Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Selfish Routing

A central and well-studied problem arising in the management of a large network is that of routing traffic to achieve the best possible network performance. In many networks, it is difficult or even impossible to impose optimal routing strategies on network traffic, leaving network users free to act according to their own interests. In general, the result of local optimization by many selfish network users with conflicting interests does not possess any type of global optimality; hence, this lack of regulation carries the cost of decreased network performance. We study the degradation in network performance due to selfish, uncoordinated behavior by network users. Our contributions are twofold: we quantify the worst-possible loss in network performance arising from noncooperative behavior: and we design and analyze algorithms for building and managing networks so that selfish behavior leads to a socially desirable outcome. To quantify the loss in network performance caused by selfish behavior, we investigate the following question: what is the worst-case ratio between the social cost of an uncoordinated outcome and the social cost of the best coordinated outcome? We provide an exact solution to this problem in a variety of traffic models, thereby identifying types of networks for which the cost of routing selfishly is mild. The inefficiency inherent in an uncoordinated outcome and the inability to centrally implement a globally optimal solution motivate our second question: how can we ensure that the loss in network performance due to selfish behavior will be tolerable? We explore two algorithmic approaches to coping with the selfishness of network users. First, we consider the problem of designing networks that exhibit good performance when used selfishly. Second, we study how to route a small fraction of the traffic centrally to induce “good” (albeit selfish) behavior from the rest of the network users. We give both efficient algorithms with provable performance guarantees and hardness of approximation results for these two problems.
Functional Morphology of Saccate Pollen in Conifers with Special Reference to Podocarpaceae

The distribution of saccate and nonsaccate pollen in modern conifers (nomenclature after Page 1990) shows a correlation with the method of pollen capture by the micropyle, although this has been little emphasized. Saccate pollen is restricted to, but not ubiquitous in, Phyllocladaceae, Pinaceae, and Podocarpaceae and is associated with the development of an inverted pollination drop, except in Phyllocladus. Saccate pollen is also nonwettable, in the sense that it floats on water, and it functions as a distinctive antigravity device. Pollen entry into the micropyle is dependent on resorption of the pollination drop and selectively excludes foreign particles. Nonsaccate pollen is wettable and sinks in water, but with two contrasted behaviors that discriminate two types of pollen reception. In Cephalotaxaceae, Cupressaceae, Sciadopityaceae, Taxaceae, and Taxodiaceae there is a pollination drop without preferred orientation. Pollen swells and bursts in water, shedding the exine by a mechanism determined by the apparently simple wall structure. In the remaining conifers with nonsaccate pollen-Agathis, Araucaria, i.e., Araucariaceae, together with Larix, Pseudotsuga, and Tsuga (Pinaceae) and Saxegothaea (Podocarpaceae)-there is no pollination drop, pollen is wettable but does not burst in water, and there is either extended siphonogamy or micropylar invagination. These observations show the adaptive features of pollen structure and ultrastructure. Despite their ubiquitous wind pollination, conifers thus have some diversity of pollination syndromes with reference to water and the introduction of pollen into the pollen chamber of the ovule, at which time pollination is complete.
Microbial Ecology of Volcanic Sulphidogenesis: Isolation and Characterization of Thermodesulfobacterium commune gen. nov. and sp. nov.,

SUMMARY: Microbial sulphate reduction was examined in thermal waters, sediments and decomposing algal-bacterial mats associated with volcanic activity in Yellowstone National Park. In vivo radioactive tracer studies which demonstrated biological [35S]sulphkie production from [35S]sulphate at temperatures higher than 50 °C but less than 85 °C, correlated with the presence of a unique sulphate-reducing bacterium. This new species proliferated at temperatures above 45 °C but below 85 °C, and had an optimum growth temperature of 70 °C. The organism was a small Gram-negative, straight rod which displayed an outer-wall membranous layer in thin sections. This obligate anaerobe utilized pyruvate, lactate or H2 as electron donors and sulphate or thiosulphate as electron acceptors for growth and sulphide formation. Pyruvate alone was fermented during growth to hydrogen, acetic acid and CO2. Cell extracts contained cytochrome c 3 but lacked a desulphoviridin-type bisulphite reductase. The DNA guanosine plus cytosine content was 34.4 ±1.0 mol%. Other unusual biochemical features of this extreme thermophile are discussed. Strain YSRA-1 is described as the type strain of the new genus and species Thermodesulfobacterium commune.
Análise comparativa da estrutura e flora do compartimento arbóreo-arbustivo de um remanescente florestal na Fazenda Beira Lago, Lavras, MG

