Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Measuring Senior Technology Acceptance: Development of a Brief, 14-Item Scale.

Background and Objectives Technology has the potential to provide assistance and enrichment to older people; however, the desired outcomes are dependent on users' acceptance and usage. The senior technology acceptance model (STAM) was developed as a multidimensional measure assessing older people's acceptance of general technology. It contained 11 constructs measured by 38 items and had shown satisfactory psychometric properties. However, the length of the questionnaire increased respondent burden and limited its utilization. The study aimed to develop a brief, reliable, and valid version of scale to measure older people's technology acceptance by shortening the full, 38-item STAM questionnaire. Research Design and Methods The research method included (1) a sequential item-reduction strategy maximizing internal consistency, (2) convergent and discriminant validity analysis based on confirmative factor analysis, and (3) an expert review of resultant items. Data previously collected for developing the original STAM questionnaire were used to create the brief version. The data were collected from 1,012 community-dwelling individuals aged 55 and older in Hong Kong. Internal consistency and construct validity of the shortened questionnaire were examined. Two experts were invited for reviewing content validity. Results The final 14-item, brief version of the STAM questionnaire consisted of a 4-factor structure, representing classical technology acceptance constructs and age-related health characteristics. Theoretical relationships in the brief version showed similar patterns to the original STAM. The 14-item STAM demonstrated robustness in psychometrics by preserving the reliability and validity of the original STAM questionnaire. Discussion and Implications The availability of a reliable and valid assessment tool of the short STAM can help researchers and practitioners to measure older adults' acceptance of technology and its effective usage. The short STAM could save administration time, reduce the burden on respondents, and be included in large-scale surveys.
On-Farm Evaluation of Nitrate-Nitrogen Dynamics Under Maize in the Northern Guinea Savanna of Nigeria

Summary Nitrate-nitrogen was analysed over two cropping seasons in 57 farmers' fields in the northern Guinea savanna of Nigeria. Differences between fields were at least five-fold and often ten-fold irrespective of fertilization rates. Average concentrations were highest at the beginning of the rainy season. Loamy soils had a later peak for nitrate release and maintained high concentrations for a longer period after the start of the rains than the more sandy soils. Nitrate-N was not correlated with soil organic carbon or total nitrogen content. Grain yield of maize was closely associated with nitrate-N in the soil but not with organic carbon or total N. Four patterns of nitrate-N release over the season could he differentiated using cluster analysis. Soil texture, soil pH, soil organic carbon, stover management and cropping history contributed most to a differentiation of the four cluster groups in a discriminant model. There was wide variability in the inherent soil-nitrate level and in its importance in explaining differences in yield among farmers' fields. The development of technologies resulting in improved nitrogen availability or better nitrogen utilization should be based on research of inherent soil processes. For the transfer of such technologies, recommendation domains should be defined based on different native patterns of soil-nitrogen availability.
Antioxidant activities of red versus green leaves in Elatostema rugosum

Anthocyanin biosynthesis in leaves increases under stresses which also generate reactive oxygen species (ROS). In the present study the hypothesis that red leaves are better equipped to scavenge ROS than green leaves was tested. Antioxidants in leaf extracts from red and green morphs of Elatostema rugosum were identified, and activities quantified using enzymatic and α,α-diphenyl-β-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assays and cyclic voltammetry. Red leaves from E. rugosum held greater amounts of superoxide dismutase, catalase, anthocyanins, and hydroxycinnamic acids, were significantly more effective at scavenging DPPH radicals, and produced higher voltammetric currents than green leaves. Anthocyanins contributed to the antioxidant pool more than all other constituent phenolics. Anthocyanin concentrations, and antioxidant activities declined with leaf age. Purified anthocyanin fractions displayed oxidative activities at both pH 7·0 and pH 5·5. Implications of the antioxidant potential of anthocyanin in its cytoplasmic and vacuolar locations are discussed.
Cross-infection Potential of Colletotrichum gloeosporioides Penz. Isolates Causing Anthracnose in Subtropical Fruit Crops

