Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Temperature alone does not explain phenological variation of diverse temperate plants under experimental warming

Anthropogenic climate change has altered temperate forest phenology, but how these trends will play out in the future is controversial. We measured the effect of experimental warming of 0.6–5.0 °C on the phenology of a diverse suite of 11 plant species in the deciduous forest understory (Duke Forest, North Carolina, USA) in a relatively warm year (2011) and a colder year (2013). Our primary goal was to dissect how temperature affects timing of spring budburst, flowering, and autumn leaf coloring for functional groups with different growth habits, phenological niches, and xylem anatomy. Warming advanced budburst of six deciduous woody species by 5–15 days and delayed leaf coloring by 18–21 days, resulting in an extension of the growing season by as much as 20–29 days. Spring temperature accumulation was strongly correlated with budburst date, but temperature alone cannot explain the diverse budburst responses observed among plant functional types. Ring‐porous trees showed a consistent temperature response pattern across years, suggesting these species are sensitive to photoperiod. Conversely, diffuse‐porous species responded differently between years, suggesting winter chilling may be more important in regulating budburst. Budburst of the ring‐porous Quercus alba responded nonlinearly to warming, suggesting evolutionary constraints may limit changes in phenology, and therefore productivity, in the future. Warming caused a divergence in flowering times among species in the forest community, resulting in a longer flowering season by 10‐16 days. Temperature was a good predictor of flowering for only four of the seven species studied here. Observations of interannual temperature variability overpredicted flowering responses in spring‐blooming species, relative to our warming experiment, and did not consistently predict even the direction of flowering shifts. Experiments that push temperatures beyond historic variation are indispensable for improving predictions of future changes in phenology.
Intraocular lens implantation procedures in aphakic eyes with insufficient capsular support associated with previous cataract surgery.

PURPOSE The aim was to evaluate the results of three different secondary intraocular lens implantation (IOL) procedures in aphakic eyes without capsular support METHODS In this retrospective comparative case series, 90 eyes of 90 patients who underwent secondary IOL implantation for correction of aphakia were enrolled. Patients were divided into three groups based on the secondary IOL implantation procedure: anterior chamber iris-fixated IOL (AC-IFIOL), retropupillary iris-fixated IOL (RP-IFIOL), and scleral-fixated posterior chamber IOL (SF-PCIOL). The efficacy and safety of each procedure were assessed at follow-up. RESULTS All eyes had aphakia caused by a previous cataract surgery. A final corrected distance visual acuity of 20/40 or better was achieved in 22 eyes (62.9%) implanted with an AC-IFIOL, in 12 eyes (50%) with an RP-IFIOL, and 18 eyes (58.1%) with an SF-PCIOL. At final visit, mean postoperative endothelial cell loss was 175 cells/mm(2) (7.2%) in the AC-IFIOL group, 255 cells/mm(2) (11.4%) in the RP-IFIOL group, and 135 cells/mm(2) (5.9%) in the AC-IFIOL group (P > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS The study showed that AC-IFIOL, RP-IFIOL, and SF-PCIOL implantation had similar visual outcomes and mean corneal endothelial cell loss.
Logged peat swamp forest supports greater macrofungal biodiversity than large‐scale oil palm plantations and smallholdings

Abstract Intensive land expansion of commercial oil palm agricultural lands results in reducing the size of peat swamp forests, particularly in Southeast Asia. The effect of this land conversion on macrofungal biodiversity is, however, understudied. We quantified macrofungal biodiversity by identifying mushroom sporocarps throughout four different habitats; logged peat swamp forest, large‐scale oil palm plantation, monoculture, and polyculture smallholdings. We recorded a total of 757 clusters of macrofungi belonging to 127 morphospecies and found that substrates for growing macrofungi were abundant in peat swamp forest; hence, morphospecies richness and macrofungal clusters were significantly greater in logged peat swamp forest than converted oil palm agriculture lands. Environmental factors that influence macrofungi in logged peat swamp forests such as air temperature, humidity, wind speed, soil pH, and soil moisture were different from those in oil palm plantations and smallholdings. We conclude that peat swamp forests are irreplaceable with respect to macrofungal biodiversity. They host much greater macrofungal biodiversity than any of the oil palm agricultural lands. It is imperative that further expansion of oil palm plantation into remaining peat swamp forests should be prohibited in palm oil producing countries. These results imply that macrofungal distribution reflects changes in microclimate between habitats and reduced macrofungal biodiversity may adversely affect decomposition in human‐modified landscapes.
The Impact of Pricing on Time-on-Market in High-Rise Multiple-Unit Residential Developments

