pinecone/core-2020-05-10-deduplication huggingface dataset:
A calf for all seasons? The potential of stable isotope analysis to investigate prehistoric husbandry practices

YesThe Early Bronze Age barrows at Irthlingborough and Gayhurst in central England are notable for the large number of cattle (Bos taurus) remains associated with their human Beaker burials. Previous work using strontium isotope analysis has indicated that most of the cattle analysed, and one aurochs (Bos primigenius), were of local origin (Towers et al. 2010). In this study, stable isotope analysis of enamel and bone was carried out to investigate whether the mature cattle had experienced similar husbandry practices, climate and environment. Bulk carbon, nitrogen and sulphur isotope analysis of collagen suggested most were consuming similar sources of plant protein from environments probably local to the sites and this was supported by high resolution intra-enamel carbon isotope profiles. Oxygen isotope profiles indicated the aurochs and most of the cattle experienced similar climatic regimes: the only exception being an animal with a non-local strontium isotope ratio. However, a comparison of seasonality profiles of the local animals using estimated tooth formation times showed that there was no consistency in season of birth: the animals appeared to have been born throughout the year. Cattle can breed throughout the year but it requires considerable human effort and intervention to successfully overwinter young stock; it is therefore unlikely to have been carried out without good reason and benefit if winters were harsh. One reason is to ensure a continuous supply of milk. Measuring oxygen isotope profiles to identify year-round calving may thus be a potential indicator of dairying economies
First multi-wavelength campaign on the gamma-ray-loud active galaxy IC 310

Context. The extragalactic very-high-energy gamma-ray sky is rich in blazars. These are jetted active galactic nuclei that are viewed at a small angle to the line-of-sight. Only a handful of objects viewed at a larger angle are so far known to emit above 100 GeV. Multi-wavelength studies of such objects up to the highest energies provide new insights into the particle and radiation processes of active galactic nuclei.\ud
 Aims. We aim to report the results from the first multi-wavelength campaign observing the TeV detected nucleus of the active galaxy IC 310, whose jet is observed at a moderate viewing angle of 10 degrees-20 degrees. \ud
Methods. The multi-instrument campaign was conducted between 2012 November and 2013 January, and involved observations with MAGIC, Fermi, INTEGRAL, Swift, OVRO, MOJAVE and EVN. These observations were complemented with archival data from the AllWISE and 2MASS catalogs. A one-zone synchrotron self-Compton model was applied to describe the broadband spectral energy distribution. \ud
Results. IC 310 showed an extraordinary TeV flare at the beginning of the campaign, followed by a low, but still detectable TeV flux. Compared to previous measurements in this energy range, the spectral shape was found to be steeper during the low emission state. Simultaneous observations in the soft X-ray band showed an enhanced energy flux state and a harder-when-brighter spectral shape behavior. No strong correlated flux variability was found in other frequency regimes. The broad-band spectral energy distribution obtained from these observations supports the hypothesis of a double-hump structure. \ud
Conclusions. The harder-when-brighter trend in the X-ray and VHE emission, observed for the first time during this campaign, is consistent with the behavior expected from a synchrotron self-Compton scenario. The contemporaneous broadband spectral energy distribution is well described with a one-zone synchrotron self-Compton model using parameters that are comparable to those found for other gamma-ray-emitting misaligned blazars
Patients with anorectal malformation and upper limb anomalies: genetic evaluation is warranted

