Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Top Three Pharmacogenomics and Personalized Medicine Applications at the Nexus of Renal Pathophysiology and Cardiovascular Medicine

Pharmacogenomics is a field with origins in the study of monogenic variations in drug metabolism in the 1950s. Perhaps because of these historical underpinnings, there has been an intensive investigation of 'hepatic pharmacogenes' such as CYP450s and liver drug metabolism using pharmacogenomics approaches over the past five decades. Surprisingly, kidney pathophysiology, attendant diseases and treatment outcomes have been vastly under-studied and under-theorized despite their central importance in maintenance of health, susceptibility to disease and rational personalized therapeutics. Indeed, chronic kidney disease (CKD) represents an increasing public health burden worldwide, both in developed and developing countries. Patients with CKD suffer from high cardiovascular morbidity and mortality, which is mainly attributable to cardiovascular events before reaching end-stage renal disease. In this paper, we focus our analyses on renal function before end-stage renal disease, as seen through the lens of pharmacogenomics and human genomic variation. We herein synthesize the recent evidence linking selected Very Important Pharmacogenes (VIP) to renal function, blood pressure and salt-sensitivity in humans, and ways in which these insights might inform rational personalized therapeutics. Notably, we highlight and present the rationale for three applications that we consider as important and actionable therapeutic and preventive focus areas in renal pharmacogenomics: 1) ACE inhibitors, as a confirmed application, 2) VDR agonists, as a promising application, and 3) moderate dietary salt intake, as a suggested novel application. Additionally, we emphasize the putative contributions of gene-environment interactions, discuss the implications of these findings to treat and prevent hypertension and CKD. Finally, we conclude with a strategic agenda and vision required to accelerate advances in this under-studied field of renal pharmacogenomics with vast significance for global public health.
EXTENSIVE INTROGRESSION OF MITOCHONDRIAL DNA RELATIVE TO NUCLEAR GENES IN THE DROSOPHILA YAKUBA SPECIES GROUP

Abstract Studies of gene flow between recently diverged species can illuminate the role of natural selection in the formation of new species. Drosophila santomea and D. yakuba are recently diverged, partially reproductively isolated species that continue to hybridize in the wild, and appear to be reproductively isolated from the more distantly related species D. teissieri. We examine patterns of nucleotide polymorphism and divergence in these three species at multiple X-linked, Y-linked, and mitochondrial markers. All three species harbor drastically reduced variability on the Y chromosome relative to the X, as expected for a nonrecombining chromosome subject to variation-reducing selection. The three species are generally well differentiated at the nuclear markers, with little evidence for recent introgression for either the X- or Y-linked genes. Based on the nuclear genes, we estimate that D. santomea and D. yakuba diverged about one-half million years ago and split from D. teissieri about one million years ago. In contrast to the pattern at nuclear loci, all three species share a very similar mtDNA haplotype. We show that the mtDNA must have recently introgressed across species boundaries in the D. yakuba subgroup and that its fixation was driven by either selection on the mitochondria itself or other cytoplasmic factors. These results demonstrate that different regions of the genome can have distinct evolutionary dynamics in the context of species formation. Although natural selection is usually thought of as accentuating divergence between species, our results imply that it can also act as a homogenizing force.
Multiple Mechanisms of Immune Suppression by B Lymphocytes

Suppression of the immune system after the resolution of infection or inflammation is an important process that limits immune-mediated pathogenesis and autoimmunity. Several mechanisms of immune suppression have received a great deal of attention in the past three decades. These include mechanisms related to suppressive cytokines, interleukin (IL)-10 and transforming growth factor (TGF)-β, produced by regulatory cells, and mechanisms related to apoptosis mediated by death ligands, Fas ligand (FasL) and tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL), expressed by killer or cytotoxic cells. Despite many lines of evidence supporting an important role for B lymphocytes as both regulatory and killer cells in many inflammatory settings, relatively little attention has been given to understanding the biology of these cells, their relative importance or their usefulness as therapeutic targets. This review is intended to give an overview of the major mechanisms of immunosuppression used by B lymphocytes during both normal and inflammatory contexts. The more recent discoveries of expression of granzyme B, programmed death 1 ligand 2 (PD-L2) and regulatory antibody production by B cells as well as the interactions of regulatory and killer B cells with regulatory T cells, natural killer T (NKT) cells and other cell populations are discussed. In addition, new evidence on the basis of independent characterizations of regulatory and killer CD5+ B cells point toward the concept of a multipotent suppressor B cell with seemingly high therapeutic potential.
Optimization of Low-Loss Al2O3 Waveguide Fabrication for Application in Active Integrated Optical Devices

