Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Irrigation Water Salinity Effects On Germination and Emergence of Six Halophytes

Low availability of surface water has exacerbated the use of groundwater for irrigation in New Mexico. About 75% of the groundwater in NM is brackish and prolonged application without treatment could increase soil salinity. Reverse Osmosis (RO) treats brackish groundwater but disposal or reuse of RO concentrate is a problem. The objective of this study was to test germination and emergence of six halophyte species under a water salinity gradient. Four irrigation water treatments were tap water (EC 0.8 dS/m), brackish groundwater (EC 5.0 dS/m), RO1 concentrate water (EC 8.0 dS/m), and RO1 concentrate mixed with NaCl (RO2; EC 10 dS/m). Experiments with six halophytes species (Atriplex canescens, Hordeum vulgare, Lepidium alyssoides, Distichlis stricta, Panicum virgatum, xTriticosecale) were carried out for 30 days in a greenhouse. H. vulgare and xTriticosecale had no significant difference in percent germination with higher germinations under salinity treatments, and other species showed similar germinations under higher salinity treatments. On the other hand, D. stricta seeds displayed lower germinations under higher salinity treatments. Results of the emergence percentage showed that H. vulgare and xTriticosecale had no significant difference with higher emergence under higher salinity treatments, while other species showed similar emergence percentage under higher salinity treatments. In contrast, L. alyssoides and A. canescens seeds showed lower emergence percentage under higher salinity treatments. Increasing irrigation water salinity increased mean germination time for all species except L. alyssoides, but did not affect the percentage germination significantly except for A. canescens. Increasing irrigation water salinity increased mean emergence time for all species except L. alyssoides, but did not affect the percent emergence for H. Vulgare, xTriticosecale, and P. virtagum species significantly. Results showed that H. vulgare (barley), xTriticosecale (triticale), and P. virtagum (switchgrass) are candidate species for irrigation with brackish groundwater and RO1 concentrate in water scarce areas. However, their survival and growth should be further tested in different soils.
APLIKASI POLYMERASE CHAIN REACTION-RIBOSOMAL INTERGENIC SPACER ANALYSIS (PCR-RISA) UNTUK MENENTUKAN KERAGAMAN MIKROBA TANAH PADA HABIT AT TANAMAN PISANG

A major problem in the soil microbiology is 99% soil microbes could not be grown in artificial media; therefore, to describe the true diversity of microbes in the soil must use a molecular approach. The approach was polymerase chain reaction-ribosomal intergenic spacer analysis (PCR-RISA). This method can be used for determining soil microbial DNA profile (the number of DNA bands). The soil samples were collected from three regencies in Bali, i.e. Karangasem, Klungkung and Jembrana which are the main banana growing area in Bali. Soil sampling was done in two sites in each regency representing the banana habitat with and without Fusarium wilt symptom, by collecting 100 grams of soil surrounding the banana plant at the depth of 20 cm. The result of PCR-RISA showed that DNA profile of the soil microbes in the soil of banana habitat without Fusarium wilt symptom (HN) more than of the soil banana habitat with Fusarium wilt symptom (HF). DNA profiles at HN there were three, each of the indicated 450 bp, 250 bp and <100 bp, whereas in HF were two bands of DNA, each indicated as 250 bp and <100 bp. Based on the number of DNA bands proved that the soil microbial community in the HN is higher than in HF .
The NUGGET Non-Linear Piecewise Activation

The choice of activation functions in deep neural networks has a significant impact on the training dynamics, task performance, and potential acronyms of resulting work. While numerous activation functions have been proposed, such as the Rectified Linear Unit (ReLU), most are derived from the domain of mathematics rather than by drawing inspiration from nature. We propose a non-linear piecewise activation function, the NUGGET activation function, which is a result of a complex zero-sum pricing game refined over multiple iterations of multi-agent interaction simulation. We verify the effectiveness of the activation by experimental analysis on the Modified National Institute of Standards and Technology (MNIST) digits task (Neural Numerology) and achieve state of the art results1.
Estimating Urban Vegetation Biomass from Sentinel-2A Image Data

