Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Farmer Self-Organizing Innovation in the Marginal Areas of China: A Study of Farmer Communication Networks in Zhidan, Loess Plateau

Farmer innovation involves communication on both the vertical (between farmers and outsiders) and horizontal (among farmers) planes. When faced with barriers to vertical communication, small farmers in marginal areas have to depend on their own communication networks for knowledge diffusion and sharing. It leads to "farmer self-organizing innovation" (FSI) - an innovation process which is initiated, controlled and implemented by farmers themselves. This paper attempts to indicate: (1) what position the FSI has taken in innovation studies; (2) how farmers use and develop their communication network (FCN) for technology learning and innovation cooperation; and (3) what lessons and policy implications can be learnt from farmer innovation and self-organization. Based upon an integrated survey in Zhidan, a poor county of the Loess Plateau, itis argued that the innovative capacity of the rural poor in China might be difficult to strengthen unless more attention is paid to the promotion of farmer communication and cooperation. This paper also draws attention to the policy implications of promoting farmer innovation and building self-organizing networks in respect of rural sustainability in China in the 21 st . C. entury.
The Influence of Body Weight Restriction During the Growing and Holding Periods on Reproduction of Turkey Females from Strains Differing in Body Weight

Abstract Three strains of turkey hens differing in body weight were fed either a control (C) diet or a high fiber (H) diet containing 69% ground oat hulls from 16 to 40 (Hatch 2) or to 42 (Hatch 1) weeks of age. The strains were a randombred control (RBC2), a subline of RBC2 selected for increased 16-week body weight (F), and a subline of F selected for increased egg production (FE). Egg production during a 120-day production period and fertility, hatchability, and poults produced during a 12-week hatching period were measured. The weight of parts of the alimentary canal and the follicular production by the ovary were measured during the early part of the laying period. Feeding the high fiber diet resulted in a 12 to 14% decrease in body weight at 26 weeks of age. Although significant strain × diet interactions for body weight were present during the body weight restriction period, the differences among the strains in response to feeding a high fiber diet were small and probably of little consequence. Feeding a high fiber diet resulted in an increase in the weight of the crop plus thoracic esophagus, proventriculus, gizzard, small intestine, and large intestine plus ceca but had no significant effect on 120-day egg production, fertility, hatchability, number of poults produced per hen, or egg weight. The weights of the proventriculus, gizzard, small intestine, and of the total alimentary canal were smaller in the larger F and FE strains than in the smaller RBC2 strain when expressed as percent of body weight. The weight of the gizzard was also smaller in the larger strains when expressed as actual weight.
T cell receptor Vβ repertoire of the antigen specific CD8 T lymphocyte subset of HIV infected children

ObjectiveAnalysis of the T cell receptor Vβ repertoire during HIV infection reveals expansions in multiple Vβ families of CD8 T cells, but their antigenic specificity is ill-defined. We sought to determine the TCR Vβ repertoire of HIV specific CD8 T lymphocytes in infected children. Design/methodsWe performed flow cytometry to examine TCR Vβ families as identified by specific monoclonal antibodies and binding of HIV peptide loaded tetrameric MHC complexes in peripheral blood samples from a group of HIV infected children. ResultsSimultaneous assessment of 12 selected expanded Vβ families amongst nine HIV infected patients for tetramer binding revealed only one child in whom the expanded Vβ population bound HIV Gag or Pol tetramers. In four HIV infected children, percentage tetramer binding cells was determined in 21 TCR Vβ families. The tetramer binding cells of three children exhibited a widely distributed TCR Vβ repertoire while in the fourth patient they were preferentially localized within two TCR Vβ families. Repeat analysis revealed that the TCR Vβ repertoire of tetramer binding cells was stable. ConclusionsThese data provide evidence that the HIV-specific CD8 T cell response in children is usually distributed widely among many different TCR Vβ families. The heterogeneity of the TCR Vβ repertoire usage by the antigen specific CD8 T cells may reflect the dynamic interaction between host and pathogen during the course of HIV infection and may be influenced by the rate of viral mutation, CD4 T cell helper activity, or other factors.
Predation of the giant Miocene caiman Purussaurus on a mylodontid ground sloth in the wetlands of proto-Amazonia

Thirteen million years ago in South America, the Pebas Mega-Wetland System sheltered multi-taxon crocodylian assemblages, with the giant caiman Purussaurus as the top predator. In these Miocene swamps where reptiles and mammals coexisted, evidence of their agonistic interactions is extremely rare. Here, we report a tibia of the mylodontid sloth Pseudoprepotherium bearing 46 predation tooth marks. The combination of round and bisected, shallow pits and large punctures that collapsed extensive portions of cortical bone points to a young or sub-adult Purussaurus (approx. 4 m in total length) as the perpetrator. Other known crocodylians of the Pebas System were either too small at adulthood or had discordant feeding anatomy to be considered. The pattern of tooth marks suggests that the perpetrator attacked and captured the ground sloth from the lower hind limb, yet an attempt of dismembering cannot be ruled out. This discovery from the Peruvian Amazonia provides an unusual snapshot of the dietary preferences of Purussaurus and reveals that prior to reaching its giant size, young individuals might have fed upon terrestrial mammals of about the size of a capybara.
Investigating persistent measles dynamics in Niger and associations with rainfall

