Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Application of secondary traits in barley for identification of drought tolerant genotypes in multi-environment trials

Discriminant function analysis (DFA) is a biometric method that can be used by breeders to distinguish between drought tolerant genotypes. Drought stress is one of the major limiting factors that reduce crop production in semi-arid and arid regions around the world. A multi-environment trial was conducted on barley to investigate various phonological and morphological characteristics under both drought stress and irrigated conditions. Ten indigenous barley genotypes were evaluated in four cropping seasons and in two locations of Iran. Genetic variation was observed in all traits. The traits observed in all genotypes were significantly different. The average broad sense heritability predicted for secondary traits (0.88) was significantly more than grain yield (0.62). The results could significantly discriminate between low and high yield genotypes under drought stress by describing eight secondary traits including biomass, spike weight, grain numbers per main spike, grain numbers per plant, awn length, days to flowering, grain filling period and potential yield. High yield genotypes were selected by discriminant analysis (Eq. (1)). The discriminant score (DS) could explain 67% of grain yield variations and had a significant correlation (r=0.82 ** ) with the average of grain yield examined under drought stress over four years. Consequently, integrated selection can be used as a reliable approach to future breeding programs. Results of DFA indicated that the most important traits, in order of appearance, are awn length, grain filling period, spike weight, and grain numbers per main spike. The results demonstrated that secondary traits could be considered as proper criteria to improve the genetic gain of grain yield and to select tolerant cultivars for environments that are susceptible to drought.
Eliciting Preferences for Health Insurance in Iran Using Discrete Choice Experiment Analysis

Background: The preferences of Iranians concerning the attributes of health insurance benefit packages are not well studied. This study aimed to elicit health insurance preferences among insured people in Iran during 2016. Methods: A mixed methods study using a discrete choice experiment (DCE) approach was conducted to elicit health insurance preferences on a total sample of 600 insured Iranians residing in Tehran. The final design of the DCE included 8 health insurance attributes. Data were analyzed using conditional logistic regression models. Results: The final model of this DCE study included 8 attributes, and the findings indicated statistically significant (P<.001) increase in the odds ratio (OR) of choosing health insurance at all levels of cost coverage except for the rehabilitation and para-clinical benefits, where at 70% cost coverage there was insignificant (P=.485) disutility (OR=0.95). With the increase in cost coverage level, the probability of choosing health insurance was significantly (P<.001) the highest for the private hospitals’ benefits (OR=2.82) followed by public hospitals’ benefits (OR=2.02) and outpatient benefits (OR=1.75), and the premium revealed statistically significant (P<.001) disutility (OR=0.96). Conclusion: Our findings revealed that participants would be willing to choose health insurance plans with higher cost coverage of healthcare services and with lower premiums. However, the demographic characteristics, income, and health status of the insured individuals affected their health insurance preferences. The findings can contribute to the design of better health insurance policies, improve the participation of individuals in health insurance, and increase the insured individuals’ utility from the insurance benefits packages.
Choosing Classification Algorithms and Its Optimum Parameters based on Data Set Characteristics

Choosing a correct classification algorithm for a given data set is an important task considering the existing multiple classifiers. A method of recommending a suitable algorithm and its optimum parameters for a given data set is proposed. Firstly, six different types of measures are computed for each data set to be representation of its characteristics. Then, the performance and optimum parameters for a given algorithm are computed by using grid search method. Afterwards, a model was built to predict the variance of classifiers for a given data set and another model was built to predict the best suitable algorithm. The proposed method tries to predict the optimum parameter for a certain algorithm based on knowledge learning from history data sets. To evaluate the performance of the proposed method, some extensive experiments for four different types of algorithms are conducted upon the UCI data sets. The results indicate that the proposed method is effective.
Lung-Speci fi c Loss of a 3 Laminin Worsens Bleomycin-Induced Pulmonary Fibrosis

Laminins are heterotrimeric proteins that are secreted by the alveolar epithelium into the basement membrane, and their expression is altered in extracellular matrices from patients with pulmonary fibrosis. In a small number of patients with pulmonary fibrosis, we found that the normal basement membrane distribution of the a3 laminin subunit was lost in fibrotic regions of the lung. To determine if these changes play a causal role in the development of fibrosis, we generated mice lacking the a3 laminin subunit specifically in the lung epithelium by crossingmice expressing Cre recombinase driven by the surfactant proteinCpromoter (SPC-Cre) withmice expressing floxed alleles encoding the a3 laminin gene (Lama3). These mice exhibited no developmental abnormalities in the lungs up to 6 months of age, but, compared with control mice, had worsened mortality, increased inflammation, and increased fibrosis after the intratracheal administration of bleomycin. Similarly, the severity of fibrosis induced by an adenovirus encoding an active form of transforming growth factor-bwasworse inmice deficient ina3 laminin in the lung. Taken together, our results suggest that the loss of a3 laminin in the lung epithelium does not affect lung development, but plays a causal role in the development of fibrosis in response to bleomycin or adenovirally delivered transforming growth factor-b. Thus, we speculate that the loss of the normal basement membrane organization of a3 laminin that we observe in fibrotic regions from the lungs of patients with pulmonary fibrosis contributes to their disease progression.
A Stochastic Volatility Model With Conditional Skewness

