Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A missing link between facilitation and plant species coexistence: nurses benefit generally rare species more than common ones

Positive interactions among plants can increase species richness by relaxing environmental filters and providing more heterogeneous environments. However, it is not known if facilitation could affect coexistence through other mechanisms. Most studies on plant coexistence focus on negative frequency‐dependent mechanisms (decreasing the abundance of common species); here, we test if facilitation can enhance coexistence by giving species an advantage when rare. To test our hypothesis, we used a global data set from drylands and alpine environments and measured the intensity of facilitation (based on co‐occurrences with nurse plants) for 48 species present in at least 4 different sites and with a range of abundances in the field. We compared these results with the degree of facilitation experienced by species which are globally rare or common (according to the IUCN Red List), and with a larger data base including over 1200 co‐occurrences of target species with their nurses. Facilitation was stronger for rare species (i.e. those having lower local abundances or considered endangered by the IUCN) than for common species, and strongly decreased with the abundance of the facilitated species. These results hold after accounting for the distance of each species from its ecological optimum (i.e. the degree of functional stress it experiences). Synthesis. Our results highlight that nurse plants not only increase the number of species able to colonize a given site, but may also promote species coexistence by preventing the local extinction of rare species. Our findings illustrate the role that nurse plants play in conserving endangered species and link the relationship between facilitation and diversity with coexistence theory. As such, they provide further mechanistic understanding on how facilitation maintains plant diversity.
Protection against dopaminergic nigrostriatal cell death by excitatory input ablation

The importance of enhanced glutamatergic neurotransmission in the basal ganglia and related structures has recently been highlighted in the development of Parkinson's disease. The pedunculopontine tegmental nucleus (PPN) is the major origin of excitatory, glutamatergic input to dopaminergic nigrostriatal neurons of which degeneration is well known to cause Parkinson's disease. Based on the concept that an excitatory mechanism mediated by glutamatergic neurotransmission underlies the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative disorders, we made an attempt to test the hypothesis that removal of the glutamatergic input to the nigrostriatal neurons by PPN lesions might prevent 1‐methyl‐4‐phenyl‐1,2,3,6‐tetrahydropyridine (MPTP)‐induced parkinsonism in the macaque monkey. The PPN was lesioned unilaterally with microinjection of kainic acid, and, then, MPTP was administered systemically. In these monkeys, the degree of parkinsonian motor signs was behaviourally evaluated, and the histological changes in the dopaminergic nigrostriatal system were analysed by means of tyrosine hydroxylase immunohistochemistry. The present results revealed that nigrostriatal cell loss and parkinsonian motor deficits were largely attenuated in the MPTP‐treated monkey group whose PPN had been lesioned, compared with the control, MPTP‐treated monkey group with the PPN intact. This clearly indicates that the onset of MPTP neurotoxicity is suppressed or delayed by experimental ablation of the glutamatergic input to the nigrostriatal neurons. Such a protective action of excitatory input ablation against nigrostriatal cell death defines evidence that nigral excitation driven by the PPN may be implicated in the pathophysiology of Parkinson's disease.
Bunyamwera Orthobunyavirus S-Segment Untranslated Regions Mediate Poly(A) Tail-Independent Translation

ABSTRACT The mRNAs of Bunyamwera virus (BUNV), the prototype of the Bunyaviridae family, possess a 5′ cap structure but lack a 3′ poly(A) tail, a common feature of eukaryotic mRNAs that greatly enhances translation efficiency. Viral mRNAs also contain untranslated regions (UTRs) that flank the coding sequence. Using model virus-like mRNAs that harbor the Renilla luciferase reporter gene, we found that the 3′ UTR of the BUNV small-segment mRNA mediated efficient translation in the absence of a poly(A) tail. Viral UTRs did not increase RNA stability, and polyadenylation did not significantly enhance reporter activity. Translation of virus-like mRNAs in transfected cells was unaffected by knockdown of poly(A)-binding protein (PABP) but was markedly reduced by depletion of eukaryotic initiation factor 4G, suggesting a PABP-independent process for translation initiation. In BUNV-infected cells, translation of polyadenylated but not virus-like mRNAs was inhibited. Furthermore, we demonstrate that the viral nucleocapsid protein binds to, and colocalizes with, PABP in the cytoplasm early in infection, followed by nuclear retention of PABP. Our results suggest that BUNV corrupts PABP function in order to inhibit translation of polyadenylated cellular mRNAs while its own mRNAs are translated in a PABP-independent process.
On the desire to not kill your players: Rethinking sound in pervasive and mixed reality games

