Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Estimation of Canopy Nitrogen Concentration Across C3 and C4 Grasslands Using WorldView-2 Multispectral Data

This paper assesses the potential of multispectral data attained using WorldView-2 (WV2) satellite to estimate and map the variability in canopy nitrogen (N) concentration across C3 and C4 grasslands. The WV2 satellite image was acquired for the Cathedral Peak region of the Drakensberg Mountain range, South Africa. The random forest (RF) regression algorithm was used to develop a relationship between two-band normalized ratio indices (RIs), including the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), computed from the WV2 image data and N concentration. The RF-based variable importance (VIP) scores calculated using the training dataset (n = 150) showed that the RI computed involving the costal-blue (400-450 nm) and yellow (585-625 nm) band is the most important, when predicting canopy N concentration in the area. Using the validation dataset (n = 64), the RF explained 71% of the variation, with a Nash-Sutcliffe efficiency NSE = 0.68, in predicting N across the C3 grass, Festuca costata, and C4 grasses, Themeda triandra and Rendlia altera grasslands. Overall, results indicate that predictions of canopy N using new multispectral data with unique band setting, such as WV2 spectra are possible for C3 and C4 grasslands.
Variability in Quartz Exposure in the Construction Industry: Implications for Assessing Exposure-Response Relations

The aims of this study were to determine implications of inter- and intraindividual variation in exposure to respirable (quartz) dust and of heterogeneity in dust characteristics for epidemiologic research in construction workers. Full-shift personal measurements (n = 67) from 34 construction workers were collected. The between-worker and day-to-day variances of quartz and respirable dust exposure were estimated using mixed models. Heterogeneity in dust characteristics was evaluated by electron microscopic analysis and electron spin resonance. A grouping strategy based on job title resulted in a 2- and 3.5-fold reduction in expected attenuation of a hypothetical exposure-response relation for respirable dust and quartz exposure, respectively, compared to an individual based approach. Material worked on explained most of the between-worker variance in respirable dust and quartz exposure. However, for risk assessment in epidemiology, grouping workers based on the materials they work on is not practical. Microscopic characterization of dust samples showed large quantities of aluminum silicates and large quantities of smaller particles, resulting in a D50 between 1 and 2 μ m. For risk analysis, job title can be used to create exposure groups, although error is introduced by the heterogeneity of dust produced by different construction workers activities and by the nonuniformity of exposure groups. A grouping scheme based on materials worked on would be superior, for both exposure and risk assessment, but is not practical when assessing past exposure. In dust from construction sites, factors are present that are capable of influencing the toxicological potency.
Using feature selection and classification scheme for automating phishing email detection

Email has become the critical communication medium for most organizations. Unfortunately, email-born attacks in computer networks are causing considerable economic losses worldwide. Exiting phishing email blocking appliances have little effect in weeding out the vast majority of phishing emails. At the same time, online criminals are becoming more dangerous and sophisticated. Phishing emails are more active than ever before and putting the average computer user and organizations at risk of significant data, brand and financial loss. In this paper, we propose a hybrid feature selection approach based combination of content-based and behaviour-based. The approach could mine the attacker behaviour based on email header. On a publicly available test corpus, our hybrid features selection is able to achieve 94% accuracy rate.
Association Between Insulin Resistance and Oxidative Stress Parameters in Obese Adolescents with Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

