Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Simulating galaxy clusters – I. Thermal and chemical properties of the intracluster medium

We have performed a series of N-body/hydrodynamical (TREESPH) simulations of clusters and groups of galaxies, selected from a cosmological volume within a Lambda cold dark matter (� CDM) framework: these objects have been resimulated at higher resolution to z = 0, in order to follow also the dynamical, thermal and chemical input on to the intracluster medium (ICM) from stellar populations within galaxies. The simulations include metallicitydependent radiative cooling, star formation according to different initial mass functions (IMFs), energy feedback as strong starburst-driven galactic superwinds, chemical evolution with noninstantaneous recycling of gas and heavy elements, effects of a metagalactic ultraviolet (UV) field and thermal conduction in the ICM. In this paper, the first in a series of three, we derive results, mainly at z = 0, on the temperature and entropy profiles of the ICM, its X-ray luminosity, the cluster cold components [cold fraction as well as mass-to-light ratio (MLR)] and the metal distribution between ICM and stars. In general, models with efficient superwinds (produced by the action of supernovae and, in some simulations, of active galactic nuclei (AGNs), along with a top-heavy stellar IMF, are able to reproduce fairly well the observed LX‐T relation, the entropy profiles and the cold fraction: both features are found to be needed in order to remove high-density and low-entropy cold gas at core scales, although additional alternative feedback mechanisms would still be required to prevent late-time central cooling flows, and subsequent overproduction of stars and heavy elements at the centre. Observed radial ICM temperature profiles can be matched, except for the gradual decline in temperature inside r ∼ 0.1Rvir. Metal enrichment of the ICM gives rise to somewhat steep inner iron gradients; yet, the global level of enrichment compares well to observational estimates when a top-heavy IMF is adopted, and after correcting for the stars formed at late times at the base of the cooling flows, the metal partition between stars and ICM gets into good agreement with observations. The overall abundance and profile of iron in the ICM is found essentially unchanged from z = 1 to present time. Finally, the α/Fe of the gas is found to increase steadily with radius, decreasing over time.
Facilitating access point selection in IEEE 802.11 wireless networks

The performance experienced by wireless clients in IEEE 802.11 wireless networks heavily depends on the clients' ability to identify the Access Point (AP) that will offer the best service. The current AP affiliation mechanism implemented in most wireless clients is based on signal strength measurements received by the client from all the APs in its neighborhood. The client then affiliates with the AP from which it receives the strongest signal. It is well-known that such an algorithm can lead to sub-optimal performance, due to its ignorance of the load at different APs. In this work, we consider the problem of AP selection. We identify potential bandwidth as the metric based on which hosts should make affiliation decisions, and define it as the (MAC-layer) bandwidth that the client is likely to receive after affiliating with a particular AP. We further limit ourselves to the use of passive measurements that do not require an end-host to affiliate with the AP, thus allowing the end-host to simultaneously evaluate the potential bandwidth to multiple APs in range. This can also facilitate more informed roaming decisions. We propose a methodology for the estimation of potential upstream and downstream bandwidth between a client and an AP based on measurements of delay incurred by 802.11 Beacon frames from the AP. Preliminary experiments conducted in a controlled environment demonstrate that the proposed methodology looks promising, yielding fairly accurate results under varying conditions.
Effects of high-resistant-starch banana flour (RS(2)) on in vitro fermentation and the small-bowel excretion of energy, nutrients, and sterols: an ileostomy study.

