Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Development of an Efficient Plant Regeneration System in Sunflower(Helianthus annuus L.)

With the aim of developing an efficient plant regeneration system from cells or tissues of sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.), we compared several regeneration protocols using different explant types and hormonal combinations. Somatic embryogenesis could be induced on cotyledon explants, especially from the basal (proximal) portion of the cotyledons, but genotypic vairation appeared to be the most critical factor for both somatic embryo and root production. Such a variation was more prominent when 10 different sunflower cultivars were compared for shoot production from shoot-tip explants. Further refinement of the culture conditions may be neceassary to improve the efficiency of somatic embryo production. Thin cell layers from hypocotyl segments were not found to be successful for plant regeneration.
Impact of multimedia in Sina Weibo

Multimedia contents such as images and videos are widely used in social network sites nowadays. Sina Weibo, a Chinese microblogging service, is one of the first microblog platforms to incorporate multimedia content sharing features. This thesis provides statistical analysis on how multimedia contents are produced, consumed, and propagated in Sina Weibo. Based on 230 million tweets and 1.8 million user profiles in Sina Weibo, we study the impact of multimedia contents on the popularity of both users and tweets as well as tweet life span. In addition to consider the multimedia impact on popularity, we also compare the user influence in multimedia and text setting. Our preliminary study shows that multimedia tweets dominant pure text ones in Sina Weibo. Multimedia contents boost popularity of tweet as well as users. Users who tend to publish many multimedia tweets are also productive with text tweet. We prove that tweets with multimedia contents survive longer than text tweets. Finally, multimedia contents tend to attract more attention while text maintains discussion. Our results demonstrates the impact of multimedia in Sina Weibo with respect to how it affects the popularity, life span of tweets and the popularity of user. Our result is useful for web developers and microblogging marketers.
A Multi-Class Traffic Assignment Model for Predicting Transit Passenger Flows - A Case Study of Beijing Subway Network

This paper describes a case study comparing a multi-class transit assignment model with its single class counterpart for estimating the passenger flows of the Beijing subway network – one of the largest railway transit networks in the world. Multi-class traffic assignment has been widely considered as a theoretically sound approach to capturing the inherent variation in users' route choice behavior. However, few empirical studies have been devoted to showing the effectiveness of this approach in improving the accuracy of the underlying passenger flow estimation process. In this research, a passenger classification scheme is proposed on the basis of a data set from a large stated preference survey conducted in the City of Beijing, China. Separate generalized cost functions are calibrated for different classes of subway users in Beijing and applied in a multi-class transit assignment model for estimating passenger flows over a subway network. The case study has shown that the proposed multi-class approach resulted in significantly improved estimation results with an average estimation error of less than 15% on the transfer flows as compared to 30% for the single class model.
Iterative refinement of transmission map for stereo image defogging

This paper presents a novel stereo image defogging algorithm using the disparity map. The proposed algorithm iteratively performs three steps; i) disparity map estimation using the optical flow, ii) transmission map generation using the estimated disparity map, and iii) reconstruction of defogged image using the transmission map. Experimental results show that the proposed method can successfully remove the fog without color distortion or ringing artifacts.
SCALE CHANGE EVALUATIONS FOR ARID LAND IMAGE INTERPRETATION - A CASE STUDY AT CAMP WILLIAMS, UTAH

