Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effluent recirculation to improve perchlorate reduction in a fixed biofilm reactor

The effect of effluent recirculation on perchlorate reduction in a nominally plug‐flow fixed biofilm reactor was studied in two cases: influent concentrations of 10 and 400 µg/L at low hydraulic loading rates (1.9 and 37.5 m3/m2/day without and with recirculation, respectively) and after a step increase in perchlorate concentration to 1,000 µg/L at the higher hydraulic loading rate (5 and 100 m3/m2/day without and with recirculation, respectively). Complete perchlorate reduction was sustained for influent concentrations of 400 and 10 µg/L in both flow regimes at the lower hydraulic loading rates. Reactor tracer profiles showed that biofilm diffusion had a more significant effect on mass transfer in the plug flow reactor compared with recirculation. The recirculation bioreactor acclimated more rapidly to increased hydraulic and perchlorate mass loading rates with significantly lower effluent perchlorate compared to the plug flow reactor: 16 µg/L versus 46 µg/L, respectively, although complete perchlorate removal was not achieved in either flow regime after 21 days acclimation to the higher loading. Total biofilm mass was more uniformly distributed in the recirculation reactor which may have contributed to better performance under increased perchlorate loading. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2007; 98: 132–140. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Connectivity and Convergence of Single Corticostriatal Axons

The distribution of synapses formed by corticostriatal neurons was measured to determine the average connectivity and degree of convergence of these neurons and to search for spatial inhomogeneities. Two kinds of axonal fields, focal and extended, and two striatal tissue compartments, the patch (striosome) and matrix, were analyzed separately. Electron microscopic examination revealed that both kinds of corticostriatal axons made synapses at varicosities that could be identified in the light microscope, and each varicosity made a single synapse. Thus, the distribution of varicosities was a good estimate of the spatial distribution of synapses. The distance between axonal varicosities was measured to determine the density of synaptic connections formed by one axon within the volume occupied by a striatal neuron. Intersynaptic distances were distributed exponentially, except that synapses were rarely located <4 μm apart. The mean distance between synapses was ∼10 μm, so axons made a maximum of 40 synapses within the dendritic volume of a spiny neuron. There are ∼2840 spiny neurons located within the volume of the dendrites of one spiny cell (Oorschot, 1996), so each axon must contact ≤1.4% of all cells in its axonal arborization. Within the same volume there are ∼30.5 million asymmetric synapses (Ingham et al., 1996), approximately half of which are cortical in origin. Thus, ∼380,000 cortical axons innervate the volume of the dendritic tree of one spiny cell. Striatal neurons with totally overlapping dendritic volumes have few presynaptic cortical axons in common, and cortical cells with overlapping axons have few striatal target neurons in common. These results explain the absence of redundancy in the responses of neurons located near each other in the striatum.
Equilibrium Asset Pricing with Epstein-Zin and Loss-Averse Investors

We study multi-period equilibrium asset pricing in an economy with Epstein-Zin (EZ-) agents whose preferences for consumption are represented by recursive utility and with loss averse (LA-) agents who derive additional utility of gains and losses and are averse to losses. We propose an equilibrium gain-loss ratio for stocks and show that the LA-agents are more (less) risk averse than the EZ-agents if their degree of loss aversion is higher (lower) than this ratio. When all the agents have unitary relative risk aversion degree and elasticity of intertemporal substitution, we prove the existence and uniqueness of the equilibrium and the market dominance of the EZ-agents in the long run. Finally, we extend our results to the case in which the LA-agents use probability weighting in their evaluation of gains and losses.
Estimating the effect of multiple environmental stressors on coral bleaching and mortality

Coral cover has been declining in recent decades due to increased temperatures and environmental stressors. However, the extent to which different stressors contribute both individually and in concert to bleaching and mortality is still very uncertain. We develop and use a novel regression approach, using non-linear parametric models that control for unobserved time invariant effects to estimate the effects on coral bleaching and mortality due to temperature, solar radiation, depth, hurricanes and anthropogenic stressors using historical data from a large bleaching event in 2005 across the Caribbean. Two separate models are created, one to predict coral bleaching, and the other to predict near-term mortality. A large ensemble of supporting data is assembled to control for omitted variable bias and improve fit, and a significant improvement in fit is observed from univariate linear regression based on temperature alone. The results suggest that climate stressors (temperature and radiation) far outweighed direct anthropogenic stressors (using distance from shore and nearby human population density as a proxy for such stressors) in driving coral health outcomes during the 2005 event. Indeed, temperature was found to play a role ~4 times greater in both the bleaching and mortality response than population density across their observed ranges. The empirical models tested in this study have large advantages over ordinary-least squares–they offer unbiased estimates for censored data, correct for spatial correlation, and are capable of handling more complex relationships between dependent and independent variables. The models offer a framework for preparing for future warming events and climate change; guiding monitoring and attribution of other bleaching and mortality events regionally and around the globe; and informing adaptive management and conservation efforts.
HowNet - a hybrid language and knowledge resource

