Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
GPS & GLONASS Mass-Market Receivers: Positioning Performances and Peculiarities

Over the last twenty years, positioning with low cost Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) sensors have rapidly developed around the world at both a commercial and academic research level. For many years these instruments have only acquired the GPS constellation but are now able to track the Global’naja Navigacionnaja Sputnikovaja Sistema (GLONASS) constellation. This characteristic is very interesting, especially if used in hard-urban environments or in hard conditions where satellite visibility is low. The goal of this research is to investigate the contribution of the GLONASS constellation for mass-market receivers in order to analyse the performance in real time (Network Real Time Kinematic—NRTK positioning) with post-processing approaches. Under these conditions, it is possible to confirm that mass-market sensors could be a valid alternative to a more expensive receiver for a large number of surveying applications, but with low cost hardware the contribution of the GLONASS constellation for fixing ambiguities is useless, if not dangerous.
Political transformation and national identity change : comparative perspectives

Introduction. Concepts and Theories. Fluid or Frozen? Choice and Change in Ethno-National Identification in Contemporary Northern Ireland. The Social Map: Cohesion, Conflict and National Identity. The Increasing Monopolization of Identity by the State: The Case of the UK and the US. When Politics and Social Theory Converge: Group Identification and Group Rights in Northern Ireland. The Role of the State. After 1989, Who are the Czechs? Subjective National Identities in Catalonia. 'Dollar Diplomacy': Globalization, Identity Change and Peace in Israel. Economic Integration and National Identity in Mexico. Majority-Minority Conflicts and their Resolution: Protestant Minorities in France and in Ireland. Processes and Experiences of National Identity Change. Basque Militant Youths in France: New Experiences of Ethnonational Identity in the European Context. Race, Religion and Identity in South Africa: A Case Study of a Charismatic Congregation. Being English in North Wales: Immigration and the Immigrant Experience. Religion, Ethnicity and Group Identity: Irish Adolescent Views. Generations on the Border: Changes in Ethno-National Identity in the Irish Border Area.
Evidence for a Canonical Gamma-Ray Burst Afterglow Light Curve in the Swift XRT Data

We present new observations of the early X-ray afterglows of the first 27 gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) well observed by the Swift X-Ray Telescope (XRT). The early X-ray afterglows show a canonical behavior, where the light curve broadly consists of three distinct power-law segments: (1) an initial very steep decay (∝t-α with 3 ≲ α1 ≲ 5), followed by (2) a very shallow decay (0.5 ≲ α2 ≲ 1.0), and finally (3) a somewhat steeper decay (1 ≲ α3 ≲ 1.5). These power-law segments are separated by two corresponding break times, tbreak,1 ≲ 500 s and 103 s ≲ tbreak,2 ≲ 104 s. On top of this canonical behavior, many events have superimposed X-ray flares, which are most likely caused by internal shocks due to long-lasting sporadic activity of the central engine, up to several hours after the GRB. We find that the initial steep decay is consistent with it being the tail of the prompt emission, from photons that are radiated at large angles relative to our line of sight. The first break in the light curve (tbreak,1) takes place when the forward shock emission becomes dominant, with the intermediate shallow flux decay (α2) likely caused by the continuous energy injection into the external shock. When this energy injection stops, a second break is then observed in the light curve (tbreak,2). This energy injection increases the energy of the afterglow shock by at least a factor of f ≳ 4 and augments the already severe requirements for the efficiency of the prompt gamma-ray emission.
Pleckstrin Homology Domain Diffusion in Dictyostelium Cytoplasm Studied Using Fluorescence Correlation Spectroscopy*

