Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Intra-annual variations in climate influence growth and wood density of Norway spruce.

Intra-annual radial growth variations of two Norway spruce trees (Picea abies (L.) Karst. ) were monitored over 4 years, at four heights up the stem, by means of point-dendrometers. The trees were then felled and radial wood samples were cut from the radii that had been monitored by the dendrometers and analyzed for density. From the radial growth measurements recorded by the dendrometers, we related positions within the rings to dates, thus making possible investigation of the relationships between changes within the rings in wood density and fluctuations in climate or growth rate. Radial growth started in early April and ended, with large intra-annual differences, in August or September. Short-term variations in growth rate were related to fluctuations in climate parameters and soil water reserves. The sensitivity of radial growth to climate decreased with stem height. Wood density responded strongly to drought events, and a dry period in June 1996 induced false-ring formation. Wood density was relatively independent of growth rate and climatic conditions during the first part of the growing season, but increased with decreasing radial growth rate later in the growing season.
Thermodynamic Study of the Working Cycle of a Direct Injection Compression Ignition Engine

© 2012 Fygueroa et al., licensee InTech. This is an open access chapter distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. Thermodynamic Study of the Working Cycle of a Direct Injection Compression Ignition Engine
Extended NO analysis in asthma

The discovery of the flow dependence of exhaled NO made it possible to model NO production in the lung. The linear model provides information about the maximal flux of NO from the airways and the alveolar concentrations of NO. Nonlinear models give additional flow-independent parameters such as airway diffusing capacity and airway wall concentrations of NO. When these models are applied to patients with asthma, a clear-cut increase in NO flux is found, and this is caused by an increase in both airway diffusing capacity and airway wall concentrations of NO. There is no difference in alveolar concentrations of NO compared to healthy subjects, except in severe asthma where an increase has been found. Inhaled corticosteroids are able to reduce the airway wall concentrations but not diffusing capacity or alveolar concentrations. Oral prednisone affects the alveolar concentration, suggesting that in severe asthma there is a systemic component. Steroids distributed by any route do not affect the airway diffusing capacity. Therefore, the airway diffusing capacity should be in focus in testing new drugs or in combination treatment for asthma. Exhaled NO analysis is a promising tool in characterizing asthma in both adults and children. However, there is a strong need to agree on the models and to standardize the flow rates to be used for the modelling in order to perform a systematic and robust analysis of NO production in the lung.
Connexin26 is responsible for anionic molecule permeability in the cochlea for intercellular signalling and metabolic communications

A gap junction is composed of two hemichannels and possesses a relatively large pore size (∼ 10–15 Å), allowing passage of ions and molecules up to 1 kDa. Here, we report that connexin hemichannels and gap junctions in the guinea pig cochlea had significant charge selectivity among permeating molecules. In coincubation with anionic and cationic fluorescent dyes, hemichannel permeability in isolated cochlear supporting cells showed significant charge selectivity; 31% of cells had only cationic dye influx and 6% of cells had only anionic dye influx. Charge‐selective influx contrary to dye size was also found, indicating charge as a dominant determinant in permeability. The cell–cell gap junctional permeability was consistent with hemichannel permeability and also showed strong charge selectivity; the permeation of anionic dyes was slower than that of cationic probes in the cochlear sensory epithelium. With a combination of immunofluorescent staining for connexin26 (Cx26) and Cx30, which are the predominant connexin isoforms in the cochlea, Cx26 was demonstrated to correlate with anionic permeability. The data indicated that cochlear gap junctions have strong charge selectivity in molecular permeability and metabolic communication. Cx26 mutation may induce specific, irreparable impairment in intercellular signalling and energy and nutrient supplies in the cochlea, causing cell degeneration and hearing loss, given that many important cell‐signalling and nutrient and energy molecules (e.g. IP3, ATP, cAMP and cGMP) are anions.
18FDG-PET in 733 consecutive patients with or without side-by-side CT evaluation

