Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
SiO outflows in high-mass star forming regions: A potential chemical clock?

Context. Some theoretical models propose that O-B stars form via accretion, in a similar fashion to low-mass stars. Jet-driven molecular outflows play an important role in this scenario, and their study can help to understand the process of high-mass star formation and the different evolutionary phases involved. Aims. Observations towards low-mass protostars so far favour an evolutionary picture in which jets are always associated with Class 0 objects while more evolved Class I/II objects show less evidence of powerful jets. The present study aims at checking whether an analogous picture can be found in the high-mass case. Methods. The IRAM 30-m telescope (Spain) has been used to perform single-pointing SiO(2–1) and (3–2) observations towards a sample of 57 high-mass molecular clumps in different evolutionary stages. Continuum data at different wavelengths, from mid-IR to 1.2 mm, have been gathered to build the spectral energy distributions of all the clumps and estimate their bolometric luminosities. Results. SiO emission at high velocities, characteristic of molecular jets, is detected in 88% of our sources, a very high detection rate indicating that there is ongoing star formation activity in most of the sources of our sample. The SiO(2–1) luminosity drops with Lbol/M, which suggests that jet activity declines as time evolves. This represents the first clear evidence of a decrease of SiO outflow luminosity with time in a homogeneous sample of high-mass molecular clumps in different evolutionary stages. The SiO(3–2) to SiO(2–1) integrated intensity ratio shows only minor changes with evolutionary state.
Fault tolerance performance of two hybrid six-phase drive systems under single-phase open-circuit fault operation

This paper discusses the fault tolerance performance of two hybrid six-phase drive systems under single-phase open-circuit fault. The topologies are considered to be hybrid because each of the two three-phase groups of the six-phase machine is connected to a different type of converter. One group is connected to a two-level converter and the other group is connected to a dual converter in an open-end arrangement. A compensation strategy is discussed in order to keep the rated operation even after the occurrence of the fault. The six-phase machine mathematical model after the fault is presented and utilized to elaborate the compensation strategy. Simulation and experimental results show the validity of the discussed solutions.
Discrimination of Aortic and Pulmonary Components from the Second Heart Sound Using Respiratory Modulation and Measurement of Respiratory Split

The second heart sound consists of aortic and pulmonary components. Analysis on the changes of the second heart sound waveform in respiration shows that the aortic component has little variation and the delay of the pulmonary component is modulated by respiration. This paper proposes a novel model to discriminate the aortic and pulmonary components using respiratory modulation. It is found that the aortic component could be simply extracted by averaging the second heart sounds over respiratory phase, and the pulmonary component could be extracted by subtraction. Hence, the split is measured by the timing difference of the two components. To validate the measurement, the method is applied to simulated second heart sounds with known varying splits. The simulation results show that the aortic and pulmonary components can be successfully extracted and the measured splits are close to the predefined splits. The method is further evaluated by data collected from 12 healthy subjects. Experimental results show that the respiratory split can be accurately measured. The minimum split generally occurs at the end of expiration and the split value is about 20 ms. Meanwhile, the maximum split is about 50 ms at the end of inspiration. Both the trend of split varying with respect to respiratory phase and the numerical range of split varying are comparable to the results disclosed by previous physiologists. The proposed method is compared to the two previous well known methods. The most attractive advantage of the proposed method is much less complexity. This method has potential applications in monitoring heart hemodynamic response to respiration.
The Routledge companion to historical studies

Providing a critical introduction to historical studies, this text examines the key issues, the historians and philosophers, and the concepts, ideas and theories which have prompted the rethinking of history which has been gathering momentum in the 1990s. Key concepts for the new history are examined through the ideas of leading historians and philosophers since the 18th century such as Kant, Nietzsche, Croce, Collingwood, White, Foucault and Derrida including: class; empiricism; hermeneutics; inference; metanarrative; relativism; and teleology. With an introduction setting out the state of the discipline of history in 1999, and alphabetical entries on the key ideas, issues and concepts, the book explores the challenges that history faces in the late 20th century.
Stover Composition in Maize and Sorghum Reveals Remarkable Genetic Variation and Plasticity for Carbohydrate Accumulation

