Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
SPECIES INTERACTIONS IN A SUCCESSIONAL GRASSLAND. III. EFFECTS OF CANOPY GAPS, GOPHER MOUNDS AND GRAZING ON COLONIZATION

SUMMARY (1) In a perennial grassland undergoing succession after the removal of domestic grazers, three natural processes could disrupt the canopy, and thus affect colonization. These are: canopy gap formation due to the death of individual bunchgrasses; soil disturbance by gophers; and grazing by native animals. (2) Species' abilities to colonize canopy gaps and gopher mounds were assessed in the field, with seed introduction experiments, for the five most cover-dominant grass species: Anthoxanthum odoratum, Holcus lanatus, Deschampsia holciformis, Rytidosperma pilosum (all perennial bunchgrasses) and Vulpia bromoides (an annual grass). (3) The effects of native grazers on colonization by the most abundant species, Anthoxanthum, were assessed, using grazer exclosures and seed introductions in annualdominated vegetation, where grazing activity was highest. (4) Colonization success was quantified as total leaf area, number of survivors and seed production, in sites where seeds of the colonist either fell naturally, or were introduced at natural densities. (5) The formation of canopy gaps by the death of individual bunchgrasses and soil disturbances by gophers strongly affected colonization success. The best colonizers were Anthoxanthum and Holcus, whose colonization success was increased 6-2500-fold by canopy gap formation, and 10-200-fold by the formation of gopher mounds. Few, small seedlings of Deschampsia and Rytidosperma survived in canopy gaps or on gopher mounds. Unlike Anthoxanthum and Holcus, Deschampsia and Rytidosperma did not reproduce in gaps or on mounds over a two-year period. (6) Vulpia colonists had higher seed production on mounds than the four perennials. Vulpia also colonized canopy gaps, but was excluded by perennial vegetation in the second year of growth in the gaps. (7) In annual-dominated vegetation, neither aboveground biomass nor colonization by Anthoxanthum was affected by excluding grazers. However, exclusion of grazers led to an increase in the cover of forbs after two years. Clipping aboveground vegetation allowed Rytidosperma to achieve dominance in sites where, under undisturbed conditions, it existed only as a suppressed understorey. All other perennials were negatively affected by clipping. (8) The species with the highest natural densities of seed rain also had the greatest perseed colonization success, even though negative density-dependent effects must have been
Genetic Susceptibility to the Delayed Sequelae of Neonatal Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infection Is MHC Dependent

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a major cause of respiratory morbidity, resulting in hospitalization for bronchiolitis in some infected infants that is associated with wheeze in later life. Genetic factors are known to affect the severity of the sequelae after RSV infection, but the complexity of the temporal and genetic effects makes it difficult to analyze this response in studies in man. Therefore, we developed a murine genetic model to analyze the sequelae occurring after RSV infection in early life. Haplotype-based genetic analysis of interstrain differences in severity identified the MHC as an important genetic determinant. This was confirmed by analysis of responses in congenic mice with different MHC haplotypes. We also found that susceptible strains had high CD8 levels during secondary infection. Analysis of first filial generation, second filial generation, and back-cross progeny produced by intercrossing resistant (H-2k, C3H/HeN) and sensitive (H-2b, BALB/c) strains indicated that susceptibility to sequelae after RSV infection was dominantly inherited but also segregated in a non-MHC–dependent manner. Thus, MHC haplotype and its effect on CD8 cell response is an important determinant of the outcome of neonatal RSV infection.
THE EFFECT OF COMPENSATION ON EMPLOYEES PERFORMANCE OF IMPERIAL CLUB GOLF TANGERANG DISTRICT

Compensation problems have become talks between employees, and the impact of motivation and employee performance decreases. To answer this problem, analysis and research are needed, so that a solution is found. This study uses a quantitative approach with multiple linear regression analysis. The total number of employees is 50 people, so the technical sample used is the census. Furthermore, the research was carried out by testing the stages of analysis which included descriptive analysis of the questionnaire, validity test, reliability test, classic assumption test, linear regression test, correlation coefficient test and test coefficient of determination. The results of the regression analysis show that the compensation has a positive and significant effect on the performance of Imperial Club Golf employees with a regression coefficient of 0,618 and Tcount of 7,156.
Permanent Lip Augmentation Using Autologous Breast Implant Capsule

