Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Variation in Foliar 15N Abundance and the Availability of Soil Nitrogen on Walker Branch Watershed

Spatial patterns in natural {sup 15}N abundance ({sup o}{sup 15}N) in soil, soil solutions, and non-N{sub 2}-fixing plants were studied in the deciduous forest on Walker Branch Watershed near Oak Ridge, Tennessee. This study was undertaken to test the hypothesis that foliar {sup o}{sup 15}N values are related to the availability of inorganic nitrogen in mineral soil. Soils collected in or near valley bottoms on the watershed had higher levels of net nitrogen mineralization and net nitrification potential than those sampled from ridges and slopes. More positive foliar {sup o}{sup 15}N values occurred in valley bottoms, which, relative to other positions on the watershed, were characterized by greater availability of soil nitrogen and lower C-to-N ratios in the O{sub i}-horizon, in the surface mineral soil, and in autumn leaf fall. Although leaf nitrogen concentrations changed significantly over the course of the growing season, there was little seasonal variation in foliar {sup o}{sup 15}N values. A hypothesis about the relative importance of different sources of nitrogen to the forest and how nitrogen cycling varies with topography in this nitrogen-deficient ecosystem was derived, in part, from spatial patterns in natural {sup 15}N abundance. There appear to be two processes affecting the topographicmore » patterns in foliar {sup 15}N abundance on this watershed: (1) greater uptake from isotopically heavy pools of inorganic soil nitrogen by plants in valley bottoms, and (2) uptake of isotopically light ammonium-N in atmospheric deposition by plants on ridges and slopes (where the availability of inorganic soil nitrogen to plant roots is more limited). Results from this study indicate that foliar {sup o}{sup 15}N values are positively correlated with net nitrification potential in surface soil. « less
Modeling of various speaking styles and emotions for HMM-based speech synthesis

This paper presents an approach to realizing various emotional expressions and speaking styles in synthetic speech using HMM-based speech synthesis. We show two methods for modeling speaking styles and emotions. In the ﬁrst method, called “style dependent modeling,” each speaking style and emotion is individually modeled. On the other hand, in the second method, called “style mixed modeling,” speaking style or emotion is treated as a contextual factor as well as phonetic, prosodic, and linguistic factors, and all speaking styles and emotions are modeled by a single acoustic model simultaneously. We chose four styles, that is, “reading,” “rough,” “joyful,” and “sad,” and compared those two modeling methods using these styles. From the results of subjective tests, it is shown that both modeling meth-ods have almost the same performance, and that it is possible to synthesize speech with similar speaking styles and emotions to those of the recorded speech. In addition, it is also shown that the style mixed modeling can reduce the number of output distributions in comparison with the style dependent modeling.
Effect of External Marker Sets on Between-Day Reproducibility of Knee Kinematics and Kinetics in Stair Climbing and Level Walking

The purpose of this study was to compare the between-day repeatability of the knee kinematics and kinetics in stair climbing and level walking among three marker sets: the Helen-Hays marker set with some markers on well-defined bony landmarks and some on not well-defined locations on soft tissues, the modified Helen-Hays marker set with a static calibration trial, and the UNC-CH marker set with all marker on well defined bony landmarks and a static calibration trial. Three-dimensional coordinates of markers in stair climbing and level walking were collected for six subjects on three days. Three-dimensional knee joint angles and resultant forces and moments were calculated. A between-day coefficient of multiple correlation was used to represent between-day repeatability of the knee joint angles, and resultant forces and moments during the stance phases of the stair climbing and level walking. Marker set had significant effect on the knee joint angles and resultant forces and moments (p < 0.02), except the knee axial force. The modified Helen-Hays marker set with a static calibration significantly improved the between-day repeatability for most of the knee angles and resultant forces and moments. The UNC-CH marker set with all markers on well-defined bony landmarks and a static calibration trial further improved the between-day repeatability of most the knee angles and resultant forces and moments.
2FLIP: A Two-Factor Lightweight Privacy-Preserving Authentication Scheme for VANET

