Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Abundances for metal-poor stars with accurate parallaxes , I. Basic data

We present element-to-element abundance ratios measured from high dispersion spectra for 150 field subdwarfs and early subgiants with accurate Hipparcos parallaxes (errors <20%). For 50 stars new spectra were obtained with the UVES on Kueyen (VLT UT2), the McDonald 2.7 m telescope, and SARG at TNG. Additionally, literature equivalent widths were taken from the works by Nissen & Schuster, Fulbright, and Prochaska et al. to complement our data. The whole sample includes both thick disk and halo stars (and a few thin disk stars); most stars have metallicities in the range $-2<\rm [Fe/H]<-0.6$. We found our data, that of Nissen & Schuster, and that of Prochaska to be of comparable quality; results from Fulbright scatter a bit more, but they are still of very good quality and are extremely useful due to the large size of his sample. The results of the present analysis will be used in forthcoming papers to discuss the chemical properties of the dissipational collapse and accretion components of our Galaxy.
Crowdsourcing Diagnosis for Patients With Undiagnosed Illnesses: An Evaluation of CrowdMed

Background Despite visits to multiple physicians, many patients remain undiagnosed. A new online program, CrowdMed, aims to leverage the “wisdom of the crowd” by giving patients an opportunity to submit their cases and interact with case solvers to obtain diagnostic possibilities. Objective To describe CrowdMed and provide an independent assessment of its impact. Methods Patients submit their cases online to CrowdMed and case solvers sign up to help diagnose patients. Case solvers attempt to solve patients’ diagnostic dilemmas and often have an interactive online discussion with patients, including an exchange of additional diagnostic details. At the end, patients receive detailed reports containing diagnostic suggestions to discuss with their physicians and fill out surveys about their outcomes. We independently analyzed data collected from cases between May 2013 and April 2015 to determine patient and case solver characteristics and case outcomes. Results During the study period, 397 cases were completed. These patients previously visited a median of 5 physicians, incurred a median of US $10,000 in medical expenses, spent a median of 50 hours researching their illnesses online, and had symptoms for a median of 2.6 years. During this period, 357 active case solvers participated, of which 37.9% (132/348) were male and 58.3% (208/357) worked or studied in the medical industry. About half (50.9%, 202/397) of patients were likely to recommend CrowdMed to a friend, 59.6% (233/391) reported that the process gave insights that led them closer to the correct diagnoses, 57% (52/92) reported estimated decreases in medical expenses, and 38% (29/77) reported estimated improvement in school or work productivity. Conclusions Some patients with undiagnosed illnesses reported receiving helpful guidance from crowdsourcing their diagnoses during their difficult diagnostic journeys. However, further development and use of crowdsourcing methods to facilitate diagnosis requires long-term evaluation as well as validation to account for patients’ ultimate correct diagnoses.
Taking Time Seriously

Sociological research on mental health focuses on a multitude of dynamic processes, including changes in psychological symptoms or the onset of a mental disorder, the course and outcome of mental health problems, and the associations of mental health with a wide variety of time-varying social risk and protective factors. I argue that scholars studying mental health have, thus far, only scratched the surface of the temporal dynamics upon which mental health and illness rest. Two broad research issues are reviewed to illustrate important temporal issues that have been neglected or understudied in mental health research: (1) specific dimensions of temporality, which focus on dynamic processes at the individual level, and (2) the age-period-cohort model, which focuses on mental health at the population level. Priority topics for future research that takes time seriously are recommended.
Identification of Four Novel Exon 5 Splice Variants of the Mouse μ-Opioid Receptor Gene: Functional Consequences of C-Terminal Splicing

