Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Photosynthesis, water use, and root viability under water stress as affected by expression of SAG12-ipt controlling cytokinin synthesis in Agrostis stolonifera

Water stress reduces endogenous cytokinin (CK) content and may inhibit CK production. Maintenance of endogenous CK levels by genetic transformation with ipt in leaves and roots undergoing senescence may promote stress tolerance. This study was designed to determine the physiological effects of ipt expression on immature and mature leaves and in roots for plants exposed to different levels of water stress for creeping bentgrass (Agrostis stolonifera). Plants containing the ipt gene, encoding the enzyme adenine isopentenyl phosphotransferase for CK synthesis ligated to a senescence-activated promoter (SAG12), and wild-type ‘Penncross’ (WT) were grown hydroponically in a growth chamber and exposed to water stress by weekly additions of polyethylene glycol 8000 to reduce the growing solution osmotic potential from –0.05 to –0.3, –0.5, –0.7, –1.0, and –1.4 MPa. Immature and mature leaves and roots of SAG12-ipt creeping bentgrass were evaluated for ipt expression, CK content, leaf relative water content (RWC), chlorophyll content (Chl), photochemical efficiency (FvFm), osmotic adjustment (OA), photosynthesis rate (Pn), stomatal conductance (gs), transpiration (E), water use efficiency (WUE), carbon isotope discrimination (Δ), and root viability. Expression of ipt was detected in all plant parts and a higher CK content, primarily in the form of isopentyladenine (iPa), was found in SAG12-ipt plants but not in the WT plants under water stress. Immature leaves exhibited higher iPa and OA at all treatment levels. Mature leaves of SAG12-ipt plants maintained higher OA, Pn, Chl, WUE, and Δ, whereas gs and E were relatively unaffected compared to the WT. Roots of SAG12-ipt plants had higher levels of iPa and greater root viability than the WT. The results demonstrate that expression of ipt enhanced the tolerance of creeping bentgrass to water stress, which could be attributed to the positive effects on osmotic adjustment, efficient water use, and maintaining higher photosynthetic rate primarily for mature leaves, as well as increased root viability.
Help me, I'm fat! Social support in online weight loss networks

Social networks have become an increasingly common way for people to share information and seek emotional support for issues surrounding weight loss. This study aims to explore how users of a commercial social networking site who are focussed on weight loss give and/or receive social support to/from other users. The authors use quantitative data from 145 members of the Weight Watchers Facebook page to explore how social support is both given and received, and the communication style by which this is achieved. This study reveals three groups—Passive Recipients, Active Supporters and Casual Browsers. Passive Recipients receive a high level of informational and emotional support but do so by being passive communicators. Active Supporters also receive a high level of both informational and emotional support yet are more active in their communication style. Casual Browsers receive little social support and exhibit a passive communication style. Thus, the authors find evidence that even though members of a social network may share a common interest, the way members choose to participate and interact, and the benefits they accrue by doing so differ substantially. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The imprint of massive black hole formation models on the LISA data stream

The formation, merging and accretion history of massive black holes (MBHs) along the hierarchical build-up of cosmic structures leaves a unique imprint on the background of gravitational waves (GWs) at mHz frequencies. We study here, by means of dedicated simulations of black hole build-up, the possibility of constraining different models of black hole cosmic evolution using future GW space-borne missions, such as LISA. We consider two main scenarios for black hole formation, namely, one where seeds are light (� 10 2 M� , remnant of Population III stars) and one where seeds are heavy (10 4 M� , direct collapse). In all the models we have investigated, MBH binary coalescences do not produce a stochastic GW background, but rather, a set of individual resolved events. Detection of several hundreds merging events in a 3-yr LISA mission will be the sign of a heavy seed scenario with efficient formation of black hole seeds in a large fraction of high-redshift haloes. At the other extreme, a low event rate, about a few tens in 3 yr, is peculiar of scenarios where either the seeds are light, and many coalescences do not fall into the LISA band, or seeds are massive, but rare. In this case a decisive diagnostic is provided by the shape of the mass distribution of detected events. Light binaries (m < 10 4 M� ) are predicted in a fairly large number in Population III remnant models, but are totally absent in direct collapse models. Finally, a further, helpful diagnostic of black hole formation models lies in the distribution of the mass ratios in binary coalescences. While heavy seed models predict that most of the detected events involve equal-mass binaries, in the case of light seeds, mass ratios are equally distributed in the range 0.1‐1.
Introduction to 1900.7 network architecture, design and current status