The translocation of pleckstrin homology (PH) domain-containing proteins from the cytoplasm to the plasma membrane plays an important role in the chemotaxis mechanism of Dictyostelium cells. The diffusion of three PH domain-green fluorescent protein (GFP) fusions (PH2-GFP, PH10-GFP, and PH-CRAC (cytosolic regulator of adenylyl cyclase)-GFP) in the cytoplasm of vegetative and chemotaxing Dictyostelium cells has been studied using fluorescence correlation spectroscopy to gain a better understanding of the functioning of the domains and to assess the effect of initiation of chemotaxis on these domains in the cell. PH2-GFP was homogeneously distributed in vegetative as well as chemotaxing cells, whereas PH10-GFP and PH-CRAC-GFP showed translocation to the leading edge of the chemotaxing cell. The diffusion characteristics of PH2-GFP and PH-CRAC-GFP were very similar; however, PH10-GFP exhibited slower diffusion. Photon counting histogram statistics show that this slow diffusion was not due to aggregation. Diffusion of the three PH domains was affected to similar extents by intracellular heterogeneities in vegetative as well as chemotaxing cells. From the diffusion of free cytoplasmic GFP, it was calculated that the viscosity in chemotaxing cells was 1.7 times lower than in vegetative cells. In chemotaxing cells, PH2-GFP showed increased mobility, whereas the mobilities of PH10-GFP and PH-CRAC-GFP remained unchanged.
A New Antifibrotic Target of Ac-SDKP: Inhibition of Myofibroblast Differentiation in Rat Lung with Silicosis

Background Myofibroblast differentiation, characterized by α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) expression, is a key process in organ fibrosis, and is induced by TGF-β. Here we examined whether an anti-fibrotic agent, N-acetyl-seryl-aspartyl-lysylproline (Ac-SDKP), can regulate induction of TGF-β signaling and myofibroblast differentiation as a potential key component of its anti-fibrotic mechanism in vivo and in vitro. Methodology/Principal Findings Rat pulmonary fibroblasts were cultured in vitro and divided to 4 groups 1) control; 2) TGF-β1; 3) TGF-β1+ LY364947; 4) TGF-β1+Ac-SDKP. For in vivo studies, six groups of animals were utilized 1) control 4w; 2) silicotic 4w; 3) control 8w; 4) silicotic 8w; 5) Ac-SDKP post-treatment; 6)Ac-SDKP pre-treatment. SiO2 powders were douched in the trachea of rat to make the silicotic model. Myofibroblast differentiation was measured by examining expression of α-SMA, as well as expression of serum response factor (SRF), a key regulator of myofibroblast differentiation. The expressions of collagen, TGF-β1 and RAS signaling were also assessed. The results revealed that TGF-β1 strongly induced myofibroblast differentiation and collagen synthesis in vitro, and that pre-treatment with Ac-SDKP markedly attenuated myofibroblast activation, as well as induction of TGF-β1 and its receptor. Similar results were observed in vivo in the pathologically relevant rat model of silicosis. Ac-SDKP treatment in vivo strongly attenuated 1) silicosis-induced increased expressions of TGF-β1 and RAS signaling, 2) myofibroblast differentiation as indicated by a robust decrease of SRF and α-SMA-positive myofibroblast localization in siliconic nodules in the lung, 3) collagen deposition. Conclusion/Significance The results of the present study suggest a novel mechanism of action for Ac-SDKP’s beneficial effect in silicosis, which involves attenuation of TGF-β1 and its receptors, SRF and Ang II type 1 receptor (AT1) expression, collagen deposition and myofibroblast differentiation. The results further suggest that therapies targeting myofibroblast differentiation may have therapeutic efficacy in treatment of silicosis of the lung.
Doppler factors, Lorentz factors and viewing angles for quasars, BL Lacertae objects and radio galaxies

Aims. We have calculated variability Doppler boosting factors, Lorentz factors, and viewing angles for a large sample of sources by using total flux density observations at 22 and 37 GHz and VLBI data. Methods. We decomposed the flux curves into exponential flares and determined the variability brightness temperatures of the fastest flares. By assuming the same intrinsic brightness temperature for each source, we calculated the Doppler boosting factors for 87 sources. In addition we used new apparent jet speed data to calculate the Lorentz factors and viewing angles for 67 sources. Results. We find that all quasars in our sample are Doppler-boosted and that the Doppler boosting factors of BL Lacertae objects are lower than of quasars. The new Lorentz factors are about twice as high as in earlier studies, which is mainly due to higher apparent speeds in our analyses. The jets of BL Lacertae objects are slower than of quasars. There are some extreme sources with very high derived Lorentz factors of the order of a hundred. These high Lorentz factors could be real. It is also possible that the sources exhibit such rapid flares that the fast variations have remained undetected in monitoring programmes, or else the sources have a complicated jet structure that is not amenable to our simple analysis. Almost all the sources are seen in a small viewing angle of less than 20 degrees. Our results follow the predictions of basic unification schemes for AGN.
Two simple sufficient conditions for FDR control

