Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A visual paired associate learning (vPAL) paradigm to study memory consolidation during sleep

The hippocampus helps transform an experience into an enduring memory by associating its multiple aspects. Sleep improves the consolidation of the newly formed associations, leading to stable long-term memory. Most research on human declarative memory and its consolidation during sleep uses word-pair associations requiring exhaustive learning. Here we present the visual paired association learning (vPAL) paradigm, in which participants learn new associations between images of celebrities and animals. vPAL associations are based on a one-shot exposure that resembles learning in natural conditions. We tested if vPAL can reveal a role for sleep in memory consolidation by assessing the specificity of memory recognition, and the cued recall performance, before and after sleep. We found that a daytime nap improved the stability of recognition memory and discrimination abilities compared to identical intervals of wakefulness. By contrast, cued recall of associations did not exhibit significant sleep-dependent effects. High-density EEG during naps further revealed an association between sleep spindle density and stability of recognition memory. Thus, the vPAL paradigm opens new avenues for future research on sleep and memory consolidation across ages and heterogeneous populations in health and disease.
Considerações sobre a origem das formações ferríferas da Formação Carajás, Serra dos Carajás

The Carajas iron formations are mostly hematite-bearing. Magnetite is observed mainly as a diagenetic/metamorphic product after spherulitic primary textures. The hematite predominance is also shown by the high Fe 2 O 3 /FeO ratios (32 to 192). Their Fe 2 O 3 plus SiO 2 contents reach from 90,78 to 99,72% and the absence of terrigenous components is confirmed by their low Al, Ti, Rb and K. They show very low IREE, ranging from 0.92 to 3.40 times the chondrite. Nevertheless, their chemical composition is similar to the other Archean to Proterozoic iron formations described worldwide. Three groups of REE chondrite-normalized patterns were recognized in Carajas iron formations. The most important (Eu/Eu*=1.16 - 2.5; (La/Sm) = 5.93 - 7.13) suggests deposition near to the hydrothermal vents. The second, characterized by the absence of Eu anomalies (Eu/Eu*= l .03-1.05; (La/Sm) = 7.02-7.74), may have been the deposition product of lower temperature hydrothermal fluids; and the third, very similar to the altered underlying basalts (Eu/Eu*= 0.75-1.16; (La/Sm) cn = 3.66-5.93; (Gd/Lu) cn = 1.07-1.65), suggests close relationship between both rock types. The high iron content, together with the homogeneous chemical composition and the widespread positive Eu anomalies suggest that many active hydrothermal vents were operating simultaneously in the Carajas Sea at the time of deposition. The Carajas iron formations were possibly deposited on shallow and stable platforms, below the wave base levei and in the photic zone where photossynthetic organisms may have flourished, possibly represented by the spherulites.
Trochoceramid bivalves (Inoceramidae) from the Lower Maastrichtian of Daghestan (Aimaki section, NE Caucasus) and south-central Poland

The representatives of the inoceramid genus Trochoceramus HEINZ, from the Lower Maastrichtian of Daghestan (NE Caucasus) and south-central Poland are described. Four species are recognized in the material from Daghestan and also the same number, though represented by other species, in the material from Poland. This difference is probably the result of different facies conditions in the Early Maastrichtian sea in both areas. The first appearance datum of the genus Trochoceramus seems to approximate the Campanian - Maastrichtian boundary, thus providing a valuable biostratigraphic tool for chronostratigraphic correlation. The previously cited long range of the genus within the Upper Campanian was based on poorly known occurrences, and it seems that the genus is limited to the Lower (and ? lowermost Upper) Maastrichtian. Normal 0 21 false false false PL X-NONE X-NONE /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:Standardowy; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0cm; mso-para-margin-right:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0cm; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
Extracellular vesicle-mediated Transfer of miRNA-1 from Primary tumor Repress Distant Metastasis Growth

