Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Why do forest owners fail to heed warnings? Conflicting risk evaluations made by the Swedish forest agency and forest owners

In the aftermath of a hurricane in Sweden that felled some 250 million trees, the Swedish Forest Agency advised forest owners to reduce forest vulnerability by planting different tree species. This paper analyses why forest owners failed to heed the Forest Agency's recommendation, thereby reproducing a forest vulnerable to storms. This paper focuses on the deliberations and risk evaluations of forest owners when deciding which tree species to plant. The analysis identifies three main categories of reasoning that guided the forest owners' decision-making process: short-term economic reasoning caused by the pressing situation they faced; an understanding of windstorms as natural catastrophes that are impossible to influence; and the uncertainties associated with alternative forest management practices. Furthermore, given their risk-averse strategy, their approach to understanding and coping with uncertainty was crucial in determining their responses. This paper concludes that the forest owners primarily employed experience-based, practical and embodied knowledge, implying that abstract risks and theoretical knowledge regarding future developments were not deemed relevant. An additional conclusion is that even if a huge storm felling shows the need to change forest management practice, it does not provide the most favourable social conditions for achieving change.
Dimensionnement robuste des réseaux de télécommunications face à l'incertitude de la demande

Un des problemes majeurs dans le domaine des telecommunications est de construire des reseaux robustes qui puissent faire face a l'incertitude de la demande. Ayant l'architecture d'un reseau et un budget donne pour le probleme d'allocation de la capacite, le but est d'identifier une capacite faisable, qui minimise le pire cas de demande insatisfaite. Premierement, nous formulons l'incertitude de la demande comme un polytope engendre par un nombre fini de scenarios de la demande. Nous montrons que le probleme peut se ramener a la minimisation d'une fonction convexe sur un polyedre. Nous calculons alors une solution optimale par trois methodes de plans secants : Kelley, Elzinga & Moore et faisceaux. Ensuite, nous formulons l'incertitude comme un polyedre decrit par un nombre fini d'inegalites lineaires, ce qui resulte en un probleme considerablement plus difficile. Par consequent, nous cherchons uniquement des bornes superieures et inferieures. Quelques idees novatrices sont presentees et l'algorithme de type \Branch & Bound" de Falk & Soland est utilise afin de calculer le maximum d'une fonction convexe additive ; de plus, nous defifinissons une variante de cet algorithme, adaptee a notre situation particuliere. Apres avoir defini la capacite d'un reseau, l'etape suivante est de calculer le routage optimal dans ce reseau. Nous minimisons la congestion en utilisant comme objectif la fonction moyenne de retard de Kleinrock. Le probleme resultant est convexe mais non-linaire et la fonction duale est la somme d'un terme polyedral et d'un terme differentiable. Afin de resoudre ce probleme, nous implementons un algorithme hybride base sur la relaxation Lagrangienne.
Positive Stereotype Validation: The Bolstering Effects of Activating Positive Stereotypes After Intellectual Performance

Past research has found that members of stigmatized groups may feel more certain of poor performance when negative stereotypes are made accessible after finishing a task (i.e., stereotype validation). However, no research to date has identified the potential effects of activating positive stereotypes after performance. Based on past research and theory, we hypothesized that such positive stereotype validation may serve to bolster—rather than hinder—important beliefs related to one’s abilities and future task performance. Across three studies, the accessibility of positive group stereotypes was manipulated after participants completed an initial test on a topic. Consistent with predictions, the activation of positive, self-relevant stereotypes after the initial test was found to increase how certain participants were that they performed well on it. Furthermore, these increases in evaluative certainty predicted more positive ability beliefs, higher expectations for future performance, and better performance on a follow-up test that participants completed.
UTILIZAÇÃO DE CARACTERES MORFOAGRONÔMICOS E MARCADORES MOLECULARES PARA AVALIAÇÃO DA DIVERGÊNCIA GENÉTICA ENTRE HÍBRIDOS DE MILHO / USE OF MORPHOAGRONOMICAL CHARACTERS AND MOLECULAR MARKERS TO EVALUATE GENETIC DIVERGENCE AMONG MAIZE HYBRIDS

