Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Nitrogen and triple oxygen isotopes in near-road air samples using chemical conversion and thermal decomposition.

RATIONALE The determination of triple oxygen (δ(18)O and δ(17)O) and nitrogen isotopes (δ(15)N) is important when investigating the sources and atmospheric paths of nitrate and nitrite. To fully understand the atmospheric contribution into the terrestrial nitrogen cycle, it is crucial to determine the δ(15)N values of oxidised and reduced nitrogen species in precipitation and dry deposition. METHODS In an attempt to further develop non-biotic methods and avoid expensive modifications of the gas-equilibration system, we have combined and modified sample preparation procedures and analytical setups used by other researchers. We first chemically converted NO(3)(-) and NH(4)(+) into NO(2)(-) and then into N(2)O. Subsequently, the resulting gas was decomposed into N(2) and O(2) and analyzed by isotope ratio mass spectrometry (IRMS) using a pre-concentration system equipped with a gold reduction furnace. RESULTS The δ(17)O, δ(18)O and δ(15)N values of nitrate and nitrite samples were acquired simultaneously in one run using a single analytical system. Most importantly, the entire spectrum of δ(17)O, δ(18)O and/or δ(15)N values was determined from atmospheric nitrate, nitric oxide, ammonia and ammonium. The obtained isotopic values for air and precipitation samples were in good agreement with those from previous studies. CONCLUSIONS We have further advanced chemical approaches to sample preparation and isotope analyses of nitrogen-bearing compounds. The proposed methods are inexpensive and easily adaptable to a wide range of laboratory conditions. This will substantially contribute to further studies on sources and pathways of nitrate, nitrite and ammonium in terrestrial nitrogen cycling.
Repeated Probit Regression When Covariates Are Measured With Error

Summary. This paper develops a model for repeated binary regression when a covariate is measured with error. The model allows for estimating the effect of the true value of the covariate on a repeated binary response. The choice of a probit link for the effect of the error‐free covariate, coupled with normal measurement error for the error‐free covariate, results in a probit model after integrating over the measurement error distribution. We propose a two‐stage estimation procedure where, in the first stage, a linear mixed model is used to fit the repeated covariate. In the second stage, a model for the correlated binary responses conditional on the linear mixed model estimates is fit to the repeated binary data using generalized estimating equations. The approach is demonstrated using nutrient safety data from the Diet Intervention of School Age Children (DISC) study.
Hailey–Hailey disease: the clinical features, response to treatment and prognosis

Fifty‐eight individuals with Hailey–Hailey disease were studied to delineate the clinical features, response to treatment and prognosis. The disease generally presented between the second and fourth decades, but the morphology of lesions was varied and a delay in diagnosis was common. Nail changes have not been documented in previous studies of Hailey–Hailey disease, but asymptomatic longitudinal white bands were present in the fingernails in 71% of 38 patients examined and are a helpful physical sign. The disease is predominantly flexural. Friction and heat or sweating exacerbate the lesions and pain may limit physical activities. The prognosis was assessed in 27 patients with longstanding disease and the long‐term outlook is generally good. Seventeen patients had improved and the disease was static in seven patients. Three patients deteriorated with age. Topical corticosteroids with or without added antibiotics were an effective treatment.
MRI of gallstones with different compositions.

