Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Analysis of the influence of adalimumab to the expression pattern of mRNA and protein of TGF-β1-3 in dermal fibroblast exposed to lipopolysaccharide

Introduction Psoriasis is a inflammatory illness, where incorrect expression of cytokines and bacteria lipopolysaccharide are observed. In the therapy of moderate to severe psoriasis anti-TNF drugs, i.e. adalimumab are used which have the influence for secreting another cytokines, such as transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β). Aim To analyse the expression profile of mRNA TGF-β1-3 and proteins (TGF-β1 and TGF-β2) it codes in normal human dermal fibroblasts (NHDF) exposed to bacterial lipopolysaccharide (induction of inflammation) and adalimumab (anti-TNF drug). Material and methods NHDFs treated with bacterial lipopolysaccharide at a medium concentration of 1 μg/ml for 8 h, and then added to an adalimumab culture at a concentration of 8 μg/ml and continued exposure of the fibroblasts to it for 2, 8 and 24 h. The molecular analysis included microarray, RTqPCR and ELISA assays. Results Treating the skin fibroblast cells with LPS resulted in significant statistical changes in the expression of TGF-β1 (↑) and TGF-β2 (↓) in comparison to the control culture. Likewise, after adding adalimumab to the culture of NHDF treated previously with LPS, significant changes in the expression of TGF-β1 (↑) and TGF-β2 (↓) were noted in comparison to the control culture (p < 0.05). On the protein level it can be determined that LPS and adalimumab cause an increase in the concentration of TGF-β1 and a decrease in the expression of TGF-β2 in comparison to the control culture. Conclusions Blocking the signalling dependant on TNF-α using adalimumab causes an increase in the expression of TGF-β1 and a simultaneous decrease in the case of TGF-β2.
Exporting the Silicon Valley to China

This article focuses on the history of Zhongguancun as one of the most important area used by the official Chinese narrative to promote the historical shift from the “made in China” model to the “created in China” one. We reconfigure this process through three historical phases that reflect the engagement of policymakers, business and high-tech agents in the creation of a specific social imaginary. Based on a textual analysis as well as on political and sectorial sources, this historical study argues that Zhongguancun carries a set of cultural values influenced by the Silicon Valley experience, however it still fails to achieve success in terms of creation and innovation. In detail, our article highlights three findings: Zhongguacun satisfied the conditions of creative area only during its first stage, when local industries had to adapt its services and products to the Chinese language and culture. Second, Zhongguancun shared with the Silicon Valley neoliberalists issues such as those related to the risk of a real estate bubble burst. Third, although Chinese documents show that Zhongguancun has not the same creativity outputs compared to the Silcon Valley, it shares with California its financial dynamics mainly driven by huge investments in innovation places like innovation cafes.
Aspects of Estimating Zooplankton Production from Phytoplankton Production

Primary productivity and zooplankton data from Ocean Station P are used to compare estimates of phytoplankton and herbivore production calculated on the assumption of continuous grazing by the animals with estimates obtained on the assumption of three different types of nocturnal grazing. Effective plant production, that corrected for the effects of grazing on the size of the phytoplankton stock and hence on the magnitude of the plant respiratory loss, was less than the measured production and was least under the assumption of continuous grazing. The small differences in effective production resulting from the choice of different grazing schemes resulted in large differences in estimates of secondary production. The relative effect of assuming different grazing schemes on the estimate of secondary production varied markedly with zooplankton respiration and with the phytoplankton growth rate.
Ten more years of discovery: revisiting the quality of the sauropodomorph dinosaur fossil record

