Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Ecological factors restricting the regeneration of Pinus brutia in Turkey

Pinus brutia forest ecosystem forms a special part in Mediterranean forest ecosystems. This species covers about 3,096,064 hectares in pure and mixed stands in its natural distribution in Turkey. It is a contented (less-demanding) tree species, and has no special soil requirements. Pinus brutia is the most important fire-adapted tree species of Turkey, The fire adaptability of this species arises from several characteristics. Finally, fire becomes one of the most decisive constituents of Pinus brutia forest ecosystems in the Mediterranean region. In order to obtain proper and adequate Pinus brutia natural regeneration, the seed production capacity of the stand, the amount of seed produced , the dispersal period of the seed, and the germination properties of the seed must be well known. Following germination, the growth characteristics of the seedlings as well as their ecological demands are also important for the establishment of natural regeneration.
Brazilian Journal of Chemical Engineering MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING ( MRI ) : A TECHNIQUE TO STUDY FLOW AN MICROSTRUCTURE OF CONCENTRATED EMULSIONS

Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) have recently been recognized as important techniques for R&D of products and processes, as is attested by several successful applications in different areas of chemical engineering in recent years. In this article we present new experimental methods based on MRI to study flow and microstructure of concentrated emulsions. The objective is to present the unique features of this noninvasive technique to accurately measure different properties of flowing particulate opaque systems. Experimental results of velocity profiles, spatial distribution of droplet sizes and spatial homogeneity of an oil-in-water dispersion in a horizontal, concentric cylinder geometry using different pulse sequences are presented. The application of these techniques allowed probing important information on flow and microstructure of multiphase systems of interest in chemical engineering
Brazilian Journal of Chemical Engineering INFLUENCE OF POLYVINYLPYRROLIDONE ON THE INTERACTION BETWEEN WATER AND METHANOL

The present work aims to determine the influence of a dissolved polymer, polyvinylpyrrolidone, on the interaction between water and methanol. First, the dynamic viscosities were measured for polymer solutions by a rotational concentric cylinder at 25 °C and for the polymer concentration range from 0.1 to 0.6 g/dl. The results show a polynomial dependence of the viscosity on polymer concentration. On the hypothesis of a quasi-binary system, a pseudo Grumberg-Nissan constant, p d , was introduced to quantify the interaction between unlike molecules in the presence of polymer. The interaction between unlike molecules due to the presence of the polymer was quantified by the deviation of the Grumberg-Nissan constant, ' ' p p p d d d δ = − . Generally, this constant is negative which means that the interactions between water and methanol decrease in the presence of polyvinylpyrrolidone at 25 °C. The presence of the polymer induces a perturbation of the dynamic equilibrium between free and complexed molecules.
Asymmetry and nonlinearity of the influence of ENSO on the northern winter stratosphere: 2. Model study with WACCM

Long‐term simulations from the Community Earth System Model with the Whole Atmosphere Community Climate Model (CESM‐WACCM) as its atmospheric component are used to investigate the asymmetry and the nonlinearity of the influences of El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) on the northern winter stratosphere. As in Part 1 of this study, four different types of ENSO are considered. The composite CESM‐WACCM results first confirm the conclusions drawn from the observations, that the stratospheric polar jet responses to “moderate El Niño” and “strong La Niña” are stronger than those to “strong El Niño” and “moderate La Niña”. In association with the ENSO sea surface temperature (SST) patterns that are reproduced well in the model, the tropical rainfall response centers exhibit an asymmetric east‐west shift between El Niño and La Niña, which directly leads to the nonlinear and asymmetric Pacific‐North America responses in the extratropics. Accordingly, the strengthening (weakening) planetary wave response in the stratosphere during warm (cold) ENSO also exhibits nonlinear and asymmetric features. When the ENSO SST forcing is prescribed to be linear and symmetric in WACCM, the nonlinearity and asymmetry of the stratospheric responses to moderate ENSO reveal the dominant role of the inherent properties of the atmosphere. However, the absence of asymmetry and nonlinearity in the stratospheric responses to strong ENSO in our sensitivity experiments indicates that the asymmetry in SST forcing between strong El Niño and La Niña still plays an important role in the asymmetric and nonlinear influences of ENSO on the extratropics.
THE ATACAMA COSMOLOGY TELESCOPE: A MEASUREMENT OF THE PRIMORDIAL POWER SPECTRUM