Summary Side-by-side analysis of CT and conventional 18FDG-PET in oncological imaging is well established. Aim of this study was to find out which patients or diagnostic groups may benefit the most from the newly introduced integrated PET/CT scanners. Patients, methods: 407 consecutively admitted oncological patients with accompanying CT (groups A-D) and 326 patients without CT (groups E-G) were examined by conventional ring PET. Two nuclear medicine physicians and two radiologists assessed each patient’s PET and CT scans for pathological lesions with regard to localisation and infiltration of adjacent anatomical structures. Patients without pathological PET findings were assigned to groups A (with CT) or E (without CT). If the localisation and/or extent of a pathological PET focus could only be assessed by taking into account the CT scan, the patient was assigned to group C (with CT) or G (without CT). If PET alone was sufficient for both questions the patient was assigned to groups B (with CT) or F (without CT). If neither method allowed for a precise lesion characterisation, the patient was assigned to group D. Results: 38.6% (A, E) of all patients were PET-negative. PET alone sufficed in 20.6% (B, F). Side-by-side reading of PET and CT was needed for 43.5% (C) of patients referred to PET with a current CT. Side-by-side reading of CT and PET did not suffice for 7.3% (D) of patients in that cohort. A total of 28.2% (G) of the cases without CT would have profited from it. The most frequent oncological diagnoses in group D (PET and conventional CT not sufficient) were bronchial carcinoma with abdominal lesions, while in group G (without CT but CT required) head/neck cancer with thoracic lesions was predominant. Conclusions: Side-by-side reading of PET and already existing conventional CT failed to yield conclusive data with regard to lesion characterisation in only 7.4% of patients so that PET/CT might have been helpful in these cases. 28.2% of the patients without current CT would have profited from an initial PET/CT examination. On the other hand, 59.2% of all patients (negative PET or PET alone sufficing) did not require a CT for lesion characterisation.
Analysis of Finite Buffer Queue: Maximum Entropy Probability Distribution With Shifted Fractional Geometric and Arithmetic Means

A theoretical method based on maximum Shannon entropy framework (MSEF) in the presence of the geometric/or shifted fractional geometric mean of the queue size is applied to study the finite buffer system. Analytical expression of the loss probability for large buffer size is found to depict power law behavior. The maximum entropy framework is extended to incorporate additional shifted fractional arithmetic mean constraint to yield the expression of loss probability which is similar to the one derived by Kim and Shroff who have employed an entirely different approach based on maximum variance asymptotic (MVA) approximation. An important finding is the relationship between fractional order and the Hurst parameter. The advantage of MSEF is that it has enabled one to derive the analytical closed form generalized expression of the probability distribution of queue size in finite buffer system. Further, MSEF with shifted fractional geometric mean constraint gives the same distribution of queue size as the one obtained by maximizing Tsallis entropy subject to the fractional arithmetic mean of queue size.
A High Time Resolution Digital Pulse Width Modulator Based on Field Programmable Gate Array’s Phase Locked Loop Megafunction

The digital pulse width modulator (DPWM) is the crucial building block for digitally-controlled DC-DC switching converter, which converts the digital duty ratio signal into its analog counterpart to control the power MOSFET transistors on or off. With the increase of switching frequency of digitally-controlled DC-DC converter, the DPWM with higher time resolution is required. In this paper, a 15-bits DPWM with three-level hybrid structure is presented; the first level is composed of a7-bits counter and a comparator, the second one is a 5-bits delay line, and the third one is a 3-bits digital dither. The presented DPWM is designed and implemented using the PLL megafunction of FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Arrays), and the required frequency of clock signal is 128 times of switching frequency. The simulation results show that, for the switching frequency of 2 MHz, a DPWM which has the time resolution of 15 ps is achieved using a maximum clock frequency of 256MHz. The designed DPWM in this paper is especially useful for high-frequency digitally-controlled DC-DC switching converters. Keywords—DPWM, PLL megafunction, FPGA, time resolution, digitally-controlled DC-DC switching converter.
The Citrus Insects of Japan

