Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Associations of Cholesteryl Ester Transfer Protein TaqIB Polymorphism with the Composite Ischemic Cardiovascular Disease Risk and HDL-C Concentrations: A Meta-Analysis

Background: Previous studies have evaluated the associations between the cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) TaqIB polymorphism (rs708272), the risk of developing composite ischemic cardiovascular disease (CVD) and the concentration of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), but results remain controversial. The objective of this study was to investigate whether a relationship exists between these factors. Methods: We conducted a meta-analysis of available studies to clarify the associations of the CETP TaqIB polymorphism with HDL-C concentration and the composite ischemic CVD risk in both Asians and Caucasians. All statistical analyses were done with Stata 12.0. Results: Through utilization of the Cochrane Library, Embase, PubMed, Web of Science, Springer, China Science and Technology Journal Database, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Google Scholar, and Baidu Library, a total of 45 studies from 44 papers with 20,866 cases and 21,298 controls were combined showing a significant association between the CETP TaqIB variant and composite ischemic CVD risk. Carriers of allele TaqIB-B1 were found to have a higher risk of composite ischemic CVD than non-carriers: OR = 1.15, 95% CI = 1.09–1.21, p < 0.001. Meanwhile, 28 studies with 23,959 subjects were included in the association between the CETP TaqIB polymorphism and the concentration of HDL-C. Results suggested that carriers of the B1B1 genotype had lower concentrations of HDL-C than those of the B2B2 genotype: SMD = 0.50, 95% CI = 0.36–0.65, p < 0.001. Conclusions: The synthesis of available evidence demonstrates that the CETP TaqIB polymorphism protects against composite ischemic CVD risk and is associated with a higher HDL-C concentration in both Asians and Caucasians.
Capacity of the Aperture-Constrained AWGN Free-Space Communication Channel

In this paper, we derive upper and lower bounds as well as a simple closed-form approximation for the capacity of the continuous-time, bandlimited, additive white Gaussian noise channel in a three-dimensional free-space electromagnetic propagation environment subject to constraints on the total effective antenna aperture area of the link and a total transmitter power constraint. We assume that the communication range is much larger than the radius of the sphere containing the antennas at both ends of the link, and we show that, in general, the capacity can only be achieved by transmitting multiple spatially-multiplexed data streams simultaneously over the channel. Furthermore, the lower bound on capacity can be approached asymptotically by transmitting the data streams between a pair of physically-realizable distributed antenna arrays at either end of the link. A consequence of this result is that, in general, communication at close to the maximum achievable data rate on a deep-space communication link can be achieved in practice if and only if the communication system utilizes spatial multiplexing over a distributed MIMO antenna array. Such an approach to deep-space communication does not appear to be envisioned currently by any of the international space agencies or any commercial space companies. A second consequence is that the capacity of a long-range free-space communication link, if properly utilized, grows asymptotically as a function of the square root of the received SNR rather than only logarithmically in the received SNR.
Psychometric Properties of Russell's Short Form of the Booklet Category Test

Russell's short form of the Booklet Category Test was administered to 26 diagnosed schizophrenic patients and 14 normal individuals along with a test of premorbid intelligence. IQ correlated significantly (inversely) with errors and in particular with Subtests 3, 4, and 6. Age related directly to errors, especially for Subtests 3, 4, and 5. The mean Cronbach coefficient alpha was . 71, indicating moderate item homogeneity across subtests. In sum, the shortened form appears to be an efficient and effective measure of concept formation among schizophrenic individuals.
Holocene geologic slip rate for the Banning strand of the southern San Andreas Fault, southern California

