Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Evaluating Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer (ASTER) data for alteration zone enhancement in a semi‐arid area, northern Shahr‐e‐Babak, SE Iran

The visible–near infrared (VNIR) and short wave infrared (SWIR) spectral bands of both the level 1B, radiance at sensor, and level 2, AST_07 surface reflectance data products of the Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer (ASTER) instrument were evaluated and compared for mapping the alteration zones around porphyry copper deposits and occurrences at the northern Shahr‐e‐Babak, SE Iran. The level 1B data were converted to reflectance using internal average relative reflectance (IARR) method whereas the AST_07 dataset was processed as delivered. The porphyry copper mineralization occurs in Eocene, andesitic and basaltic rocks with zonal alteration patterns that are concentric and almost symmetrically arranged. The spectral signatures of alteration index minerals collected from field samples and the United States Geological Survey (USGS) spectral reference library, were considered in directed principal component analysis (DPCA) and spectral angle mapping (SAM) algorithms. Carrying out the DPCA method on three spectral bands enhanced the alteration haloes in the last principal component (PC) images. Generating RGB colour composite images using these PC images differentiated three alteration zones from the host rocks. The SAM results of the IARR calibrated dataset discriminated the propylitic, argillic and phyllic alteration zones. It is concluded that the higher spectral resolution of ASTER instrument is effective for mineral mapping. However, the method of conversion from radiance to reflectance is critical to the validity of the outputs and that the pseudo‐reflectance method using the IARR process may be more reliable than the standard reflectance product.
Selective augmentation of striatal functional connectivity following NMDA receptor antagonism: implications for psychosis

The psychotomimetic effect of the N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) antagonist ketamine is thought to arise from a functional modulation of the brain’s fronto-striato-thalamic (FST) circuits. Animal models suggest a pronounced effect on ventral “limbic” FST systems, though recent work in patients with psychosis and high-risk individuals suggests specific alterations of dorsal “associative” FST circuits. Here, we used functional magnetic resonance imaging to investigate the effects of a sub-anaesthetic dose of ketamine on measures of functional connectivity as indexed by the temporal coherence of spontaneous neural activity in both dorsal and ventral FST circuits, as well as their symptom correlates. We adopted a placebo-controlled, double-blind, randomized, repeated-measures design in which 19 healthy participants received either an intravenous saline infusion or a racemic mixture of ketamine (100ng/ml) separated by at least 1 week. Compared to placebo, ketamine increased functional connectivity between the dorsal caudate and both the thalamus and midbrain bilaterally. Ketamine additionally increased functional connectivity of the ventral striatum/nucleus accumbens and ventromedial prefrontal cortex. Both connectivity increases significantly correlated with the psychosis-like and dissociative symptoms under ketamine. Importantly, dorsal caudate connectivity with the ventrolateral thalamus and subthalamic nucleus showed inverse correlation with ketamine-induced symptomatology pointing to a possible resilience role to disturbances in FST circuits. While consistent with the role of FST in mediating psychosis, these findings contrast with previous research in clinical samples by suggesting that acute NMDAR antagonism may lead to psychosis-like experiences via a mechanism that is distinct from that implicated in frank psychotic illness.
Essays on the Economics of Crime: Determinants of Crime in an Urban Context

ADVERTIMENT. La consulta d’aquesta tesi queda condicionada a l’acceptació de les següents condicions d'ús: La difusió d’aquesta tesi per mitjà del servei TDX (www.tdx.cat) i a través del Dipòsit Digital de la UB (diposit.ub.edu) ha estat autoritzada pels titulars dels drets de propietat intel·lectual únicament per a usos privats emmarcats en activitats d’investigació i docència. No s’autoritza la seva reproducció amb finalitats de lucre ni la seva difusió i posada a disposició des d’un lloc aliè al servei TDX ni al Dipòsit Digital de la UB. No s’autoritza la presentació del seu contingut en una finestra o marc aliè a TDX o al Dipòsit Digital de la UB (framing). Aquesta reserva de drets afecta tant al resum de presentació de la tesi com als seus continguts. En la utilització o cita de parts de la tesi és obligat indicar el nom de la persona autora.
Mechanism of [4Fe-4S](Cys) 4 cluster nitrosylation is conserved amongst NO-responsive regulators