Authentication in a vehicular ad-hoc network (VANET) requires not only secure and efficient authentication with privacy preservation but applicable flexibility to handle complicated transportation circumstances as well. In this paper, we proposed a Two-Factor LIghtweight Privacy-preserving authentication scheme (2FLIP) to enhance the security of VANET communication. 2FLIP employs the decentralized certificate authority (CA) and the biological-password-based two-factor authentication (2FA) to achieve the goals. Based on the decentralized CA, 2FLIP only requires several extremely lightweight hashing processes and a fast message-authentication-code operation for message signing and verification between vehicles. Compared with previous schemes, 2FLIP significantly reduces computation cost by 100-1000 times and decreases communication overhead by 55.24%-77.52%. Furthermore, any certificate revocation list (CRL)-related overhead on vehicles is avoided. 2FLIP makes the scheme resilient to denial-of-service attack in both computation and memory, which is caused by either deliberate invading behaviors or jammed traffic scenes. The proposed scheme provides strong privacy preservation that the adversaries can never succeed in tracing any vehicles, even with all RSUs compromised. Moreover, it achieves strong nonrepudiation that any biological anonym driver could be conditionally traced, even if he is not the only driver of the vehicle. Extensive simulations reveal that 2FLIP is feasible and has an outstanding performance of nearly 0-ms network delay and 0% packet-loss ratio, which are particularly appropriate for real-time emergency reporting applications.
Radial diffusion in Jupiter's magnetosphere

Radial phase space density profiles for equatorially mirroring particles are computed from the data of the University of Iowa packages on Pioneer 10. The profiles are only consistent with radial diffusion subject to nonadiabatic losses. It is suggested that these losses are due to pitch angle scattering by whistler turbulence.
Re‐expression of RAG‐1 and RAG‐2 genes and evidence for secondary rearrangements in human germinal center B lymphocytes

V(D)J recombination occurs in immature B cells within primary lymphoid organs. However, recent evidence demonstrated that the recombination activating genes RAG‐1 and RAG‐2 can also be expressed in murine germinal centers (GC) where they can mediate secondary rearrangements. This finding raises a number of interesting questions, the most important of which is what is the physiological role, if any, of secondary immunoglobulin (Ig) gene rearrangements. In the present report, we provide evidence that human GC B cells that have lost surface immunoglobulin re‐express RAG‐1 and RAG‐2, suggesting that they may be able to undergo Ig rearrangement. Furthermore, we describe two mature B cell clones in which secondary rearrangements have possibly occurred, resulting in light chain replacement. The two clones carry both κ and λ light chains productively rearranged, but fail to express the κ chain on the cell surface due to a stop codon acquired by somatic mutation. Interestingly, the analysis of the extent of somatic mutations accumulated by the two light chains might suggest that the λ chain could have been acquired through a secondary rearrangement. Taken together, these data suggest that secondary Ig gene rearrangements leading to replacement may occur in human GC and may contribute to the peripheral B cell repertoire.
On utilizing the strengths of ar and MVDR methods to circumvent their weaknesses in application to HRV analysis

We discuss a procedure that exploits the strengths of autoregressive (AR) and minimum variance distortionless response (MVDR) methods to circumvent their respective weaknesses, in the context of estimating the powerspectral measures from cardiovascular signals. While the AR power specfrum density (PSD) has high resolution, it suffers from a greater degree of variability at low orders and potential spurious peaks at high orders. The MVDR method (of lower resolution) provides the power-spectral measures at lower variabiliq over low filter orders. The weaknesses of the two methods can be circumvented by estimating the powers by Low-order MVDR filters at the frequencies estimated by AR PSD. Results of experiments with simulated and real data are supportive.
Immunostimulation by OX40 Ligand Transgenic Ewing Sarcoma Cells

