jimnoneill/paper-to-field-training huggingface dataset:
GOLD observations of the thermospheric response to the 10-12 May 2024 geomagnetic storm

Field: Physics and Astronomy (Physical Sciences)

After days of intense solar activity, active region AR3664 launched seven CMEs towards Earth producing an extreme G5 geomagnetic storm commencing at 16:45 UT on Saturday May 10, 2024. The storm impacted power grids, disrupted precision navigational systems used by farming equipment, and generated aurora seen around the globe. The storm produced remarkable effects on composition, temperature, and dynamics in the Earth’s thermosphere that were observed by NASA’s Global-scale Observations of the Limb and Disk (GOLD) mission and are reported here for the first time. We use synoptic disk images of ΣO/N2 and neutral temperature (at ~160 km) measured by GOLD to directly link dynamics resulting from the storm with dramatic changes in thermospheric composition and temperature. We observe an apparent rotation simultaneously in ΣO/N2, neutral temperature, and total electron content. Equator-to-pole temperature differences reach 400 K with peak neutral temperatures near 160 km exceeding 1400 K at high latitudes.
New lumbricid records (Oligochaeta: Lumbricidae) in Ontario, Canada while searching for the invasive Asian "jumping worms" (Megascolecidae)

Field: Agricultural and Biological Sciences (Life Sciences)

Recent collections have provided seven new county records of terrestrial earthworms in the province of Ontario, Canada. Allolobophora chlorotica in one county, Dendrobaena octaedra in one county, Dendrodrilus rubidus in one county, Eisenia fetida in one county, Lumbricus castaneus in one county, Octolasion cyaneun in one county and O. tyrtaeum in one county. These collections were made in an attempt to expand the range of invasive Asian "jumping worms" (Megascolecidae).
Effect of preparation methods on the properties of Zataria Multiflora Boiss. essential oil loaded nanoliposomes: characterization of size, encapsulation efficiency and stability

Field: Chemical Engineering (Physical Sciences)

Background: Essential oil (EO) of Zataria multiflora Bioss., contains components with antibacterial and antifungal properties that can be used as substitutes for synthetic drugs and food preservatives. These applications require appropriate carriers like nanoliposome. The purpose of this study was to encapsulate this EO into nanoliposomes. In addition, the effects of preparation methods were evaluated on the physical properties of nanoliposomes. Methods: The EO was encapsulated into nanoliposomes by three different methods including thin film evaporation, ethanol injection and sonication methods. Formation of liposomes and their physical properties was studied by means of particle size, polydispersity index, zeta potential and encapsulation efficiency. In addition the changes in EO retention and mean size distribution were studied during one month of storage at 4±1°C. Results: Liposomal systems prepared by sonication method with about 99 nm displayed the smallest mean size and better dispersivity. The encapsulation efficiency of nanoliposomes containing EO was in the following rank order: thin film evaporation > Ethanol Injection > sonication. Moreover, MLV (multilamellar vesicles) liposomes prepared by the thin layer evaporation method showed better stability during storage. Conclusions: This study indicated that the preparation method can affect the formation of liposomes and their physical properties and storage stability. A R T I C L E I N F O A B S T R A C T
Korean Speaking Contest

Field: Arts and Humanities (Social Sciences)

A group of Korean 102 presents their communication ability through the speech contest, as a format of podium presentation in the 2018 BSU Undergraduate Research Conference.\nIn the speech contest, each student needs to speak of any topic related to themselves for two minutes. For their speech, students need to include the grammar patterns and vocabularies as much as possible. Within the time limit, students need to give as much information as they can. Once each speech is done, judges will ask them a couple of questions. Students will be evaluated on their grammar, pronunciation and fluency, communicative strategies, comprehension, vocabulary and creativity.\nIn the BSU Korean 102, the second semester of the non-heritage first-year series for learners from non-Korean ethnic groups, students learn and practice Korean reading, speaking, listening and writing in Korean. This speech contest completes language projects and activities conducted during the Korean 102. For base of their speech, students will have completed their Korean writing project in which they need to fully utilize the grammars, vocabularies, and various Korean expressions to introduce themselves to others. A semester-long language exchange activities between Korean and English language partners are featured in this presentation.
Dense and structured representations of U-shape fiber connectivity in the central sulcus

