Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Scenarios for Ecosystem Services: An Overview

The Millennium Ecosystem Assessment (MA) scenarios address changes in ecosystem services and their implications for human well-being. Ecological changes pose special challenges for longterm thinking, because of the possibility of regime shifts that occur rapidly yet alter the availability of ecosystem services for generations. Moreover, ecological feedbacks can intensify human modification of ecosystems, creating a spiral of poverty and ecosystem degradation. Such complex dynamics were evaluated by a mixture of qualitative and quantitative analyses in the MA scenarios. Collectively, the scenarios explore problems such as the connections of poverty reduction and ecosystem services, and trade-offs among ecosystem services. Several promising approaches are considered by the scenarios, including uses of biodiversity to build resilience of ecosystem services, actively adaptive management, and green technology. Although the scenarios do not prescribe an optimal path, they illuminate the consequences of different policies toward ecosystem services.
Beyond Age Comparisons: A Plea for the Use of a Modified Brunswikian Approach to Experimental Designs in the Study of Adult Development and Aging

This article makes a plea for experimental designs in the field of adult development and aging using an approach to research inspired by the work of Egon Brunswik. Our recommendations are intended to complement correlational approaches and to enhance the testing of explanatory mechanisms. Our arguments are predicated on the fact that the field of adult development and aging faces particular methodological challenges stemming from the investigation of individual differences approached with age group comparison designs. Many studies on adult development and aging use extreme-group comparisons, contrasting young and older adults, although such comparisons can lead to the overestimation of age-related effects. Moreover, age group membership is used as a proxy variable for psychological processes leading to the observed age-related differences. The inherent correlational design of such age group comparisons can only approximate a test of the underlying psychological processes causing the differences between the groups. We consider these problems and potential solutions to them involving a Brunswikian approach to experimental design in research on adult development and aging, and we discuss implications for theory-predicated research in other subfields of developmental science with similar methodological issues.
Binding Interaction of the Heregulinβ egf Domain with ErbB3 and ErbB4 Receptors Assessed by Alanine Scanning Mutagenesis*

Individual residues of the heregulinβ (HRG)egf domain were mutated to alanine and displayed monovalently on phagemid particles as gene III fusion proteins. Wild type HRGβ egf domain displayed on phage was properly folded as evidenced by its ability to bind ErbB3 and ErbB4 receptor-IgG fusion proteins with affinities close to those measured for bacterially produced HRGβ egf domain. Binding to ErbB3 and ErbB4 receptors was affected by mutation of residues throughout theegf domain; including the NH2 terminus (His2 and Leu3), the two β-turns (Val15–Gly18 and Gly42–Gln46), and some discontinuous residues (including Leu3, Val4, Phe13, Val23, and Leu33) that form a patch on the major β-sheet and the COOH-terminal region (Tyr48 and Met50–Phe53). Binding affinity was least changed by mutations throughout the Ω-loop and the second strand of the major β-sheet. More mutants had greater affinity loss for ErbB3 compared with ErbB4 implying that it has more stringent binding requirements. Many residues important for HRG binding to its receptors correspond to critical residues for epidermal growth factor (EGF) and transforming growth factor α binding to the EGF receptor. Specificity may be determined in part by bulky groups that prevent binding to the unwanted receptor. All of the mutants tested were able to induce phosphorylation and mitogen-activated protein kinase activation through ErbB4 receptors and were able to modulate a transphosphorylation signal from ErbB3 to ErbB2 in MCF7 cells. An understanding of binding similarities and differences among the EGF family of ligands may facilitate the development of egf-like analogs with broad or narrow specificity.
Translating Agent Perception Computations into Environmental Processes in MABS A means for integrating GPU programming within usual agent-based simulation platforms

Multi-Agent Based Simulations (MABS) relies on modeling the behavior of individual entities and their interactions in a virtual environment. Nowadays, MABS are used for studying various complex systems such as crowds, animal societies, ecosystems, traffic behaviors or the Market. So MABS are experimental research tools that contribute to our understanding of the mechanisms embedded in these complex systems. Still, studying some complex systems may require to consider millions of individuals. In such a case, the computing resources which are required represent a major obstacle for MABS endusers. In this respect, General-Purpose computing on Graphics Processing Units (GPGPU) is a relevant approach for addressing performance and scalability issues. However, GPU programming requires expert skills, which strongly limits both the accessibility and the re-usability of the frameworks developed using GPGPU. This paper presents a MABS design guideline, dedicated to the GPU context, which allows to use the GPU power without sacrificing the accessibility of MABS frameworks.
[Epilepsy and pregnancy--drug use, seizure control, and complications].

