Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effects of Conservation Tillage on Total and Aggregated Soil Organic Carbon in the Andes

Many Andisols of the Andes have been disturbed by traditional potato-based rotation agriculture disrupting soil structure, water retention capacity and organic matter content. This study was undertaken to investigate the contribution of conservation farming technology or reduced tillage in potato-based rotations in the Colombian Andes in order to rehabilitate total and aggregated soil organic C in disturbed organic matter-rich Andisols. Soils were sampled from farms with 7-year of reduced tillage and farms with conventional farming practices. Ultrasound energy was applied to samples to disrupt aggregation and total soil C was determined in order to investigate the amount of carbon held inside the aggregates of different soil size classes. Results indicated that reduced tillage in potato-based crop rotations increased the soil C concentration and average C content in the whole profile (≈117 cm depth) by 50 and 33% (1636 t C ha? 1 vs. 1224 t C ha? 1), respectively, as compared to conventional farming practices. Carbon content increased 177% in the subsoil (A2 horizon, 78 -117 cm depth, from 215 to 596 t? ha? 1), although most of the soil C was in the A1 horizon (between 0 -78 cm average thickness, 1097 t? ha? 1). These increases show that reduced tillage enhances C stores in Andisols which are already high in organic matter. In addition, C in aggregates represented more than 80% of the total organic matter and it was positively affected by conservation practices. The C increase was preferential in the smaller macroaggregates (
Compromised oocyte quality and assisted reproduction contribute to sex-specific effects on offspring outcomes and epigenetic patterning.

Clinical studies have revealed an increased incidence of growth and genomic imprinting disorders in children conceived using assisted reproductive technologies (ARTs), and aberrant DNA methylation has been implicated. We propose that compromised oocyte quality associated with female infertility may make embryos more susceptible to the induction of epigenetic defects by ART. DNA methylation patterns in the preimplantation embryo are dependent on the oocyte-specific DNA methyltransferase 1o (DNMT1o), levels of which are decreased in mature oocytes of aging females. Here, we assessed the effects of maternal deficiency in DNMT1o (Dnmt1Δ1o/+) in combination with superovulation and embryo transfer on offspring DNA methylation and development. We demonstrated a significant increase in the rates of morphological abnormalities in offspring collected from Dnmt1Δ1o/+ females only when combined with ART. Together, maternal oocyte DNMT1o deficiency and ART resulted in an accentuation of placental imprinting defects and the induction of genome-wide DNA methylation alterations, which were exacerbated in the placenta compared to the embryo. Significant sex-specific trends were also apparent, with a preponderance of DNA hypomethylation in females. Among genic regions affected, a significant enrichment for neurodevelopmental pathways was observed. Taken together, our results demonstrate that oocyte DNMT1o-deficiency exacerbates genome-wide DNA methylation abnormalities induced by ART in a sex-specific manner and plays a role in mediating poor embryonic outcome.
Increased postural sway and modified pressure distribution patterns following reduced plantar sensitivity

Introduction Human movement is controlled on the basis of afferent information of the visual, the vestibular and the somatosensory system. Whereas many investigations concern the effects of the visual and the vestibular system upon postural control (Dichgans and Diener 1989; Simoneau et al. 1992; Patla 1997) the contribution of the somatosensory system still remains unclear. Knowledge about how somatosensory signals trigger and modulate human balance or gait patterns has important implications for the rehabilitation of postural and gait disorders, and advances our understanding of normal interactions between these sensory systems. The somatosensory system consists of different cutaneous, joint and muscle mechanoreceptors and appears to have the major influence on postural control (Simoneau et al. 1995; van Deursen and Simoneau 1999). The consequences of lost or reduced information of any of these mechanoreceptors on balance or gait patterns is still unknown. Therefore, the aim of the present investigation was to selectively reduce the cutaneous information of the plantar surface of the foot using an ice immersion approach in order to study the changes in pressure distribution and postural control.
Polyimide lifetime under partial discharge aging: effects of temperature, pressure and humidity

Recent aircraft designs increasingly use electrical systems with higher voltages. This can lead to the occurrence of partial discharges. Testing for these phenomena is relatively poorly documented in comparison with other standardized tests available for aerospace components. After having investigated the effect of temperature, pressure, and moisture on the partial discharge inception voltage as well as the discharge characteristics, we focused on the effect of these environmental parameters on the behaviour of the energy dissipated by the discharges and on polyimide film endurance during aging under partial discharge. The results show two different behaviours for the variation of energy dissipation along aging time related to environmental conditions. In fact, when a semi-conducting layer is formed in wet conditions due to the interaction between the gaseous by-products and the water molecules, a decrease in the energy measured was revealed. In addition, the relationship between the measured dissipated energy and the polyimide lifetime was investigated and did not present constant trends for the different aging conditions. While it is clear that the material endurance was energy dependent in dry conditions, it was shown that, even when the discharge energies were higher, an increase in the endurance of the dielectric was observed when the superficial semi-conducting layer was formed.
A generic distributed broadcast scheme in ad hoc wireless networks

