Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Modelling nanoflares in active regions and implications for coronal heating mechanisms

Recent observations from the Hinode and Solar Dynamics Observatory spacecraft have provided major advances in understanding the heating of solar active regions (ARs). For ARs comprising many magnetic strands or sub-loops heated by small, impulsive events (nanoflares), it is suggested that (i) the time between individual nanoflares in a magnetic strand is 500–2000 s, (ii) a weak ‘hot’ component (more than 106.6 K) is present, and (iii) nanoflare energies may be as low as a few 1023 ergs. These imply small heating events in a stressed coronal magnetic field, where the time between individual nanoflares on a strand is of order the cooling time. Modelling suggests that the observed properties are incompatible with nanoflare models that require long energy build-up (over 10 s of thousands of seconds) and with steady heating.
SLU model adaptation with a partial Oracle

Deployed Spoken Dialog Systems (SDS) evolve quickly while new services are added or dropped, and while users’ behaviour change. This dynamic aspect of SDS justifies the need for a process allowing the system to keep up to date the Automatic Speech Recognition (ASR) and the Spoken Language Understanding (SLU) models. This process usually consists in collecting new data from the deployed system, transcribing and annotating them, then adding these new examples to the ASR and SLU training corpora in order to retrain the models. This strategy, even when used with an active learning scheme, is costly as the transcription and annotation processes of the new collected samples has to be done manually. This paper proposes a supervised approach for updating the SLU models of a deployed SDS which doesn’t need any additional manual transcription or annotation processes. The limited supervision needed for this alternative approach is given by the users calling the SDS: each user can be seen as a partial Oracle who could confirm if a system prediction is right or wrong.
The carboxy-terminal portion of the CheA kinase mediates regulation of autophosphorylation by transducer and CheW

The CheA kinase is a central protein in the signal transduction network that controls chemotaxis in Escherichia coli. CheA receives information from a transmembrane receptor (e.g., Tar) and CheW proteins and relays it to the CheB and CheY proteins. The biochemical activities of CheA proteins truncated at various distances from the carboxy terminus were examined. The carboxy-terminal portion of CheA regulates autophosphorylation in response to environmental signals transmitted through Tar and CheW. The central portion of CheA is required for autophosphorylation and is also presumably involved in dimer formation. The amino-terminal portion of CheA was previously shown to contain the site of autophosphorylation and to be able to transfer the phosphoryl group to CheB and CheY. These studies further delineate three functional domains of the CheA protein.
Insufficient dialysis shunts: improved long-term patency rates with close hemodynamic monitoring, repeated percutaneous balloon angioplasty, and stent placement.

Over 54 months, 70 short stenoses of 63 shunts (32 Brescia-Cimino fistulas, 31 grafts) in 59 patients necessitated a first percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA). Restenosis led to 63 redilations in 38 lesions. Nine stents were inserted in seven grafts and two proximal veins in seven patients, the indication being that stenosis had recurred twice in 6 months. In three of these stenoses, five delayed intrastent redilations were necessary. Three previously dilated occluded grafts were recovered with local thrombolysis. Morbidity was 4.08%, with one immediate rupture, four delayed pseudoaneurysms (1-28 months), and two periprocedural bacteremias. Half (15 of 29) of graft stenoses and only 14% (four of 27) of Brescia-Cimino fistula stenoses had a mean restenosis interval of less than 6 months. The mean restenosis interval increased from 3.6 months +/- 0.5 (standard deviation) before stent placement to 15.2 months +/- 0.4 after stent placement (P < .001). Insertion of a stent can be advised when stenoses of graft venous anastomoses have recurred twice in less than 6 months. The combination of all interventional radiologic procedures allowed a significant improvement in secondary patency rates after PTA, with 82% at 1 year, 79% at 2 years, and 71% at 3 years.
G2019S mutation in the leucine‐rich repeat kinase 2 gene is not associated with multiple system atrophy

