Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Model analysis of the effects of atmospheric drivers on storage water use in Scots pine

Abstract. Storage water use is an indirect consequence of the interplay between different meteorological drivers through their effect on water flow and water potential in trees. We studied these microclimatic drivers of storage water use in Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) growing in a temperate climate. The storage water use was modeled using the ANAFORE model, integrating a dynamic water flow and – storage model with a process-based transpiration model. The model was calibrated and validated with sap flow measurements for the growing season of 2000 (26 May–18 October). Because there was no severe soil drought during the study period, we were able to study atmospheric effects. Incoming radiation and vapour pressure deficit (VPD) were the main atmospheric drivers of storage water use. The general trends of sap flow and storage water use are similar, and follow more or less the pattern of incoming radiation. Nevertheless, considerable differences in the day-to-day pattern of sap flow and storage water use were observed. VPD was determined to be one of the main drivers of these differences. During dry atmospheric conditions (high VPD) storage water use was reduced. This reduction was higher than the reduction in measured sap flow. Our results suggest that the trees did not rely more on storage water during periods of atmospheric drought, without severe soil drought. The daily minimum tree water content was lower in periods of high VPD, but the reserves were not completely depleted after the first day of high VPD, due to refilling during the night. Nevertheless, the tree water content deficit was a third important factor influencing storage water use. When storage compartments were depleted beyond a threshold, storage water use was limited due to the low water potential in the storage compartments. The maximum relative contribution of storage water to daily transpiration was also constrained by an increasing tree water content deficit.
Immunoaffinity Purification and Functional Characterization of Human Transcription Factor IIH and RNA Polymerase II from Clonal Cell Lines That Conditionally Express Epitope-tagged Subunits of the Multiprotein Complexes*

Purification of multiprotein complexes such as transcription factor (TF) IIH and RNA polymerase II (pol II) has been a tedious task by conventional chromatography. To facilitate the purification, we have developed an effective scheme that allows human TFIIH and pol II to be isolated from HeLa-derived cell lines that conditionally express the FLAG-tagged p62 subunit of human TFIIH and the RPB9 subunit of human pol II, respectively. An approximate 2000-fold enrichment of FLAG-tagged TFIIH and a 1000-fold enhancement of total pol II are achieved by a one-step immunoaffinity purification. The purified complexes are functional in mediating basal and activated transcription, regardless of whether TATA-binding protein or TFIID is used as the TATA-binding factor. Interestingly, repression of basal transcription by the positive cofactor PC4 is alleviated by increasing amounts of TFIID, TFIIH, and pol II holoenzyme, suggesting that phosphorylation of PC4 by these proteins may cause a conformational change in the structure of PC4 that allows for preinitiation complex formation and initiation of transcription. Furthermore, pol II complexes with different phosphorylation states on the carboxyl-terminal domain of the largest subunit are selectively purified from the inducible pol II cell line, making it possible to dissect the role of carboxyl-terminal domain phosphorylation in the transcription process in a highly defined in vitrotranscription system.
Information system success among manufacturing SMEs: case of developing countries

This research develops an integrated model of Information System (IS) success based on the DeLone and McLean (2003. The DeLone and McLean model of information systems success: A ten-year update. Journal of Management Information Systems, 19(4), 9–30) IS success model and the technology–organization–environment framework of the firm to provide small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with the relative importance and knowledge of IS success. A questionnaire-based survey was conducted to collect data from 316 Iranian and Malaysian manufacturing SMEs. Our findings show that the determinants of IS success among SMEs are not limited to the technological factors identified in the DeLone and McLean (2003) IS success model. We in effect found that IS success among SMEs is also determined by some key organizational and environmental determinants. We observed that the involvement of both top management and employees in different stages of IS implementation is important and IS success among SMEs requires internal and external support. The study contributes to the theory by extending and empirically testing the DeLone and McLean IS success model in a different setting than in previous studies. The study can serve as a basis for future research in this field through advancing the theoretical development in the area of IS success.
Intake during repeated exposure to low- and high-energy-dense yogurts by different means of consumption.

