Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Plant – fungal interactions in arid and semi-arid ecosystems : Large-scale impacts from microscale processes

The roles of microbes in shaping plant communities have historically been underestimated. Recent improvements in our abilities to detect, identify, and monitor microbial inhabitants of plant tissues are increasing our appreciation of the complex microbial dynamics in arid and semi-arid ecosystems. Microbial endophytes can modify plants at genetic, physiologic, and ecologic levels. These modifications induce profound changes in how plants respond to their environments, with potential consequences in terms of spatial variation in vegetation dynamics. Microscale examination of Bouteloua eriopoda (black grama) and Atriplex canescens (fourwing saltbush) collected in the northern Chihuahuan Desert revealed diverse fungal communities associated with individual plants at the cellular and subcellular levels. To explore thresholds of plant fitness defined by microbial communities, endophytes from B. eriopoda were transferred to Sporobolus cryptandrus (sand dropseed), and endophytes from S. cryptandrus and A. canescens were transferred to B. eriopoda. Dramatic, wholeplant differences in morphology and biomass between treated and untreated plants were observed. Treated plants were generally larger, with greater reproductive potential than untreated controls. We hypothesize that these transformed plants will continue to out-perform their native counterparts, propagating changes from the plant–microbe interface to ecologically significant scales. r 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Prediction of everyday task performance in older adults by perceived health, self-efficacy and cognitive ability

Abstract While research links neuropsychological performance to everyday functioning in cognitively impaired older adults, comparatively little research has investigated this relationship in unimpaired older people. This study investigated that relationship. A total of 134 independently living adults aged 60–93 years completed Cognistat, the Direct Assessment of Functional Status (DAFS), the Personality in Intellectual-Aging Contexts and a four-item subjective health measure. Hierarchical regression was used to examine the relative ability of these measures to predict the functional domains of the DAFS, hypothesizing that the health and self-efficacy measures would be more strongly associated with DAFS scores than with the cognitive domains. Self-reported health accounted for little variance in all measures, whereas self-efficacy contributed significantly to four functional domains. The cognitive variables contributed to only two domains, with memory the most consistent predictor. The study showed that a brief cognitive measure can partially predict the functional ability of older independently living adults.
Real-Time Reactive Power Distribution in Microgrids by Dynamic Programing

In this study, a new real-time optimisation method for reactive power distribution in microgrids is proposed. The method enables location of a globally optimal distribution of reactive power under normal operating conditions. The method exploits the typical compact structure of microgrids to obtain a solution by parts, using the dynamic programming method and Bellman equation. The proposed solution method is based on the fact that the microgrid is designed with a central feeder line to which clusters of generators and loads are connected, and is suitable for microgrids with ring topologies as well as radial ones. The optimisation problem is formulated with the cluster reactive powers as free variables, and the solution space is spanned by the cluster reactive power outputs. The optimal solution is then constructed by efficiently scanning the entire solution space, by testing every possible combination of reactive powers, using dynamic programming. Since every single step involves a one-dimensional problem, the complexity of the solution is only linear with the number of clusters, and as a result, a globally optimal solution may be obtained in real time. The study includes the results of two test-case networks.
3D DATA CAPTURING SERVICE ROBOT PROTOTYPE PROTOTYP SERVISNÍHO ROBOTU PRO ZÍSKÁVÁNÍ 3D METRICKÝCH DAT

