Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Species identity and neighbor size surpass the impact of tree species diversity on productivity in experimental broad-leaved tree sapling assemblages under dry and moist conditions

Species diversity may increase the productivity of tree communities through complementarity (CE) and/or selection effects (SE), but it is not well known how this relationship changes under water limitation. We tested the stress-gradient hypothesis, which predicts that resource use complementarity and facilitation are more important under water-limited conditions. We conducted a growth experiment with saplings of five temperate broad-leaved tree species that were grown in assemblages of variable diversity (1, 3, or 5 species) and species composition under ample and limited water supply to examine effects of species richness and species identity on stand- and tree-level productivity. Special attention was paid to effects of neighbor identity on the growth of target trees in mixture as compared to growth in monoculture. Stand productivity was strongly influenced by species identity while a net biodiversity effect (NE) was significant in the moist treatment (mostly assignable to CE) but of minor importance. The growth performance of some of the species in the mixtures was affected by tree neighborhood characteristics with neighbor size likely being more important than neighbor species identity. Diversity and neighbor identity effects visible in the moist treatment mostly disappeared in the dry treatment, disproving the stress-gradient hypothesis. The mixtures were similarly sensitive to drought-induced growth reduction as the monocultures, which may relate to the decreased CE on growth upon drought in the mixtures.
A Holistic Approach to Use Multi-Scale Fractions of Dry Carbon Fibre Production Waste in Filled Bulk Moulding Compounds (BMC)

The increasing demand for composites leads to a growing amount of end-of-life materialand production waste. The latter consists of a large fraction of unimpregnated fibre waste which is notsufficiently reprocessed using conventional textile processing procedures as they are either too expensiveor their mechanical performance is too low. Using pieces of dry non-crimp fabrics (patches) ina Bulk Moulding Compound process (BMC) displays a straightforward approach of fabric recycling.Adding fillers to the mixture not only offers the opportunity to modify mechanical and electrical propertiesas well as the costs but also a chance for a more holistic approach of dry fibre recycling, whenconventional fillers like chalk are replaced by ground recycled carbon fibres. In this way, all kindof dry fibre wastes can be reused in one process: Larger offcuts are chopped to smaller rectangularpatches whereas waste fractions of small offcuts are processed to carbon fibre powder as filler andprocessed together with resin to produce BMC materials. Mechanical investigations reveal that thepresented approach shows higher specific properties than the conventional filler without compromisingthe process and material quality.
Automatic assessment of foreign speakers' pronunciation of dutch

relates to similar studies carried out elsewhere. The aim of the research reported on here is to develop a system 2. PREVIOUS STUDIES for automatic assessment of foreign speakers’ pronunciation of Dutch. In this paper similar studies carried out for English are 2.1. Automatic scoring of pronunciation quality first examined. Subsequently, suggestions are made for partly improving the methodology that is usually adopted in research In the various methods for automatic pronunciation assessment on automatic pronunciation assessment. Finally, an experiment developed so far (e.g. [1, 4]) different machine measures have is presented in which automatic scores of telephone speech been used for automatic scoring: HMM log-likelihood scores, produced by native and nonnative speakers are compared with timing scores, phone classification error scores and segment scores assigned by human raters. The approach used in this duration scores. Recently, also phone log-posterior probability experiment is compared with those of previous studies. scores have been investigated by [5].
Reoxygenation‐Derived Toxic Reactive Oxygen/Nitrogen Species Modulate the Contribution of Bone Marrow Progenitor Cells to Remodeling After Myocardial Infarction

