Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Species selection and plantation management in enrichment planting with native timber species in the Panama Canal watershed

Large areas of the Panama Canal Watershed have been converted to monocultures of teak (Tectona grandis), a non-native timber species that is generally not providing hoped-for economic and ecological benefits of Forest Landscape Restoration. Enrichment planting offers a potential strategy for revitalizing these underperforming plantations through the addition of high-value, native species to the understory, but more information is needed to guide implementation and management in this region and other tropical areas. We assessed the performance of six promising native species (Byrsonima crassifolia, Dalbergia retusa, Dipteryx oleifera, Hyeronima alchorneoides, Platymiscium pinnatum, Terminalia amazonia) as an enrichment planting in teak plantations, and specifically considered how light availability, crowding pressure and annual fertilization affected seedling performance, we measured survival and growth for the first 30 months post-planting for ∼3,000 seedlings; half received annual fertilization and half did not. We found that growth rate did not significantly affect survival among- or within-species, except for a positive relationship for D. oleifera. Overall seedling survival was high (83%), and, while species varied widely, there was not a strong effect of light, crowding or fertilization on survival. In contrast, overall growth of species was significantly affected by these factors. Across all species growth was negatively related to crowding and positively related to light availability and fertilization. There were among-species differences; while all but one species (D. oleifera) were negatively affected by crowding, only half responded positively to light availability (D. retusa, P. pinnatum, and B. crassifolia) and fertilization (D. retusa, P. pinnatum, and T. amazonia). Our findings suggest that all study species except for B. crassifolia, which suffered unacceptably high mortality, have high potential for use in enrichment planting in Panama teak plantations. Among-species differences in response to fertilization and growing environment highlight the need for continued studies to establish specific silvicultural guidelines for species in the enrichment planting context.
Epigenetics at the crossroads of secondary growth regulation

The development of plant tissues and organs during post-embryonic growth occurs through the activity of both primary and secondary meristems. While primary meristems (root and shoot apical meristems) promote axial plant growth, secondary meristems (vascular and cork cambium or phellogen) promote radial thickening and plant axes strengthening. The vascular cambium forms the secondary xylem and phloem, whereas the cork cambium gives rise to the periderm that envelops stems and roots. Periderm takes on an increasingly important role in plant survival under climate change scenarios, but it is also a forest product with unique features, constituting the basis of a sustainable and profitable cork industry. There is established evidence that epigenetic mechanisms involving histone post-translational modifications, DNA methylation, and small RNAs play important roles in the activity of primary meristem cells, their maintenance, and differentiation of progeny cells. Here, we review the current knowledge on the epigenetic regulation of secondary meristems, particularly focusing on the phellogen activity. We also discuss the possible involvement of DNA methylation in the regulation of periderm contrasting phenotypes, given the potential impact of translating this knowledge into innovative breeding programs.
Hyperexcitability: From Normal Fear to Pathological Anxiety and Trauma

Hyperexcitability in fear circuits is suggested to be important for development of pathological anxiety and trauma from adaptive mechanisms of fear. Hyperexcitability is proposed to be due to acquired sensitization in fear circuits that progressively becomes more severe over time causing changing symptoms in early and late pathology. We use the metaphor and mechanisms of kindling to examine gains and losses in function of one excitatory and one inhibitory neuropeptide, corticotrophin releasing factor and somatostatin, respectively, to explore this sensitization hypothesis. We suggest amygdala kindling induced hyperexcitability, hyper-inhibition and loss of inhibition provide clues to mechanisms for hyperexcitability and progressive changes in function initiated by stress and trauma.
Changes in the Fitness Fatness Index following reduced exertion high-intensity interval training versus moderate-intensity continuous training in physically inactive adults

