Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Runoff Quality Responses to Cattle-Gazing Strategy and Grassed Buffer Zone Length

Grazed pastures represent a source of potential nonpoint pollution. In comparison to other nonpoint sources (e.g., row-cropped lands), relatively little information exists regarding possible magnitudes of pollution from grazed pasture; how that pollution is affected by weather, soil, management and other variables; and how the pollution can be minimized. The objective of this study was to assess how the quality of runoff from simulated grazed pasture is influenced by grazing duration (4-12 weeks), grazing strategy (no grazing, conventional grazing and rotational grazing), and by the use of grassed buffer strips (ranging in length from O to 18.3 m) installed down-slope of simulated pasture. The study was conducted at the University of Kentucky Maine Chance Agricultural Experiment Station north of Lexington. Plots (2.4 m wide by 6.1 to 30.5 m long) were constructed and established in Kentucky 31 "tall" fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.) to represent pasture. Grazing was simulated by application of beef cattle manure to the plots. Runoff was generated by applying simulated rainfall. Runoff samples were collected and analyzed according to standard methods for nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), total suspended solids (TSS), and fecal coliform (FC). Runoff concentrations and transport ofN and P from the plots used to simulate conventional and rotational grazing were low and, in many cases, not different from those measured for ungrazed plots. Runoff FC concentrations were greater for the simulated grazed plots than for the control plots, but there was no difference in concentrations between the simulated conventional and rotational grazing treatments. The buffer strips were very effective in removing TKN, P04-P, TSS and FC in incoming runoff from manured plots. Concentrations of all these parameters were indistinguishable from background levels after crossing a buffer length of 6.1 m. This finding is attributed largely to very high infiltration in the plots used to assess the buffer strips.
A New Recombination Scheme for Diploid Genetic Algorithms

This paper proposes a new alternative recombination scheme for diploid genetic algorithm (coined as exogenous recombination) to improve the search ability of the genetic algorithm in stationary and nonstationary environments. The primary idea of the exogenous recombination scheme designed in diploid GA is as follows: when two diploid parents (each of pair of mates) are selected from the mating pool, the traits are recombined between these two sets of mate pairs– pair against pair and mate against mate generating two new offspring that inherit genetic information from their parents. Stationary and nonstationary mode of standard test functions were taken into account to evaluate the performance of the proposed GA against the diploid GA with traditional recombination. Experimental results show the effect of diploid GA with exogenous recombination in improving the performance of a genetic search on stationary and nonstationary tested functions.
Poster : A Low-cost Detection Scheme on Fast-flux Malware Distribution

Malware is one of the most severe crucial security threats on the Internet. Many malware authors frequently change their malware distribution domains and URLs to avoid IDS (Intrusion Detection Systems) detection, and URLs become invalid shortly, which we name the malware distribution phenomenon fast-flux. We proposed a scheme named LDSM which could be able to detect fast-flux malware distribution with low cost. We have deployed our detection scheme in an ISP of CSTNET (China Science and Technology Network) for a month, and the experimental results demonstrate that LDSM is able to accurately detect malware distribution with 89.57% true positives. LDSM also could detect unknown malware from traffic and provides an effective way to improve malware detection tools. Keywords—Fast-flux, Malware distribution, Malware detection.
Phylogeny versus body size as determinants of food web structure

Food webs are the complex networks of trophic interactions that stoke the metabolic fires of life. To understand what structures these interactions in natural communities, ecologists have developed simple models to capture their main architectural features. However, apparently realistic food webs can be generated by models invoking either predator–prey body-size hierarchies or evolutionary constraints as structuring mechanisms. As a result, this approach has not conclusively revealed which factors are the most important. Here we cut to the heart of this debate by directly comparing the influence of phylogeny and body size on food web architecture. Using data from 13 food webs compiled by direct observation, we confirm the importance of both factors. Nevertheless, phylogeny dominates in most networks. Moreover, path analysis reveals that the size-independent direct effect of phylogeny on trophic structure typically outweighs the indirect effect that could be captured by considering body size alone. Furthermore, the phylogenetic signal is asymmetric: closely related species overlap in their set of consumers far more than in their set of resources. This is at odds with several food web models, which take only the view-point of consumers when assigning interactions. The echo of evolutionary history clearly resonates through current food webs, with implications for our theoretical models and conservation priorities.
Immobilization of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii CLH1 on APTES-Coated Magnetic Iron Oxide Nanoparticles and Its Potential in the Production of Chlorophyll Derivatives

