Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
STELLAR POPULATIONS IN THE CENTRAL 0.5 pc OF THE GALAXY. II. THE INITIAL MASS FUNCTION

The supermassive black hole at the center of the Milky Way plays host to a massive, young cluster that may have formed in one of the most inhospitable environments in the Galaxy. We present new measurements of the global properties of this cluster, including the initial mass function (IMF), age, and cluster mass. These results are based on Keck laser-guide-star adaptive optics observations used to identify the young stars and measure their Kp-band luminosity function as presented in Do et al. A Bayesian inference methodology is developed to simultaneously fit the global properties of the cluster utilizing the observations and extensive simulations of synthetic star clusters. We find that the slope of the mass function for this cluster is α = 1.7 ± 0.2, which is steeper than previously reported, but still flatter than the traditional Salpeter slope of 2.35. The age of the cluster is between 2.5 and 5.8 Myr with 95% confidence, which is a younger age than typically adopted but consistent within the uncertainties of past measurements. The exact age of the cluster is difficult to determine since our results show two distinct age solutions (3.9 Myr and 2.8 Myr) due to model degeneracies in the relative number of Wolf–Rayet and OB stars. The total cluster mass is between 14,000 and 37,000 M☉ above 1 M☉ and it is necessary to include multiple star systems in order to fit the observed luminosity function and the number of observed Wolf–Rayet stars. The new IMF slope measurement is now consistent with X-ray observations indicating a factor of 10 fewer X-ray emitting pre-main-sequence stars than expected when compared with a Salpeter IMF. The young cluster at the Galactic center is one of the few definitive examples of an IMF that deviates significantly from the near-universal IMFs found in the solar neighborhood.
Chronic idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP): molecular mechanisms and implications for therapy

Chronic idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) is an immune-mediated disorder in which platelets are prematurely destroyed in the reticuloendothelial system by platelet autoantibodies. However, it is becoming clear that the pivotal process of the humoral immune response in the pathogenesis of the disorder is a complex interaction between antigen-presenting cells, T cells and B cells. Furthermore, it is increasingly evident that regulatory T cells play an important role and that T-cell-mediated cytotoxicity contributes to the destruction of platelets in ITP. Different new approaches to immunotherapy in chronic ITP have been explored, including use of anti-CD20, anti-CD154 and anti-CD52 antibodies. So far, these therapies have been antigen-nonspecific and the risk of general immunosuppression is a concern. Thus, improving our understanding of the interaction and relative contribution of humoral and cell-mediated mechanisms is essential for developing antigen-specific immunotherapies for the treatment of this disorder. This review aims to elucidate the current status of knowledge of the cellular and humoral immune components of chronic ITP, together with the implications of this knowledge for therapy.
Integrating Household Risk Mitigation Behavior in Flood Risk Analysis: An Agent‐Based Model Approach

Recent studies showed that climate change and socioeconomic trends are expected to increase flood risks in many regions. However, in these studies, human behavior is commonly assumed to be constant, which neglects interaction and feedback loops between human and environmental systems. This neglect of human adaptation leads to a misrepresentation of flood risk. This article presents an agent‐based model that incorporates human decision making in flood risk analysis. In particular, household investments in loss‐reducing measures are examined under three economic decision models: (1) expected utility theory, which is the traditional economic model of rational agents; (2) prospect theory, which takes account of bounded rationality; and (3) a prospect theory model, which accounts for changing risk perceptions and social interactions through a process of Bayesian updating. We show that neglecting human behavior in flood risk assessment studies can result in a considerable misestimation of future flood risk, which is in our case study an overestimation of a factor two. Furthermore, we show how behavior models can support flood risk analysis under different behavioral assumptions, illustrating the need to include the dynamic adaptive human behavior of, for instance, households, insurers, and governments. The method presented here provides a solid basis for exploring human behavior and the resulting flood risk with respect to low‐probability/high‐impact risks.
Inhibition of TNFα during maturation of dendritic cells results in the development of semi-mature cells: a potential mechanism for the beneficial effects of TNFα blockade in rheumatoid arthritis

