pinecone/core-2020-05-10-deduplication huggingface dataset:
Immune oxysterols: Role in mycobacterial infection and inflammation.

Infection remains an important cause of morbidity and mortality. Natural defenses to infection are mediated by intrinsic/innate and adaptive immune responses. While our understanding is considerable it is incomplete and emerging areas of research such as those related to the immune-metabolic axis are only beginning to be appreciated. There is increasing evidence showing a connection between immune signaling and the regulation of sterol and fatty acid metabolism. In particular, metabolic intermediates of cholesterol biosynthesis and its oxidized metabolites (oxysterols) have been shown to regulate adaptive immunity and inflammation and for innate immune signaling to regulate the dynamics of cholesterol synthesis and homeostasis. The side-chain oxidized oxysterols, 25-hydroxycholesterol (25HC) and vitamin D metabolites (vitamin D3 and vitamin D2), are now known to impart physiologically profound effects on immune responses. Macrophages play a frontline role in this process connecting immunity, infection and lipid biology, and collaterally are a central target for infection by a wide range of pathogens including viruses and bacteria, especially intracellular bacteria such as mycobacteria. Clinical manifestations of disease severity in the infected host are likely to pay tribute to perturbations of the metabolic-immune phenomena found in lymphocytes and myeloid cells. Historically and consistent with this notion, vitamin D based oxysterols have had a long association with promoting clinical improvements to patients infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Hence understanding the role of early metabolic mediators of inflammatory responses to infection in particular oxysterols, will aid in the development of urgently needed host directed therapeutic and diagnostic design innovation to combat adverse infection outcomes and antibiotic resistance
Fast synchrotron X-ray tomographic quantification of dendrite evolution during the solidification of Mg-Sn alloys

The evolution of dendritic microstructures during the solidification of a Mg-15 wt%Sn alloy was investigated in situ via fast synchrotron X-ray microtomography. To enable these in situ observations a novel encapsulation method was developed and integrated into a fast, pink beam, imaging beamline at Diamond Light Source. The dendritic growth was quantified with time using: solid volume fraction, tip velocity, interface specific surface area, and surface curvature. The influence of cooling rate upon these quantities and primary phase nucleation was investigated. The primary dendrites grew with an 18-branch, 6-fold symmetry structure, accompanied by coarsening. The coarsening process was assessed by the specific surface area and was compared with the existing models. These results provide the first quantification of dendritic growth during the solidification of Mg alloys, confirming existing analytic models and providing experimental data to inform and validate more complex numeric models
Endovascular versus open repair of abdominal aortic aneurysm in 15-years' follow-up of the UK endovascular aneurysm repair trial 1 (EVAR trial 1): a randomised controlled trial

