Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The acquisitive-conservative axis of leaf trait variation emerges even in homogeneous environments.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS The acquisitive-conservative axis of plant ecological strategies results in a pattern of leaf trait covariation that captures the balance between leaf construction costs and plant growth potential. Studies evaluating trait covariation within species are scarcer, and have mostly dealt with variation in response to environmental gradients. Little work has been published on intraspecific patterns of leaf trait covariation in the absence of strong environmental variation. METHODS We analysed covariation of four leaf functional traits (SLA: specific leaf area, LDMC: leaf dry matter content, Ft: force to tear, and Nm: leaf nitrogen content) in six Poaceae and four Fabaceae species common in the dry Chaco forest of Central Argentina, growing in the field and in a common garden. We compared intraspecific covariation patterns (slopes, correlation and effect size) of leaf functional traits with global interspecific covariation patterns. Additionally, we checked for possible climatic and edaphic factors that could affect the intraspecific covariation pattern. KEY RESULTS We found negative correlations for the LDMC-SLA, Ft-SLA, LDMC-Nm, and Ft-Nm trait pairs. This intraspecific covariation pattern found both in the field and in the common garden and not be explained by climatic or edaphic variation in the field follows the expected acquisitive-conservative axis. At the same time, we found quantitative differences in slopes among different species, and between these intraspecific patterns and the interspecific ones. Many of these differences seem to be idiosyncratic, but some appear consistent among species (e.g.all the intraspecific LDMC-SLA and LDMC-Nm slopes tend to be shallower than the global). CONCLUSIONS Our study indicates that the acquisitive-conservative leaf functional trait covariation pattern occurs at the intraspecific level even in the absence of relevant environmental variation in the field. This suggests a high degree of variation-covariation in leaf functional traits not driven by environmental variables.
Characterizing the early vocabulary profiles of preverbal and minimally verbal children with autism spectrum disorder

Children with autism spectrum disorder often have significant language delays. But do they learn language differently than neurotypical toddlers? We compared the lexical skills of 64 preverbal and minimally verbal children with autism spectrum disorder to 461 vocabulary-size-matched typically developing toddlers. We also examined social features of verb knowledge using a novel collection of social ratings. Children with autism spectrum disorder produced proportionally more verbs than typically developing toddlers. Children with autism spectrum disorder produced proportionally more action and food words, while typically developing toddlers produced proportionally more animal, people words, and animal sounds and sound effects. Children with autism spectrum disorder also produced “mommy” and “daddy” at lower rates. We discuss how these differences may reflect an association between lexical development and weaknesses in social communication. Lay abstract Although preverbal and minimally verbal children with autism spectrum disorder represent a significant portion of the autism spectrum disorder population, we have a limited understanding of and characterization of them. Although it is a given that their lexical profiles contain fewer words, it is important to determine whether (a) the words preverbal and minimally verbal children with autism spectrum disorder produce are similar to the first words typically developing children produce or (b) there are unique features of the limited words that preverbal and minimally verbal children with autism spectrum disorder produce. The current study compared the early word profiles of preverbal and minimally verbal children with autism spectrum disorder to vocabulary-matched typically developing toddlers. Children with autism spectrum disorder produced proportionally more verbs than typically developing toddlers. Also, children with autism spectrum disorder produced proportionally more action and food words, while typically developing toddlers produced proportionally more animal words, animal sounds and sound effects, and people words. Children with autism spectrum disorder also produced “mommy” and “daddy” at lower rates. Our findings identified several areas of overlap in early word learning; however, our findings also point to differences that may be connected to core weaknesses in social communication (i.e. people words). The findings highlight words and categories that could serve as useful targets for communication intervention with preverbal and minimally verbal children with autism spectrum disorder.
Measurements of peroxy radicals in the regional boundary layer using the PERCA technique

