Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
X-RAY AND GAMMA-RAY FLASHES FROM TYPE Ia SUPERNOVAE?

We investigate two potential mechanisms that will produce X-ray and γ-ray flashes from Type Ia supernovae (SN-Ia). The first mechanism is the breakout of the thermonuclear burning front as it reaches the surface of the white dwarf (WD). The second mechanism is the interaction of the rapidly expanding envelope with material within an accretion disk in the progenitor system. Our study is based on the delayed detonation scenario because this can account for the majority of light curves, spectra, and statistical properties of “Branch-normal” SN-Ia. Based on detailed radiation-hydro calculations which include nuclear networks, we find that both mechanisms produce brief flashes of high-energy radiation with peak luminosities of 1048–1050 erg s−1. The breakout from the WD surface produces flashes with a rapid exponential decay by 3–4 orders of magnitude on timescales of a few tenths of a second and with most of the radiation in the X-ray and soft γ-ray range. The shocks produced in gases in and around the binary will produce flashes with a characteristic duration of a few seconds with most of the radiation coming out as X-rays and γ-rays. In both mechanisms, we expect a fast rise and slow decline and, after the peak, an evolution from hard to softer radiation due to adiabatic expansion. In many cases, flashes from both mechanisms will be superposed. The X- and γ-ray visibility of an SN-Ia will depend strongly on self-absorption within the progenitor system, specifically on the properties of the accretion disk and its orientation toward the observer. Such X-ray and γ-ray flashes could be detected as triggered events by gamma-ray burst (GRB) detectors on satellites, with events in current GRB catalogs. We have searched through the GRB catalogs (for the BATSE, HETE, and Swift experiments) for GRBs that occur at the extrapolated time of explosion and in the correct direction for known Type Ia supernovae with radial velocity of less than 3000 km s−1. For the Burst and Transient Source Experiment (BATSE) about 12.9 ± 3.6 nearby SNe Ia should have been detected, but only 0.8 ± 0.7 non-coincidental matches have been found. With the High Energy Transient Explorer (HETE) and Swift satellites, we expect to see 5.6 ± 1.3 SN-Ia flashes from known nearby SNe Ia but, yet, no SN-Ia flashes were detected. With the trigger thresholds for these experiments and the upper limits on the SN-Ia distances, we show that the bolometric peak luminosity of SN-Ia flashes must be less ∼1046 erg s−1. Our observational limit is several orders-of-magnitude smaller than the peak luminosities predicted for both the early flashes. We attribute this difference to the absorption of the X- and γ-rays by the accretion disk of large-scale height or common envelope that would be smothering the WD.
No evidence of a significantly increased risk of transfusion‐transmitted human immunodeficiency virus infection in Australia subsequent to implementing a 12‐month deferral for men who have had sex with men (CME)

BACKGROUND: Male‐to‐male sex is the predominant route of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) transmission in Australia and since the early 1980s blood services in Australia have deferred donors for this practice for at least 5 years. This retrospective analysis assesses the impact on HIV prevalence of implementing an abridged 12‐month deferral for male‐to‐male sex.
Antibody Production in Guinea Pigs Receiving 6-Mercaptopurine.∗

Summary Administration of 6-mercaptopurine in doses as great or greater than those which effectively inhibit the immunological responses of rabbits failed to show suppressive action in guinea pigs. No depression was found in the production of precipitins by guinea pigs following mild stimulation by a soluble protein antigen (BGG), nor in development of delayed hypersensitivity in response to sensitization by a simple chemical (picryl chloride). These findings are incompatible with the view that 6-MP is a general inhibitor of antibody synthesis in all animal species. ADDENDUM. After submission of this article for publication our attention was directed to a statement by Salvin and Smith (J. Exp. Med., 1960, v111, 465) that 6-MP in quantities up to 75 mg/kg/day does not prevent the appearance of delayed or Arthus types of hypersensitivity in guinea pigs. The authors wish to express their appreciation for the skilled technical assistance of Miss Rita Hixon and Mrs. Olga Van Damme.
The Role of TSC in Oligodendrocyte Differentiation and Myelination

