Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
High density of structurally controlled, shallow to deep water fluid seep indicators imaged offshore Costa Rica

We used high‐resolution mapping to document 161 sites of potential fluid seepage on the shelf and slope regions where no geophysical seep indicators had been reported. Identified potential seabed seepage sites show both high‐backscatter anomalies and bathymetric expressions, such as pockmarks, mounds, and ridges. Almost all identified seabed features are associated with bright spots and flat spots beneath, as mapped within the 3‐D seismic grid. We obtained EM122 multi‐beam data using closely spaced receiver beams and 4–5 times overlapping multi‐beam swaths, which greatly improved the sounding density and geologic resolvability of the data. At least one location shows an acoustic plume in the water column on a 3.5 kHz profile, and this plume is located along a fault trace and above surface and subsurface seepage indicators. Fluid indicators are largely associated with folds and faults within the sediment section, and many of the faults continue into and offset the reflective basement. A dense pattern of normal faults is seen on the outer shelf in the multi‐beam bathymetry, backscatter, and 3‐D seismic data, and the majority of fluid seepage indicators lie along mapped fault traces. Furthermore, linear mounds, ridges, and pockmark chains are found on the upper, middle, and lower slope regions. The arcuate shape of the shelf edge, projection of the Quepos Ridge, and high density of potential seep sites suggest that this area may be a zone of former seamount/ridge subduction. These results demonstrate a much greater potential seep density and distribution than previously reported across the Costa Rican margin.
The Entorhinal Cortex Entrains Fast CA1 Hippocampal Oscillations in the Anaesthetized Guinea‐pig: Role of the Monosynaptic Component of the Perforant Path

Entorhinal inputs reach the hippocampal CA1 field through a trisynaptic circuit involving dentate granule cells and CA3 pyramidal neurons, as well as through a monosynaptic path ending on the distal apical dendrites of CA1 pyramidal cells. The influence of monosynaptic entorhinal inputs onto CA1 operations is poorly understood. In this study, we characterized the involvement of the monosynaptic pathway in the generation of the fast CA1 oscillation bursts (30–60 Hz) that occur in the dorsal hippocampus of anaesthetized guinea‐pigs after partial cortex removal. Using multiple‐site extracellular and intracellular recording, we found that in this particular preparation, devoid of theta rhythm, fast oscillations are temporally coherent over a large portion of the CA1 region along the hippocampal septotemporal axis. Current source density analysis revealed that fast CA1 oscillations involve two dipoles reflecting synchronous synaptic activities in the stratum lacunosum‐moleculare of the hippocampus proper and in the stratum moleculare of the dentate gyrus. These layers constitute the two major termination zones of entorhinal afferents, suggesting that the entorhinal cortex entrains fast CA1 oscillations. This hypothesis was corroborated by the concomitant occurrence of fast oscillation bursts in the entorhinal cortex and CA1 region. Furthermore, fast CA1 oscillations were abolished by lidocaine or tetrodotoxin injections in the entorhinal cortex. Finally, acute interruption of the hippocampal trisynaptic loop did not affect the stratum lacunosum‐moleculare dipole recorded extracellularly, but also intracellularly, as high‐frequency postsynaptic potentials in CA1 pyramidal cells. These results indicate that the monosynaptic pathway is involved in the genesis of fast CA1 oscillations.
Large randomized study of thymosin alpha 1, interferon alfa, or both in combination with dacarbazine in patients with metastatic melanoma.

