Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
S velocity structure and radial anisotropy in the Aegean region from surface wave dispersion

SUMMARY The lithospheric structure of the Aegean region is investigated by analysis of Rayleigh-wave fundamental mode dispersion measurements. Isotropic 1-D models for almost 100 two-station ray paths across the region display distinct variations in the Moho depth and crustal S-wave velocities. The descending slab of the subducting African plate can be resolved down to 120 km depth beneath the volcanic arc. Three different regions are distinguished in terms of Moho depth: (1) The forearc, with large crustal thicknesses between 38 and 48 km and an average of 43 km, (2) the northern Aegean, with an average Moho depth of 28 km and (3) the southern Aegean (central volcanic arc, i.e. Cyclades, and Sea of Crete) with an even thinner crust of around 25 km. Lateral variations in structure between 25 and 55 km depth indicate a marked difference between the western and eastern forearc, collocated with pronounced changes in trench and slab geometry as well as published deformation rates. S velocities between 25 and 55 km depth are low everywhere beneath the forearc but increase from the Peleponnesus to Crete. An abrupt change occurs between western and central Crete in terms of the visibility of the Aegean Moho and the seismic structure of the lithospheric mantle wedge: An Aegean mantle wedge with S velocities above 4.4 km s−1 is only observed to the east of central Crete, whereas to the west velocities of less than 4.0 km s−1 occur down to the plate contact. These low velocities above the slab may indicate the presence of a melange of metamorphic rocks at the depths. A low-velocity asthenospheric layer is observed beneath the Sea of Crete and the Cyclades below 40 km depth, between the thinned lithosphere above and the slab below. The observed radial anisotropy in the northern part of the Aegean is likely to be due to preferred orientation of anisotropic minerals within the lower crust, possibly caused by lateral ductile flow associated with recent lithospheric extension.
Development and distribution of hemagglutinating antibody against the hepatitis B antigen in institutionalized populations.

Specimens of blood from 1,098 patients and employees at two institutions for the mentally retarded were tested by the passive hemagglutination assay for the presence of antibody (HB Ab) against the antigen of hepatitis B (HB Ag). The test was found to be highly specific and sensitive. Twenty-six of 52 patients newly admitted to one institution developed either HB Ag or HB Ab during an 18to 30month period of follow-up. None of these 26 developed overt hepatitis; this indicates a ratio of infection to overt hepatitis of >26:1 in this population. Fortythree percent to 52% of all patients tested and 20% of employees tested were found to have detectable amounts of HB Ab, which tended to persist for long periods. The prevalence of HB Ab, in contrast to that of HB Ag, was consistently lower among mongols than nonmongols. These findings suggest an immunologic deficiency in patients with mongolism. The prevalence of HB Ab was closely related to the duration of institutionalization. Other variables that have been found
Bilateral Cochlear Implantation for Children in Nagasaki, Japan

Objectives The number of patients with bilateral cochlear implant (CI) has gradually increased as patients and/or parents recognize its effectiveness. The purpose of this report is to evaluate the efficacy of 29 bilateral CI out of 169 pediatric CI users, who received auditory-verbal/oral habilitation at our hearing center. Methods We evaluated the audiological abilities 29 Japanese children with bilateral CIs including wearing threshold, word recognition score, speech discrimination score at 1 m from front speaker (SP), 1 m from second CI side SP, speech discrimination score under the noise (S/N ratio=80 dB sound pressure level [SPL]/70 dB SPL, 10 dB) at 1 m from front SP, word recognition score under the noise (S/N ratio=80 dB SPL/70 dB SPL, 10 dB) at 1 m from front SP. Results Binaural hearing using bilateral CI is better than first CI in all speech understanding tests. Especially, there were significant differences between the results of first CI and bilateral CI on SDS at 70 dB SPL (P=0.02), SDS at 1 m from second CI side SP at 60 dB SPL (P=0.02), word recognition score (WRS) at 1 m from second CI side SP at 60 dB SPL (P=0.02), speech discrimination score (SDS) at 1 m from front SP under the noise (S/N=80/70; P=0.01) and WRS at 1 m from front SP under the noise (S/N=80/70; P=0.002). At every age, a second CI is very effective. However, the results of under 9 years old were better than of over 9 years old on the mean SDS under the noise (S/N=80/70) on second CI (P=0.04). About use of a hearing aid (HA) in their opposite side of first CI, on the WRS and SDS under the noise, there were significant differences between the group of over 3 years and the group of under 10 months of HA non user before second CI. Conclusion These results may show important binaural effectiveness such as binaural summation and head shadow effect. Bilateral CI is very useful medical intervention for many children with severe-to-profound hearing loss in Japan as well as elsewhere.
A Handy Dandy Doherty PA: A Linear Doherty Power Amplifier for Mobile Handset Application