The work in this thesis describes measurements of peroxy radicals from a ground-based platform using a PERCA (Peroxy Radical Chemical amplifier) at two field campaigns, TORCH I and II (Tropospheric Organic Chemistry Experiment). TORCH I took place during July and August of 2003 in Writtle, Essex, 25 miles northeast of London. TORCH II took place one year later in April and May at the Weybourne Atmospheric Observatory, 120 miles northeast of London. Originally conceived to compare relatively fresh air masses from London with more processed air masses some distance from London, the two TORCH campaigns rarely experienced wind coming from the London direction. During TORCH I record temperatures hit much of the UK and Europe with ozone mixing ratios exceeding 150 ppbv at the measurement site and peroxy radicals having average midday mixing ratios during the heatwave over three times non-heatwave averages. The relationship between the high ozone and peroxy radical mixing ratios is explored. A comparison of measured, modelled and PSS (Photostationary state) peroxy radicals for the TORCH I campaign is presented. Although during TORCH II the desired air masses from London did not come and there was no such heatwave as in TORCH I, the measurement site did experience air masses with a variety of histories. A particular event from the TORCH II field campaign involved high concentrations of propene (3 orders of magnitude higher than the previous or subsequent hourly measurements) at 20:00 hours and concomitant five-fold increase in peroxy radical mixing ratio. Radical production is attributed to ozone-alkene reactions and although the importance of such reactions for radical production is well-known, the case study presented represents a clear example occurring in the planetary boundary layer. In order to enhance the capabilities of the PERCA instrument a further inlet was added to it with a view to the seperate measurement of HO2 from SRiO2 (the sum of organic peroxy radicals). A calibration source for generating HO2 radicals was built and tested. Laboratory tests showed that the system could measure either the sum of peroxy radicals or organic peroxy radicals only but results from deployment at TORCH I proved inconclusive.
Implicit measure of suicidal ideation in patients with depression

Abstract The death/suicide implicit association test (IAT) may be more resilient to accurately assess suicide risk than self-reports. We examined the IAT in 130 patients with depression and 125 healthy controls, along with self-reported suicidal ideation. IAT could differentiate patients with suicide attempts from patients without suicide attempts and controls. IAT measures were significantly correlated to explicit suicidal ideation and clinical symptoms in patients. Moreover, the IAT-symptom correlations were significant in female but not male patients. The IAT showed promise as a valid tool to estimate suicide risk in patients with depression and may be particularly useful in female patients.
Human Papillomavirus and Cervical Cancer Knowledge, Perceptions, and Screening Behavior: A Cross-Sectional Community-Based Survey in Rural Philippines

Background: Cervical cancer is the second most common cancer among women in the Philippines. Cervical cancer screening is an effective method to reduce incidence. However, screening utilization is limited. This study aims to assess human papillomavirus (HPV) and cervical cancer knowledge, perceptions, and screening utilization, and to investigate factors influencing screening utilization among rural women in the Philippines. Methods: This cross-sectional community-based study was conducted among 338 rural women aged 20–50 years, with a child under 5 years old registered in one of four public rural health centers in Tacao Island, Masbate Province in October 2017. A questionnaire administered via face-to-face interviews elicited information about demographic characteristics, knowledge, perceived susceptibility and perceived severity of HPV and cervical cancer, and cervical cancer screening utilization. Results: Mean age of participants was 32.5 years. Only 13.9% of participants had ever had cervical cancer screening. Although most women had heard of cervical cancer screening, their knowledge about the cause, risk factors, and preventive measures of HPV and cervical cancer was limited. Older age and higher education status were significantly associated with screening utilization. However, knowledge and perceived susceptibility and severity showed no association. The main reason for having screening was due to a health professional’s request or recommendation, and the reasons for not having screening were cost, not having symptoms, and fear of pain or discomfort and/or embarrassment during the procedure. Conclusions: Health education must increase knowledge about HPV and cervical cancer and screening among women, including the nature and progression of cervical cancer, benefits of screening, screening cost, and screening procedure. Health care providers have an important role in educating and motivating women to undergo screening.
Overexpression of BASP1 Indicates a Poor Prognosis in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Objective: Brain abundant membrane attached signal protein 1 (BASP1) was originally identified as a membrane and cytoplasmic protein. Recent studies have shown that BASP1 highly expressed in cancer and promoted the proliferation of cancer. However, the role of BASP1 in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is largely unknown. Here, we performed a systematic data analysis to examine whether BASP1 can function as prognostic marker in HNSCC. Methods: In this study, we used Oncomine, and UALCAN, databases to analyze the expression of BASP1 in HNSCC. We used Kaplan-Meier plotter to evaluate the effect of BASP1 on clinical prognosis. In addition, we also analyzed genetic alterations, interaction network, and functional enrichment of BASP1. Results: BASP1 mRNA expression level was remarkably increased in HNSCC than in normal tissues (P=1.624e-12). Moreover, high BASP1 expression was significantly related to poor survival (p=0.00056) in HNSCC patients. In addition, BASP1 gene amplified in 5% of HNSCC patients which contributes to the overexpression of BASP1. Conclusions: These findings suggest that BASP1 was frequently amplified which contributes to the overexpression of BASP1, thereby promoting HNSCC progression. Thus, these results indicate that BASP1 might serve as a biomarker to predict the progression and prognosis of HNSCC patients.
Incidence of Colorectal Cancer in Selected Countries of Latin America: Age-Period-Cohort Effect

