Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Variance Reduction for Simulated Diffusions

This article develops some variance reduction techniques for the Monte-Carlo integration of functionals of the solutions of Ito stochastic differential equations (sdes). The Monte-Carlo method for sdes offers a means of calculating solutions to certain types of parabolic partial differential equation and so has applications in various fields including stochastic control, particle physics and econometrics; it involves the representation of the required integrals as means of random variables defined on infinite-dimensional Wiener spaces, which cannot be simulated directly—sthey must at some stage be approximated by variables defined on high, but finite-dimensional spaces. The approach taken here is to construct variance reduced random variables on the infinite-dimensional spaces, which can subsequently be approximated by any of a number of known finite difference methods.The methods of control variates and importance sampling are developed. In both cases, a perfect variate (i.e., one which is unbiased and h.
Recovery and Identification of Bovine Colostrum Microflora Using Traditional and Molecular Approaches

Juliano De Dea Lindner1,2*, Marcela Santarelli3, Caroline Tiemi Yamaguishi2, Carlos Ricardo Soccol2 and Erasmo Neviani3 Incorpore Foods, Research and Development Department, Avenida Santa Catarina 2222, 88330-000 Camboriú, SC, Brazil Bioprocess Engineering and Biotechnology Division, Centro Politécnico, Federal University of Paraná, 81531-970 Curitiba, PR, Brazil Department of Genetics, Biology of Microorganisms, Anthropology and Evolution, University of Parma, Via Usberti 11/A, IT-43100 Parma, Italy
Costimulation‐adhesion blockade is superior to Cyclosporine A and prednisone immunosuppressive therapy for preventing rejection of differentiated human embryonic stem cells following transplantation

Rationale: Human embryonic stem cell (hESC) derivatives are attractive candidates for therapeutic use. The engraftment and survival of hESC derivatives as xenografts or allografts require effective immunosuppression to prevent immune cell infiltration and graft destruction. Objective: To test the hypothesis that a short‐course, dual‐agent regimen of two costimulation‐adhesion blockade agents can induce better engraftment of hESC derivatives compared to current immunosuppressive agents. Methods and Results: We transduced hESCs with a double fusion reporter gene construct expressing firefly luciferase (Fluc) and enhanced green fluorescent protein, and differentiated these cells to endothelial cells (hESC‐ECs). Reporter gene expression enabled longitudinal assessment of cell engraftment by bioluminescence imaging. Costimulation‐adhesion therapy resulted in superior hESC‐EC and mouse EC engraftment compared to cyclosporine therapy in a hind limb model. Costimulation‐adhesion therapy also promoted robust hESC‐EC and hESC‐derived cardiomyocyte survival in an ischemic myocardial injury model. Improved hESC‐EC engraftment had a cardioprotective effect after myocardial injury, as assessed by magnetic resonance imaging. Mechanistically, costimulation‐adhesion therapy is associated with systemic and intragraft upregulation of T‐cell immunoglobulin and mucin domain 3 (TIM3) and a reduced proinflammatory cytokine profile. Conclusions: Costimulation‐adhesion therapy is a superior alternative to current clinical immunosuppressive strategies for preventing the post‐transplant rejection of hESC derivatives. By extending the window for cellular engraftment, costimulation‐adhesion therapy enhances functional preservation following ischemic injury. This regimen may function through a TIM3‐dependent mechanism. Stem Cells 2013;31:2354–2363
Sex determination based on the analysis of a contemporary Polish population's palatine bones: a computed tomography study of 1,200 patients.

