Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Detection of high-velocity material from the wind-wind collision zone of Eta Carinae across the 2009.0 periastron passage

We report near-infrared spectroscopic observations of the Eta Carinae massive binary system during 2008-2009 using the CRIRES spectrograph mounted on the 8m UT 1 Very Large Telescope (VLT Antu). We detect a strong, broad absorption wing in He I lambda 10833 extending up to -1900 km s(-1) across the 2009.0 spectroscopic event. Analysis of archival Hubble Space Telescope/Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph ultraviolet and optical data identifies a similar high-velocity absorption (up to -2100 km s(-1)) in the ultraviolet resonance lines of Si IV lambda lambda 1394, 1403 across the 2003.5 event. Ultraviolet resonance lines from low-ionization species, such as Si II lambda lambda 1527, 1533 and CII lambda lambda 1334, 1335, show absorption only up to -1200 km s(-1), indicating that the absorption with velocities -1200 to -2100 km s(-1) originates in a region markedly more rapidly moving and more ionized than the nominal wind of the primary star. Seeing-limited observations obtained at the 1.6m OPD/LNA telescope during the last four spectroscopic cycles of Eta Carinae (1989-2009) also show high-velocity absorption in He I lambda 10833 during periastron. Based on the large OPD/LNA dataset, we determine that material with velocities more negative than -900 km s(-1) is present in the phase range 0.976 = 1.049. Therefore, we constrain the duration of the high-velocity absorption to be 95 to 206 days (or 0.047 to 0.102 in phase). We propose that the high-velocity absorption component originates in shocked gas in the wind-wind collision zone, at distances of 15 to 45 AU in the line-of-sight to the primary star. With the aid of three-dimensional hydrodynamical simulations of the wind-wind collision zone, we find that the dense high-velocity gas is along the line-of-sight to the primary star only if the binary system is oriented in the sky such that the companion is behind the primary star during periastron, corresponding to a longitude of periastron of omega similar to 240 degrees-270 degrees. We study a possible tilt of the orbital plane relative to the Homunculus equatorial plane and conclude that our data are broadly consistent with orbital inclinations in the range i = 40 degrees-60 degrees. (Less)
G Alpha-q/11 Protein Plays a Key Role in Insulin-Induced Glucose Transport in 3T3-L1 Adipocytes

ABSTRACT We evaluated the role of the G alpha-q (Gαq) subunit of heterotrimeric G proteins in the insulin signaling pathway leading to GLUT4 translocation. We inhibited endogenous Gαq function by single cell microinjection of anti-Gαq/11 antibody or RGS2 protein (a GAP protein for Gαq), followed by immunostaining to assess GLUT4 translocation in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Gαq/11 antibody and RGS2 inhibited insulin-induced GLUT4 translocation by 60 or 75%, respectively, indicating that activated Gαq is important for insulin-induced glucose transport. We then assessed the effect of overexpressing wild-type Gαq (WT-Gαq) or a constitutively active Gαq mutant (Q209L-Gαq) by using an adenovirus expression vector. In the basal state, Q209L-Gαq expression stimulated 2-deoxy-d-glucose uptake and GLUT4 translocation to 70% of the maximal insulin effect. This effect of Q209L-Gαq was inhibited by wortmannin, suggesting that it is phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3-kinase) dependent. We further show that Q209L-Gαq stimulates PI3-kinase activity in p110α and p110γ immunoprecipitates by 3- and 8-fold, respectively, whereas insulin stimulates this activity mostly in p110α by 10-fold. Nevertheless, only microinjection of anti-p110α (and not p110γ) antibody inhibited both insulin- and Q209L-Gαq-induced GLUT4 translocation, suggesting that the metabolic effects induced by Q209L-Gαq are dependent on the p110α subunit of PI3-kinase. In summary, (i) Gαq appears to play a necessary role in insulin-stimulated glucose transport, (ii) Gαq action in the insulin signaling pathway is upstream of and dependent upon PI3-kinase, and (iii) Gαq can transmit signals from the insulin receptor to the p110α subunit of PI3-kinase, which leads to GLUT4 translocation.
CAMEO-SIM: a broadband scene generation system that is fit for purpose