Radio frequencies have become a scarce resource in many countries and white space communication promised to alleviate this problem. Standardization for devices operating in white space frequencies became indispensable and 1900.7 working group was formed from the white space ad hoc group in DySPAN for that task. This paper aims to provide an overall understanding of the 1900.7 standard. The network architecture, design, requirement, use cases, reference models and progress of 1900.7 are discussed in details in this paper.
An Investigation of Feasibility and Safety of Bi‐Modal Stimulation for the Treatment of Tinnitus: An Open‐Label Pilot Study

Tinnitus is the perception of sound in the absence of an external auditory stimulus. It is widely believed that tinnitus, in patients with associated hearing loss, is a neurological phenomenon primarily affecting the central auditory structures. However, there is growing evidence for the involvement of the somatosensory system in this form of tinnitus. For this reason it has been suggested that the condition may be amenable to bi‐modal stimulation of the auditory and somatosensory systems. We conducted a pilot study to investigate the feasibility and safety of a device that delivers simultaneous auditory and somatosensory stimulation to treat the symptoms of chronic tinnitus.
Experimental Performance Evaluation of different Data Models for a Reflection Software Architecture over NoSQL Persistence Layers

The recent rise of the NoSQL movement motivates investigation on the performance impact that new persistence approaches can bring in the model-driven re-engineering of a consolidated object-oriented software architecture. We report comparative experimental performance results attained by combining a pattern-based domain logic with a persistence layer based on different paradigms and we describe how data model is persisted in various implementation based on MySQL, Neo4j, and MongoDB.
Genetic characterization of large parathyroid adenomas

In this study, we genetically characterized parathyroid adenomas with large glandular weights, for which independent observations suggest pronounced clinical manifestations. Large parathyroid adenomas (LPTAs) were defined as the 5% largest sporadic parathyroid adenomas identified among the 590 cases operated in our institution during 2005–2009. The LPTA group showed a higher relative number of male cases and significantly higher levels of total plasma and ionized serum calcium (P<0.001). Further analysis of 21 LPTAs revealed low MIB1 proliferation index (0.1–1.5%), MEN1 mutations in five cases, and one HRPT2 (CDC73) mutation. Total or partial loss of parafibromin expression was observed in ten tumors, two of which also showed loss of APC expression. Using array CGH, we demonstrated recurrent copy number alterations most frequently involving loss in 1p (29%), gain in 5 (38%), and loss in 11q (33%). Totally, 21 minimal overlapping regions were defined for losses in 1p, 7q, 9p, 11, and 15q and gains in 3q, 5, 7p, 8p, 16q, 17p, and 19q. In addition, 12 tumors showed gross alterations of entire or almost entire chromosomes most frequently gain of 5 and loss of chromosome 11. While gain of 5 was the most frequent alteration observed in LPTAs, it was only detected in a small proportion (4/58 cases, 7%) of parathyroid adenomas. A significant positive correlation was observed between parathyroid hormone level and total copy number gain (r=0.48, P=0.031). These results support that LPTAs represent a group of patients with pronounced parathyroid hyperfunction and associated with specific genomic features.
An edge detection by using self-organization

This paper proposes a self-organized edge detection. In this method, several clusters are yielded and self-organized according to a gray scale level and the location of pixels. In addition, the comparison among these clusters results in the estimated edge. However after self-organization, clusters are classified into some group according to their properties. The method which represents the detail distribution of each cluster is introduced. In addition, by using this method, it is shown that the proposed detection of edges can improve the accuracy in some experiments.
Opinion finding in blogs: a passage-based language modeling approach

