Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Reconsideration of the Prunus serrulata complex (Rosaceae) and related taxa in eastern Asia

The Prunus serrulata complex with several infraspecific taxa, including P. jamasakura and P. leveilleana, is indigenous to eastern Asia. Although these taxa are very common, the taxonomic confusion surrounding this complex is reflected in the ambiguity shown by the various taxonomic treatments currently used. Patterns of intraspecific variation and recognition of taxa within the P. serrulata complex and its related species were investigated in 468 individuals using principal components analysis. Particular emphasis was placed on P. serrulata, P. jamasakura, and P. leveilleana because of their high degree of morphological intergradation and inconsistent circumscription in the various systematic treatments. Although morphological variation among different taxa of the P. serrulata complex was continuous for most reproductive and leaf characters, the related taxa (P. pseudocerasus, P. lannesiana f. albida, and P. sargentii) were found to be distinct based on the number of flowers per inflorescence and peduncle length. In general, the number of flowers per inflorescence, the flower size, peduncle length, and hair density on the pedicel were found to be characters of great taxonomic value for most of the related taxa. However, there is not sufficient morphological evidence for the taxonomic splitting of P. serrulata to warrant the designation of varieties, with the exception of the pubescent taxon, P. serrulata var. pubesecens. © 2007 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 2007, 154, 35–54.
MACROSCOPIC ELASTIC PROPERTIES OF PARTICLE MODELS

Various forms of discrete models, such as lattice or particle models, are becoming increasingly popular in applications to highly nonlinear problems with large changes of the initial geometry. Such models consist of a finite number of “discrete elements” connected by links capturing all deformation processes, which are described by suitable constitutive equations formulated on the microscopic level. Parameters of these equations must be calibrated such that the entire model exhibits a realistic behavior on the macroscopic scale. In this contribution, the relation between the elastic parameters governing the behavior of a single link and the resulting macroscopic elastic properties of particle models is investigated. The model considered here is three-dimensional, consisting of spherical rigid particles connected by interfaces that can transmit normal and shear stress. Calibration of the constitutive equations is simplified by dimensional analysis and is based on numerical simulations of a representative cell with periodic boundary conditions.
Combination of the preoperative albumin to globulin ratio and neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio as a novel prognostic factor in patients with triple negative breast cancer

Background: The pretreatment albumin to globulin ratio (AGR) and neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR) were the inflammation-associated factors which were related to the disease-free survival in various malignancies. The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical significance of the pretreatment AGR combined with NLR for patients with triple negative breast cancer (TNBC). Method: This retrospective study included 286 cases of pathologically diagnosed patients with TNBC. The relationships of AGR and NLR with clinicopathologic characteristics and prognosis were analyzed by Kaplan–Meier and Cox regression methods. Results: An AGR of 1.63 and a NLR of 2.93 were identified as the optimal cut-off points for distinguishing patients with good versus poor prognosis. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curves of combined with AGR and NLR (CO-AN) was increased compared with AGR and NLR individually. Kaplan–Meier analysis showed that low AGR/high NLR was related to poor survival. The prognosis of patients can be predicted well by the CO-AN. Univariate and multivariate analyses revealed that high AGR levels, low NLR levels, and CO-AN<1 were significantly and independently associated with favorable disease-free survival. Conclusions: Our study suggested that AGR and NLR levels can be prognostic biomarkers for disease-free survival in patients with TNBC. The CO-AN may have greater predictive value than AGR and NLR in patients with TNBC.
Low-dimensional dynamics of a turbulent wall flow

The low-dimensional dynamics of the structures in a turbulent wall flow are studied by means of numerical simulations. These are made both ‘minimal’, in the sense that they contain a single copy of each relevant structure, and ‘autonomous’ in the sense that there is no outer turbulent flow with which they can interact. The interaction is prevented by a numerical mask that damps the flow above a given wall distance, and the flow behaviour is studied as a function of the mask height. The simplest case found is a streamwise wave that propagates without change. It takes the form of a single wavy low-velocity streak flanked by two counter-rotating staggered quasi-streamwise vortices, and is found when the height of the numerical masking function is less than δ+1 ≈ 50. As the mask height is increased, this solution bifurcates into an almost-perfect limit cycle, a two-frequency torus, weak chaos, and full-edged bursting turbulence. The transition is essentially complete when δ+1 ≈ 70, even if the wall-parallel dimensions of the computational box are small enough for bursting turbulence to be metastable, lasting only for a few bursting cycles. Similar low-dimensional dynamics are found in somewhat larger boxes, containing two copies of the basic structures, in which the bursting turbulence is self-sustaining.
Online Local Volatility Calibration by Convex Regularization

