Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Negative nucleotide ions as sensitive probes for energy specificity in collision-induced fragmentation in mass spectrometry.

RATIONALE The most commonly used fragmentation methods in tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) are collision-induced dissociation (CID) and higher energy collisional dissociation (HCD). While in CID the preselected ions in the trap are resonantly (and m/z exclusively) excited, in HCD the entire m/z range experiences the dissociative acceleration. The different excitation is reflected in different fragment distributions. METHODS As a test-bed for particularly pronounced fragmentation specificity, here MS/MS experiments on several 4-mer oligonucleotides were conducted employing both collision methods and the results were thoroughly compared. Oligonucleotides are shown to be sensitive probes to subtle changes, especially in the negative ion mode. A detailed analysis of these differences reveals insight into the dissociation mechanics. RESULTS The differences are represented in heat-maps, which allow for a direct visual inspection of large amounts of data. In these false colour representations the, sometimes subtle, changes in the individual dissociation product distributions become distinct. Another advantage of these graphic plots can be found in the formation of systematic patterns. These patterns reflect trends in dissociation specificity which allow for the formulation of general rules in fragmentation behavior. CONCLUSIONS Instruments equipped with two different excitation schemes for MS/MS are today widely available. Nonetheless, direct comparisons between the individual results are scarcely made. Such comparative studies bear a powerful analytical potential to elucidate fragmentation reaction mechanism.
Diffusion escape through a cluster of small absorbing windows

We study the first eigenvalue of the Laplace equation in a bounded domain in with mixed Neumann–Dirichlet (Zaremba) boundary conditions. The Neumann condition is imposed on most of the boundary and the Dirichlet boundary consists of a cluster of small windows. When the windows are well separated the first eigenvalue is asymptotically the sum of eigenvalues of mixed problems with a single Dirichlet window. However, when two or more Dirichlet windows cluster tightly together they interact nonlinearly. We compare our asymptotic approximation of the eigenvalue to the escape rate of simulated Brownian particles through the small windows.
Developmental Gains in Visuospatial Memory Predict Gains in Mathematics Achievement

Visuospatial competencies are related to performance in mathematical domains in adulthood, but are not consistently related to mathematics achievement in children. We confirmed the latter for first graders and demonstrated that children who show above average first-to-fifth grade gains in visuospatial memory have an advantage over other children in mathematics. The study involved the assessment of the mathematics and reading achievement of 177 children in kindergarten to fifth grade, inclusive, and their working memory capacity and processing speed in first and fifth grade. Intelligence was assessed in first grade and their second to fourth grade teachers reported on their in-class attentive behavior. Developmental gains in visuospatial memory span (d = 2.4) were larger than gains in the capacity of the central executive (d = 1.6) that in turn were larger than gains in phonological memory span (d = 1.1). First to fifth grade gains in visuospatial memory and in speed of numeral processing predicted end of fifth grade mathematics achievement, as did first grade central executive scores, intelligence, and in-class attentive behavior. The results suggest there are important individual differences in the rate of growth of visuospatial memory during childhood and that these differences become increasingly important for mathematics learning.
PLA/sepiolite and PLA/calcium carbonate nanocomposites: A comparison study

Polylactic acid (PLA)-based nanocomposites comprising two different types of nanofillers, i.e. sepiolite (SEP) and nano calcium carbonate (NCC), were prepared by internal mixing and injection molding. Because of the different aspect ratio, surface area, and surface property of the nanofillers, their effects on the morphological, mechanical, dynamic mechanical, rheological, and thermal properties of the nanocomposites were shown to be very different. NCC demonstrated more uniform particle dispersion and matrix compatibility than did SEP because of the former's surface treatment, thus leading to higher strength and strain-at-failure of PLA/NCC composites. On the other hand, larger aspect ratio and surface area of SEP caused higher melt viscosity, stronger shear thinning, and better thermal resistance of PLA/SEP composites. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 2013
Do pretty women inspire men to discount the future?

Organisms ‘discount the future’ when they value imminent goods over future goods. Optimal discounting varies: selection should favour allocations of effort that effectively discount the future relatively steeply in response to cues promising relatively good returns on present efforts. However, research on human discounting has hitherto focused on stable individual differences rather than situational effects. In two experiments, discounting was assessed on the basis of choices between a smaller sum of money tomorrow and a larger sum at a later date, both before and after subjects rated the ‘appeal’ of 12 photographs. In experiment 1, men and women saw either attractive or unattractive opposite–sex faces; in experiment 2, participants saw more or less appealing cars. As predicted, discounting increased significantly in men who viewed attractive women, but not in men who viewed unattractive women or women who viewed men; viewing cars produced a different pattern of results.
Fashion in Mobile Phone Design—The Emergence of Beautification, Desirability and Variation through Institutional Collaboration

