Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A sunny future: expert elicitation of China's solar photovoltaic technologies

China has emerged as the global manufacturing center for solar photovoltaic (PV) products. Chinese firms have entered all stages of the supply chain, producing most of the installed solar modules around the world. Meanwhile, production costs are at record lows. The decisions that Chinese solar producers make today will influence the path for the solar industry and its role towards de-carbonization of global energy systems in the years to come. However, to date, there have been no assessments of the future costs and efficiency of solar PV systems produced by the Chinese PV industry. We perform an expert elicitation to assess the technological and non-technological factors that led to the success of China’s silicon PV industry as well as likely future costs and performance. Experts evaluated key metrics such as efficiency, costs, and commercial viability of 17 silicon and non-silicon solar PV technologies by 2030. Silicon-based technologies will continue to be the mainstream product for large-scale electricity generation application in the near future, with module efficiency reaching as high as 23% and production cost as low as $0.24/W. The levelized cost of electricity for solar will be around $34/MWh, allowing solar PV to be competitive with traditional energy resources like coal. The industry’s future developments may be affected by overinvestment, overcapacity, and singular short-term focus.
Cyclooxygenase‐2 contributes to dysmotility and enhanced excitability of myenteric AH neurones in the inflamed guinea pig distal colon

We have previously demonstrated that trinitrobenzene sulphonic acid (TNBS)‐induced colitis in guinea pig is associated with hyperexcitability of myenteric AH neurones, enhanced synaptic activity in the myenteric plexus, increased serotonin (5‐HT) availability in the mucosa, and decreased propulsive motor activity. The current study tested the hypothesis that the activation of cyclooxygenase (COX) contributes to these alterations in bowel functions. DFU inhibition of COX‐2, but not SC‐560 inhibition of COX‐1, restored to normal levels the electrical properties of myenteric AH neurones, the proportion of S neurones exhibiting slow EPSPs, and the rate of propulsive motor activity. Neither inhibitor was effective in altering the level of inflammation, the increased availability of mucosal 5‐HT, or the enhanced fast EPSPs in myenteric AH and S neurones. COX‐2 expression is enhanced in the myenteric plexus and cells within the smooth muscle layers during colitis, possibly reflecting the site at which COX‐2 inhibition acts to allow recovery of motor function. In support of this concept, COX‐1, but not COX‐2, inhibition was effective in restoring normal mucosal prostaglandin levels. These results indicate that the various changes that occur in the motor neural pathways of the distal colon in TNBS‐induced colitis do not involve a single neuroimmune mechanism. COX‐2 activation is a critical step in the enhanced excitability of AH neurones as well as diminished propulsive motility in TNBS colitis, whereas other yet to be resolved pathways, that do not involve COX‐1 or COX‐2 activation, lead to altered 5‐HT content in the mucosa and an augmentation of fast EPSPs.
Postpartum thyroid dysfunction and HLA status

Abstract. Nine‐hundred‐and‐one women presenting in an antenatal clinic at the 60th week of pregnancy were tested for antithyroid antibodies. A group of 113 antibody‐positive women and 108 antibody‐negative age‐matched controls were HLA typed and followed prospectively at 6‐weekly intervals through pregnancy and for 12 months postpartum. Forty‐five of the women developed biochemical evidence of postpartum thyroid dysfunction (PPTD) of whom 36 were antibody positive. Compared with a local control population (n = 600), and using multiplex analysis, there was a significant increase in the combinations HLA B8, DR3 and HLA Al, B8, DR3 from 22.5% to 40.0% (P<0.02) and from 18.6% to 35.6% (P<0.01) respectively in the women who developed PPTD. The well‐recognized association of these haplotypes with other organ‐specific autoimmune diseases provides further support for autoimmune events being implicated in the development of PPTD.
Effect of acute and chronic hypoxia on the swimming performance, metabolic capacity and cardiac function of Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua)