Spatiotemporal changes in fossil specimen completeness can bias our understanding of a group's evolutionary history. The quality of the sauropodomorph fossil record was assessed a decade ago, but the number of valid species has since increased by 60%, and 17% of the taxa from that study have since undergone taxonomic revision. Here, we assess how 10 years of additional research has changed our outlook on the group's fossil record. We quantified the completeness of all 307 sauropodomorph species currently considered valid using the skeletal completeness metric, which calculates the proportion of a complete skeleton preserved for each taxon. Taxonomic and stratigraphic age revisions, rather than new species, are the drivers of the most significant differences between the current results and those of the previous assessment. No statistical differences appeared when we use our new dataset to generate temporal completeness curves based solely on taxa known in 2009 or 1999. We now observe a severe drop in mean completeness values across the Jurassic–Cretaceous boundary that never recovers to pre‐Cretaceous levels. Explaining this pattern is difficult, as we find no convincing evidence that it is related to environmental preferences or body size changes. Instead, it might result from: (1) reduction of terrestrial fossil preservation space due to sea level rise; (2) ecological specificities and relatively high diagnosability of Cretaceous species; and/or (3) increased sampling of newly explored sites with many previously unknown taxa. Revisiting patterns in this manner allows us to test the longevity of conclusions made in previous quantitative studies.
2D MXenes for Electromagnetic Shielding: A Review

Since the first report on electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding of 2D Ti3C2Tx in 2016, MXenes have captured the leadership position among lightweight shielding materials due to many advantages, including their excellent shielding performance, outstanding metallic conductivity, low density, large specific surface area, tunable surface chemistry, and solution processability. MXenes triggered a huge interest in the materials research community, leading to over 100 reported publications on MXenes' EMI shielding within 3 years. Many MXenes composites and hybrids in different structural forms, such as compact and laminate structures, layer‐by‐layer assemblies, porous foams and aerogels, and segregated structures, have been explored to further improve the intrinsic EMI shielding properties of MXenes. This article comprehensively reviews the recent advancements in MXene‐based EMI shielding materials with different structural morphologies and provides an insight into future challenges and guidelines for finding material solutions for the next‐generation shielding applications.
Surging of Global Surface Temperature due to Decadal Legacy of Ocean Heat Uptake

Global surface warming since 1850 has consisted of a series of slowdowns (hiatus) followed by surges. Knowledge of a mechanism to explain how this occurs would aid development and testing of interannual to decadal climate forecasts. In this paper a global climate model is forced to adopt an ocean state corresponding to a hiatus [with negative interdecadal Pacific oscillation (IPO) and other surface features typical of a hiatus] by artificially increasing the background diffusivity for a decade before restoring it to its normal value and allowing the model to evolve freely. This causes the model to develop a decadal surge that overshoots equilibrium (resulting in a positive IPO state), leaving behind a modified, warmer climate for decades. Water-mass transformation diagnostics indicate that the heat budget of the tropical Pacific Ocean is a balance between large opposite-signed terms: surface heating/cooling resulting from air–sea heat flux is balanced by vertical mixing and ocean heat transport divergence. During the artificial hiatus, excess heat becomes trapped just above the thermocline and there is a weak vertical thermal gradient (due to the high artificial background mixing). When the hiatus is terminated, by returning the background diffusivity to normal, the thermal gradient strengthens to prehiatus values so that the mixing (diffusivity × thermal gradient) remains roughly constant. However, since the base layer just above the thermocline remains anomalously warm, this implies a warming of the entire water column above the trapped heat, which results in a surge followed by a prolonged period of elevated surface temperatures.
Comparaison entre l'âge et la croissance déterminés par scalimétrie et otolimétrie chez la truite de mer (Salmo Trutta L.)

La determination de l'âge et de la croissance a partir des ecailles et des otolithes (entiers et coupes) est comparee sur un echantillon detruite de mer (essentiellement 0+ de mer). Le pourcentage d'agrement entre les methodes varie entre 93,5 % et 98,9 %, cette valeur maximale etant obtenue entre les ecailles et les otolithes entiers. Les longueurs retromesurees a partir des otolithes sont significativement superieures (p < 0,01) a celles estimees par scalimetrie. Differents phenomenes inscrits sur les ecailles n'apparaissent pas sur les otolithes. Les resultats sont discutes ; les avantages et les inconvenients des differentes methodes sont compares. Il en ressort qu'une utilisation de l'otolithe, aussi rentable que celle de l'ecaille chez la truite de mer, passe par une observation plus fine de la structure.
Fine‐root dynamics vary with soil depth and precipitation in a low‐nutrient tropical forest in the Central Amazonia

