Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Multi‐epoch Doppler tomography and polarimetry of QQ Vul

ABSTRA C T We present multi-epoch high-resolution spectroscopy and photoelectric polarimetry of the long-period polar (AM Herculis star) QQ Vul. The blue emission lines show several distinct components, the sharpest of which can unequivocally be assigned to the illuminated hemisphere of the secondary star and used to trace its orbital motion. This narrow emission line can be used in combination with Na i absorption lines from the photosphere of the companion to build a stable long-term ephemeris for the star: inferior conjunction of the companion occurs at HJDa 244 8446:4710O5UaE 0: 154 520 11O11U: The polarization curves are dissimilar at different epochs, thus supporting the idea of fundamental changes of the accretion geometry, e.g., between one- and two-pole accretion modes. The linear polarization pulses display a random scatter by 0.2 phase units and are not suitable for the determination of the binary period. The polarization data suggest that the magnetic (dipolar) axis has a colatitude of 238, an azimuth of 2508, and an orbital inclination between 508 and 708. Doppler images of blue emission and red absorption lines show a clear separation between the illuminated and non-illuminated hemispheres of the secondary star. The absorption lines on their own can be used to determine the mass ratio of the binary by Doppler tomography with an accuracy of 15‐20 per cent. The narrow emission lines of different atomic species show remarkably different radial velocity amplitudes: Ka 85‐130 km s 21 : Emission lines from the most highly ionized species, He ii, originate closest to the inner Lagrangian point L1. We can discern two kinematic components within the accretion stream; one is associated with the ballistic part, and the other with the magnetically threaded part of the stream. The location of the emission component associated with the ballistic accretion stream appears displaced between different epochs. Whether this displacement indicates a dislocation of the ballistic stream, e.g. by a magnetic drag, or emission from the magnetically threaded part of the stream with near-ballistic velocities, remains unsolved.
Species‐related exposure of phase II metabolite gemfibrozil 1‐O‐β‐glucuronide between human and mice: A net induction of mouse P450 activity was revealed

Gemfibrozil is a fibrate drug used widely for dyslipidemia associated with atherosclerosis. Clinically, both gemfibrozil and its phase II metabolite gemfibrozil 1‐O‐β‐glucuronide (gem‐glu) are involved in drug–drug interaction (DDI). But the DDI risk caused by gem‐glu between human and mice has not been compared. In this study, six volunteers were recruited and took a therapeutic dose of gemfibrozil for 3 days for examination of the gemfibrozil and gem‐glu level in human. Male mice were fed a gemfibrozil diet (0.75%) for 7 days, following which a cocktail‐based inhibitory DDI experiment was performed. Plasma samples and liver tissues from mice were collected for determination of gemfibrozil, gem‐glu concentration and cytochrome p450 enzyme (P450) induction analysis. In human, the molar ratio of gem‐glu/gemfibrozil was 15% and 10% at the trough concentration and the concentration at 1.5 h after the 6th dose. In contrast, this molar ratio at steady state in mice was 91%, demonstrating a 6‐ to 9‐fold difference compared with that in human. Interestingly, a net induction of P450 activity and in vivo inductive DDI potential in mice was revealed. The P450 activity was not inhibited although the gem‐glu concentration was high. These data suggested species difference of relative gem‐glu exposure between human and mice, as well as a net inductive DDI potential of gemfibrozil in mouse model.
Simultaneous Underexpression of let-7a-5p and let-7f-5p microRNAs in Plasma and Stool Samples from Early Stage Colorectal Carcinoma

