Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Constraints on a soft X‐ray excess in the quasar 3C 279

We present the results of a three-week daily monitoring campaign of the quasar 3C 279 by the X-ray satellites RXTE ROSAT. A cross-correlation provides no evidence for any time lag between the very similar soft and hard X-ray light curves, and the source shows no significant spectral variability over the observing period. There is no evidence to support the presence of a soft excess, with a 99 per cent upper limit on any such component of 25 per cent of the total observed luminosity in the 0.1–2 keV band (<3 × 1038 W). This fraction (but not the luminosity) is significantly lower than that of the soft excess observed in 3C 273.
DIETARY SUPPLEMENTATION OF OMEGA-3 FATTY ACIDS

Dietary Supplementation of Omega-3 Fatty Acids and Subsequent Effects on Fresh, Cooled, and Frozen Seminal Characteristics of Stallions. (August 2008) Sicilia Tatiana Grady, B.S., University of California-Davis Chair of Advisory Committee: Dr. Clay A. Cavinder The use of cooled and frozen/thawed semen offers many advantages to breeders. However, many stallions produce spermatozoa that are unable to endure the stresses of cooling/storage and freezing/thawing. Improving the quality and viability of equine spermatozoa via appropriate dietary manipulation could make these stallions commercially viable for cooling or cryopreservation. To evaluate whether spermatozoa quality and viability can be improved by supplementation of omega-3 fatty acids, and if improvements can be made by altering the sources of these fats, nine miniature stallions were placed into 1 of 2 treatment groups and fed either a fishor algae/flaxseed-based supplement which was added to the basal concentrate. Motion characteristics, membrane integrity and morphology of spermatozoa in fresh, cooled/stored (24 and 48 h), and frozen/thawed semen samples were analyzed. When comparing spermatozoa obtained from stallions in each treatment, no differences were found (P > 0.05) in motility, percentage of membrane intact spermatozoa, and percentage of morphologically normal spermatozoa of stallions. Overall, omega-3 supplementation did not appear to have a beneficial effect on offsetting the harmful effects of the cooling and freezing processes.
Microbial community and short‐chain fatty acid profile in gastrointestinal tract of goose

ABSTRACT Goose is an economically important herbivore waterfowl supplying nutritious meat and eggs, high‐quality liver fat, and feathers. However, biogeograhpy of the gut microbiome of goose remains limited. The aim of this study was to investigate the microbiota inhabiting 7 different gastrointestinal locations (proventriculus, gizzard, duodenum, jejunum, ileum, cecum, and rectum) of 180‐day‐old geese and the short‐chain fatty acids (SCFA) of their metabolites based on 16S rRNA gene sequences and gas chromatography, respectively. Consequently, 3,886,340 sequences were identified into 29 phyla and 359 genera. Proteobacteria, Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes, Cyanobacteria, and Actinobacteria were the major phyla, in which Bacteroidetes (28%) and Fusobacteria (0.8%) in the cecum were significantly higher than those in other sections (˜4.4 and 0.1%, respectively). In addition, Cyanobacteria in the gizzard (4.9%) was significantly higher than those in other gut sections except the proventriculus (2.4%). At the genus level, Bacteroides was the most dominant group in the cecum at 23.7%, which was much more than those in the 6 other sections (less than 4.6%). Moreover, Faecalibacterium and Butyricicoccus were significantly high in the cecum (P < 0.05). Results of SCFA showed that acetic and butyric acids in the cecum were significantly higher than those in the 6 other sections (P < 0.05); this result was consistent with the high abundance of Bacteroides, Faecalibacterium, Prevotella, and Butyricicoccus in the cecum. Additionally, isobutyric, isovaleric, and valeric acids were found only in the cecum. The different microbial compositions among the 7 gastrointestinal locations might be a cause and consequence of gut functional differences. All these results could offer some information for future study of the relationship between gastrointestinal microbiota and the ability of fiber utilization and adaptability.
First Recorded Observations of Pollination and Oviposition Behavior in Tegeticula antithetica (Lepidoptera: Prodoxidae) Suggest a Functional Basis for Coevolution With Joshua Tree (Yucca) Hosts

