Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Evidence for a Geometrically Thick Self-Gravitating Accretion Disk in NGC 3079

We have mapped, for the first time, the full velocity extent of the water maser emission in NGC 3079. The largely north-south distribution of emission, aligned with a kiloparsec-scale molecular disk, and the segregation of blueshifted and redshifted emission on the sky are suggestive of a nearly edge-on molecular disk on parsec scales. Positions and line-of-sight velocities of blueshifted and redshifted maser emission are consistent with a central mass of ~2 × 106 M☉ enclosed within a radius of ~0.4 pc. The corresponding mean mass density of 106.8 M☉ pc-3 is suggestive of a central black hole, which is consistent with the detection of hard X-ray excess (20-100 keV) and an Fe Kα line from the nucleus. Because the rotation curve traced by the maser emission is flat, the mass of the parsec-scale disk is significant with respect to the central mass. Since the velocity dispersion of the maser features does not decrease with radius and constitutes a large fraction of the orbital velocity, the disk is probably thick and flared. The rotation curve and the physical conditions necessary to support maser emission imply a Toomre Q-parameter that is ≪1. Thus, the disk is most likely clumpy, and we argue that it is probably forming stars. Overall, the accretion disk in NGC 3079 stands in contrast to the compact, thin, warped, differentially rotating disk in the archetypal maser galaxy NGC 4258. We have also mapped radio continuum emission in the vicinity of the disk and identify a new, time-variable, nonthermal component (E) that is not collinear with the previously imaged putative jet. Based on the large luminosity and the unusually steep spectrum (α < -2.1), we exclude a radio supernova as the progenitor of E. However, because its spectrum is consistent with an aging electron energy distribution, E might be a rapidly cooling remnant, which may indicate that the jet axis wobbles. Alternatively, considering its location, the component might mark a shock in a wide-angle outflow that is interacting with a dense ambient medium. In this context, masers at high latitudes above the disk, mapped in this and previous studies, may be tracing an inward extension of the kiloparsec-scale bipolar wide-angle outflow previously observed along the galactic minor axis.
On (Hierarchical) Identity Based Encryption Protocols with Short Public Parameters (With an Exposition of Waters' Artificial Abort Technique)

At Eurocrypt 2005, Waters proposed an efficient identity based encryption (IBE) scheme. One drawback of this scheme is that the size of the public parameter is rather large. Our first contribution is a generalization of Waters scheme. In particular, we show that there is an interesting trade-off between the tightness of the security reduction and smallness of the public parameter size. For a given security level, this implies that if one reduces the public parameter size there is a corresponding increase in the computational cost. This introduces a flexibility in choosing the public parameter size without compromising in security. In concrete terms, to achieve 80-bit security for 160-bit identities we show that compared to Waters protocol the public parameter size can be reduced by almost 90% while increasing the computation cost by 30%. Our second contribution is to extend the IBE protocol to a hierarchical IBE (HIBE) protocol which can be shown to be secure in the full model without the use of random oracle. A previous construction of a HIBE in the same setting is due to Waters. Our construction improves upon Waters’ suggestion by significantly reducing the number of public parameters.
Long-Term Depression Induced by Postsynaptic Group II Metabotropic Glutamate Receptors Linked to Phospholipase C and Intracellular Calcium Rises in Rat Prefrontal Cortex

