Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
New diagnostic methods for emission-line galaxies in deep surveys

ABSTRACT We present new quantitative classiﬁcation methods for emission-line galaxies,which are specially designed to be used in deep galaxy redshift surveys. A good seg-regation between starbursts and active galactic nuclei, i.e. Seyferts 2 and LINERs, isobtained from diagnostic diagrams involving the [O II]λ3727 ˚A, [Ne III]λ3869 ˚A, Hβand [O III]λ5007 ˚A relative intensities or the [O II]λ3727 ˚A and Hβ equivalent widths.Furthermore, the colour index of the continuum underlying [O II]λ3727 ˚A and Hβprovides an additional separation parameter between the two types of emission-linegalaxies.We have applied the equivalent widths method to the 0 < z ≤0.3 emission-linegalaxies of the Canada-France Redshift Survey. Our results are in very good agreementwith those obtained using the standard diagnostic diagrams including all the strongoptical emission-line intensity ratios.Key words: surveys – H II regions – galaxies: active – galaxies: starburst – galaxies:Seyfert 1 INTRODUCTIONDeep redshift surveys have produced in the past few years arelatively large number of optical/near UV spectra of galax-ies at redshifts z < 0.7 − 0.8 (e.g., Dressler & Gunn 1983;Couch & Sharples 1987; Broadhurst, Ellis & Shanks 1988;Lavery & Henry 1988; Colless et al. 1990; Colless et al.1993;Songaila et al. 1994; Glazebrook et al. 1995; Le F`evre etal. 1995). A large percentage of galaxies in these deep sur-veys present narrow emission lines. The analysis of the spec-trum of these distant emission-line galaxies (hereafter ELGs)should provide important information about their intrinsicproperties (stellar population, rate of star formation, metal-licity, etc.) and the evolution of these parameters with in-creasing look-back time. But a central problem is that verylittle is known about the nature, either H II galaxies or ac-tive galaxies⋆, of the ELGs discovered in these deep surveys.
Inducible Bronchus-Associated Lymphoid Tissue Elicited by a Protein Cage Nanoparticle Enhances Protection in Mice against Diverse Respiratory Viruses

Background Destruction of the architectural and subsequently the functional integrity of the lung following pulmonary viral infections is attributable to both the extent of pathogen replication and to the host-generated inflammation associated with the recruitment of immune responses. The presence of antigenically disparate pulmonary viruses and the emergence of novel viruses assures the recurrence of lung damage with infection and resolution of each primary viral infection. Thus, there is a need to develop safe broad spectrum immunoprophylactic strategies capable of enhancing protective immune responses in the lung but which limits immune-mediated lung damage. The immunoprophylactic strategy described here utilizes a protein cage nanoparticle (PCN) to significantly accelerate clearance of diverse respiratory viruses after primary infection and also results in a host immune response that causes less lung damage. Methodology/Principal Findings Mice pre-treated with PCN, independent of any specific viral antigens, were protected against both sub-lethal and lethal doses of two different influenza viruses, a mouse-adapted SARS-coronavirus, or mouse pneumovirus. Treatment with PCN significantly increased survival and was marked by enhanced viral clearance, accelerated induction of viral-specific antibody production, and significant decreases in morbidity and lung damage. The enhanced protection appears to be dependent upon the prior development of inducible bronchus-associated lymphoid tissue (iBALT) in the lung in response to the PCN treatment and to be mediated through CD4+ T cell and B cell dependent mechanisms. Conclusions/Significance The immunoprophylactic strategy described utilizes an infection-independent induction of naturally occurring iBALT prior to infection by a pulmonary viral pathogen. This strategy non-specifically enhances primary immunity to respiratory viruses and is not restricted by the antigen specificities inherent in typical vaccination strategies. PCN treatment is asymptomatic in its application and importantly, ameliorates the damaging inflammation normally associated with the recruitment of immune responses into the lung.
Prediction-Constrained Training for Semi-Supervised Mixture and Topic Models