The use of different scales of aerial and satellite digital imagery in mapping vegetation species/community and monitoring land degradation at three sites at Camp Williams, US Army National Guard Base, Utah, was examined. Our purpose was to assess the changing information content of varying resolution and to study the transfer of information from large-scale to small-scale data, also known as ‘Upscaling’. Color-space conversions and filtering in frequency space were employed as pre-processing techniques to remove color band autocorrelation and high frequency noise. The large-scale aerial Kodak imageries were classified using an unsupervised classification algorithm to extract ecologically significant vegetation classes (both at species and community level). Lowresolution IKONOS, IRS and Landsat TM images for the entire scene were also processed and classified. Kodak 4mpp and 5mpp merged classifications were compared with IKONOS and IRS cookie-cut (clipped) image classifications. Two resampling methods - Nearest Neighbor and Bilinear Interpolation were used during merging and tested against each other. Large-scale images are useful for mapping and monitoring small, local areas in detail, but their usefulness in regional and global studies is restricted by their limited coverage. Therefore a method to scale up vegetation cover estimates to larger geographic extents was developed. The classified Kodak images were resampled (degraded) and used as the training data for the supervised classifications of the entire scenes and tested for accuracy using error matrices. Comparison of classification accuracies indicates an increase in overall accuracy and Kappa statistic with the upscaling of images.
Potential of C-Band Multipolarized and Polarimetric SAR for Soil Drainage Classification and Mapping

Among the various soil properties, drainage is the most important one for land productivity as well as the environmental management. Classification and mapping of regional and local soil drainage conditions and hydrologic soil groups are often required as input in many hydrological models used for assessing soil degradation processes and soil vulnerability to environmental losses under intensive agricultural production. The objective of this study was to evaluate the capability of high resolution SAR remote sensing data for mapping soil drainage. Backscattering coefficients (HH, VH, VV, RR, LL, psi45deg and psi135deg) extracted from CV-580 SAR were analyzed as function of drainage classes according to the land use (bare soil, annual crops). The multipolarization data showed a maximum of difference of 2 dB between drainage classes. Discriminant analysis performed after applying principal component analysis (PCA) showed overall classification accuracy of 60% for drainage classes. Only the poorly drained class was clearly discriminated (73-97%) under agricultural fields. Introducing the polarimetric parameters (mean alpha_ angle, entropy (H), and anisotropy (A)) in the general disciminant classification, the soil drainage classification accuracy was improved particularly by the anisotropy parameter. The study demonstrated the potential of C-band multipolarized and polarimetric SAR for soil drainage classification and mapping. However, the high spatial resolution of the CV-580 showed high variability of scattering mechanisms associated to the fall acquisition period, where many crop fields were harvested but some corn fields being not. Spring acquisition near seeding of RADARSAT-2 (launched on December 14, 2007) imagery, should give better classification results.
Usefulness of Non-invasive Markers for Predicting Significant Fibrosis in Patients with Chronic Liver Disease

The purpose of this prospective study was to verify and compare the strengths of various blood markers and fibrosis models in predicting significant liver fibrosis. One hundred fifty-eight patients with chronic liver disease who underwent liver biopsy were enrolled. The mean age was 41 yr and male patients accounted for 70.2%. The common causes of liver disease were hepatitis B (67.7%) and C (16.5%) and fatty liver (9.5%). Stages of liver fibrosis (F0-4) were assessed according to the Batts and Ludwig scoring system. Significant fibrosis was defined as ≥F2. Sixteen blood markers were measured along with liver biopsy, and estimates of hepatic fibrosis were calculated using various predictive models. Predictive accuracy was evaluated with a receiver-operating characteristics (ROC) curve. Liver biopsy revealed significant fibrosis in 106 cases (67.1%). On multivariate analysis, α2-macroglobulin, hyaluronic acid, and haptoglobin were found to be independently related to significant hepatic fibrosis. A new predictive model was constructed based on these variables, and its area under the ROC curve was 0.91 (95% confidence interval, 0.85-0.96). In conclusion, α2-macroglobulin, hyaluronic acid, and haptoglobin levels are independent predictors for significant hepatic fibrosis in chronic liver disease.
Adjustment of serum HE4 to reduced glomerular filtration and its use in biomarker-based prediction of deep myometrial invasion in endometrial cancer

