic relocation. However, heating of a material due to the electron-phonon coupling can also lead to a phase transition, called ’thermal melting’. This thermal melting can occur even if the excited-electron density is much too low to induce non-thermal effects. To study phase transitions, and in particular, the interplay of the thermal and nonthermal effects in silicon under a femtosecond x-ray irradiation, we propose their unified treatment by going beyond the Born-Oppenheimer approximation within our hybrid model based on tight binding molecular dynamics. With our extended model we identify damage thresholds for various phase transitions in irradiated silicon. We show that electron-phonon coupling triggers the phase transition of solid silicon into a low-density liquid phase if the energy deposited into the sample is above 0:65 eV per atom. For the deposited doses of over 0:9 eV per atom, solid silicon undergoes a phase transition into high-density liquid phase triggered by an interplay between electron-phonon heating and nonthermal effects. These thresholds are much lower than those predicted with the Born-Oppenheimer approximation ( 2:1 eV/atom), and indicate a significant contribution of electron-phonon coupling to the relaxation of the laser-excited silicon. We expect that these results will stimulate dedicated experimental studies, unveiling in detail various paths of structural relaxation within laser-irradiated silicon.
Feedback-Guided Anomaly Discovery via Online Optimization

Anomaly detectors are often used to produce a ranked list of statistical anomalies, which are examined by human analysts in order to extract the actual anomalies of interest. This can be exceedingly difficult and time consuming when most high-ranking anomalies are false positives and not interesting from an application perspective. In this paper, we study how to reduce the analyst's effort by incorporating their feedback about whether the anomalies they investigate are of interest or not. In particular, the feedback will be used to adjust the anomaly ranking after every analyst interaction, ideally moving anomalies of interest closer to the top. Our main contribution is to formulate this problem within the framework of online convex optimization, which yields an efficient and extremely simple approach to incorporating feedback compared to the prior state-of-the-art. We instantiate this approach for the powerful class of tree-based anomaly detectors and conduct experiments on a range of benchmark datasets. The results demonstrate the utility of incorporating feedback and advantages of our approach over the state-of-the-art. In addition, we present results on a significant cybersecurity application where the goal is to detect red-team attacks in real system audit data. We show that our approach for incorporating feedback is able to significantly reduce the time required to identify malicious system entities across multiple attacks on multiple operating systems.
Log‐density Deconvolution by Wavelet Thresholding

Abstract. This paper proposes a new wavelet‐based method for deconvolving a density. The estimator combines the ideas of non‐linear wavelet thresholding with periodized Meyer wavelets and estimation by information projection. It is guaranteed to be in the class of density functions, in particular it is positive everywhere by construction. The asymptotic optimality of the estimator is established in terms of the rate of convergence of the Kullback–Leibler discrepancy over Besov classes. Finite sample properties are investigated in detail, and show the excellent empirical performance of the estimator, compared with other recently introduced estimators.
Production of Artificial Sausage Casings from Whey Proteins

This research and product development work is a contribution to both the Dairy and Meat Industry. The work involved the production of artificial sausage casings from whey proteins. The main objective was to utilize whey, a by-product from cheese production and produce an edible film which can be utilized as an alternative sausage casing material. The work was based on the whey proteins film forming capabilities. The formation of whey protein-based films mainly involved heat denaturation in aqueous solution at 75 -100°C, which produced intermolecular disulfide bonds, which were responsible for film structure. A plasticizer was added to impart flexibility and extensibility of the edible polymeric film. Addition of a cross-linking agent was for the formation of chemical links between molecular chains to form a three-dimensional network of connected molecules. Harvesting of the edible films was done via the casting method.
Cytokine production by dendritic cells genetically engineered to express IL‐4: induction of Th2 responses and differential regulation of IL‐12 and IL‐23 synthesis

