Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Thermodynamics of multicaloric effects in multiferroic materials: application to metamagnetic shape-memory alloys and ferrotoroidics

We develop a general thermodynamic framework to investigate multicaloric effects in multiferroic materials. This is applied to the study of both magnetostructural and magnetoelectric multiferroics. Landau models with appropriate interplay between the corresponding ferroic properties (order parameters) are proposed for metamagnetic shape-memory and ferrotoroidic materials, which, respectively, belong to the two classes of multiferroics. For each ferroic property, caloric effects are quantified by the isothermal entropy change induced by the application of the corresponding thermodynamically conjugated field. The multicaloric effect is obtained as a function of the two relevant applied fields in each class of multiferroics. It is further shown that multicaloric effects comprise the corresponding contributions from caloric effects associated with each ferroic property and the cross-contribution arising from the interplay between these ferroic properties. This article is part of the themed issue ‘Taking the temperature of phase transitions in cool materials’.
A computing efficient PET time calibration method based on pseudoinverse matrices

Acquiring and reconstructing images from a positron emission tomograph (PET) system usually involves several independent processing tasks. These tasks range from the actual acquisition of the analog detector signals to the final image reconstruction which may also consider additional information from other imaging modalities. To compensate the inevitable variations arising from the analog detector frontend due to environment conditions or manufacturing tolerances, calibration procedures are a critical part of this process. Depending on the overall system stability, some parameters may even require repeated calibration during the everyday use of a PET system. Therefore, the calibration procedures usually have to provide meaningful results within minimum computing time.
Body Size Diversification in Anolis: Novel Environment and Island Effects

Extreme morphologies of many insular taxa suggest that islands have unusual properties that influence the tempo and mode of evolution. Yet whether insularity per se promotes rapid phenotypic evolution remains largely untested. We extend a phylogenetic comparative approach to test the influence of novel environments versus insularity on rates of body size and sexual size dimorphism diversification in Anolis. Rates of body size diversification among small-island and mainland species were similar to those of anole species on the Greater Antilles. However, the Greater Antilles taxa that colonized small islands and the mainland are ecologically nonrandom: rates of body size diversification among small-island and mainland species are high compared to their large-island sister taxa. Furthermore, rates of diversification in sexual size dimorphism on small islands are high compared to all large-island and mainland lineages. We suggest that elevated diversifying selection, particularly as a result of ecological release, may drive high rates of body size diversification in both small-island and mainland novel environments. In contrast, high abundance (prevalent among small-island lizard communities) mediating intraspecific resource competition and male—male competition may explain why sexual size dimorphism diversifies faster among small-island lineages than among their mainland and large-island relatives.
L1/2-Regularization Based Antenna Selection for RF-Chain Limited Massive MIMO Systems

Massive Multi-input Multi-output (MIMO) technique shows great potentials in improving energy and spectral efficiency while suffers high costs of the requirement for large amount of radio frequency (RF) chains. In this paper, we develop an ${l_{1/2}}$-regularity based downlink transmit antenna selection scheme for massive MIMO systems with limited RF chains. With the objective to minimize the transmission power at the given number of RF-chains and transmission quality, we formulate and decompose the original ${l_{1/2}}$-norm optimization problem into two separated problems with ${l_{1/2}}$- sparsity and signal-interference-to-noise-ratio (SINR) requirements, respectively. An iterative algorithm based on coordinate descent and feasible set projection are then developed. This scheme provides an efficient way to evaluate the minimum required RF chains for the deployment of a massive MIMO system. Simulation results show that the proposed scheme achieves higher energy efficiency compared with the ${l_p}(p &#62; 1/2)$-norm based antenna selection methods, especially for large numbers of correlated antennas.
Characterization of DNA end joining in a mammalian cell nuclear extract: junction formation is accompanied by nucleotide loss, which is limited and uniform but not site specific

Mammalian cells have a marked capacity to repair double-strand breaks in DNA, but the molecular and biochemical mechanisms underlying this process are largely unknown. A previous report has described an activity from mammalian cell nuclei that is capable of multimerizing blunt-ended DNA substrates (R. Fishel, M.K. Derbyshire, S.P. Moore, and C.S.H. Young, Biochimie 73:257-267, 1991). In this report, we show that nuclear extracts from HeLa cells contain activities which preferentially join linear plasmid substrates in either a head-to-head or tail-to-tail configuration, that the joining reaction is covalent, and that the joining is accompanied by loss of sequence at the junction. Sequencing revealed that there was a loss of a uniform number of nucleotides from junctions formed from any one type of substrate. The loss was not determined by any simple site-specific mechanism, but the number of nucleotides lost was affected by the precise terminal sequence. There was no major effect on the efficiency or outcome of the joining reaction with substrates containing blunt ends or 3' or 5' protruding ends. Using a pair of plasmid molecules with distinguishable restriction enzyme sites, we also observed that blunt-ended DNA substrates could join with those containing protruding 3' ends. As with the junctions formed between molecules with identical ends, there was uniform loss of nucleotides. Taken together, the data are consistent with two models for the joining reaction in which molecules are aligned either throughout most of their length or by using small sequence homologies located toward their ends. Although either model can explain the preferential formation of head-to-head and tail-to-tail products, the latter predicts the precise lossof nucleotides observed. These activities are found in all cell lines examined so far and most likely represent an important repair activity of the mammalian cell.
Removal of within-cow differences between morning and evening milk yields.

