Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The new GFDL global atmosphere and land model AM2-LM2: Evaluation with prescribed SST simulations

The configuration and performance of a new global atmosphere and land model for climate research developed at the Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory (GFDL) are presented. The atmosphere model, known as AM2, includes a new gridpoint dynamical core, a prognostic cloud scheme, and a multispecies aerosol climatology, as well as components from previous models used at GFDL. The land model, known as LM2, includes soil sensible and latent heat storage, groundwater storage, and stomatal resistance. The performance of the coupled model AM2‐LM2 is evaluated with a series of prescribed sea surface temperature (SST) simulations. Particular
An Ant Colony System Hybridized with a New Local Search for the Sequential Ordering Problem

We present a new local optimizer called SOP-3-exchange for the sequential ordering problem that extends a local search for the traveling salesman problem to handle multiple constraints directly without increasing computational complexity. An algorithm that combines the SOP-3-exchange with an Ant Colony Optimization algorithm is described, and we present experimental evidence that the resulting algorithm is more effective than existing methods for the problem. The best-known results for many of a standard test set of 22 problems are improved using the SOP-3-exchange with our Ant Colony Optimization algorithm or in combination with the MPO/AI algorithm (Chen and Smith 1996).
Distance geometry in quasihypermetric spaces. II

Let (X, d) be a compact metric space and let ${\cal M}(X)$ denote the space of all finite signed Borel measures on X. Define \documentclass{article}\usepackage{amssymb}\pagestyle{empty}\begin{document}$I :{\cal M}(X)\rightarrow {\mathbb R}$\end{document} by I(μ) = ∫X∫Xd(x, y) dμ(x)dμ(y), and set $M(X) = \sup I(\mu)$, where μ ranges over the collection of signed measures in ${\cal M}(X)$ of total mass 1. This paper, with an earlier and a subsequent paper [Peter Nickolas and Reinhard Wolf, Distance geometry in quasihypermetric spaces. I and III], investigates the geometric constant M(X) and its relationship to the metric properties of X and the functional‐analytic properties of a certain subspace of ${\cal M}(X)$ when equipped with a natural semi‐inner product. Using the work of the earlier paper, this paper explores measures which attain the supremum defining M(X), sequences of measures which approximate the supremum when the supremum is not attained and conditions implying or equivalent to the finiteness of M(X). © 2011 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim
Media Coverage of a Global Pandemic in Japan: Content Analysis of A/H1N1 Influenza Newspaper Articles

A/H1N1 emerged in Mexico in the spring of 2009, rapidly and globally spread, and was classed as a pandemic on June 11, 2009. In Japan, national newspapers are trusted by the public and have large subscription rates and play a major role in crisis communication. During crisis, it is for readers to receive information on not only factual data like prevalence or death but also the preventive measures which each individual can take. This research aims to explore what topics and how much the Japanese national newspapers covered the global pandemic and whether they provided the preventive measures for individuals. We analyzed Japanese newspaper coverage of the A/H1N1 pandemic using content analysis of 2,237 articles published in three national newspapers between March 2009 and May 2010. The articles peaked in May 2009 when the first possible case was found in Japan. In this period, most articles cited health authorities as the information source. The number of articles did not correspond to prevalence or number of deaths. Content analysis found that the national newspapers reported more factual information, while information about preventive measures was less frequently reported despite its importance for the public.
A Study of the Relationship between Violent Video Game Playing and Aggression among Adolescents in the Klang Valley, Malaysia