PURPOSE Thymosin alpha 1 (Talpha1) is an immunomodulatory polypeptide that enhances effector T-cell responses. In this large randomized study, we evaluated the efficacy and safety of combining Talpha1 with dacarbazine (DTIC) and interferon alfa (IFN-alpha) in patients with metastatic melanoma. PATIENTS AND METHODS Four hundred eighty-eight patients were randomly assigned to five treatment groups: DTIC+IFN-alpha+Talpha1 (1.6 mg); DTIC+IFN-alpha+Talpha1 (3.2 mg); DTIC+IFN-alpha+Talpha1 (6.4 mg); DTIC+Talpha1 (3.2 mg); DTIC+IFN-alpha (control group). The primary end point was best overall response at study end (12 months). Secondary end points included duration of response, overall survival (OS), and progression-free survival (PFS). Patients were observed for up to 24 months. RESULTS Ten and 12 tumor responses were observed in the DTIC+IFN-alpha+Talpha1 (3.2 mg) and DTIC+Talpha1 (3.2 mg) groups, respectively, versus four in the control group, which was sufficient to reject the null hypothesis that P(0) < or = . 05 (expected response rate of standard therapy) in these two arms. Duration of response ranged from 1.9 to 23.2 months in patients given Talpha1 and from 4.4 to 8.4 months in the control group. Median OS was 9.4 months in patients given Talpha1 versus 6.6 months in the control group (hazard ratio = 0.80; 9% CI, 0.63 to 1.02; P = .08). An increase in PFS was observed in patients given Talpha1 versus the control group (hazard ratio = 0.80; 95% CI, 0.63 to 1.01; P = .06). Addition of Talpha1 to DTIC and IFN-alpha did not lead to any additional toxicity. CONCLUSION These results suggest Talpha1 has activity in patients with metastatic melanoma and provide rationale for further clinical evaluation of this agent.
High frequency modeling of power MOSFET

EMI becomes unavoidable owing to the high frequency of power electronics. In order to predict and reduce the influence of EMI, a precise high frequency model of power MOSFET needs to be established to forecast EMI in the circuit. First, two common used power MOSFET models, the sub-circuit model and the lumped-charge model were described. After comparing the advantages and disadvantages of these two models, a novel modeling approach by using Model Architect tools in the saber was introduced. Then by comparing simulation, it was shown that the model built by Model Architect tools can reflect the real situation and is more suitable for the research of conducted EMI.
What People Want in a Prosthetic Foot: A Focus Group Study

Introduction Most people with lower-limb amputation (LLA) rely on a prosthetic foot for participation at home and in the community. The published literature describes problems with mobility after LLA, yet there have been few published accounts of peoples' participation experiences. The purpose of this study was to increase understanding of the impact of prosthetic feet on participation in the activities of daily life by examining the experience of prosthetic users and professionals. Materials and Methods Users of prosthetic feet and health care professionals who prescribe prosthetic feet were invited to complete a brief online questionnaire before participating in one of five focus groups. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize questionnaire data. Focus group sessions were audio recorded and transcribed. Each transcript was thematically coded independently by four researchers. Emergent themes were discussed, categorized, and cross-referenced. Results Eleven prosthetic foot users (68.8%) and 11 professionals (100%) completed the online questionnaires. Although the prosthetic foot users rated their difficulty with usual activities as none to slight, 36% reported falling within the last 6 months, and 45% indicated that they modified their participation because of the potential for falls. Sixteen prosthetic foot users and 11 health care professionals took part in focus groups. There was a significant overlap in themes discussed by prosthetic foot users and health care professionals. Identified barriers to full participation included the ability to stand for extended periods, navigate in confined spaces, carry heavy objects, and change body posture. Absence of sensory feedback created significant concerns about safety when driving a car, navigating uneven terrain, or climbing ladders. Characteristics of existing prosthetic feet that impact participation included limited durability, lack of waterproofing, and limited range of motion. Current designs limited choices of footwear and created difficulties donning and doffing shoes. Conclusions Participants' reported confidence in forward walking on even ground suggests that current prosthetic feet are well-suited for this limited use. However, they also identified a number of situations in which their current prosthetic feet caused significant difficulties, often with safety implications. While some stories, such as rocks on the sidewalk, are consistent with the literature, other stories describe situations such as ladders and stepstools that are not well documented. Our study highlights the utility of focus groups in identifying previously unrecognized needs and concerns, with significant implications for the design of prosthetic feet. Future studies should include more diverse participants, particularly with regard to age and overall physical health.
Retinoic acid and nitric oxide promote cell proliferation and differentially induce neuronal differentiation in vitro in the cnidarian Renilla koellikeri

