Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Heavy Metal Distribution in Street Dust of Urban and Industrial Areas in Jeddah , Saudi Arabia

The concentrations of heavy metals namely: Pb, Ni, Cd, Cr, Cu, Zn, Fe and Mn were measured in street dust samples. The samples were collected from the urban (Aljamaa district, main streets and substreets) and industrial areas of Jeddah city, Saudi Arabia. The concentrations of the measured metals were significantly higher in the main streets of the urban area than those found in the industrial area and substrates of the urban area. However, Pb was found in the highest levels in industrial area. The concentrations of the individual metals in street dust collected from the main streets and substreets of the urban area and industrial area averaged 70.36, 53.51 and 105.76 μg/g for Pb; 39.71, 24.00 and 27.28 μg/g for Ni; 2.24, 1.32 and 1.57 μg/g for Cd; 72.93, 40.10 and 47.67 μg/g for Cr; 125.52, 83.32 and 93.66 μg/g for Cu; 340.85, 214.10 and 240.50 μg/g for Zn; 10199.42, 7678.84 and 7918.42 μg/g for Fe and 514.15, 389.69 and 400.64 μg/g for Mn, respectively. The ratios of main streets/substreets metal concentration in the urban area were 1.31, 1.65, 1.70, 1.82, 1.51, 1.59, 1.33 and 1.32 for Pb, Ni, Cd, Cr, Cu, Zn, Fe and Mn, respectively. The mean concentrations of measured heavy metals in street dust from both study areas were lower / higher or similar to those detected in other cities of the world. The average concentrations of Cu and Zn in street dust of the main street dusts of the urban area exceeded the permissible limit value of soil. Significant positive correlation coefficients were found between the concentrations of Cr, Cd, Cu and Zn and also between the concentrations of Fe, Mn and Ni, Cr, Cu and Zn in the street dust of the urban area. On the other hand, insignificant positive correlation coefficients were found between the concentrations of Pb and other metals in street dust of the urban area. In the industrial area, significant positive correlation coefficients were found between the concentrations of heavy metals in the street dust. 56 Mamdouh I. Khoder et al.
Total Phenolic Content , Flavonoid Concentration and Antioxidant Activity of Leaves and Bark Extracts of Celtis australis

In this study, total phenolic content, concentration of flavonoids and in vitro antioxidant activity of the methanolic 80% extracts of the leaves and the bark of Celtis australis L. (Ulmaceae) were determined using spectrophotometric methods in an effort to validate the medicinal potential activity of these parts. Leaves extract had a considerable larger amount yield of extract than the bark one using maceration as a method of extraction. Total phenols were calculated using Folin-Ciocalteu method whereas flavonoids concentrations were determined using AlCl3 method. Antioxidant activity was determined depending on the extracts abililty to scavenge the radical DPPH• and to reduce Fe3+ to Fe2+ (FRAP ferric reducing ability power). Total phenols found in the leaves extract (16.89 ± 0.73 mg GA/g dry plant) were higher than the phenols found in the bark one (5.53 ± 0.19 mg GA/g dry plant). Flavonoids concentration was (14 ± 0.19 mg RU/ g dry plant) in the leaves extract and (0.17 ± 0.003 mg RU/g dry plant) in the bark one. DPPH radical scavenging activity of the two parts was almost the same, whereas the ferric reducing ability power test showed different results depending on the extract type and concentration. In two distinct tests of antioxidant evaluation, the extracts showed less values compared with BHT as a standard antioxidant. This study, has to some extent, validated the medicinal potential of the leaves and bark of Celtis australis.
The Root Hair “Infectome” of Medicago truncatula Uncovers Changes in Cell Cycle Genes and Reveals a Requirement for Auxin Signaling in Rhizobial Infection[W][OPEN]

