Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Iron status at birth and at 4 weeks in preterm-SGA infants in comparison with preterm and term-AGA infants

Objective: To determine the iron status at birth in preterm small for gestational age (SGA) in comparison with preterm appropriate for gestation (AGA) and term-AGA infants. Methods: Mother–infant pairs with gestation of < 37 weeks, both SGA, and preterm-AGA and term-AGA as control were enrolled. Maternal, cord blood and infant blood samples at 4 weeks were obtained for various iron indices – cord serum ferritin, proportion of infants with “low” serum ferritin, serum ferritin at 4 weeks and correlation among maternal and neonatal iron indices – hemoglobin,serum ferritin and total iron-binding capacity. Results: There were 50 mother–infant pairs in each group. Cord serum ferritin levels were less in preterm-SGA group as compared to preterm-AGA group (median [interquartile range]: 68 [30 113] vs. 120 [73 127], p = 0.002) and preterm-AGA had less cord ferritin than term-AGA (141 [63 259], p = 0.006). The proportion of the infants with “low” serum ferritin was more in preterm-SGA than in preterm-AGA (16 [32%] vs. 5 [10%], p = 0.01). The serum ferritin levels at follow-up were also less in preterm-SGA as compared to preterm-AGA (143.5 ± 101 vs. 235.1 ± 160, p = 0.004). Other cord blood iron indices and follow-up serum ferritin levels were similar. There was no correlation among various maternal and neonatal cord iron parameters. Conclusions: Preterm-SGA infants have lesser total iron stores as compared to gestation-matched AGA infants, which is again lesser than term infants. Future studies can be planned to look at iron status at 12 months as well as their neurodevelopmental outcome.
IRAKM‐Mincle axis links cell death to inflammation: Pathophysiological implications for chronic alcoholic liver disease

Lipopolysaccharide (LPS)‐mediated activation of Toll‐like receptors (TLRs) in hepatic macrophages and injury to hepatocytes are major contributors to the pathogenesis of alcoholic liver disease. However, the mechanisms by which TLR‐dependent inflammatory responses and alcohol‐induced hepatocellular damage coordinately lead to alcoholic liver disease are not completely understood. In this study, we found that mice deficient in interleukin‐1 receptor‐associated kinase M (IRAKM), a proximal TLR pathway molecule typically associated with inhibition of TLR signaling, were actually protected from chronic ethanol‐induced liver injury. In bone marrow‐derived macrophages challenged with low concentrations of LPS, which reflect the relevant pathophysiological levels of LPS in both alcoholic patients and ethanol‐fed mice, the IRAKM Myddosome was preferentially formed. Further, the IRAKM Myddosome mediated the up‐regulation of Mincle, a sensor for cell death. Mincle‐deficient mice were also protected from ethanol‐induced liver injury. The endogenous Mincle ligand spliceosome‐associated protein 130 (SAP130) is a danger signal released by damaged cells; culture of hepatocytes with ethanol increased the release of SAP130. Ex vivo studies in bone marrow‐derived macrophages suggested that SAP130 and LPS synergistically activated inflammatory responses, including inflammasome activation. Conclusion: This study reveals a novel IRAKM‐Mincle axis that contributes to the pathogenesis of ethanol‐induced liver injury. (Hepatology 2016;64:1978‐1993).
Sharpness in rates of convergence for the symmetric Lanczos method

The Lanczos method is often used to solve a large and sparse symmetric matrix eigenvalue problem. There is a well-established convergence theory that produces bounds to predict the rates of convergence good for a few extreme eigenpairs. These bounds suggest at least linear convergence in terms of the number of Lanczos steps, assuming there are gaps between individual eigenvalues. In practice, often superlinear convergence is observed. The question is "do the existing bounds tell the correct convergence rate in general? ". An affirmative answer is given here for the two extreme eigenvalues by examples whose Lanczos approximations have errors comparable to the error bounds for all Lanczos steps.
Non-Constant Discounting in Continuous Time

