Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Impacts of Plot Location Errors on Accuracy of Mapping and Scaling Up Aboveground Forest Carbon Using Sample Plot and Landsat TM Data

Combining forest inventory plot and Landsat Thematic Mapper (TM) data has been widely used for mapping forest carbon. However, uncertainty analysis is a great challenge. This study investigated the uncertainties of mapping and scaling up aboveground forest carbon (AGFC) due to plot location errors in Wu-Yuan of East China. Plot location errors were simulated by randomly perturbing the location of each plot with eleven different distances that varied from 5 to 8000 m. Given a perturbed distance (PD) such as 100 m, a forest carbon map was created by combining and scaling up the plot and TM data from a spatial resolution of 28.5 m × 28.5 m to 969 m × 969 m using a sequential Gaussian block cosimulation algorithm. The maps obtained from the perturbed plot locations were compared with that from the true plot locations. The results showed that, as the plot location PD increased, the accuracy of predicted AGFC values decreased, but their spatial patterns (clustering of high and low values) remained until the PD of 800 m, slightly changed at the PD of 1600 m, looked more different at the PDs of 3000 and 5000 m, and became totally random at the PD of 8000 m. More importantly, it was found that scaling up the spatial data mitigated the impacts of plot location errors on the map accuracy compared to those without the up-scaling.
Music Training and Mathematics Achievement of Ninth Graders.

Iowa Test of Basic Skills (ITBS) mathematics scores of ninth graders (N=113) who had received music lessons were compared according to whether the students were given private lessons. Comparisons were also made between students whose lessons were on the keyboard and students whose lessons involved something other than the keyboard. Students who had private lessons for two or more years performed significantly higher on the composite mathematics portion of the ITBS than those students who did not have private lessons. Students whose lessons involved the keyboard had significantly higher ITBS mathematics scores than those students whose lessons did not involve the keyboard. These results are discussed in relation to previous research on music training and mathematics achievement. (Author) ******************************************************************************** * Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made * * from the original document. * ******************************************************************************** Music Training and Mathematics Achievement of lfmth Graders Joyce M. Cheek: Columbia County, Georgia, Public School System 00 and Lyle R. Smith, Augusta State University kr) cN1
Power and Sample Size Determination in Survival Time Studies with Special Regard to the Censoring Mechanism

When calculating the power and sample size in survival time studies for the comparison of two treatments censoring has to be taken into account. In most medical applications only vague information about the shape of the underlying distributions is available. Thus, a distribution-free procedure based on the McNemar test is proposed and compared with other methods.
Functions of the sequences at the ends of the inverted repeats of pseudorabies virus

Two mutants were constructed to explore the functions of the sequences at the end of the S terminus of pseudorabies virus (PrV). In mutant vYa, 17 bp from the internal inverted repeat, as well as adjacent sequences from the L component, were deleted. In mutant v135/9, 143 bp from the internal inverted repeat (including sequences with homology to the pac-1 site of herpes simplex virus), as well as adjacent sequences from the L component, were deleted. Our aim in constructing these mutants was to ascertain whether equalization of the terminal regions of the S component would occur, whether genome termini that lack either the terminal 17 or 143 bp would be generated as a result of equalization of the repeats (thereby identifying the terminal nucleotides that may include cleavage signals), and whether inversion of the S component would occur (thereby ascertaining the importance of the deleted sequences in this process). The results obtained show the following (i) The removal of the terminal 17 or 143 bp of the internal S component, including the sequences with homology to the pac-1 site, does not affect the inversion of the Us. (ii) The equalization of both the vYa and the v135/9 inverted repeats occurs at high frequency, the terminal repeats being converted and becoming similar to the mutated internal inverted repeat. (iii) Mutants in which the 17 terminal base pairs (vYa) have been replaced by unrelated sequences are viable. However, the 143 terminal base pairs appear to be essential to virus survival; concatemeric v135/9 DNA with equalized, mutant-type, inverted repeats accumulates, but mature virions with such equalized repeats are not generated at high frequency. Since concatemeric DNA missing the 143 bp at both ends of the S component is not cleaved, the terminal 143 bp that include the sequences with homology to the pac-1 site are necessary for efficient cleavage. (iv) v135/9 intracellular DNA is composed mainly of arrays in which one S component (with two equalized inverted repeats both having the deletion) is bracketed by two L components in opposite orientations and in which two L components are in head-to-head alignment. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Observation of molecular-beam magnetic resonance of Li3 clusters.