We develop a discrete-time affine stochastic volatility model with time-varying conditional skewness (SVS). Importantly, we disentangle the dynamics of conditional volatility and conditional skewness in a coherent way. Our approach allows current asset returns to be asymmetric conditional on current factors and past information, which we term contemporaneous asymmetry. Conditional skewness is an explicit combination of the conditional leverage effect and contemporaneous asymmetry. We derive analytical formulas for various return moments that are used for generalized method of moments (GMM) estimation. Applying our approach to S&P500 index daily returns and option data, we show that one- and two-factor SVS models provide a better fit for both the historical and the risk-neutral distribution of returns, compared to existing affine generalized autoregressive conditional heteroscedasticity (GARCH), and stochastic volatility with jumps (SVJ) models. Our results are not due to an overparameterization of the model: the one-factor SVS models have the same number of parameters as their one-factor GARCH competitors and less than the SVJ benchmark.
Simple Monetary Policymaking without the Output Gap

Several research contributions have argued that information about the output gap is essential for a good monetary policy rule. However, as pointed out by Orphanides (2001), there is considerable real-time uncertainty about the size of the output gap. The paper argues that simple monetary policy rules that rely exclusively on (survey-based) information about future and past inflation rates may be more efficient than optimized Taylor rules once realtime output gap uncertainty is accounted for. Even when only information about historical inflation rates is available, a very simple policy rule may be constructed that improves on the Taylor rule.
Serological Monitoring of Brucellosis in Female Calves Born from Infected Herds from Birth to their First Calving

The aim of this study was to determine the frequency of brucellosis contagion of female calves born from seropositive and seronegative cows in brucellosis-infected herds. Brucellosis was monitored by serological analysis of 192 female calves from ten stables. Eight of these stables corresponded to family dairy herds, which had been vaccinated with S19; one was a semi-intensive herd vaccinated with RB51 and the last one was an intensive herd vaccinated with both vaccines. Monthly blood samples were taken from the female calves, from birth up to nine months of age; later, blood samples were taken at 12, 15, 18, 21, 24 months, and during delivery or abortion. Blood samples were analysed with Rose Bengal, rivanol and radial immunodiffusion tests to detect the appearance of seropositivity. A total of 192 female calves were evaluated and only 23% (45/192) were seropositive to brucellosis during the entire study. Of the 45 serologically positive female calves, 47% (21/45) were daughters of seropositive cows, while 53% (24/45) were daughters of seronegative cows. In conclusion, only 23% of the female calves born from infected herds showed seropositivity to brucellosis from birth up to 24 months of age, of which less than half were daughters of seropositive mothers and more than half were daughters of seronegative mothers. Therefore, serological diagnosis of brucellosis should be considered at an early age, which is currently not regular practice. In addition, biosecurity measures should be established, mainly in family dairy herds.
THE EFFECT OF OFFSHORE DREDGING ON COASTLINES

The South of England is well endowed with land deposits of river gravel and sand. Nevertheless, the demand for aggregate and the need to conserve agricultural land have increased to the point where in 1976 sea dredged aggregate was accounting for 11% of the total sand and gravel production. In addition to this annual home consumption of about 12 million tonnes of dredged aggregate a further 3.5 million tonnes was exported to Europe in 1976. Understandably, authorities responsible for coast protection and sea defence view the increase in the removal of marine deposits with concern and a system of licensing by the Crown Estate Commissioners who are responsible for the sea bed from high water to the UK Continental shelf limit has been developed over the years. Dredging by port authorities within their area ofjurisdiction, for navigational purposes, is outside this licensing system. Within the three mile limit local authorities have powers under the Coast Protection Act to regulate dredging. In 1976 a report by an advisory committee to the Department of the Environment1-1^ recommended, among other things, that further studies should be carried out by HRS aimed at reviewing the existing constraints on marine dredging for gravel. In general, the material which is sought for construction purposes is a 60% shingle, 40% sand mixture, but sand is also needed for reclamation fill and for industrial purposes. The areas dredged at present are shown in Figure 1. This paper deals briefly with the licensing procedure and at some length with the involvement of the Hydraulics Research Station in assessing how dredging might affect the coastline. The effect on fisheries, navigation, coastal ecology, and other interests is considered by other organisations. Very little is known of the criteria applied to offshore dredging by other countries, apart from Germany, but with the increased exploitation of the sea bed it is important that information gained by other countries should be used to improve our existing criteria.
Effect of Bottle Height and Vacuum Level on Fluid Dynamics during Phacoemulsification in Normal Canine Eyes Ex Vivo by Seonmi Kang Supervised