Recombinant Chlamydomonas reinhardtii chlorophyllase 1 (CrCLH1) that could catalyze chlorophyll hydrolysis to chlorophyllide and phytol in vitro was successfully expressed in Escherichia coli. The recombinant CrCLH1 was immobilized through covalent binding with a cubic (3-aminopropyl) triethoxysilane (APTES) coating on magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (MIONPs), which led to markedly improved enzyme performance and decreased biocatalyst costs for potential industrial application. The immobilized enzyme exhibited a high immobilization yield (98.99 ± 0.91 mg/g of gel) and a chlorophyllase assay confirmed that the immobilized recombinant CrCLH1 retained enzymatic activity (722.3 ± 50.3 U/g of gel). Biochemical analysis of the immobilized enzyme, compared with the free enzyme, showed higher optimal pH and pH stability for chlorophyll-a hydrolysis in an acidic environment (pH 3–5). In addition, compared with the free enzyme, the immobilized enzyme showed higher activity in chlorophyll-a hydrolysis in a high temperature environment (50–60 °C). Moreover, the immobilized enzyme retained a residual activity of more than 64% of its initial enzyme activity after 14 cycles in a repeated-batch operation. Therefore, APTES-coated MIONP-immobilized recombinant CrCLH1 can be repeatedly used to lower costs and is potentially useful for the industrial production of chlorophyll derivatives.
Leukotriene modifier vs inhaled corticosteroid in mild-to-moderate asthma: clinical and anti-inflammatory effects.

STUDY OBJECTIVE Evidence for the anti-inflammatory activity of leukotriene receptor antagonists in humans is somewhat limited. There are also no data comparing the anti-inflammatory effects of leukotriene receptor antagonists with those of inhaled corticosteroids. This study was designed to assess the clinical efficacy and anti-inflammatory effects of leukotriene receptor antagonist plus low-dose inhaled corticosteroids compared to those of a high-dose inhaled corticosteroid in patients with mild-to-moderate asthma. METHODS Forty-nine patients with newly diagnosed asthma were recruited. They were randomly assigned to groups that received, for a 6-week period, either (1) budesonide, 600 microg bid (1,200 microg/d) or (2) budesonide, 200 microg (400 microg/d), and zafirlukast, 20 mg bid. The variables of asthma control were recorded daily. Sputum induction and methacholine provocation tests were performed. RESULTS The results indicated that the administration of a low-dose inhaled corticosteroid plus zafirlukast was as effective as that of a high-dose inhaled corticosteroid regarding clinical improvement and anti-inflammatory effects (ie, eosinophil percentage, and eosinophilic cationic protein [ECP] and cysteinyl leukotriene C4 levels in induced sputum). Nineteen (group 1, 8 patients; group 2, 11 patients) of 49 patients (38.8%) had returned to normal airway responsiveness after treatment. Among these patients, 16 patients (84.2%) had normal ECP levels and 10 patients (52.6%) had normal percentages of eosinophils. ECP level, but not the eosinophil percentage, was significantly associated with symptom scores. The peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) showed a significant correlation with the provocative concentration of methacholine causing a 20% fall in FEV1 (PC20) instead of with symptom scores. CONCLUSIONS The addition of a leukotriene modifier to treatment with low-dose inhaled corticosteroids is equivalent to treatment with high-dose inhaled corticosteroids in patients with newly diagnosed mild-to-moderate asthma. In addition to symptoms and PEFR, the monitoring of ECP and PC20 may be of great value in achieving optimal control of asthma.
A scoping review of epidemiologic risk factors for pediatric obesity: Implications for future childhood obesity and dental caries prevention research

