Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effect of Different Planting Distributions on Yield and Forage Quality of Common Vetch (Vicia sativa L. )

In order to select the best planting distributions on the rows and study their effects on morphological traits and uptake amount of some nutrients including nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and calcium in forage of common vetch (Vicia sativa) a factorial experiment was carried out with randomized complete block design and 3 replications in research field of Mohaghegh Ardabili University in Ardabil, Iran. The first factor was the distance between rows including 25, 35 and 50 cm and the second factor was the distance between plants on the rows including 10, 15 and 20 cm. Results demonstrated that the effect of distance between rows was significant on green cover percentage. But the main effects and interaction of distance between rows and between plants on the rows were not significant on traits including number of secondary branches, plant height and plant weight at 10 percent flowering stage. Also, effect of distance between rows and between plants was not significant on fresh forage yield and by decreasing these distances, the yield increased. Mean comparisons demonstrated that planting distributions of 35×20, 35×15 and 50×20 cm increased phosphorus percentage of plants compared to other treatments and the least amount of phosphorus was acquired by planting distribution of 20×20 cm. The effect of planting distribution was not significant on potassium and calcium percentage. Generally, in this experiment the best planting distribution in order to acquire maximum amount of fresh and dry forage in vetch was 20×20 cm, but for the maximum protein content the pattern of 20×50 cm is recommended.
The levels of CXCL 12 and its receptor , CXCR 4 , as a biomarker of disease activity and cutaneous manifestation in adult-onset Still ’ s disease

Clinical and Experimental Rheumatology 2019 1Department of Pathology, 2Department of Rheumatology, Ajou University School of Medicine, Suwon, Korea. Jae Ho Han, MD, PhD* Mi-Hyun Ahn, PhD* Ju-Yang Jung, MD, PhD Chang-Hee Suh, MD, PhD Ji Eun Kwon, MD, PhD Hyunee Yim, MD, PhD Hyoun-Ah Kim, MD, PhD *These authors contributed equally to this work. Please address correspondence to: Dr Hyoun-Ah Kim, Department of Rheumatology, Ajou University School of Medicine, 164 Worldcup-ro, Yeongtong-gu, Suwon 16499, Korea. E-mail: nakhada@naver.com Received on January 15, 2019; accepted in revised form on May 27, 2019. Clin Exp Rheumatol 2019; 37 (Suppl. 121): S67-S73. © Copyright CliniCal and ExpErimEntal rhEumatology 2019.
Correspondence between lab-based attentional bias data and body shape dissatisfaction experiences in daily life Abstract Accumulating lab-based studies have identified attentional biases in processing of negative appearance-related information among individuals with elevated trait body shape and wei

Accumulating lab-based studies have identified attentional biases in processing of negative appearance-related information among individuals with elevated trait body shape and weight dissatisfaction (BD). How these biases translate into experiences of BD in daily life remains unclear and, hence, was the focus of the present study. Thirty-eight women aged between 1840 years completed a baseline survey and modified dot-probe task with both fat and thin appearance-related stimuli in a laboratory setting. Participants also downloaded a smartphone app that prompted them 10 times per day for 7 days to rate current body dissatisfaction. Results revealed that heightened BD in daily life tended to be transitory, and followed by a substantially lower rating of BD by the next survey (~1-2 hours later). For individuals with elevated trait BD and facilitated attention towards thin body images, this reduction in state BD was more gradual. Surprisingly, delayed disengagement towards thin body images was associated with greater reduction in state BD. Consistent with the hypothesis, moderating effects were not observed when initial state BD level was low. Susceptibility for immediate, short-term attentional biases towards appearance-related information may be a vulnerability factor for the prolonged persistence of negative body image experiences in daily life.
Mini-percoll gradient may be used for frozen–thawed sperm selection in sheep

This study evaluated the effect of increasing centrifugalforce and reducing centrifugation time and volume in Percoll protocols on ram sperm parameters. Commercial semen of Santa Inês rams were used and five treatments were performed: traditional Percoll and mini-Percoll (MP) techniques (I5000 x g, 5min; II2500 x g, 5min; III1250 x g, 5min; IV700 x g, 10min). At post-thawing (PT) and postselection protocols (0h), samples were assessed for spermatozoa recovery rate, motility, plasma membrane (PM) integrity, sperm capacitation and morphology and incubated at 37 C for 1, 2 and 3h. The sperm recovery rate averaged 9.1±1.4%, and most motility parameters were similar (P> 0.05) among protocols. VCL (μm/s) was higher (P< 0.05) after MP-II, III and IV (66.1±4.5) than traditional Percoll (46.3±4.9). Capacitation status and PM integrity were similar (P> 0.05) among treatments. For the first time, we have demonstrated the reduction of the gradient volume and centrifugation time associated with an increase on centrifugation force at Percoll can be successfully used for frozen-thawed ram sperm selection. MP may be used instead of traditional Percoll, decreasing costs and semen handling time.
Deferasirox: an orphan drug for chronic iron overload in non-transfusion dependent thalassemia syndromes

