Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Investigating the European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) leaf characteristics along the vertical canopy profile: leaf structure, photosynthetic capacity, light energy dissipation and photoprotection mechanisms.

Forest functionality and productivity are directly related to canopy light interception and can be affected by potential damage from high irradiance. However, the mechanisms by which leaves adapt to the variable light environments along the multilayer canopy profile are still poorly known. We explored the leaf morphophysiological and metabolic responses to the natural light gradient in a pure European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) forest at three different canopy heights (top, middle and bottom). Structural adjustment through light-dependent modifications in leaf mass per area was the reason for most of the variations in photosynthetic capacity. The different leaf morphology along the canopy influenced nitrogen (N) partitioning, water- and photosynthetic N-use efficiency, chlorophyll (Chl) fluorescence and quali-quantitative contents of photosynthetic pigments. The Chl a to Chl b ratio and the pool of xanthophyll-cycle pigments (VAZ) increased at the highest irradiance, as well as lutein and β-carotene. The total pool of ascorbate and phenols was higher in leaves of the top and middle canopy layers when compared with the bottom layer, where the ascorbate peroxidase was relatively more activated. The non-photochemical quenching was strongly and positively related to the VAZ/(Chl a + b) ratio, while Chl a/Chl b was related to the photochemical efficiency of photosystem II. Along the multilayer canopy profile, the high energy dissipation capacity of leaves was correlated to an elevated redox potential of antioxidants. The middle layer gave the most relevant contribution to leaf area index and carboxylation capacity of the canopy. In conclusion, a complex interplay among structural, physiological and biochemical traits drives the dynamic leaf acclimation to the natural gradients of variable light environments along the tree canopy profile. The relevant differences observed in leaf traits within the canopy positions of the beech forest should be considered for improving estimation of carbon fluxes in multilayer canopy models of temperate forests.
Measuring Perceived Representaional Deficiencies in Conceptual Modeling: Instrument Development and Test

Over recent years, many scholars have studied the conceptual modeling of information systems based on a model of representation formulated by Wand and Weber. This model offers a set of premises about representational deficiencies and their implications for development and use of conceptual modeling in IS practice. Yet, only few examples of empirical research exist. One of the related problems is the lack of validated measurement instruments that could be used in such studies. This paper reports on the development of a valid and reliable instrument for measuring the perceptions that individuals have of the representational deficiencies of conceptual modeling artifacts. We describe a multi-stage approach for instrument development that incorporates feedback from expert and user perspectives. We also report on a field test of the instrument with modeling practitioners. The resulting instrument can be used in future studies that investigate the use of conceptual modeling in IS practice.
Disentangling cancer patients' trust in their oncologist: a qualitative study

Objective: Patients' trust in their physician is crucial for an optimal treatment. Yet, among oncology patients, for whom trust might be especially important, research into trust is limited. A qualitative interview study was carried out to investigate (1) to what extent aspects of trust important to cancer patients reflect the aspects described in other patient populations and (2) which additional themes emerge.
IC50-based approaches as an alternative method for assessment of time-dependent inhibition of CYP3A4

The predictive utility of two in vitro methods (empirical IC50-based and mechanistic kinact/KI) for the assessment of time-dependent cytochrome P450 3A4 (CYP3A4) inhibition has been compared. IC50 values were determined at multiple pre-incubation time points over 30 min for five CYP3A4 time-dependent inhibitors (verapamil, diltiazem, erythromycin, clarithromycin, and azithromycin). The ability of IC50 data obtained following pre-incubation to predict kinact/KI parameters was investigated and its utility was assessed relative to the conventional kinact/KI model using 50 reported clinical drug–drug interactions (DDIs). Models with either hepatic or hepatic with intestinal components were explored. For low/medium potency time-dependent inhibitors, 81% of the predicted kinact/KI(unbound) from IC50 data were within an order of magnitude of the actual values, in contrast to 50% of potent inhibitors. An underprediction trend and > 50% of false-negatives were observed when IC50 data were used in the DDI hepatic prediction model; incorporation of the intestine improved the prediction accuracy. On the contrary, 86% of the DDI studies were predicted within twofold using kinact/KI mechanistic approach and the combined hepatic and intestinal model. Use of the empirical IC50 approach as an alternative to the mechanistic kinact/KI model for in vivo DDI prediction is limited and is best restricted to preliminary investigations.
Treatment of growth plate injury with autogenous chondrocytes