Over the past several years, the study of a hereditary tumor syndrome, tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC), has shed light on the regulation of cellular proliferation and growth. TSC is an autosomal dominant disorder that is due to inactivating mutations in TSC1 or TSC2 and characterized by benign tumors (hamartomas) involving multiple organ systems. The TSC1/2 complex has been found to play a crucial role in an evolutionarily-conserved signaling pathway that regulates cell growth: the mTORC1 pathway. This pathway promotes anabolic processes and inhibits catabolic processes in response to extracellular and intracellular factors. Findings in cancer biology have reinforced the critical role for TSC1/2 in cell growth and proliferation. In contrast to cancer cells, in the CNS, the TSC1/2 complex not only regulates cell growth/proliferation, but also orchestrates an intricate and finely tuned system that has distinctive roles under different conditions, depending on cell type, stage of development, and subcellular localization. Overall, TSC1/2 signaling in the CNS, via its multi-faceted roles, contributes to proper neural connectivity. Here, we will review the TSC signaling in the CNS. 2011 Federation of European Biochemical Societies. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Boolean Model of Yeast Apoptosis as a Tool to Study Yeast and Human Apoptotic Regulations

Programmed cell death (PCD) is an essential cellular mechanism that is evolutionary conserved, mediated through various pathways and acts by integrating different stimuli. Many diseases such as neurodegenerative diseases and cancers are found to be caused by, or associated with, regulations in the cell death pathways. Yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, is a unicellular eukaryotic organism that shares with human cells components and pathways of the PCD and is therefore used as a model organism. Boolean modeling is becoming promising approach to capture qualitative behavior and describe essential properties of such complex networks. Here we present large literature-based and to our knowledge first Boolean model that combines pathways leading to apoptosis (a type of PCD) in yeast. Analysis of the yeast model confirmed experimental findings of anti-apoptotic role of Bir1p and pro-apoptotic role of Stm1p and revealed activation of the stress protein kinase Hog proposing the maximal level of activation upon heat stress. In addition we extended the yeast model and created an in silico humanized yeast in which human pro- and anti-apoptotic regulators Bcl-2 family and Valosin-contain protein (VCP) are included in the model. We showed that accumulation of Bax in silico humanized yeast shows apoptotic markers and that VCP is essential target of Akt Signaling. The presented Boolean model provides comprehensive description of yeast apoptosis network behavior. Extended model of humanized yeast gives new insights of how complex human disease like neurodegeneration can initially be tested.
From productivism to post-productivism … and back again? Exploring the (un)changed natural and mental landscapes of European agriculture

This paper has evolved out of a growing dissatisfaction with the relatively uncritical acceptance in contemporary debates that agriculture in advanced societies has moved from ‘productivism’ to ‘post-productivism’. A brief review of current conceptualizations of productivist and post-productivist agricultural regimes reveals inconsistencies in current understandings these dualistic terms. The problem has partly been that the conceptual literature on post-productivism has largely failed to take into account the wealth of actor-oriented and behaviourally grounded research. Productivist and post-productivist agricultural regimes have also been conceptualized from a UK-centric perspective that has largely failed to discuss whether the concept has wider applicability within Europe and beyond. The paper discusses the time-lag and spatial inconsistencies in the adoption of post-productivist action and thought, and emphasizes that different localities are positioned at different points in a temporal, spatial and conceptual transition from ‘pre-productivist’ to ‘post-productivist’ agricultural regimes. The notion of the ‘territorialization’ of productivist and post-productivist actor spaces highlights the wide-ranging diversity that exists within the productivist/post-productivist spectrum, and that productivist and post-productivist action and thought occurs in multidimensional coexistence leads one to question the implied directionality of the traditional productivist/post-productivist debate. It is suggested that the notion of a ‘multifunctional agricultural regime’ better encapsulates the diversity, non-linearity and spatial heterogeneity that can currently be observed in modern agriculture and rural society.
Autocorrelation-Driven Diffusion Filtering

