Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
THE UNUSUAL LIFE HISTORY OF ALSEIS BLACKIANA: A SHADE-PERSISTENT PIONEER TREE?

Classifications of tree species into regeneration guilds or functional groups are often based on a limited number of life history characteristics indicative of requirements for early establishment, with the assumption that these traits are correlated with growth requirements of larger individuals. We tested the validity of this assumption for Alseis blackiana, a common canopy tree in central Panama, by examining its seed germination, seedling growth, and sapling distribution, growth, and mortality. We found that the early life history of Alseis is characteristic of pioneer species: the seed germination rate was much higher in forest gaps than in the forest understory, small seedlings were absent from the understory, and seedlings showed strong plastic responses to variation in light. Seedling relative growth rate, leaf area production rate, and maximum carbon assimilation rates of Alseis are much more similar to those of the pioneer tree Miconia argentea than to those of the non-pioneer tree Tetragastris panamensis. However, in contrast to Miconia, estab- lished seedlings of Alseis are capable of remarkable persistence in the understory; in a 1- ha plot on Barro Colorado Island, the mortality rate for 722 saplings ,1 cm dbh was ,4% per year between 1986 and 1998. We suspect that shade tolerance in Alseis is achieved by both physiological and morphological adaptations, e.g., efficient light interception by thin, nonoverlapping leaves, tolerance to litterfall damage, and a high resprouting capacity. These results show that existing functional group classifications do not account for the full range of seedling trait combinations found in tropical trees and indicate that a gap requirement for seedling establishment need not limit the abundance of adult individuals in a stand.
Gamma-irradiated jute/polypropylene composites by extrusion molding

Short jute fiber reinforced polypropylene (PP)-based partially biodegradable composites (5–30 wt.% fiber) were prepared by extrusion followed by compression molding process. Short jute fibers acted as potential reinforcing agents for PP matrix. Tensile strength, bending strength, tensile modulus, bending modulus, and elongation at break of the composites (20% jute) were found to be 27 MPa, 36 MPa, 0.74 GPa, 2.4 GPa, and 78%, respectively. The prepared composites (20% fiber) were exposed to gamma radiation (2.5–10 kGy). The irradiated (5 kGy) composites (20% jute) gained significantly higher strength and modulus than un-irradiated composites. Six months soil degradation tests revealed that irradiated composites retained much of its mechanical properties than their control counterpart composites. A reaction mechanism was proposed between jute and PP due to irradiation treatment. Surface and interface morphologies of the composites were characterized by scanning electron microscopy.
Bending and twisting the embryonic heart: a computational model for c-looping based on realistic geometry

The morphogenetic process of cardiac looping transforms the straight heart tube into a curved tube that resembles the shape of the future four-chambered heart. Although great progress has been made in identifying the molecular and genetic factors involved in looping, the physical mechanisms that drive this process have remained poorly understood. Recent work, however, has shed new light on this complicated problem. After briefly reviewing the current state of knowledge, we propose a relatively comprehensive hypothesis for the mechanics of the first phase of looping, termed c-looping, as the straight heart tube deforms into a c-shaped tube. According to this hypothesis, differential hypertrophic growth in the myocardium supplies the main forces that cause the heart tube to bend ventrally, while regional growth and cytoskeletal contraction in the omphalomesenteric veins (primitive atria) and compressive loads exerted by the splanchnopleuric membrane drive rightward torsion. A computational model based on realistic embryonic heart geometry is used to test the physical plausibility of this hypothesis. The behavior of the model is in reasonable agreement with available experimental data from control and perturbed embryos, offering support for our hypothesis. The results also suggest, however, that several other mechanisms contribute secondarily to normal looping, and we speculate that these mechanisms play backup roles when looping is perturbed. Finally, some outstanding questions are discussed for future study.
Intraocular transport of myoinositol. II. Accumulation in the rabbit lens in vitro.