Transcriptome profiling of M. truncatula root hairs during the initial stages of rhizobial infection helps to interpret two decades of research on Medicago and provides a foundation for future studies on host-symbiont interactions in the rhizosphere. Nitrogen-fixing rhizobia colonize legume roots via plant-made intracellular infection threads. Genetics has identified some genes involved but has not provided sufficient detail to understand requirements for infection thread development. Therefore, we transcriptionally profiled Medicago truncatula root hairs prior to and during the initial stages of infection. This revealed changes in the responses to plant hormones, most notably auxin, strigolactone, gibberellic acid, and brassinosteroids. Several auxin responsive genes, including the ortholog of Arabidopsis thaliana Auxin Response Factor 16, were induced at infection sites and in nodule primordia, and mutation of ARF16a reduced rhizobial infection. Associated with the induction of auxin signaling genes, there was increased expression of cell cycle genes including an A-type cyclin and a subunit of the anaphase promoting complex. There was also induction of several chalcone O-methyltransferases involved in the synthesis of an inducer of Sinorhizobium meliloti nod genes, as well as a gene associated with Nod factor degradation, suggesting both positive and negative feedback loops that control Nod factor levels during rhizobial infection. We conclude that the onset of infection is associated with reactivation of the cell cycle as well as increased expression of genes required for hormone and flavonoid biosynthesis and that the regulation of auxin signaling is necessary for initiation of rhizobial infection threads.
Function of the Dictyostelium discoideum Atg1 Kinase during Autophagy and Development

ABSTRACT When starved, the amoebae of Dictyostelium discoideum initiate a developmental process that results in the formation of fruiting bodies in which stalks support balls of spores. The nutrients and energy necessary for development are provided by autophagy. Atg1 is a protein kinase that regulates the induction of autophagy in the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. In addition to a conserved kinase domain, Dictyostelium Atg1 has a C-terminal region that has significant homology to the Caenorhabditis elegans and mammalian Atg1 homologues but not to the budding yeast Atg1. We investigated the function of the kinase and conserved C-terminal domains of D. discoideum Atg1 (DdAtg1) and showed that these domains are essential for autophagy and development. Kinase-negative DdAtg1 acts in a dominant-negative fashion, resulting in a mutant phenotype when expressed in the wild-type cells. Green fluorescent protein-tagged kinase-negative DdAtg1 colocalizes with red fluorescent protein (RFP)-tagged DdAtg8, a marker of preautophagosomal structures and autophagosomes. The conserved C-terminal region is essential for localization of kinase-negative DdAtg1 to autophagosomes labeled with RFP-tagged Dictyostelium Atg8. The dominant-negative effect of the kinase-defective mutant also depends on the C-terminal domain. In cells expressing dominant-negative DdAtg1, autophagosomes are formed and accumulate but seem not to be functional. By using a temperature-sensitive DdAtg1, we showed that DdAtg1 is required throughout development; development halts when the cells are shifted to the restrictive temperature, but resumes when cells are returned to the permissive temperature.
Outlier Selection for RegARIMA Models

1. Abstract In most data applications, statisticians must identify and estimate outlier effects. When doing seasonal adjustment, we are concerned that outliers may interfere with estimation of seasonal effects. By removing outlier effects, we hope to produce the best possible seasonal adjustment. The autocorrelation structure of time series differs from that of other types of data, so the outlier selection techniques also must be different. Using a large sample of economic time series from the U.S. Census Bureau, we fit regARIMA models (regression models with ARIMA errors) to the data with the X-12-ARIMA seasonal adjustment program. Our research simulated production as we added data one month at a time, refitting the regARIMA models for each run. We looked at the performance of automatic outlier identification when we raised or lowered the critical value, and we compared that to visual outlier selection methods. We expected our visual selection methods to improve on automatic outlier identification, but we concluded that the current automatic identification procedure was generally the best method. After presenting background material, we describe our outlier identification methods, explain the regARIMA model diagnostics for the method comparison, and give our results.
The Impact of Governance Mechanisms on Relationship Quality : Effects in Key Account and Non Key Account Dyads

