Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Niche pre‐emption increases with species richness in experimental plant communities

In plant communities, invasion resistance may increase with diversity because empty niche space decreases simultaneously. However, it is not clear if this only applies to exotic species or also to native species arriving at a site with few other native species during community assembly. We tested the latter by transplanting four native species into experimental grassland communities varying in species richness form 1–16 (−60) species. In addition, we tested the hypothesis that invasion is less successful if the invading species belongs to a functional group that is already present in the community. The test invaders included a grass species (Festuca pratensis, FP), a short (Plantago lanceolata, PL) and a tall herb species (Knautia arvensis, KA), and a legume species (Trifolium pratense, TP). The same four functional groups also occurred alone or in all possible combinations in the different experimental communities. The overall performance of the transplants was negatively related to the logarithm of the species richness of host communities. Plant biomass declined by 58%, 90%, 84% and 62% in FP, PL, KA and TP, respectively, from monocultures to 16‐species mixtures, indicating lower invasiveness of the two herbs than of the grass and the legume. Resident grasses showed a strong negative effect on the performance of all test invaders, whereas resident small and tall herbs had neutral, and resident legumes had positive effects. The case of the legumes indicates that contributions to invasion resistance need not parallel invasiveness. Communities containing resident species of only one functional group were most inhibitive to transplants of the same functional group. These results indicate that invasion resistance of experimental plant communities is related to the degree of niche overlap between resident species and invaders. This niche overlap can be high due to generally low amounts of empty niche space in species‐rich resident communities or due to the occurrence of the same functional group as the one of the invader in the resident community. Stronger within‐ than between‐functional‐group invasion resistance may be the key mechanism underlying diversity effects on invasion resistance in grassland and other ecosystems at large.
Self-Supplied Integrable Active High-Efficiency AC-DC Converter for Piezoelectric Energy Scavenging Systems

In recent years a lot of studies focused on energy-scavenging systems (ESS). An important motivation for these studies is the development of portable devices (PD) and of wireless sensor networks (WSN). An ESS can be partitioned in two sections: the energy-scavenger itself and the electronic interface. The first one is the energy transducer while the second one is the electronic circuit which manages the energy. One of the most important objectives of the electronic interface is to realize the required ac-dc conversion. Since the output power level of the energy-scavenger can be very low, the conversion should be as efficient as possible. The goal of this paper is to design an active, high efficiency voltage doubler ac-dc converter for piezoelectric ESS which exclusively uses a fraction of the harvested energy to supply its active devices. The circuit was diffused in 0.35mum BCD6s technology. The simulation results show that it is possible to obtain a maximum efficiency of the ac-dc converter equal to 91%. Premiliminary experimental measurements were performed and the results obtained are in good agreement with simulations
Perinatal cardiac arrest. Quality of the survivors.

Steiner, H. , and Neligan, G. (1975). Archives of Disease in Childhood, 50, 696. Perinatal cardiac arrest: quality of the survivors. Twenty-two consecutive survivors of perinatal cardiac arrest have been followed to a mean age of 4 1/4 years, using methods of neurological and developmental assessment appropriate to their ages. 4 showed evidence of gross, diffuse brain-damage (2 of these died before the age of 3 years). These were the only 4 survivors of the first month of life who took more than 30 minutes to establish regular, active respiration after their heartbeat had been restored. The arrest in these cases had occurred during or within 15 minutes of delivery, and followed antepartum haemorrhage, breech delivery, or prolapsed cord. The remaining 18 were free of any evidence of brain damage. In the majority of these the arrest had occurred during shoulder dystocia or exchange transfusion, or was unexplained; the heartbeat had been restored within 5 minutes in most cases, and regular, active respiration had been established within 30 minutes thereafter in all cases.
Expression of proliferation genes in formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissue from breast carcinomas. Feasibility and relevance for a routine histopathology laboratory

