Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The complete sequence of mitochondrial genome of Siberian accentor (Prunella montanella)

Abstract The Siberian accentor, Prunella montanella (Passeriformes, Prunellidae), is a small passerine bird. In this study, the complete mitochondrial genome sequence of Siberian accentor was determined. It has a total length of 16 832 bp, and contains 13 protein coding genes, 22 tRNA genes, two ribosome RNA genes, and one control region. The nucleotide composition is 30.1% for A, 31.0% for C, 15.0% for G and 23.9% for T, respectively. The overall GC content is lower than AT. The phylogenetic tree of Siberian accentor and 10 other species belonging to order Passeriformes was built. The DNA data presented here will be useful to study the evolutionary relationships and genetic diversity of Siberian accentors.
In vivo cytokine gene expression in T cell subsets of the autoimmune MRL/Mp‐lpr/lpr mouse

Expression of cytokine genes in freshly isolated T cell subsets in the autoimmune lpr mouse has been studied to determine what factors may be produced by these cells in vivo. RNA prepared from T cell subsets from diseased lpr mice and from the normal congenic strain, MRL/n, was tested for the presence of cytokine‐specific message using the polymerase chain reaction. Cells of the expanded abnormal T cell subset were shown to express genes encoding interferon (IFN)‐γ, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)‐β,TNF‐α and interleukin (IL) 6, cytokines which are associated with inflammatory immune responses. These cells may thus play an important role in exacerbation of the pathological symptoms of the systemic autoimmune disease. These cells expressed no detectable IL 1, IL 2, IL 3, IL 4 or IL 5. Phenotypically normal CD4+ and CD8+T cells from both lpr and MRL/n also contained transcripts for IFN‐γ, TNF‐α, TNF‐β and IL 6. IL 2 mRNA was found almost exclusively in the CD4+ subset, indicating that the CD8+ T cells in the lpr mouse are not highly activated through their class I major histocompatibility complex molecules to produce IL 2, as could occur if a virus infection was inducing autoimmunity in these mice. Similar levels of IL 2 mRNA were present in the CD4+ T cells of lpr and MRL/n mice, demonstrating that these cells are not defective in IL 2 production in vivo.
e-Agriculture revisited: A systematic Literature Review of Theories, Concept, practices, methods, and future trends.

Agriculture is one of the dominant fields that shape the socioeconomic development of any country. Technological advancements and innovations served as tools to share knowledge and practices of agricultural activities and make better lives for farmers, traders, policy makers, and the overall society. It is evident that Knowledge has become a very important factor in production, food security, education, poverty alleviation, and other millennium development goals. This paper, points out the a gap on how the existing body of knowledge about e-agriculture is built in terms of research policies, theorization, methodological tools, success/failure, and future trends. Aiming to fill this gap, our paper offers a systematic review of the e-agriculture literature based on Heeks (2006) that help understanding the linkages between the needs assessment, adoption of ICT in agricultural value chains, outreach/limitations of ICT in agricultural, diffusion of e-agricultural applications, and the impact of these technological innovations on the society.
Flagellin of Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli Stimulates Interleukin-8 Production in T84 Cells

ABSTRACT The type III secretion system (TTSS) of enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC) has been associated with the ability of these bacteria to induce secretion of proinflammatory cytokines, including interleukin-8 (IL-8), in cultured epithelial cells. However, the identity of the effector molecule directly involved in this event is unknown. In this study, we determined that the native flagellar filament and its flagellin monomer are activators of IL-8 release in T84 epithelial cells. Supernatants of wild-type EPEC strain E2348/69 and its isogenic mutants deficient in TTSS (escN) and in production of intimin (eae), grown in Luria-Bertani broth, elicited similar amounts of IL-8 secretion by T84 cells. In contrast, supernatants of EPEC fliC mutants and of B171, a nonflagellated EPEC strain, were defective in inducing IL-8 release, a phenotype that was largely restored by complementation of the fliC gene in the mutant lacking flagella. Purified flagella from E. coli K-12, EPEC serotypes H6 and H34, and enterohemorrhagic E. coli serotype H7 all induced IL-8 release in T84 cells. Induction of IL-8 by purified flagella or His-tagged FliC from EPEC strain E2348/69 was dose dependent and was blocked by a polyclonal anti-H6 antibody. Finally, the mitogen-activated protein kinases (Erk1 and -2 and Jnk) were phosphorylated in flagellin-treated T84 cells, and inhibition of the p38 and Erk pathways significantly decreased the IL-8 response induced by EPEC flagellin. Our data clearly indicate that FliC of EPEC is sufficient to induce IL-8 release in T84 cells and that activation of the Erk and p38 pathways is required for IL-8 induction.
Low-Leakage Tetragonal ZrO2 (EOT < 1 nm) With In Situ Plasma Interfacial Passivation on Germanium

