Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
An 2018 update of personalised Czech COPD guidelines; a country specificconsensus of The Czech Pneumological and Phthiseological Society

Skupina odborníků na CHOPN při České pneumologické a ftizeologické společnosti (ČPFS) připravila návrh aktualizace doporučených postupů pro léčbu stabilní CHOPN. Vědecký výbor ČPFS zamýšlené aktualizace přezkoumal a na základě toho byla vytvořena předběžná verze dokumentu. Tento dokument byl schválen Konsenzuální konferencí ČPFS v listopadu 2017. Rovněž vznikla zkrácená příručka pro praktické lékaře (leden 2018). Základním principem nového přístupu k CHOPN je systematický popis všech léčitelných znaků/fenotypových nálepek u každého případu CHOPN. ČPFS definuje šest klinicky relevantních fenotypů: frekventní exacerbace, překryv CHOPN a AB, překryv CHOPN a bronchiektázií, emfyzematický, bronchitický a fenotyp plicní kachexie. Doporučení pro léčbu lze rozdělit na dvě části. První krok obnáší eliminaci rizikové expozice a mandatorní léčbu inhalačními bronchodilatancii, trénink inhalačních technik, pravidelnou pohybovou aktivitu, pulmonální rehabilitaci, intervence zaměřené na komorbidity a očkování. Druhý krok zahrnuje fenotypově cílenou léčbu a péči o pacienty s respirační insuficiencí a terminální CHOPN. Na konci tohoto článku je popsána pilotní screeningová studie CHOPN u vysoce rizikové populace. Klíčová slova: CHOPN, doporučení, fenotypické stopy, screening.
Breast cancer risk associated mitochondrial NADH- dehydrogenase subunit-3 (ND3) polymorphisms (G10398A and T10400C) in Bangladeshi women

Somatic mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) mutations have been reported in many types of cancer cells, but very few reports document the prevalence of inherited mtDNA polymorphisms including NADH-dehydrogenase (ND3) subunit polymorphisms in cancer patients compared to healthy control populations. Although, few mitochondrial ND3 subunit polymorphisms were reported in different cancers, e.g. breast, esophageal cancer but the effect of polymorphisms on cellular metabolism and growth remain obscure. ND3 subunit with other ND subunits of Complex I and Cytochrome b of Complex III of mtDNA Electron Transport Chain (ETC) are the major source of reactive oxygen species (ROS) as a toxic by-product of mitochondrial Oxidative Phosphorylation (OXPHOS), thus polymorphisms in these subunits has been proposed to cause an increased rate of ROS production, therefore, may contribute in developing cancer. In an attempt to investigate mtDNA polymorphisms associated with breast cancer risk, mtDNA from twenty four breast cancer patients and twenty healthy female individuals were studied. We report that two polymorphisms G10398A and T10400C are prevalent in 75% of breast cancer patients, compared to only 35% in healthy female individuals and the difference is statistically significant (P = 0.0138). It is therefore reasonable to assume that G10398A and T10400C single nucleotide polymorphisms may constitute an inherited risk factor for the development of breast cancer in Bangladesh. Key words: Somatic mitochondrial DNA (MtDNA), NADH, polymorphism, breast cancer, Bangladesh.
Understanding Supply Chain Collaboration and Risk Management

Social network theory is an appropriate theory for understanding the relationships among the different parties in the supply chain. This article adopts the conceptual-theory framework to introduce arm's-length and close ties concepts into the field of supply chain risk management. The theoretical paradigm of social network theory is used to develop a framework and propositions for future empirical studies. Specifically, this conceptual article uses the idea of the social network theory to propose the need for firms to incorporate both the close and arm's-length ties in their supply chains. This approach of combining the two forms of ties as a composite tie within a supply chain could serve as an important supply chain risk management tool in relation to supply chain disruption and its mitigation, because of the synergistic benefits.
The Glacial History of Iceland During the Past Three Million Years

