Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Dissolved organic phosphorus in the coastal ocean: Reassessment of available methods and seasonal phosphorus profiles from the Eel River Shelf

Methods for quantifying total dissolved phosphorus (TDP) were reevaluated. High‐temperature ashing/hydrolysis (Ash/Hydrol.) and Acid Persulfate methods were examined for their ability to quantitatively convert a range of organic‐P compounds to orthophosphate. The Ash/Hydrol. method recovered on average 99% of organic‐P compounds tested, including phosphonates (compounds with C‐P bonds). Contrary to concerns voiced in prior studies, we found no P loss due to volatilization in seawater samples. Poor recovery by the Acid Persulfate method was observed for two compound classes: phosphonates and phospholipids. The Ash/Hydrol. method is recommended for routine TDP analyses.
Contextual conditioning enhances the psychostimulant and incentive properties of d‐amphetamine in humans

Learned associations between drugs and the places they are used are critical to the development of drug addiction. Contextual conditioning has long been studied in animals as an indirect measure of drug reward, but little is known about the process in humans. Here, we investigated de novo contextual conditioning with d‐amphetamine in healthy humans (n = 34). Volunteers underwent four conditioning sessions conducted in two testing rooms with double‐blind, alternating d‐amphetamine (20 mg) and placebo administration. Before conditioning procedures began, they rated the two rooms to examine pre‐existing preferences. One group (Paired, n = 19) always received d‐amphetamine in their least preferred room and placebo in the other during conditioning sessions. Another group (Unpaired, n = 15) received d‐amphetamine and placebo in both rooms. Subjective drug effects were monitored at repeated times. At a separate re‐exposure test, preference ratings for the drug‐associated room were increased among the Paired group only, and more subjects in the Paired than the Unpaired group switched their preference to their initially least preferred room. Also, ratings of d‐amphetamine drug liking independently predicted room liking at test among the Paired group only. Further, Paired group subjects reported greater stimulation and drug craving after d‐amphetamine on the second administration, relative to the first. This study supports preliminary findings that humans, like animals, develop a preference for a place associated with d‐amphetamine that is related to its subjective effects. These findings also suggest that experiencing d‐amphetamine in a consistent environment produces context‐dependent changes in its subjective effects, including an enhanced rewarding efficacy and abuse potential.
QUASI-PERIODIC ORBITS AND THEIR STABILITY IN THE RESTRICTED THREE-BODY PROBLEM

Invariant manifolds in the restricted three-body problem are a powerful tool for the design of spacecraft trajectories. This work presents an approach to compute families of quasi-periodic orbits and their linear stability via a stroboscopic map. The approach includes the generation of stable and unstable manifolds from hyperbolic quasi-periodic orbits. Including quasi-periodic orbits along with periodic orbits in the design space offers additional lowenergy transfer options. Both the circular and elliptic restricted three-body problems are considered.
Sharing Policies in Multiuser Privacy Scenarios

Social network services (SNSs) enable users to conveniently share personal information. Often, the information shared concerns other people, especially other members of the SNS. In such situations, two or more people can have conflicting privacy preferences; thus, an appropriate sharing policy may not be apparent. We identify such situations as multiuser privacy scenarios. Current approaches propose finding a sharing policy through preference aggregation. However, studies suggest that users feel more confident in their decisions regarding sharing when they know the reasons behind each other’s preferences. The goals of this paper are (1) understanding how people decide the appropriate sharing policy in multiuser scenarios where arguments are employed, and (2) developing a computational model to predict an appropriate sharing policy for a given scenario. We report on a study that involved a survey of 988 Amazon Mechanical Turk (MTurk) users about a variety of multiuser scenarios and the optimal sharing policy for each scenario. Our evaluation of the participants’ responses reveals that contextual factors, user preferences, and arguments influence the optimal sharing policy in a multiuser scenario. We develop and evaluate an inference model that predicts the optimal sharing policy given the three types of features. We analyze the predictions of our inference model to uncover potential scenario types that lead to incorrect predictions, and to enhance our understanding of when multiuser scenarios are more or less prone to dispute.
Ethnic Diversity and Its Impact on Community Social Cohesion and Neighborly Exchange

