Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Long‐term variability of Abies alba in NW Romania: implications for its conservation management

Aim Although Abies alba is not yet prioritized for conservation in many European countries, its importance is acknowledged under the EU Directive on the marketing for forest reproductive material. The Apuseni National Park contains one of the largest areas of remnant native A. alba in central eastern Europe. Here, we examine the antiquity of the present A. alba communities in the forests of NW Romania and the drivers behind their variability over the last 6000 years leading to current distribution pattern.
Self-regulation of the use of digital resources in an online language learning course improves learning outcomes

ABSTRACT This study investigated how community college students in an online introductory-level language course self-regulated their learning while using digital learning resources. An analysis of reflective journals revealed that learners reported engaging with resources in ways consistent with the six dimensions of self-regulated learning. Only learners who demonstrated higher levels of oral proficiency reported monitoring performance. There were also differences in use of time and methods of learning used by learners at different performance levels. All participants struggled to remain motivated throughout the course. These findings offer evidence that providing scaffolding for monitoring performance, methods of learning, use of time, and motivation may be helpful to online language learners.
Real-time I/O system for many-core embedded systems

In modern real-time embedded systems, time predictability is vital. This extends to I/O operations which require predictability, timing-accuracy, enhanced performance, scalability, parallel access and isolation. Currently, existing approaches cannot achieve all these requirements at the same time. In this thesis, we propose a framework of hardware-implemented real-time I/O virtualization system to meet all these requirements simultaneously, termed BlueIO. BlueIO integrates the important functionalities of I/O virtualization and low layer I/O drivers (achieved via Virtualized Complicated Device Controller (VCDC)), as well as a clock cycle level timing-accurate I/O controller (i.e. GPIO Command Processor (GPIOCP)). BlueIO provides this functionality in the hardware layer, supporting abstract virtualized access to I/O devices from the software domain. The hardware implementation includes I/O virtualization and I/O drivers provide isolation and parallel (concurrent) access to I/O operations and improves I/O performance. Furthermore, the approach includes GPIOCP to guarantee that I/O operations will occur at a specific clock cycle (i.e. be timing-accurate and predictable). This thesis proposes the design and implementation of BlueIO, together with its components — GPIOCP and VCDC. It is demonstrated how a BlueIO-based system can be exploited to meet real-time requirements with significant improvements in I/O performance and low running cost on different OSs. The thesis presents a hardware consumption analysis of BlueIO, in order to show that it linearly scales with the number of CPUs and I/O devices, evidenced by the implementation which targets both FPGA and VLSI. Finally, the thesis proposes a scalable real-time hardware hypervisor termed BlueVisor, which is built upon GPIOCP, VCDC and BlueIO. BlueVisor enables predictable virtualization on CPU, memory, and I/O; together with fast interrupt handling and inter-virtual machine communication. BlueVisor shows that the approaches towards I/O proposed in this thesis can be applied and expanded to different architectures and platforms, whilst maintaining real-time properties, performance and protection.
Reproductive Performance of Inland Fall Chinook Salmon

Abstract Reproductive performance data were collected for inland fall chinook salmon Oncorhynchus tshawytscha from Lake Oahe, South Dakota, in 1988 and 1998. This population exists outside the native geographical range of chinook salmon and completes its entire life cycle in freshwater. Female weights and lengths, total fecundity, relative fecundity (eggs/mm), egg size, and egg survival were all considerably less than reported for anadromous chinook salmon stocks in their native range. Mean weight of spawning females was 2.73 kg in 1988 and 2.01 kg in 1998. Total fecundity was not significantly different at 2,892 eggs in 1988 and 2,496 eggs in 1998. Egg survival to the eyed stage averaged 37.7% in 1988 and 43.8% in 1998 and ranged from 0% to 96%. Relative fecundity (eggs/kg), egg size, and egg survival to the eyed stage were similar for each year. Relative fecundity (eggs/mm of total length) declined from 1988 to 1998. Total fecundity was linearly related to fish length in 1998 and in both years combined.
Dr. Potter's Response

tively simple and comprehensible model of what might be going on in children's heads. As Potter quite reasonably points out, developmental delay could account for the findings in the Dodds et al. ( 1982) study. However, before this experimental work was carried out the author had already observed identical pointing and drawing in a highly intelligent, 33-year-old congenitally blind adult (detailed in Dodds, I 993 ). Developmental delay? I rest my case!
Toward a Continuum of Services for the Elderly

