Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Exploring the Tumor-Suppressing Potential of PSCA in Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma

Simple Summary Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a tough cancer. Instead of stopping certain genes, we used their power to change tumors. Surprisingly, some proteins that usually help the cancer grow slowed it down when they were outside the cells. We found that one protein, called PSCA, which is usually bad for patients, could help if we placed it extracellularly. We conducted experiments to see how the cancer cells reacted, and we also looked at how a conditioned medium from the blood could affect the cancer. We found that PSCA could make the cancer cells weaker and less able to spread; it works together with other medicines that are used to fight cancer. This discovery could lead to new ways to treat cancer by using the same protein that was causing the issue. Overall, our study shows that some things that have a negative impact could be used to help fight this tough cancer. Abstract Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is an aggressive cancer with low survival rates. We explored an innovative therapeutic approach by leveraging prognostic oncogenic markers. Instead of inhibiting these marker genes, we harnessed their tumor-modifying potential in the extracellular domain. Surprisingly, many of the proteins highly expressed in PDAC, which is linked to poor survival, exhibited tumor-suppressing qualities in the extracellular environment. For instance, prostate stem cell antigens (PSCA), associated with reduced survival, acted as tumor suppressors when introduced extracellularly. We performed in vitro assays to assess the proliferation and migration and evaluated the tumor-modifying capacity of extracellular factors from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) in PDAC tissues. Molecular docking analysis, immunoprecipitation, Western blotting, and RNA interference were employed to study the regulatory mechanism. Extracellular PSCA recombinant protein notably curtailed the viability, motility, and transwell invasion of PDAC cells. Its anti-PDAC effects were partially mediated by Mesothelin (MSLN), another highly expressed tumor-associated antigen in PDAC. The anti-tumor effects of extracellular PSCA complemented those of chemotherapeutic agents like Irinotecan, 5-Fluorouracil, and Oxaliplatin. PSCA expression increased in a conditioned medium derived from PBMCs and T lymphocytes. This study unveils the paradoxical anti-PDAC potential of PSCA, hinting at the dual roles of oncoproteins like PSCA in PDAC suppression.
Rock physics investigation of seismic wave absorption in reservoir rocks

This research provides insight into the process of pore- fluid induced absorption which is important for absorption compensation and seismic image enhancement. The absorptive property of a medium is described by the rock inverse quality factor ( ), perturbational forward modeling is conducted by varying saturation and estimating the inverse quality factor using first principles of rock inelastic properties and modeling seismic absorption in rock with partial gas saturation as commonly encountered in hydrocarbon exploration. The response of a visco-elastic rock depends on the frequency of the propagating seismic energy. The difference between modulus estimated at high and low frequencies is translated to the coefficient of absorption (or inverse quality factor). Absorption estimated at 0.4 irreducible water saturation (0.6 gas saturation) is higher than 0.8 irreducible water saturation (0.2 gas saturation). The higher the gas saturation, the higher the absorption, and the poorer the seismic image. The signature of gas induced absorption in the selected earth model are the increase time –thickness in the reservoir interval, large contrast in the top and base amplitude, pulse broadening and wavelet distortion. In hydrocarbon reservoir evaluation, seismic absorption can be used to interpret for fluid units. Information about seismic absorption can also be used, by means of absorption compensation, to enhance seismic data resolution. KEYWORDS: Saturation, Absorption, Dispersion, Inverse Quality Factor, Anelastic
Simulation of in‐cloud icing events on Mount Washington with the GEM‐LAM

[1] In-cloud icing on structures such as transmission lines and wind turbines is an important consideration both for design and operations. It often occurs in coastal areas and over high terrain, where there are virtually no systematic observations. The regional mesoscale model GEM-LAM of the Canadian Meteorological Center (CMC) was used to model three historical icing events on Mount Washington, where observational data were available. These three events are representative of the most frequent low level wind directions for seven available observation periods. A newly developed sophisticated two-moment microphysics scheme (Milbrandt-Yau) is used in GEM-LAM. The simulated cloud properties and other meteorological data are compared with near surface observational data. Simulation results from the 1-km resolution run agree best with the observations, with an average RMSE (root mean square error) of 1.6°C for near surface temperature, 4.6 m s−1 for wind speed, 0.23 g m−3 for liquid water content, and 5.8 μm for the median volume droplet diameter. These simulated meteorological fields and cloud properties were used as inputs to a cylindrical sleeve icing model. The modeled icing rate from the GEM-LAM simulated fields follows the temporal evolution of the observed one with average RMSE of 1.53 g m−1 min−1 compared to an average measured icing rate of 1.98 g m−1 min−1 for all the three cases.
Instigators of Cyber-Bullying: A New Strategy for New Players

