Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Far-infrared and sub-millimetre imaging of HD 76582's circumstellar disc

Debris discs, the tenuous rocky and icy remnants of planet formation, are believed to be evidence for planetary systems around other stars. The JCMT/SCUBA-2 debris disc legacy survey ‘SCUBA-2 Observations of Nearby Stars’ (SONS) observed 100 nearby stars, amongst them HD 76582, for evidence of such material. Here, we present imaging observations by JCMT/SCUBA-2 and Herschel/PACS at sub-millimetre and far-infrared wavelengths, respectively. We simultaneously model the ensemble of photometric and imaging data, spanning optical to sub-millimetre wavelengths, in a self-consistent manner. At far-infrared wavelengths, we find extended emission from the circumstellar disc providing a strong constraint on the dust spatial location in the outer system, although the angular resolution is too poor to constrain the interior of the system. In the sub-millimetre, photometry at 450 and 850 µm reveals a steep fall-off that we interpret as a disc dominated by moderately sized dust grains (amin = 36 µm), perhaps indicative of a non-steady-state collisional cascade within the disc. A disc architecture of three distinct annuli, comprising an unresolved component at 20 au and outer components at 80 and 270 au, along with a very steep particle size distribution (γ = 5), is proposed to match the observations.
Intraoral manganese superoxide dismutase-plasmid/liposome (MnSOD-PL) radioprotective gene therapy decreases ionizing irradiation-induced murine mucosal cell cycling and apoptosis.

BACKGROUND Single or multiple intraoral administrations of manganese superoxide dismutase-plasmid/liposomes (MnSOD-PL) to C3H/HeNHsd mice receiving single fraction or fractionated ionizing irradiation to the head and neck region have been shown to significantly decrease mucosal ulceration, weight loss and to improve survival. MATERIALS AND METHODS To elucidate the mechanism of irradiation protection by MnSOD-PL and explore possible additive or synergistic protective effects with Amifostine (WR2721), mice received a single fraction of 19, 22.5, 25 or 30 Gy, or 24 fractions of 3 Gy irradiation to the oral cavity and oropharynx. Multiple parameters of irradiation-induced toxicity were quantitated in subgroups of each irradiated group of mice treated with single or multiple administrations of intraoral MnSOD-PL and/or intravenous WR2721. RESULTS In 19 Gy single fraction irradiated mice, MnSOD-PL treatment the day before irradiation alone or in combination with intravenous WR2721 significantly decreased the irradiation induction of mucosal cell cycling as measured by 5-bromo-2-deoxyuridine (BuDR) uptake in oral cavity mucosal cells at 48 hours and decreased ulceration of the tongue at nine days after irradiation compared to control, irradiated or irradiated, WR2721-treated mice. Mice treated in single fractions of 22.5, 25 or 30 Gy showed MnSOD-PL protection against irradiation-induced oral mucosal apoptosis and xerostomia measured in decreased saliva output. In fractionated irradiated mice, twice weekly hemagglutinin (HA) epitope-tagged MnSOD uptake in oral cavity and tongue mucosal cells was not detectably altered by daily WR2721 intravenous administration. Mice treated with both radioprotective agents (MnSOD-PL and WR2721) demonstrated a significant decrease in irradiation-induced xerostomia (measured as reduced salivary gland output volume), mucosal ulceration and improved survival. CONCLUSION Enhanced salivary gland function in WR2721-treated mice in the absence of detectable mucosal protection, coupled with relatively low uptake of HA-MnSOD in the salivary glands of intraorally-treated mice, suggests that a combination of both radioprotective agents may prove optimally effective for the prevention of the acute and late normal tissue toxicities of fractionated radiotherapy for head and neck cancer.
Oxygen Tension as a Control Mechanism in Pollen Tube Rupture

The decrease in stylar pO2 encountered by pollen as it approaches the ovary can induce bursting of pollen tube tips. Anaerobic conditions induced a high percentage of tube tip bursting in most pollen germinated in vitro. Changes in tube tip metabolism with decreased oxygen probably sets up cell wall stress resulting in pollen tube rupture.
Recent analytical strategies on "Date-Rape" Drugs and its metabolites

