Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Moving beyond abundance distributions: neutral theory and spatial patterns in a tropical forest

Assessing the relative importance of different processes that determine the spatial distribution of species and the dynamics in highly diverse plant communities remains a challenging question in ecology. Previous modelling approaches often focused on single aggregated forest diversity patterns that convey limited information on the underlying dynamic processes. Here, we use recent advances in inference for stochastic simulation models to evaluate the ability of a spatially explicit and spatially continuous neutral model to quantitatively predict six spatial and non-spatial patterns observed at the 50 ha tropical forest plot on Barro Colorado Island, Panama. The patterns capture different aspects of forest dynamics and biodiversity structure, such as annual mortality rate, species richness, species abundance distribution, beta-diversity and the species–area relationship (SAR). The model correctly predicted each pattern independently and up to five patterns simultaneously. However, the model was unable to match the SAR and beta-diversity simultaneously. Our study moves previous theory towards a dynamic spatial theory of biodiversity and demonstrates the value of spatial data to identify ecological processes. This opens up new avenues to evaluate the consequences of additional process for community assembly and dynamics.
In vivo cardiac electrophysiology studies in the mouse.

BACKGROUND This report describes a novel in vivo mouse epicardial cardiac electrophysiology study based on clinical protocols used to evaluate cardiac conduction in human patients. The technique allows extensive electrophysiological evaluation, including the response to pacing, programmed stimulation, and pharmacological agents. METHODS AND RESULTS Surface six-lead ECG data from 18 C57BL/6J mice are presented. Normal cardiac conduction properties for 14 of 18 mice that underwent the procedure are summarized, including determination of sinus node recovery times, AV conduction properties, and atrial, AV, and ventricular effective refractory periods. A subset of six mice was studied after the administration of either procainamide (n = 3) or quinidine (n = 3). All animals in the procainamide group developed either second-degree or complete AV block spontaneously. The sinus cycle length and refractory periods prolonged on procainamide or quinidine, but no tachyarrhythmias could be induced with atrial or ventricular programmed stimulation. CONCLUSIONS This mouse electrophysiology method allows rapid assessment of the conduction properties of the murine heart. The ability to analyze cardiac conduction in normal and transgenic mice provides a powerful tool for examining molecular electrophysiological mechanisms in normal physiology and disease states.
Zone scales as a universal language of design

A hierarchical approach to the description of structure formation processes in arts is presented, which describes the development of various zone structures in music, literature and the visual arts in a uniform way. A new look at the phonemic organization of language is suggested, and the role of vowel successions in speech is related to that of melody in music. This analogy is specifically applied to poetical intonation. Experimental tests of the theory are proposed, and the possible practical applications are discussed.
Structural breaks and nonlinearity in US and UK public debts

This article investigates the short-term dynamics of public debts in the United States and the United Kingdom over more than four decades. We check for structural changes in the data and assess nonlinearity and switching-regime hypotheses using several linearity tests. Our findings point to multiple structural breaks due to economic downturns, oil shocks and financial and political instability. We also identify different regimes for which the adjustment is asymmetric and nonlinear, in particular, since 2003 and around the Great Recession.
A polymorphism of the endothelin-converting enzyme ( ECE-1 ) gene and the susceptibility to sporadic late-onset Alzheimer ’ s disease and coronary artery disease

The human endothelin-converting enzyme (ECE) is involved in β-amyloid synthesis and regulation of the endothelin-1 (ET-1) vasoconstricting peptide. We investigated the distribution of the C-338A polymorphism of the ECE-1b gene in sporadic late-onset Alzheimer’s disease (LOAD) and in coronary artery disease (CAD) to verify its role in the onset of these two complex diseases. Two cohorts of 458 Italian Caucasian LOAD patients and 165 CAD patients were examined for the C-338A polymorphism and compared with respective control samples (260 and 106 subjects, respectively) . The A allele was less present in LOAD patients than in controls, but an at limits statistically significant difference was achieved only in subjects aged less than 80 years, where only the AA genotypes appeared to have a protective role against the onset of the sporadic LOAD. For the overall CAD sample the pattern was similar and significant differences were observed only in subjects non carrying the apolipoprotein E (APOE) e*4 allele, where the A allele carrying genotypes had a protective role against the onset of the disease.
The effects of menu design on information-seeking performance and user's attitude on the World Wide Web

As the Web becomes more popular, the interest in effective navigation is increasing. Menu design is becoming a central issue of human computer interface design as the focus of computer applications moves from the computer as a machine to the human as a user. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of three different Web menu designs (a simple selection menu, a global and local navigation menu, and a pull-down menu) on users' information-seeking performance and attitudes. Three Cyber-shopping mall Web sites were developed for the experiment. These Web sites had the same content and a constant information structure, but each had a different menu design. The results showed different effect of menu design on both searching performance and browsing performance. More specifically, participants' searching performance was superior in the pull-down menu condition compared to the global and local navigation menu and the simple selection menu conditions. Browsing task performance was the fastest with the global and local navigation menu. However, there were no significant differences among three menu designs in terms of users' perception on appeal of the Web site and disorientation.
AIM-AWE technique for surface-wire integral equation