Northwest directed slip from the southern San Andreas Fault is transferred to the Mission Creek, Banning, and Garnet Hill fault strands in the northwestern Coachella Valley. How slip is partitioned between these three faults is critical to southern California seismic hazard estimates but is poorly understood. In this paper, we report the first slip rate measured for the Banning fault strand. We constrain the depositional age of an alluvial fan offset 25 ± 5 m from its source by the Banning strand to between 5.1 ± 0.4 ka (95% confidence interval (CI)) and 6.4 + 3.7/−2.1 ka (95% CI) using U‐series dating of pedogenic carbonate clast coatings and 10Be cosmogenic nuclide exposure dating of surface clasts. We calculate a Holocene geologic slip rate for the Banning strand of 3.9 + 2.3/−1.6 mm/yr (median, 95% CI) to 4.9 + 1.0/−0.9 mm/yr (median, 95% CI). This rate represents only 25–35% of the total slip accommodated by this section of the southern San Andreas Fault, suggesting a model in which slip is less concentrated on the Banning strand than previously thought. In rejecting the possibility that the Banning strand is the dominant structure, our results highlight an even greater need for slip rate and paleoseismic measurements along faults in the northwestern Coachella Valley in order to test the validity of current earthquake hazard models. In addition, our comparison of ages measured with U‐series and 10Be exposure dating demonstrates the importance of using multiple geochronometers when estimating the depositional age of alluvial landforms.
Design Of Ion-implanted MOSFET's with Very Small Physical Dimensions

This paper considers the design, fabrication, and characterization of very small Mosfet switching devices suitable for digital integrated circuits, using dimensions of the order of 1 /spl mu/. Scaling relationships are presented which show how a conventional MOSFET can be reduced in size. An improved small device structure is presented that uses ion implantation, to provide shallow source and drain regions and a nonuniform substrate doping profile. One-dimensional models are used to predict the substrate doping profile and the corresponding threshold voltage versus source voltage characteristic. A two-dimensional current transport model is used to predict the relative degree of short-channel effects for different device parameter combinations. Polysilicon-gate MOSFET's with channel lengths as short as 0.5 /spl mu/ were fabricated, and the device characteristics measured and compared with predicted values. The performance improvement expected from using these very small devices in highly miniaturized integrated circuits is projected.
RemoteBlock: A Scalable Blockchain Storage Framework for Ethereum

This paper addresses the continuously increasing storage demands challenge faced by blockchain networks, with a particular focus on Ethereum. We propose a novel framework that divides the network into consensus nodes, which inherit Ethereum characteristics, and storage nodes responsible for storing Merkle Patricia Trie (MPT) nodes. This design aims to reduce the storage load on individual nodes by distributing MPT nodes based on their key values. Our approach maintains network security and data integrity while easing the storage burden through a distributed storage mechanism. Key to our work is the dynamic adjustment of storage load across an expandable network of storage nodes. We validate our framework through practical experiments, involving modifications to the go-ethereum source code and testing with authentic Ethereum block data. The results confirm that our work not only mitigates storage issues but also enhances synchronization efficiency.
Planck2015 results

We present a description of the pipeline used to calibrate the Planck Low Frequency Instrument (LFI) timelines into thermodynamic temperatures for the Planck 2015 data release, covering four years of uninterrupted operations. As in the 2013 data release, our calibrator is provided by the spin-synchronous modulation of the cosmic microwave background dipole, but we now use the orbital component, rather than adopting the Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe (WMAP) solar dipole. This allows our 2015 LFI analysis to provide an independent Solar dipole estimate, which is in excellent agreement with that of HFI and within $1\sigma$ (0.3% in amplitude) of the WMAP value. This 0.3% shift in the peak-to-peak dipole temperature from WMAP and a global overhaul of the iterative calibration code increases the overall level of the LFI maps by 0.45% (30 GHz), 0.64% (44 GHz), and 0.82% (70 GHz) in temperature with respect to the 2013 Planck data release, thus reducing the discrepancy with the power spectrum measured by WMAP. We estimate that the LFI calibration uncertainty is now at the level of 0.20% for the 70 GHz map, 0.26% for the 44 GHz map, and 0.35% for the 30 GHz map. We provide a detailed description of the impact of all the changes implemented in the calibration since the previous data release.
Definition of Minimum Performance Requirements for Analytical Methods of GMO Testing European Network of GMO Laboratories (ENGL)

