Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Expression of the unique NCAM VASE exon is independently regulated in distinct tissues during development

During development of the rat central nervous system, neural cell adhesion molecule (NCAM) mRNAs containing in the extracellular domain a 30-bp alternative exon, here named VASE, replace RNAs that lack this exon. The presence of this alternative exon between previously described exons 7 and 8 changes the predicted loop structure of the derived polypeptide from one resembling an immunoglobulin constant region domain to one resembling an immunoglobulin variable domain. This change could have significant effects on NCAM polypeptide function and cell-cell interaction. In this report we test multiple rat tissues for the presence of additional alternative exons at this position and also examine the regulation of splicing of the previously described exon. To sensitively examine alternative splicing, polymerase chain reactions (PCRs) with primers flanking the exon 7/exon 8 alternative splicing site were performed. Four categories of RNA samples were tested for new exons: whole brain from embryonic day 11 to adult, specific brain regions dissected from adult brain, clonal lines of neural cells in vitro, and muscle cells and tissues cultured in vitro and obtained by dissection. Within the limits of the PCR methodology, no evidence for any alternative exon other than the previously identified VASE was obtained. The regulation of expression of this exon was found to be complex and tissue specific. Expression of the 30-bp exon in the heart and nervous system was found to be regulated independently; a significant proportion of embryonic day 15 heart NCAM mRNAs contain VASE while only a very small amount of day 15 nervous system mRNAs contain VASE. Some adult central nervous system regions, notably the olfactory bulb and the peripheral nervous system structures adrenal gland and dorsal root ganglia, express NCAM which contains very little VASE. VASE is undetectable in NCAM PCR products from the olfactory epithelium. Other nervous system regions express significant quantities of NCAM both with and without VASE. Clonal cell lines in culture generally expressed very little VASE. These results indicate that a single alternative exon, VASE, is found in NCAM immunoglobulin-like loop 4 and that distinct tissues and nervous system regions regulate expression of VASE independently both during development and in adult animals.
Content Analysis of Language Textbooks (English, Urdu, Sindhi) for Inclusivity

Education plays an important role in preparing children to embrace diversity in the society with particular reference to accepting people with physical disabilities as equal contributors to the growth and development of the society and a textbook is an effective tool to achieve this objective (Kivirauma & Laitinen, 2014). The main purpose of this research is to study the representation of people with disabilities in the textbooks (text and illustrations) published by provincial and selected private publishers. This study uses content analysis method to analyze the content of the selected textbooks used at primary school level. Analysis of 58 textbooks (English, Urdu, Sindhi) indicates that people with disabilities are overlooked. Their representation in these textbooks is not only minimal but they are portrayed as being dependent and unproductive members of the society. This study highlights the importance of including texts about people with different disabilities and their achievements in school textbooks. The students, teachers, teacher educators and parents will understand better disability and how able-bodied and differently-able people share a lot together.
Coronary Artery Calcification and Family History of Premature Coronary Heart Disease: Sibling History Is More Strongly Associated Than Parental History

Background—The objective of the study was to assess the association of a family history (FH) of premature coronary heart disease (CHD) with coronary artery calcification (CAC) in asymptomatic individuals and to compare the effects of sibling or parental FH on the risk of subclinical atherosclerosis. Methods and Results—CAC by electron beam tomography was performed in 8549 asymptomatic individuals (69% men; mean age, 52±9 years). The prevalence and odds of any CAC and extent of CAC stratified according to FH of premature CHD were determined. Those with (1) no FH of CHD, (2) FH of premature CHD in parents, or (3) FH in siblings had a prevalence of CAC of 55%, 64%, and 78% (P<0.0001) among men and 27%, 36%, and 56% (P<0.0001) among women, respectively. The multivariate regression analysis demonstrated that the odds ratio (95% confidence interval) for the presence of CAC was 1.3 (1.1 to 1.6) among those with positive FH of premature CHD in parents only, 2.3 (1.7 to 3.1) and 2.5 (1.8 to 3.3) among those in siblings and a combined FH compared with those without FH of CHD in men, respectively. Among women, the corresponding odds ratios were 1.3 (1.0 to 1.8), 2.3 (1.7 to 3.6), and 1.9 (1.3 to 3.1), respectively. A similar trend was observed in the association of FH of premature CHD with increasing CAC scores. Conclusions—Our study demonstrates a highly significant association between FH of premature CHD and the presence and extent of CAC. Furthermore, within the limits of self-reporting of family history, our findings suggest that a sibling history is more strongly associated with subclinical coronary atherosclerosis than a parental history of premature CHD.
Effects of the Three Gorges Project on Runoff and Related Benefits of the Key Regions along Main Branches of the Yangtze River