BACKGROUND An important question in the regulation of energy intake is whether dietary learning of energy content depends on the food's characteristics, such as texture. Texture might affect the duration of sensory exposure and eating rate. OBJECTIVE The objective was to investigate whether a long sensory exposure, due to differences in means of consumption and in viscosity, enhances learned associations between sensory signals and metabolic consequences and hence facilitates energy intake compensation. DESIGN A total of 105 healthy young adults with a mean (+/-SD) age of 22 +/- 3 y and a body mass index (in kg/m(2)) of 21.6 +/- 1.7 participated in a parallel intervention in 3 groups: liquid yogurt with a straw (liquid/straw; n = 34), liquid yogurt with a spoon (liquid/spoon; n = 36), or semisolid yogurt with a spoon (semisolid/spoon; n = 35). Novel flavored yogurts were offered ad libitum for breakfast in 2 energy densities: low ( approximately 215 kJ/100 g) and high ( approximately 600 kJ/100 g). Subjects were repeatedly exposed to the yogurt products (10 times), and yogurt intake was measured. RESULTS Intakes (P = 0.01) and eating rates (P = 0.01) were highest in the liquid/straw group. Average intakes over 10 exposures were 575 +/- 260 g for liquid/straw, 475 +/- 192 g for liquid/spoon, and 470 +/- 223 g for semisolid/spoon; average eating rates were 132 +/- 83 g/min for liquid/straw, 106 +/- 53 g/min for liquid/spoon, and 105 +/- 88 g/min for semisolid/spoon. No significant interaction for intake between intervention group, energy density, and repeated exposure was observed, and intakes of the low- and high-energy-dense yogurts did not change over time in any of the intervention groups. CONCLUSIONS We observed no energy intake compensation after repeated exposure to yogurt products. Differences in ad libitum yogurt intake could be explained by eating rate, which was affected by the different means of consumption. This trial was registered with the Dutch trial registration at http://www.trialregister. nl/trialreg/admin/rctview.asp? TC=1853 as NTR1853.
Basic fibroblast growth factor combined with biodegradable hydrogel promotes healing of facial nerve after compression injury: An experimental study

Conclusion. Topical application of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) hydrogel facilitates faster healing from traumatic facial paralysis due to continuous release of bFGF. Objectives. bFGF is considered a potent agent to facilitate recovery from neuronal damage; however, exogenously applied bFGF does not work well because of its short acting time. To enhance the effects in vivo, we developed a new drug delivery system by embedding bFGF in a gelatin hydrogel that degrades slowly. In this study, the effects of bFGF-hydrogel on traumatic facial nerve paralysis were investigated in guinea pigs. Methods. The intratemporal facial nerve was exposed and clamped at the vertical portion using micro needle forceps. The animals were then subjected to one of the following three procedures: group A, no further treatment; group B, one-shot application of bFGF to the nerve; and group C, application of bFGF-hydrogel instead. Six weeks later, facial nerve functions were evaluated by three test batteries: observation of facial movements, electrophysiological testing, and histological study. Results. The results for groups A and B were similar in the three tests, indicating that one-shot application of bFGF did not benefit facial nerve recovery. In contrast, group C achieved better results in all tests.
Selective lateralization of cognitive style related to occupation as determined by EEG alpha asymmetry.

This study reports a frequency analysis of hemispheric EEG asymmetries in 14 right-handed male subjects performing two cognitive tasks. Eight of the subjects were Presidents or Chief Operating Officers of large corporations and the 6 remaining subjects were Operations Researchers. For the Operations Researchers, language and analytic tasks were expected to engage primarily the left hemisphere; spatial and intuitive tasks were expected to engage primarily the right hemisphere, consistent with earlier findings with normal subjects. The Presidents were expected to engage primarily the right hemisphere independent of cognitive task. Recordings from temporal leads (T3, T4) referred to the vertex CZ were subjected to discrete Fourier transforms; ratios of power from homologous leads (T4/T3) were computed in the alpha band. The results support the expectation of different responses between the two occupational groups. The lack of communication and understanding between the two occupational groups and the general lack of utilization and implementation of operations research by corporations may he inferred to be partially related to these differences.
Insect Cell Hosts for Baculovirus Expression Vectors Contain Endogenous Exoglycosidase Activity