Interleukin-2 (IL-2) transgenic Ewing sarcoma cells can induce tumor specific T and NK cell responses and reduce tumor growth in vivo and in vitro. Nevertheless, the efficiency of this stimulation is not high enough to inhibit tumor growth completely. In addition to recognition of the cognate antigen, optimal T-cell stimulation requires signals from so-called co-stimulatory molecules. Several members of the tumor necrosis factor superfamily have been identified as co-stimulatory molecules that can augment antitumor immune responses. OX40 (CD134) and OX40 ligand (OX40L = CD252; also known as tumor necrosis factor ligand family member 4) is one example of such receptor/ligand pair with co-stimulatory function. In the present investigation, we generated OX40L transgenic Ewing sarcoma cells and tested their immunostimulatory activity in vitro. OX40L transgenic Ewing sarcoma cells showed preserved expression of Ewing sarcoma-associated (anti)gens including lipase member I, cyclin D1 (CCND1), cytochrome P450 family member 26B1 (CYP26B1), and the Ewing sarcoma breakpoint region 1-friend leukemia virus integration 1 (EWSR1-FLI1) oncogene. OX40L-expressing tumor cells showed a trend for enhanced immune stimulation against Ewing sarcoma cells in combination with IL-2 and stimulation of CD137. Our data suggest that inclusion of the OX40/OX40L pathway of co-stimulation might improve immunotherapy strategies for the treatment of Ewing sarcoma.
An Overview of Recent Application Trends at the AAMAS Conference: Security, Sustainability and Safety

A key feature of the AAMAS conference is its emphasis on ties to real-world applications. The focus of this article is to provide a broad overview of application-focused papers published at the AAMAS 2010 and 2011 conferences. More specifically, recent applications at AAMAS could be broadly categorized as belonging to research areas of security, sustainability and safety. We outline the domains of applications, key research thrusts underlying each such application area, and emerging trends.
The keratin-binding protein Albatross regulates polarization of epithelial cells

The keratin intermediate filament network is abundant in epithelial cells, but its function in the establishment and maintenance of cell polarity is unclear. Here, we show that Albatross complexes with Par3 to regulate formation of the apical junctional complex (AJC) and maintain lateral membrane identity. In nonpolarized epithelial cells, Albatross localizes with keratin filaments, whereas in polarized epithelial cells, Albatross is primarily localized in the vicinity of the AJC. Knockdown of Albatross in polarized cells causes a disappearance of key components of the AJC at cell–cell borders and keratin filament reorganization. Lateral proteins E-cadherin and desmoglein 2 were mislocalized even on the apical side. Although Albatross promotes localization of Par3 to the AJC, Par3 and ezrin are still retained at the apical surface in Albatross knockdown cells, which retain intact microvilli. Analysis of keratin-deficient epithelial cells revealed that keratins are required to stabilize the Albatross protein, thus promoting the formation of AJC. We propose that keratins and the keratin-binding protein Albatross are important for epithelial cell polarization.
HIV-Prevalence in Tuberculosis Patients in Germany, 2002–2009: An Estimation Based on HIV and Tuberculosis Surveillance Data

Tuberculosis (TB) and HIV comorbidity is a major challenge in TB prevention and control but difficult to assess in Germany as in other countries, where data confidentiality precludes notifying the HIV status of TB patients. We aimed to estimate the HIV-prevalence in TB patients in Germany, 2002–2009, and to characterize the HIV/TB patients demographically. Data from the long-term observational open multicentre cohort ClinSurv HIV were used to identify incident TB in HIV-positive individuals. We assessed the cohort’s coverage for the nationwide HIV-positive population by contrasting ClinSurv HIV patients under antiretroviral therapy (ART) with national HIV patient numbers derived from ART prescriptions (data by Insight Health; available for 2006–2009). The HIV-prevalence in TB patients was calculated as the number of HIV/TB cases projected for Germany over all culture-positive TB notifications. From 2002 to 2009, 298 of 15,531 HIV-positive patients enrolled in the ClinSurv HIV cohort were diagnosed with TB. A 21% cohort coverage was determined. The annual estimates of the HIV-prevalence in TB patients were on average 4.5% and ranged from 3.5% (95%CI 2.3–5.1%) in 2007 to 6.6% (95%CI 5.0–8.5%) in 2005. The most recent estimate for 2009 was 4.0% (95%CI 2.6–5.9%). The 298 HIV/TB patients were characterized by a male-to-female ratio of 2.1, by a median age of 38 years at TB diagnosis, and by 59% of the patients having a foreign origin, mainly from Subsahara Africa. We provide, to our knowledge, the first estimate of the HIV-prevalence in TB patients for Germany by joint evaluation of anonymous HIV and TB surveillance data sources. The identified level of HIV in TB patients approximates available surveillance data from neighbouring countries and indicates a non-negligible HIV/TB burden in Germany. Our estimation approach is valuable for epidemiological monitoring of HIV/TB within the current legal frameworks.
An approach to design MIMO FO controllers for unstable nonlinear plants

