Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Measurement of grassland evaporation using a surface-layer scintillometer

A dual-beam surface-layer scintillometer (SLS) was used to estimate sensible heat flux (H) every 2 min for a path length of either 50 or 101 m, for more than 30 months in a mesic grassland in eastern South Africa. The SLS method relies on Monin-Obukhov similarity theory, the correlation between the laser beam signal amplitude variances and the covariance of the logarithm of the beam signal amplitude measured using 2 laser detectors. Procedures for checking SLS data integrity in real-time are highlighted as are the post-data collection rejection procedures. From the H estimates, using SLS and measurements of soil heat flux and net irradiance, evaporation rates were calculated as a residual of the shortened energy balance equation and compared with grass reference evaporation rates (ETo). Inconsistent hourly ETo values occur in the late afternoon due to the incorrect assumption that the soil heat flux is 10% of net irradiance. The SLS estimates of H and the estimates of evaporation rate as a residual compared favourably with those obtained using the Bowen ratio and eddy covariance methods for cloudless days, cloudy days and days with variable cloud. There was no evidence for the eddy covariance measurements of H being underestimated in comparison to the Bowen ratio and SLS measurements. On many days, the diurnal variation in SLS H was asymmetrical, peaking before noon. Keywords: energy balance, Bowen ratio, eddy covariance, grass reference evaporation, rejection criteria
Machine Learning or Information Retrieval Techniques for Bug Triaging: Which is better?

Bugs are the inevitable part of a software system. Nowadays, large software development projects even release beta versions of their products to gather bug reports from users. The collected bug reports are then worked upon by various developers in order to resolve the defects and make the final software product more reliable. The high frequency of incoming bugs makes the bug handling a difficult and time consuming task. Bug assignment is an integral part of bug triaging that aims at the process of assigning a suitable developer for the reported bug who corrects the source code in order to resolve the bug. There are various semi and fully automated techniques to ease the task of bug assignment. This paper presents the current state of the art of various techniques used for bug report assignment. Through exhaustive research, the authors have observed that machine learning and information retrieval based bug assignment approaches are most popular in literature. A deeper investigation has shown that the trend of techniques is taking a shift from machine learning based approaches towards information retrieval based approaches. Therefore, the focus of this work is to find the reason behind the observed drift and thus a comparative analysis is conducted on the bug reports of the Mozilla, Eclipse, Gnome and Open Office projects in the Bugzilla repository. The results of the study show that the information retrieval based technique yields better efficiency in recommending the developers for bug reports.
Linking supply chain management with mass customization capability

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to explore the role of supply chain management in enabling manufacturers' mass customization capabilities.Design/methodology/approach – This paper is based upon survey data from 262 manufacturing plants, spanning nine countries and three industries. Responses from multiple employees were aggregated for each item. Hypothesized relationships between variables were analyzed using structural equation modeling.Findings – The results generally indicate that plant mass customization capabilities are driven by customer‐focused product design and reduced supplier lead times. In turn, these factors are driven by management's emphasis on supply chain planning. Post hoc tests show that the effects of supply chain planning on mass customization capabilities are fully mediated by customer‐focused product design and reduced supplier lead time.Originality/value – While the literature suggests that mass customization depends upon a dynamic extended enterprise, extant empirical work h.
Analysis of gate engineered SOI MOSFET for VLSI application

The Dual (DM) Trigate Silicon On Insulator (SOI) Metal Oxide Semiconductor Field Effect Transistor (MOSFET) is designed and simulated using Sentaurus TCAD tools and its various parameters are analyzed. The Dual Material Trigate MOSFET has better ON current and reduced leakage current which results in better performance of the device. The ON current obtained is 2.301×10-5 A/μm, the leakage current is 1.793×10-12 A/μm and the perfect ON/OFF ratio is obtained. The technology used here is 22nm.
Adaptive Observer for Nonlinearly Parameterized Hammerstein System With Sensor Delay—Applied to Ship Emissions Reduction

Taking offspring in a problem of ship emission reduction by exhaust gas recirculation control for large diesel engines, an underlying generic estimation challenge is formulated as a problem of joint state and parameter estimation for a class of multiple-input single-output Hammerstein systems with first-order dynamics, sensor delay, and a bounded time-varying parameter in the nonlinear part. This brief suggests a novel scheme for this estimation problem that guarantees exponential convergence to an interval that depends on the sensitivity of the system. The system is allowed to be nonlinear, parameterized, and time dependent, which are characteristics of the industrial problem we study. The approach requires the input nonlinearity to be a sector nonlinearity in the time-varying parameter. Salient features of the approach include simplicity of design and implementation. The efficacy of the adaptive observer is shown on simulated cases, on tests with a large diesel engine on test bed, and on tests with a container vessel.
Structure of the Two Transmembrane Cu+ Transport Sites of the Cu+-ATPases*

