Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Historical seismograms for unravelling a mysterious earthquake: The 1907 Sumatra Earthquake

History of instrumental seismology is short. Seismograms are available only for a little more than 100 years; high-quality seismograms are available only for the last 50 years and the seismological database is very limited in time. To extend the database, seismograms of old events are of vital importance. Many unusual earthquakes are known to have occurred, but their seismological characteristics are poorly known. The 1907 Sumatra earthquake is one of them (1907 January 4, M= 7.6). Gutenberg and Richter located this event in the outer-rise area of the Sunda arc. This earthquake is known to be anomalous because of its extensive tsunami, which is disproportionate of its magnitude. The tsunami affected the coastal areas over 950 km along the Sumatran coast. We investigated this earthquake using the historical seismograms we could collect from several seismological observatories. We examined the P-wave arrival times listed in the Strassburg Bulletin (1912) and other station bulletins. The scatter of the Observed−Computed traveltime residuals ranges from –30 to 30 s, too large to locate the event accurately. The uncertainty of the epicentre estimated from an S-P grid-search relocation study is at least 1° (~110 km). We interpreted the Omori seismograms from Osaka, Mizusawa and Tokyo, and the Wiechert seismograms from Gottingen and Uppsala by comparing them with the seismograms simulated from modern broad-band seismograms of the 2002, 2008 and two 2010 Sumatra earthquakes which occurred near the 1907 earthquake. From the amplitude of Rayleigh waves recorded on the Omori seismograms we conclude that the magnitude of the 1907 earthquake at about 30 to 40 s is about 7.8 (i.e. 7.5 to 8.0). The SH waveforms recorded on the Gottingen and Uppsala seismograms suggest that the 1907 earthquake is a thrust earthquake at a shallow depth around 30 km. The most likely scenario is that the 1907 earthquake initiated on the subduction interface, and slowly ruptured up-dip into the shallow sediments and caused the extensive tsunami. Although their quantity and quality are limited, historical seismograms provide key quantitative information about old events that cannot be obtained otherwise. This underscores the importance of preserving historical seismograms.
Representation in Congressional Campaigns: Evidence for Discounting/Directional Voting in U.S. Senate Elections

Several recent studies suggest that voters may prefer candidates who propose policies that are similar to, but more extreme than, the voters’ sincere policy preferences. This may arise either because voters vote directionally based on the direction and intensity of candidates’ proposals or, alternatively, because voters recognize that elected officials face obstacles to implementing their policy agenda and therefore discount the candidates’ policy promises. Using data from the Pooled Senate Election Study, we evaluate the discounting/directional hypothesis versus the alternative proximity hypothesis, by conducting individual-level and aggregate-level analyses of voting in 95 Senate races held in 1988–90–92. Our results support the discounting/directional hypothesis, that voters reward candidates when they present distinctly noncentrist positions on the side of the issue (liberal or conservative) favored by their constituency. These findings have important implications for understanding voting behavior, policy representation, and candidate strategies in Senate elections.
Podoplanin Expression Identified in Stromal Fibroblasts as a Favorable Prognostic Marker in Patients with Colorectal Carcinoma

Objective: The microenvironment of cancer plays a critical role in its progression. However, the molecular features of cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are less well understood than those of cancer cells. We investigated the clinicopathological significance of podoplanin expression in stromal fibroblasts in patients with colorectal cancer (CRC). Methods: We selected podoplanin as an upregulated marker in CAF from a DNA microarray experiment. Consequently, podoplanin was identified as an upregulated gene. Immunohistochemical podoplanin expression was investigated at the National Cancer Center Hospital, Tokyo, Japan, in 120 patients with advanced CRC, and its clinicopathological significance was examined. The biological function of podoplanin expression was also assessed by a coculture invasion assay with CRC cell lines such as HCT116 and HCT15. Results: Podoplanin expression was exclusively confined to stromal fibroblasts and absent in tumor cells. Podoplanin is absent in normal stroma except for lymphatic vessels. Staining was considered positive when over 30% of the cancer stroma was stained. Positive podoplanin expression was significantly correlated with a more distal tumor localization (p = 0.013) and a shallower depth of tumor invasion (p = 0.011). Univariate analysis revealed that negative podoplanin expression in stromal fibroblasts was significantly associated with reduced disease-specific survival (p = 0.0017) and disease-free survival (p < 0.0001). Multivariate analysis revealed that negative podoplanin expression (p = 0.016) and lymph node metastasis (p = 0.027) were significantly associated with disease-free survival. CRC cell invasion was augmented by co-culture with CAFs that were treated with siRNA for podoplanin. Conclusions: Our results suggest that a positive podoplanin expression in stromal fibroblasts could have a protective role against CRC cell invasion and is a significant indicator of a good prognosis in patients with advanced CRC, supported by biological analysis showing that podoplanin expression in CAFs is associated with decreased CRC cell invasion.
Hospital ward antibiotic prescribing and the risks of Clostridium difficile infection.