Iceland is built up of volcanic rocks with sedimentary interbeds, which have been piled up continuously since Miocene times. In the Pleistocene rock series, sediments of fluvial, lacustrine, marine and glacial origin and soils are very common and frequently thick. A sudden climatic deterioration took place at about 3 Ma BP. The Pliocene lusitanic marine fauna was replaced by a boreal fauna. Conifers and deciduous forest vanished and the flora became similar to the present one. From 3 to 2 Ma BP, inland ice caps were common during cold spells. From then on ice sheets reaching down to sea level have covered most of the country at least 12 times during glacials.
Effects of Temperature, Humidity and Inoculation Method on Susceptibility of Schistocerca gregaria to Metarhizium flavoviride

The effects of temperature on conidial germination and susceptibility of adults of the desert locust , Schistocerca gregaria, to four isolates of Metarhizium flavoviride were determined . In addition , the effects of inoculation method (topical or spray) , spore carrier (oil or water) and ambient relative humidity (RH) on susceptibility of the locust to the most thermotolerant isolate (Mf324) were investigated . There were differences among the isolates in the effects of temperature on germination of conidia after a 24 - h incubation period . Over 90% of conidia of all isolates germinated after 24 h at 30 o C . In contrast , at 40 o C , none of the isolates germinated for up to 72 h . However , there were differences in germination between the isolates at 35 o C . Locust mortality and disease progression were significantly affected by temperature . At both 25 and 30 o C , all isolates induced 98 - 100% mortality within 8 days; however , there were differences between isolates at 35 o C . None of the isola.
Widespread functional androdioecy in Mercurialis annua L. (Euphorbiaceae)

The widespread coexistence of male and monoecious (cosexual) plants in Spanish, Portuguese and Moroccan populations of Mercurialis annua, an annual wind-pollinated ruderal, represents an important case of functional androdioecy, a rare breeding system in plants and animals. In M. annua, both males and cosexes disperse fully competent pollen. Quantitative gender varies discontinuously between males and cosexes, with males producing a mean of 6.09 times as much pollen as cosexes. It appears that gender is determined by a simple developmental switch, with male and cosexual inflorescences differing markedly in morphology: staminate flowers are borne on erect peduncles in males and in tight spiral clusters around a subsessile pistillate flower in cosexes. Males do not differ from cosexes in their biomass, but they are significantly taller, principally as a result of their greater internode lengths. The cosexual inflorescence is strongly protogynous so that outcrossing is favoured in dense stands, but seed-set is assured in cosexes isolated from prospective mates because of their ability to self-fertilize. Males typically occur at frequencies of less than about 30% in androdioecious populations, in accordance with theoretical predictions for functional androdioecy. In the genus Mercurialis, dioecy is the ancestral condition and monoecy and androdioecy, which occur in polyploid populations of M. annua, are derived. I argue here that androdioecy is most likely to evolve in plants (1) from dioecy, (2) in wind-pollinated species, and (3) in species with a colonizing habit. These predictions are also consistent with the limited published data available for other species.
Arbuscular mycorrhizas and ectomycorrhizas on Eucalyptus grandis (Myrtaceae) trees and seedlings in native forests of tropical north-eastern Australia

Eucalypts have been shown to form both arbuscular mycorrhizas (AM) and ectomycorrhizas (ECM) in glasshouse experiments. Little is known, however, about the relative dominance of these two mycorrhiza types on individual eucalypt species across their natural range. This study examined mycorrhizal colonisation levels of Eucalyptus grandis Hill ex Maiden roots at 29 sites representing a broad range of wet sclerophyll forest types in the wet tropics of north-eastern Australia. Adult E. grandis trees sampled in situ were invariably heavily ectomycorrhizal, with 76–100% fine root length colonised (% RLC). There were comparatively low levels of AM, with typically less than 10% RLC. Seedling E. grandis grown in intact soil cores from the field sites under glasshouse conditions had lower total levels of mycorrhiza formation compared with adult trees, with more variable ECM formation (10–95% RLC) and more extensive AM formation (10–40% RLC). There were no apparent trends in mycorrhiza formation across different soil parent material, rainfall or vegetation categories used. The current research suggests that arbuscular mycorrhizas are more prominent on seedlings, whereas ectomycorrhizas predominate in adult trees of E. grandis. Possible reasons for these differences and a comparison with other studies of eucalypt mycorrhizas under natural conditions are presented.
Studies on feeding and trophallaxis in the subterranean termite Odontotermes formosanus using rubidium chloride

