Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Oblique Ionograms Automatic Scaling Algorithm OIASA application to the ionograms recorded by Ebro observatory ionosonde

The oblique ionograms automatic scaling algorithm (OIASA), developed at the INGV for the identification of trace of oblique ionograms, allows the determination of the maximum usable frequency (MUF) for communication between the transmitter and receiver, automatically rejecting poor quality ionograms. A test of the algorithm using data from a campaign of oblique soundings between Dourbes (50.1°N, 4.6°E) and Roquetes (40.8°N, 0.5°E) has been performed. Oblique soundings from three different campaigns have been studied, covering different geomagnetic conditions, in order to study the behavior of the autoscaling algorithm under quiet and perturbed geomagnetic periods. The reported results demonstrate that OIASA performance is not influenced by geomagnetic or ionospheric activity conditions. This demonstrates a satisfactory performance of the automatic scaling algorithm, even under different geomagnetic conditions, the potential application of OIASA as a near-real-time tool for ionospheric monitoring purposes, and its performance for tracking ionospheric effects caused by space weather events.
Pre-early functions of bacteriophage T5 and its relatives

Summary Coliphage T5 injects its DNA in 2 steps: the first step transfer (FST) region 7.9% is injected and its genes are expressed and only then does the remainder (second step transfer, SST) of its DNA enter the cell. In the FST region, only 2 essential genes (A1 and A2) have been identified and a third (dmp) non-essential gene codes for a deoxyribonucleotide 5′ monophosphatase. Thirteen additional putative ORFs are present in the FST region. Numerous properties have been attributed to FST region, including SST, host DNA degradation, inhibition of host RNA and protein synthesis, restriction insensitivity and protection of T5 DNA. These effects do not occur following infection with an A1 mutant. The A2 gene seems only to be involved in SST transfer. This is puzzling since there are more seemingly unrelated effects than there are essential genes to accomplish them and it is possible that some important genes were not identified. This review attempts to analyze these problems that were first identified in the 1970–80 s. In particular, an attempt is made to determine which potential ORFs are conserved in evolution (and thus likely to be important); by comparing T5 to 10 newly isolated and completely sequenced T5-like phages. A similar approach is used to identify conserved repeats, inverted repeats and palindromes that occur in all T5-like phages in the region containing the injection stop signal (iss) and the terminase substrate. Finally, an attempt is made to re-analyze the mechanism whereby T5 protects itself from the enzymes that degrade host DNA, from the RecBCD nuclease and from restriction enzymes. For all of these FST effects new hypotheses and possible new genetic and biochemical approaches are envisaged.
Major contribution of the 3/6/7 class of TRPC channels to myocardial ischemia/reperfusion and cellular hypoxia/reoxygenation injuries

Significance Calcium overload has been recognized as a critical cause of the injury tissues suffer after periods of ischemia. The ports that determine calcium entry into tissues subjected to transient hypoxia have not been identified. Here we identify two members of the transient potential receptor channel (TRPC) family of nonselective cation channels that allow passage of calcium, TRPC3 and TRPC6, as major factors causing calcium entry in the heart, which is responsible for ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury. Blocking TRPC activity or the genetic ablation of TRPCs markedly protected cardiac tissue and cells from I/R injury. TRPC3 and TRPC6 are promising therapeutic targets. The injury phase after myocardial infarcts occurs during reperfusion and is a consequence of calcium release from internal stores combined with calcium entry, leading to cell death by apoptopic and necrotic processes. The mechanism(s) by which calcium enters cells has(ve) not been identified. Here, we identify canonical transient receptor potential channels (TRPC) 3 and 6 as the cation channels through which most of the damaging calcium enters cells to trigger their death, and we describe mechanisms activated during the injury phase. Working in vitro with H9c2 cardiomyoblasts subjected to 9-h hypoxia followed by 6-h reoxygenation (H/R), and analyzing changes occurring in areas-at-risk (AARs) of murine hearts subjected to a 30-min ischemia followed by 24-h reperfusion (I/R) protocol, we found: (i) that blocking TRPC with SKF96365 significantly ameliorated damage induced by H/R, including development of the mitochondrial permeability transition and proapoptotic changes in Bcl2/BAX ratios; and (ii) that AAR tissues had increased TUNEL+ cells, augmented Bcl2/BAX ratios, and increased p(S240)NFATc3, p(S473)AKT, p(S9)GSK3β, and TRPC3 and -6 proteins, consistent with activation of a positive-feedback loop in which calcium entering through TRPCs activates calcineurin-mediated NFATc3-directed transcription of TRPC genes, leading to more Ca2+ entry. All these changes were markedly reduced in mice lacking TRPC3, -6, and -7. The changes caused by I/R in AAR tissues were matched by those seen after H/R in cardiomyoblasts in all aspects except for p-AKT and p-GSK3β, which were decreased after H/R in cardiomyoblasts instead of increased. TRPC should be promising targets for pharmacologic intervention after cardiac infarcts.
Modulation of temporal dynamics of gene transcription by activator potency in the Drosophila embryo

