Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Melting Systematics of Modally Variable, Compositionally Intermediate Peridotites and the Effects of Mineral Fertility

Piston-cylinder experiments were performed at 10 kbar to investigate for MORB generation involves low-pressure fractionation the near-solidus partial melting systematics of modally variable of magmas generated by polybaric melting of adiaperidotites. Starting materials consisted of compositionally interbatically upwelling mantle beneath mid-ocean spreading mediate (i.e. containing moderate incompatible element abundances) centers. Because the slope of the mantle adiabat is steeper minerals, separated from a spinel lherzolite xenolith from Mt. than that of the mantle solidus (McKenzie, 1984; McNoorat, SE Australia, and recombined to create five starting mixtures Kenzie & Bickle, 1988), a rising parcel of hot peridotite varying in their proportions of olivine, orthopyroxene, clinopyroxene will cross its solidus and begin to melt. The resulting (Cpx), and spinel. These modes match those of starting materials melt is buoyant relative to residual solid phases and can made with fertile (FER) minerals from a different xenolith, inrise faster than the upwelling solids once an intervestigated in a companion study. A layer of vitreous carbon spheres connected pathway develops. Isotopic and trace element provided a melt sink in the experiments. Solidus temperatures for evidence in MORBs and abyssal peridotites suggests that the five peridotites are similar and estimated to be >1260 ± this can occur at melt fractions (F ) as low as 0·001 (i.e. 10°C based on the zero-F (melt fraction) intercepts of F vs 0·1%) (Salters & Hart, 1989; Johnson et al., 1990). These temperature curves. Melt productivity (∂F/∂T) varies significantly melts aggregate throughout the melting column and are between the starting materials, but unlike the FER runs, the overall eventually emplaced as oceanic crust, with the solid melt productivity does not correlate with the initial Cpx abundance. residuum forming abyssal peridotite. Although the proThis suggests that the compositional fertility of Cpx plays a greater cesses occurring between the onset of melting and the role in determining F at a given temperature than simply its overall ultimate eruption of MORBs are too complex to simulate source abundance. Low-F glasses have elevated SiO2 and Na2O experimentally, data generated by equilibrium batch contents relative to average basalts, as high as >53·9 and partial melting experiments, like those presented here, >2·5 wt %, respectively, but are less enriched than in equivalent are integral to any attempt to model the process mathFER melts. ematically (e.g. Klein & Langmuir, 1987; McKenzie & Bickle, 1988; McKenzie, 1989; Niu & Batiza, 1991; Kinzler & Grove, 1992a, 1992b; Langmuir et al., 1992;
The demography and life history strategies of timber elephants in Myanmar.

Although the Union of Myanmar is home to the second largest population of Asian elephants {lcub}Elephas maximus) in the world, the demography of its captive elephant population has never been studied before in any detail. Life history data analyzed in this thesis are taken from the records and reports archived and maintained by Myanma Timber Enterprise, which is under the charge of the Ministry of Forestry, the Government of the Union of Myanmar. The study population contains 5292 individually identified captive timber elephants, which were born or captured between 1952 and 2000. In this thesis, birth origins of timber elephants are referred to as wild-caught and captive-born. Life-table analysis indicates that the captive-born section of the population should be self-sustaining, but that the demographic rates seen in the wild-caught section would not be sufficient to maintain a stable a population. I extend my analysis by conducting detailed survival analyses. Males have a higher mortality than females throughout the age range. In adults, wild-caught elephants suffered significantly higher mortality than captive- bom elephants, and their mortality differed by capture methods. Elephants captured by immobilization showed the lowest survival rate when compared with elephants captured by either milarshikar (lasso or noose) or stockade. Regarding the causes of mortality. I document that accidents and agalactia of mothers were the primary causes of death in calves, while malnutrition and accidents were the main causes in adults. Exploring reproductive patterns and maternal investment. I find that elephant mothers do not adapt their offspring sex ratio, and that reproductive fitness is lower in wild-caught females than captive-born females. Lastly. I explore how the process of increasing time in captivity influences survival probabilities and reproductive potential in captive elephants, both within individuals and between generations. I report that capture stress causes measurable reductions in survival and fecundity rates up to 12 years after capture, as well as reducing the survivorship of calves born to captured females. To achieve a self-sustaining population of captive timber elephants in Myanmar without the need for further capture from the wild. I recommended that Myanma Timber Enterprise re-evaluates elephant management strategies, aiming to improving both the fecundity and surv ival of captive elephants in all age groups.
Melatonin Levels and Low‐Frequency Magnetic Fields in Humans and Rats: New Insights From a Bayesian Logistic Regression

