Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Hubble Space Telescope observations of the black hole X‐ray transient GRO J0422+32 near quiescence

We present HST/FOS ultraviolet and optical spectroscopy of the black hole X-ray transient GRO J0422+32 shortly before the system reached quiescence. We find that the accretion spectrum from 2500 to 9000 A can be very well fitted by a self-absorbed synchrotron model, with superposed H I and Mg II emission lines. The explanations that we suggest for this spectrum are either that it is due to active coronal regions above a geometrically thin accretion disc, or that the disc is evaporated into an advective flow.
Chip design of an 8 MHz CMOS switched-capacitor low-pass filter for signal receiver applications

In this paper, a fifth-order elliptical low-pass filter using switched-capacitor (SC) architecture is proposed. The filter has a pass-band of 8 MHz and clock frequency of 80 MHz. The proposed filter is realized by cascades of first-order and second-order biquad building blocks. In order to reach the largest possible input dynamic range and save chip area, the method of dynamic range scaling and minimum capacitor scaling is used. Measurement results show that the proposed SC low-pass filter achieves a pass-band frequency of 8.72 MHz. The chip area including pads is 0.895 mm2 and the power dissipation is 44.2 mW at the supply voltage 1.8 V.
Critical Product Features' Identification Using an Opinion Analyzer

The increasing use and ubiquity of the Internet facilitate dissemination of word-of-mouth through blogs, online forums, newsgroups, and consumer's reviews. Online consumer's reviews present tremendous opportunities and challenges for consumers and marketers. One of the challenges is to develop interactive marketing practices for making connections with target consumers that capitalize consumer-to-consumer communications for generating product adoption. Opinion mining is employed in marketing to help consumers and enterprises in the analysis of online consumers' reviews by highlighting the strengths and weaknesses of the products. This paper describes an opinion mining system based on novel review and feature ranking methods to empower consumers and enterprises for identifying critical product features from enormous consumers' reviews. Consumers and business analysts are the main target group for the proposed system who want to explore consumers' feedback for determining purchase decisions and enterprise strategies. We evaluate the proposed system on real dataset. Results show that integration of review and feature-ranking methods improves the decision making processes significantly.
Fast and Sensitive Method for Determination of Domoic Acid in Mussel Tissue

Domoic acid (DA), a neurotoxic amino acid produced by diatoms, is the main cause of amnesic shellfish poisoning (ASP). In this work, we propose a very simple and fast analytical method to determine DA in mussel tissue. The method consists of two consecutive extractions and requires no purification steps, due to a reduction of the extraction of the interfering species and the application of very sensitive and selective HILIC-MS/MS method. The procedural method was validated through the estimation of trueness, extract yield, precision, detection, and quantification limits of analytical method. The sample preparation was also evaluated through qualitative and quantitative evaluations of the matrix effect. These evaluations were conducted both on the DA-free matrix spiked with known DA concentration and on the reference certified material (RCM). We developed a very selective LC-MS/MS method with a very low value of method detection limit (9 ng g−1) without cleanup steps.
Splice-Site Mutations Cause Rrp6-Mediated Nuclear Retention of the Unspliced RNAs and Transcriptional Down-Regulation of the Splicing-Defective Genes

Background Eukaryotic cells have developed surveillance mechanisms to prevent the expression of aberrant transcripts. An early surveillance checkpoint acts at the transcription site and prevents the release of mRNAs that carry processing defects. The exosome subunit Rrp6 is required for this checkpoint in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, but it is not known whether Rrp6 also plays a role in mRNA surveillance in higher eukaryotes. Methodology/Principal Findings We have developed an in vivo system to study nuclear mRNA surveillance in Drosophila melanogaster. We have produced S2 cells that express a human β-globin gene with mutated splice sites in intron 2 (mut β-globin). The transcripts encoded by the mut β-globin gene are normally spliced at intron 1 but retain intron 2. The levels of the mut β-globin transcripts are much lower than those of wild type (wt) ß-globin mRNAs transcribed from the same promoter. We have compared the expression of the mut and wt β-globin genes to investigate the mechanisms that down-regulate the production of defective mRNAs. Both wt and mut β-globin transcripts are processed at the 3′, but the mut β-globin transcripts are less efficiently cleaved than the wt transcripts. Moreover, the mut β-globin transcripts are less efficiently released from the transcription site, as shown by FISH, and this defect is restored by depletion of Rrp6 by RNAi. Furthermore, transcription of the mut β-globin gene is significantly impaired as revealed by ChIP experiments that measure the association of the RNA polymerase II with the transcribed genes. We have also shown that the mut β-globin gene shows reduced levels of H3K4me3. Conclusions/Significance Our results show that there are at least two surveillance responses that operate cotranscriptionally in insect cells and probably in all metazoans. One response requires Rrp6 and results in the inefficient release of defective mRNAs from the transcription site. The other response acts at the transcription level and reduces the synthesis of the defective transcripts through a mechanism that involves histone modifications.
Parental Leave Policies in Europe and North America