Objective: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has become one of the most common chronic liver diseases in children. The aim of this study was to investigate the associations of oxidative stress with insulin resistance and metabolic risk factors in obese adolescents with NAFLD. Methods: Forty-six obese adolescents (23 girls and 23 boys, mean age: 12.8±2.2 years) and 29 control subjects (15 girls and 14 boys, mean age: 12.7±2.7 years) were enrolled in the study. The obese subjects were divided into two groups (NAFLD group and non-NAFLD group) based on the elevated alanine aminotransferase levels (>30 IU/L) and the presence or absence of liver steatosis detected by ultrasonography. Insulin resistance was evaluated by homeostasis model assessment (HOMA-IR) from fasting samples. Plasma total antioxidant status (TAS) and total oxidant status (TOS) level measurements (REL Assay Diagnostics) were done in all participants. The ratio of TOS to TAS was regarded as an oxidative stress index (OSI), an indicator of the degree of OS. Results: Fasting insulin levels and HOMA-IR values in the NAFLD group were significantly higher than in the non-NAFLD and control groups. TAS measurements were decreased in both obese groups (NAFLD and non-NAFLD) in comparison with the control group. TOS and OSI measurements were higher in the NAFLD group than in the non-NAFLD and control groups. OSI was positively correlated with fasting insulin (r=0.67, p=0.01) and HOMA-IR (r=0.71, p=0.02) in the NAFLD obese group. Conclusions: In this cross-sectional study, elevated OS markers in obese adolescents with NAFLD were associated with insulin resistance. This data suggest that an antioxidant therapy might have a potential for treating NAFLD associated with insulin resistance. Conflict of interest:None declared.
A nuclear mutation in maize blocks the processing and translation of several chloroplast mRNAs and provides evidence for the differential translation of alternative mRNA forms.

A mutant designated crp1 (chloroplast RNA processing 1) was identified in a screen for transposon‐induced maize mutants with defects in chloroplast gene expression. crp1 is a recessive, nuclear mutation that causes the loss of the cytochrome f/b6 complex and a reduction in photosystem I. The molecular basis for these protein losses is unique relative to previously described mutants with defects in organelle gene expression; it involves defects in the metabolism of two organellar mRNAs and in the translation of two organellar proteins. Mutants lack the monocistronic forms of the petB and petD mRNAs (encoding cytochrome f/b6 subunits), but contain normal levels of their polycistronic precursors. Pulse‐labeling experiments revealed normal synthesis of the petB gene product, but a large decrease in synthesis of the petD gene product. These results suggest that petD sequences are more efficiently translated in a monocistronic than in a polycistronic context, thereby providing evidence that the elaborate RNA processing typical of chloroplast transcripts can play a role in controlling gene expression. Structural predictions suggest that the petD start codon lies in a stable hairpin in the polycistronic RNA, but remains unpaired in the monocistronic transcript. Thus, processing to a monocistronic form may increase translational efficiency by releasing the translation initiation region from inhibitory interactions with upstream RNA sequences. Synthesis of a third cytochrome f/b6 subunit, encoded by the petA gene, was undetectable in crp1, although its mRNA appeared unaltered. Two mechanisms are consistent with the simultaneous loss of both petA and petD protein synthesis: the translation of the petA and petD mRNAs might be coupled via a mechanism independent of crp1, or the crp1 gene may function to coordinate the expression of the two genes, which encode subunits of the same complex.
Identification of different oxygen species in oxide nanostructures with 17O solid-state NMR spectroscopy

Nanostructured oxides find multiple uses in a diverse range of applications including catalysis, energy storage, and environmental management, their higher surface areas, and, in some cases, electronic properties resulting in different physical properties from their bulk counterparts. Developing structure-property relations for these materials requires a determination of surface and subsurface structure. Although microscopy plays a critical role owing to the fact that the volumes sampled by such techniques may not be representative of the whole sample, complementary characterization methods are urgently required. We develop a simple nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) strategy to detect the first few layers of a nanomaterial, demonstrating the approach with technologically relevant ceria nanoparticles. We show that the 17O resonances arising from the first to third surface layer oxygen ions, hydroxyl sites, and oxygen species near vacancies can be distinguished from the oxygen ions in the bulk, with higher-frequency 17O chemical shifts being observed for the lower coordinated surface sites. H217O can be used to selectively enrich surface sites, allowing only these particular active sites to be monitored in a chemical process. 17O NMR spectra of thermally treated nanosized ceria clearly show how different oxygen species interconvert at elevated temperature. Density functional theory calculations confirm the assignments and reveal a strong dependence of chemical shift on the nature of the surface. These results open up new strategies for characterizing nanostructured oxides and their applications.
Core Self-Evaluation and Goal Orientation: Understanding Work Stress.