The characteristics of myoinositol transport in the lens were studied by culturing them in a medium containing the tritium-labeled compound. The accumulation in the lens takes place against a concentration gradient and is inhibited by ouabain, iodoacetate, phlorhizin, and at reduced temperature (Q,o = 3). The energy for transport is derived from glycolysis. The transport system follows Michaelis-Menten kinetics (Vmax = 0.02 /xmoles per lens per hour, Km = 0.4 mM.) and requires the presence of Na + and K. Although a relationship between Na+ concentration and inositol transport was observed, the lenses in Na deficient media could not be maintained in a physiological state so that the decreased transport cannot be ascribed solely to the effect of this cation. Similar to the observations made in the ciliary body, the transport system in the lens is inhibited by inositol monoand hexaphosphates and shows the same specificity for the stereoisomers of inositol. Unlike the findings in the case of ciliary body, inositol accumulation in lens is inhibited by several amino acids. The reciprocal inhibition of a-aminoisobutyric acid transport by 'inositol, however, could not be demonstrated.
Predictive Value of Ionized Calcium in Critically Ill Patients: An Analysis of a Large Clinical Database MIMIC II

Background and Objective ionized calcium (iCa) has been investigated for its association with mortality in intensive care unit (ICU) patients in many studies. However, these studies are small in sample size and the results are conflicting. The present study aimed to establish the association of iCa with mortality by using a large clinical database. Methods Multiparameter Intelligent Monitoring in Intensive Care II (MIMIC II) database was used for analysis. Patients older than 15 years were eligible, and patients without iCa measured during their ICU stay were excluded. Demographic data and clinical characteristics were extracted and compared between survivors and non-survivors. iCa measure on ICU admission was defined as Ca0; Camax was the maximum iCa during ICU stay; Camin was the minimum value of iCa during the ICU stay; Camean was the arithmetic mean iCa during ICU stay. Main results A total of 15409 ICU admissions satisfied our inclusion criteria and were included in our analysis. The prevalence of hypocalcemia on ICU entry was 62.06%. Ca0 was significantly lower in non-survivors than in survivors (1.11±0.14 vs 1.13±0.10 mmol/l, p<0.001). In multivariate analysis, moderate hypocalcemia in Ca0 was significantly associated with increased risk of death (OR: 1.943; 95% CI: 1.340–2.817), and mild hypercalcemia was associated with lower mortality (OR: 0.553, 95% CI: 0.400–0.767). While moderate and mild hypocalcemia in Camean is associated with increased risk of death (OR: 1.153, 95% CI: 1.006–1.322 and OR: 2.520, 95% CI: 1.485–4.278), hypercalcemia in Camean is not significantly associated with ICU mortality. Conclusion The relationship between Ca0 and clinical outcome follows an “U” shaped curve with the nadir at the normal range, extending slightly to hypercalcemia. Mild hypercalcemia in Ca0 is protective, whereas moderate and mild hypocalcemia in Camean is associated with increased risk of death.
Detection of Forest Clear-Cuts with Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM) and Tandem-X InSAR Data

The aim of this study was to determine whether forest clear-cuts during 2000-2011 could be detected as a decrease in surface height by combining Digital Surface Models (DSMs) from the Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM) and Tandem-X, and to evaluate the performance of this method using SRTM X- and C-band data as references representing the heights before logging. The study area was located in a Norway spruce-dominated forest estate in southeastern Norway. We interpolated 11-year DSM changes into a 10 m × 10 m raster, and averaged these changes per forest stand. Based on threshold values for DSM decreases we classified the pixels and stands into the categories "clear-cut" and "not clear-cut", and compared this to a complete record of logged stands during 2000-2011. The classification accuracy was moderate or fairly good. A correct detection was achieved for 59%-67% of the clear-cut stands. Omission errors were most common, occurring in 33%-42% of the stands. Commission errors were found in 13%-21% of the clear-cut stands. The results obtained for X-band SRTM were only marginally better than for C-band. In conclusion, the combination of SRTM and Tandem-X has the potential of providing near global data sets for the recent 12 years' logging, which should be particularly valuable for deforestation mapping.
Molecular Characterization of Multidrug Resistant Hospital Isolates Using the Antimicrobial Resistance Determinant Microarray

