Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
T IME -S ERIES P HOTOMETRY OF V ARIABLE S TARS IN THE G LOBULAR C LUSTER NGC 288

: We present the results of BV time-series photometry of the globular cluster NGC 288. Observations were carried out to search for variable stars using the Korea Microlensing Telescope Network (KMTNet) 1.6-m telescopes and a 4k pre-science CCD camera during a test observation from August to December, 2014. We found a new SX Phe star and conﬁrmed twelve previously known variable stars in NGC 288. For the semi-regular variable star V1, we newly determined a period of 37.3 days from light curves spanning 137 days. The light-curve solution of the eclipsing binary V10 indicates that the system is probably a detached system. The pulsation properties of nine SX Phe stars were examined by applying multiple frequency analysis to their light curves. We derived a new Period-Luminosity ( P - L ) relation, h M V i = − 2 . 476( ± 0 . 300) log P − 0 . 354( ± 0 . 385), from six SX Phe stars showing the fundamental mode. Additionally, the period ratios of three SX Phe stars that probably have a double-radial mode were investigated; P FO / P F = 0.779 for V5, P TO / P FO = 0.685 for V9, P SO / P FO = 0.811 for V11. This paper is the ﬁrst contribution in a series assessing the detections and properties of variable stars in six southern globular clusters with the KMTNet system.
RIT Scholar Works RIT Scholar

This study addresses the challenges associated with urban transportation by providing a framework for exploiting data analytics, with application to transportation data, to achieve an effective and time-efficient metropolitan city transportation system. We aim to understand traffic in different areas of the city, as well as trying to categorize the various zones within numerous areas in the city, such as: business destination, residential destination, or touristic destination according to its popularity given both the time-range and the day of the week. In this project, a logistic regression classification model is built to classify locations into hotspots/non-hotspots.
Isolation of cell populations and staining for flow cytometry

15 Viral infection of cells is sensed by pathogen recognition receptors that trigger an anti-viral 16 innate immune response and consequently viruses have evolved countermeasures. Vaccinia 17 virus (VACV) evades the host immune response by expressing scores of immunomodulatory 18 proteins. One family of VACV proteins are the BTB-BACK domain containing, Kelch-like 19 (BBK) family of predicted cullin-3 E3 ligase adaptors: A55, C2 and F3. Previous studies 20 demonstrated that gene A55R encodes a protein that is non-essential for VACV replication 21 yet affects viral virulence in vivo . Here we report that A55 is an NF-κB inhibitor acting 22 downstream of IκBα degradation, preventing gene transcription and cytokine secretion in 23 response to cytokine stimulation. A55 targets the host importin α1 (KPNA2), acting to reduce 24 p65 binding and its nuclear translocation. Interestingly, whilst A55 was confirmed to co- 25 precipitate with cullin-3 in a BTB-dependent manner, its NF-κB inhibitory activity mapped to 26 the Kelch domain, which alone is sufficient to co-precipitate with KPNA2 and inhibit NF-κB 27 signalling. Intradermal infection of mice with a virus lacking A55R (vΔA55) increased VACV- 28 specific CD8 + T-cell proliferation, activation, and cytotoxicity in comparison to the WT virus. 29 Furthermore, immunisation with vΔA55 induced increased protection to intranasal VACV 30 challenge compared to control viruses. In summary, this report describes the first target of a 31 poxvirus-encoded BBK protein and a novel mechanism for DNA virus immune evasion, 32 resulting in increased CD8 + T-cell memory and a more immunogenic vaccine. three BBK proteins, A55, C2 and F3 and one BTB-only protein C5 (14). many other VACV immunomodulators, the VACV BBKs are expressed early during infection (22) and share low amino acid identity. This is 23.5 % between A55 and F3, and 18.7 % and 18.3 % between C2 and A55 and F3, respectively. Previous studies have demonstrated that the genes A55R , F3L and C2L encode proteins that are non-essential for virus replication yet affect virulence in an intradermal mouse model (23–25). C2 and F3 modulate immune cell recruitment and proliferation in vivo (24, 25). Although the virus lacking gene A55R (vΔA55) has altered virulence, how A55 affects virulence, and whether it recruits cullin-3 or inhibits inflammatory signalling remain unknown. Thus, we investigated the effect of A55 on host innate immune signalling pathways in vitro and in vivo , and whether this modulated the immune response in vivo and/or made for a more protective vaccine. natural killer (NK) cell cytotoxicity, respectively.
Edinburgh Explorer Gradients in richness and turnover of a forest passerine’s diet prior to breeding