SUMMARY Low water oxygen content (hypoxia) is a common feature of many freshwater and marine environments. However, we have a poor understanding of the degree to which diminished cardiac function contributes to the reduction in fish swimming performance concomitant with acute exposure to hypoxia, or how fish cardiorespiratory physiology is altered by, or adapts to, chronic hypoxia. Thus, we acclimated adult Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) to either ~8-9 kPa O2 (40-45% air saturation) or ~21 kPa O2 (100% air saturation; normoxia) for 6-12 weeks at 10°C, and subsequently measured metabolic variables [routine oxygen consumption (), maximum , metabolic scope] and cardiac function (cardiac output, ; heart rate, fH; and stroke volume, VS) in these fish during critical swimming speed (Ucrit) tests performed at both levels of water oxygenation. Although surgery (flow probe implantation) reduced the Ucrit of normoxia-acclimated cod by 14% (from 1.74 to 1.50 BL s−1) under normoxic conditions, exposure to acute hypoxia lowered the Ucrit of both groups (surgery and non-surgery) by ~30% (to 1.23 and 1.02 BL s−1, respectively). This reduction in swimming performance was associated with large decreases in maximum and metabolic scope (≥50%), and maximum fH and (by 16 and 22%), but not VS. Long-term acclimation to hypoxia resulted in a significant elevation in normoxic metabolic rate as compared with normoxia-acclimated fish (by 27%), but did not influence normoxic or hypoxic values for Ucrit, maximum or metabolic scope. This was surprising given that resting and maximum values for were significantly lower in hypoxia-acclimated cod at both levels of oxygenation, because of lower values for VS. However, hypoxia-acclimated cod were able to consume more oxygen for a given cardiac output. These results provide important insights into how fish cardiorespiratory physiology is impacted by short-term and prolonged exposure to hypoxia, and further highlight the tremendous capacity of the fish cardiorespiratory system to deal with environmental challenges.
Association of calcium channel blocker use with lower hemoglobin levels in chronic kidney disease.

AIM To search whether calcium channel blockers (CCBs) are associated with lower hemoglobin levels in chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients who are not on renal replacement therapy (RRT), vitamin D and anti-anemic treatment. PATIENTS AND METHODS CKD patients were classified into two groups. Patients on CCBs treatment (103 patients) and patients not using CCBs (104 patients) were compared cross-sectionally regarding clinical findings, complete blood count (CBC), biochemistry and regular medication use. Patients with polycystic kidney disease, comorbidities that could influence CBC other than iron deficiency of obscure origin, patients receiving RRT, erythropoietin (EPO), vitamin D, phosphate binders and drugs that could influence CBC were excluded. Under dependent variable of CCB use, all significantly different independent variables were subjected to multivariate binary logistic regression analysis (MBLRA). RESULTS Lower hemoglobin, lower bilirubinemia, higher serum EPO, higher systolic blood pressure were observed in CCB users. Two groups were similar concerning age, gender, BMI, CKD etiology, CKD stage, pretibial edema prevalence, cardiothoracic index, diastolic blood pressure, corrected reticulocyte count, BUN, creatinine, eGFR, proBNP, parathormone, alkaline phosphatase, phosphorous, corrected calcemia, sCRP, relative EPO deficiency and prevalence of relative EPO deficient patients. Groups were comparable regarding comorbidities, types and usage frequencies of all antihypertensive medications other than CCBs. Higher systolic blood pressure and lower hemoglobin were significantly associated with CCB use after MBLRA. CONCLUSIONS Hemoglobin was significantly lower in CCB users compared to non-users, among CKD patients who did not receive RRT, EPO, phosphate binders, vitamin D, iron, vitamin B12 and folic acid.
Change in the bacterial flora of pouchitis.

BACKGROUND/AIMS Pouchitis is the most frequent complication of ileal pouch-anal anastomosis for patients with ulcerative colitis. While the mechanism of pouchitis is still unknown, a role involving the bacterial flora is suspected. The aim of the present study is to investigate the association between pouchitis and change in the bacterial flora. METHODOLOGY This study included 22 patients who underwent ileal pouch-anal anastomosis in our department to treat ulcerative colitis. The mean age was 46.2 years. The male-to-female ratio was 10:12. The mean interval between surgery and this study was 95.6 months. Collected feces was serially diluted 10-fold to 10-8 and each solution was cultured. We diagnosed pouchitis using the pouchitis disease activity index. RESULTS Nine of the 22 patients were diagnosed as having pouchitis. In the obligate anaerobes, the numbers of Bacteroidaceae and Bifidobacterium were significantly lower in the pouchitis group (P<0.01 and P<0.001). In the facultative anaerobic bacteria, the number of Lactobacillus was significantly lower in the pouchitis group (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS The numbers of Bacteroidaceae, Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus were significantly lower in the bacterial flora of the pouchitis group. Our findings suggest that there is an association between change in the bacterial flora and pouchitis.
Phosphorylation-Independent Activity of Atypical Response Regulators of Helicobacter pylori

