Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Warming, plant phenology and the spatial dimension of trophic mismatch for large herbivores

Temporal advancement of resource availability by warming in seasonal environments can reduce reproductive success of vertebrates if their own reproductive phenology does not also advance with warming. Indirect evidence from large-scale analyses suggests, however, that migratory vertebrates might compensate for this by tracking phenological variation across landscapes. Results from our two-year warming experiment combined with seven years of observations of plant phenology and offspring production by caribou (Rangifer tarandus) in Greenland, however, contradict evidence from large-scale analyses. At spatial scales relevant to the foraging horizon of individual herbivores, spatial variability in plant phenology was reduced—not increased—by both experimental and observed warming. Concurrently, offspring production by female caribou declined with reductions in spatial variability in plant phenology. By highlighting the spatial dimension of trophic mismatch, these results reveal heretofore unexpected adverse consequences of climatic warming for herbivore population ecology.
Recovery of Activities of Daily Living in Older Adults After Hospitalization for Acute Medical Illness

OBJECTIVES: To compare functional outcomes in the year after discharge for older adults discharged from the hospital after an acute medical illness with a new or additional disability in their basic self‐care activities of daily living (ADL) (compared with preadmission baseline 2 weeks before admission) with those of older adults discharged with baseline ADL function and identify predictors of failure to recover to baseline function 1 year after discharge.
Crossover between different regimes of current distribution in the quantum Hall effect.

The distribution of current density in the quantum Hall effect can be probed by the channel-width dependence of the critical current. Both linear and sublinear dependence have been found in such experiments. We observe a crossover from linear to strong sublinear behavior, in the same samples, upon the increase of carrier density. This crossover suggests the existence of qualitatively different regimes of current distribution. The linear behavior is attributed to percolative transport through numerous, randomly distributed microscopic channels, due to strong density fluctuations within the sample. The sublinear regime, on the other hand, is associated with relatively better homogeneity, where the macroscopic polarization of the channel leads to a current distribution that is weighted towards the sample boundaries. Our conclusions may resolve the conflict between recently reported experiments.
Even in adults, written production is still more costly than oral production

The aim of this research is to show that the mechanical demands of writing continue to affect the characteristics of produced texts in adults under certain situations of cognitive overload. The study reported here is intended to demonstrate that the quality of the text produced by educated adults falls when production is performed in the written rather than in the spoken mode, but only when the elements on the basis of which the texts are to be produced are difficult to relate to one another. In this view, we compared performance in a text production span task in either the oral or the written mode. This task consisted of presenting sets of words, semantically linked or not, from which adults had to produce texts including the words in the set. The results showed that neither the production mode nor the extent of the relationship between the items influenced the number of words recalled. By contrast, the number of ideas elaborated and the coherence of the produced texts are lower when the supplied items a.
Serum angiotensin converting enzyme activity and response to angiotensin I in horses.

The activity of serum angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) for healthy horses was 64 +/- 13 mUnits/ml. In vitro, equine serum ACE was sensitive to the following inhibitors (IC50): enalapril (570 nM or 215 ng/ml), captopril (190 nM or 41.3 ng/ml), and enalaprilat (6 nM or 2.1 ng/ml). The intravenous (i.v.) administration of angiotensin I to six healthy horses produced a dose proportional pressor response. The maximal increase in mean arterial pressure over baseline values was 65.6 mmHg at angiotensin I doses of 500 ng/kg bodyweight (bwt). The attenuation of this response to angiotensin I was further demonstrated in a single horse by the prior administration of enalaprilat at an i.v. dose of 8.71 micrograms/kg bwt.
Effects of 2000–2050 changes in climate and emissions on global tropospheric ozone and the policy‐relevant background surface ozone in the United States