ABSTRACT Cyber-bullying rates are rising around the world due to the rapid growth of technology. Victims, bullies, by-standers, and instigators of cyber-bullying utilize numerous platforms such as Snapchat, Instagram, Twitter, and Burnbook, and face numerous consequences due to bullying behaviors occurring on these sites. These consequences range from depression, anxiety, guilt, and fear to lowered academic achievement and even suicide. Instigators are often over-looked when bullying prevention and intervention programs are developed. In response, the authors of this article detail a program targeted toward the elimination of negative cyber-bullying instigator behaviors. The authors describe an approach that combines empathy training, solution-focused complimenting, and art/journaling with no-bullying contracts. Specific details are described so educators can implement the intervention.
THE CARBONATE FRACTION OF BEACH AND DUNE SANDS

SUMMARY The sand size carbonate fractions of beach and dune sands from the southeastern U.S. Atlantic coast were investigated from the standpoint of mineralogy, roundness and size distribution. The carbonate fractions of beach-dune sands used in this study range in abundance from less than 1% to over 40% and average about 10%. Calcium carbonate is least abundant in Georgia beaches and increases slightly to the north and greatly to the south. The size distribution of the carbonate fraction is similar to that of the non-carbonate fraction since both have been distributed by the same processes. The variable flat shape of calcareous fragments causes the carbonate fraction to be usually coarser and more poorly sorted than the acid insoluble residues of the samples. No regional relationship between roundness and wave energies was found in sand size materials although field observations indicate high energies strikingly round gravel sized calcareous fragments. There is some tendency for angularity to increase with decreasing grain size in the sand sizes as with quartz grains. The mineralogy of beach sand carbonate fractions is characterized by the almost total absence of high My calcite. Aragonite is the dominant mineral.
Detecting Holocene movements of the woodland–steppe ecotone in northern China using discriminant analysis

Discriminant functions link vegetation zones and surface pollen along the woodland–steppe ecotone in northern China. These links were utilised to reconstruct palaeovegetation using fossil pollen data from four lake sediment sites within the ecotone. Holocene movements of the vegetation zones were derived from the above results and were interpreted as the results of climatic, topographic and edaphic factors. This study shows that climatic change was the driving factor for ecotonal movement, but that the positions of vegetational zones were nevertheless controlled by topographical and edaphic conditions, and consequently boundaries between different vegetational zones responded individualistically. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
High intensity absorption imaging scheme for a Dysprosium quantum gas

Absorption imaging is a very common probing technique in experiments with ultracold atoms. It allows the determination of the atom number in a sample. Typically an absorption image is divided by a reference image and the logarithm of the result is taken, yielding the optical densities as described by Beer’s law. In this thesis, the effects of saturation on the reconstructed atom number are studied, leading, amongst others, to the modified Lamert-Beer law. A flexible optical setup for imaging atom clouds in a magneto-optic trap as well as Bose-Einstein-condensates is designed, simulated and characterized. The corrections to the atom number are demonstrated by performing absorption imaging with wavelengths of 421 nm and 626 nm. For the latter transition extended measurements on the power broadening of this transition are done and it is demonstrated, that the variance of the reconstructed atom number can be reduced by introducing a correction factor. Additionally, two EMCCD cameras for use in a quantum gas microscope are characterized.
Pollen assemblages and their environmental implications in the Qaidam Basin, NW China

The Qaidam Basin is one of the most sensitive areas to climate change in China, owing to its unique geographical position and ecological condition. In this study, 32 surface‐soil pollen samples were collected to reveal the relationship between modern pollen assemblages, vegetation and precipitation in the eastern region of the Qaidam Basin. The results show that Chenopodiaceae (3.8–87%, average 48%), Artemisia (1.7–64.2%, average 17.5%) and Ephedra (0–90%, average 16.3%) are the dominant pollen types in all samples, and that different pollen assemblages correspond to different vegetation types. DCA and CCA of major pollen types demonstrate that precipitation is an important factor in the control of the distribution of vegetation in the study area. The content and concentration of the three major pollen types (Artemisia, Chenopodiaceae and Ephedra) change with the mean annual precipitation, and the optimum mean annual precipitation for Ephedra, Chenopodiaceae and Artemisia is <80, 80–200 and >160 mm, respectively. Correlation analysis between the variation in grain size of the three major pollen types and the main environmental variables shows that the grain size of the three pollen types is positively correlated with precipitation in the Qaidam Basin. The results confirm that precipitation is the most important environmental factor in the Qaidam Basin, and that it has an important effect on pollen grain size in the study area.
Geology and Fe-Skarn Mineralization in Lolo Prospect, Solok West Sumatra, Indonesia