Permanent augmentation of lip volume can be achieved either with autologous or nonautologous implants. The constant risk of infectious complications remains the disadvantage of nonautologous implants. Likewise, autologous implants of dermis, fat, or fascia are prone to reabsorption and require an additional donor incision. In several patients undergoing revisional aesthetic breast augmentation, grafts of scar capsule were utilized for lip augmentation. Results at 10 months demonstrate persistent volume enhancement.
Seasonal and diurnal variation of geomagnetic activity: Revised Dst versus external drivers

[1] Daily and seasonal variability of long time series of magnetometer data from Dst stations is examined. Each station separately shows a local minimum of horizontal magnetic component near 18 local time (LT) and weakest activity near 06 LT. The stations were found to have different baselines such that the average levels of activity differed by about 10 nT. This effect was corrected for by introducing a new “base method” for the elimination of the secular variation. This changed the seasonal variability of the Dst index by about 3 nT. The hemispheric differences between the annual variation (larger activity during local winter and autumn solstice) were demonstrated and eliminated from the Dst index by addition of two Southern Hemisphere stations to a new index termed Dst6. Three external drivers of geomagnetic activity were considered: the heliographic latitude, the equinoctial effect, and the Russell–McPherron effect. Using the newly created Dst6 index, it is demonstrated that these three effects account for only about 50% of the daily and seasonal variability of the index. It is not clear what drives the other 50% of the daily and seasonal variability, but it is suggested that the station distribution may play a role.
Sequence Diversity, Reproductive Isolation and Species Concepts in Saccharomyces

Using the biological species definition, yeasts of the genus Saccharomyces sensu stricto comprise six species and one natural hybrid. Previous work has shown that reproductive isolation between the species is due primarily to sequence divergence acted upon by the mismatch repair system and not due to major gene differences or chromosomal rearrangements. Sequence divergence through mismatch repair has also been shown to cause partial reproductive isolation among populations within a species. We have surveyed sequence variation in populations of Saccharomyces sensu stricto yeasts and measured meiotic sterility in hybrids. This allows us to determine the divergence necessary to produce the reproductive isolation seen among species. Rather than a sharp transition from fertility to sterility, which may have been expected, we find a smooth monotonic relationship between diversity and reproductive isolation, even as far as the well-accepted designations of S. paradoxus and S. cerevisiae as distinct species. Furthermore, we show that one species of Saccharomyces—S. cariocanus—differs from a population of S. paradoxus by four translocations, but not by sequence. There is molecular evidence of recent introgression from S. cerevisiae into the European population of S. paradoxus, supporting the idea that in nature the boundary between these species is fuzzy.
Monokines regulate glycosylation of acute-phase proteins

The acute-phase response to inflammatory stimuli, characterized by increased synthesis of acute-phase proteins (APP), is often accompanied by changes in the glycosylation patterns of some of these proteins. While expression of APP genes in hepatocytes is regulated by monokines, mechanisms governing changes in glycosylation are not known. Exposure of human hepatoma cell line Hep 3B to conditioned medium from LPS- activated human monocytes and to medium from the keratocarcinoma cell line COLO-16 led to increased synthesis of alpha 1 proteinase-inhibitor and ceruloplasmin and to alterations of their glycosylation patterns similar to those seen in human serum in various inflammatory states. IL- 1, tumor necrosis factor, and hepatocyte stimulating factor I increased synthesis of ceruloplasmin without alterations in the pattern of its glycosylation. These findings demonstrate that altered glycosylation seen in plasma in some inflammatory states can be explained by the effects of monokines on glycosylation in hepatocytes and that gene expression and glycosylation of some APP during the acute-phase response may be regulated by different mechanisms.
Pluralistic Ignorance in Virtually Assembled Peers

This article presents a study of pluralistic ignorance situated within the virtual community of guilds in World of Warcraft (WoW). Pluralistic ignorance is a mistaken perception of social norms that overwhelms personal attitudes and leads to behavior contrary to an actor’s attitude, and it has never been studied in the context of a virtual world. We analyze the presence of pluralistic ignorance in WoW guilds with the use of a sample of 195 players who responded to an Internet-based survey and 15 focus group participants. Findings show that pluralistic ignorance has a demonstrably lower presence in that community of WoW players than in a physical world equivalent, suggesting a higher tendency in that community toward consistency between private attitudes and public behavior. Factors uncovered that explain this difference include anonymity, safety of the Internet as social medium, and a hypersalience of identity in the WoW player community.
A 3D SoC design for H.264 application with on-chip DRAM stacking