In this paper, we present a novel scheme for anisotropic diffusion driven by the image autocorrelation function. We show the equivalence of this scheme to a special case of iterated adaptive filtering. By determining the diffusion tensor field from an autocorrelation estimate, we obtain an evolution equation that is computed from a scalar product of diffusion tensor and the image Hessian. We propose further a set of filters to approximate the Hessian on a minimized spatial support. On standard benchmarks, the resulting method performs favorable in many cases, in particular at low noise levels. In a GPU implementation, video real-time performance is easily achieved.
Equity Release Schemes and Equity Extraction by Elderly Households in Britain

ABSTRACT The policy and popular debates suggest that the housing equity of elderly home-owners has provided them with a considerable stock of wealth which will influence the future social structure of the United Kingdom, as wealth is transferred to a wider cross-section of British society through inheritance. While various estimates suggest that the distribution of intergenerational transfers of equity is set to widen in the future (Hamnett, Harmer and Williams 1991), it is not known whether the rate of growth of housing inheritance will continue at the pace set in the 1970s and 1980s. This is due to the process of equity extraction by elderly persons, largely from their housing assets. The extent to which one form of equity extraction (formal equity release schemes) has influenced future housing inheritances is the focus of this paper. Drawing on data collected during a postal survey of institutions offering formal equity release schemes, and secondary literature, we conclude that such schemes are unlikely to have a substantial impact on future intergenerational transfers of housing equity. The equity withdrawn under existing schemes is minimal and is likely to remain so due to lack of demand and inflexibility in the supply of existing schemes. In this paper we shall examine the participation of elderly persons in, and the market for, equity release schemes.
Towards Unifying Hamiltonian Monte Carlo and Slice Sampling

We unify slice sampling and Hamiltonian Monte Carlo (HMC) sampling, demonstrating their connection via the Hamiltonian-Jacobi equation from Hamiltonian mechanics. This insight enables extension of HMC and slice sampling to a broader family of samplers, called Monomial Gamma Samplers (MGS). We provide a theoretical analysis of the mixing performance of such samplers, proving that in the limit of a single parameter, the MGS draws decorrelated samples from the desired target distribution. We further show that as this parameter tends toward this limit, performance gains are achieved at a cost of increasing numerical difficulty and some practical convergence issues. Our theoretical results are validated with synthetic data and real-world applications.
Robust motion control SMC point of view

In this paper the robust motion control systems in the sliding mode framework are discussed. Due to the fact that a motion control system with n d.o. f may be mathematically formulated in a unique way as a system composed of n second order systems, design of such a system may be formulated in a unique way as a requirement that the generalized coordinates must satisfy certain algebraic constraint. Such a formulation leads naturally to sliding mode framework to be applied. In this approach constraint manifolds are selected to coincide with desired constraints on the generalized coordinates. It has been shown that the CMC can be interpreted as a realization of the acceleration controller thus possessing all robust properties of the acceleration controller framework. The possibility to treat both unconstrained motion (the motion without contact with environment) and constrained motion in the same way is shown.
ENGLISH AS A FOREIGN LANGUAGE (EFL) TEACHERS' PREFERENCES FOR INTERCULTURAL ELEMENTS IN TEACHING MATERIALS

Intercultural communicative competence (ICC) is defined to be at the heart of foreign language education nowadays due to the sensitivity of English Language Teaching (ELT) world to the term ‘culture’. EFL teachers should gain and teach ICC. Accordingly, this paper aims to understand how much preference EFL teachers express for intercultural elements in the teaching materials. A qualitative research was designed via semi-structured interview with international EFL teachers. The findings reveal EFL teachers express less preference to intercultural elements in their materials. Specific emphasis on ICC is to be embedded to EFL teacher training programmes so that teachers can perform in the interculturalisation process more effectively.
7 Factorial Designs 7.1 Linear Model