Methods were explored for removing within-cow differences between a.m. and p.m. milk yields to allow direct comparison of consecutive milk yields. Daily a.m. to p.m. ratios of milk yield were studied for 504 lactations of 310 Holstein cows. Ratios varied within lactations and among cows. When the incomplete gamma function was used to characterize lactation curves, 89% of the variation in individual milk yields was explained when an a.m.-p.m. term was included. The a.m. to p.m. ratios increased over the course of lactations. Within-cow adjustment factors for a.m.-p.m. milking, based on weighted and unweighted averages of previous a.m. to p.m. ratios, changed as lactation length increased. A weighted moving average technique, which weighted the last a.m. to p.m. ratio by . 15, compared with . 85 for previous ratios, was considered to be the optimal method of calculating a factor for removing a.m.-p.m. effects.
Prognoses and psychological scores in electroconvulsive therapy, psychosurgery, and spontaneous remission.

1. The rate of improvement between ECT and ECT controls is not significantly different. There is a similarity between the psychological pretesting structure of both the improved ECT populations (those who were shocked and improved and those who improved spontaneously). 2. Patients undergoing lobotomy show the highest correlations between pretest scores and ratings of clinical improvement. Tests of memory and abstraction are especially important in this group. 3. Certain tests of memory, abstraction, and motor function were found to yield significant biserial coefficients of correlation for all clinical groups except lobotomy control patients. Of the Rorschach signs studied, only the number of rejections was found to yield consistently significant chi-squares for all clinical groups. 4. Study of the rationale of the most predictive tests indicates that common elements exist between them that should be further explored. 5. The findings of this paper suggest that the psychological test structure of patients .
Aerobic Denitrifying Bacteria That Produce Low Levels of Nitrous Oxide

ABSTRACT Most denitrifiers produce nitrous oxide (N2O) instead of dinitrogen (N2) under aerobic conditions. We isolated and characterized novel aerobic denitrifiers that produce low levels of N2O under aerobic conditions. We monitored the denitrification activities of two of the isolates, strains TR2 and K50, in batch and continuous cultures. Both strains reduced nitrate (NO3−) to N2 at rates of 0.9 and 0.03 μmol min−1 unit of optical density at 540 nm−1 at dissolved oxygen (O2) (DO) concentrations of 39 and 38 μmol liter−1, respectively. At the same DO level, the typical denitrifier Pseudomonas stutzeri and the previously described aerobic denitrifier Paracoccus denitrificans did not produce N2 but evolved more than 10-fold more N2O than strains TR2 and K50 evolved. The isolates denitrified NO3− with concomitant consumption of O2. These results indicated that strains TR2 and K50 are aerobic denitrifiers. These two isolates were taxonomically placed in the β subclass of the class Proteobacteria and were identified as P. stutzeri TR2 and Pseudomonas sp. strain K50. These strains should be useful for future investigations of the mechanisms of denitrifying bacteria that regulate N2O emission, the single-stage process for nitrogen removal, and microbial N2O emission into the ecosystem.
Unexpected findings in cancer predisposition genes detected by array comparative genomic hybridisation: what are the issues?

Objective To calculate and discuss the percentage of imbalance for selected cancer predisposition genes in patients referred for routine diagnostic array comparative genomic hybridisation (CGH). Design Audit of findings from application of array CGH for patients referred for developmental delay, behavioural abnormalities and birth defects in 4805 patients referred to Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust for cytogenetic investigation from South East London, Kent and East Sussex and other genetic centres across the UK. Results 29 of 4805 (0.6%) patients examined by array CGH had genomic imbalance of <5 Mb involving cancer predisposition genes. Six patients were referred for syndromes involving cancer predisposition genes; none of the other 23 patients with array CGH findings in cancer predisposition genes had any symptoms/family history stated on their referral form suggestive for the respective syndrome. Twelve whole gene deletions, two partial deletions, 12 duplications, two partial duplications, and one mosaic duplication were observed. In 17/29 patients (59%), inheritance could not be established, eight imbalances were de novo, and four inherited. Conclusions This new technology raises the possibility of unexpected findings in cancer predisposition genes. Therefore, the possibility of such findings has to be addressed in pre-test and post-test counselling by genetically trained healthcare professionals. As many of these findings have not been described previously, their clinical significance is unknown and patients need long-term follow-up to determine their clinical relevance. This will enable genetic healthcare professionals to advise such people about their cancer risks and appropriate cancer risk management options.
The effect of crumbled and pelleted feed on the incidence of sudden death syndrome among male chicken broilers.