We show that the control of the false discovery rate (FDR) for a multiple testing procedure is implied by two coupled simple sufficient con- ditions. The first one, which we call "self-consistency condition", concerns the algorithm itself, and the second, called "dependency control condition" is related to the dependency assumptions on the p-value family. Many stan- dard multiple testing procedures are self-consistent (e.g. step-up, step-down or step-up-down procedures), and we prove that the dependency control condition can be fulfilled when choosing correspondingly appropriate rejec- tion functions, in three classical types of dependency: independence, pos- itive dependency (PRDS) and unspecified dependency. As a consequence, we recover earlier results through simple and unifying proofs while extend- ing their scope to several regards: weighted FDR, p-value reweighting, new family of step-up procedures under unspecified p-value dependency and adaptive step-up procedures. We give additional examples of other possi- ble applications. This framework also allows for defining and studying FDR control for multiple testing procedures over a continuous, uncountable space of hypotheses. AMS 2000 subject classifications: Primary 62J15; secondary 62G10.
The Role of Insula-Associated Brain Network in Touch

The insula is believed to be associated with touch-evoked effects. In this work, functional MRI was applied to investigate the network model of insula function when 20 normal subjects received tactile stimulation over segregated areas. Data analysis was performed with SPM8 and Conn toolbox. Activations in the contralateral posterior insula were consistently revealed for all stimulation areas, with the overlap located in area Ig2. The area Ig2 was then used as the seed to estimate the insula-associated network. The right insula, left superior parietal lobule, left superior temporal gyrus, and left inferior parietal cortex showed significant functional connectivity with the seed region for all stimulation conditions. Connectivity maps of most stimulation conditions were mainly distributed in the bilateral insula, inferior parietal cortex, and secondary somatosensory cortex. Post hoc ROI-to-ROI analysis and graph theoretical analysis showed that there were higher correlations between the left insula and the right insula, left inferior parietal cortex and right OP1 for all networks and that the global efficiency was more sensitive than the local efficiency to detect differences between notes in a network. These results suggest that the posterior insula serves as a hub to functionally connect other regions in the detected network and may integrate information from these regions.
SDSS J024634.11−082536.2: A New Gravitationally Lensed Quasar from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey

We report the discovery of a new two-image gravitationally lensed quasar, SDSS J024634.11-082536.2 (SDSS J0246-0825). This object was selected as a lensed quasar candidate from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) by the same algorithm that was used to discover other SDSS lensed quasars (e.g., SDSS J0924+0219). Multicolor imaging with the Magellan Consortium's Walter Baade 6.5 m telescope and spectroscopic observations using the W. M. Keck Observatory's Keck II telescope confirm that SDSS J0246-0825 consists of two lensed images (Δθ = 1.″04) of a source quasar at z = 1.68. Imaging observations with the Keck I telescope and the Hubble Space Telescope reveal an extended object between the two quasar components, which is likely to be a lensing galaxy of this system. From the absorption lines in the spectra of the quasar components and the apparent magnitude of the galaxy, combined with the expected absolute magnitude from the Faber-Jackson relation, we estimate the redshift of the lensing galaxy to be z = 0.724. A highly distorted ring is visible in the Hubble Space Telescope images, which is likely to be the lensed host galaxy of the source quasar. Simple mass modeling predicts the possibility that there is a small (faint) lensing object near the primary lensing galaxy.
Learning about Consumption Dynamics

This paper characterizes U.S. consumption dynamics from the perspective of a Bayesian agent who does not know the underlying model structure but learns over time from macroeconomic data. Realistic, high-dimensional macroeconomic learning problems, which entail parameter, model, and state learning, generate substantially different subjective beliefs about consumption dynamics compared to the standard, full-information rational expectations benchmark. Beliefs about long-run dynamics are volatile, with counter-cyclical conditional volatility, and drift over time. Embedding these beliefs in a standard asset pricing model significantly improves the model's ability to match the stylized facts, as well as the sample path of the market price-dividend ratio.
Social Gains from Female Education: A Cross-National Study

