Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The long‐wavelength geoid from three‐dimensional spherical models of thermal and thermochemical mantle convection

The Earth's long‐wavelength geoid anomalies have long been used to constrain the dynamics and viscosity structure of the mantle in an isochemical, whole mantle convection model. However, there is strong evidence that the seismically observed large low shear velocity provinces (LLSVPs) in the lower mantle underneath the Pacific and Africa are chemically distinct and likely denser than the ambient mantle. In this study, we have formulated dynamically self‐consistent 3‐D spherical mantle convection models to investigate how chemically distinct and dense piles above the core‐mantle boundary may influence the geoid. Our dynamic models with realistic mantle viscosity structure produce dominantly spherical harmonic degree‐2 convection, similar to that of the present‐day Earth. The models produce two broad geoid and topography highs over two major thermochemical piles in the lower mantle, consistent with the positive geoid anomalies over the Pacific and African LLSVPs. Our geoid analysis showed that the bottom layer with dense chemical piles contributes negatively to the total geoid, while the layer immediately above the chemical piles contributes positively to the geoid, canceling out the effect of the piles. Thus, the bottom part of the mantle, as a compensation layer, has zero net contribution to the total geoid, and the thickness of the compensation layer is ~1000 km or 2 to 3 times as thick as the chemical piles. Our results help constrain and interpret the large‐scale thermochemical structure of the mantle using surface observations of the geoid and topography, as well as seismic models of the mantle.
Use of an Escherichia coli mutant strain permits measurement of single-stranded apurinic-apyrimidinic endonuclease in crude extracts: studies with untransformed cells and cells transformed with plasmids containing the uvrC gene

We have constructed a strain of Escherichia coli that is defective in exonuclease VII and uracil-DNA glycosylase activities. This strain (xse ung) facilitates the quantitation of single-stranded apurinic-apyrimidinic endonuclease activity in crude extracts. Quantitative comparisons of single-stranded apurinic-apyrimidinic endonuclease activity under conditions in which uvrC protein is overexpressed showed no differences, suggesting that single-stranded apurinic-apyrimidinic endonuclease and uvrC protein are probably distinct.
Human red blood cells-1

Biochemists and cell biologists, who are interested in membranes, tend to regard the human red blood cell ambivalently. On one hand, red blood cells lack nuclei and the various intracellular organelles, yet that are highly specialized for a particular respiratory function. On the other hand, the human red blood cell presents an excellent model for membrane transport function.
Infant survival in Norway and Sweden 1985–88

In recent years, considerable attention has been attached to the disquieting fact that infant survival is much lower in Norway than in Sweden. In the present study, comprising all live single births in Norway and Sweden during 1985–88, the observed infant mortality was 1.5 times higher in Norway than in Sweden. The largest difference between Norway and Sweden was found in infants of young mothers with high birth order. Thus for the second births of mothers aged less than 20 years the observed mortality ratio of Norway to Sweden was 1.8. The infant mortality ratio decreased with increasing maternal age for all birth orders, and for the second births of mothers aged 35 years or more the mortality ratio was 1.0. The higher infant mortality in Norway was evident throughout the first year of life, with the highest mortality ratio observed at 6–8 months of life. Adjustment for maternal age, birth order and geographical region did not alter the observed infant mortality ratios. In both countries, the highest risk was found among infants of young mothers, This suggests a need for a more extensive preventive health care system directed at young mothers during their pregnancy and the infancy period.
Physiology and immunology of mucosal barriers in catfish (Ictalurus spp.)

