Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The effect of tree architecture on conduit diameter and frequency from small distal roots to branch tips in Betula pendula, Picea abies and Pinus sylvestris.

We studied the effect of tree architecture on xylem anatomy in three Betula pendula Roth. , three Picea abies (L.) H. Karst. and three Pinus sylvestris (L.) trees (mean age 35 years). First, the analysis of conduit anatomy in different tree parts showed that conduits tapered and their frequency increased from roots (≥ 2 mm) to stem, from stem to branches and further to leaf petioles in B. pendula. Conduit anatomy in lateral and main roots, as well as lateral and main branches, significantly differed from each other in all the studied species. The increase in conduit diameter and decrease in frequency from the pith to the bark were clear aboveground, but variable patterns were observed belowground. In the leaf petioles of B. pendula, conduit diameter increased and conduit frequency decreased with increasing individual leaf area. Second, the results concerning the scaling of conduit diameter were compared with the predictions of the general vascular scaling model (WBE model) and Murray's law. The scaling parameter values at the tree level corresponded with the predictions of the WBE model in all the studied trees except for one tree of both conifer species. However, the scaling parameter values changed from one tree compartment to another rather than remaining uniform inside a tree, as assumed by the WBE model. The assumptions of the WBE model of a constant conductivity ratio, constant tapering and an unchanged total number of conduits were not fulfilled. When the conductivity ratio and relative tapering were plotted together, the results aboveground corresponded quite well with Murray's law: the conductivity ratio increased when relative tapering decreased. Our results support the theory that trees adjust both their macro- and microstructure to maximize their water transport efficiency, but also to prevent embolism and ensure mechanical safety.
Exceptional among-lineage variation in diversification rates during the radiation of Australia ’ s most diverse vertebrate clade

Daniel L. Rabosky*, Stephen C. Donnellan, Amanda L. Talaba and Irby J. Lovette Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853-2701, USA Fuller Evolutionary Biology Program, Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology, 159 Sapsucker Woods Road, Ithaca, NY 14850, USA Evolutionary Biology Unit, South Australian Museum, North Terrace, Adelaide, South Australia 5000, Australia Australian Centre for Evolutionary Biology and Biodiversity, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia 5005, Australia Published online 18 September 2007
Percutaneous device closure of the patent foramen ovale during pregnancy

To review the procedures, results and follow‐up of patients who underwent percutaneous device closure of a patent foramen ovale (PFO) during pregnancy. We report modifications made to the established technique that allowed absolute minimization of radiation exposure. Relevant management issues of this unusual presentation of cardiac disease in pregnancy are discussed.
Effect of cimetidine and omeprazole on aspirin and taurocholate-induced gastric mucosal damage.

Effect of cimetidine and omeprazole on aspirin and taurocholate-induced gastric mucosal damage SIR,-The study by Utley et al (Gut 1985; 26: 770-5) concludes that cimetidine, but not omeprazole can protect the pylorus ligated rat against gastric mucosal injury induced by topical aspirin or taurocholate. These conclusions are not strictly valid, because the gastric mucosal injury was only assessed macroscopically. If a study is designed to investigate and compare the cytoprotective qualities of two drugs, then surely a histological assessment of the gastric mucosal injury is mandatory. The omission of histology in the earlier studies by Robert et al,1 which first described cytoprotection, caused much confusion over the definition and depth of cytoprotection by prostalandins. A subsequent histological investigation of the gastric mucosal injury in these experiments revealed that prostaglandins did not provide complete cytoprotection of the gastric mucosa, and surface mucosal injury was evident. Histological studies of the aspirin induced gastric mucosal lesion by St John et alt and by Rowe et at' have shown the presence of microscopic ulcerated lesions in macroscopically normal areas. The rat model described in Utley's study also has two serious omissions, particularly concerning the aspirin induced gastric mucosal injury. (a) It is important to measure the gastric luminal pH at the end of the experiment. Aspirin is a weak acid with a pK of 3*5. The drug is absorbed in its unionised, lipid soluble form, and its absorption and the subsequent gastric mucosal injury aided by back diffusion of acid is strongly dependent on the luminal pH as shown by Rowe et al.5 (b) An increasing loss of mucosal protection was observed with doses of cimetidine that caused progressive inhibition of acid secretion. Was the absorption of aspirin in these different groups of rats similar, or does cimetidine effect the absorption of aspirin? A measurement of the serum salicylate at the end of the experiment would answer this and, with the additional luminal pH data, provide evidence that each group of rats was exposed uniformly to the drugs producing gastric mucosal injury.
Dificuldades dos licenciandos em química da UFS em entender e estabelecer modelos científicos para equilíbrio químico.

