Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Clay mineralogy and chemistry of halloysite and alunite deposits in the Turplu area, Balikesir, Turkey

A field-mapping and crystal-chemical study of two alunite- and halloysite-rich deposits in the Turplu area, situated northwest of Balıkesir on the Biga Peninsula of northwest Turkey reveals a mineralogically diverse and a potentially economic clay deposit. The mineral assemblage along fault zones is dominated by halloysite and sometimes alunite. The alunite is nearly end-member in composition (a = 6.995 Å, c = 17.195 Å) often occurring with a minor Ca phosphate phase. Of the two deposits studied, the more northerly mine contains more alunite relative to halloysite. Geochemical alteration indices suggest that the northern mine has experienced a slightly greater degree of hydrothermal modification. Halloysite is found in both hydrated and dehydrated states and assumes a tubular morphology. Observations by transmission and scanning electron microscopy are consistent with a model of halloysite dehydration, where the shapes transform from an open-hole tubular morphology to a closed-hole unfurled morphology.Mineral paragenesis includes the effects of initial deposition of volcanic tuffs and andesite on top of karstic terrain. The contact between altered volcanics and underlying limestones is irregular and appears to have provided a mechanism to flush both hydrothermal and meteoric waters through the volcanics. Periods of hydrothermal alteration (hypogene) contemporaneous with extensional and strike-slip faulting have resulted in alunite and halloysite deposits. Hydrothermal alteration is concentrated near the fault zones. Because of subsequent weathering (supergene) away from the fault zones, much of the andesitic volcanic rocks have been altered to a more smectite-rich and kaolinite-bearing assemblage. The deposits continue to be both plastically deformed in the alunite/halloysite regions and to undergo brittle deformation in the saprolitized volcanics. Tectonic deformation has mixed the contacts, such that limestone blocks are entrained into parts of the alteration zones. Gibbsite and gypsum are common weathering products associated with limestone block inclusions. Genetic models for the origins of alunite-halloysite deposits in NW Turkey should consider as possible influencing factors the underlying lithologies, the extent of hydrothermal alteration, and recent weathering by meteoric fluids. In the case of the Turplu deposits, karstic limestones, hydrothermal circulation of sulfate-rich waters, and a post-alteration history of meteoric weathering were all important factors in their formation.
Dissociation of Intestinal and Hepatic Activities of FXR and LXRα Supports Metabolic Effects of Terminal Ileum Interposition in Rodents

The farnesoid X receptor (FXR) and the liver x receptors (LXRs) are bile acid–activated receptors that are highly expressed in the enterohepatic tissues. The mechanisms that support the beneficial effects of bariatric surgery are only partially defined. We have investigated the effects of ileal interposition (IT), a surgical relocation of the distal ileum into the proximal jejunum, on FXR and LXRs in rats. Seven months after surgery, blood concentrations of total bile acids, taurocholic acid, an FXR ligand, and taurohyocholic acid, an LXRα ligand, were significantly increased by IT (P < 0.05). In contrast, liver and intestinal concentrations of conjugated and nonconjugated bile acids were decreased (P < 0.05). These changes were associated with a robust induction of FXR and FXR-regulated genes in the intestine, including Fgf15, a negative regulator of bile acid synthesis. IT repressed the liver expression of glucose-6-phosphatase (G6PC) and phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (Pepck), two gluconeogenetic genes, along with the expression of LXRα and its target genes sterol regulatory element-binding protein (Srebp) 1c and fatty acid synthase (Fas) in the liver. Treating IT rats with chenodeoxycholic acid ameliorated insulin signaling in the liver. Whether confirmed in human settings, these results support the association of pharmacological therapies with bariatric surgeries to exploit the selective activation of intestinal nuclear receptors.
Influence of target gene mutations on survival, stage and histology in sporadic microsatellite unstable colon cancers

