Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Toward Feature-Preserving 2D and 3D Vector Field Compression

The objective of this work is to develop error-bounded lossy compression methods to preserve topological features in 2D and 3D vector fields. Specifically, we explore the preservation of critical points in piecewise linear vector fields. We define the preservation of critical points as, without any false positive, false negative, or false type change in the decompressed data, (1) keeping each critical point in its original cell and (2) retaining the type of each critical point (e.g., saddle and attracting node). The key to our method is to adapt a vertex-wise error bound for each grid point and to compress input data together with the error bound field using a modified lossy compressor. Our compression algorithm can be also embarrassingly parallelized for large data handling and in situ processing. We benchmark our method by comparing it with existing lossy compressors in terms of false positive/negative/type rates, compression ratio, and various vector field visualizations with several scientific applications.
Studies in circulated fish ponds: organic matter recycling and nitrogen transformation

Three types of circulated systems slocked with tilapia were studied: tanks: miniponds; and ponds. Water was continually circulated and aerated. Daily drainage of non-suspended material was applied in most systems. The continual circulation and resulting resuspension of the organic particular ma Her led to a very high rate of microbial activity. Organic carbon was efficiently metabolized and utilized in the food chain. Inorganic nitrogen was completely oxidized and accumulated in water as nitrates, unlike conventional ponds. The establish men! of an active nitrifying population took, however, a period of about 3 weeks during which high levels of ammonium and nitrite were built up. The water body was continually aerated, yet local anaerobic conditions developed, especially in non-drained tanks or in miniponds where the plastic bottom was covered by a soil layer. Such conditions led to a less efficient organic carbon metabolism, to reduced nitrification and to denitrifcation. Fish growth seemed to be retarded in systems where denitrifcation took place, indicating that the growth-retarding factor is associated with production of anaerobic metabolites in the pond. The role of daily drainage and a proper aeration system is to avoid formation of anaerobic pockets.
Conspecific plant–soil feedbacks reduce survivorship and growth of tropical tree seedlings

1. The Janzen–Connell (J–C) Model proposes that host‐specific enemies maintain high tree species diversity by reducing seedling performance near conspecific adults and promoting replacement by heterospecific seedlings. Support for this model often comes from decreased performance for a species at near versus far distances from conspecific adults. However, the relative success of conspecific versus heterospecific seedlings recruiting under a given tree species is a critical, but untested, component of the J–C Model.
The Atlantic Sturgeon Fishery in South Carolina

Abstract The fishery for Atlantic sturgeon, Acipenser oxyrhynchus, in South Carolina has undergone a dramatic decline since the turn of the century. Nevertheless, in 1976, South Carolina accounted for 55% of the total United States landings (Maine-Louisiana) for this species. Fishing is seasonal with most effort expended during March-May. The Winyah Bay system near Georgetown supports the primary fishing activity in the state. Major products are the flesh and roe ( caviar ) with the estimated total value of the caviar now greater than that of the flesh. The current fishing gear consisting of anchored gill nets with 30.5-45.7 cm stretch mesh is selective for the females. Sex ratios during the 1978-1982 fisheries averaged 1:2.8 (male : female) and, on a weight basis, females comprised 83% of the landings. Average size of the males caught in 1978-1982 was 158 cm long (fork length) and weighed 41.2 kg, while that of the females was 188 cm and 71.8 kg. Similarly, average estimated age of the females was 16.0 y.
Effect of Spore-bearing Lactic Acid-forming Bacteria ( Bacillus coagulans SANK 70258) Administration on the Intestinal Environment, Defecation Frequency, Fecal Characteristics and Dermal Characteristics in Humans and Rats

