Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Variation of Exciton-Vibrational Coupling in Photosystem II Core Complexes from Thermosynechococcus elongatus As Revealed by Single-Molecule Spectroscopy

The spectral properties and dynamics of the fluorescence emission of photosystem II core complexes are investigated by single-molecule spectroscopy at 1.6 K. The emission spectra are dominated by sharp zero-phonon lines (ZPLs). The sharp ZPLs are the result of weak to intermediate exciton-vibrational coupling and slow spectral diffusion. For several data sets, it is possible to surpass the effect of spectral diffusion by applying a shifting algorithm. The increased signal-to-noise ratio enables us to determine the exciton-vibrational coupling strength (Huang–Rhys factor) with high precision. The Huang–Rhys factors vary between 0.03 and 0.8. The values of the Huang–Rhys factors show no obvious correlation between coupling strength and wavelength position. From this result, we conclude that electrostatic rather than exchange or dispersive interactions are the main contributors to the exciton-vibrational coupling in this system.
Adaptive Elastic Net for Generalized Methods of Moments

Model selection and estimation are crucial parts of econometrics. This article introduces a new technique that can simultaneously estimate and select the model in generalized method of moments (GMM) context. The GMM is particularly powerful for analyzing complex datasets such as longitudinal and panel data, and it has wide applications in econometrics. This article extends the least squares based adaptive elastic net estimator by Zou and Zhang to nonlinear equation systems with endogenous variables. The extension is not trivial and involves a new proof technique due to estimators’ lack of closed-form solutions. Compared to Bridge-GMM by Caner, we allow for the number of parameters to diverge to infinity as well as collinearity among a large number of variables; also, the redundant parameters are set to zero via a data-dependent technique. This method has the oracle property, meaning that we can estimate nonzero parameters with their standard limit and the redundant parameters are dropped from the equations simultaneously. Numerical examples are used to illustrate the performance of the new method.
Biomechanical, morphological, and histological analysis of early failures in hip resurfacing arthroplasty

Abstract The present revival of hip resurfacing arthroplasty may be related to an increase in early failures owing to the challenging technique of the procedure. Fifty-five retrieved implants were analysed with respect to wear, cement mantle and cement penetration, fracture and head morphology, as well as standard histology. Femoral neck fractures occurred in median after 102 days. The time to failure was shorter for older women. Major deviations from the suggested cement mantle thickness and cement penetration were found. Indications for high trauma during implantation leading to early failure due to weakening of the femoral neck were also observed. Some failures had signs of pseudarthrosis beneath the implant. Four different fracture patterns with different mean survival times were identified. Observed wear was minor with the exception of that due to alignment mistakes (rim loading). The cups were not damaged by the failures. Histological results indicate that avascular necrosis is not necessarily connected with this kind of endoprosthetic surgery. Most of the failures analysed can probably be attributed to the ‘learning curve’ effect, which is an unsatisfactory situation.
A Principle of Uncertainty for Information seeking

This paper proposes an uncertainty principle for information seeking. The principle is based on the results of a series of studies conducted by the author into the user's perspective of the information search process. A basic principle of uncertainty is elaborated by six corollaries. The principle is proposed to explain the constructive process of information seeking and use bringing affective considerations to what has usually been regarded as a cognitive process.
Metadherin Mediates Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Migration and Invasion of Breast Cancer Cells

Background Breast cancer is the most prevalent cancer in women worldwide and metastatic breast cancer has very poor prognosis. Inflammation has been implicated in migration and metastasis of breast cancer, although the exact molecular mechanism remains elusive. Principal Findings We show that the pro-inflammatory endotoxin Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) upregulates the expression of Metadherin (MTDH), a recently identified oncogene, in a number of breast cancer lines. Stable knockdown of MTDH by shRNA in human breast MDA-MB-231 cells abolishes LPS-induced cell migration and invasion as determined by several in vitro assays. In addition, knockdown of MTDH diminishes Nuclear Factor-kappa B (NF-κB) activation by LPS and inhibited LPS-induced IL-8 and MMP-9 production. Conclusions These results strongly suggest that MTDH is a pivotal molecule in inflammation-mediated tumor metastasis. Since NF-κB, IL-8 and MMP-9 play roles in LPS-induced invasion or metastasis, the mechanism of MTDH-promoted invasion and metastasis may be through the activation of NF-κB, IL-8 and MMP-9, also suggesting a role of MTDH in regulating both inflammatory responses and inflammation-associated tumor invasion. These findings indicate that MTDH is involved in inflammation-induced tumor progression, and support that MTDH targeting therapy may hold promising prospects in treating breast cancer.
Improved Survival of Mice Deficient in Secretory Immunoglobulin M following Systemic Infection with Cryptococcus neoformans