As laid down in the Annex of Commission Regulation (EC) No. 1829/2003 as amended by Commission Regulation (EC) No 1981/2006, and Annex 1 of Commission Regulation (EC) N. 641/2004, the Community Reference Laboratory for GM Food and Feed (CRL-GMFF) is responsible for the evaluation and validation of methods of analysis in the context of GMO authorisation under Commission Regulation (EC) No 1829/2003. The CRL-GMFF is assisted by the ENGL (European Network of GMO Laboratories). The ENGL recommends that the assessment, by the CRL-GMFF, of methods submitted by the applicants as part of the GMO authorisation process is undertaken in two distinct phases: Phase 1 evaluation of the method performance data submitted by the applicant as part of the official dossier; and Phase 2 evaluation of method performance data following a full validation study by collaborative trial. At present this document refers to polymerase chain reaction (PCR) based analytical methods for the determination and quantification of GMOs. However, if novel methods (e.g. those using technologies other than PCR) are subsequently developed that fulfil legal requirements then this document will be amended accordingly. How to obtain EU publications Our priced publications are available from EU Bookshop (http://bookshop.europa.eu), where you can place an order with the sales agent of your choice. The Publications Office has a worldwide network of sales agents. You can obtain their contact details by sending a fax to (352) 29 29-42758. The mission of the JRC is to provide customer-driven scientific and technical support for the conception, development, implementation and monitoring of EU policies. As a service of the European Commission, the JRC functions as a reference centre of science and technology for the Union. Close to the policy-making process, it serves the common interest of the Member States, while being independent of special interests, whether private or national. LB -N A -2396-EN -C
Salivary Gland Homogenates of Lutzomyia longipalpis and Its Vasodilatory Peptide Maxadilan Cause Plasma Leakage via PAC1 Receptor Activation

Objectives: Experiments were designed to determine if salivary gland homogenates (SGH) of the sand fly Lutzomyia longipalpis, the vasodilatory peptides maxadilan and pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating peptide (PACAP-38) may cause plasma leakage and to what extent these effects could be due to PAC1 receptor stimulation. Methods: Using FITC-dextran as a plasma marker, intravital microscopy of the hamster cheek pouch (HCP) and a digital camera were used to assess arteriolar diameter and fluorescence of a selected area (5 mm2) representative of the HCP microcirculation. Results: Cheek pouches prepared for intravital microscopy and exposed to topical application of SGH, maxadilan or PACAP-38 developed maximal dilation of arterioles in the range of 20–60 μm within 10 min, and this effect lasted for 30–90 min. The increase in fluorescence intensity induced by each of these compounds was due to plasma leakage from postcapillary venules. The mutant peptide of maxadilan (M-65), a PAC1 receptor antagonist, inhibited both dilation and plasma leakage induced by SGH or maxadilan. Plasma leakage induced by SGH was modestly inhibited by the bradykinin B2 receptor antagonist HOE-140, but not by the antihistamine mepyramine or the nitric oxide synthase inhibitor L-NA. Conclusions: SGH of L. longipalpis and its vasodilatory peptide maxadilan caused long-lasting arteriolar dilation and plasma leakage in the cheek pouch via PAC1 receptor activation.
Principles and a Process for Successful Industry Cooperation -- The Case of TUM and Munich Re

Research transfer projects should be beneficial and inspiring for both, the academic as well as the industrial partners. If the setting is inadequate they can, however, also be a source of frustration and a waste of time and money for all parties. In the last decade, the Chair of Software and Systems Engineering at Technische Universität München (TUM) participated in a series a of eight research transfer projects, conducted jointly with the re-insurance company Munich Re. The common theme of these projects has been quality of software development artefacts. This cooperation has been exceptionally productive for both sides. Results of this continuous success are, for example, a university spin-off, a considerable number of publications, as well as more systematic and improved methods in software engineering at Munich Re. A corner stone to the fruitful cooperation has been the model of how the university and practitioners have been working together. In this paper, we look at the cooperation from the retrospective and identify a number of basic principles that contributed to the success of the cooperation. Aditionally, we illustrate our research process and approach which helps to realize these principles.
Post-Growth Fabrication of Multiple Wavelength DFB Laser Arrays With Precise Wavelength Spacing