We present constraints on the primordial power spectrum of adiabatic fluctuations using data from the 2008 Southern Survey of the Atacama Cosmology Telescope (ACT) in combination with measurements from the Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe and a prior on the Hubble constant. The angular resolution of ACT provides sensitivity to scales beyond ℓ = 1000 for resolution of multiple peaks in the primordial temperature power spectrum, which enables us to probe the primordial power spectrum of adiabatic scalar perturbations with wavenumbers up to k ≃ 0.2 Mpc−1. We find no evidence for deviation from power-law fluctuations over two decades in scale. Matter fluctuations inferred from the primordial temperature power spectrum evolve over cosmic time and can be used to predict the matter power spectrum at late times; we illustrate the overlap of the matter power inferred from cosmic microwave background measurements (which probe the power spectrum in the linear regime) with existing probes of galaxy clustering, cluster abundances, and weak-lensing constraints on the primordial power. This highlights the range of scales probed by current measurements of the matter power spectrum.
Photo-astrometric distances, extinctions, and astrophysical parameters for Gaia DR2 stars brighter than G = 18

Combining the precise parallaxes and optical photometry delivered by Gaia’s second data release with the photometric catalogues of Pan-STARRS1, 2MASS, and AllWISE, we derived Bayesian stellar parameters, distances, and extinctions for 265 million of the 285 million objects brighter than G = 18. Because of the wide wavelength range used, our results substantially improve the accuracy and precision of previous extinction and effective temperature estimates. After cleaning our results for both unreliable input and output data, we retain 137 million stars, for which we achieve a median precision of 5% in distance, 0.20 mag in V-band extinction, and 245 K in effective temperature for G ≤ 14, degrading towards fainter magnitudes (12%, 0.20 mag, and 245 K at G = 16; 16%, 0.23 mag, and 260 K at G = 17, respectively). We find a very good agreement with the asteroseismic surface gravities and distances of 7000 stars in the Kepler, K2-C3, and K2-C6 fields, with stellar parameters from the APOGEE survey, and with distances to star clusters. Our results are available through the ADQL query interface of the Gaia mirror at the Leibniz-Institut für Astrophysik Potsdam (gaia.aip.de) and as binary tables at data.aip. de. As a first application, we provide distance- and extinction-corrected colour-magnitude diagrams, extinction maps as a function of distance, and extensive density maps. These demonstrate the potential of our value-added dataset for mapping the three-dimensional structure of our Galaxy. In particular, we see a clear manifestation of the Galactic bar in the stellar density distributions, an observation that can almost be considered direct imaging of the Galactic bar.
Genetic and Environmental Factors Affecting Self-Rated Health from Age 16 – 25 : A Longitudinal Study of Finnish Twins

We analyzed genetic and environmental determinants of self-rated health and its change from adolescence to early adulthood. Questionnaires were mailed to Finnish twins born 1975–1979 at ages 16, 17, 18 12 and, on average, 25 years of age (N = 2465 complete twin pairs). The data were analyzed using quantitative genetic methods for twin data by the Mx statistical package. Heritability of self-rated health was greatest at age 16 (63%, 95% confidence intervals (CI) 56–67%, men and women together) and declined steadily to age 25 (33%, 95% CI 25–41%). The residual variation was due to unshared environments. Health ratings at different ages were modestly correlated (r = 0.33–0.61). These correlations were mainly due to genetic factors, but unshared environment also contributed to them. An important challenge for further research is to identify environmental influences contributing to self-rated health independently of, or in interaction with, genetic factors.
Bile Acids as Metabolic Regulators and Nutrient Sensors.

