Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Glomerular scarring: can we delay or even reverse glomerulosclerosis by RAAS inhibition?

Summary In a recent publication, Macconi et al. show that reversal of focal and segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) lesions in aged Munich Wistar Fromter (MWF) rats treated with high-dose angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACE) inhibitors is associated with a reconstitution of the number of podocytes [1]. Aged MWF rats spontaneously develop hypertension, proteinuria, and focal and segmental glomerulosclerosis due to an unknown genetic defect. In 2006, the Remuzzi group has shown that treatment of aged MWF rats with very high doses of the ACE inhibitor lisinopril (∼10 mg/ kg/day) could revert proteinuria, and additional loss of renal function could be prevented effectively [2]. A detailed histological analysis showed that glomerular scarring was effectively reduced by this treatment suggesting that regression of glomerular scars could be achieved in these animals. In a recent paper, Macconi et al. followed up on this important finding and investigated changes in resident glomerular cells. They showed that the absolute podocyte number was decreased from 159 to 109 podocytes per glomerulus in aged MWF rats and that lisinopril treatment could restore the podocyte number to 144 (P < 0.01). As a mechanism for this cell renewal, the authors show that ∼10% of podocytes co-expressed the proliferation marker Ki-67 in the treated rats suggesting that podocytes could undergo cell divisions in situ or that these cells could be regenerated from parietal cells. To support the latter notion, the authors show that a significantly higher proportion of parietal podocytes were present in the treated animals. This raises the interesting possibility for the existence of a glomerular regenerative mechanism.
STUDY OF OBSERVER VARIABILITY IN MODERN DISPLAY COLORIMETRY: AN ANALYSIS OF CIE 2006 MODEL

CIE 2006 model presents a convenient framework for calculating the cone fundamentals, and thus the color matching functions, for various ages of an average observer. CIE 2006 model incorporates three major physiological factors affecting observer variability, namely optical densities for the ocular media absorption, macular pigment absorption, and visual pigments in the outer segments of the photoreceptors. However, it does not have a provision for a peak-wavelength shift in the photopigment absorption spectra, a significant but difficult-to-model contributor to observer variability. In the context of color reproduction with modern emissive displays based on different technologies, we performed a theoretical analysis of various aspects of CIE 2006. Out of the above four factors, L-cone peak-wavelength shift was found to be the second most significant contributor to observer variability, after ocular media absorption. Excluding this factor from the CIE 2006 model, while understandable, can undermine the usefulness of age-dependent observer color matching functions.
Stability of the kinematically coupled β -scheme for ﬂuid-structure interaction problems in hemodynamics

It is well-known that classical Dirichlet-Neumann loosely coupled partitioned schemes for ﬂuid-structure interaction (FSI) problems are unconditionally unstable for certain combinations of physical and geometric parameters that are relevant in hemodynamics. It was shown in [18] on a simple test problem, that these instabilities are associated with the so called “added-mass eﬀect”. By considering the same test problem as in [18], the present work shows that a novel, partitioned, loosely coupled scheme, recently introduced in [11], called the kinematically coupled β -scheme, does not suﬀer from the added mass eﬀect for any β ∈ [0 , 1], and is unconditionally stable for all the parameters in the problem. Numerical results showing unconditional stability are presented for a full, nonlinearly coupled benchmark FSI problem, ﬁrst considered in [31].
Tax Complexity, Tax Salience and Tax Politics

This article considers the implications of the tax salience literature for the United Kingdom. First, the different categories, and definitions, of tax salience that have developed in the literature are reviewed, and some of the prescriptive implications of these terms are introduced. Tax salience refers, essentially, to the capacity of taxpayers to understand legislation. Thus, the potential reasons behind tax complexity and the potential beneficiaries of it are addressed. The article considers the contribution that the tax salience literature may make to existing analyses in the United Kingdom, particularly, in the (1) debate surrounding principles-based legislation and (2) context of newly formed government offices devoted, to some extent, to considering the role and value of salience. It is suggested that it is worth heeding the admonitions of Schenk, Gamage and Shanske, and others, that ‘salience’ is a layered term that should be employed with specific reference to political, economic and legal contexts. It is also acknowledged that the conclusions of some portions of the tax salience literature that legislative clarity should be included only within a list of priorities for legislative drafting, and not necessarily at the top of that list, is evocative of existing analyses of ‘principles-based drafting’ in the United Kingdom, New Zealand and elsewhere. Neither salience nor principles-based drafting have the potential, on their own, to ‘fix’ the problem of tax complexity. The article, however, considers the implications of either raising or lowering salience on the list of desirable factors in drafting, in the particular context of fostering trust between taxpayers and the state.
Ab Initio Determination of Light Hadron Masses