Background The core region of a myocardial infarction is notoriously unsupportive of cardiomyocyte survival. However, there has been less investigation of the potentially beneficial spontaneous recruitment of endogenous bone marrow progenitor cells (BMPCs) within infarcted areas. In the current study we examined the role of tissue oxygenation and derived toxic species in the control of BMPC engraftment during postinfarction heart remodeling. Methods and Results For assessment of cellular origin, local oxygenation, redox status, and fate of cells in the infarcted region, myocardial infarction in mice with or without LacZ+ bone marrow transplantation was induced by coronary ligation. Sham‐operated mice served as controls. After 1 week, LacZ+ BMPC‐derived cells were found inhomogeneously distributed into the infarct zone, with a lower density at its core. Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) oximetry showed that pO2 in the infarct recovered starting on day 2 post–myocardial infarction, concomitant with wall thinning and erythrocytes percolating through muscle microruptures. Paralleling this reoxygenation, increased generation of reactive oxygen/nitrogen species was detected at the infarct core. This process delineated a zone of diminished BMPC engraftment, and at 1 week infiltrating cells displayed immunoreactive 3‐nitrotyrosine and apoptosis. In vivo treatment with a superoxide dismutase mimetic significantly reduced reactive oxygen species formation and amplified BMPC accumulation. This treatment also salvaged wall thickness by 43% and left ventricular ejection fraction by 27%, with significantly increased animal survival. Conclusions BMPC engraftment in the infarct inversely mirrored the distribution of reactive oxygen/nitrogen species. Antioxidant treatment resulted in increased numbers of engrafted BMPCs, provided functional protection to the heart, and decreased the incidence of myocardial rupture and death.
Bmc Medical Genomics Identification of Differentially Expressed Genes in Fibroblasts Derived from Patients with Dupuytren's Contracture Background

Dupuytren's contracture (DC) is the most common inherited connective tissue disease of humans and is hypothesized to be associated with aberrant wound healing of the palmar fascia. Fibroblasts and myofibroblasts are believed to play an important role in the genesis of DC and the fibroproliferation and contraction that are hallmarks of this disease. This study compares the gene expression profiles of fibroblasts isolated from DC patients and controls in an attempt to identify key genes whose regulation might be significantly altered in fibroblasts found within the palmar fascia of Dupuytren's patients. Total RNA isolated from diseased palmar fascia (DC) and normal palmar fascia (obtained during carpal tunnel release; 6 samples per group) was subjected to quantitative analyses using two different microarray platforms (GE Code Link™ and Illumina™) to identify and validate differentially expressed genes. The data obtained was analyzed using The Significance Analysis of Microarrays (SAM) software through which we identified 69 and 40 differentially regulated gene transcripts using the CodeLink™ and Illumina™ platforms, respectively. The CodeLink™ platform identified 18 upregulated and 51 downregulated genes. Using the Illumina™ platform, 40 genes were identified as downregulated, eleven of which were identified by both platforms. Quantitative RT-PCR confirmed the downregulation of three high-interest candidate genes which are all components of the extracellular matrix: proteoglycan 4 (PRG4), fibulin-1 (FBLN-1) transcript variant D, and type XV collagen alpha 1 chain. Overall, our study has identified a variety of candidate genes that may be involved in the pathophysiology of Dupuytren's contracture and may ultimately serve as attractive molecular targets for alternative therapies. which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Hyperlipidemia and long-term outcomes in nondiabetic chronic kidney disease.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES Dyslipidemia confers a paradoxical survival advantage in patients with kidney failure. Data are limited in the earlier stages of chronic kidney disease (CKD). DESIGN, SETTING, PARTICIPANTS, AND MEASUREMENTS This was a cohort study in 840 subjects with stage 3 to 4 CKD enrolled in the Modification of Diet in Renal Disease study. Cox models were used to examine the relationship of total cholesterol (TC), non-HDL-cholesterol (NHDL-C), triglycerides (TG), and HDL-cholesterol (HDL-C) with all-cause and cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality and progression to kidney failure. RESULTS During a mean follow-up of 10 years, there were 208 deaths, 128 deaths from CVD, and 554 subjects reached kidney failure. There was no association between tertiles of any of the lipid variables and mortality; the lowest HDL-C tertile (1.44, 1.18 to 1.78) had increased risk of kidney failure but covariate adjustment abolished this association. In analyses with lipids as continuous variables, there was a significant association with all-cause mortality for TC (hazard ratio [HR] per 10-mg/dl increase, 95% confidence intervals [CI] = 1.03, 1.0 to 1.06) that disappeared with covariate adjustment; there was no association of TG, HDL-C, and NHDL-C as continuous variables with all-cause or CVD mortality. There was a significant inverse association between HDL-C and kidney failure (HR = 0.93, CI = 0.87 to 0.99) in an unadjusted Cox model that was attenuated after adjustment for covariates (HR = 0.98 CI = 0.91 to 1.06). CONCLUSIONS In this cohort, with predominantly nondiabetic CKD patients, hyperlipidemia is not an independent predictor of long-term outcomes.
Aripiprazole once-monthly in the acute treatment of schizophrenia: findings from a 12-week, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate aripiprazole once-monthly (AOM), a long-acting injectable suspension of aripiprazole, as acute treatment in patients with schizophrenia (DSM-IV-TR). METHOD Adults experiencing an acute psychotic episode were randomized to 12 weeks of double-blind treatment with AOM 400 mg or placebo (October 2012-August 2013). The primary efficacy outcome was change from baseline to endpoint (week 10) in Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) total score. The key secondary efficacy outcome was change from baseline in Clinical Global Impressions-Severity of Illness scale (CGI-S) score. Secondary efficacy outcomes included change from baseline in PANSS positive and negative subscale and Personal and Social Performance Scale (PSP) scores. The study took place from October 2012 through August 2013. RESULTS Patients (N = 340; 79% male, 66% black) were randomized to AOM (n = 168) or placebo (n = 172). Least squares (LS) mean change from baseline to endpoint (week 10) favored AOM versus placebo in PANSS total (treatment difference, -15.1 [95% CI, -19.4 to -10.8]; P < .0001) and CGI-S (treatment difference, -0.8 [95% CI, -1.1 to -0.6]; P < .0001) scores, as it did at all other timepoints through 12 weeks (all P ≤ .0005). LS mean change from baseline in PANSS positive and negative subscale and PSP scores favored AOM versus placebo (P < .0001). Common (> 10%) treatment-emergent adverse events (AOM vs. placebo) were increased weight (16.8% vs 7.0%), headache (14.4% vs. 16.3%), and akathisia (11.4% vs 3.5%). CONCLUSIONS Symptoms and functioning improved with AOM 400 mg versus placebo in patients with acute schizophrenia, with acceptable safety and tolerability. These data suggest that AOM 400 mg is a viable treatment option for patients experiencing an acute schizophrenia episode. TRIAL REGISTRATION ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT01663532.
Nearly Optimal Robust Matrix Completion