Carbohydrates stored in vegetative organs, particularly stems, of grasses are a very important source of energy. We examined carbohydrate accumulation in adult sorghum and maize hybrids with distinct phenology and different end uses (grain, silage, sucrose or sweetness in stalk juice, and biomass). Remarkable variation was observed for non-structural carbohydrates and structural polysaccharides during three key developmental stages both between and within hybrids developed for distinct end use in both species. At the onset of the reproductive phase (average 65 days after planting, DAP), a wide range for accumulation of non-structural carbohydrates (free glucose and sucrose combined), was observed in internodes of maize (11–24%) and sorghum (7–36%) indicating substantial variation for transient storage of excess photosynthate during periods of low grain or vegetative sink strength. Remobilization of these reserves for supporting grain fill or vegetative growth was evident from lower amounts in maize (8–19%) and sorghum (9–27%) near the end of the reproductive period (average 95 DAP). At physiological maturity of grain hybrids (average 120 DAP), amounts of these carbohydrates were generally unchanged in maize (9–21%) and sorghum (16–27%) suggesting a loss of photosynthetic assimilation due to weakening sink demand. Nonetheless, high amounts of non-structural carbohydrates at maturity even in grain maize and sorghum (15–18%) highlight the potential for developing dual-purpose (grain/stover) crops. For both species, the amounts of structural polysaccharides in the cell wall, measured as monomeric components (glucose and pentose), decreased during grain fill but remained unchanged thereafter with maize biomass possessing slightly higher amounts than sorghum. Availability of carbohydrates in maize and sorghum highlights the potential for developing energy-rich dedicated biofuel or dual-purpose (grain/stover) crops.
Evaluation of sperm protamine deficiency and apoptosis in infertile men with idiopathic teratozoospermia

Objective Sperm morphology plays an important role in infertility, especially in cases of defects in the heads of spermatozoa. Tapered-head or elongated-head spermatozoa are examples of morphological abnormalities. The aim of this study was to compare the semen parameters, levels of protamine deficiency, and frequency of apoptosis between patients with normozoospermia and those with teratozoospermia with tapered-head spermatozoa. Methods Fifty-two semen samples (27 patients with tapered-head sperm and 25 fertile men) were collected and semen analysis was performed according to the World Health Organization criteria for each sample. Protamine deficiency and the percentage of apoptotic spermatozoa were evaluated using chromomycin A3 (CMA3) staining and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick-end labelling (TUNEL) assays, respectively. Results Sperm concentration, motility, and normal morphology in the tapered-head spermatozoa (cases) were significantly lower than in the normozoospermic samples (controls). CMA3-reactive spermatozoa (CMA3+) in the case group were more common than in the controls. Apoptotic spermatozoa (TUNEL-positive) were significantly more common in the cases than in the controls. Conclusion This analysis showed that tapered-head spermatozoa contained abnormal chromatin packaging and exhibited a high rate of apoptosis, which can be considered to be an important reason for the impaired fertility potential in teratozoospermic patients with tapered-head spermatozoa.
Angiotensin II up-regulates soluble epoxide hydrolase in vascular endothelium in vitro and in vivo

