Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Triterpenoids and Polysaccharide Fractions of Ganoderma tsugae Exert Different Effects on Antiallergic Activities

This study was to investigate antiallergic effects of triterpenoids (Gt-TRE) and polysaccharide (Gt-PS) extracts from Ganoderma tsugae, using mast cell line RBL-2H3, T cell line EL4, primary T cells, and transfected RAW264.7 macrophage cells. The results showed that histamine secreted from activated RBL-2H3 mast cells was significantly suppressed by Gt-TRE but not Gt-PS. Interleukin- (IL-) 4 secreted from activated EL4 cells was significantly suppressed by Gt-TRE but not Gt-PS. Further primary CD4+ T cells cultures also confirmed that Gt-TRE (5 ~ 50 µg/mL) significantly suppressed Th2 cytokines IL-4 and IL-5 secretions but had no effect on Th1 cytokines IL-2 and interferon (IFN)-γ. Gt-PS did not affect IL-4 and IL-5 secretions until higher doses (400, 500 µg/mL) and significantly suppressed IFNγ secretions but enhanced IL-2 at these high doses. The reporter gene assay indicated that Gt-TRE inhibited but Gt-PS enhanced the transcriptional activity of NF-κB in activated transfected RAW264.7 cells and transfected EL4 cells. IL-4 secreted by this transfected EL-4 cells was also significantly decreased by Gt-TRE but not by Gt-PS, suggesting that these two fractions may exert different effects on NF-κB related cytokines expression. These data suggested that triterpenoids fraction of Ganoderma tsugae might be the main constituents to alleviate allergic asthma.
Static space requirements for creep area as influenced by temperature and piglet resting behavior

Eight litters of 10 pre-weaned piglets were evaluated for resting behavior patterns in a 1x2 m creep box with uniform environment conditions (within 1oC of set point; 0.7 to 2.8oC variation) The space occupied by a litter of 10 piglets at the recommended infrared floor temperatures was AL = 0.29*M 0.53; with AL, area occupied (m2); M, individual piglet mass (kg). Under 4oC too-warm or too-cool conditions the piglets occupied approximately 10% more or less area, respectively. Huddling and fully-sternum (versus fully-recumbent) positions were significantly more common at cool conditions. The area recommended for 10 average-sized piglets at comfortable temperatures at 1-week (3.7 kg), 2-weeks (6.1 kg) and 3-weeks (8.6 kg) of age is 0.58, 0.76, and 0.91 m2, respectively.
Predicting the cloud patterns of the Madden‐Julian Oscillation through a low‐order nonlinear stochastic model

We assess the limits of predictability of the large‐scale cloud patterns in the boreal winter Madden‐Julian Oscillation (MJO) as measured through outgoing longwave radiation (OLR) alone, a proxy for convective activity. A recent advanced nonlinear time series technique, nonlinear Laplacian spectral analysis, is applied to the OLR data to define two spatial modes with high intermittency associated with the boreal winter MJO. A recent data‐driven physics‐constrained low‐order stochastic modeling procedure is applied to these time series. The result is a four‐dimensional nonlinear stochastic model for the two observed OLR variables and two hidden variables involving correlated multiplicative noise defined through energy‐conserving nonlinear interaction. Systematic calibration and prediction experiments show the skillful prediction by these models for 40, 25, and 18 days in strong, moderate, and weak MJO winters, respectively. Furthermore, the ensemble spread is an accurate indicator of forecast uncertainty at long lead times.
Allele imbalance, or loss of heterozygosity, in normal breast epithelium of sporadic breast cancer cases and BRCA1 gene mutation carriers is increased compared with reduction mammoplasty tissues.