Supervisory signals have the potential to make low-dimensional data representations, like those learned by mixture and topic models, more interpretable and useful. We propose a framework for training latent variable models that explicitly balances two goals: recovery of faithful generative explanations of high-dimensional data, and accurate prediction of associated semantic labels. Existing approaches fail to achieve these goals due to an incomplete treatment of a fundamental asymmetry: the intended application is always predicting labels from data, not data from labels. Our prediction-constrained objective for training generative models coherently integrates loss-based supervisory signals while enabling effective semi-supervised learning from partially labeled data. We derive learning algorithms for semi-supervised mixture and topic models using stochastic gradient descent with automatic differentiation. We demonstrate improved prediction quality compared to several previous supervised topic models, achieving predictions competitive with high-dimensional logistic regression on text sentiment analysis and electronic health records tasks while simultaneously learning interpretable topics.
Dynamics of Simian Immunodeficiency Virus Two-Long-Terminal-Repeat Circles in the Presence and Absence of CD8+ Cells

ABSTRACT CD8+ cells play a key role in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) infection, but their specific mechanism(s) of action in controlling the virus is unclear. Two-long-terminal-repeat (2-LTR) circles are extrachromosomal products generated upon failed integration of HIV/SIV. To understand the specific effects of CD8+ cells on infected cells, we analyzed the dynamics of 2-LTR circles in SIVmac251-infected rhesus macaques (RMs) treated with an integrase inhibitor (INT). Twenty RMs underwent CD8+ cell depletion and received raltegravir (RAL) monotherapy or a combination of both. Blood, lymph nodes (LNs), and gut biopsy specimens were routinely sampled. Plasma viral loads (pVLs) and 2-LTR circles from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and LN lymphocytes were measured with quantitative reverse transcription-PCR (qRT-PCR). In the CD8 depletion group, an ∼1-log increase in pVLs and a slow increase in PBMC 2-LTRs occurred following depletion. In the INT group, a strong decline in pVLs upon treatment initiation and no change in 2-LTR levels were observed. In the INT and CD8+ cell depletion group, an increase in pVLs following CD8 depletion similar to that in the CD8 depletion group was observed, with a modest decline following INT initiation, and 2-LTR circles significantly increased in PBMCs and LNs. Analyzing the 2-LTR data across all treatment groups with a mathematical model indicates that the data best support an effect of CD8+ cells in killing cells prior to viral integration. Sensitivity analyses of these results confirm that effect but also allow for additional effects, which the data do not discriminate well. Overall, we show that INT does not significantly increase the levels of 2-LTR circles. However, CD8+ cell depletion increases the 2-LTR levels, which are enhanced in the presence of an INT. IMPORTANCE CD8+ T cells play an essential role in controlling HIV and SIV infection, but the specific mechanisms involved remain poorly understood. Due to failed viral infection, HIV and SIV can form 2-LTR extrachromosomal circles that can be quantified. We present novel data on the dynamics of these 2-LTR forms in a SIV-infected macaque model under three different treatment conditions: depletion of CD8+ cells, administration of the integrase inhibitor in a monotherapy, which favors the formation of 2-LTR circles, and a combination of the two treatments. We used a new mathematical model to help interpret the data, and the results suggest that CD8+ cells exert a killing effect on infected cells prior to virus integration. These results provide new insights into the mechanisms of action of CD8+ cells in SIV infection. Confirmation of our results would be an important step in understanding immune control of HIV.
Chapter 2 Functional Properties of CLow Threshold Mechanoreceptors ( C-LTMRs ) in Nonhuman Mammals