IMPORTANCE Only a portion of hospital-acquired Clostridium difficile infections can be traced back to source patients identified as having symptomatic disease. Antibiotic exposure is the main risk factor for C difficile infection for individual patients and is also associated with increased asymptomatic shedding. Contact with patients taking antibiotics within the same hospital ward may be a transmission risk factor for C difficile infection, but this hypothesis has never been tested. OBJECTIVES To obtain a complete portrait of inpatient risk that incorporates innate patient risk factors and transmission risk factors measured at the hospital ward level and to investigate ward-level rates of antibiotic use and C difficile infection risk. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PATIENTS A 46-month (June 1, 2010, through March 31, 2014) retrospective cohort study of inpatients 18 years or older in a large, acute care teaching hospital composed of 16 wards, including 5 intensive care units and 11 non-intensive care unit wards. EXPOSURES Patient-level risk factors (eg, age, comorbidities, hospitalization history, antibiotic exposure) and ward-level risk factors (eg, antibiotic therapy per 100 patient-days, hand hygiene adherence, mean patient age) were identified from hospital databases. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES Incidence of hospital-acquired C difficile infection as identified prospectively by hospital infection prevention and control staff. RESULTS A total of 255 of 34 298 patients developed C difficile (incidence rate, 5.95 per 10,000 patient-days; 95% CI, 5.26-6.73). Ward-level antibiotic exposure varied from 21.7 to 56.4 days of therapy per 100 patient-days. Each 10% increase in ward-level antibiotic exposure was associated with a 2.1 per 10,000 (P < .001) increase in C difficile incidence. The association between C difficile incidence and ward antibiotic exposure was the same among patients with and without recent antibiotic exposure, and C difficile risk persisted after multilevel, multivariate adjustment for differences in patient-risk factors among wards (relative risk, 1.34 per 10% increase in days of therapy; 95% CI, 1.16-1.57). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE Among hospital inpatients, ward-level antibiotic prescribing is associated with a statistically significant and clinically relevant increase in C difficile risk that persists after adjustment for differences in patient-level antibiotic use and other patient- and ward-level risk factors. These data strongly support the use of antibiotic stewardship as a means of preventing C difficile infection.
ADMINISTRATION OF VACCINATIONS IN PREGNANCY AND POSTPARTUM

Immunization through vaccines is one of the most effective means of preventing disease, disability, and death from infectious disease. Nurses can play an important role in helping to prevent infectious disease during pregnancy and postpartum by better understanding which vaccinations can be used in pregnancy and during breastfeeding. This article discusses 21 adult vaccinations and the diseases they prevent and provides nursing considerations to ensure safety and efficacy through appropriate vaccination scheduling, administration, storage/handling, and patient education.
The relation between grammatical development and mean length of utterance in morphemes

ABSTRACT A widely held practice in many studies of child language development and disorders has been to employ an easily calculated numerical metric, mean length of utterance measured in morphemes (MLU), as a ‘general index of grammatical development’. While this practice seems to have found acceptance among many students of child language, the usefulness of MLU past Stage II has been assumed but never empirically tested. This study evaluated the grammatical performance and MLU of 18 normally developing 2- and 3-year-old children and found that MLU did not correlate significantly with age (r = 0·26), nor did it discriminate children's profiles of grammatical development.
External Parasitic Elements on Clothing for Improved Performance of Wearable Antennas

