Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A critical re-evaluation of the Thorne–Żytkow object candidate HV 2112

It has been argued in the literature that the star HV 2112 in the Small Magellanic Cloud (SMC) is the first known example of a Thorne–Żytkow object (TŻO), a red supergiant with a degenerate neutron core. This claim is based on the star having a high luminosity (log (L/L⊙) ≳ 5), an extremely cool effective temperature, and a surface enriched in in lithium, calcium, and various irp-process elements. In this paper we re-examine this evidence, and present new measurements of the stellar properties. By compiling archival photometry from blue to mid-infrared for HV 2112 and integrating under its spectral energy distribution, we find a bolometric luminosity in the range of log (L/L⊙) = 4.70–4.91, lower than that found in previous work and comparable to bright asymptotic giant branch (AGB) stars. We compare a VLT+XSHOOTER spectrum of HV 2112 to other late-type, luminous SMC stars, finding no evidence for enhancements in Rb, Ca, or K, though there does seem to be an enrichment in Li. We therefore conclude that a much more likely explanation for HV 2112 is that it is an intermediate mass (∼5 M⊙) AGB star. However, from our sample of comparison stars we identify a new TŻO candidate, HV 11417, which seems to be enriched in Rb but for which we cannot determine a Li abundance.
Edge effects reduce α-diversity but not β-diversity during community assembly in a human-modified tropical forest.

Edge effects can alter the spatial organization of diversity in fragmented habitats. For tropical forests, however, there has been large variation in the strength and direction of such effects reported by different studies. For long-lived organisms like trees, one reason for inconsistent patterns might be due to most studies having examined patterns of diversity and compositional variation in older life-stages that bear the legacy of a forest past. Younger life-stages can reveal ongoing processes of assembly, but multi-stage examinations are rare. For seedling, sapling and adult life-stages of trees in a human-modified wet tropical forest in the Western Ghats Biodiversity Hotspot (India), we examined how proximity to forest edges (edge influence) modified the spatial organization of diversity. Specifically, for each life-stage we tested whether edge influence led to loss of α- and γ-diversity and decreased β-diversity in this landscape. We found lower α- and γ-diversity closer to forest edges, but only for seedlings. Seedling composition at 90-100 m from forest edges diverged from composition of sites within 60 m, suggesting that edge influence restricted the recruitment of some species to interior sites. In contrast, β-diversity was greater near edges than interior forest for all life-stages and most prominently for seedlings. Furthermore, β-diversity at edges was primarily driven by species turnover, suggesting either marked species-environment associations or dispersal limitation. Low turnover at 90-100 m implies that β-diversity arose from stochastic fluctuations in occurrences and abundances of the same species set. Overall, we find that high β-diversity structured spatial patterns of diversity near edges, but recruitment bottlenecks are likely to reduce alpha diversity of forest fragments. Our results also corroborate the need to maintain sufficiently large areas of tropical forest free from edge effects to avoid the loss of interior forest species. To improve landscape-scale diversity of fragmented landscapes, restoration efforts should focus on recovery of species that are unable to regenerate near forest edges.
Microneedling (Dermapen) and Jessner’s solution peeling in treatment of atrophic acne scars: a comparative randomized clinical study

ABSTRACT Background: Atrophic acne scarring is a permanent complication of acne vulgaris. It has a high prevalence and significant impact on the quality of life. We compared between the efficacy and safety of microneedling (dermapen) and superficial chemical peeling by Jessner’s solution for treatment of atrophic acne scars. Materials/Methods: Sixty patients who had atrophic acne scars were divided randomizely into three groups. Group Ι included 20 patients and were treated with dermapen, group ΙΙ included 20 patients and were treated with Jessner’s solution peeling, and group ΙΙΙ included 20 patients and were treated with dermapen and Jessner’s solution. Clinical assessment of patients was done according to Goodman and Baron scarring global quantitative grading system before and after the end of treatment. Results: There was a significant clinical improvement of acne scars in group ΙIΙ than in group Ι and group ΙΙ, and boxcar scars showed the best clinical improvement in all studied groups. There was statistically negative correlation between the degree of improvement of acne scars and duration of lesions and age of patients. Conclusions: The combined technique (dermapen and Jessner’s solution peeling) showed the best clinical improvement with the least number of sessions followed by the microneedling technique and lastly the jessner’s solution peeling for treating atrophic acne scars.
Colorectal cancer detection by biomarker quantification in noninvasively collected colorectal mucus: preliminary comparison of 24 protein biomarkers.