Despite widespread international implementation, limited information is currently available on the economic impact of mandated family leave policies. This paper increases our understanding of the nature and effects of parental leave entitlements in several ways. First, we provide a brief history of family leave legislation in Europe and North America and summarize arguments relating to the efficiency and incidence of mandated leave. Second, we have constructed a longitudinal data set detailing durations of job- protected leave in 17 countries, during the 1960-89 period, and use this information to examine recent trends in the regulations. The data indicate that family leave durations grew rapidly during the decade of the 1970s, with more modest increases since that time. Third, we provide an exploratory investigation of the relationship between mandated leave policies and macroeconomic outcomes. The econometric estimates provide little support for the view that moderate periods of parental leave reduce economic efficiency but rather hint at a modest beneficial impact, particularly when considering paid time off work.
On the intrinsic complexity of elimination problems in effective Algebraic Geometry

The representation of polynomials by arithmetic circuits evaluating them is an alternative data structure which allowed considerable progress in polynomial equation solving in the last fifteen years. We present a circuit based computation model which captures all known symbolic elimination algorithms in effective algebraic geometry and show the intrinsically exponential complexity character of elimination in this complexity model.
Chemoattractant Signaling between Tumor Cells and Macrophages Regulates Cancer Cell Migration, Metastasis and Neovascularization

Tumor-associated macrophages are known to influence cancer progression by modulation of immune function, angiogenesis, and cell metastasis, however, little is known about the chemokine signaling networks that regulate this process. Utilizing CT26 colon cancer cells and RAW 264.7 macrophages as a model cellular system, we demonstrate that treatment of CT26 cells with RAW 264.7 conditioned medium induces cell migration, invasion and metastasis. Inflammatory gene microarray analysis indicated CT26-stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophages upregulate SDF-1α and VEGF, and that these cytokines contribute to CT26 migration in vitro. RAW 264.7 macrophages also showed a robust chemotactic response towards CT26-derived chemokines. In particular, microarray analysis and functional testing revealed CSF-1 as the major chemoattractant for RAW 264.7 macrophages. Interestingly, in the chick CAM model of cancer progression, RAW 264.7 macrophages localized specifically to the tumor periphery where they were found to increase CT26 tumor growth, microvascular density, vascular disruption, and lung metastasis, suggesting these cells home to actively invading areas of the tumor, but not the hypoxic core of the tumor mass. In support of these findings, hypoxic conditions down regulated CSF-1 production in several tumor cell lines and decreased RAW 264.7 macrophage migration in vitro. Together our findings suggest a model where normoxic tumor cells release CSF-1 to recruit macrophages to the tumor periphery where they secrete motility and angiogenic factors that facilitate tumor cell invasion and metastasis.
Sputum culture conversion with moxifloxacin-containing regimens in the treatment of patients with newly diagnosed sputum-positive pulmonary tuberculosis in South India.

