Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Middle Miocene evolution and structural style of the Diapir Fold Zone, Eastern Carpathian Bend Zone, Romania: insights from scaled analogue modelling

Abstract The Diapir Fold Zone of the Carpathians is the most prolific onshore hydrocarbon area in Romania. Structural complexity, mainly due to the presence of salt, combined with poor seismic quality near and below the salt lead to contrasting structural models in the area. To gain insights into the mid-Miocene tectonic evolution, structural geometries and the effects of penetrative strain, we ran dual décollement scaled sandbox models with layered brittle and ductile materials. Results of two analogue models (20 and 33% shortening) revealed that the onset of the deformation sequence was mainly characterized by layer-parallel shortening. As shortening continued, a foreland-verging sequence of supra-salt detachment folds and sub-salt duplexes evolved. The sub-salt duplexes are located directly below the crests of the detachment folds, as the development of these large wavelength anticlines was related to sub-salt deformation. Salt flow was another controlling factor of the deformation style, as salt accumulated in the anticlinal cores and increased the coupling in the supra-salt synclinal axis. Our results offer insights into the effects of salt on the kinematic evolution of this area, help to predict geometries in areas of poor seismic quality, and highlight the important contribution of penetrative strain on deformation and reservoir quality.
Motor Control of the Hands: The Effect of Familial Sinistrality

Left-and right-handed subjects, selected on the basis of degree of hand preference and for the presence or absence of familial sinistrality, responded to monaurally presented tonal stimuli (440 Hz note played on four different instruments) using their right and left hands on separate occasions. It was found that in both the strong left-handers and the inconsistent strong right-handers, motor control of the hands was related to familial sinistrality (FS). Specifically, strong left-handers and inconsistent strong right-handers with FS have a difference in the motor control of the hands in the left hemisphere, with a left hemisphere-left hand advantage. Strong left-handers and inconsistent strong righthanders with no FS have a difference in the motor control of the hands in the right hemisphere, with a right hemisphere-left hand advantage.
Scalable Model-Based Management of Massive High Frequency Wind Turbine Data with ModelarDB

Modern wind turbines are monitored by sensors that generate massive amounts of time series data that is ingested on the edge before it is transferred to the cloud where it is stored and queried. This results in at least four challenges: 1) High frequency time series data must be ingested on limited hardware fast enough to keep up with the generation; 2) Limited bandwidth makes it impossible to transfer the data without compression; 3) High storage costs when data is stored; and 4) Low data quality to unbounded lossy compression methods commonly used by practitioners. Practitioners currently use solutions that only solve some of these challenges. In this paper, we evaluate a solution for the entire pipeline based on the Time Series Management System ModelarDB that addresses all four challenges efficiently. With ModelarDB, the user can exploit both lossless and error-bounded lossy compression. We evaluate the solution in a realistic edge-to-cloud scenario with real-world data under different aspects. For lossless compression, ModelarDB achieves up to 1.5x better compression and 1.2x better transfer efficiency than lossless solutions commonly used by practitioners. For lossy compression, ModelarDB offers significant compression comparable to a lossy method commonly used by practitioners today. However, ModelarDB has orders of magnitude smaller errors.
Loss of Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor in Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells and Cardiomyocytes Causes Arterial Hypotension and Cardiac Hypertrophy

The epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), a receptor tyrosine kinase, contributes to parainflammatory dysregulation, possibly causing cardiovascular dysfunction and remodeling. The physiological role of cardiovascular EGFR is not completely understood. To investigate the physiological importance of EGFR in vascular smooth muscle cells and cardiomyocytes, we generated a mouse model with targeted deletion of the EGFR using the SM22 (smooth muscle-specific protein 22) promoter. While the reproduction of knockout animals was not impaired, life span was significantly reduced. Systolic blood pressure was not different between the 2 genotypes—neither in tail cuff nor in intravascular measurements—whereas total peripheral vascular resistance, diastolic blood pressure, and mean blood pressure were reduced. Loss of vascular smooth muscle cell-EGFR results in a dilated vascular phenotype with minor signs of fibrosis and inflammation. Echocardiography, necropsy, and histology revealed a dramatic eccentric cardiac hypertrophy in knockout mice (2.5-fold increase in heart weight), with increased stroke volume and cardiac output as well as left ventricular wall thickness and lumen. Cardiac hypertrophy is accompanied by an increase in cardiomyocyte volume, a strong tendency to cardiac fibrosis and inflammation, as well as enhanced NADPH-oxidase 4 and hypertrophy marker expression. Thus, in cardiomyocytes, EGFR prevents excessive hypertrophic growth through its impact on reactive oxygen species balance, whereas in vascular smooth muscle cells EGFR contributes to the appropriate vascular wall architecture and vessel reactivity, thereby supporting a physiological vascular tone.
Robust scan matching localization using ultrasonic range finders

The work presented in this paper deals with scan matching localization using ultrasonic range sensors. Our contribution resides in the extension of ICP based algorithms to be used with ultrasonic sensor data. This extension consists of a pre-process step, where ultrasonic sensor readings are grouped to overcome their sparseness, and a post-process step, where the whole robot trajectory involved in the grouping process is corrected. Thanks to that a great improvement with respect to odometry is obtained. Experimental results show that even huge odometric errors are corrected with the presented method.
Preoperative Evaluation Prior to High-Risk Vascular Surgery

The number of patients undergoing noncardiac surgery worldwide is growing, and annually 500,000 to 900,000 of these patients experience perioperative cardiac death, nonfatal perioper‐ ative myocardial infarction (PMI) or cardiac arrest [1]. Over 300,000 surgical revascularization procedures are performed in the US annually as part of the treatment of expanding abdominal aortic aneurysms, critical limb ischemia, and severe carotid disease [2].
The Relationship Between Strength and Light Scattering Coefficient for Filled Papers

The apparent light scattering coefficient of a filler can be shown to be dependent on pulp type, freeness and sheet forming conditions . This is because a large part of this apparent light scattering is in fact due to the effect filter has on pulp. In this paper an attempt is made to provide a mechanistic model for the interaction and provide a quantitative expression relating light scattering to the effect of filler on the fibre as represented by the change in sheet strength. Examples are given of the use of this model to explain the effects of changes in wet pressing pressure and filler aggregation on the apparent light scattering of the filler.
THE INFLUENCE OF OWNERSHIP STRUCTURE ON CORPORATION PERFORMANCE: EVIDENCE FROM SAUDI LISTED CORPORATIONS

How to cite this paper: Alruwaili, T. F. , Al-Matari, E. M. , Mgammal, M. H. , & Alnor, N. H. A. (2024). The influence of ownership structure on corporation performance: Evidence from Saudi listed corporations [Special issue]. Corporate & Business Strategy Review, 5 (1)
Group personality during collective decision-making: a multi-level approach

Collective decision-making processes emerge from social feedback networks within a group. Many studies on collective behaviour underestimate the role of individual personality and, as a result, personality is rarely analysed in the context of collective dynamics. Here, we show evidence of sheltering behaviour personality in a gregarious insect (Periplaneta americana), which is characterized by a collective personality at the group level. We also highlight that the individuals within groups exhibited consistent personality traits in their probability of sheltering and total time sheltered during the three trials over one week. Moreover, the group personality, which arises from the synergy between the distribution of behaviour profiles in the group and social amplifications, affected the sheltering dynamics. However, owing to its robustness, personality did not affect the group probability of reaching a consensus. Finally, to prove social interactions, we developed a new statistical method that will be helpful for future research on personality traits and group behaviour. This approach will help to identify the circumstances under which particular group compositions may improve the fitness of individuals in gregarious species.
Assessment of the Antitussive Efficacy of Codeine in Cough Associated with Common Cold

Codeine is generally accepted as the standard antitussive against which new antitussive medications are compared. This presents a problem because the support for codeine's antitussive activity comes from studies on cough in animals, and chronic and induced cough models in man, whereas antitussives are almost exclusively used for the treatment of cough associated with acute upper respiratory tract infection (URTI). The aims of this study were twofold. Firstly, to study the antitussive efficacy of codeine in cough associated with URTI and, secondly, to validate a sound meter as tool for quantifying cough.
An update on surgical and antimicrobial therapy for acute periprosthetic joint infection: new challenges for the present and the future

Periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) is a devastating complication that can occur following any arthroplasty procedure. Approximately half of these infections develop within the first year after arthroplasty, mainly in the first 1 to 3 months. These infections are known as early PJI. It is widely accepted that many early PJIs can be successfully managed by debridement, irrigation, and prosthetic retention, followed by a course of biofilm-effective antibiotics (debridement, antibiotics, implant retention procedure), but candidate patients should meet the requirements set down in Zimmerli’s algorithm. The best antibiotic regimen for acute PJI treated without implant removal remains uncertain. Rifampin-containing regimens, when feasible, are recommended in gram-positive infections, and fluoroquinolones in gram-negative cases. The duration, dosage, and administration route of antibiotics and the use of combined therapy are matters that requires further clarification, as the current level of evidence is low and most recommendations are based on experimental data, studies in small series, and expert experience.
Copula and ARMA based study of controlled outflow at Farakka barrage

Abstract. In this study, 25 years mean monthly out flow discharge data of Farakka barrage was used (i.e., from 1949 to 1968). Farakka barrage is located between on Ganga River. Spatial and temporal variation in flow rate for any particular area is very common due to various meteorological and other factors existing in nature. But large variations in these factors cause extreme events (e. g., floods and droughts). Monthly outflow discharge for a particular critical month are predicted using statistical models (ARMA Model and Copula Model). Different Copulas (i.e., Normal, t, Frank, Clayton, Gumbel–Hoggard, Ali–Mikhail–Haq) are used for this purpose and the copula model is selected based on distribution functions (Normal distribution, Lognormal distribution, Extreme value type-1 distribution, Generalized Extreme value type, Gamma distribution, Weibull distribution, Exponential distribution). The distribution is selected based on the Mean square error (MSE), Akaike Information Criterion (AIC), and Bayesian Information Criterion (BIC). The model parameters were computed using the Maximum Likelihood (ML) estimation method.
The Open University ’ s repository of research publications and other research outputs Does governance make a difference to corporate performance in the financial crisis ? UK Evidence Conference Item

This paper examines the effectiveness of internal corporate governance mechanisms for improving the performance of financial firms in the UK. Using Generalised Methods of Moments (GMM) estimates that control for dynamic endogeneity, this study shows that firm performance as measured by Total Shareholder Returns (TSR) and Return on Equity (ROE) is negatively associated with the level of non-compliance with the UK Corporate Governance Code. The study also finds that having a higher number of internal controls is most effective monitoring mechanism and is positively associated with firm performance. However, against our expectations, board independence represented by the number of non-executive directs (NEDs) is the least effective monitoring mechanism and is negatively associated with the performance of firms. The study also shows that directors’ share ownership is an effective incentive mechanism for aligning their interests with shareholders as it is positively associated with firm performance. However, results of the study suggest that directors’ remuneration is negatively associated with performance. Finally, the study provides evidence which indicates that board size impact the performance of firms differently in different time periods. As proposed by agency theory the study provides evidence that shows the positive impact of effective monitoring and incentive alignment for performance. It also provides support for the resource dependence view that directors are a critical resource during difficult economic times.
Embryonic Lethality in Homozygous Human Her-2 Transgenic Mice Due to Disruption of the Pds5b Gene

