Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The First Substellar Subdwarf? Discovery of a Metal-poor L Dwarf with Halo Kinematics

We present the discovery of the first L-type subdwarf, 2MASS J05325346+8246465. This object exhibits enhanced collision-induced H2 absorption, resulting in blue near-infrared (NIR) colors (J-Ks = 0.26 ± 0.16). In addition, strong hydride bands in the red optical and NIR, weak TiO absorption, and an optical/J-band spectral morphology similar to the L7 DENIS 0205-1159AB imply a cool, metal-deficient atmosphere. We find that 2MASS 0532+8246 has both a high proper motion, μ = 2. ″60 ± 0. ″15 yr-1, and a substantial radial velocity, vrad = -195 ± 11 km s-1, and its probable proximity to the Sun (d = 10-30 pc) is consistent with halo membership. Comparison to subsolar-metallicity evolutionary models strongly suggests that 2MASS 0532+8246 is substellar, with a mass of 0.077 ≲ M ≲ 0.085 M☉ for ages 10-15 Gyr and metallicities Z = 0.1-0.01 Z☉. The discovery of this object clearly indicates that star formation occurred below the hydrogen burning mass limit at early times, consistent with prior results indicating a flat or slightly rising mass function for the lowest mass stellar subdwarfs. Furthermore, 2MASS 0532+8246 serves as a prototype for a new spectral class of subdwarfs, additional examples of which could be found in NIR proper-motion surveys.
Low-flow anesthesia and reduced animal size increase carboxyhemoglobin levels in swine during desflurane and isoflurane breakdown in dried soda lime.

UNLABELLED After institutional approval, we studied the effect of animal size, anesthetic concentration, and fresh gas flow (FGF) rate on inspired carbon monoxide (CO) and carboxyhemoglobin (COHb) during anesthesia in swine, using soda lime previously dried to 1 +/- 0.1% water content. To ascertain the effect of anesthesia, eight adult pigs were anesthetized with either 1 minimum alveolar anesthetic concentration (MAC) desflurane or isoflurane and, to characterize the effect of the FGF rate, it was doubled in four pigs. To determine the effect of animal size, four small and four large pigs received 1 MAC desflurane or isoflurane, and to determine the effect of the anesthetic concentration, a group of four swine was exposed to 0.5 MAC. CO and COHb concentrations were larger with desflurane (5500 +/- 980 ppm and 57.90% +/- 0.50%, respectively) than with isoflurane (800 ppm and 17.8% +/- 2.14%, respectively), especially in the small animals. Increasing the FGF rate significantly reduced peak CO and COHb concentrations resulting from both anesthetics; however, when each anesthetic was reduced to 0.5 MAC, the concentrations obtained were similar. We conclude that CO intoxication is more severe with desflurane than with isoflurane, that small animals are at higher risk for CO poisoning, and that low FGF can increase COHb concentrations. IMPLICATIONS The present study shows that the use of desflurane with desiccated carbon dioxide absorbents in pediatric anesthesia can produce a dangerous carbon dioxide intoxication, especially with low-flow anesthesia.
Olfaction spontaneously highlights visual saliency map

Attention is intrinsic to our perceptual representations of sensory inputs. Best characterized in the visual domain, it is typically depicted as a spotlight moving over a saliency map that topographically encodes strengths of visual features and feedback modulations over the visual scene. By introducing smells to two well-established attentional paradigms, the dot-probe and the visual-search paradigms, we find that a smell reflexively directs attention to the congruent visual image and facilitates visual search of that image without the mediation of visual imagery. Furthermore, such effect is independent of, and can override, top-down bias. We thus propose that smell quality acts as an object feature whose presence enhances the perceptual saliency of that object, thereby guiding the spotlight of visual attention. Our discoveries provide robust empirical evidence for a multimodal saliency map that weighs not only visual but also olfactory inputs.
Feature-preserving non-local denoising of static and time-varying range data

We present a new method for noise removal on static and time-varying range data. Our approach predicts the restored position of a perturbed vertex using similar vertices in its neighborhood. It defines the required similarity measure in a new non-local fashion which compares regions of the surface instead of point pairs. This allows our algorithm to obtain a more accurate denoising result than previous state-of-the-art approaches and, at the same time, to better preserve fine features of the surface. Furthermore, our approach is easy to implement, effective, and flexibly applicable to different types of scanned data. We demonstrate this on several static and interesting new time-varying datasets obtained using laser and structured light scanners.
The Effect of VASER Abdominal Liposuction on Metabolic Profile in Overweight Males

