Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Comparative studies on the effects of Bt-transgenic and nontransgenic cotton on arthropod diversity, seedcotton yield and bollworms control.

The effectiveness of commercial Bt-cotton in pest management, influence on arthropod diversity, natural enemies, and toxin flow in the insect fauna under field conditions were studied keeping in view the need to assess bioefficacy and biosafety of Bt-transgenic cotton. There were no significant differences in oviposition by Helicoverpa armigera on Bt-transgenic and non-transgenic cottons (9.2 versus 9.6 eggs plants(-100)), while the numbers of H. armigera larvae were significantly more on non-transgenic than on Bt-transgenic (10.4 versus 4.0 larvae plants(-100)) cotton. The Bt-cotton had significantly more number of mature opened bolls (9.6 versus 4.4 bolls plant(-1)), lower bollworm damage (12.8 versus 40.2% bolls damaged), and higher seedcotton yield (667.7 versus 231.7 kg ha 1). Population of cotton leafhopper, Amrasca biguttula biguttula was lower (582.2 versus 732.2 leafhoppers plants(-100)), while that of whitefly, Bemisia tabaci was higher on Bt-transgenic (65.2 versus 45.6 whiteflies plants(-100)) than on non-transgenic cotton. There was no significant influence of Bt-transgenic cotton on abundance of natural enemies of crop pests - chrysopids (9.6 versus 8.4 chrysopids plants(-100), ladybird beetles (16.0 versus 10.8 ladybirds plants(-100)), and spiders (128.4 versus 142.8 spiders plants(-100)). There were no significant differences in H. ormigera egg (19.8 versus 20.9%), larval (7.4 versus 9.6%), and larval-pupal (1.3 versus 2.9%) parasitism on Bt-transgenic and non-transgenic cottons in the farmer's fields. The parasitism in larvae of H. armigera was far lower than that of the eggs, which might be because of early mortality of H. armigera prior to parasitoid development in the host larvae. Although, Cry1Ac Bt toxin was detected in Cheilomenes sexmoculatus, chrysopids, A. bigutulla bigutulla, Thrips taboci, Myllocerus sp. , Oxycarenus laetus, Dysdercus koenigii, spiders, bugs, and grasshoppers, no significant differences were observed in their abundance on Bt-transgenic and non-transgenic cottons, suggesting that there were no adverse effects of Bt-cotton on the arthropod diversity under field conditions.
Principles of cerebral perfusion imaging by bolus tracking

The principles of cerebral perfusion imaging by the method of dynamic susceptibility contrast magnetic resonance imaging (DSC‐MRI) (bolus tracking) are described. The MRI signals underlying DSC‐MRI are discussed. Tracer kinetics procedures are defined to calculate images of cerebral blood volume (CBV), cerebral blood flow (CBF), and mean transit time (MTT). Two general categories of numerical procedures are reviewed for deriving CBF from the residue function. Procedures that involve deconvolution, such as Fourier deconvolution or singular value decomposition (SVD), are classified as model‐independent methods because they do not require a model of the microvascular hemodynamics. Those methods in principle also yield a measure of the tissue impulse response function and the residue function, from which microvascular hemodynamics can be characterized. The second category of methods is the model‐dependent methods, which use models of tracer transport and retention in the microvasculature. These methods do not yield independent measures of the residue function and may introduce bias when the physiology does not follow the model. Statistical methods are sometimes used, which involve treating the residue function as a deconvolution kernel and optimizing (fitting) the kernel from the experimental data using procedures such as maximum likelihood. Finally, other hemodynamic indices that can be measured from DSC‐MRI data are described. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2005. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Abscisic Acid and Stress Signals Induce Viviparous1 Expression in Seed and Vegetative Tissues of Maize1[OA]

Viviparous1 (Vp1) encodes a B3 domain-containing transcription factor that is a key regulator of seed maturation in maize (Zea mays). However, the mechanisms of Vp1 regulation are not well understood. To examine physiological factors that may regulate Vp1 expression, transcript levels were monitored in maturing embryos placed in culture under different conditions. Expression of Vp1 decreased after culture in hormone-free medium, but was induced by salinity or osmotic stress. Application of exogenous abscisic acid (ABA) also induced transcript levels within 1 h in a dose-dependent manner. The Vp1 promoter fused to β-glucuronidase or green fluorescent protein reproduced the endogenous Vp1 expression patterns in transgenic maize plants and also revealed previously unknown expression domains of Vp1. The Vp1 promoter is active in the embryo and aleurone cells of developing seeds and, upon drought stress, was also found in phloem cells of vegetative tissues, including cobs, leaves, and stems. Sequence analysis of the Vp1 promoter identified a potential ABA-responsive complex, consisting of an ACGT-containing ABA response element (ABRE) and a coupling element 1-like motif. Electrophoretic mobility shift assay confirmed that the ABRE and putative coupling element 1 components specifically bound proteins in embryo nuclear protein extracts. Treatment of embryos in hormone-free Murashige and Skoog medium blocked the ABRE-protein interaction, whereas exogenous ABA or mannitol treatment restored this interaction. Our data support a model for a VP1-dependent positive feedback mechanism regulating Vp1 expression during seed maturation.
Seeing It Helps: Movement-related Back Pain Is Reduced by Visualization of the Back During Movement

Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine whether visualization of the back influenced parameters of movement-related pain in people with chronic nonspecific low back pain. Methods: We used a randomized cross-over experiment in which 25 participants performed repeated lumbar spine movements under 2 conditions. In the visual feedback condition, patients were able to visualize their back as it moved by the use of mirrors. In the control condition, the mirror was covered so no visualization of the back was possible. Results: The average postmovement pain intensity after participants had moved with visual feedback was less (35.5±22.8 mm) than when they moved without visual feedback (44.7±26.0 mm). This difference was statistically significant (mean difference=9.3, 95% confidence interval: 2.8-15.7 F(1,22)=8.82, P=0.007). The average time to ease after participants had moved with visual feedback was shorter (44.5 s±53.8) than when they moved without visual feedback (94.4 s±80.7). This difference was also statistically significantly (mean difference=49.9, 95% confidence interval: 19.3-80.6, F(1,22)=8.82, P=0.003). Discussion: Patients with chronic nonspecific low back pain reported less increase in pain and faster resolution of pain when moving in an environment that enabled them to visualize their back. This is consistent with emerging research on the use of mirror visual feedback in other long-standing pain problems and suggests that similar lines of inquiry may be worth pursuing in the chronic nonspecific low back pain population.
Contextual occupancy maps using Gaussian processes

In this paper we introduce a new statistical modeling technique for building occupancy maps. The problem of mapping is addressed as a classification task where the robot's environment is classified into regions of occupancy and unoccupancy. Our model provides both a continuous representation of the robot's surroundings and an associated predictive variance. This is obtained by employing a Gaussian process as a non-parametric Bayesian learning technique to exploit the fact that real-world environments inherently possess structure. This structure introduces a correlation between points on the map which is not accounted for by many common mapping techniques such as occupancy grids. Using a trained neural network covariance function to model the highly non-stationary datasets, it is possible to generate accurate representations of large environments at resolutions which suit the desired applications while also providing inferences into occluded regions, between beams, and beyond the range of the sensor, even with relatively few sensor readings. We demonstrate the benefits of our approach in a simulated data set with known ground-truth, and in an outdoor urban environment covering an area of 120,000 m2.
Two Sides of the Same Coin: Psychopathy Case Studies From an Urban Police Department

ABSTRACT Psychopathy is a personality construct characterized by a lack of empathy, and by callousness, grandiosity, and superficial charm; typically, these traits are found among incarcerated individuals prone to antisocial lifestyles (Cleckley, 1976; Hare, 2003). In recent years, interest has grown exponentially in identifying psychopathic traits in populations where they may be adaptive in nature, such as business, medicine, emergency responders, and law enforcement (Babiak, Neumann, & Hare, 2010; Hall & Benning, 2006; Smith & Lilienfeld, 2013). When considering law enforcement, personality research suggests that certain traits reminiscent of psychopathy (i.e., decreased emotional response, low stress reactivity, fearlessness) may in fact aid an individual in carrying out police work (Bakker & Heuven, 2006; Schaible & Gecas, 2010). Alternatively, other psychopathic traits (i.e., emotional dysregulation, aggression, impulsivity) could be detrimental to police officers’ performance (Lorinskas & Kulis, 1986; Pogarsky & Piquero, 2004). As such, these traits could be considered when screening individuals to serve as law enforcement officers. To further explore psychopathy in police, detailed case illustrations are presented for two officers from an urban police department: one as an example of a positive manifestation of psychopathy in police, and the other as a less adaptive example. These case illustrations suggest that the benefits of psychopathic traits in law enforcement depend greatly on which traits manifest in officers. Practical implementations and areas for future research are discussed.
PENGARUH KARAKTERISTIK KEWIRAUSAHAAN TERHADAP NIAT BERWIRAUSAHA PADA MAHASISWA FAKULTAS EKONOMI UNISRI DENGAN MOTIVASI BERWIRAUSAHA SEBAGAI VARIABEL MODERASI