This study investigates the dispositional factors related to work stress. Specifically, previous research has demonstrated a relationship between core self-evaluation (CSE) and general life stress. This article extends past research by examining the relationship between CSE and work stress, and includes goal orientation as a potential mediator of this relationship. Learning goal orientation and performance goal orientation are two variables that are salient to HRD scholarship interests. The study results supported the hypothesis that CSE is negatively related to work stress, and that performance-prove goal orientation partially mediates this relationship. Given Russ-Eft's (2001) call for additional research exploring work stress and learning, and a recent meta-analysis exploring the relationship between another core personality trait (psychological capital) and work stress (Avey, Reichard, Luthans, & Mhatre, 2011), the results of this study make an important contribution to our understanding of the relationship between core personality traits and work stress research. Furthermore, managers and executive coaches can use the results of this study to develop interventions designed to address the stress-related problems of individuals and organizations.
Inhibition of Human Mesangial Cell Proliferation by Calcium Channel Blockers

Human mesangial cells in culture proliferate in response to platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) and thrombin. Both of these agents also induce changes in cytosolic calcium that are dependent on both mobilization of intracellular calcium and influx of extracellular calcium. We hypothesized that calcium channel blockers, by preventing influx of extracellular calcium, may inhibit proliferation induced by these mitogens. We found that three different calcium channel blockers, diltiazem, nifediplne, and verapamil, were able to significantly inhibit [3H]thymidine incorporation into human mesangial cells induced by either PDGF or thrombin. The inhibitory effect of these agents was significant at 1 0 s M. The calcium channel blockers also attenuated the increases in cell number and percentage of labeled nuclei induced by these mitogens. In contrast, dantrolene, an inhibitor of intracellular calcium mobilization, had no significant effect on [3H]thymidine incorporation by PDGF or thrombin. Finally, the calcium channel agonist, Bay K 8644 was found to stimulate [3H]thymidine incorporation into mesangial cells. Although the mechanisms for these effects of calcium channel blockers are not proven, these studies suggest that influx of extracellular calcium is an important signal in mitogen-induced mesangial proliferation and that these agents can be beneficial in preventing or attenuating renal diseases characterized by proliferation of these cells.
Neuropathic pruritus (itch) in neuromyelitis optica

Background: Neuropathic pruritus (itch) is an uncommon, but well described, symptom in neurology. There are itch-specific neurons in the dorsal horn of the spinal cord. We noted excessive pruritus in patients with neuromyelitis optica (NMO). Objective: We aimed to explore the characteristics of pruritus in NMO patients. Methods: We reviewed case records of a well-defined cohort of 45 serial aquaporin-4 antibody-positive patients visiting the national NMO service. All patients were interviewed. Results: Of the 45 antibody-positive NMO patients, 44 had myelitis and 12 of those 44 (27.3%) patients reported pruritus within a week of other symptoms of transverse myelitis with central cord involvement. In three patients, pruritus was the first symptom of a relapse, while in one case, pruritus was the very first symptom of the index episode of NMO. Conclusion: Neuropathic pruritus seems to be a common, but under-recognised symptom of myelitis associated with NMO.
A Comparison of 2-Phenyl-2-(1-piperidinyl)propane (PPP), 1,1′,1″-Phosphinothioylidynetrisaziridine (ThioTEPA), Clopidogrel, and Ticlopidine as Selective Inactivators of Human Cytochrome P450 2B6