The signature of any vehicle does not exist as an entity in its own right, but depends on the environment, the interaction between the environment and the vehicle, and the background against which it is detected by a sensor. CAMEO-SIM was initially developed as a broad-band (0.4 - 14 micron) scene generation system for the assessment of air vehicle camouflage effectiveness, but it can be used to simulate any kind of object and its interactions with the environment. The thermal, spectral, spatial and directional effects of sources, surfaces and the atmosphere are modeled in a fully three-dimensional environment. CAMEO-SIM was designed to be a scaleable system that can produce images to different levels of fidelity. Rendering time can be balanced against the fidelity required so that the images produced are 'fit for purpose;' in its lowest fidelity operation it can create real-time in-band imagery but when operated at its highest fidelity the subtle, complex spectral and spatial effects that arise in the real- world are more closely captured. This paper describes the current system, details the verification tests that have been undertaken, and discusses the significance of particular effects such as shadows, and directional reflectance, on the accuracy of the final image.
Expression of Human MRP 6 , a Homologue of the Multidrug Resistance Protein Gene MRP 1 , in Tissues and Cancer Cells 1

The human multidrug resistance protein (MRP) family contains at least six members:MRP1, the gene encoding the multidrug resistance protein; cMOAT or MRP2, encoding the canalicular multispecific organic anion transporter; and four homologues, calledMRP3, MRP4, MRP5,and MRP6. The most recently discovered member of the family, MRP6, is analyzed in this report. The MRP6 gene is located on chromosome 16, immediately next toMRP1, and encodes a protein of 1503 amino acids with a predicted molecular weight ofM r 165,000. The 3* end of the MRP6 protein was found to be almost identical with the anthracycline resistance associated (ARA) protein identified previously in epirubicin-selected leukemia cells. Using both 3 *and 5*-derived MRP6 probes, we found that MRP6 is highly expressed in liver and kidney and to a low or very low extent in a few other tissues. No evidence was obtained for an independent expression of the ARA part of the MRP6 gene in normal tissues. To assess a possible role for MRP6 in multidrug resistance, we examined a large panel of resistant cell lines for the (over)expression ofMRP6. We found overexpression of the complete MRP6 gene or part of it only in those cell lines with high overexpression and amplification of theMRP1 gene. DNA blot (Southern) analysis showed thatMRP6 or a part of it is also amplified in these cell lines. Our results suggest that MRP6 does not play a role in the resistance of the resistant cells analyzed, and that MRP6/ARA is only coamplified with MRP1 because of its location immediately next to it on the same chromosome.
GRIM‐19, a death‐regulatory gene product, suppresses Stat3 activity via functional interaction

Signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (Stat3) is a latent cytoplasmic transcription factor that can be activated by cytokines and growth factors. Stat3 plays important roles in cell growth, anti‐apoptosis and cell transformation, and is constitutively active in various cancers. We examined its potential regulators by yeast two‐hybrid screening. GRIM‐19, a gene product related to interferon‐β‐ and retinoic acid‐induced cancer cell death, was identified and demonstrated to interact with Stat3 in various cell types. The interaction is specific for Stat3, but not for Stat1 and Stat5a. The interaction regions in both proteins were mapped, and the cellular localization of the interaction was examined. GRIM‐19 itself co‐localizes with mitochondrial markers, and forms aggregates at the perinulear region with co‐expressed Stat3, which inhibits Stat3 nuclear translocation stimulated by epidermal growth factor (EGF). GRIM‐19 represses Stat3 transcriptional activity and its target gene expression, and also suppresses cell growth in Src‐transformed cells and a Stat3‐expressing cell line. Our data suggest that GRIM‐19 is a novel negative regulator of Stat3.
Production of Demonstratives in Dutch, English and Portuguese Dialogues