Background: Dendritic cells orchestrate pivotal immunological processes mediated by the production of cytokines and chemokines. Objective: To assess whether neutralisation of tumour necrosis factor α (TNFα) during maturation of dendritic cells affects their phenotype and behaviour, which might explain the beneficial effects of TNFα neutralisation in rheumatoid arthritis. Methods: Immature and fully matured dendritic cells were cultured from blood monocytes from patients with rheumatoid arthritis and healthy controls following standardised protocols. TNFα was neutralised by addition of the p55 soluble TNFα receptor, PEGsTNFRI. The effect of TNFα neutralisation on the phenotype (CD14, CD16, CD32, CD64, CD80, CD83, CD86, and MHC) of dendritic cells was investigated by flow cytometry. Expression of chemokines (CCL17, CCL18, CCL19, CCL22, CCL3, and CXCL8) and production of IL1β and IL6 during dendritic cell differentiation and maturation were examined. Results: Neutralisation of TNFα during the differentiation and maturation of dendritic cells did not result in an altered dendritic cell phenotype in the rheumatoid patients or the healthy controls. In contrast, the expression of CCL17, CCL18, CCL19, CCL22, CCL3, and CXCL8 by dendritic cells was significantly reduced when TNFα activity was inhibited during lipopolysaccharide triggered dendritic cell maturation. The production of IL1β and IL6 by mature dendritic cells was inhibited by PEGsTNFRI. Conclusions: Inhibition of TNFα activity during dendritic cell maturation leads to the development of semi-mature cells. These data suggest a novel pathway by which the neutralisation of TNFα might exert its therapeutic effects.
Optimized Weight Vector for QoS Aware Web Service Selection Algorithm Using Particle Swarm Optimization

Quality of Service (QoS) attributes as part of the service description is an important factor for service attribute. It is not easy to exactly quantify the weight of each QoS conditions since human judgments based on their preference causes vagueness. As web services selection requires optimization, evolutionary computing based on heuristics to select an optimal solution is adopted. In this work, the evolutionary computing technique Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) is used for selecting a suitable web services based on the user’s weightage of each QoS values by optimizing the QoS weight vector and thereby finding the best weight vectors for best services that is being selected. Finally the results are compared and analyzed using static inertia weight and deterministic inertia weight of PSO. Keywords—QoS, Optimization, Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO), weight vector, web services, web service selection
Unlocking the potential of ancient fish DNA in the genomic era

Fish are the most diverse group of vertebrates, fulfil important ecological functions and are of significant economic interest for aquaculture and wild fisheries. Advances in DNA extraction methods, sequencing technologies and bioinformatic applications have advanced genomic research for nonmodel organisms, allowing the field of fish ancient DNA (aDNA) to move into the genomics era. This move is enabling researchers to investigate a multitude of new questions in evolutionary ecology that could not, until now, be addressed. In many cases, these new fields of research have relevance to evolutionary applications, such as the sustainable management of fisheries resources and the conservation of aquatic animals. Here, we focus on the application of fish aDNA to (a) highlight new research questions, (b) outline methodological advances and current challenges, (c) discuss how our understanding of fish ecology and evolution can benefit from aDNA applications and (d) provide a future perspective on how the field will help answer key questions in conservation and management. We conclude that the power of fish aDNA will be unlocked through the application of continually improving genomic resources and methods to well‐chosen taxonomic groups represented by well‐dated archaeological samples that can provide temporally and/or spatially extensive data sets.
Evidence of periopathogenic microorganisms in placentas of women with preeclampsia.

