Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Scale-free channeling patterns near the onset of erosion of sheared granular beds

Significance The response of erodible granular beds to shearing flows controls numerous natural phenomena. A central aspect is the existence of a threshold stress below which erosion stops, and whose microscopic underpinning is debated. We use an experiment where this threshold is spontaneously reached to study the spatial organization of the erosion flux. We find that erosion is heterogeneous in space and occurs along favored channels whose distribution is extremely broad, with strongly anisotropic spatial correlations. These findings can be quantitatively explained by a model incorporating both the disorder of the static bed and the interactions between mobile particles, establishing a link between erosion and dynamical phase transitions known to occur in disordered environments. Erosion shapes our landscape and occurs when a sufficient shear stress is exerted by a fluid on a sedimented layer. What controls erosion at a microscopic level remains debated, especially near the threshold forcing where it stops. Here we study, experimentally, the collective dynamics of the moving particles, using a setup where the system spontaneously evolves toward the erosion onset. We find that the spatial organization of the erosion flux is heterogeneous in space and occurs along channels of local flux σ whose distribution displays scaling near threshold and follows P(σ)≈J/σ, where J is the mean erosion flux. Channels are strongly correlated in the direction of forcing but not in the transverse direction. We show that these results quantitatively agree with a model where the dynamics is governed by the competition of disorder (which channels mobile particles) and particle interactions (which reduces channeling). These observations support that, for laminar flows, erosion is a dynamical phase transition that shares similarity with the plastic depinning transition occurring in dirty superconductors. The methodology we introduce here could be applied to probe these systems as well.
Absolute Rayleigh scattering cross sections of gases and freons of stratospheric interest in the visible and ultraviolet regions

The laboratory measurements of absolute Rayleigh scattering cross sections as a function wavelength are reported for gas molecules He, Ne, Ar, N2, H2, O2, CO2, CH4 and for vapors of most commonly used freons CCl2F2, CBrF3, CF4, and CHClf2. These cross sections are determined from the measurements of photon scattering at an angle of 54 deg 44 min which yield the absolute values independent of the value of normal depolarization ratios. The present results show that in the spectral range 6943-3638A deg, the values of the Rayleigh scattering cross section can be extrapolated from one wavelength to the other using 1/lambda (4) law without knowing the values of the polarizabilities. However, such an extrapolation can not be done in the region of shorter wavelengths.
γ-Tubulin Overexpression in Sertoli Cells In Vivo: I. Localization to Sites of Spermatid Head Attachment and Alterations in Sertoli Cell Microtubule Distribution1

Abstract Sertoli cells play a number of roles in supporting spermatogenesis, including structural organization, physical and paracrine support of germ cells, and secretion of factors necessary for germ cell development. Studies with microtubule disrupting compounds indicate that intact microtubule networks are crucial for normal spermatogenesis. However, treatment with toxicants and pharmacologic agents that target microtubules lack cell-type selectivity and may therefore elicit direct effects on germ cells, which also require microtubule-mediated activities for division and morphological transformation. To evaluate the importance of Sertoli cell microtubule-based activities for spermatogenesis, an adenoviral vector that overexpresses the microtubule nucleating protein, γ-tubulin, was used to selectively disrupt microtubule networks in Sertoli cells in vivo. γ-Tubulin overexpression was observed to cause redistribution of Sertoli cell microtubule networks, and overexpression of a γ-tubulin-enhanced green fluorescent protein fusion protein was observed to localize to the site of elongate spermatid head attachment to the seminiferous epithelium.
Political Rights and Income Inequality: A Cross-National Test

Among contemporary nations, the relationship between income equality and national wealth exhibits an inverted-U shape low among the richest and poorest nations, and high for nations with intermediate wealth. To examine the reasons for this relationship, I hypothesize that both political democracy and educational enrollment are related in a similar way to income inequality. Two data sets are used in this analysis: modified version of Muller's set of 62 nations circa 1965-1975 and Hoover's data set. Multiple regression reveals that measures of political democracy and the educational enrollment levels have an inverted-U relationship with income inequality. National wealth (GNP) had no consistent direct effect on income inequality. A satisfactory specification of national levels of income inequality must include the polynomial functions of political democracy and education.
Dendritic cell targeted HIV gag protein vaccine provides help to a DNA vaccine including mobilization of protective CD8+ T cells

