Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
FluoSpec 2—An Automated Field Spectroscopy System to Monitor Canopy Solar-Induced Fluorescence

Accurate estimation of terrestrial photosynthesis has broad scientific and societal impacts. Measurements of photosynthesis can be used to assess plant health, quantify crop yield, and determine the largest CO2 flux in the carbon cycle. Long-term and continuous monitoring of vegetation optical properties can provide valuable information about plant physiology. Recent developments of the remote sensing of solar-induced chlorophyll fluorescence (SIF) and vegetation spectroscopy have shown promising results in using this information to quantify plant photosynthetic activities and stresses at the ecosystem scale. However, there are few automated systems that allow for unattended observations over months to years. Here we present FluoSpec 2, an automated system for collecting irradiance and canopy radiance that has been deployed in various ecosystems in the past years. The instrument design, calibration, and tests are recorded in detail. We discuss the future directions of this field spectroscopy system. A network of SIF sensors, FluoNet, is established to measure the diurnal and seasonal variations of SIF in several ecosystems. Automated systems such as FluoSpec 2 can provide unique information on ecosystem functioning and provide important support to the satellite remote sensing of canopy photosynthesis.
A motor neuron strategy to save time and energy in neurodegeneration: adaptive protein stoichiometry

Neurofilament proteins (Nf) are a biomarker of disease progression in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). This study investigated whether there are major differences in expression from in vivo measurements of neurofilament isoforms, from the light chain, NfL (68 kDa), compared with larger proteins, the medium chain (NfM, 150 kDa) and the heavy (NfH, 200‐210 kDa) chains in ALS patients and healthy controls. New immunological methods were combined with Nf subunit stoichiometry calculations and Monte Carlo simulations of a coarse‐grained Nf brush model. Based on a physiological Nf subunit stoichiometry of 7 : 3 : 2 (NfL:NfM:NfH), we found an ‘adaptive’ Nf subunit stoichiometry of 24 : 2.4 : 1.6 in ALS. Adaptive Nf stoichiometry preserved NfL gyration radius in the Nf brush model. The energy and time requirements for Nf translation were 56 ± 27k ATP (5.6 h) in control subjects compared to 123 ± 102k (12.3 h) in ALS with ‘adaptive’ (24:2.4:1.6) Nf stoichiometry (not significant) and increased significantly to 355 ± 330k (35.5 h) with ‘luxury’ (7:3:2) Nf subunit stoichiometry (p < 0.0001 for each comparison). Longitudinal disease progression‐related energy consumption was highest with a ‘luxury’ (7:3:2) Nf stoichiometry. Therefore, an energy and time‐saving option for motor neurons is to shift protein expression from larger to smaller (cheaper) subunits, at little or no costs on a protein structural level, to compensate for increased energy demands.
Ebola disease: Infection prevention and control in hospital and community settings

Dear Editor, The World Health Organization (WHO) has announced the 2014 outbreak of Ebola virus as an international public health emergency. [1] This outbreak originated in Guinea in the month of March, and gradually involved five nations in the West Africa (viz. Sierra Leone, Liberia, Nigeria, Senegal, and the Democratic Republic of Congo). [2] The outbreak was caused by the Zaire species of Ebola virus which is generally associated with high case fatality rate. [3] The disease estimates suggest that the magnitude of the Ebola virus disease was way beyond the previous similar outbreaks and magnitude, and has grown at an exponential rate, with the number of new cases getting doubled every 20–30 days. [4,5] Ebola virus belongs
Attenuation of Hemodynamic Responses to Endotracheal Extubation with Different Doses of Diltiazem with Lignocaine: A Placebo-Controlled Study