The effects of spore-bearing lactic acid-forming bacteria ( Bacillus coagulans SANK 70258) on intestinal flora and decomposition products in the intestine, as well as on various dermal characteristics were determined in healthy humans and rats. Improvement of fecal shape, change of fecal color from dark brown to yellowish brown, decrease of fecal odor and fecal pH and an increase in defecation frequency in persons whose defecation frequency was relatively low were observed after administration. The number of intestinal bifidobacteria significantly ( p <0.05) increased, whereas the number of intestinal Clostridium perfringens significantly ( p <0.05) decreased after administration compared with the values before the intake. The concentrations of intestinal ammonia, indole and p -cresol decreased. The activities of g -glucuronidase and tryptophanase decreased significantly compared with the levels during the control period ( p <0.05). The spore-bearing lactic acid-forming bacilli group was given B. coagulans SANK 70258, while kept on a basic diet adjusted to 60% protein. Protein was supplied by casein. After removing back hair, the rats were exposed to radiation of UV-B 0.5 MED once a day. Two weeks after the start of radiation, measurements were made for the number of exanthema (the number of flare and papula). The number of exanthema decreased as constipation alleviated as a result of the intake of B. coagulans SANK 70258. In experiment 2, improvement of fecal shape, change of fecal color from dark brown to yellowish brown, decrease of fecal odor, the fecal pH and increase in defecation frequency of persons whose frequency was relatively low were observed after administration. The number of intestinal bifidobacteria significantly ( p <0.05) increased, whereas the number of intestinal C. perfringens significantly ( p <0.05) decreased after administration compared with the values before the intake. The concentrations of intestinal ammonia, indole and p -cresol content decreased. The activity of g -glucuronidase and tryptophanase decreased significantly ( p <0.05) compared with the levels during the control period. The number of comedones decreased as constipation was alleviated as a result of the intake of B. coagulans SANK 70258. These results indicate that the administration of B. coagulans SANK 70258 improves the intestinal environment, defecation frequency, fecal characteristics and dermal characteristics.
The knowledge of attention

At stake in the present article is a discussion on the phenomenon of attention and three basic phenomenological descriptions of this phenomenon, represented by Edmund Husserl, Merleau-Ponty and Ortega y Gasset. It argues for the necessity of developing a phenomenological approach on the phenomenon. From the phenomenological position, attention is not primarily a focus on something, but a perspective from turning points, where the in-between of relationships can be experienced. In this sense, attention shows itself as alertness for the coming to be and the realm of transitions.
Genetically modified plants and the 35S promoter: assessing the risks and enhancing the debate

The 35S promoter, derived from the common plant virus, cauliflower mosaic virus (CaMV), is a component of transgenic constructs in more than 80% of genetically modified (GM) plants. Alarming reports have suggested that the 35S promoter might cause accidental activation of plant genes or endogenous viruses, promote horizontal gene transfer, or might even recombine with mammalian viruses such as HIV, with unexpected consequences. In this article, we discuss the properties of CaMV and the 35S promoter and the potential risks associated with the use of the promoter in GM plants, concluding that any risks are no greater than those encountered in conventional plant breeding.
Prevalance of genes involved in pili and biofilm formation and in vitro adherence properties of medical and fecal strains of Enterococcus faecalis isolated in Gdańsk

Adherence properties of 78 Enterococcus faecalis strains from clinical specimens and healthy volunteers were measured by two methods: microculture and nephelometric assays. In addition selected genes involved in adherence and pili formation were detected by PCR. They were more prevalent in clinical strains compared with fecal isolates from healthy volunteers. Microculture assay showed good correlation between enterococcal adherence and the presence of ebpA/ebpB pili genes. In contrast to the previous method, the results of nephelometric assay were not influenced by the presence of ebpA/ebpB genes. Both methods together could provide meaningful information on adherence and differentiate the group of genes responsible for it.
Probiotics in the Management of Irritable Bowel Syndrome: A Review of Clinical Trials

Irritable bowel syndrome is a common condition of unknown aetiology, the medical management of which is unsatisfactory. Despite evidence that a disturbance of intestinal flora may be responsible for the initiation and or chronicity of the distressing symptoms, little attention has been paid to the potential advantages of correcting this imbalance by using probiotics. Results of 12 clinical trials, involving 1371 patients in all, in which probiotic treatment was given have been reviewed. In 10 (five of which were randomized, double-blind and placebo controlled), use of probiotics was beneficial. The probiotic agents, dosage and duration of treatment varied widely between the studies. Despite several shortcomings in terms of study design and publication details, there now seems to be sufficient evidence of the therapeutic efficacy for this inexpensive and safe treatment modality to be tested more widely.
Improvement of insulin sensitivity by chelation of intracellular Ca2+ in high-fat[ndash ]fed rats