More than 99% of the mass of the visible universe is made up of protons and neutrons. Both particles are much heavier than their quark and gluon constituents, and the Standard Model of particle physics should explain this difference. We present a full ab initio calculation of the masses of protons, neutrons, and other light hadrons, using lattice quantum chromodynamics. Pion masses down to 190 mega–electron volts are used to extrapolate to the physical point, with lattice sizes of approximately four times the inverse pion mass. Three lattice spacings are used for a continuum extrapolation. Our results completely agree with experimental observations and represent a quantitative confirmation of this aspect of the Standard Model with fully controlled uncertainties.
Evaluation of Nitinol Staples for the Lapidus Arthrodesis in a Reproducible Biomechanical Model

While the Lapidus procedure is a widely accepted technique for treatment of hallux valgus, the optimal fixation method to maintain joint stability remains controversial. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the biomechanical properties of new shape memory alloy (SMA) staples arranged in different configurations in a repeatable first tarsometatarsal arthrodesis model. Ten sawbones models of the whole foot (n = 5 per group) were reconstructed using a single dorsal staple or two staples in a delta configuration. Each construct was mechanically tested non-destructively in dorsal four-point bending, medial four-point bending, dorsal three-point bending, and plantar cantilever bending with the staples activated at 37°C. The peak load (newton), stiffness (newton per millimeter), and plantar gapping (millimeter) were determined for each test. Pressure sensors were used to measure the contact force and area of the joint footprint in each group. There was a statistically significant increase in peak load in the two staple constructs compared to the single staple constructs for all testing modalities with P values range from 0.016 to 0.000. Stiffness also increased significantly in all tests except dorsal four-point bending. Pressure sensor readings showed a significantly higher contact force at time zero (P = 0.037) and contact area following loading in the two staple constructs (P = 0.045). Both groups completely recovered any plantar gapping following unloading and restored their initial contact footprint. The biomechanical integrity and repeatability of the models was demonstrated with no construct failures due to hardware or model breakdown. SMA staples provide fixation with the ability to dynamically apply and maintain compression across a simulated arthrodesis following a range of loading conditions.
Changes in the expression of potassium channels during mouse T cell development

In this report we have combined the whole-cell electrophysiological recording technique with flow microfluorometry to isolate phenotypically defined thymocytes and T lymphocytes. Results obtained showed that J11d-/Lyt-2-/L3T4- cells express none or very few delayed rectifier K+ channels, whereas most other Lyt-2-/L3T4- cells, as well as typical cortical thymocytes (Lyt-2+/L3T4+), do express K+ channels. Mature (Lyt-2+/L3T4- or Lyt-2-/L3T4+) thymocytes, which are heterogeneous for J11d expression, were also found to be heterogeneous for K+ channel expression. Consistent with this finding was the observation that the cortisone-resistant subpopulation of thymocytes, which express low levels of J11d, were enriched for cells expressing low levels of K+ channels. Mature phenotype peripheral T lymphocytes expressed very low levels of K+ channels, but upon activation with Con A were found to express high levels of K+ channels. The results suggest that K+ channel expression in T cells is developmentally regulated. Increased expression of the channel is induced in response to mitogenic signals throughout the T cell lineage. Expression of the channel, therefore, serves as a useful marker in defining steps in the T cell differentiation pathway.
NUMERICAL MODELLING OF DIRECT CONTACT CONDENSATION IN TRANSITION FROM STRATIFIED TO SLUG FLOW

Condensation of hot vapour on the cold liquid that is slowly flooding the horizontal pipe is numerically simulated. The experimental results were obtained from the condensation induced water hammer experiments performed on the steam-line of the PMK2 device. In most of the experimental cases, slow flooding of the pipe was abruptly interrupted by a strong slugging, where bubble of vapour is entrapped by slug. The vapour bubble rapidly condenses what is often followed by the strong water hammer induced pressure surges. The focus in the present work is on the selected experimental runs performed at higher initial pressures and temperatures, where transition from the stratified into the slug flow was not accompanied by the water hammer pressure peaks. Our computations show that the test cases without water hammer request a tough problem for CFD codes, while the prediction of condensation induced water hammer is beyond the current state of the art CFD. The basic physical model in used NEPTUNE_CFD code is 6-equation two-fluid model, with the key sub-model for the present work being the liquid heat transfer coefficient and interfacial momentum transfer model. The main parameters of the simulations compared with the experiments are liquid temperature rises in several points along the pipe. The experimental uncertainty of measured temperature is less important for comparison of simulation with experiment due to the stochastic nature of phenomena. The final liquid temperatures at the measuring points do not depend on the details of the slugging and bubble condensation, but rather on the mixing, which was caused by all the slugs that appeared in the pipe during the transient. The water heat up due to condensation gave us some information about the suitability of the applied condensation model. The Large Interface model (Coste, 2007, 2008) used in our simulations, predicts time evolution of temperatures and final temperatures on measuring points better than model based on Hughes-Duffey correlation for condensation and bubble/droplet drag force model.
Social Capital