Why this research Matters A common assumption in tropical ecology is that root systems respond rapidly to climatic cues but that most of that response is limited to the uppermost layer of the soil, with relatively limited changes in deeper layers. However, this assumption has not been tested directly, preventing models from accurately predicting the response of tropical forests to environmental change. We measured seasonal dynamics of fine roots in an upper‐slope plateau in Central Amazonia mature forest using minirhizotrons to 90 cm depth, which were calibrated with fine roots extracted from soil cores. Root productivity and mortality in surface soil layers were positively correlated with precipitation, whereas root standing length was greater during the dry periods at the deeper layers. Contrary to historical assumptions, a large fraction of fine‐root standing biomass (46%) and productivity (41%) was found in soil layers deeper than 30 cm. Furthermore, root turnover decreased linearly with soil depth. Our findings demonstrate a relationship between fine‐root dynamics and precipitation regimes in Central Amazonia. Our results also emphasize the importance of deeper roots for accurate estimates of primary productivity and the interaction between roots and carbon, water, and nutrients.
Rapid Liquid AP-MALDI MS Profiling of Lipids and Proteins from Goat and Sheep Milk for Speciation and Colostrum Analysis

Rapid profiling of the biomolecular components of milk can be useful for food quality assessment and for food fraud detection. Differences in commercial value and availability of milk from specific species are often the reasons for the illicit and fraudulent sale of milk whose species origin is wrongly declared. In this study, a fast, MS-based speciation method is presented to distinguish sheep from goat milk and sheep colostrum at different phases. Using liquid atmospheric pressure (AP)-matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionisation (MALDI) MS, it was possible to classify samples of goat and sheep milk with 100% accuracy in one minute of data acquisition per sample. Moreover, an accuracy of 98% was achieved in classifying pure sheep milk samples and sheep milk samples containing 10% goat milk. Evaluating colostrum quality and postnatal stages represents another possible application of this technology. Classification of sheep colostrum samples that were collected within 6 hours after parturition and 48 hours later was achieved with an accuracy of 84.4%. Our data show that substantial changes in the lipid profile can account for the accurate classification of colostrum collected at the early and late time points. This method applied to the analysis of protein orthologs of different species can, as in this case, allow unequivocal speciation analysis.
A note on the growth‐rate and year‐class strength of bream, Abramis brama (L.), in three eutrophic lakes, England

In this study some comparative observations on the growth-rate and year-class strength of bream, Abramis brama, in three Shropshire-Cheshire meres are given. All populations are exposed to variable recruitment. The occurrence of four strong year-classes (1959, 1966, 1969,1973) suggests that climate is an important factor influencing spawning success. Water temperatures ≥16°C in July and August may be particularly important. All other intervening year-classes are absent. The growth-rate of bream in Tatton Mere and Ellesmere Mere is good (L∞= 541–561 mm) but comparatively poor (L∞= 448 mm) in Cole Mere. The significance of population density, food supply and parasitic infestation by Ligula intestinalis is discussed.
Genetic Equilibrium When More Than One Ecological Niche is Available