Retinoic acid (RA) and nitric oxide (NO) are known to promote neuronal development in both vertebrates and invertebrates. Retinoic acid receptors appear to be present in cnidarians and NO plays various physiological roles in several cnidarians, but there is as yet no evidence that these agents have a role in neural development in this basal metazoan phylum. We used primary cultures of cells from the sea pansy Renilla koellikeri to investigate the involvement of these signaling molecules in cnidarian cell differentiation. We found that 9‐cis RA induce cell proliferation in dose‐ and time‐dependent manners in dishes coated with polylysine from the onset of culture. Cells in cultures exposed to RA in dishes devoid of polylysine were observed to differentiate into epithelium‐associated cells, including sensory cells, without net gain in cell density. NO donors also induce cell proliferation in polylysine‐coated dishes, but induce neuronal differentiation and neurite outgrowth in uncoated dishes. No other cell type undergoes differentiation in the presence of NO. These observations suggest that in the sea pansy (1) cell adhesion promotes proliferation without morphogenesis and this proliferation is modulated positively by 9‐cis RA and NO, (2) 9‐cis RA and NO differentially induce neuronal differentiation in nonadherent cells while repressing proliferation, and (3) the involvement of RA and NO in neuronal differentiation appeared early during the evolutionary emergence of nervous systems. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Develop Neurobiol 70: 842–852, 2010
The future of solid-state electronics

For more than thirty years, the capability of the integrated circuit (IC) — whether it is memory size, processor speed, or cost per transistor — has increased at an exponential rate. This capability increase was achieved through a steady stream of technical innovations in physical sciences, design techniques, and manufacturing methods. However, serious challenges to continued scaling, such as the limits of optical lithography and the complexity of wiring, loom on the horizon. This paper explores the direction in which IC technology is headed, highlights potential roadblocks and possible solutions, and discusses some of the physical considerations that could determine the ultimate limits of integration.
Surfactant transport over airway liquid lining of nonuniform depth.

Numerous effects (e.g., airway wall buckling, gravity, airway curvature, capillary instabilities) give rise to nonuniformities in the depth of the liquid lining of peripheral lung airways. The effects of such thickness variations on the unsteady spreading of a surfactant monolayer along an airway are explored theoretically here. Flow-induced film deformations are shown to have only a modest influence on spreading rates, motivating the use of a simplified model in which the liquid-lining depth is prescribed and the monolayer concentration satisfies a spatially inhomogeneous nonlinear diffusion equation. Two generic situations are considered: spreading along a continuous annular liquid lining of nonuniform depth, and spreading along a rivulet that wets the airway wall with zero contact angle. In both cases, transverse averaging at large times yields a one-dimensional approximation of axial spreading that is valid for the majority of the monolayer. However, a localized monolayer remains persistently two dimensional in a region at its leading edge having axial length scales comparable to the length scale of transverse depth variation. It is also shown how the transverse spreading of a monolayer may be arrested as it approaches a static contact line at the edge of a rivulet. Implications for Surfactant Replacement Therapy are discussed.
Studies on the preparation of water-insoluble derivatives of rennin and chymotrypsin and their use in the hydrolysis of casein and the clotting of milk.

