Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Relativistic magnetohydrodynamics winds from rotating neutron stars

We solve for the time-dependent dynamics of axisymmetric, general relativistic magnetohydrodynamic winds from rotating neutron stars. The mass-loss rate as a function of latitude is obtained self-consistently as a solution to the magnetohydrodynamics equations, subject to a finite thermal pressure at the stellar surface. We consider both monopole and dipole magnetic field geometries and we explore the parameter regime extending from low magnetization (low σ 0 ), almost thermally driven winds to high magnetization (high σ 0 ), relativistic Poynting-flux-dominated outflows (σ = B 2 /4πργc 2 β 2 ≈ σ 0 /γ ∞ ,β = v/c with σ 0 = ω 2 Φ 2 /M, where ω is the rotation rate, Φ' is the open magnetic flux, and M is the mass flux). We compute the angular momentum and rotational energy-loss rates as a function of σ 0 and compare with analytic expectations from the classical theory of pulsars and magnetized stellar winds. In the case of the monopole, our high-σ 0 calculations asymptotically approach the analytic force-free limit. If we define the spindown rate in terms of the open magnetic flux, we similarly reproduce the spindown rate from recent force-free calculations of the aligned dipole. However, even for σ 0 as high as ∼20, we find that the location of the Y-type point (ry), which specifies the radius of the last closed field line in the equatorial plane, is not the radius of the Light Cylinder R L = c/ω (R = cylindrical radius), as has previously been assumed in most estimates and force-free calculations. Instead, although the Alfven radius at intermediate latitudes quickly approaches R L as σ 0 exceeds unity, r Y remains significantly less than R L . In addition, r Y is a weak function of σ 0 , suggesting that high magnetizations may be required to quantitatively approach the force-free magnetospheric structure, with ry = R L . Because ry < R L , our calculated spindown rates thus exceed the classic 'vacuum dipole' rate: equivalently, for a given spindown rate, the corresponding dipole field is smaller than traditionally inferred. In addition, our results suggest a braking index generically less than 3. We discuss the implications of our results for models of rotation-powered pulsars and magnetars, both in their observed states and in their hypothesized rapidly rotating initial states.
Thiothymidine plus low-dose UVA kills hyperproliferative human skin cells independently of their human papilloma virus status

The thymidine analogue 4-thiothymidine (STdR) is a photosensitizer for UVA radiation. The UV absorbance spectrum of STdR and its incorporation into DNA suggests that it might act synergistically with nonlethal doses of UVA to selectively kill hyperproliferative or cancerous skin cells. We show here that nontoxic concentrations of STdR combine with nonlethal doses of UVA to kill proliferating cultured skin cells. Established cell lines with a high fraction of proliferating cells were more sensitive than primary keratinocytes or fibroblasts to apoptosis induction by STdR/UVA. Although STdR plus UVA treatment induces stabilization of p53, cell death, as measured by apoptosis or clonal survival, occurs to a similar extent in both p53 wild-type and p53-null backgrounds. Furthermore, different types of human papilloma virus E6 proteins, which protect against UVBinduced apoptosis, have little effect on killing by STdR/ UVA. STdR/UVA offers a possible therapeutic intervention strategy that seems to be applicable to human papilloma virus–associated skin lesions. [Mol Cancer Ther 2007;6(9):2487–95]
Towards a Better Quality Metric for Graph Cluster Evaluation