Realizou-se o levantamento do compartimento arboreo-arbustivo de um fragmento de floresta estacional semidecidual montana situado em Lavras, Minas Gerais, com o objetivo de caracterizar sua composicao floristica e a estrutura comunitaria no contexto de outros sete fragmentos proximos. Conhecido como Mata da Lagoa, o fragmento possui uma area de aproximadamente 4,0 ha e esta situado nas coordenadas 21o13'11"S e 44o58'15"W e a uma altitude media de 884 m. Foram alocadas 29 parcelas de 20 ´ 20 m, para amostrar os individuos com diâmetro a altura do peito (DAP) ³ 5 cm; registraram-se 1.294 individuos de 144 especies, 94 generos e 45 familias. As distribuicoes diametricas das 10 especies mais abundantes apresentaram dois padroes distintos, aparentemente relacionados com os efeitos da fragmentacao e disturbios sobre os mecanismos de dispersao. Analises de correspondencia retificada (DCA) dos dados floristicos e quantitativos de oito fragmentos florestais indicaram forte dissimilaridade entre estes, principalmente quanto a composicao floristica, o que e, por certo, influenciado pela alta heterogeneidade ambiental da regiao do Alto Rio Grande. Os padroes de dissimilaridade floristica evidenciaram influencia mais forte da altitude e proximidade geografica, ao passo que os padroes de dissimilaridade estrutural apontaram influencia mais forte do "status" nutricional e regime de agua no solo.
Quantitative detection of Fusarium spp. and its correlation with fumonisin content in maize from South African subsistence farmers

A quantitative detection tool was developed to enable the monitoring of fumonisin-producing fungi in food and feed commodities. To this end, a quantitative PCR (TaqMan) was developed that targets a conserved region in the polyketide synthase gene fum1, which is involved in the biosynthesis of fumonisin. Hence, this method specifically detected isolates from the fumonisin-producing species Fusarium verticillioides, F. proliferatum, F. nygamai and F. globosum whereas isolates of the fumonisin non-producing species F. equiseti, F. graminearum, F. oxysporum, F. semitectum and F. subglutinans that commonly occur on maize were not detected. Moreover, a few fumonisin non-producing F. verticillioides isolates did not generate any fluorescent signals and were therefore not detected. The correlation between quantitative PCR and mycotoxin content was determined using field samples collected at homestead farms in South Africa. Among 40 samples from the Eastern Cape collected in 2005 a good correlation (R 2 =0.8303) was found between pg fungal DNA and fumonisin content. A similar correlation (R 2 =0.8658) was found among 126 samples collected from four provinces in South Africa in 2007. These observations indicate that samples containing ≥ 40 pg fungal DNA/mg sample are suspected of also exceeding the 1 mg/kg total fumonisin level and therefore do not comply with the European Commission limit for fumonisins B 1 +B 2 for maize intended for direct human consumption that applies from 1 October 2007. Combined with the very high maize intake, our results indicate that fumonisin levels in maize from South African homesteads regularly exceed the tolerable daily intake for fumonisins.
Aminopeptidase N (CD13) Regulates Tumor Necrosis Factor-α-induced Apoptosis in Human Neutrophils*