The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the effects of phacoemulsification with different fluidic parameters on the intraocular tissues and intraocular pressure (IOP) in dogs. Phacoemulsification is the most commonly performed cataract surgery. Fluid dynamics and phacodynamics have been reported as one of the important contributing factors to postoperative complications following phacoemulsification. Fluidic parameters consist of bottle height (BH), ultrasound energy, vacuum, and aspiration and irrigation flow rate. To improve the success rate of phacoemulsification, the surgeon must understand these parameters which maintain anterior chamber stability during phacoemulsification by the
The Effects of Civil Conflicts on Women's Labor Force Participation: A Causal Mechanism Approach

This essay investigates how civil conflict affects women’s labor force participation and provides evidence that part of this effect is through the mechanism of domestic violence exposure. Psychologists have done most of the work on the relationship between civil violence exposure and domestic violence, whereas economists have focused on the causes and consequences of civil violence exposure. However, there is no evidence in the economics literature on how domestic violence may operate as a causal mechanism between civil conflict and women’s labor force participation. To investigate this relationship I apply the methodology developed in Flores and Flores-Lagunes (2011), which allows the identification of causal mechanisms and net effects under some uncofoundedness assumption. I use a representative sample of Peru’s female population between 15 and 49 years of age (Demographic and Health Survey 2005-2008) to construct a sample of 6,691 women. I find that the exposure to the civil conflict between 1980 and 2000 increased the probability of urban women working by 0.0454 (eight percent) and that about 73 percent of this increase is net of the effect through domestic violence. I argue that the deteriorating economic conditions during the post-conflict period in affected areas may have forced women to enter the labor market in order to contribute to household income.
Assessment of Occupational Hazards, Health Problems and Safety Practices of Petrol Station Attendants in Uyo, Nigeria

Background: Petrol station attendants encounter several hazards and health problems while working. This study was conducted to determine the occupational hazards, health problems and safety practices of petrol station attendants in Uyo, Nigeria. Methods: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study carried out among all consenting attendants working in filling stations owned by independent petroleum marketers in Uyo. Data was collected using structured interviewer-administered questionnaire and analyzed using STATA 12.1 software. Analysis employed descriptive and inferential statistics. Level of significance was set at 5%. Results: A total of 215 respondents participated in the study. The mean age of respondents was 24.3 ± 4.6 years with 117 (54.4%) being females. Hazards reported included inhalation of petrol fumes 145 (67.4%), confrontation from customers 112 (52.1%) and noise 98 (45.6%). Health problems reported included headache (53.6%), low back pain (33.3%), eye irritation (29.5%), dizziness (24.6%), cough (18.6%) and nausea (18.6%). There was a statistically significant association between having headache, nausea, cough and inhalation of petrol vapour (p<0.01) or car exhaust fumes (p<0.05). Awareness about personal protective equipment was 30.7%, while use was 7.0%. Hand washing after contact with fuel was practiced by 73.5% of the respondents. Only 4.2% reported ever undergoing preor postemployment medical examination. Conclusion: Petrol station attendants in this study were exposed to various hazards and health problems. Awareness and use of PPE was very low. Efforts should be made by stakeholders to ensure that owners of filling stations take responsibility for the health and safety of their workers. Correspondence to: Dr Ofonime E. Johnson Department of Community Health, University of Uyo Teaching Hospital, Uyo Email drjohnsonoe@yahoo.com Telephone +2348161518358
Dummy Endogenous Variables in Weakly Separable Models

In this paper, we consider the nonparametric identification and estimation of the average effect of a dummy endogenous regressor in models where the regressors are weakly but not additively separable from the error term. The model is not required to be strictly increasing in the error term, and the class of models considered includes limited dependent variable models such as discrete choice models. Conditions are established conditions under which it is possible to identify the average effect of the dummy endogenous regressor in a weakly separable model without relying on parametric functional form or distributional assumptions and without the use of large support conditions. Copyright The Econometric Society 2007.
Exosomes impact survival to radiation exposure in cell line models of nervous system cancer

