jimnoneill/paper-to-field-training huggingface dataset:
Identification of quantitative trait loci for traits conferring weed competitiveness in wheat (<i>Triticum aestivum</i> L.)

As weeds develop resistance to a broad range of herbicides, wheat ( Triticum aestivum L.) cultivars with superior weed competitive capacity are needed to complement integrated weed management strategies. In this study, agronomic and morphological traits that enable wheat to compete effectively with weeds were identified. Halberd, Cranbrook, and 161 Cranbrook x Halberd doubled haploid (DH) lines were examined in field experiments conducted over two growing seasons. The weed species Lolium rigidum L. (annual ryegrass) was sown in strips perpendicular to the direction of wheat seeding. Various traits were measured during each season with competitive ability determined by both percent loss in wheat grain yield and suppression of ryegrass growth. Width of leaf 2, canopy height, and light interception at early stem elongation (Z31), and tiller number, height at maturity, and days to anthesis were important for competitive ability in 1999. In the previous year, length of leaf 2 and size of the flag leaf contributed to competitiveness. Seasonal effects appeared to have some impact on the relative contribution of crop traits to competitive ability. The morphological traits involved in maintaining grain yield differed from those that contributed to the suppression of ryegrass growth. Development of the Cranbrook x Halberd chromosomal linkage map enabled the putative identification of quantitative trait loci (QTL) associated with competitive ability in the DH population. Many of the QTL were mapped to similar positions in both years. Further, several traits, including time to anthesis, flag leaf size, height at stem elongation, and the size of the first 2 leaves, were mapped to similar positions on chromosomes 2B and 2D. Narrow-sense heritabilities on an entry-mean basis were typically high within each year for traits associated with weed competitive ability. However, large genotype x year interactions reduced these heritabilities, making genetic gain through phenotypic selection difficult. The identification of QTL repeatable over seasons indicates the potential for marker-assisted selection in a wheat breeding program selecting for improved grain yield and weed competitiveness.

Topic: Wheat and Barley Genetics and Pathology
Subfield: Plant Science
Field: Agricultural and Biological Sciences
Domain: Life Sciences
Comparison of phenotypic expression with genotypic transformation by using cloned, selectable markers.

The frequency of phenotypic expression of the herpes simplex virus type 1 tk and Escherichia coli gpt genes was compared with the frequency of genotypic transformation after calcium phosphate-mediated DNA transfection of a number of tk- and hprt- cell lines. In three of the five lines tested, the frequency of phenotypic expression was at most 10-fold higher than that of genotypic transformation as indicated by frequency of HAT resistance. The remaining two lines showed phenotypic responses which were 50- to 100-fold greater than the genotypic responses. The data indicate that the efficiency of DNA-mediated transformation with some cell lines can be limited by events after the uptake and expression of transfected DNA.

Topic: Virus-based gene therapy research
Subfield: Genetics
Field: Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology
Domain: Life Sciences
Web Soil Survey Launches Latest Version

The latest version of the Web Soil Survey 3.0 (WSS) was recently launched by the USDA's Natural Resources Conservation (NRCS) and can be accessed at http://websoilsurvey.nrcs.usda.gov. The web-based application provides anyone with computer access a wealth of free soils information along with soil maps, properties, and interpretations aimed at helping with land use decisions. The first and most noticeable change in WSS 3.0 is the maximum size for the Area of Interest (AOI) has been increased from 10,000 to 100,000 acres. The map imagery and map appearance also have been improved, and they're now using imagery from Bing. The number of options for changing map properties has been expanded to include: soil boundary color, soil boundary thickness, soil label size, and background image shading. Plus the “identify” tool can now display information about multiple data layers at the same time. Soil special line features are now labeled according to the type of line feature with an abbreviation such as “ESO,” and viewers can view the corresponding feature name using the map identify tool. SSURGO and STATSGO2 data can now be downloaded directly from WSS without having to first define an area of interest or go to the Soil Data Mart. To make things even better for the viewer, support has been added for Pacific Island Area data as well as for map unit line and point data. The options for tiling printable maps have been improved, and RSS notifications are now available regarding soil data updates. And most importantly, WSS is now online 24/7, eliminating bothersome downtime. To access the latest version of WSS, visit http://websoilsurvey.nrcs.usda.gov. The latest version of the Web Soil Survey offers a number of enhancements such as improved map imagery and map appearance.