Background: We investigated the efficacy of circulating biomarkers together with histological grade and age to predict deep myometrial invasion (dMI) in endometrial cancer patients. Methods: HE4ren was developed adjusting HE4 serum levels towards decreased glomerular filtration rate as quantified by the eGFR-EPI formula. Preoperative HE4, HE4ren, CA125, age, and grade were evaluated in the context of perioperative depth of myometrial invasion in endometrial cancer (EC) patients. Continuous and categorized models were developed by binary logistic regression for any-grade and for G1-or-G2 patients based on single-institution data from 120 EC patients and validated against multicentric data from 379 EC patients. and dMI in G1-or-G2 EC patients AUC a simplified categorical G1-or-G2 grade 2, HE4ren pmol/l, CA125 ≥ 35 U/ml, and age ≥ 60. Cumulation of weighted risk factors enabled classification of EC patients to low-risk or high-risk for dMI. HE4
Lifespan dispersion in times of life expectancy fluctuation: the case of Central and Eastern Europe

Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) have experienced considerable instability in mortality since the 1960s. Long periods of stagnating life expectancy were followed by rapid increases in life expectancy and, in some cases, even more rapid declines, before more recent periods of improvement. These trends have been well documented, but to date, no study has comprehensively explored trends in lifespan variation. We improved such analyses by incorporating life disparity as a health indicator alongside life expectancy, examining trends since the 1960s for 12 countries from the region. Generally, life disparity was high and fluctuated strongly over the period. For nearly 30 of these years, life expectancy and life disparity varied independently of each other, largely because mortality trends ran in opposite directions over different ages. Furthermore, we quantified the impact of large classes of diseases on life disparity trends since 1994 using a newly harmonized cause-of-death time series for eight countries in the region. Mortality patterns in CEE countries were heterogeneous and ran counter to the common patterns observed in most developed countries. They contribute to the discussion about life expectancy disparity by showing that expansion/ compression levels do not necessarily mean lower/higher life expectancy or mortality deterioration/improvements.
NBER WORKING PAPER SERIES INTERMEDIARY ASSET PRICING: NEW EVIDENCE FROM MANY ASSET CLASSES

We find that shocks to the equity capital ratio of financial intermediaries—Primary Dealer counterparties of the New York Federal Reserve—possess significant explanatory power for crosssectional variation in expected returns. This is true not only for commonly studied equity and government bond market portfolios, but also for other more sophisticated asset classes such as corporate and sovereign bonds, derivatives, commodities, and currencies. Our intermediary capital risk factor is strongly pro-cyclical, implying counter-cyclical intermediary leverage. The price of risk for intermediary capital shocks is consistently positive and of similar magnitude when estimated separately for individual asset classes, suggesting that financial intermediaries are marginal investors in many markets and hence key to understanding asset prices. Zhiguo He University of Chicago Booth School of Business 5807 S. Woodlawn Avenue Chicago, IL 60637 and NBER zhiguo.he@chicagobooth.edu Bryan Kelly University of Chicago Booth School of Business 5807 S. Woodlawn Avenue Chicago, IL 60637 and NBER bryan.kelly@chicagobooth.edu Asaf Manela Washington University in St. Louis, Olin Business School, Campus Box 1133 One Brookings Drive St. Louis, MO 63130 amanela@wustl.edu Electronic copy available at: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2721783
GAP JUNCTIONS – THEIR STRUCTURE AND BASIC FUNCTIONS IN TISSUE HOMEOSTASIS

Tumour development is a process resulting from the disturbance of various cellular functions including cell proliferation, adhesion and motility. While the role of these cell parameters in tumour promotion and progression has been widely recognized, the mechanisms that influence gap junctional coupling during tumorigenesis remain elusive. Neoplastic cells usually display decreased levels of connexin expression and/or gap junctional coupling. Thus, impaired intercellular communication via gap junctions may facilitate the release of a potentially neoplastic cell from the controlling regime of the surrounding tissue, leading to tumour promotion. However, recent data indicates that metastatic tumour cell lines are often characterized by relatively high levels of connexin expression and gap junctional coupling. This review outlines current knowledge on the role of connexins in tumorigenesis and the possible mechanisms of the interference of gap junctional coupling with the processes of tumour invasion and metastasis.
Can diet influence the selective advantage of mitochondrial DNA haplotypes ?

