Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Prospects for biological control of Ambrosia artemisiifolia in Europe: learning from the past

Gerber E, Schaffner U, Gassmann A, Hinz HL, Seier M & Muller-Scharer H (2011). Prospects for biological control of Ambrosia artemisiifolia in Europe: learning from the past. Weed Research51, 559–573. Summary The recent invasion by Ambrosia artemisiifolia (common ragweed) has, like no other plant, raised the awareness of invasive plants in Europe. The main concerns regarding this plant are that it produces a large amount of highly allergenic pollen that causes high rates of sensitisation among humans, but also A. artemisiifolia is increasingly becoming a major weed in agriculture. Recently, chemical and mechanical control methods have been developed and partially implemented in Europe, but sustainable control strategies to mitigate its spread into areas not yet invaded and to reduce its abundance in badly infested areas are lacking. One management tool, not yet implemented in Europe but successfully applied in Australia, is biological control. Almost all natural enemies that have colonised A. artemisiifolia in Europe are polyphagous and cause little damage, rendering them unsuitable for a system management approach. Two fungal pathogens have been reported to adversely impact A. artemisiifolia in the introduced range, but their biology makes them unsuitable for mass production and application as a mycoherbicide. In the native range of A. artemisiifolia, on the other hand, a number of herbivores and pathogens associated with this plant have a very narrow host range and reduce pollen and seed production, the stage most sensitive for long-term population management of this winter annual. We discuss and propose a prioritisation of these biological control candidates for a classical or inundative biological control approach against A. artemisiifolia in Europe, capitalising on past experiences from North America, Asia and Australia.
Collective robot reinforcement learning with distributed asynchronous guided policy search

Policy search methods and, more broadly, reinforcement learning can enable robots to learn highly complex and general skills that may allow them to function amid the complexity and diversity of the real world. However, training a policy that generalizes well across a wide range of real-world conditions requires far greater quantity and diversity of experience than is practical to collect with a single robot. Fortunately, it is possible for multiple robots to share their experience with one another, and thereby, learn a policy collectively. In this work, we explore distributed and asynchronous policy learning as a means to achieve generalization and improved training times on challenging, real-world manipulation tasks. We propose a distributed and asynchronous version of guided policy search and use it to demonstrate collective policy learning on a vision-based door opening task using four robots. We describe how both policy learning and data collection can be conducted in parallel across multiple robots, and present a detailed empirical evaluation of our system. Our results indicate that distributed learning significantly improves training time, and that parallelizing policy learning and data collection substantially improves utilization. We also demonstrate that we can achieve substantial generalization on a challenging real-world door opening task.
Bioimpedance of soft tissue under compression

In this paper compression-dependent bioimpedance measurements of porcine spleen tissue are presented. Using a Cole–Cole model, nonlinear compositional changes in extracellular and intracellular makeup; related to a loss of fluid from the tissue, are identified during compression. Bioimpedance measurements were made using a custom tetrapolar probe and bioimpedance circuitry. As the tissue is increasingly compressed up to 50%, both intracellular and extracellular resistances increase while bulk membrane capacitance decreases. Increasing compression to 80% results in an increase in intracellular resistance and bulk membrane capacitance while extracellular resistance decreases. Tissues compressed incrementally to 80% show a decreased extracellular resistance of 32%, an increased intracellular resistance of 107%, and an increased bulk membrane capacitance of 64% compared to their uncompressed values. Intracellular resistance exhibits double asymptotic curves when plotted against the peak tissue pressure during compression, possibly indicating two distinct phases of mechanical change in the tissue during compression. Based on these findings, differing theories as to what is happening at a cellular level during high tissue compression are discussed, including the possibility of cell rupture and mass exudation of cellular material.
Anatomical Properties of the Arcuate Fasciculus Predict Phonological and Reading Skills in Children