Introduction: Endotracheal extubation causes transient hemodynamic stimulation leading to increase in blood pressure and heart rate (HR) due to increase in sympathoadrenergic activity caused by epipharyngeal and laryngopharyngeal stimulation. Lignocaine, a sodium channel blocker, attenuates the hemodynamic response to tracheal extubation by inhibiting sodium channels in the neuronal cell membrane, decreasing the sensitivity of the heart muscles to electric impulses. Diltiazem, a calcium channel blocker, attenuates hemodynamic response by blocking voltage-sensitive L type channels and inhibiting calcium entry-mediated action potential in smooth and cardiac muscle. Aims and Objectives: The aims and objectives of this are to study and to compare the efficacy of combination of intravenous (i.v.) diltiazem 0.1 mg/kg and i.v. lidocaine 1.0 mg/kg, diltiazem 0.2 mg/kg and lidocaine 1.0 mg/kg, lignocaine 1.0 mg/kg with normal saline given to attenuate exaggerated hemodynamic extubation responses and airway reflexes during extubation. Materials and Methods: This study was undertaken with 105 patients belonging to the age group 20–65 years with physical status ASA Classes I and II of either sex. Group A received injection diltiazem 0.1 mg/kg and preservative-free lignocaine 1 mg/kg. Group B received injection diltiazem 0.2 mg/kg and lignocaine 1 mg/kg. Group C received injection lignocaine 1 mg/kg with normal saline. In this study group, the drug dosage was fixed based on the previous studies. Results: At postextubation, significant difference in HR, systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), mean arterial pressure (MAP) were observed from 1 to 10 min between three groups. The difference in HR, SBP, DBP, and MAP were statistically significant between Group C in comparison with Group A and Group B from 1 min postextubation to 10 min. Conclusion: Combined diltiazem and lidocaine are more effective prophylaxis than lidocaine alone for attenuating the cardiovascular responses to tracheal extubation.
F-18 FDG PET-CT Versus Contrast Enhanced CT in Detection of Extra Nodal Involvement in Patients with Lymphoma

Aim and Objectives: The aim of this study is to assess the added value of hybrid fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) in the evaluation of extranodal involvement in patients with lymphoma in comparison to contrast-enhanced CT (CECT). Patients and Methods: All patients had lymphoma, proved by histopathological and immunophenotyping examinations. They underwent CECT and F-18 FDG PET–CT studies. Both CECT and PET/CT studies were done within 30 days. Results: The study included 144 patients 92 (63.9%) males and 52 (36.1%) females with mean age 49.3 years (range 18–80 years). A total of 102 (70.8%) patients had non-Hodgkin lymphoma and 42 patients (18.1%) had Hodgkin disease, diffuse large B-cell lymphoma subtype had the highest prevalence 52.8% (76/144), whereas lymphocytic predominance was the least prevalent 1.4% (2/144) followed by mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma 2.8% (4/144) and small lymphocytic type 4.2% (6/144), mixed cellularity (MC), T-cell, and follicular type were equally distributed 6.9% (10/144 each). The lung was the most common site as it was involved in 34 patients followed by bone and bone marrow 32 patients, spleen 18, liver 16, nasopharynx 8, stomach 6, cutaneous and subcutaneous tissue 6, peritoneum, cecum, small intestine, brain, and intramuscular four patients each. However, the parotid and pancreas were the least common sites two patients each. The overall sensitivity, specificity PPV, NPV, and accuracy of PET/CT and CECT are 97%, 20% 94.2%, 33.3% and 91.7% and 89.6%, 60%, 96.8%, 30% and 87.5%, respectively. Conclusion: F-18 FDG-PET/CT can accurately monitor the extranodal lymphoma, it can detect metabolically-active lesions without CT structural changes and identify viable tumor in normal size lymph nodes. FDG-PET/CT is more effective than CECT in evaluating extra nodal lymphomatous infiltration, especially in the spleen, bone, and bone marrow.
The College Classroom: Models of Education—Techniques for Change

The examination of the three models of education considered here as well as the ideas of Farber and McLuhan can clarify some basic problems facing educators and students. While I have possibly ignored some practical issues, I have assumed that creative and courageous changes by individual instructors in their classrooms can result in a more meaningful learning environment, one which leads to increased satisfaction for teacher and learner and where greater role flexibilities can result in more accurate personal perception and acceptance. Such changes could contribute to the modification of existing institutions.
Zur Entwicklung der Preise von Inputs und Outputs der Landwirtschaft

Seit dem Jahr 2002 sind die Preise wichtiger Agrarguter stark gestiegen. Neben einer Ausweitung der Nachfrage ist auch der Anstieg der Energiepreise dafur masgebend. Die Agrarpreise durften in den kommenden Jahren weiterhin deutlich uber dem Niveau vom Beginn dieses Jahrzehnts liegen.
A Historical Consideration of the Siphonophores

