Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Spatial Variability in the Ratio of Interstellar Atomic Deuterium to Hydrogen. II. Observations toward γ2 Velorum and ζ Puppis by the Interstellar Medium Absorption Profile Spectrograph

High-resolution far-ultraviolet spectra of the early-type stars γ2 Vel and ζ Pup were obtained to measure the interstellar deuterium abundances in these directions. The observations were made with the Interstellar Medium Absorption Profile Spectrograph (IMAPS) during the ORFEUS-SPAS II mission in 1996. IMAPS spectra cover the wavelength range 930-1150 Å with λ/Δλ ~ 80,000. The interstellar D I features are resolved and cleanly separated from interstellar H I in the Lyδ and Lyϵ profiles of both sight lines and also in the Lyγ profile of ζ Pup. The D I profiles were modeled using a velocity template derived from several N I lines in the IMAPS spectra recorded at higher signal-to-noise ratio. To find the best D I column density, we minimized χ2 for model D I profiles that included not only the N(D I) as a free parameter, but also the effects of several potential sources of systematic error, which were allowed to vary as free parameters. H I column densities were measured by analyzing Lyα absorption profiles in a large number of IUE high-dispersion spectra for each of these stars and applying this same χ2-minimization technique. Ultimately we found that D/H = 2.18 × 10-5 for γ2 Vel and 1.42 × 10-5 for ζ Pup, values that contrast markedly with D/H derived in Paper I for δ Ori A (the stated errors are 90% confidence limits). Evidently, the atomic D/H ratio in the ISM, averaged over path lengths of 250-500 pc, exhibits significant spatial variability. Furthermore, the observed spatial variations in D/H do not appear to be anticorrelated with N/H, one measure of heavy-element abundances. We briefly discuss some hypotheses to explain the D/H spatial variability. Within the framework of standard big bang nucleosynthesis, the large value of D/H found toward γ2 Vel is equivalent to a cosmic baryon density of ΩBh2 = 0.023 ± 0.002, which we regard as an upper limit since there is no correction for the destruction of deuterium in stars.
Semiparametric Relative-Risk Regression for Infectious Disease Transmission Data

This article introduces semiparametric relative-risk regression models for infectious disease data. The units of analysis in these models are pairs of individuals at risk of transmission. The hazard of infectious contact from i to j consists of a baseline hazard multiplied by a relative risk function that can be a function of infectiousness covariates for i, susceptibliity covariates for j, and pairwise covariates. When who-infects-whom is observed, we derive a profile likelihood maximized over all possible baseline hazard functions that is similar to the Cox partial likelihood. When who-infects-whom is not observed, we derive an EM algorithm to maximize the profile likelihood integrated over all possible combinations of who-infected-whom. This extends the most important class of regression models in survival analysis to infectious disease epidemiology. These methods can be implemented in standard statistical software, and they will be able to address important scientific questions about emerging infectious diseases with greater clarity, flexibility, and rigor than current statistical methods allow. Supplementary materials for this article are available online.
Possible link between the power spectrum of interstellar filaments and the origin of the prestellar core mass function