HowNet is an online common-sense knowledge base unveiling inter-conceptual relations and inter-attribute relations of concepts as connoting in Chinese and English bilingual lexicons. Since it was released in 1999, HowNet has become more and more popular and been applied in various areas of NLP, related to both Chinese and English. We show a general picture of HowNet, discuss its theory and peculiarities.
Distributions of two gonadotropin‐releasing hormone receptor types in a cichlid fish suggest functional specialization

Gonadotropin‐releasing hormone 1 (GnRH1) from the brain controls reproduction in vertebrates via a GnRH‐specific receptor in the pituitary; however, other forms of GnRH are found in all species, suggesting additional roles for this family of peptides. GnRH action depends critically on the location of its cognate receptors in the brain. To understand the potential roles of additional GnRH forms, we localized two known GnRH receptor types in a cichlid fish, Astatotilapia burtoni, in which GnRH1 is socially regulated. Using in situ hybridization, we describe the mRNA expression pattern of these GnRH receptor (GnRH‐R) subtypes in the brain, specifically with respect to GnRH‐producing neurons. Our data suggest that following a gene duplication, the two GnRH receptors have evolved to serve different functions. The type 1 receptor (GnRH‐R1) is expressed less widely than the type 2 receptor (GnRH‐R2). Specifically, GnRH‐R1 is expressed in groups of neurons in the telencephalon, preoptic area, ventral hypothalamus, thalamus, and pituitary. In contrast, GnRH‐R2 is expressed in many more brain areas, including the olfactory bulb, telencephalon, preoptic area, hypothalamus, thalamus, midbrain, optic tectum, cerebellum, hindbrain, and pituitary. The specific distribution of GnRH‐R2 suggests that the GnRH ligands may act via this receptor to influence behavior in A. burtoni. Moreover, only GnRH‐R2 mRNA is colocalized in the three known groups of GnRH‐containing neurons, suggesting that any direct feedback regulation of GnRH by itself must act through this receptor type. Taken together, these data suggest that the two GnRH receptor types serve different functional roles in A. burtoni. J. Comp. Neurol. 495:314–323, 2006. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Verification of an ADER-DG method for complex dynamic rupture problems

We present results of thorough benchmarking of an arbitrary high-order derivative discontinuous Galerkin (ADER-DG) method on unstructured meshes for advanced earthquake dynamic rupture problems. We verify the method by comparison to well-established numerical methods in a series of verification exercises, including dipping and branching fault geometries, heterogeneous initial conditions, bimaterial interfaces and several rate-and-state friction laws. We show that the combination of meshing flexibility and high-order accuracy of the ADER-DG method makes it a competitive tool to study earthquake dynamics in geometrically complicated setups.
Polish Gender, Subgender, and Quasi-Gender

The question as to how many genders there are in Polish has absorbed linguists for well over half a century. Almost everyone approaching this question has applied a different criterion to the exclusion of other criteria in order to obtain an answer, and answers have ranged from every number from three though nine, or even more. One matter that has never been given due importance is the evidence of third-person pronouns which, in both nominative and accusative cases, would seem to have come into existence partly in order to be able to refer to nouns by their gender. All told, evidence points to the existence of four main Polish grammatical genders, consisting of the traditional three (masculine, feminine, neuter) and the Polish innovative one of “masculine personal. ” These comprise a tightly knit coherent system. Other gender candidates can be considered to be either “subgenders” (masculine animate and masculine depreciative) or “quasi-genders,” of which there are around half a dozen. The existence and behaviors of the quasi-genders, i.e., nouns that would appear to belong to one gender but can act like another (an example being “facultative animate” nouns, i.e., referentially inanimate nouns that behave as if animate) shows that users of the language remain sensitive to mismatches between declension-type, gender, and sexual or animate reference, and will allow referential reality to assert itself against grammatical gender in accordance with Corbett’s observation as to the increasing instability of agreement targets the farther they are from the agreement controller.
Outcome of pregnancies in women receiving velaglucerase alfa for Gaucher disease

