Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Fertility studies for the benefit of animals and human beings: development of improved sterilization and contraceptive methods.

Investigations into the basic mechanisms of reproduction and the causes of infertility have resulted in the generation of methods for the manipulation of reproduction in mammals. This paper emphasizes studies on mammalian gametes and their roles in the fertilization process. One of the studies is on the development and maturation of spermatozoa in the male reproductive tract. A study examined the changes in spermatozoa in the female reproductive tract while another focused on the development and ovulation of eggs in the mammalian ovary. Another study was conducted to investigate the general mechanisms of mammalian fertilization. The causes of infertility the methods for treatment of infertility and improvement of reproductive performance were likewise investigated. In addition research into population control was undertaken by which new methods of contraception would be studied. In relation studies were carried out emphasizing the immunologic methods for regulation of fertility. Lastly the paper presents a specific example of how the research targeted for human welfare can potentially have a significant impact on animal welfare.
Named Entity Recognition with Support Vector Machines

This report describes a degree project in Computer Science, the aim of which was to construct a system for Named Entity Recognition in Swedish texts of names of people, locations and organizations, as well as expressions for time. This system was constructed from the part-of-speech tagger Granska and the Support Vector Machine system SVMlin. The completed system was trained to recognize Named Entities by analyzing patterns in training corpora consisting of lists of example words belonging to each category. The system was initially trained to recognize patterns based on individual characters in words, but was later rewritten to recognize other characteristics of individual words such as the types of characters the words contained. When evaluating the system, it was determined that no incarnation of the system managed to perform satisfactorily when tested to recognize Named Entities of the aforementioned categories. A possible reason for this is that three of the categories, i.e. names of people, names of locations and names of organizations have few or no distinguishing features between them, which might warrant more research. The system proved apt when tested with solving the related problem of distinguishing email addresses from other named entities, indicating that the system might be of use in some cases of Named Entity Recognition.
Bis[bis(1H-imidazole-κN 3)silver(I)] naphthalene-1,5-disulfonate

The title compound, [Ag(C3H4N2)2]2(C10H6O6S2), exists in the form of isolated cations and anions with electrostatic interaction between them. The Ag atom is two-coordinated by the N atoms of two crystallographically independent imidazole molecules. The naphthalene-1,5-disulfonate anion is located on a crystallographic center of symmetry. The cations and anions are connected through intermolecular N—H⋯O hydrogen bonds.
389 G polymorphisms of the 1-adrenergic receptor influence signaling via the cAMP-PKA and ERK pathways

Zhang F, Steinberg SF. S49G and R389G polymorphisms of the 1adrenergic receptor influence signaling via the cAMP-PKA and ERK pathways. Physiol Genomics 45: 1186–1192, 2013. First published October 22, 2013; doi:10.1152/physiolgenomics.00087. 2013. —Two functionally important 1-adrenergic receptor ( 1AR) polymorphisms have been identified. The R389G polymorphism influences coupling to the Gs-cAMP pathway. R1ARs display enhanced activation of cAMP/PKA; they provide short-term inotropic support but also cause a predisposition to cardiomyopathic decompensation. A second S49G polymorphism is implicated in the evolution of heart failure, but the mechanism remains uncertain. This study shows that position 49 and 389 polymorphisms function in a coordinate manner to influence agonist-dependent cAMP/PKA and ERK responses. cAMP/PKA and ERK responses are more robust in HEK293 cells that heterologously overexpress G1ARs, compared with S1ARs. However, this phenotype is most obvious on a G1AR background; the more robust agonist-dependent cAMP/PKA and ERK responses in R1AR cells effectively obscure the effect of the S49G polymorphism. We also show that isoproterenol (Iso) and carvedilol activate ERK via a similar EGFR-independent mechanism in cells expressing various 1AR haplotypes. However, Iso activates ERK via an Src-independent pathway, but carvedilol-dependent ERK activation requires Src. Since the S49G polymorphism has been linked to changes in 1AR trafficking, we examined whether 1AR polymorphisms influence partitioning to lipid raft membranes. Biochemical fractionation studies show that all four 1AR variants are recovered in buoyant flotillinenriched membranes; the distinct signaling phenotypes of the different 1AR variants could not be attributed to any gross differences in basal compartmentalization to lipid raft membranes. The allele-specific differences in 1AR signaling phenotypes identified in this study could underlie interindividual differences in responsiveness to -blocker therapy and clinical outcome in heart failure.
Multi-resolution data assimilation for missing data interpolation in geophysical sequences