Field: Neuroscience (Life Sciences)

U-shape fibers are superficial white matter fibers connecting adjacent gyri. In this paper, we present a method to characterize the connectivity of U-shape fibers coursing around the central sulcus. Pre- and post-central gyral crests are semi-automatically drawn and used to build a connectivity space that is identical between subjects. This group space provides a dense representation of the short-range connectivity between the two gyri, as well as a structured representation after clustering.
Earning Structure and Heterogeneity of the Labor Market: Evidence from DR Congo

Field: Economics, Econometrics and Finance (Social Sciences)

Abstract Using 1.2.3 survey data on the Democratic Republic of Congo, we highlight different sectors in the labor market, with ‘higher paid’ sectors that are largely formal and ‘lower paid’ sectors that are largely informal. Based on a linear regression model, we report significant heterogeneity in earnings across sectors, which remain after controlling for aspects of human capital. We use a multinomial logit model to identify sector choice and show, allowing for selection, how returns to human capital differ across these sectors. We find that returns to basic education are important in largely informal sectors and that tertiary education is very important to access the higher paid sectors, but less important than in the lower paid sectors in increasing earnings once there. We then extend this analysis using quantile regression to show how returns differ across the distribution within sectors. Finally, we decompose the earnings gap across sectors and check how characteristics and return on these characteristics affect the cross-sector earnings gap. The earnings gap decomposition shows that workers of the lower paid sectors earn less, not only because they are less skill-endowed but also because they earn lower returns on their skills.
Coexistence of Democracy and Economic Development in Ancient Athens ― Cooperation between elite and mass ―

Field: Social Sciences (Social Sciences)

고대 아테네는 민주주의와 경제발전을 함께 성취하였다. 아테네 민주주의는 공 정한 제도로 재산권을 보호하고 거래비용을 줄여 경제성장을 달성했고 조세·재정 정책을 통한 재분배로 불평등을 줄였다. 엘리트는 개혁 초기에 부채를 탕감하고 부채노예화를 금지하였고 뒤이어 민회, 평의회, 사법, 행정을 점진적으로 민주화 하여 권력을 민중에게 양도하고 재분배를 수용하였다. 직접 민주주의로 강력한 권력을 가진 민중은 재산권 재분배나 추가적 부채탕감을 요구하지 않았고 시장의 공정거래를 보장했다. 또한 법을 통한 조세·재정정책으로 분배를 달성했으나 예 방적 헌법 제도를 만들고 민회의 잠재적 파괴력을 스스로 제약했다. 고대 아테네 가 민주주의를 창안하고 200년을 지속한 것은 미래 지향의 엘리트와 민중이 상 호 협력과 양보를 통한 효과적인 제도 효율성과 형평성을 성취했기 때문이다. 고대 아테네의 지배계층과 대중이 협력과 타협, 절제와 양보로 이룬 정치적 경제적 성취는 불평등과 환경문제 그리고 분열에 직면한 현대 사회가 민주적 대안 찾는데 중요한 시사점을 제공한다.
Disruption of YY1-EZH2 Interaction Using Synthetic Peptides Inhibits Breast Cancer Development

Field: Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology (Life Sciences)

Enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (EZH2) is a methyltransferase to mediate lysine 27 trimethylation in histone H3 (i.e., H3K27me3) and repress gene expression. In solid tumors, EZH2 promotes oncogenesis and is considered a therapeutic target. As a transcription factor, Yin Yang 1 (YY1) recruits EZH2 through its oncoprotein binding (OPB) domain to establish gene repression. In this study, we mapped the YY1 protein binding (YPB) domain on EZH2 to a region of 27 amino acids. Both YPB and OPB domain synthetic peptides could disrupt YY1EZH2 interaction, markedly reduce breast cancer cell viability, and efficiently inhibit tumor growth in a xenograft mouse model. We analyzed MDA-MB-231 cells treated with YPB, OPB, and control peptides by chromatin immunoprecipitation DNA sequencing (ChIP-seq) using an antibody against H3K27me3. YPB and OPB treatments altered H3K27me3 on 465 and 1137 genes, respectively, compared to the control. Of these genes, 145 overlapped between the two peptides. Among them, PTENP1, the PTEN pseudogene, showed reduced H3K27me3 signal when treated by either YPB or OPB peptide. Consistently, the two peptides enhanced both PTENP1 and PTEN expression with concomitantly reduced AKT activation. Further studies validated PTENP1′s contribution to the anticancer activity of YPB and OPB peptides.
Shedding light on avoided disasters: measuring the invisible benefits of disaster risk management using probabilistic counterfactual analysis