Topic: Soil Carbon and Nitrogen Dynamics
Subfield: Soil Science
Field: Agricultural and Biological Sciences
Domain: Life Sciences
A requisite journey: from business ethics to economic philosophy

To put humans first in business and to implement humanistic values in management are noble endeavors. In order to make room for more humane business practices, however, a new kind of business ethics is requisite: one that does not subordinate its principles to the narrow confines of short-term profit maximization. Since discussion in business ethics is often influenced and framed by the theoretical foundations of academic economics, the demand for a new business ethics translates into the need for a critique of the economic paradigms underlying traditional business ethics. In that vein, a departure from certain reductionistic economic theories, namely from basic assumptions of neoclassical economics, becomes crucial. Instead of construing human agency within a matrix of self-centered utility calculations, the real human being needs to be reintroduced into economic theory, and we must recognize the eminent role of human freedom. In pursuit of a humanistic business ethics, an economic philosophy based upon the notion of human freedom must be advanced.

Topic: Economic Theory and Institutions
Subfield: Economics and Econometrics
Field: Economics, Econometrics and Finance
Domain: Social Sciences
Dualism, Science, and Statistics

ABSTRACT The hypothetico-deductive method, as currently taught, confuses students and distorts their understanding of science. Part of the confusion arises because the dualistic approach of the hypothetico-deductive method conflicts with the inherent probabilism that underlies much of scientific methodology. I identify four weaknesses in the current approach to teaching students how researchers do science. First, most texts and many instructors tend to ignore the early, interesting, and often time-consuming stages of scientific methodology. Second, the hypothetico-deductive method uses counterintuitive logic to describe the relationship between hypotheses and predictions. Third, most null hypotheses are artificial constructs that tend to distance students from their initial biological questions. Finally, educators present an inconsistent message when they teach science as probabilistic and hypothesis testing as dualistic. I suggest a more holistic approach that identifies avoidable pitfalls and preserves the essential ingredients of the hypothetico-deductive method, while removing some of the arcane inaccuracies.

Topic: Statistics Education and Methodologies
Subfield: Statistics and Probability
Field: Mathematics
Domain: Physical Sciences
Minority protection in Europe

Mahatma Gandhi stated:, “Even if you are a minority of one, the truth is the truth.” The truth of the existence of minority groups in Europe has been reticent for quite a long time. Although the principle of Europe implies the idea that different cultures, religions and languages deepen and enrich society, the issue of minorities has been regarded as problematic and threatening for society.
The twentieth century was characterized by many conflicts which involved the maltreatment of ethnic, linguistic or religious minority groups. The incidents in the Balkans which resulted to the WWI and in particular the Holocaust which transformed Europe totally can be seen as dramatic illustrations. Due to these historical changes, Europe developed into a continent with major ethnic conflicts. To cope with these situations, Europe is now known for developing the most comprehensive criteria for safeguarding minority groups. This reputation is the result of the performance of three international institutions: The Council of Europe, the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) and the related High Commissioner on National Minorities (HCNM) and the European Union (EU). Even though these institutions exist more or less independently of each other, specific co-operation led to major successes. Nevertheless, the influence and especially legal competences of these institutions are rather low. Recently the OSCE and the European Union were criticized for not being effective and present in the ethnic conflict of Kirgizstan.
This Bachelor thesis investigates how minorities in Europe are actually protected by these international institutions. A major focus will be on the competences as well as limitations of the institutions.

