Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Fluorine Abundances in the Globular Cluster M4

We present chemical abundances for the elements carbon, sodium, and fluorine in 15 red giants of the globular cluster M4, as well as six red giants of the globular cluster ω Centauri. The chemical abundances were calculated in LTE via spectral synthesis. The spectra analyzed are high-resolution spectra obtained in the near-infrared region around 2.3 μm with the Phoenix spectrograph on the 8.1 m Gemini South Telescope, the IGRINS spectrograph on the McDonald Observatory 2.7 m Telescope, and the CRIRES spectrograph on the ESO 8.2 m Very Large Telescope. The results indicate a significant reduction in the fluorine abundances when compared to previous values from the literature for M4 and ω Centauri, due to a downward revision in the excitation potentials of the HF (1−0) R9 line used in the analysis. The fluorine abundances obtained for the M4 red giants are found to be anticorrelated with those of Na, following the typical pattern of abundance variations seen in globular clusters between distinct stellar populations. In M4, as the Na abundance increases by ∼+0.4 dex, the F abundance decreases by ∼−0.2 dex. A comparison with abundance predictions from two sets of stellar evolution models finds that the models predict somewhat less F depletion (∼−0.1 dex) for the same increase of +0.4 dex in Na.
The ENPP1 K121Q Polymorphism Is Associated With Type 2 Diabetes in European Populations

OBJECTIVE—Functional studies suggest that the nonsynonymous K121Q polymorphism in the ectoenzyme nucleotide pyrophosphate phosphodiesterase 1 (ENPP1) may confer susceptibility to insulin resistance; genetic evidence on its effect on type 2 diabetes, however, has been conflicting. We therefore conducted a new meta-analysis that includes novel unpublished data from the ENPP1 Consortium and recent negative findings from large association studies to address the contribution of K121Q to type 2 diabetes. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS—After a systematic review of the literature, we evaluated the effect of ENPP1 K121Q on diabetes risk under three genetic models using a random-effects approach. Our primary analysis consisted of 30 studies comprising 15,801 case and 26,241 control subjects. Due to considerable heterogeneity and large differences in allele frequencies across populations, we limited our meta-analysis to those of self-reported European descent and, when available, included BMI as a covariate. RESULTS—We found a modest increase in risk of type 2 diabetes for QQ homozygotes in white populations (combined odds ratio [OR] 1.38 [95% CI 1.10–1.74], P = 0.005). There was no evidence of publication bias, but we noted significant residual heterogeneity among studies (P = 0.02). On meta-regression, 16% of the effect was accounted for by the mean BMI of control subjects. This association was stronger in studies in which control subjects were leaner but disappeared after adjustment for mean control BMI (combined OR 0.93 [95% CI 0.75–1.15], P = 0.50). CONCLUSIONS—The ENPP1 Q121 variant increases risk of type 2 diabetes under a recessive model of inheritance in whites, an effect that appears to be modulated by BMI.
Resultados científicos do cruzeiro do "Baependí" e do "Vega" á Ilha da Trindade

O presente trabalho descreve com certos detalhes uma colecao de algas marinhas de profundidade coletadas nas proximidades das ilhas da Trindade e Martim Vaz, e em certos pontos afastados da costa do Espirito Santo. Esta lista no entanto esta longe de representar uma flora da regiao, que o autor considera como muito mais rica do que o evidenciado pela presente lista. Novas e extensivas colecoes tanto de profundidade como mais proximas a superficie, sem duvida trarao informacoes valiosas para a ficologia
Historical and contemporary stable isotope tracer approaches to studying mammalian protein metabolism