As wireless communications progress from second to fourth-generation (4G) systems, the information content drastically increases, requiring high-data-rate transmissions. For efficient use of precious spectrum resources, the modulated signals have wider bandwidths (BWs) and higher peak-toaverage power ratios (PAPRs) than previous generations of systems. Therefore, the power amplifier (PA) operates at a less efficient backoff-power region to achieve the required linearity.
ACUTE OCULAR INJURIES CAUSED BY 60-GHZ MILLIMETER-WAVE EXPOSURE

The goal of this study was to examine the clinical course of 60-GHz millimeter-wave induced damages to the rabbit eye and to report experimental conditions that allow reproducible induction of these injuries. The eyes of pigmented rabbits (total number was 40) were irradiated with 60-GHz millimeter-waves using either a horn antenna or one of two lens antennas (6 and 9 mm diameter; ϕ6, ϕ9) Morphological changes were assessed by slit-lamp microscopy. Additional assessments included corneal fluorescein staining, iris fluorescein angiography, and lens epithelium light microscopy. Under the standardized eye-antenna positioning, the three antennas caused varying damages to the eyelids or eyeglobes. The most reproducible injuries without concurrent eyelid edema and corneal desiccation were achieved using the ϕ6 lens antenna: irradiation for 6 min led to an elevation of the corneal surface temperature (reaching 54.2 ± 0.9°C) plus corneal edema and epithelial cell loss. Furthermore, mitotic cells appeared in the pupillary area of the lens epithelium. Anterior uveitis also occurred resulting in acute miosis (from 6.6 ± 1.4 to 2.2 ± 1.4 mm), an increase in flares (from 6.7 ± 0.9 to 334.3 ± 130.8 photons per second), and iris vasodilation or vessel leakage. These findings indicate that the three types of millimeter-wave antennas can cause thermal injuries of varying types and levels. The thermal effects induced by millimeter-waves can apparently penetrate below the surface of the eye.
Ozone in the remote troposphere: mixing versus photochemistry

Ozone in the lower troposphere has traditionally been attributed to two different sources, injection from the stratosphere and local or regional photochemical synthesis. Recently, Chameides and Walker [1973, 1976] proposed that photochemical synthesis of ozone (via a methane oxidation chemistry) is significant in areas remote from obvious pollution. They characterize as their ‘basic argument that photochemical sources of ozone in the troposphere are larger than the source provided by transport from the stratosphere’ [Chameides and Walker, 1974]. This photochemical hypothesis appears welcome amid several reports of repeated but intermittent high concentrations of ozone at surface measuring stations in supposedly unpolluted areas [A ttmannspacher and Hartmannsgruber, 1973; Wallis et al., 1975] (also, data of L. A. Ripperton and J. J. B. Worth as summarized by Corn et al. [1975]).
Evidence for phytoplankton succession and chromatic adaptation in the Sargasso Sea during spring 1985

