Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Peruvian Altiplano Stratigraphy Highlights Along‐Strike Variability in Foreland Basin Evolution of the Cenozoic Central Andes

Retroarc foreland basins in the Andean plateau contain critical information on geodynamic processes driving plateau development by providing a record of exhumation and sediment sourcing, as well as the timing, location, and magnitude of basin subsidence. However, this record is incomplete along orogenic strike and particularly limited in southern Peru. We measured ~6,200 m of nonmarine clastic strata in the northern Peruvian Altiplano, documented through lithofacies characterization and paleocurrent analysis, conglomerate clast counts, sandstone petrography, and detrital zircon U‐Pb geochronology; for the latter we employ quantitative detrital zircon interpretation methods including multidimensional scaling, mixture modeling, and quantification of zircon roundness. Results show dominant sediment sourcing from the Western Cordillera and/or western Altiplano. Sediment accumulation rates define an upward‐convex Paleogene subsidence profile consistent with deposition in a northeastward‐migrating flexural foreland basin system, with lithospheric loading from an increasingly proximal Western Cordilleran hinterland. Basin deposition following a 23–9 Ma angular unconformity shows a marked increase in sediment accumulation rates >800 m/Myr, interpreted as a departure from flexural subsidence. Results highlight along‐strike variability in Andean foreland basin evolution, as foredeep deposits are thicker, and the onset of rapid sediment accumulation occurs earlier in southern Peru compared to Bolivia and Argentina. Results tentatively support models of orogenic cyclicity and reveal that episodes of high‐flux magmatism in southern Peru are slightly out of phase with those documented in northwest Argentina, which may be controlled by preexisting Paleozoic‐Mesozoic structural and stratigraphic fabrics and the rate of underthrusting of melt‐fertile continental lower crust and mantle lithosphere.
Trophic Cascades and Conservation: ￼Analyzing the San Juan National Forest as a Potential Extension of the Mexican Gray Wolf Recovery Program

Fewer than 100 Mexican gray wolves remain in the wild in the US, due to a history of overhunting, predator bounties, and habitat loss; making them the most critically endangered subspecies of gray wolf. The San Juan National Forest (SJNF) of southwestern Colorado seems to be suitable habitat for them due to the physical attributes of the land, and the abundance of prey found within the area. Introducing a small population to the SJNF would allow for the expansion of the subspecies’ range and may help ensure the Mexican gray wolf’s survival by preventing inbreeding from occurring within the population as a result of isolation of the population. An introduction of the Mexican gray wolf in the SJNF would also potentially lead to the slowing of Sudden Aspen Decline (SAD) that is currently being observed in the region, in part due to overbrowsing of young aspen shoots by elk (Cervus elaphus nelsoni), the key prey for wolves. Political and social implications must be taken into account as well, along with possible mitigation for wolf human conflict. This study evaluates the ecological potential for introducing Canis lupus baileyi to the SJNF and intends to better inform the Colorado public and proposing environmental groups of this possibility. Results show that an introduction would benefit the wild Mexican gray wolf population, based off of the results of the RosenzweigMacArthur predator-prey model, and through spatial analysis of road density and proximity to the current recovery area. Results also indicate that Sudden Aspen Decline would slow after a certain ratio of wolves per 1000 elk was achieved. More broadly, an expansion of the current recovery plan would solidify that the importance of predators in their ecosystems and have a positive effect on other trophic levels.
Dogmas and surprises about the renin-angiotensin system and sodium reabsorption.

