Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A new role for bicarbonate secretion in cervico‐uterine mucus release

Cervical mucus thinning and release during the female reproductive cycle is thought to rely mainly on fluid secretion. However, we now find that mucus released from the murine reproductive tract critically depends upon concurrent bicarbonate (HCO3−) secretion. Prostaglandin E2 (PGE2)‐ and carbachol‐stimulated mucus release was severely inhibited in the absence of serosal HCO3−, HCO3− transport, or functional cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR). In contrast to mucus release, PGE2‐ and carbachol‐stimulated fluid secretion was not dependent on bicarbonate or on CFTR, but was completely blocked by niflumic acid. We found stimulated mucus release was severely impaired in the cystic fibrosis ΔF508 reproductive tract, even though stimulated fluid secretion was preserved. Thus, CFTR mutations and/or poor bicarbonate secretion may be associated with reduced female fertility associated with abnormal mucus and specifically, may account for the increased viscosity and lack of cyclical changes in cervical mucus long noted in women with cystic fibrosis.
Incidence of Fusarium species and levels of fumonisin B1 in corn in the Samsun province of Turkey

The contamination of corn with fumonisin produced by Fusarium species represents an important risk for humans and animals. The incidence of Fusarium spp. and contamination by fumonisin B1 (FB1) were studied in field samples from 70 fields of corn during the 2005 and 2006 preharvest seasons in the province of Samsun, Turkey. Fusarium was the predominant genus isolated from the field samples, with F. verticillioides, F. proliferatum and F. subglutinans being the most commonly isolated species. The occurrence of Fusarium spp. varied each year, from 97.14% to 78.57% in 2005 and 2006, respectively. The widespread occurrence of FB1 was also observed across the Samsun province. All corn samples infected with F. verticillioides, F. proliferatum and F. subglutinans tested positive for FB1, but none were infected with FB2. Levels of FB1 ranged from 0.28 to 8.48 mg kg-1 in 2005 and from 0.11 to 2.77 mg kg-1 in 2006. The concentration of FB1 was lower than 2 mg kg-1 in 63.6% of the samples, 28.8% contained from 2 mg kg-1 to 5 mg kg-1, while 7.6% contained more than 5 mg kg-1. Our study shows that corn contamination with both Fusarium and FB1 was present throughout the Samsun province, but it was strongly dependent on environmental and seasonal conditions. However, there was no Fusarium contamination in certain native white-type and popcorn-type cultivars in 2005 and 2006.
Effects on protease inhibition by modifying of helicase residues in hepatitis C virus nonstructural protein 3

This study of the full‐length bifunctional nonstructural protein 3 from hepatitis C virus (HCV) has revealed that residues in the helicase domain affect the inhibition of the protease. Two residues (Q526 and H528), apparently located in the interface between the S2 and S4 binding pockets of the substrate binding site of the protease, were selected for modification, and three enzyme variants (Q526A, H528A and H528S) were expressed, purified and characterized. The substitutions resulted in indistinguishable Km values and slightly lower kcat values compared to the wild‐type. The Ki values for a series of structurally diverse protease inhibitors were affected by the substitutions, with increases or decreases up to 10‐fold. The inhibition profiles for H528A and H528S were different, confirming that not only did the removal of the imidazole side chain have an effect, but also that minor differences in the nature of the introduced side chain influenced the characteristics of the enzyme. These results indicate that residues in the helicase domain of nonstructural protein 3 can influence the protease, supporting our hypothesis that full‐length hepatitis C virus nonstructural protein 3 should be used for protease inhibitor optimization and characterization. Furthermore, the data suggest that inhibitors can be designed to interact with residues in the helicase domain, potentially leading to more potent and selective compounds.
A variant of the Morris water task for assessing learning and memory processes in mice

