Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Drought and grazing: IV. Blue grams and western wheatg rass

An understanding of the impacts of grazing during and following drought on rangeland ecosystems is critical for developing effective drought management strategies. This study was designed to examine the effects of drought and grazing on blue grama [Bouteloua gracilis (H.B.K) Lag. ex Griffiths] and western wheatgrass [Pascopyrum smithii Rydb. (Love)] tiller growth dynamics. Research was conducted from 1993 to 1996 at the Fort Keogh Livestock and Range Research Laboratory located near Miles City, Mont. An automated rainout shelter was used during 1994 to impose a severe late spring to early fall (May to October) drought on 6 of twelve, 5- x 10-m non-weighing lysimeters. Twice replicated grazing treatments were: 1) grazed both the year of (1994) and the year after (1995) drought; 2) grazed the year of and rested the year after drought; and 3) no grazing either year. Drought had minimal impact on tiller relative growth rates of plants grazed twice, although it reduced (P <_ 0.01) rates of axillary tiller emergence for blue grama (79%) and western wheatgrass (91%). Defoliation periodically increased relative growth rates (P <_ 0.05) and tiller emergence (P <_ 0.01) of both species. Neither drought nor grazing affected tiller densities or tiller replacement rates of either species nor did they affect productivity of blue grama. Drought, however, reduced (P <_ 0.01) produc- tivity reduced not therefore, they were not included in the final analysis. Aboveground net primary production = 0.01) non-drought treatment in 1994 and greater (P = 0.01) in the than grazed treatments (G94-95) in 1994. The only dif-ference found thereafter, was that ANPP in G94-95 (which was grazed in 1995) was less (P <_ 0.01) in 1995 than in the 2 non-grazed treatments in 1995 (NG and G94).
New neurons use Slit-Robo signaling to migrate through the glial meshwork and approach a lesion for functional regeneration

Appropriate positioning of new neurons in the brain promotes post-stroke functional recovery. After brain injury, neural stem cell–derived neuronal precursors (neuroblasts) in the ventricular-subventricular zone migrate toward the lesion. However, the ability of the mammalian brain to regenerate neuronal circuits for functional recovery is quite limited. Here, using a mouse model for ischemic stroke, we show that neuroblast migration is restricted by reactive astrocytes in and around the lesion. To migrate, the neuroblasts use Slit1-Robo2 signaling to disrupt the actin cytoskeleton in reactive astrocytes at the site of contact. Slit1-overexpressing neuroblasts transplanted into the poststroke brain migrated closer to the lesion than did control neuroblasts. These neuroblasts matured into striatal neurons and efficiently regenerated neuronal circuits, resulting in functional recovery in the poststroke mice. These results suggest that the positioning of new neurons will be critical for functional neuronal regeneration in stem/progenitor cell–based therapies for brain injury.
Design and implementation of the Competency Assessment Tool (CAT): user experience usability study

ABSTRACT The decision on patients’ competency to manage their affairs and take care of themselves requires a rigorous evaluation process and consistency among practice settings. Research indicates there is a lack of resources to guide healthcare and social service professionals in the interprofessional decision-making process that such an evaluation requires. A web-based tool, the Competency Assessment Tool (CAT), was designed to assist professionals in that process. The authors conducted a usability study with a beta version of the CAT. The objectives of this study were to: (1) explore what is needed to support its use in community-based and specialized settings; and (2) identify barriers to and facilitators of implementation. A major concern was the perceived onerous nature of the tool. Participants indicated a need for different versions of the tool, depending on the complexity of the evaluation. They want to be directed to areas in the tool based on their field of expertise and want adjustments to functionalities related to collaborative work. This study highlights the importance of the awareness of User Experience (UX) considerations at the outset of the design process, to limit the impact of required modifications and facilitate implementation in the workplace.
DETERMINATION OF FOLATE RETENTION DURING TOFU PREPARATION USING TRIENZYME TREATMENT AND MICROBIOLOGICAL ASSAY

