Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Ion suppression in mass spectrometry.

BACKGROUND Mass spectrometry (MS) is being introduced into a large number of clinical laboratories. It provides specificity because of its ability to monitor selected mass ions, sensitivity because of the enhanced signal-to-noise ratio, and speed because it can help avoid the need for intensive sample cleanup and long analysis times. However, MS is not without problems related to interference, especially through ion suppression effects. Ion suppression results from the presence of less volatile compounds that can change the efficiency of droplet formation or droplet evaporation, which in turn affects the amount of charged ion in the gas phase that ultimately reaches the detector. CONTENT This review discusses materials shown to cause ion suppression, including salts, ion-pairing agents, endogenous compounds, drugs, metabolites, and proteins. Experimental protocols for examining ion suppression, which should include, at a minimum, signal recovery studies using specimen extracts with added analyte, are also discussed, and a more comprehensive approach is presented that uses postcolumn infusion of the analyte to evaluate protracted ionization effects. Finally, this review presents options for minimizing or correcting ion suppression, which include enhanced specimen cleanup, chromatographic changes, reagent modifications, and effective internal standardization. SUMMARY Whenever mass spectrometric assays are developed, ion suppression studies should be performed using expected physiologic concentrations of the analyte under investigation.
A new member of the immunoglobulin superfamily that has a cytoplasmic region homologous to the leukocyte common antigen

A human gene (LAR) that hybridizes to mouse leukocyte common antigen cDNA under relaxed hybridization conditions was isolated. The LAR gene is expressed in a broad range of cells, including T lymphocytes, kidney, and prostate cells. The structure of the protein encoded by the LAR gene was deduced by determining the nucleotide sequences of a 7.7- kb LAR cDNA. The putative LAR protein is composed of a 1,234 amino acid extracellular region, a 24 amino acid transmembrane segment, and a 623 amino acid cytoplasmic region. The cytoplasmic region contains two homologous domains that have extensive sequence similarity to the cytoplasmic region of the leukocyte common antigens. The NH2-terminal region of the extracellular segment of the LAR protein contains three tandem Ig-like domains and nine non-Ig-like domains. Among the known Ig- like proteins, the LAR protein has the highest degree of similarity to neural-cell adhesion molecule. The non-Ig-like domains of the LAR protein are also similar to the non-Ig-like domains of neural-cell adhesion molecule.
Metal-Borohydride-Modified Zr(BH4 )4 ⋅8 NH3 : Low-Temperature Dehydrogenation Yielding Highly Pure Hydrogen.

Due to its high hydrogen density (14.8 wt %) and low dehydrogenation peak temperature (130 °C), Zr(BH4 )4 ⋅8 NH3 is considered to be one of the most promising hydrogen-storage materials. To further decrease its dehydrogenation temperature and suppress its ammonia release, a strategy of introducing LiBH4 and Mg(BH4 )2 was applied to this system. Zr(BH4 )4 ⋅8 NH3 -4 LiBH4 and Zr(BH4 )4 ⋅8 NH3 -2 Mg(BH4 )2 composites showed main dehydrogenation peaks centered at 81 and 106 °C as well as high hydrogen purities of 99.3 and 99.8 mol % H2 , respectively. Isothermal measurements showed that 6.6 wt % (within 60 min) and 5.5 wt % (within 360 min) of hydrogen were released at 100 °C from Zr(BH4 )4 ⋅8 NH3 -4 LiBH4 and Zr(BH4 )4 ⋅8 NH3 -2 Mg(BH4 )2 , respectively. The lower dehydrogenation temperatures and improved hydrogen purities could be attributed to the formation of the diammoniate of diborane for Zr(BH4 )4 ⋅8 NH3 -4 LiBH4 , and the partial transfer of NH3 groups from Zr(BH4 )4 ⋅8 NH3 to Mg(BH4 )2 for Zr(BH4 )4 ⋅8 NH3 -2 Mg(BH4 )2 , which result in balanced numbers of BH4 and NH3 groups and a more active H(δ+) ⋅⋅⋅(-δ) H interaction. These advanced dehydrogenation properties make these two composites promising candidates as hydrogen-storage materials.
Possible role of increased oxidant stress in multiple organ failure after systemic inflammatory response syndrome

