Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Acute Effect of Malathion on Acetylcholinesterase Activity in Gammarus pulex (Freshwater Amphipoda)

In this study was investigated the acute (24 and 48 h) effect of sublethal concentrations of malathion, organophosphates insecticide, on the AChE activity of Gammarus pulex . For this purpose, two sublethal concentrations of malathion (0.1 and 0.2 mg l -1 ) were applied to G. pulex for 24 and 48 h. After 24 and 48 hours of malathion exposure, G. pulex samples were taken. In the samples taken, AChE enzyme activity and protein level were determined and specific AChE enzyme activity was calculated. Sublethal concentrations of malathion caused time-dependent increased inhibition of AChE activity in G. pulex . In the group exposed to 0.1 mg l -1 malathion concentration, inhibition of AChE was detected as 50% at 24 h and 74% at 48 h, compared to control. Similarly, in the group exposed to 0.2 mg l -1 malathion concentration, 60% and 68% AChE inhibition at 24 and 48 h were observed, respectively, compared to the control. As a result, acute exposure of G. pulex to malathion for 24 and 48 h caused in the high rate inhibition of the AChE activity. Further, the results show that up to 74% AChE inhibition levels in G.pulex do not cause acute death, and measurement of AChE activity in G. pulex will be the biomarker of acute malathion exposure and effects.
Comparison between single-diode and two diodes models of a grid connected PV technologies: numerical study and experimental validation

This article presents a simulation model comparison between a diode and two diodes of a photovoltaic cell. The simulation model created under the Matlab-Simulink environment predicts annual performances of the three photovoltaic field technologies connected to the grid. The simulation models have been validated by the experimental data of the photovoltaic system in the meteorological conditions of the city of Meknes. The interest is to inspect the closest model that allows to obtain more reliable results in order to follow the performances and the operation of the installation in the coming years, Also to compare between the efficiency of the three photovoltaic technologies (monocrystalline, polycrystalline and amorphous) in the same climatic conditions of Meknes city in Morocco which is a Mediterranean climate with very cold winters and very hot summer.
Pupils’ Perceptions About Technology-enhanced Feedback: Do Emojis Guide Self-regulated Learning?

ABSTRACT Although technology-enhanced feedback (TEF) from teachers to pupils is given daily, little is known about pupils’ thoughts about this feedback in Finland. Pupils’ perceptions were studied to evaluate whether TEF support self-regulated learning, as suggested. Interviews (N = 62) and questionnaires (N = 132) about pupils’ perceptions and emotions related to TEF were analyzed. TEF, enriched with smiling emojis, is used to monitor performance and behavior. Reported emotions varied from joy to disappointment. TEF seems to direct pupils to understand that the appropriate behavior is one of the more desired learning goals and TEF may encourage pupils to become dependent on reassurance from teachers. To support pupils’ self-regulatory skills, TEF should be developed to improve learning and support pupils’ active participation on feedback as a process.
Disclosure Regulation in the Hands of Bank Regulators

Using a unique setting where stand-alone banks submit filings to bank regulators instead of the SEC, we examine the consequences of disclosure regulation in the hands of bank regulators. Consistent with theory, we find that bank regulators are less concerned about transparency than the SEC. Bank regulators’ disclosure requirements are less strict and the disclosure system maintained by bank regulators generates higher information-processing costs. Consistently, stand-alone banks make fewer disclosures and are more likely to violate filing deadlines. In addition, market reaction to filings by stand-alone banks are less timely, suggesting a cost to stock price efficiency. We also examine potential benefits of the reduced emphasis on transparency, such as timelier regulatory intervention and fewer runs on deposits. However, we do not find evidence supporting these potential benefits.
Oral anticoagulants around the world: an updated state-of-the art analysis

