Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Not all feldspars are equal: a survey of ice nucleating properties across the feldspar group of minerals

Abstract. Mineral dust particles from wind-blown soils are known to act as effective ice nucleating particles in the atmosphere and are thought to play an important role in the glaciation of mixed phase clouds. Recent work suggests that feldspars are the most efficient nucleators of the minerals commonly present in atmospheric mineral dust. However, the feldspar group of minerals is complex, encompassing a range of chemical compositions and crystal structures. To further investigate the ice-nucleating properties of the feldspar group we measured the ice nucleation activities of 15 characterized feldspar samples. We show that alkali feldspars, in particular the potassium feldspars, generally nucleate ice more efficiently than feldspars in the plagioclase series which contain significant amounts of calcium. We also find that there is variability in ice nucleating ability within these groups. While five out of six potassium-rich feldspars have a similar ice nucleating ability, one potassium rich feldspar sample and one sodium-rich feldspar sample were significantly more active. The hyper-active Na-feldspar was found to lose activity with time suspended in water with a decrease in mean freezing temperature of about 16 °C over 16 months; the mean freezing temperature of the hyper-active K-feldspar decreased by 2 °C over 16 months, whereas the "standard" K-feldspar did not change activity within the uncertainty of the experiment. These results, in combination with a review of the available literature data, are consistent with the previous findings that potassium feldspars are important components of arid or fertile soil dusts for ice nucleation. However, we also show that there is the possibility that some alkali feldspars may have enhanced ice nucleating abilities, which could have implications for prediction of ice nucleating particle concentrations in the atmosphere.
Detecting Target Changes in Multiple Object Tracking With Peripheral Vision: More Pronounced Eccentricity Effects for Changes in Form Than in Motion

In the current study, dual-task performance is examined with multiple-object tracking as a primary task and target-change detection as a secondary task. The to-be-detected target changes in conditions of either change type (form vs. motion; Experiment 1) or change salience (stop vs. slowdown; Experiment 2), with changes occurring at either near (5°–10°) or far (15°–20°) eccentricities (Experiments 1 and 2). The aim of the study was to test whether changes can be detected solely with peripheral vision. By controlling for saccades and computing gaze distances, we could show that participants used peripheral vision to monitor the targets and, additionally, to perceive changes at both near and far eccentricities. Noticeably, gaze behavior was not affected by the actual target change. Detection rates as well as response times generally varied as a function of change condition and eccentricity, with faster detections for motion changes and near changes. However, in contrast to the effects found for motion changes, sharp declines in detection rates and increased response times were observed for form changes as a function of the eccentricities. This result can be ascribed to properties of the visual system, namely to the limited spatial acuity in the periphery and the comparably receptive motion sensitivity of peripheral vision. These findings show that peripheral vision is functional for simultaneous target monitoring and target-change detection as saccadic information suppression can be avoided and covert attention can be optimally distributed to all targets.
Symptomatic cluster

Thoracic outlet syndrome exists with arterial, venous, and neurogenic sources. By far the most common is neurogenic and is the focus of this chapter. Sensory and occasionally motor dysfunction of the neck, shoulder, and upper extremity can be caused by compression of the brachial plexus at the thoracic inlet. The diagnosis is frequently by exclusion, and with severe symptoms refractive the medical or physical intervention, surgical decompressive surgery may play a role.
A 25-Year Experience of US Food and Drug Administration Accelerated Approval of Malignant Hematology and Oncology Drugs and Biologics: A Review