Background: Fumarate Nitrate Reduction (FNR) regulator, the master switch between aerobic and anaerobic respiration, responds in vivo to nitric oxide (NO). Results: [4Fe-4S] FNR reacts rapidly with 8 NO molecules in a complex, multi-step reaction. Conclusion: FNR nitrosylation is remarkably similar to that of WhiB-like proteins. Significance: A common mechanism of nitrosylation exists for phylogenetically unrelated iron-sulfur regulatory proteins.
Original article Evaluation of oxidative and nitrosative stress in relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis: effect of corticosteroid therapy

This study is designed to evaluate the roles of oxidative and nitrosative stress in serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) patients. Oxidative stress markers thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), 8-epi-PGF2α, conjugated diene and nitrosative stress markers nitrotyrosine, nitrit-nitrate were analysed in serum and CSF of 20 newly diagnosed RRMS patients before and after methyl prednysolone (MP) therapy (1000 mg/day i.v., for 5 days) and in healthy control group.TBARS and conjugated diene were analysed spectrophotometrically, nitrite-nitrate fluorometrically, 8-epi-PGF2α and nitrotyrosine were measured by ELISA. Serum conjugated diene (p < 0.001) and 8-epi-PGF2α (p < 0.05) levels were significantly higher in RRMS patients before MP therapy with respect to control group. MP therapy caused a significant decrease only in 8-epi-PGF2α level (p < 0.05). Serum nitrotyrosine levels were significantly lower in RRMS patients both before (p < 0.001) and after (p < 0.001) MP therapy with respect to controls. Serum nitrite-nitrate levels were significantly lower (p < 0.05) in RRMS patients before therapy compared to controls. Nitrotyrosine and nitrite-nitrate levels in CSF of RRMS patients were significantly higher (p < 0.001) before therapy compared to normal pressure hydrocephalia control group. Our findings reveal increased oxidative stress in serum of RRMS patients and the benefical role of MP therapy in relieving oxidative stress.As to nitrosative stress, nitrotyrosine and nitrite-nitrate levels were increased in CSF and decreased in serum.
Bed load at low Shields stress on arbitrarily sloping beds: Alternative entrainment formulation

According to the Bagnold hypothesis for equilibrium bed load transport, a necessary constraint for the maintenance of equilibrium bed load transport is that the fluid shear stress at the bed must be reduced to the critical, or threshold, value associated with incipient motion of grains. It was shown in a companion paper [ Seminara et al., 2002 ], however, that the Bagnold hypothesis breaks down when applied to equilibrium bed load transport on beds with transverse slopes above a relatively modest value that is well below the angle of repose. An investigation of this failure resulted in a demonstration of its lack of validity even for nearly horizontal beds. The constraint is here replaced with an entrainment formulation, according to which a dynamic equilibrium is maintained by a balance between entrainment of bed grains into the bed load layer and deposition of bed load grains onto the bed. The entrainment function is formulated so that the entrainment rate is an increasing function of the excess of the fluid shear stress at the bed over the threshold value. The formulation is implemented with the aid of a unique set of laboratory data that characterizes equilibrium bed load transport at relatively low shear stresses for streamwise angles of bed inclination varying from nearly 0° to 22°. The formulation is shown to provide a description of bed load transport on nearly horizontal beds that fits the data as well as that resulting from the Bagnold constraint. The entrainment formulation has the added advantage of not requiring the unrealistically high dynamic coefficient of Coulomb friction resulting from the Bagnold constraint. Finally, the entrainment formulation provides reasonable and consistent results on finite streamwise and transverse bed slopes, even those at which the Bagnold formulation breaks down completely.
Chemical variation within the Coast Plutonic Complex of British Columbia between lat 53° and 55°N