Measurements of photosynthetic p~gmen t s , nutnents, spectral Irradiance and vanous physical parameters were performed in the western Sargasso Sea (35"N, 70°W) to ~ n v e s t ~ g a t e the factors affecting phytoplankton blomass dlstribut~ons Algal plgment concentrations and compos~ t~ons measured during spring 1985 showed cons~derable time-dependent vana t~ons which were cons~stent with those documented by dlrect mlcroscoplc observation D u r ~ n g early Apnl, 2-fold Increases In chlorophyll a and fucoxanthln were measured on a relatively short tlme scale of days The presence of a d~atom-dominated community malnly specles of the genera Rhlzosolen~a and Chaetoceros, suggested that we were witnessing a stage of the spring bloom Upon return to thls location 2 wk later, the diatom bloom was replaced by a considerably more diverse phytoplankton assemblage consisting of prymnes~ophytes, cyanobacter~a, d~noflagellates, green algae (~ncludlng praslnophytes) and d~a toms The vert~cal structures d~splayed by ~ n d i v ~ d u a l ccessory plgments dunng Apnl were markedly simllar and suggest that the major phytoplankton taxa were not un~formly distributed In the upper 200 m The phytoplankton were d ~ s t r ~ b u t e d as broadly overlapp~ng layers, 1~1th cyanobacterla and diatoms most abundant In the m ~ x e d layer, prymnesiophytes at ln termed~ate depths, and green algae (Including prasinophytes) deeper In the water column Results p rov~de descnptive evidence for a rapid succession of chromatically-adapted phytoplankton during springtime in the Sargasso Sea
Platelet I&kgr;B Kinase-&bgr; Deficiency Increases Mouse Arterial Neointima Formation via Delayed Glycoprotein Ib&agr; Shedding

Objective—On the luminal surface of injured arteries, platelet activation and leukocyte–platelet interactions are critical for the initiation and progression of arterial restenosis. The transcription factor nuclear factor-&kgr;B is a critical molecule in platelet activation. Here, we investigated the role of the platelet nuclear factor-&kgr;B pathway in forming arterial neointima after arterial injury. Methods and Results—We performed carotid artery wire injuries in low-density lipoprotein receptor-deficient (LDLR–/–) mice with a platelet-specific deletion of I&kgr;B kinase-&bgr; (IKK&bgr;) (IKK&bgr;fl/fl/PF4cre/LDLR–/–) and in control mice (IKK&bgr;fl/fl/LDLR–/–). The size of the arterial neointima was 61% larger in the IKK&bgr;fl/fl/PF4cre/LDLR–/– mice compared with the littermate control IKK&bgr;fl/fl/LDLR–/– mice. Compared with the control mice, the IKK&bgr;fl/fl/PF4cre/LDLR–/– mice exhibited more leukocyte adhesion at the injured area. The extent of glycoprotein Ib&agr; shedding after platelet activation was compromised in the IKK&bgr;-deficient platelets. This effect was associated with a low level of the active form of A Disintegrin And Metalloproteinase 17, the key enzyme involved in mediating glycoprotein Ib&agr; shedding in activated IKK&bgr;-deficient platelets. Conclusion—Platelet IKK&bgr; deficiency increases the formation of injury-induced arterial neointima formation. Thus, nuclear factor-&kgr;B–related inhibitors should be carefully evaluated for use in patients after an arterial intervention.
From Monadic Second-Order Definable String Transformations to Transducers

Courcelle (1992) proposed the idea of using logic, in particular Monadic second-order logic (MSO), to define graph to graph transformations. Transducers, on the other hand, are executable machine models to define transformations, and are typically studied in the context of string-to-string transformations. Engelfriet and Hoogeboom (2001) studied two-way finite state string-to-string transducers and showed that their expressiveness matches MSO-definable transformations (MSOT). Alur and Cerny (2011) presented streaming transducers-one-way transducers equipped with multiple registers that can store output strings, as an equi-expressive model. Natural generalizations of streaming transducers to string-to-tree (Alur and D'Antoni, 2012) and infinite-string-to-string (Alur, Filiot, and Trivedi, 2012) cases preserve MSO-expressiveness. While earlier reductions from MSOT to streaming transducers used two-way transducers as the intermediate model, we revisit the earlier reductions in a more general, and previously unexplored, setting of infinite-string-to-tree transformations, and provide a direct reduction. Proof techniques used for this new reduction exploit the conceptual tools (composition theorem and finite additive coloring theorem) presented by Shelah (1975) in his alternative proof of Bϋchi's theorem. Using such streaming string-to-tree transducers we show the decidability of functional equivalence for MSO-definable infinite-string-to-tree transducers.
Semi-automatic typical collieries extraction based on remotely sensed imagery using active contour models

