Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Lack of Impacts during Early Establishment Highlights a Short-Term Management Window for Minimizing Invasions from Perennial Biomass Crops

Managing intentional species introductions requires evaluating potential ecological risks. However, it is difficult to weigh costs and benefits when data about interactions between novel species and the communities they are introduced to are scarce. In anticipation of expanded cultivation of perennial biomass crops, we experimentally introduced Miscanthus sinensis and Miscanthus × giganteus (two non-native candidate biomass crops) into two different non-crop habitats (old field and flood-plain forest) to evaluate their establishment success and impact on ambient local communities. We followed these controlled introductions and the composition dynamics of the receiving communities over a 5-year period. Habitats differed widely in adult Miscanthus survival and reproduction potential between species, although seed persistence and seedling emergence were similar in the two biomass crops in both habitats. Few introductions survived in the floodplain forest habitat, and this mortality precluded analyses of their potential impacts there. In old field habitats, proportional survival ranged from 0.3 to 0.4, and plant survival and growth increased with age. However, there was no evidence of biomass crop species effects on community richness or evenness or strong impacts on the resident old field constituents across 5 years. These results suggest that Miscanthus species could establish outside of cultivated fields, but there will likely be a lag in any impacts on the receiving communities. Local North American invasions by M. sinensis and M. sacchariflorus display the potential for Miscanthus species to develop aggressively expanding populations. However, the weak short-term community-level impacts demonstrated in the current study indicate a clear management window in which eradicating species footholds is easily achieved, if they can be detected early enough. Diligent long-term monitoring, detection, and eradication plans are needed to successfully minimize harmful invasions from these biomass crops.
DNA vaccination against self antigens as a treatment for chronic kidney disease

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a major cause of death and morbidity in Australia and worldwide. DNA vaccination has been used for targeting foreign antigens to induce immune responses and prevent autoimmune disease, viral infection and cancer. However, the use of DNA vaccination has been restricted by a limited ability to induce strong immune responses, especially against self-antigens which are limited by mechanisms of self-tolerance. Furthermore, there have been few studies on the potential of DNA vaccination in chronic inflammatory diseases, including CKD. We have established strategies of DNA vaccination targeting specific self-antigens in the immune system including co-stimulatory pathways, T cell receptors and chemokine molecules, which have been effective in protecting against the development of CKD in a variety of animal models. In particular, we find that the efficacy of DNA vaccination is improved by dendritic cell (DC) targeting and can protect against animal models of autoimmune nephritis mimicking human membranous nephropathy. In this review, we summarize several approaches that have been tested to improve the efficacy of DNA vaccination in CKD models, including enhanced DNA vaccine delivery methods, DNA vaccine modifications and new molecular targets for DNA vaccination. Finally, we discuss the specific application of DNA vaccination for preventing and treating CKD.
Ultrasound for the diagnosis of HIV-associated tuberculosis.

To the Editor: Arecent letter in the Journal suggested that ultrasound of the abdomen might be an appropriate way to diagnose tuberculosis (TB) when sputum smears are repeatedly negative for TB and in febrile patients known or suspected to be HIV-positive. The authors describe ultrasound findings they regard as pathognomonic of TB but do not give the number of scans performed or the yield of helpful scans. We have presented such an analysis with regard to microbiological investigations for TB, and provide data for abdominal ultrasound.
A fast iterative method for dominant points detection of digital curves

A new algorithm for detecting dominant points of digitized closed curves is presented. At first a process of localization of maximum curvature points is done. The method adds iteratively contour points as dominant points by a criterion that considers the distance of contour points respect to the set of dominant points calculated in previous steps. It follows a final process of refinement. The performance of our method are successfully compared with other dominant point extraction techniques. Finally, some examples of polygonal approximation are showed.
Telomere length and risk of incident cancer and cancer mortality.