Abstract Yucca moths (Tegeticula spp.) are the exclusive pollinators of Joshua trees (Yucca brevifolia s. l.). The moths actively pollinate the Joshua tree flowers and lay their eggs in the style. Recent studies have revealed that the plants commonly known as Joshua trees include two distinct, sister-species of plant: Yucca brevifolia Engelm. and Yucca jaegeriana McKelvey, each pollinated by two sister-species of yucca moth Tegeticula synthetica Riley and Tegeticula antithetica Pellmyr, respectively. A number of studies have argued that the moths have coevolved with their hosts, producing a pattern of phenotype matching between moth ovipositor length and floral style length. However, the only known descriptions of yucca moth pollination and oviposition behavior on Joshua trees are observations of T. synthetica made in 1893. The behavior of T. antithetica has never been observed before. We produced the first video recordings of the behavior of T. antithetica, and measured the points of oviposition and egg placement within the floral style. We found a number of differences between the behaviors of T. antithetica and T. synthetica, which appear to be a consequence of differences in floral morphology between Y. jaegeriana and Y. brevifolia. We also found that variation in floral style length strongly influences the placement of eggs within the flower, which may explain patterns of phenotype matching described previously. However, unlike in other yucca moths, we find that the mode of oviposition is unlikely to wound the floral ovules, and thus that oviposition by T. antithetica is unlikely to prompt floral abscission.
China&Apos;S Lost Generation: Changes in Beliefs and Their Intergenerational Transmission

Beliefs about whether effort pays off govern some of the most fundamental choices individuals make. This paper uses China’s Cultural Revolution to understand how these beliefs can be affected, how they impact behavior, and how they are transmitted across generations. During the Cultural Revolution, China’s college admission system based on entrance exams was suspended for a decade until 1976, effectively depriving an entire generation of young people of the opportunity to access higher education (the “lost generation”). Using data from a nationally representative survey, we compare cohorts who graduated from high school just before and after the college entrance exam was resumed. We find that members of the “lost generation” who missed out on college because they were born just a year or two too early believe that effort pays off to a much lesser degree, even 40 years into their adulthood. However, they invested more in their children’s education, and transmitted less of their changed beliefs to the next generation, suggesting attempts to safeguard their children from sharing their misfortunes.
A Program Aimed at Reducing Anxiety in Pregnant Women Diagnosed With a Small-for-Gestational-Age Fetus: Evaluative Findings From a Spanish Study

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of anxiety-reducing techniques including music therapy, sophrology, and creative visualization in pregnant women with a fetus diagnosed as small for gestational age and improved fetal and neonatal weight. This was a quasi-experimental study with a nonrandomized clinical trial design. We compared 2 groups of pregnant women with a fetus diagnosed as small for gestational age with no abnormalities on Doppler studies. The control group (n = 93) received standard care, and the intervention group (n = 65), in addition to standard care, underwent a program of 6 sessions led by a midwife or nurse who taught anxiety-reduction techniques. The State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) including trait and state subscales were completed by both groups at the start of the study, and only the STAI-State subscale was completed again at the end of the study. Comparisons between the 2 groups regarding fetal weight and centile and maternal STAI scores were performed using the t test and the &khgr;2 test. There were no significant differences in the STAI-Trait scores between the 2 groups. There were statistically significant differences in the intervention group's STAI-State score percentiles between the start and the end of the study, being lower at the end of the study (P < .001). There were significant differences between the 2 groups in fetal weight trajectory on the basis of fetal weight: the intervention group had a larger weight gain (P < .005). The program designed to reduce anxiety in pregnant women was effective at reducing anxiety in the women in the intervention group, leading to a favorable fetal weight trajectory in this group.
igh frequency of albinism and tumours in free-living birds round Chernobyl

The effects of radioactive contamination on the phenotype of free-living organisms are poorly understood, mainly because of the difficulty of capturing the large numbers of individual specimens that are required to quantify rare events such as albinism and tumour formation. We hypothesized that the frequency of abnormalities like albinism and the frequency of radiation-induced diseases like cancer would increase with the level of background radiation, that the two markers of radiation would be positively correlated, and that the reduction in abundance of animals would be greater in species with a higher frequency of albinism and tumour formation, if these markers reliably reflected poor viability. Here we analyzed the frequency of albinistic feathers and tumours in a sample of 1669 birds captured during 2010–2012 at eight sites around Chernobyl that varied in level of background radiation from 0.02 to more than 200 Sv/h. We recorded 111 cases of partial albinism and 25 cases of tumour formation. Nominal logistic models were used to partition the variance into components due to species and background radiation. Radiation was a strong predictor of the two markers in birds, with a small, but significant effect of species for albinism. The slope of the relationship between abundance and radiation in different bird species was significantly inversely correlated with the frequency of albinism and tumours, as was to be expected if a common underlying cause (i.e. radiation) affects both variables. These findings are consistent with the hypothesis that background radiation is a cause of albinism and tumours, that albinism and tumours are biomarkers of radiation exposure, and that high frequencies of albinism and tumours were present despite the low viability of birds with these conditions.
Altered Circadian Timing System-Mediated Non-Dipping Pattern of Blood Pressure and Associated Cardiovascular Disorders in Metabolic and Kidney Diseases