To evaluate the proposed model we used SST and SSS observations. High resolution SST observations are taken from the METOP dataset and corresponding low resolution observations from the REMSS database. High and low resolution SSS observations are taken from the ESA/SMOS (European Space Agency/Soil Moisture and Ocean Salinity) database.
Diversification of Agricultural Production in China: Economic Rationality of Crop Choice under the Producer Subsidy Program

Dietary habits of Chinese people have transformed drastically over recent years due to rapid economic and income growth, urbanization, and globalization. In response, farmers motivated to enhance their incomes should shift their product mixes to meet these new preferences. If, however, the government prioritizes self-sufficiency for staple foods, farmers' choices will diverge from the income-enhancing outcome. This study thus examines farmer's crop choice rationality in Chinese agriculture via estimation of a stochastic frontier output distance function. The estimated results for allocative efficiencies offer unambiguous evidence that grains excessively are produced relative to vegetables and fruits, a tendency that was particularly noticeable during the time of the Producer Subsidy Program. This program also had a distorting effect on farmers' abilities to make technically efficient choices. These findings lend strong support to the assertion that China's policy goal of grain self-sufficiency is to the detriment of agricultural production in terms of technical and allocative efficiencies.
UNIQUENESS OF BACTERIAL RIBOSOMES.

24Boyse, E. A. , L. J. Old, G. Geering, and E. Stockert, unpublished observations. 25 Cells from 4 cases of human leukemia (acute leukemia in a child, acute myeloid leukemia, chronic myeloid leukemia, and chronic lymphatic leukemia) were obtained through the courtesy of Dr. B. Clarkson, Dr. L. Murphy, and Dr. C. Tan of Sloan-Kettering Institute. These cells did not acquire sensitivity to Rauscher antiserum after exposure to the plasma of BALB/c mice infected with Rauscher virus.
EMB-4: A Predicted ATPase That Facilitates lin-12 Activity in Caenorhabditis elegans

The sel-6 gene was previously identified in a screen for suppressors of the egg-laying defect associated with hypermorphic alleles of lin-12 (Tax et al. 1997). Here we show that sel-6 and two other previously defined genes, mal-2 and emb-4, are the same gene, now called “emb-4. ” We perform a genetic and molecular characterization of emb-4 and show that it functions cell autonomously as a positive regulator of lin-12 activity. Viable alleles identified as suppressors of lin-12 are partial loss-of-function mutations, whereas the null phenotype encompasses a range of lethal terminal phenotypes that apparently are not related to loss of lin-12/Notch signaling. emb-4 encodes a large nuclearly localized protein containing a predicted ATPase domain and has apparent orthologs in fission yeast, plants, and animals.
1,250 Electroconvulsive Treatments without Evidence of Brain Injury

Since its introduction in the late 1930s, electrocon vulsive therapy (ECT) has been an important yet controversial treatment of psychiatric disorders. In spite of being effective in selected circumstances, it has been questioned as an inducer of central nervous system (CNS) damage (Calloway et a! , 1977). Animal studies have demonstrated brain injury from electroconvulsive applications (Friedberg, 1977) though the technique utilised was not the same as ECr employed in current psychia mc practice (Frankel, 1977). ECF results in transient memory deficits, but correlation to CNS damage or permanent memory dysfunction has not been confirmed (Fink, 1977, 1982; Frankel, 1977; Frith, 1983; Menken et a! , 1979; Squire, 1977; Weeks et al, 1980). The medical community is concerned about these treatments, in spite of the lack of any consensus that they produce brain damage. This report presents a post-mortem brain study of apatientwhoreceivedover1,250ECTsduringa26year period. The neuropathological examination was normal.
Linking Exposures of Particles Released From Nano-Enabled Products to Toxicology: An Integrated Methodology for Particle Sampling, Extraction, Dispersion, and Dosing.

Nano-enabled products (NEPs) represent a growing economic global market that integrates nanotechnology into our everyday lives. Increased consumer use and disposal of NEPs at their end of life has led to increased environmental, health and safety (EHS) concerns, due to the potential environmental release of constituent engineered nanomaterials (ENMs) used in the production of NEPs. Although, there is an urgent need to assess particulate matter (PM) release scenarios and potential EHS implications, no current standardized methodologies exist across the exposure-toxicological characterization continuum. Here, an integrated methodology is presented, that can be used to sample, extract, disperse and estimate relevant dose of life cycle-released PM (LCPM), for in vitro and in vivo toxicological studies. The proposed methodology was utilized to evaluate two "real world" LCPM systems simulating consumer use and disposal of NEPs. This multi-step integrated methodology consists of: (1) real-time monitoring and sampling of size fractionated LCPM; (2) efficient extraction of LCPM collected on substrates using aqueous or ethanol extraction protocols to ensure minimal physicochemical alterations; (3) optimized LCPM dispersion preparation and characterization; (4) use of dosimetric techniques for in vitro and in vivo toxicological studies. This comprehensive framework provides a standardized protocol to assess the release and toxicological implications of ENMs released across the life cycle of NEPs and will help in addressing important knowledge gaps in the field of nanotoxicology.
Online Optimization of a Gold Extraction Process

