Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A New Despeckling Method in Ultrasonography: Anisotropic Diffusion Filtering Followed by Total Variation Denoising

This paper proposes a novel hybrid method to reduce speckle noise in ultrasonography. This method applies the total variation denoising algorithm to the output image of a recently reported anisotropic diffusion filter. Performance of the proposed method is illustrated using simulated and clinical images. Experimental results indicate the proposed method outperforms the existing despeckling schemes in terms of both speckle reduction and edge preservation.
Topoisomerase II– and Condensin-Dependent Breakage of MEC1ATR-Sensitive Fragile Sites Occurs Independently of Spindle Tension, Anaphase, or Cytokinesis

Fragile sites are loci of recurrent chromosome breakage in the genome. They are found in organisms ranging from bacteria to humans and are implicated in genome instability, evolution, and cancer. In budding yeast, inactivation of Mec1, a homolog of mammalian ATR, leads to chromosome breakage at fragile sites referred to as replication slow zones (RSZs). RSZs are proposed to be homologous to mammalian common fragile sites (CFSs) whose stability is regulated by ATR. Perturbation during S phase, leading to elevated levels of stalled replication forks, is necessary but not sufficient for chromosome breakage at RSZs or CFSs. To address the nature of additional event(s) required for the break formation, we examined involvement of the currently known or implicated mechanisms of endogenous chromosome breakage, including errors in replication fork restart, premature mitotic chromosome condensation, spindle tension, anaphase, and cytokinesis. Results revealed that chromosome breakage at RSZs is independent of the RAD52 epistasis group genes and of TOP3, SGS1, SRS2, MMS4, or MUS81, indicating that homologous recombination and other recombination-related processes associated with replication fork restart are unlikely to be involved. We also found spindle force, anaphase, or cytokinesis to be dispensable. RSZ breakage, however, required genes encoding condensin subunits (YCG1, YSC4) and topoisomerase II (TOP2). We propose that chromosome break formation at RSZs following Mec1 inactivation, a model for mammalian fragile site breakage, is mediated by internal chromosomal stress generated during mitotic chromosome condensation.
Endothelin ETB Receptors in Arteries and Veins: Multiple Actions in the Vein

Endothelin receptors (ETA and ETB) mediate responses to ET-1. ETB receptor function seems to differ between a similarly sized arterial and venous pair, the rat vena cava (RVC) and rat thoracic aorta (RA). ETB receptors mediate RVC contraction directly, but it is unclear whether ETB receptors mediate contraction in RA. Because of these apparent differences in ETB receptor-mediated vascular contraction, we hypothesize that relaxant ETB-receptor mechanisms in RVC would be different from those in RA. RA and RVC rings were isolated from rats for measurement of isometric contraction. When contracted with prostaglandin F-2α (PGF-2α) (20 μM), the ETB receptor agonist sarafotoxin-6c (S6c) (100 nM) significantly relaxed RA and RVC. Nω-Nitro-l-arginine (LNNA) (100 μM) or endothelial denudation abolished relaxation to S6c in RA. By contrast, S6c-induced relaxation of RVC was attenuated but not abolished by LNNA and endothelial denudation. RVC (PGF-2α-contracted) relaxed to low concentrations of ET-1, whereas under the same conditions RA responded with contraction. ET-1-induced relaxation in RA was observed only with ETA receptor blockade. Vessels from dopamine-β-hydroxylase-ETB transgenic rats, which lack functional ETB receptors in the vasculature, were also used. RVC (PGF-2α-contracted) from these rats did not relax to ET-1. Thus, although both RA and RVC possess endothelial relaxant ETB receptors, RA and RVC differ in that relaxant ETB receptors may also be present in smooth muscle of RVC. Moreover, the mechanisms of endothelial cell ETB receptor-mediated relaxation in RA and RVC are not the same.
The double-strand break landscape of meiotic chromosomes is shaped by the Paf 1 transcription elongation complex in S . cerevisiae

