Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
CFBDSIR 2149-0403: young isolated planetary-mass object or high-metallicity low-mass brown dwarf??

We conducted a multi-wavelength, multi-instrument observational characterisation of the candidate free-floating planet CFBDSIR~J214947.2-040308.9, a late T-dwarf with possible low-gravity features, in order to constrain its physical properties. We analyzed 9 hours of X-Shooter spectroscopy with signal detectable from 0.8--2.3$\mu$m, as well as additional photometry in the mid-infrared using the Spitzer Space Telescope. Combined with a VLT/HAWK-I astrometric parallax, this enabled a full characterisation of the absolute flux from the visible to 5$\mu$m, encompassing more than 90\% of the expected energy emitted by such a cool late T-type object. Our analysis of the spectrum also provided the radial velocity and therefore the determination of its full 3-D kinematics. While our new spectrum confirms the low gravity and/or high metallicity of CFBDSIR2149, the parallax and kinematics safely rule out membership to any known young moving group, including AB~Doradus. We use the equivalent width of the KI doublet at 1.25$\mu$m as a promising tool to discriminate the effects of low-gravity from the effects of high-metallicity on the emission spectra of cool atmospheres. In the case of CFBDSIR2149, the observed KI doublet clearly favours the low-gravity solution. CFBDSIR2149 is therefore a peculiar late-T dwarf that is probably a young, planetary-mass object (2--13Mjup, $<$500Myr) possibly similar to the exoplanet 51Erib, or perhaps a 2--40Mjup brown dwarf with super-solar metallicity.
Probability distributions of angle of approach and relative velocity for colliding droplets in a turbulent flow

Prediction of the effect of air turbulence on statistics relevant to a collision–coalescence process represents a key challenge in the modeling of cloud microphysics. In this paper, collision-related statistics for gravity-driven motion of droplets are considered and various probability distributions associated with geometric configuration and relative motion of colliding droplets are theoretically derived. The theoretical results agree well with numerical results obtained from direct numerical simulations (DNSs). In the absence of air turbulence, the probability distributions, calculated at the beginning of the time steps used for collision detection, nontrivially depend on the time step size. Next, a novel theory is developed to quantify the effect of turbulence on the angle-of-approach and radial relative velocity |wr,c| for colliding pairs. A logical decomposition is used to construct extended collision volumes for a specific level of radial motion caused by air turbulence. It is shown that the inward relative motion due to turbulent fluctuations dominates the effect of turbulence in modifying the probability distributions of and |wr,c|. Two key dimensionless parameters are identified in the theory: one measures the effect of finite time step size in numerical collision detection and the second measures the relative magnitude of air turbulence. The theory is compared with 11 numerical experiments from DNS. It is shown that the theory captures the essential physics of the effect of air turbulence and provides a quantitatively good representation of the statistics for . For most numerical experiments, the theory predicts to within 5%. The probability distribution of |wr,c| is more sensitive to the influence of air turbulence and shows larger intermittency at large |wr,c| than what is assumed in the theory. The theoretical framework developed here may be of value to other problems involving gravitational settling and weak turbulence, such as parameterization of collision kernel and hydrodynamic interactions of droplets in warm rain processes.
Methicillin-resistant S. aureus infections among patients in the emergency department.

BACKGROUND Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is increasingly recognized in infections among persons in the community without established risk factors for MRSA. METHODS We enrolled adult patients with acute, purulent skin and soft-tissue infections presenting to 11 university-affiliated emergency departments during the month of August 2004. Cultures were obtained, and clinical information was collected. Available S. aureus isolates were characterized by antimicrobial-susceptibility testing, pulsed-field gel electrophoresis, and detection of toxin genes. On MRSA isolates, we performed typing of the staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec (SCCmec), the genetic element that carries the mecA gene encoding methicillin resistance. RESULTS S. aureus was isolated from 320 of 422 patients with skin and soft-tissue infections (76 percent). The prevalence of MRSA was 59 percent overall and ranged from 15 to 74 percent. Pulsed-field type USA300 isolates accounted for 97 percent of MRSA isolates; 74 percent of these were a single strain (USA300-0114). SCCmec type IV and the Panton-Valentine leukocidin toxin gene were detected in 98 percent of MRSA isolates. Other toxin genes were detected rarely. Among the MRSA isolates, 95 percent were susceptible to clindamycin, 6 percent to erythromycin, 60 percent to fluoroquinolones, 100 percent to rifampin and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, and 92 percent to tetracycline. Antibiotic therapy was not concordant with the results of susceptibility testing in 100 of 175 patients with MRSA infection who received antibiotics (57 percent). Among methicillin-susceptible S. aureus isolates, 31 percent were USA300 and 42 percent contained pvl genes. CONCLUSIONS MRSA is the most common identifiable cause of skin and soft-tissue infections among patients presenting to emergency departments in 11 U.S. cities. When antimicrobial therapy is indicated for the treatment of skin and soft-tissue infections, clinicians should consider obtaining cultures and modifying empirical therapy to provide MRSA coverage.
Diversity within the Redeye Bass, Micropterus coosae (Perciformes: Centrarchidae) species group, with descriptions of four new species.