The Morris water task (MWT) is commonly used to assess rodent spatial learning and memory. Our goal was to develop a 3-phase variant of the hidden goal water task to assess old and new spatial memories acquired in the same context using various measures of spatial learning in C57BL/6 mice. In the first phase, mice were pre-trained to an initially hidden location. The second phase consisted of a massed training session to a new location in the same apparatus and context. The final phase consisted of a competition test between the original and new platform locations. AppNL-G-F/NL-G-F mice, a novel transgenic mouse model for Alzheimer’s disease (AD), were also used as an independent variable to validate this 3-phase variant of MWT. The results of the present study showed that C57 mice acquired and retained both the old and new location representations; however, AppNL-G-F/NL-G-F mice retained a recently acquired spatial memory but did not remember the old location acquired in the same apparatus and context. The results showed that C57 mice can show precise place learning and memory with the right amount of training and acquire and retain multiple spatial memory locations in the same environment whereas this ability was impaired in AppNL-G-F/NL-G-F mice. In the visible platform test, however, all groups of mice showed normal sensorimotor ability and motivation. These findings indicate that this new version of the MWT provides a robust way for assessment of old and new memories in mice. This paradigm could also be exploited to assess manipulations of neural circuits implicated in learning and memory processes as well as for research investigating human brain diseases.
Reinforcement Learning for Humanoid Robots - Policy Gradients and Beyond

Reinforcement learning offers one of the most general frameworks to take traditional robotics towards true autonomy and versatility. However, applying reinforcement learning to high dimensional movement systems like humanoid robots remains an unsolved problem. In this paper, we discuss different approaches of reinforcement learning in terms of their applicability in humanoid robotics. Methods can be coarsely classified in to three different categories, i.e., greedy methods, ’vanilla’ policy gradient methods, and natural gradient methods. We discuss that greedy methods are not likely to scale into the domain humanoid robotics as they are problematic when used with function approximation. Vanilla’ policy gradient methods on the other hand have been successfully applied on real-world robots including at least one humanoid robot [3]. We demonstrate that these methods can be significantly improved using the natural policy gradient instead of the regular policy gradient. A derivation of the natural policy gradient is provided, proving that the average policy gradient of Kakade[10] is indeed the true natural gradient. A general algorithm for estimating the natural gradient, the Natural Actor-Critic algorithm, is introduced. This algorithm converges to the nearest local minimum of the cost function with respect to the Fisher information metric under suitable conditions. The algorithm outperforms non-natural policy gradients by far in a cart-pole balancing evaluation, and for learning non-linear dynamic motor primitives for humanoid robot control. It offers a promising route for the development of reinforcement learning for truly high-dimensionally continuous state-action systems.
Identification of novel peptide antagonists for GPIIb/IIIa from a conformationally constrained phage peptide library

Methods have recently been developed to present vast libraries of random peptides on the surface of filamentous phage. To introduce a degree of conformational constraint into random peptides, a library of hexapeptides flanked by cysteine residues (capable of forming cyclic disulfides) was constructed. This library was screened using the platelet glycoprotein, IIb/IIIa, which mediates the aggregation of platelets through binding of fibrinogen. A variety of peptides containing the sequence Arg‐Gly‐Asp or Lys‐Gly‐Asp were discovered and synthesized. The cyclic, disulfide bonded forms of the peptides bound IIb/IIIa with dissociation constants in the nanomolar range, while reduced forms or an analogue in which Ser replaced the Cys residues bound considerably less tightly. These results demonstrate the feasibility for introducing conformational constraints into random peptide libraries and also demonstrates the potential for using phage peptide libraries to discover pharmacologically active lead compounds. © 1992 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Saving Behavior of Non-Financial Firms in Turkey

This paper proposes a method to calculate undistributed profits, thus saving rates of non-financial firms using only the information given in their balance sheets. This allows us to analyze the saving behavior of non-financial firms even in the absence of their statement of cash flows, which contains "dividend payments" data. The balance sheets of non-financial firms are provided by TurkStat only for 2013 and 2014, so this paper is confined to the cross sectional analysis of the saving behavior of non-financial firms in Turkey. We find that the saving rate increases as past net profit margin increases for firms with profits in the preceding year. For the firms which declare loss in the preceding year, saving rate increases as the past value of net profit margin decreases. Our findings for the rest of the firm-level determinants are consistent with the previous studies: Firm size plays a role on corporate savings; leverage ratio has a negative impact on the saving rate; and the positive impact of export orientation is higher for SMEs.
USE CASE: Customization and Collaboration to Enhance MT for a Knowledge Base Online Portal