An experiment involving 7200 male broiler chickens was conducted to estimate the effect of feeding crumble-pellet diets on the incidence of Sudden Death Syndrome (SDS). Mortality due to SDS was significantly higher for birds fed a crumble-pellet regimen in its usual form or in a ground form compared with birds fed all-mash diets. Birds fed the crumble-pellet dietary regimen grew more rapidly than those on either the ground crumble-pellet regimen or on all-mash. There was no significant (P = .05) difference in the growth rate of the birds fed the ground crumble-pellet regimen compared with those fed all-mash. It was concluded that the higher incidence of SDS was due to some factor(s) in the pelleting process itself rather the rapid growth resulting from the higher density of pelleted feeds.
Comparison of the pretreatment effects of mixed vasodilators (3-D solution) on radial and internal thoracic arteries by using a 3-dimensional anaglyph electron microscope technique.

OBJECTIVE Currently, internal thoracic arteries (ITA) and radial arteries (RA) are the first choice of conduits for coronary artery bypass grafts (CABG). Because the perioperative vasospasm continues to be a major problem, a number of pharmacologic agents such as papaverine, calcium receptor blockers, nitroglycerine, and phenoxybenzamine have been suggested as topical antispasmodics that may be used in the pre- and postoperative periods. In the present study, we investigated the quantitative efficacies of the mixed solution, which included verapamil, nitroglycerin, and papaverine, on RA and ITA using a scanning electron microscope with a 3-dimensional anaglyph technique. METHODS Diameter changes of RA and ITA in response to clinically important vasodilators were measured on 40 RA and 40 ITA rings from patients who had been subjected to coronary artery bypass procedure after 20 minutes of ex vivo incubation with verapamil (45 microg/L), nitroglycerin (45 microg/L), papaverine solution (266 micromol/L or 0.1 micro/mL), and 30 mL autologous heparinized whole blood (individual patient's blood obtained before cardiopulmonary bypass contained 100 IU of heparin per kg of patient weight). The pretreatment action was assessed by measuring the response to vasodilators. RESULTS In all cases, we did not observe graft vasospasm in any of the conduits during the intraoperative period between postanastomosis and sternal closure. In the postoperative period, we did not record any evidence of ischemic change in patients' electrocardiographic and myocardial enzyme analyses. None of the cases required inotropic support after the operation. The diameters of the pretreated RA and ITA were: minimum, 2.1 mm; maximum, 4.0 mm; and mean value, 2.80 +/- 0.46 mm. The diameters of the pretreated ITA were: minimum, 1.2 mm; maximum, 2.5 mm; and mean value, 1.76 +/- 0.35 mm. Incubated arterial segment diameters for the RA were: minimum, 2.8 mm; maximum, 5.2 mm; and mean value, 3.95 +/- 0.65 mm. These values for the ITA were: minimum, 1.5 mm; maximum, 3.9 mm; and mean value, 2.37 +/- 0.50 mm. These findings were statistically significant for both arterial grafts (P <.05). CONCLUSIONS According to our study findings, the mixed solution demonstrates a broad range of efficacy. We conclude that the described vasodilator solution with heparinized autologous blood seems to be very effective and may be used as a pretreatment agent in CABG conduits. Although papaverine has the shortest duration of action, its efficiency is increased by verapamil and nitroglycerin, in our opinion. To the best of our knowledge, high-quality imaging of CABG conduits with the 3-D anaglyph technique using a scanning electron microscope was a first in the literature. This technical approach may be used for confirming the ultrastructural anatomy and the quantitative vasodilator effects of arterial conduits. We believe that valuable anatomo-pathologic details of the CABG conduit can be obtained by this technique.
Factores de vulnerabilidad y reconstrucción posterremoto en tres localidades costeras chilenas: ¿generación de nuevas áreas de riesgo?