OBJECTIVES Noninvasive colorectal cancer detection and screening remain global diagnostic challenges because the existing stool tests either lack sensitivity or are complex and expensive. Moreover, colorectal cancer screening uptake is low due to stool sampling inconvenience. We have developed a simple and patient-friendly noninvasive technique for collecting highly informative colorectal mucus. In this study, we aimed to comparatively assess a range of candidate biomarkers in colorectal mucus samples for colorectal cancer detection. METHODS The study included 17 patients with colorectal cancer and 35 healthy controls, who provided noninvasively collected colorectal mucus samples. Protein biomarker quantification in these samples by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays allowed comparing diagnostic performances of 24 candidate biomarkers that comprised haemoglobin, D-dimer, M2-pyruvate kinase, carcinoembryonic antigen, C-reactive protein, calprotectin, eosinophil-derived neurotoxin, protein S100A12, tumour necrosis factor α, clusterin, soluble cytokeratin 18, caspase-cleaved cytokeratin 18, citrullinated histone H3, peptidyl arginine deiminase 4, epidermal growth factor, epidermal growth factor receptor, matrix metalloproteinase 9, tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase 1, periostin, vascular endothelial growth factor A, vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 1, vascular cell adhesion molecule 1, intercellular adhesion molecule 1 and mucin 2. Tested biomarkers were ranked for colorectal cancer detection efficiency using receiver operating characteristic curve analysis. RESULTS High area under the curve values between 0.943 and 0.768 were observed for haemoglobin, tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase 1, M2-pyruvate kinase, peptidyl arginine deiminase 4, C-reactive protein, matrix metalloproteinase 9, epidermal growth factor receptor, eosinophil-derived neurotoxin and calprotectin. CONCLUSION Quantification of protein biomarkers in noninvasively collected samples of colorectal mucus certainly allows detecting colorectal cancer. Further clinical evaluation of the optimal biomarkers identified by this study is needed.
Buyer and Seller Response to an Adverse Food Safety Event: The Case of Frozen Salmon in Alberta

Fish is a low-fat protein source high in omega-3 fatty acids, but in 2004 consumers also heard that farmed salmon had high levels of polychlorinated biphenyl (PCBs). This research evaluated how Canadian consumers and processors reacted to the conflicting health messages. Demand estimates and time-series analysis of 2001-2006 frozen meat scanner data in Alberta, Canada show a significant drop in salmon expenditure share following the PCB finding. The industry responded by launching low-priced wild salmon products, which contributed to significant demand expansion. The analysis illustrates how a food safety threat was averted and even served as a catalyst for growth.
Sequential Factorized Autoencoder for Localizing the Origin of Ventricular Activation From 12-Lead Electrocardiograms

Objective: This work presents a novel approach to handle the inter-subject variations existing in the population analysis of ECG, applied for localizing the origin of ventricular tachycardia (VT) from 12-lead electrocardiograms (ECGs). Methods: The presented method involves a factor disentangling sequential autoencoder (f-SAE) – realized in both long short-term memory (LSTM) and gated recurrent unit (GRU) networks – to learn to disentangle the inter-subject variations from the factor relating to the location of origin of VT. To perform such disentanglement, a pair-wise contrastive loss is introduced. Results: The presented methods are evaluated on ECG dataset with 1012 distinct pacing sites collected from scar-related VT patients during routine pace-mapping procedures. Experiments demonstrate that, for classifying the origin of VT into the predefined segments, the presented f-SAE improves the classification accuracy by 8.94% from using prescribed QRS features, by 1.5% from the supervised deep CNN network, and 5.15% from the standard SAE without factor disentanglement. Similarly, when predicting the coordinates of the VT origin, the presented f-SAE improves the performance by 2.25 mm from using prescribed QRS features, by 1.18 mm from the supervised deep CNN network and 1.6 mm from the standard SAE. Conclusion: These results demonstrate the importance as well as the feasibility of the presented f-SAE approach for separating inter-subject variations when using 12-lead ECG to localize the origin of VT. Significance: This work suggests the important research direction to deal with the well-known challenge posed by inter-subject variations during population analysis from ECG signals.
Increased CD68/TGFβ Co-expressing Microglia/ Macrophages after Transient Middle Cerebral Artery Occlusion in Rhesus Monkeys

The function of microglia/macrophages after ischemic stroke is poorly understood. This study examines the role of microglia/macrophages in the focal infarct area after transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) in rhesus monkeys. We measured infarct volume and neurological function by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and non-human primate stroke scale (NHPSS), respectively, to assess temporal changes following MCAO. Activated phagocytic microglia/macrophages were examined by immunohistochemistry in post-mortem brains (n=6 MCAO, n=2 controls) at 3 and 24 hours (acute stage), 2 and 4 weeks (subacute stage), and 4, and 20 months (chronic stage) following MCAO. We found that the infarct volume progressively decreased between 1 and 4 weeks following MCAO, in parallel with the neurological recovery. Greater presence of cluster of differentiation 68 (CD68)-expressing microglia/macrophages was detected in the infarct lesion in the subacute and chronic stage, compared to the acute stage. Surprisingly, 98~99% of transforming growth factor beta (TGFβ) was found colocalized with CD68-expressing cells. CD68-expressing microglia/macrophages, rather than CD206+ cells, may exert anti-inflammatory effects by secreting TGFβ after the subacute stage of ischemic stroke. CD68+ microglia/macrophages can therefore be used as a potential therapeutic target.
Fiber Optic Sensing for Innovative Oil & Gas Production and Transport Systems

