Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
THE GREATER IMPACT OF MERGERS ON THE GROWTH OF MASSIVE GALAXIES: IMPLICATIONS FOR MASS ASSEMBLY AND EVOLUTION SINCE z ≃ 1

Using deep infrared observations conducted with the MOIRCS imager on the Subaru Telescope in the northern GOODS field combined with public surveys in GOODS-S, we investigate the dependence on stellar mass, M*, and galaxy type of the close pair fraction (5 h−1 kpc < rsep < 20 h−1 kpc) and implied merger rate. In terms of combined depth and survey area, our publicly available mass-limited sample represents a significant improvement over earlier infrared surveys used for this purpose. In common with some recent studies, we find that the fraction of paired systems that could result in major mergers is low (∼4%) and does not increase significantly with redshift to z ≈ 1.2, with ∝(1 + z)1.6±1.6. Our key finding is that massive galaxies with M*>1011 M☉ are more likely to host merging companions than less massive systems (M* ∼ 1010M☉). We find evidence for a higher pair fraction for red, spheroidal hosts compared to blue, late-type systems, in line with expectations based on clustering at small scales. The so-called “dry” mergers between early-type galaxies devoid of star formation (SF) represent nearly 50% of close pairs with M*>3 × 1010 M☉ at z ∼ 0.5, but less than 30% at z ∼ 1. This result can be explained by the increasing abundance of red, early-type galaxies at these masses. We compare the volumetric merger rate of galaxies with different masses to mass-dependent trends in galaxy evolution. Our results reaffirm the conclusion of Bundy et al. that major mergers do not fully account for the formation of spheroidal galaxies since z ∼ 1. In terms of mass assembly, major mergers contribute little to galaxy growth below M* ∼ 3 × 1010 M☉ but play a more significant role among galaxies with M* ≳ 1011M☉ ∼ 30% of which have undergone mostly dry mergers over the observed redshift range. Overall, the relatively rapid and recent coalescence of high-mass galaxies mirrors the expected hierarchical growth of halos and is consistent with recent model predictions, even if the top–down suppression of SF and morphological evolution (i.e., “downsizing”) involves additional physical processes.
Biosynthesis and characterization of silver nanoparticles using panchakavya, an Indian traditional farming formulating agent

Synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) with biological properties is of vast significance in the development of scientifically valuable products. In the present study, we describe simple, unprecedented, nontoxic, eco-friendly, green synthesis of AgNPs using an Indian traditional farming formulating agent, panchakavya. Silver nitrate (1 mM) solution was mixed with panchakavya filtrate for the synthesis of AgNPs. The nanometallic dispersion was characterized by surface plasmon absorbance measuring 430 nm. Transmission electron microscopy showed the morphology and size of the AgNPs. Scanning electron microscopy–energy-dispersive spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction analysis confirmed the presence of AgNPs. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy analysis revealed that proteins in the panchakavya were involved in the reduction and capping of AgNPs. In addition, we studied the antibacterial activity of synthesized AgNPs. The synthesized AgNPs (1–4 mM) extensively reduced the growth rate of antibiotic resistant bacteria such as Aeromonas sp. , Acinetobacter sp. , and Citrobacter sp. , according to the increasing concentration of AgNPs.
Effect of Mobile Phone Text Message Reminders on Routine Immunization Uptake in Pakistan: Randomized Controlled Trial