Urban vegetation biomass is a key indicator of the carbon storage and sequestration capacity and ecological effect of an urban ecosystem. Rapid and effective monitoring and measurement of urban vegetation biomass provide not only an understanding of urban carbon circulation and energy flow but also a basis for assessing the ecological function of urban forest and ecology. In this study, field observations and Sentinel-2A image data were used to construct models for estimating urban vegetation biomass in the case study of the east Chinese city of Xuzhou. Results show that (1) Sentinel-2A data can be used for urban vegetation biomass estimation; (2) compared with the Boruta based multiple linear regression models, the stepwise regression models—also multiple linear regression models—achieve better estimations (RMSE = 7.99 t/hm2 for low vegetation, 45.66 t/hm2 for broadleaved forest, and 6.89 t/hm2 for coniferous forest); (3) the models for specific vegetation types are superior to the models for all-type vegetation; and (4) vegetation biomass is generally lowest in September and highest in January and December. Our study demonstrates the potential of the free Sentinel-2A images for urban ecosystem studies and provides useful insights on urban vegetation biomass estimation with such satellite remote sensing data.
Adoption of improved maize varieties in northern Guinea Savannah of Borno State, Nigeria

This study examined the adoption of improved maize varieties in northern Guinea Savanna of Borno State. Primary data were collected by using structured interview schedule. Two hundred maize farmers were systematically selected from. Percentage and logit were used for data analyses. Overall adoption rate was 89.0%. Coefficient of socio-economic and institutional factors such as extension contact (0.0360), farm size (0.2319), education level (0.0460), access to credit (0.6363) and age (0.7619) were found to be significant ( P ≤0.01) and positively influencing adoption of improved maize varieties. Household size (0.2708) and income level (0.3285) were also significant ( P ≤0.05) and positively related to likelihood of adoption of improved maize varieties. Non-availability of technology (99%), high cost of technology (92%) and high cost of labour (88%) were the major constraining factors to adoption of improved maize varieties. Community seed production should be encouraged and promoted to facilitate easy access to improved seeds by farmers. The extension system should be strengthened, a policy, which provides adequately trained and equipped extension workers for disseminating extension messages to farmers, re-strengthening of community based organizations and seed companies to introduce labour saving tools like planters and harvesters etc. Keywords: Adoption; improved maize; guinea savannah
19q13 KRAB zinc-finger protein ZNF471 activates MAPK10/JNK3 signaling but is frequently silenced by promoter CpG methylation in esophageal cancer

Zinc-finger proteins (ZFPs) are the largest transcription factor family in mammals, involved in the regulation of multiple physiologic processes including cell differentiation, proliferation, apoptosis and neoplastic transformation. Approximately one-third of ZFPs are Krüppel-associated box domain (KRAB)-ZFPs. Methods: ZNF471 expression and methylation were detected by reverse-transcription PCR and methylation-specific PCR. The impact and mechanism of ectopic ZNF471 expression in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) cells was evaluated in vitro and in vivo. Results: We identified a 19q13 KRAB-ZFP, ZNF471, as a methylated target in ESCC. We further found that ZNF471 is significantly downregulated in ESCC tissues compared with adjacent non-cancer tissues, due to its aberrant promoter CpG methylation, and further confirmed by methylation analysis and treatment with demethylation agent. Restoration of ZNF471 expression in silenced ESCC cells significantly altered cell morphology, induced apoptosis and G0/G1 arrest, and inhibited tumor cell colony formation, viability, migration and invasion. Importantly, ZNF471 was found to activate the expression of MAPK10/JNK3 and PCDH family genes, and further enhance MAPK10 signaling and downstream gene expression through binding to the MAPK10/JNK3 promoter. Conclusion: Our results demonstrate that ZNF471 is an important tumor suppressor and loss of ZNF471 functions hampers MAPK10/JNK3 signaling during esophageal carcinogenesis.
Validation of a Real-Time PCR (qPCR) Technique for Detection of Mycobacterium ulcerans in Clinical and Environmental Samples