The Three Gorges Project (TGP) is the largest hydroelectric project in the world. It is crucial to understand the relationship between runoff regime changes and TGP’s full operation after 2009 in the Yangtze River Basin (YRB). This paper defines core, extended and buffer areas of YRB, analyzes the effects of TGP on runoff anomaly (RA), runoff variation (RV) and change of coefficient of variation (CCV) between two periods (2003–2008 and 2009–2016), takes percentage of runoff anomaly (PRA) as the evaluation standard, assures alleviation effect on severe dry and wet years of the research area, and finally summarizes related benefits of flood control from TGP. Our results indicate the inter-annual fluctuation of runoff in the core and extended areas expanded, but reduced in the buffer areas, and the frequencies of severe dry and wet years alleviated in the buffer, core and extended areas. Generally, the extended and core areas become less wet, and the buffer areas become less dry. The RV and CCV are both strengthened in the extended and core areas, but are weakened in the buffer areas, and RV is well positively correlated (R2 = 0.80) to CCV. Furthermore, the main benefits of TGP on flood control are remarkable in the reduction of disaster affected population, the decrease of agricultural disaster-damaged area, and the decline of direct economic loss. However, due to torrentially seasonal and non-seasonal precipitation, the sharp rebounds of three standards for Hubei and Anhui occurred in 2010 and 2016, and the percentage of agricultural damage area of five regions in the core and extended areas did not decline synchronously and performed irregularly. Our results suggest that the five key regions along the main branches of the Yangtze River should establish a flood control system and promote the connectivity of infrastructures at different levels to meet the significant functions of TGP. It is a great challenge for TGP operation to balance the benefits and conflicts among flood control, power generation and water resources supply in the future.
Relationships of Agricultural Land Use to an Expanded Road Network within Tropical Forest Landscapes of Cameroon and Republic of the Congo

Road building in Congo Basin forests has increased due to expansion of commercial logging, with potential to expose intact forests to greater establishment of agriculture. We developed new knowledge of agriculture clearing sizes, spatial patterns, and relationships with roads in seven case study sites comprising 7,529 km2. Using very high spatial resolution satellite imagery, we mapped roads and rivers, plus clearings for agriculture, settlements, and logging. Mapped clearings (N = 1,781) ranged in size from 0.008 ha to more than 300 ha; most were smallholder agriculture, with 64 percent ≤ 1 ha. Statistical tests of spatial pattern confirmed that agriculture occurred in an inhomogeneous-aggregated pattern, suggesting interactions with other landscape elements. Proximity analyses showed that 76 percent of clearings were within 1 km of a road or river. Thirty-five percent of agriculture clearings were within 1 km of main public roads built before 1990, compared to 17 percent for logging roads built after 2000. Less than 6 percent of agriculture clearings were within 1 km of logging roads with overgrown canopies, suggesting transient relationships. Results based on fine-scale data provide new empirical support for understanding the interactions between agriculture and roads in one of the remaining relatively intact forest areas of the Congo Basin.
Development of synaptic arrays in the inner plexiform layer of neonatal mouse retina

