Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Passion flower extract antagonizes the expression of nicotine locomotor sensitization in rats

Context: Nicotine, a bioactive component of tobacco, is highly addictive. Numerous therapies have been developed or are currently under investigation for smoking cessation, and all have met with limited success and/or side effects, indicating the need for additional therapies. Objective: This study examines the ability of a commerically-available aqueous extract of Passiflora incarnata Linn. (Passifloraceae) to ameliorate the signs of nicotine sensitization using a rat model. Materials and methods: Rats were administered 0.4 mg/kg nicotine or vehicle once a day for four consecutive days. Nicotine adminstration produces sensitization of locomotor activity, a phenomenon implicated in the development of nicotine dependence. On the fifth day, locomotor activity of the subjects was monitored as rats from each treatment group were administered 800 mg/kg of Passiflora incarnata extract (or its vehicle) followed by a challenge dose of 0.4 mg/kg nicotine. Results: When given to rats sensitized to nicotine for 4 days, the challenge dose of nicotine increased locomotor activity by more than 2-fold over activity following nicotine challenge in rats treated with vehicle during the sensitization phase. The difference was significant from 15–40 min after nicotine administration. Rats sensitized to nicotine then treated with Passiflora incarnata extract prior to the nicotine challenge exhibited a level of locomotor activity the same as the vehicle-treated controls. Discussion: Passiflora incarnata extract did antagonize the expression of nicotine locomotor sensitization. Conclusion: Passiflora incarnata extract should be examined in future studies to evaluate its potential for treating nicotine addiction in humans.
Allochthonous metamorphic blocks on the Hebridean passive margin, Scotland

Radiometric age determinations on syn-orogenic intrusive rocks coupled with evidence from field relationships, indicate that metamorphism and ductile deformation was taking place hi the Scottish metamorphic blocks coeval with extension on the Hebridean foreland. Consequently metamorphic rocks now found east and south of the Moine Thrust are regarded as substantially allochthonous, being located within the region where there was formerly a Cambrian-Early Ordovician passive margin sequence and its attendant oceanic crust. We regard these blocks as displaced terranes which acquired their metamorphic and structural signatures outside of the present Hebridean foreland regime. This may have occurred initially at the tune of megacontinent splitting and later on the destructive margin which was initiated hi Laurentia.
WOUND HEALING AND COLLAGEN FORMATION

The sequence of incorporation and utilization of tritium-labeled proline has been examined in healing wounds from normal and scorbutic guinea pigs. Linear incisions in the skin of the animals were allowed to heal for 7 days. Each animal was given proline-H3, and the wounds were excised 30 minutes, 1 and 4 hours, 1, 3 and 7 days after proline administration. The tissues were fixed in osmium tetroxide, fixed again in neutral buffered formalin, embedded in epoxy resin, and sectioned at 1 micron thickness. The sections were coated with nuclear track emulsion, exposed, developed, and stained. The results of grain counts were quantitated as the number of counts per unit area overlying cells, fibers, etc. In both groups the proline reaches a maximum over the fibroblasts within 4 hours and subsequently disappears from the cells. Concomitantly, the proline reaches a maximum over the collagen (in normal animals) and extracellular fibrillar material (in scorbutic animals) by 4 hours, where it remains. The modified technique of radioautography used in this study allows not only resolution of approximately 1 micron, but also minimal background, decreased artifact, and a clear separation of the randomly situated elements within the wounds so that grain counting is facilitated. The results correlated with previous electron microscopic studies are consistent with the utilization of proline by the fibroblasts and its incorporation into collagen (in normal animals) and into the extracellular, fibrillar, non-collagenous material seen in scorbutic animals.
Multiple-model estimation with variable structure- part VI: expected-mode augmentation

A new class of variable-structure (VS) algorithms for multiple-model (MM) estimation is presented, referred to as expected-mode augmentation (EMA). In the EMA approach, the original set of models is augmented by a variable set of models intended to match the expected value of the unknown true mode. These models are generated adaptively in real time as (globally or locally) probabilistically weighted sums of mode estimates over the model set. This makes it possible to cover a large continuous mode space by a relatively small number of models at a given accuracy level. The paper presents new theoretical results for model-set design, a general formulation of the EMA approach, along with theoretical analysis and justification, and three algorithms for its practical implementation. The performance of the proposed EMA algorithms is evaluated via simulation of a generic maneuvering target tracking problem.
Deep Twitter diving: exploring topical groups in microblogs at scale

