Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Do Gravid Females Become Selfish? Female Allocation of Energy during Gestation

Net energy availability depends on plasma corticosterone concentrations, food availability, and their interaction. Limited net energy availability requires energy trade-offs between self-maintenance and reproduction. This is important in matrotrophic viviparous animals because they provide large amounts of energy for embryos, as well as self-maintenance, for the extended period of time during gestation. In addition, gravid females may transmit environmental information to the embryos in order to adjust offspring phenotype. We investigated effects of variation in maternal plasma corticosterone concentration and maternal food availability (2 × 2 factorial design) during gestation on offspring phenotype in a matrotrophic viviparous lizard (Pseudemoia entrecasteauxii). Subsequently, we tested preadaptation of offspring phenotype to their postnatal environment by measuring risk-averse behavior and growth rate using reciprocal transplant experiments. We found that maternal net energy availability affected postpartum maternal body condition, offspring snout-vent length, offspring mass, offspring performance ability, and offspring fat reserves. Females treated with corticosterone allocated large amounts of energy to their own body condition, and their embryos allocated more energy to energy reserves than somatic growth. Further, offspring from females in high plasma corticosterone concentration showed compensatory growth. These findings suggest that while females may be selfish when gestation conditions are stressful, the embryos may adjust their phenotype to cope with the postnatal environment.
The Impact of the Environment upon the Spatial Distribution of Population and Land Values

The associated utility functions may be thought of as being defined in terms of nonspatial and spatial characteristics. The spatial characteristics refer in most cases to space abundance and accessibility. This is implicit in Hochman and Pines [5] and Muth [8], and explicit in Alonso [1], Beckmann [2], Casetti [3], and Walter [11]. A variant is found in Casetti and Papageorgiou [4] and Niedercorn [9] where leisure replaces accessibility: other things being equal, people seek locations of high accessibility because they prefer more rather than less leisure.
Basis of monitoring central blood pressure and hemodynamic parameters by peripheral arterial pulse waveform analyses

In hypertension clinics, central blood pressure (CBP) should be estimated, instead of directly measured, by the “signal processing” of a noninvasive peripheral pressure waveform. This paper deals with the data obtained in our three separate studies focusing on a major estimation method, i.e., radial artery late systolic shoulder pressure (rSBP2)-based CBP estimation. Study 1: Using a wave separation analysis of precise animal data of pressure wave transmission along the upper-limb arteries, we first demonstrate that pulse pressure amplification is largely attributable to local wave reflection alone. Study 2: A frequency component analysis of simultaneously recorded human central and radial artery pressure waveforms showed a predominance of lower (1st+2nd) harmonic components in determining the central augmentation peak amplitude. The features of a central pressure waveform, including its phase property, may contribute to the less-altered transmission of augmentation peak pressure to rSBP2. Study 3: Comparisons of noninvasive rSBP2 with direct or estimated central systolic blood pressure (cSBP) revealed broad agreement but also augmentation-dependent biases. Based on the features of the biases as well as the counterbalanced relationship between pulse pressure amplification and the transmission-induced alterations of augmentation peak amplitude observed in Study 2, we propose an improved cSBP estimate, SBPm, the simple arithmetic mean of rSBP2 and peripheral systolic blood pressure.
High-throughput enzyme-linked immunoabsorbant assay (ELISA) electrochemiluminescent detection of botulinum toxins in foods for food safety and defence purposes

Clostridum species produce seven serotypes (A–G) of botulinum toxin, four of which (A, B, E, and F) are normally associated with human illness. To date, the most reliable test for botulinum toxin is the mouse bioassay. The authors’ laboratory has been exploring the use of an antibody-based assay similar to an enzyme-linked immunoabsorbant assay (ELISA) but utilizing electrochemiluminescent technology (BioVerify® assay) as an alternative to the mouse bioassay for testing food samples. The detection limit of this assay is as low as 10 ng g−1 depending on the food matrix and the serotype detected. Detection of botulinum toxin between 10 and 200 ng g−1 is a linear curve allowing for the possibility of performing quantitative as well as qualitative testing of samples. The ease of the assay, limited sample preparation, and low detection limit make the BioVerify assay and instrument an excellent, high-throughput option for detecting botulinum toxins in food matrices.
Trop‐2 inhibits prostate cancer cell adhesion to fibronectin through the β1 integrin‐RACK1 axis