The present analysis revisits the impact of extremely low‐frequency magnetic fields (ELF‐MF) on melatonin (MLT) levels in human and rat subjects using both a parametric and non‐parametric approach. In this analysis, we use 62 studies from review articles. The parametric approach consists of a Bayesian logistic regression (LR) analysis and the non‐parametric approach consists of a Support Vector analysis, both of which are robust against spurious/false results. Both approaches reveal a unique well‐ordered pattern, and show that human and rat studies are consistent with each other once the MF strength is restricted to cover the same range (with B ≲ 50 μT). In addition, the data reveal that chronic exposure (longer than ∼22 days) to ELF‐MF appears to decrease MLT levels only when the MF strength is below a threshold of ~30 μT ( logBthr[μT]=1.4−0.4+0.7 ), i.e., when the man‐made ELF‐MF intensity is below that of the static geomagnetic field. Studies reporting an association between ELF‐MF and changes to MLT levels and the opposite (no association with ELF‐MF) can be reconciled under a single framework. Bioelectromagnetics. 2019;40:539–552. © 2019 Bioelectromagnetics Society.
Pre‐Clinical Testing of Microwave Radiometer and a Pilot Study on the Screening Inflammation of Knee Joints

This article presents the pre‐clinical evaluation of our custom‐built, single‐band microwave radiometer centered at 1.3 GHz for deep tissue thermometry, and a pilot study on volunteers for passive detection of inflammation in knee joints. The electromagnetic (EM) compatibility of the battery‐operated radiometer for clinical use was assessed as per International Special Committee on Radio Interference (CISPR) 22 standard. The ability to detect inflammation in knee joints was assessed using a substrate integrated waveguide antenna connected to the radiometer. EM compatibility tests carried out in the laboratory indicated device immunity to intentional radiated interference up to −20 dBm injected power in the global system for mobile communication frequency band, and pre‐compliance to CISPR 22 standard. Radiometer temperature measurements recorded at the lateral and medial aspects of both knees of 41 volunteers indicated mean temperature greater than 33°C for the diseased sites compared with the mean temperature of 28°C measured for the healthy sites. One‐way analysis of variance statistics indicated significantly (P < 0.005) higher radiometer temperature at the diseased sites unlike the healthy sites. Thus, the EM pre‐compliance of the device and the potential to measure deep tissue inflammation were demonstrated. Bioelectromagnetics. 2019;40:402–411. © 2019 Bioelectromagnetics Society.
KIER DISCUSSION PAPER SERIES

Using a simple framework of Cooper and John (1988) and Cooper (1999), this paper derives the conditions under which overconfidence and underconfidence of agents lead to Pareto improvement. We show that an agent’s overconfidence in a game exhibiting strategic complementarity and positive spillovers and an agent’s underconfidence in a game exhibiting strategic complementarity and negative spillovers can lead to Pareto improvement. JEL classification: D62, C72
Cyclic Behavior of Low-Plasticity Fine-Grained Soils with Varying Pore-Fluid Salinity

Author(s): Eslami, Mohammad; Brandenberg, Scott J; Stewart, Jonathan P | Abstract: A series of cyclic and monotonic direct simple shear experiments was conducted on mixtures of non-plastic silt and bentonite, prepared with two different pore fluids: fresh deionized water, and saline-water with a 35 g/L concentration of NaCl (consistent with sea water). The clay fractions were adjusted to achieve a plasticity index of PI = 9, with the fresh-water blend requiring 5% bentonite and the saline water blend requiring 10% bentonite. Though both blends have the same plasticity index, differences in cyclic behavior were observed. The relationship of cyclic stress ratio versus number of cycles and the ratio of cyclic stress to monotonic undrained strength was higher for the saline water blend than for the fresh water blend. Results indicate that plasticity index alone is an insufficient indicator of cyclic strength. Corrections for pore fluid chemistry (and by extension, depositional environment) may be necessary, in addition to possibly other factors, for procedures to assess the potential for liquefaction susceptibility and cyclic softening.
A note on budget balance under interim participation constraints : the case of independent types Preprints