In humans, unmyelinated C-tactile fibers, referred to as C-low threshold mechanoreceptors (C-LTMRs) in nonhuman mammals, are found exclusively in hairy skin and preferentially respond to slow moving gentle touch, such as that produced by lightly stroking the skin. While substantial species differences exist in the proportion of C-LTMRs to the total C-fiber population, C-LTMRs appear to be expressed more densely in proximal regions of the limbs and the trunk. Functionally, C-LTMRs are specifically tuned to relatively low velocity (~0.1 cm/s) cutaneous stimulation, respond with biphasic adaptation to a single sustained stimulus and exhibit prolonged fatigue in response to repeated stimulation. While a molecular marker of the global C-LTMR population is lacking, subtypes expressing MrgprB4, VGLUT3, and TH have been identified. Considering that C-LTMRs terminate in lamina II of the spinal dorsal horn, there is increasing evidence supporting their involvement in the modulation of spinal responses to nociceptive input.
Negative ion treatment increases positive emotional processing in seasonal affective disorder

Background Antidepressant drug treatments increase the processing of positive compared to negative affective information early in treatment. Such effects have been hypothesized to play a key role in the development of later therapeutic responses to treatment. However, it is unknown whether these effects are a common mechanism of action for different treatment modalities. High-density negative ion (HDNI) treatment is an environmental manipulation that has efficacy in randomized clinical trials in seasonal affective disorder (SAD). Method The current study investigated whether a single session of HDNI treatment could reverse negative affective biases seen in seasonal depression using a battery of emotional processing tasks in a double-blind, placebo-controlled randomized study. Results Under placebo conditions, participants with seasonal mood disturbance showed reduced recognition of happy facial expressions, increased recognition memory for negative personality characteristics and increased vigilance to masked presentation of negative words in a dot-probe task compared to matched healthy controls. Negative ion treatment increased the recognition of positive compared to negative facial expression and improved vigilance to unmasked stimuli across participants with seasonal depression and healthy controls. Negative ion treatment also improved recognition memory for positive information in the SAD group alone. These effects were seen in the absence of changes in subjective state or mood. Conclusions These results are consistent with the hypothesis that early change in emotional processing may be an important mechanism for treatment action in depression and suggest that these effects are also apparent with negative ion treatment in seasonal depression.
Estimating Divergence Times from Molecular Data on Phylogenetic and Population Genetic Timescales

▪ Abstract Molecular clocks have profoundly influenced modern views on the timing of important events in evolutionary history. We review recent advances in estimating divergence times from molecular data, emphasizing the continuum between processes at the phylogenetic and population genetic scales. On the phylogenetic scale, we address the complexities of DNA sequence evolution as they relate to estimating divergences, focusing on models of nucleotide substitution and problems associated with among-site and among-lineage rate variation. On the population genetic scale, we review advances in the incorporation of ancestral population processes into the estimation of divergence times between recently separated species. Throughout the review we emphasize new statistical methods and the importance of model testing during the process of divergence time estimation.
Running out of time: exploring women’s motivations for social egg freezing

Abstract Objective: Few qualitative studies have explored women’s use of social egg freezing. Derived from an interview study of 31 participants, this article explores the motivations of women using this technology. Methods: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 31 users of social egg freezing resident in UK (n = 23), USA (n = 7) and Norway (n = 1). Interviews were face to face (n = 16), through Skype and Facetime (n = 9) or by telephone (n = 6). Data were analyzed using interpretive thematic analysis. Results: Women’s use of egg freezing was shaped by fears of running out of time to form a conventional family, difficulties in finding a partner and concerns about “panic partnering”, together with a desire to avoid future regrets and blame. For some women, use of egg freezing was influenced by recent fertility or health diagnoses as well as critical life events. A fifth of the participants also disclosed an underlying fertility or health issue as affecting their decision. Conclusion: The study provides new insights in to the complex motivations women have for banking eggs. It identifies how women’s use of egg freezing was an attempt to “preserve fertility” in the absence of the particular set of “life conditions” they regarded as crucial for pursuing parenthood. It also demonstrates that few women were motivated by a desire to enhance their career and that the boundaries between egg freezing for medical and for social reasons may be more porous than first anticipated.
Inequality signals in dorsolateral prefrontal cortex inform social preference models