Four different insect cell lines that can be used as hosts for baculovirus infection were assayed for the presence of endogenous exoglycosidases. All four cell lines, derived from Spodoptera frugiperda, Trichoplusia ni, Bombyx mori, or Malacosoma disstria, contained N‐acetyl‐β‐glucosaminidase, N‐acetyl‐β‐galactosaminidase, β‐galactosidase, and sialidase activities. Exoglycosidase activities were found in cell lysates as well as cell‐free supernatants from uninfected and wild‐type baculovirus infected cells. Oligosaccharide analysis of cellular glycoproteins using lectins recognizing Galβ1, 3GalNAc, Galβ1, 4GlcNAc, and NeuAcα2, 6Gal demonstrated that only Galβ1,3GalNAc was present. The demonstration that these cells contain exoglycosidases raises the possibility that the oligosaccharides of baculovirus‐expressed glycoproteins are subject to enzymatic degradation.
Biochemical Mechanism of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 Reverse Transcriptase Resistance to Stavudine

ABSTRACT We have found a close correlation between viral stavudine (d4T) resistance and resistance to d4T-triphosphate at the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 reverse transcriptase (RT) level. RT from site-directed mutants with 69S-XX codon insertions and/or conventional zidovudine resistance mutations seems to be involved in an ATP-dependent resistance mechanism analogous to pyrophosphorolysis, whereas the mechanism for RT with the Q151M or V75T mutation appears to be independent of added ATP for reducing binding to d4T-triphosphate.
DISCOVERY OF A STRONGLY LENSED MASSIVE QUIESCENT GALAXY AT z = 2.636: SPATIALLY RESOLVED SPECTROSCOPY AND INDICATIONS OF ROTATION

We report the discovery of RG1M0150, a massive, recently quenched galaxy at z = 2.636 that is multiply imaged by the cluster MACSJ0150.3-1005. We derive a stellar mass of log M * = 11.49 − 0.16 + 0.10 ? > and a half-light radius of R e , maj = 1.8 ± 0.4 kpc . > Taking advantage of the lensing magnification, we are able to spatially resolve a remarkably massive yet compact quiescent galaxy at z > 2 ? > in ground-based near-infrared spectroscopic observations using Magellan/FIRE and Keck/MOSFIRE. We find no gradient in the strength of the Balmer absorption lines over 0.6 R e – 1.6 R e , ? > which are consistent with an age of 760 Myr. Gas emission in [N ii] broadly traces the spatial distribution of the stars and is coupled with weak Hα emission (log [N ii]/ H &agr; = 0.6 ± 0.2 ? > ), indicating that OB stars are not the primary ionizing source. The velocity dispersion within the effective radius is &sgr; e , stars = 271 ± 41 ? > km s − 1 . > We detect rotation in the stellar absorption lines for the first time beyond z ∼ 1 . > Using a two-integral Jeans model that accounts for observational effects, we measure a dynamical mass of log M dyn = 11.24 ± 0.14 ? > and V / &sgr; = 0.70 ± 0.21 . > This is a high degree of rotation considering the modest observed ellipticity of 0.12 ± 0.08, but it is consistent with predictions from dissipational merger simulations that produce compact remnants. The mass of RG1M0150 implies that it is likely to become a slowly rotating elliptical. If it is typical, this suggests that the progenitors of massive ellipticals retain significant net angular momentum after quenching which later declines, perhaps through accretion of satellites.
Strain Distribution Pattern of Susceptibility to Immune-Mediated Nephritis1

