Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Downside of Tournament-Style Political Competition: Evidence from China∗

We argue that inter-jurisdictional competition in a regionally decentralized authoritarian regime distorts local politicians’ incentives in resource allocation among firms from their own city and a competing city. We develop a tournament model of project selection that captures the driving forces of local protectionism. The model robustly predicts that the joint presence of regional spillover and the incentive for political competition leads to a downward biased resource allocation towards the competing regions. Combining several unique data sets, we test our model predictions in the context of government procurement allocation and firms’ equity investment across Chinese cities. We find strong evidence that when local politicians are in more intensive political competition, they allocate less government procurement contracts to firms in the competing city. Firms, especially SOEs, endogenize the politicians’ political concern and invest less in the competing cities. Our paper provides a political economy explanation for inefficient local protectionism in an autocracy.
Free-surface and velocity characteristics of tidal bore propagation against a slope: experiments on decelerating bores

A tidal bore is a hydraulic jump in translation occurring in the estuarine zone where the river has a funnelshaped mouth. For a decelerating bore propagating upstream against a steep slope, its properties vary at different locations before it finally changes into an arrested bore: i.e. a stationary hydraulic jump. The present study conducted some novel and systematic research on the transformation of a decelerating bore into a stationary hydraulic jump in a relatively large channel with adverse slope. The arrested bore could be of different types: an undular jump with long shock waves, strong secondary waves and no breaking, a partially breaking jump with long shock waves and strong secondary waves, or a strongly breaking jump with short shock waves and weak secondary waves. All the experiments were repeated more than 25 times to yield some ensemble-averaged results in terms of the free-surface characteristics, velocity and turbulent Reynolds stresses. Physically the decelerating bore propagation induced maximum free-surface and velocity fluctuations associated with the bore front passage, but there was a time lag between the occurrence of the maximum fluctuations, hinting some coupling effect between the free-surface elevations and turbulent velocity during the decelerating bore passage.
Designing potential drugs that can Target SARS-COV-2’s main Protease : A Proactive Deep transfer Learning Approach using LSTM Architecture

Drug discovery is a crucial step in the process of delivering a new drug to the market that can take up to 2-3 years which can be more penalizing given the current global pandemic caused by the outbreak of the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV 2. Artiﬁcial Intelligence methodologies have shown great potential in resolving tasks in various domains such as image classiﬁcation, sound recognition, also in the range of the previous years, Artiﬁcial Intelligence proved to be the go-to for generative tasks for use cases such as music sequences, text generation and solving also problems in biology. The goal of this work is to harvest the power of these architectures using generative recurrent neural network with long short-term memory (LSTM) gating techniques in order to generate new and non-existing molecules that can bind to the main COVID-19 protease, which is a key agent in the transcription and replication of the virus
Vehicle Dynamics Compendium

This compendium is intended for first-time-studies studies of vehicle dynamics. At Chalmers University of Technology this is in the course “MMF062 Vehicle Dynamics”. The compendium covers more than actually included in the course; both in terms of subsystem designs, which not necessarily has to be fully understood in order to learn the vehicle level; and in terms of some teasers for more advanced studies of vehicle dynamics. // The overall objective of the compendium is to contribute to education of automotive engineers with good skills to design for, and verify, requirements on complete vehicle level functions, regarding vehicle dynamics or motion. The compendium focus on road vehicles, primarily passenger cars and commercial vehicles. Smaller road vehicles, such as bicycles and single-person cars, are only very briefly addressed. // * Chapter 1: Introduction (automotive industry and background knowledge) * Chapter 2: Interactions from outside (e.g. tyres, aerodynamic forces, driver) * Chapter 3: Longitudinal dynamics (also introducing subsystems for propulsion and braking) * Chapter 4: Lateral dynamics (also introducing subsystems for steering) * Chapter 5: Vertical dynamics (also introducing subsystems for suspension) // The compendium stretches from attributes and requirement settings to functions. A large focus is put on modelling, intended for simulation based verification of functions.
Coordinated Control for Mode-shift of Dual-motor Coupling Powertrain