Cu+-ATPases drive metal efflux from the cell cytoplasm. Paramount to this function is the binding of Cu+ within the transmembrane region and its coupled translocation across the permeability barrier. Here, we describe the two transmembrane Cu+ transport sites present in Archaeoglobus fulgidus CopA. Both sites can be independently loaded with Cu+. However, their simultaneous occupation is associated with enzyme turnover. Site I is constituted by two Cys in transmembrane segment (TM) 6 and a Tyr in TM7. An Asn in TM7 and Met and Ser in TM8 form Site II. Single site x-ray spectroscopic analysis indicates a trigonal coordination in both sites. This architecture is distinct from that observed in Cu+-trafficking chaperones and classical cuproproteins. The high affinity of these sites for Cu+ (Site I Ka = 1.3 fm–1, Site II Ka = 1.1 fm–1), in conjunction with reversible direct Cu+ transfer from chaperones, points to a transport mechanism where backward release of free Cu+ to the cytoplasm is largely prevented.
Treatment of breast abscesses with sonographically guided aspiration, irrigation, and instillation of antibiotics.

OBJECTIVE We studied the feasibility of treating breast abscesses with sonographically guided aspiration, irrigation, and local instillation of antibiotics without placing indwelling catheters. MATERIALS AND METHODS Seventy-three patients with breast abscesses were seen from 1995 to 2001. Aspiration and irrigation were performed under sonographic guidance. Repeated aspiration was performed when deemed necessary. One gram of cephradine was injected into 29 abscesses measuring more than 25 mm. RESULTS Six patients refused further treatment after failure of the first aspiration and elected surgical drainage. Of the remaining 67 patients who completed treatment, 38 required one aspiration for cure, 18 required two aspirations, and eight required more than two aspirations. The treatment failed and surgical drainage was required in only three of the 67 patients completing treatment. CONCLUSION Ninety-six percent of patients completing treatment were cured with this procedure. Local instillation of antibiotics is probably beneficial.
Ca2+ Channel β3 Subunit Enhances Voltage-Dependent Relief of G-Protein Inhibition Induced by Muscarinic Receptor Activation and Gβγ

The Ca2+ channel β subunit has been shown to reduce the magnitude of G-protein inhibition of Ca2+channels. However, neither the specificity of this action to different forms of G-protein inhibition nor the mechanism underlying this reduction in response is known. We have reported previously that coexpression of the Ca2+ channel β3subunit causes M2 muscarinic receptor-mediated inhibition of α1B Ca2+ currents to become more voltage-dependent. We report here that the β3 subunit increases the rate of relief of inhibition produced by a depolarizing prepulse and also shifts the voltage dependency of this relief to more hyperpolarized voltages; these effects are likely to be responsible for the reduction of inhibitory response of α1B channels to G-protein-mediated inhibition seen after coexpression of the Ca2+ channel β3 subunit. Additionally, the β3 subunit alters the rate and voltage dependency of relief of the inhibition produced by coexpressed Gβ1γ1, in a manner similar to the changes it produces in relief of M2 receptor-induced inhibition. We conclude that the Ca2+ channel β3 subunit reduces the magnitude of G-protein inhibition of α1BCa2+ channels by enhancing the rate of dissociation of the G-protein βγ subunit from the Ca2+channel α1B subunit.
Semaphorins as Mediators of Neuronal Apoptosis

Abstract : Shrinkage and collapse of the neuritic network are often observed during the process of neuronal apoptosis. However, the molecular and biochemical basis for the axonal damage associated with neuronal cell death is still unclear. We present evidence for the involvement of axon guidance molecules with repulsive cues in neuronal cell death. Using the differential display approach, an up‐regulation of collapsin response mediator protein was detected in sympathetic neurons undergoing dopamine‐induced apoptosis. A synchronized induction of mRNA of the secreted collapsin‐1 and the intracellular collapsin response mediator protein that preceded commitment of neurons to apoptosis was detected. Antibodies directed against a conserved collapsin‐derived peptide provided marked and prolonged protection of several neuronal cell types from dopamine‐induced apoptosis. Moreover, neuronal apoptosis was inhibited by antibodies against neuropilin‐1, a putative component of the semaphorin III/collapsin‐1 receptor. Induction of neuronal apoptosis was also caused by exposure of neurons to semaphorin III‐alkaline phosphatase secreted from 293EBNA cells. Anti‐collapsin‐1 antibodies were effective in blocking the semaphorin III‐induced death process. We therefore suggest that, before their death, apoptosis‐destined neurons may produce and secrete destructive axon guidance molecules that can affect their neighboring cells and thus transfer a “death signal” across specific and susceptible neuronal populations.
Assessing Dynamic Mental Models: Unfolding Case Studies