The process of discovering groups of similar vertices in a graph, known as graph clustering, has interesting applications in many dierent scenarios, such as marketing and recommendation systems. One of the most important aspects of graph clustering is the evaluation of cluster quality, which is important not only to measure the eectiveness of clustering algorithms, but also to give insights on the dynamics of relationships in a given network. Many quality metrics for graph clustering evaluation exist, but the most popular ones have strong biases and structural inconsistencies that cause the quality of their results to be, at least, doubtful. Our studies showed that, while in general those popular quality metrics do a good job evaluating the external sparsity between clusters, they do poorly when evaluating the internal density of those clusters, ignoring essential information (such as a cluster's vertex count) or having its internal density component ignored in practice because of its computational cost. In this article, we propose a new method for evaluating the internal density of a given cluster, one that not only uses more complete information to evaluate that density, but also takes into consideration structural characteristics of the original graph. With our proposed method, the internal density of a cluster is evaluated in terms of the expected density of similar clusters in that same graph, in contrast to the traditional quality metrics available, where clusters from dierent graphs are compared by the same standards. We believe that, if used in conjunction with a good external sparsity evaluation metric, like conductance, this method will help to obtain better, more signi cant graph clustering evaluation results.
Moral Judgment Patterns of University Candidates

This study assesses the level and pattern of moral judgment, as measured by DIT P% scores, of a representative sample of 360 college student candidates in Israel, and determines the relationship between moral judgment scores and various cognitive and demographic factors. Overall, P% norms for Israeli college applicants were found to be highly similar to comparable groups in the United States. Moral reasoning was found to correlate modestly with the examinee's social class background, with significantly higher levels of moral judgment evidenced for upper- relative to lower-class candidates. By contrast, moral judgment levels were found to be nonsignificantly differentiated by sex, ethnicity, or age. Also, principled moral reasoning scores correlate moderately with total aptitude test scores and matriculation grades.
Subclinical phenotypes of asthma

Purpose of reviewAsthma is a heterogeneous disease. Identification of specific subphenotypes of asthma may further our understanding of pathophysiology and treatment response, leading to the better targeting of both existing and novel antiasthma therapies. An accurate and comprehensive clinicopathological classification system therefore remains an important priority for asthma research. The present review discusses the important recent literature in this field. Recent findingsCluster analysis in patients with severe asthma has suggested the presence of four distinct clinical phenotypes, two with eosinophilic airway inflammation, and two without. Patients with eosinophilic inflammation benefit most from a management strategy targeting the sputum eosinophil count. Molecular phenotying utilizing gene arrays in steroid-naive asthmatic individuals reveals two distinct subgroups (Th2-high and Th2-low) based on the expression of Th2 cytokine genes (IL-5, IL-13) and Th2-responsive genes. The Th2-high group exhibit clinical features typical of patients with eosinophilic disease. Targeting anti-IL-5 therapy to patients with evidence of eosinophilic airway inflammation and recurrent asthma exacerbations markedly reduces the asthma exacerbation rate, but day-to-day asthma symptoms remain unchanged. SummaryThe detailed phenotyping of asthma will allow the successful targeting of existing and novel therapies to those patients most likely to gain benefit.
Olfactory Impairments in Patients with Unilateral Cerebellar Lesions Are Selective to Inputs from the Contralesional Nostril

Functional imaging studies of olfaction have consistently reported odorant-induced activation of the cerebellum. However, the cerebellar role in olfaction remains unknown. We examined the olfactory and olfactomotor abilities of patients with unilateral cerebellar lesions, comparing performance within subjects across nostrils, as well as between subjects with age-matched and young controls. Regarding olfactory performance, initial testing revealed that patients had a contralesional impairment in olfactory identification but not olfactory detection threshold. However, when tested under conditions that prevented compensatory sniffing strategies, the patients also exhibited a contralesional olfactory detection impairment. Regarding olfactomotor function, a healthy olfactomotor system generates sniffs that are (1) sufficiently vigorous and (2) inversely proportional to odorant concentration in sniff mean airflow velocity, maximum airflow velocity, volume, and duration. Patients' sniffs were lower in overall airflow velocity and volume in comparison with control participants. Furthermore, reduced sniff velocity predicted poorer detection thresholds in patients. Finally, whereas young controls used concentration-dependent sniffs, there was a trend in that direction only for age-matched controls. Patients used sniffs that were concentration invariant. In conclusion, cerebellar lesions impacted olfactory and olfactomotor performance. These findings strongly implicate an olfactocerebellar pathway prominent in odor identification and detection that functionally connects each nostril primarily to the contralateral cerebellum.
Asymptotic Analysis of MAP Estimation via the Replica Method and Applications to Compressed Sensing