OBJECTIVE Gallstones are usually recognized on MRI as filling defects of hypointensity. However, they sometimes may appear as hyperintensities on T1-weighted imaging. This study investigated how gallstones appear on MRI and how their appearance influences the detection of gallstones. MATERIALS AND METHODS Gallstones from 24 patients who had MRI performed before the removal of the gallstones were collected for study. The gallstones were classified either as cholesterol gallstone (n = 4) or as pigment gallstone (n = 20) according to their gross appearance and based on analysis by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. MRI included three sequences: single-shot fast spin-echo T2-weighted imaging, 3D fast spoiled gradient-echo T1-weighted imaging, and in-phase fast spoiled gradient-echo T1-weighted imaging. The signal intensity and the detection rate of gallstones on MRI were further correlated with the character of the gallstones. RESULTS On T1-weighted 3D fast spoiled gradient-echo images, most of the pigment gallstones (18/20) were hyperintense and all the cholesterol gallstones (4/4) were hypointense. The mean ratio of the signal intensity of gallstone to bile was (+/- standard deviation) 3.36 +/- 1.88 for pigment gallstone and 0.24 +/- 0.10 for cholesterol gallstone on the 3D fast spoiled gradient-echo sequence (p < 0.001). Combining the 3D fast spoiled gradient-echo and single-shot fast spin-echo sequences achieved the highest gallstone detection rate (96.4%). CONCLUSION Based on the differences of signal intensity of gallstones, the 3D fast spoiled gradient-echo T1-weighted imaging was able to diagnose the composition of gallstones. Adding the 3D fast spoiled gradient-echo imaging to the single-shot fast spin-echo T2-weighted sequence can further improve the detection rate of gallstones.
Perinatal and family risk factors for non-Hodgkin lymphoma in early life: a Swedish national cohort study.

BACKGROUND The incidence of non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) in early life has increased in recent decades, but the relevant risk factors remain largely unknown. We examined perinatal and family risk factors for NHL in childhood through young adulthood. METHODS We conducted a national cohort study of 3 571 574 individuals born in Sweden in 1973-2008 who were followed for incidence of NHL through 2009 (ages 0-37 years). Detailed information on perinatal and family characteristics and NHL diagnoses were obtained from national birth and cancer registries. Cox proportional hazards regression was used to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for the association between perinatal and family variables and NHL; P values are from two-sided tests. RESULTS There were 936 NHL case patients identified in 66.3 million person-years of follow-up. Independent risk factors for NHL included family history of NHL in either a sibling (adjusted HR = 9.84; 95% CI = 2.46 to 39.41; P = .001) or parent (adjusted HR = 2.36; 95% CI = 1.27 to 4.38; P = .007); high fetal growth (for ≥ 2 SDs relative to 0 to <1 SD from the mean: adjusted HR = 1.64; 95% CI = 1.19 to 2.25; P = .002); older maternal age (adjusted HR for each 5-year increment = 1.11; 95% CI = 1.04 to 1.19; P (trend) = . 004); low birth order (adjusted HR for each increment of one birth = 0.91; 95% CI = 0.84 to 0.99; P (trend) = . 02); and male sex (adjusted HR = 1.58; 95% CI = 1.38 to 1.80; P < .001). Male sex was associated with onset of NHL before 15 years of age but not with later-onset NHL, whereas the other risk factors did not vary by age at diagnosis. No association was found between gestational age at birth, twinning, paternal age, or parental education and NHL. CONCLUSION In this large national cohort study, family history of NHL, high fetal growth, older maternal age, low birth order, and male sex were independent risk factors for NHL in early life.
To evaluate the different rapid screening tests for diagnosis of leptospirosis.

INTRODUCTION Leptospirosis is an acute febrile disease, in tropical and sub-tropical regions of world. It has been under-reported in India, due to presence of non-specific symptoms and unavailability of appropriate laboratory diagnostic facilities in most part of the country. The diagnosis of leptospirosis is usually based on demonstration of antibodies by different serological tests. AIM The present study aims to evaluate and compare commercially available rapid test. DESIGN AND SETTINGS Case control study. MATERIALS AND METHODS Three screening tests (Leptocheck WB, Latex agglutination test and SD leptospira) were compared by using 100 serum samples randomly obtained from clinical cases of Leptospirosis admitted in new civil hospital, Surat, Gujarat. All the patients with acute Leptospirosis were included in this 4-months pilot study from July 2011 to October 2011. All the results were compared with IgM ELISA and MAT for confirmation of diagnosis. RESULTS Leptocheck WB, Latex agglutination test and SD leptospira had sensitivities of 84.8%, 84.8% and 72.7% & specificities of 37.3%, 71.2% and 71.2% respectively as compared to MAT. Leptocheck WB, Latex agglutination test and SD leptospira had sensitivities of 90.7%, 89.7% and 53.7% & specificities of 93.4%, 90.9% and 60% respectively as compared to IgM ELISA. CONCLUSION Latex agglutination test kit and Leptocheck WB were found to be highly sensitive and specific. Neither of these tests require specialized equipment, and could be performed in peripheral laboratories with relatively little expertise.
Ice–Water Interfacial Free Energy for the TIP4P, TIP4P/2005, TIP4P/Ice, and mW Models As Obtained from the Mold Integration Technique