Este trabalho buscou identificar quais concepcoes alternativas e modelos cientificos os alunos do curso de Licenciatura em Quimica, da Universidade Federal de Sergipe, possuem sobre equilibrio quimico. Da analise dos resultados percebemos que os discentes possuem varias concepcoes alternativas e nao possuem uma definicao adequada sobre modelagem. Em seguida procuramos identificar justificativas para a origem de tais concepcoes alternativas e dificuldades dos futuros docentes em entender o conceito equilibrio quimico
Parametric description of object motion using EMUs

Large scale deployment of digital multimedia applications requires effective and efficient image and video representations for indexing. We present a hierarchical representation of video objects based on their motion. The proposed representation enables both low and semantic level description of object motion. At the low level, we consider a parametric description of the dominant motion of video objects, and define elementary motion units (EMU) where the dominant motion of the object is coherent and does not undergo considerable change. A group of EMUs forms an action unit which carries semantic information. Interactions between objects are also considered by calculating the relative motion between objects in an object-based framework. Experimental results for retrieval of EMUs based on similarity of dominant object motion are demonstrated.
A HILIC-MS/MS method for simultaneous quantification of the lysosomal disease markers galactosylsphingosine and glucosylsphingosine in mouse serum.

Deficiencies of galactosylceramidase and glucocerebrosidase result in the accumulation of galactosylsphingosine (GalSph) and glucosylsphingosine (GluSph) in Krabbe and Gaucher diseases, respectively. GalSph and GluSph are useful biomarkers for both diagnosis and monitoring of treatment effects. We have developed and validated a sensitive, accurate, high-throughput assay for simultaneous determination of the concentration of GalSph and GluSph in mouse serum. GalSph and GluSph and their deuterated internal standards were extracted by protein precipitation in quantitative recoveries, baseline separated by hydrophilic interaction chromatography and detected by positive-ion electrospray mass spectrometry in multiple reaction monitoring mode. Total run time was 7 min. The lower limit of quantification was 0.2 ng/mL for both GalSph and GluSph. Sample stability, assay precision and accuracy, and method robustness were demonstrated. This method has been successfully applied to measurement of these lipid biomarkers in a natural history study in twitcher (Krabbe) mice.
An evolutionarily conserved fission yeast protein, Ned1, implicated in normal nuclear morphology and chromosome stability, interacts with Dis3, Pim1/RCC1 and an essential nucleoporin

We identified a novel fission yeast gene, ned1+, with pleiotropic mutations that have a high incidence of chromosome missegregation, aberrantly shaped nuclei, overdeveloped endoplasmic reticulum-like membranes, and increased sensitivity to a microtubule destabilizing agent. Ned1 protein, which was phosphorylated in a growth-related manner, interacted in a yeast two-hybrid system with Dis3 as well as with Pim1/RCC1 (nucleotide exchange factor for Ran). Ned1 also interacted with an essential nucleoporin, a probable homologue of mammalian Nup98/96. The ned1 gene displayed a variety of genetic interactions with factors involved in nuclear transport and chromosome segregation, including the crm1 (exportin), spi1 (small GTPase Ran), pim1, and dis genes. A substitution mutation that affected the two-hybrid interaction with Dis3 increased chromosome instability, suggesting the functional importance of the interaction. Overproduction of Ned1 protein induced formation of an abnormal microtubule bundle within the nucleus, apparently independently of the spindle pole body, but dependent on pim1+ activity. The ned1+ gene belongs to an evolutionarily conserved gene family, which includes the mouse Lpin genes, one of whose mutations is responsible for lipodystrophy.
Brain mechanisms for reading: the role of the superior temporal gyrus in word and pseudoword naming

