Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Riak DT map: a composable, convergent replicated dictionary

Conflict-Free Replicated Data-Types (CRDTs) [6] provide greater safety properties to eventually-consistent distributed systems without requiring synchronization. CRDTs ensure that concurrent, uncoordinated updates have deterministic outcomes via the properties of bounded join-semilattices. We discuss the design of a new convergent (state-based) replicated data-type, the Map, as implemented by the Riak DT library [4] and the Riak data store [3]. Like traditional dictionary data structures, the Map associates keys with values, and provides operations to add, remove, and mutate entries. Unlike traditional dictionaries, all values in the Map data structure are also state-based CRDTs and updates to embedded values preserve their convergence semantics via lattice inflations [1] that propagate upward to the top-level. Updates to the Map and its embedded values can also be applied atomically in batches. Metadata required for ensuring convergence is minimized in a manner similar to the optimized OR-set [5]. This design allows greater flexibility to application developers working with semi-structured data, while removing the need for the developer to design custom conflict-resolution routines for each class of application data. We also discuss the experimental validation of the data-type using stateful property-based tests with QuickCheck [2].
LEAFY COTYLEDON1, a Key Regulator of Seed Development, Is Expressed in Vegetative and Sexual Propagules of Selaginella moellendorffii

LEAFY COTYLEDON1 (LEC1) is a central regulator of seed development that plays a key role in controlling the maturation phase during which storage macromolecules accumulate and the embryo becomes tolerant of desiccation. We queried the genomes of seedless plants and identified a LEC1 homolog in the lycophyte, Selaginella moellendorffii , but not in the bryophyte, Physcomitrella patens . Genetic suppression experiments indicated that Selaginella LEC1 is the functional ortholog of Arabidopsis LEC1. Together, these results suggest that LEC1 originated at least 30 million years before the first seed plants appeared in the fossil record. The accumulation of Selaginella LEC1 RNA primarily in sexual and asexual reproductive structures suggests its involvement in cellular processes similar to those that occur during the maturation phase of seed development.
Creating and Transcending Territorial Boundaries in Late Holocene Pacific Coast Communities

In this research, I investigate precontact territorial behavior in the San Juan Islands, Washington and San Nicolas Island, California. Drawing on economic defensibility models, I generate hypotheses for change over time in boundary defense and permeability in the context of Late Holocene climate and settlement pattern change. Defensive characteristics of archaeological sites and lithic procurement patterns should reflect increased boundary defense and smaller territories when resources are adequate to the needs of the community. Extra-local materials should increase in abundance during times of resource scarcity. For the San Juan Islands case study, data on visibility, elevation, and distance to lookouts do not indicate significant changes through time in site location consistent with changes in boundary defense. Dissimilarities between artifacts from the Watmough Bay site (45-SJ-280) on Lopez Island and and nearby beach cobble toolstone suggests lithic procurement beyond the local beach at 1600-1000 cal BP, consistent with predictions for minimal boundary defense due to resource scarcity at that time. I do not find increased use of nearby beach cobbles or slate at 600 cal BP-Contact during a period of predicted increased boundary defense. Data on the spatial and temporal distribution of extra-local materials are insufficient to evaluate hypotheses regarding boundary permeability. For the San Nicolas Island case study, data on elevation and distance to lookouts do not indicate significant changes through time in site location consistent with changes in boundary defense. For the lithic procurement study using data from Tule Creek Village (CA-SNI-25) Mound B and CA-SNI-106, I found few changes through time in material type or artifact dimensions at either site that would indicate shifts in cobble procurement locations. Increases in abundance of chert are correlated with increases in sample size. For both study areas, results indicate potential sample size issues that must be resolved to further investigate my predictions. People may have engaged in boundary defense at a larger scale than the village; community boundaries may have always been permeable to interactions between kin and friends. This study has implications for social complexity studies and research on human adaptations to resource abundance and scarcity.
The role of MORB and SSZ magma-types in the formation of Jurassic ultramafic cumulates in the Mirdita ophiolites (Albania) as deduced from chromian spinel and olivine chemistry