We address the inverse problem of local volatility surface calibration from market given option prices. We integrate the ever-increasing flow of option price information into the well-accepted local volatility model of Dupire. This leads to considering both the local volatility surfaces and their corresponding prices as indexed by the observed underlying stock price as time goes by in appropriate function spaces. The resulting parameter to data map is defined in appropriate Bochner-Sobolev spaces. Under this framework, we prove key regularity properties. This enable us to build a calibration technique that combines online methods with convex Tikhonov regularization tools. Such procedure is used to solve the inverse problem of local volatility identification. As a result, we prove convergence rates with respect to noise and a corresponding discrepancy-based choice for the regularization parameter. We conclude by illustrating the theoretical results by means of numerical tests.
Potential Effects of Management on Caspian Tern Hydroprogne caspia Predation on Juvenile Salmonids at a Colony in San Francisco Bay, California

Abstract San Francisco Bay is a proposed relocation site for some of the Caspian terns Hydroprogne caspia currently nesting at the world's largest colony for the species in the Columbia River estuary and consuming salmonids listed under the U.S. Endangered Species Act (ESA). However, several runs of salmonids listed under the ESA occur in San Francisco Bay and managers are concerned that increased Caspian tern predation may pose a threat to the recovery of these fish. We used a bioenergetics modeling approach, employing estimates of tern energy requirements and proportions of energy supplied by various prey types, to estimate the consumption of juvenile salmonids by Caspian terns nesting on Brooks Island in central San Francisco Bay during 2008 and 2009. Estimated salmonid consumption was ∼205,000 smolts (95% confidence interval, 175,000–245,000 smolts) in 2008 and ∼167,000 smolts (144,000–191,000 smolts) in 2009. The interannual difference in smolt consumption was due to the smaller size of the tern colo.
Exploring Price Sensitivity of a Green Brand: A Consumers' Perspective

Global warming has warmed up debates not only in scientific community, but also among brand leaders. Brands are trying to find avenues to differentiate and sustain in the market by adding newer dimensions, thereby attract and sustain customers. “Green Brand” has been the latest buzz in branding, attracting attention of numerous brand management practitioners, and academics as well. Green brands can be defined in many ways, which has been examined in this paper. The paper follows an exploratory approach to define green brand, find out its differentiating proposition to customers, and finally, the extent to which a particular category of green brand will be susceptible to price changes. Therefore, we attempted to see the claim(s) of green brands to customers, and how much extra return it would generate by claiming such proposition. We already know that, branding is all about differentiation and sustainable identity that ultimately leads to buyers’ loyalty. Branding by such means result in inelastic pricing scheme by manufacturers. Thus, making the price of green brands inelastic will be a major achievement for brand managers. This is why, measurement was conducted in field survey to find out the price elasticity of a green brand. This will immensely help brand managers to grasp the point of pricing, keeping in mind whether green brand actually yield any desirable effect in branding.
Paradigm shift to strengthen public health programming: A case for a unified public health leadership approach

The continued challenges in public health programs and in particular the dearth of tested approaches that hinges on systems thinking approach, holistic planning and implementation with all relevant stakeholder calls for newer approaches in public health leadership. This work advances a unified leadership theory drawn from skills approach, high coaching and high directive behavior and system thinking approach. The unified leadership approach underscored key leadership themes: system thinking, vision, power sharing, process based and collateral leaderships. It is expected that such a multi-prong approach will strengthen holistic planning with input from all concerned partners, facilitate clarity of roles and balancing of power so that it will improve coordination, collaboration, commitment, program sustainability and oversight function that will result in effective public health interventions. Key words: Leadership theories, leadership styles, program outcomes
SNP rs4937333 in the miRNA-5003-Binding Site of the ETS1 3′-UTR Decreases ETS1 Expression

Mutations in and reduced expression of the ETS1 gene may be associated with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Here, we report a replication study to investigate associations of eight ETS1 single-nucleotide polymorphisms in the 3′-untranslated region (3′-UTR) with SLE and their regulation of ETS1 expression in a study population. We found that the rs4937333 T allele was associated with a significantly increased risk of SLE (odds ratio: 1.800, 95% confidence interval: 1.02–3.157, P = 0.040) and with dramatically reduced levels of ETS1 in B cells from SLE subjects. Functionally, the rs4937333 T allele alters the binding affinity between miR-5003 and its ETS1 3′-UTR target, thus enhancing suppression of ETS1 expression. Furthermore, immunoglobulin M-secreting plasmacytes were significantly reduced among B cells with the rs4937333 C allele versus the T allele according to FACS and ELISA. Additionally, miR-5003 expression was higher in B cells than in T cells from SLE patients, and a negative correlation between miR-5003 and ETS1 was found, especially in B cells with the T allele. These findings suggest that the rs4937333 T allele is a risk factor for susceptibility to SLE in the studied population. The rs4937333 T allele may enhance the binding of miR-5003 to ETS1, which probably promotes the involvement of ETS1 in the differentiation of B cells into plasmacytes.
Self-Medication among Female Undergraduate Students at College Of Medicine in King Faisal University