We designed this study to investigate transplantation of autogenous chondrocytes cultured in atelocollagen gel to treat the injured growth plate. An experimental model of growth arrest was made by resecting the medial two thirds of the left proximal tibial physis in 8-10-week-old Japanese white rabbits. Autogenous chondrocytes, which had been harvested from cartilage of the knee joints, embedded in atelocollagen gel, and cultured for a week, were transplanted into the defect in the growth plate. In two other experimental groups, we transplanted autogenous fat tissue into the same defects, or left them empty. Histological and radiographic examinations were done before and after transplantation at various times up to 52 weeks postoperatively. The histological study showed that grafted chondrocytes synthesized extracellular matrix and prevented early ossification and closure of the growth plate, which occurred in the Fat and Defect groups. Angular deformity and length discrepancy in the transplanted group were less than in the control group. Our findings suggest that transplantation of autogenous chondrocytes, cultured in atelocollagen gel, may improve treatment of the injured growth plate.
Confidence and the transmission of macroeconomic uncertainty in U.S. recessions

ABSTRACT This article studies the role of confidence in the transmission of uncertainty shocks during U.S. recessions. I use smooth-transition vector-autoregression (ST-VAR) to examine the regime-dependent effect of uncertainty shocks, and a counterfactual decomposition to isolate the role of confidence when the economy is in different regimes, recessions and non-recessions. I find that shutting down the confidence channel leads to greatly dampened and less persistent effects of uncertainty shocks, especially during recessions. I also find that the cross-regime difference in the role of confidence can largely explain the cross-regime short-run difference in the effects of uncertainty shocks.
Motorcycle drive tourism leading to rural tourism opportunities

While opportunities may abound in attracting motorcyclists to rural areas, the lack of research on motorcycle tourism and its demand generators creates challenges in marketing to those opportunities. This article examines the interrelated role of rural tourism and motorcycle tourism, suggesting the formation of Regional Tourism Organizations (RTOs) in order to attract motorcycle tourists. This market has substantial disposable income and represents significant opportunity. However, barriers include regional boundaries, misperceptions regarding motorcyclists in general and failure to understand the demand generators of motorcycle tourism. This study shows that the motorcycle tourism market enjoys rural tourism and amenities and has significant disposable income, with the majority of motorcycle tourists spending more than $100 per day when visiting and touring an area. RTOs would do well to attract this lucrative market to rural areas because motorcyclists enjoy the existing rural nature, character, and amenities when they leave the beaten path.
Carbohydrate components of lipovitellin of the sand crab Emerita asiatica

Lipovitellin II (Lv II), the major yolk protein of the anomuran crab Emerita asiatica, was purified using heparin–sepharose affinity column chromatography. The purified Lv II was a glycoprotein as it was stainable with periodic acid–Schiff's reagent. Quantitative analysis of sugars showed the presence of fucose, mannose, galactosamine, N‐linked oligosaccharides, as well as O‐linked oligosaccharides containing N‐acetyl hexosamine as the terminal residue. The amount of N‐linked oligosaccharides is higher than that of the O‐linked oligosaccharides. Biogel P‐4 column chromatographic separation of the radiolabeled oligosaccharides of Lv II showed the presence of five different O‐linked oligosaccharides and four different N‐linked oligosaccharide species. HPTLC separation of the neoglycolipids prepared from the O‐linked oligosaccharides also showed the presence of five different O‐linked oligosaccharide species. N‐linked oligosaccharides contain significant quantities of mannose. Unisil column chromatographic purification in conjunction with HPTLC separation revealed three neutral glycolipid species such as monoglycosylceramide, diglycosylceramide, and triglycosylceramide in the Lv II. The functional significance of these carbohydrate components of the major yolk protein during embryogenesis of the sand crab is discussed. Mol. Reprod. Dev. 58:54–62, 2001. © 2001 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Effect of Intra-articular Pressurization Associated With Arthroscopy on the Immature Physis: Investigation in an Animal Model