Both the Western (WMO) and Eastern (EMO) Mirdita ophiolites include well-developed ultramafic cumulitic sequences. In the WMO, they mainly con- sist of dunites, plagioclase-dunites, plagioclase-wehrlites, and troctolites. In contrast, in the EMO they mainly consist of chromitiferous-dunites, dunites, lher- zolites and olivine-websterites, as well as minor plagioclase-bearing dunites and lherzolites, and troctolites. The main rock-forming minerals in ultramafic cu- mulates are cumulus olivine associated with various inter-cumulus minerals, as well as chromian spinel occurring as both cumulus and inter-cumulus phase. Mg#, FeO/MgO ratios and TiO 2 , Al 2 O 3 concentrations in parental melts were calculated from olivine and spinel compositions. The inferred parental melt compositions indicate that the dunite-troctolite layered series at the mantle tectonite-ultramafic cumulate transition zone in the WMO was derived from a nor- mal-type mid-ocean ridge basaltic (N-MORB) parental melt. In contrast, the dunite-troctolite layered series from the top of the WMO ultramafic cumulitic se- quence was derived from a medium-Ti basaltic (MTB) parental melt originated, in turn, in a nascent forearc setting. The inferred composition of parental melts indicate that chromitiferous dunites, dunites, and lherzolites from the EMO were originated from primary boninitic melts, whereas olivine-websterites were originated from slightly fractionated boninitic liquids. The inferred parental melt compositions plagioclase- bearing dunites and lherzolites, as well as troctolites from the EMO are compatible with an N-MORB type parentage, being the only exception one plagioclase- dunite, which may have derived from a low-Ti tholeiitic melt. Comparison of the ultramafic cumulates from the WMO and EMO indicates that both these units, though to a different extent, have experienced similar and coeval magmatic events. The investigated WMO ultramafic cumulates record N-MORB and MTB magmatic episodes. The investigated EMO ultramafic cumulates testify for boninitic, N-MORB, and very subordinate low-Ti tholeiitic magmatic events. It is therefore concluded that both WMO and EMO were generated in a protoforearc-forearc setting likely initiated nearby an active mid-ocean spreading ridge.
Branhamella catarrhalis: epidemiology, surface antigenic structure, and immune response

Over the past decade, Branhamella catarrhalis has emerged as an important human pathogen. The bacterium is a common cause of otitis media in children and of lower respiratory tract infections in adults with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. B. catarrhalis is exclusively a human pathogen. It colonizes the respiratory tract of a small proportion of adults and a larger proportion of children. Studies involving restriction enzyme analysis of genomic DNA show that colonization is a dynamic process, with the human host eliminating and acquiring new strains frequently. The surface of B. catarrhalis contains outer membrane proteins, lipooligosaccharide, and pili. The genes which encode several outer membrane proteins have been cloned, and some of these proteins are being studied as potential vaccine antigens. Analysis of the immune response has been limited by the lack of an adequate animal model of B. catarrhalis infection. New information regarding outer membrane structure should guide studies of the human immune response to B. catarrhalis. Immunoassays which specifically detect antibodies to determinants exposed on the bacterial surface will elucidate the most relevant immune response. The recognition of B. catarrhalis as an important human pathogen has stimulated research on the epidemiology and surface structures of the bacterium. Future studies to understand the mechanisms of infection and to elucidate the human immune response to infection hold promise of developing new methods to treat and prevent infections caused by B. catarrhalis.
Genotype and Allele Frequencies of Drug-Metabolizing Enzymes and Drug Transporter Genes Affecting Immunosuppressants in the Spanish White Population