To improve the efficacy of T cell–based vaccination, we pursued the principle that CD4+ T cells provide help for functional CD8+ T cell immunity. To do so, we administered HIV gag to mice successively as protein and DNA vaccines. To achieve strong CD4+ T cell immunity, the protein vaccine was targeted selectively to DEC-205, a receptor for antigen presentation on dendritic cells. This targeting helped CD8+ T cell immunity develop to a subsequent DNA vaccine and improved protection to intranasal challenge with recombinant vaccinia gag virus, including more rapid accumulation of CD8+ T cells in the lung. The helper effect of dendritic cell-targeted protein vaccine was mimicked by immunization with specific MHC II binding HIV gag peptides but not peptides from a disparate Yersinia pestis microbe. CD4+ helper cells upon adoptive transfer allowed wild-type, but not CD40−/−, recipient mice to respond better to the DNA vaccine. The transfer also enabled recipients to more rapidly accumulate gag-specific CD8+ T cells in the lung following challenge with vaccinia gag virus. Thus, complementary prime boost vaccination, in which prime and boost favor distinct types of T cell immunity, improves plasmid DNA immunization, including mobilization of CD8+ T cells to sites of infection.
Host genetics role in the pathogenesis of periodontal disease and caries

BACKGROUND This study aimed to produce the latest summary of the evidence for association of host genetic variants contributing to both periodontal diseases and caries. MATERIALS AND METHODS Two systematic searches of the literature were conducted in Ovid Medline, Embase, LILACS and Cochrane Library for large candidate gene studies (CGS), systematic reviews and genome-wide association studies reporting data on host genetic variants and presence of periodontal disease and caries. RESULTS A total of 124 studies were included in the review (59 for the periodontitis outcome and 65 for the caries outcome), from an initial search of 15,487 titles. Gene variants associated with periodontitis were categorized based on strength of evidence and then compared with gene variants associated with caries. Several gene variants showed moderate to strong evidence of association with periodontitis, although none of them had also been associated with the caries trait. CONCLUSIONS Despite some potential aetiopathogenic similarities between periodontitis and caries, no genetic variants to date have clearly been associated with both diseases. Further studies or comparisons across studies with large sample size and clear phenotype definition could shed light into possible shared genetic risk factors for caries and periodontitis.
Modelling a response as a function of high-frequency count data: The association between physical activity and fat mass

Accelerometers are widely used in health sciences, ecology and other application areas. They quantify the intensity of physical activity as counts per epoch over a given period of time. Currently, health scientists use very lossy summaries of the accelerometer time series, some of which are based on coarse discretisation of activity levels, and make certain implicit assumptions, including linear or constant effects of physical activity. We propose the histogram as a functional summary for achieving a near lossless dimension reduction, comparability between individual time series and easy interpretability. Using the histogram as a functional summary avoids registration of accelerometer counts in time. In our novel method, a scalar response is regressed on additive multi-dimensional functional predictors, including the histogram of the high-frequency counts, and additive non-linear predictors for other continuous covariates. The method improves on the current state-of-the art, as it can deal with high-frequency time series of different lengths and missing values and yields a flexible way to model the physical activity effect with fewer assumptions. It also allows the commonly made modelling assumptions to be tested. We investigate the relationship between the response fat mass and physical activity measured by accelerometer, in data from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children. Our method allows testing of whether the effect of physical activity varies over its intensity by gender, by time of day or by day of the week. We show that meaningful interpretation requires careful treatment of identifiability constraints in the light of the sum-to-one property of a histogram. We find that the (not necessarily causal) effect of physical activity on kg fat mass is not linear and not constant over the activity intensity.
European Welfare States and Migrant Poverty

