Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Soil Carbon Isotope Evidence for Holocene Habitat Change in the Kenya Rift Valley

In eastern Africa the altitude of the boundary between montane forest and lowland savanna grassland changed substantially in response to climate change during the later Holocene, but this is not clearly reflected in regional pollen records. The carbon-13 to carbon-12 ratios of tropical grasses are higher than those of most other plants, and this difference is preserved in soil organic carbon stable isotope ratios. Soil organic matter 13C/12C ratios in profiles along an altitude transect in the central Rift Valley of Kenya suggest that the forest-savanna boundary advanced more than 300 meters in altitude. This could have implications for understanding the effects of climate change on the configuration of floral zones, prehistoric hunter-gatherer land-use patterns, and the timing of the advent of Neolithic food production.
An ultra low-voltage ultra low-power memristor

Memristor can provide new approaches especially in nonlinear & chaotic circuit design. Since no commercially available memristor exist until yet, obtaining of a practical implementation which behaves as a memristor, is very important from the point of view real-world circuit design. In this work, an ultra low-voltage ultra low-power DTMOS-based design of memristor is presented. A new ultra low-voltage, ultra low-power operational amplifier and a new ultra low-voltage, ultra low-power multiplier are also proposed to use in the realization. Our design is composed of these two type active blocks using CMOS 0. 18μm process technology with symmetric ±0.25V supply voltages. Characteristics and performance of our design is verified by PSPICE simulations. Total power consumption of the proposed memristor is found as just 4. 3μW which is suitable for ultra low-power consumption. The simulation results show that our design provides the characteristics of memristor accurately and it could be a viable and convenient option especially in low-voltage low-power memristor based chaotic applications.
FoxO3 Transcription Factor and Sirt6 Deacetylase Regulate Low Density Lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol Homeostasis via Control of the Proprotein Convertase Subtilisin/Kexin Type 9 (Pcsk9) Gene Expression*

Background: PCSK9 is critical for LDL-cholesterol regulation, but the epigenetic regulation of the PCSK9 gene is not clear. Results: FoxO3 and Sirt6 suppress the PCSK9 gene expression and reduce LDL-cholesterol. Conclusion: Hepatic FoxO3 and Sirt6 control LDL-cholesterol homeostasis. Significance: FoxO3 and Sirt6 are important for cardiovascular health. Elevated LDL-cholesterol is a risk factor for the development of cardiovascular disease. Thus, proper control of LDL-cholesterol homeostasis is critical for organismal health. Genetic analysis has identified PCSK9 (proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9) as a crucial gene in the regulation of LDL-cholesterol via control of LDL receptor degradation. Although biochemical characteristics and clinical implications of PCSK9 have been extensively investigated, epigenetic regulation of this gene is largely unknown. In this work we have discovered that Sirt6, an NAD+-dependent histone deacetylase, plays a critical role in the regulation of the Pcsk9 gene expression in mice. Hepatic Sirt6 deficiency leads to elevated Pcsk9 gene expression and LDL-cholesterol as well. Mechanistically, we have demonstrated that Sirt6 can be recruited by forkhead transcription factor FoxO3 to the proximal promoter region of the Pcsk9 gene and deacetylates histone H3 at lysines 9 and 56, thereby suppressing the gene expression. Also remarkably, overexpression of Sirt6 in high fat diet-fed mice lowers LDL-cholesterol. Overall, our data suggest that FoxO3 and Sirt6, two longevity genes, can reduce LDL-cholesterol levels through regulation of the Pcsk9 gene.
The association between auditory memory span and speech rate in children from kindergarten to sixth grade.

This study reexamined the association between speech rate and memory span in children from kindergarten to sixth grade (N = 152) in order to potentially account for the inconsistencies within the published literature on this topic. Some of the inconsistencies in past research may reflect the different methods adopted in assessing speech rate. In particular, repeating word triples may itself involve memory demands, contaminating the correlation between speech rate and memory span in younger children. Analyses using composite speech rate and memory span measures showed that speech rate for word triples shared variance with memory span that was independent of speech rate for single words. Moreover, speech rate for word triples was largely redundant with age in explaining additional variation in memory span once the effects of speech rate for single words were controlled.
Evaluating Attitudes and Purchase Drivers of Luxury Brands and Counterfeits in China and the United States

The purpose of this article is to explore the relationships between four dimensions, power distance, collectivism, masculinity, and price quality association to determine consumer attitudes and purchase intensions towards counterfeited luxury branded items in China and the United States. A self-administered questionnaire was devised to include established scale measures and demographic characteristics. High levels of social inequality, independence, and masculinity correlate to increased consumer complicity on the individual level. At the national level, American and Chinese consumers were found to have no difference in their complicity to purchase counterfeits.
Unique expression pattern of the three insulin receptor family members in the rat mammary gland: dominance of IGF‐1R and IRR over the IR, and cyclical IGF‐1R expression

