Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Frost and drought: effects of extreme weather events on stem carbon dynamics in a Mediterranean beech forest.

The effects of short-term extreme events on tree functioning and physiology are still rather elusive. European beech is one of the most sensitive species to late frost and water shortage. We investigated the intra-annual C dynamics in stems under such conditions. Wood formation and stem CO2 efflux were monitored in a Mediterranean beech forest for three years (2015-2017), including a late frost (2016) and a summer drought (2017). The late frost reduced radial growth and, consequently, the amount of carbon fixed in the stem biomass by 80%. Stem carbon dioxide efflux in 2016 was reduced by 25%, which can be attributed to the reduction of effluxes due to growth respiration. Counter to our expectations, we found no effects of the 2017 summer drought on radial growth and stem carbon efflux. The studied extreme weather events had various effects on tree growth. Even though late spring frost had a strong impact on beech radial growth in the current year, trees fully recovered in the following growing season, indicating high resilience of beech to this stressful event. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
DVGAN: A Minimax Game for Search Result Diversification Combining Explicit and Implicit Features

Search result diversification aims to retrieve diverse results to cover as many subtopics related to the query as possible. Recent studies showed that supervised diversification models are able to outperform the heuristic approaches, by automatically learning a diversification function other than using manually designed score functions. The main challenge of training a diversification model is the lack of high-quality training samples. Due to the involvement of dependence between documents in the ranker, it is very hard for training algorithms to select effective positive and negative ranking lists to train a reliable ranking model, given a large number of candidate documents within which different documents are relevant to different subtopics. To tackle this problem, we propose a supervised diversification framework based on Generative Adversarial Network (GAN). It consists of a generator and a discriminator interacting with each other in a minimax game. Specifically, the generator generates more confusing negative samples for the discriminator, and the discriminator sends back complementary ranking signals to the generator. Furthermore, we explicitly exploit subtopics in the generator, whereas focusing on modeling document similarity in the discriminator. Through such a minimax game, we are able to obtain better ranking models by combining ranking signals learned by the generator and the discriminator. Experimental results on the TREC Web Track dataset show that the proposed method can significantly outperform existing diversification methods.
Downregulation of LINC00707 promotes osteogenic differentiation of human bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells by regulating DKK1 via targeting miR-103a-3p

Human bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (HBMSCs) have the potential of multidirectional differentiation and self-renewal, which is important for the formation of human bone. It has been reported that long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) serve important roles in HBMSC osteogenic differentiation. The current study aimed to investigate the roles of long intergenic non-protein coding RNA 00707 (LINC00707) and microRNA (miR)-103a-3p in the osteogenic differentiation of HBMSCs. Reverse transcription-quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) was performed to detect the expression levels of LINC00707, miR-103a-3p and osteogenesis-related genes (Alkaline phosphatase, osteocalcin, osteopontin and RUNX family transcription factor 2) in HBMSCs cultured in proliferation medium (PM) and osteogenic medium (OM). Mineralized matrix deposition was measured using Alizarin Red S staining. The protein expression levels of osteogenesis-related genes were detected by western blotting. The relationships between LINC00707, miR-103a-3p and dickkopf WNT signaling pathway inhibitor 1 (DKK1) were predicted using Starbase and TargetScan7.2, and were further assessed with a dual-luciferase reporter assay. After 21 days of cell culture, the results indicated that expression of LINC00707 was downregulated, and those of miR-103a-3p and osteogenesis-related genes were upregulated in OM-cultured HBMSCs. However, there was no significant difference in the aforementioned gene expression levels in PM-cultured HBMSCs. Small interfering (si)LINC00707 increased the deposition of mineralized matrix and promoted the expression levels of osteogenesis-related proteins. Furthermore, miR-103a-3p was predicted to be a target gene of LINC00707, its expression was significantly upregulated by siLINC00707, while overexpression of miR-103a-3p increased the expression levels of osteogenesis-related proteins. DKK1 was also predicted to be a target gene of miR-103a-3p and could inhibit the expression levels of osteogenesis-related proteins, but such effect of DKK1 could be reversed by the miR-103a-3p mimic. In conclusion, the present results suggested that LINC00707 regulated DKK1 expression by targeting miR-103a-3p to regulate osteogenic differentiation.
How Dataset Characteristics Affect the Robustness of Collaborative Recommendation Models