Keeping informed of the collieries exploitation is of great importance for the benefit of our country. Currently, with the high spatial resolution remotely sensed imagery, we are able to monitor the open air collieries directly without in situ inspections. This paper presents the application of active contour models(snakes) for semi-automatic extraction of the contour from the typical collieries in remote sensing images. After carefully examined the characteristics of the collieries, we improved the active contour model. The boundary of the collieries is not very clearly on the images, and the influence of the random image noise is extremely large. Therefore, improving the image power of Snake model is necessary. As the Snake model can only work on panchromatic images, we first fused the multi-spectral image to make full use of the spectral information contained with in the image. Then we used Canny edge detector which is anti-noise to extract the features. At the same time, a gauss filter is performed to the edge image to enlarge the envelope of the edge. We found that the image power calculated from the processed image is more efficient than it from the original image. A software package build in ArcGIS has been made based on this method.
Vasoactive intestinal peptide/pituitary adenylate cyclase activating polypeptide, and their receptors and cancer

Purpose of reviewTo summarize the roles of vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP)/pituitary adenylate cyclase activating polypeptide (PACAP) and their receptors (VPAC1, VPAC2, PAC1) in human tumors as well as their role in potential novel treatments. Recent findingsConsiderable progress has been made in understanding of the effects of VIP/PACAP on growth of various tumors as well as in the signaling cascades involved, especially in the role of transactivation of the epidermal growth factor family. The overexpression of VPAC1/2 and PAC1 on a number of common neoplasms (breast, lung, prostate, central nervous system and neuroblastoma) is receiving increased attention both as a means of tumor imaging the location and extent of these tumors, as well as for targeted directed treatment, by coupling cytotoxic agents to VIP/PACAP analogues. SummaryVIP/PACAP has prominent growth effects on a number of common neoplasms, which frequently overexpressed the three subtypes of their receptors. The increased understanding of their signaling cascades, effect on tumor growth/differentiation and the use of the overexpression of these receptors for localization/targeted cytotoxic delivery are all suggesting possible novel tumor treatments.
Analysis of multi-frequency SIR-C data over India

Wetland is one of the important ecosystems in the world. It provides a valuable habitat for a great variety of hydrologic plants, fishes, wildlife and insets. The data over wet regions of India has been processed for classification of various land features like mangrove, ocean water, and clear water. In this study the utility of NASA's Shuttle Imaging Radar-C (SIR-C) data is evaluated for classifying wetlands in India. Minimum Distance and Decision tree classification techniques are used. The SIR-C data is acquired over Kolkata region of West Bengal, India. The results show that multipolarization SAR data helps to classify wetlands effectively. The combinations of different polarizations from L- and C- band helps to improve the classification accuracy. The combinations of L-HV, C-HH, C-HV and L-HH, C-HH, C-HV had the best overall accuracies. These two 3 band combination can differentiate well the six classes. The five band combination L-HH, L-HV, L-VV, CHH, C-HV gives the highest classification accuracy. It is greater than the three band combinations which are mentioned above. By applying enhanced Lee filter the accuracy can be further increased. The enhanced Lee filter removes the speckle effectively.
Optimal admission control policies for heterogeneous wireless networks

In the near future, demand for Heterogeneous Wireless Networking (HWN) is expected to to increase. QoS provisioning in these networks is a challenging issue considering the diversity in wireless networking technologies and the existence of mobile users with different communication requirements. In HWNs with their increased complexity, "the curse of dimensionality" problem makes it impractical to directly apply the decision theoretic optimal control methods that are previously used in homogeneous wireless networks to achieve desired QoS levels. In this paper, optimal call admission control policies for HWNs are considered. A decision theoretic framework for the problem is derived by a dynamic programming formulation. We prove that for a two-tier wireless network architecture, the optimal policy has a two-dimensional threshold-based structure. Further, a novel algorithm called Structured Value Iteration is proposed as a numerically efficient method to determine the optimal policy in terms of its thresholds. Extensive simulation experiments are conducted. The numerical results show that the proposed algorithm is efficient in terms of its time-complexity and in achieving the optimal performance.
The Development of Functional Overreaching Is Associated with a Faster Heart Rate Recovery in Endurance Athletes

