Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Genetic Characterization and Linkage Disequilibrium Estimation of a Global Maize Collection Using SNP Markers

A newly developed maize Illumina GoldenGate Assay with 1536 SNPs from 582 loci was used to genotype a highly diverse global maize collection of 632 inbred lines from temperate, tropical, and subtropical public breeding programs. A total of 1229 informative SNPs and 1749 haplotypes within 327 loci was used to estimate the genetic diversity, population structure, and familial relatedness. Population structure identified tropical and temperate subgroups, and complex familial relationships were identified within the global collection. Linkage disequilibrium (LD) was measured overall and within chromosomes, allelic frequency groups, subgroups related by geographic origin, and subgroups of different sample sizes. The LD decay distance differed among chromosomes and ranged between 1 to 10 kb. The LD distance increased with the increase of minor allelic frequency (MAF), and with smaller sample sizes, encouraging caution when using too few lines in a study. The LD decay distance was much higher in temperate than in tropical and subtropical lines, because tropical and subtropical lines are more diverse and contain more rare alleles than temperate lines. A core set of inbreds was defined based on haplotypes, and 60 lines capture 90% of the haplotype diversity of the entire panel. The defined core sets and the entire collection can be used widely for different research targets.
Mechanism of Action of Mycophenolate Mofetil

Summary Mycophenolate mofetil is a prodrug which is rapidly converted to mycophenolic acid (MPA), a potent and reversible uncompetitive inhibitor of inosine monophosphate dehydrogenase (IMPDH). In the de novo purine synthesis pathway, IMPDH is the first of two enzymes responsible for the conversion of inosine monophosphate (IMP) to guanosine monophosphate (GMP), which is normally converted to GDP, GTP, and dGTP. IMPDH is not involved in the salvage pathway of purine biosynthesis. It has been proposed that, since lymphocytes are relatively independent of the salvage pathway of nucleotide biosynthesis, MPA treatment should reduce guanine nucleotide pools in lymphocytes. Measurements show that MPA causes a reduction of GTP and dGTP in lymphocytes but not neutrophils. The consequences of the reduction in guanine nucleotides in lymphocytes, such as the inhibition of DNA synthesis, and GTP-dependent metabolic events, is discussed.
Quantifying the M8 prediction algorithm: Reduction to a single critical variable and stability results

Abstract An implementation of the seven M8 functions within a statistical seismology software library (SSLib) is described. An algorithm is also developed for combining the seven series into a single Critical Series such that a “Time of Increased Probability” (TIP) is declared for the test region whenever the Critical Series passes its threshold level. Values of the Critical Series are plotted for circles on a dense lattice of points covering New Zealand, for each 6 monthly period. The resulting maps can be used to obtain a geographical impression of the evolution of regions close to or far from reaching TIP status according to the criteria embodied in the original M8 algorithm. We examine the stability of the M8 series for small perturbations of the centres of the test regions and the start date of the computations. It is inferred that such instability that is observed in the declaration of TIPs is due more to the use of hard boundaries in the definition of the TIP than to the instability of the component series.
Ecological effects of re‐introduction of salmonid spawning gravel in lowland Danish streams

During the past centuries natural spawning gravel was removed during the regulation of many streams in the Northern Hemisphere and wild fish stocks subsequently suffered due to this severe habitat degradation. To improve spawning conditions, projects involving reintroduction of spawning gravel have recently been conducted in many streams and rivers. However, systematic monitoring of these spawning gravel restoration projects is limited.
Summarizing probabilistic frequent patterns: a fast approach

Mining probabilistic frequent patterns from uncertain data has received a great deal of attention in recent years due to the wide applications. However, probabilistic frequent pattern mining suffers from the problem that an exponential number of result patterns are generated, which seriously hinders further evaluation and analysis. In this paper, we focus on the problem of mining probabilistic representative frequent patterns (P-RFP), which is the minimal set of patterns with adequately high probability to represent all frequent patterns. Observing the bottleneck in checking whether a pattern can probabilistically represent another, which involves the computation of a joint probability of the supports of two patterns, we introduce a novel approximation of the joint probability with both theoretical and empirical proofs. Based on the approximation, we propose an Approximate P-RFP Mining (APM) algorithm, which effectively and efficiently compresses the set of probabilistic frequent patterns. To our knowledge, this is the first attempt to analyze the relationship between two probabilistic frequent patterns through an approximate approach. Our experiments on both synthetic and real-world datasets demonstrate that the APM algorithm accelerates P-RFP mining dramatically, orders of magnitudes faster than an exact solution. Moreover, the error rate of APM is guaranteed to be very small when the database contains hundreds transactions, which further affirms APM is a practical solution for summarizing probabilistic frequent patterns.
Sensor-Based Feedback Systems in Organizational Computing

Radical change is needed in today's organizations. While e-mail, instant messaging, wikis, prediction markets, and the like have proliferated across myriad sectors, the fundamental practice of management has failed to keep pace. Sensors can automatically measure social behavior occurring in physical space as well as the virtual world. Moreover sensor-based feedback is poised to help create the change necessary to improve performance and satisfaction of workers. In this paper we summarize previous work on sensor-based feedback systems and propose new systems at the individual, group, and organizational level. Our goal is to help direct future research towards these promising avenues.
Dietary practices among overweight and obese Chinese children in Kota Bharu, Kelantan.

