Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Amides are excellent mimics of phosphate internucleoside linkages and are well tolerated in short interfering RNAs

RNA interference (RNAi) has become an important tool in functional genomics and has an intriguing therapeutic potential. However, the current design of short interfering RNAs (siRNAs) is not optimal for in vivo applications. Non-ionic phosphate backbone modifications may have the potential to improve the properties of siRNAs, but are little explored in RNAi technologies. Using X-ray crystallography and RNAi activity assays, the present study demonstrates that 3′-CH2-CO-NH-5′ amides are excellent replacements for phosphodiester internucleoside linkages in RNA. The crystal structure shows that amide-modified RNA forms a typical A-form duplex. The amide carbonyl group points into the major groove and assumes an orientation that is similar to the P–OP2 bond in the phosphate linkage. Amide linkages are well hydrated by tandem waters linking the carbonyl group and adjacent phosphate oxygens. Amides are tolerated at internal positions of both the guide and passenger strand of siRNAs and may increase the silencing activity when placed near the 5′-end of the passenger strand. As a result, an siRNA containing eight amide linkages is more active than the unmodified control. The results suggest that RNAi may tolerate even more extensive amide modification, which may be useful for optimization of siRNAs for in vivo applications.
Enabling TRIM Support in SSD RAIDs

Deploying solid state drives (SSDs) in RAID configurations can leverage the performance of persistent storage systems into a new dimension. However, the Achilles’ heel of SSDs and, therefore, also SSD RAIDs is their write performance, especially for small random requests. To prevent a degradation of the write throughput, it is important to maintain an adequate amount of free flash capacity. This can be ensured by over-provisioning and additionally encouraged by notifying the utilized SSDs of storage space no longer required (e.g., because the occupying file was deleted) using the TRIM command. However, many current hardware and software RAID implementations do not propagate TRIM commands to their member drives at all and especially not in RAID setups using parity information to increase the reliability. This leads to a severe limitation of the intention behind the TRIM command because parity-based RAIDs are part of many persistent storage systems. In this report, we discuss the issues of enabling TRIM support in SSD RAIDs and explain how TRIM can be incorporated into RAID implementations for commonly used RAID levels.
Running Head: UNDERMINING BELIEF AND PROBLEM-SOLVING Undermining Belief in False Memories Leads to Less Efficient Problem-solving Behavior

Memories of events for which the belief in the occurrence of those events is undermined, but recollection is retained, are called nonbelieved memories (NBMs). The present experiments examined the effects of NBMs on subsequent problem-solving behavior. In Experiment 1, we challenged participants’ beliefs in their memories and examined whether NBMs affected subsequent solution rates on insight-based problems. True and false memories were elicited using the Deese/Roediger-McDermott (DRM) paradigm. Then participants’ belief in true and false memories was challenged by telling them the item had not been presented. We found that when the challenge led to undermining belief in false memories, fewer problems were solved than when belief was not challenged. In Experiment 2, a similar procedure was used except that some participants solved the problems one week rather than immediately after the feedback. Again, our results showed that undermining belief in false memories resulted in lower problem solution rates. These findings suggest that for false memories, belief is an important agent in whether memories serve as effective primes for immediate and delayed problem-solving.
Aerosol and physical atmosphere model parameters are both important sources of uncertainty in aerosol ERF