Background Improved routine immunization (RI) coverage is recommended as the priority public health strategy to decrease vaccine-preventable diseases and eradicate polio in Pakistan and worldwide. Objective The objective of this study was to ascertain whether customized, automated, one-way text messaging (short message service, SMS) reminders delivered to caregivers via mobile phones when a child is due for an RI visit can improve vaccination uptake and timelines in Pakistan. Methods This was a randomized controlled trial, conducted in an urban squatter settlement area of Karachi, Pakistan. Infants less than 2 weeks of age with at least one family member who had a valid mobile phone connection and was comfortable receiving and reading SMS text messages were included. Participants were randomized to the intervention (standard care + one-way SMS reminder) or control (standard care) groups. The primary outcome was to compare the proportion of children immunized up to date at 18 weeks of age. Vaccine given at 6, 10, and 14 weeks schedule includes DPT-Hep-B-Hib vaccine (ie, diphtheria, pertussis, and tetanus; hepatitis B; and Haemophilus influenza type b) and oral poliovirus vaccine (OPV). Data were analyzed using chi-square tests of independence and tested for both per protocol (PP) and intention-to-treat (ITT) analyses. Results Out of those approached, 84.3% (300/356) of the participants were eligible for enrollment and 94.1% (318/338) of the participants had a working mobile phone. Only children in the PP analyses, who received an SMS reminder for vaccine uptake at 6 weeks visit, showed a statistically significant difference (96.0%, 86/90 vs 86.4%, 102/118; P=.03). The immunization coverage was consistently higher in the intervention group according to ITT analyses at the 6 weeks scheduled visit (76.0% vs 71.3%, P=.36). The 10 weeks scheduled visit (58.7% vs 52.7%, P=.30) and the 14 weeks scheduled visit (31.3% vs 26.0%, P=.31), however, were not statistically significant. Conclusions Automated simple one-way SMS reminders in local languages might be feasible for improving routine vaccination coverage. Whether one-way SMS reminders alone can have a strong impact on parental attitudes and behavior for improvement of RI coverage and timeliness needs to be further evaluated by better-powered studies and by comparing different types and content of text messages in low-and middle-income countries (LMICs). Trial Registration ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01859546; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01859546 (Archived by WebCite at http://www.webcitation.org/6xFr57AOc)
Coliform bacteria in fresh vegetables: from cultivated lands to consumers

Fresh vegetables normally carry natural non-pathogenic epiphytic microorganisms, but during growth, harvest, transportation and further handling the produce can be contaminated with pathogens from animal and human sources. As most of these produce are eating without further processing, their microbial content may represent a risk factor for the consumer’s health and therefore a food safety problem. The consumption of fresh vegetables has been increasing in recent years, and since the early 1990s the reported outbreaks associated with consumption of fresh vegetables have grown steadily. Most of the reported outbreaks of gastrointestinal disease linked to the fresh produce have been associated with bacterial contamination, particularly with members of the Enterobacteriaceae family. In addition, the presence of antibiotic resistances both in epiphytic and pathogenic microorganisms in fresh vegetables may contribute to horizontal spreading of resistances among bacterial populations. In this study we have determined the presence of coliform bacteria as well as their antibiotic susceptibilities in fresh vegetables, as an indicator of their microbiological quality and their potential as a risk factor for consumer’s health. Samples of several fresh vegetables (n: 116) (i) collected directly from cultivated lands, (ii) from supermarkets and greengrocer’s shops in Valencia city (Spain) (including samples of ready-toeat four range vegetables), (iii) as well as ready-to-eat salads (n: 16) served in dinning halls of a nursery and a primary school (including fresh vegetables used as ingredients to prepare the salads) were analyzed. Coliforms and other enterobacterial species were isolated in a significant proportion of individual vegetable samples (average >50%), whereas this proportion increased in ready-to-eat salads (100%); the identified isolates included mainly species belonging to Klebsiella, Enterobacter, and other genera (Serratia, Citrobacter, Kluyvera, Pantoea, Flavimonas, Hafnia, and others), as well as four identified as Escherichia coli. Susceptibility of isolates to eleven common chemotherapeutic agents was tested. Most isolates were resistant to ampicillin, and to amoxicillin/clavulanic acid; although resistances to other chemotherapeutic agents were rare, some isolates showed multiresistance to 3-5 agents. Therefore, microbial contamination of fresh vegetables with opportunistic pathogens can be considered as a food safety concern, as consumption of these produce may represent a potential risk for the consumer’s health, particularly in debilitated or immunocompromised individuals. Since bacteria serving as a reservoir for resistance determinants may have great influence on resistance gene transfer in natural habitats, such as the human colon, the presence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria in fresh vegetables may constitute an additional food safety concern.
Disordered eating and job stress among nurses.