We provide a simple proof of the equivalence between ex ante and ex post budget balance constraints in Bayesian mechanism design with independent types when participation decisions are made at the interim stage. The result is given an interpretation in terms of efficient allocation of risk. We thank Yoram Halevy, Martin Hellwig, Mike Peters, Phil Reny and Larry Samuelson for comments and helpful discussions. The usual disclaimer applies. Both authors are grateful to the Max Planck Institute for research on Collective Goods in Bonn for its hospitality. Peter Norman thanks SSHRC for financial assistance, and Tilman Börgers thanks the ESRC for financial assistance. Department of Economics, University College London, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, U.K, t.borgers@ucl.ac. uk. Department of Economics, University of British Columbia, 909-1873 East Mall, Vancouver, B.C. Canada V6T 1Z1, penorman@interchange.ubc. ca.
Combined application of target decomposition methods and polarimetric SAR interferometry: some preliminary results

The application of interferometric techniques to polarimetric SAR data is a relative new and promising research field. Noteworthy examples of its potential have been reported by Cloude and Papathanassiou for the retrieval of forests height. In general, polarimetric analysis approaches have been considered for optimizing the interferometric coherence, mainly in order to improve the generation of digital elevation models. In this paper, we will present the first results that we obtained by combining interferometric analysis with coherent target decomposition methods (in particular, the one proposed by Krogager); the different coherence properties of target models will be investigated and a provisional evaluation of the usefulness of this approach will be given.
Risk factors for symptom onset in PI*Z alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency

Background In an early study of highly symptomatic patients with PI*Z alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency (AAT), tobacco smoking was identified as a risk factor by comparing the age of symptom onset in smokers and nonsmokers. Age of symptom onset has not been well studied in relationship to other environmental exposures. Methods Environmental exposures were assessed in 313 PI*Z adults through retrospective self-administered questionnaire. Age of onset of symptoms with and without these exposures were analyzed through survival analysis. Results Personal smoking was the most important risk factor, associated with earlier onset of cough and wheeze, and showed a dose-dependent relationship with the onset of dyspnea. Childhood environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) exposure was independently associated with younger age of onset of cough. Earlier onset of wheeze was also associated with childhood respiratory infections and family history of emphysema. The report of childhood respiratory infections was associated with childhood ETS exposure, but no statistically significant interactions were noted. Conclusions We conclude that both personal and secondhand exposure to tobacco smoke in childhood are likely to accelerate the onset of symptoms in AAT deficient patients. Respiratory infections in childhood may also contribute to this risk.
Molecular characterization of LASP-1 expression reveals vimentin as its new partner in human hepatocellular carcinoma cells

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the third most common cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide. We have previously reported that LASP-1 is a downstream protein of the urokinase type plasminogen activator (uPA). Here we investigated the role of LASP-1 in HCC by a molecular and biological characterization of LASP-1 expression in human HCC specimens and in cultured HCC cells. We determined the LASP-1 mRNA expression levels in 55 HCC cases with different hepatic background disease. We identified 3 groups of patients with high, equal or low LASP-1 mRNA levels in HCC tissues compared to the peritumoral (PT) tissues. In particular we found that i) the HCCs displayed a higher LASP-1 mRNA level in HCC compared to PT tissues; ii) the expression levels of LASP-1 mRNA in female HCCs were significantly higher compared to male HCCs; iii) the cirrhotic HCCs displayed a higher LASP-1 mRNA. Further, the biological characterization of the ectopic LASP-1 overexpression in HCC cells, using MALDI-TOF mass spectrometer on the LASP-1 co-immunoprecipitated fractions, displayed vimentin as a novel putative partner of LASP-1. Our results suggest that LASP-1 mRNA overexpression may be mainly implicated in female HCCs and cirrhotic HCCs; and that LASP1 may play its role with vimentin in HCC cells.
miR-642 serves as a tumor suppressor in hepatocellular carcinoma by regulating SEMA4C and p38 MAPK signaling pathway

