Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The role of salinity on the dynamics of the Arabian Sea mini warm pool

Warmer (>28°C) Sea Surface Temperature (SST) occurs in the South Eastern Arabian Sea (SEAS, 5°-13°N, 65°-76°E) during March-April, and is known as the Arabian Sea Mini Warm Pool (ASMWP). In this study, we address the role of salinity and the upper layer heat and salt budgets in the formation and collapse of this ASMWP. An assessment of Level 3 Sea Surface Salinity (SSS) data from the Soil Moisture and Ocean Salinity (SMOS) satellite mission for the year 2010 shows that SMOS is able to capture the SSS variability in the SEAS. Analysis of temperature, salinity and currents from the HYbrid Coordinate Ocean Model (HYCOM) during 2003-06, and, in-situ temperature and salinity data from Argo floats during 2003-06 for the SEAS revealed that low salinity waters cap the top 60 m of the SEAS in January-February. This minimum salinity was concurrent with the formation of a barrier layer and with the time when the SEAS gained little net heat flux and the equatorward flowing East India Coastal Current (EICC) fed low saline waters into the SEAS. Subsequently, the net heat flux increased to a peak value under the increased salinity stratification, leading to the formation of the ASMWP in March-April. The ASMWP collapsed by May due to increase in SSS and the associated weakening of the salinity stratification. The monsoon onset vortex in May 2004 could be related to the minimum SSS that occurred in February 2004, followed by higher SST and heat content of the ASMWP in April 2004.
Transverse relaxometry with reduced echo train lengths via stimulated echo compensation

Transverse relaxation (T2) mapping has many applications, including imaging of iron accumulation in grey matter. Using the typical multiecho spin‐echo sequence with long echo trains, stimulated echo compensation can enable T2 fitting under conditions of variable radio frequency homogeneity arising from slice profile and in‐plane radio frequency variation. Substantial reduction in the number of refocusing pulses could enable use at high magnetic fields where specific absorption rate is a major limitation, and enable multislice use with reduced incidental magnetization transfer at all field strengths. We examine the effect of reduced echo train lengths and multislice imaging on T2 fitting using stimulated echo compensation applied to iron‐rich subcortical grey matter in human brain at 4.7 T. Our findings indicate that reducing from 20 echoes to as few as four echoes can maintain consistent T2 values when using stimulated echo compensation in grey and white matter, but not for cerebrospinal fluid. All territories produce marginal results when using standard exponential fitting. Savings from reduced echoes can be used to substantially increase slice coverage. In multislice mode, the resulting incidental magnetization transfer decreased brain signal but had minimal effect on measured T2 values. Magn Reson Med 70:1340–1346, 2013. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
The differential effect of storybook reading on preschoolers' acquisition of expressive and receptive vocabulary

The present study was conducted to assess the effect of didactic techniques used during storybook reading on young children's acquisition of new vocabulary introduced in storybooks. Thirty children for each group of three- and four-year-old children were read one storybook individually. The study included three storybook reading conditions: single-reading, repeated-reading and questioning. In both the repeated-reading and the questioning conditions, the storybook was read three times. Children in the questioning condition were asked, during each reading of the storybook, to label target items with the novel words. Listening to multiple readings of a storybook facilitated children's acquisition of expressive and receptive vocabulary, whereas answering questions during the multiple readings was more helpful to the acquisition of expressive than receptive vocabulary. These findings suggest that, under certain conditions, didactic techniques used by adults have differential effects on preschoolers' receptive and expressive vocabulary.
Sphingosine 1‐Phosphate Receptors Negatively Regulate Collagen Type I/III Expression in Human Bone Marrow‐derived Mesenchymal Stem Cell