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common malignancy and the second most common cause of cancer death worldwide. Early detection of CRC can improve patient survival rates; thus, the identification of noninvasive diagnostic markers is urgently needed. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have extensive potential to diagnose several diseases, including cancer. In this study, we compared the expression pattern of miRNAs from plasma and stool samples of patients with early stages of CRC (I, II) with that of healthy subjects. We performed miRNA profiling using microarrays on plasma and stool samples of eight patients with CRC and four healthy subjects. Seven miRNAs were found to be underexpressed in both plasma and stool samples of patients with CRC versus healthy subjects. Then, we aimed to verify two out of these seven differentially expressed miRNAs (let-7a-5p and let-7f-5p) by quantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction on a larger set of plasma and stool samples of 51 patients with CRC and 26 healthy subjects. We confirmed the results of microarray analysis since their expression was significantly lower in stool and plasma samples of patients with CRC. Moreover, receiver operating characteristic curve analysis demonstrated that fecal let-7f expression levels have significant sensitivity and specificity to distinguish between patients with CRC and healthy subjects. In conclusion, if the results are confirmed in larger series of patients, underexpressed let-7a-5p and let-7f-5p miRNAs in both plasma and stool samples of patients with CRC may serve potentially as noninvasive molecular biomarkers for the early detection of CRC.
Infection and Helps to Prevent Reinfection Promotes Resolution of Primary Influenza CD4 T Cell-Independent Antibody Response

It is generally believed that the production of inﬂuenza-speciﬁc IgG in response to viral infection is dependent on CD4 T cells. However, we previously observed that CD40-deﬁcient mice generate inﬂuenza-speciﬁc IgG during a primary infection, suggesting that inﬂuenza infection may elicit IgG responses independently of CD4 T cell help. In the present study, we tested this hypothesis and show that mice lacking CD40 or CD4 T cells produce detectable titers of inﬂuenza-speciﬁc IgG and recover from inﬂuenza infection in a manner similar to that of normal mice. In contrast, mice completely lacking B cells succumb to inﬂuenza infection, despite the presence of large numbers of functional inﬂuenza-speciﬁc CD8 effector cells in the lungs. Consistent with the characteristics of a T-independent Ab response, long-lived inﬂuenza-speciﬁc plasma cells are not found in the bone marrow of CD40 (cid:1) / (cid:1) and class II (cid:1) / (cid:1) mice, and inﬂuenza-speciﬁc IgG titers wane within 60 days postinfection. However, despite the short-lived IgG response, CD40 (cid:1) / (cid:1) and class II (cid:1) / (cid:1) mice are completely protected from challenge infection with the same virus administered within 30 days. This protection is mediated primarily by B cells and Ab, as inﬂuenza-immune CD40 (cid:1) / (cid:1) and class II (cid:1) / (cid:1) mice were still resistant to challenge infection when T cells were depleted. These data demonstrate that T cell-independent inﬂuenza-speciﬁc Ab promotes the resolution of primary inﬂuenza (cid:1) These data indicate that reduced numbers of short-lived, Ab-secreting cells in absence of CD4 T cell help and CD40 signaling but that of long-lived plasma in the spleen or bone is dependent on both CD4 T cell help and CD40 signaling.
Comparison of RAPD, ISSR, and AFLP Molecular Markers to Reveal and Classify Orchardgrass (Dactylis glomerata L.) Germplasm Variations

Three different DNA-based techniques, Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA (RAPD), Inter Simple Sequence Repeat (ISSR) and Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphism (AFLP) markers, were used for fingerprinting Dactylis glomerata genotypes and for detecting genetic variation between the three different subspecies. In this study, RAPD assays produced 97 bands, of which 40 were polymorphic (41.2%). The ISSR primers amplified 91 bands, and 54 showed polymorphism (59.3%). Finally, the AFLP showed 100 bands, of which 92 were polymorphic (92%). The fragments were scored as present (1) or absent (0), and those readings were entered in a computer file as a binary matrix (one for each marker). Three cluster analyses were performed to express–in the form of dendrograms–the relationships among the genotypes and the genetic variability detected. All DNA-based techniques used were able to amplify all of the genotypes. There were highly significant correlation coefficients between cophenetic matrices based on the genetic distance for the RAPD, ISSR, AFLP, and combined RAPD-ISSR-AFLP data (0.68, 0.78, 0.70, and 0.70, respectively). Two hypotheses were formulated to explain these results; both of them are in agreement with the results obtained using these three types of molecular markers. We conclude that when we study genotypes close related, the analysis of variability could require more than one DNA-based technique; in fact, the genetic variation present in different sources could interfere or combine with the more or less polymorphic ability, as our results showed for RAPD, ISSR and AFLP markers. Our results indicate that AFLP seemed to be the best-suited molecular assay for fingerprinting and assessing genetic relationship among genotypes of Dactylis glomerata.
The most important psychological and psychosocial needs of Polish multiple sclerosis patients and their significant others