Os objetivos deste trabaiho foram estunar a divergencia genetica entre hibridos comerciais de milho, por meio de caracteres morfoagronomicos e marcadores moleculares, e verificar a relarao entre esses procedimentos. Foram conduzidos Bois experimentos, um em Lavras, MG e o outro em Ijaci, MG, utilizando o delineamento de blocos casualizados corn tres repetiOes. Para a avaliaCao da divergencia morfaagronomica, foram avaliadas 25 caracteristicas de 10 cultivares do milho (C 909, C 901, C 333, C 805, Z 8392, Z 8452, P 3()4 1, P 30b9, AG 9012 e ACV 5() 17 ), utilizados pars obter as distancias de Mahalanobis (D2) entre todos os pares possiveis envolvendo esses cultivares. Com base na estimativa de DZ foi realizada uma analise sic agrupamento pelo metodo hierarquico do vizinho mais proximo. Na avaliaCao da divergencia genetica por meio de marcadores moleculares (RAP! )), foi utilizado o ccxaficicnte de similaridade de Sorence – Dice, transformado em distancia genetica e agrupado a partir de urn dendrograma (metodo UPGMA). Pela avalia4ao da divergeneia genetics por meio dos caracteres morfoagronomicos foram obtidos quatro grupos: grupo i, formado polo cultivar C 409; grupo 2, pelo cultivar Z 8392; grupo 3, Delos cultivares AG 501 1, Z 8452 e C 333, e grupo 4, pelos demais cultivares. Os cultivates C 909 e Z. 8392 apresentaram major divergencia em relate aos demais. Na valiayaa da divergencia genetica por meio dos marcadores moleculares, foi constatado que fls cultivares C X09 e 8392 tambem forain considerados divergentes mire si e em relaVio os demais correlayao entre as estimativas obtidas entre asses dois metodos, embora significativa, foi de pequena magnitude, indicando qua estas sao medidas distintas e complementares. Dessa forma, a utilizaCaa de uma estimativa substitui a necessidade de se avaliar a outs.
Role of T cells in a murine model of Escherichia coli sepsis

To study the role of T cells in gram‐negative sepsis, we developed a mouse model in which i.v. injection of Escherichia coli results in severe systemic illness, with high mortality rates after day 5. A large proportion of both CD4+ and CD8+ T cells are activated within 1 day after infection, as evidenced by up‐regulation of CD69 and down‐regulation of CD62L. Even more surprisingly, T cell‐deficient mice exhibit markedly decreased disease severity compared to WT mice, indicating a pathogenic role of T cells. Mice lacking IFN‐γ also show diminished disease, and exhibit reduced T cell activation. Therefore, the pathogenic role of T cells may be mediated by IFN‐γ. Both T cell‐ and IFN‐γ‐deficient mice have reduced serum IL‐6 levels compared to WT mice, suggesting that T cells may stimulate innate immune responses, resulting in enhancement of disease. These data indicate an important role for T cells in a mouse model of E. coli sepsis, and reveal an unexpected early and pathogenic T cell response to this bacterial infection.
Curvelet-Based Multi SVM Recognizer for Offline Handwritten Bangla: A Major Indian Script

This paper deals with automatic recognition of offline handwritten Bangla characters. Bangla is the second most popular script among SAARC countries. A new class of features based on curvelet transform has been used in our classification scheme. The classifier used was SVM with one-against-rest class model. The training and test set were morphologically deformed to get five versions of the same character and each version has been subject to individual SVM classifier. Five classifier outputs obtained in this way have been combined by simple majority voting scheme. The overall recognition accuracy of 95.5% has been obtained on the data set. It is hoped that the curvelet transform along with such multi-classifier scheme will be useful in other handwritten character data as well.
Mental Health and Its Associated Factors Among North Korean Defectors Living in South Korea

This study aimed to compare current mental health status between North Korean defectors and South Korean natives. The proportions of depression/anxiety and the experience of suicidal ideation from 593 North Korean defectors were compared with South Koreans (n = 2372). Logistic regression analyses were conducted to determine the associated variables. As a result, the rates of depression/anxiety and suicidal ideation were significantly higher among North Korean defectors. North Koreans also had more than twice the number of escape attempts associated with high rates of depression/anxiety, and being female and single, longer durations of stay abroad, more than twice the number of escape attempts, and longer durations after entrance to South Korea were related to high rates of suicidal ideation. From these results, additional efforts are needed to identify the North Korean defectors who are at high risk for poor mental health and to provide appropriate medical services and social support.
A comparison of markers of myocardial injury and their relation to nutritional parameters in hemodialysis patients