Field: Social Sciences (Social Sciences)

The goal of Disaster Risk Management (DRM) is to ensure that society continues to function, thrive, and recover quickly despite shocks arising from natural or human actions; to ensure, in short, that natural hazards do not become disasters. Success in the world of DRM means 'nothing happens,' but this poses a dilemma towards recognising and incentivising successful DRM interventions since they are made invisible by the very nature of their success. How then do we highlight and learn from successes if we do not see them? Likewise, how do we incentivise policymakers to make better risk-informed decisions when they are not credited for pro-active actions nor accountable for the consequences of doing nothing? This study discusses four types of situations where successful DRM interventions are made invisible: (i) success made invisible in the midst of broader disaster, (ii) success made invisible by nature of the success, (iii) success made invisible due to yet unrealised benefits, (iv) success made invisible due to the randomness of the specific outcome. We propose the use of probabilistic counterfactual analysis to calculate and highlight the `probabilistic lives saved' from disaster risk management interventions, that would otherwise remain unnoticed. Two case-studies are provided, a school seismic retrofit program in Nepal and a cyclone evacuation effort in India. An important conclusion that emerges from these studies is that the value of risk reduction interventions should not be judged on the basis of specific outcomes, but on the basis of a broader exploration of potential outcomes. The shift in focus from realised outcome to counterfactual alternative provides a framework to identify and learn from successes in DRM, and reward individuals and institutions who have displayed political bravery in committing to the implementation of DRM measures despite invisible benefits.
Body mass index and adipokines/cytokines dysregulation in Systemic Sclerosis

Field: Medicine (Health Sciences)

Body fat has regulatory functions through producing cytokines and adipokines whose role in the pathogenesis of Systemic Sclerosis (SSc) is currently emerging. Changes in body mass, either overweight or underweight status, entail a dysregulation of the cytokines/adipokines network that may impact on SSc disease activity. We evaluated serum levels of adipokines and cytokines in SSc patients and correlated them to clinical features and body mass index (BMI) categories. The study included 89 SSc patients and 26 healthy donors (HD). Serum levels of adiponectin, leptin, resistin, visfatin, TNFα, IFNγ, IL-2, IL-10, and IL-17A were measured by Multiplex Immunoassay, and correlated to BMI, waist to hip ratio, and disease specific features. Mann-Whitney U-test or t-Student for unpaired data, Kruskal-Wallis test or ANOVA, were used for comparisons between groups. Spearman’s or Pearson’s test were used for correlation analysis. Serum levels of TNFα, IL-2, leptin, and resistin, were significantly higher in SSc than in HD. The highest levels of IL-17A, IL-2, IL-10, leptin and visfatin were detected in obese SSc patients (p <0.01). Conversely, underweight SSc patients showed the highest TNFα levels (p<0.05), which were negatively correlated with BMI (p=0.05). No correlation between adipokines/cytokines and clinical characteristics was found. Adipokines, IL-2, IL-10 and IL-17A were found to be increased in obese SSc patients, but whether they play a role in the pathogenesis of the disease remains to be investigated. Intriguingly, underweight patients had higher TNFα levels, suggesting a potential role of TNFα in inducing the cachexia observed in long-lasting disease.
Suppressive Effect of a Proanthocyanidin-rich Extract from Longan (Dimocarpus longan Lour.) Flowers on Nitric Oxide Production in LPS-Stimulated Macrophage Cells

Field: Pharmacology, Toxicology and Pharmaceutics (Life Sciences)