The design and experimental characterization of sidewall-etched gratings in III-V material fabricated with a post-growth technique are presented. The successful demonstration of an array of sidewall-etched distributed feedback lasers shows that this technology allows for a very accurate control of the wavelength spacing and a sidemode suppression ratio up to 60 dB.
Detection of Scaled Region Duplication Image Forgery using Color based Segmentation with LSB Signature

Due to the availability of powerful image editing softwares, forgers can tamper the image content easily. There are various types of image forgery, such as image splicing and region duplication forgery. Region duplication is one of the most common manipulations used for tampering digital images. It is vital in image forensics to authenticate the digital image. In this paper, a novel region duplication forgery detection approach is proposed. By segmenting the input image based on the colour features, sufficient number of centroids are produced, that exist even in small or smooth regions. Then, the Least Significant Bit (LSB) of all the colours of pixels in each segment are extracted to build the signature vector. Finally, the hamming distance is calculated through exploiting the signature vector of image to find the dissimilarity. Various experimental results are provided to demonstrate the superior performance of the proposed scheme under some post processing operations such as scaling attack.
Will Ecotourists Pay Premium Prices? An Explanatory Study on Motivations, Ecotourism Intention and Willingness to Pay Premium for Ecotourism

Purpose: Recent literature emphasizes that there is an ambiguity on ecotourism consumption as actual environmentally friendly behaviors deviate from the intentions. Further, it is identified that ecotourism offerings are higher in price and discourage consumption. Hence, this study examined ecotourism consumer behaviors focusing on motivation, ecotourism intention, and willingness to pay premium for ecotourism. It also aims to investigate the mediating effect of ecotourism intention between motivations and willingness to pay premium. Design/methodology/approach: The study undertook a quantitative approach with a cross-sectional design. Self-administrated questionnaires (online) were distributed employing purposive sampling technique to young domestic travelers who had purchased green travel products in the last six months in Sri Lanka. A total of 212 responses were analyzed by PLS-SEM approach using SmartPLS 4.0 software. Findings: The findings revealed that intrinsic motivation significantly influenced the willingness to pay premium whereas the impact of extrinsic motivation on willingness to pay premium was insignificant. Additionally, this study proved that ecotourism intention partially mediated the relationship between intrinsic motivation and willingness to pay premium while ecotourism intention fully mediated the relationship between extrinsic motivation and willingness to pay premium. Originality: This research contributes to extending knowledge of tourism consumer behaviour in the context of ecotourism. Moreover, this study examined how an individual is motivated towards ecotourism consumption and their willingness to pay premium for such consumptions. Thus, the present study integrates the actual behavior, willingness to pay premium to further explain the self-determination theory. Thus, it empirically contributes to broadening the understanding of comprehensive ecotourism consumer behaviour that has been paid little attention. Implications: The findings offer important practical implications for ecotourism providers, marketers, policymakers, and other decision-makers for planning and developing ecotourism offerings, effective marketing and promotion to encourage and ensure sustainable tourism consumption. Keywords: Ecotourism, Ecotourism Intention, Extrinsic Motivation, Intrinsic Motivation, Willingness to Pay Premium
Bird sound spectrogram decomposition through Non-Negative Matrix Factorization for the acoustic classification of bird species