Abstract Background: Serum cardiac troponin T (cTnT) is a valuable marker of ischemic heart disease (IHD) and left ventricular hypertrophy, as well as a mortality predictor in hemodialysis populations. We compared the value of cTnT, creatinine kinase (CK)-MB mass and myoglobin as mortality predictors in our hemodialysis patients and evaluated their relation to nutritional status. Methods: A total of 118 hemodialysis patients were prospectively studied from January 2004 to April 2013. Clinical and laboratory evaluations during the 12-month baseline period included the history of IHD, signs of left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH), Kt/V and serum cardiac markers together with the percentage of body fat (%fat), mid-arm circumference (MAC), mid-arm muscle circumference (MAMC), triceps skinfold (TSF) and BMI. Results: Underweight patients had significantly higher cTnT values (Mann–Whitney, p < 0.05). Correlation analysis (Spearman) showed an inverse association between cTnT and TSF (ρ = −0.22, p < 0.05), as well as between CK-MB mass and TSF (ρ = −0.26, p < 0.01). In men cTnT also correlated inversely with %fat (ρ = −0.27, p < 0.05) and BMI (ρ = −0.33, p < 0.05). In addition, myoglobin was correlated significantly with MAC, MAMC and albumin. Among cardiac markers cTnT was the only independent variable predicting mortality (Multivariate Cox regression, HR = 1.04 CI (1.01–1.07); p < 0.01; measurement units 0.01 μg/L). Conclusion: Troponin T and CK-MB mass were significantly elevated in the underweight patient group. Troponin T was the only independent cardiac marker predictor of all cause mortality in our hemodialysis patients.
Cholangiocarcinomas express fas ligand and disable the fas receptor

Cholangiocarcinoma is a highly‐malignant adenocarcinoma originating from cholangiocytes. Current concepts support escape from immune surveillance using aberrant expression of Fas ligand (FasL) and dysregulation of receptor (FasR) signaling as a potential mechanism for tumor progression. Our aims were to determine if altered expression of FasR and FasL or changes in expression of FLICE inhibitor (I‐FLICE) allow cholangiocarcinoma cells to escape immune surveillance. Human cholangiocarcinoma cell lines were evaluated for the functional expression of FasR and FasL by (1) quantitating apoptosis after incubation of cells with agonistic antibodies and (2) an in vitro cell death assay involving coculture of cholangiocarcinoma cells with Fas‐sensitive thymocytes. I‐FLICE antisense treatment was performed by stable transfection with complementary DNA (cDNA) for I‐FLICE in the reverse orientation. We found that normal cholangiocytes in vivo express FasL. Human cholangiocarcinoma cell lines express both FasL and FasR and I‐FLICE. FasL expressed by cholangiocarcinomas in vitro induced lymphocyte cell death (70% after 24 hours). Despite the expression of FasR, exposure of the cells to agonistic antibodies (500 ng/mL) induced only minimal apoptosis in the Jurkat cells. Antisense treatment of cholangiocarcinomas in vitro with I‐FLICE reduced protein expression of I‐FLICE by 90% to 95% and increased Fas‐mediated apoptosis 2‐fold. We concluded that cholangiocarcinomas escape immune surveillance either by disabling FasR signaling through the expression of I‐FLICE and/or increased FasL expression to induce apoptosis of invading T cells. Reduction of I‐FLICE expression in cholangiocarcinoma cells restored Fas‐mediated apoptosis. Therapeutic maneuvers to inhibit expression of I‐FLICE may aid in the treatment of cholangiocarcinoma.
Opistholebes diodontis n.sp., its development in the final host, the affinities of some amphistomatous trematodes from marine fishes and the allocreadioid problem