CONTEXT Telomeres are essential to preserve the integrity of the genome. Critically short telomeres lead to replicative cell senescence and chromosomal instability and may thereby increase cancer risk. OBJECTIVE To determine the association between baseline telomere length and incident cancer and cancer mortality. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS Leukocyte telomere length was measured by quantitative polymerase chain reaction in 787 participants free of cancer at baseline in 1995 from the prospective, population-based Bruneck Study in Italy. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Incident cancer and cancer mortality over a follow-up period of 10 years (1995-2005 with a follow-up rate of 100%). RESULTS A total of 92 of 787 participants (11.7%) developed cancer (incidence rate, 13.3 per 1000 person-years). Short telomere length at baseline was associated with incident cancer independently of standard cancer risk factors (multivariable hazard ratio [HR] per 1-SD decrease in log(e)-transformed telomere length, 1.60; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.30-1.98; P < . 001). Compared with participants in the longest telomere length group, the multivariable HR for incident cancer was 2.15 (95% CI, 1.12-4.14) in the middle length group and 3.11 (95% CI, 1.65-5.84) in the shortest length group (P < .001). Incidence rates were 5.1 (95% CI, 2.9-8.7) per 1000 person-years in the longest telomere length group, 14.2 (95% CI, 10.0-20.1) per 1000 person-years in the middle length group, and 22.5 (95% CI, 16.9-29.9) per 1000 person-years in the shortest length group. The association equally applied to men and women and emerged as robust under a variety of circumstances. Furthermore, short telomere length was associated with cancer mortality (multivariable HR per 1-SD decrease in log(e)-transformed telomere length, 2.13; 95% CI, 1.58-2.86; P < . 001) and individual cancer subtypes with a high fatality rate. CONCLUSION In this study population, there was a statistically significant inverse relationship between telomere length and both cancer incidence and mortality.
Reasoning schema effects on adolescent rule acquisition and transfer.

P. W. Cheng and K. J. Holyoak's (1985) pragmatic reasoning theory was used to inform hypotheses relevant to the transfer of deductive reasoning rules during adolescence. In Experiments 1 and 2, participants were trained on either permission or causal versions of P. C. Wason's (1966) selection task, and transfer to arbitrary problems was examined. In Experiments 3 and 4, the effect of training on permission or arbitrary problems to target causal problems was examined. Transfer was more likely from source causal and arbitrary problems than from permission problems. Also, there were developmental progressions in source problem performance. The findings are discussed in terms of the domain specificity of the reasoning rules induced during acquisition and in terms of the effects of training on pragmatic reasoning schemata
Performance analysis of wireless sensor networks with ginibre point process modeling

In this paper, we analyze the performance of wireless sensor networks using stochastic geometry. In practical networks, since sensor nodes in the networks are not independently placed, there exists a correlation among the locations of the nodes. In order to capture the effect of the correlation, we model the spatial distribution of nodes as α-Ginibre point processes (GPPs) which reflect the repulsion. It is assumed that each sensor node is associated with the closest gateway and employs a channel inversion power control which adjusts transmit power based on the contact distance. We first identify the characteristics of the contact distance and transmit power, and then investigate the outage performance of the networks using the derived characteristics. Since the α-GPP contains the Poisson point process (PPP) as a particular case, our analysis can be interpreted as a generalization of previous works on the networks modeled by PPPs. The accuracy of our analysis is validated through simulation results.
Development of a One-Step SYBR Green I Real-Time RT-PCR Assay for the Detection and Quantitation of Araraquara and Rio Mamore Hantavirus

Hantaviruses are members of the family Bunyaviridae and are an emerging cause of disease worldwide with high lethality in the Americas. In Brazil, the diagnosis for hantaviruses is based on immunologic techniques associated with conventional RT-PCR. A novel one-step SYBR Green real-time RT-PCR was developed for the detection and quantitation of Araraquara hantavirus (ARAV) and Rio Mamore hantavirus (RIOMV). The detection limit of assay was 10copies/µL of RNA in vitro transcribed of segment S. The specificity of assay was evaluated by melting curve analysis, which showed that the Araraquara virus amplified product generated a melt peak at 80.83 ± 0.89 °C without generating primer-dimers or non-specific products. The assay was more sensitive than conventional RT-PCR and we detected two samples undetected by conventional RT-PCR. The one-step SYBR Green real-time quantitative RT-PCR is specific, sensible and reproducible, which makes it a powerful tool in both diagnostic applications and general research of ARAV and RIOMV and possibly other Brazilian hantaviruses.
Development and validation of scales to measure environmental responsibility, character development, and attitudes toward school

