Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Groundwater pumping and spatial externalities in agriculture Groundwater pumping and spatial externalities in agriculture

We investigate the behavior of farmers who share an underground aquifer. In the case where seepage may occur the resource is nonexclusive, giving rise to a spatial externality whereby pumping by one user affects others nearby. Theoretically, these externalities are potentially important causes of welfare loss. Using a unique spatial data set of groundwater users in western Kansas, we are able to empirically measure the physical and behavioral effects of groundwater pumping by neighbors. To address the simultaneity of neighbors’ pumping, we use the neighbors’ permitted water allocation as an instrument for their pumping. We estimate that 2.5% of the total groundwater extracted each year in western Kansas is over-extraction due to the effects of spatial externalities. Individuals who own multiple wells internalize their own externality by trading off pumping at one well for pumping at another. & 2012 Elsevier Inc.
The diagnostic and prognostic value of H2AFY in hepatocellular carcinoma CURRENT STATUS: REVIEW

Background The potential correlation between H2AFY (also known as MacroH2A1) and the clinical characteristics of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients was analysed through gene expression profiles and clinical data in The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database, and the diagnostic and prognostic value of H2AFY in HCC was discussed. Methods The gene expression data of HCC and the corresponding clinical characteristics of HCC patients were downloaded from the TCGA database. The differences in H2AFY in normal liver tissues and HCC were analysed. The relationship between H2AFY and clinical characteristics was analysed by Wilcoxon signed-rank test, logistic regression and Kruskal-Wallis test. The Kaplan-Meier method and the Cox regression method were used to analyse the relationship between overall survival and clinical characteristics of the patients. An ROC curve was used to predict the diagnostic value of H2AFY in HCC. Gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) was used to analyse the pathway enrichment of H2AFY. Result Compared with normal liver tissues, H2AFY was significantly highly expressed in HCC. H2AFY was positively correlated with the age, clinical stage, G stage and T stage of liver cancer patients. Higher H2AFY expression predicted a poor prognosis in HCC patients. Cox regression analysis suggested that H2AFY was an independent risk factor for the prognosis of HCC patients. The ROC curve suggested that H2AFY had certain diagnostic value in HCC. GSEA suggested that H2AFY was correlated with lipid metabolism and a variety of tumour pathways. Our study showed that H2AFY was significantly overexpressed in HCC. H2AFY may be a potential diagnostic and prognostic marker for HCC, and high expression of H2AFY predicts a poor prognosis in patients with HCC.
ROBUST WATERMARKING PROCESS FOR MEDICAL IMAGES USING DISCRETE WAVELET AND GAUSSIAN NOISE

: Image Watermarking has become an important technique nowadays for the copyright protection. In this paper, a new wavelet-based watermarking scheme is proposed. The experimental results show the efficiency of the watermarking scheme, which emphasize a good combination between Gaussian noise and Daubechies wavelet. The PSNR (Peak signal to noise ratio) index is used to perform the evaluation of watermarking between host and watermarked images. For a set of ten sequential images a significant increase in the PSNR value is observed when the images contain a higher gray pixels area.
A four-dimensional Λ CDM-type cosmological model induced from higher dimensions using a kinematical constraint

A class of cosmological solutions of higher dimensional Einstein ﬁeld equations with the energy-momentum tensor of a homogeneous, isotropic ﬂuid as the source are considered with an anisotropic metric that includes the direct sum of a 3-dimensional (physical, ﬂat) external space metric and an n -dimensional (compact, ﬂat) internal space metric. A simple kinematical constraint is postulated that correlates the expansion rates of the external and internal spaces in terms of a real parameter λ . A speciﬁc solution for which both the external and internal spaces expand at diﬀerent rates is given analytically for n = 3 . Assuming that the internal dimensions were at Planck length scales when the external space starts with a Big Bang ( t = 0 ), they expand only 1 . 49 times and stay at Planck length scales even in the present age of the universe ( 13 . 7 Gyr). The eﬀective four dimensional universe would exhibit a behavior consistent with our current understanding of the observed universe. It would start in a stiﬀ ﬂuid dominated phase and evolve through radiation dominated and pressureless matter dominated phases, eventually going into a de Sitter phase at late times.
Renewable Sources of Energy Generated by Changing Nanostructure of Carbon

