Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Working Paper Series on the Measurement of Long-term Income Inequality and Income Mobility

This paper proposes a two-step aggregation method for measuring long-term income inequality and income mobility, where mobility is defined as an equalizer of long-term income. First, the income stream of each individual is aggregated into a measure of permanent income, which accounts for the costs associated with income fluctuations. Consequently, mobility will have an unambiguously positive impact on social welfare in the sense that for two societies that have identical short term income distributions, the social welfare will be greatest for the socie ty which exhibits most mobility. The second step consists of aggregating permanent incomes across individuals into measures of social welfare, inequality and mobility. To this end, we employ an axiomatic approach to justify the introduction of a generalized family of rank-dependent measures of inequality, where the
Granulocyte-Colony Stimulating Factor Related Pathways Tested on an Endometrial Ex-Vivo Model

Introduction Recombinant human Granulocyte-Colony Stimulating Factor (rhG-CSF) supplementation seems to be a promising innovative therapy in reproductive medicine, used in case of recurrent miscarriage, embryo implantation failure or thin endometrium, although its mechanisms of action remain unknown. Our aim was to identify possible endometrial pathways influenced by rhG-CSF. Materials and Methods Hypothetical molecular interactions regulated by G-CSF were designed through a previous large scale endometrial microarray study. The variation of endometrial expression of selected target genes was confirmed in control and infertile patients. G-CSF supplementation influence on these targets was tested on an endometrial ex-vivo culture. Middle luteal phase endometrial biopsies were cultured on collagen sponge with or without rhG-CSF supplementation during 3 consecutive days. Variations of endometrial mRNA expression for the selected targets were studied by RT-PCR. Results At the highest dose of rhG-CSF stimulation, the mRNA expression of these selected target genes was significantly increased if compared with their expression without addition of rhG-CSF. The selected targets were G-CSF Receptor (G-CSFR), Integrin alpha-V/beta-3 (ITGB3) implicated in cell migration and embryo implantation, Plasminogen Activator Urokinase Receptor (PLAUR) described as interacting with integrins and implicated in cell migration, Thymidine Phosphorylase (TYMP) implicated in local angiogenesis, CD40 and its ligand CD40L involved in cell proliferation control. Conclusion RhG-CSF seems able to influence endometrial expressions crucial for implantation process involving endometrial vascular remodelling, local immune modulation and cellular adhesion pathways. These variations observed in an ex-vivo model should be tested in-vivo. The strict indications or counter indication of rhG-CSF supplementation in reproductive field are not yet established, while the safety of its administration in early pregnancy on early embryogenesis still needs to be demonstrated. Nevertheless, rhG-CSF appears as a promising therapy in some difficult and unsolved cases of reproductive failure. Indications of pre-conceptual rhG-CSF supplementation may derive from a diagnosed lack of endometrial expression of some target genes.
Immediate, but Not Delayed, Microsurgical Skull Reconstruction Exacerbates Brain Damage in Experimental Traumatic Brain Injury Model

Moderate to severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) often results in malformations to the skull. Aesthetic surgical maneuvers may offer normalized skull structure, but inconsistent surgical closure of the skull area accompanies TBI. We examined whether wound closure by replacement of skull flap and bone wax would allow aesthetic reconstruction of the TBI-induced skull damage without causing any detrimental effects to the cortical tissue. Adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were subjected to TBI using the controlled cortical impact (CCI) injury model. Immediately after the TBI surgery, animals were randomly assigned to skull flap replacement with or without bone wax or no bone reconstruction, then were euthanized at five days post-TBI for pathological analyses. The skull reconstruction provided normalized gross bone architecture, but 2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride and hematoxylin and eosin staining results revealed larger cortical damage in these animals compared to those that underwent no surgical maneuver at all. Brain swelling accompanied TBI, especially the severe model, that could have relieved the intracranial pressure in those animals with no skull reconstruction. In contrast, the immediate skull reconstruction produced an upregulation of the edema marker aquaporin-4 staining, which likely prevented the therapeutic benefits of brain swelling and resulted in larger cortical infarcts. Interestingly, TBI animals introduced to a delay in skull reconstruction (i.e., 2 days post-TBI) showed significantly reduced edema and infarcts compared to those exposed to immediate skull reconstruction. That immediate, but not delayed, skull reconstruction may exacerbate TBI-induced cortical tissue damage warrants a careful consideration of aesthetic repair of the skull in TBI.
Use of the ICDAS system and two fluorescence-based intraoral devices for examination of occlusal surfaces.