RESEARCH QUESTIONS What are the non-modifiable (socioeconomic, genetic) and modifiable factors (physical activity, dietary behaviors) related to childhood (under age 12) obesity? How can this knowledge be applied to oral health professionals' efforts to prevent or manage dental caries in children? OBJECTIVES Studies have identified risk factors for childhood obesity. The purpose of this scoping review was to develop a conceptual model to identify non-modifiable and modifiable risk factors for childhood obesity and to illustrate how these findings are relevant in developing interventions aimed at preventing obesity and dental caries in children. METHODS The authors searched PubMed and Embase and limited the study to English-language publications. A total of 2,572 studies were identified. After de-duplication, 2,479 studies remained and were downloaded into a citation-management tool. Two authors screened the titles and abstracts for relevance. Two hundred and sixty studies remained and were retrieved for a full-text review, and 80 studies were excluded, resulting in 180 studies included in the scoping review. An inductive content analytic methods was used to organize all statistically significant obesity risk factors into seven domains, which were classified as non-modifiable or modifiable; then a conceptual model of common risk factors associated with childhood obesity and dental caries was developed. RESULTS Non-modifiable obesity risk factors include biological and developmental (e.g., genes, developmental conditions, puberty), sociodemographic and household (e.g., race/ethnicity, socioeconomic status, parent education, unemployment), cultural (e.g., degree of acculturation), and community (e.g., neighborhood composition). Modifiable risk factors included behavioral (e.g., diet, physical activity, weight), psychosocial (e.g., maternal stress, family functioning, parenting practices, child temperament), and medical (e.g., parent smoking, maternal health, child health). CONCLUSIONS Identifying common risk factors has important implications for future oral health research aimed at preventing childhood obesity and dental caries. Epidemiologic knowledge gleaned from the literature can be used to develop rigorous interventions and programs aimed at preventing these highly prevalent diseases and improving health outcomes for children.
Improved Constructions of Two-Source Extractors

In a recent breakthrough \cite{CZ15}, Chattopadhyay and Zuckerman gave an explicit two-source extractor for min-entropy $k \geq \log^C n$ for some large enough constant $C$. However, their extractor only outputs one bit. In this paper, we improve the output of the two-source extractor to $k^{\Omega(1)}$, while the error remains $n^{-\Omega(1)}$. Our improvement is obtained by giving a better extractor for $(q, t, \gamma)$ non-oblivious bit-fixing sources, which can output $t^{\Omega(1)}$ bits instead of one bit as in \cite{CZ15}.
Bootstrapping inverse kinematics with Goal Babbling

We present an approach to learn inverse kinematics of redundant systems without prior- or expert-knowledge. The method allows for an iterative bootstrapping and refinement of the inverse kinematics estimate. We show that the information structure induced by goal-directed exploration enables an efficient resolution of inconsistent samples solely from observable data. The bootstrapped solutions are aligned for a maximum of movement efficiency, i.e. realizing an effector movement with a minimum of joint motion. We derive and illustrate the exploration and learning process with a low-dimensional kinematic example and show that the same procedure scales for high dimensional problems, such as hyperredundant planar arms with up to 50 degrees of freedom.
Energy-Based Nonlinear Control of Underactuated Euler-Lagrange Systems Subject to Impacts

In this paper, energy-based nonlinear controllers are designed to globally asymptotically stabilize an underactuated mechanical system. An interesting aspect of the problem is that the equilibrium points of some states are defined by contact with a surface while the equilibrium points of remaining states are defined by noncontact positions. To stabilize the states of the system an energy coupling strategy is employed. The energy coupling approach is motivated by the desire to improve the transient response of the system. A Lyapunov stability analysis and numerical simulations are provided to demonstrate the stability and performance of the developed controllers.
The Price of Routing Unsplittable Flow

