Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Relaxation of a Control Problem in the Coefficients with a Functional of Quadratic Growth in the Gradient

We study an optimal design problem consisting in mixing two anisotropic (electric or thermal) materials in order to minimize a functional depending on the gradient of the state. It is known that this type of problem has no solution in general, and then it is necessary to introduce a relaxed formulation. Here we prove that this relaxation is obtained by using composite materials, is constructed by homogenization, and takes a particular extension of the cost functional to these new materials. We obtain an integral representation of this relaxed cost functional. Besides, we show that our results contain some previous results obtained by other authors for isotropic materials.
The Unique Binding Mode of Laulimalide to Two Tubulin Protofilaments

Laulimalide, a cancer chemotherapeutic in preclinical development, has a unique binding site located on two adjacent β‐tubulin units between tubulin protofilaments of a microtubule. Our extended protein model more accurately mimics the microtubule environment, and together with a 135 ns molecular dynamics simulation, identifies a new binding mode for laulimalide, which differs from the modes presented in work using smaller protein models. The new laulimalide–residue interactions that are computationally revealed explain the contacts observed via independent mass shift perturbation experiments. The inclusion of explicit solvent shows that many laulimalide–tubulin interactions are water mediated. The new contacts between the drug and the microtubule structure not only improve our understanding of laulimalide binding but also will be essential for efficient derivatization and optimization of this prospective cancer chemotherapy agent. Observed changes in secondary protein structure implicate the S7–H9 loop (M–loop) and H1′–S2 loop in the mechanism by which laulimalide stabilizes microtubules to exert its cytotoxic effects.
Differential effects of psychomotor stimulants on attentional performance in rats: nicotine, amphetamine, caffeine and methylphenidate

Nicotine can improve attentional performance in the rat as assessed by a modified five-choice serial reaction time task (5-CSRTT), but it is not known if the effect is shared with other psychomotor stimulants. This study compared the effects of nicotine, amphetamine, caffeine and methylphenidate on performance in the 5-CSRTT and determined whether presenting stimuli at unpredictable times by using variable inter-trial intervals (ITI) influenced the sensitivity of the task to the drugs. One group of male hooded rats was trained to obtain food reinforcers by nose-poking in response to 1 s light stimuli presented randomly in one of five apertures, with fixed ITI; for a second group of rats, ITI varied randomly (n=12 per group). As observed previously, nicotine (tested in doses of 0.05–0.2 mg/kg) produced dose-related improvements in accuracy, reduced omission errors and response latencies, but increased anticipatory responding. Amphetamine (0.1–0.8 mg/kg) and methylphenidate (2.5–10 mg/kg) increased accuracy and reduced response latency, and decreased anticipatory responding. Caffeine (2.5–20 mg/kg) did not improve performance except at a small dose that decreased omission errors only. Training at different levels of stimulus predictability influenced performance in the undrugged state but had little impact on profiles of responses to the drugs. The findings with methylphenidate support the potential value of the 5-CSRTT for testing drugs that may be useful in the treatment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.
Temporal coupling between stimulus-evoked neural activity and hemodynamic responses from individual cortical columns

Using previously published data from the whisker barrel cortex of anesthetized rodents (Berwick et al 2008 J. Neurophysiol. 99 787–98) we investigated whether highly spatially localized stimulus-evoked cortical hemodynamics responses displayed a linear time-invariant (LTI) relationship with neural activity. Presentation of stimuli to individual whiskers of 2 s and 16 s durations produced hemodynamics and neural activity spatially localized to individual cortical columns. Two-dimensional optical imaging spectroscopy (2D-OIS) measured hemoglobin responses, while multi-laminar electrophysiology recorded neural activity. Hemoglobin responses to 2 s stimuli were deconvolved with underlying evoked neural activity to estimate impulse response functions which were then convolved with neural activity evoked by 16 s stimuli to generate predictions of hemodynamic responses. An LTI system more adequately described the temporal neuro-hemodynamics coupling relationship for these spatially localized sensory stimuli than in previous studies that activated the entire whisker cortex. An inability to predict the magnitude of an initial ‘peak’ in the total and oxy- hemoglobin responses was alleviated when excluding responses influenced by overlying arterial components. However, this did not improve estimation of the hemodynamic responses return to baseline post-stimulus cessation.
Toward a New Paradigm in Substance Abuse and other Problem Behavior Prevention for Youth: Youth Development and Empowerment Approach

