Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Water quality evaluation in Mediterranean Lagoons using the Multimetric Phytoplankton Index (MPI): study cases from Sardinia

1 - Water quality in four Sardinian lagoons (western Mediterranean Sea) was assessed using the Multimetric Phytoplankton Index (MPI), which is consistent with the EU Water Framework Directive. The index was developed using data on phytoplankton abundances, species structure and chlorophyll a concentrations in Venice Lagoon, Italy. 2 - The aim of this study was to test the MPI on a larger geographical scale and across a range of lagoon types. Therefore, it was applied to assess water quality in the Cabras, S’Ena Arrubia, Santa Giusta and Calich lagoons in Sardinia. These lagoons are all “choked”, but exhibit a range of sizes and morphometric features. They are directly affected by human activity within the lagoons themselves, such as fisheries, aquaculture and the construction of dams and canals, and are indirectly affected by anthropogenic activities in their catchments, including intensive agriculture, industrial activity and urban development. 3 - The data used in the present study were collected monthly over a period of 4 years (Calich, Santa Giusta and S’Ena Arrubia) to 7 years (Cabras). Samples were collected at three stations at each of the Cabras, Santa Giusta and Calich lagoons, and at two stations at the S’Ena Arrubia Lagoon, providing a total of 220 samples. 4 - The water quality in three of the four lagoons investigated (Cabras, S’Ena Arrubia and Calich) was classified as bad using the MPI. Among these three, water in Cabras Lagoon exhibited the worst condition. Water quality in Santa Giusta Lagoon was classified as poor using the MPI. 5 - Although we present preliminary results that require further verification, the index appears to be a useful tool for assessing the ecological status of typical Mediterranean lagoons.
Low complexity timing estimation and resynchronization for asynchronous bidirectional communications with multiple antenna relay

In this paper, we consider an asynchronous bidirectional communication system over flat fading channels in which the two source nodes are not perfectly synchronized. A low complexity pilot aided timing estimation and resynchronization scheme is proposed to combat the fractional asynchronous delay between the two source nodes. In the proposed scheme, cyclic prefixed single carrier block transmission is implemented at the two sources and frequency domain orthogonal pilots are transmitted to the relay simultaneously. After timing and channel estimation at the relay, a fractionally spaced frequency domain equalizer is employed at the relay to resynchronize the received mixed signals. With the proposed resynchronization scheme, the data detection at the two sources is the same as in a perfect synchronized system, because the two asynchronous signals are already resynchronized at the relay node. Simulation results show that the performance gap between the proposed scheme and the perfect synchronized system is within 1 dB when there are four antennas at the relay. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Function of the Herpes Simplex Virus 1 Small Capsid Protein VP26 Is Regulated by Phosphorylation at a Specific Site

ABSTRACT Replacement of the herpes simplex virus 1 small capsid protein VP26 phosphorylation site Thr-111 with alanine reduced viral replication and neurovirulence to levels observed with the VP26 null mutation. This mutation reduced VP26 expression and mislocalized VP26 and its binding partner, the major capsid protein VP5, in the nucleus. VP5 mislocalization was also observed with the VP26 null mutation. Thus, we postulate that phosphorylation of VP26 at Thr-111 regulates VP26 function in vitro and in vivo.
Schizotypal disorder: at the crossroads of genetics and nosology

The aim of this paper is to review the available evidence in support of the correctness of including the DSM‐III/III‐R schizotypal personality disorder (SPD) in the schizophrenia spectrum, to discuss the components that may account for the familial segregation of SPD, and to consider the implications for research and clinical use of this diagnostic category. The majority of the available data from genetic epidemiology studies, starting from probands with schizophrenia or with SPD, suggest that SPD is one of several phenotypes of liability for the schizophrenia spectrum. Recent twin studies suggest that the affect‐constricted and eccentric aspects of SPD are the features that truly belong to the spectrum of schizophrenia, sharing important genetic influences. However, other components are more useful for the identification of SPD in clinical settings, and these may be the specific focus of treatment. The present categorization appears to be a reasonable trade‐off for the purposes of both the investigator and the clinician, even though different components within SPD may have different origins and can be selectively emphasized according to the different aims involved.
THE EFFECTS OF ALTERNATE SUCTION AND PRESSURE ON BLOOD FLOW TO THE LOWER EXTREMITIES.

