Understanding NFT Price Moves through Social Media Keywords Analysis

Non-Fungible Token (NFT) is evolving with the rise of the cryptocurrency market and the development of blockchain techniques, which leads to an emerging NFT market that has become prosperous rapidly. The overall rise procedure of the NFT market has not been well understood. To this end, we consider that social media communities evolving alongside the market growth, are worth exploring and reasoning about, as the mineable information might unveil the market behaviors. We explore the procedure from the perspective of NFT social media communities and its impact on the NFT price moves with two experiments. We perform a Granger causality test on the number of tweets and the NFT price time series and find that the number of tweets has a positive impact on (Granger-causes) the price or reversely for more than half of the 19 top authentic NFT projects but seldom copycat projects. Besides, to investigate the price moves predictability using social media features, we conduct an experiment of predicting Markov normalized NFT price (representing the direction and magnitude of price moves) given social-media-extracted word features and interpret the feature importance to find insights into the NFT communities. Our results show that social media words as the predictors result in all 19 top projects having a testing accuracy above the random baseline. Based on the feature importance analysis, we find that both general market-related words and NFT event-related words have a markedly positive contribution in predicting price moves

Effect of growth temperature on the morphology and phonon properties of InAs nanowires on Si substrates

Catalyst-free, vertical array of InAs nanowires (NWs) are grown on Si (111) substrate using MOCVD technique. The as-grown InAs NWs show a zinc-blende crystal structure along a < 111 > direction. It is found that both the density and length of InAs NWs decrease with increasing growth temperatures, while the diameter increases with increasing growth temperature, suggesting that the catalyst-free growth of InAs NWs is governed by the nucleation kinetics. The longitudinal optical and transverse optical (TO) mode of InAs NWs present a phonon frequency slightly lower than those of InAs bulk materials, which are speculated to be caused by the defects in the NWs. A surface optical mode is also observed for the InAs NWs, which shifts to lower wave-numbers when the diameter of NWs is decreased, in agreement with the theory prediction. The carrier concentration is extracted to be 2.25 × 1017 cm-3 from the Raman line shape analysis. A splitting of TO modes is also observed

Inhibition of Stimulator of Interferon Genes Protects Against Myocardial Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury in Diabetic Mice

Background: Although the past decade has witnessed substantial scientific progress with the advent of cardioprotective pharmacological agents, most have failed to protect against myocardial ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury in diabetic hearts. This study was aimed at investigating the role of stimulator of interferon genes (STING) in I/R injury in diabetic mice and further exploring the underlying mechanisms. Methods: Type 2 diabetic mice were subjected to I/R or sham operation to investigate the role of STING. STING knockout mice were subjected to 30 minutes of ischemia followed by reperfusion for 24 hours. Finally, myocardial injury, cardiac function, and inflammation levels were assessed. Results: STING pathway activation was observed in diabetic I/R hearts, as evidenced by increased p-TBK and p-IRF3 expression. STING knockout significantly decreased the ischemic area and improved cardiac function after I/R in diabetic mice. STING knockout also elicited cardio-protective effects by decreasing serum cardiac troponin T and lactate dehydrogenase levels, thus diminishing the inflammatory response in the heart after I/R in diabetic mice. In vitro , STING inhibition decreased the expression of hypoxia-re-oxygenation-induced inflammatory cytokines. Conclusions: Targeting STING inhibits inflammation and prevents I/R injury in diabetic mice. Thus, STING may be a potential novel therapeutic target against myocardial I/R injury in diabetes

Sequence analysis of the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) BRLF1 gene in nasopharyngeal and gastric carcinomas