We present a semantic methodology to identify topical groups in Twitter on a large number of topics, each consisting of users who are experts on or interested in a specific topic. Early studies investigating the nature of Twitter suggest that it is a social media platform consisting of a relatively small section of elite users, producing information on a few popular topics such as media, politics, and music, and the general population consuming it. We show that this characterization ignores a rich set of highly specialized topics, ranging from geology, neurology, to astrophysics and karate - each being discussed by their own topical groups. We present a detailed characterization of these topical groups based on their network structures and tweeting behaviors. Analyzing these groups on the backdrop of the common identity and bond theory in social sciences shows that these groups exhibit characteristics of topical-identity based groups, rather than social-bond based ones.
Hydraulic Conductivity of Two Prototype Clay Liners

Two prototype liners were constructed at a site near Austin, Texas, using clays of low and high plasticity. The clays were compacted to 100% of standard Proctor density at a water content slightly wet of optimum using a sheepsfoot roller. The overall hydraulic conductivity (k) of each liner was determined by ponding water on the liners and measuring the rate of seepage. The field-measured k’s of the liners were surprisingly high (4x10\u-\u6 and 9x10\u-\u6 cm/s). After water in the ponds was removed, laboratory permeability tests were performed on hand-carved samples obtained from the liners, on samples obtained with a thin-walled sampling tube, and on laboratory-compacted samples. Field permeability tests were also performed with ring infiltrometers. The tests showed that: (1) Essentially all of the laboratory tests, even on undisturbed samples, produced a measured k that was approximately 1,000 times less than the field-measured k, and (2) ring infiltration tests showed considerable scatter but the average k was close to the overall field-mesasured k. The findings raise important questions about whether laboratory permeability tests on compacted clay are relevant to clay liners and reinforce previous suggestions that compacted clay liners may contain numerous hydraulic defects such as fissures, slickensides, zones of poor bonding between clods of clay, and zones of relatively poor compaction. The desirability of field permeability tests is evident from the results reported.
Influence of climate and climate anomalies on norway spruce tree‐ring growth at different altitudes and on glacier responses: examples from the central italian alps

Abstract. Climate change and climate anomalies are inducing strong variations in the high‐mountain environment, driving the responses of physical and biological systems differently. This paper assesses tree‐ring growth responses to climate for two Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst. ) sites at different altitudes from an Ortles‐Cevedale Group (OCG; internal zones of the Central Italian Alps) valley site and reports some examples of climate impact on glacier dynamics in the OCG in recent decades. Growth–climate relationships between tree‐ring chronologies and meteorological data were established by means of Pearson's correlation and response functions. In the high‐altitude chronology we found a strong signal of July temperatures, whereas the low‐altitude chronology also contained a signal of summer precipitation. Climate anomalies occurring in these months proved to influence tree growth at the two sites differently. In summer 2003 extreme climatic conditions established over Europe and the Alps, strongly affecting physical and biological systems. Spruce responses to the climate anomaly of 2003 were more evident with a one‐year lag. The high‐altitude site profited from the warmer growing season, whereas trees at the low‐altitude site experienced water stress conditions and their growth was strongly inhibited also in the following year. Glacier mass loss in the OCG in 2003 was the highest since yearly measurement started. The examples reported confirm the strong and even divergent variations affecting the Alpine environment, induced by recent climate change.
The Immune System Is a Natural Target for Estrogen Action: Opposing Effects of Estrogen in Two Prototypical Autoimmune Diseases