Multiple system atrophy (MSA) is characterized clinically by Parkinsonism, cerebellar dysfunction, and autonomic impairment. Multiple mutations in the LRRK2 gene are associated with parkinsonian disorders, and the most common one, the G2019S mutation, has been found in ∼1% of sporadic cases of Parkinsonism. In a well‐characterized cohort of 136 subjects with probable MSA and 110 neurologically evaluated control subjects, none carried the G2019S mutation. We conclude that the G2019S mutation in the LRRK2 gene is unlikely to be associated with MSA. © 2007 Movement Disorder Society
Ligand-Mediated Regulation of Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor (PPAR) β/δ: A Comparative Analysis of PPAR-Selective Agonists and All-trans Retinoic Acid

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs) are members of the nuclear hormone receptor superfamily that modulate target gene expression in response to natural fatty acid ligands and synthetic agonists. It is noteworthy that all trans-retinoic acid (atRA) has recently been reported to act as a ligand for PPARβ/δ, to activate its transcriptional activity, and, in contrast to the “classic” function of atRA, to stimulate cell proliferation (Schug et al., 2007). Here, we report that in contrast to synthetic PPARβ/δ agonists, atRA failed to induce the transcriptional activity of PPARβ/δ using different types of reporter gene assays. Likewise, atRA did not affect the expression of the bona fide PPARβ/δ target genes ADRP and ANGPTL4 but strongly increased expression of the retinoic acid target gene CYP26A under the identical experimental conditions. Consistent with these observations, atRA did not compete with established PPARβ/δ agonists in a ligand binding assay, and atRA did not enable the interaction of PPARβ/δ with a coactivator peptide in a time-resolved fluorescence resonance energy transfer assay in vitro. These results are in sharp contrast to the effect of established PPARβ/δ agonists in both in vitro assays. Taken as a whole, these data strongly suggest that atRA does not function as a ligand of PPARβ/δ in any of the experimental systems tested and that the previously reported atRA effects are more likely to reflect an uncharacterized and less direct mechanism.
Multiple abiotic stresses occurring with salinity stress in citrus

Citrus, one of the most important fruit crops in the world, is sensitive to many environmental stresses including salt stress. The negative effects of stresses often lead to poor tree growth and reductions in fruit yield and quality. Under natural conditions, citrus trees often experience multiple stresses at the same time so there are direct and indirect interactions between salinity and almost all physical abiotic stresses that include flooding, drought, nutrient deficiency, high irradiance, high temperature, and high atmospheric evaporative demand. In addition, salinity stress also has direct effects on roots predisposing trees to biotic environmental stresses including attack by root rot, nematodes and bacterial disease. The agronomical and physiological responses of citrus exposed to two or more stress factors, can differ depended on stress intensity or duration. Since citrus leaf Cl− accumulation has been linked to water use, for example, other environmental factors including high CO2 concentration, lowered temperature and high relativity humidity which decrease leaf transpiration, can improve the salt tolerance. Citrus rootstocks known to be tolerant to root rot and nematode pests, can become more susceptible to these biotic stresses when irrigated with high salinity water. Root pests can, in turn, affect the salt tolerance of citrus roots and may increase salt uptake. Moderate salinity stress, however, can reduce physiological activity and growth allowing citrus seedlings to survive cold stress and can even enhance flowering after the salinity stress is relieved. In this review, we discuss the currently available information about the effects of salinity in citrus trees from an agronomic and physiological point of view, and how these responses interact with other abiotic/physical and biotic environmental factors. Short-term potential benefits of moderate stresses including salinity, will also be discussed. © 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
An aging study of intermetallic compounds formation in Sn-0.4Co-0.7Cu

Interfacial reactions between Sn-0.4Co-0.7Cu eutectic alloy and immersion Ni/Cu substrate have been investigated after reflow and high temperature storage. The reflow peak temperature at 265degC and a total duration time of 6 minutes were used. The duration time at the peak temperature of the reflow process was approximately 2 min. The aging temperature was 150degC and the duration time was 100 h, 200 h, 550 h and 1000 h, respectively. In the solder matrix of the Sn-0.4Co-0.7Cu alloy, the intermetallic compounds (IMC) CoSn2 were found. At the interface between the solder alloy and the electroless nickel substrate, a ternary (Cu, Ni)6Sn5 intermetallic compound was detected. The intermetallic compound layer became thicker as a function of thermal aging time. The IMCs were continuous and their morphology was faceted at the interface. No voids and gaps were observed at the interface between the nickel layer and the Sn-0.4Co-0.7Cu eutectic alloy after thermal aging.
A simulation study on proton computed tomography (CT) stopping power accuracy using dual energy CT scans as benchmark