The Drosophila embryo at the mid-blastula transition (MBT) concurrently experiences a receding first wave of zygotic transcription and the surge of a massive second wave. It is not well understood how genes in the first wave become turned off transcriptionally and how their precise timing may impact embryonic development. Here we perturb the timing of the shutdown of Bicoid (Bcd)-dependent hunchback (hb) transcription in the embryo through the use of a Bcd mutant that has heightened activating potency. A delayed shutdown specifically increases Bcd-activated hb levels, and this alters spatial characteristics of the patterning outcome and causes developmental defects. Our study thus documents a specific participation of maternal activator input strength in the timing of molecular events in precise accordance with MBT morphological progression. Summary: Two waves of zygotic transcription occur during the mid-blastula transition in Drosophila. Shutdown of the first wave involves post-translational modulation of the maternal factor Bicoid.
A question of style: refining the dimensions of personality disorder style.

The frequent finding that meeting criteria for one type of personality disorder (PD) is commonly associated with meeting criteria for several other PDs indicates significant problems in defining and measuring PDs independently of each other, whether measured categorically or dimensionally. This study was designed to enrich recent DSM descriptor sets and, with the enriched set of descriptors, develop refined PD dimensions. A large sample of patients with a PD or significant personality disturbance were studied, with most analyses based on self-report (SR) data, but with corroborative witness (CW) data also collected to validate refinement analyses. The original descriptor set comprised 139 DSM descriptors and 127 items obtained from other sources. Personality disorder dimensions of interest were refined by factor analyses. We specifically identify items that failed to "belong" to their original PD "base. " A refined set of 92 items demonstrated greater independence of the underlying dimensions and suggested an underlying five-factor structure at some variance to the current DSM-IV cluster set. The study should assist measurement of individual PDs by identifying items and constructs that build to more homogeneous dimensions that define lower-order and higher-order PD traits.
Assessing vulnerability in Cochabamba, Bolivia and Kota, India: how do stakeholder processes affect suggested climate adaptation interventions?

ABSTRACT In Cochabamba, the vulnerability assessment process focused on La Maica community and the agriculture sector. Community stakeholders were involved in workshops while municipal and regional actors participated through interviews. In the Kota process, the municipality was in the geographical focal point and a multi-level stakeholder group focused upon slum inhabitants. The suggested interventions and actions in both cities were dominated by systems (infrastructure and ecosystems) while identified barriers and facilitating factors to implementation revealed a greater acknowledgement of governance issues. Focus on marginalized groups and sectors is facilitated by the direct representations of those issues. While multi-stakeholder processes can be important forums for social learning adaptation planning that benefit vulnerable sectors and groups, with limited inclusion and responsibility given to representatives of marginalized sectors and groups for implementation actions, it is likely that the interests and priorities of more powerful actors will dominate and not contribute to increasing the resilience of the most vulnerable.
Doubly ionic hydrogen bond interactions within the choline chloride-urea deep eutectic solvent.