Background: The use of self-medication is highly prevalent in the community more so amongst the medical students. Self-medication is defined as the treatment of common health problems with medicines that are taken on patient's own initiative or on advice of a pharmacist, without professional supervision. Aim: To study the practice of self-medication among the undergraduate female medical students at college of medicine in King Faisal University. Methodology: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted on a sample of 233 female medical students (First year 75, Second year 73 and Fourth year 85) attending King Faisal University from October to December 2013. The data was collected using questionnaire to get the relevant information to study variables. The survey was descriptive and data analyzed by using SPSS version 22.The Chi square test was applied for correlation and statistical difference considered significant with p value < 0.05. Results: Out of 233 female students, 128 responded. Out of these, 92 students practiced self medication. The most common symptoms that led to self- medication were headache (21.9%) and body pain (16.4%). The most frequent reasons for self- medication was “no need to visit the doctor for minor illness (48.4%). Analgesics (43%) were found to be the most used while sedatives (0.8%) the lowest. There was a strong relation between residency and self medication with student living in hostels practice self-medication more (once a week) than those living with their families. Conclusion: In the present study practice of self medication was common among undergraduate students. The attitude changes after attending the medical college regarding self medication .
Mención Genética Molecular y Microbiología TESIS DOCTORAL: LA FUNCION DE CALCIO EN LA VÍA DE SEÑALIZACIÓN MEDIADA POR NITRATO EN RAÍCES DE ARABIDOPSIS THALIANA

Understanding how plants sense and respond to changes in nitrogen (N) availability is the first step towards developing strategies for biotechnological applications such as to improve nitrogen-use efficiency. However, components involved in N signaling pathways remain poorly characterized. Calcium is a second messenger in signal transduction pathways in plants but its role in nitrate responses has not been addressed. Using aequorin reporter plants we show that nitrate treatments transiently increase cytoplasmic Ca concentration ([Ca]cyt). We found that nitrate also induces a rise in cytoplasmic concentration of inositol 1, 4, 5-trisphosphate (IP3). Increases in IP3 and [Ca ]cyt levels in response to nitrate treatments were blocked by U732122, a pharmacological inhibitor of phospholipase C (PLC), but not the non-functional analog U73343. In addition, increases in IP3 and [Ca ]cyt levels in response to nitrate treatments were abolished in mutants of the nitrate transceptor NRT1.1/AtNPF6.3. Expression of nitrate-responsive genes was severely affected by pretreatments with Ca channel blockers and PLC inhibitors. These results indicate that Ca act as a second messenger in the nitrate-signaling pathway of Arabidopsis thaliana. Our results suggest a model where NRT1.1/AtNPF6.3 and a phospholipase C activity mediate the increase of Ca in response to nitrate required for changes in expression of prototypical nitrate-responsive
Generic communication in parallel computation

The design of parallel programs requires fancy solutions that are not present in sequential programming. Thus, a designer of parallel applications is concerned with the problem of ensuring the correct behavior of all the processes that the program comprises. There are different solutions to each problem, but the question is to find one, that is general. One possibility is allowing the use of asynchronous groups of processors. We present a general methodology to derive efficient parallel divide and conquer algorithms. Algorithms belonging to this class allow the arbitrary division of the processor subsets, easing the opportunities of the underlying software to divide the network in independent sub networks, minimizing the impact of the traffic in the rest of the network in the predicted cost. This methodology is defined by OTMP model and its expressiveness is exemplified through three divide and conquer programs.
Effects of Exergaming on Attentional Deficits and Dual-Tasking in Parkinson's Disease

Introduction: Impairment of dual-tasking, as an attention-based primary cognitive dysfunction, is frequently observed in Parkinson's Disease (PD). The Training-PD study investigated the efficiency of exergaming, as a novel cognitive-motor training approach, to improve attention-based deficits and dual-tasking in PD when compared to healthy controls. Methods: Eighteen PD patients and 17 matched healthy controls received a 6-week home-based training period of exergaming. Treatment effects were monitored using quantitative motor assessment of gait and cognitive testing as baseline and after 6 weeks of training. Results: At baseline PD patients showed a significantly worse performance in several quantitative motor assessment parameters and in two items of cognitive testing. After 6 weeks of exergames training, the comparison of normal gait vs. dual-tasking in general showed an improvement of stride length in the PD group, without a gait-condition specific improvement. In the direct comparison of three different gait conditions (normal gait vs. dual-tasking calculating while walking vs. dual-tasking crossing while walking) PD patients showed a significant improvement of stride length under the dual-tasking calculating condition. This corresponded to a significant improvement in one parameter of the D2 attention test. Conclusions: We conclude, that exergaming, as an easy to apply, safe technique, can improve deficits in cognitive-motor dual-tasking and attention in PD.
Sexism and alexithymia: Correlations and differences as a function of gender, age, and educational level