In this paper we will present the fabrication and properties of reactively co-sputtered $AL_{2}O_{3}$ layers, being a very promising host material for active integrated optics applications such as rare-earth ion doped laser devices. The process optimization towards a reactive co-sputtering process, which resulted in stable, target condition-independent deposition of $AL_{2}O_{3}$ with high optical quality will be discussed in detail. The loss value of as-deposited optical waveguides sputtered by the optimized process has been measured. The loss in the near infrared wavelength range was 0.3 dB/cm. Furthermore $AL_{2}O_{3}$ material hosts fabricated by sputtering techniques are compatible with Si-based integrated optical technology and allow for uniform deposition over a large substrate area.
Bursting thalamic responses in awake monkey contribute to visual detection and are modulated by corticofugal feedback

The lateral geniculate nucleus is the gateway for visual information en route to the visual cortex. Neural activity is characterized by the existence of two firing modes: burst and tonic. Originally associated with sleep, bursts have now been postulated to be a part of the normal visual response, structured to increase the probability of cortical activation, able to act as a “wake-up” call to the cortex. We investigated a potential role for burst in the detection of novel stimuli by recording neuronal activity in the lateral geniculate nucleus (LGN) of behaving monkeys during a visual detection task. Our results show that bursts are often the neuron’s first response, and are more numerous in the response to attended target stimuli than to unattended distractor stimuli. Bursts are indicators of the task novelty, as repetition decreased bursting. Because the primary visual cortex is the major modulatory input to the LGN, we compared the results obtained in control conditions with those observed when cortical activity was reduced by TMS. This cortical deactivation reduced visual response related bursting by 90%. These results highlight a novel role for the thalamus, able to code higher order image attributes as important as novelty early in the thalamo-cortical conversation.
Bohr-Sommerfeld conditions for several commuting Hamiltonians

The goal of this paper is to find the quantization conditions of Bohr-Sommerfeld of k quantum Hamiltonians acting on the euclidian space of dimension n, depending on a small parameter h, and which commute to each other. That is we determine, around a regular energy level E of the euclidian space of dimension k the principal term of the asymptotics in h of the eigenvalues of the operators that are associated to a common eigenfunction. Thus we localize the so-called joint spectrum of the operators. Under the assumption that the classical Hamiltonian flow of the joint principal symbol is periodic with constant periods on the energy level of E(a submanifold of codimension k) we prove that the part of the joint spectrum lying in a small neighbourhood of E is localized near a lattice of size h determined in terms of actions and Maslov indices. The multiplicity of the spectrum is also determined.
Informational Black Holes in Financial Markets

We show that information aggregation in primary financial markets fails precisely when investors hold socially useful information for screening projects. Being wary of the Winner's Curse, less optimistic investors refrain from making financing offers, since their offers would be accepted only when a project is unviable. Their information is therefore lost. The Winner's Curse and associated information loss grow with the number of informed market participants, so that larger markets can lead to worse financing decisions and higher cost of capital for firms seeking financing. Precommitment to ration fundraising allocations, collusive club bidding, and shorting markets can mitigate the inefficiency.This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved
Rational choice and evolutionary psychology as explanations for mate selectivity.

Rational choice theory of marriage market predicts that mate selectivity responds to operational sex ratios whereby the sex in shorter supply and thus greater demand becomes more selective. In contrast, an evolutionary psychological perspective on mate selectivity predicts that women on average will be more selective than men under most circumstances, and the sex difference will not respond to operational sex ratios. We analyze mate preferences expressed by men and women (n = 2,956) who subscribe to a computer dating service in Tel Aviv, Israel, which has an extremely low sex ratio (646 available single men for 1,000 women). The findings support the evolutionary psychological prediction and show that women remain more selective than men even under conditions of extreme “marriage squeeze” for women.
NUclei of GAlaxies V. Radio emission in 7 NUGA sources

We present high angular resolution radio snap-shot observations of seven nearby low-luminosity active galaxies (LLAGN) from the NUclei of GAlaxies (NUGA) survey. The observations were conducted with MERLIN and EVN/VLBI at 18 cm and 6 cm. At all observed angular resolutions and frequencies, we find indications for extended emission in about � 40% of the sources, consistent with the decrease of flux with increasing angular resolution. The extended components resemble jet emission in a majority of cases, consistent with the optically thin synchrotron emission implied by their steep spectra. We consider the compact 6cm EVN/VLBI radio emission of our sources in the context of the "fundamental plane" that previous LLAGN studies identified within the three- dimensional parameter space of radio luminosity, X-ray luminosity, and black hole mass. We demonstrate, using NGC 7217 and NGC 1068 as particular examples, that high-resolution, multi-epoch radio observations offer useful information about the origin of offsets from the fundamental plane.
EVALUATION OF Citrus x paradisi ON THE HEPATIC ENZYMES AND HISTOLOGY OF THE LIVER