The mucosal barriers of catfish (Ictalurus spp) constitute the first line of defense against pathogen invasion while simultaneously carrying out a diverse array of other critical physiological processes, including nutrient adsorption, osmoregulation, waste excretion, and environmental sensing. Catfish depend more heavily on mucosal barriers than their terrestrial counterparts as they are continuously interacting with the aquatic microbiota. Our understanding of these barriers, while growing, is still limited relative to that of mammalian model systems. Nevertheless, a combination of molecular and cellular studies in catfish over the last few decades, and particularly within the last few years, has helped to elucidate many of the primary actors and pathways critical to their mucosal health. Here we describe aspects of innate and adaptive immune responses in the primary mucosal tissues (skin, gill, and intestine) of catfish, focusing on mucus-driven responses, pathogen recognition, soluble mediators, and immunoglobulin and T-cell derived immunity. Modulation of mucosal barriers will be critical moving forward for crafting better diets, improving vaccine delivery, enhancing water quality, and ensuring sustainable production practices in catfish.
A fall prevention program for elderly individuals. Exercise in long-term care settings.

The purpose of this research was to explore the role of exercise in preventing falls, specifically assessing the effectiveness of an ankle strengthening and walking program to improve balance, ankle strength, walking speed, and falls efficacy and to decrease falls and subjects' fear of falling. Sixteen individuals participated in the study which was conducted at two nursing homes. Subjects were assigned randomly to an intervention or control group. The participants in the intervention group completed a 3-month supervised program of ankle strengthening exercises and walking. Descriptive statistics were used to characterize the sample, and differences in the least square means were used to assess the outcome variables (i.e., balance, ankle strength, walking speed, falls, fear of falling, falls efficacy) before the exercise program, and again at 3 months and 6 months after the program for the intervention and control subjects. Findings for the intervention group from pretest to 3-month posttest were, for the most part, maintained or in the predicted direction, suggesting that regular exercise shows promise for preventing deterioration and improving fall-related outcomes for elderly nursing home residents.
Naturally Acquired Antibody Responses to a Synthetic Malaria Antigen AS202.11

Background A major challenge to malaria vaccine development is identification of protective epitopes and respective protective immune responses. Objective To characterize naturally acquired Immunoglobulin G (IgG) responses to the synthetic peptide AS202.11, a malaria vaccine candidate. Methodology This community based cross-sectional study enrolled 320 participants aged 1 year and above. Demographic information was recorded through interviews. Detection of P. falciparum infection was done by microscopy, malaria rapid diagnostic test, and polymerase chain reaction. ELISA was used to detect IgG antibody. Data was analyzed using STATA. Results The overall AS202.11 IgG seropositivity was 78.8% (73.9–82.9). Seropositivity by age categories was ≤12 years [74.3% (67.4–80.2)], 13–40 years [85.3% (76.5–91.1)], and >40 years [82.6% (68.7–91.1)]. Compared to the ≤ 12-year-old group, aORs for the other groups were 2.22 (1.14–4.32), p = 0.019, and 1.87 (0.81–4.35), p = 0.143, for the 13–40-year-old and >40-year-old groups, respectively. The 13–40-year-old group had more seropositive individuals compared to the ≤ 12-year-old group. Conclusion We report a high degree of recognition of AS202.11 by IgG elicited by field P. falciparum strains, suggesting its close similarity to native P. falciparum antigens and possible suitability of the peptide as a future malaria vaccine candidate.
Area-Power Efficient Modulo 2n-1 and Modulo 2n+1 Multipliers for {2n-1, 2n, 2n+1} Based RNS

Residue Number System (RNS) is often adopted to implement long and repetitive multiplications of cryptographic and signal processing algorithms. To sustain the competitive advantages of RNS over two's complement system in pervasive computing platforms, the hardware cost of parallel modulo arithmetic operations must be lowered. In this paper, new low power and low area modulo multipliers for the well-established {2n - 1, 2n, 2n + 1} based RNS are proposed. The proposed modulo 2n-1 and modulo 2n + 1 multipliers are based on the radix-8 Booth encoding technique. The requisite hard multiples in the critical path are generated by fast customized parallel-prefix adders. In the proposed modulo 2n - 1 multiplier, the number of partial products is lowered to ⌊n/3⌋ + 1, which is around 33% reduction over radix-4 Booth encoded multiplier for n = 32-64 . For modulo 2n + 1 multiplication, the aggregate bias due to the hard multiple and the modulo-reduced partial product generations is composed of multiplier-dependent dynamic bias and multiplier-independent static bias. Both biases have been reduced by properties of modulo 2n + 1 arithmetic and merged into only three n-bit words. Consequently, the total number of partial products in the proposed modulo 2n + 1 multiplier is given by ⌊n/3⌋ + 6, which is 11% and 35% reduction over radix-4 Booth encoded multiplier for n = 32 and 64, respectively. From synthesis results for {2n - 1, 2n, 2n + 1} based RNS multipliers constructed from different modulo 2n - 1 and modulo 2n + 1 multipliers, our proposed modulo multipliers save 4%-40% and 24%-34% area as well as 21%-40% and 7%-19% total power dissipation over radix-4 Booth encoded and non-encoded modulo multipliers, respectively. These results are well correlated with the theoretical estimation based on the normalized area model.
Changes in genetic and environmental influences on disordered eating between early and late adolescence: a longitudinal twin study