AIM The purpose of this study was to examine disordered eating behaviours among nurses in the state of Ohio. BACKGROUND Individuals involved in disordered eating tend to report more frequent and higher levels of perceived stress than their counterparts. As nurses regularly perform stressful roles and responsibilities within a high-stress environment, this group may be at elevated risk of disordered eating. METHOD A 65-item survey was mailed to a random sample of 1000 nurses in the state of Ohio. RESULTS A total of 435 nurses (47%) returned completed surveys. Most (93%) were registered nurses (RNs) and 87% were over 31 years old. Results indicated that disordered eating differed significantly based on perceived job stress and perceived body satisfaction. Nurses with high levels of perceived job stress and low levels of body satisfaction had higher disordered eating involvement. CONCLUSIONS Nurses reporting high levels of job stress are at increased risk of disordered eating behaviours. Recommendations for future research are offered. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING MANAGEMENT Employee wellness programmes should be developed that educate and support nurses to make healthy lifestyle choices.
An Overview of Existing Methods and Recent Advances in Sequential Monte Carlo

It is now over a decade since the pioneering contribution of Gordon (1993), which is commonly regarded as the first instance of modern sequential Monte Carlo (SMC) approaches. Initially focussed on applications to tracking and vision, these techniques are now very widespread and have had a significant impact in virtually all areas of signal and image processing concerned with Bayesian dynamical models. This paper is intended to serve both as an introduction to SMC algorithms for nonspecialists and as a reference to recent contributions in domains where the techniques are still under significant development, including smoothing, estimation of fixed parameters and use of SMC methods beyond the standard filtering contexts.
Conceptualizing Emotions Along the Dimensions of Valence, Arousal, and Communicative Frequency – Implications for Social-Cognitive Tests and Training Tools

Background and Objectives: Emotion words are mostly characterized along the classic dimensions of arousal and valence. In the current study we sought to complement this characterization by investigating the frequency of emotions in human everyday communication, which may be crucial information for designing new diagnostic or intervention tools to test and improve emotion recognition. Methods: One hundred healthy German individuals were asked to indicate the valence and arousal of 62 emotion words in a questionnaire. Importantly, participants were additionally asked to indicate the frequency with which they experience each emotion themselves and observe it in others. Results: Positive emotions were judged to occur more often than negative emotions in everyday life. The more negatively valenced emotions were rated to be observed more often in others than experienced in one-self. On the other hand more positively valenced emotions were experienced more often in one-self than they were observed in others. Finally, increasing age was associated with a decrease in the frequency of observing an emotion in other people. Limitations: Future studies with larger sample sizes are needed to ascertain if the findings also apply to other cultural and language contexts. Conclusion: These results imply a greater frequency of positive emotions than negative emotions in everyday communication. The finding of such a bias toward positive emotions can guide the selection of emotion words for implementation in socio-emotional intervention tools. Such a selection may represent an effective means for improving social-cognitive functioning in people with respective impairments.
US OPHTHALMIC REVIEW 53 Update on the Management of Diabetic Macular Edema

D iabetic macular edema (DME) is a treatable sequela of diabetic retinopathy and a significant cause of visual morbidity among working age individuals worldwide. While anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) agents are first-line agents in the management of DME, corticosteroids and laser therapy can play a role as well. Despite a growing understanding of best clinical practices, many patients respond unpredictably to therapy. This article will briefly review current treatment modalities and discuss future treatment options for managing DME.
Nonhuman Primate Models for HIV Cure Research

Shytaj et al. [1] report that complete suppression of SIVmac replication can be achieved in rhesus macaques by a combination of five antiretroviral (ARV) drugs, which the authors term “mega-HAART”. This combination consists of the three-drug nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (tenofovir/emtricitabine) and integrase inhibitor (raltegravir) regimen often used in treatment studies of simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV)-infected rhesus macaques, intensified with the protease inhibitor darunavir (pharmacokinetically enhanced by ritonavir) and the CCR5 antagonist maraviroc. Achieving complete suppression of SIVmac in rhesus macaques is an important step in developing an animal model for HIV-1 cure research because it parallels the effects of antiretroviral therapy in HIV-infected humans. Without complete suppression, testing of therapeutic strategies to reduce viral reservoirs is confounded by ongoing cycles of viral replication that can replete such reservoirs.
Outcomes in Advanced Heart Failure Patients With Left Ventricular Assist Devices for Destination Therapy

