Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effects of neutrophils and in vitro oxidants on survival and phenotypic switching of Candida albicans WO-1

The relationship to pathogenesis of the spontaneous phenotypic switching of Candida albicans is uncertain. Since neutrophils are critical in containment of disseminated candidiasis, we used these cells and some of their potentially microbicidal oxidative products to define effects on a C. albicans strain (WO-1) that exhibits characteristic, easily recognized switching between the white and opaque phenotypes. Blastoconidia of the opaque phenotypes were more susceptible than those of the white to killing by either intact neutrophils or cell-free oxidants, including reagent hydrogen peroxide or the myeloperoxidase-H2O2-Cl- system. Paralleling these findings, opaque blastoconidia were 2.8- to 3.6-fold more potent stimuli of neutrophil superoxide generation than were the white cells. In addition, both neutrophils and oxidants (reagent H2O2 or hypochlorous acid as well as the myeloperoxidase-H2O2-Cl- system) induced unidirectional increases in spontaneous rates of switching from white to opaque phenotypes. Differences in expression of C. albicans phenotypes therefore may determine relative susceptibility to neutrophil fungicidal mechanisms, and neutrophils themselves appear to be capable of selectively augmenting the switching process.
Recycled estimates for nonlinear regression models

We consider a resampling scheme for parameter estimation in nonlinear regression models. We provide an estimation procedure that recycles, via random weighting, the relevant parameter estimates to construct consistent estimates of the sampling distribution of the various estimates. We establish the asymptotic normality of the resampled estimates and demonstrate the applicability of the recycling approach in a small simulation study and via an example.
Effect of Tbx1 knock-down on cardiac performance in zebrafish.

BACKGROUND Tbx1 is the major candidate gene for DiGeorge syndrome (DGS). Similar to defects observed in DGS patients, the structures disrupted in Tbx1(-/-) animal models are derived from the neural crest cells during development. Although the morphological phenotypes of some Tbx1 knock-down animal models have been well described, analysis of the cardiac performance is limited. Therefore, myocardial performance was explored in Tbx1 morpholino injected zebrafish embryos. METHODS To elucidate these issues, Tbx1 specific morpholino was used to reduce the function of Tbx1 in zebrafish. The differentiation of the myocardial cells was observed using whole mount in situ hybridization. Heart rates were observed and recorded under the microscope from 24 to 72 hours post fertilization (hpf). The cardiac performance was analyzed by measuring ventricular shortening fraction and atrial shortening fraction. RESULTS Tbx1 morpholino injected embryos were characterized by defects in the pharyngeal arches, otic vesicle, aortic arches and thymus. In addition, Tbx1 knock down reduced the amount of pharyngeal neural crest cells in zebrafish. Abnormal cardiac morphology was visible in nearly 20% of the Tbx1 morpholino injected embryos. The hearts in these embryos did not loop or loop incompletely. Importantly, cardiac performance and heart rate were reduced in Tbx1 morpholino injected embryos. CONCLUSIONS Tbx1 might play an essential role in the development of pharyngeal neural crest cells in zebrafish. Cardiac performance is impaired by Tbx1 knock down in zebrafish.
Relativistic band structure and spin-orbit splitting of zinc-blende-type semiconductors.

Zinc-blende-type semiconductors differ from their diamondlike counterparts by the absence of inversion symmetry. This produces a number of spin splittings and spin-orbit coupling effects which are absent in the latter. For instance, all states at a general k are split by spin-orbit interaction. Also, bonding and antibonding p-like states are coupled by the same interaction. Many of these effects are calculated here on the basis of the ab initio self-consistent fully relativistic linear-muffin-tin-orbital method. For a better understanding and interpretation of the results, semiempirical parametrized 16\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}16 k\ensuremath{\cdot}p calculations of several types are performed. Particular emphasis is placed on determining the signs of these splittings in an unambiguous manner. The results are compared with available experimental data of rather diverse origin.
Molecular characterization of Embellisia and Nimbya species and their relationship to Alternaria, Ulocladium and Stemphylium.