Anthocyanidins found in certain flowers have been shown to act as strong antioxidants in various systems, exhibiting multiple biological actions. The antioxidative effects of water extract and ethanolic extract of longan (Dimocarpus longan Lour.) flowers were evaluated by radical scavenging activity and compared to those of gallic acid, myricetin, and epigallocatechin gallate. In this study, the suppressive effects of longan flower extracts on nitric oxide and prostaglandin E2 production were investigated using a lipopolysaccharide-stimulated RAW 264.7 cell model. Abundant levels of phenolic compounds including flavonoids, condensed tannins, and proanthocyanidins were found in water or ethanolic extracts prepared from dried longan flowers. The antioxidative effect of longan flower extract was similar to the effect exhibited by pure antioxidants. Moreover, longan flower extract showed prominent inhibitory effects on prostaglandin E2 production. Significant concentration-dependent inhibition of nitric oxide production was detected when cells were cotreated with lipopolysaccharide and various concentrations of longan flower extracts. These inhibitory effects were further attributed to suppression of inducible nitric oxide synthase protein expression and not to reduced enzymatic activity. These results suggest that longan flower crude extracts, especially ethanolic extract, have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects, and the probable mechanism involves inhibition of inflammation by proanthocyanidins. Preliminary observations suggest that longan flower extract, especially alcoholic extract, could be another potential source of natural dietary antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agent.
On the nature of data collection for soft-tissue image-to-physical organ registration: a noise characterization study

Field: Medicine (Health Sciences)

In image-guided liver surgery (IGLS), sparse representations of the anterior organ surface may be collected intraoperatively to drive image-to-physical space registration. Soft tissue deformation represents a significant source of error for IGLS techniques. This work investigates the impact of surface data quality on current surface based IGLS registration methods. In this work, we characterize the robustness of our IGLS registration methods to noise in organ surface digitization. We study this within a novel human-to-phantom data framework that allows a rapid evaluation of clinically realistic data and noise patterns on a fully characterized hepatic deformation phantom. Additionally, we implement a surface data resampling strategy that is designed to decrease the impact of differences in surface acquisition. For this analysis, n=5 cases of clinical intraoperative data consisting of organ surface and salient feature digitizations from open liver resection were collected and analyzed within our human-to-phantom validation framework. As expected, results indicate that increasing levels of noise in surface acquisition cause registration fidelity to deteriorate. With respect to rigid registration using the raw and resampled data at clinically realistic levels of noise (i.e. a magnitude of 1.5 mm), resampling improved TRE by 21%. In terms of nonrigid registration, registrations using resampled data outperformed the raw data result by 14% at clinically realistic levels and were less susceptible to noise across the range of noise investigated. These results demonstrate the types of analyses our novel human-to-phantom validation framework can provide and indicate the considerable benefits of resampling strategies.
Low-intensity extracorporeal shock wave therapy of erectile dysfunction

Field: Medicine (Health Sciences)

Erectile dysfunction ED is defined as the inability to achieve and maintain a penile erection adequate for satisfactory sexual intercourse. ED is affecting almost 50% of men in the 40-70 year age range. ED is generally considered as a manifestation of a functional and/or structural abnormality affecting the penile circulation. The current treatment modalities in the management of ED mainly consist of oral pharmocotherapy, intracavernosal injections and implantation of penile prosthesis. In recent years, new therapeutic strategies as lowintensity extracorporeal shock wave therapy LIESWT have been estableshed for the treatment of ED. LI-ESWT induces cellular microtrauma, which in turn stimulates the release of angiogenic factors and subsequent neovascularization of the treated tissue. Animal studies have shown that LIESWT significantly improves penile hemodynamics and restores pathological changes in the penis. Recent studies have reported that LI-ESWT could partially restore corpus cavernosum fibromuscular pathological changes, endothelial dysfunction and peripheral neuropathy. In this review, the history, the effect mechanisms, in vitro and animal studies and the clinical use in ED of LI-ESWT were reviewed with current literature
The role of UvrD in RecET-mediated illegitimate recombination in Escherichia coli

Field: Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology (Life Sciences)