Megaloblastic anaemia, neural tube defects, coronary heart disease, and some forms of cancer have been linked to an inadequate dietary intake of folate. Legumes are good sources of folate, however, processing may affect folate availability in legume foods. This study investigated the folate content and retention during the preparation of tofu through the trienzyme treatment (protease, α-amylase, and human plasma) and microbiological assay using Lactobacillus casei. The results showed that the total folate content was considerably reduced during tofu preparation, from 273.4 µg 100 g-1 dwb in soybean seed to 108.4 µg 100 g-1 dwb in tofu, yielding a folate retention of 40%. Folate losses were mainly due to leaching into the water during soaking and pressing as well as heat destruction during milling and boiling. High folate loss (51%) was particularly found in the whey. A shorter soaking time (8 hours), optimum extraction, and pressing methods were suggested with respect to minimizing folate losses during tofu preparation. This study suggests that the consumption of 100 g of deep-fried tofu may satisfy 21% of the recommended dietary intake (RDI).
Chemical abundance analysis of red giant branch stars in the globular cluster E3

Context. Globular clusters are known to host multiple stellar populations, which are a signature of their formation process. The globular cluster E3 is one of the few low-mass globulars that is thought not to host multiple populations. Aims. We investigate red giant branch stars in E3 with the aim of providing a first detailed chemical inventory for this cluster, we determine its radial velocity, and we provide additional insights into the possible presence of multiple populations in this cluster. Methods. We obtained high-resolution FLAMES-UVES/VLT spectra of four red giant branch stars likely members of E3. We performed a local thermodynamic equilibrium abundance analysis based on one-dimensional plane parallel ATLAS9 model atmospheres. Abundances were derived from line equivalent widths or spectrum synthesis. Results. We measured abundances of Na and of iron peak (Fe, V, Cr, Ni, Mn), α(Mg, Si, Ca, Ti), and neutron capture elements (Y, Ba, Eu). The mean cluster heliocentric radial velocity, metallicity, and sodium abundance ratio are νhelio = 12.6 ± 0.4 km s−1(σ = 0.6 ± 0.2 km s−1), [Fe/H] = −0.89 ± 0.08 dex, and [Na/Fe] = 0.18 ± 0.07 dex, respectively. The low Na abundance with no appreciable spread is suggestive of a cluster dominated by first-generation stars in agreement with results based on lower resolution spectroscopy. The low number of stars observed does not allow us to rule out a minor population of second-generation stars. The observed chemical abundances are compatible with the trends observed in Milky Way stars.
Effect of humic and fulvic substances and Moringa leaf extract on Sudan grass plants grown under saline conditions

Abstract: Salinity is the major stress factor that limits crop cultivation, especially in developing countries. A randomized complete block, factorial (3-factor) experiment was conducted on Sudan grass grown on nonsaline and saline soils to assess humic substances with or without foliar spraying Moringa leaf extract (MLE). Factors were (i) soil (three different levels of salinity), i.e., S1: nonsaline [electrical conductivity (EC) = 3.01 dS m-1], S2: medium saline (6.12 dS m-1), and S3: highly saline (12.33 dS m-1); (ii) humic substances, i.e., B0: no addition, B1: humic acid (HA) as potassium (K) humate, B2: fulvic acid (FA) as K fulvate, and B3: HA and FA; (iii) foliar spray with MLE, i.e., C0: nontreated and C1: foliar spray. Results indicated that total chlorophyll, nutrient uptake, available nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and K significantly decreased within each humic substances application, and MLE with increasing salinity concentration. The highest values of fresh, dry weight, total chlorophyll, and NPK uptake under different salinity levels were observed with application of substances and MLE. Spraying of MLE increased cumulative yield and nutrient uptake by Sudan grass compared with the untreated ones. The treatment of HA and FA with or without spraying MLE gave the highest values of available NPK under the salinity levels.
Role salience of dual-career women managers