Pregnancy and delivery are affected by and – in turn – impact signs and symptoms of Gaucher disease (GD). Prior to enzyme replacement therapy (ERT), the reported missed abortions rate was 25%, with worsening of anemia and thrombocytopenia, with increased frequency of post‐partum hemorrhage, puerperal fever and bone crises during pregnancy. ERT with imiglucerase reduced these adverse events. Velaglucerase alfa (VPRIV), an ERT approved commercially in February 2010, had undergone preclinical reproductive toxicity testing and proven to be safe and effective in phase I/II and III clinical trials. The objective of this study was to ascertain pregnancy outcome in women receiving VPRIV.
Efficacy and safety of travoprost 0.004%/timolol 0.5% fixed combination as transition therapy in patients previously on prostaglandin analog monotherapy

Purpose To assess the safety and efficacy of transitioning patients whose intraocular pressure (IOP) had been insufficiently controlled on prostaglandin analog (PGA) monotherapy to treatment with travoprost 0.004%/timolol 0.5% fixed combination with benzalkonium chloride (TTFC). Methods This prospective, multicenter, open-label, historical controlled, single-arm study transitioned patients who had primary open-angle glaucoma, pigment dispersion glaucoma, or ocular hypertension and who required further IOP reduction from PGA monotherapy to once-daily treatment with TTFC for 12 weeks. IOP and safety (adverse events, corrected distance visual acuity, and slit-lamp biomicroscopy) were assessed at baseline, week 4, and week 12. A solicited ocular symptom survey was administered at baseline and at week 12. Patients and investigators reported their medication preference at week 12. Results Of 65 patients enrolled, 43 had received prior travoprost therapy and 22 had received prior nontravoprost therapy (n = 18, bimatoprost; n = 4, latanoprost). In the total population, mean IOP was significantly reduced from baseline (P = 0.000009), showing a 16.8% reduction after 12 weeks of TTFC therapy. In the study subgroups, mean IOP was significantly reduced from baseline to week 12 (P = 0.0001) in the prior travoprost cohort (19.0% reduction) and in the prior nontravoprost cohort (13.1% reduction). Seven mild, ocular, treatment-related adverse events were reported. Of the ten ocular symptom questions, eight had numerically lower percentages with TTFC compared with prior PGA monotherapy and two had numerically higher percentages with TTFC (dry eye symptoms and ocular stinging/burning). At week 12, TTFC was preferred over prior therapy for 84.2% of patients (48 of 57) by the patients themselves, and for 94.7% of patients (54 of 57) by their physicians. Conclusion When TTFC replaced PGA monotherapy in patients whose IOP had been uncontrolled, the outcome was a significant reduction in IOP and an acceptable safety and tolerability profile. Most patients and investigators preferred TTFC to prior PGA monotherapy.
Near Infrared Spectroscopy in the Diagnosis of Chronic Exertional Compartment Syndrome

Background Patients with chronic exertional compartment syndrome (CECS) experience pain during exercise. An abnormal increase in intracompartmental pressure (ICP) leads to impaired local tissue perfusion resulting in ischemia and pain. At cessation of exercise, pain subsides. Diagnosis is confirmed through postexercise ICP. Near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) can measure tissue oxygen saturation (StO2)noninvasively. Hypothesis NIRS can diagnose CECS by showing tissue deoxygenation. Study Design Prospective, nonrandomized clinical trial. Method Volunteers completed a standardized exercise protocol. Those suspected of CECS did so preoperatively and postoperatively. StO2 and ICP were monitored. Data were compared between volunteers and patients and prefasciotomy and postfasciotomy. Results Significant differences between the StO2 values of volunteers and patients with CECS were found. Average peak exercise StO2 value for those with CECS was lower than for the healthy (27 versus 56, P < .05). Patients showed more absolute and percentage change between baseline and peak exercise StO2 (absolute: 60 versus 35, P < .05; percentage: 67 versus 38, P < .05). StO2 values in legs with confirmed CECS returned to normal range postfasciotomy. All changes differed significantly with preoperative values. Conclusion StO2 can distinguish healthy from diseased legs. This study provides evidence supporting NIRS as a noninvasive, painless alternative to ICP in the diagnosis of CECS.
Prevention of visual stress and migraine with precision spectral filters