： Dual-motor coupling powertrain (DMCP) is a kind of novel motor powertrain which can extend range of EV (electric vehicle). Nevertheless, complicated complicated structure and multiple drive modes exist in the DMCP. The different mode-shift process may lead to the output torque fluctuation in DMCP as well as a biggish vehicle jerk. Based on the analysis of the structure, the jerk value and kinetics relationship of the torque coupling process and signal motor process are analyzed. The mode-shift process from single motor to torque coupling is analyzed. The control strategy are established with the detail facing-forward transmission simulation model developed using Matlab\Simulink. The result shows that the mode-shift process from single motor to torque coupling limited jerk value less than 2.5 m/s 3 , without a dynamic power interruption. The control strategy can improve the ride comfort of the DMCP during the mode-switch process.
On-chip dual-phase charge-transfer relaxation oscillator with comparator offset cancellation

An on-chip 23 kHz dual-phase relaxation oscillator is presented. Charge-transfer and comparator offset cancellation techniques have been proposed to achieve low power and high temperature stability. The circuit has been designed with 0.18 μm CMOS process. The oscillator has achieved an ultra-low power of 130 nW, a supply voltage sensitivity of 0.8%/V over 1.2–1.8 V, and a temperature coefficient of 30 ppm/°C over − 40 to 80 ∘ C .
er ] 1 9 O ct 2 00 6 Vortices and Ring Solitons in Bose-Einstein Condensates

The form and stability properties of axisymmetric and spherically symmetric stationary states in two and three dimensions, respectively, are elucidated for Bose-Einstein condensates. These states include the ground state, central vortices, and radial excitations of both. The latter are called ring solitons in two dimensions and spherical shells in three. The nonlinear Schrodinger equation is taken as the fundamental model; both extended and harmonically trapped condensates are considered. It is found that instability times of ring solitons can be long compared to experimental time scales, making them effectively stable over the lifetime of an experiment.
Search for Θ^{++} Pentaquarks in the Exclusive Reaction γp→ K^{+} K^{-} p.

The reaction {gamma}p {yields} K{sup +}K{sup -}p was studied at Jefferson Lab with photon energies from 1.8 to 3.8 GeV using a tagged photon beam. The goal was to search for a {Theta}{sup ++} pentaquark, a narrow doubly charged baryon state having strangeness S = +1 and isospin I = 1, in the pK{sup +} invariant mass spectrum. No statistically significant evidence of a {Theta}{sup ++} was found. Upper limits on the total and differential production cross section for the reaction {gamma}p {yields} K{sup -}{Theta}{sup ++} were obtained in the mass range from 1.5 to 2.0 GeV/c{sup 2}, with an upper limit of about 0.15 nb, 95% C.L. for a narrow resonance with a mass M{sub {Theta}{sup ++}} = 1.54 GeV/c{sup 2}. This result places a very stringent upper limit on the {Theta}{sup ++} width.
Study and comparison between two DTC strategies of induction machine fed by direct matrix converter

This work aims to study, analyze, and compare two direct torque control (DTC) methods of induction machine fed by [3 × 3] direct matrix converter (MC). The first method, DTC, uses the direct model of the matrix converter, whereas the second method, direct torque control indirect (DTCI), uses its indirect model, which describes MC as a combination of a four-quadrant rectifier with a two-level inverter. The two methods are simulated with the same parameters and references of speed and flux. An experimental validation is performed on a prototype of a [3 × 3] direct matrix converter realized in the laboratory, which feeds a three-phase induction machine coupled with a brake. These tests allowed us to demonstrate the practical feasibility of these control schemes. The algorithms are implemented on a dSPACE 1104 controller board. The input power factor is fixed to 1. A comparison between the two algorithms results based on several criteria (power quality, static and dynamic performance of the system, and mainte.
An in vitro comparison of antimicrobial efficacy and cytotoxicity between povidone-iodine and chlorhexidine for treating clinical endometritis in dairy cows

