Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Impact of Music and Colour on Customers’ Emotional States: An Experimental Study of Online Store

Retailers try their best to make their online store environment more entertaining and attractive to capture customers’ attention. Therefore, it is interesting and beneficial to explore how the store environment impacts the customer emotions in store and how these emotions change customer’s buying behaviour. The main focus of this study is to measure the impact of atmosphere cues, such as colour and music on respondent’s emotional response and their shopping behaviour in an online store. Respondents were exposed to different combinations of music and colour, and both cues had significant impacts on the respondent’s emotional response and behavioural intention. The questionnaire responses of 230 valid respondents from Pakistan revealed that cool colours and fast tempo music showed greater levels of pleasure and arousal as compared to slow tempo music with warm colours. Arousal and pleasure were also found to be significant parameters for predicting behaviour intention. Respondent’s in fast tempo music with cool colour environment showed more approach behaviour in comparison to slow tempo music with warm colours. An efficient online store environment is proposed, incorporating suitable music and colour attributes that will result in more time spent in-store, repurchasing, and revisiting. The outcomes of the study assist online retailers in Pakistan to make the shopping environment attractive and enjoyable.
Temporal and Spatial Characteristics of Multidimensional Extreme Precipitation Indicators: A Case Study in the Loess Plateau, China

Extreme precipitation can seriously affect the ecological environment, agriculture, human safety, and property resilience. A full-scale and scientific assessment in extreme precipitation characteristics is necessary for water resources management and providing decision-making support to mitigate the potential losses brought by extreme precipitation. In the present study, a multidimensional risk assessment framework is developed to investigate the spatial–temporal changes in different extreme precipitation indicators. The Gaussian mixture model (GMM) is applied to fit the distribution for each indicator and carry out single index risk assessment. The joint probabilistic features of multiple extreme indicators can be explored through coupling the GMM distributions into copulas. In addition, the moving window approach and the Mann–Kendall test are integrated to examine non-stationary risks (evaluated by “AND”, “OR”, and Kendall return periods) of multidimensional indicators along with their changing trends and significance. The proposed assessment framework is applied to the Loess Plateau, China. Four extreme precipitation indicators are characterized: the amount (P95), the number of days (D95), the intensity (I95), and the proportion (R95) of extreme precipitation. The spatial–temporal changes of these indicators and their multidimensional combinations (including six two-dimensional and three three-dimensional combinations) are fully identified and quantitatively evaluated.
Life history and population dynamics of southern Alaska resident killer whales (Orcinus orca)

Resident (fish eating) killer whales (Orcinus orca) in the North Pacific have been the subject of long-term studies in several geographical regions. The current study examines population parameters in the southern Alaska resident population from 1984 to 2010 and develops a population model. The southern Alaska resident population ranges from southeastern Alaska through the Kodiak archipelago and contains over 700 individuals. We follow the life histories of 343 identifiable whales in 10 pods from two clans born before and during the study. Population parameters were comparable to those of the British Columbia northern resident population during the 1970s and 1980s, except that age of maturity was approximately one year earlier. The average annual rate of increase was slightly higher in Alaska (3.5%) than for the British Columbia northern residents (2.9%) and probably represents a population at r-max (maximum rate of growth). Reasons for the high growth rate in Alaska could be a recovery following past anthropogenic mortalities, or more likely, a response to increasing salmon returns in recent decades, resulting in an increase in carrying capacity. The slow maturation and low rate of reproductive response makes these whales slow to recover from natural or anthropogenic catastrophes.
A review on the computation offloading approaches in mobile edge computing: A game‐theoretic perspective