The freezing of water is greatly influenced by the ice–water interfacial free energy. Yet, no consistent experimental measures of this thermodynamic parameter can be found. In this work we provide estimates for the ice Ih–water interfacial free energy at the normal melting temperature for different crystal planes (basal, primary prismatic, and secondary prismatic) using some widely used water models: TIP4P, TIP4P/2005, TIP4P/Ice, and mW. To compute the interfacial free energy, we use the mold integration method. It consists in calculating the work needed to induce the formation of a crystal slab in the fluid at coexistence conditions with the aid of a mold of potential energy wells whose structure is that of the crystal plane under study. The basal plane has the lowest interfacial free energy in all models of the TIP4P family. For the mW model we could not resolve differences in interfacial free energy between different orientations. The interfacial free energies averaged over all crystal orientations we .
A fast and long-lived outflow from the supermassive black hole in NGC 5548

Gas jets block extragalactic x-rays Supermassive black holes at the heart of active galaxies produce powerful gas outflows. NGC 5548 is one such source known to sustain a persistent outflow of ionized gas. However, its associated x-ray and ultraviolet (UV) emission seem to have been suppressed in recent years. Kaastra et al. conducted a multiwavelength monitoring campaign throughout 2013 to characterize the system's behavior. They suggest that an additional faster jet component has been launching clumps of gas that obscure both the x-ray and UV radiation. The timing of this phenomenon indicates a source only a few light-days away from the nucleus. This proximity suggests that the outflow could be associated with a wind from the supermassive black hole's accretion disk. Even more powerful outflows could also influence their host galaxies, and this finding demonstrates how that feedback might work. Science, this issue p. 64 Prolonged suppression of high-energy emission from an active galactic nucleus is attributed to fast expulsion of ionized gas. Supermassive black holes in the nuclei of active galaxies expel large amounts of matter through powerful winds of ionized gas. The archetypal active galaxy NGC 5548 has been studied for decades, and high-resolution x-ray and ultraviolet (UV) observations have previously shown a persistent ionized outflow. An observing campaign in 2013 with six space observatories shows the nucleus to be obscured by a long-lasting, clumpy stream of ionized gas not seen before. It blocks 90% of the soft x-ray emission and causes simultaneous deep, broad UV absorption troughs. The outflow velocities of this gas are up to five times faster than those in the persistent outflow, and, at a distance of only a few light days from the nucleus, it may likely originate from the accretion disk.
Human histocompatibility matching. II. Calculated probability and clinical reality.

According to the rules of selecting suitable recipients for cadaver kidney transplants a high degree of HL-A compatibility is usually sought. This may lead to an uneven distribution of transplantations in the pool of waiting patients, favouring those who have a more common HL-A phenotype.The probability for histocompatibility has been calculated for all of 5044 phenotypes (Hogman et al., 1972). All patients who were registered in Scandiatrans-plant for kidney transplantation during a 6-month period were classified in retrospect according to this probability and followed up for at least 12 months.High probability values were related to an early transplantation with a good HL-A match. Low probability figures were related to a high percentage of non-transplanted patients and a long waiting time before transplantation. Blood group A patients were transplanted twice as frequently as group O patients. We recommend that consideration be given to the calculated histocompatibility probability at each cadaver kidne.
High-content assay for precision medicine discovery in cystic fibrosis.