Abstract. Changes in aerosols cause a change in net top-of-the-atmosphere (ToA) short-wave and long-wave radiative fluxes; rapid adjustments in clouds, water vapour and temperature; and an effective radiative forcing (ERF) of the planetary energy budget. The diverse sources of model uncertainty and the computational cost of running climate models make it difficult to isolate the main causes of aerosol ERF uncertainty and to understand how observations can be used to constrain it. We explore the aerosol ERF uncertainty by using fast model emulators to generate a very large set of aerosol–climate model variants that span the model uncertainty due to 27 parameters related to atmospheric and aerosol processes. Sensitivity analyses shows that the uncertainty in the ToA flux is dominated (around 80 %) by uncertainties in the physical atmosphere model, particularly parameters that affect cloud reflectivity. However, uncertainty in the change in ToA flux caused by aerosol emissions over the industrial period (the aerosol ERF) is controlled by a combination of uncertainties in aerosol (around 60 %) and physical atmosphere (around 40 %) parameters. Four atmospheric and aerosol parameters account for around 80 % of the uncertainty in short-wave ToA flux (mostly parameters that directly scale cloud reflectivity, cloud water content or cloud droplet concentrations), and these parameters also account for around 60 % of the aerosol ERF uncertainty. The common causes of uncertainty mean that constraining the modelled planetary brightness to tightly match satellite observations changes the lower 95 % credible aerosol ERF value from −2.65 to −2.37 W m−2. This suggests the strongest forcings (below around −2.4 W m−2) are inconsistent with observations. These results show that, regardless of the fact that the ToA flux is 2 orders of magnitude larger than the aerosol ERF, the observed flux can constrain the uncertainty in ERF because their values are connected by constrainable process parameters. The key to reducing the aerosol ERF uncertainty further will be to identify observations that can additionally constrain individual parameter ranges and/or combined parameter effects, which can be achieved through sensitivity analysis of perturbed parameter ensembles.
Cosmological Formation of Low-Mass Objects

We investigate the early formation of bound objects with masses comparable to the cosmological Jeans mass (10^5 solar masses). We follow the growth of isolated spherically symmetric density peaks starting from the linear perturbative regime. The initial parameters correspond to density peaks of various widths and heights in a Cold Dark Matter cosmology. We use a one-dimensional spherical Lagrangian hydrodynamics code to follow the dynamical, thermal, and non-equilibrium chemical evolution of the gas. The system includes a collisionless dark matter component and a baryonic component composed of the nine species H, H^-, H^+, He, He^+, He^{++}, H_2, H_2^+, and e^-. All relevant chemical reactions between these species and their cooling mechanisms are included in the calculations. We find that radiative cooling by H_2 affects the collapse dynamics of the gas only after it has already virialized and become part of the bound object. Therefore, radiative cooling is unlikely to have triggered the initial collapse of perturbations at redshifts z>10. Nevertheless, objects with baryonic masses well below the linear-theory Jeans mass (<10^3 solar masses) collapse due to shell crossing by the dark matter. Such objects could be the progenitors of a primordial population of high-mass stars in the intergalactic medium.
The composition of 433 Eros: A mineralogical—chemical synthesis

Abstract— The near‐Earth asteroid rendezvous (NEAR) mission carried x‐ray/gamma‐ray spectrometers and multi‐spectral imager/near‐infrared spectrometer instrument packages which gave complementary information on the chemistry and mineralogy, respectively, of the target asteroid 433 Eros. Synthesis of these two data sets provides information not available from either alone, including the abundance of non‐mafic silicates, metal and sulfide minerals. We have utilized four techniques to synthesize these data sets. Venn diagrams, which examine overlapping features in two data sets, suggest that the best match for 433 Eros is an ordinary chondrite, altered at the surface of the asteroid, or perhaps a primitive achondrite derived from material mineralogically similar to these chondrites. Normalized element distributions preclude FeO‐rich pyroxenes and suggest that the x‐ray and gamma‐ray data can be reconciled with a common silicate mineralogy by inclusion of varying amounts of metal. Normative mineralogy cannot be applied to these data sets owing to uncertainties in oxygen abundance and lack of any constraints on the abundance of sodium. Matrix inversion for simultaneous solution of mineral abundances yields reasonable results for the x‐ray‐derived bulk composition, but seems to confirm the inconsistency between mineral compositions and orthopyroxene/clinopyroxene ratios. A unique solution does not seem possible in synthesizing these multiple data sets. Future missions including a lander to fully characterize regolith distribution and sample return would resolve the types of problems faced in synthesizing the NEAR data.
Early School Exposure, Test Scores, and Noncognitive Outcomes

We estimate the effects of receiving additional schooling before age five on cognitive and noncognitive outcomes, exploiting unique school entry rules in England that cause variation in the age at school entry and the effective length of the first school year, and combining survey data with administrative school records up to six years after exposure. We find significant effects on both cognitive and noncognitive outcomes at ages five and seven, particularly so for boys with a disadvantaged parental background. At age 11, effects on cognitive outcomes have disappeared, while there is still evidence for effects on noncognitive outcomes. (JEL I21, J13)
The decay rate of ocean swell observed by altimeter