The genetic basis of immune-mediated nephritis is poorly understood. Recent studies have demonstrated that the NZW mouse strain is more prone to immune-mediated nephritis compared with C57BL/6 and BALB/c strains. The present study extends these findings by challenging 12 additional inbred strains of mice with rabbit anti-mouse glomerular basement membrane (GBM) reactive sera. Compared with control sera-injected mice and anti-GBM-injected A/J, AKR/J, C3H/HeJ, DBA/2J, MRL/MpJ, NOD/LtJ, P/J, SJL/J, and SWR/J mice, the anti-GBM-injected BUB/BnJ, DBA/1J, and 129/svJ mice developed severe proteinuria and azotemia. Their kidneys exhibited pronounced glomerulonephritis, with crescent formation, as well as tubulointerstitial disease, with these phenotypes being particularly profound in 129/svJ mice. However, these strains did not appear to differ in the nature of their xenogeneic immune response to the administered rabbit sera, either quantitatively or qualitatively. Collectively, these findings allude to the presence of genetic elements in the BUB/BnJ, DBA/1J, and 129/svJ genomes that may potentially confer susceptibility to immune-mediated nephritis. Detailed studies to dissect out the immunological and genetic basis of renal disease in these three strains are clearly warranted.
Developing Efficient Algorithms for Data Mining Large Scale High Dimensional Data

Data mining and knowledge discovery has attracted a great deal of attention in information technology in recent years. The rapid progress of computer hardware technology in the past three decades provides a great enhancement to the database and information industry. The size and complexity of real world data is dramatically increasing with the growth of hardware technology. Although new efficient algorithms to deal with such data are constantly being proposed, the mining of large scale high dimensional data still presents a lot of challenges. In this dissertation, several novel algorithms are proposed to handle such challenges. These algorithms are applied to domains as diverse as electrocardiography (ECG), stock market data, geospatial data, power supply data, audio data, image data, etc. This dissertation contributes to the data mining community in the following three ways:Firstly, we propose a novel algorithm for clustering time series data efficiently in the presence of noise or extraneous data. Most existing methods for time series clustering rely on distances calculated from the entire raw data. As a consequence, most work on time series clustering only considers the clustering of individual time series behaviors, e.g., individual heart beats and contrives the time series in some way to make them all equal in length. However, for any real world problem, formatting the data in such a way is often a harder task than the clustering itself. In order to remove these unrealistic assumptions, we have developed a new primitive called unsupervised shapelet or u-shapelet and shown its utility for clustering time series.Secondly, in order to speed up the discovery of u-shapelet and make it scalable we have proposed two optimization techniques which can speed up the unsupervised shapelet discovery independently of each other. Moreover, if we combine the two optimization procedures, it results in a super linear speedup. In addition to the above, we can also cast our u-shapelet discovery algorithm as an anytime algorithm. In my final contribution, we have developed a novel and robust algorithm for mining mice vocalizations with symbolized representation. Our algorithm processes large scale, high dimensional, noisy mice vocalization by dimensionality reduction and cardinality reduction and make it suitable for knowledge discovery like classification, clustering, similarity search, motif discovery, contrast set mining etc.
Code to Learn: Where Does It Belong in the K-12 Curriculum?

The introduction of computer programming in K-12 has become mainstream in the last years, as countries around the world are making coding part of their curriculum. Nevertheless, there is a lack of empirical studies that investigate how learning to program at an early age affects other school subjects. In this regard, this paper compares three quasi-experimental research designs conducted in three different schools (n=129 students from 2 nd and 6 th grade), in order to assess the impact of introducing programming with Scratch at different stages and in several subjects. While both 6 th grade experimental groups working with coding activities showed a statistically significant improvement in terms of academic performance, this was not the case in the 2 nd grade classroom. Notable disparity was also found regarding the subject in which the programming activities were included, as in social studies the effect size was double that in mathematics.
Rethinking Trait Conceptions of Social Desirability Scales

Numerous researchers have noted that, instead of response sets or styles, most social desirability scales seem to measure personality traits instead. In two studies, we investigated the substantive interpretation of the Balanced Inventory of Desirable Responding in terms of the HEXACO model of personality. Because of its focus on honesty and integrity, the Impression Management (IM) scale was hypothesized to be mainly related to HEXACO Honesty-Humility. In the main study among 1,106 students and well-acquainted others (friends, family, or partners), positive self–other agreement correlations were found for both IM (r = .45) and Self-Deceptive Enhancement (SDE; r = .34), supporting a trait conception of IM and SDE. In both self- and other ratings, the most important predictors of SDE were (low) Emotionality, Extraversion, and Conscientiousness. IM was associated with Conscientiousness and Agreeableness, but Honesty-Humility was by far its most important predictor. In a subsample (n = 465), Honesty-Humility and IM were unrelated to GPA.
Differential expression of CTLA‐4 among T cell subsets