PURPOSE Normal-appearing breast epithelium can contain genetic abnormalities, including allele imbalance (AI), also referred to as loss of heterozygosity. Whether abnormalities are associated with cancer or cancer risk is unknown. PATIENTS AND METHODS We performed a miniallelotype, using 20 microsatellites, on each of 460 histologically normal, microdissected breast terminal ducto-lobular units (TDLUs) from three groups of women: sporadic breast cancer patients (SP; n = 18), BRCA1 gene mutation carriers (BRCA1; n = 16), and controls undergoing reduction mammoplasty (RM; n = 18). We analyzed the results using Fisher's exact tests, logistic regression, and generalized estimating equations. RESULTS AI was increased three-fold in SP and BRCA1 groups compared with RM. Both the number of TDLUs with AI increased (eight [5%] of 162 in the RM group compared with 24 [15%] of 162 in the SP and 22 [16%] of 136 in the BRCA1 groups; P = .0150), and the proportion of patients with AI increased (five [28%] of 18 in the RM group compared with 15 [83%] of 18 in the SP and 13 [81%] of 16 in the BRCA1 groups; P = .0007). The adjusted odds ratios (OR) for AI in TDLU increased in SP (OR = 15.5) and BRCA1 (OR = 13.7) patients compared with RM (P = .0025). This result was particularly evident on chromosome 17q (P = .0393), where more AI was seen in BRCA1 (OR = 12.4) than in SP (OR = 4.9) patients or RM controls. CONCLUSION Increased prevalence of AI in normal-appearing epithelium is associated with breast cancer and increased breast cancer risk. The increased prevalence may reflect dysregulation, even in normal-appearing epithelium, of genomic processes contributing to cancer development. The clinical significance of genetic alterations in the subset of controls remains to be determined.
Origin of fibrous gypsum in the Newark rift basin, eastern North America

ABSTRACT Cores from the red beds constituting the Upper Triassic Passaic Formation, a syn-rift sequence in the Newark Basin, display subhorizontal fractures (veins) filled with satin spar gypsum. Such veins are apparent in the shallow subsurface, 100-300 m below present ground level, but are not observed in outcrops or in quarries because of groundwater dissolution. These fractures are roughly parallel to the present ground surface in the basin, suggesting topographic influence on their formation. Fractures observed in cores are seen to crosscut stratigraphic boundaries, indicating that the veins formed after stratal tilting and faulting and thereby post-date the early Late Jurassic. The gypsum crystals making up the vein fill grew perpendicular to the fracture walls, suggesting that opening and filling of the fractures was contemporaneous and that the fractures are extensional. That gypsum crystallizes from meteoric and connate waters and is derived by dissolution of associated evaporites is reflected in the D, 18O, 34S, and 87Sr/86Sr isotopic compositions of the sulfate. Fractures are interpreted to be a result of unloading and exhumation. Fractures were initiated after major depositional and tectonic events took place and post-date the Late Jurassic. Satin spar precipitated in those fractures, carried in by gypsum-saturated brines derived either by dissolution of the near-surface sulfate evaporites or rehydration of more deeply buried anhydrite. Such satin spar veins are not "evaporites", but are composed of chemically remobilized sulfate
Review: Versatile Monazite: resolving geological records and solving challenges in materials science. Generalizations about monazite: Implications for geochronologic studies

Abstract With the advent of techniques that preclude mineral separation, ages from specific compositional domains in monazite [(Ce,La,Th)PO4] have provided a wealth of information regarding the timing of the geologic evolution of numerous regions. However, confusion can arise when single grains show large differences in age that fail to correlate to chemistry or location within the monazite. Generalizations that lead to incorrect age interpretations include that monazite zoning in Y, Th, and/or the rare earth elements (REE) always identify: (1) distinct tectonic events; (2) environment of crystallization; and (3) provenance of detrital grains. Increasing Th contents in monazite do not always reflect: (1) increasing grade in metamorphic grains; (2) changes in silicate melt composition in igneous grains; (3) make the mineral more susceptible to alteration; nor (4) control the mineral’s uptake of REE. Metamorphic monazites from Himalayan garnet-bearing rocks with coexisting allanite show no relationship between Th content and REE. Instead, chondrite-normalized REE patterns of the allanite mirror those of the monazite, indicating the variations are related to the reactant that formed the mineral. Generalizations about Pb behavior in monazite remain problematic. Incorporation of Pb into monazite has thus far been precluded by experimental studies, yet common Pb has been measured in many studies of natural monazite. A clear understanding about controls of monazite composition and the role of the chemical and/or pressure-temperature (P-T) environment of the rocks in which it forms is required to correctly interpret the meaning of the mineral’s age(s).
Distributed and Overlapping Representations of Faces and Objects in Ventral Temporal Cortex

