Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Sucrose synthesis in Unpollinated ovaries of pomegranate (Punica granatum L.), as well as, in reproductive and vegetative shoot apices

Sugar levels, the enzyme activity of UDP-Glucose Pyrophosphorylase (UGPase) and Sucrose Phosphate Synthase (SPS), key enzymes for sucrose synthesis, and the expression of their respective genes were examined in developing vegetative and reproductive shoot apices and in developing unpollinated ovaries of Pomegranate trees in order to detect differences possibly important for fruit production and plant vigor. The level of total sugars was higher in ovaries, followed by reproductive apices and vegetative apices, suggesting higher energy requirements in the reproductive organs. Moreover, the activities of SPS and UGPase were found to be elevated in the vegetative apices, indicating that sucrose synthesis is possibly differently regulated in comparison to the reproductive organs. Our results suggest that the sink power of each organ primarily regulates the levels of both transported (sucrose, mannitol) and non-transported (fructose, glucose) sugars. However, the endogenous production of sucrose may be a regulatory factor contributing to organ development.
Elevational patterns and hierarchical determinants of biodiversity across microbial taxonomic scales

Microbial biogeography is gaining increasing attention due to recent molecular methodological advance. However, the diversity patterns and their environmental determinants across taxonomic scales are still poorly studied. By sampling along an extensive elevational gradient in subarctic ponds of Finland and Norway, we examined the diversity patterns of aquatic bacteria and fungi from whole community to individual taxa across taxonomic coverage and taxonomic resolutions. We further quantified cross‐phylum congruence in multiple biodiversity metrics and evaluated the relative importance of climate, catchment and local pond variables as the hierarchical drivers of biodiversity across taxonomic scales. Bacterial community showed significantly decreasing elevational patterns in species richness and evenness, and U‐shaped patterns in local contribution to beta diversity (LCBD). Conversely, no significant species richness and evenness patterns were found for fungal community. Elevational patterns in species richness and LCBD, but not in evenness, were congruent across bacterial phyla. When narrowing down the taxonomic scope towards higher resolutions, bacterial diversity showed weaker and more complex elevational patterns. Taxonomic downscaling also indicated a notable change in the relative importance of biodiversity determinants with stronger local environmental filtering, but decreased importance of climatic variables. This suggested that niche conservatism of temperature preference was phylogenetically deeper than that of water chemistry variables. Our results provide novel perspectives for microbial biogeography and highlight the importance of taxonomic scale dependency and hierarchical drivers when modelling biodiversity and species distribution responses to future climatic scenarios.
Coronary Artery Calcification in Hemodialysis and Peritoneal Dialysis

Background: Vascular calcification is seen in most patients on dialysis and is strongly associated with cardiovascular mortality. Vascular calcification is promoted by phosphate, which generally reaches higher levels in hemodialysis than in peritoneal dialysis. However, whether vascular calcification develops less in peritoneal dialysis than in hemodialysis is currently unknown. Therefore, we compared coronary artery calcification (CAC), its progression, and calcification biomarkers between patients on hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis. Methods: We measured CAC in 134 patients who had been treated exclusively with hemodialysis (n = 94) or peritoneal dialysis (n = 40) and were transplantation candidates. In 57 of them (34 on hemodialysis and 23 on peritoneal dialysis), we also measured CAC progression annually up to 3 years and the inactive species of desphospho-uncarboxylated matrix Gla protein (dp-ucMGP), fetuin-A, osteoprotegerin. We compared CAC cross-sectionally with Tobit regression. CAC progression was compared in 2 ways: with linear mixed models as the difference in square root transformed volume score per year (ΔCAC SQRV) and with Tobit mixed models. We adjusted for potential confounders. Results: In the cross-sectional cohort, CAC volume scores were 92 mm3 in hemodialysis and 492 mm3 in peritoneal dialysis (adjusted difference 436 mm3; 95% CI –47 to 919; p = 0.08). In the longitudinal cohort, peritoneal dialysis was associated with significantly more CAC progression defined as ΔCAC SQRV (adjusted difference 1.20; 95% CI 0.09 to 2.31; p = 0.03), but not with Tobit mixed models (adjusted difference in CAC score increase per year 106 mm3; 95% CI –140 to 352; p = 0.40). Peritoneal dialysis was associated with higher osteoprotegerin (adjusted p = 0.02) but not with dp-ucMGP or fetuin-A. Conclusions: Peritoneal dialysis is not associated with less CAC or CAC progression than hemodialysis, and perhaps with even more progression. This indicates that vascular calcification does not develop less in peritoneal dialysis than in hemodialysis.
Deep Q learning for fooling neural networks

