Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Powered wheelchairs and independence in young children with tetraplegia

The aim of this study was to assess the effect of early provision (≦ 8 years) of a powered wheelchair (PWC) in children with tetraplegia. Twenty‐nine children (15 males, 14 females; mean age 6 years 3 months, age range 3 to 8 years) with spastic or dystonic tetraplegia were studied. All participants had severe motor impairment. Treatment outcomes were investigated in several dimensions of disablement: Impairment, Functional Limitation/Activity, Disability/Participation. It was found that the level of independence improved significantly after PWC provision, while motor impairment, IQ, and quality of life did not. The majority of children (21 of 27) reached a level of driving competence which allowed them to move around with or without minimal (i.e. verbal) adult support. Achievement of this competence was not statistically related to IQ or motor impairment but correlated to the time spent in the PWC. The majority of parents (21 of 25) were not in favour of the PWC when the study started but after PWC provision, 23 of 25 parents expressed positive feelings about it. Reactions of the majority of children (23 of 25) were positive from the beginning of the study and did not change over time. The authors concluded that PWCs can aid independence and socialization and the majority of children can achieve a good‐enough driving competence, even those with severe learning disability or motor deficit. PWCs should not be viewed as a last resort but as a means of providing efficient self‐locomotion in children with a severe motor deficit.
Analyzing the Effect of High-k Dielectric-Mediated Doping on Contact Resistance in Top-Gated Monolayer MoS<sub>2</sub> Transistors

A scalable process that can yield lowresistance contacts to transition metal dichalcogenides is crucial for realizing a viable device technology from these materials. Here, we systematically examine the effect of high-k dielectric-mediated doping on key device metrics including contact resistance and carrier mobility. Specifically, we use top-gated transistors from monolayer MoS2 as a test vehicle and vary the MoS2 doping level by adjusting the amount of oxygen vacancies in the HfOx gate dielectric. To understand the effect of doping on the contact resistance, from a fundamental standpoint, we first estimate the doping level in monolayer MoS2. The results of our device studies quantitatively show that the reduction in contact resistance with an increase in doping is due to the doping-induced lowering of the Schottky barrier height (SBH) at the metal–semiconductor interface. Furthermore, our temperature-dependent measurements reveal that a mixture of thermionic and field emissions, even at high carrier densities, dominates carrier conduction at the contact. While our study reveals the effectiveness of dielectric-induced doping in lowering SBH, it suggests that a further reduction of SBH using alternative methods is necessary for achieving an ohmic-like contact to monolayer MoS2.
Biodegradation of reactive red 195 azo dye by the bacterium Rhodopseudomonas palustris 51ATA

The sulphonated reactive red 195 dye (RR195) was used as carbon source and energy by the widely spread, eco-friendly, photoheterothrophic strain 51ATA that belongs to Rhodopseudomonas palustris. This bacterium, which was isolated from Lake Akkaya, (Nigde, Turkey), was able to completely degrade and mineralize the dye under anaerobic conditions with 100% efficiency. The degradation efficiency of this strain, in the presence and absence of a co-substrate was investigated. The biodegradation of the dye was monitored by UV-visible, (FTIR) spectroscopy and HPLC. From these analyses, a complete mineralization of the toxic aromatic ring system of the reactive red 195 dye was observed.
Modulation of Mucosal Antiviral Immune Response at the Female Genital Tract by Immunobiotic Lactic Acid Bacteria

Modulation of Mucosal Antiviral Immune Response at the Female Genital Tract by Immunobiotic Lactic Acid Bacteria The female genital tract (FGT) has unique characteristics, which have evolved to adequately carry on its vital function of reproduction. Thus, on the one hand the FGT has to be tolerogenic enough not to reject the allogeneic sperm and fetus in order to ensure procreation and; on the other hand it should be reactive enough for clearing viral, bacterial, fungal and parasitic pathogens. To increase complexity, there is a constant exposure of mucosal cells to an endogenous microbiota, and to the direct and indirect action of sexual hormones (estradiol and progesterone). The immunity of the FGT has not been studied as extensively as the immunity of the gut, and the antiviral response at this important mucosal site is even less understood. In line with this, immune modulation by lactic acid bacteria (LAB) offers a brand new field of research.
Physiological enhancements for alleviation of salt stress in wheat