BACKGROUND The aims of the present study were to assess whether the hard palate reveals any measurable sex-related differences, and to create a mathematical model which would differentiate between males and females using hard palate measurements alone. MATERIALS AND METHODS The present study was conducted on 1,200 archived sinus computed tomography (CT) scans. Each cranial measurement was taken twice by the same observer, and in cases of any discrepancies, the mean of the two values was recorded. Twenty per cent of randomly chosen samples were re-measured by an observer who did not partake in assessing the samples the first time. Logistic regression was used to derivate two mathematical formulas which would calculate the probability of a skull being male. RESULTS The studied group comprised 1,200 head CT's (627 female; 52.3%). The mean age of the group was 43.5 ± 17.4 years - no age difference between sexes was noted (p = 0.37). All of the performed measurements were significantly (p < 0.0001) larger in males than in females. The mathematical formula based on the "orale-spina nasalis posterior" (O-SNP) distance alone had a reliability rate of 68.35%. The equation based on the depth of the right greater palatine canal (GPC), the O-SNP distance and the anterior width of the palatal arch (AWPA) had a reliability rate of 78.37%. CONCLUSIONS The most prominent sexually dimorphic parameters were the O-SNP, the GPC depth and the AWPA. The mathematical models presented in the current study can be used to successfully distinguish between sexes during forensic examination.
The 23-kDa Acidic Protein in Reticulocyte Lysate Is the Weakly Bound Component of the hsp Foldosome That Is Required for Assembly of the Glucocorticoid Receptor into a Functional Heterocomplex with hsp90 (*)

The heat shock proteins hsp90 and hsp70 have been immunopurified from rabbit reticulocyte lysate in a multiprotein complex that acts as a self-sufficient protein folding machine. This immunopurified “foldosome” directs the assembly of the glucocorticoid receptor-hsp90 complex and refolds the receptor to the steroid binding state (Hutchison, K. A., Dittmar, K. D., and Pratt, W. B.(1994) J. Biol. Chem. 269, 27894-27899). Extensive washing of the immunoadsorbed foldosome eliminates a weakly bound component required for receptor heterocomplex assembly and folding. This protein factor is contained in a Centricon C-100 filtrate of lysate which reconstitutes the receptor activating activity of the washed foldosome. This hsp90-associated protein folding system is present in both animal and plant cells, and the Centricon C-100 fraction of rabbit reticulocyte lysate potentiates receptor folding directed by wheat germ lysate. We have used this ability to stimulate wheat germ lysate-directed folding of the glucocorticoid receptor as a rapid assay for the factor. We demonstrate that the activity segregates with the 23-kDa acidic protein component of the hsp90 foldosome when rabbit reticulocyte lysate is fractionated by ammonium sulfate precipitation and ion exchange chromatography. Immunoadsorption of the Centricon C-100 filtrate with a monoclonal antibody against p23 eliminates its ability to stimulate the wheat germ heterocomplex assembly/receptor folding system, and the activity is replaced by purified, bacterially expressed p23. Immunodepletion of p23 also eliminates the ability of the Centricon C-100 filtrate to reconstitute receptor activating activity of the washed foldosome and addition of purified, bacterially expressed p23 restores its activity, confirming that p23 is the weakly bound component of the foldosome complex required for refolding of the receptor to the steroid binding conformation.
Safety and efficacy of caspofungin and liposomal amphotericin B, followed by voriconazole in young patients affected by refractory invasive mycosis

Abstract: Objective: Data on the use of combination of liposomal amphotericin B and caspofungin followed by voriconazole, as maintenance or further rescue treatment, in 10 patients with invasive mycosis are reported. Material and methods: The diagnoses were acute leukemia (7), myelodysplastic syndrome (1) and Hodgkin's lymphoma (1). All patients developed an invasive mycosis (proven, 3; probable, 6; and possible, 1) refractory to first‐line antifungal treatment (liposomal amphotericin B in all patients except one who received fluconazole). Results: Rescue therapy with a combination of caspofungin and liposomal amphotericin B was well tolerated, hypokalemia, and thrombophlebitis being the most common side‐effects. Combination therapy was administered for a median of 17 d, range 6–40. Among the nine patients with proven or probable mycosis, one was not evaluated because of early death caused by massive hemoptysis whilst in the remaining eight patients, the response was classified as complete, stable and failure in four, three, and one patients, respectively. Complete response was also observed in patient with possible mycosis. Eight of nine patients received voriconazole for a median of 75 d, range 42–194. Voriconazole was well tolerated although some drug interactions were observed during treatment with methotrexate and digoxin. After a median follow‐up of 125 d, nine of 10 patients are alive. Overall, a favorable response to antifungal treatment (including the case of possible mycosis) was obtained in eight of 10 patients. Conclusion: These data suggest that medical antifungal treatment may be intensified in severely ill patients without significantly compromising patient safety. The combination of synergistic antifungal drugs as well as their sequential use warrants further investigation by a larger randomized controlled study.
EFFECT OF DIMETHOATE (AN ORGANOPHOSPHATE INSECTICIDE) ON THE REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM AND FERTILITY OF ADULT MALE RAT