The electron-spin-resonance spectrum was measured for pseudorotating 6 Li 3 clusters by a matrix-free method, the molecular-beam magnetic resonance. Magnetic focusing was used for polarization and separation of the trimer beam. The spectrum indicates three equivalent lithium nuclei and gives the (average) isotropic spin population of ρ=0.231 and a g factor of g=2.002 36. The ρ value is very close to previous results obtained for matrix-isolated clusters, and the g factor is nearly equal to the free-electron value
In Vitro Susceptibility of Lamivudine-Resistant Hepatitis B Virus to Adefovir and Tenofovir

Emergence of lamivudine-resistant hepatitis B virus (HBV) is a major concern in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and HBV coinfected patients. Following selection of resistant mutants, hepatitis flare or rapid progression to cirrhosis may occur. Treatment of patients with new nucleotide analogues such as adefovir dipivoxil (ADV) or tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) has shown good efficacy in controlling wild-type or lamivudine-resistant HBV replication. The purpose of this study was to assess the in vitro efficacy of new nucleotide analogues on HBV strains isolated from lamivudine-treated patients. After purification of HBV DNA from patient sera, the whole HBV genome was PCR-amplified and cloned. Drug sensitivity was measured after transfection of the isolated full genomes into HepG2 cells and measurement of HBeAg, HBsAg and viral replication in the culture media under increasing drug concentrations. A wild-type strain isolated from an untreated patient served as control. In a clinical study of ADV (Gilead 460i study), seven of the 35 patients carried HBV strains with the triple lamivudine resistance-associated amino-acid changes rtV173L/L180M/M204V at baseline. Although all patients responded to ADV in this clinical study, the serum HBV reduction was lower in the seven patients with the triple mutation (median –3.3 log copies/ml) compared to the patients who had only the rtL180M/M204V mutations (median –4.1 log copies/ml) at week 48 (P=0.04, Mann-Whitney test). In our in vitro system, lamivudine IC50 on lamivudine-resistant HBV carrying amino-acid substitutions rtL180M and rtM204V within the polymerase encoding region increased by more than 16000-fold (from 6 nM to over 100 μM) when compared to wild-type HBV. For ADV and TDF, comparison of wild-type and lamivudine-resistant HBV IC50 (rtL180M-M204V) showed, respectively, 2.85fold (from 0.07 to 0.2 μM) and 3.3-fold (from 0.06 to 0.2 μM) increases, indicating a mild decrease of both drug activities, in vitro. At the ADV concentration of 0.1 μM, presence of the V173L mutation reduced the inhibition of HBsAg production from 50 to 30% (P<0.01) and the viral replication from 45 to 32% (P<0.01, Mann-Whitney). Conversely, tenofovir had similar potency on both HBV mutation profiles with 60% inhibition of HBsAg production and 45% inhibition of viral replication at 0.1 μM. Our study supports the high efficacy of ADV and TDF seen in patients after lamivudine breakthrough. The excellent activity of TDF on lamivudine-resistant virus independently of the resistance mutation profile offers an interesting treatment alternative to HIV–HBV coinfected patients.
Changes in dental fear among Finnish adults: a national survey.