This note derives the dynamic programming equation (DPE) to a differentiable Markov Perfect equilibrium in a problem with non-constant discounting and general functional forms. We begin with a discrete stage model and take the limit as the length of the stage goes to 0 to obtain the DPE corresponding to the continuous time problem. We characterize the multiplicity of equilibria under non-constant discounting and discuss the relation between a given equilibrium of that model and the unique equilibrium of a related problem with constant discounting. We calculate the bounds of the set of candidate steady states and we Pareto rank the equilibria.
SPECTROSCOPIC CONFIRMATION OF THREE RED-SEQUENCE SELECTED GALAXY CLUSTERS AT z = 0.87, 1.16, AND 1.21 FROM THE SPARCS SURVEY

The Spitzer Adaptation of the Red-sequence Cluster Survey (SpARCS) is a z′-passband imaging survey of the 50 deg2 Spitzer SWIRE Legacy fields, designed with the primary aim of creating the first large, homogeneously selected sample of massive clusters at z > 1. SpARCS uses an infrared adaptation of the two-filter cluster red-sequence technique. In this paper, we report Keck/LRIS spectroscopic confirmation of two new exceptionally rich galaxy clusters, SpARCS J161315+564930 at z = 0.871 ± 0.002, with 14 high-confidence members and a rest-frame velocity dispersion of σv = 1230 ± 320 km s−1, and SpARCS J161641+554513 at z = 1.161 ± 0.003, with seven high-confidence members (including one active galactic nucleus) and a rest-frame velocity dispersion of σv = 950 ± 330 km s−1. We also report confirmation of a third new system, SpARCS J161037+552417 at z = 1.210 ± 0.002, with seven high-confidence members and a rest-frame velocity dispersion of σv = 410 ± 300 km s−1. These three new spectroscopically confirmed clusters further demonstrate the efficiency and effectiveness of two-filter imaging for detecting bona fide galaxy clusters at high redshift. We conclude by demonstrating that prospects are good for the current generation of surveys aiming to estimate cluster redshifts and masses at z ≳ 1 directly from optical-infrared imaging.
Psychiatric symptomatologies and disorders related to epilepsy and antiepileptic medications

Introduction: Psychiatric comorbidities (such as depression, anxiety, psychosis, inattention, obsession, personality traits, aggression and suicide) are frequent in patients with epilepsy and have a significant impact on medical management and quality of life. Areas covered: A literature search was performed in MEDLINE for epidemiological, longitudinal, prospective, double-blind clinical trial studies published between 1990 and 2011 using the following words: epilepsy, antiepileptic drugs (AEDs), behavioral/emotional/psychiatric comorbidities, suicide and aggression. In this review, the author discusses: i) the characterization and prevalence of behavioral disturbances associated with epilepsy, ii) variables correlated with behavioral comorbidities which include: psychosocial-, clinical- and treatment-related variables, iii) the complex mechanisms of behavioral comorbidities associated with epilepsy, which include both psychosocial (functional) and organic; the process of epileptogenesis, neuronal plasticity, abnormalities in hypothalamic-pituitary axis and neurotransmitters and pathways are fundamental determinants, iv) the negative psychotropic effects of AEDs and their mechanisms and v) the suggested biopsychosocial model of management (pharmacological and non-pharmacological). Expert opinion: The relationship between psychiatric disorders and epilepsy has relevant therapeutic implications which should be directed towards a comprehensive biopsychosocial approach that focuses on the whole person rather than simply on the disease process.
Twin-Singleton Differences in Neonatal Brain Structure

Twin studies suggest that global and regional brain volumes are highly heritable. However, estimates of heritability vary across development. Given that all twin studies are open to the potential criticism of non-generalizability due to differences in intrauterine environment between twins and singletons, these age effects may reflect the influence of perinatal environmental factors, which are unique to twins and which may be especially evident early in life. To address this question, we compared brain volumes and the relationship of brain volumes to gestational age in 136 singletons (67 male, 69 female) and 154 twins (75 male, 79 female; 82 DZ, 72 MZ) who had received high resolution MRI scans of the brain in the first month of life. Intracranial volume, total white matter, and ventricle volumes did not differ between twins and singletons. However, cerebrospinal fluid and frontal white matter volume was greater in twins compared to singletons. While gray matter volumes at MRI did not differ between groups, the slope of the relationship between total and cortical gray matter and gestational age at the MRI scan was steeper in MZ twins compared to DZ twins. Post-hoc analyses suggested that gray matter development is delayed in MZ twins in utero and that they experience ‘catch-up’ growth in the first month of life. These differences should be taken into account when interpreting and designing studies in the early postnatal period.
Staircase Macdonald polynomials and the q-Discriminant