Radiation is utilized in the therapy of more than 50% of cancer patients. Unfortunately, many malignancies become resistant to radiation over time. We investigated the hypothesis that one method of a cancer cell's ability to survive radiation occurs through cellular communication via exosomes. Exosomes are cell-derived vesicles containing DNA, RNA, and protein. Three properties were analyzed: 1) exosome function, 2) exosome profile and 3) exosome uptake/blockade. To analyze exosome function, we show radiation-derived exosomes increased proliferation and enabled recipient cancer cells to survive radiation in vitro. Furthermore, radiation-derived exosomes increased tumor burden and decreased survival in an in vivo model. To address the mechanism underlying the alterations by exosomes in recipient cells, we obtained a profile of radiation-derived exosomes that showed expression changes favoring a resistant/proliferative profile. Radiation-derived exosomes contain elevated oncogenic miR-889, oncogenic mRNAs, and proteins of the proteasome pathway, Notch, Jak-STAT, and cell cycle pathways. Radiation-derived exosomes contain decreased levels of tumor-suppressive miR-516, miR-365, and multiple tumor-suppressive mRNAs. Ingenuity pathway analysis revealed the most represented networks included cell cycle, growth/survival. Upregulation of DNM2 correlated with increased exosome uptake. To analyze the property of exosome blockade, heparin and simvastatin were used to inhibit uptake of exosomes in recipient cells resulting in inhibited induction of proliferation and cellular survival. Because these agents have shown some success as cancer therapies, our data suggest their mechanism of action could be limiting exosome communication between cells. The results of our study identify a novel exosome-based mechanism that may underlie a cancer cell's ability to survive radiation.
A magnetorheological clutch for efficient automotive auxiliary device actuation

In this paper the results of a project funded by Regione Toscana aimed at reducing the power absorption of auxiliary devices in vehicles are presented. In particular the design, testing and application of a magnetorheological clutch (MR) is proposed, aimed at disengaging the vacuum pump, which draws in air from the power-brake booster chamber, in order to reduce the device power absorption. Several clutch preliminary studies done to choose the clutch geometry and the magnetic field supply are illustrated. The final choice consisted in an MR clutch with permanent magnet, which satisfied size, torque and fail-safe specifications. The clutch characteristics, in terms of torque versus slip, were obtained experimentally for three different clutch prototypes on an ad-hoc developed test bench. As result of a preliminary simulation, a comparison between the power absorption of a current production vacuum pump, an innovative vacuum pump and both vacuum pumps coupled with the MR clutch is presented. The New European Driving Cycle is considered for simulating the vacuum pump operation both in urban and highway driving. Results show that the use of the innovative vacuum pump reduces the device consumption of about 35%, whereas the use of MR clutch coupled with the innovative vacuum pump reduces it up to about 44% in urban driving and 50% in highway driving.
Model Equivalence Tests for Overidentifying Restrictions

I propose a new theoretical framework to assess the approximate validity of overidentifying moment restrictions. Their approximate validity is evaluated by the divergence between the true probability measure and the closest measure that imposes the moment restrictions of interest. The divergence can be chosen as any of the Cressie-Read family. The considered alternative hypothesis states that the divergence is smaller than some user-chosen tolerance. Model equivalence tests are constructed for this hypothesis based on the minimum empirical divergence. These tests attains the local semiparametric power envelope of invariant tests. Three empirical applications illustrate their practical usefulness for providing evidence on the potential extent of misspecification.
A cost-effective approach to predict dynamic variation of mesohabitats at the river scale in Norwegian systems

ABSTRACT This paper presents a cost-effective approach to predict dynamic variation of mesohabitat classes or hydromorphological units (HMUs) in the context of a peaking scenario. Predicting dynamic mesohabitats has been a challenge in the last 20 years. This is mainly due to the fact that mesohabitat changes do not show a simple relationship with varying discharges. The HMUs Simulation Method, by using a one-dimensional hydraulic model as a basis, proved to be a promising tool to simulate HMUs at four varying discharges in a Norwegian river. Low flows and surface pattern criteria were the most challenging to simulate and best modelling results were achieved for the higher flows. Further development on this approach should follow, but at present the method shows promising results towards the prediction of dynamic HMUs at the river scale.
Characterizing Parents’ and School Staff’s Involvement with Student Attendance from the Perspective of School Staff in Japan

This study investigated the relations between parents and various school staff involvement, and student attendance across time from the viewpoint of school staff in Japan. In addition, student attendance characteristics were classified to investigate potential differences among students related to time and involvement of parents and staff. The research participants were Japanese elementary, junior, and senior high school staff (N = 206) who consented to participate in the survey. All participants were sampled from various areas of Japan and recruited through a web-based survey. Data were collected by the polling organization Internet Research Service MELLINKS (Tokyo, Japan), through their web panel (see www.mellinks.co.jp). The results indicated that during the early period of support, there was no positive correlation between class teachers’ involvement and students’ attendance. However, during the late period of support, it had a positive correlation. Surprisingly, the school nurses’ involvement was critical even in the early periods. Furthermore, in the late period, the results of ANOVAs assessing difference among the student attendance categories showed that maintaining and recovery types had higher scores of parents’ and class teachers’ involvement than non-maintaining and declining types. This study suggests that flexibility of collaboration among parents and various school staff across time is an important component to support student attendance.