AIM The aims of this study were to assess the inter-examiner reliability of ICDAS and Soprolife intra-oral camera ex vivo using 5 examiners and to compare in vivo the validity of two fluorescence-based intra-oral devices in examining occlusal surfaces with early carious lesions. MATERIALS AND METHODS Thirty-seven occlusal surfaces of posterior primary and permanent teeth of 20 children were examined using Diagnodent pen (KaVo, Biberach/Riß, Germany) and Soprolife (Acteon Group, La Ciotat, France) fluorescence intra-oral camera. The white light photos, made by Soprolife camera, were evaluated using ICDAS scores and the Soprolife fluorescence photos were scored as sound, enamel caries and dentine caries by 5 experienced dentists. The dentists were trained for the use of ICDAS system with a short online training programme (ICDAS.org) and for the scoring of caries on the fluorescence images with example images. STATISTICS cut-offs were made for ICDAS, Soprolife and Diagnodent to distinguish sound surfaces and enamel caries from dentinal caries. The inter-examiner reliability was calculated using intra-class correlation coefficient. RESULTS On white light images the examiners found 16 enamel caries and 21 dentine caries with the ICDAS system. On the Soprolife fluorescent images 24 enamel lesions, 9 dentine lesions and 4 sound surfaces were observed. The inter-examiner reliability (ICC) of the ICDAS system on white light photographs and of Soprolife on the fluorescent images for average measures was 0.70 and 0.72, respectively. The sensitivity and specificity of Soprolife (95%CI) was 0.43 and 1.0 respectively, using ICDAS as a reference standard. The sensitivity and specificity of Diagnodent (95%CI) was 0.62 and 0.81 respectively. CONCLUSION A short training of dentists in the use the ICDAS system resulted in satisfactory inter-examiner reliability for the analysis of occlusal lesions on white light images. Soprolife and Diagnodent do not contribute to a better detection of early carious lesions.
CaM kinase control of AKT and LNCaP cell survival

AKT and its substrate BAD have been shown to promote prostate cancer cell survival. Agonists, such as carbachol, and hormones that increase intracellular calcium concentration can activate AKT leading to cancer cell survival. The LNCaP prostate cancer cells express the carbachol‐sensitive M3‐subtype of G protein‐coupled receptors that cause increases in intracellular calcium and activate the family of Ca2+/calmodulin‐dependent protein kinases (CaM Ks). One type of CaM Kinase, CaM Kinase Kinase (CaM KK), phosphorylates several substrates including AKT on threonine 308. AKT phosphorylation and activation enhances cell survival through phosphorylation of BAD protein and the subsequent blockade of caspase activation. Our goals were to examine the mechanism of carbachol activation of AKT and BAD in LNCaP prostate cancer cells and evaluate whether CaM KK may be mediating carbachol's activation of AKT and cell survival. Our results suggest that carbachol treatment of LNCaP cells promoted cell survival through CaM KK and its phosphorylation of AKT. The bacterial toxin anisomycin triggered caspase‐3 activation in LNCaP cells that was blocked by carbachol in a CaM KK‐ and AKT‐dependent manner. AKT and BAD phosphorylation were blocked by the selective CaM KK inhibitor, STO‐609, as well as siRNA directed against CaM KK. BAD phosphorylation was also blocked by treating cells with the AKT inhibitor, AKT‐X, as well as siRNA to AKT. Additionally, epinephrine promoted LNCaP cell survival through activation of AKT that was insensitive to STO‐609. Taken together these data suggest a survival role for CaM KK operating through AKT and BAD in LNCaP prostate cancer cells. J. Cell. Biochem. 113: 1514–1526, 2012. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Low surface brightness dwarf galaxies in the Bristol Anglo-Australian observatory Virgo Cluster survey