We have previously shown (Otani et al., 1999b) that bath application of (2S,2′R,3′R)-2-(2′,3′-dicarboxycyclopropyl)glycine (DCG IV), the agonist of group II metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluRs), induces postsynaptic Ca2+-dependent long-term depression (LTD) of layer I-II to layer V pyramidal neuron glutamatergic synapses of rat medial prefrontal cortex. In the present study, we examined detailed mechanisms of this DCG IV-induced LTD. First, the group II mGluR antagonist (RS)-α-methylserine-O-phosphate monophenyl ester blocked DCG IV-induced LTD, and another group II agonist (2S,3S,4S)-CCG/(2S,1′S,2′S)-2-(carboxycyclopropyl)glycine-induced LTD, suggesting that LTD is indeed mediated by the activation of group II mGluRs. Second, DCG IV-induced LTD was blocked by the NMDA receptor antagonist AP-5, whereas DCG IV did not potentiate NMDA receptor-mediated synaptic responses. Interruption of single test stimuli during DCG IV application blocked DCG IV-induced LTD. These results suggest that small NMDA receptor-mediated responses evoked by single synaptic stimuli contribute to DCG IV-induced LTD. Third, DCG IV-induced LTD was blocked or reduced by the following drugs: phospholipase C inhibitor U-73122 (bath-applied or postsynaptically injected), postsynaptically injected IP3receptor blocker heparin, phospholipase D-linked mGluR blocker PCCG-13, PKC inhibitor RO318220, postsynaptically injected PKC inhibitor PKC(19–36), and PKA inhibitor KT-5720. Fourth, fluorescent Ca2+ analysis techniques revealed that DCG IV increases Ca2+ concentration in prefrontal layer V pyramidal neurons. These Ca2+ rises and the LTD were both blocked by postsynaptic heparin in the same cells. Taken together, these results suggest that postsynaptic group II mGluRs, linked to phospholipase C and probably also phospholipase D, induce LTD through postsynaptic PKC activation and IP3receptor-mediated postsynaptic increases of Ca2+concentration.
IL-6 Trans-Signaling via the Soluble IL-6 Receptor: Importance for the Pro-Inflammatory Activities of IL-6

Interleukin-6 (IL-6) is a cytokine with many activities. It has functions in the regulation of the immune system and the nervous system. Furthermore, IL-6 is involved in liver regeneration and in the metabolic control of the body. On target cells, IL-6 binds to an 80 kDa IL-6 receptor (IL-6R). The complex of IL-6 and IL-6R associates with a second protein, gp130, which thereupon dimerizes and initiates intracellular signaling. Whereas gp130 is expressed on all cells, IL-6R is only present on few cells in the body including hepatocytes and some leukocytes. Cells, which do not express IL-6R cannot respond to the cytokine, since gp130 alone has no measurable affinity for IL-6. Interestingly, a soluble form of IL-6R (sIL-6R) comprising the extracellular portion of the receptor can bind IL-6 with a similar affinity as the membrane bound IL-6R. The complex of IL-6 and sIL-6R can bind to gp130 on cells, which do not express the IL-6R, and which are unresponsive to IL-6. This process has been called trans-signaling. Here I will review published evidence that IL-6 trans-signaling is pro-inflammatory whereas classic IL-6 signaling via the membrane bound IL-6R is needed for regenerative or anti-inflammatory activities of the cytokine. Furthermore, the detailed knowledge of IL-6 biology has important consequences for therapeutic strategies aimed at the blockade of the cytokine IL-6.
Autologous engineering of cartilage

Treatment of full-thickness damage to hyaline cartilage is hampered by the limited availability of autologous healthy cartilage and the lengthy, cost-prohibitive cell isolation and expansion steps associated with autologous cartilage implantation (ACI). Here we report a strategy for de novo engineering of ectopic autologous cartilage (EAC) within the subperiosteal space (in vivo bioreactor), through the mere introduction of a biocompatible gel that might promote hypoxia-mediated chondrogenesis, thereby effectively overcoming the aforementioned limitations. The EAC is obtained within 3 wk post injection of the gel, and can be press-fit into an osteochondral defect where it undergoes remodeling with good lateral and subchondral integration. The implanted EAC showed no calcification even after 9 mo and attained an average O’Driscoll score of 11 (versus 4 for controls). An “on demand” autologous source of autologous cartilage with remodeling capacity is expected to significantly impact the clinical options in repair of trauma to articular cartilage.
Structural Priming and Frequency Effects Interact in Chinese Sentence Comprehension