BACKGROUND There is insufficient knowledge about the effect of epilepsy and epilepsy treatment on pregnancy, and vice versa. The European Registry of Antiepileptic drugs and Pregnancy (EURAP) was therefore established in 1999. We here present the results from the Norwegian part of the study, with emphasis on attack control, use of antiepileptics and folate, presence of status epilepticus, attacks in connection with birth and complications in the pregnancy. MATERIAL AND METHOD The study is prospective and observational. The women are offered 5 consultations, 3 during pregnancy and 2 after birth. RESULTS As of September 2005, 296 pregnancies in 263 Norwegian women were included. In 220 pregnancies (74 %), the women were treated with a single antiepileptic drug, most often carbamazepine. In 187 pregnancies (63 %), the women were seizure free. In those with seizures, 17 % had an increase in seizure frequency during pregnancy and 15 % had a decrease. Convulsive status epilepticus associated with delivery occurred in 1 % of the women and seizures associated with the delivery in 2.7 %. The consequences for the mother and the child were not as serious as previously reported. The frequency of complications during pregnancy and the sectio rate did not differ significantly from the average population. INTERPRETATION Most women with epilepsy go through pregnancy and delivery without complications. Specialists should only follow up those with a suboptimal seizure control. The slightly increased teratogenic risk can be reduced by giving these women extra folate before the conception.
JCL: A High Performance Computing Java Middleware

Java Ca&La or just JCL is a distributed shared memory reflective lightweight middleware for Java developers whose main goals are: i) provide a simple deployment strategy, where automatic code registration occurs, ii) support a collaborative multi-developer cluster environment where applications can interact without explicit dependencies, iii) execute existing sequential Java code over both multi-core machines and cluster of multi-core machines without refactorings, enabling the separation of business logic from distribution issues in the development process, iv) provide a multi-core/multi-computer portable code. This paper describes JCLâs features and architecture; compares and contrasts JCL to other Java based middleware systems, and reports performance measurements of JCL applications.
Effect of morphine on gastroesophageal reflux and transient lower esophageal sphincter relaxation.

BACKGROUND & AIMS Morphine increases residual lower esophageal sphincter (LES) pressure during swallow-induced LES relaxation to levels shown experimentally to prevent reflux. The hypothesis that morphine reduces reflux by increasing residual LES pressure during transient LES relaxation was tested in 8 healthy subjects and 8 patients with reflux disease. METHODS Esophageal pH, LES, and esophageal pressures were recorded simultaneously during three sequential 30-minute periods, basal, after morphine, and after naloxone, while the stomach was distended by constant infusion of 10% dextrose. RESULTS Morphine decreased the number of reflux episodes and the time at pH < 4 in the patients (3.0 +/- 0.5 vs. 6.2 +/- 1.0 [P < 0.02] and 44% +/- 7% vs. 64% +/- 7% [P < 0.05], respectively) but not in the healthy subjects (P = NS). Transient LES relaxation was the major mechanism of reflux, and although morphine did not affect residual LES pressure during transient LES relaxations, it decreased their number markedly in the patients (3.0 +/- 0.5 vs. 6.6 +/- 1.7 [P < 0.05]) and marginally in the healthy subjects (2.1 +/- 0.4 vs. 2.6 +/- 0.4; P = NS). Naloxone completely reversed the effects of morphine. CONCLUSIONS Morphine reduces reflux in patients with reflux disease by decreasing the number of transient LES relaxations.
Mutational analysis of the Yersinia enterocolitica virC operon: characterization of yscE, F, G, I, J, K required for Yop secretion and yscH encoding YopR