Abstract It has been postulated that sustained high levels of intracellular calcium concentration ([Ca 2+ ] i ) in the insulin target cells may cause insulin resistance. We evaluated this hypothesis by examining the effect of an intracellular Ca 2+ chelator, 5,5'-dimethyl derivative of bis ( o -aminophenoxy) ethane-N,N,N',N' tetraacetic acetoxymethyl ester (dimethyl-BAPTA/AM), on insulin resistance. Insulin resistance was induced in rats by feeding a high-fat diet for 3 to 4 weeks. The whole body insulin sensitivity was determined by the steady state glucose infusion rate (GIR) under euglycemic hyperinsulinemic (6 mU [middot] kg [minus ]1 [middot] min [minus ]1 ) clamps. Compared with control rats, the high-fat diet (HFD) fed rats showed significantly lower GIR (12.2 [plusmn] 0.7 v 20.2 [plusmn] 0.9 mg [middot] kg [minus ]1 [middot] min [minus ]1 ; P [lt ] .01). In the HFD rats, an intravenous injection of dimethyl-BAPTA/AM (6 mg/kg) 90 minutes before the clamps significantly increased GIR to 16.3 [plusmn] 0.9 mg [middot] kg [minus ]1 [middot] min [minus ]1 ( P [lt ] .02), reversing insulin resistance by about 50%; but this intervention had no effect in the controls. This increase in GIR by dimethyl-BAPTA/AM was observed without an increase in femoral artery blood flow, indicating that the chelator increased GIR directly through improving cellular responsiveness to insulin. The stimulatory effect of insulin on 2-deoxy glucose (2-DG) uptake by the isolated epididymal adipocytes was reduced by 35% in the HFD rats compared with the control rats ( P [lt ] .01). Pretreatment of the HFD rats with dimethyl-BAPTA/AM restored 2-DG uptake to the level in the control rats. The direct measurement of [Ca 2+ ] i using fura-2/AM in isolated adipocytes showed that basal [Ca 2+ ] i was significantly higher in the HFD rats than in the control rats (145 [plusmn] 11 v 112 [plusmn] 9 nmol/L; P [lt ] .05). An injection of dimethyl-BAPTA/AM in the HFD rats lowered [Ca 2+ ] i to 127 [plusmn] 11 nmol/L, which did not differ from the level in the control rats ( P [gt ] .2). The present study clearly demonstrates that an injection of intracellular Ca 2+ chelator in the HFD rats reverses insulin resistance, as well as normalizes elevated [Ca 2+ ] i in the insulin target cells. The results strongly support that sustained high levels of [Ca 2+ ] i in the insulin target cells may play an important role in insulin resistance, at least in the HFD rats.
Water in the Avian Egg Overall Budget of Incubation

Synopsis. The loss of mass in eggs during incubation was examined and evidence is presented to show that this is essentially due to loss of water. The mean fraction of water lost by diffusion throughout incubation is 0.150 ? 0.025 S.D. per gram of egg and 0.162 ? 0.026 S.D. per gram of egg content for 81 species. The water fraction of fresh eggs and of hatching eggs was examined in 32 species divided according to maturity at hatching, and found to be very similar, within each category (83% in altricial; 83% in semi-altricial; 78% in semi-precocial; 72% in precocial eggs). The 11% difference between the altricial and precocial categories is statistically significant. During incubation, dry matter is metabolized, in? creasing the water fraction which is further increased by metabolic water production. Hence, water loss during incubation is mandatory if the relative water content of an egg at the end of incubation is to remain essentially the same as at the beginning. Equations are de? veloped which allow one to estimate the difference between diffusive water loss and the total water loss in altricial and precocial eggs, caused by additional water loss during pipping and hatching.
Nonjudgmental Dynamic Fuel Cycle Benchmarking