Importance Accelerated approval (AA) is a US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) expedited program intended to speed the approval of drugs and biologics that may demonstrate a meaningful advantage over available therapies for diseases that are serious or life-threatening. Observations This review describes all malignant hematology and oncology AAs from inception of the program on December 11, 1992, to May 31, 2017. During this period, the FDA granted AA to 64 malignant hematology and oncology products for 93 new indications. Of these AAs, 53 were for new molecular entities. Overall, the end point of response rate, including hematologic response rates, accounted for most AAs (81 [87%]), followed by time-to-event end points of progression-free survival or time to progression (8 [9%]) and disease-free survival or recurrence-free survival (4 [4%]). Single-arm trial designs provided the data for 67 (72%) of the initial AA indications. Of the 93 AAs, 51 (55%) have fulfilled their postmarketing requirement and verified benefit in a median of 3.4 years after their initial AA. Thirty-seven (40%) indications have not yet completed confirmatory trial(s) or verified benefit, and 5 indications receiving AA (5%) have been withdrawn from the market. Conclusions and Relevance The use of the AA program during the past 25 years has increased over time, and only a small portion of indications under the AA program fail to verify clinical benefit. For patients with serious or life-threatening oncologic diseases, AA brings products to the market years before confirmatory trials are typically completed.
Securely Eradicating Cellular Dependency for E-Banking Applications

Numerous applications are available on the Internet for the exchange of personal information and money. All these applications need to authenticate the users to confirm their legitimacy. Currently, the most commonly employed credentials include static passwords. But people tend to behave carelessly in choosing their passwords to avoid the burden of memorizing complex passwords. Such frail password habits are a severe threat to the various services available online especially electronic banking or e-banking. For eradicating the necessity of creating and managing passwords, a variety of solutions are prevalent, the traditional ones being the usage of One-Time-Password (OTP) that refers to a single session/transaction password. However, the majority of the OTP-based security solutions fail to satisfy the usability or scalability requirements and are quite vulnerable owing to their reliance on multiple communication channels. In this paper, the most reliable and adoptable solution which provides better security in online banking transactions is proposed. This is an initiative to eradicate the dependency on Global System for Mobile communication (GSM) that is the most popular means of sending the One-Time-Passwords to the users availing e-banking facilities.
Modification of the electronic properties of hexagonal boron-nitride in BN/graphene vertical heterostructures

Van der Waals (vdW) heterostructures consist of isolated atomic planar structures, assembled layer-by-layer into desired structures in a well-defined sequence. Graphene deposited on hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) has been first considered as a testbed system for vdW heterostructures, and many others have been demonstrated both theoretically and experimentally, revealing many attractive properties and phenomena. However, much less emphasis has been placed on how graphene actively affects h-BN properties. Here, we perform local probe measurements on single-layer h-BN grown over graphene and highlight the manifestation of a proximity effect that significantly affects the electronic properties of h-BN due to its coupling with the underlying graphene. We find electronic states originating from the graphene layer and the Cu substrate to be injected into the wide electronic gap of the h-BN top layer. Such proximity effect is further confirmed in a study of the variation of h-BN in-gap states with interlayer couplings, elucidated using a combination of topographical/spectroscopic measurements and first-principles density functional theory calculations. The findings of this work indicate the potential of mutually engineering electronic properties of the components of vdW heterostructures.
Mortality and extent of coronary artery disease in 2776 patients with type 1 diabetes undergoing coronary angiography: A nationwide study

Background In a modern perspective there is limited information on mortality by affected coronary vessels assessed by coronary angiography in patients with type 1 diabetes. The aim of the present study was to characterise distribution of coronary artery disease and impact on long-term mortality in patients with type 1 diabetes undergoing coronary angiography. Design The design of this research was a nationwide population-based cohort study. Methods Individuals (n = 2776) with type 1 diabetes undergoing coronary angiography 2001–2013 included in the Swedish National Diabetes Registry and Swedish Coronary Angiography and Angioplasty Registry were followed for mortality until 31 December 2013 (mean 7.1 years). In 79% the indication was stable or acute coronary artery disease. Coronary artery disease was categorised into normal (21%), one- (23%), two- (18%), three- (29%) and left main-vessel disease (8%). Results Mean age was 57 years and 58% were male. Mean diabetes duration was 35 years, glycated haemoglobin was 67 mmol/mol and 44% had normal or one-vessel disease. In multivariate Cox proportional analyses hazard ratio for mortality compared with normal findings was 1.09 (95% confidence interval 0.80–1.48) for one, 1.43 (1.05–1.94) for two, 1.47 (1.10–1.96) for three and 1.90 (1.35–2.68) for left main-vessel disease. Renal failure 2.29 (1.77–2.96) and previous heart failure 1.76 (1.46–2.13) were highly associated with mortality. Standard mortality ratio the first year was 5.55 (4.65–6.56) and decreased to 2.80 (2.18–3.54) after five years. Conclusions In patients with type 1 diabetes referred for coronary angiography mortality is influenced by numbers of affected coronary vessels. The overall mortality rate was higher compared with the general population. These results support early intensive prevention of coronary artery disease in this population.
An Investigation into Physical Activity Levels in Primary School Playgrounds