Increased salinity is a severe problem to crop production while pre-sowing seed treatments can effectively induce salt tolerance in plants. The effect of different pre-sowing seed treatments (hydropriming, halopriming (50 mM CaCl2.2H2O), ascorbate priming (50 mg L -1 ) and pre-sowing chilling treatment (-19 o C) on seed germination, vigor, antioxidants and total soluble protein content was investigated in two wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cultivars Auqab-2000 (salt tolerant) and MH97 (salt sensitive) under saline (15 dS m -1 ) or non-saline (4 dS m -1 ) conditions. Of all the seed pretreatments, halopriming followed by hydropriming was the most effective in alleviating the adverse effect of salinity by improving germination and seedling growth of both cultivars. In addition, the effect of ascorbate priming was more pronounced in salt tolerant cultivar as revealed from curtailed mean germination time, improved seedling vigor and enhanced ascorbate contents and catalase (CAT) activity. Salinity significantly increased leaf protein content in both cultivars but the magnitude of increase in protein content was higher in Auqab-2000 as compared to that in MH-97. All pre-sowing seed treatments significantly enhanced superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity in MH-97 while priming with CaCl2.2H2O and ascorbate were very effective in Auqab2000 during stress conditions. The salt-tolerant cultivar Auqab-2000 had a better protection against reactive oxygen species (ROS) as shown by increased SOD amd CAT activities under salt stress. In conclusion, halopriming and hydropriming successfully improved the seed performance in both cultivars whereas priming with ascorbate was only effective in salt tolerant cultivar under saline conditions. This benefit was attributed to early and synchronized germination, vigorous stand establishment, and decreased oxidative damage due to enhanced antioxidant system.
Regret Bounds without Lipschitz Continuity: Online Learning with Relative-Lipschitz Losses

In online convex optimization (OCO), Lipschitz continuity of the functions is commonly assumed in order to obtain sublinear regret. Moreover, many algorithms have only logarithmic regret when these functions are also strongly convex. Recently, researchers from convex optimization proposed the notions of "relative Lipschitz continuity" and "relative strong convexity". Both of the notions are generalizations of their classical counterparts. It has been shown that subgradient methods in the relative setting have performance analogous to their performance in the classical setting. In this work, we consider OCO for relative Lipschitz and relative strongly convex functions. We extend the known regret bounds for classical OCO algorithms to the relative setting. Specifically, we show regret bounds for the follow the regularized leader algorithms and a variant of online mirror descent. Due to the generality of these methods, these results yield regret bounds for a wide variety of OCO algorithms. Furthermore, we further extend the results to algorithms with extra regularization such as regularized dual averaging.
Percolation and cosmic rays above eV

In this work we argue that, in the interpretation of the energy dependence of the depth of the shower maximum and of the muon content in high energy cosmic ray showers ( eV), other variables besides the composition may play an important role, in particular those characterising the first (high energy) hadronic collisions. The role of the inelasticity, of the nature of the leading particle, and of the particle multiplicity are discussed. A consistent interpretation of existing data within a string percolation model implemented in a hybrid, one dimensional simulation method is given.
A comparison of three diversity indices based on their components of richness and evenness

Species diversity was calculated using three different indices on sets of real and artificial data. Each index was analyzed to determine its relationship to the two component parts of diversity, richness and evenness. Shannon's information formula, H' = C~pi log2 pi, is found to be linearly related to evenness and to the log2 of the number of species. Simpson's Index, D = 1 n(n 1) and __ zg~~~~N(N -1) N V/ni2 McIntosh's Index, D' = N , when expressed in probits are found to
Comprehensive Evaluation of Cross Translation Unit Symbolic Execution

Static analysis is a great approach to find bugs and code smells. Some of the errors span across multiple translation units (TUs). Symbolic execution is a primary static analysis technique. Symbols are used to represent unknown values (e.g. user input), and symbolic calculations are carried out on them. Clang Static Analyzer (SA) is an open-source symbolic execution engine for C/C++/Objective-C. The default behaviour of the SA does not support cross translation unit analysis, but it can be parametrized to enable analysis techniques spanning across many TUs. In this paper, we evaluate the cross translation unit symbolic execution in a comprehensive way. Different caching methods, different approaches are considered. We compare the analysis of open source projects. The aim is an optimal configuration for the tool.
WEIGHTED GAMMA-PARETO DISTRIBUTION AND ITS APPLICATION

The current article explores a probability distribution termed as weighted gammaPareto distribution (WGPD) by employing the notion of weighted probability and the concept of T-X family. It is assumed that the probability of an observation to get ascertained/ recorded is proportional to distribution function of Pareto. Therefore the weight function considered in this article is distribution function of Pareto. One of the members of T-X family known as gamma-Pareto distribution with transformed random variable following gamma and transformer random variable following Pareto is considered. The explored distribution acts as a generalization of some of the well-known probability distribution viz., gamma-Pareto distribution, weighted exponential-Pareto distribution, Pareto distribution, weighted gamma distribution, gamma distribution, weighted exponential distribution, generalized exponential distribution and exponential distribution. Different properties of WGPD have been studied. Finally the application of the introduced distribution is illustrated through its fitting to a real life and a simulated data set.
Integration of UAV data with soil water balance models for evaluation/monitoring of maize water stress