The aim of the current study was to examine the liposuction-induced metabolic changes with regard to release of major adipokines and insulin sensitivity in overweight male patients. Seventeen overweight male patients aged 37.15 ± 9.60 years (6 with diabetes type 2, 11 without comorbidities) and 10 age-matched healthy lean controls were enrolled in the study. Using Vibration Amplification of Sound Energy at Resonance System, ultrasound assisted liposuction was applied onto the deep layers of abdominal subcutaneous adipose tissue. The mean volume supranatant fat was 2208 ± 562 ml. To eliminate the confounding effects of postsurgical inflammation and to evaluate delayed metabolic effects, fasting blood was collected on the day of liposuction, within 1 to 2 months and more than 6 months after surgery. Serum leptin, soluble receptor for leptin, adiponectin, insulin, and glucose concentrations were tested and insulin sensitivity was calculated using updated model Homeostasis Model Assessment 2. Both treatment groups (diabetic and nondiabetic patients) experienced similar postsurgical weight reduction with concomitant lowering of body mass index value at 1 to 2 months follow-up, which was sustained after 6 months from surgery. Improvement in insulin sensitivity at 1 to 2 months follow-up was observed (p = .017 and p = .002, for diabetics and nondiabetics, respectively) and this change persisted over the next 4 months. At the same time, no significant changes in adipokines and soluble leptin receptor were found. These data demonstrate that in terms of metabolic consequences, Vibration Amplification of Sound Energy at Resonance abdominal liposuction might have beneficial effects in overweight diabetic and nondiabetic males by improving their insulin sensitivity.
Membrane potential modulates plasma membrane phospholipid dynamics and K-Ras signaling

Membrane potential regulates growth Changes in electrical potential across the plasma membrane can affect cell growth. Zhou et al. discovered that membrane potential influenced the organization of phospholipids in the membrane of cultured mammalian cells and neurons in intact flies (see the Perspective by Accardi). This in turn regulated localization and activity of the small guanine nucleotide binding protein K-Ras, an important regulator of cell proliferation. The cell membrane may thus function analogously to a field-effect transistor by adjusting the strength of mitogenic signaling. Science, this issue p. 873; see also p. 789 Changing the voltage across the plasma membrane causes clustering of a small guanosine triphosphatase. [Also see Perspective by Accardi] Plasma membrane depolarization can trigger cell proliferation, but how membrane potential influences mitogenic signaling is uncertain. Here, we show that plasma membrane depolarization induces nanoscale reorganization of phosphatidylserine and phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate but not other anionic phospholipids. K-Ras, which is targeted to the plasma membrane by electrostatic interactions with phosphatidylserine, in turn undergoes enhanced nanoclustering. Depolarization-induced changes in phosphatidylserine and K-Ras plasma membrane organization occur in fibroblasts, excitable neuroblastoma cells, and Drosophila neurons in vivo and robustly amplify K-Ras–dependent mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling. Conversely, plasma membrane repolarization disrupts K-Ras nanoclustering and inhibits MAPK signaling. By responding to voltage-induced changes in phosphatidylserine spatiotemporal dynamics, K-Ras nanoclusters set up the plasma membrane as a biological field-effect transistor, allowing membrane potential to control the gain in mitogenic signaling circuits.
Spectral dependence of purely-Kerr driven filamentation in air and argon

Based on numerical simulations, we show that higher-order nonlinear indices (up to n{sub 8} and n{sub 10}, respectively) of air and argon have a dominant contribution to both focusing and defocusing in the self-guiding of ultrashort laser pulses over most of the spectrum. Plasma generation and filamentation are therefore decoupled. As a consequence, ultraviolet wavelength may not be the optimal wavelength for applications requiring to maximize ionization.
Exonic Transcription Factor Binding Directs Codon Choice and Affects Protein Evolution