The present study explored the relationship between violent video game playing and the levels of aggression among adolescents in selected schools in the Klang Valley of Malaysia. Past research on violent video games discovered consistent links to increased levels of aggression. The objectives of this study were to examine if exposure to violent video games predicted aggressive behavior. In addition, this study also aimed to determine gender differences in amount of violent video game play and levels of aggression. Adolescents between 13 to 17 years of age were recruited from two schools in the Klang Valley for the purpose of this study. Demographic information was gathered along with Habitual Video Game Violence (HVGV) exposure scores. The Buss Perry Aggression Questionnaire which consists of four subscales assessing physical and verbal aggression (PA and VA, respectively), the emotional component of anger (A) and hostility (H), were administered to gather data on aggressive levels in the participants. 994 respondents (499 males and 495 females), from two schools in the Klang Valley completed the survey questionnaire. Findings indicated that, there were significant gender differences in three factors, namely, violent video game playing habits, physical aggression and hostility. Significant correlations were found between violent video game playing habits and physical aggression (.30), verbal aggression (.16), anger (.17) and hostility (.13) at p < . 01. Linear Regression analysis revealed that 6.1% of variance in aggressive behavior was explained by violent video game playing habits. Present findings were consistent with previous research indicating a significant relationship between violent video game playing and aggression among adolescents. Most importantly, the present study calls for attention towards the high levels of hostility observed among female adolescent game players in Malaysia. It is important to take note of the need to conduct studies on a larger population of students across various geographical regions in Malaysia to attain clearer representations of our current findings.
HBx Protein Promotes Oval Cell Proliferation by Up-Regulation of Cyclin D1 via Activation of the MEK/ERK and PI3K/Akt Pathways

Growing evidence has shown that hepatic oval cells, also named liver progenitor cells, play an important role in the process of liver regeneration in various liver diseases. Oval cell proliferation has been reported in hepatitis B virus (HBV)-associated hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and chronic liver disease. Studies have found expression of HBV surface and core antigens in oval cells in the livers of patients with HCC, suggesting that HBV infection of oval cells could be a mechanism of human hepatocarcinogenesis. In addition, there is evidence of multiplication of HBV in oval cell culture. However, little research has been performed to explore the role of HBV-encoded proteins in the proliferation of hepatic oval cells. Previously, we successfully transfected the HBV x (HBx) gene, one of the four genes in the HBV genome, into a rat LE/6 oval cell line. In this study, we tested whether or not the transfected HBx gene could affect oval cell proliferation in vitro. Our results show that overexpression of HBx promotes the proliferation of oval cells and increases cyclin D1 expression, assessed at both the mRNA and protein levels. We also found that HBx activated the PI-3K/Akt and MEK/ERK1/2 pathways in HBx-transfected oval cells. Furthermore, the HBx-induced increases in cyclin D1 expression and oval cell proliferation were completely abolished by treatment with either MEK inhibitor PD184352 or PI-3K inhibitor LY294002. These results demonstrated that HBx has the ability to promote oval cell proliferation in vitro, and its stimulatory effects on cell proliferation and expression of cyclin D1 depend on the activation of the MEK/ERK and PI3K/Akt signaling pathways in cultured oval cells.
When postcolonial studies meets media studies

ABSTRACT This essay addresses (1) how postcolonial studies might inform and enrich media studies, especially as the latter is situated in the Communication discipline, and (2) how media studies may productively expand the terrain postcolonial studies, that thus far has been dominated by the fields of Literature and Comparative Literature. Focusing on, and challenging, issues such as the North Atlantic temporal logics that inform the received history of media studies, as well as contesting the narrow boundaries of literary studies for engaging in contemporary postcolonial media/ted cultures, this essay attempts to argue for the importance of postcolonial media studies.
The Association Between Genetic Variants in the Dopaminergic System and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

AbstractPosttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a complex mental disorder and can severely interfere with the normal life of the affected people. Previous studies have examined the association of PTSD with genetic variants in multiple dopaminergic genes with inconsistent results.To perform a systematic literature search and conduct meta-analysis to examine whether genetic variants in the dopaminergic system is associated with PTSD.PubMed, Cochrane Library, Embase, Google Scholar, and HuGE.The studies included subjects who had been screened for the presence of PTSD; the studies provided data for genetic variants of genes involved in the dopaminergic system; the outcomes of interest included diagnosis status of PTSD; and the studies were case–control studies.Odds ratio was used as a measure of association. We used random-effects model in all the meta-analyses. Between-study heterogeneity was assessed using I2, and publication bias was evaluated using Egger test. Findings from meta-analyses were confirmed using random-effects meta-analyses under the framework of generalized linear model (GLM). A total of 19 studies met the eligibility criteria and were included in our analyses. We found that rs1800497 in DRD2 was significantly associated with PTSD (OR = 1.96, 95% CI: 1.15–3.33; P = 0.014). The 3′-UTR variable number tandem repeat (VNTR) in SLC6A3 also showed significant association with PTSD (OR = 1.62, 95% CI: 1.12–2.35; P = 0.010), but there was no association of rs4680 in COMT with PTSD (P = 0.595). Sample size is limited for some studies; type and severity of traumatic events varied across studies; we could not control for potential confounding factors, such as age at traumatic events and gender; and we could not examine gene–environment interaction due to lack of data.We found that rs1800497 in DRD2 and the VNTR in SLC6A3 showed significant association with PTSD. Future studies controlling for confounding factors, with large sample sizes and more homogeneous traumatic exposure, are needed to validate the findings from this study.
OSBPL10, RXRA and lipid metabolism confer African-ancestry protection against dengue haemorrhagic fever in admixed Cubans

Ethnic groups can display differential genetic susceptibility to infectious diseases. The arthropod-born viral dengue disease is one such disease, with empirical and limited genetic evidence showing that African ancestry may be protective against the haemorrhagic phenotype. Global ancestry analysis based on high-throughput genotyping in admixed populations can be used to test this hypothesis, while admixture mapping can map candidate protective genes. A Cuban dengue fever cohort was genotyped using a 2.5 million SNP chip. Global ancestry was ascertained through ADMIXTURE and used in a fine-matched corrected association study, while local ancestry was inferred by the RFMix algorithm. The expression of candidate genes was evaluated by RT-PCR in a Cuban dengue patient cohort and gene set enrichment analysis was performed in a Thai dengue transcriptome. OSBPL10 and RXRA candidate genes were identified, with most significant SNPs placed in inferred weak enhancers, promoters and lncRNAs. OSBPL10 had significantly lower expression in Africans than Europeans, while for RXRA several SNPs may differentially regulate its transcription between Africans and Europeans. Their expression was confirmed to change through dengue disease progression in Cuban patients and to vary with disease severity in a Thai transcriptome dataset. These genes interact in the LXR/RXR activation pathway that integrates lipid metabolism and immune functions, being a key player in dengue virus entrance into cells, its replication therein and in cytokine production. Knockdown of OSBPL10 expression in THP-1 cells by two shRNAs followed by DENV2 infection tests led to a significant reduction in DENV replication, being a direct functional proof that the lower OSBPL10 expression profile in Africans protects this ancestry against dengue disease.
Energy Consumption Estimation in Electric Vehicles Considering Driving Style

The limitation on the range of electric vehicles makes quite important to use an accurate energy consumption estimation tool. In general, estimations are based solely on the total distance, although it is known that the characteristics of the route and driving style influence significantly on energy consumption. In this paper, a tool that estimates the energy consumption of an electric vehicle in a city route taking into account such variables is shown, but without needing a deterministic knowledge of the characteristics of the vehicle or driving cycles. To do this, a neural network that takes as input data driving style and route variables is used. The validation results have been quite satisfactory to increase reliability in predicting consumption of the vehicle and enhance user confidence in the capabilities of electric vehicles.
The Effect of a Mandibular Advancement Device on Apneas and Sleep in Patients with Obstructive Sleep Apnea* Materials and Methods