Shilling attacks against collaborative filtering (CF) models are characterized by several fake user profiles mounted on the system by an adversarial party to harvest recommendation outcomes toward a malicious desire. The vulnerability of CF models is directly tied with their reliance on the underlying interaction data ---like user-item rating matrix (URM) --- to train their models and their inherent inability to distinguish genuine profiles from non-genuine ones. The majority of works conducted so far for analyzing shilling attacks mainly focused on properties such as confronted recommendation models, recommendation outputs, and even users under attack. The under-researched element has been the impact of data characteristics on the effectiveness of shilling attacks on CF models. Toward this goal, this work presents a systematic and in-depth study by using an analytical modeling approach built on a regression model to test the hypothesis of whether URM properties can impact the outcome of CF recommenders under a shilling attack. We ran extensive experiments involving 97200 simulations on three different domains (movie, business, and music), and showed that URM properties considerably affect the robustness of CF models in shilling attack scenarios. Obtained results can be of great help for the system designer in understanding the cause of variations in a recommender system performance due to a shilling attack.
Electroencephalographic Investigation of the Effect of Skill Level and Social Inhibition on Simulated Handgun Shooting

Abstract We examined effects of Social Inhibition (SI), and Skill Level (SL) on simulated handgun shooting performance. Electroencephalogram (EEG) was also recorded in order to measure task-related changes in cortical activity. Participants consisted of Novice (NSL) and Experienced (ESL) shooters who were randomly assigned to shoot while in the presence of an audience (Hi SI) or alone (Low SI). The results revealed that NSL were less accurate than ESL in all conditions as was predicted. Shooting accuracy was predicted by alpha and beta amplitude, indicating different roles for attention and anxiety. Prefrontal alpha amplitude was significantly influenced by SL and SI, with a finding that ES showed RH deactivation while NS showed LH deactivation. Findings are discussed in terms of theories of motor control and SI.
Characterization of kynurenine pathway in patients with diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome

Our objectives are to demonstrate whether the kynurenine pathway is activated in diarrhea-type irritable bowel syndrome (IBS-D) patients, and whether the neurotoxic metabolite quinolinic acid (QUIN) is out of balance with the neuroprotective metabolite kynurenic acid (KYNA), and further explore whether this can lead to increased expression of N-methyl D-aspartate receptor 2B (NMDAR2B) in the enteric nervous system and in turn leads to intestinal symptoms and mood disorders. All enrolled healthy controls and patients accepted IBS Symptom Severity Scale (IBS-SSS) score, Self-rating Depression Scale (SDS) and Self-rating Anxiety Scale (SAS) anxiety and depression scores, and also underwent colonoscopy to collect ileum and colonic mucosa specimens. The expression of NMDAR2B in intestinal mucosa was detected by immunofluorescence, and fasting serum was collected to detect the tryptophan, kynurenine (KYN), KYNA and QUIN by high performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS). Our results showed that the KYN pathway of IBS-D patients was activated. The production of QUIN and KYNA was imbalanced and resulting in an increased NMDAR2B for patients with IBS-D, which may be involved in intestinal symptoms and mood disorders of IBS-D.
Influence of Pulse Waveform and Frequency on Evoked Torque, Stimulation Efficiency, and Discomfort in Healthy Subjects