Histone modification is a critical determinant of the frequency and location of meiotic double-strand breaks (DSBs), and thus recombination. Set1-dependent histone H3K4 methylation and Dot1-dependent H3K79 methylation play important roles in this process in budding yeast. Given that RNA polymerase II associated factor 1 complex, Paf1C, promotes both types of methylation, we addressed the role of Paf1C component, Rtf1, in the regulation of meiotic DSB formation. Similar to a set1 mutation, disruption of RTF1 decreased the occurrence of DSBs in the genome. However, the rtf1 set1 double mutant exhibited a larger reduction in the levels of DSBs than either of the single mutants, indicating independent contributions of Rtf1 and Set1 to DSB formation. Importantly, the distribution of DSBs along chromosomes in the rtf1 mutant changed in a manner that was different from the distributions observed in both set1 and set1 dot1 mutants, including enhanced DSB formation at some DSB-cold regions that are occupied by nucleosomes in wild-type cells. These observations suggest that Rtf1, and by extension the Paf1C, modulate the genomic DSB landscape independently of H3K4 methylation.
The Brazilian Business Cycle and Growth Cycle

This paper uses several procedures to date and analyze the Brazilian business cycle and growth cycle. In particular, a Markov switching model is fitted to quarterly and annual real production data. The smoothed probabilities of the Markov states are used as predictive rules to define different phases of cyclical fluctuations of real Brazilian production. The results are compared with different non-parametric rules. All methods implemented yield similar dating and reveal asymmetries across the different states of the Brazilian business and growth cycle, in which slowdowns and recessions are short and abrupt, while high growth phases and expansions are longer and less steep. The resulting dating of the Brazilian economic cycles can be used as a reference point for construction and evaluation of the predictive performance of coincident, leading, or lagging indicators of economic activity. In addition, the filtered probabilities obtained from the Markov switching model allow early recognition of the transition to a new business cycle phase, which can be used, for example, for evaluation of the adequate strength and timing of counter-cyclical policies, for reassessment of projected sales or profits by businesses and investors, or for monitoring of inflation pressures.
The Demand for School Lunches: An Analysis of Individual Participation in the School Lunch Program

In this paper we analyze participation in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) using a basic neoclassical demand model. This statistical analysis incorporates nutrient consumption from nonlunch sources to control explicitly for tastes. Because the dependent variable takes only four values, the ordered probit estimation technique is used. The insights gained concerning the effects of tastes, the size of the Food Stamp program bonus, and the price of the school lunch, among others, should prove useful in designing future NSLP policies.
On the peculiar momentum of baryons after Reionization

The peculiar motion of ionized baryons is known to introduce temperature anisotropies in the cosmic microwave background (CMB) radiation by means of the kinetic Sunyaev-Zel'dovich (kSZ) effect. In this work, we present an all-sky computation of angular power spectrum of the temperature anisotropies introduced by kSZ momentum of all baryons in the Universe during and after reionization. In an attempt to study the bulk flows of the missing baryons not yet detected, we separately address the contribution from all baryons in the intergalactic medium (IGM) and those baryons located in collapsed structures like groups and clusters of galaxies. In the first case, our approach provides a complete all-sky computation of the kSZ effect in the second order of cosmological perturbation theory [also known as the Ostriker-Vishniac (OV) effect]. Most of the power of the OV effect is generated during reionization, although it has a non-negligible tail at low redshifts, when the bulk of the kSZ peculiar momentum of the halo (cluster + group) population arises. If gas outside haloes is comoving with clusters as the theory predicts, then the signature of the bulk flows of the missing baryons should be recovered by a cross-correlation analysis of future CMB data sets with kSZ estimates in clusters of galaxies. For an Atacama Cosmology Telescope (ACT) or South Pole Telescope (SPT) type of CMB experiment, all-sky kSZ estimates of all clusters above 2 x 10 14 h -1 M ⊙ o should provide a detection of dark flows with signal-to-noise ratio (S/N) of ~23 (S/N 5-11 for 2000-10 000 deg 2 ). Improving kSZ estimates with data from Large Scale Structure surveys should enable a deeper confrontation of the theoretical predictions for bulk flows with observations. The combination of future CMB and optical data should shed light on the dark flows of the nearby, so far undetected, diffuse baryons.
Gene transfer of glutamic acid decarboxylase reduces neuropathic pain