In recent years the attention of experimental evolutionists has been increasingly directed toward polymorphism as furnishing desirable plasticity to a species. In particular, attention has been directed toward polymorphism with a known genetic basis. The best studied case is that of two alleles showing balanced polymorphismn: that is, the heterozygote has a higher adaptive value in a certain environment or range of environments than either homozygote. Such balanced polymorphism is the only way a pair of alleles can remain in equilibrium within a single environment (or ecological niche), if we ignore mutation pressure and migration from the outside. Onthe other hand, it would seem that the existence of several ecological niches, with one allele favored in one niche and the other allele favored in another, might increase the possibilities for attainment of equilibrium with both alleles present in substantial proportions. Recently the question arose of whether it was in fact possible to have equilibrium without the heterozygote being superior to both homozygotes in any single niche. It is shown below that under certain assumptions the answer is yes. The model here proposed is as follows: Let there be alleles A and A' with gene frequencies of q and 1 q respectively, and let mating be at random over the whole population, so that the initial zygotic frequencies are q2AA, 2q(1 -q)AA'j and (1 q)2AA'. After fertilization the zygotes settle down at random in large numbers into each of the niches, and are thereafter immobile. There is then differential mortality ending with a fixed number of individuals in each niche. After selection the relative frequencies of AA, AA', and A'A'will be Wjq2:2q(1 ~-q):Vj(1 -q)3 in niche 1, W2q2:2q(1-q):V2(1 -q)a in the second niche, etc., where W1l and V1 are the adaptive values of AA and A'A'individuals relative to AA'in the i-th niche. We need consider only intra-niche comparisons and not the absolute viabilities in the different niches. If we disregard drift and consider only the force of selection, the absolute number of survivors in the different niches is also irrelevant and we may work with the numbers cl, where ci is the proportion of the total survivors to be found in the i-th niche, and =ci = 1. To complete the model, we suppose that at the time of reproduction the survivors leave the niches, and that mating is at random in the entire population. If we denote by q'the frequency of A in this mating popu-
Carbon Assimilation in Posidonia oceanica: Biotic Determinants

Carbon assimilation in the Mediterranean seagrass Posidonia oceanica was measured by means of the C technique. Whole shoots were "harvested seasonally at 5 and 22 m depth at Lacco Ameno (Gulf of Naples) and incubated at constant saturating light in the laboratory. Carbon incorporation of different leaf sections as well as epiphytic assimilation were evaluated. Mean assimilation values of 1.42 ± 0.62 gC mg" DW h" (N = 60) and 1.43 ± 0.70 gC mg" DW h" (N = 48) were found in plants of P. oceanica collected at 5 and 22 m depth, respectively. Maximum carbon assimilation values, up to 2.98 gC mg" DW h", were recorded in February. The highest rates, as well as the lowest variability in carbon assimilation across seasons and depths, were generally recorded in mid-sections of leaves of rank II through IV, which pointed to a fundamental homogeneity in assimilative response of the bulk of the photosynthetic tissue. Epiphytic carbon assimilation was estimated to range between 33 and 52% of total P. oceanica shoot production, except for February when the epiphytic coverage was minor, in particular at 22 m. Tissue age, as expressed by leaf rank and tissue position along the leaf blade, was the major biotic factor affecting carbon assimilation capacity. On the other hand, depth seemed to have a minor influence on carbon production potential of P. oceanica leaves in comparison to the other factors. It is hypothesized that in seagrasses tissue age determines the capacity of carbon assimilation, while in situ light regimes regulates the plant adaptations to different depths.
Ozone Production in the Soberanes Smoke Haze: Implications for Air Quality in the San Joaquin Valley During the California Baseline Ozone Transport Study

The Soberanes Fire burned 53,470 ha (132,127 acres) along the central California coast between 22 July and 12 October 2016, generating dense smoke and a variety of gaseous compounds that drifted eastward into the San Joaquin Valley Air Basin (SJVAB), an “extreme” nonattainment area for ozone (O3). These gases included nitrogen oxides (NOx) and volatile organic compounds, the photochemical precursors of O3. The fire started during the California Baseline Ozone Transport Study, a field campaign that brought aircraft, surface, and remote sensing measurements of O3 and related species to central California. In this paper, we use the California Baseline Ozone Transport Study measurements to assess the impact of the Soberanes Fire on ozone and particulate air quality in the SJVAB. We focus our analysis on 27 July to 2 August when the smoke haze was heaviest and the highest O3 concentrations in the SJVAB during 2016 were recorded. Our analyses suggest that while 40 to 60 ppbv of fire‐generated O3 was transported to the eastern SJVAB in the 1‐ to 3‐km‐altitude range, relatively little smoke or fire‐generated O3 reached the surface in the Visalia area.
Predicting land deformation by integrating InSAR data and cone penetration testing through machine learning techniques