Molecular methods that enable the detection of antimicrobial resistance determinants are critical surveillance tools that are necessary to aid in curbing the spread of antibiotic resistance. In this study, we describe the use of the Antimicrobial Resistance Determinant Microarray (ARDM) that targets 239 unique genes that confer resistance to 12 classes of antimicrobial compounds, quaternary amines and streptothricin for the determination of multidrug resistance (MDR) gene profiles. Fourteen reference MDR strains, which either were genome, sequenced or possessed well characterized drug resistance profiles were used to optimize detection algorithms and threshold criteria to ensure the microarray's effectiveness for unbiased characterization of antimicrobial resistance determinants in MDR strains. The subsequent testing of Acinetobacter baumannii, Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae hospital isolates revealed the presence of several antibiotic resistance genes [e.g. belonging to TEM, SHV, OXA and CTX-M classes (and OXA and CTX-M subfamilies) of β-lactamases] and their assemblages which were confirmed by PCR and DNA sequence analysis. When combined with results from the reference strains, ∼25% of the ARDM content was confirmed as effective for representing allelic content from both Gram-positive and –negative species. Taken together, the ARDM identified MDR assemblages containing six to 18 unique resistance genes in each strain tested, demonstrating its utility as a powerful tool for molecular epidemiological investigations of antimicrobial resistance in clinically relevant bacterial pathogens.
2016 Accomplishments. Tritium aging studies on stainless steel. Forging process effects on the fracture toughness properties of tritium-precharged stainless steel

to measure the effects of tritium and decay on Tritium and decay helium effects were measured by the as-forged specimens with tritium gas at 34.5 and 350°C and aging for up to five at -80°C to build-in decay prior The results of this study show that the fracture toughness properties of the as-forged steels vary with forging strain rate and forging temperature. The effect is largely due to yield strength as the higher-strength forgings had the lower toughness values. For non-charged specimens, fracture toughness properties were improved by forging at 871°C versus 816°C and Screw-Press forgings have lower toughness values than the other forgings. Tritium reduced the to 10-20% of as-forged However, forging strain rate and temperature had little or no effect on the fracture toughness after tritium precharging and aging. The result confirmed by fractography indicated that fracture modes in the tritium-exposed specimens were similar for all forgings. 21-6-9 stainless steel weldments and heat-affected zones (HAZ) for tritium charging. Four sets of specimens were received from Sandia National Laboratory for fatigue precracking and preliminary testing. The specimens were fabricated by Sandia such that fatigue precracks could be introduced into the steel microstructures of interest: (1) Type of 304L Weldment; (2) Type 21-6-9 Weldment; (3) Type 304L HAZ; and (4) Type 21-6-9 HAZ. Specimens were precracked and a subset returned to Sandia for hydrogen charging and verification testing at SRNL for comparison with earlier Sandia results. The results agreed favorably with Sandia results and the remaining specimens are now scheduled for tritium charging during the third quarter of FY17.
Costs of health care administration in the United States and Canada.