This paper develops an approach to control unstable nonlinear multi-inputs multi-output (MIMO) square plants using MIMO fractional order (FO) controllers. The controller design uses the linear time invariant (LTI) state space representation of the nonlinear model of the plant and the diagonal closedloop transfer matrix (TM) function to ensure decoupling between inputs. Each element of the obtained MIMO controller could be either a transfer function (TF) or a gain. A TF is associated in turn with its corresponding FO TF. For example, a D (Derivative) TF is related to a FO TF of the form Dδ, δ = [0,1]. Two applications were performed to validate the developed approach via experimentation: control of the angular positions of a manipulator, and control of the car and arm positions of a translational manipulator.
Simplified technique for the determination of soil aggregation in assessing the resistance of soils to erosion and deflation

Simplified technique for the determination of soil aggregation in assessing the resistance of soils to erosion and deflation The technique provides for the determination of the size and percentage of aggregates of the coarse fraction on the surface of a friable soil followed by the determination of the aggregation index to be used in assessing spatial and temporal resistance of soil to erosion and deflation. The uses of this technique make routine sampling and aggregate analysis after Savvinov unnecessary. Its some outcomes for soils of Poland are given. Uproszczona metoda określania odporności gleby na erozję i deflację Podatność gleby na erozję wodną i wietrzną determinowana jest wieloma czynnikami. Za jeden z ważniejszych uważa się przy tym stan ilościowy i jakościowy struktury agregatowej wierzchniej warstwy gleby. Celem pracy jest zatem przedstawienie nowej, względnie prostej, metody określania zależności między stanem struktury agregatowej wierzchniej warstwy gleby a podatnością tej gleby na erozję i deflację. Metodę tę oparto o analizę ilościową struktury agregatowej, wykonywaną techniką przesiewania na sucho przez dobrany zestaw sit, zgodnie z procedurą podaną wcześniej przez Savinowa. Założono przy tym, iż analiza struktury agregatowej odbywa się bezpośrednio w warunkach polowych, co pozwala na uniknięcie wpływu transportu próbek na uzyskiwane wyniki przesiewania. Wykonywanie analiz w warunkach polowych jest przy tym szczególnie ważne w przypadku gleb o względnie niskiej wytrzymałości mechanicznej struktury agregatowej, a więc w przypadku piasków gliniastych. Przedstawianą metodę zastosowano z powodzeniem w badaniach prowadzonych w Stacji Hodowli Roślin Wierzenica, położonej nieopodal Poznania.
Wintering Harlequin Ducks on the Wolves Archipelago, Bay of Fundy

Abstract Between November 1994 and November 1995, regular boat surveys for Harlequin Ducks (Histrionicus histrionicus) were conducted on The Wolves archipelago in New Brunswick, Bay of Fundy. The birds arrived in early November and departed by mid-May, reaching a peak of 38 birds in March. Sex ratios tended to be close to unity, consistent with observations in Maine in the mid-1990s. Juvenile age ratios were noticeably higher than those observed at other wintering sites, suggesting that the juvenile birds may prefer The Wolves archipelago as a wintering site. Overall, these surveys confirm the importance of The Wolves archipelago as a non-breeding area for this species.
Emerging mutations at virological failure of HAART combinations containing tenofovir and lamivudine or emtricitabine

