Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Apparent stress variations near the Osa Peninsula, Costa Rica, influenced by subducted bathymetric features

We compute apparent stress for 114 aftershocks (0.9 ≤ ML ≤ 3.7) of the 1999 Mw = 6.9 Quepos, Costa Rica, thrust‐faulting earthquake to examine the influence of subducting plate topographic complexity near the Osa Peninsula on earthquake rupture. Using seismic coda techniques, we find a heterogeneous distribution in apparent stress of 0.1–2.5 MPa (mean 0.6 MPa) for these aftershocks. Mean aftershock apparent stress is more than twice the global mean for thrust‐faulting earthquakes at oceanic subduction zones and 1.5 times the mean for events just northward along the margin near the Nicoya Peninsula where the subducting plate has lower relief. We also find constant source scaling for the Osa aftershocks. The variation in apparent stress found near the Osa Peninsula, and high mean as compared to global and regional values, suggest areas of stress concentration in the region of bathymetric complexity in the subduction zone.
On Pseudorandomness with respect to Deterministic Observes

In the theory of pseudorandomness, potential (uniform) observers are modeled as probabilistic polynomial-time machines. In fact many of the central results in that theory are proven via probabilistic polynomial-time reductions. In this paper we show that analogous deterministic reductions are unlikely to hold. We conclude that randomness of the observer is essential to the theory of pseudorandomness. What we actually prove is that the hypotheses of two central theorems (in the theory of pseudorandomness) hold unconditionally when stated with respect to deterministic polynomial-time algorithms. Thus, if these theorems were true for deterministic observers, then their conclusions would hold unconditionally, which we consider unlikely. For example, it would imply (unconditionally) that any unary language in BPP is in P. The results are proven using diagonalization and pairwise independent sample spaces.
When does work stress hurt? Testing the interaction with socioeconomic position in the Heinz Nixdorf Recall Study

Study objective: To study systematically the separate and combined effects of work stress and socioeconomic position on three measures of health in an unselected working population. Design: Two exposures (high demand/low control (“job strain”); effort–reward imbalance at work) are related to angina pectoris, depression, and poor self-rated health in a cross-sectional study design in which socioeconomic position was measured by occupational position and educational level. Setting: Baseline data of a prospective population-based cohort study in Germany, collected between 2000 and 2003. Participants: 1749 employed or self-employed men and women (36.3% of total sample) aged 45–65 years. Main results: Effort–reward imbalance and job strain were associated with elevated odds ratios of all three health measures, using logistic regression analysis. The prevalence of poorer health was always highest in subgroups defined by high work stress and low socioeconomic position, with respective odds ratios ranging from 2.30 to 2.98 (95% CI 1.38 to 4.52) for self-rated health, 1.70 to 2.24 (95% CI 1.04 to 3.88) for angina and 2.61 to 8.20 (95% CI 1.53 to 14.15) for depression. Conclusion: Although stress at work was related to poorer health in the total study group, the strongest associations were consistently observed in men and women with low educational level or low occupational position. Worksite health promotion should be directed primarily towards these target groups.
Cost-benefit analysis of mollusc eating in a shorebird I. Foraging and processing costs estimated by the doubly labelled water method

SUMMARY Although the energy costs of foraging and food processing in vertebrates may be considerable, they have rarely been quantified separately. Here we present estimates for both cost factors based on a series of trials with a shorebird, the red knot Calidris canutus, fed natural and artificial prey types under naturalistic but fully controlled indoor aviary conditions. During eight 1-day trials we successfully manipulated the extent to which the five red knots were (1) actively probing and walking (i.e. foraging) and (2) actually ingesting prey (i.e. processing food) that was (3) either hard-shelled or not (i.e. crushing). Energy expenditures, estimated by the doubly labelled water (DLW) method, calibrated for use in this particular condition, varied between 1.5 and 4 W. A hierarchical analysis of variance indicated that the crushing of hard-shelled prey entailed no extra cost. We arrived at the following breakdown of cost components under the thermoneutral conditions of the experiment: a cost of active rest/maintenance of 1.665 W, an additional cost of foraging of 0.602 W and an additional digestive processing cost of 1.082 W. These cost levels are all well within the range of expectation and are consistent with the results of a separate outdoor aviary experiment in which the thermostatic costs needed separate estimation. On the basis of the cost and performance functions of gizzards of different mass, it was shown that under the conditions of this experiment the red knots expended the bare minimum for a balanced budget, maintaining the smallest possible gizzard. Under field conditions a larger gizzard would be required.
PTAS for Ordered Instances of Resource Allocation Problems with Restrictions on Inclusions