The functional architecture of the object vision pathway in the human brain was investigated using functional magnetic resonance imaging to measure patterns of response in ventral temporal cortex while subjects viewed faces, cats, five categories of man-made objects, and nonsense pictures. A distinct pattern of response was found for each stimulus category. The distinctiveness of the response to a given category was not due simply to the regions that responded maximally to that category, because the category being viewed also could be identified on the basis of the pattern of response when those regions were excluded from the analysis. Patterns of response that discriminated among all categories were found even within cortical regions that responded maximally to only one category. These results indicate that the representations of faces and objects in ventral temporal cortex are widely distributed and overlapping.
Antimicrobial Susceptibilities and Serotypes of Streptococcus pneumoniae Isolates from Elderly Patients with Pneumonia and Acute Exacerbation of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

ABSTRACT In the elderly, Streptococcus pneumoniae is the most common cause of pneumonia and one of the most frequently isolated pathogens in cases of acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD). This study was conducted to compare the pneumococcal isolates obtained during episodes of AECOPD and pneumonia in patients of ≥65 years old and to analyze whether in patients with AECOPD and pneumonia within a short interval, the same isolate caused both episodes. This laboratory-based study was performed between 2005 and 2008. Pneumococcal isolates from episodes of pneumonia (n = 401) and AECOPD (n = 398), matched one-to-one by date of isolation, were characterized. The serotypes and genotypes of other pneumococcal isolates causing pneumonia and AECOPD in the same patient were compared. In patients with pneumonia, COPD as an underlying disease was not associated with more-drug-resistant pneumococci. In contrast, isolates causing AECOPD showed higher rates of resistance than those causing pneumonia. Serotypes 1, 3, and 7F were more frequent in pneumonia. The same pneumococcus was involved in 25.7% (9/35 patients) of patients with two consecutive AECOPD episodes but in only 6.3% (2/32 patients) of COPD patients with pneumonia and exacerbation (Fisher's exact test; P = 0.047). Less invasive serotypes were isolated more often in AECOPD and were more resistant to antimicrobials. The presence of a specific pneumococcal serotype in AECOPD does not predict the etiology of subsequent pneumonia.
Using Semantic Annotations for Automatic Hypertext Link Generation in Scientific Texts

The paper illustrates the work-in-progress for the use of ontology-based annotations to enrich the description of document contents and thus enhance the effectiveness of automatic hyperlink generation for scientific text retrieval. We present a methodology based on the vector-space model. Then, we describe the architecture of a prototype that implements automatic hypertext link generation in scientific texts.
Oesophageal subepithelial fibrosis: an extension of oral submucosal fibrosis.

Fifty-five patients with oral submucosal fibrosis and an equal number of patients with no evidence of the disease were studied. All patients underwent upper gastrointestinal endoscopy and any abnormality was noted. Multiple oesophageal biopsies were obtained from the upper end of the oesophagus and from any endoscopically observed abnormality. The histological changes in the two groups were assessed blindly by an experienced histopathologist. Histological abnormalities were noted in the oesophageal mucosa in 2% of controls and 66% of patients with oral submucosal fibrosis (p < 0.0001). In the control group, acanthosis was seen in one patient, while in the patient group atrophy of the squamous epithelium was evident in 52%, hyperkeratosis in 52%, parakeratosis in 30%, dyskeratosis in 14%, acanthosis in 14%, and papillomatosis and mild dysplasia in 2% patients. Subepithelial collagenization was seen in 32 (64%) patients. The oesophageal abnormalities were seen more frequently in patients who had consumed Pan masala, Gutka, betel nut, tobacco or a combination of some or all of these, with or without betel leaf, for > or = 5 years compared to those consuming them for a shorter period of time (91% vs 46%, p < 0.001). It is concluded that oral submucosal fibrosis is not a disease confined to the oral cavity; the oesophagus may also be involved in about two-thirds of patients.
Transport Functions of Riboflavin Carriers in the Rat Small Intestine and Colon: Site Difference and Effects of Tricyclic-Type Drugs