Abstract Humans typically display inequality aversion in social situations, which manifests itself as a preference for fairer distributions of resources. However, people differ in the degree to which they dislike being worse off [disadvantageous inequality (DI) aversion] or better off [advantageous inequality (AI) aversion] than others. Competing models explain such behavior by focusing on aversion to payoff differences, maximization of total payoff or reciprocity. Using functional near-infrared spectroscopy, we asked which of these theories could better explain dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (dlPFC) activity while participants accepted or punished fair vs unfair monetary transfers in an anonymous norm compliance task. We found that while all participants exhibited DI aversion, there were substantial differences in preferences for AI, which were strongly predicted by dlPFC activation. Model comparisons revealed that both punishment behavior and prefrontal activity were best explained by a model that allowed for AI seeking rather than imposing aversion. Moreover, enhancing this model by taking into account behavioral response times, as a proxy for choice difficulty, further improved model fits. Our data provide evidence that the dlPFC encodes subjective values of payoff inequality and that this representation is richer than envisaged by standard models of social preferences.
Cervical cancer: outcome of treatment and causes of failure.

OBJECTIVE To summarize the data and look into the various treatments offered to cervical cancer patients at Institute of Nuclear Medicine and Oncology (INMOL) to highlight the most likely causes of treatment failure. METHODS In this retrospective study, case files of all patients presenting with invasive carcinoma of uterine cervix during 1993-2002 were studied in respect to personal profile, disease related risk factors, pathological characteristics, treatment administered and outcome in the form of tumour response and survival. RESULTS Early age at marriage, multiple marriages of self or spouse, multiparty, prolonged use of contraceptives and smoking were some of the risk factors for cervical cancer in this group of patients. Out of 618 patients presenting with invasive cervical cancer, 65% presented in advanced stages II and III. Apart from advanced stage at presentation, anaemia, poor nutrition, and ignorance about self-hygiene and lack of follow-up were main causes of treatment failure. Outcome of treatment was improved when chemotherapy was added to radiation. CONCLUSION Advanced stage at diagnosis and lack of follow-up were main causes of treatment failure. Implementation of screening programs on national level for early detection is therefore recommended.
Ensuring Sales: A Theory of Inter-firm Credit

We propose a simple theory to account for the prevalence of interfirm credit at an interest rate of zero. A downstream firm trades off inventory holding costs against lost sales. Lost final sales impose a negative externality on the upstream firm. The solution requires a subsidy limited by the value of inputs. Allowing the downstream firm to pay with a delay is precisely such a solution. A reverse externality accounts for the use of prepayment. We clarify how input prices vary with such policies, and when trade credit/prepayment is more efficient than pure input price adjustments. (JEL D21, D62, D92, G31, L25)
Optical DNA Biosensor Based on Square-Planar Ethyl Piperidine Substituted Nickel(II) Salphen Complex for Dengue Virus Detection

A sensitive and selective optical DNA biosensor was developed for dengue virus detection based on novel square-planar piperidine side chain-functionalized N,N′-bis-4-(hydroxysalicylidene)-phenylenediamine-nickel(II), which was able to intercalate via nucleobase stacking within DNA and be functionalized as an optical DNA hybridization marker. 3-Aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTS)-modified porous silica nanospheres (PSiNs), was synthesized with a facile mini-emulsion method to act as a high capacity DNA carrier matrix. The Schiff base salphen complexes-labelled probe to target nucleic acid on the PSiNs renders a colour change of the DNA biosensor to a yellow background colour, which could be quantified via a reflectance transduction method. The reflectometric DNA biosensor demonstrated a wide linear response range to target DNA over the concentration range of 1.0 × 10−16–1.0 × 10−10 M (R2 = 0.9879) with an ultralow limit of detection (LOD) at 0.2 aM. The optical DNA biosensor response was stable and maintainable at 92.8% of its initial response for up to seven days of storage duration with a response time of 90 min. The reflectance DNA biosensor obtained promising recovery values of close to 100% for the detection of spiked synthetic dengue virus serotypes 2 (DENV-2) DNA concentration in non-invasive human samples, indicating the high accuracy of the proposed DNA analytical method for early diagnosis of all potential infectious diseases or pathological genotypes.
Immediate Symptom Relief After a First Session of Massage Therapy or Reiki in Hospitalized Patients: A 5-Year Clinical Experience from a Rural Academic Medical Center.