ABSTRACT: Putnam’s “constrict theory” suggests that ethnic diversity creates challenges for developing and sustaining social capital in urban settings. He argues that diversity decreases social cohesion and reduces social interactions among community residents. While Putnam’s thesis is the subject of much debate in North America, the United Kingdom, and Europe, there is a limited focus on how ethnic diversity impacts upon social cohesion and neighborly exchange behaviors in Australia. Employing multilevel modeling and utilizing administrative and survey data from 4,000 residents living in 148 Brisbane suburbs, we assess whether ethnic diversity lowers social cohesion and increases “hunkering. ” Our findings indicate that social cohesion and neighborly exchange are attenuated in ethnically diverse suburbs. However, diversity is less consequential for neighborly exchange among immigrants when compared to the general population. Our results provide at least partial support for Putnam’s thesis.
Epoxyeicosatrienoic acids protect rat hearts against tumor necrosis factor-α-induced injury[S]

Epoxyeicosatrienoic acids (EET), the primary arachidonic acid metabolites of cytochrome P450 2J (CYP2J) epoxygenases, possess potent vasodilatory, anti-inflammatory, antiapoptotic, and mitogenic effects. To date, little is known about the role of CYP2J2 and EETs in tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α–induced cardiac injury. We utilized cell culture and in vivo models to examine the effects of exogenously applied EETs or CYP2J2 overexpression on TNF-α–induced cardiac apoptosis and cardiac dysfunction. In neonatal rat cardiomyocytes, TNF-α–induced apoptosis was markedly attenuated by EETs or CYP2J2 overexpression, leading to significantly improved cell survival. Further studies showed that TNF-α decreased expression of the antiapoptotic proteins Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL, decreased IκBα and PPARγ, and also inhibited PI3K-dependent Akt and EGFR signaling. Both EETs and CYP2J2 overexpression reversed the effects of TNF-α on these pathways. Furthermore, overexpression of CYP2J2 in rats prevented the decline in cardiac function that is normally observed in TNF-α-challenged animals. These results demonstrate that EETs or CYP2J2 overexpression can prevent TNF-α–induced cardiac cell injury and cardiac dysfunction by inhibiting apoptosis, reducing inflammation, and enhancing PPARγ expression. Targeting the CYP2J2 epoxygenase pathway may represent a novel approach to mitigate cardiac injury in diseases such as heart failure, where increased TNF-α levels are known to occur.
An electron microscopic study of initial intramembranous osteogenesis.

Calvariae of fetal mice were investigated with electron microscopy in order to demonstrate initial stages of immature, membrane bone calcification. As a consequence, nucleation sites for initial calcification of hydroxyapatite crystals in woven bone were found in extrusions from osteoblasts within the osteoid. Growth of the crystals epitaxially from these initial calcification loci into the surrounding collagen was spherulitic, forming discrete spheres referred to as “bone nodules”. These nodules, when coalesced, formed seams of bone. Decalcified, the organic substructure of the bone nodules was revealed. It contained a centrally disposed initial calcification locus, a peripheral zone of decomplexing collagen and an intermediate zone of altered collagen. Fully formed collagen fibrils remained interposed between most of the coalesced nodules. Polysaccharides were localized within the initial calcification locus and in the peripheral zone of the bone nodules where collagen was shown to be decomplexing.
Spatio-Temporal Multi-Stage OpenFlow Switch Model for Software Defined Cellular Networks