28 Metastases originate from primary tumors and conquer distant organs. Growing evidence suggest that 29 metastases are under control of primary tumors even out of the primary territory, however, how primary 30 tumors remotely control metastases remains unclear. Here, we discovered a molecular mechanism by 31 which a primary tumor suppresses the metastatic growth. Interestingly, we found that extracellular 32 vesicles (EVs) derived from a primary tumor has an ability to inhibit the growth of metastases in vitro 33 and in vivo . miR-1 was particularly enriched in the primary tumor-derived EVs (pTDEs) and responsible 34 for the suppression of metastatic growth. Mechanistically, intracellular ROS and DNA damage were 35 induced, which led to the cell cycle arrest. Collectively, our data demonstrate that the primary tumor 36 restricts distant metastatic cancer by miR-1 in pTDEs which can potentially be used as an anticancer 37 drug for metastasis. 38 39 40
The Eﬀect of Patients’ Position on Arterial Oxygenation During One-Lung and Two-Lung Ventilation in Thoracic Surgery: Smoker vs. Nonsmoker Patients (A Pilot Study)

Background: One-lungventilation(OLV)isoftenrequiredtofacilitatesurgicalexposure. Hypoxemiaisacommondisorderduring thoracic surgery. Objectives: We studied whether changing from the supine to the lateral position during OLV and two-lung ventilation (TLV) in thoracic surgery would aﬀect positions on arterial oxygen pressure (PaO 2 ) in two groups of smokers and nonsmokers. Methods: Thissingle-blindedprospectiveobservationalpilotstudywasconductedonpatientswhounderwentthoracotomyunder generalanesthesia. Theeﬀectof lateralandsupinePaO 2 wasinvestigatedin15patientswithahistoryof smoking( ≥ 40packs/year) and 15 patients without. The data were analyzed via descriptive and inferential statistics in SPSS v. 19. Results: Arterial oxygen pressure did not signiﬁcantly diﬀer between the two groups in the supine TLV (P = 0.98), supine OLV (P = 0.16), lateral TLV (P = 0.06), and lateral OLV (P = 0.31). However, the PaO 2 level was higher in smokers than in nonsmokers (except during supine TLV). Changing the position from supine to lateral caused a relative decrease in PaO2 (except during TLV in smokers) during TLV and OLV. This reduction in PaO 2 levels was less in smokers (72.12) than in nonsmokers (95.28). Oxygen saturation (SpO 2 ) levels were the same in all positions regardless of whether they were a smoker or nonsmoker. Conclusions: Changing the position from supine to lateral had no signiﬁcant eﬀects on PaO 2 and SpO 2 levels in smoker and nonsmoker patients during OLV and TLV in thoracic surgery.
Laboratory Measurements of Coarse Sediment Bedload Transport Velocity Using a Prototype Wideband Coherent Doppler Profiler (MFDop)

AbstractA prototype wideband coherent Doppler profiler (MFDop) was tested for measuring bedload velocity of different gravel and coarse-sand-sized fractions (d = 1–32 mm) in the laboratory. The sediment was spread out on a smooth-surface tray, and motion was initiated by tilting the tray at angles of α = 20°–39° from the horizontal. Particle velocities downslope (u), cross slope (υ), and vertical to the tray (w) were determined for different MFDop parameter settings, such as monostatic/bistatic configuration, acoustic beam angle, and pulse length. Video observations of bed particle velocity were made for comparison to the acoustic measurements. Velocities estimated using the MFDop equal to, on average, 71%–74% of the velocities determined using the video observations. Standard deviations ranged from 21% to 35%, including observed irregular motion. Three stages of sediment motion were observed: (i) single particles moving with u ≤ 5 cm s−1, (ii) varying motion of particles and particle groups with predomin.
Segmented Gurney Flaps for Enhanced Wind Turbine Wake Recovery

