Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
In vitro propagation of the threatened plant Sphaerophysa kotschyana (Fabaceae): inter simple-sequence-repeat (ISSR) analysis and salt tolerance of the regenerants

Sphaerophysa kotschyana is a threatened endemic species in Turkey and according to the Bern Convention, it is on the absolute preservation plant list. In vitro propagation methodologies were evaluated as an ex situ conservation strategy for this species. Nodal segments were cultured on Murashige and Skoog (MS) media with different cytokinins (benzyladenine, thidiazuron (TDZ) and zeatine), with or without auxin (α-naphthaleneacetic acid; NAA), to investigate shoot initiation. TDZ produced the highest number of shoots (11.0 shoots per explant) on MS medium at a concentration of 0.05 mg L–1. Rooting reached 100% when 0.5 mg L–1 NAA was combined with half strength MS and 1.5% sucrose and rooted plantlets were successfully acclimatised. Somaclonal variation of a mother plant and 10 regenerants was assessed using ISSR analysis. The same banding profiles were exhibited by all plants. In vitro response to salinity stress (NaCl) was also investigated in this halophytic species. Higher concentrations of NaCl negatively affected shoot multiplication, whereas shoot height was enhanced at 50 mM NaCl. These results suggest that the established protocol is an efficient and reliable system of in vitro propagation for ex situ conservation of S. kotschyana.
Drug-eluting stents versus bare-metal stents for saphenous vein graft interventions.

Currently, the use of drug-eluting stents (DESs) for native coronary artery intervention is the standard of care. This is because robust evidence based on high-quality trails support the superior efficacy of DES compared to bare-metal stents (BMSs) (1,2). Additionally, observational studies have shown improved outcomes with DESs compared to BMSs for saphenous vein graft (SVG) intervention (3-5). However, randomized clinical trials (RCTs) frequently exclude patients with SVG stenoses and interpretation of observational studies is limited by multiple biases (6). At this time, the superiority of DESs relative to BMSs for SVG lesions has not been well-established.
Study of nonculturable Legionella pneumophila cells during multiple-nutrient starvation

The nonculturable form of Legionella pneumophila in multiple-nutrient starvation culture was studied. During extended starvation, the total direct counts (TDC) of L. pneumophila did not change significantly, but no colonies were detected on day 50. Quantitative PCR detection of L. pneumophila DNA demonstrated that nonculturable cells retained PCR-detectable DNA even after starvation for 300 days, and part of the nonculturable population possessed nonspecific esterase activity. However, resuscitation trials of nonculturable L. pneumophila on day 100 of starvation recovered no colony-forming units, and electrophoresis of nucleic acids extracted from nonculturable cells revealed rRNA subunit (23S, 16S and 5S) degradation. When legionellae have lost the ability to multiply, at least some DNA and enzyme functions may be retained for prolonged periods.
A taxonomic revision of Euphrasia in Europe

This revision is based on work done in preparing an account of Euphrasia L. (Scrophulariaceae) for Flora Europaea, and uses the definition of Europe adopted there, but the two perennial species from the Azores are omitted. The remaining 44 species numbered in Flora Europaea are treated, as well as the 3 mentioned in observations and an additional one, making a total of 48. The species and infra-specific taxa receive extended descriptions according to a consistent scheme, and their distributions are given in the same manner as in Flora Europaea. Specimens other than types are not cited. The introduction deals with taxonomic principles and problems, including hybridity. Known chromosome numbers are included in a conspectus of taxa. One new taxon is described, E. salisburgensis Funck var. schoenicola P. F. Yeo; two new combinations are made: E. picta Wimmer subsp. arguta (Towns.) P. F. Yeo and E. portae Wettst. subsp. italica (Wettst.) P. F. Yeo. Some new lectotypes are designated, and the finding of several species in territories from which they are not recorded in Flora Europaea, is reported. A list of herbaria in which the author has revised all the European Euphrasia material is included.
Pricing for Revenue Maximization in IoT Data Markets: An Information Design Perspective