The tremendous increase on mobile data traffic has stressed conventional cellular networks recently. In order to handle this rapid increase, Software Defined Networking (SDN) is proposed as one of the novel approach that makes it easier to orchestrate physical devices in Data Plane with its centralized control fashion. On one hand, SDN provides scalability and flexibility on network management with dummy OpenFlow(OF) switches and its nature of centralized authority; on the other hand, these properties cause spatial and temporal complexity in the Data Plane. Spatial complexity, described as Memory Usage in an OF switch, should be minimized by removing redundancy on OF switch flow table pipeline. Temporal complexity, defined as Flow Forwarding Delay, should also be reduced by lowering number of comparison in OF switch pipeline to enhance Quality of Service (QoS) of a flow. Therefore, in this paper, a novel Multi-Stage OF (MsOF) Switch model is proposed and examined considering Queuing Theory in the light of spatial complexity and temporal complexity parameters. According to performance evaluation results, specially in urban areas, MsOF has much less spatial and temporal complexity considering conventional OF switch model as the number of input ports in an OF switch (N) increases. MsOF gains much memory space by deploying more tables with less memories, total of (n · k). Furthermore, with such a Multi-Stage deployment of flow tables, MsOF provides approximately 7 times less flow forwarding delay, compared with a conventional OF Switch for a network load more than %60.
Throughput Range Based on Concurrent Transmission in Wireless Mesh Networks

This paper seek to devise a new scalable and efficient solution to the problem of determining the throughput range using concurrent transmission in wireless mesh networks. After consideration of the conditions for the concurrent transmission scheduling, an easy and efficient algorithm in greedy mode is developed for scenario construction based on the analysis of the interference relationship. Simulation experiments show the improvement of the achievable throughput in wireless mesh networks and provide a helpful method for the decision of network size.
Running up Blueberry Hill: prototyping whole body interaction in harmony space

Musical harmony is considered to be one of the most abstract and technically difficult parts of music. It is generally taught formally via abstract, domain-specific concepts, principles, rules and heuristics. By contrast, when harmony is represented using an existing interactive desktop tool, Harmony Space, a new, parsimonious, but equivalently expressive, unified level of description emerges. This focuses not on abstract concepts, but on concrete locations, objects, areas and trajectories. This paper presents a design study of a prototype version of Harmony Space driven by whole body navigation, and characterizes the new opportunities presented for the principled manipulation of chord sequences and bass lines. These include: deeper engagement and directness; rich physical cues for memory and reflection, embodied engagement with rhythmic time constraints; hands which are free for other simultaneous activities (such as playing a traditional instrument); and qualitatively new possibilities for collaborative use.
Quantitative evaluation of ageing condition of oil-paper insulation using frequency domain characteristic extracted from modified cole-cole model

The service life of a transformer is determined by the condition of its oil-paper insulation. A modified Cole-Cole model was introduced to describe the frequency domain spectroscopy (FDS) curves based on the classic Debye relaxation model and thereby accurately determined the ageing state of the insulation of a power transformer using FDS. Oil-paper insulation samples with different ageing states are prepared under laboratory conditions, and a characteristic parameter is extracted to quantify their ageing states after a detailed investigation of the frequency domain dielectric properties of the samples. Results reveal that the modified Cole-Cole model, including the α relaxation components, dc and hopping conductivity components, can be employed to effectively model the frequency dielectric characteristics of oil-paper insulation. Furthermore, the extracted characteristic parameter from this model, τα, can be utilized in the quantitative evaluation of the ageing states of transformer insulation. A case example is discussed to demonstrate the applicability of the proposed technique in the condition assessment of field power transformers.
Sex hormone-binding globulin as an independent predictor of incident type 2 diabetes mellitus in men.

