Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Above-ground biomass distribution among species during early old-field succession

Abstract The interdependence of species richness and plant biomass has widely been accepted as a general biodiversity rule. However, there is no information about how relationships are established during colonization and how total biomass is distributed among plants. The main objective of this study was to determine the role of several factors which we have hypothetized as affecting biomass distribution among species in an early old-field community. To test this hypothesis, we conducted an experiment in a deeply ploughed Agropyro-Rumicion crispi community in the Basque Country (Spain). Light, water and soil nitrogen content were factorially manipulated resulting in eight experimental treatments. We also examined several site features, which could potentially influence final biomass distribution: seed bank composition, soil physico-chemical heterogeneity and cover and density of the dominant plant species in the community. A partition hypothesis testing approach using Redundancy Analysis was conducted to determine the fraction of biomass distribution variability assigned to each treatment and site feature. The most important species, in terms of biomass, were Agropyron repens, Sinapis arvensis, Arrhenatherum bulbosum and Picris echioides. As a general conclusion, biomass distribution among species during early secondary succession primarily depends on light availability and nitrogen supply. Several soil variables, such as magnesium, calcium and clay contents, also explain a relevant fraction of the biomass distribution among plant species. On the contrary, we found no effect of seed bank composition on biomass distribution. Finally, the total species number and cover of dominant species such as Sinapis arvensis, may determine final biomass distribution. Abbreviations: DCA = Detrended Correspondence Analysis; GLM = General Linear Model; MANOVA = Multiple Analysis of Variance; PAR = Photosynthetically Active Radiation; RDA = Redundancy Analysis; TVE = Total Variation Explained; uSD = units of Standard Deviation. Nomenclature: Castroviejo et al. (1986–2002); for species not included in this work: Tutin et al. (1964–1980).
Ghrelin and eating behavior: evidence and insights from genetically-modified mouse models

Ghrelin is an octanoylated peptide hormone, produced by endocrine cells of the stomach, which acts in the brain to increase food intake and body weight. Our understanding of the mechanisms underlying ghrelin's effects on eating behaviors has been greatly improved by the generation and study of several genetically manipulated mouse models. These models include mice overexpressing ghrelin and also mice with genetic deletion of ghrelin, the ghrelin receptor [the growth hormone secretagogue receptor (GHSR)] or the enzyme that post-translationally modifies ghrelin [ghrelin O-acyltransferase (GOAT)]. In addition, a GHSR-null mouse model in which GHSR transcription is globally blocked but can be cell-specifically reactivated in a Cre recombinase-mediated fashion has been generated. Here, we summarize findings obtained with these genetically manipulated mice, with the aim to highlight the significance of the ghrelin system in the regulation of both homeostatic and hedonic eating, including that occurring in the setting of chronic psychosocial stress.
Alteration of the unfolded protein response modifies neurodegeneration in a mouse model of Marinesco–Sjögren syndrome

Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress has been linked to the onset and progression of many diseases. SIL1 is an adenine nucleotide exchange factor of the essential ER lumen chaperone HSPA5/BiP that senses ER stress and is involved in protein folding. Mutations in the Sil1 gene have been associated with Marinesco–Sjögren syndrome, hallmarks of which include ataxia and cerebellar atrophy. We have previously shown that loss of SIL1 function in mouse results in ER stress, ubiquitylated protein inclusions, and degeneration of specific Purkinje cells in the cerebellum. Here, we report that overexpression of HYOU1/ORP150, an exchange factor that works in parallel to SIL1, prevents ER stress and rescues neurodegeneration in Sil1−/− mice, whereas decreasing expression of HYOU1 exacerbates these phenotypes. In addition, loss of DNAJC3/p58IPK, a co-chaperone that promotes ATP hydrolysis by BiP, ameliorates ER stress and neurodegeneration in Sil1−/− mice. These findings suggest that alterations in the nucleotide exchange cycle of BiP cause ER stress and neurodegeneration in Sil1-deficient mice. Our results present the first evidence of important genetic modifiers of Marinesco–Sjögren syndrome, and provide additional pathways for therapeutic intervention for this, and other ER stress-induced, diseases.
Mainstreaming Visually Impaired Children: The Need for Modifications