High‐frequency microsatellite unstable (MSI‐H) colon tumors develop as a consequence of mutations at repetitive sequences in target genes. TGFBR2 and ACVR2, encoding TGFβ superfamily receptors, and the proapoptotic gene BAX are frequent targets for frameshift mutation. We analyzed the effect of these mutations on survival and histology in 2 separate cohorts. Forty‐eight MSI‐H Dukes B2 colon tumors from a cohort of 172 patients had mutations in TGFBR2, BAX and ACVR2 correlated with patient survival. Further, 54 population‐based MSI‐H colon cancers of all stages from a cohort of 503 patients had mutations correlated with tumor stage, grade and size. Of 44 amplifiable MSI‐H Dukes B2 tumors, 70% harbored TGFBR2, 63% BAX and only 4.5% ACVR2 mutations. While mutation alone did not influence survival, concomitant mutation of TGFBR2 and BAX was associated with an improved prognosis in Dukes B2 patients (p = 0.05). ACVR2 mutations were more frequent in the second, population‐based cohort (stage II: 32.5%, p < 0.05). While no target gene mutation correlated with stage in this cohort, poor histological grade and large tumor volume were associated with mutant ACVR2, but not TGFBR2 or BAX mutations, and likely accounts for the lower prevalence of ACVR2 mutations in the first, well‐differentiated Dukes B2 cohort. Because target gene mutations did not correlate with stage, they likely occur early in the pathogenesis of MSI‐H cancers. Mutations in TGFBR2 and BAX may improve survival in MSI‐H Dukes B2 patients, and mutations of ACVR2 may augment histological changes consistent with poor tumor grade that is characteristic of MSI‐H colon cancers, and increase tumor size. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Independent and Collaborative Contributions of the Cerebral Hemispheres to Emotional Processing

Presented is a model suggesting that the right hemisphere (RH) directly mediates the identification and comprehension of positive and negative emotional stimuli, whereas the left hemisphere (LH) contributes to higher level processing of emotional information that has been shared via the corpus callosum. RH subcortical connections provide initial processing of emotional stimuli, and their innervation to cortical structures provides a secondary pathway by which the hemispheres process emotional information more fully. It is suggested that the LH contribution to emotion processing is in emotional regulation, social well-being, and adaptation, and transforming the RH emotional experience into propositional and verbal codes. Lastly, it is proposed that the LH has little ability at the level of emotion identification, having a default positive bias and no ability to identify a stimulus as negative. Instead, the LH must rely on the transfer of emotional information from the RH to engage higher-order emotional processing. As such, either hemisphere can identify positive emotions, but they must collaborate for complete processing of negative emotions. Evidence presented draws from behavioral, neurological, and clinical research, including discussions of subcortical and cortical pathways, callosal agenesis, commissurotomy, emotion regulation, mood disorders, interpersonal interaction, language, and handedness. Directions for future research are offered.
Locally-Adaptive and Memetic Evolutionary Pattern Search Algorithms

Abstrac Recent convergence analyses of evolutionary pattern search algorithms (EPSAs) have shown that these methods have a weak stationary point convergence theory for a broad class of unconstrained and linearly constrained problems. This paper describes how the convergence theory for EPSAs can be adapted to allow each individual in a population to have its own mutation step length (similar to the design of evolutionary programing and evolution strategies algorithms). These are called locally-adaptive EPSAs (LA-EPSAs) since each individual's mutation step length is independently adapted in different local neighborhoods. The paper also describes a variety of standard formulations of evolutionary algorithms that can be used for LA-EPSAs. Further, it is shown how this convergence theory can be applied to memetic EPSAs, which use local search to re.ne points within each iteration.
Process of implementing collaborative care and its impacts on the provision of care and rehabilitation services to patients with a moderate or severe traumatic brain injury