Background Short-term survival benefits of endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) versus open repair of intact abdominal aortic aneurysms have been shown in randomised trials, but this early survival benefit is lost after a few years. We investigated whether EVAR had a long-term survival benefit compared with open repair. Methods We used data from the EVAR randomised controlled trial (EVAR trial 1), which enrolled 1252 patients from 37 centres in the UK between Sept 1, 1999, and Aug 31, 2004. Patients had to be aged 60 years or older, have aneurysms of at least 5·5 cm in diameter, and deemed suitable and fit for either EVAR or open repair. Eligible patients were randomly assigned (1:1) using computer-generated sequences of randomly permuted blocks stratified by centre to receive either EVAR (n=626) or open repair (n=626). Patients and treating clinicians were aware of group assignments, no masking was used. The primary analysis compared total and aneurysm-related deaths in groups until mid-2015 in the intention-to-treat population. This trial is registered at ISRCTN (ISRCTN55703451). Findings We recruited 1252 patients between Sept 1, 1999, and Aug 31, 2004. 25 patients (four for mortality outcome) were lost to follow-up by June 30, 2015. Over a mean of 12·7 years (SD 1·5; maximum 15·8 years) of follow-up, we recorded 9·3 deaths per 100 person-years in the EVAR group and 8·9 deaths per 100 person-years in the open-repair group (adjusted hazard ratio [HR] 1·11, 95% CI 0·97–1·27, p=0·14). At 0–6 months after randomisation, patients in the EVAR group had a lower mortality (adjusted HR 0·61, 95% CI 0·37–1·02 for total mortality; and 0·47, 0·23–0·93 for aneurysm-related mortality, p=0·031), but beyond 8 years of follow-up open-repair had a significantly lower mortality (adjusted HR 1·25, 95% CI 1·00–1·56, p=0·048 for total mortality; and 5·82, 1·64–20·65, p=0·0064 for aneurysm-related mortality). The increased aneurysm-related mortality in the EVAR group after 8 years was mainly attributable to secondary aneurysm sac rupture (13 deaths [7%] in EVAR vs two [1%] in open repair), with increased cancer mortality also observed in the EVAR group. Interpretation EVAR has an early survival benefit but an inferior late survival compared with open repair, which needs to be addressed by lifelong surveillance of EVAR and re-intervention if necessary. Funding UK National Institute for Health Research, Camelia Botnar Arterial Research Foundation
Compressed Sensing Electron Tomography of Needle-Shaped Biological Specimens - Potential for Improved Reconstruction Fidelity with Reduced Dose

Electron tomography is an invaluable method for 3D cellular imaging. The technique is, however, limited by the specimen geometry, with a loss of resolution due to a restricted tilt range, an increase in specimen thickness with tilt, and a resultant need for subjective and timeconsuming manual segmentation. Here we show that 3D reconstructions of needle-shaped biological samples exhibit isotropic resolution, facilitating improved automated segmentation and feature detection. By using scanning transmission electron tomography, with small probe convergence angles, high spatial resolution is maintained over large depths of field and across the tilt range. Moreover, the application of compressed sensing methods to the needle data demonstrates how high fidelity reconstructions may be achieved with far fewer images (and thus greatly reduced dose) than needed by conventional methods. These findings open the door to high fidelity electron tomography over critically relevant length-scales, filling an important gap between existing 3D cellular imaging techniques.The research leading to these results has received funding from the European Union Seventh Framework Programme under Grant Agreement 312483 - ESTEEM2 (Integrated Infrastructure Initiative–I3), as well as from the European Research Council under the European Union’s Seventh Framework Programme (FP/2007-2013)/ERC grant agreement 291522 - 3DIMAGE. B.W. and E.S. acknowledge financial support from the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) within the framework of the SPP 1570 as well as through the Cluster of Excellence “Engineering of Advanced Materials” at the Friedrich-Alexander-Universität ErlangenNürnberg. G.D. and C.D. acknowledge funding from the ERC under grant number 259619 PHOTO EM. B.W. acknowledges the Research Training Group “Disperse Systems for Electronic Applications” (DFG GEPRIS GRK 1161). R.L. acknowledges a Junior Research Fellowship from Clare College.This is the final version of the article. It first appeared from Elsevier via http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ultramic.2015.10.02
Measurement of the production cross section for W-bosons in association with jets in pp collisions at √s = 7 TeV with the ATLAS detector

This Letter reports on a first measurement of the inclusive W+jets cross section in proton–proton collisions at a centre-of-mass energy of 7 TeV at the LHC, with the ATLAS detector. Cross sections, in both the electron and muon decay modes of the W-boson, are presented as a function of jet multiplicity and of the transverse momentum of the leading and next-to-leading jets in the event. Measurements are also presented of the ratio of cross sections [σ(W+⩾n) over σ(W+⩾n−1)] for inclusive jet multiplicities n=1–4. The results, based on an integrated luminosity of 1.3 pb[superscript −1], have been corrected for all known detector effects and are quoted in a limited and well-defined range of jet and lepton kinematics. The measured cross sections are compared to particle-level predictions based on perturbative QCD. Next-to-leading order calculations, studied here for n⩽2, are found in good agreement with the data. Leading-order multiparton event generators, normalized to the NNLO total cross section, describe the data well for all measured jet multiplicities.United States. Dept. of EnergyNational Science Foundation (U.S.)Brookhaven National LaboratoryEuropean Organization for Nuclear Researc
GAMA 1.6 : Advancing the Art of Complex Agent-Based Modeling and Simulation