Measles is a major cause of child mortality in sub-Saharan Africa. Current immunization strategies achieve low coverage in areas where transmission drivers differ substantially from those in high-income countries. A better understanding of measles transmission in areas with measles persistence will increase vaccination coverage and reduce ongoing transmission. We analysed weekly reported measles cases at the district level in Niger from 1995 to 2004 to identify underlying transmission mechanisms. We identified dominant periodicities and the associated spatial clustering patterns. We also investigated associations between reported measles cases and environmental drivers associated with human activities, particularly rainfall. The annual and 2–3-year periodicities dominated the reporting data spectrum. The annual periodicity was strong with contiguous spatial clustering, consistent with the latitudinal gradient of population density, and stable over time. The 2–3-year periodicities were weaker, unstable over time and had spatially fragmented clustering. The rainy season was associated with a lower risk of measles case reporting. The annual periodicity likely reflects seasonal agricultural labour migration, whereas the 2–3-year periodicity potentially results from multiple mechanisms such as reintroductions and vaccine coverage heterogeneity. Our findings suggest that improving vaccine coverage in seasonally mobile populations could reduce strong measles seasonality in Niger and across similar settings.
Direct and delayed costs of reproduction in Aesculus californica

(1) Reproduction in Aesculus californica involves both direct and delayed costs. In this shoot-level analysis, direct costs were measured as the total non-structural carbohydrate, nitrogen and total dry weight in reproductive tissues. Delayed costs were measured as deleterious effects of reproduction on growth and reproduction in the season following reproduction. (2) The costs of reproduction were unevenly distributed among shoots. Fruitbearing shoots incurred the greatest direct and indirect costs. Mature fruits were produced on only 42% of flowering shoots following the abortion of more than 90% of bisexual flowers and young fruits. The dry weight allocated to reproduction on non-bearing shoots was only 12% of the amount allocated on fruit-bearing shoots. (3) A girdling experiment demonstrated that individual fruit-bearing shoots could not independently supply all the resources required in fruit development. (4) Fruit-bearing shoots incurred delayed costs not shared by other branches. In the season following reproduction, bud break on fruit-bearing shoots was significantly later than on non-bearing shoots. The dry weight and leaf area of new growth produced on previously fruiting branches was less than one third of that produced on non-fruiting branches. Leaf nitrogen concentration was also significantly lower on previously fruiting branches. In 1984, previously bearing branches were less likely to initiate inflorescences and mature fruits than were previously non-fruiting branches. The effect was not observed in 1985.
Grazing insects mediate algal interactions in a stream benthic community

Etude descriptive et experimentale sur le terrain (Augusta Creek, Michigan) de l'aptitude des larves de Leucotrichia pictipes (Trichoptera) a mediatiser les interactions entre les populations algales d'une biocenose benthique en modifiant l'abondance locale et la composition specifique de ces populations
Growth and Size of the Western Fence Lizard (Sceloporus occidentalis)

common lizard (Lacerta vivipara) after autotomy. Brit. Assoc. Adv. Sci., Rep. 85th Meeting, P. 472. WILLISTON, S. W. 1925. The osteology of the reptiles. Harvard Univ. Press, Cambridge, Mass. WOODLAND, W. N. F. 1920. Some observations on lizard (Lacerta vivipara) after autoty. Brit. Assoc. Adv. Sci., Rep. 85th Meeton caudal autotomy and regeneration in the g cko (Hemidactylus flaviviridis Ruppel) with notes on the tails of Sphenodon and Pygopus. Quart. J. Microscop. Sci. 65:95-96.
Blastocyst-induced ATP release from luminal epithelial cells initiates decidualization through the P2Y2 receptor in mice