The article presents service robot prototype intended for gathering and processing 3D metric data in real time, including monitoring tasks. Shape, function and basic characteristics of the prototype rise from the demands for service robots customized for applications in urban areas. Robot can fulfill a batch of service task with specialization on 3D metric data capturing and monitoring in the outdoor environment. MSC/ADAMS simulations and analysis will be performed on the robot model and will be compared with real life use performance. Prototype’s operational and control systems will be tested as well as riding parameters and video transmission, etc. Testing will be done on specially crafted polygons during performance of the selected service tasks. Abstrakt Článek prezentuje vyrobený prototyp servisního robotu, který je určený pro získávání a zpracování metrických 3D informací v reálnem čase včetně provádění monitorování. Tvar, funkce a základní charakteristiky vyrobeného prototypu vycházejí z požadavků na servisní roboty pro aplikace v městském prostředí. Robot může plnit řadu servisních úloh se zaměřením na pořizování 3D metrických dat a monitorování ve vnitřním i venkovním prostředí. Na 3D modelu budou prováděné analýzy v systému MSC/ADAMS. Na vyrobeném prototypu budou ověřovány výkonové a řídicí subsystémy, jízdní vlastnosti, přenášení obrazu apod. Testování bude uskutečněno na vyrobených polygonech a při realizaci vybraných servisních úloh.
Anti-plasmodial activity of engeletin isolated from Artocarpus scortechinii

Ethnomedicinal use of plants from the Artocarpus genus has been extensively documented to include treatment of inflammation and malarial fever. Anti-plasmodial effects of Artocarpus scortechinii (synonym A. elasticus) reported against P. falciparum 3D7 culture in erythrocytes remain to be validated in vivo. The present study involved re-evaluation of anti-plasmodial activity of ethanolic extract of A. scortechinii in vitro, assessment of the extract for chemo-suppressive effects in vivo, and fractionation and identification of bioactive compounds. The ethanolic extract of A. scortechinii displayed moderate inhibitory activity towards growth of P. falciparum 3D7 (IC50=14.4±8.1 μg/mL) with minimal toxicity effect in mammalian Chang liver cells (selectivity index, SI=13.9). Administration of 25, 50 and 100 mg/kg body weight extract into P. berghei-infected mice for four consecutive days resulted in dose-dependent chemo-suppression of 43.2, 74.8 and 78.4% respectively. Vacuum liquid chromatography fractions of the ethanolic extract exhibited moderate to good in vitro anti-plasmodial activities. Further fractionation using Sephadex Column Chromatography yielded engeletin identified by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and mass spectroscopy. Upon further testing the isolated engeletin was shown to display an IC50 of 33.1±1.3 μM against the 3D7 parasite strain (SI=3.5). Data from the present study is the first report on anti-plasmodial activity of engeletin and its isolation from Artocarpus scortechinii.
Route Maintenance in Wireless Ad Hoc Networks

A lot of research has taken place in the field of MANETs in recent years but there are still a lot of issues that need to be addressed for its proper and multi-purpose utilization. Routing is one area which has seen major break through in techniques for better and efficient management of the routes of communication, but it still lacks guarantees which can be provided by wired networks. This paper proposes on a MAC protocol that provides the basis for the routing technique which pre-empts the breakage of a route due to movement of nodes. Mobile Wireless Ad-Hoc Networks (MANETs) can be set up when and where needed without the presence of a fixed infrastructure as the nodes may move around (1). This features make MANETs very practical and easy to deploy in places where existing infrastructure is not capable enough to allow communication, e.g. in disaster zones. At the same time it creates problems as well, as the nodes talk to each other they have to remain within communication area of the other nodes. Multi-hop networks can provide the facility to communicate with nodes that are not directly within the transmission range of other nodes. In order to sustain QoS over the communication session routing protocols use different techniques to maintain routes. As the inherent feature of mobility that is associated with MANETs the routes are made but there is no guarantee that the route will stay alive during the complete communication time. If and when the route breaks a new route has to be found to carryout the communication, this route discovery comes at a great cost to the network as it increases the communication between nodes which on top makes the network busy and hence less availability of the shared medium, also data loss is another factor which results in retransmission of data. These factors lead to increased delay in communication. The rest of the paper is organised as follows: Section II introduces ad hoc routing; Section III explains the concept of pre-emptive routing, Section IV provides the background into the MAC protocol which forms the basis for the routing protocol, Section V and VI discuss the routing protocol in detail and the paper ends with a brief conclusion and the future direction of this research.
Loudness functions for long and short tones