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) has a biphasic infection cycle consisting of a latent and a lytic replicative phase. The product of immediate-early gene BRLF1, Rta, is able to disrupt the latency phase in epithelial cells and certain B-cell lines. The protein Rta is a frequent target of the EBV-induced cytotoxic T cell response. In spite of our good understanding of this protein, little is known for the gene polymorphism of BRLF1.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>BRLF1 gene was successfully amplified in 34 EBV-associated gastric carcinomas (EBVaGCs), 57 nasopharyngeal carcinomas (NPCs) and 28 throat washings (TWs) samples from healthy donors followed by PCR-direct sequencing. Fourteen loci were found to be affected by amino acid changes, 17 loci by silent nucleotide changes. According to the phylogenetic tree, 5 distinct subtypes of BRLF1 were identified, and 2 subtypes BR1-A and BR1-C were detected in 42.9% (51/119), 42.0% (50/119) of samples, respectively. The distribution of these 2 subtypes among 3 types of specimens was significantly different. The subtype BR1-A preferentially existed in healthy donors, while BR1-C was seen more in biopsies of NPC. A silent mutation A/G was detected in all the isolates. Among 3 functional domains, the dimerization domain of Rta showed a stably conserved sequence, while DNA binding and transactivation domains were detected to have multiple mutations. Three of 16 CTL epitopes, NAA, QKE and ERP, were affected by amino acid changes. Epitope ERP was relatively conserved; epitopes NAA and QKE harbored more mutations.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>This first detailed investigation of sequence variations in BRLF1 gene has identified 5 distinct subtypes. Two subtypes BR1-A and BR1-C are the dominant genotypes of BRLF1. The subtype BR1-C is more frequent in NPCs, while BR1-A preferentially presents in healthy donors. BR1-C may be associated with the tumorigenesis of NPC.</p

FIRST-PRINCIPLES INVESTIGATION ON SPIN-ORBIT COUPLING INDUCED TOPOLOGICAL PHASE TRANSITION

Ph.DDOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY (FOS

On the genus Paralobella (Collembola: Neanuridae: Lobellini) with description of a new Chinese species

Luo, Yongzheng, Palacios-Vargas, José G. (2016): On the genus Paralobella (Collembola: Neanuridae: Lobellini) with description of a new Chinese species. Zootaxa 4066 (3): 343-350, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4066.3.1

Paralobella breviseta Luo & Palacios-Vargas, 2016, sp. nov.

