Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
NASA-CR-204564 Structures in ionospheric number density and velocity associated with polar cap ionization patches C )

Spectral characteristics of polar cap F region irregularities on large density gradients associated with polar ionization patches are studied using in situ measurements made by the Dynamics Explorer 2 (DE 2) spacecraft. The • 18 patches studied in this paper were identified by the algorithm introduced by Coley and Heelis [1995], and they were encountered during midnight-noon passes of the spacecraft. Density and velocity spectra associated with these a_tisunward convecting patches are analyzed in detail. Observations indicate the presence of structure on most patches regardless of the distance between the patch and the cusp where they are believed to develop. Existence of structure on both leading and trailing edges is established when such edges exist. Results, which show no large dependence of AN/N power on the sign of the edge gradient VN, do not allow the identification of leading and trailing edges of the patch. The AN/N is an increasing function of VN regardless of the sign of the gradient. The correlation between AN/N and AV is generally poor, but for a given intensity in AV, AN/N maximizes in regions of large gradients in N. There is evidence for the presence of unstructured patches that seem to coexist with unstructured horizontal velocities. Slightly smaller spectral indices for trailing edges support the presence of the E×B drift instability. Although this instability is found to be operating in some cases, results suggest that stirring may be a significant contributor to kilometer-size structures in the polar cap. C/) "D . //' "" "--"
Moving Up Matters: Socioeconomic Mobility Prospectively Predicts Better Physical Health

Objective: Low socioeconomic status (SES) in childhood confers risk for poor physical health later in life. This study prospectively examines whether improvements in family SES protect youth from developing physical health problems by adulthood and whether such effects differ by race or age. Method: Participants are a school-based sample of urban Black (53%) and White (47%) men (N = 311). Using latent growth curve modeling, we prospectively examined whether changes in family SES measured annually between Ages 7 and 16 predicted physical health diagnoses in adulthood (Age 32). Family SES was assessed as a weighted composite of parental education and occupational status. Physical health diagnoses were assessed as a count of self-reported medical conditions from a health history interview. Results: Consistent with macroeconomic trends, on average, family SES increased until the early 1990s, then remained flat until rising again in the mid-1990s. During each of 3 independent developmental periods, boys raised in families who experienced more positive changes in SES reported fewer physical health diagnoses in adulthood. These effects did not vary significantly by race and remained after controlling for initial childhood SES, childhood health problems, concurrent adult SES, and weight (Body Mass Index or reported overweight). Conclusions: Initial childhood SES did not predict physical health, whereas relative improvements in SES over a 10-year period did. If the families of Black and White boys were upwardly mobile, it appeared to protect them from developing physical disease, and upward mobility was additively protective across developmental periods examined here.
Hybrid Regression Test Selection

Regression testing is crucial but can be extremely costly. Regression Test Selection (RTS) aims to reduce regression testing cost by only selecting and running the tests that may be affected by code changes. To date, various RTS techniques analyzing at different granularities (e.g., at the basic-block, method, and file levels) have been proposed. RTS techniques working on finer granularities may be more precise in selecting tests, while techniques working on coarser granularities may have lower overhead. According to a recent study, RTS at the file level (FRTS) can have less overall testing time compared with a finer grained technique at the method level, and represents state-of-the-art RTS. In this paper, we present the first hybrid RTS approach, HyRTS, that analyzes at multiple granularities to combine the strengths of traditional RTS techniques at different granularities. We implemented the basic HyRTS technique by combining the method and file granularity RTS. The experimental results on 2707 revisions of 32 projects, totalling over 124 Million LoC, demonstrate that HyRTS outperforms state-of-the-art FRTS significantly in terms of selected test ratio and the offline testing time. We also studied the impacts of each type of method-level changes, and further designed two new HyRTS variants based on the study results. Our additional experiments show that transforming instance method additions/deletions into file-level changes produces an even more effective HyRTS variant that can significantly outperform FRTS in both offline and online testing time.
Discourses of professionalism: Metaphors, theory and practice