The use of selective chemical inhibitors of human cytochrome P450 (P450) enzymes represents a powerful method by which the relative contributions of various human P450 enzymes to the metabolism of drugs can be determined. However, the identification of CYP2B6 in the metabolism of drugs has been more challenging because of the lack of a well established inhibitor of this enzyme. In this report, we describe the selectivity of 2-phenyl-2-(1-piperidinyl)propane (PPP) as an inactivator of CYP2B6 and compare this selectivity versus other CYP2B6 inactivators: 1,1′,1″-phosphinothioylidynetrisaziridine (thioTEPA), clopidogrel, and ticlopidine. Values of KI and kinact for PPP were 5.6 μM and 0.13/min for bupropion hydroxylase catalyzed by pooled human liver microsomes, and values for thioTEPA were similar (4.8 μM and 0.20/min, respectively). Intrinsic inactivation capability was considerably greater for clopidogrel because of a greater kinact value (1.9/min). Ticlopidine was potent with KI and kinact values of 0.32 μM and 0.43/min, respectively. The selectivity of these four agents for CYP2B6 was determined by testing their effects on other human P450 enzyme activities using conditions that yield ∼90% inactivation of CYP2B6 activity. The results showed that preincubation of human liver microsomes with PPP at 30 μM for 30 min provided more selective inhibition for CYP2B6 than thioTEPA, clopidogrel, and ticlopidine. Furthermore, the use of clopidogrel is complicated by the observation that this agent is not stable in the presence of human liver microsomes, even without addition of NADPH. Therefore, PPP can serve as a selective chemical inactivator of CYP2B6 and be used to define the role of CYP2B6 in the metabolism of drugs.
Demarginalizing the marginalized in substance abuse treatment: Stories of homeless, active substance users in an urban harm reduction based drop-in center

This article reports stories of demarginalization in treatment as told by participants of a nonabstinence-based treatment program based on a harm reduction model targeting homeless active users. The stories told are ones where drug users–marginalized due to their drug and/or alcohol use–experienced the treatment setting in a destigmatizing, normalizing, humanizing and nonjudgmental manner. The purpose of this article is to describe the sense of demarginalization that participants experienced and to posit that demarginalization is a critical component in engaging “hard-to-reach” populations in substance abuse treatment. It assumes that listening to consumer voices about what is/is not meaningful to them in treatment can reveal much about program uptake or disconnect.
A role for ERKII in synaptic pattern selectivity on the time‐scale of minutes

Stimulus reinforcement strengthens learning. Intervals between reinforcement affect both the kind of learning that occurs and the amount of learning. Stimuli spaced by a few minutes result in more effective learning than when massed together. There are several synaptic correlates of repeated stimuli, such as different kinds of plasticity and the amplitude of synaptic change. Here we study the role of signalling pathways in the synapse on this selectivity for spaced stimuli. Using the in vitro hippocampal slice technique we monitored long‐term potentiation (LTP) amplitude in CA1 for repeated 100‐Hz, 1‐s tetani. We observe the highest LTP levels when the inter‐tetanus interval is 5–10 min. We tested biochemical activity in the slice following the same stimuli, and found that extracellular signal‐regulated kinase type II (ERKII) but not CaMKII exhibits a peak at about 10 min. When calcium influx into the slice is buffered using AM‐ester calcium dyes, amplitude of the physiological and biochemical response is reduced, but the timing is not shifted. We have previously used computer simulations of synaptic signalling to predict such temporal tuning from signalling pathways. In the current study we consider feedback and feedforward models that exhibit temporal tuning consistent with our experiments. We find that a model incorporating post‐stimulus build‐up of PKM zeta acting upstream of mitogen‐activated protein kinase is sufficient to explain the observed temporal tuning. On the basis of these combined experimental and modelling results we propose that the dynamics of PKM activation and ERKII signalling may provide a mechanism for functionally important forms of synaptic pattern selectivity.
Perception-Based Rendering: Eyes Wide Bleached

Perception issues are a key factor in rendering Vision-Realistic images. Th is paper develops a novel spectral sensitive model of the Human Visual System (HVS) in order to simulate the bleach ing effect in retinal photopigments. First, the Stiles-Crawford effect is taken into account to determine the pupil s ize of the adapted eye and to compute the directional sensitivity of the photoreceptors in the retina. After that, the per centage of bleached pigment based on the incident retinal illuminance is calculated to simulate the loss of spectral s ensitivity of the human observer seeing the scene.
Error Reporting in Organizations