Analogous to other physiological systems, the immune system also demonstrates remarkable sex differences. Although the reasons for sex differences in immune responses are not precisely understood, it potentially involves differences in sex hormones (estrogens, androgens, and differential sex hormone receptor-mediated events), X-chromosomes, microbiome, epigenetics among others. Overall, females tend to have more responsive and robust immune system compared to their male counterparts. It is therefore not surprising that females respond more aggressively to self-antigens and are more susceptible to autoimmune diseases. Female hormone (estrogen or 17β-estradiol) can potentially act on all cellular subsets of the immune system through estrogen receptor-dependent and -independent mechanisms. This minireview highlights differential expression of estrogen receptors on immune cells, major estrogen-mediated signaling pathways, and their effect on immune cells. Since estrogen has varied effects in female-predominant autoimmune diseases such as multiple sclerosis and systemic lupus erythematosus, we will mechanistically postulate the potential differential role of estrogen in these chronic debilitating diseases.
Clinical presentation of tuberculosis in culture-positive children. Pediatric Tuberculosis Consortium.

BACKGROUND Because tuberculosis (TB) in children implies recent infection, children serve as sentinels for disease transmission within a community. Despite the significance of diagnosing tuberculosis in children, most cases are diagnosed on clinical evidence rather than laboratory findings. METHODS We analyzed the demographic and clinical presentation of 156 children with culture proven tuberculosis using Epi-Info Version 6. RESULTS Although the clinical characteristics of this population were generally consistent with those seen in previous studies, several unexpected results were observed. Boys were overrepresented in the group of very young children (72% < 1 year). Many of the children had coexisting diseases not known to predispose to TB (37%). Cavitation, usually observed in older children, was seen in four children < or = 1 year of age. Few children were homeless or HIV-infected, but many (42%) lived in female-headed households. Of the adult contacts at risk for TB, many (49%) were recent immigrants to the US. Overall 34% of the population was either foreign born or the children of recent immigrants. CONCLUSIONS This series of 156 culture-positive children provides an understanding of the risk factors and clinical presentation of pediatric tuberculosis. The data emphasize the impact of the child's environment on the risk for tuberculosis.
Kaposi's Sarcoma-Associated Herpesvirus-Induced Upregulation of the c-kit Proto-Oncogene, as Identified by Gene Expression Profiling, Is Essential for the Transformation of Endothelial Cells

ABSTRACT Kaposi's sarcoma (KS), the most frequent malignancy afflicting AIDS patients, is characterized by spindle cell formation and vascularization. Infection with KS-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) is consistently observed in all forms of KS. Spindle cell formation can be replicated in vitro by infection of dermal microvascular endothelial cells (DMVEC) with KSHV. To study the molecular mechanism of this transformation, we compared RNA expression profiles of KSHV-infected and mock-infected DMVEC. Induction of several proto-oncogenes was observed, particularly the receptor tyrosine kinase c-kit. Consistent with increased c-Kit expression, KHSV-infected DMVEC displayed enhanced proliferation in response to the c-Kit ligand, stem cell factor (SCF). Inhibition of c-Kit activity with either a pharmacological inhibitor of c-Kit (STI 571) or a dominant-negative c-Kit protein reversed SCF-dependent proliferation. Importantly, inhibition of c-Kit signal transduction reversed the KSHV-induced morphological transformation of DMVEC. Furthermore, overexpression studies showed that c-Kit was sufficient to induce spindle cell formation. Together, these data demonstrate an essential role for c-Kit in KS tumorigenesis and reveal a target for pharmacological intervention.
Is a Second-Look Endoscopy Necessary after Endoscopic Submucosal Dissection for Gastric Neoplasm?

Background/Aims Second-look endoscopy is performed to check for the possibility of post-endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) bleeding and to perform prophylactic hemostasis in most hospitals; however, there is little evidence about the efficacy of second-look endoscopy. We investigated whether second-look endoscopy after ESD is useful in the prevention of post-ESD bleeding. Methods A total of 550 lesions with gastric epithelial neoplasms in 502 patients (372 men and 130 women) were treated with ESD between August 18, 2009 and August 18, 2010. After the exclusion of three lesions of post-ESD bleeding within 24 hours, 547 lesions (335 early gastric cancers and 212 gastric adenomas) were included for the final analysis. Results The occurrence rate of delayed post-ESD bleeding was not significantly different between the second-look group and the no second-look group (1% vs 2.5%, p>0.05). The only predictor of delayed bleeding was tumor size, regardless of second-look endoscopy after ESD (22.8±9.87 vs 15.1±10.47, p<0.05). There was no difference between the prophylactic hemostasis and nonprophylactic hemostasis groups, including the occurrence rate of delayed bleeding. In the second-look group with prophylactic hemostasis, the hospital stay was more prolonged than in the second-look group without prophylactic hemostasis, but there was no significant difference (p=0.08). Conclusions Second-look endoscopy to prevent delayed bleeding after ESD provides no significant medical benefits.
“Ecohydrology of Water-controlled Ecosystems—Soil Moisture and Plant Dynamics”评介

水文学是众多地学分支中发展最快的学科之一，约40年前水文学开始成为一门研究流域水流运动物理规律的专门学科，30年前人类开始认识到水是控制全球气候的主要因素之一，三态水之间的转化和循环成为研究热点，在近10年内，人类进一步认识到：水循环强烈影响着氮、碳等元素的循环，陆地生物圈内水资源的可获得性控制着植物的生长、氮元素的提升以及碳蓄积速率，植被因素和水文循环开始同时受到气候、水文以及生态学研究组织的高度重视，水文学发展到了生态水文学阶段。 生态水文学自诞生之日起就在朝着两个不同的方向发展：一类是由生态学家发起的集中于植被对微气候响应的研究，另一类是由水文学家发起的不同复杂程度的水文模型与植物模型耦合研究。 如此看来生态水文学进一步的发展必将是：前者会不断增加观测试验的分类程度，而后者则会逐渐提高模型的复杂程度，两个方向交叉的可能性将很小。 但Ignacio Rodriguez-hurbe与Amilcare Porporato吸收了成熟的非线性科学思想以及早期发展的降水模型随机理念，提出了一种在解释各种生物物理过程时既能保证其简单性又不失系统非线性本质的低维模型，为生态水文学的两个发展方向找到了一个交叉点，也为该学科创造了一个全新的学科增长点。
A geostrophic transport estimate for the Florida Current from the oxygen isotope composition of benthic foraminifera

We present a new method for the quantitative reconstruction of upper ocean flows for during times in the past. For the warm (T>5°C) surface ocean, density can be accurately reconstructed from calcite precipitated in equilibrium with seawater, as both of these properties increase with decreasing temperature and increasing salinity. Vertical density profiles can be reconstructed from the oxygen isotopic composition of benthic foraminifera. The net volume transport between two vertical density profiles can be calculated using the geostrophic method. Using benthic foraminifera from surface sediment samples from either side of the Florida Straits (Florida Keys and Little Bahama Bank), we reconstruct two vertical density profiles and calculate a volume transport of 32 Sv using this method. This agrees well with estimates from physical oceanographic methods of 30–32 Sv for the mean annual volume transport. We explore the sensitivity of this technique to various changes in the relationship between temperature and salinity as well as salinity and the oxygen isotopic composition of seawater.
A radar‐based methodology for preparing a severe thunderstorm climatology in central Alberta

Abstract The Radar data Analysis, Processing and Interactive Display (RAPID) system, developed by McGill University researchers, synthesizes spherical coordinate radar data onto Cartesian maps displaying Constant Altitude Plan Position Indicator (CAPPI) reflectivity, Vertically Integrated Liquid water content (VIL), and other radar‐based parameters. In this study, Carvel radar (53.34°N, 114.09°W) data from July 2000 were processed using McGill's RAPID software. Specifically, we compared observations of severe convection, as identified by selected radar‐based reflectivity parameters, with surface severe weather reports and atmospheric sounding data. July 2000 was characterized by frequent severe thunderstorm activity over central Alberta; there were seven days with golfball‐sized hail, and two days with confirmed tornadoes. The VIL, upper level VIL (UVIL), and the maximum reflectivity at 7 km (Z7) were employed to quantify the strength and frequency of storms within a 120‐km radial distance of Carvel. For each day, the intensity of the convection was quantified by counting the total number of 1‐km2 pixels in the study area that exceeded the severe thresholds for VIL, UVIL and Z7. The severe thunderstorm algorithms were found to be very effective at correctly identifying the observed severe thunderstorm events. All three radar parameters indicated a diurnal cycle, with severe convection starting after noon and peaking between 16:00 and 18:00 Local Daylight Time. A positive correlation was evident between the observed storm severity and the daily UVIL and Z7 pixel counts. The daily UVIL and Z7 pixel counts were also positively correlated with the Convective Available Potential Energy (CAPE) calculated from proximity soundings.
Linear Convergence Rate of a Class of Distributed Augmented Lagrangian Algorithms