The development of antigen-targeted therapeutics is dependent on the preferential expression of tumor-associated antigens (TAA) at targetable levels on the tumor. Tumor-associated antigens can be generated de novo or can arise from altered expression of normal basal proteins, such as the up-regulation of human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (Her2/ErbB2). To properly assess the development of Her2 therapeutics in an immune tolerant model, we previously generated a transgenic mouse model in which expression of the human Her2 protein was present in both the brain and mammary tissue. This mouse model has facilitated the development of Her2 targeted therapies in a clinically relevant and suitable model. While heterozygous Her2+/- mice appear to develop in a similar manner to wild type mice (Her2-/-), it has proven difficult to generate homozygous Her2+/+ mice, potentially due to embryonic lethality. In this study, we performed whole genome sequencing to determine if the integration site of the Her2 transgene was responsible for this lethality. Indeed, we report that the Her2 transgene had integrated into the Pds5b (precocious dissociation of sisters) gene on chromosome 5, as a 162 copy concatemer. Furthermore, our findings demonstrate that Her2+/+ mice, similar to Pds5b-/- mice, are embryonic lethal and confirm the necessity for Pds5b in embryonic development. This study confirms the value of whole genome sequencing in determining the integration site of transgenes to gain insight into associated phenotypes.
COMPROMISO Y ADICCIÓN NEGATIVA AL ENTRENAMIENTO Y COMPETICIÓN DE LOS MARATONIANOS

El compromiso y la adiccion negativa al entrenamiento y competicion son estudiados en una amplia muestra de maratonianos en Espana. El dia previo a la carrera, durante la �Feria del corredor�, se administro un cuestionario con la CR-11, RAS-8 y valiosos datos descriptivos de la muestra. Se comprobo que era correcta la hipotesis de que el compromiso y la adiccion negativa en los maratonianos son conceptos diferentes; puesto que se predicen por diferentes variables sociodemograficas, de entrenamiento y rendimiento, existiendo tambien diferencias por sexos. No obstante, existe una alta correlacion entre ambos, concluyendose que en los maratonianos la adiccion negativa (no deseable) suele adquirirse como consecuencia del compromiso (sano y deseable) y de entrenar mas dias a la semana para evadirse u olvidarse, en el caso de los hombres, de las preocupaciones de los hijos y el trabajo, y en el caso de las mujeres, de las preocupaciones de los hijos, sobre todo cuando estas llevan menos anos corriendo. Por ultimo, algunas variables manejadas como predictoras, finalmente no resultaron serlo
Prodigiosin Induces Autolysins in Actively Grown Bacillus subtilis Cells

Prodigiosin produced by marine bacterium Vibrio ruber DSM 14379 exhibits a potent antimicrobial activity against a broad range of Gram positive and Gram negative bacteria. The mechanism of prodigiosin antimicrobial action, however, is not known. In this work, the effect of prodigiosin on Bacillus subtilis growth, cell membrane leakage, and induction of autolysins was studied. Treating B. subtilis with prodigiosin resulted in rapid decline of optical density and increased cell membrane leakage measured by β-galactosidase activity. Cell lysis was initiated immediately after treatment with prodigiosin in the middle exponential phase and was completed within 2 h. Lytic activity of prodigiosin in mutant strains with impaired autolysin genes lytABCD decreased for 80% compared to the wild type strain, while in lytABCDEF mutant strain prodigiosin had no bacteriolytic but only bacteriostatic effect. Fast prodigiosin lytic activity on individual B. subtilis cells was confirmed by a modified comet assay. The results indicate that prodigiosin autolysin induction in B. subtilis is growth phase dependent.
Genome-Wide Gene Expression Analysis in Response to Organophosphorus Pesticide Chlorpyrifos and Diazinon in C. elegans

Organophosphorus pesticides (OPs) were originally designed to affect the nervous system by inhibiting the enzyme acetylcholinesterase, an important regulator of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine. Over the past years evidence is mounting that these compounds affect many other processes. Little is known, however, about gene expression responses against OPs in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. This is surprising because C. elegans is extensively used as a model species in toxicity studies. To address this question we performed a microarray study in C. elegans which was exposed for 72 hrs to two widely used Ops, chlorpyrifos and diazinon, and a low dose mixture of these two compounds. Our analysis revealed transcriptional responses related to detoxification, stress, innate immunity, and transport and metabolism of lipids in all treatments. We found that for both compounds as well as in the mixture, these processes were regulated by different gene transcripts. Our results illustrate intense, and unexpected crosstalk between gene pathways in response to chlorpyrifos and diazinon in C. elegans.
Antibacterial nanosilver coated orthodontic bands with potential implications in dentistry