OBJECTIVES The aim of this study was to evaluate changes in dental fear among adult Finns aged 19 years and over at the beginning of the study in 2000-2011 in a nationally representative sample. METHODS The study was based on Health 2000 and 2011 Surveys by the National Institute for Health and Welfare in Finland. The Health 2000 Survey used a stratified two-stage cluster sampling design (N = 9 922). Those who participated in 2000 (n = 7 964) were invited to participate in 2011. The number of participants was 3 961. Dental fear was assessed by a single question: 'How afraid are you of visiting a dentist? ' (not at all, somewhat, very much). Background variables included were age (categories 30-34, 35-39, 40-44, 45-54, 55-64, 65-74, 75+ years), gender, marital status (nonsingle, single), and education (basic, secondary, higher). To match the population sizes in different areas and thus forming a nationally representative data, the data were weighted based on age, gender, and area. General linear modeling for repeated measures was used to evaluate changes in dental fear and associations with background variables. RESULTS Between 2000 and 2011, dental fear decreased more often than increased among adults in Finland. Change from being very afraid to not at all afraid of visiting a dentist was most common in the oldest group. For most participants, dental fear remained stable; being very afraid of visiting a dentist was more stable among participants from 35 to 54 years of age than among younger or older participants. CONCLUSIONS Dental fear is still common among adult Finns and it seems to depend on age. As the most obvious consequence of dental fear is avoidance of dental care, reducing dental fear should be taken into account when planning and reorienting oral healthcare services.
Fasting hyperglycemia predicts lower rates of weight gain by increased energy expenditure and fat oxidation rate.

CONTEXT Increased adiposity and insulin resistance are associated with hyperglycemia and previous studies have reported that higher glucoses are associated with lower rates of weight gain. One possible mechanism is via increased energy expenditure (EE). OBJECTIVE To assess the relationships between changes in EE during spontaneous weight gain and concomitant changes in glucose levels. DESIGN AND PARTICIPANTS Body composition, metabolic, and glycemic data were available from nondiabetic Native Americans who underwent two measurements of 24-h EE during eucaloric feeding in a metabolic chamber (N = 144; time between measurements: 5.0 ± 3.3 years) or resting EE by ventilated hood system during the euglycemic-hyperinsulinemic clamp (N = 261; 4.5 ± 3.2 years). Long-term follow-up data (8.3 ± 4.3 years) for weight and body composition were available in 131 and 122 subjects, respectively. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Twenty four hour EE and respiratory quotient (RQ), resting (RMR), and sleeping (SMR) metabolic rates, glucose, and insulin levels, basal glucose output (BGO). RESULTS Weight gain-associated increase in fasting plasma glucose (FPG) levels was accompanied with decreased 24-h RQ (partial R = -0.24, P = .002) and increased 24-h EE, RMR, SMR, and fat oxidation after accounting for changes in body composition (partial R: 0.12 to 0.19, all P ≤ .05). Upon weight gain, BGO tended to increase (P = .07), while insulin infusion induced a decrease in EE (P = .04). Higher baseline FPG predicted lower rates of future weight gain (partial R = -0.18, P = .04). CONCLUSIONS Higher FPG after weight gain was associated with greater-than-expected increase in EE. The rise in BGO and the insulin-induced EE suppression at follow-up indicate that increased hepatic gluconeogenesis may be an important mediator of EE changes associated with weight gain.
Archaeal virus with exceptional virion architecture and the largest single-stranded DNA genome

Known viruses build their particles using a restricted number of redundant structural solutions. Here, we describe the Aeropyrum coil-shaped virus (ACV), of the hyperthermophilic archaeon Aeropyrum pernix, with a virion architecture not previously observed in the viral world. The nonenveloped, hollow, cylindrical virion is formed from a coiling fiber, which consists of two intertwining halves of a single circular nucleoprotein. The virus ACV is also exceptional for its genomic properties. It is the only virus with a single-stranded (ss) DNA genome among the known hyperthermophilic archaeal viruses. Moreover, the size of its circular genome, 24,893 nt, is double that of the largest known ssDNA genome, suggesting an efficient solution for keeping ssDNA intact at 90–95 °C, the optimal temperature range of A. pernix growth. The genome content of ACV is in line with its unique morphology and confirms that ACV is not closely related to any known virus.
Examining the Relationships between the Level of Schools for Being Professional Learning Communities and Teacher Professionalism.

