Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Characterization of an electrochemical industrial size filterpress reactor by hydrodynamic and mass transport studies

This work deals with the study of the influence of turbulence promoters in hydrodynamic and mass transport behaviour of a filter-press type electrolyser with 3250 cm of electrode area (model REIM 3300 supplied by “I.D. Electroquimica” ) in undivided configuration. A simple experimental arrangement was used to generate data from electrolytic conductivity measurements in a series of impulse-response experiments. The experimental curves has shown a strong influence of the presence or absence of turbulence promoters inside the reactor in the hydrodynamic behaviour. In previous papers, we used a new approach to analyse the different residence time distributions (RTD) in other smaller reactors. In those studies a new parameter, the turbulence factor, given as Nαθβ, was defined and employed to classify the turbulence promoters. The model used in those papers assumes plug flow with dispersion and flow exchange with stagnant zones and uses three parameters: Nα, θβ and Pe. Nα characterises the rate of exchange between the stagnant zones and the dispersed plug flow, θβ is the ratio between volume in dispersed plug flow/total volume and Pe is the Peclet number. In this present work a new complication has been taken into account due to the presence of two peaks in the RTD curves. Then a model with two paths has been used in order to describe the hydrodynamic behaviour of this electrochemical industrial size filterpress reactor. The optimised values of the parameters provided by the model give a plug-flow hydrodynamic behaviour with low axial dispersion for the reactor with turbulence promoters and more mixing for the empty configuration. The classification obtained by electrochemical method (mass transport enhancement factor) for the turbulence promoters (plastic nets) is compared with the obtained from hydrodynamic study.
Association of Spironolactone Use With All-Cause Mortality in Heart Failure: A Propensity Scored Cohort Study

Background—In 3 randomized controlled trials in heart failure (HF), mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists reduced mortality. The net benefit from randomized controlled trials may not be generalizable, and eplerenone was, but spironolactone was not, studied in mild HF. We tested the hypothesis that spironolactone is associated with reduced mortality also in a broad unselected contemporary population with HF and reduced ejection fraction, in particular New York Heart Association (NYHA) I–II. Methods and Results—We prospectively studied 18 852 patients (age 71±12 years; 28% women) with NYHA I–IV and ejection fraction <40% who were registered in the Swedish Heart Failure Registry between 2000 and 2012 and who were (n=6551) or were not (n=12 301) treated with spironolactone. We derived propensity scores for spironolactone treatment based on 41 covariates. We assessed survival by Cox regression with adjustment for propensity scores and with matching based on propensity score. We performed sensitivity and residual confounding analyses and analyzed the NYHA I–II and III–IV subgroups separately. One-year survival was 83% versus 84% in treated versus untreated patients (log rank P<0.001). After adjustment for propensity scores, the hazard ratio for spironolactone was 1.05 (95% confidence interval, 1.00–1.11; P=0.054). Spironolactone interacted with NYHA (P<0.001). In the NYHA I–II subgroup, after adjustment for propensity scores, the hazard ratio for spironolactone was 1.11 (95% confidence interval, 1.02–1.21; P=0.019). Conclusions—In an unselected contemporary population of HF with reduced ejection fraction, spironolactone was not associated with reduced mortality. The net benefits of spironolactone may be lower outside the clinical trial setting and in milder HF.
CD1d-Restricted NKT Cells: An Interstrain Comparison1

CD1d-restricted Vα14-Jα281 invariant αβTCR+ (NKT) cells are well defined in the C57BL/6 mouse strain, but they remain poorly characterized in non-NK1.1-expressing strains. Surrogate markers for NKT cells such as αβTCR+CD4−CD8− and DX5+CD3+ have been used in many studies, although their effectiveness in defining this lineage remains to be verified. Here, we compare NKT cells among C57BL/6, NK1.1-congenic BALB/c, and NK1.1-congenic nonobese diabetic mice. NKT cells were identified and compared using a range of approaches: NK1.1 expression, surrogate phenotypes used in previous studies, labeling with CD1d/α-galactosylceramide tetramers, and cytokine production. Our results demonstrate that NKT cells and their CD4/CD8-defined subsets are present in all three strains, and confirm that nonobese diabetic mice have a numerical and functional deficiency in these cells. We also highlight the hazards of using surrogate phenotypes, none of which accurately identify NKT cells, and one in particular (DX5+CD3+) actually excludes these cells. Finally, our results support the concept that NK1.1 expression may not be an ideal marker for CD1d-restricted NKT cells, many of which are NK1.1-negative, especially within the CD4+ subset and particularly in NK1.1-congenic BALB/c mice.
Scanning climate change impacts on water resources of the largest African river basins