Recently, much attention has been given to develop simple analytical methods for screening wide range of date-rape drugs. Drug abuse that changes human behavior and guides to crimes has become a serious problem throughout the world. The determination of various classes of abused drugs is an important in many fields of analytical toxicology, such as forensic analysis and antidoping analysis. The detection method must provide more accurate and reliable results from the test specimens. In this regard, attempt is made in this review to summarize the recent applications of these methods in keeping track with complexity of the sample matrices. The following topics are discussed under the headings of different sampling approaches for screening the drugs related to drug facilitated sexual assault and more commonly utilized analytical methods such as liquid chromatography, gas chromatography and capillary electrophoresis separation techniques coupled with mass spectrometry detector. Therefore, relentless efforts should continue to be deployed toward research and development in low cost, fast and efficient ways of detecting illicit drug from all kind of specimens for reliable and more accurate results.
Simplifying hepatic venous outflow reconstruction in sequential living donor liver transplantation

The native liver of a familial amyloidotic polyneuropathy recipient who undergoes living donor liver transplantation used as a graft for sequential liver transplantation does not include the inferior vena cava. Implantation of this whole liver graft to a second recipient could be simplified by borrowing the experience from right liver living donor liver transplantation. With careful release of the hepatic vein from its surrounding adventitia mainly by sharp dissections, adequate lengths of these veins could be attained without compromising the native inferior vena cava. Following venoplasty of the right and middle/left hepatic vein stumps, the single cuff of the hepatic veins is anastomosed to the inferior vena cava without interpositional venous graft or patch. Satisfactory venous outflow is reliably achieved because this is the most direct outflow tract. Liver Transpl 15: 1514–1518, 2009. © 2009 AASLD.
Interprétation par syntaxe abstraite d'ordre supérieur et traduction en combinateurs

We present a program interpretation technique relying on an higher order abstract syntax which allows the reuse of the mechanisms of the host language (used to implement the interpreter) dedicated to application reductions instead of reimplementing them. This approach constitutes a simple and reasonably efficient alternate solution for fast interpreter development. This interpretation schema requires that the functions defined through the interpreted language be translated on the fly into functions of the host language. We use combinatory logic to make that translation in order not to limit our approach to the use of languages allowing meta programming.
The relationships between memory systems and sleep stages

Sleep function remains elusive despite our rapidly increasing comprehension of the processes generating and maintaining the different sleep stages. Several lines of evidence support the hypothesis that sleep is involved in the off‐line reprocessing of recently‐acquired memories. In this review, we summarize the main results obtained in the field of sleep and memory consolidation in both animals and humans, and try to connect sleep stages with the different memory systems. To this end, we have collated data obtained using several methodological approaches, including electrophysiological recordings of neuronal ensembles, post‐training modifications of sleep architecture, sleep deprivation and functional neuroimaging studies. Broadly speaking, all the various studies emphasize the fact that the four long‐term memory systems (procedural memory, perceptual representation system, semantic and episodic memory, according to Tulving's SPI model; Tulving, 1995 ) benefit either from non‐rapid eye movement (NREM) (not just SWS) or rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, or from both sleep stages. Tulving's classification of memory systems appears more pertinent than the declarative/non‐declarative dichotomy when it comes to understanding the role of sleep in memory. Indeed, this model allows us to resolve several contradictions, notably the fact that episodic and semantic memory (the two memory systems encompassed in declarative memory) appear to rely on different sleep stages. Likewise, this model provides an explanation for why the acquisition of various types of skills (perceptual‐motor, sensory‐perceptual and cognitive skills) and priming effects, subserved by different brain structures but all designated by the generic term of implicit or non‐declarative memory, may not benefit from the same sleep stages.
Novobiocin-dependent topA deletion mutants of Escherichia coli

