Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Lipoprotein(a) levels, apo(a) isoform size, and coronary heart disease risk in the Framingham Offspring Study

The aim of this study was to assess the independent contributions of plasma levels of lipoprotein(a) (Lp(a)), Lp(a) cholesterol, and of apo(a) isoform size to prospective coronary heart disease (CHD) risk. Plasma Lp(a) and Lp(a) cholesterol levels, and apo(a) isoform size were measured at examination cycle 5 in subjects participating in the Framingham Offspring Study who were free of CHD. After a mean follow-up of 12.3 years, 98 men and 47 women developed new CHD events. In multivariate analysis, the hazard ratio of CHD was approximately two-fold greater in men in the upper tertile of plasma Lp(a) levels, relative to those in the bottom tertile (P < 0.002). The apo(a) isoform size contributed only modestly to the association between Lp(a) and CHD and was not an independent predictor of CHD. In multivariate analysis, Lp(a) cholesterol was not significantly associated with CHD risk in men. In women, no association between Lp(a) and CHD risk was observed. Elevated plasma Lp(a) levels are a significant and independent predictor of CHD risk in men. The assessment of apo(a) isoform size in this cohort does not add significant information about CHD risk. In addition, the cholesterol content in Lp(a) is not a significant predictor of CHD risk.
Cooler and Bigger than Previously Thought? Planetary Host Stellar Parameters from the Infrared Flux Method

Effective temperatures and radii for 92 planet-hosting stars as determined from the infrared flux method (IRFM) are presented and compared with those given by other authors using different approaches. The IRFM temperatures we have derived are systematically lower than those determined from the spectroscopic condition of excitation equilibrium, the mean difference being as large as 110 K. They are, however, consistent with previous IRFM studies and with the colors derived from Kurucz and MARCS model atmospheres. Comparison with direct measurements of stellar diameters for seven dwarf stars that approximately cover the range of temperatures of the planet-hosting stars suggest that the IRFM radii and temperatures are reliable in an absolute scale. A better understanding of the fundamental properties of stars with planets will be achieved once this discrepancy between the IRFM and the spectroscopic temperature scales is resolved.
Bioequivalence of HX575 (Recombinant Human Epoetin Alfa) and a Comparator Epoetin Alfa after Multiple Subcutaneous Administrations

Aim: To compare the steady-state pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics (PK/PD) of two erythropoesis-stimulating agents (ESA), HX575 (Binocrit®, Sandoz GmbH, Holzkirchen, Germany), human recombinant epoetin alfa approved as the first biosimilar ESA, and a comparator epoetin alfa, following multiple subcutaneous administrations. Methods: An open, randomized, parallel group study was conducted in 80 healthy adult males. Subjects were randomized to multiple subcutaneous doses of 100 IU/kg body weight of HX575 or of the comparator epoetin alfa 3 times weekly for 4 weeks. Results: The hematological profiles of both treatments were similar, as determined from the population mean curves and area under the effect curve (AUEC) ratios. HX575 met the predefined biosimilarity criteria with respect to the ratio and 90% confidence interval of the AUECHb (98.9% [97.7–100.2%]), the primary PD endpoint. The PK of the two treatments were also similar as shown by the AUC0–48 ratios and 90% confidence intervals, 94.3% [84.7–105.0%] and 96.9% [88.2–106.5%], respectively. Study medication was well tolerated and neutralizing anti-epoetin antibodies were not detected. Conclusions: HX575 and the comparator epoetin alfa were bioequivalent with respect to their PK/PD, supporting the conclusion that both, when administered subcutaneously, will be equally efficacious and may be interchangeable as therapy.
Sucesiones volcánico-sedimentarias tremadocianas y arenigianas en la sierra de las Planchadas-Narváez: registros evolutivos del arco magmático Famatiano