Excellence in critical thinking skills requires well-developed situational mental models: integrated knowledge of how concepts and principles relate to a specific client's condition and care. The authors describe the use of unfolding case studies as a strategy for eliciting and evaluating students' changing mental models. Unfolding cases offer a practical method for capturing the dynamic nature of situational mental models and revealing significant errors in students' problem-solving cognitions that would not otherwise be obvious.
Myoinositol Oxygenase Controls the Level of Myoinositol in Arabidopsis, But Does Not Increase Ascorbic Acid1[OA]

Ascorbic acid (AsA) is a major plant antioxidant. Mutants like vtc1 show a reduced AsA concentration, which confirmed by genetic evidence the previously proposed AsA pathway via GDP-Man. Here we investigate the role of an animal-like alternative biosynthesis route to AsA, starting from the metabolite d-GlcUA, which is produced in plants by myoinositol oxygenase (Miox). Miox-overexpressing lines have a more than 30-fold up-regulated transcript level and higher enzymatic activity as shown by increased incorporation of Miox-derived sugars into cell wall polymers. In addition, Miox overexpressors exhibit a lower steady-state level of myoinositol and accumulate less myoinositol in feeding experiments due to an enhanced turnover rate. The AsA concentration remains the same in wild-type and Miox overexpressor lines. Even challenging plants with stress, which increases AsA concentration 4-fold, reveals no difference in AsA biosynthesis between wild-type and Miox-overexpressing lines. We conclude that d-GlcUA derived from the Miox reaction plays a negligible role for AsA biosynthesis. However, Miox controls the metabolite level of myoinositol in plants.
Identification and mutation of a gene required for glycerate kinase activity from a facultative methylotroph, Methylobacterium extorquens AM1

A gene (gckA) responsible for the activity of glycerate kinase has been identified within a chromosomal fragment of the serine cycle methylotroph Methylobacterium extorquens AM1. A mutation in gckA leads to a specific C1-negative phenotype. The polypeptide sequence derived from gckA showed high similarity to a product of ttuD essential for tartrate metabolism in Agrobacterium vitis. Our data suggest that gckA and ttuD might be structural genes for glycerate kinase and that the serine cycle and the tartrate utilization pathway share a series of reactions.
WiLo: A Rate Determination Algorithm for HAS video in wireless networks and low-delay applications

In this paper, we describe WiLo, a Rate Determination Algorithm (RDA) for HTTP Adaptive Streaming (HAS) applications. We demonstrate that WiLo delivers stable video output and avoids buffer starvation, even in highly dynamic wireless networks where existing algorithms often struggle. We also show WiLo to be effective with very small buffers, making it useful for live streaming applications where delay is a concern.
Private or Public Debt? The Drivers of Debt Priority Structure for UK Firms

Much literature has amassed in the area of corporate financing structure, a majority of which has tended to focus on the debt/equity decision and more recently on flotation mechanisms in equity issuance, with less attention devoted to debt issuance. To the extent that recent papers have spoken to the drivers of debt structure, maturity and/or priority, these have tended to focus on the US financing environment, little investigation has been conducted into the determinants of debt structure for UK firms. It is considered helpful at this point to document evidence in respect of alternative institutional regimes. We examine the determinants of debt ownership structure for UK FTSE 350 listed firms at 2001 year end and specifically explore the relationship between corporate debt structure and firm characteristics. Our approach differs to much of the extant literature in that we apply a decision choice model that relates a variety of attributes to the probability that firms will choose to issue debt publicly rather than to the public debt ratio per se, a model that can explain and potentially predict which firms are most likely to choose public debt isuance. Our results highlight the importance of firm size, credit quality and prior leverage in debt issuance decisions, larger more highly levered firms being more inclined to issue debt publicly. However theories based on information asymmetry and adverse selection, future prospects and reputational considerations do not receive empirical support based on our data set. Inconsistent with the extant literature we also find that riskier firms, based on an earnings growth volatility metric, tend to be more likely to issue debt publicly.
Validation of two depression screening instruments in a sleep disorders clinic.

STUDY OBJECTIVES Depression is a commonly diagnosed comorbidity in sleep disorder clinics. However, screening instruments for major depressive episode (MDE) have not been validated in this setting. We aimed to validate the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and the Beck Depression Inventory - Fast Screen (BDI-FS) with the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI) in patients with suspected obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). DESIGN Cross-sectional study. SETTING Academic center. PARTICIPANTS One hundred one new patients with a clinical suspicion of OSA, as assessed by a sleep physician. MEASUREMENTS MDE, generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), and panic disorder (PD) were assessed by (1) a diagnostic interview utilizing the MINI and (2) by two self-report questionnaires: HADS and BDI-FS. A receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis was undertaken to assess which HADS and BDI-FS threshold yielded the highest correlation for a diagnosis of MDE and/or GAD/PD as assessed with an interview conducted using the MINI. RESULTS A HADS-Depression score ≥ 8 gave optimal sensitivity (83.1%) and specificity (83.3%) with an area under the ROC curve (AUC) 0.851 for predicting the diagnosis of MDE. A HADS-Anxiety score ≥ 11 gave an optimal sensitivity (93.1%) and specificity (84.7%) with an AUC 0.911 for predicting the diagnosis of GAD/PD. A BDI-FS threshold ≥ 6 gave optimal sensitivity (86.7%) and specificity (82.9%) with an AUC 0.897 for MDE. CONCLUSION The HADS and BDI-FS are accurate screening instruments with high concurrent validity for identifying the probability of a patient having MDE and-in the case of HADS-GAD and PD disorder in a sleep disorders clinic.
Optimal Proliferation and Differentiation of Chlamydia Trachomatis

