Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Geographic muting of changes in the Arctic sea ice cover

The seasonal cycle in Arctic sea ice extent is asymmetric. Its amplitude has grown in recent decades as the ice has retreated more rapidly in summer than in winter. These seasonal disparities have typically been attributed to different physical factors operating during different seasons. Here we show instead that the seasonal asymmetries in Arctic sea ice extent are a geometric consequence of the distribution of continents. Coastlines block southward ice extension during winter, thereby muting changes in ice extent, but they have relatively little effect at the time of summer minimum extent. We suggest that the latitude of the Arctic sea ice edge, averaged zonally over locations where it is free to migrate, is the most readily interpretable quantity to describe the Northern Hemisphere sea ice cover. We find that the zonal‐mean sea ice edge latitude during the 1978–present era of satellite measurements has been following an approximately sinusoidal seasonal cycle that has been migrating northward at an approximately annually constant rate of 8 km/year. These results suggest a change in perspective of the most critical quantities for understanding changes in Arctic sea ice.
High Status Men (but Not Women) Capture the Eye of the Beholder

Two studies tested the hypothesis that people attend preferentially to high status men (but not women). Participants overestimated the frequency of high status men in rapidly presented arrays (Experiment 1) and fixated their visual attention on high status men in an eye-tracking study (Experiment 2). Neither study showed any evidence of preferential attention to high status women, but there was evidence that physically attractive women captured attention. The results from both studies support evolutionary theories regarding differential prioritization of social status and physical attractiveness in men versus women. These findings illustrate how examination of early-in-the-stream social cognition can provide useful insights into the adapted mind.
ICTs in political engagement among youth in the Philippines

Political engagement among young activists in the Philippines has changed since new media technologies have gained critical mass. This article reports on how engagement has been redefined by the young and how information and communication technologies (ICTs) have contributed to the amplification of their voices in political life. Activists and ordinary youth were interviewed through unstructured individual and group conversations, and they were asked about their definitions of political, civic, and social engagement. The expression of opinions online is highly valued as a political activity and is believed to be a politically consequential action. Young activists strategically use ICTs and social networks to gather support for their causes and to gain the attention of the traditional media and politicians.
Contributions of Social Psychology to the Study of Appetltive Behaviors1

Social psychology has contributed substantially to the study and understanding of appetitive behaviors. This paper focuses on three major lines of social psychological research that have made particularly important contributions to appetitive behaviors: Hovland's work on attitudes and attitude changes, Bandura's social learning theory, and Schachter's studies of obesity and cigarette smoking. The relevant work of these three social psychologists and the research following from each line of inquiry are reviewed. Additional potential applications of these social psychological approaches to the study of appetitive behaviors are discussed.
Compressed Detection for Pilot Assisted Ultra-Wideband Impulse Radio

The emerging theory of compressed sensing (CS) enables the reconstruction of sparse signals from a small set of random measurements. Since CS samples the signals at sub-Nyquist rate, it is particularly suitable for impulse ultra-wideband (I-UWB) communications where Nyquist sampling of the signal is a formidable challenge. In our previous work, CS has been successfully applied for I-UWB channel estimation and symbol detection. In this paper, we show that the performance of the I-UWB detector based on compressive measurements can be improved by exploiting the signal sparsity model. The matching pursuit (MP) algorithm is used to estimate the signal sparsity model from compressive measurements and then a more effective measurement matrix is designed for unknown signal detection. Performance of the proposed detector is analyzed. Simulation results show that the proposed detector has comparable performance to the digital receiver sampling at Nyquist rate.
THE INTERACTION BETWEEN INTESTINAL HELMINTH INFECTION AND HOST NUTRITION . REVIEW