Deep learning models are vulnerable to external attacks. In this paper, we propose a Reinforcement Learning (RL) based approach to generate adversarial examples for the pre-trained (target) models. We assume a semi black-box setting where the only access an adversary has to the target model is the class probabilities obtained for the input queries. We train a Deep Q Network (DQN) agent which, with experience, learns to attack only a small portion of image pixels to generate non-targeted adversarial images. Initially, an agent explores an environment by sequentially modifying random sets of image pixels and observes its effect on the class probabilities. At the end of an episode, it receives a positive (negative) reward if it succeeds (fails) to alter the label of the image. Experimental results with MNIST, CIFAR-10 and Imagenet datasets demonstrate that our RL framework is able to learn an effective attack policy.
Analysis of Scoring Sequences in Matches of the Portuguese Premier League

Abstract The aim of this study was to examine the sequences of the first two goals scored in soccer matches in accordance with a range of different match contexts. Data from 1506 matches played in the Portuguese Premier League during six consecutive competitive seasons (2009-10 to 2014-2015) were analysed using descriptive statistics and the chi-square test in order to verify the association between variables and a Cox regression analysis was used to predict the time the second goal was scored in function of the time of the first goal scored in the match and the scoreline. The results revealed a higher frequency of the second goals being scored in the second half of a match (58%) and in the last 5 min periods of each half. A positive association was found for home teams and score-doubling goals (58%), as well as for away teams and score-equalizing goals (56%). For home and away teams the score-doubling goal of a match was strongly and positively associated with a win outcome for home (93%) and away teams (92%), while the score-equalizing goals were associated with a draw (home and away teams: 44%) and loss outcome (home: 33% and away teams: 32%). Finally, the Cox model showed that if the first goal was scored in the second half of the match, the probability of the second goal being scored was three times higher compared to the first half.
Firing properties of ventral medullary respiratory neurons in sino‐aortic denervated rats

What is the central question of this study? After sino‐aortic denervation (SAD), rats present normal levels of mean arterial pressure (MAP), high MAP variability and changes in breathing. However, mechanisms involved in SAD‐induced respiratory changes and their impact on the modulation of sympathetic activity remain unclear. Herein, we characterized the firing frequency of medullary respiratory neurons after SAD. What is the main finding and its importance? Sino‐aortic denervation‐induced prolonged inspiration was associated with a reduced interburst frequency of pre‐inspiratory/inspiratory neurons and an increased long‐term variability of late inspiratory neurons, but no changes were observed in the ramp‐inspiratory and post‐inspiratory neurons. This imbalance in the respiratory network might contribute to the modulation of sympathetic activity after SAD.
Chemical Composition and Antioxidant Characteristic of Traditional and Industrial Zhenjiang Aromatic Vinegars during the Aging Process

Zhenjiang aromatic vinegar (ZAV) is one of the well-known fermented condiments in China, which is produced by solid-state fermentation. It can be classified into traditional Zhenjiang aromatic vinegar (TZAV) and industrial Zhenjiang aromatic vinegar (IZAV) because of different production methods. The purpose of the study was to evaluate the variations and differences on chemical compositions and antioxidant activities of TZAV and IZAV during the aging process. The proximate composition, organic acids content, total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), total antioxidant activity (TAA) and phenolic compounds composition of TZAV and IZAV were detected during the aging process. Organic acids contents, TPC, TFC, TAA and phenolic compounds contents in ZAV were increased during the aging process. Acetic acid, lactic acid and pyroglutamic acid in ZAV were major organic acids. With the extension of aging time, TZAV and IZAV had similar proximate compositions and organic acids content. The values of TPC, TFC and TAA were higher in TZAV than in IZAV when aging is more than 3 years. Rutin and p-coumaric acid were detected in TZAV but not in IZAV. In principal component analysis (PCA), TZAV and IZAV can be divided into two groups according to their phenolic compounds composition. These findings provide references for evaluating TZAV and IZAV on the basis of their characterizations.
Aggressive Synchronization with Partial Processing for Iterative ML Jobs on Clusters

