Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Global organization of terrestrial plant-nutrient interactions.

The global extent of earth system change is challenging plant ecologists and physiologists to understand the organization of plant–nutrient relations across scales of observation, from leaf physiology to biosphere feedbacks. Central to this concern are the roles of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) as the major growth-limiting nutrients for plant communities worldwide (1, 2) and as determinants of key physiological processes such as photosynthetic CO2 fixation (N-rich enzymes; refs. 3 and 4) and cellular biosynthesis (P-rich RNA and ATP; ref. 5). Thus far, terrestrial ecologists and physiologists have largely focused on local and site-specific insights, with few attempts to understand geographically broad variations in plant–nutrient interactions (however, see refs. 4, 6, and 7), or the factors that may give rise to such trends. On page 11001 of this issue of PNAS, Reich and Oleksyn (8) analyze data from plant species worldwide to document dramatically broad variations in leaf N and P vs. carbon (C) contents as functions of latitude and mean annual temperature (MAT; both factors are highly correlated worldwide). This paper constitutes one of three current and complementary efforts (refs. 8, 9, and A. J. Kerkhoff, B. J. Enquist, J. J. Elser, and W. F. Fagan, unpublished work) to document such global-scale variations in plant nutrient investment, and to search for the factors that govern their origin and maintenance. Reich and Oleksyn (8) identify two fundamental and geographically broad trends in leaf N and P investment: ( i ) decreasing leaf P content, and to a lesser degree N content, with decreasing latitude (increasing MAT), and ( ii ) increasing leaf N:P ratio with decreasing latitude (increasing MAT). The strength of this analysis comes from their use of an extraordinarily rich and diverse data set (cf., ref. 10): 1,280 plant species in 704 genera, across 452 locations …
MR imaging of the substantia nigra at 7 T enables diagnosis of Parkinson disease.

PURPOSE To evaluate the anatomy of the substantia nigra (SN) in healthy subjects by performing 7-T magnetic resonance (MR) imaging of the SN, and to prospectively define the accuracy of 7-T MR imaging in distinguishing Parkinson disease (PD) patients from healthy subjects on an individual basis. MATERIALS AND METHODS The 7-T MR imaging protocol was approved by the Italian Ministry of Health and by the local competent ethics committee. SN anatomy was described ex vivo on a gross brain specimen by using highly resolved proton-density (spin-echo proton density) and gradient-recalled-echo (GRE) images, and in vivo in eight healthy subjects (mean age, 40.1 years) by using GRE three-dimensional multiecho susceptibility-weighted images. After training on appearance of SN in eight healthy subjects, the SN anatomy was evaluated twice by two blinded observers in 13 healthy subjects (mean age, 54.7 years) and in 17 PD patients (mean age, 56.9 years). Deviations from normal SN appearance were described and indicated as abnormal, and both diagnostic accuracy and intra- and interobserver agreement for diagnosis of PD with 7-T MR imaging were calculated. RESULTS Three-dimensional multiecho susceptibility-weighted 7-T MR imaging reveals a three-layered organization of the SN allowing readers to distinguish pars compacta ventralis and dorsalis from pars reticulata. The abnormal architecture of the SN allowed a discrimination between PD patients and healthy subjects with sensitivity and specificity of 100% and 96.2% (range, 92.3%-100%), respectively. Intraobserver agreement (κ = 1) and interobserver agreement (κ = 0.932) were excellent. CONCLUSION MR imaging at 7-T allows a precise characterization of the SN and visualization of its inner organization. Three-dimensional multiecho susceptibility-weighted images can be used to accurately differentiate healthy subjects from PD patients, which provides a novel diagnostic opportunity.
Exploring the Relationship between Sanctioned and Unsanctioned Laptop Use in a 1: 1 Classroom