The purpose of this article is to 1) address a paradigm shift taking place in the field of substance abuse prevention directed for youth and 2) to introduce an innovative approach to substance abuse and other problem behavior prevention that reflects this shift in prevention paradigm. The new path introduced is youth development and empowerment (YD&E) approach. In order to establish a conceptual foundation for this approach, this article 3) reviews the theoretical advances made in the field of substance abuse prevention during the last three decades. This is followed by a conceptualization of the processes of implementing the YD&E program by 4) specifying the mechanism used for the empowering processes and by 5) identifying the structural components of the youth empowerment model that serve the empowering processes. It is hoped that this article serves as a conduit for an improved approach to adolescent substance abuse prevention and youth development that goes beyond, rather than against, the traditional risk-factor approach. In this new approach, youths are viewed as assets and resources to our community rather than social problems or community liabilities. The organizing concept of this new paradigm is: social, economic, and public opportunity denied to youth is equal to social problems imposed on youth by adults.
Towards a New Personal Information Technology Acceptance Model: Conceptualization and Empirical Evidence from a Bring Your Own Device Dataset

By considering recent findings from cognitive dual process theories, I propose a new technology acceptance model for situations in which IT is used everyday. The so$called “Personal Information Technology Acceptance Model” (PITAM) will be applied to the IT$consumerization area and it will be evaluated by a Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) dataset from 171 working professionals aged from 18 to 68 years. As a result I found empirical evidence for the speculation that BYOD user behavior is primarily driven by Perceived Enjoyment as a System 1 IS construct and System 2 IS constructs such as Perceived Usefulness are results of post hoc constructions/justifications of (intended) BYOD usage.
Green synthesis of Silver Nanoparticle using Elettaria Cardamomom and Assessment of its Antimicrobial Activity

An eco-friendly green mediated synthesis of inorganic nanoparticle is a fast growing research in the limb of nanotechnology. This study reports the synthesis of silver Nanoparticle by using commercially available spice Elettaria cardamomom without the use of toxic chemicals. Visually, the formation of silver Nanoparticle was confirmed by observing the colour changes from pale yellow to dark brown colour and an intense peak was observed in the UV- spectrophotometer at 460 nm. Further, silver nanoparticle was characterized formation was confirmed by XRD, SEM and EDAX analysis. The possible functional groups in the plant extracts were identified by FTIR analysis. Further more the phytosynthesized silver Nanoparticle show the antimicrobial activity against the pathogenic microbial strains (Bacillus subtilis, Klebsiella planticola). This novel green approach is a rapid, facile and used for large scale production of metallic Nanoparticle.
Slot-Loaded Folded Dipole Antenna With Wideband and Unidirectional Performance for L-Band Applications

Wideband antennas operating at L-band are rapidly finding their applications in various microwave-based medical diagnostic systems. To increase signal penetration while working in a limited space, these systems require compact unidirectional antennas. To meet these requirements, a three-dimensional folded dipole antenna is presented. It is composed of a slot-loaded coaxially fed printed slab and a U-shaped copper structure that completes the folded dipole loop. An appropriate slot loading enables achieving significant improvements of the proposed design in terms of bandwidth, gain, and front-to-back ratio compared to the conventional folded dipole antenna. A parametric analysis is performed for a deep understanding of the antenna's mechanism. A fabricated prototype demonstrates 57% fractional bandwidth, centered at 1.44 GHz with an average gain of 3.7 dBi over that band. The antenna has a directional radiation pattern with around 9 dBi front-to-back ratio and -10-dB cross-polarization levels along the boresight direction. The overall volume of the antenna is 0.24 × 0.10 × 0.05 λ3, where λ is the wavelength of the lowest operating frequency.
Pleural irregularity, a new ultrasound sign for the study of interstitial lung disease in systemic sclerosis and antisynthetase syndrome.

