Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Comparative Evaluation of Common Savannahgrass on a Range of Soils Subjected to Different Stresses I: Productivity and Quality

Turfgrass growth, performance and quality are affected by abiotic stress factors and are of primary concern for persons managing turfgrass areas under seasonal tropical climates. Under these conditions, common Savannahgrass (SG) may have a performance advantage over imported hybrid turfgrasses. A greenhouse study was conducted to comparatively evaluate the performance of tropical turfgrasses exposed to water and compaction related stresses across a range of soils, with or without the addition of a surface sand layer. Turfgrass productivity and quality was monitored over a four-month growth period. Clipping yield (CY) was lower at the higher compaction effort for all turfgrasses, but across all stresses, drought (D) and waterlogging (WL) resulted in lower CY. Values were significantly lower under D. SG had the highest clipping yield across all soils. The chlorophyll index (CI) was lower for all turfgrasses under water-induced stress compared to compaction stresses. SG had a significantly higher CI across all stress treatments. Correlation analysis showed a positive (r² = 0.420) and significant (p < 0.05) relationship between CY and CI. Similar to CI, stress type influenced turfgrass visual quality (VQ), with D stress, resulting in the lowest VQ rating among turfgrasses. Bermudagrass (BG) had the lowest VQ across all stress treatments, whilst, comparatively, Zoysiagrass (ZG) had significantly higher VQ under high compaction (HC), low compaction (LC) and WL stress. Overall, SG showed a higher level of tolerance to applied stresses and warrants greater attention as a potential turfgrass under tropical conditions.
Absence of mechanical evidence for attached weakly binding cross‐bridges in frog relaxed muscle fibres.

1. Passive force responses to ramp stretches at various velocities were measured in intact and skinned single muscle fibres isolated from the lumbricalis muscle of the frog. Force was measured using a fast capacitance transducer and sarcomere length was measured using a laser light diffraction technique at a point very close to the fixed end so as to avoid effects of fibre inertia. Experiments were performed at 15 degrees C with sarcomere length between 2.13 and 3.27 microns under high (170 mM) and low (20 mM) ionic strength. 2. The analysis shows that the force response is the sum of at least three components: (i) elastic (force proportional to the amount of stretch), (ii) viscous (force proportional to rate of stretch), and (iii) viscoelastic (resembling the response of a pure viscous element in series with an elastic element). 3. The amplitude of all these components increased progressively with sarcomere length in the whole range measured. 4. A further component, attributable to the short‐range elasticity (SREC), was present in the force response of the intact fibres. 5. The amplitude of the force response decreased substantially upon skinning at high ionic strength but increased again at low ionic strength. The SREC was completely abolished by skinning. 6. None of the components of the force response was found to have the properties expected from the previously postulated ‘weakly binding bridges’.
Genome-Wide Linkage Analyses to Identify Loci for Diabetic Retinopathy

Hyperglycemia and long duration of diabetes are widely recognized risk factors for diabetic retinopathy, but inherited susceptibility may also play a role because retinopathy aggregates in families. A genome-wide linkage analysis was conducted in 211 sibships in which ≥2 siblings had diabetes and retinal photographs were available from a longitudinal study. These sibships were a subset of 322 sibships who had participated in a previous linkage study of diabetes and related traits; they comprised 607 diabetic individuals in 725 sibpairs. Retinal photographs were graded for presence and severity of diabetic retinopathy according to a modification of the Airlie House classification system. The grade for the worse eye was adjusted for age, sex, and diabetes duration and analyzed as a quantitative trait. Heritability of diabetic retinopathy in this group was 18% (95% CI 2–36). A genome-wide linkage analysis using variance components modeling found evidence of linkage on chromosome 1p. Using single-point analysis, the peak logarithm of odds (LOD) was 3.1 for marker D1S3669 (34.2 cM), whereas with multipoint analysis the peak LOD was 2.58 at 35 cM. No other areas of suggestive linkage were found. We propose that an area on chromosome 1 may harbor a gene or genes conferring susceptibility to diabetic retinopathy.
Neuronal differentiation is triggered by oleic acid synthesized and released by astrocytes