The study reported in this article investigated the extent to which 20 regular education teachers (RETs) modified the mainstream learning environment for visually impaired children attending public day schools in British Columbia, Canada. In in-depth interviews with each RET, nine areas of modification were examined. It was found that the elementary-level RETs tried to make modifications to a greater extent than did the secondary-level RETs, but that the two types of teachers did make both “typical” and “substantial” modifications. The implications of the various findings, positive and negative, are discussed.
Mathematical Modeling of Landforms: Optimality and Steady-State Solutions

The purpose of this paper is to first show how an Euler-Lagrange theorem can be applied to the steady-state fluvial landscape model, thereby allowing the geomorphic solution surfaces to be understood as those that globally optimize the difference between kinetic and potential energy dissipation (Hamilton’s Principle) while conserving mass. It is then shown how this variational formulation of the steady-state problem makes it possible to exploit the well-known Ritz-Galerkin method for finding finite-element numerical solutions to partial differential equations. A “local equation” is derived that shows how elevations at a lattice node are related to the elevations of neighboring nodes. A variety of special solutions to this local equation are given that exhibit many of the ata-point geometric features that characterize real fluvial landscapes, including peaks, ridges, saddles, hillslopes and forks. It is also shown that pits cannot occur as a solution to the local equation, so that numerical solutions will always be hydrologically sound.
Impact of pneumonia on hospitalizations due to acute exacerbations of COPD

Pneumonia is often diagnosed among patients hospitalized with acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD). The aims of this study were to find the proportion of patients with pneumonia among admissions due to AECOPD and whether pneumonia has impact on the length of stay (LOS), usage of non‐invasive ventilation (NIV) or the in‐hospital mortality.
Studies in the grammar of aphasics

This disclosure describes improvements in transit/combination case design. The transit/combination case cover latches are mounted in angled recesses on each of the four sides of the case cover to permit easy removal thereof from the front when stacked with other cases. Novel arrangements of cover latching mechanisms which are multi-functional to provide a hinging capability are disclosed which are operable in the angled recesses of the cover. Multi-functional case body reinforcement and stacking facilities are included in the form of complementary elongated raised portions and depressions in the top and underside of the case body respectively, which serve the double utility on the inner surface of the case bottom of being slides, or of providing bases therefore, to facilitate easy removal of the case contents. Provision is also made for pivotable cover latch mechanisms which provide the additional function of intercase latching when in the stacked mode. In a preferred embodiment of latch mechanism having hinging capability and "round-the-corner" operation required from the mounting thereof in the angled recesses of the case cover, the latch hook is utilized as the tension member of the pivot arrangement, while the compression member of the pivot arrangement forms an integral part of the latch itself.
Job Search and Over-Education: Evidence from China's Labour Market for Postgraduates.

This article investigates the relationship between the number of informational channels and over-education in the outcome of job search, using the survey data of postgraduates in China. The empirical results show : (1) the more the informational channels of job search are used, the lower the probability and the less the intensity of over-education will be; (2) graduates from prestigious "985" universities have lower probability and less intensity of over-education than those of their counterparts from "none-985" universities. Based on the findings above, we argue that helping graduates to get more job information and improving the quality of universities will lighten the problem of the over-education under the situation of great higher education expansion.
Novel zero-current-switching PWM converters

