Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Tropical tropospheric temperature variations caused by ENSO and their influence on the remote tropical climate

Abstract The warming of the entire tropical free troposphere in response to El Nino is well established, and suggests a tropical mechanism for the El Nino–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) teleconnection. The potential impact of this warming on remote tropical climates is examined through investigating the adjustment of a single-column model to imposed tropospheric temperature variations, assuming that ENSO controls interannual tropospheric temperature variations at all tropical locations. The column model predicts the impact of these variations in three typical tropical climate states (precipitation > evaporation; precipitation < evaporation; no convection) over a slab mixed layer ocean. Model precipitation and sea surface temperature (SST) respond significantly to the imposed tropospheric forcing in the first two climate states. Their amplitude and phase are sensitive to the imposed mixed layer depth, with the nature of the response depending on how fast the ocean adjusts to imposed tropospheric temperature f.
Acupuncture effect on gastric myoelectric activity : experimental protocol

Objective: In Chinese literature many studies report an improvement of gastrointestinal motility and symptoms with acupuncture. It is known that myoelectric activity of the stomach is related to gastric motility (GM). The aim of this study was to investigate the acupuncture effect on gastric myoelectric activity (GMA) in healthy humans, with point G2 painful. Methodology: it was a prospective study in parallel group design (n=6). “Leopard spot” technique was the acupuncture technique used. Gastric myoelectric activity was recorded using EGG. Maximum tolerable permission on G2, measured using the algometer. Results: With specific acupunture, the Dominant Power (DP) of EGG increases and reduces the pain, on G2 point, in algometry and visual analogue scale (VAS). Conclusions: Specific acupuncture seems to have effect GMA and seems to increase gastric motility and reduce the pain.
Regulation of Drosophila Eye Development by the Transcription Factor Sine oculis

Homeodomain transcription factors of the Sine oculis (SIX) family direct multiple regulatory processes throughout the metazoans. Sine oculis (So) was first characterized in the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster, where it is both necessary and sufficient for eye development, regulating cell survival, proliferation, and differentiation. Despite its key role in development, only a few direct targets of So have been described previously. In the current study, we aim to expand our knowledge of So-mediated transcriptional regulation in the developing Drosophila eye using ChIP-seq to map So binding regions throughout the genome. We find 7,566 So enriched regions (peaks), estimated to map to 5,952 genes. Using overlap between the So ChIP-seq peak set and genes that are differentially regulated in response to loss or gain of so, we identify putative direct targets of So. We find So binding enrichment in genes not previously known to be regulated by So, including genes that encode cell junction proteins and signaling pathway components. In addition, we analyze a subset of So-bound novel genes in the eye, and find eight genes that have previously uncharacterized eye phenotypes and may be novel direct targets of So. Our study presents a greatly expanded list of candidate So targets and serves as basis for future studies of So-mediated gene regulation in the eye.
Combined endoscopic stent insertion in malignant biliary and duodenal obstruction.

BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIMS Self-expandable metal stents (SEMS) are an effective palliative treatment for malignant biliary and duodenal strictures. Combined biliary and duodenal stenting remains a technical challenge, however. The aim of this study was to evaluate the technical feasibility of an endoscopic approach to double stenting of malignant biliary and duodenal strictures. PATIENTS AND METHODS Consecutive patients referred for palliative gastroduodenal and biliary stenting were followed up prospectively. Patients' demographic characteristics, the site and nature of the strictures, success rates, complications, and survival time were recorded. RESULTS A total of 64 patients underwent double stenting. In 46 patients, biliary obstruction occurred before the onset of duodenal obstruction (by a median of 107 days) (group 1); in 14 patients, biliary obstruction occurred concurrently with duodenal obstruction (group 2); and in four patients the duodenal obstruction preceded the biliary obstruction (by a median of 121 days) (group 3). The duodenal strictures were proximal to the papilla in 31 patients, adjacent to the papilla in 25 patients and distal to the papilla in eight patients. The majority of biliary strictures were in the middle or distal third of the bile duct (in 52/64 patients). Duodenal SEMS were successfully deployed in all patients. Combined endoscopic stenting was successful in 100% of patients in group 1, 86% of patients in group 2, and in 100% of patients in group 3. Taking the three groups together, early complications occurred in 6% of patients and late complications occurred in 16% of patients. The overall median survival after combined stenting was 81 days (range 2-447 days). CONCLUSIONS Combined endoscopic biliary and duodenal SEMS insertion is safe and effective for palliation in malignant biliary and duodenal obstruction. Biliary stenting through the mesh of the duodenal SEMS is technically feasible and has a high success rate.
Evidence of selection for low cognate amino acid bias in amino acid biosynthetic enzymes