BACKGROUND Resistant starch (RS) has attracted interest because of its effects in the colon and implications for health. Knowledge of how RS influences small-intestinal absorption of nutrients, sterol metabolism, and colonic fermentation is sparse. OBJECTIVES The objectives of this study were to measure the effect of RS(2), a type of RS in banana flour, on the ileal excretion of energy, nutrients, and sterols, and to compare in vivo measurement of RS in the ileostomy model with previously published intubation data. In addition, we sought to estimate a fermentation pattern by using ileal effluents for in vitro fermentation. DESIGN The present study was divided into 2 parts. Study A involved 10 ileostomy subjects who were given a controlled diet with the addition of 30 g raw green banana flour (RBF)/d, which contains RS(2), or cooked green banana flour (CBF)/d in random order. Study B involved 7 ileostomy subjects who were given a plant-polysaccharide-free diet with the addition of 30 g RBF/d. RESULTS In study A, the dry weight of the ileostomy effluents and the ileal excretion of energy, iron, and chenodeoxycholic acid, but not total sterols, were higher after the addition of RBF than of CBF to the diet. In vitro fermentation of the ileal effluents obtained after the addition of RBF to the diet showed higher concentrations of acetate and butyrate. In study B, the ileal excretion of starch was lower than the amount calculated from earlier studies by use of the intubation technique. CONCLUSIONS The addition of RBF containing RS(2) to the diet of ileostomy subjects did not interfere with small-bowel absorption of nutrients or total sterols, except for a small increase in iron excretion. The ileostomy model seems to give reliable results for in vivo measurement of RS.
The future of telemedicine for the management of heart failure patients: a Consensus Document of the Italian Association of Hospital Cardiologists (A.N.M.C.O), the Italian Society of Cardiology (S.I.C.) and the Italian Society for Telemedicine and eHealth (Digital S.I.T.)

Abstract Telemedicine applied to heart failure patients is a tool for recording and providing remote transmission, storage and interpretation of cardiovascular parameters and/or useful diagnostic images to allow for intensive home monitoring of patients with advanced heart failure, or during the vulnerable post-acute phase, to improve patient’s prognosis and quality of life. Recently, several meta-analyses have shown that telemedicine-supported care pathways are not only effective but also economically advantageous. Benefits seem to be substantial, with a 30–35% reduction in mortality and 15–20% decrease in hospitalizations. Patients implanted with cardiac devices can also benefit from an integrated remote clinical management since all modern devices can transmit technical and diagnostic data. However, telemedicine may provide benefits to heart failure patients only as part of a shared and integrated multi-disciplinary and multi-professional ‘chronic care model’. Moreover, the future development of remote telemonitoring programs in Italy will require the primary use of products certified as medical devices, validated organizational solutions as well as legislative and administrative adoption of new care methods and the widespread growth of clinical care competence to remotely manage the complexity of chronicity. Through this consensus document, Italian Cardiology reaffirms its willingness to contribute promoting a new phase of qualitative assessment, standardization of processes and testing of telemedicine-based care models in heart failure. By recognizing the relevance of telemedicine for the care of non-hospitalized patients with heart failure, its strategic importance for the design of innovative models of care, and the many challenges and opportunities it raises, ANMCO and SIC through this document report a consensus on the main directions for its widespread and sustainable clinical implementation
Structural sequelae and refractive outcome 1 year after laser treatment for type 1 prethreshold retinopathy of prematurity in Asian Indian eyes

Aim: The aim was to study the structural sequelae and refractive outcome after laser treatment for Type 1 prethreshold retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) in Asian Indian eyes. Materials and Methods: A retrospective chart review of infants with Type 1 prethreshold ROP (defined according to the Early Treatment for Retinopathy of Prematurity study) undergoing laser treatment at a tertiary center between January 2004 and December 2008 was done. The 1-year outcome of infants was analyzed. Results: Sixty-nine eyes of 36 infants were included. The mean birth weight was 1121.69 ± 254.81 g and the gestational age was 28.99 ± 2.03 weeks. Sixty-five eyes (94.2%) had zone 2 and 4 (5.8%) had zone 1 disease. Forty-four (63.77%) eyes had stage 2 ROP with plus disease and 25 (36.23%) eyes had prethreshold (fewer than five contiguous or eight cumulative clock hours) stage 3 ROP with plus disease. None of the eyes developed retinal structural sequelae. On cycloplegic retinoscopy, 59.4% eyes had nonsignificant hyperopia [spherical equivalent (SE) ≤ 4 D], 14.5% eyes had no refractive error (SE 0 D), 24.7% eyes had low myopia (SE < 5 D), and 1.4% eyes had high myopia (SE > 5.0 D). Eyes developing myopia were associated with a greater number of clock hours of ROP, greater number of laser spots used, and a longer time to disease regression. Two infants (5.6%) had esotropia and one (2.8%) had exotropia. Conclusion: Asian Indian infants treated for Type 1 prethreshold ROP did not develop retinal structural sequelae. Myopia was seen in nearly one-fourth of the eyes.The risk factors for myopia were a greater number of clock hours of ROP, greater number of laser spots, and a longer time to regression of ROP.
Patterns of Brain Activation when Mothers View Their Own Child and Dog: An fMRI Study