DNA sequences from rDNA and protein-coding regions were determined for six Embellisia and two Nimbya spp. and were compared to those from Alternaria, Ulocladium and Stemphylium spp. Sequences determined included rDNA from the nuclear internal transcribed-spacer region (ITS1/5.8S/ITS2) and the mitochondrial small-subunit (mt SSU) and a portion of the glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (gpd) gene. Phylogenetic analyses were performed on each dataset separately and then combined for total evidence analysis using methods of maximum parsimony and maximum likelihood. Results revealed that Embellisia and Nimbya clustered within a large monophyletic Alternaria-Nimbya-Embellisia-Ulocladium clade with Stemphylium as the sister taxon. Members of the infectoria species-group were the most basal group in this large polygeneric clade. Embellisia and Nimbya were sister taxa of the remaining Alternaria and Ulocladium spp. and were related more closely to Alternaria than was Stemphylium. Four Embellisia spp. formed a monophyletic clade. However, E. allii clustered with the two Nimbya spp. and E. indefessa clustered with Alternaria and Ulocladium spp. , revealing that Embellisia, as currently circumscribed, is polyphyletic. Potential revisions of taxonomy for all genera are discussed.
The First ERP Upgrade Project at DSW: Lessons Learned From Disillusion With Simplicity Expectations

While abundant research deals with risks of ERP implementation, only a handful deal with ERP upgrades. This case study describes the first ERP upgrade project at the Dead Sea Works (DSW) chemical company. Whereas DSW succeeded in completing the initial ERP implementation project within budget and six months ahead of schedule, the first ERP upgrade project was fraught with difficulties in project planning, schedule control, cost containment, risk assessment, and employee involvement. Based on this case analysis, it is possible to conclude that the first ERP upgrade project at DSW was much more complicated than originally expected.
Compact Wideband Corrugated Feedhorns With Ultra-Low Sidelobes for Very High Performance Antennas and Quasi-Optical Systems

The corrugated or scalar feedhorn has found many applications in millimeter wave and sub-millimeter wave systems due to its high beam symmetry, relatively low sidelobe levels and strong coupling to the fundamental mode Gaussian beam. However, for applications such as millimeter wave cosmology, space-based experiments, or even high performance imaging, there is a generic requirement to reduce the size of horns whilst maintaining very high levels of performance. In this paper we describe a general analytic methodology for the design of compact dual-profiled corrugated horns with extremely low sidelobe levels. We demonstrate that it is possible to achieve ${-}50$ dB sidelobe levels, over wide bandwidths with short horns, which we believe represents state-of-the-art performance. We also demonstrate experimentally a simple scalar design that operates over wide bandwidths and can achieve sidelobes of better than ${-}40$ dB, whilst maintaining a frequency independent phase center. This design methodology has been validated experimentally by the successful manufacture and characterization of feedhorns at 94 GHz and 340 GHz for both radar and quasi-optical instrumentation applications.
Graphene Oxide Based Surface Plasmon Resonance Biosensors

Graphene oxide (GO), an amorphous insulatormaterial, has consists of a hexagonal ring based carbon network having both sp2-hybridized carbon atoms and sp3-hybridizedcarbons bearing hydroxyl andepoxide functional groups on either side of the sheet, whereas the sheet edges are mostly decorated by carboxyl and carbonyl groups [1-6]. These unique properties hold great promise for potential applications in many technological aspects such as nanoelectronics [7-10], nanophotonics [11-16], and bio-sensors [9, 17-21], and nanocomposites [22, 23].
Home advantage and referee bias in European football