Background: Prevention and management of thrombotic disorders is achieved through the use of anticoagulant drugs, including heparins, vitamin K antagonists (VKAs; namely warfarin) and the more recently developed antithrombotic agents [i.e., direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs], which include dabigatran, rivaroxaban, apixaban and edoxaban. Using Google Trends, this study aims to provide an up-to-date analysis of worldwide popularity of current commercially available oral anticoagulant agents. Methods: An electronic search was carried in Google Trends, simultaneously using the search terms “warfarin” AND “dabigatran” AND “rivaroxaban” AND “apixaban” AND “edoxaban”. No language or geographical restrictions were applied, but the electronic search was limited to the past 30 days from the current search date (i.e., between October 5, 2018 and November 5, 2018). Results: Overall, warfarin (55.0%) yielded the largest number of Google searches among the five oral anticoagulants throughout the study period, followed by apixaban (22.5%), rivaroxaban (18.3%), edoxaban (4.1%) and dabigatran (0.1%). Thus, warfarin remains the predominantly searched anticoagulant agent around the world. Compared to other oral anticoagulant drugs, rivaroxaban was more popular in China and in some South-American countries, apixaban was especially popular in some North-European and Latin American countries, whilst edoxaban and dabigatran were not often searched for in any country worldwide. Conclusions: According to our analysis, warfarin remains currently the most popular oral anticoagulant agent around the globe, rivaroxaban and apixaban are the second and third most popular, whilst the popularity of dabigatran, the original DOAC to be released, appears now very limited, and edoxaban, being the latest DOAC to be released, is starting to emerge in relevance.
Just Don’t Fall: An AI Agent’s Learning Journey Towards Posture Stabilisation

Learning to maintain postural balance while standing requires a significant, fine coordination effort between the neuromuscular system and the sensory system. It is one of the key contributing factors towards fall prevention, especially in the older population. Using artificial intelligence (AI), we can similarly teach an agent to maintain a standing posture, and thus teach the agent not to fall. In this paper, we investigate the learning progress of an AI agent and how it maintains a stable standing posture through reinforcement learning. We used the Deep Deterministic Policy Gradient method (DDPG) and the OpenSim musculoskeletal simulation environment based on OpenAI Gym. During training, the AI agent learnt three policies. First, it learnt to maintain the Centre-of-Gravity and Zero-Moment-Point in front of the body. Then, it learnt to shift the load of the entire body on one leg while using the other leg for fine tuning the balancing action. Finally, it started to learn the coordination between the two pre-trained policies. This study shows the potentials of using deep reinforcement learning in human movement studies. The learnt AI behaviour also exhibited attempts to achieve an unplanned goal because it correlated with the set goal (e.g., walking in order to prevent falling). The failed attempts to maintain a standing posture is an interesting by-product which can enrich the fall detection and prevention research efforts.
Biological validation of electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) image oxygen thresholds in tissue

Measuring molecular oxygen levels in vivo has been the cornerstone of understanding the effects of hypoxia in normal tissues and malignant tumors. Here we discuss the advances in a variety of partial pressure of oxygen ( PO2 ) measurements and imaging techniques and relevant oxygen thresholds. A focus on electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) imaging shows the validation of treating hypoxic tumours with a threshold of PO2 ≤ 10 Torr, and demonstrates utility for in vivo oxygen imaging, as well as its current and future role in cancer studies.
Does Momentum Trading Generate Extra Downside Risk?

Momentum strategies tend to provide low returns during market crashes, and they crash themselves when the market rebounds after significant crashes. This is reflected by positive downside market betas and negative upside market betas of zero-cost momentum portfolios. Such asymmetry in upside and downside risks is unfavorable for investors and requires a risk premium. It arises mechanically because of momentum portfolio rebalancing based on trailing asset performance. The asymmetry in upside and downside risks is a robust unifying feature of momentum portfolios in various geographical and asset markets. The momentum premium can be rationalized within a standard asset-pricing framework, where upside and downside risks are priced differently.
Nanoscale Imaging of High‐Field Magnetic Hysteresis in Meteoritic Metal Using X‐Ray Holography