Background People with multiple sclerosis (MS) and their relatives often have multiple, complex needs which require support from a wide range of services. The aim of the study, the first of its kind in Poland, was to identify the most important needs of patients with MS and their significant others (SO). Methods A questionnaire developed from focus groups consisting of 20 needs-related statements was administered in seven MS centers to 573 MS patients and 220 SO. The mean age of the patients was 42.61 years old; the mean MS duration was 9.43 years. The respondents were asked to rate the needs statements according to their importance on an 11-point scale. The questionnaire was similar for the MS patients and their SO. Results The most important needs in the patient group were: to feel needed and efficient in life; to have easy access to professional rehabilitation; and to be sure that doctors are interested in my condition. The three most important needs in the SO group were: to know that relatives/friends feel needed and efficient in life; to have good living conditions; and to be sure that doctors are interested in my relative’s/friend’s condition. Correlation analysis revealed that in the patients group, there was a positive correlation between patient’s age and the importance of factors such as the need for support and interest in their disease from the family doctor (P<0.004), receiving educational materials from an MS clinic (P<0.011), interest from the clinic in life issues of the patient (P<0.001), and the need for access to self-rehabilitation (P<0.003); while the need to continue working part-time was inversely correlated with age (P<0.009). Conclusion The needs of the MS patients and SO were similar. The data validate the importance of interdisciplinary care for the MS population.
Chloroplast-expressed glutamine synthetase (ncpGS): potential utility for phylogenetic studies with an example from Oxalis (Oxalidaceae).

Chloroplast-expressed glutamine synthetase (ncpGS), a nuclear-encoded gene containing several introns, is introduced as a tool for phylogenetic studies at lower taxonomic levels. This gene is a member of a multigene family, but it diverged long ago from the cytosolic-expressed members of the family and appears to be single copy in the majority of taxa examined to date. The conservation of both coding sequence and position of introns has allowed the design of primers for use in a broad range of dicot taxa to amplify and sequence a region of ncpGS that contains four introns. The utility of this region in phylogenetic studies of congeneric species is illustrated by an example using eight Oxalis species. The four introns in these taxa are typical in size (76 to 136 bp), base composition (high T content), and structure (e.g., sequence of splice sites and putative branch points) for plant internal introns. Levels of variation among these ncpGS sequences compare favorably with those of the internal transcribed spacer of nuclear ribosomal DNA (ITS) from the same taxa, and results of phylogenetic analysis of ncpGS data are generally congruent with previous results using ITS.
A Hierarchy of Support Vector Machines for Pattern Detection

We introduce a computational design for pattern detection based on a tree-structured network of support vector machines (SVMs). An SVM is associated with each cell in a recursive partitioning of the space of patterns (hypotheses) into increasingly finer subsets. The hierarchy is traversed coarse-to-fine and each chain of positive responses from the root to a leaf constitutes a detection. Our objective is to design and build a network which balances overall error and computation. Initially, SVMs are constructed for each cell with no constraints. This "free network" is then perturbed, cell by cell, into another network, which is "graded" in two ways: first, the number of support vectors of each SVM is reduced (by clustering) in order to adjust to a pre-determined, increasing function of cell depth; second, the decision boundaries are shifted to preserve all positive responses from the original set of training data. The limits on the numbers of clusters (virtual support vectors) result from minimizing the mean computational cost of collecting all detections subject to a bound on the expected number of false positives. When applied to detecting faces in cluttered scenes, the patterns correspond to poses and the free network is already faster and more accurate than applying a single pose-specific SVM many times. The graded network promotes very rapid processing of background regions while maintaining the discriminatory power of the free network.
Mantle discontinuity structure from midpoint stacks of converted P to S waves across the Yellowstone hotspot track