Se analiza la vulnerabilidad asociada al tsunami del 27 de febrero de 2010 en tres localidades costeras de Chile centro sur, afectadas violentamente por este evento. El proceso de reconstruccion que se desarrolla en estas areas lleva a plantear que se estan produciendo nuevas areas de riesgo favorecidas por este proceso. Se analizan los factores de la vulnerabilidad y su relacion con las transformaciones socioterritoriales actuales vinculadas a lineamientos centralizados y que no han incorporado los elementos de creacion de espacios a un nivel local, fundados en relaciones de dependencia con los recursos naturales como es el caso de las caletas de pescadores.
Recovery of Parametric Models from Range Images: The Case for Superquadrics with Global Deformations

A method for recovery of compact volumetric models for shape representation of single-part objects in computer vision is introduced. The models are superquadrics with parametric deformations (bending, tapering, and cavity deformation). The input for the model recovery is three-dimensional range points. Model recovery is formulated as a least-squares minimization of a cost function for all range points belonging to a single part. During an iterative gradient descent minimization process, all model parameters are adjusted simultaneously, recovery position, orientation, size, and shape of the model, such that most of the given range points lie close to the model's surface. A specific solution among several acceptable solutions, where are all minima in the parameter space, can be reached by constraining the search to a part of the parameter space. The many shallow local minima in the parameter space are avoided as a solution by using a stochastic technique during minimization. Results using real range data show that the recovered models are stable and that the recovery procedure is fast. >
Short-term compost effect on macroaggregation in a sandy soil under low rainfall in the valley of Mexico

Several studies have shown the importance of organic material in the formation and stability of soil aggregates. The organic matter of soil (SOM) is affected among other factors by the application of farmyard waste and compost, as well as tillage and crop rotation. This paper examines the aggregation and stability of a sandy soil (Haplic Fluvisol) in the valley of Mexico when treated with either 40 Mg haÿ1 of compost or urea (80 kg haÿ1 of N) and sown to amaranth (Amaranthus hypochondriacus L.) under dryland conditions. The application of compost resulted in a signi®cantly larger proportion of aggregates in the fractions >1 mm (1.0±2.0, 2.0±2.3, 2.3±4.7 mm) than in the smaller fraction (<1 mm). However the stability of the macroaggregates >1 mm in the compost treatment was not higher than in contrasting treatments which did not include organic matter. Compost, which was applied under drought conditions, did not increase the aggregate stability of the soil probably because of the restricted transformation of the compost and microorganism activity. # 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.
Determination of an acute no-observed-adverse-effect level (NOAEL) for copper in water.

A prospective, double-blind controlled study was designed to determine the acute no-observed-adverse-effect level (NOAEL) of nausea in an apparently healthy population of 179 individuals who drank copper-containing water as the sulfate salt. Subjects were recruited at three different international sites and given a blind, randomly selected dose (0, 2, 4, 6, or 8 mg Cu/L) in a bolus of 200 ml (final total copper dose was equivalent to 0, 0.4, 0.8, 1.2, and 1.6 mg) once weekly over a consecutive 5-week period. Gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms of nausea, abdominal pain, vomiting, or diarrhea were screened for a period of up to 24 h. Nausea was the most frequently reported effect and was reported within the first 15 min of ingestion. For the combined trisite population (n=179), 8, 9, 14, 25, and 44 subjects responded positively to one or more GI symptoms at 0, 2, 4, 6, and 8 mg Cu/L, respectively. Analysis of the data demonstrated a clear dose response to the combined positive GI effects and to nausea alone. Statistically significant greater reporting of effects occurred at 6 and 8 mg Cu/L. Therefore, an acute NOAEL and lowest-observed-adverse-effect level of 4 and 6 mg Cu/L (0.8 and 1.2 mg Cu), respectively, were determined in drinking water for a combined international human population.
Neurotransmitters in alcoholism: A review of neurobiological and genetic studies

Recent advances in the study of alcoholism have thrown light on the involvement of various neurotransmitters in the phenomenon of alcohol addiction. Various neurotransmitters have been implicated in alcohol addiction due to their imbalance in the brain, which could be either due to their excess activity or inhibition. This review paper aims to consolidate and to summarize some of the recent papers which have been published in this regard. The review paper will give an overview of the neurobiology of alcohol addiction, followed by detailed reviews of some of the recent papers published in the context of the genetics of alcohol addiction. Furthermore, the author hopes that the present text will be found useful to novices and experts alike in the field of neurotransmitters in alcoholism.
The Role of Analysts ’ Cash Flow Forecasts in the Decline of the Accruals Anomaly by Partha

The accruals anomaly, demonstrated by Sloan (1996), generated significant excess returns consistently for over four decades until 2002. Since then, the accruals anomaly has apparently disappeared. In this paper, I argue that one factor responsible for this decline is the increasing incidence of analysts’ cash flow forecasts which has provided markets with forecasts of future accruals. The negative relationship between accruals and future returns is significantly weaker in the presence of cash flow forecasts. This anomalous relationship becomes weaker with the initiation of cash flow forecasts and stronger with the termination of cash flow forecasts. Further, the mitigating effect of cash flow forecasts is greater for forecasts that are ex-ante more likely to be accurate or ex-post most accurate. The explanation is incremental to explanations based on the improved quality of accruals, reduced manipulation of special items and restructuring charges and the greater investment in accruals strategies by hedge funds. The results highlight the increasing importance of analysts’ cash flow forecasts in the appropriate valuation of stocks.