The purpose of this study was to test the neurological validity of a dual-route model of reading by asking patients, who were undergoing electrocortical stimulation mapping, to read words with irregular print-to-sound correspondences and pseudowords. Brain activation profiles were also obtained from these patients during an auditory and a visual word recognition task using whole-head magnetic source imaging. We demonstrated that reading is subserved by at least two brain mechanisms that are anatomically dissociable. One mechanism subserves assembled phonology and depends on the activity of the posterior part of the left superior temporal gyrus (STGp), whereas the second is responsible for addressed phonology and does not necessarily involve this region. The contribution of STGp to reading appears to be based on its specialization for phonological analysis operations, involved in the processing of both spoken and written language.
RET kinase inhibitors: a review of recent patents (2012–2015)

ABSTRACT Introduction: Tyrosine kinases are involved in the control of several biological processes and have been recognized as hot spots of oncogenic transformation, thus representing a major therapeutic target. Dysregulated activation of RET kinase, either through point mutations or gene fusions, is accountable for a significant fraction of thyroid carcinomas, as well as a minor population of lung cancers. Two drugs are currently available for the treatment of medullary thyroid carcinoma and two additional compounds have been approved for differentiated thyroid carcinoma. Several other molecules are under preclinical and clinical evaluation. Areas covered: This review covers the most recent patent literature (2012–2015) describing compounds with activity against the RET kinase, trying to catch a view of the next generation of potential anti-RET drugs. Expert opinion: RET has been a focus of molecularly targeted efforts for over a decade. However, none of the drugs currently on the clinical stage were specifically developed to hit RET, which was rather an off-target. Besides, only two of four drugs have activity on metastatic medullary carcinoma. Therefore, there is still a need of additional, more potent and more specific RET inhibitors, which will hopefully emerge from the new generation of compounds disclosed in most recent patents.
The Mossy Fiber System of the Hippocampal Formation is Decreased by Chronic and Postnatal but not by Prenatal Protein Malnutrition in Rats

Abstract We tested in 70-day-old Sprague-Dawley rats, whether malnutrition imposed during different periods of hippocampal development produced deleterious effects on the total reference volume of the mossy fiber system. Animals were treated under four nutritional conditions: (a) well nourished; (b) prenatal protein malnourished; (c) chronic protein malnourished and (d) postnatal protein malnourished. Timm's stained material was used in coronal hippocampal sections (40 μm) to estimate--using the Principle of Cavalieri--the total reference volume of the mossy fiber system in each experimental group. Our results show that chronic and postnatal protein malnourished, but not prenatal malnourished rats, decrease the mossy fiber system and the total reference volume of the mossy fiber system are selectively vulnerable to the type of dietary restriction. Thus, chronic and posnatal protein malnutrition produce deleterious effects, but only rats under prenatal protein malnutrition were able to reorganize synapses in this plexus. These findings raise the possibility that chronic malnutrition, as a long-term stressful factor, might be an important paradigm to test structural hippocampal changes that produce physiological and pathophysiological effects, or the possibility to recover its function for nutritional rehabilitation.
The purification and characterization of biological 6‐sulphatoxymelatonin and comparison with synthetic 6‐sulphatoxymelatonin