Examines the existing system of providing health and social services to America's elderly population and concludes that in the next few decades, much will have to be done to smooth out the continuum of services provided to this ever increasing group. He suggests five alternative approaches to achieve this goal: (1) deprofessionalization of some tasks in human service agencies, (2) alteration of the existing service mechanisms and systems, (3) major reconstruction of the existing system, (4) better preparation for retirement, and (5) improving the linkage between professionals and between agencies.
Nitrogen-limited light use efficiency in wheat crop simulators: comparing three model approaches

SUMMARY Three different explanatory indicators for reduced light use efficiency (LUE) under limited nitrogen (N) supply were evaluated. The indicators can be used to adapt dry matter production of crop simulators to N-limited growth conditions. The first indicator, nitrogen factor (NFAC), originates from the CERES-Wheat model and calculates the critical N concentration of the shoot as a function of phenological development. The second indicator, N nutrition index (NNI), calculates a critical N concentration as a function of shoot dry matter. The third indicator, specific leaf nitrogen (SLN) index (SLNI), has been newly developed. It compares the actual SLN with the maximum SLN (SLNmax). The latter is calculated as a function of the green area index (GAI). The comparison was based on growth curves and fitted to empirical data, and was carried out independently from a dynamic crop model. The data set included four growing seasons (2004–2006, 2012) in Northern Germany and seven modern bread wheat cultivars with varying N fertilization levels (0–320 kg N/ha). The influence of N shortage on LUE was evaluated from the beginning of stem elongation until flowering. With the exception of 2005, the highest productivity was observed for the highest N level. A moderate N shortage primarily reduced GAI and therefore light interception, while LUE remained stable under moderate N shortage. The relative LUE (rLUE) of a specific day was defined as the ratio of actual to maximal LUE. None of the indicators was proportional to rLUE, but the relationships were described well by quadratic plateau curves. The correlation between simulated and measured rLUE was significant for all explanatory indicators, but different in terms of mean absolute error and coefficient of determination (R 2). The performance of SLNI and NNI was similar, but the goodness of prediction was much lower for NFAC. Compared with NNI and NFAC, SLNI corresponded to leaf N and was therefore sensitive to N translocation from leaves to growing grains during the reproductive stage. For this reason, SLNI may have the potential to improve simulation of dry matter production in wheat crop simulators.
Gross body composition in postnatal development of the bank vole. I. Growth under laboratory conditions

Zbadano podstawowe skladniki ciala: tluszcz, bialko, wode i substancje mineralne podczas pierwszych 6 miesiecy zycia nornic (Clethrionomys glareolus), ulaboratoryjnianych w ciągu 8-12 pokolen. Uzyskane wyniki opracowano statystycznie, opisując relacje miedzy otluszczeniem a ciezarem ciala rownaniami regresji prostej, natomiast tempo przyrostu beztluszczowej masy ciala (FFB) w zalezności od przyrostu jej komponentow-rownaniami regresji wielokrotnej.
Combined effects of site preparation, soil properties, and sowing date on the establishment of Pinus sylvestris and Picea abies from seeds