Background We investigated the genetic and environmental contributions to disordered eating (DE) between early and late adolescence in order to determine whether different sources of heritability and environmental risk contributed to these peak times of emergence of eating disorders. Method Adolescent female twins from the Australian Twin Registry were interviewed over the telephone with the Eating Disorder Examination (EDE). Data were collected at 12–15 and 16–19 years (wave 1: N = 699, 351 pairs; wave 3: N = 499, 247 pairs). Assessments also involved self-report measures related to negative life events and weight-related peer teasing. Results Unstandardized estimates from the bivariate Cholesky decomposition model showed both genetic influences and non-shared environmental influences increased over adolescence, but shared environmental influences decreased. While non-shared environmental sources active at ages 12–15 years continued to contribute at 16–19 years, new sources of both additive genetic and non-shared environmental risk were introduced at ages 16–19 years. Weight-related peer teasing in early-mid adolescence predicted increases of DE in later adolescence, while negative life events did not. Conclusions Two-thirds of the heritable influence contributing to DE in late adolescence was unique to this age group. During late adolescence independent sources of genetic risk, as well as environmental influences are likely to be related in part to peer teasing, appear key antecedents in growth of DE.
Decoherent Histories Quantum Mechanics with One 'Real' Fine-Grained History

Decoherent histories quantum theory is reformulated with the assumption that there is one “real” fine-grained history, specified in a preferred complete set of sum-over-histories variables. This real history is described by embedding it in an ensemble of comparable imagined fine-grained histories, not unlike the familiar ensemble of statistical mechanics. These histories are assigned extended probabilities, which can sometimes be negative or greater than one. As we will show, this construction implies that the real history is not completely accessible to experimental or other observational discovery. However, sufficiently and appropriately coarse-grained sets of alternative histories have standard probabilities providing information about the real fine-grained history that can be compared with observation. We recover the probabilities of decoherent histories quantum mechanics for sets of histories that are recorded and therefore decohere. Quantum mechanics can be viewed as a classical stochastic theory of histories with extended probabilities and a well-defined notion of reality common to all decoherent sets of alternative coarse-grained histories.
Prognostic factors in tympanoplasty.

OBJECTIVE To assess the prognostic value of pathologic and technical variables influencing the functional outcome of tympanoplasty. PATIENTS AND STUDY DESIGN Retrospective review of the records of 544 patients affected by chronic otitis with or without cholesteatoma, operated on by the senior author in a city hospital ENT department. Follow-up was provided systematically by the same institution. INTERVENTIONS These included tympanoplasty without mastoidectomy in 339 cases, canal wall up technique in 134 cases, and canal wall down in 71 cases. Three hundred twenty-six (60%) were primary, and 218 (40%) were revision procedures. Myringoplasty was performed with autologous temporalis fascia, ossiculoplasty with incus interposition, or partial or total ossicular prostheses. Mean follow-up was 14 months (range, 12-50 months). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Hearing results were defined according to the Committee on Hearing and Equilibrium Guidelines. A one-way analysis of variance was used to determine group differences. Multiple logistic regression analysis was subsequently carried out on the different pathology groups via the hierarchical log linear model. A probability value of p < 0.05 was the level of significance. RESULTS The status of the mucosal lining, the mastoidectomy, the availability of the malleus handle, and the tympanic membrane perforation were all significantly predictive of the hearing outcome but with differing weight according to the pathologic condition. CONCLUSIONS Anatomic and technical factors diversely affect the functional outcome of tympanoplasty. A better knowledge of their predictive roles and weights may be useful in both the surgeon's judgment and in the information given to the patient.
The Near-Earth Space Radiation Environment