Abstract Background and Purpose Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a life-limiting disease caused by mutations in the human CFTR gene, encoding an anion-selective channel. Because CF-causing mutations affect both CFTR permeation/gating and biogenesis, multi-assay approaches have been implemented in drug development, sequentially screening for channel function and membrane density. Here we present the first assay capable of simultaneous assessment of both CFTR characteristics. Experimental approach Images of live HEK293 cells co-expressing a soluble and a CFTR-tagged fluorescent protein are automatically acquired and analysed to quantify both CFTR membrane density and ion channel function. We monitor F508del-CFTR, the most common disease-causing mutant. Furthermore we characterize a panel of 62 CF-causing mutations and profile effects of acute treatment with approved drug VX-770, mapping potentiation on CFTR structures. Key Results We validate our assay by confirming F508del-CFTR rescue by incubation at low temperature, treatment with CFTR-targeting drugs and introduction of second-site revertant mutation R1070W. Measurements using the rare mutations panel also correlate well with published results. Conclusions and Implications Mapping of VX-770 potentiation of mutants suggests that by increasing flexibility around the gate, the drug allows an alternative protein conformation at domain interfaces around site 1. The assay is a powerful tool for investigation of CFTR ion channel biophysics, allowing more accurate inferences on gating/permeation properties than can be obtained by measuring cellular conductance alone. Finally, by providing a two-dimensional molecular characterization of individual mutant CFTR proteins, our assay can better inform development of single-drug and combination therapies addressing the root cause of CF disease. Bullet point summary What is already known CFTR is an anion-selective channel, normally present in the plasma membrane of epithelial cells. Hundreds of different mutations affect CFTR biogenesis and/or function causing cystic fibrosis (CF). What this study adds We present and validate an assay that simultaneously measures CFTR biogenesis and function. Profiling a panel of CF-causing mutants suggests hypotheses on how approved drug VX-770 works. Clinical Significance The integrated assay boosts potential for discovery of more effective therapies, simultaneously repairing both defects.
The Role of Contextual Factors in the Influence of ICT on Street-Level Discretion

Public service workers in the frontline have traditionally enjoyed a wide freedom to make decisions during policy implementation. Research shows that technology has both constraining and enabling effects on public service workers affecting their ability to exercise discretion. What remains unclear is under which circumstances discretion is influenced by technology. Using a case study approach and drawing on neo-institutional theory, this paper studies a court to identify contextual factors affecting the phenomenon. Findings show that technology has no unilateral effect on street-level discretion, and is found moderated by contextual factors such as the degree of social complexity in a case, skills possessed by public service workers, and the need for face-to-face contact. Furthermore, the influence of technology on streetlevel discretion depends on the technology in use.
Visualization and Quantification of Electrochemical and Mechanical Degradation in Li Ion Batteries

Battery Breakdown Although a range of materials can be used for chemically storing electrical charge, many cannot be made into batteries that retain their capacity over many cycles. Failure may be because of secondary reactions, poisoning through the formation of surface coatings, or volumetric changes leading to fracture. Ebner et al. (p. 716, published online 17 October) studied this last scenario in an operating battery using synchrotron x-ray tomographic microscopy, tracking both the chemical changes in the battery and the resulting mechanical changes in a tin oxide model system, which is known to undergo large volume changes. Synchrotron x-ray tomography can be used to study failure modes in an operating battery. High–energy-density materials that undergo conversion and/or alloying reactions hold promise for next-generation lithium (Li) ion batteries. However, these materials experience substantial volume change during electrochemical operation, which causes mechanical fracture of the material and structural disintegration of the electrode, leading to capacity loss. In this work, we use x-ray tomography during battery operation to visualize and quantify the origins and evolution of electrochemical and mechanical degradation. Tomography provides the time-resolved, three-dimensional chemical composition and morphology within individual particles and throughout the electrode. In the model material tin(II) oxide, we witness distributions in onset and rate of core-shell lithiation, crack initiation and growth along preexisting defects, and irreversible distortion of the electrode, highlighting tomography as a tool to guide the development of durable materials and strain-tolerant electrodes.
Macrophage-Specific Chemotactic Lipid Release by In Vivo Streptozocin-Administered Mouse Islets