In his report of the Challenger siphonophores Ernst Haeckel sketches a picture of biological debate and solution calculated to excite historians and philosophers of biology. Here is a distinct zoological issue, Haeckel suggests, to which Darwin's theory of evalution both gives new meaning and offers a solution. Only an evolutionist, Haeckel implies, could see the flaws in previous ideas and wield the powerful tool of embryology to uncover the truth. It sounds as if the siphonophores can provide what has long been wanted, a nice case-study of the impact of Darwinism upon classical zoology, that is, upon comparative anatomy, morphology and classification.
Platinum nanoparticles on reduced graphene oxide as peroxidase mimetics for the colorimetric detection of specific DNA sequence.

In this work, we developed a simple and sensitive colorimetric detection platform for specific DNA sequences by using peroxidase mimetics of platinum nanoparticles supported on reduced graphene oxide. This nanocomposite possessed the combined advantages of platinum nanoparticles (superior peroxidase-like activity) and reduced graphene oxide (π-stacking interaction with single-stranded but not double-stranded DNA). The catalytic activity was strongly dependent on the chloroplatinic acid-to-graphene oxide mass ratio during the synthesis step, with an optimum ratio of 7 : 1. Unlike natural peroxidase, the nanocomposite had excellent stability over wide ranges of temperature (4-90 °C) and pH (1-13). For DNA detection, the nanocomposite had higher affinity for the single-stranded probe (in the absence of target) than the probe-target duplex. The probe-bound nanocomposite was stabilized against salt-induced aggregation and thus upon the addition of 3,3',5,5'-tetramethylbenzidine and hydrogen peroxide to the supernatant, an intense blue color was generated. The linear range and limit of detection of this assay platform were 0.5-10 nM and 0.4 nM, respectively. Moreover, this platform featured high specificity that 3-base-mismatched sequence could be distinguished with the naked eye and 1-base-mismatched sequence with absorbance measurement. Furthermore, the applicability for real sample detection was demonstrated by polymerase chain reaction product analysis. Taken together, this new platform is well suited for point-of-care and on-site nucleic acid testing.
Continuous Auditing and Monitoring in Practice: Lessons from Metcash's Business Assurance Group

ABSTRACT: Advances in information technologies, multiple and diverse risks, complex and changing regulatory environments, antifraud measures, budget constraints, and the volume, velocity, and variety of data being created have renewed attention in continuous auditing (CA) and continuous monitoring (CM). Notwithstanding the growing interest, there is currently limited guidance and empirical evidence available about the practicalities of implementing CA and CM and the differences (or not) between them. In this paper, we describe a case study of how CA and CM has been interpreted and implemented at Metcash, a wholesale distribution and marketing company in Australia. The results for this organization so far are notable: over 100 automated tests performed daily, a fully integrated exception management system, advancement from data to predictive analytics, and the use of visualization technologies for enhancing reporting. However, this outcome has not been without challenges. Our aim in presenting this case i.
YouTube Sustainability Reporting: Empirical Evidence from Eurozone-Listed Companies

ABSTRACT: CSR reporting is gaining momentum among Eurozone companies. The objective of this paper is to provide evidence regarding companies using YouTube as a communication and engagement channel for sustainability issues. Legitimacy theory and stakeholder theory are applied as a theoretical background for this study. Data on 306 Eurozone companies listed on the STOXX Euro 600 Index were collected to describe these practices and to identify whether sustainability reporting on YouTube follows the same patterns as CSR reporting in general. The main findings indicate that, in spite of its potential, sustainability reporting using YouTube is still in an early stage. The independent measures examined in this study only influence the extent of environmental reporting via YouTube; they do not affect other sustainability disclosures. Specifically, the factors influencing environmental YouTube disclosure are the sector in which the company operates, the proportion of independent directors, and company size.
Respostas fisiológicas e anatômicas de plantas jovens de eucalipto expostas ao cádmio