Previous research in several European languages has shown that the language processing system is sensitive to both structural frequency and structural priming effects. However, it is currently not clear whether these two types of effects interact during online sentence comprehension, especially for languages that do not have morphological markings. To explore this issue, the present study investigated the possible interplay between structural priming and frequency effects for sentences containing the Chinese ambiguous construction V NP1 de NP2 in a self-paced reading experiment. The sentences were disambiguated to either the more frequent/preferred NP structure or the less frequent VP structure. Each target sentence was preceded by a prime sentence of three possible types: NP primes, VP primes, and neutral primes. When the ambiguous construction V NP1 de NP2 was disambiguated to the dispreferred VP structure, participants experienced more processing difficulty following an NP prime relative to following a VP prime or a neutral baseline. When the ambiguity was resolved to the preferred NP structure, prime type had no effect. These results suggest that structural priming in comprehension is modulated by the baseline frequency of alternative structures, with the less frequent structure being more subject to structural priming effects. These results are discussed in the context of the error-based, implicit learning account of structural priming.
Imbalanced-learn: A Python Toolbox to Tackle the Curse of Imbalanced Datasets in Machine Learning

Imbalanced-learn is an open-source python toolbox aiming at providing a wide range of methods to cope with the problem of imbalanced dataset frequently encountered in machine learning and pattern recognition. The implemented state-of-the-art methods can be categorized into 4 groups: (i) under-sampling, (ii) over-sampling, (iii) combination of over- and under-sampling, and (iv) ensemble learning methods. The proposed toolbox only depends on numpy, scipy, and scikit-learn and is distributed under MIT license. Furthermore, it is fully compatible with scikit-learn and is part of the scikit-learn-contrib supported project. Documentation, unit tests as well as integration tests are provided to ease usage and contribution. The toolbox is publicly available in GitHub: this https URL.
The relation between viable segments and left ventricular ejection fraction improvement

For patients with coronary artery disease and left ventricular dysfunction who undergo revascularization, it is important to estimate the left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) improvement after revascularization, as this is a strong indicator of the long-term outcome. Identification of viable segments from echocardiography has been considered a predictive sign of LVEF improvement. However, a quantitative relation between segmental function recovery and global ejection fraction improvement has not been established. There is a clinical need to determine parameters that are predictive to LVEF improvement. A cylindrical left ventricular model is proposed to establish the relation between segmental myocardial function and LVEF based on a 12-segment echocardiograph model. Model results show that LVEF improvement is directly related to the contraction ratio in normal segments and a weighted sum of the number of viable segments that recover to normal or hypokinetic, which is equal to a weighted sum of the change in wall motion scores. This new combined parameter is a better predictor of the amount of LVEF improvement than the total number of viable segments or preoperative ejection fraction. The predictive value of the model was illustrated in a group of four patients with coronary artery disease who underwent revascularization.
Adult Urology Oncology : Adrenal / Renal / Upper Tract / Bladder Fuhrman Grade Provides Higher Prognostic Accuracy Than Nucleolar Grade for Papillary Renal Cell Carcinoma

Purpose: Recent evidence suggests that nucleolar grade but not Fuhrman grade is applicable to papillary renal cell carcinoma. We tested this hypothesis in an independent large series from a single institution. Materials and Methods: One dedicated uropathologist regraded 158 cases of papillary renal cell carcinoma by nucleolar and Fuhrman grades. The prognostic value and predictive accuracy of these grading systems to predict disease specific survival were analyzed by Cox proportional hazards models and the concordance index. Results: There were 39 papillary renal cell carcinoma related deaths (25%) at a mean followup of 50 months. On univariate analysis nucleolar grade predicted disease specific survival with a concordance index of 67.8% but the survival difference between grades 1 and 2 did not attain statistical significance (p 0.1441). Fuhrman grade predicted disease specific survival significantly better (concordance index 74.7%, p 0.001). Comparison of survival estimates between the grades revealed statistical significance across each grade category (each p 0.05). Fuhrman but not nucleolar grade was retained as an independent prognostic factor on multivariate analysis (p 0.027 and 0.128, respectively). Conclusions: Each grading system performs well but the predictive accuracy of Fuhrman grade is statistically superior to that of nucleolar grade and only Fuhrman grade provides independent prognostic information on patients with papillary renal cell carcinoma. Thus, Fuhrman grade should be the standard grading system for papillary renal cell carcinoma.
Identification of divergence for English to Hindi EBMT

Divergence is a key aspect of translation between two languages. Divergence occurs when structurally similar sentences of the source language do not translate into sentences that are similar in structures in the target language. Divergence assumes special significance in the domain of Example-Based Machine Translation (EBMT). An EBMT system generates translation of a given sentence by retrieving similar past translation examples from its example base and then adapting them suitably to meet the current translation requirements. Divergence imposes a great challenge to the success of EBMT. The present work provides a technique for identification of divergence without going into the semantic details of the underlying sentences. This identification helps in partitioning the example database into divergence / non-divergence categories, which in turn should facilitate efficient retrieval and adaptation in an EBMT system.
Differential regulation of human keratinocyte growth and differentiation by a novel family of protease-activated receptors.

