Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Genes expressed in blood link osteoarthritis with apoptotic pathways

Objective To identify novel gene expression networks in blood of osteoarthritis patients compared to controls. Methods A comprehensive exploration of gene expression in peripheral blood was performed by microarray analysis for a subset of osteoarthritis patients from the Genetics osteoARthritis and Progression (GARP) study in comparison with sex and age-matched healthy controls. To identify pathways, we performed gene enrichment analyses (database for annotation, visualisation and integrated discovery and search tool for the retrieval of interacting genes). Quantitative PCR analysis in overlapping and in additional osteoarthritis samples was performed for prioritised genes to validate and replicate findings. Classification of cases and controls was explored by applying statistical models. Results 741 probes representing 694 unique genes were differentially expressed between cases and controls, including 86 genes expressed with at least a 1.5-fold difference. ATF4, GPR18 and H3F3B were among the top genes identified (p<4.5 × 10−8). We found that in the blood of osteoarthritis patients the apoptosis pathway, including the well-known gene CASP3, was significantly enriched among the differentially expressed genes. Our findings were validated in independent samples and when using a small subset of the validated genes, we could accurately distinguish patients from controls (area under the curve 98%). Conclusions In the current study, we have identified specific gene expression networks, in the easily accessible tissue blood, which associated consistently with osteoarthritis among GARP study cases. Our data further hint at the relevance of apoptosis as an aetiological factor in osteoarthritis onset, thereby qualifying expression profiling of blood as a useful tool to understand the underlying molecular mechanisms of osteoarthritis.
Regret Aversion and False Reference Points in Residential Real Estate

This study empirically exams the combination of regret aversion and false reference points in a residential real estate context. Survey respondents were put in a hypothetical situation, where they had purchased an investment property several years ago. Hindsight knowledge about a foregone all time high was introduced. As hypothesized, respondents on average expressed higher regret if they had actively failed to sell at the all time high (commission scenario) than if they had simply been unaware of the potential gain (omission scenario). Women were found to be more susceptible to regret aversion and false reference points than men.
A Versatile Optical Clearing Protocol for Deep Tissue Imaging of Fluorescent Proteins in Arabidopsis thaliana

Confocal microscopy is widely used to visualize gene expression patterns and developmental processes in plants. However, the imaging of plant tissue can be challenging due to its opacity, which often makes previous immersion in a clearing agent necessary. Many commonly-used chemicals suffer either from their incompatibility with fluorescent proteins or their complex and lengthy application. 2,2'-thiodiethanol (TDE) has recently been described as a clearing agent with an emphasis on high resolution microscopy due to its potential to adjust the refractive index. Here, we evaluate the use of TDE-based clearing for confocal as well as two-photon microscopy in various Arabidopsis thaliana tissue types. We demonstrate that tissue fixation is a mandatory prerequisite for the use of TDE, in order to preserve tissue integrity and fluorescent protein activity. TDE concentrations between 50–70% are a good compromise for imaging of technically challenging tissue to achieve good clearing without affecting fluorescent protein activity. TDE-based clearing is simple and rapid to use and allows for a flexible experimental setup while facilitating high quality imaging.
The long-term effect of increasing the albedo of urban areas

Solar reflective urban surfaces (white rooftops and light-colored pavements) can increase the albedo of an urban area by about 0.1. Increasing the albedo of urban and human settlement areas can in turn decrease atmospheric temperature and could potentially offset some of the anticipated temperature increase caused by global warming. We have simulated the long-term (decadal to centennial) effect of increasing urban surface albedos using a spatially explicit global climate model of intermediate complexity. We first carried out two sets of simulations in which we increased the albedo of all land areas between ±20° and ±45° latitude respectively. The results of these simulations indicate a long-term global cooling effect of 3 × 10−15 K for each 1 m2 of a surface with an albedo increase of 0.01. This temperature reduction corresponds to an equivalent CO2 emission reduction of about 7 kg, based on recent estimates of the amount of global warming per unit CO2 emission. In a series of additional simulations, we increased the albedo of urban locations only, on the basis of two independent estimates of the spatial extent of urban areas. In these simulations, global cooling ranged from 0.01 to 0.07 K, which corresponds to a CO2 equivalent emission reduction of 25–150 billion tonnes of CO2.
The Effect of Intervaling on the Foreign Exchange Exposure of Australian Stock Returns