The objective of this study was to compare the prevalence of genetic disorders in anorectal malformation (ARM) patients with upper limb anomalies to that in ARM patients with other associated anomalies. A retrospective case study was performed in two pediatric surgery centers. All patients born between 1990 and 2012 were included. VACTERL (vertebral defects (V), anal atresia (A), cardiac malformations (C), tracheoesophageal fistula with esophageal atresia (TE), renal dysplasia (R), and limb anomalies (L)) was defined as at least three components present. We included 700 ARM patients: 219 patients (31 %) had isolated ARM, 43 patients (6 %) had a major upper limb anomaly, and 438 patients (63 %) had other associated anomalies. The most prevalent upper limb anomalies were radial dysplasia (n = 12) and hypoplastic thumb (n = 11). Ten of the 43 patients (23 %) with an upper limb anomaly were diagnosed with a genetic disorder—nine also met the VACTERL criteria—vs. 9 % of ARM patients with other anomalies (p = 0.004, chi-squared test). Conclusion: Genetic disorders are twice as frequently diagnosed in ARM patients with upper limb anomalies than in those with other anomalies. As they also frequently meet the VACTERL criteria, it is important to consider VACTERL as a diagnosis per exclusionem. Genetic counseling is certainly warranted in these patients.What is Known:• Anorectal malformations (ARMs) often co-occur with other congenital anomalies, including upper limb anomalies, mainly of pre-axial origin.• Co-occurrence of ARMs and upper limb anomalies is seen in disorders such as Townes-Brocks syndrome, Fanconi anemia, and VACTERL association.What is New:• ARM patients with a major upper limb anomaly—with or without other congenital anomalies—have a twofold greater chance of a genetic disorder than have non-isolated ARM patients without upper limb anomalies.• Not all upper limb anomalies in ARM patients are part of the VACTERL association; a workup for genetic evaluation is proposed
Pesticides and bees : ecological-economic modelling of bee populations on farmland

Authors thank the European Investment Bank (EIB) University Research Action Programme for financial support of this work through the ECO-DELIVERY project.Production of insect-pollinated crops typically relies on both pesticide use and pollination, leading to a potential conflict between these two inputs. In this paper we combine ecological modelling with economic analysis to investigate the effects of pesticide use on wild and commercial bees, whilst allowing farmers to partly offset the negative effects of pesticides on bee populations by creating more on-farm bee habitat. Farmers have incentives to invest in creating wild bee habitat to increase pollination inputs due to the contribution this makes to yields. However, the optimal allocation of on-farm habitat strongly depends on the negative effects of pesticides, with a threshold-like behaviour at a critical level of the impairment. When this threshold is crossed, the population of wild bees becomes locally extinct and their availability to pollinate breaks down. We show that availability of commercial bees masks this decrease in pollination services which would otherwise incentivise farmers to conserve the wild pollinator population. Indeed, if commercial bees are available, optimum profit may be achieved by providing no habitat at all for wild bees, and allowing these wild pollinators to go extinct.PostprintPeer reviewe
Foreign banks, profits, market power and efficiency in\ud
PICs: some evidence from Fiji

Studies on bank profitability vis-à-vis market power and efficiency span a number of years, many countries, regions and methods. Yet, the experiences of the Pacific’s small states – where foreign banks are widespread and bank profits relatively high – remain unknown, leaving policy-makers ill-informed regarding relevant policy development. This study fills a huge gap in literature by providing some evidence on the issue in a Pacific Island context. Two market power hypotheses – the structure-conduct-performance (SCP) and the relative market power (RMP) hypotheses together with two measures of the efficient structure (ES) hypothesis – X and scale efficiencies are estimated. The nonparametric data envelopment analysis (DEA) technique is used to estimate efficiency scores for banks in Fiji over the period 2000 to 2010 and the dynamic GMM to estimate the relationships between market power and efficiency vis-à-vis profitability. Results show that the RMP and ES hypotheses might hold, but not the SCP. Profits appear to persist over time. Policy implications are considerable including that any suggestions to limit further mergers and acquisitions of banks in the region may have to be properly debated
Corelease of two functionally opposite neurotransmitters by retinal amacrine cells: Experimental evidence and functional significance

The Dale's law postulates that a neuron releases the same neurotransmitter from all its branches. In the case of mulitple neurotransmitters it would require all transmitters to be released from all branches. The retinal cholinergic amacrine cells contain and release &ggr;-aminobutyric (GABA) and, therefore, if GABA and acetylcholine (ACh) are released at the same sites, this could mean that amacrine cells simultaneously excite and inhibit postsynaptic cells. Conversely, if the two neurotransmitters are released at different synapses, or if their release is regulated in a distinct manner, they may play different physiological roles. Recent studies carried out in cultured cholinergic amacrine-like neurons showed that Ca2+-dependent release of ACh and GABA have a different sensitivity to membrane depolarization, to the effect of blockers of voltage gated Ca2+ channels (VGCC) and to the effect of presynaptic A1 adenosine receptors. Therefore, it is proposed that in retinal amacrine cells the Ca2+-dependent release of ACh and GABA occurs at distinct cellular locations. The possible nature of these release sites and the physiological significance of this model are discussed in this review.J. Neurosci. Res. 58: 475-479, 1999. © 1999 Wiley-Liss, Inc.http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/(SICI)1097-4547(19991115)58:4<475::AID-JNR1>3.0.CO;2-
Amine-functionalization of glycidyl methacrylate-containing emulsion-templated porous polymers and immobilization of proteinase K for biocatalysis.