Background Many adults do not reach the recommended exercise participation guidelines, often citing lack of time as a barrier. Reduced exertion high-intensity training (REHIT) is a mode of exercise that takes as few as 10 min and has been shown to be as effective as other modalities. The Fitness Fatness Index (FFI) is a recently developed index that is used to predict cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk. The aim of this study was to determine the efficacy of a REHIT vs. a traditional moderate-intensity continuous training (MICT) on FFI in physically inactive adults. Methods Thirty-two participants were randomized into one of two 8-week exercise intervention groups: (i) REHIT (n = 16); (ii) MICT (n = 16). The REHIT group performed 10 min of individualized cycling intervals on 2–4 days of the week. The MICT group were prescribed aerobic exercise at 50–65% of their heart rate reserve (HRR) on 3–5 days of the week. FFI was recorded at baseline and post 8-weeks, with FFI being calculated as cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) (expressed as metabolic equivalents) divided by waist to height ratio (WtHR). A 1-unit increase in FFI was recognized as a clinically significant change in FFI. Results The REHIT group showed significantly greater (+1.95, ±0.63) improvements in FFI compared to those in the MICT (+0.99, ±0.47) group (between group difference, p < 0.001). Furthermore, there was a greater proportion of participants who achieved a clinically significant change in FFI in the REHIT group (12/12, 100%) than in the MICT group (8/15, 53%) (between group difference, p = 0.01). Conclusion This study suggests that REHIT may be a more efficacious exercise modality to increase FFI than MICT. This outcome is beneficial as the clinician can prescribe REHIT to physically inactive adults who cite lack of time as a barrier to physical activity participation and achieve significant reductions in CVD risk.
Iron accumulation typifies renal cell carcinoma tumorigenesis but abates with pathological progression, sarcomatoid dedifferentiation, and metastasis

Iron is a potent catalyst of oxidative stress and cellular proliferation implicated in renal cell carcinoma (RCC) tumorigenesis, yet it also drives ferroptosis that suppresses cancer progression and represents a novel therapeutic target for advanced RCC. The von Hippel Lindau (VHL)/hypoxia-inducible factor-α (HIF-α) axis is a major regulator of cellular iron, and its inactivation underlying most clear cell (cc) RCC tumors introduces both iron dependency and ferroptosis susceptibility. Despite the central role for iron in VHL/HIF-α signaling and ferroptosis, RCC iron levels and their dynamics during RCC initiation/progression are poorly defined. Here, we conducted a large-scale investigation into the incidence and prognostic significance of total tissue iron in ccRCC and non-ccRCC patient primary tumor cancer cells, tumor microenvironment (TME), metastases and non-neoplastic kidneys. Prussian Blue staining was performed to detect non-heme iron accumulation in over 1600 needle-core sections across multiple tissue microarrays. We found that RCC had significantly higher iron staining scores compared with other solid cancers and, on average, >40 times higher than adjacent renal epithelium. RCC cell iron levels correlated positively with TME iron levels and inversely with RCC levels of the main iron uptake protein, transferrin receptor 1 (TfR1/TFRC/CD71). Intriguingly, RCC iron levels, including in the TME, decreased significantly with pathologic (size/stage/grade) progression, sarcomatoid dedifferentiation, and metastasis, particularly among patients with ccRCC, despite increasing TfR1 levels, consistent with an increasingly iron-deficient tumor state. Opposite to tumor iron changes, adjacent renal epithelial iron increased significantly with RCC/ccRCC progression, sarcomatoid dedifferentiation, and metastasis. Lower tumor iron and higher renal epithelial iron each predicted significantly shorter ccRCC patient metastasis-free survival. In conclusion, iron accumulation typifies RCC tumors but declines toward a relative iron-deficient tumor state during progression to metastasis, despite precisely opposite dynamics in adjacent renal epithelium. These findings raise questions regarding the historically presumed selective advantage for high iron during all phases of cancer evolution, suggesting instead distinct tissue-specific roles during RCC carcinogenesis and early tumorigenesis versus later progression. Future study is warranted to determine how the relative iron deficiency of advanced RCC contributes to ferroptosis resistance and/or introduces a heightened susceptibility to iron deprivation that might be therapeutically exploitable.
Post-harvest characterisation and value addition of sweet lovi-lovi fruits ( Flacourtia spp.)