This paper surveys research on social capital. We explore the concepts that motivate the social capital literature, efforts to formally model social capital using economic theory, the econometrics of social capital, and empirical studies of the role of social capital in various socioeconomic outcomes. While our focus is primarily on the place of social capital in economics, we do consider its broader social science context. We argue that while the social capital literature has produced many insights, a number of conceptual and statistical problems exist with the current use of social capital by social scientists. We propose some ways to strengthen the social capital literature.
Analyses of Charophyte Chloroplast Genomes Help Characterize the Ancestral Chloroplast Genome of Land Plants

Despite the significance of the relationships between embryophytes and their charophyte algal ancestors in deciphering the origin and evolutionary success of land plants, few chloroplast genomes of the charophyte algae have been reconstructed to date. Here, we present new data for three chloroplast genomes of the freshwater charophytes Klebsormidium flaccidum (Klebsormidiophyceae), Mesotaenium endlicherianum (Zygnematophyceae), and Roya anglica (Zygnematophyceae). The chloroplast genome of Klebsormidium has a quadripartite organization with exceptionally large inverted repeat (IR) regions and, uniquely among streptophytes, has lost the rrn5 and rrn4.5 genes from the ribosomal RNA (rRNA) gene cluster operon. The chloroplast genome of Roya differs from other zygnematophycean chloroplasts, including the newly sequenced Mesotaenium, by having a quadripartite structure that is typical of other streptophytes. On the basis of the improbability of the novel gain of IR regions, we infer that the quadripartite structure has likely been lost independently in at least three zygnematophycean lineages, although the absence of the usual rRNA operonic synteny in the IR regions of Roya may indicate their de novo origin. Significantly, all zygnematophycean chloroplast genomes have undergone substantial genomic rearrangement, which may be the result of ancient retroelement activity evidenced by the presence of integrase-like and reverse transcriptase-like elements in the Roya chloroplast genome. Our results corroborate the close phylogenetic relationship between Zygnematophyceae and land plants and identify 89 protein-coding genes and 22 introns present in the chloroplast genome at the time of the evolutionary transition of plants to land, all of which can be found in the chloroplast genomes of extant charophytes.
Psychosis susceptibility gene ZNF804A and cognitive performance in schizophrenia.

CONTEXT The Zinc Finger Protein 804A gene (ZNF804A) has been implicated in schizophrenia susceptibility by several genome-wide association studies. ZNF804A is brain expressed but of unknown function. OBJECTIVE To investigate whether the identified risk allele at the disease-associated single nucleotide polymorphism rs1344706 is associated with variation in neuropsychological performance in patients and controls. DESIGN Comparison of cases and controls grouped according to ZNF804A genotype (AA vs AC vs CC) on selected measures of cognition in 2 independent samples. SETTING Unrelated patients from general adult psychiatric inpatient and outpatient services and unrelated healthy participants from the general population were ascertained. PARTICIPANTS Patients with DSM-IV-diagnosed schizophrenia and healthy participants from independent samples of Irish (297 cases and 165 controls) and German (251 cases and 1472 controls) nationality. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES In this 2-stage study, we tested for an association between ZNF804A rs1344706 and cognitive functions known to be impaired in schizophrenia (IQ, episodic memory, working memory, and attention) in an Irish discovery sample. We then tested significant results in a German replication sample. RESULTS In the Irish samples, the ZNF804A genotype was associated with differences in episodic and working memory in patients but not in controls. These findings replicated in the same direction in the German samples. Furthermore, in both samples, when patients with a lower IQ were excluded, the association between ZNF804A and schizophrenia strengthened. CONCLUSIONS In a disorder characterized by heterogeneity, a risk variant at ZNF804A seems to delineate a patient subgroup characterized by relatively spared cognitive ability. Further work is required to establish whether this represents a discrete molecular pathogenesis that differs from that of other patient groups and whether this also has consequences for nosologic classification, illness course, or treatment.
Disturbance in Maternal Environment Leads to Abnormal Synaptic Instability during Neuronal Circuitry Development

Adverse maternal environment during gestation and lactation can have negative effects on the developing brain that persist into adulthood and result in behavioral impairment. Recent studies of human and animal models suggest epidemiological and experimental association between disturbances in maternal environments during brain development and the occurrence of neuropsychiatric disorders, including autism spectrum disorder, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, schizophrenia, anxiety, depression, and neurodegenerative diseases. In this review, we summarize recent advances in understanding the effects of maternal metabolic and hormonal abnormalities on the developing brain by focusing on the dynamics of dendritic spine, an excitatory postsynaptic structure. We discuss the abnormal instability of dendritic spines that is common to developmental disorders and neurological diseases. We also introduce our recent studies that demonstrate how maternal obesity and hyperandrogenism leads to abnormal development of neuronal circuitry and persistent synaptic instability, which results in the loss of synapses. The aim of this review is to highlight the links between abnormal maternal environment, behavioral impairment in offspring, and the dendiric spine pathology of neuropsychiatric disorders.
Distribution and dynamics of risk factors associated with highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1