This paper presents a new family of pulsewidth-modulated (PWM) converters, featuring soft commutation of the semiconductors at zero current (ZC) in the transistors and zero voltage (ZV) in the rectifiers. Besides operating at constant frequency and with reduced commutation losses, these new converters have output characteristics similar to the hard-switching-PWM counterpart, which means that there is no circulating reactive energy that would cause large conduction losses. The new family of zero-current-switching (ZCS)-PWM converters is suitable for high-power applications using insulated gate bipolar transistors (IGBTs). The advantages of the new ZCS-PWM boost converter employing IGBTs, rated at 1.6 kW and operating at 20 kHz, are presented. This new ZCS operation can reduce the average total power dissipation in the semiconductors practically by half, when compared with the hard-switching method. This new ZCS-PWM boost converter is suitable for high-power applications using IGBTs in power-factor correction. The principle of operation, theoretical analysis, and experimental results of the new ZCS-PWM boost converter are provided in this paper to verify the performance of this new family of converters.
A hybrid genetic algorithm for constrained optimization problems in mechanical engineering

A genetic algorithm (GA) is hybridized with an artificial immune system (AIS) as an alternative to tackle constrained optimization problems in engineering. The AIS is inspired in the clonal selection principle and is embedded into a standard GA search engine in order to help move the population into the feasible region. The procedure is applied to mechanical engineering problems available in the literature and compared to other alternative techniques.
Intranasal Vaccinations with the trans-Sialidase Antigen plus CpG Adjuvant Induce Mucosal Immunity Protective against Conjunctival Trypanosoma cruzi Challenges

ABSTRACT Trypanosoma cruzi is an intracellular protozoan parasite capable of infecting through mucosal surfaces. Our laboratory has previously elucidated the anatomical routes of infection after both conjunctival and gastric challenge in mice. We have shown that chronically infected mice develop strong immune responses capable of protecting against subsequent rechallenge with virulent parasites through gastric, conjunctival, and systemic routes of infection. We have also shown that intranasal immunizations with the unique T. cruzi trans-sialidase (TS) antigen protect against gastric and systemic T. cruzi challenge. In the current work we have investigated the ability of purified TS adjuvanted with CpG-containing oligonucleotides to induce immunity against conjunctival T. cruzi challenge. We confirm that intranasal vaccinations with TS plus CpG induce TS-specific T-cell and secretory IgA responses. TS-specific secretory IgA was detectable in the tears of vaccinated mice, the initial body fluid that contacts the parasite during infectious conjunctival exposures. We further show that intranasal vaccinations with TS plus CpG protect against conjunctival T. cruzi challenge, limiting local parasite replication at the site of mucosal invasion and systemic parasite dissemination. We also provide the first direct evidence that mucosal antibodies induced by intranasal TS vaccination can inhibit parasite invasion.
Protein Kinase C-delta in dopaminergic system and experimental models of Parkinson's disease

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a major neurodegenerative disorder characterized by progressive and substantial loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra compacta (SNc). Currently, no available drugs prevent the progressive loss of nigral dopaminergic neurons. The mechanisms underlying the dopaminergic degenerative process observed in PD are not well understood, which has hampered development of successful neuroprotective drugs. Tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) is the rate-limiting enzyme in dopamine synthesis. Severely reduced TH positive neurons and TH fibers in dopaminergic terminal fields of PD patients and the successful application of L-DOPA therapy for Parkinson's disease suggest that this enzyme has a primary role in the progression of this disease. Previously, we found that the caspase-3 mediated proteolytic activation of Protein Kinase C δ (PKCδ), a member of the novel PKC isoform family, plays a critical role in oxidative stress-induced dopaminergic cell death in cell culture models of PD. In the present study, we report a novel interaction between PKCδ and TH, in which the kinase modulates dopamine synthesis by negatively regulating TH activity via protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A). We observed that PKCδ is highly expressed in nigral dopaminergic neurons and co-localizes with TH in the mouse brain. Interestingly, suppression of PKCδ activity with the kinase inhibitor rottlerin, PKCδ-siRNA, or with PKCδ dominant negative mutant effectively increased a number of key biochemical events in the dopamine pathway, including TH-ser40 phosphorylation, TH enzymatic activity, and dopamine synthesis in neuronal cell culture models. Additionally, we found that PKCδ not only physically associates with the PP2A catalytic subunit (PP2Ac) but also phosphorylates the phosphatase to increase its activity. Notably, inhibition of PKCδ reduced the dephosphorylation activity of PP2A and thereby increased TH-ser40 phosphorylation, TH activity, and dopamine synthesis. To further validate our findings, we used the PKCδ knockout (PKCδ -/-) mouse model. Consistent with other results, we found greater TH-ser40 phosphorylation and reduced PP2A activity in the substantia nigra of PKCδ -/mice than wild-type mice. Importantly, this was accompanied by an increased dopamine level in the striatum of PKCδ -/mice. Taken together, these results suggest that PKCδ phosphorylates PP2Ac to enhance its activity, and thereby reduces
MicroRNA-744 promotes prostate cancer progression through aberrantly activating Wnt/β-catenin signaling

