Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A Review of Nonparametric Models for Longitudinal Data

Nonparametric models for longitudinal data provide a flexible platform for evaluating the tenability of parametric assumptions on the functional forms of the change processes of central focus in longitudinal studies. Given the increasing popularity of longitudinal designs such as intensive longitudinal designs in the social and behavioral sciences (Walls & Schafer, 2006), the book, Nonparametric Models for Longitudinal Data by Drs. Colin O. Wu and Xin Tian, is a timely addition to the collection of books on nonparametric modeling approaches. This book features the applications of nonparametric modeling techniques to a rich array of modeling contexts: unstructured nonparametric models for modeling time trends; structured nonparametric models, which include time-varying coefficient models, shared-parameter change-point models, and mixed-effects models; and nonparametric models for conditional distribution functions (e.g., conditional cumulative distribution function, conditional quantiles, and other functionals). The authors provided illustrative examples based on four publicly available data sets: the Baltimore Multicenter AIDS Cohort Study, the National Growth and Health Study, the Enhancing Recovery in Coronary Heart Disease Patients Study, and the Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation data. All of the models considered are regression models with a univariate outcome (dependent variable) measured longitudinally and as linked to both time-invariant and timevarying covariates. Chapters 1 and 2 of the book provide an overview of the models and statistical smoothing techniques covered in subsequent chapters. Distinctions are made between parametric, nonparametric, and semiparametric models. In the context of this book, parametric models are defined as models that impose confirmatory, scientifically driven postulates on the functional relationships between the outcome and covariates. In contrast, nonparametric models are models that uncover Journal of Educational and Behavioral Statistics 2020, Vol. 45, No. 3, pp. 369–373 DOI: 10.3102/1076998620915291 Article reuse guidelines: sagepub.com/journals-permissions © 2020 AERA. http://jebs.aera. net
Graphdiyne for significant thermal conductivity enhancement at ultralow mass fraction in polymer composites

In thermal management systems, it is quite meaningful to achieve high thermal conductivity enhancement efficiency for polymer-based thermally conductive materials with low content filler. In this work, a novel 2D all-carbon allotrope, graphdiyne (GDY) was attempted as a filler to improve the thermal conductivity of the polymer matrix. The poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) composite films, with ultralow mass fraction (≤ 1 wt%) GDY, were fabricated by solution blend and hot pressing. As a consequence, the obtained composite film, at only 1 wt% GDY content, exhibited a high in-plane thermal conductivity of 3.86 W m−1K−1, which revealed a 2249% thermal conductivity enhancement compared with neat PVDF. This excellent heat transport performance makes GDY an attractive filler for high-performance composite for electronic cooling applications.
Carbon and Nitrogen Stocks in Integrated Crop Livestock

Part of the Plant Sciences Commons, and the Soil Science Commons This document is available at https://uknowledge.uky. edu/igc/22/2-11/11 The XXII International Grassland Congress (Revitalising Grasslands to Sustain Our Communities) took place in Sydney, Australia from September 15 through September 19, 2013. Proceedings Editors: David L. Michalk, Geoffrey D. Millar, Warwick B. Badgery, and Kim M. Broadfoot Publisher: New South Wales Department of Primary Industry, Kite St., Orange New South Wales, Australia
Surviving the Enterohepatic Tract: Molecular Mechanisms of Stress Adaptation in Helicobacter hepaticus