The Redeye Bass, Micropterus coosae, was described from the Mobile River basin, Chattahoochee, and Savannah rivers in Alabama and Georgia, USA, by Hubbs and Bailey (1940). At that time the authors recognized significant variation in the Black Warrior River population, and noted that with further study this form may be recognized as a separate taxon. An examination of variation in morphology and mitochondrial DNA supported this observation, and highlighted additional species-level variation, resulting in descriptions of a total of four new species: Micropterus cahabae, new sp. , restricted to the Cahaba River system; Micropterus tallapoosae, new sp. , restricted to the Tallapoosa River system; Micropterus warriorensis, new sp. , from the Black Warrior River system; and Micropterus chattahoochae, new sp. , from the Chattahoochee River system. Micropterus coosae is restricted to the Coosa River system. The new species differ from each other and from M. coosae by a combination of pigmentation and scale count characteristics, development of the tooth patch, and divergence within the ND2 gene. While two of these species are relatively common in upland streams within their ranges, M. warriorensis, M. cahabae and M. chattahoochae are uncommon and may warrant protection.
Discordant fibrin formation in hemophilia

Summary. Background: The conversion of fibrinogen to fibrin and its crosslinking to form a stable clot are key events in providing effective hemostasis. Objectives: To evaluate the relationship of fibrinopeptide (FP) release and factor (F) XIII activation in whole blood from hemophiliacs. Patients/Methods: We investigated FPA and FPB release, FXIII activation and fibrin mass in tissue factor‐initiated coagulation in whole blood from individuals with hemophilia and healthy subjects. Results: In hemophiliacs, the rates of fibrin formation were delayed as compared to healthy individuals. FPA/FPB release and FXIII activation were decreased in hemophiliacs vs. healthy individuals: 5.4 ± 0.7 μm min−1 to 1.7 ± 0.4 μm min−1 (P = 0.003), 2.3 ± 0.6 μm min−1 to 0.5 ± 0.1 μm min−1 (P = 0.025), and 12.1 ± 0.7 nm min−1 to 3.1 ± 0.7 nm min−1 (P < 0.0005), respectively. More FPA was released in hemophiliacs (6.6 ± 1.2 μm) prior to clot time (CT) than in healthy individuals (2.6 ± 0.4 μm, P = 0.013), whereas FPB and activated FXIII levels remained comparable. FXIII activation, which normally coincides with FPA release, was delayed in hemophiliacs. At CT in normal blood, the FPA concentration was 2.6‐fold higher than that of FPB (P = 0.003), whereas in hemophiliacs this ratio was increased to 6.6‐fold (P = 0.001). Conclusions: These data suggest that essential dynamic correlations exist between the presentations of fibrin I, fibrin II, and FXIIIa. The ‘discordance’ of fibrin formation in hemophiliacs results in clots that are more soluble than normal (43% lower mass; P = 0.02). The resulting poor physical clot strength probably plays a crucial role in the pathology of hemophilia.
Arctic oscillation analyzed as a singular eigenmode of the global atmosphere