The morning surge in blood pressure (BP) coincides with increased cardiovascular (CV) events. This strongly suggests that an altered circadian rhythm of BP plays a crucial role in the development of CV disease (CVD). A disrupted circadian rhythm of BP, such as the non-dipping type of hypertension (i.e., absence of nocturnal BP decline), is frequently observed in metabolic disorders and chronic kidney disease (CKD). The circadian timing system, controlled by the central clock in the suprachiasmatic nucleus of the hypothalamus and/or by peripheral clocks in the heart, vasculature, and kidneys, modulates the 24 h oscillation of BP. However, little information is available regarding the molecular and cellular mechanisms of an altered circadian timing system-mediated disrupted dipping pattern of BP in metabolic disorders and CKD that can lead to the development of CV events. A more thorough understanding of this pathogenesis could provide novel therapeutic strategies for the management of CVD. This short review will address our and others’ recent findings on the molecular mechanisms that may affect the dipping pattern of BP in metabolic dysfunction and kidney disease and its association with CV disorders.
Race, Risk, and Willingness of End-Stage Renal Disease Patients Without Hepatitis C Virus to Accept an HCV-Infected Kidney Transplant

Background Despite effective antiviral treatment, hundreds of kidneys from deceased donors with hepatitis C virus (HCV) are discarded annually. Little is known about the determinants of willingness to accept HCV-infected kidneys among HCV-negative patients. Methods At 2 centers, 189 patients undergoing initial or reevaluation for transplant made 12 hypothetical decisions about accepting HCV-infected kidneys in which we systematically varied expected HCV cure rate, allograft quality, and wait time for an uninfected kidney. Results Only 29% of the participants would accept an HCV-infected kidney under all scenarios, whereas 53% accepted some offers and rejected others, and 18% rejected all HCV-infected kidneys. Higher cure rate (odds ratio [OR], 3.49; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.33-5.24 for 95% vs 75% probability of HCV cure), younger donor (OR, 2.34; 95% CI, 1.91-2.88 for a 20-year-old vs a 60-year-old hypertensive donor), and longer wait for an uninfected kidney (OR, 1.43; 95% CI, 1.22-1.67 for 5 years vs 2 years) were associated with greater willingness to accept an HCV-infected kidney. Black race modified the effect of HCV cure rate, such that willingness to accept a kidney increased less for blacks versus whites as the cure rate improved. Patients older than 60 years and prior kidney recipients showed greater willingness to accept an HCV-infected organ. Conclusions Most patients will consider an HCV-infected kidney in some situations. Future trials using HCV-infected kidneys may enhance enrollment by targeting older patients and prior transplant recipients, but centers should anticipate that black patients’ acceptance of HCV-infected kidneys will be reduced compared with white patients.
A new torsional shear device for pipeline interface shear testing

This paper presents a new torsional shear device for interface shear testing of natural and disturbed soils, relevant to the design of hot-oil pipelines. We describe the design of the machine and present test results on samples obtained from North Sea and offshore West Africa locations. This machine is used to obtain pipeline interface strength values of very soft marine samples under axial stress conditions from 2kPa to 50kPa with shear speeds ranging from 0.0005mm/s to 0.5mm/s. Both monotonic and cyclic tests can be undertaken with cumulative shearing distance only limited by a specified test duration. The tests presented in this paper were undertaken at shear speeds of 0.001mm/s and 0.1mm/s using two interfaces of average roughness 0. 3μm and 6. 1μm. The results show a clear difference in interface friction between the two offshore locations, with the West African sample generating a consistently higher interface friction. All tests undertaken at the faster shear rate exhibited a well-defined peak strength before softening to a residual value. Results of macro imaging analysis and particle imaging velocimetry of sheared samples are also presented, which permit the association of the peak strength, break out behaviour and residual strength with observed micromechanical processes present during each stage of shearing. The Cam-Tor shears a disk of soil (either ‘natural’ or reconstituted) of 70mm diameter and initially, 20mm thickness after a period of one-dimensional consolidation. Loadcells measures both axial force and torque applied to the top-cap into which the interface of interest is inserted. The soil sample rotates at the required shear rate from the base and against the interface material. Analysis of the data is undertaken by considering a characteristic radius of 0.72R, where R is the radius of the sample. The factor 0.72 is determined by considering the average results of shear stress analysis under 1) plastic behaviour, 2) elastic behaviour, and 3) by assuming an ‘’ strain increase each log cycle of strain. The machine is used here to assess the behaviour of soil-structure interaction relevant to the design of hot-oil pipelines installed into shallow and ultradeep offshore sediments. Figure 1. Photograph and schematic diagram of the Cam-Tor
In Vivo Assessment of Lamina Cribrosa Microstructure in Glaucoma