We tested whether transfer of the gene coding for glutamic acid decarboxylase to dorsal root ganglion using a herpes simplex virus vector to achieve release of GABA in dorsal horn would attenuate nociception in this condition. Subcutaneous inoculation of a replication‐defective herpes simplex virus vector expressing glutamic acid decarboxylase (vector QHGAD67) 7 days after selective L5 spinal nerve ligation reversed mechanical allodynia and thermal hyperalgesia; the antiallodynic effect lasted 6 weeks and was reestablished by reinoculation. QHGAD67 inoculation also suppressed induction of c‐Fos and phosphorylated extracellular signal–regulated kinase 1 and 2 in the spinal cord. Ann Neurol 2005;57:914–918
A Cryptographic Analysis of the TLS 1.3 draft-10 Full and Pre-shared Key Handshake Protocol

We analyze the handshake protocol of TLS 1.3 draft-ietf-tls-tls13-10 (published October 2015). This continues and extends our previous analysis (CCS 2015, Cryptology ePrint Archive 2015) of former TLS 1.3 drafts (draft-ietf-tls-tls13-05 and draft-ietf-tls-tls13-dh-based). Here we show that the full (EC)DHE Diffie–Hellman-based handshake of draft-10 is also secure in the multi-stage key exchange framework of Fischlin and Gunther which captures classical Bellare–Rogaway key secrecy for key exchange protocols that derive multiple keys. We also note that a recent protocol change—the introduction of a NewSessionTicket message for resumption, encrypted under the application traffic key—impairs the protocol modularity and hence our compositional guarantees that ideally would allow an independent analysis of the record protocol. We additionally analyze the pre-shared key modes (with and without ephemeral Diffie–Hellman key), and fit them into the composability framework, addressing composability with the input resumption secret from a previous handshake and of the output session keys.
Characterization of Fosfomycin Resistant Extended-Spectrum β-Lactamase-Producing Escherichia coli Isolates from Human and Pig in Taiwan

To investigate the efficacy of fosfomycin against extended-spectrum β-lactamases (ESBL) producing Escherichia coli in Taiwan and the resistance mechanisms and characterization of human and pig isolates, we analyzed 145 ESBL-producing isolates collected from two hospitals (n = 123) and five farms (n = 22) in Taiwan from February to May, 2013. Antimicrobial susceptibilities were determined. Clonal relatedness was determined by PFGE and multi-locus sequence typing. ESBLs, ampC, and fosfomycin resistant genes were detected by PCR, and their flanking regions were determined by PCR mapping and sequencing. The fosfomycin resistant mechanisms, including modification of the antibiotic target (MurA), functionless transporters (GlpT and UhpT) and their regulating genes such as uhpA, cyaA, and ptsI, and antibiotic inactivation by enzymes (FosA and FosC), were examined. The size and replicon type of plasmids carrying fosfomycin resistant genes were analyzed. Our results revealed the susceptibility rates of fosfomycin were 94% for human ESBL-producing E. coli isolates and 77% for pig isolates. The PFGE analysis revealed 79 pulsotypes. No pulsotype was found existing in both human and pig isolates. Three pulsotypes were distributed among isolates from two hospitals. ISEcp1 carrying bla CTX-M-group 9 was the predominant transposable elements of the ESBL genes. Among the thirteen fosfomycin resistant isolates, functionless transporters were identified in 9 isolates. Three isolates contained novel amino acid substitutions (Asn67Ile, Phe151Ser and Trp164Ser, Val146Ala and His159Tyr, respectively) in MurA (the target of fosfomycin). Four isolates had fosfomycin modified enzyme (fosA3) in their plasmids. The fosA3 gene was harboured in an IncN-type plasmid (101 kbp) in the three pig isolates and an IncB/O-type plasmid (113 kbp) in the human isolate. In conclusion, we identified that 6% and 23% of the ESBL-producing E. coli from human and pigs were resistant to fosfomycin, respectively, in Taiwan. No clonal spread was found between human and pig isolates. Functionless transporters were the major cause of fosfomycin resistance, and the fosA3-transferring plasmid between isolates warrants further monitoring.
Uniform Exponential Stability for Linear Discrete Time Systems with Stochastic Perturbations in Hilbert Spaces

In this paper we study the exponential and uniform exponential stability problem for linear discrete time-varying systems with independent stochastic perturbations. We give two representations of the solutions of the discussed systems and we use them to obtain necessary and sufficient conditions for the two types of stability. A deterministic characterization of the uniform exponential stability, in terms of Lyapunov equations is given. As an application we considered the timeinvariant case.
Monetary Policy with Investment-Saving Imbalances