ABSTRACT The genome of the gastric pathogen Helicobacter pylori harbors a remarkably low number of regulatory genes, including three and five open reading frames encoding two-component histidine kinases and response regulators, respectively, which are putatively involved in transcriptional regulation. Two of the response regulator genes, hp1043 and hp166, proved to be essential for cell growth, and inactivation of the response regulator gene hp1021 resulted in a severe growth defect, as indicated by a small-colony phenotype. The sequences of the receiver domains of response regulators HP1043 and HP1021 differ from the consensus sequence of the acidic pocket of the receiver domain which is involved in the phosphotransfer reaction from the histidine kinase to the response regulator. Using a genetic complementation system, we demonstrated that the function of response regulator HP166, which is essential for cell growth, can be provided by a mutated derivative carrying a D52N substitution at the site of phosphorylation. We found that the atypical receiver sequences of HP1043 and HP1021 are not crucial for the function of these response regulators. Phosphorylation of the receiver domains of HP1043 and HP1021 is not needed for response regulator function and may not occur at all. Thus, the phosphorylation-independent action of these regulators differs from the well-established two-component paradigm.
Tissue plasminogen activator for acute ischemic stroke in patients with unruptured cerebral aneurysms.

Intracranial hemorrhage (ICH) is the most feared complication of thrombolytic therapy for acute ischemic stroke. There are limited data on the risks of thrombolysis in patients with asymptomatic intracranial aneurysm. We report 2 adults with signs of hemispheric ischemia who were successfully treated with intravenous tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA), despite the presence of asymptomatic intracranial aneurysm. The presence of an asymptomatic intracranial aneurysm may not necessarily preclude a good outcome from acute ischemic stroke treated with rt-PA. Selected patients harboring incidental, unruptured intracranial aneurysm may benefit from thrombolytics.
(Developing) Teacher Discourse Moves: A Framework for Professional Development*

We describe our ongoing efforts to design materials for supporting secondary mathematics teachers in using a set of Teacher Discourse Moves purposefully in order to develop classroom discourse that is both productive and powerful for students’ learning. We focus on secondary mathematics classroom discourse because mathematical language and meanings get increasingly complex beginning in middle school, and most discourse-related work in mathematics education has focused on elementary school classrooms. We make explicit both the concepts we use and the translation of these theoretical concepts into ideas useful for practice. This article contributes to ongoing discussions about making visible the work of developing research-based professional development materials.
Unemployment Hysteresis and Cycle Asymmetry: A case study

This paper proposes an exhaustive step-by-step methodology guide to study in detail the behaviour of unemployment time-series, applied to the Portuguese case. In the first part of the chapter, we assess if the series follows a unit root process as to confirm the hysteresis hypothesis. In the second part, we develop a baseline nonlinear model to test for the asymmetric behaviour of unemployment across cycle phases. Our results lend support for hysteresis and show that the Portuguese unemployment dynamics is better described by a nonlinear with three types of transition variables: (a) annual change of cyclical unemployment (b) annual change of unemployment; and (c) annual GDP growth rate. We also analyse the impact of Labour Market Institutions (LMI) on its asymmetric behaviour, concluding that LMI can affect not only the regimes but also the equilibrium unemployment rate. Thus, strong enough short-run increases in unemployment, as those observed during the recent fiscal consolidation effort, have non-negligible impacts on raising the Portuguese natural rate of unemployment.
Residual effects of ecstasy (3,4‐methylenedioxymethamphetamine) on low level visual processes

‘Ecstasy’ (3,4‐methylenedioxymethamphetamine) induces impaired functioning in the serotonergic system, including the occipital lobe. This study employed the ‘tilt aftereffect’ paradigm to operationalise the function of orientation‐selective neurons among ecstasy consumers and controls as a means of investigating the role of reduced serotonin on visual orientation processing. The magnitude of the tilt aftereffect reflects the extent of lateral inhibition between orientation‐selective neurons and is elicited to both ‘real’ contours, processed in visual cortex area V1, and illusory contours, processed in V2. The magnitude of tilt aftereffect to both contour types was examined among 19 ecstasy users (6 ecstasy only; 13 ecstasy‐plus‐cannabis users) and 23 matched controls (9 cannabis‐only users; 14 drug‐naive). Ecstasy users had a significantly greater tilt magnitude than non‐users for real contours (Hedge's g = 0.63) but not for illusory contours (g = 0.20). These findings provide support for literature suggesting that residual effects of ecstasy (and reduced serotonin) impairs lateral inhibition between orientation‐selective neurons in V1, which however suggests that ecstasy may not substantially affect this process in V2. Multiple studies have now demonstrated ecstasy‐related deficits on basic visual functions, including orientation and motion processing. Such low‐level effects may contribute to the impact of ecstasy use on neuropsychological tests of visuospatial function. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Back-Channel Representation: A Study of the Strategic Communication of Senators with the US Department of Labor