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a malignant tumor with high incidence and high risk. Study of the role and mechanism of miRNAs are a hot spot of research providing new treatment ideas in malignant tumors. The effect of miR-642a on HCC progression and the underlying molecular mechanism were investigated. Expression of miR-642a and SEMA4C was measured by western blot analysis and RT-PCR. miR-642a expression was elevated while SEMA4C expression was attenuated in HCC tissues and cells. Results of luciferase reporter and western blot analyses show that miR-642a modulated SEMA4C expression by binding to its 3′UTR. Moreover, miR-642a negatively regulated SEMA4C expression. HCC cell migration and invasion was tested by Transwell assays. The findings revealed that the number of migrated and invaded cells were reduced by miR-642a mimic and raised by miR-642a inhibitor, indicating that miR-642a showed a suppression effect on HCC cell migration and invasion. Additionally, the migration and invasion of HCC cells were inhibited by SEMA4C siRNA, and SEMA4C reversed miR-642a effect on HCC migration and invasion. Furthermore, p38 MAPK signaling pathway was proven to be inhibited by miR-642a mimic, whereas facilitated by miR-642a inhibitor and SEMA4C siRNA could overturn the promotion effect of miR-642a inhibitor. Briefly, miR-642a targeted SEMA4C to repress HCC cell migration and invasion through p38 MAPK signaling pathway providing a new strategy for treatment of HCC patients.
Assessment of theMet Office dust forecast model using observations from the GERBILS campaign

B. T. Johnson,a*† M. E. Brooks,a† D. Walters,a† S. Woodward,a† S. Christopherb and K. Schepanskic aMet Office, Exeter, UK bUniversity of Alabama, Huntsville, Alabama, USA cUniversity of Leeds, UK *Correspondence to: B. T. Johnson, Met Office Observation-based Research FitzRoy Road Exeter EX1 3PB United Kingdom E-mail: ben.johnson@metoffice.gov. uk †The contributions of B. T. Johnson, M. E. Brooks, D. Walters and S. Woodward were written in the course of their employment at the Met Office, UK and are published with the permission of the Controller of HMSO and the Queen’s Printer for Scotland.
Phytosulfokine-α Controls Hypocotyl Length and Cell Expansion in Arabidopsis thaliana through Phytosulfokine Receptor 1

The disulfated peptide growth factor phytosulfokine-α (PSK-α) is perceived by LRR receptor kinases. In this study, a role for PSK signaling through PSK receptor PSKR1 in Arabidopsis thaliana hypocotyl cell elongation is established. Hypocotyls of etiolated pskr1-2 and pskr1-3 seedlings, but not of pskr2-1 seedlings were shorter than wt due to reduced cell elongation. Treatment with PSK-α did not promote hypocotyl growth indicating that PSK levels were saturating. Tyrosylprotein sulfotransferase (TPST) is responsible for sulfation and hence activation of the PSK precursor. The tpst-1 mutant displayed shorter hypocotyls with shorter cells than wt. Treatment of tpst-1 seedlings with PSK-α partially restored elongation growth in a dose-dependent manner. Hypocotyl elongation was significantly enhanced in tpst-1 seedlings at nanomolar PSK-α concentrations. Cell expansion was studied in hypocotyl protoplasts. WT and pskr2-1 protoplasts expanded in the presence of PSK-α in a dose-dependent manner. By contrast, pskr1-2 and pskr1-3 protoplasts were unresponsive to PSK-α. Protoplast swelling in response to PSK-α was unaffected by ortho-vanadate, which inhibits the plasma membrane H+-ATPase. In maize (Zea mays L.), coleoptile protoplast expansion was similarly induced by PSK-α in a dose-dependent manner and was dependent on the presence of K+ in the media. In conclusion, PSK-α signaling of hypocotyl elongation and protoplast expansion occurs through PSKR1 and likely involves K+ uptake, but does not require extracellular acidification by the plasma membrane H+-ATPase.
CDO Market Implosion and the Pricing of Subprime Mortgage-Backed Securities

We evaluate the effects of CDO issuance on the pricing of subprime residential mortgage-backed securities. Upon controlling for mortgage option values and other well-established determinants of credit spreads, GMM results indicate that the emergence and rapid capitalization of the subprime-backed CDO market was associated with a significant tightening of subprime MBS-Treasury yield spreads. Results of VAR and other robustness tests serve to corroborate the findings. Dynamic simulation based on the impulse response function estimates indicates substantial subprime MBS spread widening in the wake of the recent implosion in the CDO market. Research findings suggest the importance of supply/demand shocks associated with innovations in derivative securities markets to the pricing of securitized subprime debt.
Empirical Comparisons and Implied Recovery Rates kkk