Abstract Professionalism is a contested concept and different discourses have differed by scope and epistemology. The theory of communicative action integrates epistemology (knowledge interests) with that of scope (lifeworld). Aim: To pragmatically inform learning of professionalism. Methods: apply the theory of communicative action to professionalism discourses. Results: Previous professionalism discourses translated into four frames: technical; communicative; improvement, and critical. These can be viewed as four metaphors the scale; conversation; consensus conference, and protest. The theory of communicative action demonstrated that a critical frame was often lacking from discussions of professionalism and emphasized critiquing the assumptions made, the way power was utilized, and the ends to which actions were directed. Using these frameworks connected discourses on professionalism to other key medical discourses particularly quality improvement, patient centeredness, social justice, and the professional well-being. Conclusion: The theory of communicative action adds value by introducing criteria for the evaluation of individual truth claims that expands the discussion beyond accuracy to include sincerity, ethics and coherence; and it emphasizes promoting free speech and the inclusion of diverse views and stakeholders. The theory of communicative action provides a coherent and useful framework for viewing professionalism that integrates with broader discussions about philosophy, truth claims, and post-modern society.
Altered neurogenesis in mouse models of Alzheimer disease

ABSTRACT Amyloid-β (Aβ) peptides, as well as a variety of other protein fragments, are derived from proteolytical cleavage of the amyloid precursor protein (APP) and have been demonstrated to play a key role in the pathological changes underlying Alzheimer disease (AD). In AD mouse models, altered neurogenesis has been repeatedly reported to be associated with further AD-typical pathological hallmarks such as extracellular plaque deposition, behavioral deficits or neuroinflammation. While a toxic role of Aβ in neurodegeneration and impaired neuronal progenitor proliferation is likely and well-accepted, recent findings also suggest an important influence of APP-derived proteolitical fragments like the APP intracellular domain (AICD), as well as of APP itself.
Facile preparation of gold nanoparticles-decorated poly(o-phenylenediamine) hollow microspheres and their application for the detection of dopamine

Gold (Au) nanoparticles-decorated poly(o-phenylenediamine) (PoPD@Au) hollow microspheres were successfully synthesized by a simple two-step process without any other templates or additives. Scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and ultraviolet–visible absorption spectra were performed to characterize the resulting samples. The results confirmed that the obtained PoPD@Au microspheres had a perfect hollow structure and revealed that there is an interaction between PoPD hollow microspheres and Au nanoparticles. Plausible explanation for the formation of PoPD@Au hollow microspheres has been elaborated. Furthermore, PoPD@Au hollow microspheres were immobilized onto the surface of a glassy carbon electrode and applied to construct a sensor. Cyclic voltammogram experiments indicated that the proposed sensor method had good sensitivity, stability, and repeatability.
The importance of the location of antibody binding on the M6 protein for opsonization and phagocytosis of group A M6 streptococci

One of 19 mAbs against the native group A streptococcal M6 protein proved opsonic for type 6 organisms in a bactericidal assay. The opsonic and three nonopsonic antibodies were selected for isotype and complement fixation studies based on previous knowledge of their epitope site on the M6 molecule. While mAb 3B8 (IgG3), whose epitope is in the NH2-terminal hypervariable region of the molecule (distal from the cell), and mAbs 10B6 (IgG2a) and 10F5 (IgG2b), both located in the conserved central region of the molecule, all fix complement, 10A11 (IgG1) did not. Only mAb 3B8 was opsonic despite the fact that mAbs 10B6 and 10F5 both exhibited similar complement-fixing capacity, binding titer, and surface exposure of epitopes. Analysis of antibodies raised against synthetic peptides representing various regions of the M6 protein showed that only the amino-terminal peptide (residues 1-21) was capable of eliciting opsonic antibodies, despite the fact that peptides from other areas produced antibodies with high-binding titers to the native M6 protein and also with the ability to bind to intact streptococcal cells. These results not only support the observed type specificity of opsonic antibodies, but also clearly point to the importance of the location of antibody binding on the M molecule relative to the actual functional capacity of the antibody with respect to the opsonization and phagocytosis of M6 streptococci. These results may underscore the recently observed role of complement Factor H in the antiphagocytic activity of the M protein.
Transition From Feature-Search to Singleton-Detection Strategies in Visual Search: The Role of Number of Target-Defining Options