Executing distributed machine learning (ML) jobs on Spark follows Bulk Synchronous Parallel (BSP) model, where parallel tasks execute the same iteration at the same time and the generated updates must be synchronized on parameters when all tasks are finished. However, the parallel tasks rarely have the same execution time due to sparse data so that the synchronization has to wait for tasks finished late. Moreover, running Spark on heterogeneous clusters makes it even worse because of stragglers, where the synchronization is significantly delayed by the slowest task. This paper attacks the fundamental BSP model that supports iterative ML jobs. We propose and develop a novel BSP-based Aggressive synchronization (A-BSP) model based on the convergent property of iterative ML algorithms, by allowing the algorithm to use the updates generated based on partial input data for synchronization. Specifically, when the fastest task completes, A-BSP fetches the current updates generated by the rest tasks that have partially processed their input data to push for aggressive synchronization. Furthermore, unprocessed data is prioritized for processing in the subsequent iterations to ensure algorithm convergence rate. Theoretically, we prove the algorithm convergence for gradient descent under A-BSP model. We have implemented A-BSP as a light-weight BSP-compatible mechanism in Spark and performed evaluations with various ML jobs. Experimental results show that compared to BSP, A-BSP speeds up the execution by up to 2.36x. We have also extended A-BSP onto Petuum platform and compared to the Stale Synchronous Parallel (SSP) and Asynchronous Synchronous Parallel (ASP) models. A-BSP performs better than SSP and ASP for gradient descent based jobs. It also outperforms SSP for jobs on physical heterogeneous clusters.
A whole lifespan mouse multi-tissue DNA methylation clock

Age predictors based on DNA methylation levels at a small set of CpG sites, DNAm clocks, have been developed for humans and extended to several other species. Three currently available versions of mouse DNAm clocks were either created for individual tissues or tuned toward young ages. Here, we constructed a robust multi-tissue age predictor based on 435 CpG sites, which covers the entire mouse lifespan and remains unbiased with respect to any particular age group. It can successfully detect the effects of certain lifespan-modulating interventions on DNAm age as well as the rejuvenation effect related to the transition from fibroblasts to iPSCs. We have carried out comparative analyses of available mouse DNAm clocks, which revealed their broad applicability, but also certain limitations to the use of tissue-specific and multi-tissue age predictors. Together, these tools should help address diverse questions in aging research.
Levels and distribution of PBDEs and PFASs in pork from different European countries

ABSTRACT Meat and meat products are included in a great number of human diets. However, the great consumption of meat needs to be controlled for the presence of traces of contaminants. The European Commission has not stated maximum limits for some environmental pollutants such as the perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) and polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE); the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) Scientific Panel has recommended that more occurrence data for PFASs in food should be collected to improve the accuracy of future exposure calculations. Therefore, the distribution of PFASs and PBDEs trace contaminants from eight EU Member States were investigated through liquid chromatography coupled to high-resolution mass spectrometry (LC-HRMS) and Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS/MS). No PFASs were detected, except perfluorooctanoic acid, in only one Austrian sample at the concentration of 0.531 ng g−1. PBDEs were detected in 3 out of 77 samples: one from Germany showed the presence of all congeners analysed in the concentration range 0.53–0.77 ng g−1, the others, from Netherland and Italy, respectively contained PBDE 153 (0.53 ng g−1) and PBDE 100 (0.62 ng g−1). The results show that the analysed samples do not pose a risk for human beings in regard to PFASs and PBDEs. Further studies are needed to keep monitoring their presence in foodstuff, as it has been suggested by European Commission. Graphical Abstract
Psychopathy and Suicidal Thoughts and Behaviors Revisited: Results From a Statewide Population of Institutionalized Youth