A data elicitation study on the type of demonstratives and determiners selected to denote objects in English, Dutch and Portuguese dialogues is presented. Participants were given a scenario and a scripted dialogue in which a furniture seller identifies target objects to a buyer. They were then asked to choose a combination of a determiner or demonstrative and a referring expression to be uttered by the seller and told that the agent would point at the targets while uttering the chosen linguistic descriptions. The study was conducted with native speakers and rendered a total of 920 demonstratives and determiners. It focused on accessibility of the target referents and distance between agents and target referents. Results show that the three language groups largely agree in their preferences and, in contrast to previous work, align with a nearby/far away distinction.
Deception Parameter Estimation and Discrimination in Distributed Multiple-Radar Architectures

This paper considers the problem of discriminating false targets generated by deception jamming jointly with the target localization in distributed multiple-radar architectures. A unified parameter estimation model is developed for both real targets and false targets with the under-estimate parameters as the target location and deception range. For a real target, the estimated location is just its physical location and the deception range is zero, whereas for a false target, the estimated location corresponds to the jammer location and the deception range is nonzero. Therefore, the deception range serves as the direct statistic in the target discrimination. The Cramer-Rao lower bound (CRLB) is derived to evaluate the estimation accuracy, and is shown to provide a tight bound in most the cases. With the estimation of the deception range and its CRLB, the optimal discrimination algorithm in the Neyman-Pearson sense is designed. The simulations evaluate the estimation accuracy under the generalized model, and the feasibility of the discrimination algorithm is verified.
Plasmid-mediated quinolone resistance determinants qnr and aac(6')-Ib-cr in extended-spectrum beta-lactamase-producing Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae in China.

OBJECTIVES To characterize the prevalence of plasmid-mediated quinolone resistance determinants qnr and aac(6')-Ib-cr in extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae. METHODS qnrA, qnrB, qnrS, aac(6')-Ib-cr and ESBL-encoding genes were detected by PCR. MICs of 10 antimicrobial agents were determined by Etest. PFGE was used to investigate the clonality of qnr- and aac(6')-Ib-cr-producing isolates. Conjugation and Southern hybridizations were used to confirm whether qnr, aac(6')-Ib-cr or ESBL-encoding genes were located on plasmids. RESULTS Twenty-nine (8.0%) of 362 isolates were positive for qnr genes, and the qnrA-, qnrB- and qnrS-type genes were detected alone or in combination in 13 (3.6%), 8 (2.2%) and 9 (2.5%), respectively. Sixty-two (17.1%) isolates were positive for aac(6')-Ib, of which 36 (9.9% of all) had the -cr variant. Conjugation and Southern hybridization revealed that qnrA, aac(6')-Ib-cr and ESBL-encoding genes were always located on the same plasmids. CONCLUSIONS qnr and aac(6')-Ib-cr genes were detected in 8.0% and 9.9% of ESBL-producing E. coli and K. pneumoniae, respectively. The plasmids carrying the qnr gene could be transferred by conjugation together with ESBL-encoding genes and aac(6')-Ib-cr.
The Temporal Resolution of Epibiont Assemblages: Are They Ecological Snapshots or Overexposures?

The effects of time averaging on the fossil record of soft‐substrate marine faunas have been investigated in great detail, but the temporal resolution of epibiont assemblages has been inferred only from limited‐duration deployment experiments. Individually dated shells provide insight into the temporal resolution of epibiont assemblages and the taphonomic history of their hosts over decades to centuries. Epibiont abundance and richness were evaluated for 86 dated valves of the rhynchonelliform brachiopod Bouchardia rosea collected from the inner shelf. Maximum abundance occurred on shells less than 400 yr old, and maximum diversity was attained within a century. Taphonomic evidence does not support models of live‐host colonization, net accumulation, or erasure of epibionts over time. Encrustation appears to have occurred during a brief interval between host death and burial, with no evidence of significant recolonization of exhumed shells. Epibiont assemblages of individually dated shells preserve ecological snapshots, despite host‐shell time averaging, and may record long‐term ecological changes or anthropogenic environmental changes. Unless the ages of individual shells are directly estimated, however, pooling shells of different ages artificially reduces the temporal resolution of their encrusting assemblages to that of their hosts, an artifact of analytical time averaging.
Investigation of capacitor voltage balancing in practical implementations of flying capacitor multilevel converters