Transcription Factor Binding Sites Transcription factors (TFs) are proteins that bind to DNA to control gene transcription. Stergachis et al. (p. 1367; see the Perspective by Weatheritt and Babu) examined TF binding within the human genome in more than 80 cell types. Nearly 15% of coding regions simultaneously specify both amino acid sequence and TF recognition sites. The distribution of the TF binding sites evolutionarily constrains how codons within these regions can change, independent of encoded protein function. Thus, TF binding may represent a widespread and strong evolutionary force in coding regions. Transcription factor binding within protein-coding regions of DNA constrains how the protein can evolve. [Also see Perspective by Weatheritt and Babu] Genomes contain both a genetic code specifying amino acids and a regulatory code specifying transcription factor (TF) recognition sequences. We used genomic deoxyribonuclease I footprinting to map nucleotide resolution TF occupancy across the human exome in 81 diverse cell types. We found that ~15% of human codons are dual-use codons (“duons”) that simultaneously specify both amino acids and TF recognition sites. Duons are highly conserved and have shaped protein evolution, and TF-imposed constraint appears to be a major driver of codon usage bias. Conversely, the regulatory code has been selectively depleted of TFs that recognize stop codons. More than 17% of single-nucleotide variants within duons directly alter TF binding. Pervasive dual encoding of amino acid and regulatory information appears to be a fundamental feature of genome evolution.
Local Partial Clique Covers for Index Coding

Index coding, or broadcasting with side information, is a network coding problem of most fundamental importance. In this problem, given a directed graph, each vertex represents a user with a need of information, and the neighborhood of each vertex represents the side information availability to that user. The aim is to find an encoding to minimum number of bits (optimal rate) that, when broadcasted, will be sufficient to the need of every user. Not only the optimal rate is intractable, but it is also very hard to characterize with some other well-studied graph parameter or with a simpler formulation, such as a linear program. Recently there have been a series of works that address this question and provide explicit schemes for index coding as the optimal value of a linear program with rate given by well-studied properties such as local chromatic number or partial clique-covering number. There has been a recent attempt to combine these existing notions of local chromatic number and partial clique covering into a unified notion denoted as the local partial clique cover (Arbabjolfaei and Kim, 2014). We present a generalized novel upper-bound (encoding scheme) - in the form of the minimum value of a linear program - for optimal index coding. Our bound also combines the notions of local chromatic number and partial clique covering into a new definition of the local partial clique cover, which outperforms both the previous bounds, as well as beats the previous attempt to combination. Further, we look at the upper bound derived recently by Thapa et al., 2015, and extend their n-GIC (Generalized Interlinked Cycle) construction to (k;n)-GIC graphs, which are a generalization of k-partial cliques.
An Empirical Study of E-Loyalty Development Process from the E-Service Quality Experience: Testing the Etaliq Scale

This research aims to investigate the process and factors for developing customer loyalty through eservice quality experience. Based on previous studies on e-loyalty and loyalty, we developed an integrated model of e-loyalty antecedent factors by testing the eTailQ scale including website quality, security/privacy, value perception, reliability and customer support which are mediated through trust and satisfaction. Data was collected from 140 e-commerce users and analyzed with Lisrel 8.8. The analysis result demonstrated that eTailQ scale is effective in developing customer loyalty and both satisfaction and trust has played important roles in shaping the e-loyalty development process. However, contradictory to the traditional loyalty study, customer support does not play a significant role in e-loyalty development process.
Factors influencing the caries experience of 6 and 12 year old children in Riga, Latvia.