Fiber optic sensing presents unique features that have no match in conventional sensing techniques. The ability to measure temperatures and strain at thousands of points along a single fiber is particularly interesting for the monitoring of elongated structures such as pipelines, flow lines, oil wells and coiled tubing. Distributed sensing systems based on Brillouin and Raman scattering are used for example to detect pipeline leakages, verify pipeline operational parameters, prevent failure of pipelines installed in landslide areas, optimize oil production from wells and detect hot-spots in high-power cables. Point sensors based on Interferometric and FBG setups are also effective tools to assess the static and dynamic response of structures such as offshore platforms and risers.This contribution presents different applications of distributed and point sensors to innovative oil and gas structures such as composite coiled tubing, high-pressure composite gas pipeline and deepwater risers.
Structural mechanisms of solid solution and cation ordering in augite-jadeite pyroxenes: II. A microscopic perspective

Abstract Infrared spectra of ordered (P2/n) and disordered (C2/c) pyroxenes belonging to the join augite-jadeite were investigated at room temperature in the range 70-1400 cm-1. The spectra change as a function of composition and the phase transition P2/n → C2/c produces an increase in band widths. The autocorrelation function quantified changes in line widths due to these effects. Phonons at low frequencies are very sensitive to both changes in composition and degree of order and are indicative of a non-ideal mixing behavior for the C2/c solid solution. Phonons at high frequencies depend on the average composition of the samples and not on local configurational changes related to the order-disorder transition. High degrees of local heterogeneity were suggested by the Δcorr values of the C2/c omphacites at intermediate compositions. This effect is most evident in the low frequency region of the spectra, corresponding to modes involving, primarily, the M cations. The changes in frequency due to ordering, Δω, and the change in line widths δ(Δcorr)100-200 for the spectral region 100-200 cm-1 and δ(Δcorr)210-800 for the range 210-800 cm-1 have been used to characterize the state of local order at different compositions. The spectra yield information related to the local structural states of augite-jadeite pyroxenes, down to a unit-cell length scale, which may then be compared with the average structure determined by X-ray diffraction studies of the same samples.
Site-Specific Leaching Map of a Salt Affected Soil in Egypt

Soil salinity is a crucial problem facing countries in arid and semi arid regions which negatively affects sustainable agriculture Eilers et al. [1]. This problem needs to be accurately quantified and mapped in order to mitigate and control its negative effects Herrero and Pérez-Coveta [2]; Benyamini et al. [3]; Wang [4] especially in irrigated soils Amezketa [5]. Soil salinity cab be solved by leaching soluble salts from the root zone by adding water with good drainage conditions. In Egypt, salt-affected soils are located in the NorthernCentral part of the Nile Delta and on its Eastern and Western sides. Also, in Wadi El-Natroun, El-Kebeir, the Oases, many parts of the Nile Delta and Valley and El-Fayoum province are characterized as salt affected soils. In Egyptian irrigated lands, about nine hundred thousand hectares suffer from salinization. These are distributed as follows: 60 % is in Northern Delta, 20 % in Southern Delta and Middle Egypt and 25 % in Upper Egypt FAO [6]. Conventionally, data of soil properties are summarized by averages of collected soil samples with no consideration of the spatial variation either at macro scale or at micro scale (within-field) (Webster and Oliver [7] and Navarro-Pedreño et al. [8].
Evaluation of computational genotyping of structural variation for clinical diagnoses

Background In recent years, Structural Variation (SV) has been identified as having a pivotal role in causing genetic disease. Nevertheless, the discovery of SVs based on short DNA sequence reads from next-generation DNA sequence methods is still error-prone, suffering from low sensitivity and high false discovery. These shortcomings can be partially overcome with the use of long reads, but the current expense precludes their application for routine clinical diagnostics. Structural Variation genotyping, on the other hand, offers cost-effective application as diagnostic tool in the clinic, with potentially no false positives and low occurrence of false negatives. Results We assess five state- of-the- art SV genotyping software methods that test short read sequence data. These methods are characterized based on their ability to genotype certain SV types and size ranges. Furthermore, we analyze their applicability to parse different VCF file sub-formats, or to rely on specific meta information that is not always at hand. We compare the SV genotyping methods across a range of simulated and real data including SVs that were not found with Illumina data alone. We assess their sensitivity and ability to filter out initial false discovery calls to assess their reliability. Conclusion Our results indicate that, although SV genotypers have superior performance to SV callers, there are performance limitations that suggest the need for further innovation.
Credit Risk and Commercial Banks’ Profitability in Nepal: A Panel Approach