Introduction: Buruli ulcer (BU) is a serious skin disease caused by Mycobacterium ulcerans. According to WHO, 70% of BU cases should be confirmed by the PCR-IS2404 gene amplification. The objective of this study is to validate a real-time PCR for the detection of M. ulcerans in clinical and environmental samples. Methodology: A total of 70 clinical samples, 10 M. ulcerans strains and 15 environmental samples were tested by Ziehl-Neelsen staining technique, conventional PCR, real time qPCR and culture. The proportion of positive cases of M. ulcerans detection between the different tests was compared by the Chi-square test. The difference was statistically significant for a P-value ≤ 0.05. Results: Out of 33/80 samples were cultured positive (41.25%) to M. ulcerans, 41/80 ZN staining were positive (51.25%) to AFB at the microscopy, 55/80 (68.75%) and 64/80 samples (80%) were positive to the IS2404 insertion sequence from conventional PCR and qPCR respectively. Both PCR techniques showed positivity rates significantly higher than microscopy and culture (P=0.002). However, no significant difference of positive rate was observed between the two types of PCR (P=0.38). In contrast, the detection limit for the real time qPCR was lower (0.01copies/ μL) compared to conventional PCR. Only qPCR was able to detect IS2404 in 2/15 environmental samples (13.3%). Conclusion: This study showed the high sensitivity of the real time PCR for the detection of Mycobacterium ulcerans in clinical and environmental samples.
HPV related Oropharyngeal Cancer: De-intensification Treatment and Prognosis.

Over the course of the last two decades, there has been a decrease in the incidence of head and neck cancers thanks to a decreasing prevalence of smoking. However, a new risk factor has been coming to the fore: Human Papillomavirus infection (HPV). HPV-positive Oropharyngeal Squamous cell Carcinoma (HPV+OPC) is more sensitive to chemotherapy and radiotherapy, which translates to a much better prognosis with conventional treatment protocols than tumors that are HPV-negative. Traditional therapeutic interventions are associated with substantial morbidity and have a great impact on patient quality of life. The main focus is on identifying an ideal group of HPV-positive patients that will receive de-intensification treatment regimens aimed at avoiding late toxicity of the administered treatment. Various strategies have been considered, such as reduction in radiotherapy dose following induction chemotherapy, radiotherapy alone, minimally invasive surgical techniques, and substituting platinum-based chemotherapy. The first generation of de-escalation randomized phase III trials have now been published. The following review summarizes the current knowledge and treatment of oropharyngeal carcinoma.
InfoRoom: Extending Direct Manipulation Interfaces to the Physical Environment

This paper describes our design and implementation of a computer augmented environment that allows users to smoothly interchange digital information among their portable computers, table and wall displays, and other physical objects. Supported by a camerabased object recognition system, users can easily integrate their portable computers with the pre-installed ones in the environment. Users can use displays projected on tables and walls as a spatially continuous extension of their portable computers. Using an direct manipulation interaction techniques that are extended to physical spaces, users can manipulate digital information by understanding the physical relationship between them. We also provide a mechanism for attaching digital data to physical objects, such as a videotape or a document folder, to link physical and digital spaces.
Bonds futures and their options: more than the cheapest-to-deliver; quality option and marginning

Even if the name futures indicates a simple instrument, bond futures are complex. Several special features are embedded in the instrument. In particular the future is not written on one specific bond but on a basket of bonds, from which the short side can deliver the cheapest. This paper focuses on that feature, present in the main futures market, and its impact on the futures risk. A formula for the delivery option and the convexity adjustment due to the daily margining is proposed in the Gaussian HJM model. The approach is numerically very efficient and easy to implement. Based on this result a futures option formula is derived. The approach is similar to the one used for Canary swaptions. Copyright c © 2005–2006 by Marc Henrard.
Apps in Transplantation

There is an expansion in the amount of surgery particular applications accessible to download and the field of transplantation has begun to grasp this rising innovation. Requisitions (applications) are downloaded things of programming onto an Internet-Enabled Mobile Device (iEMDs) which fulfil a particular function or role. The worldwide business sector for iEMDs provisions has grown enormously in recent years. Apps provide an opportunity for transplantation surgeons to engage with patients and offer a reference tool to have the latest evidence to aid practice that can be accessed anywhere at any time on a smart phone. With this emerging market and increasing creation of medical apps there will be an increase in patient information content in apps.
Epidemiologic Evaluation of Traumatic Spinal Injury