Dendritic cells (DCs) retrovirally transduced with IL‐4 have recently been shown to inhibit murine collagen‐induced arthritis and associated Th1 immune responses in vivo, but the mechanisms that underly these effects are not yet understood. In this report we demonstrate that IL‐4‐transduced DCs loaded with antigen led to lower T cell production of IFN‐γ, increased production of IL‐4, and an attenuated, delayed type hypersensitivity response. We hypothesized that the ability of such DCs to regulate the Th1 immune response in vivo depends in part on their capacity to produce IL‐12 and IL‐23. Quantitative mRNA analysis revealed that IL‐4‐transduced DCs stimulated with CD40 ligand expressed higher levels of IL‐12p35 mRNA, but lower levels of mRNA for IL‐23p19 and the common subunit p40 found in both IL‐12 and IL‐23, compared with control DCs. These results, which indicate that expression of the IL‐12 and IL‐23 subunits is differentially regulated in IL‐4‐transduced DCs, were confirmed by ELISA of the IL‐12 and IL‐23 heterodimers. Thus, therapeutic suppression of Th1 ‐mediated autoimmunity (as recently shown in murine collagen‐induced arthritis) and induction of Th2 responses in vivo by IL‐4‐transduced DCs occurs despite their potential to produce increased levels of IL‐12, but could reflect, in part, decreased production of IL‐23. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Ignition of New Product Diffusion in Entrepreneurship: An Agent-Based Approach

Abstract New product diffusion is critical to entrepreneurship. Without successful diffusion, the emergence of a new business is incomplete. Although we have several well-established models of the diffusion phenomenon, these models mainly describe the macro-level diffusion patterns after their ignition, thereby ignoring the ignition mechanism. This study conceptualizes an entrepreneur’s introduction of a new product and its diffusion as a generative emergence from a complexity science perspective and employs agent-based modeling and simulation (ABMS) to explain the full ignition-diffusion process as well as ignition failures. In this study’s model, the ignition process is made of individual consumers’ heterogeneous thresholds and their relative levels of activities. These micro-level characteristics and behaviors influence the speed and scope of the diffusion at the macro-level. Our simulations reveal the minimum number of initial adopters required to ignite the diffusion process and show how an entrepreneur’s advertising campaign may accelerate the ignition and diffusion speed. The simulations also reveal how consumers’ negative word-of-mouth may reduce the diffusion scope.
Impact of optical indices on particle size distribution of activated sludge measured by laser diffraction method

Abstract The important factors that strongly influence the particle size distributions measured by the laser diffraction method are the optical parameters of the suspension (refractive index and absorption coefficient). Knowledge of the values of these parameters is necessary for Mie theory. Mie theory is applied for conversion of the intensity of light recorded on detectors into particle size distribution (PSD) of tested material. Both wastewater and activated sludge are mixtures of a variety of elements (mineral or organic, including living organisms). In practice, it is not possible to define clearly the values of the optical parameters, as the composition of the suspension changes over time. The aim of the study was to estimate the impact of assumed values of the optical parameters on particle size distributions obtained. The PSDs of suspensions sampled in different stages of wastewater treatment are the most reproducible when the following optical parameters are defined: absorption coefficients - 1.0 and the refractive index - 1.52. Abstrakt Czynnikami, które w istotny sposób wpływają na rozkłady granulometryczne wyznaczane za pomocą dyfrakcji laserowej, są parametry optyczne mierzonej zawiesiny (współczynnik załamania światła oraz współczynnik absorpcji). Znajomość wartości tych parametrów jest niezbędna przy zastosowaniu teorii Mie. Teoria Mie jest wykorzystywana do przeliczenia intensywności światła zmierzonego na detektorach na rozkład granulometryczny (PSD) badanego materiału. Zarówno ścieki, jak i osad czynny są mieszaninami bardzo różnych składników (mineralnych i organicznych, w tym żywych organizmów). W praktyce nie ma możliwości określenia rzeczywistych wartości parametrów optycznych mieszanin, tym bardziej, że ich skład zmienia się w czasie. Celem niniejszej pracy było określenie wpływu założonych wartości parametrów optycznych na uzyskiwane rozkłady granulometryczne. Rozkłady granulometryczne zawiesin pobranych na różnych etapach oczyszczania ścieków są najbardziej powtarzalne dla następujących wartości współczynników optycznych: współczynnika absorpcji - 1,0 i współczynnika załamania światła - 1,52.