Objective: To evaluate the effects of a mandibular advancement device on apneas and sleep in mild, moderate, and severe obstructive sleep apnea. Design: Prospective study. Subjects: Forty-four of 47 patients included. Intervention: Individually adjusted mandibular advancement devices. Measurements: Polysomnographic sleep recordings for 1 night without the device and 1 night with it, with a median of 1 day and no changes in weight, medication, or sleep position between the recordings. (p<0.001) in 15 patients with moderate sleep apnea, and from 53 (range, 44 to 66) to 14 (range, 2 to 32) (p<0.05) in 8 patients with severe sleep apnea. The arousal index decreased and the sleep stage patterns improved in all severity groups. Twenty-eight of 44 patients were successfully treated with an obstructive apnea-hypopnea index of below 10 and a subjective reduction in snoring. Nine of 16 patients with treatment failure still reported a reduction in snoring. The success rate correlated inversely to the disease severity (r‫;14.0؊؍‬ p<0.01). Conclusions: A mandibular advancement device reduces apneas and improves sleep quality in patients with obstructive sleep apnea, especially in those with mild and moderate disease. A follow-up sleep recording during treatment is necessary because of the risk of silent obstructive apneas without subjective snoring with the device. A mandibular advancement device is a promising new approach in the treatment of snoring and obstructive sleep apnea. 1-11 The device is noninva-sive and costs about $400 US in northern Sweden. The effect of the device on sleep-disordered breathing has been reported to vary. 1-10 Previous studies have indicated that the success rate with a mandib-ular advancement device is higher in those with moderate sleep apnea than in those with severe sleep apnea. 5,10 However, to our knowledge, the effects of the mandibular advancement device on subjects with milder forms of the disease have not been studied. Obstructive sleep apnea is associated with an increased prevalence of cardiovascular complications, such as arterial hypertension, coronary artery disease , and nocturnal angina. 12-14 The indications for the mandibular advancement device and the routines for following up sleep recordings have not been established. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of a mandibular advancement device on apneas and sleep in patients with mild, moderate, and severe obstructive sleep apnea. Subjects Forty-three men and four women who did not accept treatment with nasal continuous positive airway pressure or were not
CAROTID-ARTERY INTIMA AND MEDIA THICKNESS AS A RISK FACTOR FOR MYOCARDIAL INFARCTION AND STROKE IN OLDER ADULTS

A BSTRACT Background The combined thickness of the intima and media of the carotid artery is associated with the prevalence of cardiovascular disease. We studied the associations between the thickness of the carotidartery intima and media and the incidence of new myocardial infarction or stroke in persons without clinical cardiovascular disease. Methods Noninvasive measurements of the intima and media of the common and internal carotid artery were made with high-resolution ultrasonography in 5858 subjects 65 years of age or older. Cardiovascular events (new myocardial infarction or stroke) served as outcome variables in subjects without clinical cardiovascular disease (4476 subjects) over a median follow-up period of 6.2 years. Results The incidence of cardiovascular events correlated with measurements of carotid-artery intima–media thickness. The relative risk of myocardial infarction or stroke increased with intima–media thickness (P<0.001). The relative risk of myocardial infarction or stroke (adjusted for age and sex) for the quintile with the highest thickness as compared with the lowest quintile was 3.87 (95 percent confidence interval, 2.72 to 5.51). The association between cardiovascular events and intima–media thickness remained significant after adjustment for traditional risk factors, showing increasing risks for each quintile of combined intima–media thickness, from the second quintile (relative risk, 1.54; 95 percent confidence interval, 1.04 to 2.28), to the third (relative risk, 1.84; 95 percent confidence interval, 1.26 to 2.67), fourth (relative risk, 2.01; 95 percent confidence interval, 1.38 to 2.91), and fifth (relative risk, 3.15; 95 percent confidence interval, 2.19 to 4.52). The results of separate analyses of myocardial infarction and stroke paralleled those for the combined end point. Conclusions Increases in the thickness of the intima and media of the carotid artery, as measured noninvasively by ultrasonography, are directly associated with an increased risk of myocardial infarction and stroke in older adults without a history of cardiovascular disease. (N Engl J Med 1999;340:14-22.)
Design of a System Substituting Today’s Inherent Inertia in the European Continental Synchronous Area

