Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Possible Identification of a Metal-Rich Old Moving Group: High-Resolution Spectroscopy of Candidate Members

Using new high-resolution spectroscopic observations from both the McDonald Observatory 2.7 m and Kitt Peak National Observatory 4 m telescopes, we observed four candidate members of the Ursa Major moving group previously suggested to instead belong to a significantly older kinematic assemblage. The Fe abundances we measure strongly suggest that these stars are not UMa members but form a more metal-rich group of stars (+0.10 ≤ [Fe/H] ≤ +0.18) with an age near 3 Gyr. Our [Ca/H] determinations corroborate this result. The apparent similarities in metallicity and previously discovered UVW space motions lend credence to prior suggestions that these stars belong to a field kinematic structure of uniform age. Li abundances have also been derived from the 6707 Å feature for all four stars and show the differences expected from the stars' varying evolutionary states. The low Li abundance of one object, HD 88654, does not support its previously reported status as a post-T Tauri star candidate.
Biased sinusoidal field gel electrophoresis for the separation of large DNA

In agarose gel electrophoresis, in a steady, continuous field, it is well known that the mobility μs versus size M relation for linear DNAs (L‐DNAs) can be divided into three regimes: Ogston regime I for small DNAs, where M dependence of μs is weak; entangled but unstretched regime II for intermediate‐size L‐DNAs (of M < 20 kbp), where μs σ M−1 so that efficient fractionation is possible; and entangled and stretched regime III for large L‐DNAs, where M dependence of μs is again weak. Although μs and the regime boundaries can be altered by adjusting the gel concentration Cgel and/or the field strength E, the features of the M dependence of μs are essentially unchanged. As to the effect of DNA topology on μs, we found that in dilute gels (Cgel < 1.0 wt%) coiled, circular DNAs (C‐DNAs) of 2–7 kbp size migrate faster than L‐DNAs of comparable size, while in concentrated gels (Cgel > 1.5 wt%) C‐DNAs migrate much slower than L‐DNAs. To facilitate separation of large DNAs in the regime III range, we proposed biased sinusoidal field gel electrophoresis (BSFGE), which utilizes a sinusoidal field of strength Es and frequency f superposed on a steady bias field of strength Eb. Striking results in BSFGE of low bias (Eb < Es) conditions were that (i) the effective mobility μ at low f (μo) is higher than that of μ∞ at high f, which is equal to the steady field value μs, and (ii) for large DNAs of M > 20 kbp the μ exhibits a minimum μp (pin‐down mobility) at a frequency fp (pin‐down frequency) specific to M, Cgel, and the field strengths in such a way that fp σ M−1 Cgel −1Eb. Esα with α changing from 0 to 2 ∼ 3 at a value of Es dependent on Eb. The μp values appear to fall on the extrapolated portion of the regime II log(μs) versus log M curve. These results are interpreted in terms of the current dynamical models of DNA gel electrophoresis and also with the results of direct observation by fluorescence microscopy on migrating T4dC DNA of 166 kbp in a steady field and under several BSFGE conditions.
Measurement of continuous distributions of ventilation-perfusion ratios: theory.

The resolution of the technique considered is sufficient to describe smooth distributions containing blood flow to unventilated regions (shunt), ventilation to unperfused regions (dead space), and up to three additional modes over the range of finite ventilation-perfusion ratios. In particular, areas whose ventilation-perfusion ratios are low can be separated from unventilated regions and those whose ventilation-perfusion ratios are high can similarly be distinguished from unperfused areas.
Genotypes of hepatitis C virus in Guangxi Province, southern China

Abstract Hepatitis C virus (HCV) has been subdivided into at least four genotypes, and the prevalence of each genotype has been reported to differ widely in different countries. Of 304 patients with chronic liver diseases (68 with chronic hepatitis, 50 with liver cirrhosis and 186 with hepatocellular carcinoma) from Guangxi Province in southern China, only 9 (3.0%) had antibodies to HCV as determined by a second‐generation enzyme immunoassay with a cut‐off index of 2.0 or more. The HCV genotypes of these nine cases were examined using polymerase chain reaction with type‐specific primers deduced from putative core gene. Seven of the nine cases had type II infection and the other two cases showed double infection with types II and IV. These findings indicate that the predominant HCV genotype in the Guangxi area is type II, as is the case in Japan, although the prevalence of HCV infection in patients with chronic liver diseases is much lower.
Controllable ‘somersault’ magnetic soft robotics