Anthracnose, caused by Colletotrichum gloeosporioides Penz. is considered the most important disease in fruit crops in the humid tropics that contributes significantly to preharvest and postharvest losses in mango, papaya, guava, custard apple, pomegranate and other subtropical fruit crops. The objective of this study was to test the ability of the pathogen C. gloeosporioides isolates from seven alternate fruit crops viz., mango, acid lime, custard apple, pomegranate, papaya, cashew and guava to cause disease by cross infection between fruit crops. Information on less infection would facilitate the design of an integrated approach for controlling the preharvest and postharvest losses due to anthracnose under mixed cropping systems especially in mango. Cross inoculation experiments demonstrated variation in the level of host preference and Percent Disease Index (PDI) among C. gloeosporioides isolates . The results revealed that among different fruit crops mango, cashew, pomegranate and custard apple were highly susceptible to the anthracnose disease. Isolate of C. gloeosporioides obtained from mango developed anthracnose symptoms on seedlings on all alternative fruit crops tested except on papaya, but it developed the symptoms on fruits of papaya. Mango isolate recorded maximum PDI of 86.7 on fruits of custard apple and minimum on acidlime fruits (12.8 PDI). The C. gloeosporioides isolates obtained from acid lime, custard apple, pomegranate, cashew and guava could infect the mango leaves and fruits except the papaya isolate which failed to infect the leaves, but produced infection on fruits of mango. Maximum PDI of 19.8 was recorded on mango leaves when inoculated with isolate from cashew, and a minimum PDI of zero and 3.4 was recorded when the leaves were inoculated with papaya and acid lime isolates respectively. Among different isolates of C. gloeosporioides , the cashew isolate was more virulent on mango leaves and fruits, followed by the custard apple and guava isolates. Key words: Colletotrichum gloeosporioides ; Cross inoculation; Fruit crops. DOI: 10.4038/tar.v22i2. 2827 Tropical Agricultural Research Vol. 22 (2): 183-193 (2011)
Effects of Large-Scale Removal of Coyotes on Pronghorn and Mule Deer Productivity and Abundance

ABSTRACT We tested the hypothesis that predation by coyotes (Canis latrans) impacts pronghorn (Antilocapra americana) and mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) populations. We did so by examining the effects of coyote removal on pronghorn and mule deer populations within 12 large areas (>10,500 km2) located in Wyoming and Utah during 2007 and 2008. Pronghorn productivity (fawn to adult female ratio) and abundance were positively correlated with the number of coyotes removed and removal effort (hours spent hunting coyotes from aircraft) although the correlation between pronghorn productivity and removal effort was not statistically significant (P = 0.08). Mule deer productivity and abundance were not correlated with either the number of coyotes removed or removal effort. Coyote removal conducted during the winter and spring provided greater benefit than removals conducted during the prior fall or summer. Our results suggest that coyote removal conducted over large areas increases fawn survival and abundance of pronghorn but not mule deer.
Material Symbols

What is the relation between the material, conventional symbol structures that we encounter in the spoken and written word, and human thought? A common assumption, that structures a wide variety of otherwise competing views, is that the way in which these material, conventional symbol-structures do their work is by being translated into some kind of content-matching inner code. One alternative to this view is the tempting but thoroughly elusive idea that we somehow think in some natural language (such as English). In the present treatment I explore a third option, which I shall call the “complementarity” view of language. According to this third view the actual symbol structures of a given language add cognitive value by complementing (without being replicated by) the more basic modes of operation and representation endemic to the biological brain. The “cognitive bonus” that language brings is, on this model, not to be cashed out either via the ultimately mysterious notion of “thinking in a given natural language” or via some process of exhaustive translation into another inner code. Instead, we should try to think in terms of a kind of coordination dynamics in which the forms and structures of a language qua material symbol system play a key and irreducible role. Understanding language as a complementary cognitive resource is, I argue, an important part of the much larger project (sometimes glossed in terms of the “extended mind”) of understanding human cognition as essentially and multiply hybrid: as involving a complex interplay between internal biological resources and external non-biological resources.
Investigations into glyphosate-resistant horseweed (Conyza canadensis): retention, uptake, translocation, and metabolism