Abstract This paper presents a new fuel cycle benchmarking analysis methodology by coupling Gaussian process (GP) regression, a popular technique in machine learning, to dynamic time warping, a mechanism widely used in speech recognition. Together, they generate figures of merit (FOMs) for a suite of fuel cycle realizations. The FOMs may be computed for any time series metric that is of interest to a benchmark. For a given metric, these FOMs have the advantage that they reduce the dimensionality to a scalar and are thus directly comparable. The FOMs account for uncertainty in the metric itself, utilize information across the whole time domain, and do not require that the simulators use a common time grid. Here, a distance measure is defined that can be used to compare the performance of each simulator for a given metric. Additionally, a contribution measure is derived from the distance measure that can be used to rank order the impact of different partitions of a fuel cycle metric. Lastly, this paper warns against using standard signal-processing techniques for error reduction, as error reduction is better handled by the GP regression itself.
Early use of pravastatin in patients with acute myocardial infarction undergoing coronary angioplasty

Aim — To determine whether statin therapy initiated early in acute myocardial infarction together with thrombolytic therapy in patients with acute myocardial infarction results in clinical benefit through early plaque stabilization. Methods and results — The study population consisted of 77 patients who underwent coronary balloon angioplasty of the infarct-related artery during the first month of acute myocardial infarction. These patients belonged to the cohort of the Pravastatin Turkish Trial (PTT). Forty of them were assigned randomly to have immediate pravastatin (40 mg/day) therapy adjunctive to thrombolytic therapy regardless of serum lipid levels and received statin treatment throughout the study. Lipid levels were determined immediately after admission and before angioplasty and at the end of 6 months. Patients were re-evaluated clinically and angiographically for cardiovascular adverse events and restenosis after a 6-month follow-up period.The baseline angiographic and clinical characteristics of the two groups were similar.The incidence of angina was significantly lower in the pravastatin group (30.0%, 12 patients) compared to the control group (59.5%, 22 patients) (p = 0.018). The cumulative major adverse cardiac events in the pravastatin group were significantly lower when compared to the control group (32.5% vs. 75.6%, p = 0.0001). Conclusions — Early initiation of pravastatin therapy immediately after an acute myocardial infarction significantly decreased the frequency of major cardiac adverse events. Such early potential clinical benefits further strengthen the rationale for starting statin treatment as soon as possible after acute coronary events particularly in patients in whom invasive intervention is planned.
Standing stock and dynamics of picophytoplankton in the Thau Lagoon (northwest Mediterranean coast)

Eucaryotic picophytoplankton (PEUC), picocyanobacteria, and larger phytoplanktonic cells from the Thau Lagoon (northwest Mediterranean coast) were numbered by flow cytometry from November 1991 to February 1994. PEUC cells dominated the phytoplanktonic assemblage and exhibited seasonal dynamics. Monthly mean abundances of larger phytoplanktonic cell and PEUC were significantly correlated with temperature and solar irradiance values, with the highest correlations having been obtained for PEUC abundances. The mean abundance oftotal picophytoplankton (3.5 x10 4 cells ml -1 ) was among the highest recorded in marine waters. The dominance of picophytoplankton over larger phytoplanktonic cells (average abundance, 5 x 10 3 cells ml -1 ) in the nutrient-rich waters of the lagoon was related to grazing from large-scale shellfish breeding (oyster's biomass 35,000 t), which seems to act preferentially on the largest cells. Several hypotheses, including the potential selective effect of copper, were proposed to explain the dominance of the PEUC form (average abundance, 3.4 x 10 4 cells ml -1 ).
Measurement of subcutaneous backfat depth in live lambs with an ultrasonic probe.

Abstract Thickness of subcutaneous backfat in live, unshorn lambs was measured to the nearest 0.5 mm with a new ultrasonic instrument. Correlation coefficients of up to 0.91 were found between ultrasonic measurements over M. longissimus at the last rib and the corresponding carcass fat depths, and of 0.76 between ultrasonic measurements and total carcass fat percent. Sources of error, such as changes in fat depth during slaughtering and in measuring the carcass, were found.
BOUNDARIES OF AN ADMINISTRATIVE LABOR MARKET: THE CHIEF ACADEMIC OFFICER IN PUBLIC COMMUNITY COLLEGES