Data is becoming an important kind of commercial good, and many online data marketplaces are set up to facilitate the trading of data. However, most existing data market models and the corresponding pricing mechanisms are simple, and fail to capture the unique economic properties of data. In this paper, we first characterize the distinctive features of IoT data as a commodity, and then present a new IoT data market model from an information design perspective. We further propose a family of data pricing mechanisms for revenue maximization under different market settings. Our MSimple mechanism extracts full surplus from the market for the model with one type of buyer. When multiple types of buyers coexist, our MGeneral mechanism optimally solves the problem of revenue maximization by formulating it as a polynomial size convex program. For a more practical setting where buyers have bounded rationality, we design MPractical mechanism with a tight logarithmic approximation ratio. We evaluate our pricing mechanisms on a real-world ambient sound dataset. Evaluation results show our pricing mechanisms achieve good performance and approach the revenue upper bound.
Spatial nonstationarity and scale-dependency in the relationship between species richness and environmental determinants for the sub-Saharan endemic avifauna

This article aims to test for and explore spatial nonstationarity in the relationship between avian species richness and a set of explanatory variables to further the understanding of species diversity variation. Geographically weighted regression was used to study the relationship between species richness of the endemic avifauna of sub-Saharan Africa and a set of perceived environmental determinants, comprising the variables of temperature, precipitation and normalized difference vegetation index. The relationships between species richness and the explanatory variables were found to be significantly spatially variable and scale-dependent. At local scales > 90% of the variation was explained, but this declined at coarser scales, with the greatest sensitivity to scale variation evident for narrow ranging species. The complex spatial pattern in regression model parameter estimates also gave rise to a spatial variation in scale effects. Relationships between environmental variables are generally assumed to be spatially stationary and conventional, global, regression techniques are therefore used in their modelling. This assumption was not satisfied in this study, with the relationships varying significantly in space. In such circumstances the average impression provided by a global model may not accurately represent conditions locally. Spatial nonstationarity in the relationship has important implications, especially for studies of species diversity patterns and their scaling.
The influences of bathymetry and flow regime upon the morphology of sublittoral sponge communities

Sponge communities were sampled at 3 m depth intervals at six sites experiencing different flow regimes at Lough Hyne, Ireland. Sponges were identified and classified within the following morphological groups: encrusting, massive, globular, pedunculate, tubular, flabellate, arborescent, repent and papillate morphological types on both vertical (≈90°) and inclined (≈45°) surfaces. Differences in the proportional abundance of the sponge body forms and density (sponge m−2) were observed between sites and depths. The density of sponges increased with depth at sites of slight to moderate current flow, but not at the site where current flow was turbulent. Morphological diversity of sponge communities decreased with increasing current flow due to the removal of delicate forms such as pedunculate and arborescent shaped sponges. Massive and encrusting morphologies dominated at the high-energy sites (fast and turbulent flow regimes) due to a high basal area to volume ratio, which prevents removal from cliff surfaces. However, pedunculate, papillate and arborescent types dominated at the low current sites as these shapes may help to prevent the settlement of sediment on sponge surfaces. Bray–Curtis Similarity analysis and Correspondence Analysis were used to distinguish between five different morphological communities.
Growth and Carcass Traits of Three Portuguese Autochthonous Chicken Breeds: Amarela, Preta Lusitânica and Pedrês Portuguesa