The adaptive integral method (AIM) in conjunction with the asymptotic waveform evaluation (AWE) technique is utilized to deal with broadband electromagnetic problems of surface-wire junction geometries in this paper. The method of moments (MoM) is applied to the surface-wire integral equation (SWIE). And currents on conductor and wire surfaces are expanded by Padé approximant with respect to frequency to achieve fast frequency sweeping. The AIM is employed to reduce computation time and storage of higher-order derivatives of impedance matrices in the AWE. Numerical results show good efficiency and accuracy of the proposed method.
Propagation of slow waves requires IP3 receptors and mitochondrial Ca2+ uptake in canine colonic muscles

In the gastrointestinal (GI) tract electrical slow waves yield oscillations in membrane potential that periodically increase the open probability of voltage‐dependent Ca2+ channels and facilitate phasic contractions. Slow waves are generated by the interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC), and these events actively propagate through ICC networks within the walls of GI organs. The mechanism that entrains spontaneously active pacemaker sites throughout ICC networks to produce regenerative propagation of slow waves is unresolved. Agents that block inositol 1,4,5‐trisphosphate (IP3) receptors and mitochondrial Ca2+ uptake were tested on the generation of slow waves in the canine colon. A partitioned chamber apparatus was used to test the effects of blocking slow‐wave generation on propagation. We found that active propagation occurred along strips of colonic muscle, but when the pacemaker mechanism was blocked in a portion of the tissue, slow waves decayed exponentially from the point where the pacemaker mechanism was inhibited. An IP3 receptor inhibitor, mitochondrial inhibitors, low external Ca2+, and divalent cations (Mn2+ and Ni2+) caused exponential decay of the slow waves in regions of muscle exposed to these agents. These data demonstrate that the mechanism that initiates slow waves is reactivated from cell‐to‐cell during the propagation of slow waves. Voltage‐dependent conductances present in smooth muscle cells are incapable of slow‐wave regeneration. The data predict that partial loss of or disruptions to ICC networks observed in human motility disorders could lead to incomplete penetration of slow waves through GI organs and, thus, to defects in myogenic regulation.
Effects of regenerative radioelectric asymmetric conveyer treatment on human normal and osteoarthritic chondrocytes exposed to IL-1β. A biochemical and morphological study

Purpose Osteoarthritis (OA) is a degenerative disease characterized by a progressive loss of articular cartilage extracellular matrix and is due to functional impairments occurring in chondrocytes. In previous works, we highlighted that Regenerative Tissue Optimization (TO-RGN) treatment with radioelectric asymmetric conveyer (REAC) technology influenced the gene expression profiles controlling stem cell differentiation and the pluripotency of human skin-derived fibroblasts in vitro. Since interleukin-1 beta signaling has been implicated in the induction and progression of this disease (through metalloproteinase-3 synthesis and nitric oxide production), we investigated whether REAC TO-RGN might influence the biochemical and morphological changes induced by interleukin-1 beta in normal and OA chondrocytes. Methods The induction of metalloproteinase-3 and proteoglycan synthesis was evaluated by a solid-phase enzyme-amplified sensitivity immunoassay, and nitric oxide production was evaluated with the Griess method. Ultrastructural features were observed by transmission electron microscopy. Results REAC TO-RGN treatment decreased nitric oxide and metalloproteinase-3 production in normal and OA chondrocytes, while inducing an increase in proteoglycan synthesis. OA chondrocytes were more affected by REAC TO-RGN treatment than were normal chondrocytes. Ultrastructural changes confirmed that REAC TO-RGN may counteract the negative effects of interleukin-1 beta incubation. Conclusion The results of this in vitro study suggest that REAC TO-RGN treatment may represent a new, promising approach for the management of OA.
Title H ∞ and positive-real control for linear neutral delay systems

This note is concerned with the and positive-real control problems for linear neutral delay systems. The purpose of control is the design of a memoryless state feedback controller which stabilizes the neutral delay system and reduces the norm of the closed-loop transfer function from the disturbance to the controlled output to a prescribed level, while the purpose of positive-real control is to design a memoryless state feedback controller such that the resulting closed-loop system is stable and the closed-loop transfer function is extended strictly positive real. Sufficient conditions for the existence of the desired controllers are given in terms of a linear matrix inequality (LMI). When this LMI is feasible, the expected memoryless state feedback controllers can be easily constructed via convex optimization.
The spatial scaling effect of canopy FAPAR retrieved by remote sensing