ABSTRACT Background. Accurate stopping power estimation is crucial for treatment planning in proton therapy, and the uncertainties in stopping power are currently the largest contributor to the employed dose margins. Dual energy x-ray computed tomography (CT) (clinically available) and proton CT (in development) have both been proposed as methods for obtaining patient stopping power maps. The purpose of this work was to assess the accuracy of proton CT using dual energy CT scans of phantoms to establish reference accuracy levels. Material and methods. A CT calibration phantom and an abdomen cross section phantom containing inserts were scanned with dual energy and single energy CT with a state-of-the-art dual energy CT scanner. Proton CT scans were simulated using Monte Carlo methods. The simulations followed the setup used in current prototype proton CT scanners and included realistic modeling of detectors and the corresponding noise characteristics. Stopping power maps were calculated for all three scans, and compared with the ground truth stopping power from the phantoms. Results. Proton CT gave slightly better stopping power estimates than the dual energy CT method, with root mean square errors of 0.2% and 0.5% (for each phantom) compared to 0.5% and 0.9%. Single energy CT root mean square errors were 2.7% and 1.6%. Maximal errors for proton, dual energy and single energy CT were 0.51%, 1.7% and 7.4%, respectively. Conclusion. Better stopping power estimates could significantly reduce the range errors in proton therapy, but requires a large improvement in current methods which may be achievable with proton CT.
Characterization of phage receptors in Streptococcus thermophilus using purified cell walls obtained by a simple protocol

A simple protocol was designed and applied to obtain Streptococcus thermophilus purified cell walls. To identify the structures involved in phage adsorption, the cell walls of two Strep. thermophilus strains were treated with sodium dodecyl sulphate and proteinase K. These treatments did not reduce the adsorption of phages CYM and 0BJ to the cell walls of Strep. thermophilus YSD10 and Strep. thermophilus BJ15, respectively. However, phage binding was reduced when the cell envelopes were treated with mutanolysin or trichloroacetic acid 5%, suggesting that the phage receptor component is part of the peptidoglycan or a polymer closely linked to it. The ability of several saccharides to inactivate both phages was also assayed. These phage inhibition experiments suggested that the phage CYM adsorbed to a component involving glucosamine and rhamnose, while glucosamine and ribose interfered with the adsorption of phage 0BJ.
Comparison of fluorescent in situ hybridization and histological method for the diagnosis of Helicobacter pylori in gastric biopsy samples.

BACKGROUND The establishment of Helicobacter pylori in the stomach and duodenum is associated with gastritis, peptic ulcers, and gastric cancer. Application of suitable methods, including molecular techniques, for an accurate detection of H. pylori can lead to the administration of appropriate drugs and successful therapy. In this study, fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) was compared with histology for the diagnosis of H. pylori in gastric biopsy specimens. MATERIAL/METHODS Flourescently labeled oligonucleotdie probes that target ribosomal RNA were utilized in the FISH procedure. Ninety-one gastric biopsy specimens were tested by FISH and by histology using hematoxylin-eosin (H-E) and Geimsa stains. Furthermore, clarithromycin resistance in 39 of the 91 specimens was examined by FISH. RESULTS The sensitivity and specificity of FISH for the detection of H. pylori were 97.9% and 100%, respectively. Of the 39 samples that were tested for clarithromycin resistance, 19 were FISH positive for H. pylori, of which 15 and 4 specimens were infected with clarithromycin-susceptible and clarithromycin-resistant strains, respectively. There were coccoid forms of H. pylori in a few of the specimens. CONCLUSIONS FISH is a highly sensitive and specific technique for the diagnosis of H. pylori infection. It can be a method of identification when a patient is infected with coccoid forms of H. pylori. The ability of FISH for determination of clarithromycin resistance is a considerable advantage of this method over histology.
The effects of visual deprivation on adaptation to a rotating environment