Pathogenic yersiniae secrete the Yop anti‐host proteins using a type‐III secretion pathway. The components of the secretion machinery are encoded by three loci on the pYV plasmid: virA, virB, and virC. In this paper we describe the characterization of eight non‐polar mutants of the virC locus, constructed by allelic exchange. The yscE, FG, I, J and K mutants were defective in Yop secretion and independent of Ca2+ (Cl) for their growth at 37°C. Substitution of the 12 N‐terminal amino‐acid residues of YscF impaired secretion of YopB and YopD only and led also to a Cl phenotype. The culture supernatant of the yscH mutant contained all the Yops except the 18 kDa YopR. Complementation experiments and an immunoblot analysis confirmed that YopR is encoded by the yscH gene. The LD50 for the mouse of the yscH mutant was 10‐fold higher than that of the parental strain indicating that YopR is involved in pathogenesis. The phenotype of the yscM mutant was similar to that of the wild‐type strain. However, overproduction of YscM from a multicopy plasmid in wild‐type Yersinia enterocolitica prevented Yop secretion and synthesis. A hybrid YopH—LacZ′ protein, encoded by a gene transcribed from the lac promoter, was secreted by a strain overexpressing YscM, showing that the secretion machinery was still functional. These results indicate that YscM plays a role in the feedback inhibition of Yop synthesis when secretion is compromised by acting as a negative regulator of Yop synthesis.
Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia in neurologic disease treated with unfractionated heparin

The risk for immune-mediated heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) in neurologic patients receiving unfractionated heparin (UFH) is not known. In a prospective study of 200 patients, the authors found a 2.5% rate of HIT and a 2% rate of HIT-associated thromboses, suggesting that neurologic patients treated with UFH are at considerable risk for development of HIT and its complications. Prevalence of heparin-induced antibodies was 20.5% and was dependent on heparin dose. It was higher in cerebrovascular than in noncerebrovascular (29.4% versus 11.2%, p < 0.01) patients.
The effects of forest fragmentation on bee communities in tropical countryside

Summary 1. Despite ongoing concerns and controversy over a putative ‘global pollination crisis’ there is little information on the response of bees, the most important group of pollinators, to land-use change. In particular, there are no published studies of the effects of tropical forest fragmentation on entire bee communities. 2. We examined bee community responses to forest fragment size, shape, isolation and landscape context (forest variables) by sampling foraging bees at ground level using aerial netting within, and in pastures adjacent to, 22 forest fragments ranging in area from c. 0·25 ha to 230 ha, in southern Costa Rica. We sampled each site 13 times in total, in both wet and dry seasons. 3. Although there were no effects of forest variables on bee diversity and abundance, we did find strong changes in bee community composition. In particular, tree-nesting meliponines (social stingless bees) were associated with larger fragments, smaller edge:area ratios and greater proportions of forest surrounding sample points, while introduced Apis showed opposite patterns. 4. Community composition was also strikingly different between forests and pastures, despite their spatial proximity. In forests, even in the smallest patches, meliponines comprised a much larger proportion of the apifauna, and orchid bees (euglossines) were common. In pastures, Apis was much more abundant and no euglossine bees were found. 5. These results agree broadly with other studies that have found contrasting responses to habitat fragmentation from different bee groups. Conserving meliponine bees, important for pollination of coffee and other crops, and euglossine bees, critical in long-distance pollen transport, will require forest. 6. Synthesis and applications . In the first study of the effects of tropical forest fragmentation on entire understorey bee assemblages, we found bee community resilience to land-use change, as deforested sites and small forest fragments can have a diverse component of bees. While bees as a whole show some degree of resilience to land-use change, there are taxon-specific responses and, in our study area, there is clear value to conserving native forest, particularly for the ecologically and economically important meliponine and euglossine bees.
Flexor Tendon Tissue Engineering: Acellularized and Reseeded Tendon Constructs

