Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Ecosystem gas exchange across a created salt marsh chronosequence

Salt marshes created on dredge spoil were compared to natural marshes to evaluate the capacity of created marshes to perform carbon cycle functions. Several carbon cycle attributes were measured in eight created Spartina alterniflora Loisel salt marshes that ranged from one to 28 years, each paired with a nearby mature natural reference marsh. The attributes measured included gross primary production, respiration, net ecosystem exchange, potential microbial respiration (CH4 and CO2), and aboveground biomass. In situ exchange rates of CO2 and plant biomass in created marshes met or exceeded those of reference marshes in three to four years. There was some evidence that ecosystem gas exchange in created marshes developed slightly faster than aboveground biomass production. Soil carbon mineralization per gram carbon was generally higher in the created marshes than reference marshes, suggesting higher carbon quality and/or nutrient availability in the created marshes. However, carbon mineralization rates per gram soil were relatively low in the created marshes due to lower soil organic matter content. With proper construction, we suggest most major carbon fluxes can be established in created salt marshes in less than five years.
Influence of the input image resolution on the staircase detection

Camera based assistance systems for the blind and visually impaired are still in a preliminary stage. Image processing techniques have already been used for the obstacle detection but the real-time processing still significantly depends on the input image resolution. This paper elaborates on the problem of staircase detection for the blind and visually impaired emphasizing the input image resolution. The evaluation of successful staircase detection is made by using different input resolutions. Choosing the appropriate input resolution is crucial to achieve optimal performance and find the compromise between accuracy and processing speed. The experiment is conducted on a dataset of frames in 5 different resolutions taken from video sequences.
Testosterone and metabolic syndrome: a meta-analysis study.

INTRODUCTION Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is often associated with male hypogonadism. Despite the well-known link, the role of testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) in MetS has not been completely clarified. AIM To systematically analyse the relationship between androgen levels and MetS we performed a review and meta-analyses of available prospective and cross-sectional studies. In addition, a specific meta-analysis on the metabolic effects of TRT in available randomized clinical trials (RCTs) was also performed. METHODS An extensive Medline search was performed including the following words "testosterone,""metabolic syndrome," and "males". MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Out of 323 retrieved articles, 302 articles were excluded for different reasons. Among the 20 published studies included, 13, 3, and 4 were cross-sectional, longitudinal, and RCTs, respectively. Another unpublished RCT was retrieved on http://www.clinicaltrials. gov. RESULTS MetS patients showed significantly lower T plasma levels, as compared with healthy individuals. Similar results were obtained when MetS subjects with and without erectile dysfunction were analyzed separately or when NCEP-ATPIII MetS criteria were compared with other definitions. Meta-regression analysis demonstrated that type 2 diabetes (T2DM) increased the MetS-associated T fall. In a multiple regression model, after adjusting for age and BMI, both T2DM and MetS independently predicted low testosterone (adj. r = -0.752; P < 0.001 and -0.271; P < 0.05, respectively). Analysis of longitudinal studies demonstrated that baseline testosterone was significantly lower among patients with incident MetS in comparison with controls (2.17 [-2.41;-1.94] nmol/L; P < 0.0001). Combining the results of RCTs, TRT was associated with a significant reduction of fasting plasma glucose, homeostatic model assessment index, triglycerides, and waist circumference. In addition, an increase of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol was also observed. CONCLUSIONS The meta-analysis of the available cross-sectional data suggests that MetS can be considered an independent association of male hypogonadism. Although only few RCTs have been reported, TRT seems to improve metabolic control, as well as central obesity.
Multivariate Hidden Markov Models for Personal Smartphone Sensor Data: Time Series Analysis

Smartphone-based human activity recognition (HAR) offers growing value for health research. We applied offline Hidden Markov Models (HMMs) to multivariate smartphone sensor data, classifying individual behaviour into a time series of states. We used supervised HMMs, validated using ground-truth data from a small self-report study. The HMMs achieved reasonable accuracy in classifying phone off-person vs. phone on-person, off-vehicle vs. on-vehicle, and phone off-person vs. sitting vs. standing vs. walking, for some participants. Strong evidence suggests that poor accuracy in other cases was caused by participant mislabeling, though HMM shortcomings contributed.
Enhancing Learning Paths with Concept Clustering and Rule-Based Optimization