The study area is situated in Lolo village, Pantai Cermin district, Solok regency, West Sumatra province, Indonesia. Several mining companies have been operated for skarn-related iron ore type in this area and its vicinity. Although the study area has been explored, the detailed geology and Fe skarn characteristics remain unclear. This paper therefore, is dealing with the geological framework and characteristics of skarn mineralogy employing some laboratory analyses such as petrography, ore microscopy, X-Ray Diffraction, micro-XRF and AMICS, ICP-AES and ICP-MS analyses. The geological framework of the prospect was defined by a surface geological mapping and observation. Skarn alteration of limestone host-rock is typified by the presence of prograde minerals such as garnet, clinopyroxene, and wollastonite. The retrograde mineral is peculiarly not found in the limestone wall-rock, but in altered causative intrusion i.e. granodiorite. The altered granodiorite is composed of some key propylitic minerals such as chlorite, epidote, and a few clay minerals. Fe skarn mineralization is represented in magnetite, hematite, goethite and limonite which are associated with several sulphide minerals such as covellite, pyrite, and chalcopyrite. Mass balance analysis on limestone indicates a mass gain of 0.16%, whereas mass balance analysis on granodiorite indicating mass loss of 3.36%. Ore mineralization and skarn alteration are strongly controlled by NW-SE and NE-SW trending faults and the distribution of limestone. Follow-up subsurface exploration is needed to define the Fe skarn orebody.
Non-stationarity in daily and sub-daily intense rainfall – Part 2: Regional assessment for sites in south-east Australia

Abstract. Using data for a common period (1976–2005) for a set of 31 sites located in south-east Australia, variations in frequency and magnitude of intense rainfall events across durations from 6 min to 72 h were assessed. This study was driven by a need to clarify how variations in climate might affect intense rainfall and the potential for flooding. Sub-daily durations are of particular interest for urban applications. Worldwide, few such observation-based studies exist, which is mainly due to limitations in data. Analysis of seasonality in frequency and magnitude of events revealed considerable variation across the set of sites, implying different dominating rainfall-producing mechanisms and/or interactions with local topography. Both these factors are relevant when assessing the potential effects of climate variations on intense rainfall events. The set of sites was therefore split into groups ("north cluster" and "south cluster") according to the characteristics of intense rainfall events. There is a strong polarisation in the nature of changes found for the north cluster and south cluster. While sites in the north cluster typically exhibit decrease in frequency of events, particularly in autumn and at durations of 1 h and longer; sites in the south cluster experience an increase in frequency of events, particularly for summer and sub-hourly durations. Non-stationarity found in historical records has the potential to significantly affect design rainfall estimates. An assessment of quantile estimates derived using a standard regionalisation technique and periods representative of record lengths available for practical applications show that such estimates may not be representative of long-term conditions, so alternative approaches need to be considered, particularly where short records are concerned. Additional rainfall information, in particular radar data, could be used for an in-depth spatial analysis of intense rainfall events.
Going in the right direction Cellular mechanisms underlying root halotropism

Changes in the endocytosis and re-localization of auxin carriers represent an important mechanism for adapting plant growth-and developmental responses, especially upon experiencing salinity stress. Following their homology to mammalian phospholipase Ds (PLDs), the PLDζs in plants are likely candidates to regulate auxin-carrier endocytosis. Arabidopsis thaliana contains two PLDζ isoforms, PLDζ1 and PLDζ2. While a role in halotropism and gravitropism has been reported for PLDζ2, the underlying cellular mechanisms still remain unclear, as does the potential involvement of PLDζ1. Here, tropic phenotypes in a pldζ1-KO mutant were investigated, together with the dynamics of two auxin transporters during salt stress, i.e. the efflux carrier, PIN2 and the influx carrier, AUX1 We found altered halotropic-and gravitropic responses in absence of PLDζ1, and report a role for PLDζ1 in the polar localization of PIN2, both under normal conditions and during salt stress. Irrespective of the genetic background, salt stress induced changes in AUX1 polarity. Based on our earlier model, we found that these novel salt induced-AUX1 changes contribute to halotropic auxin asymmetry. Our updated model predicts that the differences in salt induced-PIN2 changes in the pldζ1 mutant indeed lead to slower build-up of auxin asymmetry. In this paper, we also describe the formation of so-called ‘Osmotic Stress-Induced Structures’ (OSIMS) that, to our knowledge, have bot been described before. They represent large (± 600 nm) membrane structures that are formed at the plasma membrane, shortly after NaCl or sorbitol treatment and remain present in a pldζ1 mutant, while they disappear in the wildtype. OSIMS do not co-localize with clathrin and their formation is not altered when sterol-influencing drugs are applied during salt stress. Taken together, these results increase our knowledge on auxin carrier dynamics during salt stress.
Proximate analysis of New Zealand and Australian coals by thermogravimetry