The authors explore the strength of female secondary education relative to, and in combination with, family planning and health programs in reducing fertility and infant mortality. They find that family planning and health programs do influence fertility and mortality, but that the impact of expanding female secondary enrollments appears to be much greater, especially in countries with low female secondary enrollment. Fertility and infant mortality are more elastic with respect to female secondary education than to family planning and health programs. Their simulations suggest the following. Doubling female secondary school enrollment (from 19 to 38 percent) in 1975 would have reduced the total fertility rate in 1985 from 5.3 to 3.9. Doubling the family planning service score (from 25 to 50 percent) in 1982 would have reduced the total fertility rate only from 5.5 to 5.0. Doubling female secondary school enrollment in 1975 from 19 to 38 would have reduced the infant mortality rate from 81 to 38. Halving the ratio of population per physician would have reduced the infant mortality rate only from 85 to 81. Doubling per capita GDP from $650 to $1,300 would have reduced the infant mortality rate only from 98 to 92. Doubling female secondary school enrollment (from 19 to 38) in 1975 would have lowered the number of births by 29 percent of the 1985 number. Doubling family planning services would have reduced it by 3.5 percent. Doubling female secondary school enrollment would have reduced infant deaths by 64 percent. Halving the ratio of population per physician would have reduced it only by 2.5 percent. Doubling per capita GDP has no effect on reducing infant deaths, all other factors being constant. Female education affects desired family size by raising the opportunity cost of a woman's time in economic activities, increasing demand for family planning, and promoting more effective contraceptive use.
Biomarkers That Currently Affect Clinical Practice in Lung Cancer: EGFR, ALK, MET, ROS-1, and KRAS

Lung cancer remains the most lethal malignancy in the world. Despite improvements in surgical treatment, systemic therapy, and radiotherapy, the 5-year survival rate for all patients diagnosed with lung cancer remains between 15 and 20%. Newer therapeutic strategies rely on specific molecular alterations, or biomarkers, that provide opportunities for a personalized approach to specific patient populations. Classification of lung cancer is becoming increasingly focused on these biomarkers, which renders the term “non-small cell lung” cancer less clinically useful. Non-small cell lung cancer is now recognized as a complex malignancy and its molecular and genomic diversity allows for patient-centered treatment options. Here, we review advances in targeted treatment of lung adenocarcinoma with respect to five clinically relevant biomarkers – EGFR, ALK, MET, ROS-1, and KRAS.
Glycosphingolipids as Receptors for Non-Enveloped Viruses

Glycosphingolipids are ubiquitous molecules composed of a lipid and a carbohydrate moiety. Their main functions are as antigen/toxin receptors, in cell adhesion/recognition processes, or initiation/modulation of signal transduction pathways. Microbes take advantage of the different carbohydrate structures displayed on a specific cell surface for attachment during infection. For some viruses, such as the polyomaviruses, binding to gangliosides determines the internalization pathway into cells. For others, the interaction between microbe and carbohydrate can be a critical determinant for host susceptibility. In this review, we summarize the role of glycosphingolipids as receptors for members of the non-enveloped calici-, rota-, polyoma- and parvovirus families.
Language adaptive LVCSR through Polyphone Decision Tree Specialization

Abstract : With the distribution of speech technology products all over the world, the fast and efficient portability to new target languages be comes a practical concern. In this paper we explore the relative effectiveness of porting multilingual recognition systems to new target languages with very limited adaptation data. For this purpose we introduce a polyphone decision tree specialization method. Several recognition results are presented based on mono- and multilingual recognizers developed in the framework of the project GlobalPhone which investigates LVCSR systems in 15 languages.
Mst1-FoxO Signaling Protects Naïve T Lymphocytes from Cellular Oxidative Stress in Mice