Tremadoc and Arenig volcano-sedimentary successions in the Sierra de Las Planchadas, Narvaez: Evolutive records of the Famatinian magmatic arc. Volcano-sedimentary Ordovician sections from the north of the Sistema de Famatina are analyzed, contribu- ting with new petrological data to the understanding of the nature of magmas and associated volcanic processes related to the evolution of the magmatic arc in the region. Previous paleontological information, supported by structural studies and contact relationships with a granodiorite dated in 485 ± 7 Ma, assigned to these sedimentary rocks of Las Angosturas an early Tremadoc age, as well as an early to middle Arenig age to those of the Vuelta de Las Tolas - Chaschuil and Quebrada Larga - Punta Petrea sections. The lithotypes that integrate the Tremadoc successions are basaltic, andesitic, dacitic and rhyodacitic lavas, interfingered with massive and laminated siltstones and fine psammites, with superimposed deformation and important hydrothermal alteration, as well as low grade and contact metamorphism. The Arenig deposits, folded and affected by well developed cleavage in some sectors, consist on basaltic, andesitic, dacitic and rhyolitic lavas, associated to hyaloclastic facies, syn-eruptive re-sedimented deposits and volcanogenic sedimentary facies. Despite both associations are subalkaline and peraluminous, for the early Tremadoc terms it is concluded that geochemical characteristics are compati- ble with an environment where melts from a depleted mantle (MORB) were produced, and enriched during subduction events. All these characteristics can be related to a marginal basin evolution. The Arenig volcanic rocks instead display a clear continental magmatic arc filiation. Both associations have similar characteristics to those observed in the western Puna region, which makes it probable to extend the magmatic arc recognized in the Sistema de Famatina within the Puna during Ordovician times.
Data-guided repair of selection statements

Database-centric programs form the backbone of many enterprise systems. Fixing defects in such programs takes much human effort due to the interplay between imperative code and database-centric logic. This paper presents a novel data-driven approach for automated fixing of bugs in the selection condition of database statements (e.g., WHERE clause of SELECT statements) – a common form of bugs in such programs. Our key observation is that in real-world data, there is information latent in the distribution of data that can be useful to repair selection conditions efficiently. Given a faulty database program and input data, only a part of which induces the defect, our novelty is in determining the correct behavior for the defect-inducing data by taking advantage of the information revealed by the rest of the data. We accomplish this by employing semi-supervised learning to predict the correct behavior for defect-inducing data and by patching up any inaccuracies in the prediction by a SAT-based combinatorial search. Next, we learn a compact decision tree for the correct behavior, including the correct behavior on the defect-inducing data. This tree suggests a plausible fix to the selection condition. We demonstrate the feasibility of our approach on seven realworld examples.
Universal relaying for the interference channel

This paper considers a Gaussian relay-interference channel and introduces a generalized hash-and-forward relay strategy, where the relay sends out a bin index of its quantized observation, and the receivers first decode the relay quantization codeword to a list, then use the list to help decode the respective messages from the transmitters. The main advantage of the proposed approach is in a scenario where the relay observes a linear combination of the transmitted signals and broadcasts a common relay message through a digital relay link of fixed rate to help both receivers of the interference channel. We show that when compared to the achievable rates with interference treated as noise, generalized hash-and-forward can provide one bit of rate improvement for every relay bit for both users at the same time in an asymptotic regime where the background noises go down to zero. The proposed approach is universal, in contrast to the compress-and-forward or amplify-and-forward strategies which are not asymptotically optimal for multiple users simultaneously, if at all.
Achieving Full Diversity over the MIMO Fading Channel with Space-Time Precoders and Iterative Linear Receivers

We study the performance of space-time bit-interleaved coded modulation (ST-BICM) over quasi-static multiple-antenna fading channels with linear receivers. We show that, under iterative linear detection and decoding, an ST-BICM can achieve full diversity with a special class of space-time precoders. We then study the outage probability at the output of the linear detector that determines the theoretical performance of coded modulations with such receivers. Finally, symbol and word error rate performances under Monte Carlo simulations are shown.
Simulating icelandic vegetation cover during the holocene implications for long‐term land degradation

We have simulated the spatial relationship between temperature change and long‐term potential vegetation cover dynamics. The results show that the potential vegetation and birch forest range is highly sensitive to the temperature conditions. Around 3000 BP the simulated potential vegetation cover began to decrease and at the time of the Viking settlement, in AD 874 (1076 BP), vegetation and forest cover was already in decline. The climate driven decline continued to an unprecedented low potential for vegetation for the Holocene that lasted c. 600 years, i.e. between ADc. 1300 and 1900. These interpretations are further supported by geomorphological and pollen data.
Magnitude of Hurricane Ike storm surge sedimentation: implications for coastal marsh aggradation