A complete understanding of the origin of the prestellar core mass function (CMF) is crucial. Two major features of the prestellar CMF are 1) a broad peak below 1 M⊙, presumably corresponding to a mean gravitational fragmentation scale, and 2) a characteristic power-law slope, very similar to the Salpeter slope of the stellar initial mass function (IMF) at the high-mass end. While recent Herschel observations have shown that the peak of the prestellar CMF is close to the thermal Jeans mass in marginally supercritical filaments, the origin of the power-law tail of the CMF/IMF at the high-mass end is less clear. In 2001, Inutsuka proposed a theoretical scenario in which the origin of the power-law tail can be understood as resulting from the growth of an initial spectrum of density perturbations seeded along the long axis of star-forming filaments by interstellar turbulence. Here, we report the statistical properties of the line-mass fluctuations of filaments in the Pipe, Taurus, and IC 5146 molecular clouds observed with Herschel for a sample of subcritical or marginally supercritical filaments using a 1D power spectrum analysis. The observed filament power spectra were fitted by a power-law function (Ptrue(s) ∝ sα) after removing the effect of beam convolution at small scales. A Gaussian-like distribution of power-spectrum slopes was found, centered at αcorr = -1.6 ± 0.3. The characteristic index of the observed power spectra is close to that of the 1D velocity power spectrum generated by subsonic Kolomogorov turbulence (-1.67). Given the errors, the measured power-spectrum slope is also marginally consistent with the power spectrum index of -2 expected for supersonic compressible turbulence. With such a power spectrum of initial line-mass fluctuations, Inutsuka's model would yield a mass function of collapsed objects along filaments approaching dN/dM ∝ M- 2.3 ± 0.1 at the high-mass end (very close to the Salpeter power law) after a few free-fall times. An empirical correlation, P0.5(s0) ∝ ⟨NH2⟩1.4 ± 0.1, was also found between the amplitude of each filament power spectrum P(s0) and the mean column density along the filament ⟨NH2⟩. Finally, the dispersion of line-mass fluctuations along each filament σMline was found to scale with the physical length L of the filament roughly as σMline ∝ L0.7. Overall, our results are consistent with the suggestion that the bulk of the CMF/IMF results from the gravitational fragmentation of filaments. Appendices are available in electronic form at http://www.aanda. org
Development and Stem Cells Research Article

INTRODUCTION MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small (~22 nucleotides in length) RNA molecules that regulate turnover or translational efficiency of target mRNAs through base-pairing with their 3ЈUTR. The miRNAs are crucial for a multitude of cellular functions (Bartel, 2004) and for vertebrate development, as improper miRNA processing leads to embryonic lethality in mice (Bernstein et al., 2003; Liu et al., 2004). In addition, miRNAs are vital for normal spermatogenesis, and male mice lacking Dicer, which is required for miRNA biogenesis, have abnormal morphology and motility of sperm and hence acquire male infertility (He et al., 2009; Maatouk et al., 2008). Oncomir-1, also called the miR-17~92 cluster, comprises six miRNAs (miR-17,-18a,-19a,-20a,-19b,-92a) and is transcribed as a polycistron that is subsequently processed to form individual miRNAs (Mendell, 2008; Tanzer and Stadler, 2004). Deletion of the cluster in mouse leads to neonatal lethality as well as defects in lung, heart and B-cell development (Ventura et al., 2008). The miR-17~92 cluster is an oncogene and frequently overexpressed in different types of tumours, including B-cell lymphomas, lung and colorectal carcinomas (Dews et al. The oncogenic potential of the cluster is associated with its ability to enhance cell cycle progression and to inhibit apoptosis, e.g. by regulating the expression of E2F1 (Novotny et al., 2007; O'Donnell et al., 2005). miR-18 is a member of the miR-17~92 cluster and has been shown to participate in tumour progression in a mouse model
Association of Shank 1A Scaffolding Protein with Cone Photoreceptor Terminals in the Mammalian Retina

Photoreceptor terminals contain post-synaptic density (PSD) proteins e.g., PSD-95/PSD-93, but their role at photoreceptor synapses is not known. PSDs are generally restricted to post-synaptic boutons in central neurons and form scaffolding with multiple proteins that have structural and functional roles in neuronal signaling. The Shank family of proteins (Shank 1–3) functions as putative anchoring proteins for PSDs and is involved in the organization of cytoskeletal/signaling complexes in neurons. Specifically, Shank 1 is restricted to neurons and interacts with both receptors and signaling molecules at central neurons to regulate plasticity. However, it is not known whether Shank 1 is expressed at photoreceptor terminals. In this study we have investigated Shank 1A localization in the outer retina at photoreceptor terminals. We find that Shank 1A is expressed presynaptically in cone pedicles, but not rod spherules, and it is absent from mice in which the Shank 1 gene is deleted. Shank 1A co-localizes with PSD-95, peanut agglutinin, a marker of cone terminals, and glycogen phosphorylase, a cone specific marker. These findings provide convincing evidence for Shank 1A expression in both the inner and outer plexiform layers, and indicate a potential role for PSD-95/Shank 1 complexes at cone synapses in the outer retina.
Comorbidity and progression of late onset Alzheimer’s disease: A systematic review