Climate and land-atmosphere models rely on accurate land-surface parameters, such as the Fraction of Absorbed Photo synthetically Active Radiation (FAPAR). It is known that FAPAR values retrieved from remote sensing images suffer from scaling effects. Scaling transformation aims to derive accurate FAPAR values at a specific scale from values at other scales. In this paper, scaling effect mechanism and the scale transformation algorithm are derived using Taylor series expansion method based on FAPAR-P model, after the model was simplified. The scaling algorithm was validated in Heihe River Basin. The multiscale FAPAR are inversed from of 5 m, 50 m and 100 m hyperspectral reflectance data. The scale transformation formula was used and the results agreed well with the actual values.
Increased UGT 1 A 3 and UGT 1 A 7 Expression is Associated with Pancreatic Cancer

Pancreatic cancer is one of the most lethal human malignancies and the seventh most common cancer (Jemal et al., 2011; Afsar et al., 2014). Data from Asia show pancreatic cancer is a high aggressive malignant tumor and has a low survival rate (Chen et al., 2013; Zahir et al., 2013; Bayoglu et al., 2014; Wang et al., 2014). Pancreatic cancer has high rate of metastases (Canyilmaz et al., 2013). The prognosis of patients with advanced stage pancreatic cancer is much worse than for those with early stage disease. Unfortunately, more than 80% of pancreatic cancer patients were in an advanced stage when diagnosed (Huang et al., 2009; Liu et al., 2014) U r i d i n e 5 ’ d i p h o s p h a t e ( U D P ) glucuronosyltransferases (UGTs) are an important group of phase II drug metabolism enzymes in humans (Tukey and Strassburg, 2000). The human UDPglucuronosyltransferases (UGTs) are a superfamily of proteins which perform a key process in endobiotic and xenobiotic metabolism (Strassburg et al., 1999a) UGTs catalyze the glucuronidation of many important endogenous compounds such as bilirubin, bile acids, thyroid hormone, and steroid hormones as well as substantial exogenous substrates including many therapeutic drugs, heterocyclic and polycyclic hydrocarbons, and heterocyclic amines, which are known human carcinogens (Vogel et al., 2001; Ockenga et al., 2003; Nakamura et al., 2008).
APPLYING FUNCTION POINT ANALYSIS TO EFFORT ESTIMATION IN CONFIGURATOR DEVELOPMENT

Knowledge-based configuration is a successful application of Artificial Intelligence approaches in industry (e.g. telecommunication industry, financial services, or automotive industry). The increasing complexity of configurable products and services necessitated improved expressiveness and maintainability of knowledge representation languages empowering the development and maintenance of large and complex configuration knowledge bases. Within the context of such configuration projects, the effective integration of effort estimation techniques considering the peculiarities of configuration system development is still an open issue. We discuss the application of Function Point Analysis (FPA) (a standard Software Engineering method for determining implementation efforts) in the context of knowledge-based configuration projects and present a framework for a company-specific implementation.
Classification for Working Co m fortable based on Extracted Color Features

Now that color control in an office space is possible thanks to the advancement of full-color LED lighting fixtures, color preference by the office workers have played important roles in working comfort. To estimate what colors are preferred by the office workers in an office space, it is necessary to analyze what color is present in what location within the given space. Furthermore, to create a diverse office space that is comprised of the office worker’s preferred color space, there must be an index which could evaluate for the type of office space each worker prefers as well as what impression the actual workspace leaves on the workers. The aim of this study is to build a model which extracts color space features from the spaces the workers prefer and to evaluate the office spaces. In this paper, we propose a method to create an office space evaluation model which takes into consideration the accent color of the space based on feature values which are extracted using the CIELUV colorimetric system and the k-means method. Also, we evaluate the test subjects’ workspace by using the proposed model.
I need someone to help!: a taxonomy of helper-finding activities in the enterprise

Finding the right person to ask for help is a difficult task within a large enterprise. While there are a few studies detailing practices for finding an expert often in the context of an expertise locator system, there are fewer studies on workplace practices and challenges for finding a person who can help, especially independent of any particular technology. We conducted a two-part study of helper-finding activities with 36 enterprise workers, representing different job roles and levels of experience. First, we present a taxonomy of workplace helper-finding needs that involves tasks, topics, and helper selection criteria, developed by analyzing two weeks of participant diaries describing helper-finding problems. Second, we present the results of follow-up interviews with each participant, focusing on helper-finding challenges in the workplace. Finally, we present design implications for systems aimed at supporting helper-finding in the workplace.
Hadronic Interaction Models and the Air Shower Simulation Program CORSIKA