Over a century ago, Frederick Soddy provided the first evidence for the existence of isotopes; elements that occupy the same position in the periodic table are essentially chemically identical but differ in mass due to a different number of neutrons within the atomic nucleus. Allied to the discovery of isotopes was the development of some of the first forms of mass spectrometers, driven forward by the Nobel laureates JJ Thomson and FW Aston, enabling the accurate separation, identification, and quantification of the relative abundance of these isotopes. As a result, within a few years, the number of known isotopes both stable and radioactive had greatly increased and there are now over 300 stable or radioisotopes presently known. Unknown at the time, however, was the potential utility of these isotopes within biological disciplines, it was soon discovered that these stable isotopes, particularly those of carbon (13C), nitrogen (15N), oxygen (18O), and hydrogen (2H) could be chemically introduced into organic compounds, such as fatty acids, amino acids, and sugars, and used to “trace” the metabolic fate of these compounds within biological systems. From this important breakthrough, the age of the isotope tracer was born. Over the following 80 yrs, stable isotopes would become a vital tool in not only the biological sciences, but also areas as diverse as forensics, geology, and art. This progress has been almost exclusively driven through the development of new and innovative mass spectrometry equipment from IRMS to GC‐MS to LC‐MS, which has allowed for the accurate quantitation of isotopic abundance within samples of complex matrices. This historical review details the development of stable isotope tracers as metabolic tools, with particular reference to their use in monitoring protein metabolism, highlighting the unique array of tools that are now available for the investigation of protein metabolism in vivo at a whole body down to a single protein level. Importantly, it will detail how this development has been closely aligned to the technological development within the area of mass spectrometry. Without the dedicated development provided by these mass spectrometrists over the past century, the use of stable isotope tracers within the field of protein metabolism would not be as widely applied as it is today, this relationship will no doubt continue to flourish in the future and stable isotope tracers will maintain their importance as a tool within the biological sciences for many years to come. © 2016 The Authors. Mass Spectrometry Reviews Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Mass Spec Rev
To Explain the World: The Discovery of Modern Science

In To Explain the World, pre-eminent theoretical physicist Steven Weinberg offers a rich and irreverent history of science from a unique perspective - that of a scientist. Moving from ancient Miletus to medieval Baghdad to Oxford, and from the Museum of Alexandria to the Royal Society of London, he shows that the scientists of the past not only did not understand what we understand about the world - they did not understand what there is to understand. Yet eventually, through the struggle to solve such mysteries as the backward movement of the planets and the rise and fall of tides, the modern discipline of science emerged.
Phenotypes of California CF Newborn Screen-Positive Children with CFTR 5T Allele by TG Repeat Length.

BACKGROUND At the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) gene (IVS8)-(TG)m(T)n locus, a lower number of thymidines (legacy names 9T vs. 7T vs. 5T) and a higher number of (TG) repeats (TG-11 vs. 12 vs. 13) are associated with decreasing translation of functional CFTR protein in vitro. METHODS Retrospective cohort study comparing phenotypes of California CF newborn screen-positive children (followed 2-8 years) who had two CF-causing mutations (diagnosed as CF) with those who had one mutation from a panel of 40 CF-causing mutations (CF40mut) and one (IVS8)-(TG)11, 12, or 13-5T mutation detected by sequencing (diagnosed as CFTR-related metabolic syndrome [cRMS]). RESULTS The study included 428 children, of which 234 had two CF-causing mutations, and were used to compare with the other 194 children with one CF-causing mutation and one isolated 5T allele [CF40mut/(TG)13-5T = 21, CF40mut/(TG)12-5T = 85, and CF40mut/(TG)11-5T = 88]. Among children with CF40mut/(TG)13-5T, 38% were diagnosed with CF by 8 years, based on sweat chloride results and clinical presentation. Six percent of those with CF40mut/(TG)12-5T, and none with CF40mut/(TG)11-5T, reached diagnostic criteria. CONCLUSIONS CFTR (IVS8)-(TG)m-5T allele (TG) tract length determination provides valuable information in predicting the risk of developing a CF phenotype. Of the three types of 5T alleles evaluated, screen-positive children with genotype CF40mut/(TG)13-5T progressed from CRMS to CF at a high rate, while there was little evidence of clinical disease in those with CF40mut/(TG)11-5T. Additional data from longer follow-up intervals are needed to fully understand the natural history of individuals with a CF40mut/(TG)m-5T genotype.
Effect of experimental renal dysfunction on bioavailability of ajmaline in rats