This study tests the equal‐loudness ratio hypothesis [Florentine et al., J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 99, 1633–1644 (1996)], which states that the loudness ratio between equal‐SPL long and short tones is independent of SPL. The amount of temporal integration (i.e., the level difference between equally loud long and short sounds) is maximal at moderate levels. Therefore, the equal‐loudness ratio hypothesis predicts that the loudness function is shallower at moderate levels than at low and high levels. Equal‐loudness matches and cross‐modality string‐length matches were used to assess the form of the loudness function for 200‐ and 5‐ms tones at 1 kHz. Results from nine normal listeners show that (1) the amount of temporal integration is largest at moderate levels in agreement with previous studies, and (2) the loudness function is shallowest at moderate levels. For eight of the nine listeners, the loudness ratio between the 200‐ and 5‐ms tones is approximately constant, except at low levels where it tends to increas.
MODELING VADOSE ZONE CONTAMINANT TRANSPORT AND ROOT SOLUTE UPTAKE IN A PHYTO-EXTRACTION PROCESSES

Phyto-extraction is an in situ remediation technique involving the uptake of contaminants by plant roots and their subsequent accumulation in plant tissues. It stands out for its simplicity and low costs but nevertheless it is not widely used because of difficulties in estimating its efficiency and the required remediation time. Results depend on a complex set of interactive soil, plant, contaminant and atmospheric processes and parameters. Thus, the objective of this research was to numerically estimate the effectiveness of phytoextraction, varying some project parameters. Remediation of Cd 2+ , Pb 2+ and Zn 2+ contaminants by Chrysopogon zizanioides (Vetiver grass) was simulated using the Hydrus-1D software package. Variably-saturated flow was described using the standard Richards' equation, and solute transport using the advection-dispersion equation. Sink terms in the governing flow and transport equations accounted for root water and solute uptake, respectively. Sorption of metals by the solid phase was described using linear isotherms. Two models for contaminant uptake by the roots were used: passive uptake in which uptake is proportional to the solution concentration, and active uptake as described with a Michaelis-Menten kinetic equation. All the applied models were adjusted on greenhouse remediation experiments in previous study. Dynamic field conditions (data from the coastal lowlands of the municipality of Rio de Janeiro) were considered. Several scenarios were tested, including different planting densities and irrigation schemes. The sensitivity analysis permitted to identify several trends in the simulations. It was found that the efficiency of phyto-extraction decreased significantly when contaminant sorption increased (higher retardation factors). By comparison, phyto- extraction was more efficient in time for more mobile contaminants, depending upon the advective contaminant transport velocity in the root zone, the potential transpiration rate, and prevailing water stress conditions in the soil root zone. While more elaborate calibrations may be needed using long-term field data, this study provided useful insight into the phyto- extraction process important for the design of future experiments.
BODY MASS INDEX AND PERCENT BODY FAT AS DETERMINED BY BIOELECTRICAL IMPEDANCE ANALYSIS IN CHILDREN, 7-9 YEARS OF AGE.

The purpose of this study was to examine the prevalence of overweight and report mean Body Mass Index (BMI) and percent body fat (%BF) in Black and nonBlack children, 7-9 years of age. The study involved 172 students divided as follows: 56 (32.6%) Black females, 45 (26.2%) Black males, 34 (19.7%) non-Black females, and 37 (21.5%) non-Black males. Percent body fat (%BF) was determined by bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA). Body mass index was calculated as weight (kg)/height (m)2. Black females had a statistically greater BMI (19.3 ± 4.8) and %BF (25.7 ± 10.6) than all other groups. Prevalence of at-risk-for-overweight and overweight for the entire sample was 20.9 % and 19.2%, respectively. In conclusion, 40.1 % of 7 to 9 year old children assessed in this study were at-risk-for-overweight or overweight, and the BMI and %BF for Black females were statistically greater than
THE VALUATION BY MULTIPLES OF ITALIAN FIRMS