OBJECTIVES To evaluate a new ultrasound sign, pleural irregularity (PI), for the study of interstitial lung disease (ILD) in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc) and antisynthetase syndrome (ASS). METHODS The study included patients from our SSc and ASS cohorts with varying degrees of ILD, enrolled from 2011 to 2014. Chest high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT), pulmonary function tests (FVC and DLCO) and chest sonography were performed in each patient. Ultrasound PI and B-lines were quantified using a 72-sonographic point score and HRCT lung abnormalities were quantified using Warrick and Wells scores and categorised through Goh's algorithm. PI was correlated with HRCT and pulmonary function test parameters and its diagnostic performance to detect and classify the extent of ILD was evaluated and compared with B-lines. RESULTS Thirty-seven patients were studied, 21 with ASS and 16 with SSc (8 without ILD). PI correlated with the Warrick score both in SSc (r=0.6, p=0.01) and ASS patients (r=0.6, p=0.005), showing a higher performance to detect ILD than using B-lines (p=0.01). In SSc patients PI also correlated with Wells score (r=0.7, p<0.001) and with DLCO (r=-0.5, p=0.05), showing a high diagnostic value for detecting ILD (AUC=0.85, 95% CI 0.64-1) and classifying it into limited or extensive (AUC=0.81, 95% CI 0.57-1). A modification of the Goh algorithm including PI was developed as a screening tool to avoid the use of HRCT in SSc patients without ultrasound evidence of extensive ILD. CONCLUSIONS PI is useful for evaluation of ILD in SSc and ASS patients, and can be incorporated into a diagnostic algorithm in SSc patients to reducing the need for exposure to ionising radiation.
Empirical evidence for the Sport Value Framework–the bridging role of the Sport Cluster concept in sport marketing theory

"Service dominant" (S D) logic is premised upon a service centric approach to marketing. The S D logic emphasises that value is co created with customers, the use of operant resources, and that value is conceptualised subjectively and realised when the customer uses firm offerings (Skalen & Edvardsson, 2016). The S D logic guides actors toward understanding value as co created and assessed in use by customers in their social contexts (Lusch & Vargo, 2014). Extending the S D logic, Woratschek et al. (2014) provided a fundamentally new logic known as the Sport Value Framework (SVF). The SVF proposes that sport should be analysed in the context of the entire value co creation system of sport industries (meso level) rather than from the perspective of single actors (individuals, organisations). In this paper we seek empirical evidence for the sport value framework (SVF) by breaking the ten foundational premises of the SVF down to the sport cluster level (Gerke, Desbordes, & Dickson, 2015). This study illustrates an empirical case of the service dominant logic in sports. We conduct a single case study of the Auckland sailing cluster (Eisenhardt, 1989; Yin, 2009). Primary data collection comprises 27 interviews and observations at events. Secondary data include 13 documents of organisational information and archival data. Data were analysed with NVivo. The results provide evidence that the SVF provides insight into value creation within sport clusters. Eight of the ten foundational premises of the SVF are relevant to the studied sport cluster case. An experience dominant logic is suggested. This research helps sport management practitioners to better understand value creation in sports. It suggests that sport management and marketing scholars should use more holistic theoretical models and inclusive empirical research designs rather than focusing on isolated elements and actors of sport industries.
HEPATOPROTECTIVE AND ANTIDIABETIC EFFECT OF METHANOL EXTRACT OF CARALLUMA FIMBRIATA IN STREPTATOZOCIN INDUCED DIABETIC ALBINO RATS

Objective: Effect of methanol extract of Caralluma fimbriata (MCF) on streptatozocin (STZ) 50 mg/kg b.w. induced diabetic rats was studied. Methods: Oral administration of methanol extract of Caralluma fimbriata (MCF) to diabetic rats at a dose of 100 and 200 mg/kg body weight resulted in a significant reduction in blood glucose in STZ induced diabetic rats at different treatment period (0thday, 7thday, 14th day and 21st day). Results: The MCF treated diabetic rats were significantly recovered from hepatotoxicity, diabetic and renal toxicity by analyzing the factors such as, body weight, Glycosylated hemoglobin, Plasma insulin, Total protein, SGOT, SGPT and ALP. Further the histopathology results of MCF treated rats also confirmed the significant recovery of liver and kidney destruction. Conclusion: Our study reveals the therapeutic effect of MCF for diabetes and its related complications.
Defective Decapentaplegic Signaling Results in Heart Overgrowth and Reduced Cardiac Output in Drosophila