Supra‐pharmacological doses of the insulin analog X10 (AspB10) increased the incidence of mammary tumors in female Sprague–Dawley rats in chronic toxicity studies, most likely via receptor‐mediated mechanisms. However, little is known about the expression of the insulin receptor family in the rat mammary gland. Using laser micro‐dissection, quantitative RT‐PCR and immunohistochemistry, we examined the expression of IR (insulin receptor), IGF‐1R (IGF‐1 receptor), IRR (insulin receptor‐related receptor), ERα (estrogen receptor alpha), ERβ (estrogen receptor beta) and PR (progesteron receptor) in young, virgin, female Sprague–Dawley rats and compared to expression in reference organs. The mammary gland displayed the highest expression of IRR and IGF‐1R. In contrast, low expression of IR transcripts was observed in the mammary gland tissue with expression of the IR‐A isoform being 5‐fold higher than the expression of the IR‐B. By immunohistochemistry, expression of IR and IGF‐1R was detected in all mammary gland epithelial cells. Expression of ERα and PR was comparable between mammary gland and ovary, whereas expression of ERβ was lower in mammary gland than in the ovary. Finally, expression of IGF‐1R and PR in the mammary gland varied during the estrous cycle. These findings are important for the understanding of carcinogenic effects of insulin analogs in the rat mammary gland, and relevant for development of refined short‐term models for preclinical safety assessment of insulin analogs. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Surface-Potential-Based Drain Current Model for Long-Channel Junctionless Double-Gate MOSFETs

A surface-potential-based model is developed for the symmetric long-channel junctionless double-gate MOSFET. The relationships between surface potential and gate voltage are derived from some effective approximations to Poisson's equation for deep depletion, partial depletion, and accumulation conditions. Then, the Pao-Sah integral is carried out to obtain the drain current. It is shown that the model is in good agreement with numerical simulations from subthreshold to saturation region. Finally, we discuss the strengths and limitations (i.e., threshold voltage shifts) of the JLFET, which has been recently proposed as a promising candidate for the JFET.
Energy Efficiency Optimization in D2D-Cellular Converged Networks for Video Delivery

A new paradigm of wireless video delivery between users in the converged D2D network and cellular system is studied in this paper. D2D communication enables direct data transmissions of nearby user equipment (UE) by sharing the same time and frequency resource, thereby improving spectrum utilization, system throughput, and energy efficiency. Yet in the case that D2D network cannot provide the requested video files for the limited storage capacity of UE, users have to access the video files in the traditional cellular mode. This paper investigates a D2D-cellular converged network where users are scattered over the area of a single cell according to the spatial Poisson Point Processes and D2D users are able to store part of video files requested by other users according to file popularity. First, we derive the energy efficiency of the D2D-cellular converged network. Then, to maximize the energy efficiency of the D2D-cellular converged network, the optimal collaborative distance of D2D communication and the number of cache files are addressed. Finally, via simulations, we show the effects of these system parameters on energy efficiency and point out the existence of optimal solutions.
Regulation of cell proliferation and cell death by peroxisome proliferators

Peroxisome proliferators cause increases in liver mass in rodents, linked to changes in cell proliferation and cell death of hepatocytes. These effects are reversible upon cessation of treatment. The underlying mechanism of the response in rodent liver is complex, but clearly dependent on activation of the nuclear receptor PPARα. Other signaling pathways have been implicated in this response, but evidence is mixed. Differing sensitivity among various species to effects of peroxisome proliferators has been associated with differences in PPARα expression and function. Changes in cell proliferation and cell death in neoplastic hepatocytes also have been found in liver tumors caused by long‐term treatment with peroxisome proliferators. Microsc. Res. Tech. 61:179–184, 2003. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Structure-based discovery of the first allosteric inhibitors of cyclin-dependent kinase 2

Allosteric targeting of protein kinases via displacement of the structural αC helix with type III allosteric inhibitors is currently gaining a foothold in drug discovery. Recently, the first crystal structure of CDK2 with an open allosteric pocket adjacent to the αC helix has been described, prospecting new opportunities to design more selective inhibitors, but the structure has not yet been exploited for the structure-based design of type III allosteric inhibitors. In this work we report the results of a virtual screening campaign that resulted in the discovery of the first-in-class type III allosteric ligands of CDK2. Using a combination of docking and post-docking analyses made with our tool BEAR, 7 allosteric ligands (hit rate of 20%) with micromolar affinity for CDK2 were identified, some of them inhibiting the growth of breast cancer cell lines in the micromolar range. Competition experiments performed in the presence of the ATP-competitive inhibitor staurosporine confirmed that the 7 ligands are truly allosteric, in agreement with their design. Of these, compound 2 bound CDK2 with an EC50 value of 3 μM and inhibited the proliferation of MDA-MB231 and ZR-75–1 breast cancer cells with IC50 values of approximately 20 μM, while compound 4 had an EC50 value of 71 μM and IC50 values around 4 μM. Remarkably, the most potent compound 4 was able to selectively inhibit CDK2-mediated Retinoblastoma phosphorylation, confirming that its mechanism of action is fully compatible with a selective inhibition of CDK2 phosphorylation in cells. Finally, hit expansion through analog search of the most potent inhibitor 4 revealed an additional ligand 4g with similar in vitro potency on breast cancer cells.
Management of the diffusion of 4‐methylumbelliferone across phases in microdroplet‐based systems for in vitro protein evolution

Fluorongenic reagents based on 4‐methylumbelliferone (4‐MU) have been widely used for the detection of phosphatase, sulfatase, esterase, lipase and glycosidase activities in conventionally formatted enzyme assay systems. However, the sensitivity of assays based on these substrates is also potentially very useful in the microdroplet formats now being developed for high throughput in vitro evolution experiments. In this article, we report the investigation of diffusion of 4‐MU as a model dye from water‐in‐oil droplets and the internal aqueous phase of water‐in‐oil‐in‐water droplets in microfluidics. The effect of BSA in the aqueous phase on the diffusion of 4‐MU is also discussed. Based on these results, we provided here proof‐of‐concept of the reaction of the enzyme OpdA with the substrate coumaphos in water‐in‐oil‐in‐water droplets. In this double‐emulsion system, the reaction of OpdA and coumaphos was achieved by allowing coumaphos to diffuse from the continuous aqueous phase across the oil phase into the internal aqueous droplets.
The effects of a myocardial bridge on coronary atherosclerosis and ischaemia

The term myocardial bridge (MB) describes the surprisingly common situation in which part of the left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD), running in epicardial adipose tissue, is covered by a bridge of myocardial tissue. The presence of an MB may influence arterial tissue through the alteration of haemodynamic forces by the myocardial contraction of the bridge itself. Histopathologically and ultrastructurally, any manifestations of atherosclerosis elsewhere in the LAD are suppressed in the intima beneath the MB. By scanning electron microscopy, abrupt changes in endothelial cell morphology indicate that the intima beneath the bridge is protected by haemodynamic factors. Furthermore, the closer the bridge to the left coronary ostium, the greater the extent of proximal intimal thickening. In parallel with this, considering the occurrence of myocardial infarction in cases of proximal MB together with previous reports on relationships between MB and coronary ischaemia, it appears that anatomical characteristics such as the location, length, and thickness of the MB have a bearing on the effects of this abnormality. When the pathologist examines the heart at autopsy, this quite common condition should be borne in mind, in view of its potential but complex relationship to atherosclerosis and ischaemic heart disease. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Uncertainty Evaluation of a THD Meter based on FPGA platform

In this paper we propose an instrument for the power quality monitoring, through the measure of PQ indexes (in particular we refer in this work to the THD index meter) and its characterization. The realized instrument is able to acquire the signal samples (opportunely conditioned) from the power network, to calculate the THD index and to estimate the uncertainty by which the last result is affected. The implementation makes use of a FPGA (field programmable gate array) Xilinx Virtex-II programmed in VHDL. This electronic device is a valid solution to speed, dissipated power and costs problems, and may be revisited every time the algorithm it implements becomes too obsolete (e.g. when new PQ indexes need to be substituted for old ones) or when one wants (for different needs) vary even one parameter of the structure. The utilized development system traduces the code (VHDL is a universal and highly compatible programming language) into the circuital specification that the platform has to assume
When Unions "Mattered": Assessing the Impact of Strikes on Financial Markets: 1925-1937

Combining information from labor historians and using techniques from finance we analyze the strikes that labor historians have agreed are pivotal in American history' during the period 1925-1937. Using information we collected on strike dates and historical financial market stock price data we assess the financial market's view of these conflicts. We study the effects of major strikes between the world wars on detailed industry stock prices. We find that strikes have large, negative effects on industry stock value. We also find that longer strikes, violent strikes, strikes where unions win,' industry-wide strikes, strikes that lead to union recognition, and strikes that lead to large wage increases lead to larger negative share price reactions than other strikes. Also, our analysis shows that most of the news' in a strike seems to be incorporated very early on in the strike. Our analysis strongly suggests that although the financial markets generally expected unions to lose,' they viewed union victories as quite important determinants of the share of firm profits going to stockholders.
The telencephalon and hypothalamus of the bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus): Evoked feeding, aggressive and reproductive behavior with representative frontal sections