The Microsoft Customer Support organization maintains a large Knowledge Base online portal, which contains over 200,000 active documents and provides localized versions in more than 40 languages. The portal is a large-scale example of an effective use of various advanced techniques of human and machine translation working together. We describe how the Knowledge Base site has evolved from an established raw MT and post-editing scheme to the current combination of human and machine translation, continuing to report high rate of customer satisfaction and effectively engage satellite offices and IT experts around the world to maintain an updated and high quality information base.
A new approach for fabricating horizontally grown semiconductor nanowires (case of zinc oxide)

The positioning and directed assembly of semiconductor nanowires (NWs) is of considerable current interest for “bottom-up” approaches to the engineering of intricate structures from nanoscale building blocks. In this presentation a new technique for growth of horizontal ZnO NWs on ) 0 2 11 ( sapphire surface is discussed, which provides the in situ alignment and predictable positioning of ZnO NWs. This strategy allows for the large scale assembly of NWs, diameter control, and production of quantum wires. A crystallographic model explaining the unique growth direction of [1 − 100] is proposed, which is supported by electron-back scattering diffraction results. Two photon photoluminescence microscopy of oriented NWs with diameter less than 5 nm as well as the factors controlling the NW growth direction are discussed.
Analyzing Foreign Investors Behavior in the Emerging Stock Market: Evidence from Qatar Stock Market

This paper examines the effect of the foreign investors fund flow into the domestic stock market. We investigated whether foreign investors are only herders or if they have also the ability to push the market up and down. To answer this question, we include investors’ types as an independent factor in Markov-Switching Model used by Hamilton (1989) to examine the asymmetric effect of the foreign investors during the bull and bear states. Empirical results from Qatar Stock Market suggested that foreign institutional traders are only herding in the market and they cannot play the role of the market maker. We have also found that neither foreign investors nor domestic investors have the ability to switch the regime of the market. The time-varying relationship between the various investors’ types has been investigated. We reported that, although the correlation matrixes of the investors’ categories with the market are time-varying, the foreign institutional trader is still the leader of the market during the bull (bear) states of the market. Finally, we proposed some procedures to minimize the harmful of the foreign investors bad trading.
Dietary intake of phytoestrogens, estrogen receptor‐beta polymorphisms and the risk of prostate cancer

The causes of prostate cancer are poorly understood, but genetic factors may be more important than for many other malignancies, and dietary phytoestrogens may be protective. Because phytoestrogens bind tightly to the estrogen receptor‐beta, we conducted an epidemiologic investigation of synergistic effects between phytoestrogen intake and estrogen receptor‐beta gene polymorphisms.
Design FPGA Based Implementation of MIMO Decoding in a 3G / 4G Wireless Receiver

In this paper, we address the implementation of FPGAs of Multi-Input-Multi-Output (MIMO) Decoder embedded in a prototype of 3G / 4G Mobile receiver This MIMO decoder is part of a multi-carrier code division multiple-access (MC-CDMA) radio system, equipped with multiple antennas at both ends of the link that is able to handle up to 32 users and provides raw transmission bit-rates up to 125 Mbps. The task of the MIMO decoder is to appropriately combine the signals simultaneously received on all antennas to construct an improved signal, free from interference, from which to estimate the transmitted symbols. The main motto of this is to design the FPGA based MIMO Decoder. To demonstrate this, MIMO Encoder is also included in this project. The Data links for Two symbol period were established and found that the MIMO decoder outputs follows the MIMO Encoder input. We report results using FPGA devices of the Xilinx family.
Serum Dioxin and Diabetes Mellitus in Veterans of Operation Ranch Hand