BACKGROUND A decade ago, the administrative costs of health care in the United States greatly exceeded those in Canada. We investigated whether the ascendancy of computerization, managed care, and the adoption of more businesslike approaches to health care have decreased administrative costs. METHODS For the United States and Canada, we calculated the administrative costs of health insurers, employers' health benefit programs, hospitals, practitioners' offices, nursing homes, and home care agencies in 1999. We analyzed published data, surveys of physicians, employment data, and detailed cost reports filed by hospitals, nursing homes, and home care agencies. In calculating the administrative share of health care spending, we excluded retail pharmacy sales and a few other categories for which data on administrative costs were unavailable. We used census surveys to explore trends over time in administrative employment in health care settings. Costs are reported in U.S. dollars. RESULTS In 1999, health administration costs totaled at least 294.3 billion dollars in the United States, or 1,059 dollars per capita, as compared with 307 dollars per capita in Canada. After exclusions, administration accounted for 31.0 percent of health care expenditures in the United States and 16.7 percent of health care expenditures in Canada. Canada's national health insurance program had overhead of 1.3 percent; the overhead among Canada's private insurers was higher than that in the United States (13.2 percent vs. 11.7 percent). Providers' administrative costs were far lower in Canada. Between 1969 and 1999, the share of the U.S. health care labor force accounted for by administrative workers grew from 18.2 percent to 27.3 percent. In Canada, it grew from 16.0 percent in 1971 to 19.1 percent in 1996. (Both nations' figures exclude insurance-industry personnel.) CONCLUSIONS The gap between U.S. and Canadian spending on health care administration has grown to 752 dollars per capita. A large sum might be saved in the United States if administrative costs could be trimmed by implementing a Canadian-style health care system.
CONVERGENCE OF RANDOM WALKS ON THE CIRCLE GENERATED BY AN IRRATIONAL ROTATION

Fix α ∈ [0 , 1). Consider the random walk on the circle S 1 which proceeds by repeatedly rotating points forward or backward, with probability 1 2 , by an angle 2 πα . This paper analyzes the rate of convergence of this walk to the uniform distribution under “discrepancy” distance. The rate depends on the continued fraction properties of the number ξ = 2 α . We obtain bounds for rates when ξ is any irrational, and a sharp rate when ξ is a quadratic irrational. In that case the discrepancy falls as k − 12 (up to constant factors), where k is the number of steps in the walk. This is the ﬁrst example of a sharp rate for a discrete walk on a continuous state space. It is obtained by establishing an interesting recurrence relation for the distribution of multiples of ξ which allows for tighter bounds on terms which appear in the Erd˝os-Tur´an inequality.
Monocyte Chemoattractant Protein-1-Deficiency Impairs the Expression of IL-6, IL-1β and G-CSF after Transient Focal Ischemia in Mice

Monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), a chemokine secreted by neurons and astrocytes following stroke is known to aggravate ischemia-related damage. Previous studies revealed that MCP-1-deficient mice develop smaller infarcts and have an improved neurological outcome, whereas mice overexpressing MCP-1 show worsened brain damage and impaired neurological function. The aim of the present study was to elucidate the molecular background of the enhanced recovery in MCP-1-deficient mice after stroke. For this purpose, we (1) performed expression analyses on crucial post-stroke related inflammatory genes in MCP-1-deficient mice compared to wildtype controls, (2) analyzed a possible impact of MCP-1 on astrocyte activation (3) investigated the cellular origin of respective inflammatory cytokines and (4) analyzed the impact of MCP-1 secretion on the migration of both neutrophil granulocytes and T-cells. Here we report that MCP-1-deficiency leads to a shift towards a less inflammatory state following experimental occlusion of the middle cerebral artery including an impaired induction of interleukin-6, interleukin-1β and granulocyte-colony stimulating factor expression as well as a subsequent diminished influx of hematogenous cells. Additionally, MCP-1-deficient mice developed smaller infarcts 36 hours after experimental stroke. Investigations revealed no differences in transcription of tumor necrosis factor-α and astrogliosis 12 and 36 hours after onset of ischemia. These novel results help to understand post ischemic, inflammatory mechanisms and might give further arguments towards therapeutical interventions by modulation of MCP-1 expression in post stroke inflammation.
Experience-Dependent Perceptual Grouping and Object-Based Attention

Earlier studies have shown that attention can be directed to objects, defined on the basis of generic grouping principles, highly familiar shapes, or task instructions, rather than to contiguous regions of the visual field. The 4 experiments presented in this article extend these findings, showing that object attention benefits—shorter reaction times to features appearing on a single object—apply to recently viewed novel shapes. One experiment shows that object attention operates even when the visible fragments correspond to objects that violate standard completion heuristics. Other experiments show that experience-dependent object benefits can apply to fragments even without evidence of occlusion. These results attest to the flexible operation of the perceptual system, adapting as a function of experience.
The Performance of Concurrency Control Algorithms for Database Management Systems