Supplemental digital content is available in the text. Objective The aim of the study was to determine the influence of neuromuscular electrical stimulation pulse waveform and frequency on evoked torque, stimulation efficiency, and discomfort at two neuromuscular electrical stimulation levels. Design This is a repeated measures study. The quadriceps muscle of 24 healthy men was stimulated at submaximal (neuromuscular electrical stimulationsub) and maximal (neuromuscular electrical stimulationmax) levels using two pulse waveforms (symmetrical, asymmetrical) and three pulse frequencies (60, 80, 100 Hz). Repeated measures analysis of variance and effect sizes were used to verify the effect of pulse waveform and pulse frequency on stimulation efficiency (evoked torque/current intensity) and discomfort and to assess the magnitude of the differences, respectively. Results Stimulation efficiency was higher for symmetrical (neuromuscular electrical stimulationsub = 0.88 ± 0.21 Nm/mA; neuromuscular electrical stimulationmax = 1.27 ± 0.46 Nm/mA) compared with asymmetrical (neuromuscular electrical stimulationsub = 0.77 ± 0.21 Nm/mA; neuromuscular electrical stimulationmax = 1.02 ± 0.34 Nm/mA; P ≤ 0.001; effect size = 0.56–0.66) but did not significantly differ between frequencies (P = 0.17). At both neuromuscular electrical stimulation levels, there were no statistically significant differences in discomfort between pulse waveforms or frequencies. Conclusions The higher stimulation efficiency of symmetrical pulses suggests that this waveform would be preferred to asymmetrical pulses in clinical practice. Stimulation frequencies between 60 and 100 Hz can be used interchangeably because of similar efficiency and discomfort.
Considering the potential for an increase in chronic pain after the COVID-19 pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the lives and health of personsworldwide, with potential for further effects in the future. The experience of living within this pandemic has disrupted daily life across all sectors, including those livingwith chronic pain (CP), those infected with the coronavirus Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS)-CoV2, healthcare providers andessentialworkers, aswell as those who remained physically healthy. The toll of this pandemic extends beyond physical illness, with important psychosocial stressors that include prolonged periods of limited interpersonal contact, isolation, fear of illness, future uncertainty, and financial strain. Uncertainty is fuelled by the constant media coverage, often with conflicting information, differing recommendations by public health authorities in different jurisdictions, and the unknown duration and likelihood of resurgence of this pandemic. In this context, wewill examine the potential health consequences of COVID-19 germane to CP, which might be nociplastic, neuropathic, or nociceptive. Specific possibilities might include: (1) CP as part of a postviral syndrome or the result of viral-associated organ damage; (2) worsening of CP due to exacerbation of preexisting pain physical or mental complaints; and (3) CP newly triggered in individuals not infected with COVID by exacerbation of risk factors (poor sleep, inactivity, fear, anxiety, and depression). Chronic pain must be considered in the context of the biopsychosocial model, which views symptoms as the result of a complex and dynamic interaction between biological, psychological, and social factors. Underlying predisposing mechanisms include genetic factors, previous pain experience, and traumatic events that could be physical or emotional. Chronic pain conditions can be triggered by psychosocial stressors or organ-specific biological factors, which may preferentially occur in individuals with a fragile stress response system. The COVID-19 pandemic has many characteristics that could potentially increase the prevalence of CP, especially with stressors extending over many months. The worldwide pain community is invited to consider the possible downstream consequences of COVID-19, not only for patients surviving infection, but also for the wider community that has experienced psychological, social, and economic effects. Although we address these issues from the perspective of physicians practicing in developed countries, many of the consequences discussed will be particularly relevant for people in other countries, with a call for colleagues in Asia, Africa, and South America to enter into this dialogue.
Negative thermal expansion of cubic silicon dicarbodiimide, Si(NCN)2, studied by ab initio lattice dynamics