Pollution caused by heavy metals, mainly by cadmium (Cd), is generated by mining and industrial activities, and by the use of phosphated fertilizers and sewage sludge in agriculture. Aiming to investigate the Cd effects on physiological and anatomical features, eucalyptus seedlings in Cd-increasing concentrations in nutrient solution. Seedlings of Eucalyptus camaldulensis remained for 20 days in 1L vases with Clark solutions, and the treatments with 0, 15, 25, 45 and 90 mmol Cd L-1 supplied as CdSO4. Water potential, water potential and pigment content evaluations were carried out on dates 1, 3, 6, 12 and 20 days after treatments induction (DAE). Evaluations of mass production, Cd contents and anatomical characteristics were made with vegetal matter collected in the end of the experimental period. There was a decrease on dry matter production, even in the lowest Cd concentration. Total chlorophyll content decreased with the increase of Cd content in nutrient solution at 20 days after exposure (DAE) whereas carotenoid contents were the highest at 45 and 90 mmol Cd L-1. Lipid peroxidation in leaves increased with increasing Cd levels at 20 DAE, whereas in root, the effect of Cd was less pronunciated. Water potential increased at all Cd concentration at 12 and 20 DAE. Root tissues thickness also increased increased as Cd levels increased, but mesophyll and leave blade thickness decreased. Thus, the results indicate that the exposure time and higher doses of Cd accentuate damages in E. camaldulensis for most of the evaluated traits. Some changes observed reveal the tolerance potential of E. camaldulenses to Cd-exposition.
UPPER BOUNDS ON EXPECTED HITTING TIME OF TARGET SUBSETS BY GENETIC ALGORITHM

Introduction. The genetic algorithm (GA) proposed by J. Holland [5] is a randomized heuristic search method, based on analogy with the genetic mechanisms observed in nature and employing a population of tentative solutions. Di erent modi cations of GA are widely used in areas of operations research, pattern recognition, arti cial intelligence etc. In this paper, the genetic algorithms are studied on a wide class of combinatorial optimization problems w.r. t. expected number of tentative solutions visited until a feasible solution with required properties is found for the rst time. The target sets of solutions may be de ned by an approximation ratio, by local or global optimality conditions, etc. The main result is obtained by combining the approaches proposed in [2,6], and applies to a wider classes of algorithms and problems compared to those addressed in [2,6].
Rapid lizard radiation lacking niche conservatism: ecological diversification within a complex landscape

Diversification and rapid radiation are well documented in lacertid lizards. Niche conservation is frequently observed among related taxa, whereby niches will not change much during speciation events. Here, we investigate the relationship between environmental niche divergence and phylogenetic relatedness in a widespread group of green lizards, the Lacerta trilineata group.
The effect of CYP 2 C 19 polymorphism on the safety , tolerability , and pharmacokinetics of tivantinib ( ARQ 197 ) : results from a phase I trial in advanced solid tumors

N. Yamamoto1, H. Murakami1, T. Nishina2, T. Hirashima3, K. Sugio4, K. Muro5, T. Takahashi1, T. Naito1, H. Yasui6, S. Akinaga7, Y. Koh8 & N. Boku6 Division of Thoracic Oncology, Shizuoka Cancer Center, Naga-izumi; Department of Gastroenterology, National Shikoku Cancer Center, Matsuyama; Department of Thoracic Malignancy, Osaka Prefectural Medical Center for Respiratory and Allergic Diseases, Osaka; Department of Thoracic Oncology, National Kyushu Cancer Center, Fukuoka; Department of Clinical Oncology, Aichi Cancer Center Hospital, Nagoya; Division of Gastrointestinal Oncology, Shizuoka Cancer Center, Naga-izumi; Development Division, Kyowa Hakko Kirin Co., LTD., Tokyo; Division of Drug Discovery and Development, Shizuoka Cancer Center Research Institute, Naga-izumi, Japan
Finding Inexact Quotations Within a Tibetan Buddhist Corpus

Text matching can be a powerful tool in exploring historical texts. Here, we compare two Tibetan texts and identify pairs of nearly identical strings. A maximal-path algorithm, previously used for matching biological sequences, lies at the heart of our method. The matches found have been verified by Tibetan scholars. They were shown to be of concrete value for Tibetan studies and open up previously inaccessible research avenues.
The Anticancer Activities of Some Nitrogen Donor Ligands Containing bis-Pyrazole, Bipyridine, and Phenanthroline Moiety Using Docking Methods

