Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Experimental Test of the Combined Effects of Water Availability and Flowering Time on Pollinator Visitation and Seed Set

Climate change is likely to alter both flowering phenology and water availability for plants. Either of these changes alone can affect pollinator visitation and plant reproductive success. The relative impacts of phenology and water, and whether they interact in their impacts on plant reproductive success remain, however, largely unexplored. We manipulated flowering phenology and soil moisture in a factorial experiment with the subalpine perennial Mertensia ciliata (Boraginaceae). We examined responses of floral traits, floral abundance, pollinator visitation, and composition of visits by bumblebees vs. other pollinators. To determine the net effects on plant reproductive success, we also measured seed production and seed mass. Reduced water led to shorter, narrower flowers that produced less nectar. Late flowering plants produced fewer and shorter flowers. Both flowering phenology and water availability influenced pollination and reproductive success. Differences in flowering phenology had greater effects on pollinator visitation than did changes in water availability, but the reverse was true for seed production and mass, which were enhanced by greater water availability. The probability of receiving a flower visit declined over the season, coinciding with a decline in floral abundance in the arrays. Among plants receiving visits, both the visitation rate and percent of non-bumblebee visitors declined after the first week and remained low until the final week. We detected interactions of phenology and water on pollinator visitor composition, in which plants subject to drought were the only group to experience a late-season resurgence in visits by solitary bees and flies. Despite that interaction, net reproductive success measured as seed production responded additively to the two manipulations of water and phenology. Commonly observed declines in flower size and reward due to drought or shifts in phenology may not necessarily result in reduced plant reproductive success, which in M. ciliata responded more directly to water availability. The results highlight the need to go beyond studying single responses to climate changes, such as either phenology of a single species or how it experiences an abiotic factor, in order to understand how climate change may affect plant reproductive success.
Temporal Binding in Multisensory and Motor-Sensory Contexts: Toward a Unified Model

Our senses receive a manifold of sensory signals at any given moment in our daily lives. For a coherent and unified representation of information and precise motor control, our brain needs to temporally bind the signals emanating from a common causal event and segregate others. Traditionally, different mechanisms were proposed for the temporal binding phenomenon in multisensory and motor-sensory contexts. This paper reviews the literature on the temporal binding phenomenon in both multisensory and motor-sensory contexts and suggests future research directions for advancing the field. Moreover, by critically evaluating the recent literature, this paper suggests that common computational principles are responsible for the temporal binding in multisensory and motor-sensory contexts. These computational principles are grounded in the Bayesian framework of uncertainty reduction rooted in the Helmholtzian idea of unconscious causal inference.
Transcriptomic Changes Induced by Deletion of Transcriptional Regulator GCR2 on Pentose Sugar Metabolism in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Being a microbial host for lignocellulosic biofuel production, Saccharomyces cerevisiae needs to be engineered to express a heterologous xylose pathway; however, it has been challenging to optimize the engineered strain for efficient and rapid fermentation of xylose. Deletion of PHO13 (Δpho13) has been reported to be a crucial genetic perturbation in improving xylose fermentation. A confirmed mechanism of the Δpho13 effect on xylose fermentation is that the Δpho13 transcriptionally activates the genes in the non-oxidative pentose phosphate pathway (PPP). In the current study, we found a couple of engineered strains, of which phenotypes were not affected by Δpho13 (Δpho13-negative), among many others we examined. Genome resequencing of the Δpho13-negative strains revealed that a loss-of-function mutation in GCR2 was responsible for the phenotype. Gcr2 is a global transcriptional factor involved in glucose metabolism. The results of RNA-seq confirmed that the deletion of GCR2 (Δgcr2) led to the upregulation of PPP genes as well as downregulation of glycolytic genes, and changes were more significant under xylose conditions than those under glucose conditions. Although there was no synergistic effect between Δpho13 and Δgcr2 in improving xylose fermentation, these results suggested that GCR2 is a novel knockout target in improving lignocellulosic ethanol production.
Intrinsically Photosensitive Retinal Ganglion Cells of the Human Retina