We report an ab initio calculation of crystal structure and lattice dynamics of cubic silicon dicarbodiimide, Si(NCN)2, using density functional theory methods. The calculations reveal a low-energy spectrum of rigid unit modes that are shown to be associated with negative thermal expansion. Comparisons are drawn with the closely-related materials Zn(CN)2 and the cubic-cristobalite phase of SiO2. Instabilities in the spectrum of rigid unit modes point to the existence of disorder of the positions and orientations of the dicarbodiimide molecular anions.
Effects of dose and type of corticosteroids on the divergence between estimated glomerular filtration rates derived from cystatin C and creatinine

Cystatin C (Cys‐C) is a useful diagnostic marker for early renal dysfunction, but has the disadvantage of giving false‐positive results when corticosteroids are administered. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the dose‐dependent effect of corticosteroids on the divergence between estimated glomerular filtration rates based on Cys‐C (eGFRcys) and creatinine (eGFRcreat) and calculate the cut‐off value of corticosteroid dose having an impact on eGFRcys/eGFRcreat ratio.
Conserved mammalian modularity of quantitative trait loci revealed human functional orthologs in blood pressure control

Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have routinely detected human quantitative trait loci (QTLs) for complex traits. Viewing that most GWAS single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) are found in non-coding regions unrelated to the physiology of a polygenic trait of interest, a vital question to answer is whether or not any of these SNPs can functionally alter the phenotype with which it is associated. The study of blood pressure (BP) is a case in point. Conserved mechanisms in controlling BP by modularity is now unifying differing mammalian orders in that understanding mechanisms in rodents is tantamount to revealing the same in humans, while overcoming experimental limitations imposed by human studies. As a proof of principle, we used BP QTLs from Dahl salt-sensitive rats (DSS) as substitutes to capture distinct human functional orthologs. 3 DSS BP QTLs are located into distinct genome regions and correspond to several human GWAS genes. Each of the QTLs independently exerted a major impact on BP in vivo. BP was functionally changed by normotensive alleles from each of these QTLs, and yet, the human GWAS SNPs do not exist in the rat. They cannot be responsible for physiological alterations in BP caused by these QTLs. These SNPs are genome emblems for QTLs nearby, rather than being QTLs per se, since they only emerged during primate evolution after BP-regulating mechanisms have been established. We then identified specific mutated coding domains that are conserved between rodents and humans and that may implicate different steps of a common pathway or separate pathways.
Rate of opioid use disorder in adults who received prescription opioid pain therapy—A secondary data analysis

Background and aims Data on rates of prescription opioid use disorder (pOUD) in European countries is limited. The aim of this investigation was to analyze a representative population sample regarding the 1-year prevalence of opioid use disorder in patients who received prescription opioid pain therapy and to identify related risk factors. Design Cross-sectional secondary data analysis Setting Secondary data analysis based on data from the 2015 Epidemiological Survey of Substance Abuse (ESA 2015) in Germany Participants German-speaking individuals living in private households aged 18 to 64 years were investigated. A total of 9204 individuals participated in the survey, resulting in a response rate of 52.2%. Primary and secondary outcome measures Primary outcome measure was the weighted prevalence of pOUD in the subgroup of study participants who had received prescription opioids. Secondary outcome measure was an analysis of risk factors connected with pOUD in the same subgroup. Findings A total of n = 9204 participants were included in the study of which n = 275 had received an opioid prescription in the last 12 months of which n = 54 were diagnosed with pOUD. The weighted 1-year prevalence of pOUD was 21.2% (mild: 14.7% | moderate: 3.5% | severe: 2.9%). Participants who had received opioid pain therapy had significantly higher odds of pOUD if they reported signs of depression (OR: 2.69; CI 95%: 1.13–6.38), inexplicable physical complaints (OR: 2.68; CI 95%: 1.14–6.31) or a psychiatric diagnosis (OR: 4.12; CI 95%: 1.36–12.43), and significantly lower odds of pOUD if they reported the use of non-opioid painkillers (OR: 0.27; CI 95%: 0.09–0.81). Conclusions pOUD is a common phenomenon in working-age patients who receive prescription opioid pain therapy in Germany and may be related to the co-existence of psychosomatic and psychiatric disorders such as depression.
Bionomics of Trioxys (Binodoxys) indicus Subba Rao & Sharma, an aphidiid parasitoid of Aphis craccivora Koch