ABSTRACT Introduction: Patients with non-transfusion dependent thalassemia (NTDT) are at a significant risk of developing iron overload due to increased iron absorption from the gastrointestinal tract, resulting in a host of comorbidities. Deferasirox, the only oral iron chelator approved for use in NTDT, has been evaluated in several prospective studies and clinical trials. Areas covered: In this review, we will summarize the studies investigating the use of deferasirox in NTDT, focusing on the two largest clinical trials available thus far. THALASSA, the first prospective, randomized and placebo-controlled trial has demonstrated significant reduction in iron burden with deferasirox treatment along with a favorable side effect profile. THETIS, an ongoing clinical trial, has confirmed the findings of THALASSA and highlighted the efficacy and safety of using higher doses of deferasirox along with an earlier dose escalation protocol. Expert opinion: Longer follow-up and continued investigations will further tailor the treatment approach to iron chelation in patients with NTDT, which will likely affect their comorbidity profile and impact their quality of life scores. Since the iron chelation treatment algorithm in NTDT relies on MRI technology, further understanding of the molecular processes governing iron overload in this population may help establish diagnostic surrogates in resource limited countries in order to guide treatment with deferasirox.
Genetic structure of Australian glass shrimp, Paratya australiensis, in relation to altitude

Paratya australiensis Kemp (Decapoda: Atyidae) is a widely distributed freshwater shrimp in eastern Australia. The species has been considered as an important stream organism for studying genetics, dispersal, biology, behaviour and evolution in atyids and is a major food source for stream dwelling fishes. Paratya australiensis is a cryptic species complex consisting of nine highly divergent mitochondrial DNA lineages. Previous studies in southeast Queensland showed that “lineage 4” favours upstream sites at higher altitudes, with cooler water temperatures. This study aims to identify putative selection and population structure between high elevation and low elevation populations of this lineage at relatively small spatial scales. Sample localities were selected from three streams: Booloumba Creek, Broken Bridge Creek and Obi Obi Creek in the Conondale Range, southeast Queensland. Six sample localities, consisting of 142 individuals in total were sequenced using double digest Restriction Site Associated DNA-sequencing (ddRAD-seq) technique. Among the 142 individuals, 131 individuals shared 213 loci. Outlier analysis on 213 loci showed that 27 loci were putatively under selection between high elevation and low elevation populations. Outlier analysis on individual streams was also done to test for parallel patterns of adaptation, but there was no evidence of a parallel pattern. Population structure was observed using both the 27 outliers and 186 neutral loci and revealed similar population structure in both cases. Therefore, we cannot differentiate between selection and drift here. The highest genetic differentiation was observed between high elevation and low elevation populations of Booloumba Creek, with small levels of differentiation in the other two streams.
Global merger waves and cultural distance

This paper explores the impact of cultural distance on cross-border M&A and finds that the various merger waves have been affected differently. Cultural distance is measured as differences in national cultural values between countries through three dimensions: trust, hierarchy, and individualism. The likelihood, and performance of cross-border transactions are tested using a gravity model. The model makes use of dealand country-level characteristics on a total sample of 153,021 public & private and 12,659 public-to-public M&A deals in 62 countries for the period 1985-2014 containing three merger waves. The impact of the three cultural distances vary per merger wave, and culturally distant countries have less merger activity and remain consistent in the merger waves. M&A performance is affected similarly, with lower short-term announcement returns for culturally distant countries, whereas longterm performance is not affected by cultural distance and does not change in the merger waves.
Self-entanglement of a tumbled circular chain

The spontaneous knotting of linear chains has been well studied, but little attention has been given to the self-entanglement of chains with more complex topologies. In this work, we perform experiments with granular chains that undergo tumbling motion to investigate the self-entanglement of circular chains, which lack the chain ends essential for forming knots. We study the entanglement probability and types of self-entanglements formed on linear and circular chains, using the well-studied self-entanglements on a linear chain to frame our understanding of self-entanglements on a circular chain. We describe a characterization method that views a self-entangled circular chain as a link of two components and use it to characterize the self-entanglements on circular chains with known topological descriptors from knot theory. Our experimental results show that an increase in circular chain length leads to an increase in entanglement probability and entanglement complexity until a plateau is reached, similar to the trends observed with linear chains. By examining the formation pathway of several self-entanglements, we infer a general mechanism for the self-entanglement of circular chains.
Multi-View Clustering for Fast Intra Mode Decision in HEVC