Aim Breast carcinoma proliferative activity, histological grade and commercial molecular tests are all important in prognostication and treatment. There is a particular need for improved, standardised techniques for subclassification of grade 2 breast cancers into low-risk and high-risk prognostic groups. In this study we investigated whether gene expression profiling of five proliferation genes was feasible using breast cancer tissue in a clinical setting and whether these profiles could enhance pathological assessment. Methods Expression of five proliferation gene mRNAs; Ki-67, STK 15, CCNB1, CCND1 and MYBL2, was quantified in 27 breast carcinomas and compared with Ki-67 proliferation index (PI) and Nottingham mitotic score. Results Expression of Ki-67, STK15 and MYBL2 mRNA showed moderate Spearman's correlation with Ki-67 PI (p<0.01), but CCND1 and CCNB1 showed weak, non-significant correlation. Individual gene expression did not associate with mitotic score but combined mRNA expression correlated with both Ki-67 PI (p=0.018) and mitotic score (p=0.03; 0.007). Conclusions This study confirms mRNA analysis in breast carcinoma formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded samples is feasible and suggests gene expression profiling, using a small set of five proliferation genes, has potential in aiding histological grading or assessment of proliferative activity of breast cancers. To fully evaluate the clinical applicability of this approach, a larger cohort study with long-term follow-up data is required.
Lupus anticoagulant is significantly associated with inflammatory reactions in patients with suspected deep vein thrombosis

Objective. Lupus anticoagulant (LA) and antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL) are suggested as risk factors for development of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) among patients without systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Other conditions, e.g. inflammation, are reported to induce LA and it is uncertain whether the association between LA and DVT is causal. In this study the associations between aPL, LA and inflammation were investigated in 170 consecutive patients without SLE, but with a tentative diagnosis of DVT. Material and methods. DVT was diagnosed in 64 patients. LA was determined according to the criteria of the International Society of Thrombosis and Haemostasis. The concentration of anticardiolipin (aCL) and β2‐glycoprotein I (anti‐β2‐GPI) antibodies as well as C‐reactive protein (CRP) was determined with sensitive and precise methods. Results. LA was demonstrated in 8 patients with DVT and in 10 patients without DVT, relative risk 1.33 (CI: 0.55–3.18). No significant association was observed between aCL or anti‐β2‐GPI and DVT. Patients suffering from DVT had significantly higher concentrations of CRP than patients without DVT. However, CRP was also significantly higher in patients positive for LA than in patients without LA irrespective of the presence of DVT (p<0.001). Conclusions. The present study supports a strong association between inflammatory reactions and development of LA in patients with suspected DVT, whereas no significant association was demonstrated between LA or aPL and DVT.
Cerebral Glucose Utilization: Comparison of [14C]Deoxyglucose and [6‐14C]Glucose Quantitative Autoradiography

Abstract: The [14C]deoxyglucose [Sokoloff et al., J. Neurochem.28, 897–916 (1977)] and [6‐14C]glucose [Hawkins et al., Am. J. Physiol.248, C170‐C176 (1985)] quantitative autoradiographic methods were used to measure regional brain glucose utilization in awake rats. The spatial resolution and qualitative appearance of the autoradiograms were similar. In resting animals, there was no significant difference between the two methods among 18 gray and three white matter structures over a fourfold range in glucose utilization rates (coefficient of correlation = 0.97). In rats given increasing frequencies of photoflash visual stimulation, the two methods gave different results for glucose utilization within visual pathways. The linearity of the metabolic response was studied in the superior colliculus using an on‐off checkerboard stimulus between 0 and 33 Hz. The greatest increment in activity occurred between 0 and 4 Hz stimulation with both methods, probably representing recruitment of neuronal elements into activity. Above 4 Hz, there was a progressive increase in labeling with [14C]de‐oxyglucose up to 1.7 times control at 33 Hz. With [6‐14C]‐glucose, there was no further increment in change above a 30% increase seen at 4 Hz. Measurement of tissue glucose revealed no drop in the visually stimulated structures compared to control. We interpret these results to indicate that, with increasing rates of physiological activity, the products of deoxyglucose metabolism accumulate progressively, but the products of glucose metabolism are removed from brain in 10 min.
Plasmodium falciparum Calcium-Dependent Protein Kinase 2 Is Critical for Male Gametocyte Exflagellation but Not Essential for Asexual Proliferation