Despite increasing interest in the effective combination of alternative governance mechanisms for the management of inter-organizational exchange, there is relatively little empirical research that examines the impact of different governance mechanisms on relationship quality. Moreover, few authors link governance mechanisms to situational factors. This paper, based on a written survey among purchasing managers (n = 297), explores the relative importance of three governance mechanisms (formal contracts, relational norms, and specific investments) for relationship quality (satisfaction, commitment, and trust) across business contexts (key account dyads vs. non key account dyads). Results indicate that while value creating norms have a highly significant impact on all three outcomes in all contexts, the importance of contracts and value claiming norms depends upon the specific context. Relationship-specific investments have no significant impact on the outcome variables.
Spatio-temporal EEG brain imaging based on reduced Kalman filtering

The non-invasive EEG neuronal activity estimation is still an open research area, because the limited number of sensors and the thousands of possible sources make it an ill-posed inverse problem. In recent years several authors have included temporal information on the EEG inverse problem in order to reduce its dimensionality, followed by Kalman filters in order to fix the lack of information. But these approaches are impractical with large scale matrices of highly dense grids of dipoles filling the brain. On this paper a new reduction methodology for the Kalman filter estimation is proposed, it allows efficient computations without losing robustness and stability. The validation of the proposed methodology was performed in a realistic BEM head model with dipoles restricted to the gray matter and oriented perpendicular to the cortical surface. A well known database provided by the SPM8 software was implemented for comparison purposes with a LORETA-like smoother. These results show that the proposed methodology effectively improves the neuronal source reconstruction and localization, without increasing the computational cost.
Differential Space-Time coding for partially-coherent Decode and Forward cooperative communication

In this paper, a Decode and Forward (DF) cooperative communication scheme, achieving full rate, is introduced. The scheme uses Minimum-Decoding complexity Quasi-Orthogonal Space-Time Block Code (MDC-QOSTBC), which uses a non-linear transmitter to obtain a linear decoding complexity at the receiver side. The transmitter has four transmitting antennas and the receiver uses more than four antennas to achieve a better performance. This technique acquires a differential full-diversity and linear complexity of the system in the first-hop. The channel used is a partially-coherent relay channel (PCRC), where the first-hop is non-coherent and the second-hop is coherent. In the second hop, Generalized Selection Combining (GSC) technique is used to select and combine part of these relays. The relay nodes selection decision is based on instantaneous signal to noise ratio (ISNR).
Potential clinical utility of multiple system atrophy biomarkers

ABSTRACT Introduction: Multiple system atrophy (MSA), an adult-onset, fatal disorder of uncertain etiology, characterized by parkinsonism, cerebellar, autonomic and motor dysfunctions, is an α-synucleinopathy with glioneuronal degeneration involving multiple parts of the nervous system. The clinical variants correlate with the morphological phenotypes of striatonigral degeneration (MSA-P), olivoponto-cerebellar atrophy (MSA-C), and mixed type MSA. Neuropathological hallmark is the deposition of aberrant α-synuclein in glia and neurons forming cytoplasmic inclusions that cause cell dysfunction/demise. Areas covered: While our knowledge of the pathogenesis of this proteinopathy is still incomplete, updated consensus criteria and combined biomarkers have increased diagnostic accuracy. Multimodal imaging of structural and functional brain changes gives insight into the pathophysiology and may evaluate disease progression. Currently, the most useful CSF biomarkers are a combination of light chain neurofilament (elevated in MSA), catecholaminergic metabolites, and proteins (α-synuclein, DJ-1, tau). Several blood substances (neurofilament light chain, microRNAs) are non-invasive biomarkers. Expert commentary: Recent studies suggest that the combination of neuroimaging and fluid biomarkers may be more successful than using single markers to increase the accuracy of the clinical (differential) diagnosis of MSA. Multidisciplinary research to develop more reliable markers for a more exact and early diagnosis and targets for effective treatment are urgently needed.
Metallothionein I and II mitigate age‐dependent secondary brain injury

