Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Identification of QTLs Associated with Improved Resistance to Ascochyta Blight in an Interspecific Pea Recombinant Inbred Line Population

Ascochyta blight of pea (Pisum sp.), caused by Peyronellaea pinodes, often results in serious yield losses. Some accessions of Pisum fulvum Sibth. & Sm. previously showed high levels of resistance and could be used as sources of new resistance genes. The objectives of this study were to develop a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP)-based linkage map and identify genomic regions associated with Ascochyta blight resistance. A population (PR-19) consisting of 144 recombinant inbred lines (RILs) developed from a cross between P651 (P. fulvum) and Alfetta (Pisum sativum L.) was used. These RILs were evaluated for Ascochyta blight resistance under field conditions in Saskatchewan, as well as under greenhouse conditions. The RILs were genotyped using an Illumina GoldenGate array panel of 1536 SNPs. A wide range of variation was observed in Ascochyta blight scores and other agronomic traits. Disease scores were positively correlated (P < 0.001) with lodging and were negatively correlated (P < 0.001) with days to flower, plant height, days to maturity, and grain yield. A total of 733 SNP markers were assigned to six linkage groups covering 682.1 cM of the pea genome. Nine quantitative trait loci (QTLs) were identified for Ascochyta blight resistance, which individually explained 7.5 to 28% of the total phenotypic variation. In addition, five QTLs each were identified for plant height, days to maturity, and grain yield, four QTLs for days to flower, and two QTLs for lodging. The QTL abIII-1 was consistent across locations and years, whereas abI-IV-2 was significant at both locations in 2014. These QTLs can be utilized for development of molecular markers associated with Ascochyta blight resistance.
Maize seed marketing chains and marketing efficiency along supply chains of the hills in Nepal

Remoteness, poor infrastructures, labor shortages, small quantities of seed at the producer level and few private seed traders are inherent problems in maize seed production and marketing in the hills of Nepal. Farm-saved seed, including seed exchange and private sector supply are the main sources of improved maize seeds in Nepal. Using the primary data collected from 200 respondents across 20 hilly districts of Nepal, this paper analyzes marketing chains and the efficiency of marketing of improved maize seed along the supply chains. The results show five major maize seed marketing chains. Chain I involved producers, collectors, wholesalers, retailers and consumers; Chain II involved producers, collectors, wholesalers and consumers; Chain III involved producers, collectors, retailers and consumers; Chain IV involved producers, collectors and consumers; and Chain V involved producers and consumers. A total of 64.3 tons of improved maize seed was marketed through the identified chains. Chain II was the most important supply chain, accounting for 38.8per cent of total marketed seeds; while Chain I was the least important, accounting for 4.3per cent. P
Multichannel Shopping: Causes and Consequences

The authors explore the drivers of multichannel shopping and the impact of multichannel shopping on customer profitability. Through a longitudinal analysis, the authors provide evidence that multichannel shopping is associated with higher customer profitability. Using the social exchange theory, they develop hypotheses regarding the impact of several customer–firm interaction characteristics on customer channel adoption duration. They propose a shared-frailty hazard model for testing the proposed hypotheses. They use the customer database of an apparel manufacturer that sells through three distinct channels for the empirical analysis and find that frequency-related interaction characteristics have the greatest influence on second-channel adoption duration. In contrast, proportion of returns, a purchase-related interaction characteristic, has the greatest influence on third-channel adoption duration. Variation across customers in purchase-related attributes has a greater impact on the duration to adopt the second channel than the duration to adopt the third channel. In contrast, variation across customers in the channel-related attributes has a greater impact on the third-channel adoption duration than on the second-channel adoption duration. The customer–firm interaction characteristics identified in this study and the proposed model framework allow for forward-looking allocation of multichannel marketing resources.
External Debt and Macroeconomics Performance In Malaysia: Sustainable Or Not?