ABSTRACT Cryptococcus neoformans causes severe, and often fatal, disease (cryptococcosis) in immunocompromised patients, particularly in those with HIV/AIDS. Although resistance to cryptococcosis requires intact T-cell immunity, a possible role for antibody/B cells in protection against natural disease has not been definitively established. Previous studies of the antibody response to the C. neoformans capsular polysaccharide glucuronoxylomannan (GXM) have demonstrated that patients who are at increased risk for cryptococcosis have lower serum levels of GXM-reactive IgM than those who are not at risk, leading to the hypothesis that IgM might contribute to resistance to cryptococcosis. To determine the influence of IgM on susceptibility to systemic cryptococcosis in a murine model, we compared the survival of mice deficient in serum IgM (secretory IgM deficient [sIgM−/−]) and C57BL/6 × 129Sv (control) mice after intraperitoneal infection with C. neoformans strain 24067 and analyzed the splenic B- and T-cell subsets by flow cytometry and the serum and splenic cytokine/chemokine and serum antibody profiles of each mouse strain. The results showed that sIgM−/− mice survived significantly longer than control mice when challenged with 105 CFU of C. neoformans 24067. Naïve sIgM−/− mice had higher levels of B-1 (CD5+) B cells, proinflammatory mediators (interleukin-6 [IL-6], IL-1β, MIP-1β, tumor necrosis factor alpha [TNF-α], and gamma interferon [IFN-γ]), and anti-inflammatory mediators (IL-10 and IL-13) and significantly higher titers of GXM-specific IgG2a 3 weeks postinfection. In addition, CD5+ splenocytes from both mouse strains had fungicidal activity against C. neoformans. Taken together, these results suggest that the inflammatory milieu in sIgM−/− mice might confer enhanced resistance to systemic cryptococcosis, stemming in part from the antifungal activity of B-1 B cells.
Internet-mediated cognitive behavioral group treatment for social phobia with and without comorbid depression

The present study is the first Internet-mediated treatment outcome study for social phobia with and without comorbid depression. This dissertation aimed to evaluate an Internet-mediated cognitive behavioral group treatment (I-CBGT) for social phobia in a Korean population. Twenty social phobics without depression and sixteen social phobics with comorbid depression received 8 sessions of Internet-mediated cognitive behavioral group treatment. The treatment was delivered in a closed Internet community using e-mail, e-bulletin boards and real time chatting according to a standardized treatment manual. Participants in both conditions showed significant improvements at posttreatment and at follow-up. The results of the study demonstrated that Internet-mediated cognitive behavioral group treatment was effective to improve social anxiety and depressive symptoms. Comorbidity with depression and subtypes of social phobia (generalized social phobia vs. specific social phobia) did not affect the rate at which participants improve. Implications of the Internet-mediated treatment for social phobia and limitations of the current study are discussed.
Neural Correlates of the Preserved Inhibition of Return in Schizophrenia

Inhibition of return (IOR) is an attentional mechanism that previously has been reported to be either intact or blunted in subjects with schizophrenia (SCZ). In the present study, we explored the neural mechanism of IOR in SCZ by comparing the target-locked N1 and P1 activity evoked by valid-cued trials with that evoked by invalid-cued trials. Twenty-seven schizophrenia patients and nineteen healthy controls participated in a task involving covert orienting of attention with two stimulus onset asynchronies (SOAs: 700 ms and 1200 ms) during which 64-channel EEG data were recorded. Behavioral reaction times (RTs) were longer in response to valid-cued trials than to invalid-cued ones, suggesting an intact IOR in SCZ. However, reduced N1 amplitude elicited by valid-cued trials suggested a stronger inhibition of attention from being oriented to a previously cued location, and therefore a relative inhibition of perceptual processing at that location in SCZ. These results indicate that altered N1 activity is associated with the preservation of IOR in SCZ and could be a sensitive marker to track the IOR effect.
Maintenance treatment with long-acting injectable risperidone in first-episode schizophrenia: a randomized effectiveness study.