Financial instability is the new challenge for monetary policy. Most studies indicate that financial crises follow prolonged unwinding of investment–saving imbalances (ISI). These phenomena are not contemplated by the standard theoretical framework of continuous intertemporal equilibrium. This paper's aim is to take a first step into the analysis of monetary policy in the context of ISI. First, a dynamic model of a flex-price, competitive economy is presented where ISI are allowed to develop. Second, upon introducing different types of Taylor rules, some indications for the conduct of monetary policy emerge, which are at variance with the standard view.
Serial analysis of gene expression (SAGE) in the rat limbal and central corneal epithelium.

PURPOSE To identify genes preferentially expressed in the stem-cell-rich limbal epithelium of the rat cornea. METHODS The limbal and central corneal epithelial cells of 6-week-old rats were isolated by microdissection. Serial analysis of gene expression (SAGE) libraries were constructed and analyzed, and in situ hybridization, reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and cDNA cloning were conducted by conventional procedures. RESULTS The rat limbal and central corneal epithelial SAGE libraries consisted of 41,894 and 40,691 tags, respectively. After annotation, this was reduced to 759 transcripts specific for the limbal library and 844 transcripts specific for the central corneal library; 2292 transcripts overlapped. Transcripts encoding proteins with metabolic functions comprised the major functional category in both libraries. In situ hybridization and/or RT-PCR results of 12 of the most abundant, highly enriched transcripts in the limbal epithelium were in general agreement with the SAGE data and showed that these proteins are also expressed in the conjunctival epithelium. Interesting limbal-enriched transcripts encode WDNM1-like protein (similar to WDNM1/Expi, a putative secreted proteinase and inhibitor of metastasis), mesothelin (a cancer marker), marapsin (a trypsin-like serine protease that may control cell growth and migration), K4 and K15 (both cytokeratins), and membrane-spanning four-domain subfamily A member 8B. WDNM1-like protein was cloned and confirmed as a member of the four-disulfide core family. CONCLUSIONS The SAGE results extend the database of genes expressed in the rodent cornea and suggest an association between several genes preferentially expressed in the limbal epithelium with cellular proliferation and migration.
An improved thermal model of the human body

The goal of this study is to develop a more realistic human thermal model. Previous models have been based on simple cylindrical geometries. The current study uses shaped and refined body segments to simulate heat and mass transfer in the human body during a transient process. The body segments and blood vessels (or respiratory tract) were discretized into 3-D and 1-D elements, respectively. Criteria were developed to simulate the circulatory system, respiratory system, and human thermal responses. The finite element method was employed to solve the mass and energy equations which were written for each element. The body model was compared against actual data available in literatures: cold, neutral, and warm conditions, with ambient temperatures of 15°C (59°F), 25°C (77°F), and 35°C (95°F). For steady state simulation, the results showed that the skin temperatures of head, trunk, and limbs matched the experimental data very well for all three conditions, while the neck and limb extremities (hand and foot) showed some difference, especially for the cold condition. In transient process, our simulation gives good predictions for warm and neutral conditions, but 1–2°C difference in skin for cold condition. The comparison of cylindrical-based model, our current model, and experimental data shows that our model is able to give more accurate prediction of human body temperatures than previous models.
Formal Measures of the Informal-Sector Wage Gap in Mexico, El Salvador, and Peru

Using comparable micro-level data from three countries, we ask what type of person works in the informal sector and whether informal workers earn lower wages than observationally equivalent workers in the formal sector. The characteristics of informal workers are similar across countries. Surprisingly, when we control for these personal characteristics, we find a significant wage premium associated with formal employment in El Salvador and Peru but a premium associated with work in the informal sector in Mexico. A model of endogenous selection offers little help in explaining the differences in wage patterns. The research casts doubt on the received wisdom that the informal sector, always and everywhere, is a poorly-paid but easily- entered refuge for those who have no other employment opportunities.
Correlations of MTHFR 677C>T Polymorphism with Cardiovascular Disease in Patients with End-Stage Renal Disease: A Meta-Analysis