High Efficiency Video Coding (HEVC) introduced many new coding tools to gain improved coding efficiency. However, it greatly introduces computational cost, and this will give rise to the demand for the fast algorithm that can satisfy the real-time encoding of HEVC encoder for low bandwidth environment. In this paper we introduce and evaluate a novel machine learning based approach that uses multi-view clustering to reduce the complexity of intra-coding algorithm based on the analysis of original texture and its neighborhood. The proposed approach is based on the hypothesis that intra coding mode decisions in HEVC video have a correlation with the intensities of adjacent CUs within a CTU. The proposed approach consists of two steps, coding unit size decision and reduction of candidate modes by using multi-view clustering. This results in a significant reduction in encoding time. The results show that multi-view clustering has a promising application in video encoding and can reduce the complexity substantially with negligible impact on quality. The results show that the proposed method considerably reduces encoding time with a negligible loss in quality.
The Moderating Effect of Organizational Processes on the Relationship between Organizational Structure and Organizational Effectiveness in Universities in Kenya

Like other organizations, institutions of higher learning are faced with stiff competition both in terms of their customers and the human resource demand. Consequently, the majority of the institutions are placing special emphasis on their effectiveness particularly in drawing customer acceptance, providing a conducive work environment in terms of employee satisfaction and the modification of their programmes to fit the competitive market. Whatever form of organization, there is a general agreement that organization’s structural design is a critical factor in the success or failure of an organization. This paper examine the relationship between organizational structure and organizational effectiveness and the moderating effect of organizational processes on the relationship between organizational structure and organizational effectiveness based on a study of two universities in Kenya: Moi University (public) and University of East Africa-Baraton (private)The study used a sample of 365 participants (300 from Moi University and 65 from UEA-Baraton). The study utilized a cross-sectional survey design that was descripto-explanatory in nature to identify attributes of the study population using a small sample of individuals. Independent samples t-test was used to test whether there was any significant difference in organizational structure and organizational effectiveness between public and private universities. The regression results indicated that the level of communication had positive and significant effects on productivity stability and human resource satisfaction and development. Besides, the study confirmed that organizational processes moderate the relationship between organizational structure and organizational effectiveness. The results highlight the need to improve organizational structure which has positive impacts on organizational effectiveness under the moderation of organizational processes. This move is necessitated by the accelerated pace of business complexity today.
How did EU membership of Eastern Europe affect student achievement?*

ABSTRACT The accession of Eastern European countries to the European Union increased family wealth and the returns to schooling. I analyze the change in student achievement due to the EU accession of Eastern Europe building on a panel of six PISA waves covering more than 1 million students in 32 countries. Using a difference-in-differences approach, I find a positive and statistically significant link of EU membership to reading scores by one tenth of a standard deviation. The effect seems robust to including controls from the human capital production function.
Atmosfear: Communicating the Effects of Climate Change on Extreme Weather

The potential and serious effects of anthropogenic climate change are often communicated through the soundbitethatanthropogenic climate changewill producemoreextreme weather.This soundbitehas become popular with scientists and the media to get the public and governments to act against further increases in global temperature and their associated effects through the communication of scary scenarios, what the authors term ‘‘atmosfear. ’’ Underlying atmosfear’s appeal, however, are four premises. First, atmosfear re- duces the complexity of climate change to an identiﬁable target in the form of anthropogenically forced weather extremes. Second, anthropogenically driven weather extremes mandate a responsibility to act to protect the planet and society from harmful and increased risk. Third, achieving these ethical goals is pred-icated on emissions policies. Fourth, the end result of these policies—a nonanthropogenic climate—is as- sumed to be more benign than an anthropogenically inﬂuenced one. Atmosfear oversimpliﬁes and misstates the true state of the science and policy concerns in three ways. First, weather extremes are only one of the predictedeffectsofclimatechangeandarebestaddressedbymeasuresotherthanemissionpolicies.Second,a preindustrial climate may remain a policy goal, but it is unachievable in reality. Third, the damages caused by any anthropogenically driven extremes may be overshadowed by the damages caused by increased exposure and vulnerability to the future risk. In reality, recent increases in damages and losses due to extreme weather events are due to societal factors. Thus, invoking atmosfear through such approaches as attribution science is not an effective means of either stimulating or legitimizing climate policies.
Factors Influencing Cancer Rescreening Intention of Korean Elderly