We describe a new, deep photographic survey of the Virgo Cluster which uses multiple exposures on Tech Pan film with the United Kingdom Schmidt Telescope to probe the dwarf population to fainter surface brightness limits than previous surveys. We have identified galaxies having sizes (>= 3 arcsec scale length) and surface brightnesses (<= 24.5 R mag arcsec^-2) characteristic of those expected for dwarf spheroidal galaxies in the cluster. The survey is providing substantial samples of extremely low luminosity galaxies outside the environment of the Local Group and nearby groups for the first time. An initial study of two small areas has found dwarf spheroidal candidates in large numbers (500 deg^-2) which indicate a steep, continuously rising luminosity function at low luminosities.
Figure-ground segmentation by transferring window masks

We present a novel technique for figure-ground segmentation, where the goal is to separate all foreground objects in a test image from the background. We decompose the test image and all images in a supervised training set into overlapping windows likely to cover foreground objects. The key idea is to transfer segmentation masks from training windows that are visually similar to windows in the test image. These transferred masks are then used to derive the unary potentials of a binary, pairwise energy function defined over the pixels of the test image, which is minimized with standard graph-cuts. This results in a fully automatic segmentation scheme, as opposed to interactive techniques based on similar energy functions. Using windows as support regions for transfer efficiently exploits the training data, as the test image does not need to be globally similar to a training image for the method to work. This enables to compose novel scenes using local parts of training images. Our approach obtains very competitive results on three datasets (PASCAL VOC 2010 segmentation challenge, Weizmann horses, Graz-02).
Fair prediction with disparate impact: A study of bias in recidivism prediction instruments

Recidivism prediction instruments (RPIs) provide decision-makers with an assessment of the likelihood that a criminal defendant will reoffend at a future point in time. Although such instruments are gaining increasing popularity across the country, their use is attracting tremendous controversy. Much of the controversy concerns potential discriminatory bias in the risk assessments that are produced. This article discusses several fairness criteria that have recently been applied to assess the fairness of RPIs. We demonstrate that the criteria cannot all be simultaneously satisfied when recidivism prevalence differs across groups. We then show how disparate impact can arise when an RPI fails to satisfy the criterion of error rate balance.
Role of Adenosine A2A Receptor in the Regulation of Gastric Somatostatin Release

Adenosine has been demonstrated to inhibit gastric acid secretion. In the rat stomach, this inhibitory effect may be mediated indirectly by increasing the release of somatostatin-like immunoreactivity (SLI). Results show that adenosine analogs augmented SLI release in the isolated vascularly perfused rat stomach. The rank order of potency of the analogs in stimulating SLI release was 2-p-(2-carboxyethyl)phenethylamino-5′-N-ethylcarboxamidoadenosine (CGS 21680) ≈ 5′-N-ethylcarboxamidoadenosine > 2-chloroadenosine > R-(-)-N6-(2-phenylisopropyl)adenosine >1-deoxy-1-[6-[[(3-iodophenyl)methyl]amino]-9H-purin-9-yl]-N-methyl-β-d-ribofuranuronamide > N6-cyclopentyladenosine ≈ N6-cyclohexyladenosine > S-(+)-N6-(2-phenylisopropyl) adenosine, suggesting the involvement of the A2A receptor. In agreement, 4-(2-[7-amino-2-(2-furyl)[1,2,4]triazolo[2,3-a] [1,3,5]triazin-5-ylamino]ethyl)phenol (ZM 241385), an A2A receptor antagonist, was shown to abolish the adenosine- and CGS 21680-stimulated SLI release. Immunohistochemical studies reveal the presence of A2A receptor immunoreactivity on the gastric plexi and mucosal D-cells, but not on parietal cells and G-cells, suggesting that adenosine may act directly on D-cells or indirectly on the gastric plexi to augment SLI release. The present study also demonstrates that the structure of the mucosal A2A receptor is identical to that in the rat brain, and that alternative splicing of this gene does not occur. A real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction assay has also been established to quantify the levels of A2A receptor mRNA. Results show that gastric tissues contained significantly lower levels of A2A receptor mRNA compared with the striatum. The lowest level was detected in the mucosa. In conclusion, adenosine may act on A2A receptors to augment SLI release and consequently control gastric acid secretion.
Ultrafast dynamics of photoexcited carriers in semiconducting nano materials