ABSTRACT Besides existing challenges to water management under scarcity in Africa, climate change has the potential to impose additional pressures on water resources. This study aims at reviewing and identifying the climate change signals presented in 61 peer reviewed papers with respect to seven largest African river basins, viz. Nile, Senegal, Volta, Niger, Congo, Zambezi and Limpopo. Thirty percent of the reviewed papers focussed on the Nile basin while only 13% reported on the Congo basin. The climate change signals were segregated into decreasing, increasing and uncertain trends. Results stated the overwhelming tendency for using unmitigated future emission pathways. The use of ensemble models superiors the individual and synthetic scenarios. While projected temperature showed robust increasing trends, rainfall dominated by uncertain trends. The hydrological impacts were assessed through 19 hydrological models with accepted considerations of land uses at 52% of the cases. Modellers managed to understand and build robust rainfall-runoff relationships in Zambezi, Limpopo, Senegal and partially in Niger but failed in Congo and Nile. Climate change impacts on runoff, stream flows and evapotranspiration should be interpreted cautiously. Further researches are recommended to incorporate the effects of human interventions (e.g. dams) and land use changes in climate change-hydrological modelling.
NUMERICAL SIMULATION OF BERM AND DUNE EROSION DUE TO WAVE OVERTOPPING AND SEDIMENT OVERWASH USING OPENFOAM

The present work follows authorsâ€™ previous works, published and presented at ICCE 2016 and Coastal Dynamics 2017 conferences (Karagiannis et al. 2016, 2017) and concerns the numerical simulation of berm and dune cross-shore profile evolution due to wave overtopping and sediment overwash through an innovative repetitive approach of coupling a hydrodynamic model, synthesized on the OpenFoam platform with a morphodynamic one, whose origin code is developed in FORTRAN by the authors. The hydrodynamic model is used for the wave propagation, while the morphodynamic one gets the results of the first model and yields the new cross-shore seabed formation. The above process is repeated until the equilibrium profile is achieved.
Meson Spectroscopy in AdS/CFT with Flavour

We compute the meson spectrum of an = 2 super Yang-Mills theory with fundamental matter from its dual string theory on AdS5 × S5 with a D7-brane probe [1]. For scalar and vector mesons with arbitrary R-charge the spectrum is computed in closed form by solving the equations for D7-brane fluctuations; for matter with non-zero mass mq it is discrete, exhibits a mass gap of order mq/(gsN)1/2 and furnishes representations of SO(5) even though the manifest global symmetry of the theory is only SO(4). The spectrum of mesons with large spin J is obtained from semiclassical, rotating open strings attached to the D7-brane. It displays Regge-like behaviour for J > (gsN)1/2 it corresponds to that of two non-relativistic quarks bound by a Coulomb potential. Meson interactions, baryons and `giant gauge bosons' are briefly discussed.
Coordinated Operation Strategy of Wind Farms for Frequency Control by Exploring Wake Interaction