Suicide is the leading cause of death for incarcerated youth, and up to half of all juveniles in confinement experience suicidal ideation in addition to other psychopathology, including psychopathic personality features. Unfortunately, limited research has investigated the psychopathy–suicidality link among juvenile delinquents and using newer psychopathy measures. Based upon a statewide population of incarcerated juvenile offenders, we found that psychopathy was a significant risk factor for suicidal ideation and lifetime suicide attempts, but the latter relationship was attenuated by lifetime depression diagnosis. In addition, certain affective psychopathic features such as Stress Immunity conferred protection against suicidality, whereas behavioral and lifestyle components including Carefree Nonplanfulness, Blame Externalization, and Rebellious Nonconformity were positively linked to suicidal thoughts among the youth offenders. As these risk factors are routinely screened for in juvenile justice settings, this study’s findings have considerable implications to applied practice and prevention among juvenile justice involved youth.
Prognostic and predictive value of interstitial cells of Cajal populations following stapled transanal rectal resection (STARR) in patients with obstructed defecation syndrome

Abstract Objective The present study was designed to evaluate the functional outcome of stapled transanal rectal resection (STARR) and to examine the relationship between the population density of the interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC) and the efficacy of the STARR operation in the management of obstructed defecation syndrome (ODS) patients. Methods Full-thickness rectal samples were obtained from 50 ODS patients who underwent STARR. Samples were analysed using ICC immunohistochemistry. Clinical and functional parameters obtained with defecography and anorectal manometry were compared with 20 controls. Results ICCs were significantly decreased in patients in the submucosal (SM), intramuscular (IM) and myenteric (MY) regions when compared with the control group (P < 0.05). The mean pre-operative Cleveland Constipation Score (CCS) was 24.2 ± 4.1, whilst the CCS at 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 years post-operatively decreased significantly (P < 0.05). At 3 post-operative years, 58.3% (28/48) of the patients reported a favorable outcome (CCS ≤ 10). On univariate analysis, the functional results were worse in those with pre-operative digitation (P = 0.017), a decreased ICC-MY cell population (P = 0.067), a higher resting anal canal pressure (P = 0.039) and a higher rectal sensory threshold (P = 0.073). Multivariate analysis showed the decreased ICC-MY cell population was an independent predictor for low unfavorable functional outcome (odds ratio = 0.097, 95% confidence interval: 0.012–0.766). Conclusions STARR achieved acceptable results at the cost of a slight deterioration over a more prolonged follow-up. Patients with a decreased ICC number in the rectal specimen showed an unfavorable functional outcome where pre-operative histological assessment of a full-thickness rectal sample might predict for the functional outcome following STARR.
Velocity- and power-load relationships in the half, parallel and full back squat

ABSTRACT This study aimed to compare the load-velocity and load-power relationships of three common variations of the squat exercise. 52 strength-trained males performed a progressive loading test up to the one-repetition maximum (1RM) in the full (F-SQ), parallel (P-SQ) and half (H-SQ) squat, conducted in random order on separate days. Bar velocity and vertical force were measured by means of a linear velocity transducer time-synchronized with a force platform. The relative load that maximized power output (Pmax) was analyzed using three outcome measures: mean concentric (MP), mean propulsive (MPP) and peak power (PP), while also including or excluding body mass in force calculations. 1RM was significantly different between exercises. Load-velocity and load-power relationships were significantly different between the F-SQ, P-SQ and H-SQ variations. Close relationships (R2 = 0.92–0.96) between load (%1RM) and bar velocity were found and they were specific for each squat variation, with faster velocities the greater the squat depth. Unlike the F-SQ and P-SQ, no sticking region was observed for the H-SQ when lifting high loads. The Pmax corresponded to a broad load range and was greatly influenced by how force output is calculated (including or excluding body mass) as well as the exact outcome variable used (MP, MPP, PP).
SELF-SIMILAR DECAY TO THE MARGINALLY STABLE GROUND STATE IN A MODEL FOR FILM FLOW OVER INCLINED WAVY BOTTOMS