If the enzymes responsible for biosynthesis of a given amino acid are repressed and the cognate amino acid pool suddenly depleted, then derepression of these enzymes and replenishment of the pool would be problematic, if the enzymes were largely composed of the cognate amino acid. In the proverbial ‘Catch 22’, cells would lack the necessary enzymes to make the amino acid, and they would lack the necessary amino acid to make the needed enzymes. Based on this scenario, we hypothesize that evolution would lead to the selection of amino acid biosynthetic enzymes that have a relatively low content of their cognate amino acid. We call this the ‘cognate bias hypothesis’. Here we test several implications of this hypothesis directly using data from the proteome of Escherichia coli. Several lines of evidence show that low cognate bias is evident in 15 of the 20 amino acid biosynthetic pathways. Comparison with closely related Salmonella typhimurium shows similar results. Comparison with more distantly related Bacillus subtilis shows general similarities as well as significant differences in the detailed profiles of cognate bias. Thus, selection for low cognate bias plays a significant role in shaping the amino acid composition for a large class of cellular proteins.
Vapor‐Phase Synthesis and Characterization of ϵ‐FeSi Nanowires

Over the past decade, one-dimensional inorganic nanostructures have emerged as promising materials for fundamental studies and possible technological applications. These structures exhibit physical and chemical properties distinct from their bulk counterparts as a result of radial confinement, while they retain the advantages of wire-like connectivity. In particular, silicon 5] and silicide nanowires have received considerable attention due to their potential ease of integration into conventional siliconbased electronics. ε-FeSi is a narrow-gap semiconductor with a cubic structure (space group P213) that has been classified as a hybridization-gap semiconductor or Kondo insulator. 16] It has attracted interest for over half a century, mainly because of its unusual magnetic behavior. Moreover, a recent study has identified doped iron monosilicides as potential alternatives to (GaMn)As and (GaMn)N in spintronics applications. Attempts to make FeSi thin films and nanorods 27] embedded in silicon substrates have been reported in the past few years. To our knowledge, however, free-standing FeSi nanostructures have never been prepared, nor have magnetic or transport measurements been performed on embedded rod or thin-film samples. Here we report the synthesis of single-crystalline FeSi nanowires and the characterization of their magnetic and electrical properties. The synthesis was performed using a chemical vapor deposition (CVD) method: silicon substrates were cleaned with 1% buffered HF and placed in a horizontal tube furnace, between the center and the downstream end of the alumina tube. Anhydrous FeCl3 powder (Aldrich, 99.99%) was placed in an alumina boat upstream of the substrates. An inert atmosphere was maintained with a flow rate of 100 sccm N2, and the temperature at the center of the furnace was set to 1100 °C. When the center of the furnace reached the set point, the iron source was hot enough (180 – 250 °C) to produce vapor-phase FeCl3 or Fe2Cl6 without thermal decomposition. The precursor vapors were carried by the N2 flow to the center of the furnace where they reacted with silicon from the substrates. The reaction was held under these conditions for one to two hours, and then the furnace was allowed to cool down to room temperature. When the silicon substrates were taken out for examination, the substrates were covered by a ‘fluffy’ black powder composed of aggregates of FeSi nanowires.
Intra-Arterial Infusion of a Glycoprotein IIb/IIIa Antagonist for the Treatment of Thromboembolism During Coil Embolization of Intracranial Aneurysm: A Comparison of Abciximab and Tirofiban