Opistholebes diodontis n.sp. is described from the intestine of the porcupine fish, Diodon hystrix, and development from the metacercaria to the adult is outlined. In that process, the ventral sucker shifts from near the mid-level to the posterior end of the body and other rearrangements occur as a result of differential growth. Hence in the Opistholebetidae and probably the Gyliauchenidae and Cephalo-poridae as well, the amphistome plan is considered to be secondary in phylogeny. None of those families belongs in the Paramphistomoidea. Instead, each is believed to be a distinct family of aberrant trematodes derived from a separate line of more generalized distomes. Representing one such line of descent are the Opistholebetidae and Opecoelidae which are more closely related to each other than either is to any other group. Hence a superfamily, Opecoeloidea, is proposed to include the two families and set them apart as a natural group distinct from the remainder of the allocreadioid complex which is discussed. The genus Pachycreadium is transferred to the Opistholebetidae, family diagnoses are revised, and a key to the species of Opistholebes is given.
Tobacco smoking, alcohol drinking and risk of oral cavity cancer by subsite: results of a French population-based case–control study, the ICARE study

The objective was to examine the role of tobacco smoking and alcohol drinking in the incidence of oral cavity cancer by subsite in France, a high-incidence area. We analysed detailed data on lifelong tobacco smoking and alcohol drinking from 772 oral cavity cancer cases and 3555 controls included in a population-based case–control study, the ICARE study. Tobacco smoking increased the risk of oral cavity cancer even for the smaller quantities and durations, whereas alcohol drinking increased this risk only in heavy drinkers who were also ever smokers. The combined effect of smoking and drinking was greater than multiplicative. The floor of the mouth was the subsite that was the most affected by the harmful effects of tobacco and alcohol, whereas the gums were less susceptible. The risk associated with tobacco and alcohol consumption did not differ between intraoral cavity and subsites usually included in the oropharynx (soft palate and base of the tongue). Population-attributable risks for oral cavity cancer were 78.6% for tobacco smoking, 7.3% for alcohol drinking and 80.7% for tobacco and/or alcohol consumption. These results indicate that regular oral check-ups should be targeted at smokers and heavy drinkers, and that prevention efforts should be focused on smoking cessation.
Assessing the use of the NANDA-International nursing diagnoses at the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospitals Complex, Ile Ife, Nigeria.

PURPOSE This study assessed the use of the NANDA-I nursing diagnoses in a Nigerian hospital. METHODS A multi-stage sampling method was used to select seven wards and 67 nursing process booklets from the Medical, Surgical, Orthopedic, and Mental Health Units of the hospital. FINDINGS A total of 154 nursing diagnoses were made: 50.7% were made within the first 48 hours of admission, while 35.8% were made on reassessments. The most frequently used nursing diagnoses were self-care deficit, pain, and anxiety. CONCLUSION The NANDA-I nursing diagnoses are in use in Nigeria, adding support to the global use of the NANDA-I taxonomy, but findings also suggest a need for an assessment framework informed by nursing. PRACTICE IMPLICATION Nurses in Nigeria would benefit from training programs organized by NANDA-I and national institutions to further refine their use of the nursing process.
Theta functions of quadratic forms over imaginary quadratic fields

is a modular form of weight n/2 on Γ0(N), where N is the level of Q, i.e. NQ−1 is integral and NQ−1 has even diagonal entries. This was proved by Schoeneberg [5] for even n and by Pfetzer [3] for odd n. Shimura [6] uses the Poisson summation formula to generalize their results for arbitrary n and he also computes the theta multiplier explicitly. Stark [8] gives a different proof by converting θQ(z) into a symplectic theta function and then using the transformation formula for the symplectic theta function. In [4], we apply Stark’s method and use theta functions of indefinite quadratic forms to construct modular forms over totally real number fields. In this paper, we define theta functions attached to quadratic forms over imaginary quadratic fields. We show that these theta functions are modular forms of weight n/2 on some Γ0 groups by regarding them as symplectic theta functions and then applying well known results for symplectic theta functions. In particular, the main result of [8] allows us to compute the theta multiplier for our theta functions in a very elegant way.
Prevalence of Borrelia burgdorferi, Bartonella spp., Babesia microti, and Anaplasma phagocytophila in Ixodes scapularis Ticks Collected in Northern New Jersey

ABSTRACT PCR analysis of Ixodes scapularis ticks collected in New Jersey identified infections with Borrelia burgdorferi (33.6%), Babesia microti (8.4%), Anaplasma phagocytophila (1.9%), and Bartonella spp. (34.5%). The I. scapularis tick is a potential pathogen vector that can cause coinfection and contribute to the variety of clinical responses noted in some tick-borne disease patients.
Unsupervised Change Detection in Multispectral Images based on Independent Component Analysis