This thesis presents a systematic study on the characterising ultrafast dynamics of photo excited carriers in hydrogenated nano crystalline silicon (nc-Si:H) and porous silicon (PS) materials using the ultrafast optical pump probe spectroscopy approaches. The work involves the ground state optical property detection and optical model simulation, ultrafast time resolved pump probe measurements and pump probe data analysis processes. Applying the novel pump probe detection methods, the study explores the carriers concentration, carriers recombination property, scattering rate and conductivity of photo excited semiconducting nano materials.
Continuous transport of a small fraction of plasma membrane cholesterol to endoplasmic reticulum regulates total cellular cholesterol

Cells employ regulated transport mechanisms to ensure that their plasma membranes (PMs) are optimally supplied with cholesterol derived from uptake of low-density lipoproteins (LDL) and synthesis. To date, all inhibitors of cholesterol transport block steps in lysosomes, limiting our understanding of post-lysosomal transport steps. Here, we establish the cholesterol-binding domain 4 of anthrolysin O (ALOD4) as a reversible inhibitor of cholesterol transport from PM to endoplasmic reticulum (ER). Using ALOD4, we: (1) deplete ER cholesterol without altering PM or overall cellular cholesterol levels; (2) demonstrate that LDL-derived cholesterol travels from lysosomes first to PM to meet cholesterol needs, and subsequently from PM to regulatory domains of ER to suppress activation of SREBPs, halting cholesterol uptake and synthesis; and (3) determine that continuous PM-to-ER cholesterol transport allows ER to constantly monitor PM cholesterol levels, and respond rapidly to small declines in cellular cholesterol by activating SREBPs, increasing cholesterol uptake and synthesis. DOI: http://dx.doi. org/10.7554/eLife.25466. 001
Seasonal and Spatial Dynamics of the Primary Vector of Plasmodium knowlesi within a Major Transmission Focus in Sabah, Malaysia

Background The simian malaria parasite Plasmodium knowlesi is emerging as a public health problem in Southeast Asia, particularly in Malaysian Borneo where it now accounts for the greatest burden of malaria cases and deaths. Control is hindered by limited understanding of the ecology of potential vector species. Methodology/Principal Findings We conducted a one year longitudinal study of P. knowlesi vectors in three sites within an endemic area of Sabah, Malaysia. All mosquitoes were captured using human landing catch. Anopheles mosquitoes were dissected to determine, oocyst, sporozoites and parous rate. Anopheles balabacensis is confirmed as the primary vector of. P. knowlesi (using nested PCR) in Sabah for the first time. Vector densities were significantly higher and more seasonally variable in the village than forest or small scale farming site. However An. balabacensis survival and P. knowlesi infection rates were highest in forest and small scale farm sites. Anopheles balabacensis mostly bites humans outdoors in the early evening between 1800 to 2000hrs. Conclusions/Significance This study indicates transmission is unlikely to be prevented by bednets. This combined with its high vectorial capacity poses a threat to malaria elimination programmes within the region.
TDP-43 Potentiates Alpha-synuclein Toxicity to Dopaminergic Neurons in Transgenic Mice

TDP-43 and α-synuclein are two disease proteins involved in a wide range of neurodegenerative diseases. While TDP-43 proteinopathy is considered a pathologic hallmark of sporadic amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and frontotemporal lobe degeneration, α-synuclein is a major component of Lewy body characteristic of Parkinson's disease. Intriguingly, TDP-43 proteinopathy also coexists with Lewy body and with synucleinopathy in certain disease conditions. Here we reported the effects of TDP-43 on α-synuclein neurotoxicity in transgenic mice. Overexpression of mutant TDP-43 (M337V substitution) in mice caused early death in transgenic founders, but overexpression of normal TDP-43 only induced a moderate loss of cortical neurons in the transgenic mice at advanced ages. Interestingly, concomitant overexpression of normal TDP-43 and mutant α-synuclein caused a more severe loss of dopaminergic neurons in the double transgenic mice as compared to single-gene transgenic mice. TDP-43 potentiated α-synuclein toxicity to dopaminergic neurons in living animals. Our finding provides in vivo evidence suggesting that disease proteins such as TDP-43 and α-synuclein may play a synergistic role in disease induction in neurodegenerative diseases.
The Monro–Kellie hypothesis