BACKGROUND Periodontal disease is a chronic inflammatory infectious disease that may act as a focus of infection. Preeclampsia is a pregnancy-specific hypertensive disorder that often leads to maternal morbidity and mortality. Acute atherosis, the placental lesion of preeclampsia, shares many histopathological features with atherosclerosis. Recently, chronic infection was linked to the initiation of atherosclerosis. Oral pathogens have been detected in atherosclerotic plaques, where they may play a role in the development and progression of atherosclerosis. The purpose of the present study was to explore the possibility that periopathogenic bacteria may translocate into the placental tissues of women with preeclampsia. METHODS Samples were taken from 16 placentas obtained from cesarean sections of women with preeclampsia and from 14 age-matched healthy pregnant women. Polymerase chain reaction was used to detect Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans, Fusobacterium nucleatum ssp. , Porphyromonas gingivalis, Prevotella intermedia, Tannerella forsythensis, and Treponema denticola. RESULTS Eight of the 16 (50%) placenta specimens were positive for one or more periopathogenic bacteria in the preeclampsia group, compared to only two of the 14 samples (14.3%) from controls. Bacterial counts were statistically significantly higher in the preeclampsia group for all of the periopathogenic bacteria examined (P <or=0.0055). Although all of the target periopathogenic bacteria were found in the preeclampsia group, only three (P. gingivalis, T. forsythensis, and T. denticola) were found in the control group. CONCLUSION The significant presence of periopathogenic microorganisms or their products in human placentas of women with preeclampsia may suggest a possible contribution of periopathogenic bacteria to the pathogenesis of this syndrome.
O Customer-Based Brand Equity do Complexo Turístico Itaipu: uma comparação entre as percepções dos visitantes do lado brasileiro e paraguaio

Atrativos turísticos são normalmente analisados sob o enfoque da imagem, desconsiderando outras dimensões que compõem o Customer-Based Brand Equity (CBBE). O atrativo objeto desta pesquisa é a usina Itaipu Binacional, que possui complexos turísticos em suas duas margens (no Brasil e no Paraguai) e que apresentam diferença no número e no perfil dos visitantes. Neste trabalho se propôs mensurar o CBBE do Complexo Turístico Itaipu no lado brasileiro e no lado paraguaio por meio de uma pesquisa quantitativa, tipo survey, com 671 visitantes, através de um questionário baseado em escalas multidimensionais utilizadas em medições de destinos turísticos. Os dados foram coletados em 2016 e 2017 e analisados através de estatística descritiva e análise estratificada. Foi observado alto valor de marca para todos os itens do CBBE, sobretudo na dimensão conhecimento, e evidenciaram-se diferenças entre a percepção de marca dos visitantes nacionais (brasileiros e paraguaios) em relação aos estrangeiros, bem como entre a percepção dos viajantes experientes em relação aos esporádicos, principalmente nas dimensões conhecimento e qualidade percebida.
Expression of glucose transporter 1 (Glut-1) in cell lines and clinical specimens from human prostate adenocarcinoma.

BACKGROUND Increased uptake and metabolism of glucose is a characteristic of malignant transformation. Overexpression of glucose transporters, especially Glut-1, is a common event in human malignancies. To date, little is known about the role of Glut-1 in human prostate cancer (PC). The aim of this study was to investigate the expression of Glut-1 both in PC cell lines and clinical specimens of primary PC. MATERIALS AND METHODS The PC cell lines DU145, PC3 and LNCaP were assessed for Glut-1 mRNA expression by Northern blot analysis. In a total of 45 primary PC specimens, radioactive (35S) in situ hybridizations (RISH) for Glut-1 mRNA expression were performed on frozen sections. Quantification of Glut-1 expression was obtained by use of an image analysis system. RESULTS Glut-1 expression was detected in all 3 cell lines. Expression in the more poorly-differentiated cell lines DU145 and PC3 was even higher than in the hormone-responsive LNCaP cell line. In situ hybridizations in primary PC revealed Glut-1 expression just above the detection limit in well-differentiated tumors. Significantly increased Glut-1 expression was detected in moderately- to poorly-differentiated PC. CONCLUSION Glut-1 is expressed in PC cell lines and primary PC. The level of expression increases with advancing grade of malignancy. These findings support a role for Glut-1 in PC proliferation.
Functional Neuroimaging of Semantic and Episodic Musical Memory