Unlike in the adult brain, the newborn brain specifically takes up serum albumin during the postnatal period, coinciding with the stage of maximal brain development. Here we report that albumin stimulates oleic acid synthesis by astrocytes from the main metabolic substrates available during brain development. Oleic acid released by astrocytes is used by neurons for the synthesis of phospholipids and is specifically incorporated into growth cones. Oleic acid promotes axonal growth, neuronal clustering, and expression of the axonal growth‐associated protein‐43, GAP‐43; all these observations indicating neuronal differentiation. The effect of oleic acid on GAP‐43 synthesis is brought about by the activation of protein kinase C, since it was prevented by inhibitors of this kinase, such as H‐7, polymyxin or sphingosine. The expression of GAP‐43 was significantly increased in neurons co‐cultured with astrocytes by the presence of albumin indicating that neuronal differentiation takes place in the presence of oleic acid synthesized and released by astrocytes in situ. In conclusion, during brain development the presence of albumin could play an important role by triggering the synthesis and release of oleic acid by astrocytes, which induces neuronal differentiation.
Structural studies of bean pod mottle virus, capsid, and RNA in crystal and solution states by laser Raman spectroscopy.

Structures of protein and RNA components of bean pod mottle virus (BPMV) have been investigated by use of laser Raman spectroscopy. Raman spectra were collected from both aqueous solutions and single crystals of BPMV capsids (top component) and virions (middle and bottom components, which package, respectively, small and large RNA molecules). Analysis of the data permits the assignment of conformation-sensitive Raman bands to viral protein and RNA constituents and observation of structural similarities and differences between solution and crystalline states of BPMV components. The Raman results show that the protein subunits of the empty capsid contain between 45% and 55% beta-strand and beta-turn secondary structure, in agreement with the recently determined X-ray crystal structure, and that this total beta-strand content undergoes a small increase (approximately 5%) with packaging of RNA. The subunits are relatively deficient in alpha-helix secondary structure, estimated at less than 25%, and therefore must contain extensive amounts (greater than 20%) of loops and irregular chain conformations. The Raman spectra also show the following: (1) The molecular environments of as many as four tryptophan residues per subunit are altered upon packaging RNA, resulting in stronger 1N-H hydrogen bonding for two Trp residues and more hydrophobic environments for two indole rings. (2) Hydrogen-bonding states of the seven Tyr residues per subunit do not change detectably when RNA is packaged. At least five tyrosine OH groups are involved exclusively as strong hydrogen bond donors to protein acceptor groups, which suggests restricted access of solvent H2O molecules to these parahydroxyls. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
The effect of multiple chronic conditions on self-rated health, disability and quality of life among the older populations of Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland: a comparison of two nationally representative cross-sectional surveys

Objectives Multimorbidity is common in the older population, but the impact of combinations of chronic conditions on disability and quality of life (QoL) is not well known. This analysis explores the effect of specific combinations of chronic diseases on disability, QoL and self-rated health (SRH). Design We used data from two population representative cross-sectional studies, the Northern Ireland Health and Social Wellbeing Survey (NIHSWS) 2005 and the Survey of Lifestyle, Attitudes and Nutrition (SLAN) 2007 (conducted in the Republic of Ireland). Setting Randomly selected community-living participants were interviewed at home. Participants A total of 6159 participants aged 50 years and older were included in the analysis. Outcome measures Chronic conditions were classified as cardiovascular disease, chronic pain, diabetes or respiratory disease. Interaction terms estimated by logistic regression were used to examine the effects of multiple chronic conditions on disability, SRH and QoL. Results Each chronic condition group was correlated with each of the others after adjusting for sociodemographic factors. Those from Northern Ireland were more likely to report a limitation in daily activities (45%) compared to those from the Republic of Ireland (21%). Each condition had an independent effect on disability, SRH and QoL, and those with multiple chronic conditions reported the worst outcomes. However, there were no statistically significant positive interactions between chronic condition groups with respect to any outcome. Conclusions Chronic conditions affect individuals largely independent of each other with respect to their effect on disability, SRH and QoL. However, a significant proportion of the population aged 50 years and over across the island of Ireland lives with multimorbidity, and this group is at the highest risk of disability, poor SRH and poor QoL.
The Illusion of Owning a Third Arm