Abstract Home advantage is well documented in a wide range of team sports including association football (soccer). Home team crowd support has been shown to be a likely causal factor and its influence on referee decision-making appears to play a significant role. Match data from the 2009/2010 and 2010/2011 seasons of the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) Champions League and Europa League were used to investigate referee bias in terms of the association between match location (home vs. away) and disciplinary sanctions used by football referees. The adjusted mean number of yellow cards received by home and away teams and the ratios of these means were estimated from Poisson regression models. After controlling for within-match measures of attacking dominance referees in the Champions League and Europa League issued 25% (p<0.001) and 10% (p=0.002) more yellow cards, respectively, to away teams than to home teams. The higher level of home team bias in the Champions League appeared to be mainly due to higher crowd densities. In a combined analysis of both UEFA leagues the magnitude of referee bias increased with increasing crowd density (p<0.001). Crowd size and crowd proximity were not associated with referee bias after controlling for crowd density. These results provide further evidence that crowd support influences referee decisions. Failure to control for within-match team performance may over-estimate the extent of referee bias in terms of the number of disciplinary sanctions used.
Efficiency Considerations and Measurements of a Hybrid Energy Storage System based on Compressed Air and Super Capacitors

This paper presents a study and experimentation of a hybrid energy storage system prototype, based on Compressed Air, where the charging and discharging is done within maximum efficiency conditions of the volumetric machine. As the maximum efficiency conditions impose the level of the converted power, an intermittent time-modulated operation mode is applied to the thermodynamic converter to obtain a variable converted power. A smoothly variable output power is achieved with the help of a supercapacitive auxiliary storage device used as a filter. The paper describes the concept of the system, and reports on the calculated energetic efficiency performance, as well as measured on a first prototype system.
Fatigue in industry.

Physical fatigue is a painful phenomenon which is localised in overstressed muscles. Mental fatigue is a diffuse sensation of weariness; it is a functional state, one of several intermediate conditions between the two extremes of alarm and sleep. A neurophysiological model of fatigue, involving an activating and inhibitory system has been developed. Fatigue in industrial practice has clinical symptoms: psychic instability, fits of depression and increased liability to illness. Indicators of fatigue are work of performance, subjective feelings of fatigue, electroencephalography, flicker-fusion frequency and various psychomotor and mental tests. Several field studies do, to some extent, confirm the above-mentioned concept of fatigue.
Torsional effects in molecular alignment

A detailed theoretical formalism for the calculation of energy levels and eigenfunctions of molecules with a large amplitude coordinate in the presence of a strong laser pulse is developed based on a discrete variable representation to setup the Hamiltonian matrix. This approach is applied to nonrigid biphenyl-like molecules displaying a large amplitude motion corresponding to respective rotations of their two groups. The eigenvalues and eigenvectors obtained in several limiting cases of the hindering potential can be symmetry labeled and provide us with useful insights into the feasibility of torsional alignment. The present results support the rotation-induced breakdown of torsional alignment, under adiabatic following, previously described by Coudert, Pacios, and Ortigoso [Phys. Rev. Lett. 107, 113004 (2011)].
Cyclic AMP-Dependent Kinase Regulates Raf-1 Kinase Mainly by Phosphorylation of Serine 259

ABSTRACT The Raf-1 kinase activates the ERK (extracellular-signal-regulated kinase) pathway. The cyclic AMP (cAMP)-dependent protein kinase (PKA) can inhibit Raf-1 by direct phosphorylation. We have mapped all cAMP-induced phosphorylation sites in Raf-1, showing that serines 43, 259, and 621 are phosphorylated by PKA in vitro and induced by cAMP in vivo. Serine 43 phosphorylation decreased the binding to Ras in serum-starved but not in mitogen-stimulated cells. However, the kinase activity of a RafS43A mutant was fully inhibited by PKA. Mutation of serine 259 increased the basal Raf-1 activity and rendered it largely resistant to inhibition by PKA. cAMP increased Raf-1 serine 259 phosphorylation in a PKA-dependent manner with kinetics that correlated with ERK deactivation. PKA also decreased Raf-1 serine 338 phosphorylation of Raf-1, previously shown to be required for Raf-1 activation. Serine 338 phosphorylation of a RafS259A mutant was unaffected by PKA. Using RafS259 mutants we also demonstrate that Raf-1 is the sole target for PKA inhibition of ERK and ERK-induced gene expression, and that Raf-1 inhibition is mediated mainly through serine 259 phosphorylation.
The History of Health Related Quality of Life in 10 1/2 Paragraphs