Abstract: The distinction between episodic and semantic memory has become very popular since it was first proposed by Tulving in 1972. So far, very few neuropsychological, psychophysical, and imaging studies have related to the mnemonic aspects of music, notably on the long‐term memory features, and practically nothing is known about the functional anatomy of long‐term memory for music. Numerous functional imaging studies have shown that retrieval from semantic and episodic memory is subserved by distinct neural networks. For instance, the HERA model (hemispheric encoding/retrieval asymmetry) ascribes to the left prefrontal cortex a preferential role in the encoding process of episodic material and the recall of semantic information, while the right prefrontal cortex would preferentially operate in the recall of episodic information. However, these results were essentially obtained with verbal and visuo‐spatial material. We have done a study to determine the neural substrates underlying the semantic and episodic components of music using familiar and nonfamiliar melodic tunes. Two distinct patterns of activations were found: bilateral activation of the middle and superior frontal areas and precuneus for episodic memory, and activation of the medial and orbital frontal cortex bilaterally, left angular gyrus, and the anterior part of the left middle and superior temporal gyri for semantic memory. We discuss these findings in light of the available neuropsychological data obtained in brain‐damaged subjects and functional neuroimaging studies.
Physical Symptoms of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Are Exacerbated By the Stress of Hurricane Andrew

This study examined the effects of Hurricane Andrew on physical symptoms and functional impairments in a sample of chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) patients residing in South Florida.In the months after Hurricane Andrew (September 15-December 31, 1992), 49 CFS patients were assessed for phychosocial and physical functioning with questionnaires, interviews, and physical examinations. This sample was made up of 25 CFS patients living in Dade county, a high impact area, and 24 patients in Broward and Palm Beach counties, areas less affected by the hurricane. Based on our model for stress-related effects on CFS, we tested the hypothesis that the patients who had the greatest exposure to this natural disaster would show the greatest exacerbation in CFS symptoms and related impairments in activities of daily living (illness burden). In support of this hypothesis, we found that the Dade county patients showed significant increases in physician-rated clinical relapses and exacerbations in frequency of several categories of self-reported CFS physical symptoms as compared to the Broward/Palm Beach county patients. Illness burden, as measured on the Sickness Impact Profile, also showed a significant increase in the Dade county patients. Although extent of disruption due to the storm was a significant factor in predicting relapse, the patient's posthurricane distress response was the single strongest predictor of the likelihood and severity of relapse and functional impairment. Additionally, optimism and social support were significantly associated with lower illness burden after the hurricane, above and beyond storm-related disruption and distress responses. These findings provide information on the impact of environmental stressors and psychosocial factors in the exacerbation of CFS symptoms.
Natural motion analysis based on the singularity-consistent parametrization

This work adds some new insight into the singularity-consistent parametrization of the inverse kinematics of a nonredundant robot tracing a reference path. We show that in the general case (e.g. motion with constant end-effector velocity on the path) there is a nonintegrable motion component. When the end-effector moves with a velocity proportional to the determinant of the Jacobian, the nonintegrable motion component is removed. At the same time, the order of the equation of motion is reduced. We call this type of motion "natural". Furthermore, from the simplified equation of natural motion, we derive the mechanical power measure. This is an instantaneous-motion performance measure defined over the phase space of the system, and thus, can be useful to evaluate the dynamic performance for the specified instantaneous motion direction.
L’adhésion des assurés aux programmes de prévention santé : quels facteurs explicatifs ?

L’accord national interprofessionnel (ANI) mis en place depuis 2016 en France, impose aux entreprises du secteur prive de proposer une assurance complementaire sante a leurs salaries. Les conditions de cet accord prevoient qu’une partie des cotisations soit investie par les compagnies d’assurance et les mutuelles dans des programmes de prevention assurant un suivi personnalise des assures dans leur hygiene de vie et leur sante. L’adhesion des assures a ces services, souvent gratuits et joints a l’offre de complementaire sante, est un des facteurs clefs de la reussite de cette politique de prevention sante. A partir des resultats d’une enquete menee en 2016 aupres d’un echantillon d’assures d’un groupe mutualiste francais, nous etudions les determinants des intentions de participation des assures interroges a une telle offre de services en centrant l’eclairage sur l’effet des biais comportementaux.
Drug Involvement among Potential Dropouts and “Typical” Youth