Abstract: Interpatient variability in drug response can be widely explained by genetically determined differences in metabolizing enzymes, drug transporters, and drug targets, leading to different pharmacokinetic and/or pharmacodynamic behaviors of drugs. Genetic variations affect or do not affect drug responses depending on their influence on protein activity and the relevance of such proteins in the pathway of the drug. Also, the frequency of such genetic variations differs among populations, so the clinical relevance of a specific variation is not the same in all of them. In this study, a panel of 33 single nucleotide polymorphisms in 14 different genes (ABCB1, ABCC2, ABCG2, CYP2B6, CYP2C19, CYP2C9, CYP3A4, CYP3A5, MTHFR, NOD2/CARD15, SLCO1A2, SLCO1B1, TPMT, and UGT1A9), encoding for the most relevant metabolizing enzymes and drug transporters relating to immunosuppressant agents, was analyzed to determine the genotype profile and allele frequencies in comparison with HapMap data. A total of 570 Spanish white recipients and donors of solid organ transplants were included. In 24 single nucleotide polymorphisms, statistically significant differences in allele frequency were observed. The largest differences (>100%) occurred in ABCB1 rs2229109, ABCG2 rs2231137, CYP3A5 rs776746, NOD2/CARD15 rs2066844, TPMT rs1800462, and UGT1A9 rs72551330. In conclusion, differences were recorded between the Spanish and other white populations in terms of allele frequency and genotypic distribution. Such differences may have implications in relation to dose requirements and drug-induced toxicity. These data are important for further research to help explain interindividual pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic variability in response to drug therapy.
Escherichia coli cell cycle control genes affect chromosome superhelicity

We have used ethidium bromide titration for direct measurement of the changes in the negative supercoiling of Escherichia coli chromosome caused by mutations inactivating the cell cycle functions mukB and seqA. The amounts of the intercalative agent required to relax the supercoiled chromosome in mukB and seqA mutants were lower and higher, respectively, than for the wild‐type parent, confirming that these cell cycle genes modulate the topology of the E. coli chromosome. Plasmid superhelicity measured in these mutant strains showed similar effects albeit of reduced magnitude. As the effects of mukB and seqA mutations were not restricted to the chromosome alone, MukB and SeqA proteins possibly interact with factors involved in the maintenance of intracellular DNA topology. To our knowledge, this is the first direct demonstration of the influence of mukB and seqA genes on the superhelicity of the E. coli chromosome.
Duloxetine Protects against Oxaliplatin-Induced Neuropathic Pain and Spinal Neuron Hyperexcitability in Rodents

Oxaliplatin is a widely used chemotherapy agent, but induces serious peripheral neuropathy. Duloxetine is a dual reuptake inhibitor of serotonin and norepinephrine, and is shown to be effective against pain. However, whether and how duloxetine can attenuate oxaliplatin-induced allodynia in rodents is not clearly understood. A single injection of oxaliplatin (6 mg/kg, intraperitoneal; i.p.) induced a cold and mechanical allodynia, which was assessed by acetone and von Frey filament tests, respectively. When significant allodynic signs were observed, three different doses of duloxetine (10, 30, and 60 mg/kg, i.p.) were injected. Administration of 30 and 60 mg/kg of duloxetine significantly reduced the allodynia, whereas 10 mg/kg did not. By using an in vivo extracellular recording method, we further confirmed that 30 mg/kg of duloxetine could significantly inhibit the hyperexcitability of spinal wide dynamic range (WDR) cells. The anti-allodynic effect of duloxetine was completely blocked by an intrathecal injection of phentolamine (non-selective α-adrenergic receptor antagonist, 20 μg), or prazosin (α1-adrenergic receptor antagonists, 10 μg); however, idazoxan (α2-adrenergic receptor antagonist, 10 μg) did not block it. In conclusion, we suggest that duloxetine may have an effective protective action against oxaliplatin-induced neuropathic pain and spinal hyperexcitability, which is mediated by spinal α1-adrenergic receptors.
Transformation functions of soil color and climate

Measurements on modern soil color suggest well functional relationships between the soil formation process and the present climatic factors. The redness and yellowness of soil are chiefly caused by the contents of hematite and fullonite, and their correlations to climate are the best in humid regions in tropic and warm temperate regions. The lightness of soil mainly correlates to the organic accumulation, humification and carbonatization processes, and its correlation to climate can only be found in the humid-arid extratropical belt. The humidity and surface roughness of soil have so strong influence on soil color that there are great errors on the measurement of colorness in the field. The study on soil colors of typical loess sections shows that soil color can record the characteristics of Asia monsoon and the global climatic fluctuations well at millennial and ten-thousand-year scales. It can also indicate the pedogenesis and the climatic characteristics which magnetic susceptibility could not be reflected in humidity areas. Therefore, soil color can be used as a new climatic proxy which is easy and quick to measure, and will make an active influence on the study of global changes, geomorphology and Quaternary.
FIRST “WINGED” AND X-SHAPED RADIO SOURCE CANDIDATES. II. NEW REDSHIFTS

We report optical spectroscopic observations of X-shaped radio sources with the Hobby–Eberly Telescope and Multiple-Mirror Telescope, focused on the sample of candidates from the FIRST survey presented in a previous paper. A total of 27 redshifts were successfully obtained, 21 of which are new, including a newly identified candidate source of this type which is presented here. With these observations, the sample of candidates from the previous paper is over 50% spectroscopically identified. Two new broad emission-lined X-shaped radio sources are revealed, while no emission lines were detected in about one-third of the observed sources; a detailed study of the line properties is deferred to a future paper. Finally, to explore their relation to the Fanaroff–Riley division, the radio luminosities and host galaxy absolute magnitudes of a spectroscopically identified sample of 50 X-shaped radio galaxies are calculated to determine their placement in the Owen–Ledlow plane.
Refining Inductive Types

Dependently typed programming languages allow sophisticated properties of data to be expressed within the type system. Of particular use in dependently typed programming are indexed types that refine data by computationally useful information. For example, the N-indexed type of vectors refines lists by their lengths. Other data types may be refined in similar ways, but programmers must produce purpose-specific refinements on an ad hoc basis, developers must anticipate which refinements to include in libraries, and implementations must often store redundant information about data and their refinements. In this paper we show how to generically derive inductive characterizations of refinements of inductive types, and argue that these characterizations can alleviate some of the aforementioned difficulties associated with ad hoc refinements. Our characterizations also ensure that standard techniques for programming with and reasoning about inductive types are applicable to refinements, and that refinements can themselves be further refined.
Origin of PACAP-immunoreactive Nerve Fibers Innervating the Subarachnoidal Blood Vessels of the Rat Brain

The subarachnoidal cerebral blood vessels of the rat are innervated by nerve fibers containing different neuropeptides, e.g. pituitary adenylatecyclase activating polypeptide (PACAP). PACAP dilates brain arterioles and immunohistochemical studies of the rat have indicated that PACAP binds to a VPAC1-receptor in the cerebral vasculature of this species. We have investigated the perikaryal origin of the nerve fibers innervating the subarachnoidal blood vessels of the rat by combined retrograde tracing with Fluorogold and immunohistochemistry. The in vivo neuronal retrograde tracings were done by injection of 2% Fluorogold in water into the subarachnoidal space in the area of the middle cerebral artery. The retrograde transported tracer was detected by use of an antibody against Fluorogold. One week after the injections, the animals were vascularly perfused with Stephanini's fixative and labeled perikarya were found bilaterally in the trigeminal, sphenopalatine, and otic ganglia. The retrograde Fluorogold tracings were combined with immunohistochemistry for PACAP using a mouse monoclonal antibody and the biotinylated tyramide amplification system. Double labeled perikarya containing both Fluoro-gold and PACAP were found predominantly in the trigeminal ganglion, and only rarely in the otic and sphenopalatine ganglion. Summarizing, our retrograde tracings combined with immunohistochemistry indicate that the perikarya in the trigeminal ganglion are the main origin of PACAPergic nerve fibers projecting to the cerebral vasculature of the rat.
Degrees of freedom in multiple-antenna channels: a signal space approach

Multiple-antenna systems that are limited by the area and geometry of antenna arrays, are considered. Given these physical constraints, the limit on the available number of spatial degrees of freedom is derived. The commonly used statistical multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) model is inadequate. Antenna theory is applied to take into account the area and geometry constraints, and to define the spatial signal space so as to interpret experimental channel measurements in an array-independent but manageable description of the physical environment. Based on these modeling strategies, for a spherical array of effective aperture A in a physical environment of angular spread |/spl Omega/| in solid angle, the number of spatial degrees of freedom is shown to be A|/spl Omega/| for uni-polarized antennas and 2A|/spl Omega/| for tri-polarized antennas. Together with the 2WT degrees of freedom for a system of bandwidth W transmitting in an interval T, the total degrees of freedom of a multiple-antenna channel is therefore 4WTA|/spl Omega/|.
Life-history Constraints on the Mechanisms that Control the Rate of ROS Production

The quest to understand why and how we age has led to numerous lines of investigation that have gradually converged to consider mitochondrial metabolism as a major player. During mitochondrial respiration a small and variable amount of the consumed oxygen is converted to reactive species of oxygen (ROS). For many years, these ROS have been perceived as harmful by-products of respiration. However, evidence from recent years indicates that ROS fulfill important roles as cellular messengers. Results obtained using model organisms suggest that ROS-dependent signalling may even activate beneficial cellular stress responses, which eventually may lead to increased lifespan. Nevertheless, when an overload of ROS cannot be properly disposed of, its accumulation generates oxidative stress, which plays a major part in the ageing process. Comparative studies about the rates of ROS production and oxidative damage accumulation, have led to the idea that the lower rate of mitochondrial oxygen radical generation of long-lived animals with respect to that of their short-lived counterpart, could be a primary cause of their slow ageing rate. A hitherto largely under-appreciated alternative view is that such lower rate of ROS production, rather than a cause may be a consequence of the metabolic constraints imposed for the large body sizes that accompany high lifespans. To help understanding the logical underpinning of this rather heterodox view, herein I review the current literature regarding the mechanisms of ROS formation, with particular emphasis on evolutionary aspects.
Dietary Glycemic Load and Glycemic Index and Risk of Coronary Heart Disease and Stroke in Dutch Men and Women: The EPIC-MORGEN Study

Background The associations of glycemic load (GL) and glycemic index (GI) with the risk of cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are not well-established, particularly in men, and may be modified by gender. Objective To assess whether high dietary GL and GI increase the risk of CVD in men and women. Methods A large prospective cohort study (EPIC-MORGEN) was conducted within the general Dutch population among 8,855 men and 10,753 women, aged 21–64 years at baseline (1993–1997) and free of diabetes and CVD. Dietary intake was assessed with a validated food-frequency questionnaire and GI and GL were calculated using Foster-Powell's international table of GI. Information on morbidity and mortality was obtained through linkage with national registries. Cox proportional hazards analysis was performed to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) for incident coronary heart disease (CHD) and stroke, while adjusting for age, CVD risk factors, and dietary factors. Results During a mean follow-up of 11.9 years, 581 CHD cases and 120 stroke cases occurred among men, and 300 CHD cases and 109 stroke cases occurred among women. In men, GL was associated with an increased CHD risk (adjusted HR per SD increase, 1.17 [95% CI, 1.02–1.35]), while no significant association was found in women (1.09 [0.89–1.33]). GI was not associated with CHD risk in both genders, while it was associated with increased stroke risk in men (1.27 [1.02–1.58]) but not in women (0.96 [0.75–1.22]). Similarly, total carbohydrate intake and starch intake were associated with a higher CHD risk in men (1.23 [1.04–1.46]; and 1.24 [1.07–1.45]), but not in women. Conclusion Among men, high GL and GI, and high carbohydrate and starch intake, were associated with increased risk of CVD.