In this paper, we consider the problem of Robust Matrix Completion (RMC) where the goal is to recover a low-rank matrix by observing a small number of its entries out of which a few can be arbitrarily corrupted. We propose a simple projected gradient descent method to estimate the low-rank matrix that alternately performs a projected gradient descent step and cleans up a few of the corrupted entries using hard-thresholding. Our algorithm solves RMC using nearly optimal number of observations as well as nearly optimal number of corruptions. Our result also implies significant improvement over the existing time complexity bounds for the low-rank matrix completion problem. Finally, an application of our result to the robust PCA problem (low-rank+sparse matrix separation) leads to nearly linear time (in matrix dimensions) algorithm for the same; existing state-of-the-art methods require quadratic time. Our empirical results corroborate our theoretical results and show that even for moderate sized problems, our method for robust PCA is an an order of magnitude faster than the existing methods.
Purdue University Graduate School Thesis Acceptance Design and Implementation of a Resource-efficient Storage Server for Vod Doctor of Philosophy Design and Implementation of a Resource-efficient Storage Server for Vod a Dissertation

Choe, Yung Ryn Ph.D., Purdue University, May, 2007. Design and Implementation of a Resource-Efficient Storage Server for VoD. Major Professor: Vijay S. Pai. First, this dissertation presents a mathematical model and a prototype of a resourceefficient storage server for high-bitrate Video-on-Demand (VoD) applications. The model is detailed enough to account for the rate-based nature of streaming video, the buffering time allowed by the application, and average-case disk hardware characteristics while remaining simple enough to use for algorithm and system design. This dissertation then describes a prototype storage server designed to serve large video files at the specified bitrates and finds its performance to agree closely with the model. Second, this dissertation investigates randomization and replication as strategies to achieve reliable performance in disk arrays targeted for VoD workloads. A disk array can provide high aggregate throughput, but only if the server can effectively balance the load on the disks. Such load balance is complicated by two key factors: workload hotspots caused by differences in popularity among media streams, and “fail-stutter” faults that arise when the performance of one or more devices drops below expectations. This dissertation focuses on the random duplicate assignment (RDA) data allocation policy which places each data block on two disks chosen at random, independent of other blocks in the same media stream or other streams. This strategy is compared to traditional single-disk file allocation, disk striping (RAID-0), disk mirroring (RAID-1), and randomization without duplication. The results indicate that combining randomization and replication allows RDA to effectively tolerate both workload hotspots and fail-stutter faults better than previous schemes.
Perceived Sources of Stress among Junior & Mid-Senior Egyptian Dental Students.