ObjectiveHost response to infection and other forms of tissue injury have been termed systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS). This inflammatory response can frequently be accompanied by oxidative injury in one or more organ systems in the body. The objective of this report was to clarify the possible role of oxidative stress in the development of multiple organ failure (MOF) in patients with SIRS. DesignProspective clinical study. SettingIntensive care unit in a university hospital. PatientsA total of 214 consecutive patients (mean age, 57.1 ± 17.4 yrs; range, 13 to 84 yrs; 148 men and 66 women). At the time of admission, 139 patients fulfilled the clinical criteria for SIRS. InterventionsNone. Measurements and Main ResultsWe measured plasma concentrations of thiobarbituric acid reactant substances (TBARS), as an index of oxidative stress, every day from the point of admission to the intensive care unit until discharge or death. Furthermore, all variables of the SIRS score and the Sequential Organ Failure Assessment score were collected every day. At the time of admission, plasma TBARS concentrations in SIRS patients with MOF were significantly higher than those in SIRS patients without MOF (2.3 ± 0.9 vs. 1.9 ± 0.6 nmol/mL, p < .01), and there was a significant correlation between plasma TBARS concentration and Sequential Organ Failure Assessment score (r2 = .18, p < .001). Furthermore, the duration of SIRS persistence was significantly associated with the percentage increase in plasma TBARS concentration during SIRS persistence in those patients in whom the duration of SIRS was confirmed (r2 = .73, p < .001). The duration of SIRS was significantly higher in patients who developed MOF than in patients who did not develop MOF (6.9 vs. 3.2 days, p < .001). The percentage increase in plasma TBARS concentration during SIRS was also significantly higher in patients who developed MOF than in patients who did not develop MOF (57.1% vs. 15.8%, p < .001). ConclusionsIt can be concluded that processes of oxidative stress in connection with continued SIRS may promote the development of MOF.
Distribution of a New Invasive Species, Sipha maydis (Heteroptera: Aphididae), on Cereals and Wild Grasses in the Southern Plains and Rocky Mountain States

Abstract Sipha maydis Passerini (Heteroptera: Aphididae) is a cereal pest with an extensive geographical range that includes countries in Europe, Asia, Africa, and South America. Reports of S. maydis in the United States have been infrequent since it was first detected in California, 2007. Two studies, focused (NW CO) and multistate (OK, TX, NM, CO, UT, WY), were conducted to determine the distribution and host range of S. maydis in the Rocky Mountain and Southern Plains states over a 3-yr period, 2015–2017. In 2015, focused sampling in NW Colorado found S. maydis at 59% of the 37 sites, primarily on wheat. Sipha maydis did not survive extreme winter temperatures from late December 2015 to early January 2016 that ranged from –9.0 to –20.9°C over a 9-d period, which resulted in no aphids detected in 2016. In the multistate study, S. maydis occurred in 14.6% of 96 sites sampled in 2015, 8% of 123 sites in 2016, and 9% of 85 sites in 2017 at wide range of altitudes from 1,359 to 2,645 m. Sipha maydis occurred mainly in NW and SW Colorado and NE New Mexico along with a few sites in NE Colorado, SE Utah, and SE Wyoming. This aphid mainly infested wheat followed by a variety of eight wild grass species. No parasites, predators, sexual morphs, or significant plant damage occurred at the sites. Sipha maydis utilized 14 hosts in the United States including 8 new host records, which expands its host range to 52 plant species worldwide. Sipha maydis may be of concern to wheat, barley, and sorghum production in the United States if its populations continue to increase.
The Efficacy and Safety of Modified Xiaoyao San for Perimenopausal Syndrome (PMS): A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Objectives: To assess the efficacy and safety of modified Xiaoyao San (XYS) for treating Perimenopausal syndrome (PMS). Methods: Literature searches were carried out on PubMed, Cochrane Library, CNKI Database, Chinese Biomedical Literature Database, Wan Fang Database, and VIP Database up to December 2018. Hand search for further references was conducted. Study selection, data extraction, quality assessment, and data analyses were performed as request of the Cochrane standards. Results: Nine publications in total were suitable for inclusion. There was evidence that modified XYS was tested to be more effective in improving overall symptoms compared with HRT (odds ratio 3.50, 95% CI 2.56 to 4.78). Whereas HRT was more sensitive and direct in decreasing FSH (WMD 6.69, 95% CI 5.60 to 9.52) and LH (WMD 7.00, 95% CI, 5.75 to 8.25) in comparison with XYS group. It was also strongly supported that XYS had less adverse effect than HRT (odds ratio 0.07, 95% CI 0.05 to 0.10). Conclusion: Modified XYS might be more effective and safer in treatment of perimenopausal syndrome. However, due to poor methodological quality in the majority of included studies, the potential benefit and safety about XYS need to be confirmed in rigorously designed, multi-centre, and large-scale trials.
Pseudoneurotic Schizophrenia Revisited

