Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Plant community dynamics in agricultural and successional fields

Understanding the drivers and consequences of diversity and productivity in plant communities remains a central challenge in ecological research (Thompson et al. 2001, Mittelbach 2012). Interest in how the diversity and composition of plant communities regulate ecological processes and ecosystem services that different ecosystems provide has expanded over the past two decades (Loreau et al. 2001). This question has remained relatively unexplored in agricultural systems—particularly the annual row crops that supply much of the world’s food (Power 2010). This is likely because factors known to influence weed and crop production—such as soil fertility, precipitation, and pests (weeds, pathogens, and insects)—are primarily managed with external inputs (fertilizer, irrigation, and pesticides) rather than by relying on ecological processes (Robertson and Swinton 2005). Growing concerns about the negative environmental impacts of using external inputs to sustain crop productivity have stimulated interest in the development of an ecological framework for agricultural management (Robertson and Swinton 2005, Swinton et al. 2006, 2007, Robertson and Hamilton 2015, Chapter 1 in this volume). In addition to crop yield, an ecological framework would consider other ecosystem services that can be managed and enhanced both in the field and in surrounding landscapes (Swinton et al. 2006, 2007, Power 2010). Plant diversity and composition are likely to play an important role in the actualization and sustainability of these services, particularly from landscapes that surround crop fields (Power 2010, Egan and Mortensen 2012). Row-crop systems are designed and managed to maintain the dominance of a particular species (the crop), with the goal of maximizing productivity (crop yield). Although row-crop systems can provide an array of other ecosystem services (Swinton et al. 2006, 2007, Power 2010), promotion or enhancement of these Gross, K. L. , S. Emery, A. S. Davis, R. G. Smith, and T. M. P. Robinson. 2015. Plant community dynamics in agricultural and successional fields. Pages 158-187 in S. K. Hamilton, J. E. Doll, and G. P. Robertson, editors. The Ecology of Agricultural Landscapes: Long-Term Research on the Path to Sustainability. Oxford University Press, New York, New York, USA.
SPIDER WEB-BUILDING IN OUTER SPACE: EVALUATION OF RECORDS FROM THE SKYLAB SPIDER EXPERIMENT

Two spiders built orb-webs in Skylab under zero gravity only four days after release from transportation vials. The first webs resembled pre-flight controls in size and regularity, but the unusual distribution of radial angles and thinness of thread together with a probably low number of turning points in the spiral indicated a deviation from earth webs which can be attributed to the absence of gravity as a cue. Other web changes like a gradual decrease in regularity, diminished web size, and the spiders' decrease in body weight are identified as being likely consequences of starvation, Skylab stress and unknown circumstances not directly connected with zero gravity.
ASC/SIL ratio for cytotechnologists: A survey of its utility in clinical practice

The atypical squamous cell to squamous intraepithelial lesion (ASC/SIL) ratio for cytotechnologists (CTs) may correlate with screening sensitivity in some laboratory settings. Whether this ratio can be applied to other laboratory settings is not known. We conducted a survey of nine cytology laboratories and correlated the ASC/SIL ratio of individual CTs with other laboratory characteristics.
The genetics of inflammatory bowel disease.

Through rapid advances, genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have identified almost 100 susceptibility genes which confer an increased risk of developing inflammatory bowel disorders (IBD). This review focuses on recent advances in our understanding of the genetics of IBD. We discuss the role of key loci or genes in IBD pathophysiology. Some of the genes implicated have highlighted key pathways including bacterial recognition (NOD2), autophagy (ATG16L1, IRGM) in Crohn’s disease. Other loci including CDH, HNF4A, LAMB1, and ECM1 are significantly associated with ulcerative colitis (UC) and have been linked to modulating epithelial barrier function. Nearly one-third of the described loci or genes are common to both Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. Several of these are involved in the IL23 signaling pathway (IL23R, IL12B, JAK2, and STAT3). These findings highlight the importance of genetic variability and its interactions with the immune system, gut microbiota, and environmental factors in determining pathogenesis of IBD.
Modeling the Success of Small and Medium Sized Online Vendors in Business-to-Business Electronic Marketplaces: A Motivation-Capability Framework