Approximately 130 samples of plutonic rocks were collected from two sections across the Coast Plutonic Complex of British Columbia, between lat 53° and 55°N. Major-element oxide (SiO 2 , TiO 2 , Al 2 O 3 , ΣFe 2 O 3 , MgO, CaO, Na 2 O, K 2 O, P 2 O 5 ) and trace-element (Cr, Mn, Ni, Cu, Zn, Rb, Sr, Y, Zr, Ba) contents of the samples were determined by X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy. Chemical and mineralogical variation within the plutons of the complex suggest that they may have formed by differentiation of magmas comprising a mixture of crystals and liquid. The data also suggest that these magmas formed from a source material of tonalitic or quartz dioritic bulk composition, probably the Central Gneiss Complex, by equilibrium fusion. Statistical analysis of the raw chemical data reveals systematic increases in K 2 O, Rb, and Ba contents and decreases in CaO, Na 2 O, Mn, and Sr contents from west to east across the complex. The patterns of variation are not identical in the northern and southern sections, and analysis of the variance between the two populations confirms that chemical differences exist between them. Statistical analysis of the data normalized to 60% SiO 2 shows that there are systematic decreases in MgO and Na 2 O and an increase in P 2 O 5 contents from west to east across the pluton. Differences in chemical composition and in the patterns of spatial chemical variation between the northern and southern sections across the complex and between raw and normalized data are interpreted as resulting largely from differential uplift and erosion of the plutons. Variations in composition of the source material and/or in the physical conditions of fusion are also significant.
Object-based very low bit rate coding with robust global motion estimation and background/foreground separation

We present a two-step segmentation scheme for the very low bit rate coding of general purpose video scenes. Our objective is to determine the regions of interest before the actual segmentation procedure, so as to reduce the computational overhead introduced by this relatively complex process, and to avoid the phenomenon of over-segmentation of the scene. Simulation results show that the proposed scheme results in a radical reduction of the number of discrete spatio-temporal regions, while the background is identified as one uniform region, even when it is characterized by complex global motion.
CALL FOR PAPERS Small Vessels–Big Problems: Novel Insights into Microvascular Mechanisms of Diseases Reduced uterine perfusion pressure decreases functional capillary density in skeletal muscle

Graham M. Fraser, Jude S. Morton, Sydney M. Schmidt, Stephane Bourque, Sandra T. Davidge, Margie H. Davenport, and Craig D. Steinback Department of Medical Biophysics, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada; Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada; Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada; Women and Children’s Health Research Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada; Program for Pregnancy and Postpartum Health, Physical Activity and Diabetes Laboratory, Faculty of Physical Education and Recreation, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada; and Alberta Diabetes Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
An apparent magmatic cycle in the Tasman geosyncline

Abstract The igneous events of two geosynclines within the N.S. W. portion of the Tasman Orthogeosyncline are compared, not according to the actual ages of the igneous rocks, but on the basis of their position with respect to the development of the geosyncline. Thus, Cambrian volcanic rocks in one depositional area are compared with Lower Devonian in the other, Ordovician and Silurian with Middle Devonian‐Lower Carboniferous, and Devonian with Permian. Intrusive rocks are fitted into this scheme, and their ages discussed. Such a comparison reveals an apparent igneous cycle, and speculations on the cause of such a cycle are outlined.
El Estado de la Web de Paraguay y la Sociedad de la Información

Paper which has as main objective to characterize Paraguay’s web space, at the frame of the new tendences of growing and evolution. Given it is a system based on social interactions a better comprehension of its nature allows establishing patrons and tendences to draw better strategies which make easier to accede. Among the most significative data gathered by the present study are the following: a) Paraguas’s web space has more than 2,800 sites which belong to more than 2,600 active domains. En such sites it was collected more than 210,000 pages. There are about a 5.5% of links which do not exist. b) The average pages by site is about 79 documents and the site average size is 1.49 MB. c) According to Broder’s macrostructure analysis it is observed that the 55% of the sites are islands, it is to say, they do not interchange links with the rest of the components. d) 60% of the paraguayan web pages were created or updated in the last year, which indicates an important dynamic. e) 93.8% of the external links are . com domains (70.01%) and . py (23.7%) and f) 63.14% of the web pages collected belong to static pages, while dynamic ones reach 36.86%
Residential properties in England and Wales: an evaluation of repair strategies towards attaining flood resilience