AbstractAltimeter data from transects across the Southern Ocean are analyzed to determine the decay of oceanic swell. The resulting decay rate is shown to be proportional to wavenumber squared and swell amplitude cubed. Such a decay relationship is consistent with turbulent interaction with the background, either in the air or water. The present data cannot distinguish between these two cases. The results are consistent with the limited previous studies and present a source term suitable for use in wave prediction models.
New pre-conception immune biomarkers for clinical practice: interleukin-18, interleukin-15 and TWEAK on the endometrial side, G-CSF on the follicular side

Identification of biomarkers of optimal uterine receptivity to the implanting embryo as well as biomarkers of oocyte competence would undoubtedly improve the efficiency of assisted reproductive technology (ART). Expression of IL-15 and IL-18 has been shown to be different in patients with failed implantation after IVF/ICSI compared with fertile controls and both correlate with local uNK (CD56+) recruitment and angiogenesis. Tumor necrosis factor weak inducer of apoptosis (TWEAK) has been described in mice as a potent early immune regulator able to protect the conceptus. The results of our studies in human suggest that TWEAK modulates the IL-18 related cytotoxicity of uNK cells. Quantification of IL-18, TWEAK and IL-15 mRNA expression by real-time PCR in endometrial tissue collected in midluteal phase of non-conception cycles allowed documentation of physiological events that occur at the time of uterine receptivity. Such information may be useful for the physician especially in patients where embryos fail to implant. Cytokine quantification may assist in understanding the mechanisms leading to repeated IVF/ICSI failure: either depletion of cytokines necessary for the apposition-adhesion, or an excess of cytokines leading to local cytotoxicity, may impair the implantation of the embryo. Other new data suggest that a pre-conception dialogue mediated by the oocyte and the follicular fluid and the oocyte may contribute to later implantation success. Follicular concentration of G-CSF appears as a useful biomarker of oocyte competence before fertilization. Moreover both in human and animal models, evidence of a role of the endometrium as a biosensor of the embryo is
IDENTIFYING POVERTY CORRELATES OF HOUSEHOLDS' ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH INDICATORS IN NIGERIA: A LOGISTIC REGRESSION PARADIGM

This paper examines the correlates of poverty in Nigeria. While most of the studies done on poverty determinants rely on the socio-economic, demographic and health survey data, the present paper uses the survey data on environmental health indicators to determine poverty in Nigeria. A Logistic regression was estimated based on the data with the poverty as the binary dependent variable (that is poor and non-poor) and a set of environment health variables as the explanatory variables. The results presented in this paper suggested that the environmental health survey data can be used to determine the correlates of poverty. Thus, the study suggests among others that governments at all levels should put more effort in order to achieve sustainable environment through adequate provision of water supply and sanitation.
Competition and Prosociality: A Field Experiment in Ghana

Competitive bonuses are commonly used to promote higher productivity in the workplace. Yet, these types of incentives could have negative spillovers on coworkers' prosocial behavior in subsequent tasks. To investigate this question, we conduct a lab-in-the-eld experiment in Ghana. In a between-subjects design, participants complete a real-eort task under a competitive, threshold, or random payment while holding payment dierentials constant across treatments. Before and after, we measure prosociality through a public goods and a social value orientation game. Competition reduces prosociality when the dispersion of payments is high. However, when there is less at stake, competition does not aect prosociality.
Predictors of low birth weight and 24-hour perinatal outcomes at Muhimbili National Hospital in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania: a five-year retrospective analysis of obstetric records