The objective of this study is to examine the relationships between the levels of schools for being professional learning communities and teacher professionalism based on teachers' perceptions. The participants were a total of 543 teachers working at elementary, middle and high schools in the Eyup District of Istanbul. The data were gathered through the "Professional Learning Community Scale" and the "Teacher Professionalism Scale". The results showed that the teachers' perceptions on schools becoming professional learning communities and teacher professionalism were above moderate level. There were positive and significant correlations between all dimensions regarding the levels of schools for being professional learning communities, and teacher professionalism. Besides, the only significant and positive predictor of teacher professionalism was found to be the dimension "collective learning and applications" of professional learning community scale.
Permanent cardiac pacing: first Congolese experiment

To present profile of the first patients implanted of pacemaker in Congo. A descriptive longitudinal study was conducted in the Department of Cardiology and the operating theater of the University Hospital of Brazzaville, from January to September 2012. It focused on eight patients who underwent pacemaker implantation during a French pacing mission. The effect of pacemaker on symptoms and quality of life of patients was assessed according to the CDC-HRQOL4. Mean age of patients was 70.4 ± 6 years (range: 63-81 years). There were four men and four women. Functional signs consisted in: dyspnea (7 cases), syncope (3 cases), syncopal equivalents (2 cases). One patient was asymptomatic. The average heart rate was 37.4 beats per minute (range; 27 and 49 beats). Electrocardiogram showed: a complete atrioventricular block (6 cases), an atrioventricular block of high degree 2/1 (2 cases). Cephalic venous access was used in six patients and subclavian in two others. All patients were implanted and stimulated in single chamber ventricular (VVIR). All patients notified improvement of symptoms and quality of life during the first month of implantation. No complication has been observed.
Differences in Consumer Attitude towards Selective Fast Food Restaurants in Bangladesh: An Implication of Multiattribute Attitude Model

Fast food has increasingly become popular in Bangladesh with the effect of globalization. Many people, specifically the younger generation are consuming various types of fast foods everyday as these are convenient, time saving and tasty. Consumers’ choice of a particular restaurant depends on many factors, i.e. quality, variation, location, price, environment, and many more aspects. Thus the consumer evaluation is important to explore why a consumer visits a particular restaurant. The present study is an attempt to find out the differences in consumers’ attitude towards selective fast food restaurants in Bangladesh. To fulfill this objective, the study explores the most frequent salient beliefs of consumers regarding the fast food restaurants in Bangladesh, which are quality, price, quick service, and environment of the restaurants. Based on the salient beliefs, multiattribute attitude model has been developed and tested in four restaurants; these are Pizza Hut, KFC, Helvetia, and Western Grill, which are found as most visited fast food restaurants according to the consumers. For this study Fishbein multiattribute attitude model is used. Structured questionnaire survey is conducted on 100 consumers to obtain consumer opinion regarding the strengths and evaluation of salient beliefs. The result explores that consumers have the most favorable attitude towards Pizza Hut and the least favorable attitude towards Helvetia. Significant differences are found among these four restaurants in terms of belief evaluations about quality, price, quick service, and environment. It is also found that consumers have most favorable evaluation about Pizza Hut’s food quality and environment, and KFC’s food price and prompt services. At the end of the paper, some recommendations are made based on the study results.
Crystal structure of N-[(8E)-12-methyl-14-phenyl-10,13,14,16-tetraazatetracyclo[7.7.0.02,7.011,15]hexadeca-1(16),2,4,6,9,11(15),12-heptaen-8-ylidene]hydroxylamine 1,4-dioxane hemisolvate