A commonly encountered argument for using sound in games is that sound increases the sense of immersion of a game. Immersion refers to an experience of being drawn into the game world, a process is centrally dependent on the players’ simultaneous removal from everyday life also called disassociation. The immersive power of sound has been linked to its capacity to disassociate: to transport the player into a virtual reality which feels more real, more plausible and more consequential than his/ her real physical surroundings, which is problematic especially for in mixed-reality and pervasive gaming. This paper draws on literature to trace exactly how sound contributes to immersion, and proposes how sound design can create immersion without disassociation. It also identifies engaging aesthetic opportunities that require non-immersive sound, which are currently being overlooked because of the assumption that good sound needs to be immersive.
Isolation and characterization of microsatellite markers in the bloodsucking bug Rhodnius pallescens (Heteroptera, Reduviidae)

extracting DNA from human nucleated cells. Nucleic Acids Research, 16, 1215. Petren K, Grant BR, Grant PR (1999) Low extra-pair paternity in the Cactus Finch (Geospiza scandens). The Auk, 116, in press. Primmer CR, Moller AP, Ellegren H (1995) Resolving genetic relationships with microsatellite markers: a parentage testing system for the swallow Hirundo rustica. Molecular Ecology, 4, 493Ð498. Primmer CR, Moller AP, Ellegren H (1996) A wide-range survey of cross-species microsatellite amplification in birds. Molecular Ecology, 5, 365Ð378. Sambrook J, Fritsch EF, Maniatis T (1989) Molecular Cloning: a Laboratory Manual, 2nd edn. Cold Spring Harbor Press, New York.
Proinflammatory Effects of Bacterial Recombinant Human C-Reactive Protein Are Caused by Contamination With Bacterial Products, Not by C-Reactive Protein Itself

Intravenous administration to human volunteers of a commercial preparation of recombinant human C-reactive protein (CRP) produced in Escherichia coli was recently reported in this journal to induce an acute phase response of serum amyloid A protein (SAA) and of CRP itself, and to activate the coagulation system. The authors concluded that CRP is probably a mediator of atherothrombotic disease. Here we confirm that this recombinant CRP preparation was proinflammatory both for mouse macrophages in vitro and for mice in vivo, but show that pure natural human CRP had no such activity. Furthermore mice transgenic for human CRP, and expressing it throughout their lives, maintained normal concentrations of their most sensitive endogenous acute phase reactants, SAA and serum amyloid P component (SAP). The patterns of in vitro cytokine induction and of in vivo acute phase stimulation by the recombinant CRP preparation were consistent with contamination by bacterial products, and there was 46.6 EU of apparent endotoxin activity per mg of CRP in the bacterial product, compared with 0.9 EU per mg of our isolated natural human CRP preparation. The absence of any proinflammatory activity in natural CRP for macrophages or healthy mice strongly suggests that the in vivo effects of the recombinant preparation observed in humans were attributable to proinflammatory bacterial products and not human CRP.
Transcription factor CHF 1 / Hey 2 regulates the global transcriptional response to platelet-derived growth factor in vascular smooth muscle cells

Shervin M. Shirvani, Linette Mookanamparambil, Marco F. Ramoni, and Michael T. Chin Vascular Medicine Research, Cardiovascular Division, Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School; Harvard Partners Center for Genetics and Genomics, Harvard Medical School; and Children’s Hospital Informatics Program, Division of Health Sciences and Technology, Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Boston, Massachusetts
The spectrum of structural abnormalities on CT scans from patients with CF with severe advanced lung disease

Rationale: In cystic fibrosis (CF), lung disease is the predominant cause of morbidity and mortality. Little is known about the spectrum of structural abnormalities on CT scans from patients with CF with severe advanced lung disease (SALD). No specific CT scoring system for SALD is available. Objectives: To design a quantitative CT scoring system for SALD, to determine the spectrum of structural abnormalities in patients with SALD and to correlate the SALD system with an existing scoring system for mild CF lung disease and pulmonary function tests (PFTs). Methods: 57 patients with CF contributed one CT made during screening for lung transplantation. For the SALD system, lung tissue was divided into four components: infection/inflammation (including bronchiectasis, airway wall thickening, mucus and consolidations), air trapping/hypoperfusion, bulla/cysts and normal/hyperperfused tissue. The volume proportion of the components was estimated on a 0–100% scale; mean volumes for the whole lung were computed. Scores were correlated with Brody-II scores and PFTs. Results: The SALD system identified a wide spectrum of structural abnormalities ranging from predominantly infection/inflammation to predominantly air trapping/hypoperfusion. SALD infection/inflammation scores correlated with Brody-II scores (rs = 0.36–0.64) and SALD normal/hyperperfusion scores correlated with forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1; rs = 0.37). Reproducibility for both systems was good. Conclusions: A CT scoring system was developed to characterise the structural abnormalities in patients with SALD. A wide spectrum was observed in SALD, ranging from predominantly air trapping to predominantly infection/inflammation-related changes. This spectrum may have clinical implications for patients with SALD.
Prenatal Alcohol Exposure Alters Fetal Iron Distribution and Elevates Hepatic Hepcidin in a Rat Model of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders.