Purpose The aim of the study was to investigate whether heart rate recovery (HRR) may represent an effective marker of functional overreaching (f-OR) in endurance athletes. Methods and Results Thirty-one experienced male triathletes were tested (10 control and 21 overload subjects) before (Pre), and immediately after an overload training period (Mid) and after a 2-week taper (Post). Physiological responses were assessed during an incremental cycling protocol to exhaustion, including heart rate, catecholamine release and blood lactate concentration. Ten participants from the overload group developed signs of f-OR at Mid (i.e. -2.1 ± 0.8% change in performance associated with concomitant high perceived fatigue). Additionally, only the f-OR group demonstrated a 99% chance of increase in HRR during the overload period (+8 ± 5 bpm, large effect size). Concomitantly, this group also revealed a >80% chance of decreasing blood lactate (-11 ± 14%, large), plasma norepinephrine (-12 ± 37%, small) and plasma epinephrine peak concentrations (-51 ± 22%, moderate). These blood measures returned to baseline levels at Post. HRR change was negatively correlated to changes in performance, peak HR and peak blood metabolites concentrations. Conclusion These findings suggest that i) a faster HRR is not systematically associated with improved physical performance, ii) changes in HRR should be interpreted in the context of the specific training phase, the athletes perceived level of fatigue and the performance response; and, iii) the faster HRR associated with f-OR may be induced by a decreased central command and by a lower chemoreflex activity.
Foxp3+ regulatory T cells in antiretroviral-naive HIV patients

We characterized regulatory T cells from antiretroviral-naive HIV patients by flow cytometry. The proportion of CD4 cells positive for CD25 and Foxp3 was increased, mainly in those with CD4 cell counts less than 200 cells/μl. The total number of Foxp3-positive cells correlated with the CD4 cell count. Further studies are needed on whether Foxp3-positive cell numbers or function explain the susceptibility to autoimmune and inflammatory diseases seen in some patients with advanced HIV.
Proteasome inhibitor MG132 reverses multidrug resistance of gastric cancer through enhancing apoptosis and inhibiting P-gp

ABSTRACT Multidrug resistance (MDR) is a major impediment to the effective chemotherapy of many human malignancies. Although much effort has been devoted to develop new drugs for overcoming MDR, until now, still no useful method of reversing MDR, suitable for clinical use, has emerged from this large quantity of work. Some researchers have reported that proteasome inhibitors could induce apoptosis in a variety of cancer cells. In the present study, we found that, in vincristine-resistant human gastric cancer cell line SGC7901/VCR, proteasome inhibitor MG132 was an effective inducer of apoptosis, and also had the capacity of downregulating the expression of anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 and MDR1 (P-gp), by which MG132 resensitized tumor cells to the apoptosis induced by anticancer drugs. Data presented by drug sensitivity assay further demonstrated that MG132 could reverse the resistant phenotype of gastric cancer cells effectively through both enhancing drug-induced apoptosis and inhibiting P-gp. The further study of the effectiveness and safety of proteasome inhibitor in vivo may be helpful for developing a new possible strategy to treat gastric cancer MDR.
Amplified Feedback Mechanism of the Forests-Aerosols-Climate System

Climate change very likely has effects on vegetation so that trees grow faster due to carbon dioxide fertilization (a higher partial pressure increases the rate of reactions with Rubisco during photosynthesis) and that trees can be established in new territories in a warmer climate. This has far-reaching significance for the climate system mainly due to a number of feedback mechanisms still under debate. By simulating the vegetation using the Lund-Potsdam-Jena guess dynamic vegetation model, a territory in northern Russia is studied during three different climate protocols assuming a doubling of carbon dioxide levels compared to the year 1975. A back of the envelope calculation is made for the subsequent increased levels of emissions of monoterpenes from spruce and pine forests. The results show that the emissions of monoterpenes at the most northern latitudes were estimated to increase with over 500% for a four-degree centigrade increase protocol. The effect on aerosol and cloud formation is discussed and the cloud optical thickness is estimated to increase more than 2%.