This paper describes a study of the performance of centralized concurrency control algorithms. An algorithm-independent simulation framework was developed in order to support comparative studies of various concurrency control algorithms. We describe this framework in detail and present performance results which were obtained for what we believe to be a representative cross-section of the many proposed algorithms. The basic algorithms studied include four locking algorithms. two timestamp algorithms. and one optimistic algorithm. Also. we briefly summarize studies of several multiple version algorithms and several hierarchical algorithms. We show that. in general, locking algorithms provide the best performance.
The deep permafrost carbon pool of the Yedoma region in Siberia and Alaska

Estimates for circumpolar permafrost organic carbon (OC) storage suggest that this pool contains twice the amount of current atmospheric carbon. The Yedoma region sequestered substantial quantities of OC and is unique because its deep OC, which was incorporated into permafrost during ice age conditions. Rapid inclusion of labile organic matter into permafrost halted decomposition and resulted in a deep long‐term sink. We show that the deep frozen OC in the Yedoma region consists of two distinct major subreservoirs: Yedoma deposits (late Pleistocene ice‐ and organic‐rich silty sediments) and deposits formed in thaw‐lake basins (generalized as thermokarst deposits). We quantified the OC pool based on field data and extrapolation using geospatial data sets to 83 + 61/−57 Gt for Yedoma deposits and to 128 + 99/−96 Gt for thermokarst deposits. The total Yedoma region 211 + 160/−153 Gt is a substantial amount of thaw‐vulnerable OC that must be accounted for in global models.
Changes in protein expression profiles in bivalve molluscs (Chamaelea gallina) exposed to four model environmental pollutants

Proteomics has been used in the clam Chamaelea gallina as a preliminary screening of changes in protein expression caused by pollutants, potentially useful as new biomarkers. Clams were exposed in water for seven days to four model contaminants, Aroclor 1254, copper(II), tributyltin (TBT), and arsenic(III), and cytosolic fractions were initially analyzed by two‐dimensional (2‐D) electrophoresis in 7 cm IPG strips (pH 4–7). On average, about 1000 spots were resolved and altered expression was qualitatively detected in 9–26 spots per treatment. Aroclor 1254, Cu(II) and As(III) had a mainly upregulating effect, in contrast to TBT. Altered protein expression was confirmed in 18 cm gels (at narrow pH ranges). The 15 spots more drastically altered were excised and analyzed by mass spectrometry (MS), and four proteins were identified. Aroclor 1254 and Cu(II) upregulated putative isoforms of tropomyosin and light chain of myosin. Actin was downregulated by Aroclor and Cu(II) but upregulated by TBT and As(III), while the opposite behavior was shown by a truncated actin form, homologous to the Drosophila act87E gene product. The exclusive identification of cytoskeletal proteins could reflect their relative abundance, their prevalence in databases in molluscs, or their role as major targets of pollutant‐related oxidative stress.
Financial Valuation and Risk Management Working Paper No . 553 Dynamic Capital Structure under Managerial Entrenchment : Evidence from a Structural Estimation

This paper examines the impact of agency conflicts on corporate financing decisions. We first build a dynamic contingent claims model in which financing policy results from a trade-off between tax benefits, contracting frictions, and agency conflicts. In our setting, partiallyentrenched managers set the firms’ payout and financing policies to maximize the present value of their rents. Shareholders can remove managers, but only at a cost. Our analysis demonstrates that entrenched managers issue less debt and rebalance capital structure less often than optimal for shareholders. We then use structural econometrics to provide firmspecific estimates of the degree of managerial entrenchment. We find that costs of control challenges of 2% of equity value on average are sufficient to resolve the lowand zero-leverage puzzles and explain the time series of observed leverage ratios. Our estimates of the agency costs also reveal that governance mechanisms significantly affect the value of control and firms’ financing decisions. JEL Classification Numbers: G12; G31; G32; G34.