The regulation of helminth populations in the host’s gastrointestinal tract is a complex process, influenced by host immunological and nutritional status, age and breed of the animal. The interaction between helminth infection and nutrition can be considered from two interrelated points of view: the influence of the helminth infection on the host’s physiology and nutrition and the effect of host nutrition on the helminth populations, i.e. their establishment, persistence and reproductive capacity. The first point of view has been the subject of numerous investigations over the past decade. It was estimated that common features of infection with intestinal helminths are: a reduction in voluntary feed intake, reduction of the digestibility’s of dry and organic matter, a decrease in efficiency of feed utilization, significantly higher nitrogen output, and a rise in plasma urea concentration. It was described that only a limited amount of studies have examined the effects of nutrition on the parasite response in the parasite infected host, and even fewer have considered the events occurring at the intestinal level, where absorption of nutrients occurs, intestinal parasites reside, and the gastrointestinal associated tissues play role in directing both the local and the more systemic responses. In this review the reference is made to the important literature related to the effect of different nutrients, e. g. carbohydrate, protein, fat, non-organic constituens and malnutrition on the helminth populations in host. It appeared that gastrointestinal helminths have very specific physico-chemical requirements of their host gut environment, and nutritionally mediated changes have a direct influence on the parasite population. Furthermore, the mechanisms by which different nutrients influence helminth infection are addressed.
A conservative approach to distributed belief fusion

In this paper, we develop logics for merging beliefs of agents with different degrees of reliability. The logics are obtained by combining the multiagent epistemic logic and multi-sources reasoning systems. Every ordering for the reliability of the agents is represented by a modal operator, so we can reason with the merging information under different situations The approach is conservative in the sense that if an agent's belief is in conflict with those of higher priorities, then his belief is completely discarded front the merged result. We consider two strategies for the conservative merging of beliefs. In the first one, if inconsistency occurs at some level, then all beliefs at the lower levels are discarded simultaneously, so it is called level cutting strategy. For the second one, only the level at which the inconsistency occurs is skipped, so it is called level skipping strategy. The formal semantics and axiomatic systems for these two strategies are presented.
Using multiple versions of speech input in phone recognition

This study investigates the use of multiple versions of the same speech unit in automatic phone recognition. Two methods were applied to combine multiple utterance versions in decoding: cross forced-alignment and n-best ROVER. The phone error rate was reduced from 15% to 2% on isolated words and from 33% to 19% on TIMIT sentences. The error rate was reduced the most when the second version was added, and less so as each additional version was added. Depending on the language model weight, it might be better to use the language model only in n-best generation, but omit it in scoring the hypotheses applied to the combination methods. N-best ROVER effectiveness may be enhanced by lowering the language model weight.
Aberrant Nuclear Accumulation of Glycogen Synthase Kinase-3β in Human Pancreatic Cancer: Association with Kinase Activity and Tumor Dedifferentiation

Purpose: We have shown recently that glycogen synthase kinase-3 (GSK-3) β regulates nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB)–mediated pancreatic cancer cell survival and proliferation in vitro. Our objective was to determine the localization of GSK-3β in pancreatic cancer cells and assess the antitumor effect of GSK-3 inhibition in vivo to improve our understanding of the mechanism by which GSK-3β affects NF-κB activity in pancreatic cancer. Experimental Design: Immunohistochemistry and cytosolic/nuclear fractionation were done to determine the localization of GSK-3β in human pancreatic tumors. We studied the effect of GSK-3 inhibition on tumor growth, cancer cell proliferation, and survival in established CAPAN2 tumor xenografts using a tumor regrowth delay assay, Western blotting, bromodeoxyuridine incorporation, and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase–mediated dUTP nick end labeling. Results: We found nuclear accumulation of GSK-3β in pancreatic cancer cell lines and in 62 of 122 (51%) human pancreatic adenocarcinomas. GSK-3β nuclear accumulation is significantly correlated with human pancreatic cancer dedifferentiation. We have found that active GSK-3β can accumulate in the nucleus of pancreatic cancer cells and that inhibition of GSK-3 kinase activity represses its nuclear accumulation via proteasomal degradation within the nucleus. Lastly, we have found that inhibition of GSK-3 arrests pancreatic tumor growth in vivo and decreases NF-κB-mediated pancreatic cancer cell survival and proliferation in established tumor xenografts. Conclusions: Our results show the antitumor effect of GSK-3 inhibition in vivo, identify GSK-3β nuclear accumulation as a hallmark of poorly differentiated pancreatic adenocarcinoma, and provide new insight into the mechanism by which GSK-3β regulates NF-κB activity in pancreatic cancer.
The CUP-SHAPED COTYLEDON3 Gene Is Required for Boundary and Shoot Meristem Formation in Arabidopsis Article, publication date, and citation information can be found at www.plantcell.org/cgi/doi/10.1105/tpc.012203.