Abstract This article studies if and how fashion values, such as beautification, desirability through symbolic interaction, and high variation, are increasingly visible in mobile phone design. Such possible inter-linkages are unpacked through interviews with eight representatives of both industries. Their comments enable a discussion on whether a process of fashionalization is underway and, if so, how it is taking place. The findings indicate that fashion values are visible in the design of mobile phones and are accounted for in design. Fashionalization can thus be seen as emanating from institutions related to clothing that extend to and become shared with the mobile industry, such as a shared dependency on trend agencies for color selection and joint events. This interaction, ad hoc and heterogeneous, resists being modeled as a “system,” which has been suggested as a way to explain institutional work within clothing fashion. Drawing on Barbara Czarniawska’s institutional theory, the article proposes conceptualizing the emerging institutional work in terms of “action nets. ” This concept makes visible flexible, situated, and ad hoc activities rather than stable and fixed organizational entities.
Microstructure and properties of the high-temperature (HAZ) of thermo-mechanically treated S700MC high-yield-strength steel

The aim of the study was to determine the properties and microstructure of the high-temperature heat affected zone (HAZ) of S700MC steel heated to a temperature of 1250 °C and cooled at different speeds. The simulation of the thermal cycles was performed using a welding thermal cycles simulator. Samples with a cross-section 10 mm × 10 mm × 55 mm were submitted to metallographic analysis, impact tests, hardness measurements and tensile tests. Welding thermal cycles with cooling times t8/5 = (3, 5, 10, 15, 30, 60 and 120) s and a maximum temperature cycle temperature of Tmax = 1250 °C were used. The welding thermal thermomechanical processing cycles differ significantly, especially with high rates of heating and cooling in the SWC, short time holding at the maximum temperature and frequent overlap of two or more cycles during the multi-layer welding. One of the elements in the evaluation of steel weldability is the analysis of the austenite phase transformation during cooling. Steel hardness tests on simulated HAZ regions cooling times increasing from 3 s to 120 s, showed reductions by approximately 40 HV, while, regardless of the length of the cooling time t8/5, the impact resistance was very low, at the level of a few J/cm. The tensile strength, hardness and toughness indicates a secondary role of austenite in the control of welded joints transformation strength and plastic properties, the analysis of the phase transition not shown to be a reliable basis for assessment of the weldability of this steel group.
Axonal Channel Capacity in Neuro-Spike Communication

Novel nano-scale communication techniques are inspired by biological systems. Neuro-spike communication is an example of this communication paradigm which transfers vital information about external and internal conditions of the body through the nervous system. The analysis of this communication paradigm is beneficial to exploit in the artificial neural systems where nano-machines are linked to neurons to treat the neurodegenerative diseases. In these networks, nano-machines are used to replace the damaged segments of the nervous system and they exactly behave like biological entities. In neuro-spike communication, neurons / nano-machines exploit the electro-chemical spikes and molecular communication to transfer information. This communication paradigm can be divided into three main parts, namely the axonal pathway, the synaptic transmission, and the spike generation. In this paper, we focus on the axonal transmission part as a separate channel since the capacity of the axonal pathway has a significant effect on the capacity of neuro-spike communication channel. In thinner axons, the capacity of this part is the bottleneck of the neuro-spike communication channel capacity. Hence, we investigate the restricting factors of the axonal transmission which limit its capacity. We derive the capacity of single-input single-output and multiple-input single-output (MISO) axonal channels. In the MISO case, we investigate the effect of the correlation among inputs on the channel capacity. Moreover, we derive a closed form description for the optimum value of the input spike rate to maximize the capacity of the axonal channel when the information is encoded by firing rate of neurons / nano-machines.
Wavelet-based acoustic emission characterization of residual strength of drilled composite materials

Drilling composite materials is one of the secondary processes of manufacturing industrial structures. However, drilling composite materials presents a number of problems such as degradation of mechanical behavior. In this study, effects of spindle speed, feed rate, and drill point geometry on residual tensile strength are studied. Acoustic emission technique with a wavelet-based signal processing method is developed to monitor the residual tensile strength of drilled laminates. Cumulative count, amplitude, and energy are used as time-domain parameters to characterize the process. According to wavelet analysis, frequency distribution and energy percentage of each damage mechanism (matrix cracking, fiber breakage, and fiber slipping) during tensile test are determined.
Direct bulk-sensitive probe of 5f symmetry in URu2Si2