BACKGROUND Rapid sputum culture conversion at 2 months indicates the sterilizing capacity and potential of regimens to shorten duration of tuberculosis treatment. We compared results of sputum culture conversion by moxifloxacin and control regimens and identified factors affecting sputum culture positivity after 2 months of treatment. METHODS Human immunodeficiency virus-uninfected adults with newly diagnosed smear-positive pulmonary tuberculosis were randomized to receive a 3- or 4-month moxifloxacin regimen (moxifloxacin [M], isoniazid [H], rifampicin [R], pyrazinamide [Z], ethambutol [E]) or the control regimen (RHZE thrice weekly). Bacteriological assessments were done at 15, 30, 45, and 60 days of treatment. Because all patients in the moxifloxacin groups received 2 months of daily RHZEM, they were grouped together for analysis. Statistical methods included χ(2) test and logistic regression analysis. RESULTS Sputum culture conversion was analyzed in 780 (616 in the moxifloxacin group and 164 in the control group) of 801 enrolled patients. Ninety-five percent of 590 patients in the moxifloxacin group and 81% of 151 patients in the control group had negative sputum cultures at month 2 (P < .001). The control regimen, age (≥35 years), initial sputum culture grade (2+ or 3+), and male sex were significantly associated with higher odds of positive sputum cultures at 2 months. CONCLUSIONS A 5-drug daily regimen with moxifloxacin results in significantly higher sputum culture conversion in the first 2 months compared with a thrice-weekly, 4-drug regimen in patients with newly diagnosed sputum-positive pulmonary tuberculosis.
Thimerosal in Childhood Vaccines, Neurodevelopment Disorders, and Heart Disease in the United States Finally, we analyzed data from the US

In this study, we evaluated doses of mercury from thimerosal-containing childhood immunizations in comparison to US Federal Safety Guidelines and the effects of increasing doses of mercury o n t he i ncidence o f neurodevelopment disorders and heart disease. This study showed that children received mercury from this source in excess of the Federal Safety Guidelines for the oral ingestion of methylmercury. Our analyses showed increasing r elative r isks f or neurodevelopment disorders and heart disease with increasing doses of mercury. This study provides strong epidemiological evidence for a link between mercury exposure from thimerosal-containing childhood vaccines and neurodevelopment disorders.
Purkinje Cell Death After Uptake of Anti-Yo Antibodies in Cerebellar Slice Cultures

Paraneoplastic cerebellar degeneration accompanying gynecological and breast cancers is characteristically accompanied by a serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) antibody response, termed "anti-Yo," which reacts with cytoplasmic proteins of cerebellar Purkinje cells. Because these antibodies interact with cytoplasmic rather than cell surface membrane proteins, their role in causing Purkinje cell death has been questioned. To address this issue, we studied the interaction of anti-Yo antibodies with Purkinje cells in slice (organotypic) cultures of rat cerebellum. We incubated cultures with immunoglobulin G (IgG)-containing anti-Yo antibodies using titers of anti-Yo antibody equivalent to those found in CSF of affected patients. Cultures were then studied in real time and after fixation for potential uptake of antibody and induction of cell death. Anti-Yo antibodies delivered in serum, CSF, or purified IgG were taken up by viable Purkinje cells, accumulated intracellularly, and were associated with cell death. Normal IgG was also taken up by Purkinje cells but did not accumulate and did not affect cell viability. These findings indicate that autoantibodies directed against intracellular Purkinje cell proteins can be taken up to cause cell death and suggest that anti-Yo antibody may be directly involved in the pathogenesis of paraneoplastic cerebellar degeneration.
Measuring severe adverse events and medication selection using a “PEER Report” for nonpsychotic patients: a retrospective chart review

We previously reported on an objective new tool that uses quantitative electroencephalography (QEEG) normative- and referenced-electroencephalography sampling databases (currently called Psychiatric EEG Evaluation Registry [PEER]), which may assist physicians in determining medication selection for optimal efficacy to overcome trial-and-error prescribing. The PEER test compares drug-free QEEG features for individual patients to a database of patients with similar EEG patterns and known outcomes after pharmacological interventions. Based on specific EEG data elements and historical outcomes, the PEER Report may also serve as a marker of future severe adverse events (eg, agitation, hostility, aggressiveness, suicidality, homicidality, mania, hypomania) with specific medications. We used a retrospective chart review to investigate the clinical utility of such a registry in a naturalistic environment. Results This chart review demonstrated significant improvement on the global assessment scales Clinical Global Impression – Improvement and Quality of Life Enjoyment and Satisfaction – Short Form as well as time to maximum medical improvement and decreased suicidality occurrences. The review also showed that 54.5% of previous medications causing a severe adverse event would have been raised as a caution had the PEER Report been available at the time the drug was prescribed. Finally, due to the significant amount of off-label prescribing of psychotropic medications, additional, objective, evidence-based data aided the prescriber toward better choices. Conclusion The PEER Report may be useful, particularly in treatment-resistant patients, in helping to guide medication selection. Based on the preliminary data obtained from this chart review, additional studies are warranted to establish the safety and efficacy of adding PEER data when making medication decisions.
Anatomical studies of ovule development in the post-bloom pistils of the ‘Zuili’ plum (Prunus salicina Lindl.)

