Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Comparison of models for daily light partitioning in multispecies canopies

A simulation model of light partitioning in horizontally homogeneous multispecies canopies is proposed. The model is based on the Kubelka–Munk equations (KM) applied to a mixture of N vegetation components. Only two hemispherical fluxes, i.e. downwards and upwards, are considered. The exact solution of KM equations was then simplified in such a way that the model can be easily extended to multispecies canopies including several vegetation layers. The simplified KM model (KMS) was compared to two other light models dealing with mixed canopies: the more detailed model SIRASCA [Sinoquet, H. , Moulia, B. , Gastal, F. , Bonhomme, R. , Varlet-Grancher, C. , 1990. Modeling the radiative balance of the components of a well-mixed canopy: application to a white clover–tall fescue mixture. Acta Oecol. 11, 469–486], and the simpler model ERIN [Wallace, J.S. , 1997. Evaporation and radiation interception by neighbouring plants. Q. J. R. Meteorol. Soc. 123, 1885–1905]. All three models were applied to theoretical two-species monolayer canopies, and to actual mixed canopies, the geometry of which was retrieved from the literature. In the PAR waveband, the model KMS gave simulation results very similar to those of SIRASCA in case of contrasted canopy structures. In conditions of high leaf and soil scattering, deviations between SIRASCA and KMS outputs were higher and reached maximum values of –0.08 for erectophile species. Comparison between SIRASCA and ERIN outputs showed that ERIN largely underestimated light competition in a two-component canopy in several conditions, due to light partitioning only based on height differences between components. Simulations also showed the significant effect of the vertical distribution of leaf area on light partitioning in the case of mixtures where components had equal or different heights. Finally it appears that the model KMS could be a candidate for inclusion in growth models for multispecies canopies, since all KMS parameters have physical meaning and it is very easy to implement. ©2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.
Modeling locomotion of a soft-bodied arthropod using inverse dynamics

Most bio-inspired robots have been based on animals with jointed, stiff skeletons. There is now an increasing interest in mimicking the robust performance of animals in natural environments by incorporating compliant materials into the locomotory system. However, the mechanics of moving, highly conformable structures are particularly difficult to predict. This paper proposes a planar, extensible-link model for the soft-bodied tobacco hornworm caterpillar, Manduca sexta, to provide insight for biologists and engineers studying locomotion by highly deformable animals and caterpillar-like robots. Using inverse dynamics to process experimentally acquired point-tracking data, ground reaction forces and internal forces were determined for a crawling caterpillar. Computed ground reaction forces were compared to experimental data to validate the model. The results show that a system of linked extendable joints can faithfully describe the general form and magnitude of the contact forces produced by a crawling caterpillar. Furthermore, the model can be used to compute internal forces that cannot be measured experimentally. It is predicted that between different body segments in stance phase the body is mostly kept in tension and that compression only occurs during the swing phase when the prolegs release their grip. This finding supports a recently proposed mechanism for locomotion by soft animals in which the substrate transfers compressive forces from one part of the body to another (the environmental skeleton) thereby minimizing the need for hydrostatic stiffening. The model also provides a new means to characterize and test control strategies used in caterpillar crawling and soft robot locomotion.
Respiratory impedance and volume flow at high frequency in dogs.

Sinusoidal forcing at frequencies up to 11 cycle/sec was applied to the anesthetized, apneic dog in a body respirator. Using an oscilloscope and the Lissajous patterns displayed by the simultaneous recording of driving pressure and volume flow, the frequency (resonant; mean, 5.4 cycle/sec) at which there was zero phase shift was determined. By analogy with an inductance-resistance-capacitance network, inertance (mean, .041 cm H2O/liter/sec2) was derived from static compliance (mean, .022 liter/cm H2O) and resonant frequency. Impedance at each frequency and damping ratio (mean, 1.57) was calculated. Tissue resistance was found to be 19% of the total resistance (mean, 4.3 cm H2O/liter/sec). A nomogram was constructed to facilitate the determination of inertance and the coding of data as electrical analogues. Submitted on September 16, 1960
Hormonal mechanisms in the onset of puberty