Neutrophil apoptosis plays a central role in the resolution of granulocytic inflammation. We have shown previously that tumor necrosis factor-α (TNFα) enhances the rate of neutrophil apoptosis at early time points via a mechanism involving both TNF receptor (TNFR) I and TNFRII. Here we reveal a marked but consistent variation in the magnitude of the pro-apoptotic effect of TNFα in neutrophils isolated from healthy donors, and we show that inhibition of cell surface aminopeptidase N (APN) using actinonin, bestatin, or inhibitory peptides significantly enhanced the efficacy of TNFα-induced killing. Notably, an inverse correlation is shown to exist between neutrophil APN activity and the sensitivity of donor cells to TNFα-induced apoptosis. Inhibition of cell surface APN appears to interfere with the shedding of TNFRI, and as a consequence results in augmented TNFα-induced apoptosis, cell polarization, and TNFα-primed, formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine-stimulated respiratory burst. Of note, actinonin and bestatin had no effect on TNFRII expression under resting or TNFα-stimulated conditions and did not alter CXCRI or CXCRII expression. These data suggest significant variation in the activity of APN/CD13 on the cell surface of neutrophils in normal individuals and reveal a novel mechanism whereby APN/CD13 regulates TNFα-induced apoptosis via inhibition of TNFRI shedding. This has therapeutic relevance for driving neutrophil apoptosis in vivo.
Hierarchical Approaches to Macroevolution: Recent Work on Species Selection and the "Effect Hypothesis"

After briefly introducing the hierarchical perspective, I discuss several theo­ retical issues concerning the nature of species selection and Vrba's effect hypothesis, and I review recent empirical evidence supporting hierarchical approaches to macroevolution. I argue that Vrba's influen tial definition of species selection is fl awed in two ways. First, species selection does not require emergent traits because higher.level selection acting on aggr egate traits can oppose lower-level selection. Second, clades do not play the same role in species selection that populations play in organismic selection. If explan atory and ontological reductionism are distinguished, then even though effect macro­ evolution does not involve a distinct macroevolu tionary process, effect hy­ pothesis expla nations can be irreducible. A few well-documented cases of species selection and effect macroev olution suggest the need for a hierarchical expansion of neodarw inism.
The Problem of Wet Poultry House Litter: Influence of Total Dietary Protein and Soybean Meal Content on Water Intake and Urinary and Fecal Water Elimination in Growing Chickens

Abstract IT WOULD appear logical that urinary and fecal water elimination are major factors leading to the accumulation of moisture in poultry house litter. A solution of the problem of “wet litter” would thus involve determination of those factors responsible for the elimination of excessive amounts of water via the renal and alimentary routes. One of these causal factors is diet. In a recent note (James and Wheeler, 1949), we reported that the amount of water consumed, as well as the amount of excreta voided by growing chickens varied almost directly with the protein level of the diet. It is interesting that although the birds on the higher protein levels eliminated more urinary and fecal water (by virtue of greater volume of droppings), the moisture content of the excreta was not elevated, nor was feed consumption affected. In this work the varying protein levels were obtained by changing the amounts of .
Adaptation and Generalisation in Software Product Development

Summary: This chapter presents a case study in software product development in a company that develops and sells project-planning tools for the oil and gas industry and provides consultancy services, training and support in using these tools. We were invited into the company to give advice on their knowledge management practices for customer relations. The rationale for the invitation and the subsequent intervention is twofold. On one hand, the company is in transition to expand to new markets in order to increase revenue. On the other, they want to maintain good relations with existing customers. We analyse these activities, which we have labeled “generalisation” and “adaptation,” respectively. Our empirical material consists of interview data and a video recorded meeting with key stakeholders. The conceptual framework for analysis combines Activity Theory and Evolving Artifacts. We illustrate our findings by the development of two software products (Planner, Microsoft Project Extension). Generalisation occurs at uneven intervals and represents major changes for the company, whereas adaptation occurs more frequently, is incremental in terms of change, and is often initiated by customers.
Untersuchungen zum Schwermetallgehalt von Getreide und Kartoffeln