We successfully fabricated gate stacks (ZrO2/GeOx/Ge) with a subnanometer equivalent oxide thickness (EOT) and low-leakage current on n-/p-Ge through plasma-enhanced atomic layer deposition (ALD). A 0.78-nmthick GeOx was formed through plasma oxidation (i.e., in situ plasma interfacial passivation, followed by 3.48-nm-thick ZrO2 growth in the same ALD reactor). A subnanometer EOT of N0.9 nm was achieved with a relatively high dielectric constant (roughly 30) of tetragonal-phase ZrO2. The gate leakage was N1 x 10-4 A/cm2 at VFB - 1 V, and roughly 5 x 10-5 A/cm2 at VFB t 1 V on pand n-type Ge, respectively. Our ZrO2 stabilized in the tetragonal phase, when the post-deposition annealing temperature, was higher than 500 °C. Therefore, the proposed scheme is simple and effective for use in pursuing an ultralow EOT gate dielectric on Ge.
Design Criteria Based on Modal Analysis for Vibration Sensing of Thin-Wall Plate Machining

Machining complex thin-wall components, such as casings and compressor disks in aircraft engines, is a challenging task because continuous deformation and vibration renders poor precision and quality in final products. However, monitoring workpiece vibration is hindered by harsh working conditions like cutting fluids, not to mention investigation into the vibration principle during cutting. In order to establish criteria for designing noncontact sensors to monitor workpiece vibration, this study presents a plate dynamic model along with experimentally identified damping ratios for an annular workpiece under constraints emulating those of a duplex turning machine. Formulated as a dimensionless boundary value problem, the solutions that have been numerically verified with finite element analysis provide a rational basis for identifying key cutting process parameters and quantifying their effects on thin-wall component vibration sensing. With a detailed modal analysis, the dynamic model provides a simple yet practical method for vibration measurements using an eddy-current sensing approach. Experiments were carried out to justify the proposed method, validate the stability of eddy-current sensing under the harsh cutting condition, and investigate the effect of sensor placement on sensing configuration design.
Intrinsic directionality of migrating vascular smooth muscle cells is regulated by NAD+ biosynthesis

Summary Cell migration is central to tissue repair and regeneration but must proceed with precise directionality to be productive. Directional migration requires external cues but also depends on the extent to which cells can inherently maintain their direction of crawling. We report that the NAD+ biosynthetic enzyme, nicotinamide phosphoribosyltransferase (Nampt/PBEF/visfatin), mediates directionally persistent migration of vascular smooth muscle cells (SMCs). Time-lapse microscopy of human SMCs subjected to Nampt inhibition revealed chaotic motility whereas SMCs transduced with the Nampt gene displayed highly linear migration paths. Ordered motility conferred by Nampt was associated with downsizing of the lamellipodium, reduced lamellipodium wandering around the cell perimeter, and increased lamellipodial protrusion rates. These protrusive and polarity-stabilizing effects also enabled spreading SMCs to undergo bipolar elongation to an extent not typically observed in vitro. Nampt was found to localize to lamellipodia and fluorescence recovery of Nampt–eGFP after photobleaching revealed microtubule-dependent transport of Nampt to the leading edge. In addition, Nampt was found to associate with, and activate, Cdc42, and Nampt-driven directional persistence and lamellipodium anchoring required Cdc42. We conclude that high-fidelity SMC motility is coordinated by a Nampt–Cdc42 axis that yields protrusive but small and anchored lamellipodia. This novel, NAD+-synthesis-dependent control over motility may be crucial for efficient repair and regeneration of the vasculature, and possibly other tissues.
Forecasting Inflation Expectations from the CESifo World Economic Survey: An Empirical Application in Inflation Targeting