To the citrus-fruit growers of the United States any bulletin is of value which lists the insects infesting citrus and related plants in other countries, in that it places on record the species which are capable of becoming pests under favorable conditions, and against which continued vigilance must be exercised in order to prevent their introduction and establishment in America. Many of these insects might not otherwise be recognized in their proper rôle until too late for the employment of effective eradication or restrictive measures. Various publications in Japan contain data on certain of the citrus pests of that country; yet, because of the difficulties of.translaticm, these are inaccessible to workers who do not read Japanese. The purpose of this bulletin is to assemble these data, combine them with such as have been obtained by personal observation, and thus present in concise form a fairly complete list of the species known to attack citrus, and such facts regarding them as may be of general interest. TDurfiig the seasons of 1916 and 1917 the writer, as an agent of the California State Commission of Horticulture, was engaged in the study of the citrus insects of Japan, Formosa, southern China, and the Philippine Islands, and in the importation into California of such parasites and predators as seemed to hold promise of value
A soft‐switching high step‐up DC‐DC converter with a single magnetic component

A soft‐switching high step‐up DC‐DC converter with a single magnetic component is presented in this paper. The proposed converter can provide high voltage gain with a relatively low turn ratio of a transformer. Voltage doubler structure is selected for the output stage. Due to this structure, the voltage gain can be increased, and the voltage stresses of output diodes are clamped as the output voltage. Moreover, the output diode currents are controlled by a leakage inductance of a transformer, and the reverse‐recovery loss of the output diodes is significantly reduced. Two power switches in the proposed converter can operate with soft‐switching due to the reflected secondary current. The voltages across the power switches are confined to the clamping capacitor voltage. Steady‐state analysis, simulation, and experimental results for the proposed converter are presented to validate the feasibility and the performance of the proposed converter. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Systemic and Intracellular Responses to Photooxidative Stress in Arabidopsis[W]

As the sun tracks daily through the sky from east to west, different parts of the canopy are exposed to high light (HL). The extent of and mechanisms by which a systemic acquired acclimation (SAA) response might preacclimate shaded leaves that will be subsequently exposed to full sunlight is largely undefined. We investigated the role of an Arabidopsis thaliana zinc finger transcription factor, ZAT10, in SAA. ZAT10 overexpression resulted in enhanced tolerance to photoinhibitory light and exogenous H2O2, increased expression of antioxidative genes whose products are targeted to multiple subcellular compartments. Partial HL exposure of a leaf or leaves rapidly induced ZAT10 mRNA in distal, shaded photosynthetic tissues, including the floral stem, cauline leaves, and rosette, but not in roots. Fully 86% of fivefold HL-upregulated and 71% of HL-downregulated genes were induced and repressed, respectively, in distal, shaded leaves. Between 15 and 23% of genes whose expression changed in the HL and/or distal tissues were coexpressed in the ZAT10 overexpression plants, implicating ZAT10 in modulating the expression of SAA-regulated genes. The SAA response was detectable in plants with mutations in abscisic acid, methyl jasmonate, or salicylic acid synthesis or perception, and systemic H2O2 diffusion was not detected. Hence, SAA is distinct from pathogen-stimulated systemic acquired resistance and apparently involves a novel signal or combination of signals that preacclimate photosynthetic tissues to HL.
Interpersonal Difficulties in Adolescence: A New Self-Report Measure

The aim of this study was to analyze the psychometric properties of the Questionnaire about Interpersonal Difficulties for Adolescents (QIDA; Inglés, Méndez, & Hidalgo, 2000). In Study 1, the questionnaire was administered to a sample of 4,240 high school pupils. Exploratory factor analysis identified five factors accounting for 42.86% of the variance: Assertiveness, Heterosexual Relationships, Public Speaking, Family Relationships, and Close Friendships. Internal consistency was high (.90). In Study 2, 538 high school pupils answered a set of social anxiety and personality self-report measures. Test-retest reliability, over a 2-week period, was adequate (.78). Correlations between the QIDA and the Personal Report of Confidence as Speaker (r = .43), the Social Phobia and Anxiety Inventory (r = .61), and the Eysenck Personality Questionnaire (r = –.38, Extraversion; r = .34, Neuroticism) were statistically significant. A significant difference was found between the total QIDA score for adolescents with and without social phobia (d = 1.53) supporting the construct validity of the questionnaire.
Effect of Cold‐Temperature Shock on Nitrification