This paper demonstrates that liquidity risk as measured by the covariation of fund returns with unexpected changes in aggregate liquidity is an important determinant in the cross-section of hedge-fund returns. The results show that funds that signi cantly load on liquidity risk subsequently outperform low-loading funds by about 6% annually, on average, over the period 1994 2008, while negative performance is observed during liquidity crises. The returns are independent of the liquidity a fund provides to its investors as measured by lockup and redemption notice periods, and they are also robust to commonly used hedge-fund factors. These ndings highlight the importance of understanding systematic liquidity variations in the evaluation of hedge-fund performance. JEL classi cation: G12; G14; G23 Keywords: Liquidity risk; Hedge funds; Price impact; Asset pricing Boston College, Carroll School of Management, Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, 02467; e-mail: sadka@bc.edu. I would like to thank George Aragon, Tarun Chordia, Robert Korajczyk, Geo¤rey Lasry, Ruslan Goyenko, Xiaoxia Lou, Yigal Newman, Gideon Ozik, Je¤rey Ponti¤, Jun Qian, Efraim Sadka, Gil Sadka, Ingrid Tierens, Matthew Rothman, Christof Stahel, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporations (FDIC) Center for Financial Research discussant, and Akiko Watanabe, National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER) discussant, for helpful comments and suggestions. I also appreciate the comments of seminar participants at NBER/Microstructure meeting, University of Massachusetts at Amherst, CREST-INSEE in Paris, Institutional Investors 15th annual conference (special session), 2nd Annual Hedge Fund Conference in Paris, FDICs Center for Financial Research fall workshop 2009, INQUIREEurope Spring Meeting 2010, Analytic Investors, Boston College, Center for Asset Management at Boston College board member meeting, and Citigroup Quant Conference. I would also like to acknowledge nancial support from INQUIRE-Europe and FDICs Center for Financial Research. Special thanks are due to Mark Klebanov for extensive help obtaining the data. Any errors are my own.
Empirical Comparisons and Implied Recovery Rates kkk

We provide causal evidence that adverse capital shocks to banks affect their borrowers’ performance negatively. We use an exogenous shock to the U.S. banking system during the Russian crisis of Fall 1998 to separate the effect of borrowers’ demand of credit from the supply of credit by the banks. Firms that primarily relied on banks for capital suffered larger valuation losses during this period and subsequently experienced a higher decline in their capital expenditure and profitability as compared to firms that had access to the publicdebt market. Consistent with an adverse shock to the supply of credit, crisis-affected banks decreased the quantity of their lending and increased loan interest rates in the post-crisis period significantly more than the unaffected banks. Our results suggest that the global integration of the financial sector can contribute to the propagation of financial shocks from one economy to another through the banking channel.
Current Status of Herbal Drugs in India: An Overview

Herbal drugs constitute a major share of all the officially recognised systems of health in India viz. Ayurveda, Yoga, Unani, Siddha, Homeopathy and Naturopathy, except Allopathy. More than 70% of India’s 1.1 billion population still use these non-allopathic systems of medicine. Currently, there is no separate category of herbal drugs or dietary supplements, as per the Indian Drugs Act. However, there is a vast experiential-evidence base for many of the natural drugs. This offers immense opportunities for Observational Therapeutics and Reverse Pharmacology. Evidence-based herbals are widely used in the diverse systems and manufactured, as per the pharmacopoeial guidelines, by a well-organised industry. Significant basic and clinical research has been carried out on the medicinal plants and their formulations, with the state-of-the-art methods in a number of Institutes/Universities. There are some good examples. Indian medicinal plants also provide a rich source for antioxidants that are known to prevent/delay different diseased states. The antioxidant protection is observed at different levels. The medicinal plants also contain other beneficial compounds like ingredients for functional foods. Hence, the global knowledge about Ayurveda and Indian herbals will hopefully be enhanced by information on the evidence-base of these plants. This will yield rich dividends in the coming years.