textabstractChronic inflammation is a precursor for metaplastic and dysplastic changes in diverse organs of the mammalian digestive tract, and can lead to carcinogenesis. Chronic hepatitis is a precursor for hepatocellular carcinoma, and can be caused by an infection with hepatitis B and C virus, alcohol and medicine abuse (3). Approximately ten percent of the patients with chronic hepatitis in a non-cirrhotic liver do not have any of the known risk factors, and it has been suggested that chronic colonization by an unknown Helicobacter species may contribute to disease development in these cases (7). The role of Helicobacter spp. in the development of hepatitis and hepatocellular carcinoma could be similar to that of Helicobacter pylori and the development of gastric ulceration and gastric carcinoma. Helicobacter hepaticus colonizes the intestinal and hepatobiliary tract of rodents, and is thought to represent an excellent model for the research on yet unknown human enterohepatic Helicobacter species. H. hepaticus colonizes different niches: the intestine, liver and bile ducts. This suggests that the organism is well adapted to the variable and hostile conditions thought to occur there. The ability to survive and grow in these different environments is thought to be established through the capability to cope with toxic environmental factors derived from both medication and the host immune system. The research presented in this thesis was aimed to investigate the molecular mechanisms underlying stress adaptation mechanisms of H. hepaticus. This should give us a better insight in the development of the diseases related to H. hepaticus, and the role that such mechanisms play in the evolutionary differentiation of Helicobacter species as shown by their ability to colonize different niches.
Development of activated biochar supported Ni catalyst for enhancing toluene steam reforming

Catalytic steam reforming of tar is considered to be an attractive pathway for tar removal and H2 production in the modern world. In this study, activation of biochar (B) from pine wood pyrolysis was performed to boost its specific surface area and pore structure. The activated biochar (AB) was used as a catalyst support with the aim to enhance the catalytic activity. The catalytic reforming performance of toluene over Ni/AB catalyst was investigated, and the catalytic behavior of Ni/AB catalysts was compared with Ni/Al2O3 and Ni/B. The effect of potassium hydroxide (KOH) to biochar ratio, Ni loading, reforming temperature, weight hourly space velocity and steam to carbon ratio(S/C) on the performance of Ni/AB catalysts were studied. The results showed that Ni/AB catalysts exhibited a superior catalytic activity for carbon conversion and H2 production to Ni/B and Ni/Al2O3 catalysts. In addition, high carbon conversion (86.2%) and H2 production (64.3%) can be achieved with Ni/AB catalyst under the optimal operating conditions. Furthermore, in order to improve the stability of the Ni/AB catalyst, Ce was introduced to Ni/AB catalyst. According to stability tests, the H2 concentration of Ni‐Ce/AB catalysts was still higher than 2.24 mmol/min even after 20 hours reaction.
How biotic interactions may alter future predictions of species distributions: future threats to the persistence of the arctic fox in Fennoscandia

Aim With climate change, reliable predictions of future species geographic distributions are becoming increasingly important for the design of appropriate conservation measures. Species distribution models (SDMs) are widely used to predict geographic range shifts in response to climate change. However, because species communities are likely to change with the climate, accounting for biotic interactions is imperative. A shortcoming of introducing biotic interactions in SDMs is the assumption that biotic interactions remain the same under changing climatic factors, which is disputable. We explore the performance of SDMs while including biotic interactions.
METACOGNITIVE MODEL FOR DEVELOPING SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND ENGINEERING FUNCTIONAL LITERACY

Science, technology and engineering functional literacy should be developed purposely in the school system – like any other competence, it does not develop spontaneously. For this purpose, a didactic model, the Metacognitive Model for Developing Science, Technology and Engineering Literacy (McM_T&E), was developed. Apart from acquiring knowledge and skills from the field of technology and engineering, the McM_T&E is equally focused on developing functional literacy in the field of technology and engineering, as well as in the field of science, through the development of students’ metacognitive knowledge about reading strategies for reading STE explicatory texts and for reading manufacturing instructions. The McM_T&E was implemented in a Technology and Technique’ (T&T) class, grade six, in Slovenia. Results show that focusing on science, technology and engineering literacy in Technology and Engineering classes by using the McM_T&E model increases the students’ science, technology, and engineering functional literacy, which is a fundamental competence in the 21st century. Keywords: functional literacy, metacognitive didactic model, science functional literacy, technology, engineering functional literacy.
Signal-Transformation-Based Repetitive Control of Spiral Trajectory for Piezoelectric Nanopositioning Stages