SUMMARY Within China's Poyang Lake region, close interactions between wild migratory birds and domestic poultry are common and provide an opportunity for the transmission and subsequent outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) virus. We overlaid a series of ecological factors associated with HPAI to map the risk of HPAI in relation to natural and anthropogenic variables, and we identified two hotspots for potential HPAI outbreaks in the Poyang Lake region as well as three corridors connecting the two hotspot areas. In hotspot I, there is potential for migratory birds to bring new avian influenza (AI) strains that can reassort with existing strains to form new AI viruses. Hotspot II features high-density poultry production where outbreaks of endemic AI viruses are likely. The three communication corridors that link the two hotspots further promote HPAI H5N1 transmission and outbreaks and lead to the persistence of AI viruses in the Poyang Lake region. We speculate that the region's unevenly distributed poultry supply-and-demand system might be a key factor inducing HPAI H5N1 transmission and outbreaks in the Poyang Lake region.
Study and Analysis of MAC Protocols Design Approach for Wireless Sensor Networks

Wireless sensor networks have become an active research area for the researchers. S everal researchers in Wireless sensor networks have led to many new protocols specifically designed for different kinds of applications where reliability and energ y efficiency is an essential consideration. Most of the attention has been given to the Medium Access Control (MAC) protocols since they pay an important role in wireless communications and traditional MAC protocols are not suitable for Wireless sensor networks. The aim of the paper is to study the Reliable and energy efficient Medium Access Control (MAC) protocols des ign approach for wireless sensor network and to motivate the researcher, while showing the future aspects in the area of Wireless Sensor Networks.
Vertex cuts, random walks, and dimension reduction in series-parallel graphs

We consider questions about vertex cuts in graphs, random walks in metric spaces, and dimension reduction in L<sub>1</sub> and L<sub>2</sub>; these topics are intimately connected because they can each be reduced to the existence ofvarious families of real-valued Lipschitz maps on certain metric spaces. We view these issues through the lens of shortest-path metricson series-parallel graphs, and we discussthe implications for a variety of well-known open problems. Our main results follow. Every <i>n</i>-point series-parallel metric embeds into l<sub>1</sub><sup>dom</sup> with O(√ log n) distortion, matchinga lower bound of Newman and Rabinovich. Our embeddings yield an O(√log n) approximation algorithm for vertex sparsestcut in such graphs, as well as an O(√log k) approximate max-flow/min-vertex-cut theorem for series-parallel instances with<i>k</i> terminals, improving over the O(log n) and O(log k) boundsfor general graphs. Every <i>n</i>-point series-parallel metric embeds withdistortion D into l<sub>1</sub><sup>d</sup> with d = n<sup>1/Ω(D<sup>2</sup>)</sup>,matching the dimension reduction lower bound of Brinkman andCharikar. There exists a constant C > 0 such that if (X,d) is aseries-parallel metric then for every stationary, reversible Markovchain Z<sub>t</sub><sub>t=0</sub><sup>∞</sup> on X, we have for all t ≥ 0, E[d(Z<sub>t</sub>,Z<sub>0</sub>)<sup>2</sup>] ≤ Ct ·, E[d(Z<sub>0</sub>,Z<sub>1</sub>)<sup>2</sup>]. More generally, we show thatseries-parallel metrics have Markov type 2. This generalizesa result of Naor, Peres, Schramm, and Sheffield for trees.
Self-management among Patients Living with Diabetes in the United States Virgin Islands

The United States Virgin Islands (USVI) is facing a diabetes epidemic similar to the one on the U.S. mainland, yet little is known regarding the cultural context relevant to self-management in this U.S. territory. We conducted in-home interviews (n = 53) supplemented by self-administered questionnaire and A1c testing with U.S. Virgin Islanders to characterize self-management knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors among patients living with diabetes. The mean glycosylated hemoglobin (A1c) was 7.63 (Range = 5–13); a composite score of traditional self-management behaviors was not associated with A1c. Several recurrent themes emerged from qualitative analysis including: 1) cultural nuances shaped perspectives on self-management, 2) culturally-specific challenges were barriers to effective self-management, 3) medical homes were rarely viewed as the primary source of education and support, and 4) fear largely motivated or stalled self-management practices. This study highlights the need for culturally-tailored measures and interventions to address the specific needs within this population.