Background Alzheimer’s disease is a neurodegenerative syndrome characterized by multiple dimensions including cognitive decline, decreased daily functioning and psychiatric symptoms. This systematic review aims to investigate the relation between somatic comorbidity burden and progression in late-onset Alzheimer’s disease (LOAD). Methods We searched four databases for observational studies that examined cross-sectional or longitudinal associations of cognitive or functional or neuropsychiatric outcomes with comorbidity in individuals with LOAD. From the 7966 articles identified originally, 11 studies were included in this review. The Newcastle-Ottawa quality assessment was used. The large variation in progression measures, comorbidity indexes and study designs hampered the ability to perform a meta-analysis. This review was registered with PROSPERO under DIO: 10.15124/CRD42015027046. Results Nine studies indicated that comorbidity burden was associated with deterioration in at least one of the three dimensions of LOAD examined. Seven out of ten studies investigating cognition found comorbidities to be related to decreased cognitive performance. Five out of the seven studies investigating daily functioning showed an association between comorbidity burden and decreased daily functioning. Neuropsychiatric symptoms (NPS) increased with increasing comorbidity burden in two out of three studies investigating NPS. Associations were predominantly found in studies analyzing the association cross-sectionally, in a time-varying manner or across short follow-up (≤2 years). Rarely baseline comorbidity burden appeared to be associated with outcomes in studies analyzing progression over longer follow-up periods (>2 years). Conclusion This review provides evidence of an association between somatic comorbidities and multifaceted LOAD progression. Given that time-varying comorbidity burden, but much less so baseline comorbidity burden, was associated with the three dimensions prospectively, this relationship cannot be reduced to a simple cause-effect relation and is more likely to be dynamic. Therefore, both future studies and clinical practice may benefit from regarding comorbidity as a modifiable factor with a possibly fluctuating influence on LOAD.
Spatial‐Temporal Patterns of Evapotranspiration Along an Elevation Gradient on Mount Gongga, Southwest China

Evapotranspiration (ET) is a crucial component of the hydrological cycle in terrestrial ecosystems, but estimating ET in mountainous regions is challenging. In this study, the performance of a generalized nonlinear formulation of the complementary principle while estimating daily ET was evaluated, and the spatial‐temporal variation of ET was analyzed across four vegetation types along an elevation gradient on Mount Gongga, Southwest China. The values of the calibrated Priestley and Taylor coefficients for each of the four sites ranged from 0.98 to 1.13. The correlation coefficients between the estimated and observed daily actual evapotranspiration for each of the four sites ranged from 0.71 to 0.92. A markedly asymmetrical complementary relationship existed among the four studied sites, and the values showed less scattered during the wet season. The annual ET rates were 779.12, 781.63, 701.77, and 625.17 mm/yr in the broadleaf forest (BLF), broadleaf and coniferous mixed forest (BCF), coniferous forest (CF), and shrub land (SL), respectively, and showed a decreasing trend of 9.72 mm per 100 m along the elevation gradient. After recalibration of the seasonal αe values, the estimated annual ET rates increased and were closer to the observed values in BLF and BCF. The results indicate that daily ET in mountainous areas can be estimated using the generalized nonlinear formulation of the complementary relationship together with routine meteorological data alone, but seasonal changes in αe values should be taken into consideration in forests with deciduous trees.
Dissecting the in Vivo Metabolic Potential of Two Human Gut Acetogens