Could it be possible that, in the not-so-distant future, we will be able to reshape the human body so as to have extra limbs? A third arm helping us out with the weekly shopping in the local grocery store, or an extra artificial limb assisting a paralysed person? Here we report a perceptual illusion in which a rubber right hand, placed beside the real hand in full view of the participant, is perceived as a supernumerary limb belonging to the participant's own body. This effect was supported by questionnaire data in conjunction with physiological evidence obtained from skin conductance responses when physically threatening either the rubber hand or the real one. In four well-controlled experiments, we demonstrate the minimal required conditions for the elicitation of this “supernumerary hand illusion”. In the fifth, and final experiment, we show that the illusion reported here is qualitatively different from the traditional rubber hand illusion as it is characterised by less disownership of the real hand and a stronger feeling of having two right hands. These results suggest that the artificial hand ‘borrows’ some of the multisensory processes that represent the real hand, leading to duplication of touch and ownership of two right arms. This work represents a major advance because it challenges the traditional view of the gross morphology of the human body as a fundamental constraint on what we can come to experience as our physical self, by showing that the body representation can easily be updated to incorporate an additional limb.
Fate of soil‐applied black carbon: downward migration, leaching and soil respiration

Black carbon (BC) is an important pool of the global C cycle, because it cycles much more slowly than others and may even be managed for C sequestration. Using stable isotope techniques, we investigated the fate of BC applied to a savanna Oxisol in Colombia at rates of 0, 11.6, 23.2 and 116.1 t BC ha−1, as well as its effect on non‐BC soil organic C. During the rainy seasons of 2005 and 2006, soil respiration was measured using soda lime traps, particulate and dissolved organic C (POC and DOC) moving by saturated flow was sampled continuously at 0.15 and 0.3 m, and soil was sampled to 2.0 m. Black C was found below the application depth of 0–0.1 m in the 0.15–0.3 m depth interval, with migration rates of 52.4±14.5, 51.8±18.5 and 378.7±196.9 kg C ha−1 yr−1 (±SE) where 11.6, 23.2 and 116.1 t BC ha−1, respectively, had been applied. Over 2 years after application, 2.2% of BC applied at 23.2 t BC ha−1 was lost by respiration, and an even smaller fraction of 1% was mobilized by percolating water. Carbon from BC moved to a greater extent as DOC than POC. The largest flux of BC from the field (20–53% of applied BC) was not accounted for by our measurements and is assumed to have occurred by surface runoff during intense rain events. Black C caused a 189% increase in aboveground biomass production measured 5 months after application (2.4–4.5 t additional dry biomass ha−1 where BC was applied), and this resulted in greater amounts of non‐BC being respired, leached and found in soil for the duration of the experiment. These increases can be quantitatively explained by estimates of greater belowground net primary productivity with BC addition.
Comparison of Fuzzy and Neuro Fuzzy Image Fusion Techniques and its Applications

Image fusion is the process of integrating multiple images of the same scene into a single fused image to reduce uncertainty and minimizing redundancy while extracting all the useful information from the source images. Image fusion process is required for different applications like medical imaging, remote sensing, medical imaging, machine vision, biometrics and military applications where quality and critical information is required. In this paper, image fusion using fuzzy and neuro fuzzy logic approaches utilized to fuse images from different sensors, in order to enhance visualization. The proposed work further explores comparison between fuzzy based image fusion and neuro fuzzy fusion technique along with quality evaluation indices for image fusion like image quality index, mutual information measure, fusion factor, fusion symmetry, fusion index, root mean square error, peak signal to noise ratio, entropy, correlation coefficient and spatial frequency. Experimental results obtained from fusion process prove that the use of the neuro fuzzy based image fusion approach shows better performance in first two test cases while in the third test case fuzzy based image fusion technique gives better results.
Impaired Integrin &bgr;3 Delays Endothelial Cell Regeneration and Contributes to Arteriovenous Graft Failure in Mice