The purpose of this paper is twofold. First, we evaluate the responses to the questions on inflation expectations in the World Economic Survey for sixteen inflation targeting countries. Second, we compare inflation expectation forecasts across countries by using a two-step approach that selects the most accurate linear or non-linear forecasting method for each country. Then, using Self Organizing Maps, we cluster the inflation expectations, setting June 2014 as a benchmark. At this time there was a sharp decline in oil prices and by analyzing inflation expectations in the context of this price change, we can discriminate between countries that anticipated the oil shock smoothly and those that had to significantly adjust their expectations. Our main findings from the in-sample comparison of the WES surveys suggest that expert forecasts of inflation expectations are systematically distorted in 83 percent of the countries in the sample. On the other hand, our out of sample forecast analysis indicates that Non-linear Artificial Neural Networks combined with Bayesian regularization outperform ARIMA linear models for longer forecasting horizons. This holds true for countries with both soft and brisk changes of expectations. However, when forecasting one step ahead, the performance between the two methods is similar.
Clinical validation of SPECT and CT/MRI image registration in radiolabeled monoclonal antibody studies of colorectal carcinoma.

UNLABELLED Registration methods combine the anatomic localizing ability of CT or MRI with SPECT images of radiolabeled monoclonal antibodies (Mabs), allowing the accurate staging of patients prior to surgery or following treatment. METHODS Twenty-four patients (15 males and 9 females, mean age 55 yr, range 29-70 yr) were studied with this technique. Ten patients had suspected colorectal cancer recurrence and were infused with 10 mCi of 131I-CC49 prior to staging laparotomy. Fourteen patients treated in a Phase I radioimmunotherapy study with 131I-CC49 were also studied. All patients underwent SPECT imaging of the abdomen and pelvis 5-7 days following infusion of Mab. RESULTS Phantom studies demonstrated a 3.6-mm surface fitting mean accuracy of datasets for the liver and 1.8 mm for an intrahepatic tumor. In the presurgical group, SPECT and CT/MRI registration allowed more accurate identification of uptake abnormal sites. Areas of metastatic disease > 1 cm confirmed at surgery were found in six of nine patients with liver lesions and in two patients with extrahepatic (including one patient with pelvic) disease. In patients imaged following radioimmunotherapy, all lesions > 1.5 cm seen on CT/MRI were identified, and activity distribution in tumor and normal tissue could be more accurately assessed. CONCLUSIONS Routine registration of SPECT and CT/MRI images is feasible and allows more accurate anatomic assessment of sites of abnormal uptake in radiolabeled Mab studies.
The largest financial groups from emerging economies

Purpose Numerous articles contain recommendations as to how emerging countries can attract foreign direct investment on terms that are beneficial to both the investing firm and the host society but very few explore the conditions for firms from emerging countries to invest abroad. The purpose of this paper is twofold: the first is the documentation of the preferred locations of foreign affiliates for the largest financial groups headquartered in emerging countries; and, second, is to identify some of the determinants associated with the location-specific advantages of these host countries. Design/methodology/approach The analysis of the internationalization process of these groups is based on a list of top financial groups ranked by total assets. In the empirical section, the factors that explain the choice of these locations by multinational firms are categorized as resources seeking, market seeking, efficiency-seeking variables and cultural variables. Findings There is empirical evidence that institutions prefer to invest in foreign locations that minimize some dimensions of the culture. Other factors like the role of efficiency variables, i.e. trade efficiency, political risk and government effectiveness, in host countries also have a strong impact on the determinants of the internationalization process. Originality/value The paper puts forward a framework for analyzing determinants of foreign direct investment of multinational financial groups from emerging economies.
Learning by Doing: The First Spanish Nuclear Plant