Trop‐2 is a transmembrane glycoprotein upregulated in several human carcinomas, including prostate cancer (PrCa). Trop‐2 has been suggested to regulate cell–cell adhesion, given its high homology with the other member of the Trop family, Trop‐1/EpCAM, and its ability to bind the tight junction proteins claudin‐1 and claudin‐7. However, a role for Trop‐2 in cell adhesion to the extracellular matrix has never been postulated. Here, we show for the first time that Trop‐2 expression in PrCa cells correlates with their aggressiveness. Using either shRNA‐mediated silencing of Trop‐2 in cells that endogenously express it, or ectopic expression of Trop‐2 in cells that do not express it, we show that Trop‐2 inhibits PrCa cell adhesion to fibronectin (FN). In contrast, expression of another transmembrane receptor, αvβ5 integrin, does not affect cell adhesion to this ligand. We find that Trop‐2 does not modulate either protein or activation levels of the prominent FN receptors, β1 integrins, but acts through increasing β1 association with the adaptor molecule RACK1 and redistribution of RACK1 to the cell membrane. As a result of Trop‐2 expression, we also observe activation of Src and FAK, known to occur upon β1‐RACK1 interaction. These enhanced Src and FAK activities are not mediated by changes in either the activity of IGF‐IR, which is known to bind RACK1, or IGF‐IR's ability to associate with β1 integrins. In summary, our data demonstrate that the transmembrane receptor Trop‐2 is a regulator of PrCa cell adhesion to FN through activation of the β1 integrin‐RACK1‐FAK‐Src signaling axis. J. Cell. Physiol. 227: 3670–3677, 2012. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Outdoor air pollution and uncontrolled asthma in the San Joaquin Valley, California

Background The San Joaquin Valley (SJV) in California ranks among the worst in the USA in terms of air quality, and its residents report some of the highest rates of asthma symptoms and asthma-related emergency department (ED) visits and hospitalisations in California. Using California Health Interview Survey data, the authors examined associations between air pollution and asthma morbidity in this region. Methods Eligible subjects were SJV residents (2001 California Health Interview Survey) who reported physician-diagnosed asthma (n=1502, 14.6%). The authors considered two outcomes indicative of uncontrolled asthma: (1) daily or weekly asthma symptoms and (2) asthma-related ED visits or hospitalisation in the past year. Based on residential zip code, subjects were assigned annual average concentrations of ozone, PM10 and PM2.5 for the 1-year period prior to the interview date from their closest government air monitoring station within an 8 km (5 miles) radius. Results Adjusting for age, gender, race/ethnicity, poverty level and insurance status, the authors observed increased odds of experiencing daily or weekly asthma symptoms for ozone, PM10 and PM2.5 (ORozone 1.23, 95% CI 0.94 to 1.60 per 10 ppb; ORPM10 1.29, 95% CI 1.05 to 1.57 per 10 μg/m3; and ORPM2.5 1.82; 95% CI 1.11 to 2.98 per 10 μg/m3). The authors also observed increased odds of asthma-related ED visits or hospitalisations for ozone (OR 1.49, 95% CI 1.05 to 2.11 per 10 ppb) and a 29% increase in odds for PM10 (OR 1.29, 95% CI 0.99 to 1.69 per 10 μg/m3). Conclusions Overall, these findings suggest that individuals with asthma living in areas of the SJV with high ozone and particulate pollution levels are more likely to have frequent asthma symptoms and asthma-related ED visits and hospitalisations.
Cyclic adenosine 5'-monophosphate in Escherichia coli.

INTRODUCTION . ROLE OF CYCLIC AMP IN REGULATION OF GENE EXPRESSION . A Positive Element in Gene Expression . CRP . :. Direct stimulation of gene expression . Possible Role As a Negative Element . Does Cyclic AMP Rave Other Actions in E. co . OPERON ACTIVATION BY CYCLIC AMP . Genetic analysis of the lac promoter . CONTROL OF CYCLIC AMP LEVELS . Adenylate Cyclase . Cyclic AMP Phosphodiesterase . Cyclic AMP Release . Rate of Cyclic AMP Synthesis . CYCLIC AMP RECEPTOR PROTEIN . Physical properties of CRP . Cyclic AMP binding . Promoter-specific DNAbinding. Effects of cyclic AMP on CRP structure . CYCLIC AMP AND BACTERIOPHAGE A . CYCLIC GMP . CONCLUSION . LITERATURE CITED .
Full-Chip Power Supply Noise Time-Domain Numerical Modeling and Analysis for Single and Stacked ICs