This paper reports the fabrication and characterization of magnetic soft robotics with controllable somersault linear motion. The structures consist of polymeric magnet discs embedded in an elastomer and cut into various shapes. A cyclic magnetic field induces linear motion of the actuators on an inclined acrylic surface (0-90°). We investigate the effect of friction, geometry, and mass distribution on the controllability of their trajectory. The optimized actuator exhibits controllable linear movement in a flip-and-forward manner for an extended distance of 260 mm on horizontal surfaces and 80 mm on vertical surfaces.
GENEVESTIGATOR. Arabidopsis Microarray Database and Analysis Toolbox1[w]

High-throughput gene expression analysis has become a frequent and powerful research tool in biology. At present, however, few software applications have been developed for biologists to query large microarray gene expression databases using a Web-browser interface. We present GENEVESTIGATOR, a database and Web-browser data mining interface for Affymetrix GeneChip data. Users can query the database to retrieve the expression patterns of individual genes throughout chosen environmental conditions, growth stages, or organs. Reversely, mining tools allow users to identify genes specifically expressed during selected stresses, growth stages, or in particular organs. Using GENEVESTIGATOR, the gene expression profiles of more than 22,000 Arabidopsis genes can be obtained, including those of 10,600 currently uncharacterized genes. The objective of this software application is to direct gene functional discovery and design of new experiments by providing plant biologists with contextual information on the expression of genes. The database and analysis toolbox is available as a community resource at https://www.genevestigator. ethz.ch.
Seroprevalence of Antibodies to Neospora caninum in Dogs From Spain

The prevalence of Neospora caninum antibodies was determined in sera of 139 dogs from Catalonia (northeastern Spain) using the indirect immunofluorescence antibody test (IFAT). Antibodies in the IFAT were found in 17 of 139 dogs (12.2%) with titers ranging from 1:50 to 1:1,600. Seroprevalence was higher in dogs over 1 yr old compared with dogs younger than 1 yr (P < 0.05). No statistical difference was observed when sex, breed, purpose, or modus vivendi was compared with seropositivity. Most dogs had low antibody titers, which indicated subclinical infection in the area studied. No neosporosis-related disease was reported from any dog, although a German shepherd with an antibody titer of 1:800 showed pododermatitis. All sera were also screened using a commercial direct agglutination test (DAT). The DAT showed a similar specificity but a lower sensitivity when compared with IFAT as a reference technique.
Bankruptcy Prediction: A Survey on Evolution, Critiques, and Solutions

Abstract After the economic crisis and the BASEL agreement, the bankruptcy prediction research has evolved substantially due to its importance in corporate finance. This paper summarizes the short history of bankruptcy prediction from the beginning until quite recently. First, it presents a short summary of bankruptcy prediction evolution pointing to the most used models. Then, it provides a summary of the most cited papers that discuss the evolution of bankruptcy prediction and of those papers that have contributed to bankruptcy prediction. Finally, it summarizes some critiques about bankruptcy prediction that the literature has formulated over time and provides some suggestions for future research on bankruptcy prediction.
Improving the reliability of transformer gas-in-oil diagnosis

Dissolved gas analysis (DGA) is widely used to detect incipient faults in oil-filled electrical equipment. There is always some degree of inaccuracy in laboratory dissolved-gas measurements, especially at low gas concentrations, which affects gas ratios and other diagnostic calculations. This paper examines the measurement inaccuracy problem in detail using recent CIGRE data. It shows how proper allowance for this inaccuracy can improve transformer condition assessment and diagnosis by DGA.
Lipid Parameters in Patients with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