There is a paucity of information on the regional distribution and magnitude of hurricane storm surge sedimentation. This study assesses the spatial extent and magnitude of Hurricane Ike's (2008) storm surge sedimentation and discusses implications for the role of hurricanes in marsh aggradation. The characteristics of the storm surge deposit, including thickness, inland penetration, volume and mass, were determined for 15 transects across marshes bordering the Gulf of Mexico in south‐eastern Texas and south‐western Louisiana. The deposit is up to 0·85 m thick, extends up to 3·6 km inland, and has an estimated volume of about 13·7 million m3 and an estimated mass of about 16·2 million metric tons. This level of sedimentation is one to two orders of magnitude larger than other potential sources of marsh sedimentation, including annual riverine inputs and inputs from alongshore sediment transport. The study findings add support to a growing body of evidence that hurricanes may be the predominant sediment source for long‐term aggradation of many coastal marshes bordering the Gulf of Mexico. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Performance effects of reduced proprioceptive feedback on touch typists and casual users in a typing task

Abstract This study examined performance and acceptance effects of lack of kinesthetic and tactile feedback from the keyboard in a typing task with two subject groups of differing skill level: touch typists and casual users. Subjects’ objective performance (e.g., speed, accuracy, throughput) and subjective acceptance (questionnaire) was evaluated for both a conventional full travel keyboard and a prototype piezoelectric flat keyboard which lacked familiar kinesthetic and tactile feedback. Any performance decrement present with the flat keyboard was expected to diminish with practice for the touch typists due to transfer and adaptation of typing skills. Performance for both subject groups was significantly higher with the conventional keyboard and touch typists’ performance was more adversely affected by the flat keyboard than casual users’. No performance improvement with practice was found for one subject group relative to the other or for one keyboard relative to the other. It was concluded the touch ty.
Late Miocene ductile extension and detachment faulting, Mykonos, Greece

The geometry and style of structural relations at map to microscopic scale on Mykonos, Cyclades, Aegean Sea, Greece, suggests ductile extension and detachment faulting during the late Miocene. This island is dominated by granitic rocks that have a well-developed, shallowly dipping mylonitic foliation and a northeast-southwest-trending mineral elongation lineation. Kinematic indicators in these rocks exhibit a top-to-the-northeast, down-dip sense of shear. Textural relations suggest that conditions during mylonitic deformation were greenschist to amphibolite facies, and published K/Ar geochronology suggests a late Miocene age for this deformation event. Mylonitic rocks lie in the footwall of a low-angle fault, and fault striae parallel to the elongation lineation suggest kinematic coordination between mylonitic deformation and movement along the fault. Translation along the fault juxtaposes younger tilted sedimentary rocks of low metamorphic grade upon the once deeper mylonitic rocks. The style and geometry of deformational fabrics and map relations on this island are strikingly similar to those observed in metamorphic core complexes of the western United States.
Diffusion Tensor Magnetic Resonance Imaging of Rat Glioma Models: A Correlation Study of MR Imaging and Histology

Introduction Diffusion tensor magnetic resonance (MR) imaging (DTI) can be used to characterize the microstructures of ordered biological tissues. This study was designed to assess histological features of gliomas and surrounding brain tissues in rats using DTI. Methods Three types of tumors, a 9L gliosarcoma (n = 8), a F98 glioma (n = 5), and a human glioblastoma xenograft (GBM22; n = 8) were incubated in rat brains and underwent conventional MRI and DTI scanning using a 4.7-T animal MRI system. Fractional anisotropy (FA), isotropic apparent diffusion coefficient, parallel diffusivity (&lgr;//), and perpendicular diffusivity (&lgr;⊥), as well as histological features within several regions of interest were analyzed. Results All tumor masses consisted of low-FA central zones (tumor center) and high-FA peripheral regions (tumor rim). Histological examination revealed the existence of highly coherent tumor organizations (circular for 9L and F98 or radial for GBM22) in the tumor rims. There were higher apparent diffusion coefficient, &lgr;⊥, and &lgr;// in the peritumoral edema compared to the contralateral gray matter. There were significantly lower FA and higher &lgr;⊥ in the ipsilateral white matter than in the contralateral white matter for the GBM22 tumor, whereas there were no differences for the 9L and F98 tumors. Histologic examination showed GBM22 tumor infiltration into the ipsilateral damaged white matter. Conclusions Quantitative analysis of DTI indices provides useful information for assessing tumor microstructure and tumor cell invasion into the adjacent gray matter and white matter.
Inhibition of cervical carcinoma cell line proliferation by the introduction of a bovine papillomavirus regulatory gene