Sexual maturation is associated with increasing levels of sex steroids. These steroidal events are the result of complex changes that occur at several functional levels including the hypothalamus, pituitary, gonad and adrenal gland. These changes, as outlined in Table 3, are often interrelated. While considerable progress has been made in our understanding of the hormonal events associated with sexual maturation, many important questions remain unanswered. Further intensive investigation will be required before we have a lucid understanding of the physiological basis of the sequence of hormonal events which occur during the pubertal process.
Rivastigmine superior to aspirin plus nimodipine in subcortical vascular dementia: an open, 16‐month, comparative study

Recent data indicate that patients with vascular dementia (VaD) show a cholinergic deficit. Having obtained good results in a previous study comparing rivastigmine, an inhibitor of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BuChE), vs. aspirin, we aimed to compare the efficacy and tolerability of rivastigmine vs. aspirin plus nimodipine. Patients with a diagnosis of dementia and probable VaD received rivastigmine 3–6 mg/day (n = 32) or aspirin plus nimodipine (n = 32) in an open study for 16 months. Patients treated with rivastigmine showed superior benefits, compared with those receiving aspirin plus nimodipine, in attention, executive function, instrumental activities of daily living, and behavioural and psychotic disturbances. Side‐effects in both groups were tolerable and there were no study withdrawals. The benefits observed with rivastigmine may reflect its inhibitory effects on AChE and BuChE, and the drug's affinity for frontal brain areas.
Prognostic Value of Heart Rate Variability Analysis in Patients with Carcinoid Syndrome

Background/Aims: Recently, a decrease in heart rate variability measures was found in patients with carcinoid syndrome suffering from carcinoid heart disease compared to those without cardiac involvement of carcinoid syndrome. The prognostic relevance of this finding, however, was not clear. Patients and Methods: Therefore, 35 patients with carcinoid syndrome (21 men, age 56 ± 11 years), all of them suffering from metastatic carcinoid tumors, were followed prospectively at our institution. Digital 24-hour Holter monitoring, echocardiography, and serum serotonin and urine 5-hydroxyindole acetic acid (5-HIAA) samplings were performed in all study patients at baseline. Indices of time domain heart rate variability obtained from Holter recordings included the standard deviation of all normal RR intervals (SDNN) representing overall variability, the square root of the mean of the squared differences between adjacent normal RR intervals (rMSSD), and the percentage of the number of pairs of adjacent normal RR intervals differing by >50 ms (pNN50), both indices reflecting predominantly vagal influences on heart rate. Results: During a mean follow-up of 18 ± 7 months, 15 of 35 patients with carcinoid syndrome (43%) died. Patients with cardiac manifestation of the carcinoid syndrome showed a tendency towards an increased mortality in comparison to patients without cardiac involvement (p = 0.09). Patients with the combination of decreased heart rate variability (SDNN <100 ms) and presence of carcinoid heart disease had a significant worse prognosis (p = 0.04) compared to patients without carcinoid heart disease and preserved heart rate variability (SDNN ≧100 ms). Conclusions: The presence of carcinoid heart disease in combination with decreased heart rate variability is associated with the most adverse prognosis in the setting of carcinoid syndrome.
Decline of myoplasmic Ca2+, recovery of calcium release and sarcoplasmic Ca2+ pump properties in frog skeletal muscle.