This study examines and contrasts the level of role participation, commitment and value expectation that dual career women invest in contending work and family roles. While the 162 married women managers were found to participate significantly more in the work role, they indicated greater commitment to and value expectation from the home and family role. A significant positive correlation between the commitment to the work role and commitment to the home and family role suggests that dual-career women may experience work and home as complimentary rather than conflicting roles. For dual-career women, work salience and career salience were found to be moderately correlated. Opsomming In hierdie studie word die vlakke van rol-deelname, rol-toegewydheid en rol-waardeverwagting wat dubbelloopbaan vroue onderskeidelik in die werk-en familierol investeer, gekonstrasteer. Terwyl dit geblyk het dat 162 getroude vroulike bestuurders beduidend meer deelneem in die werkrol, het hulle hoer toegewydheid en waardeverwagtings teenoor die huis-en-familie rol getoon. ‘n Beduidende positiewe korrelasie is gevind tussen toegewydheid tot die werksrol en toegewydheid tot die huis-en-familierol. Hierdie bevinding suggereer dat dubbelloopbaan vroue hulle werk en familie-rolle as komplimenterend eerder as konflikterend ervaar. Dit het verder geblyk dat werkrolbelangrikheid en loopbaanbelangrikheid matig gekorreleer is.
OF R ISK AND T REATABILITY ( START )

With the increased need to assess and manage risk in inpatient settings, the Short-Term Assessment of Risk and Treatability (START) was implemented on a civil psychiatric unit. The goal of the present study was to examine the tool’s predictive validity when completed by clinical teams as part of routine practice. Data were collected for 34 patients hospitalized for a minimum of 30 days prior to and after a START evaluation. Several challenging behaviors, such as aggression towards others, self-harm, and substance abuse were assessed using the START Outcomes Scale (Nicholls et al., 2007). Results from multilevel logistic regression and Receiver Operating Characteristics analyses lend partial support for the predictive validity of the START. A limited set of START items combined was significantly better at predicting the challenging behaviors than the original total Strength and Vulnerability scales. Results are discussed in terms of the clinical use of risk assessment.
An elliptic problem with arbitrarily small positive solutions

We show that, for each>0, the problem pu=f(u )i n; u=0 on@ has a sequence of positive solutions (un)n with maxun decreasing to zero. We assume that liminf s! 0+ F(s) s p =0 and that limsup s! 0+ F(s) s p =+1; whereF 0 =f. We stress that no condition on the sign off is imposed.
Comparison of sheet-resistance measurements obtained by standard and small-area four-point probing

A modification of the standard four-point probing technique has been developed for measurement of the sheet resistance of conducting films. Although the areas of unpatterned film that are required by the new modified technique are significantly less than those normally required with standard four-point probing, the values of sheet resistance provided by the two methods are found to match. The long term goal of this work is to improve the effectiveness of electrical critical-dimension (ECD) metrology in a special application, preferably without committing large surface areas of conducting film exclusively for the purpose of sheet-resistance measurement.
Upper-Ocean Processes under the Stratus Cloud Deck in the Southeast Pacific Ocean

Abstract The annual mean heat budget of the upper ocean beneath the stratocumulus/stratus cloud deck in the southeast Pacific is estimated using Simple Ocean Data Assimilation (SODA) and an eddy-resolving Hybrid Coordinate Ocean Model (HYCOM). Both are compared with estimates based on Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) Improved Meteorological (IMET) buoy observations at 20°S, 85°W. Net surface heat fluxes are positive (warming) over most of the area under the stratus cloud deck. Upper-ocean processes responsible for balancing the surface heat flux are examined by estimating each term in the heat equation. In contrast to surface heat fluxes, geostrophic transport in the upper 50 m causes net cooling in most of the stratus cloud deck region. Ekman transport provides net warming north of the IMET site and net cooling south of the IMET site. Although the eddy heat flux divergence term can be comparable to other terms at a particular location, such as the IMET mooring site, it is negligible for the en.
Efficacy and predictors of response to inhaled corticosteroid treatment for chronic cough