Previous reports of the transduction of topA deletions in Escherichia coli suggested that delta top A transductants grow normally only if they acquire spontaneous mutations that compensate for the topoisomerase I defect. We show that P1-mediated transduction of delta topA in the presence of sublethal concentrations of novobiocin, an inhibitor of the DNA gyrase B subunit, yields uncompensated Top- isolates which are dependent on novobiocin for optimum growth. In the absence of novobiocin these delta topA strains grow slowly, indicating that topA deletions are deleterious but not lethal to the cell. We propose that inhibitors of DNA gyrase B, presumably by lowering intracellular levels of DNA supercoiling, can phenotypically suppress a topoisomerase I defect in E. coli.
Heights and weights of men visiting a public health exhibition.

in the United Kingdom. Their results indicated a continuation of the secular increase in heights that had been observed for many decades, and they provided evidence of a rapid increase in weights also. The substantial change in weight in relation to height was considered to be of major importance, in view of the well established relationship between body weight and mortality from cardiovascular disease. More recently, Khosla and Lowe (1971) have analysed their results in relation to smoking habits, pointing out that while smoking increases the risk of death from coronary disease, people who give up smoking tend to put on weight, thereby increasing this same risk through obesity. In view of the current interest in this topic and the general interest in long-term trends in height and weight, we present here an analysis of measurements made at a public health exhibition in the City of London in April 1970 among a population consisting mainly of office workers. These measurements were made primarily to allow us to standardize the results of
[Epidemiological survey on neuropsychiatric disorders in Tibet of China: neuroses, alcohol-related disorders, mental retardation and epilepsy].

OBJECTIVE To investigate the prevalence of four common neuropsychiatric disorders in Tibet, with an aim to providing information support to health planning. METHODS The survey was carried out in four regions of Tibet. The sampling strategy was adapted from that of a national psychiatric epidemiological survey in China in 1982 and 1993. The Neurosis Screening Inventory, Screening Inventory for Alcohol Dependence and Related Problems, Child Intelligence Screening Inventory, and a questionnaire for the Detection of Epileptic Seizures were administered to the respondents through face to face interview. Those with a positive response and 10% of those with a negative response were further interviewed with the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Axis I Disorders (research version) (SCID-I ). Anxiety disorders and alcohol used disorders were diagnosed according to the American Psychiatric Association: Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (4th edition) (DSM-IV). Hysteria and mental retardation were diagnosed according to the International Classification of Diseases, 10th edition (ICD-10), and the Chinese Classification of Mental Disorders, 3rd edition (CCMD-3). RESULTS The point prevalence of neuroses, alcohol-related disorders, mental retardation and epilepsy was 2. 56%, 4. 06%, 0. 28% and 0. 68%, respectively. The lifetime prevalence of neuroses, alcohol-related disorders, mental retardation and epilepsy was 2. 62%, 4. 24%, 0. 28% and 0.72%, respectively. CONCLUSION Alcohol-related disorders and neuroses are the two common mental health problems in Tibet. Mental retardation and epilepsy are the two serious neuropsychiatric disorders affecting Tibetan children and adolescence. These disorders should be identified as priorities in the reginonal health planning in Tibet.
Effect of acute and chronic ascorbic acid on flow‐mediated dilatation with sedentary and physically active human ageing

Peripheral conduit artery flow‐mediated dilatation decreases with ageing in humans. The underlying mechanisms and efficacy of preventive strategies are unknown. Brachial artery flow‐mediated dilatation was determined at baseline and after ascorbic acid (vitamin C) intravenous infusion and chronic supplementation (500 mg day−1 for 30 days) in three groups of healthy men: young sedentary (n= 11; 25 ± 1 years, mean ±s.e.m.), older sedentary (n= 9; 64 ± 2), and older endurance‐exercise trained (n= 9; 64 ± 2). At baseline, flow‐mediated dilatation (normalized for the hyperaemic stimulus) was ∼45% lower in the older (0.015 ± 0.001) versus young (0.028 ± 0.004) sedentary men (P < 0.01), but was preserved in older exercising men (0.028 ± 0.004). Ascorbic acid infusion increased plasma concentrations > 15‐fold in all groups and restored flow‐mediated dilatation in the sedentary older men (to 0.023 ± 0.002; P > 0.1 versus other groups), with no effects in the other two groups. Oral ascorbic acid supplementation did not affect flow‐mediated dilatation in any group. Brachial artery endothelium‐independent dilatation (sublingual nitroglycerin) did not differ among the groups at baseline nor change with ascorbic acid administration. These results provide the first evidence for an important role of oxidative stress in both the impairment in peripheral conduit artery flow‐mediated dilatation with sedentary human ageing and the preservation of flow‐mediated dilatation with physically active ageing.
Miniature wide-band half U-slot and half E-shaped patch antennas