Three-dimensional (3D) on-chip memory stacking has been proposed as a promising solution to the “memory wall” challenge with the benefits of low access latency, high data bandwidth, and low power consumption. The stacked memory tiers leverage through-silicon-vias (TSVs) to communicate with logic tiers, and thus dramatically reduce the access latency and improve the data bandwidth without the constraint of I/O pin count. To demonstrate the feasibility of 3D memory stacking, this paper introduces a 3D System-on-Chip (SoC) for H.264 applications that can make use of multiple memory channels offered by 3D integration. Two logic tiers are stacked together with each having an area of 2.5×5.0mm2, with a 3-layer 8-channel 3D DRAM stacked on the top. The design flow for this 3D SoC is also presented. The prototype chip has been fabricated with GlobalFoundries' 130nm low-power process and Tezzaron's 3D TSV technology. The 3D implementation shows that the 3D ICs can alleviate the pressure from I/O pin count and allow parallel memory accesses through multiple channels.
Concentrations of zidovudine- and lamivudine-triphosphate according to cell type in HIV-seronegative adults

Introduction:Concentrations of zidovudine (ZDV)- and lamivudine (3TC)-triphosphates (TP) have been quantified in unfractionated peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from HIV+ patients. The objective of this study was to determine whether concentrations of ZDV-TP and 3TC-TP in PBMC reflect the concentrations within CD4 T cells in HIV-seronegative adults. Methods:Volunteers had taken 300 mg of ZDV plus 150 mg of 3TC twice daily for ≥ 7 days. Blood (60 mL) was collected 2 or 5 h post observed dose. PBMC were processed into three cell fractions using CD4 magnetic immunobeads: CD4-purified cells; unfractionated PBMC; and CD4-depleted PBMC. TP were determined in each cell fraction with liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry and compared across cell types by non-parametric analyses. Results:Six males and two females participated. The median (range) percentage of CD4 T cells (CD4%) in each fraction were: CD4-purified, 99%; unfractionated, 63% (range, 53–70); and CD4-depleted, 14% (range, 4–29). Corresponding median (range) ZDV-TP concentrations were 8.0 (5.3–10.3), 26.5 (12.9–42.2), and 34.2 (16.4–52.2) fmol/1 × 106 cells (Friedman P = 0.0008). The 3TC-TP values were 4.6 (2.3–6.7), 4.8 (3.5–8.8), and 6.8 (4.0–13.1) pmol//1 × 106 cells (Friedman P = 0.01). In mixed model analyses: ZDV-TP (fmol/1 × 106 cells) = 42–0.32 (CD4%); P < 0.001 and 3TC-TP (pmol/1 × 106 cells) = 7.3–0.03(CD4%); P = 0.003. Conclusions:In HIV-seronegative volunteers, 3TC-TP concentrations in PBMC reflected the concentrations within CD4 T cells, but ZDV-TP concentrations were more than 70% lower in CD4 T cells than in PBMC. Thus, TP concentrations differ according to cell type in vivo with corresponding efficacy and toxicity implications for cells with low or high triphosphates.
The Effect of Lee Silverman Voice Treatment (LSVTⓇ) on Parkinsonian Phonation

배경 및 목적: 리실버만 음성치료는 파킨슨씨병 환자의 음성, 말, 삼킴 장애를 개선하는 것으로 알려져 왔으며, 음향학적 분석은 음성 장애의 치료 효과를 측정하는데 사용되어져 왔다. 많은 연구들이 리실버만 음성치료법에 대한 효과성을 보고하였음에도 불구하고, 대부분 리실버만 음성치료법 중재 전후의 단순 비교만을 보고하였다. 무작위 통제 실험연구는 가장 최선의.
Heterogeneous Backhaul for Cloud-Based Mobile Networks