In almost all European welfare states, immigrants face a higher risk of poverty than natives, but the gap between the two groups varies. In examining this variation, our article contributes to the nascent literature on the impact of welfare states on immigrants. We hypothesize that whether immigrants benefit from welfare generosity depends on three intervening factors: immigration policy, labor market regulation, and welfare eligibility rules. We use fuzzy-set analysis to examine the interplay of these determinants in 16 West-European states. The findings show that in most countries a high migrant disadvantage results from the combination of a large share of humanitarian and family immigrants and generous social policies. The underlying mechanism is that “unwanted” immigrants are institutionally impeded from full access to generous welfare states.
The Macroeconomic effects of oil price shocks on ASEAN-5 economies

ASEAN-5’s continued economic growth with high oil and trade intensities means it is a fast growing region with a significant presence in the global energy market. This paper identifies three main drivers of oil price shocks - oil-supply, globalactivity and oil-specific demand shocks for the period 2000-2013. Subsequently, it assesses the effects of the identified oil shocks on the ASEAN-5’s macroeconomic variables and examines the responses of monetary policy. Since the recent shocks are largely demand driven, the impulse responses and historical decomposition for the ASEAN-5 highlight that the effects on inflation are accentuated while the effects on economic growth are less disruptive. The exchange rate responses are mostly positive while the effects on trade are positive for Malaysia, a net oil exporter and are moderately negative for the oil importers. Consequently the ASEAN-5’s central banks could tighten their monetary policy in response to higher inflation without fear of weakening their economies. The empirical results highlight that for monetary policy responses to be more supportive of growth, policy makers in these economies should examine the underlying causes of the future oil shocks.
From Treating to Preventing Psychosis: Personal Perspectives

Abstract The psychoanalytic treatment model of neurotic disorders was applied “experimentally,” usually without concomitant pharmacotherapy, to psychotic disorders in the mid to late 20th century at a private institution (Chestnut Lodge) in Maryland. A long-term follow-up (by this author) essentially documented such an approach to be ineffective but suggested that initial treatment earlier in the development of disorder might prevent or ameliorate the “dementia” of dementia praecox. The opportunity to actually measure the effect of earlier detection and treatment became apparent to this author on sabbatical leave in Stavanger, Norway. The sectorized Norwegian health care system made it possible to engineer early detection of first psychosis in an “experimental” health care sector and compare their outcome to that of first onset patients from two control “usual detection” health care sectors. Early detection was engineered in the experimental sector with educational campaigns about the signs and symptoms of first psychosis targeting the sector’s doctors, educators, and the general public through massive educational campaigns. The result was clear. Early detection and treatment resulted in a significantly better symptomatic, social, and instrumental outcome in the experimental sectors compared with “usual detection” sectors, a difference that lasted up to a 10-year follow-up (and perhaps permanently). These events and findings will be reviewed to assert that intervention timing may be far more important than intervention type in the overall strategy of antipsychotic interventions.
Failure to Induce Oral Tolerance to Protein Antigens in Neonatal Mice Can Be Corrected by Transfer of Adult Spleen Cells

ABSTRACT: We have examined the mechanisms that prevent the induction of oral tolerance to protein antigens in neonatal mice. Serum collected from adult mice 1 h after feeding ovalbumin (1 mg/g body wt) was adoptively transferred to mice aged 1, 3, and 42 d (40 μL/g body wt). Whereas delayed-type hypersensitivity was significantly suppressed in adult recipients relative to control groups, no suppression of systemic delayed-type hypersensitivity was found in neonatal recipients. In attempts to identify the immunologic deficiency that prevents mature reactivity to protein antigens in neonates, adult splenocytes were transferred intraperitoneally (108 cells/recipient) 24 h before a feed of OVA (1 mg/g body wt) to neonates. Significant suppression of their systemic DTH response, but not of their anti-ovalbumin IgG antibody response was observed, indicating that spleen cell transfer only partially confers adult-type reactivity. Similar results were obtained using a second protein antigen, BSA. Our observations suggest that the failure to induce oral tolerance to protein antigens in neonatal mice is not simply due to immature antigen processing by the gut, but probably reflects cellular and/or antigen handling immaturity of the neonatal immune system.
Selected cases of poor outcome following a minor brain trauma: comparing neuropsychological and positron emission tomography assessment.