Background The Ste-20 family kinase Hippo restricts cell proliferation and promotes apoptosis for proper organ development in Drosophila. In C. elegans, Hippo homolog also regulates longevity. The mammalian Ste20-like protein kinase, Mst1, plays a role in apoptosis induced by various types of apoptotic stress. Mst1 also regulates peripheral naïve T cell trafficking and proliferation in mice. However, its functions in mammals are not fully understood. Methodology/Principal Findings Here, we report that the Mst1-FoxO signaling pathway plays a crucial role in survival, but not apoptosis, of naïve T cells. In Mst1−/− mice, peripheral T cells showed impaired FoxO1/3 activation and decreased FoxO protein levels. Consistently, the FoxO targets, Sod2 and catalase, were significantly down-regulated in Mst1−/− T cells, thereby resulting in elevated levels of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) and induction of apoptosis. Expression of constitutively active FoxO3a restored Mst1−/− T cell survival. Crossing Mst1 transgenic mice (Mst1 Tg) with Mst1−/− mice reduced ROS levels and restored normal numbers of peripheral naïve T cells in Mst1 Tg;Mst1−/− progeny. Interestingly, peripheral T cells from Mst1−/− mice were hypersensitive to γ-irradiation and paraquat-induced oxidative stresses, whereas those from Mst1 Tg mice were resistant. Conclusions/Significance These data support the hypothesis that tolerance to increased levels of intracellular ROS provided by the Mst1-FoxOs signaling pathway is crucial for the maintenance of naïve T cell homeostasis in the periphery.
Mortality among People with Severe Mental Disorders Who Reach Old Age: A Longitudinal Study of a Community-Representative Sample of 37892 Men

Background Severe mental illnesses are leading causes of disability worldwide. Their prevalence declines with age, possibly due to premature death. It is unclear, however, if people with severe mental disorders who reach older age still have lower life expectancy compared with their peers and if their causes of death differ. Methods and Findings Cohort study of a community-representative sample of 37892 Australian men aged 65–85 years in 1996–1998. Follow up was censored on the 31st December 2010. Lifetime prevalence of schizophrenia spectrum, bipolar, depressive and alcohol-induced disorder was established through record linkage. A subsample of 12136 consented to a face-to-face assessment of sociodemographic, lifestyle and clinical variables. Information about causes of death was retrieved from the Australian Death Registry. The prevalence of schizophrenia spectrum, bipolar, depressive and alcohol-induced disorders was 1.2%, 0.3%, 2.5% and 1.8%. The mortality hazard for men with a severe mental disorder was 2.3 and their life expectancy was reduced by 3 years. Mortality rates increased with age, but the gap between men with and without severe mental disorders was not attenuated by age. Cardiovascular diseases and cancer were the most frequent causes of death. The excess mortality associated with severe mental disorders could not be explained by measured sociodemographic, lifestyle or clinical variables. Conclusions The excess mortality associated with severe mental disorders persists in later life, and the causes of death of younger and older people with severe mental disorders are similar. Hazardous lifestyle choices, suboptimal access to health care, poor compliance with treatments, and greater severity of medical comorbidities may all contribute to this increased mortality. Unlike young adults, most older people will visit their primary care physician at least once a year, offering health professionals an opportunity to intervene in order to minimise the harms associated with severe mental disorders.
Young workers' professional experience and access to high-skill jobs: a note

The implications of on-the-job search and learning-by-doing of young workers are studied in a search-matching model. The labor market is segmented in two sub-markets: that of beginners, and that of experienced workers offering higher wages. After a long enough employment spell, beginners can search for a better-paying job in the experienced sub-market. Employment instability reduces upgrading opportunities for young workers, penalizing the overall economy. Under specific conditions this phenomenon is reinforced when firms are more fussy about workers' professional experience.
The binding site for acute corticosterone effects on N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor-mediated Ca 2+ signals in mouse hippocampal slices

We have examined acute effects of corticosterone (CORT) on N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor-mediated Ca2+ signals in adult mouse hippocampal slices. We found so far that the 30 min preincubation of CORT induced a signifcant decrease of the peak amplitude of NMDA-induced Ca2+ elevation in the CA1 region. The membrane non-permeable bovine serum albumin-conjugated CORT also induced a similar effect in the CA1 region. Therefore the acute CORT effects should be induced via putative surface CORT receptors. A possible candidate is a classical intracellular glucocorticoid receptor (GR). To confirm this speculation, we here examined the effects of dexamethasone (DEX: an agonist of GR) and CORT with RU38486 (an antagonist of GR) on NMDA-induced Ca2+ signals. As a result, DEX induced a similar effect to the suppressive CORT effect in the CA1 region, and RU38486 inhibited the suppressive CORT effect. These results indicate that the surface CORT receptor should be GR bound to plasma mem- brane.