— Various type of renewable energy sources were subject of researcher in recent decades to connect with conventional energy and to find a new form of energy. In this study, it has been tried using the transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) to analyze the nanostructure of graphene in order to find the energy stored. In this investigation, the influence of microstructures and capacitive productivity was primarily investigated by changing the ratio of reduced graphene oxide and multilayered carbon nanotubes (MWNTs). Furthermore, a combination of graphene with other carbon nanomaterials was also investigated. According to the results, it can be indicated that an excellent charging capability up to 81.72% was also obtained at high current densities (> 1A • g -1 ). In application of fuel cells, the benefits of heteroatomic doping in the carbon structure and the expansion of functional groups in connection with the growth of active sites, which can provides an inexpensive alternative to the precious metal electrocatalysts in fuel cells.
Crystal and domain structure of the BiFeO3-PbTiO3 solid solution

X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy have been performed on samples in the solid solution series (BiFeO3)x–(PbTiO3)1−x in which a morphotropic phase boundary occurs at x≈0.7. BiFeO3 exhibits superlattice reflections at 12{hkl}p positions in some electron diffraction patterns, the distribution of which unambiguously demonstrates that the FeO6 octahedra are rotated in anti-phase about the pseudocubic [111] axis, consistent with the rhombohedral (R) space group R3c. The amplitude of the rotations decreases in the R phase as PbTiO3 content increases and superlattice reflections are absent in electron diffraction patterns from the tetragonal (T) phase (x=0.6), indicating that it is untilted with space group P4mm. Electron diffraction patterns from samples where x=0.7 reveal superlattice reflections not associated with octahedral rotations and consistent with an intermediate phase with lower symmetry than T and R.
SOX9 Plays a Key Role in the Regulation of Visual Cycle Gene Expression in the Retinal Pigment Epithelium*

Background: The visual cycle is an enzymatic cascade that regenerates the visual chromophore. Results: Visual cycle gene expression is regulated by SOX9 in combination with OTX2 or LHX2, and can be modulated by common microRNAs. Conclusion: A core transcriptional network involving SOX9 regulates visual cycle genes. Significance: Understanding visual cycle gene regulation may have implications for treating retinal degenerative diseases. ABSTRACT The retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) performs specialized functions to support retinal photoreceptors,
University of Birmingham Foreign vs domestic ownership on debt reduction: An investigation of acquisition targets in Italy and Spain

This paper examines the role of foreign versus domestic ownership in reducing the debt levels of acquired firms in Italy and Spain over the period 2002-2010. Acknowledging that lower debt levels can mitigate the risk of failure and thus enhance the chances for a positive post-acquisition performance and survival, we particularly examine the causal effect of foreign and domestic acquisitions on two firm-level debt measures: gearing and short-term leverage. To estimate causal relationships, we control for selection bias by applying propensity score matching techniques. Our results indicate that foreign acquisition leads to a significant and steady reduction in the debt ratios of the target companies. In contrast, the relationship between domestic acquisition and debt reduction appears to be smaller and statistically less robust.
Vertex-reinfoced random walk on Z visits finitely many states

Vertex-reinforced random walk is defined in Pemantle's (1988) thesis; it is a random walk that is biased to visit sites it has already visited a lot. We show that this reinforcement scheme, in contrast to the scheme of edge-reinforcement, causes random walk on a line to get trapped in a finite set.
Association of variants in the sterol regulatory element-binding factor 1 gene ( SREBF1 ) with type 2 diabetes, glycemia, and insulin resistance - A study of 15,734 Danish subjects

Objective: We evaluated association of variants in the sterol regulatory element-binding factor 1 gene ( SREBF1 ) with type 2 diabetes. Due to the previous inconclusive quantitative trait associations, we also did studies of intermediate quantitative phenotypes. Research design and methods: We genotyped four variants in SREBF1 in the population-based Inter99 cohort ( n =6,070), the Danish ADDITION study ( n =8,662) and in additional type 2 diabetic patients ( n =1,002). The case-control studies involved 2,980 type 2 diabetic patients and 4,522 glucose-tolerant subjects. Results: The minor alleles of the rs2297508, rs11868035 and rs1889018 (linkage disequilibrium R 2 =0.6-0.8) associated with a modestly increased risk of type 2 diabetes (rs2297508: OR 1.17 [95% CI 1.05-1.30], P =0.003) which was confirmed in meta-analyses of all published studies (rs2297508 G-allele: OR 1.08 [1.03-1.14] per allele, P =0.001). The diabetes-associated alleles also associated strongly with a higher plasma-glucose at 30 and 120 minutes and serum-insulin at 120 minutes during an OGTT (all P <0.006) and the minor allele of rs1889018 with a surrogate measure of insulin sensitivity ( P =0.03). Furthermore, the diabetes-associated alleles associated with a modestly increased HbA 1c level in the population-based Inter99 of middle-aged subjects and in the ADDITION study of high-risk individuals ( P =0.006 and P =0.008, respectively). Conclusions: We associate sequence variation in SREBF1 with a modestly increased predisposition to type 2 diabetes. In the general population the diabetes-associated alleles are discreetly associated with hyperglycemia presumably due to decreased insulin sensitivity. Since SREBP-1c is a mediator of insulin action the findings are consistent with the presence of a yet undefined subtle loss-of-function SREBF1 variant.
Effect of High-Fat-Diets on Iron Homeostasis and Tissue Iron Deposition in Female Sprague-Dawley Rats Buthaina Journal of Research in Diabetes & Metabolism