Collagen is the most abundant structural protein in mammals and is expressed in various tissues. In recent years, sphingosine 1‐phosphate receptors (S1PRs) have been proven to play an important role in the regulation of collagen expression. Our previous studies reported that S1PRs are involved in TGF‐β1‐induced collagen expression via up‐regulating S1PR1/3 in mouse bone marrow‐derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs), and result in experimental mouse liver fibrogenesis. But it remains unclear whether this process happens in human bone marrow‐derived mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs). In this study, we provide evidences that S1PR1/3, but not S1PR2, negatively regulate the expression of collagen in hMSCs using cellular and molecular approaches in vitro. We find that treatment of hMSCs with TGF‐β1 up‐regulated collagen expression in a dose‐ and time‐dependent manner. Meanwhile, TGF‐β1 inhibited the expression of S1PR1/3, but not S1PR2, in hMSCs in a time‐dependent manner. Furthermore, either selective knock‐down of S1PR1 or silencing S1PR3 induced collagen α1(I) and collagen α1(III) expression in hMSCs. In contrast, inhibition of S1PR2 by siRNA had no effects on the expression of collagen. Altogether, all these findings demonstrated that collagen expression was negatively regulated by S1PR1 and S1PR3 in hMSCs. This study highlights the differences between hMSCs and mouse BMSCs, provides a new regulation mechanism for collagen expression, and points out the risk of utilizing hMSCs in clinical applications. J. Cell. Biochem. 115: 359–367, 2014. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Low-loss bends in planar optical ridge waveguides

Bending losses lower than 0.7 dB for 90 degrees bend sections with radii of curvature as small as 75 mu m were measured on silicon-based Al/sub 2/O/sub 3/ ridge waveguides with SiO/sub 2/ cladding layers at a wavelength of 632.8 nm. These values, which are close to the calculated values, are the lowest thus far reported
[68Ga]/[188Re] Complexed [CDTMP] Trans-1,2-Cyclohexyldinitrilotetraphosphonic Acid As a Theranostic Agent for Skeletal Metastases

Objective Metastasis of the osseous tissue is one of the frequent and severe aggravations as a result of several neoplastic conditions, such as metabolic disorders, infections, and cancer. The objective of this study was to evaluate the pertinence of [68Ga]-trans-1,2-cyclohexyldinitrilo tetramethylene phosphonic acid (CDTMP) as a potential bone imaging agent for positron emission tomography (PET) applications as well as to assess [188Re]-CDTMP for bone pain palliation in metastatic skeletal disorders. Methods 68Ga complex of CDTMP was prepared at 80°C at pH 3.5, and 188Re complex of CDTMP was prepared at room temperature. [68Ga]-CDTMP complex was investigated as PET tracer while the therapeutic efficacy was assessed for [188Re]-CDTMP. Labeling efficiency, biodistribution, myelotoxicity, and imaging studies were carried out for the complexes synthesized. Both PET and MicroPET imaging studies were performed for [68Ga]-CDTMP whereas SPECT acquisitions were acquired for [188Re]-CDTMP. Data were analyzed semiquantitatively for all the scintigraphic scans obtained. Results The radiolabeling efficiency was observed to be >70% for [68Ga]-CDTMP. High bone uptake of [68Ga]-CDTMP as compared to contralateral tissue was found in PET imaging in Balb/C mice and New Zealand rabbit; the similar result for bone uptake was correlated in the biodistribution study of the compound in BALB/c mice at different time intervals. Biodistribution experiments carried out in mice showed maximum uptake of 6.12 ± 1.22%ID/g at 45 min postinjection. For [188Re]-CDTMP, total skeletal uptake was 8.12 ± 1.11%ID/g observed at 1 h postinjection from biodistribution data. High renal uptake confirms renal route of excretion. A good hydroxyapatite binding too was seen for both the complexes. No evidence of destruction or adverse functioning of vital organs was observed for the 188Re complex. Conclusion [68Ga]-CDTMP complex can be used as a promising PET bone imaging agent and [188Re]-CDTMP as a surrogate moiety for therapeutic application. Owing to the short half-life of 68Ga (68 min), cyclotron-independent radiopharmacy, fast clearance, and rapid renal excretion as evidenced in preclinical animal models. Very low myelotoxicity and highly selective bone uptake prove the potential of [188Re]-CDTMP for therapeutic application.
Disrupted rich club network in behavioral variant frontotemporal dementia and early‐onset Alzheimer's disease