© 2015 The Author(s) Archiving permitted only in line with the archiving policy of Portland Press Limited. The final version of record will be available under the Creative Commons Attribution Licence 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/). You are encouraged to use the final version of record. A C C E P T E D M A N U S C R IP T 10.1042/BSR20150232 . Please cite using the DOI 10.1042/BSR20150232 http://dx.doi. org/ up-to-date version is available at encouraged to use the Version of Record that, when published, will replace this version. The most this is an Accepted Manuscript, not the final Version of Record. You are : Bioscience Reports
Volcanic, erosional, tectonic, and biogenic peaks on Guyot Summit Plains in the Louisville Seamount Chain

This study utilizes the geomorphology of guyots in the Louisville Seamount Chain to gain insight into the magmatic, erosional, and plate tectonic processes that have dominated the region. By studying the features that result from these complex processes, it becomes possible to hypothesize about how such edifices developed through time. While the majority of guyot studies have focused on the depth and nature of the transition from guyot summit plains to the flank slopes, this research takes advantage of high-resolution marine geophysical data to analyze the much smaller-scale features (peaks) that interrupt the otherwise flat guyot summit plains. Multibeam bathymetry, multichannel seismic reflection profiles, 3.5 kHz profiles, and numerous dredge samples were collected during a 2006 site survey cruise to the Louisville Seamount Chain in the Southwest Pacific Ocean. All of these sources of geologic information were used in combination to make observations about the morphology and composition of the guyot summit plain peaks found in the chain. Then, by comparing these features with landforms already well-established in scientific literature, it becomes possible to postulate the specific origin of each individual peak. The four mechanisms of peak formation identified in this study are: constructional volcanic processes, erosional residuals, tectonic deformation, and biogenic carbonate-reef growth. The spatial and temporal relationships among these different origins of guyot summit plain peaks can then be evaluated in order to draw conclusions about the evolution of the seamount chain as a whole
The Handbook of Biomass Combustion and Co-firing

Introduction. Biomass Fuel Properties and Basic Principles of Biomass Combustion. Biomass Fuel Supply and Pre-treatment. Domestic Wood-Burning Appliances. Combustion Technologies for Industrial and District Heating Systems. Power Generation and Co-generation. Co-combustion. Biomass Ash Characteristics and Behaviour in Combustion Systems. Environmental Aspects of Biomass Combustion. Policies. Research and Development: Needs and Ongoing Activities. Index
Predicting treatment outcomes of major depressive disorder by early improvement in painful physical symptoms: a pooled analysis of double-blind, placebo-controlled trials of duloxetine

Objective: We determined if early improvement in painful physical symptoms (PPS) can be a predictor of remission in the treatment of major depressive disorder (MDD). Methods: We included randomized, double-blind, parallel-group clinical trials of duloxetine (40–60 mg/day) versus placebo for the acute treatment of MDD with associated PPS. Only those studies using the Montgomery–Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) and the Brief Pain Inventory – Short Form (BPI-SF) were included. Three studies met all criteria and included male or female outpatients aged  18 years who met the diagnostic criteria for MDD, had a MADRS total score  20, and had at least moderate pain (BPI-SF average pain score  3). Positive predictive values (PPVs) and negative predictive values (NPVs) of early improvement in PPS for remission were analyzed. PPVs were the proportion of patients with remission (MADRS total score  10) at week 8 out of patients who experienced early improvement in BPI-SF average pain score (  30% decrease from baseline at week 1, 2, or 4). NPVs were the proportion of patients without remission (MADRS total score  10) at week 8 out of patients who did not experience early improvement in PPS. Results: Data from 1,320 patients were analyzed (duloxetine N = 641 and placebo N = 679). The overall remission (MADRS total score  10 at week 8) rate for the duloxetine group was significantly higher than the placebo group (38.5% vs 21.8%; P  0.0001). For both treatment groups, PPVs of early improvement in BPI-SF (30% improvement from baseline) were higher than the overall remission rate for all weeks examined (weeks 1, 2, and 4); in general, NPVs of early improvement in BPI-SF for nonremission were higher than the overall nonremission rate. Conclusion: Early improvement in PPS can be a useful clinical indicator of subsequent treatment
Morbi-Mortality of the Victims of Internal Conflict