Glaucoma is an optic neuropathy that is the second leading cause of blindness worldwide. The disease is characterized by damage to the retinal ganglion cells, resulting in irreversible vision loss. While the exact pathogenesis remains unclear, damage due to glaucoma is believed to first occur at the lamina cribrosa (LC), a collagenous meshwork in the optic nerve head through which all retinal ganglion cell axons pass on their way to the brain. The mechanical theory of glaucoma postulates that elevated intraocular pressure deforms the LC, leading to a biological cascade resulting in retinal ganglion cell death. However, the interaction between intraocular pressure and glaucoma is complex; a substantial heterogeneity exists in the intraocular pressure at which a given patient experiences glaucoma. Recent studies have identified that perhaps intracranial pressure, which acts posterior to the LC, may play an important role in the disease process. Given the complex 3D microstructure of the LC, in vivo studies thus far have been limited to assessment of changes in its surface. However, because the axons are traversing through the entire volume of the LC, the axonal damage can occur at any level of the LC, rather than only at its surface. Therefore, full understanding of the damage caused by glaucoma requires systematic characterization of the 3D LC microstructure. In order to better characterize the 3D LC microstructure, we demonstrate here a novel automated 3D LC segmentation method that is reproducible and capable of accurately detecting the LC microstructural component. Using our segmentation analysis, we find in a primate model that the LC microstructure deforms according to both intraocular pressure as well as intracranial pressure, with significant interaction between the two. We then move to the translational aspect of our study to characterize the healthy LC in human eyes and identify a number of structural and biomechanical differences in the LC microstructure compared to glaucoma eyes. Our findings demonstrate that a novel automated 3D assessment of the LC microstructure is capable of 1) identifying in vivo difference in the LC microstructure and LC biomechanics in glaucoma eyes and 2) improving our understanding of glaucoma pathogenesis.
WEAK AND STRONG CONVERGENCE OF COMMON FIXED POINTS FOR ASYMPTOTICALLY QUASI-NONEXPANSIVE TYPE MAPPINGS IN BANACH SPACES

In this paper, we give necessary and sufficient condition for strong convergence of three-step iteration process with errors for approximating common fixed point for asymptotically quasi-nonexpansive type mappings and also prove weak convergence of three-step iteration process with errors for approximating common fixed point for said mappings in Banach spaces. The results presented in this paper extend and improve the corresponding results [1, 5, 6, 10, 11, 14] and many others.
Practical Subtyping for System F with Sized (Co-)Induction

We present a rich type system with subtyping for an extension of System F. Our type constructors include sum and product types, universal and existential quantifiers, inductive and coinductive types. The latter two size annotations allowing the preservation of size invariants. For example it is possible to derive the termination of the quicksort by showing that partitioning a list does not increase its size. The system deals with complex programs involving mixed induction and coinduction, or even mixed (co-)induction and polymorphism (as for Scott-encoded datatypes). One of the key ideas is to completely separate the induction on sizes from the notion of recursive programs. We use the size change principle to check that the proof is well-founded, not that the program terminates. Termination is obtained by a strong normalization proof. Another key idea is the use symbolic witnesses to handle quantifiers of all sorts. To demonstrate the practicality of our system, we provide an implementation that accepts all the examples discussed in the paper and much more.
Angiopoietin-Like Proteins in Angiogenesis, Inflammation and Cancer

Altered expression of secreted factors by tumor cells or cells of the tumor microenvironment is a key event in cancer development and progression. In the last decade, emerging evidences supported the autocrine and paracrine activity of the members of the Angiopoietin-like (ANGPTL) protein family in angiogenesis, inflammation and in the regulation of different steps of carcinogenesis and metastasis development. Thus, ANGPTL proteins become attractive either as prognostic or predictive biomarkers, or as novel target for cancer treatment. Here, we outline the current knowledge about the functions of the ANGPTL proteins in angiogenesis, cancer progression and metastasis. Moreover, we discuss the most recent evidences sustaining their role as prognostic or predictive biomarkers for cancer therapy. Although the role of ANGPTL proteins in cancer has not been fully elucidated, increasing evidence suggest their key effects in the proliferative and invasive properties of cancer cells. Moreover, given the common overexpression of ANGPTL proteins in several aggressive solid tumors, and their role in tumor cells and cells of the tumor microenvironment, the field of research about ANGPTL proteins network may highlight new potential targets for the development of future therapeutic strategies.
Supporting Distributed Execution of Smartphone Workloads on Loosely Coupled Heterogeneous Processors

Modern smartphones are embracing asymmetric, loosely coupled processors that have drastically different performance-power tradeoffs. To exploit such architecture for energy proportionality, both application and OS workloads need to be distributed. We propose Kage, a combination of runtime and OS support, to replicate application execution and OS functions over asymmetric processors. Kage selectively creates replicas of application and OS services and maintains state consistency for them with low overhead. By doing so, it is able to reduce processor energy consumption of light-loaded smartphones manyfold. While enabling energy-proportionality, Kage simplifies application programming by providing the illusion of a single system image and per-process address spaces.