A small (30 mm × 50 mm × 8 mm), waterproof 2.45 GHz wireless sensor with a standard meander line printed monopole has poor radiation characteristics when placed against the human body. A suitably optimized H-shape (step impedance resonator) parasitic element was added next to the antenna of the sensor on outer surface of clothing fabric. The parasitic element was placed on the outside of a fabric armband and was found to increase the total efficiency of the antenna by 13% in simulation results and enhanced the measured gain by 3 dB. The technique ensures that the armband is comfortable, washable, flexible, and operates successfully without wired connectors. The technique was optimized using simulation and experimental measurements with an adhesive aluminum strip. As the wireless sensor is waterproof and there is no access to the port of the antenna in the sensor, a two ray ground reflection model was used to match the received power in the spectrum analyzer using least rms curve fitting.
Human Papillomavirus and Papanicolaou Tests to Screen for Cervical Cancer

Screening for cervical cancer by testing for human papillomavirus (HPV), the major cause of the disease, reportedly increases the sensitivity of detecting high-grade (grade 2 or 3) cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN). It is not clear, however, whether this reflects protection against future high-grade CIN or cervical cancer, or whether it represents over-diagnosis. This Swedish population-based screening program randomly assigned 12,527 women ranging in age from 32 to 38 years to have either an HPV test plus a Pap test (n = 6257, the intervention group) or a Pap test alone (n = 6270, the control group). Those having a positive HPV test and a normal Pap test were offered a second HPV test at least 1 year later, and those persistently infected with the same high-risk type of HPV were offered colposcopy with cervical biopsy. A similar number of double-blinded Pap smears and colposcopies with biopsy were done in randomly selected control women to avoid ascertainment bias. The average follow-up interval was 4.1 years. Initially, 51% more women in the intervention group than in the control group had grade 2 or 3 CIN or cancer. On subsequent screening, the proportion of women in the intervention group who had grade 2/3 lesions or cancer was 42% less, and the proportion with grade 3 lesions or cancer was 47% less than the proportion of control women having such lesions. The increased incidence of grade 2 lesions found at initial screening in the intervention group was not followed by a significant reduction of such lesions at later screening. Women with persistent HPV infection remained at high risk of grade 2 or 3 lesions or cancer after being referred for colposcopy. Five women in the control group and one in the intervention group were found to have invasive squamous-cell carcinoma. Four in each group developed adenocarcinoma in situ or adenocarcinoma. All of these women with advanced changes were HPV-positive at baseline. The improved sensitivity of HPV testing in women in their mid-30s who are screened for cervical cancer is not solely a result of over-diagnosis. It can be ascribed-at least in part-to the earlier diagnosis of cervical lesions that do not regress on follow-up screening.
Identificação de Viabilidade de Leveduras Com Corante Vital Utilizando Histogramas de Palavras Visuais em Imagens Coloridas

Neste artigo e apresentada uma proposta de automatizar a classificacao da viabilidade de leveduras da especie Saccharomyces cerevisae , responsavel pela producao comercial do etanol, usando como atributo a cor absorvida pelo corante vital azul de metileno. A metodologia e usada amplamente em usinas no Brasil e consiste em contar as celulas incolores que sao consideradas viaveis, separando-as das coloridas de azul, consideradas nao viaveis. O numero de celulas viaveis por litro interfere no rendimento industrial. Como essa contagem e cansativa e resulta em erros, apresentamos como alternativa a tecnica de visao computacional definida como o algoritmo Bag-of-Word (histograma de palavras visuais), bem como algumas extensoes que agregam informacoes de cor e que podem ser adicionados ao algoritmo, isto porque o Bag-of-Word e usado para imagens em tons de cinza. Os atributos extraidos deste algoritmo com suas extensoes foram utilizados para teste e treinamento de classificadores extraidos de tecnicas de aprendizagem supervisionada. Entre as tecnicas que usamos podemos destacar J48, SMO, Naives Bayes e IBk que estao implementados no ambiente WEKA. Os resultados foram analisados atraves do ANOVA que apresentou valor-p < 2e-16 indicando uma diferenca estatistica das tecnicas analisadas. A tecnica Opponent Color apresentou melhores resultados, representando um potencial de aplicacao em condicoes reais das usinas.
Cell-sheet therapy with omentopexy promotes arteriogenesis and improves coronary circulation physiology in failing heart