Differences in feeding and trophallaxis among castes of the fungus‐cultivating higher subterranean termite Odontotermes formosanus Shiraki (Isoptera: Termitidae) were determined using rubidium (Rb) as a tracer. In the feeding study, workers and third instars fed directly on Rb‐treated filter paper and acquired the highest levels of Rb content. Although fifth and sixth instars obtained the Rb content over the marked level, the feeding ability of the caste was very poor. However, soldiers did not feed on Rb‐treated filter paper. In the trophallaxis study, worker, soldier, and fifth‐ and sixth‐instar recipients paired with Rb‐fed worker donors had a significantly higher Rb content than those paired with control donors. Results indicate that soldiers are completely dependent on workers for nutrition. Workers and fifth and sixth instars may obtain nutritional material from foraging workers. When third‐instar recipients were paired with Rb‐fed worker donors, they did not have a significantly higher Rb content than when they were paired with control donors, suggesting that the frequency of worker/third instar trophallaxis was very low. Transfer efficiency from the four trophallactic combinations ranged from 1.2 (worker donors to third‐instar recipients) to 12.9% (worker donors to soldier recipients). Accordingly, nutritional material from foraging workers could be transferred to non‐foraging workers, soldiers, and fifth and sixth instars by trophallaxis; however, third instars rarely obtain nutritional material from foraging workers, because they are capable of feeding within the nest.
Hybrid Beamforming and One-Bit Precoding for Large-Scale Antenna Arrays

Hybrid Beamforming and One-Bit Precoding for Large-Scale Antenna Arrays Foad Sohrabi Doctor of Philosophy Graduate Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering University of Toronto 2018 Employing large antenna arrays is a promising candidate for the next generation of wireless systems. However, the conventional fully digital beamforming methods which require one high resolution radio frequency (RF) chain per antenna element is not viable for large antenna arrays due to the high cost and high power consumption of RF chain components. To address this hardware limitation challenge, this thesis considers two architectures: (1) Hybrid beamforming architecture in which the overall beamformer consists of a low-dimensional digital beamformer followed by an analog beamformer; (2) One-bit beamforming architecture in which one RF chain is dedicated for each antenna element but with only 1-bit resolution per complex dimension. There are three parts to this thesis. The first part considers hybrid beamforming design for narrowband flat-fading channels. It is shown that the hybrid beamforming architecture can realize any fully digital beamformer exactly if the number of RF chains is twice the total number of data streams. For cases with fewer number of RF chains, heuristic designs are proposed for both the transmission scenario of a single-user multiple-input multiple-output (SUMIMO) system and a downlink multi-user multiple-input single-output (MU-MISO) system. For each scenario, the proposed design is numerically shown to achieve a performance close to the performance of the fully digital beamforming baseline. The second part studies the hybrid beamforming design for broadband millimeter wave (mmWave) systems with orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) modulation where it is desirable to design common analog beamformer for the entire band. First, for a SU-MIMO system, it is shown that hybrid beamforming with a small number of RF chains can asymptotically approach the performance of fully digital beamforming for a sufficiently large number of
Photosynthetic and behavioral versatility of the cyanobacterium Oscillatoria boryana in a sulfide-rich microbial mat