Abstract Previous studies on the price and time trade-off in real estate focused primarily on the real estate traded in the secondary market. This relation, however, depends rather critically on seller motivations. This study examines the price and time trade-off for new residential developments where developer motivations differ substantially from individual seller motivations. In addition, by using the information in listing and selling prices, we seek to evaluate how the two measures of overpricing affect the speed at which new developments are sold. Using high-rise multiple-unit condominium data from Singapore, our empirical analysis shows that the overpricing strategy does not pay off, but leads to longer time on the market (TOM). Furthermore, the factors about competitor behaviour have significant influence on TOM through their impact on listing price. It also shows that buyers are more price-sensitive when there are some competitors in the same area and period.
The effect of dynamic light on human alertness

The main goal of the present study was to compare the impact of dynamic and static light on work performance and means of different measures of alertness. Ten participants experienced four sessions. Each session had a different lighting: 6000K static light, 9000K static light, CCT- low-frequency dynamic light (cycle = 4 hours, CCT between 6000 and 12000 K) and CCT- high-frequency dynamic light (cycle = 2 hours, CCT between 6000 and 12000 K). Each session lasted 5.5 hours. Altogether, 12 testing methods were used and they can be divided into four categories: questionnaire, task performance, physiological methods and biochemical methods. The present results suggest that dynamic light generated a higher alertness than static light, and CCT-high-frequency dynamic light had a stronger impact than that of low frequency CCT-dynamic light.
The Organization of Brain Activations in Number Comparison: Event-Related Potentials and the Additive-Factors Method

Measuring reaction times (RTs) using the additive-factors method provides information about the sequence of processing stages in a cognitive task. Here, I describe how the simultaneous recording of event-related potentials (ERPs) in the same task can provide complementary information that cannot be obtained using RTs alone. Most notably, ERP data can reveal the absolute activation time and the coarse brain localization of processing stages. RTs and ERPs can also be used to cross-validate a serial-stage model. These notions were applied to a study of the temporal unfolding of brain activations in a number comparison task. ERPs were recorded from 64 scalp electrodes while normal subjects classified numbers as larger or smaller than 5. Specific scalp signatures and timing data were obtained for stages of word and digit identification, magnitude comparison, response programming, and error capture and correction. The observed localizations were compatible with previous neuropsychological and brain imaging data and provided new insights into the cerebral lateralization and timing of number processing.
A COGNITIVE ANALYSIS OF THE MAINTENANCE OF AUDITORY HALLUCINATIONS: ARE VOICES TO SCHIZOPHRENIA WHAT BODILY SENSATIONS ARE TO PANIC?

A cognitive approach to auditory hallucinations that is based on the models of panic and anxiety developed by Clark (1986), Beck (1976) and Salkovskis (1991) is outlined. It is suggested that auditory hallucinations are normal phenomena, and that it is the misinterpretation of such phenomena that cause the distress and disability that are commonly seen in patients experiencing hallucinations with a diagnosis of schizophrenia. It is also proposed that these interpretations of auditory hallucinations are maintained by safety seeking behaviours (including hypervigilance). The existing literature is reviewed in relation to these hypotheses and found to be largely consistent. The clinical implications of such a model are briefly discussed and a number of testable predictions are made.
Age-related structural and functional changes of brain mitochondria.