Sweet lovi-lovi, belongs to Flacourtiaceae family is an underexploited fruit having nutritive, therapeutic and medicinal values. But it has not being utilized for its full potential, hence an attempt has been made in this study. Sweet lovi-lovi accessions belonging to Flacourtia cataphracta and Flacourtia montana , were evaluated for physico-morphological and biochemical parameters and the suitability of these fruits to develop ready to serve beverage (RTS), preserve and wine were analysed. The physico-morphological and bio-chemical characters showed significant variation among the accessions. The desirable post- harvest qualities like high fruit weight, pulp percentage, less seed content along with highest total sugar (12.81%), non-reducing sugar (1.33%), anthocyanin (0.04 mg 100g ⁻ ¹), carotenoid (582.55 mg 100g ⁻ ¹), iron (33.23 mg 100g ⁻ ¹), crude fibre (2.92 g 100g ⁻ ¹) and lowest tannin (0.21 mg 100g ⁻ ¹) was observed in Accession no.2. Wine, preserve and RTS beverage prepared from sweet lovi-lovi ( Flacourtia spp.) accessions according to FSSAI specifications was found to have good acceptability. The overall acceptability of sweet lovi-lovi wine and preserve increased during storage of three months whereas, the RTS beverage showed a reducing trend in overall acceptability during entire storage period.
Is Social Inequality in School-Age Achievement Generated before or during Schooling? A European Perspective

Social gaps in children’s educational achievement emerge early in life and remain stable over schooling. Does social origin constantly shape achievement or is social inequality in school just an echo of inequality settled before schooling? We extend the previous research by studying the origins of social gaps in language achievement among primary-school students in Germany, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom. Based on dynamic accounts of skill development, we expected social origin to shape school-age achievement not only directly but also indirectly via before-school achievement. Using longitudinal data (Cohort Study on Educational Careers, Millennium Cohort Study, and National Educational Panel Study) and applying an instrumental variable approach, we estimated the extent to which achievement gaps by parental education in school were generated before and during schooling. About 50–80 per cent of language gaps observed at end of primary school were explained by gaps settled before formal schooling in all three countries. Conversely, at most 20–50 per cent of school-age gaps were generated during schooling. These ﬁndings suggest that the roots of social inequality in school-age achievement must be sought primarily in processes transpiring before school life starts.
Space Weather O + Escape During the Extreme Space Weather Event of 4–10

We have investigated the consequences of extreme space weather on ion outﬂow from the polar ionosphere by analyzing the solar storm that occurred early September 2017, causing a severe geomagnetic storm. Several X-ﬂares and coronal mass ejections were observed between 4 and 10 September. The ﬁrst shock—likely associated with a coronal mass ejection—hit the Earth late on 6 September, produced a storm sudden commencement, and began the initial phase of the storm. It was followed by a second shock, approximately 24 hr later, that initiated the main phase and simultaneously the Dst index dropped to Dst = − 142 nT and Kp index reached Kp = 8. Using COmposition DIstribution Function data on board Cluster satellite 4, we estimated the ionospheric O + outﬂow before and after the second shock. We found an enhancement in the polar cap by a factor of 3 for an unusually high ionospheric O + outﬂow (mapped to an ionospheric reference altitude) of 10 13 m − 2 s − 1 . We suggest that this high ionospheric O + outﬂow is due to a preheating of the ionosphere by the multiple X-ﬂares. Finally, we brieﬂy discuss the space weather consequences on the magnetosphere as a whole and the enhanced O + outﬂow in connection with enhanced satellite drag.
Asiatic Acid and Corosolic Acid Enhance the Susceptibility of Pseudomonas aeruginosa Bioﬁlms to Tobramycin (cid:1)

Asiatic acid and corosolic acid are two natural products identiﬁed as bioﬁlm inhibitors in a bioﬁlm inhibition assay. We evaluated the activities of these two compounds on Pseudomonas aeruginosa bioﬁlms grown in rotating disk reactors (RDRs) in combination with tobramycin and ciproﬂoxacin. To determine the rug- gedness of our systems, the antibiotic susceptibilities of these bioﬁlms were assessed with tobramycin and ciproﬂoxacin. The bioﬁlm bacteria produced in the RDR were shown to display remarkable tolerance to 10 (cid:1) g/ml of ciproﬂoxacin, thus mimicking the tolerance observed in recalcitrant bacterial infections. These studies further demonstrate that a nonmucoid strain of P. aeruginosa can form a bioﬁlm that tolerates ciproﬂoxacin at clinically relevant concentrations. Neither asiatic acid nor corosolic acid reduced the viable cell density of P. aeruginosa bioﬁlms. However, both compounds increased the susceptibility
Theoretical Magnet Design