In this article, a novel signal-transformation-based repetitive controller (STBRC) dedicated to the accurate and fast tracking of spiral trajectory with a time-variant amplitude is proposed and tested. To overcome the requirement of strictly periodic references of conventional repetitive controller, a mapping between spiral trajectory and constant amplitude sinusoid is developed to provide multiple lower gains at the fundamental frequency and its harmonics of the spiral trajectory to ensure zero steady-state errors. The stability of the control method and convergence of steady-state errors are analyzed with a lifted-system representation, respectively, for its time-variant property. Compared with internal model-based controllers for this trajectory, STBRC has the advantages of a simpler structure, fewer parameters, and better performance. The application to a piezoelectric nanopositioning stage verifies the effectiveness of the proposed control method on suppression of cross-coupling errors and improving the tracking performance of high-speed spiral trajectory in comparison with other controllers.
Advanced four‐mode‐modulation‐based four‐switch non‐inverting buck–boost converter with extra operation zone

This study proposes a novel non-inverting buck–boost converter topology with extra-wide operational zones under both continuous current mode (CCM) and discontinuous current mode (DCM), by introducing a four-mode modulation (4MM) strategy. The proposed 4MM method is able to eliminate the operation dead zone, thus extending the operation zones of the buck–boost converter to contain boost mode, extended boost mode, extended buck mode, and buck mode. Rigorous analyses and design principles are presented in detail to demonstrate the four-mode function through CCM and DCM operational investigations and illustrations. Theoretical analyses and parameter design are verified by software simulation and hardware experimentation in this study, which validates the proposed 4MM method and the functionality of the proposed 4MM-based buck–boost converter. They clearly indicate the superiority of the proposed 4MM-based four-switch non-inverting buck–boost converter over its conventional counterparts, posing wide applicability in industrial practices.
Air-Filled Substrate Integrated Waveguide Leaky-Wave Antenna With Wideband and Fixed-Beam Characteristics

In this communication, a novel wideband fixed-beam leaky-wave antenna (LWA) is proposed. The antenna is designed based on air-filled substrate integrated waveguide (SIW), which is composed of one layer of printed circuit board (PCB) in the middle and two layers of thin copper plates on the top and bottom. The different layers are aligned and fixed by screws. A long slot is etched on the top surface of air-filled SIW as a radiator. Due to the dispersive characteristic of the air-filled SIW, the antenna can radiate at a fixed direction over a wideband. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time that the air-filled SIW is adopted for LWA design. The proposed antenna is designed, fabricated, and tested. The measured results show that its wide operating bandwidth reaches up to 37.0%, ranging from 11 to 16 GHz. The excellent fixed-beam radiation performance is obtained over the operating bandwidth. The radiation direction is fixed at 59° with only ±3° variation, and the peak gain is within 14.0–15.3 dBi. Although the beam angle can only be fixed nearly the endfire, this method offers a simple way to realize wideband fixed-beam feature.
Genetic Diversity of Hepatitis C Virus Genotype 3a Based on Complete Core Protein in Peshawar, Pakistan

Background: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) belongs to the genus Hepacivirus and family Flaviviridae and is a leading cause of chronic liver diseases including cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Objectives: This study aimed to analyze the genetic diversity of HCV genotype 3a based on complete core protein in Peshawar. Methods: Hepatitis C virus genotype 3a infected patients, belonging to different areas of Peshawar participated in this study. The complete core gene of HCV 3a was amplified and sequenced. The obtained sequences were used for mutational and phylogenetic analysis using CLUSTAL W and MEGA 6 software. Results: Phylogenetic analysis revealed that most of the HCV 3a strains prevalent in Peshawar are genetically closer to HCV 3a strains previously reported from Pakistan and India. Analysis of translated amino acids aligned against reference 3a strain (NZL1) demonstrated substitutions in three functional domains (D1, D2, D3) of the core protein. Core protein mutations R70Q (arginine to glutamine) and L/C91M (leucine/cysteine to methionine) were not found among studied isolates. In sequence PK/59 at position 72, glutamic acid was replaced with aspartic acid. Position 182 was occupied by leucine in place of phenylalanine in all sequences. Alanine and serine amino acids at the positions of 189 and 191 were replaced with threonine and cysteine, respectively. In seven of our isolates (PK/59-PK/68) glutamic acid and serine were found mutated to aspartic acid and cysteine, respectively. Conclusions: HCV core protein, although a conserved region could be considered a phylogenetic marker for the determination of genetic relatedness among circulating viral strains and tracing the outbreak of an infection. Geographical, regional, and genotypic differences are effective in the prevalence of substitutions in HCV core protein.
Root-shoot interactions in the response of sugarcane to drought