UAV based photogrammetry and 3D mapping are gaining fast and wide applications around the world majorly due to the relatively low-cost advantage it offers in the acquisition of high resolution multispectral acquisitions, compared to Aerophotogrammetry and satellite acquisitions. This research seeks to demonstrate the applicability of UAV photogrammetry visible, multispectral and thermal in investigating some physiological indexes of plants, reflecting plant physiological traits. A maize field in Latina (Italy) was acquired using a Fly Novex drone and with different cameras for the various acquisitions and consequently for different flight heights. The obtained images were processed using different photogrammetric models and a variable number of Ground Control Points (GCPs) for the georeferencing and accuracy assessment as well. Subsequently, by combining hydrological simulation methods and the use of physical indicators of the state of water stress, a method is proposed for predicting crop water consumption. The study conducted on the agricultural land of test site has provided useful results in terms of water savings, with an estimated value of three quarters of the total cubic meters of water needed to bring the land to saturation.
SYNAPSE FORMATION IN THE ZEBRAFISH SPINAL CORD

Original approval signatures are on file with the University of Oregon Graduate School. Approved: _______________________________________________ Philip Washbourne This dissertation describes research to elucidate the early steps in the process of synapse formation in the zebrafish spinal cord. One question is how presynaptic proteins are trafficked and recruited to nascent synapses. Previous work has suggested two possible models of presynaptic transport, either 1) most presynaptic proteins are transported together or 2) two types of transport packets, synaptic vesicle (SV) protein transport vesicles (STVs) and Piccolo-containing active zone precursor transport vesicles (PTVs), transport the necessary components separately. We tested these models using in vivo imaging in zebrafish spinal cord and found that the recruitment of at least three distinct transport packets during presynaptic assembly of a glutamatergic synapse occurs in an ordered sequence. First, STVs are stabilized at future synaptic sites, then PTVs, followed by a third transport packet type carrying Synapsin, a cytosolic protein that can tether SVs to actin. These results identify an order to the assembly of the presynaptic terminal in vivo, suggesting that a single synaptogenic interaction may precipitate the cascade of recruitment steps. We next examined the Cadm/SynCAM family of cell adhesion molecules, a family of proteins that has been shown to be able to induce synapse formation in vitro and was iv thought to play a role in recruitment of presynaptic proteins. As the role of these proteins in vivo was not well understood, we chose to examine the role of the cadms in zebrafish spinal cord. We found that zebrafish possess six cadm genes, and all are expressed throughout the nervous system both during development and in the adult. We then looked at the role of one of the Cadms, Cadm2a, in vivo in the zebrafish spinal cord. We found that knockdown of cadm2a significantly decreases the ability of zebrafish embryos to respond to touch. We also found that there is a significant reduction in the number of synapses, as shown by immunohistochemistry, formed between Rohon-Beard and CoPA neurons, the first two cell types in the touch response circuit. These data suggest that Cadm2a plays an important role in synapse formation in vivo. Ordered assembly of the presynaptic terminal of glutamatergic synapses in vivo. J Neurosci, manuscript in review. (2008) Six cadm/SynCAM genes are expressed in the nervous system of developing zebrafish. Dev Dyn 237:233-246. Thermoregulatory and metabolic defects in Huntington's disease transgenic mice implicate …
System Analysis via Integral Quadratic Constraints , Part

This paper introduces a uni ed approach to robustness analysis with respect to nonlinearities, time-variations and uncertain parameters. From an original idea by Yakubovich, the approach has been developed under a combination of in uences from the western and russian traditions of control theory. It is shown how a complex system can be described by using certain integral quadratic constraints (IQC's), derived for its elementary components. A stability theorem for systems described by IQC's is presented, that covers classical passivity/dissipativity arguments, but simpli es the use of multipliers and the treatment of causality. The paper is divided into two parts. Part I presents the basic ideas for stability analysis, refering to a simple example. A systematic computational approach is described and relations to other methods of stability analysis are discussed. Last, but not least, it contains a summarizing list of IQC's for important types of system components, that exist in various forms in the literature.
Ethanol: A simple and effective RNA‐preservation for freshwater insects living in remote habitats

The often proposed preservation method “snap‐freezing” is rather unpractical for sampling in remote areas. Therefore, the effectiveness, feasibility and affordability of alternative fixatives were investigated. Larvae of Orthocladius sp. (Diptera, Chironomidae) were fixed in RNAlater®, RNAfix (self‐made), acetone and ethanol of two different qualities (methylated and molecular grade). Samples were first kept at room temperature for 24 h, then at −20°C for 1 week, at −80°C for 1 month and at −80°C for 6 months. Additionally, long term storage at −20°C for up to 18 months was tested for methylated ethanol and RNAfix. Subsequently evaluated RNA quality and quantity did not differ significantly between the preservation methods. Methylated ethanol, being the most economical alternative, was chosen to be tested in a field trip. Diamesa latitarsis larvae (Diptera, Chironomidae) and Baetis alpinus nymphs (Ephemeroptera, Baetidae) were collected in two remote streams at 2208 m a.s. l. Samples were cooled (∼ 4°C) for 23 up to 30 h during sampling and transportation. Organisms were identified and photographed in ethanol at room temperature and then stored at −80°C for 6 months until RNA isolation. RNA quality was high and the yield was suitable for down‐stream applications such as cDNA synthesis and real‐time quantitative PCR. Due to these results we recommend methylated ethanol as an inexpensive but reliable RNA‐fixative for sampling in remote areas even if time‐consuming species identification has to be done prior to RNA‐extraction.
Introgression obscures and reveals historical relationships among the American live oaks

Introgressive hybridization challenges the concepts we use to define species and infer phylogenetic relationships. Methods for inferring historical introgression from the genomes of extant species are now widely used, however, few guidelines have been articulated for how best to interpret results. Because these tests are inherently comparative, they are sensitive to the effects of missing data (unsampled species) and non-independence (hierarchical relationships among species). We demonstrate this using genomic RADseq data sampled from all extant species in the American live oaks (Quercus series Virentes), a group notorious for hybridization. By considering all species, and their phylogenetic relationships, we were able to distinguish true hybridizing lineages from those that falsely appear admixed. Six of seven species show evidence of admixture, often with multiple other species, but which is explained by hybrid introgression among few related lineages occurring in close proximity. We identify the Cuban oak as the most admixed lineage and test alternative scenarios for its origin. The live oaks form a continuous ring-like distribution around the Gulf of Mexico, connected in Cuba, across which they could effectively exchange alleles. However, introgression appears highly localized, suggesting that oak species boundaries, and their geographic ranges have remained relatively stable over evolutionary time.
An Evaluation of the practicability of current mapping functions using ray-traced delays from JMA Mesoscale Numerical Weather Data

The the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) meso-scale analysis data (MANAL data) which we used in our study provides temperature, humidity, and pressure values at the surface and at 21 height levels (which vary between several tens of meters and about 31 km), for each node in a 10km by 10 km grid that covers Japan islands, the surrounding ocean and eastern Eurasia. The 3-hourly operational products are available by JMA since March, 2006. We have simultaneously evaluated atmospheric parameters (equivalent zenith total delay and linear horizontal delay gradients) and position errors derived from slant path delays obtained by the KAshima RAytracing Tools (KARAT) through the MANAL data. Most of the early mapping functions developed for VLBI and GPS were based on the assumption of azimuthal isotropy. On the other hand, the recent geodetic analyses are carried out by applying the modern mapping functions based on the numerical weather analysis fields. The Global Mapping Function (GMF) by Boehm et al. (2006), and Vienna Mapping Function (VMF) by Boehm and Schuh (2004) have been successfully applied to remove the zenith hydrostatic delay in the recent years. In addition, the lateral spatial variation of wet delay is reduced by linear gradient estimation. Comparisons between KARAT-based slant delay and empirical mapping functions indicate large biases ranging from 18 to 90 mm, which is considered to be caused by significant variability of water vapor. Position error simulation reveal that the highly variability of the errors is clearly associated with severe atmospheric phenomena. Such simulation are very useful to investigate the characteristics of positioning errors generated by local atmospheric disturbances. Finally, we compared PPP processed position solutions using KARAT with those using the latest mapping functions covering a period of two week GEONET data. The KARAT solution is almost identical to the solution using GMF with linear gradient model, but some cases tends to be slightly worse under the extreme atmospheric condition. Though we need further investigations to evaluate the capability of KARAT to reduce atmospheric path delay under the various topographic and meteorological regimes, KARAT will promise an efficient reduction of atmospheric path delays considering that the numerical weather model will be improved concerning spatial and temporal resolution
Intra-population variation in nuclear DNA amount, cell size and growth rate in Poa annua L.

An 80% variation in nuclear DNA amount at constant chromosome number has been found between families of seed progeny derived from established plants of Poa ann ua L. taken from a single pasture population in North Wales. The 2C DNA amount varied from 2 9pg to 5 2pg. This variation was positively associated with variation in cell size, negatively correlated with variation in seedling growth rate, but was not associated with variation in life-history. We suggest that this variation may enable individuals to exploit different temporal, micro-climatic niches within the grassland habitat. Key-words: Intra-population variation, nuclear DNA amount, cell size, growth rate, temporal niche, grassland