Retinas from mice of the C57BL/6 strain were sampled at frequent intervals from birth to postnatal day 33 to determine the numerical density of conventional and ribbon synapses within the inner plexiform layer (IPL) as a function of time. Synaptic arrays of the IPL were formed in three phases. During Phase I, from day 3 to day 10, conventional synapses were produced at a mean rate of 0.44 synapses/1,000 μm3/hour, but no ribbons were seen. During Phase II, from day 11 to day 15, ribbons formed at a rate of 0.38 ribbons/1,000 μm3/hour and conventional synapses were produced at a rate of 1.15 synapses/1,000 μm3/hour. Phase III began at day 15, the approximate time of eye opening in these animals, and was characterized by a sharp reduction in the rate of production of both ribbons and conventional synapses. During this phase ribbons achieved a final mean density of 113 ribbons/1,000 μm3 and conventionals achieved a final mean density of 250 synapses/1,000 μm3. Serial synapses appeared in Phase II but remained at low densities.
Numerical modelling of Lahendong geothermal system, Indonesia

Lahendong geothermal field is one of the most promising geothermal areas in Indonesia. The first 20 MWe Unit started production in June 2001 and is supplied by about 40 kg/s of two-phase geothermal fluid. Today, the power plant is being developed for two additional 20 MWe units, II and III, that are scheduled to be commissioned in 2007 and 2008. This paper describes the development of a detailed numerical reservoir model of the geothermal system underlying the Lahendong geothermal area. The purpose of this study is to review the reservoir engineering aspects of the field and develop a numerical model, based on pressure and temperature data and well output. The TOUGH2 simulator was employed and coupled with interface software developed by Pertamina. Temperature and pressure profiles in the Lahendong geothermal field were studied and their interpretation supports the existing conceptual model of the Lahendong geothermal reservoir. The numerical model was used to calculate a future forecast production of 60 MWe to the year 2036, resulting in a 10 bar reservoir pressure drawdown. The forecast results are, however, uncertain due to a lack of pressure drawdown data, which are essential for model calibration.
Validity of SW982 synovial cell line for studying the drugs against rheumatoid arthritis in fluvastatin-induced apoptosis signaling model

Background & objectives: To study effects of drugs against rheumatoid arthritis (RA) synoviocytes or fibroblast like synoviocytes (FLS) are used. To overcome the drawbacks of using FLS, this study was conducted to show the validity of SW982 synovial cell line in RA study. Methods: 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay, Annexin V propidium iodide (PI) staining, mitochondrial membrane potential assay, Triton X-114 Phase partitioning, and immunolot for apoptosis signaling in SW982 human synovial cell line were performed. Results: Fluvastatin induced apoptosis in a dose- and time-dependent manner in TNFα -stimulated SW982 human synovial cells. A geranylgeranylpyrophosphate (GGPP) inhibitor, but not a farnesylpyrophosphate (FPP) inhibitor, induced apoptosis, and fluvastatin-induced apoptosis was associated with the translocation of isoprenylated RhoA and Rac1 proteins from the cell membrane to the cytosol. Fluvastatin-induced downstream apoptotic signals were associated with inhibition of the phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt pathway. Accordingly, 89 kDa apoptotic cleavage fragment of poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) was detected. Interpretation & conclusions: Collectively, our data indicate that fluvastatin induces apoptotic cell death in TNFα-stimulated SW982 human synovial cells through the inactivation of the geranylgerenylated membrane fraction of RhoA and Rac1 proteins and the subsequent inhibition of the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway. This finding shows the validity of SW982 cell line for RA study.
A Cryptographic Treatment of the Wiretap Channel