Fermenting microbial communities generate hydrogen; its removal through the production of acetate, methane, or hydrogen sulfide modulates the efficiency of energy extraction from available nutrients in many ecosystems. We noted that pathway components for acetogenesis are more abundantly and consistently represented in the gut microbiomes of monozygotic twins and their mothers than components for methanogenesis or sulfate reduction and subsequently analyzed the metabolic potential of two sequenced human gut acetogens, Blautia hydrogenotrophica and Marvinbryantia formatexigens in vitro and in the intestines of gnotobiotic mice harboring a prominent saccharolytic bacterium. To do so, we developed a generally applicable method for multiplex sequencing of expressed microbial mRNAs (microbial RNA-Seq) and, together with mass spectrometry of metabolites, showed that these organisms have distinct patterns of substrate utilization. B. hydrogenotrophica targets aliphatic and aromatic amino acids. It increases the efficiency of fermentation by consuming reducing equivalents, thereby maintaining a high NAD+/NADH ratio and boosting acetate production. In contrast, M. formatexigens consumes oligosaccharides, does not impact the redox state of the gut, and boosts the yield of succinate. These findings have strategic implications for those who wish to manipulate the hydrogen economy of gut microbial communities in ways that modulate energy harvest.
An Adaptive Algorithm for Public Transport Arrival Time Prediction Based on Hierarhical Regression

In this paper we consider a problem of public transport arrival time prediction for a large city in real time. We propose a new prediction algorithm based on a model of an adaptive combination of elementary prediction algorithms, each of which is characterized by a small number of adjustable parameters. Adaptability means that parameters of the constructed combination depend on a number of control parameters of the model, which includes the following factors: weather conditions, traffic density, driving dynamics, prediction horizon, and others. Adaptability is achieved by the use of a hierarchical regression (similar to a regression tree). The proposed arrival prediction algorithm has been tested with the data of all the public transport routes in Samara, Russia.
Unsupervised Dependency Parsing with Acoustic Cues

Unsupervised parsing is a difficult task that infants readily perform. Progress has been made on this task using text-based models, but few computational approaches have considered how infants might benefit from acoustic cues. This paper explores the hypothesis that word duration can help with learning syntax. We describe how duration information can be incorporated into an unsupervised Bayesian dependency parser whose only other source of information is the words themselves (without punctuation or parts of speech). Our results, evaluated on both adult-directed and child-directed utterances, show that using word duration can improve parse quality relative to words-only baselines. These results support the idea that acoustic cues provide useful evidence about syntactic structure for language-learning infants, and motivate the use of word duration cues in NLP tasks with speech.
Boltzmann algorithms to partition and map software for computational grids

Summary form only given. We present a model that comprehensively addresses the goals of partitioning an application software mesh into clusters of modules and assigning (or mapping) the clusters onto the most appropriate processors in the computational grid. Our approach to solving this challenging combinatorial problem is based on a computational model known as a cascaded Boltzmann machine, which advantageously blends the principles of neural computing and simulated annealing to achieve high quality partitions in a practical amount of execution time. We develop implementations of the algorithms, and focus on the study and refinement of the operational parameters that determine the performance of the Boltzmann algorithms. Through computational experimentation and empirical observations, we are able to characterize the speed and effectiveness of this partitioning and mapping process. We also note that the partitioning and mapping algorithm itself can be implemented as a parallel computation.
Utilizing Structured Representations and CSP's in Conformant Probabilistic Planning

A CSP based algorithm for the conformant probabilistic planning problem (CPP) has been presented by Hyafil & Bacchus. Although their algorithm displayed some interesting potential when compared with traditional POMDP algorithms, it was developed using a “flat” representation. In this work we revisit this algorithm and develop a version that utilizes a structured representation. The structured representation can be exponentially more efficient than the flat representation when dealing with the structured problems that are typical in AI. Our new structured version of their algorithm allows us to demonstrate that the CSP approach to CPP can be much more effective than traditional POMDP algorithms for an interesting range of problems. This is contrary to previously presented results, and makes the application of CSP techniques to decision theoretic planning a promising area for further work.
Exposures to road traffic, noise, and air pollution as risk factors for type 2 diabetes: A feasibility study in Bulgaria