[1] We use a global chemical transport model (GEOS-Chem) driven by a general circulation model (NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies GCM) to investigate the effects of 2000–2050 global change in climate and emissions (the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change A1B scenario) on the global tropospheric ozone budget and on the policy-relevant background (PRB) ozone in the United States. The PRB ozone, defined as the ozone that would be present in U.S. surface air in the absence of North American anthropogenic emissions, has important implications for setting national air quality standards. We examine separately and then together the effects of changes in climate and anthropogenic emissions of ozone precursors. We find that the 2000–2050 change in global anthropogenic emissions of ozone precursors increases the global tropospheric ozone burden by 17%. The 2000–2050 climate change increases the tropospheric ozone burden by 1.6%, due mostly to lightning in the upper troposphere, and also increases global tropospheric OH by 12%. In the lower troposphere, by contrast, climate change generally decreases the background ozone. The 2000–2050 increase in global anthropogenic emissions of ozone precursors increases PRB ozone by 2–6 ppb in summer; the maximum effect is found in April (3–7 ppb). The summertime PRB ozone decreases by up to 2 ppb with 2000–2050 climate change, except over the Great Plains, where it increases slightly as a result of increasing soil NOx emission. Climate change cancels out the effect of rising global anthropogenic emissions on the summertime PRB ozone in the eastern United States, but there is still a 2–5 ppb increase in the west.
Epidemiological and virological characteristics of 2 subgroups of hepatitis B virus genotype C.

BACKGROUND We aimed to investigate the characteristics of hepatitis B virus (HBV) genotype C subgroups in Hong Kong and their relationship with HBV genotype C in other parts of Asia. METHODS Full-genome nucleotide sequences of 49 HBV genotype C isolates from Chinese patients with chronic hepatitis B were compared with the sequences of 69 HBV genotype C isolates and 12 non-genotype C isolates in the GenBank database. Phylogenetic analysis was performed to define the subgroups of HBV genotype C on the basis of >4% heterogeneity of the entire HBV genome. RESULTS HBV in 80% of patients in Hong Kong belonged to a subgroup predominantly found in Southeast Asia (Vietnam, Thailand, Myanmar, and southern China) designated as HBV genotype "Cs," and HBV in the remaining 20% of patients belonged to another subgroup, predominantly found in the Far East (Korea, Japan, and northern China), designated as HBV genotype "Ce. " Overall, the mean+/-SD nucleotide sequence difference between HBV genotype Cs and HBV genotype Ce was 4.2%+/-0.3%. When HBV genotype Cs and HBV genotype Ce were compared among patients in Hong Kong, HBV genotype Cs was associated with a higher tendency to develop basal core promoter mutations (80% vs. 50%; P=.14), a higher prevalence of C at nucleotide 1858 (95% vs. 0%; P<.001), and a lower prevalence of precore stop codon mutations (5% vs. 50%; P=.002). CONCLUSIONS HBV genotype C can be differentiated into 2 subgroups--namely, genotype Ce and genotype Cs--that have different epidemiological distributions and virological characteristics.
Multifocal intraocular lenses: Types, outcomes, complications and how to solve them

The multifocal intraocular lenses (IOLs) available are often able to restore visual function and allow spectacle independence after their implantation with great levels of patient satisfaction. The factors associated with the postoperatory success include the careful selection of the patient, the knowledge about the IOLs' design, and their visual performance added to the proper surgical technique and management of possible complications as demonstrated by the evidence available.
HPV infection as an occasion for personal and relational growth

Abstract Background: Post-traumatic growth, defined as the human capacity for positive growth in the face of negative life events such as disaster and disease, is associated with an array of positive psychological outcomes. Although HPV is increasingly prevalent and the diagnosis is described as traumatic, little is known about the potential for post-traumatic growth in the context of HPV infection and diagnosis. Methods: Twenty-five women with HPV participated in interviews and described benefits associated with HPV infection and diagnosis. Results: Five aspects of the HPV experience—serving as a witness, finding a worthy partner, forming/sustaining valued relationships, increasing self-confidence, and developing consciousness of one’s body and physical health—were characterized as beneficial. Conclusion: Implications of these findings for research and practice are discussed, and future directions are suggested.
Does Privatization Create a ‘New Breed’ of Managers? A Study of the UK Railway Industry