Little is known about the dietary richness and variation of generalist insectivorous 25 species, including birds, due primarily to difficulties in prey identification. Using 26 faecal metabarcoding we provide the most comprehensive analysis of a passerine’s 27 diet to date, identifying the relative magnitudes of biogeographic, habitat and 28 temporal trends in the richness and turnover in diet of Cyanistes caeruleus (blue tit) 29 along a 39-site, 2° latitudinal transect in Scotland. Faecal samples were collected in 30 2014-15 from adult birds roosting in nestboxes prior to nest building. DNA was 31 extracted from 793 samples and we amplified COI and 16S minibarcodes. We 32 identified 432 molecular operational taxonomic units (MOTUs) that correspond to 33 putative dietary items. Most dietary items were rare, with Lepidoptera being the most 34 abundant and taxon-rich prey order. We present a statistical approach for estimation 35 of gradients and inter-sample variation in taxonomic richness and turnover using a 36 generalised linear mixed model. We discuss the merits of this approach over existing 37 tools and present methods for model-based estimation of repeatability, taxon richness 38 and Jaccard indices. We find that dietary richness increases significantly as spring 39 advances, but changes little with elevation, latitude or local tree composition. In 40 comparison, dietary composition exhibits significant turnover along temporal and 41 spatial gradients and among sites. Our study shows the promise of faecal 42 metabarcoding for inferring the macroecology of food webs, but we also highlight 43 the challenge posed by contamination and make recommendations of laboratory and 44 statistical practices to minimise its impact on inference.
IMPROVE Trial Investigators, & Hinchliffe, R. (2015). The effect of aortic morphology on peri-operative mortality of ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm. European Heart Journal , 36 (21), 1328-34.

associated with mortality for open repair and overall: adjusted OR 0.72 (95% CI 0.57, 0.92) for each 16 mm (SD) increase in length. There were no convincing associations of morphological parameters with reinterventions. ShortaneurysmnecksadverselyinﬂuencemortalityafteropenrepairofrAAAandprecludeconventionalEVAR. Thismay help explain why observational studies, but not randomized trials, have shown an early survival beneﬁt for EVAR.
Edinburgh Research Explorer On the origins of islands

There is considerable controversy on island constraints on wh-dependencies in the psycholinguistics literature. One major point of contention is whether islands result from processing limitations such as Working Memory capacity or from domain-specific linguistic knowledge. The current study investigates whether islands can be reduced to processing considerations, by examining processing of another long-distance dependency, cataphora. If wh-dependencies with the licensing element (the verb or preposition) falling inside an island entail an unbearable memory load on the parser, then other dependencies, including cataphora, with a licensing element (the antecedent), inside an island, should yield a similar processing difficulty. The results from a self-paced reading experiment demonstrate that online formation of a cataphoric dependency is not affected by island constraints. We conclude that islands are not fully reducible to processing considerations and therefore must – at least in part – be of grammatical origin.
Nonobese Diabetic Mice T Cells in + of Autoreactive Diabetogenic CD8 Contributes to the Impaired Thymic Deletion Region Gene(s) Interactively Idd7 Levels, an Through Regulation of TCR Expression

When expressed in NOD, but not C57BL/6 (B6) genetic background mice, the common class I variants encoded by the H2 g7 MHC haplotype aberrantly lose the ability to mediate the thymic deletion of autoreactive CD8 (cid:1) T cells contributing to type 1 diabetes (T1D). This indicated some subset of the T1D susceptibility ( Idd ) genes located outside the MHC of NOD mice interactively impair the negative selection of diabetogenic CD8 (cid:1) T cells. In this study, using both linkage and congenic strain analyses, we demonstrate contributions from a polymorphic gene(s) in the previously described Idd7 locus on the proximal portion of Chromosome 7 predominantly, but not exclusively, determines the extent to which H2 g7 class I molecules can mediate the thymic deletion of diabetogenic CD8 (cid:1) T cells as illustrated using the AI4 TCR transgenic system. The polymorphic Idd7 region gene(s) appears to control events that respectively result in high vs low expression of the AI4 clonotypic TCR (cid:2) -chain on developing thymocytes in B6. H2 g7 and NOD background mice. This expression difference likely lowers levels of the clonotypic AI4 TCR in NOD, but not B6. H2 g7 thymocytes, below the threshold presumably necessary to induce a signaling response sufﬁcient to trigger negative selection upon Ag engagement. These ﬁndings provide further insight to how susceptibility genes, both within and outside the MHC, may interact to elicit autoreactive
Cells and Tryptophan Catabolism Involve Functionally Distinct Regulatory T Aspergillus Immunity and Tolerance to