The pesticides are one of the most potentially harmful chemicals liberated in the environment in an unplanned manner. Dimethoate is widely used as a potent pesticide in many countries and has been shown to produce some adverse health effects. In the present study, we investigated the effect of dimethoate (an organophosphate insecticide) on the reproductive system and fertility of male rats and the possible mechanism underlining its action. Twenty four adult Wistar male rats were divided into 4 groups of 6 animals per group and force-fed with 0, 3.66, 5.50 and 11 mg kg-1 body weight of dimethoate for 90 days. At 80 days of treatment, each males was allows to mate with two primiparous cyclic females. The results showed a significant decrease (p
Planning for production efficiency in knowledge-based development

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to provide conceptual foundations for a study exploring the capacity of hard infrastructure and amenities to influence the socio‐economic imprint of urban spaces. The paper argues that some urban developments are more economically efficient in generating innovation and knowledge than others.Design/methodology/approach – The paper reviews the debate between urban density and infrastructure. Drawing on empirical evidence and economic production theory, it explores the spatial links between economic growth, innovation and knowledge productivity. It argues that the growing role of human capital in the production process has linked productivity to a city's mix and levels of infrastructure and amenities. It reviews five key infrastructure types for knowledge‐based developments.Findings – This paper finds that the positive contribution of density to urban vibrancy and human connectivity is constrained by a city's infrastructure and amenity levels. It concludes that urban de.
A Simple Normalized Difference Approach to Burnt Area Mapping Using Multi-Polarisation C-Band SAR

In fire-prone ecosystems, periodic fires are vital for ecosystem functioning. Fire managers seek to promote the optimal fire regime by managing fire season and frequency requiring detailed information on the extent and date of previous burns. This paper investigates a Normalised Difference α-Angle (NDαI) approach to burn-scar mapping using C-band data. Polarimetric decompositions are used to derive α-angles from pre-burn and post-burn scenes and NDαI is calculated to identify decreases in vegetation between the scenes. The technique was tested in an area affected by a wildfire in January 2016 in the Western Cape, South Africa. The quad-pol H-A-α decomposition was applied to RADARSAT-2 data and the dual-pol H-α decomposition was applied to Sentinel-1A data. The NDαI results were compared to a burn scar extracted from Sentinel-2A data. High overall accuracies of 97.4% (Kappa = 0.72) and 94.8% (Kappa = 0.57) were obtained for RADARSAT-2 and Sentinel-1A, respectively. However, large omission errors were found and correlated strongly with areas of high local incidence angle for both datasets. The combined use of data from different orbits will likely reduce these errors. Furthermore, commission errors were observed, most notably on Sentinel-1A results. These errors may be due to the inability of the dual-pol H-α decomposition to effectively distinguish between scattering mechanisms. Despite these errors, the results revealed that burnt areas could be extracted and were in good agreement with the results from Sentinel-2A. Therefore, the approach can be considered in areas where persistent cloud cover or smoke prevents the extraction of burnt area information using conventional multispectral approaches.
Pelvic organ prolapse: Does the postoperative course of mesh-repair surgery differ in elderly women when compared with younger patients?

Pelvic organ prolapse (POP) is a common disease in elderly women. Among a wide range of possibilities in POP surgery, the use of partially absorbable meshes appears to be very promising. The problem concerning POP therapy in elderly patients has not yet been not sufficiently investigated. We enrolled 64 patients with POP stages 3 and 4. All patients underwent mesh-repair surgery and afterwards were stratified into two age groups. Data obtained from anamnesis, pelvic organ prolapse quantification (POP-Q) scale, dynamic MRI and prolapse quality of life (P-QoL) questionnaire were analysed and compared between both age groups. A total of 64 patients completed the study protocol. Outcome of the surgery was promising and comparable between both age groups. One recurrence of prolapse and one mesh erosion was reported. P-QoL showed a good overall satisfaction. Our data show that the surgical correction of POP with use of polypropylene mesh in elderly women appears to be a successful method with an acceptable morbidity, adverse events rate and high satisfaction of the patients.
EFFECT OF THRESHING DRUM SPEED AND CROP MOISTURE CONTENT ON THE PADDY GRAIN DAMAGE IN AXIAL-FLOW THRESHER