To study the mechanism of RecET-mediated illegitimate recombination, we examined the formation of lambdabio-transducing phage in Escherichia coli in the presence or absence of UV irradiation. We have previously reported that coexpression of RecE and RecT enhances the frequency of recA-independent illegitimate recombination. RecJOR proteins are required for this RecET-mediated illegitimate recombination, and RecQ suppresses it. Here, we showed that the frequencies of both spontaneous and UV-induced RecET-mediated illegitimate recombination events are reduced by a uvrD mutation. It should be noted that UvrD is required for illegitimate recombination only in the presence, but not in the absence, of RecET. In contrast, frequencies of RecET-mediated illegitimate recombination were not affected by ruvAB, ruvC, recG, and recN mutations. The frequency of spontaneous and UV-induced illegitimate recombination in the uvrD recR double mutant was comparable to that of the uvrD single mutant, suggesting that UvrD works at the same step as RecR in the RecET-mediated recombination pathway. Nucleotide sequence analyses of the recombination junctions showed that RecET-mediated illegitimate recombination detected in UvrD-deficient strain is short-homology-dependent. Based on these and previous results, we propose a model for the role of UvrD on RecET-mediated illegitimate recombination.
Swelling behaviour of unsaturated fine grained soils

Field: Earth and Planetary Sciences (Physical Sciences)

The aim of this research was to investigate the swelling behaviour of unsaturated fine grained soils by means of various laboratory tests such as a 100 mm stress path triaxial cell and a computer controlled oedometer. Centrifuge modelling was used as a link between the laboratory tests performed and an existing prototype experimental wall. Three types of soils with different plasticity have been tested simulating the boundary conditions that act on a soil element behind a stiff wall. Therefore the laboratory equipment was designed or modified to enable the measurement of the swelling pressure of the soil under conditions of lateral confinement. The results show that the swelling behaviour of these soils is controlled by the testing conditions imposed on the soil as well as the initial state of the soil as described by dry density and water content. Suction measurements made using the filter paper method, showed that dry density and water content can be used instead of specific volume and suction when defining the state of an unsaturated soil. The results from the centrifuge model tests, in which soil was compacted behind a stiff instrumented wall, showed that measurements of lateral stress change on the model wall were consistent with the swelling behaviour observed in the laboratory tests as well as in a previous full scale prototype test. Analysis of the experimental data indicated a possible method of extending the current specification set in the United Kingdom (Manual of Contract Documents for Highway Works, 1991) for the use of fine grained soils as backfill material near to structures.
Muscimol and Midazolam Do Not Potentiate Each Other's Effects on Sleep EEG in the Rat

Field: Neuroscience (Life Sciences)

Lancel, Marike, Johannes Faulhaber, Thomas Schiffelholz, Stefan Mathias, and Rudolf A. Deisz. Muscimol and midazolam do not potentiate each other's effects on sleep EEG in the rat. J. Neurophysiol. 77: 1624–1629, 1997. The interaction of a γ-aminobutyric acid-A (GABA A ) receptor agonist and a benzodiazepine-type modulator of GABA A receptors on sleep was investigated. Low doses of muscimol (0.3 mg/kg) and the benzodiazepine midazolam (1.5 mg/kg) were administered alone and incombination, in random order, to eight rats. All injections were given intraperitoneally at light onset. Electroencephalogram (EEG) and electromyogram were recorded during the first 6 h post injection. Compared with vehicle, muscimol hardly affected the time spent in non-rapid eye movement sleep (non-REMS) and REMS, but significantly enhanced EEG activity in the frequency range between 2 and 6 Hz during non-REMS. Midazolam significantly increased the time spent in non-REMS, reduced EEG activity at frequencies <12 Hz, and elevated EEG activity in most higher frequencies during this state. The combined administration of muscimol and midazolam affected non-REMS-specific EEG activity in an unexpected fashion: the effects were intermediate between those of muscimol and midazolam. These results indicate that muscimol and midazolam have dissimilar effects on EEG within non-REMS and demonstrate that midazolam does not augment but attenuates the muscimol-induced changes in sleep EEG. Our data are at variance with established mechanisms, according to which agonistic modulators would have similar effects and should potentiate the effects of GABA A agonists. The present data suggest that application of agonists and agonistic modulators of GABA A receptors causes differential net effects on sleep parameters.