Objective: To estimate Age-Period-Cohort effects on colorectal, colon and rectal cancer incidence rates in Latin American countries covered by high quality Population-Based Cancer Registries. Methods: A trend study was performed using data from Cancer Incidence in Five Continents. Age-Period-Cohort effects were estimated by Poisson regression for individuals aged between 20 and 79 years with colorectal, colon and rectal cancers informed by Population-Based Cancer Registries from 1983 to 2012 in Cali (Colombia); from 1983 to 2007 in Costa Rica; and from 1988 to 2012 for both Goiânia (Brazil) and Quito (Ecuador). Goodness of fit model was tested using the deviance of the models. Results: Age effect was statistically significant for both sexes in all Population-Based Cancer Registries areas and the curves slope reached peaks in the older age groups. There were cohort effects on the incidence rates for colorectal, colon and rectal cancers in all Population-Based Cancer Registries areas, except for women in Quito. Regarding the period effect, an increased ratio rate was observed in men (1.26, 95%CI 1.17 to 1.35) and women (1.23, 95%CI, 1.15 to 1.32) in Goiânia, between 2003 and 2007. Conclusions: In Latin America, age effect was observed on incidence rates for colorectal, colon and rectal cancers. Besides, birth cohort effect was identified for recent cohorts in both genders for colorectal, colon and rectal cancers in Cali and Goiânia, and cohort effect for colorectal and colon cancers in both genders in Costa Rica; while in Quito a cohort effect was only observed for rectal cancer among men. Period effect was observed in Goiânia with increased ratio rate in 2003-2007.
Ascending from the Abstract to the Concrete as a Principle of Expansive Learning

The article examines the potential of the dialectical principle of ascending from the abstract to the concrete for transforming practices of learning. It is shown that V.V. Davydov’s work has created a foundation for such transformation. The theory of expansive learning builds on Davydov’s legacy and brings the principle of ascending from the abstract to the concrete into learning and concept formation outside schools, “in the wild. ” Three studies investigating different scales of expansive learning are discussed, focusing on the internally contradictory germ cells discovered and used in those studies. The article concludes by emphasizing the need to integrate Davydov’s revolutionary pedagogy and the broader agenda of school transformation as part of societal transformation.
Studies of the properties of particulate matter in the UK atmosphere