Objective This meta-analysis was conducted to evaluate the correlations of a common polymorphism (677C>T) in the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) gene with risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Method The following electronic databases were searched without language restrictions: Web of Science (1945∼2013), the Cochrane Library Database (Issue 12, 2013), MEDLINE (1966∼2013), EMBASE (1980∼2013), CINAHL (1982∼2013) and the Chinese Biomedical Database (CBM) (1982∼2013). Meta-analysis was performed using STATA statistical software. Odds ratios (ORs) with their 95% confidence intervals (95%CIs) were calculated. Results Eight cohort studies met all inclusion criteria and were included in this meta-analysis. A total of 2,292 ESRD patients with CVD were involved in this meta-analysis. Our meta-analysis results revealed that the MTHFR 677C>T polymorphism might increase the risk of CVD in ESRD patients (TT vs. CC: OR = 2.75, 95%CI = 1.35∼5.59, P = 0.005; CT+TT vs. CC: OR = 1.39, 95%CI = 1.09∼1.78, P = 0.008; TT vs. CC+CT: OR = 2.52, 95%CI = 1.25∼5.09, P = 0.010; respectively). Further subgroup analysis by ethnicity suggested that the MTHFR 677C>T polymorphism was associated with an elevated risk for CVD in ESRD patients among Asians (TT vs. CC: OR = 3.38, 95%CI = 1.11∼10.28, P = 0.032; CT+TT vs. CC: OR = 1.44, 95%CI = 1.05∼1.97, P = 0.022; TT vs. CC+CT: OR = 3.15, 95%CI = 1.02∼9.72, P = 0.046; respectively), but not among Africans or Caucasians (all P>0.05). Conclusion Our findings indicate that the MTHFR 677C>T polymorphism may be associated with an elevated risk for CVD in ESRD patients, especially among Asians.
Expected Return-Idiosyncratic Risk Relation: An Investigation with Alternative Factor Models

In this paper we investigate the relation between idiosyncratic risk and expected return by estimating idiosyncratic volatility in different factor models including the downside and upside market models. In the analysis with portfolios, our results suggest an inverse relation between idiosyncratic risk and expected return and that the relation may be non-linear. Our results are found to be affected by the global financial crisis with averages found to be higher when the main year of the crisis is excluded. We find that the relation between idiosyncratic volatility and expected return is robust to the factor model used in estimating idiosyncratic risk. This may be due to the very strong correlation between idiosyncratic risk of stocks estimated in different factor models.
Adverse reactions to fluoroquinolones in the Nigerian population: an audit of reports submitted to the National Pharmacovigilance Centre from 2004 to 2016

Adverse drug reactions (ADRs) recorded in national pharmacovigilance databases in developed countries have been analyzed. However, adverse reactions to fluoroquinolones were observed globally despite their wide use and safety concerns. We provided information on the pattern of adverse reactions to fluoroquinolones reported spontaneously to the National Pharmacovigilance Centre (NPC), Nigeria. ADRs to fluoroquinolones reported to the NPC, over a period of 12 years, were analyzed. Evaluation was done for annual reports, age and gender of patients, type of reporter, suspected fluoroquinolones and adverse reactions, onset and outcome of ADRs, and causality. A total of 18527 ADR reports were received by the NPC. Antibiotics accounted for 1371(7.4%) of the total reports and fluoroquinolones accounted for 256 (18.7%) cases. A total of 540 ADRs due to fluoroquinolones was experienced by the patients. Multiple ADRs were experienced by 165 (65%) patients. Norfloxacin (2; 0.8%), moxifloxacin (3; 1.2%), ofloxacin (10; 3.9%), ciprofloxacin (112; 43.8%), and levofloxacin (129; 50.4%) were responsible for the ADRs. Neurological disorders (121; 22.4%), gastrointestinal disorders (118; 21.9%), and skin‐appendage disorders (116; 21.5%) were the most reported ADRs, while pruritus (41; 7.6%), abdominal pain (34; 6.3%), vomiting (34; 6.3%), and skin rash (27; 5.0%) were the most frequently reported specific ADRs. Thirty‐four (6.4%) patients experienced serious ADRs. Fluoroquinolones accounted for a small but significant proportion of ADRs spontaneously reported to the NPC in Nigeria. Ciprofloxacin and levofloxacin were the two most culpable fluoroquinolones due to their inappropriate use or increased use in multi‐drug resistant tuberculosis (MDR‐TB) treatment.