This chapter utilises data from previous research studies to investigate the extent to which resilient techniques are being employed in the repair of flood-damaged property in England and Wales. It discusses the wider implications of the effect of flooding on property values and seeks to offer some conclusions regarding the long-term benefits derived from adopting flood-resilient reinstatement techniques and methods.
Presynaptic (cid:1) 7- and (cid:2) 2-Containing Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors Modulate Excitatory Amino Acid Release from Rat Prefrontal Cortex Nerve Terminals via Distinct Cellular Mechanisms

Nicotine can enhance working memory and attention. Activa- tion of both (cid:1) 7 and (cid:2) 2* nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) has been implicated in these processes. The ability of presynaptic nAChRs to modulate neurotransmitter release, notably glutamate release, is pos- tulated to contribute to nicotine’s effects. We have examined the cellular mechanisms underlying (cid:1) 7 and (cid:2) 2* nAChR-medi-ated [ 3 H] D -aspartate release from the PFC in vitro. Using the (cid:1) 7 and (cid:2) 2* nAChR-selective agonists ( R )- N -(1-azabicyclo[2.2.2]-oct-3-yl)(5-(2-pyridyl)thiophene-2-carboxamide) (compound A) and 5-iodo-3-(2( S )-azetidinylmethoxy)pyridine (5-iodo-A-85380), respectively, in conjunction with inhibitors of voltage-operated Ca 2 (cid:1) channels (VOCCs) and intracellular Ca 2 (cid:1) stores, we show that [ 3 H] D -aspartate release evoked by activation of (cid:2) 2* nAChRs occurs via VOCCs. In contrast, (cid:1) 7 nAChR-evoked synaptosomes,
Up-Regulation of the (cid:1) -Opioid Receptor Gene Is Mediated through Chromatin Remodeling and Transcriptional Factors in Differentiated Neuronal Cells

The effects of morphine are mediated mainly through the (cid:1) opioid receptor (MOR). Expression of the MOR is up- regulated during neuronal differentiation in P19 embryonal carcinoma cells and epigenetic changes play an important role in MOR up-regulation. This study investigates the basis for differentiation-dependent alterations of MOR chromatin by studying the recruitment or dissociation of several factors to the remodeled chromatin locus. Chromatin immunopre- cipitation assays were used to demonstrate the recruitment of the transcriptional activator Sp1 and the chromatin re- modeling factors Brg1 and BAF155 to this promoter, as well as the dissociation of repressors [histone deacetylases, mSin3A, Brm, and methyl-CpG-binding protein 2 (MeCP2)]. Histone modifications (acetylation, induction of histone H3- lys4 methylation, and reduction of H3-lys9 methylation) were consistently detected on this promoter. Overexpression of Sp1 strongly enhanced MOR promoter activity, and the histone deacetylase inhibitor trichostatin A also increased pro- moter activity. In vitro DNA CpG-methylation of the promoter partially blocked binding of the Sp1 factor but induced MeCP2 binding. Coimmunoprecipitation studies also found novel evidence of an endogenous MeCP2 interaction with Sp3 but a weaker interaction with
Preventing road traffic injury : a public health perspective for Europe