The purpose of this study was to estimate the growth curve parameters and carcass traits yields of three Portuguese autochthonous chicken breeds, Amarela (AM), Preta Lusitânica (PL) and Pedrês Portuguesa (PP). Birds (198) were individually weighed at pre-established time intervals (6682 records) and the study period lasted 30 months. The growth data were fitted to a mixed nonlinear model based on the Gompertz growth function. Fixed effects were breed, sex, lot, temperature and photoperiod. The adult weight estimated for males (females) were 2851.3 (1951.6) g for AM, 3047.5 (2147.7) g for PL, and 3243.7 (2344.0) g for PP, respectively. The males (females) estimated maximum daily growth were 22.7 (18.1) g at 77 (69) days for AM, 20.7 (17.5) g at 79 (72) days for PL, and 18.1 (16.3) g at 82 (74) days for PP, respectively. Within breed the males were heavier than females at 365 days but with lower maturity rates. Yields of carcass and noble meat pieces were evaluated on data collected from 10 males of each breed, sacrificed at 240 days. Traditionally, these breeds are commercialised whole and again the PP had the heaviest carcass with the highest yield. Growth of these autochthonous breeds after 240 days was minimal and may justify the decrease of the traditional slaughter age of approximately one year, in order to increase profitability. Establishing special market niches will also be a valuable complement for the rural economy of Portugal and an important contribution to the conservation of this genetic heritage.
Does Israel’s Technology Track Pass the Test? Evidence from a Propensity Score Matching Estimation Study

This study examines the matriculation achievements of Israeli high school pupils studying in a technology track (vocational training) compared with the achievements of pupils who studied in an academic track. A straightforward comparison of the pupils’ achievements would be biased, since the pupils in the technology track tend to come from modest family backgrounds and have lower-than-average personal skills compared to pupils in the academic track. In order to compensate for the selectivity of the choice of study track, we use the Propensity Score Matching estimation method. The study reveals that the percentage of pupils in the technology track who take the matriculation exam and are eligible for a matriculation certificate is small compared with the percentage of pupils from the academic track with similar characteristics (in terms of personal skills and family background). The gap persists even when we compare weaker pupils, despite the fact that one of the main goals of the technology track is to advance such pupils.
Service Quality Measurement at Brand Factory: An Empirical Study

Service quality is an important factor that contributes to the customer loyalty and business success as evident from the extant literature. In the light of fierce competition, business firms can adopt service quality as a key differentiator and a key element of business strategy and retailing is no exception to this. This study was intended to measure the service quality at Brand Factory, future groups using SERVQUAL model. The descriptive design was used with the sample size of 100 customers in the Bangalore City to examine the gap between the expectation of the customers and perception with regards to service quality. The gap score for each dimension is calculated by subtracting the expectation score from the perception score. A negative gap score indicates that the actual service (the perceived score) was less than what was expected (the expectation score). Gap score is an indication of the level of quality of their service provision, and highlights areas requiring improvement. The findings show that the service quality at Brand Factory is satisfactory.
Optimization of Cost in Cloud Computing Using OCRP Algorithm

—In cloud computing, cloud providers can offer cloud consumers two provisioning plans for computing resources, namely reservation and on-demand plans. Reservation plan is cheaper than that provisioned by on-demand plan, since cloud consumer has to pay to provider in advance. By using reservation plan, the consumer can reduce the total resource provisioning cost. Even though, the best advance reservation of resources is difficult to be achieved due to uncertainty of consumer’s future demand and providers’ resource prices. Due to this problem, an optimal cloud resource provisioning (OCRP) algorithm is proposed by formulating a stochastic programming model. The OCRP algorithm can provision computing resources for being used in multiple provisioning stages as well as a long-term plan, e.g., four stages in a quarter plan and twelve stages in a yearly plan. The demand and price uncertainty is considered in OCRP. In this paper, different approaches are measured including deterministic equivalent formulation, sample-average approximation, and Benders decomposition in OCRP algorithm.
A new subgenus and six new species of Nepomorpha Insecta Heteroptera from Yunnan, China