Background/Aims Inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) are a treatment of choice for eosinophilic airway diseases, but their efficacy for other causes of chronic cough is controversial. Methods We conducted a prospective observational study to determine the ICS efficacy and clinical predictors of response to ICS in patients with upper airway cough syndrome (UACS) or unexplained chronic cough (UCC). Sixty-eight patients with UACS and 33 patients with UCC (duration of cough ≥ 8 weeks) were treated with ICS: 250 µg of fluticasone propionate or 400 µg of budesonide twice a day at physician’s discretion. They were followed after 2 weeks to assess persistent cough which was measured as 0% to 100% compared with baseline cough frequency. Results The median grade of persistent cough after 2-week ICS treatment was 40% (interquartile range [IQR], 10 to 70) in UACS and was 50% (IQR, 20 to 70) in UCC. The only adverse event was infrequent, mild hoarse voice (five UACS and one UCC). Long duration of cough (≥ 52 weeks) and cough not aggravated by cold air exposure were predictors of a poorer response to short course ICS treatment (logistic regression analysis, p = 0.018 and p = 0.031, respectively). However, prolonged treatment with ICS more than 2 weeks was more effective in patients with long cough duration (≥ 52 weeks). Conclusions Short course ICS treatment has modest efficacy on UACS and UCC without significant adverse events. Duration of cough and cough triggered by cold air exposure were the clinical factors associated with ICS response. Extended treatment with ICS may be beneficial in patients with long duration of cough.
Comparative Studies on the Abundance of Zooplankton in the Surrounding Sea & Lagoons in the Lakshadweep

Composition and distribution of various groups and species of zooplankton at Kavaratti, Agatti and Suhelipar atolls of the Lakshadweep group of islands are reported . Higher biomass and diversity occur in the sea surrounding atolls compared to lagoons . Copepoda forms the dominant component of zooplankton . Zooplankton washed across the reef into the lagoon may be serving as food to the reef community . No fauna endemic to lagoons are encountered.
International outsourcing of information technology services: review and future directions

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to review the development of the empirical literature on international outsourcing of information technology services (ITS) over the 1992‐2007 period and to identify future research areas.Design/methodology/approach – A sample of 78 empirical academic publications on international outsourcing of ITS conducted between 1992 and 2007 across 46 scholarly journals constitutes the main data for analytical purposes. The sample is compiled following extensive electronic searches of the main academic databases. After clustering the studies in the sample according to their main research areas, a narrative approach is used to review developments in each cluster and to identify emerging research areas.Findings – Four main areas of research are identified, namely outsourcing decision, outsourcing management (OSM), outsourcing outcome and the role of offshore service providers (OSPs). The review suggests that research efforts to date have been predominantly on outsourcing decision.
Comparison of Methods to Identify Modules in Noisy or Incomplete Brain Networks

Community structure, or "modularity," is a fundamentally important aspect in the organization of structural and functional brain networks, but their identification with community detection methods is confounded by noisy or missing connections. Although several methods have been used to account for missing data, the performance of these methods has not been compared quantitatively so far. In this study, we compared four different approaches to account for missing connections when identifying modules in binary and weighted networks using both Louvain and Infomap community detection algorithms. The four methods are "zeros," "row-column mean," "common neighbors," and "consensus clustering. " Using Lancichinetti-Fortunato-Radicchi benchmark-simulated binary and weighted networks, we find that "zeros," "row-column mean," and "common neighbors" approaches perform well with both Louvain and Infomap, whereas "consensus clustering" performs well with Louvain but not Infomap. A similar pattern of results was observed with empirical networks from stereotactical electroencephalography data, except that "consensus clustering" outperforms other approaches on weighted networks with Louvain. Based on these results, we recommend any of the four methods when using Louvain on binary networks, whereas "consensus clustering" is superior with Louvain clustering of weighted networks. When using Infomap, "zeros" or "common neighbors" should be used for both binary and weighted networks. These findings provide a basis to accounting for noisy or missing connections when identifying modules in brain networks.
Effect of enhanced detailing and mass media on community use of oral rehydration salts and zinc during a scale-up program in Gujarat and Uttar Pradesh