Objective The introduction of new services in a rehabilitation center is a unique opportunity to introduce a new model of care and services between two institutions. A hospital and a rehabilitation center experienced a clinical management model inspired by an American approach – collaborative care. The purpose of this study was to describe the implementation of this approach and to provide a perception of the quality of care and services provided to patients with moderate or severe traumatic brain injury and to their caregivers. Materials and methods In this qualitative study, individual semistructured interviews were conducted with patients and their caregivers in the hospital and rehabilitation center where the patients were treated. Individual semistructured interviews were conducted with administrators, and two focus groups were held with clinicians before and after the implementation. Results and conclusion Ten days’ waiting time were saved with the collaborative approach. Implementing the collaborative care approach has been found to have several benefits, including improved communication, coordination of services between institutions, and better preparation, awareness, and involvement of patients and their families. Administrators, clinicians, patients, and caregivers expressed their opinions on the organization of care and services, the needs and expectations of patients and their caregivers, their participation in terms of roles and responsibilities, their perception of continuity of care, their satisfaction with the care process, and their suggestions for improvements.
Half-dose depot triptorelin in pituitary suppression for multiple ovarian stimulation in assisted reproduction technology: a randomized study.

BACKGROUND Pituitary suppression by depot GnRH agonist may be excessive for ovarian stimulation in assisted reproduction technology. This study compares the efficacy of standard and half-dose depot triptorelin in a long protocol. METHODS A total of 180 patients were randomized into two groups using sealed envelopes. Pituitary desensitization was obtained in group 1 (90 patients) with half-dose (1.87 mg) triptorelin depot in the mid-luteal phase of their menstrual cycle, and in group 2 (90 patients) with full-dose (3.75 mg) triptorelin. RESULTS There was no premature LH surge, with LH levels being lower in the full-dose group (1.04+/-0.05 versus 0.7+/-0.06 IU/l on the day of hCG). The number of FSH ampoules used was lower in group 1 (42+/-2 versus 59+/-3). The numbers of mature oocytes (10.1+/-0.54 versus 7.4+/-0.55), of fertilized oocytes (8.24+/-0.35 versus 6.34+/-0.37) and of embryos (7.8+/-0.36 versus 5.9+/-0.37) were significantly higher in group 1. No significant differences were found in pregnancy (38.8 versus 25.3%), implantation (22.6 versus 13.8%) or abortion (6.1 versus 5.0%) rates. Cumulative pregnancy (fresh plus frozen embryo transfers: 56.8 versus 35.4%) rate was significantly higher in group 1. CONCLUSION A half-dose of depot triptorelin can be successfully used in ovarian stimulation for IVF and produce a higher number of good quality embryos with a good chance of implantation.
Aggressive behaviour, staff attitude and staff perception of patients on two continuing care psychogeriatric wards

Levels of aggressive behaviour on continuing care psychogeriatric wards are high. Various staffing factors, potentially amenable to improvement by training, are thought to be associated with aggressive behaviour. The relationship between aggressive behaviour in patients, measured by the Rating Scale for Aggressive Behaviour in the Elderly (RAGE), and the attitude of the nursing staff towards the patient and their perception of the patient, measured by the Modified Alienation Scale (MAS), was examined in a prospective study over 4 months on two continuing care psychogeriatric wards. There was a moderately strong correlation between the RAGE total score and the MAS total score (r = + 0.67) and its sub-scales of feeling distant from the patient (r = + 0.44), deliberate use of symptoms by the patients (r = + 0.36), alienation of the patient (r = + 0.85) and variable mood in the patient (r = + 0.77). Intervention studies designed to either directly reduce aggressive behaviour or reduce aggressive behaviour by improving staff attitude and perception, or both, in a range of settings, are suggested to identify clinically effective and cost-effective strategies for reducing aggressive behaviour.
Real-time obstacle avoidance for fast mobile robots in cluttered environments

The method described, named the vector field histogram (VFH), permits the detection of unknown obstacles and avoids collisions while simultaneously steering the mobile robot toward the target. A VFH-controlled mobile robot maneuvers quickly and without stopping among densely cluttered obstacles. The VFH method uses a two-dimensional Cartesian histogram grid as a world model. This world model is updated continuously and in real time with range data sampled by the onboard ultrasonic range sensors. Based on the accumulated environmental data, the VFH method then computes a one-dimensional polar histogram that is constructed around the robot's momentary location. Each sector in the polar histogram holds the polar obstacle density in that direction. Finally, the algorithm selects the most suitable sector from among all polar histogram sectors with low obstacle density, and the steering of the robot is aligned with that direction. Experimental results from a mobile robot traversing a densely cluttered obstacle course at an average speed of 0.7 m/s demonstrate the power of the VFH method. <<ETX>>
Staff Perceptions of Essential Prerequisites Underpinning End-of-Life Care for Persons With Intellectual Disability and Advanced Dementia