To meet the increasing capacity demands of future mobile networks, dense deployment of radio access nodes in combination with partly centralized processing by means of a cloud-based architecture is a promising option. In such an architecture, the design and optimization of the backhaul plays a crucial role. In this paper, we review different backhaul technologies available and discuss their characteristics for use in cloud-based networks. We point out how a heterogeneous backhaul network and a flexible centralization enables the proposed architecture and give an outlook on how a joint design of access and backhaul can help in meeting the increased demands.
Effect of Hypertension on Outcomes of High-Risk Patients After BCG-Treated Bladder Cancer

AbstractImmunotherapy with Bacillus Calmette–Guérin (BCG) is the most efficacious treatment for high-risk bladder cancer (BC) (Ta/T1 or carcinoma in situ) to reduce the risk of recurrence. Our aim was to evaluate whether hypertension and diabetes influence the outcome of patients with noninvasive BC treated with BCG instillations.In order to collect homogeneous data, we considered as “hypertensive” only those patients who had previous diagnosed hypertension and a history of taking medical therapy with antihypertensive drugs (AHT), and as “diabetic” only those prescribed oral antidiabetics or insulin (ADT). We analyzed 343 high-risk BC patients undergoing BCG (1995–2010) with a median follow-up of 116 months (range 48–238). The distribution of various kinds of AHT and antidiabetic drugs was homogeneous, with no significant differences (p > 0.05). In both univariate and multivariate analyses, the only statistically significant parameter prognostic for recurrence after BCG treatment was AHT. Recurrence-free survival curves showed a significant correlation with AHT (p = 0.0168, hazards ratio [HR] 1.45, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.0692–1.9619); there was no correlation (p = 0.9040) with ADT (HR 0.9750, 95% CI 0.6457–1.4721). After stratification of AHT and ADT according to drug(s) prescribed, there were no significant differences in the BC recurrence rate (p > 0.05). In this study with a very long-term follow-up, hypertension alone (evaluated by AHT) revealed the increased risk of BC recurrence after BCG treatment.Several hypotheses have been formulated to support these findings, but further prospective studies are needed to both evaluate the real influence of hypertension and identify a possible prognostic factor to be used in selecting poor-prognosis BC patients as early candidates for surgical treatment.
Major salivary gland masses: comparison of MR imaging and CT.

Computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance (MR) imaging studies were done prospectively in 21 unselected patients in whom 28 major salivary glands had pathologic changes. Blinded and final readings were used to establish the relationship of the lesion to the plane of the facial nerve (parotid masses), whether the lesion was intrinsic to the gland, and whether the lesion was aggressive. In the blinded reading, CT was superior to MR imaging in eight instances; in the final reading, however, with clinical information available, CT was superior in four cases of inflammatory salivary gland "masses. " CT and MR imaging provided the same diagnostic information in all cases of salivary gland neoplasms. T1- and T2-weighted images proved of equal value in detection of salivary gland lesions, and use of both provided no additional specificity. In most cases, T1-weighted images alone provided the information necessary for surgical management. MR imaging is a reasonable first choice if a neoplasm is likely; the potential for improved tissue contrast at the margins of a tumor may be particularly useful. If a mass may be of inflammatory origin, contrast material-enhanced CT is a more reasonable first choice.
Prevention of infections in nursing homes: antibiotic prophylaxis versus infection control and antimicrobial stewardship measures

ABSTRACT Because of the lack of structural and human resources for implementing more effective and safe preventive procedures, antimicrobial prophylaxis is often used to prevent infections in nursing homes. However, if data on the efficacy of antibiotic prophylaxis in nursing homes are null, there is a plenty of evidence that the inappropriate use of antimicrobials in this setting is associated with a high rate of colonization and infection with multi-drug-resistant organisms (MDROs), and of Clostridium difficile infection (CDI). Here, we have reviewed the infection epidemiology, the burden of MDROs and CDI, the antibiotic use and some potential infection preventive measures in nursing homes, pointing up the peculiarities of this setting and the absolute need of a more prudential use of antimicrobials.
The Effect of Whole Body Vibration on Exercise-Induced Muscle Damage and Delayed-Onset Muscle Soreness