The effect of renal dysfunction on the bioavailability of ajmaline has been investigated in rats, where experimental renal dysfunction was induced by subcutaneous injection of uranyl nitrate (10 mg kg−1). Renal dysfunction did not cause any change in the blood ajmaline concentration after intravenous administration (2 mg kg−1), but it increased the blood ajmaline concentration by approximately 2.8‐fold after intraduodenal administration (10 mg kg−1). The availability of ajmaline in control rats was 16.7%, whereas the availability was increased to 41.1% in rats with renal dysfunction. The unbound fraction in the blood and the metabolic activity in the liver, was assessed with the 10000‐g supernatant fraction and with isolated hepatocytes, respectively. The values were found to be similar in both groups. The blood concentration following intraportal infusion was only slightly increased in rats with renal dysfunction, but the hepatic first‐pass extraction was infusion rate‐dependent and saturable. The initial absorption rate of ajmaline from the small intestine in rats with renal dysfunction was significantly greater compared with control rats. These results indicated that the increased availability of ajmaline in renal dysfunction was mainly a result of partially saturated extraction in the liver, which was caused by an increased absorption rate in the intestine and non‐linear extraction in the liver.
Changing physician perspectives on complementary and alternative medicine: the need for a top-down approach

php and incorporate the Creative Commons Attribution – Non Commercial (unported, v3.0) License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/). By accessing the work you hereby accept the Terms. Non-commercial uses of the work are permitted without any further permission from Dove Medical Press Limited, provided the work is properly attributed. For permission for commercial use of this work, please see paragraphs 4.2 and 5 of our Terms (https://www.dovepress.com/terms.php). Advances in Medical Education and Practice 2017:8 637–639 Advances in Medical Education and Practice Dovepress
Reed Solomon Code vs. Repetition in WiMedia UWB

WiMedia UWB is an OFDM system that is becoming the de facto standard for high data rate Wireless Personal Area Networks. Low power consumption is essential for the success of this technology. We propose, in this regard, to replace the Reed Solomon code that protects header information by a simpler and often better performing repetition code. The complexity of the repetition scheme is almost negligible and results in savings in power and silicon area. Furthermore, the scheme can be extended to protect payload information. We propose ideas to improve the performance of short payloads and to achieve lower data rates.
Reduction in Renal Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury in Mice by a Phosphoinositide 3-Kinase p110gamma-Specific Inhibitor

Background Although renal ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI) can cause delayed graft function, a targeted therapy is not yet available. Because phosphoinositide 3-kinases (PI3K) p110&ggr; and p110&dgr; play important roles in immune cell migration and function, we investigated the effects of PI3K p110&ggr;- and p110&dgr;-specific inhibitors in a murine renal IRI model. Methods Renal function was assessed by serum creatine and hematoxylin-eosin staining. Immune cell migration was assessed by flow cytometry and an in vitro cell migration assay using Transwell plates. Gene expression analysis and a multiplex cytokine/chemokine assay were performed to find cytokines/chemokines whose expression was upregulated in renal IRI and affected by p110&ggr;-specific inhibitor. Results The PI3K p110&ggr;-specific inhibitor, but not p110&dgr;-specific inhibitor, significantly reduced serum creatine levels and acute tubular necrosis. These were accompanied by reduced infiltration of B cells and reduced expression of CXCL9, a CXCR3 ligand, suggesting that p110&ggr; plays an important role in B-cell migration toward injured kidneys. An in vitro cell migration assay revealed for the first time that B-cell migration to injured kidney cells and to CXCL9 requires p110&ggr;. Conclusions p110&ggr;-specific inhibitor ameliorates renal IRI by reducing necrosis and immune cell migration. This inhibitor may have the potential to reduce renal graft failure caused by renal IRI.
Patients' expectation and satisfaction with complete denture before and after the therapy.