AIM Authors assessed the influence of drinking tea with sugar, level of cariogenic microflora and use of fluoride toothpaste and tablets on caries experience of 6 and 12 year old children in Riga, Latvia. METHODS 141 six and 164 twelve year old children were examined clinically and with bitewing radiographs to determine their dmft/DMFT and dmfs/DMFS. Children or their parents responded to questionnaire on number teaspoons of sugar (TS) used per cup of tea, number of cups of tea consumed daily, using fluoride or non-fluoride toothpaste (TP), frequency of toothbrushing, using fluoride tablets or not (ft). Salivary mutans streptococci (MS) and lactobacilli (LB) levels were measured in children with dmft/DMFT>4.0 for age of 6 (73% (n=103)), and for age of 12 (54% (n=88)). Impact of variables in caries status was determined using frequency tables and ANOVA, while proportion differences were tested using chi-square test. RESULTS In 6 year olds, statistically significant associations were observed between the salivary microflora (MS, LB) and dt/DT (p=0.032; dt=3.71, DT=0.42), use of F-toothpaste (p=0.020), and TS (p<0.001). In 12 year olds, statistically significant (p<0.01) associations were observed between salivary microflora and dt/DT, ds/DS and dmft/DMFT. In both age groups, significant (p<0.001) association was demonstrated between dmfs/DMFS and salivary microflora, F-toothpaste and TS. CONCLUSIONS The present study indicated that the caries development in Latvian children was associated with consumption of sugary tea and use of non-fluoride toothpaste.
Induction by kainate of theta frequency rhythmic activity in the rat medial septum–diagonal band complex in vitro

The medial septum–diagonal band (MSDB) complex, via the septohippocampal pathway, is thought to be critical for the generation and/or maintenance of the hippocampal theta rhythm in vivo. The aim was to determine whether the MSDB is capable of generating and maintaining its own rhythmic firing activity, a mechanism by which it could impose a theta frequency oscillatory activity on the hippocampus. Bath application of 50–300 nm kainate to an in vitro preparation of 20‐ to 25‐day‐old rat MSDB elicited rhythmic extracellular field activity primarily within the theta frequency band (4–12 Hz). This activity was observed both at 33°C and at 37°C, and was localized to the midline part of the MSDB that is rich in parvalbumin‐containing neurones. The application of neurotransmitter receptor antagonists and putative gap junction blockers showed that the oscillatory field activity was dependent upon the activation of GABAA receptors and possibly gap junctions, but not on the activation of NMDA, GABAB, muscarinic or nicotinic receptors. The frequency of the oscillatory activity was reduced by the application of diazepam or low doses of baclofen. Intracellular recording showed that concomitant action potential firing activity in putative GABAergic and cholinergic neurone populations was of a single spiking rather than a bursting firing nature, and was coherent with extracellularly recorded oscillatory field activity. We conclude that kainate activation of neuronal circuitry in the MSDB is capable of synchronization of rhythmic activity in the MSDB, and that this may underlie the mechanism for phase‐locking rhythmic burst activity in the MSDB in vivo.
Oligofructose and long-chain inulin: influence on the gut microbial ecology of rats associated with a human faecal flora

Dietary incorporation of fermentable, indigestible fructans may be of benefit to gastrointestinal health by providing short-chain fatty acids, stimulating the proliferation of bifidobacteria or lactobacilli and suppressing potential pathogenic organisms in the gut. We tested the hypothesis that the effects of fructans on caecal, colonic and faecal short-chain fatty acid concentration and microflora composition depend on their chain length. Germ-free rats associated with a human faecal flora were randomly assigned to one of four treatments as follows: (1) commercial standard diet as a control (Con); (2) Con+50 g short-chain oligofructose/kg (OF); (3) C+50 g long-chain inulin/kg (lcIN); or (4) Con+50 g OF–lcIN/kg (Mix OF–lcIN). Changes in bacterial population groups in response to feeding these diets were investigated with 16S rRNA-targeted probes applied in in situ hybridization. Mix OF–lcIN- and lcIN-containing diets resulted in larger numbers of caecal, colonic and faecal bacteria of the Clostridium coccoides–Eubacterium rectale cluster than Con (10·6 and 10·3 v. 9·5 log10/g wet wt), whereas OF alone did not affect this bacterial group in caecum, colon or faeces. A bifidogenic effect was only observed in the colon and faeces of OF-treated rats. More lactobacilli were found in caecal and colonic contents of Mix OF–lcIN-fed rats and in faeces of OF-fed rats compared with Con. Mix OF–lcIN and OF led to significantly smaller numbers of caecal, colonic and faecal bacteria belonging to the Clostridium histolyticum and C. lituseburense groups than Con (6·8 and 6·9 v. 7·9 log10/g wet wt). Counts of total bacteria, Bacteroides–Prevotella and Enterobacteriaceae did not differ between the groups. OF and/or lcIN-containing diets significantly increased the caecal and colonic concentration of butyrate and its relative molar proportion. Only lcIN-containing diets resulted in a higher faecal concentration of butyrate than Con. Higher molar proportions of faecal butyrate were observed with all diets that had been supplemented with OF and/or lcIN. Stimulation of butyrate production could be of interest for the prevention of ulcerative colitis and colon cancer.
Muscular Strength and Jumping Performance Relationships in Young Women Athletes