1. The two calcium indicators Antipyrylazo III (AP III) and Fura‐2 were used simultaneously to monitor free myoplasmic [Ca2+] in voltage‐clamped cut segments of frog skeletal muscle fibres (8‐10 degrees C). Antipyrylazo III was used for the relatively large [Ca2+] transients during 100‐200 ms depolarizing pulses to ‐20 to 0 mV and for the rapid decline of [Ca2+] during the 200 ms after the pulses. Fura‐2 was used to follow the slow decline of the small remaining elevation of [Ca2+] during the following 16 s (slow recovery period) and to monitor resting [Ca2+]. 2. From 1 to 16 s of the slow recovery period [Ca2+] declined with two exponential components, having time constants of 1.9 +/‐ 0.3 and 13.5 +/‐ 1.5 s (these and all other values are means +/‐ S.E.M. of eleven runs from seven fibres). At 1.2 s after the end of the pulses the amplitudes of the fast and slow exponential components of decline of [Ca2+] were 34 +/‐ 7 and 31 +/‐ 4 nM, respectively. The resting [Ca2+] in these runs was 40 +/‐ 4 nM. 3. The time course of calcium bound to parvalbumin [( Ca‐Parv]) was calculated from the [Ca2+] records using literature values for the parvalbumin kinetic constants. From 1 to 16 s of the slow recovery period the total calcium [Ca]T outside the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) was assumed to equal [Ca‐Parv] + [Ca‐Fura]. During this period [Ca]T declined with two exponential components having time constants of 1.7 +/‐ 0.2 and 14.2 +/‐ 1.4 s, the same as those for [Ca2+]. Assuming the total concentration of parvalbumin cation binding sites to be 1000 microM, the fast and slow components of [Ca]T had amplitudes of 117 +/‐ 21 and 147 +/‐ 16 microM, respectively, at 1.2 s after the pulses. 4. The rate of decline of [Ca]T, ‐d[Ca]T/dt, was used as a measure of the net rate of removal of calcium from the myoplasm by the SR. From 3 to 16 s of the slow recovery period and in the resting fibre ‐d[Ca]T/dt varied with [Ca2+] according to A[Ca2+]n‐L. The term A[Ca2+]n represents the pump rate and L represents a constant rate of calcium leak from the SR. 5. For 40 nM less than or equal to [Ca2+] less than or equal to 80 nM, the power n for the [Ca2+] dependence of pump rate was 3.9 +/‐ 0.6. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
A chimeric avian retrovirus containing the influenza virus hemagglutinin gene has an expanded host range

We have investigated what protein sequences are necessary for glycoprotein incorporation into Rous sarcoma virus (RSV) virions by utilizing the hemagglutinin (HA) protein of influenza virus. Two chimeric HA genes were constructed. In the first the coding sequence for the signal peptide of the RSV env gene product was fused in frame to the entire HA structural gene, and in the second the hydrophobic anchor and cytoplasmic domain sequences of the HA gene were also replaced with those from the RSV env gene. Both chimeric genes, expressed from a simian virus 40 expression vector in CV-1 cells, yielded functional HA proteins that were transported to the cell surface and were able to bind to erythrocytes. When the genes were expressed in combination with the RSV gag-pol gene region in QT6 cells by using a vaccinia virus-T7 expression/complementation system, virions that efficiently incorporated either chimeric protein were assembled. This result indicated that the presence of the RSV env membrane anchor and cytoplasmic sequences did not facilitate HA glycoprotein incorporation into virions. The presence of the RSV env signal sequence allowed the chimeric HA genes to be substituted into the RSV-derived BH-RCAN.HiSV viral genome in place of the RSV env gene. Both chimeric genomes yielded infectious virus that could infect human and avian cells with equal efficiency. These experiments demonstrate that a foreign glycoprotein, efficiently incorporated into virions lacking a native glycoprotein, can confer a broadened host range on the virus. Moreover, because the HA of influenza virus requires the acidic pH of the endosome in order to be activated, these results imply that foreign proteins can modify the normal route of entry of this avian retrovirus.
Transmission of 1 - 6-keV positrons through thin metal films

We report measurements of the transmission of 1--6-keV energy positrons through films of Al, Cu, and Si up to 3000 A thick. When the thickness is expressed in terms of mass per unit area, the transmission of Cu and Al is found to be the same within +- 10%. Within a +- 20% precision we observe no effect having to do with the crystallinity of the materials. The median penetration depth of positrons in Al and Cu is found to vary with the energy E as E/sup n/, with n = 1.60/sub -0.08//sup +0.15/ and 1.43/sub -0.11//sup +0.07/, respectively. Our measured median penetration depths are significantly less than one would have expected from the calculation of Nieminen and Oliva (R. M. Nieminen and J. Oliva, Phys. Rev. B 22, 2226 (1980)) which seems to indicate the importance of large-angle scattering effects. Our measurements can be combined with independent measurements of the energy dependence of the yield of positronium at a surface (K. G. Lynn, Phys. Rev. Lett. 44, 1330 (1980) and K. G. Lynn and D. O. Welch, Phys. Rev. B 22, 99 (1980)) to obtain values for the positron diffusion constant D/sub +/ in single-crystal metal samples. For example,more » we find D/sub +/ (Al) = (0.76 +- 0.14) cm/sup 2/ sec/sup -1/ and D/sub +/(Cu) = (1.06 +- 0.20) cm/sup 2/ sec/sup -1/. The former is in agreement with the deformation-potential calculation of Bergersen et al. (B. Bergersen, E. Pajanne, P. Kubica, M. J. Stott, and C. H. Hodges, Solid State Commun. 15, 1337 (1974)) if the positron effective mass in Al is m/sub +/ = (1.59 +- 0.12)m/sub e/. Finally, we use our measurements to calculate the optimum thickness of transmitting positron moderators for enhancing the brightness of slow positron beams. « less
Documentation proficiency of patients who leave the emergency department against medical advice.

STUDY OBJECTIVE This study describes the current documentation practices of health-care providers in the emergency department (ED) during the discharge against medical advice (AMA) process. METHODS This retrospective cohort study reviewed health care provider documentation of adult patients who left an ED AMA in one year. Each encounter documentation was reviewed for eight medicolegal standards including the documentation of 1) the patient's capacity; 2) the signs and symptoms; 3) the extent and limitation of the evaluation; 4) the current treatment plan, risks, and benefits; 5) the risks and benefits of forgoing treatment; 6) the alternatives to suggested treatment; 7) the explicit statement made by the patient who left AMA, as well as the explicit documentation of what the patient was refusing; and 8) the follow-up care including discharge instructions. RESULTS There were 81,038 eligible ED encounters with a total of 418 patients identified as having left AMA resulting in an AMA discharge rate of 0.52%. No single chart fulfilled all eight medicolegal standards. Minimal standards established by the Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act (EMTALA) were fulfilled in only 17 charts (4.1%). Despite general acceptance in the legal and policy literature on the need to ensure capacity to make decisions, only 22.0% of the charts documented that the patient had such capacity. CONCLUSIONS This study revealed suboptimal documentation in AMA cases by clinicians at a single ED and confirms disparities between federal and academic quality (safety documentation requirements and actual provider documentation).
Robust stability and stabilization for uncertain discrete-time fuzzy systems with time-varying delay

This paper discusses robust stability and stabilization of uncertain discrete-time fuzzy systems that have time-varying delay in state. There have been only a few results on stability and stabilization for discrete-time fuzzy time-delay systems. Especially, few results on robust stability and stabilization for a class of uncertain discrete-time fuzzy time-delay systems have appeared in the literature. Therefore, the study of robust stability and stabilization for uncertain discrete-time fuzzy time-delay systems is a very important problem. We first obtain a stability condition for nominal discrete-time fuzzy systems with time varying delay via linear matrix inequalities (LMIs). To this end, we define a new Lyapunov-Krasovskii function and use Leibniz-Newton formula and free weighting matrix method, which reduce the conservativeness and unnecessary LMI slack variables in our robust stability conditions. Then we extend to a robust stability condition for uncertain discrete-time fuzzy time-delay systems. Furthermore, we obtain a robustly stabilizing state feedback controller design method for uncertain fuzzy time-delay systems. Finally, we give some numerical examples to show the effectiveness of our conditions and to illustrate our design method.
Lipids & fatty acids of Leishmania donovani donovani promastigotes.