In network analysis, the so‐called “rich club” describes the core areas of the brain that are more densely interconnected among themselves than expected by chance, and has been identified as a fundamental aspect of the human brain connectome. This is the first in‐depth diffusion imaging study to investigate the rich club along with other organizational changes in the brain's anatomical network in behavioral frontotemporal dementia (bvFTD), and a matched cohort with early‐onset Alzheimer's disease (EOAD). Our study sheds light on how bvFTD and EOAD affect connectivity of white matter fiber pathways in the brain, revealing differences and commonalities in the connectome among the dementias. To analyze the breakdown in connectivity, we studied three groups: 20 bvFTD, 23 EOAD, and 37 healthy elderly controls. All participants were scanned with diffusion‐weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and based on whole‐brain probabilistic tractography and cortical parcellations, we analyzed the rich club of the brain's connectivity network. This revealed distinct patterns of disruption in both forms of dementia. In the connectome, we detected less disruption overall in EOAD than in bvFTD [false discovery rate (FDR) critical Pperm = 5.7 × 10−3, 10,000 permutations], with more involvement of richly interconnected areas of the brain (chi‐squared P = 1.4 × 10−4)—predominantly posterior cognitive alterations. In bvFTD, we found a greater spread of disruption including the rich club (FDR critical Pperm = 6 × 10−4), but especially more peripheral alterations (chi‐squared P = 6.5 × 10−3), particularly in medial frontal areas of the brain, in line with the known behavioral socioemotional deficits seen in these patients. Hum Brain Mapp 37:868–883, 2016. © 2015 The Authors. Human Brain Mapping Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Measurement of Skin Surface pH with a Non-invasive Dry pH Sensor

Recent reports suggest that skin barrier function and atopic dermatitis are related to skin surface pH. We are developing a portable multifunctional skin measurement system for evaluating data such as skin pH and water content. The system uses a non-invasive method for measuring the skin’s surface pH and does not require addition of water. Previously, we reported a flat, dry pH sensor based on the Nernstian response that was fabricated by ion plating. When the sensor was used on the skin, the voltage was constantly elevated because of water evaporation from the skin. Herein, we measured the skin surface pH with the dry pH sensor and a glass electrode to compare non-invasive measurements and measurements with added water. The sensor was tested by using a standard pH solution and a correlation between pH and voltage was found. All experiments were carried out on the same region of the left forearm of healthy male subjects at constant room temperature and humidity (23 °C, 30% RH). Skin surface pH was measured for 2 min with the dry electrode and with a glass electrode, and then the skin water content was measured. The increase in voltage caused by water evaporation from the skin was subtracted from the dry pH sensor results. The skin surface pH was different between the non-invasive dry sensor and the conventional sensor. The response of the pH sensor voltage was affected by skin water evaporation and by water-soluble substances in the stratum corneum.
Role of Placenta Parameters in Predicting Significant Feto-Maternal Haemorrhage *

Purpose: Feto-maternal haemorrhage (FMH) is a complication of pregnancy and large FMH may lead to life-threatening anaemia in the fetus or newborn. In addition, exposure of Rhesus (Rh) D negative women to small amounts of fetal Rh D positive red cells during pregnancy or delivery may result in sensitization with its attendant problems of isoimmunisation. In most cases, the cause of FMH IS unknown. Through this study, we sought to determine if placental weight & diameter have any direct relationship with incidence and severity of FMH.Methods: This was a prospective study of parturients for presence of fetal red cells in the maternal blood circulation. The prepared slide was processed as in the acid elution test described by Kleihauer-Betke. The FMH was calculated using Mollison formula. Baseline data included maternal biodata, blood group, Rh D factor, placenta weight and diameter. Data generated were analysed with Frequency tables, cross-tabulations and Odd ratio and confidence intervals as appropriate.Results: Three hundred parturients were studied. However, only two hundred and ninety-five parturients were analysed, with five excluded due to lysed blood samples. A total of 52 parturients (17.63%) had demonstrable FMH, of which 8 (2.71%) were large FMH (>15 ml foetal cells). Both the placenta weight (P g, in contrast to 4.17% (4/96) in the group with weight of placenta below or equal to 500 g. All the 8 parturients with large FMH had placenta weights greater than 500 g. Placenta diameters were greater than 22 cm in 41/197 (20.81%) who had demonstrable FMH, compared with 11/98 (11.23%) whose diameter was less than 22 cm. Conclusion:Both the placenta weight and diameter are significant predictors of FMH in parturients. However, placenta diameter appears to be a minor predictor. These are factors that can be assessed antenatally by ultrasonography and in conjunction with other known obstetric factors, may possibly be considered in risk-based scoring system for predicting feto-maternal haemorrhage.
How Do the Elderly Fare in Medical Malpractice Litigation, Before and After Tort Reform? Evidence from Texas