We consider the problem of allocating a set $I$ of $m$ indivisible resources (items) to a set $P$ of $n$ customers (players) competing for the resources. Each resource $j \in I$ has a same value $v_j > 0$ for a subset of customers interested in $j$, and zero value for the remaining customers. The utility received by each customer is the sum of the values of the resources allocated to her. The goal is to find a feasible allocation of the resources to the interested customers such that for the Max-Min allocation problem (Min-Max allocation problem) the minimum of the utilities (maximum of the utilities) received by the customers is maximized (minimized). The Max-Min allocation problem is also known as the \textit{Fair Allocation problem}, or the \textit{Santa Claus problem}. The Min-Max allocation problem is the problem of Scheduling on Unrelated Parallel Machines, and is also known as the $R \, | \, | C_{\max}$ problem. In this paper, we are interested in instances of the problem that admit a Polynomial Time Approximation Scheme (PTAS). We show that an ordering property on the resources and the customers is important and paves the way for a PTAS. For the Max-Min allocation problem, we start with instances of the problem that can be viewed as a \textit{convex bipartite graph}; a bipartite graph for which there exists an ordering of the resources such that each customer is interested in (has a positive evaluation for) a set of \textit{consecutive} resources. We demonstrate a PTAS for the inclusion-free cases. This class of instances is equivalent to the class of bipartite permutation graphs. For the Min-Max allocation problem, we also obtain a PTAS for inclusion-free instances. These instances are not only of theoretical interest but also have practical applications.
Loess–paleosol carbonate clumped isotope record of late Pleistocene–Holocene climate change in the Palouse region, Washington State, USA

Abstract The Channeled Scabland–Palouse region of the Pacific Northwest (PNW) of the United States preserves geomorphic and pedosedimentary records that inform understanding of late Pleistocene–Holocene paleoclimate change in a region proximal to the last glacial period Cordilleran Ice Sheet. We present a clumped (Δ47) and conventional (δ18O, δ13C) isotopic study of Palouse loess–paleosol carbonates in combination with carbonate radiocarbon (14C) dating to provide new measures of regional late–last glacial (~31–20 cal ka BP) and Holocene soil conditions. Average clumped isotope temperatures (T(Δ47)) for last glacial Palouse loess–paleosol carbonates (9±4°C) are significantly lower than those for Holocene-aged carbonates (T(Δ47)=18±2°C) in study sections. Calculated soil water δ18OVSMOW values (−16±2‰) for last glacial carbonates are also offset relative to those for Holocene-aged samples (−11±1‰), whereas calculated soil CO2 δ13CVPDB values are similar for the Holocene (−16.9±0.2‰) and late–last glacial (−16.7±1.1‰) periods. Together, these paleoclimate metrics indicate late–last glacial conditions of pedogenic carbonate formation in the C3 grassland soils of the Palouse were measurably colder (9±5°C) than during the Holocene and potentially reflect a more arid last glacial paleoclimate across the Palouse, findings in agreement with previous proxy studies and climate model simulations for the region.
A Homologue of the Tryptophan-Rich Sensory Protein TspO and FixL Regulate a Novel Nutrient Deprivation-Induced Sinorhizobium meliloti Locus