Background: As children spend roughly 30 hours per week at school, the associated benefits of physical activity (PA) can be developed within physical education (PE) lessons, break times and after school activities. Therefore, the main aims of this investigation were to (i) investigate the differences between males and females PA levels across the tarmac area during lunch time, (ii) investigate the impact of staff/teacher supervision and (iii) to determine the effect of the weather on PA within the playground during lunch times and (iv) finally establish how pupils feel levels of PA could be increased during lunchtime. Methods: A mixed methods approach was undertaken to explore children’s PA levels and the effect of gender, adult supervision and weather during school lunchtimes using n=132 participants aged 5-12 years. Moderate-to-vigorous (MPVA) PA levels were measured using systematic scans in 3 playground areas during 3 separate lunchtimes using an adapted version of McKenzie’s pro forma. Focus groups on n=16 pupils aged 7-11 years were conducted to help improve understanding of the effects of supervision and weather on PA, and how levels of PA can be increased. Results: Paired sample t-tests results revealed that males were significantly more active in area one than area two (p=0.04) and females were significantly more active in area three than area one (p<0.01). Focus groups highlighted that supervisors made little impact upon PA, whilst hotter weather was reported to negatively affect PA levels, as children engaged in less active activities to avoid sweating. Conclusions: Overall males were observed to have higher levels of PA during the study, supervisors were important for health and safety but rarely encouraged PA and finally, participants claimed that they were less active when it was hotter.
Helicobacter pylori Depletes Cholesterol in Gastric Glands to Prevent Interferon Gamma Signaling and Escape the Inflammatory Response.

BACKGROUND & AIMS Despite inducing an inflammatory response, Helicobacter pylori can persist in the gastric mucosa for decades. H pylori expression of cholesterol-α-glucosyltransferase (encoded by cgt) is required for gastric colonization and T-cell activation. We investigated how cgt affects gastric epithelial cells and the host immune response. METHODS MKN45 gastric epithelial cells, AGS cells, and human primary gastric epithelial cells (obtained from patients undergoing gastrectomy or sleeve resection or gastric antral organoids) were incubated with interferon gamma (IFNG) or interferon beta (IFNB) and exposed to H pylori, including cagPAI and cgt mutant strains. Some cells were incubated with methyl-β-cyclodextrin (to deplete cholesterol from membranes) or myriocin and zaragozic acid to prevent biosynthesis of sphingolipids and cholesterol and analyzed by immunoblot, immunofluorescence, and reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction analyses. We compared gene expression patterns among primary human gastric cells, uninfected or infected with H pylori P12 wt or P12Δcgt, using microarray analysis. Mice with disruption of the IFNG receptor 1 (Ifngr1-/- mice) and C57BL6 (control) mice were infected with PMSS1 (wild-type) or PMSS1Δcgt H pylori; gastric tissues were collected and analyzed by reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction or confocal microscopy. RESULTS In primary gastric cells and cell lines, infection with H pylori, but not cgt mutants, blocked IFNG-induced signaling via JAK and STAT. Cells infected with H pylori were depleted of cholesterol, which reduced IFNG signaling by disrupting lipid rafts, leading to reduced phosphorylation (activation) of JAK and STAT1. H pylori infection of cells also blocked signaling by IFNB, interleukin 6 (IL6), and IL22 and reduced activation of genes regulated by these signaling pathways, including cytokines that regulate T-cell function (MIG and IP10) and anti-microbial peptides such as human β-defensin 3 (hBD3). We found that this mechanism allows H pylori to persist in proximity to infected cells while inducing inflammation only in the neighboring, non-infected epithelium. Stomach tissues from mice infected with PMSS1 had increased levels of IFNG, but did not express higher levels of interferon-response genes. Expression of the IFNG-response gene IRF1 was substantially higher in PMSS1Δcgt-infected mice than PMSS1-infected mice. Ifngr1-/- mice were colonized by PMSS1 to a greater extent than control mice. CONCLUSIONS H pylori expression of cgt reduces cholesterol levels in infected gastric epithelial cells and thereby blocks IFNG signaling, allowing the bacteria to escape the host inflammatory response. These findings provide insight into the mechanisms by which H pylori might promote gastric carcinogenesis (persisting despite constant inflammation) and ineffectiveness of T-cell-based vaccines against H pylori.
Interaction of Proteasomes and Complement C3, Assay of Antisecretory Factor in Blood