The essence of the routing problem in real networks is that the traffic demand from a source to destination must be satisfied by choosing a single path between source and destination. The splittable version of this problem is when demand can be satisfied by many paths, namely a flow from source to destination. The unsplittable, or discrete version of the problem is more realistic yet is more complex from the algorithmic point of view; in some settings optimizing such unsplittable traffic flow is computationally intractable.In this paper, we assume this more realistic unsplittable model, and investigate the "price of anarchy", or deterioration of network performance measured in total traffic latency under the selfish user behavior. We show that for linear edge latency functions the price of anarchy is exactly $2.618 for weighted demand and exactly $2.5 for unweighted demand. These results are easily extended to (weighted or unweighted) atomic "congestion games", where paths are replaced by general subsets. We also show that for polynomials of degree d edge latency functions the price of anarchy is dδ(d). Our results hold also for mixed strategies.Previous results of Roughgarden and Tardos showed that for linear edge latency functions the price of anarchy is exactly 4/3 under the assumption that each user controls only a negligible fraction of the overall traffic (this result also holds for the splittable case). Note that under the assumption of negligible traffic pure and mixed strategies are equivalent and also splittable and unsplittable models are equivalent.
Grossly Defective nef Gene Sequences in a Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1-Seropositive Long-Term Nonprogressor

ABSTRACT We have been investigating a long-term nonprogressor who was found to be human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) seropositive in 1985 and has survived with stable CD4+ T-cell counts (>1,000 CD4 cells/μl) without any AIDS-related illness. We have previously reported that repeated attempts to measure HIV-1 RNA in the peripheral mononuclear cells obtained from this subject have invariably failed. In the present study, we have analyzed the molecular nature of the HIV-1 quasispecies infecting this patient by PCR amplification of two proviral regions, the 5′ long terminal repeat (5′LTR)/gagleader and the nef gene, directly from fresh uncultured peripheral mononuclear cells, followed by length polymorphism analysis (with 1994, 1995, and 1996 samples) and sequencing (with a 1996 sample). Only proviral forms with nef deletions were revealed by length polymorphism analysis in samples from all three time points. Sequence analysis of the nef gene from the 1996 sample confirmed the presence of similar proviral quasispecies characterized by the presence of several deletions located in thenef-alone and the nef/U3 overlapping regions. Length polymorphism analysis of the 5′LTR/gag leader region suggested the existence of two major quasispecies populations, one characterized by the presence of forms carrying deletions in the U3 region and the other showing a completely intact, full-length 5′LTR. Evidence of the role of nef gene defects in long-term survival of HIV-1-infected patients has been provided so far in two independent investigations involving patients infected with HIV through blood transfusion. Here we show the existence of a similar condition in a subject who acquired HIV-1 seropositivity through the sexual route.
BARRIERS AND INCENTIVES FOR AFFORDABLE MULTI-FAMILY GREEN BUILDING CONSTRUCTION IN CALIFORNIA

Concerns over the energy consumption and environmental impacts of the built environment have been recently growing more than ever. States and local agencies in California make every effort to set rules and regulations to curtail depletion of resources and promote efficient construction and facility management. Policy efforts to deal with these issues have mainly focused on sustainable architecture, green technologies, and renewable energy and efficiency in the energy sector. Previous studies on California state green building policies have used empirical information extracted from secondary sources such as comparison of conventional and green building approaches, barriers to green buildings, energy saved per square foot for green buildings, and incentives. This paper presents the analysis of responses collected through a recent online survey on the barriers and incentives of green affordable housings construction in California. The total of 75 respondents include a broad range of subject matter experts such as architects, civil engineers, project managers, contractors, faculty members, interior designers, and real estate agents. 76% have been engaged in planning or construction of green buildings. Analysis of answers to the 12 questions presents strong indicators about the barriers and enablers of green building in California. Considering the fact that California is in the frontline of sustainability and energy efficiency policy development, results of this study are valuable to researchers and decision makers in other states and scalable to the federal level.
CMIFed: a presentation environment for portable hypermedia documents