The Effect of Whole Body Vibration on Exercise-Induced Muscle Damage and Delayed-Onset Muscle Soreness Ryan Darin Magoffin Department of Exercise Sciences, BYU Master of Science Current scientific evidence suggests that when whole body vibration (WBV) is used as a warmup prior to performing eccentric exercise, delayed-onset muscle soreness (DOMS) is mitigated and strength loss recovers faster. These benefits were observed primarily in nonresistance-trained individuals. The aim of this study was to determine if WBV could mitigate soreness and expedite strength recovery for resistance-trained individuals when used as a warm-up prior to eccentric exercise. Thirty resistance-trained males completed 300 maximal eccentric contractions of the quadriceps after warming up with (WBV) or without (CON) WBV. Both CON and WBV experienced significant isometric (27.8% and 30.5%, respectively) and dynamic (52.2% and 47.1%, respectively) strength loss immediately postexercise. Isometric strength was significantly depressed after 24 hours in the CON group (9.36% p < 0.01), but not in the WBV group (5.8% p = 0.1). Isometric strength was significantly depressed after 48 hours in the CON group (7.18% p < 0.05), but not in the WBV group (4.02% p = 0.25). Dynamic strength was significantly decreased in both the CON and WBV groups both at 24 hours (19.1% p < 0.001, and 16.1% p < 0.001, respectively), 48 hours (18.5% p < 0.01, and 14.5% p < 0.03), and 1 week postexercise (9.3% p = 0.03, and 3.5%, respectively). Pain as measured by visual analog scale (VAS) was significant in both CON and WBV groups at 24 and 48 hours postexercise, but the WBV experienced significantly less soreness than the CON group after 24 hours (28 mm vs. 46 mm p < 0.01 respectively), and 48 hours (38 mm vs. 50 mm p < 0.01). Pain as measured by pain pressure threshold (PPT) increased significantly in both groups after 24 and 48 hours, but there was no difference in severity of perceived soreness. The use of WBV as a warm-up may mitigate DOMS but does not appear to expedite the recovery of strength in the days following eccentric exercise in resistance-trained individuals.
Comparing Two Different Doses of Intravenous Ondansetron With Placebo on Attenuation of Spinal-induced Hypotension and Shivering

Background: Side effects of spinal anesthesia are hypotension, bradycardia and shivering. Five-hydroxytriptamine (5-HT), a serotonergic receptor, may be an important factor associated with inducing the Bezold Jarish reflex (BJR) that may lead to the bradycardia and hypotension in the setting of decreased blood volume. Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the effect of intravenous administration of ondansetron, a 5-HT3 receptor antagonist, which could attenuate spinal-induced hypotension, bradycardia and shivering. Patients and Methods: Two hundred and ten patients aged 20-50 years old were scheduled for spinal anesthesia and were divided randomly into three equal groups. The control group received normal saline and intervention groups received 6 mg or 12 mg of intravenous ondansetron 5 minutes before spinal anesthesia. Mean arterial pressure (MAP), heart rate (HR), and shivering were recorded before and after spinal anesthesia every 5 minutes during first 20 minutes of surgery. Results: Demographic data were not statistically different among groups. HR was statistically different between the experimental groups and the control group. Ten patients (14%) in the control group had HR < 50 bpm, that required intravenous atropine compared to experimental groups (P =0.02). In the control group 12 (17%) patients had MAP < 80 mm Hg and required vasopressors compared to experimental groups (P = 0.04). There were no significant differences in MAP and HR between the experimental groups (P =0.06). Incidence of shivering in the control group was 45% (32.70) that was statistically more than experimental groups (P = 0.02). Conclusions: Administration of two different doses of intravenous ondansetron, 6 mg and 12 mg, significantly attenuates spinal induced hypotension, bradycardia and shivering compared to the control saline group. However, the hemodynamic profiles and shivering in experimental groups were not statistically different.
Linearization Circuit of the Thermistor Connection

Thermistors have found wide application in temperature measurement and control in different fields, but they exhibit a strong nonlinearity of the characteristic, which is of an exponential type. This paper investigates the possibility of creating a thermistor-based temperature sensor with frequency and analog outputs and a linearized characteristic on the basis of a 7555 timer. It is shown through simulations that the linearization of the characteristic can be achieved without connecting additional elements to the circuit but only through a choice of the parameters of the thermistor and of the frequency-determining circuit elements. The investigations conducted show a good match between the theoretically and experimentally obtained characteristics. The proposed circuit is characterized by nonlinearity of plusmn1% in a specific temperature range, as well as high temperature stability.