The effects of threshing drum speed of an axial-flow thresher at five levels of 450, 550, 650, 750 and 850 rpm, and paddy moisture content of at three levels 17.0, 20.0 and 23.0 % (w.b.) on the broken and cracked grains were examined. The results revealed that the most broken grains of 0.677 was recorded at drum speed of 850 rpm and paddy moisture contents of 17 % and the least value was obtained at drum speed of 450 and 550 rpm and paddy moisture content of 23.0 %. The cracked grains increased from 7.0 to 37.0 %, 6.67 to 25.0 % and 14.0 to 17.30 % at paddy moisture contents of 17.0, 20.0 and 23.0 %, respectively as the drum speed increased from 450 to 850 rpm. The most grain damage was measured at moisture content of 17.0 % and the least was obtained at moisture content of 23.0 %.
Effect of cycling experience, aerobic power, and power output on preferred and most economical cycling cadences.

To determine the effects of cycling experience, fitness level, and power output on preferred and most economical cycling cadences: 1) the preferred cadence (PC) of 12 male cyclists, 10 male runners, and 10 less-trained male noncyclists was determined at 75, 100, 150, 200, and 250 W for cyclists and runners and 75, 100, 125, 150, and 175 W for the less-trained group; and 2) steady-state aerobic demand was determined at six cadences (50, 65, 80, 95, 110 rpm and PC) at 100, 150, and 200 W for cyclists and runners and 75, 100, and 150 W for less-trained subjects. Cyclists and runners (VO2max: 70.7 +/- 4.1 and 72.5 +/- 2.2 mL.kg-1.min-1, respectively) maintained PC between 90 and 100 rpm at all power outputs and both groups selected similar cadences at each power output. In contrast, the less-trained group (VO2max = 44.2 +/- 2.8 mL.kg-1.min-1) selected lower cadences at all common power outputs and reduced cadence from approximately 80 rpm at 75 W to 65 rpm at 175 W. The preferred cadences of all groups were significantly higher than their respective most economical cadences at all power outputs. Changes in power output had little effect on the most economical cadence, which was between 53.3 and 59.9 rpm, in all groups. It was concluded that cycling experience and minimization of aerobic demand are not critical determinants of PC in well-trained individuals. It was speculated that less-trained noncyclists, who cycled at a higher percentage of VO2max, may have selected lower PC to reduce aerobic demand.
On the Facial Thue Choice Index via Entropy Compression

A sequence is nonrepetitive if it contains no identical consecutive subsequences. An edge coloring of a path is nonrepetitive if the sequence of colors of its consecutive edges is nonrepetitive. By the celebrated construction of Thue, it is possible to generate nonrepetitive edge colorings for arbitrarily long paths using only three colors. A recent generalization of this concept implies that we may obtain such colorings even if we are forced to choose edge colors from any sequence of lists of size 4 (while sufficiency of lists of size 3 remains an open problem). As an extension of these basic ideas, Havet, Jendrol', Soták, and Škrabul'áková proved that for each plane graph, eight colors are sufficient to provide an edge coloring so that every facial path is nonrepetitively colored. In this article, we prove that the same is possible from lists, provided that these have size at least 12. We thus improve the previous bound of 291 (proved by means of the Lovász Local Lemma). Our approach is based on the Moser–Tardos entropy‐compression method and its recent extensions by Grytczuk, Kozik, and Micek, and by Dujmović, Joret, Kozik, and Wood.
Epigenetic regulation of the non‐canonical Wnt pathway in acute myeloid leukemia