We prove that a $q$-deformation $\mathfrak{D}_k(\mathbb{X};q)$ of the powers of the discriminant is equal, up to a normalization, to a specialization of a Macdonald polynomial indexed by a staircase partition. We investigate the expansion of $\mathfrak{D}_k(\mathbb{X};q)$ on different bases of symmetric functions. In particular, we show that its expansion on the monomial basis can be explicitly described in terms of standard tableaux and we generalize a result of King-Toumazet-Wybourne about the expansion of the $q$-discriminant on the Schur basis.
Zinc-Dependent Low Thymic Hormone Level in Type I Diabetes

Zinc is required for optimal functioning of the immune system. It was recently reported that one of the best-known thymic hormones responsible for the maturation and differentiation of the thymus-derived T-lymphocyte line, i.e., serum thymic factor (STF), is biologically active only when bound to zinc ions; in this form it has been called thymulin (Zn-STF). Because low serum and tissue zinc values have been reported to occur in diabetic conditions, and because defects of T-lymphocyte–dependent functions are also present in diabetic patients, even metabolically well-controlled diabetic patients, we investigated the serum level of zinc and the plasma level of both active Zn-STF and inactive STF thymic hormones in 15 young patients suffering from type I (insulin-dependent) diabetes. Serum zinc levels were significantly reduced in diabetic conditions and did not correlate with the degree of metabolic compensation measured by glycosylated hemoglobin. In diabetes, the active form of thymulin is strongly reduced, whereas the inactive form is abnormally elevated. In vitro zinc addition to diabetic plasma samples also induces zinc saturation of inactive thymic hormone molecules: the total thymic hormone measured in these experimental conditions shows values in diabetic patients comparable with those observed in healthy age-matched individuals, suggesting that low thymulin levels recorded in diabetic conditions are due not to a thymic failure in synthesizing and secreting thymic hormone but to a peripheral defect in zinc saturation of the hormone molecules. The zinc-dependent failure of thymic hormone, present even in fairly compensated diabetic conditions, might account for the apparent insulin-independent immunological abnormalities associated with type I diabetes.
Angle-preserving quantized phase embeddings

We demonstrate that the phase of randomized complex-valued projections of real-valued signals preserves information about the angle, i.e., the correlation, between those signals. This information can be exploited to design quantized angle-preserving embeddings, which represent such correlations using a nite bit-rate. The proposed embeddings generalize known results on binary embeddings and 1-bit compressive sensing and allow us to explore the trade-o between number of measurements and number of bits per measurement, given the bit rate. The freedom provided by this trade-off, which has also been observed in quantized Johnson-Lindenstrauss embeddings, can improve performance at reduced rate in a number of applications.
Dynamics of Protein Complexes Tracked by Quantitative Proteomics

