Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A Measurement of the CMB E-mode Angular Power Spectrum at Subdegree Scales from 670 Square Degrees of POLARBEAR Data

We report a measurement of the E-mode polarization power spectrum of the cosmic microwave background (CMB) using 150 GHz data taken from 2014 July to 2016 December with the Polarbear experiment. We reach an effective polarization map noise level of - across an observation area of 670 square degrees. We measure the EE power spectrum over the angular multipole range , tracing the third to seventh acoustic peaks with high sensitivity. The statistical uncertainty on E-mode bandpowers is ∼2.3 at , with a systematic uncertainty of 0.5 . The data are consistent with the standard ΛCDM cosmological model with a probability-to-exceed of 0.38. We combine recent CMB E-mode measurements and make inferences about cosmological parameters in ΛCDM as well as in extensions to ΛCDM. Adding the ground-based CMB polarization measurements to the Planck data set reduces the uncertainty on the Hubble constant by a factor of 1.2 to . When allowing the number of relativistic species ( ) to vary, we find , which is in good agreement with the standard value of 3.046. Instead allowing the primordial helium abundance ( ) to vary, the data favor . This is very close to the expectation of 0.2467 from big bang nucleosynthesis. When varying both and , we find and .
Outbreak of Powdery Mildew on Zinnia elegans by Golovinomyces cichoracearum in Korea, 2008-2010

Podosphaera fusca (syn. Sphaerotheca fusca, S. fuliginea) is a causal agent of powdery mildew infections on Zinnia elegans, and has been documented in Korea since 1967. An outbreak involving about 1,000 plants in October 2008, in Yangpyeong, Korea, was caused by Golovinomyces cichoracearum. Further surveys of zinnia powdery mildew from 2008-2010 confirmed the widespread occurrence of Zinnia-Golovinomyces association in Korea. Chasmothecia of this fungus have not been found on Z. elegans in Korea. Analysis of internal transcribed spacer rDNA from five Korean collections confirmed the powdery mildew as G. cichoracearum. Comparison with the those from GenBank revealed 100% identity with sequences from zinnia powdery mildew, forming a monophyletic clade with 100% bootstrap support, and with those of G. cichoracearum parasitic on the hosts belonging to the tribe Heliantheae of the family Asteraceae.
Crackovid: Optimizing Group Testing

We study the problem usually referred to as group testing in the context of COVID-19. Given $n$ samples taken from patients, how should we select mixtures of samples to be tested, so as to maximize information and minimize the number of tests? We consider both adaptive and non-adaptive strategies, and take a Bayesian approach with a prior both for infection of patients and test errors. We start by proposing a mathematically principled objective, grounded in information theory. We then optimize non-adaptive optimization strategies using genetic algorithms, and leverage the mathematical framework of adaptive sub-modularity to obtain theoretical guarantees for the greedy-adaptive method.
Review and Classification of Published Electric Steady-State Power Distribution System Models

Publicly accessible grid data with static equivalent circuit models are crucial for the development and comparison of a variety of power system simulation tools and algorithms. Such algorithms are essential to analyze and improve the integration of DER in electrical power systems. New technologies and changing law, standards and guidelines cause recurrently changing grids and research. As a result, the number of grid datasets which are used in research increases. On top of that, the used grids are generated by different methods and intentions. This paper gives orientation within this development. First, it provides an overview of well-known publicly accessible grids. Second, background information is reviewed to characterize how the grid datasets are compiled. Third, widespread terms to describe grids are assembled and reviewed, and recommendations for the use of these grid terms are made.
Effects of herbal extract supplementation on growth performance and insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-I system in finishing pigs