Objective— Neointima formation is associated with stenosis and subsequent thrombosis in arteriovenous grafts (AVGs). A role of integrin &bgr;3 in the neointima formation of AVGs remains poorly understood. Approach and Results— In integrin &bgr;3−/− mice, we found significantly accelerated occlusion of AVGs compared with the wild-type mice. This is caused by the development of neointima and lack of endothelial regeneration. The latter is a direct consequence of impaired functions of circulating angiogenic cells (CACs) and platelets in integrin &bgr;3−/− mice. Evidence suggests the involvement of platelet regulating CAC homing to and differentiation at graft sites via transforming growth factor-&bgr;1 and Notch signaling pathway. First, CACs deficient of integrin &bgr;3 impaired adhesion activity toward exposed subendothelium. Second, platelets from integrin &bgr;3−/− mice failed to sufficiently stimulate CACs to differentiate into mature endothelial cells. Finally, we found that transforming growth factor-&bgr;1 level was increased in platelets from integrin &bgr;3−/− mice and resulted in enhanced Notch1 activation in CACs in AVGs. These results demonstrate that integrin &bgr;3 is critical for endothelial cell homing and differentiation. The increased transforming growth factor-&bgr;1 and Notch1 signaling mediates integrin &bgr;3−/−-induced AVG occlusion. This accelerated occlusion of AVGs was reversed in integrin &bgr;3−/− mice transplanted with the bone marrow from wild-type mice. Conclusions— Our results suggest that boosting integrin &bgr;3 function in the endothelial cells and platelets could prevent neointima and thrombosis in AVGs.
Safety and Immunogenicity of DNA and MVA HIV-1 Subtype C Vaccine Prime-Boost Regimens: A Phase I Randomised Trial in HIV-Uninfected Indian Volunteers

Study Design A randomized, double-blind, placebo controlled phase I trial. Methods The trial was conducted in 32 HIV-uninfected healthy volunteers to assess the safety and immunogenicity of prime-boost vaccination regimens with either 2 doses of ADVAX, a DNA vaccine containing Chinese HIV-1 subtype C env gp160, gag, pol and nef/tat genes, as a prime and 2 doses of TBC-M4, a recombinant MVA encoding Indian HIV-1 subtype C env gp160, gag, RT, rev, tat, and nef genes, as a boost in Group A or 3 doses of TBC-M4 alone in Group B participants. Out of 16 participants in each group, 12 received vaccine candidates and 4 received placebos. Results Both vaccine regimens were found to be generally safe and well tolerated. The breadth of anti-HIV binding antibodies and the titres of anti-HIV neutralizing antibodies were significantly higher (p<0.05) in Group B volunteers at 14 days post last vaccination. Neutralizing antibodies were detected mainly against Tier-1 subtype B and C viruses. HIV-specific IFN-γ ELISPOT responses were directed mostly to Env and Gag proteins. Although the IFN-γ ELISPOT responses were infrequent after ADVAX vaccinations, the response rate was significantly higher in group A after 1st and 2nd MVA doses as compared to the responses in group B volunteers. However, the priming effect was short lasting leading to no difference in the frequency, breadth and magnitude of IFN-γELISPOT responses between the groups at 3, 6 and 9 months post-last vaccination. Conclusions Although DNA priming resulted in enhancement of immune responses after 1st MVA boosting, the overall DNA prime MVA boost was not found to be immunologically superior to homologous MVA boosting. Trial Registration Clinical Trial Registry CTRI/2009/091/000051
Forskolin-stimulated vasopressin and oxytocin release from the rat hypothalamo – neurohypophysial system in vitro is inhibited by melatonin

