Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Cortical Actin Cytoskeleton of Lactotropes as an Intracellular Target for the Control of Prolactin Secretion.

We investigated the role of cortical actin filaments (F-actin) in the regulation of PRL secretion in cultured normal anterior pituitary cells. F-actin dynamics were evaluated by fluorescence microscopy, and PRL secretion from attached cells was measured by the reverse hemolytic plaque assay. F-actin localized to the periphery of lactotropes. PRL-releasing factors such as TRH, vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP), and forskolin, or removal of the PRL-inhibiting factor dopamine (DA) from cultures chronically exposed to DA, caused fragmentation, i.e. focal disassembly of cortical F-actin. Basal, VIP-, and DA withdrawal-induced cortical F-actin disassembly were dependent on extracellular Ca2+ whereas TRH- and forskolin-induced disassembly were not. Short-term (5 min) treatment of cells with the F-actin-disrupting agent cytochalasin D (CD) enhanced basal PRL secretion but did not further stimulate TRH- or VIP-induced PRL secretion. The results support the existence of a causal link between F-actin disassembly and increased PRL secretion. On the other hand, exposure of cultures to DA decreased the percentage of cells showing cortical F-actin disassembly within minutes. Longer treatments (2-4 h) caused stabilization of cortical actin filaments as revealed by the protection vis-a-vis the depolymerizing effect of CD. The protective effect was specific for lactotropes and was evident with DA concentrations as low as 50 nM. Chronic exposure of the cells to DA blocked CD- and TRH-evoked actin disassembly and PRL secretion while VIP-induced effects were partially inhibited. Stabilization of F-actin with the marine sponge venom, jasplakinolide, also decreased basal and stimulated PRL secretion. In conclusion, our results suggest that, first, the cortical actin cytoskeleton of lactotropes is an integrator of the multiple factors regulating PRL secretion directly on the lactotrope, and second, the tonic inhibition of PRL secretion is mediated, at least in part, by DA-induced stabilization of cortical F-actin.
Étude expérimentale de la rupture en mode localisé dans un gré

Le memoire porte sur l'etude experimentale de la localisation des deformations en bandes de cisaillement dans un gres. Divers chemins de sollicitations, en conditions axisymetriques, ont permis de caracteriser le comportement mecanique de ce materiau. Il s'agit d'une roche initialement isotrope, dilatante et susceptible a la microfissuration. Les essais cycliques ont permis de quantifier l'endommagement et la degradation anisotrope du materiau sous chargement monotone ou repete. La procedure experimentale mise en oeuvre pour la detection de la localisation consiste a determiner la perte d'homogeneite des deformations par l'anisotropie de la dilatance. Un dispositif de mesure est mis au point. Le protocole experimental est applique sur des echantillons prismatiques d'abord sans, puis avec une imperfection (petit trou circulaire). Les seuils de localisation en contraintes et en deformations, ainsi que les caracteristiques des bandes de localisation (orientations et epaisseurs) ont ete determinees pour l'ensemble des essais. L'imperfection a permis entre autres des correlations substantielles, obtenues au moyen de mesures locales. L'influence due a la presence et a la taille de cette imperfection introduite a ete etudiee tant sur la localisation que sur son implication dans les mecanismes de la rupture fragile. Dans le meme esprit, l'effet de l'epaisseur des plaques rectangulaires, et de la forme geometrique des eprouvettes (cylindre-prisme) ont fait l'objet d'une etude parallele, detaillee. L'examen visuel et microscopique (M. E. B. ) des echantillons deformes, decharges a des niveaux eleves de la contrainte deviatorique montre que l'interaction entre les fissures orientees parallelement a l'axe de chargement et la distribution heterogene des contraintes locales constituent le facteur principal qui controle la formation des bandes de localisation dans le gres soumis a l'essai de compression triaxiale.
Ener gy-Efficient Geographic Routing in Ad-hoc Wireless Networks