Both the immediate insult and delayed apoptosis contribute to functional deficits after brain injury. Secondary, delayed apoptotic death is more rapid in immature than in adult CNS neurons, suggesting the presence of age‐dependent protective factors. To understand the molecular pathobiology of secondary injury in the context of brain development, we identified changes in expression of oxidative stress response genes during postnatal development and target deprivation‐induced neurodegeneration. The antioxidants metallothionein I and II (MT I/II) were increased markedly in the thalamus of adult C57BL/6 mice compared to mice <15 days old. Target deprivation generates reactive oxygen species that mediate neuronal apoptosis in the central nervous system; thus the more rapid apoptosis observed in the immature brain might be due to lower levels of MT I/II. We tested this hypothesis by documenting neuronal loss after target‐deprivation injury. MT I/II‐deficient adult mice experienced greater thalamic neuron loss at 96 hr after cortical injury compared to that in controls (80 ± 2% vs. 57 ± 4%, P < 0.01), but not greater overall neuronal loss (84 ± 4% vs. 79 ± 3%, MT I/II‐deficient vs. controls). Ten‐day‐old MT I/II‐deficient mice, however, experienced both faster onset of secondary neuronal death (30 vs. 48 hr) and greater overall neuronal loss (88 ± 2% vs. 69 ± 4%, P = 0.02). MT I/II are thus inhibitors of age‐dependent secondary brain injury, and the low levels of MT I/II in immature brains explains, in part, the enhanced susceptibility of the young brain to neuronal loss after injury. These findings have implications for the development of age‐specific therapeutic strategies to enhance recovery after brain injury. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Global warming and body mass decline in Israeli passerine birds

Global warming may affect the physiology, distributions, phenology and adaptations of plants and animals. In Israel, minimum summer temperatures increased by an average of 0.26°C per decade during the second half of the 20th century. Bergmann's rule predicts that, in warm–blooded animals, races from warm regions are smaller than races from cold regions. Numerous studies have reported general correlations between body mass in fossil animals and independently established palaeoclimatic changes from various parts of the world in accordance with this rule. Using museum specimens, I tested the prediction that the body mass and tarsus length of five resident passerine species in Israel declined between 1950 and 1999. The body mass of four species (the graceful warbler Prinia gracilis, the house sparrow Passer domesticus, the yellow-vented bulbul Pycnonotus xanthopygos and the Sardinian warbler Sylvia melanocephala, but not of the crested lark Galerida cristata) declined significantly during this period. Tarsus length also declined significantly during this period for two species (the graceful warbler and the house sparrow). Body condition (body mass–to–tarsus length ratio) decreased in the Sardinian warbler, the yellow–vented bulbul and the crested lark. It is suggested that the above declines in body mass and tarsus length are due to global warming and also in accordance with Bergmann's rule. The above explanation does not exclude the possibility that other factors, such as a decrease in food availability, contributed to the decline in body mass.These declines may have serious implications for community structure and competition among bird species and may affect the survival of small passerines.
THE IMPLEMENTATION OF TWO-SIDED MARKETS MODEL IN COMMUNICATION SERVICE PROVIDERS (CSPS): A LITERATURE REVIEW

This paper presents analysis on CSPs (Communication Service Providers) current business situation with potential opportunities and threats from OTT (Over The Top) players and initial assessment on CSPs’ possibilities to implement two-sided markets model using literature review of both academic journals and business reports. There are quite some contrasts between two-sided markets model and its opposite value chain model and it will be interesting to discuss why and how OTT Players can successfully implement two-sided markets model while CSPs are not successful in adopting this model.However, given the extraordinary growth of OTT business which also affects CSPs’ revenue, CSPs should really consider the possibilities of implementing two-sided markets model and seek some opportunities for their future businesses by using it as a new paradigm. The opportunities to gain business success from two-sided markets model implementation are still open for CSPs but the challenges are also huge due to the risks of losing current revenue streams. To embrace OTT services, CSPs are facing three prominent options: acquisition, partnership or creating the business.
On Behalf of the Babar Collaboration