For more than a century, neurologists have hypothesized that the arcuate fasciculus carries signals that are essential for language function; however, the relevance of the pathway for particular behaviors is highly controversial. The primary objective of this study was to use diffusion tensor imaging to examine the relationship between individual variation in the microstructural properties of arcuate fibers and behavioral measures of language and reading skills. A second objective was to use novel fiber-tracking methods to reassess estimates of arcuate lateralization. In a sample of 55 children, we found that measurements of diffusivity in the left arcuate correlate with phonological awareness skills and arcuate volume lateralization correlates with phonological memory and reading skills. Contrary to previous investigations that report the absence of the right arcuate in some subjects, we demonstrate that new techniques can identify the pathway in every individual. Our results provide empirical support for the role of the arcuate fasciculus in the development of reading skills.
Cosmetic Compliance and the Failure of Negotiated Governance

Across a range of legal regimes - including environmental, tort, employment discrimination, corporate, securities, and health care law - United States law reduces or eliminates enterprise liability for those organizations that can demonstrate the existence of "effective" internal compliance structures. Presumably, this legal standard rests on an assumption that internal compliance structures reduce the incidence of prohibited conduct within organizations. This Article demonstrates, however, that little evidence exists to support that assumption. In fact, a growing body of evidence indicates that internal compliance structures do not deter prohibited conduct within firms and may largely serve a window-dressing function that provides both market legitimacy and reduced legal liability. This leads to two potential problems: (1) an under-deterrence of corporate misconduct, and (2) a proliferation of costly - but arguably ineffective - internal compliance structures. The United States legal regime's enthusiastic embrace of internal compliance structures as a liability determinant is consistent with the increasing influence of what are referred to in this Article as "negotiated governance" models that seek to improve government regulation and/or the litigation process through more cooperative governance methods that provide a governance role to the regulated group and other interested parties. Drawing on the incomplete contracts literature, this Article argues that, although the negotiated governance model provides valuable descriptive insights into the mechanisms by which legal rules develop, the model's proponents minimize the dangers of opportunistic behavior during the renegotiation phases of governance (that is, the implementation and enforcement phases) by those with the greatest stake in the meaning of incomplete law - in this case, business organizations and legal compliance professionals, including lawyers.
Compiler support for hybrid irregular accesses on multicomputers

This paper starts from a well-known idea, that structure in irregular problems improves sequential performance, and tries to show that the same structure can also be exploited for parallelization of irregular problems on a distributedmemory multi-computer. Moreover, we will show that this process can be automated through extensions to an HPF/ Fortran-77 distributed-memory compiler and a new run-time support for irregular problems, PILAR. Finally, we will show experimental results on a real multi-computer that validate our approach.
Wires: a geometric deformation technique

Finding effective interactive deformation techniques for complex geometric objects continues to be a challenging problem in modeling and animation. We present an approach that is inspired by armatures used by sculptors, in which wire curves give definition to an object and shape its deformable features. We also introduce domain curves that define the domain of deformation about an object. A wire together with a collection of domain curves provide a new basis for an implicit modeling primitive. Wires directly reflect object geometry, and as such they provide a coarse geometric representation of an object that can be created through sketching. Furthermore, the aggregate deformation from several wires is easy to define. We show that a single wire is an appealing direct manipulation deformation technique; we demonstrate that the combination of wires and domain curves provide a new way to outline the shape of an implicit volume in space; and we describe techniques for the aggregation of deformations resulting from multiple wires, domain curves and their interaction with each other and other deformation techniques. The power of our approach is illustrated using applications of animating figures with flexible articulations, modeling wrinkled surfaces and stitching geometry together.
Predictive role of tumor size in breast cancer with axillary lymph node involvement - can size of primary tumor be used to omit an unnecessary axillary lymph node dissection?