After many years of studies on the renin–angiotensin system (RAS), one of the central concepts is that the RAS forms an effective defence mechanism against low-sodium states and hypotension. Low-perfusion pressure sensed by the afferent arteriole, low-distal delivery sensed by the macula densa and low blood pressure sensed by the sympathetic nervous system increase renin release, leading to angiotensin generation and sodium retention, vasoconstriction and restoration of blood pressure. About 15 years ago, the first reports appeared indicating angiotensin concentrations in the proximal tubule of higher magnitude than in the plasma [1,2]. Attempts to relate intraluminal angiotensin II (Ang II) concentrations to the functionality ascribed to the RAS were not very successful: the intratubular system did not seem to be adapting synchronously with the systemic RAS. What is the matter here? Is there a local RAS that acts independently from the systemic RAS? What would be the physiological relevance? In a recent article, Thomson et al. [3] explore the possibility that the local proximal tubular RAS functions in an opposite fashion to the systemic RAS: salt loading increased proximal tubular Ang II levels and sodium reabsorption. In this commentary, we attempt to place these recent findings in perspective with previous studies on the systemic and local RAS. The classical view: the RAS is a sodium-retaining mechanism
Retention Trimming for Lifetime Improvement of Flash Memory Storage Systems

NAND flash memory has been widely deployed in embedded systems, personal computers, and data centers. While recent technology scaling and density improvement have reduced its price, they have also significantly shortened its endurance. In this paper, with the understanding of the relationship between data retention time and flash wearing, a retention trimming approach, which trims data retention time based on the data lifetime, is proposed to reduce the wearing of flash memory, and hence improve the endurance of flash memory. Extensive experimental results show that the proposed technique achieves significant endurance improvements.
Tirosin Kinase Inhibitors in Chronic Graft versus Host Disease: From Bench to Bedside

Chronic Graft Versus Host Disease (cGVHD) is a major complication of allogeneic stem-cell transplantation (SCT). In many inflammatory fibrotic diseases, such as Systemic Scleroderma (SSc) and cGVHD with fibrotic features, an abnormal activation of transforming growth factor (TGFβ) and platelet-derived growth factor receptor (PDGF-R) pathways have been observed. Tyrosin Kinase Inhibitors (TKIs), which are currently used for treatment of patients with Chronic Myeloid Leukemia (CML), share potent antifibrotic and antiinflammatory properties, being powerful dual inhibitors of both PDGF-R and TGFβ pathways. Moreover accumulating in vitro data confirm that TKIs, interacting with the TCR and other signalling molecules, carry potent immunomodulatory effects, being involved in both T-cell and B-cell response. Translation to the clinical setting revealed that treatment with Imatinib can achieve encouraging responses in patients with autoimmune diseases and steroid-refractory cGVHD, showing a favourable toxicity profile. While the exact mechanisms leading to such efficacy are still under investigation, use of TKIs in the context of clinical trials should be promoted, aiming to evaluate the biological changes induced in vivo by TKIs and to assess the long term outcome of these patients. Second-generation TKIs, with more favourable toxicity profile are under evaluation in the same setting.
Submillimetre galaxies in a hierarchical universe: number counts, redshift distribution, and implications for the IMF

High-redshift submillimetre galaxies (SMGs) are some of the most rapidly star-forming galaxies in the Universe. Historically, galaxy formation models have had difficulty explaining the observed number counts of SMGs. We combine a semi-empirical model with 3-D hydrodynamical simulations and 3-D dust radiative transfer to predict the number counts of unlensed SMGs. Because the stellar mass functions, gas and dust masses, and sizes of our galaxies are constrained to match observations, we can isolate uncertainties related to the dynamical evolution of galaxy mergers and the dust radiative transfer. The number counts and redshift distributions predicted by our model agree well with observations. Isolated disc galaxies dominate the faint (S1.1 . 1 mJy, or S850 . 2 mJy) population. The brighter sources are a mix of merger-induced starbursts and galaxy-pair SMGs; the latter subpopulation accounts for � 30 50 per cent of all SMGs at all S1.1 & 0.5 mJy (S850 & 1 mJy). The mean redshifts are � 3.0 3.5, depending on the flux cut, and the brightest sources tend to b e at higher redshifts. Because the galaxy-pair SMGs will be resolved into multiple fainter sources by ALMA, the bright ALMA counts should be as much as 2 times less than those observed using single-dish telescopes. The agreement between our model, which uses a Kroupa IMF, and observations suggests that the IMF in high-redshifts starbursts need not be top-heavy; if the IMF were top-heavy, our model would over-predict the number counts. We conclude that the difficulty some models have reproducing the observed SMG counts is likely indicative of more general problems ‐ such as an under-prediction of the abundance of massive galaxies or a star formation rate‐stellar mass relation normalisation lower than t hat observed ‐ rather than a problem specific to the SMG population.
Initial Treatment of Patients with Primary Breast Cancer: Evidence, Controversies, Consensus Erstbehandlung von Patientinnen mit primärem Mammakarzinom: Evidenz, Kontroversen, Konsens