This paper discusses the architecture and implementation of CMIFed, an editing and presentation environment for hypermedia documents. Typically such documents contain a mixture of text, images, audio, and video (and possibly other media), augmented with user interaction. CMIFed allows the author flexibility in specifying what is presented when, using multiple simultaneous output channels. Unlike systems that use a timeline or scripting metaphor to control the presentation, in CMIFed the user manipulates a collection of events and timing constraints among those events. Common timing requirements can be specified by grouping events together in a tree whose nodes indicate sequential and parallel composition. More general timing constraints between events can be added in the form of synchronization arcs. User interaction is supported in the form of hyperlinks. We place CMIFed in the context of the CMIF model for hypermedia documents, which formalizes the properties of hypermedia presentations in a platform-independent manner. CR Subject Classification (1991): H.5. 1, H.5. 2, I.7. 2, I.3. 6, I.3. 4, D.4. 1, D.4. 4, D.4. 7.
CD11b blockade prevents lung injury despite neutrophil priming after gut ischemia/reperfusion.

Gut ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) provokes lung injury via a mechanism that involves neutrophils [polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMNs)]. CD11b/CD18 (alpha mB2) is the integrin receptor on PMNs critical for adhesion-dependent oxidative burst. The purpose of this study was to investigate the mechanistic role of CD11b in the process of gut I/R-induced lung injury. Sprague-Dawley rats underwent 45 minutes of superior mesenteric artery (SMA) occlusion with and without CD11b monoclonal antibody treatment (IB6) (1 mg/kg, i.v.), before SMA clamping. At 2-hour reperfusion, PMN presence in tissue was quantitated by myeloperoxidase activity and circulating PMN priming determined by the difference in superoxide production with and without N-formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine, whereas lung leak was assessed by 125I-albumin lung/blood ratio. In sum, CD11b blockade prevented gut I/R-induced lung leak, but did not attenuate gut I/R-induced PMN priming or tissue PMN accumulation. In conclusion, gut I/R promotes PMN priming and PMN adhesion in both local and distant beds via receptors other than CD11b, but this B2 integrin receptor is critical for PMN-mediated endothelial injury.
Analysis of Germination Capacity and Germinant Receptor (Sub)clusters of Genome-Sequenced Bacillus cereus Environmental Isolates and Model Strains

ABSTRACT Spore germination of 17 Bacillus cereus food isolates and reference strains was evaluated using flow cytometry analysis in combination with fluorescent staining at a single-spore level. This approach allowed for rapid collection of germination data under more than 20 conditions, including heat activation of spores, germination in complex media (brain heart infusion [BHI] and tryptone soy broth [TSB]), and exposure to saturating concentrations of single amino acids and the combination of alanine and inosine. Whole-genome sequence comparison revealed a total of 11 clusters of operons encoding germinant receptors (GRs): GerK, GerI, and GerL were present in all strains, whereas GerR, GerS, GerG, GerQ, GerX, GerF, GerW, and GerZ (sub)clusters showed a more diverse presence/absence in different strains. The spores of tested strains displayed high diversity with regard to their sensitivity and responsiveness to selected germinants and heat activation. The two laboratory strains, B. cereus ATCC 14579 and ATCC 10987, and 11 food isolates showed a good germination response under a range of conditions, whereas four other strains (B. cereus B4085, B4086, B4116, and B4153) belonging to phylogenetic group IIIA showed a very weak germination response even in BHI and TSB media. Germination responses could not be linked to specific (combinations of) GRs, but it was noted that the four group IIIA strains contained pseudogenes or variants of subunit C in their gerL cluster. Additionally, two of those strains (B4086 and B4153) carried pseudogenes in the gerK and gerRI (sub)clusters that possibly affected the functionality of these GRs. IMPORTANCE Germination of bacterial spores is a critical step before vegetative growth can resume. Food products may contain nutrient germinants that trigger germination and outgrowth of Bacillus species spores, possibly leading to food spoilage or foodborne illness. Prediction of spore germination behavior is, however, very challenging, especially for spores of natural isolates that tend to show more diverse germination responses than laboratory strains. The approach used has provided information on the genetic diversity in GRs and corresponding subclusters encoded by B. cereus strains, as well as their germination behavior and possible associations with GRs, and it provides a basis for further extension of knowledge on the role of GRs in B. cereus (group member) ecology and transmission to the host.