Abstract A technique has been developed at The University of Auckland for proximate analysis of coals by thermogravimetry using sample weights of <20 mg. Samples from three New Zealand coalfields and the Bowen Basin of Queensland, Australia, have been analysed. Coals tested range in rank from subbituminous to semianthracite, and have ash contents from 3.1 to 21.4% on a dry basis. Results obtained using the technique are within acceptable precision limits of the standard procedure. Volatile matter content of the coal shows a logarithmic increase with decreasing sample weight. To minimise this effect on repeatability, and to optimise the equipment capabilities, sample weights of 15.5 ± 0.5 mg should be used. The technique is ideally suited to (1) analysing samples where insufficient material is available for standard proximate analysis, and (2) correlation with microstudies of coal.
Appendix 2.1. Monthly Varying Organic Carbon to Mass Ratio

Converting organic carbon (OC) to particulate organic matter (POM) requires an assumption of an organic carbon to mass ratio (POM = (OM/OC) × OC) to account for unmeasured species such as hydrogen, oxygen, and other compounds associated with carbon. Previous work demonstrated that the OM/OC value of 1.8 used in earlier IMPROVE reconstructed mass and extinction algorithms may no longer be appropriate (Hand et al., 2019). The fine mass residual (equation 2.1.1), defined as the difference between PM2.5 gravimetric mass (FM) and reconstructed fine mass (RCFM, equation 2.1.2), was found to vary seasonally and appeared to have increased since 2005.
Resisting Multiple Advanced Persistent Threats via Hypergame-Theoretic Defensive Deception

Existing defensive deception (DD) approaches apply game theory, assuming that an attacker and defender play the same, full game with all possible strategies. However, in deceptive settings, players may have different beliefs about the game itself. Such structural uncertainty is not naturally handled in traditional game theory. In this work, we formulate an attack-defense hypergame where multiple advanced persistent threat (APT) attackers and a single defender play a repeated game with different perceptions. The hypergame model systematically evaluates how various DD strategies can defend proactively against APT attacks. We present an adaptive method to select an optimal defense strategy using hypergame theory for strategic defense as well as machine learning for adaptive defense. We conducted in-depth experiments to analyze the performance of the eight schemes including ours, baselines, and existing counterparts. We found the DD strategies showed their highest advantages when the hypergame and machine learning are considered in terms of reduced false positives and negatives of the NIDS, system lifetime, and players’ perceived uncertainties and utilities. We also analyze the Hyper Nash Equilibrium of given hypergames and discuss the key findings and insights behind them.
A study on the Internal Control of accounting information system

Today's organisations are operating and competing in an information age. Information has become a key resource of most organisations, economies, and societies. In recent years, because of the development of IT industry, manual-based accounting information system has been replaced by Accounting Information System (AIS). AIS is vital to all organisations and perhaps, every rganisations either profit or non profit-oriented need to maintain the AIS.But AIS also brings with a set of new problems. To fully prevent or minimize the possibility of errors or fraud that come with the AIS, the paper gives the essential concepts and applications of Internal Controls in AIS.
Limited overlap between genetic effects on disease susceptibility and disease survival

Understanding disease progression is of a high biological and clinical interest. Unlike disease susceptibility whose genetic basis has been abundantly studied, less is known about the genetics of disease progression and its overlap with disease susceptibility. Considering ten common diseases (N cases ranging from 17,152 to 99,666) across seven biobanks, we systematically compared the genetic architecture of susceptibility and progression, defined as disease-specific mortality. We identified only one locus significantly associated with disease-specific mortality and show that, at a similar sample size, more genome-wide significant loci can be identified in a GWAS of disease susceptibility. Variants that were significantly affecting disease susceptibility were weakly or not associated with disease-specific mortality. Moreover, susceptibility polygenic scores (PGSs) were weak predictor of disease-specific mortality while a PGS for general lifespan was significantly associated with disease-specific mortality for five out of ten diseases. We used theoretical derivation and simulation to propose plausible explanations for our empirical observations and account for potential index-event bias. Overall, our findings point to little similarity in genetic effects between disease susceptibility and disease-specific mortality and suggest that either larger sample sizes or different measures of progression are needed to identify the genetic underpinning of disease progression.