To better address palliative care and end-of-life issues for persons with intellectual disability (ID) and dementia, work was undertaken to understand the perspectives of agency staff in both the ID services and specialist palliative care fields. A qualitative descriptive design composed of 13 focus group interviews involved 50 participants drawn from six ID service providers and seven participants from one specialist palliative care service. Analysis was an iterative process; codes were identified and through thematic analysis, collapsed into two core themes: building upon services' history and personal caring--offering quality and sensitive care, and supporting comfort and optimal death in persons with ID and advanced dementia. Challenges were raised for service systems in the areas of aging in place, person-centered care, and interservice collaboration. Authors recommend both more practice relationship- based and collaborative approaches to care and a stronger evidence-based research program on the timing and the efficacy of palliative care for persons with ID and dementia.
Organizations, Diffused Pivotality and Immoral Outcomes

This paper studies how organizational design affects moral outcomes. Subjects face the decision to either kill mice for money or to save mice. We compare a Baseline treatment where subjects are fully pivotal to a Diffused-Pivotality treatment where subjects simultaneously choose in groups of eight. In the latter condition eight mice are killed if at least one subject opts for killing. The fraction of subjects deciding to kill is higher when pivotality is diffused. The likelihood of killing is monotone in subjective perceptions of pivotality. On an aggregate level many more mice are killed in Diffused-Pivotality than Baseline.
Balancing protein similarity and gene co-expression reveals new links between genetic conservation and developmental diversity in invertebrates

MOTIVATION To identify genetic conservation relative to precise aspects of developmental diversity, an essential question in computational biology, we developed a new comparative method that allows conserved modules for the best balance between protein sequence similarity and gene co-expression to be constructed, in invertebrates. RESULTS Our method, referred to as the best-balance constraint procedure (BBCP), yielded 719 functionally conserved modules (FCMs) comprising 2-23 gene pairs. These modules were consistent with the developmental roles of orthologues as inferred from Gene Ontology, RNAi knockouts, InterPro and process-specific microarray data. New relationships were defined between genetic conservation and developmental diversity. Novel gene associations were indeed found in 94% of the FCMs, 150 modules being completely new. A significant proportion of the FCMs (18%, 132 modules) described cell type-specific mechanisms, comprising neuronal, muscle and germ cell signaling, new associations being found in 125 modules. Also found were gene associations for cell fate specification activities previously not highlighted by computational means, e.g. in FCMs containing homeogenes. These data indicate that highly discriminative description of genetic conservation can be deduced using BBCP, and reveal new correlations between cellular and developmental diversity and gene essentiality in invertebrates. CONTACT christian.neri@broca.inserm. fr SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION For supplementary information, please refer to Bioinformatics online.
Newspaper depictions of mental and physical health

Aims and method Media portrayals of mental illness have long been recognised as being misleading and stigmatising. Following the campaigns of several advocacy groups to address this issue, we aimed to evaluate the impact on mental health reporting over time. We repeated a survey we did 15 years ago using the same methods. Nine UK daily newspapers were surveyed over a 4-week period and coded with a schema to analyse the reporting of mental health compared with physical health. Results In total, 963 articles – 200 on mental health and 763 on physical health – were identified. Over half of the articles on mental health were negative in tone: 18.5% indicated an association with violence compared with 0.3% of articles on physical health. However, there were more quotes from patients with mental disorders than physical disorders (22.5% v. 19.7%) and an equal mention of treatment and rehabilitation. Clinical implications Mental health in print media remains tainted by themes of violence, however some improvement in reporting in recent years is evident, in particular by providing a voice for people with mental illness.
Orbits and masses in the T Tauri system