This paper explores the performance of Chinese small and medium sized enterprises SMEs on Business-to-Business B2B electronic marketplaces EMs. Based on a content analysis of 155 cases of high performing online Chinese vendors, this paper explains the success of SME online B2B vendors within a Motivation-Capability framework. This first generation of SME B2B online vendors proved highly motivated to increase sales and developed a set of Internet leveraged organizational capabilities to compete online, including capabilities for online marketing, product innovation, eCommerce management, etc. This study differs from traditional wisdom that online marketplaces will render Guanxi a Chinese cultural phenomenon defined as close and pervasive interpersonal relationships, Yang, 1994 irrelevant since online marketplaces are perceived to be impersonal. In fact, Guanxi still matters online, but it takes new forms. This research offers important managerial implications for B2B SME online vendors on how to leverage EMs for higher performance.
Design and optimization of UWB antennas by a powerful CAD tool: PULSE KIT

In this paper, we discuss the assessment and optimization of UWB antennas for two proposed schemes, based on their unique requirements. One is impulse radio that adopts impulses with transient bandwidths covering the entire UWB band, and the other is multi-band OFDM where the UWB band is divided into several OFDM sub-bands. Firstly, some special requirements for the design of UWB antennas are briefly reviewed. Next, the assessment and optimization of a UWB antenna system is presented. Then, a CAD tool, PULSE KIT, is introduced to conduct the optimization. Lastly, as an example, a planar diamond antenna is optimized, and its performance in a UWB radio system are investigated.
Preventing Depression in High-Risk College Women: A Report of an 18-month Follow-up

Abstract The authors tested the long-term effectiveness of a cognitive-behavioral group intervention in reducing depressive symptoms, decreasing negative thinking, and enhancing self-esteem in 92 college women aged 18 to 24 years who ere at risk for clinical depression. The women were randomly assigned to either an experimental or a no-treatment control group. The experimental group participated in a 6-week cognitive-behavioral intervention that targeted identification and reduction of negative thinking, using such techniques as thought stopping and affirmations. Data on depressive symptoms, self-esteem, and negative thinking were collected before the intervention and at intervals of 1, 6, and 18 months postintervention. The women in the intervention group experienced a greater decrease in depressive symptoms and negative thinking and a greater increase in self-esteem than those in the control group. The beneficial effects continued over an 18-month follow-up period. These findings support the importance of thought stopping and affirmations as prevention interventions with at-risk college women.
MODELING OF BASIC DENSITY OF WOOD FROM EUCALYPTUS GRANDIS AND EUCALYPTUS UROPHYLLA USING NONDESTRUCTIVE METHODS

The objective of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of nondestructive variables in inferring basic density of wood from Eucalyptus grandis and Eucalyptus urophylla. A total of 27 clones of Eucalyptus urophylla and 22 clones of Eucalyptus grandis were used, sourced from a clonal trial set up in Martinho Campos, Minas Gerais. After evaluation using nondestructive techniques of resistography and pin penetration at a constant pressure (Pilodyn®), individuals were felled and disks were removed from the 2%, 10%, 30%, 50% and 70% portions of the merchantable height section, and also from the portion 1.30 m above ground level. Basic density was determined by the water immersion method. Values of basic density ranged from 0.412 to 0.609 g.cm-3 for clones at age 42 months and from 0.408 to 0.664 g.cm-3 for clones at age 54 months. The clones of Eucalyptus urophylla provided higher values of average basic density in relation to Eucalyptus grandis. The variable 'amplitude' had better correlation with basic density in comparison with pin penetration at a constant pressure. Nondestructive evaluation can be used in mass preselection of genetic materials, prior to subjecting them to a more accurate, reliable evaluation.
Cloning and sequencing of the blaZ gene encoding beta-lactamase III, a lipoprotein of Bacillus cereus 569/H