The replica method is a nonrigorous but well-known technique from statistical physics used in the asymptotic analysis of large, random, nonlinear problems. This paper applies the replica method, under the assumption of replica symmetry, to study estimators that are maximum a posteriori (MAP) under a postulated prior distribution. It is shown that with random linear measurements and Gaussian noise, the replica-symmetric prediction of the asymptotic behavior of the postulated MAP estimate of an -dimensional vector “decouples” as scalar postulated MAP estimators. The result is based on applying a hardening argument to the replica analysis of postulated posterior mean estimators of Tanaka and of Guo and Verdú. The replica-symmetric postulated MAP analysis can be readily applied to many estimators used in compressed sensing, including basis pursuit, least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO), linear estimation with thresholding, and zero norm-regularized estimation. In the case of LASSO estimation, the scalar estimator reduces to a soft-thresholding operator, and for zero norm-regularized estimation, it reduces to a hard threshold. Among other benefits, the replica method provides a computationally tractable method for precisely predicting various performance metrics including mean-squared error and sparsity pattern recovery probability.
Novel Circuit Model of the Photovoltaic Modules Based on N-Channel MOS Transistor

This paper proposes novel circuit model to simulate photovoltaic (PV) modules at different temperatures. The basic component of the new model is the N-channel enhancement mode MOSFET. The new approach simplifies the I-V output equation of PV module by avoiding the exponential term in the well-known diode models. In addition, it provides the ability to represent the whole PV module by only one MOSFET which reduces the simulation time needed to run a big system. Fast, simple and accurate algorithm is proposed based on the new circuit model. The proposed work is validated with datasheet curves of commercial mono-crystalline silicon, poly-crystalline silicon and copper indium diselenide (CIS) PV modules to have a maximum error as 5.4% of module short circuit current at standard test conditions (STC).
Stability of the hybrid epithelial/mesenchymal phenotype

Epithelial-to-Mesenchymal Transition (EMT) and its reverse – Mesenchymal to Epithelial Transition (MET) – are hallmarks of cellular plasticity during embryonic development and cancer metastasis. During EMT, epithelial cells lose cell-cell adhesion and gain migratory and invasive traits either partially or completely, leading to a hybrid epithelial/mesenchymal (hybrid E/M) or a mesenchymal phenotype respectively. Mesenchymal cells move individually, but hybrid E/M cells migrate collectively as observed during gastrulation, wound healing, and the formation of tumor clusters detected as Circulating Tumor Cells (CTCs). Typically, the hybrid E/M phenotype has largely been tacitly assumed to be transient and ‘metastable’. Here, we identify certain ‘phenotypic stability factors’ (PSFs) such as GRHL2 that couple to the core EMT decision-making circuit (miR-200/ZEB) and stabilize hybrid E/M phenotype. Further, we show that H1975 lung cancer cells can display a stable hybrid E/M phenotype and migrate collectively, a behavior that is impaired by knockdown of GRHL2 and another previously identified PSF - OVOL. In addition, our computational model predicts that GRHL2 can also associate hybrid E/M phenotype with high tumor-initiating potential, a prediction strengthened by the observation that the higher levels of these PSFs may be predictive of poor patient outcome. Finally, based on these specific examples, we deduce certain network motifs that can stabilize the hybrid E/M phenotype. Our results suggest that partial EMT, i.e. a hybrid E/M phenotype, need not be ‘metastable’, and strengthen the emerging notion that partial EMT, but not necessarily a complete EMT, is associated with aggressive tumor progression.
Node Immunization on Large Graphs: Theory and Algorithms