A phenomenological dynamic model of gold ore leaching process in agitated tanks is derived and calibrated with a set of industrial data. This model is used to simulate the dynamic behavior of a three-tank industrial plant and to test the performance of the uncontrolled plant, a feedback control system and an online optimization strategy. The results for the open loop circuit (uncontrolled plant) show large losses of gold at low reagent (cyanide) consumption. The regulatory control of the cyanide concentrations in the first tank helps in improving the economic efficiency. The optimal strategy is able to keep the three cyanide control loops at their optimal set points in order to cope with the disturbances and minimize an economic objective function containing both the leaching cost and the gold losses.
Mafia and Public Spending: Evidence on the Fiscal Multiplier from a Quasi-Experiment

We estimate the multiplier relying on differences in spending in infrastructure across Italian provinces and an instrument identifying investment changes that are large and exogenous to local cyclical conditions. We derive our instrument from the Law mandating the interruption of public work on evidence of mafia infiltration of city councils. Our IV estimates on cross sectional data allow us to address common problems in time series analysis, such as the risk of estimating spuriously high multipliers because of endogeneity and reverse causation, or the risk of confounding the effects of fiscal and monetary measures. Accounting for contemporaneous and lagged effects, and controlling for the direct impact of anti-mafia measures on output, our results suggest a multiplier as high as 1.4 on impact, and 2 including dynamic effects.
Grabbing real light: toward virtual presence

Realistic lighting of virtual scenes has been a widely researched domain for decades. Many recent methods for realistic rendering make extensive use of image-based lighting, in which a real lighting environment is captured and reused to light virtual objects. However, the capture of such lighting environments usually requires still scenes and specific capture hardware such as high end digital cameras and mirror balls. In this paper we introduce a simple solution for the capture of plausible environment maps using one of the most widely used capture device: a simple webcam. In order to be applied efficiently, the captured environment data is then filtered using graphics hardware according to the reflectance functions of the virtual surfaces. As the limited aperture of the webcam does not allow the capture of the entire environment, we propose a simple method for extrapolating the incoming lighting outside the webcam range, yielding a full estimate of the incoming lighting for any direction in space. Our solution can be applied to direct lighting of virtual objects in all virtual reality applications such as virtual worlds, games etc. Also, using either environment map combination or semi-automatic light source extraction, our method can be used as a lighting design tool integrated for post-production.
Comparison of HDL coder and system generator tools in terms of QPSK analysis

BER (bit error rate) measurement is an important criterion to analyze digital communication systems. In literature this measurement generally performed through simulation programs like Matlab/Simulink. It is considered that the simulation programs may not represent a real communication system and also they are quite time consuming and expensive. However, modeling communication systems with parallel processing and fast modules such as FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Arrays) using VHDL (Very High Speed Integrated Circuit Hardware Description Language) and performing BER measurements on this modules is much faster, closer to the reality. The main interest of this study is to demonstrate the performance of FPGA based models in communication systems and show their advantages and disadvantages compared to the simulator models. Despite the simple structure of FPGA it sometimes restricts a complete design of the system because of comprising only gates, logic operators, register etc. Simulator models such as the ones designed with Matlab have a huge library which provides flexibility in the design and analysis of the system. Software and hardware developers try to develop new ways such as HDL Coder and System Generator tools to get over these restrictions. But both methods still have some restrictions to design a better communication system. In this paper also this restrictions are investigated detailed. As an example, QPSK (Quadrature Phase Shift Keying) modulation is shown by using System Generator tool in this paper.
Experimental Development Of A Focalization Mechanism In An Integrated Narrative Generation System

Abstract “Focalization” is a narrative discourse technique that produces different narrative structures based on choosing unique perspectives from which to present a story. This study designs a focalization mechanism and presents an experimental implementation. The proposed system functions as part of our integrated narrative generation system (INGS). In addition, the approach computationally extends the conceptual research of focalization by Genette to techniques for narrative generation. We define focalization as a procedure to transform a story structure into discourse structures through the following two steps: 1) restricting the scope of story information perceived from a chosen perspective, and 2) generating a discourse structure based on perceived story information. In particular, we define two types of rules for restricting the perception scope based on: a) objective perceptible possibility of constituent elements in a story and b) situations or states in which constituent elements in a story are positioned. Based on the experimentally implemented system, we present generated examples from a story using different focalization types. Through analysis, we show that the basic function of the focalization mechanism was achieved by the aforementioned rules.
Day type classification using cell tower connectivity data from smartphones