It has not been clear whether the membrane-bound beta-lactamase III of Bacillus cereus 569 is a separate enzyme or a modified form of the secreted beta-lactamase I. The membrane enzyme is an acyl-glyceride thioether-linked lipoprotein (J. B. K. Nielsen and J. O. Lampen, Biochemistry 22:4652-4656, 1983) and thus is probably a separate entity. We cloned the beta-lactamase III gene (blaZ) on a 4.9-kilobase-pair ClaI fragment from mutant strain 569/H (constitutive for high-level production of beta-lactamases I, II, and III), and the nucleotide sequence was determined. The structural gene was flanked by typical promoter, transcription termination, and translation initiation sequences. Expression of the cloned gene in Escherichia coli was low in exponential-phase cultures and increased only as the cultures reached the stationary phase. The deduced amino acid sequence indicates a pre-beta-lactamase III of 316 amino acid residues (35,021 daltons), with a 29-residue signal peptide and a mature lipoprotein form of approximately 32,500 daltons. The 12 NH2-terminal residues of a 21-kilodalton tryptic peptide from the B. cereus membrane enzyme were in agreement with the sequence deduced from the cloned gene. The amino acid sequence was highly homologous to the class A beta-lactamases, especially that of Bacillus licheniformis 749. beta-Lactamase III is a distinct class A enzyme and the product of a separate gene (blaZ).
Tailored text messaging intervention for HIV adherence: a proof-of-concept study.

OBJECTIVE This study sought to determine if dynamically tailored medication messages delivered to people living with HIV (PLWH) via text messaging would be well received and enhance adherence and clinical outcomes. METHODS A preexperimental proof-of-concept study with 52 men who have sex with men (MSM) recruited from a health clinic focused on promoting the well-being of gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people. Inclusion criteria were being an English speaking HIV-positive MSM, aged 25 or older. Participants also had to agree to allow access to their medical records, have a cell phone, and be able to receive text messages over the 3-month intervention period. Participants completed baseline surveys that assessed various demographic, social, and health questions; received text messages over 3 months; answered weekly adherence questions via two-way messaging; and completed a follow-up survey at the end of the intervention period. Clinical outcomes were abstracted from participants' medical records at baseline and follow-up. Self-reported medication adherence and clinical outcomes, including CD4 counts and viral load. RESULTS Participants were receptive to the text messaging intervention, and reported reading and liking the messages. Self-reported medication adherence significantly improved among participants who began the study as nonadherent and received tailored medication reminders. Overall viral load significantly decreased and CD4 count significantly increased from baseline to follow-up. CONCLUSIONS The results demonstrate that using two-way text messaging to dynamically tailor adherence messages may enhance adherence and improve important clinical outcomes for PLWH.
The use of the Henyey–Greenstein phase function in Monte Carlo simulations in biomedical optics

Monte Carlo (MC) simulations are often at the heart of the testing procedure in biomedical optics. One of the critical points in MC simulations is to define the new photon direction after each scattering event. One of the most popular solutions is to use the Henyey–Greenstein phase function or some linear combinations of it. In this note, we demonstrate that randomly generating the angle defining the new direction of a photon after a collision, by means of the Henyey–Greenstein phase function, is not equivalent to generating the cosine of this angle, as is classically done. In practice, it is demonstrated that for a nearly isotropic medium (asymmetry parameter g ∼ 0) this discrepancy is not large, however for an anisotropic medium as is typically found in vivo (e.g. g = 0.98) the two methods give completely different results. A letter to the Editor regarding this article has been published in 2006 Phys. Med. Biol. 51 L39.
[Role of gonadotropin releasing hormone analogues for ovarian protection in systemic lupus erythematosus patients treated with cyclophosphamide].

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the effectiveness of gonadotropin releasing hormone analogues (GnRH-a) in protection against premature ovarian failure during cyclophosphamide (CTX) therapy for systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). METHODS 28 female patients with SLE, aged 35.3 +/- 2.4 (30-39) were treated with prednisone orally 1 mg/kg daily for 8 weeks, and then the dose was decreased by 10% every 10 days. CTX 200 mg with normal saline 200 ml was intravenously injection every other day for 4 months. Peripheral white blood cell (WBC) count was made every week. If the WBC count was less than 3.5 x 10(9)/L, the use of CTX should be stopped temporarily until the WBC count became normal. And then, the CTX administration should be adjusted to 400 mg intravenously every week. All patients were offered treatment with Hypodermic injection of GnRH-a 3.75 mg was given monthly just at the beginning of the standard CTX regimen for 3 months. Follow-up was conducted for 6 months after the last prescription of GnRH-a. RESULTS All patients developed amenorrhea after treated by GnRH-a. Menstruation recovered 73 days (69-82 days) after the last subcutaneous injection in 25 patients. Among these 25 patients, one developed amenorrhea again after two normal menses periods. The other 3 patients were in persistent amenorrhea during the following 6 months after the GnRH-a treatment. The levels of plasma estradiol (E2) was 998 +/- 308 pmol/L before GnRH-a treatment, and decreased significantly 1, 2, and 3 months after the last injection of GnRH-a (132 +/- 44 pmol/L, 88 +/- 37 pmol/L and 81 +/- 29 pmol/L respectively, all P < 0.05). The level of plasma E2 increased 2 months after the last injection of GnRH-a in the 25 patients with return of menses, and the level of plasma E2 returned to the normal baseline level after 6 months in 24 patients. CONCLUSION Treatment with GnRH-a during CTX therapy is associated with a significant reduction of premature ovarian failure in most women with SLE.
Effect of ageing on perception of quality of IP-based personal communication applications

IP-based personal communication applications are popular around the world, especially, in developing countries. User perception of quality of service is one key concern for making a decision to adopt an IP application as a personal communication tool. However, user perception of quality is different among various groups even with the same intrinsic technical quality. Perception changes with many factors which include ageing. In this study we investigated the effect of ageing on user perception of quality of service of IP-based personal communications. We selected 5 related characteristics on IT usage to study their effect on user perception: IT knowledge, IT experience, physical expectancy, coping with unexpected events and ability to notice. The study randomly selected 101 subjects from population of different ages which include the Baby Boom Generation, Generation X, and Generation Y. The results confirm that the selected factors can differentiate users and reveal that there are 4 significant differences among groups of users which are based on Ward's method, minimizing Sum of Square Errors (SSE) and analysis of variance. The four resulting groups are advanced users, moderate users, slow users, and practitioners. The study also finds that perception of quality of IP-based personal communication is similar for 3 of the user groups, only the practitioner group has different perception. We found in this study that it is possible to develop IP-based personal communication applications that will be well adopted by the majority of users.
Report in of a Jumping Spider

Gil Menda,1 Paul S. Shamble,1 Eyal I. Nitzany,2,3,4 James R. Golden,5 and Ronald R. Hoy1,* 1Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA 2Department of Biological Statistics and Computational Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA 3Division of Systems Neurology and Neuroscience, Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY 10065, USA 4Tri-Institutional Training Program in Computational Biology and Medicine, 1300 York Avenue, Box 194, New York, NY 10065, USA 5Department of Psychology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
4D Capture Using Visibility Information of Multiple Projector Camera System

In this paper, we propose a method with multiple cameras and projectors for 4D capture of moving objects. The issues of previous 4D capture systems are that the number of cameras are limited, and the number of images is very large to capture the sequence at high frame rate. We propose a multiple projector-camera system to tackle this problem. One of the issues of multi-view stereo is to determine visibility of cameras for each point of the surface. While estimating the scene geometry and its visibility is a chicken-and-egg problem for passive multi-view stereo, it was solved by, for example, iterative approach conducting the estimation of visibility and the reconstruction of the scene geometry repeatedly. With our method, since visibility problem is independently solved by using the projected pattern, shapes are recovered efficiently without considering visibility problem. Further, the visibility information is not only used for multi-view stereo reconstruction, but also for merging 3D shapes to eliminate inconsistency between devices. The efficiency of the proposed method is tested in the experiments, proving the merged mesh is suitable for 4Dreconstruction.
Validation syntaxique de relations sémantiques pour la RI

A rotary temperature control system for use in controlling the temperature of a blended air stream supplied to a vehicle passenger compartment is combined with a rotary ventilation mode control system in a common housing. The ventilation mode and temperature control systems include manually operable rotary control knobs operatively connected through pull-pull cable systems to gears in the housing that operate a temperature blend door controlling the output temperature of a blended air stream and one or more vent dampers controlling the ventilation mode of the system. A drive connection in the housing includes irregularly shaped gears for producing a predetermined generally non-linear relationship between rotary movement of an input control member and rotary movement of the temperature blend door to produce a generally linear relationship between the rotary movement of the temperature control knob and the temperature of the air stream throughout a major portion of the rotary movement of the control knob.
Design for prototyping of a parameterizable cluster-based Multi-Core System-on-Chip on a multi-FPGA board

Reaching a physical limitation in terms of power consumption, the new chosen axis to increase the performance is to scale the number of processing elements (PEs) instead of increasing the speed of processors. These complex systems often take the form of a Multi-Core System-on-Chip (MCSoC) in which individual nodes are connected using a Network-on-Chip (NoC). FPGA-based prototyping is no longer optional to test these very large designs. A multi-FPGA prototyping board, which is a collection of FPGAs, is used when the logic capacity of a single FPGA is insufficient. Nevertheless, multi-FPGA boards come with some constraints, which lower the system frequency. However, cluster-based MCSoCs have a great value: their flexibility in terms of form factor. In this paper, a parameterizable cluster-based MCSoC with a mesh topology has been designed. An indicator based on the average Rent's Rule of cluster-based MCSoCs has been proposed to predict the best form factor in order to obtain the maximum prototyping system frequency. The targeted prototyping platform is a six Virtex-5 multi-FPGA board. The results show that for a given total number of PEs in cluster-based MCSoCs, a lower indicator can result in a higher system frequency.
Impact of PGPR inoculation on growth and antioxidant status of wheat under saline conditions.

Two plant growth-promoting rhizobacterial (PGPR) strains, Bacillus subtilis SU47 and Arthrobacter sp. SU18, were found to tolerate 8% NaCl. Wheat co-inoculated with these two PGPR strains, and grown under different salinity regimes (2-6 dS m(-1) ), showed an increase in dry biomass, total soluble sugars and proline content. Wheat sodium content was reduced under co-inoculated conditions but not after single inoculation with either strain or in the control. The activity of antioxidant enzymes in wheat leaves decreased under salinity stress after PGPR co-inoculation, suggesting these PGPR species could be used for amelioration of stress in wheat plants. Activity of three antioxidant enzymes in wheat grown with both PGPR strains was reduced, most notably that of catalase activity at a salinity of 6 dS m(-1) , when compared with the control. The results indicate that co-inoculation with B. subtilis and Arthrobacter sp. could alleviate the adverse effects of soil salinity on wheat growth.
Nitric oxide and the ryanodine receptor Ca-release channel.

To the Editor: I have read with interest the recent review on the role of S -nitrosylation in cardiovascular signaling, in which Lima et al1 provide a very useful digest on the current status of research in this important but burgeoning field of cardiovascular physiology. On the other hand, I believe that one of the many functions of a scientific review, especially when summarizing the status of a field with a certain degree of ambiguity, is to promote further progress. This is, perhaps, best achieved if all the available data relevant to the field are summarized and discussed, even those that seem to be contradictory to the intended conclusion of the review. Although the review in question cites almost 200 works, it …