The article enquires whether privatization leads to an influx of managers with different characteristics, attitudes, and perspectives from incumbent state enterprise managers, as has been widely suggested in studies of privatization in both economics and sociology. These questions are addressed with reference to an empirical study of managers in several companies in the UK privatized railway industry. The characteristics and views of new entrants are compared with those of incumbents. Clear differences in demographic and career characteristics are observed between the two groups, but there is little difference between them in attitudes and perspectives on management. The main exception is in the area of labour-management relationships. These findings suggest that accounts by scholars and practitioners overstate the differences between the two groups of managers.
Effectiveness of Using Creative Mental Images in Teaching Reading Comprehension in Primary Schools in Nigeria

The study examined the effectiveness of using creative mental images in teaching reading comprehension in primary schools in Nigeria. A sample of sixty (60) pupils from two primary schools were used (i.e. 30 pupils from each school). A quasi experimental research design was used for the study. Kargi primary school in Kaduna South was used as the experimental group while Katsina Road primary school in Kaduna North was used as the control group. Both groups were pre-tested to establish the homogeneity of the two groups. The two groups were taught reading comprehension for eight (8) weeks. The experimental group was taught reading comprehension using creative mental images, while the control group was taught using the traditional method. Both groups were assessed using reading comprehension test. T-test was used to test the hypothesis raised in the study. The findings revealed significant differences in the performance of pupils taught reading comprehension using creative mental images. Based on the findings teachers are encouraged to use creative mental images in teaching reading comprehension. This will help to stimulate pupils to create feelings that are vital to making reading comprehension more vivid, exciting, enjoyable and fun. As pupils create mental images individually or in groups, they are able to trigger a wide range of memories and feelings, thus creating movies of the text in their minds. Workshops should be organized for teachers on how to stimulate pupils to create mental images in reading comprehension lessons. Curriculum planners and textbook writers should equally provide creative mental images exercises as part of pupil’s activities in the reading component of the English Language Curriculum for Basic Education.
Individual Facets of Effortful Control and Symptoms of General Distress and Depression

ii Dedication . iv Acknowledgments. v Vita . vi List of Tables . ix List of Figures . xi Chapter 1: Introduction . 1 Three Facets of Effortful Control . 19 Attentional control . 21 Inhibitory control . 32 Activation control . 34 The Present Study . 38 Chapter 2: Methods . 40 Participants . 40 Measures . 40 Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS) – Trait Form . 40 Behavioral Inhibition System/Behavioral Activation System (BIS/BAS) Scales 41 Adult Temperament Questionnaire (ATQ) – Short Form. 41 viii Effortful Control Scale (ECS) . 41 Attentional Control Scale (ACS) . 42 Depression Anxiety Stress Schedule (DASS). 42 Procedure . 44 Missing Data . 44 Chapter 3: Results . 49 General Distress . 51 PANAS scales . 51 BIS/BAS scales . 53 Depressive Symptoms . 55 PANAS scales . 55 BIS/BAS scales . 58 Composite Symptoms . 61 Moderation by Sex . 62 Chapter 4: Discussion . 65 Advantages and Limitations of the Present Study . 72 Conclusions . 74 References . 76 Appendix A: Tables . 90 Appendix B: Figures . 97
Computerized three-dimmensional craniofacial reconstruction from skulls based on landmarks

Human identification from a skull is a critical process in legal and forensic medicine, specially when no other means are available. Traditional clay-based methods attempt to generate the human face, in order to identify the corresponding person. However, these reconstructions lack of objectivity and consistence, since they depend on the practitioner. Current computerized techniques are based on facial models, which introduce undesired facial features when the final reconstruction is built. This paper presents an objective 3D craniofacial reconstruction technique, implemented in a graphic application, without using any facial template. The only information required by the software tool is the 3D image of the target skull and three parameters: age, gender and Body Mass Index (BMI) of the individual. Complexity is minimized, since the application database only consists of the anthropological information provided by soft tissue depth values in a set of points of the skull.
Reducing Leakage Power in Cache Peripheral Circuits of Embedded Processors