Finding a good learning path with respect to existing reference paths of closely related concepts is very challenging yet important for effective course teaching and especially adaptive e-learning systems. There are various approaches including ontology analysis to extract the key concepts which could then be correlated to one another using an implicit or explicit knowledge structure for relevant courses. With the available correlation information, an effective optimizer can ultimately return a good learning path according to its predefined objective function. In this paper, we propose to obtain more thorough correlation information through concept clustering, which will then be passed to our rule-based genetic algorithm to search for better learning path(s). To demonstrate the feasibility of our proposal, a prototype of our ontology analyser enhanced with concept clustering and rule-based optimizer was implemented. Its performance was thoroughly studied and compared favorably against the benchmarking shortest-path optimizer on actual courses. More importantly, our proposal can be easily integrated into existing e-learning systems, and has significant impacts for adaptive or personalized e-learning systems through enhanced ontology analysis.
Symptomatic, Partial Union of the Hook of the Hamate Fracture in Athletes *

Background Many clinicians believe that after fracture of the hook of the hamate, nonunions are the rule rather than the exception. Purpose To describe a previously unreported condition in which the fractured hook of the hamate unites only along its ulnar column and causes pain similar to that in cases of nonunion. Study Design Retrospective review. Methods Eight patients who had sustained a hook of the hamate fracture were identified, on the basis of their persistent pain, as having achieved only partial union. This diagnosis was made despite evidence on computed tomography of healed bone across a significant portion of the fracture. All eight patients underwent subperiosteal excision of the hamulus because of persistent pain. At an average of 4 years after excision, each patient was evaluated by dynamometer grip strength testing and a subjective outcome assessment. Results All patients were able to return to their preinjury level of sports participation at an average 8 weeks after excision of the hook of the hamate. Grip strength was not adversely affected in any patient. Subjective evaluation of each patient revealed no residual pain. Conclusions Chronic or unresolved pain on the ulnar side of the wrist after hook of the hamate fracture can be due to partial union. This condition should be managed no differently from a symptomatic nonunion, with excision of the hook of the hamate and repair of the ligament attachments.
Substitutions in the BamA β-Barrel Domain Overcome the Conditional Lethal Phenotype of a ΔbamB ΔbamE Strain of Escherichia coli

ABSTRACT BamA interacts with the BamBCDE lipoproteins, and together they constitute the essential β-barrel assembly machine (BAM) of Escherichia coli. The simultaneous absence of BamB and BamE confers a conditional lethal phenotype and a severe β-barrel outer membrane protein (OMP) biogenesis defect. Without BamB and BamE, wild-type BamA levels are significantly reduced, and the folding of the BamA β-barrel, as assessed by the heat-modifiability assay, is drastically compromised. Single-amino-acid substitutions in the β-barrel domain of BamA improve both bacterial growth and OMP biogenesis in a bamB bamE mutant and restore BamA levels close to the BamB+ BamE+ level. The substitutions alter BamA β-barrel folding, and folding in the mutants becomes independent of BamB and BamE. Remarkably, BamA β-barrel alterations also improve OMP biogenesis in cells lacking the major periplasmic chaperone, SurA, which, together with BamB, is thought to facilitate the transfer of partially folded OMPs to the soluble POTRA (polypeptide-transport-associated) domain of BamA. Unlike the bamB bamE mutant background, the absence of BamB or SurA does not affect BamA β-barrel folding. Thus, substitutions in the outer membrane-embedded BamA β-barrel domain overcome OMP biogenesis defects that occur at the POTRA domain of BamA in the periplasm. Based on the structure of FhaC, the altered BamA residues are predicted to lie on a highly conserved loop that folds inside the β-barrel and in regions pointing outside the β-barrel, suggesting that they influence BamA function by both direct and indirect mechanisms.
Sustainable Urban Renewal and Built Heritage Conservation in a Global Real Estate Revolution