Accumulated evidence indicate that miR-744 functions as either tumor suppressor or oncogene in the progression of a variety of tumors, with a tumor type-specific way. However, little is known about how miR-744 impacts on the tumorigenesis of human prostate cancer. In this study, employing the analyses of microarray, qRT-PCR and re-analysis of MSKCC data, we found that CRPC tissues expressed much more miR-744 than ADPC tissues did, and the expression level of miR-744 was inversely associated with survival of CRPC patients. In vitro studies revealed that miR-744 promotes PCa cells proliferation, enhances migration, invasion; in vivo results demonstrated that silencing of miR-744 mediated by shRNA dramatically reduces PCa xenograft tumor growth. Importantly, through human gene expression array, pathway enrichment analysis and Western blot, we identified that miR-744 dramatically activated Wnt/β-catenin pathway by targeting multiple negative regulators of Wnt/β-catenin signaling, including SFRP1, GSK3β, TLE3 and NKD1. At molecular level, we further defined that NKD1 is a major functional target of miR-744. Our findings indicate that miR-744 acts as one of oncogenic factor in the progression of CRPC by recruiting a mechanism of aberrant activation of Wnt/β-catenin signaling.
RESPONSE TIME TO HAZARD: THE ROLE OF ATTENTION, DECISION MAKING AND EMOTIONS ON EXPECTATIONS IN REAL-LIFE AND VIRTUAL DRIVING

The aim of the present research is to study the role of human factor in a salient driving ability for road accident prevention, that is reaction time to danger. Reaction times (RTs) have been investigated since the origin of experimental Psychology, however when applied to driving, the values became obsolete due to modern driving conditions and interaction with advance driving automatic systems and devices. The influence of expectation, urgency, risk perception, cognitive load and driving conditions on the process that determine RTs have been steadily proven in literature. The present research aims to tackle the influence of these factors on RTs while driving. In particular data measured in real-life driving are used to a) study the influence of expectation on attention, emotions and decision making process, and b) assess the influence of virtual settings with different levels of realism, on the psychological process that determine RTs. A specific task that manipulate driver’s expectations was created to assess the influence of attention and decision making process in the different context on RTs. Results show significant differences in the RTs phases, for different situation. Driving simulators with different levels of realism proved to not have absolute validity, but rather relative on the meanings and learning process in detecting danger and deciding what response foster; giving us interesting information for drivers education, road safety and accident reconstruction.
Act Local, Think Global: Width Notions for Tractable Planning

Many of the benchmark domains in AI planning are tractable on an individual basis. In this paper, we seek a theoretical, domain-independent explanation for their tractability. We present a family of structural conditions that both imply tractability and capture some of the established benchmark domains. These structural conditions are, roughly speaking, based on measures of how many variables need to be changed in order to move a state closer to a goal state.
Advances in Brief Microsatellite Instability in Ulcerative Colitis-associated Colorectal Dysplasias and Cancers '