Objectives: ‘Pseudoneurotic schizophrenia’ was a diagnostic term coined in the 1940s by Hoch and Polatin. It described a subgroup of patients who presented with prominent anxiety symptoms, which masked a latent psychotic disorder. Pseudoneurotic schizophrenia as a diagnostic entity has fallen out of clinical use. Methods: Described herein is a case that meets the Hoch and Polatin definition of pseudoneurotic schizophrenia. Results: The history of the concept is reviewed and a discussion is given of why it was forgotten. Conclusion: The concepts that underlie the diagnostic entity of pseudoneurotic schizophrenia remain relevant to current practice. Recent findings in patients with an emerging psychotic disorder lend modern support to the idea that schizophrenia may present with significant neurotic symptoms.
EXPERIMENTAL QUANTUM ERROR CORRECTION

Quantum error correction is required to compensate for the fragility of the state of a quantum computer. We report the first experimental implementations of quantum error correction and confirm the expected state stabilization. A precise analysis of the decay behavior is performed in alanine and a full implementation of the error correction procedure is realized in trichloroethylene. In NMR computing, however, a net improvement in the signal to noise would require very high polarization. The experiment implemented the three-bit code for phase errors using liquid state NMR.
HOW WELL DO BAYES METHODS WORK FOR ON-LINE PREDICTION OF {+- 1} VALUES?

We look at sequential classification and regression problems in which {+- 1}-labeled instances are given on-line, one at a time, and for each new instance, before seeing the label, the learning system must either predict the label, or estimate the probability that the label is +1. We look at the performance of Bayes method for this task, as measured by the total number of mistakes for the classification problem, and by the total log loss (or information gain) for the regression problem. Our results are given by comparing the performance of Bayes method to the performance of a hypothetical "omniscient scientist" who is able to use extra information about the labeling process that would not be available in the standard learning protocol. The results show that Bayes methods perform only slightly worse than the omniscient scientist in many cases. These results generalize previous results of Haussler, Kearns and Schapire, and Opper and Haussler.
Intrathymic Islet Cell Transplantation Reduces β-Cell Autoimmunity and Prevents Diabetes in NOD/Lt Mice

Intrathymic transplantation of syngeneic islets into adolescent NOD/Lt mice was performed to establish whether the thymus would serve as an immunoprivileged site for β-cell engraftment, and whether this treatment would prevent the development of diabetes by eliciting tolerance to islet antigens. Intrathymic injection of cells from 200 NOD islets into 4-wk-old female NOD/Lt mice produced a significant reduction in the severity of insulitis at 24 wk of age. Furthermore, diabetes development was strongly suppressed (11% incidence) compared with controls (100% incidence). Both thymus histology and thymic insulin content revealed a rapid loss of the implanted β-cells with < 1% remaining 1 wk posttransplantation. Despite the rapid loss of thymus-implanted islet cells, evidence for tolerance induction to islet cell antigens was obtained by adoptive transfer of splenic leukocytes from these mice into NOD-scidlscid recipients. After adoptive transfer of splenic leukocytes from 24-wk-old untreated prediabetic donors, 4 of 5 NOD-scid/lscid recipients developed diabetes within 4 wk, and none of the recipients became diabetic after transfer of splenocytes from intrathymic islet-implanted donors. Intrathymic islet transplantation did not lead to reduction of sialitis in females with reduced severity of insulitis, indicating that the protective effect was tissue specific. This also was reflected in adoptive transfer experiments, because equal severity of sialitis was observed in NOD-sc/d/sc/d recipients of spleen cells from either islet transplanted or control NOD/Lt mice. In conclusion, the data suggest that intrathymic injection of islet cells prevents diabetes by stimulating immunological tolerance to β-cells.
Epidermal Growth Factor Activates Hyaluronan Synthase 2 in Epidermal Keratinocytes and Increases Pericellular and Intracellular Hyaluronan*