We studied diabetes mellitus and glucose and insulin levels in Air Force veterans exposed to Agent Orange and its contaminant, 2,3,7,8‐tetrachlorodibenzo‐p‐dioxin (dioxin), during the Vietnam War. The index subjects of the Air Force's ongoing 20‐year prospective epidemiologic study are veterans of Operation Ranch Hand (N = 989), the unit responsible for aerial herbicide spraying in Vietnam from 1962 to 1971. Other Air Force veterans who served in Southeast Asia during the same period but were not involved with spraying herbicides serve as Comparisons (N = 1,276). The median serum dioxin level in the Ranch Hand group was 12.2 parts per trillion (ppt) (range = 0–617.8 ppt), and the median dioxin level in the Comparison group was 4.0 ppt (range = 0–10 ppt). We found that glucose abnormalities [relative risk = 1.4; 95% confidence limits (CL) = 1.1, 1.8], diabetes prevalence (relative risk = 1.5; 95% CL = 1.2, 2.0), and the use of oral medications to control diabetes (relative risk = 2.3; 95% CL = 1.3, 3.9) increased, whereas time‐to‐diabetes‐onset decreased with dioxin exposure. Serum insulin abnormalities (relative risk = 3.4; 95% CL = 1.9, 6.1) increased with dioxin exposure in nondiabetics. These results indicate an adverse relation between dioxin exposure and diabetes mellitus, glucose metabolism, and insulin production.
Screw loosening of different UCLA-type abutments after mechanical cycling

Aim: To evaluate the loss of applied torque (detorque) values in cast and pre-machined abutments for external hex abutment/implant interface of single implant-supported prostheses subjected to mechanical cycling. Methods: Ten metal crowns were fabricated using two types of UCLA abutments: cast and pre-machined with metal base in NiCrTi alloy and tightened to regular external hex implants with a titanium alloy screw, with an insertion torque of 32 N.cm, measured with a digital torque gauge. Samples were embedded with autopolymerizing acrylic resin in a stainless steel cylindrical matrix, and positioned in an electromechanical machine. Dynamic oblique loading of 120 N was applied during 5 x 10 5 cycles. Then, each sample was removed from the resin and detorque values were measured using the same digital torque gauge. The difference of the initial (torque) and final (detorque) measurement was registered and the results were expressed as percentage of initial torque. The results of torque loss were expressed as percentage of the initial torque and subjected to statistical analysis by the Student’s t-test (p<0.05) for comparisons between the test groups. Results: Statistical analysis demonstrated that mechanical cycling reduced the torque of abutments without significant difference between cast or pre-machined UCLA abutments (p=0.908). Conclusions: Within the limitations of this in vitro study, it may be concluded that the mechanical cycling, corresponding to one-year use, reduced the torque of the samples regardless if cast or pre-machined UCLA abutments were used.
Extracellular Ca2+ Ameliorates NaCl-Induced K+ Loss from Arabidopsis Root and Leaf Cells by Controlling Plasma Membrane K+-Permeable Channels1

Calcium can ameliorate Na+ toxicity in plants by decreasing Na+ influx through nonselective cation channels. Here, we show that elevated external [Ca2+] also inhibits Na+-induced K+ efflux through outwardly directed, K+-permeable channels. Noninvasive ion flux measuring and patch-clamp techniques were used to characterize K+ fluxes from Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) root mature epidermis and leaf mesophyll under various Ca2+ to Na+ ratios. NaCl-induced K+ efflux was not related to the osmotic component of the salt stress, was inhibited by the K+ channel blocker TEA+, was not mediated by inwardly directed K+ channels (tested in the akt1 mutant), and resulted in a significant decrease in cytosolic K+ content. NaCl-induced K+ efflux was partially inhibited by 1 mm Ca2+ and fully prevented by 10 mm Ca2+. This ameliorative effect was at least partially attributed to a less dramatic NaCl-induced membrane depolarization under high Ca2+ conditions. Patch-clamp experiments (whole-cell mode) have demonstrated that two populations of Ca2+-sensitive K+ efflux channels exist in protoplasts isolated from the mature epidermis of Arabidopsis root and leaf mesophyll cells. The instantaneously activating K+ efflux channels showed weak voltage dependence and insensitivity to external and internal Na+. Another population of K+ efflux channels was slowly activating, steeply rectifying, and highly sensitive to Na+. K+ efflux channels in roots and leaves showed different Ca2+ and Na+ sensitivities, suggesting that these organs may employ different strategies to withstand salinity. Our results suggest an additional mechanism of Ca2+ action on salt toxicity in plants: the amelioration of K+ loss from the cell by regulating (both directly and indirectly) K+ efflux channels.
The not so invisible market barriers: Macao case.