Neural substrates underlying the human-pet relationship are largely unknown. We examined fMRI brain activation patterns as mothers viewed images of their own child and dog and an unfamiliar child and dog. There was a common network of brain regions involved in emotion, reward, affiliation, visual processing and social cognition when mothers viewed images of both their child and dog. Viewing images of their child resulted in brain activity in the midbrain (ventral tegmental area/substantia nigra involved in reward/affiliation), while a more posterior cortical brain activation pattern involving fusiform gyrus (visual processing of faces and social cognition) characterized a mother's response to her dog. Mothers also rated images of their child and dog as eliciting similar levels of excitement (arousal) and pleasantness (valence), although the difference in the own vs. unfamiliar child comparison was larger than the own vs. unfamiliar dog comparison for arousal. Valence ratings of their dog were also positively correlated with ratings of the attachment to their dog. Although there are similarities in the perceived emotional experience and brain function associated with the mother-child and mother-dog bond, there are also key differences that may reflect variance in the evolutionary course and function of these relationships.
Recent failures in antiatherosclerotic drug development: examples from the thyroxin receptor agonist, the secretory phospholipase A2 antagonist, and the acyl coenzyme A cholesterol acyltransferase inhibitor programs

Purpose of review To review the published data related to the rise and fall of three different therapeutic approaches, which were investigated to lower cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk. Recent findings CVD remains a major burden of morbidity and mortality, despite therapeutic interventions. Novel strategies to address this residual risk are eagerly awaited, and a number of novel targets for therapy have been identified. Lipids and lipoproteins have been shown to play an eminent role in atherosclerosis progression, and as such, interventions that influence these biomarkers are crucial in CVD risk prevention. In recent years, however, clinical studies investigating the effect of novel lipid-modifying drugs on cardiovascular risk prevention have not always resulted in the anticipated beneficial outcome. Moreover, the development of therapies directed toward bioactive proteins acting at the crossroads of lipids and inflammation has also been disappointing. Summary In this review, we will specifically address the rationale, design, and results of the clinical trials investigating the effects of three of the failing therapies: the thyroxin receptor agonist, the secretory phospholipase A2 antagonist, and the acyl coenzyme A:cholesterol acyltransferase inhibitor.
In Vitro Comparison of the Effectiveness of Chlorhexidine and Two Calcium Hydroxide Formulations on Enterococcus Faecalis