Hyaluronan is an abundant and rapidly turned over matrix molecule between the vital cell layers of the epidermis. In this study, epidermal growth factor (EGF) induced a coat of hyaluronan and a 3–5-fold increase in its rate of synthesis in a rat epidermal keratinocyte cell line that has retained its ability for differentiation. EGF also increased hyaluronan in perinuclear vesicles, suggesting concurrent enhancement in its endocytosis. Cell-associated hyaluronan was most abundant in elongated cells that were stimulated to migrate by EGF, as determined in vitroin a wound healing assay. Large fluctuations in the pool size of UDP-N-acetylglucosamine, the metabolic precursor of hyaluronan, correlated with medium glucose concentrations but not with EGF. Reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) showed no increase in hyaluronan synthases 1 and 3 (Has1 and Has3), whereas Has2 mRNA increased 2–3-fold in less than 2 h following the introduction of EGF, as estimated by quantitative RT-PCR with a truncated Has2 mRNA internal standard. The average level of Has2 mRNA increased from ∼6 copies/cell in cultures before change of fresh medium, up to ∼54 copies/cell after 6 h in EGF-containing medium. A control medium with 10% serum caused a maximum level of ∼21 copies/cell at 6 h. The change in the Has2 mRNA levels and the stimulation of hyaluronan synthesis followed a similar temporal pattern, reaching a maximum level at 6 h and declining toward 24 h, a finding in line with a predominantly Has2-dependent hyaluronan synthesis and its transcriptional regulation.
Recent advances in derivation of functional hepatocytes from placental stem cells

End-stage liver diseases are one of the leading causes of death in the world. Often orthotopic liver transplantation represents the final therapeutic choice. The limits of this approach are the scarcity of donor livers available, and the many side effects related to the administration of immune suppressants to the patients. Cellular therapy for liver diseases is increasingly being viewed as a promising strategy to provide hepatocytes to replenish the parenchymal cells of the organ. This technique suffers of some important limitations, such as the difficulty in isolating sufficient cell numbers (e.g. when adult or foetal hepatocytes are used for transplantation), the limited viability of isolated hepatocytes and, when applicable, the limited differentiation of stem cells (when hepatocyte-like cells are derived from hepatic or extra-hepatic progenitor populations). In recent years, perinatal stem cells have been proposed as reliable cellular populations which may be successfully used to derive hepatocyte-like cells. These cells feature key advantages over other adult stem cells: may be easily sourced from the tissues of origin, can be expanded ex vivo to obtain high cell numbers, may be differentiated towards hepatocyte-like cells. In addition, these cells feature relevant immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory activities, and their sourcing is not limited by ethical concerns In the present review we analyze the molecular basis of hepatocyte biology and development, and discuss the recent advances in deriving hapatocyte-like cells from perinatal stem cells. Very recent papers on mesenchymal stem cells derived from bone marrow and adipose tissues are also comparatively discussed as prototypes of the use of adult extra- hepatic stem cells. In our opinion, perinatal stem cells do represent a promising tool for liver regenerative medicine, and recent research reports further strengthened this perception and fostered further efforts by multiple research groups
Genomic and Functional Analysis of the IncP-9 Naphthalene-Catabolic Plasmid NAH7 and Its Transposon Tn4655 Suggests Catabolic Gene Spread by a Tyrosine Recombinase

ABSTRACT The naphthalene-catabolic (nah) genes on the incompatibility group P-9 (IncP-9) self-transmissible plasmid NAH7 from Pseudomonas putida G7 are some of the most extensively characterized genetic determinants for bacterial aerobic catabolism of aromatic hydrocarbons. In contrast to the detailed studies of its catabolic cascade and enzymatic functions, the biological characteristics of plasmid NAH7 have remained unclear. Our sequence determination in this study together with the previously deposited sequences revealed the entire structure of NAH7 (82,232 bp). Comparison of NAH7 with two other completely sequenced IncP-9 catabolic plasmids, pDTG1 and pWW0, revealed that the three plasmids share very high nucleotide similarities in a 39-kb region encoding the basic plasmid functions (the IncP-9 backbone). The backbone of NAH7 is phylogenetically more related to that of pDTG1 than that of pWW0. These three plasmids carry their catabolic gene clusters at different positions on the IncP-9 backbone. All of the NAH7-specified nah genes are located on a class II transposon, Tn4655. Our analysis of the Tn4655-encoded site-specific recombination system revealed that (i) a novel tyrosine recombinase, TnpI, catalyzed both the intra- and intermolecular recombination between two copies of the attI site, (ii) the functional attI site was located within a 119-bp segment, and (iii) the site-specific strand exchange occurred within a 30-bp segment in the 41-bp CORE site. Our results and the sequence data of other naphthalene-catabolic plasmids, pDTG1 and pND6-1, suggest a potential role of the TnpI-attI recombination system in the establishment of these catabolic plasmids.
An Annotated Corpus of Direct Speech