BACKGROUND Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women worldwide. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between tumor size and axillary lymph node involvement (ALNI) in patients with invasive lesions, to find the best candidates for a full axillary dissection. Additionally, we evaluated the association between tumor size and invasive behavior. The study was based on data from 789 patients with histopathologically proven invasive breast cancer diagnosed in Shohada University hospital in Tehran, Iran (1993-2009). Cinical and histopathological characteristics of tumors were collected. Patients were divided into 6 groups according to primary tumor size: group I (0.1-≤1cm), II (1.1-≤2cm), III (2.1-≤3cm), IV (3.1-≤4cm), V (4.1-≤5cm) and VI (>5cm). The mean(±SD) size of primary tumor at the time of diagnosis was 3.59±2.69 cm that gradually declined during the course of study. There was a significant correlation between tumor size and ALNI (p<0.001). A significant positive correlation between primary tumor size and involvement of surrounding tissue was also found (p<0.001). The mean number of LNI in group VI was significantly higher than other groups (p<0.05). We observed more involvement of lymph nodes, blood vessels, skin and areola-nipple tissue with increase in tumor size.We found 15.3% overall incidence of ALNI in tumors ≤2 cm, indicating the need for more investigation to omit full axillary lymph node dissection with an acceptable risk for tumors below this diameter. While in patients with tumors ≥2 cm, 84.3% of them had nodal metastases, so the best management for this group would be a full ALND. Tumor size is a significant predictor of ALNM and involvement of surrounding tissue, so that an exact estimation of the size of primary tumor is necessary prior to surgery to make the best decision for management of patients with invasive breast cancer.
Temperament and Fatigue Management in Persons With Chronic Rheumatic Disease

Background: In persons with chronic conditions, fatigue is often a disruptive symptom with a devastating impact on overall well-being. Descriptions of experiences with fatigue contribute to advancing knowledge and improving health outcomes. Aim: To describe the influence temperament has on fatigue representation, self-care strategies, and strategy success. Method: A secondary analysis of an existing database of personal characteristics and symptom experiences of adults with chronic rheumatic diseases was conducted. All participants who reported fatigue at least once during the first week of participation in the study were included. Relationships were examined among demographic variables, temperamental dispositions, and symptom representation. Results: Significant relationships were demonstrated between perceived symptom seriousness, interference and helpfulness of selected strategies, and both demographic variables and temperamental dispositions. Conclusions: When choosing interventions for the individual experiencing fatigue, be aware of demographic data and use assessment techniques to promote positive health practices.
Biometric Changes After Trabeculectomy with Contact and Non-contact Biometry

Purpose To compare biometric changes measured with contact and noncontact methods after mitomycin-C–augmented trabeculectomy. Methods In this prospective study, 31 eyes from 31 glaucoma patients scheduled for primary trabeculectomy were enrolled. Biometric parameters including axial length (AL), anterior chamber depth (ACD), and lens thickness (LT) were measured using contact ultrasound biometry (UD-6000 Ultrasonic A/B scanner biometer; Tomey Corporation, Nagoya, Japan) and a noncontact optical biometry device (Lenstar; Haag-Streit AG, Koeniz, Switzerland). Measurements were taken the day before trabeculectomy and then compared with measurements obtained 3 and 6 months after surgery. Results The AL and ACD were significantly decreased at 3 and 6 months compared with baseline values taken with each biometry method. There was a significant increase in LT measured by the Lenstar device at the 3- and 6-month follow-up. At both the 3- and 6-month follow-up, the mean AL measurement reduction with the Lenstar device was significantly lower than that of the A-scan ultrasound measurements. The mean ACD changes between the two devices were not significantly different. Conclusions There is a small but significant decrease in the AL and ACD after trabeculectomy as measured with both the contact and noncontact methods. The amount of AL reduction measured is significantly smaller using the noncontact method, making it the preferable method for intraocular lens power calculation for patients who need cataract surgery combined with or after trabeculectomy. The LT measured by the Lenstar device increased significantly after the operation, which can be an early sign of the progression of cataractous changes after trabeculectomy.
A Novel Dual Kinase Function of the RET Proto-oncogene Negatively Regulates Activating Transcription Factor 4-mediated Apoptosis*