From an enhancer trap screen for genes expressed in Arabidopsis embryos, we identified a gene expressed from the octant stage onward in the boundary between the two presumptive cotyledons and in a variety of postembryonic organ and meristem boundaries. This gene, CUP-SHAPED COTYLEDON3 (CUC3), encodes a putative NAC-domain transcription factor that is homologous with CUC1 and CUC2. Analysis of a CUC3 hypomorph and a putative cuc3 null mutant indicates that CUC3 function is partially redundant with that of CUC1 and CUC2 in the establishment of the cotyledon boundary and the shoot meristem, thus revealing an even higher degree of redundancy in this class of genes than was thought previously. The CUC3 expression pattern, the cuc3 phenotypes, and CUC3 expression in a series of shoot meristem mutants and transgenes suggest a primary role for CUC3 in the establishment of boundaries that contain cells with low proliferation and/or differentiation rates. The CUC-mediated establishment of such boundaries may be essential for the initiation of shoot meristems.
Condition‐dependence, pleiotropy and the handicap principle of sexual selection in melanin‐based colouration

The signalling function of melanin‐based colouration is debated. Sexual selection theory states that ornaments should be costly to produce, maintain, wear or display to signal quality honestly to potential mates or competitors. An increasing number of studies supports the hypothesis that the degree of melanism covaries with aspects of body condition (e.g. body mass or immunity), which has contributed to change the initial perception that melanin‐based colour ornaments entail no costs. Indeed, the expression of many (but not all) melanin‐based colour traits is weakly sensitive to the environment but strongly heritable suggesting that these colour traits are relatively cheap to produce and maintain, thus raising the question of how such colour traits could signal quality honestly. Here I review the production, maintenance and wearing/displaying costs that can generate a correlation between melanin‐based colouration and body condition, and consider other evolutionary mechanisms that can also lead to covariation between colour and body condition. Because genes controlling melanic traits can affect numerous phenotypic traits, pleiotropy could also explain a linkage between body condition and colouration. Pleiotropy may result in differently coloured individuals signalling different aspects of quality that are maintained by frequency‐dependent selection or local adaptation. Colouration may therefore not signal absolute quality to potential mates or competitors (e.g. dark males may not achieve a higher fitness than pale males); otherwise genetic variation would be rapidly depleted by directional selection. As a consequence, selection on heritable melanin‐based colouration may not always be directional, but mate choice may be conditional to environmental conditions (i.e. context‐dependent sexual selection). Despite the interest of evolutionary biologists in the adaptive value of melanin‐based colouration, its actual role in sexual selection is still poorly understood.
Sustained H2 Production Driven by Photosynthetic Water Splitting in a Unicellular Cyanobacterium