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Abciximab and tirofiban are commonly used for the treatment of thromboembolisms that form during coiling of intracranial aneurysms; however, it is not known which of these inhibitors is safer and more effective. We report the safety and the recanalization rates for intra-arterial abciximab and intra-arterial tirofiban infusion for the treatment of thromboembolisms that form during coiling. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between March 2004 and April 2011, 346 intracranial aneurysms were treated with coiling. Thromboembolisms developed in 22 of these patients and were treated by use of intra-arterial tirofiban (n = 11) or abciximab (n = 11) infusion. RESULTS: In the abciximab group, the thromboembolisms were completely (n = 1) or partially (n = 7) resolved in 8 cases (72.7%) at the time of the final control angiography. Complete (n = 9) or partial (n = 2) resolution was achieved in all cases at the time of follow-up angiography (<3 days after the procedure). In the tirofiban group, thromboembolisms were completely (n = 4) or partially (n = 6) resolved in 10 cases (90.9%) at the time of the final control angiography. Complete (n = 9) or partial (n = 2) resolution was observed in all cases at the time of the follow-up angiography. There were no statistically significant differences between the 2 groups with respect to thrombus resolution (final angiography, P = .311; follow-up angiography, P = .707). No hemorrhagic complications developed in either group. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that tirofiban is more effective than abciximab for the immediate resolution of thromboembolisms, with no statistical significance. Both intra-arterial tirofiban and abciximab exhibited similar safety and recanalization rates.
Aerosolized pentamidine for the prevention of Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia in children with cancer intolerant or allergic to trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole.

PURPOSE Trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (TMP/SMX) is the drug of choice for Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP) prophylaxis in immunocompromised patients. In children with malignancy, TMP/SMX is well tolerated, but adverse reactions that necessitate discontinuation can occur. We evaluated the safety and efficacy of aerosolized pentamidine (AP) as an alternative prophylaxis modality in children with malignancy who are intolerant of or allergic to TMP/SMX. PATIENTS AND METHODS AP (200 mg/m2 every 4 weeks) was administered to 60 children with malignancy receiving chemotherapy who had experienced severe adverse reactions to TMP/SMX. Seven hundred twenty doses of AP have been administered during a 3 1/2-year period (21,600 patient-days), with 30 patients treated for > or = 12 months (range, 12 to 25). RESULTS Adverse reactions occurred during 79 (10%) of the 720 treatments and included bronchospasm in 23, cough in 40, vomiting in 10, and nausea in six. Only two patients had severe bronchospasm. AP was discontinued due to toxicity in three patients (5%). None of the patients (upper 95% confidence limit, 0.049) have developed PCP. CONCLUSION AP appears to be well tolerated and effective in the prevention of PCP in children with malignancy.
Preparing Teachers for a Changing World: What Teachers Should Learn and Be Able to Do.

Preface. Committee on Teacher Education Members. Cooperating University Liaisons. Acknowledgments. About the Authors. 1. Introduction (John Bransford, Linda Darling-Hammond, Pamela LePage). 2. Theories of Learning and Their Roles in Teaching (John Bransford, Sharon Derry, David Berliner, Karen Hammerness With Kelly Lyn Beckett). 3. Educating Teachers for Developmentally Appropriate Practice (Frances Degen Horowitz, Linda Darling-Hammond, John Bransford With James Comer, Kathy Rosebrock, Kim Austin, Frances Rust). 4. Enhancing the Development of Students' Language(s) (Guadalupe Valdes, George Bunch, Catherine Snow, Carol Lee With Lucy Matos). 5. Educational Goals and Purposes: Developing a Curricular Vision for Teaching (Linda Darling-Hammond, James Banks, Karen Zumwalt, Louis Gomez, Miriam Gamoran Sherin, Jacqueline Griesdorn, Lou-Ellen Finn). 6. Teaching Subject Matter (Pamela Grossman, Alan Schoenfeld With Carol Lee). 7. Teaching Diverse Learners (James Banks, Marilyn Cochran-Smith, Luis Moll, Anna Richert, Kenneth Zeichner, Pamela LePage, Linda Darling-Hammond, Helen Duffy With Morva McDonald). 8. Assessment (Lorrie Shepard, Karen Hammerness, Linda Darling-Hammond, Frances Rust With Joan Baratz Snowden, Edmund Gordon, Cris Gutierrez, Arturo Pacheco). 9. Classroom Management (Pamela LePage, Linda Darling-Hammond, Hanife Akar With Cris Gutierrez, Evelyn Jenkins-Gunn, Kathy Rosebrock). 10. How Teachers Learn and Develop (Karen Hammerness, Linda Darling-Hammond, John Bransford With David Berliner, Marilyn Cochran-Smith, Morva McDonald, Kenneth Zeichner). 11. The Design of Teacher Education Programs (Karen Hammerness, Linda Darling-Hammond With Pamela Grossman, Frances Rust, Lee Shulman). 12. Implementing Curriculum Renewal in Teacher Education: Managing Organizational and Policy Change (Linda Darling-Hammond, Arturo Pacheco, Nicholas Michelli, Pamela LePage, Karen Hammerness With Peter Youngs). 13. References. Name Index. Subject Index.
Airborne microorganisms, endotoxin, and (1→3)-β-D-glucan exposure in greenhouses and assessment of respiratory symptoms among workers.