BACKGROUND Because long-acting injectable (LAI) antipsychotics are largely reserved for persistently ill patients, little is known about the use of LAIs early in the course of illness for first-episode outpatients. METHOD A prospective, open-label, randomized controlled trial was conducted in which outpatients with first-episode DSM-IV schizophreniform disorder, schizophrenia, or schizoaffective disorder were enrolled from December 2004 to March 2007. Participants were randomly assigned at a 2:1 ratio to a recommendation of changing to LAI risperidone microspheres (RLAI) (n = 26) or continuing oral antipsychotic treatment (n = 11) for up to 104 weeks. Primary outcomes were time until initial nonadherence (medication gap of ≥ 14 days) and medication attitudes as assessed with the Rating of Medication Influences scale. Patients randomly assigned to an RLAI recommendation could decline the recommendation, so analysis defined treatment groups by intent-to-treat and as-actually-treated. RESULTS Eighty-one percent of patients (30/37) stopped medication within 104 weeks. There was a trend toward an initial adherence benefit favoring RLAI acceptors at 12 weeks (P = .058), but no significant difference between RLAI and oral antipsychotic treatment in time to initial nonadherence during the overall study (P = .188). Medication attitudes did not differ between groups. CONCLUSIONS Acceptance of RLAI was associated with an initial adherence benefit that was not sustained over time. Early introduction of LAI therapy did not adversely affect adherence attitudes. The small size of the study and low power limit interpretation, but the few patients who remained adherent into a second year were all receiving RLAI. Nonadherence was almost universal in our first-episode cohort, but nonadherence was more easily detected among first-episode patients treated with LAI therapy than it was with oral antipsychotics. TRIAL REGISTRATION ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT00220714.
Teaching Online--A Research-Based Guide for Academics

Aukštesnio lygmens studijos – • studijavimas, apimantis kritišką informacijos įvertinimą, kai siekiama priimti sprendimus arba suformuluoti naujas idėjas sintezės pagrindu. Dalys – • sudedamieji informacijos elementai. Šio straipsnio kontekste – sąlyginai nedideli informacijos vienetai, kuriuos kartu sudėjus, suformuojamas didesnis rišlus informacijos vienetas. Europos kreditų perkėlimo sistema (ECTS) – • formali sistema, kuri taikoma siekiant sudaryti galimybes studentų mobilumui Europos aukštojo mokslo erdvėje; pagal šią sistemą vidutiniam studento krūviui, apimančiam numatytų studijų programą, suteikiama skaitmeninė vertė. Akademinius metus sudaro 1500 – 1800 akademinių valandų studijos, kurios atitinka 60 ECTS kreditų. ABSTRACT
Clinical Features and Prognosis of Spontaneous Bacterial Peritonitis in Korean Patients with Liver Cirrhosis: A Multicenter Retrospective Study

Background/Aims Although early recognition and treatment with effective antibiotics have lead to improvements in the prognosis of patients with spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP), it remains to be a serious complication in cirrhotic patients. This study was designed to evaluate the clinical manifestations and prognosis of patients with liver cirrhosis and SBP in Korea. Methods This was a multicenter retrospective study examining 157 episodes of SBP in 145 patients with cirrhosis. SBP was diagnosed based on a polymorphonuclear cell count in ascitic fluid of >250 cells/mm3 in the absence of data compatible with secondary peritonitis. Results The mean age of the cohort was 56 years, and 121 (77%) of the 157 episodes of SBP occurred in men. Microorganisms were isolated in 66 episodes (42%): Gram-negative bacteria in 54 (81.8%), Gram-positive in 11 (16.7%), and Candida in 1. Isolated Gram-negative organisms were resistant to third-generation cephalosporin in 6 cases (17%), to ciprofloxacin in 11 (20.8%), and to penicillin in 33 (62.3%). The treatment failure and in-hospital mortality rates were 12.1% and 21%, respectively. A high Model of End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) score, SBP caused by extended-spectrum β-lactamase-producing organisms, and hepatocellular carcinoma were independent prognostic factors of high in-hospital mortality. Conclusions SBP remains to be a serious complication with high in-hospital mortality, especially in patients with a high MELD score.
Cancer Incidence in Egypt: Results of the National Population-Based Cancer Registry Program