UNLABELLED INTRDUCTION: Obesity and chronic diseases have been increasing since the last few decades alongside rapid economic development in developed and developing countries. The alarming increase in the prevalence of childhood obesity had been shown by many epidemiological studies worldwide. The aims of this study were to determine the prevalence of overweight and obesity among Chinese school children in Kota Bharu, Kelantan, and to map the association between dietary practices and their nutritional status. METHODS A cross-sectional study was conducted on 278 school children aged 10 to 12 years old (144 boys and 134 girls) studying in a Chinese primary school in Kota Bharu. RESULTS The survey revealed that while only 1.4% (n=4) were overweight, 23.4% (n=65) of the children were obese. A total of 67.7% (n=44) of the obese children were boys. The overweight and obese children (n=70) were compared with a randomly selected group of normal weight children (n=70). Dietary assessment showed that protein, fat and total calorie intake were significantly higher among the overweight group (p<0.05). A significantly higher proportion of the normal weight children (85.7%) took breakfast daily or at least 4 days per week compared to the overweight groups (59.4%) (p<0.05). CONCLUSION The prevalence of obesity among school children in the study is a matter of concern. These findings may be useful in targeting programmes and strategies for prevention and intervention of childhood obesity.
Reduction of the Peak SAR in the Human Head With Metamaterials

The electromagnetic interaction between the antenna and the human head is reduced with metamaterials. Preliminary study of SAR reduction with metamaterials is performed by the finite-difference time-domain method with lossy Drude model. It is found that the specific absorption rate (SAR) in the head can be reduced by placing the metamaterials between the antenna and the head. The antenna performances and radiation pattern with metamaterials are analyzed. A comparative study with other SAR reduction techniques is also provided. The metamaterials can be obtained by arranging split ring resonators (SRRs) periodically. In this research, we design the SRRs operated at 900 and 1800 MHz bands. The design procedure will be described. Numerical results of the SAR values in a muscle cube with the presence of SRRs are shown to validate the effect of SAR reduction. These results can provide helpful information in designing the mobile communication equipments for safety compliance
Estimation of the effective precipitation recharge coefficient in an unconfined aquifer using stochastic analysis.

Effectively managing groundwater relies heavily on estimating the amount of precipitation that may infiltrate the subsurface and supply groundwater. In this study, we present a novel estimation method based on a stochastic approach to evaluate the quantity of precipitation that may recharge groundwater. The precipitation recharge coefficient is also investigated based on an unconfined aquifer with an unbound, infinitely extended boundary condition. Moreover, a spectrum's relationship to the precipitation and groundwater level variation is also derived. The precipitation recharge coefficient can be obtained from the solution of the spectrum equation. Furthermore, sensitivity analysis is performed in order to determine the key variable on the precipitation recharge coefficient. Analysis results indicate that the location of an observation well affects the estimated precipitation recharge coefficient. If the precipitation recharge area is large enough, the precipitation recharge coefficient becomes insensitive to the location of the observation well. The spectrum's relationship between the precipitation recharge and groundwater level variation is also applied when estimating the precipitation recharge coefficient upstream of the Cho-Shui River alluvial fan. According to those results, the precipitation recharge coefficient is 0·03 and the amount of groundwater recharge from precipitation is 35 million tons of water annually upstream of the Cho-Shui River alluvial fan. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Cost-Benefit Analysis of Artificial Recharge in Las Vegas Valley, Nevada

An integral part of groundwater in Las Vegas Valley, NE, is artificial recharge. Artificial groundwater recharge started in the late 1980s and as of the year 2000, the Southern Nevada Water Authority entities have recharged over 246,000,000 m³ (200,000 acre-ft) of water, which is in storage in the valley’s aquifer system. Benefits from artificial recharge accrue to all valley residents, but in particular to municipal-industrial, domestic, public supply, and commercial well owners. The benefits are lower energy costs for pumping, decreased need to deepen wells, lower maintenance for wells that could potentially be damaged by subsidence, and additional water for the aquifer system. Although artificial recharge is currently a “free” benefit to all nonmunicpal groundwater pumpers, active management of aquifer system would be enhanced by participation of all users in the artificial recharge program. In an effort to include all groundwater pumpers in the management of the aquifer system, a groundwater management program (GMP) was established. The costs and benefits for participation by nonmunicipal groundwater pumpers are presented, indicating a savings of about $700 annually for nonmunicpal members of the GMP.
Quality of life of HIV patients in a rural area of western Uganda: impact of a community-based antiretroviral treatment program.