Drug involvement, conceptualized as drug use frequency, drug access, drug use control, and adverse use consequences, is described and compared among two randomly selected groups of students aged fourteen to nineteen years: 203 low-risk typical high-school students and 160 youths at high-risk of school problems and dropout. High-risk youth, compared to low-risk youth and national statistics, endorsed a much greater breadth and depth of drug use, greater access to drugs, less drug use control, and greater adverse consequences due to use. A secondary analysis showed low-risk users (experimenters) were similar to high-risk youth in their access to drugs and eroding drug use control, but showed low frequencies of drug use and negligible adverse use consequences. Measuring and exploring these four facets of drug involvement provided a robust picture of the adolescents' drug milieu and revealed differences in patterns of drug involvement that would not have been evident by looking purely at drug use frequency. Implications for prevention programming are suggested.
Assistive Technology for Elders: Wireless Intelligent Healthcare Gadget

Improving the quality of life for the elderly persons and giving them the proper care at the right time is the responsibility of the younger generation. But due to lack of awareness on proper elder care, unavoidable busy schedule etc. the elderly population is seem to be quite ignored. In such a scenario we are trying to find an amicable solution to this problem using a compact and user friendly system design. The proposed system is a compact device which has various wearable sensors all attached inside a glove. It has a process flow controller module and a communication control module. These modules perform together to excite an alert mechanism to the relatives or to the doctors via an SMS or a voice call to their mobile phones, whenever some critical situations arise. The system measures the heart rate, oxygen content in blood, body temperature and the pressure of the elderly person, which are the important parameters for a proper diagnosis.
Polyadic approximations, fibrations and intersection types

Starting from an exact correspondence between linear approximations and non-idempotent intersection types, we develop a general framework for building systems of intersection types characterizing normalization properties. We show how this construction, which uses in a fundamental way Melliès and Zeilberger's ``type systems as functors'' viewpoint, allows us to recover equivalent versions of every well known intersection type system (including Coppo and Dezani's original system, as well as its non-idempotent variants independently introduced by Gardner and de Carvalho). We also show how new systems of intersection types may be built almost automatically in this way.
Group-Based Multibit Cooperative Spectrum Sensing for Cognitive Radio Networks

In cooperative spectrum sensing (CSS), a multibit combination rule shows better sensing performance than one-bit hard combination rules at the sacrifice of the reporting overhead. To overcome the tradeoff between the sensing performance and the reporting overhead, we propose a novel group-based multibit CSS scheme with a limited reporting overhead. The proposed scheme adopts contention-based reporting to restrain the reporting overhead while achieving multiuser diversity with an increased number of secondary users (SUs). Moreover, SUs report one-bit sensing results to a fusion center instead of sending multibit quantization information, and the rest of the information is embedded in the time slot. The simulation results demonstrate that, as the number of SUs increases, the proposed scheme improves the sensing performance and the average throughput of SUs, whereas the conventional one-bit or multibit combination schemes show a tradeoff between the sensing performance and the throughput of SUs.
Dielectric properties and creepage discharge of epoxy/silica nanocomposite in mineral oil

This paper deals with the effect of the nano filler loading in epoxy resin (EP) on creepage discharge properties of the epoxy/silica nanocomposite (EP/S-NC) in mineral oil under standard lightning impulse voltage application using needle-bar electrode arrangement. Experimental results allow to estimate discharge occurrence probability (Pd) at each voltage level. The relative permittivity ε’r. and dielectric loss are measured at 50 Hz–5 MHz for EP/S-NC with a good dispersion of nanoparticles in the base epoxy matrix. As a result, it is found that Pd decreases with increasing the filler loading up to 1 wt%, and then increases. Namely, the nano filler content of 1 wt% produces the best insulation performance in terms of Pd. The relative permittivity of the composite decreases with decreasing the filler loading below 1 wt%, while further increasing nano silica filler loading results in increased ε’r above 3 wt%.