The purpose of our study was to investigate the lipid profile in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Methods : a retrospective review of the medical records of female patients addressing for a consultation in a private healthcare network in Cluj-Napoca between 2009 and 2011 was performed. Patients with complete lipid profile and without previous treatment were included in the PCOS group. PCOS was diagnosed using Rotterdam criteria for PCOS. Healthy female patients matched for age but without PCOS were included in the control group. Results : Compared with healthy women, women with PCOS presented higher total cholesterol levels (mean difference = 27.5 mg/dl for total cholesterol, p = 0.004) and LDL-cholesterol (mean difference = 38.1 mg/dl, p < 0.001). HDL-cholesterol displayed lower levels in PCOS patients compared with healthy women (44.4±12.2 mg/dl vs. 50.5±12.2 mg/dl, p = 0.02). No difference was observed between groups in terms of triglycerides levels. In regression analysis both total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol were positively associated only with the presence of PCOS (β = 0.30, p = 0.01 for total cholesterol, β = 0.44, p<0.001 for LDL-cholesterol). No association was observed between HDL-cholesterol levels and the presence of PCOS. Conclusion : The results of our study show that women with PCOS have altered lipid profile, with higher cholesterol levels (both total and LDL) and lower HDL cholesterol compared with healthy women. These lipid parameters were associated with the presence of PCOS and not with parameters describing body weight.
Characterization of bone quality using computer-extracted radiographic features.

Both bone mineral density (BMD) and trabecular structure are important determinates of bone mechanical properties. However, neither BMD or trabecular structural features can completely explain the variations in bone mechanical properties. In this study, we combine BMD and bone structural features to characterize bone mechanical behavior. Radiographs were obtained from 34 femoral neck specimens excised during total hip arthroplasties. Each neck radiograph was digitized and a region of interest (ROI) was selected from the medial side of the femoral neck. Textural features, the global Minkoswski dimension and trabecular orientation, were extracted from each ROI image using Minkowski dimension analysis. The BMD of each specimen was measured using dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) and subsequently normalized by bone size as measured from a standard pelvis radiograph. Mechanical testing was performed on the trabecular bone cubes machined from each femoral neck to yield bone mechanical properties. Multiple regression was performed to select the best features to predict bone mechanical properties. The results suggest that, using multiple predictors including normalized BMD structural features, and patient age, the coefficients of determination (R2) improved over the use of BMD alone. For bone strength, the R2 was improved from 0.24 using conventional BMD to 0.48 using a four-predictor model. Similar results were obtained in the prediction of Young's modulus, i.e., the R2 was improved from 0.25 to 0.55 in going from the model using conventional BMD to a four-predictor model. This study demonstrates the contributions of normalized BMD, structural features, and age to bone mechanical properties, and suggests a potential method for the noninvasive evaluation of bone mechanical properties.
EMMLi: A maximum likelihood approach to the analysis of modularity

Identification of phenotypic modules, semiautonomous sets of highly correlated traits, can be accomplished through exploratory (e.g., cluster analysis) or confirmatory approaches (e.g., RV coefficient analysis). Although statistically more robust, confirmatory approaches are generally unable to compare across different model structures. For example, RV coefficient analysis finds support for both two‐ and six‐module models for the therian mammalian skull. Here, we present a maximum likelihood approach that takes into account model parameterization. We compare model log‐likelihoods of trait correlation matrices using the finite‐sample corrected Akaike Information Criterion, allowing for comparison of hypotheses across different model structures. Simulations varying model complexity and within‐ and between‐module contrast demonstrate that this method correctly identifies model structure and parameters across a wide range of conditions. We further analyzed a dataset of 3‐D data, consisting of 61 landmarks from 181 macaque (Macaca fuscata) skulls, distributed among five age categories, testing 31 models, including no modularity among the landmarks and various partitions of two, three, six, and eight modules. Our results clearly support a complex six‐module model, with separate within‐ and intermodule correlations. Furthermore, this model was selected for all five age categories, demonstrating that this complex pattern of integration in the macaque skull appears early and is highly conserved throughout postnatal ontogeny. Subsampling analyses demonstrate that this method is robust to relatively low sample sizes, as is commonly encountered in rare or extinct taxa. This new approach allows for the direct comparison of models with different parameterizations, providing an important tool for the analysis of modularity across diverse systems.
Placenta percreta: Conservative treatment – segmental uterine resection with placenta in one piece