Studies using greenhouse-grown plants of sugarcane cultivars known to have varyinglevels of resistance to drought were conducted to identify distinctive physiologicalfeatures that may confer drought resistance in sugarcane. When leaf water relations, stomatal conductance (g), and shoot growth rate (SGR) were measured concurrently during a soil drying cycle, it was found that both osmotic and elastic adjustment occurred in the leaves of all cultivars in response to soil dryingand diurnal water deficit. These adjustments led to almost complete maintenance of symplast volume, but only partial maintenance of turgor. During the early stages of drought, reductions ing and SGR were not accompanied by significant reductions in bulk leaf water status, suggestingthat signals originating within the roots may have regulated shoot behavior. When the hydraulic properties of entire root systems and isolated roots were characterized by the transpirationgradient and pressure-flux techniques, cultivar differences in both rootand leafspecific root hydraulic conductance (GrooJ were discerned. At high soil moisture, transpiration and Groot differed considerably among cultivars and were positively correlated, whereas leaf water potential ('h) was similar among cultivars. Within a narrow range of soil water suction (0 to 0.1 MPa), over which Groot and g fell to nearly zero, t/;L remained nearly constant because the vapor phase conductance of the leaves and the liquid phase conductance of the roots declined in parallel. These patterns reinforced the suggestion that control ofg in sugarcane plants exposed to dryingsoil was exerted primarily at the root rather than at the leaf level. Cultivar
Mécanismes moléculaires contrôlant la biosynthèse de mycotoxines par le champignon micromycète Fusarium graminearum

Fusarium graminearum est un champignon filamenteux qui parasite les plantes cerealieres et le mais et provoque la fusariose de l’epi. Durant l’infection, ce champignon produit des mycotoxines de la famille des trichothecenes qui s’accumulent dans les grains. Les processus de decontamination existants ne permettent pas d’eliminer completement les trichothecenes. Ainsi, le meilleur moyen pour eviter leur accumulation dans les grains serait de pouvoir limiter leur occurrence au champ en controlant leur biosynthese. Bien que la voie de biosynthese des trichothecenes et les genes Tri qui y sont impliques soient bien decrits, les connaissances de base sur les mecanismes de regulation de ces genes restent trop restreintes.Dans la premiere partie de ce travail, l’effet du pH sur la regulation des genes Tri et la production de trichothecene a ete etudie. En premier lieu, nous avons demontre que, in vitro, un pH acide joue le role d’inducteur alors qu’un pH neutre ou alcalin bloque l’expression des genes Tri et la production de trichothecene. Ensuite, FgPac1, l’homologue du gene pacC/RIM101 codant le facteur de regulation par le pH chez les champignons a ete identifie dans le genome de F. graminearum. A l’aide de souches recombinantes, nous avons demontre que la forme mature de ce facteur reprime l’expression des genes Tri a pH acide et reduit la virulence du champignon lors de l’infection d’epis de ble. Enfin, le transcriptome de F. graminearum en reponse au pH et le role de Pac1 dans cette reponse a ete analyse.Dans la deuxieme partie de ce travail, le gene velvet sensible a la lumiere, a ete identifie chez F. graminearum. Ce gene constitue la composante clef d’un complexe qui coordonne la perception de la lumiere avec le developpement mais aussi avec le metabolisme secondaire chez les champignons. L’inactivation de FgVe1 chez F. graminearum nous a permis de demontrer son role dans le developpement et la production de spores. Elle a montre aussi que ce gene est necessaire pour permettre l’expression des genes Tri, la production de trichothecene et la pathogenicite in planta.L’ensemble de ce travail permet de mieux comprendre la regulation de la production de trichothecene chez F. graminearum et ouvre des perspectives qui permettront sans doute, a long terme, d’elaborer des strategies de lutte contre l’accumulation de trichothecene au champ.
Analysis of the Intensity of Burundi’s Rice Imports from Tanzania