BACKGROUND Prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) causes neurodevelopmental disabilities, and gestational iron deficiency (ID) selectively worsens learning and neuroanatomical and growth impairments in PAE. It is unknown why ID worsens outcomes in alcohol-exposed offspring. OBJECTIVE We hypothesized that PAE alters maternal-fetal iron distribution or its regulation. METHODS Nulliparous, 10-wk-old, Long-Evans rats were mated and then fed iron-sufficient (100 mg Fe/kg) or iron-deficient (≤4 mg Fe/kg) diets. On gestational days 13.5-19.5, dams received either 5.0 g ethanol/kg body weight (PAE) or isocaloric maltodextrin by oral gavage. On gestational day 20.5, maternal and fetal clinical blood counts, tissue mineral and iron transport protein concentrations, and hepatic hepcidin mRNA expression were determined. RESULTS In fetal brain and liver (P < 0.001) and in maternal liver (P < 0.005), ID decreased iron (total and nonheme) and ferritin content by nearly 200%. PAE reduced fetal bodyweight (P < 0.001) and interacted with ID (P < 0.001) to reduce it by an additional 20%. Independent of maternal iron status, PAE increased fetal liver iron (30-60%, P < 0.001) and decreased brain iron content (total and nonheme, 15-20%, P ≤ 0.050). ID-PAE brains had lower ferritin, transferrin, and transferrin receptor content (P ≤ 0.002) than ID-maltodextrin brains. PAE reduced fetal hematocrit, hemoglobin, and red blood cell numbers (P < 0.003) independently of iron status. Unexpectedly, and also independent of iron status, PAE increased maternal and fetal hepatic hepcidin mRNA expression >300% (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS PAE altered fetal iron distribution independent of maternal iron status in rats. The elevated iron content of fetal liver suggests that PAE may have limited iron availability for fetal erythropoiesis and brain development. Altered fetal iron distribution may partly explain why maternal ID substantially worsens growth and behavioral outcomes in PAE.
Gravitational particle production and the moduli problem

A theory of gravitational production of light scalar particles during and after inflation is investigated. We show that in the most interesting cases where long-wavelength fluctuations of light scalar fields can be generated during inflation, these fluctuations rather than quantum fluctuations produced after inflation give the dominant contribution to particle production. In such cases a simple analytical theory of particle production can be developed. Application of our results to the theory of quantum creation of moduli fields demonstrates that if the moduli mass is smaller than the Hubble constant then these fields are copiously produced during inflation. This gives rise to the cosmological moduli problem even if there is no homogeneous component of the classical moduli field in the universe. To avoid this version of the moduli problem it is necessary for the Hubble constant H during the last stages of inflation and/or the reheating temperature TR after inflation to be extremely small.
The myelin-associated glycoprotein is enriched in multivesicular bodies and periaxonal membranes of actively myelinating oligodendrocytes

The myelin-associated glycoprotein (MAG) is a member of the immunoglobulin gene superfamily that is selectively expressed by myelin- forming cells. A developmentally regulated, alternative splicing of a single MAG transcript produces two MAG polypeptides (72 and 67 kD) in the central nervous system (CNS). MAG occurs predominantly as the 67-kD polypeptide in the peripheral nervous system (PNS). This study determined the subcellular localization of CNS MAG at different postnatal times when the 72-kD form (7-d) and 67-kD form (adult) are quantitatively abundant. These distributions were also compared to those of MAG in the PNS. In adult rat, MAG is selectively enriched in periaxonal membranes of CNS myelin internodes. This restricted distribution differs from that in PNS myelin internodes where MAG is also enriched in paranodal loops, Schmidt-Lanterman incisures, and mesaxon membranes. In 7-d-old rat CNS, MAG was associated with periaxonal membranes during axonal ensheathment and enriched in Golgi membranes and cytoplasmic organelles having the appearance of multivesicular bodies (MVBs). MAG-enriched MVBs were found in oligodendrocyte perinuclear regions, in processes extending to myelin internodes, and along the myelin internode in outer tongue processes and paranodal loops. MAG-enriched MVBs were not found in oligodendrocytes from adult animals or in myelinating Schwann cells. These findings raise the possibility that the 72-kD MAG polypeptide is associated with receptor-mediated endocytosis of components from the periaxonal space or axolemma during active stages of myelination.
Elementary Reconstruction of the Hockey Stick Curve : Discussion of Paper by Li , Nychka and Ammann