Placenta percreta occurs with a frequency of 0.008% of all deliveries (Sumigama et al. 2007). Placenta percreta (PP) is defined as the penetration of trophoblastic tissue into the myometrium and through the serosa of the uterus, or bladder and parauterine structures (Wang et al. 2009). PP can lead to serious preoperative, intraoperative and/or postoperative bleeding. Until now, many treatment options have been suggested, but there is no standard treatment. Here we report a case of PP treated by en-bloc uterine segmental resection with the placenta during caesarean section.
Neural mechanisms and computational principles of adaptive sensory processing

In this chapter, we investigate the computational role of the local recurrent network in primary visual cortex. To address this issue, we analyze intracellular recording data of cat V1, which combinemeasuring the tuning of a range of neuronal properties with a precise localization of the recording sites in the orientation preference map. For the analysis, we consider a network model of Hodgkin-Huxley type neurons arranged according to a biologically plausible two-dimensional topographic orientation preference map. We then systematically vary the strength of the recurrent excitation and inhibition relative to the strength of the afferent input. Each parametrization gives rise to a different model instance for which the tuning of model neurons at different locations of the orientation map is compared to the experimentally measured orientation tuning of membrane potential, spike output, excitatory, and inhibitory conductances. A quantitative analysis shows that the data provides strong evidence for a network model in which the afferent input is dominated by strong, balanced contributions of recurrent excitation and inhibition. This recurrent regime is close to a regime of “instability”, where strong, self-sustained activity of the network occurs. The firing rate of neurons in the best-fitting network is particularly sensitive to modulation, which could be one of the functional benefits of a network operating in this particular regime.
[Rockwood capsulorrhaphy in shoulder instability. A clinical follow-up study].

Rockwood described a capsulorrhaphy technique for operative treatment of multidirectional shoulder instability with anterior dislocation. We have used this technique mainly in patients with severe multidirectional instability and now have 8 years' experience with it, which is reported below. The surgical technique involves refixation of the Bankart lesion with transosseous suture and double breasting of the anterior capsule. No transposition of the subcapularis muscle was performed. A functional rehabilitation program without immobilization was used in all patients. The daily activity level, the degree of discomfort upon shoulder-related activities and the subjective assessment of outcome were recorded for each patient. General outcome was determined with reference to Rowe's score. A clinical examination was performed as well as radiography. Strength was evaluated by standardized bilateral dynamometry. Follow-up examination was possible in 73 out of 82 patients. The mean age at follow up was 32.7 +/- 4.1 years, and the mean follow-up time, 4.3 years. The reason for surgery was recurrent dislocation in 81% of patients, pain in 4% and both pain and dislocation in 15% of patients. In 8 patients (10.9%) multiple (up to 4) previous surgical attempts by various methods had been unsuccessful. Postoperatively 59% (n = 44) were able to take part in sports without restrictions, 27.4% could take part only in sports not involving the shoulder, and 13.5% (n = 10) did not engage in any sports postoperatively. The redislocation rate was 12.3% (n = 9), and there was 1 traumatic redislocation. A deficit in abduction/elevation by 10-60 degrees was found in 4 patients (5.4%) and by > 60 degrees in 2 patients (2.7%). (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Fighting an uphill battle: the recovery of frogs in Australia's Wet Tropics.

[Extract] In the 1980s and early 1990s, an outbreak of the fungal disease chytridiomycosis caused multiple species of frog to decline or disappear throughout the Wet Tropics of northern Queensland, Australia (Richards et al. 1993, McDonald and Alford 1999). This disease is caused by the pathogen Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd; Berger et al. 1998), which does not grow well at warm temperatures (Piotrowski et al. 2004). As a result, the declines often followed elevational gradients, with the most severe declines occurring at cool, high‐elevation sites. For example, populations of the waterfall frog (Litoria nannotis), common mist frog (Litoria rheocola), and Australian lace‐lid frog (Litoria [Nyctimystes] dayi) disappeared above 300–400 m, but these species did not decline noticeably in the lowlands (Richards et al. 1993; Laurance et al. 1996; McDonald and Alford 1999). The green‐eyed tree frog (Litoria serrata; formerly L. genimaculata) also declined sharply above 300–400 m, but it did not completely disappear from those sites (Richards and Alford 2005). Although these declines and disappearances are well documented, much less attention has been given to the fact that many of the upland populations have recovered to varying degrees, even though Bd persists at a relatively high prevalence.
Biomimetic sonar for biomimetic SLAM

