Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Great Debate

with legs; it'll run and run. From Gordon Jaaback: It is obvious from Jim Arthur's article that there is still much controversy and apprehension over the merits and use of the USGA Specification. As an agronomist just four years in Britain I am loath to query his wealth of experience in this country yet none of us in the technical, commercial or practical world of turfgrass can override sound scientific fact seen in the correct context. Today, with the rise in professional sport and the added boost through the media, the demands on high quality grassed surfaces are much greater than ever before. Wear is heavier and consequent compaction on them is more severe. Furthermore, as Jim Arthur maintains, play is extended or often concentrated particularly golf, rugby and football into a winter season which differs markedly with the harsh extremes in the North American continent, where snow cover or continual freezing prevents play and enforces a period of dormancy. Yet this in itself should not prejudice the use of USGA Specification in Britain. It is not my theory that is offered it is the basics of turfgrass science, soil physics and hydrology, which should be the foundation of any turfgrass programme. On the matter of USGA Green Section golf greens: 1: I am sure Jim Arthur acknowledges that the specification has no relevance to the choice of grass species it was developed to overcome physical problems in golf greens and is based on scientific data on the movement of water in soils and their physical properties. The main concerns were compaction, poor internal drainage and the need to get the landing ball to 'bite'. Since these problems occur everywhere the game is played, the specification will have an application in every location.
Experimental drought and heat can delay phenological development and reduce foliar and shoot growth in semiarid trees

Higher temperatures associated with climate change are anticipated to trigger an earlier start to the growing season, which could increase the terrestrial C sink strength. Greater variability in the amount and timing of precipitation is also expected with higher temperatures, bringing increased drought stress to many ecosystems. We experimentally assessed the effects of higher temperature and drought on the foliar phenology and shoot growth of mature trees of two semiarid conifer species. We exposed field‐grown trees to a ~45% reduction in precipitation with a rain‐out structure (‘drought’), a ~4.8 °C temperature increase with open‐top chambers (‘heat’), and a combination of both simultaneously (‘drought + heat’). Over the 2013 growing season, drought, heat, and drought + heat treatments reduced shoot and needle growth in piñon pine (Pinus edulis) by ≥39%, while juniper (Juniperus monosperma) had low growth and little response to these treatments. Needle emergence on primary axis branches of piñon pine was delayed in heat, drought, and drought + heat treatments by 19–57 days, while secondary axis branches were less likely to produce needles in the heat treatment, and produced no needles at all in the drought + heat treatment. Growth of shoots and needles, and the timing of needle emergence correlated inversely with xylem water tension and positively with nonstructural carbohydrate concentrations. Our findings demonstrate the potential for delayed phenological development and reduced growth with higher temperatures and drought in tree species that are vulnerable to drought and reveal potential mechanistic links to physiological stress responses. Climate change projections of an earlier and longer growing season with higher temperatures, and consequent increases in terrestrial C sink strength, may be incorrect for regions where plants will face increased drought stress with climate change.
Downregulation of miR-200a Induces EMT Phenotypes and CSC-like Signatures through Targeting the β-catenin Pathway in Hepatic Oval Cells

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) can be derived from malignant transformed adult hepatic progenitor cells. However, the regulatory factors and molecular mechanisms underlying the process are not well defined. Our previous microRNA (miRNA) microarray analysis revealed a significant decrease of miR-200a level in F344 rat HCC side population (SP) fraction cells versus their normal counterparts. In the present study, we further investigated the effect of miR-200a on hepatic oval cell (HOC) phenotypes. We first confirmed downregulated miR-200a levels in rat hepatoma cells compared with WB-F344 cells. Next, by lentivirus-mediated loss-of-function studies, we showed that stable knockdown of miR-200a confers a mesenchymal phenotype to WB-F344 cells, including an elongated cell morphology, enhanced cell migration ability and expression of epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT)-representative markers. Concomitantly, several cancer stem cell (CSC)-like traits appeared in these cells, which exhibit enhanced spheroid-forming capacity, express putative hepatic CSC markers and display superior resistance to chemotherapeutic drugs in vitro. Furthermore, bioinformatics analysis, luciferase assays and western blot analysis identified β-catenin (CTNNB1) as a direct and functional target of miR-200a. Knockdown of miR-200a partially activated Wnt/β-catenin signaling, and silencing of β-catenin functionally attenuated anti-miR-200a effects in vitro in WB-F344 cells. At length, in vivo xenograft assay demonstrated the acquisition of tumorigenicity of WB-F344 cells after miR-200a siliencing. Collectively, our findings indicate that miR-200a may function as an important regulatory factor in neoplastic transition of HOCs by targeting the β-catenin pathway.
Diarrhea induction by rotavirus NSP4 in the homologous mouse model system.