The paper by Li, Nychka and Ammann (2010) has exemplified the power of Bayesian Hierarchical Models to solve fundamental problems in paleoclimatology. However, much can also be learned by more elementary statistical methods. In this discussion, we use principal components analysis, regression, and time series analysis, to reconstruct the temperature signal since 1400 based on tree rings data. Although the “hockey stick” shape is less clear cut than in the original analysis of Mann, Bradley and Hughes (1998, 1999), there is still substantial evidence that recent decades are among the warmest of the past 600 years. The problem of paleoclimate reconstruction is a natural one for the use of Bayesian hierarchical models (BHMs). As in most BHMs, there is an unobserved “process” which is the true object of interest — in this case, the true series of temperatures. There are also various sources of “data” which are dependent on the “process” with different levels of accuracy — observational data, tree rings, boreholes, ice cores etc. The problem of paleoclimate reconstruction may be characterized as how to combine the different data series to obtain the best reconstruction of the unobserved process, with suitable measures of uncertainty. The BHM technique is especially valuable for answering non-standard uncertainty questions, for instance, “what is the probability that the 1990s were the warmest decade of the [1000–2000] millennium? ” In an earlier paper, Li, Nychka and Ammann (henceforth LNA, 2007) used an ensemble reconstruction, obtained via a combination of linear regression, bootstrapping and cross-validation, to reconstruct Northern Hemisphere average temperatures back to 1000, using 14 proxy series first discussed in Mann, Bradley and Hughes (MBH, 1999). Their results showed that there is indeed ∗Statistical and Applied Mathematical Sciences Institute, Research Triangle Park, N.C. and Department of Statistics and Operations Research, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. Email: rls@email.unc. edu
An Automated Machine Learning Approach Applied to Robotic Stroke Rehabilitation

While machine learning methods have proven to be a highly valuable tool in solving numerous problems in assistive technology, state-of-the-art machine learning algorithms and corresponding results are not always accessible to assistive technology researchers due to required domain knowledge and complicated model parameters. This short paper highlights the use of recent work in machine learning to entirely automate the machine learning pipeline, from feature extraction to classification. A nonparametrically guided autoencoder is used to extract features and perform classification while Bayesian optimization is used to automatically tune the parameters of the model for best performance. Empirical analysis is performed on a real-world rehabilitation research problem. The entirely automated approach significantly outperforms previously published results using carefully tuned machine learning algorithms on the same data. As better healthcare worldwide is improving longevity and the baby boomer generation is aging, the proportion of elderly adults within the population is rapidly growing. Healthcare systems and governments are seeking new ways to alleviate the burden on society of caring for this aging population. Artificial intelligence has been shown to be a promising solution, as many of the simpler tasks that burden caregivers can be automated. This also suggests solutions for promoting independence and aging in place, because it alleviates the need for the constant presence of a caregiver in the home. The benefits of the application of machine learning to problems in assistive technology are becoming ever more clear. However, the application of machine learning to problems in assistive technology remains challenging. In particular, it is often unclear what machine learning model or approach is most appropriate for a given task. A common paradigm is to apply multiple standard machine learning tools in a black box manner and compare the results. This proceeds according to the following steps: 1. Collect data representative of the problem of interest. 2. Extract a set of features from these data. Copyright c 2012, Association for the Advancement of Artificial
Information System Strategy for Total Quality Management (TQM) in Aviation Industry

his study reflects on analyzing different types of information system strategies for doing the Total Quality Management of the Aviation industry. Moreover, in this report it also gives of the proper discussion of different techniques that are used to improve the quality management by doing proper use of Information strategies. Furthermore, it also discusses about different examples of the IS support techniques in doing the TQM implementation of Delta Airlines. Apart from this, it also focuses different Information strategies and select different processes of TQM implementation at Aviation Industry. Out of the numerous aspects of customer services in the aviation industry, some of the most important that generally could be highly affected by the implementation of the information system are proficiency and productivity, rapid processing of the passengers, increased satisfaction of the customers, faster distribution of the information, etc. In this era of accelerated technical growth, customers become more information centric that could be distributed with more velocity. So different information regarding the seat booking, current reservation status, any updating information, etc. can be shared mush faster with the help of information system. Using the information system in the management and maintenance of the aviation industry several features could be achieved like updates of the data that would happen in real time, approximately 24/7 uptimes, interfaces that are user- friendly and dual-mode in nature, etc. Through these features the management of the materials and inventory becomes possible. Various tools and modules of the maintenance software also helps to optimize the cost associated with the operation, maintains the inventory control, etc. This particular study mainly discusses how IS can contribute in achieving the objectives of Total Quality Management (TQM) in the aviation industry. Moreover, along to that it also discusses about various strategies that helps in terms of doing the implementation of TQM on aviation industry. Furthermore, in this study Delta Airlines are taken into consideration to give the proper understanding of the implementation of TQM. In the following sections of the article various perspective of the implementation of the information system in the aviation industry has been highlighted, they include a descriptive analysis of the TQM, information system strategy of TQM in this industry, various previous researches in this field and different case studies.