The inherent resistance to diseases caused by Aspergillus fumigatus suggests the occurrence of regulatory mechanisms that provide the host with adequate defense without necessarily eliminating the fungus or causing unacceptable levels of host damage. In this study, we show that a division of labor occurs between functionally distinct regulatory T cells (Treg) that are coordinately activated by a CD28/B-7-dependent costimulatory pathway after exposure of mice to Aspergillus conidia. Early in infection, inﬂammation is controlled by the expansion, activation and local recruitment of CD4 (cid:1) CD25 (cid:1) Treg capable of suppressing neutrophils through the combined actions of IL-10 and CTLA-4 on indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase. The levels of IFN- (cid:2) produced in this early phase set the subsequent adaptive stage by conditioning the indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase-dependent tolerogenic program of dendritic cells and the subsequent activation and expansion of tolerogenic Treg, which produce IL-10 and TGF- (cid:3) , inhibit Th2 cells, and prevent allergy to the fungus. The coordinate activation of Treg may, however, be subverted by the fungus, as germinating conidia are capable of interfering with anti-inﬂammatory and tolerogenic Treg programs. Thus, regulation is an essential component of the host response in infection and allergy to the fungus, and its manipulation may allow the pathogen to overcome host resistance and promote disease. The Journal of Immunology, 2006, 176: 1712–1723.
CellsRegulate the Generation of Central Memory T Cell Priming + Early Signals during CD8

The CD8 + T cell response to infection is characterized by the appearance of short-lived (CD127 low killer cell lectin-like receptor G 1–high) and memory-precursor (CD127 high killer cell lectin-like receptor G 1–low) effector cells. How and when central-memory T (T CM ; CD62L high CCR7 + ) cell and effector-memory T(T EM ; CD62L low CCR7 2 ) cell subsets are established remains unclear. We now show that the T CM cell lineage represents an early developmental branchpoint during the CD8 + T cell response to infection. Central-memory CD8 + T cells could be identiﬁed prior to the peak of the CD8 + T cell response and were enriched in lymphoid organs. Moreover, the kinetics and magnitude of T CM cell development were dependent on the infectious agent. Furthermore, the extent of early Ag availability, which regulated programmed death-1 and CD25 expression levels, controlled the T CM /T EM cell lineage decision ultimately through IL-2 and IL-15 signaling levels. These observations identify key early signals that help establish the T CM /T EM cell dichotomy and provide the means to manipulate memory lineage choices. The Journal of Immunology , 2010, 185: 000–000.
Conditional Independence in Quantum Many-Body Systems

In this thesis, I will discuss how information-theoretic arguments can be used to produce sharp bounds in the studies of quantum many-body systems. The main advantage of this approach, as opposed to the conventional field-theoretic argument, is that it depends very little on the precise form of the Hamiltonian. The main idea behind this thesis lies on a number of results concerning the structure of quantum states that are conditionally independent. Depending on the application, some of these statements are generalized to quantum states that are approximately conditionally independent. These structures can be readily used in the studies of gapped quantum many-body systems, especially for the ones in two spatial dimensions. A number of rigorous results are derived, including (i) a universal upper bound for a maximal number of topologically protected states that is expressed in terms of the topological entanglement entropy, (ii) a first-order perturbation bound for the topological entanglement entropy that decays superpolynomially with the size of the subsystem, and (iii) a correlation bound between an arbitrary local operator and a topological operator constructed from a set of local reduced density matrices. I also introduce exactly solvable models supported on a three-dimensional lattice that can be used as a reliable quantum memory.
Journal of Current Chinese Affairs