In this work, we propose a Passage-Based Language Modeling (LM) approach for Opinion Finding in Blogs. Our decision to use Language Modeling in this work is totally based on the importance of passages in blogposts and performance LM has given in various Opinion Detection approaches. In addition to this, we propose a novel method for bi-dimensional Query Expansion with relevant and opinionated terms using Wikipedia and Relevance-Feedback mechanism respectively. Besides all this, we also compare the performance of three Passage-based document ranking functions (Linear, Avg, Max). For evaluation purposes, we use the data collection of TREC Blog06 with 50 topics of TREC 2006 over TREC provided best baseline with opinion finding MAP of 0.3022. Our approach gives a MAP improvement of almost 9.29% over best TREC provided baseline (baseline4).
Role of Histone-Like Proteins H-NS and StpA in Expression of Virulence Determinants of Uropathogenic Escherichia coli

ABSTRACT The histone-like protein H-NS is a global regulator in Escherichia coli that has been intensively studied in nonpathogenic strains. However, no comprehensive study on the role of H-NS and its paralogue, StpA, in gene expression in pathogenic E. coli has been carried out so far. Here, we monitored the global effects of H-NS and StpA in a uropathogenic E. coli isolate by using DNA arrays. Expression profiling revealed that more than 500 genes were affected by an hns mutation, whereas no effect of StpA alone was observed. An hns stpA double mutant showed a distinct gene expression pattern that differed in large part from that of the hns single mutant. This suggests a direct interaction between the two paralogues and the existence of distinct regulons of H-NS and an H-NS/StpA heteromeric complex. hns mutation resulted in increased expression of alpha-hemolysin, fimbriae, and iron uptake systems as well as genes involved in stress adaptation. Furthermore, several other putative virulence genes were found to be part of the H-NS regulon. Although the lack of H-NS, either alone or in combination with StpA, has a huge impact on gene expression in pathogenic E. coli strains, its effect on virulence is ambiguous. At a high infection dose, hns mutants trigger more sudden lethality due to their increased acute toxicity in murine urinary tract infection and sepsis models. At a lower infectious dose, however, mutants lacking H-NS are attenuated through their impaired growth rate, which can only partially be compensated for by the higher expression of numerous virulence factors.
Funktiewoorden - een Inventarisatie voor het Nederlands - An Inventory of Dutch Function Words

This paper presents an inventory of the function words of the Dutch language. The function words, 418 in total, have been classified into eight categories: prepositions, conjunctions, determiners, relatives, pro-forms, auxiliary and copula verbs, conjunctive adverbs, and intensifiers. In addition, a list is given of about 300 adverbs, that is, of words which can only serve an adverbial grammatical function (and not as adjectives, for example). The lists were compiled by going through the 19 76 edition of the authoritative Van Dale dictionary and cross-checking against various other sources (word lists, word counts, and grammar books). The inventory of function words is claimed to be virtually complete; from the list of adverbs a few members may be missing.
Model-based fault detection and isolation for electric power steering system

Electric power steering (EPS) system is an advanced steering system that assists steering torque using the electric motor. To guarantee reliability and safety of EPS System, fault management is especially important. This paper provides a fault detection and isolation (FDI) technique for the sensors of EPS system through the model-based FDI method. In the presented work, FDI algorithm is composed of a two-step process by using the mathematical models of the electric motor and the steering system. In the first step, faults of the phase current sensor and the angular velocity sensor of the electric motor can be detected by using parity equation which is derived from the mathematical model of the electric motor. In the subsequent step, residual is produced by cross-checking with three torque signals in mathematical model of the steering system, estimated assist torque from the measured phase motor current, estimated road torque from the tire model, and driver's wheel steering torque. And then the steering sensor fault can be detected by comparing the residual with the threshold which includes model uncertainties. Through the both steps, the EPS system sensor fault can be isolated by identifying the faulty component.
Occupational Therapy using Rapid Prompting Method: A Case Report