Objectives: Cell sheet implantation induces angiogenesis for chronic myocardial infarction (MI), though insufficient capillary maturation and paucity of arteriogenesis may limit its therapeutic effects. The omentum, as a source of angiogenesis factors, has been used clinically to promote revascularization and healing of ischemic tissues by modulating growth of vasculature. We hypothesized that cell-sheet transplantation covered with an omentum-flap would effectively establish mature blood vessels and improve coronary microcirculation physiology, leading to enhanced functional capacity. Methods & Results: Two weeks after left coronary artery ligation, MI rats were divided into four treatment groups; skeletal myoblast cell-sheet plus omentum-flap (combined), cell-sheet only, omentum-flap only, and sham operation (n>10 for each). At four weeks after the treatment, the combined group showed attenuated cardiac hypertrophy and fibrosis, and a greater amount of functionally (CD31+/lectin+) and structurally (CD31+/α-SMA+) mature blood vessels in the ischemic myocardium, along with myocardial upregulation of relevant genes. Synchrotron-based microangiography revealed that the combined procedure increased vascularization in resistance arterial vessels (3rd and 4th branching orders) with better dilatory response to endothelium-dependent agent, acetylcholine (treatment effect p=0.014). Serial 13N-ammonia PET showed a higher ratio of post- to pre-treatment global coronary flow reserve in the combined group, which was mainly caused by significant improvement in the basal left ventricle (ANOVA p=0.012). Consequently, the combined group had sustained improvements in cardiac function parameters and better functional capacity. Also, robust vascular communication between the omentum and native coronary arteries was revealed by in vivo angiography in the combined, but not omentum-flap only group. In vitro migration assay indicated that formation of collateral vessels between native the coronary arteries and omentum was accelerated by the interposed cellsheets. Conclusions: Cell-sheet transplantation with an omentum-flap better promoted arteriogenesis and improved coronary microcirculation physiology in ischemic myocardium, leading to potent functional recovery in failing heart.
Precipitation variability and primary productivity in water-limited ecosystems: how plants 'leverage' precipitation to 'finance' growth.

indicated that these mutants possess about 50% residual transport activity in vitro (Eren et al., 2007). Furthermore, Wong et al. found that the cytoplasmic C-terminus, which contains three Zn-binding sites and has been speculated to have a regulatory role (Eren et al., 2006), is not essential for HMA2 function in either Zn or Cd transport in planta. In continuation of this work it would be interesting to know whether the C-terminus is important when plants are moved from normal to high-Zn substrates. Taken together, these studies suggest that future mutagenesis approaches aiming to separate Zn and Cd transport functions should primarily target residues in the central portion of the HMA2 protein containing the eight transmembrane helixes. In summary, the two publications by Wong et al. and Wong & Cobbett in this issue of New Phytologist are elegant, well-designed and insightful contributions to a topic of major current research interest.
NGF Amplifies Expression of NGF Receptor Messenger RNA in Forebrain Cholinergic Neurons of Rats

In order to study the ligand‐mediated regulation of NGF receptors in vivo, we assessed NGF receptor mRNA in the septal area of both neonatal and adult rats following intraventricular NGF administration. In neonatal rats NGF treatment, in comparison with cytochrome c, elicited a pronounced augmentation in the level of NGF receptor mRNA. A similar effect was also observed following continuous intraventricular NGF infusion in young adult rats. In addition, in this latter case, the increase in NGF receptor mRNA was associated with an increase in NGF receptor‐related immunoreactivity, most likely associated with the cholinergic neurons, in the septal area. These results show that NGF itself may regulate expression of NGF receptor mRNA and corresponding protein levels in forebrain cholinergic neurons and suggest that NGF effects in the CNS may be mediated by an up‐regulation of NGF receptors.
Inhibition of complement factor C5 protects against renal ischemia-reperfusion injury: inhibition of late apoptosis and inflammation1