Geographic routing algorithms in ad-hoc wireless networks have recently gained increased interest, and energy saving is of particular interest. The Most Forward within Radius (MFR) [1] algorithm is popularly applied to minimize the number of hops however the energy consumption is not considered. In this paper, we derive the optimal node transmission range, and then we propose the Optimal Range Forward (ORF) algorithm based on the optimal transmission range, which minimizes the total energy consumption of the transmission (summation of energy consumption of all hops). Furthermore, based on ORF, we propose the Optimal Forward with Energy Balance (OFEB) algorithm, in which the next-hop node is selected according to the remaining energy of each neighbour node and the distance between each neighbour node and the best neighbour location, the latter is determined by the optimal transmission range. In the OFEB algorithm, the total energy consumption of the transmission and the residual energy of each node are both considered to prolong the network lifetime.
WELLBORE INSTABILITY: CAUSES AND CONSEQUENCES

Wellbore instability is one of the main problems that engineers meet during drilling. The causes of wellbore instability are often classified into eithermechanical (for example, failure of the rock around the hole because of high stresses, low rock strenght, or inappropriate drilling practice) or chemical effects which arise from damaging interaction between the rock, generally shale, and the drilling dluid. Often, field instances of instability are a result of a combination of both chemical and mechanical. This problem might cause serious complication in well adn in some case can lead to expensive opertaional problems. The increasing demand for wellbore stability analises during the planing stage of a field arise from economic considerations and the increasing use of deviated, extended reach and horizontal wells. This paper presents causes, indicators and diagnosing of wellbore instability as well as the wellbore stresses model.
INFLUENCE OF NITROGEN ON WEED GROWTH AND COMPETITION WITH GRAIN SORGHUM

Nitrogen (N) fertilizer intended for the crop may benefit highly competitive weeds to the detriment of the crop. A field experiment was conducted in 2009 to determine the influence of increasing N fertilizer rates and increasing Palmer amaranth densities on weed biomass and grain sorghum biomass and yield. Three rates were 0, 67, and 134 kg N ha -1 and natural populations of Palmer amaranth were thinned to densities of 0, 0.5, 1, 2, 4, and 8 plants m -1 of row. Palmer amaranth biomass increased as weed density and N rates increased. Weed-free grain sorghum yields were similar across all three N rates, and parameter estimates of yield across Palmer amaranth densities were not different between N rates. Based on the parameter estimates from the rectangular hyperbola model, initial slope (I) as density approached zero was 16%. Maximum expected yield loss (A) at high Palmer amaranth densities was 68%. Palmer amaranth showed a high response to N and the higher N rate increased the ability of the weed to reduce grain sorghum yield. A greenhouse experiment was conducted to determine the influence of six N rates on growth of six selected plant species, including grain sorghum, soybean, yellow foxtail, velvetleaf, Palmer amaranth and shattercane. Covariance analysis was performed with N rate as a covariate. Biomass of all species increased as N rate increased in both runs of the study. Soybean responded the least to N rate of all species in regards to biomass, height and leaf area production. In the first run, the biomass of three grass species (grain sorghum, yellow foxtail, shattercane) had similar estimates of slope and intercept of biomass across N rates. In the second run, the biomass slopes of grain sorghum and shattercane differed from soybean and were the only slopes that differed between species. Palmer amaranth had the highest rate of response as N increased but slopes of height were similar for Palmer amaranth, grain sorghum and shattercane. Soybean leaf area slopes were different from grain sorghum, yellow foxtail, and velvetleaf, but all other slopes were not different among species. Addition of N to grain sorghum increased weed growth and resulted in more yield loss as a result of weed density. The greenhouse study demonstrated that grain sorghum and Palmer amaranth increased in response similarly to the addition of N. Alternative N fertilizer management could play a role in minimizing Palmer amaranth impacts in grain sorghum production.
Soil N Pools and Transformation Rates Under Different Land Uses in a Subalpine Forest-Grassland Ecotone