In this study, eigenmodes and singular modes are analyzed for a dynamical system of the atmosphere, linearized about a winter basic state in order to understand the dynamics of the Arctic Oscillation (AO). Since the fluctuations of the sea-level pressure are dynamically linked with the barotropic component of the atmosphere, the AO is investigated in the framework of a barotropic model.As a result of the analysis, we find multiple eigenmodes which are similar to the AO, with a negative pole in the Arctic, and positive poles in the Pacific and Atlantic sectors. Since some of the eigenmodes are unstable, a linear drag is introduced to shift the eigenvalues in order to pick up different eigenmodes as a singular mode with resonant behavior.It is demonstrated that the singular eigenmode of the dynamical system emerges resonantly as the AO, in response to the arbitrary forcing. The resonant growth is allowed for multiple eigenmodes, including the unstable modes, and therefore the AO described by the neutral mode under the strong friction is recognized as the least damping mode excited by the tail of the resonant response curve of the singular eigenmode. In reference to the result of the nonlinear simulation of the AO, using the same barotropic model, we may conclude that the AO is a physical mode ofa dynamical system for the global atmosphere.
Prevalence of Hepatitis B Antigen and Antibody in Prostitutes

We investigated the prevalence of hepatitis B antigen (HBAg) and antibody (HBAb) in 293 prostitutes and in 379 pregnant women of similar age and of low socioeconomic level, who served as controls. HBAg was found in 4·4% of prostitutes and 3·4% of controls. The prevalence of HBAb was significantly higher (P <0·001) in prostitutes (56·7%) than in controls (24·5%). The prevalence of HBAb was clearly age-dependent in both groups. Evidence of hepatitis B virus infection significantly increased with the number of years in prostitution. The evidence of increased infection rates among prostitutes and their distribution support the hypothesis that hepatitis B infection is sexually transmitted.
Hes7: a bHLH‐type repressor gene regulated by Notch and expressed in the presomitic mesoderm

Whereas Notch signalling is essential for somitogenesis, mice deficient for the basic helix‐loop‐helix (bHLH) genes Hes1 and Hes5, downstream Notch effectors, display normal somite formation, indicating that there may be an as‐yet unidentified Hes1‐related bHLH gene.
Metabolic changes in acute and subacute cerebral infarctions: findings at proton MR spectroscopic imaging.

PURPOSE To analyze the advantages of proton magnetic resonance (MR) spectroscopic imaging in the evaluation of acute and subacute cerebral infarcts. MATERIALS AND METHODS Metabolite maps of choline-containing compounds, total creatine consisting of creatine and phosphocreatine, N-acetyl aspartate (NAA), and lactate were obtained in 23 patients with acute and subacute cerebral infarctions 1-35 days after onset of symptoms. Maps were obtained with a 1.5-T MR system with 32 x 32 phase-encoding steps. RESULTS Distinct abnormal metabolite distributions could be detected in all lesions larger than 1 cm in diameter. In the center of infarcts with a diameter larger than the section thickness of 2 cm, NAA values decreased to 20% +/- 8 compared with contralateral brain as early as 1 day after onset of symptoms (P < .0001). Choline was reduced to 67% +/- 30 (not significant) and creatine to 51% +/- 22 (P = .0025). Large amounts of lactate were detected in all acute infarcts. Choline, creatine, and lactate values declined during the first 5 weeks after stroke. CONCLUSION MR spectroscopic imaging allows visualization of metabolic changes in stroke with a reasonable spatial resolution.
Evaluation of metabolic risk markers in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Adiponectin, ghrelin, leptin and body composition in hirsute PCOS patients and controls.