The diel pattern of vertical migratory movements and photosynthetic activity of Oscillatoria cf. boryana was monitored periodically in microbial mats of a shallow tepid pond fed by sulfiderich, hot, geothermal spring water in Rotorua, New Zealand. Motile O. boryana formed a conspicuous and predominant population which was spread over the mat surface during darkness and on overcast days ( 300 W m−2), O. boryarta disap-peared almost entirely from the mat surface to a position of about 1 mm below the surface pellicle of the mat. O2, sulfide, and pH microelectrodes inserted into excised mat cores with dense O. boryana populations were used to make vertical profiles at intervals of 0.1−0.2 mm and also to estimate rates of oxygenic and anoxygenic photosynthesis during rapid light-dark transitions. In addition, attenuation of irraaiance was measured in mats with O. boryana by a spectroradiometer with mini-fiber optic probe. Light-dependent incorporation of [ 14C]-bicarbonate and [14C]-acetate was measured in collected field populations of O. boryana. The combined results led to the conclusion that populations of O. boryarta typically employed sulfide-dependent anoxTgenic photosynthesis in early morning which depleted sulfide locally. As irradiance increased and sulfide concentration fell below about 50 µM within the Oscillatoria population, oxygenic photosynthesis became dominant. [14C]-Bicarbonate incorporation results indicate that sulfide concentrations over 1.0 mM inhibit oxygenic photosynthesis completely. In populations on excised mats, irradiance levels of about 150–200 W m −2 were required for light-enhanced oxidation of sulfide to balance sulfide input from diffusion and local production. Below that surface-irradiance level it is likely that mainly sulfide-dependent anoxygenic photosynthesis of O. boryana occurred. This capability was confirmed for O. boryana by [14C]-photoincorporation and sulfide-microeleetrode experiments. Forced exposure to high irradiance levels (500–700 W m −2) was inhibitory to oxygenic photosynthesis in O. boryana , but these intensities impinging on mats resulted in a downward retreat. The result was a lowered irradiance level for the Oscillatoria but, nevertheless, a high rate of oxygenic photosynthesis. O. boryana is a versatile cyanobacterium that appears to avoid photoinhibitory conditions and to optimize its light intensity for photosynthesis by vertical migrations, using gliding motility and some form of photoresponse. It is also able to photosynthesize at substantial rates over a wide range of sulfide concentrations by shifting between oxygenic and anoxygenic modes or possibly by combining both.
Penampilan Ayam Broiler yang Diberi Protein Sel Tunggal (PST) Sebagai Sumber Protein Pengganti Tepung Ikan dalam Pakan

Two thousands Cobb strain DOC were kept for 4 weeks to evaluate the effect of feeding diets containing Single Cell Protein (SCP) on feed consumption, weight gain and feed conversion ratio. SCP was used at level 0.0%, 2.5%, 5.0%, 7.5% and 10.0% of ration dry matter to replace fish meal in the diet. Data showed that feed consumption increased for broilers received SCP at level 2.5% and decreased at level 7.5 and 10%. Weight gain improved for broilers fed SCP up to level 5%. Feed conversion ratio increased only when 10% SCP was used. It is concluded that SCP up to level of 5% can be used to replace fish meal in the broiler’s diet.
Indirect Effects, Prey Susceptibility, and Habitat Selection: Impacts of Birds on Limpets and Algae

I experimentally manipulated avian predation pressure in an intertidal com- munity to determine its direct and indirect influence on the abundance and distribution of three limpets and their algal food source. Birds reduced the overall abundance of Lottia digitalis only; L. strigatella abundance increased and the abundance of L. pelta, the species most frequently consumed, did not change. Through crypsis, the goose barnacle Pollicipes polYmerus and the mussel Mytilus californianus indirectly affected the abundance of L. digitalis and L. pelta in opposite ways by changing their risk of succumbing to bird predation. These limpets also exhibited strong habitat selection for their cryptic substrates. By altering the amount of preferred habitat, birds indirectly influenced limpet abundance: gull pre- dation reduced the area covered by P. polymerus, releasing M. californianus from space competition. By consuming limpet grazers and reducing space competition, birds indirectly enhanced the abundance of algae. L. strigatella sizes generally fell below the range of limpet sizes consumed by birds. Consequently, birds indirectly increased L. strigatella density by reducing the intensity of exploitative competition with other limpet species; L. strigatella biomass declined significantly with increasing biomass of the other two limpets, and with decreasing algal cover. These results demonstrate that indirect effects and apparently adap- tive behaviors can counteract (or reinforce) direct interactions between species pairs, sug- gesting that conclusions from short-term experiments emphasizing species pairs can be tenuous.
Evaluation of biochemical, hematological and histopathological parameters of albino rats treated with Stemona aphylla Craib. extract