The elderly account for a disproportionate share of medical spending, but little is known about how they are treated by the medical malpractice system, or how tort reform affects elderly claimants. We compare paid medical malpractice claims brought by elderly plaintiffs in Texas during 1988--2009 to those brought by adult non-elderly plaintiffs. Controlling for healthcare utilization (based on inpatient days), elderly paid claims rose from about 20% to about 40% of the adult non-elderly rate by the early 2000s. Mean and median payouts per claim also converged, although the elderly were far less likely to receive large payouts. Tort reform strongly affected claim rates and payouts for both groups, but disproportionately reduced payouts to elderly claimants. We thus find evidence of convergence between the elderly and the adult non-elderly in both claim rates and payouts, which is interrupted by tort reform. Copyright 2012, Oxford University Press.
Prevalence of Alcohol Use by Rural Primary Care Outpatients in South Africa

In a primary care outpatient sample of 600 rural South Africans 37.4% of men and 10.7% of women were identified as hazardous drinkers, and 9.2% of men and 0.3% of women met criteria for probable alcohol dependence or harmful drinking as defined by AUDIT. Logistic multiple regression identified men and being single, divorced, or widowed as predictors for hazardous and harmful drinking.
Pricing Sin Stocks: Ethical Preference vs. Risk Aversion

We develop a model that reproduces the average return and volatility spread between sin and non-sin stocks. Our investors do not necessarily boycott sin companies. Rather, they are open to invest in any company while trading off dividends against ethicalness. We show that when dividends and ethicalness are complementary goods and investors are sufficiently risk averse, the model predicts that the dividend share of sin companies exhibits a positive relation with the future return and volatility spreads. Our empirical analysis supports the model's predictions.
RFID Reader Localization Using Hard Decisions With Error Concealment

This paper presents an efficient reader localization algorithm in radio frequency identification (RFID) networks. In the proposed algorithm, it is assumed that no channel state information is available at the reader and the backscatters of all RFID tags are converted to hard decisions using an energy detector. The accuracy of the estimated location is improved using an error concealment algorithm that utilizes the fact that adjacent tags are expected to produce similar decisions. The final location estimates are obtained using particle swarm optimization of a maximum likelihood estimator that takes into account imperfections in the sensing and transmission processes. The performance of the proposed algorithm is evaluated in terms of the root mean square error using Monte Carlo simulation, and compared to other well-established localization algorithms. Moreover, Cramer–Rao lower bound is derived to assess the efficiency of the new estimator. The obtained results show that the proposed algorithm estimation accuracy is up to 26.5% more than the other benchmark estimators.
Ceramide induces aSMase expression: implications for oxLDI‐induced apoptosis

Sphingomyelinase (SMase) stimulation and subsequent ceramide generation are suggested to be involved in signal transduction of stress‐induced apoptosis. We now show that apoptosis of human macrophages (MФ) and fibroblasts initiated by oxi¬dized low density lipoproteins (minimally modified LDL, mmLDL) is associated with an increase in acid SMase (aSMase, E.C. 3.1.4.12) expression and ceramide concentration. Application of a novel, potent, and specific inhibitor of aSMase expression (NB6) diminished the effects of mmLDL and C6‐ceramide treatment by inhibiting transcription via Sp1 and AP‐2. Moreover, apoptosis was abolished after mmLDL and C6‐ceramide treatment of hereditary aSMase‐deficient fibroblasts (from Niemann‐Pick patients). We suggest that in mmLDL‐initiated apoptosis 1) enhanced ceramide generation via aSMase appears to be required as well as 2) a positive feedback control of aSMase expression by the increase in intracellular ceramide concentration. —Deigner, H. ‐P., Claus, R. , Bonaterra, G. A. , Gehrke, C. , Bibak, N. , Blaess, M. , Cantz, M. , Metz, J., Kinscherf, R. Ceramide induces aSMase ex¬pression: implications for oxLDL‐induced apoptosis. FASEBJ. 15, 807–814 (2001)
Pre-birth characteristics and 5-year follow-up of women with cryopreserved embryos after successful in vitro fertilisation treatment