White grapefruit is also known as Citrus x paradisi , is a subtropical citrus tree known for its bitter fruit. It belongs to the family Rutaceae, genus Citrus and species x paradisi. It was named the "forbidden fruit". The juice was administered orally to adult albino rats the rats; group A received 0.5ml twice per day of the fruit juice for one week. Group B receiv ed 1.0ml twice per day for one week. Group C received 1.5ml twice per day of the white Citrus x paradisi juice , while in group D served as control for the experiment. The entire weight study signifi es that the loss of weight with White Citrus x paradisi Juice is dose and duration dependent. ALT, AST and ALP in all the groups of this study were elevated apart from group A, of ALP which is lower than the control. Tissues of the liver showed sinusoidal dilatation, inflammatory cells in the po rtal vein and loss of radial architecture. All hepatocytes were normal. The study of white Citrus x paradisi juice administered orally does not alter liver functions in rats.
A University Student Behavioral Intention Model of Online Shopping

University students have been the most important online consumer group. Accordingly, this research intends to build up a university student behavioral intention model originally based on Technology Acceptance Model (TAM), to explore the contributing factors of intention of online shopping and their interactive relationships. We conducted sampling survey of students from Guangzhou Higher Education Mega Center, giving support to our model. The result of the model shows that perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, perceived entertainment and perceived risk have different influence on the attitude towards using online shopping. This research is to help online vendors to better understand online consumers’ behavior and offer constructive suggestions to promote online marketing.
Regulation of Signaling at Regions of Cell-Cell Contact by Endoplasmic Reticulum-Bound Protein-Tyrosine Phosphatase 1B

Protein-tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP1B) is a ubiquitously expressed PTP that is anchored to the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). PTP1B dephosphorylates activated receptor tyrosine kinases after endocytosis, as they transit past the ER. However, PTP1B also can access some plasma membrane (PM)-bound substrates at points of cell-cell contact. To explore how PTP1B interacts with such substrates, we utilized quantitative cellular imaging approaches and mathematical modeling of protein mobility. We find that the ER network comes in close proximity to the PM at apparently specialized regions of cell-cell contact, enabling PTP1B to engage substrate(s) at these sites. Studies using PTP1B mutants show that the ER anchor plays an important role in restricting its interactions with PM substrates mainly to regions of cell-cell contact. In addition, treatment with PTP1B inhibitor leads to increased tyrosine phosphorylation of EphA2, a PTP1B substrate, specifically at regions of cell-cell contact. Collectively, our results identify PM-proximal sub-regions of the ER as important sites of cellular signaling regulation by PTP1B.
Electronic band structure in a periodic magnetic field.

We analyze the energy band structure of a two-dimensional electron gas in a periodic magnetic field of a longitudinal antiferromagnet by considering a simple exactly solvable model. Two types of states appear: with a finite and infinitesimal longitudinal mobility. Both types of states are present at a generic Fermi surface. The system exhibits a transition to an insulating regime with respect to the longitudinal current, if the electron density is sufficiently low.
Towards a theory of semantic communication

This paper studies methods of quantitatively measuring semantic information in communication. We review existing work on quantifying semantic information, then investigate a model-theoretical approach for semantic data compression and reliable semantic communication. We relate our approach to the statistical measurement of information by Shannon, and show that Shannon's source and channel coding theorems have semantic counterparts.
Small shifts, big changes: changing the story for students with Sensory Processing Sensitivity (SPS)

Abstract It is my privilege to work as a tertiary learning advisor (TLA). Through my role I have had the opportunity to form unique relationships with students during individual consultations. This has enabled me to observe student behaviour, and the metacognitive strategies students use to negotiate the myriad challenges of tertiary study. I noticed trends in student behaviour that did not fit current literature on teaching and learning, and identified possible links between the observed student feelings of overwhelm, and sensory processing sensitivity (SPS) and highly sensitive people (HSP), the term used to describe humans with SPS. This paper examines the transformative journey I took in identifying the key indicators of SPS, firstly in myself, and then in my students. My burgeoning knowledge and reflection on and in my own practice provided self-scaffolding that enabled me to recognise and share the markers of SPS. My study ‘Does an understanding of HSP help students who identify as Highly Sensitive People (HSP) to manage their learning? ’ found that HSP students unanimously rate the knowledge of SPS to be life-changing and empowering in managing life and study. All participants also believed that information about SPS should be made available to all in-coming students, and that tutors should be given training and resources in order to better support HSP students. Of significance, it also found that tertiary students with SPS have often already developed useful metacognitive strategies for independent and life-long learning by the time they reach tertiary level education.
Data mining with inference networks