Background: Tissue engineering of flexor tendons requires scaffolds with adequate strength and biocompatibility. The biomechanical properties of acellularized and reseeded flexor tendon scaffolds are unknown. Acellularized tendons and reseeded constructs were tested to determine whether the treatment process had altered their biomechanical properties. Methods: Rabbit flexor tendons were acellularized using a freeze-thaw cycle followed by trypsin and Triton-X treatment. Complete acellularization of the tendon samples was confirmed by histology and by attempting to obtain viable cells by trypsin treatment of acellularized tendon. Reseeded constructs were obtained by incubating acellularized tendons in a tenocyte suspension. Tensile testing was performed to compare the ultimate tensile stress and elastic modulus of acellularized tendons and reseeded flexor tendon constructs to control flexor tendons. Results: The treatment protocol successfully acellularized flexor tendons. No cells were seen within the tendon on histologic assessment, and no viable cells could be obtained from acellularized tendon. Acellularized tendon was successfully reseeded with tenocytes, although cell adhesion was limited to the surface of the tendon scaffold. Tensile testing showed that acellularized tendon had the same ultimate stress and elastic modulus as normal tendons. Reseeded tendons had the same elastic modulus as normal tendons, but hind-paw tendon constructs showed a decrease in ultimate stress compared with normal tendons (50.09 MPa versus 66.01 MPa, p = 0.026). Conclusions: Acellularized flexor tendons are a potential high-strength scaffold for flexor tendon tissue engineering. This approach of acellularization and reseeding of flexor tendons may provide additional intrasynovial graft material for hand reconstruction.
The Association between Irritable Bowel Syndrome and the Anxiety Vulnerability Factors

Individuals with Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) endorse greater negative affect, including anxiety psychopathology. To examine the role anxiety plays in the maintenance and exacerbation of IBS the links between IBS and two anxiety related constructs, body vigilance and discomfort intolerance, were examined. A non-treatment seeking college sample (N = 476) completed measures that assessed IBS symptomatology, vigilance to bodily sensations and ability to tolerate physical discomfort. A total of 4.2 percent of the sample met Rome II criteria for IBS. Consistent with the hypotheses, IBS symptoms were associated with increased vigilance to bodily sensations and increased desire to avoid these sensations.
Laparoscopic Transabdominal Preperitoneal (TAPP) Hernia Repair Via a Single Port

Introduction To report our initial experience and outcome of 7 cases of single port laparoscopic transabdominal preperitoneal (TAPP) hernia repair. Methods Between May 2009 and June 2010, 7 patients underwent single port TAPP hernia repair for inguinal hernia. The device was placed through a single 2 cm infraumbilical incision. Patients' demographics, hernia characteristics, operative time, conversion rate, intraoperative and postoperative complications, and recurrence were measured. Five patients had unilateral and 2 had bilateral hernias. Results The mean operative time was 67 minutes (range: 36 to 111 min). None of the patients required any conversion to conventional TAPP. No intraoperative and postoperative complications were recorded and no recurrences have been recorded to the present with a median follow-up of 6 months (range: 2 to 8 mo). Conclusions Single port TAPP hernia repair is safe and feasible. Further study is needed to evaluate the benefits of this novel approach compared with the conventional laparoscopic approach.
Resident Macrophages are Involved in Intestinal Transplantation‐Associated Inflammation and Motoric Dysfunction of the Graft Muscularis

Gut manipulation and ischemia/reperfusion evoke an inflammatory response within the intestinal muscularis that contributes to dysmotility. We hypothesize that resident macrophages play a key role in initiating the inflammatory cascade. Isogenic small bowel transplantation was performed in Lewis rats. The impact of recovery of organs on muscularis inflammation was investigated by comparing cold whole‐body perfusion after versus prior to recovery. The role of macrophages was investigated by transplantation of macrophage‐depleted gut. Leukocytes were counted using muscularis whole mounts. Mediator expression was determined by real‐time RT‐PCR. Contractility was assessed in a standard organ bath. Both organ recovery and ischemia/reperfusion induced leukocyte recruitment and a significant upregulation in IL‐6, MCP‐1, ICAM‐1 and iNOS mRNAs. Although organ recovery in cold ischemia prevented early gene expression, peak expression was not changed by modification of the recovery technique. Compared to controls, transplanted animals showed a 65% decrease in smooth muscle contractility. In contrast, transplanted macrophage‐depleted isografts exhibited significant less leukocyte infiltration and only a 19% decrease in contractile activity. In summary, intestinal manipulation during recovery of organs initiates a functionally relevant inflammatory response within the intestinal muscularis that is massively intensified by the ischemia reperfusion injury. Resident muscularis macrophages participate in initiating this inflammatory response.
Glucocorticosteroid injection is a circadian zeitgeber in the laboratory rat.