This study aimed to assess the in vitro antimicrobial effects of chlorhexidine (CHX) and povidone-iodine (PI) on clinical isolates of Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Trueperella pyogenes (T. pyogenes) from the vaginal discharge of dairy cows, as well as to compare the cytotoxicity effects of CHX and PI on bovine endometrial epithelial cells (BEnEpC). In Experiment 1, 12 E. coli and 10 T. pyogenes were isolated from the vaginal discharge of cows with a uterine infection. The MIC and MBC against CHX and PI were analyzed in vitro. In Experiment 2, the cytotoxicity effects of CHX and PI on BEnEpC were analyzed using a Viability/Cytotoxicity Kit, wound scratch healing assay, and the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokine genes (IL-6, IL-8, and TNF-α). In Experiment 1, the MIC and MBC values of CHX against E. coli were 0.0002% and 0.0002 to 0.00025%, respectively. The MIC and MBC values of PI were 1.25 to 2.5% and 1.25 to 5%, respectively. For T. pyogenes, the MIC and MBC values of CHX were 0.00002%. The MIC and MBC values of PI were 1.25%. In Experiment 2, the cell viability significantly decreased, and wound closures were significantly inhibited after treatment with ≥ 0.002% CHX and ≥ 0.025% PI. The expression of IL-6, IL-8, and TNF-α significantly increased after treatment with PI. Only IL-6 showed a significant increase after cells were treated with 0.00002% and 0.0002% CHX. The results suggested that both CHX and PI had high antibacterial effects. However, veterinarians and farmers should be aware of their cytotoxicity, which decrease viability of endometrial epithelial cells and inhibit wound healing in vitro.
Antibacterial Performance of Protonated Polyaniline-Integrated Polyester Fabrics

During the last few years, there has been an increase in public awareness of antimicrobial fabrics, as well as an increase in commercial opportunities for their use in pharmaceutical and medical settings. The present study reports on the optimized fabrication of protonated polyaniline (PANI)-integrated polyester (PES) fabric. Para-toluene sulfonic acid (pTSA) was used to protonate the PANI fabric and thus grant it antibacterial performance. The results of a 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) scavenging assay showed high antioxidant activity of protonated PANI fabric at a scavenging efficiency of 84.83%. Moreover, the findings revealed remarkably sensitive antibacterial performance of PANI-integrated fabric against the following Gram-positive bacteria: methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), S. epidermidis, and S. aureus; and also against the following Gram-negative bacteria: P. aeruginosa, E. coli, and S. typhi. Attenuated total reflectance–Fourier transform infrared (ATR–FTIR) spectroscopy and energy dispersive X–ray fluorescence (EDXRF) were used to determine the changes in the structural and elemental compositions of PANI fabric upon treatment with bacterial strains. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) revealed that the electrical conductivity value of protonated PANI fabric decreased by one (1) order of magnitude against P. aeruginosa and S. aureus, from 3.35 ± 7.81 × 10−3 S cm−1 to 6.11 ± 7.81 × 10−4 S cm−1 and 4.63 ± 7.81 × 10−4 S cm−1, respectively. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis showed the disruption of bacterial membranes and their structures when exposed to protonated PANI fabric; meanwhile, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) demonstrated that the fabric retained its thermal stability characteristics. These findings open up potential for the use of antimicrobial fabrics in the pharmaceutical and medical sectors.
The Natural History of Esophageal “Absent Contractility” and Its Relationship with Rheumatologic Diseases: A Multi-Center Case–Control Study