The wind turbine wake is a downstream region of velocity deficit, featuring higher turbulence and a complex helical vortex structure. In low ambient turbulence and low tip speed ratio conditions, the wind turbine wake is extremely stable. The impact of the velocity deficit is a power loss for the downstream wind turbine, which scales with the velocity cube. This 5 study uses field tests and simulations to evaluate segmented Gurney flaps for enhanced wind turbine wake recovery and power output in a wind farm setting; where the power and loads of the retrofitted wind turbine were assessed. Four Gurney flaps were attached to each blade tip of a 3 . 8 MW research wind turbine. This configuration is hypothesised (in line with an ECN (now TNO Wind Energy) patent) to cause a spatial variation to the stable tip vortex and induce turbulence in the wake for faster wake mixing. Field tests using a scanning LiDAR were conducted to quantify the wind turbine wake recovery between the baseline 10 and the retrofitted configuration in various atmospheric conditions. The results show a consistent increase in wake recovery for the Gurney flap configuration, generally at all downstream distances (span wise averaged deficits reduced by roughly 10% at hub height, at a downstream distance of 5 D), pronounced at low tip speed ratio conditions. Using crude assumptions, this implies a 4% relative increase in wind farm efficiency for a typical wind farm with outer rows of wind turbines with segmented Gurney flaps. The impact of retrofitting on turbine power and loads remained within the measurement uncertainty band, and this 15 limited effect is confirmed by design load simulations In this work, a very successful field test campaign was executed which demonstrated the use of segmented Gurney Flaps as a promising add-on to promote enhanced wind turbine wake recovery for improved overall wind farm farm performance.
The flip side of the coin: how entrepreneurship-oriented insolvency laws can complicate finding debt financing for (high) growth entrepreneurs

In this study, we examined the impact of the change towards a more debtor-friendly insolvency law on the financial policy of Belgian growth firms. Using the recent change in Belgian insolvency law as an exogenous policy shock, we investigated the changes in access to debt for growth firms, taking into account the heterogeneity of debt. Overall, our findings indicated that growth firms experience more difficulties in obtaining credit from financial institutions, after the change towards a more debtor-friendly insolvency law.
Augmenting home exercise programmes in primary care physiotherapy : a pilot randomised controlled trial of the ' Exercise Buddy ' model

Background: Non-ambulatory people with MS (PwMS) comprise 25% of the MS population. Literature reviews show insufficient evidence exists regarding physiotherapy for this population. A qualitative study suggested benefits from ‘exercise buddies’ who were paid carers delivering a physiotherapy home exercise programme. Aims: To explore the feasibility and effects of ‘exercise buddies’ for non-ambulatory PwMS Methods: 29 non-ambulatory PwMS (age range 43-72) were randomised to 10 weeks of ‘usual care’ (UC) or ‘exercise buddy’ (EB). PwMS were assessed with the Multiple Sclerosis Impact Scale 29 (MSIS) and the Guys Neurological Disability Scale (GNDS) pre and post intervention. Their informal caregivers (12 male, 16 female, aged 21-68) completed the Adult Carer Quality of Life (AC-QoL) questionnaire. Findings: Using ANCOVA to adjust for pre-intervention scores there was no significant differences between groups after treatment on the MSIS-29 physical (p=0.395), MSIS-29 psychological (p=0.176) or GNDS (p=0.177). The ACQOL was also not significantly different between groups post treatment (p=0.432). Using paired t-tests the EB group improved significantly from baseline on the two components of the MSIS-29 (p=0.024, p=0.009), not seen in the UC group. Conclusions: This pilot study found no significant between group differences post treatment. However, good feasibility and significant positive changes from baseline for the EB group warrant further exploratory work in addition to a cost analysis.
Regenerative science and some perception on the age, development, and the care of Tilapia zilli (Gerv, 1848) from Lake Timsah, Egypt