Background—The HeartMate II (HMII) destination therapy (DT) trial demonstrated significant improvements in outcomes in continuous-flow left ventricular assist devices compared with patients implanted with the pulsatile-flow HeartMate XVE. The primary hypothesis of the current study is that trial patients enrolled after the initial data cohort would have better clinical outcomes. Methods and Results—Two hundred eighty-one patients who underwent HMII for DT from May 2007 to March 2009 (Mid Trial [MT] group) were compared with the initial 133 HMII patients from March 2005 to May 2007 (Early Trial [ET] group). Patient entry criteria were the same during the 2 time periods. Survival, adverse events, and quality of life were compared between the 2 groups. Baseline characteristics were similar between the groups. Compared with the ET group, patients in the MT group had reduced adverse event rates for bleeding requiring transfusions (1.66 versus 1.13 events per patient-year, P<0.001), sepsis (0.38 versus 0.27, P=0.025), device-related infections (0.47 versus 0.27, P<0.001), and hemorrhagic stroke (0.07 versus 0.03, P=0.01). Other event rates were similar between groups including ischemic stroke (0.06 versus 0.05 events per patient-year, P=0.57). Survival at 1 year in the MT group was 73% versus 68% in the ET group (P=0.21). Additionally, there was a significant reduction in deaths caused by hemorrhagic stroke (P=0.01). Quality of life improvements were significant in both the groups (P<0.001). Conclusions—The benefit of DT therapy with the HMII is confirmed in subsequent trial patients, with improved adverse event rates and a strong trend for improvements in survival. Clinical Trial Registration—URL: http://www.clinicaltrials. gov. Unique identifier: NCT00121485.
Xeek: An Efficient Method for Supporting XPath Evaluation with Relational Databases

We introduce Xeek, a method for managing XML documents using relational databases. Most previous proposals in which the XPath axes are evaluated using only the preand postorder numbers of the nodes have quite convincingly been shown to suffer from scalability problems. Thus, Xeek stores some redundant structural information which can be used speed up XPath evaluation even when a large set of context nodes is used. Our idea is to select a set of inner nodes to act as proxy nodes and store the ancestor information only for the proxies. To demonstrate the effectiveness of our method, we present the results of our experiments in which Xeek outperformed the previous methods based on relational databases as well as an established commercial XML database product.
Evaluation of quality improvement programmes

In response to increasing concerns about quality, many countries are carrying out large scale programmes which include national quality strategies, hospital programmes, and quality accreditation, assessment and review processes. Increasing amounts of resources are being devoted to these interventions, but do they ensure or improve quality of care? There is little research evidence as to their effectiveness or the conditions for maximum effectiveness. Reasons for the lack of evaluation research include the methodological challenges of measuring outcomes and attributing causality to these complex, changing, long term social interventions to organisations or health systems, which themselves are complex and changing. However, methods are available which can be used to evaluate these programmes and which can provide decision makers with research based guidance on how to plan and implement them. This paper describes the research challenges, the methods which can be used, and gives examples and guidance for future research. It emphasises the important contribution which such research can make to improving the effectiveness of these programmes and to developing the science of quality improvement.
Natural Killer Cell Responses to HIV-1 Peptides are Associated With More Activating KIR Genes and HLA-C Genes of the C 1 Allotype

Methods: The association between NK cell responses and KIR gene profiles and HLA-B and HLA-C alleles was investigated among 76 HIV-1-infected women in South Africa previously categorized as responders (n = 39) or nonresponders (n = 37) to HIV-1 peptide pools in a whole blood intracellular cytokine assay. Viral load was significantly lower and CD4 T-cell counts higher among responders compared with nonresponders (P = 0.023 and P = 0.030, respectively).
Motion Planning of Multi-Limbed Robots Subject to Equilibrium Constraints: The Free-Climbing Robot Problem