Chlamydia trachomatis is a bacterium that causes eye infection and blindness in humans. In the simplest form, it has an unusual life cycle involving two developmental forms. Within a cytoplasmic inclusion, the reticulate body (RB) repeatedly divides by binary fission and asynchronously differentiates into the infectious elementary body (EB). Upon the death of the mammalian cell that host many such inclusions, only the EB form of the bacteria survive and proceed to infect other cells. Given the bacteria's fast spreading infection, conventional wisdom would have the few initial EB turn into RB, divide and proliferate first, and then eventually start converting to maximize the terminal EB population upon host cell lysis. Several biological processes are seen as possible mechanisms for implementing such a conversion strategy. However, the optimality of an instinctual strategy with a period of proliferate without conversion prior to the onset of differentiation has never been substantiated theoretically or justified mathematically.
Fast and Scalable Distributed Loopy Belief Propagation on Real-World Graphs

Given graphs with millions or billions of vertices and edges, how can we efficiently make inferences based on partial knowledge? Loopy Belief Propagation(LBP) is a graph inference algorithm widely used in various applications including social network analysis, malware detection, recommendation, and image restoration. The algorithm calculates approximate marginal probabilities of vertices in a graph within a linear running time proportional to the number of edges. However, when it comes to real-world graphs with millions or billions of vertices and edges, this cost overwhelms the computing power of a single machine. Moreover, this kind of large-scale graphs does not fit into the memory of a single machine. Although several distributed LBP methods have been proposed, previous works do not consider the properties of real-world graphs, especially the effect of power-law degree distribution on LBP. Therefore, our work focuses on developing a fast and scalable LBP for such large real-world graphs on distributed environment. In this paper, we propose DLBP, a Distributed Loopy Belief Propagation algorithm which efficiently computes LBP in a distributed manner across multiple machines. By setting the correct convergence criterion and carefully scheduling the computations, DLBP provides up to 10.7x speed up compared to standard distributed LBP. We show that DLBP demonstrates near-linear scalability with respect to the number of machines as well as the number of edges.
Vitamin D in cancer chemoprevention

Abstract Context: There is increasing evidence that Vitamin D (Vit D) and its metabolites, besides their well-known calcium-related functions, may also exert antiproliferative, pro-differentiating, and immune modulatory effects on tumor cells in vitro and may also delay tumor growth in vivo. Objective: The aim of this review is to provide fresh insight into the most recent advances on the role of Vit D and its analogues as chemopreventive drugs in cancer therapy. Methods: A systematic review of experimental and clinical studies on Vit D and cancer was undertaken by using the major electronic health database including ISI Web of Science, Medline, PubMed, Scopus and Google Scholar. Results and conclusion: Experimental and clinical observations suggest that Vit D and its analogues may be effective in preventing the malignant transformation and/or the progression of various types of human tumors including breast cancer, prostate cancer, colorectal cancer, and some hematological malignances. These findings suggest the possibility of the clinical use of these molecules as novel potential chemopreventive and anticancer agents.
Exploring the Use of Performance Information in Municipal Governments —Modeling from the Two-Stage Heckman Selection Estimation

Performance information is constructed by systematic-measuring designs toward productivity, effectiveness and responsiveness. In practice, performance information could be linked with the budgeting process, strategic planning and citizen information; whereas decision-makers can undertake cost reduction, long-term planning as well as citizen-government communication. Why do municipal governments use performance information? This paper attempts to answer this question by examining factors affecting the application of performance information in the U.S. municipal governments. Data are from International City/County Management Association (ICMA) ”State of the Profession” survey in 2006. The two-stage Heckman probit selection models are employed to avoid sample selection bias. The first step is a selection procedure which takes into account the adoption factors to estimate performance measurement adoption. The second step uses a corrected probit model to estimate the factor effect on performance information. The statistical results show that operation of strategic planning and concerns for citizen accountability have a positive and significant effect on the application of performance information. Due to individual egoist and bounded rationality, participants in strategic planning negatively affect the application of performance information.