ABSTRACT A nutrient deprivation-induced locus in Sinorhizobium meliloti strain 1021 was identified by use of a Tn5-luxAB reporter gene transposon. The tagged locus is comprised of two open reading frames (ORFs) designatedndiA and ndiB for nutrient deprivation-induced genes A and B. Comparison of the deduced amino acid sequences of bothndiA and ndiB to the protein databases failed to reveal similarity to any known genes. The expression of thendi locus was found to be induced by carbon and nitrogen deprivation, osmotic stress, and oxygen limitation and during entry into stationary phase. To identify regulatory components involved in the control of ndi gene expression, a second round of mutagenesis was performed on the primaryndiB::Tn5-luxAB-tagged strain (C22) with transposon Tn1721. A double-mutant strain was obtained that lacked ndi locus transcriptional activity under all of the inducing conditions tested. The Tn1721-tagged gene showed a high degree of similarity to tryptophan-rich sensory protein TspO from Rhodobacter sphaeroides, as well as to mitochondrial benzodiazepine receptor pK18 from mammals. Induction of thendi::Tn5-luxAB reporter gene fusion was restored under all inducing conditions by introducing thetspO coding region, from either S. meliloti orR. sphaeroides, in trans. Furthermore, it was found that, in addition to tspO,fixL, which encodes the sensor protein of an oxygen-sensing two-component system, is required for full expression of thendi locus, but only under low oxygen tension.
The Outer Membrane of Gram-Negative Bacteria Inhibits Antibacterial Activity of Brochocin-C

ABSTRACT Brochocin-C is a two-peptide bacteriocin produced byBrochothrix campestris ATCC 43754 that has a broad activity spectrum comparable to that of nisin. Brochocin-C has an inhibitory effect on EDTA-treated gram-negative bacteria, Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium lipopolysaccharide mutants, and spheroplasts of Typhimurium strains LT2 and SL3600. Brochocin-C treatment of cells and spheroplasts of strains of LT2 and SL3600 resulted in hydrolysis of ATP. The outer membrane of gram-negative bacteria protects the cytoplasmic membrane from the action of brochocin-C. It appears that brochocin-C is similar to nisin and possibly does not require a membrane receptor for its function; however, the difference in effect of the two bacteriocins on intracellular ATP indicates that they cause different pore sizes in the cytoplasmic membrane.
Measurement and Method in Radiofrequency Radiation Exposure Assessments.

Radiofrequency radiation dosimetry describes how this radiation is being absorbed in the body. The basic units of measuring the radiofrequency exposure are the electric E (V/m), magnetic B (A/m) field strength, the power density S (W/m 2 ), and the Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) (W/kg). Many studies have made use of different types of instruments to assess the level of radiofrequency radiation exposure in an environment, and these types of equipment are either broad band meters or narrow band meters (spectrum analyzers). Different procedures or methods are used in radiofrequency radiation assessment, both in instrumentation and in measurement. From different studies, radiofrequency assessment methods are based on the study area of the studies, sampling time considered for the study, exposure distance relationship, the need for preliminary investigation and the choice of making use of a theoretical approach to the study.
Controlling Pain Reports through Operant Conditioning: A Laboratory Demonstration

Operant conditioning of pain reports was studied in two laboratory experiments. In the first one 5 subjects were given the same pain stimulus on 15 trials and their recorded pain ratings gave no systematic trends across subjects. 8 other subjects received the same pain tests but on some of the trials increases or decreases in pain ratings were verbally reinforced while the noxious stimulus was held constant across trials. Clear and significant differences between reinforced increases and decreases in pain reports were observed. In Exp. 2, 5 subjects were given neutral feedback and systematically decreasing levels of noxious stimulation, resulting in a good correlation between pain ratings and stimulation level. 5 subjects were provided reinforcement for increasing pain reports while the pain stimulus was systematically reduced. Increases in pain reports were observed simultaneously with large decreases in the level of the noxious stimulus. Results of these experiments support the operant conception of pain.
Desperately seeking reductions in health inequalities: perspectives of UK researchers on past, present and future directions in health inequalities research

Abstract Following government commitments to reducing health inequalities from 1997 onwards, the UK has been recognised as a global leader in health inequalities research and policy. Yet health inequalities have continued to widen by most measures, prompting calls for new research agendas and advocacy to facilitate greater public support for the upstream policies that evidence suggests are required. However, there is currently no agreement as to what new research might involve or precisely what public health egalitarians ought to be advocating. This article presents an analysis of discussions among 52 researchers to consider the feasibility that research‐informed advocacy around particular solutions to health inequalities may emerge in the UK. The data indicate there is a consensus that more should be been done to learn from post‐1997 efforts to reduce health inequalities, and an obvious desire to provide clearer policy guidance in future. However, discussions as to where researchers should now focus their efforts and with whom researchers ought to be engaging reveal three distinct ways of approaching health inequalities, each of which has its own epistemological foundations. Such differences imply that a consensus on reducing health inequalities is unlikely to materialise. Instead, progress seems most likely if all three approaches are simultaneously enabled.
Inadvertent stenting of patent ductus arteriosus with Amplatzer Vascular Plug