This paper proposes a coordinated wind farm (WF) operation strategy that exploits the wake interaction within a WF. In contrast to the conventional WF operation strategy where each wind turbine (WT) is optimized individually, three operation strategies are suggested: 1) maximization of the WF's power while maintaining WF's rotational kinetic energy; 2) maximization of the WF's rotational kinetic energy while maintaining WF's output power; and 3) a de-loaded strategy whereby the WF's rotational kinetic energy is maximized for a fixed de-loading margin. The three operation strategies are formulated as nonlinear optimization problems and solved in a central WF controller. The optimal rotor speeds and pitch angles are used as reference values in the individual WTs. The optimization results for the three respective operation strategies show that: 1) up to 3% increase in the WF's output power; 2) up to 23% increase in the WF's rotational kinetic energy; and 3) up to 28% increase in the WF's rotational kinetic energy and 8% reserve power while operating the WF in a 5% de-loaded mode with respect to the conventional operation strategy. Time-domain simulations show that the proposed operation strategy noticeably improves the WF's performance in frequency control.
Comparison between the Hybrid Capture II Test and an SPF1/GP6+ PCR-Based Assay for Detection of Human Papillomavirus DNA in Cervical Swab Samples

ABSTRACT We compared the efficacy of human papillomavirus (HPV) DNA detection between a PCR-based genechip (Easychip HPV Blot [hereafter referred to as HPV Blot]; King Car, Taiwan) method and Hybrid Capture II (HCII; Digene, Gaithersburg, MD) in women with previous normal (n = 146) or abnormal (≥atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance [ASCUS] [n = 208]) cytology. A total of 354 cervical swab samples were collected for HPV DNA assay by both HCII and SPF1/GP6+ PCR followed by HPV Blot tests. Colposcopy-directed biopsy was performed if clinically indicated. Of the 354 samples, HPV-positive rates by these two methods (HCII and HPV Blot) were 12.6% and 18.2% in 143 normal samples, 36.2% and 45.7% in 105 ASCUS samples, 57.4% and 57.4% in 94 low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion samples, and 83.3% and 75.0% in 12 high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion samples, respectively. The concordance of HPV Blot and HCII was 80.8% (286/354), and the agreement between the methods (κ value, 0.68) was substantial. Discrepancies were further investigated by at least one of the following three methods: direct sequencing, type-specific PCR, and HPV Blot genotyping of cervical biopsy tissue. In the 15 HCII-positive samples, HPV Blot detected only non-HCII HPV genotypes; results of further verification methods were consistent with the latter test in the 15 samples. Of the 20 samples with HCII-negative and HPV Blot-positive results, 18 were found to contain the 13 HCII high-risk genotypes by verification methods. In only 16.7% (3/18) of the HCII-positive but HPV Blot-negative samples, further studies detected the 13 HCII genotypes. We conclude that HPV Blot seemed comparable to HCII for detection of HPV DNA in cervical swab samples.
The ages of quasar host galaxies

We present the results of fitting deep off-nuclear optical spectra of radio-quiet quasars, radio-loud quasars and radio galaxies at z≃0.2 with evolutionary synthesis models of galaxy evolution. Our aim was to determine the age of the dynamically dominant stellar populations in the host galaxies of these three classes of powerful active galactic nuclei (AGN). Some of our spectra display residual nuclear contamination at the shortest wavelengths, but the detailed quality of the fits longward of the 4000-A break provides unequivocal proof, if further proof were needed, that quasars lie in massive galaxies with (at least at z≃0.2) evolved stellar populations. By fitting a two-component model we have separated the very blue (starburst and/or AGN contamination) from the redder underlying spectral energy distribution, and find that the hosts of all three classes of AGN are dominated by old stars of age 8–14 Gyr. If the blue component is attributed to young stars, we find that, at most, 1 per cent of the visible baryonic mass of these galaxies is involved in star formation activity at the epoch of observation, at least over the region sampled by our spectroscopic observations. These results strongly support the conclusion reached by McLure et al. that the host galaxies of luminous quasars are massive ellipticals which have formed by the epoch of peak quasar activity at z≃2.5.
Laser cooling of trapped ions: The influence of micromotion.

Laser cooling of a single trapped ion in a Paul trap is discussed theoretically in the Lamb-Dicke limit, with full consideration of the time dependence of the trapping potential. Resulting mean kinetic energies are defined as time averages over one period of the micromotion and are compared with final temperatures expected from the laser cooling treatment with harmonic traps. For laser-atom detunings close to the micromotion frequency the results differ significantly from those expected for a harmonic trap potential. A physical interpretation is given and simple formulas are derived for the strong confinement case.
Activation of STAT transcription factors by herpesvirus Saimiri Tip-484 requires p56lck

Signal transducers and activators of transcription (STATs) relay signals from activated cell surface receptors directly to the nucleus. Previously, a protein required for T-cell transformation by the DNA tumor virus herpesvirus saimiri (HVS) and designated tyrosine kinase interacting protein (Tip-484) was shown to interact with and dramatically upregulate the activity of p56lck. p56lck is a nonreceptor tyrosine kinase that is essential for signaling by the T-cell receptor and also interacts with the CD4, CD8, and interleukin-2 receptors. The present data show activation of STAT1 and -3 by Tip-484. STAT1 and -3 were also found to complex with glutathione S-transferase-Tip-484 only in the presence of p56lck, and STAT3 was shown to be phosphorylated by the Tip-484-p56lck multiprotein complex in vitro. Infection of T cells with HVS or expression of recombinant Tip-484 significantly increased the DNA-binding activity of the STAT1 and STAT3 transcription factors in nuclear extracts and also increased the phosphorylation of STAT3 in vivo. This is the first report of STAT activation by a DNA tumor virus protein. Moreover, these studies demonstrate that p56lck is required for STAT activation by Tip-484.
Vision- and health-related quality of life before and after vision restoration training in cerebrally damaged patients.

PURPOSE The aim of the study was to examine if improvements of stimulus detection performance in visual field tests after intensive visual training of the visual field border zone in patients with visual field defects are associated with changes in self-reported vision- and health-related quality of life (QoL). METHODS We studied a clinical sample of 85 patients suffering from visual field loss after brain damage that underwent repetitive, daily light stimulation (vision restoration training, VRT) of the visual field border and the blind visual field for up to 75 hrs (N=16) or 150 hrs (N=69). Stimulus detection was quantified in the central visual field with a campimetric method before and after intervention. Health-related QoL was assessed by the Health-Survey SF-36 and vision-related QoL by the 39-item National Eye Institute Visual Function Questionnaire (NEI-VFQ). RESULTS Both vision- and health-related QoL measures improved after VRT. Significant increases were found in 8 out of 12 NEI-VFQ and 3 out of 8 SF-36 subscales. Of the 85 participants 6% showed a decrease in stimulus detection performance, 42% showed an increase of less than 5% detected stimuli, 24% showed an increase of 5-10% detected stimuli and 28% of more than 10% detected stimuli. Changes in campimetric stimulus detection rates were related to NEI-VFQ subscales point differences general vision (3 points), difficulty with near vision activities (4 points), limitations in social functioning due to vision (4 points) and driving problems (12 points). There was no relation of visual field changes to changes in SF-36 component and subscale scores. CONCLUSIONS The NEI-VFQ is a valuable measure of self-reported visual impairment in patients with visual field defects. Stimulation of the visual field by training may lead to improvements of vision-related QoL which were correlated with the extent of visual field enlargements.
Cooperative Sensor Networks with Misinformed Sensors

We consider the communication from a cooperative sensor network to a mobile access point. We assume that sensors are informed with a global message and some nodes are misinformed with random messages. The mobile access point employs a polling-based multiple access control to collect information from the sensor network. We derive the maximum achievable rate for the information retrieval process when d sensors are activated at a time. For the Gaussian multiple access channel under the total network power constraint, we derive an achievable rate expression and show that the maximum achievable rate for the Gaussian multiple access channel is O(log 2 d), obeying the same scaling law as the capacity of an Gaussian multiple-input-singleoutput channel.
Disordered Eating among African American and African Caribbean Women: The Influence of Intimate Partner Violence, Depression, and PTSD

We assessed the influence of intimate partner violence (IPV), depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) on disordered eating patterns (DE) among women of African descent through a comparative case-control study (N = 790) in Baltimore, MD, and St. Thomas and St. Croix, US Virgin Islands, from 2009–2011. IPV, depression and PTSD were independent risk factors in the full sample. The relationship between IPV and DE was partially mediated by depression. The influence of risk for lethality from violence was fully mediated by depression. IPV should be considered in research and treatment of DE and both IPV and DE should be assessed when the other or depression is detected.
Pacific Ocean Variability Influences the Time of Emergence of a Seasonally Ice‐Free Arctic Ocean

The Arctic Ocean is projected to become seasonally ice‐free before midcentury unless greenhouse gas emissions are rapidly reduced, but exactly when this could occur depends considerably on internal climate variability. Here we show that trajectories to an ice‐free Arctic are modulated by concomitant shifts in the Interdecadal Pacific Oscillation (IPO). Trajectories starting in the negative IPO phase become ice‐free 7 years sooner than those starting in the positive IPO phase. Trajectories starting in the negative IPO phase subsequently transition toward the positive IPO phase, on average, with an associated strengthening of the Aleutian Low, increased poleward energy transport, and faster sea‐ice loss. The observed IPO began to transition away from its negative phase in the past few years. If this shift continues, our results suggest increased likelihood of accelerated sea‐ice loss over the coming decades, and an increased risk of an ice‐free Arctic within the next 20–30 years.
Assessing Risk of Resistance to Aerial Applications of Methyl-Parathion in Western Corn Rootworm (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae)

Abstract We validated a stochastic model of the evolution of resistance to adulticidal sprays of methyl-parathion in western corn rootworm, Diabrotica virgifera virgifera LeConte, populations in Nebraska. The population dynamics predicted by the model resembled that reported for field populations, and time until control failures occurred closely matched reports by commercial crop consultants. We incorporated uncertainty about the values used for 18 model parameters by replacing default values with random draws taken from a normal distribution. One parameter, the initial resistance allele frequency, was no longer measurable because of the evolution of resistance. We therefore proposed five candidate initial allele frequencies and developed probability distributions for the time to resistance for each by running 1000 simulations with parameters randomly varied. These distributions included variation because of stochastic effects as well as parameter uncertainty. We used Bayesian inference to estimate the candidate frequency most likely, given reported times to field control failures. The initial allele frequency of 10−4 was most likely (29%), 10−3 was less likely (28%), whereas 10−6 was relatively unlikely (5%). Results from sensitivity analysis depended upon how evolution of resistance was measured. When resistance was examined as a genetic phenomenon, the rate of increase of the resistance allele depended almost entirely on genetic factors (LC50 values), the characteristics of the pesticide (residual activity), and the variance associated with emergence of adults. When resistance was measured as failure of methyl-parathion to reduce populations below threshold levels (0.5 gravid females per plant), parameters that contributed to population growth rate (mortality and fecundity) were also important. These data suggest two important phases in resistance evolution in corn rootworms: a genetic phase associated with negative growth rates and rapid changes in resistance allele frequencies and a rebound phase associated with positive growth rates and near fixation of the resistance allele.
Bioinformatics Analysis of Transcriptome Dynamics During Growth in Angus Cattle Longissimus Muscle

Transcriptome dynamics in the longissimus muscle (LM) of young Angus cattle were evaluated at 0, 60, 120, and 220 days from early-weaning. Bioinformatic analysis was performed using the dynamic impact approach (DIA) by means of Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) and Database for Annotation, Visualization and Integrated Discovery (DAVID) databases. Between 0 to 120 days (growing phase) most of the highly-impacted pathways (eg, ascorbate and aldarate metabolism, drug metabolism, cytochrome P450 and Retinol metabolism) were inhibited. The phase between 120 to 220 days (finishing phase) was characterized by the most striking differences with 3,784 differentially expressed genes (DEGs). Analysis of those DEGs revealed that the most impacted KEGG canonical pathway was glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI)-anchor biosynthesis, which was inhibited. Furthermore, inhibition of calpastatin and activation of tyrosine aminotransferase ubiquitination at 220 days promotes proteasomal degradation, while the concurrent activation of ribosomal proteins promotes protein synthesis. Therefore, the balance of these processes likely results in a steady-state of protein turnover during the finishing phase. Results underscore the importance of transcriptome dynamics in LM during growth.