We propose a generic framework for distributed broadcasting in ad hoc wireless networks. The approach is based on selecting a small subset of hosts (also called nodes) to form a forward node set to carry out a broadcast process. The status of each node, forwarding or non-forwarding, is determined either by itself (self-pruning) or by other nodes (neighbor-designating). Node status can be determined at different snapshots of network state along time (called views) without causing problems in broadcast coverage. A sufficient condition, called coverage condition, is given for a node to take the non-forward status. Such a condition can be easily checked locally around the node. Several existing broadcast algorithms can be viewed as special cases of the generic framework with k-hop neighborhood information. A comprehensive comparison among existing algorithms is conducted. Simulation results show that new algorithms, which are more efficient than existing ones, can be derived from the generic framework. This work is an extension to an early work in which only self-pruning methods are discussed [16].
Prevalence and epidemiological pattern of gallstones in urban residents in China.

Gallstone disease is a common digestive disorder that mainly occurs in Western countries [1]. The prevalence of gallstones seems to be as high as 70% in Pima Indians and 10–20% in North American and European countries [1,2]. In China, there was no available data on the nationwide prevalence of gallstone disease. To investigate the true epidemiological characteristics of gallstones better, a cooperative cross-sectional study was conducted by the Chinese Society of Health Management between January and December 2008.
Urinary Copper Excretion in Type 2 Diabetic Patients with Nephropathy

Background/Aims: The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between the degree of urinary copper excretion and stages of diabetic nephropathy. Methods: Copper, ceruloplasmin and albumin concentrations were measured in serum and urine samples from 41 type 2 diabetic outpatients with different stages of nephropathy and from 10 healthy controls. The copper/albumin and copper/ceruloplasmin ratios in serum and urine were determined. Furthermore, we examined whether free copper ions are dissociated from ceruloplasmin under various pH conditions. Results: Urinary copper concentrations significantly increased only in macroalbuminuric patients. The copper/ceruloplasmin and copper/albumin ratios in urine were consistently greater than those in serum which were not different between patients and healthy controls except the copper/albumin ratio in macroalbuminuric patients. The ratios in urine decreased in parallel with the progression of nephropathy. Copper was found to be released from ceruloplasmin under acidic conditions. Conclusion: Urinary copper excretion in healthy controls may be the result of dissociation from the albumin-copper complex of serum during its passage through the kidney. In diabetic patients with advanced nephropathy, urinary copper excretion may be due to dissociations from both copper-albumin and ceruloplasmin-copper complexes filtered through the damaged glomerulus. Overloading of urinary copper to damaged renal tubules may play some roles in the progression of nephropathy in patients with advanced nephropathy.
Identification and Expression of CephamycinaseblaCMY Genes in Escherichia coliand Salmonella Isolates from Food Animals and Ground Meat

ABSTRACT Twenty-one Salmonella and 54 Escherichia coli isolates, recovered from food animals and retail ground meats, that exhibited decreased susceptibilities to ceftiofur and ceftriaxone were shown to possess a blaCMYgene. The blaCMY-4 gene was identified in an E. coli isolate recovered from retail chicken and was further shown to be responsible for resistance to cephalothin, ampicillin, and amoxicillin-clavulanic acid and elevated MICs of ceftriaxone, cefoxitin, and ceftiofur.
Meaning spotting and robustness of recurrent networks

This paper describes and evaluates the behavior of preference-based recurrent networks which process text sequences. First, we train a recurrent plausibility network to learn a semantic classification of the Reuters news title corpus. Then we analyze the robustness and incremental learning behavior of these networks in more detail. We demonstrate that these recurrent networks use their recurrent connections to support incremental processing. In particular, we compare the performance of the real title models with reversed title models and even random title models. We find that the recurrent networks can, even under these severe conditions, provide good classification results. We claim that previous context in recurrent connections and a meaning spotting strategy are pursued by the network which supports this robust processing.
Transcatheter closure of pulmonary arteriovenous malformations with Amplatzer devices

To review the authors' experience with transcatheter closure of pulmonary arteriovenous malformations (PAVMs) using amplatzer duct occluder (ADO) devices and vascular plugs (AGA Medical, Golden Valley, MN) and present a novel technique for delivery sheath placement and device delivery.
Ultrashort echo time MRI of pulmonary water content: assessment in a sponge phantom at 1.5 and 3.0 Tesla.

PURPOSE We aimed to develop a predictive model for lung water content using ultrashort echo time (UTE) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and a sponge phantom. MATERIALS AND METHODS Image quality was preliminarily optimized, and the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of UTE was compared with that obtained from a three-dimensional fast gradient echo (FGRE) sequence. Four predetermined volumes of water (3.5, 3.0, 2.5, and 2.0 mL) were soaked in cellulose foam sponges 1.8 cm3 in size and were imaged with UTE-MRI at 1.5 and 3.0 Tesla (T). A multiple echo time experiment (range, 0.1-9.6 ms) was conducted, and the T2 signal decay curve was determined at each volume of water. A three-parameter equation was fitted to the measured signal, allowing for the calculation of proton density and T2*. The calculation error of proton density was determined as a function of echo time. The constants that allowed for the determination of unknown volumes of water from the measured proton density were calculated using linear regression. RESULTS UTE-MRI provided excellent image quality for the four phantoms and showed a higher SNR, compared to that of FGRE. Proton density decreased proportionally with the decreases in both lung water and field strength (from 3.5 to 2.0 mL; proton density range at 1.5 T, 30.5-17.3; at 3.0 T, 84.2-41.5). Minimum echo time less than 0.6 ms at 1.5 T and 1 ms at 3.0 T maintained calculation errors for proton density within the range of 0%-10%. The slopes of the lines for determining the unknown volumes of water with UTE-MRI were 0.12±0.003 at 1.5 T and 0.05±0.002 at 3.0 T (P < 0.0001). CONCLUSION In a sponge phantom imaged at 1.5 and 3.0 T, unknown volumes of water can be predicted with high accuracy using UTE-MRI.
Migratory routes and fates of cells transcribing the Wnt‐1 gene in the murine hindbrain

To investigate the origins, migrations, and fates of Wnt‐1–expressing cells in the murine hindbrain, mice carrying a Wnt‐1 enhancer/lacZ transgene were observed from embryonic day (E) 8 through postnatal day 18. The transgene‐stained ventricular layer waxed and waned prior to and following migrations from it. Stained cells migrated first external to the hindbrain as neural crest and then within it to form typical populations of the rhombic lip, as well as others not recognized as lip derivatives. Migrations originated in a temporally defined sequence, many from discrete rhombomeres. All moved first radially, then rostrally and/or ventrally, ipsi‐, or contralaterally, in the mantle or marginal layers. These movements ultimately formed elements of several nuclei, aligned in four longitudinal bands: dorsal (including the gracile, cuneate, cochlear, and vestibular nuclei, plus cerebellar granular cells), dorsal intermediate (including trigeminal sensory, parvicellular reticular, and deep cerebellar nuclei), ventral intermediate (including lateral and intermediate reticular nuclei), and ventral (including the raphe obscurus and pontine nuclei). Transgene staining often persisted long enough to identify stained cells in their definitive, adult nuclei. However, staining was transient. The strength of the staining, however, was in its ability to reveal origins and migrations in both whole‐mounts and sections, in single cell detail. The present results will permit analyses of the effects of genetic manipulations on Wnt‐1 lineage cells. Developmental Dynamics 235:285–300, 2006. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Growth-related enzymatic control of glycogen metabolism in cultured human tumor cells.

The activities of glycogen synthase and phosphorylase were measured and compared to the growth-related variations of glycogen accumulation in three cultured human tumor cell lines: HT-29 (colon carcinoma); MeWo (malignant melanoma); and RT-4 (carcinoma of the urinary bladder). A similar pattern of variations in the enzyme activities was found in the three cell lines. The activities of the a + b forms of glycogen phosphorylase increased throughout the culture period. Maximal activity of phosphorylase a coincided with low intracellular concentrations of glycogen during the period of exponential growth. When the rate of cell division decreased, phosphorylase a activity also decreased while the glycogen levels increased. Glycogen synthase was almost entirely in b form during the entire culture period, i.e., in both the exponential and the stationary phases. In vitro incubation of the cellular extracts without NaF showed, however, that the enzyme could be partially converted to the a form by the endogenous phosphatases. The A0.5 values of the enzyme for glucose-6-phosphate (Glc-6-P) were of the same order of magnitude as the intracellular Glc-6-P concentrations which ranged from 2.2 to 5.4 mM (almost 10 times those reported in normal cells). Similar Glc-6-P values were obtained by two different extraction methods controlled by the intracellular ATP and ADP concentrations. The Km values for uridine-5'-diphosphoglucose were always 2 to 3 times lower than the intracellular uridine-5'-diphosphoglucose concentrations. These results suggest that: (a) in these tumor cells, glycogen is essentially synthesized by glycogen synthase b via an allosteric activation by intracellular Glc-6-P; (b) there is no obvious growth-related control of glycogen synthase activity; and (c) the activity of glycogen phosphorylase seems to be growth dependent with maximal phosphorylase a activities associated with the period of high division rate.
Patterns of coordination and clinical outcomes: a study of surgical services.

OBJECTIVE To test the hypothesis that surgical services combining relatively high levels of feedback and programming approaches to the coordination of surgical staff would have better quality of care than surgical services using low levels of both coordination approaches as well as those surgical service using low levels of either coordination approach. STUDY SETTING A study sample of 44 academically affiliated surgical services that are part of the Department of Veterans Affairs. STUDY DESIGN In a cross-sectional analysis, surgical services were assigned to one of three groups based on their scores on feedback and programming coordination measures: high on both measures; high on one measure, low on the other; and low on both. Univariate and multivariate analyses were used to assess differences among these groups with respect to three quality indicators: risk-adjusted mortality, risk-adjusted morbidity, and staff perceptions of quality. DATA COLLECTION/EXTRACTION METHODS Risk-adjusted mortality and morbidity came from an outcomes reporting program within the Department of Veterans Affairs that entails the prospective collection of clinical data from patient charts. Data on coordination practices and perceived quality came from a survey of surgical staff at each of the 44 participating surgical services. PRINCIPAL FINDINGS The group of surgical services using high feedback and high programming had the best perceived quality. This group also had the lowest morbidity, but the difference was statistically significant with respect to only one of the two other groups: the group with low feedback and low programming. No significant group differences were found for mortality. CONCLUSIONS Study results provide partial support for the hypothesis that high levels of feedback and programming should be combined for optimal quality of care. Study results also suggest that staff coordination is more important for improving morbidity than mortality in surgical services.
Trafficking and Cellular Distribution of Voltage‐Gated Sodium Channels

Electrical excitability in cells such as neurons and myocytes depends not only upon the expression of voltage‐gated sodium channels but also on their correct targeting within the plasma membrane. Placing sodium channels within a broader cell biological context is beginning to shed new light on a variety of important questions such as the integration of neuronal signaling. Mutations that affect sodium channel trafficking have been shown to underlie several life‐threatening conditions including cardiac arrhythmias, revealing an important clinical context to these studies.
Genomic and epidemiological characteristics provide new 1 insights into the phylogeographical and spatiotemporal spread 2 of porcine epidemic diarrhea virus in Asia 3 4 Running title : Phylogeographical analysis of PEDV in Asia

16 17 Abstract 18 Porcine epidemic diarrhea has become pandemic in the Asian pig-breeding 19 industry, causing significant economic loss. In the present study, eleven complete 20 genomes of porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV) field isolates from China were 21 determined and analyzed. Frequently occurring mutations were observed, which 22 JCM Accepted Manuscript Posted Online 18 February 2015 J. Clin. Microbiol. doi:10.1128/JCM.02898-14 Copyright © 2015, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.
Ligation of HLA class II molecules promotes sensitivity to CD95 (Fas antigen, APO‐1)‐mediated apoptosis

CD95 (Fas antigen/APO‐1) is up‐regulated in activated lymphocytes, and monoclonal antibody (mAb) to CD95 induces apoptosis. HLA class II molecules play a key role in antigen presentation, ligation of which induces signal transduction. We examined 18 lymphoid cell lines (15 B cell and 3 T cell lines) to investigate the effects of ligation of HLA class II molecules on CD95‐mediated apoptosis. All of the five immature B cell lines were sensitive to anti‐CD95 mAb, and ligation of HLA class II molecules promoted CD95‐mediated apoptosis. In seven B‐blastoid cell lines, two Burkitt lines were resistant to anti‐CD95 mAb in spite of high expression of CD95. In three of five non‐Burkitt B‐blastoid lines, CD95‐mediated apoptosis was augmented by treatment with anti‐HLA class II mAb, while the other two lines lacking CD95 were resistant to anti‐CD95 mAb. Three plasmacytic cell lines showed CD95‐mediated apoptosis, but enhancement by anti‐HLA class II mAb was slight in one cell line and was not observed in the other two lines. Out of three HLA class II antigen‐positive T cell lines, CD95‐mediated apoptosis was observed to some degree in one cell line but was not promoted by the treatment with anti‐HLA class II mAb, and the other two cell lines were resistant to anti‐CD95 mAb. Ligation of HLA class II molecules did not alter CD95 expression in the five cell lines examined, except Su‐DHL‐4 originated from a follicular lymphoma, which showed slight up‐regulation. Taken together, ligation of HLA class II molecules apparently promotes CD95‐mediated apoptosis in immature B cells and non‐Burkitt B blasts. These findings highlight the role of HLA class II molecules in CD95‐mediated apoptosis, which may facilitate rapid clearance of functionally useless cells from the immune system and might be involved in negative selection of B cells.