Background. This paper aims to present cancer incidence rates at national and regional level of Egypt, based upon results of National Cancer Registry Program (NCRP). Methods. NCRP stratified Egypt into 3 geographical strata: lower, middle, and upper. One governorate represented each region. Abstractors collected data from medical records of cancer centers, national tertiary care institutions, Health Insurance Organization, Government-Subsidized Treatment Program, and death records. Data entry was online. Incidence rates were calculated at a regional and a national level. Future projection up to 2050 was also calculated. Results. Age-standardized incidence rates per 100,000 were 166.6 (both sexes), 175.9 (males), and 157.0 (females). Commonest sites were liver (23.8%), breast (15.4%), and bladder (6.9%) (both sexes): liver (33.6%) and bladder (10.7%) among men, and breast (32.0%) and liver (13.5%) among women. By 2050, a 3-fold increase in incident cancer relative to 2013 was estimated. Conclusion. These data are the only available cancer rates at national and regional levels of Egypt. The pattern of cancer indicated the increased burden of liver cancer. Breast cancer occupied the second rank. Study of rates of individual sites of cancer might help in giving clues for preventive programs.
SF-Devil: distributed Bluetooth scatternet formation algorithm based on device and link characteristics

Bluetooth has become very popular owing to the fact that it is a promising ad-hoc networking technology for short ranges. Although construction and operation of piconets is well defined in Bluetooth specifications, there is no unique standard for scatternet formation and operation. In this paper, we propose a distributed Bluetooth scatternet formation algorithm based on device and link characteristics (SF-DeviL). SF-DeviL handles energy efficiency using class devices and the received signal strength. SF-DeviL forms scatternets that are robust to position changes and battery depletions.
Short Hairpin RNA-mediated Silencing of PRC (PGC-1-related Coactivator) Results in a Severe Respiratory Chain Deficiency Associated with the Proliferation of Aberrant Mitochondria*

PRC, a member of the PGC-1 coactivator family, is responsive to serum growth factors and up-regulated in proliferating cells. Here, we investigated its in vivo role by stably silencing PRC expression with two different short hairpin RNAs (shRNA1 and shRNA4) that were lentivirally introduced into U2OS cells. shRNA1 transductants exhibited nearly complete knockdown of PRC protein, whereas shRNA4 transductants expressed PRC protein at ∼15% of the control level. Complete PRC silencing by shRNA1 resulted in a severe inhibition of respiratory growth; reduced expression of respiratory protein subunits from complexes I, II, III, and IV; markedly lower complex I and IV respiratory enzyme levels; and diminished mitochondrial ATP production. Surprisingly, shRNA1 transductants exhibited a striking proliferation of abnormal mitochondria that were devoid of organized cristae and displayed severe membrane abnormalities. Although shRNA4 transductants had normal respiratory subunit expression and a moderately diminished respiratory growth rate, both transductants showed markedly reduced growth on glucose accompanied by inhibition of G1/S cell cycle progression. Microarray analysis revealed striking overlaps in the genes affected by PRC silencing in the two transductants, and the functional identities of these overlapping genes were consistent with the observed mitochondrial and cell growth phenotypes. The consistency between phenotype and PRC expression levels in the two independent transductant lines argues that the defects result from PRC silencing and not from off target effects. These results support a role for PRC in the integration of pathways directing mitochondrial respiratory function and cell growth.
Pulsatile and steady components of blood pressure and subclinical cerebrovascular disease: the Northern Manhattan Study