The study’s main objective was to investigate the effects of a specifi c blend of herbal extracts (HEs) on growth performance, antioxidant status, and components of the insulin-like growth factor (IGF) system in fi nishing pigs. A total of 16 PIC (Pig Improvement Company) pigs (60.1±1.2 kg; eight gilts and eight barrows) were randomly assigned to one of the two dietary groups, with four pens/group (per pen: one gilt, one barrow). The pigs were fed with a basal diet containing 0 (control) or 250 mg HEs /kg diet for 47 days. The results indicated that herbal extract supplementation led to an increase (P<0.05) on the average daily gain and serum IGF-I level, and a decrease (P<0.05) on serum malondialdehyde and feed conversion ratio. However, feed intake was not affected (P>0.05). IGF-I, insulin receptor mRNA levels (liver, stomach, duodenum, muscle) and IGF-I receptor (IGFIR) mRNA (stomach, duodenum, muscle) were high (P<0.05), while the level of IGF-IR mRNA was low (P<0.05) in the liver tissue compared with the control pigs. The results suggest that herbal extract supplementation has an antioxidant capacity, enhance the growth performance and exhibits tissue-specifi c regulation of IGF-IR mRNA level. In addition, the results also suggest the possible physiological role of the IGF system in controlling the HEs-supported growth of fi nishing pigs.
Genetic evidence for cohort splitting in the merovoltine stonefly Pteronarcys californica (Newport) in Blacksmith Fork, Utah

The life cycles of many stream insects results in the simultaneous existence of multiple cohorts within populations. If larval development is fixed in these long-lived species, successive cohorts may be reproductively isolated and genetically distinct. We examined levels of genetic differentiation in a 333 bp region of the mitochondrial cytochrome-b gene among cohorts of the stonefly Pteronarcys californica (Newport) (Plecoptera, Pteronarcyidae) at two sites along Blacksmith Fork, Utah. Body measurements were collected from 224 specimens. The frequency distribution of (head width) X (head + thorax length) suggests four (Low site) and five year (High site) life cycles comprising an ∼one year embryonic diapause followed by either three or four years of larval development. Seventy-seven individuals were sequenced, from which we detected five unique mtDNA haplotypes. The overall AMOVA suggested moderate genetic differentiation among cohorts (F ST = 0.11, p = 0.01; ΦST = 0.11, p = 0.007). However, pairwise analyses indicated that a single cohort drove the overall ΦST value. Thus, we conclude that there is considerable gene flow among most cohorts of P. californica in Blacksmith Fork.
The influence of atmospheric NH3 on the apoplastic pH of green leaves: a non‐invasive approach with pH‐sensitive microelectrodes

The apoplastic pH of intact green leaves of Bromus erectus was measured non-invasively by inserting blunt microelectrodes through stomatal openings. After making electrical contact, the recorded signal was stable for hours, yielding a pH of 4.67±0.10. The leaves responded to 'light-off' with an initial transient acidification and subsequent sustained alkalinization of 0.2-0.3 pH; 'light-on' caused the opposite response. Flushing the leaves with 280 nmol NH 3 mol -1 air within 18±6 s alkalinized the apoplast by 0.22±0.07 pH, followed by a slower pH increase to reach a steady-state alkalinization of 0.53±0.14 after 19±7 min. This pH shift was persistent as long as the NH 3 was flushed, and readily returned to its initial value after replacing the NH 3 with clean air. The resultant [NH 4 + ] increase within the apoplast was measured with a NH 4 + -selective microelectrode. In the presence of 280 nmol NH 3 mol -1 air, apoplastic NH 4 + initially increased within 15±10 s to 1.53±0.41 mM, to reach a steady state of 1.62±0.16 mM after 27±7 min. An apoplastic buffer capacity of 6 mM pH -1 unit was calculated from the initial changes of pH and [NH 4 + ], whereas the steady-state values yielded 2.7 mM pH -1 Infiltrated leaves responded to NH 4 + with concentration-dependent depolarizations, the maxima of which yielded saturation kinetics indicating carrier-mediated NH 4 + uptake into adjacent cells, as well as a linear component indicating nonspecific transport. We infer that the initial alkalinization is due to rapid conversion of NH 3 to NH 4 + , whereas the slower pH increase would be caused by regulatory processes involving both membrane transport, and (mainly) NH 4 + assimilation. Possible consequences of the NH 3 -induced pH shift for the development of plants growing in polluted areas are discussed.
Multi-modal Embedding Fusion-based Recommender

Recommendation systems have lately been popularised globally. However, often they need to be adapted to particular data and the use case. We have developed a machine learning-based recommendation system, which can be easily applied to almost any items and/or actions domain. Contrary to existing recommendation systems, our system supports multiple types of interaction data with various modalities of metadata through a multi-modal fusion of different data representations. We deployed the system into numerous e-commerce stores, e.g., food and beverages, shoes, fashion items, and telecom operators. We present our system and its main algorithms for data representations and multi-modal fusion. We show benchmark results on open datasets that outperform the state-of-the-art prior work. We also demonstrate use cases for different e-commerce sites.
A biophysical approach towards an understanding of endotoxin-induced signal transduction