The anticancer study of nitrogen-chelating ligands can be of tremendous help in choosing ligands for the anticancer metal complexes design especially with ruthenium(II). The inhibitory anticancer activities of some nitrogen-chelating ligands containing bis-pyrazole, bipyridine, and phenanthroline were studied using experimental screening against cancer cell and theoretical docking methods. In vitro anticancer activities showed compound 11 as the most promising inhibitor, and the computational docking further indicates its strong inhibitory activities towards some cancer-related receptors. Among the twenty-one modelled ligands, pyrazole-based compounds 7, 11, and 15 are the most promising inhibitors against the selected receptors followed by 18 and 21 which are derivatives of pyridine and phenanthroline, respectively. The presence of the carboxylic unit in the top five ligands that displayed stronger inhibitory activities against the selected receptors is an indication that the formation of noncovalent interactions such as hydrogen bonding and a strong electron-withdrawing group in these compounds are very important for their receptor interactions. The thermodynamic properties, the polarizabilities, and the LUMO energy of the compounds are in the same patterns as the observed inhibitory activities.
Eco-immunology in the cold: the role of immunity in shaping the overwintering survival of ectotherms

ABSTRACT The effect of temperature on physiology mediates many of the challenges that ectotherms face under climate change. Ectotherm immunity is thermally sensitive and, as such, environmental change is likely to have complex effects on survival, disease resistance and transmission. The effects of temperature on immunity will be particularly profound in winter because cold and overwintering are important triggers and regulators of ectotherm immune activity. Low temperatures can both suppress and activate immune responses independent of parasites, which suggests that temperature not only affects the rate of immune responses but also provides information that allows overwintering ectotherms to balance investment in immunity and other physiological processes that underlie winter survival. Changing winter temperatures are now shifting ectotherm immunity, as well as the demand for energy conservation and protection against parasites. Whether an ectotherm can survive the winter will thus depend on whether new immune phenotypes will shift to match the conditions of the new environment, or leave ectotherms vulnerable to infection or energy depletion. Here, we synthesise patterns of overwintering immunity in ectotherms and examine how new winter conditions might affect ectotherm immunity. We then explore whether it is possible to predict the effects of changing winter conditions on ectotherm vulnerability to the direct and indirect effects of parasites. Summary: Immune investment shapes energy budgeting and survival upon infection in overwintering ectotherms, but can we predict how changing winters will modify immunity and its role in winter survival?
Responsive brain stimulation in epilepsy

Stimulation devices are considered in patients with drug-resistant epilepsy and who are not surgical candidates. Responsive neurostimulation (RNS) is a cortically based stimulator activated by electrocorticography (ECoG) patterns. Stimulation is applied directly to the seizure focus. The vagal nerve stimulator AspireSR 106 is also a responsive device which, in addition to basal stimulation, is activated by tachycardia. Deep brain stimulation of the anterior nucleus of the thalamus is used in Europe for intractable epilepsy and yields similar response rates to RNS using duty cycle stimulation. Chronic subthreshold cortical stimulation is an experimental form of constant, low-level stimulation applied to a seizure focus. These modalities are discussed and compared in this review.
A Theory of Register Monitors

The task of a monitor is to watch, at run-time, the execution of a reactive system, and signal the occurrence of a safety violation in the observed sequence of events. While finite-state monitors have been studied extensively, in practice, monitoring software also makes use of unbounded memory. We define a model of automata equipped with integer-valued registers which can execute only a bounded number of instructions between consecutive events, and thus can form the theoretical basis for the study of infinite-state monitors. We classify these register monitors according to the number k of available registers, and the type of register instructions. In stark contrast to the theory of computability for register machines, we prove that for every k ≥ 1, monitors with k + 1 counters (with instruction set ⟨+1, =⟩) are strictly more expressive than monitors with k counters. We also show that adder monitors (with instruction set ⟨1, +, =⟩) are strictly more expressive than counter monitors, but are complete for monitoring all computable safety ω-languages for k = 6. Real-time monitors are further required to signal the occurrence of a safety violation as soon as it occurs. The expressiveness hierarchy for counter monitors carries over to real-time monitors. We then show that 2 adders cannot simulate 3 counters in real-time. Finally, we show that real-time adder monitors with inequalities are as expressive as real-time Turing machines.