Deposition in ABSTRACT Background : Obesity has been associated with anemia of chronic disease and it may also promote iron deﬁ ciency causing dysmetabolic iron overload. Objective : The aim of this study was to examine iron homeostasis on serum and tissue after feeding rats with various high-fat-diets for 6 and 10 weeks. Methods : Eight weeks Sprague - Dawley female rats were randomly divided into three main dietary groups: Group (1): rats were fed the High Saturated Fat Diet Group (HSFD; n = 12), group (2): rats were fed the High Monounsaturated Fat Diet Group (HMUSFD; n = 12) and group (3): rats were fed Normal Fat Diet Group (NFD) (n = 12) for 6 and 10 weeks. Blood samples were collected; liver and Retroperitoneal Adipose Tissues (RPAT) was removed. Serum iron parameters and the total iron quantiﬁ cation in tissue were measured. Results : Findings after 6 weeks demonstrated that no signiﬁ cant elevation in all tested iron parameters in serum and tissue in HFDs fed groups as compared to NFD controls. On the other hand, feeding rats with different HFDs for 10 weeks leading to increase serum ferritin signiﬁ cantly as compared to NFD, and liver iron content was increased signiﬁ cantly in rats that were fed HSFD and NFD (178.16 ± 7.78, 168.67 ± 5.42 ng/ mg, respectively) as compared to HMUFD (123.78 ± 6.57ng/ mg)( p ˂ 0.05). Conclusion : The effect of the high-fat-diets on iron homeostasis is time dependent. However, the type of dietary fat that introduce will affect tissue iron deposition.
Design and Testing of Indoor UAS Control Technique

—The main purpose of this research is to design and test control laws for Unmanned Aerial Systems (UASs), in indoor application scenarios. A low cost motion capture system, based on IR light emitters, is combined with an on-board autopilot to track the attitude of a multi-rotor system. A variable structure control law is proposed as tracking system, including disturbances and parametric uncertainties. The combination of navigation and control algorithms is implemented on the on-board autopilot. Some guidelines of the implementation and deployment are provided.
Practical Implications of Di ﬀ erent Phenotypic and Molecular Responses of Evergreen Conifer and Broadleaf Deciduous Forest Tree Species to Regulated Water Deﬁcit in a Container Nursery

: Recent climatic changes have resulted in an increased frequency and prolonged periods of drought and strained water resources a ﬀ ecting plant production. We explored the possibility of reducing irrigation in a container nursery and studied the growth responses of seedlings of four economically important forest trees: broadleaf deciduous angiosperms Fagus sylvatica L. , Quercus petraea (Matt.) Liebl. , and evergreen conifers Abies alba Mill. and Pinus sylvestris L. We also studied markers of water stress including modiﬁcations of biomass allocation, leaf anatomy, proline accumulation, and expression of selected genes. Growth of the broadleaved deciduous species was more sensitive to the reduced water supply than that of conifers. Remarkably, growth of the shade tolerant Abies was not a ﬀ ected. Adjustment of biomass allocations was strongest in P. sylvestris , with a remarkable increase in allocation to roots. In response to water deﬁcit both deciduous species accumulated proline in leaves and produced leaves with shorter palisade cells, reduced vascular tissues, and smaller conduit diameters. These responses did not occur in conifers. Relative transcript abundance of a gene encoding the Zn-ﬁnger protein in Q . petraea and a gene encoding the pore calcium channel protein 1 in A . alba increased as water deﬁcit increased. Our study shows major di ﬀ erences between functional groups in response to irrigation, with seedlings of evergreen conifers having higher tolerance than the deciduous species. This suggests that major water savings could be achieved by adjusting irrigation regime to functional group or species requirements.
Phosphoinositide 3-Kinases p110 (cid:2) and p110 (cid:3) Regulate Cell Cycle Entry, Exhibiting Distinct Activation Kinetics in G 1 Phase (cid:1)

Phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) is an early signaling molecule that regulates cell growth and cell cycle entry. PI3K is activated immediately after growth factor receptor stimulation (at the G 0 /G 1 transition) and again in late G 1 . The two ubiquitous PI3K isoforms (p110 (cid:1) and p110 (cid:2) ) are essential during embryonic development and are thought to control cell division. Nonetheless, it is presently unknown at which point each is activated during the cell cycle and whether or not they both control S-phase entry. We found that p110 (cid:1) was activated ﬁrst in G 0 /G 1 , followed by a minor p110 (cid:2) activity peak. In late G 1 , p110 (cid:1) activation preceded that of p110 (cid:2) , which showed the maximum activity at this time. p110 (cid:2) activation required Ras activity, whereas p110 (cid:1) was ﬁrst activated by tyrosine kinases and then further induced by active Ras. Interference with p110 (cid:1) and - (cid:2) activity diminished the activation of downstream effectors with different kinetics, with a selective action of p110 (cid:1) in blocking early G 1 events. We show that inhibition of either p110 (cid:1) or p110 (cid:2) reduced cell cycle entry. These results reveal that PI3K (cid:1) and - (cid:2) present distinct activation requirements and kinetics in G 1 phase, with a selective action of PI3K (cid:1) at the G 0 /G 1 phase transition. Nevertheless, PI3K (cid:1) and - (cid:2) both regulate S-phase entry.
a of Toward Determinants and Effects of Long-Term Mindfulness Training in Pre-Adolescence : A Cross-Sectional Study Using Event-Related Potentials A Cross-Sectional Study

The present study presents the first attempt at investigating long-term mindfulness training in pre-adolescence, adopting an integrative neurodevelopmental approach. Pupils with an established mindfulness practice ( n =33) were compared with mindfulness-inexperienced pupils ( n =20) on dispositional mindfulness, executive functioning (EF), emotion regulation, and well-being. We also investigated whether increased well-being in mindfulness-experienced pre-adolescents would be mediated by EF and emotion regulation. Moderating influences of the amount and enjoyment of mindfulness training were considered as well. Self-report questionnaires measured dispositional mindfulness and well-being. Parents assessed n-regulation using the Emotion Regulation Checklist (ERC). Performance in a Continuous Performance Task and simultaneously recorded ERPs -Cue-P3, CNV, Nogo-N2, Nogo-P3 indexed EF. Interestingly, the two groups of pupils did not differ in their dispositional mindfulness. ERP findings revealed that the mindfulness-experienced group demonstrated superior EF in terms of response inhibition, but inferior EF in terms of cue processing. Although the ERC negativity/lability subscale revealed an advantage for the mindfulness-experienced group, no group differences were observed for the ERC emotion regulation subscale or well-being. Mediation analysis results did not support the assumption that mindfulness training leads to increased well-being via improvements in EF and emotion regulation. While outcomes were not moderated by amount of mindfulness practice, enjoying mindfulness was negatively associated with indicators of well-being and EF.
MODULATION OF HOST ACTIN CYTOSKELETON BY A LEGIONELLA PNEUMOPHILA EFFECTOR

27 Introduction . 27 Results . 28 RavK is a Legionella effector that disrupts the actin cytoskeleton in mammalian cells . 28 RavK is a substrate of the Dot/Icm transporter whose expression is induced at the exponential phase . 32 An HEXXH motif is essential for the toxicity of RavK and its disruption of the host cytoskeleton . 34 Expression of RavK reduces the total actin level in mammalian cells . 37
Polymorphisms of ATP-binding cassette, sub-family A, member 4 (rs560426 and rs481931) and nonsyndromic cleft lip/palate: A systematic review and meta-analysis CURRENT STATUS: UNDER REVIEW