The purpose of this paper is twofold. Firstly, to test a sample of companies listed on the Milan stock exchange from 2000 to 2006, which comparables selection method generates the most precise forecasts when appraising with price/earnings, price/book value, price/sales, enterprise value/EBIT and enterprise value/FCF multiples. Comparables firms are selected by activity sector, sector and size, sector and ROA, ROA and size and averaging with the arithmetic mean, median and harmonic mean, therefore twelve multiple valuation methods are analyzed. The empirical results suggest that valuation with a selection of comparables firms on the basis of sector and ROA or sector and size is more accurate; moreover, valuation improves when multiples are averaged using median relative to arithmetic and harmonic mean. Secondly, to test the effectiveness of the main multiples (price/earnings, price/book value, price/sales, enterprise value/sales, enterprise value/book value, enterprise value/EBIT, enterprise value/EBITDA, enterprise value/free cash flow) in determining company value. We also analyze how factors such as sector, size and year bias these outcomes. The results show that the multiples based on cash flows are almost always significant; the multiples based on earnings are more significant in industrial sectors and in particular for small firms and with many intangible assets; the multiples on book value appear more effective for non-industrial firms.
Ultra-thin films for plasmonics: a technology overview

Abstract Ultra-thin films with low surface roughness that support surface plasmon-polaritons in the infra-red and visible ranges are needed in order to improve the performance of devices based on the manipulation of plasmon propagation. Increasing amount of efforts is made in order not only to improve the quality of the deposited layers but also to diminish their thickness and to find new materials that could be used in this field. In this review, we consider various thin films used in the field of plasmonics and metamaterials in the visible and IR range. We focus our presentation on technological issues of their deposition and reported characterization of film plasmonic performance.
www.econstor.eu International Trade and Migration: A Quantitative Framework

Goods trade and international mobility of labor are typically analyzed separately. While there is excellent research in both elds, far less is known about the interrelationships between international migration and international trade. This paper provides a rst structurally estimable model of international trade with endogenous international migration choices of workers which can be used for model-based counterfactual predictions. Using bilateral trade and migration data for 33 OECD countries we nd that quantitative welfare predictions vastly change: investigating reasonable changes in the costs of factor and goods mobility across borders in this uni ed framework almost doubles the predicted welfare e ects compared to established models. Our results sensitize policy makers who seek ex-ante evaluations of international trade agreements and migration policies. JEL-Codes : F14, F22, F13, O15.
Mass customisation of process plants

This case study describes how F.L. Smidth A/S, a manufacturer of large processing plants for cement production, has applied the principles of mass customisation in the area of highly complex, custom engineered products. The company has based its sales process on a configuration system to achieve a more efficient sales and engineering process. The implementation of the configuration system was accompanied by a radical redefinition of the modular structure of the company's product architectures. The project was carried out in cooperation with the Centre for Product Modelling (CPM) at the Technical University of Denmark and illustrates the methods developed at the CPM for the construction of configuration systems. The case analyses the implementation process of the configuration system and documents the results attained after implementation.
Cluster and ACE observations of phase synchronization in intermittent magnetic field turbulence: a comparative study of shocked and unshocked solar wind

We apply two distinct nonlinear techniques, kur- tosis and phase coherence index, to analyze the modulus of interplanetary magnetic field data |B| measured by Cluster and ACE spacecraft from 1 to 3 February 2002. High de- gree of phase synchronization is found across a wide range of time scales, from 1 s to 10 4 s, in the magnetic field fluctua- tions, both in the shocked solar wind upstream of Earth's bow shock and in the unshocked ambient solar wind at the L1 La- grangian point. This is the first direct measurement of phase coherence in the ambient solar wind turbulence. We show that phase synchronization related to nonlinear multiscale in- teractions is the origin of the departure from Gaussianity in the intermittent magnetic field turbulence. In particular, we demonstrate that at small scales near the spectral break the intermittency level of Cluster is lower than ACE, which may be a signature of the reflected ions from the shock.
Radiogenomics analysis reveals the associations of dynamic contrast-enhanced–MRI features with gene expression characteristics, PAM50 subtypes, and prognosis of breast cancer