Introduction The global prevalence of low birth weight (LBW) is 16%, representing more than 20 million infants worldwide, of which 96% are born in low-income countries. This study aimed to determine the prevalence, predictors and perinatal outcomes of LBW newborns. Methods We conducted a retrospective analysis of data obtained from the hospital's obstetric and neonatal database. Descriptive statistics and multivariate logistic regression were performed with 95% confidence intervals (CI). Results The prevalence of LBW was 21% (n = 8,011) and two-thirds of these were delivered at term. Seven percent of newborns were stillbirths and 2% died within 24hrs after birth. Logistic regression revealed that primigravida and grand multiparity were associated with LBW (OR: 1.25, 95%CI: 1.15-1.37; and OR: 1.21, 95%CI: 1.01-1.25, respectively). Having <4 antenatal care (ANC) visits was associated with increased odds of LBW (OR: 1.74, 95%CI: 1.59-1.87). Regression models revealed an independent association between LBW and increased odds of stillbirths (OR = 7.20, 95%CI 6.71-7.90), low Apgar score (OR = 3.42, 95%CI: 3.12-3.76) and early neonatal deaths (OR = 1.82, 95%CI: 1.51-2.19). Conclusion The prevalence of LBW was high and was associated with extreme maternal age groups, grand multiparity, low maternal education, low number of ANC visits and obstetrics risks factors and complications. Both LBW and prematurity were independently associated with poor perinatal outcome. Future interventions should focus on improving the quality of ANC and integrating peripartum emergency obstetric and neonatal care.
O/S: The Relative Trading Activity in Options and Stock

Relatively little is known about the trading volume in derivatives relative to the volume in underlying stocks. We study the time-series properties and the determinants of the options/stock trading volume ratio (O/S) using a comprehensive cross-section and time-series of data on equities and their listed options. O/S is related to many intuitive determinants such as delta and trading costs, and it also varies with institutional holdings, analyst following, and analyst forecast dispersion. O/S is higher around earnings announcements, suggesting increased trading in the options market. Further, post-announcement absolute returns are positively related to pre-announcement O/S, which suggests that at least part of the pre-announcement options trading is informed.
Wiman’s inequality for entire functions of several complex variables with rapidly oscillating coefficients

A. O. Kuryliak, L. O. Shapovalovska. Wiman’s inequality for entire functions of several complex variables with rapidly oscillating coefficients, Mat. Stud. 43 (2015), 16–26. Let E be a class of entire functions of the form f(z) = ∑+∞ ‖n‖=0 anz , ‖n‖ = n1 + . + np (p ≥ 2), z = (z1, . . . , zp) ∈ C, and K(f, θ) = {f(z, t) = ∑+∞ ‖n‖=0 an exp{2πiθnt}r : t ∈ R}, where {θn} is a sequence of positive integers such that its arrangement {θ∗ k} by increasing, i.e. {θn : n ∈ Zp+} = {θ∗ k : k ≥ 0}, θ∗ k+1 > θ∗ k, satisfies the condition θ∗ k+1/θ k ≥ q > 1 (k ≥ 0). In this paper it is established that for f ∈ E almost surely for t ∈ R there exists a set E(t) ⊂ Rp+, such that for all r ∈ R p + \ E(t) the inequality
A spectral analysis of 25 boreal tree species

Spectral libraries have a fundamental role in the development of interpretation methods for airborne and satellite-borne remote sensing data. This paper presents to-date the largest spectral measurement campaign of boreal tree species. Reflectance and transmittance spectra of over 600 leaf and needle samples from 25 species were measured in the Helsinki area (Finland) using integrating sphere systems attached to an ASD FieldSpec 4 spectroradiometer. Factors influencing the spectra and red edge inflection point (REIP) were quantified using one-way analysis of variance. Tree species differed most in the shortwave-infrared (1500–2500 nm) and least in the visible (400–700 nm) wavelength region. Species belonging to same genera showed similar spectral characteristics. Upper (adaxial) and lower (abaxial) leaf sides differed most in the visible region. Canopy position (sunlit/shaded) had a minor role in explaining spectral variation. For evergreen conifers, current and previous year needles differed in their spectra, current-year needles resembling those of broadleaved and deciduous conifers. Two broadleaved species were monitored throughout the growing season (May–October), and two conifers were measured twice during summer (June, September). Rapid changes were observed in the spectra in early spring and late autumn, whereas seasonal variations during summer months were relatively small for both broadleaved and coniferous species. Based on our results, shortwave-infrared seems promising in separating tree species, although it is to-date least studied. The spectral library reported here (Version 1.0) is publicly available through the SPECCHIO Spectral Information System.
Using Money to Motivate Both ‘Saints’ and ‘Sinners’: A Field Experiment on Motivational Crowding‐Out