Individuals who suffer migraine, particularly migraine with visual aura (MwA), are susceptible to physiologically strong visual stimuli and find them aversive. Strong stimuli including bright light and certain visual patterns produce discomfort and perceptual illusions and can trigger migraine attacks. Perceptual illusions and visual discomfort are reported by most migraine sufferers and those with frequent headaches. These phenomena suggest that visual stimulation and consequent visual cortical activity contribute to the triggering of some migraine attacks. Perceptual illusions in MwA patients were found to be associated with hyper‐activation in visual cortex. This excessive cortical activity is called visual stress. The cortex is generally hypothesized to be hyperexcitable in migraine, and this hyperexcitability could be the underlying mechanism of visual stress. It is hypothesized that visual stress results from too great a neural (hyperneural) activity in response to strong physiological sensory stimulation, particularly, but not exclusively, visual. A strong physiological visual input may cause a spread of excitation through hyperexcitable cortex, leading to neurons firing inappropriately and thereby resulting in perceptual illusions and distortions, and possibly promoting a migraine attack. Over the last 10 years, the use of colored filters to treat perceptual distortion of text has become common in many schools in Britain. The efficacy of precision spectral filters (PSF) in preventing migraine headache has been reported in several studies. One preliminary study revealed the suppressing effect of the PSF on visual cortical activity in a MwA patient, suggesting that it might be this reduction in cortical activation that is responsible for the reduction of the frequency of migraine attacks in those who benefited from the PSF. PSF offer a possible new prophylactic therapy for migraine. They are safe, free of side effects, and inexpensive. Drug Dev Res 68:469–475, 2007. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Intentional binding effect in children: insights from a new paradigm

Intentional binding (IB) refers to the temporal attraction between a voluntary action and its sensory consequence. Since its discovery in 2002, it has been considered to be a valid implicit measure of sense of agency (SoA), since it only occurs in the context of voluntary actions. The vast majority of studies considering IB have recruited young adults as participants, while neglecting possible age-related differences. The aim of the present work is to study the development of IB in 10-year-old children. In place of Libet’s classical clock method, we decided to implement a new and more suitable paradigm in order to study IB, since children could have some difficulties in dealing with reading clocks. A stream of unpredictable letters was therefore used: participants had to remember which letter was on the screen when they made a voluntary action, heard a sound, or felt their right index finger moved down passively. In Experiment I, a group of young adults was tested in order to replicate the IB effect with this new paradigm. In Experiment II, the same paradigm was then administered to children in order to investigate whether such an effect has already emerged at this age. The data from Experiment I showed the presence of the IB effect in adults. However, Experiment II demonstrated a clear reduction of IB. The comparison of the two groups revealed that the young adult group differed from the children, showing a significantly stronger linkage between actions and their consequences. The results indicate a developmental trend in the IB effect. This finding is discussed in light of the maturation process of the frontal cortical network.
On stability of sequence-based LQG control

Sequence-based control is a well-established method applied in Networked Control Systems (NCS) to mitigate the effect of time-varying transmission delays and stochastic packet losses. The idea of this method is that the controller sends sequences of predicted control inputs to the actuator that can be applied in case a future transmission fails. In this paper, the stability properties of sequence-based LQG controllers are analyzed in terms of the boundedness of the long run average costs. On the one hand, we derive sufficient conditions, each for the boundedness and unboundedness of the costs. On the other hand, we give bounds on the minimal length of the control input sequence needed to stabilize a system.
Co-existence of two different types of soluble histone complexes in nuclei of Xenopus laevis oocytes.

The nuclear pool of soluble histones in Xenopus laevis oocytes is organized into two major types of acidic histone complexes separable by sucrose density gradient centrifugation. One type of complex sediments at 5 S (Mr approximately 120,000), is isoelectric at pH 4.6, and contains histones H3 and/or H4 tightly bound to one polypeptide of a pair of very acidic polypeptides, designated N1 and N2 (Kleinschmidt, J. A., and Franke, W. W. (1982) Cell 29, 799-809). This complex can be selectively immunoprecipitated by guinea pig antibodies against purified protein N1/N2. In contrast, a larger complex of 7 S contains four histones and nucleoplasmin (the purified protein exists as a pentamer of a polypeptide of Mr approximately 30,000), is isoelectric over the pH range of 5-7, and can be immunoprecipitated by nucleoplasmin antibodies. Its relative molecular weight of 130,000-170,000, as determined by gel filtration, sucrose density gradient centrifugation, and sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of the cross-linked complexes, excludes the association of a histone octamer with nucleoplasmin. In addition to histones H2A and H2B, two histones (designated H3 and H4) which are similar in their electrophoretic mobilities to histones H3 and H4 but have lower isoelectric pH values are enriched in immuno-precipitates obtained with nucleoplasmin antibodies. Cross-linking of complexes present in intact nuclei, using 1% formaldehyde at near-physiological ionic strength and pH, indicates the coexistence of these two soluble histone complexes in the living cell. In chromatin assembly experiments using SV 40 DNA, both histone fractions are able to transfer histones to DNA, resulting in an increase of DNA superhelicity and the formation of beaded nucleoprotein complexes of nucleosome-like morphology. The common principle governing both types of complexes, i.e. the association of one or two histone molecules with a karyophilic large acidic histone-binding protein is emphasized. We discuss the possible role of these complexes in storing histones utilized in chromatin assembly during early amphibian embryogenesis as well as the possible existence of similar complexes, albeit at lower concentrations, in somatic cells.