The purpose of our studies is to define the physicochemical parameters involved in the activation of host cells by endotoxin and to characterize the processes operative during endotoxin/membrane interaction with the aim of understanding transmembrane signal transduction mechanisms. To this end, we determined the molecular conformation of the lipid A component of various endotoxins (endotoxic conformation) using X-ray small angle diffraction, their intercalation into reconstituted macrophage membranes with fluorescence resonance energy transfer spectroscopy, and their IL-6 inducing capacity in whole blood. We also investigated their influence on ion channels as a possible primary event in cell activation applying patch-clamp techniques to macrophages. We found a strong influence of the molecular charge on the molecular conformation, and we could show that the presence of charged groups and a cone- or wedge-like molecular conformation of lipid A are prerequisites for the expression of bioactivity. We also obtained strong evidence supporting the idea that the interaction of endotoxin with ion channels is one of the very early events in the interaction with the cell and, most likely, in signal transduction.
The field determination of body size and condition in passerines: a report to the British Ringing Committee

This paper assesses the best measure of body size for a range of passerine species, from data provided by British bird observatories. For each species we determine the proportion of variance in body mass explained by wing length, tarsus length, tail length and head length (head + bill) by multiple regression, while also accounting for variance due to two condition components of mass, measured as fat and muscle scores. Across 26 species ranging in mean mass from 5.3 g (Goldcrest) to 100.3 g (Blackbird), fat score was consistently either the best predictor of mass (14 species) or in the set of significant predictors (21 species); muscle score was the best predictor of mass in only one species and a significant predictor in nine. Amongst linear measures, wing length was consistently the best size predictor. The first principal component of size (PC1) based on the four linear measurements frequently explained more variance in mass than wing length alone but the improvement was generally small. Reproducibility.
Controlled Crowdsourcing for High-Quality QA-SRL Annotation

Question-answer driven Semantic Role Labeling (QA-SRL) was proposed as an attractive open and natural flavour of SRL, potentially attainable from laymen. Recently, a large-scale crowdsourced QA-SRL corpus and a trained parser were released. Trying to replicate the QA-SRL annotation for new texts, we found that the resulting annotations were lacking in quality, particularly in coverage, making them insufficient for further research and evaluation. In this paper, we present an improved crowdsourcing protocol for complex semantic annotation, involving worker selection and training, and a data consolidation phase. Applying this protocol to QA-SRL yielded high-quality annotation with drastically higher coverage, producing a new gold evaluation dataset. We believe that our annotation protocol and gold standard will facilitate future replicable research of natural semantic annotations.
Online Scheduling of a Residential Microgrid via Monte-Carlo Tree Search and a Learned Model

The uncertainty of distributed renewable energy brings significant challenges to economic operation of microgrids. Conventional online optimization approaches require a forecast model. However, accurately forecasting the renewable power generations is still a tough task. To achieve online scheduling of a residential microgrid (RM) that does not need a forecast model to predict the future PV/wind and load power sequences, this article investigates the usage of reinforcement learning (RL) approach to tackle this challenge. Specifically, based on the recent development of <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$ {M}$ </tex-math></inline-formula>odel-Based <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$ {R}$ </tex-math></inline-formula>einforcement <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$ {L}$ </tex-math></inline-formula>earning, <italic>MuZero</italic> (Schrittwieser <italic>et al.</italic>, 2019) we investigate its application to the RM scheduling problem. To accommodate the characteristics of the RM scheduling application, an optimization framework that combines the model-based RL agent with the mathematical optimization technique is designed, and long short-term memory (LSTM) units are adopted to extract features from the past renewable generation and load sequences. At each time step, the optimal decision is obtained by conducting Monte-Carlo tree search (MCTS) with a learned model and solving an optimal power flow sub-problem. In this way, this approach can sequentially make operational decisions online without relying on a forecast model. The numerical simulation results demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm.
Inverse Regulation of the Nuclear Factor-κB Binding to the p53 and Interleukin-8 κB Response Elements in Lesional Psoriatic Skin

Nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) is an inducible nuclear transcription factor regulating a range of cellular processes. An imbalance of the DNA binding activity of NF-κB may, therefore, be part of the pathophysiological mechanisms in psoriasis. The purpose of this study was to determine the NF-κB DNA binding activity in psoriatic skin using three different κB sites and to determine how DNA binding activity was modulated by the anti-psoriatic drug calcipotriol. By electrophoretic mobility shift assay, we demonstrated that the NF-κB DNA binding to the p53 κB site was decreased, whereas the NF-κB DNA binding to the interleukin-8 (IL-8) κB site was increased in lesional psoriatic skin compared with non-lesional psoriatic skin. No regulation was seen on the NF-κB DNA binding to the major histocompatibility complex class I κB site. These changes were paralleled by a similar decrease in p53 expression and an increase in IL-8 expression in involved psoriatic skin compared with uninvolved skin as determined by quantitative RT-PCR. The alteration in NF-κB DNA binding activity was neither accompanied by any change in the expression of the inhibitor κB (IκB) kinases, IKKα, IKKβ, and IKKγ nor in the expression of the NF-κB inhibitor proteins, IκBα and IκBβ. Immunofluorescence analysis revealed that p65 was sequestered in the cytoplasm of keratinocytes, whereas p50 exhibited a cytoplasmic as well as a nuclear localization. Interestingly, this distribution of p50 and p65 was similar in lesional and non-lesional psoriatic skin. Topical application of calcipotriol to lesional psoriatic skin for 4 d resulted in increased NF-κB binding to the p53 κB site and decreased NF-κB binding to the IL-8 κB site. Taken together, our data demonstrate that the NF-κB DNA binding activity is regulated in a specific manner in psoriatic skin depending on the κB sites investigated, and that topical treatment of psoriatic skin normalizes the abnormal NF-κB binding activity seen in lesional psoriatic skin.
Functional Embryonic Cardiomyocytes after Disruption of the L-type α1C (Ca v 1.2) Calcium Channel Gene in the Mouse*

The L-type α1C(Cav1.2) calcium channel is the major calcium entry pathway in cardiac and smooth muscle. We inactivated theCa v 1.2 gene in two independent mouse lines that had indistinguishable phenotypes. Homozygous knockout embryos (Cav1.2−/−) died before day 14.5 postcoitum (p.c.). At day 12.5 p.c. , the embryonic heart contracted with identical frequency in wild type (+/+), heterozygous (+/−), and homozygous (−/−) Cav1.2 embryos. Beating of isolated embryonic cardiomyocytes depended on extracellular calcium and was blocked by 1 μm nisoldipine. In (+/+), (+/−), and (−/−) cardiomyocytes, an L-type Ba2+ inward current (I Ba) was present that was stimulated by Bay K 8644 in all genotypes. At a holding potential of −80 mV, nisoldipine blocked I Ba of day 12.5 p.c. (+/+) and (+/−) cells with two IC50 values of ≈0.1 and ≈1 μm. Inhibition of I Ba of (−/−) cardiomyocytes was monophasic with an IC50 of ≈1 μm. The low affinity I Ba was also present in cardiomyocytes of homozygous α1D(Cav1.3) knockout embryos at day 12.5 p.c. These results indicate that, up to day 14 p.c. , contraction of murine embryonic hearts requires an unidentified, low affinity L-type like calcium channel.
Reproduction areas of sea-spawning coregonids reflect the environment in shallow coastal waters