(1) Background: Absent contractility (AC) is an esophageal motility disorder defined as a normal integrated relaxation pressure with 100% failed peristalsis. We sought to clarify the natural history of this disorder and its relationship with rheumatologic diseases, such as systemic sclerosis (scleroderma). (2) Methods: We retrospectively identified patients with AC based on high-resolution manometry findings at three referral institutions and then matched them with controls with esophageal complaints who had normal manometries. (3) Results: Seventy-four patients with AC were included (mean age 56 years; 69% female). Sixteen patients (21.6%) had a rheumatologic disease. Compared to controls, patients with AC were significantly more likely to present with heartburn, dysphagia, vomiting, and weight loss. During follow-up, they were also more likely to be seen by a gastroenterologist, be diagnosed with gastroesophageal reflux disease, take a proton pump inhibitor, and undergo repeat upper endoscopies. No AC patients developed a new rheumatologic disease during follow-up. No significant differences were noted in the clinical presentation or course of AC patients with rheumatologic disease compared to those without. (4) Conclusions: Patients with AC have more esophageal symptoms and require more intense gastrointestinal follow-up than controls. Only a minority of patients with AC have underlying rheumatologic disease. Those without rheumatologic disease at baseline did not subsequently develop one, suggesting that a rheumatologic evaluation is likely unnecessary. The clinical course of AC in patients with rheumatologic disease and those without appears to be similar.
The efficacy of quantitative magnetic resonance imaging in the diagnosis of unstable L4/L5 degenerative spondylolisthesis

Lumbar degenerative spondylolisthesis (LDS) is a common degenerative disease that particularly affects the elderly. LDS can occur in any segment of the spine but is most commonly found in the L4/L5 segment. In the present study, a quantitative study of lumbar MRI measurements was conducted to identify predisposing factors indicative of spinal instability in patients with L4/L5 LDS. In total, 81 patients [58 patients in the stable group (SG) and 23 patients in the unstable group (UG)] who were diagnosed with L4/L5 LDS on X-ray and MRI between January 2021 and January 2022 were included in this study. Disk height, disk signal intensity on T1-weighted (T1W) and T2-weighted (T2W) images, facet joint fluid thickness, and ligamentum flavum thickness were measured on MRI, and the differences in these parameters between the two groups were evaluated. The receiver operating characteristic curve was generated, and the area under the curve (AUC), cut-off value, sensitivity (Se), specificity (Sp), positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV) were calculated for parameters found to be significantly different between the two groups. The facet joint fluid was significantly thicker in the UG than in the SG (P<0.01), and a cut-off value of 1.45 mm was found to have an AUC of 0.77 and an SE, SP, PPV, and NPV of 73.9, 67.2, 69.3, and 69.77%, respectively. No significant differences were identified between the two groups for mean disk height, ligamentum flavum thickness, or disk signal intensity on T1W or T2W images. The facet joint fluid thickness on axial T2W images may represent a useful predictor of spinal instability in patients with LDS. Therefore, spinal instability should be assessed, and additional evaluation methods, such as standing lateral flexion-extension radiographs, should be performed when facet fluid is detected on lumbar MRI.
Acute Effects of Cocoa Flavanols on Blood Pressure and Peripheral Vascular Reactivity in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus and Essential Hypertension

Background: Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is associated with a high risk of vascular complications. Interestingly, cocoa flavanols (CF) can exert beneficial vascular effects in non-diabetic subjects. However, these effects have only been scarcely studied in T2DM. Therefore, we performed a study to assess the effects on vascular reactivity of a single dose of CF (790 mg) in T2DM and whether certain antihypertensive drugs may modulate these effects. Methods: 24 non-diabetic and 11 T2DM subjects were studied in a cross-over design. Fasting blood samples, blood pressure (BP), and arterial vasoreactivity (flow-mediated dilation) were assessed before and 70 min after capsule ingestion. Muscle microvascular reactivity was only assessed after capsule ingestion. Age, waist-to-hip ratio, BP at baseline, and the use of antihypertensive drugs were regarded as covariates in a mixed models analysis. Results: CF ingestion did not affect any parameter. However, independent of the type of capsules ingested, a decrease in diastolic BP by 3 mmHg (95% CI: −4.0; −2.0) and an increase in the change in brachial artery diameter (pre vs. post occlusion) by 0.06 mm (95% CI: 0.01; 0.12) were detected in the non-diabetic group, while they remained unchanged in the T2DM group. Conclusion: No beneficial effects of CF were detected on vascular reactivity parameters in T2DM and non-diabetic participants.
Silencing GmBIR1 in Soybean Results in Activated Defense Responses