Human activity modeling from large-scale sensor data is an emerging domain. We present a framework to classify days into two groups: weekends and weekdays. The data collected by Device Analyzer, an Android application managed by University of Cambridge, includes cell tower connectivity data, from which physical location can be derived. Since the location information is removed from the datasets, the semantic of places needs to be inferred from the connectivity patterns. In this particular experiment, we use cell tower data to identify weekends and weekdays. By processing data collected over a long period of time by Device Analyzer, we find the cell towers which are mainly used in weekends or weekdays and then take advantage of them to identify the day type.
Diversity and evolution of macrohabitat use, body size and morphology in a monophyletic group of Neotropical pitvipers (Bothrops)

The Neotropical pitviper genus Bothrops comprises about 40 species, which occur in all main ecosystems of cis-Andean South America. We explored the relationships of body size and form (tail length and stoutness) with macrohabitat use in 20 forms of Bothrops. Semi-arboreal habits appeared only in forest forms. Semiarboreals are significantly more slender and have longer tails than terrestrials; body size is not significantly different between terrestrials and semi-arboreals. Within Bothrops, independent contrasts for macrohabitat use were significantly correlated with contrasts of tail size (positively) and stoutness (negatively); thus, the more arboreal the species, the longer its tail and the more slender its body. Contrasts of adult body size seems to remain constant over the lower range of macrohabitat use, but to decrease in species of Bothrops which are more arboreal. Reconstructions of character states indicate that: (1) the ancestor of Bothrops was a small, stout, terrestrial species; (2) semi-arboreal habits appeared one to three times in the genus; (3) a decrease in stoutness and an increase in tail length occurred along with an increase in arboreality in some clades. Although macrohabitat use seems to be important in determining body form in Bothrops, our results also indicate that tail size, stoutness and body size may also be affected by selective agents other than macrohabitat use. The selective agents responsible for the shifts in macrohabitat use in Bothrops are still uncertain, although they may have included prey availability and/or predation pressure. The plasticity of macrohabitat use, morphology and body size described in this study may have been key features that facilitated the highly successful ecological diversification of Bothrops in South America.
Phosphorylation of the Integrin α4 Cytoplasmic Domain Regulates Paxillin Binding*

α4 integrins are essential for embryogenesis, hematopoiesis, inflammation, and immune response possibly because α4 integrins have distinct signaling properties from other integrins. Specifically, the α4cytoplasmic domain binds tightly to paxillin, a signaling adaptor protein, leading to increased cell migration and an altered cytoskeletal organization that results in reduced cell spreading. The α4 tail contains potential phosphorylation sites clustered in its core paxillin binding region. We now report that the α4 tail is phosphorylated in vitro andin vivo. Furthermore, Ser988 is a major phosphorylation site. Using antibodies specific for Ser988-phosphorylated α4, we found the stoichiometry of α4 phosphorylation varied in different cells. However, >60% of α4 was phosphorylated in Jurkat T cells. Phosphorylation at Ser988 blocked paxillin binding to the α4 tail. A phosphorylation-mimicking mutant of α4 (α4S988D) blocked paxillin binding and reversed the inhibitory effect of α4 on cell spreading. Consequently, α4 phosphorylation is a biochemical mechanism to modulate paxillin binding to α4 integrins with consequent regulation of α4integrin-dependent cellular functions.
Kinetic parameters and relative turnovers of some important catabolic reactions in digesting sludge

The kinetics of propionate degradation, acetate splitting, and hydrogen consumption in digesting sludge were investigated in a lab-scale digester. At natural steady-state conditions, the acetate-splitting systems in well-digested sludge were about half saturated. Propionate-degrading systems were saturated to only 10 to 15%, and hydrogen removal was less than 1% of the maximum possible rate. It was concluded that acetate splitting rather than "methanogenesis from fatty acids" is the rate-limiting reaction in the anaerobic degradation of dissolved organic matter and that a methoanogenic anaerobic ecosystem is stabilized by its large unused capacity of hydrogen consumption which is "buffering" the partial pressure of dissolved hydrogen in the system at sufficiently low values to permit rapid fatty acid oxidation. A tentative scheme of the substrate flow in sludge digestion is presented. It suggests that acid formation coupled with hydrogen formation via pyridine dinucleotide oxidation yields the immediate substrates, namely acetate and hydrogen, for about 54% of the total methanogenesis.