Given a large graph, like a computer communication network, which k nodes should we immunize (or monitor, or remove), to make it as robust as possible against a computer virus attack? This problem, referred to as the node immunization problem, is the core building block in many high-impact applications, ranging from public health, cybersecurity to viral marketing. A central component in node immunization is to find the best k bridges of a given graph. In this setting, we typically want to determine the relative importance of a node (or a set of nodes) within the graph, for example, how valuable (as a bridge) a person or a group of persons is in a social network. First of all, we propose a novel `bridging' score Dλ, inspired by immunology, and we show that its results agree with intuition for several realistic settings. Since the straightforward way to compute Dλ is computationally intractable, we then focus on the computational issues and propose a surprisingly efficient way (O(nk2 + m)) to estimate it. Experimental results on real graphs show that (1) the proposed `bridging' score gives mining results consistent with intuition; and (2) the proposed fast solution is up to seven orders of magnitude faster than straightforward alternatives.
An information-theoretic framework for deriving canonical decision-feedback receivers in Gaussian channels

A framework is presented that allows a number of known results relating feedback equalization, linear prediction, and mutual information to be easily understood. A lossless, additive decomposition of mutual information in a general class of Gaussian channels is introduced and shown to produce an information-preserving canonical decision-feedback receiver. The approach is applied to intersymbol interference (ISI) channels to derive the well-known minimum mean-square error (MMSE) decision-feedback equalizer (DFE). When applied to the synchronous code-division multiple-access (CDMA) channel, the result is the MMSE (or signal-to-interference ratio (SIR) maximizing) decision-feedback detector, which is shown to achieve the channel sum-capacity at the vertices of the capacity region. Finally, in the case of the asynchronous CDMA channel we are able to give new connections between information theory, decision-feedback receivers, and structured factorizations of multivariate spectra.
The truth about mentoring minorities. Race matters.

Diversity has become a top priority in corporate America. Despite corporations' best intentions, however, many have failed to achieve a racial mix at the top levels of management. Some have revolving doors for talented minorities, recruiting the best and brightest, only to see them leave, frustrated by their experiences. Others are able to retain high-potential professionals of color but find them mired in middle management. To understand the different career trajectories of whites and minorities, David Thomas studied the progression of racial minorities at three large U.S. corporations. Here, he explains the three career stages that all professionals advance through, and he discusses why promising white professionals tend to enter fast tracks early in their careers, whereas high-potential minorities typically take off after they have reached middle management. Thomas's research shows that minorities who advance the furthest share one characteristic: a strong network of mentors and corporate sponsors. He found that minorities who plateaued in middle management received mentoring that was basically instructional; it helped them to develop skills. By contrast, minorities who became executives enjoyed fuller developmental relationships with their mentors. Thomas explains the types of support mentors provide for their protégés and outlines the challenges of mentoring across racial lines. Specifically, he addresses negative stereotypes, public scrutiny, difficulty with role modeling, and peer resentment. Finally, Thomas challenges the notion that the job of mentors begins and ends with their one-on-one relationships with their protégés. He offers concrete advice on how mentors can support broader initiatives at their organizations to create and enhance conditions that foster the upward mobility of professionals of color.
The Relation Between Black Hole Mass and Velocity Dispersion at z ~ 0.37

The velocity dispersion of seven Seyfert 1 galaxies at z ~ 0.37 is measured using high signal-to-noise ratio Keck spectra. Black hole (BH) mass estimates are obtained via an empirically calibrated photoionization method. We derive the BH mass velocity dispersion relationship at z ~ 0.37. We find an offset with respect to the local relationship, in the sense of somewhat lower velocity dispersion at a fixed BH mass at z ~ 0.37 than today, which is significant at the 97% level. The offset corresponds to Δ log σ = -0.16, with an rms scatter of 0.13 dex. If confirmed by larger samples and independent checks on systematic uncertainties and selection effects, this result would be consistent with spheroids evolving faster than BHs in the past 4 Gyr and inconsistent with pure luminosity evolution.
Constitutive expression of fibronectin binding in Streptococcus pyogenes as a result of anaerobic activation of rofA