Nitrification is known as the most temperature‐sensitive step among the biological processes in wastewater treatment. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of temperature on nitrification, in the case of a sharp decrease of temperature, and to compare this effect with that of a gradual temperature decrease. It was found that a sudden temperature decrease affected nitrification much more than predicted. The immediate decrease of temperature by 10°C led to a 20% larger decrease of specific nitrification rate than predicted by the temperature correction factor of 1.072. The change of nitrification rate resulting from a gradual temperature decrease was modeled correctly with the current default temperature correction factor of 1.072. It was concluded that the correction factor actually can be applied to a gradual temperature‐change situation; however, in the case of a sudden temperature decrease, measures need to be taken to avoid nitrifier washout.
Ranking Web services based on ontology semantics

Web services are the next wave of Internet application. They are dramatically prevailing over the World Wide Web. How to discovery the right services is a big challenge. In this paper, a new approach is proposed for Web services matching within the UDDI registry, based on the matching results a ranking process will significantly reduce the number of recommend services and increase the accuracy. This process is based on semantics in domain ontology. The whole solution provides a novel way to discover and utilize published Web services. It is flexible and extensible to accomplish complex Web service requests.
Income Shifting within a Dual Income Tax System: Evidence from the Finnish Tax Reform of 1993

Dual income tax systems can suffer from income that shifts from progressively taxed labour income to capital income, which is taxed at a lower, flat rate. This paper empirically examines the 1993 Finnish dual income tax reform, which radically reduced the marginal tax rates on capital income for some, but not all, taxpayers. We measure how overall taxable income and the relative shares of capital income and labour income reacted to the reform. We find that the reform led to a small positive impact on overall taxable income, but part of the positive response was probably offset by income shifting among the self-employed.
Verified Cryptographic Implementations for TLS 1

We intend to narrow the gap between concrete implementations of cryptographic protocols and their verified models. We develop and verify a small functional implementation of the Transport Layer Security protocol (TLS 1.0). We make use of the same executable code for interoperability testing against mainstream implementations, for automated symbolic cryptographic verification, and for automated computational cryptographic verification. We rely on a combination of recent tools, and we also develop a new tool for extracting computational models from executable code. We obtain strong security guarantees for TLS as used in typical deployments.
Hydrogen bonding in supercritical water

We study the hydrogen bonding structure of water models at supercritical conditions by molecular dynamics to directly compare with recent microstructural data obtained by neutron diffraction with isotopic substitution (NDIS) experiments. We also study the angular dependence of the hydrogen–oxygen pair distribution function to gain insight into the hydrogen bonding mechanism in the molecular models for water. The simulation results suggest that the angle‐averaged radial distribution function gOH(r) measured by NDIS experiments may not provide a complete picture of the degree of hydrogen bonding.
Aberrant expression of nuclear HDAC3 and cytoplasmic CDH1 predict a poor prognosis for patients with pancreatic cancer

Previous studies showed that aberrant CDH1 or/and HDAC3 localization is essential for the progression of some human cancers. Here, we investigate the prognostic significance of aberrant CDH1 and HDAC3 localization in 84 pancreatic cancer patients. Our results show that increases in both membrane and cytoplasmic CDH1 correlate with lymph node metastasis (P = 0.026 and P < 0.001, respectively) and clinical stage (P = 0.020 and P < 0.001, respectively). Increased nuclear HDAC3 correlates with lymph node metastasis (P < 0.001) and advanced clinical stage (P < 0.001), but increased cytoplasmic HDAC3 does not (P > 0.05). Multivariate analysis showed that nuclear HDAC3 and cytoplasmic CDH1 (P = 0.001 and P = 0.010, respectively), as well as tumor differentiation (P = 0.009) are independent prognostic factors. Most importantly, patients with high co-expression of nuclear HDAC3 and cytoplasmic CDH1 had shorter survival times (P < 0.001), more frequent lymph node metastasis (P < 0.001), and advanced clinical stage (P < 0.001). Our studies provide convincing evidence that nuclear HDAC3 and cytoplasmic CDH1 have independent prognostic value in pancreatic cancer and provide novel targets for prognostic therapeutics.
Chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy: A role for haematopoietic stem cell transplantation?

Chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy (CIDP) is a clinical syndrome of a chronic progressive or relapsing and remitting, symmetrical, sensory and motor radiculoneuropathy. The immune reaction in CIDP is characterised by selective inflammation of peripheral nerves and is probably due to the interaction of cellular and humoral responses. Only three treatments for CIDP have demonstrated benefit in randomised studies, corticosteroids, plasma exchange and intravenous immunoglobulin. 25% of patients fail to respond or do not respond adequately to these treatments. Experimental data in animal models have shown that several autoimmune disorders, either congenital or acquired, can be transferred and/or treated by the transplantation of bone marrow stem cells. Haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) has been performed with varying success in over 700 patients with autoimmune disorders throughout Europe. The experience in CIDP is very limited. This article will review current understanding of CIDP and experience of the use of HSCT in refractory CIDP.
Bimatoprost Increases Mechanosensitivity of Trigeminal Ganglion Neurons Innervating the Inner Walls of Rat Anterior Chambers via Activation of TRPA1.

PURPOSE Our previous study found that some trigeminal ganglion (TG) nerve endings in the inner walls of rat anterior chambers were mechanosensitive, and transient receptor potential ankyrin 1 (TRPA1) was an essential mechanosensitive channel in the membrane. To address the effect of bimatoprost on the mechanosensitive TG nerve endings in the inner walls of rat anterior chambers, we investigated its effect on their cell bodies in vitro. METHODS Rat TG neurons innervating the inner walls of the anterior chambers were labeled by anterior chamber injection of 1,1'-dilinoleyl-3,3,3',3'-tetramethylindocarbocyanine, 4-chlorobenzenesulfonate (FAST DiI). Calcium imaging and whole cell patch clamp were used on neuronal cell bodies to detect the activation effect of TRPA1 channels. Whole cell patch clamp was performed to record the currents induced by drugs and mechanical stimulation. Mechanical stimulation was applied to the neurons by buffer ejection. RESULTS Bimatoprost mimicked the effect of TRPA1 agonists, allyl isothiocyanate (AITC), and (R)-(+)-WIN55, 212-2 mesylate salt (WIN) in the TG neurons. Bimatoprost induced Ca(2+) influx in HEK293 cells stably transfected with human TRPA1, but not in untransfected cells as AITC and WIN. Moreover, bimatoprost evoked inward currents via TRPA1 activation in FAST DiI-labeled TG neurons as WIN. Bimatoprost also enhanced mechanosensitivity of FAST DiI-labeled TG neurons via TRPA1 activation. CONCLUSIONS Our results indicate that bimatoprost is a novel agonist of TRPA1, and it can enhance mechanosensitivity of TG nerve endings in the inner walls of anterior eye chambers via TRPA1 activation in rats.
Diabetes in Children : Facilitating Adherence to Medical Regimens

Approximately 1 in every 400 to 600 children has Type I diabetes. The care of children with Type I diabetes involves complex procedures including daily blood glucose testing, dietary monitoring, intensive insulin therapy, and physical activity to maintain metabolic control in the face of pancreatic failure. The aforementioned procedures as well as adjustment of insu‐ lin doses based on blood glucose monitoring are critical areas for adherence to the medical regimen. The work and complexity of maintaining a diabetes regimen can lead to adherence issues for children and their families [4,5]. Adhering to diabetes regimens, however, is relat‐ ed to long-term positive health outcomes. If children do not take care of their diabetes they can experience problems with their vision as well cardiovascular issues and circulation problems. This chapter reviews critical issues for adherence for children and adolescents. Ideas for improving adherence also are presented.