Significance The hidden order problem in URu2Si2 is an unanswered question in the field of strongly correlated electron materials. Although it has been studied for several decades, there is still no consensus about how this new phase forms. Understanding the hidden order phase formation is not only an intellectual problem, it will also advance concepts for designing quantum materials with new exotic properties. Many hidden order scenarios are based on the assumption of certain ground-state symmetries and the present study addresses this aspect. A spectroscopic technique, nonresonant inelastic X-ray scattering, that has become available through the use of high-brilliance synchrotrons, allows us to measure directly in a bulk-sensitive experiment the symmetry of the 5f ground-state wave function in URu2Si2. The second-order phase transition into a hidden order phase in URu2Si2 goes along with an order parameter that is still a mystery, despite 30 years of research. However, it is understood that the symmetry of the order parameter must be related to the symmetry of the low-lying local electronic f-states. Here, we present results of a spectroscopic technique, namely core-level nonresonant inelastic X-ray scattering (NIXS). This method allows for the measurement of local high-multipole excitations and is bulk-sensitive. The observed anisotropy of the scattering function unambiguously shows that the 5f ground-state wave function is composed mainly of the Γ1 with majority Jz = |4⟩ + |−4⟩ and/or Γ2 singlet states. The incomplete dichroism indicates the possibility that quantum states of other irreducible representation are mixed into the ground state.
ω-3 PUFA Rich Camelina Oil By-Products Improve the Systemic Metabolism and Spleen Cell Functions in Fattening Pigs

Camelina oil-cakes results after the extraction of oil from Camelina sativa plant. In this study, camelina oil-cakes were fed to fattening pigs for 33 days and its effect on performance, plasma biochemical analytes, pro-/anti-inflammatory mediators and antioxidant detoxifying defence in spleen was investigated in comparison with sunflower meal. 24 crossbred TOPIG pigs were randomly assigned to one of two experimental dietary treatments containing either 12% sunflower meal (treatment 1-T1), or 12.0% camelina oil-cakes, rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids ω-3 (ω-3 PUFA) (treatment 2-T2). The results showed no effect of T2 diet (camelina cakes) on feed intake, average weight gain or feed efficiency. Consumption of camelina diet resulted in a significant decrease in plasma glucose concentration (18.47%) with a trend towards also a decrease of plasma cholesterol. In spleen, T2 diet modulated cellular immune response by decreasing the protein and gene expression of pro-inflammatory markers, interleukin 1-beta (IL-1β), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), interleukin 6 (IL-6) and interleukin (IL-8) and cyclooxigenase 2 (COX-2) in comparison with T1 diet. By contrast, T2 diet increased (P<0.05) in spleen the mRNA expression of antioxidant enzymes, catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and glutathione peroxidase 1 (GPx1) by 3.43, 2.47 and 1.83 fold change respectively, inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) (4.60 fold), endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) (3.23 fold) and the total antioxidant level (9.02%) in plasma. Camelina diet increased also peroxisome-proliferator activated receptor gamma (PPAR-γ) mRNA and decreased that of mitogen-activated protein kinase 14 (p38α MAPK) and nuclear factor of kappa light polypeptide gene enhancer in B-cells (NF-κB). At this level of inclusion (12%) camelina oil-cakes appears to be a potentially alternative feed source for pig which preserves a high content of ω-3 PUFA indicating antioxidant properties by the stimulation of detoxifying enzymes expression and the suppression of spleen pro-inflammatory markers.
The Allometry of Avian Basal Metabolic Rate: Good Predictions Need Good Data

Basal metabolic rate (BMR) is often predicted by allometric interpolation, but such predictions are critically dependent on the quality of the data used to derive allometric equations relating BMR to body mass (Mb). An examination of the metabolic rates used to produce conventional and phylogenetically independent allometries for avian BMR in a recent analysis revealed that only 67 of 248 data unambiguously met the criteria for BMR and had sample sizes with n ≥ 3. The metabolic rates that represented BMR were significantly lower than those that did not meet the criteria for BMR or were measured under unspecified conditions. Moreover, our conventional allometric estimates of BMR (W; log BMR = −1.461 + 0.669log Mb) using a more constrained data set that met the conditions that define BMR and had n ≥ 3 were 10%–12% lower than those obtained in the earlier analysis. The inclusion of data that do not represent BMR results in the overestimation of predicted BMR and can potentially lead to incorrect conclusions concerning metabolic adaptation. Our analyses using a data set that included only BMR with n ≥ 3 were consistent with the conclusion that BMR does not differ between passerine and nonpasserine birds after taking phylogeny into account. With an increased focus on data mining and synthetic analyses, our study suggests that a thorough knowledge of how data sets are generated and the underlying constraints on their interpretation is a necessary prerequisite for such exercises.
Comparative perch heights and habitat plant usage of day geckos ( Phelsuma ) in the Comoros Archipelago ( Squamata : Gekkonidae )

1) Eco-Med Océan Indien, 24 rue de la Lorraine, 97400 Saint-Denis, Ile de La Réunion, France 2) Zoologische Staatssammlung München (ZSM-SNSB), Münchhausenstr. 21, 81247 München, Germany 3) Museum of Vertebrate Zoology, 3101 Valley Life Sciences Building, University of California, Berkeley, California, U.S.A. 4) Institut de Biologia Evolutiva (CSIC-Universitat Pompeu Fabra), Passeig Marítim de la Barceloneta 37, 08003 Barcelona, Spain
Thermal and Physical Properties of Plutonium Dioxide Produced from the Oxidation of Metal: a Data Summary