In order to investigate the cause of poor fruit set in ‘Zuili’ plums, anatomical examinations of post-bloom pistils were conducted and the dates of young fruit drop were recorded during the growing seasons of 2008 and 2009. Pistils of cv. ‘Black Amber’ were also examined as an abundant setting control. Two major dropping periods were detected in ‘Zuili’: one during the first 5 d after full bloom (DAF) and another between 10 and 17 DAF. Anatomical analyses of the pistils at the full bloom stage revealed that half of the ovules had not developed embryos, which may have caused their early drop. In most dropped pistils collected at 17 DAF, the micropyle had not been penetrated by a pollen tube, indicating that they were not fertilized. ‘Zuili’ ovules initiated embryo division at 10–12 DAF, although thereafter embryo development was retarded when compared to the rates observed in ‘Black Amber’. Ovule fertilization failure and inactive embryo development after ovule fertilization may be the major causes of the later fruit drop observed in ‘Zuili’ plum trees.
The NAFTA tide: Lifting the larger and better boats

We use panel data on Mexican manufacturing plants to study the connection between plants' responses to changes in the economic environment and their contributions to aggregate total factor productivity growth, in the period following the implementation of the North American Trade Agreement. An overwhelming share of industry-level aggregate total factor productivity growth is accounted for by a small number of plants, which were larger and more productive before the implementation of NAFTA and expanded and became more productive following the implementation of NAFTA. Plants that exported before NAFTA and exported continuously through to 2000, and new exporters, are more likely to be among the top-performing plants. The performance of plants with similar exporting experience displays, however, remarkable heterogeneity: a significant number of plants that never export have strong output and productivity performance, while many exporters display poor performance. Spending on research and development, and three variables describing plants' level of integration in the global markets – foreign direct investment, use of imported intermediary inputs, and investment in foreign capital goods – are positively correlated with output and productivity performance.
Impact of Mean Platelet Volume on Combined Safety Endpoint and Vascular and Bleeding Complications following Percutaneous Transfemoral Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation

Background. Vascular and bleeding complications remain important complications in patients undergoing percutaneous transfemoral transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TF-TAVI). Platelets play an important role in bleeding events. Mean platelet volume (MPV) is an indicator of platelet activation. The objective of this study was to assess whether low MPV is an indicator of major vascular and bleeding complications following TF-TAVI. Methods. A retrospective cohort study of 330 subjects undergoing TF-TAVI implantation was performed. The primary study endpoint was the occurrence of combined safety endpoint (CSEP); secondary endpoints included major vascular complications and life-threatening bleeding. Endpoints were defined according to Valve Academic Research Consortium 2. Results. The CSEP at 30 days was reached in 30.9%; major vascular complications were observed in 14.9% while life-threatening bleeding occurred in 20.6%. Logistic Euroscore and MPV were independent predictors of CSEP. Predictors of vascular complications were female sex, previous myocardial infarction, red blood cell distribution width (RDW), and MPV while predictors of life-threatening bleeding were peripheral arterial disease, RDW, and MPV. Conclusion. A low baseline MPV was shown for the first time to be a significant predictor of CSEP, major vascular complications, and life-threatening bleeding following TF-TAVI.
Functional Electrical Stimulation to Ankle Dorsiflexor and Plantarflexor Using Single Foot Switch in Patients With Hemiplegia From Hemorrhagic Stroke