Background: Activating mutations of the receptor tyrosine kinase RET are associated with oncogenic function in medullary thyroid cancer. Results: RET is a dual specificity kinase, phosphorylates ATF4, and inhibits expression of the ATF4 target proapoptotic genes. Conclusion: RET prevents apoptosis through inhibition of ATF4 activity. Significance: Simultaneous targeting of RET and ATF4 may provide clinical benefit in cancers with RET abnormalities. The RET proto-oncogene, a tyrosine kinase receptor, is widely known for its essential role in cell survival. Germ line missense mutations, which give rise to constitutively active oncogenic RET, were found to cause multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2, a dominant inherited cancer syndrome that affects neuroendocrine organs. However, the mechanisms by which RET promotes cell survival and prevents cell death remain elusive. We demonstrate that in addition to cytoplasmic localization, RET is localized in the nucleus and functions as a tyrosine-threonine dual specificity kinase. Knockdown of RET by shRNA in medullary thyroid cancer-derived cells stimulated expression of activating transcription factor 4 (ATF4), a master transcription factor for stress-induced apoptosis, through activation of its target proapoptotic genes NOXA and PUMA. RET knockdown also increased sensitivity to cisplatin-induced apoptosis. We observed that RET physically interacted with and phosphorylated ATF4 at tyrosine and threonine residues. Indeed, RET kinase activity was required to inhibit the ATF4-dependent activation of the NOXA gene because the site-specific substitution mutations that block threonine phosphorylation increased ATF4 stability and activated its targets NOXA and PUMA. Moreover, chromatin immunoprecipitation assays revealed that ATF4 occupancy increased at the NOXA promoter in TT cells treated with tyrosine kinase inhibitors or the ATF4 inducer eeyarestatin as well as in RET-depleted TT cells. Together these findings reveal RET as a novel dual kinase with nuclear localization and provide mechanisms by which RET represses the proapoptotic genes through direct interaction with and phosphorylation-dependent inactivation of ATF4 during the pathogenesis of medullary thyroid cancer.
Orphans of the hills.

Malizo Mnguni started Vusisizwe an organisation providing home-based care and orphan support in 1999. On the basis of one phone call I arrive in the large and crowded town of Flagstaff for the day to discover that Mr Mnguni has set up meetings for me with Mr Kwalela of the local municipality Mrs Swana of the Department of Social Development the sister-in-charge of the Flagstaff local clinic all eight Vusisizwe volunteers and some of the orphans and their guardians in the nearby village of Lujecweni. Mr Kwalela in charge of Community and Protection is happy to lock his door and talk to me uninterrupted. He explains that nothing much happens in the Eastern Cape but he wants to know first of all what I can do for Vusisizwe which he supports in whatever ways he can. He makes it clear that there is only one thing that will make any difference to the organisation and the people it is trying to help: Money. Mr Kwelela has tried to ascertain what the HIV statistics for his municipality (Qaukeni) are and has asked the sister-in-charge of the local clinic to provide him with statistics from the voluntary counselling and testing (VCT) programme but as yet has received no information. This is not surprising. When I visit the local clinic myself it is so full reaching the sister requires pushing through a crowd that ends directly in front of her desk. She can hardly hear me above the din and the imperative of sick people waiting for her attention makes the questions I planned to ask her seem ludicrous. (excerpt)
A calixpyrrole derivative acts as an antagonist to GPER, a G-protein coupled receptor: mechanisms and models