The wiretap channel is a setting where one aims to provide information-theoretic privacy of communicated data based solely on the assumption that the channel from sender to adversary is "noisier" than the channel from sender to receiver. It has been the subject of decades of work in the information and coding (I&C) community. This paper bridges the gap between this body of work and modern cryptography with contributions along two fronts, namely metrics (definitions) of security, and schemes. We explain that the metric currently in use is weak and insufficient to guarantee security of applications and propose two replacements. One, that we call mis-security, is a mutual-information based metric in the I&C style. The other, semantic security, adapts to this setting a cryptographic metric that, in the cryptography community, has been vetted by decades of evaluation and endorsed as the target for standards and implementations. We show that they are equivalent (any scheme secure under one is secure under the other), thereby connecting two fundamentally different ways of defining security and providing a strong, unified and well-founded target for designs. Moving on to schemes, results from the wiretap community are mostly non-constructive, proving the existence of schemes without necessarily yielding ones that are explicit, let alone efficient, and only meeting their weak notion of security. We apply cryptographic methods based on extractors to produce explicit, polynomial-time and even practical encryption schemes that meet our new and stronger security target.
The reliability and validity of self-reported puffing behavior: evidence from a cross-national study.

Self-reported puffing behavior has considerable potential as an indicator of smoking intensity, particularly in survey research evaluating population-based changes in smoking patterns. However, little is known about the reliability and validity of self-reported puffing behavior. This study compared smokers' perceptions of their puffing behavior with measures of both machine-determined puffing behavior and nicotine uptake to assess the utility of self-report. We assessed self-reported puffing behavior as well as demographic and smoking characteristics of 118 smokers from Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom, and the United States. At two visits, participants were asked to provide a saliva sample and to smoke a cigarette through a portable smoking topography device, the CReSSmicro, to measure puffing behavior. Saliva samples were assayed for cotinine, a measure of nicotine uptake, to provide estimates of smoke exposure. Intraclass coefficients for all measures of self-reported general puffing behavior were above . 6, indicating that self-reported measures had fair-to-good test-retest reliability. Self-report, in particular of interpuff interval and number of cigarette puffs, was correlated only moderately with machine-determined puffing measures (.2<r<.4), and no self-report measure related to smoke exposure as measured by cotinine. Self-reported measures of puffing behavior appear to be fairly reliable but are correlated only weakly with objective measures of smoking topography. Results suggest that smokers have a better perception of the time spent between puffs and of the number of puffs taken than of the intensity and depth of each puff or their actual smoke exposure.
Preschool Children's Accumulated and Sustained Physical Activity

39 3- to 5-year-old children wore heart-rate monitors for 12 hr. on three consecutive days to examine physical activity patterns. Parent logs supplied additional information on type and location of activity. The highest number of accumulated minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity was recorded during the weekday (38.6 min.) and weekend (31.4 min.) afternoons, a time period when more activity occurred outdoors. Sustained activity was mostly short in duration, but many children (71%) accumulated recommended amounts of activity on the weekday, fewer (46%) on the weekend. Spearman rank correlations for weekday (r = .50, p = .004) and weekend (r = .58, p = .004) activity were significant. Considering health risk factors associated with physical inactivity, early educators must look to the essence of young children's physical activity patterns in designing programs. Large motor activity that is intense and that occurs outdoors is a good place to start.
Dipeptidyl peptidase I regulates the development of collagen-induced arthritis.

OBJECTIVE To examine the role of dipeptidyl peptidase I (DPPI), a widely expressed lysosomal cysteine protease, in the development of collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) in mice. METHODS Wild-type (WT) and DPPI-deficient (DPPI(-/-)) mice backcrossed to DBA/1J mice for 10 generations were immunized with bovine type II collagen (CII), and disease susceptibility and severity were assessed over time. Collagen-specific B cell and T cell responses and the production of proinflammatory cytokines (tumor necrosis factor alpha, interleukin-1, and interleukin-6) were measured. In addition, adoptive transfer of splenocytes from WT, CII-sensitized mice was performed to evaluate the specific role of DPPI(-/-) T lymphocytes. RESULTS The majority of DPPI(-/-) mice were resistant to CIA induction, although clinical disease (i.e., evidence of inflammation and bone erosions) did develop in a small number of DPPI(-/-) mice. The protection against disease development was not attributable to a defect in the B and T cell response to collagen immunization, because both anticollagen antibody production and T cell proliferation in response to CII were normal. Release of the proinflammatory cytokines was largely unaffected in CII-stimulated DPPI(-/-) splenocytes. In addition, when cells isolated from the joints of DPPI(-/-) mice were stimulated in vitro, they had no intrinsic defect in their ability to release inflammatory cytokines. Last, adoptive transfer of splenocytes from WT, CII-immunized mice into naive WT and DPPI(-/-) mice led to development of arthritis in WT mice but not in DPPI(-/-) mice. CONCLUSION These results indicate that DPPI regulates a critical step in the development of CIA that is independent of T cell and B cell functions.
Robust Regression via Hard Thresholding