Human papillomavirus (HPV) E6 and E7 oncogenes are expressed in the great majority of human cervical carcinomas, whereas the viral E2 regulatory gene is usually disrupted in these cancers. To investigate the roles of the papillomavirus E2 genes in the development and maintenance of cervical carcinoma, the bovine papillomavirus (BPV) E2 gene was acutely introduced into cervical carcinoma cell lines by infection with high-titer stocks of simian virus 40-based recombinant viruses. Expression of the BPV E2 protein in HeLa, C-4I, and MS751 cells results in specific inhibition of the expression of the resident HPV type 18 (HPV18) E6 and E7 genes and in inhibition of cell growth. HeLa cells, in which HPV gene expression is nearly completely abolished, undergo a dramatic and rapid inhibition of proliferation, which appears to be largely a consequence of a block in progression from the G1 to the S phase of the cell cycle. Loss of HPV18 gene expression in HeLa cells is also accompanied by a marked increase in the level of the cellular p53 tumor suppressor protein, apparently as a consequence of abrogation of HPV18 E6-mediated destabilization of p53. The proliferation of HT-3 cells, a human cervical carcinoma cell line devoid of detectable HPV DNA, is also inhibited by E2 expression, whereas two other epithelial cell lines that do not contain HPV DNA are not inhibited. Thus, a number of cervical carcinoma cell lines are remarkably sensitive to growth inhibition by the E2 protein. Although BPV E2-mediated inhibition of HPV18 E6 and E7 expression may contribute to growth inhibition in some of the cervical carcinoma cell lines, the BPV E2 protein also appears to exert a growth-inhibitory effect that is independent of its effects on HPV gene expression.
Group variable selection via convex log‐exp‐sum penalty with application to a breast cancer survivor study

In many scientific and engineering applications, covariates are naturally grouped. When the group structures are available among covariates, people are usually interested in identifying both important groups and important variables within the selected groups. Among existing successful group variable selection methods, some methods fail to conduct the within group selection. Some methods are able to conduct both group and within group selection, but the corresponding objective functions are non‐convex. Such a non‐convexity may require extra numerical effort. In this article, we propose a novel Log‐Exp‐Sum(LES) penalty for group variable selection. The LES penalty is strictly convex. It can identify important groups as well as select important variables within the group. We develop an efficient group‐level coordinate descent algorithm to fit the model. We also derive non‐asymptotic error bounds and asymptotic group selection consistency for our method in the high‐dimensional setting where the number of covariates can be much larger than the sample size. Numerical results demonstrate the good performance of our method in both variable selection and prediction. We applied the proposed method to an American Cancer Society breast cancer survivor dataset. The findings are clinically meaningful and may help design intervention programs to improve the qualify of life for breast cancer survivors.
Effects of SO 2 oxidation on ambient aerosol growth in water and ethanol vapours