From the therapeutic standpoint patients with peripheral vascular disease are divided into two groups, (a) those whose symptoms are due to simple spasm with no, or very slight, organic vascular obstruction and (b) those whose symptoms are due primarily to advanced organic disease of the arteries. The symptoms of the first group can usually be alleviated by producing vasodilatation with drugs, diathermy, local heat in the form of the warm cradle, or sympathetic ganglionectomy. The efficacy of these therapeutic procedures depends upon local dilatation of the peripheral blood vessels. In more advanced stages, however, obliterative structural disease has usually progressed until the arterial vessels are transformed into rigid tubes. These diseased vessels have not only abnormally small lumina but are also more or less incapable of dilatation even when vasomotor tone is reduced by nerve block or by sympathetic ganglionectomy. When the arteries have thus lost their power of dilating the therapeutic procedures mentioned above fail to increase blood flow and therefore fail to improve the nutrition of the tissues. Eventually many of these patients with advanced organic disease of the arteries suffer from trophic changes, ulceration and gangrene, leading finally to amputation. Any procedure which tends to increase blood flow in the presence of organic occlusion might be of benefit in delaying or possibly in preventing the appearance of gangrene. According to Poiseuille's law the amount of fluid flowing through a rigid tube depends upon the fall in pressure along the tube. If other factors remain constant doubling the peripheral fall in blood pressure should approximately double the amount of blood flowing through the rigid arterial vessels. The total fall in pressure in the peripheral vascular system may be increased in two ways, (a) by elevating systemic blood pressure or (b) by diminishing capillary and venous blood pressures. The first method is impracticable for numerous reasons. It seemed possible, however, that capillary and venous blood pressures might be reduced temporarily to negative values (i.e., below atmospheric pressure) by applying suction to the skin of the extremity. The full effect of externally applied negative pressure can only be -obtained if there be a reservoir capable of accommodating the blood which
Do the associations between exuberance and emotion regulation depend on effortful control?

Temperamentally exuberant children may be at risk for emotion regulation problems, but this may also depend on their capacity for effortful control. To examine this issue, we assessed 72 typically-developing 3- to 5-year-olds. Child exuberance, effortful control, and emotion regulation were assessed via maternal report and observations of child behavior. Emotion regulation problems were elevated among children showing high exuberance and among children showing low effortful control. However, during a disappointing task, children with high exuberance showed stable, elevated levels of organized emotion regulation regardless of effortful control; for children with low exuberance, only those who also showed high effortful control showed comparable levels of organized emotion regulation. Implications for understanding risk and resilience associated with exuberance are discussed.
Identifying Longitudinal Patterns for Individuals and Subgroups: An Example with Adherence to Treatment for Obstructive Sleep Apnea

To improve complex behaviors such as adherence to medical recommendations, a better understanding of behavior change over time is needed. The focus of this study was adherence to treatment for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Adherence to the most common treatment for OSA is poor. This study involved a sample of 161 participants, each with approximately 180 nights of data. First, a time series analysis was performed for each individual. Time series parameters included the mean (average hours of use per night), level, slope, variance, and autocorrelation. Second, a dynamic cluster analysis was performed to find homogenous subgroups of individuals with similar adherence patterns. A four-cluster solution was found, and the subgroups were labeled: Great Users (17.2%; high mean and level, no slope), Good Users (32.8%; moderate mean and level, no slope), Low Users (22.7%; low mean and level, negative slope), and Slow Decliners (moderate mean and level, negative slope, high variance). Third, participants in the identified subgroups were compared to establish external validity. These steps represent a Typology of Temporal Patterns (TTP) approach. Combining time series analysis and dynamic cluster analysis is a useful way to evaluate longitudinal patterns at both the individual level and subgroup level.
Effect of Feeding Calcium Salts of Palm Oil Fatty Acids on Performance of Lactating Crossbred Cows

Twenty lactating crossbred cows yielding 10 to 15 litres of milk daily during mid lactation were selected and divided into four groups of five animals to assess the effect of feeding calcium soaps of palm oil fatty acids (bypass fat) on milk yield, milk composition and nutrient utilization in lactating crossbred cows. The animals in groups 1 (control), 2, 3 and 4 were fed concentrate mixture containing 0 (no bypass fat), 2, 4 and 6% bypass fat, respectively. The average daily dry matter consumption in the various groups ranged from 13.1 to 13.6 kg and showed no significant difference among treatment groups. There was no significant difference among different groups in digestibility of DM, OM, CP and CF, however, ether extract digestibility in cows of groups 2 and 4 was significantly (p<0.05) higher than the control group. The average milk yields of the cows in group 3 (4% bypass fat) showed a significantly (p<0.05) higher value than cows of groups 1 and 2. Similarly, a significant (p<0.05) increase in fat yield, 4% FCM yield and SNF yield was observed for the cows in group 3 (4% bypass fat). The milk composition in terms of total solids, fat, lactose, protein, solids-not-fat and ash percentage showed a varying response and bypass fat feeding did not have any effect on milk composition of cows in different groups. The gross and net energetic efficiency of milk production ranged from 23.6 to 27.5% and 37.1 to 44.4%, respectively, and showed no significant difference among different treatment groups. The gross and net efficiency of nitrogen utilization for milk production ranged from 24.0 to 28.7% and 37.2 to 43.5%, respectively, and no significant difference was noted among different treatment groups. The supplementation with calcium salts of palm oil fatty acid reduced the proportion of caproic, caprylic and capric acids and significantly (p<0.01) increased the concentration of palmitic, oleic, stearic, linoleic and linolenic acids in milk fat with increase in level of bypass fat supplementation. It was concluded that incorporation of calcium salts of palm oil fatty acids at a 4% level in the concentrate mixture of lactating crossbred cows improved the milk production and milk quality in terms of polyunsaturated fatty acids without affecting the digestibility of nutrients.
Progression in youth soccer: selection and identification in youth soccer players aged 13-15 years.

The aim of this study was to identify the factors which are important for the identification and selection of young soccer players. Ninety four adolescent soccer players from the Under-13 (U13; age=12.3 ± 0.3 years; n=50) and Under-15 (U15; age=14.0 ± 0.2 years; n=44) categories belonging to a professional club participated in the study. Anthropometric measurements, physical tests (sprint, agility, endurance and jump) and maturity status (age at peak height velocity) were recorded over four seasons. Comparisons were performed amongst new players joining the club (Enter players, n=15), players progressing to the next age category (Club players, n=54) and players leaving the club (Deselected players, n=25). A two-way repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) was performed to determine if significant differences existed between groups and testing time. Better physical performance and improvements observed during the season in performance were found to be one of the main factors for U13 players to continue in the club (p < 0.05 - 0.001). In the U15 group, although body size, maturation and physical performance appeared to be the most important characteristics for being identified to play in the club (p < 0.05), Club players demonstrated better improvements during the season (p < 0.05). Overall, these results indicate that the identification or promotion of players by coaches depends on indicators which are age-dependent. Therefore, this study has shown that the talent identification program was more a selection process than a promotion process, selecting and indentifying a posteriori rather than a priori.
The impact of universal access to dental care on disparities in caries experience in children.

BACKGROUND The authors investigated the association between socioeconomic status and the severity of dental caries in 6- and 7-year-old children who had had access to dental care throughout their lives. The children had lived since birth in Nova Scotia, Canada, a province with a universal publicly financed dental care program. METHODS The authors selected a representative sample of first-grade children using a stratified multistage sampling method of primary schools (n = 1,614). The response rate was 78.8 percent. Two dentists were trained to diagnose dental caries using modified World Health Organization criteria. Intra- and interexaminer reliability was excellent (kappa > or = 0.88). Of the children who were examined (n = 1,271), 955 were lifelong residents of Nova Scotia, Canada, and so were included in this analysis. Data were weighted and adjusted for clustering (design) effects. RESULTS Only 8.4 percent of the children had visited a dental office before the age of 2 years, and 88.5 percent of the children had their first dental visit between the ages of 2 and 5 years. Children whose parents had completed a university education had a significantly lower mean number of decayed, missing and filled surfaces, or dmfs, in their primary teeth than did children whose parents had a lower education level. A Poisson regression model indicated that parents' high education status, optimal fluoride concentration in schools' water supplies, daily toothbrushing and dental visits for checkup were significantly associated with low dmfs scores. CONCLUSION Having access to a universal publicly financed dental insurance program since birth did not eliminate the disparities in caries experience. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS This analysis of a highly utilized universal dental insurance program suggests that disparities in oral health status cannot be reduced solely by providing universal access to dental care. Focused efforts by professional and governmental organizations should be directed toward understanding the socioeconomic, behavioral and community determinants of oral health disparities.
Share repurchase announcements and abnormal returns for Swedish listed real estate companies

Asymmetric information in the management-investor relationship implies that the management’s actions will give signals to investors. According to the signalling hypothesis, an announcement of a share repurchase program is interpreted by investors that the management is putting its money where its mouth is, i.e. signalling that the stock is currently undervalued. Using the event study methodology to analyze share repurchases of listed Swedish real estate companies, we find significant short-term abnormal returns of 1,96% on the announcement day and cumulative abnormal returns of 2,32% (although not significant on conventional levels) for the ten first days subsequent to the announcement. At the most fundamental level of corporate finance theory, the Efficient Market Hypothesis stipulates that the whole value of the announcement should be discounted in the stock price immediately. On the other hand, it might be rational for investors to await certainty that the share repurchase program will be executed, before discounting its full value. We find indications of underreaction as the analysis suggests long-term positive stock price reactions to the announcement. The Jensen’s alpha approach utilized in the long-term analysis suggests an average abnormal return of 10,30%, although insignificant on conventional levels, the year following a share repurchase announcement. From a stock investor point of view, the results from this study suggest that buying real estate stocks that announce share repurchase programs can yield positive abnormal returns for investment horizons of 10 days as well as 12 months.
Who Chooses to Become an Entrepreneur? The Jacks-of-All-Trades in Social and Human Capital

This paper studies willingness to become an entrepreneur depending on an individual’s composition of human and social capital. Our theoretical analysis is an extension of Lazear’s (2005) jack-of-all-trades theory. Our primary implication is that it is not individuals with a higher level of human or social capital but rather individuals with a more balanced portfolio of human and social capital that are more willing than others to become entrepreneurs. We use survey data from a sample of more than 2000 German students to test this hypothesis and find that the jacks-of-all-trades, i.e. the more balanced individuals are more likely to become entrepreneurs. On the other hand, the Masters-in-One, i.e. the specialists, are better off being an employee and rightly prefer to be so.
Longing for clinical excellence: a critical outlook into the NICE recommendations on hypertension management – is nice always good?

The European Society of Hypertension and the European Society of Cardiology have started the preparation of the third edition of their joint guidelines on the management of arterial hypertension. The authors have focused on the new edition of the UK NICE guidelines to learn about the difficulties of disentangling evidence from wisdom when preparing recommendations. The two areas where the NICE guidelines have changed more importantly are the use of ambulatory blood pressure in the diagnosis of hypertension and the choices of antihypertensive agents to initiate treatment (less frequent use of diuretics and preference given to chlorthalidone and indapamide). NICE recommendations on these topics appear more based on opinion than evidence. Strenuous longing for evidence and clinical excellence is certainly meritorious, but such a nice approach is not always good.
Testing candidate genes for non‐syndromic oral clefts using a case‐parent trio design

Markers in five candidate genes were examined on 269 case‐parent trios ascertained through a child with an isolated, non‐syndromic oral cleft (cleft lip, CL; cleft palate, CP; or cleft lip and palate, CLP). Cases and their parents were ascertained through treatment centers in Maryland. Markers at two of the five candidate genes, transforming growth factor β3 (TGFβ3) and MSX1, showed consistent evidence of linkage and disequilibrium due to linkage using several statistical tests (e.g., the global chi‐square for TGFβ3 was 21.1 with 12 df, P = 0.03; that for MSX1 was 8.7 with 3 df, P = 0.03). There was little evidence of heterogeneity in the role of TGFβ3 between different types of oral clefts, but MSX1 did yield marginal evidence for such heterogeneity. MSX1 also showed evidence for interaction between infant’s genotype and maternal smoking, giving a likelihood ratio test for heterogeneity between smoker and non‐smoker mothers of 7.16 (2 df, P = 0.03). Using a conditional logistic model to test for gene‐gene interaction showed no evidence of interaction between TGFβ3 and MSX1, with both seeming to contribute independently to risk of isolated, non‐syndromic oral clefts. Genet. Epidemiol. 22:1–11, 2002. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
A novel trimeric complex in plant cells that contributes to the lamina inclination of rice

ABSTRACT The architecture determining grain production in rice is mainly affected by factors such as lamina angle, tillering, plant height and panicle morphology. In particular, leaf angle, the degree of bending between the leaf blade and leaf sheath directly affects crop architecture and grain yields. Balancing activities between the 2 antagonistic groups of proteins, atypical helix-loop-helix (HLH) and basic HLH (bHLH) proteins have been regarded as one of the major molecular machineries regulating lamina angles through the control of cell elongation in the lamina joint of rice. Recently, formation of a complex consisting of atypical HLH protein, OsBUL1, a KxDL motif-containing protein, LO9–177 and a bHLH protein, OsBC1 has been reported to play a positive role in lamina inclination of rice unraveling a novel layer of cell elongation control in rice lamina joint. Here, we demonstrate a trimeric complex formation in rice cells by a combination of BiFC and FRET-FLIM assays.
Molecular Cloning of a Divinyl Ether Synthase

Lipoxygenase-derived fatty acid hydroperoxides are metabolized by CYP74 cytochrome P-450s to various oxylipins that play important roles in plant growth and development. Here, we report the characterization of a Lycopersicon esculentum (tomato) cDNA whose predicted amino acid sequence defines a previously unidentified P-450 subfamily (CYP74D). The recombinant protein, expressed in Escherichia coli, displayed spectral properties of a P-450. The enzyme efficiently metabolized 9-hydroperoxy linoleic acid and 9-hydroperoxy linolenic acid but was poorly active against the corresponding 13-hydroperoxides. Incubation of recombinant CYP74D with 9-hydroperoxy linoleic acid and 9-hydroperoxy linolenic acid yielded divinyl ether fatty acids (colneleic acid and colnelenic acid, respectively), which have been implicated as plant anti-fungal toxins. This represents the first identification of a cDNA encoding a divinyl ether synthase and establishment of the enzyme as a CYP74 P-450. Genomic DNA blot analysis revealed the existence of a single divinyl ether synthase gene located on chromosome one of tomato. In tomato seedlings, root tissue was the major site of both divinyl ether synthase mRNA accumulation and enzyme activity. These results indicate that developmental expression of the divinyl ether synthase gene is an important determinant of the tissue specific synthesis of divinyl ether oxylipins.
Bias Considerations in Simulation Experiments

This paper uses a first-order autoregressive scheme to investigate the effects of initial conditions in a simulation on the estimation of the population mean of a process of interest. The effects are measured by bias and variance. The results show that the elimination of observations near the beginning of the simulation reduces bias, as intended, but increases the variance, sometimes significantly.