Topic: Post-Soviet Geopolitical Dynamics
Subfield: Political Science and International Relations
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
Wheat Yield Response to Water Deficit under Central Pivot Irrigation System Using Remote Sensing Techniques

Scarcity of rainfall and limited irrigation water resources is the main challenge for agricultural expanding policies and strategies. At the same time, there is a high concern to increase the area of wheat cultivation in order to meet the increasing local consumption. The big challenge is to incerese wheat production using same or less amount of irrigation water. In this trend, the study was carried out to analyze the sensitivity of wheat yield to water deficit using remotely sensed data in El-Salhia agricultural project which located in the eastern part of Nile delta. Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) and Land Surface Temperature (LST) were extracted from Landsat 7. Water Deficit Index (WDI) used both LST minus air temperature (Tair) and vegetation index to estimate the relative water status. Yield response factor (ky) was derived from relationship between relative yield decrease and relative evapotranspiration deficit. The relative Evapotranspiration deficit was replaced by WDI. Linear regression was found between predicted wheat yield and actual wheat yield with 0.2?6, 0.025, 0.252 and 0.76 as correlation coefficient on 30th of Dec. 2012, 15th of Jan. 2013, 16th of Feb. 2013 and 20th of Mar. 2013 respectively. The main objective of this study is using a combination between FAO 33 paper approach and remote sensing techniques to estimate wheat yield response to water.

Topic: Remote Sensing in Agriculture
Subfield: Ecology
Field: Environmental Science
Domain: Physical Sciences
The N131S Mutation in the von Hippel-Lindau Gene in a Japanese Family with Pheochromocytoma and Hemangioblastomas

von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) disease (VHLD) is a hereditary autosomal dominant syndrome that causes various benign and malignant tumors. VHLD is caused by mutations in the VHL tumor suppressor gene. Here, we report a mutation in the VHL gene in a Japanese family with VHLD type 2A, characterized by pheochromocytoma (PHE), and hemangioblastomas (HAB) in both the retina and thoracic spinal cord but without renal cell carcinoma (RCC). We identified a heterozygous A to G point mutation at the second base of codon 131 of the VHL protein (pVHL). This mutation was predicted to convert codon 131 from asparagine to serine (N131S). Although most mutations in VHLD type 2A have been detected in the alpha domain of pVHL, the present mutated amino acid was located at the region encoding the beta domain of pVHL. Previous patients with the N131K or N131T mutation in pVHL developed VHLD type 2B with RCC or VHLD type 1 without PHE, respectively. We also identified somatic loss of heterozygosity (LOH) at chromosome 3p25-26 in the adrenal tumor of the patient. The results of our study suggest that not only the location of mutation but also the altered amino acid may be critical for determining the clinical phenotype of VHLD. LOH was associated with the development of PHE in a patient with the N131S mutation in pVHL.

Topic: Cancer, Hypoxia, and Metabolism
Subfield: Cancer Research
Field: Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology
Domain: Life Sciences
Two-and-a-Half-Party Systems and the Comparative Role of the `Half'

In this article, the concept of the `two-and-a-half-party system' is re-examined, with particular focus on the role of the `half'. The analysis is on longer-term parliamentary democracies since 1945 or democratization. First, various ways of measuring a party system are outlined, and a new alternative is proposed. Based on this, 10 countries are seen to qualify (at least for certain time periods) as two-and-a-half-party systems: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Portugal, Spain and the United Kingdom. Each of these systems is outlined and analysed. This category is then contrasted with both two-party systems and multiparty systems in order to explain its causes. Next, some general conclusions about when `half' parties are likely to matter more (in a governmental sense) are made, with a particular distinction occurring between `hinge' and `wing' half parties. Finally, the geographic shift in the presence of two-and-a-half-party systems is noted.

Topic: Electoral Systems and Political Participation
Subfield: Political Science and International Relations
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
Research of an Innovative P2P-Based Botnet

The research recently focuses on the integration of peer-to-peer frame as incremental improvements to botnet. In hybrid P2P botnet, it is important to find a mechanism to select neighbor list for every super node, in order to improve stability of communication when some super nodes lose. At the same time, it needs to select high performance and nearest node as a super node, to provide command request and file transport for other ordinary nodes. In this paper, we propose a neighbor list selecting method based on Strongly Connected Graph and analysis a super node selecting mechanism based on AHP. Evaluation shows that this mechanism can increase coverage probability of commands and decrease average connection time (ACT) between super node and ordinary node.