The blastocyst-induced release of ATP by uterine epithelial cells stimulates decidualization and implantation in mice. ATP stimulates embryo implantation Decidualization is the process through which the uterine lining is remodeled to enable embryo implantation, which, in mice, depends on the presence of a blastocyst. Gu et al. found that uterine epithelial cells released ATP when a blastocyst was present and that ATP-mediated activation of the purinergic receptor P2Y2 induced decidualization markers and promoted embryo implantation. Experiments in vivo, in primary mouse uterine cells, and in cultured human uterine cells were consistent with ectonucleotidases in the uterine stroma limiting ATP signaling to restrict decidualization and implantation to a short window of time. These findings shed light on the blastocyst-uterine interactions that mediate the establishment of pregnancy. Embryo implantation involves a sterile inflammatory reaction that is required for the invasion of the blastocyst into the decidua. Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) released from stressed or injured cells acts as an important signaling molecule to regulate many key physiological events, including sterile inflammation. We found that the amount of ATP in the uterine luminal fluid of mice increased during the peri-implantation period, and this depended on the presence of an embryo. We further showed that the release of ATP from receptive epithelial cells was likely stimulated by lactate released from the blastocyst through connexin hemichannels. The ATP receptor P2y2 was present on uterine epithelial cells during the preimplantation period and increased in the stromal cells during the time at which decidualization began. Pharmacological inhibition of P2y2 compromised decidualization and implantation. ATP-P2y2 signaling stimulated the phosphorylation of Stat3 in uterine luminal epithelial cells and the expression of early growth response 1 (Egr1) and prostaglandin-endoperoxide synthase 2 (Ptgs2, also known as Cox-2), all of which are required for decidualization and/or implantation, in stromal cells. Short exposure to high concentrations of ATP promoted decidualization of primary stromal cells, but longer exposures or lower ATP concentrations did not. The expression of genes encoding ATP-degrading ectonucleotidases increased in the decidua during the peri-implantation period, suggesting that they may limit the duration of the ATP signal. Together, our results indicate that the blastocyst-induced release of ATP from uterine epithelial cells during the peri-implantation period may be important for the initiation of stromal cell decidualization.
Necrotic upper tips1 mimics heat and drought stress and encodes a protoxylem-specific transcription factor in maize

Significance When water deficits coincide with flowering in maize they result in severe developmental consequences such as leaf wilting, tassel browning, and sterility, a condition known as “tassel blasting. ” Due to global warming, tassel blasting is becoming a major problem that can greatly reduce yields. Necrotic upper tips1 (nut1) is a transcription factor that mimics tassel blasting when mutated. We show that NUT1 protein localizes to the developing protoxylem where it activates genes necessary for reinforcing the secondary cell wall, and thus enables these cells to withstand the high negative pressures required for long-distance water movement. Thus, nut1 or its targets may be promising breeding targets to help maize resist the effects of rising temperatures in the future. Maintaining sufficient water transport during flowering is essential for proper organ growth, fertilization, and yield. Water deficits that coincide with flowering result in leaf wilting, necrosis, tassel browning, and sterility, a stress condition known as “tassel blasting. ” We identified a mutant, necrotic upper tips1 (nut1), that mimics tassel blasting and drought stress and reveals the genetic mechanisms underlying these processes. The nut1 phenotype is evident only after the floral transition, and the mutants have difficulty moving water as shown by dye uptake and movement assays. These defects are correlated with reduced protoxylem vessel thickness that indirectly affects metaxylem cell wall integrity and function in the mutant. nut1 is caused by an Ac transposon insertion into the coding region of a unique NAC transcription factor within the VND clade of Arabidopsis. NUT1 localizes to the developing protoxylem of root, stem, and leaf sheath, but not metaxylem, and its expression is induced by flowering. NUT1 downstream target genes function in cell wall biosynthesis, apoptosis, and maintenance of xylem cell wall thickness and strength. These results show that maintaining protoxylem vessel integrity during periods of high water movement requires the expression of specialized, dynamically regulated transcription factors within the vasculature.
Adult Attachment, Social Self-Efficacy, Familismo, and Psychological Wellbeing: A Cross-Cultural Comparison

This cross-cultural study investigated a moderated indirect effect model in which country membership and familismo were hypothesized to moderate the direct and indirect effects of attachment insecurity on well-being variables. A total of 360 Mexican university students from Mexico and 235 Mexican American university students from the United States completed research questionnaires. Results indicated that insecure attachment was associated with depressive symptoms and life satisfaction via an indirect effect of social self-efficacy (SSE) and that the indirect effects of attachment avoidance varied significantly by country membership. Familismo was also found to be a significant moderator for the direct effects of attachment anxiety on life satisfaction. Finally, several significant three-way interactions were found suggesting that the buffering effects of familismo on the direct and indirect paths of insecure attachment on SSE and outcome variables vary significantly by country membership. The limitations and implications are discussed.
The influence of theocratic rule and political turmoil on tourists’ length of stay

The average tourist’s length of stay (LOS) is in a global decline. This downward trend underscores the need to study the factors that affect this variable in order to enable more effective management and marketing. This paper moves beyond the literature by investigating the determinants of international tourists’ LOS in a Muslim destination amid political crisis. LOS was evaluated using a survival analysis approach with data from 726 international tourists in Tabriz, Iran to ascertain the significant factors influencing trip length. The results reveal that the determinant factors are as follows: socio-demographic profiles, trip characteristics, and destination attributes. In addition, political turmoil and religious regulations are pivotal factors in LOS. The empirical findings provide valuable theoretical contributions to researchers and actionable guidance to tourism managers and marketers.
Knowledge Sharing Strategy for Indonesian Millennial Workforce