Glycidyl methacrylate (GMA) emulsion-templated porous polymers (polyHIPEs) were prepared by thermal and photopolymerisation and derivatised with morpholine, tris(2-aminoethylamine) and a bisamino-PEG homobifunctional molecule. The extent of the functionalization reactions was investigated by a range of qualitative and quantitative techniques (FTIR, CHN analysis, titration, XPS, HR-MAS NMR spectroscopy, ninhydrin assay and Fmoc number determination) and was found to be excellent for small molecule amines (up to 89% conversion) but low for the reaction with PEG (2% conversion). This was ascribed to the high exclusion volume of the PEG chains in solution. Proteinase K (Pro K) was subsequently immobilized covalently onto the GMA polyHIPE material, both directly via reaction with surface epoxy groups and indirectly by activation of the pendent amine groups of PEGylated polyHIPE with glutaraldehyde then reductive amination with the enzyme. The activity of the supported enzymes was determined by a continuous electrochemical assay involving the hydrolysis of N-acetyl-l-tyrosine ethyl ester. The directly immobilized Pro K was found to have an activity of only 3.6 U/g whereas the activity of the enzyme immobilized via the PEG linker was much higher (up to 78 U/g)
Screening for antibacterial and antifungal activities in marine benthic invertebrates from northern Norway

This is the accepted manuscript version of the article. Reprinted with permission. Published version is  available at <a href=http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jip.2008.06.009>http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jip.2008.06.009</a>
<br>The published version of this article is part of Margey Tasesse's doctoral thesis, which is available at <a href=http://hdl.handle.net/10037/2702>http://hdl.handle.net/10037/2702</a>Benthic marine invertebrates collected from sub-Arctic regions of northern Norway, were found to be a promising source of novel bioactive compounds against human and fish pathogenic bacteria and fungi. Lyophilized material from seven species of ascidians, six sponges and one soft alcyonid coral were extracted with 60% acidified acetonitrile (ACN). After separation into an ACN-rich phase (ACN extract) and an aqueous phase, and subsequent solid phase extraction of the aqueous phase, fractions differing in polarity were obtained and screened for antibacterial and antifungal activities, along with the more lipophilic ACN-extracts. Antimicrobial activity was determined against two Gram-negative, two Gram-positive bacteria, and two strains of fungi. Notably, all the invertebrate species in the study showed activity against all four strains of bacteria and the two strains of fungi. In general, the aqueous fractions displayed highest antimicrobial activity, and the most potent extracts were obtained from the colonial ascidian Synoicum pulmonaria which displayed activity against bacteria and fungi at a concentration of 0.02 mg/ml; the lowest concentration tested
Simultaneous multi-frequency observation of the unknown redshift blazar PG 1553+113 in March-April 2008\ud

The blazar PG 1553+113 is a well known TeV gamma-ray emitter. In this paper we determine its spectral energy distribution through simultaneous multi-frequency data to study its emission processes. An extensive campaign was carried out between March and April 2008, where optical, X-ray, high-energy (HE) gamma-ray, and very-high-energy (VHE) gamma-ray data were obtained with the KVA, Abastumani, REM, RossiXTE/ASM, AGILE and MAGIC telescopes, respectively. We combine the data to derive the source's spectral energy distribution and interpret its double-peaked shape within the framework of a synchrotron self-Compton model.\u
Synergy between multiple microtubule-generating pathways confers robustness to centrosome-driven mitotic spindle formation.