Agent-based models tend to be more and more complex. In order to cope with this increase of complexity, powerful modeling and simulation tools are required. These last years have seen the development of several platforms dedicated to the development of agent-based models. While some of them are still limited to the development of simple models, others allow to develop rich and complex models. Among them, the GAMA modeling and simulation platform is aimed at supporting the design of spatialized, multiple-paradigms and multiple-scales models. Several papers have already introduced GAMA, notably in earlier PRIMA conferences, and we would like, in this paper, to introduce the new features provided by GAMA 1.6, the latest revision to date of the platform. In particular, we present its capabilities concerning the tight combination of 3D visualization, GIS data management, and multi-level modeling. In addition, we present some examples of real projects that rely on GAMA to develop complex models
Basophil-derived Amphiregulin is essential for UVB irradiation-induced immune suppression

UVB irradiation (290–320nm) is used to treat skin diseases like psoriasis and atopic dermatitis, and is known to
suppress contact hypersensitivity (CHS) reactions in mouse models. Regulatory T cells (Treg cells) have been
shown to be responsible for this UVB-induced suppression of CHS. The epidermal growth factor (EGF)-like
growth factor amphiregulin (AREG) engages EGFR on Treg cells and, in different disease models, it was shown that
mast cell–derived AREG is essential for optimal Treg cell function in vivo. Here we determined whether AREG has a
role in UVB-induced, Treg cell–mediated suppression of CHS reactions in the skin. Our data show that AREG is
essential for UVB-induced CHS suppression. In contrast to the general assumption, however, mast cells were
dispensable for UVB-induced immune suppression, whereas basophil-derived AREG was essential. These data
reveal, to our knowledge, a previously unreported function for basophils in the homeostasis of immune
responses in the skin. Basophils thus fulfill a dual function: they contribute to the initiation of effective type 2
immune responses and, by enhancing the suppressive capacity of local Treg cell populations, also to local immune
regulation in the skin.A stimulation grant from the University of Utrecht and a grant from the Dutch Technology Foundation (STW-NWO).http://www.nature.com/jid/hb201
On infinite dimensional quadratic Volterra operators

AbstractIn this paper we study a class of quadratic operators named by Volterra operators on infinite dimensional space. We prove that such operators have infinitely many fixed points and the set of Volterra operators forms a convex compact set. In addition, it is described its extreme points. Besides, we study certain limit behaviors of such operators and give some more examples of Volterra operators for which their trajectories do not converge. Finally, we define a compatible sequence of finite dimensional Volterra operators and prove that any power of this sequence converges in weak topology
A highly-sensitive anti-Müllerian hormone assay improves analysis of ovarian function following chemotherapy for early breast cancer

AbstractAimAnti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) shows promise as a biomarker of the ovarian reserve but current assays are insufficiently sensitive to allow assessment of this post-chemotherapy in most women. We have assessed a new highly sensitive AMH assay (Ansh picoAMH) in the evaluation of ovarian activity in women with very low ovarian reserve after chemotherapy.MethodsA prospective cohort and an independent validation cohort of premenopausal women with early breast cancer (eBC) were recruited at the time of diagnosis (combined n=98), and ovarian reserve markers 2–5years later following chemotherapy were assessed in relation to menstrual activity.ResultsThe picoAMH assay had a limit of detection of 7.5pg/ml. AMH clearly distinguished women with ongoing menses from those with amenorrhoea at 2years after diagnosis (mean 522±169 versus 8.9±1.3pg/ml, P<0.0001) with high predictive value for continuing menses or amenorrhoea for the subsequent 3years. AMH was detectable in more women than using a previous assay (P=0.004). Other markers of the ovarian reserve (follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), inhibin B) were also of discriminatory value but to lesser extents. This finding was validated in a second, independent cohort of women treated for eBC.ConclusionThe 10-fold increased assay sensitivity showed very clear distinction between groups based on ovarian activity with excellent prediction of future menses or amenorrhoea. This will improve assessment of post-chemotherapy ovarian function in women and may aid treatment decisions
Periodic Riemannian manifold with preassigned gaps in spectrum of Laplace–Beltrami operator