During germ-band extension, Decapentaplegic (Dpp) signals from the dorsal ectoderm to maintain Tinman (Tin) expression in the underlying mesoderm. This signal specifies the cardiac field, and homologous genes (BMP2/4 and Nkx2.5) perform this function in mammals. We showed previously that a second Dpp signal from the dorsal ectoderm restricts the number of pericardial cells expressing the transcription factor Zfh1. Here we report that, via Zfh1, the second Dpp signal restricts the number of Odd-skipped-expressing and the number of Tin-expressing pericardial cells. Dpp also represses Tin expression independently of Zfh1, implicating a feed-forward mechanism in the regulation of Tin pericardial cell number. In the adjacent dorsal muscles, Dpp has the opposite effect. Dpp maintains Krüppel and Even-skipped expression required for muscle development. Our data show that Dpp refines the cardiac field by limiting the number of pericardial cells. This maintains the boundary between pericardial and dorsal muscle cells and defines the size of the heart. In the absence of the second Dpp signal, pericardial cells overgrow and this significantly reduces larval cardiac output. Our study suggests the existence of a second round of BMP signaling in mammalian heart development and that perhaps defects in this signal play a role in congenital heart defects.
Cation Distribution and Equilibration Temperature of Amphiboles from the Sittampundi Complex, South India

Amphiboles are utilized as indicators of temperature, pressure, volatile content, and oxidation state by the petrologist; while to a mineralogist the amphiboles provide instructive examples of structural phase transitions, cation ordering over multiple crystallographic sites, and a variety of atomic substitutions (Ghiorso & Evans, 2002). Relating the chemistry of calcic-amphibole to the P-T conditions of crystallization is a daunting task, because the amphibole crystal structure consists of a variety of cation sites, accommodating elements of a wide range of ionic radii and valences.
ESTRUCTURA FACTORIAL Y CONSISTENCIA INTERNA DE LA UTRECH WORK ENGAGEMENT SCALE (UWES) 17 ENTRE TRABAJADORES SANITARIOS DE CHILE FACTORIAL STRUCTURE AND INTERNAL CONSISTENCY OF THE UTRECHT WORK ENGAGEMENT SCALE (UWES) 17 AMONG HEALTH WORKERS OF CHILE

In order to provide evidence of validity and reliability of the instruments to evaluate the quality of working life, this study assesses the factorial structure and the reliability of the UWES-17 scale, measuring Engagement or employment commitment. A group of 165 Chilean Health workers were surveyed from various health disciplines and contract quality, the majority being women (70.30%) and non-medical professionals (27.88%). Through a Factorial Exploratory Analysis, we identified two factors: involvement with work and enthusiasm for work, demonstrating sufficient reliability. The study shows that the UWES-17 scale, considering the factorial structure referred to above, presents appropriate psychometric properties to be used in Chilean health workers, which supports its use to investigate this laboral phenomenon.
A preliminary analysis of phylogenetic relationships and biogeography of the dangerously venomous Carpet Vipers, Echis (Squamata, Serpentes, Viperidae) based on mitochondrial DNA sequences

Phylogenetic analysis of 1117 bp of mitochondrial DNA sequences (731 bp of cytochrome b and 386 bp of 16S rRNA) indicate that Echis consists of four main clades: E. ocellatus , and the E. coloratus , E. pyramidum , and E. carinatus groups. In the E. coloratus group, E. coloratus itself shows substantial genetic divergence from E. omanensis , corroborating their separate species status. In the E. pyramidum clade, E. pyramidum from Egypt and E. leucogaster from West Africa are genetically very similar, even though samples are separated by 4000 km. South Arabian populations of the E. pyramidum group are much better differentiated from these and two species may be present, animals from Dhofar, southern Oman probably being referable to E. khosatzkii . In the E. carinatus group, specimens of E. carinatus sochureki and E. multisquamatus are very similar in their DNA. The phylogeny indicates that the split between the main groups of Echis was followed by separation of African and Arabian members of the E. pyramidum group, and of E. coloratus and E. omanensis . The last disjunction probably took place at the lowlands that run southwest of the North Oman mountains, which are likely to have been intermittently covered by marine incursions; they also separate the E. pyramidum and E. carinatus groups and several sister taxa of other reptiles. The E. carinatus group may have spread quite recently from North Oman into its very extensive southwest Asian range, and there appears to have been similar expansion of E. pyramidum (including E. leucogaster ) in North Africa. Both these events are likely to be associated with the marked climatic changes of the Pleistocene or late Pliocene. Similar dramatic expansions have also recently occurred in three snake species in Iberia.
Contractile and Vasorelaxant Effects of Hydrogen Sulfide and Its Biosynthesis in the Human Internal Mammary Artery