Comparison of the NSP4 amino acid sequences from 31 strains of mammalian rotaviruses revealed the presence of four distinct NSP4 alleles; i.e., the Wa, KUN, AU-1, and EW alleles. The EW allele consists only of NSP4s from murine rotavirus strains and is divergent from other NSP4 alleles from the evolutionary perspective. There have been conflicting reports regarding the enterotoxigenic activity of NSP4 in the mouse model system; heterologous simian and porcine rotavirus NSP4s function as an enterotoxin in mice, while a homologous EC NSP4 does not play a dominant role as an enterotoxin in the cystic fibrosis conductance regulator knockout mice. To further examine the enterotoxigenic activity of NSP4, we expressed in Escherichia coli a recombinant protein consisting of glutathione S-transferase and amino acid residues 86-175 of the EW NSP4. We found that this fusion protein caused diarrhea in the majority (8/14) of 5- to 6-day-old CD1 mice. This study confirmed and extended that group A rotavirus NSP4s were able to induce diarrhea in neonatal mice and had an enterotoxigenic activity.
A Cellular Repressor of E1A-Stimulated Genes That Inhibits Activation by E2F

ABSTRACT The adenovirus E1A protein both activates and represses gene expression to promote cellular proliferation and inhibit differentiation. Here we report the identification and characterization of a cellular protein that antagonizes transcriptional activation and cellular transformation by E1A. This protein, termed CREG for cellular repressor of E1A-stimulated genes, shares limited sequence similarity with E1A and binds both the general transcription factor TBP and the tumor suppressor pRb in vitro. In transfection assays, CREG represses transcription and antagonizes 12SE1A-mediated activation of both the adenovirus E2 and cellular hsp70 promoters. CREG also antagonizes E1A-mediated transformation, as expression of CREG reduces the efficiency with which E1A and the oncogeneras cooperate to transform primary cells. Binding sites for E2F, a key transcriptional regulator of cell cycle progression, were found to be required for repression of the adenovirus E2 promoter by CREG, and CREG was shown to inhibit activation by E2F. Since both the adenovirus E1A protein and transcriptional activation by E2F function to promote cellular proliferation, the results presented here suggest that CREG activity may contribute to the transcriptional control of cell growth and differentiation.
Current Therapeutic Options in the Management of Superficial Femoral Artery Occlusive Disease

Abstract The management of superficial femoral artery occlusive disease remains challenging for vascular surgeons. Despite the advances and dramatic changes we have seen in modern practice with the development and introduction of new endovascular techniques, long-term results with these interventions remain disappointing when compared to the “gold standard” of a vein bypass with a good run-off. Furthermore, there is little Level 1 evidence to guide us with regards to the best treatment strategy. In this article, we review some of the currently available open surgical and endovascular options for the management of superficial femoral artery disease.
Dopamine D1 receptor activation in the medial prefrontal cortex prevents the expression of cocaine sensitization.