Light profoundly affects our mental and physical health. In particular, light, when not delivered at the appropriate time, may have detrimental effects. In mammals, light is perceived not only by rods and cones but also by a subset of retinal ganglion cells that express the photopigment melanopsin that renders them intrinsically photosensitive (ipRGCs). ipRGCs participate in contrast detection and play critical roles in non-image-forming vision, a set of light responses that include circadian entrainment, pupillary light reflex (PLR), and the modulation of sleep/alertness, and mood. ipRGCs are also found in the human retina, and their response to light has been characterized indirectly through the suppression of nocturnal melatonin and PLR. However, until recently, human ipRGCs had rarely been investigated directly. This gap is progressively being filled as, over the last years, an increasing number of studies provided descriptions of their morphology, responses to light, and gene expression. Here, I review the progress in our knowledge of human ipRGCs, in particular, the different morphological and functional subtypes described so far and how they match the murine subtypes. I also highlight questions that remain to be addressed. Investigating ipRGCs is critical as these few cells play a major role in our well-being. Additionally, as ipRGCs display increased vulnerability or resilience to certain disorders compared to conventional RGCs, a deeper knowledge of their function could help identify therapeutic approaches or develop diagnostic tools. Overall, a better understanding of how light is perceived by the human eye will help deliver precise light usage recommendations and implement light-based therapeutic interventions to improve cognitive performance, mood, and life quality.
Deposition of Immune Complexes in Gingival Tissues in the Presence of Periodontitis and Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a complex chronic autoimmune disease characterized by tissue damage and widespread inflammation in response to environmental challenges. Deposition of immune complexes in kidneys glomeruli are associated with lupus nephritis, determining SLE diagnosis. Periodontitis is a chronic inflammatory disease characterized by clinical attachment and bone loss, caused by a microbial challenge – host response interaction. Deposition of immune complex at gingival tissues is a common finding in the course of the disease. Considering that, the primary aim of this study is to investigate the deposition of immune complexes at gingival tissues of SLE patients compared to systemically healthy ones, correlating it to periodontal and systemic parameters. Twenty-five women diagnosed with SLE (SLE+) and 25 age-matched systemically healthy (SLE–) women were included in the study. Detailed information on overall patient's health were obtained from file records. Participants were screened for probing depth (PD), clinical attachment loss (CAL), gingival recession (REC), full-mouth bleeding score (FMBS) and plaque scores (FMPS). Bone loss was determined at panoramic X-ray images as the distance from cementenamel junction to alveolar crest (CEJ-AC). Gingival biopsies were obtained from the first 15 patients submitted to surgical periodontal therapy of each group, and were analyzed by optical microscopy and direct immunofluorescence to investigate the deposition of antigen-antibody complexes. Eleven (44%) patients were diagnosed with active SLE (SLE-A) and 14 (56%) with inactive SLE (LES-I). Mean PD, CAL and FMBS were significantly lower in SLE+ than SLE–(p < 0.05; Mann Whitney). The chronic use of low doses of immunosuppressants was associated with lower prevalence of CAL >3 mm. Immunofluorescence staining of markers of lupus nephritis and/or proteinuria was significantly increased in SLE+ compared to SLE–, even in the presence of periodontitis. These findings suggest that immunomodulatory drugs in SLE improves periodontal parameters. The greater deposition of antigen-antibody complexes in the gingival tissues of patients diagnosed with SLE may be a marker of disease activity, possibly complementing their diagnosis.
Design of visible-light photocatalysts by coupling of narrow bandgap semiconductors and TiO2: effect of their relative energy band positions on the photocatalytic efficiency

According to relative energy band positions between TiO2 and visible-light-absorbing semiconductors, three different types of heterojunction were designed, and their visible-light photocatalytic efficiencies were analyzed. In Type-A heterojunction, the conduction band (CB) level of sensitizer is positioned at a more negative side than that of TiO2, whereas in Type-B system its valence band (VB) level is more positive than that of TiO2 and in Type-C system the sensitizer energy level is located between the CB and VB of TiO2. In evolving CO2 from gaseous 2-propanol (IP) under visible-light irradiation, the Type-B systems such as FeTiO3/TiO2, Ag3PO4/TiO2, W18O49/TiO2, and Sb-doped SnO2 (ATO)/TiO2 demonstrated noticeably higher photocatalytic efficiency than the Type-A such as CdS/TiO2 and CdSe/TiO2, while the Type-C such as NiTiO3/TiO2, CoTiO3/TiO2, and Fe2O3/TiO2 did not show any appreciable improvement. Remarkably high visible-light photocatalytic activity of Type-B heterojunction structures could be explained by inter-semiconductor hole-transfer mechanism between the VB of the sensitizer and that of TiO2. The evidence for the hole-transport between sensitizer and TiO2 was also obtained by monitoring the hole-scavenging reactions with iodide (I−) and 1,4-terephthalic acid (TA).
Loss of iron to gold capsules in rock-melting experiments

Abstract Gold is used widely for capsules in high-temperature rock-melting studies because it is generally thought to absorb negligible Fe from silicate samples. However, we observed significant losses of Fe from fluid-absent melting experiments on hornblende gabbros at 800-975 ℃ and 8 kbar, using standard piston-cylinder techniques. The extent of Fe loss from the sample is dependent on the relative masses of the sample and the capsule. Low sample to capsule mass ratios (~0.04) lead to the highest Fe losses (32 - 19% relative). Concentrations of Fe in silicate melt and used gold capsules define an apparent equilibrium constant (Kʹ) that follows a linear In Kʹ vs. 1/T relation (at an estimated log fO₂ of QFM-1). The apparent equilibrium constant is used to make limiting upper estimates on the amount of Fe that could be lost during rock-melting experiments for a range of fO₂ and sample to capsule mass ratios. At high fO₂ (NNO + 2), loss of Fe to gold is negligible (<2% relative) for a wide range of sample to capsule mass ratios. At an fO₂ of NNO, Fe loss can be kept to <10% relative by using a sample to capsule mass ratio of 0.2 or greater. At low fO₂ (QFM-1), presaturating the Au with Fe would be necessary to ensure that Fe losses remained <10% relative. Fe loss can compromise experimental results for small samples run at low fO₂ conditions, be they buffered, imposed by the pressure media, or produced by intrinsically reduced (graphitic) starting materials.
Software defect prediction using K-PCA and various kernel-based extreme learning machine: an empirical study

: Predicting defects during software testing reduces an enormous amount of testing effort and help to deliver a high-quality software system. Owing to the skewed distribution of public datasets, software defect prediction (SDP) suffers from the class imbalance problem, which leads to unsatisfactory results. Overfitting is also one of the biggest challenges for SDP. In this study, the authors performed an empirical study of these two problems and investigated their probable solution. They have conducted 4840 experiments over five different classifiers using eight NASA projects and 14 PROMISE repository datasets. They suggested and investigated the varying kernel function of an extreme learning machine (ELM) along with kernel principal component analysis (K-PCA) and found better results compared with other classical SDP models. They used the synthetic minority oversampling technique as a sampling method to address class imbalance problems and k-fold cross-validation to avoid the overfitting problem. They found ELM-based SDP has a high receiver operating characteristic curve over 11 out of 22 datasets. The proposed model has higher precision and F -score values over ten and nine, respectively, compared with other state-of-the-art models. The Mathews correlation coefficient (MCC) of 17 datasets of the proposed model surpasses other classical models' MCC.
Low temperature carrier transport study of monolayer MoS2 field effect transistors prepared by chemical vapor deposition under an atmospheric pressure

Large size monolayer Molybdenum disulphide (MoS2) was successfully grown by chemical vapor deposition method under an atmospheric pressure. The electrical transport properties of the fabricated back-gate monolayer MoS2 field effect transistors (FETs) were investigated under low temperatures; a peak field effect mobility of 59 cm2V−1s−1 was achieved. With the assist of Raman measurement under low temperature, this work identified the mobility limiting factor for the monolayer MoS2 FETs: homopolar phonon scattering under low temperature and electron-polar optical phonon scattering at room temperature.
Variability of Tannin Concentration in Red Wines

A protein precipitation method was used to measure the tannin concentration of 1325 commercial red wines made from Vitis vinifera cultivars: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Pinot noir, Syrah, Zinfandel, and several blends. Samples were taken from the United States (California, Oregon, Washington), Australia, and France. The concentration of tannins ranged from 30 to 1895 mg/L catechin equivalents (CE) among all wines measured, with a mean concentration of 544 mg/L CE and a standard deviation of 293. Within a single variety the variation in the concentration of tannins was larger than an order of magnitude and in two varieties (Cabernet Sauvignon and Pinot noir) the variation was 32-fold. Because of the wide variation in concentration range, there was overlap among the different populations. However, differences were found (p Merlot (559 mg/L CE) > Syrah (455 mg/L CE) > Pinot noir (348 mg/L CE). Pinot noir and Syrah wines from different states were compared and revealed that the tannin concentration in Oregon and California Pinot noir wines were not statistically different, while California Syrah was higher in tannin than both Washington State wines and those from several states in Australia.
The Fate and Function of Therapeutic Anti-addiction Monoclonal Antibodies across the Reproductive Cycle of Rats

During preclinical development of neuroprotective anti-addiction therapeutic monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) against phencyclidine (PCP) and (+)-methamphetamine, we discovered novel, gestation stage-specific changes in mAb disposition spanning the entire reproductive cycle of female rats. Each pharmacological change was independent of mAb dose and antigen target but was precisely coincident with transitions between the gestational trimesters, parturition, and lactation periods of the female reproductive cycle. While anti-PCP mAb6B5 t 1/2 λ z in non-pregnant females was 6.6 ± 1.6 days, mAb6B5 t 1/2 λ z significantly changed to 3.7 ± 0.4 days, then 1.4 ± 0.1 days, then 3.0 ± 0.4 days in the second trimester, third trimester and postpartum periods, respectively (p<0.05 for each change). Initially, these evolving changes in mAb6B5 clearance (3.3-fold), distribution volume (1.8-fold), and elimination half-life (4.7-fold) affected our ability to sustain sufficient mAb6B5 levels to sequester PCP in the blood steam. However, understanding the mechanism(s) underlying each transition allowed development of an adaptive mAb-dosing paradigm, which substantially reduced PCP levels in dam brains and fetuses throughout pregnancy. These mAb functional studies also revealed that anti-drug mAbs readily cross the placenta prior to syncytiotrophoblast barrier maturation, demonstrating the dynamic nature of mAb pharmacokinetics in pregnancy and the importance of maintaining maternal mAb levels. These studies provide the first preclinical pregnancy model in any species for chronic mAb dosing, and could have important implications for the use of antibody therapies involving blood organ barriers (like addiction) or other chronic diseases in women of childbearing age ( e.g., irritable bowel diseases, multiple sclerosis, breast cancer, rheumatoid arthritis).
Static and Dynamic Leaching of Chromium(VI) from Chromium-Containing Slag

Abstract Because the slag can be a major source of soil and groundwater pollution, understanding the release and leaching behavior of hexavalent chromium [Cr(VI)], from chromium-containing slag is critical. We report Cr(VI) behavior after static and dynamic leaching from chromium-containing slag deposited at a ferro-alloy manufacturing plant in Hunan province, China. Bench-scale experiments indicate that the main factors influencing the dissolution release of Cr(VI) include the solid-liquid ratio, soak time, agitation, acidity, particle size, and water dynamic flow. Based on the parameters obtained from the dynamic leaching experiment, a Cr(VI) release and leaching model was developed and applied to the study area. The model can quantitatively predict the extent of Cr(VI) pollution of soil and groundwater under atmospheric precipitation.
Transfers of airborne PCDD/Fs to bulk deposition collectors and herbage

PCDD/F air concentrations, deposition fluxes, and grass concentrations/offtakes (pg m-2 day-1) were measured concurrently in Bolsover, Derbyshire, England over 1 year during 1992−1993. The data are used here to discuss spatial and temporal differences in atmospheric PCDD/F concentrations and how the airborne PCDD/Fs transferred to the bulk deposition collectors and grass. Three sample sites are discussed, namely, a regional background site (RBS), an urban site (US), and a site close to an industrial complex (IS) that has been a suspected source of selected PCDD/F homologs. Generally, the mixture of PCDD/F 2,3,7,8-substituted congeners and homologs was the same in the air, in the bulk deposition, and in the grass over a given sampling period and site. This suggests that PCDD/Fs of different levels of chlorination were transferring with similar efficiencies from the air to the collectors and grass, despite different gas−particle partitioning in the air. Deposition or transfer velocities for individual congeners/homologs to the bulk collectors throughout the whole study ranged between 0.034 and 0.82 cm s-1 at the sites, averaging 0.27 cm s-1 for PCDD/Fs at the RBS. An experiment conducted to assess potential volatilization of soil-borne PCDD/Fs from contaminated areas near the IS showed that all the compounds had a strong affinity for the soil and that volatilization is not likely to significantly contaminate herbage growing in the contaminated soil or the overlying atmosphere near this site. Herbage PCDD/Fs were therefore derived almost exclusively from the atmosphere in this study. The similarities in the PCDD/F mixture in air and grass suggest that the different PCDD/Fs are scavenged by the grass sward from the atmosphere with similar efficiencies; the implications of this are discussed.
Large Eddy Simulation of Sprinkler Interaction with a Fire Ceiling Jet

A large eddy simulation (LES) CFD model is used to predict water sprinkler spray interaction with a fire environment. The emphasis is on computing gas temperatures and velocities induced by sprinkler discharge onto the ceiling jet flow. Results are presented for two different water discharge rates, in addition to simulation of free-burning fire. Extensive variation of physical and numerical parameters is performed to investigate the robustness of the predictions. The results of the computations compare favorably to measurements from full-scale fire tests reported in the literature, indicating good accuracy of LES approach in application to practical fire design problems. Results are also compared with the earlier treatment of the same problem using the Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes (RANS) approach.
Über die Verfeinerung der Kristallstrukturbestimmung einiger Vertreter des Rutiltyps: TiO2, SnO2, GeO2 und MgF2

The lattice constants an(t atomic parameters of TiO 2 (rutile), SnO2, GeO2 and ~¢1gF 2 have been redetermined. Ihk0 of TiO2, SnO2 and MgF~ were obtained by careful photometry of Weissenberg photographs (Mo Kc~ radiation) and were used for Fourier and (Fo--Fc) projections. The atomic parameter of GeO2 was determined from a three-dimensional Fourier section using intensities from powder diagrams, because single crystals were not available. Results:
Raman Spectrum of β-Carotene Using Laser Lines from Green (514.5 nm) to Near-Infrared (1064 nm): Implications for the Characterization of Conjugated Polyenes

We have studied the Raman spectrum of β-carotene using excitation wavelengths from visible (514.5 nm) to near-infrared (1064 nm). Qualitatively, the spectrum appears independent of the choice of excitation wavelength, although this is not true in detail; in particular, the ratio of the intensities of the νC-C and νC=C fundamentals to their overtones and combinations varies with the excitation wavelength. The inelastic neutron scattering spectrum shows no evidence for unusual dynamics in this system, and the UV/vis/NIR spectrum shows that there are no allowed electronic transitions from the ground state beyond ∼700 nm. These observations provide strong evidence for the existence of a different mechanism for the enhancement of the bands. Indirect evidence suggests that, with these longer excitation wavelengths, the intensities of the νC-C and νC=C peaks are at least two orders of magnitude smaller than those from resonance enhancement with the use of excitation into the visible absorption bands. The implications for the characterization of polyenes in polymers are discussed.
PHYTOCHEMICAL, *UTRITIO*AL A*D A*TIOXIDA*T ACTIVITY EVALUATIO* OF FRUITS OF ZIZIPHUSUMMULARIA BURM. F.

In the present work, we have investigated nutritional, phytochemical content and antioxidant activity of ripe fruits of Ziziphus nummularia Burm. f. , one of the underutilized plants distributed in drier parts of North Western India. Fruits were quantitatively analyzed for their total phenolic, flavonoid and flavonol content colorimetrically. Nutritional properties including moisture, fats, carbohydrates, proteins, ash content and mineral content in the fruits were also estimated. The antioxidant properties were evaluated using free radical scavenging, ferric reducing antioxidant power and metal chelating assays. The effect of using different methods of extraction and different solvents on yield of phytochemicals and antioxidant activity was compared and in most cases, acetone extracted sample showed higher yields and strong antioxidant activity. The study demonstrated that Z. nummularia fruits are good source of nutritional and antioxidant components and thus hold potential for nutraceutical development.