Normal ageing is associated with a gradual decline in the capacity of various cell types, including neurones, to respond to metabolic stress and return to the resting state. An important factor in the decrease of this 'homeostatic reserve' is the gradual, age-dependent impairment of mitochondrial function. In this article we review some of the major structural and functional changes in mitochondria associated with ageing. Apart from the increased mutations in mitochondrial DNA and the evidence for increased oxidative stress with ageing, we also discuss, in some detail, the importance of the mitochondrial membrane structure and composition (in particular lipid composition) for mitochondrial function in general and during ageing. Although some of the neurodegenerative diseases are also associated with some degree of mitochondrial dysfunction, it is not yet clear if these changes are due to the underlining process of normal, physiological ageing or due to the specific pathophysiologic agents responsible for the neurodegenerative processes. Furthermore, we are proposing that there are important differences between normal ageing and neurodegeneration.
Propolis: A New Alternative for Root Canal Disinfection

Introduction This study evaluated and compared colony forming units (CFUs) and minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of calcium hydroxide and propolis as intracanal medicaments. Materials and Methods Eighty human single-root and caries-free teeth were selected and divided into five groups. Crowns were removed. Root canals were then prepared in a step-back manner. The samples were then inoculated by Enterococcus (E.) faecalis and incubated for 21 days. Intracanal medications were applied including, calcium hydroxide (n=20), propolis (n=20), and ethanol (n=20). Two groups of 10 teeth were also used as the positive and negative controls. Microbiological sampling was performed utilizing a piezo-reamer drill after one week of incubation. The samples were plated and CFUs were counted after 48 hours. MICs of calcium hydroxide and propolis were measured by serial dilution and agar dilution methods, respectively. The statistical tests of ANOVA and Duncan post-hoc were used to compare different medications. Results MICs and CFUs of propolis were dramatically less than calcium hydroxide. The difference between the groups was statistically significant (P<0.001). Conclusion Our results reveal that propolis is an effective antimicrobial intracanal agent.
ILP models for simultaneous energy and transient power minimization during behavioral synthesis

In low-power design for battery-driven portable applications, the reduction of peak power, peak power differential, cycle difference power, average power and energy are equally important. These are different forms of dynamic power dissipation of a CMOS circuit, which is predominant compared to static power dissipation for higher switching activity. The peak power, the cycle difference power, and the peak power differential drive the transient characteristic of a CMOS circuit. In this article, we propose an ILP-based framework for the reduction of energy and transient power through datapath scheduling during behavioral synthesis. A new metric called “modified cycle power function” (CPF*) is defined that captures the above power characteristics and facilitates integer linear programming formulations. The ILP-based datapath scheduling schemes with CPF* as objective function are developed assuming three modes of datapath operation, such as, single supply voltage and single frequency (SVSF), multiple supply voltages and dynamic frequency clocking (MVDFC), and multiple supply voltages and multicycling (MVMC). We conducted experiments on selected high-level synthesis benchmark circuits for various resource constraints and estimated power, energy and energy delay product for each of them. Experimental results show that significant reductions in power, energy and energy delay product can be obtained.
On the formation of neon-enriched donor stars in ultracompact X-ray binaries

We study the formation of neon-enriched donor stars in ultracompact X-ray binaries (Porb < 80 min) and show that their progenitors have to be low-mass (0.3{0.4)M \hybrid" white dwarfs (with CO cores and thick helium mantles). Stable mass transfer is possible if in the initial stages of mass exchange mass is lost from the system, taking away the specic orbital angular momentum of the accretor (\isotropic re-emission"). The excess of neon in the transferred matter is due to chemical fractionation of the white dwarf which has to occur prior to the Roche lobe overflow by the donor. The estimated lower limit of the orbital periods of the systems with neon-enriched donors is close to 10 min. We show that the X-ray pulsar 4U 1626-67, which likely also has a neon-enriched companion, may have been formed via accretion induced collapse of an oxygen-neon white dwarf accretor if the donor was a hybrid white dwarf.
Effect of peak expiratory flow data quantity on diagnostic sensitivity and specificity in occupational asthma