Abstract: A global real estate revolution has been transforming the urban landscape everywhere. Development and redevelopment projects have mixed with, if not become an integral part of, real estate construction. At the same time, there is a drive to commodification in this revolution, as shown by a growing trend to conserve built heritage in new development projects characterised by the rise of museums. This paper reviews some examples of attempts in various parts of the world to combine real estate development and conservation and applies the fourth Coase theorem to explore how built heritage conservation and urban renewal in Hong Kong, hitherto problematic in terms of their invasion of private property, can become a win-win outcome in the context of this global real estate revolution.
Open complex formation by DnaA initiation protein at the Escherichia coli chromosomal origin requires the 13‐mers precisely spaced relative to the 9‐mers

The 245 bp chromosomal origin, oriC, of Escherichia coli contains two iterated motifs. Three 13‐mers tandemly repeated at one end of the origin and four 9‐mers in a nearby segment of oriC are highly conserved in enteric bacteria, as is the distance separating these two sequence clusters. Mutant origins were constructed with altered spacing of the 9‐mers relative to the 13‐mers. Loss or addition of even a single base drastically reduced replication, both in vivo and in vitro. Spacing mutant origins bound effectively to DnaA protein but failed to support efficient open complex formation. These results suggest that interaction with the 9‐mers positions at least one subunit of DnaA to recognize directly the nearest 13‐mer for DNA melting.
Contract and Copyright

I ought to begin by confessing that my title Contract and Copyright is deceptive—though I deny that it violates the Lanham Act. I will mention other kinds of intellectual property. And my interest is not limited to contracts, either. But the title is catchy and captures the main point: that what copyright and other IP law does is create property rights in information, after which normal rules of contract and property law determine who uses that information. Intellectual property has been a magnet for assertions that, because law is necessary to create the property right, law also should determine how that right is used.1 But both the premise and the deduction are faulty. Government has no more role in creating rights in knowledge than it does in creating rights in land or artwork—and if it does have such a role, still that does not imply that IP should be treated differently from physical asset
Enhancement of pairwise error probability performance in MIMO-OFDMA system using one-third ICI-SC subcarrier mapping technique with STFBC

Orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA) is broadly used in wireless communication system such as Mobile WiMAX and LTE. It is simply because of efficient usage of bandwidth, simple receiver and multiuser diversity. However, its major drawback is vulnerability to frequency offset (FO) which can wipe out the orthogonality of the subcarriers. This will lead to inter-carrier interference (ICI) that will deteriorate the system performance. In order to solve this issue, one-third subcarrier mapping scheme techniques with ICI self-cancellation (ICI-SC) method using data allocation in space-time-frequency block codes (STFBC) in MIMO-OFDMA system is proposed. The proposed technique is evaluated through Pairwise Error Probability (PEP) and Bit Error Rate (BER) performances. From the simulation results, one-third ICI-SC subcarrier mapping scheme with STFBC shows the best result for the MIMO-OFDMA system.
Synthesis of VHDL code for FPGA design flow using Xilinx PlanAhead tool

This paper addresses a synthesis process of VHDL code for FPGA design flow using Xilinx PlanAhead tool. This tool provide a low power profile, more hard IP functionality, create a global timing constraint, lower node capacitance & architectural innovations, cost of development, very high DSP performance hardware solutions and easily can be evolutionary algorithms, reconfigured to the development of whole compiler, simulation and synthesis frameworks. It is handle dense logic and memory elements offering very high logic capacity. The logic blocks are replicated in FPGA with interconnects and input-output blocks. This approach attached a new created VHDL code and generate of register-transfer level (RTL) hardware description language (HDL). In this paper, we have presented the FPGA approach of interconnection and its flexibility on example through synthesis process, simulations and implemented results are detailed.
Spectral analysis of heart rate variability as a quantitative measure of parasympatholytic effect--integrated pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of three anticholinergic drugs.