Rousanoglou, EN, Georgiadis, GV, Boudolos, KD. Muscular strength and jumping performance relationships in young women athletes. J Strength Cond Res 22: 1375-1378, 2008-The relationships between muscular strength and vertical jumping performance were examined in young women (14-19 years) track and field jumpers (n = 20) and volleyball players (n = 21). The knee extensor muscular strength measured at 9 knee angles was correlated with jumping height and peak power at the squat (SJ) and the countermovement (CMJ) vertical jump tests. Pearson product coefficient of correlation was used to test the significance of these relationships (p ≤ 0.05). The relationships were strong to moderate, but only in the volleyball players (p ≤ 0.05 and power of analysis >0.80). Specifically, in the volleyball players, the strong relationships were noted for muscular strength at the knee angle range of 40° to 90° and CMJ jumping height as well as SJ peak power. Results indicate the dissimilarity in the relationships between the knee extensor muscular strength and jumping performance in the young female track and field jumpers and volleyball players. In addition, it appears that the measure selected to evaluate jumping performance alters the correlational results.
Impact of a donor source on adult Philadelphia chromosome-negative acute lymphoblastic leukemia: a retrospective analysis from the Adult Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia Working Group of the Japan Society for Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation.

BACKGROUND We aimed to clarify the impact of the donor source of allogeneic stem cell transplantation (allo-SCT) on Philadelphia chromosome-negative acute lymphoblastic leukemia [Ph(-) ALL] with focus on cord blood (CB). PATIENTS AND METHODS We retrospectively analyzed data of 1726 patients who underwent myeloablative allo-SCT for adult Ph(-) ALL. The sources of the allo-SCT were related donors (RD; N = 684), unrelated donors (URD; N = 809), and CB (N = 233). RESULTS Overall survival (OS) in patients after CB allo-SCT in first complete remission (CR1) was comparable with that after RD or URD allo-SCT (RD: 65%, URD: 64% and CB: 57% at 4 years, P = 0.11). CB was not a significant risk factor for relapse or non-relapse mortality as well as for OS in multivariate analyses. Similarly, the donor source was not a significant risk factor for OS in subsequent CR or non-CR (RD: 47%, URD: 39% and CB: 48% in subsequent CR, P = 0.33; RD: 15%, URD: 21% and CB: 18% in non-CR, P = 0.20 at 4 years). CONCLUSION Allo-SCT using CB led to OS similar to those of RD or URD in any disease status. To avoid missing the appropriate timing, CB is a favorable alternative source for adult Ph(-) ALL patients without a suitable RD or URD.
Analysis of Borrelia burgdorferi Surface Proteins as Determinants in Establishing Host Cell Interactions

Borrelia burgdorferi infection causes Lyme borreliosis in humans, a condition which can involve a systemic spread of the organism to colonize various tissues and organs. If the infection is left untreated by antimicrobials, it can lead to manifestations including, arthritis, carditis, and/or neurological problems. Identification and characterization of B. burgdorferi outer membrane proteins that facilitate cellular attachment and invasion to establish infection continue to be investigated. In this study, we sought to further define putative cell binding properties of surface-exposed B. burgdorferi proteins by observing whether cellular adherence could be blocked by antibodies. B. burgdorferi mixed separately with monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) against outer surface protein (Osp) A, OspC, decorin-binding protein (Dbp) A, BBA64, and RevA antigens were incubated with human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) and human neuroglial cells (H4). B. burgdorferi treated with anti-OspA, -DbpA, and -BBA64 mAbs showed a significant decrease in cellular association compared to controls, whereas B. burgdorferi treated with anti-OspC and anti-RevA showed no reduction in cellular attachment. Additionally, temporal transcriptional analyses revealed upregulated expression of bba64, ospA, and dbpA during coincubation with cells. Together, the data provide evidence that OspA, DbpA, and BBA64 function in host cell adherence and infection mechanisms.