When searching for a uniquely colored target in an RSVP stream of homogeneously colored nontarget items, observers can use singleton-detection and/or feature-search modes. Using an attentional-capture paradigm, we varied systematically (a) the number of possible target colors from 1 to 4 and (b) the presence or absence of a colored ring surrounding the nontarget item displayed 200 ms before the target. When present, the ring was either the same color as 1 of the possible targets (color-match), or an irrelevant color (color-mismatch). Capture was measured as the impairment in target identification accuracy when the ring was present relative to when it was absent. Greater capture in the color-match than in the color-mismatch condition was regarded as evidence of feature-search mode. Capture in the color-mismatch condition was regarded as evidence for singleton-detection mode. We show that, as the number of target colors is increased, the relative prominence of feature-search mode decreases, and that of singleton-detection mode increases correspondingly. This novel finding shows that, when both feature-search and singleton-detection modes are possible, at least some degree of feature-search mode is used until the number of possible target-defining colors reaches about 4. This suggests that the weight assigned to singleton-detection mode increases, and that assigned to feature-search mode decreases correspondingly, as the difficulty of maintaining the target-defining features in mind is increased.
Elevated expression of matrix metalloproteinase-9 is associated with bladder cancer pathogenesis

Objective: This study investigated the association between abnormal matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) expression and bladder cancer (BC) development. Materials and Methods: In a retrospective analysis, this study used tissue samples derived from 92 patients pathologically diagnosed with BC (experimental group), who were hospitalized between September 2012 and June 2014 at the Urinary Surgery of Department of Urology, Lanzhou University Second Hospital. As controls (control group), 63 normal pericancerous bladder mucosal tissues (3 cm distant form edge of BC foci) with confirmed pathology were selected from the same time period. Immunohistochemistry was employed to detect MMP-9 protein expression in the tissues and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was performed to measure MMP-9 protein levels in tissue samples of patients and control subjects. Finally, a meta-analysis was conducted to understand the overall impact of MMP-9 on BC pathogenesis. STATA 12.0 software (Stata Corp, College Station, TX, USA) was used for all statistical analyses. Results: The MMP-9 positive expression rate in tissue samples and MMP-9 levels were significantly greater in the experimental group compared to the control group (both P < 0.001). The frequency of MMP-9 positive status showed statistically significant differences between G1 (low-grade) and G3 (high-grade) (P < 0.001), between G2 and G3 (P < 0.05), and between G1/G2 and G3 (P = 0.001). Our meta-analysis findings provided further evidence that MMP-9 positive expression status and MMP-9 levels in the experimental group were significantly higher than the control group (positive expressions: Odds ratio [OR] = 18.59, 95% confidence interval [95% CI] = 11.63–29.71, P < 0.001; expression levels: Standard mean difference = 1.51, 95%CI = 0.63–2.39, P = 0.001). The positive expression status of MMP-9 was notably lower in G1/G2 compared to G3 (OR = 0.24, 95%CI = 0.15–0.36, P < 0.001). Conclusion: Our study demonstrated that both positive expression status in tumor tissue and expression levels of MMP-9 are significantly elevated in BC patients and correlate with disease progression. Thus, MMP-9 can serve as a biomarker to determine the degree of BC malignancy.
Automatic food detection in egocentric images using artificial intelligence technology