Five new species of Micronecta Kirkaldy, 1897b (Micronectidae), from Xishuangbanna, the extreme southwest of Yunnan Province, China are described: M. erythra, M. janssoni, M. lobata, M. melanochroa and M. ornitheia. Further, Anisops pseudostali, new species (Notonectidae) is described from the vicinity of Kunming. Micronecta khasiensis Hutchinson, 1940, and M. waltoniana Hutchinson, 1940, are removed from subgenus Mesonecta Poisson, 1938, and together with M. matsumurai Miyamoto, 1965, M. polhemusi Nieser, 2000, and M. melanochroa, new species are placed in the newly described subgenus Unguinecta (type species M. polhemusi). In addition, eight species: Micronecta drepani Nieser, 2000, M. guttatostriata Lundblad, 1933, M. jaczewskii Wroblewski, 1962, M. lemnae Nieser, 2000 (Micronectidae), Cercotmetus asiaticus Amyot & Serville, 1843 (Nepidae), Anisops breddini Kirkaldy, 1901, A. tahitiensis Lundblad, 1934, and Enithares stridulata Brooks, 1948 (Notonectidae) are recorded for the first time from China. Finally, some records of species already known from China are given.
Cytomorphological Behaviour and Origin of Aneuploids in Tetraploid Pearl Millet (Pennisetum americanum (L.) K. Schum)

Aneuploids with 27- to 30-chromosomes were isolated in the progenies of induced tetraploids of pearl millet in a lower frequency in C2 generation. These aneuploids were apparently recovered through female transmission, which varied for aneuploid gametes with different chromosome numbers. Aneuploids could be distinguished from eu-tetraploids on a morphological basis. Cytological study showed that 27-chromosomes variant was characterized by a high frequency of univalents and their precocious splitting at AI followed by the formation of bivalents in addition to rare presence of trivalents and quadrivalents/cell. But bivalents were highly frequent in both hypertetraploids. Thus, a frequency of bivalent is suggestive of “preferential pairing”. Moreover, the induced bivalentization noted in both euand aneuploids of advanced generation tetraploids of pearl millet may be accounted to high selection pressure.
Vascularized Iliac Bone Flap Transfer for Early and Middle Stages of Osteonecrosis of the Femoral Head

Background: Osteonecrosis of the femoral head often affects young active adults and leads to destruction of the hip joint and severe arthritis1-4. Despite improvements in hip arthroplasty design and techniques, it is unlikely that prosthetic replacements will endure for life. Alternatively, various head-preserving procedures have been used to avert or delay the need for a total hip arthroplasty5-11. Vascularized iliac bone flap transfer is a joint-preserving procedure that can be considered for younger patients with early or middle-stage osteonecrosis of the femoral head. Description: The major steps of the procedure include (1) an anterior approach to the affected hip, (2) creation of a bone flap from the iliac crest pedicled with the ascending branch of the lateral circumflex femoral artery, (3) obtaining cancellous bone from the iliac crest, (4) exposure of the anterior aspect of the femoral neck, (5) creation of a 2 × 2-cm window at the junction of the femoral head and neck, (6) debridement and removal of the necrotic bone, (7) implantation of the cancellous bone and vascularized bone flap, (8) fixation of the bone flap, and (9) layer-by-layer wound closure. Complications are rare, and full weight-bearing is allowed at 6 months postoperatively. Alternatives: Alternatives to the procedure include core decompression, nonvascularized bone-grafting, free vascularized fibular grafting, and vascularized greater trochanter grafting. Rationale: Various femoral head-preserving procedures have been reported. Core decompression is an effective femoral head-preserving procedure and is recommended as the first surgical treatment option for symptomatic small to medium-sized precollapse lesions. However, outcomes are poor when a patient has a large lesion or femoral head collapse. The advantage of vascularized iliac bone flap transfer is that it allows femoral head decompression, restores blood supply, and provides structural support. Thus, this procedure can be performed in patients with later osteonecrosis stages before hip osteoarthritis has progressed.
Retrograde and Anterograde Tracing of Neural Projections

[Abstract] Neurons consist of four elements, the soma, dendrite, axon and terminal. They work in concert as the input (soma and dendrite) and output (axon and terminal) parts of neuronal transmission. To function and maintain neuronal activity and metabolisms, proteins and organelles should be transported from soma to terminal via anterograde axonal transport, and also from terminal to soma via retrograde transport. By utilizing these transport systems, neural projection is traced by injecting tracers into local sites of interest. Furthermore, neurochemical properties, such as glutamatergic and GABAergic, can be determined by combining retrograde and anterograde tracing with fluorescent in situ hybridization and immunofluorescence.
Simple Regression-Based Procedures for Taxometric Investigations 1 ,2