OBJECTIVES Greenhouse operations are an important sector of the horticulture industry, also known as the Green Industry. The objectives of this study were (i) to investigate exposure levels to airborne culturable fungi, bacteria (total culturable bacteria and actinomycetes), endotoxin, and (1→3)-β-D-glucan in three Midwest greenhouses during summer and winter using multiple exposure assessment methods; (ii) characterize the load of microorganisms on greenhouse floors and determine potential microbial source strengths of the floors for aerosolizing microbial biocontaminants, and (iii) to estimate the prevalence of rhinitis, wheezing, asthma, and other respiratory symptoms/conditions among greenhouse workers. METHODS Stationary inhalable aerosol samples were collected from each greenhouse using Button Inhalable Aerosol Samplers. Control samples were collected from offices and nearby outdoor locations. A microbial source strength tester was used to examine the aerosolization potential of microbial contaminants from greenhouse floors. Additionally, surface samples were collected by sterile cotton swabs. Temperature, relative humidity, and wind velocity were recorded. Airborne culturable fungi, bacteria, and actinomycetes were analyzed in the extracts from field samples by cultivation in nutrient agar media. Endotoxin and (1→3)-β-D-glucan in the extracts from field samples were analyzed by specific kinetic chromogenic Limulus amebocyte lysate assays. The prevalence of respiratory symptoms among greenhouse workers (n = 35) and control subjects (office workers; n = 14) was estimated with a standardized questionnaire. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS The collected data indicate that workers employed in Midwest greenhouses may be exposed to elevated levels of inhalable culturable microorganisms (fungi and bacteria collectively on the order of 10(2)-10(5) CFU m(-3)), endotoxin (10(1)-10(3) EU m(-3)), and (1→3)-β-D-glucan (10(1)-10(2) ng m(-3)). Seasonal variations were observed for some bioaerosol components. The prevalence of self-reported respiratory symptoms was generally higher among greenhouse workers compared to controls; however, the differences were not statistically significant, likely due to the relatively low statistical power of the study.
The Family Semantics Grid (FSG) - The narrated polarities. A Manual for the Semantic Analysis of Therapeutic Conversations and Self-Narratives.

The paper introduces the family semantics grid (FSG), a unitizing and coding system for the semantic analysis of dyadic therapeutic conversations and self-narratives. Inspired by systemic and cognitivist therapeutic approaches centered on meaning and psychopathology, the manual focuses on Ugazio’s (1998) constructionist concept of family semantic polarities and operationalizes the narrated semantic polarities, namely the explicit semantic oppositions inferred from what is said in dyadic conversations. The FSG provides a system for coding the narrated semantic polarities extracted from the transcripts. The grid consists of four semantics — freedom, goodness, power, and belonging — which, according to Ugazio, prevail in conversations with clients diagnosed with phobic, obsessive-compulsive, eating, and mood disorders, respectively. Suitable also for biographical interviews, political speeches and literary texts, the FSG is consistent and reliable
Elastase-mediated fibrinogenolysis by chemoattractant-stimulated neutrophils occurs in the presence of physiologic concentrations of antiproteinases