AbstractIt is known (E.L. Green (1997), O. Post (2003)) that for an arbitrary m∈N one can construct a periodic non-compact Riemannian manifold M with at least m gaps in the spectrum of the corresponding Laplace–Beltrami operator −ΔM. In this work we want not only to produce a new type of periodic manifolds with spectral gaps but also to control the edges of these gaps. The main result of the paper is as follows: for arbitrary pairwise disjoint intervals (αj,βj)⊂[0,∞), j=1,…,m (m∈N), for an arbitrarily small δ>0 and for an arbitrarily large L>0 we construct a periodic non-compact Riemannian manifold M with at least m gaps in the spectrum of the operator −ΔM, moreover the edges of the first m gaps belong to δ-neighbourhoods of the edges of the intervals (αj,βj), while the remaining gaps (if any) are located outside the interval [0,L]
Synthesis, spectroscopic and crystal structure analysis of 2-(4-fluorobenzyl)-6-(4-methoxyphenyl)imidazo[2,1-b][1,3,4]thiadiazole and its morpholinomethyl derivative

AbstractThe preparation of 2-(4-fluorobenzyl)-6-(4-methoxyphenyl)-5-morpholin-1-ylmethyl imidazo[2,1-b][1,3,4]thiadiazole via the intermediate 2-(4-fluorobenzyl)-6-(4-methoxyphenyl)Imidazo[2,1-b][1,3,4] thiadiazole is described. Elemental analysis, IR spectrum, 1H NMR and X-ray crystal structure analyses were carried out to determine the compositions and molecular structures of the two compounds. The crystal packing exhibits intermolecular C–H⋯O, C–H⋯N, C–H⋯F and π–π stacking interactions leading to the formation of the supramolecular network
Measurement of charged jet production cross sections and nuclear modification in p–Pb collisions at sNN=5.02 TeV

AbstractCharged jet production cross sections in p–Pb collisions at sNN=5.02 TeV measured with the ALICE detector at the LHC are presented. Using the anti-kT algorithm, jets have been reconstructed in the central rapidity region from charged particles with resolution parameters R=0.2 and R=0.4. The reconstructed jets have been corrected for detector effects and the underlying event background. To calculate the nuclear modification factor, RpPb, of charged jets in p–Pb collisions, a pp reference was constructed by scaling previously measured charged jet spectra at s=7 TeV. In the transverse momentum range 20≤pT,chjet≤120 GeV/c, RpPb is found to be consistent with unity, indicating the absence of strong nuclear matter effects on jet production. Major modifications to the radial jet structure are probed via the ratio of jet production cross sections reconstructed with the two different resolution parameters. This ratio is found to be similar to the measurement in pp collisions at s=7 TeV and to the expectations from PYTHIA pp simulations and NLO pQCD calculations at sNN=5.02 TeV
Constraints on lepton number violating short-range interactions from |ΔL|=2 processes