OBJECTIVE Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) patients are abdominally obese and are at increased risk of developing the metabolic syndrome. Low adiponectin and ghrelin levels in PCOS patients could be caused by insulin resistance as well as high testosterone levels. DESIGN Adiponectin and ghrelin levels were evaluated in 51 hirsute PCOS patients referred to the outpatient clinic of an academic, tertiary care medical centre and in 63 weight-matched female controls. Relationships between adiponectin, ghrelin, leptin, body composition, testosterone and insulin were examined. METHODS Measurements of body composition including waist-hip-ratio (WHR), body mass index (BMI) and whole body dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry scan measures of body fat mass. Measurements of fasting levels of adiponectin, ghrelin, leptin, androgen status, oestradiol, lipid variables and insulin during follicular phase. RESULTS Adiponectin levels were significantly decreased in obese PCOS patients compared with weight-matched controls (geometric mean (-2 to 2 s.d.) 5.3 (2.5-11.1) vs 7.3 (3.0-17.4) mg/l, P<0.05). Mean ghrelin was significantly lower in hirsute PCOS patients than in controls (0.6 (0.3 to 1.4) vs 0.8 (0.4 to 1.7) microg/l, P<0.001) and this remained significant after subdividing subjects according to waist circumference and BMI. During multiple regression analysis, testosterone correlated positively with adiponectin and negatively with ghrelin independent of BMI, WHR and total fat mass. CONCLUSION Obese hirsute PCOS patients demonstrated significantly lower adiponectin levels than weight-matched controls suggesting a very high risk for the metabolic syndrome. Furthermore, ghrelin levels were decreased in hirsute PCOS patients and showed a significant, negative correlation with testosterone independent of body composition.
Five years' treatment of Parkinson's disease with levodopa. Therapeutic results and survival of 100 patients.

One hundred patients with Parkinson's disease, who started taking levodopa before the end of 1968, have been assessed after 5 years. Forty-seven patients are still being followed on levodopa, and half of them are at least 25% better than at their pretreatment evaluation. However, the average functional rating is returning toward baseline from its remarkable improvement at 1/2 to 2 years. Abnormal involuntary movements, rapid oscillations in motor performance, postural instability, and dementia have become the major adverse effects. Thirty-two of the 100 patients have died. Life-table analysis shows an excess mortality of 1.9 compared with the U.S. population, a figure that is lower than the 2.9 reported before levodopa's use. Despite its inability to cure Parkinson's disease, levodopa provides symptomatic relief for a prolonged time and it remains the single most effective medication for the illness.
Mother-to-Child Transmission of Chikungunya Virus Infection

Background: In 2005–2006 Reunion Island experienced a massive outbreak of chikungunya, a mosquito-borne alphavirus infection. During this epidemic, early neonatal cases were observed with a highly probable mother-to-child transmission. Methods: A retrospective descriptive study was conducted in 5 neonatal medicine departments. Chikungunya virus infection was confirmed by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction or specific serology in mothers and their newborns. Mothers were screened if they presented signs at delivery or if their neonates became ill on the first days of life. Results: Thirty-eight neonates were enrolled. All mothers, except 2 asymptomatic mothers, presented signs during the perinatal period (range, day(D) −4 to D+1). All neonates were symptomatic and presented symptoms on D3 to D7 (mean, D4). The mean interval between onset of maternal illness and onset of neonatal illness was 5 days (range, 3–9). The most frequent clinical signs in neonates were fever (79%), pain (100%), rash (82%), and peripheral edema (58%). Thrombocytopenia (76%), lymphopenia (47%), decreased prothrombin value (65%), and elevation of aspartate aminotransferase (77%) were detected. Complications included seizures (6), hemorrhagic syndrome (6), and hemodynamic disorders (10). Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction in cerebrospinal fluid was positive in 22 of 24 cases, and abnormal findings on brain magnetic resonance imaging (14 of 25) with white matter lesions or intraparenchymal hemorrhages or both were found. Echocardiography (16) showed myocardial hypertrophy (5), ventricular dysfunction (2), pericarditis (2), and coronary artery dilatation (6). One neonate died of necrotizing enterocolitis. Conclusions: The chikungunya epidemic that occurred on La Reunion Island revealed for the first time the possibility of mother-to-child transmission in the perinatal period with a high rate of morbidity.
The role of land plants, phosphorus weathering and fire in the rise and regulation of atmospheric oxygen

The evolution of vascular plants and their spread across the land surface, beginning ∼420 Ma, progressively increased the rate of weathering of phosphorus from rocks. This phosphorus supply promoted terrestrial and marine productivity and the burial of organic carbon, which has been the major source of O2 over geological timescales. Hence, it is predicted that the rise of plants led to an increase in the O2 content of the atmosphere from ∼12 vol %, 570–400 Ma to its present level of ∼21 vol % by ∼340 Ma. Previous modelling studies suggest that O2 then rose to ∼35 vol % ∼300 Ma. Such high concentrations are difficult to reconcile with the known persistence of forests, because rising O2 increases the frequency and intensity of vegetation fires, tending to decrease biomass and cause ecological shifts toward faster regenerating ecosystems. Rising O2 also directly inhibits C3 photosynthetic carbon assimilation and increases the production of toxic reactive oxygen species in cells. These effects suppress plant‐induced phosphorus weathering and hence organic carbon burial, providing a sensitive negative feedback on O2. A revised model predicts that this mechanism could have regulated atmospheric O2 within the range 15–25 vol % for the last 350 million years.
Identification of a two-component fatty acid kinase responsible for host fatty acid incorporation by Staphylococcus aureus