This investigation examines the use of structural equation modeling (SEM) procedures to develop and validate scales to measure environmental responsibility, character development and leadership, and attitudes toward school for environmental education programs servicing middle school children. The scales represent outcomes commonly of interest to environmental education programs and also to after‐school and positive youth development activities. First, we developed the scales using confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and then we used multi‐group longitudinal CFA to cross‐validate the model with data collected before participation in the environmental education program, immediately after the program, and three months later. The results support a three‐factor model, producing three scales that appear to be valid and reliable.
THE ALTERNATIVE NEGOTIATOR AS THE INVISIBLE THIRD AT THE TABLE: THE IMPACT OF POTENCY INFORMATION

This study explores the impact of person information about an alternative negotiator in dyadic negotiation in which one of two individuals is able to exit the negotiation to further negotiate with the alternative party. Individualistic negotiators were expected to be influenced more by information about the alternative party's strength than prosocial negotiators. Forty‐nine dyads were randomly assigned to one of the experimental conditions in a 2 (Potency of the Alternative Negotiator: Low vs. High) by 2 (One's Own Motivational Orientation: Individualistic vs. Prosocial) factorial design. Face‐to‐face interactions were audiotaped and transcribed In line with our expectation, individualistically orientated negotiators engaged in problem solving to a lesser extent and communicated more threats and putdowns when the alternative party was perceived as weak and submissive rather than strong and dominant. Within negotiation dyads power asymmetry evoked power struggle. Eventually, however, negotiators with an alternative party outperformed parties lacking an alternative. As expected, prosocially orientated negotiators were less influenced by both the mere presence of an alternative negotiation partner and potency information about the alternative party. Implications and directions for further research are discussed.
Granzyme B Encoded by the Commonly Occurring Human RAH Allele Retains Pro-apoptotic Activity*

A key function of human granzyme B (GrB) is to induce apoptosis of target cells in conjunction with perforin. The RAH allele is the first documented variant of the human GrB gene, occurs at a frequency of 25–30%, and encodes three amino acid substitutions (Q48R, P88A, and Y245H). It was initially reported that RAH GrB is incapable of inducing apoptosis, but here we show that it has essentially identical proteolytic and cytotoxic properties to wild type GrB. Recombinant RAH and wild type GrB cleave peptide substrates with similar kinetics, are both capable of cleaving Bid and procaspase 3, and are equally inhibited by proteinase inhibitor 9, an endogenous regulator of GrB. Furthermore, cytotoxic lymphocytes from RAH heterozygotes and homozygotes have no defect in target cell killing, and in vitro RAH GrB and wild type GrB kill cells equally well in the presence of perforin. We conclude that the RAH allele represents a neutral polymorphism in the GrB gene.
Investigation of Surface Plasmon Resonance of Nanoparticles using Volume Integral Equation

This paper investigates the interactions between incident electromagnetic wave and nanoparticles, especially metallic nanoparticles. The scattering of nanoparticles is characterized by using volume integral equation. By considering the total electric field, i.e. the sum of incident fields and the radiated fields by equivalent electric volume currents, the volume integral equation can be established within the scatterers. The resultant volume integral equation is discretized using appropriate basis functions and is solved numerically using a matrix solver. Numerical results are presented to demonstrate the application of volume integral equation to analyze the plasmon resonance.
Mediating Effects of Perceived Personal Control in Coping With a Health Threat: The Case of Genetic Counseling1