The present study was aimed at kinetically characterizing the newly found carrier-mediated riboflavin transport system in the rat colon, comparing it with that in the small intestine, and also probing the potential roles of these transport systems in intestinal drug absorption. Riboflavin transport, evaluated by measuring the initial uptake into everted intestinal tissue sacs, was saturable with a Michaelis constant (Km
Terrestrial tetrapods and the end Permian event: A comparison of analyses

Previous analyses of changes in diversity of Permo‐Triassic tetrapods are reviewed and compared. Biases inherent in such studies which distort the picture of diversity change are discussed. A new analysis of change in generic diversity of the tetrapods of the Karoo Basin, South Africa is presented. Various factors which could bias the results, namely, inconsistent taxonomy, insensitive stratigraphy, area of exposure per time interval, and differing intensity of collecting are addressed and corrections made for them. The results of the new analysis are compared to those of previous ones. In particular it is noted that, contrary to the results of other studies, large decreases in generic number are recorded not once, but twice in the Late Permian sediments, the second occurring in sediments dating from well before the close of that Period. It is concluded that stratigraphic sensitivity is the most important biasing factor in the present analysis and the implications of this for other diversity studies, and .
On Reliable Computation by Noisy Random Boolean Formulas

We study noisy computation in randomly generated k-ary Boolean formulas. We establish bounds on the noise level above which the results of computation by random formulas are not reliable. This bound is saturated by formulas constructed from a single majority-like gate. We show that these gates can be used to compute any Boolean function reliably below the noise bound.
Improving the Sensitivity of Online Controlled Experiments: Case Studies at Netflix

Controlled experiments are widely regarded as the most scientific way to establish a true causal relationship between product changes and their impact on business metrics. Many technology companies rely on such experiments as their main data-driven decision-making tool. The sensitivity of a controlled experiment refers to its ability to detect differences in business metrics due to product changes. At Netflix, with tens of millions of users, increasing the sensitivity of controlled experiments is critical as failure to detect a small effect, either positive or negative, can have a substantial revenue impact. This paper focuses on methods to increase sensitivity by reducing the sampling variance of business metrics. We define Netflix business metrics and share context around the critical need for improved sensitivity. We review popular variance reduction techniques that are broadly applicable to any type of controlled experiment and metric. We describe an innovative implementation of stratified sampling at Netflix where users are assigned to experiments in real time and discuss some surprising challenges with the implementation. We conduct case studies to compare these variance reduction techniques on a few Netflix datasets. Based on the empirical results, we recommend to use post-assignment variance reduction techniques such as post stratification and CUPED instead of at-assignment variance reduction techniques such as stratified sampling in large-scale controlled experiments.
Absorption spectrum (340-640 nm) of pure water. I. Photothermal measurements.

We measured the absorption spectrum (340-640 nm) of the purest available water with photothermal deflection spectroscopy. Our spectrum exhibits an absorption minimum in the blue region of the spectrum that is deeper than in most previously documented pure-water absorption studies. We attribute this to exceptional sample purity and our technique's inherent freedom from scattering effects. Because the absorption minimum is significantly lower, our spectrum displays high-order molecular resonance structure not observed in any previous absorption studies to our knowledge. We find the minimum in the absorption spectrum of pure water is 0.0062 ? 0.0006 m(-1) at 420 nm and 25 degrees C.
Lessons to be Learned from Natural Control of HIV – Future Directions, Therapeutic, and Preventive Implications