notes: PMCID: PMC3898610types: Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov'tCopyright © 2014 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.The mitotic spindle is defined by its organized, bipolar mass of microtubules, which drive chromosome alignment and segregation. Although different cells have been shown to use different molecular pathways to generate the microtubules required for spindle formation, how these pathways are coordinated within a single cell is poorly understood. We have tested the limits within which the Drosophila embryonic spindle forms, disrupting the inherent temporal control that overlays mitotic microtubule generation, interfering with the molecular mechanism that generates new microtubules from preexisting ones, and disrupting the spatial relationship between microtubule nucleation and the usually dominant centrosome. Our work uncovers the possible routes to spindle formation in embryos and establishes the central role of Augmin in all microtubule-generating pathways. It also demonstrates that the contributions of each pathway to spindle formation are integrated, highlighting the remarkable flexibility with which cells can respond to perturbations that limit their capacity to generate microtubules.Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council
PhD studentship (to D.H.)Wellcome Trust Institutional Strategic
Support Fund WT097835MF (to J.G.W. and J.M.)
A Spitzer high resolution mid-infrared spectral atlas of starburst
  galaxies

We present an atlas of Spitzer/IRS high resolution (R~600) 10-37um spectra
for 24 well known starburst galaxies. The spectra are dominated by
fine-structure lines, molecular hydrogen lines, and emission bands of
polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. Six out of the eight objects with a known AGN
component show emission of the high excitation [NeV] line. This line is also
seen in one other object (NGC4194) with, a priori, no known AGN component. In
addition to strong polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon emission features in this
wavelength range (11.3, 12.7, 16.4um), the spectra reveal other weak
hydrocarbon features at 10.6, 13.5, 14.2um, and a previously unreported
emission feature at 10.75um. An unidentified absorption feature at 13.7um is
detected in many of the starbursts. We use the fine-structure lines to derive
the abundance of neon and sulfur for 14 objects where the HI 7-6 line is
detected. We further use the molecular hydrogen lines to sample the properties
of the warm molecular gas. Several basic diagrams characterizing the properties
of the sample are also shown. We have combined the spectra of all the pure
starburst objects to create a high S/N template, which is available to the
community.Comment: 25 pages (emulate apj), 6 tables, 14 figures, Accepted for
  publication in ApJ
Adjacency Matrices of Configuration Graphs

In 1960, Hoffman and Singleton \cite{HS60} solved a celebrated equation for
square matrices of order $n$, which can be written as $$ (\kappa - 1) I_n + J_n
- A A^{\rm T} = A$$ where $I_n$, $J_n$, and $A$ are the identity matrix, the
all one matrix, and a $(0,1)$--matrix with all row and column sums equal to
$\kappa$, respectively. If $A$ is an incidence matrix of some configuration
$\cal C$ of type $n_\kappa$, then the left-hand side $\Theta(A):= (\kappa -
1)I_n + J_n - A A^{\rm T}$ is an adjacency matrix of the non--collinearity
graph $\Gamma$ of $\cal C$. In certain situations, $\Theta(A)$ is also an
incidence matrix of some $n_\kappa$ configuration, namely the neighbourhood
geometry of $\Gamma$ introduced by Lef\`evre-Percsy, Percsy, and Leemans
\cite{LPPL}.
  The matrix operator $\Theta$ can be reiterated and we pose the problem of
solving the generalised Hoffman--Singleton equation $\Theta^m(A)=A$. In
particular, we classify all $(0,1)$--matrices $M$ with all row and column sums
equal to $\kappa$, for $\kappa = 3,4$, which are solutions of this equation. As
a by--product, we obtain characterisations for incidence matrices of the
configuration $10_3F$ in Kantor's list \cite{Kantor} and the $17_4$
configuration $#1971$ in Betten and Betten's list \cite{BB99}
Combined results of searches for the standard model Higgs boson in pp
  collisions at sqrt(s) = 7 TeV