The time course and concentration-effect relationship of parasympatholytic effects of three anticholinergic drugs were investigated using spectral analysis of heart rate (HR) variability. Single intravenous (i.v.) doses of atropine (10 microg/kg), glycopyrrolate (5 microg/kg), scopolamine (5 microg/kg), and placebo were given to eight healthy volunteers in a double-blind, randomized cross-over study. Electrocardiogram (ECG) was recorded at baseline and 2.5, 5, 10, 20, and 30 minutes, and 1, 1.5, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 hours after drug administration, while the subjects breathed at a fixed 0.25 Hz frequency. The powers of two frequency bands (low frequency [LF] = 0.07-0.15 Hz and high frequency [HF] = 0.15-0.40 Hz) were calculated using stationary time series of R-R intervals (RRI) free from ectopic beats. To perform pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic (PK-PD) modeling, venous plasma drug concentrations were measured. Atropine and glycopyrrolate, and, to a lesser extent, scopolamine induced decreases in HF power and increases in LF/HF ratio of HR variability, indicating parasympatholytic activity and corresponding changes in sympathovagal balance. Maximal average decreases in HF power were 99%, 94%, and 82%, respectively, but in two scopolamine subjects, a parasympathomimetic effect was dominant. Interindividual variability was least for the Hayano index of HF power (square root (RRI HF-power)/RRI*100), and profound and consistent decreases were seen after atropine and glycopyrrolate. Pharmacokinetics were best fitted to a two-compartment open model, and effect compartment link modeling using the Hayano index was performed with the atropine and glycopyrrolate data. The best description of the PK-PD relationship for both drugs was achieved using the sigmoidal Emax model. Mean (+/-SD) EC50, sigmoidicity factor (gamma), and equilibration rate constant (k(e0)) estimates were 1.35 (+/-0.27) ng/mL, 6.07 (+/-1.98) and 11.0 (+/-5.28) l/h for atropine and 1.35 (+/-0.49) ng/mL, 4.34 (+/-1.55) and 2.26 (+/-0.81) l/h for glycopyrrolate. Spectral analysis of HR variability appears to be a powerful tool in monitoring parasympatholytic drug activity. A sigmoidal Emax model with an extremely steep concentration-response relationship was revealed for atropine and glycopyrrolate. The effects of scopolamine were more incongruous.
Investigation of Factors Affecting Online Knowledge Sharing of Knowledge Training Centers in the MENA Region

The study applied Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use ofTechnology (UTAUT) Model in the voluntary context of online knowledgesharing of knowledge training centers in the MENA region. Quantitative datawere collected from a sample of 296 managers. Statistical analysis of the study’smodel was conducted using structural equation modeling technique. Empiricalinvestigation of the model’s hypotheses has indicated that knowledge trainingcenters managers’ “intention to use” online knowledge sharing is dependent onperformance expectancy and effort expectancy, while the social influence hasinsignificant effect on online knowledge sharing. On the other hand, knowledgetraining centers managers’ usage behavior depends on facilitating conditionsand intention to use. This study empirically validated the UTAUT model in thecontext of knowledge training centers in the MENA region, especially withinArab culture, which represents a group of developing countries which did nothave adequate studies that could explain the usage behavior of new technology.
GHGs emissions from waste disposal in Lombardia (Italy): inventory 1975-2008 and projections 2009-2020

A survey has been conducted across all MSW landfills with gas extraction system in the Lombardia Region (Italy) in order to collect data for an emission inventory assessment of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the timeframe 1975-2008. The survey results identified a large number of landfills opened over the last 35 years and characterized by different kinds and amounts of waste disposed. Using the IPCC methodology, GHG emissions in the year 2008 were quantified to be 1.81 Mt CO2-eq, which corresponds to 1.9% of overall GHG emissions in Lombardia. A dependency between collection efficiency and age of the collecting network has been established and used for the projection of GHG emission in the period 2009-2020, and for two scenarios: a business as usual (BAU) and an alternative one that implies policies to reduce biodegradable carbon content in the residual waste. The latter allows for a 45% reduction of the GHG emissions in 2020 compared to the year 2008, whereas in the BAU scenario the expected reduction is 32%. The sensitivity analysis shows that a variation of parameters that represent the carbon content of the waste category and degradation rate constant, within the range reported in the literature, could affect GHG emission level by about ±18%, whereas the uncertainty due to landfill gas (LFG) composition is less relevant.
Scientific shortcomings in environmental impact statements internationally