Flying capacitor multilevel (FCML) converters are known to naturally balance the capacitor voltages through the use of phase-shifted pulse-width modulation. However, in practice, the capacitor voltages can still deviate and active balancing is often required. This work investigates the origins of the voltage imbalance in practical implementations of such converters and presents corresponding solutions. It is shown that the source impedance and the input capacitor can have a drastic impact on the flying capacitor voltages. Moreover, we also demonstrate that an FCML converter with an even number of levels has significantly better immunity to the presence of source impedance than one with an odd number of levels. It is also found that gate signal propagation delay mismatch from half-bridge gate drivers will lead to capacitor imbalance. An alternative gate drive power supply circuit is designed to address this problem. Lastly, variations of switches' on-resistance are found to have a small impact on the capacitor voltage balance.
Response of Lake Kivu stratification to lava inflow and climate warming

During the eruption of Nyiragongo Volcano in January 2002 about 106 m3 of lava entered Lake Kivu. The high concentrations of CO2 and CH4 dissolved in the deep waters of Lake Kivu raised serious concerns about a potential gas outburst with catastrophic consequences for the population in the Kivu‐Tanganyika region. Therefore, 3 weeks after the volcanic eruption, we performed an ad hoc lake survey of the stability of the water column stratification. Vertical profiles of temperature and turbidity revealed signatures of the lava, which had penetrated to 100 m depth; however, there was no substantial warming or destratification of the gas‐containing deep layers below. The deep double‐diffusive structures also remained unaltered. Based on these observations, we conclude that a thermally driven gas outburst in Lake Kivu is not to be expected from future eruptions of comparable dimensions. In addition, the recent measurements allowed for an update and gave new insight into the stratification and double‐diffusive mixing phenomena in Lake Kivu. A comparison with former measurements revealed a warming of the upper part of the lake of up to 0.5°C within the last 30 yr, which could be attributed to climate variability.
Locational determinants of outward foreign direct investment: An analysis of Chinese and Indian greenfield investments

Few scholars have contributed more to our understanding of the locational factors that influence the choices made by TNCs than John Dunning. According to him, the astonishing growth of the Chinese economy and the opening up of India to the demands of the global market place “are reconfiguring the spatial landscape of economic activity”. The present study examines the importance of country- level factors on the investment location choice of Chinese and Indian transnational corporations (TNCs). Instead of using macro-economic FDI flows or stocks -- as most other studies have done -- this study will analyse greenfield investment data of Chinese and Indian firms across the globe. While most former studies have used FDI data to measure the aggregate value-adding activity of transnational affiliates in host countries, recent research has shown that the use of FDI data is a biased measure of such investment activity. This research attempts to overcome those shortcomings by analysing FDI at the firm level.
Revision of the pollen beetle genus Meligethes (Coleoptera: Nitidulidae)