Objective:To determine the pattern of traumatic spinal injuries and their management in patients admitted to a Neurosurgical Unit of a tertiary care hospital in southeast Iran. Patient and Method:All patients admitted with spinal injuries between 1st October 2004 and 30th October 2009 from the Department of Neurosurgery, Kamyab Hospital, Mashad, were included. Information was recorded and analyzed with respect to demographic data, mechanism of injury, level of bony injury, and outcome. Result:A total of 377 patients were admitted, comprising 261 male patients (69.2%) and 116 female patients (30.8%). The most affected patients were between 26 and 35 years of age (22.5%), followed by patients who were between 16 and 25 years (22.3%). The most common causes of injuries were road accidents in 211 patients (56%), followed by fall in 111 patients (29.4%). Thoracolumbar spine was affected in 198 (52.5%) cases, followed by lumbar spine in 85 (22.5%) cases and thoracic spine in 23 (6.1%) cases. A total of 233 patients (61.8%) had no associated injury, and the most common associated injury was limb trauma (86/377, 22.8%). A total of 308 patients (81.7%) were neurologically intact and 31 (8.2%) of them were complete paraplegic and the rest of the patients (10.1%) had incomplete neurological deficit. Conclusions:This study shows that young adults, especially men in their most productive years of life, are prone to spinal cord injury. Road accident is the most common preventable cause of spinal injury. Recognizing the pattern of spinal injury helps us to identify high-risk groups, which will then help us to design more appropriate preventive measure.
Significance of Pulmonary Function Test in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Diagnose

【Objective】To emphasize the necessity and importance of Pulmonary Function Test in chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases(COPD). 【Methods】The clinical data of the patients in department of respiratory disease were collected from 2004 to 2005,and the lung function test was done for the patients in 2005.The examination states of pulmonary function test were investigated and the rate of morbidity and missed diagnosis detected. 【Results】Among 783 patients in 2004,there were totally 151(19.3%) done pulmonary function test,there were 181(23.1%) patients diagnosed as COPD,among which only 64(35.4%) patients did pulmonary function test.Among 862 patients in 2005,there were 205(23.8%)diagnosed as COPD,among which only 66(32.2%) did pulmonary function test.Nevertheless there were 396(45.9%) patients diagnosed as COPD after doing pulmonary function test.The missed diagnosis rate reached 48.2%. Only 130(32.8%) patients of the 396 patients diagnosed as COPD did pulmonary function test.The rate of the patients in GradeⅠwho did pulmonary function test was 12.2%. The missed diagnosis rate was 97.6%. 【Conclusion】COPD is a common and high mobidity rate disease,however the rate of missed diagnosis phenomenon in inpatients is also high.Pulmonary function test has important significance in the diagnosis and prevention of COPD.It is essential for inpatients to do a routine examination,especially in department of respiratory disease.
Study of Short-term Evaporation in Sand Specimens via Micro-focus X- ray Computed Tomography

K Liu; University of Southampton, MSc, PhD researcher, UK, kl5g14@soton.ac. uk F. A. Loveridge; Royal Academy of Engineering Research Fellow, University of Leeds (formerly University of Southampton), BA MSc PhD, CEng, MICE, FGS, CGeol, UK R. Boardman; μ-vis Centre, University of Southampton, PhD, MInstP, MIEEE, Principal Scientist, UK W. Powrie; University of Southampton, FREng MA PhD, CEng, FICE, Dean Faculty of Engineering and the Environment & Professor of Geotechnical Engineering, UK ABSTRACT: Water flow and heat transfer often occur simultaneously in soils, in coupled flow, for example in applications such as ground heat thermal storage and disposal of nuclear waste. It is proposed that micro-focus X-ray computed tomography (micro-XCT) can be used to investigate this phenomenon. A natural thermally-driven water flow, evaporation from an exposed soil specimen, is studied to assess the applicability of micro-XCT techniques to other problems in soil heat / moisture transfer. This paper presents studies of short-term evaporation from a sand. A series of scans were conducted on a specimen of sand during evaporation, to provide data for comparison with simultaneous gravimetric measurements made using a sensitive balance in the scanner. Both qualitative and quantitative data from the micro-XCT are presented. Drying of the specimen during each stage can be clearly seen in the image data. However, quantification of the change in water content by image analysis is more challenging, owing to the compromise between the image quality and the scanning time. To overcome this, an alternative approach to segmentation of the image data using Gaussian curve fitting is proposed and validated against global gravimetric measurements. It is concluded that this approach to the analysis of the rapid movement of moisture within the soil is promising, and it will be applied in future experiments.
Neuroprotekcyjna rola peptydów PACAP, VIP oraz PHI w ośrodkowym układzie nerwowym* Neuroprotective role of PACAP, VIP, and PHI in the central nervous system