Aims. We investigate the binary star T Tauri South, presenting the orbital parameters of the two components and their individual masses. Methods. We combined astrometric positions from the literature with previously unpublished VLT observations. Model fits yield the orbital elements of T Tau Sa and Sb. We use T Tau N as an astrometric reference to derive an estimate for the mass ratio of Sa and Sb. Results. Although most of the orbital parameters are not well constrained, it is unlikely that T Tau Sb is on a highly elliptical orbit or escaping from the system. The total mass of T Tau S is rather well constrained to 3.0 +0.15 −0.24 M� . The mass ratio Sb:Sa is about 0.4, – –
The Changing Epidemiology of Respiratory Syncytial Virus and Influenza: Impetus for New Control Measures

Background: Influenza and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) are the most important causes of medically attended acute respiratory illnesses. Medical encounters for acute respiratory illness peak each winter, coinciding with the peak of influenza activity. RSV is the most important cause of hospitalization of infants for acute lower respiratory illness. Methods: Surveillance of influenza and RSV have been maintained in Houston since 1974. Hospitalization rates during that period were compared with national data. U.S. influenza mortality rates and population dynamics were reviewed. Results: The number of deaths attributed to influenza in the United States have increased from ∼15,000 per year for the period from 1972 through 1984 to >50,000 from 1990 to 1999. RSV hospitalization rates for infants have more than doubled during the same period. Influenza epidemics have tended to occur earlier in Texas, with epidemic disease evident in early November in 3 of the last 4 years. Conclusions: Population dynamics with increased population density and urbanization probably are responsible for worsening of epidemics of the major respiratory viruses. New approaches to control will be necessary to reduce impact of these infections. These include earlier availability of influenza vaccine each autumn and use of antivirals and new vaccines for RSV.
Importance of the Efflux Pump Systems in the Resistance of Mycobacterium tuberculosis to Fluoroquinolones and Linezolid

Objective: Our aim was to study the influence of efflux pump systems in the resistance of Mycobacterium tuberculosis to fluoroquinolones and linezolid. Methods: We studied the mutations in gyrA and gyrB genes and the influence of efflux pump systems with 2 inhibitors (reserpine and MC 207.110). Results: The effect of the active efflux system on the decrease in sensitivity to ciprofloxacin, moxifloxacin, levofloxacin, ofloxacin, gatifloxacin and linezolid was studied by investigating the variation in the in vitro activity of these compounds when assayed in association with reserpine and MC 207.110. These inhibitors exhibit activity both in strains that are resistant and in strains that are susceptible to these antibiotics. However, they are seen to be most active in resistant strains, since the minimum inhibitory concentration of the antibiotics studied in these strains was reduced between 2- and 6-fold. Conclusions: Therefore, these mechanisms are involved in the resistance to both compounds. It would be of interest to carry out further studies to determine to what extent these active efflux systems influence resistance to the different groups of drugs used in the treatment of tuberculosis, with a view to the possibility of using the inhibitors of these systems in future therapeutic applications.
Influence of aerosols on the shortwave cloud radiative forcing from North Pacific oceanic clouds: Results from the Cloud Indirect Forcing Experiment (CIFEX)

Aerosols over the Northeastern Pacific Ocean enhance the cloud drop number concentration and reduce the drop size for marine stratocumulus and cumulus clouds. These microphysical effects result in brighter clouds, as evidenced by a combination of aircraft and satellite observations. In‐situ measurements from the Cloud Indirect Forcing Experiment (CIFEX) indicate that the mean cloud drop number concentration in low clouds over the polluted marine boundary layer is greater by 53 cm−3 compared to clean clouds, and the mean cloud drop effective radius is smaller by 4 μm. We link these in‐situ measurements of cloud modification by aerosols, for the first time, with collocated satellite broadband radiative flux observations from the Clouds and the Earth's Radiant Energy System to show that these microphysical effects of aerosols enhance the top‐of‐atmosphere cooling by −9.9 ± 4.3 W m−2 for overcast conditions.