This study examined whether microinjection of the full D1 agonist, SKF 81297, or the D1 antagonist, SCH 23390, into the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) would alter the expression phase of cocaine sensitization. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were administered saline or cocaine (15 mg/kg, i.p.) once per day for seven consecutive days. After 8 to 17 days withdrawal, rats received a bilateral intra-mPFC microinjection of SKF 81297: either 0, 0.03, 0.1, or 0.3 microg/side; SCH 23390: either 0, 0.1, 0.3, or 1.0 microg/side; or a combination of 0.1 microg of SKF 81297 + 0.3 microg of SCH 23390, followed by an i.p. saline or cocaine (15 mg/kg, i.p.) injection. In naïve rats, vertical activity was elevated by the two lower doses of SKF 81297. A similar enhancement of cocaine-induced activity was observed in daily saline rats at the highest dose tested. In contrast, SKF 81297 suppressed the expression of sensitization to cocaine. This blockade of sensitization was prevented by coinfusion of SCH 23390. Infusion of SCH 23390 alone into the mPFC in daily saline and cocaine-pretreated rats demonstrated a suppression of cocaine-induced locomotion in daily saline-pretreated rats after the highest dose, but a slight augmentation of activity after the lowest dose in daily cocaine-pretreated rats. These results demonstrate a contribution by mPFC D1 receptors in the expression of cocaine sensitization and further suggest that the effects of D1 receptor activation in the mPFC occur in opposite directions in daily saline versus daily cocaine-pretreated rats.
Prediction of Motor Recovery Using Quantitative Parameters of Motor Evoked Potential in Patients With Stroke

Objective To investigate the clinical significance of quantitative parameters in transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS)-induced motor evoked potentials (MEP) which can be adopted to predict functional recovery of the upper limb in stroke patients in the early subacute phase. Methods One hundred thirteen patients (61 men, 52 women; mean age 57.8±12.2 years) who suffered faiarst-ever stroke were included in this study. All participants underwent TMS-induced MEP session to assess the corticospinal excitability of both hand motor cortices within 3 weeks after stroke onset. After the resting motor threshold (rMT) was assessed, five sweeps of MEP were performed, and the mean amplitude of the MEP was measured. Latency of MEP, volume of the MEP output curve, recruitment ratios, and intracortical inhibition and facilitation were also measured. Motor function was assessed using the Fugl-Meyer Assessment scale (FMA) within 3 weeks and at 3 months after stroke onset. Correlation analysis was performed between TMS-induced MEP derived measures and FMA scores. Results In the MEP response group, rMT and rMT ratio measures within 3 weeks after stroke onset showed a significant negative correlation with the total and upper limb FMA scores at 3 months after stroke (p<0.001). Multiple regression analysis revealed that FMA score and rMT ratio, but not rMT within 3 weeks were independent prognostic factors for FMA scores at 3 months after stroke. Conclusion These results indicated that the quantitative parameter of TMS-induced MEP, especially rMT ratio in the early subacute phase, could be used as a parameter to predict motor function in patients with stroke.
The impact of asymmetric information about collateral values in mortgage lending

I empirically analyze the sources and magnitude of asymmetric information between competing lenders in residential mortgage lending. I exploit that property developers often cooperate with vertically integrated mortgage lenders to provide financing to buyers of their newly constructed homes. These integrated lenders might have superior information about both mortgage collateral quality and borrower characteristics. I construct a dataset of all housing transactions and associated mortgages in Arizona between 2000 and 2010. This allows me to test for asymmetric information by comparing the return of initially similar houses in the same development financed by different lenders. I find that houses financed by an integrated lender outperform similar houses financed by non-integrated competitors by 50 basis points annually. They are also less likely to enter into foreclosure. These differences persist during the ownership period of the second owner of the house. The outperformance of houses financed by an integrated lender is over twice as large amongst houses built on expansive soil, which makes housing return more sensitive to construction quality. Non-integrated lenders charge 10 basis points higher interest rates when competing against an integrated lender. This interest rate increase is larger for mortgages with a high loan-to-value ratio, for which repayment is more sensitive to subsequent changes in collateral value. These results are highly consistent with the presence of significant asymmetric information about collateral quality in mortgage lending.
Using robots to understand social behaviour