The purpose of this study was to analyze: 1) the effect of entrepreneurial characteristics on student's entrepreneurship intentions 2) the effect of entrepreneurship motivation on student's entrepreneurship intention, and 3) the effect of entrepreneurial characteristics on student's entrepreneurship intenton with on the entrepreneurship motivation as a moderating variable. This study is a survey. The study population were students of the Faculty of Economics Slamet Riyadi University Surakarta in years 2012 and 2013. The research sample 59 used purposive sampling then used proportional cluster random sampling technique. The technique of collecting data used interviews, questionnaires and observations. Data were analyzed using the research instrument test, classic assumption test, multiple linear regression analysis, t-test, F, coefficient determination and test the absolute difference. The results showed that entrepreneurial characteristics has significant effect on student's entrepreneurship intention. Entrepreneurship motivation has significant effect in students influence the entrepreneurship intention. Entrepreneurship motivation does not moderate effect of on entrepreneurial characteristics on student's entrepreneurship intention.
A new threat assessment measure for collision avoidance systems

Collision avoidance systems (CAS) are an emerging automotive safety technology that assists drivers in avoiding collisions. They monitor the dynamic traffic and vehicle information in real time and assess the current threat level to decide if warnings should be issued to the driver or automatic braking is needed to avoid collisions. Several measures have previously been defined for threat assessment with various warning and overriding algorithms proposed. A new threat assessment measure, time-to-last-second-braking (Tlsb) is proposed in this paper and its advantages over previous measures are discussed. It directly quantifies the danger or threat level of the current dynamic situation objectively as well as assesses the urgency level for the required evasive action, e.g., braking. It is in agreement with human natural judgment of the urgency and severity of threats. Furthermore, new warning and overriding criteria are proposed based on the new Tlsb measure, providing more appropriate warning and more effective override timing
Objective Quantification of Drought Severity and Duration

Common weaknesses of current drought indexes were analyzed. First, most of the current indexes are not precise enough in detecting the onset, end, and accumulated stress of drought. Second, they do not effectively take into account the aggravating effects of runoff and evapotranspiration, which build up with time. Third, they have a limited usefulness in monitoring ongoing drought because they are based on a monthly time step. Fourth, most of them fail to differentiate the effects of drought on surface and subsurface water supply. A new series of indexes are proposed to solve these weaknesses and to improve drought monitoring. In the new indexes, daily, rather than monthly, time steps are used. A new concept, effective precipitation (EP), the summed value of daily precipitation with a time-dependent reduction function, is proposed as a basic tool. Three additional indexes complement EP. The first index is each day’s mean of EP (MEP). This index shows climatological characteristics of precipitation as a water resource for a station or area. The second index is the deviation of EP (DEP) from the MEP. The third index is the standardized value of DEP (SEP). By using these three indexes, consecutive days of negative SEP, which can show the onset, the ending date, and the duration of a water deficit period is categorized. With the duration categorized, four additional indexes that can show drought severity are calculated: 1) accumulation of consecutive negative SEP, which shows the duration and severity of precipitation deficit together ; 2) accumulated precipitation deficit, which shows precipitation departure from the normal during a defined period; 3) precipitation for the return to normal; and 4) effective drought index, a standardized index that can be used to assess drought severity worldwide. The merits and weaknesses of each index are compared. New quantified definitions on drought and its onset, end, and duration are proposed. These indexes were tested in the High Plains region of the United States from 1960 to 1996. The results were compared to historical reports of drought. From this analysis, it was concluded that the new indexes not only advanced objectivity, but also offered a number of advantages in practical use. These are 1) a more precise determination of drought duration, 2) the usefulness in monitoring an ongoing drought, and 3) the variety of ways a drought’s characteristics can be described.
Restoration of motor function following spinal cord injury via optimal control of intraspinal microstimulation: toward a next generation closed-loop neural prosthesis