Background & objectives: Fixed orthodontic treatment, an indispensable procedure in orthodontics, necessitates insertion of dental bands. Insertion of band material could also introduce a site of plaque retention. It was hypothesized that band materials with slow-release antimicrobial properties could help in sustained infection control, prevention of dental plaque formation and further associated health risks. Considering the known antimicrobial proprieties of silver, a coating of silver nanoparticle (SNP) onto the stainless steel bands was done and characterized for its beneficial properties in the prevention of plaque accumulation. Methods: Coatings of SNPs on conventional stainless steel dental bands were prepared using thermal evaporation technology. The coated dental bands were characterized for their physicochemical properties and evaluated for antimicrobial activity and biocompatibility. The physiochemical characterization of band material both coated and uncoated was carried out using scanning electron microscope, energy dispersive spectroscopy, atomic force microscopyand contact angle test. Biocompatibility tests for coated band material were carried using L929 mouse fibroblast cell culture and MTT [3-(4, 5-dimethyl thiazol-2-yl)-2, 5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide] assay. Antimicrobial activity of coated band material against Gram-positive bacteria was tested. Results: A stable and uniform coating of SNPs was obtained. The coated band materials were biocompatible as well as possessed distinct antimicrobial activity. Interpretation & conclusions: The SNP coated dental bands could be potential antimicrobial dental bands for future clinical use. Further studies need to be done to validate the efficiency of coated band materials in oral environments.
How Can Deep Rectifier Networks Achieve Linear Separability and Preserve Distances?

This paper investigates how hidden layers of deep rectifier networks are capable of transforming two or more pattern sets to be linearly separable while preserving the distances with a guaranteed degree, and proves the universal classification power of such distance preserving rectifier networks. Through the nearly isometric nonlinear transformation in the hidden layers, the margin of the linear separating plane in the output layer and the margin of the nonlinear separating boundary in the original data space can be closely related so that the maximum margin classification in the input data space can be achieved approximately via the maximum margin linear classifiers in the output layer. The generalization performance of such distance preserving deep rectifier neural networks can be well justified by the distance-preserving properties of their hidden layers and the maximum margin property of the linear classifiers in the output layer.
Development Temperature Has Persistent Effects on Muscle Growth Responses in Gilthead Sea Bream

Initially we characterised growth responses to altered nutritional input at the transcriptional and tissue levels in the fast skeletal muscle of juvenile gilthead sea bream. Fish reared at 21–22°C (range) were fed a commercial diet at 3% body mass d−1 (non-satiation feeding, NSF) for 4 weeks, fasted for 4d (F) and then fed to satiation (SF) for 21d. 13 out of 34 genes investigated showed consistent patterns of regulation between nutritional states. Fasting was associated with a 20-fold increase in MAFbx, and a 5-fold increase in Six1 and WASp expression, which returned to NSF levels within 16h of SF. Refeeding to satiation was associated with a rapid (<24 h) 12 to 17-fold increase in UNC45, Hsp70 and Hsp90α transcripts coding for molecular chaperones associated with unfolded protein response pathways. The growth factors FGF6 and IGF1 increased 6.0 and 4.5-fold within 16 h and 24 h of refeeding respectively. The average growth in diameter of fast muscle fibres was checked with fasting and significant fibre hypertrophy was only observed after 13d and 21d SF. To investigate developmental plasticity in growth responses we used the same experimental protocol with fish reared at either 17.5–18.5°C (range) (LT) or 21–22°C (range) (HT) to metamorphosis and then transferred to 21–22°C. There were persistent effects of development temperature on muscle growth patterns with 20% more fibres of lower average diameter in LT than HT group of similar body size. Altering the nutritional input to the muscle to stimulate growth revealed cryptic changes in the expression of UNC45 and Hsp90α with higher transcript abundance in the LT than HT groups, whereas there were no differences in the expression of MAFbx and Six1. It was concluded that myogenesis and gene expression patterns during growth are not fixed, but can be modified by temperature during the early stages of the life cycle.