The rat μ-opioid receptor clone in which novel exon 5 was found in the place of exon 4 (MOR-1B) was one of the first MOR-1 variants described. We now have identified the mouse homolog of the rat MOR-1B as well as four additional variants derived from splicing from exon 3 into different sites within exon 5. The sequences of all of the variants were identical except for the intracellular tip of the C terminus encoded by exon 5, where each variant predicted a unique amino acid sequence ranging from 2 to 39 amino acids. All of the mMOR-1B variants were selective for μ-opioids in receptor-binding assays, as anticipated, because they all have identical binding pockets defined by the transmembrane domains. However, the relative potency and efficacy of μ-agonists to each other varied from variant to variant in guanosine 5′-O-(3-[35S]thio)triphosphate-binding studies, as shown by morphine-6β-glucuronide, which was the most efficacious agent against mouse MOR-1B1 (mMOR-1B1) and the least efficacious agent against mMOR-1B2. mMOR-1B4 was quite unusual. Although mMOR-1B4 was μ-selective in receptor-binding studies and antagonists labeled mMOR-1B4 well, the binding affinities of most of the μ-agonists were far lower than those seen with mMOR-1, suggesting that the 39 amino acids at the C terminus of mMOR-1B4 influences the conformation of the receptor and its ligand recognition site itself either directly or through its interactions with other proteins. In conclusion, alterations in the amino acid sequence of the C terminus do not alter the μ-specificity of the receptor but they can influence the binding characteristics, efficacy, and potency of μ-opioids.
Representing Probabilistic Relations in RDF

Probabilistic inference will be of special importance when one needs to know how much we can say with what all we know given new observations. Bayesian Network is a graphical probabilistic model with which one can represent probabilistic relations intuitively and several effective algorithms for inference are developed. This paper reports a now ongoing work in its design stage which provides a vocabulary for representing probabilistic knowledge in a RDF graph which is to be mapped to a Bayesian Network to do inference on it.
Biomechanical and proteomic analysis of INF- β-treated astrocytes

Astrocytes have a key role in the pathogenesis of several diseases including multiple sclerosis and were proposed as the designed target for immunotherapy. In this study we used atomic force microscopy (AFM) and proteomics methods to analyse and correlate the modifications induced in the viscoleastic properties of astrocytes to the changes induced in protein expression after interferon- β (IFN-β) treatment. Our results indicated that IFN-β treatment resulted in a significant decrease in the Young’s modulus, a measure of cell elasticity, in comparison with control cells. The molecular mechanisms that trigger these changes were investigated by 2DE (two-dimensional electrophoresis) and confocal analyses and confirmed by western blotting. Altered proteins were found to be involved in cytoskeleton organization and other important physiological processes.
Markerless augmented reality for cubic panorama sequences

This paper presents a system for introducing augmented reality (AR) enhancements into an image-based cubic panorama sequence. Panoramic cameras, such as the Point Gray Research Ladybug allow rapid capture and generation of panoramic sequences for users to navigate and view. Our AR system provides the ability for authors to add virtual content into the panoramic sequences. First, a user manually selects a planar region over which to add the content. Then the system automatically finds a matching planar region in all the panoramas, allowing the virtual content to propagate. No preconditioning of the imaged scene through the addition of physical markers is necessary. Instead, 3-D position information is obtained by matching interest-point features across the panoramic sequence. This paper presents an application of augmented reality algorithms to the unique case of pre-captured panoramic sequences.
Angiogenesis in Cancer

New growth in the vascular network is important since the proliferation, as well as metastatic spread, of cancer cells depends on an adequate supply of oxygen and nutrients and the removal of waste products. New blood and lymphatic vessels form through processes called angiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis, respectively. Angiogenesis is regulated by both activator and inhibitor molecules. More than a dozen different proteins have been identified as angiogenic activators and inhibitors. Levels of expression of angiogenic factors reflect the aggressiveness of tumor cells. The discovery of angiogenic inhibitors should help to reduce both morbidity and mortality from carcinomas. Thousands of patients have received antiangiogenic therapy to date. Despite their theoretical efficacy, antiangiogeic treatments have not proved beneficial in terms of long-term survival. There is an urgent need for a new comprehensive treatment strategy combining antiangiogenic agents with conventional cytoreductive treatments in the control of cancer.
Repeated-Sprint and Effort Ability in Rugby League Players

Johnston, RD and Gabbett, TJ. Repeated-sprint and effort ability in rugby league players. J Strength Cond Res 25(10): 2789–2795, 2011—The aim of this study was to (a) investigate the influence of tackling on repeated-sprint performance; (b) determine whether repeated-sprint ability (RSA) and repeated-effort ability (REA) are 2 distinct qualities; and (c) assess the test–retest reliability of repeated-sprint and repeated-effort tests in rugby league. Twelve rugby league players performed a repeated-sprint (12 × 20-m sprints performed on a 20-second cycle) and a repeated-effort (12 × 20-m sprints with intermittent tackling, performed on a 20-second cycle) test 7 days apart. The test–retest reliability of these tests was also established. Heart rate and rating of perceived exertion were recorded throughout the tests. There was a significantly greater (p ≤ 0.05) and large effect size (ES) differences for total sprint time (ES = 1.19), average heart rate (ES = 1.64), peak heart rate (ES = 1.35), and perceived exertion (ES = 3.39) for the repeated-effort test compared with the repeated-sprint test. A large difference (ES = 1.02, p = 0.06) was detected for percentage decrement between the 2 tests. No significant relationship was found between the repeated-sprint and repeated-effort tests for any of the dependent variables. Both tests proved reliable, with total sprint time being the most reliable method of assessing performance. This study demonstrates that the addition of tackling significantly increases the physiological response to repeated-sprint exercise and reduces repeated-sprint performance in rugby league players. Furthermore, RSA and REA appear to be 2 distinct qualities that can be reliably assessed with total time being the most reliable measure of performance.
Crosstalk between platelets and PBMC: New evidence in wound healing

Abstract Platelet-derived products have proven useful in accelerating healing processes and tissue regeneration. However, despite their widespread use in clinical practice, the cellular and molecular mechanisms involved have not yet been completely clarified. Recent studies show that interaction between platelet gel (PG) and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) can result in activation of PBMC and production of several cytokines involved in wound healing and tissue repair. The aim of our study was to analyze whether crosstalk between platelets and PBMC can influence wound healing by modulating release of VEGF, bFGF and IL-10 by PBMC. Cultures of PBMC alone and co-cultures with autologous PG of 24 healthy volunteers were incubated under normoxia for 24 h. VEGF, bFGF and IL-10 concentration and expression were then analyzed in supernatants by ELISA and by real-time RT-PCR. We observed a down-regulation of VEGF and bFGF release and an up-regulation of IL-10 release in co-cultures of PBMC and PG. Platelets are not only important in the early stages of the healing process (clot formation, direct release of growth factors), but also can influence the whole process of tissue regeneration by modulating synthesis and release of VEGF, bFGF and IL-10 by PBMC. These effects could give platelets a new key role in the control of healing processes and provide insights into the clinical success of platelet-derived products in many medical fields.
Multilevel Lot Sizing with Setup Times and Multiple Constrained Resources: Internally Rolling Schedules with Lot-Sizing Windows

In this paper a new time-oriented decomposition heuristic is proposed to solve the dynamic multi-item multilevel lot-sizing problem in general product structures with single and multiple constrained resources as well as setup times. While lot-sizing decisions are made sequentially within an internally rolling planning interval (or lot-sizing window), capacities are always considered over the entire planning horizon. For each submodel a model formulation based on the "Simple Plant Location" representation is developed. These mixed-integer linear submodels are solved by standard mathematical programming software even for relatively large test instances. Extensive computational tests show that the heuristic proposed provides a better solution quality than a well-known special purpose heuristic.
NSC 23766 , a Widely Used Inhibitor of Rac 1 Activation , Additionally Acts as a Competitive Antagonist at Muscarinic Acetylcholine Receptors s

Small molecules interfering with Rac1 activation are considered as potential drugs and are already studied in animal models. A widely used inhibitor without reported attenuation of RhoA activity is NSC23766 [(N-[2-[[4-(diethylamino)-1-methylbutyl]amino]-6-methyl-4-pyrimidinyl]-2-methyl-4,6-quinolinediamine trihydrochloride]. We found that NSC23766 inhibits the M2 muscarinic acetylcholine receptor (M2 mAChR)-induced Rac1 activation in neonatal rat cardiac myocytes. Surprisingly, NSC27366 concomitantly suppressed the carbachol-induced RhoA activation and a M2 mAChR-induced inotropic response in isolated neonatal rat hearts requiring the activation of Rhodependent kinases. We therefore aimed to identify the mechanisms by which NSC23766 interferes with the differentially mediated, M2mAChR-induced responses. Interestingly, NSC23766 caused a rightward shift of the carbachol concentration response curve for the positive inotropic response without modifying carbachol efficacy. To analyze the specificity of NSC23766, we compared the carbachol and the similarly Gibg-mediated, adenosine-induced activation of Gi protein–regulated potassium channel (GIRK) channels in human atrial myocytes. Application of NSC23766 blocked the carbachol-induced K current but had no effect on the adenosine-induced GIRK current. Similarly, an adenosine A1 receptor-induced positive inotropic response in neonatal rat hearts was not attenuated by NSC23766. To investigate its specificity toward the different mAChR types, we studied the carbachol-induced elevation of intracellular Ca concentrations in human embryonic kidney 293 (HEK-293) cells expressing M1, M2, or M3 mAChRs. NSC23766 caused a concentration-dependent rightward shift of the carbachol concentration response curves at all mAChRs. Thus, NSC23766 is not only an inhibitor of Rac1 activation, but it is within the same concentration range a competitive antagonist at mAChRs. Molecular docking analysis at M2 and M3 mAChR crystal structures confirmed this interpretation.
Direct Writing and Repairable Paper Flexible Electronics Using Nickel–Liquid Metal Ink

Liquid metals such as gallium and its alloys can be printed on various substrates to form electronic circuits. However, up to now there are still few methods for the direct writing of liquid metals on common printed paper. Here, a novel conductive material prepared by adding metal powder to a gallium alloy is introduced. The proposed material exhibits low liquidity, excellent plasticity, significantly enhanced adhesivity to paper substrates, which guarantee the stable and flexible electrical connection. The oxide film wrapping the nickel powder forms a skeleton for additional oxidation products, resulting in superior adhesion to paper. In addition, several paper flexible electronic applications are showcased to demonstrate the practical value and reparability of this material. This work paves the way for the design of a facile method of preparing paper electronics.
Recent Advances in Multilevel Inverters and Their Applications - Part II

ULTILEVEL inverters have been experienced, in terms of research and applications, a continuous and increasing growth during the last two decades. The effort of the researchers and industry has led to a rapid development of different multilevel inverter topologies, modulation techniques and control strategies. In addition, other interesting research topics such as the fault tolerant operation, efficiency improvement, optimized control strategies and new applications are also important. This Special Issue presents to the power electronics community the most recent advances with topics such as the following:
Association of Polymorphism of Ser311cys Paraoxonase-2 Gene with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus in Iran

Background: It is believed that paraoxonase-2 gene polymorphism is associated with type 2 diabetes. This study is aimed to investigate the association between paraoxonase-2 gene polymorphism and type 2 diabetes in an Iranian population. Methods: This study was performed on 200 individuals including 100 diabetics and 100 healthy subjects. Genomic DNA was extracted from peripheral blood leukocytes, and PCR-RFLP was carried out. Palindromic sequence in PON2 gene was recognized by Dde1 restriction endonuclease. In order to visualize restriction products, electrophoresis was carried out using polyacrylamide gel (8%) and ethidium bromide staining. Results: The expected PCR product of 331 bp was obtained. Digestion of this product with DdeI showed four Ser homozygotes, three Cys homozygotes, and five Ser311 Cys heterozygotes. The gene frequency of Cys (C) in diabetic subjects was significantly higher than in healthy subjects. Conclusions: This study suggests that an association exists between Ser311 Cys polymorphism and type 2 diabetes mellitus.
An Analysis of Changes in Cerebral Blood Flood Velocities in Depressive Pseudo-Dementia and Alzheimer Disease Patients

Background Patients with pseudo-dementia are at particular risk of being labeled as Alzheimer dementia. We thus need better diagnostic methods. In this study, we evaluated the cerebral reactivity of the posterior cerebral arteries (PCAs) during visual stimulation by transcranial Doppler ultrasonography. Methods The study group consisted of 13 and 11 patients suffering from pseudo-dementia and Alzheimer disease (AD), respectively, and 10 healthy controls. Visual reactivity was defined as the differences of cerebral blood flow velocity (CBFv) against the visual stimulus. Mini Mental State Examination and Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scales were used as psychometric tests. The transcranial Doppler ultrasonography device was applied for simultaneous recording of both PCAs. Obtained data were evaluated by Student t test, and 1-way analysis of variance tests, with a priori as P<0.05. Results Subjects with AD had a lower CBFv following visual stimuli (P<0.001). Mean CBFv throughout the procedure [P<0.001; right and left sides, in AD and depressive pseudo-dementia (DPD), respectively], velocity at rest (P<0.001 in each side for both groups), and velocity at stimulation (P<0.001; each side for both groups) on both PCAs were significantly lower in patients with AD and DPD than those of the controls. Compared with the controls, the relative (r) CBFvs (%) were found to be significantly lower in AD (P<0.05, P<0.01, for the right and left side, respectively). Conclusions We have shown that CBFv decreased in patients with AD and DPD, but vasoneuronal activity was only impaired in patients with AD. On the other hand, although the results do not show significant differences between depressive and demented groups by TCD, further studies will be needed for differentiating these diseases.
A Flexible and Scalable Agent Platform for Multi-Agent Systems

— Multi-agent system is composed by several agents capable of reaching the goal cooperatively. The system needs an agent platform for efficient and stable interaction between intelligent agents. In this paper we propose a flexible and scalable agent platform by composing the containers with multiple hierarchical agent groups. It also allows efficient implementation of multiple domain presentations of the agents unlike JADE . The proposed platform provides both group management and individual management of agents for efficiency. The platform has been implemented and tested, and it can be used as a flexible foundation of the dynamic multi-agent system targeting seamless delivery of ubiquitous services.
A Simple and Robust Feature Point Matching Algorithm Based on Restricted Spatial Order Constraints for Aerial Image Registration

Accurate point matching is a critical and challenging process in feature-based image registration. In this paper, a simple and robust feature point matching algorithm, called Restricted Spatial Order Constraints (RSOC), is proposed to remove outliers for registering aerial images with monotonous backgrounds, similar patterns, low overlapping areas, and large affine transformation. In RSOC, both local structure and global information are considered. Based on adjacent spatial order, an affine invariant descriptor is defined, and point matching is formulated as an optimization problem. A graph matching method is used to solve it and yields two matched graphs with a minimum global transformation error. In order to eliminate dubious matches, a filtering strategy is designed. The strategy integrates two-way spatial order constraints and two decision criteria restrictions, i.e., the stability and accuracy of transformation error. Twenty-nine pairs of optical and Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) aerial images are utilized to evaluate the performance. Compared with RANdom SAmple Consensus (RANSAC), Graph Transformation Matching (GTM), and Spatial Order Constraints (SOC), RSOC obtained the highest precision and stability.
Transfer Learning from Minimal Target Data by Mapping across Relational Domains

A central goal of transfer learning is to enable learning when training data from the domain of interest is limited. Yet, work on transfer across relational domains has so far focused on the case where there is a significant amount of target data. This paper bridges this gap by studying transfer when the amount of target data is minimal and consists of information about just a handful of entities. In the extreme case, only a single entity is known. We present the SR2LR algorithm that finds an effective mapping of predicates from a source model to the target domain in this setting and thus renders pre-existing knowledge useful to the target task. We demonstrate SR2LR's effectiveness in three benchmark relational domains on social interactions and study its behavior as information about an increasing number of entities becomes available.