The effects of the space radiation environment on spacecraft systems and instruments are significant design considerations for space missions. Astronaut exposure is a serious concern for manned missions. In order to meet these challenges and have reliable, cost-effective designs, the radiation environment must be understood and accurately modeled. The nature of the environment varies greatly between low earth orbits and higher earth orbits. There are both short-term and long-term variations with the phase of the solar cycle. In this paper we concentrate mainly on charged particle radiations in the near-Earth region. Descriptions of the radiation belts and particles of solar and cosmic origin are reviewed. An overview of the traditional models is presented accompanied by their application areas and limitations. This is followed by discussion of some recent model developments.
Lung pathology of pale ear mouse (model of Hermansky–Pudlak syndrome 1) and beige mouse (model of Chediak–Higashi syndrome): Severity of giant lamellar body degeneration of type II pneumocytes correlates with interstitial inflammation

The authors have recently reported the presence of characteristic foamy swelling/degeneration (giant lamellar body degeneration, GLBD) of type II pneumocytes in the lungs affected by Hermansky–Pudlak syndrome (HPS)‐associated interstitial pneumonia (HPSIP), and proposed the hypothesis that GLBD may be the triggering factor in the development of HPSIP (Virchows Arch 2000; 437: 304–13). The purpose of the present paper was to investigate the lung pathology of pale ear (ep) mouse, a mouse model of HPS1, and of beige (bg) mouse, a mouse model of Chediak–Higashi syndrome (CHS) with a reference to GLBD and associated pathologic changes. GLBD was found in both ep and bg mice soon after birth, and increased in severity as the mice grew older. Younger mice had only GLBD with no evidence of interstitial change. Aged bg mice showed the most prominent GLBD and patchy areas of alveolar collapse accompanied by lymphocytic infiltration and slight fibrosis. Aged ep mice with less severe GLBD than bg mice of comparable ages also had a slight tendency to develop interstitial inflammation but no fibrosis. The pneumocytes with GLBD were immunoreactive for surfactant protein B and composed of giant lamellar bodies ultrastructurally, findings which were almost identical to those of human GLBD. The results of the present study support the hypothesis that GLBD may play an important role in the development of HPSIP. Ep and bg mice, especially the latter, may be useful mouse models of HPSIP.
Prevalence and Molecular Epidemiological Typing of Penicillinase-Producing Neisseria gonorrhoeae and Their blaTEM-135 Gene Variants in Nanjing, China

Background This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of penicillinase-producing Neisseria gonorrhoeae (PPNG) and their blaTEM-135 gene variant in 2007 and 2012 in Nanjing, China. In addition, molecular epidemiological typing of all isolates was performed to elucidate the genetic relationships of the PPNG strains. Methods A total of 199 and 77 N. gonorrhoeae isolates were collected at the National Center for STD Control in 2007 and 2012, respectively. Nitrocefin tests were performed to identify PPNG. Mismatch amplification mutation assay was used to identify blaTEM-135. All isolates were genotyped using N. gonorrhoeae multiantigen sequence typing (NG-MAST), and additionally, porB-based phylogenetic analysis was performed for the PPNG isolates. Results The total prevalence of PPNG isolates was 41% (114/276) and 58% (66/114) of these PPNG isolates possessed blaTEM-135. In 2007, 45% (90/199) produced &bgr;-lactamase, and of those PPNG, 58% (52/90) possessed blaTEM-135. In 2012, 31% (24/77) were PPNG, and 58% (14/24) of those isolates contained blaTEM-135. There were 162 NG-MAST STs among the 276 isolates, and 89 of those were novel STs. A strong association between specific NG-MAST STs and blaTEM-135 was found, and the porB-based phylogenetic analysis showed a distant evolutionary relationship between isolates in 2007 and isolates in 2012. Conclusions A high prevalence of PPNG and blaTEM-135 was found in Nanjing, China. blaTEM-135 might be a precursor in the evolution into an extended-spectrum &bgr;-lactamase that can degrade ceftriaxone, which stresses the need to continuously monitor PPNG, blaTEM-135, and additional evolving blaTEM gene variants.
Repeated Use of E-Gov Web Sites: A Satisfaction and Confidentiality Perspective