OBJECTIVES The purpose of this study was to identify the sources of stress among dental students enrolled at Pharos University in Alexandria (PUA) - Egypt, and to explore the role of gender, level of undergraduate study and residence with parents on perceived stressors. MATERIALS AND METHODS A thirty-item self-reported modified version of the Dental Environment Stress (DES) questionnaire was administered to 537 junior and mid-senior undergraduate dental students during the academic fall semester 2010, with a response rate of 79.89%. RESULTS Workload, performance pressure, and self-efficacy beliefs constituted the most stress-provoking factors. Female students experienced greater stress than males for all stressor items except for "Self-Efficacy Beliefs" and "Faculty & Administration" with no statistically significant difference by gender. Mid-senior dental students registered higher levels of perceived stress for "Workload", "Self-Efficacy Beliefs", and "Personal Factors" stressors in comparison to their junior peers. Those students who lived away of their parents were at higher risk of perceived stress than those students who lived with their parents. "Uncertainty about future dental career" was the first best predictor variable by gender. Whereas, "Difficulty of classwork" was the first predictor variable by both level of undergraduate study and residence with parents. CONCLUSION Female dental students had higher mean overall problem scores compared to their male counterparts, mid-senior students showed some higher perceived problems compared to junior students, and students who lived away from their parents revealed higher levels of perceived stress.
Transcriptomic analysis of Staphylococcus xylosus in the presence of nitrate and nitrite in meat reveals its response to nitrosative stress

Staphylococcus xylosus is one of the major starter cultures used for meat fermentation because of its crucial role in the reduction of nitrate to nitrite which contributes to color and flavor development. Despite longstanding use of these additives, their impact on the physiology of S. xylosus has not yet been explored. We present the first in situ global gene expression profile of S. xylosus in meat supplemented with nitrate and nitrite at the levels used in the meat industry. More than 600 genes of S. xylosus were differentially expressed at 24 or 72 h of incubation. They represent more than 20% of the total genes and let us to suppose that addition of nitrate and nitrite to meat leads to a global change in gene expression. This profile revealed that S. xylosus is subject to nitrosative stress caused by reactive nitrogen species (RNS) generated from nitrate and nitrite. To overcome this stress, S. xylosus has developed several oxidative stress resistance mechanisms, such as modulation of the expression of several genes involved in iron homeostasis and in antioxidant defense. Most of which belong to the Fur and PerR regulons, respectively. S. xylosus has also counteracted this stress by developing DNA and protein repair. Furthermore, it has adapted its metabolic response—carbon and nitrogen metabolism, energy production and cell wall biogenesis—to the alterations produced by nitrosative stress.
Detection of dengue virus nonstructural protein 1 (NS1) by using ELISA as a useful laboratory diagnostic method for dengue virus infection of international travelers.

BACKGROUND Dengue virus ( DENV) nonstructural protein 1 ( NS1) has been used as a novel diagnostic marker during the early phase of DENV infection. METHODS Presence of NS1 antigen was examined using 336 serum samples obtained from 276 travelers returning to Japan from Asia, Central and South America, Pacific Islands, and Africa with dengue. Assay specificity was evaluated using 148 non-dengue samples. RESULTS Positive rates among four DENV serotypes were 68%-89%. NS1 antigen positive rates were at similar levels between primary infection and secondary infection. NS1 antigen positive rates were 88%-96% on days 1-5, 75%-100% on days 6-10, and 36-60% on ≥ day 11. Positive rates using real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) were over 70% on days 1-5, but decreased thereafter. CONCLUSIONS The results indicate that NS1 antigen positive rates were higher than those of RT-PCR during longer period of early phase in DENV infection. Thus, NS1 antigen ELISA is a useful tool for confirming DENV infection in international travelers, when it is used in combination with anti-DENV IgM ELISA.
A surface renewal model to analyze infrared image sequences of the ocean surface for the study of air‐sea heat and gas exchange