A good permanent magnet should possess a large saturation magnetisation ( M s ), large magnetocrystalline anisotropy energy (MAE) and a high Curie temperature ( T C ). A difﬁcult but important challenge to overcome for a sustainable permanent magnet industry is to ﬁnd novel magnetic materials, exhibiting a large MAE, without the use of scarcely available elements such as rare-earth metals. The purpose of this thesis is to apply computational methods, including density functional theory and Monte Carlo simulations, to assess the three above mentioned permanent magnet properties and in particular to discover new replacement materials with large MAE without the use of critical materials such as rare-earths. One of the key results is the theoretical prediction of a tetragonal phase of Fe 1 − x Co x -C with large M s and signiﬁcantly increased MAE which is later also experimentally conﬁrmed. Fur-thermore, other potential materials are surveyed and in particular the properties of a number of binary alloys in the L1 0 structure, FeNi, CoNi, MnAl and MnGa, are thoroughly investigated and shown to posses the desired properties under certain conditions.
A Cervical Abnormality Risk Prediction Model

, Abstract Objective— HPV infections and abnormal Pap tests are common, and most do not progress to cervical cancer. Since it is difficult to predict which mild Pap abnormalities will develop into precancerous lesions, many women undergo painful and costly evaluations, and even unnecessary treatment. The objective of this study was to develop a risk prediction model based on clinical and demographic information to identify women most likely to develop significant precancerous lesions (CIN2/3 or AIS) among women with mild Pap abnormalities (ASCUS/LSIL). Materials and Methods— The Abnormal Pap Smear Registry includes women who received treatment at the Brigham and Women’s Hospital/Dana Farber Cancer Institute Pap Smear Evaluation Center beginning in 2006. It includes 1,072 women with mild cervical dysplasia (ASCUS or LSIL Pap tests) on their referral Pap test. We derived a clinical prediction model to predict the probability of developing CIN2/3 or AIS using multivariate logistic regression with a split-sample approach. Results— By the end of follow-up, 93 of the 1,072 women developed CIN2/3 or AIS (8.7%). There were several differences between women who developed CIN2/3 or AIS and women who did not. However, once we put these into the regression model, the only variable that was significantly associated with CIN2/3 or AIS was having a prior history of an abnormal Pap or biopsy [OR=2.44, 95% CI (1.03 to 5.76)]. The resulting prediction model had poor discriminative ability and was poorly calibrated. Conclusions— Despite accounting for known risk factors, we were unable to predict individual patients’ probability for progression on the basis of available data.
Blind Source Separation and Independent Component Analysis: A Review

Blind source separation (BSS) and independent component analysis (ICA) are generally based on a wide class of unsupervised learning algorithms and they found potential applications in many areas from engineering to neuroscience. A recent trend in BSS is to consider problems in the framework of matrix factorization or more general signals decomposition with probabilistic generative and tree structured graphical models and exploit a priori knowledge about true nature and structure of latent (hidden) variables or sources such as spatio-temporal decorrelation, statistical independence, sparseness, smoothness or lowest complexity in the sense e.g., of best predictability. The possible goal of such decomposition can be considered as the estimation of sources not necessary statistically independent and parameters of a mixing system or more generally as finding a new reduced or hierarchical and structured representation for the observed (sensor) data that can be interpreted as physically meaningful coding or blind source estimation. The key issue is to find a such transformation or coding (linear or nonlinear) which has true physical meaning and interpretation. We present a review of BSS and ICA, including various algorithms for static and dynamic models and their applications. The paper mainly consists of three parts: (1) BSS algorithms for static models (instantaneous mixtures); (2) extension of BSS and ICA incorporating with sparseness or non-negativity constraints; (3) BSS algorithms for dynamic models (convolutive mixtures).
Measurement of the branching ratio of ¯ B → D ð(cid:2)Þ τ − ¯ ν τ relative to ¯ B → D ð(cid:2)Þ l − ¯ ν l decays with hadronic tagging at Belle