Wnt5a is a member of the Wnt family of proteins that signals through the non‐canonical Wnt/Ca2+pathway to suppress cyclin D1. Deregulation of this pathway has been found in animal models suggesting that it acts as tumour suppressor in acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Although DNA methylation is the main mechanism of regulation of the canonical Wnt pathway in AML, the role of WNT5A abnormalities has never been evaluated in this clinical setting. The methylation status of WNT5A promoter–exon 1 was analyzed by methylation‐specific PCR and sequencing in eleven AML‐derived cell lines and 252 AML patients. We observed WNT5A hypermethylation in seven cell lines and in 43% (107/252) of AML patients. WNT5A methylation was associated with decreased WNT5A expression (P < 0.001) that was restored after exposure to 5‐Aza‐2’‐deoxycytidine. Moreover, WNT5A hypermethylation correlated with upregulation of CYCLIN D1 expression (P < 0.001). Relapse (15%vs 37%, P < 0.001) and mortality (61%vs 79%, P = 0.004) rates were lower for patients in the non‐methylated group. Disease‐free survival and overall survival at 6 and 7 years, respectively, were 60% and 27% for unmethylated patients and 20% and 0% for hypermethylated patients (P = 0.0001 and P = 0.04, respectively). Interestingly, significant differences were also observed when the analysis was carried out according to cytogenetic risk groups. We demonstrate that WNT5A, a putative tumor suppressor gene in AML, is silenced by methylation in this disease and that this epigenetic event is associated with upregulation of CYCLIN D1 expression and confers poor prognosis in patients with AML. (Cancer Sci 2009)
Relative Performance, Banker Compensation, and Systemic Risk

This paper shows that in the presence of correlated investment opportunities across banks, risk sharing between bank shareholders and bank managers leads to compensation contracts that include relative performance evaluation and to investment decisions that are biased toward such correlated opportunities, thus creating systemic risk. We analyze various policy recommendations regarding bank managerial pay and show that shareholders optimally undo the intended risk-reducing effects of the policies, demonstrating their ineffectiveness in curbing systemic risk.
The party politics of Euroscepticism in times of crisis: The case of Greece

This article traces the trajectory of party Euroscepticism in Greece drawing upon theories of issue competition. It demonstrates that the economic dimension of the multiple crises facing the European Union (EU) contributed to a Eurosceptic shift in public opinion, the electoral success of Eurosceptic parties, new parties populating the Europhile end of the spectrum, and the formation of a coalition government united not by ideological affinity but by a common Eurosceptic and anti-austerity agenda. Mainstream parties maintained their pro-EU agendas and challenger parties offered both pro- and anti-EU policy options to the electorate. The prospect of power resulted in the progressive softening of Euroscepticism among challenger parties. EU issue salience was relatively high across the party system and remained so during the crisis. Although Greek parties justified their pro- and anti-EU attitudes using a number of frames, economic arguments were prevalent at the height of the crisis and challenger parties of the left intensified their claims of the EU interfering in national politics. The findings have implications for our understanding of the evolving nature of Euroscepticism and the ways in which it may feature in domestic party politics.
Occurrence of biogenic amines and amines degrading bacteria in fish sauce

The contents of biogenic amines histamine, putrescine, and cadaverine in fish sauce were determined and the bacteria isolated from the samples were evaluated for their amines degradation activity. Five fish sauce samples contained 62.5–393.3 ppm of histamine, 5.6–242.8 ppm of putrescine, and 187.1–704.7 ppm of cadaverine. Thirty three bacterial isolates produced all three amines, seven isolates produced one or two amines, and one isolate did not produce any amine in differential agar media. Since the strains that produced amines were not supposed to degrade them, only eight isolates were further identified and evaluated for their amines degrading capability. Bacillus amyloliquefaciens FS-05 and Staphylococcus carnosus FS-19 degraded histamine up to 59.9% and 29.1% from its initial concentration, respectively. Staphylococcus intermedius FS-20 and Bacillus subtilis FS-12 degraded putrescine and cadaverine up to 30.4% and 28.9%, respectively. Most isolates tolerated the salt concentration of up to 15% and temperature of up to 45°C.The current study provided new information on biogenic amines degrading bacteria, isolated from high-salt-content food products. The amines degradation activity of the bacteria is considered as strain rather than species specific.
AVAILABILITY OF IRON STORES BUILT UP BY IRON DEXTRIN

Iron stores built up by iron dextrin have been studied in a group of iron‐depleted, non‐anemic blood donor volunteers. The chelatability by desferrioxamine (DF) of these iron stores was repeatedly examined during 21 months at different loads of administered iron. The availability for DF chelation was lower as compared to natural iron stores of a comparable size. The availability for Hb formation was studied with vigorous phlebotomy and was found to be reduced. An iron‐deficient state developed when approximately 65% of the administered iron was mobilized. Non‐available iron deposits could be demonstrated in bone marrow smears in all subjects at the end of performed phlebotomies.