We report a 12‐month old patient who presented for murmur evaluation after percutaneous closure of type C patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) using a 10 mm Amplatzer Vascular Plug (AGA Medical Corporation, Golden Valley, MN) at an outside institution. Echocardiography revealed a large left‐to‐right shunt through the implanted device, inadvertently stenting the PDA instead of closing it. The patient underwent repeat catheterization with successful coil implantation within the Amplatzer Vascular Plug, completely eliminating the large residual ductal shunt. Although challenging, this case illustrates the technique of implanting coils within this occlusion device. This case also illustrates that occlusion of type C PDA utilizing the Amplatzer Vascular Plug may not only result in incomplete occlusion but also create a potentially worse clinical situation in which the PDA is stretched larger and stented open. Without consideration of simultaneous coil implantation within this device, use of the Amplatzer Vascular Plug might be contraindicated in type C PDA, because there may be no way to ensure successful closure by the Vascular Plug alone. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Fatigue system reliability analysis of riveted railway bridge connections

A system-based model for fatigue assessment of riveted railway bridge connections, comprising a number of basic components, is presented in this article. Probabilistic fatigue load spectra are developed through Monte Carlo simulation of train passages over a finite element model of a typical, short-span bridge. Uncertainties arising from loading, resistance and modelling sources are taken into account. The riveted connection is treated through a set of generic sub-systems that capture potential damage in identifiable hot-spots, such as rivets, holes and angle fillets. The fatigue reliability over time is evaluated through system reliability methods by treating these hot-spots as the elements of a structural system. The results show that the probability of failure of the connection depends significantly on the form of the system adopted for the analysis and the rivet clamping force. Damage scenarios accounting for the potential loss of rivet clamping force are investigated, and it is shown that, in some cases, they can affect connection reliability considerably.
The zinc finger proteins ZNF644 and WIZ regulate the G9a/GLP complex for gene repression

The G9a/GLP complex mediates mono- and dimethylation of Lys9 of histone H3 at specific gene loci, which is associated with transcriptional repression. However, the molecular mechanism by which the G9a/GLP complex is targeted to the specific gene loci for H3K9 methylation is unclear. In this study, with unbiased protein affinity purification, we found ZNF644 and WIZ as two core subunits in the G9a/GLP complex. ZNF644 and WIZ interact with the transcription activation domain of G9a and GLP, respectively. Moreover, both ZNF644 and WIZ contain multiple zinc finger motifs that recognize consensus DNA sequences. ZNF644 and WIZ target G9a and GLP to the chromatin and mediate the G9a/GLP complex-dependent H3K9 methylation as well as gene repression. Thus, our studies reveal two key subunits in the G9a/GLP complex that regulate the function of this histone methyltransferase complex. DOI: http://dx.doi. org/10.7554/eLife.05606. 001
Selected engineering and sensory properties of baked products prepared from composite wheat-sologold sweet potato flour