Thrombin receptor (ThrR) and protease-activated receptor-2 (PAR-2) are members of a unique G protein-coupled receptor family, which are characterized by the unveiling of a tethered peptide ligand upon proteolysis of their NH2 terminus. We have previously shown that cultured human basal keratinocytes express both receptors (R.J. Santulli et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 92: 9151-9155, 1995); however, their functional role in epidermal physiology has yet to be described. In the present study, we determined the effects of receptor activation on keratinocyte cell growth and differentiation using thrombin (selective for ThrR), SLIGRL (selective for PAR-2), and SFLLRN (stimulates ThrR and PAR-2), as agonists. ThrR stimulation enhanced cell growth in a dose-dependent manner in the absence of growth factors (epidermal growth factor and bovine pituitary extract). In contrast, under the same conditions, activation of PAR-2 led to the inhibition of cell growth. This inhibitory activity by PAR-2 activation was also observed in the presence of growth factors. Activation of both receptors diminished protein expression of the differentiation marker transglutaminase type 1 induced by either calcium or IFN-gamma. Calcium-induced involucrin expression was also decreased. These results indicate that PAR-2 and ThrR differentially modulate keratinocyte function and may provide an important regulatory function in the epidermis by altering the functional state of keratinocytes.
Quality indicators and monitoring of mental health services: what do frontline providers think?

OBJECTIVE Many health care organizations are giving feedback to mental health care providers about their performance on quality indicators. Mental health care providers may be more likely to respond to this feedback if they believe the indicators are meaningful and within their "sphere of influence. " The authors surveyed frontline mental health care providers to elicit their perceptions of widely used indicators for quality monitoring in mental health services. METHOD The survey was distributed to a stratified, random sample of 1,094 eligible mental health care providers at 52 Department of Veterans Affairs facilities; 684 (63%) returned the survey. The survey elicited perceptions of 21 widely used indicators in five quality domains (access, utilization, satisfaction, process, and outcomes). The data were analyzed with descriptive and multivariate methods. RESULTS Most mental health care providers (65%) felt that feedback about these widely used indicators would be valuable in efforts to improve care; however, only 38% felt able to influence performance related to these monitors and just 13% were willing to accept incentives/risk for their performance. Providers were most positive about satisfaction monitors and preferentially included satisfaction, access, and process monitors in performance sets to measure overall quality. Despite providers' relatively positive views of monitors, 41% felt that monitoring programs did not assist them in improving care. Providers cited numerous barriers to improving care processes. CONCLUSIONS Mental health care providers may be more receptive to monitoring efforts if satisfaction, access, and process monitors are emphasized. However, providers' views of monitoring programs appear to be less affected by concerns about specific monitors than by concerns about the accuracy of quality measurement and barriers to changing care processes.
QUANTITATIVE ANALYSIS OF HYPERAUTOFLUORESCENT RINGS TO CHARACTERIZE THE NATURAL HISTORY AND PROGRESSION IN RPGR-ASSOCIATED RETINOPATHY