We study the problem of Robust Least Squares Regression (RLSR) where several response variables can be adversarially corrupted. More specifically, for a data matrix X ∈ ℝp x n and an underlying model w*, the response vector is generated as y = XT w* + b where b ∈ ℝn is the corruption vector supported over at most C · n coordinates. Existing exact recovery results for RLSR focus solely on L1-penalty based convex formulations and impose relatively strict model assumptions such as requiring the corruptions b to be selected independently of X. In this work, we study a simple hard-thresholding algorithm called TORRENT which, under mild conditions on X, can recover w* exactly even if b corrupts the response variables in an adversarial manner, i.e. both the support and entries of b are selected adversarially after observing X and w*. Our results hold under deterministic assumptions which are satisfied if X is sampled from any sub-Gaussian distribution. Finally unlike existing results that apply only to a fixed w*, generated independently of X, our results are universal and hold for any w* ∈ ℝp. Next, we propose gradient descent-based extensions of TORRENT that can scale efficiently to large scale problems, such as high dimensional sparse recovery. and prove similar recovery guarantees for these extensions. Empirically we find TORRENT, and more so its extensions, offering significantly faster recovery than the state-of-the-art L1 solvers. For instance, even on moderate-sized datasets (with p = 50K) with around 40% corrupted responses, a variant of our proposed method called TORRENT-HYB is more than 20 x faster than the best L1 solver.
Topical semantics of twitter links

Twitter, a micro-blogging platform with an estimated 20 million unique monthly visitors and over 100 million registered users, offers an abundance of rich, structured data at a rate exceeding 600 tweets per second. Recent efforts to leverage this social data to rank users by quality and topical relevance have largely focused on the "follow" relationship. Twitter's data offers additional implicit relationships between users, however, such as "retweets" and "mentions". In this paper we investigate the semantics of the follow and retweet relationships. Specifically, we show that the transitivity of topical relevance is better preserved over retweet links, and that retweeting a user is a significantly stronger indicator of topical interest than following him. We demonstrate these properties by ranking users with two variants of the PageRank algorithm; one based on the follows sub-graph and one based on the implicit retweet sub-graph. We perform a user study to assess the topical relevance of the resulting top-ranked users.
Radiative feedback from ionized gas

H 2 formation in metal-free gas occurs via the intermediate H - or H 2 + ions. Destruction of these ions by photodissociation therefore serves to suppress H 2 formation. In this paper, I highlight the fact that several processes that occur in ionized primordial gas produce photons energetic enough to photodissociate H - or H + 2 and outline how to compute the photodissociation rates produced by a particular distribution of ionized gas. I also show that there are circumstances of interest, such as during the growth of H ΙΙ regions around the first stars, in which this previously overlooked form of radiative feedback is of considerable importance.
Prospective memory and frontal lobe function

Abstract The study sought to examine the role of frontal lobe functioning in focal prospective memory (PM) performance and its relation to PM deficit in older adults. PM and working memory (WM) differences were studied in younger aged (n = 21), older aged (n = 20), and frontal injury (n = 14) groups. An event-based focal PM task was employed and three measures of WM were administered. The younger aged group differed from the other two groups in showing significantly higher scores on PM and on one of the WM measures, but there were no differences at a statistically significant level between the older aged group and the frontal injury groups on any of the memory measures. There were, however, some differences in correlations with a WM measure between groups. It is concluded that there are similarities and differences in the deficits in PM between older adults and patients with frontal lobe injury on focal as well as nonfocal PM tasks.