Abstract The mechanism of glyphosate resistance in horseweed was investigated. Eleven biotypes of putative sensitive (S) and resistant (R) horseweed were obtained from regions across the United States and examined for foliar retention, absorption, translocation, and metabolism of glyphosate. Initial studies used spray application of 14C-glyphosate to simulate field application. When S and R biotypes were compared in the absence of toxicity at a sublethal dose, we observed comparable retention and absorption but reduced root translocation in the R biotypes. S and R biotypes from Delaware were further examined at field use rates and results confirmed similar retention and absorption but reduced root translocation in the R biotypes. Application of 14C-glyphosate to a single leaf demonstrated reduced export out of the treated leaf and lower glyphosate import into other leaves, the roots, and the crown in R relative to S biotypes. Examination of the treated leaf by autoradiography showed that glyphosate loading into the apoplast and phloem was delayed and reduced in the R biotype. Our results consistently showed a strong correlation between impaired glyphosate translocation and resistance. Tissues from both S and R biotypes showed elevated levels of shikimate suggesting that 5-enolpyruvylshikimate-3-phosphate synthase (EPSPS) remained sensitive to glyphosate. Analysis of tissue shikimate levels demonstrated reduced efficiency in EPSPS inhibition in the R biotypes. Our results suggest that resistance is likely due to altered cellular distribution that impaired phloem loading and plastidic import of glyphosate resulting in reduced overall translocation as well as inhibition of EPSPS. Nomenclature: Glyphosate; horseweed, Conyza canadensis (L.) Cronq. ERICA.
Early Relapse Risk in Patients with Newly Diagnosed Multiple Myeloma Characterized by Next-generation Sequencing

Purpose: Duration of first remission is important for the survival of patients with multiple myeloma. Experimental Design: From the CoMMpass study (NCT01454297), 926 patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma, characterized by next-generation sequencing, were analyzed to evaluate those who experienced early progressive disease (PD; time to progression, TTP ≤18 months). Results: After a median follow-up of 39 months, early PD was detected in 191/926 (20.6%) patients, 228/926 (24.6%) patients had late PD (TTP >18 months), while 507/926 (54.8%) did not have PD at the current follow-up. Compared with patients with late PD, patients with early PD had a lower at least very good partial response rate (47% vs. 82%, P < 0.001) and more frequently acquired double refractoriness to immunomodulatory drugs (IMiD) and proteasome inhibitors (PI; 21% vs. 8%, P < 0.001). Patients with early PD were at higher risk of death compared with patients with late PD and no PD (HR, 3.65; 95% CI, 2.7–4.93; P < 0.001), showing a dismal median overall survival (32.8 months). In a multivariate logistic regression model, independent factors increasing the early PD risk were TP53 mutation (OR, 3.78, P < 0.001), high lactate dehydrogenase levels (OR, 3.15, P = 0.006), λ-chain translocation (OR, 2.25, P = 0.033), and IGLL5 mutation (OR, 2.15, P = 0.007). Carfilzomib-based induction (OR, 0.15, P = 0.014), autologous stem-cell transplantation (OR, 0.27, P < 0.001), and continuous therapy with PIs and IMiDs (OR, 0.34, P = 0.024) mitigated the risk of early PD. Conclusions: Early PD identifies a high-risk multiple myeloma population. Further research is needed to better identify baseline features predicting early PD and the optimal treatment approaches for patients at risk.
Seasonal variation in composition and production of planktonic communities in the lower River Rhine