Introduction: Previous in vivo and in vitro studies have shown that melatonin changes vasopressin (AVP) and oxytocin (OT) secretion from the rat neurohypophysis. Additionally, melatonin is known to inhibit the forskolin-induced (forskolin is a strong adenylyl cyclase AC activator) increase in cAMP accumulation in the rat pituitary. To determine whether the possible response of vasopressinergic and/or oxytocinergic neurones to melatonin could be mediated through a cAMP-dependent mechanism, the effect of different concentrations of melatonin (i.e. 10-11, 10-9, 10-7, 10-5 and 10-3 M) on forskolin-stimulated AVP and OT release from the rat hypothalamo-neurohypophysial (H-NH) system was studied in vitro. Materials and methods: Male rats served as donors of the H-NH explants, which were placed in 1 mLof normal Krebs-Ringer fluid (nKRF), heated to 37oC and constantly gassed with carbogen (95% O2 and 5% CO2). The H-NH explants were incubated successively in nKRF {fluid B1} and incubation fluid as B1 enriched with an appropriate concentration of melatonin, i.e. 10-11 – 10-3 M and/or forskolin (at a concentration of 10-5 M) or their vehicles (0.1% ethanol or DMSO) {fluid B2}. After 20 min incubation in fluid B1 and next B2, the media were collected and immediately frozen before AVP and OT estimation by the RIA. The AVP and OT secretion was determined by using B2/B1 ratio for each H-NH explant. Results: We have demonstrated that the highly effective AC activator — forskolin significantly stimulated both AVP and OT release from isolated rat H-NH system. Such an effect of forskolin was reduced by melatonin at concentrations of 10-9, 10-7 and 10-5 M. The strongest effect was exerted by this hormone at a concentration of 10-7 M, which inhibited not only forskolin-stimulated, but also basal, AVP and OT release. On the contrary, the highest studied concentration (i.e. 10-3 M) of melatonin stimulated both AVP and OT basal release, but when forskolin was present in the medium melatonin at such a concentration remained inactive in modifying these hormones release from the H-NH system in vitro. Conclusions: Our present results demonstrate that in the male rat: 1. The influence of melatonin on the vasopressinergic and oxytocinergic neurones activity is mediated partly through a cAMP-dependent mechanism. 2. The effect of melatonin in this respect depends on its concentration. (Endokrynol Pol 2014; 65 (2): 125–131)
Simplified floating-point units for high dynamic range image and video systems

The upcoming arrival of high dynamic range image and video applications to consumer electronics will force the utilization of floating-point numbers on them. This paper shows that introducing a slight modification on classical floating-point number systems, the implementation of those circuits can be highly improved. For a 16-bit numbers, by using the proposed format, the area and power consumption of a floating-point adder is reduced up to 70% whereas those parameters are maintained for the case of a multiplier.
Restoration for the Future: Endpoints, Targets, and Indicators of Progress and Success

Setting endpoints and targets in forest restoration is a complicated task that is best accomplished in cooperative partnerships that account for the ecology of the system, production of desired ecosystem goods and services, economics and well-being of society, and future environments. Clearly described and quantitative endpoints and intermediary targets are needed to manage restoration of ecosystem structure, composition, function, and production. Selecting indicators of key ecosystem attributes that are linked to endpoint and target condition, function, sustainability, health, integrity, resilience, and production is important to monitoring restoration success. Indicators are used to track ecosystem trajectory, assess progress toward achieving endpoints and targets, adapt management, and communicate with external publics. Reference sites can be used to help set endpoints and targets with caution. Other science-based ecosystem models or management tools are available to help quantify intermediate targets and endpoints. Continued work to better understand historic ecosystem conditions is fundamental to assessing change, extent of damage, and restoration potential. A hierarchy of forest plans from regional and landscape to site specific are useful for defining endpoints, targets, and indicators at appropriate ecological scales; and to consider populations, ecosystem function, and socioeconomic factors that operate at a variety of scales.
New more polar symmetrical bipyridinic compounds: new strategy for the inhibition of choline kinase α1.

AIM Research of the antitumor properties of biscationic compounds has received significant attention over the last few years. RESULTS A novel family of 1,1'-([2,2'-bipyridine]-5,5'-diylbis(methylene))bis-substituted bromide (9a-k), containing two nitrogen atoms in the linker, considered as hypothetical hydrogen bond acceptors, were synthesized and evaluated as ChoK inhibitors and their antiproliferative activity against six cancer cell lines. CONCLUSION The most promising compounds in this series are 1,1'-([2,2'-bipyridine]-5,5'-diylbis(methylene))bis(4-(methyl(phenyl)amino)-quinolinium bromide derivatives 9g-i (analogs to RSM932A), that significantly inhibit cancer cell growth at even submicromolar concentrations, especially against leukemia cells. Compounds 9g-i also inhibit the ChoKα1 with good or moderate values, as predicted by initial docking studies. In addition, the most active compound 9h remarkably induces apoptosis in two cell lines following the mitochondrial pathway.