The BABAR Collaboration performed a search for ξ (2220) production in the initial-state radiation process e + e − → γJ/ψ, J/ψ → γK + K − or J/ψ → γK 0 S K 0 S. No evidence for the ξ (2220) resonance has been found. The 90% confidence level upper limits on the product of branching fractions are sensitive to the spin and helicity hypotheses. These upper limits are of the order 10 −5 , below the values reported in previous experiments. Also at BABAR, the decays B → J/ψπ + π − π 0 K are studied to search for the decay X(3872)→ J/ψω. This search yields a four standard deviation evidence for X(3872)→ J/ψω, with product branching fractions of B(B + → X(3872)K +) × B(X(3872) → J/ψω) = [0.6 ± 0.2(stat) ± 0.1(syst)] × 10 −5 , and B(B 0 → X(3872)K 0) × B(X(3872) → J/ψω) = [0.6 ± 0.3(stat) ± 0.1(syst)] × 10 −5. A detailed study of the π + π − π 0 mass distribution from X(3872) decay favors a negative-parity assignment but does not rule out the positive-parity hypothesis.
Summary of Principal—Agent Mechanism

Studying of the relationship between principal and agent in the academic community has caused widespread concern. It is also an inherent problem in actual management. This thesis proposes that most of researches pay attention on unilateral incentive and supervision mechanism through making a summary on many Chinese and foreign article. After reviewing of relevant research, this paper puts forward the direction of future research that governance mechanism can be combined with a variety of methods to study to classify governance mechanisms, the way the agent works together to ease agency question and so on. This paper hopes to provide a useful reference for future research.
Clinical and biochemical effects of catecholamine depletion on antidepressant-induced remission of depression.

BACKGROUND Most hypotheses of the therapeutic mechanism of action of antidepressant drugs have focused on the role of the monoamines. We examined the effect of catecholamine depletion on antidepressant-induced remission. METHOD The tyrosine hydroxylase inhibitor alpha-methylparatyrosine and the antihistamine diphenhydramine hydrochloride were administered, during separate test sessions, to depressed patients in remission maintained with either norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (desipramine [n = 7] or mazindol [n = 2]) or serotonin reuptake inhibitors (fluoxetine hydrochloride [n = 9] or sertraline hydrochloride [n = 1]). Because of considerable sedation associated with alpha-methylparatyrosine testing, diphenhydramine was used as an active control rather than an inactive placebo. The effects of alpha-methylparatyrosine and diphenhydramine on depression, anxiety, and plasma catecholamine metabolites were assessed. RESULTS alpha-Methylparatyrosine produced similar significant decreases in plasma 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylethyleneglycol and homovanillic acid levels in the treatment groups. alpha-Methylparatyrosine produced a robust increase in depressive symptoms on the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale, including depressed mood, decreased concentration, anhedonia, loss of interest, and feelings of worthlessness, helplessness, and hopelessness, in the desipramine-mazindol but not in the fluoxetine-sertraline group. Diphenhydramine had no effects on mood in either treatment group. CONCLUSIONS The therapeutic effects of norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors, but not serotonin reuptake inhibitors, are reversed by catecholamine depletion. Considered with previous reports that serotonin depletion produces depressive relapses in patients in remission maintained with serotonin reuptake inhibitors, but not norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors, these findings suggest that antidepressants may not work via a single monoamine-related mechanism.
Band Edge Filters : Characteristics and Performance in Carrier and Symbol Synchronization

The second tier processing task performed by a radio receiver is that of estimating the vector of unknown parameters associated with its received signal. These estimators fail when the received signal has a significant unknown frequency offset. Hence, when a frequency offset does exist, it must be estimated and removed prior to other processing tasks in the receiver. While the band edge filter can be used to resolve the frequency offset there is remarkably little discussion in the literature of the design, implementation, and performance of this neglected processing option. In this paper we review the maximum likelihood frequency estimator based on the band edge filter and discuss important properties not addressed in earlier literature. We also present an interesting variation of the ML process along with a discussion on performance parameters related to both carrier acquisition and timing acquisition.