The Monte Carlo program CORSIKA simulates the 4-dimensional evolution of extensive air showers in the atmosphere initiated by photons, hadrons or nuclei. It contains links to the hadronic interaction models DPMJET, HDPM, neXus, QGSJET, SIBYLL, and VENUS. These codes are employed to treat the hadronic interactions at energies above 80 GeV. Since their first implementation in 1996 the models DPMJET and SIBYLL have been revised to versions II.5 [1] and 2.1 [2], respectively. Also the treatment of diffractive interactions by QGSJET has been slightly improved [3]. The models DPMJET, QGSJET and SIBYLL claim to be able to simulate collisions even at the highest energies reaching up to 10 eV which are at the focus of present research. The recently added neXus 2 program [4] uses a unified approach combining Gribov-Regge theory and perturbative QCD. This model is based on the universality hypothesis of the behaviour of high-energy interactions and presently works up to 10 eV. A comparison of simulations performed with different models gives an indication on the systematic uncertainties of simulated air shower properties which arise from the extrapolations to energies, kinematic ranges, or projectile-target combinations not covered by man-made colliders. Results obtained with the most actual programs are presented.
Oncolytic Alphaviruses in Cancer Immunotherapy

Oncolytic viruses show specific targeting and killing of tumor cells and therefore provide attractive assets for cancer immunotherapy. In parallel to oncolytic viral vectors based on adenoviruses and herpes simplex viruses, oncolytic RNA viruses and particularly alphaviruses have been evaluated as delivery vehicles. Immunization studies in experimental rodent models for various cancers including glioblastoma, hematologic, hepatocellular, colon, cervix, and lung cancer as well as melanoma have been conducted with naturally occurring oncolytic alphavirus strains such as M1 and Sindbis AR339. Moreover, animals were vaccinated with engineered oncolytic replication-deficient and -competent Semliki Forest virus, Sindbis virus and Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus vectors expressing various antigens. Vaccinations elicited strong antibody responses and resulted in tumor growth inhibition, tumor regression and even complete tumor eradication. Vaccination also led to prolonged survival in several animal models. Furthermore, preclinical evaluation demonstrated both prophylactic and therapeutic efficacy of oncolytic alphavirus administration. Clinical trials in humans have mainly been limited to safety studies so far.
Pedunculopontine nucleus stimulation induces monocular oscillopsia

Two patients with Parkinson’s disease with pedunculopontine nucleus (PPN) stimulation for gait impairments reported “trembling vision” during the setting of the electrical parameters, although there was no clinically observable abnormal eye movement. Oculomotor recordings revealed frequency locked voltage dependent vertical or oblique movements of the eye ipsilateral to the active contact, suggesting current spreading to the mesencephalic oculomotor fibres. These results emphasise the difficulty of stimulating this mesencephalic region.
Agent-based computational economics: Studying the effect of different levels of rationality on inflation and unemployment

This paper presents an agent-based computational economics model (ACE) to study demand-pull and cost-push inflation. Moreover, it studies the effect of different levels of rationality on the equilibrium price and unemployment rate. The model examines three different economies. In the first economy workers choose firms randomly, in the second economy there is loyalty between workers and firms. In the last scenario workers are persistence to find jobs. Simulations show that there is a positive relationship between equilibrium price and level of rationality while there is a negative relationship with unemployment rate. Moreover, the model is able to reproduce the behaviour of demand-pull inflation and cost-push inflation without homogeneous and perfectly rational agents assumptions.
Learning near-optimal decision rules for energy efficient building control

Recent studies suggest that advanced optimization based control methods such as model predictive control (MPC) can increase energy efficiency of buildings. However, adoption of these methods by industry is still slow, as building operators are used to working with simple controllers based on intuitive decision rules that can be tuned easily on-site. In this paper, we suggest a synthesis procedure for rule based controllers that extracts prevalent information from simulation data with MPC controllers to construct a set of human readable rules while preserving much of the control performance. The method is based on the AdaBoost algorithm from the field of machine learning. We focus on learning binary decisions, considering also the ranking and selection of measurements on which the decision rules are based. We show that this feature selection is useful for both complexity reduction and decreasing investment costs by pruning unnecessary sensors. The proposed method is evaluated in simulation for six different case studies and is shown to maintain the high performance of MPC despite the tremendous reduction in complexity.
The Risk Spiral: The Effects of Bank Capital and Diversification on Risk Taking

Abstract We present a model where bank assets are a portfolio of risky debt claims and analyze stockholders' risk-taking behavior while considering the strategic interaction between debtors and creditors. We find that: (1) as the leverage of a bank increases, risk shifting by borrowers increases, even if their leverage is unchanged (zombie lending). (2) While the literature demonstrates that an increase in the comovement of a loan portfolio increases the bank's cost of default directly, we find that the increase in comovement causes an increase in risk shifting that further increases the cost of default (3) Risk shifting decreases with the diversification of a loan portfolio.