ABSTRACT Drug development efforts have focused mostly on the asexual blood stages of the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum. Except for primaquine, which has its own limitations, there are no available drugs that target the transmission of the parasite to mosquitoes. Therefore, there is a need to validate new parasite proteins that can be targeted for blocking transmission. P. falciparum calcium-dependent protein kinases (PfCDPKs) play critical roles at various stages of the parasite life cycle and, importantly, are absent in the human host. These features mark them as attractive drug targets. In this study, using CRISPR/Cas9 we successfully knocked out PfCDPK2 from blood-stage parasites, which was previously thought to be an indispensable protein. The growth rate of the PfCDPK2 knockout (KO) parasites was similar to that of wild-type parasites, confirming that PfCDPK2 function is not essential for the asexual proliferation of the parasite in vitro. The mature male and female gametocytes of PfCDPK2 KO parasites become round after induction. However, they fail to infect female Anopheles stephensi mosquitoes due to a defect(s) in male gametocyte exflagellation and possibly in female gametes. IMPORTANCE Despite reductions in the number of deaths it causes, malaria continues to be a leading infectious disease of the developing world. For effective control and elimination of malaria, multiple stages of the parasite need to be targeted. One such stage includes the transmission of the parasite to mosquitoes. Here, we demonstrate the successful knockout of PfCDPK2, which was previously thought to be indispensable for parasite growth in red blood cells. The PfCDPK2 KO parasites are incapable of establishing an infection in mosquitoes. Therefore, our study suggests that targeting PfCDPK2 may be a good strategy to control malaria transmission in countries with high transmission. Moreover, molecular understanding of the signaling pathway of PfCDPK2 may provide additional targets for malaria control. IMPORTANCE Despite reductions in the number of deaths it causes, malaria continues to be a leading infectious disease of the developing world. For effective control and elimination of malaria, multiple stages of the parasite need to be targeted. One such stage includes the transmission of the parasite to mosquitoes. Here, we demonstrate the successful knockout of PfCDPK2, which was previously thought to be indispensable for parasite growth in red blood cells. The PfCDPK2 KO parasites are incapable of establishing an infection in mosquitoes. Therefore, our study suggests that targeting PfCDPK2 may be a good strategy to control malaria transmission in countries with high transmission. Moreover, molecular understanding of the signaling pathway of PfCDPK2 may provide additional targets for malaria control.
Inflation differentials in a Monetary Union: the case of Malta

The objective of this paper is to enhance the understanding of inflation dynamics in Malta and investigate the underlying sources of inflation differentials with the euro area. A country that registers persistently higher inflation than its main trading partners will suffer from a deterioration in its external price competitiveness, with subsequent losses in output and employment. This is even more relevant in the context of a monetary union, where asymmetric shocks cannot be corrected by changes in monetary or exchange rate policies but rather through structural policies and relative adjustments in prices and wages.
Word Recognition in Continuous and Interrupted Broadband Noise by Young Normal‐Hearing, Older Normal‐Hearing, and Presbyacusic Listeners