Microsatellites are short nudeotide repeat sequences present through out the human genome. Alterations ofmicrosatellites, comprising extra or missing copies of these sequences, have been termed microsatellite insta blilty. This abnormality occurs in sporadic and hereditary adenocarcino mm of the proximal colon, as well as in many other tumor types. We determined whether microsatelilte instability occurred In ulcerative coil tis-associated cancers or precancerous dysplasias. Sixty-three patients were evaluated, consisting of 188 samples of genomic DNA (63 normal controls, 68 cancers, 52 dysplasias, and 5 adjacent tissues) at led D2S119, D2S123, D2S147, D10S197, and D11S904. Multiplex polymerase chain reaction was performed using one radiolabeled nucleotide, and the prod ucts were electrephoresed on denaturing polyacrylamide gels. Seventeen of the 63 patients (27%) possessed lesions showing instability at 1 or more led. Fourteen of 68 tumor samples (21%) and ten of 52 dysplaslas (19%) displayed instability. There was no tendency for a greater number of led to manifest instability in more advanced lesions. Neither anatomic location nor loss of heterozygosity at the p53 locus were associated with microsat elite instabfflty by 2-way table analysis. These data support a role for defective DNA repair In the generation of a subset of both early and advanced ulcerative colitis-associated colorectal neoplastic lesions.
Autoimmunity in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: Past and Present

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal neurodegenerative disease affecting particularly motor neurons for which no cure or effective treatment is available. Although the cause of ALS remains unknown, accumulative evidence suggests an autoimmune mechanism of pathogenesis. In this paper, we will summarize the current research related to autoimmunity in the sporadic form of ALS and discuss the potential underlying pathogenic mechanisms and perspectives. Presented data supports the view that humoral immune responses against motor nerve terminals can initiate a series of physiological changes leading to alteration of calcium homeostasis. In turn, loss of calcium homeostasis may induce neuronal death through apoptotic signaling pathways. Additional approaches identifying specific molecular features of this hypothesis are required, which will hopefully allow us to develop techniques of early diagnosis and effective therapies.
Delinquency, Opportunity, and Gender

The role of blocked or limited opportunity has commanded considerable attention in the sociological analysis of juvenile delinquency. The typical stance taken is that many juveniles are "pushed" into delinquency because they lack access to those opportunities which are defined as legitimate avenues for the realization of a relatively universal set of success goals. Those who are denied the opportunity to implement these socially approved means often turn to delinquency as an alternative or more expedient way of reaching desired goals or as a means of striking back at what is defined as an unfair system. ' For the most part, the importance of adolescent aspirations and expectations, as well as the relative availability of the institutionalized means for realizing personal goals, has been developed mainly with reference to their etiological role in male delinquency. The potential utility of such variables in accounting for female misbehavior, by contrast, has been largely ignored. Primarily, this appears to be a function of the view that the aspirations and expectations of adolescent females, in comparison to those of their male counterparts, are quite circumscribed, not only in quantity, but also in content. That is, while males are conceived as "status strivers," preoccupied with short and long-term status and economic success, the female adolescent is more often viewed as possessing no such aspirations and, instead, is satisfied to occupy a role dependent to the male, basking in whatever attendant status her partner's relative success confers. Coleman2 presented the most popular and classic conception of this with his contention that the greatest status enhancement for girls is in dating the "right boys. " The implication is that while boys have a variety of actual and potential roles as sources of achievement and status, girls have relatively little in the way of alternatives to the "popularity with the opposite sex" role.3 As a result, and to the extent that female aspirations and expectations have been examined at all in connection with
Development of a brief screening interview for adjustment disorders and major depression in patients with cancer

Adjustment disorders and major depression are common psychiatric disorders in patients with cancer and have a serious impact on quality of life. The problem in clinical oncology settings is underrecognition of these disorders; as a result, screening is recommended to detect them. The goal of the current study was to develop a new, brief screening tool for adjustment disorders and major depression and to compare its performance with that of existing screening methods.