Stable paleomagnetic information in meteoritic metal is carried by the “cloudy zone”: ~1–10 μm‐wide regions containing islands of ferromagnetic tetrataenite embedded in a paramagnetic antitaenite matrix. Due to their small size and high coercivity (theoretically up to ~2.2 T), the tetrataenite islands carry very stable magnetic remanence. However, these characteristics also make it difficult to image their magnetic state with the necessary spatial resolution and applied magnetic field. Here, we describe the first application of X‐ray holography to image the magnetic structure of the cloudy zone of the Tazewell IIICD meteorite with spatial resolution down to ~40 nm and in applied magnetic fields up to ±1.1 T, sufficient to extract high‐field hysteresis data from individual islands. Images were acquired as a function of magnetic field applied both parallel and perpendicular to the surface of a ~100 nm‐thick slice of the cloudy zone. Broad distributions of coercivity are observed, including values that likely exceed the maximum applied field. Horizontal offsets in the hysteresis loops indicate an interaction field distribution with half width of ~100 mT between the islands in their room temperature single‐domain state, providing a good match to first‐order reversal curve diagrams. The results suggest that future models of remanence acquisition in the cloudy zone should take account of strong interactions in order to extract quantitative estimates of the paleofield.
Coupling between tolerance and resistance differs between related Eimeria parasite species: implications for co-evolution with their mouse hosts

23 Resistance (host capacity to reduce parasite burden) and tolerance (host capacity to 24 reduce impact on its health for a given parasite burden) manifest two different lines of 25 defence. Tolerance can be independent from resistance, traded-off against it, or the 26 two can be positively correlated because of redundancy in underlying (immune) 27 processes. We here tested whether this coupling between tolerance and resistance 28 could differ upon infection with closely related parasite species. We tested this in 29 experimental infections with two parasite species of genus Eimeria . We measured 30 proxies for resistance (the (inverse of) number of parasite transmission stages 31 (oocysts) per gram of feces at the day of maximal shedding) and tolerance (the slope 32 of maximum relative weight loss compared to day of infection on number of oocysts 33 per gram of feces at the day of maximal shedding for each host strain) in four inbred 34 mouse strains and four groups of F1 hybrids belonging to two mouse subspecies, 35 Mus musculus domesticus and M. m. musculus . We found a negative correlation 36 between resistance and tolerance against E. falciformis , while the two are uncoupled 37 against E. ferrisi. We conclude that resistance and tolerance against the first parasite 38 species might be traded off, but evolve more independently in different mouse 39 genotypes against the latter. We argue that evolution of the host immune defences 40 can be studied largely irrespective of parasite isolates if resistance-tolerance coupling 41 is absent or weak ( E. ferrisi ) but host-parasite coevolution is more likely observable 42 and best studied in a system with negatively correlated tolerance and resistance 43 ( E. falciformis ). 44
Boosting the Wisdom of Crowds Within a Single Judgment Problem: Weighted Averaging Based on Peer Predictions

A combination of point estimates from multiple judges often provides a more accurate aggregate estimate than a point estimate from a single judge, a phenomenon called “the wisdom of crowds. ” However, if the judges use shared information when forming their estimates, the simple average will end up overemphasizing this common component at the expense of the judges’ private information. A decision maker could in theory obtain a more accurate estimate by appropriately combining all information behind the judges’ opinions. Although this information underlies the judges’ individual estimates, it is typically unobservable and thus cannot be directly aggregated by a decision maker. In this article, we propose a weighting of judges’ individual estimates that appropriately combines their collective information within a single estimation problem. Judges are asked to provide both a point estimate of the quantity of interest and a prediction of the average estimate that will be given by all other judges. Predictions of others are then used as part of a criterion to determine weights that are applied to each judge’s estimate to form an aggregate estimate. Our weighting procedure is robust to noise in the judges’ responses and can be expressed in closed form. We use both simulation and data from a collection of experimental studies to illustrate that the weighting procedure outperforms existing methods. An R package called metaggR implements our method and is available on the Comprehensive R Archive Network. This paper was accepted by Manel Baucells, behavioral economics and decision analysis. Funding: This work was supported by the Indiana University Kelley School of Business and INSEAD. Supplemental Material: The data files and e-companion are available at https://doi.org/10.1287/mnsc.2022. 4648 .
Prognostic factors for radiocephalic arteriovenous fistula maturation in patients with prior placement of a central venous catheter and relationship with inflammation