Detecting regions of change in multiple images of the same scene taken at different times is of widespread interest due to a large number of applications in diverse disciplines, including remote sens- ing, surveillance, medical diagnosis and treatment, civil infrastruc- ture, and underwater sensing. The paper proposes a data dependent change detection approach based on textural features extracted by the Independent Component Analysis (ICA) model. The properties of ICA allow to create energy features for computing multispectral and multitemporal difference im- ages to be classified. Our experiments on remote sensing images show that the proposed method can efficiently and effectively clas- sify temporal discontinuities corresponding to changed areas over the observed scenes.
A reassessment of insulin‐like growth factor binding protein gene expression in the human retinal pigment epithelium

The role of insulin‐like growth factors (IGF) in regulating cell differentiation and proliferation is in part modulated by the IGF binding protein (IGFBP) family of genes. Previous studies of the human retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) have detected expression of IGFBP‐2, ‐3, and ‐6. However, recent experiments in our lab have suggested a broader pattern of IGFBP gene family expression in the RPE cell than has previously been recognized. We have examined the gene expression profile of IGFBP‐1 to ‐6 and the related protein, IGFBP‐rP1, in RPE cell lines derived from ten donors eyes using RT‐PCR, ELISA, and Western methods. Transcripts of IGFBP‐1 to ‐6 and ‐rP1 were consistently detected in human RPE cells. IGFBP‐3, ‐5, ‐6, and ‐rP‐1, appear to be constitutively expressed in the RPE, whereas IGFBP‐1, ‐2, and ‐4, were expressed at variable levels in the cell lines examined. IGFBP secretion by the RPE in vitro was confirmed by ELISA (IGFBP‐1, ‐2, ‐3, ‐4, and ‐6) and Western blot analysis (IGFBP‐5 and ‐rP1). There was, in general, a strong correlation between gene‐specific transcription levels and protein secretion by the RPE. Our studies demonstrate that the major IGFBP family genes are ubiquitously expressed in explanted human RPE cells in vitro. This broad expression profile and the recent evidence that IGFBPs have IGF‐independent biological activity suggest that the IGFBP family genes may constitute a previously unrecognized and complex regulatory system in the human retina and RPE. J. Cell. Biochem. 89: 933–943, 2003. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Effect of different maceration treatments on free and bound varietal aroma compounds in wine of Vitis vinifera L. cv. Malvazija istarska bijela.

Summary During a two-year study, the effect of different grape mash maceration treatments (skin contact at 20 °C for 10, 20 and 30 h) and cryomaceration (skin contact at 7 °C for 10, 20 and 30 h) on the concentration of free and bound monoterpenes and total phenols in Malvazija istarska wine (the most spread white wine variety in Istria) was monitored. Monoterpenic alcohols linalool, a-terpineol, citronellol, nerol and geraniol were determined by gas chromatography after isolation on octadecylsilica (C18) sorbent and elution with pentane/dichlorometane ratio of 2:1, while total phenols were determined spectrophotometrically with Folin-Ciocalteau reagent. Sensory evaluation of wines was performed using the Buxbaum method. The obtained results showed that linalool and geraniol are the most abundant monoterpenes in Malvazija istarska, and that grape mash maceration treatments cause significant increase of free and bound monoterpene concentrations compared to those in control treatment wine obtained without maceration. The content of phenols, which are subject to oxidation, was found to be significantly lower in wines produced by cryo-maceration treatments, while in those produced by maceration at 20 °C the concentration of total phenols increased proportionally with the duration of maceration, negatively influencing wine quality by causing higher colour intensity and bitter taste.
Statistical characterization and bit-error rate analysis of lightwave systems with optical amplification using two-photon-absorption receiver structures

In this paper, the authors study the performance of a two-photon absorption (TPA) receiver in a typical communication system employing an optical amplifier. For the study, the authors develop a comprehensive performance analysis, taking into account noises due to an optical amplifier, shot noise, and thermal noise, using Gaussian approximation technique. In evaluating the performance of the system using this technique, the mean and the variance of the received signal will be derived. Comparing the results of receivers using the TPA process with that of a typical single-photon absorption (SPA) structure leads the authors to conclude that TPA receivers can be used when the speed of the electronic parts of the receiver structures is not too high, as expected