Background To investigate reliable associations between dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (DCE-MRI) features and gene expression characteristics in breast cancer (BC) and to develop and validate classifiers for predicting PAM50 subtypes and prognosis from DCE-MRI non-invasively. Methods Two radiogenomics cohorts with paired DCE-MRI and RNA-sequencing (RNA-seq) data were collected from local and public databases and divided into discovery (n = 174) and validation cohorts (n = 72). Six external datasets (n = 1,443) were used for prognostic validation. Spatial–temporal features of DCE-MRI were extracted, normalized properly, and associated with gene expression to identify the imaging features that can indicate subtypes and prognosis. Results Expression of genes including RBP4, MYBL2, and LINC00993 correlated significantly with DCE-MRI features (q-value < 0.05). Importantly, genes in the cell cycle pathway exhibited a significant association with imaging features (p-value < 0.001). With eight imaging-associated genes (CHEK1, TTK, CDC45, BUB1B, PLK1, E2F1, CDC20, and CDC25A), we developed a radiogenomics prognostic signature that can distinguish BC outcomes in multiple datasets well. High expression of the signature indicated a poor prognosis (p-values < 0.01). Based on DCE-MRI features, we established classifiers to predict BC clinical receptors, PAM50 subtypes, and prognostic gene sets. The imaging-based machine learning classifiers performed well in the independent dataset (areas under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUCs) of 0.8361, 0.809, 0.7742, and 0.7277 for estrogen receptor (ER), human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-enriched, basal-like, and obtained radiogenomics signature). Furthermore, we developed a prognostic model directly using DCE-MRI features (p-value < 0.0001). Conclusions Our results identified the DCE-MRI features that are robust and associated with the gene expression in BC and displayed the possibility of using the features to predict clinical receptors and PAM50 subtypes and to indicate BC prognosis.
Oscillations of a Punctual Charge in the Electric Field of a Charged Ring: A Comparative Study

We applied multiple parameters method (MPM) to obtain natural frequency of the nonlinear oscillator with rational restoring force. A frequency analysis is carried out and the relationship between the angular frequency and the initial amplitude is obtained in analytical/numerical form. This equation is analyzed in three cases: the relativistic harmonic oscillator, a mass attached of a stretched elastic wire and oscillations of a punctual charge in the electric field of charged ring. The three and four parameters solutions are obtained. The results obtained are compared with the numerical solution, showing good agreement.
A multivariate analysis of phenotype and paternity in male harbor seals, Phoca vitulina, at Sable Island, Nova Scotia

Understanding the links between phenotype and reproductive success is critical to the study of the evolution of mating systems and life-history patterns. We examined the relationship between phenotype and mating success of male harbor seals (Phoca vitulina concolour) at Sable Island, Canada. Cluster analyses of eight traits including mating success determined by genetic paternity analysis, haul-out behavior, body mass, and mass change identified four groups of males with distinct characteristics. The most successful males were of moderate body size, were rarely sighted alone, were associated with many different groups on shore, and were sighted on the haul-out relatively infrequently. Large males that hauled out frequently alone, previously thought to be socially dominant, were less likely to be successful. Also less successful were smaller, younger males. Contrary to our hypotheses, and unlike most terrestrially breeding pinnipeds, body size and reproductive effort were not positively associated with mating success, and some successful males appeared to spend considerable time foraging in deep water.
The MOST supernova remnant catalogue (MSC).

A catalogue of supernova remnants in the southern Galaxy within the area 245 l 355,jbj< 1:5 has been produced from observations made at 0.843 GHz with a resolution of 43 00 using the Molonglo Observatory Synthesis Telescope (MOST). The catalogue, presented here, provides greyscale images and contour maps of known and newly-discovered remnants. The increased resolution and sensitivity of these observations has resulted in better statistics for southern remnants.