Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Mechanism underlying synergic activation of Tyrosinase promoter by MITF and IRF4

Background: The transcription factor interferon regulatory factor 4 (IRF4) was identified to be involved in human pigmentation by genome-wide association studies (GWASs). The rs12203592-[T/C], which is located in intron 4 of IRF4, shows the strongest link to these pigmentation phenotypes including freckling, sun sensitivity, eye and hair color. Previous studies indicated a functional cooperation of IRF4 with Microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF), a causing gene of Waardenburg syndrome (WS), to synergistically trans-activate Tyrosinase (TYR). However, the underlying mechanism is still unknown. Methods: To investigate the importance of DNA binding in the synergic effect of IRF4. Reporter plasmids with mutant TYR promoters was generated to locate the IRF4 DNA binding sites in the Tyrosinase minimal promoter. By building MITF and IRF4 truncated mutations plasmids, the necessary regions of the synergy functions of these two proteins were also located. Results: The cooperative effect between MITF and IRF4 was specific for TYR promoter. The DNA-binding of IRF4 was critical for the synergic function. IRF4 DNA binding sites in TYR promoter were identified. The Trans-activation domains in IRF4 (aa134-207, aa300-420) were both important for the synergic function, whereas the auto-mask domain (aa207-300) appeared to mask the synergic effect. Mutational analysis in MITF indicated that both DNA-binding and transcriptional activation domains were both required for this synergic effect. Conclusions: Here we showed that IRF4 potently synergized with MITF to activate the TYR promoter, which was dependent on DNA binding of IRF4. The synergic domains in both IRF4 and MITF were identified by mutational analysis. This identification of IRF4 as a partner for MITF in regulation of TYR may provide an important molecular function for IRF4 in the genesis of melanocytes and the pathogenic mechanism in WS.
Biogas (CO2, O2, dimethylsulfide) dynamics in spring Antarctic fast ice

We studied the temporal variations of CO2, O2, and dimethylsulfide (DMS) concentrations within three environments (sea‐ice brine, platelet ice‐like layer, and underlying water) in the coastal area of Adeélie Land, Antarctica, during spring 1999 before ice breakup. Temporal changes were different among the three environments, while similar temporal trends were observed within each environment at all stations. The underlying water was always undersaturated in O2 (around 85%) and oversaturated in CO2 at the deepest stations. O2 concentrations increased in sea‐ice brine as it melted, reaching oversaturation up to 160% due to the primary production by the sea‐ice algae community (chlorophyll a in the bottom ice reached concentrations up to 160 µg L−1 of bulk ice). In parallel, DMS concentrations increased up to 60 nmol L21 within sea‐ice brine and the platelet ice‐like layer. High biological activity consumed CO2 and promoted the decrease of partial pressure of CO2 (pCO2). In addition, melting of pure ice crystals and calcium carbonate (CaCO3) dissolution promoted the shift from a state of CO2 oversaturation to a state of marked CO2 undersaturation (pCO2 < 30 dPa). On the whole, our results suggest that late spring land fast sea ice can potentially act as a sink of CO2 and a source of DMS for the neighbouring environments, i.e., the underlying water or/and the atmosphere.
The Impact of Scandals on Mutual Fund Performance, Money Flows and Fees

We examine the effects of fraud committed by mutual fund managers taking into account the dual responsibilities managers have for their employer firm and investors. Performance increases in the immediate aftermath of a scandal being reported, followed by a significant drop suggesting fund managers actively preempt the fallout from fraud disclosures. Investors who remain with a scandal fund under-perform by an average of 48 basis points in the subsequent year. Fraud is punished by reduced fund inflows to affected funds. Underperformance and money outflows are more severe with higher monetary fines, regulatory actions initiated by SEC, and the involvement of more than one regulatory body. Scandal funds reduce their expense ratios, possibly to retain and attract investors. This effort allows scandal funds to delay asset fire sales by up to a quarter. However, fund families reduce expenditure on marketing and distribution costs, likely to ameliorate the fallout from scandals by withdrawing affected funds from the limelight.
On Curing the CPI's Substitution and New Goods Bias