Abstract The St. Gallen International Consensus Conference on the treatment of patients with primary breast cancer has been held regularly (every second year in the last six years) for more than 30 years. This year, the findings of the International St. Gallen Consensus Panel and their implications for clinical practice were again discussed by a German working group of leading breast cancer specialists. Five of the breast cancer specialists from Germany were also members of this yearʼs St. Gallen panel. A comparison between the St. Gallen recommendations and the annually updated treatment guidelines of the Gynecologic Oncology Group (AGO 2017) and the S3-guideline agreed upon in 2017 is useful. The recommendations of the St. Gallen panel represent an international cross-section of opinions of experts from different countries and different disciplines, while the S3-guideline and AGO guidelines are evidence-based. The motto of this yearʼs 15th St. Gallen Conference was “Escalating and De-Escalating”. The rationale behind this concept was to promote more individualized treatment and thereby reduce overtreatment as well as undertreatment. Zusammenfassung Seit über 30 Jahren findet regelmäßig (in den letzten 6 Jahren alle 2 Jahre) die internationale St. Gallen-Konsensuskonferenz zur Behandlung von Patientinnen mit primärem Mammakarzinom statt. Die Ergebnisse des internationalen St. Gallen-Konsensus-Panels wurden auch dieses Jahr wieder von einer deutschen Arbeitsgruppe führender Brustkrebsexperten für den Klinikalltag in Deutschland diskutiert. Fünf der Brustkrebsexperten aus Deutschland sind zugleich Mitglieder des diesjährigen St. Gallen-Panels. Der Vergleich der St. Gallen-Empfehlungen mit den jährlich aktualisierten Therapieempfehlungen der Arbeitsgemeinschaft Gynäkologische Onkologie (AGO-Mamma 2017) und der aktuell im Jahre 2017 abgestimmten S3-Leitlinie ist sinnvoll. Die Empfehlungen des St. Gallen-Panels stellen ein Meinungsbild von Experten unterschiedlicher Länder und Fachdisziplinen dar, wohingegen S3-Leitlinie und AGO-Empfehlungen evidenzbasiert sind. Die diesjährige 15. St. Gallen-Konsensuskonferenz stand unter dem Motto „Escalating and De-Escalating“, das sich durch alle Therapiebereiche zog, die zur Abstimmung standen. Ziel war es, Patientinnen individuellere Therapieoptionen anzubieten und das Risiko einer Über- bzw. Untertherapie zu vermeiden.
Stabilizing function of skeletal muscles: an analytical investigation.

Stability is the ability of a system to return to its original state after a disturbance. Taking vertical oscillations of the centre of mass of a human bending his legs as an example we prove that the intrinsic mechanical properties of musculature can stabilize the oscillatory movement (preflex) without reflexive changes in activation. The human is represented by a model consisting of a massless two-segment linkage system (knee) topped by a point mass. Conditions for stability are calculated analytically based on the theory of Ljapunov and the results are illustrated by numerical examples. In order to guarantee a self-stabilizing ability of the muscle-skeletal system, the muscle properties such as force-length relationship, force-velocity relationship and the muscle geometry must be tuned to the geometric properties of the linkage system.
Algorithms and Models for Problems in Networking