This study analyses the long-run and short-run relationship between external debt and macroeconomics performance of Malaysia. The macroeconomics performance in this study refers to government’s revenue, balance of payment and government reserve. In this study we apply time-series econometric techniques with annual data series for the entire period of 1988-2008. The co-integration approach is employed to investigate the long-run relationship; and vector error correction method (VECM) to investigate the short term dynamics. Our findings suggested a significant long-rung and short-run relationship between external debt and macroeconomics variables performance with 13 percent of speed of adjustment to restore equilibrium condition in the long run. Overall, the findings of this study shows that, Malaysia’s external debt is ‘sustainable’ with its macroeconomics performance, although have faces several unstable economic scenario for the last 2 decades.
On extrapolation of virial coefficients of hard spheres

Several methods of extrapolating the virial coefficients, including those proposed in this work, are discussed. The methods are demonstrated on predicting higher virial coefficients of one-component hard spheres. Estimated values of the eleventh to fifteenth virial coefficients are suggested. It has been speculated that the virial coefficients, B_n, beyond B_{14} may decrease with increasing n, and may reach negative values at large n. The extrapolation techniques may be utilized in other fields of science where the art of extrapolation plays a role.
Market Orientation Impact on Radical and Incremental Marketing Innovation: A Study of Saudi Arabia Hospital Marketing Efforts

We conducted an empirical study to measure influence of market orientation on marketing innovation in hospitals in Saudi Arabia. The sample includes 109 hospital workers that have been identified as having an adequate knowledge of the subject of research. In particular we explain the impact of customer orientation, inter-functional orientation and competitor orientation on marketing innovation. Furthermore the moderating effects of centralization and formalization on those relationships are explained. The findings of our study suggest that there is an important role of market orientation for the successful implementation of innovation and business performance of hospitals in Saudi Arabia. The results indicated that there is a positive influence of customer orientation on radical innovation and incremental innovation, a strong positive impact of competitor orientation on incremental innovation and no significant impact regarding inter-functional coordination on both incremental and radical innovation. The moderating effect of centralization on market innovation and innovation proved to be insignificant and the formalization effect had a positive influence on the customer, competitor and inter-functional orientation and radical innovation relationship. Additionally our study is valuable (for the practice, and theory) as it assisted in developing and further elaborating the science of market orientation, particularly customer and competitor orientation and inter-functional coordination, and the influence on incremental and radical service which are relevant for the financial results of hospitals in Saudi Arabia. The contribution of this research was also to develop a conceptual and theoretical understanding on incremental and radical innovation in the effort to improve performance, especially for the Saudi Arabian hospitals. The practical implication of this study is the insight and the knowledge Saudi Arabian hospital managerial staff, in implementing the concept of market orientation in relation to innovation and overall hospital performance.
Title Different value of coronary calcium score to predict obstructive coronary artery disease in patients with and without moderate chronic kidney disease

Purpose The coronary calcium score (CCS) predicts significant coronary artery disease (CAD) in the general population. While moderate chronic kidney disease (CKD) is associated with high CCS, the use of CCS to predict significant CAD in these patients is unknown. Methods A total of 704 patients underwent computed tomography coronary angiography for the assessment of CCS and CAD. Sixty-nine (10 %) patients had moderate CKD, defined by an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) between 30 and 59 mL/min/1.73m, and the remaining patients were considered to be without significant CKD (eGFR≥60 mL/min/1.73m). Results Patients with moderate CKD were older, had a higher CCS, and a higher prevalence of obstructive CAD than patients without significant CKD. Receiver-operator curve analysis showed that CCS predicted the presence of obstructive CAD in both patients with moderate CKD and those without significant CKD. In patients with moderate CKD, the optimal cut-off value of CCS to diagnose obstructive CAD was 140 (sensitivity 73 % and specificity of 70 %), and is 2.8 fold higher than in patients without significant CKD (cut-off value=50; sensitivity 75 % and specificity 75 %). Conclusion The present results demonstrate that CCS can predict obstructive CAD in patients with moderate CKD, although the optimal cut-off value is higher than in patients without significant CKD.
The role of ISPCC social support on perceived stress, test anxiety and selfesteem among post-primary school students.

The Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (ISPCC) is the oldest children’s charity organisation in Ireland, and currently provides 24 hour support and assistance for children. Due to the importance of external social supports and the limited research to date in Ireland, the aim of the present study was to explore the role of the ISPCC as a source of support for teenage children, with regard to stress, self-esteem and test anxiety. One hundred and eighty eight children (99 females) between 13 and 18 years of age participated. Results suggest that children who reported a recent stressful life event and who used ISPCC services reported significantly lower levels of stress than those who reported a stressful event and didn’t use the supports. The use of services did not affect self-esteem or test anxiety scores in service users compared to comparison groups.
A Study of Bank Customers’ Perceived Usefulness of Adopting Online Banking

As information technology rapidly changes the fabrics of industries in recent years, the trade of online banking has become more diversified. Specializing in unlimited, speedy and convenient services, online banking has transformed traditional banking in many countries. The managementsâ€™ ability to anticipate and respond to such changes in the financial marketplace, thus, has a decisive influence on the success or failure of many retail banks. The present study, exploratory in nature, was intended to develop a comprehensive conceptual framework from which researchers could empirically examine and explain the relationship between customersâ€™ perceived usefulness of online banking and the relative advantages of online banking, its website quality, knowledge & support, information quality and customer trust in Taiwan. Multiple regressions were conducted to test the above-mentioned relationships. The statistical results show that relative advantages, trust and perceived ease of use . are more important and critical to customerâ€™s intention of online banking adoption. This study further offers a marketing insight for managers to effectively deploy online system and service. In designing online banking services, software developers should pay close attention to informative content that will be, above all, perceived by customers as useful and relevant.
A free‐air enrichment system for exposing tall forest vegetation to elevated atmospheric CO2

A free‐air CO2 enrichment (FACE) system was designed to permit the experimental exposure of tall vegetation such as stands of forest trees to elevated atmospheric CO2 concentrations ([CO2]a) without enclosures that alter tree microenvironment. We describe a prototype FACE system currently in operation in forest plots in a maturing loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.) stand in North Carolina, USA. The system uses feedback control technology to control [CO2] in a 26 m diameter forest plot that is over 10 m tall, while monitoring the 3D plot volume to characterize the whole‐stand CO2 regime achieved during enrichment. In the second summer season of operation of the FACE system, atmospheric CO2 enrichment was conducted in the forest during all daylight hours for 96.7% of the scheduled running time from 23 May to 14 October with a preset target [CO2] of 550 μmol mol–1, ≈ 200 μmol mol–1 above ambient [CO2]. The system provided spatial and temporal control of [CO2] similar to that reported for open‐top chambers over trees, but without enclosing the vegetation. The daily average daytime [CO2] within the upper forest canopy at the centre of the FACE plot was 552 ± 9 μmol mol–1 (mean ± SD). The FACE system maintained 1‐minute average [CO2] to within ± 110 μmol mol–1 of the target [CO2] for 92% of the operating time. Deviations of [CO2] outside of this range were short‐lived (most lasting < 60 s) and rare, with fewer than 4 excursion events of a minute or longer per day. Acceptable spatial control of [CO2] by the system was achieved, with over 90% of the entire canopy volume within ± 10% of the target [CO2] over the exposure season. CO2 consumption by the FACE system was much higher than for open‐top chambers on an absolute basis, but similar to that of open‐top chambers and branch bag chambers on a per unit volume basis. CO2 consumption by the FACE system was strongly related to windspeed, averaging 50 g CO2 m–3 h–1 for the stand for an average windspeed of 1.5 m s–1 during summer. The [CO2] control results show that the free‐air approach is a tractable way to study long‐term and short‐term alterations in trace gases, even within entire tall forest ecosystems. The FACE approach permits the study of a wide range of forest stand and ecosystem processes under manipulated [CO2]a that were previously impossible or intractable to study in true forest ecosystems.
KAES: An Expert System for the Algebraic Analysis of Kinship Terminologies