Analysis of a deployment of broadband sensors along a 500-km-long line crossing the Yellowstone hotspot track (YHT) has provided 423 in-plane receiver functions with which to image lateral variations in mantle discontinuity structure. Imaging is accomplished by performing the converted wave equivalent of a common midpoint stack, which significantly improves resolution of mantle discontinuity structure with respect to single-station stacks. Timing corrections are calculated from locally derived tomographic P and S wave velocity images and applied to the Pds (where d is the depth of the conversion) ray set in order to isolate true discontinuity topography. Using the one-dimensional TNA velocity model and a Vp/Vs ratio of 1.82 to map our Pds times to depth, the average depths of the 410- and 660-km discontinuities are 423 and 664 km, respectively, giving an average transition zone thickness of 241 km. Our most robust observation is provided by comparing the stack of all NW back-azimuth arrivals versus all SE back-azimuth arrivals. This shows that the transition zone thickness varies between 261 and 232 km, between the NW and SE portions of our line. More spatially resolved images show that this transition zone thickness variation results from the occurrence of 20–30 km of topography over 200–300 lateral scale lengths on the 410- and 660-km discontinuities. The topography on the 410- and 660-km discontinuities is not correlated either positively or negatively beneath the 600-km-long transect, albeit correlation could be present for wavelengths larger than the length of our transect. If this discontinuity topography is controlled exclusively by thermal effects, then uncorrelated 250° lateral temperature variations are required at the 410- and 660-km discontinuities. However, other sources of discontinuity topography such as the effects of garnet-pyroxene phase transformations, chemical layering, or variations in mantle hydration may contribute. The most obvious correlation between the discontinuity structure and the track of the Yellowstone hotspot is the downward dip of the 410-km discontinuity from 415 km beneath the NW margin of the YHT to 435 km beneath the easternmost extent of Basin and Range faulting. Assuming this topography is thermally controlled, the warmest mantle resides not beneath the Yellowstone hotspot track, but 150 km to the SE along the easternmost edge of the active Basin and Range faulting.
A Dynamic Factor Model for World Trade Growth

This paper reviews the main monthly indicators that could help forecasting world trade and compares different type of forecasting models using these indicators. In particular it develops dynamic factor models (DFM) which have the advantage of handling larger datasets of information than bridge models and allowing for the inclusion of numerous monthly indicators on a national and world-wide level such as financial indicators, transportation and shipping indices, supply and orders variables and information technology indices. The comparison of the forecasting performance of the DFMs with more traditional bridge equation models as well as autoregressive benchmarking models shows that, the dynamic factor approach seems to perform better, especially when a large set of indicators is used, but also that the marginal gains in adding indicators seems to diminish after a certain stage. Un modele a facteurs dynamiques pour prevoir la croissance du commerce mondial Ce document passe en revue les principaux indicateurs mensuels pouvant aider a prevoir le commerce mondial et compare differents types de modeles de prevision utilisant ces indicateurs. En particulier, il developpe des modeles a facteurs dynamiques (DFM) qui ont l'avantage de permettre l’utilisation de plus de series que les modeles d’etalonnage et donc d’inclure des indicateurs mensuels au niveau national et mondial tels que les indicateurs financiers, de transport et d’expedition, d’approvisionnement et de carnets de commandes ou encore et de technologie de l’information. La comparaison de la performance de prevision des DFM avec des modeles d’etalonnage plus traditionnels ou des modeles autoregressifs montre que l'approche en facteurs dynamiques semble plus performante, surtout quand un vaste ensemble d'indicateurs est utilise ; les gains marginaux en ajoutant des indicateurs semblent toutefois diminuer apres un certain stade.
Psychological Distress: Precursor or Consequence of Dating Infidelity?