We propose a scheme for annotating direct speech in literary texts, based on the Text Encoding Initiative (TEI) and the coreference annotation guidelines from the Message Understanding Conference (MUC). The scheme encodes the speakers and listeners of utterances in a text, as well as the quotative verbs that reports the utterances. We measure inter-annotator agreement on this annotation task. We then present statistics on a manually annotated corpus that consists of books from the New Testament. Finally, we visualize the corpus as a conversational network.
256-site active neural probe and 64-channel responsive cortical stimulator

The 0. 35µm CMOS active probe and stimulator enables responsive neural stimulation of the brain cortex. It monitors extracellular neural activity on 256 sites in the brain and generates 64 event-triggered current-mode neural stimuli. Each 0.035mm2 fully differential neural recording channel includes a 8-bit single slope ADC. Each 0.02mm2 neural stimulation channel reuses an OTA for both current sampling and current sourcing. The 13.5mW prototype is flip-chip bonded with a 64-shank Utah electrode array and validated in spatial recording of epileptic neural activity in the mouse hippocampus.
A Geometric Interpretation of Gravity Theory

A system of postulates which give a geometric meaning to the fundamental notions of gravity theory is introduced. The fundamental equation of geometric gravity theory is derived. The consistency of the system of postulates is shown.A series of examples adequately describing the gravitational field are considered. Mathematically rigorous definitions of a black hole and dark energy are given.
A review of studies on the fire millipede genus centrobolus (diplopoda: trigoniulidae)

Studies on Centrobolus spp. were reviewed in which mechanisms of selection, sperm competition and cryptic female choice were studied. Approaches (1) quantify size dimorphism and find the selection pressures operating on the sexes, (2) determine the functional significance of male and female genitalia, (3) understand why there should be a conflict of sexual interests in prolonged copulations, and (4) resolve the mechanisms of sperm competition and cryptic female choice in comparing male mating strategies to female sperm usage were included.
Advanced Monitoring and Supervision of Biological Treatment of Complex Dairy Effluents in a Full‐Scale Plant

The operation of a wastewater treatment plant treating effluents from a dairy laboratory was monitored by an advanced system. This plant comprises a 12 m3 anaerobic filter (AF) reactor and a 28 m3 sequential batch reactor (SBR) coupled in series and is equipped with the following on‐line measurement devices: biogas flow meter, feed and recycling flow meters, temperature sensor, dissolved oxygen analyzer, and redox meter. Other parameters such as chemical oxygen demand (COD), volatile fatty acids (VFA), etc. were determined off‐line. The plant has been in operation for 634 days, the influent flow rate being 6–8 m3/d. COD concentration of the influent ranged between 8 and 12 kg COD/m3, resulting in COD values in the effluent around 50–200 mg/L. The behavior of the system was studied using the set of measurements collected by the data acquisition program especially developed for this purpose. Monitoring of variables such as anaerobic reactor temperature permitted the detection and prevention of several failures such as temperature shocks in the AF reactor. Besides, off‐line measurements such as the alkalinity or the VFA content, together with the on‐line measurements, provided immediate information about the state of the plant and the detection of several anomalies, such as organic overloads in the SBR, allowing the implementation of several fast control actions.
Discovering Subjectivity Using Multi-document Summaries

The ability to separate opinion from fact within text requires accurate detection of subjective language. Most work in this area has relied on some level of human supervision in the form of hand-tagging or word-list construction. Drawing from the unique nature of the multi-document summarization task, we present an unsupervised method for discovering subjectivity clues using freely available multidocument summarization corpora.