Background Despite the increased use of arthroscopy in pediatric orthopaedics, there is a paucity of data regarding the potential long-term effects of this procedure on the immature physis. The purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that elevated intra-articular pressures used during arthroscopic surgery do not result in growth disturbances or morphologic alterations in the epiphyseal plate. Methods Twenty-seven 6-week-old skeletally immature New Zealand white rabbits were divided into experimental (n=21) and control groups (n=6). In the experimental group, a hydraulic pump was used to pressurize 1 randomly assigned knee joint per rabbit to intra-articular pressures of 120 mm Hg for 2 hours. In the control group, rabbits received a sham intervention. All rabbits were killed at 6 months of age (skeletal maturity), and their tissues were evaluated grossly, radiographically, and histologically. Data collection included gross measurements (femur and tibia lengths, evaluation of varus/valgus angulation, and knee joint range of motion) and histologic analyses to determine whether morphologic changes were present in the articular cartilage or physis. Confidence intervals were used to test for statistical equivalence. Results The pressurized and control groups had statistically equivalent gross measurements. No significant articular cartilage or physeal lesions were identified in histologic sections or radiographic studies. Conclusion This study provided no evidence that arthroscopic pressurization of the knee joint to 120 mm Hg for 2 hours significantly affected physeal growth in a skeletally immature rabbit model. Clinical Relevance This study provides the first direct evidence that arthroscopic pressurization of immature joints has no clinically significant adverse long-term effects. Therefore, novel uses of arthroscopy in pediatric patients should be explored without undue concern with regard to premature physeal closure.
Uptake of prostate‐specific antigen testing for early prostate cancer detection in Sweden

The aim of our study was to estimate uptake of prostate‐specific antigen (PSA) testing in an entire country, including time trends and geographical differences. Data from the Swedish Cancer Register on prostate cancer incidence between 1980 and 2007 and published data from the Gothenburg branch of the European randomized study of screening for prostate cancer (ERSPC), a population‐based PSA screening study, were used in two models of changes in incidence of prostate cancer as a proxy for uptake of PSA testing in all 24 Swedish counties. The estimated annual PSA testing, irrespective of previous years' exposure, reached a peak of 12% of all men in 2004 and decreased thereafter to 6% in 2007 and varied from less than 5 to 20% between counties. Under the assumption that men who underwent annual PSA testing were previously unexposed to PSA testing, the cumulated uptake of PSA testing in men aged 55–69 years in Sweden increased from zero in 1997 to 56% in 2007. Our study shows that it is possible to estimate uptake of PSA testing in the population from the prostate cancer incidence pattern. There were large geographical variations in uptake of PSA testing despite a uniform health care system in Sweden and there was a substantial increase in the uptake of PSA testing during the study period, despite that there were no national recommendations for PSA‐based prostate cancer screening.
Social and personal resources and the prevalence of phobic disorder in a community population