Background A number of gene loci are closely associated with the incidence of nonsyndromic cleft lip/palate (NSCL/P). Herein, this meta-analysis assessed the association between ATP-binding cassette, sub-family A, member 4 (ABCA4) polymorphisms (rs560426 and rs481931) and the risk of NSCL/P by reviewing case-control studies.Methods Four databases including Scopus, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, and PubMed were searched for articles published up to December 2018. The Review Manager 5.3 software was used to calculate the crude odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI). Results Of 82 retrieved studies, 12 were analyzed in this meta-analysis (2,859 NSCL/P patients and 3,792 controls for ABCA4 rs560426 polymorphism and 1,333 NSCL/P patients and 1,884 controls for ABCA4 rs481931 polymorphism). There was no significant association between the polymorphisms and the risk of NSCL/P, with the exception of the allelic model (OR=1.13; 95% CI: 1.01, 1.27; p=0.03), the homozygote model (OR=1.53; 95% CI: 1.01, 2.31; p=0.04), and the recessive model (OR=1.30; 95% CI: 1.03, 1.63; p=0.03) in the Asian ethnicity for rs560426 polymorphism.Conclusion The findings confirmed that G allele and GG genotype of rs560426 polymorphism were significantly associated with the risk of NSCL/P in the Asian population, but not for rs481931polymorphism. Also, there was no association between both polymorphisms (rs560426 and rs481931) with the risk of NSCL/P in the Caucasian and the mixed ethnicities, as well as the source of controls. Therefore, ethnicity may play a significant role in this association.
COPD_A_248139 1207..1216

Qinhan Wu Liang Xie Wenjing Li Guiling Xiang Weiping Hu Hong Jiang Xu Wu Xiaodan Wu Shanqun Li 1,2 1Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China; 2Clinical Centre for Sleep Breathing Disorder and Snoring, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China Purpose: The co-existence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) has been described as the overlap syndrome. The objective of the study is to investigate the performance of Berlin Questionnaire (BQ), modified Berlin Questionnaire (MBQ), and STOP-Bang score in screening overlap syndrome from COPD subjects and investigate how pulmonary function interferes with questionnaire scoring. Subjects and Methods: Among 116 COPD subjects included in this study, 62 were overlap syndrome subjects and 54 were COPD subjects without OSA. Subjects included were asked to fill out the questionnaires to collect demographic characteristics of subjects and questionnaire scores of BQ, MBQ, and STOP-Bang; perform pulmonary function test to confirm their COPD diagnosis; and perform polysomnography. Results: AUC (area under the curve) of BQ, MBQ, and STOP-Bang score in screening OSA among patients with COPD was 0.71 (0.64–0.79), 0.75 (0.67–0.83), and 0.72 (0.64–0.80). In COPD subjects without OSA, FEV1%pred was statistically associated with the misdiagnosis of BQ (P= 0.0091), MBQ (P= 0.0143), and STOP-Bang (P= 0.0453). In patients with overlap syndrome, FVC%pred affected the risk of misdiagnosis of the three questionnaires (BQ: P= 0.0413; MBQ: P= 0.0150; STOP-Bang: P= 0.0241). BMI and neck circumferences (NC) were negatively correlated with FEV1%pred (BMI: P= 0.0454; NC: P= 0.0230) and FVC%pred (BMI: P= 0.0042; NC: P= 0.0367) in overlap subjects. In contrast, BMI was positively correlated with FEV1/FVC (P= 0.0141) and FEV1%pred (P= 0.0391) in COPD subjects without OSA. Conclusion: BQ, MBQ, and STOP-Bang score performed well in COPD subjects for screening OSA. The diagnosis of the three questionnaires was more accurate in subjects with lower FEV1%pred or FVC%pred value. Pulmonary function might exert influence on the diagnosis efficacy of the three questionnaires through BMI and neck circumference.
ArticleNicotinic Antagonist UFR

Zebrafish is becoming a popular animal model in neuropharmacology and drug discovery, mainly due to its ease of handling and low costs involved in maintenance and experimental work. This animal displays a series of complex behaviours that makes it useful for assessing the effects of psychoactive drugs. Here, adult zebrafish were used for assessment of the anxiolytic and anti-addictive properties of UFR2709, a nicotinic receptor (nAChR) antagonist, using two behavioural paradigms to test for addiction, the novel tank diving test to assess anxiety and the conditioned place preference (CPP). Furthermore, the expression of nAChR subunits α4 and α7 was measured in the zebrafish brain. The results show that UFR2709 exhibits an anxiolytic effect on zebrafish and blocks the effect evoked by nicotine on CPP. Moreover, UFR2709 significantly decreased the expression of α4 nicotinic receptor subunit. This indicates that UFR2709 might be a useful drug for the treatment of nicotine addiction.