Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Findings and Policy Implications

Despite the importance of income and wealth to farm households’ economic well-being, existing literature on the subject has often emphasized the role of one measure to the exclusion of the other. For studies addressing the economic standing of a farm household relative to a household in the general population, the economic indicator of choice has been income. Analyses have typically focused on average income without considering variations in contributing sources.
Site-specific accumulation of fungal zoospores on organic substrata and plant roots

Taxis and other aspects of zoospore accumulation on plant roots and insoluble substrata were studied using Pythiumaphanidermatum, P.graminicola, Rhizophlyctis rosea and other fungi. Particular attention was focussed on the specificity of zoospore responses, and the ecological implications of the results are discussed. In laboratory experiments, zoospores of some fungi (e.g. P.graminicol, R. rosea) but not others (e.g. P.aphanidermatuni) accumulated and encysted on cellulose and cellulosic materials; spores of some fungi (e.g. P.graminicola) but not others (e.g. R.rosea) similarly accumulated and encysted on chitin. All possible combinations of response were found, namely accumulation on only oneor other, on both or on none of the substrata, indicating a degree of zoospore behaviour which was correlated, where tested, with the abilities of the fungi to use the polymers as energy sources. Treatment of cellulose or chitin with dyes or lectin reduced or eliminated zoospores accumulation; surface recognition events were implicated but potential ionic effects could not be excluded because responses of some fungi to ionic resins paralleled the responses to cellulose. Zoospores of graminicolous pythia (P.graminicola and P.arrhenomanes) accumulated and encysted more on roots of the Gramineae than on non-graminaceous roots; no such difference was observed with non-graminicolous pythia (P.aphanidermatum and P.ultimum). These differences in behaviour were seen in responses to roots of natural (non-crop) plants grown in a glasshouseor obtained from field sites, but were less obvious with crop plants grown in a glasshouse. Treatment of roots with dyes or with oxidisng agents reduced or prevented zoospore encystment, consistent with a reported role of root mucigel in inducing or enabling encystment. Zoospores of all tested fungi were inhibited by toxins released from roots of oats (Avena sativa) or the grass Arrhenatherum elatius. The demonstrations of specificity or differential behaviour of zoospores in this study contrast with a general lack of reported specificity of zoospore. behaviour in the literature, and possible reasons for this are suggested.
Stewart, GR; Charlton, Rebecca A and Wallace, Gregory L.. 2018. Aging with Elevated Autistic Traits: Cognitive Functioning Among Older Adults with the Broad Autism

Background: Little is known about the impact of aging with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) on cognition. As a first step in addressing this gap in our knowledge, the current study examined cognitive functioning among older adults with elevated, but subclinical levels of autistic traits (i.e., the Broad Autism Phenotype; BAP) compared to older adults without the BAP. Method: Forty older adults (aged 60-91, M=73 years) were recruited and classified as meeting criteria for the BAP (n=20) or not (control older adults, COA; n=20). Different components of executive function as well as episodic memory were measured using standardized performance-based neuropsychological assessments in addition to a self-report questionnaire of executive function difficulties. Results: Despite no differences in age, sex ratio, educational history or IQ, the BAP group demonstrated poorer performance on measures of executive function and episodic memory compared to the COA group. The BAP group also self-reported more executive function difficulties in everyday settings. Moreover, differences in working memory and attentional shifting were maintained after accounting for the influences of IQ and both depression and anxiety symptoms. Conclusions: These findings suggest that aging with the BAP confers additional risk to cognitive function for older adults. As the BAP forms a bridge in the continuum from typical to atypical levels of autistic traits, these findings suggest that individuals with ASD might also incur cognitive costs as they age into older adulthood.
PREDICTION OF STUDENT RESULT USING DECISION TREE

Currently, huge amount of data is stored in educational database. These database contains useful information and can be used for prediction of students result. To construct a predictive model for Students academic result, these needs analyzing data mining methods and classification techniques. Measuring Student result using classification technique such as decision tree. The C4.5 decision tree algorithm is applied on engineering student’s data to predict their result in the final exam. This prediction will help to identify the weak students and help them to score better marks. The outcome of the decision tree predicted is the number of students who are likely to pass, fail or promoted to next year. It can be used for improvement of academic results.
GENOTOXIC EFFECTS AMONG BOLIVIAN FARMERS EXPOSED TO MIXTURES OF PESTICIDES: POPULATION AND IN VITRO BASED STUDIES