We report a measurement of the branching fraction ratios R ð D ð(cid:2)Þ Þ of ¯ B → D ð(cid:2)Þ τ − ¯ ν τ relative to ¯ B → D ð(cid:2)Þ l − ¯ ν l (where l ¼ e or μ ) using the full Belle data sample of 772 × 10 6 B ¯ B pairs collected at the ϒ ð 4 S Þ resonance with the Belle detector at the KEKB asymmetric-energy e þ e − collider. The measured values are R ð D Þ ¼ 0 . 375 (cid:3) 0 . 064 ð stat Þ (cid:3) 0 . 026 ð syst Þ and R ð D (cid:2) Þ ¼ 0 . 293 (cid:3) 0 . 038 ð stat Þ (cid:3) 0 . 015 ð syst Þ . The analysis uses hadronic reconstruction of the tag-side B meson and purely leptonic τ decays. The results are consistent with earlier measurements and do not show a significant deviation from the standard model prediction.
Comparable binding of monomeric and polymeric IgA to the novel IgA Fc receptor, Fc (cid:2) /µR.

Summary Aberrant interaction between IgA and IgA-receptors has been implicated as an important pathogenic factor in IgA nephropathy (IgAN). Several IgA receptors have been characterized but most of these receptors are not present on mesangial cells. Recently a novel Fc receptor for IgA (Fc (cid:2) /µR) has been identified in B cells and macrophages. It has been shown that Fc (cid:2) /µR is abundant-ly expressed in the kidney. In this study we produced recombinant human Fc (cid:2) /µR proteins and investigated their interaction with human IgA and IgM. Using RT-PCR we showed that human renal mesangial cells express Fc (cid:2) /µR and that the expression is upregulated following IL-1 stimulation of the mesangial cells. Human Fc (cid:2) /µR chimeric proteins (Fc (cid:2) /µRIg), consisting of the extracellular domain of Fc (cid:2) /µR and the human IgG1 Fc-tail, were generated and produced in CHO cells. The interaction of Fc (cid:2) /µRIg with IgA was tested with two different assays. First the binding of different forms of IgA and IgM to Fc (cid:2) /µRIg was measured directly by ELISA. In a second assay the competition with binding of labelled mIgA to Fc (cid:2) /µRIg by different forms of IgA and IgM were investigated. All forms of IgA and IgM showed a dose dependent binding to Fc (cid:2) /µRIg. The binding of monomeric and polymeric IgA to Fc (cid:2) /µRIg were comparable. Enzymatically deglycosylated IgA obtained by PNGase F and neuraminidase treatment showed a reduced interaction with the Fc (cid:2) /µRIg. In conclusion, using recombinant chimeric proteins, we showed that IgA binds to Fc (cid:2) /µR and that the interaction of IgA with Fc (cid:2) /µR is partially dependent on glycosylation of IgA. This study provides additional insight in the interaction of IgA with Fc (cid:2) /µR.
Developing and Validating a Functional Electrical Stimulation Controller for Use with Visual Feedback Training for Standing Balance Therapy in Individuals with Incomplete Spinal Cord Injury

Incomplete spinal cord injury (iSCI) can impair standing balance, increasing fall likelihood. Visual feedback training (VFT) and functional electrical stimulation (FES) have shown promise in iSCI standing balance rehabilitation. Combining VFT and lower-limb FES was hypothesized to yield more effective standing balance therapy. This thesis developed a VFT-complementary FES system for regulating ankle muscles. In my previous work, I have developed a VFT system with another student. For my thesis project, I (1) designed an FES controller, (2) optimized the controller to mimic able-bodied ankle muscle activation data during VFT sessions, and (3) tested the resultant FES controller on able-bodied individuals as they underwent VFT to determine the effects of the FES controller on able-bodied postural control. As expected, the resultant FESVFT system did not deteriorate able-bodied postural control. The results of this research contribute toward the development of a more effective standing balance rehabilitation system for individuals with iSCI.
OP-PCPJ140159 2037..2046

by Decreasing SPEECHLESS Protein Archana Kumari, Pawan K. Jewaria, Dominique C. Bergmann and Tatsuo Kakimoto* Graduate School of Science, Osaka University, Toyonaka, Osaka, 560-0043 Japan Howard Hughes Medical Institute and Department of Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305-5020, USA Present address: Molecular Genetics, Leobener Str. 2, NW2, B 1030D, 28359 Bremen, Germany. *Corresponding author: E-mail, Kakimoto@bio.sci.osaka-u.ac. jp; Fax, +81-6-6850-5421. (Received September 11, 2014; Accepted October 30, 2014)