Background The Clinton Health Access Initiative implemented a program from 2012-2016 to increase use of oral rehydration salts (ORS) and zinc to treat diarrhea in children under five in three states in India: Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, and Uttar Pradesh. The program interventions included detailing and development of a rural supply chain to reach private rural health care providers, training of Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHAs), technical support to the state governments, and a mass media campaign targeted at caregivers. In Gujarat and Uttar Pradesh, some of the program activities, such as detailing and ASHA trainings, were targeted to high-burden focal districts, thus providing an opportunity to study their effect compared to statewide activities that covered all districts, such as the mass media campaign. Our study aimed to estimate the effect of activities on ORS and zinc use. Methods Household surveys were conducted at two points during the program and in both focal and non-focal districts. We used a difference-in-difference quasi-experimental approach to estimate the effect of the enhanced activities in focal districts and mass media campaign on the odds of a child being treated with ORS and zinc. Findings Focal district interventions were associated with a significant increase in the odds of a diarrhea episode receiving ORS in Gujarat and Uttar Pradesh. Living in focal districts increased the odds of receiving ORS in Gujarat and Uttar Pradesh by factors of 3.42 (95% CI = 1.39-8.33) and 2.29 (95% CI = 1.19-4.39), respectively. Focal district interventions were also associated with 15.02 (95% CI = 2.97-75.19) greater odds of receiving both ORS and zinc in Gujarat. In Uttar Pradesh, where the mass media campaign was focused, exposure to the campaign further modified the odds of receiving ORS and combined ORS and zinc by 1.38 (95% CI = 1.04-1.84) and 1.57 (95% CI = 1.01-2.46), respectively. Conclusion Comprehensive public and private provider interventions combined with mass media are effective strategies for increasing ORS and zinc use.
Bayesian inversion of marine controlled source electromagnetic data offshore Vancouver Island, Canada

This paper applies nonlinear Bayesian inversion to marine controlled source electromagnetic (CSEM) data collected near two sites of the Integrated Ocean Drilling Program (IODP) Expedition 311 on the northern Cascadia Margin to investigate subseafloor resistivity structure related to gas hydrate deposits and cold vents. The Cascadia margin, off the west coast of Vancouver Island, Canada, has a large accretionary prism where sediments are under pressure due to convergent plate boundary tectonics. Gas hydrate deposits and cold vent structures have previously been investigated by various geophysical methods and seabed drilling. Here, we invert time-domain CSEM data collected at Sites U1328 and U1329 of IODP Expedition 311 using Bayesian methods to derive subsurface resistivity model parameters and uncertainties. The Bayesian information criterion is applied to determine the amount of structure (number of layers in a depth-dependent model) that can be resolved by the data. The parameter space is sampled with the Metropolis–Hastings algorithm in principal-component space, utilizing parallel tempering to ensure wider and efficient sampling and convergence. Nonlinear inversion allows analysis of uncertain acquisition parameters such as time delays between receiver and transmitter clocks as well as input electrical current amplitude. Marginalizing over these instrument parameters in the inversion accounts for their contribution to the geophysical model uncertainties. One-dimensional inversion of time-domain CSEM data collected at measurement sites along a survey line allows interpretation of the subsurface resistivity structure. The data sets can be generally explained by models with 1 to 3 layers. Inversion results at U1329, at the landward edge of the gas hydrate stability zone, indicate a sediment unconformity as well as potential cold vents which were previously unknown. The resistivities generally increase upslope due to sediment erosion along the slope. Inversion results at U1328 on the middle slope suggest several vent systems close to Bullseye vent in agreement with ongoing interdisciplinary observations.