Abstract Objective To develop an artificial intelligence (AI)-based algorithm which can automatically detect food items from images acquired by an egocentric wearable camera for dietary assessment. Design To study human diet and lifestyle, large sets of egocentric images were acquired using a wearable device, called eButton, from free-living individuals. Three thousand nine hundred images containing real-world activities, which formed eButton data set 1, were manually selected from thirty subjects. eButton data set 2 contained 29 515 images acquired from a research participant in a week-long unrestricted recording. They included both food- and non-food-related real-life activities, such as dining at both home and restaurants, cooking, shopping, gardening, housekeeping chores, taking classes, gym exercise, etc. All images in these data sets were classified as food/non-food images based on their tags generated by a convolutional neural network. Results A cross data-set test was conducted on eButton data set 1. The overall accuracy of food detection was 91·5 and 86·4 %, respectively, when one-half of data set 1 was used for training and the other half for testing. For eButton data set 2, 74·0 % sensitivity and 87·0 % specificity were obtained if both ‘food’ and ‘drink’ were considered as food images. Alternatively, if only ‘food’ items were considered, the sensitivity and specificity reached 85·0 and 85·8 %, respectively. Conclusions The AI technology can automatically detect foods from low-quality, wearable camera-acquired real-world egocentric images with reasonable accuracy, reducing both the burden of data processing and privacy concerns.
Synthesis, toxicity, biocompatibility, and biomedical applications of graphene and graphene-related materials

Graphene is a two-dimensional atomic crystal, and since its development it has been applied in many novel ways in both research and industry. Graphene possesses unique properties, and it has been used in many applications including sensors, batteries, fuel cells, supercapacitors, transistors, components of high-strength machinery, and display screens in mobile devices. In the past decade, the biomedical applications of graphene have attracted much interest. Graphene has been reported to have antibacterial, antiplatelet, and anticancer activities. Several salient features of graphene make it a potential candidate for biological and biomedical applications. The synthesis, toxicity, biocompatibility, and biomedical applications of graphene are fundamental issues that require thorough investigation in any kind of applications related to human welfare. Therefore, this review addresses the various methods available for the synthesis of graphene, with special reference to biological synthesis, and highlights the biological applications of graphene with a focus on cancer therapy, drug delivery, bio-imaging, and tissue engineering, together with a brief discussion of the challenges and future perspectives of graphene. We hope to provide a comprehensive review of the latest progress in research on graphene, from synthesis to applications.
NBER WORKING PAPER SERIES THE CAUSAL EFFECT OF ENVIRONMENTAL CATASTROPHE ON LONG-RUN ECONOMIC GROWTH: EVIDENCE FROM 6,700 CYCLONES

We thank Jesse Anttila-Hughes, Scott Barrett, Chris Blattman, Marshall Burke, Christopher Costello, Anthony Fisher, Joshua Graff Zivin, Michael Greenstone, Michael Hanemann, Hilary Hoynes, Meha Jain, Benjamin Jones, David Kanter, Gordon McCord, Kyle Meng, Edward Miguel, Daiju Narita, Matthew Neidell, Suresh Naidu, Serena Ng, Michael Oppenheimer, Billy Pizer, Valerie Ramey, Ricardo Reis, Jeffrey Sachs, Wolfram Schlenker, Glenn Sheriff, Thomas Sterner, Jan von der Goltz, Gernot Wagner, Reed Walker, and seminar participants at Columbia University, Environmental Defense Fund, EPA, IBM Research, IZA, Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory, NBER, Princeton University, UC Berkeley, UC San Diego, the University of San Francisco, the University of Lausanne, and the University of Zurich for discussions and suggestions. This work was funded in part by a grant from the Center for International Business Education and Research at Columbia University and a Postdoctoral Fellowship in Science, Technology and Environmental Policy at Princeton University. The views expressed herein are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Bureau of Economic Research.
Acute Kidney Injury in Critically Ill Patients: A Prospective Randomized Study of Tidal Peritoneal Dialysis Versus Continuous Renal Replacement Therapy