Soil nitrogen pools (NP), denitrification (DN), gross nitrification (GN), N2O and CO2 flux rates with their responses to temperature increases were determined under five different land uses and managements in a subalpine forest-grassland ecotone of the eastern Tibetan Plateau. Land uses consisted of 1) sparse woodland, 2) shrub-land, 3) natural pasture, 4)fenced pasture, and 5) tilled pasture mimicking a gradient degenerating ecosystem under grazing impacts. The NO3--N content was higher than the NH4+-N content. Comparing tilled pasture with fenced pasture showed that higher intensive management (tillage) led to a significant decrease of soil organic matter (SOM) (P ＜ 0.05) in the soils, which was in contrast to the significant increases (P ＜0.05) of DN, GN, N2O and CO2 flux rates. GN (excluding tilled pasture) and CO2 flux rates increased with a temperature rise, but DN and N2O flux rates normally reached their maximum values at 12-14 ℃ with tilled pasture (the highest management intensity) being very sensitive to temperature increases. There was a difference between net nitrification and GN, with GN being a betterindicator of soil nitrification.
Methods of Moment and Maximum Entropy for Solving Nonlinear Expectation

In this paper, we consider a special nonlinear expectation problem on the special parameter space and give a necessary and sufficient condition for the existence of the solution. Meanwhile, we generalize the necessary and sufficient condition to the two-dimensional moment problem. Moreover, we use the maximum entropy method to carry out a kind of concrete solution and analyze the convergence for the maximum entropy solution. Numerical experiments are presented to compute the maximum entropy density functions.
Age and growth of Katsuwonus pelamis (Linnaeus) and Thunnus albacares (Bonnaterre) from Minicoy waters

The earliest estimate of growth of skipjack tuna in the Pacific Ocean was that of Aikawa (1937) who examined 20 specimens from the islands off the southern part of Izu Peninsula in the western Pacific and later Aikawa and Kato (1938) examined 20 specimens from the Palau Island area. Kawasaki (1955) estimated the growth of skipjack from the south western sea off Japan, based on the progression of modal groups. In a later publication Kawasaki (1963) gave additional estimates of growth rates based on the data from the area off north eastern Japan. Yokota et al. (1961) estimated the growth rates based on modal progression of skipjack from the Sulu Sea. Brock (1954) studied the growth of skipjack in the area of the Hawaiian islands by examining the progression of modes computed from length frequency studies. Rothschild (1967) estimated the parameters of growth for this species on the basis of 35 recoveries of fish tagged in Hawaiian waters -in 1958 which were at liberty upto 420 days. In the eastern Pacific, Schaefer et al. (1961) examined the growth of skipjack tagged during 1955-1959.
BUILT ENVIRONMENT: RELATING THE BENEFITS OF RENEWABLE ENERGY TECHNOLOGIES

Recently, environmental issues have been the focus of much of the world’s attention. This has stimulated a response in many countries, which has led to a closer examination of energy conservation strategies for conventional fossil fuels. One way of reducing building energy consumption is to design buildings, which are more economical in their use of energy for: heating, lighting, cooling, ventilation and hot water supply. Passive measures, particularly natural or hybrid ventilation rather than air-conditioning, can dramatically reduce primary energy consumption. However, exploitation of renewable energy in buildings and agricultural greenhouses, can significantly contribute in reducing dependency on fossil fuels. Therefore, promoting innovative renewable applications and reinforcing the renewable energy market will contribute to preserving the ecosystem by reducing emissions at local and global levels. This will also contribute to the amelioration of environmental conditions, through a reduction in air pollution and greenhouse gases, by the replacement of conventional fuels with renewable energies.
Estudio experimental y numérico de la presión del flujo de agua en un tubo Venturi

El tubo Venturi es un dispositivo utilizado para medir el caudal en diferentes procesos de la industria. En el presente trabajo, se realiza un estudio para dos casos, uno experimental y otro numérico de la presión ejercida por el flujo de agua en las paredes de un tubo Venturi. En el primer caso, se realizan cinco experimentos con diferentes caudales. En el segundo, el flujo se simula para dos tipos de mallas y dos modelos de turbulencia, utilizando el código COMSOL Multhiphysics 4.3. Los resultados experimentales y numéricos mostraron que las presiones del flujo sobre las paredes en dos referencias identificadas C y G mantienen constante su magnitud; además, los perfiles numéricos mostraron que la menor caída de presión se presenta en la pared a la entrada y salida de la sección de la garganta. Se concluye que, la distribución de la presión del flujo en la pared de la sección de la garganta tiene un perfil convexo, y los resultados de presiones obtenidos para el modelo de turbulencia k-e estándar, se ajustan más a los datos experimentales.
Optical coatings and thermal noise in precision measurement

1. Theory of thermal noise in optical mirrors Y. Levin 2. Coating technology S. Chao 3. Compendium of thermal noises in optical mirrors V. B. Braginsky, M. L. Gorodetsky and S. P. Vyatchanin 4. Coating thermal noise I. Martin and S. Reid 5. Direct measurements of coating thermal noise K. Numata 6. Methods of improving thermal noise S. Ballmer and K. Somiya 7. Substrate thermal noise S. Rowan and I. Martin 8. Cryogenics K. Numata and K. Yamamoto 9. Thermo-optic noise M. Evans and G. Ogin 10. Absorption and thermal issues P. Willems, D. Ottaway and P. Beyersdorf 11. Optical scatter J. R. Smith and M. E. Zucker 12. Reflectivity and thickness optimisation I. M. Pinto, M. Principe and R. DeSalvo 13. Beam shaping A. Freise 14. Gravitational wave detection D. Ottaway and S. D. Penn 15. High-precision laser stabilisation via optical cavities M. J. Martin and J. Ye 16. Quantum optomechanics G. D. Cole and M. Aspelmeyer 17. Cavity quantum electrodynamics T. E. Northup.
Urinary Concentrations of Parabens and Other Antimicrobial Chemicals and Their Association with Couples’ Fecundity

Background: Human exposure to parabens and other antimicrobial chemicals is continual and pervasive. The hormone-disrupting properties of these environmental chemicals may adversely affect human reproduction. Objective: We aimed to prospectively assess couples’ urinary concentrations of antimicrobial chemicals in the context of fecundity, measured as time to pregnancy (TTP). Methods: In a prospective cohort of 501 couples, we examined preconception urinary chemical concentrations of parabens, triclosan and triclorcarban in relation to TTP; chemical concentrations were modeled both continuously and in quartiles. Cox’s proportional odds models for discrete survival time were used to estimate fecundability odds ratios (FORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) adjusting for a priori–defined confounders. In light of TTP being a couple-dependent outcome, both partner and couple-based exposure models were analyzed. In all models, FOR estimates < 1.0 denote diminished fecundity (longer TTP). Results: Overall, 347 (69%) couples became pregnant. The highest quartile of female urinary methyl paraben (MP) concentrations relative to the lowest reflected a 34% reduction in fecundity (aFOR = 0.66; 95% CI: 0.45, 0.97) and remained so when accounting for couples’ concentrations (aFOR = 0.63; 95% CI: 0.41, 0.96). Similar associations were observed between ethyl paraben (EP) and couple fecundity for both partner and couple-based models (p-trend = 0.02 and p-trend = 0.05, respectively). No associations were observed with couple fecundity when chemicals were modeled continuously. Conclusions: Higher quartiles of preconception urinary concentrations of MP and EP among female partners were associated with reduced couple fecundity in partner-specific and couple-based exposure models. Citation: Smarr MM, Sundaram R, Honda M, Kannan K, Buck Louis GM. 2016. Urinary concentrations of parabens and other antimicrobial chemicals and their association with couples’ fecundity. Environ Health Perspect 124:730–736; http://dx.doi. org/10.1289/EHP189
Automated verification of design adherence in software implementation

Software design and architecture specify how a system should be implemented to achieve the required quality attributes. Being able to automatically verify the design adherence during implementation will continuously assure that the system realizes the quality attributes, as well as over time does not drift away from them. This thesis investigates how a software design can be used to automatically verify and enforce rules for implementation. The current tool support for automatic design enforcement is assessed and reviewed. In addition, a prototype contribution to this practice, a plug-in for the Maven software project management system, is presented.
Personalized and context sensitive foreign language training supported by mobile devices