In this paper we discuss a new algebraic approach for analyzing kin terminology structure and describe a computer-based system being created to assist researchers in implementing the algebraic approach. A key aspect of our algebraic analysis is a shift away from a genealogical orientation to one of viewing a kinship terminology as a structured, culturally defined conceptual system. The basic idea is that a kinship terminology can be viewed as a structure consisting of a set of symbols (kin terms) interconnected through a binary product (of kin terms) subject to certain structure defining equations. Because algebraic modeling uses a language unfamiliar to many anthropologists, we are developing a computer program, KAES, based on (1) the expertise marshaled by a mathematical anthropologist when deriving algebraic solutions, and (2) the knowledge used by a cultural anthropologist for relating kin terms as part of a logical system. The program KAES will provide the user with the capacity to creatively work with abstract algebras as a means both to model the logic of, and to compare, kinship terminology structures. Examples of models produced through the KAES program are discussed, along with their theoretical implications.
Far infra-red emission from NGC 7078: First detection of intra-cluster dust in a globular cluster

Improved data analysis of far infrared imaging data of the globular cluster NGC 7078 obtained with the ISO instru- ment ISOPHOT at 60 µm, 70 µm and 90 µm has detected the thermal emission from dust in its core, the first secure detection of intra-cluster dust in a globular cluster. The amount of dust is broadly consistent with mass-loss from evolved, metal-deficient stars in NGC 7078 in the time since it last crossed the Galactic plane.
Archaeology of JSARN–124 site 3, central-western Arnhem Land: Determining the age of the so-called ‘Genyornis’ painting

In 2011, Gunn et al. published the discovery in a remote part of the western Arnhem Land plateau of a rock painting that closely resembles the most recent reconstructions of an extinct megafaunal bird, the dromornithid Genyornis newtoni. Characteristics of the painting distinguish it from depictions of other bird species and support its identification as G. newtoni: a deep convex bill, unlike the shallow bill of an emu or cassowary; a globular cranium and relatively thick neck; indication of a crop (emus and cassowaries lack crops); non-pendulous posture of the wing (unlike the pendulous posture of emus); the proportions of the pelvic limb showing long tibiotarsi and stout tarsometatarsi; the short, broad toes that appear to terminate in blunt claws; and a dorsal profile paralleling that of reconstructed dromornithids and unlike an emu or any species of cassowary, in which the vertex of the back is more anterior. The several points of special resemblance between the painting and reconstructions of the extinct bird based on paleontological evidence led Gunn et al. (2011:10) to conclude, ‘on the basis of probability the painting is indeed a representation of Genyornis newtoni’.
Robust error estimation for lowest-order approximation of nearly incompressible elasticity

We consider so-called Herrmann and Hydrostatic mixed formulations of classical linear elasticity and analyse the error associated with locally stabilised $P_1-P_0$ finite element approximation. First, we prove a stability estimate for the discrete problem and establish an a priori estimate for the associated energy error. Second, we consider a residual-based a posteriori error estimator as well as a local Poisson problem estimator. We establish bounds for the energy error that are independent of the Lam\'{e} coefficients and prove that the estimators are robust in the incompressible limit. A key issue to be addressed is the requirement for pressure stabilisation. Numerical results are presented that validate the theory. The software used is available online.
When Risks and Market Inefficiency Shake Hands - An Empirical Analysis of Financial CDS