: This article examines how Chinese middle-school history textbooks are written as a means of legitimising the rule of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), by carefully utilising China’s past. The authors identify (or perhaps “construct”) a sinified model of good governance in the textbooks that derives from the teachings of Confucius and Mencius, and the subsequent practises of certain revered Chinese emperors. This model is then applied to CCP leaders in the modern-era textbooks in order to cast them as diligently upholding a time-honoured Chinese tradition of legitimate rule. In a broader context, our analysis fits within the ongoing discussions about the continuing legacy of Confucianism in contemporary China and the CCP’s efforts to locate itself within this as a way of fortifying its own legitimacy. We also note how some of the themes of good governance contained in the textbooks are closely linked to contemporary government policies and priorities, such as anti-corruption schemes and constitutionalism. The objective in so doing is to propagate the importance of these themes to a young audience.
Environmental Impact Assessment of the Life Cycle of a Timber Building

Submitted by Καραισκάκη Γeωργία (gkarai@ekt.gr) on 2016-04-08T09:15:24Z No. of bitstreams: 1 kazio proceedings final.pdf: 237641 bytes, checksum: 8432eecea7c656ce107c0fd13192d273 (MD5)
(2015) How much vocabulary is needed to use English? Replication of van Zeeland & Schmitt (2012), Nation (2006) and Cobb (2007). Language Teaching . pp.

There is current research consensus that L2 learners are able to adequately comprehend general English written texts if they know 98% of the words that occur in the materials. This important finding prompts an important question: How much English vocabulary do ESL learners need to know to achieve this crucial level of known-word coverage? A landmark paper by Nation (2006) provides a rather daunting answer. His exploration of the 98% figure with a variety of spoken and written corpora showed that knowledge of around 8,000-9,000 word families is needed for reading and 6,000-7,000 for listening. But is this the definitive picture? A recent study by van Zeeland and & Schmitt (2012) suggests that 95% coverage may be sufficient for listening comprehension, and that this can be reached with the much more manageable figure of 2,000-3,000 word families. Getting these figures right for a variety of text modalities, genres and conditions of reading and listening is essential. Teachers and learners need to be able to set goals, and as Cobb’s study of learning opportunities (2007) has shown, coverage percentages and their associated
4x4 nonblocking matrix switch based on MOEMS

We present the design and characterization of a new 4 X 4 switch based on the previously developed 2 X 2 fiber switch. The switching principle uses plasma etched vertical mirrors that can be moved in and out of two pairs of optical fibers with the integrated electrostatic actuator. The 4 X 4 switch is built by connecting 16 individual 2 X 2 switches in a common package (100 X 50 X 35 mm). Instead of integrating the 16 switch elements on the same chip, we preferred assembling the switches by fusion splicing. The insertion loss is less than 1.8 dB for each state.
Preparation and characterization of anti-HIV nanodrug targeted to microfold cell of gut-associated lymphoid tissue

The human immunodeficiency virus 1 (HIV-1) still remains one of the leading life-threatening diseases in the world. The introduction of highly active antiretroviral therapy has significantly reduced disease morbidity and mortality. However, most of the drugs have variable penetrance into viral reservoir sites, including gut-associated lymphoid tissue (GALT). Being the largest lymphoid organ, GALT plays a key role in early HIV infection and host–pathogen interaction. Many different treatment options have been proposed to eradicate the virus from GALT. However, it becomes difficult to deliver traditional drugs to the GALT because of its complex physiology. In this regard, we developed a polymer-based Pluronic nanocarrier containing anti-HIV drug called efavirenz (EFV) targeting Microfold cells (M-cells) in the GALT. M-cells are specialized epithelial cells that are predominantly present in the GALT. In this work, we have exploited this paracellular transport property of M-cells for targeted delivery of Pluronic nanocarrier tagged EFV, bioconjugated with anti-M-cell-specific antibodies to the GALT (nanodrug). Preliminary characterization showed that the nanodrug (EFV-F12-COOH) is of 140 nm size with 0.3 polydispersion index, and the zeta potential of the particles was −19.38±2.2 mV. Further, drug dissolution study has shown a significantly improved sustained release over free drugs. Binding potential of nanodrug with M-cell was also confirmed with fluorescence microscopy and in vitro uptake and release studies. The anti-HIV activity of the nanodrug was also significantly higher compared to that of free drug. This novel formulation was able to show sustained release of EFV and inhibit the HIV-1 infection in the GALT compared to the free drug. The present study has potential for our in vivo targeted nanodrug delivery system by combining traditional enteric-coated capsule technique via oral administration.
Cytoplasmic Proteolysis Antigens on MHC Class II Is Dependent on Endogenous Transmembrane Protein Efficient Presentation of Both Cytosolic and