iii Resumo . iv Abbreviations . v Index . vi Table Index . viii Figure Index . viii 1 – Introduction . 1 2 – Literature Review . 4 2.1 Distance . 4 2.2 CAGE Distance Framework . 4 2.2.1 Four Dimensions of Distance . 5 2.3 Psychic and Cultural Distance . 8 2.3.1 Context . 13 2.3.2 Time . 14 2.3.3 Language of Agreements . 16 2.4 Conclusion . 24 3 – Methodology . 25 3.1 Qualitative Approach . 25 3.2 Systematic Combining . 26 3.3 Sample . 27 3.4 Data Procedure. 30 3.5 Conclusion . 31 4 – Empirical Framework . 32 4.1 Conclusion . 43 5 – Findings . 44 5.1 Findings presentation . 44 5.2 Findings Discussion . 51 5.3 Conclusion . 66
Response of the Financial Markets to the European Central Bank’s Policy Announcements during the Subprime and Global Financial Crisis

This paper surveys evidence of the impact of macroeconomic and financial sector policy announcements in the euro area during the recent crisis on interbank credit and liquidity risk premia. Evidence suggests that interest rates cuts, fiscal stimulus and recapitalization measures were effective in calming the distressed financial markets as measured by reduction of the Libor–OIS spread. However, decisions not to reduce interest rates as well as ad hoc bank bailouts widened the Libor–OIS spread thus increased stress in the financial markets. Liquidity support announcements were initially effective, as measured by the reduction in the Libor-OIS spread, but lost significance as the crisis worsened. Both announcements of capital injections and guarantees on bank liabilities were effective in reducing credit risk in the euro area. The results of the event study further illustrate that the short-term impact of interventions depended on the particular circumstances that prevailed during each phase of the crisis.
Currency Crashes, Tail Risk and Contingent Capital

This thesis studies currency crashes and risk premia from the perspective of options, as well as the pricing of Contingent Convertible Bonds (CoCo). In the first part, we set up an arbitrage-free time-changed Lévy model inspired by Carr and Wu (2004) which generates yield curves and exchange rate dynamics consistent with currency option prices in G10 countries. In this framework, we investigate the pricing of cross-pair G10 currency options, and construct estimates of conditional currency risk premia at each point in time in our sample from January 1999 to June 2012. We discover the option-implied currency risk premia are not distinguishable from their realized counterpart, suggesting the realized returns do not suffer from peso problems. We also decompose the total risk premium into their contributions from variance and higher order cumulants, and discover the higher cumulants’ contribution merely represents 15% of the total risk premium. In the second part, we study a typical hybrid instrument (CoCo) designed to relieve banks from the pressure of raising new capital during crisis periods. CoCos convert into equities upon a contractual trigger event, and are exposed to different sources of risk: interest rate risk, equity risk and conversion risk. We develop a general framework for their pricing and hedging that can be specified in different ways. We focus on reduced-form and structural models driven by a finite-dimensional Markov process. But both allow to price CoCos and calculate dynamic hedging strategies with holdings in related instruments such as fixed income products, the issuing company’s stock and credit default swaps. We conclude the the study of CoCo’s with a discussion on several issues in its design using the framework of Leland’s model (1996).
Application of transformation electromagnetics concept to delocalize emissions

The emission of a radiating source is virtually delocalized through the use of transformation electromagnetics concept. The electromagnetic device able to perform such a transformation is obtained by a space compression followed by a space expansion. Moreover, the radiation pattern of the virtual source can be modified such that an omnidirectional radiation can be changed into a directive one. Theoretical formulations are presented and full wave numerical simulations are performed to present the approach.
Program slicing for hierarchical test generation

Sequential Automatic Test Pattern Generation (ATPG) is extremely computation intensive and produces good results only on relatively small designs. This paper develops an elegant theoretical basis, based on program slicing, for hierarchical ATPG which targets one module at a time and abstracts the rest of the design. The technique for obtaining a "constraint slice" for each embedded Module Under Test (MUT) within a design is described in detail. The technique has been incorporated in an automated tool for designs described in Verilog, and results on large benchmark circuits show the significant benefits of the approach.