Neuropsychological residua are common particularly in the early stages following a minor traumatic brain injury (TBI), however, a minority of individuals complain of persistent deficits following months or years post-accident. Nine such cases are presented with little or no evidence of brain damage demonstrated according to non-functional neuroimaging (for example CT, MRI), yet their neuropsychological examinations were positive. Since the introduction of positron emission tomography (PET), which captures a functional approach, the question arose as to what extent the two techniques (i.e. PET and neuropsychological examination) are interrelated. All nine minor TBI cases revealed a corroboration between the positive neuropsychological findings confirmed on the PET. The PET procedure documented neuropathology which frequently was pronounced in the frontal and anteriotemporo-frontal regions. Moreover, no significant differences were evident between those five cases with reported loss of consciousness vs. those four cases without.
Dendritic Cells in the Context of Human Tumors: Biology and Experimental Tools

Dendritic cells (DC) are the most potent and versatile antigen-presenting cells (APC) in the immune system. DC have an exceptional ability to comprehend the immune context of a captured antigen based on molecular signals identified from its vicinity. The analyzed information is then conveyed to other immune effector cells. Such capability enables DC to play a pivotal role in mediating either an immunogenic response or immune tolerance towards an acquired antigen. This review summarizes current knowledge on DC in the context of human tumors. It covers the basics of human DC biology, elaborating on the different markers, morphology and function of the different subsets of human DC. Human blood-borne DC are comprised of at least three subsets consisting of one plasmacytoid DC (pDC) and two to three myeloid DC (mDC) subsets. Some tissues have unique DC. Each subset has a different phenotype and function and may induce pro-tumoral or anti-tumoral effects. The review also discusses two methods fundamental to the research of DC on the single-cell level: multicolor flow cytometry (FCM) and image-based cytometry (IC). These methods, along with new genomics and proteomics tools, can provide high-resolution information on specific DC subsets and on immune and tumor cells with which they interact. The different layers of collected biological data may then be integrated using Immune-Cytomics modeling approaches. Such novel integrated approaches may help unravel the complex network of cellular interactions that DC carry out within tumors, and may help harness this complex immunological information into the development of more effective treatments for cancer.
Angiogenesis and biomarkers of cardiovascular risk in adults with metabolic syndrome

Abstract. Siervo M, Ruggiero D, Sorice R, Nutile T, Aversano M, Stephan BCM, Ciullo M. (Address: Human Nutrition and Physiology, Department of Neuroscience, University “Federico II”, Faculty of Medicine, Napoli; Institute of Genetics and Biophysics “A. Buzzati‐Traverso”, CNR, Napoli, Italy; and Institute of Public Health, University of Cambridge, UK). Angiogenesis and biomarkers of cardiovascular risk in adults with metabolic syndrome. J Intern Med 2010; 268: 338–347.
The effect of midazolam premedication on mental and psychomotor recovery in geriatric patients undergoing brief surgical procedures.