Polipeptyd aktywujący przysadkową cyklazę adenylanową (PACAP), naczyniowo aktywny peptyd jelitowy (VIP) oraz peptyd histydyno-izoleucynowy (PHI) należą do strukturalnie zbliżonej nadrodziny polipeptydów, obecnej w wielu obszarach ośrodkowego i obwodowego układu nerwowego. Neuroprotekcyjny potencjał peptydów PACAP, VIP i PHI stanowi przedmiot intensywnych badań prowadzonych na wielu modelach doświadczalnych. Badania in vitro ujawniły udział PACAP w ochronie neuronów przed naturalnie występującą apoptozą w czasie rozwoju ośrodkowego układu nerwowego (o.u.n.) oraz indukowaną przez wiele neurotoksyn, m.in. etanol, nadtlenek wodoru, ceramid C2, białko prionowe, b-amyloid, białko otoczki wirusa HIV (gp120), niedobór jonów potasu lub duże stężenia glutaminianu. Podobnie, doświadczenia prowadzone in vivo na modelach ischemii oraz choroby Parkinsona potwierdziły neuroprotekcyjne właściwości tego peptydu. Ujawniono, że antyapoptotyczne działania PACAP mogą zachodzić bezpośrednio – przez aktywację szlaków przekazywania sygnału hamujących apoptozę neuronów lub pośrednio przez – uwalnianie z gleju czynników działających neuroprotekcyjnie. W odróżnieniu od PACAP, neuroprotekcyjne działanie VIP odbywa się przede wszystkim przez pobudzenie ekspresji oraz sekrecji czynników o silnych właściwościach neuroprotekcyjnych: czynnika neurotrofi cznego zależnego od aktywności – ADNF oraz białka neuroprotekcyjnego zależnego od aktywności – ADNP. Stwierdzono, że czynniki ADNF i ADNP oraz ich krótsze pochodne ADNF-9 i NAP chronią neurony przed blokadą aktywności elektrycznej, ekscytotoksycznością, niedoborem apoE, niedoborem glukozy, niedokrwieniem oraz toksycznym działaniem etanolu, b-amyloidu i gp120. Potencjał neuroprotekcyjny PHI nie był dotychczas tak szeroko badany, ale ostatnie dane literaturowe potwierdziły, że peptyd ten również może spełniać funkcje neuroprotekcyjne. Sądzi się, że endogenne peptydy PACAP, VIP i prawdopodobnie PHI mogą stanowić cel nowoczesnych strategii terapeutycznych różnorodnych procesów neurodegeneracyjnych.
AN ANALYSIS FOR AN ITALIAN PROVINCE#

This paper aims at analysing the educational outcom es of a cohort of youths living in an Italian province (Novara), which was interested by large migration phenomenon during the last decades and, therefore, it is particularly sui ted to study inter-regional mobility issues. In particular we aim at establishing if, once controll ed for parental educational background, family origin affects human capital accumulation. W e find that non native youths on average have a higher probability of early leaving educatio nal system. If the 1 st generation migrants are the less advantaged as for educational attainme nt, even 2 generation migrants, that in principle should be completely integrated, perform worse than the native born. This evidence calls into question the integration of internal mig rants, for whom education plays a crucial role, even in a period in which foreign immigration seems to be of major concern.
International Journal of Social Science and Economic Research

This study explores the correlation between corporate ownership structure and abnormal returns using Taiwan’s small and mid-sized companies as samples. From the empirical results, we can observe the relationship that exists between firm net incomes and abnormal returns, which exhibits a significant positive relationship. This indicates that, as the net income increases, the abnormal returns will also rise. Regarding the separation of cash flow rights and voting rights, the evidence revealed an insignificant but positive influence. This is expressed in Taiwan’s small and mid-size firms, wherein their cash flow rights and voting rights do not operate separately but converge. A positive influence indicates low cash flow rights, which closely relate to low abnormal returns. Meanwhile, we discovered that most of the small and mid-sized firms are family group companies. Their cash flow rights and voting rights are not exercised in a significant separate style.
Estimation of Gaseous Interchange in the Irkutsk Reservoir

In the article the problem of analysis of the water-dissolved greenhouse gases interchange (CO 2 and CH 4 ) through the water surface with atmosphere is considered. We assess the seasonal variation of the gaseous interchange in the Irkutsk water reservoir. We propose an original approach to solving this problem, in which modern GIS and data analysis technologies are used.