BACKGROUND/AIM Difficulties in the acceptance of dentures are multifactorial including psychosocial ones. It is questionable whether the patients' satisfaction depends only on the complete denture therapy characteristics. The aim of the study was to evaluated patients' expectation and satisfaction with complete dentures before and after the treatment concerning phonetics, chewing, comfort of use and aesthetics. METHODS Forty complete edentulous patients rated their expectation before and satisfaction after the treatment based on a questionnaire scores. Patient-related variables regarding age, gender and previous experience (whether worn complete denture or not) were also recorded. RESULTS Patients' rating for expectations were higher than the satisfaction after treatment regarding phonetics, chewing, comfort of use and aesthetics. A negative significant correlation was shown between the items before and after the treatment rating for phonetics, chewing, comfort of use and aesthetics. No statistical correlation was found between all the evaluated aspects' (i.e., phonetics, chewing, comfort of use and aesthetics) of expectation and satisfaction, and age, gender, and previous experience except a weak negative correlation noticed between age and comfort of denture use. CONCLUSION Patients' expectations ratings significantly exceeded their satisfactions. Expectations and satisfaction ratings were irrespective of gender and patients previous experience.
The Level of Particulate Matter on Foliage Depends on the Distance from the Source of Emission

One of the most dangerous inhaled pollutants is particulate matter (PM). PM in inhaled air have a negative impact on human wellbeing and health, and may even cause deaths. Where pollutants have been emitted into the outdoor atmosphere, the only possible method for cleaning the air is through phytoremediation, a form of environmental biotechnology, where plants act as biological filters for pollutants. This study compared PM levels on the leaves of Tilia cordata Mill. trees growing in locations at increasing distances from the source of the PM emission. Significant differences between individual trees growing at a distance of between 3 m and 500 m from the road edge were found in: (i) the mass of PM that accumulated on leaves (total, surface, in-wax and the three determined size fractions) and (ii) the amount of waxes deposited on leaves.
Cognitive functioning of adolescents and young adults with meningomyelocele and level of everyday physical activity

Purpose. To explore whether cognitive functioning in patients with meningomyelocele (MMC) is related to level of everyday physical activity. Method. In a cross-sectional study in 14 patients with MMC (aged 14 – 26 years) a neuropsychological test battery was administered to each patient. Everyday physical activity of the patients was measured with an accelerometry-based Activity Monitor (AM), and compared to 14 healthy comparison subjects. Results. Intellectual ability of 10 patients was in the normal range. For memory and verbal learning, executive functioning, divided attention and reaction speed subnormal scores were present in six or more patients. Time spent on dynamic activities was low in patients with MMC as compared to healthy subjects. After controlling for intellectual ability, we found that in patients with MMC (i) executive functioning was positively related, and (ii) word production was negatively related to everyday physical activity. Conclusion. We found some indication that specific impairments in executive functioning might be related to everyday physical activity of adolescents and young adults with MMC.
Systematics in the thermoelectric power of high-Tc oxides.

Many superconducting cuprates show a parabolic variation of T c with hole concentration p, there being a minimum and a maximum hole concentration for superconductivity. Thermoelectric power (TEP) measurements reported here as a function of p for a number of oxides reveal several important trends: (1) close similarities in the TEP of several compounds and a change in sign of the room-temperature TEP near the maximum T c , (2) continuity in the TEP when doping across the two superconducting-nonsuperconducting boundaries, and (3) a universal correspondence of the room-temperature TEP with p over the whole range of doping
Social Network and Knowledge Accessibility of Project Teams: A Multi-level Approach

This study deals with the relationship between the project team’s social network and knowledge accessibility from an empirical aspect. What kind of network structure is desirable to improve project team members’ knowledge accessibility? Does a strong connection among group members improve their knowledge accessibility? Otherwise, does the expansion of the external network of a group improve its members’ knowledge accessibility more efficiently? This study aims to contribute to developing existing network theories and knowledge management theories by answering these questions. To solve the raised research questions, a multi-level research model was developed on the basis of social network theory. From a social network analysis which was conducted on 172 consultants and 42 project teams in 5 global consulting companies in Korea, it was found that the research results backed the existing two different social network mechanisms: closure mechanism and brokerage mechanism. However, the effect of social network on knowledge accessibility of project team members varied along the type of network involved. This study is meaningful in that it overcame the limits of the unit of analysis shown in existing studies by distinguishing group-level network density from individual-level network properties, and by analyzing the moderating effect between them.
Rapid determination of lovastatin in the fermentation broth of Aspergillus terreus using dual-wavelength UV spectrophotometry