OBJECTIVES There is an increasing demand for and use of alternative and complementary therapies, such as reiki and massage therapy, in hospital-based settings. Most controlled studies and practice-based reports include oncology and surgical patient populations; thus the effect in a more heterogeneous hospitalized patient population is hard to estimate. We examined the immediate symptom relief from a single reiki or massage session in a hospitalized population at a rural academic medical center. DESIGN Retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data on demographic, clinical, process, and quality of life for hospitalized patients receiving massage therapy or reiki. SETTINGS/LOCATION A 396-bed rural academic and tertiary medical center in the United States. SUBJECTS Hospitalized patients requesting or referred to the healing arts team who received either a massage or reiki session and completed both a pre- and post-therapy symptom questionnaire. INTERVENTIONS First session of routine reiki or massage therapy during a hospital stay. OUTCOME MEASURES Differences between pre- and postsession patient-reported scores in pain, nausea, fatigue, anxiety, depression, and overall well-being using an 11-point Likert scale. RESULTS Patients reported symptom relief with both reiki and massage therapy. Analysis of the reported data showed reiki improved fatigue (-2.06 vs. -1.55 p < 0.0001) and anxiety (-2.21 vs. -1.84 p < 0.001) statistically more than massage. Pain, nausea, depression, and well being changes were not statistically different between reiki and massage encounters. Immediate symptom relief was similar for cancer and noncancer patients for both reiki and massage therapy and did not vary based on age, gender, length of session, and baseline symptoms. CONCLUSIONS Reiki and massage clinically provide similar improvements in pain, nausea, fatigue, anxiety, depression, and overall well-being while reiki improved fatigue and anxiety more than massage therapy in a heterogeneous hospitalized patient population. Controlled trials should be considered to validate the data.
Disentangling the Channels of the 2007-2009 Recession

This paper examines the macroeconomic dynamics of the 2007-09 recession in the United States and the subsequent slow recovery. Using a dynamic factor model with 200 variables, we reach three main conclusions. First, although many of the events of the 2007-2009 collapse were unprecedented, their net effect was to produce macro shocks that were larger versions of shocks previously experienced, to which the economy responded in an historically predictable way. Second, the shocks that produced the recession primarily were associated with financial disruptions and heightened uncertainty, although oil shocks played a role in the initial slowdown and subsequent drag was added by effectively tight conventional monetary policy arising from the zero lower bound. Third, while the slow nature of the recovery is partly due to the shocks of this recession, most of the slow recovery in employment, and nearly all of the slow recovery in output, is due to a secular slowdown in trend labor force growth.
A systematic review of neuroimaging findings in children and adolescents with sports-related concussion

ABSTRACT Background: Sport-related concussion (SRC) generally does not result in structural anomalies revealed through clinical imaging techniques such as MRI and CT. While advanced neuroimaging techniques offer another avenue to investigate the subtle alterations following SRC, the current pediatric literature in this area has yet to be reviewed. The aim of this review is to systematically explore the literature on magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS), diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), and cortical thickness following SRC in children and adolescents. Methods: A systematic Pubmed search using the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analysis guidelines was conducted independently for each neuroimaging method. Studies were screened for inclusion based on pre-determined criteria. Results: A total of 26 studies were included (MRS = 4, DTI = 10, fMRI = 11, cortical thickness = 1). A total of 16 studies were conducted solely with male athletes, while 10 studies recruited an unequal number of male and female athletes. Conclusions: While MRI and CT are generally unrevealing, advanced neuroimaging techniques demonstrated neurometabolic, microstructural, and functional alterations following SRC in athletes younger than 19 years of age in the acute, subacute, and chronic phases of recovery. However, more studies are needed to fully understand the impact of SRC on the developing brain in children and adolescents.