Objective: Word recognition performance in continuous and interrupted broadband noise was examined in young normal‐hearing (YNH), older normal‐hearing (ONH), and presbyacusic (older hearing‐impaired [OHI]) listeners. Design: Participants (N = 36) were presented with identical Northwestern University Auditory Test No. 6 stimuli at 30 dB sensation level re their respective speech reception thresholds. The speech stimuli were presented in quiet and in both competing noise conditions with signal to noise ratios(S/Ns) of 10, 5, 0, ‐5, ‐10, ‐15, and ‐20 dB. Results: In general performance was superior in quiet, improved with increasing S/N, and was greater in the interrupted broadband noise than in the continuous broadband noise. Significant main effects of group and S/N were found in both competing noises (p < 0.0001). Post hoc pairwise comparisons revealed all groups performed differently, with superior performance being displayed by the YNH group followed by the ONH and OHI groups, respectively (p < 0.05). A significant group by S/N interaction was observed in only the interrupted noise condition (p= 0.019). The degree of change in word recognition performance as a function of S/N was greatest in the OHI group followed by the ONH group and the YNH group. Conclusions: Group effects observed in the interrupted noise would imply that the two older groups of listeners had an auditory temporal deficit relative to the YNH listeners. The paradigm reveals the patency of the temporal processes that are responsible for the perceptual advantage (i.e., a release from masking) a listener has in interrupted competing stimulus.
School Dropout, Ethnicity and Religion: Evidence from Western Rural China

This article studies the determinants of school dropout decisions for western rural China by using the original and unique survey of 6,000 families in western rural China. Special focus is given to the impact of religion on dropout decisions. We find that children from religious families are more likely to drop out of school than other children, especially for those practicing Tibetan Buddhism. In addition, we find that increase in a child’s age, being a boy, and being part of an ethnic minority will increase the dropout probability while an increase in the mother’s education will decrease the dropout probability. Family income and migration status do not have significant impact on the dropout decision in western rural China.
Comparison of Sexual Function and Hormonal Parameters Between Mood Stabilizer Treatment Modalities in Bipolar Disorder.

INTRODUCTION The aim of this study was to determine the differences between lithium and atypical antipsychotics (quetiapine and olanzapine) with regard to their effects on sexual functions and hormonal variables and to assess the findings in term of gender differences, in patients with bipolar disorder. METHOD 28 female and 29 male patients diagnosed as having bipolar disorder type I according to the DSM-IV, using lithium or quetiapine and quetiapine+lithium or olanzapine and olanzapine+lithium were evaluated consecutively. Being in remission period and given informed consent were set as inclusion criteria in these cases. Interviews with the patients were carried out using the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Axis I Disorders (SCID-I) and SKIP-TURK. Sexual functions and satisfaction were evaluated with the Arizona Sexual Experiences Scale (ASEX) and the Golombok Rust Inventory of Sexual Satisfaction (GRISS). Blood samples of the patients were taken in order to determine prolactin (PRL), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), estradiol (E2), and free testosterone (T) levels. RESULTS GRISS scores in male patients were higher than in female patients (p=.001). The number of manic, depressive and total episodes, and functionality levels were similar between the treatment groups, both in female and male patients. No differences were found between treatment modalities in terms of hormone levels both in female and male patients. Among females, ASEX scores of the patients treated with lithium monotherapy were less than the ones treated with quetiapine and olanzapine. Among patients with quetiapine monotherapy, GRISS scores in male patients were higher than in female patients. CONCLUSION There are some evidences showing gender-based differences in the side effects of atypical antipsychotic drugs. Future studies with a specific focus on this topic are needed in order to have a better understanding of the basic mechanisms of gender differences.
Differences in Expert and Lay Judgments of Risk: Myth or Reality?

This article evaluates the nine empirical studies that have been conducted on expert versus lay judgments of risk. Contrary to received wisdom, this study finds that there is little empirical evidence for the propositions (1) that experts judge risk differently from members of the public or (2) that experts are more veridical in their risk assessments. Methodological weaknesses in the early research are documented, and it is shown that the results of more recent studies are confounded by social and demographic factors that have been found to correlate with judgments of risk. Using a task‐analysis taxonomy, a template is provided for the documentation of future studies of expert–lay differences/similarities that will facilitate analytic comparison.
Scaling Projections on Spin-Transfer Torque Magnetic Tunnel Junctions