Abstract Context: Lovastatin, a hypocholesterolemic drug, is produced by submerged fermentation of Aspergillus terreus Thom (Trichocomaceae). High performance liquid chromatography is usually used to determine lovastatin in samples of the fermentation broth. However, this method is inconvenient and costly, especially in the context of high-throughput sample analysis. Objective: A direct and simple dual-wavelength ultraviolet spectrophotometric method for quantifying lovastatin in the fermentation broth of A. terreus was developed. Materials and methods: A. terreus Z15-7 was used for all experiments. The liquid fermentation was conducted at 30 °C in a rotary shaker at 150 rpm for 15 d. Silica gel and neutral alumina column chromatography were used for the separation and purification of lovastatin from the fermentation broth. Results: The limits of detection of lovastatin were 0.320 μg/ml in the lovastatin standard solution and 0.490 μg/ml in the fermentation broth sample and the limits of quantification of lovastatin were 1.265 μg/ml in the lovastatin standard solution and 3.955 μg/ml in the fermentation broth sample. The amounts of lovastatin in the fermentation broth ranged from 876.614 to 911.967 μg/ml, with relative standard deviations from 1.203 to 1.709%. The mean recoveries of lovastatin using silica gel and neutral alumina column chromatography were 84.2 ± 0.82 and 87.2 ± 0.21%, respectively. Discussion and conclusion: Dual-wavelength UV spectrophotometry is a rapid, sensitive, accurate, and convenient method for quantifying lovastatin in fermentation broth. Neutral alumina column chromatography is more efficient than silica gel column chromatography for the purification and determination lovastatin using the developed dual-wavelength UV spectrophotometry method.
Imbalanced gp130-Dependent Signaling in Macrophages Alters Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor Responsiveness via Regulation of c-fms Expression

ABSTRACT The mechanisms by which interleukin-6 (IL-6) family cytokines, which utilize the common receptor signaling subunit gp130, influence monocyte/macrophage development remain unclear. Here we have utilized macrophages devoid of either gp130-dependent STAT1/3 (gp130ΔSTAT/ΔSTAT) or extracellular signal-regulated kinases 1 and 2 (ERK1/2) mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase (gp130Y757F/Y757F) activation to assess the individual contribution of each pathway to macrophage formation. While the inhibition by IL-6 of macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF)-induced colony formation observed in gp130wt/wt mice was abolished in gp130ΔSTAT/ΔSTAT mice, inhibition of macrophage colony formation was enhanced in gp130Y757F/Y757F mice. In gp130ΔSTAT/ΔSTAT bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMMs), both IL-6- and M-CSF-induced ERK1/2 tyrosine phosphorylation was enhanced. By contrast, tyrosine phosphorylation of ERK1/2 in response to M-CSF was reduced in gp130Y757F/Y757F BMMs, and the pattern of ERK1/2 activation in gp130 mutant BMMs correlated with their opposing responsiveness to M-CSF-induced proliferation. When compared to the level of expression in gp130wt/wt BMMs, c-fms expression was elevated in gp130ΔSTAT/ΔSTAT BMMs but reduced in gp130Y757F/Y757F BMMs. Finally, an ERK1/2 inhibitor suppressed M-CSF-induced BMM proliferation, and this result corresponded to a reduction in c-fms expression. Collectively, these results provide a functional and causal correlation between gp130-dependent ERK MAP kinase signaling and c-fms gene activation, a finding that provides a potential mechanism underlying the inhibition of M-CSF-dependent macrophage development by IL-6 family cytokines in mice.
N-(3-Methylphenyl)succinamic acid

In the crystal structure of the title compound, C11H13NO3, the conformations of the N—H and C=O bonds in the amide segment are anti to each other, and that of the amide H atom is anti to the meta-methyl group in the benzene ring. Furthermore, the conformations of the amide oxygen and the carbonyl O atom of the acid segment are also anti to the adjacent –CH2 groups. The C=O and O—H bonds of the acid group are syn to each other. In the crystal, the molecules are packed into infinite chains through intermolecular N—H⋯O and O—H⋯O hydrogen bonds.