Abstract: We have purified the major metabolite of melatonin, 6‐sulphatoxymelatonin, from urine and compared it to its synthetic counterpart. For preparation of the biological material, oral melatonin was administered to human volunteers and their urine extracted onto Amberlite XAD‐2 resin to remove urea; the glucuronide metabolites of melatonin were removed by silica chromatography; and 6‐sulphatoxymelatonin was separated from N‐acetyl serotonin sulphate, the other sulphate metabolite of melatonin, by preparative thin‐layer chromatography. Synthetic 6‐sulphatoxymelatonin was produced by reacting 6‐hydroxymelatonin with chlorosulphonic acid in dimethylformamide; the reaction mixture was purified on Florisil and preparative thin‐layer chromatography was used to remove indolic by‐products of the reaction. Elemental and X‐ray microanalysis of the biological and synthetic products showed that classical methods used for their purification introduced inorganic impurities, such as silicon‐ and chlorine‐ containing compounds, which were not detectable by thin‐layer chromatography, infrared spectroscopy, nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, or gas chromatography‐mass spectrometry. We introduced further purification steps to remove these inorganic impurities, monitoring the process using elemental and X‐ray microanalysis. Extensive characterization of the resulting purified products showed that the biological and synthetic compounds were identical.
The health paradox of occupational and leisure-time physical activity

Background Occupational and leisure-time physical activity are considered to provide similar health benefits. The authors tested this hypothesis. Methods A representative sample of Danish employees (n=7144, 52% females) reported levels of occupational and leisure-time physical activity in 2005. Long-term sickness absence (LTSA) spells of ≥3 consecutive weeks were retrieved from a social-transfer payment register from 2005 to 2007. Results 341 men and 620 females experienced a spell of LTSA during the period. Cox analyses adjusted for age, gender, smoking, alcohol, body mass index, chronic disease, social support from immediate superior, emotional demands, social class and occupational or leisure-time physical activity showed a decreased risk for LTSA among workers with moderate (HR 0.85, CI 0.72 to 1.01) and high (HR 0.77, CI 0.62 to 0.95) leisure-time physical activity in reference to those with low leisure-time physical activity. In contrast, an increased risk for LTSA was shown among workers with moderate (HR 1.59, CI 1.35 to 1.88) and high (HR 1.84, CI 1.55 to 2.18) occupational physical activity referencing those with low occupational physical activity. Conclusion The hypothesis was rejected. In a dose–response manner, occupational physical activity increased the risk for LTSA, while leisure-time physical activity decreased the risk for LTSA. The findings indicate opposing effects of occupational and leisure-time physical activity on global health.
Bad Data Detection Using Kernel Density Estimation

This paper addresses the problem of bad data detection in the power grid. An online probability density based technique is presented to identify bad measurements within a sensor data stream in a decentralized manner using only the data from the neighboring buses and a one-hop communication system. Analyzing the spatial and temporal dependency between the measurements, the proposed algorithm identifies the bad data. The algorithm was then tested on the IEEE 14-bus test system where it demonstrated superior performance detecting critical and multiple bad data compared to the largest normalized residual test.
An Ocean Model Using Cut-Cell Method

An ocean model using cut-cell method has been developed to simulate the flow field around the complicated topographic feature in the three dimensions. The finite-volume method is applied for the accuracy of the mass-and momentum-conservations. Formulations for the finite difference are given for the advection, pressure and viscous terms, including the continuity equation. As the first application, the present model is applied for the analysis of the tidal sea-surface elevation in a bay connected with the ocean by a very narrow and oblique channel. Although results by a Cartesian-coordinate model strongly depend on the direction of the channel, the results by the present model show good agreement with the theoretical values. As the second application, the present model is applied for the analysis of the flow around a tall seamount in steady currents. Those results are discussed in comparison with the results by an existing z-coordinate model.
PACAP, an Autocrine/Paracrine Regulator of Gonadotrophs1