Accumulating data generated from persons who naturally control HIV without the need for antiretroviral treatment has led to significant insights into the possible mechanisms of durable control of AIDS virus infection. At the center of this control is the HIV-specific CD8 T cell response, and the basis for this CD8-mediated control is gradually being revealed. Genome wide association studies coupled with HLA sequence data implicate the nature of the HLA-viral peptide interaction as the major genetic factor modulating durable control of HIV, but host genetic factors account for only around 20% of the variability in control. Other factors including specific functional characteristics of the TCR clonotypes generated in vivo, targeting of vulnerable regions of the virus that lead to fitness impairing mutations, immune exhaustion, and host restriction factors that limit HIV replication all have been shown to additionally contribute to control. Moreover, emerging data indicate that the CD8+ T cell response may be critical for attempts to purge virus infected cells following activation of the latent reservoir, and thus lessons learned from elite controllers (ECs) are likely to impact the eradication agenda. On-going efforts are also needed to understand and address the role of immune activation in disease progression, as it becomes increasingly clear that durable immune control in ECs comes at a cost. Taken together, the research achievements in the attempt to unlock the mechanisms behind natural control of HIV will continue to be an important source of insights and ideas in the continuous search after an effective HIV vaccine, and for the attempts to achieve a sterilizing or functional cure in HIV positive patients with progressive infection.
Geologic Surface Effects Of Underground Nuclear Testing, Buckboard Mesa, Climax Stock, Dome Mountain, Frenchman Flat, Rainier/Aqueduct Mesa, and Shoshone Mountain, Nevada Test Site, Nevada

Surface effects maps were produced for 72 of 89 underground detonations conducted at the Frenchman Flat, Rainier Mesa and Aqueduct Mesa, Climax Stock, Shoshone Mountain, Buckboard Mesa, and Dome Mountain testing areas of the Nevada Test Site between August 10, 1957 (Saturn detonation, Area 12) and September 18, 1992 (Hunters Trophy detonation, Area 12). The “Other Areas” Surface Effects Map Database, which was used to construct the maps shown in this report, contains digital reproductions of these original maps. The database is provided in both ArcGIS (v. 8.2) geodatabase format and ArcView (v. 3.2) shapefile format. This database contains sinks, cracks, faults, and other surface effects having a combined (cumulative) length of 136.38 km (84.74 mi). In GIS digital format, the user can view all surface effects maps simultaneously, select and view the surface effects of one or more sites of interest, or view specific surface effects by area or site. Three map layers comprise the database. They are: (1) the surface effects maps layer (oase_n27f), (2) the bar symbols layer (oase_bar_n27f), and (3) the ball symbols layer (oase_ball_n27f). Additionally, an annotation layer, named "Ball_and_Bar_Labels," and a polygon features layer, named "Area12_features_poly_n27f," are contained in the geodatabase version of the database. The annotation layer automatically labels all 295 ball-and-bar symbols shown on these maps. The polygon features layer displays areas of ground disturbances, such as rock spall and disturbed ground caused by the detonations. Shapefile versions of the polygon features layer in Nevada State Plane and Universal Transverse Mercator projections, named "area12_features_poly_n27f. shp" and "area12_features_poly_u83m. shp," are also provided in the archive.
Systematic review and meta-analysis of chronic kidney disease as predictor of atrial fibrillation recurrence following catheter ablation.

BACKGROUND Recent observational studies have shown that patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) have higher risk of atrial fibrillation (AF) recurrence and, therefore, the value of catheter ablation therapy in patients with CKD has been doubted. The purpose of this meta-analysis was to systematically analyze the effect of CKD on recurrence of AF following catheter ablation. METHODS PubMed and Cochrane clinical trials databases were searched until August 2012. Of the 1966 initially identified studies, 4 observational studies with 1379 patients were analyzed. RESULTS The meta-analysis of these studies showed that CKD was associated with higher AF recurrence rate following single catheter ablation (HR = 1.96, 95% CI 1.35-2.85, p = 0.0004) while there were significant differences between individual trials (p = 0.07 and I2 = 58%). Sensitivity analysis suggested that this outcome was stable. A subgroup analysis showed that CKD has higher recurrent risk in patients with 100% paroxysmal AF (HR = 2.45, 95% CI 1.28-4.70, p = 0.007) than in patients with non 100% paroxysmal AF (HR = 1.65, 95% CI 1.15-2.36, p = 0.006). CONCLUSIONS CKD was associated with higher AF recurrence rate following single catheter ablation. In addition, patients with 100% paroxysmal AF have higher risk than patients with non 100% paroxysmal AF that merits special consideration when evaluating patients for catheter-based AF ablation. Given that the CKD prevalence is rapidly increasing, there is an imperative need for better risk stratification of catheter ablation candidates.