A major challenge in studying social behaviour stems from the need to disentangle the behaviour of each individual from the resulting collective. One way to overcome this problem is to construct a model of the behaviour of an individual, and observe whether combining many such individuals leads to the predicted outcome. This can be achieved by using robots. In this review we discuss the strengths and weaknesses of such an approach for studies of social behaviour. We find that robots—whether studied in groups of simulated or physical robots, or used to infiltrate and manipulate groups of living organisms—have important advantages over conventional individual‐based models and have contributed greatly to the study of social behaviour. In particular, robots have increased our understanding of self‐organization and the evolution of cooperative behaviour and communication. However, the resulting findings have not had the desired impact on the biological community. We suggest reasons for why this may be the case, and how the benefits of using robots can be maximized in future research on social behaviour.
Keso - A scalable, reliable and secure read/write peer-to-peer file system

In this thesis we present the design of Keso, a distributed and completely decentralized file system based on the peer-to-peer overlay network DKS. While designing Keso we have taken into account many of the problems that exist in today’s distributed file systems. Traditionally, distributed file systems have been built around dedicated file servers which often use expensive hardware to minimize the risk of breakdown and to handle the load. System administrators are required to monitor the load and disk usage of the file servers and to manually add clients and servers to the system. Another drawback with centralized file systems are that a lot of storage space is unused on clients. Measurements we have taken on existing computer systems has shown that a large part of the storage capacity of workstations is unused. In the system we looked at there was three times as much storage space available on workstations than was stored in the distributed file system. We have also shown that much data stored in a production use distributed file system is redundant. The main goals for the design of Keso has been that it should make use of spare resources, avoid storing unnecessarily redundant data, scale well, be self-organizing and be a secure file system suitable for a real world environment. By basing Keso on peer-to-peer techniques it becomes highly scalable, fault tolerant and self-organizing. Keso is intended to run on ordinary workstations and can make use of the previously unused storage space. Keso also provides means for access control and data privacy despite being built on top of untrusted components. The file system utilizes the fact that a lot of data stored in traditional file systems is redundant by letting all files that contains a datablock with the same contents reference the same datablock in the file system. This is achieved while still maintaining access control and data privacy.
Examining Outcomes of Acute Psychiatric Hospitalization Among Children

Within the past two decades, few studies have examined outcomes of acute psychiatric hospitalization among children, demonstrating change in emotional and behavioral functioning. A secondary analysis of pretest/posttest data collected on 36 children was conducted, using the Target Symptom Rating (TSR). The TSR is a 13-item measure with two subscales—Emotional Problems and Behavioral Problems and was designed for evaluation of outcome among children and adolescents in acute inpatient psychiatric settings. Results of this study, its limitations, and the barriers encountered in the implementation of the TSR scale as part of routine clinical practice are discussed.
High-performance nested CEP query processing over event streams

Complex event processing (CEP) over event streams has become increasingly important for real-time applications ranging from health care, supply chain management to business intelligence. These monitoring applications submit complex queries to track sequences of events that match a given pattern. As these systems mature the need for increasingly complex nested sequence query support arises, while the state-of-art CEP systems mostly support the execution of flat sequence queries only. To assure real-time responsiveness and scalability for pattern detection even on huge volume high-speed streams, efficient processing techniques must be designed. In this paper, we first analyze the prevailing nested pattern query processing strategy and identify several serious shortcomings. Not only are substantial subsequences first constructed just to be subsequently discarded, but also opportunities for shared execution of nested subexpressions are overlooked. As foundation, we introduce NEEL, a CEP query language for expressing nested CEP pattern queries composed of sequence, negation, AND and OR operators. To overcome deficiencies, we design rewriting rules for pushing negation into inner subexpressions. Next, we devise a normalization procedure that employs these rules for flattening a nested complex event expression. To conserve CPU and memory consumption, we propose several strategies for efficient shared processing of groups of normalized NEEL subexpressions. These strategies include prefix caching, suffix clustering and customized “bit-marking” execution strategies. We design an optimizer to partition the set of all CEP subexpressions in a NEEL normal form into groups, each of which can then be mapped to one of our shared execution operators. Lastly, we evaluate our technologies by conducting a performance study to assess the CPU processing time using real-world stock trades data. Our results confirm that our NEEL execution in many cases performs 100 fold faster than the traditional iterative nested execution strategy for real stock market query workloads.
Effect of Vegetation on the Late Miocene Ocean Circulation