1. Enzymically active insoluble derivatives of chymotrypsin and rennin were prepared by coupling each enzyme to agarose as described by Porath, Axén & Ernback (1967) and rennin to aminoethylcellulose by the method of Habeeb (1967). 2. Agarose-chymotrypsin was stable over the range pH2-9, but agarose-rennin released active enzyme into solution at above pH2 and aminoethylcellulose-rennin was similarly unstable at certain pH values. 3. Each derivative appeared to catalyse the clotting of milk at 30 degrees , but this was probably entirely due to enzyme released into solution from the carrier. 4. The presence of a competitive inhibitor of chymotrypsin during its coupling to agarose had no effect on the activity or stability of the resulting derivative. 5. The characteristics of agarose and cellulose render them not entirely suitable for use in a continuous system with milk.
Isotopic evolution of a seasonal snowpack and its melt

The study of isotopic variation in snowmelt from seasonal snowpacks is useful for understanding snowmelt processes and is important for accurate hydrograph separation of spring runoff. However, the complex and variable nature of processes within a snowpack has precluded a quantitative link between the isotopic composition of the original snow and its melt. This work studies the isotopic composition of new snow and its modification by snow metamorphism and melting. To distinguish individual snowstorms, we applied solutions of rare earth elements to the snow surface between storms. The snowmelt was isotopically less variable than the snowpack, which in turn was less variable than the new snow, reflecting isotopic redistribution during metamorphism and melting. The snowmelt had low δ18O values early in the season and became progressively enriched in 18O as the pack continued to melt. On a given day, meltwater δ18O was systematically lower whenever melt rates were low than when melt rates were high. The progressive enrichment in δ18O of snowmelt and the dependence of δ18O on melt rates can be explained by isotopic exchange between liquid water and ice. A one‐dimensional (1‐D) model of the melting process, including advection and water‐ice isotopic exchange kinetics, reproduces the observed progressive 18O enrichment of snowmelt.
Antioxidant activity of some polyphenol constituents of the medicinal plant Phyllanthus amarus Linn

Abstract Phyllanthus amarus Linn is a widely distributed tropical medicinal plant highly valued for its therapeutic properties. The antioxidant activity of some of its principal constituents, namely amariin, 1-galloyl-2,3-dehydrohexahydroxydiphenyl (DHHDP)-glucose, repandusinic acid, geraniin, corilagin, phyllanthusiin D, rutin and quercetin 3-O-glucoside were examined for their ability to scavenge free radicals in a range of systems including 2,2-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), 2,2-azobis-3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS)/ferrylmyoglobin, ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) and pulse radiolysis. In addition, their ability to protect rat liver mitochondria against oxidative damage was determined by measuring the ROO• radical induced damage to proteins and lipids and •OH radical induced damage to plasmid DNA. The compounds showed significant antioxidant activities with differing efficacy depending on the assays employed. Amariin, repandusinic acid and phyllanthusiin D showed higher antioxidant activity among the ellagitannins and were comparable to the flavonoids, rutin and quercetin 3-O-glucoside.
Indicators of Material Hardship and Depressive Symptoms Among Homebound Older Adults Living in North Carolina

This study used the concept of material hardship to understand how unmet needs related to food, housing, and health influence depressive symptoms among homebound older adults (N = 345) in North Carolina. Using data from the Nutrition and Function Study, 37% reported high levels of depressive symptoms and 17.4% indicated not receiving needed health care. Approximately 10% of respondents were food insecure; 30.7% were at risk for food insecurity; and 39.7% reported having to choose between either food and medication or food and paying bills. Adjusted logistic regression model revealed that food insecurity status (OR = 4.9) and age 60–74 y (OR = 2.4) were significantly associated with a greater number of depressive symptoms. Other indicators of material hardship, such as having a major financial difficulty, unmet health need, and inadequate housing, were not significant. By far, food insecurity was the most salient influence on depressive symptoms. These findings have important implications for service providers, researchers, and policymakers.
A wealth-requirement axiomatization of riskiness

How are risks evaluated? Here risk is meant in the simplest sense: facing certain gains or losses, with given probabilities. The “subjective” approach considers each individual decision-maker separately, and proceeds according to that decision-maker’s preference and utility. But can risks be evaluated in an “objective” manner—depending only on the risks themselves and not on the specific decision-maker’s attitude? While at first sight this may appear to be a tall order, remember that objective measures do exist, as, for example, the return of the gamble (its expectation) and the spread of the gamble (its standard deviation). While the standard deviation is at times used also to measure riskiness, in general it is not a good measure of it. This is so, in particular, since the standard deviation is not monotonic: one may increase the gains and decrease the losses—which clearly lowers the risks—in such a way that the standard deviation actually increases. New objective measures of riskiness have recently been developed by Aumann and Serrano (2008) and Foster and Hart (2009). While the approach of Aumann and Serrano is axiomatic (it is based mainly on their “duality” axiom), the approach of Foster
Development of the sheep ovary during fetal and early neonatal life and the effect of fecundity genes.