BACKGROUND Low levels of sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) and total testosterone (T) in men have been associated with increased risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). As total T and SHBG levels are highly correlated, we determined whether SHBG influences the risk of T2DM through T or whether SHBG is an independent predictor of T2DM. METHODS Longitudinal analyses were conducted on men participating in the Massachusetts Male Aging Study, a population-based study of men aged 40-70 years. Of 1,709 men enrolled in 1987-1989, 1,156 were evaluated 7-10 years later and 853 after 15-17 years. Analyses were restricted to 1,128 men without T2DM at baseline. RESULTS Ninety new cases of T2DM were identified. After adjustment for age, body mass index, hypertension, smoking, alcohol intake, and physical activity, the hazard ratio (HR) for incident T2DM was 2.0 for each 1 SD decrease in SHBG (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.42-2.82, p < .001) and 1.29 for each 1 SD decrease in total T (95% CI, 1.01-1.66, p = .04). Free T was not associated with T2DM (HR = 1.03, 95% CI, 0.81-1.31, p = .79). The strong association of T2DM risk with SHBG persisted even after additional adjustment for free T (HR = 2.04, 95% CI, 1.44-2.87, p < .0001) or total T (HR = 1.95, 95% CI, 1.34-2.82, p = .0004). CONCLUSIONS SHBG is an independent predictor of incident T2DM even after adjusting for free T or total T. Free T is not significantly associated with T2DM. SHBG may contribute to the risk of T2DM through nonandrogenic mechanisms, which should be investigated as they may provide novel targets for diabetes prevention.
A Two-dimensional Trim-Loss Problem with Sequencing Constraints

A two-dimensional trim-loss problem is considered in which the cutting is two-stage but there are constraints on the sequencing of the cutting of orders, A method is developed in which problem reduction is used to generate a set of possible cutting patterns at each step and an heuristic choice made of a pattern from that set. The sequences of patterns produced, although slightly sub-optimal as regards trimloss, fully satisfy the sequencing constraints.
Neuroprotective Activity of Thioctic Acid in Central Nervous System Lesions Consequent to Peripheral Nerve Injury

Peripheral neuropathies are heterogeneous disorders presenting often with hyperalgesia and allodynia. This study has assessed if chronic constriction injury (CCI) of sciatic nerve is accompanied by increased oxidative stress and central nervous system (CNS) changes and if these changes are sensitive to treatment with thioctic acid. Thioctic acid is a naturally occurring antioxidant existing in two optical isomers (+)- and (−)-thioctic acid and in the racemic form. It has been proposed for treating disorders associated with increased oxidative stress. Sciatic nerve CCI was made in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs) and in normotensive reference cohorts. Rats were untreated or treated intraperitoneally for 14 days with (+/−)-, (+)-, or (−)-thioctic acid. Oxidative stress, astrogliosis, myelin sheets status, and neuronal injury in motor and sensory cerebrocortical areas were assessed. Increase of oxidative stress markers, astrogliosis, and neuronal damage accompanied by a decreased expression of neurofilament were observed in SHR. This phenomenon was more pronounced after CCI. Thioctic acid countered astrogliosis and neuronal damage, (+)-thioctic acid being more active than (+/−)- or (−)-enantiomers. These findings suggest a neuroprotective activity of thioctic acid on CNS lesions consequent to CCI and that the compound may represent a therapeutic option for entrapment neuropathies.
A Learning Classifier System Approach to Clustering

This paper presents a novel approach to clustering using a simple accuracy-based learning classifier system. Our approach achieves this by exploiting the evolutionary computing and reinforcement learning techniques inherent to such systems. The purpose of the work is to develop an approach to learning rules which accurately describe clusters without prior assumptions as to their number within a given dataset. Favourable comparisons to the commonly used k-means algorithm are demonstrated on a number of datasets
Computational Characterization of Proteins Involved in Banana (Musa acuminata) Ripening