The studies on physical and chemical properties of airborne particulate matter were carried out in the UK atmosphere. Aerosol samples were collected at the Elm Road Observatory Site and Harwell representing urban background and rural area, respectively. The chemical components of both PM\(_2\)\(_.\)\(_5\) and PM\(_2\)\(_.\)\(_5\)\(_-\)\(_1\)\(_0\) were mainly analysed for carbonaceous compounds, sulphate, nitrate, chloride and oxalate. Size distributions of aerosol components were investigated in conjunction with the study of ammonia gas to stabilise the semivolatile species in atmospheric particles. Concentration composition of carbonaceous compounds (organic and elemental carbon - OC and EC) in particulate matter clearly observed higher value at urban background than those at rural area. The OC/EC minimum ratio of 0.35 was used to distinguish between primary and secondary OC as EC was a good indicator of primary sources. Sulphate and nitrate showed the good relationship, indicating that two species undergo similar formation and removal processes in atmosphere. Chloride was commonly originated from marine aerosol with the weak correlation observed with other major species. Oxalate is highly focused specie in this study as there is rarely available data in the UK. The good correlation and the similar pattern of size distribution between oxalate and sulphate suggest that their formation pathway formed from the same atmospheric processes. The excess ammonia gas supplied during the air sampling could be stablilsed and yielded the higher concentrations of nitrate and chloride which were expected in the forms of ammonium salts. In contrast, oxalate in ambient air was exhibited the discordant behaviour in this experiment. Our trajectory analysis suggests the important precursor sources of oxalate were from continental area associated with the high atmospheric pollutants.
Study and modeling of finite rate chemistry effects in turbulent non-premixed flames

The development of numerical models that reflect some of the most important features of turbulent reacting flows requires information about the behavior of key quantities in well defined combustion regimes. In turbulent flames, the coupling between turbulent and chemical processes is so strong that it is extremely difficult to isolate the role played by one individual physical phenomenon. Direct numerical simulation (hereafter DNS) allows us to study in detail the turbulence-chemistry interaction in some restricted but completely defined situations. Globally, non-premixed flames are controlled by two limiting regimes: the fast chemistry case, where the turbulent flame can be pictured as a random distribution of local chemical equilibrium problems; and the slow chemistry case, where the chemistry integrates in time the turbulent fluctuations. The Damkoehler number, ratio of a mechanical time scale to chemical time scale, is used to distinguish between these regimes. Today most of the industrial computer codes are able to perform predictions in the hypothesis of local equilibrium chemistry using a presumed shape for the probability density function (pdt) of the conserved scalar. However, the finite rate chemistry situation is of great interest because industrial burners usually generate regimes in which, at some points, the flame is undergoing local extinction or at least non-equilibrium situations. Moreover, this variety of situations strongly influences the production of pollutants. To quantify finite rate chemistry effect, the interaction between a non-premixed flame and a free decaying turbulence is studied using DNS. The attention is focused on the dynamic of extinction, and an attempt is made to quantify the effect of the reaction on the small scale mixing process. The unequal diffusivity effect is also addressed. Finally, a simple turbulent combustion model based on the DNS observations and tractable in real flow configurations is proposed.
Molecular Source Tracking and Molecular Subtyping

Molecular subtyping can be used to study the population structure of a particular bacterial species, to determine the possible evolution of the subject microorganism, or to study the molecular epidemiology of a microbe. The types of methods used for subtyping and the approaches to data analysis and interpretation may vary greatly with the reason for specific subtyping. This chapter focuses almost entirely on subtyping for molecular epidemiology. Molecular epidemiology can be applied to identifying the source of a particular outbreak or to a broader understanding of the role of certain foods or processes in outbreak-related or sporadic infections. Perhaps the most easily appreciated reason for molecular subtyping is to facilitate the identification and investigation of foodborne disease outbreaks. Although the focus of this chapter is on molecular methods, it is important to consider them in the context of earlier phenotypic methods such as serotyping, phage typing, biotyping, and antimicrobial susceptibility typing. Most of these phenotypic methods have long and successful histories of use in subtyping for the same purposes for which molecular methods are now used. Although molecular methods typically provide greater strain discrimination than phenotypic methods, this is not always the case, and it is only one reason why molecular methods are generally preferred. In recent years, the main focus of subtyping method development has been on DNA sequence-based methods. Sequence-based approaches to subtyping of bacteria, such as multiple-locus variable-number tandem repeat (VNTR) analysis (MLVA), are already being widely implemented in the surveillance of foodborne infections.
Does the Reputation of Independent Non-Executive Directors Matter: Evidence from Hong Kong