ABSTRACT Estrogens regulate numerous pathophysiological processes, mainly by binding to and activating estrogen receptor (ER)α and ERβ. Increasing amounts of evidence have recently demonstrated that G-protein coupled receptor 30 (GPR30; also known as GPER) is also involved in diverse biological responses to estrogens both in normal and cancer cells. The classical ER and GPER share several features, including the ability to bind to identical compounds; nevertheless, some ligands exhibit opposed activity through these receptors. It is worth noting that, owing to the availability of selective agonists and antagonists of GPER for research, certain differential roles elicited by GPER compared with ER have been identified. Here, we provide evidence on the molecular mechanisms through which a calixpyrrole derivative acts as a GPER antagonist in different model systems, such as breast tumor cells and cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) obtained from breast cancer patients. Our data might open new perspectives toward the development of a further class of selective GPER ligands in order to better dissect the role exerted by this receptor in different pathophysiological conditions. Moreover, calixpyrrole derivatives could be considered in future anticancer strategies targeting GPER in cancer cells. Drug Discovery Collection: This paper highlights mechanisms through which a calixpyrrole derivative acts as a newly identified selective antagonist of GPER in different model systems.
Emotional Divergence Influences Information Spreading in Twitter

We analyze data about the micro-blogging site Twitter using sentiment extraction techniques. From an information perspective, Twitter users are involved mostly in two processes: information creation and subsequent distribution (tweeting), and pure information distribution (retweeting), with pronounced preference to the first. However a rather substantial fraction of tweets are retweeted. Here, we address the role of the sentiment expressed in tweets for their potential aftermath. We find that although the overall sentiment (polarity) does not influence the probability of a tweet to be retweeted, a new measure called "emotional divergence" does have an impact. In general, tweets with high emotional diversity have a better chance of being retweeted, hence influencing the distribution of information.
The Relationship Between Parenting Styles, Learning Autonomy, and Scholastic Achievement in Undergraduate College Students

vii Chapter 1: Introduction 1 Chapter 2: Review of Literature 7 Definitions of Parenting Styles 7 Scholastic Achievement 10 Authoritative Parenting 11 Permissive and Authoritarian Parenting 14 Learning Autonomy 16 Teaching Styles 19 Chapter 3: Method 26 Participants 26 Procedure 26 Instruments 27 Parental Authority Questionnaire 27 Perceptions of Parents Scales: The College-Student Scale 28 Learning Self-Regulation Questionnaire 29 Scholastic Achievement 30 Analysis 30
Purification and Partial Characterization of a Paracoccidioides brasiliensis Protein with Capacity To Bind to Extracellular Matrix Proteins

ABSTRACT Microorganisms adhere to extracellular matrix proteins by means of their own surface molecules. Paracoccidioides brasiliensis conidia have been shown to be capable of interacting with extracellular matrix proteins. We aimed at determining the presence of fungal proteins that could interact with extracellular matrix protein and, if found, attempt their purification and characterization. Various extracts were prepared from P. brasiliensis mycelial and yeast cultures (total homogenates, β-mercaptoethanol, and sodium dodecyl sulfate [SDS] extracts) and analyzed by ligand affinity assays with fibronectin, fibrinogen and laminin. Two polypeptides were detected in both fungal forms. SDS extracts that interacted with all the extracellular matrix protein were tested; their molecular masses were 19 and 32 kDa. Analysis of the N-terminal amino acid sequence of the purified 32-kDa mycelial protein showed substantial homology with P. brasiliensis, Histoplasma capsulatum, and Neurospora crassa hypothetical proteins. Additionally, a monoclonal antibody (MAb) produced against this protein recognized the 32-kDa protein in the SDS extracts of both fungal forms for immunoblot. Immunofluorescence analysis revealed that this MAb reacted not only with mycelia and yeast cells, but also with conidia, indicating that this protein was shared by the three fungal propagules. By immunoelectron microscopy, this protein was detected in the cell walls and in the cytoplasm. Both the 32-kDa purified protein and MAb inhibited the adherence of conidia to the three extracellular matrix proteins in a dose-dependent manner. These findings demonstrate the presence of two polypeptides capable of interacting with extracellular matrix proteins on the surface of P. brasiliensis propagules, indicating that there may be common receptors for laminin, fibronectin, and fibrinogen. These proteins would be crucial for initial conidial adherence and perhaps also in dissemination of paracoccidioidomycosis.