INTRODUCTION: The aim of this in vitro study was to compare the effectiveness of three intracanal medicaments in disinfecting the root canal and dentin of experimentally infected human teeth with Enterococcus faecalis (EF). MATERIALS AND METHODS: One hundred extracted human single-rooted teeth were used. After root canal preparation, teeth were mounted in epoxy resin. Following sterilization, the teeth were infected for 28 days with EF. Then root canals were filled with one of three different disinfectants: viscous 2% Chlorhexidine (CHX), calcium hydroxide paste (CH) or a mixture of CH and CHX (n=30 in each group). Antimicrobial assessments were performed at 1, 3 and 7 days (n=10 in each time period). Microbial samples were obtained from root canals before and after the experiment. Also dentin samples were examined. The data was analyzed using Two- Way ANOVA test. RESULTS: The findings showed that there was no difference between experimental groups at different time periods. The mixture of CH/CHX in 7 days was able to eliminate EF completely from root canal system. The most elimination of EF was from dentinal tubules. CONCLUSION: According to the results of this in vitro study, viscous 2% CHX, mixture of CH with distilled water and 2% CHX are all effective disinfectants.
The role of callose in guard-cell wall differentiation and stomatal pore formation in the fern Asplenium nidus.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS The pattern of callose deposition was followed in developing stomata of the fern Asplenium nidus to investigate the role of this polysaccharide in guard cell (GC) wall differentiation and stomatal pore formation. METHODS Callose was localized by aniline blue staining and immunolabelling using an antibody against (1 --> 3)-beta-d-glucan. The study was carried out in stomata of untreated material as well as of material treated with: (1) 2-deoxy-d-glucose (2-DDG) or tunicamycin, which inhibit callose synthesis; (2) coumarin or 2,6-dichlorobenzonitrile (dichlobenil), which block cellulose synthesis; (3) cyclopiazonic acid (CPA), which disturbs cytoplasmic Ca(2+) homeostasis; and (d) cytochalasin B or oryzalin, which disintegrate actin filaments and microtubules, respectively. RESULTS In post-cytokinetic stomata significant amounts of callose persisted in the nascent ventral wall. Callose then began degrading from the mid-region of the ventral wall towards its periphery, a process which kept pace with the formation of an 'internal stomatal pore' by local separation of the partner plasmalemmata. In differentiating GCs, callose was consistently localized in the developing cell-wall thickenings. In 2-DDG-, tunicamycin- and CPA-affected stomata, callose deposition and internal stomatal pore formation were inhibited. The affected ventral walls and GC wall thickenings contained membranous elements. Stomata recovering from the above treatments formed a stomatal pore by a mechanism different from that in untreated stomata. After coumarin or dichlobenil treatment, callose was retained in the nascent ventral wall for longer than in control stomata, while internal stomatal pore formation was blocked. Actin filament disintegration inhibited internal stomatal pore formation, without any effect on callose deposition. CONCLUSIONS In A. nidus stomata the time and pattern of callose deposition and degradation play an essential role in internal stomatal pore formation, and callose participates in deposition of the local GC wall thickenings.
Neural network based optimal feature extraction for ASR

The procedure of calculating Mel Frequency based Cepstral Co-efﬁcients (MFCC) is shown to resemble a three layer Multilayer Perceptron (MLP) like structure. Such an MLP is employed as a preprocessor in a hybrid HMM-MLP system, and the possibility of optimizing the whole system as a single entity, with respect to a suitable criterion, is pointed out. This system, together with the Maximum Mutual Information (MMI) criterion was tested on a speaker independent, ﬁve broad class, isolated phoneme recognition task. Results of these preliminary experiments, which clearly indicate the advantage of optimizable pre-processing, are reported.
Thematic Review Series: Glycerolipids. Mammalian glycerol-3-phosphate acyltransferases: new genes for an old activity Published, JLR Papers in Press, July 24, 2008.

Glycerol-3-phosphate acyltransferases (GPATs; EC2.3.1.15) catalyze the first step in the de novo synthesis of neutral lipids (triglycerides) and glycerophospholipids. The existence of multiple enzyme isoforms with GPAT activity was predicted many years ago when GPAT activities with distinct kinetic profiles and sensitivity to inhibitors were characterized in two subcellular compartments, mitochondria and microsomes. We now know that mammals have at least four GPAT isoforms with distinct tissue distribution and function. GPAT1 is the major mitochondrial GPAT isoform and is characterized by its resistance to sulfhydryl-modifying reagents, such as N-ethylmaleimide (NEM). GPAT2 is a minor NEM-sensitive mitochondrial isoform. The activity referred to as microsomal GPAT is encoded by two closely related genes, GPAT3 and GPAT4. GPAT isoforms are important regulators of cellular triglyceride and phospholipid content, and may channel fatty acids toward particular metabolic fates. Overexpression and knock-out studies suggest that GPAT isoforms can play important roles in the development of hepatic steatosis, insulin resistance, and obesity; GPAT isoforms are also important for lactation. This review summarizes the current state of knowledge on mammalian GPAT isoforms.
Face Recognition by Computers and Humans

This article talks about how the study of how humans perceive faces can be used to help design practical systems for face recognition. Besides applications related to identification and verification-such as access control, law enforcement, ID and licensing, and surveillance-face recognition has also proven useful in applications such as human-computer interaction, virtual reality, database retrieval, multimedia, and computer entertainment. Continuing research into face recognition will provide scientists and engineers with many vital projects, in areas such as homeland security, human-computer interaction, and numerous consumer applications. The areas we are considering pursuing are recognition from unconstrained video sequences, incorporating familiarity into algorithms, modeling effects of aging, and developing biologically plausible models for human face recognition ability.
Structure, Function, and Expression Pattern of a Novel Sodium-coupled Citrate Transporter (NaCT) Cloned from Mammalian Brain*