UNLABELLED To assess the effect of IV midazolam premedication on recovery of cognitive function, 90 geriatric patients (aged 65-81 yr) undergoing brief transurethral procedures were enrolled into this prospective, placebo-controlled, double-blinded study. In all cases, a standard general anesthetic was administered. Thirty minutes before operating room transfer, patients in Group 0.5 mg, Group 2 mg, and Group S received 0.5 mg of midazolam, 2 mg of midazolam, or an equal volume of saline, respectively. Before study-drug administration (baseline), at 15 min thereafter, as well as on arrival in the postanesthesia care unit (PACU), and at 60 min and 120 min, postoperatively, we administered a digit-symbol substitution test, a mini-mental test, a shape-sorter test, and a patient-generated 100-mm visual analog score (0 = minimal and 100 = maximal) for anxiety, sleepiness, and coordination. A 4-point scale was used to assess the degree of patient sedation at 7, 15, and 30 min after study-drug administration. Using a modified Aldrete scoring system, PACU discharge was determined by the PACU staff. Patient anxiety, sleepiness, and coordination scores at baseline and at 15 min after study-drug administration were similar. When compared with saline, midazolam was associated with a significantly (P < 0.05) higher incidence of "deep" sedation. In Group 2 mg, the incidence of a low preoperative Spo2 (<94%) was significantly (P < 0.05) higher when compared with Group S. Emergence, extubation, and orientation times, as well as time to follow commands were unaffected by midazolam premedication. Postoperatively, the digit-symbol substitution test, mini-mental test, and shape-sorter test were similar among the groups. However, time to PACU discharge was significantly (P = 0.03) longer in the two midazolam treatment groups (41 +/-25 min, 60 +/- 32 min, 53 +/- 39 min for Groups S, 0.5 mg, and 2 mg, respectively). Finally, patient satisfaction was unaffected by the randomization schedule. IMPLICATIONS IV premedicant midazolam 0.5 mg or 2 mg does not adversely affect mental and psychomotor recovery in geriatric patients undergoing brief surgical procedures. However, midazolam administration significantly prolonged postanesthesia care unit discharge time. Finally, during the preoperative period, midazolam increases the incidence of a Spo2 <94% in a dose-dependent manner.
Isoptericola cucumis sp. nov., isolated from the root tissue of cucumber (Cucumis sativus).

A Gram-stain-positive, aerobic organism, showing an irregular cell morphology, was isolated from the root tissue of cucumber (Cucumis sativus) and investigated in detail for its taxonomic position. On the basis of the 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, strain AP-38T was shown to be most closely related to Isoptericola variabilis (99.1 %) and Isoptericola nanjingensis (98.9 %). The 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity to all other species of the genus Isoptericola was ≤98.5 %. DNA-DNA relatedness to Isoptericola variablis DSM 10177T and Isoptericola nanjingensis DSM 24300T was 31(reciprocal 41 %) and 34 (reciprocal 34 %), respectively. The diagnostic diamino acid of the peptidoglycan was l-lysine. The quinone system contained predominantly menaquinones MK-9(H4) and MK-9(H2). In the polar lipid profile, major compounds were diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylinositol and two phosphatidylinositol mannosides. The polyamine pattern contained the major components spermidine and spermine and significant amounts of tyramine. In the fatty acid profile, anteiso-C15 : 0 and iso-C15 : 0 were present in major amounts. These data support the allocation of the strain to the genus Isoptericola. The results of physiological and biochemical characterization additionally provide phenotypic differentiation of strain AP-38T from I. variabilis and I. nanjingensis. AP-38T represents a novel species of the genus Isoptericola, for which we propose the name Isoptericola cucumis sp. nov., with AP-38T (= LMG 29223T=CCM 8653T) as the type strain.
A Successful, Diverse Disease-Associated Lineage of Nontypeable Pneumococci That Has Lost the Capsular Biosynthesis Locus

ABSTRACT Streptococcus pneumoniae strains which fail to produce a polysaccharide capsule are commonly isolated from carriage and disease contexts. Here we use a multilocus approach to distinguish genuine nontypeable pneumococci from closely related nontypeable streptococcal isolates in a data set of 121 untypeable pneumococci from nasopharyngeal swabs and middle ear fluid of Finnish children and demonstrate that 70 of these belong to a pneumococcal lineage which has lost its capsular locus. Strains of this relatively old lineage include sequence types 344, 448, and 449. Comparison with the multilocus sequence typing database shows that strains of this lineage have spread intercontinentally and have been isolated from carriage, mucosal, and invasive disease. Furthermore we note a particular association of this nontypeable lineage with outbreaks of conjunctivitis. The diversification and geographic spread of this lineage suggest that loss of capsule is not inconsistent with long-term persistence and raise questions about the capsule's role in pneumococcal transmission.