SUMMARY 1. The composition and activity of phytoplankton, zooplankton and bacterioplankton in the lower River Rhine were measured in 1990 as part of an international biological inventory of the river. A seasonal study was carried out on two stations: one in the river mouth (km 1019) and one at the German/Dutch border (km 863). 2. High densities of phytoplankton (with up to 140 μg chlorophyll a 1-−1) and occasional depletion of dissolved silicate were observed at the upstream station. Phosphate concentrations were also lowered during blooms. 3. Phytoplankton blooms, dominated by a few species of centric diatoms, declined one order of magnitude during downstream transport. During non-bloom conditions (low) algal densities were maintained during transport, or increased slightly, indicating the suitability of the river reach for algal growth. 4. Bacterial cell number and production (measured by the 3H-thymidine method) showed a broad summer maximum with activity peaks (0.5 nK < M thymidine h−1) coincident with declining phytoplankton blooms. Winter values of bacterial production (0.02–0.05 n < Mh−1) were substantial, probably as a result of allochthonous input of organic matter. 5. Rotifers and crustaceans made up the greater part of the zooplankton biovolume, but at the upstream station the contribution of Dreissena larvae and rhizopods was also substantial. High zooplankton biovolumes, of over 500 × 106μm31-−1, were observed only during the phytoplankton spring bloom. 6. Quantitative relationships between the high phytoplankton production (2.1–3.4 gCm−2 day−1), the high bacterial substrate uptake (0.5–1gCm−2 day−1), and grazing were analysed for the growing season 1990. Algal grazing by metazoan herbivores was substantial only during spring, while the role of phagotrophic microplankton and cell lysis were indicated as major factors responsible for the downstream decline of phytoplankton blooms in the lower Rhine.
Larval fish feeding and turbulence: A case for the downside

Theory states that small‐scale turbulence decreases pursuit success of planktonic predators by advecting the encountered prey from the reactive zone of the predator during the pursuit event. We tested the quantitative predictions of a previously published model describing this phenomenon in larval cod by videorecording particle motion and feeding behavior of larval cod (8.7–12.3 mm) preying on copepods in a laboratory tank. Fluid motion shared characteristics with that in the ocean, i.e., intermittent, logarithmically distributed, average particle‐particle velocity difference proportional to separation distance1/3. Estimated bulk dissipation rates were 0–2 × 10−8 m2 s−3 and similar to those commonly experienced by larval cod in nature (e.g., located at 30 m during winds of ca.7 m s‐1 ). Owing to the intermittent nature of turbulence, we related individual predation events to local, instantaneous relative velocities instead of bulk averages. Pursuit success decreased significantly with relative velocity and the observations approximated the predicted effect of turbulence on pursuit success. Nonlinear and counteracting effects of turbulence on pursuit success and encounter may partly explain the contradictory observations of how turbulence affects larval fish feeding, growth, and survival in the sea.
Unpredictable spillovers among water uses? An analysis of agricultural, industrial, and household uses of water in the Balkans

In times of water shortage, it becomes increasingly relevant for policymakers to understand the existing relationships between different types of water use, so as to encourage efficient water management. This article makes use of yearly data on agricultural, industrial, and household water use in the Balkan countries of Bulgaria, Romania, and Serbia. It does so to identify the potential interactions among these three categories of water use. Using a deterministic model based on differential equations, we provide an analysis of the interactions among these different sectors of water use for the period between 2008 and 2017. Results show that interactions among these different categories do not remain constant over periods of time, either across or within the countries analysed. We find that, for most countries, industrial and household water uses are more likely to be characterised by mutualism and competition, instead of a predator-prey relationship. Agricultural water use, on the other hand, takes on the role of predator against the other two.
Epidemiology of Oestrus ovis L. infestation in sheep in Nigde province, Turkey

SUMMARY The objective of this study is to examine the prevalence of oestrosis caused by the Oestrus ovis L. in the sheep of Nigde province, Turkey. The study examines the presence of O. ovis larvae in 364 sheep heads collected from Nigde slaughterhouses between August 2010 and July 2011 with an average of about 30 per month. Oestrus ovis larvae were detected in the 82 (22.52%) out of the 364 sheep heads tested. Prevalence of in the sheep was identified with regards to the months and seasons 0-60% and 11.11-49.47%, respectively. In addition, the infestation rate in the 6-9 months old sheep was found to be 23.28%, and 21.71% in the 1-2 years old sheep. While differences in the rates of infestation in terms of months and seasons were determined to be statistically significant (p 0.05). A total of 474 larvae were encountered in the infested sheep, 49 (10.33%) of those larvae were identified as L 1, 236 (49.78%) were identified as L 2, and 189 (39.87%) were identified as L 3.
Microfinance Institutions: A Cross-Country Empirical Investigation of Outreach and Sustainability