Hypothalamic-hypophysiotropic peptides are the proximate regulators of pituitary cells, but they cannot fully account for the complex functioning of these cells. Accordingly, awareness is growing that an array of peptides produced in the pituitary exert paracrine/autocrine functions. One such peptide, pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP), was originally identified as a hypothalamic activator of cAMP production in pituitary cells. Gonadotrophs and folliculostellate cells are the main source of pituitary PACAP, and each pituitary cell type expresses a PACAP receptor. PACAP increases alpha-subunit (Cga) and Lhb mRNAs, and it stimulates the transcription of follistatin (Fst) that, in turn, restrains activin signaling to repress Fshb and gonadotropin-releasing hormone-receptor (Gnrhr) expression as well as other activin-responsive genes. The PACAP (Adcyap1) promoter is activated by cAMP, and pituitary cells may communicate by a feed-forward, cAMP-dependent mechanism to maintain a high level of PACAP in the fetal pituitary. At birth, pituitary PACAP declines and pituitary follistatin levels decrease, which together with increased gonadotropin-releasing hormone secretion allow Gnrhr and Fshb to increase and facilitate activation of the newborn gonads. Changes in Adcyap1 expression levels in the adult pituitary may contribute to the selective rise in follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) from age 20–30 days to the midcycle surge and to the secondary increase in FSH that occurs before estrus. These results provide further support for the notion that PACAP is a key player in reproduction through its actions as a pituitary autocrine/paracrine hormone.
Distinguishing Service Quality and Customer Satisfaction: The Voice of the Consumer

Service quality and customer satisfaction are important concepts to academic researchers studying consumer evaluations and to practitioners as a means of creating competitive advantages and customer loyalty. This article presents two studies that rely on divergent methodologies to examine whether or not quality and satisfaction have distinct antecedent causes, consequential effects, or both (i.e., whether or not they should be considered a single construct, or distinct, separable constructs). We focus on consumers’ understanding and use of the words quality and satisfaction; in both studies, respondents report whether or not they think quality and satisfaction differ, and if so, on what dimensions or under what circumstances. In the first study, we use the qualitative “critical incident” technique to elicit service attributes that are salient to respondents when prompted to consider quality and satisfaction as distinct. We code the responses to these open-ended survey questions to examine whether quality can be teased apart from satisfaction, from the respondents’ (consumers’) perspective. In the second study, to triangulate on the qualitative data, we experimentally manipulated a number of service attributes drawn from both the first study and from the literature to see whether or not they have differential impacts on judgments of quality and satisfaction. We did not presuppose that quality and satisfaction differ—rather, we asked respondents to make a judgment either of quality or of satisfaction, defining the term as they saw fit. We inferred from their judgments
Structure and protective efficacy of the Staphylococcus aureus autocleaving protease EpiP

Despite the global medical needs associated with Staphylococcus aureus infections, no licensed vaccines are currently available. We identified and characterized a protein annotated as an epidermin leader peptide processing serine protease (EpiP), as a novel S. aureus vaccine candidate. In addition, we determined the structure of the recombinant protein (rEpiP) by X‐ray crystallography. The crystal structure revealed that rEpiP was cleaved somewhere between residues 95 and 100, and we found that the cleavage occurs through an autocatalytic intramolecular mechanism. The protein expressed by S. aureus cells also appeared to undergo a similar processing event. To determine whether the protein acts as a serine protease, we mutated the hypothesized catalytic serine 393 residue to alanine, generating rEpiP‐S393A. The crystal structure of this mutant protein showed that the polypeptide chain was not cleaved and was not interacting stably with the active site. Indeed, rEpiP‐S393A was shown to be impaired in its protease activity. Mice vaccinated with rEpiP were protected from S. aureus infection (34% survival, P= 0.0054). Moreover, the protective efficacy generated by rEpiP and rEpiP‐S393A was comparable, implying that the noncleaving mutant could be used for vaccination purposes. —Kuhn, M. L. , Prachi, P., Minasov, G. , Shuvalova, L. , Ruan, J., Dubrovska, I. , Winsor, J., Giraldi, M. , Biagini, M. , Liberatori, S. , Savino, S. , Bagnoli, F. , Anderson, W. F. , Grandi, G. Structure and protective efficacy of the Staphylococcus aureus autocleaving protease EpiP. FASEB J. 28, 1780–1793 (2014). www.fasebj. org