Age of the host Aphis craccivora was found to induce the parasitoid Trioxys (Binodoxys) indicus for differential placement of the fertilized eggs into them. Most of the fertilized eggs are laid into 3rd instar of the host. First instar hosts did not support the development of the parasitoid and died after 3–5 days following parasitoid's attack.
Genetic Revolutions, Founder Effects, and Speciation

Are new species formed in rare catastrophes, distinct from the normal processes of phyletic evolution? Or does reproductive isolation evolve gradually, as a by-product of the divergence of gene pools? Mayr (120-124) has argued the former, holding that speciation usually results from genetic revolutions triggered by founder effects: An isolated population, small in numbers and in geographic extent, colonizes a new area. Both changes in selection pressures and genetic drift result in the rapid shift of many genes to a new, coadapted combination, which is reproductively isolated from the ancestral population. Carson (27, 29, 3 1) and Templeton (I175-180), among others, have put forward similar models. This cluster of theories is woven from many strands; we will try to tease these apart in order to find out precisely which processes may be involved in speciation by founder effect. By placing them in the context of other models, we will argue that, although founder effects may cause speciation under sufficiently stringent conditions, they are only one extreme of a continuous range of possibilities. Complete geographic isolation is unnecessary; absolute coadaptation between "closed" systems of alleles is unlikely; and divergence may be driven in a variety of ways, without the need for drastic external changes. Reproductive isolation is most likely to be built up gradually, in a
Assessment of the nutritional status and quality of food for Brazzaville pupils: The case of high school pupils at Lionil Modern School (Brazzaville, Congo)

The problem of child malnutrition is a phenomenon associated with an accelerated nutritional transition in developing countries. The objective of this work is to assess the nutritional status of high school pupils in the city of Brazzaville, as well as the relationship between the Body Mass Index (BMI) obtained and the eating behavior of these pupils. This study is based on a descriptive cross-sectional survey that was conducted using a questionnaire that provided information on the nutritional status and dietary intake of high school pupils. A total of 160 high school pupils were observed. Nutritional status is appreciated by age BMI for adolescents. The feeding behavior was assessed through food recordings for a period of one month. The results showed that the BMI/age is 18.65 ± 0.9. No significant associations were observed between sex and nutritional status of children. The double nutritional burden, underweight and obesity, coexists. Almost half of the pupils (51.87%) have three daily meals that are taken at varying times with breakfast jump. The consumption of tubers, meat and sweets is very important. The consumption of fruits and vegetables is below recommendations. Consumption of milk and dairy products is low and that of legumes is very low. The majority of pupils have a normal nutritional status but average BMI near the lower limit of normalcy. The coexistence of obesity and underweight in the sample under study as a consequence of unbalanced diets.
Construct Validity of the Comprehensive Assessment of Psychopathic Personality (CAPP): Examining the Internal Structure and Generalizability of CAPP Self-Ratings Across Gender and Ethnicity

The Comprehensive Assessment of Psychopathic Personality (CAPP) is a recently developed conceptual model of psychopathy designed to index the disorder across 33 personality traits. Although recent research has evidenced support for the CAPP model with respect to the convergent, criterion, and predictive validity of CAPP instruments, little work has examined the optimal internal structure and generalizability of the model and associated measures. The present study sought to elaborate on the construct validity and psychometric properties of the CAPP Lexical Self Rating Scale and determine the utility of the instrument across men and women, and individuals of Caucasian and East Asian descent. Within a large sample of self-identified offenders (N = 1,414), we found strong support for a three-factor model comprising domains reflecting interpersonal dominance, behavioral disinhibition, and deficient emotional attachment. Analyses examining the generalizability of the model provide further insight into its applicability for diverse populations.