Bile acids facilitate nutrient absorption and are endogenous ligands for nuclear receptors that regulate lipid and energy metabolism. The brain-gut-liver axis plays an essential role in maintaining overall glucose, bile, and immune homeostasis. Fasting and feeding transitions alter nutrient content in the gut, which influences bile acid composition and pool size. In turn, bile acid signaling mediates lipid and glucose use and protection against inflammation. Altered bile acid metabolism resulting from gene mutations, high-fat diets, alcohol, or circadian disruption can contribute to cholestatic and inflammatory diseases, diabetes, and obesity. Bile acids and their derivatives are valuable therapeutic agents for treating these inflammatory metabolic diseases. Expected final online publication date for the Annual Review of Nutrition Volume 39 is August 21, 2019. Please see http://www.annualreviews. org/page/journal/pubdates for revised estimates.
Petrographic analysis of Iron Age I pithoi from Tel Sasa

En comparant la lithologie et le contexte geologique de la region de Tel Sasa (Haute Galilee) avec les donnees petrographiques obtenues des analyses de trois types de pithoi du Premier Age du Fer issus des fouilles de ce site, les auteurs proposent une interpretation de leur provenance, de leur production et de leur diffusion
Geometry-Based Statistical Channel Models of Reflected-Path Self-Interference in Full-Duplex Wireless

Self-interference (SI) channel characteristics are crucial for SI cancellation (SIC) techniques of in-band full-duplex (IBFD) wireless communications. This paper develops two geometry-based statistical channel models—geometry-based concentric ellipses model (GBCEM) and geometry-based concentric circles model (GBCCM)—for full-duplex systems in micro- and macrocell environments, respectively, to analyze the characteristics of reflected-path SI (RSI) compared with the desired signal (DS). The probability density functions of incident angle and path length are derived to identify the fading characteristics of RSI and DS. The simulations based on GBCEM and GBCCM intuitively present the signal characteristics by the signal envelope in the time domain, the statistics of signal envelope, the autocorrelation properties, and the power spectral density. We find that the fading characteristics of RSI and DS can be modeled as Rayleigh when reflectors sit far away from the receiver. We also find that RSI is still likely to be Rayleigh fading, even if DS is not when reflectors scatter in a specific region restricted by the range of incident angle. Our works on the characteristics of RSI and DS are generally helpful to explore a more efficient SIC mechanism for IBFD systems, and the developed models are useful for both simulation and analysis purposes.
Changes in Pancreatic Fat Content Following Diet-Induced Weight Loss

Background: Obesity can lead to ectopic pancreatic fat accumulation and increase the risk for type 2 diabetes. Smaller intervention trials have shown a decrease in pancreatic fat content (PFC) with weight loss, and we intended to investigate the effects of weight loss on PFC in a larger trial. Methods: Data from the HELENA-Trial, a randomized controlled trial (RCT) among 137 non-diabetic obese adults were used. The study cohort was classified into 4 quartiles based on weight change between baseline and 12 weeks post-intervention. Changes in PFC (baseline, 12 weeks and 50 weeks post-intervention) upon weight loss were analyzed by linear mixed models. Spearman’s coefficients were used to obtain correlations between anthropometric parameters, blood biochemical markers, and PFC. Results: At baseline, PFC only showed a significant correlation with visceral adipose tissue (VAT) (r = 0.41). Relative changes in PFC were significantly (p = 0.01) greater in Q4 (−30.8 ± 5.7%) than in Q1 (1.3 ± 6.7%). These differences remained similar after one year. However, when adjusting the statistical analyses for changes in VAT, the differences in PFC between Q1 and Q4 were no longer statistically significant. Conclusion: Weight loss is associated with a decrease in PFC. However, the reduction of PFC is not independent from reductions in VAT. Unlike VAT, PFC was not associated with metabolic biomarkers.
Making Sense: Teaching and Learning Mathematics with Understanding

Introducing the Critical Features of Classrooms The Nature of Classroom Tasks The Role of the Teacher The Social Culture of the Classroom Mathematical Tools as Learning Supports Equity and Accessibility A Day in the Life of One Cognitively Guided Instruction Classroom A Day in the Life of a Conceptually Based Instruction Classroom Student Talk in a Problem-Centred Classroom Snapshots Across Two Years in the Life of an Urban Latino Classroom Revisiting the Critical Features of Classrooms.
Changes in Derivative Orders for Fractional Models of Supercapacitors as a Function of Operating Temperature