In order to measure the safety of Stemona aphylla Craib. , an effective insecticidal plant, on mammals, the effects of the ethanolic extracts from the root of S. aphylla on blood biochemical, hematological and histopathological indices of albino rats have been evaluated. Male rats were given extracts orally at the doses of 300 and 500 mg/kg body weight/day for 45 consecutive days. These were compared to control rats which received only distilled water. The results of this study showed no significant differences in aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, blood urea nitrogen and creatinine of all treated groups when compared to those of the control groups (P > 0.05). Nevertheless, an increase in lymphocytes count was observed in all treated groups. The alterations in liver and kidney tissues of all treated groups showed leukocyte infiltration and haemorrhage in hepatic sinusoids. Moreover, the contracted glomerulus, dilated renal tubules and leukocyte infiltration were found in kidney tissues. The significant injury of tissues observed in this study is a sign of the toxicity of S. aphylla to mammalian species. The use of S. aphylla as bioinsecticide active ingredient should be, therefore, thoroughly considered.
Necessary conditions on theexistence of pure Nash equilibrium in concavegames and Cournot oligopoly games

Necessary conditions for the existence of pure Nash equilibria introduced by Joo (A note on minimax theorems, Annales Univ. Sci. Budapest, 39(1996) 175-179) for concave non-cooperative games are generalized and then applied to Cournot oligopoly games. If for a specified class of games there always exists a pure Nash equilibrium, then cost functions of the firms must be convex. Analogously, if for another specified class of games there always exists a pure Nash equilibrium, then revenue functions of the firms must be concave in their respective variables.
Nutrient efficiency and resorption in Quercus pyrenaica oak coppices under different rainfall regimes of the Sierra de Gata mountains (central western Spain)

Nutrient uptake, nutrient resorption and nutrient use efficiency (NUE) were estimated in four Quercus pyrenaica oak coppices situated in the Sierra de Gata mountains (province of Salamanca, central-western Spain). The efficiency (NUE) with which a given nutrient is used depends on several factors. In the oak coppices studied, availability of P, Ca and Mg in the soil was one of the factors governing efficiency. On the other hand, there was a certain independence between soil N and K availability and their plant efficiency; in the case of N this occurred possibly because it is a limiting factor. There was a plant nutritional Ca-Mg imbalance due to soil acidity. Leaf absorption and/or leaching at canopy level would also influence the N and K efficiency. The stand with the most dystrophic soil was the least efficient regarding Mg, and the plot with the most eutrophic soil regarding Ca. All the oak coppices had low N efficiency. Bioelement resorption did not affect the NUE decisively but it seemed to be influenced by leaf absorption and leaching occurring at the canopy level. Higher aboveground production suggested that the stands on granite absorbed greater yearly amounts of N, K and P than those on schist. (© Inra/Elsevier, Paris.)
Partial cutting in old-growth boreal stands: An integrated experiment

The uncut boreal forest of eastern Quebec is largely composed of stands with an irregular structure. Traditionally, even-aged silvicultural systems have been used for these forests but a strong interest has developed in alternative approaches. In 2004, an integrated experiment was established to provide a general assessment of harvesting uneven-aged boreal forest stands with a wide variety of treatments. Here, we summarize the key results of this experiment, which involved four silvicultural treatments differing in the level of tree retention: a clearcut with advance growth protection, a severe partial cut protecting small vigor ous merchantable stems (75%–90% basal area removed), and two patterns of selection cutting (35% basal area removed). We evaluated treatment effects on vegetation attributes and animal species assemblages. We also assessed whether or not selection cutting approaches could become broadly used on an operational basis by examining simple forms of application and assessing their economic profitability. We found that many attributes of old-growth forests can be maintained with selection cutting, even with simple approaches that do not invest in marking trees to cut. Unlike more severe cuts, silvicultural treatments with more than 55% tree retention largely maintain the animal assemblages associated with old forests. Financial analysis showed that selection cutting is profitable over the long time frame, but clearcutting remains more profitable. This greater profitability is related to the first entry, whereas future entries will be more profitable with selection cutting.