The U-slot patch antenna, a single-layer single-patch antenna on a relatively thick substrate (/spl sim/0.08/spl lambda//sub 0/), is a wide-band antenna with an impedance bandwidth in a range of 20%-30%, which is about an order of magnitude larger than that of the regular patch antenna. Recently, it was shown that a half U-slot patch antenna, with half of one of the dimensions of the U-slot patch, maintains similar wide-band behavior. The half-structure was also successfully applied to the U-slot with shorting wall. In this paper, new results on half structures, not previously published, are presented. First, the shorting pin technique is used to reduce the size of the half U-slot patch antenna. By both simulation and experimental studies, it is concluded that the impedance bandwidths, radiation patterns, radiation efficiencies and gains of the half-structures are comparable to the corresponding full structures. Bandwidth of 28.6% and radiation efficiencies exceeding 90% are obtained for the half U-slot patch with shorting pin. Radiation patterns are stable across the matching band. Second, it is shown that a structure obtained from halving the E-shaped patch, which is a derivative of the U-slot patch, also maintains its wide-band behavior.
Sliding mode control for nonlinear trajectory tracking of a quadrotor

In order to solve the problem of precise trajectory tracking control for a quadrotor in the presence of external disturbance and system model parameter uncertainty, a nonlinear trajectory tracking controller based on sliding mode for the quadrotor is designed. In this paper, the mathematical model of the QBall2 quadrotor considering the characteristics of the actuator is established and the virtual control is mapped to the control of the motor, then a nonlinear trajectory tracking controller based on sliding mode and the PID control method is designed. Finally, the simulation result shows the correctness and effectiveness of the designed nonlinear trajectory tracking controller.
Sleep positions and nocturnal body movements based on free-living accelerometer recordings: association with demographics, lifestyle, and insomnia symptoms

Background In order to establish normative values for body positions and movements during sleep, the objective of this study was to explore the distribution of sleep positions and extent of nocturnal body moments and the association with sex, age, body-mass index (BMI), smoking, alcohol consumption, and insomnia symptoms. Materials and methods This cross-sectional study comprised data on a working population (363 men and 301 women) who participated in the Danish Physical Activity Cohort with Objective Measurements (DPHACTO). Measures of body position and movements were obtained from actigraph accelerometers on the thigh, upper back, and upper arm. Linear regression was used to estimate adjusted mean differences in movements among categories of demographic and lifestyle characteristics. Results During their time in bed, participants spent 54.1% (SD 18.1%) in the side position, 37.5% (SD 18.2%) in the back position, and 7.3% (SD 12.3%) in the front position. Increasing age and BMI were associated with increased time in the side position and a proportional reduction in time in the back position. There were on average 1.6 (SD 0.7) position shifts per hour. Compared to males, females had fewer position shifts (−0.37, 95% CI –0.48 to −0.24) and fewer arm, thigh, and upper-back movements. Participants aged 20–34 years had more arm, thigh, and upper-back movements compared to participants ≥35 years. Obese participants had fewer shifts in body position (−0.15, 95% CI −0.27 to 0), but more arm, thigh, and upper-back movements compared to normal-weight participants. Smokers had fewer shifts in body position than nonsmokers (−0.27, 95% CI −0.4 to −0.13). Conclusion The predominant sleep position in adults is on the side. This preference increases with age and BMI. The extent of nocturnal body movements is associated with sex, age, BMI, and smoking.
802.11a: More Bandwidth without the Wires