Human exposure to pesticides has increased exponentially in recent decades, especially in lowand middle-income countries where regulations on the use of pesticides and personal protective equipment (PPE) are not fully controlled. Studies have shown that compared to the general population, people occupationally exposed to pesticides have a higher risk of developing acute and chronic adverse health effects, and increased risk of genotoxic damage and cancer. The general objective of this thesis was to evaluate the correlation between exposure to mixtures of pesticides and genotoxicity in the agricultural Bolivian population. For this, a cross-sectional study was used in three agricultural communities, whose production represents almost the entire diversity of the country. The use and exposure to pesticides were determined by applying a survey on lifestyle factors, behaviors, and pesticide management, and by analyzing 10 urine pesticide metabolites (UPM). Our results demonstrated that the Bolivian agricultural population is highly exposed to mixtures of pesticides. High exposure levels of chlorpyrifos, 2,4-D, and some pyrethroids were found, and especially among men. Furthermore, we found that farmers who were better at following directions for using pesticides and PPE, in general, were less exposed to pesticides (Paper I). We also investigated the correlation between pesticide exposure and genotoxic effects. We found that high exposure levels of certain pesticides, e.g. tebuconazole, 2,4-D, and cyfluthrin, was associated with high levels and increased risks of genotoxic damage (Paper II). To gain a better understanding of possible cellular effects of pesticide mixtures, we studied cytotoxicity and genotoxicity in human liver carcinoma cells (HepG2 cells) exposed to mixtures of pesticides, which were based on UPM and survey profiles. Our results showed that while neither of the mixtures nor their constituent pesticides induced formation of reactive oxygen species, increased levels of genotoxic damage were observed. Mixtures that were primarily composed of paraquat and cypermethrin demonstrated the highest genotoxic potency, as did paraquat and cypermethrin as single compounds. (Paper III). In conclusion, the results from our population and in vitro studies suggest that specific pesticides may act as drivers of toxic effects observed from exposure to mixtures. More studies are however necessary to get a clearer understanding of these effects. Finally, we want to emphasize the need to train farmers in pesticide management and personal protection to reduce exposure levels and thereby decrease the risk of health adverse effects.
Optimized Fidelity Estimation in Purification for the Fastest Bootstrap of a Quantum Link

of Bachelor’s Thesis Academic Year 2017 Optimized Fidelity Estimation in Purification for the Fastest Bootstrap of a Quantum Link Quantum networking has increasingly become significant for a variety of its applications such as quantum key distribution (QKD). In quantum networking reliability of a connection depends on the quality of Bell pairs (a type of quantum state) used. When the fidelity is not sufficiently high, we need to conduct purification to increase the fidelity. However, determining the quality of a given Bell pair is by no means a trivial process. Nevertheless, literature established on quantum networking often presupposes the knowledge of the fidelity of the state in question without reference to actual means of state analysis. While existing quantum state tomography methods proposed in e.g. [1] could achieve the purpose, they are not designed to function in synchronization with nodes involved in the link, being redundant and inefficient when employed for operational link creation in quantum networking, and thus far from optimal for our purpose. The thesis will present an optimized configuration of state analysis and purification, tailored for our very situation, with a view toward the quickest possible link creation. Simulation of physical equipment, state analysis, and evaluation of the proposal are implemented in Python.
In Vitro Antioxidant Property and Phytochemical Constituents of Senna alata Leaves Aqueous Extract Collected in Ngaoundéré (Cameroon)

Leaves extract of Senna alata L. are used as indigenous medicine to treat various types of disease like ulcers, stomach, pain and fever. The present study was undertaken to study the phytochemical screening, total phenolic compounds (TPC), total flavonoid compounds (TFC) and in vitro antioxidant of Senna alata leaves’ extract growing in Ngaoundéré town (Cameroon). Respective bioactivities of the phytochemicals were determined. Quantitative analysis of the total phenolic content was determined by using the Folin-Ciocalteu method while total flavonoid was estimated using aluminium trichloride (AlCl3). The antioxidant capacities in the forms of DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) and FRAP (Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Power) were evaluated by spectrophotometric methods. For these purposes, aqueous extract were prepared. Now the experimental screening of phytochemicals showed negative results for the absence of reducing compounds, steroids/triterpenes, and tannins. The results showed that TPC, TFC values were higher: 14.768±0.26 mg GAE per g of extract, 4.32±0.12 mg Ru per g of extract, respectively. The Senna alata Leaves’ extract (SALE) exhibited the best DPPH inhibition concentration 50% (IC50 = 12.05 mg. mL ), and FRAP method (IC50 = 2.79 mg. mL ) compared to that of the positive control, ascorbic acid (IC50 = 17.69 mg/mL); Hence, extract from the leaves of Senna alata contains high secondary metabolites which accounts for its strong antioxidant ability thus justifying its use as natural occurring antioxidants in folkloric medicine.
Paternal Presence during Childbirth - An Overview

The attendance of fathers at the births of their babies was one of the most radical social changes in developed countries’ in the 20th century. In US during the 1930s, barely half of American births took place on hospitals, with most men isolated in hospitals waiting rooms, while their wives labored undelivered. By the beginning in the late 1940s, many men began to find this isolation intolerable. The arrival of NHS in the United Kingdom by 1948 meant for more women giving birth in the hospital rather than at home, but fathers were still preferred remaining in the pubs while their wives were laboring. The real change came in 1970s. The Peel Report stated that every woman should have access to hospital care when giving birth. Today, men are encouraged all over world to attend their children birth, they feel involved in the preparations for birth by attending the birth classes so to get know the birth process better and have questions answered.
Interplay between signaling and splicing during T cell activation: A study on MKK7

Alternative splicing is a mechanism of gene regulation that expands the genome's coding capacity. The ability to regulate alternative splicing in response to external signals is critical for immune responses. I profiled alternative splicing during T cell activation using next-generation sequencing and identify hundreds of genes that are regulated by alternative splicing during activation of a T cell line and primary human T cells. Alternative splicing in response to T cell receptor signaling is enriched for genes encoding signaling proteins; suggesting interplay between signaling and splicing regulation. In this thesis I describe the selection of the JNK kinase MKK7, as a model system to understand the connections between signaling and splicing in T cells. Specifically, I find that that in response to T cell activation, MKK7 is alternatively spliced to favor an isoform that lacks exon 2. This isoform restores a MAPK docking site within MKK7 that is disrupted in the larger isoform. Consistently, skipping of exon 2 enhances JNK pathway activity, as indicated by c-Jun phosphorylation and upregulation of the c-Jun target gene TNF-alpha. Notably, signaling through JNK itself is necessary and sufficient to promote activation-induced repression of exon 2 of the MKK7 gene. Thus, JNKinduced MKK7 alternative splicing represents a positive feedback loop through which JNK promotes its own signaling. Through minigene based analysis I identify sequences within the introns flanking MKK7 exon 2 that are necessary and sufficient to promote activation-induced skipping. Analysis of RNA-protein interactions and knockdown experiments identified CELF2 as a protein that binds to MKK7 introns in an activationdependent manner and represses exon 2 inclusion. The repressive activity of CELF2 on MKK7 exon 2 is mediated through a JNK-dependent increase in CELF2 protein, that results from stabilization of the CELF2 mRNA. Finally, I show that ~25% of T cell receptor-mediated alternative splicing events are dependent on JNK signaling. These JNK-dependent events are also significantly enriched for CELF2-dependence. Together, the data presented in this thesis demonstrates a broad role for the JNK-CELF2 axis in controlling splicing during T cell activation, including a specific role in potentiating JNK signaling. Degree Type Dissertation Degree Name Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) Graduate Group Biochemistry & Molecular Biophysics First Advisor Kristen W. Lynch
Root herbivory controls the effects of water availability on the partitioning between above‐ and below‐ground grass biomass

1Department of Biology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA; 2School of Life Sciences & Global Drylands Center, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA; 3Nature Communications, Nature Research, Berlin, Germany; 4State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Wetland Ecology and Vegetation Restoration, School of Environment, Northeast Normal University, Changchun, China; 5School of Life Sciences, School of Sustainability & Global Drylands Center, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA and 6Department of Biology & School of Global Environmental Sustainability, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA
Experiences of Using Cochrane Systematic Reviews by Local HTA Units

This study evaluated the use of Cochrane systematic reviews (CSRs) by Quebec’s local health technology assessment (HTA) units to promote efficiency in hospital decision-making. An online survey was conducted to examine: Characteristics of the HTA units; Knowledge about works and services from the Cochrane Collaboration; Level of satisfaction about the use of CSRs; Facilitating factors and barriers to the implementation of CSRs evidence in a local context; Suggestions to improve the use of CSRs. Data accuracy was checked by 2 independent evaluators. Ten HTA units participated. From their implementation a total of 321 HTA reports were published (49.8% included a SR). Works and services provided by the Cochrane collaboration were very well-known and HTA units were highly satisfied with CSRs (80%-100%). As regards to applicability in HTA and use of CSRs, major strengths were as follow: Useful as resource for search terms and background material; May reduce the workload (eg, brief review instead of full SR); Use to update a current review. Major weaknesses were: Limited use since no CSRs were available for many HTA projects; Difficulty to apply findings to local context; Focused only on efficacy and innocuity; Cannot be used as a substitute to a full HTA report. This study provided a unique context of assessment with a familiar group of producers, users and disseminators of CSRs in hospital setting. Since they generally used other articles from the literature or produce an original SR in complement with CSRs, this led to suggestions to improve their use of CSRs. However, the main limit for the use of CRS in local HTA will remain its lack of contextualisation. As such, this study reinforces the need to consider the notion of complementarity of experimental data informing us about causality and contextual data, allowing decision-making adapted to local issues.
Logical Composition for Lifelong Reinforcement Learning