The integral boundary layer system (IBL) with spatially periodic coecients arises as a long wave approximation for the flow of a viscous in- compressible fluid down a wavy inclined plane. The Nusselt-like stationary solution of the IBL is linearly at best marginally stable; i.e., it has essential spectrum at least up to the imaginary axis. Nevertheless, in this stable case we show that localized perturbations of the ground state decay in a self-similar way. The proof uses the renormalization group method in Bloch variables and the fact that in the stable case the Burgers equation is the amplitude equation for long waves of small amplitude in the IBL. It is the first time that such a proof is given for a quasilinear PDE with spatially periodic coecients.
Government Spending and Budget Deficits in the Industrial Economies

In this paper, we try to interpret several important trends in the size of governments and government deficits in the OECD economies : the rapid increase in the public spending to GDP ratio in the 1970s; the sharp rise in budget deficits and in debt-GNP ratios after 1973; and the early signs of a slowdown or reversal in the rise of the spending ratios in the 1980s. We show that the rise in size of the government was importantly associated with the slowdown in output growth after 1973, as well as with the gradual adjustment of spending ratios to long-run values. These long-run values appear to depend on the political and institutional characteristics of the various economies (the ideological orientation of the government, the degree of wage indexation, and the average number of parties in the governing coalitions). As for budget deficits, we argue that much can be explained by normal cyclical factors (the slowdown in growth and the rise in unemployment after 1973), but that in addition, the size of the budget deficits has been related to political as well as economic characteristics of the countries. Deficit reduction requires political consensus, at least among the parties belonging to the governing coalition. We note that such consensus is harder to achieve in multi-party coalition governments and that the failure to reach a consensus on budget cutting can help to explain why countries with multi-party coalition governments have experienced particularly large increases in the debt-GNP ratio.
Tales of the Venerable Honolulu Tide Gauge

Abstract Surface expressions of internal tides constitute a significant component of the total recorded tide. The internal component is strongly modulated by the time-variable density structure, and the resulting perturbation of the recorded tide gives a welcome look at twentieth-century interannual and secular variability. Time series of mean sea level hSL(t) and total recorded M2 vector aTT(t) are extracted from the Honolulu 1905–2000 and Hilo 1947–2000 (Hawaii) tide records. Internal tide parameters are derived from the intertidal continuum surrounding the M2 frequency line and from a Cartesian display of aTT(t), yielding aST = 16.6 and 22.1 cm, aIT = 1.8 and 1.0 cm for surface and internal tides at Honolulu and Hilo, respectively. The proposed model aTT(t) = aST + aIT cosθIT(t) is of a phase-modulated internal tide generated by the surface tide at some remote point and traveling to the tide gauge with velocity modulated by the underlying variable density structure. Mean sea level hSL(t) [a surrogate f.
A theoretical approach to synthetic vascular graft design: surface micro-topography optimization for promoting the retention of endothelial cells

15 Introduction. 16 Methods. 18 Results. 23 Effect of channel wall angle on wall shear stress . 23 Effect of radius of curvature on wall shear stress . 26 Effect of channel depth on wall shear stress. 28 Effect of channel width on wall shear stress. 29 Optimal geometry . 31 Discussion . 33 III. DISCUSSION. 36 Summary. 36
Self-Excited Supersonic Cavity Flow Instabilities as Aerodynamic Noise Sources

A turbulent cavity flow at Mach 1.5 and 2.5 is modelled to study the flow instability and the associated aerodynamic noise generation. The short-time averaged Navier-Stokes equations, coupled with a k – ω turbulence model, are solved to predict the large-scale time-dependent flow. Values of the cavity wall pressure, drag, streamwise velocity and density are in good in agreement with past measurements and the results of other computations. The noise generation physics of the unsteady flow is addressed by estimating the noise source strength in a Lighthill acoustic analogy. The time-dependent flow predictions highlighted the upstream and downstream cavity edges as areas of large flow unsteadiness. The same areas are identified by the acoustic analogy as the dominant noise source regions in this flow.