OBJECTIVE Community-based antiretroviral treatment (CBART) programs should aim to achieve positive quality of life outcomes. The purpose of this study was to investigate changes in the health related quality of life (HRQOL) outcomes of patients in a CBART program supported by community volunteers in one sub-county in western Uganda located 50 km from the nearest urban centre. METHODS We administered a translated version of the MOS-HIV survey and collected clinical data at baseline and after one year from 130 patients. Inclusion criteria included residency in the sub-county, eighteen years of age or, treatment-naïve, eligible for ART based on CD4 cell count <200 cells/mm3 or WHO clinical stage 3 or 4, and willing to accept daily treatment support by family/friends and to be visited by a community volunteer weekly. We assessed changes in physical health (PHS) and mental health (MHS) summary scores and examined associations between patient characteristics and changes in HRQOL. RESULTS After one year, we observed significant increases in mean PHS (42.7 to 50.1; p<0.01) and MHS (43.5 to 49.5; p<0.01) scores. Lower age (p<0.01) and lower baseline PHS scores (p<0.01) were associated with increases in PHS scores and lower age (p=0.03) and lower baseline MHS scores (p<0.01) were associated with increases in MHS scores. Fifteen patients (12%) had reductions in their HRQOL after one year which were not associated with patient or clinical characteristics, including virological suppression. CONCLUSIONS The observed improvements in HRQOL demonstrate that positive treatment outcomes can be achieved in CBART programs in rural Uganda. However, some patients appear to experience declines in their overall well-being, despite achieving virological suppression. HRQOL surveys can be useful in identifying these patients, who may require additional attention and support to achieve the full benefits of ART.
Sperm Chromatin-Induced Ectopic Polar Body Extrusion in Mouse Eggs after ICSI and Delayed Egg Activation

Meiotic chromosomes in an oocyte are not only a maternal genome carrier but also provide a positional signal to induce cortical polarization and define asymmetric meiotic division of the oocyte, resulting in polar body extrusion and haploidization of the maternal genome. The meiotic chromosomes play dual function in determination of meiosis: 1) organizing a bipolar spindle formation and 2) inducing cortical polarization and assembly of a distinct cortical cytoskeleton structure in the overlying cortex for polar body extrusion. At fertilization, a sperm brings exogenous paternal chromatin into the egg, which induces ectopic cortical polarization at the sperm entry site and leads to a cone formation, known as fertilization cone. Here we show that the sperm chromatin-induced fertilization cone formation is an abortive polar body extrusion due to lack of spindle induction by the sperm chromatin during fertilization. If experimentally manipulating the fertilization process to allow sperm chromatin to induce both cortical polarization and spindle formation, the fertilization cone can be converted into polar body extrusion. This suggests that sperm chromatin is also able to induce polar body extrusion, like its maternal counterpart. The usually observed cone formation instead of ectopic polar body extrusion induced by sperm chromatin during fertilization is due to special sperm chromatin compaction which restrains it from rapid spindle induction and therefore provides a protective mechanism to prevent a possible paternal genome loss during ectopic polar body extrusion.
Aftershock asymmetry on a bimaterial interface

To better understand the asymmetric distribution of microearthquake aftershocks along the central San Andreas fault, we study dynamic models of slip-weakening ruptures on an interface separating differing elastic half-spaces. Subshear ruptures grow as slightly asymmetric bilateral cracks, with larger propagation velocities, slip velocities, and normal stress changes at the rupture front moving in the direction of slip of the medium with the lower shear wave speed (the southeast front, in the context of the San Andreas). When the SE front encounters a stress barrier, the tensile stress perturbation behind the rupture front continues forward and for a wide range of barrier strengths nucleates a dying slip pulse. This slip pulse smooths the stress field and reduces the static stress change beyond the SE front. Furthermore, because the tensile stress that carried the slip pulse into the barrier is a purely dynamic phenomenon, the SE rupture front can be left far below the failure threshold, while the NW front remains quite close to failure. Both mechanisms could contribute to the observed aftershock asymmetry. Formation of a robust slip pulse requires a peak tensile stress perturbation that approaches the nominal strength drop of the slip-weakening law. To achieve this while minimizing off-fault damage requires either substantial velocity contrasts or small reductions in friction. The simulations also show a pronounced asymmetry in the timescales over which barriers to the SE and NW experience increasing stresses, a result that has implications for the asymmetric distribution of subevents in compound earthquakes.
Differentiation of Alternate Harvesting Practices Using Annual Time Series of Landsat Data