We examine the role of the vegetation cover and the associated hydrological cycle on the deep ocean circulation during the Late Miocene (~10 million years ago). In our simulations, an open Central American gateway and exchange with fresh Pacific waters leads to a weak and shallow thermohaline circulation in the North Atlantic Ocean which is consistent with most other modeling studies for this time period. Here, we estimate the effect of a changed vegetation cover on the ocean general circulation using atmospheric circulation model simulations for the late Miocene climate with 353 ppmv CO2 level. The Late Miocene land surface cover reduces the albedo, the net evaporation in the North Atlantic catchment is affected and the North Atlantic water becomes more saline leading to a more vigorous North Atlantic Deep Water circulation. These effects reveal potentially important feedbacks between the ocean circulation, the hydrological cycle and the land surface cover for Cenozoic climate evolution.
Absolute Distance Measurement With Improved Accuracy Using Laser Diode Self-Mixing Interferometry in a Closed Loop

We present a new method for the measurement of the absolute distance of a remote target based on the laser diode self-mixing interferometry technique, which is assisted by an electronic feedback loop that is capable of improving the measurement accuracy. The feedback loop supplies a periodic change of the emitted wavelength that exactly corresponds to a single interferometric fringe. This allows the measurement of the target distance with higher accuracy, which, in principle, is limited only by the detection shot noise and not by the fringe quantization error that is typical for the conventional fringe-counting approaches. We developed a prototype that is capable of measuring the target distance with 0.3-mm accuracy in the 0.2- to 3-m range.
Photoperiodic Variation in CD45-Positive Cells and Cell Proliferation in the Mediobasal Hypothalamus of the Soay Sheep

The Earth's solar orbit induces annual climatic changes challenging to survival. Many animals have evolved to cope with seasonal variability through compensatory annual changes in their physiology and behavior, which involve innate long-term timing and photoperiodic synchronization to anticipate the environmental seasonal cycles. Here we considered the potential involvement of cyclical histogenesis in seasonal timing mechanisms in the sheep. Adult Soay rams were established in three distinctive seasonal states by controlled photoperiod exposure. A first group, representing the condition in late spring (long-photoperiod [LP] group), was taken indoors in May and exposed to 4 wks of 16 h light/day (LP). A second group was exposed to 20 wks of LP to establish a late-summer/long-day refractory condition (LPR group). A third group of animals was brought indoors in August and exposed to 4 wks of LP followed by 4 wks of 8 h light/day (short photoperiod [SP]) to establish an autumn-like condition (SP group). At the end of these regimes, we injected 5-bromo-2-deoxyuridine (BrdU), and animals were killed 24 h or 4 wks later. When BrdU was administered 24 h before death, more BrdU-immunopositive cells were detected in the hilus of the hippocampus in LP compared with SP animals, indicative of a higher proliferation rate. When BrdU was administered 4 wks before death, more BrdU-positive cells were detected in the hippocampus under LP, compared with SP, indicating increased cell survival. These mitotic cells were occasionally seen to adopt a neuronal phenotype in the hippocampus, but not in the hypothalamus. Approximately 10% of BrdU-positive cells in the basal hypothalamus coexpressed the pan-leukocytic marker CD45, and showed morphological features and regional distribution consistent with ameboid microglia. Increased numbers of these cells were detected in the region of the median eminence and tuberoinfundibular sulcus of animals kept in SP compared with LP or LPR. These data suggest that neuroimmune mechanisms may be involved in photoperiod-dependent seasonal remodeling of the adult brain. (Author correspondence: d.hazlerigg@abdn.ac.uk)