Aim: A mature and functional arteriovenous fistula (AVF) is considered the best modality for vascular access(VA) for hemodialysis (HD) treatment but the incidence of early failure is high, especially in patients start their HD with a central venous catheter. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prognostic value and association of certain patient characteristics and specific inflammatory markers with early failure of AVF in patients who started their HD therapy with a CVC and a first autogenous radiocephalic AVF (RCAVF) was created after vascular consultation. Material and Methods: A retrospective review of 168 patients with end-stage renal disease who underwent RCAVF creation by the same surgeon by using the same surgical technique and whose primary vascular access for HD treatment was obtained via CVC at the time of access consultation was performed. The patients enrolled into this study were categorized into two groups as Group 1: patients with early failure (n=46) and Group 2: patients with no failure (n=122). Demographic characteristics, medical comorbidities, preoperative doppler ultrasound mapping results, laboratory parameters, postoperative follow-up details of these patients were collected. Primary patency of all patients, early failure rate, maturation failure rate, duration of CVC was calculated. Results: Female gender was found to be a significant risk factor in early failure of RCAVF (69.5% vs 36.1%; p=0.001). The number of patients whose diameter of cephalic vein< 2 mm were significantly higher in EF group (78.3% vs 22.1 ; p=0.028). The duration of CVC access of group 1 was significantly longer than group 2 (6.8 ± 3.6 months vs 2.3 ± 1.7 months, respectively; p<0.05). Overall maturation failure rate was 12.5% and primary patency at 1 year was 72.6%. Levels of C-Reactive protein (7.2 ± 9.6 vs 3.1 ± 3.3 mg/L, respectively; p=0.001) and neutrophil lymphocyte ratio (2.91± 0.30 vs 2.17 ± 0.22, respectively; p<0.05) was significantly lower at group 2 at one year. Conclusion: In patients whose VA for HD treatment was provided by CVC, small cephalic vein diameter, female gender and systemic inflammation may play a role in early failure of RCAVF.
Synergistic enhancement of urban haze by nitrate uptake into transported hygroscopic particles in the Asian continental outflow

Abstract. Haze pollution is affected by local air pollutants, regional transport of background particles and precursors, atmospheric chemistry related to secondary aerosol formation, and meteorological conditions conducive to physical, dynamical, and chemical processes. In the large, populated and industrialized areas like the Asian continental outflow region, the combination of regional transport and local stagnation often exacerbates urban haze pollution. However, the detailed chemical processes underlying the enhancement of urban haze induced by the combined effect of local emissions and transported remote pollutants are still unclear. Here, we demonstrate an important role of transported hygroscopic particles in increasing local inorganic aerosols, by studying the chemical composition of PM 2.5 collected between October 2012 and June 2014 in Seoul, a South Korean megacity in the Asian continental outflow region, using the ISORROPIA II thermodynamic model. PM 2.5 measured under the condition of regional transport from the upwind source areas in China was higher in mass concentration and richer in secondary inorganic aerosol (SIA) species ( SO 4 2 - , NO 3 - , and NH 4 + ) and aerosol liquid water (ALW) compared to that measured under non-transport conditions. The secondary inorganic species and ALW were both increased, particularly in cases with high PM 2.5 levels, and this indicates inorganic species as a major driver of hygroscopicity. We conclude that the urban haze pollution in a continental outflow region like Seoul, particularly during the cold season, can be exacerbated by ALW in the transported particles, which enhances the nitrate partitioning into the particle phase in NOx - and NH3 -rich urban areas. This study reveals the synergistic effect of remote and local sources on urban haze pollution in the downwind region and provides insight into the nonlinearity of domestic and foreign contributions to receptor PM 2.5 concentrations in numerical air quality models.
Oncolytic adenovirus expressing ST13 increases antitumor effect of TRAIL against pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma.