Peptides from extracellular proteins presented on MHC class II are mostly generated and loaded in endolysosomal compartments, but the major pathways responsible for loading peptides from APC-endogenous sources on MHC class II are as yet unclear. In this study, we show that MHC class II molecules present peptides from proteins such as OVA or conalbumin introduced into the cytoplasm by hyperosmotic pinosome lysis, with efﬁciencies comparable to their presentation via extracellular ﬂuid-phase endocytosis. This cytosolic presentation pathway is sensitive to proteasomal inhibitors, whereas the presentation of exogenous Ags taken up by endocytosis is not. Inhibitors of nonproteasomal cytosolic proteases can also inhibit MHC class II-restricted presentation of cytosolically delivered protein, without inhibiting MHC class I-restricted presentation from the same protein. Cytosolic processing of a soluble fusion protein containing the peptide epitope I-E (cid:1) 52–68 yields an epitope that is similar to the one generated during constitutive presentation of I-E (cid:1) as an endogenous transmembrane protein, but is subtly different from the one generated in the exogenous pathway. Constitutive MHC class II-mediated presentation of the endogenous transmembrane protein I-E (cid:1) is also speciﬁcally inhibited over time by inhibitors of cytosolic proteolysis. Thus, Ag processing in the cytoplasm appears to be essential for the efﬁcient presentation of endogenous proteins, even transmembrane ones, on MHC class II, and the proteolytic pathways involved may differ from those used for MHC class I-mediated presentation. The Journal of Immunology,
Nasal nitric oxide measurement variability to establish a standard for reliable results

Nasal nitric oxide (nNO) measurement is a first-line test used to increase the post-measurement probability of primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD) in subjects with symptoms consistent with this diagnosis [1]. The accuracy of nNO measurement is essential since it will orientate the work-up towards tests that are usually highly specialised and sometimes invasive. Accuracy of biological measurements relies on the technical and on the biological variability. While the accuracy of NO analysers is known better for chemiluminescence devices (e.g. <1 ppb with 1% linearity from 0.1 to 5000 ppb for CLD 88 (Eco Medics, Duernten, Switzerland)) than for widely used electrochemical devices (e.g. ±5 ppb for values <50 ppb and 10% for values >50 ppb for Niox Vero (Circassia, Oxford, UK)) [2], little is known on the biological variability of nNO measurements, except for increased nNO output variability in adults with rhinitis compared with healthy subjects and the positive effect of training on the level of nNO taken during expiration against a resistance (nNO-ER) in children [3, 4]. A repeatability of 10% for NO measurements obtained with the velum closed in the same or both nostrils is relevant, while measurements taken during tidal breathing should aim for a repeatability of 20% and 30%, respectively https://bit.ly/3sMnug6
Requires Hemopoietic IL-10 Production Mediated by Nonhemopoietic Cells but Resistance of C57BL/6 Mice to Amoebiasis Is

Resistance to intestinal amoebiasis is mouse strain dependent. C57BL/6 (B6) mice clear Entamoeba histolytica within hours of challenge, whereas C3H and CBA strains are susceptible to infection and disease. In this study, we show using bone marrow (BM) chimeric mice that mouse strain-dependent resistance is mediated by nonhemopoietic cells; speciﬁcally, B6 BM 3 CBA recipients remained susceptible as measured by amoeba score and culture, whereas CBA BM 3 B6 recipients remained resistant. Inter-estingly, hemopoietic IL-10 was required for maintaining the resistance of B6 mice, in that B6 IL-10-deﬁcient mice and IL-10 (cid:1) / (cid:1) BM 3 wild-type recipients, but not IL-10 (cid:2) / (cid:2) BM 3 IL-10 (cid:1) / (cid:1) recipients, exhibited higher amoeba scores than their wild-type controls. Additionally, C57BL/10 IL-10 (cid:1) / (cid:1) Rag2 (cid:1) / (cid:1) mice exhibited diminished amoeba scores and culture rates vs IL-10 (cid:1) / (cid:1) mice, indicating that lymphocytes potentiated the susceptibility of IL-10-deﬁcient mice. We conclude that nonhemopoietic cells mediate the natural resistance to intestinal amoebiasis of B6 mice, yet this resistance depends on hemopoietic IL-10 activity. The Journal of Immunology, 2006, 177: 1208–1213.