Recent studies have shown that peripheral circuits, including decoders, wordline drivers, input and output drivers, contribute a large fraction of the overall cache leakage. In addition, as technology migrates to smaller geometries, leakage contribution to total power consumption increases faster than dynamic power, indicating that leakage will be a major contributor to overall power consumption. This paper proposes a combination of circuit and architectural techniques to maximize leakage power reduction in embedded processors on-chip caches by targeting leakage in cache peripheral circuits. At the circuit level, we propose a novel design with multiple sleep modes for cache peripherals. Each mode represents a trade-off between leakage reduction and wakeup delay. Architectural control is proposed to decide when and how to use these different low-leakage modes by utilizing cache miss information to guide its action. The control is based on simple state machines that do not impact area or power consumption and can thus be used even in resource-constrained processors. Experimental results indicate that the proposed techniques can keep the data cache peripherals in one of the low-power modes for more than 85% of total execution time. The instruction cache is in one of the low power modes for an average of 50% of the time. This translates to an average leakage power reduction of 50% for DL1 and 30% for IL1 in 65nm technology. The energy-delay product is reduced, on average, by up to 21%. The overall processor power is reduced by up to 18% and by an average of 11% to 14%.
Biochemical mechanisms and therapeutic potential of pseudohalide thiocyanate in human health

Abstract Thiocyanate (SCN−) is a ubiquitous molecule in mammalian biology, reaching up to mM concentrations in extracellular fluids. Two- electron oxidation of SCN− by H2O2 produces hypothiocyanous acid (HOSCN), a potent anti-microbial species. This reaction is catalyzed by chordate peroxidases (e.g., myeloperoxidase and lactoperoxidase), occurring in human secretory mucosa, including the oral cavity, airway, and alimentary tract, and regulates resident and transient flora as part of innate immunity. Increasing SCN− levels limits the concentrations of a family of 2-electron oxidants (H2O2, hypohalous acids, and haloamines) in favor of HOSCN formation, altering the oxidative impact on host tissue by substitution of repairable thiol and selenol oxidations instead of biomolecule degradation. This fine-tuning of inflammatory oxidation paradoxically associates with maintained host defense and decreased host injury during infections, due in part to phylogenetic differences in the thioredoxin reductase system between mammals and their pathogens. These differences could be exploited by pharmacologic use of SCN−. Recent preclinical studies have identified anti-microbial and anti-inflammatory effects of SCN− in pulmonary and cardiovascular animal models, with implications for treatment of infectious lung disease and atherogenesis. Further research is merited to expand on these findings and identify other diseases where SCN− may be of use. High oral bioavailability and an increased knowledge of the biochemical effects of SCN− on a subset of pro-inflammatory reactions suggest clinical utility.
Effects of the Tat basic domain on human immunodeficiency virus type 1 transactivation, using chemically synthesized Tat protein and Tat peptides

To study the structure relationship of different Tat domains, the full-length Tat protein Tat1-86, the gene product of the first exon Tat1-72 which retains full activity of the protein, and a panel of shorter peptides mimicking different regions of the primary structure of the Tat protein were chemically synthesized by the solid-phase method, using an efficient protocol. Synthetic Tat1-86 and Tat1-72 transactivated beta-galactosidase activity in HeLa cells containing the lacZ gene under the control of the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 long terminal repeat. Analyses of the activity of Tat1-86 and Tat1-72 with the sulfhydryl of cysteine residues free or protected by the acetamidomethyl group showed that only the Tat fragments with deprotected cysteine residues retain transactivation ability. In contrast, peptide Tat1-48 was inactive, with cysteine residues either free or protected. Similarly, other shorter synthetic peptides covering the different Tat domains were inactive. Interestingly, when peptides Tat1-48 and Tat38-60 were used simultaneously, a significant transactivation was obtained. This result suggests that both peptide domains are implicated in transactivation, probably by acting at two different sites. This permits us to propose a fundamentally new step in the understanding of the molecular mechanism of Tat transactivation.
Valence and Conduction Band Densities of States of Metal Halide Perovskites: A Combined Experimental–Theoretical Study