Abstract In order to explore why some microfinance institutions (MFIs) perform better than others this paper looked at factors which have impacts on several performance indicators of MFIs—profitability or sustainability, repayment status and cost indicators—utilising quality data on 426 institutions in 81 countries. Results indicate that MFIs can still attain sustainability without necessarily increasing average loan size or interest earning. Implementation of a better interest rate policy and solidarity-group-based loan method and scaling-up by increasing the breadth of outreach help make that possible. By doing so, focus on the poor can be kept and, simultaneously, concerns for mission drift can greatly be avoided.
Dominant Bovine Ovarian Follicular Cysts Express Increased Levels of Messenger RNAs for Luteinizing Hormone Receptor and 3β-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenase Δ4,Δ5 Isomerase Compared to Normal Dominant Follicles

Abstract The objective was to compare ovarian steroids and expression of mRNAs encoding cytochrome P450 side-chain cleavage, cytochrome P450 17α-hydroxylase, cytochrome P450 aromatase, 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase Δ4,Δ5 isomerase, LH, and FSH receptors and estrogen receptor-β in ovaries of cows with dominant and nondominant ovarian follicular cysts and in normal dominant follicles. Estradiol-17β, progesterone, and androstenedione concentrations were determined in follicular fluid using specific RIAs. Dominant cysts were larger than young cysts or dominant follicles, whereas nondominant cysts were intermediate. Estradiol-17β (ng/ml) and total steroids (ng/follicle) were higher in dominant cysts than in dominant follicles. Expression of LH receptor and 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase mRNAs was higher in granulosa cells of dominant cysts than in dominant follicles. Nondominant cysts had higher follicular concentrations of progesterone, lower estradiol-17β concentrations, and lower expression of steroidogenic enzyme, gonadotropin receptor, and estrogen receptor-β mRNAs than other groups. In summary, increased expression of LH receptor and 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase mRNAs in granulosa and increased follicular estradiol-17β concentrations were associated with dominant cysts compared to dominant follicles. Study of cysts at known developmental stages is useful in identifying alterations in follicular steroidogenesis.
Kantian Monism

Abstract Let ‘monism’ be the view that there is only one basic object—the world. Monists face the question of whether there are also non-basic objects. This is in effect the question of whether the world decomposes into parts. Jonathan Schaffer maintains that it does, Terry Horgan and Matjaž Potrč that it does not. In this paper, I propose a compromise view, which I call ‘Kantian monism. ’ According to Kantian monism, the world decomposes into parts insofar as an ideal subject under ideal conditions would divide it into parts, but it does not decompose into parts in and of itself, that is, in an entirely mind-independent manner. After articulating Kantian monism more precisely (Section 1), I present a prima facie case for preferring it over more standard varieties of monism (Section 2).
Desempenho de sementes de soja tratadas com fungicidas e peliculizadas durante o armazenamento

O objetivo neste trabalho foi avaliar o desempenho de sementes de soja [Glycine max (L.) Merrill] tratadas com fungicidas em associacao a peliculizacao, durante o armazenamento. Sementes da cultivar Pintado foram tratadas com thiram+thiabendazole e parte das sementes nao receberam esse tratamento. As sementes foram ainda submetidas a peliculizacao com os polimeros AGL 205 ou AGL 202 e parte das sementes nao foram peliculizadas. Posteriormente, as sementes foram acondicionadas em embalagens de papel multifoliado e armazenadas durante nove meses sob condicoes ambientais, sendo que as qualidades fisiologica e sanitaria das sementes foram avaliadas inicialmente e a cada tres meses de armazenamento pelas seguintes determinacoes: teor agua das sementes; teste de germinacao; teste de frio; emergencia em areia/solo em bandeja; teste de envelhecimento acelerado; e sanidade. Conclui-se que as sementes de soja tratadas com thiram+thiabendazole tem um melhor desempenho durante o armazenamento. Os polimeros nao afetam a qualidade fisiologica das sementes e promovem melhor aderencia dos fungicidas, sem alterar os efeitos dos mesmos.