A taxonomic revision of members of the genus Meligethes Stephens, 1830 is carried out. Taxonomic and distributional notes are provided on fiftythree Meligethes species, mostly known from the Eastern Palearctic and marginally from the Western Palearctic and the Oriental Regions. Among these, twentythree new species of Meligethes are diagnosed, figured and described: M . argentithorax sp. n. (Central China: Shaanxi, Shanxi), M . aurantirugosus sp. n. (Nepal), M. aureolineatus sp. n. (Central China: Sichuan), M. aurifer sp. n. (Central China: Shaanxi, Shanxi), M. brassicogethoides sp. n. (SW China: Yunnan), M. clinei sp. n. (SW China: Yunnan), M. elytralis sp. n. (Central China: Sichuan), M. ferruginoides sp. n. (Central China: Sichuan), M. cinereoargenteus sp. n. (Central China: Sichuan), M. henan sp. n. (Central China: Henan), M. luteoornatus sp. n. (SW China: Yunnan), M. marmota sp. n. (Nepal), M. nivalis sp. n. (SW and central China: Xizang and Chongqing), M. martes sp. n. (Central China: Shaanxi, Shanxi, Sichuan), M. nigroaeneus sp. n. (SW China: Yunnan), M. occultus sp. n. (SW China: Yunnan), M . pseudochinensis sp. n. (Central China: Hubei), M. pseudopectoralis sp. n. (SW China: Yunan), M. schuelkei sp. n. (Central China: Sichuan, Shaanxi), M. simulator sp. n. (Central-N China: Shanxi), M. stenotarsus sp. n. (SW China: Yunnan, Xizang), M. tryznai sp. n. (SW China: Yunnan), and M. volkovichi sp. n. (SW China: Yunnan). Revaluations at specific rank from synonymy are introduced for Meligethes lutra Solsky 1860, and for M. melleus Grouvelle, 1908. Three new synonymies are established: Meligethes brevipilus Kirejtshuk, 1980 = M. auripilis Reitter, 1889 (syn. n.), Meligethes zakharenkoi Kirejtshuk, 2005 = M. shirakii Sadanari Hisamatsu, 1956 (syn. n.), and Meligethes shirozui Sadanari Hisamatsu, 1965 = M. wagneri Rebmann, 1956 (syn. n.). Complete redescriptions are given for Meligethes binotatus Grouvelle, 1894, M. castanescens Grouvelle, 1903, M. ferrugineus Reitter, 1873, and M. melleus Grouvelle, 1908. The male of Meligethes lloydi Easton, 1968, is described and figured for the first time. The female genitalia of Meligethes auricomus Rebmann, 1956, M. cinereus Jelinek, 1978, and M. griseus Jelinek, 1978 are described and figured for the first time. Available information on insect-host-plant relationships and ecology are summarized for each species; probably all are associated as larvae with flowers of Rosaceae, chiefly of members of the closely related genera Rosa L. , Rubus L. , Prunus L. , and Crataegus Tourn. ex L. All treated species are grouped in two here revaluated subgenera ( Meligethes s.str. and Odonthogethes Reitter, 1871), and tentatively grouped also in species-groups and (when necessary) species-complexes, based on their morphology.
Antibacterial properties of Alkaloid rich fractions obtained from various parts of Prosopis juliflora

The alkaloid rich fraction obtained from various parts of Prosopis juliflora were assessed for their antibacterial property using disc diffusion method on several Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacterial strains like E.coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus cereus, Psuedomonas putida, Klebsiella, Salmonella, Acinetobacter and Alcaligen. Strong antibacterial effect was shown by leaf, pod and flower extract, with MIC value ranging between 25µg/ml-100µg/ml. The extracts of leaves showed highest activity among all the plant parts. Klebsiella was found to be the most susceptible bacteria, whereas Acinetobacter and Alcaligen were the least susceptible. A comparison of zone of inhibition created by alkaloid rich fractions with that of standard antibiotics, ampicillin, tetracycline, chloramphenicol, oflaxacin, refampin, streptomycin and sulfa drug showed a comparable zone of inhibition. Growth of Acinetobacter and Alcaligen which were not inhibited by antibiotics, showed inhibition by the alkaloidal extracts, similarly a known ampicillin resistant E.coli strain was found to be inhibited by the plant extracts. Alkaloids present in the extracts were analysed by DART-MS. DART-MS analysis of the alkaloid rich fractions showed the presence of piperidine alkaloids.
Interventions to Break and Create Consumer Habits

Interventions to change everyday behaviors often attempt to change people's beliefs and intentions. As the authors explain, these interventions are unlikely to be an effective means to change behaviors that people have repeated into habits. Successful habit change interventions involve disrupting the environmental factors that automatically cue habit performance. The authors propose two potential habit change interventions. “Downstream-plus” interventions provide informational input at points when habits are vulnerable to change, such as when people are undergoing naturally occurring changes in performance environments for many everyday actions (e.g., moving households, changing jobs). “Upstream” interventions occur before habit performance and disrupt old environmental cues and establish new ones. Policy interventions can be oriented not only to the change of established habits but also to the acquisition and maintenance of new behaviors through the formation of new habits.