We present a biomimetic sonar system consisting of a single emitter and two receivers endowed with realistic spatial filter characteristics by inserting them in plastic replicas of bat pinnae. The outputs of these receivers are processed by a simple functional model of the processing performed in the cochlea. We show that these cochleograms contain sufficient amounts of information for the robust localization of a robot in unmodified office environments. This localization component is part of a more general biomimetic Simultaneous Localization and Mapping system (SLAM) for an autonomous robot based on a model of the rodent Hippocampus and the use of sonar instead of vision as exteroceptive sensory input (BatSLAM). To quantify the performance of the biomimetic sonar system in the robot localization task, and to be able to quantitatively compare the performance of different types of (sonar) sensors, we propose a technique based on conditional entropy.
Powassan virus: isolation of virus from a fatal case of encephalitis.

FOR NEARLY three decades, epidemics of encephalitis due to infection with arthropod-borne viruses have occurred throughout the United States. The virus of eastern equine encephalomyelitis (EEE) caused many cases of encephalitis both in human subjects and horses during the summers of 1938, 1955 and 1956 in Massachusetts. ' 2 Evidence of activity of EEE virus has also been demonstrated in New Jersey,3 Georgia4 and Louisiana5 by isolation of virus from vector mosquito species Culiseta melanura and Mansonia perturbans, the presence of antibody to EEE virus in human sera in Louisiana,6 human infections in Texas,7 and infections in pheasants in New Jersey" and Massachusetts.2 However, EEE infections are sharply confined to the Atlantic seaboard,9 only occasional cases occurring as far inland as Wisconsin. Epidemics of encephalitis due to infection with western equine encephalomyelitis (WEE) and St. Louis encephalitis (SLE) viruses occur almost exclusively west of the Mississippi River,9 although some cases of St. Louis encephalitis have been reported as far east as Kentucky.10 In Canada, the only member of the arthropodborne virus group which hitherto has been encountered regularly in association with human cases of encephalitis is WEE virus. This serotype caused epidemics of human and equine encephalitis in Saskatchewan in 1936 and 193711 and a large epidemic in Saskatchewan and Manitoba in 1941.12 In Ontario, Quebec and the Maritimes, human infections with arthropod-borne viruses are extremely rare, although serological evidence of infection with WEE virus was obtained in one patient in Montreal.1s
Intra-individual comparison of hepatocellular carcinoma imaging features on contrast-enhanced computed tomography, gadopentetate dimeglumine-enhanced MRI, and gadoxetic acid-enhanced MRI

Background Gadoxetic acid is being widely used for detection and characterization of hepatic nodules. However, there are no data regarding intra-individual comparison of imaging features of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) on dynamic computed tomography (CT), gadopentetate dimeglumine-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (Gd-DTPA-MRI), and gadoxetic acid-enhanced MRI (Gd-EOB-MRI). Purpose To evaluate typical imaging features of HCC and capsule appearance with dynamic CT, Gd-DTPA-MRI, and Gd-EOB-MRI. Material and Methods We retrospectively reviewed 56 HCCs in 49 patients. Lesion attenuation/signal intensity was graded using a five-point scale based on dynamic phase and hepatobiliary phase (HBP) imaging. Subjective washout and capsule appearance were evaluated on portal venous phase (PVP) or delayed/transitional phase (DP/TP) imaging. The tumor-to-liver contrast ratio (TLCR) was calculated. Results Gd-DTPA-MRI and Gd-EOB-MRI was graded higher than CT on arterial phase (P < 0.001). Gd-EOB-MRI was graded lower than Gd-DTPA-MRI on PVP and DP/TP (P < 0.05). The detection rate of subjective washout and capsule appearance did not differ among the three imaging studies on either PVP or DP/TP. TLCR of Gd-EOB-MRI was lower than CT on PVP (P = 0.004) and was lower than Gd-DTPA-MRI on DP/TP (P = 0.001). Conclusion Arterial phase hyperenhancement and washout appearance of HCC were well demonstrated in Gd-EOB-MRI. The detection of capsule appearance using Gd-EOB-MRI was not inferior to Gd-DTPA-MRI or CT.