Research on infidelity-related distress has focused on victims with little attention to perpetrators. Two studies therefore explore the psychological functioning of individuals who have engaged in dating infidelity. Study 1 showed that, compared to faithful partners, individuals who had engaged in infidelity showed more psychological distress. Study 2 investigated the interrelationships among infidelity, psychological distress, and relationship satisfaction over time. Results suggested that initial levels of psychological distress predicted later infidelity but infidelity did not predict subsequent psychological distress. Findings are interpreted in light of the broader infidelity literature, potential mechanisms are suggested, and avenues for future research are recommended.
First passage percolation on Z 2 : a simulation study

FirstpassagepercolationonZ 2 isamodelfordescribingthespreadofaninfection on the sites of the square lattice. The infection is spread via nearest neighbor sites and the time dynamic is specified by random passage times attached to the edges. In this paper, the speed of the growth and the shape of the infected set is studied by aid of large-scale computer simulations, with focus on continuous passage time distributions. It is found that the most important quantity for determining the value of the time constant, which indicates the inverse asymptotic speed of the growth, is E(min{τ1 ,.,τ 4}) ,w hereτ1 ,. ,τ 4 are i.i. d. passage time variables. The relation is linear for a large class of passage time distributions. Furthermore, the directional time constants are seen to be increasing when moving from the axis towards the diagonal, so that the limiting shape is contained in a circle with radius defined by the speed along the axes. The shape comes closer to the circle for distributions with larger variability.
Inhibition of Astroglial Inwardly Rectifying Kir4.1 Channels by a Tricyclic Antidepressant, Nortriptyline

The inwardly rectifying K+ (Kir) channel Kir4.1 is responsible for astroglial K+ buffering. We examined the effects of nortriptyline, a tricyclic antidepressant (TCA), on Kir4.1 channel currents heterologously expressed in HEK293T cells, using a whole-cell patch-clamp technique. Nortriptyline (3–300 μM) reversibly inhibited Kir4.1 currents in a concentration-dependent manner, whereas it marginally affected neuronal Kir2.1 currents. The inhibition of Kir4.1 channels by nortriptyline depended on the voltage difference from the K+ equilibrium potential (EK), with greater potency at more positive potentials. Blocking kinetics of the drug could be described by first-order kinetics, where dissociation of the drug slowed down and association accelerated as the membrane was depolarized. The dissociation constant (Kd) of nortriptyline for Kir4.1 inhibition was 28.1 μMat EK. Other TCAs, such as amitriptyline, desipramine, and imipramine, also inhibited Kir4.1 currents in a similar voltage-dependent fashion. This study shows for the first time that nortriptyline and related TCAs cause a concentration-, voltage-, and time-dependent inhibition of astroglial K+-buffering Kir4.1 channels, which might be involved in therapeutic and/or adverse actions of the drugs.
High-Resolution Monthly Rainfall Database for Ethiopia: Homogenization, Reconstruction, and Gridding

AbstractRecent heightened concern regarding possible consequences of anthropogenically induced global warming has spurred analyses of data aimed at detection of climate change and more thorough characterization of the natural climate variability. However, there is greater concern regarding the extent and especially quality of the historical climate data. In this paper, rainfall records of 233 gauge stations over Ethiopia for the 1978–2007 period are employed in an analysis that involves homogenization, reconstruction, and gridding onto a regular 0.5° × 0.5° resolution grid. Inhomogeneity is detected and adjusted based on quantile matching. The regularized expectation-maximization and multichannel singular spectrum analysis algorithms are then utilized for imputation of missing values, and the latter has been determined to have a marginal advantage. Ordinary kriging is used to create a gridded monthly rainfall dataset. The spatial and temporal coherence of this dataset are assessed using harmonic analysis,.
Evaluation of auto-regressive modeling procedures for the detection of abnormal intra-QRS potentials using a boundary element electrocardiogram model

Auto-regressive modeling procedures (AR) have been used to quantify low magnitude components of abnormal activation within the QRS complex, called abnormal intra-QRS potentials (AIQPs). Research is still needed to identify the range in which the AR model can detect AIQP sources in different locations in the heart. A ventricular source model and forward model of electrocardiography called ECGSIM was used to test the ability of the AR model in detecting delays at various locations in the ventricles. A high resolution ECGSIM heart model was created to provide greater temporal and spatial control of the AIQP sources. The overall optimal model orders in this study were at an intermediate range seen previously in the literature. The ability of the AR model to detect the AIQP sources was dependent on the resolution of the heart model and the size and location of the AIQP sources.