Purpose: This study was conducted to survey the cancer screening status of Korean elderly and to analyze factors influencing cancer rescreening intention. Methods: Participants were 262 elderly aged 65 or older who visited medical examination center at D University hospital located in D city. Data were collected from June 1 to July 31, 2012 using a structured questionnaire which included health behavior and cancer screening related characteristics, theory of planned behavior variables, EQ-5D, and cancer screening satisfaction. The data were analyzed by SPSS/WIN 18.0 program. Results: Factors influencing elderly`s cancer rescreening intention were `satisfaction about the cancer screening`, `attitude toward cancer rescreening behavior`, `subjective norm toward cancer rescreening behavior`, and `previous experience with cancer screening in the past 2 years`. Cancer rescreening intention was higher in participants with satisfied experience of cancer screening, more positive in attitude and higher in subjective norm toward cancer rescreening. Cancer rescreening intention was lower when participants were not screened for cancer in the past 2 years. Conclusion: The study results indicate that customized interventions based on influential factors such as subjective norm, attitude toward cancer screening, and cancer screening satisfaction are necessary in order to promote the consistent cancer screening of Korean elderly.
Biological Markers For Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease And Asthma

Studying the biological markers in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and asthma, two chronic respiratory diseases affecting millions of individuals around the world, could improve their diagnosis, their treatment and their prevention.This thesis includes two parts. The first aimed to assess the association between a lung-specific biomarker, serum Surfactant Protein D (SP-D), and COPD, and to find cut-off points able to discriminate COPD patients from controls using SP-D levels. It was performed in a case-control study in Lebanon including COPD (n=90) and asthma patients (n=124) and controls (n=180). The second part aimed to assess the cross-sectional and longitudinal associations in adults for systemic inflammatory biomarkers (high sensitivity C reactive protein hs-CRP (n=252) and cytokines (n=283) as well as biomarkers of damage due to oxidative stress (8-Isoprostanes 8-IsoPs (n=258) from the exhaled breath condensate) and asthma outcomes.It was performed in the French longitudinal epidemiological study on the genetics and environmental factors of asthma (EGEA). Results showed that serum SP-D levels were positively associated with COPD and thresholds for SP-D levels in these patients were identified with excellent discriminant values. In EGEA, no association was found between serum hs-CRP levels and asthma control. Serum cytokine profiles (identified by principal component analysis) with high levels of interleukin (IL)-1Ra and IL-10 were associated with less asthma attacks and lower risk of poor asthma control in adults seven years later. The results of the preliminary analyses on the associations between the levels of 8-IsoPs and asthma outcomes are also presented.Overall, these results have shown the usefulness of studying the biological markers related to COPD and asthma.
Calculations of gaseous and particulate emissions from German agriculture 1990 - 2010 : report on methods and data (RMD) submission 2012

The report at hand (including a comprehensive annex of data) serves as additional document to the National Inventory Report (NIR) on the German green house gas emissions and the Informative Inventory Report (IIR) on the German emissions of air pollutants (especially ammonia). The report documents the calculation methods used in the German agricultural inventory model GAS-EM as well as input data, emission results and uncertainties of the emission reporting submission 2015 for the years 1990 - 2013. In this context the sector Agriculture comprises the emissions from animal husbandry, the use of agricultural soils and anaerobic digestion of energy plants. As required by the guidelines, emissions from activities preceding agriculture, from the use of energy and from land use change are reported elsewhere in the national inventories. The calculation methods are based in principle on international guidelines for emission reporting and have been continuingly improved during the past years. In particular, these improvements concern the calculation of energy requirements, feeding and the N balance of the most important animal categories. In addition, technical measures such as air scrubbing (mitigation of ammonia emissions) and digestion of animal manures (mitigation of emissions of methane and loughing gas) have been taken into account. Total emissions of methane (CH4) and laughing gas (N2O) from German agriculture (including the anaerobic digestion of energy plants) decreased from about 77.9 Tg CO2-eq in 1990 to about 64.2 Tg CO2-eq in 2013 (- 17.5 %). [. ]
Survey of Transition from Initial Drug Using to Drug Injection in Liangshan of Sichuan Province, China

Objective: To estimate the incidence of transition from initial drug using to drug injection in Sichuan Province. Methods: During November 2002, a community-based survey was conducted to investigate the demographic characteristics, initial time of drug use and first time of injection drug use among 382 drug users. Results: The average incidence for the transition from initial drug use to injection drug use was 32.56/100 person years. According to the multivariate Cox proportional hazard regression model, ethnicity (HR,1.38; 95%CI,1.10-1.74), age of initial drug use (HR,1.66; 95%CI,1.35-2.05), education level (HR,0.75;95%CI,0.60-0.93) and income (HR, 0.64;95% CI, 0.52-0.79) were independently associated with time from initiation of drug use to injection drug use, respectively. Conclusions: In order to prevent HIV transmission among drug users in Sichuan province, health education and behavior intervention should be enhanced for low education level, low income and minority people.