&lt;i&gt;Paralobella breviseta&lt;/i&gt; sp. nov. &lt;p&gt;Figs 1&ndash;9, Tables 1&ndash;3&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt; &lt;b&gt;Material examined. Type-locality.&lt;/b&gt; China, Anhui Province, Huang Mountain (alt. 1600&ndash;1700 m), 30&deg;17&rsquo;&ndash;19&rsquo;&deg;N, 118&deg;13&rsquo;&ndash;15&rsquo;E, collection number C9290.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt; &lt;b&gt;Type-specimens.&lt;/b&gt; Holotype female and 33 paratypes (Seven females, three males, three juveniles, and about 20 in alcohol).&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;Holotype and 30 paratypes deposited in the Department of Entomology, College of Plant Protection, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, P. R. China (NAU). Three paratypes deposited at the Lab. of Ecolog&iacute;a y Sistem&aacute;tica de Microartr&oacute;podos, Fac. Ciencias, UNAM.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt; &lt;b&gt;Diagnosis.&lt;/b&gt; Very large neanurids, about 4.5 mm, long tubercles similar to digitations on lateral parts of the body, all the setae on tubercles Di from Th. I to Abd. V very short.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt; &lt;b&gt;Description.&lt;/b&gt; Body length. Up to 4.5 mm. Colour. Red alive, white in alcohol. Cuticular granulations fine. Tubercles very developed on head and body, and with subcuticular reticulations. Tubercles Di of thorax and abdomen short and small as half spheres; De, Dl and L very large as digitations. Body dorsal macrosetae thick, slightly serrate with blunt tips, mesosetae with expanded subapical tip, microsetae serrate on one side with acuminate tips (Fig. 6).&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;Head. Eyes 3+3, with black pigment (Fig. 1). Length ratio of antenna to head as 1: 1.1. Ant. III and IV dorsally fused. Ratio of antennal segments as I: II; III + IV = 1: 1; 1.3&minus;1.9. Ant. I and II respectively with 9 and 11 setae. Ant. III with 18 setae and Ant. III organ, 5 sensory setae, including sgd, sgv, ms and 2 strongly curved rods in separate pits. Ant. IV apical bulb trilobed, dorsal chaetotaxy as 12 mou, i, or and 8S (S1&minus;S8), S1 and S2 setaeshaped (Fig. 2). Labrum setal formula 0/2, 2. Labium with 2 x and 3 setae (A, C, D) on proximal part of palp, 4 (E, F, G, f) on submentum and 4 (b, c, d, e) on mentum (after Massoud 1967) (Fig. 3). Mandible with 4 apical teeth, 1 middle tooth and 1 basal big tooth (Fig. 4). Maxillary head styliform with 2 apical teeth and 1 middle tooth, with a thin and transparent apical lamella sometimes distinguishable (Fig. 5).&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;Cephalic tubercles and chaetotaxy. Dorsal central area with 6 separate tubercles (Cl, 2An, Fr and 2Oc) and 21 setae; tubercle Cl with 4 setae (2F, 2G), An with 8 setae (2B, 2C, 2D, 2E), Fr with 3 setae (O, 2A), and Oc with 3 setae (Oca, Ocm, Ocp). Dorsal posterior area with 4 separate tubercles (2 Di, 2 De) and 8 setae; tubercles Di and De respectively with setae Di 1 and De 1, Di 2 and De 2 out of tubercles. Dorso-lateral area with tubercles Dl, L and So respectively 3, 3, 10 setae (Fig. 1 and Table 1). Ventral side respectively with 6 and 9&ndash;12 setae in internal (Vi) and external (Ve) areas.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;Abd. III me+mi M+me+mi+s M+me M+4me+s Ve: 4 Fu: 3 Abd. IV me+mi M+me +s M+2me 2M+5me+s Ve:? Vl:? Abd. V 2 me+mi s 2M+2me M+5me Ag: 3 Vl: 2 Abd. VI --------------------- 6M+me ----------------------- Ve: 14&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;Body length Colour Mandible teeth Setae on Th. I Setae of tubercle Di on Th. II&ndash; (mm) III&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt; &lt;i&gt;breviseta&lt;/i&gt; &lt;b&gt;sp. nov.&lt;/b&gt; 4.5 Red 6 4 3&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt; &lt;i&gt;khaochongensis&lt;/i&gt; 2.8 Red 6 5 3&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;Body tubercles and chaetotaxy. Th. I with 3+3 tubercles (Di, De, Dl). Th. II-Abd. IV respectively with 4+4 tubercles (Di, De, Dl, L); tubercles L on Abd. I &minus;IV each with 1 additional sensory seta besides common setae. Abd. V dorsally with 3+3 tubercles (Di, De, Dl), De separated with only 1 sensory seta; tubercle L ventrally situated. Abd. VI with 1+1 tubercles. Sensory seta (s) and sensory microsensillum (ms) formula as: 2+ms, 2/2, 2, 2, 2, 1 (Fig. 1 and Table 2). Ventral chaetotaxy of Abd. III&ndash;VI shown in Fig. 9 and Table 2. Setae of genital plate of female 3 + 3 pregenital, 19&ndash;31 circumgenital and 2 eugenital, male with 3+3 pregenital, 18&ndash;19 circumgenital and 4+4 eugenital. Each anal valve (Av) with 3 microsetae in both sexes. Appendices. Chaetotaxy of legs shown in Figs 7&ndash; 8 and Table 2. Tibiotarsi of legs I &minus;III respectively with 19, 19, 18 setae; M present; B5 very long; and B7 on tibiotarsus III absent. Unguis with 1 big inner tooth, basal granules and medial transverse striae (Fig. 8). Ventral tube anteriorly with 1+1 proximal and 3+3 distal setae. Furcula reduced to elliptic area with 3 mesosetae and without microsetae (Fig. 9).&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt; &lt;b&gt;Etymology.&lt;/b&gt; The name of the new species &ldquo; breviseta &rdquo; means seta Di 1 very small and short on tubercles Di from Th. I to Abd. IV, comparatively long macroseta on other known species.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt; &lt;b&gt;Distribution.&lt;/b&gt; Only known from the type locality.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt; &lt;b&gt;Ecology.&lt;/b&gt; Found on lichen around a cistern.&lt;/p&gt;Published as part of &lt;i&gt;Luo, Yongzheng &amp; Palacios-Vargas, José G., 2016, On the genus Paralobella (Collembola: Neanuridae: Lobellini) with description of a new Chinese species, pp. 343-350 in Zootaxa 4066 (3)&lt;/i&gt; on pages 344-348, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4066.3.10, &lt;a href="http://zenodo.org/record/265576"&gt;http://zenodo.org/record/265576&lt;/a&gt

FIGURES 4−9 in On the genus Paralobella (Collembola: Neanuridae: Lobellini) with description of a new Chinese species

FIGURES 4−9. Paralobella breviseta sp. nov. 4 right mandible, dorsal view 5 right maxilla, dorsal view 6, different types of dorsal body setae 7, chaetotaxy of leg III from subcoxa to femur 8, chaetotaxy of tibiotarsus III and unguis 9 ventral chaetotaxy of Abd. III−VI