In this paper, a distributed circuit model for on-die power distribution network in single and 3-D ICs is developed, and a set of difference equations are derived based on the circuit model and numerically solved using the finite-difference method. Both IR-drop and simultaneous switching noise, two components of power supply noise (PSN), are iteratively solved in time domain, thereby enabling a transient analysis of PSN. Under the assumptions that on-die power/ground pads, power density, and decoupling capacitors are uniformly distributed, PSN within a unit cell is accurately simulated with <;1% error compared with HSPICE simulation. By reducing modeling grid fineness, the numerical modeling approach is applied to a full chip that has multiple blocks with nonuniform power/ground pads, power density, and decoupling capacitance density. Based on full-chip modeling, the PSN distribution of a two-die stack is simulated, and the impact of increasing decoupling capacitance and power/ground pads is investigated.
A Novel Method Utilizing Trapezoidal Voltage to Compensate for Inverter Nonlinearity

The nonlinearity of an inverter could be regarded as the output distortions of the inverter. In this paper, voltages in a trapezoidal form were utilized to compensate for the nonlinearity of an inverter. Undesirable harmonic distortions in the overall system were mitigated through the modulating shape of the trapezoidal voltage. For trapezoidal modulation, a dedicated modulator was designed to facilitate adaptive compensation for a wide operating range. The compensation effects from the proposed method were examined in a practical system, in which a permanent magnet synchronous motor (PMSM) was driven without any position sensor. Additionally, it was shown that the proposed method could enhance the sensorless control of the PMSM by reducing the output distortions of the inverter.
Revascularization End Points in Stroke Interventional Trials: Recanalization Versus Reperfusion in IMS-I

Background and Purpose— The acute stroke literature lacks a standard convention regarding the critical end point of revascularization. Two distinct parameters may be clinically important: (1) recanalization of the primary arterial occlusive lesion (AOL) and (2) global reperfusion of the distal vascular bed. We sought to determine their relationship in the Interventional Management of Stroke (IMS) Phase I trial of combined intravenous (IV) and intraarterial (IA) recombinant tissue plasminogen activator. Methods— Sixty-one angiograms were reanalyzed using recanalization and reperfusion scores. The AOL Score was defined as: 0=no recanalization of the primary occlusion, I=incomplete or partial recanalization of the primary occlusion with no distal flow, II=incomplete or partial recanalization of the primary occlusion with distal flow, or III=complete recanalization of the primary occlusion with distal flow. The Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction (TIMI) Score was defined as: 0=no perfusion, 1=perfusion past the initial occlusion but no distal branch filling, 2=perfusion and incomplete or slow distal branch filling, or 3=full perfusion with filling of all distal branches. We compared the 2 scores with one another and with good clinical outcome (modified Rankin Score zero to 2). Results— AOL and TIMI scores showed modest agreement (kappa, 0.30; confidence interval, 0.16 to 0.44). Good clinical outcome was seen in 49% of patients with AOL II/III scores (P=0.055) and 54% with TIMI 2/3 scores (P=0.019). The 2 methods did not significantly differ in predicting outcome (P=0.13). Conclusions— AOL recanalization and TIMI reperfusion scores comparably predict clinical outcome in this treatment paradigm. Other modalities may show different relationships between these 2 revascularization end points. Future studies should distinguish between these parameters semantically and methodologically.
Postoperative adhesion prevention in gynecologic surgery with hyaluronic acid.