Background. Phobic disorder is one of the most prevalent psychiatric disorders in community populations and much attention has focused on the association of sociodemographic factors and social resources with the disorder. There has been little investigation of the more personal resources such as self-confidence, religiosity, social support and self-perceived health that may increase vulnerability. Methods. We used a sample of 2914 community residents aged 18 or older who participated in the Duke University Epidemiologic Catchment Area Study to explore the relationship between both social and personal resources and the prevalence of DIS/DSM-III phobic disorder. Results. The 1-month prevalence of any phobic disorder was 7·6%. In bivariate analyses, we found both race/ethnicity and gender differences in prevalence, with a higher prevalence of phobic disorder in African-Americans and females. Lower socio-economic status, rural residence and unmarried status were also associated with current prevalence. No association was found for social network and social interaction. Impaired subjective social support, low self-confidence, perceived poorer physical health and co-morbid psychiatric disorder were significantly associated with current prevalence in uncontrolled analyses, while associations between lack of a confidant as well as religiosity and phobic disorder were not. Female gender (OR = 1·7), perceived low self- confidence (OR = 2·0), and two interaction terms, age × co-morbid psychiatric disorder and race/ethnicity × perceived physical health were associated with phobic disorder in controlled analyses using logistic regression. Conclusions. We conclude that both social and personal resources, particularly self-confidence, co-morbidity and perceived physical health are important correlates of phobic disorder.
Role of Chloride Formed on Anodized Titanium Surfaces Against an Oral Microorganism

A modified titanium surface, anodized after being discharged in electrolytes, provides antibacterial activity against oral bacteria as well as osteoconductivity. However, the mechanism of this antibacterial effect against oral bacteria is still unclear. This study aims to investigate whether it is the chloride or the hydrophilicity properties of the anodized titanium, which is effective against the oral bacteria. Titanium plates are anodized in various electrolytes with or without chloride and are characterized. Then the survival of Streptococcus mutans on each specimen is evaluated. The results demonstrate that the peroxidation effects of HClO generated from the TiCl3 formed on the titanium surface anodized in various chloride solutions efficiently killed adherent S. mutans on the surface whereas the presence of hydrophilicity alone do not demonstrate antibacterial activity. This method of anodizing titanium surface in a chloride solution may provide a novel strategy for use in orthopedic or dental implant systems.
Outcome of Endoscopic Sphincterotomy in Patients with Pain of Suspected Biliary Or Papillary Origin and Inconclusive Cholangiography Findings

BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIMS We prospectively studied the outcome of endoscopic sphincterotomy in symptomatic patients with elevated liver enzyme levels but no clear evidence of biliary pathology on transabdominal ultrasound and diagnostic endoscopic retrograde cholangiography (ERC). METHODS 29 consecutive patients with biliary-type pain (two or more out of eight criteria), elevated liver enzyme levels and no evidence of gallstones or significant common bile duct dilatation were evaluated. Elevated bilirubin levels (up to 7.2 mg/dl) were found in 18 patients. The majority of patients (n = 21) had a gallbladder in situ. The findings from bile duct exploration following sphincterotomy were recorded, and pain (as measured by visual analogue scale) as well as laboratory findings was assessed. RESULTS Wire-guided sphincterotomy was successful in all patients while uncomplicated pancreatitis occurred in one instance. In 16 patients (55%) there was macroscopic evidence of small stones (n = 2), sludge (n = 12) or both (n = 2) following bile duct exploration. In addition, microscopy showed bile crystals in all four patients who had no macroscopic findings. All four patients with elevation of pancreatic enzymes prior to treatment, and four of those eight patients with previous cholecystectomy, showed evidence of biliary pathology. The initial median pain intensity was 8 (range 1-10); 26 patients became pain-free within 3 months following endoscopic sphincterotomy. While 26 of 28 patients (93%) remained asymptomatic over a median follow-up period of 19 months (range 12-26), one died of an unrelated malignancy 6 months after therapy. CONCLUSIONS Endoscopic sphincterotomy may be acceptable in patients with typical clinical presentation suggesting a papillary or biliary origin of pain without further diagnostic work-up. Contrary to expectations, diagnostic ERC was insensitive in detection of the biliary etiology of symptoms in this selected group of patients.
Further Support for Five Dimensions of Obsessive-Compulsive Symptoms