Flours from other sources have been incorporated into wheat flour to improve on the nutritional and sensory properties of baked products. However, the quality of production and sustainability of such baked product is still a challenge faced by bakery industries. The aim of this study is to evaluate selected engineering and sensory properties of baked products prepared from composite wheat sologold sweet potato flour; so as to guide the bakers to achieve improved product quality, development and sustainability. In this study, biscuit samples were prepared according to Onabanjo and Dickson method, the bread samples were prepared according to the Straight dough method, the cake samples were prepared according to Egg foaming method while the selected engineering and sensory properties were determined in accordance with standard procedures. The results obtained showed that the optimum blend (70% wheat: 30% sologold sweet potato) flour has specific volume of the baked products range from 4.12 to 0.50 ml/g, crumb moisture from 18.54 to 12.04%, oven spring from 2.38 to 1.12mm, sample height from 4.05 to 1.01mm, sample mass from 146.30 to 8.52g, appearance from 9.40 to 8.70, texture from 8.50 to 7.50, aroma 9.20 to 8.0, flavor from 9.0 to 8.10, crust color from 8.80 to 7.0, overall acceptability from 9.30 to 8.10, intension of consumption from 9.20 to 8.0 and browning index from 1.0 to 4.6. These evaluated engineering and sensory properties of the optimum blend flour attest high quality baked products (bread, biscuit and cake). Hence could be utilized to enhance and facilitate product development, quality control and product sustainability of composite baked products. The optimum blend ratio is therefore recommended to bakers.
Predictors of outcome in post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder: an evaluation of tumor infiltrating lymphocytes in the context of clinical factors

We hypothesized that the number of tumor infiltrating cytotoxic T-cells (CTCs) and regulatory T-cells (Tregs), shown to have prognostic value in other lymphoproliferative disorders, could predict survival in post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder (PTLD). Sixty-two patients were diagnosed with PTLD between 1987 and 2007, with 44 cases representing monomorphic B-cell PTLDs with diffuse aggressive morphologic features. Of these 44 cases, 31 had sufficient tissue for further study. On univariate analysis, high tumor infiltrating CD3+ T-cell (≥550/10 hpf) and TIA-1+ CTC (≥300/10 hpf) counts were associated with favorable overall survival (OS), PTLD-specific survival (PTLD-SS), and progression-free survival (PFS) while Treg counts were not predictive of outcome. However, on multivariate analysis, clinical factors were the most powerful predictor of PTLD outcome (performance status and CHOP as first line therapy for OS; performance status and number of extranodal sites for both PTLD-SS and PFS).
A Novel Control Strategy Based on Natural Frame for Vienna-Type Rectifier Under Light Unbalanced-Grid Conditions

In order to reduce the dc-link voltage ripple and the dc component of the reactive power under unbalanced input conditions, a novel natural-frame-based control scheme for a Vienna rectifier is proposed in this paper. First, by applying an early-developed direct decoupled synchronization method, the fundamental positive/negative-sequence voltage components are derived. Then, a natural-frame-based current control loop is designed based on the mathematical modeling of the Vienna rectifier under unbalanced input conditions. Based on the natural abc frame, the proposed control scheme considerably reduces total algorithm complexity and helps reduce the dc reactive components and total loss in comparison to the traditional dual-hybrid current control schemes. In addition, the stationary operation region of the Vienna-type rectifiers is analyzed, and the scheme is claimed to work out of the stationary operation region with severe voltage unbalance. The dynamic response of unbalanced input is presented. The experimental results are given to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed control scheme. In addition, the performance comparison between the traditional controller and the proposed controller is given by experimental results.
Direct recognition of the mycobacterial glycolipid, trehalose dimycolate, by C-type lectin Mincle

Tuberculosis remains a fatal disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis, which contains various unique components that affect the host immune system. Trehalose-6,6′-dimycolate (TDM; also called cord factor) is a mycobacterial cell wall glycolipid that is the most studied immunostimulatory component of M. tuberculosis. Despite five decades of research on TDM, its host receptor has not been clearly identified. Here, we demonstrate that macrophage inducible C-type lectin (Mincle) is an essential receptor for TDM. Heat-killed mycobacteria activated Mincle-expressing cells, but the activity was lost upon delipidation of the bacteria; analysis of the lipid extracts identified TDM as a Mincle ligand. TDM activated macrophages to produce inflammatory cytokines and nitric oxide, which are completely suppressed in Mincle-deficient macrophages. In vivo TDM administration induced a robust elevation of inflammatory cytokines in sera and characteristic lung inflammation, such as granuloma formation. However, no TDM-induced lung granuloma was formed in Mincle-deficient mice. Whole mycobacteria were able to activate macrophages even in MyD88-deficient background, but the activation was significantly diminished in Mincle/MyD88 double-deficient macrophages. These results demonstrate that Mincle is an essential receptor for the mycobacterial glycolipid, TDM.