In previous chapters we analyzed data from so-called one-way experimental designs, in which subjects were randomly assigned to groups that differed on a single treatment or grouping variable. In this chapter we will analyze data from factorial experiments. Factorial experiments contain two or more experimental variables. In a completely crossed factorial experiment, each level of every variable is combined with each level of every other variable. So, if there are two variables with a and b levels, then there will be ab combinations of treatments, which are sometimes called cells. Subjects are then assigned randomly to the various combinations of treatments. Experiments that have equal n per cell are called balanced designs. Designs with unequal n are unbalanced. We will start by analyzing data from balanced designs, and then consider unbalanced data near the end of this chapter. Our analyses will focus on factorial experiments with two experimental factors, A and B. (Higher-order factorial designs are examined in chapter 8.) The design of a factorial experiment that has two variables can be represented as a two-dimensional table, with the rows representing different levels of variable A and the columns representing different levels of variable B. Each cell within the table corresponds to a particular combination of treatments. For example, a 1 b 3 , which is the cell in row 1 and column 3, refers to the combination of level 1 of A and level 3 in B. I will often use the terms " cell " or group to refer to a particular combination of treatments. Cell jk refers to the cell in row j and column k. The linear model for data collected in a two factor factorial experiment can be expressed as Y ijk = µ + α j + β k + (αβ) jk + ijk (1) where Y ijk is the score of individual i in cell jk, µ is a constant, α j is the effect of treatment a j , β k is the effect of b k , (αβ) jk is the effect of the combination a j b k , and ijk is the error term. Notice that α j is the effect of a particular level of A without reference to B. In other words, α j represents the effect of being in row a j regardless of the level of B. Similarly, β k represents the effect of being …
Gene‐dosage dependent overexpression at the 13q amplicon identifies DIS3 as candidate oncogene in colorectal cancer progression

Colorectal cancer (CRC) development is in most cases marked by the accumulation of genomic alterations including gain of the entire q‐arm of chromosome 13. This aberration occurs in 40%–60% of all CRC and is associated with progression from adenoma to carcinoma. To date, little is known about the effect of the 13q amplicon on the expression of the therein located genes and their functional relevance. We therefore aimed to identify candidate genes at the 13q amplicon that contribute to colorectal adenoma to carcinoma progression in a gene dosage‐dependent manner. Integrative analysis of whole genome expression and DNA copy number signatures resulted in the identification of 36 genes on 13q of which significant overexpression in carcinomas compared with adenomas was linked to a copy number gain. Five genes showing high levels of overexpression in carcinomas versus adenomas were further tested by quantitative reverse transcription‐PCR in two independent sample sets of colorectal tumors (n = 40 and n = 47). DIS3 and LRCH1 revealed significant overexpression in carcinomas compared with adenomas in a 13q gain dependent manner. Silencing of DIS3 affected important tumorigenic characteristics such as viability, migration, and invasion. In conclusion, significant overexpression of DIS3 and LRCH1 associated with adenoma to carcinoma progression is linked to the CRC specific gain of 13q. The functional relevance of this copy number aberration was corroborated for DIS3, thereby identifying this gene as novel candidate oncogene contributing to the 13q‐driven adenoma to carcinoma progression. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Lymphocyte maintenance during healthy aging requires no substantial alterations in cellular turnover

In healthy humans, lymphocyte populations are maintained at a relatively constant size throughout life, reflecting a balance between lymphocyte production and loss. Given the profound immunological changes that occur during healthy aging, including a significant decline in T‐cell production by the thymus, lymphocyte maintenance in the elderly is generally thought to require homeostatic alterations in lymphocyte dynamics. Surprisingly, using in vivo 2H2O labeling, we find similar dynamics of most lymphocyte subsets between young adult and elderly healthy individuals. As the contribution of thymic output to T‐cell production is only minor from young adulthood onward, compensatory increases in peripheral T‐cell division rates are not required to maintain the T‐cell pool, despite a tenfold decline in thymic output. These fundamental insights will aid the interpretation of further research into aging and clinical conditions related to disturbed lymphocyte dynamics.
Expression of RUNX3 Gene, Methylation Status and Clinicopathological Significance in Breast Cancer and Breast Cancer Cell Lines