The research reported in this article explores and discusses students' use of laptops in a 1:1 setting. A problem experienced by teachers is that the laptops are possible distractors and tempt students to engage in use that is not in line with the teacher's idea of what would be suitable in relation to the current assignment. Three annual surveys in combination with interviews and classroom observations were carried out in two Swedish secondary schools during a phase of the implementation of 1:1-laptops. The results show how that there is not a reciprocal correlation between sanctioned laptop use and unsanctioned laptop use. The findings also show that the students' unsanctioned use of laptops was relatively high, but stable throughout the duration of the three years. Furthermore, results show that the number of students who do not game or chat at all has increased every year. The findings have implications for the discussions concerning the use of personal laptops in secondary schools.
Hepatic Alveolar Echinococcosis in Cynomolgus Monkeys (Macaca fascicularis)

Alveolar echinococcosis was diagnosed in 12 cynomolgus monkeys (Macaca fascicularis) at postmortem examination within a period of 6 years. Besides consistent involvement of the liver, parasitic lesions were also present in mesenteric lymph nodes, pancreas, lung, and kidney. In the liver, various patterns of host's responses to parasitic tissue could be distinguished. Infiltration of macrophages, often multinucleated, around usually intact metacestodes was the main feature of one pattern. A second pattern was characterized by the presence of abundant, normally degenerate granulocytes in addition to macrophages surrounding collapsed laminated structures. Finally and as a third pattern, some cysts were surrounded by marked collagen deposition, which was usually not a significant feature of the other foci. Parasitic cysts with protoscolices were observed in foci with the first and third pattern but not in the second one. The simultaneous occurrence of all three patterns was observed in most animals. Type AA amyloid was identified either in the space of Dissé, macro-phages or blood vessel walls in nine animals using immunohistochemistry. Identity of parasitic structures such as metacestodes of Echinococcus multilocularis was confirmed immunohistochemically. All animals that could be tested serologically (7/12) had detectable antibodies against the E. multilocularis-specific Em2 antigen. Liver lesions of six animals were additionally analyzed by polymerase chain reaction, yielding the amplification of a specific E. multilocularis DNA fragment in each case.
Stereoselective hydrolysis and penetration of propranolol prodrugs: in vitro evaluation using hairless mouse skin.

Stereoselective hydrolysis of two ester prodrugs of propranolol, isovaleryl propranolol (IV-PL) and cyclopropanoyl propranolol (CP-PL), was studied in Tris-HCl buffer (pH 7.4) containing 0.15 M KCl, skin and liver homogenates, 5% plasma in Tris-HCl buffer, skin cytosol and microsomes, and liver cytosol and microsomes. The hydrolysis rate constants of (R)-isomers of the prodrugs were 1.1-30.3 times greater than those of the respective (S)-isomers in tissue preparations. Skin showed considerable metabolic activity and very high stereoselectivity (R/S ratio: 7.3-30.3). The hydrolyzing capacities of buffer and different tissue preparations per milligram of protein content were in the following increasing order: buffer < skin homogenate < plasma < liver homogenate. The studies with microsomes and cytosol indicated that the esterases, which are responsible for the hydrolysis of prodrugs, were mainly present in the cytosolic and microsomal fractions of skin and liver, respectively. There was a good correlation between the octanol-buffer partition coefficients of propranolol and its prodrugs and the skin partition coefficient. In vitro stereoselective penetration of propranolol and the prodrugs through full-thickness hairless mouse skin was evaluated with flow-through diffusion cells. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
THE EVOLUTION OF MALES: SUPPORT FOR PREDICTIONS FROM SEX ALLOCATION THEORY USING MATING ARRAYS OF SAGITTARIA LATIFOLIA (ALISMATACEAE)

Investment in male function should often yield diminishing fitness returns, subjecting the evolution of male phenotypes to substantial constraints. In plants, the subdivision of male function via the gradual presentation of pollen might minimize these constraints by preventing the saturation of receptive stigmas. Here, we report on an investigation of (1) patterns of investment in male function by plants in hermaphroditic (monoecious) and dioecious populations of Sagittaria latifolia, and (2) patterns of siring success by males versus hermaphrodites in experimental mating arrays. We show that in natural populations, males from dioecious populations had greater investment in male function than hermaphrodites in monoecious populations. However, as a proportion of total flower production, males presented substantially fewer flowers at once than hermaphrodites. In comparison with hermaphrodites, therefore, males prolonged the period over which they presented pollen. In mating arrays comprised of females, males, and hermaphrodites, siring success by males increased linearly with flower production. This finding is consistent with the existence of a linear gain curve for male function in S. latifolia and supports the idea that the gradual deployment of male function enables plants to avoid diminishing returns on the investment in male function.
The Headmaster Ritual: The Importance of Management for School Outcomes