The aim of this study is to determine the effect of site preparation on soil properties and, in turn, the emergence, mortality, and establishment of Pinus sylvestris L. (Scots pine) and Picea abies (L.) Karst. (Norway spruce) seedlings sown in spring and summer along a slope with variation in soil texture and moisture. Three site preparation treatments of varying intensities were studied: exposed C horizon, mound (broken LFHAeB horizons piled over undisturbed ground), and exposed AeB horizons. Seedling emergence was higher in the moist growing season than in the dry one. During a dry growing season, mounds and exposed C horizon had negative effects on soil moisture that increased mortality. Moreover, frost heaving was an important cause of winter mortality on mounds and exposed C horizon, whereas frost heaving was low on exposed AeB horizons, even though soil moisture and the content of fine soil particles (<0.06 mm) were high. Frost heaving mortality was higher for summer-sown than for spring-sown .
Impairment of reproduction in the red flour beetle, Tribolium castaneum (Herbst) (Col., Tenebrionidae) due to larval feeding on triflumuron‐treated diet

The larvae of Tribolium castaneum (Herbst) of different ages were exposed to various concentrations viz., 0.0001, 0.001 and 0.01 ppm of triflumuron up to pupation. The adults were allowed to feed on untreated diet. The preoviposition period, fecundity, egg viability and incubation period of the eggs laid were studied. Triflumuron significantly lengthened the preoviposition and incubation periods (P < 0.001). Fecundity and egg viability were also reduced (P < 0.001) due to the treatment. Both the strains were affected by the treatment.
Sequential path analysis of some yield and quality components in sugar beet grown in normal and drought conditions

Through biometrical analyses of yield and its components selection indices can be generated and be used in future breeding programs. Sugar yield components were considered as the first order variables (FOV) in previous path analyses studies, while white sugar yield (WSY) and its related traits were the FOV here. Three lines of sugar beet (7219-P.69, BP-Karaj, 7112) were evaluated in drought and non-drought conditions. Two sequential path models were used for analysis of associations among WSY and its related traits by arraying the various variables in first-, second-, and third-order paths on the basis of their maximum direct effects and minimal collinearity. Four first-order variables, namely root diameter, sugar yield, molasses content and sugar content, revealed highest direct effects on WSY at normal condition, while root length, α-amino-N, root yield, crown dry weight, water use efficiency and Na+ were found to fit as second-order variables. Three first-order variables, namely sugar content, sugar yield and molasses content, revealed highest direct effects on white sugar yield at drought-stress condition. In this case, sugar yield had the highest direct effect on WSY. In general, the sequential path analysis was efficiently demonstrated the effects of predictor variables.
Strategic Responses to Poor Organizational Performance: A Test of Competing Perspectives

Two widely cited, yet disparate, theoretical views of the relationship between poor performance and subsequent organizational action appear in organizational research. The behavioral theory of the firm posits that poor performing organizations will make strategic changes in, for example, the products and services they offer. In contrast, the threat-rigidity perspective predicts rather conservative responses; poor performers are expected to rely on previous actions to reverse their poor outcomes. We examined these competing predictions using data from a regional sample of hospitals. The results offer support for the behavioral theory of the firm and no support for threat-rigidity. We derive several implications from these findings in an effort to guide future research.
Predicting progeny means and variances of winter wheat crosses from phenotypic values of their parents