This paper addresses the problem of planning the motion of a multilimbed robot in order to “free-climb” vertical rock surfaces. Freeclimbing only relies on frictional contact with the surfaces rather than on special fixtures or tools like pitons. It requires strength, but more importantly it requires deliberate reasoning: not only must the robot decide how to adjust its posture to reach the next feature without falling, it must plan an entire sequence of steps, where each one might have future consequences. In this paper, this process of reasoning is broken into manageable pieces by decomposing a freeclimbing robot's configuration space into manifolds associated with each state of contact between the robot and its environment. A multistep planning framework is presented that decides which manifolds to explore by generating a candidate sequence of hand and foot placements first. A one-step planning algorithm is then described that explores individual manifolds quickly. This algorithm extends the probabilistic roadmap approach to better handle the interaction between static equilibrium and the topology of closed kinematic chains. It is assumed throughout this paper that a set of potential contact points has been presurveyed. Validation with real hardware was done with a four-limbed robot called LEMUR (developed by the Mechanical and Robotic Technologies Group at NASA–JPL). Using the planner presented in this paper, LEMUR free-climbed an indoor, near-vertical surface covered with artificial rock features.
Inflammatory biomarkers: impact for diabetes and diabetic vascular disease.

物理迟钝和坐着的生活方式被相信是为肥胖， type-2 糖尿病，和新陈代谢的症候群的出现的独立风险因素[13 ] 。 type-2 糖尿病的发生由长期的多糖症和葡萄糖不耐描绘了，与肥胖同时增加了，并且 2010， 2.85 亿个人以前与 3000 万 25 年相比与 type-2 糖尿病被诊断[4 ] 。 甚至与 statin 治疗， type-2 糖尿病被显示了导致加速的动脉粥样硬化和脉管的疾病的过多的风险[5 ] 。 象多糖症和葡萄糖不耐， hyperlipidemia，肥胖，和高血压那样的风险因素导致糖尿病的脉管的疾病[6 ] 。 有糖尿病和新陈代谢的控制的一样的持续时间的一些病人为什么有通过多重脉管的区域散布或限制了到仅仅一脉管的领土的动脉粥样硬化的不同程度，很好没被理解。 在有 type-2 糖尿病的人的 statins 和 fibrates 的使用是有利的，尽管有糖尿病的脉管的疾病的前进[7 ] 。 然而， pioglitazone 和 statins 的合作管理在 intima 媒介厚度和 endothelial 功能改进提供回归[8 ] 。 另外，煽动性的标记的减少(C 反应的蛋白质；CRP， P-selectin， adiponectin，和高密度脂蛋白胆固醇) 并且 triglyceride 层次与增加的心血管的风险因素在病人被注意[8 ] 。
Hepatitis C and non‐Hodgkin lymphoma: The clinical perspective

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a commonly transmitted infection that has both hepatic and extrahepatic repercussions. These range from the inflammatory to the oncologic with an undisputed link to hepatitis, liver cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma. Its role in the development of B cell non‐Hodgkin lymphoma (B‐NHL) is becoming better understood, leading to opportunities for research, therapy, and even prevention. Research in the field has progressed significantly over the last decade, with the number of patients diagnosed with HCV and B‐NHL rising incrementally. It is therefore becoming crucial to fully understand the pathobiologic link of HCV in B cell lymphomagenesis and its optimal management in the oncologic setting. (HEPATOLOGY 2012)
Urban Poverty and Vulnerability In Kenya

ii CONTENTS Acknowledgements iii List of abbreviations iv Executive summary v 1 Introduction 1 1.1 Background 1 1.2 Approach and methodology 2 2 Urban poverty and inequality in Kenya 3 2.1 Introduction 3 2.2 Concepts, definitions and measures of urban poverty 4 2.3 Basic indicators of urban poverty and inequality in Kenya 6 2.4 The population of urban Kenya 8 2.5 Education and employment in the slums 10 3 Vulnerability among Nairobi's 2 million slum-dwellers 14 3.1 Introduction 15 3.2 Vulnerability and the urban environment 15 3.3 Vulnerability to disease 19 3.4 Vulnerability to crime and human insecurity 23 3.5 Poor housing and vulnerability to eviction 24 3.6 Food security and the 2008 food crisis 25 3.7 Vulnerability to poor urban governance and corruption 27 3.8 Coping with urban vulnerability 28 4 The institutional and policy framework for urban development 30 4.