This article analyzes the impact of movements in the Australian dollar/Japanese yen (AUDJPY) and the Australian dollar/US dollar (AUDUSD) exchange rates on the returns of the Australian equities market. Specifically, this paper investigates the nature of exchange rate exposure across increasing return measurement intervals, enabling an examination of both its short-term and its long-term effect on stock returns. Consistent with previous literature, considerable evidence of long-term exchange rate exposure is found. Further, it is found that in the long-term the Australian equities market in general is exposed to fluctuations in the AUDJPY, while only some Australian industries are exposed to movements in the AUDUSD. Finally, convincing evidence in terms of the determinants of foreign exchange exposure is not found.
C HAPTER 31 PERFORMANCE OF HARDBOARDS MADE FROM KENAF

This paper reports on the performance of dry-process hardboards made from pressurized refined whole kenaf stalks. Twenty hardboard panels were made from kenaf using 3% and 7% phenolic resin and 0 and 1.0% wax. Test results showed that nearly all mechanical and physical properties improved with increased resin content, but wax had a negative effect. Some property values met American National Standards Institute/American Hardboard Association (ANSI/AHA) A135.4 standards for Basic Hardboard while others did not. The results indicate that kenaf panels can be made to perform at acceptable levels for certain hardboard applications.
Accuracy of Cardiogoniometry Compared With Electrocardiography in the Diagnosis of Coronary Artery Disease

Background: Cardiogoniometry (CGM) is a novel spatiotemporal electrocardiographic method utilizing computer-assisted three- dimensional data on cardiac potentials. Objectives: This study compares the accuracy of CGM and electrocardiography (ECG) by detecting coronary artery disease (CAD) with reference to angiography as a well-known gold standard. Patients and Methods: A total of 390 patients undergoing coronary angiography with CAD were enrolled. CGM was performed a few hours prior to coronary angiography. A standard 12-lead ECG was recorded after the CGM. The CGM and ECG results were recorded and analyzed by an independent investigator blinded to all patient data and the results of the coronary angiography. Results: The coronary angiography showed a normal coronary artery in 263 patients (67.4%). A median of CGM score was 1 (0-2), the minimum score was 0 and maximum score was 8. A total of 90 patients (31%) showed predefined ST-segment/T-wave changes in the resting 12-lead ECG. CGM yielded a sensitivity of 84% and specificity of 81% and the ECG yielded a sensitivity of 29% and specificity of 67% when compared with the coronary angiography. Conclusions: CGM is a non-invasive technique recently developed for quantitative three-dimensional vectorial analysis of myocardial activity and detection of ischemia and infarction. This technique is clearly more sensitive and more specific than a standard resting 12-lead ECG.
Optimal Switching of One-Dimensional Reflected BSDEs and Associated Multidimensional BSDEs with Oblique Reflection

In this paper, an optimal switching problem is proposed for one-dimensional reflected backward stochastic differential equations (RBSDEs) where the generators, the terminal values, and the barriers are all switched with positive costs. The value process is characterized by a system of multidimensional RBSDEs with oblique reflection, whose existence and uniqueness are by no means trivial and are therefore carefully examined. Existence is shown using both methods of the Picard iteration and penalization, but under some different conditions. Uniqueness is proved by representation either as the value process to our optimal switching problem for one-dimensional RBSDEs or as the equilibrium value process to a stochastic differential game of switching and stopping. Finally, the switched RBSDE is interpreted as a real option.
How Well Does the New Keynesian Sticky-Price Model Fit the Data?