Combined results are reported from searches for the standard model Higgs
boson in proton-proton collisions at sqrt(s)=7 TeV in five Higgs boson decay
modes: gamma pair, b-quark pair, tau lepton pair, W pair, and Z pair. The
explored Higgs boson mass range is 110-600 GeV. The analysed data correspond to
an integrated luminosity of 4.6-4.8 inverse femtobarns. The expected excluded
mass range in the absence of the standard model Higgs boson is 118-543 GeV at
95% CL. The observed results exclude the standard model Higgs boson in the mass
range 127-600 GeV at 95% CL, and in the mass range 129-525 GeV at 99% CL. An
excess of events above the expected standard model background is observed at
the low end of the explored mass range making the observed limits weaker than
expected in the absence of a signal. The largest excess, with a local
significance of 3.1 sigma, is observed for a Higgs boson mass hypothesis of 124
GeV. The global significance of observing an excess with a local significance
greater than 3.1 sigma anywhere in the search range 110-600 (110-145) GeV is
estimated to be 1.5 sigma (2.1 sigma). More data are required to ascertain the
origin of this excess.Comment: Submitted to Physics Letters
Extended Huckel theory for bandstructure, chemistry, and transport. II.
  Silicon

In this second paper, we develop transferable semi-empirical parameters for
the technologically important material, silicon, using Extended Huckel Theory
(EHT) to calculate its electronic structure. The EHT-parameters areoptimized to
experimental target values of the band dispersion of bulk-silicon. We obtain a
very good quantitative match to the bandstructure characteristics such as
bandedges and effective masses, which are competitive with the values obtained
within an $sp^3 d^5 s^*$ orthogonal-tight binding model for silicon. The
transferability of the parameters is investigated applying them to different
physical and chemical environments by calculating the bandstructure of two
reconstructed surfaces with different orientations: Si(100) (2x1) and Si(111)
(2x1). The reproduced $\pi$- and $\pi^*$-surface bands agree in part
quantitatively with DFT-GW calculations and PES/IPES experiments demonstrating
their robustness to environmental changes. We further apply the silicon
parameters to describe the 1D band dispersion of a unrelaxed rectangular
silicon nanowire (SiNW) and demonstrate the EHT-approach of surface passivation
using hydrogen. Our EHT-parameters thus provide a quantitative model of
bulk-silicon and silicon-based materials such as contacts and surfaces, which
are essential ingredients towards a quantitative quantum transport simulation
through silicon-based heterostructures.Comment: 9 pages, 9 figure
Higher Dimensional Supersymmetry as an Origin of the Three Families for
  Quarks and Leptons

In a (0,1) supersymmetric (SUSY) six-dimensional gauge theory, a gauge
fermion gives rise to box anomalies. These anomalies are completely canceled by
assuming a vector multiplet of (1,1) SUSY. With a T^2/Z_3 orbifold
compactification of the extra two dimensional space, the theory provides three
chiral multiplets and three equivalent fixed points. We regard them as the
origin of the three families of quarks and leptons. Quasi anarchy structure in
the SU(5)-5^* representation sector and hence the bimaximal mixing in the
neutrino oscillation are explained quite naturally in this framework. We also
discuss a family symmetry as a remnant of the higher-dimensional R symmetry.Comment: 12 pages, Contribution to "Peccei Fest" January 11-13,2002, a number
  of comments and an appendix are adde
Is observed direct CP violation in $B_d \to K^+ \pi^-$ due to new
  physics? Check standard model prediction of equal violation in $B_s \to K^-
  \pi^+$

The recently observed direct CP violation in $B_d \to K^+ \pi^-$ has raised
suggestions of possible new physics. A robust test of the standard model vs.
new physics is its prediction of equal direct CP violation in $B_s \to K^-
\pi^+$ decay. CPT invariance requires the observed CP violation to arise from
the interference between the dominant penguin amplitude and another amplitude
with a different weak phase and a different strong phase. The penguin
contribution to $B_d \to K^+ \pi^-$ is known to be reduced by a CKM factor in
$B_s \to K^- \pi^+$. Thus the two branching ratios are very different and a
different CP violation is expected. But in the standard model a miracle occurs
and the interfering tree diagram is enhanced by the same CKM factor that
reduces the penguin to give the predicted equality. This miracle is not
expected in new physics; thus a search for and measurement of the predicted CP
violation in $B_s \to K^- \pi^+$ decay is a sensitive test for a new physics
contribution. A detailed analysis shows this prediction to be robust and
insensitive to symmetry breaking effects and possible additional contributions.Comment: 9 page