Deep eutectic solvents (DESs) are exemplars of systems with the ability to form neutral, ionic and doubly ionic H-bonds. Herein, the pairwise interactions of the constituent components of the choline chloride-urea DES are examined. Evidence is found for a tripodal CHCl doubly ionic H-bond motif. Moreover it is found that the covalency of doubly ionic H-bonds can be greater than, or comparable with, neutral and ionic examples. In contrast to many traditional solvents, an "alphabet soup" of many different types of H-bond (OHO[double bond, length as m-dash]C, NHO[double bond, length as m-dash]C, OHCl, NHCl, OHNH, CHCl, CHO[double bond, length as m-dash]C, NHOH and NHNH) can form. These H-bonds exhibit substantial flexibility in terms of number and strength. It is anticipated that H-bonding will have a significant impact on the entropy of the system and thus could play an important role in the formation of the eutectic. The 2 : 1 urea : choline-chloride eutectic point of this DES is often associated with the formation of a [Cl(urea)2](-) complexed anion. However, urea is found to form a H-bonded urea[choline](+) complexed cation that is energetically competitive with [Cl(urea)2](-). The negative charge on [Cl(urea)2](-) is found to remain localised on the chloride, moreover, the urea[choline](+) complexed cation forms the strongest H-bond studied here. Thus, there is potential to consider a urea[choline](+)·urea[Cl](-) interaction.
A Different Multilevel Current-Source Inverter

DC/AC converters are widely used in several applications; traditionally, they can be classified in two types: the voltage-source inverters (VSIs) and the current-source inverters (CSIs). Their use depends on their application; however, some of them are common for both types of converters. Another possibility for the dc/ac conversion is the multilevel configuration, and the most analyzed is the VSI. In this paper, a different multilevel CSI is proposed: the paralleled configuration. To control the converter, a different sinusoidal pulse with modulation is employed; it consists of modifying the reference signal instead of using multiple carriers. Additionally, a balancing method for the inductor currents is given. The operation, analysis, and implementation are presented; moreover, simulation and experimental results are shown.
Analysis and prediction of power and energy losses in distribution networks

A new approach for a correct estimation of power and energy losses in urban distribution networks is described in the paper. The method is based on a row of national directives for power and energy loss analysis as well as on authorpsilas investigation. The method allows the calculation of load-dependent (current-dependent) and load-independent (voltage-dependent) power and energy losses in an urban network and their separation between power nets of different voltage levels. On the base of the elaborated method it is possible to analyse and to predict the power loss profiles over time (for instance annual profiles) depending on the power delivered to the urban distribution network under study.
Improving Hyperglycemia in the Hospital: Outcomes of a Nursing In-Service to Evaluate Acceptance of a Web-Based Insulin Infusion Calculator

Background: Many insulin infusion protocols are available for clinical use. We developed a Web-based, online intravenous insulin infusion calculator (IVIIC) for use in our intensive care and medical—surgical units. Methods: In September 2006, we implemented a quality improvement project: an online survey to evaluate the acceptance of this protocol by the nursing staff. Of the 103 registered nurses (RNs) who participated, there was no difference among experience levels of the RNs (≥ or <5 years) or among durations that RNs had been working within their unit (≥ or <2 years). Results: The nurses were surveyed regarding the use and interpretation of the protocol, their comfort with, confidence in, and experience in using the protocol. More than 80% of the RNs found the protocol easy to implement, easy to interpret, and successful in controlling the blood glucose levels. Approximately 71% (±9%) of the RNs were comfortable with the tight blood glucose levels of the protocol. The nurses' confidence with the protocol was 82% (±8%), likely because 70% (±9%) of the nurses believed the training to be adequate. Significantly less than 25% of the RNs (18 ± 7%) believed it was necessary to deviate from the protocol. More than 85% of the RNs appreciated the ability to make changes at their level of practice (92 ± 5%). Conclusions: In summary, the IVIIC is well accepted by RNs for care of hyperglycemia in a hospital setting.
Conjugated Linoleic Acid Supplementation During Pregnancy and Lactation Reduces Maternal High-Fat-Diet-Induced Programming of Early-Onset Puberty and Hyperlipidemia in Female Rat Offspring1