Abstract A number of hypotheses have been proposed to account for the role of lagged inflation in the New Keynesian price-adjustment model: (1) In the aftermath of abrupt structural change, rational learning may appear adaptive. (2) The model may have a serially correlated error term. (3) Estimating the model conditional on labor costs may remove or reduce the need for lagged inflation. I address the empirical support for these hypotheses and find that none eliminates the need for lagged inflation. In particular, lagged inflation enters with a coefficient in the range of 0.4 to 0.5, regardless of whether labor's share or detrended output is the measure of real marginal cost, or whether a serially correlated error term is allowed. Also, eliminating the period 1980-83 from the sample does not reduce the coefficient on lagged inflation.
Firms' heterogeneity, endogenous entry, and exit decisions

As GDP is highly correlated with both entering and exiting firms, we develop a totally microfounded DSGE model with endogenous firms entry as well as exit decisions. We show that the simplifying assumption of a constant firms' death rate made by the recent literature on DSGE modelling can lead to counterfactual implications of the resulting dynamics. We further demonstrate that the feature of endogenous exits significantly improves the performance of the resulting model when comparing the generated second moments with those of existing models assuming exogenous exits and with the data. Moreover, we estimate the resulting Phillips curve which turns out to be also a function of the change in the mass of producers using the generalized method of moments.
Efficient Market Hypothesis

Despite the fact that the topic of capital market efficiency plays a central role in introductory instruction in finance, it is difficult to determine exactly what it means. Fama's well-known statement that market efficiency can be tested only jointly with an assumed returns model implies that market efficiency generates restrictions on the data that are distinct from those implied by particular models. It is difficult to find a clear characterization of what these additional restrictions are. One possibility is that the proponents of this theory identified market efficiency with rational expectations. Another possibility (suggested by empirical tests of efficiency) is that an efficient market is one in which expected returns are constant. A third possibility is that an efficient market is one in which asset prices are similar to those that would occur in the absence of frictions. All of these interpretations have difficulties. It is concluded that distinguishing market efficiency from particular returns models is a questionable research strategy. Keywords: market efficiency; constant returns model; risk neutrality; price volatility; rational expectations; trading frictions; short sales
Activation of J77A.1 Macrophages by Three Phospholipases A2 Isolated from Bothrops atrox Snake Venom

In the present study, we investigated the in vitro effects of two basic myotoxic phospholipases A2 (PLA2), BaTX-I, a catalytically inactive Lys-49 variant, and BaTX-II, a catalytically active Asp-49, and of one acidic myotoxic PLA2, BaPLA2, a catalytically active Asp-49, isolated from Bothrops atrox snake venom, on the activation of J774A.1 macrophages. At noncytotoxic concentrations, the toxins did not affect the adhesion of the macrophages, nor their ability to detach. The data obtained showed that only BaTX-I stimulated complement receptor-mediated phagocytosis. However, BaTX-I, BaTX-II, and BaPLA2 induced the release of the superoxide anion by J774A.1 macrophages. Additionally, only BaTX-I raised the lysosomal volume of macrophages after 15 min of incubation. After 30 min, all the phospholipases increased this parameter, which was not observed within 60 min. Moreover, BaTX-I, BaTX-II, and BaPLA2 increased the number of lipid bodies on macrophages submitted to phagocytosis and not submitted to phagocytosis. However, BaTX-II and BaPLA2 induced the release of TNF-α by J774A.1 macrophages. Taken together, the data show that, despite differences in enzymatic activity, the three toxins induced inflammatory events and whether the enzyme is acidic or basic does not seem to contribute to these effects.
Parallel SimRank computation on large graphs with iterative aggregation