Economists recognize that monetary incentives can backfire through the crowding-out of moral and social motivations leading to an overall decrease of the desired behavior. We implement a field experiment where participants are asked to fill a questionnaire on pro-environmental behaviors under different incentive schemes, either with no monetary incentive (control) or with low or high monetary incentive directed either to the respondents or to an environmental cause. We investigate whether (i) there is a significant crowding-out effect, (ii) directing monetary incentive to the cause rather than to the respondents reduces the overall impact of a crowding-out effect, and (iii) offering the choice regarding the money recipient a ects participation. Except for a high monetary incentive where the respondent chooses himself the end-recipient, we show that monetary rewards directed either at the individual or at the cause actually harms intrinsic motivations, but not to the same extent. We formalize our results building on an adaptation of an original model by Bolle and Otto (2010) and introduce agents heterogeneity in terms of intrinsic motivation. This heterogeneity has key implications for the understanding of the crowding-out e ect. Several policy recommendations regarding the use of market-based instruments are drawn.
Knowledge and Practice of Prevention of Foot Ulcer Among Patients with Diabetes Mellitus

This descriptive correlational study aimed to identify relationship between the knowledge and practice of prevention of foot ulcer patients with diabetes mellitus. Foot ulceration is the common major end point among diabetic complications. Proper foot care and early recognition and management of risk factors prevent foot ulcer of diabetic patient. One hundred and twenty subjects were recruited from out-patient department at Diabetic Center Rangpur, Bangladesh. Questionnaire consisted of three parts; Demographic, Knowledge Regarding Prevention of Foot Ulcer Questionnaire, and Practice Regarding Prevention of Foot Ulcer Questionnaire was developed by the researcher. Cronbach’s alpha Coefficient was used to test for internal consistency reliability of the instruments. Cronbach’s alpha Coefficient of Knowledge Regarding Prevention of Foot Ulcer Questionnaire was . 71 and Practice Regarding Prevention of Foot Ulcer Questionnaire was . 81. Data collection started from November 2009 to January, 2010. Frequency, percentage, mean, standard deviation, and Pearson’s correlation were employed for data analysis. The mean of the total knowledge score was at high level (M = 84.55) and the mean of the total practice score was at moderate level (M = 61.47). The result revealed that statistically significant low correlation between total knowledge and total practice (r = .33, p<0.01). There is a need to develop an intensive program to promote foot care practice. Further interventional study is recommended to enhance foot care practice.
Soil Contamination in Forest and Industrial Regions of Bulgaria

Based on systematic data from 1988 to 2015, the main sources of soil contamination in forest and industrial areas of Bulgaria were presented. The processes of soil acidification and eutrophication as well as accumulation of heavy metals in forest and industrial soils were analysed. The content of heavy metals in soils, pasture grasses and medicinal plants from two National Parks—Central Balkan and Pirin, as well as from two Natural Parks—Bulgarka and Strandzha was also reported. Data on heavy metals accumulation in leaves of tree species in some industrial areas of the country were presented as well. Soil and plant contamination with heavy metals were estimated according to the applied criteria of ICP Forests.
Therapist Work With Client Strengths

Two studies were conducted to investigate the Inventory of Therapist Work With Client Assets and Strengths (IT-WAS), a new measure constructed to assess the importance therapists place on incorporating strength-based approaches in their therapeutic work. In the first study, a combined sample (N = 225), comprising therapists in independent practice, graduate students and faculty in counseling-related fields, and counseling center staff at a large mid-Atlantic university was gathered to conduct an exploratory factor analysis. Results yielded three factors (Theory of Intervention, Assessment of Strengths, and Supporting Progress). The data also provided evidence for the IT-WAS’s internal consistency and validity, the latter being supported by correlations with measures of theoretically relevant constructs. In the second study, data from 31 counseling and clinical doctoral students provided evidence for the IT-WAS’s test–retest reliability over a 2-week period. Implications for clinical training and practice are discussed, and areas of future research are provided.