ABSTRACT The relationship between dinitrogenase-driven H2 production and oxygenic photosynthesis was investigated in a unicellular cyanobacterium, Cyanothece sp. ATCC 51142, using a novel custom-built photobioreactor equipped with advanced process control. Continuously illuminated nitrogen-deprived cells evolved H2 at rates up to 400 µmol ⋅ mg Chl−1 ⋅ h−1 in parallel with uninterrupted photosynthetic O2 production. Notably, sustained coproduction of H2 and O2 occurred over 100 h in the presence of CO2, with both gases displaying inverse oscillations which eventually dampened toward stable rates of 125 and 90 µmol ⋅ mg Chl−1 ⋅ h−1, respectively. Oscillations were not observed when CO2 was omitted, and instead H2 and O2 evolution rates were positively correlated. The sustainability of the process was further supported by stable chlorophyll content, maintenance of baseline protein and carbohydrate levels, and an enhanced capacity for linear electron transport as measured by chlorophyll fluorescence throughout the experiment. In situ light saturation analyses of H2 production displayed a strong dose dependence and lack of O2 inhibition. Inactivation of photosystem II had substantial long-term effects but did not affect short-term H2 production, indicating that the process is also supported by photosystem I activity and oxidation of endogenous glycogen. However, mass balance calculations suggest that carbohydrate consumption in the light may, at best, account for no more than 50% of the reductant required for the corresponding H2 production over that period. Collectively, our results demonstrate that uninterrupted H2 production in unicellular cyanobacteria can be fueled by water photolysis without the detrimental effects of O2 and have important implications for sustainable production of biofuels. IMPORTANCE The study provides an important insight into the photophysiology of light-driven H2 production by the nitrogen-fixing cyanobacterium Cyanothece sp. strain ATCC 51142. This work is also of significance for biotechnology, supporting the feasibility of “direct biophotolysis. ” The sustainability of the process, highlighted by prolonged gas evolution with no clear sign of significant decay or apparent photodamage, provides a foundation for the future development of an effective, renewable, and economically efficient bio-H2 production process. The study provides an important insight into the photophysiology of light-driven H2 production by the nitrogen-fixing cyanobacterium Cyanothece sp. strain ATCC 51142. This work is also of significance for biotechnology, supporting the feasibility of “direct biophotolysis. ” The sustainability of the process, highlighted by prolonged gas evolution with no clear sign of significant decay or apparent photodamage, provides a foundation for the future development of an effective, renewable, and economically efficient bio-H2 production process.
Therapeutic effects of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 on diabetes-induced liver complications in a rat model

It has been suggested that 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (vitamin D) plays a protective role against inflammation and insulin resistance (IR) in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). The present study investigate the hypothesis that vitamin D may exert beneficial effects on the liver in a rat model of T2DM by regulating the expression of inflammation-related cytokines and ameliorating IR induced by inflammation. Normal control group rats were fed a basic diet (NC). Experimental rats received a high-fat diet for 8 weeks and were then injected with streptozotocin (STZ) to induce T2DM. Half of the T2DM model rats received vitamin D (0.03 µg/kg/day) for 8 weeks (vitamin D-treated group; VD; n=11), while the other (T2DM group; DM; n=10) and NC group received an equivalent quantity of peanut oil. Following sacrifice, fasting plasma glucose (FPG) and fasting insulin (FINS) were recorded and homeostasis model assessment of IR (HOMA-IR) was calculated. Liver histopathology was examined using hematoxylin and eosin staining. The levels of the inflammatory cytokines C-Jun N-terminal kinase, C-Jun, tumor necrosis factor-α and interleukin-1β were measured using immunohistology, quantitative polymerase chain reaction and western blot analyses. The results revealed that treatment with vitamin D markedly alleviated the pathological alterations of liver and reduced the expression of inflammatory cytokines at the protein and mRNA levels. Furthermore, decreased levels of FPG, HOMA-IR and increased FINS were detected. In conclusion, the results of the present study indicate that vitamin D has therapeutic effects on diabetes-induced liver complications in T2DM model rats, which may involve the modulation of the inflammatory response, attenuating the crosstalk’ between inflammation and IR and ameliorating hyperglycemic state.
Stochastic State-Continuous Approximation of Markovian Petri Net Systems

Fluidification constitutes a relaxation technique to study discrete event systems through a continuous approximated model, thus avoiding the state explosion problem. In this paper, the approximation by deterministic Timed Continuous Petri nets under infinite server semantics is studied. The main contribution of this work is the addition of gaussian noise in order to obtain a better (but stochastic) approximation when synchronizations are important.
A CRITIQUE OF POSTRACIALISM