The basic idea developed in this paper is that a modified (two level) CES utility or cost function accounts for substitution caused by price changes as well as by changes in the range of available commodities. The theory of the associated cost of living index is provided, as well as a practical recipe for calculating this index in real time.
Training Needs of Goat Keepers in Maharashtra

An ex-post facto study was conducted in Jalna district of Maharashtra State with the objective to know the training needs of goat keepers. The study revealed that about 35 per cent and 37 per cent of respondents’ perceived training needs in goat care and management as ‘most important’ and ‘not important’ activity respectively. About 24 and 41 per cent of farmers perceived training needs in goat feeding management as ‘most important’ and ‘important’ activity respectively while about 33 and 38 per cent of farmers perceived training needs in goat breeding management as ‘most important’ and ‘important’ activity respectively. With regards to health care and disease control management, 45 and 30 per cent goat keepers felt training as most important and important respectively while about 34 and 36 per cent of farmers perceived training needs in goat marketing management as ‘most important’ and ‘important’ activity respectively. Majority of respondents preferred training of one week duration during summer season in their own village. The study concluded that, goat keepers needed training on feeding and health care management to a greater extent to improve the production potential of goats. Hence, Extension agencies should disseminate information based on training needs at the field conditions for livelihood security of the farmers.
Target food sources for formulating complementary/supplementary foods for weaning purposes

The paper focuses on complementary and supplementary foods for weaning purposes. While advocating that breast-feeding be sustained during weaning periods, it also articulates the decision, which guides when to introduce semi-solid foods to infants. It considers the process of formulating complementary and supplementary foods and identifies staple foods as the target sources used for the purpose. It views the issues of relative local availability as a function of certain rather compelling determinants that facilitate both inter- and intra- zonal transfer substitution of target food sources. Conclusively, complementary and supplementary foods are as important as weaning period is critical to the survival of infants. Therefore, weaning must not be done inappropriately but implemented as a smooth transitional dietary experience of infants, which takes them successfully through breast-feeding to the family’s diet. Keywords: Target foods, Complimentary, Weaning, Supplementary
Effects of proton irradiation on luminescence emission and carrier dynamics of self-assembled III-V quantum dots

The effects of proton irradiation (1.5 MeV) on photoluminescence intensities and carrier dynamics were compared between III-V quantum dots and similar quantum well structures. A significant enhancement in radiation tolerance is seen with three-dimensional (3D) quantum confinement. Measurements were carried out in different quantum dot (QD) structures, varying in material (InGaAs/GaAs and InAlAs/AlGaAs), QD surface density (4/spl times/10/sup 8/ to 3/spl times/10/sup 10/ cm/sup -1/), and substrate orientation [(100) and (311) B]. Similar trends were observed for all QD samples. A slight increase in PL emission after low to intermediate proton doses is also observed in InGaAs/GaAs [100] QD structures. The latter is explained in terms of more efficient carrier transfer from the wetting layer via radiation-induced defects.
Analytic calculation of the parallel mean free path of heliospheric cosmic rays. II. Dynamical magnetic slab turbulence and random sweeping slab turbulence with finite wave power at small wavenumbers

The parallel mean free path of cosmic ray particles in partially turbulent electromagnetic fields is calculated for two particular turbulence models: slab-like dynamical and random sweeping turbulence. Using the general results for the pitch-angle Fokker-Planck coefficient from Teufel & Schlickeiser (2002) the rigidity dependence and the absolute value of the mean free path for these specific turbulence models are calculated for a turbulence power spectrum with finite wave amplitude at very small wavenumbers. We demonstrate that this modification affects especially the mean free path at very large rigidities. We also derive approximations for the mean free path for realistic Kolmogorov-type turbulence power spectra which include the steepening at high wavenumbers due to turbulence dispersion and/or dissipation.
ROLE OF A POLYPROPYLENE BASED INTERFACIAL MODIFIER IN A PRISTINE POLYPROPYLENE AND A POLYPROPYLENE/TALC COMPOSITE AS EVIDENCED BY DYNAMIC MECHANICAL ANALYSIS