Citrate plays a pivotal role not only in the generation of metabolic energy but also in the synthesis of fatty acids, isoprenoids, and cholesterol in mammalian cells. Plasma levels of citrate are the highest (∼135 μm) among the intermediates of the tricarboxylic acid cycle. Here we report on the cloning and functional characterization of a plasma membrane transporter (NaCT for Na+-coupled citrate transporter) from rat brain that mediates uphill cellular uptake of citrate coupled to an electrochemical Na+ gradient. NaCT consists of 572 amino acids and exhibits structural similarity to the members of the Na+-dicarboxylate cotransporter/Na+-sulfate cotransporter (NaDC/NaSi) gene family including the recently identifiedDrosophila Indy. In rat, the expression of NaCT is restricted to liver, testis, and brain. When expressed heterologously in mammalian cells, rat NaCT mediates the transport of citrate with high affinity (Michaelis-Menten constant, ∼20 μm) and with a Na+:citrate stoichiometry of 4:1. The transporter does interact with other dicarboxylates and tricarboxylates but with considerably lower affinity. In mouse brain, the expression of NaCT mRNA is evident in the cerebral cortex, cerebellum, hippocampus, and olfactory bulb. NaCT represents the first transporter to be identified in mammalian cells that shows preference for citrate over dicarboxylates. This transporter is likely to play an important role in the cellular utilization of citrate in blood for the synthesis of fatty acids and cholesterol (liver) and for the generation of energy (liver and brain). NaCT thus constitutes a potential therapeutic target for the control of body weight, cholesterol levels, and energy homeostasis.
Regulation Fair Disclosure's Effects on the Cost of Capital: Financial Innovation or Policy Failure

We theoretically investigate the effects of the adoption of regulation fair disclosure by the U.S. securities and exchange commission. As a kind of financial innovation by American regulators, it was intended to stop the practice of "selective disclosure". But it also caused a significant reallocation of information, resulting in higher cost of capital to small firms, which was taken as policy failure. Through an asset pricing model based on rational expectation equilibrium, the paper shows that the increase of the proportion of public information may lead the increase or decrease of the cost of capital, which depends on specific condition. Because the increase of information level by increase of public information amount may not compensate the decrease of information level by decrease of private information amount and lowering of equilibrium price's information transmission effect. Our study suggests that regulation fair disclosure had unintended consequences and that "Information" in financial markets may be more complicated than current finance theory admits.
Role of Ced-3/ICE-family proteases in staurosporine-induced programmed cell death

In the accompanying paper by Weil et al. (1996) we show that staurosporine (STS), in the presence of cycloheximide (CHX) to inhibit protein synthesis, induces apoptotic cell death in a large variety of nucleated mammalian cell types, suggesting that all nucleated mammalian cells constitutively express all of the proteins required to undergo programmed cell death (PCD). The reliability of that conclusion depends on the evidence that STS-induced, and (STS + CHS)-induced, cell deaths are bona fide examples of PCD. There is rapidly accumulating evidence that some members of the Ced-3/Interleukin-1 beta converting enzyme (ICE) family of cysteine proteases are part of the basic machinery of PCD. Here we show that Z-Val-Ala-Asp-fluoromethylketone (zVAD-fmk), a cell-permeable, irreversible, tripeptide inhibitor of some of these proteases, suppresses STS-induced and (STS + CHX)-induced cell death in a wide variety of mammalian cell types, including anucleate cytoplasts, providing strong evidence that these are all bona fide examples of PCD. We show that the Ced-3/ICE family member CPP32 becomes activated in STS- induced PCD, and that Bcl-2 inhibits this activation. Most important, we show that, in some cells at least, one or more CPP32-family members, but not ICE itself, is required for STS-induced PCD. Finally, we show that zVAD-fmk suppresses PCD in the interdigital webs in developing mouse paws and blocks the removal of web tissue during digit development, suggesting that this inhibition will be a useful tool for investigating the roles of PCD in various developmental processes.