Serial peak expiratory flow records are recommended in the first-line investigation of suspected occupational asthma. The effects of sequentially reducing the numbers of working weeks, consecutive days at work and readings taken per day on diagnostic sensitivity and specificity were investigated, using good quality peak expiratory flow records from 81 workers with independently confirmed occupational asthma and 60 asthmatics without occupational exposure. Sensitivity was 81.8% for records of 4 weeks' duration and 70% for those of 2 weeks' duration (specificity 93.8 and 82.4% respectively). The sensitivity fell to 56.7% if there were only 2 consecutive workdays in each work period. Although best at 8 readings·day−1, sensitivity and specificity were acceptable with four daily readings (82.4 and 87%). The effect of defining a record as being of adequate quality if it was of ≥2.5 weeks' duration, with ≥4 readings·day−1 and ≥3 consecutive workdays in each work period, was tested in records not used in the initial data reduction process. The sensitivity and specificity respectively of adequate records were 78.1 and 91.8 versus 63.6 and 83.3% for inadequate records. Peak expiratory flow records for the diagnosis of occupational asthma should be interpreted with caution if they do not satisfy the suggested minimum data quantity criteria.
Observation and an Explanation of Breakdown of the Quantum Hall Effect

We observe a spatially localized breakdown of the nearly dissipationless quantum Hall effect into a set of discrete dissipative states in wide, high-quality GaAs/AlGaAs samples. The phenomenon can be explained by an extension of the quasi-elastic inter-Landau level scattering model of Eaves and Sheard.
Analysis of the end-effects in magnetic gears and magnetically geared machines

Magnetic gears and integrated magnetically geared machines have recently received much attention due to their exceptionally high torque densities. As in the design and analysis of conventional electrical machines, the finite element method (FEM) has been widely used for this class of electrical machine. For the sake of computational efficiency, the standard practice in FEM modeling is to reduce the problem complexity by applying only two-dimensional (2D) modeling and exploiting periodicity, if any. However, it has been shown by many researchers that there exists a significant discrepancy between the results from two-dimensional and three-dimensional (3D) FEM for these machines. Whilst it is generally believed that this discrepancy is due to severe end-effects, there has been no published work specifically looking into the end-effect mechanisms at work in these machines. This paper attempts to identify the origins of these end-effects and explain why they can be especially significant in magnetic gears and magnetically geared machines. The effect of some critical design parameters on the stall torque is investigated by using both 2D and 3D FEM. Special attention is given to the difference between 2D and 3D results, which helps to establish whether or to what extent 2D FEM can be utilized for the design analysis of these special machines. The impact that end-effects have on the stator load factor, a useful concept in the design of magnetically geared machines, is also investigated.
Organizational justice, commitment and performance in developing countries

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine the potential links between organizational justice, organizational commitment (employees’ loyalty) and job performance in a developing country. It also focuses on the experiences and perceptions of fairness/justice in the workplace, and how such perceptions predict organizational commitment and job performance.Design/methodology/approach – A survey was conducted in an organizational setting composed of three government organizations. The sample comprises 500 full‐time employees. The data were collected through a self‐administered questionnaire and analyzed using SPSS.Findings – The findings show that organizational justice (procedural, interactional) is positively and significantly correlated with affective and continuance commitment as well as with job performance. In addition, the result of the statistical forms support the moderating effect of affective and continuance commitment of high job performance.Research limitations/implications – The sample rep.
Cadmium sulfide nanoparticles trigger DNA alterations and modify the bioturbation activity of tubificidae worms exposed through the sediment

Abstract To address the impact of cadmium sulfide nanoparticles (CdS NPs) in freshwater ecosystems, aquatic oligochaete Tubifex tubifex were exposed through the sediment to a low dose (0.52 mg of 8 nm in size of CdS NPs/kg) for 20 days using microcosms. Cadmium (Cd) was released from the CdS NPs-contaminated sediment to the water column, and during this period the average concentrations of Cd in the filtered water fraction were 0.026 ± 0.006 µg/L in presence of oligochaetes. Similar experiments with microparticular CdS and cadmium chloride (CdCl2) were simultaneously performed for comparative purposes. CdS NPs exposure triggered various effects on Tubifex worms compared to control, microsized and ionic reference, including modification of genome composition as assessed using RAPD-PCR genotoxicity tests. Bioaccumulation levels showed that CdS NPs were less bioavailable than CdCl2 to oligochaetes and reached 0.08 ± 0.01 µg Cd/g for CdS NPs exposure versus 0.76 ± 0.3 µg Cd/g for CdCl2 exposure (fresh weight). CdS NPs altered worm’s behavior by decreasing significantly the bioturbation activity as assessed after the exposure period using conservative fluorescent particulate tracers. This study demonstrated the high potential harm of the CdS nanoparticular form despite its lower bioavailability for Tubifex worms.
Radiosynthesis, in vitro validation, and in vivo evaluation of 18F-labeled COX-1 and COX-2 inhibitors.

UNLABELLED In this article, we describe the radiosynthesis and evaluation of 18F-labeled cyclooxygenase (COX) inhibitors. 18F-SC63217 is selective to COX-1 and has a COX-1 inhibitory concentration of 50% (IC(50)) < 10 nmol/L and a COX-2 IC(50) > 100 micromol/L. 18F-SC58125 has IC(50) values of >100 micromol/L (COX-1) and <86 nmol/L (COX-2). METHODS SC63217 and SC58125 were both labeled with 18F by nucleophilic displacement of a trimethylammonium triflate salt using a dedicated microwave cavity. Each compound was evaluated in vitro using a murine macrophage cell line (J774). COX-2 was stimulated in these cells by treatment with lipopolysaccharide and interferon-gamma. Both radiotracers were further investigated in vivo using rat biodistribution techniques. Brain uptake of the COX-2 inhibitor, 18F-SC58125, was further investigated by brain PET of a baboon. RESULTS The in vitro studies showed that uptake of 18F-SC58125 was increased in stimulated cells and was totally inhibited by the addition of nonradioactive SC58125. In contrast, no increase in uptake was seen for 18F-SC63217. In the biodistribution experiments, 18F-SC63217 showed much higher uptake in the small intestine (an organ known to express high levels of COX-1) than did 18F-SC58125. Higher levels of 18F-SC58125 were observed in the kidney, an organ known to contain high levels of COX-2 rather than COX-1. 18F-SC58125 was retained in brain tissue. PET images of the baboon showed no regional distribution of the radiotracer in the brain. CONCLUSION We have developed a radiosynthetic route that can yield 18F-labeled selective inhibitors of COX-1 or COX-2. Both compounds have been fully characterized in vitro and in vivo. Our results indicate that 18F-SC58125 has potential as a marker of COX-2 activity but that, because of high nonspecific binding, 18F-SC63217 was not a good choice as a marker of COX-1.
Role of GerD in Germination of Bacillus subtilis Spores

ABSTRACT Spores of a Bacillus subtilis strain with a gerD deletion mutation (ΔgerD) responded much slower than wild-type spores to nutrient germinants, although they did ultimately germinate, outgrow, and form colonies. Spores lacking GerD and nutrient germinant receptors also germinated slowly with nutrients, as did ΔgerD spores in which nutrient receptors were overexpressed. The germination defect of ΔgerD spores was not suppressed by many changes in the sporulation or germination conditions. Germination of ΔgerD spores was also slower than that of wild-type spores with a pressure of 150 MPa, which triggers spore germination through nutrient receptors. Ectopic expression of gerD suppressed the slow germination of ΔgerD spores with nutrients, but overexpression of GerD did not increase rates of spore germination. Loss of GerD had no effect on spore germination induced by agents that do not act through nutrient receptors, including a 1:1 chelate of Ca2+ and dipicolinic acid, dodecylamine, lysozyme in hypertonic medium, a pressure of 500 MPa, and spontaneous germination of spores that lack all nutrient receptors. Deletion of GerD's putative signal peptide or change of its likely diacylglycerylated cysteine residue to alanine reduced GerD function. The latter findings suggest that GerD is located in a spore membrane, most likely the inner membrane, where the nutrient receptors are located. All these data suggest that, while GerD is not essential for nutrient germination, this protein has an important role in spores' rapid response to nutrient germinants, by either direct interaction with nutrient receptors or some signal transduction essential for germination.