Sustainable forest management practices allow for a range of harvest prescriptions, including clearcut, clearcut with residual, and partial or selective cutting, which are largely distinguished by the amount of canopy cover removed. The different prescriptions are aimed to emulate natural disturbance, encourage regeneration (seed trees), or offer other ecosystem services, such as the maintenance of local biodiversity or habitat features. Using remotely sensed data, stand-replacing disturbance associated with clearcutting is commonly accurately detected. Novel time series-based change detection products offer an opportunity to determine the capacity to detect and label a wider range of harvest practices. In this research, we demonstrate the capacity of time series imagery, spectral metrics, and related attributed change products, to distinguish between different harvesting practices over a study area in central British Columbia, Canada. Producer’s accuracy of harvest attribution was 79%, with 93% of harvest blocks >5 ha accurately identified. In relation to the amount of canopy cover removed, clearcut harvesting was the most accurately classified (84%), followed by clearcut with residual (79%), and partial cut (64%). Applying detailed spectral metrics derived from Landsat data revealed clearcut and partial cuts to be spectrally distinct. The annual nature of the Landsat time series also offers spatial harvest information within typical, often decadal, forest inventory update cycles. The statistically significant (p < 0.05) relationship between harvest practices and Landsat spectral information indicates a capacity to add increased attribution richness to remote sensing depictions of forest harvest.
Afghanistan and Japan

This volume illustrates the stories of a great number of Japanese who have worked to support reconstruction and development in Afghanistan, with a focus on the ten years since 2001, After the September 11 terrorist attacks in the United States in 2001, the international community has collectively supported a new state-building in Afghanistan. Japan, as part of the community, has been providing support, drawing on its unique expertise and experience. Many Japanese have endeavored to help local Afghans return to peaceful daily lives and to support the state’s reconstruction and development, sometimes with taking personal risks. The book, introducing their daily activities alongside the accomplishment of their painstaking work, attempts to recapture the overall picture of Japan’s support for Afghanistan. In preparing the volume, the JICA-RI established a project team to compile the experiences and information from a variety of people―representatives of the Japanese government and the private sector, NGO members, staff of UN organizations and JICA―who have involved in the Afghan reconstruction in various positions. The project team reproduced a concrete picture of their activities in Afghanistan. The book presents a wide range of efforts: the emergency humanitarian aid during the initial stage of reconstruction; the assistance for a new state institution building from scratch; the support to build foundation for people’s livelihoods; and the human resource development for the future of Afghanistan. The volume also introduces a number of episodes on Japanese assistance in the 1970s. After the twenty-year absence during the war (in the 1980s and 1990s) their impacts still remains in various places even today. These episodes remind us of the importance of assistance to develop human resources and infrastructure that will serve as the foundation for state-building over decades.
Industrial indoor environment characterization - Propagation models

Results of three years' field measurements on radio propagation in industrial environments have been analyzed using four propagation models: the Saleh-Valenzuela model, the twocluster model, the indoor power delay profile model, and our more recent adjusted model. In this study, we used the results of measurements performed at a steel mill, a paper mill, and in a laboratory environment for three frequency bands (183–683 MHz, 1640–2140 MHz, and 2200–2700 MHz) and for line-of-sight and non-line-of-sight cases.
Impact of litter quantity on the soil bacteria community during the decomposition of Quercus wutaishanica litter

The forest ecosystem is the main component of terrestrial ecosystems. The global climate and the functions and processes of soil microbes in the ecosystem are all influenced by litter decomposition. The effects of litter decomposition on the abundance of soil microorganisms remain unknown. Here, we analyzed soil bacterial communities during the litter decomposition process in an incubation experiment under treatment with different litter quantities based on annual litterfall data (normal quantity, 200 g/(m2/yr); double quantity, 400 g/(m2/yr) and control, no litter). The results showed that litter quantity had significant effects on soil carbon fractions, nitrogen fractions, and bacterial community compositions, but significant differences were not found in the soil bacterial diversity. The normal litter quantity enhanced the relative abundance of Actinobacteria and Firmicutes and reduced the relative abundance of Bacteroidetes, Plantctomycets and Nitrospiare. The Beta-, Gamma-, and Deltaproteobacteria were significantly less abundant in the normal quantity litter addition treatment, and were subsequently more abundant in the double quantity litter addition treatment. The bacterial communities transitioned from Proteobacteria-dominant (Beta-, Gamma-, and Delta) to Actinobacteria-dominant during the decomposition of the normal quantity of litter. A cluster analysis showed that the double litter treatment and the control had similar bacterial community compositions. These results suggested that the double quantity litter limited the shift of the soil bacterial community. Our results indicate that litter decomposition alters bacterial dynamics under the accumulation of litter during the vegetation restoration process, which provides important significant guidelines for the management of forest ecosystems.