Bluegills were stimulated electrically while swimming free in an aquarium containing other bluegills, a mirro, gravel and food. Stimulation sites have been plotted on representative frontal sections for which a nomenclature system was developed. Nestbuilding was evoked in both sexes by stimulation near the area dorsalis telencephali pars centralis, while strong after‐responses were elicited from the ventral preoptic region. Stimulation in the preoptic region slightly rostral to the habenula simultaneusly inhibited aggressive behavior and evoked courtship. Feeding (snaping up prey, gravel or debris) and aggressive behavior (chasing and biting another bluegill) resulted from stimulation in the region surrounding the lateral recess of the third ventricle of the inferior lobe of the hypothalamus. In several cases feeding and aggressive responses alternated during stimulation; a similar pattern was observed as an after‐response to stimulation in the nucleus rotundus. These results are discussed with regrard to stimulation in the nucleus rotundus. These results are discussed with regard to possible anatomical systems controlling reproductive, feeding and aggressive behavior in fishes.
Contextual Diversity, Not Word Frequency, Determines Word-Naming and Lexical Decision Times

Word frequency is an important predictor of word-naming and lexical decision times. It is, however, confounded with contextual diversity, the number of contexts in which a word has been seen. In a study using a normative, corpus-based measure of contextual diversity, word-frequency effects were eliminated when effects of contextual diversity were taken into account (but not vice versa) across three naming and three lexical decision data sets; the same pattern of results was obtained regardless of which of three corpora was used to derive the frequency and contextual-diversity values. The results are incompatible with existing models of visual word recognition, which attribute frequency effects directly to frequency, and are particularly problematic for accounts in which frequency effects reflect learning. We argue that the results reflect the importance of likely need in memory processes, and that the continuity between reading and memory suggests using principles from memory research to inform theories of reading.
A flight control and navigation system of a small size unmanned airship

Unmanned airships present an enormous potential for low-speed and low-altitude exploration applications. In order to develop a flight robot based on a small size unmanned remotely controlled airship, a flight and navigation system is presented in this paper. The hardware and software of the system are designed. As the kernel of the system, the flight control and navigation strategies are detailed. On the basis of the airship dynamic model, the architecture of the control system is presented, and the fuzzy controllers are employed and optimized using an improved genetic algorithm. Based on the airship model and the control and navigation strategies, the simulation studies of 3D path tracking problem are given and analyzed.
Shielding current analysis in High-Temperature Superconductor: Highly accurate evaluation of improper integrals for EFG

The modified element-free Galerkin (EFG) method has been proposed for calculating the shielding current density in a High-Temperature Superconductor (HTS). In the present study, the circle sub domain where each node is centered is installed in the analytic domain and the problem is discretized using sub domain instead of integration cells. Furthermore, highly accurate evaluation of improper integrals for EFG is propose.
A review of energy models

Energy is a vital input for social and economic development of any nation. With increasing agricultural and industrial activities in the country, the demand for energy is also increasing. Formulation of an energy model will help in the proper allocation of widely available renewable energy sources such as solar, wind, bioenergy and small hydropower in meeting the future energy demand in India. During the last decade several new concepts of energy planning and management such as decentralized planning, energy conservation through improved technologies, waste recycling, integrated energy planning, introduction of renewable energy sources and energy forecasting have emerged. In this paper an attempt has been made to understand and review the various emerging issues related to the energy modeling. The different types of models such as energy planning models, energy supply–demand models, forecasting models, renewable energy models, emission reduction models, optimization models have been reviewed and presented. Also, models based on neural network and fuzzy theory have been reviewed and discussed. The review paper on energy modeling will help the energy planners, researchers and policy makers widely. q 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Taking the “Idio” out of “Idiosyncratic”: Predicting Torsades de Pointes

Adverse reactions to drug therapy are the hane of the practitioner, and all the more so when they occur in an idiosyncratic, or apparently unpredictable, fashion. The occurrence of torsades de pointes during treatment with action potential prolonging drugs has long fallen into this category. Progress toward understanding mechanisms underlying torsades de pointes and identifying patients at risk would go a long way to rationalizing therapy with currently available antiarrhythmic drugs and perhaps directing development of new agents.