Objectives: To assess whether pulse pressure (PP) is associated, independently of mean arterial pressure (MAP), with perivascular spaces (PVS), lacunar lesions presumably ischemic (LPI), and white matter hyperintensity volume (WMHV) seen on brain MRI. Methods: Participants in the Northern Manhattan Study had their blood pressure (BP) taken during their baseline enrollment visit and again during a visit for a brain MRI a mean of 7 years later. We assessed small and large PVS, lacunar LPI, and WMHV on MRI. We examined the association of SBP, DBP, MAP, and PP at baseline with subclinical markers of cerebrovascular disease using generalized linear models and adjusting for vascular risk factors. Results: Imaging and BP data were available for 1009 participants (mean age 68 ± 8 years, 60% women, 60% Hispanic). DBP was associated with lacunar LPI and WMHV, whereas SBP was associated with small and large PVS. Using MAP and PP together disclosed that the effect size for PP was greater for large PVS, whereas the effect of MAP was greater for lacunar LPI and WMHV. The effects of DBP were flat or negative at any degree of SBP higher than 120 mmHg for small and large PVS, whereas a positive association was noted for lacunar LPI and WMHV with any DBP increase over any degree of SBP. Conclusion: We report here a segregated association between the pulsatile and steady components of the BP with subclinical markers of cerebrovascular disease. These differential associations may reflect the underlying disease of these biomarkers.
The contribution of faint blue galaxies to the submillimetre counts and background

Observations in the submillimetre waveband have recently revealed a new population of luminous, sub-mm sources. These are proposed to lie at high redshift and to be optically faint due to their high intrinsic dust obscuration. The presence of dust has been previously invoked in optical galaxy count models which assume $\tau=9$ Gyr Bruzual & Charlot evolution for spirals and these fit the count data well from U to K. We now show that by using either a 1/$\lambda$ or Calzetti absorption law for the dust and re-distributing the evolved spiral galaxy UV radiation into the far infra-red(FIR), these models can account for all of the `faint'($\leq1$mJy) $850\mu$m galaxy counts, but fail to fit 'bright'($\ge2$mJy) sources, indicating that another explanation for the sub-mm counts may apply at brighter fluxes(e.g. QSOs, ULIRGs). We find that the main contribution to the faint, sub-mm number counts is in the redshift range $0.5 < z < 3$, peaking at $z\approx 1.8$. The above model, using either dust law, can also explain a significant proportion of the extra-galactic background at $850\mu$m as well as producing a reasonable fit to the bright $60\mu m$ IRAS counts.
Codevelopment of Preschoolers’ Temperament Traits and Social Play Networks Over an Entire School Year

Children enter preschool with temperament traits that may shape or be shaped by their social interactions in the peer setting. We collected classroom observational measures of positive emotionality (PE), negative emotionality (NE), effortful control (EC), and peer social play relationships from 2 complete preschool classrooms (N = 53 children) over the course of an entire school year. Using longitudinal social network analysis, we found evidence that children’s traits shaped the formation of play relationships, and that the traits of children’s playmates shaped the subsequent development of children’s own traits. Children who exhibited high levels of NE were less likely to form social play relationships over time. In addition, children were more likely to form play relationships with peers who were similar to their own levels of PE. Over the course of the school year, children’s level of PE and EC changed such that they became more similar to their playmates in levels of these traits. Finally, we observed moderate to strong rank-order stability of behavioral observations of PE, NE, and EC across the school year. Our results provide evidence for the effects of traits on the formation of play relationships, as well as for the role of these play relationships in shaping trait expression over time.
RECENT ECOLOGICAL SELECTION ON REGULATORY DIVERGENCE IS SHAPING CLINAL VARIATION IN SENECIO ON MOUNT ETNA

The hybrid zone on Mount Etna (Sicily) between Senecio aethnensis and Senecio chrysanthemifolius (two morphologically and physiologically distinct species) is a classic example of an altitudinal cline. Hybridization at intermediate altitudes and gradients in phenotypic and life‐history traits occur along altitudinal transects of the volcano. The cline is considered to be a good example of ecological selection with species differences arising by divergent selection opposing gene flow. However, the possibility that the cline formed from recent secondary contact following an allopatric phase is difficult to exclude. We demonstrate a recent split between S. aethnensis and S. chrysanthemifolius (as recent as ∼32,000 years ago) and sufficient gene flow (2Nm > 1) to have prevented divergence (implicating a role for diversifying selection in the maintenance of the cline). Differentially expressed genes between S. aethnensis and S. chrysanthemifolius exhibit significantly higher genetic divergence relative to “expression invariant” controls, suggesting that species differences may in part be mediated by divergent selection on differentially expressed genes involved with altitude‐related adaptation. The recent split time and the absence of fixed differences between these two ecologically distinct species suggest the rapid evolution to an altitudinal cline involving selection on both sequence and expression variation.