CTLA‐4 (CD152), the CD28 homologue, is a costimulatory molecule with negative effects on T cell activation. In addition to its role in the termination of activation, CTLA‐4 has been implicated in anergy induction and the function of regulatory cells. As an intracellular molecule, it must first relocate to the cell surface and be ligated, in order to inhibit activation. Although some studies have investigated CTLA‐4 expression on CD4+ T cells, evidence is lacking regarding the kinetics of expression, and expression on T cell subpopulations. We have investigated CTLA‐4 kinetics on human purified peripheral CD4+, naïve, memory, CD4+CD25–, CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells, and T cell clones. Intracellular stores of CTLA‐4 were shown to be very low in naïve T cells, whilst significant amounts were present in memory T cells and T cell clones. Cell surface CTLA‐4 expression was then investigated on CD4+CD45RA+ (naïve), CD4+CD45RO+ (memory), CD4+CD25–, and CD4+CD25+ T cells. CD25 and CD45RO are both expressed by regulatory T cells. On naïve and CD4+CD25– T cells, CTLA‐4 expression declined after four hours. In contrast, on memory and CD4+CD25+ T cells, high levels of expression were maintained until at least 48 hours. In addition, significant CTLA‐4 expression was observed on T cell clones following anergy induction, indicating the potential involvement of CTLA‐4 also in this form of tolerance.
Paradoxical role of BDNF: BDNF+/- retinas are protected against light damage-mediated stress.

PURPOSE Photoreceptors can be prevented from undergoing apoptosis in response to constant light by the application of exogenous neuroprotective agents, including brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). BDNF, however, cannot exert its effect directly on photoreceptors because they do not express receptors for BDNF. It has been proposed that BDNF released from Müller cells provides a feed-forward loop, increasing ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF) and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) production in Müller cells, which may enhance photoreceptor survival. The authors hypothesized that retinas with reduced BDNF levels in which the BDNF-mediated release of neuroprotective signals is dampened are more susceptible to light-induced photoreceptor degeneration. METHODS Young adult BDNF+/+ and BDNF+/- littermates (B6.129-BDNF(tm1-LT)) were analyzed. Retinal neurotrophin and growth factor mRNA levels were determined by quantitative RT-PCR, photoreceptor function was assessed through electroretinography, and survival was documented in morphologic sections and in TUNEL assays. Oxidative stress was assayed by measuring glutathione peroxidase activity. RESULTS At baseline, BDNF+/- animals had significantly increased levels of glial-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) mRNA compared with their wild-type littermates. After light damage GDNF, CNTF, and BDNF mRNA levels dropped 14- to 16-fold in the BDNF+/+ mice but remained almost unchanged compared with baseline levels in the BDNF+/- mice. Preservation of neurotrophin levels in BDNF+/- mice correlated with photoreceptor cell survival, preservation of function, and reduced oxidative stress. CONCLUSIONS Contrary to the hypothesis, reducing BDNF levels resulted in photoreceptor protection against light damage. Survival was paralleled by a reduction in oxidative stress and the preservation of neurotrophin levels, suggesting that chronic reduction of BDNF in the retina provides a level of preconditioning against stress.
Benchmarks for Expected Annual Academic Growth for Students in the Bottom Quartile of the Normative Distribution

Effect sizes are commonly reported for the results of educational interventions. However, researchers struggle with interpreting their magnitude in a way that transcends generic guidelines. Effect sizes can be interpreted in a meaningful context by benchmarking them against typical growth for students in the normative distribution. Such benchmarks are not currently available for students in the bottom quartile. This report remedies this by providing a comparative context for interventions involving these students. Annual growth effect sizes for K–12 students were computed from nationally normed assessments and a longitudinal study of students in special education. They reveal declining growth over time, especially for reading and math. These results allow researchers to better interpret the effects of their interventions and help practitioners by quantifying typical growth for struggling students. More longitudinal research is needed to show growth trajectories for students in the bottom quartile.