In fact, Banana contains a high level of easily digestible natural sugars in both their fresh and dried forms, which it releases quickly in the blood stream. It has an immense nutritional value and medicinal properties apart from be- ing an effective face pack. Any edible part of the plant, be it fruit, flower or stem, provides energy, vitamins and minerals. Cholesterol and fat content is minimal. Banana has the ability to correct acidity, gastritis and peptic ulcer. It is claimed that banana stimulates mucus production by stomach lining. Research shows that bananas contain certain enzyme inhibi- tors which are reported to be effective in controlling blood pressure in hypertensive people. Bananas are harvested when still green in order to better withstand transportation and to slow down the natural ripening process because of several weeks travel from the production areas to the end markets. There are a number of enzymes involved in the ripening proc- ess. The present work is principally aimed to computational study of these enzymes in view of understanding the ripening mechanism. The domains (conserved, 3- dimension region) of the specific enzymes, are identified using a computational tool, CDART (Conserved Domain Architecture Retrieval Tool). As a consequence, Aspartate aminotransferase (AAT_Like), Glycosyl hydrolase (Glyco_Hydr) and oxoglutarate (20G_Fe) were found to be the most conserved followed by Ethylene insensitive (EIN3), GT1, DPBB & Pollen in banana ripening proteins. The data, thus, obtained provide new insights in order to understand the stage specific role of the enzyme-proteins in the ripening process.
Appearance-based indoor navigation by IBVS using mutual information

This paper presents a complete framework for image-based navigation from an image memory that exploits mutual information and does not need any feature extraction, matching or any 3D information. The navigation path is represented by a set of automatically selected key images obtained during a prior learning phase. The shared information (entropy) between the current acquired image and nearby key images is exploited to switch key images during navigation. Based on the key images and the current image, the control law proposed by [1] is used to compute the rotational velocity of a mobile robot during its qualitative visual navigation. Using our approach, real-time navigation has been performed inside a corridor and inside a room with a Pioneer 3-DX equipped with an on-board perspective camera without the need of accurate mapping and localization.
Control and controllability of nonlinear dynamical networks: a geometrical approach

In spite of the recent interest and advances in linear controllability of complex networks, controlling nonlinear network dynamics remains to be an outstanding problem. We develop an experimentally feasible control framework for nonlinear dynamical networks that exhibit multistability (multiple coexisting final states or attractors), which are representative of, e.g., gene regulatory networks (GRNs). The control objective is to apply parameter perturbation to drive the system from one attractor to another, assuming that the former is undesired and the latter is desired. To make our framework practically useful, we consider RESTRICTED parameter perturbation by imposing the following two constraints: (a) it must be experimentally realizable and (b) it is applied only temporarily. We introduce the concept of ATTRACTOR NETWORK, in which the nodes are the distinct attractors of the system, and there is a directional link from one attractor to another if the system can be driven from the former to the latter using restricted control perturbation. Introduction of the attractor network allows us to formulate a controllability framework for nonlinear dynamical networks: a network is more controllable if the underlying attractor network is more strongly connected, which can be quantified. We demonstrate our control framework using examples from various models of experimental GRNs. A finding is that, due to nonlinearity, noise can counter-intuitively facilitate control of the network dynamics.
Arabidopsis PYL8 Plays an Important Role for ABA Signaling and Drought Stress Responses

Plants are frequently exposed to numerous environmental stresses such as dehydration and high salinity, and have developed elaborate mechanisms to counteract the deleterious effects of stress. The phytohormone abscisic acid (ABA) plays a critical role as an integrator of plant responses to water-limited condition to activate ABA signal transduction pathway. Although perception of ABA has been suggested to be important, the function of each ABA receptor remains elusive in dehydration condition. Here, we show that ABA receptor, pyrabactin resistance-like protein 8 (PYL8), functions in dehydration conditions. Transgenic plants overexpressing PYL8 exhibited hypersensitive phenotype to ABA in seed germination, seedling growth and establishment. We found that hypersensitivity to ABA of transgenic plants results in high degrees of stomatal closure in response to ABA leading to low transpiration rates and ultimately more vulnerable to drought than the wild-type plants. In addition, high expression of ABA maker genes also contributes to altered drought tolerance phenotype. Overall, this work emphasizes the importance of ABA signaling by ABA receptor in stomata during defense response to drought stress.