The potential success of e-government depends on its citizens adopting online services and the security of those services. However, despite the development and diffusion of a variety of government services on the Internet, little research has been carried out regarding: (1) the impact of perceived confidentiality of a userâ€™s information on his or her intention to use the service; (2) the relationship between intention towards repeated use and satisfaction derived from service performance of government; and (3) the moderating effect of demographic characteristics (gender and race difference) on the relationship between a userâ€™s satisfaction, confidentiality and repeated use intention. This paper develops an integrated framework of intentions towards repeated use with a level of confidential information shared by a user as one factor and e-government satisfaction derived from service performance as another factor. The results suggest that a userâ€™s intention to continue using government Web sites is related to the userâ€™s satisfaction, perceived performance of the Web site and the requirement for confidential information. This research also confirms that gender difference does moderate the relationship between usersâ€™ satisfaction levels and repeated use intention. Race difference has an effect on the strength of the relationship between the userâ€™s perceived confidentiality and repeated use intention.
Interface definitions in literature: A reality check

Companies that develop multi-technological products are challenged on their ability to obtain high product quality and short development lead times in today’s highly competitive and globalized markets. One of the main reasons for poor product quality is due to unidentified or poorly defined product interfaces during the design phase leading to unintended product behavior. In an effort to reduce the lead time and increase quality, companies may apply a modular product architecture, thus enabling parallel development and maturing of modules. Achieving a successful integration of the modules at the end of a design phase requires, however, an understanding of how the modules disintegrate from an early stage. This implies having a fundamental understanding of what an interface is. Despite the apparent academic consensus on the importance of product interfaces during design, very little research has been done on the definition and perception of a product interface within engineering design research which is the objective of this article. A structured literature review of interface definitions found within engineering design literature has been carried out. The different definitions were tabulated against four key issues concerning the nature of an interface. These were later discussed with use of a case example in order to reason out the implications to design. The literature review revealed an inconsistency in the perceptions of an interface with regard to how it manifests itself, whether it is a design object, and the use of element types. These key issues were justified using a case example of a solenoid valve. In light of the findings from the literature review, it is argued how interfaces between modules as well as interfaces that reside in the tension field between different engineering disciplines may require great attention since they are subject to negotiation and interpretation between disciplines, which could lead to miscommunication and inefficiency.
Purification of Chrysancorin, a Novel Antifungal Protein with Mitogenic Activity from Garland Chrysanthemum Seeds

Abstract A novel antifungal protein, designated chrysancorin, was isolated from seeds of Chrysanthemum coronarium var. spatiosum with a procedure involving ion exchange chromatography on DEAEcellulose, affinity chromatography on Affigel blue resin, ion exchange chromatography on SPSepharose and FPLCgel filtration on Superdex 75. The Nterminus of chrysancorin displays sequence similarity to the genomic sequence of chromosome 1 from Arabidopsis thaliana BAC T19E23. Chrysancorin exhibits a molecular mass of 13.4 kDa in gel filtration and SDSpolyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. It stimulates the proliferation of mouse splenocytes and inhibits the activity of human immunodeficiency virus-1 reverse transcriptase. The protein possesses antifungal activity against Botrytis cinerea, Mycosphaerella arachidicola and Physalospora piricola, but not against Rhizoctonia solani, Fusarium oxysporum and Coprinus comatus. However, we could not detect antibacterial activity against a variety of bacteria.