Health differences across socioeconomic strata have always pointed out that poorer and 14 minorities have higher mortality and morbidity than richer and majorities. This difference is 15 exacerbated for particular populations such as the victims of ongoing armed conflicts, who are also 16 much harder to quantify due to the conflict itself. This study applies network analysis to a 17 combination of three large administrative records for the health system and mortality records in the 18 province of Risaralda (Colombia) between 2011 and 2016. It produces the most common causes of 19 morbi-mortality for both victims of violence and the poorest inhabitants of Risaralda, defined as 20 those who qualify as recipients of subsidies from the Colombian welfare program called SISBEN in 21 the categories of highest need. Both populations show high morbidity frequencies for non22 communicable diseases such as Type II diabetes, hypertension, and hyperglyceridaemia, mostly 23 associated with exposure to unhealthy lifestyles. Additionally, the mortality outcomes reflect the 24 different lifestyles and medical treatments of both subpopulations. While the poorest replicate the 25 same causes identified for morbidity, the victims of armed conflict die of additional causes including 26 Type II diabetes, which reflects the even worse conditions they face. 27
Time-varying serum uric acid predicts new-onset atrial fibrillation in treated hypertensive patients. The LIFE Study

Aim: The Losartan Intervention For Endpoint reduction in hypertension (LIFE) Study showed less new-onset atrial fibrillation (AF) in hypertensive patients receiving losartan- vs. atenolol-based treatment. Because losartan reduces serum uric acid (SUA) levels, the aim of the present study was to investigate relations of SUA with new-onset AF in the study. Methods: Hypertensive patients with electrocardiographic (ECG) left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) and no prior AF (n = 8,243) were treated for 5.0 ± 0.4 years with losartan- or atenolol-based therapy. Associations of SUA with new-onset AF documented by Minnesota coding were assessed by Cox models using SUA and systolic blood pressure as time-varying covariates to take into account changes of SUA related to losartan or diuretic treatment, changes in renal function, and aging. Results: Time-varying SUA was associated with new AF defined by Minnesota code [hazard ratio (HR) = 1.19 per 16.8 μmol/L (1 mg/dL), (95% confidence intervals (CIs), 1.12–1.26), P < 0.0001], independent of losartan treatment [HR = 0.75 (95% CIs, 0.61–0.93), P = 0.007], older age [HR = 1.95 per 7.0 years (95% CIs, 1.73–2.20), P < 0.0001], male sex [HR = 1.46 (95% CIs, 1.09–1.94), P = 0.010] and higher Cornell voltage-duration product [HR = 1.10 per 1,023 ms·mm (95% CIs, 1.01–1.21), P = 0.034]. Similar results were obtained in Cox models with SUA levels partitioned according to baseline quartiles and in which AF was defined by physician reports or by both Minnesota coding and physician reports. Conclusions: In-treatment SUA is a strong predictor for new-onset AF in hypertensive patients, independent of effects of antihypertensive treatment, age, sex, and ECG-LVH. Further research is needed to clarify how uric acid may provoke AF (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT00338260).
Quantifying the narrative flow of imagined versus autobiographical stories

Significance We explore the open question about differences in the narrative flow of stories generated from memory versus imagination. We introduce sequentiality, a computational measure of narrative flow of events that compares the influence of preceding sentences versus story topic on story sentences, using a cutting-edge large language model (GPT-3). Applying sequentiality to thousands of stories, we find that the narrative flows of imagined stories have greater reliance on preceding sentences than for autobiographical stories and that autobiographical narratives become more similar to imagined stories when retold several months later. Furthermore, we uncover a link between events perceived as salient and sequentiality. The methods provide a window into cognitive processes of storytelling that breaks away from traditional approaches to analyzing narratives.