The role of school principals largely resembles that of corporate managers and the leadership they provide are often viewed as a crucial component for educational success. We estimate the impact of individual principals on various schooling outcomes, by constructing a principal-school panel data set that allows us to track individual principals as they move between schools. We find that individual principals have a substantive impact on school policies, working conditions and student outcomes. Particularly, students who attend a school with a one standard deviation better principal receive on average 0.12 standard deviations higher test scores. Despite having very rich background information on principals, it is difficult to determine which principal characteristics that form the basis for successful school management. We also find a somewhat mixed picture on what management style characterizes a successful principal. We further show that the scope for principal discretion—for better or for worse—is larger in small schools, in voucher schools and in areas with more school competition.
Improvement of Obesity and Glucose Tolerance by Acetate in Type 2 Diabetic Otsuka Long-Evans Tokushima Fatty (OLETF) Rats

Acetate has been found to have an inhibitory effect on the activity of carbohydrate-responsive element-binding protein (ChREBP) in cultured hepatocytes, this being a transcription factor that regulates several genes required for the conversion of glucose to fatty acids in the liver. The aim of this study was to investigate whether an oral administration of acetate would contribute to reducing lypogenic genes and protecting against obesity. We orally injected 5.2 mg/kg BW of acetate to obesity-linked type 2 diabetic Otsuka Long-Evans Tokushima Fatty (OLETF) rats. The treatment with acetate showed a marked reduction in lipid accumulation in the adipose tissue, protection against accumulation of fat in the liver, and improved glucose tolerance. An analysis by Northern blotting revealed that the transcripts of several lipogenic genes in the liver of OLETF rats were decreased by the acetate treatment. On the basis of those results, it was indicated that acetate was a potential compound to improve obesity and obesity-linked type 2 diabetes.
Design of network coding functions in multihop relay networks

A wireless relay network with two sources, one relay, and one destination is considered. In case of erroneous source-relay links, reliability information about the coded bits in terms of log-likelihood ratios (LLRs) is transmitted from the relay to the destination. We introduce a transmission strategy for the reliability information at the relay. In contrast to other popular transmission methods (analog transmission, transmission via soft bit), our approach is motivated by a rate distortion problem for the LLRs obtained at the relay.
A New Look at Boundedness of Error Covariance of Kalman Filtering

In this correspondence paper, we provide a new look at the boundedness problems of error covariance of Kalman filtering. First, by utilizing the mathematical induction technique, a new bound function which is dependent on system parameters is proposed. In this manner, the boundedness problems of the error covariance can be converted to the study of the corresponding uniform bounds of the bound function. Second, based on such a bound function, the dynamic behaviors, monotonicities, and boundedness problems of error covariance are deeply explored. Consequently, a few quantitative results under minimal conditions about the uniform bounds on error covariance are obtained. Finally, examples are given to verify the correctness and effectiveness of our theoretical analyses.
Immunosuppressive Activity of the Ethanol Extract of Siegesbeckia orientalis on the Immune Responses to Ovalbumin in Mice

The in vitro and in vivo immunosuppressive activity of the ethanol extract of Siegesbeckia orientalis (EESO) was studied on the immune responses in mice. EESO significantly suppressed concanavalin A (Con A)‐ and lipopolysaccharide (LPS)‐stimulated splenocyte proliferation in vitro in a concentration‐dependent manner. ICR Mice were immunized subcutaneously with ovalbumin (OVA) on days 0 and 14. Beginning on the day of immunization, the mice were administered intraperitoneally with EESO at a single dose of 0.25, 0.5, and 1.0 mg at intervals of 7 days. On day 28, OVA‐specific antibodies in serum, and mitogen‐ and OVA‐induced splenocyte proliferation were measured. EESO significantly suppressed Con A‐, LPS‐ and OVA‐induced splenocyte proliferation in the OVA‐immunized mice in a dose‐dependent manner. The OVA‐specific serum IgG, IgG1, and IgG2b levels in the OVA‐immunized mice were also significantly reduced by EESO. Moreover, reducing effect on the IgG1 antibody of EESO at the dose of 1.0 mg was more significant than that of cyclosporin A (CsA; positive drug). The results suggest that EESO could suppress the cellular and humoral response to ovalbumin in mice, and deserve further investigations to be developed as immunosuppressant.
The Importance of Value Honest: Determining Factors and Some Hints to Ethics