Topic: Peer-to-Peer Network Technologies
Subfield: Computer Networks and Communications
Field: Computer Science
Domain: Physical Sciences
E-work and IT for developing rural areas in Hungary

Information Technologies (IT) are a powerful driver for economy-wide productivity, growth&#13;\nand jobs – and are arguably Europe’s best-bet investment for the future. They give great&#13;\npotential to transform the way in which we work, live and interact. The digital convergence of&#13;\nmedia and information services, networks and devices provide unique opportunities: for&#13;\nfirms, to modernize their business processes and deliver a wide range of services; for&#13;\nconsumers, for individuals to find and do remote e-work. The ratio of teleworkers compared&#13;\nto all employees is estimated to reach around 5% in Hungary today. The main objectives of&#13;\nthe New Hungary Development Plan being the successor of NFT. Being part of the plan&#13;\npackage, the Operative Program for the Development of the Economy significantly focuses&#13;\non the support of the utilisation of ICT technologies and applications. This and the Hungarian&#13;\nRural Development Starategy will support the exploitation of teleworking opportunities,&#13;\nthereby contributing to the employment of the disabled, persons with changed working&#13;\ncapabilities and women.

Topic: Hungarian Social, Economic and Educational Studies
Subfield: Geography, Planning and Development
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
Spinal cord injury.

Continued investigation of the pathophysiology of primary and secondary neuronal injury following acute spinal cord injury (SCI) has led to positive results in two medical treatment protocols: methylprednisolone and GM1 ganglioside. The advent of improved high resolution radiologic studies has allowed a new dimension in the understanding of the physical and pathomechanical aspects of acute SCI. Advances in rehabilitation continue, allowing improved prognosis and long-term function. Prevention is clearly the best and most effective treatment of all.

Topic: Cerebral Palsy and Movement Disorders
Subfield: Psychiatry and Mental health
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Serum Folate Concentration Corresponding to the Red Blood Cell Folate Threshold for Increased Risk of Neural Tube Defects Among Ethiopian Women of Reproductive Age

ABSTRACT Neural tube defects (NTDs) are severe birth defects linked to insufficient maternal folate status during early pregnancy. Red blood cell (RBC) folate concentration is the recommended biomarker for predicting NTD risk, with a threshold of 748 nmol/L using the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) microbiological assay. However, in large surveys, serum folate concentration is often measured instead of RBC folate. This study aimed to (1) identify the serum folate concentration that corresponds to the RBC folate threshold for NTD risk using data from Ethiopian women of reproductive age (WRA); (2) evaluate the performance of the serum threshold for population‐level NTD risk assessment; and (3) compare the serum folate cutoff determined with the Ethiopian data versus the cutoff derived from a Southern Indian population. Biomarker data from 1570 Ethiopian nonpregnant, non‐lactating WRA who participated in the 2015 Ethiopian National Micronutrient Survey were analyzed. Serum and RBC folate concentrations were measured using the CDC microbiological assay. Serum folate cutoffs were identified using unadjusted and adjusted regression models and receiver operating characteristics (ROC) analysis. Adjusted models included the following covariates: age, body mass index (BMI), serum vitamin B 12 concentration, presence of inflammation, region, and site of residence. Three serum folate cutoffs were identified: 15.3 nmol/L (unadjusted model), 15.2 nmol/L (adjusted model), and 17.9 nmol/L (ROC analysis). Regression‐based cutoffs balanced sensitivity (~76%) and specificity (~62%), while the ROC‐derived cutoff improved sensitivity (~83%) but reduced specificity (~50%). Ethiopian cutoffs showed fair discriminatory performance (~AUC:0.7) while the Indian cutoff (~AUC:0.6) showed poorer performance. Because of suboptimal NTD risk prediction using serum folate, future surveys should use RBC folate when possible. In situations where it is not possible to measure RBC folate, population‐specific serum folate cutoffs should be determined.