The efficiency of breeding programs could be increased by predicting the prospects of crosses for line development before producing and testing lines derived from them. In this study, we examined the performance of F 4:n (n = 7 or 8) lines randomly derived from 30 winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) crosses produced by a factorial mating of five high yielding with six high baking quality cultivars. Our objectives were to (i) contrast the midparent value m ij with c ij for each cross and apply tests for the presence of epistasis, (ii) compare the estimates of the variance between means of crosses (σ 2 c ) with the average segregation variance within crosses (σ 2 g ), (iii) determine the variation in σ 2 gij among crosses, (iv) evaluate the use of various parameters for predicting c ij , σ 2 gij , and U ij , and (v) briefly describe quantitative-genetic theory for interpretation of our experimental findings. Twenty-two lines per cross and the respective parents were evaluated in four environments for seven agronomic and quality traits. Additionally, 44 F 2:4 lines per cross were tested in hills in two environments. On the basis of first-degree statistics, parental means were good predictors of cross means, yet significant epistatic effects were observed for most traits. In agreement with quantitative-genetic expectations, the genetic variance between σ 2 c was of the same size as the variance between parental means and the average σ 2 g of F 4:n lines within crosses for all traits but sedimentation. Here, the two parental groups differed significantly in their mean, and σ 2 g was significantly larger than σ 2 c . Estimation of the segregation variance (σ 2 gij ) for individual crosses is not recommended because they (i) have a large standard error, (ii) can be assessed reliably only in advanced selfing generations, and (iii) are expected to have a minor influence on differences in the usefulness among crosses. Among all predictors investigated, only the parental means can be recommended for predicting the usefulness of crosses.
From Point of Purchase to Path to Purchase: How Preshopping Factors Drive Unplanned Buying

Many retailers believe that a majority of purchases are unplanned, so they spend heavily on in-store marketing to stimulate these types of purchases. At the same time, the effects of “preshopping” factors—the shoppers’ overall trip goals, store-specific shopping objectives, and prior marketing exposures—are largely unexplored. The authors focus on these out-of-store drivers and, unlike prior research, use panel data to “hold the shopper constant” while estimating unbiased trip-level effects. Thus, they uncover opportunities for retailers to generate more unplanned buying from existing shoppers. The authors find that the amount of unplanned buying increases monotonically with the abstractness of the overall shopping trip goal that is established before the shopper enters the store. Store-linked goals also affect unplanned buying; unplanned buying is higher on trips in which the shopper chooses the store for favorable pricing and lower on trips in which the shopper chooses the store as part of a multistore shopping trip. Although out-of-store marketing has no direct effect, it reinforces the lift in unplanned buying from shoppers who use marketing materials inside the store. The authors discuss the implications for retailers.
Movement of Underyearling Walleyes in Response to Odor and Visual Cues

Abstract Underyearling walleyes, allowed to move freely in a Y-shaped chamber into which various substances were added to one arm or another, were attracted to sodium chloride, sucrose, glutathione, vitamin B12, betaine, arginine, Daphnia slurries, some fish slurries, washings from live Daphnia and Artemia, and some commercial fish foods. They avoided cysteine, glycine, glycine-betaine, Artemia slurries, some fish slurries, and fish mucus; and showed little reaction to valeric and caproic acid, and some commercial fish foods. Tests of visual response, in which beakers containing live food organisms were placed in the arms of the chamber, indicated that walleyes respond strongly to the movement of food organisms. Walleyes usually surrounded the beakers containing live food organisms and repeatedly struck the glass. They were attracted more strongly to Artemia than to Daphnia. Results indicate that odor plays an important role in movement of walleyes to food and that there is a potential for attracting inte.
Changes in Pectin Content of Cabernet Sauvignon Grape Berries During Maturation

The total pectin content of Cabernet Sauvignon grapes increased during the period of rapid berry growth following veraison from 6.8 to 10.3 mg uronic acid per berry in samples from Napa and from 4.7 to 8.1 mg per berry in fruit from Lodi. Because the increase in pectin was slower than the berry growth rate, the concentration of pectins decreased during ripening. More than 85% of the total pectin was extracted from the cell wall with EDTA. The proportion of cell wall bound pectin decreased, and water soluble pectin increased during ripening. Although the total pectin content was higher in grapes from Napa, water soluble pectin was higher in grapes from Lodi. These differences suggest that vineyard location has an effect on pectin metabolism during grape berry growth and maturation.
Qubit models of weak continuous measurements: markovian conditional and open-system dynamics