Intraperitoneal temperatures were monitored by radiotelemetry to observe the thermoregulatory rhythm of male laboratory rats (Rattus norvegicus albinus) Rats received single injections of dexamethasone (as dexamethasone sodium phosphate) during constant darkness (0.1 lx) with food freely available or no food available. No phase shifts occurred following saline injection or dexamethasone at 1 mg/kg body wt. Depending on the phase of injection relative to the circadian cycle, dexamethasone at 10 mg/kg caused thermoregulatory peaks to be either delayed or advanced on the 4th and 5th day after injection. There was an insensitive interval which corresponded to subjective day. Phase shifts induced by dexamethasone during ad libitum feeding were of less magnitude than those induced during starvation. The determination of phase-shifting parameters (i.e., a phase-response curve) for hormonal substances represents a rigorous and broadly applicable technique for determining endogenous mechanisms for circadian phase control and entrainment.
Internet development and connectivity in Nigeria

Purpose – To describe internet development and connectivity in Nigeria.Design/methodology/approach – Reviews the history of the internet in Africa, particularly in Nigeria, and surveys its current status.Findings – Recommendations are given on how use of the internet can be developed in Nigeria.Originality/value – It will assist relevant authorities and stakeholders in Nigeria and in other developing countries to gain insights on how to improve internet connectivity. It also provides insights into the problems of developing countries for those from the developed world.
Prevalence of Genotypic Resistance among Antiretroviral Drug-Naive HIV-1-Infected Patients in Belgium

Objectives To estimate the prevalence and the evolution over time (1995–1998) of genotypic resistance to antiviral drugs in antiretroviral drug-naive HIV-1-infected patients in Belgium. Design Belgian Aids Reference Laboratories provided retrospective samples and clinical data from antiretroviral drug-naive HIV-1-infected patients who visited the hospital for the first time in 1995 (n=45), 1997 (n=75) and 1998 (n=111). Genotypic resistance to the three available classes of drugs was monitored using the Line Probe Assay (Innogenetics, Gent, Belgium). Additionally, ARMS-151 was performed for scoring multinucleoside resistance. Results The prevalence of genotypic resistance at baseline to nucleoside analogue reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs) and non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs) were each between 10% and 20% for 1995, 1997 and 1998 without an increasing trend over time. For NRTIs, resistance mutations were mainly related to zidovudine in 1995, whereas in 1997 and 1998 baseline resistance was scored for zidovudine, lamivudine or for both drugs simultaneously. No patients displayed the multi-nucleoside resistance Q151M mutation. Baseline resistance mutations to protease inhibitors (PIs) did not rise significantly: 4.4% in 1995, 8% in 1997 and 9.9% in 1998. When scoring any resistance-related mutation, 26.6% displayed genotypic baseline resistance in 1995, 26.6% in 1997 and 31.5% in 1998. Discussion The prevalence of genotypic baseline resistance to any drug, as scored with LiPA, in naive HIV-1 patients in Belgium is 29%, with baseline resistance mutations to one or several drugs from all available classes of antiviral drugs. The ability of LiPA to pick up minor variants could be an explanation for the higher overall prevalence we observe, when compared to recent estimates in other countries of 16.3% and 22%, which were based on sequencing methods. According to the European guidelines for resistance testing, resistance testing in Belgium before starting antiviral therapy should be considered.
Intracellular location of the histonelike protein HU in Escherichia coli

Immunocytochemical labeling of thin sections of cryosubstituted, Lowicryl-embedded Escherichia coli cells with protein A-colloidal gold was used to study the structural organization of the bacterial nucleoid. We found that the histonelike protein HU was not associated with the bulk DNA in the nucleoid but was located in areas of the cell where metabolically active DNA is associated with ribosomes and where single-stranded DNA, RNA polymerase, and DNA topoisomerase I were also located. The resolution of the methods used did not allow us to decide whether HU was associated either with ribosomes or with transcriptionally active DNA, nor could we demonstrate interaction of HU with either.