Many interesting theoretical problems arise from computer networks. In this thesis we will consider three of them: algorithms and data structures for problems involving distances in networks (in particular compact routing schemes, distance labels, and distance oracles), algorithms for wireless capacity and scheduling problems, and algorithms for optimizing iBGP overlays in autonomous systems on the Internet. While at first glance these problems may seem extremely different, they are similar in that they all attempt to look at a previously studied networking problem in new, more realistic frameworks. In other words, they are all as much about new models for old problems as they are about new algorithms. In this thesis we will define these models, design algorithms for them, and prove hardness and impossibility results for these three types of problems.
Association of Nuclear PIM1 Expression with Lymph Node Metastasis and Poor Prognosis in Patients with Lung Adenocarcinoma and Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Increasing evidence indicates that aberrant expression of PIM1, p-STAT3 and c-MYC is involved in the pathogenesis of various solid tumors, but its prognostic value is still unclear in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Here, we sought to evaluate the expression and prognostic role of these markers in patients with lung adenocarcinoma (AD) and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). Real time RT-PCR and Western blotting was used to analyze the mRNA and protein expression of PIM1 in NSCLC cell lines, respectively. The expression of PIM1, p-STAT3, and c-MYC was immunohistochemically tested in archival tumor samples from 194 lung AD and SCC patients. High nuclear PIM1 expression was detected in 43.3% of ADs and SCCs, and was significantly correlated with lymph node (LN) metastasis (P = 0.028) and histology (P = 0.003). High nuclear PIM1 expression (P = 0.034), locally advanced stage (P < 0.001), AD (P = 0.007) and poor pathologic differentiation (P = 0.002) were correlated with worse disease-free survival (DFS). High nuclear PIM1 expression (P = 0.009), advanced clinical stage (P < 0.001) and poor pathologic differentiation (P = 0.004) were independent unfavorable prognostic factors for overall survival (OS). High p-STAT3 expression was not associated with OS but significantly correlated with LN metastasis, while c-MYC was not significantly correlated with any clinicopathological parameter or survival. Therefore, in AD and SCC patients, nuclear PIM1 expression level is an independent factor for DFS and OS and it might serve as a predictive biomarker for outcome.
Practicalizing Delay-Tolerant Mobile Apps with Cedos

Delay-tolerant Wi-Fi offloading is known to improve overall mobile network bandwidth at low delay and low cost. Yet, in reality, we rarely find mobile apps that fully support opportunistic Wi-Fi access. This is mainly because it is still challenging to develop delay-tolerant mobile apps due to the complexity of handling network disruptions and delays. In this work, we present Cedos, a practical delay-tolerant mobile network access architecture in which one can easily build a mobile app. Cedos consists of three components. First, it provides a familiar socket API whose semantics conforms to TCP while the underlying protocol, D2TP, transparently handles network disruptions and delays in mobility. Second, Cedos allows the developers to explicitly exploit delays in mobile apps. App developers can express maximum user-specified delays in content download or use the API for real-time buffer management at opportunistic Wi-Fi usage. Third, for backward compatibility to existing TCPbased servers, Cedos provides D2Prox, a protocol-translation Web proxy. D2Prox allows intermittent connections on the mobile device side, but correctly translates Web transactions with traditional TCP servers. We demonstrate the practicality of Cedos by porting mobile Firefox and VLC video streaming client to using the API. We also implement delay/disruption-tolerant podcast client and run a field study with 50 people for eight weeks. We find that up to 92.4% of the podcast traffic is offloaded to Wi-Fi, and one can watch a streaming video in a moving train while offloading 48% of the content to Wi-Fi without a single pause.
A Measurement of a large-scale Peer-to-Peer Live Video Streaming System

Peer-to-peer (P2P) technologies have found much success in applications like file distributions, and its adoption in live video streaming has recently attracted significant attentions. With the emerge of commercial P2P streaming systems that are orders of magnitude larger than the academic systems, understanding its basic principles and limitations are important in the design of future systems. Coolstreaming represented one of the earliest large-scale live streaming trials in the Internet. In this paper, we discuss the fundamental components of the system. By leveraging the recent results obtained from live event broadcast, we develop some basis to demonstrate that a random partnership selection has the potentially to scale. Specifically, first, we examine the overlay topology. Second, using a combination of real traces and analysis, we present the highly skewed distribution of peer contribution; a small fraction of peers contribute most of the upload capacity. Third, we discuss the main limitations and the implications on the scalability.
Mindfulness meditation training alters stress-related amygdala resting state functional connectivity: a randomized controlled trial.