Movement is planned and coordinated by the brain and carried out by contracting muscles acting on specific joints. Motor commands initiated in the brain travel through descending pathways in the spinal cord to effector motor neurons before reaching target muscles. Damage to these pathways by spinal cord injury (SCI) can result in paralysis below the injury level. However, the planning and coordination centers of the brain, as well as peripheral nerves and the muscles that they act upon, remain functional. Neuroprosthetic devices can restore motor function following SCI by direct electrical stimulation of the neuromuscular system. Unfortunately, conventional neuroprosthetic techniques are limited by a myriad of factors that include, but are not limited to, a lack of characterization of non-linear input/output system dynamics, mechanical coupling, limited number of degrees of freedom, high power consumption, large device size, and rapid onset of muscle fatigue. Wireless multi-channel closed-loop neuroprostheses that integrate command signals from the brain with sensor-based feedback from the environment and the system's state offer the possibility of increasing device performance, ultimately improving quality of life for people with SCI. In this manuscript, we review neuroprosthetic technology for improving functional restoration following SCI and describe brain-machine interfaces suitable for control of neuroprosthetic systems with multiple degrees of freedom. Additionally, we discuss novel stimulation paradigms that can improve synergy with higher planning centers and improve fatigue-resistant activation of paralyzed muscles. In the near future, integration of these technologies will provide SCI survivors with versatile closed-loop neuroprosthetic systems for restoring function to paralyzed muscles.
Availability Evaluation of Micro-Grids for Resistant Power Supply During Natural Disasters

This paper discusses how micro-grids availability during natural disasters and in their aftermath can be assessed. The analysis focuses on two critical groups of components that allow micro-grids to improve power supply availability: distributed generators and local energy storage. For distributed generators and, due to their importance during natural disasters, this paper presents a novel focus by exploring the importance of lifelines for system availability. Renewable energy sources are identified as valuable distributed generation assets during disasters because they do not require lifelines; yet, their variable generation nature leads to the need for significant local energy storage. Additional local energy storage may be desirable as a backup solution to address potential failures that would blackout the load because they reduce the impact of lifeline performance during disasters on micro-grid availability. Analysis of micro-grids availability is performed based on Markov state space models and calculated using minimal cut sets approximations. This calculation method has the advantage of being very simple, not requiring extensive knowledge in the subject or computational needs. Results are verified with numerical experiments using Monte Carlo simulations.
Chinese and German teachers’ and parents’ conceptions of learning at play – similarities, differences, and (in)consistencies

ABSTRACT This qualitative study investigated Chinese and German teachers’ and parents’ conceptions and understanding of learning at play. A total of 28 teachers and 12 parents took part in this study. Among the participants, 12 kindergarten teachers (6 German and 6 Chinese) were interviewed to obtain their perspectives on learning at play. These participants assisted the researchers in the selection of exemplary play episodes used in their own classrooms. Four three-minute videos containing the largest amount of learning elements based on the teachers’ views were selected from each culture. Applying video-cued multivocal ethnography, the selected video clips were shown to 16 other teachers (8 German and 8 Chinese) and 12 parents (6 German and 6 Chinese) in focus groups to elicit their conceptions and understanding of learning at play. The findings revealed different social and cultural representations of educational activities between Hong Kong and Germany, the contributions of which are important and useful for professional practices and curricular policies in these two countries currently undergoing education reforms.
Structured Local Training and Biased Potential Functions for Conditional Random Fields with Application to Coreference Resolution

Conditional Random Fields (CRFs) have shown great success for problems involving structured output variables. However, for many real-world NLP applications, exact maximum-likelihood training is intractable because computing the global normalization factor even approximately can be extremely hard. In addition, optimizing likelihood often does not correlate with maximizing task-specific evaluation measures. In this paper, we present a novel training procedure, structured local training, that maximizes likelihood while exploiting the benefits of global inference during training: hidden variables are used to capture interactions between local inference and global inference. Furthermore, we introduce biased potential functionsthat empirically drive CRFs towards performance improvements w.r. t. the preferred evaluation measure for the learning task. We report promising experimental results on two coreference data sets using two task-specific evaluation measures.
The Investigation of the Curricular Preferences of Students from Primary and Preschool Pedagogy Specialization: Premises for a Model of Action and Socio - Pedagogical Intervention

This study synthesizes the results of an empirical research, whose purpose was to identify and analyze the curricular preferences of students studying in the field of Primary and Preschool Pedagogy specialization, from the University of Craiova, Faculty of Theology, History and Education Sciences. We constructed a questionnaire in order to identify the curricular preferences of the above mentioned students, aiming in the same time to analyze the relationship between two major variables: students’ perception regarding the attractiveness of disciplines as part of the educational curriculum and students’ perceptions concerning academic subjects’ utility with regard to the professional training curriculum. The results have confirmed the conclusions of several previous surveys regarding the curricular preferences and have opened, in the same time, new perspectives, for further research and development in the field of professional training curriculum, from the perspective of the social constructivism theory.