In a competitive business environment, many companies struggle to align their resources to improve their performance. The resources should become one of the company's competitive advantage. One of those competitive advantages is knowledge assets. Knowledge assets can be developed by optimizing human resource management because not all companies want to invest funds to develop a knowledge management system. Initiation of knowledge sharing behavior among workforces is considered to be one of the most efficient ways. In Indonesia, it is predicted that 46% of workforces in 2020 are millennials. Many previous studies have looked at millennial behavior in the work environment, and they are considered to potentially inhibit the development of the company's knowledge assets due to a high turnover rate. This paper is aimed to explore the factors that promote or discourage knowledge sharing behavior of millennials workforce. Factors studied included psychological, organizational culture, cognitive abilities, technological facilities, and so forth. The PLS method is used to explore these factors. A strategy has been developed as a recommendation for companies to initiate a knowledge sharing culture.
“It Is Truly a Struggle to Survive”: The Hardships of Living on Low Wages

Many low-wage workers struggle to make ends meet despite working full-time. Surveys find that they confront material, financial, and medical hardships. This article presents hospital workers’ descriptions of living on low wages, giving voice to their fears and challenges. These workers (N = 156) testified to a city council-created Wage Review Committee, which posted the testimonies online. We qualitatively content-analyzed the testimonies to identify and describe their struggles. Hospital workers’ testimonies brought depth and new understanding to arguments for raising wages. Low-wage workers can be effective advocates for their own interests.
TheChain: A Fast, Secure and Parallel Treatment of Transactions

The Smart Distributed Ledger (aka blockchain) has attracted much attention in recent years. According to the European Parliament, this technology has the potential to change the lives of many people. The blockchain is a data structure built upon a hashed function in a distributed network, enabled by an incentive mechanism to discourage malicious nodes from participation. The consensus is at the core of the blockchain technology, and is driven by information embedded into a data structure that takes many forms such as linear, tree, and graph chains. The found related information will be subject to various validation incentives among the miners, such as proof of stake and proof of work. However, all the existing solutions suffer from a heavy state transition before dealing with the problem of a validation mechanism which suffers from resource consumption, monopoly or attacks. This work raises the following question: "Why is there a need for consensus where all participants can make a quick and correct decision? ", and underlines the fact that sometimes ledger is subject to maintenance from regional parties in the data that leads to partial territories and eliminates monopoly, which is the hurdle to eliminating the trusted party. The validity of the blockchain transaction comes from the related information scattered above the data structure, and the authenticity lies in the digital signature. The aim is to switch from a validator based on incentives to a broadcaster governed by an unsupervised clustering algorithm, and the integrity does lie in the intersection among regions. However, the data structure takes advantage of the Petri network regarding its suitability. Building the entire ledger in the Petri network model will allow parallel processing of the transactions and securing of the total order between the participants on the memory reference layer. Moreover, it takes account of validation criteria quickly and safely before adding the new transaction list using the graph reachability.
Sharing Molecules and Pathways Signaling Among Cancer,Stem Cells and Cancer Stem Cells

Stem cells have their ability to continual self-renewal and differentiation,and with the stem cells study continuous profoundly it is found that the biology of normal stem cells and cancer stem cells(CSC) share remarkable similarities such as the capacity for continual self-renewal,cell migration as well as ability of inter-transformation under some condition,so it is hypothesis that CSC is derived from normal stem cells.In this review,we surveyed the share molecules and pathways signaling among cancer,stem cells and CSC in order to discover the novel target for therapeutic strategies against CSC.
Sentiment polarity classification of Turkish product reviews for measuring and summarizing user satisfaction

This study aims to classify the polarity of sentiments in customers' product reviews. By exploiting the features of Turkish, the analysis focuses on the customer language characteristics. Initially, negative and positive product reviews are collected from two different web sites, extracted and pre-processed to select the essential features. Additionally, some negativity and strengthening rules that are specific to Turkish are employed to fully reflect the polarity of the reviews. Basically, three types of feature selection methods are used: Binary Method, Frequency Method and Weighted Frequency Method. The analysis of the polarity of the documents is achieved by using three well-known machine learning classifiers, namely Naive Bayes, VotedPerceptron and J48, a decision tree algorithm. Promising accuracy results are achieved, ranging from 84.4% to 96.5% by applying these methods. The best results are obtained from Binary method and Naive Bayes, obtaining 96.5% accuracy. This study is significant since it enables the efficient and automatic summarization of large amounts of reviews on products, which is very precious in today's market to make profitable choices.