Recently there has been a lot of interest in graph-based analysis. One of the most important aspects of graph-based analysis is to measure similarity between nodes in a graph. SimRank is a simple and influential measure of this kind, based on a solid graph theoretical model. However, existing methods on SimRank computation suffer from two limitations: 1) the computing cost can be very high in practice; and 2) they can only be applied on static graphs. In this paper, we exploit the inherent parallelism and high memory bandwidth of graphics processing units (GPU) to accelerate the computation of SimRank on large graphs. Furthermore, based on the observation that SimRank is essentially a first-order Markov Chain, we propose to utilize the iterative aggregation techniques for uncoupling Markov chains to compute SimRank scores in parallel for large graphs. The iterative aggregation method can be applied on dynamic graphs. Moreover, it can handle not only the link-updating problem but also the node-updating problem. Extensive experiments on synthetic and real data sets verify that the proposed methods are efficient and effective.
Transferring Rich Feature Hierarchies for Robust Visual Tracking

Convolutional neural network (CNN) models have demonstrated great success in various computer vision tasks including image classification and object detection. However, some equally important tasks such as visual tracking remain relatively unexplored. We believe that a major hurdle that hinders the application of CNN to visual tracking is the lack of properly labeled training data. While existing applications that liberate the power of CNN often need an enormous amount of training data in the order of millions, visual tracking applications typically have only one labeled example in the first frame of each video. We address this research issue here by pre-training a CNN offline and then transferring the rich feature hierarchies learned to online tracking. The CNN is also fine-tuned during online tracking to adapt to the appearance of the tracked target specified in the first video frame. To fit the characteristics of object tracking, we first pre-train the CNN to recognize what is an object, and then propose to generate a probability map instead of producing a simple class label. Using two challenging open benchmarks for performance evaluation, our proposed tracker has demonstrated substantial improvement over other state-of-the-art trackers.
Right-Hemisphere Auditory Cortex Is Dominant for Coding Syllable Patterns in Speech

Cortical analysis of speech has long been considered the domain of left-hemisphere auditory areas. A recent hypothesis poses that cortical processing of acoustic signals, including speech, is mediated bilaterally based on the component rates inherent to the speech signal. In support of this hypothesis, previous studies have shown that slow temporal features (3–5 Hz) in nonspeech acoustic signals lateralize to right-hemisphere auditory areas, whereas rapid temporal features (20–50 Hz) lateralize to the left hemisphere. These results were obtained using nonspeech stimuli, and it is not known whether right-hemisphere auditory cortex is dominant for coding the slow temporal features in speech known as the speech envelope. Here we show strong right-hemisphere dominance for coding the speech envelope, which represents syllable patterns and is critical for normal speech perception. Right-hemisphere auditory cortex was 100% more accurate in following contours of the speech envelope and had a 33% larger response magnitude while following the envelope compared with the left hemisphere. Asymmetries were evident regardless of the ear of stimulation despite dominance of contralateral connections in ascending auditory pathways. Results provide evidence that the right hemisphere plays a specific and important role in speech processing and support the hypothesis that acoustic processing of speech involves the decomposition of the signal into constituent temporal features by rate-specialized neurons in right- and left-hemisphere auditory cortex.
Using learning analytics to predict (and improve) student success: a faculty perspective

Abstract Learning analytics is receiving increased attention, in part because it offers to assist educational institutions in increasing student retention, improving student success, and easing the burden of accountability. Although these large-scale issues are worthy of consideration, faculty might also be interested in how they can use learning analytics in their own courses to help their students succeed. In this paper, we define learning analytics, how it has been used in educational institutions, what learning analytics tools are available, and how faculty can make use of data in their courses to monitor and predict student performance. Finally, we discuss several issues and concerns with the use of learning analytics in higher education.
Police Department Investments in Information Technology Systems

As local governments face declining revenues, budget tightening has presented police departments with challenging questions about how to deliver public safety more efficiently. In many jurisdictions, chiefs have adopted new technologies to reduce manpower costs. To examine the cost-effectiveness of doing so, the authors developed a model describing how information technology and policing activities work together to produce key policing outcomes.
Replication study of previous migraine genome-wide association study findings in a Spanish sample of migraine with aura