We develop a framework of individual error reporting that draws from research on human error, learning, discretionary behaviors, and high-reliability organizations. The framework describes three phases that underlie error reporting: error detection, situation assessment, and choice of behavioral response. We discuss theoretical implications of the framework and directions for future research.
Psychometric Stability of Rewritten MMPI Items

The current form of the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) has been in use for over 50 years with no revisions in its item content or wording. As part of the MMPI Restandardization Project (Butcher, Dahlstrom, Graham, Tellegen, & Kaemmer 1989), 82 of the original items were rewritten. Subjects in this study were administered either the original booklet twice to serve as a baseline or the original and the experimental form (MMPI-AX) in a counterbalanced order. Comparisons were made between the percentage of subjects who responded similarly to the two administrations of the original items and the percentage of subjects responding similarly to the original and rewritten versions of the items. Of the 82 items, only 9 changed significantly and only for one gender. None of the correlations between these 9 items and the MMPI validity, clinical, or special scales they are scored on changed significantly for the rewritten items as compared with the original items.
Global Norms: Towards Some Guidelines for Aggregating Personality Norms Across Countries

The article discusses issues relating to the international use of personality inventories, especially those in which organizations make comparisons between people from differing cultures or countries or those with different languages. The focus is on the issue of norming and the use of national versus multinational norms. It is noted that questions related to norming are in turn dependent on a range of factors that relate to how successfully an inventory has been adapted. However, good adaptation is a necessary but not sufficient condition for determining how various different approaches to norming might operate. In practice, data from the OPQ32i indicates that between-country and between-language differences in average scale scores are generally small and less than those often associated with other factors such as gender. In the light of the data reported here and other work, some guidelines on aggregation are proposed.
Volunteerism Among Mexican Youth in the United States

This study investigates patterns of volunteerism within a rapidly growing segment of the population, Mexican immigrant and Mexican origin youth, using data from the Education Longitudinal Study of 2002. These data show that volunteerism varies by immigrant generational status. Contradicting classical assimilation theory, first-generation Mexican immigrant youth are found to be more likely to engage in volunteerism compared with their third-plus-generation counterparts. This difference is most pronounced at the lower end of the family income spectrum. The study also analyzes the effects of components of family capital, family income and parental education, on youth volunteerism. Family income and parental education both have a positive effect on volunteerism, but the former is associated with volunteerism of any frequency and the latter with regular volunteerism.
Structured prediction models for RNN based sequence labeling in clinical text

Sequence labeling is a widely used method for named entity recognition and information extraction from unstructured natural language data. In clinical domain one major application of sequence labeling involves extraction of medical entities such as medication, indication, and side-effects from Electronic Health Record narratives. Sequence labeling in this domain, presents its own set of challenges and objectives. In this work we experimented with various CRF based structured learning models with Recurrent Neural Networks. We extend the previously studied LSTM-CRF models with explicit modeling of pairwise potentials. We also propose an approximate version of skip-chain CRF inference with RNN potentials. We use these methodologies for structured prediction in order to improve the exact phrase detection of various medical entities.
Social network sites and student–lecturer communication: an academic voice

This article presents a synthesis of existing ideas relating to the use of social network sites by faculty within higher education institutions (HEIs) to communicate with the student body. As previous research has been from a student‐centric perspective, importantly this study explores the use of social networks for student–faculty communication from a lecturer perspective. Issues relating to such usage are discussed, including the nature of the student–lecturer relationship, student users' attitudes regarding ‘ownership’ of the space, student and tutor information disclosure and the cultural norms inherent in different sites. Furthermore, legal and ethical issues regarding the prevention of legal proceedings relating to defamation and harassment are considered, with specific reference to lecturer concerns and the role of the education institution. Though the study is set in an HEI, many of the findings could be equally applied in a further education setting.