This study aimed to test these hypotheses: cystathionine γ-lyase (CSE) is expressed in a human artery, it generates hydrogen sulfide (H2S), and H2S relaxes a human artery. H2S is produced endogenously in rat arteries from cysteine by CSE. Endogenously produced H2S dilates rat resistance arteries. Although CSE is expressed in rat arteries, its presence in human blood vessels has not been described. In this study, we showed that both CSE mRNA, determined by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction, and CSE protein, determined by Western blotting, apparently occur in the human internal mammary artery (internal thoracic artery). Artery homogenates converted cysteine to H2S, and the H2S production was inhibited by dl-propargylglycine, an inhibitor of CSE. We also showed that H2S relaxes phenylephrine-precontracted human internal mammary artery at higher concentrations but produces contraction at low concentrations. The latter contractions are stronger in acetylcholine-prerelaxed arteries, suggesting inhibition of nitric oxide action. The relaxation is partially blocked by glibenclamide, an inhibitor of KATP channels. The present results indicate that CSE protein is expressed in human arteries, that human arteries synthesize H2S, and that higher concentrations of H2S relax human arteries, in part by opening KATP channels. Low concentrations of H2S contract the human internal mammary artery, possibly by reacting with nitric oxide to form an inactive nitrosothiol. The possibility that CSE, and the H2S it generates, together play a physiological role in regulating the diameter of arteries in humans, as has been demonstrated in rats, should be considered.
Organization of human hypothalamus in fetal development

The organization of the human hypothalamus was studied in 33 brains aged from 9 weeks of gestation (w.g.) to newborn, using immunohistochemistry for parvalbumin, calbindin, calretinin, neuropeptide Y, neurophysin, growth‐associated protein (GAP)‐43, synaptophysin, and the glycoconjugate 3‐fucosyl‐ N‐acetyl‐lactosamine. Developmental stages are described in relation to obstetric trimesters. The first trimester (morphogenetic periods 9–10 w.g. and 11–14 w.g.) is characterized by differentiating structures of the lateral hypothalamic zone, which give rise to the lateral hypothalamus (LH) and posterior hypothalamus. The PeF differentiates at 18 w.g. from LH neurons, which remain anchored in the perifornical position, whereas most of the LH cells are displaced laterally. A transient supramamillary nucleus was apparent at 14 w.g. but not after 16 w.g. As the ventromedial nucleus differentiated at 13–16 w.g. , three principal parts, the ventrolateral part, the dorsomedial part, and the shell, were revealed by distribution of calbindin, calretinin, and GAP43 immunoreactivity. The second trimester (morphogenetic periods 15–17 w.g., 18–23 w.g., and 24–33 w.g.) is characterized by differentiation of the hypothalamic core, in which calbindin‐ positive neurons revealed the medial preoptic nucleus at 16 w.g. abutted laterally by the intermediate nucleus. The dorsomedial nucleus was clearly defined at 10 w.g. and consisted of compact and diffuse parts, an organization that was lost after 15 w.g. Differentiation of the medial mamillary body into lateral and medial was seen at 13–16 w.g. Late second trimester was marked by differentiation of periventricular zone structures, including suprachiasmatic, arcuate, and paraventricular nuclei. The subnuclear differentiation of these nuclei extends into the third trimester. The use of chemoarchitecture in the human fetus permitted the identification of interspecies nuclei homologies, which otherwise remain concealed in the cytoarchitecture. J. Comp. Neurol. 446:301–324, 2002. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.