The development of insulitis in animal models of immune-mediated diabetes mellitus ispreceded by an influx of macrophages into the islets. In this study, ICR mice were givenfour 30-mg/kg doses of streptozocin over 36 h to induce insulitis. The islets were subsequently isolated and cultured in suspension. A macrophage-specific islet infiltration was observed within 48 h of the first drug injection. Concurrent with this leukocyte influx, enhanced in vitro release of a macrophage-specific chemotactic lipid by isletsfrom streptozotocin-administered animals was observed. By chromatographic analysis, the islet-derived chemotactic factor appears to resemble a moderately polar complex lipid that is distinct from previously characterized lipid chemoattractants. Secretion of the factor is not dependent on cyclooxygenase activity. Identification of this lipid may provide important insights into the etiology of insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus and otherautoimmune diseases.
Age‐related functional changes of the glutamate receptor channels in rat Meynert neurones

1 The developmental changes of glutamate receptors (GluRs) in acutely dissociated rat Meynert neurones were investigated using the conventional whole‐cell and nystatin perforated patch recording modes under voltage‐clamp conditions. 2 The neurones became less responsive to N‐methyl‐d‐aspartic acid (NMDA) with age, most dramatically between 1 day and 2 weeks, while the responses to kainic acid (KA) and l‐α‐amino‐3‐hydroxy‐5‐methyl‐4‐isoxazolepropionic acid (AMPA) gradually increased. The metabotropic GluR response appeared a few days after birth, but thereafter no further change was observed. 3 The decrease in the NMDA response during postnatal development was due to an abrupt reduction in the number of receptors without affecting the affinity, voltage‐dependent Mg2+ blockade or high Ca2+ permeability (Pca/PCs≈ 7.0). 4 P ca/PCs in the presence of KA decreased from 2.8 in the 1‐day‐old (1D) rat neurones to 1.1 and 0.44 in the 2‐week‐old (2W) and 6‐month‐old (6M) rat neurones, respectively. The concentration–response relationship for KA shifted to the left with age. The KA response was not affected by NS‐102, a KA‐selective antagonist, thus indicating that the increased affinity of the receptor for the ligand resulted from the change in the AMPA receptor channel subunits. 5 The AMPA response in the presence of 10−4 M cyclothiazide showed a change in the inward rectifying current–voltage relationship with age. The KA response was strongly cross‐desensitized by the addition of AMPA and was also blocked by 6‐cyano‐7‐nitroquinoxaline‐2,3‐dione (CNQX), whereas a rapid desensitization of the AMPA response was removed in a concentration‐dependent manner by cyclothiazide. These results indicate that the non‐NMDA receptor channels are assembled from the subunits of the AMPA receptor family without the GluR‐2 subunit, thus resulting in a high Ca2+ permeability. 6 The l‐glutamate (Glu)‐induced responses were more sensitive to dl‐2‐amino‐5‐phosphonopentanoic acid (APV) in the 1D rat neurones than in the adult rat neurones. 7 Both NMDA and KA raised the intracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) in all neurones of 1D, 2W and 6M rats, though the charybdotoxin‐sensitive Ca2+‐activated K+ current (IK(ca)) did not appear in the 1D rat neurones. An age‐related prolongation of both IK(Ca) decay and [Ca2+]i clearance was also seen after the removal of KA. 8 It was thus concluded that the age‐related changes of ionotropic receptors appear to play a key role in the activities of immature and mature rat Meynert cholinergic neurones. The KA‐induced IK(Ca), which developed with ageing, may thus function as one of the negative feedback systems, and thereby prevent excess cell excitation and neural damage, especially in adult rats.