Feature extraction for Acoustic Bird Species Classification (ABSC) tasks has traditionally been based on parametric representations that were specifically developed for speech signals, such as Mel Frequency Cepstral Coefficients (MFCC). However, the discrimination capabilities of these features for ABSC could be enhanced by accounting for the vocal production mechanisms of birds, and, in particular, the spectro-temporal structure of bird sounds. In this paper, a new front-end for ABSC is proposed that incorporates this specific information through the non-negative decomposition of bird sound spectrograms. It consists of the following two different stages: short-time feature extraction and temporal feature integration. In the first stage, which aims at providing a better spectral representation of bird sounds on a frame-by-frame basis, two methods are evaluated. In the first method, cepstral-like features (NMF_CC) are extracted by using a filter bank that is automatically learned by means of the application of Non-Negative Matrix Factorization (NMF) on bird audio spectrograms. In the second method, the features are directly derived from the activation coefficients of the spectrogram decomposition as performed through NMF (H_CC). The second stage summarizes the most relevant information contained in the short-time features by computing several statistical measures over long segments. The experiments show that the use of NMF_CC and H_CC in conjunction with temporal integration significantly improves the performance of a Support Vector Machine (SVM)-based ABSC system with respect to conventional MFCC.
Phytochemicals Screening, Proximate composition and Antioxidants Analysis of Italian Citrus paradisi Fruits

Citrus paradise is a largely consumed fruit for nutrition and medicinal importance. This study was conducted to evaluate the phytochemicals, proximate, and antioxidants contents of Italian Citrus paradisi fruits. The phytochemicals screening and proximate analysis were performed using the methods of AOAC. Antioxidants contents and capacities of the extract were determined by DPPH and FRAP Assay. The grapefruits aqueous extract revealed the presence of various phytochemicals and contains significant (p < 0.05) amount of carbohydrates (89.36 %), moisture (74.80 %), lipids (4.56 %), protein (3.36 %), crude fiber (2.36 %), and ash content (0.83 %). The extract exhibited significant (p < 0.05) increase in DPPH percentage inhibition of free radical scavenging activity and FRAP properties comparable to that of the standard, ascorbic acid. The grapefruits extract contains various phytochemicals, proximate nutrients, and exhibited free radical scavenging activity. The grapefruits have nutritional status, antioxidant properties, and medicinal importance.
Chemical Characteristics of Organic Aerosols in Shanghai: A Study by Ultrahigh‐Performance Liquid Chromatography Coupled With Orbitrap Mass Spectrometry

Particulate matter 2.5 (PM2.5) filter samples were collected in July and October 2014 and January and April 2015 in urban Shanghai and analyzed using ultrahigh‐performance liquid chromatography coupled to Orbitrap mass spectrometry. The measured chromatogram‐mass spectra were processed by a nontarget screening approach to identify significant signals. In total, 810–1,510 chemical formulas of organic compounds in the negative polarity (negative electrospray ionization (ESI−)) and 860–1,790 in the positive polarity (ESI+), respectively, were determined. The chemical characteristics of organic aerosols (OAs) in Shanghai varied among different months and between daytime and nighttime. In the January samples, organics were generally richer in terms of both number and abundance, whereas those in the July samples were far lower. More CHO− (compounds containing only carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen and detected in ESI−) and CHOS− (sulfur‐containing organics) were found in the daytime samples, suggesting a photochemical source, whereas CHONS− (nitrogen‐ and sulfur‐containing organics) were more abundant in the nighttime samples, due to nocturnal nitrate radical chemistry. A significant number of monocyclic and polycyclic aromatic compounds, and nitrogen‐ and sulfur‐containing heterocyclic compounds, were detected in all samples, indicating that biomass burning and fossil fuel combustion made important contributions to the OAs in urban Shanghai. Additionally, precursor‐product pair analysis indicates that the epoxide pathway is an important formation route for organosulfates observed in Shanghai. Moreover, a similar analysis suggests that 35–57% of nitrogen‐containing compounds detected in ESI+ could be formed through reactions between ammonia and carbonyls. Our study presents a comprehensive overview of OAs in urban Shanghai, which helps to understand their characteristics and sources.