UNLABELLED Despite improvements in surgical instrumentation and techniques, adhesions continue to form after most procedures. Peritoneal adhesions develop in 60-90% of women who undergo major gynecological operations. This adhesion formation causes significant postoperative morbidity such as bowel obstruction (65%), infertility (15-20%), and chronic pelvic pain (40%). OBJECTIVE To demonstrate the efficacy of a hyaluronic acid product (Hyalobarrier Gel) for the prevention of adhesions in gynecological surgery. MATERIALS AND METHODS From October 2000 to July 2002, 18 women from 26 to 41 years old (mean age 33.66) underwent myomectomy via laparotomy as their first abdominal operation. Between August 2001 and May 2003, the patients underwent a second-look laparoscopy (7 women, 38.9%, 15 sites, 42.8%) or a second-look laparotomy (11 women, 61.1%, 20 sites, 57.1%) during which all the 35 sites corresponding to the previous myomectomies were analyzed. During the second-look procedure the presence, localization and severity of adhesions were evaluated using the Operative Laparoscopy Study Group Classification (OLSG) and American Fertility Society Classification (AFSC). RESULTS All patients underwent a second-look laparoscopy/laparotomy and only five of 18 (27.7%) showed pelvic adhesions in seven sites (20%) of previous myomectomies. No adhesion was found on the previous sites of myomectomies of pedunculated leiomyomas so, excluding those, adhesions were found in seven of 29 sites of myomectomies (24.1%). CONCLUSIONS The present study emphasizes the need for improved treatments to prevent adhesions, as there is no doubt that adhesions represent one of the major causes of female morbidity.
ANALISIS KONTRAK BERJANGKA OLEIN DI BURSA BERJANGKA JAKARTA

Study about efficient market hypothesis is a common object for many financial researchers. Nevertheless, there are still limited studies about futures contract market particularly in the emerging market. The purposes of this study were to test the weak form efficiency of the Olein futures contract in the Jakarta Futures Exchange and to seek factors that can affect the fluctuation of Olein futures contract price. ARIMA and GARCH models were used as the basis for the analyses. Results of the study indicated that using weekly data, the weak form efficient market (random walk) hypothesis was rejected for the Olein futures contract in the Jakarta Futures Exchange, meaning that the market was in efficient.This implies that some one will be able to outperform the market using technical analysis for predicting future price changes. Furthermore, using monthly data, the fluctuation of Olein futures contract returnis influenced significantly by interest rate, exchange rate and CPO price.
Young startup firm exports and productive efficiency

ABSTRACT We employ the United States Census Bureau’s 2007 Survey of Business Owners to examine the relationship between the productive efficiency of startup firms and their level of exports. We find, consistent with previous work in the literature, that a small firm’s exports are positively related to their level of productive efficiency. This result holds after controlling for various individual owner, as well as firm, characteristics. Our results are also robust to the inclusion of a two-stage estimation strategy to control for the effects of endogeneity in the efficiency–exports relationship.
Cardiac abnormalities among chronic hemodialysis patients

Objective:The annual mortality of cardiovascular diseases of dialysis patients is higher than the general population. The trancthoracic echocardiography allows the evaluation of the heart structure and function within the trated patients by hemodialysis in order to identify patients with cardiovascular high risk. Methods: This work is a descriptive retrospective study. The objective is to determine the major cardiac abnormalities diagnosed with echocardiography in patients with chronic hemodialysis and to list their epidemiological, clinical and biological characteristics at the time of the study. Results: The average age of our patients is of 50.2 ± 7 years with an average hemodialysis endurance of 12.1± 2.4 years. The main etiologies of the chronic renal failure were essentially the diabete type 2, the arterial hypertension and chronic nephritis tubule-interstitial. The most cardiac abnormalities was the left ventricular hypertrophy. The presence of a systolic or diastolic arterial hypertension has been noted as a significant factor fostering the LVH within the chronic hemodialysis (p=0.002). The anemia is not said to be associated to the development of the left ventricular hypertrophy(p=0.09). Conclusions: This study revealed the etiology leading to chronic renal failure insufficiency. Echocardiography accurately diagnosed cardiac abnormalities such as left ventricular hypertrophy. The study allowed to detect the factors involved in the development of this HVG especialy systolic arterial hypertension. This result permit us to act on these factors in order to prevent the cardiovascular events to which hemodialysis patients will be exposed
IMPORTANCE OF DESIGN IN ARCHITECTURE FOR POSITIONING HOTELS ON TOURISM MARKET