Governments around the world rely on environmental impact assessment (EIA) to provide rigorous analyses and an accurate appraisal of the risks and benefits of development. But how rigorous are the analyses conducted in EIAs, and how do they compare across nations? We evaluate the output from EIAs for jurisdictions in seven countries, focusing on scope (temporal and spatial), mitigation actions, and impact significance determination, which is integral for decision-making. We find that in all jurisdictions, the number of identified significant adverse impacts was consistently small (or nonexistent), regardless of context. Likely contributing to this uniformity, we find that the scopes of analyses are consistently narrower than warranted ecologically and toxicologically, many proposed mitigation measures are assumed to be effective with little to no justification,and that the professional judgement of developer-paid consultants is overwhelmingly the determinant of impact significance, with no transparent account of the reasoning processes involved. EIA can be salvaged as a rigorous, credible decision-aiding tool if rigor is enforced in assessment methodologies, regulators are empowered to enforce rigor, and pro-development conflict of interest is avoided.
Design of a tailor‐made platform for syngas bioconversion into polyhydroxybutyrate

Biodegradable polymers such as polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) are part of the emerging portfolio of renewable materials, which are addressing the issue of plastic waste. Syngas, as a cheap, renewable and sustainable resource that can be obtained from biomass or waste, is viewed as an excellent feedstock for different bioprocesses, including syngas to PHB bioconversion. However, due to the hazardous nature of syngas, it is of utmost importance to consider safety aspects of the process. This recently developed tailor‐made platform for safe syngas fermentation and PHB production addresses safety aspects and demonstrates the importance of robust online and in‐line analytical tools allowing for monitoring and controlling of this bioprocess.
m‐trifluoromethyl diphenyl diselenide attenuates glutaric acid‐induced seizures and oxidative stress in rat pups: Involvement of the γ‐aminobutyric acidergic system

Glutaric acidemia type I (GA‐I) is an inherited metabolic disease characterized by accumulation of glutaric acid (GA) and seizures. The intrastriatal GA administration in rats has been used as an animal model to mimic seizures presented by glutaric acidemic patients. m‐Trifluoromethyl diphenyl diselenide, (m‐CF3‐C6H4Se)2, is an organoselenium compound that protects against seizures induced by pentylenetetrazole in mice. Thus, the aim of this study was to investigate whether (m‐CF3‐C6H4Se)2 is effective against GA‐induced seizures and oxidative stress in rat pups 21 days of age. Our findings demonstrate that (m‐CF3‐C6H4Se)2 preadministration (50 mg/kg; p.o.) protected against the reduction in latency and the increased duration of GA (1.3 μmol/right striatum)‐induced seizures in rat pups. In addition, (m‐CF3‐C6H4Se)2 protected against the increase in reactive species generation and the reduction in antioxidant defenses glutathione peroxidase and glutathione S‐transferase activities induced by GA. By contrast, no change in glutathione reductase or catalase activities was found. In addition, (m‐CF3‐C6H4Se)2 was effective in protecting against inhibition of Na+,K+‐ATPase activity caused by GA in striatum of rat pups. This study showed for the first time that GA administration caused an increase in [3H]GABA uptake from striatum slices of rat pups and that (m‐CF3‐C6H4Se)2 preadministration protected against this increase. A positive correlation between duration of seizures and [3H]GABA uptake levels was demonstrated. The results indicate that (m‐CF3‐C6H4Se)2 protected against GA‐induced seizures. Moreover, these findings suggest that the protection against oxidative stress, the inhibition of Na+,K+‐ATPase activity, and the increase in [3H]GABA uptake are possible mechanisms for the potential anticonvulsant action of (m‐CF3‐C6H4Se)2. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.