In female sheep fetuses, the mesonephros and genital ridge can be identified at days 20 and 23 of gestation (term = 145 days), respectively. Moreover oogonia can be observed at the genital ridge from as early as day 23. Around day 55 of gestation, some germ cells enter meiosis coincident with the arrival of mesonephric-derived somatic cells (i.e. the rete ovarii). From day 75, 100, 120 and 135 of gestation, primordial (one layer of flattened granulosa cells), primary (one complete layer of cuboidal granulosa cells; early preantral), secondary (preantral) and tertiary (antral) follicles, respectively, develop within the innermost regions of the ovarian cortex. During the early neonatal period highly variable numbers of antral follicles may be present. After examination of Booroola fetuses from day 28 of gestation, it seems that the FecBB gene is associated with retarded development of the heart (day 28) mesonephros (days 30-40) and from day 30 to early neonatal life, the ovary. With respect to the ovary, fewer oogonia (days 30-40), primordial follicles (day 75-90) and growing follicles (day 120 to 6 weeks after birth) have been observed in females carrying the FecBB gene. By contrast, the FecBB gene is not associated with differences in plasma gonadotrophin or immunoreactive inhibin until early neonatal life. In Inverdale (I) fetuses heterozygous for the FecXI gene (I+), retarded germ cell development was observed at days 40 and 90 of gestation. In putative homozygous carriers (II) of the Inverdale gene, germ cell development appeared normal until day 100, but thereafter from day 120 normal secondary follicles were not observed, although many abnormal follicular-like structures were present. In both I+ and II fetuses no obvious differences in gonadotrophin concentrations have been noted. Collectively, the evidence suggests that the fecundity genes FecBB and FecXI, which affect ovulation rate in sexually mature females, are regulating organ differentiation or germ cell maturation or both processes during fetal life.
Ultrawideband signals former with controlled time shift

The former of ultrawideband signals with controlled time shift for the phased antenna array is developed. Formation of coherent harmonious signals with the necessary time shifts comparable to duration of a signal, is carried out by synthesizers of direct digital synthesis. Synchronization of synthesizers is carried out by signals of the common clock generator. Distribution of this signal carries out clock distributor. The former can be used in radar systems with use phased antenna array with excitation antennas elements ultrawideband signals with the set time shift.
Production of natural insecticide from Neem leaves (Azadirachta indica)

Research into the insecticidal effects of azadirachtin, a limonoid from the Neem tree (Azadirachta indica) has been ongoing for some 30 years. Its strong antifeedant, insect growth regulatory and reproductive effects are now well understood and documented. Antiffedancy varies markedly between species with mosquitoes being particularly sensitive to azadirachtin. The mode of action of azadirachtin lies in (i) effects on deterrent and other chemoreceptors resulting in antifeedancy and (ii) direct effects on most other tissues studied resulting in an overall loss of fitness of the insect. The complexity of the molecular structure of azadirachtin has precluded its synthesis for pesticide use although novel synthesis of the parent molecule is now almost complete and research into simpler mimetic substances is ongoing. Applied research has concentrated on a variety of natural formulations from neem seed kernels which contain azadirachtin together with several structurally related molecules. This study brings the reader up to date with both pure and applied research in the field, and provides a detailed overview of present thinking into the mode of action of azadirachtin. Wherever possible comparative approaches have been made between species of the effects of pure azadirachtin and areas for future research are indicated.