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a growing public health problem in Bulgaria. While individual and lifestyle determinants have been researched; till date there has been no study on environmental risks such as road traffic, noise, and air pollution. As a first step toward designing a large-scale population-based survey, we aimed at exploring the overall associations of prevalent T2DM with exposures to road traffic, noise, and air pollution. A total of 513 residents of Plovdiv city, Bulgaria were recruited. Individual data on self-reported doctor-diagnosed T2DM and confounding factors were linked to objective and self-rated exposure indicators. Logistic and log-link Poisson regressions were conducted. In the fully adjusted logistic models, T2DM was positively associated with exposures to L den 71-80 dB (odds ratio (OR) = 4.49, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.38, 14.68), fine particulate matter (PM) 2.5 25.0-66.8 μg/m 3 (OR = 1.32, 95% CI: 0.28, 6.24), benzo alpha pyrene 6.0-14.02 ng/m 3 (OR = 1.76, 95% CI: 0.52, 5.98) and high road traffic (OR = 1.40, 95% CI: 0.48, 4.07). L den remained a significant risk factor in the: Poisson regression model. Other covariates with consistently high multivariate effects were age, gender, body mass index, family history of T2DM, subjective sleep disturbance, and especially bedroom location. We concluded that residential noise exposure might be associated with elevated risk of prevalent T2DM. The inferences made by this research and the lessons learned from its limitations could guide the designing of a longitudinal epidemiological survey in Bulgaria.
Single mode waveguide platform for spontaneous and surface-enhanced on-chip Raman spectroscopy

We review an on-chip approach for spontaneous Raman spectroscopy and surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy based on evanescent excitation of the analyte as well as evanescent collection of the Raman signal using complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS)-compatible single mode waveguides. The signal is either directly collected from the analyte molecules or via plasmonic nanoantennas integrated on top of the waveguides. Flexibility in the design of the geometry of the waveguide, and/or the geometry of the antennas, enables optimization of the collection efficiency. Furthermore, the sensor can be integrated with additional functionality (sources, detectors, spectrometers) on the same chip. In this paper, the basic theoretical concepts are introduced to identify the key design parameters, and some proof-of-concept experimental results are reviewed.
Fatal road traffic accidents in the Mthatha area of South Africa, 1993-2004.

BACKGROUND Trauma is one of the leading causes of death in the Mthatha area, which is one of the least developed regions of South Africa. Road traffic accidents (RTAs) contribute substantially to the number of such deaths. OBJECTIVE To estimate the number of fatal RTAs in the Mthatha area, and analyse age and sex of the deceased. METHODS A review of autopsies performed in the Mthatha General Hospital mortuary was conducted. Data were analysed using the GENSTAT 9 package with a Poisson regression model. RESULTS There were 2736 deaths from RTAs over the 12-year period 1993-2004 in the Mthatha area. These casualties constituted an average annual rate of 57 deaths per 100 000 population. The highest (69.4/100 000) was in 1998, and the lowest (40.2/100 000) in 2001. Males outnumbered females by 2.6:1 (95% confidence interval (CI) 2.13-3.22), and the rate showed a decline of 0.97/100 000/year (95% CI 0.95-0.99) for the 1998-2001 period. The rate of decline was the same for males and females. The highest annual rate was 14.2 per 100 000 population in the age group 21-30 years, and the lowest, of 2.6 per 100 000 population, in the group above 70 years of age. The death rates were related to sex (p<0.001) and calendar year (p<0.049). There was no significant connection between year and sex, implying that the effect of year (time) was the same for men and women. These results are statistically significant despite the very high variability in the data (S2=5.53). CONCLUSION RTA-related deaths in the Mthatha area are 3 times higher than the global average.