Significance The enzymes required for the incorporation of host fatty acids into the membrane phospholipids of Gram-positive bacterial pathogens are unknown. Fatty acid kinase (Fak) is a new enzyme in lipid metabolism that requires two proteins to form acyl-phosphate: an ATP binding-domain protein (FakA) that interacts with a fatty acid binding protein (FakB). The analysis of Staphylococcus aureus mutants reveals that Fak is essential for phospholipid synthesis from extracellular fatty acids and also impacts the transcription of numerous virulence factors. This study reveals the function for two large bacterial protein families and their essential role in host fatty acid metabolism by pathogens, and connects Fak to the regulation of virulence factor transcription in S. aureus. Extracellular fatty acid incorporation into the phospholipids of Staphylococcus aureus occurs via fatty acid phosphorylation. We show that fatty acid kinase (Fak) is composed of two dissociable protein subunits encoded by separate genes. FakA provides the ATP binding domain and interacts with two distinct FakB proteins to produce acyl-phosphate. The FakBs are fatty acid binding proteins that exchange bound fatty acid/acyl-phosphate with fatty acid/acyl-phosphate presented in detergent micelles or liposomes. The ΔfakA and ΔfakB1 ΔfakB2 strains were unable to incorporate extracellular fatty acids into phospholipid. FakB1 selectively bound saturated fatty acids whereas FakB2 preferred unsaturated fatty acids. Affymetrix array showed a global perturbation in the expression of virulence genes in the ΔfakA strain. The severe deficiency in α-hemolysin protein secretion in ΔfakA and ΔfakB1 ΔfakB2 mutants coupled with quantitative mRNA measurements showed that fatty acid kinase activity was required to support virulence factor transcription. These data reveal the function of two conserved gene families, their essential role in the incorporation of host fatty acids by Gram-positive pathogens, and connects fatty acid kinase to the regulation of virulence factor transcription in S. aureus.
Better than Buffett?: a report on the success of the American Head and Neck Society Research Grant Program.

It has been well established that a crisis exists in the biomedical research enterprise of clinical surgery departments: the extinction of the surgeon-scientist. A number of factors, including dwindling research funding, decreasing reimbursement from insurance providers, shrinking salaries for researchers, waning interest in academia among graduating residents, and financial pressures on departments for greater clinical productivity, have contributed to this phenomenon in recent years. 1 More importantly, the growing number of basic scientists who are competing with clinicians for investigator-initiated funding from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), along with the competitive advantage of clinicians from internal medicine specialties for these funds, has led to fewer awards to surgeons for research funds. 2 The downturn in the United States economy in 2008 has made these issues more pronounced, threatening the viability of many academic medical centers and the research enterprise in many surgical departments.
Protective Effect of Thymoquinone against Arsenic-Induced Testicular Toxicity in Rats

The protective effect of thymoquinone (TQ) was investigated in rats exposed to testicular injury induced by sodium arsenite (10mg/kg/day, orally, for two days). TQ treatment (10mg/kg/day, intraperitoneal injection) was applied for five days, starting three day before arsenic administration. TQ significantly attenuated the arsenic-induced decreases of serum testosterone, and testicular reduced glutathione level, and significantly decreased the elevations of testicular malondialdehyde and nitric oxide levels resulted from arsenic administration. Also, TQ ameliorated the arsenic-induced testicular tissue injury observed by histopathological examination. In addition, TQ decreased the arsenic-induced expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase and caspase-3 in testicular tissue. It was concluded that TQ may represent a potential candidate to protect against arsenic-induced testicular injury. Keywords—Thymoquinone, arsenic, testes, rats.