Background. Complement has been implicated in the pathophysiology of renal ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury. However, the mechanism underlying complement-mediated renal I/R injury is thus far unknown. To investigate the involvement of complement in I/R injury, we studied the activation and deposition of complement in a murine model of renal I/R injury. Furthermore, we examined the effect of inhibition of complement-factor C5 on renal I/R injury. Methods. Mice were subjected to 45 min of unilateral ischemia and subsequent contralateral nephrectomy and reperfusion for 2, 12, or 24 hr. Mice were control treated or treated with BB5.1, a monoclonal antibody that prevents cleavage of complement factor C5, thereby preventing C5a generation and formation of the membrane attack complex (MAC). Results. Renal I/R induced extensive deposition of C3 early after reperfusion, whereas C6 and C9 deposition (MAC formation) occurred relatively late. I/R-induced complement deposition was mainly localized to tubular epithelium. Treatment with BB5.1 totally prevented MAC formation but also reduced C3 deposition. Inhibition of C5 strongly inhibited late inflammation, as measured by neutrophil influx and induction of the murine CXC chemokines macrophage inflammatory protein-2, KC, and lipopolysaccharide-induced CXC chemokine. Anti-C5 treatment furthermore abrogated late I/R-induced apoptosis, whereas early apoptosis was not affected. Moreover, BB5.1 treatment significantly protected against I/R-induced renal dysfunction. Conclusions. Renal I/R is followed by activation of the complement system and intrarenal deposition of C3 and MAC. Complement activation plays a crucial role in the regulation of inflammation and late apoptosis. Complement inhibition, by preventing C5 activation, abrogates late apoptosis and inflammation, being strongly protective against renal function loss.
Use of Heart Rate Variability in Monitoring Stress and Recovery in Judo Athletes

Abstract Morales, J, Álamo, JM, García-Massó, X, Buscà, B, López, JL, Serra-Añó, P, and González, L-M. Use of heart rate variability in monitoring stress and recovery in judo athletes. J Strength Cond Res 28(7): 1896–1905, 2014—The main objective of this study was to examine the effect of different judo training loads on heart rate variability (HRV) measurements, to determine if they can be used as valid indicators in monitoring stress and recovery in judo athletes. Fourteen male national-standard judo athletes were randomly divided into 2 groups, and each group followed a different type of training, namely, a high training load (HTL) and a moderate training load program (MTL). Data collection included HRV measurements, a Recovery Stress Questionnaire for athletes (RESTQ-SPORT), and strength measurements, 4 weeks before and after the training program. The HTL group had lower square root of the mean squared difference of successive RR intervals, very low frequency, high frequency, short-term variability, short-range scaling exponents, general recovery, sport-specific recovery, general stress, maximum strength, maximum power, and higher low/high frequency ratio at posttest compared with pretest (p ⩽ 0.05). The HTL group showed lower short-range and long-range scaling exponents, general recovery, sport-specific recovery, and higher general stress than the MTL group in posttest measurements (p ⩽ 0.05). In conclusion, judo athletes enrolled in an HTL program showed an imbalance of the autonomic nervous system with decreased vagal modulation, together with a decrease in strength parameters, higher markers for stress, and a lower perception of recovery.
Microcantilever sensor using photonic crystal nanocavity resonator

A novel nanomechanical cantilever sensor integrated with photonic crystal (PC) resonator is investigated computationally in this study. A U-shaped PC waveguide with a nanocavity resonator located at the edge of a suspended cantilever can be applied to detect cantilever bending in solution. The detection limit of this nanomechanical cantilever sensor operated in water is better than that of the same one operated in air. It implies promising features that this novel nanomechanical cantilever sensor could be good at biomolecules detection.