Antisecretory factor (AF) is a protein complex which inhibits inflammation and regulates fluid transport. In this article, two new immunoassays (ELISA) are developed. The first ELISA establishes a 26S proteasome concentration of 0.41±0.03 μg/mL in normal plasma; the second ELISA discloses the binding of proteasomes to complement factor C3. The latter test values increased about tenfold following intake of processed cereals, paralleling with the old AF ELISA. The proteasome/C3 complex is purified and shown to expose hidden antisecretory peptide sequence and contain the inactive C3c protein. These findings might explain the antisecretory and anti-inflammatory effect during AF complex formation.
Virulence profile of Escherichia coli O157 strains isolated from surface water in cattle breeding areas

Shiga toxin‐producing Escherichia coli (STEC) O157:H7 is a worldwide concern. Cattle are their main reservoir and may contaminate watercourses through manure. We characterized a collection of 38 STEC O157:H7 strains isolated from surface water in feedlots areas (puddles inside pens formed after the rainfall or by spill around drinking troughs, and small water courses and lagoons, formed by runoff). Nineteen (50·0%) strains harboured stx2a/stx2c genes, 18 (47·4%) stx2c and one stx1a/stx2c. All strains harboured eae, ehxA, rfbO157 and fliCH7 genes, and the putative virulence determinants ECSP_0242, ECSP_2687 and ECSP_3620. All isolates tested as Lineage I/II by lineage‐specific polymorphism assay‐6. Nineteen (50%) belonged to the high virulent clade 8. The q21 allele was found in all strains and q933/q21 alleles in 17 (44·7%). By XbaI‐pulsed‐field gel electrophoresis, 29 strains were grouped into seven clusters. Four clusters grouped isolates from distant places separated by 150–250 km. This may be related to vectors, like birds, involved in their spread. Otherwise, three clusters contained isolates recovered at same places with intervals of 1–9 months. This could be explained by the high environmental persistence of STEC O157:H7. These strains recovered from surface water showed similar genotypes to those found in the bovine reservoir and in human diseases, and could be linked to the high incidence of haemolytic uremic syndrome in Argentina.
Meshless Local Petrov-Galerkin (MLPG) Mixed Collocation Method For Elasticity Problems

The Meshless Local Petrov-Galerkin (MLPG) mixed collocation method is proposed in this paper, for solving elasticity problems. In the present MLPG approach, the mixed scheme is applied to interpolate the displacements and stresses independently, as in the MLPG finite volume method. To improve the efficiency, the local weak form is established at the nodal points, for the stresses, by using the collocation method. The traction boundary conditions are also imposed into the stress equations directly. It becomes very simple and straightforward to impose various boundary conditions, especially for the high-order PDEs. Numerical examples show that the proposed MLPG mixed collocation method possesses a stable convergence rate, and is more efficient than the other MLPG implementations, including the MLPG finite volume method. keyword: MLPG, Meshless, Mixed method, Collocation
The SmAP2 RNA binding motif in the 3′UTR affects mRNA stability in the crenarchaeum Sulfolobus solfataricus