Oncolytic adenoviruses are promising agents for cancer therapy and providing a new therapeutic strategy for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) gene therapy. However, the challenges associated with the therapeutic effect of oncolytic adenovirus alone include security of virus vector and screening of effective antitumor gene. In this study, a novel oncolytic adenovirus CD55-ST13-TRAIL was constructed featured with CEA promoter to control E1A, and E1B 55 kDa gene deletion in which dual therapeutic gene ST13 and TRAIL was inserted. ST13, firstly as a colorectal cancer suppressor gene, was also lower expression in PDAC than in tumor-adjacent tissues, which was associated with poor prognosis of PDAC patients. In vitro studies showed that CD55-ST13-TRAIL can efficiently proliferate and promote the expression of ST13 and TRAIL in CEA positive pancreatic cancer cells. Moreover, CD55-ST13-TRAIL has a synergic cell-killing effect compared with CD55-ST13 alone or CD55-TRAIL alone, and the inhibition of PDAC cell metastasis and promotion of apoptosis by triggering EMT and apoptotic pathways in PDAC cells. Further xenograft experiments in mice model indicated that CD55-ST13-TRAIL significantly inhibited tumor growth and improved the survival rates of xenograft animal. The findings demonstrated that the oncolytic virotherapy under the control of CEA promoter enables the treatment safety and efficiency to PDAC, which makes it a promising candidate for the treatment of metastatic diseases.
Are Corporate General Counsels in Top Management Effective Monitors? Evidence from Stock Price Crash Risk

Abstract We find that firms with a top management counsel (TMC) have lower stock price crash risk than other firms. We further show that firms with a TMC issue more negative relative to positive earnings guidance and use more negative relative to positive words in their annual report filings, compared to firms without a TMC. TMCs are more effective in mitigating crash risk when they serve on the board. Our findings support the monitoring role of TMCs in mitigating bad news hoarding, which, in turn, contributes to the reduction in crash risk.
Effects of mycorrhizal fungi on root-hair growth and hormone levels of taproot and lateral roots in trifoliate orange under drought stress

ABSTRACT A pot experiment was used to evaluate the effects of an arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus (AMF) Funneliformis mosseae on plant growth performance, root-hair growth, and root hormone levels in trifoliate orange (Poncirus trifoliata) seedlings under well-watered (WW) and drought stress (DS). A 9-week mild DS treatment significantly reduced mycorrhizal colonization of 2nd- and 3rd-order lateral roots. Root mycorrhizal colonization was relatively higher in the 2nd- and 3rd-order lateral roots than in the taproot and the 1st-order lateral root under WW and DS. AMF seedlings exhibited significantly higher root-hair density, length (except for the taproot) and diameter in taproot and 1st-, 2nd-, and 3rd-order lateral roots under WW, and considerably higher root-hair density (except for 1st-order lateral root), length (except for 2nd-order lateral root) and diameter under DS. Mycorrhizal inoculation remarkably increased root abscisic acid (ABA), indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), methyl jasmonate, and brassinosteroids (BRs) concentrations under DS, in company with the decrease in root zeatin riboside and gibberellins levels and root IAA effluxes. Root-hair traits were significantly positively correlated with root colonization and root ABA and BRs levels. It is concluded that mycorrhizal plants possessed better root-hair growth to adapt mild DS, which is associated with mycorrhizal colonization and endogenous hormone changes.
Berkeley Lectures on p-adic Geometry

This book presents an important breakthrough in arithmetic geometry. In 2014, this book's author delivered a series of lectures at the University of California, Berkeley, on new ideas in the theory of p-adic geometry. Building on his discovery of perfectoid spaces, the author introduced the concept of “diamonds,” which are to perfectoid spaces what algebraic spaces are to schemes. The introduction of diamonds, along with the development of a mixed-characteristic shtuka, set the stage for a critical advance in the discipline. This book shows that the moduli space of mixed-characteristic shtukas is a diamond, raising the possibility of using the cohomology of such spaces to attack the Langlands conjectures for a reductive group over a p-adic field. The book follows the informal style of the original Berkeley lectures, with one chapter per lecture. It explores p-adic and perfectoid spaces before laying out the newer theory of shtukas and their moduli spaces. Points of contact with other threads of the subject, including p-divisible groups, p-adic Hodge theory, and Rapoport-Zink spaces, are thoroughly explained.