Many patients do not make a decision about the disposition of their surplus embryos until they are compelled to do so by statutory limits. In the current study, the characteristics of women who had conceived through in vitro fertilisation (IVF) and who still had embryos stored (E-S; n = 26) 5 years after IVF were compared to a cohort comparison group (C-C; n = 40). At time 1 (T1, 28 weeks pregnant) women completed questionnaires on personality traits (anxiety, locus of control and dependency) and participated in an interview on socio-demographic characteristics, family composition and stored embryos. At T2 (5 years later) women were re-interviewed and asked about beliefs about the embryos. Women in the E-S group were significantly younger, had been married or living with their partner for fewer years and had had more children than the C-C group. Further, women in the E-S group were more likely to have an external locus of control and a dependent personality than women in the C-C group. Almost all women in the E-S group (88.5%) thought of their embryos as siblings to existing children, and reported thinking about the embryos occasionally (61.5%) or frequently (34.6%). The personality differences identified may suggest that women who still have embryos after the end of fertility treatment may be in need of decision support.
ATP‐Dependent Ca2+ Accumulation by Microvesicles Isolated from Bovine Neurohypophyses

: Microvesicles with and without coats were isolated from bovine neurohypophyses by a series of ultracentrifugation steps. They were similar to microvesicles previously isolated from brain. In the presence of ATP and Mg2+, the microvesicles accumulated calcium. Oxalate stimulated and the Ca2+ ionophore A23187 inhibited calcium accumulation. In the presence of Ca2+ and Mg2+ the microvesicles also demonstrated ATPase activity. As judged by SDS electrophoresis in polyacrylamide gels microvesicle protein composition was very different from that of neurosecretory granules, suggesting that they are not granule membranes “retrieved” after exocytosis. They may have an important function in regulation of Ca24 ion concentration.
Expenditures on Malevolent Magico-Religious Powers: Empirical Evidence from Benin

Abstract: This study investigates household expenditures on magico-religious powers in Southern Benin, with a novel focus on malevolent powers. Of 126 households, 18 percent reported expenditures on malevolent powers within the previous thirteen years. Investment in such powers for malevolent purposes was found to be significantly less frequent than for cure or protection. In line with existing literature, the following factors were found to be positively correlated with investment in malevolent powers: (1) living with a partner; (2) jealousy of economic success; (3) conflict within a social circle. Expenditures on powers for cure and protection are positively correlated with expenditures on malevolent uses. Résumé: La présente étude examine les dépenses des ménages sur les pouvoirs magico-religieux du sud du Bénin, avec une attention particulière portée sur les pouvoirs maléfiques. Sur les 126 foyers examinés, 18 pour cent ont déclaré avoir payé des actes de malveillance au cours des treize dernières années. L’investissement dans de tels pouvoirs aux fins malveillantes s’est avéré nettement moins fréquent que pour ceux portés à la guérison ou à la protection. Conformément à la littérature existante, les facteurs suivants ont été constatés être corrélés avec un investissement dans les pouvoirs maléfiques : (1) vivre avec un partenaire ; (2) jalousie d’une réussite économique ; (3) conflit au sein d’un cercle social. Les dépenses au titre des pouvoirs de guérison et de protection présentent une corrélation positive avec les dépenses au titre d’utilisations malveillantes. Resumo: O presente estudo investiga os gastos das famílias do Sul do Benim em poderes mágico-religiosos, com um novo enfoque na feitiçaria negra. Em 126 agregados familiares, 18 por cento declararam ter gasto dinheiro em feitiçaria negra ao longo dos últimos 13 anos. Constatou-se que o investimento neste tipo de poderes para fins malévolos foi significativamente inferior ao investimento nesses mesmos poderes para fins de cura ou proteção. Em consonância com a literatura existente, verificou-se que os seguintes fatores tiveram uma correlação positiva com o investimento em feitiçaria negra: (1) coabitação com um parceiro conjugal; (2) inveja perante o sucesso económico alheio; (3) conflito no interior de um círculo social. As despesas com poderes mágico-religiosos de cura e proteção correlacionam-se positivamente com as despesas em poderes para fins malévolos.