Objective:To compare the emergence of drug-resistant HIV variants at failure of lamivudine (3TC)/tenofovir (TDF)-containing or emtricitabine (FTC)/TDF-containing HAART as a consequence of the different 3TC and FTC intracellular half-lives. Design:Retrospective evaluation of 859 patients selected from an Italian HIV resistance database (Antiretroviral Resistance Cohort Analysis). Methods:Patients were selected for analysis if treated with a HAART whose nucleoside/nucleotide reverse transcriptase inhibitor backbone was either 3TC/TDF or FTC/TDF; if they experienced a virological failure after at least 6 months of plasma HIV-RNA undetectability; and if HIV genotypes before treatment and at failure were available. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were done to detect predictors of resistance mutations emerging at failure. Results:Of 714 patients failing with 3TC/TDF and 145 with FTC/TDF, 35.8 and 21.1% were in Centers for Disease Control and Prevention stage C, and 8.8 and 15.2% were on first-line HAART, respectively. At multivariate analysis, the emergence of K70R (P = 0.002), M184V (P = 0.031), T215F (P = 0.020) and Y181C (P = 0.005) was significantly more common in 3TC-treated than in FTC-treated patients, with an odds ratio of 4, 1.56, 1.89 and 3.84, respectively. Conclusion:Despite their close structural similarity, 3TC and FTC are associated with a significantly different rate of drug resistance at treatment failure when combined with TDF in HAART regimens independently of the third drug used.
Coronary Thermodilution to Assess Flow Reserve: Experimental Validation

Background—Fractional flow reserve (FFR) and coronary flow reserve (CFR) are indices of coronary stenosis severity that provide the clinician with complementary information on the contribution of epicardial arteries and microcirculation to total resistance to myocardial blood flow. At present, FFR and CFR can only be obtained by 2 separate guidewires. The present study tested the validity of the thermodilution principle in assessing CFR with one pressure-temperature sensor-tipped guidewire. Methods and Results—In an in vitro model, absolute flow was compared with the inverse mean transit time (1/Tmn) of a thermodilution curve obtained after a bolus injection of 3 mL of saline at room temperature. A very close correlation (r >0.95) was found between absolute flow and 1/Tmn when the sensor was placed ≥6 cm from the injection site. In 6 chronically instrumented dogs (60 stenoses; FFR from 0.19 to 0.98), a significant linear relation was found between flow velocity and 1/Tmn. A significant correlation was found between CFRDoppler, which was calculated from the ratio of hyperemic to resting flow velocities, and CFRthermo, which was calculated from the ratio of resting to hyperemic Tmn (r =0.76; SEE=0.24;P <0.001). Conclusion—The present findings demonstrate the validity of the thermodilution principle to assess CFR. Because the pressure-temperature sensor was mounted in a commercially available angioplasty guidewire, this technique permits simultaneous measurements of CFR and FFR.
A key management scheme for Content Centric Networking

Content Centric Networking (CCN) is a promising routing paradigm for content dissemination over the Internet of the future based on named data instead of named hosts. The CCN architecture will enable more scalable, secure, collaborative and pervasive networking. In particular, the CCN security scheme relies on the authentication of every transmitted content; which must be signed. However, this introduces new challenges regarding the authentication of content through the management of encryption keys linked to content providers. To keep the privacy and integrity of content using encryption, a proper key management scheme is necessary to authenticate the encryption key as well. In this paper, we propose an online public key generation technique which is suited for the CCN architecture. We analyze the proposed technique using the ccnSim simulator to evaluate its performance and the AVISPA tool to assess its security. Besides specific features, our scheme shows better performance in terms of time taken by a node to retrieve and generate a public key for the received content compared to the standard PKI approach.
Clinical and Electrophysiologic Findings in Patients with Paroxysmal Slowing of the Sinus Rate and Apparent Mobitz Type II Atrioventricular Block

SUMMARY Over five years, 13 patients with episodic apparent type II atrioventricular (AV) block associated with sinus slowing were seen. This phenomenon occurred only transiently during an acute illness in eight patients (group I) but recurred chronically in five (group II). For the group as a whole, the mean spontaneous cycle length was 42% longer during the period of AV block compared with periods of 1:1 AV conduction (800 ± 116 msec to 1138 ± 489 msec) (P < 0.05). Electrophysiologic studies in four group I patients showed no abnormalities, whereas abnormalities in AV nodal conduction and refractoriness or provocation of intranodal Mobitz type II AV block (during carotid massage) were observed in three patients in group II and were totally abolished by atropine. In group I patients, apparent type II AV block was self-limited. In the chronic group, recurrent symptoms required insertion of permanent pacemakers in two patients. Simultaneous type II block and sinus slowing appeared to be related to the effects of increased vagal tone on both nodal structures. Intracardiac pacing is not indicated for patients with transient episodes associated with an acute illness, but may be required for symptomatic patients with recurrent episodes.