We study distributed optimization where nodes cooperatively minimize the sum of their individual, locally known, convex costs fi(x)'s; x ϵ ℝd is global. Distributed augmented Lagrangian (AL) methods have good empirical performance on several signal processing and learning applications, but there is limited understanding of their convergence rates and how it depends on the underlying network. This paper establishes globally linear (geometric) convergence rates of a class of deterministic and randomized distributed AL methods, when the fi's are twice continuously differentiable and have a bounded Hessian. We give explicit dependence of the convergence rates on the underlying network parameters. Simulations illustrate our analytical findings.
Automatic identification of local geometric properties during teleoperation

During teleoperation, a human operator often receives only 2D visual feedback from the remote environment. While a variety of kinematic sensors exist on the remote manipulator for control purposes, the information inherent in these signals is rarely extracted and presented to the operator in a useful form. This paper investigates the extraction of such information through the development of an algorithm that estimates the geometric properties of a manipulated object and its environment using the remote robot sensors and knowledge of the task being performed. The focus of the paper is the development of contact constraint equations parametrized by the desired geometric properties and the automatic segmentation of the data stream according to the set of active contacts. The approach is validated for 3D peg-in-hole insertion using a desktop teleoperator system.
Alpaka -- An Abstraction Library for Parallel Kernel Acceleration

Porting applications to new hardware or programming models is a tedious and error prone process. Every help that eases these burdens is saving developer time that can then be invested into the advancement of the application itself instead of preserving the status-quo on a new platform. The Alpaka library defines and implements an abstract hierarchical redundant parallelism model. The model exploits parallelism and memory hierarchies on a node at all levels available in current hardware. By doing so, it allows to achieve platform and performance portability across various types of accelerators by ignoring specific unsupported levels and utilizing only the ones supported on a specific accelerator. All hardware types (multi-and many-core CPUs, GPUs and other accelerators) are supported for and can be programmed in the same way. The Alpaka C++ template interface allows for straightforward extension of the library to support other accelerators and specialization of its internals for optimization. Running Alpaka applications on a new (and supported) platform requires the change of only one source code line instead of a lot of #ifdefs.
Detection and Isolation of Exotic Newcastle Disease Virus from Field-Collected Flies

Abstract Flies were collected by sweep net from the vicinity of two small groups of “backyard” poultry (10–20 chickens per group) that had been identified as infected with exotic Newcastle disease virus (family Paramyxoviridae, genus avulavirus, ENDV) in Los Angeles County, CA, during the 2002–2003 END outbreak. Collected flies were subdivided into pools and homogenized in brain-heart infusion broth with antibiotics. The separated supernatant was tested for the presence of ENDV by inoculation into embryonated chicken eggs. Exotic Newcastle disease virus was isolated from pools of Phaenicia cuprina (Wiedemann), Fannia canicularis (L.), and Musca domestica L. , and it was identified by hemagglutination inhibition with Newcastle disease virus antiserum. Viral concentration in positive pools was low (<1 egg infectious dose50 per fly). Isolated virus demonstrated identical monoclonal antibody binding profiles as well as 99% sequence homology in the 635-bp fusion gene sequence compared with ENDV recovered from infected commercial egg layer poultry during the 2002 outbreak.
Simulation and parameterization of superimposed ice formation

In cold Arctic snowpacks, meltwater retention is a significant factor controlling the timing and magnitude of runoff. Meltwater percolates vertically through the snowpack until it reaches an impermeable horizon, whereupon a saturated zone is established. If the underlying media is below the freezing point, accretive ice formation takes place. This process has previously been crudely parameterized or modelled numerically. Such ice is called either superimposed ice on glaciers or basal ice on bare land.