This paper presents the results of research related to modeling of the effect of supercapacitor operating temperature on a fractional derivative order. The modeling task is conducted for three supercapacitors, and it involves a determination of the derivative order for their seven operating temperatures. The estimations are carried out based on measured step responses on supercapacitor terminals, separately for the supercapacitor charge and discharge cycles.
Cortisol Administration Normalizes Aberrant Functional Connectivity in Women with Depression

Previous resting-state functional connectivity (rsFC) research has identified aberrant connectivity in several large brain networks in depression, including the default mode (DMN), frontoparietal (FPN), and salience networks (SN). Connectivity of these networks is also related to depressive symptom severity and is affected by cortisol levels. To our knowledge, this is the first study to investigate the effects of acute cortisol administration on rsFC of DMN, FPN, and SN in individuals varying in depression history and severity. We collected resting-state fMRI scans for 74 women with and without a history of depressive disorder after administration of cortisol and placebo using a double-blind, crossover design. We conducted seed-based rsFC with seed regions from the DMN, FPN, and SN to examine the relationship between rsFC changes in these networks after cortisol, with depression history group predicting changes in rsFC after cortisol vs. placebo. To investigate rsFC changes in DMN, FPN, and SN due to the administration of cortisol as a function of depression severity we assessed the relationship between Beck Depression Inventory-II scores and rsFC changes in the networks of interest after cortisol vs. placebo administration for the entire sample. Results revealed that those with a history of depression exhibited increased connectivity between the left amygdala of the SN and left medial temporal gyrus of the DMN regardless of treatment. Further, we found that those who received cortisol had increased connectivity between the anterior insula of the SN and regions within the SN and DMN. Lastly, we found an interaction between depression symptom severity and rsFC between the PCC of the DMN and the right cerebellum of the SN, with greater depression symptoms associated with increased rsFC of the PCC and cerebellum. These findings are the first to show that CORTISOL NORMALIZES CONNECTIVITY IN DEPRESSION 3 women with greater depression severity may be more likely to normalize aberrant connectivity of DMN and SN regions after acute cortisol administration. Our results could help inform clinical treatments for depression that naturally increase endogenous cortisol levels and efficiency of glucocorticoid receptors, such as long-term daily exercise. Overall, these findings contribute to the literature on the neurobiological effects of exogenous cortisol in depression.
The Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease Fibrosis Score Is Related to Epicardial Fat Thickness and Complexity of Coronary Artery Disease

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a hepatic manifestation of the metabolic syndrome and is associated with cardiovascular disease (CVD). The NAFLD Fibrosis Score (NFS) is an index used for the detection of liver fibrosis. We investigated the relationship between NFS and complexity of coronary artery disease (CAD). In this cross-sectional study, 109 patients with CAD and 50 patients without CAD were enrolled. Demographic data, laboratory parameters, epicardial fat thickness (EFT), NFS, and Synergy between percutaneous coronary intervention with Taxus and cardiac surgery (SYNTAX) score were recorded. Waist circumference, fasting glucose, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), EFT, and NFS were significantly higher in the CAD group (P < .05). High-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and ejection fraction were significantly lower in the CAD group (P < .05). The SYNTAX score was positively correlated with fasting glucose, LDL-C, EFT, and NFS and negatively correlated with HDL-C (P < .05). The NFS was positively correlated with EFT (P = .019). Multivariate linear regression analysis revealed that NFS (P = .012), EFT (P < .001), and LDL-C (P = .001) were independently associated with the SYNTAX score. In conclusion, NFS, as a marker of NAFLD, could identify patients at higher risk of CVD.
Two Sides of the Coin: Ezrin/Radixin/Moesin and Merlin Control Membrane Structure and Contact Inhibition