This is the opening section ofthe last chapter ofJulian Barnes' History ofthe World in 10'2 Paragraphs. The narrator goes on to describe the other amenities of heaven which included trips to the supermarket, rounds of golf and girls on request. I quote this to illustrate that one person's heaven is another person's purgatory (in this case mine) and, hence, it may be extremely difficult to aggregate the individual views of members of a population. My purpose is to use the paradigm of 101/2 chapters to give a selective version of the development of the notion of health-related quality of life. Nomenclature in this field is at a primordial stage but one view which carries strong support is that there should be some relationship between the quality of care and quality of life. I plan to show that a number of potentially fruitful approaches to this subject have been lost in the history of ideas. To limit my field of discussion I shall confine myself to Western Europe and Euro-asia. We now know much about the development of medicine in the far East especially India and China and in the countries of South America. However, we know relatively little about how the quality of their care was monitored.
Perceived Effective Problem Solvers' Attributions Concerning Success and Failure of a Simulated Real-Life Problem

The present study examined the effect of perceived problem-solving ability (self-identified effective and ineffective) operationalized by Heppner and Petersen's Problem Solving Inventory (PSI) and random feedback (success vs. failure) on participants' attributions. A total of 30 female and 30 male teacher trainees who had scored in the top and bottom distribution of the PSI dealt with three unexpected classroom disruptions during a lecture presentation. After their presentation, they received randomized feedback concerning their performance during disruptions. Following feedback, they completed Baumgardner's Attribution Questionnaire (AQ). Results indicated a significant PSI x Feedback interaction for ability and effort but not for task difficulty and luck. Perceived efficacious problem solvers' internal attributions depended on whether they received success or failure feedback. Similar to the self-enhancing tendency reported in the literature, this group attributed success versus failure more to ability and effort. The perceived ineffective problem solvers' attributions did not differ based on the feedback they received. Results are discussed in terms of prior research and theory.
OPTIMIZATION UNDER CONSTRAINT IN 2 INCOMPLETE MARKETS BASED UPON RECURSIVE UTILITIES

We study the problem of recursive utility maximization in the presence of nonlinear constraint on the wealth for a model driven by Lévy processes. We extend the notion of W -divergence to vector valued functions and then reduce the problem to the classical problem of recursive utility maximization problem under the W -projection. Using BSDE technics, we derive a first order condition which gives a necessary and sufficient condition of optimality under the W -projection, which generalizes the characterization of optimal solution obtained in [6] in the case of continuous–time, and also the result obtained in [9] in the case of standard utility.
Enabling Women to Achieve Their Breastfeeding Goals

In mammalian physiology, lactation follows pregnancy, and disruption of this physiology is associated with adverse health outcomes for mother and child. Although lactation is the physiologic norm, cultural norms for infant feeding have changed dramatically over the past century. Breastfeeding initiation fell from 70% in the early 1900s to 22% in 1972. In the past 40 years, rates have risen substantially, to 77% in 2010. Although more mothers are initiating breastfeeding, many report that they do not continue as long as they desire. As reproductive health care experts, obstetricians are uniquely positioned to assist women to make an informed feeding decision, offer anticipatory guidance, support normal lactation physiology, and evaluate and treat breastfeeding complications. Integration of care among the obstetrician, pediatric provider, and lactation consultant may enable more women to achieve their breastfeeding goals, thereby improving health outcomes across two generations.
Norman Stanley Fletcher and the case of the proprietary algorithmic risk assessment.