We investigate scaling of technologically relevant magnetic tunnel junction devices in the trilayer and pentalayer configurations by varying the cross-sectional area along the transverse direction using the nonequilibrium Green’s function spin transport formalism. We study the geometry dependence by considering square and circular cross sections. As the transverse dimension in each case reduces, we demonstrate that the transverse mode energy profile plays a major role in the resistance-area(RA) product. Both types of devices show constant tunnel magnetoresistance at larger cross-sectional areas but achieve ultrahigh magnetoresistance at small cross-sectional areas, while maintaining low RA products. We notice that although the critical switching voltage for switching the magnetization of the free-layer nanomagnet in the trilayer case remains constant at larger areas, it needs more energy to switch at smaller areas. In the pentalayer case, we observe an oscillatory behavior at smaller areas as a result of double barrier tunneling. We also describe how switching characteristics of both kinds of devices are affected by the scaling.
Trinucleotide repeats in 202 families with ataxia: a small expanded (CAG)n allele at the SCA17 locus.

BACKGROUND Ten neurodegenerative disorders characterized by spinocerebellar ataxia (SCA) are known to be caused by trinucleotide repeat (TNR) expansions. However, in some instances the molecular diagnosis is considered indeterminate because of the overlap between normal and affected allele ranges. In addition, the mechanism that generates expanded alleles is not completely understood. OBJECTIVE To examine the clinical and molecular characteristics of a large group of Portuguese and Brazilian families with ataxia to improve knowledge of the molecular diagnosis of SCA. PATIENTS AND METHODS We have (1) assessed repeat sizes at all known TNR loci implicated in SCA; (2) determined frequency distributions of normal alleles and expansions; and (3) looked at genotype-phenotype correlations in 202 unrelated Portuguese and Brazilian patients with SCA. Molecular analysis of TNR expansions was performed using polymerase chain reaction amplification. RESULTS Patients from 110 unrelated families with SCA showed TNR expansions at 1 of the loci studied. Dominantly transmitted cases had (CAG)(n) expansions at the Machado-Joseph disease gene (MJD1) (63%), at SCA2 (3%), the gene for dentatorubropallidoluysian atrophy (DRPLA) (2%), SCA6 (1%), or SCA7 (1%) loci, or (CTG)(n) expansions at the SCA8 (2%) gene, whereas (GAA)(n) expansions in the Freidreich ataxia gene (FRDA) were found in 64% of families with recessive ataxia. Isolated patients also had TNR expansions at the MJD1 (6%), SCA8 (6%), or FRDA (8%) genes; in addition, an expanded allele at the TATA-binding protein gene (TBP), with 43 CAGs, was present in a patient with ataxia and mental deterioration. Associations between frequencies of SCA2 and SCA6 and a frequency of large normal alleles were found in Portuguese and Brazilian individuals, respectively. Interestingly, no association between the frequencies of DRPLA and large normal alleles was found in the Portuguese group. CONCLUSIONS Our results show that (1) a significant number of isolated cases of ataxia are due to TNR expansions; (2) expanded DRPLA alleles in Portuguese families may have evolved from an ancestral haplotype; and (3) small (CAG)(n) expansions at the TBP gene may cause SCA17.
Proclivity for open innovation: Construct development and empirical validation

Over the past decade, the concept of open innovation has received substantial attention. Research has ranged from case study representations to large-scale quantitative studies using the Community Innovation Survey data or developing novel approaches to measuring open innovation. In this study, we conceptualise and validate a firm-level measure of proclivity for open innovation, which relates to the firm’s predisposition to perform inbound and outbound open innovation activities. To do so, we focus on smaller firms, assessing their organisational and behavioural perspectives related to open innovation. Building on existing scholarly research and a field study, we begin by conceptualising the theoretical framework of the multidimensional construct. We then develop and validate its measurement scale on two cross-cultural samples. The measure contains the following dimensions: inward IP licensing and external participation, outsourcing R&D and external networking, customer involvement, employee involvement, venturing, and outward IP licensing. Our results indicate that the measure has good reliability and validity. Implications for future research are also discussed.