Abstract : Three experiments were performed in the Slow Rotation Room to evaluate the influence of visual deprivation on several indices of adaptation to rotation. Data were obtained on tests of postural equilibrium, the Coriolis illusion, and canal sickness symptomatology. Reduction in the magnitude of the Coriolis illusion was observed whether vision was permitted or denied, but there was more variability in the latter condition. Equivalent or better postural performance was observed 'without' vision, and fewer symptoms of canal sickness were observed in this mode. (Author)
MAGNETIC ORIGINS OF THE STELLAR MASS-OBLIQUITY CORRELATION IN PLANETARY SYSTEMS

Detailed observational characterization of transiting exoplanet systems has revealed that the spin-axes of massive ( M ≳ 1.2 M ⊙ ? > ) stars often exhibit substantial misalignments with respect to the orbits of the planets they host. Conversely, lower-mass stars tend to only have limited obliquities. A similar trend has recently emerged within the observational data set of young stars’ magnetic field strengths: massive T-Tauri stars tend to have dipole fields that are ∼10 times weaker than their less-massive counterparts. Here we show that the associated dependence of magnetic star–disk torques upon stellar mass naturally explains the observed spin–orbit misalignment trend, provided that misalignments are obtained within the disk-hosting phase. Magnetic torques act to realign the stellar spin-axes of lower-mass stars with the disk plane on a timescale significantly shorter than the typical disk lifetime, whereas the same effect operates on a much longer timescale for massive stars. Cumulatively, our results point to a primordial excitation of extrasolar spin–orbit misalignment, signalling consistency with disk-driven migration as the dominant transport mechanism for short-period planets. Furthermore, we predict that spin–orbit misalignments in systems where close-in planets show signatures of dynamical, post-nebular emplacement will not follow the observed correlation with stellar mass.
Global epidemiology of CTX-M &bgr;-lactamases: temporal and geographical shifts in genotype

Globally, rates of ESBL-producing Enterobacteriaceae are rising. We undertook a literature review, and present the temporal trends in blaCTX-M epidemiology, showing that blaCTX-M-15 and blaCTX-M-14 have displaced other genotypes in many parts of the world. Explanations for these changes can be attributed to: (i) horizontal gene transfer (HGT) of plasmids; (ii) successful Escherichia coli clones; (iii) ESBLs in food animals; (iv) the natural environment; and (v) human migration and access to basic sanitation. We also provide explanations for the changing epidemiology of blaCTX-M-2 and blaCTX-M-27. Modifiable anthropogenic factors, such as poor access to basic sanitary facilities, encourage the spread of blaCTX-M and other antimicrobial resistance (AMR) genes, such as blaNDM, blaKPC and mcr-1. We provide further justification for novel preventative and interventional strategies to reduce transmission of these AMR genes.
Glycation of lens crystalline protein in the pathogenesis of various forms of cataract

The pathogenesis of cataract has been found to be influenced by number of factors including protein glycation. Cataract is the clouding or opacity that develops in the lens of eye. It forms when bounding or folding of protein changes and clump together; eventually these clumps cloud the lens and block the light. The aim of this study was to estimate the levels of glycated protein in blood and lens in patients with cataract. The levels of protein glycation both in serum and lens of controls and different type of cataract were studied. The levels of glycation of lens protein was significantly higher in both age related cataract (4.5±0.76 mg/100mg of protein) and diabetic cataract (5.22±1.07mg/100mg of protein) (p<0.001) when compared controls (2.42±0.3107mg/100mg of protein). Similarly the levels of glycated hemoglobin in diabetic cataract (8.33 ±1.04%) was significantly higher (p<0.001) when compared with controls (4.94±0.89 %). The levels of protein glycation were significantly higher in diabetic cataract (5.22±1.07mg/100mg of protein) (p<0.001) when compared with other types of cataract (nuclear cataract 4.5± 0.76mg/100mg of protein, cortical cataract 4.23±0.67mg/100mg of protein). These results show that the increase in glycation process may accelerates the development of cataract in diabetic patients.
Histological chronic prostatitis and high‐grade prostate intra‐epithelial neoplasia do not influence urinary prostate cancer gene 3 score