The potential impact of perceived personal control on coping with a medical threat was investigated in genetic counseling, a clinical setting where issues of personal control are central. Data were collected from 72 counselees at a genetic clinic before, immediately after, and 1 month after initiating genetic counseling. Findings supported the hypothesized mediating model. Higher perceived control (cognitive-interpretive and decisional) and satisfaction with genetic counseling mediated between genetic counseling and the use of less emotion-focused coping strategies. Problem-focused coping was predicted only directly by counselees' knowledge of their problem after genetic counseling. Changes in emotion-focused coping were related to perceived increases in positive affect 1 month later, while changes in use of problem-focused coping were related to perceived decreases in both positive and negative affect.
The Sustainability of Schoolwide Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports

A summary of the available literature on sustainability is provided and recommended sustainability features are applied to implementation of schoolwide positive behavior interventions and supports (SWPBIS). One hundred and seventeen schools from 6 states completed the sustainability survey, which determined the presence of 8 sustainability features as they related to sustaining schoolwide positive behavior supports. Results from a logistic regression analysis demonstrate that together the sustainability features of administrative support combined with communication and data-based decision making create the best-fitting model of sustainability for SWPBIS. The results suggest that an educational innovation is more likely to be implemented and sustained with fidelity if it (a) has support from an administrator who encourages communication about the core features of the innovation and (b) uses data to plan and make changes. Implications for large-scale, sustained implementation of evidence-based practices are provided.
Identifying "Best-Buys" In The Market Of Prepaid Mobile Telephony: An Application Of Imprecise Dea

Value-for-money is a widely used criterion to locate "best-buys" in a market of competitive products or services. The term "value" represents a composite measure of what a consumer gets from a product or service, while the term "money" is what the consumer pays for it. In the absence of individual preferences, the problem of identifying best-buys by the value-for-money criterion can be formulated as an imprecise DEA model with a single input (price) and multiple outputs (indices and performance estimates). In accordance with the DEA terminology, efficient units (products or services) are those that worth their price. As the price of a particular product can vary from dealer to dealer or due to different discount policies, it is usually known to lie within a bounded interval, between the lowest and the highest price recorded in the market. On the other hand, product outputs may be measured either by exact values or bounded intervals (overall evaluation judgments made by different experts, for example) or o.
Quantitative studies of magnetization transfer by selective excitation and T1 recovery

Water proton longitudinal relaxation has been measured in agar and cross‐linked bovine serum albumin (BSA) using modified selective excitation (Goldman‐Shen and Edzes‐Samulski) pulse sequences. The resulting recovery curves are fit to biexponentials. The fast recovery rate gives magnetization transfer (MT) information, which is complementary to that given by steady‐state saturation methods. This rate provides an estimate of the strength of the coupling of the immobile proton pool to the mobile proton pool. Near their optimal pulse power values, the Goldman‐Shen and Edzes‐Samulski sequences give fast recovery rates that agree with each other. However, these measured fast recovery rates are dependent on the pulse power, an effect not predicted by the coupled two‐pool model. For 8% agar and 17% BSA, both methods (at optimal pulse powers) give rates in the neighborhoods of 210 and 64 Hz, respectively. The Goldman‐Shen and Edzes‐Samulski pulse sequences have several advantages over those techniques based on steady state saturation: no long saturating pulses, shorter measurement time, and reduced necessity for making lineshape or fitting technique assumptions. The principle disadvantages are smaller effects on the NMR signal, less complete characterization of the MT system, and, in the case of the Goldman‐Shen sequence, greater pulse power.
Targeting Nuclear Import Shuttles, Importins/Karyopherins alpha by a Peptide Mimicking the NFκB1/p50 Nuclear Localization Sequence