This article has been published in a revised form in Business History Review, 92 (Spring 2018): 29–55, https://doi.org/10.1017/S0007680518000053. This version is free to view and download for private research and study only. Not for re-distribution, re-sale or use in derivative works. © The President and Fellows of Harvard College 2018.
Channel-Adaptive Packet Scheduler for Retransmission-Based Peer-to-Peer Stored-Video Streaming

This paper describes a channel-adaptive packet scheduler for improved error-control performance in a peer-to-peer-like distributed-media streaming system. The proposed packet-scheduling algorithm was designed for the case where streaming-server peers rely on an error recovery strategy using retransmission and application layer automatic repeat request (ARQ) rather then error protection to avoid overburdening the network resources of each server peer. To achieve channel-adaptive packet scheduling, streaming clients continue to investigate the status of each channel from multiple server peers for each group of pictures (GoP). The packet-scheduling map for the GoP that can maximize the retransmission opportunity and reduce the frame loss ratio is generated using the observed channel status from each server peer. Simulation results show that the proposed algorithm enhances error recovery performance in distributed stored-video streaming better than other schedulers.
Economics and Antitrust Enforcement: The Last 25 Years

Abstract Economics has reshaped antitrust enforcement over the last quarter century. Its impact has been most dramatic in merger analysis, with the shift toward unilateral effects theories and away from market concentration-related theories of collusion. Progress on both the theoretical and empirical fronts has also changed enforcement priors and competitive analyses concerning vertical restraints and monopolization. Economists also have made valuable assessments of the effectiveness of antitrust enforcement, though more work in this area is needed.
Different stressors produce excitation or inhibition of mesolimbic dopamine neuron activity: response alteration by stress pre‐exposure

Stressors can exert a wide variety of responses, ranging from adaptive responses to pathological changes; moreover, recent studies suggest that mild stressors can attenuate the response of a system to major stressful events. We have previously shown that 2‐week exposure to cold, a comparatively mild inescapable stressor, induced a pronounced reduction in ventral tegmental area (VTA) dopamine (DA) neuron activity, whereas restraint stress increases DA neuron activity. However, it is not known if these stressors differentially impact the VTA in a region‐specific manner, if they differentially impact behavioral responses, or whether the effects of such different stressors are additive or antagonistic with regard to their impact on DA neuron firing. To address these questions, single‐unit extracellular recordings were performed in anesthetized control rats and rats exposed to chronic cold, and tested after delivery of a 2‐h restraint session. Chronic cold stress strongly attenuated the number of DA neurons firing in the VTA, and this effect occurred primarily in the medial and central VTA regions that preferentially project to reward‐related ventral striatal regions. Chronic cold exposure also prevented the pronounced increase in DA neuron population activity without affecting the behavioral sensitization to amphetamine produced by restraint stress. Taken together, these data show that a prolonged inescapable mild stressor can induce plastic changes that attenuate the DA system response to acute stress.
Financial Globalization & Democracy: Foreign Capital, Domestic Capital, and Political Uncertainty in the Emerging World

Existing approaches to financial globalization have often assumed that global capital markets are a monolithic entity consisting of homogeneous investors with the same interests and information. This project challenges this assumption by disaggregating the market responses of international and local portfolio investors to political events in emerging markets. I argue that, despite the increasing globalization of capital, domestic financial investors remain key in financial market-government relations. First, local investors lead the way in market responses to political events. Less well-informed foreign investors take cues from better-informed domestic investors, following the lead of locals who are “on the ground. ” Second, domestic investors respond more vigorously to political events, as insufficient international risk sharing makes them especially sensitive to local political risk. These two factors put local investors at the forefront of capital market responses to political events. I test this argument empirically using pricing data for closed-end country funds and capital flow data for onshore and offshore investment funds—which afford a unique opportunity to examine interactions between international and local investors. Multivariate time series analyses of financial contagion and event study estimates of the impact of national elections on financial markets find that local investors are particularly sensitive to political uncertainty and that political shocks propagate from local to international markets. The findings demonstrate that a model that places local investors front and center improves our understanding of financial market discipline in the emerging world. ii
Thermal Behavior of Remote Phosphor in Light-Emitting Diode Packages