Present paper is devoted to a comprehensive interpretation of the correlation existing between the dynamic mechanical thermal parameters and the molecular motions taking place in the polymeric phase in heterogeneous materials based on polypropylene. Consequently, it deals with the influence of a polypropylene grafted succinic anhydride interfacial modifier (iPP-SA) on the ultimate behaviour of these materials. This work has been performed by using four different samples consisting in isotactic polypropylene (iPP) and a 75/25 iPP/talc composite; both of them with and without added the interfacial
Teachers’ Attitudes towards the Environment and Environmental Education: An Empirical Study

The aim of this study is to explore teachers’ attitudes towards environmental education (EE), and the relation of these attitudes with other socio-demographic factors, such as area of residence and local environmental conditions. We focus on the case of Viotia prefecture. Our results indicate that the teachers’ attitudes towards EE are strongly related to their attitudes towards the environment and environmental problems in their areas of residence, while knowledge and information on environmental issues are strongly related to the positive attitudes towards EE. The results of this study indicate possible factors involved in the formation of the attitudes of EE teachers and also possible aspects to be considered for the design of effective policies for EE teacher training.
Genetic Diversity of Cultivated Barley Landraces in Iran Measured Using Microsatellites

The cultivated barley (Hordeum vulgare subsp. vulgare) is one of the major crops in the world, cultivated in all temperate areas. Because there is not enough information about genetic diversity of barley landraces in Iran, in this study the genetic diversity of its landraces was evaluated using 26 microsatellite markers. The genetic diversity between 42 accessions (13 accessions of two-rowed and 29 accessions of six-rowed barley) collected from various regions of Iran was assessed. A total number of 161 alleles were found from 26 SSR loci. A high level Results: The 26 primer pairs assayed 26 loci with 161 alleles (Table 2). About 31 of these alleles were rare (frequency 0.95). The overall of polymorphism information content (PIC; average = 0.663), genetic diversity (0.705) and allele number per locus (6.19) were observed. In dendrograms constructed based on the SSR data, the cultivars distichon (two-rowed) and hexastichon (six-rowed) were separated. Based on the results of this study, it can be concluded that there is a high level of genetic diversity between the barely landraces in Iran and that the barely Iranian gene pool is valuable source to search for new useful alleles for crop improvement. average number of alleles per loci was 6.19. The gene diversity between loci varied between 0.064 and 0.913. Total average genetic diversity of material was 0.705. Three of the 26 loci showed more than 10 alleles per locus. The alleles for the 26 loci were distributed among the four region of origin (W, SW, N and NE) as follows: 101 alleles for W, 90 for SW, 44 for N and 59 for NE. Only one allele each was detected for the Bmac067 Fig 1. Distribution of barley in different regions of Iran Introduction: Cultivated barley (Hordeum vulgare subsp. vulgare) is one of the most important crop cereal in the tribe Triticeae (poacea) that cultivated over the temperate regions. Based on several reports it has been originated from Fertile crescent in Near East or from Tibetan in the west China. Iran is placed in the southeastern edge of Fertile Crescent from where a, based on several evidences, the loci in the W accessions, the HVMLOH1A locus in the SW accessions, the EBmac602, HVMLOH1A, Bmac067 and EBmac906 loci in the N accessions and the WMC1A, HVMLOH1A and Bmac067 in NE accessions. In genetic distance based dendrogram, the accessions of two and six rowed barley were clearly separated. HH94SW
Distribution and abundance of the Red Squirrel Sciurus vulgaris in an urbanised environment

Abstract In late autumn 2004, 160 dreys were found in all parks in Wroclaw (N=21 parks), i.e. 2.8 dreys per 10 ha. In the same period, 145 squirrels, grouped in 69 families, were counted in all these parks (1.23 families per 10 ha). The mean group size (including records of single squirrels) was 1.93 (SD = 1.04; N = 157). The density estimate based on this (number of dreys/mean number of dreys per group) shall be 1.40 families per 10 ha, therefore close to the value based on the number of squirrels counted. Squirrels were most common (64% of all squirrels recorded in parks) in largest parks located c. 2-7 km from the city centre. In forests (N = 12), squirrels density was much lower than in parks (0.1-0.3 families per 10 ha).
SYNTHESIS AND PROPERTIES OF SUPERPARAMAGNETIC