Abstract This article offers a critique of the very claim that we live in postracial times, and examines the residue of old systems of racism intermeshed with new forms of racism that perpetuate systematic institutional racism. I argue that to combat institutional racism we need post-racism rather than postracialism. Additionally, I reject the Black-white Binary as the singular or even primary paradigm for understanding racism in order to challenge narrow conceptualizations of racism. Finally, I argue for a more nuanced and complex analysis of Blackness.
Delay-optimal technology mapping for In-Memory Computing using ReRAM devices

Recent propositions of diverse In-Memory Computing platforms have shown a promising alternative to classical Von Neumann computing models. Significant benefits, in terms of energy-efficiency and performance, are reported for in-memory arithmetic circuits, neural networks, CAM, cache hierarchy and even fully programmable processors. In contrast, design automation tools supporting the development of such designs are still in a nascent phase. By leveraging the native stateful logic operation capability of ReRAM devices, several logic synthesis flows have been reported. In this paper, we complement these flows with a detailed study on the technology mapping phase for ReRAM devices. We provide a delay-optimal solution for technology mapping without area constraint and propose further heuristics to achieve device count reduction and to support delay optimization under the constraint of parallel instruction dispatch. We report at least 3× less delay compared to the naïve technology mapping adopted in recent studies. The proposed heuristics achieve 56% on average reduction in device count. Finally, a range of performance trade-offs is identified by applying the constraint of parallel instruction dispatch without noticeable degradation of delay.
Cell-Wall-Bound Proteinase of Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. lactis ACA-DC 178: Characterization and Specificity for β-Casein

ABSTRACT Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. lactisACA-DC 178, which was isolated from Greek Kasseri cheese, produces a cell-wall-bound proteinase. The proteinase was removed from the cell envelope by washing the cells with a Ca2+-free buffer. The crude proteinase extract shows its highest activity at pH 6.0 and 40°C. It is inhibited by phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride, showing that the enzyme is a serine-type proteinase. Considering the substrate specificity, the enzyme is similar to the lactococcal PI-type proteinases, since it hydrolyzes β-casein mainly and α- and κ-caseins to a much lesser extent. The cell-wall-bound proteinase from L. delbrueckii subsp. lactisACA-DC 178 liberates four main peptides from β-casein, which have been identified.
Myelodysplastic Syndromes Myelodysplastic syndromes : recent advances

Etiology of myelodysplastic syndromes The models for the development of sporadic MDS suggest the role of cumulative environmental exposures in genetically predisposed individuals. There is increasing evidence for a complex genetic predisposition to MDS involving naturally occurring DNA polymorphisms in genes that mediate DNA repair and metabolize environmental carcinogens.3 Large epidemiologic studies link MDS to radiation, smoking, occupational exposure to pesticides, organic chemicals and heavy metals.6-8 The mechanisms responsible for the initiation of MDS include nuclear and mitochondrial DNA mutations by carcinogen-DNA adducts and formation of oxygenfree radicals (OFRs), defective DNA repair resulting in genomic instability and dysregulation of immune surveillance. This last probably synergizes with genomic mutations to promote leukemogenesis. An emerging model of carcinogenic effects mediated via both genotoxic and non-genotoxic mechanisms is furnished by exposure to benzene. Benzene metabolites form DNA adducts and generate mutagenic OFRs. Furthermore, benzene-induced OFRs induce apoptosis. The genotoxic effects include RAS oncogene mutations and chromosomal aberrations, such as deletions/translocations. Non-genotoxic benzene effects are activation of protein kinase C, enhanced granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF)-dependent proliferation, and immunologic dysregulation.1,9-12 Genetically, individuals differ greatly in the level of many enzymes, including those involved in the activation or detoxification of carcinogens. It trends in hematology
Origin of hyperplastic epithelial cells in idiopathic collapsing glomerulopathy

Glomerular epithelial cell hypertrophy and hyperplasia are listed as the primary criteria for the diagnosis of collapsing glomerulopathy (CG), a distinct variant of focal segmental glomerulosclerosis. However, the extent of podocyte phenotypic alterations that occur in CG, and the origin of the hyperplastic epithelial cells remain to be established.