The goals of the study were to analyze differences as a function of gender, age, and educational level in sexism and alexithymia in a nonclin- ical and in a clinical sample, and to explore the relation between these con- structs. A descriptive and correlational cross-sectional methodology was used. The Ambivalent Sexism Inventory (Glick & Fiske, 1996) and the To- ronto Alexithymia Scale (Parker et al. 1993) were administered. The sample comprised 989 participants from the Basque Country, aged between 18 and 65 years. The results revealed: 1) Significantly higher scores in the males in sexism (hostile, benevolent, and ambivalent) and in alexithymia (difficulties to express emotions and external-oriented thinking) in both samples; in the total alexithymia score, the males had significantly higher scores only in the nonclinical sample; 2) As of 55 years of age, a significant increase in benev- olent and ambivalent sexism, and in difficulties to identify emotions, exter- nal-oriented thinking, and in the total alexithymia score were observed (on- ly in the nonclinical sample); however, no changes with age were observed in hostile sexism and in difficulties to express emotions; 3) A decrease in sexism and alexithymia as the educational level increased; and 4) Significant positive correlations between sexism and alexithymia.
A one-year study of cholelithiasis at a tertiary care hospital of South India

Background: Gall stone disease is a chronic recurrent disease of hepatobiliary system characterised by formation of gall stones due to impaired metabolism of bile acids, cholesterol and bilirubin. The prevalence of cholelithiasis is variable and has been reported as 2-29% in India with differences in interstate and interregions. The objective of the present study was mainly focuses on the total clinical study with surgical management and their outcome.Methods: A prospective study for a period of one year was done after approval from ethical committee. The socio-demographic factors, clinical history, physical examination, laboratory investigations with ultrasound abdomen were done in all the cases. Surgical repair by Laparoscopic and open cholecystectomy was done.Results: Females were more predominant with male: female ratio of 1:1.97. Mean age of study population was 34.12±6.2 years and was more common during 5th decade of life. Pain in the hypochondrium was most common sign. Mixed stones were most common and mostly observed in cases of mixed diet. Laparoscopic cholecystectomy was most commonly performed with zero conversion rate. Wound infection was the most common post-operative complication in both the types of repair.Conclusions: To conclude, from the present study females were more commonly affected by cholelithiasis than males with a ratio of 1:1.97. Females are more prone during fertile age and reasons are multifactorial due to hormones, parity and hormonal contraceptives. Gall stone disease is more common during fourth and fifth decade of life in both males and females. Mixed diet (non-vegetarian) is associated with increased risk of developing gall stones than vegetarian diet.
Evaluation of the fertility of broiler breeder cocks fed on diets containing differently processed sweet potato tuber in a humid tropical environment

The high cost of poultry feedstuffs has led to the use of tropical root and tuber crops to formulate the balanced and low cost poultry diets. However, utilization of feeds compounded from roots and tubers has been low due to some identified anti-nutritional factors such as cyanide in cassava and high sugar levels in sweet potato which cause diarrhea in chicken. Furthermore, the few studies done on them have been on animals’ performance in terms of feed intake/weight gain, with little or no emphasis on the effect of such feeds on the animals’ reproductive performance. A completely randomized block experimental design was carried out to evaluate the effect of diets containing differently processed sweet potato tuber on the fertility and reproductive performance of broiler breeder cocks. Though, the values for semen characteristics were lower in sweet potato-based diets than the maize-based diet, they fell within the recommended levels for the tropics. Grated sweet potato (GP25) had the least semen volume (0.16 ± 0.04 cm 3 ) while least sperm concentration (2.68 ± 0.44 × 10 9 /cm 3 ) and sperm output (0.44 ± 0.14 × 10 9 /ml) were obtained in thinly sliced sweet potato (SP25). Percentage of eggs fertilized was highest in GP25 and least in Fermented sweet potato (FP25). Thus, breeder cocks are potentially fertile when fed on diets formulated with sweet potato tuber and that sweet potato tubers may be used as a good substitute for maize in poultry feed when grated or when fermented.