As a rather young research field, Data Mining also called Knowledge Discovery in Databases is viewed as a potential means to the amount of accumulated data we are faced with nowadays. Data mining can use a variety of parameters or methods to examine the data. One of these parameters is learning Inference Network model from datasets of sample cases. Regarding the Inferemce netwoks as possibilistic networks, one discuss the main principles of learning graphical models from data and consider briefly some algorithms that have been proposed for this task as well as data preprocessing methods and evaluation measures.
Getting a job, getting to work: Hidden inequality in spatial mismatch among US ethnoracial groups

Despite the growing size of Asian and Hispanic populations in the United States (U.S.), the literature on spatial mismatch, which focuses on the physical distance between housing and employment opportunity, largely continues to focus on blacks and whites. The limited work that does incorporate Hispanic or Asian Americans, fails to account for subpopulation heterogeneity within those groups. This dissertation explores the exposure to, determinants of, and implications of spatial mismatch among Mexicans, Puerto Ricans, Cubans, Indians, Chinese, Filipinos, Koreans, and Vietnamese, while simultaneously revisiting the literature on blacks and whites. I incorporate data from the U.S. census, the American Community Survey, and Zip Code Business Patterns to produce measurements of spatial mismatch across all MSAs in the U.S. I then evaluate the role of residential segregation from whites, suburbanization, and access to high value zip codes as determinants of exposure to spatial mismatch among these groups. Finally, I present descriptive estimates of the relationship between spatial mismatch and labor force outcomes: labor force participation, employment, and weekly wages. I find meaningful differences in exposure to spatial mismatch among Asian and Hispanic subpopulations. Relative to the average black American, the average Cuban and Vietnamese American experience more spatial mismatch. I also find that the determinants of spatial mismatch differ across groups. Residential segregation is a key predictor of spatial mismatch for blacks only, while access to high value housing is a key determinant of spatial mismatch among almost all groups. Finally, descriptive analysis suggests that spatial mismatch is consequential for wages and employment outcomes for most groups. Taken together, these findings indicate that further research on spatial mismatch among all minority groups in the U.S. is warranted.
A Deterministic Rapid Intensification Aid

AbstractRapid intensification (RI) is difficult to forecast, but some progress has been made in developing probabilistic guidance for predicting these events. One such method is the RI index. The RI index is a probabilistic text product available to National Hurricane Center (NHC) forecasters in real time. The RI index gives the probabilities of three intensification rates [25, 30, and 35 kt (24 h)−1; or 12.9, 15.4, and 18.0 m s−1 (24 h)−1] for the 24-h period commencing at the initial forecast time. In this study the authors attempt to develop a deterministic intensity forecast aid from the RI index and, then, implement it as part of a consensus intensity forecast (arithmetic mean of several deterministic intensity forecasts used in operations) that has been shown to generally have lower mean forecast errors than any of its members. The RI aid is constructed using the highest available RI index intensification rate available for probabilities at or above a given probability (i.e., a probability threshold.
Increased attentional load moves the left to the right

ABSTRACT Introduction: Unilateral brain damage can heterogeneously alter spatial processing. Very often brain-lesioned patients fail to report (neglect) items appearing within the contralesional space. Much less often patients mislocalize items’ spatial position. We investigated whether a top-down attentional load manipulation (dual-tasking), known to result in contralesional omissions even in apparently unimpaired cases, might also induce spatial mislocalizations. Method: Nine right-hemisphere-damaged patients performed three computer-based tasks encompassing different levels of attentional load. The side of appearance of visual targets had to be reported either in isolation or while processing additional information (visual or auditory dual task). Spatial mislocalizations (from the contralesional hemispace towards the ipsilesional unaffected one) were then contrasted with omissions both within and across tasks, at individual as well as at group level. Results: The representation of ipsilesional targets was accurate and not affected by dual-tasking requirements. Contralesional targets were instead often omitted and, under dual-task conditions, also mislocalized by four patients. Three cases reported a significant number of left targets as appearing on the right (alloesthesia). Two of these patients perceived more targets (albeit to a wrong spatial location) under dual- than under single-task load. In a fourth patient, increased visual load resulted in synchiria, the (mis)perception of single, contralesional targets as being two (one on each side). Conclusions: When the neural circuitry subtending spatial processing is damaged, an increase in task load can lead to either a disregard or a bias in the processing of contralesional hemispace. The spatial bias subtending mislocalizations seems to index a more severe deficit than neglect, as if contralesional space would be completely erased rather than merely ignored.