Honesty is deemed as crucial ground for ethical behaviour in various respects. The aim of this paper is to explore to what extent and in what ways the individual value honest signifies in the organisations of Baltic States and Russia and to draw some managerial implications on the basis of our findings. The subjects of study had different cultural background (Estonians from Estonia, Russians from Russia, Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia) and they were asked to rank their own terminal and instrumental values, including the value honest as well as to speculate how their co-workers would rank the same list of values. Consequently, there were two lists of terminal and instrumental values for every respondent and the following analysis focuses on the comparisons of the importance, impact of other values and socio-demographic characteristics (i.e. gender, age, organisational position, and country of residence). One of the most important findings of our study is that the assessment of peer’s value honest tells the most how important honest is for the focal person. Results reveal also the role of some other personal values as well as the country of residence in respect with the importance of value honest.
Potential of embryonic stem cell‐derived neurons for synapse formation with auditory hair cells

Recent studies have indicated that embryonic stem cells (ESCs) can be a source for the replacement of spiral ganglion neurons (SGNs), auditory primary neurons, and neurite projections from ESC‐derived neurons to auditory sensory epithelia. However, the potential of ESC‐derived neurons for synapse formation with auditory hair cells (HCs) has not been elucidated. The present study therefore aimed to examine the ability of ESC‐derived neurons to form synaptic connections with HCs in vitro. Mouse ESC‐derived neural progenitors expressing enhanced green fluorescence protein (EGFP) were cocultured with explants of cochlea sensory epithelia obtained from postnatal day 3 mice. After a 7‐day culture, neurites of ESC‐derived neurons predominantly elongated toward inner hair cells (IHCs), which play a crucial role in sound transmission to SGNs. Immunohistochemical analyses revealed the expression of synapsin 1 and synaptophysin in the nerve endings of ESC‐derived neurons adjacent to IHCs, indicating the formation of synaptic connections. Transmission electron microscopy demonstrated synaptic contacts between nerve endings of ESC‐derived neurons and IHCs. The present findings show that ESC‐derived neurons can make synaptic connections with IHCs. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
A review of prenatal home-visiting effectiveness for improving birth outcomes.

OBJECTIVE To determine the effectiveness of prenatal home visiting for improving prenatal care utilization and preventing preterm birth and low birth weight. DATA SOURCES Medline, the Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, PsycINFO, and Social Work Abstract databases were searched for articles that examined prenatal home-visiting and prenatal care utilization or neonatal outcomes, with additional ascendancy and descendancy searches. Listservs were also used to identify unpublished evaluations. STUDY SELECTION Quantitative studies meeting the following criteria were included in the analyses: published between 1985 and 2009, published in English, reported providing prenatal home visiting, and reported on prenatal care utilization or a neonatal outcome. DATA EXTRACTION Study characteristics and findings related to prenatal care utilization, gestational age, and birth weight were abstracted independently by at least two authors. Study quality was assessed across five domains. DATA SYNTHESIS The search yielded 28 studies comparing outcomes for women who did and did not receive prenatal home visiting, with 14 (59%) using an RCT design. Five (17%) studies reporting on prenatal care utilization found a statistically significant improvement in use of prenatal care for women with home visiting. Of 24 studies reporting an effect on birth outcomes, five (21%) found a significant positive effect on gestational age, and seven of 17 (41%) found a significant positive effect on birth weight. CONCLUSIONS More evidence suggests that prenatal home visiting may improve the use of prenatal care, whereas less evidence exists that it improves neonatal birth weight or gestational age. These findings have implications for implementing Title II of the Affordable Care Act.
Non-invasive and Minimally-invasive Hemodynamic Monitors