Topic: Folate and B Vitamins Research
Subfield: Rheumatology
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Idiopathic Central Serous Retinopathy in China: A Report of 600 Cases (624 Eyes) Treated by Acupuncture

ABSTRACT Six hundred Chinese patients (624 eyes) with clinically diagnosed central serous retinopathy were treated by consecutive courses of acupuncture. Eighty-six percent of patients had resolution of their subretinal fluid within 3 months of treatment, a result similar to the natural history of the disease as reported by others in non-Chinese patients. Central serous retinopathy was most common in the 30 to 50 year age group, occurred in males seven times more frequently than in females, and was bilateral in 4% of patients.

Topic: Healthcare and Venom Research
Subfield: Pharmacology
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Degradation of Rice Straw with Dilute Hydrochloric Acid

Rice straw was degraded with different concentration hydrochloric acid solution.The reaction mixture was extracted with petroleum ether and ethyl acetate, respectively. The effects of different concentration dilute hydrochloric acids on the yields of residue were investigated. The extracts were analyzed with gas chromatography (GC) and fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectrometer. The results indicated that hydrochloric acid solution can convert most of the organic matters contained in rice straw into solvent-soluble species. The research is significance in the high value added utilization of rice straw.

Topic: Thermochemical Biomass Conversion Processes
Subfield: Biomedical Engineering
Field: Engineering
Domain: Physical Sciences
The electron distribution in silicon. A comparison between experiment and theory

Deformation and valence-electron densities in silicon are derived via Fourier summation and multipole refinement of highly accurate measurements of X-ray structure factors. These results provide a new perspective for the comparison between theory and experiment. The model electron density derived from experiment is in quantitative agreement with recent solid-state calculations, but not with earlier experimental results reported by Yang &amp; Coppens [ Solid State Commun. (1974), 15 , 1555-1559].

Topic: Electron and X-Ray Spectroscopy Techniques
Subfield: Surfaces, Coatings and Films
Field: Materials Science
Domain: Physical Sciences
Non-canonical two-field inflation to order $ξ^2$

In non-canonical two-field inflation models, deviations from the canonical model can be captured by a parameter $ξ$. We show this parameter is usually one half of the slow-roll order and analytically calculate the primordial power spectra accurate to order $ξ^2$. The super-horizon perturbations are studied with an improved method, which gives a correction of order $ξ^2$. Three typical examples demonstrate that our analytical formulae of power spectra fit well with numerical simulation.

Topic: Cosmology and Gravitation Theories
Subfield: Astronomy and Astrophysics
Field: Physics and Astronomy
Domain: Physical Sciences
Escalation Control, Deterrence Diplomacy and America's Role in South Asia's Nuclear Crises

This article assesses the significance of American diplomatic intervention in the de-escalation of two South Asian nuclear crises - the 1999 Kargil conflict and the 2001-2002 military stand-off. The American role in those crises is often referred to as crisis manager or secondary in the context of the region's strategic and crisis stability. A careful analysis of American diplomatic interventions, however, reveals that the role is much greater, conceptualized here as deterrence diplomacy, meaning intense, focused diplomatic activity specifically to forestall crisis escalation and the outbreak of large-scale Indo-Pakistani war. More than is commonly realized, the United States was integral in the crisis strategies of both countries. It played a pivotal role preventing crisis escalation and the outbreak of large-scale conflict between India and Pakistan in both confrontations. And the American role was instrumental in the termination of those confrontations, particularly the Kargil conflict. Without America's effective deterrence diplomacy, any of the past South Asian crises could have escalated to the nuclear level. No global generalization can be made from this analysis because it is mostly South Asia specific. However, it is plausible to argue that the United States, as the key systemic power, will have an important role in future regional deterrence.

Topic: Peacebuilding and International Security
Subfield: Sociology and Political Science
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences