Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
USE OF A STRATIFIED OXIDATIVE STRESS MODEL TO STUDY THE BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS OF AMBIENT CONCENTRATED AND DIESEL EXHAUST PARTICULATE MATTER

Although several epidemiological studies have shown a positive relationship between exposure to ambient air particulate matter (PM) and adverse health effects in humans, there is still a fundamental lack of understanding of the most toxic particle components and the biological mechanisms through which they act. Since our studies on the biological effects of diesel exhaust particles (DEP) have highlighted the role of reactive oxygen species (ROS), catalyzed by organic chemical compounds, we set out to establish whether this constitutes an oxidative stress model that can be used to study the biological effects of ambient coarse and fine PM. We demonstrate that organic DEP extracts induce a stratified oxidative stress response, leading to heme oxygenase 1 (HO-1) expression at normal GSH/ GSSG ratios, proceed to Jun kinase activation and interleukin 8 (IL-8) production at intermediary oxidative stress levels, and culminate in cellular apoptosis in parallel with a sharp decline in GSH/GSSG ratios. We demonstrate that ambient concentrated air particulates, collected with a particle concentrator and a liquid impinger, mimic the effects of organic DEP extracts at lower oxidative stress levels. While fine PM consistently induced HO-1 expression in all most of the samples collected over a 9-mo survey period, coarse particulates were effective at inducing that effect during fall and winter. Moreover, HO-1 expression was positively correlated to the higher organic carbon (OC) and polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) content of fine versus coarse PM, as well as the rise in PAH content that occurs in coarse PM during the winter months. Although coarse and fine PM lead to a decrease in cellular glutathione (GSH)/GSSG ratios, oxidative stress did not increase to cytotoxic levels. Taken together, these data demonstrate that it is possible to use the stratified oxidative stress model developed for DEP to interpret the biological effects of coarse and fine PM. This work has important implications for the selection of relevant biological endpoints for in vivo studies.
The Beginnings of Pyrotechnology, Part II: Production and Use of Lime and Gypsum Plaster in the Pre-Pottery Neolithic Near East

AbstractCharacterization techniques of modern materials science have been used to extend a prior study (W. H. Gourdin and W. D. Kingery, “The Beginnings of Pyrotechnology: Neolithic and Egyptian Lime Plaster,” Journal of Field Archaeology 2 [1975]: 133–50) of plaster materials and their processing in the Pre-Pottery Neolithic (ca. 7200–6000 B.C.). The “invention” of lime plaster can be traced back to at least the Epi-PaleolithicGeometric Kebaran (ca. 12,000 B.C.) and its use in architecture to the Natufian (10,300–8500 B.C.). The production of lime and gypsum plasters is described as a multi-step process requiring selection and collection of raw materials, heating of limestone at 800–900°C (gypsum at 150–200°C), slaking the quicklime in water to form the hydroxide, mixing with various additives, applying and shaping as a paste, and often coating with a slip coat and burnishing—a skilled craft activity having some structural similarities to pottery manufacture. Plaster production expanded in the Pre-Potter.
Accuracy of Intensity and Inclinometer Output of Three Activity Monitors for Identification of Sedentary Behavior and Light-Intensity Activity

Purpose. To examine the accuracy of intensity and inclinometer output of three physical activity monitors during various sedentary and light-intensity activities. Methods. Thirty-six participants wore three physical activity monitors (ActiGraph GT1M, ActiGraph GT3X+, and StepWatch) while completing sedentary (lying, sitting watching television, sitting using computer, and standing still) light (walking 1.0 mph, pedaling 7.0 mph, pedaling 15.0 mph) intensity activities under controlled settings. Accuracy for correctly categorizing intensity was assessed for each monitor and threshold. Accuracy of the GT3X+ inclinometer function (GT3X+Incl) for correctly identifying anatomical position was also assessed. Percentage agreement between direct observation and the monitor recorded time spent in sedentary behavior and light intensity was examined. Results. All monitors using all thresholds accurately identified over 80% of sedentary behaviors and 60% of light-intensity walking time based on intensity output. The StepWatch was the most accurate in detecting pedaling time but unable to detect pedal workload. The GT3X+Incl accurately identified anatomical position during 70% of all activities but demonstrated limitations in discriminating between activities of differing intensity. Conclusions. Our findings suggest that all three monitors accurately measure most sedentary and light-intensity activities although choice of monitors should be based on study-specific needs.
Knowledge sharing in open source software communities: motivations and management

Purpose – This paper aims to add to the understanding of knowledge sharing in online communities through an investigation of the relationship between individual participant’s motivations and management in open source software (OSS) communities. Drawing on a review of literature concerning knowledge sharing in organisations, the factors that motivate participants to share their knowledge in OSS communities, and the management of such communities, it is hypothesised that the quality of management influences the extent to which the motivations of members actually result in knowledge sharing. Design/methodology/approach – To test the hypothesis, quantitative data were collected through an online questionnaire survey of OSS web developers with the aim of gathering respondents’ opinions concerning knowledge sharing, motivations to share knowledge and satisfaction with the management of OSS projects. Factor analysis, descriptive analysis, correlation analysis and regression analysis were used to explore the surv.
Prognostic value of the plasminogen activation system in patients with gastric carcinoma

Patients with gastric cancer have a poor prognosis and can be cured by surgery only if the cancer is detected in an early stage. Extended surgery, down staging with chemotherapy before operation, and new postoperative treatments are recent approaches to increase survival rates. Categorizing patients' prognoses as good or poor by pathophysiologic markers, however, may be of great help in selecting therapies for these patients. For example, plasminogen activation (PA) parameters, that play an important role in tumor invasion and metastasis, have prognostic value for several human malignancies.
On the nonlinearity of the tropospheric ozone production

The relationship of photochemical ozone production versus photochemical loss of an ozone precursor, that is, either NOx or nonmethane hydrocarbons (NMHCs), is studied by using a box model with particular emphasis on the nonlinearity problem of the relationship with respect to the concentration of the precursor. Model calculations indicate that the composition of NMHCs, the ratio of NMHCs to NOx, and the background concentrations of natural hydrocarbons, CO, and CH4 all play important roles in determining the nonlinearity of O3 production with respect to the loss of NOx. In addition, influences on the nonlinearity due to radical loss via reactions of HO2 with RO2, exchanges between PAN and NO2, and inclusion of nighttime NOx loss processes are also investigated. Mechanisms that contribute to the nonlinearity are discussed. The nonlinear property of O3 production versus loss of hydrocarbons and CO is different from that of NOx. When the sum of CO and all hydrocarbons, including CH4, natural NMHCs, and anthropogenic NMHCs, is used as the reference O3 precursor, the nonlinearity is much less pronounced for ambient conditions usually found in rural air.
Protective effect of preexisting rotavirus‐specific immunoglobulin A against naturally acquired rotavirus infection in children

The preexisting levels of rotavirus IgA and IgG were measured in 225 children aged 6 months to 7 years in November, ie, before the „rotavirus season”︁ from January to April. During the following 6 months, all episodes of acute gastroenteritis (GE) were evaluated clinically according to a score system and feces was examined for rotavirus, pathogenic bacteria, and parasites. Furthermore, rotavirus GE (n = 45) as well as asymptomatic rotavirus infections (n = 29) were diagnosed serologically. The preexisting concentrations of rotavirus IgA and IgG measured by ELISA were similar in these two groups. However, preexisting rotavirus IgA in the group of children who developed rotavirus GE correlated with less severe symptoms. Thus vomiting was found in 24% and 63% of the children with detectable and undetectable rotavirus IgA, respectively (P ≤ 0.025). Moreover, according to the total symptom score of rotavirus GE, 52% of the children with detectable preexisting rotavirus IgA had mild symptoms compared with only 13 % of those with undetectable concentrations (P ≤ 0.025). Rotavirus IgG did not have any protective effect. Age per se had a protective effect; older age (≥ 1.5 years) was related to mild symptoms. According to previous studies of local and intestinal antibody response to a rotavirus GE, it is suggested that rotavirus IgA in serum reflects the immunological status of the intestine concerning rotavirus. It is recommended that studies of rotavirus vaccines include rotavirus IgA response and its protective effect.
Pilot Prospective Evaluation of 99mTc-MDP Scintigraphy, 18F NaF PET/CT, 18F FDG PET/CT and Whole-Body MRI for Detection of Skeletal Metastases

Objective The aim of this study was to compare 99mTc-MDP bone scanning, 18F NaF PET/CT, 18F FDG PET/CT, and whole-body MRI (WBMRI) for detection of known osseous metastases. Patients and Methods This prospective pilot trial (September 2007-April 2009) enrolled 10 participants (5 men, 5 women, 47–81 years old) diagnosed with cancer and known osseous metastases. 18F NaF PET/CT, 18F FDG PET/CT, and WBMRI were performed within 1 month for each participant. Results The image quality and evaluation of extent of disease were superior by 18F NaF PET/CT compared to 99mTc-MDP scintigraphy in all patients with skeletal lesions and compared to 18F FDG PET/CT in 3 of the patients with skeletal metastases. 18F NaF PET/CT showed osseous metastases where 18F FDG PET/CT was negative in another 3 participants. Extraskeletal metastases were identified by 18F FDG PET/CT in 6 participants. WBMRI with the combination of iterative decomposition of water and fat with echo asymmetry and least-squares estimation, short tau inversion recovery, and diffusion-weighted imaging pulse sequences showed fewer lesions than 18F NaF PET/CT in 5 patients, same number of lesions in 2 patients, and more lesions in 1 patient. WBMRI showed fewer lesions than 18F FDG in 3 patients and same lesions in 6 patients. Conclusions Our pilot phase prospective trial demonstrated superior image quality and evaluation of skeletal disease extent with 18F NaF PET/CT compared to 99mTc-MDP scintigraphy and 18F FDG PET/CT, as well as the feasibility of multisequence WBMRI. In addition, 18F FDG PET/CT provided valuable soft-tissue information that can change disease management. Further evaluation of these findings using the recently introduced PET/MRI scanners is warranted.
Sodium Butyrate Promotes Reassembly of Tight Junctions in Caco-2 Monolayers Involving Inhibition of MLCK/MLC2 Pathway and Phosphorylation of PKCβ2

As a physiological small molecular product from the microbial fermentation of dietary fibers, butyrate plays an important role in maintaining intestinal health. Our previous works have proved that the effect of sodium butyrate (NaB) on the intestinal barrier function is mediated by activation of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK). However, the detailed pathway involved remains unknown. Using the calcium switch assay in the Caco-2 cell monolayer model, we found here that NaB activated AMPK mainly by increasing the calcium level, but not the ATP concentration, via promoting store-operated calcium entry (SOCE). Upon the activation of AMPK, NaB promoted the reassembly of tight junctions (TJs) based on reducing the phosphorylation of myosin II regulatory light chain (MLC2) at Ser19 and increasing phosphorylation of protein kinase C β2 (PKCβ2) at Ser660. Inhibiting (protein kinase C β) PKCβ blocked the reassembly of TJs induced by NaB in the barrier monolayer model. These results indicated that NaB could activate the calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase kinase β (CaMKKβ) pathway to mediate AMPK phosphorylating, which then inhibited the phosphorylation of MLC2 and promoted the phosphorylation of PKCβ2, respectively, so that the downstream molecules of AMPK coordinately contributed to the reassembly of TJs in the Caco-2 barrier model. These results suggested a potential mechanism of butyrate for intestine homeostasis and protection.
Natural Disaster and Vulnerability

The tsunami disaster in the Indian Ocean on 26 December 2004, to which more than 225 000 deaths had been attributed by the United Nations’ six-month review in June 2005, elicited a worldwide humanitarian relief effort unprecedented in its scale; individuals, firms, non-governmental organisations and governments rapidly marshalled billions of dollars of assistance. Even as reconstruction was barely underway, however, many observers could not escape concluding that many of the dead, the injured, the displaced, were victims primarily because they.
An efficient airspace configuration forecast

This publication is the continuation of previous research which aims at improving the predictability and the flexibility of the airspace management process by computing realistic forecasts of the airspace configurations in en-route ATC centers. In previous papers, we selected relevant complexity metrics to predict the controllers workload, using neural networks trained on historical data. We also introduced new algorithms to build optimally balanced airspace configurations, exploring all possible combinations of elementary sectors. These workload prediction model and airspace partitionning algorithms were tested on real recorded traffic. In this paper, airspace configurations are forecast from planned traffic, using the CATS/OPAS simulator to compute trajectories from flight plans. The efficiency of the resulting airspace configurations is assessed by comparing to the actual FMP (Flow Management Position) prediction. Some preliminary developments of an experimental HMI that will be used to test and tune our algorithms are also presented.
Population Study of Coiba Howler Monkeys (Alouatta CoibensisCoibensis) and Coiba Capuchin Monkeys (Cebus Capucinus Imitator), Coiba Island National Park, Republic of Panama

The Coiba howler monkey (Alouatta coibensis coibensis), and the capuchin monkey (Cebus capucinus imitator), are both living at Coiba Island, southwestern Panama, Central America. They are considered Vulnerable and Least Concern respectively by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). I carried out population surveys of the two subspecies from May to July 2009 and revisited on May to September 2010. The study covered potential habitats for these primates in the four points of the island. Surveys determined their occurrence and densities in each area. In all, 850 hrs were spent in survey activities. I used two methods: 1) triangulations based on vocal izations; 2) strip-transect censuses. One hundred and nine Coiba howler monkey groups were detected and counted, totaling 472 individuals remaining in the wild with a mean of 4.3 individuals/group (range: 2–5). For the capuchin monkey, 626 individuals in 58 groups with a mean of 10.75 individuals/group (range: 5–16) were detected. Factors related to small group size for howler monkeys on Coiba Island are not known, but could be related to dietary resources throughout the year or seasonally, particularly ripe fruits. For capuchins monkeys, survivorship could be better than for Alouatta due to the wide range diet these monkeys could reach, this include arthropods, coconut and seeds of tea mangrove Pelliciera rhizophora. The primates of Coiba are not exposed directly to hunting activities but their population needs to be monitored and studied in-depth to better understand their dynamics and behavioral adaptations to this island habitat.
Surface water and groundwater interactions in an extensively mined watershed, upper Schuylkill River, Pennsylvania, USA

Streams crossing underground coal mines may lose flow, whereas abandoned mine drainage (AMD) restores flow downstream. During 2005–2012, discharge from the Pine Knot Mine Tunnel, the largest AMD source in the upper Schuylkill River Basin, had near‐neutral pH and elevated concentrations of iron, manganese and sulphate. Discharge from the tunnel responded rapidly to recharge but exhibited a prolonged recession compared with nearby streams, consistent with rapid infiltration of surface water and slow release of groundwater from the mine complex. Dissolved iron was attenuated downstream by oxidation and precipitation, whereas dissolved CO2 degassed and pH increased. During high flow conditions, the AMD and downstream waters exhibited decreased pH, iron and sulphate with increased acidity that were modelled by mixing net‐alkaline AMD with recharge or run‐off having low ionic strength and low pH. Attenuation of dissolved iron within the river was least effective during high flow conditions because of decreased transport time coupled with inhibitory effects of low pH on oxidation kinetics.
Men, Prostitution and the Provider Role: Understanding the Intersections of Economic Exchange, Sex, Crime and Violence in South Africa

Background South African policy makers are reviewing legislation of prostitution, concerned that criminalisation hampers HIV prevention. They seek to understand the relationship between transactional sex, prostitution, and the nature of the involved men. Methods 1645 randomly-selected adult South African men participated in a household study, disclosing whether they had sex with a woman in prostitution or had had a provider relationship (or sex), participation in crime and violence and completing psychological measures. These became outcomes in multivariable regression models, where the former were exposure variables. Results 51% of men had had a provider relationship and expected sex in return, 3% had had sex with a woman in prostitution, 15% men had done both of these and 31% neither. Provider role men, and those who had just had sex with a woman in prostitution, were socially conservative and quite violent. Yet the men who had done both (75% of those having sex with a woman in prostitution) were significantly more misogynist, highly scoring on dimensions of psychopathy, more sexually and physically violent to women, and extensively engaged in crime. They had often bullied at school, suggesting that this instrumental, self-seeking masculinity was manifest in childhood. The men who had not engaged in sex for economic exchange expressed a much less violent, more law abiding and gender equitable masculinity; challenging assumptions about the inevitability of intersections of age, poverty, crime and misogyny. Conclusions Provider role relationships (or sex) are normative for low income men, but not having sex with a woman in prostitution. Men who do the latter operate extensively outside the law and their violence poses a substantial threat to women. Those drafting legislation and policy on the sex industry in South Africa need to distinguish between these two groups to avoid criminalising the normal, and consider measures to protect women.
An Analysis of Faunal Remains From A Denbigh Flint Complex Camp at Matcharak Lake, Alaska

The Matcharak Lake site, located in the Brooks Range, Alaska, represents the first faunal assemblage recovered from a Denbigh Flint Complex (early Arctic Small Tool tradition) locality anywhere in Arctic Alaska. Organic remains, which include numerous bone tools, are well preserved in the frozen tundra soil of this 3,900 year-old site. Over 81,000 faunal specimens were unearthed with the identified portion predominantly composed of caribou; however, Dall’s sheep, small mammals, bird, and fish were also recovered. Seasonal indicators suggest the hunting and butchering events occurred in the fall and spring. The presence of migratory bird and Alaska marmot suggest people camped here in the summer as well. Empirical evidence for Paleoeskimo subsistence are limited to coastal sites in the eastern Arctic. Matcharak Lake provides the first substantial dataset for supporting subsistence models for inland Denbigh groups in Alaska. Caribou clearly dominate in terms of potential calories and resource materials for clothing and shelter.
Flux estimation of oceanic dimethyl sulfide around North America

Simultaneous measurements of atmospheric and surface water dimethyl sulfide (DMS) concentrations were taken aboard the icebreaker USCGC Polar Sea from July to October 1994, as part of a joint Canada/United States circumnavigation of North America, an expedition with a unique Arctic Ocean transect. Atmospheric DMS concentrations around North America varied between 0.25 and 50 nmol m−3 (mean = 5.1 nmol m−3, σ = 8.5 nmol m−3, n = 89) with highest values occurring near (south of) the Arctic ice edge. Surface water DMS concentrations ranged between 0.1 and 12.6 nmol L−1 (mean = 2.2 nmol L−1, σ = 2.7 nmol L−1, n = 46) with highest values in the western Arctic Ocean and off the U.S. east coast, near the Sargasso sea. In the Arctic Ocean, maximum concentrations in air and water were found along the ice edge in the Chukchi Sea region. Atmospheric DMS decay rates of 68% per day and 38% per day were deduced from observations between 70° and 76°N (continental shelf and slope of Chukchi Sea) on the west side and between 80° and 90°N (central Arctic Ocean) for the east side of the Arctic Ocean, respectively. Ocean to atmosphere flux estimates of DMS were determined using the Liss-Merlivat empirical dependence of exchange coefficient on wind speed, DMS air concentrations, Henry's law constants, and DMS water concentrations. DMS fluxes varied between 0.0017 and 30 μmol m−2 d−1, respectively, with higher fluxes in regions with open water. The Arctic Ocean contributed 0.063 Tg S (DMS) (0.4% of DMS from the world oceans) during the summer of 1994. A simple one-dimensional (1-D) photochemical box model, applied to six case studies, showed that the atmospheric lifetime of DMS in the high Arctic was 2.5 to 8 days, whereas at 16°–33°N it was 1 to 2 days. Modeled DMS decay rates for these regions, using the 1-D model, accounted for only 33% of the measured decay rate. This result also suggests that halogen chemistry, reactions with Br/BrO, may be an important sink for DMS in the Arctic atmosphere.
The Effect of 19‐Norandrostenolone on Experimentally‐Induced Atheroma in Cockerels

The anabolic and weakly androgenie compound 19-norandrostenolone has been administered to cholesterol-fed cockerels in 2 dose levels. A marked fall in serum cholesterol occurred with the lower dose level and a significant reduction in the incidence of coronary artery lesion was noted with the higher dose level.