Introduction Hemodynamic monitoring is typically performed to ensure tissue oxygenation in critically ill patients in different settings. Until recently the pulmonary artery catheter (PAC) was widely used for this task in order to assess cardiac output (CO), the primary determinant of oxygen delivery. Today, a variety of minimally invasive hemodynamic monitors are available decreasing the widespread PAC use (1). These techniques provide information of systemic flow and cardiac performance as well as intravascular fluid status.
Invasion of Human Mucosal Epithelial Cells by Neisseria gonorrhoeae Upregulates Expression of Intercellular Adhesion Molecule 1 (ICAM-1)

ABSTRACT Infection of the mucosa by Neisseria gonorrhoeaeinvolves adherence to and invasion of epithelial cells. Little is known, however, about the expression by mucosal epithelial cells of molecules that mediate cellular interactions between epithelial cells and neutrophils at the site of gonococcal infection. The aim of this study was to determine the expression of intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1) by epithelial cells during the process of gonococcal invasion. The highly invasive strain FA1090 and the poorly invasive strain MS11 were incubated with human endometrial adenocarcinoma (HEC-1-B) or human cervical carcinoma (ME-180) epithelial cells, after which ICAM-1 expression was measured by flow cytometry. After 15 h of infection with FA1090, expression of ICAM-1 increased 4.7- and 2.1-fold for HEC-1-B and ME-180 cells, respectively, whereas 15 h of infection of HEC-1-B cells with MS11 increased ICAM-1 expression only 1.6-fold. ICAM-1 expression was restricted to the cell surface, since no soluble ICAM-1 was detected. The distribution of staining was heterogeneous and mimicked that seen after treatment of HEC-1-B cells with the ICAM-1 agonist tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) in the absence of bacteria. PCR and dot blot analyses of ICAM-1 mRNA showed no change in levels over time in response to infection. Although TNF-α was produced by HEC-1-B cells after infection, the extent of ICAM-1 upregulation was not affected by neutralizing anti-TNF-α antiserum. Dual-fluorescence flow cytometry showed that the cells with the highest levels of ICAM-1 expression were cells with associated gonococci. We conclude that epithelial cells upregulate the expression of ICAM-1 in response to infection with invasive gonococci. On the mucosa, upregulation of ICAM-1 by infected epithelial cells may function to maintain neutrophils at the site of infection, thereby reducing further invasion of the mucosa by gonococci.
Transcription factor GATA‐3 is essential for lens development

During vertebrate lens development, the anterior, ectoderm‐derived lens vesicle cells differentiate into a monolayer of epithelial cells that retain proliferative potential. Subsequently, they exit the cell cycle and give rise to posterior lens fiber cells that form the lens body. In the present study, we demonstrate that the transcription factor GATA‐3 is expressed in the posterior lens fiber cells during embryogenesis, and that GATA‐3 deficiency impairs lens development. Interestingly, expression of E‐cadherin, a premature lens vesicle marker, is abnormally prolonged in the posterior region of Gata3 homozygous mutant lenses. Furthermore, expression of γ‐crystallin, a differentiation marker for fiber cells, is reduced. This suppressed differentiation is accompanied by an abnormal cellular proliferation, as well as with diminished levels of the cell‐cycle inhibitors Cdkn1b/p27 and Cdkn1c/p57 and increased Ccnd2/cyclin D2 abundance. Thus, these observations suggest that GATA‐3 is essential for lens cells differentiation and proper cell cycle control. Developmental Dynamics 238:2280–2291, 2009. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Note on the complexity of Las Vegas automata problems

We investigate the complexity of several problems concerning Las Vegas finite automata. Our results are as follows. (1) The membership problem for Las Vegas finite automata is in NL. (2) The nonemptiness and inequivalence problems for Las Vegas finite automata are NL-complete. (3) Constructing for a given Las Vegas finite automaton a minimum state deterministic finite automaton is in NP. These results provide partial answers to some open problems posed by Hromkovic and Schnitger [Theoret. Comput. Sci. 262 (2001) 1–24)].