In the title solvate, C19H13N5O·0.5C4H8O2, the main molecule is almost planar (r.m.s. deviation for the non-H atoms = 0.066 Å). The hydroxylamine group is disordered over two orientations in a 0.761 (4):0.239 (4) ratio. The complete dioxane solvent molecule is generated by a crystallographic inversion centre. In the crystal, both disorder components of the hydroxylamine group form O—H⋯N hydrogen bonds to the same N-atom acceptor, thereby generating [010] chains. The chains encompass [010] channels occupied by the solvent molecules. Aromatic π–π stacking is also observed [shortest centroid–centroid separation = 3.3394 (19) Å].
Statistical analysis of the FXLMS algorithm with a nonlinearity in the secondary-path

This paper presents a statistical analysis of the filtered-X least mean square (FXLMS) algorithm with a nonlinearity in the secondary path. The nonlinearity is a scaled error function and models the saturation behavior of the transducers and associated hardware. Deterministic nonlinear recursions are derived for the mean weight and mean square error (MSE) behavior for white Gaussian inputs and slow adaptation. Monte Carlo simulations show excellent agreement with the behavior predicted by the theoretical models. The analytical results suggest small nonlinear effects have a significant impact on the converged MSE.
Physiological indexese macro- and micronutrients in plant tissue and essential oil of Mentha piperita L. grown in nutrient solution with variation in N, P, K and Mg levels

Mentha piperita L. is an aromatic and medicinal species of the family Lamiaceae, known as mint or peppermint, and its leaves and branches produce essential oil rich in menthol. This study aimed to evaluate physiological indexes, macro- and micronutrients inthe shootsand essential oil of Mentha piperita L. grown in nutrient solution number 2 of Hoagland and Arnon (1950) with different N, P, K and Mg levels. Shoot length, dry mass of the different organs, total dry mass, leaf area, essential oil yield and composition, and macronutrient (N, P, K, Mg, Ca, S) and micronutrient (Mn, Cu, Fe, Zn) contents in the shoot were evaluated. Plants treated with 65%N/50%P/25%K/100%Mg had a tendency towards longer shoot, greaterroot and leaf blade dry masses, higher essential oil yield, higher menthol levels and lower menthone levels. The results showed that Mentha can be grown in nutrient solution by reducing 65% N, 50% P, 25% K and 100% Mg. This solution had better development compared to the other tested treatments. Therefore,we recommendMentha piperita L. to be grown with such nutrient levels.
Representation of the inner self in autobiography: Women's and men's use of internal states language in personal narratives

Adult women and men differ in the affective qualities of their autobiographical reports. In the present study, we tested whether gender differences in emotional content are apparent in memories of both the remote past and the recent past, as well as whether they extend to internal states other than emotion. A total of 48 women and 30 men provided written accounts of four events from early in life (events from before age 7) and four events from later in life (events from age 7 or later). The narratives were coded for mention of emotions, cognitions, perceptions, and physiological states. Women used more emotion terms in their descriptions of events from later in life, relative to men; across life phases, similar trends were observed for cognition and perception terms, but not for physiological states terms. The category of internal states terms was found to be more coherent for women than for men. Results are consistent with suggestions that females and males experience differential socialisation regarding expression of internal states.
Children's Access to Dental Care Affected by Reimbursement Rates, Dentist Density, and Dentist Participation in Medicaid

Objectives To assess the relation between Medicaid reimbursement rates and access to dental care services in the context of dentist density and dentist participation in Medicaid in each state. Methods Data were from Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnostic, and Treatment reports for 2014, Medicaid reimbursement rate in 2013, dentist density in 2014, and dentist participation in Medicaid in 2014. We assessed patterns of mediation or moderation. Results Reimbursement rates and access to dental care were directly related at the state level, but no evidence indicated that higher reimbursement rates resulted in overuse of dental services for those who had access. The relation between reimbursement rates and access to care was moderated by dentist density and dentist participation in Medicaid. We estimate that more than 1.8 million additional children would have had access to dental care if reimbursement rates were higher in states with low rates. Conclusions Children who access the dental care system receive care, but reimbursement may significantly affect access. States with low dentist density and low dentist participation in Medicaid may be able to improve access to dental services significantly by increasing reimbursement rates.