This letter reports on the detailed thermal behavior of remote type light-emitting diode (LED) packages with different positions of a phosphor layer from the substrate. The temperatures of phosphor layers were directly measured using microthermocouples. It was confirmed by both measurement and simulation, for the investigated LED package structure, the phosphor temperatures are always higher than the junction temperature. Both temperatures are found to change as a function of the phosphor-substrate distance. It is demonstrated that the distance determines the effect of back-scattered photons and the thermal resistance between the phosphor layer and the substrate. From both the experiment and simulation results, it is proposed that there exists an optimal distance of phosphor layer in the remote-type LED package, which is about 320 μm for the package structure utilized in this study. The package with the optimal position exhibits an optical output which is 6% higher than that from a package where the phosphor layer directly covers LED chip. It is shown that the heating load at the phosphor layer changes with the position of the phosphor layer and must be implemented for the precise thermal analysis of whole LED package.
Graphs with Obstacle Number Greater than One

An \emph{obstacle representation} of a graph $G$ is a straight-line drawing of $G$ in the plane together with a collection of connected subsets of the plane, called \emph{obstacles}, that block all non-edges of $G$ while not blocking any of the edges of $G$. The \emph{obstacle number} obs$(G)$ is the minimum number of obstacles required to represent $G$. We study the structure of graphs with obstacle number greater than one. We show that the icosahedron has obstacle number $2$, thus answering a question of Alpert, Koch, \& Laison asking whether all planar graphs have obstacle number at most $1$. We also show that the $1$-skeleton of a related polyhedron, the \emph{gyroelongated $4$-dipyramid}, has obstacle number $2$. The order of this graph is $10$, which is also the order of the smallest known graph with obstacle number $2$. Some of our methods involve instances of the Satisfiability problem, we make use of various "SAT solvers" in order to produce computer-assisted proofs.
A pooled analysis of 2 placebo-controlled 18-month trials of lamotrigine and lithium maintenance in bipolar I disorder.

BACKGROUND Two clinical trials, prospectively designed for combined analysis, compared placebo, lithium, and lamotrigine for treatment of bipolar I disorder in recently depressed or manic patients. METHOD 1315 bipolar I patients (DSM-IV) enrolled in the initial open-label phase, and 638 were stabilized and randomly assigned to 18 months of double-blind monotherapy with lamotrigine (N = 280; 50-400 mg/day fixed dose or 100-400 mg/day flexible dose), lithium (N = 167; serum level of 0.8-1.1 mEq/L), or placebo (N = 191). The primary endpoint was time from randomization to intervention for a mood episode. Data were gathered from August 1997 to August 2001. RESULTS Lamotrigine and lithium were superior to placebo for time to intervention for any mood episode (median survival: placebo, 86 days [95% CI = 58 to 121]; lithium, 184 days [95% CI = 119 to not calculable]; lamotrigine, 197 days [95% CI = 144 to 388]). Lamotrigine was superior to placebo for time to intervention for depression (median survival: placebo, 270 days [95% CI = 138 to not calculable]; lithium, median not calculable; lamotrigine, median not calculable). Lithium and lamotrigine were superior to placebo for time to intervention for mania (median survival not calculable for any group). Results of additional analyses adjusted for index mood were similar; however, only lithium was superior to placebo for intervention for mania. There was no evidence that either active treatment caused affective switch. Adverse event analysis indicated more diarrhea (19% vs. 7%, p <.05) and tremor (15% vs. 4%, p <.05) in lithium-treated patients compared with lamotrigine-treated patients. CONCLUSIONS Lamotrigine and lithium stabilized mood by delaying the time to treatment for a mood episode. Lamotrigine was effective against depression and mania, with more robust activity against depression. Lithium was effective against mania.