Abstract Attempts to explain the phenotypic heterogeneity of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) have resulted in three to six OCD symptom dimensions. This study aimed to clarify the nature of these symptom dimensions using a self-report instrument (Vancouver Obsessional Compulsive Inventory [VOCI]) in addition to the clinician-rated Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale–Symptom Checklist (YBOCS-SC). Participants (N = 154) were recruited to a study designed to specifically assess OCD symptom dimensions. Symptoms assessed via the YBOCS-SC and the VOCI were subjected to principal components analysis (PCA). Linear regression was used to assess therelationship between the YBOCS-SC–derived symptom dimensions and the VOCI symptom subscales. PCA of the YBOCS-SC and the VOCI revealed five OCD symptom dimensions that explained 68% and 60% of the variance, respectively. The results also supported a distinction between the doubt/checking symptom dimension and the unacceptable/taboo thoughts dimension that includes mental rituals. The YBOCS-SC–derived symptom components were predicted by their respective VOCI symptom subscale scores.
Solubilizing buried domains of proteins: a self-assembling interface domain from glutathione reductase.

In the dimeric glutathione reductase (GR) from Escherichia coli, the interface domain is largely surrounded by the other three domains in each subunit of the protein. Subgenes encoding three forms of the interface domain have been expressed in E. coli and the products purified from inclusion bodies: INT is the excised interface domain, as it is found in native GR; INTN and INTFN are variants carrying exchanges of surface residues in what would have been hydrophobic contact regions with other neighboring domains. The isolated INT domain was found to be a soluble and folded protein, but it was isolated as a mixture of the dimer and at least two species of higher molecular weight. The latter were believed to arise by further association of the dimer via the newly exposed and unsatisfied hydrophobic contact regions. In the variant INTN, three hydrophobic residues normally involved in the contact with the NADPH-binding domain in GR were replaced. This partly suppressed the further aggregation of the dimers. However, continued aggregation at high protein concentrations suggested that at least one further site of unwanted aggregation was still present. After four additional amino acid replacements in the region normally in contact with the FAD-binding domain, the resulting variant INTFN exhibited no unspecific aggregation, even at concentrations as high as 3.2 mg/mL. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
In Vivo Imaging of Cardiovascular Endothelin Receptors Using the Novel Radiolabelled Antagonist [18F]-SB209670 and Positron Emission Tomography (microPET)

The aim of this study was to develop an 18F-labelled analogue of SB209670 with subnanomolar affinity for the endothelin receptor and to test whether it would have the required pharmacokinetic properties to permit binding and imaging of endothelin receptors in rat heart in vivo using small animal positron emission tomography (PET) imaging. [18F]-SB209670 could be produced in a total radiochemical yield of 14.9 ± 3.8% in 162 ± 7 minutes (n = 6). The radiochemical purity of the isolated radioligand was 99% and the specific activity was 100-150 GBq/μmol. In vitro characterization using ligand-binding assays demonstrated that [18F]-SB209670 bound with a single subnanomolar affinity to human heart tissue (n = 3) with a KD = 0.67 ± 0.14 nM and a Bmax = 168.3 ± 29.3 fmol/mg protein. The binding was time-dependent with a half-time (t½) for association of 3.8 minutes and an association rate constant (kobs) of 0.182 ± 0.032/min. In vivo distribution in the rat was studied using microPET. Dynamic imaging revealed a fast clearance of [18F]-SB209670 from the circulation by the liver, indicative of a high degree of metabolism. However, visualization of uptake in the rat heart was achievable and dynamic PET data together with the in vitro results suggest that [18F]-SB209670 binds rapidly and primarily to endothelin-A receptors in the heart.
Online References Reshaping and Control Reallocation for Nonlinear Fault Tolerant Control

In this paper, we consider the problem of graceful performance degradation, for affine nonlinear systems. The method is an optimization based scheme, that gives a constructive way to reshape online the output reference for the post-fault system, and explicitly take into account the actuators and states saturations. The online output reference reshaping is associated with an online, model predictive control (MPC)-based, controller reconfiguration, that forces the post-fault system to track the new output reference. The effect of fault detection and diagnosis (FDD) uncertainties on the online controller reconfiguration stability are studied, to ensure at least boundedness of the closed-loop system's states. The reshaping and reconfiguration schemes are applied to the Caltech ducted fan numerical example, which is described by a non-minimum phase nonlinear model.