802.11a represents the third generation of wireless networking standards and technology (behind 802.11 and .11b). It was actually approved as a standard earlier than 802.11b, but it presented a greater engineering challenge, and was delayed. Advances in technology (Moore's Law continues to prove true) helped Internet engineers overcome those challenges in a cost-effective manner and prepare the specification for market introduction. The result is the further extension of 802.11 networking capabilities. My previous article, "802.11: Leaving the Wire Behind," (Kapp, 2002) focused on 802.11b wireless networking and the various 802.11 task groups that will directly affect the future of 802.11 networking. In this article, I examine 802.11a networking in depth and compare it to 802.11b and the upcoming 802.11g networking.
Talactoferrin Immunotherapy in Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma: A Case Series of Four Long-Term Survivors

Talactoferrin alfa (also known as recombinant human lactoferrin, rhLF) is a novel immunomodulatory protein that has previously demonstrated anti-tumor properties in animal models. Following a successful phase I trial, it was administered orally to patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma (RCC) in a phase II trial conducted at the Michael E. DeBakey Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Houston, Texas, among other sites. We report a case series of 4 patients treated at our institution with very encouraging progression-free survivals, all exceeding 30 months, in order to suggest that this agent merits further study. These four patients with radiographically progressive metastatic RCC received single-agent oral talactoferrin in daily doses of 9 grams, given in cycles of 2 weeks on/2 weeks off, until evidence of toxicity or disease progression. Given the small sample size and the heterogenous tumor biology of RCC, tumor growth rate was used as a primary endpoint so that each patient could serve as their own control. The agent's effectiveness was then determined through radiographic tracking of the tumors before, during, and after treatment, with use of the Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST) protocol to follow target lesions. The results showed that the drug was well tolerated, with no occurrence of talactoferrin-related grade 3 or 4 adverse events or laboratory anomalies by NCI-CTEP criteria. The four patients described in the case series demonstrated very encouraging progression-free survivals, all exceeding 30 months. We conclude that decreased tumor growth rate may correlate with increased progression-free survival. Talactoferrin is a promising, well-tolerated agent whose clinical benefits should be evaluated in a randomized phase III study with a placebo control arm. Keywords Talactoferrin; Immunotherapy; Renal cell carcinoma; Metastatic
The uniform field and pattern ERG in macaques with experimental glaucoma: removal of spiking activity.

PURPOSE To determine whether the uniform field and pattern ERGs that are reduced in macaque eyes with experimental glaucoma have the same inner-retinal origins. METHODS ERGs were recorded from 14 anesthetized adult macaques using DTL electrodes. Six monkeys had laser-induced experimental glaucoma, and two others received intravitreal injections of tetrodotoxin (TTX, 6 microM) to block spiking activity of inner-retinal neurons. The remaining 6 animals were normal. Uniform fields and grating patterns (0.1-3 cpd) were square-wave modulated at 1.7 Hz (transient) and 8 Hz (steady state). The test field (42 degrees x 32 degrees) had a mean luminance of 44 cd/m2 and a contrast of 10% to 82%. RESULTS In normal eyes transient ERGs to uniform fields contained photopic negative responses (PhNR) after the b-wave and after the d-wave. Transient pattern electroretinograms (PERGs) at each contrast reversal showed positive (P50) potentials followed by negative (N95) potentials of time course similar to that of the PhNR. The PhNR and N95 were greatly reduced or eliminated by experimental glaucoma and by TTX. Summing responses to luminance increments and decrements of the uniform field could simulate the PERG to low spatial frequency stimuli. Further, the PERG responses to high spatial frequencies were similar to the simulation in shape but slightly delayed in time. Experimental glaucoma and TTX had similar effects on the N95 of the simulated PERG as to those on the actual PERG. However, P50 was more reduced by experimental glaucoma than by TTX, indicating a nonspiking contribution to P50. For the steady state condition, the uniform field ERG, the simulated PERG, and the actual PERG all were affected by experimental glaucoma and TTX, indicating that they contained contributions from the spiking activity of ganglion cells. CONCLUSIONS The changes in the uniform field and PERG responses produced by experimental glaucoma are related and are largely a consequence of reduced spiking activity of ganglion cells and their axons. These findings raise the possibility that the uniform field ERG could serve as a useful alternative to the PERG in the assessment of clinical glaucomatous neuropathy.