Abstract. Hygroscopicity (i.e. water vapour affinity) of atmospheric aerosol particles is one of the key factors in defining their impacts on climate. Condensation of sulphuric acid onto less hygroscopic particles is expected to increase their hygrocopicity and hence their cloud condensation nuclei formation potential. In this study, differences in the hygroscopic and ethanol uptake properties of ultrafine aerosol particles in the Arctic air masses with a different exposure to anthropogenic sulfur pollution were examined. The main discovery was that Aitken mode particles having been exposed to polluted air were more hygroscopic and less soluble to ethanol than after transport in clean air. This aging process was attributed to sulphur dioxide oxidation and subsequent condensation during the transport of these particle to our measurement site. The hygroscopicity of nucleation mode aerosol particles, on the other hand, was approximately the same in all the cases, being indicative of a relatively similar chemical composition despite the differences in air mass transport routes. These particles had also been produced closer to the observation site typically 3–8 h prior to sampling. Apparently, these particles did not have an opportunity to accumulate sulphuric acid on their way to the site, but instead their chemical composition (hygroscopicity and ethanol solubility) resembled that of particles produced in the local or semi-regional ambient conditions.
Three‐dimensional spheroid cultures of human prostate cancer cell lines

Many of the available human prostate cancer (PC) cell lines have lost androgen sensitivity and no longer secrete prostate‐specific proteins after serial culturing in cell monolayers. Three‐dimensional spheroid cultures have been found to better mimic the in vivo phenotypes of several nonprostatic cell lines.
CARBONATE-WATER ISOTOPIC TEMPERATURE SCALE

A relationship between temperature and relative O 18 abundance in calcium carbonate in marine shells has been determined. If the relative O 18 abundance of the water in which the shell grew is known, the temperature can be determined to an accuracy of ±1.0°C. The relative O 18 contents of marine waters increase with salinity and, in the case of surface marine waters, with salinity and temperature.
Is it only diastolic dysfunction? Segmental relaxation patterns and longitudinal systolic deformation in systemic hypertension.

AIMS To investigate changes in longitudinal systolic function estimated by strain echocardiography in relation to global diastolic dysfunction and alterations in segmental relaxation patterns. METHODS AND RESULTS We studied 75 hypertensive patients, of whom 45 had diastolic dysfunction and normal EF, and 30 matched controls. All subjects had 2D and colour Doppler myocardial imaging. Mean longitudinal strain (S) and strain rate (SR) were averaged from the basal and mid-LV segments assessed in the longitudinal axis. Early to late diastolic SR ratio <1.1 was defined as altered segmental relaxation [segmental diastolic dysfunction (DD)]. The total number of segmental DD out of the 18 basal-mid-apical segments was calculated for all the participants. Longitudinal systolic function estimated by mean strain and SR was decreased in the hypertensive group, but was further deteriorated in the diastolic dysfunction group compared with controls. Altered Segmental Relaxation was highly correlated with longitudinal systolic dysfunction expressed by strain (r: -0.56)or SR (r: -0.57). A septal mitral annular Ea cut-off of 5.9 cm/s predicted longitudinal systolic dysfunction with a sensitivity of 81% and a specificity of 70%. A multiple linear regression model proved LVMI, systolic blood pressure (SBP) and age as independent predictors of diastolic and longitudinal systolic dysfunction and BMI to independently related to diastolic dysfunction. CONCLUSION Longitudinal systolic dysfunction may be present in hypertensive patients with diastolic dysfunction, especially when septal Ea < 5.9 cm/s. Altered segmental relaxation pattern is highly correlated with longitudinal systolic dysfunction. LV hypertrophy, SBP and aging are important determinants of both diastolic and longitudinal systolic dysfunction, whereas obesity appears to contribute to the appearance of diastolic dysfunction.
Extreme storms and changes in particulate and dissolved organic carbon in runoff: Entering uncharted waters?

We determined the runoff exports of particulate (POC) and dissolved organic carbon (DOC) from a 12 ha forested catchment which received more than 14 storm events in a 16‐month period and three extreme events associated with hurricanes. While POC and DOC exports for the small events were comparable, POC exports for the hurricane‐associated events were six to eight times the DOC values. Hurricane Irene alone contributed to 56% (21.2 kg C ha–1) and 19% (3.3 kg C ha–1) of the 2011 exports of POC and DOC, respectively. A precipitation threshold beyond which POC fluxes rapidly outpaced the DOC values was also identified. Our study suggests that large, high‐intensity storm events that are predicted to increase under future climate‐change scenarios will dramatically alter the runoff C regime by enhancing the POC inputs to aquatic ecosystems. Such shift in C forms could have important consequences for aquatic biota, atmospheric C cycling, and ecosystem and human health.