A number of studies have shown that 2-year colleges comprise a labor market for administrators. This study extended the work of two previous studies on organizational and membership boundaries to this labor market. Twombly (1986) identified employment in a postsecondary (2- or 4-year) institution in the immediately previous position as a membership boundary to the administrative labor market of 2-year colleges. B. C. Clark, Twombly, and Moore (1990) found state lines to be organizational boundaries that affected movement from one position to another in the labor market. This study examined the organizational and membership boundaries relatedto the chiefacademic officer position inpublic community colleges. It expanded the membership boundary to include 2-year, 4-year, and K-12 educational organizations and investigated organizational boundaries for up to four position moves. Findings indicate that membership in the labor market becomes increasingly closed to those employed by 2-year institutions as an individual moves closer to the chief academic position. The state line was found to be an organizational boundary, and there was also a strong within-institution influence affecting position-to-position mobility.
VIOLENCE ON COLLEGE CAMPUSES: UNDERSTANDING ITS IMPACT ON STUDENT WELL-BEING

Educational institutions are becoming increasingly concerned about school violence. This review of the literature on violent behavior focuses on two general issues that can be used to guide community college administrators and faculty in their attempt to counteract the damaging effects violent behavior has on the well-being of their students. First, it is important to be aware that the majority of students have at least some experience with violence. There is considerable evidence that students' exposure to violence is associated with bothantisocial behavior and psychological trauma (e.g., depression, anxiety, anger, post-traumatic stress disorder). Community colleges can help students who may be experiencing the negative effects of violence by, for example, establishing student support groups and taking accusations of harassment seriously. The second issue addressed provides some of the steps that community colleges can take to ensure the safety of their students. Violent threats should be addressed and employees need to become knowledgeable about the warning signs of violent behavior. In addition, it is recommended that community colleges develop a security plan based on the unique needs of their campuses as well as establish a Crisis Intervention Plan. The article concludes by stressing the importance of evaluating the violence prevention programs that are implemented.
Biogeography of Timor and Surrounding Wallacean Islands: Endemism in Ants of the Genus Polyrhachis Fr. Smith

The Wallacean island of Timor is of particular biological interest due to its relatively large size and transitional location between the Indo-Malayan and Australasian biogeographic realms. However, the origins and levels of endemism of its invertebrate fauna are poorly known. A recent study of Timorese ants revealed a diverse fauna with predominantly Indo-Malayan affinities, but species-level taxonomy was considered to be too poorly understood for an analysis of levels of endemism. The highly diverse Old World tropical genus Polyrhachis represents a notable exception, and here we analyse levels of endemism in the Polyrhachis fauna of Timor and surrounding islands. We supplement the species listed in the previous study with additional collections to record a total of 35 species of Polyrhachis from Timor and surrounding islands. Only 14 (40%) of the 35 species could be named (P. constricta, P. costulata, P. gab, P. sokolova, P. hera, P. illaudata, P. rixosa, P. acantha chrysophanes, P. saevissima, P. bicolor, P. cryptoceroides, P. dives, P. longipes and P. olybria), and the large majority of the remaining species have not previously been collected. These are very likely to be endemic to Timor and surrounding islands, and point to remarkably high levels (>50%) of endemism in the regional ant fauna.
Response of predatory mites with different rearing histories to volatiles of uninfested plants

The behavioural response of the predatory mite Phytoseiulus persimilis to volatiles from several host plants of its prey, spider mites in the genus Tetranychus, was investigated in a Y‐tube olfactometer. A positive response to volatiles from tomato leaves and Lima bean leaves was recorded, whereas no response was observed to volatiles from cucumber leaves, or leaves of Solanum luteum and Solanum dulcamara.
Epitope Mapping Studies of Broad Specificity Monoclonal Antibodies to Cereal Prolamins

Abstract The characterisation of three monoclonal antibodies (Mabs), two raised against a glutenin fraction of wheat storage protein and a third raised against a synthetic peptide conjugate, is described. The three Mabs exhibited broad reactivity as shown by ELISA and immunoblotting. The amino acid sequences constituting the epitopes recognised by each Mab were determined using immobilised pin-bound peptides and were confirmed by using competitive ELISAs with synthesised peptides. By matching the predicted epitopes with published sequences for a number of cereal storage proteins the degree of reactivity of the Mabs was correlated with the frequency with which these epitopes occur. It was possible, therefore, to show that the observed broad reactivity of the antibodies was a function not of the antibodies (which were highly specific) but resulted from structural homology of the gluten proteins.