Epoxyeicosatrienoic acids (EETs), as metabolites of arachidonic acid, may function as antihypertensive and antiatherosclerotic mediators for vasculature. EETs are degraded by soluble epoxide hydrolase (sEH). Pharmacological inhibition and genetic ablation of sEH have been shown to increase the level of EETs, and treating angiotensin II (Ang II)-infused hypertension rats with sEH-selective inhibitors increased the levels of EETs, with attendant decrease in systolic blood pressure. To elucidate the mechanisms by which Ang II regulates sEH expression, we treated human umbilical vein endothelial cells (ECs) and bovine aortic ECs with Ang II and found increased sEH expression at both the mRNA and protein levels. Transient transfection assays showed that the activity of the human sEH promoter was increased in ECs in response to Ang II. Further analysis of the promoter region of the sEH gene demonstrated that treatment with Ang II, like overexpression of c-Jun/c-Fos, activates the sEH promoter through an AP-1-binding motif. The binding of c-Jun to the AP-1 site of the sEH promoter was confirmed by chromatin immunoprecipitation assays. In contrast, adenovirus overexpression of the dominant-negative mutant of c-Jun significantly attenuated the effects of Ang II on sEH induction. An elevated level of sEH was found in the aortic intima of both spontaneously hypertensive rats and Ang II-infused Wistar rats. Blocking Ang II binding to Ang II receptor 1 by losartan abolished the sEH induction. Thus, AP-1 activation is involved in the transcriptional up-regulation of sEH by Ang II in ECs, which may contribute to Ang II-induced hypertension.
An immunodominant domain in adenovirus type 2 early region 1A proteins

Six independent rat hybridoma cell lines producing monoclonal antibodies to human subgroup C adenovirus early region 1A (E1A) proteins were isolated. Competition binding experiments revealed that each of the monoclonal antibodies was directed against the same epitope or overlapping cluster of epitopes on the E1A proteins. Viral E1A deletion mutants and deleted forms of E1A proteins expressed in Escherichia coli were used to localize the antibody recognition sites to sequences between amino acids 23 and 120, encoded within the first exon of the E1A gene. Similarly, polyclonal antisera raised against the trpE-E1A fusion protein, as well as against the native, biologically active E1A protein, were also directed primarily against this immunodominant region.
Flavonoids from Inula britannica reduces oxidative stress through inhibiting expression and phosphorylation of p47phox in VSMCs

Context: Inula britanica Linn. (Compositae) is a traditional Chinese medicinal herb that has been used to treat bronchitis and inflammation. The total flavonoid extracts (TFEs) isolated from its flowers can inhibit neointimal formation induced by balloon injury in vivo. Objective: To investigate the mechanism by which TFE suppresses oxidative stress generation and the subsequent inflammation response in vitro. Materials and methods: The cultured vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) form rats were exposed to oxidative stress following pretreatment with or without TFE at different concentration. Then, fluorescence staining was used to detect superoxide anion (O2˙−) production, and the lever of maleic dialdehyde (MDA) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) was measured at the same time. Furthermore, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) was measured by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), reverse transcription-PCR and western blot were performed to detect the expression activity of p47phox gene, and immunoprecipitation was used to test the level of p47phox phosphorylation. Results: TFE inhibited the production of O2˙− induced by H2O2 in VSMCs, with decrease in secretion of TNF-α; elevated the activity of SOD in the medium, similar to the effect of quercetin; reduced the level of MDA in culture medium of VSMCs. The pretreatment with TFE resulted in decrease the level of p47phox mRNA and protein, and even p47phox phosphorylation in VSMCs, compared with H2O2 control. Discussion and conclusion: These findings demonstrate that TFE is capable of attenuating the oxidative stress generation and the subsequent inflammation response via preventing the overexpression and activation of p47phox and the increased TNF-α secretion in VSMCs in vitro.
Association between GSTP1 CpG methylation and the early phase of lead exposure

Abstract Context: GSTP1 is induced by lead, and thus serves as a biomarker of lead exposure. Lead exposure changes DNA methylation status. Objective: We attempted to prove that the methylation of the GSTP1 promoter plays an important role in lead toxicity. Materials and methods: We conducted a case-control study of 53 workers from a battery plant and 53 age and sex matched healthy volunteers to determine whether the methylation level of the GSTP1 promoter is associated with the risk of lead poisoning. We employed methylation-specific PCR (MSP) in cell models to determine the relationship between the GSTP1 methylation level and lead exposure. Results: We found no association between GSTP1 methylation and lead exposure. The difference in methylation frequencies between the exposure group and the controls was not statistically significant (p = 0.401), and individuals with the methylated GSTP1 gene was not associated with the risk of lead poisoning (adjusted OR = 1.36, 95% CI, 0.22–8.24). Conclusion: This study suggests that GSTP1 methylation is not involved in the early phase of lead toxicity. Further studies should be performed to detect the association between GSTP1 methylation and the risk of lead poisoning in later phases.
Simulating oculomotor inhibition of return with a two-dimensional dynamic neural field model of the superior colliculus

Sensory adaptation and oculomotor inhibition of return (IOR) have been extensively modeled using a onedimensional dynamic neural field (DNF) model of the superior colliculus (SC). However, a great deal of paradigms are incapable of being simulated in a single dimension, limiting the generality of previous implementations. Here, we expand on previous work by implementing the inhibitory cueing mechanisms underlying IOR in a two-dimensional DNF. With such a model, we were able to reproduce the results reported in our previous work, validating the use of two-dimensional DNF models in future theoretical investigations. We discuss a number of new findings in the literature that should be simulated in two dimensions to further our understanding of inhibitory cueing mechanisms and saccade dynamics, such as the center of gravity effect of IOR.
PURIFICATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF A SECRETORY SERINE PROTEINASE OF ACANTHAMOEBA HEALYI ISOLATED FROM GAE

We purified and characterized a serine proteinase secreted by Acanthamoeba healyi to evaluate it as a possible virulence factor in the pathogenesis of granulomatous amoebic encephalitis (GAE). Ammonium sulfate precipitated culture supernatant of A. healyi OC-3A strain was purified by chromatography on CM-Sepharose, Sephacryl-S200, and Q-2 anion-exchange columns. The purified 33-kDa enzyme had a pH optimum of 8.0 and a temperature optimum of 40 C. Phenylmethylsulfonylfluoride and diisopropyl fluorophosphate, serine proteinase inhibitors, diminished activity of the enzyme to near zero. In addition to types I and IV collagen and fibronectin, the main components of the extracellular matrix, other proteins such as fibrinogen, IgG, IgA, albumin, and hemoglobin were also degraded by the enzyme. The broad substrate specificity of this secreted serine proteinase suggests that it may play an important role in pathogenesis of GAE by A. healyi.
Tracking Students' Inquiry Paths through Student Transition Analysis

In the Science Assistment project (http://users.wpi.edu/~sci_assistments/) we provide students with rich and dynamic opportunities to engage in inquiry while researchers and teachers use performance data as assessment indices of scientific inquiry skills and domain knowledge. Activities in the Science Assistment Project follow a pedagogical model known as the inquiry cycle, namely, explore, hypothesize, experiment, and analyze. Figure 1 shows this cycle as a graph and the transitions that can be made between states. State “Comp” represents completion of the activity.
X-ray mass proxies from hydrodynamic simulations of galaxy clusters – I

Using extended sets of cosmological hydrodynamical simulations of galaxy clusters, we present a detailed study of scaling relations between total cluster mass and three mass proxies based on X-ray observable quantities: temperature of the intracluster medium (ICM), gas mass and the product of the two, YX=MgasT. Our analysis is based on two sets of high-resolution hydrodynamical simulations performed with the TreePM–SPH gadget code. The first set includes about 140 clusters with masses above 5 × 1013 h−1 M⊙, with 30 such clusters having mass above 1015 h−1 M⊙. All such clusters have been simulated in two flavours, both with non-radiative physics and including cooling, star formation, chemical enrichment and the effect of supernova feedback triggering galactic ejecta. The extensive statistics offered by this set of simulated clusters is used to quantify the robustness of the scaling relations between mass proxies and total mass, to determine their redshift evolution and to calibrate their intrinsic scatter and its distribution. Furthermore, we use a smaller set of clusters including 18 haloes with masses above 5 × 1013 h−1 M⊙, four of which are more massive than 1015 h−1 M⊙, to test the robustness of mass proxies against change in the physical processes that are included in the simulations to describe the evolution of the intracluster medium. Each cluster is simulated in seven different flavours to study the effects of (i) thermal conduction, (ii) artificial viscosity, (iii) cooling and star formation, (iv) galactic winds and (v) active galactic nucleus (AGN) feedback. As a general result, we find the M–YX scaling relation to be the least sensitive to variations in the ICM physics, its slope and redshift evolution always being very close to the predictions of the self-similar model. As regards the scatter around the best-fitting relations, its distribution is always close to a log-normal one. Mgas is the mass proxy with the smallest scatter in mass, with values of σln M≃ 0.04–0.06 depending on the physics included in the simulation and with a mild dependence on redshift. In terms of the mass–temperature relation, it is the one with the largest scatter, with σln M≳ 0.1 at z= 0 increasing to ≳0.15 at z= 1. The intrinsic scatter in the M–YX relation is slightly larger than that in the M–Mgas relation, with σln M≃ 0.06 at z= 0 and 0.08 at z= 1. These results confirm that both YX and Mgas mass proxies are well suited for cosmological applications in future large X-ray surveys. As a word of caution, we point out that the analysis presented in this paper does not include the observational effects expected when measuring temperature by fitting X-ray spectra and gas mass from X-ray surface-brightness profiles. A detailed assessment of such effects will be the subject of a forthcoming paper.
An Empirical Path Loss Model for Indoor Environments in 2.4GHz 802.11n Networks