This paper examines the relation between absolute CDS premium and the market efficiency of financial institutions. We test the random-walk hypothesis on 3-years CDS data set using: Q-statistics portmanteau tests by Box and Pierce, variance ratio tests by Lo and MacKinlay, variance ratio tests using ranks and signs by Wright, and wild bootstrapping variance ratio tests by Kim. We find that CDSs with the highest means and the highest standard deviations tend to fail the random-walk hypothesis. These CDSs have the highest potential to trade in an inefficient market with the highst potential for speculation and market manipulation (i.e. by hedge funds). This inefficiency negates the original function of hedging. To reconstitute the function of hedging and to overcome a CDS market that is driven by speculation our research concludes that it is necessary to adopt further regulations for the CDS market.
Elastic-net Regularized High-dimensional Negative Binomial Regression: Consistency and Weak Signals Detection

We study sparse negative binomial regression (NBR) for count data by showing non-asymptotic merits of the Elastic-net estimator. Two types of oracle inequalities are derived for the Elastic-net estimates of NBR by utilizing Compatibility Factor or Stabil Condition. The second-type oracle inequality is for random design which can be extended to many $\ell_1 + \ell_2$ regularized M-estimation with the corresponding empirical process having stochastic Lipschitz properties. To show some high probability events, we derive concentration inequality for suprema empirical processes for the weighted sum of negative binomial variables. For applications, we show the sign consistency provided that the non-zero components in sparse true vector are larger than a proper choice of the weakest signal detection threshold; and the second application is that we show the grouping effect inequality with high probability; thirdly, under some assumptions of design matrix, we can recover the true variable set with high probability if the weakest signal detection threshold is large than the turning parameter up to a known constant; at last, we briefly discuss the de-biased Elastic-net estimator and numerical studies are given to support the proposal.
A short proof of the Göttsche conjecture

We prove that for a sufficiently ample line bundle $L$ on a surface $S$, the number of $\delta$-nodal curves in a general $\delta$-dimensional linear system is given by a universal polynomial of degree $\delta$ in the four numbers $L^2,\,L. K_S,\,K_S^2$ and $c_2(S)$. The technique is a study of Hilbert schemes of points on curves on a surface, using the BPS calculus of [PT3] and the computation of tautological integrals on Hilbert schemes by Ellingsrud, G\"ottsche and Lehn. We are also able to weaken the ampleness required, from G\"ottsche's $(5\delta-1)$-very ample to $\delta$-very ample.
Competition and Risk‐Taking in Investment Banking

How does competition affect the investment banking business and the risks individual institutions are exposed to? Using a large sample of investment banks operating in seven developed economies over 1997-2014, we apply a panel VAR model to examine the relationships between competition and risk without assuming any a priori restrictions. Our main finding is that investment banks’ higher risk exposure, measured as a long-term capital-at-risk and return volatility, was facilitated by greater competitive pressures especially for full service investment banks but also for boutique investment banks. Overall, we find some evidence that more competition leads to more fragility before and during the recent financial crisis.
Developing a culture of reflection: implications for school improvement

Becoming more reflective about their practice is an important way for educational leaders to reveal their assumptions and to make better‐informed decisions. This article expands our understanding of the power of reflection by demonstrating the principles and practices associated with building a reflective culture that facilitates school improvement. Using a conceptual model of reflection, the authors describe a host of practical reflective strategies focusing on student learning, team development, and school‐wide collaboration.
Control of domain wall pinning by localised focused Ga + ion irradiation on Au capped NiFe nanowires

Understanding domain wall pinning and propagation in nanowires are important for future spintronics and nanoparticle manipulation technologies. Here, the effects of microscopic local modification of the magnetic properties, induced by focused-ion-beam intermixing, in NiFe/Au bilayer nanowires on the pinning behavior of domain walls was investigated. The effects of irradiation dose and the length of the irradiated features were investigated experimentally. The results are considered in the context of detailed quasi-static micromagnetic simulations, where the ion-induced modification was represented as a local reduction of the saturation magnetization. Simulations show that domain wall pinning behavior depends on the magnitude of the magnetization change, the length of the modified region, and the domain wall structure. Comparative analysis indicates that reduced saturation magnetisation is not solely responsible for the experimentally observed pinning behavior.