AbstractIn this work we study the short-range contributions that induce effective lepton number violating (LNV) interactions. We obtain a full set of constraints on the effective short-range couplings from a large variety of low-energy |ΔL|=2 processes of pseudoscalar mesons K,D,Ds,B, and τ-lepton. These constraints provide complementary and additional information to the one obtained from the neutrinoless double-β (0νββ) decay. As expected, the bounds on electron–electron short-range couplings are the only ones that are strongly constrained by the 0νββ decay. Although weaker, LNV effective couplings with different flavors are not accessible to 0νββ decay and these can be probe by the |ΔL|=2 processes in consideration
Metric structures in L1: dimension, snowflakes, and average distortion

AbstractWe study the metric properties of finite subsets of L1. The analysis of such metrics is central to a number of important algorithmic problems involving the cut structure of weighted graphs, including the Sparsest Cut Problem, one of the most compelling open problems in the field of approximation algorithms. Additionally, many open questions in geometric non-linear functional analysis involve the properties of finite subsets of L1.We present some new observations concerning the relation of L1 to dimension, topology, and Euclidean distortion. We show that every n-point subset of L1 embeds into L2 with average distortion O(logn), yielding the first evidence that the conjectured worst-case bound of O(logn) is valid. We also address the issue of dimension reduction in Lp for p∈(1,2). We resolve a question left open by M. Charikar and A. Sahai [Dimension reduction in the ℓ1 norm, in: Proceedings of the 43rd Annual IEEE Conference on Foundations of Computer Science, ACM, 2002, pp. 251–260] concerning the impossibility of dimension reduction with a linear map in the above cases, and we show that a natural variant of the recent example of Brinkman and Charikar [On the impossibility of dimension reduction in ℓ1, in: Proceedings of the 44th Annual IEEE Conference on Foundations of Computer Science, ACM, 2003, pp. 514–523], cannot be used to prove a lower bound for the non-linear case. This is accomplished by exhibiting constant-distortion embeddings of snowflaked planar metrics into Euclidean space
Search for new phenomena in monophoton final states in proton–proton collisions at s=8 TeV

AbstractResults are presented from a search for new physics in final states containing a photon and missing transverse momentum. The data correspond to an integrated luminosity of 19.6 fb−1 collected in proton–proton collisions at s=8 TeV with the CMS experiment at the LHC. No deviation from the standard model predictions is observed for these final states. New, improved limits are set on dark matter production and on parameters of models with large extra dimensions. In particular, the first limits from the LHC on branon production are found and significantly extend previous limits from LEP and the Tevatron. An upper limit of 14.0 fb on the cross section is set at the 95% confidence level for events with a monophoton final state with photon transverse momentum greater than 145 GeV and missing transverse momentum greater than 140 GeV
Laser Shock Microforming of Thin Metal Sheets with ns Lasers

AbstractContinuous and long-pulse lasers have been used for the forming of metal sheets in macroscopic mechanical applications. However, for the manufacturing of micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS), the use of ns laser pulses provides a suitable parameter matching over an important range of sheet components that, preserving the short interaction time scale required for the predominantly mechanical (shock) induction of deformation residual stresses, allows for the successful processing of components in a medium range of miniaturization without appreciable thermal deformation.. In the present paper, the physics of laser shock microforming and the influence of the different experimental parameters on the net bending angle are presented
Combustion Syntheses of CoAl2O4 Powders Using Different Fuels

AbstractThis research intends to analyse the potential use of CoAl2O4 as an opaque pigment for solar collector selective paints. The opacity of the pigment occurs when the average crystallite size is micrometric. The CoAl2O4 samples were synthesized through combustion methods using aspartic acid (Asp) or lysine (Lys) as fuels. The powders obtained were calcined at temperatures between 600°C and 1100°C. Afterwards, the product was characterized by means of X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). It was observed a CoAl2O4 phase in all the samples. The lowest average crystallite size was ≈24nm corresponding to the sample obtained with Asp and calcined at 600°C, while both powders calcined at 1100°C showed sizes higher than 200nm. In the light of these results it is suggested the use of even higher calcination temperatures so as to obtain opaque pigments for solar collectors selective paints