Objective To evaluate the effects of functional electrical stimulation (FES) to ankle dorsiflexor (DF) and ankle plantarflexor (PF) on kinematic and kinetic parameters of hemiplegic gait. Methods Fourteen post-stroke hemiplegic patients were considered in this study. Electrical stimulation was delivered to ankle DF during the swing phase and ankle PF during the stance phase via single foot switch. Kinematic and kinetic data were collected using a computerized motion analysis system with force plate. Data of no stimulation (NS), DF stimulation only (DS), DF and PF stimulation (DPS) group were compared among each other. Results Peak ankle dorsiflexion angle during swing phase is significantly greater in DS group (-1.55°±9.10°) and DPS group (-2.23°±9.64°), compared with NS group (-6.71°±11.73°) (p<0.05), although there was no statistically significant difference between DS and DPS groups. Ankle plantarflexion angle at toe-off did not show significant differences among NS, DS, and DPS groups. Peak knee flexion in DPS group (34.12°±13.77°) during swing phase was significantly greater than that of NS group (30.78°±13.64°), or DS group (32.83°±13.07°) (p<0.05). Conclusion In addition to the usual FES application stimulating ankle DF during the swing phase, stimulation of ankle PF during stance phase can help to increase peak knee flexion during the swing phase. This study shows the advantages of stimulating the ankle DF and PF using single foot switch for post-stroke gait.
Genomic Deregulation of the E2F/Rb Pathway Leads to Activation of the Oncogene EZH2 in Small Cell Lung Cancer

Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is a highly aggressive lung neoplasm with extremely poor clinical outcomes and no approved targeted treatments. To elucidate the mechanisms responsible for driving the SCLC phenotype in hopes of revealing novel therapeutic targets, we studied copy number and methylation profiles of SCLC. We found disruption of the E2F/Rb pathway was a prominent feature deregulated in 96% of the SCLC samples investigated and was strongly associated with increased expression of EZH2, an oncogene and core member of the polycomb repressive complex 2 (PRC2). Through its catalytic role in the PRC2 complex, EZH2 normally functions to epigenetically silence genes during development, however, it aberrantly silences genes in human cancers. We provide evidence to support that EZH2 is functionally active in SCLC tumours, exerts pro-tumourigenic functions in vitro, and is associated with aberrant methylation profiles of PRC2 target genes indicative of a “stem-cell like” hypermethylator profile in SCLC tumours. Furthermore, lentiviral-mediated knockdown of EZH2 demonstrated a significant reduction in the growth of SCLC cell lines, suggesting EZH2 has a key role in driving SCLC biology. In conclusion, our data confirm the role of EZH2 as a critical oncogene in SCLC, and lend support to the prioritization of EZH2 as a potential therapeutic target in clinical disease.
The Peroxiredoxin and Glutathione Peroxidase Families in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii

Thiol/selenol peroxidases are ubiquitous nonheme peroxidases. They are divided into two major subfamilies: peroxiredoxins (PRXs) and glutathione peroxidases (GPXs). PRXs are present in diverse subcellular compartments and divided into four types: 2-cys PRX, 1-cys PRX, PRX-Q, and type II PRX (PRXII). In mammals, most GPXs are selenoenzymes containing a highly reactive selenocysteine in their active site while yeast and land plants are devoid of selenoproteins but contain nonselenium GPXs. The presence of a chloroplastic 2-cys PRX, a nonselenium GPX, and two selenium-dependent GPXs has been reported in the unicellular green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. The availability of the Chlamydomonas genome sequence offers the opportunity to complete our knowledge on thiol/selenol peroxidases in this organism. In this article, Chlamydomonas PRX and GPX families are presented and compared to their counterparts in Arabidopsis, human, yeast, and Synechocystis sp. A summary of the current knowledge on each family of peroxidases, especially in photosynthetic organisms, phylogenetic analyses, and investigations of the putative subcellular localization of each protein and its relative expression level, on the basis of EST data, are presented. We show that Chlamydomonas PRX and GPX families share some similarities with other photosynthetic organisms but also with human cells. The data are discussed in view of recent results suggesting that these enzymes are important scavengers of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reactive nitrogen species (RNS) but also play a role in ROS signaling.