Neighboring countries usually exchange goods and services, taking advantage of proximity and other shared socio-economic characteristics among citizens. This study explored the intensity of Burundi’s rice imports from Tanzania. First of all it determined and analyzed the evolution of the intensity of rice imports. Secondly, it estimated the factors which influence the intensity of rice imports. The results indicated that Burundi’s rice imports from Tanzania remained more intensive over 2003-2018. However the financial crisis which slapped the world in 2007-2008 harmed Burundi’s rice imports from Tanzania probably due to lack of finance to import. Moreover, the results revealed that the Burundian national income, its exchange rate and its trade openness significantly had a positive effect on the intensity of Burundi’s rice imports from Tanzania.
Australian Laurencia majuscula (Rhodophyta, Rhodomelaceae) and the Brazilian Laurencia dendroidea are conspecific

Morphological and molecular studies have been undertaken on two species of the red algal genus Laurencia J.V. Lamouroux: Laurencia majuscula (Harvey) A.H. S. Lucas and Laurencia dendroidea J.Agardh, both from their type localities. The phylogenetic position of these species was inferred by analysis of the chloroplast‐encoded rbcL gene sequences from 24 taxa. In all phylogenetic analyses, the Australian Laurencia majuscula and the Brazilian L. dendroidea formed a well‐supported monophyletic clade within the Laurencia sensu stricto. This clade was divided into two subclades corresponding to each geographical region; however, the genetic divergence between Australian L. majuscula and Brazilian L. dendroidea was only 0–1.35%. Examination of the type specimens and sequences of freshly collected samples of both Laurencia majuscula and L. dendroidea show the two to be conspecific despite their disjunct type localities.
A bifunctional Δ6‐fatty acyl acetylenase/desaturase from the moss Ceratodon purpureus

Many plant genes have been cloned that encode regioselective desaturases catalyzing the formation of cis-unsaturated fatty acids. However, very few genes have been cloned that encode enzymes catalyzing the formation of the functional groups found in unusual fatty acids (e.g. hydroxy, epoxy or acetylenic fatty acids). Here, we describe the characterization of an acetylenase from the moss Ceratodon purpureus with a regioselectivity differing from the previously described Delta12-acetylenase. The gene encoding this protein, together with a Delta6-desaturase, was cloned by a PCR-based approach with primers derived from conserved regions in Delta5-, Delta6-fatty-acid desaturases and Delta8-sphingolipid desaturases. The proteins that are encoded by the two cloned cDNAs are likely to consist of a N-terminal extension of unknown function, a cytochrome b5-domain, and a C-terminal domain that is similar to acyl lipid desaturases with characteristic histidine boxes. The proteins were highly homologous in sequence to the Delta6-desaturase from the moss Physcomitrella patens. When these two cDNAs were expressed in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, both transgenic yeast cultures desaturated Delta9-unsaturated C16- and C18-fatty acids by inserting an additional Delta6cis-double bond. One of these transgenic yeast clones was also able to introduce a Delta6-triple bond into gamma-linolenic and stearidonic acid. This resulted in the formation of 9,12,15-(Z,Z,Z)-octadecatrien-6-ynoic acid, the main fatty acid found in C. pupureus. These results demonstrate that the Delta6-acetylenase from C. pupureus is a bifunctional enzyme, which can introduce a Delta6cis-double bond into 9,12,(15)-C18-polyenoic acids as well as converting a Delta6cis-double bond to a Delta6-triple bond.
Cellular and in-vitro models to assess antioxidant activities of seaweed extracts and the potential use of the extracts as ingredients

Title Cellular and in-vitro models to assess antioxidant activities of seaweed extracts and the potential use of the extracts as ingredients Author(s) O'Sullivan, Anthoney Michael Naim Publication date 2013 Original citation O'Sullivan, A.M.N. 2013. Cellular and in-vitro models to assess antioxidant activities of seaweed extracts and the potential use of the extracts as ingredients. PhD Thesis, University College Cork. Type of publication Doctoral thesis Rights © 2013, Anthoney M. N. O'Sullivan http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/