This study has investigated the effect of credit risk on the profitability of commercial banks in Nepal over the period of 8 years (2009 to 2016). Panel data of six commercial banks were analyzed using pooled OLS model, fixed effects model and random effect model. The results from the estimated regression models show that default risk is significantly positively associated with banks’ profitability. However, capital adequacy ratio is found significantly negatively associated to profitability. The effect of cost per loan assets seems minimal in explaining the variation of commercial banks’ profitability. Thus, this study concludes that credit risk indicators like: default risk and capital adequacy ratio have significant impact on the profitability of commercial banks in Nepal.
Risk Sharing in Defined-Contribution Funded Pension System

This paper explores the introduction of collective risk-sharing elements in defined contribution pension contracts. We consider status-contingent, age-contingent and asset contingent risk-sharing arrangements. All arrangements raise aggregate welfare, as measured by equivalent variations. While working individuals hardly benefit or may even lose, retirees experience substantial welfare gains. An increase in the tax deductability of pension contributions can be beneficial for working cohorts, but comes at the cost of a reduction in aggregate welfare due to efficiency losses.
A review of the main drivers and variability of Central America’s Climate and seasonal forecast systems

Central America is a region susceptible to natural disasters and climate change. We reviewed the literature on the main atmospheric and oceanographic forces and climate modulators affecting Central America, for different spatial and time scales. We also reviewed the reported correlation between climate variability, natural hazards and climate change aspects (in the past and future). In addition, we examined the current state of seasonal prediction systems being applied to the region. At inter-annual scales, El Niño/Southern Oscillation is the main climate modulator; however, other indices such as the Tropical North Atlantic, Atlantic Multi-Decadal Oscillation and Pacific Decadal Oscillation, have shown a correlation with precipitation anomalies in the region. Current seasonal forecast systems in the region have shown a constant development, including incorporation of different approaches ranging from statistical to dynamical downscaling, improving prediction of variables such as precipitation. Many studies have revealed the need of including –in addition to the climatic information– socio-economic variables to assess the impact of natural disasters and climate change in the region. These studies highlight the importance of socio-economic and human life losses associated with the impacts caused by natural hazards for organizations and governments. Rev. Biol. Trop. 66(Suppl. 1): S153-S175. Epub 2018 April 01.
Online Tool to Evaluate the Implementation of Energy Efficiency Strategies and Renewable Energy into Data Centre Portfolio

Data centre facilities are complex building where their operationally is affected by many factors, such as location, size etc. Moreover, there are several energy efficiency strategies and renewable technologies available in the market. Therefore, reliable tools are mandatory to analyse the current state of data centres and to select the energy efficiency strategies and renewable technologies that fits better in our system. The following paper present a new online tool aimed to evaluate different energy efficiency strategies in pre-design phase, as well of use of renewable-based supply energy systems. The main milestones followed to develop the tool are presented and an example about the utilization of the tool is shown.
The Evolution of Environmental Quenching Timescales to z ∼ 1.6: Evidence for Dynamically Driven Quenching of the Cluster Galaxy Population

Using a sample of four galaxy clusters at 1.35 < z < 1.65 and 10 galaxy clusters at 0.85 < z < 1.35, we measure the environmental quenching timescale, tQ, corresponding to the time required after a galaxy is accreted by a cluster for it to fully cease star formation. Cluster members are selected by a photometric-redshift criterion, and categorized as star-forming, quiescent, or intermediate according to their dust-corrected rest-frame colors and magnitudes. We employ a “delayed-then-rapid” quenching model that relates a simulated cluster mass accretion rate to the observed numbers of each type of galaxy in the cluster to constrain tQ. For galaxies of mass M* ≳ 1010.5 M⊙, we find a quenching timescale of tQ = Gyr in the z ∼ 1.5 cluster sample, and Gyr at z ∼ 1. Using values drawn from the literature, we compare the redshift evolution of tQ to timescales predicted for different physical quenching mechanisms. We find tQ to depend on host halo mass such that quenching occurs over faster timescales in clusters relative to groups, suggesting that properties of the host halo are responsible for quenching high-mass galaxies. Between z = 0 and z = 1.5, we find that tQ evolves faster than the molecular gas depletion timescale and slower than an estimated star formation rate-outflow timescale, but is consistent with the evolution of the dynamical time. This suggests that environmental quenching in these galaxies is driven by the motion of satellites relative to the cluster environment, although due to uncertainties in the atomic gas budget at high redshift, we cannot rule out quenching due to simple gas depletion.