Environ 13,5% du poids sec cellulaire de L. d. correspond a des lipides. Les lipides neutres et les phospholipides representent environ 23 et 76% des lipides respectivement. L'ergosterol est le principal compose sterol present. Les acides palmitique, stearique, oleique, lunoleique et linoleniques sont les acides gras predominants des promastigotes de L. d.
The role of proximity dimensions in the development of innovations in coopetition: a longitudinal case study

Cooperation with competitors (coopetition) is receiving increasing attention as an innovation strategy. This paper explores how different proximities facilitate innovation development in a coopetition alliance through a longitudinal qualitative case study of firms of different sizes and capabilities within a Norwegian coopetition alliance. We found that the development of cognitive and technological proximities is essential for the development of innovations from coopetition, especially for smaller firms that can exploit the initial levels of proximity facilitated by coopetition to increase their cognitive and technological proximity to the larger firms. We also find that building social proximity in coopetition leads to less tension in the interaction between competitors and thereby less tension in the development of the other proximities important for innovation development.
RNiO3 perovskites (R=Pr,Nd): Nickel valence and the metal-insulator transition investigated by x-ray-absorption spectroscopy.

The strongly correlated and nominally trivalent Ni oxides RNiO3 (R = Pr, Nd) show a sharp metal to insulator transition at T(M-I) = 135 and 200 K, respectively. Rare-earth (3d), Ni (1s, 2p), and O(Is) x-ray absorption measurements have been performed above and below the transition temperature in order to investigate (a) the valence of Ni and O atoms and (b) the changes in the electronic structure across the transition. Our results suggest that, in contrast to hole-doped Ni1-xLixO and La2-xSrxNiO4+delta, the electronic structure is characterized by a strongly hybridized ground state of mainly 3d7 character. The differences between the absorption edges at low (insulating) and high (metallic) temperatures are discussed in terms of the possible mechanisms responsible for the metal-insulator transition.
Drought Stress Effects on Medicinal and Aromatic Plants and the Possible Stress Amelioration by Mineral Nutrition

Limited water supply is one of the major abiotic factors that adversely affects agricultural crop production worldwide. Drought stress disturbs the balance between the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and the antioxidant defense, causing the accumulation of ROS that induce oxidative stress to proteins, membrane lipids and other cellular components. Drought stress hampers photosynthesis harshly owing to interference with stomatal functioning and causing serious damage to photosynthetic apparatus through ROS production. Hence, water-stressed plants exhibit disturbance in metabolism, particularly that of carbon, nitrogen and oxygen. As a result of water stress, growth parameters associated with root and above-ground parts, e.g. leaf area, height, and fresh and dry matter of plants, are severely reduced, leading to drastic reductions in growth, yield and quality of plants. Mineral elements have numerous functions in plants including charge balance, electron carriers, structural components, and enzyme activation. Besides, these elements behave as osmotica for maintenance of turgor and growth under drought stress. However, their uptake is reduced to a great extent under water deficit. Hence, their additional supplementation under water deficit results in improvement in their uptake and mitigation of deleterious effects of drought stress. A wide range of studies on the effect of drought stress on growth, yield and quality of field crops have been conducted; however, such studies related to medicinal and aromatic plants (MAPs) are few. In this review, in addition to describing the adverse effects of water stress on the growth, yield and quality attributes of MAPs, the ameliorative role of some of the macronutrients (nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and calcium) is discussed. _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Dynamic in vivo oxymetry using overhauser enhanced MR imaging

A noninvasive method for in vivo measurement of the oxygen concentration has been developed. By introducing a novel contrast medium (CM) based on a single electron substance, it is possible to enhance the proton signal through the Overhauser effect. A low‐field magnetic resonance scanner is used to image the proton nuclei of the object. The electron spin transition of the CM is saturated using rf irradiation. As a consequence, the nuclear polarization becomes enhanced through dipole‐dipole interaction. The signal enhancement is a function of rf power and of the EPR line width of the substance, which is influenced by the oxygen concentration. The maximum in vivo enhancement has been measured to 60. Image data, generated with different scanning parameters, is used in a postprocessing method to generate images showing pO2 and the contrast medium concentration, respectively. The mathematical foundation of the postprocessing algorithm is outlined. The results from phantom experiments and animal experiments, in which the oxygen content of the inspired gas was varied, are presented. The potential for human imaging is discussed. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2000;12:929–938. © 2000 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.