In alternating current (AC) power systems the power generated by power plants has to match the power drawn by consumers plus the system losses at any time. In the case of an imbalance between generation and consumption the frequency in the system deviates from its rated value. In order to avoid an unsuitable frequency, control power plants have to step in to level out this imbalance. Control power plants need time to adjust their power, which is why the inertial behaviour of today’s AC systems is crucial for frequency control. In this paper it is discussed that the inertia in the European Continental Synchronous Area decreases due to the transition to renewable energy sources. This will become a problem for frequency control, which is why the provision of non-inherent inertia is proposed. This system consists of fast-responding energy storage. Its dimensions in terms of power and energy are determined. Since such non-inherent inertia requires investments a cost-efficient solution has to be found. Different technologies are compared in terms of the newly-introduced levelised cost of inertia. This paper concludes with the proposal that in future inertia should be traded and with the recommendation to use flywheels for this purpose, as these are the most cost-efficient solution for this task.
Association Analysis of Grain-setting Rates in Apical and Basal Spikelets in Bread Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

The rates of grain-setting in apical and basal spikelets in wheat directly affect the kernel number per spike (KNPS). In this study, 220 wheat lines from 18 Chinese provinces and five foreign countries were used as a natural population. Phenotypic analysis showed differences in grain-setting rates between apical and basal spikelets. The broad-sense heritability of grain-setting rate in apical spikelets (18.7–21.0%) was higher than that for basal spikelets (9.4–16.4%). Significant correlations were found between KNPS and grain numbers in apical (R2 = 0.40–0.45, P < 0.01) and basal (R2 = 0.41–0.56, P < 0.01) spikelets. Seventy two of 106 SSR markers were associated with grain setting, 32 for apical spikelets, and 34 for basal spikelets. The SSR loci were located on 17 chromosomes, except 3A, 3D, 4A, and 7D, and explained 3.7–22.9% of the phenotypic variance. Four markers, Xcfa2153-1A202, Xgwm186-5A118, Xgwm156-3B319, and Xgwm537-7B210, showed the largest effects on grain numbers in apical and basal spikelets. High grain numbers in apical and basal spikelets were associated with elite alleles. Ningmai 9, Ning 0569, and Yangmai 18 with high grain-setting rates carried larger numbers of favorable alleles. Comparison of grain numbers in basal and apical spikelets of 35 Yangmai and Ningmai lines indicated that the Ningmai lines had better grain-setting rates (mean 21.4) than the Yangmai lines (16.5).
RNA-Mediated Gene Silencing of Nicotinamide N-Methyltransferase Is Associated with Decreased Tumorigenicity in Human Oral Carcinoma Cells

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is the most common type of oral cancer. Despite progress in the treatment of OSCC, overall survival has not improved substantially in the last three decades. Therefore, identification of reliable biomarkers becomes essential to develop effective anti-cancer therapy. In this study, we focused on the enzyme Nicotinamide N-methyltransferase (NNMT), which plays a fundamental role in the biotransformation of many xenobiotics. Although several tumors have been associated with abnormal NNMT expression, its role in cancer cell metabolism remains largely unknown. In this report, 7 human oral cancer cell lines were examined for NNMT expression by Real-Time PCR, Western blot and HPLC-based catalytic assay. Subsequently, we evaluated the in vitro effect of shRNA-mediated silencing of NNMT on cell proliferation. In vivo tumorigenicity of oral cancer cells with stable knockdown of NNMT was assayed by using xenograft models. High expression levels of NNMT were found in PE/CA PJ-15 cells, in keeping with the results of Western blot and catalytic activity assay. PE/CA PJ-15 cell line was stably transfected with shRNA plasmids against NNMT and analyzed by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) and soft agar Assays. Transfected and control cells were injected into athymic mice in order to evaluate the effect of NNMT silencing on tumor growth. NNMT downregulation resulted in decreased cell proliferation and colony formation ability on soft agar. In athymic mice, NNMT silencing induced a marked reduction in tumour volume. Our results show that the downregulation of NNMT expression in human oral carcinoma cells significantly inhibits cell growth in vitro and tumorigenicity in vivo. All these experimental data seem to suggest that NNMT plays a critical role in the proliferation and tumorigenic capacity of oral cancer cells, and its inhibition could represent a potential molecular approach to the treatment of oral carcinoma.