Cellular proteins rarely function as individual entities, instead they form multi-molecular complexes that are themselves interconnected in dense functional networks. These networks can perform a diverse range of highly coordinated biological processes. The characterization of protein-protein interaction networks is therefore crucial, not only to elucidate the local function and regulation of single proteins but also, and above all, to capture a comprehensive snapshot of cellular activity as a whole system. The term “protein complexes” describes structures of varying nature. Protein complexes can be formed both by stable or transient interactions. Stable, long-term interactions can bridge core components of large multi-protein complexes, or molecular machineries, such as the RNA polymerase II complex and the 26S proteasome. On the other hand, interactions that are transient and dynamic in nature are often highly sensitive to regulatory stimuli and signaling events, such as enzyme/substrate complexes. However, in all cases, protein interactions are prone to strict regulation and vary upon change in cellular environment. In human, the activity and the expression levels of cellular proteins may diverge between various differentiated states and thus lead to specific protein interactome network maps for each cell type. In addition, in a particular cell type, protein interactions are dependent upon physiological and pathological conditions, for example cell proliferation or stress response, and protein interactomes may thus fluctuate, hence reflecting the spatial and temporal complexity of cellular activity. Deciphering the dynamics of these protein interaction networks by assembling sets of various interactomes that echo different cellular conditions, rather than simply draw a comprehensive map of a static protein interactome, remains one of the key challenges in cell biology. Once solved, this will greatly aid understanding of complex mechanisms underlying normal cell behavior and how they are modified by genetic alterations, cancer and other types of diseases. Is this goal completely unrealistic, not to say utopist, given that the mapping of the human protein interactome has not yet been completed? I am eager to believe that the accumulation of outstanding studies and the emergence of new powerful techniques will certainly lead to the achievement of this ambitious project. In fact, various high throughput methodologies have already proven to be very efficient to characterize protein-protein interactions on a proteome scale, yet the scientific community is still far from building a dynamic map of the human protein interactome.
Evaluation of the Antimicrobial Activity of the K9CATH Peptide (38 Amino Acids) Against a Mastitis Isolated Strain of Staphylococcus aureus by the Resazurin microtiter Method

The antimicrobial activity of the synthetic peptide K9CATH was determined by the Resazurin microtitre Method (RMM) against a strain of S. aureus isolated from a case of mastitis. To the antibiogram this bacteria strain showed to be resistant to Ampicillin, Erythromycin, Cefeprime, Dicloxaciline and Penicillin (10 U), while the MIC obtained for the K9CATH was 5.66 µg/mL. Unlike the reference broth method, visual reading for MIC determination with the RMM showed to be easier, rapid, inexpensive and more sensitive for antimicrobial peptide screening, based in a color change from blue (not growth) to pink (growth). This is the first time that the resazurin method is used to determine the MIC of the 38 aas K9CATH peptide against a mastitic isolate of S. aureus.
How one institution overcame the challenges to start an MRI-based brachytherapy program for cervical cancer

Purpose Adaptive magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-based brachytherapy results in improved local control and decreased high-grade toxicities compared to historical controls. Incorporating MRI into the workflow of a department can be a major challenge when initiating an MRI-based brachytherapy program. This project aims to describe the goals, challenges, and solutions when initiating an MRI-based cervical cancer brachytherapy program at our institution. Material and methods We describe the 6-month multi-disciplinary planning phase to initiate an MRI-based brachytherapy program. We describe the specific challenges that were encountered prior to treating our first patient. Results We describe the solutions that were realized and executed to solve the challenges that we faced to establish our MRI-based brachytherapy program. We emphasize detailed coordination of care, planning, and communication to make the workflow feasible. We detail the imaging and radiation physics solutions to safely deliver MRI-based brachytherapy. The focus of these efforts is always on the delivery of optimal, state of the art patient care and treatment delivery within the context of our available institutional resources. Conclusions Previous publications have supported a transition to MRI-based brachytherapy, and this can be safely and efficiently accomplished as described in this manuscript.
Planning and Performance in Small Groups: Collective Implementation Intentions Enhance Group Goal Striving

There are two key motivators to perform well in a group: making a contribution that (a) is crucial for the group (indispensability) and that (b) the other group members recognize (identifiability). We argue that indispensability promotes setting collective (“We”) goals whereas identifiability induces individual (“I”) goals. Although both goals may enhance performance, they should align with different strategies. Whereas pursuing collective goals should involve more cooperation, pursuing individual goals should involve less cooperation. Two experiments support this reasoning and show that planning out collective goals with collective implementation intentions (cIIs or “We-plans”) relies on cooperation but planning out individual goals with individual implementation intentions (IIs or “I-plans”) does not. In Experiment 1, three-member groups first formed a collective or an individual goal and then performed a first round of a physical persistence task. Groups then either formed a respective implementation intention (cII or II) or a control plan and then performed a second round of the task. Although groups with cIIs and IIs performed better on a physical persistence task than respective control groups, only cII groups interacted more cooperatively during task performance. To confirm the causal role of these interaction processes, Experiment 2 used the same persistence task and manipulated whether groups could communicate: When communication was hindered, groups with cIIs but not groups with IIs performed worse. Communication thus qualifies as a process making cIIs effective. The present research offers a psychology of action account to small group performance.
Remote Peering: More Peering without Internet Flattening