SAŽETAK: Dizajn u arhitekturi oduvijek ima značajnu ulogu u sustavu turizma, a osobito u djelatnosti hotelijerstva gdje postaje jedan od ključnih čimbenika u pozicioniranju hotela te u znatnoj mjeri utječe na njegove poslovne performanse. Suvremeni gosti traže više od lokacije i osnovnih usluga koje hotel pruža, a do izražaja posebno dolazi njegov prepoznatljiv stil, personalizirani pristup, specifi čnost oblikovanja i cjelokupna atmosfera prostora na što arhitektura i dizajn imaju izravan utjecaj. U radu se posebno ističe važnost suodnosa arhitekture i okoliša te se analiziraju relevantni trendovi na turističkom tržištu, osobito olfaktorni marketing kao jedan od istaknutih trendova u marketinškom pozicioniranju. Sveprisutni eko trendovi ogledaju se u arhitekturi koja uvažava načela održivog razvoja. Kako bi se istražila percepcija važnosti arhitekture i dizajna za pozicioniranje hotela na turističkom tržištu, njihov doprinos prepoznatljivosti destinacije u kojoj se hotel nalazi, ali i nedostaci primjene suvremenih trendova u hotelskoj arhitekturi i dizajnu, provedeno je istraživanje na uzorku najznačajnijih arhitekata s iskustvom u hotelskim projektima te direktorima istih hotela. KLJUČNE RIJEČI: hotelijerstvo, dizajn u arhitekturi, suvremeni trendovi, Hrvatska
NONADAPTIVE PROCESSES CAN CREATE THE APPEARANCE OF FACULTATIVE CHEATING IN MICROBES

Adaptations to social life may take the form of facultative cheating, in which organisms cooperate with genetically similar individuals but exploit others. Consistent with this possibility, many strains of social microbes like Myxococcus bacteria and Dictyostelium amoebae have equal fitness in single‐genotype social groups but outcompete other strains in mixed‐genotype groups. Here we show that these observations are also consistent with an alternative, nonadaptive scenario: kin selection‐mutation balance under local competition. Using simple mathematical models, we show that deleterious mutations that reduce competitiveness within social groups (growth rate, e.g.) without affecting group productivity can create fitness effects that are only expressed in the presence of other strains. In Myxococcus, mutations that delay sporulation may strongly reduce developmental competitiveness. Deleterious mutations are expected to accumulate when high levels of kin selection relatedness relax selection within groups. Interestingly, local resource competition can create nonzero “cost” and “benefit” terms in Hamilton's rule even in the absence of any cooperative trait. Our results show how deleterious mutations can play a significant role even in organisms with large populations and highlight the need to test evolutionary causes of social competition among microbes.
Study of breakdown inside a supercritical fluid plasma switch

Supercritical fluid (SCF), characterized by high pressure and high density, combines the advantage of gas and liquid: high ability of mass transfer (dense, high diffusivity and low viscosity) and high heat transfer (high heat conductivity). Research on discharge behavior of SCF in high electrical field is more recent and less common, and is also motivated by new environmental and economical reasons. SCF has high potential in high power switching area, and is proposed to be the alternative for high voltage switching media, owing to its distinguished advantage of high breakdown strength, fast dielectric recovery, and low impact to environment. In conventional circuit breakers, SCF would be the perfect substitute medium for SF6, which is a powerful greenhouse gas and after use is highly toxic. In this work, the design of a versatile SC switch up to 200 bar with adjustable heavy duty electrodes, and imbedded current and voltage sensor is briefly introduced. The SCF supply (adjustable flow rate from 5-700 Liter/h) and repetitive pulse voltage source (30 kV peak value, up to 1kHz repetition rate) enable measurement of breakdown voltage and breakdown delay time inside SC nitrogen, corresponding to variations of parameters such as voltage repetition rate, gap width and gas flow rate through the gap. Via a simultaneous triggering system, breakdown inside a SC nitrogen switch is pictured by a sub-nanosecond fast CCD camera, providing space and time parameters for theoretical analysis of breakdown and subsequent dielectric recovery inside a SCF.
Finite-Time Distributed Linear Equation Solver for Minimum $l_1$ Norm Solutions

This paper proposes distributed algorithms for multi-agent networks to achieve a solution in finite time to a linear equation $Ax=b$ where $A$ has full row rank, and with the minimum $l_1$-norm in the underdetermined case (where $A$ has more columns than rows). The underlying network is assumed to be undirected and fixed, and an analytical proof is provided for the proposed algorithm to drive all agents' individual states to converge to a common value, viz a solution of $Ax=b$, which is the minimum $l_1$-norm solution in the underdetermined case. Numerical simulations are also provided as validation of the proposed algorithms.