Method of nanodispersed -Fe2O3 synthesis by thermal decomposition of iron citrate is proposed. The investigations of obtained oxides crystalline and magnetic structures are done. Nanodispersed -Fe2O3 with sizes of coherent scattering regions about 4-7 nm was is only one phase after gel sintering at 200, 250 and 300оС; the particles of synthesized materials are in a state of magnetic ordering and in superparamagnetic state. The influence of magnetic dipole interparticles interaction on parameters of Mossbauer spectra is observed. The phenomenological model of the differences between nanodispersed -Fe2O3 magnetic microstructures obtained after annealing at different temperatures is presented.
Yield Response of Okra to Different Sowing Time and Application of Growth Hormones

4 Abstract: A field experiment was conducted to evaluate the response of sowing time and hormones on growth and yield of okra at the Horticultural Farm of Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University, Dhaka during the period from March to August, 2007. The experiment consisted of two factors viz. Factor-A: Three sowing time i.e. March 22, April 06 and April 21 and Factor-B: Hormones (4 treatments) i.e. Control, Alga Gold, Crop care and Ripen-15. From the results it was noticed both the fruit number and fruit yield significantly affected by sowing time and hormones. In case of sowing times, 06 April sowing produced the height yield (13.88 t ha ) and 1
Shareholder Wealth Effects of Large European Takeover Bids

In this paper, we analyse the short-term wealth effects of large (intra) European takeover bids. We find large announcement effects of 9% for target firms, but the cumulative abnormal return that includes the price run-up over the two-week period prior to the event rises to 20%. The share price of the bidding firms reacts positively with a statistically significant announcement effect of only 0.7%. We also show that the type of takeover bid has a large impact on the short term-wealth effects of target and bidder shareholders with hostile takeovers triggering substantially larger price reactions than friendly mergers and acquisitions. When a UK target or bidder is involved, the abnormal returns outperform those of Continental European bids. We also find strong evidence that the means of payment in an offer has a large impact on the share price reactions. High market-to-book ratio of the target lead to a higher bid premium combined but trigger a negative price reaction for the bidding firm. Bidding firms should not further diversify by acquiring target firms that do not match the bidder's core business. We also investigate whether the predominant reason for takeovers is synergies, agency problems or managerial hubris. We find a significant positive correlation between target shareholder gains and total gains for the merged entity as well as between target gains and bidder gains. This suggests that synergies are the prime motivation for bids and that targets and bidders tend to share the resulting wealth gains.
Coseismic Deformation and Source Modeling of the May 2012 Emilia (Northern Italy) Earthquakes

Online Material: Additional figures and tables. On 20 May 2012, an M L 5.9 earthquake (Table 1) occurred near the town of Finale Emilia, in the central Po plain, Northern Italy (Fig. 1a). The mainshock caused seven casualties and the collapse of several historical buildings and industrial sheds. The earthquake sequence continued with diminishing aftershock magnitudes until 29 May, when an M L 5.8 earthquake occurred near the town of Mirandola, ∼12 km west‐southwest of the mainshock (Scognamiglio et al. , 2012). This second mainshock started a new aftershock sequence in this area, and increased structural damage and collapses, causing 19 more casualties and increasing to 15,000 the number of evacuees. View this table: Table 1 Largest Earthquakes ( M L>5) of the 2012 Emilia Seismic Sequence (http://iside.rm.ingv.it) Figure 1. (a) Geostructural setting of the Emilia 2012 seismic sequence area showing the vertically projected top traces of the main thrust fault planes, and the anticlinal axes, modified after (Bigi et al. , 1983; Boccaletti et al. , 2010; Picotti and Pazzaglia, 2008); white dots, aftershock epicenters. Large instrumental and historical earthquakes are also shown (http://iside.rm.ingv.it, last accessed April 2013); Rovida et al. , 2011); yellow rectangles, footprint of the COSMO‐SkyMed (CSK) and Radarsat satellite image pairs. The focal mechanisms of the two main events (from Malagnini et al. , 2012) are reported in the map. (b) Geological profiles interpreted from seismic reflection data after (Boccaletti et al. , 2010) corresponding to traces A and B in (a). Shortly after the first mainshock, the Department of Civil Protection (DPC) activated the Italian Space Agency (ASI), which provided post‐seismic Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) Interferometry data coverage with all four Constellation of Small Satellites for the Mediterranean Basin Observation (COSMO‐SkyMed) SAR satellites. Within the next two weeks, several SAR Interferometry (InSAR) image pairs were processed by the Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia–Space‐based Monitoring System …
An important mechanism sustaining the atmospheric "water tower" over the Tibetan Plateau