The trend toward more peering between networks is commonly conflated with the trend of Internet flattening, i.e., reduction in the number of intermediary organizations on Internet paths. Indeed, direct peering interconnections bypass layer-3 transit providers and make the Internet flatter. This paper studies an emerging phenomenon that separates the two trends: we present the first systematic study of remote peering, an interconnection where remote networks peer via a layer-2 provider. Our measurements reveal significant presence of remote peering at IXPs (Internet eXchange Points) worldwide. Based on ground truth traffic, we also show that remote peering has a substantial potential to offload transit traffic. Generalizing the empirical results, we analytically derive conditions for economic viability of remote peering versus transit and direct peering. Because remote-peering services are provided on layer 2, our results challenge the traditional reliance on layer-3 topologies in modeling the Internet economic structure. We also discuss broader implications of remote peering for reliability, security, accountability, and other aspects of Internet research.
Developmentally regulated expression of intracellular Fgf11-13, hormone-like Fgf15 and canonical Fgf16, -17 and -20 mRNAs in the developing mouse molar tooth

Abstract Objective. To investigate and compare the cellular expression of non-secreted Fgf11-14 and secreted Fgf15-18 and -20 mRNAs during tooth formation. Materials and methods . mRNA expression was analyzed from the morphological initiation of the mouse mandibular first molar development to the onset of crown calcification using sectional in situ hybridization. Results . This study found distinct, differentially regulated expression patterns for the Fgf11-13, -15-17 and -20, in particular in the epithelial-mesenchymal interface, whereas Fgf14 and 18 mRNAs were not detected. Fgf11, -15, -16, -17 and -20 were seen in the epithelium, whereas Fgf12 and -13 signals were restricted to the mesenchymal tissue component of the tooth. Fgf11 was observed in the putative epithelial signaling areas, the tertiary enamel knots and enamel free areas of the calcifying crown. Fgf15, Fgf17 and -20 were transiently colocalized in the thickened dental epithelium at E11.5. Later Fgf15 and -20 were exclusively expressed in the epithelial enamel knot signaling centers. In contrast, Fgf13 was present in the dental mesenchyme including odontoblasts cell lineage, whereas Fgf12 appeared transiently in the preodontoblasts. Conclusions . The expression of the Fgf11-13, -15, -17 and -20 in the epithelial signaling centers and/or epithelial–mesenchymal interfaces at key stages of the tooth formation suggest important functions in odontogenesis. Future analyses of the transgenic mice will help elucidate in vivo functions of the studied Fgfs during odontogenesis and whether any of the functions of the tooth expressed epithelial and mesenchymal Fgfs of different sub-families are redundant.
Load frequency control of a microgrid based on H∞ control considering response speed of generators

In this paper, we discuss the load-frequency control problem of microgrids. Control is applied to maintain a balance between electric-power demand and supply by controlling the outputs of generators in power systems. However, because of the large-scale introduction of energy from renewable-energy sources, it has become more difficult to maintain this balance. To solve this problem, we consider two approaches in this study. First, we use dispersion-type power sources such as batteries, and secondly, we apply new control theories. Therefore, we focus on a microgrid that comprises a wind-turbine generator, a diesel generator, and a battery, and we propose a technique based on static H∞ control. First, we design a generalized plant considering the differences in the response speeds of diesel generators and batteries. Then, we apply static H∞ control to the generalized plant. Moreover, we combine a linear matrix inequality (LMI) condition with static H∞ control to avoid control gains that will result in control inputs that are too large. We perform numerical simulations to verify that the controller can suppress the frequency deviations and deviations in the residual capacity of the battery. Furthermore, we show that the approach can be employed to design controllers with lower dimensions, and to avoid undesirable control gains. Finally, we perform experiments using a generator and a variable resistance to confirm the effectiveness of the controller.