In the present investigation, some biological aspects of Tilapia zillii from Lake Timsah were studied. This was carried out on 700 fish samples collected during the period from October, 2002 to September, 2003. Total length of females ranged from 7 to 16 cm and males from 8 to 21cm. Age determination based on length frequency distributions showed that the life span are two and four years for females and males, respectively. Estimates of growth parameters are widely used for detailed assessment and modeling of fish species and fisheries. The length-weight relationship, age at length zero (t o ), growth coefficient (K), asymptotic length (L ∞ ) and rates of natural (M) and total mortality (Z) were estimated for T. zillii from Lake Timsah. Length-weight relationships were calculated from individual fish length and weight records collected from sampling using gill nets. Analyses were obtained by sampling direct from the fisher’s catches. Data were analyzed using the FISAT software. T. zillii , the estimate of K was 0.320 and 0.680 year -1 for males and females, respectively, whilst L ∞ was approximately 22.05 and 17.85 cm , for males and females, respectively. T. zillii (males) had the lowest value of K and the largest L ∞ than females. Natural mortality was the lowest for T. zillii (females) (M=0.464 and 0.38 year -1 ) and fishing mortality was highest for T. zillii (males) (F=2.656, 1.88 year -1 ). In addition, exploitation rate was estimated at E=0.83 and length at first capture (L c ) was calculated at 11.30 cm for males while E=0.78 and (L c ) was estimated as 6.68 cm for females. The majority of fish caught of the main commercial species in the Lake Timsah fishery were from the first age group, at a size far below the optimal length at capture. This suggests growth overfishing for T. zillii in Lake Timsah.
Optimization of chitosan extracted from Matuta lunaris shells by using response surface methodology (RSM)

Extraction of chitin and chitosan from natural sources are universally acknowledged as they can be used in many applications. This study aims to determine the optimum extraction condition of the chitosan from moon crab ( Matuta lunaris ) and to determine the yield and chemical properties of the extracted chitosan. Chitosan from moon crab ( Matuta lunaris ) was extracted and optimized by using response surface methodology (RSM) using two variables with five levels which were the deacetylation temperature (60, 70,80, 90 and 100ºC) and deacetylation time (2, 4, 6, 8 and 10 h). Three major steps which were demineralization, deproteination and deacetylation were involved in the extraction process. A full factorial of optimal randomized design was implemented using Design Expert 11 software. Four responses of chitosan extracted were evaluated which were yield, degree of deacetylation, molecular weight and ash content in order to determine the optimum condition of extraction. The deacetylation temperature and time for optimum chitosan extraction condition were suggested at 84.62 ºC and 9.46 h, respectively. The selected conditions (84.62 ºC and 9.46h) gave actual response values28.96 ± 0.93% of chitosan yield, 56.68 ± 1.66% of deacetylation, 567.17± 13.91 kDA of molecular weight and 10.59 ± 0.62% of ash content in chitosan powder. The extracted chitosan will be used as clarifying agent injuice production in the future studies.
Testing of Bi-Polygonal Antenna Models on Bi-Quad and Bi-Circular Geometries

-Bi-quad antennas have been widely used mainly as wideband antennas. Recent developments have shown the use of bi-circular antennas in addition to bi-quad antennas. These two types of antenna designs are bi-polygonal antenna designs that differ in their geometry. This paper presents the results of experimental and theoretical studies related to bi-quad and bi-circular antennas. A bi-polygonal antenna model has been developed in this study to support the results of this study. There were two characteristics of the antenna being modeled, namely bandwidth and working frequency of the antenna. The bandwidth and frequency characterization of the antenna was carried out in two ways, namely FDTD simulation and measurements on the fabricated antenna. The research objective was to test the bi-polygonal antenna model in analyzing changes in bandwidth and working frequency due to changes in the antenna design geometry from bi-quad to bi-circular. The novelty of the research is the application of the bi-polygonal antenna model to analyze changes in the bandwidth and working frequency of the antenna due to changes in the geometry of the antenna design. The results of the application of the bi-polygonal antenna model on the design of the bi-quad and bi-circular antennas showed good agreement with the data of bandwidth and working frequency characteristics of the simulations and measurements on the two antennas.
Investigation of the most important secondary metabolites of St. John's wort (Hypericum perforatum L.) in Caspian climate