Receptor-like kinases (RLKs) are a large group of pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) and play a critical role in recognizing pathogens, transducing defense signals, and mediating the activation of immune defense responses. Although extensively studied in the model plant Arabidopsis, studies of RLKs in crops, including soybean, are limited. When a BAK1-interacting receptor-like kinase (BIR1) homolog (referred to as GmBIR1 hereafter) was silenced by the BPMV (Bean pod mottle virus)-induced gene silencing (BPMV-VIGS), it resulted in phenotypes that were reminiscent of constitutively activated defense responses, including a significantly stunted stature with observable cell death on the leaves of the silenced plants. In addition, both SA and H2O2 were over-accumulated in the leaves of the GmBIR1-silenced plants. Consistent with this autoimmune phenotype, GmBIR1-silenced plants exhibited significantly enhanced resistance to both Pseudomonas syringae pv. glycinea (Psg) and Soybean mosaic virus (SMV), two different types of pathogens, compared to the vector control plants. Together, our results indicated that GmBIR1 is a negative regulator of immunity in soybean and the function of BIR1 homologs is conserved in different plant species.
Molecular and Circulating Biomarkers in Patients with Glioblastoma

Glioblastoma is the most aggressive malignant tumor of the central nervous system with a low survival rate. The difficulty of obtaining this tumor material represents a major limitation, making the real-time monitoring of tumor progression difficult, especially in the events of recurrence or resistance to treatment. The identification of characteristic biomarkers is indispensable for an accurate diagnosis, the rigorous follow-up of patients, and the development of new personalized treatments. Liquid biopsy, as a minimally invasive procedure, holds promise in this regard. The purpose of this paper is to summarize the current literature regarding the identification of molecular and circulating glioblastoma biomarkers and the importance of their integration as a valuable tool to improve patient care.
MFAP4-Mediated Effects in Elastic Fiber Homeostasis, Integrin Signaling and Cancer, and Its Role in Teleost Fish

Microfibrillar-associated protein 4 (MFAP4) is an extracellular matrix (ECM) protein belonging to the fibrinogen-related domain superfamily. MFAP4 is highly expressed in elastin-rich tissues such as lung, blood vessels and skin. MFAP4 is involved in organization of the ECM, regulating proper elastic fiber assembly. On the other hand, during pathology MFAP4 actively contributes to disease development and progression due to its interactions with RGD-dependent integrin receptors. Both tissue expression and circulating MFAP4 levels are associated with various disorders, including liver fibrosis and cancer. In other experimental models, such as teleost fish, MFAP4 appears to participate in host defense as a macrophage-specific innate immune molecule. The aim of this review is to summarize the accumulating evidence that indicates the importance of MFAP4 in homeostasis as well as pathological conditions, discuss its known biological functions with special focus on elastic fiber assembly, integrin signaling and cancer, as well as describe the reported functions of non-mammalian MFAP4 in fish. Overall, our work provides a comprehensive overview on the role of MFAP4 in health and disease.
Non-Celiac Gluten Sensitivity and Protective Role of Dietary Polyphenols

Pathogenetically characterized by the absence of celiac disease and wheat allergy, non-celiac gluten sensitivity (NCGS) is a clinical entity triggered by the consumption of gluten-containing foods that relieved by a gluten-free diet. Since it is very difficult to maintain a complete gluten-free diet, there is a high interest in discovering alternative strategies aimed at reducing gluten concentration or mitigating its toxic effects. Plant-based dietary models are usually rich in bioactive compounds, such as polyphenols, recognized to prevent, delay, or even reverse chronic diseases, including intestinal disorders. However, research on the role of polyphenols in mitigating the toxicity of gluten-containing foods is currently limited. We address the metabolic fate of dietary polyphenols, both as free and bound macromolecule-linked forms, with particular reference to the gastrointestinal compartment, where the concentration of polyphenols can reach high levels. We analyze the potential targets of polyphenols including the gluten peptide bioavailability, the dysfunction of the intestinal epithelial barrier, intestinal immune response, oxidative stress and inflammation, and dysbiosis. Overall, this review provides an updated overview of the effects of polyphenols as possible dietary strategies to counteract the toxic effects of gluten, potentially resulting in the improved quality of life of patients with gluten-related disorders.