The ARIES Program at the Los Alamos National Laboratory removes plutonium metal from decommissioned nuclear weapons, and converts it to plutonium dioxide in a specially-designed Direct Metal Oxidation furnace. The plutonium dioxide is analyzed for specific surface area, particle size distribution, and moisture content. The purpose of these analyses is to certify that the plutonium dioxide powder meets or exceeds the specifications of the end-user, and the specifications for the packaging and transport of nuclear materials. Analytical results from plutonium dioxide from ARIES development activities, from ARIES production activities, from muffle furnace oxidation of metal, and from metal that was oxidized over a lengthy time interval in air at room temperature, are presented. The processes studied produce plutonium dioxide powder with distinct differences in measured properties, indicating the significant influence of oxidation conditions on physical properties.
Infra-Population and -Community Dynamics of the Parasites Nosema apis and Nosema ceranae, and Consequences for Honey Bee (Apis mellifera) Hosts

Nosema spp. fungal gut parasites are among myriad possible explanations for contemporary increased mortality of western honey bees (Apis mellifera, hereafter honey bee) in many regions of the world. Invasive Nosema ceranae is particularly worrisome because some evidence suggests it has greater virulence than its congener N. apis. N. ceranae appears to have recently switched hosts from Asian honey bees (Apis cerana) and now has a nearly global distribution in honey bees, apparently displacing N. apis. We examined parasite reproduction and effects of N. apis, N. ceranae, and mixed Nosema infections on honey bee hosts in laboratory experiments. Both infection intensity and honey bee mortality were significantly greater for N. ceranae than for N. apis or mixed infections; mixed infection resulted in mortality similar to N. apis parasitism and reduced spore intensity, possibly due to inter-specific competition. This is the first long-term laboratory study to demonstrate lethal consequences of N. apis and N. ceranae and mixed Nosema parasitism in honey bees, and suggests that differences in reproduction and intra-host competition may explain apparent heterogeneous exclusion of the historic parasite by the invasive species.
Racial discrimination, binge drinking, and negative drinking consequences among black college students: serial mediation by depressive symptoms and coping motives

ABSTRACT Objectives: Experiences of racial discrimination have been associated with diverse negative health outcomes among racial minorities. However, extant findings of the association between racial discrimination and alcohol behaviors among Black college students are mixed. The current study examined mediating roles of depressive symptoms and coping drinking motives in the association of perceived racial discrimination with binge drinking and negative drinking consequences. Design: Data were obtained from a cross-sectional study of Black college students attending a predominantly White institution in the northeastern US (N = 251, 66% female, mean age = 20 years). Results: Results from path analysis showed that, when potential mediators were not considered, perceived racial discrimination was positively associated with negative drinking consequences but not frequency of binge drinking. Serial multiple mediation analysis showed that depressive symptoms and in turn coping drinking motives partially mediated the associations of perceived racial discrimination with both binge drinking frequency and negative drinking consequences (after controlling for sex, age, and negative life events). Conclusions: Perceived racial discrimination is directly associated with experiences of alcohol-related problems, but not binge drinking behaviors among Black college students. Affective responses to perceived racial discrimination experiences and drinking to cope may serve as risk mechanisms for alcohol-related problems in this population. Implications for prevention and intervention efforts are discussed.
Effect of drying methods on the structure, thermo and functional properties of fenugreek (Trigonella foenum graecum) protein isolate.

BACKGROUND Different drying methods due to protein denaturation could alter the functional properties of proteins, as well as their structure. So, this study focused on the effect of different drying methods on amino acid content, thermo and functional properties, and protein structure of fenugreek protein isolate. RESULTS Freeze and spray drying methods resulted in comparable protein solubility, dynamic surface and interfacial tensions, foaming and emulsifying properties except for emulsion stability. Vacuum oven drying promoted emulsion stability, surface hydrophobicity and viscosity of fenugreek protein isolate at the expanse of its protein solubility. Vacuum oven process caused a higher level of Maillard reaction followed by the spray drying process, which was confirmed by the lower amount of lysine content and less lightness, also more browning intensity. ΔH of fenugreek protein isolates was higher than soy protein isolate, which confirmed the presence of more ordered structures. Also, the bands which are attributed to the α-helix structures in the FTIR spectrum were in the shorter wave number region for freeze and spray dried fenugreek protein isolates that show more possibility of such structures. CONCLUSION This research suggests that any drying method must be conducted in its gentle state in order to sustain native structure of proteins and promote their functionalities. © 2017 Society of Chemical Industry.