Various indoor models based on the femtocell deployment have been proposed in the literature. However none of the schemes provides a generic model for the indoor propagation, because some important parameters are missing related to the wall and floor effects scenario. All existing schemes considering only the thickness of wall and does not consider the ceiling height for the different floor effect. However the proposed new scheme takes materials of wall and no longer to thickness for the wall scenario in indoor propagation model. And, it is also considering the total height difference between the user equipment and access point for the floor scenario. By taking these parameters, in terms of mean absolute error, the proposed scheme has better performance than all other existing models. All the schemes were tested in a three-story building with different number of penetrated walls and floors.
Medical records and quality of care in acute coronary syndromes: results from CRUSADE.

BACKGROUND Patient medical records are important means of communication among health care providers. Limited evaluation has been performed of the quality of the medical records or its association with health care processes or outcomes. METHODS We performed an empirical evaluation of the completeness of medical records from 607 randomly selected patients admitted with non-ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndromes (NSTE ACS) to 219 US hospitals in the CRUSADE National Quality Improvement Initiative. Composite medical records scores were summated and compared by hospital academic status and physician specialty. Correlations between medical records scores, use of evidence-based medicine (EBM), and in-hospital mortality were assessed. RESULTS Medical records were frequently missing key elements, including cardiac history (23.6%), performance status (64.6%), differential diagnosis (57.8%), and planned use of EBM (44.0%). Evidence-based medicine was more often discussed in medical records from academic medical centers vs nonacademic medical centers (69.7% vs 51.7%) (P < .001) and from cardiologists vs noncardiologists (60.5% vs 48.1%, P = .003). Higher medical records quality scores were associated with greater use of EBM among the medical records quality cohort (P = .006), and a similar trend was observed in CRUSADE overall: adjusted odds ratio, 1.26 (95% confidence interval, 0.92-1.72) for high vs low medical records quality. Higher medical records quality scores were associated with lower in-hospital mortality: adjusted odds ratio, 0.79 (95% confidence interval, 0.65-0.97). CONCLUSIONS Medical records for patients with NSTE ACS often lack key elements of the history and physical examination. Patients treated at hospitals with better medical records quality have significantly lower mortality and may receive more EBM. The relationship between better medical charting and better medical care could lead to new ways to monitor and improve the quality of medical care.
Programming and learning in real-world manipulation tasks

Robots are extremely difficult to program in uncertain environments. Sensors are required to get feedback and detect the actual world state. In order to adapt to new situations, robots must be able to learn from examples or from their own experience. Learning can be accelerated if the available a priori task knowledge is used. The proposed sensor-based architecture combines learning with programmed modules. The correspondence between qualitative states and actions is learnt. Programming is used to decrease the complexity of the learning task. Numerical and qualitative processing are integrated in a suitable scheme for a wide range of robot tasks. Examples for a real insertion task are provided, where force sensing and the relative position are sufficient to successfully learn the task. The solution is thus valid for any other target location.