Controversial predictive tools for offender management are increasingly being used in the US to determine sentencing. Marion Oswald (Winchester University) and Jamie Grace (Sheffield Hallam University) examine the use of algorithmic risk assessment tools, the Loomis decision in the US, and call for an open debate in the UK about where the red lines should be.
Regulatory evolution of Tbx5 and the origin of paired appendages

Significance Extant vertebrates include jawless and jawed species. Jawless vertebrates, such as lamprey and hagfish, do not possess paired fins, whereas jawed vertebrates have two pairs of appendages. Although paired appendages are important in performing complex movements, including swimming, burrowing, and flying, their evolutionary origin remains elusive. In this study, we compare jawless and jawed vertebrate embryos and identify fundamental differences in the expression and regulation of a gene that is essential for the pectoral fin and girdle formation. Our data suggest that modification of the expression and regulation of this gene is coincident with the origin of paired appendages. The diversification of paired appendages has been a major factor in the evolutionary radiation of vertebrates. Despite its importance, an understanding of the origin of paired appendages has remained elusive. To address this problem, we focused on T-box transcription factor 5 (Tbx5), a gene indispensable for pectoral appendage initiation and development. Comparison of gene expression in jawless and jawed vertebrates reveals that the Tbx5 expression in jawed vertebrates is derived in having an expression domain that extends caudal to the heart and gills. Chromatin profiling, phylogenetic footprinting, and functional assays enabled the identification of a Tbx5 fin enhancer associated with this apomorphic pattern of expression. Comparative functional analysis of reporter constructs reveals that this enhancer activity is evolutionarily conserved among jawed vertebrates and is able to rescue the finless phenotype of tbx5a mutant zebrafish. Taking paleontological evidence of early vertebrates into account, our results suggest that the gain of apomorphic patterns of Tbx5 expression and regulation likely contributed to the morphological transition from a finless to finned condition at the base of the vertebrate lineage.
The star formation history of CALIFA galaxies: Radial structures

We have studied the radial structure of the stellar mass surface density (μ∗) and stellar population age as a function of the total stellar mass and morphology for a sample of 107 galaxies from the CALIFA survey. We applied the fossil record method based on spectral synthesis techniques to recover the star formation history (SFH), resolved in space and time, in spheroidal and disk dominated galaxies with masses from 10^9 to 10^12 M_⊙. We derived the half-mass radius, and we found that galaxies are on average 15% more compact in mass than in light. The ratio of half-mass radius to half-light radius (HLR) shows a dual dependence with galaxy stellar mass; it decreases with increasing mass for disk galaxies, but is almost constant in spheroidal galaxies. In terms of integrated versus spatially resolved properties, we find that the galaxy-averaged stellar population age, stellar extinction, and μ_∗ are well represented by their values at 1 HLR. Negative radial gradients of the stellar population ages are present in most of the galaxies, supporting an inside-out formation. The larger inner (≤1 HLR) age gradients occur in the most massive (10^11 M_⊙) disk galaxies that have the most prominent bulges; shallower age gradients are obtained in spheroids of similar mass. Disk and spheroidal galaxies show negative μ∗ gradients that steepen with stellar mass. In spheroidal galaxies, μ∗ saturates at a critical value (~7 × 10^2 M_⊙/pc^2 at 1 HLR) that is independent of the galaxy mass. Thus, all the massive spheroidal galaxies have similar local μ_∗ at the same distance (in HLR units) from the nucleus. The SFH of the regions beyond 1 HLR are well correlated with their local μ_∗, and follow the same relation as the galaxy-averaged age and μ_∗; this suggests that local stellar mass surface density preserves the SFH of disks. The SFH of bulges are, however, more fundamentally related to the total stellar mass, since the radial structure of the stellar age changes with galaxy mass even though all the spheroid dominated galaxies have similar radial structure in μ_∗. Thus, galaxy mass is a more fundamental property in spheroidal systems, while the local stellar mass surface density is more important in disks.