The ability to produce novel behaviours from existing skills is an important property of lifelong-learning agents. We build on recent work which formalises a Boolean algebra over the space of tasks and value functions, and show how this can be leveraged to tackle the lifelong learning problem. We propose an algorithm that determines whether a new task can be immediately solved using an agent’s existing abilities, or whether the task should be learned from scratch. We verify our approach in the Four Rooms domain, where an agent learns a set of skills throughout its life-time, and then composes them to solve a combi-natorially large number of new tasks in a zero-shot manner.
Temporary agency work in the European Union

em prary aency w rk in he Eupean U nion Employment in temporary agency work has been growing rapidly in recent years, part of the overall growth in atypical forms of employment that has been observed in the EU in the last two decades. This report examines the main trends in this form of employment, and the problems and challenges it poses for the different Member States and the EU as a whole. It puts the spotlight on the working conditions of temporary agency workers, and the specific features of such work that might help explain these conditions. It also looks at issues such as the position of temporary agency work in the labour market, equal treatment as regards pay and working conditions and collective bargaining aspects such as trade union participation and access to participation for agency workers.
Artificial Intelligence an Essential Expected Computer World Surveillance

- A position paper toward an important and urgent discussion on how best uses the potential of Artificial Intelligence in the context of Computer World surveillance. AI is often cited in papers on Computer World surveillance. But what is meant is using pre-existing AI techniques in Computer World surveillance. AI techniques are established around applications. Computer World surveillance has never been an area of deliberation in AI. In this paper we argue that Computer World surveillance calls for new and specific AI techniques developed with that kind of application in mind. In practice
Performance Assessment of Deep Learning Frameworks through Metrics of CPU Hardware Exploitation on an Embedded Platform

In this paper, we analyze heterogeneous performance exhibited by some popular deep learning software frameworks for visual inference on a resource-constrained hardware platform. Benchmarking of Caffe, OpenCV, TensorFlow, and Caffe2 is performed on the same set of convolutional neural networks in terms of instantaneous throughput, power consumption, memory footprint, and CPU utilization. To understand the resulting dissimilar behavior, we thoroughly examine how the resources in the processor are differently exploited by these frameworks. We demonstrate that a strong correlation exists between hardware events occurring in the processor and inference performance. The proposed hardware-aware analysis aims to find limitations and bottlenecks emerging from the joint interaction of frameworks and networks on a particular CPU-based platform. This provides insight into introducing suitable modifications in both types of components to enhance their global performance. It also facilitates the selection of frameworks and networks among a large diversity of these components available these days for visual understanding.
QUANTITATIVE EASING

This article argues that the role of the ECB (especially through quantitative easing) has been crucial in keeping the populism wave at bay – what we could call the ECB levee. But global fiscal policies are necessary to avoid the long term flooding of liberal democracies by such waves, because the causes of the waves are not just a temporary shock but a symptom of structural problems that cannot be faced by monetary policy alone.
Feature-Based Satellite Detection using Convolutional Neural Networks

ABSTRACT This work introduces a convolutional neural network that detects geosynchronous Earth orbit resident space objects in ground-based electro-optical telescope imagery. Model performance on a variety of object detection tasks is analyzed, and an extension of the general object detection algorithm assessment framework relevant to RSOs is described. Additionally, this work introduces two new datasets for the development and evaluation of detection algorithms. We report a maximum F1 point of 0 . 971, corresponding to 0 . 973 precision and 0 . 969 recall at a localization threshold of 8 pixels, which is the highest reported performance on the SatNet dataset known to the authors. Measured performance exceeds that of a classical detection algorithm, SExtractor, evaluated on the same task. We demonstrate improved sensitivity to objects clusters with smaller apparent separation by simulating low-frequency occurrences and augmenting natural training data. By incorporating temporal information using a recurrent extension of a detection model, we further improve sensitivity to dim and closely spaced objects.
NON-GEOMETRIC DISCRETE KERNEL FUNCTIONS FOR APPLIED DENSITY AND REGRESSION ESTIMATION

Least-squares cross-validation is commonly used for the selection of smoothing parameters in the discrete data setting; however, in many applied situations, it tends to select relatively small bandwidths, particularly when the data are sparse. This tendency to undersmooth is a result of the geometric weighting scheme that many discrete kernels possess. This problem can be avoided by using alternative weighting schemes. In this paper, we propose an unordered kernel function which does not have as rapidly decaying weighting scheme as currently exists in the literature. The finite sample performance of these kernels are compared with existing kernel functions using both simulated and real data. The simulation and empirical results show that the non-geometric kernel functions generally perform well. Further, we find substantial gains in terms of mean squared error in some cases.