Background Migraine is a common disabling condition that affects approximately 15% of the population. Several genome-wide association studies have attempted to identify susceptibility variants involved in migraine, reporting several candidate loci for the disorder. Methods In order to replicate findings from previous genome-wide association studies, a case–control association study was performed. Twelve single nucleotide polymorphisms were genotyped in a Spanish sample of 512 migraine with aura patients and 535 migraine-free controls. Results Nominal associations were found for single nucleotide polymorphisms rs2651899 (within the PRDM16 gene), rs10166942 (near TRPM8), rs12134493 (close to TSPAN2) and rs10504861 (near MMP16) in our migraine with aura sample. Conclusions Our study provides suggestive replication, in a Spanish migraine with aura sample, of four genome-wide association study findings previously reported in common migraine. However, larger sample sets should be explored to confirm our results.
The Effects of Quinacrine, Proglumide, and Pentoxifylline on Seizure Activity, Cognitive Deficit, and Oxidative Stress in Rat Lithium-Pilocarpine Model of Status Epilepticus

The present data indicate that status epilepticus (SE) induced in adult rats is associated with cognitive dysfunctions and cerebral oxidative stress (OS). This has been demonstrated using lithium-pilocarpine (Li-Pc) model of SE. OS occurring in hippocampus and striatum of mature brain following SE is apparently due to both the increased free radicals production and the limited antioxidant defense. Pronounced alterations were noticed in the enzymatic, glutathione-S transferase (GST), catalase (CAT), and superoxide dismutase (SOD), as well as in the nonenzymatic; thiobarbituric acid (TBARS) and reduced glutathione (GST), indices of OS in the hippocampus and striatum of SE induced animals. Quinacrine (Qcn), proglumide (Pgm), and pentoxifylline (Ptx) administered to animals before inducing SE, were significantly effective in ameliorating the seizure activities, cognitive dysfunctions, and cerebral OS. The findings suggest that all the drugs were effective in the order of Ptx < Pgm < Qcn indicating that these drugs are potentially antiepileptic as well as antioxidant; however, further studies are needed to establish this fact. It can be assumed that these antiepileptic substances with antioxidant properties combined with conventional therapies might provide a beneficial effect in treatment of epilepsy through ameliorating the cerebral OS.
Evaluating the costs and benefits of appliance - efficiency standards

The available empirical evidence does not provide a very convincing case that mandatory appliance-efficiency standards will increase economic efficiency or reduce energy consumption significantly. There is a real chance that such standards could actually reduce economic efficiency and possibly lead to an increase in energy use. A broader use of programs to provide consumers with better information seems to represent the most-productive short-run strategy. Consumer education would not only help to improve decisions, but it will also provide time to better assess consumer behavior, allow the market to reveal the technical and economic possibilities for appliance-efficiency improvements, and ultimately allow public policies to be based on more than guesswork. 12 references.
Forecasting Macroeconomic Variables for the Acceding Countries

The accession of ten countries into the European Union makes the forecasting of their key macroeconomic indicators such as GDP growth, inflation and interest rates an exercise of some importance. Because of the transition period, only short spans of reliable time series are available which suggests the adoption of simple time series models as forecasting tools, because of their parsimonious specification and good performance. Nevertheless, despite this constraint on the span of data, a large number of macroeconomic variables (for a given time span) are available which are of potential use in forecasting, making the class of dynamic factor models a reasonable alternative forecasting tool. We compare the relative performance of the two forecasting approaches, first by means of simulation experiments and then by using data for five Acceding countries. We also evaluate the role of Euro-area information for forecasting, and the usefulness of robustifying techniques such as intercept corrections and second differencing. We find that factor models work well in general, even though there are marked differences across countries. Robustifying techniques are useful in a few cases, while Euro-area information is virtually irrelevant.