In response to recent corporate scandals, shareholders and regulators around the world are demanding greater corporate transparency. If indeed, as is often stated, the Independent Non-executive Directors (INED) can play an important role in monitoring management and enforcement of transparency, then do INEDs' personal reputations matter? This paper examines shareholders' response to appointments of INEDs in Hong Kong - a society where corporate ownerships are concentrated and personal reputations are highly valued. We find that prestigious individuals are positively related to less risky and better performing firms. We also find appointments of prestigious INEDs are associated with smaller IPO underpricing, and the market reacts positively to the new non-replacement appointments of less-busy prestigious INEDs. However, the market seems to be indifferent to reputation of INEDs that replace other INEDs. These results extend the reputation capital literature by providing evidence on the role INEDs in certifying and signaling the quality of firms.
WebNLG Challenge: Human Evaluation Results

HAL is a multi-disciplinary open access archive for the deposit and dissemination of scientific research documents, whether they are published or not. The documents may come from teaching and research institutions in France or abroad, or from public or private research centers. L’archive ouverte pluridisciplinaire HAL, est destinée au dépôt et à la diffusion de documents scientifiques de niveau recherche, publiés ou non, émanant des établissements d’enseignement et de recherche français ou étrangers, des laboratoires publics ou privés. WebNLG Challenge: Human Evaluation Results Anastasia Shimorina, Claire Gardent, Shashi Narayan, Laura Perez-Beltrachini
Comparison of Statistical Techniques for Forecasting Malaria Cases in Ghana

Malaria is one of the key micro parasitic diseases causing human mortality in the world [1,2]. According to [3], there were an estimated 216 million cases of malaria in 91 countries in 2016, this accounted for about 80% of the global malaria burden; and an increase of 5 million cases over 2015 [3]. About 90% of the world’s 300 500 million malaria cases and 1.5 2.7 million deaths due to malaria annually are from the sub-Saharan Africa [4,5]. The rate of malaria as indicated by [5] still records 40% of all outpatient attendance, with the most vulnerable people being under 5 children and pregnant women [6,7]. There were an estimated 445,000 deaths from malaria globally in 2016 as compared to 446, 000 estimated deaths in 2015 [3]. The Sub-Saharan Africa, accounted for 91% of all malaria deaths in 2016, followed by the South East Asia Region (6%) [3].
Requerimientos de Energía y Proteína Digerible para Crecimiento y Mantenimiento de Subadultos de Litopenaeus vannamei

Los requerimientos de energia digerible (ED) y proteina digerible (PD) para el crecimiento y mantenimiento de subadultos de camaron blanco del Pacifico L. vannamei fueron determinados utilizando dos alimentos balanceados semipurificados que contenian ya sea 25% proteina cruda y 4.198 kcal g-1 (PD 23.05%; ED 3.531 kcal g-1) o 35% proteina cruda y 4.081 kcal g-1 (PD 35.07%; ED 3.485 kcal g-1). Los alimentos fueron suministrados a tasas constantes (0.046, 0.073, 0.117, 0.187, 0.300, 0.479, 0.767, 1.227, 1.963, and 3.141 g alimento dia-1 camaron-1) a subadultos de L. vannamei sembrados individualmente en 400 tanques (20 camarones por cada tasa de alimentacion). El crecimiento fue monitorizado semanalmente a lo largo del periodo experimental (7 semanas) con el fin de evaluar el efecto de la talla sobre los requerimientos diarios de energia y proteina.