Background We recently reported that a bifunctional nuclear transport modifier (NTM), cSN50.1 peptide, reduced atherosclerosis, plasma cholesterol, triglycerides, and glucose along with liver fat and inflammatory markers, in a murine model of familial hypercholesterolemia. We determined that cSN50.1 improved lipid homeostasis by modulating nuclear transport of sterol regulatory element‐binding proteins through interaction with importin β. Previous studies established that cSN50.1 and related NTMs also modulate nuclear transport of proinflammatory transcription factors mediated by binding of their nuclear localization sequences (NLSs) to importins/karyopherins α. However, selectivity and specificity of NTMs for importins/karyopherins α were undetermined. Methods and Results We analyzed interaction of the NTM hydrophilic module, N50 peptide, derived from the NLS of NFκB1/p50, with endogenous human importins/karyopherins α to determine the mechanism of NTM modulation of importin α‐mediated nuclear transport. We show that N50 peptide forms stable complexes with multiple importins/karyopherins α. However, only interaction with importin α5 (Imp α5) displayed specific, high‐affinity binding. The 2:1 stoichiometry of the N50‐Imp α5 interaction (KD1=73 nmol/L, KD2=140 nmol/L) indicated occupancy of both major and minor NLS binding pockets. Utilizing in silico 3‐dimensional (3‐D) docking models and comparative structural analysis, we identified a structural component of the Imp α5 major NLS binding pocket that may stabilize N50 binding. Imp α5 also displayed rapid stimulus‐induced turnover, which could influence its availability for nuclear transport during the inflammatory response. Conclusions These results provide direct evidence that N50 peptide selectively targets Imp α5, encouraging further refinement of NLS‐derived peptides as new tools to modulate inflammatory disorders.
Special Educational Needs: the relationship between teacher assessment, test scores and classroom behaviour

Abstract Junior school teachers’ own assessments of pupils with special educational needs were compared with the children's performance on standardised tests. On the basis of test score and teacher opinion a selection of children was chosen for observation using a schedule designed specifically for this purpose. There would appear to be a pattern of pupil behaviour in the classroom that teachers tend to regard as more typical of the slow‐learning child, though not exclusive to him. Where there is a divergence between teacher assessment and standardised test scores this discrepancy may possibly be accounted for in terms of the ‘slow‐learner behaviour pattern’ influencing teacher opinion. Teachers do appear to be aware of the behaviour problems of quiet, withdrawn children and seem to make a clear distinction between behaviour that is problematic to the child and behaviour that creates a discipline problem for the teacher.
Improved control strategies for three-phase four-leg virtual synchronous generator with unbalanced loads

This paper proposes improved multi-loop control strategies for three-phase four-leg virtual synchronous generator with unbalanced loads. Through the decoupling control of active and reactive power, inverter can simulate the characteristics of synchronous generator, including primary frequency modulation, primary voltage modulation, inertia and excitation characteristics. To improve the dynamic performance of micro-grid, the voltage and current dual-loop is cascaded after the power loop. In addition, to solve the problem of unbalanced voltage and frequency fluctuation in VSG caused by unbalanced load, a variable frequency adaptive resonance control strategy is proposed. The simulation and experiments validate the effectiveness of the proposed control strategy.
Fluorometric Determination of Sulfite and Nitrite in Aqueous Samples Using a Novel Detection Unit of a Microfluidic Device

On-chip fluorescence determination of sulfite and nitrite with N -(9-acridinyl)maleimide (NAM) and 2,3-diaminonaphthalene (DAN) has been developed using a novel fluorescence detection unit for microchip analysis. Usually, these fluorescence reagents are derivatized and detected separately in microchip analysis because different fluorescence wavelengths are emitted. The proposed fluorescence detection unit has optical fibers with no optical filter, and plural wavelengths of fluorescence were detected sensitively, even in the microchip. In this study, the simultaneous determination of sulfite and nitrite in environmental samples was performed with a polymer microchip analysis system. The calibration curves of sulfite and nitrite showed linear relations ( R ^2 = 0.998 (sulfite) and R ^2 = 0.990 (nitrite)), and the relative standard deviations (RSD) for 4 runs were 2.1% (20 µM sulfite) and 1.3% (20 µM nitrite), respectively. The proposed method was applied to the recovery test of sulfite and nitrite in environmental samples.