Road traffic injuries in the WHO European Region represent a major public health problem. About 127 thousand people are killed and about 2.4 million injured every year. The cost of road traffic injuries to society is an estimated 2 per cent of a country's gross domestic product. About one third of the victims are aged 15-29 years. Nevertheless, effective preventive strategies exist and need to be applied through multisectoral approaches, and the health sector has a unique role to play. This publication has been prepared for World Health Day 2004 to raise awareness among the general public and enhance commitment among policy-makers to take immediate action towards preventing road traffic injury. The publication builds on and complements the World report on road traffic injury prevention, analysing in depth the burden of disease from road traffic injury in the European Region, framing the issue in the context of sustainable mobility, presenting a comprehensive systems approach to road safety based on successful experiences developed by some Member States in the Region and highlighting opportunities for the health sector to play a broader role. The publication calls for a multisectoral and evidence-based approach to preventing road traffic injuries, with public health playing an important role, emphasizes the importance of a strong political commitment at all levels of government and makes recommendations for action.
Late Sodium Current Inhibition Reverses Electromechanical Dysfunction in Human Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy

Background— Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), the most common mendelian heart disorder, remains an orphan of disease-specific pharmacological treatment because of the limited understanding of cellular mechanisms underlying arrhythmogenicity and diastolic dysfunction. Methods and Results— We assessed the electromechanical profile of cardiomyocytes from 26 HCM patients undergoing myectomy compared with those from nonfailing nonhypertrophic surgical patients by performing patch-clamp and intracellular Ca2+ (Ca2+i) studies. Compared with controls, HCM cardiomyocytes showed prolonged action potential related to increased late Na+ (INaL) and Ca2+ (ICaL) currents and decreased repolarizing K+ currents, increased occurrence of cellular arrhythmias, prolonged Ca2+i transients, and higher diastolic Ca2+i. Such changes were related to enhanced Ca2+/calmodulin kinase II (CaMKII) activity and increased phosphorylation of its targets. Ranolazine at therapeutic concentrations partially reversed the HCM-related cellular abnormalities via INaL inhibition, with negligible effects in controls. By shortening the action potential duration in HCM cardiomyocytes, ranolazine reduced the occurrence of early and delayed afterdepolarizations. Finally, as a result of the faster kinetics of Ca2+i transients and the lower diastolic Ca2+i, ranolazine accelerated the contraction-relaxation cycle of HCM trabeculae, ameliorating diastolic function. Conclusions— We highlighted a specific set of functional changes in human HCM myocardium that stem from a complex remodeling process involving alterations of CaMKII-dependent signaling, rather than being a direct consequence of the causal sarcomeric mutations. Among the several ion channel and Ca2+i handling proteins changes identified, an enhanced INaL seems to be a major contributor to the electrophysiological and Ca2+i dynamic abnormalities of ventricular myocytes and trabeculae from patients with HCM, suggesting potential therapeutic implications of INaL inhibition.
Peptide‐MHC class I stability is a better predictor than peptide affinity of CTL immunogenicity

Efficient presentation of peptide‐MHC class I (pMHC‐I) complexes to immune T cells should benefit from a stable peptide‐MHC‐I interaction. However, it has been difficult to distinguish stability from other requirements for MHC‐I binding, for example, affinity. We have recently established a high‐throughput assay for pMHC‐I stability. Here, we have generated a large database containing stability measurements of pMHC‐I complexes, and re‐examined a previously reported unbiased analysis of the relative contributions of antigen processing and presentation in defining cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) immunogenicity [Assarsson et al., J. Immunol. 2007. 178: 7890–7901]. Using an affinity‐balanced approach, we demonstrated that immunogenic peptides tend to be more stably bound to MHC‐I molecules compared with nonimmunogenic peptides. We also developed a bioinformatics method to predict pMHC‐I stability, which suggested that 30% of the nonimmunogenic binders hitherto classified as “holes in the T‐cell repertoire” can be explained as being unstably bound to MHC‐I. Finally, we suggest that nonoptimal anchor residues in position 2 of the peptide are particularly prone to cause unstable interactions with MHC‐I. We conclude that the availability of accurate predictors of pMHC‐I stability might be helpful in the elucidation of MHC‐I restricted antigen presentation, and might be instrumental in future search strategies for MHC‐I epitopes.