Individuals with autism spectrum disorders that are nonverbal or have significantly limited verbal ability often demonstrate difficulties with learning and communication that impact their ability to participate in everyday, functional activities. Healthcare providers and educators that provide intervention for individuals with autism spectrum disorders utilize a variety of interventions and treatment techniques while tailoring their interventions to consider the unique needs of the individual with autism. This case report reviews how incorporating Rapid Prompting Method, a relatively new teaching technique for individuals with autism spectrum disorders, into occupational therapy treatment for a young adult male with autism with significantly limited verbal ability improved his functional participation, including communication, behavior, and engagement in routine activities of daily living.
The Low-Resolution DRAO Survey of H I Emission from the Galactic Plane. II.

In 2000, a survey of H I line emission in the Galactic plane between Galactic longitudes l = 72. °2 and 149. °0, covering latitudes from b = -5. °4 to 7. °2, made using the 26 m telescope at the Dominion Radio Astrophysical Observatory, was published as part of the Canadian Galactic Plane Survey project. The survey with the 26 m telescope has now been extended to cover longitudes from l = 50. °0 to 195. °0, between the same latitude limits. In addition, a region at higher Galactic latitudes (b = 7.°4–24.°0) has been surveyed between longitudes l = 96. °4 and 120. °2. As in the initial survey, spectra were observed at 0. °2 intervals of longitude and latitude (0.33 half-power beamwidths). (In an appendix, it is demonstrated that, when single-antenna data and interferometer data are to be combined, the single-antenna data must be sampled at an interval no greater than 0.5 times the half-power beamwidth of the single antenna. Coarser sampling will result in the introduction of spurious structure into the resulting images.) The spectral resolution is 1.32 km s-1, and the LSR velocity range is -260–161 km s-1. The spectra have been corrected for stray radiation and have an estimated Tb scaling accuracy of 1% and an estimated rms noise in one channel (0.8245 km s-1) of 0.25 K. Regions of suspected strong H I self-absorption have been identified using a statistic characterizing the "complexity" of the observed spectra. Comparison with spectra from the Leiden/Dwingeloo Survey supports the conclusion from our earlier paper that a small percentage (∼1%–2%) of the spectra in the latter survey suffer from calibration errors exceeding 10%. A table of positions of the more discordant spectra is given.
Editorial: Interoception, Contemplative Practice, and Health

Well-being is deeply rooted in the body, a continuous flow of feelings denoting comfort or distress. Interoception, the representation of the body's internal state, is a growing target of scientific research, buoyed by a growing respect for contemplative traditions relating interoceptive awareness to the cultivation of well-being. An emerging interoception literature cuts across studies of neurophysiology, somatic anthropology, contemplative practice, and mind-body medicine. Key questions include: How is body awareness cultivated? What role does interoception play for emotion and cognition across the lifespan as well as in different psychopathologies? What are the neurophysiological effects of interoceptive training in Yoga, mindfulness meditation, Tai Chi, and other embodied contemplative practices? What categories from other traditions might be useful in this investigation? How might the cultivation of interoceptive awareness improve resilience in chronic health conditions?
International study of temperature, heat and urban mortality: the 'ISOTHURM' project.