Background: Runt-related transcription factor 3 (RUNX3) is a novel tumor suppressor gene that is frequently silenced by promoter hypermethylation in gastric cancer. In this study, we aimed to analyze the methylation status of the RUNX3 promoter in breast cancer and to evaluate the relationship between RUNX3 expression and breast carcinogenesis and prognosis. Methods: RT-PCR and Western blot were applied on 5 breast cancer cell lines, the human normal breast cell line Hs578Bst and 30 pairs of breast cancer and their matching normal breast tissues to detect mRNA and protein expression of the RUNX3 gene. Methylation-specific PCR was employed to detect the methylation status of the RUNX3 promoter. Immunohistochemical study was performed to analyze RUNX3 protein expression in 88 breast cancer tissues and 40 breast fibroadenomas. Results: The expression of RUNX3 mRNA and protein were negative in 3 breast cancer cell lines (T47D, MCF7 and SKBR3) as analyzed by RT-PCR and Western blotting. Hypermethylation of the RUNX3 promotor was identified in the T47D and MCF7 cell lines, but was not detected in SKBR3. Western blot analysis showed that the RUNX3 protein of 44 kDa was detected in 15 of 30 (50%) breast cancers. However, RUNX3 protein was detected in all normal breast tissues. Methylation was detected in 13 of the 15 tissues (86.67%) that did not express RUNX3 protein, but was never detected in any surrounding normal tissues. Immunohistochemistry results revealed that the positive rate of RUNX3 protein expression in breast cancer (35.23%) was much lower than that in breast fibroadenoma (85%). RUNX3 expression was correlated with tumor infiltration, clinical stage, lymph node metastasis and the expression of estrogen and progesterone receptor (p < 0.05), but was not related to age, tumor types and pathological grade (p > 0.05). The survival rate of the patients with RUNX3-positive expression was higher than that with RUNX3-negative expression (p < 0.05). Conclusions: The expression of RUNX3 gene is decreased in breast cancer. The RUNX3 gene may play an important role in the carcinogenesis of breast cancer. The mechanism of its inactivation may be hypermethylation of the promoter. With the increased progression of breast cancer, the expression of RUNX3 protein tends to decrease. The expression of RUNX3 protein has a definite value in judging prognosis in breast cancer.
Robust line-based calibration of lens distortion from a single view

Line-based camera calibration methods estimate the radial lens distortion from a single view. They use only the constraint, that straight lines in the 3D world must project to straight lines in the image plane, if the distortion is compensated. Therefore neither calibration pattern nor information about other camera parameters are necessary. Former approaches are impaired by real curved lines in the 3D world, that are interpreted as straight lines. This affects their robustness and reduces the accuracy of the estimation. The problem is solved in this paper by a novel efficient outlier elimination of real curved lines in the 3D world. The given results show the significant improvement of robustness and accuracy of the calibration by the applied outlier elimination.
Early neuropsychological discriminants for Lewy body disease: an autopsy series

Objective To determine which neuropsychological test measures and which symptoms at presentation might best differentiate dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) from Alzheimer's disease (AD). Methods Cases were from the Columbia University Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, and included cases with pathological diagnosis of pure DLB (n=12), mixed DLB and AD (DLB+AD n=23) and pure AD (n=89) who had Clinical Dementia Rating 0, 0.5 or 1 at their first visit. Clinical symptoms and neuropsychological test measures were compared for pure DLB, DLB+AD and pure AD using univariate analysis of covariance and separate logistic regression analyses. Results Visual hallucinations, illusions and extrapyramidal tract signs were more frequent as clinical features of the early stage of pure DLB compared with AD. The pure DLB patients showed more impaired visuospatial function than pure AD or DLB+AD patients whereas memory function was more severely impaired in pure AD or DLB+AD than in pure DLB. Analysis of memory subscores suggested that failure of retrieval was the major contributor to the memory deficit of DLB. Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that visuospatial function and delayed memory recognition were independent predictors of pure DLB from pure AD and from DLB+AD. But test measures did not discriminate between DLB+AD and pure AD. Conclusions Visuospatial function was more affected in pure DLB than in AD while memory retrieval deficit was more affected in AD than in pure DLB, in the early stages of dementia. However, DLB+AD did not show significant neuropsychological difference from pure AD.