More than two centuries ago, Alexander Monro applied some of the principles of physics to the intracranial contents and for the first time hypothesized that the blood circulating in the cranium was of constant volume at all times. This hypothesis was supported by experiments by Kellie. In its original form, the hypothesis had shortcomings that prompted modification by others. What finally came to be known as the Monro–Kellie doctrine, or hypothesis, is that the sum of volumes of brain, CSF, and intracranial blood is constant. An increase in one should cause a decrease in one or both of the remaining two. This hypothesis has substantial theoretical implications in increased intracranial pressure and in decreased CSF volume. Many of the MRI abnormalities seen in intracranial hypotension or CSF volume depletion can be explained by the Monro–Kellie hypothesis. These abnormalities include meningeal enhancement, subdural fluid collections, engorgement of cerebral venous sinuses, prominence of the spinal epidural venous plexus, and enlargement of the pituitary gland.
Uncertainty Evaluation in Two-Dimensional Indirect Measurement by Evidence and Probability Theories

An improved method for 2-D uncertainty expression and propagation based on the theory of evidence and 2-D random-fuzzy variables (RFVs) is described. A previous 2-D RFV approach and two probability-based approaches are also introduced. The improved RFV approach exploits a new algorithm for the combination of random and systematic effects, trying to overcome a drawback of a 2-D RFV method already disclosed in a previous work. One of the two probability-based methods does not take into account any correlation among uncertainty sources and among different time instants of each source, whereas the other probability method exploits time correlation to take into account the repetitive nature of systematic uncertainty sources. All described methods are applied to the 2-D case of a vehicle position measurement on a plane. The obtained results are compared and show the compatibility of all approaches. The improved random-fuzzy method yields better uncertainty evaluation in case of narrow and elongated confidence regions than the previous method. The new 2-D RFV approach also exhibits a better behavior from a theoretical point of view. Main differences between the two probability-based methods are also presented.
Reparative changes and the false-positive/false-negative Papanicolaou test: a study from the College of American Pathologists Interlaboratory Comparison Program in Cervicovaginal Cytology .

CONTEXT Reparative changes can be a diagnostic challenge on Papanicolaou tests and must be distinguished from epithelial cell abnormalities. Both squamous intraepithelial lesions (SIL) and carcinoma may be underdiagnosed as repair. This study examines laboratory and cytologist performance in the diagnosis of repair. OBJECTIVES To determine if laboratories and cytologists can consistently distinguish reparative changes from SIL and carcinoma and to document how often SIL and carcinoma are mistaken for repair in a standardized educational slide program. DESIGN Results for reparative changes, SIL, and carcinoma slides from the College of American Pathologists Interlaboratory Comparison Program in Cervicovaginal Cytology for 1998 were analyzed. Only results from validated referenced slide responses were used. RESULTS The concordancy rate for reparative-change slides, that is, any response of within normal limits or benign cellular changes, ranged from 91% to 94% for cytotechnologist, pathologist, and laboratory responses. False-negative rates for squamous carcinoma and adenocarcinoma, high-grade SIL, and low-grade SIL ranged from 0.47% to 5.41%; the proportion of false-negative diagnoses of reparative changes ranged from 24% to 62% of all discordant responses. CONCLUSIONS Of all benign cellular changes and within normal limits categories in the Interlaboratory Comparison Program in Cervicovaginal Cytology, repair most often elicits a false-positive laboratory response. Underdiagnosing epithelial abnormalities as repair is also a source of false-negative Papanicolaou test results.
The neurobiological basis of autism from a developmental perspective

Autism is a neurobiological disorder that is diagnosed through careful behavioral assessment in early childhood. In this paper, we review recent studies that have attempted to reveal the underlying causes of autism using a variety of techniques. Particular emphasis is placed on techniques that have been used by a number of different laboratories, including structural magnetic resonance imaging and postmortem studies of neuroanatomy. Neurobiological and neuropsychological data from individuals across a wide age range are examined from a neurodevelopmental perspective. We discuss how these recent advances have led us to develop a growth dysregulation hypothesis of autism. Finally, we discuss how this hypothesis may lead to new innovations in autism research.