BACKGROUND This study describes heat- and cold-related mortality in 12 urban populations in low- and middle-income countries, thereby extending knowledge of how diverse populations, in non-OECD countries, respond to temperature extremes. METHODS The cities were: Delhi, Monterrey, Mexico City, Chiang Mai, Bangkok, Salvador, São Paulo, Santiago, Cape Town, Ljubljana, Bucharest and Sofia. For each city, daily mortality was examined in relation to ambient temperature using autoregressive Poisson models (2- to 5-year series) adjusted for season, relative humidity, air pollution, day of week and public holidays. RESULTS Most cities showed a U-shaped temperature-mortality relationship, with clear evidence of increasing death rates at colder temperatures in all cities except Ljubljana, Salvador and Delhi and with increasing heat in all cities except Chiang Mai and Cape Town. Estimates of the temperature threshold below which cold-related mortality began to increase ranged from 15 degrees C to 29 degrees C; the threshold for heat-related deaths ranged from 16 degrees C to 31 degrees C. Heat thresholds were generally higher in cities with warmer climates, while cold thresholds were unrelated to climate. CONCLUSIONS Urban populations, in diverse geographic settings, experience increases in mortality due to both high and low temperatures. The effects of heat and cold vary depending on climate and non-climate factors such as the population disease profile and age structure. Although such populations will undergo some adaptation to increasing temperatures, many are likely to have substantial vulnerability to climate change. Additional research is needed to elucidate vulnerability within populations.
Event-Related fMRI with Simultaneous and Continuous EEG: Description of the Method and Initial Case Report

We report on the initial imaging findings with a new technique for the simultaneous and continuous acquisition of functional MRI data and EEG recording. Thirty-seven stereotyped interictal epileptiform discharges (spikes) were identified on EEG recorded continuously during the fMRI acquisition on a patient with epilepsy. Localization of the BOLD activation associated with the EEG events was consistent with previous findings and EEG source modeling. The time course of activation was comparable with the physiological hemodynamic response function (HRF). The new methodology could lead to novel and important applications in many areas of neuroscience.
The Importance of Diversity in Neural Network Ensembles - An Empirical Investigation

When designing ensembles, it is almost an axiom that the base classifiers must be diverse in order for the ensemble to generalize well. Unfortunately, there is no clear definition of the key term diversity, leading to several diversity measures and many, more or less ad hoc, methods for diversity creation in ensembles. In addition, no specific diversity measure has shown to have a high correlation with test set accuracy. The purpose of this paper is to empirically evaluate ten different diversity measures, using neural network ensembles and 11 publicly available data sets. The main result is that all diversity measures evaluated, in this study too, show low or very low correlation with test set accuracy. Having said that, two measures; double fault and difficulty show slightly higher correlations compared to the other measures. The study furthermore shows that the correlation between accuracy measured on training or validation data and test set accuracy also is rather low. These results challenge ensemble design techniques where diversity is explicitly maximized or where ensemble accuracy on a hold-out set is used for optimization.
Playing with a Robot: Realization of "Red Light, Green Light" Using a Laser Range Finder

Purpose of this study is to realize a children's play "Darumasan ga koronda" (red light, green light) by a mobile robot and a human. In this paper, the robot is "it" and the human is the other player. Three functions are needed to make the robot possible to play the game: recognition of a player, "out" judgment and following the player. In this paper, we mainly describe a method of "out" judgment. We put a laser range finder (LRF) on the mobile robot and measure the position of the player. The robot calculates distance between the past and current positions of the human for judging whether the player has moved or not, if the distance is more than the threshold, the robot judges the player "out". The threshold was determined as 40mm and 80mm for two different conditions according to the two experiments of simulating the play. Finally, we conducted an experiment of actually playing the game with the robot, and confirmed that the developed robot could play the game.
Clinical experience sharing by similar case retrieval

Clinical experience sharing (CES) is a useful concept for both medical treatment and medical education purposes. One way of implementing CES is through the use of content based case retrieval (CBCR), where database of medical cases is browsed for case instances that are similar to the input query case. In this study, we introduce a new project called case retrieval in radiology (CaReRa), which aims at implementing CES for liver cases. We particularly focus on 3D liver images acquired by computed tomography (CT) and lay the foundations of a conceptual system outputting a ranked list of results for a given query case, formulated in this work as a liver lesion. A list of CT image features serves as computer generated descriptors together with user expressed annotations collected using a novel ontology of liver for radiology (ONLIRA). A two stage approach is proposed to utilize these two types of descriptors in cascade, namely semantic framing and similarity ranking. Initial retrieval performance results confirm the importance of ontology based descriptors, while also highlights the foci of future work needed to overcome the weaknesses.