Recent studies indicate that mindfulness meditation training interventions reduce stress and improve stress-related health outcomes, but the neural pathways for these effects are unknown. The present research evaluates whether mindfulness meditation training alters resting state functional connectivity (rsFC) of the amygdala, a region known to coordinate stress processing and physiological stress responses. We show in an initial discovery study that higher perceived stress over the past month is associated with greater bilateral amygdala-subgenual anterior cingulate cortex (sgACC) rsFC in a sample of community adults (n = 130). A follow-up, single-blind randomized controlled trial shows that a 3-day intensive mindfulness meditation training intervention (relative to a well-matched 3-day relaxation training intervention without a mindfulness component) reduced right amygdala-sgACC rsFC in a sample of stressed unemployed community adults (n = 35). Although stress may increase amygdala-sgACC rsFC, brief training in mindfulness meditation could reverse these effects. This work provides an initial indication that mindfulness meditation training promotes functional neuroplastic changes, suggesting an amygdala-sgACC pathway for stress reduction effects.
Influences of age and length of education on rCBF-SPECT in healthy elderly : diagnostic implications for dementia

Background: Few previous studies have described other than age- and gender related changes in regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) in healthy elderly. What is the influence of other common clinically relevant variables such as ache, education, MMSE, and smoking history? Purpose: To study rCBF in Swedish healthy elderly by single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) and evaluate the influence on rCBF of age, gender, education, MMSE, ache, and smoking with a focus on education in relation to the ‘cognitive reserve’. Methods: Healthy subjects (n = 45, 50 -75 y), sampled from a large longitudinal aging study took part in an extensive examination of health and memory, including cognitive testing and socio-economic survey. After injection of 99 mTc-hexamethylpropylene amine oxime (HMPAO) followed by SPECT the rCBF-SPECT images were analyzed using statistical parametric mapping (SPM). Results: Age-related decreases in uptake were seen in interhemispheric and interlobar regions. There was a positive rCBF correlation with education in the inferior frontal lobe and a higher uptake in the left temporal lobe in an age-gender-matched high education subgroup. Conclusion: The localization of the age related findings except for the medial temporal lobe differs markedly from typical dementia related findings. A reduction close to interhemispheric or interlobar space should always be related to chronological age. Education seems to have an influence on basal brain function at a resting-state condition. Knowledge of normal rCBF variations for variables such as age and education should be considered when making clinical diagnosis. The findings could be interpreted as further support for the theory of cognitive reserve.
Understanding action control of parental support behavior for child physical activity.

OBJECTIVE Parental support is the critical family-level variable linked to child physical activity (PA), yet the antecedents of support are poorly understood, and its relationship with intention is modest. The purpose of this study was to apply a framework designed to evaluate the intention-behavior gap, known as multiprocess action control (M-PAC), to understand parental support for regular child PA. METHOD Mothers (N = 1,253) with children 5-12 years of age completed measures of attitudes, perceived control over support, behavioral regulation tactics (e.g., planning, self-monitoring), and intention to support. Over half (58%) reported on subsequent support behaviors 6 months later. RESULTS Three intention-behavior profiles emerged: (a) nonintenders (26.4%; n = 331), (b) unsuccessful intenders (36.6%; n = 458), and (c) successful intenders (33%; n = 414). Congruent with M-PAC, a discriminant function analysis showed that affective attitude about support (r = .18), perceived behavioral control over support (r = .55), and behavioral regulation (r = .55) distinguished between all 3 intention-behavior profiles. A disaggregated analysis of specific behavioral regulation tactics showed that most distinguished all 3 profiles, yet planning, information seeking, and monitoring were the critical correlates of the discriminant function. CONCLUSION The majority of mothers had positive intentions to support regular child PA, yet over half failed to enact this support. Difficulty of intention translating into support behavior arises from compromised control over support, self-regulation skills, and perceptions that the support experience is unenjoyable. Interventions aimed at strengthening these factors are recommended to improve parental support action control.