[1] Thermographic techniques are presented that directly measure the temperature difference across the thermal boundary layer at the sea surface, the probability density function of surface renewal, the net heat flux, and the heat transfer velocity during nighttime. The techniques are based on a model of surface renewal. Through the use of digital image processing techniques, temporally and spatially highly resolved measurements are feasible, limited only by the thermal imager. We present laboratory measurements from the Heidelberg Aeolotron and field measurements from the GasExII cruise taken at a spatial resolution of 3 mm and temporal resolution of 10 ms. The net heat flux estimates of the thermographic techniques and micrometeorological methods agree with an error less than 5% for conditions in which the surface renewal model is applicable. Experimental evidence is presented for the probability density function of surface renewal to be best described by a logarithmic normal distribution. At moderate and high wind speeds when the influence of surface films is not significant, surface renewal seems to be an adequate model for air-water heat exchange.
B Cells Apoptotic Death of Antigen-Carrying , Effete Promote Tolerance Induction by Eliciting Ligand-Expressing Invariant NK T Cells Oral Nickel Tolerance : Fas

Whereas oral nickel administration to C57BL/6 mice (Ni high mice) renders the animals tolerant to immunization with NiCl 2 combined with H 2 O 2 as adjuvant, as determined by ear-swelling assay, it fails to tolerize J␣18 ؊/؊ mice, which lack invariant NKT (iNKT) cells. Our previous work also showed that Ni high splenic B cells can adoptively transfer the nickel tolerance to untreated (Ni low) recipients, but not to J␣18 ؊/؊ recipients. In this study, we report that oral nickel administration increased the nickel content of splenic Ni high B cells and up-regulated their Fas expression while down-regulating expression of bcl-2 and Bcl-x L , thus giving rise to an Ag-carrying, apoptosis-prone B cell phenotype. Although oral nickel up-regulated Fas expression on B cells of both wild-type Ni high and J␣18 ؊/؊ Ni high mice, only the former showed a reduced number of total B cells in spleen when compared with untreated, syngeneic mice, indicating that iNKT cells are involved in B cell homeostasis by eliciting apoptosis of effete B cells.
Design and comparison of interior permanent-magnet machines for hybrid electric vehicles

This paper is to compare five different rotor topologies of distributed winding interior permanent-magnet (IPM) machine for electric vehicles. Their characteristics, which include back-electromotive force, torque, overload capability, flux weakening performance and d-q axis inductances are comparatively evaluated. This work gives some guidance and reference for machine designers who are interested in IPM machine selection for high-performance traction applications.
Substance use and misuse in the aftermath of terrorism. A Bayesian meta-analysis.

AIM To conduct a comprehensive analysis of the conflicting evidence on substance use and misuse following mass traumas such as terrorist incidents. METHODS We reviewed and synthesized evidence from 31 population-based studies using Bayesian meta-analysis and meta-regression. RESULTS The majority of the studied were conducted in the aftermath of the terrorist attacks of 11 September 2001. Controlling for exposure, type of incident and time since the event occurred, 7.3% [95% credible interval (CrI) 1.1-32.5%] of a population can be expected to report increased alcohol consumption in the first 2 years following a terrorist event. There is, however, a 20% probability that the prevalence will be as high as 14%. The unadjusted prevalence of increased cigarette smoking following a terrorist event is 6.8% (95% Cr I 2.6-16.5%). Unadjusted reports of mixed drug use (including narcotics and prescription medications) was 16.3% (95% Cr I 1.3-72.5%). CONCLUSIONS These results underscore the potentially pervasive behavioral health effects of mass terrorism, and suggest that public health interventions may usefully consider substance use as an area of focus after such events.