We report valence and conduction band densities of states measured via ultraviolet and inverse photoemission spectroscopies on three metal halide perovskites, specifically methylammonium lead iodide and bromide and cesium lead bromide (MAPbI3, MAPbBr3, CsPbBr3), grown at two different institutions on different substrates. These are compared with theoretical densities of states (DOS) calculated via density functional theory. The qualitative agreement achieved between experiment and theory leads to the identification of valence and conduction band spectral features, and allows a precise determination of the position of the band edges, ionization energy and electron affinity of the materials. The comparison reveals an unusually low DOS at the valence band maximum (VBM) of these compounds, which confirms and generalizes previous predictions of strong band dispersion and low DOS at the MAPbI3 VBM. This low DOS calls for special attention when using electron spectroscopy to determine the frontier electronic states of lead halide perovskites.
Alpha-lipoic acid reduces ethanol self-administration in rats.

BACKGROUND The main system of central ethanol (EtOH) oxidation is mediated by the enzyme catalase. By reacting with H2 O2 , brain catalase forms compound I (the catalase-H2 O2 system), which is able to oxidize EtOH to acetaldehyde (ACD) in the brain. We have previously shown that ACD regulates EtOH motivational properties and possesses reinforcing effects by itself. In this study, we investigate the effects of alpha-lipoic acid (ALA), a scavenging agent for H2 O2 , on oral EtOH self-administration. METHODS To this end, we trained Wistar rats to orally self-administer EtOH (10%) by nose poking. The effect of intraperitoneal pretreatment with ALA was evaluated during (i) maintenance of EtOH self-administration, (ii) EtOH self-administration under a progressive ratio (PR) schedule of reinforcement, and (iii) oral EtOH priming to induce reinstatement of EtOH seeking behavior. Moreover, we tested the effect of ALA on saccharin (0.05%) reinforcement, as assessed by oral self-administration. RESULTS The results indicate that ALA dose-dependently reduced the maintenance, the break point of EtOH self-administration under a PR and the reinstatement of EtOH seeking behavior without suppressing saccharin self-administration. CONCLUSIONS These results support that ALA may have a potential use in alcoholism treatment.
Need and Demand of Removable Dentures by Jordanian Adults andRelationship to Socioeconomic Factors

Aim: In Jordan, there is no available studies that investigated the association between complete edentulism and socioeconomic factors. The aim of this study therefore was to assess the need and demand for complete and partial dentures by Jordanian adults and assess the relationship between socio-demographic variables with complete edentulism. Materials and Methods: The study group consisted of 600 patients. A pilot-tested questionnaire was presented to the participants The variable studied were: age, gender, education status, economic status, smoking status, dental health insurance and dental preventive attitude. Results: The results showed that 173 patients (28.9%) were allocated in the 51-60 age bands in contrast to 73 subjects (12.16%) from the 61-70 age group. Among the 600 subjects, 403 (67.17%) needed complete dentures (308 needed upper and lower, 95 needed single complete dentures). Removable partial dentures were needed by 197 (32.8%) of subjects. Of the patients with no education112 of 308 patients applied for upper and lower complete dentures compared to 18/197 subjects who needed removable partial dentures and 20/95 subjects who needed single complete dentures. Among the 259 subjects with low monthly income of 150 JD, 210 (68.2%) subjects needed upper and lower complete dentures, There was no significant difference in denture demand among patients with dental health insurance (p>0.05). Sixty-five subjects of the 348 with no preventive attitude needed partial dentures in a significant comparison to 283 (81%) who applied for complete dentures (p<0.05). Over 65% of the subjects were smokers with over 74% of them required removable complete dentures. Conclusion: It is concluded that in addition to addressing the non-disease factors, dental education should be targeted at the un-educated population, and low-income groups to reduce the rate of total edentulism.