Few studies have discussed the role of peritoneal dialysis (PD) in managing acute kidney injury (AKI) in critically ill patients. The present study compares the outcome of AKI in intensive care unit (ICU) patients randomized to treatment with tidal PD (TPD) or continuous venovenous hemodiafiltration (CVVHDF). One hundred and twenty‐five ICU patients with AKI were randomly allotted to CVVHDF, (Group A, N = 62) or TPD, (group B, N = 63). Cause and severity of renal injury were assessed at the time of initiating dialysis. The primary outcome was hospital mortality at 28 days, and secondary outcomes were time to recovery of renal function, duration of stay in the ICU, metabolic and fluid control, and improvement of sensorial and hemodynamic parameters. No statistically significant differences were observed between groups in regard to patients’ characteristics. The survival at 28 days was significantly better in the patients treated with TPD when compared to CVVHDF (69.8% vs. 46.8%, P < 0.01). Infectious complications were significantly less (P < 0.01) in the TPD group (9.5%) when compared to the CVVHDF group (17.7%). Recovery of kidney function (60.3% vs. 35.5%), median time to resolution of AKI and the median duration of ICU stay of 9 days (7–11) vs. 19 days (13–20) were all in favor of TPD (P < 0.01). This study suggests that there are better outcomes with TPD compared to CRRT in the treatment of critically ill patients with AKI.
Stability of Proteins in Dried Blood Spot Biobanks*

An important motivation for the construction of biobanks is to discover biomarkers that identify diseases at early, potentially curable stages. This will require biobanks from large numbers of individuals, preferably sampled repeatedly, where the samples are collected and stored under conditions that preserve potential biomarkers. Dried blood samples are attractive for biobanking because of the ease and low cost of collection and storage. Here we have investigated their suitability for protein measurements. Ninety-two proteins with relevance for oncology were analyzed using multiplex proximity extension assays (PEA) in dried blood spots collected on paper and stored for up to 30 years at either +4 °C or −24 °C. Our main findings were that (1) the act of drying only slightly influenced detection of blood proteins (average correlation of 0.970), and in a reproducible manner (correlation of 0.999), (2) detection of some proteins was not significantly affected by storage over the full range of three decades (34 and 76% of the analyzed proteins at +4 °C and −24 °C, respectively), whereas levels of others decreased slowly during storage with half-lives in the range of 10 to 50 years, and (3) detectability of proteins was less affected in dried samples stored at −24 °C compared with at +4 °C, as the median protein abundance had decreased to 80 and 93% of starting levels after 10 years of storage at +4 °C or −24 °C, respectively. The results of our study are encouraging as they suggest an inexpensive means to collect large numbers of blood samples, even by the donors themselves, and to transport, and store biobanked samples as spots of whole blood dried on paper. Combined with emerging means to measure hundreds or thousands of protein, such biobanks could prove of great medical value by greatly enhancing discovery as well as routine analysis of blood biomarkers.
Evaluation of postharvest calcium treatment and biopreservation with Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG on the quality of fresh-cut 'Conference' pears.

BACKGROUND Biological preservation with probiotic bacteria has arisen as an alternative to control the growth of foodborne pathogens on food. The objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of postharvest calcium application and biopreservation with Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG on the quality and bioaccessibility of total phenolic content and antioxidant activity in fresh-cut pears. RESULTS The immersion of whole pears in a calcium chloride solution did not provide added value. Despite the increase in observed activity of PME and PPO enzymes in fresh-cut pears during storage, the browning index and firmness values were constant for all samples. The antioxidant properties, including antioxidant activity, total phenolic content and vitamin C content, were maintained during storage, but a significant decrease was observed after in vitro simulated digestion. Ca/LGG samples showed the lowest calcium content (1.75 ± 0.00 g kg-1 ) after 9 d of storage at 4 °C. In general, the overall visual quality scores were higher in fresh-cut pears treated with L. rhamnosus GG than in non-treated pears, with the highest values in the NoCa/LGG (7.7 ± 0.2) samples after 9 d at 4 °C. CONCLUSION Fresh-cut pears with a postharvest treatment of calcium and immersed in a solution containing antioxidant agents and probiotic bacteria could be a suitable alternative to dairy products for maintaining the overall quality of fruit for up to 9 d of storage. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry.