Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
XMM-Newton observation of PG 0844+349

In a similar to20 ksec XMM-Newton observation the X-ray transient radio-quiet quasar PG 0844+349 was found in a historically high state compared to previous X-ray observations. The quasar showed a featureless spectrum with a strong soft excess over the extrapolation of a hard power law. Comptonization models or a broken power law with Gamma(soft) similar to 2.75, Gamma(hard) similar to 2.25 and a break energy of E-break similar to 1.35 keV represent acceptable descriptions of the spectral continuum. In the Comptonization models the temperature of the Comptonizing gas is considerably lower than generally found in (broad line) Seyfert galaxies whereas the optical depth is much higher. As a similar behavior has been seen in NLSy1 galaxies, it might be an indicator of the different physical conditions in these two classes of AGN. During the XMM-Newton observation the flux of PG 0844+349 varied achromatically in a smooth, nearly linear fashion, by similar to25% on time scales of a few thousand seconds, which puts some constraints on current models of Comptonizing accretion disk coronae.
Noradrenaline induces IPSCs in rat medial septal/diagonal band neurons: involvement of septohippocampal GABAergic neurons.

1. The physiological and pharmacological actions of noradrenaline (NA) on neurons of the medial septum and diagonal band of Broca (MSDB) were examined using extracellular, intracellular and whole‐cell patch‐clamp recordings in an in vitro rat brain slice preparation. 2. In current‐ and voltage‐clamp recordings with KCl‐ or potassium gluconate‐containing electrodes, bath‐applied NA increased the number of tetrodoxin‐ and bicuculline‐sensitive synaptic events in > 80% of cholinergic‐ and GABA‐type neurons tested. The NA‐induced synaptic activity originated from GABAergic neurons located within the MSDB itself, as a similar effect occurred in brain slices in which the MSDB had been surgically isolated from neighbouring structures. 3. In antidromic studies, NA dose‐dependently increased firing in a subpopulation of septohippocampal neurons with fast conducting fibres (mean conduction velocity, 1.78 +/‐ 0.10 m s‐1; presumably GABAergic). The NA excitation was mimicked by the alpha 1‐agonist phenylephrine (PE) and blocked by the alpha 1‐antagonists prazosin and WB‐4101, suggesting the presence of alpha 1‐receptors on septohippocampal GABAergic neurons. 4. Similarly, in whole‐cell recordings in both cholinergic‐ and non‐cholinergic‐type MSDB neurons, prazosin blocked the effects of NA and PE mimicked the effects of NA by inducing IPSCs with a similar amplitude distribution. 5. Consistent with the above findings, GABA‐type neurons that responded directly to NA and PE with a prazosin‐sensitive inward current were found within the MSDB. 6. In conclusion, NA, via alpha 1‐adrenoceptors, excites MSDB septohippocampal GABAergic neurons and influences both septal and septohippocampal circuitry.
Exercise facilitators and barriers following participation in a community-based exercise and education program for cancer survivors

Cancer survivors participating in supervised exercise programs learn to exercise safely with oversight from care providers who monitor and facilitate their progress. This study investigated the long-term exercise participation levels and identified exercise barriers for graduates from a specialized cancer exercise and education program. Subjects were graduates from a 12-week supervised exercise program (www.canwellprogram.ca) who participated in a, prospective, long-term evaluation. Measures included: six-minute walk test (6-MWT), STEEP treadmill test, Functional Assessment Cancer Therapy-General (FACT-G), Edmonton Symptom Assessment System (ESAS), Godin Leisure-Time Exercise Questionnaire, and exercise barriers survey. Analysis was performed using the paired t -test. Fifty-seven (55% of eligible cohort) CanWell participants (mean age= 60; 74% females) were included in this study. Post program changes included statistically significant reductions in total min on the treadmill and a trend towards improvements in 6-MWT distance. No significant changes were recorded in total FACT-G or ESAS score, however functional well-being approached statistical significant improvements. The most commonly reported exercise barriers included fatigue, cost, and return to work. While most participants (86%) believed they were able to exercise, only 63% reported being able to progress their exercise. These finding demonstrated that although CanWell graduates have substantial support from exercise specialists and most have early success with exercise, environment-related factors diminish long-term independent adherence to exercise. Providing cancer survivors with the skills needed to monitor and progress their exercise routines, or access to “tune-ups” may increase exercise adherence and maximize benefits.
World population prospects: 1988.

The 1988 UN population revision estimates that the total population of the world in mid 1988 is 5.1 billion persons and that the annual rate of increase is 1.7% for 1987-1988. It proposes a plateau in the rate of world population at around 1.7%, starting in the late 1970s and ending around the early 1990s, with annual fluctuations. In 1985, just under 1/4 of the world population resided in the more developed regions. By 2000, the proportion is expected to decrease to 1/5 and by 2025 to 1/6. The proportion was about 1/3 in 1950. The regions that are growing most rapidly at present (1985-1990), with a rate of 2.5%, include Western Africa (3.3%), Eastern Africa (3.1%), Middle Africa (2.9%), Western Asia (2.8%), Northern Africa (2.7%), and Melanesia (2.6%). The regions that are growing most slowly, with a rate 1%, are Eastern, Northern, Southern, and Western Europe, the Soviet Union and Northern America. Many countries in Eastern, Middle, and Western Africa continue to have among the highest fertility rates in the world, with a total rate of 6 births/woman in 1985-1990. Africa also has the highest mortality rates, with an average life expectancy at birth of 51.9 years for 1985-1990. Of the 7 countries in the world having a life expectancy below 45 years for that period, 5 are in Africa. For the world as a whole in 1985-1990, for every 1000 infants born, 71 are expected to die before reaching their 1st birthday.
Interplay of bigram frequency and orthographic neighborhood statistics in language membership decision

Language-specific orthography (i.e., letters or bigrams that exist in only one language) is known to facilitate language membership recognition. Yet the contribution of continuous sublexical and lexical statistics to language membership decisions during visual word processing is unknown. Here, we used pseudo-words to investigate whether continuous sublexical and lexical statistics bias explicit language decisions (Experiment 1) and language attribution during naming (Experiment 2). We also asked whether continuous statistics would have an effect in the presence of orthographic markers. Language attribution in both experiments was influenced by lexical neighborhood size differences between languages, even in presence of orthographic markers. Sublexical frequencies of occurrence affected reaction times only for unmarked pseudo-words in both experiments, with greater effects in naming. Our results indicate that bilinguals rely on continuous language-specific statistics at sublexical and lexical levels to infer language membership. Implications are discussed with respect to models of bilingual visual word recognition.
Primary isolates of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 are relatively resistant to neutralization by monoclonal antibodies to gp120, and their neutralization is not predicted by studies with monomeric gp120

A panel of anti-gp120 human monoclonal antibodies (HuMAbs), CD4-IgG, and sera from people infected with human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) was tested for neutralization of nine primary HIV-1 isolates, one molecularly cloned primary strain (JR-CSF), and two strains (IIIB and MN) adapted for growth in transformed T-cell lines. All the viruses were grown in mitogen-stimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cells and were tested for their ability to infect these cells in the presence and absence of the reagents mentioned above. In general, the primary isolates were relatively resistant to neutralization by the MAbs tested, compared with the T-cell line-adapted strains. However, one HuMAb, IgG1b12, was able to neutralize most of the primary isolates at concentrations of < or = 1 microgram/ml. Usually, the inability of a HuMAb to neutralize a primary isolate was not due merely to the absence of the antibody epitope from the virus; the majority of the HuMAbs bound with high affinity to monomeric gp120 molecules derived from various strains but neutralized the viruses inefficiently. We infer therefore that the mechanism of resistance of primary isolates to most neutralizing antibodies is complex, and we suggest that it involves an inaccessibility of antibody binding sites in the context of the native glycoprotein complex on the virion. Such a mechanism would parallel that which was previously postulated for soluble CD4 resistance. We conclude that studies of HIV-1 neutralization that rely on strains adapted to growth in transformed T-cell lines yield the misleading impression that HIV-1 is readily neutralized. The more relevant primary HIV-1 isolates are relatively resistant to neutralization, although these isolates can be potently neutralized by a subset of human polyclonal or monoclonal antibodies.
Heat-shock protein 90 inhibitors as novel cancer chemotherapeutics – an update

Heat-shock protein 90 (Hsp90) is a molecular chaperone whose association is required for stability and function of a growing number of signalling proteins that have been implicated in cancer cell survival, including several mutated proteins that are only found in specific cancers. Furthermore, a growing body of evidence suggests that cancer cells are particularly dependent on Hsp90 for their growth and survival, and, therefore, are more sensitive to the effects of its inhibition than are non-transformed cells and tissues. Several chemically distinct Hsp90 inhibitors have shown encouraging antitumour activity in multiple preclinical model systems, and one Hsp90 inhibitor, the benzoquinone ansamycin 17-allylamino, 17-demethoxygeldanamycin, has completed five Phase I clinical trials, with a number of Phase II trials soon to be underway or in progress. Other Hsp90 inhibitors are either in Phase I clinical trial or under development. This update will focus on how the latest developments in Hsp90 biology may better inform the clinical development of Hsp90 inhibitors.
Linear Mode Avalanche Photodiode With High Responsivity Integrated in High-Voltage CMOS

A fully integrable avalanche photodiode fabricated in a 0.35-μm standard high-voltage CMOS process is presented. The device achieves a high unamplified responsivity (M = 1) of 0.41 A/W and a maximum responsivity (M = 6.6 · 10<sup>4</sup>) of 2.7 · 10<sup>4</sup> A/W for 5-nW optical power using a 670-nm laser source. The maximum bandwidth of 850 MHz was measured at 500-nW and 5-μW optical power which results in a responsivity bandwidth product of 17.4-GHz · A/W for a gain of M = 50.
Motherhood in Prison

Few studies have allowed imprisoned mothers to speak directly about motherhood. In this work, 20 convicted Portuguese mothers were interviewed about their experience of motherhood: Ten were raising their children in prison, and 10 were performing their roles as mothers from prison. The study aimed to understand the potential benefits and detriments of motherhood in both circumstances, and to identify what measures could improve the mothers’ conditions. Using thematic analysis, the findings indicate that women whose children live with them in prison experience some advantages, but motherhood also increases suffering due to restrictions on liberty.
Low Number of Donor Activating Killer Immunoglobulin-Like Receptors (KIR) Genes but not KIR-Ligand Mismatch Prevents Relapse and Improves Disease-Free Survival in Leukemia Patients After In Vivo T-Cell Depleted Unrelated Stem Cell Transplantation

Background. The effect of natural killer (NK) cell alloreactivity on outcome of unrelated stem cell transplantation (SCT) remains controversial. Killer immunoglobulin-like receptors (KIRs) recognize human leukocyte antigen C and B epitopes on target cells, thereby regulating NK cell activity. The KIR genes are polymorphic and two broad haplotypes exist: KIR-haplotype A mainly encode for inhibitory receptors and only for one activating (KIR2DS4), whereas the group B haplotype encodes more for activating KIRs (KIR2DS1, KIR2DS2, KIR2DS3, KIR2DS5 und KIR3DS1). Methods. The impact of KIR ligand mismatch on the number of activating and inhibitory donor KIR genes and on KIR-haplotype was studied on outcome of 142 patients with leukemia, who received standard myeloablative conditioning followed by in vivo T-cell depleted (ATG) unrelated SCT. Results. In a multivariate analysis KIR ligand mismatch had significantly higher treatment related mortality (RR 2.206, P=0.03), resulting in reduced overall (RR 2.015, P=0.02) and disease-free survival (RR 1.924, P=0.03). In contrast, SCT from donors with group A haplotype (P=0.003) or with low number of activating KIR genes (P=0.005) resulted in reduced relapse rate with improved disease-fee survival (P=0.04). This effect was seen only in acute myeloid leukemia/myelodysplastic syndrome and to a less extent in chronic myeloid leukemia. No effect was seen for acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Conclusions. After in vivo T-cell depleted (ATG) unrelated stem cell transplantation with donors carrying low number of activating KIR genes (group A KIR haplotype), the risk of relapse is reduced and resulted in a significantly better disease-free survival.
Effect of moisture content and ambient temperature on the gaseous nitrogen loss from stored laying hen manure

1. The objectives of this study were to compare the effect of 4 storage temperatures (15·3, 18·5, 21·9 and 25·4°C) and three moisture contents of laying hen manure (722, 752 and 796 g/kg) on the rate of nitrogen loss and manure decomposition characteristics over a 10-d storage. 2. The rate of loss of dry matter, nitrogen and water increased linearly with increased ambient storage temperature. The initial moisture content had a non-linear effect on the rate of loss nitrogen and moisture. The greatest rate of loss of nitrogen and lowest loss of water occurred in the intermediate manure moisture treatment. 3. There was a temperature × manure moisture interaction with a large increase in the rate of nitrogen loss of the intermediate manure moisture samples when they were stored at the highest temperature. 4. This experiment quantified the marked effect that relatively small changes in manure moisture and storage temperature can have on gaseous nitrogen losses.
Antithrombin III (ATIII) replacement therapy in patients with sepsis and/or postsurgical complications: a controlled double-blind, randomized, multicenter study.

BACKGROUND ATIII is decreased in sepsis and/or shock and its baseline value correlates with mortality. The efficacy of ATIII therapy on mortality was assessed in a selected group of patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) in a double-blind, randomized, multicenter study. METHODS 120 patients admitted to the ICU with an ATIII concentration < 70% were randomized to receive ATIII (total dose 24000 units) or placebo treatment for 5 days; 56 patients had septic shock. RESULTS ATIII concentrations in the treated group remained constant throughout the treatment period (range 97-102%). The Kaplan-Meier analysis showed no difference in overall survival between the two groups: 50 and 46% for ATIII and placebo, respectively. Septic shock and hemodynamic support were unbalanced in the two groups at admission. Therefore the Cox analysis was carried out after adjusting for these two variables. Treatment with ATIII decreases the risk of death with an odds ratio (OR) of 0.56. Of the covariates analyzed, septic shock and the baseline multiple organ failure score were negatively associated with survival and plasma activity level was positively associated with survival with an OR of 0.97 for each 1% increase in the ATIII plasma concentration at baseline. CONCLUSIONS The results of ATIII treatment in this population of patients suggests that replacement therapy reduces mortality in the subgroup of septic shock patients only.
AN EFFECTIVE ALGORITHM FOR THE GENERATION OF PATIENT-SPECIFIC PURKINJE NETWORKS IN COMPUTATIONAL ELECTROCARDIOLOGY

The Purkinje network is responsible for the fast and coordinated distribution of the electrical impulse in the ventricle that triggers its contraction. Therefore, it is necessary to model its presence to obtain an accurate patient-specific model of the ventricular electrical activation. In this paper, we present an efficient algorithm for the generation of a patient-specific Purkinje network, driven by measures of the electrical activation acquired on the endocardium. The proposed method provides a correction of an initial network, generated by means of a fractal law, and it is based on the solution of Eikonal problems both in the muscle and in the Purkinje network. We present several numerical results both in an ideal geometry with synthetic data and in a real geometry with patient-specific clinical measures. These results highlight an improvement of the accuracy of the patient-specific Purkinje network with respect to the initial one, also in the cases of a cross-validation test and of noisy data.
Effects of Increasing Gestation, Cortisol and Maternal Undernutrition on Hypothalamic Neuropeptide Y Expression in the Sheep Fetus

We have characterized the localization and the ontogenetic changes in Neuropeptide tyrosine (NPY) before birth and investigated the regulation of NPY expression by cortisol and undernutrition in the fetal sheep hypothalamus during late gestation. Using immunohistochemistry, we have identified NPY‐containing neurons in the infundibular nucleus and the internal layer of the median eminence in fetal hypothalami collected between 110 and 147 days gestation. NPY projections were also present in the paraventricular nucleus (PVN) of fetal hypothalami at all ages between 110 days gestation and term. There was a significant increase in the amount of immunoreactive NPY/g hypothalamus between 87 and 113 days and 131–140 days gestation and a further significant increase after 141 days gestation. The total hypothalamic content of immunoreactive NPY increased significantly between 87 and 113 days and 141–145 days gestation. The levels of NPY mRNA: 18S rRNA in the mediobasal region of the fetal hypothalamus were significantly higher at 145–146 days gestation than at any earlier gestational age between 116 and 141 days gestation. Cortisol (2.5–3.0 mg/24 h) was infused intrafetally between 109 and 116 days gestation. The ratio of NPY mRNA: 18s rRNA in the mediobasal region of the fetal hypothalamus was significantly higher in the cortisol‐infused group when compared with the saline‐infused control group at 116 days gestation. Maternal, and hence fetal undernutrition, was induced between 110 and 146 days gestation. At 145–146 days gestation the ratio of NPY mRNA: 18S rRNA in the mediobasal region of the fetal hypothalamus was significantly higher in the undernutrition group when compared with control animals. We have therefore demonstrated that NPY is present in the hypothalamus of the sheep fetus before birth and that hypothalamic NPY content and NPY mRNA increase before delivery. We have also found that glucocorticoids and undernutrition stimulate increases in NPY mRNA levels in the hypothalamus before birth.
Eosinophilia predicts poor clinical outcomes in recent-onset arthritis: results from the ESPOIR cohort

Objectives To determine the prevalence of eosinophilia in patients with recent-onset arthritis suggestive of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and to describe their features and outcomes. Methods We performed an ancillary study of data from a French prospective multicentre cohort study monitoring clinical, laboratory and radiographic data in patients with inflammatory arthritis of 6 weeks to 6 months duration. We determined the proportion of patients with eosinophilia, defined as a count >500/mm3, at baseline and after 3 years. Features of patients with and without baseline eosinophilia were compared. Results Baseline eosinophilia was evidenced in 26 of 804 (3.2%) patients; their mean eosinophil count was 637.7±107/mm3. Baseline eosinophilia was ascribed to atopic syndrome in 6 of 26 (23.1%) patients. After 3 years, patients with eosinophilia had higher Health Assessment Questionnaire scores (0.9 vs 0.5, p=0.004), higher patient visual analogue scale activity score and morning stiffness intensity (p=0.05), and were more often taking disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (p=0.02). Baseline eosinophilia was not associated with presence of extra-articular manifestations. Conclusions Eosinophilia is rare in recent-onset arthritis suggestive of RA, and is usually directly related to the rheumatic disease. Our data suggest that patients with mild eosinophilia at diagnosis could respond worse to the treatment than those without.
DÉTERMINANTS PSYCHOSOCIAUX ET ORGANISATIONNELS DE L'ADOPTION DES TECHNOLOGIES DE TÉLÉMÉDECINE DANS LE RÉSEAU QUÉBÉCOIS DE TÉLÉSANTÉ ÉLARGI (RQTE)

Telemedicine is considered as a tool to support healthcare delivery that can potentially answer some of the problems facing healthcare systems. This study was aimed at analyzing conjointly individual and organizational factors affecting the adoption of telemedicine in the Extended Telehealth Network of Quebec (RQTE). The first article presents an analysis of the psychosocial determinants of physicians’ intention to use telemedicine, based upon the Theory of interpersonal behavior. All of the physicians involved in the RQTE were mailed a questionnaire. Structural equation modelling was applied to test the theoretical model. The theoretical model explained 81% (p < .001) of variance in physicians’ intention to use telemedicine. The main predictors of intention were a composite normative factor, comprising personal as well as social norms (β = 1.08; p < .001) and self identity (β = −.33; p < .001). Thus, physicians who perceived professional and social responsibilities regarding adoption of telehealth in their clinical practice had stronger intention to use this technology. However, the suppression effect of the personal identity construct may indicate that physicians’ self-perception as telemedicine users also influence their intention. The second article deals with organisational characteristics influencing telemedicine adoption. Based upon an integrated framework that combined concepts from different theories, an exploratory study was first conducted among the 32 healthcare centres involved in the RQTE. Then, a multiple case study was conducted among nine hospitals. In-depth interviews were conducted with key-informants in order to enrich the understanding of the context in which telemedicine was implemented. Triangulation of the results has permitted to underline some of the organizational dimensions that have influenced the adoption of telemedicine. Hence, hospital’s localization as well as the availability of equipment and human resources have affected telemedicine adoption. Participation of administrators and physicians in telemedicine decision making has also influenced its adoption.
Resilience, adaptation and adaptability

The resilience of places in response to uncertain, volatile and rapid change has emerged as a focus of academic and policy attention. This paper aims to contribute to understanding and explaining the resilience of places. Drawing upon evolutionary Economic Geography, the concepts of adaptation and adaptability are developed in a framework based upon agents, mechanisms and sites. In contrast to equilibrium-based approaches, this approach can better capture the geographical diversity, variety and unevenness of resilience and address questions of what kind of resilience and for whom.