In recent years, novel mobile applications such as augmented reality, virtual reality, and three‐dimensional gaming, running on handy mobile devices have been pervasively popular. With rapid developments of such mobile applications, decentralized mobile edge computing (MEC) as an emerging distributed computing paradigm is developed for serving them near the smart devices, usually in one hop, to meet their computation, and delay requirements. In the literature, offloading mechanisms are designed to execute such mobile applications in the MEC environments through transferring resource‐intensive tasks to the MEC servers. On the other hand, due to the resource limitations, resource heterogeneity, dynamic nature, and unpredictable behavior of MEC environments, it is necessary to consider the computation offloading issues as the challenging problem in the MEC environment. However, to the best of our knowledge, despite its importance, there is not any systematic, comprehensive, and detailed survey in game theory (GT)‐based computation offloading mechanisms in the MEC environment. In this article, we provide a systematic literature review on the GT‐based computation offloading approaches in the MEC environment in the form of a classical taxonomy to recognize the state‐of‐the‐art mechanisms on this important topic and to provide open issues as well. The proposed taxonomy is classified into four main fields: classical game mechanisms, auction theory, evolutionary game mechanisms, and hybrid‐base game mechanisms. Next, these classes are compared with each other according to the important factors such as performance metrics, case studies, utilized techniques, and evaluation tools, and their advantages and disadvantages are discussed, as well. Finally, open issues and future uncovered or weakly covered research challenges are discussed and the survey is concluded.
Nutrient status and growth of black spruce layers and planted seedlings in response to nutrient addition in the boreal forest of Quebec

The effect of nutrient addition (fertilization with N, P, and K at a rate of 448, 224, and 224 kg ·ha-1, respectively) on height growth, root biomass, leaf area, and foliar nutrient concentrations of slow-growing layers and newly planted seedlings of black spruce (Picea mariana (Mill.) BSP) was evaluated on an apparently productive mesic site in Quebec. Annual height growth increment of fertilized layers was greater than 20 cm ·year-1 compared with 3-4 cm ·year-1 for the other three treatments. Fine root biomass (< 2 mm in diameter) and leaf area growth were significantly higher for fertilized layers and seedlings compared with their respective controls. For both current and 1-year-old needles, foliar N concentration on a unit leaf area basis increased significantly for both layers and seedlings, and vector analysis showed that, in all cases, N was the most limiting nutrient. Five growing seasons after treatment, the only residual effect of fertilization on foliar nutrient concentrations was higher foliar.
Both Platelet-Derived Growth Factor Receptor (PDGFR)-α and PDGFR-β Promote Murine Fibroblast Cell Migration

Abstract Cell motility plays a critical role for many physiological and pathological processes including wound healing, fibrosis, angiogenesis, and tumor metastasis. Platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) is among the most potent stimuli for mesenchymal cell migration. The PDGF B-chain homodimer PDGF BB activates both α- and β-receptor subunits (α-PDGFR and β-PDGFR), and promotes cell migration in many cell types including fibroblasts and smooth muscle cells. PDGF-A chain homodimer PDGF AA activates α-PDGFR only, and its role for cell migration is still debatable. PDGF BB, but not PDGF AA, induces smooth muscle cell migration. Interestingly, α-PDGFR was shown to antagonize β-PDGFR-induced smooth muscle cell migration. In the present study, we investigated the role of α-PDGFR and β-PDGFR in PDGF-mediated cell migration of murine fibroblasts (NIH 3T3). Unlike smooth muscle cells, both PDGF AA and PDGF BB promoted NIH 3T3 cell migration. The effect of PDGF BB activation of β-PDGFR alone for cell migration was examined using previously established NIH 3T3 clones in which α-PDGFR signaling is inhibited by a dominant-negative α-PDGFR, or an antisense construct of α-PDGFR. PDGF BB activation of β-PDGFR alone was sufficient to induce cell migration, but the efficiency was significantly lower compared to PDGF activation of both receptors. These results showed that both α- and β-PDGFRs promote fibroblast cell migration and their effects are additive. Taken together, we propose that cell-type specific α-PDGFR signaling is critical for regulation of mesenchymal cell migration in response to PDGF isoform, whereas β-PDGFR mainly promotes cell migration.
“I was giving someone who didn’t have a voice a voice”: exploring qualitative mini-research projects as a tool to teach students about aging

ABSTRACT In the study of gerontology, fieldwork with older adults is often used to enhance students’ understanding of the aging process. While assignments based on interactions with older adults are a common practice in teaching students enrolled in gerontology studies, we know less about the impact of such activities on students from other disciplines. This paper summarizes students’ experiences with an assignment offered to a diverse cohort of undergraduate students who took a course in social gerontology. To complete this assignment, students had to interview an older adult, summarize the life story of the participant, apply a theoretical perspective to the older adult’s life story, and reflect on the process. Analyzing data derived from 72 assignments and 10 semi-structured interviews with students who were enrolled in the course, this paper examines students’ experiences with this assignment. Specifically, we identify what aspects of the assignment students found beneficial, what aspects they found challenging, and in what ways this assignment helped students to enhance their understanding of aging. Our findings suggest that students found it challenging to recruit an older adult for an interview and struggled with the semi-structured nature of the interview process. All students found the actual interview process to be extremely rewarding and beneficial for their learning. In discussion, we provide some recommendations on how to offer this type of assignment to a diverse group of students enrolling in the courses on social gerontology.
Real-time correction method of Muskingum model based on Kalman filter

In flood forecasting, general flood forecasting models or empirical forecasts reflect the average optimal value or relationship curve under the previous data. However, in the operation forecast, the forecast plan value often deviates from the actual situation. This paper takes Muskingum model as an example, and uses the Kalman filter algorithm to correct the forecast results. The algorithm structure and principles were described detailed, and the numerical simulation test was set to verify the efficiency of the Kalman filter algorithm. The correct results with corrected method were compared. The results indicated that the efficiency of the updating system using Kalman filter algorithm was improved. Conclusively, the proposed method could be widely applied in real-time flood forecast updating.
Development and Validation of Conventional and Quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction Assays for the Detection of Storage Rot Potato Pathogens, Phytophthora erythroseptica, Pythium ultimum and Phoma foveata

The diseases pink rot, watery wound rot and gangrene are important storage rot diseases of potato associated predominantly with Phytophthora erythroseptica (P.), Pythium ultimum (Py.) and Phoma exigua (Phoma) var. foveata respectively. Reliable molecular-based diagnostic tests are required that will not only allow unequivocal identification of symptoms but will further advance epidemiological studies of these potato diseases to increase our understanding and contribute to more effective management and control strategies to the potato industry. Primers and probes were designed in specific regions of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions to develop conventional and real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays able to detect all possible fungal and oomycete pathogens causing pink rot, watery wound rot and gangrene. The specificity of each diagnostic assay was rigorously tested with over 500 fungal/ oomycete plant pathogen isolates from potato and reference culture collections, and both conventional and real-time PCR methods produced similar results. In terms of sensitivity, the detection limits for real-time PCR went below ag DNA levels compared with pg DNA levels with conventional PCR. The real-time PCR assays developed to detect Phoma foveata and Py. ultimum on tubers were suitable for the comparative C t method (∇∇Ct) of quantification using the cytochrome oxidase gene of potato as a normalizer assay; an advantage as the need for a standard curve is eliminated. Each assay detected Phoma species (var. foveata or exigua) from naturally infected tubers showing symptoms of gangrene, and P. erythroseptica or Py. ultimum were also detected following inoculation of Russet Burbank tubers. Each diagnostic assay developed could reliably detect and distinguish between the pink rot, watery wound rot and gangrene-causing potato pathogens.
Weed control and soybean injury from preplant vs. preemergence herbicide applications

Abstract Palmer amaranth is one of the most troublesome weeds of soybean in the United States. To effectively control this weed it is necessary to optimize timing of PRE residual herbicides to mitigate Palmer amaranth emergence. Field studies were conducted in 5 site-years to assess the effect of application timing 12 to 16 d prior to planting (preplant) and at planting (PRE) on soybean injury and longevity of Palmer amaranth control using five residual herbicide treatments. A reduction in longevity of Palmer amaranth control was observed when S-metolachlor + metribuzin and flumioxazin + chlorimuron-ethyl were applied preplant vs. PRE in 2 of the 5 site years. Sulfentrazone, sulfentrazone + cloransulam-methyl, and saflufenacil + dimethenamid-P + pyroxasulfone + metribuzin did not reduce longevity of Palmer amaranth control when applied preplant vs. PRE in all 5 site-years. Visible estimates of soybean injury were lower at 21 d after planting when herbicides were applied 12 to 16 d preplant vs. PRE. These findings suggest that preplant applications can be used to reduce the potential for crop injury and may not result in reduced longevity of control when herbicides with a prolonged residual activity are used. Preplant herbicides increase the likelihood of the residuals being activated prior to subsequent weed emergence as opposed to PRE herbicides applied at soybean planting.
The host range of Plasmodiophora brassicae and its relationship to endogenous glucosinolate content

The host range of the soilborne obligate biotroph, Plasmodiophora brassicae was investigated. Evidence is presented that infection by P. brassicae might occur in non-Brassica species, leading to the potential formation of resting spores. Structures resembling P. brassicae were found in the root cortex of Tropaeolum majus, Carica papaya, Reseda alba and Beta vulgaris as demonstrated by scanning electron microscopy. Inoculation of Brassica rapa roots with spores extracted from either T. majus or B. vulgaris roots which had been previously inoculated with P. brassicae led to development of clubroot in the roots of B. rapa. It was also shown that the development of the symptom might be correlated with glucosinolate content, although other host factors are implicated in the B. vulgaris interaction with P. brassicae. In the glucosinolate-containing non-Brassicas, T. majus and C. papaya, the concentrations of benzylglucosinolate increased markedly in roots inoculated with P. brassicae, compared with the controls. There were also increases in concentrations of benzylglucosinolate in leaves of T. majus after P. brassicae infection. However, in R. alba roots, the total glucosinolate content decreased after inoculation with P. brassicae compared with the controls. High root concentrations of 2-OH-2-phenylethylglucosinolate (glucobarbarin) compared with low root indole glucosinolates in this species might limit P. brassicae infection and development. The importance of our investigations in relation to cultivation of non-Brassica species on fields infested with P. brassicae is discussed.
Recovery of Vegetation Structure and Species Diversity after Shifting Cultivation in Northwestern Vietnam, with Special Reference to Commercially Valuable Tree Species

A fallow stand (FS) in northwestern Vietnam that was created by shifting cultivation 32 years earlier had 43% of the species number, 72% of the stem density, and 53% of the basal area when compared with nearby old-growth forest (OGF); however, the values for commercial species were lower at 35%, 67%, and 26%, respectively. In terms of species diversity, the Shannon index of OGF (3.4) was significantly higher than that of FS (2.6), while the differences were not significant in terms of Evenness and species-size class distribution. Both FS and OGF had similar patterns of stem diameter frequency distribution but the diameters were more diverse in OGF compared to FS according to the Shannon index. Fallow stand was characterized by only 2 canopy layers (lower than 10 m and 10–20 m) and was simpler in vertical structure than that of OGF which included an additional upper canopy layer higher than 20 m. Our results indicate that increasing stem density of commercial species is necessary and can be realized by artificial seeding, planting seedlings, and/or natural regeneration from remaining mother trees in the fields.
Effect of temperature on head blight of wheat caused by Fusarium culmorum and F. graminearum

The effect of small temperature differentials (16 vs. 20°C) on the pathogenicity of deoxynivalenol producing single isolates of Fusarium culmorum and F. graminearum and on the fusarium head blight (FHB) response of eight wheat cultivars was examined. Fusarium culmorum inoculation caused greater visual disease symptoms at 20°C than at 16°C, both overall and on an individual cultivar basis (overall AUDPC = 13·5 and 9·6, respectively) (P < 0·05). In contrast, F. graminearum inoculation caused greater overall visual disease symptoms at 16°C than at 20°C, both overall and at the individual cultivar level (overall AUDPC = 12·8 and 10·9, respectively) (P < 0·05). Results showed both F. culmorum and F. graminearum inoculations caused a greater loss in yield at 20°C (54·3 and 46·9% relative 1000-grain weight, respectively) compared with 16°C (73·3 and 66·9% relative 1000-grain weight, respectively) (P < 0·05). Fusarium culmorum-inoculated heads contained similar amounts of fungal DNA at both 16 and 20°C (1·9 and 1·7 ng mg−1 of plant material, respectively) (not significant), while for F. graminearum inoculation, plants contained higher amounts of fungal DNA at 20°C (2·0 and 1·0 ng mg−1 of plant material, respectively) (P < 0·05). Overall, there was a significant negative correlation between AUDPC and percentage relative 1000-grain weight at both 16 and 20°C (r =−0·693 and −0·794, respectively, P < 0·01).
Differential Sensitivity of GLUT1- and GLUT2-Expressing β Cells to Streptozotocin

Abstract Streptozotocin injection in animals destroys pancreatic β cells, leading to insulinopenic diabetes. Here, we evaluated the toxic effect of streptozotocin (STZ) in GLUT2−/− mice reexpressing either GLUT1 or GLUT2 in their β cells under the rat insulin promoter (RIPG1 × G2−/− and RIPG2 × G2−/− mice, respectively). We demonstrated that injection of STZ into RIPG2 × G2−/− mice induced hyperglycemia (>20 mM) and an ∼80% reduction in pancreatic insulin content. In vitro, the viability of RIPG2 × G2−/− islets was also strongly reduced. In contrast, STZ did not induce hyperglycemia in RIPG1 × G2−/− mice and did not reduce pancreatic insulin content. The viability of in vitro cultured RIPG1 × G2−/− islets was also unaffected by STZ. As islets from each type of transgenic mice were functionally indistinguishable, these data strongly support the notion that STZ toxicity toward β cells depends on the expression of GLUT2.
Finansal Piyasalar, Rekabetçilik, İnovasyon ve Üniversite-Sanayi İşbirliği: G20 Örneği

Ulkelerin ekonomik gostergeleri arasinda olan hisse senedi piyasalarina kuresel rekabet, universite – sanayi isbirligi, kuresel inovasyon ve ekonomik buyukluk gibi faktorlerin etkisi gunumuzde ilgi ceken konulardir. Calismada borsa endeksi (BE), kuresel rekabet endeksi (RE) ve kuresel rekabet endeksini olusturan alt degiskenlerden inovasyon kapasitesi endeksi (IKE), kisi basina gayrisafi yurtici hasila (GSYH) ve arastirma gelistirme faaliyetlerinde universite sanayi isbirligi endeksi (USIE) degiskenleri kullanilmistir. Analizler G20 ulkelerine ait olan 2007 – 2017 yillari arasi panel veri seti ile gerceklestirilmistir. Westerlund Esbutunlesme Testi sonuclarina gore BE ile RE arasinda uzun donem iliski soz konusu degildir. Panel ARDL modeli sonuclarina gore ise BE ile IKE, USIE ve GSYH arasinda uzun donem iliski tespit edilmistir. Analiz sonuclari, dissal soklarin yani olagandisi durumlarin etkisinin bir donemde yaklasik %71’inin hata duzeltme mekanizmasi ile ortadan kalktigini gostermektedir. Bu degiskenlerin tamami uzun donemde BE’ni olumlu etkilemektedir. En fazla etki ise USIE icin elde edilmistir. Universitede uretilen bilimin topluma yansitilmasinin ve sanayide kullanilmasinin ulke ekonomisi uzerinde olumlu etkileri bulunmaktadir.
Impact of Renewed Cattle Grazing on Floristic Composition in the Hrubý Jeseník Mountains

The aim of the study was to estimate changes in the floristic composition near Švýcárna lodge (1304 m a.s.l.), where cattle grazing after a long-term management cessation was introduced on a pasture area of 3.6 ha in 2012. The pasture was divided into two grazing sub-localities: P1 (Nar) with dominance of Nardus stricta and Avenella flexuosa and P2 (Des) with dominance of Deschampsia cespitosa. For grazing, Highland Cattle was used with a stocking rate up to 1 livestock unit per ha and year. The floristic composition was evaluated and statistically analyzed. After six years of restored grazing the overall species richness enhanced and a higher dominance of rare and endangered species was found. The dominance of some common species like Vaccinium myrtillus, and Calamagrostis villosa tended to decrease within a grazing period in favor of new species colonisation.
Routine Immunohistochemical Staining Today: Choices to Make, Challenges to Take

Abstract Ever since the introduction of immunohistochemical staining (IHC), histotechnologists around the world have been faced with a growing demand for faster and more accurate staining (maximum antigen detection with minimum nonspecific background staining). Viewing the different techniques developed, combined with the numerous ‘traps’ a specimen holds, IHC staining today is a real challenge. Facing this challenge, it may be helpful to give an overview of the different choices a technician has within IHC staining. When answering todays call for standardization, or stepping into automation, it is essential to analyze the different steps involved (from fixation to mounting) in order to respond to possible errors or problems. This article provides this basic information, viewed from a routine European anatomic pathology lab. (The J Histotechnol 25:45, 2002)Submitted: November 23, 2001; Accepted December 11, 2001