Protein F is a fibronectin-binding surface protein of Streptococcus pyogenes (group A streptococcus) that mediates adherence to host cells. A gene product encoded by rofA activates transcription of the gene that encodes protein F (prtF) and was identified in a strain of S. pyogenes that expressed high levels of protein F under all conditions tested. Insertional inactivation of rofA in this strain results in a phenotype similar to that of other strains where high-level transcription of prtF occurs only in response to increased oxygen tension. In this study, we have compared the regulation of prtF and rofA in O2-regulated and constitutive strains in order to gain further insight into the function of rofA. Comparison of the prtF and rofA transcripts by S1 nuclease and primer extension assays indicated that the same promoters for each transcript are used in both O2-regulated and constitutive strains. However, analyses of rofA-lacZ reporter alleles revealed that a key difference between strains involves regulation of rofA itself. In O2-regulated strains, expression of rofA was elevated following culture under conditions of reduced O2 tension. However, a much more robust activation of rofA expression was observed when constitutive strains were grown under similar conditions. Exchange of reporter and rofA alleles between strains demonstrated that host genetic background, and not the sequence of the respective rofA allele or regulatory region, dictates the expression phenotype. Activation of rofA required RofA, and RofA was shown to bind specifically to DNA containing the promoters for rofA and prtF. Finally, overexpression of either allele of rofA caused constitutive expression of prtF regardless of host background. These data suggest a model where anaerobic expression of prtF in constitutive hosts is controlled at the level of transcription of rofA and implicate additional factors in this regulatory pathway.
Multiple asynchronous stimulus‐ and task‐dependent hierarchies (STDH) within the visual brain's parallel processing systems

Results from a variety of sources, some many years old, lead ineluctably to a re‐appraisal of the twin strategies of hierarchical and parallel processing used by the brain to construct an image of the visual world. Contrary to common supposition, there are at least three ‘feed‐forward’ anatomical hierarchies that reach the primary visual cortex (V1) and the specialized visual areas outside it, in parallel. These anatomical hierarchies do not conform to the temporal order with which visual signals reach the specialized visual areas through V1. Furthermore, neither the anatomical hierarchies nor the temporal order of activation through V1 predict the perceptual hierarchies. The latter shows that we see (and become aware of) different visual attributes at different times, with colour leading form (orientation) and directional visual motion, even though signals from fast‐moving, high‐contrast stimuli are among the earliest to reach the visual cortex (of area V5). Parallel processing, on the other hand, is much more ubiquitous than commonly supposed but is subject to a barely noticed but fundamental aspect of brain operations, namely that different parallel systems operate asynchronously with respect to each other and reach perceptual endpoints at different times. This re‐assessment leads to the conclusion that the visual brain is constituted of multiple, parallel and asynchronously operating task‐ and stimulus‐dependent hierarchies (STDH); which of these parallel anatomical hierarchies have temporal and perceptual precedence at any given moment is stimulus and task related, and dependent on the visual brain's ability to undertake multiple operations asynchronously.
Extreme Stabilization of a Thermolysin-like Protease by an Engineered Disulfide Bond*

The thermal inactivation of broad specificity proteases such as thermolysin and subtilisin is initiated by partial unfolding processes that render the enzyme susceptible to autolysis. Previous studies have revealed that a surface-located region in the N-terminal domain of the thermolysin-like protease produced by Bacillus stearothermophilus is crucial for thermal stability. In this region a disulfide bridge between residues 8 and 60 was designed by molecular modelling, and the corresponding single and double cysteine mutants were constructed. The disulfide bridge was spontaneously formed in vivo and resulted in a drastic stabilization of the enzyme. This stabilization presents one of the very few examples of successful stabilization of a broad specificity protease by a designed disulfide bond. We propose that the success of the present stabilization strategy is the result of the localization and mutation of an area of the molecule involved in the partial unfolding processes that determine thermal stability.