Certain theories of psychopathology postulate the existence of distinct latent populations of individuals. By analogy with biology, we call such latent populations “taxa” and we call the statistical testing of such theories “taxometrics. ” Taxometric procedures are robust; they do not make restrictive distributional assumptions. However, they have two disadvantages for nonstatistician users: (1) they are developed via algebra hard for many nonstatistician users intuitively to accept; and (2) computational software is not widely available. We address these problems by presenting a simple taxometric procedure, MAXSLOPE, based on regression plots for pairs of variables. This procedure is easily implemented using commonly available software and is intuitively rather easy to understand. We apply it to two artificial datasets. One data-set, used to explain the graphs, shows clear-cut evidence of taxa. The other example shows less clear grouping structure and is used to show that the proposed graphical procedure works even in nonideal cases. Comparisons are made with currently used procedures of cluster analysis and multivariate normal mixture analysis.
Wetland Selection by Breeding and Foraging Black Terns in the Prairie Pothole Region of the United States

Abstract. We examined wetland selection by the Black Tern (Chlidonias niger), a species that breeds primarily in the prairie pothole region, has experienced population declines, and is difficult to manage because of low site fidelity. To characterize its selection of wetlands in this region, we surveyed 589 wetlands throughout North and South Dakota. We documented breeding at 5% and foraging at 17% of wetlands. We created predictive habitat models with a machine-learning algorithm, Random Forests, to explore the relative role of local wetland characteristics and those of the surrounding landscape and to evaluate which characteristics were important to predicting breeding versus foraging. We also examined area-dependent wetland selection while addressing the passive sampling bias by replacing occurrence of terns in the models with an index of density. Local wetland variables were more important than landscape variables in predictions of occurrence of breeding and foraging. Wetland size was more important to prediction of foraging than of breeding locations, while floating matted vegetation was more important to prediction of breeding than of foraging locations. The amount of seasonal wetland in the landscape was the only landscape variable important to prediction of both foraging and breeding. Models based on a density index indicated that wetland selection by foraging terns may be more area dependent than that by breeding terns. Our study provides some of the first evidence for differential breeding and foraging wetland selection by Black Terns and for a more limited role of landscape effects and area sensitivity than has been previously shown.
Picturing the pipeline: Mapping settler colonialism on Instagram

Through mainstream discourses that infuse all components of society, settler superiority is naturalized in Canada. This process occurs at the expense of Indigenous peoples who continue to be displaced from the land, which is conceptualized as a ‘resource’. Despite the seemingly static nature of settler colonialism, its hegemony is both contested and reinforced through the participatory social space of Instagram. Though it is primarily known for its aesthetic and visual communication properties, Instagram’s visuality contributes substantially to public discourse, enabling resistant and political expressions around specific issues. Using data collected from Instagram, this article maps the social life of Canada’s controversial Trans Mountain pipeline issue, as it develops under medium-specific affordances. Around the Trans Mountain pipeline issue, hashtags and imagery mutually inform one another on Instagram, connecting highly located and temporal experiences with national policies, as users performatively challenge and reinforce social relations as they exist under settler colonialism.
HEINZ–SCHWARZ INEQUALITIES FOR HARMONIC MAPPINGS IN THE UNIT BALL

Abstract. We first prove the following generalization of Schwarz lemma for harmonic mappings. If u is a harmonic mapping of the unit ball onto itself then ‖u(x) − (1 − ‖x‖2)/(1 + ‖x‖2)n/2u(0)‖ 6 U(|x|N). By using this result we obtain certain sharp estimate of the gradient of a harmonic mapping. Those two results extend some known result from harmonic mapping theory [1]. By using the Schwarz lemma for harmonic mappings we derive Heinz inequality on the boundary of the unit ball by providing a sharp constant Cn in the inequality: ‖∂ru(rη)‖r=1 > Cn, ‖η‖ = 1, for every harmonic mapping of the unit ball into itself satisfying the condition u(0) = 0, ‖u(η)‖ = 1.