ABSTRACT A maternal high-fat (HF) diet during pregnancy and lactation can result in adverse metabolic and reproductive outcomes in female offspring independent of postnatal diet. Interventions during critical windows of developmental plasticity may prevent developmental programming in offspring. The effects of maternal supplementation with the anti-inflammatory lipid conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) on early-onset puberty, metabolic dysfunction, and estrous cycle dysfunction was assessed. Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned to a purified control diet (CD; 10% kcal from fat), CD with CLA (CLA; 10% kcal from fat, 1% CLA), HF (45% kcal from fat) or HF with CLA (HFCLA; 45% kcal from fat, 1% CLA). Diets were fed ad libitum for 10 days prior to time mating and throughout gestation and lactation. Offspring plasma/tissues were taken at Day 24 (prepubertal) or Day 150 (adult). Puberty was assessed from Day 26 and estrous cycle from Day 128. Female offspring from HF mothers had lower birth weights but by Postnatal Day 24 had exhibited catch-up growth concomitant with increased fat mass, hyperleptinemia, and dyslipidemia. Maternal CLA supplementation reversed these effects. Early-onset puberty was only observed in HF offspring; this was reversed in HFCLA offspring. In adulthood, despite no evidence of glucose intolerance or altered insulin sensitivity, HF offspring displayed increased fat mass, dyslipidemia, disrupted estrous cyclicity. and hyperleptinemia; this was reversed by maternal CLA supplementation. Data presented in this study demonstrate the importance of diet in women of reproductive age and during pregnancy on reproductive and metabolic parameters in their offspring and that supplementation with CLA during critical windows of development may represent a therapeutic strategy in the prevention of early-life programming of metabolic and reproductive dysfunction.
ALGUNOS DETERMINANTES ECONÓMICOS Y POLÍTICOS DE LA CORRUPCIÓN A NIVEL MUNDIAL

This essay is focused in the study of the causes of corruption by means of a theoretical model proposed by Alberto Ades and Rafael Di Tella (1999). From this model three hypotheses were derived: a) the natural gains (mainly derived from petroleum) stimulate the corruption; b) the increases in the wages of the bureaucrats diminish the corruption and; c) the degree in which a society is able to monitor to its government officials reduces the corruption level. Because of endogeneity, the estimations were made by Two Steps Least Squares (2SLS). The results showed that, leaving like the only variable that measure the degree of monitoring of the society to the GDP per capita, the totality of the parameters is very significant. With this model the use of the variable of petroleum exports confirms the hypothesis that the natural gains stimulate the corruption, but the wages of the bureaucrats do not have the waited signs, that is to say, that greater wages of the bureaucrats do not reduce the corruption in the world-wide level sample. In which it concerns to the role of the petroleum exports, its effect only was significant in the group of countries of medium income, being observed that such exports increase the corruption of this group of countries.
Cascading Behavior in Yelp Reviews

Social media has changed the landscape of marketing and consumer research as the adoption and promotion of businesses is becoming more and more dependent on how the customers are interacting and feeling about the business on platforms like Facebook, Twitter, Yelp etc. Social review websites like Yelp have become an important source of information about different businesses. Social influence on these online platforms can result in individuals adopting or promoting ideas and actions resulting in information cascades. Research on information cascades have been gaining popularity over the last few years but most of the research has been focused on platforms like Twitter and Facebook. Research on the adoption or promotion of product using cascades can help determine important latent patterns of social influence. In this work, we have analyzed the spread of information i.e. cascades in Yelp across different cities in Europe and North America. We have enumerated and analyzed different cascade topologies that occur in the Yelp social networks. Some of our significant findings include the presence of a significant number of cascades in Yelp reviews indicating the importance of social influence, heavy-tailed distribution of cascades and possibility to accurately predict the size of cascades on the basis of initial reviews. In addition, we have also found that the characteristics of the non-root nodes and the non-root reviews are much more important type of feature as compared to the properties of the root nodes and root reviews of the cascade. These findings can help social scientists to analyze customer behavior across different cities in a much more systematic way. Furthermore, it can also help the businesses in a city to figure out different consumer trends and hence improve their processes and offerings.
[Expression of CCAAT/enhancer binding protein beta in human gastric carcinoma and its clinical significance].