Abstract. The Tibetan Plateau (TP), referred to as the "roof of the world", is also known as the "world water tower" because it contains a large amount of water resources and ceaselessly transports these waters to its surrounding areas. However, it is not clear how these waters are being supplied and replenished. In particular, how plausible hydrological cycles can be realized between tropical oceans and the TP. In order to explore the mechanism sustaining the atmospheric "water tower" over the TP, the relationship of a "heat source column" over the plateau and moist flows in the Asian summer monsoon circulation is investigated. Here we show that the plateau's thermal structure leads to dynamic processes with an integration of two couplings of lower convergence zones and upper divergences, respectively, over the plateau's southern slopes and main platform, which relay moist air in two ladders up to the plateau. Similarly to the CISK (conditional instability of the second kind) mechanism of tropical cyclones, the elevated warm–moist air, in turn, forces convective weather systems, hence building a water cycle over the plateau. An integration of mechanical and thermal TP forcing is revealed in relation to the Asian summer monsoon circulation knitting a close tie of vapor transport from tropical oceans to the atmospheric "water tower" over the TP.
Stability of Mbuna Species Populations in Lake Malawi

The first comprehensive study of abundance, richness and distribution of Mbuna in Lake Malawi was carried out in the 1980s. The present study examined changes of species richness and abundance of Mbuna with time. Most sites demarcated during the 1980s survey were explored in order to determine changes in abundance and composition of Mbuna over a period of more than 20 years. Chi-square analysis revealed significant difference (p ＜ 0.05) in abundance of Mbuna between 1983 and 2005 with the exception of Chinyankhwazi and Chinyamwezi where the difference was not significant (p ＞ 0.05). Cluster analysis showed changes in species composition between 1983 and 2005 in various sites. Generally, there were more species lost in a given area than new species observed in 2005. Decline in Mbuna species richness might have been caused by siltation, harvesting of Mbuna for food and ornamental fish trade while new species were mostly introduced through translocation from one part of the lake to another.
TWO MORE SOCIAL WASP SPECIES (VESPIDAE, POLISTINAE) COLLECT MULLERIAN BODIES FROM CECROPIA TREES (URTICACEAE)

The interactive behaviors of two species of social wasps, Protopolybia chartergoides (Gribodo) and Charterginus fulvus Fox with Cecropia obtusifolia (Cecropiaceae) are described. The use of Cecropia Mullerian bodies by the two wasps is also described, as well as the distribution of this trait in Protopolybia and Charterginus.
Does Free-sorting Provide a Good Estimate of Visual Similarity

The majority of work on texture analysis in computer vision has concerned texture classification and segmentation, while the problem of measuring and modelling the visual similarity between pairs of textures has been relatively neglected. One likely reason for this is the difficulty in collecting subjective human similarity judgments over a large database of textures. A common approach is to carry out a free-sorting experiment to obtain a similarity matrix which can then be mapped onto a low dimensional space using techniques such as MDS or Isomap. This results in a Euclidean space in which textures are represented as points, and the distance between two points is taken to represent the perceptual visual dissimilarity between the associated pair of textures. However, it is unknown if such a metric can generalise to predict human texture judgements in other tasks, or even if similarity judgements are metric at all. In this study we investigate this question by carrying out an experiment using a pair-of-pairs paradigm and compare these results to the predictions made by a low dimensional model (d = 3) obtained from a free-sorting experiment and find that it agrees with the judgements made by participants.