We evaluated the distribution and the extent of sea-spawning whitefish Coregonus lavaretus (L.) s.l. and vendace Coregonus albula larval areas in the Gulf of Bothnia, northern Baltic Sea, and suggest that the distribution of the reproduction areas could be an indicator of the health of the Baltic Sea shores. Our Geographic Information System (GIS) based predictive spatial model of habitat selection covers nearly the whole distribution area of both species. Extensive sampling data on larval occurrence were combined with GIS raster layers on environmental variables and used in a Gaussian process model, which predicts the spatial probability of larval occurrence. Out of 22 studied variables, shore profile, distance to sandy shallow shore, distance to 20 m depth contour line and ice break-up week were the most important for describing larval areas of both species. The earliest larval stages of sea-spawning whitefish can be found in various habitats close to the shoreline, but the highest densities of larvae were observed along gently sloping, shallow sandy shores. Vendace reproduction occurs in the northernmost and less saline areas of the Bothnian Bay and larval stages use the shallow areas. Compared to previous studies from 1990s, the extent of whitefish larval areas has decreased. We discuss the possibility that long-term changes in the environment, such as more frequent iceless winters and increasing eutrophication, have reduced the reproductive success of sea-spawning coregonids. Larval distribution maps can be used to focus conservation measures in the most appropriate places. We propose to use this method as a monitoring tool, and produce maps to assist integrated coastal zone management and environmental protection
Combining ability analysis for selected green pod yield components of vegetable soybean genotypes (Glycine max)

Abstract Few studies have evaluated vegetable soybean (Glycine max) for green pod yield components. Information on combining ability and the type of gene action that governs the inheritance of economically important quantitative characters can help breeders to select suitable parents and devise an appropriate breeding strategy. Ten vegetable soybean accessions were crossed in a complete diallel mating design. This study showed that estimates of both the combining ability (general and specific), and reciprocal variances were significant for plant height, hundred pod weight, and pod dimensions (pod length, pod width, and pod thickness). The performances of the parents for the green pod yield components studied were highly associated with their general combining ability effects. Four parents— ‘Kanrich’, ‘Pella’, V81–1603, and PI 399055, were good general combiners for hundred pod weight and thus could be used in breeding programmes to develop genotypes with large pod size.
Genomic Analysis of Two Siblings with 17.ALPHA.-Hydroxylase Deficiency and Hypertension.

17α-hydroxylase/17, 20-lyase deficiency is an autosomal recessive disorder, which causes mineralcorticoid hypertension. Here we report two Japanese siblings, male and female, affected by 17α- hydrOxylase/17, 20-lyase deficiency. To clarify the molecular mechanism of the enzyme deficiency, we isolated the gene encoding 17α-hydroxylase/17, 20-lyase (CYP17) by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) from these patients, and compared its nucleotide sequences with those of normal CYP17. We confirmed only one difference: a TTC of codon 53 or 54 was deleted in the exon 1 of CYP17 of the propositus, resulting in deletion of phenylalanine at either 53 or 54. Dot blot hybridization of the amplified DNA with allele-specific oligonucleotide probes showed that the two patients were homozygous and their parents were heterozygous for this mutation. The reduced activity of 17α-hydroxylase/17, 20-lyase was probably caused by this mutation. (Hypertens Res 1994; 17: 143-147)
Cross-infectivity Potential of Ascosphaera Spp. (Ascomycetes: Ascosphaera) on the Bee, Osmia lignaria propinqua Cresson (Megachilidae: Osmia)

A cross-infectivity study in which larvae of Osmia lignaria propinqua Cresson, were fed natural provisions inoculated experimentally with spores of each of six species of the fungus Ascosphaera , including three undescribed ones, was conducted. All species were found to be pathogenic; however, the rate of infection and the number of larvae that contained mature spores varied with each fungi, dose or temperature regime tested. The rate of infection at a dose of 100,000 spores per bee and maintenance temperature (20°C) varied from 1.5% for A. apis to 39.4% for Ascosphaera sp. no. 2. At a higher dose of 1,000,000 spores per bee and maintenance temperature of 30°C, the rate of infection ranged from 44% for A. apis to 100% for Ascosphaera sp. no. 3. Symptoms associated with infection under experimental conditions are described and compared with those that occur in nature.
Registros adicionales de felinos del estado de Guerrero, México

Abstract. Information on distribution, habitat and measurements of the six species of cats found in Mexico and in the state of Guerrero is provided. The specimens were recording through direct and indirect methods. Lynx rufus is represented for the skin and skull of a young specimen and it represents the second record for the state, while Puma concolor , Puma yagouaroundi , Leopardus pardalis , L. wiedii , and Panthera onca increase its distribution range in the state. The main threats to cats are habitat fragmentation and poaching. Key words: Lynx rufus , Puma concolor, Puma yagouaroundi, Leopardus pardalis , Leopardus wiedii, Panthera onca , distribution.