In this paper we approach the theory of continuous measurements and the associated unconditional and conditional (stochastic) master equations from the perspective of quantum information and quantum computing. We do so by showing how the continuous-time evolution of these master equations arises from discretizing in time the interaction between a system and a probe field and by formulating quantum-circuit diagrams for the discretized evolution. We then reformulate this interaction by replacing the probe field with a bath of qubits, one for each discretized time segment, reproducing all of the standard quantum-optical master equations. This provides an economical formulation of the theory, highlighting its fundamental underlying assumptions.
Inhibition of SRC Tyrosine Kinases Suppresses Activation of Nuclear Factor-κB, and Serine and Tyrosine Phosphorylation of IκB-α in Lipopolysaccharide-Stimulated Raw 264.7 Macrophages

Involvement of protein tyrosine kinases (PTK) in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) activation has been demonstrated. Studies investigated the role of PTK and the underlying mechanisms by which PTK play a role in LPS induction of pathways leading to NF-κB activation in macrophages. Inhibitors of PTK—genistein, herbimycin A, or AG126—blocked LPS-induced NF-κB activation. Genistein also blocked pervanadate-induced NF-κB activation. Furthermore, Src TK selective inhibitors—damnacanthal or PP1—blocked LPS-induced NF-κB activation over a range of nanomolar concentrations. Genistein, damnacanthal, or PP1 blocked the LPS-induced serine phosphorylation, the degradation of IκB-α, and the consequent translocation of the p65 subunit of NF-κB to the nucleus. In addition to serine phosphorylation of IκB-α, LPS-induced NF-κB activation also required tyrosine phosphorylation of IκB-α. These TK inhibitors blocked substantially LPS induction of tyrosine phosphorylation of IκB-α. Furthermore, cSrc and Lck were physically associated with IκB-α. These results suggest that the LPS-induced NF-κB pathways are dependent on both serine and tyrosine phosphorylation of IκB-α, and that Src TK, such as cSrc and Lck, are key components of the LPS signaling pathway through at least two different mechanisms associated with NF-κB activation. This work was supported by grant R04-2002-000-00023-0 from the Basic Research Program of the Korea Science and Engineering Foundation.
Seasonal variation in the condition index, meat yield and biochemical composition of the flat oyster Ostrea edulis (Linnaeus, 1758) from the Dardanelles, Turkey

This study was conducted in Dardanelles between October 2007 and August 2009 when condition index, meat yield, biochemical compositions and environmental parameters of seawater were investigated and the study area was found to have available conditions for cultivation. Investigation of the study area showed a positive correlation in particular among condition index, seasonal variation of temperature, protein, fat and chlorophyll-a; a negative correlation was seen between them and carbohydrate value. It was clear from the two years study that the most ideal period for oyster harvest is April and August especially when condition index was maximum followed by a winter with no oyster yield is available in terms of the related processes involving oyster cultivation.
Diagnostic consideration in cases of pulmonary embolism mimicking acute coronary syndrome: Is electrocardiography a friend or a foe?

Objectives: As the clinical presentations of pulmonary embolism (PE) closely mimic that of acute coronary syndrome (ACS), the purpose of this brief report is to study the effect of adding an electrocardiography tracing (ECG) suggestive of ACS on the diagnostic consideration of PE with chest pain presentation. Methods: Twenty final year medical students and 31 house officers randomized to one of two cases of PE patients presented with clinical and ECG suggestive of ACS. Each of these two cases was divided further into either with ECG tracing attached or without. Results: More participants without ECG attached had considered PE as a differential diagnosis vs those provided with ECG (8 out of 25, 32% vs. 6 out of 26, 23% respectively, p=0.48). Specifically for the first case, the consideration of PE as a differential diagnosis was significantly higher when ECG was not attached compared to when it was attached (4 out of 13 or 30.8% vs. 0 out of 14, p = 0.04). Conclusion: In cases where the clinical signs and symptoms mimic that of an ACS, performing an ECG with features mimicking ACS may not only be unhelpful, but may paradoxically deter consideration of PE.