Hypericum perforatum L. is one of the important medicinal plants in worldwide, growing wild in Iran in various areas and altitudes, particularly Caspian climate. In order to define its best vegetated area, the most important biochemical components: hypericin, total phenol, flavonoid, carotenoid and chlorophylls were sampled and analyzed. The five regions of Caspian climate ecotypes were studied in three heights. The samples were recorded geographically, and then analyzed. Results showed that there is a positive correlation between the amount of hypericin and total phenol in the ecotypes. In the middle of height of Kelardasht area (700-1200 m) the highest concentration of hypericin and total phenol were measured. Nevertheless, due to the significant interaction between the factors mentioned, Hypericum perforatum grown in the high altitude of Kelardasht had the highest hypericin and total phenol. These results of flavonoid were similar to the results of hypericin and total phenol. However, due to the significant interaction effects, flavonoid had greatest concentration at the low-altitude ecotypes of Kelardasht. The highest amount chlorophyll a and b was measured at the middle-altitude of Javaherdeh region. There was no significant interaction between height and vegetated area. The evaluating of changes for some soil elements in the soil samples revealed that highest accumulation was at the height of 1186 m in Kelardasht with potassium (0.46%), magnesium (0.14%) and cadmium (1 ppm). The greatest hypericin was in this height, too. The highest phosphorus concentrations were measured in the Harris area (in the height of 349 m).
Rainfall observation from X-band, space-borne, synthetic aperture radar

Satellites carrying X-band Synthetic Aperture Radars (SAR) have recently been launched by several coun- tries. These provide new opportunities to measure precipita- tion with higher spatial resolution than has heretofore been possible. Two algorithms to retrieve precipitation from such measurements over land have been developed, and the re- trieved rainfall distributions were found to be consistent. A maritime rainfall distribution obtained from dual frequency (X and C-band) data was used to compute the Differential Polarized Phase Shift. The computed Differential Polarized Phase Shift compared well with the value measured from space. Finally, we show a comparison between a recent X- band SAR image of a precipitation distribution and an ob- servation of the same rainfall from ground-based operational weather radar. Although no quantitative comparison of re- trieved and conventional rainfall distributions could be made with the available data at this time, the results presented here point the way to such comparisons.
Bonfire II: The Return of Pottery Firing Temperatures

Abstract In this paper, I reconsider the problem of pottery firing using a large set of comparable data, most of it collected during extensive fieldwork conducted in Africa and Asia. My main purpose is to assess the actual relationships between the firing procedures (structure, fuel, schedule and scale) and some of the firing conditions (time and temperature). Indeed, if different firing procedures result in different firing conditions, the fired pots might display distinct physical characteristics. I will first characterize the various procedures in terms that are both meaningful for anthropologists and likely to influence the thermal profile of a firing. I will then examine the characteristics of the various firing processes in terms of duration, maximum temperature, heating rate and soaking time.
Combining agricultural crop models and satellite observations: from field to regional scales

Abstract This review article gives an overview of how satellite observations are used to feed or tune crop models and improve their capability to predict crop yields in a region. Relations between crop characteristics which correspond to models state variables and satellite observations are briefly analysed, together with the various types of crop models commonly used. Various strategies for introducing short wavelength radiometric information into specific crop models are described, from direct update of model state variables to optimization of model parameter values, and some of them are exemplified. Methods to unmix crop-specific information from mixed pixels in coarse resolution-high frequency imagery are analysed. The conditions of use of the various methods and types of information are discussed.
EFFECTS OF GRAIN SIZE AND GRADING ON DYNAMIC SHEAR MODULI OF SANDS

ABSTRACT Resonant-column tests were performed intending to clarify the effects of grain size distribution on shear moduli of normally consolidated disturbed sands for shear strain ranging from 10-6 to 10-4. The sands tested are clean sands which are uniform and do not contain fine particles, natural sands which are not uniform and contain fine particles and other artificially graded sands. The test results indicate the followings. Shear moduli of the clean sands tested at strain levels of γ = 10-6, 10-5 and 10-4 are expressed approximately by the similar empirical equations irrespectively of grain shape and grain size. For the sands other than clean sands, however, shear moduli decrease with the increase in uniformity coefficient and also decrease with the increase in the content of fine particles. Therefore it is concluded that in estimating shear moduli of ordinary natural sands which are not so uniform and contain fine particles, it is preferable to conduct resonant-column tests on the sands of interest. When tests are not conducted, the effects of grain size distribution on shear moduli should be taken into account.