In this research project I try to answer how context sensitive mobile devices can be used to complement traditional foreign language learning in a classroom. My approach to answering this question is based on the goal of creating a prototype application called the Personalized And context sensitive foreign Language training system for real Life situAtions using mobile devices (PALLAS). To be able to develop PALLAS satisfactory I start by performing a prestudy to create a theoretical ground for my ideas. This allows me to come up with ideas of how PALLAS could be used. To systemize my process I create a scenario-based development method. I start by writing user scenarios of the PALLAS system in use. This is the part where new ideas are included into PALLAS. Then I analyze the user scenarios and create formalized models of how PALLAS is supposed to work. The models are in turn used to design a system architecture, which finally is used to implement the PALLAS prototype. I finish my research by comparing the finished PALLAS prototype to the original user scenarios. It turns out that the process has resulted in an architecture that can almost completely satisfy the features found in the user scenarios. With this solid architecture in place the next natural step for PALLAS will be testing in real-life scenarios with students and teachers using the system.
Radon mapping - Santa Barbara and Ventura counties

Since 1990, the Department of Conservation`s Division of Mines and Geology (DMG) has provided geologic information and conducted several research projects on geology and radon for the California Department of Health Services (DHS) Radon Program. This article provides a brief overview of radon`s occurrence and impact on human health, and summarizes a recent DMG project for DHS that used geologic, geochemical, and indoor radon measurement data to produce detailed radon potential zone maps for Santa Barbara and Ventura counties.
Highlight Talk from Super-Kamiokande

Super-Kamiokande (SK), a 50 kton water Cherenkov detector in Japan, is observing both atmospheric and solar neutrinos. It is also searching for supernova (relic) neutrinos, proton decays and dark matter-like particles. A three-flavor oscillation analysis was conducted with the atmospheric neutrino data to study the mass hierarchy, the leptonic CP violation term, and other oscillation parameters. In addition, the observation of solar neutrinos gives precise measurements of the energy spectrum and oscillation parameters. In this proceedings, we given an overview of the latest results from SK and the prospect toward the future project of SK-Gd.
Altitude Training and its Influence on Physical Endurance in Swimmers

Altitude Training and its Influence on Physical Endurance in Swimmers It is possible to plan an altitude training (AT) period in such a way that the enhanced physical endurance obtained as a result of adaptation to hypoxia will appear and can be used to improve performance in competition. Yet finding rationales for usage of AT in highly trained swimmers is problematic. In practice AT, in its various forms, is still controversial, and an objective review of research concentrating on the advantages and disadvantages of AT has been presented in several scientific publications, including in no small part the observations of swimmers. The aim of this article is to review the various methods and present both the advantageous and unfavourable physiological changes that occur in athletes as a result of AT. Moreover, AT results in the sport of swimming have been collected. They include an approach towards primary models of altitude/hypoxic training: live high + train high, live high + train low, live low + train high, as well as subsequent methods: Intermittent Hypoxic Exposure (IHE) and Intermittent Hypoxic Training (IHT). Apnoea training, which is descended from freediving, is also mentioned, and which can be used with, or as a substitute for, the well-known IHE or IHT methods. In conclusion, swimmers who train using hypoxia may be among the best-trained athletes, and that even a slight improvement in physical endurance might result in the shortening of a swimming time in a given competition, and the achievement of a personal best, which is hard to obtain by normal training methods, when the personal results of the swimmer have reached a plateau.
ANALISIS POTENSI PARIWISATA SYARIAH DENGAN MENGOPTIMALKAN INDUSTRI KREATIF DI JAWA TENGAH DAN YOGYAKARTA

Central Java and Yogyakarta is an area that is projected for the sharia tourism development. Creative industries can develope sharia tourism in these two areas. However, a lack of awareness of the potential of sharia tourism makes this industry becoming less developed in these two areas. The purpose of the Student Creativity Program-Research is analyzing the potential for sharia tourism in Central Java and Yogyakarta and the role of creative industries in its development. The method was used in this research is descriptive analysis by doing of interviews and questionnaires. Results of the study show that shari'a tourism in Central Java and Yogyakarta are potential. However, sharia tourism is interpreted as religious tourism. For the development of sharia tourism, the creative industries should play a role as a pillar of sharia tourism in terms of planning, publicity, package, and determination of tourist destinations. Finally, sharia tourism needs reconstruction on the guidelines of sharia tourism can be our recommendations . These guidelines are important because it will become the standard for tourism stakeholders in defining the sharia tourism.