Abstract. Built environments developed on compressible soils are susceptible to land deformation. The spatio-temporal monitoring and analysis of these deformations are necessary for sustainable development of cities. Techniques such as Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (InSAR) or predictions based on soil mechanics using in situ characterization, such as Cone Penetration Testing (CPT) can be used for assessing such land deformations. Despite the combined advantages of these two methods, the relationship between them has not yet been investigated. Therefore, the major objective of this study is to reconcile InSAR measurements and CPT measurements using machine learning techniques in an attempt to better predict land deformation.
Electrophoretic «keys» for the identification of parasitoids (Hymenoptera: Braconidae: Aphelinidae) attacking Sitobion avenae (F.) (Hemiptera: Aphididae)

Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis was used to construct electrophoretic ‘keys’ for identifying larval, pupal and adult hymenopterous parasitoids of Sitobion avenae (F.). In general, for each parasitoid and enzyme system tested, all life stages gave similar banding patterns. Although five enzyme systems were tested, esterase was found to be the most useful single system. Using laboratory-reared parasitoids and staining for esterase activity, all species examined, except Aphidius rhopalosiphi and A. ervi could be readily distinguished with the aid of the appropriate key.
Does Economic Comparability Discipline Financial Reporting?

We exploit a pairwise measure of product market differentiation to study the relation between economic comparability and financial accounting fraud. We show that firms with greater economic comparability exhibit a significantly lower incidence of fraud. Importantly, this effect is economically larger than that of most predictors of fraud documented in the literature. To help establish identification, we exploit economic comparability with rivals issuing IPOs, as well as cross-sectional variation in accounting comparability, firm complexity, institutional ownership, and analyst coverage. Our analyses suggest that greater economic comparability enhances the external information environment, which improves external monitoring and disciplines manager reporting behavior.
On Testing the MacArthur-Wilson Model with Data on Rates

The MacArthur-Wilson equilibrium theory of island biogeography makes various predictions about how island area and distance from a source of colonists affect immigration, extinction, and turnover rates. These predictions (table 1) can vary depending on whether absolute or relative rates are used; the relative rates divide absolute rates by some function of the number of species on the island in question to "control" for differences in species number. The relative rates, because they are ratios of variables, are subject to artifacts of ratio correlation; in particular, were area or distance strongly correlated with species number, as is typical, artifactual correlations between relative rates and area or distance would result, confounding the testing of MacArthur-Wilson predictions. An alternative method of controlling for variation in species number is to include species number as a separate independent variable in multiple regressions having the absolute rates as dependent variables. For a large set of data on orb spiders, this method was shown more consistent and conclusive than regressions having the relative rates as dependent variables. The absolute-rate method is recommended for testing MacArthur-Wilson predictions about area and distance.
Biochemical characterization of a shikimic acid‐resistant mutant of Nostoc linckia

The growth of Nostoc linckia was significantly inhibited by shikimic acid concentrations greater than 4.0 μg ml−1 and was completely inhibited at 10. 0μg ml−1. Shikimic acid increased the duration of the lag phase and the doubling time and hastened the onset of the retardation phase of growth. A mutant (NLshi) capable of growing in presence of 50 μg ml−1 shikimic acid, was isolated by nitrosoguanidine mutagenesis from the wild type population at a frequency of about 1 × 10−5 to 1 × 10−6. The mutant grew slower than the wild type. Both the wild type and the mutant strain grew photoheterotrophically in light, with and without 3 (3–4 dichlorophenyl) 1,1‐dimethyl urea (DCMU) and in darkness when provided with glucose. Glucose supplementation promoted ammonium uptake from the medium, when wild type and mutant were grown in an ammonium‐supplemented medium. Glucose stimulated heterocyst production and nitrogenase activity in both the strains. As compared to wild type, this mutant showed higher heterocyst frequency and nitrate reductase activity but its ammonium uptake activity was lower. No significant difference in glutamine synthetase and nitrogenase activities of the mutant were observed. The mutant was stable and retained its resistance even after several subcultures through medium free of shikimic acid.