Plasma levels of the HNE-derived fibrinopeptide A alpha 1-21 reflect in vivo enzyme activity. To provide a possible explanation for the presence of circulating A alpha 1-21 in individuals with normal plasma antiproteinase concentrations we investigated whether PMN-associated HNE is more resistant to inhibition than the free enzyme. PMN were stimulated to migrate across 125I-fibrinogen-coated nitrocellulose filters in response to 10(-7) M FMLP, and the extent of fibrinogenolysis was determined by measuring release of A alpha 1-21 and 125I-labeled fibrinogen degradation products. The fibrinogenolytic activity of migrating PMN was then compared with that of free HNE present in PMN lysates or secreted by PMN stimulated with FMLP. Whereas the fibrinogenolytic activity of soluble HNE was completely inhibited by low concentrations (1%) of plasma or serum and macromolecular antiproteinase (alpha 1 proteinase-inhibitor and soybean trypsin- inhibitor), even in the presence of undiluted plasma or serum the activity of the migrating PMN was incompletely blocked (81-85%). Further, concentrations of alpha 1 proteinase-inhibitor and soybean trypsin-inhibitor that totally inhibited free HNE activity also incompletely blocked (88-89%) the fibrinogenolytic activity of migrating PMN, indicating that FMLP-stimulated PMN demonstrate significant fibrinogenolytic activity in the presence of antiproteinases as small as 20,000 mol wt. A specific low molecular weight HNE inhibitor (MeO-Suc-Ala2-Pro-ValCH2Cl), however, totally blocked PMN-mediated fibrinogenolysis without affecting intracellular HNE activity, HNE secretion from PMN, or PMN migration in response to FMLP. These findings support the hypothesis that PMN migrating on a fibrinogen-coated surface form zones of close contact with fibrinogen, thus preventing access of plasma antiproteinases to HNE released at the cell-substrate interface. The occurrence of this phenomenon in vivo would explain the presence of circulating A alpha 1-21 in individuals with normal antiproteinase concentrations.
CD38 expression and complement inhibitors affect response and resistance to daratumumab therapy in myeloma.

The anti-CD38 monoclonal antibody daratumumab is well tolerated and has high single agent activity in heavily pretreated relapsed and refractory multiple myeloma (MM). However, not all patients respond, and many patients eventually develop progressive disease to daratumumab monotherapy. We therefore examined whether pretreatment expression levels of CD38 and complement-inhibitory proteins (CIPs) are associated with response and whether changes in expression of these proteins contribute to development of resistance. In a cohort of 102 patients treated with daratumumab monotherapy (16 mg/kg), we found that pretreatment levels of CD38 expression on MM cells were significantly higher in patients who achieved at least partial response (PR) compared with patients who achieved less than PR. However, cell surface expression of the CIPs, CD46, CD55, and CD59, was not associated with clinical response. In addition, CD38 expression was reduced in both bone marrow-localized and circulating MM cells, following the first daratumumab infusion. CD38 expression levels on MM cells increased again following daratumumab discontinuation. In contrast, CD55 and CD59 levels were significantly increased on MM cells only at the time of progression. All-trans retinoic acid increased CD38 levels and decreased CD55 and CD59 expression on MM cells from patients who developed daratumumab resistance, to approximately pretreatment values. This resulted in significant enhancement of daratumumab-mediated complement-dependent cytotoxicity. Together, these data demonstrate an important role for CD38 and CIP expression levels in daratumumab sensitivity and suggest that therapeutic combinations that alter CD38 and CIP expression levels should be investigated in the treatment of MM. These trials were registered at www.clinicaltrials. gov as #NCT00574288 (GEN501) and #NCT01985126 (SIRIUS).
Modeling the operation of multireservoir systems using decomposition and stochastic dynamic programming

Stochastic dynamic programming models are attractive for multireservoir control problems because they allow non‐linear features to be incorporated and changes in hydrological conditions to be modeled as Markov processes. However, with the exception of the simplest cases, these models are computationally intractable because of the high dimension of the state and action spaces involved. This paper proposes a new method of determining an operating policy for a multireservoir control problem that uses stochastic dynamic programming, but is practical for systems with many reservoirs. Decomposition is first used to reduce the problem to a number of independent subproblems. Each subproblem is formulated as a low‐dimensional stochastic dynamic program and solved to determine the operating policy for one of the reservoirs in the system. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Naval Research Logistics, 2006