Purpose: Quantitative analysis of hyperautofluorescent rings and progression in subjects with retinitis pigmentosa associated with retinitis pigmentosa GTPase regulator (RPGR) gene mutations. Methods: Prospective observational study of 46 subjects. Ring area, horizontal and vertical diameter measurements taken from outer and inner ring borders. Intraobserver repeatability, baseline measurements, progression rates, interocular symmetry, and association with age and genotype were investigated. Results: Baseline ring area was 11.8 ± 13.4 mm2 and 11.4 ± 13.2 mm2 for right and left eyes, respectively, with very strong interocular correlation (r = 0.9398; P < 0.0001). Ring area constriction was 1.5 ± 2.0 mm2/year and 1.3 ± 1.9 mm2/year for right and left eyes, respectively, with very strong interocular correlation (r = 0.878, P < 0.0001). Baseline ring area and constriction rate correlated negatively with age (r = −0.767; P < 0.0001 and r = −0.644, P < 0.0001, respectively). Constriction rate correlated strongly with baseline area (r = 0.850, P < 0.0001). Age, but not genotype, exerted a significant effect on constriction rates (P < 0.0001), with greatest rates of progression seen in younger subjects. An exponential decline overall was found. Conclusion: This study provides disease-specific baseline values and progression rates together with a repeatability assessment of fundus autofluorescence metrics. Our findings can guide future treatment trials and contribute to the clinical care of patients with RPGR-associated retinitis pigmentosa.
Association of Stein‐Leventhal Syndrome with the incidence of postmenopausal breast carcinoma in a large prospective study of women in Iowa

Syndrome with the Incidence of Postmenopausal Breast Carcinoma Author Reply in a Large Prospective Study of Women in Iowa We welcome the correspondence from Dr. Seruca and Dr. Sobrinho-Simões confirming our obserA vation of a paucity of microsatellite instability in young recent article by Anderson et al. published in Cancer reported the results from a cohort study includpatients with gastric adenocarcinoma. We recently ing 472 women with a history of Stein–Leventhal synstudied gastric adenocarcinomas in 17 more young drome (SLS). No association emerged between SLS patients younger than 40 years from Braga, Portugal and risk of breast carcinoma (14 cases overall). (unpublished data). A mutator phenotype suggestive SLS is characterized by menstrual irregularities, of the hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal carcinoma infertility, a high level of androgens, and obesity, syndrome was found in only one case (6%). However, which are clinical and hormonal conditions associated low level microsatellite instability occurring in less with the risk of breast carcinoma. Other studies have than 29% of markers analyzed was detected in 6 more shown inconsistent data regarding the association becases (35%). Although the significance of low fretween SLS and the risk of breast carcinoma. Thus, quency microsatellite instability is as yet undeterit is also important to examine further the issue in mined, there may be subtle differences in the molecuconsideration of the recent hypothesis of an associalar pathology of gastric carcinoma occurring in young tion between SLS and insulin resistance and hyperinpatients from relatively high and low risk populations sulinemia (i.e., possible risk factors for breast carcithat require exploration. The data reported so far sugnoma). Therefore, we analyzed data from a large case– gest that the prevalence of a hereditary nonpolyposis control study on breast carcinoma conducted between colorectal carcinoma–associated mutator phenotype June 1991 and February 1994 in six Italian areas: the is lower in early onset gastric carcinoma than in early provinces of Pordenone and Gorizia, the urban areas onset colorectal carcinoma. It remains to be deterof Milan and Genoa, the province of Forlı̀ in northern mined whether or not the few early onset gastric carciItaly, the province of Latina near Rome in central Italy, nomas with a mutator phenotype harbor underlying and the urban area of Naples in southern Italy. Study DNA mismatch repair gene mutations. methods have been described previously.
A Quasi-Passive Leg Exoskeleton for Load-Carrying Augmentation

A quasi-passive leg exoskeleton is presented for load-carrying augmentation during walking. The exoskeleton has no actuators, only ankle and hip springs and a knee variabledamper. Without a payload, the exoskeleton weighs 11.7 kg and requires only 2 Watts of electrical power during loaded walking. For a 36 kg payload, we demonstrate that the quasi-passive exoskeleton transfers on average 80% of the load to the ground during the single support phase of walking. By measuring the rate of oxygen consumption on a study participant walking at a self-selected speed, we find that the exoskeleton slightly increases the walking metabolic cost of transport (COT) as compared to a standard loaded backpack (10% increase). However, a similar exoskeleton without joint springs or damping control (zero-impedance exoskeleton) is found to increase COT by 23% compared to the loaded backpack, highlighting the benefits of passive and quasi-passive joint mechanisms in the design of efficient, low-mass leg exoskeletons.