In Kartoffeln und Getreide aus 3 immissionsmasig unterschiedlich belasteten Territorien (Agrargebiet, stadtisches Ballungsgebiet, Buntmetallurgie) wurden die Gehalte an Cadmium, Zink, Kupfer und Mangan mit Hilfe der Atomabsorptionsspektralphotometrie bestimmt. Von diesen Elementen wird das Cadmium am starksten angereichert, dann folgen mit Abstand Zink und Kupfer, wahrend bei Mangan die Gehalte von Belastungsgebiet I zu II leicht ansteigen, zu III aber abfallen Die Cadmiumaufnahme bei lufttrockenem Weizen, Gerste und Roggen belief sich gegenuber den Normalwerten, d. h. Werten aus nicht belasteten Gebieten (0,035-0,080 ppm), in belasteten Gebieten auf das 2- bis 6fache, bei Hafer auf das 30fache und bei Kartoffeln von 0,140 ppm in der Trs. auf das 3- bis 4fache. Bei Zink fanden wir im Getreide eine Erhohung der Normalwerte (29-34 ppm) auf maximal das 2fache, fur Kupfer (4,1-4,8 ppm) auf maximal das 1,5fache und fur Mangan (14-30 ppm) einen Abfall auf die Halfte. Kartoffeln zeigen fur Zink nur eine leichte Erhohung der Normalwerte (18,5 ppm in Trs.), fur Kupfer (4,6 ppm in Trs.) auf das 2fache und fur Mangan (7,2 ppm in Trs.) einen leichten Abfall. Der abwaschbare Schwermetallanteil bei Kartoffeln betragt im Mittel 26% (Buntmetallurgie) bzw. 13% (Normalbereich). An Hand der erzielten Ergebnisse und der Literaturangaben wurden mit Hilfe einer mathematischen Abschatzung die Erwartungswerte fur unterschiedlich belastete Territorien errechnet Abschliesend werden gezielte Vorschlage zur Vermeidung und Senkung des Eingangs der Schwermetalle in den Biozyklus unterbreitet.
Investigations into the roles of bacteroides fragilis thioredoxins during the oxidative stress response

The Gram-negative Bacteroides fragilis is the most frequently isolated bacterium from anaerobic infections. Native to the human intestinal tract it serves a symbiotic role breaking down complex polysaccharides and restricting the growth of potentially harmful organisms. However if translocated into the peritoneal cavity B. fragilis can induce abscess formation; a potentially life-threatening condition. Although an obligate anaerobe this bacterium is capable of surviving aerobic environments for extended periods of time and its role as an opportunistic pathogen depends on this capability. Aerobic survival relies on an oxidative stress response of genes activated either dependently or independently by the stress response regulator OxyR. An important subset of OxyR-independent genes are the thioredoxins (Trxs). B. fragilis contains an extensive catalog of six trx genes and analyses indicated each is differentially regulated during oxidative conditions. Single and multiple trx deletions were produced to determine functional differences of the proteins. It was found that trxA was essential for growth while no other single trx deletion conferred anaerobic growth defects. The trxD gene was found to be induced by the thiol oxidant diamide and TrxD was shown to be protective during exposure to diamide as well. In a trxD mutant strain diamide-induced expression of trxC trxE and trxF increased significantly suggesting compensatory effects in the Trx system. TrxD and TrxE were determined to be the only two B. fragilis Trxs capable of reducing the aerobic ribonucleotide reductase (NrdAB) of E. col suggesting specificity of Trx targets in B. fragilis. Further investigations into TrxD determined the trxD promoter region and transcriptional start site as well as demonstrating TrxD to be the Trx primarily responsible for the reduction of specific oxidative stress-induced proteins including AsnB (asparaginase II) and Tps (thiol peroxidase scavengase). These data provide initial insight into both the specific and overlapping functions of Trxs in B. fragilis.
Transcript levels of AtMRPs after cadmium treatment: induction of AtMRP3

In yeasts, the ABC-type transporters are involved in vacuolar sequestration of cadmium. In plants, transport experiments with isolated vacuoles indicate that this is also true. In order to know more about the response of AtMRPs, a subclass of Arabidopsis ABC transporters, to cadmium, their expression pattern was analysed using the microchip technology and semi-quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction. From 15 putative sequences coding for AtMRPs, transcript levels were detected for 14. All were expressed in the roots as well as in the shoots, although at a different level. In 4-week-old Arabidopsis, transcript levels of four AtMRPs were up-regulated after cadmium treatment. In all cases up-regulation was exclusively observed in the roots. The increase of transcript levels was most pronounced for AtMRP3. A more detailed analysis revealed that induction of AtMRP3 could also be observed in the shoot when leaves were cut and cadmium allowed to be taken up in the shoot. In young plantlets, a far higher portion of Cd2+ was translocated in the aerial part compared with adult plants. Consequently, AtMRP3 transcript levels increased in both root and shoot of young plants. This suggests that 7-day-old seedlings do not exhibit such a strict root–shoot barrier as 4-week-old plants. Expression analysis with mutant plants for glutathione and phytochelatin synthesis as well as with compounds producing oxidative stress indicate that induction of AtMRP3 is likely due to the heavy metal itself.
Primary spontaneous pneumothorax: a pathway to practice

Primary spontaneous pneumothorax (PSP) commonly occurs in young, thin, tall males. The diagnosis and management of PSP can vary from institution to institution as well as by characteristics of the pneumothorax. Diagnostic work-up can include physical exam, chest X-ray, and/or chest CT scan. Therapeutic modalities range from observation, thoracentesis, tube thoracostomy ± pleurodesis, and/or surgical intervention. The practice variation in treatment of PSP may be due to uncertainty about the efficacy of each treatment modality. This review paper will discuss the pathophysiology of PSP as well as diagnostic and therapeutic modalities. The efficacy and risks of each therapeutic modality will be reviewed. Based on this information a proposed diagnostic and treatment algorithm for PSP is presented. Changes in management for first time versus recurrent PSP will also be explored. The authors provide a systematic review of the diagnostic and therapeutic management of PSP in order to assist clinicians in the management of these patients.
Does ethylene treatment mimic the effects of pollination on floral lifespan and attractiveness

In some species pollination may result in rapid changes in perianth colour and form (petal senescence and abscission, flower closure), rendering the flowers less attractive to pollinators. It has been suggested that this effect is mediated by ethylene. Flowers from about 200 species and 50 families were exposed to ethylene (3 ppm for 24 h at 20 degrees C). The effects on petal senescence and abscission have been described previously. Flower closure and perianth colour changes were generally ethylene-sensitive, but responses showed no consistency within families. Several flowers known to respond to pollination by rapid cessation of attractiveness were also exposed to ethylene: this produced the same effect as pollination, both on flower colour and form. Species that respond to pollination by changing flower form or colour were found exclusively in families in which the species are generally ethylene-sensitive (with regard to changes in perianth form and colour). However, several families are generally ethylene-sensitive but contain no species reported to respond to pollination.
Habitat and microhabitat distribution of stream insect communities of the Western Ghats

The diversity and distribution of stream insect communities in three habitats and 33 microhabitats were explored using data collected from 39 localities in the Western Ghats. The diversity and abundance of taxa vary across habitats. The microhabitat richness was positively correlated and altitude negatively correlated with taxa richness in the cascades and riffles. In pools and cascades, per cent canopy cover and average annual rainfall were both positively correlated with taxa richness. Structurally complex microhabitats harboured more taxa than the unstable and detritus poor microhabitats. The importance of habitat and microhabitat distribution in understanding the spatial distribution of stream insects and developing biomonitoring tools is discussed.
Occurrence of mycotoxins in Southern Europe

Contamination of feed materials with mycotoxins is an important issue for farmers, as dietary exposure to these toxins may cause acute or chronic intoxication in animals, resulting in major economic losses. Although prevention methods to avoid mycotoxin contamination on the field prior to harvest, during harvesting or storage have been developed, it is currently not possible to eliminate the risk of a mycotoxin contamination entirely. Here we present a survey over a 4.5 year period that was performed to evaluate the incidence of mycotoxins in feed materials and compounded feed samples originating from Southern European countries, including Portugal, Spain, Italy, Greece and Cyprus. The 416 samples received were tested for the most relevant mycotoxins that are found in feed materials, such as aflatoxins, zearalenone (ZEA), type B trichothecenes (deoxynivalenol and acetyldeoxynivalenol), type A trichothecenes (T-2 toxin and HT-2 toxin), fumonisins and ochratoxin A (OTA), by two different methods, a commerci.