The merlin-ERM (ezrin, radixin, moesin) family of proteins plays a central role in linking the cellular membranes to the cortical actin cytoskeleton. Merlin regulates contact inhibition and is an integral part of cell–cell junctions, while ERM proteins, ezrin, radixin and moesin, assist in the formation and maintenance of specialized plasma membrane structures and membrane vesicle structures. These two protein families share a common evolutionary history, having arisen and separated via gene duplication near the origin of metazoa. During approximately 0.5 billion years of evolution, the merlin and ERM family proteins have maintained both sequence and structural conservation to an extraordinary level. Comparing crystal structures of merlin-ERM proteins and their complexes, a picture emerges of the merlin-ERM proteins acting as switchable interaction hubs, assembling protein complexes on cellular membranes and linking them to the actin cytoskeleton. Given the high level of structural conservation between the merlin and ERM family proteins we speculate that they may function together.
Donor-matched comparison of chondrogenic progenitors resident in human infrapatellar fat pad, synovium, and periosteum - implications for cartilage repair

ABSTRACT Purpose: There is a clinical need to better characterize tissue sources being used for stem cell therapies. This study focuses on comparison of cells and connective tissue progenitors (CTPs) derived from native human infrapatellar fatpad (IPFP), synovium (SYN), and periosteum (PERI). Materials and Methods: IPFP, SYN, PERI were harvested from twenty-eight patients undergoing arthroplasty. CTPs were quantitatively characterized using automated colony-forming-unit assay to compare total nucleated cell concentration—[Cell], cells/mg; prevalence-(PCTP), CTPs/million nucleated cells; CTP concentration—[CTP], CTPs/mg; proliferation and differentiation potential; and correlate outcomes with patient’s age and gender. Results: [Cell] did not differ between IPFP, SYN, and PERI. PCTP was influenced by age and gender: patients >60 years, IPFP and SYN had higher PCTP than PERI (p < 0.001) and females had higher PCTP in IPFP (p < 0.001) and SYN (p = 0.001) than PERI. [CTP] was influenced by age: patients <50 years, SYN (p = 0.0165) and PERI (p < 0.001) had higher [CTP] than IPFP; patients between 60 and 69 years, SYN (p < 0.001) had higher [CTP] than PERI; patients >70 years, IPFP (p = 0.006) had higher [CTP] than PERI. In patients >60 years, proliferation potential of CTPs differed significantly (SYN>IPFP>PERI); however, differentiation potentials were comparable between all three tissue sources. Conclusion: SYN and IPFP may serve as a preferred tissue source for patients >60 years, and PERI along with SYN and IPFP may serve as a preferred tissue source for patients <60 years for cartilage repair. However, the heterogeneity among the CTPs in any given tissue source suggests performance-based selection might be useful to optimize cell-sourcing strategies to improve efficacy of cellular therapies for cartilage repair.
Triggering Receptor Expressed on Myeloid Cells 2 (TREM2) Deficiency Attenuates Phagocytic Activities of Microglia and Exacerbates Ischemic Damage in Experimental Stroke

Clearing cellular debris after brain injury represents an important mechanism in regaining tissue homeostasis and promoting functional recovery. Triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells-2 (TREM2) is a newly identified receptor expressed on microglia and is thought to phagocytose damaged brain cells. The precise role of TREM2 during ischemic stroke has not been fully understood. We explore TREM2 in both in vitro and in vivo stroke models and identify a potential endogenous TREM2 ligand. TREM2 knockdown in microglia reduced microglial activation to an amoeboid phenotype and decreased the phagocytosis of injured neurons. Phagocytosis and infarcted brain tissue resorption was reduced in TREM2 knock-out (KO) mice compared with wild-type (WT) mice. TREM2 KO mice also had worsened neurological recovery and decreased viable brain tissue in the ipsilateral hemisphere. The numbers of activated microglia and phagocytes in TREM2 KO mice were decreased compared with WT mice, and foamy macrophages were nearly absent in the TREM2 KO mice. Postischemia, TREM2 was highly expressed on microglia and TREM2-Fc fusion protein (used as a probe to identify potential TREM2 binding partners) bound to an unknown TREM2 ligand that colocalized to neurons. Oxygen glucose deprivation-exposed neuronal media, or cellular fractions containing nuclei or purified DNA, but not cytosolic fractions, stimulated signaling through TREM2. TREM2-Fc fusion protein pulled down nucleic acids from ischemic brain lysate. These findings establish the relevance of TREM2 in the phagocytosis of the infarcted brain and emphasize its role in influencing neurological outcomes following stroke. Further, nucleic acids may be one potential ligand of TREM2 in brain ischemia.