OBJECTIVE To explore the expression of CCAAT/enhancer binding protein beta (CEBPB) in gastric carcinoma tissues and its association with clinicopathological features and prognosis. METHODS CEBPB protein expression level was detected by immunohistochemistry method in resected gastric carcinomas and adjacent gastric mucosa tissues (n=81), and its association with clinicopathological features and prognosis was analyzed. RESULTS The immunohistochemical staining of CEBPB was predominantly in the nucleus with some cytoplasmic staining. As a result, 16% (13/81) of the gastric carcinomas were stained positively, whereas there was hardly positive expression in adjacent gastric mucosa tissues. There was a significant association between the expression of CEBPB and distant metastasis on univariate analysis (P<0.05). The median survival time in patients with positive CEBPB expression was significantly lower than those with negative CEBPB expression (19.4 months vs. 45.2 months, P=0.024). Multivariable analysis showed that CEBPB was independently associated with prognosis (HR=2.544, 95%CI:1.154-5.610, P=0.021). CONCLUSION Up-regulation of CEBPB suggests poor prognosis in patients with gastric cancer.
Early appearance of serum -fetoprotein during hepatocarcinogenesis as a function of age of rats and extent of treatment with 3'-methyl-4-dimethylaminoazobenzene.

The early appearance of serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) during hepatocarcinogenesis as a function of age of rats and extent of treatment with 3'-methyl-4-dimethylaminoazobenzene is reported. Administration of . 06% of the benzene hepatocarcinogen in the diet of 6- to 12-week-old male rats led to the prompt appearance of AFP in the serum within 3-4 weeks. Discontinuation of treatment at Week 5 dropped the AFP in serum to undetectable levels within 2 weeks, and it remained negative over a 30-week period when, at autopsy, no liver cancer was found. Administration of azo dye to 6-week-old rats for 10 weeks also decreased AFP in serum to undetectable levels over the next 2 weeks, except in 2 of 45 rats who developed large hepatomas early and remained positive. In the remainder, AFP reappeared beginning at Week 15, and liver cancer was present at Week 20 except for 13 rats that remained negative, although 7 had hepatoma. The age of the rats played no marked role in the precocious appearance of AFP. The presence of AFP in each group was related to the histological picture of the liver at the time of autopsy. There was no detectable AFP in untreated control rats, nor was there any in rats fed . 05% of the hepatotoxic but not carcinogenic alpha-naphthylisothiocyanate which led to extensive jaundice and bile duct proliferation.
Sodium channelopathy induced by mild axonal trauma worsens outcome after a repeat injury

There is great concern that one mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) predisposes individuals to an exacerbated response with a subsequent mTBI. Although no mechanism has been identified, mounting evidence suggests traumatic axonal injury (TAI) plays a role in this process. By using a cell culture system, a threshold of mild TAI was found where dynamic stretch of cortical axons at strains lower than 5% induced no overt pathological changes. However, the axons were found to display an increased expression of sodium channels (NaChs) by 24 hr. After a second, identical mild injury, pathologic increases in [Ca2+]i were observed, leading to axon degeneration. The central role of NaChs in this response was demonstrated by blocking NaChs with tetrodotoxin prior to the second injury, which completely abolished postinjury increases in [Ca2+]i. These data suggest that mild TAI induces a form of sodium channelopathy on axons that greatly exaggerates the pathophysiologic response to subsequent mild injuries. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Fiscal Policy and Economic Stability: A Case of Pakistan

This paper aims to assess the impact of fiscal policy on the economic stability within Pakistan. The findings indicate that the fiscal policy process constitutes the subsequent impact on the GDP, FDI, discount rate and CPI. That is to say, the corresponding expansionary and contractionary fiscal process has a direct and significant impact on the overall productivity, the foreign investment, the interest rates and the inflation process of the state. However, in comparison to these three variables, the exchange rate has an indirect impact and is lesser significant as compared to the other variables. The findings help stakeholders to understand how the overall fiscal policy affects the economic and business cycle of the country and how each individual is affected by the decisions made by the government executives in constituting the fiscal policy.