Abstract Sm and Sm-like proteins represent an evolutionarily conserved family with key roles in RNA metabolism in Pro- and Eukaryotes. In this study, a collection of 53 mRNAs that co-purified with Sulfolobus solfataricus (Sso) SmAP2 were surveyed for a specific RNA binding motif (RBM). SmAP2 was shown to bind with high affinity to the deduced consensus RNA binding motif (SmAP2-cRBM) in vitro. Residues in SmAP2 interacting with the SmAP2-cRBM were mapped by UV-induced crosslinking in combination with mass-spectrometry, and verified by mutational analyses. The RNA-binding site on SmAP2 includes a modified uracil binding pocket containing a unique threonine (T40) located on the L3 face and a second residue, K25, located in the pore. To study the function of the SmAP2-RBM in vivo, three authentic RBMs were inserted in the 3′UTR of a lacS reporter gene. The presence of the SmAP2-RBM in the reporter-constructs resulted in decreased LacS activity and reduced steady state levels of lacS mRNA. Moreover, the presence of the SmAP2-cRBM in and the replacement of the lacS 3′UTR with that of Sso2194 encompassing a SmAP2-RBM apparently impacted on the stability of the chimeric transcripts. These results are discussed in light of the function(s) of eukaryotic Lsm proteins in RNA turnover.
A novel host intrusion detection system using neural network

Over the last decades, the development of information technology in the field of computer systems and smart-devices has been increasing rapidly. Especially, due to the improvement of smart-devices, they have become a necessary ubiquitous device influencing our daily life. Nowadays, with the popularity of computer systems and smart-devices, the exposure to security risks has been on the rise throughout the world. Therefore, systems security (e.g. computer systems and smart-devices security) has become a significant concern. In order to alleviate security risks, cybersecurity researchers have concentrated more on presenting novel, high-qualified, and integrated security systems.
Multi-omics Approach Reveals Distinct Differences in Left- and Right-Sided Colon Cancer

Increasing evidence suggests that left-sided colon cancer (LCC) and right-sided colon cancer (RCC) are emerging as two different colorectal cancer types with distinct clinical characteristics. However, the discrepancy in the underlying molecular event between these types of cancer has not been thoroughly elucidated to date and warrants comprehensive investigation. To this end, an integrated dataset from The Cancer Genome Atlas was used to compare and contrast LCC and RCC, covering mutation, DNA methylation, gene expression, and miRNA. Briefly, the signaling pathway cross-talk is more prevalent in RCC than LCC, such as RCC-specific PI3K pathway, which often exhibits cross-talk with the RAS and P53 pathways. Meanwhile, methylation signatures revealed that RCC was hypermethylated relative to LCC. In addition, differentially expressed genes (n = 253) and differentially expressed miRNAs (n = 16) were determined between LCC and RCC. Especially for Prostate Cancer Susceptibility Candidate 1 (PRAC1), a gene that was closely associated with hypermethylation, was the top significantly downregulated gene in RCC. Multi-omics comparison of LCC and RCC suggests that there are more aggressive markers in RCC and that tumor heterogeneity occurs within the location-based subtypes of colon cancer. These results clarify the debate regarding the conflicting prognosis between LCC and RCC, as proposed by different studies. Implications: The underlying molecular features present in LCC and RCC identified in this study are beneficial for adopting reasonable therapeutic approaches to prolong overall survival and progression-free survival in colorectal cancer patients. Mol Cancer Res; 16(3); 476–85. ©2017 AACR.
Video saliency detection based on robust seeds generation and spatio-temporal propagation

This paper proposes a novel video saliency detection method for unconstrained videos with various motion patterns and complex scenes. We fuse multiple tempo-scale optical flow with discarding rule to enhance the reliability of motion information. Based on efficiently computation of motion distinction, our algorithm is able to locate the foreground and background approximately. Considering the mutuality of video frames, we regard video saliency seeds generation as the pattern mining process. With the help of robust saliency seeds, spatio-temporal propagation is performed in both intra-frame and inter-frame graphs. This provides an effective way to refine saliency maps. Quantitative and qualitative experiments are carried out on two benchmark video datasets, which show that our approach achieves state-of-the-art performance in video saliency detection.