Study Type – Diagnostic (case series) Level of Evidence 4 What's known on the subject? and What does the study add? While the relationship between PCA3 score and clinical or histological prostatitis was quite proven even in small patient groups, conversely the relationship between PCA3 score and HG‐PIN is still under debate. We demonstrated in a large series (432 patients) that histologically documented chronic prostatitis and HG‐PIN have similar PCA3 scores to patients with BPH and/or normal parenchyma at biopsy.
Vegetation Zonation in a Neotropical Montane Forest: Environment, Disturbance and Ecotones

Gradual changes in vegetation structure and composition are expected to result from continuous environmental change with increasing elevation on mountains. Hence, the occurrence of abrupt or discrete ecotones in vegetation patterns is intriguing and may suggest key controls on community assembly in montane forests. We review tropical montane forest (TMF) zonation patterns focusing on a case study from the Cordillera Central, Hispaniola where a striking discontinuity in forest composition occurs consistently at ∼2000 m elevation, with cloud forest below and monodominant pine forest above. We propose that a discontinuity in climatic factors (temperature, humidity) associated with the trade‐wind inversion (TWI) is the primary cause of this and other ecotones in TMFs that occur at a generally consistent elevation. Low humidity, fires and occasional frost above the TWI favor pine over cloud forest species. Fires in the high‐elevation pine forest have repeatedly burned down to the ecotone boundary and extinguished in the cloud forest owing to its low flammability, reinforced by high humidity, cloud immersion and epiphytic bryophyte cover. Small‐scale fire patterns along the ecotone are influenced by topography and where forest structure is impacted by hurricanes and landslides. Analogous patterns are observed worldwide in other TMFs where the TWI is important, high‐elevation fires are frequent, and the flora contains frost‐tolerant species (often of temperate lineage). The response of this and other TMFs to anthropogenic climate change is highly uncertain owing to potentially countervailing effects of different climatic phenomena, including warming temperatures and decreased frost; changes in the TWI, high‐elevation drought or cloudiness; and increased frequency or intensity of hurricanes and El Niño‐Southern Oscillation events.
Landscape of the SOX2 protein–protein interactome

SOX2 is a key gene implicated in maintaining the stemness of embryonic and adult stem cells that appears to re‐activate in several human cancers including glioblastoma multiforme. Using immunoprecipitation (IP)/MS/MS, we identified 144 proteins that are putative SOX2 interacting proteins. Of note, SOX2 was found to interact with several heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein family proteins, including HNRNPA2B1, HNRNPA3, HNRNPC, HNRNPK, HNRNPL, HNRNPM, HNRNPR, HNRNPU, as well as other ribonucleoproteins, DNA repair proteins and helicases. Gene ontology (GO) analysis revealed that the SOX2 interactome was enriched for GO terms GO:0030529 ribonucleoprotein complex and GO:0004386 helicase activity. These findings indicate that SOX2 associates with the heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein complex, suggesting a possible role for SOX2 in post‐transcriptional regulation in addition to its function as a transcription factor.
Late endosome motility depends on lipids via the small GTPase Rab7

We report that lipids contribute to regulate the bidirectional motility of late endocytic compartments. Late endocytic vesicles loaded with cholesterol lose their dynamic properties, and become essentially immobile, including in cells from Niemann–Pick C patients. These vesicles then retain cytoplasmic dynein activity, but seem to be unable to acquire kinesin activity, eventually leading to paralysis. Our data suggest that this defect depends on the small GTPase Rab7, since the motility of vesicles loaded with cholesterol can be restored by the Rab7 inhibitory mutant N125I. Conversely, wild‐type Rab7 overexpression mimics the effects of cholesterol on motility in control cells. Consistently, cholesterol accumulation increases the amounts of membrane‐associated Rab7, and inhibits Rab7 membrane extraction by the guanine nucleotide dissociation inhibitor. Our observations thus indicate that cholesterol contributes to regulate the Rab7 cycle, and that Rab7 in turn controls the net movement of late endocytic elements. We conclude that motor functions can be regulated by the membrane lipid composition via the Rab7 cycle.