An underappreciated way members of Congress represent interests is by pursuing policy goals through their communication with the bureaucracy. I argue that the bureaucracy provides an alternative, covert way for cross-pressured legislators, who face diverging pressures from party leaders, interest groups, and subconstituencies, to satisfy conflicting interests. Using original data of senators’ communication with the US Department of Labor from 2005 to 2012 (109th through 112th Congresses), I show that, when faced with cross-pressures from party and constituency, senators strategically choose less visible, back-channel means for pursuing policy goals. These findings provide a new perspective on representation by demonstrating that legislators pursue policy goals outside of the legislative process in an effort to evade accountability.
The ras-related gene rhoB is an immediate-early gene inducible by v-Fps, epidermal growth factor, and platelet-derived growth factor in rat fibroblasts

A set of genes is rapidly inducible when quiescent fibroblasts are stimulated by growth factors or by the activation of temperature-sensitive retroviral protein-tyrosine kinases. Most of these so-called immediate-early genes were cloned by differential cDNA hybridization. DNA sequence analysis identified many of them as putative members of the growth factor or of the transcription factor gene family, suggesting a role in signal transmission during the G0-to-G1 transition. In this study, we identified one of the genes that are rapidly inducible by the retroviral protein-tyrosine kinases v-Src and v-Fps of Rous sarcoma virus and Fujinami sarcoma virus, respectively, as the rhoB gene, a member of the ras gene superfamily whose products are GTP-binding proteins, rhoB is transiently activated at the transcriptional level by v-Fps and by epidermal growth factor. Its labile RNA is inducible in the presence of cycloheximide but not of actinomycin D. rhoB is strongly induced by epidermal growth factor and by platelet-derived growth factor both in subconfluent, serum-starved and in density-arrested Rat-2 fibroblasts. Fetal calf serum is a poor inducer, particularly in density-arrested cells, and phorbol esters do not increase rhoB expression at all. These data suggest that rhoB is inducible by protein-tyrosine kinases through a pathway not involving the activation of protein kinase C. Neither the closely related rhoC and rhoA genes nor the distantly related c-H-ras gene is rapidly inducible by mitogens. Thus, rhoB is the first known member of the small GTP-binding proteins among the immediate-early genes.
Did Austerity Cause Brexit?

This paper documents a significant association between the exposure of an individual or area to the UK government’s austerity-induced welfare reforms begun in 2010, and the following: the subsequent rise in support for the UK Independence Party, an important correlate of Leave support in the 2016 UK referendum on European Union membership; broader individual-level measures of political dissatisfaction; and direct measures of support for Leave. Leveraging data from all UK electoral contests since 2000, along with detailed, individual-level panel data, the findings suggest that the EU referendum could have resulted in a Remain victory had it not been for austerity. (JEL D72, F15, F60, H53, I38)
Systemic lupus erythematosus and guillain-barre syndrome.

Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS) has been rarely reported as a presenting manifestation of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). We describe a 23-year-old patient with SLE who presented with GBS. He developed progressive ascending motor paralysis but also had pulmonary disease, proteinuria, and hypoalbuminemia. Serologic studies revealed ANA and antibodies to double stranded-DNA. Electromyographic and nerve conduction studies were suggestive of acute inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy, and a kidney biopsy specimen showed membranous glomerulonephritis. Treatment with corticosteroids and plasmapheresis resulted in clinical improvement of the neurological illness. The renal disease progressed despite prednisone and was eventually treated with hemodialysis. The neurologic disease did not recur.Auto-antibodies reactive with neural tissue and immunological crossreactivity between auto-antibodies in SLE and neural tissue antigens may occur. Complement fixing antibodies to nerve and kidney in patients with GBS and membranous glomerulonephritis, point to a common pathogenic relationship. Such antibodies may be seen in patients with SLE. The increased susceptibility to infection caused by immunosuppression may make patients with SLE susceptible to GBS. Plasmapheresis and corticosteroids, as in our patient, plus i.v. immunoglobulins and cyclophosphamide has brought good results in patients who have SLE with GBS.
SPECIAL OBSERVATION IN THE CARE OF PSYCHIATRIC INPATIENTS: A LITERATURE REVIEW

This paper summarizes the results of a search of electronic databases for papers on special observation (SO). Published studies to date about SO are entirely descriptive. No evaluative research appears to have taken place, leaving the procedure based on clinical pragmatism and tradition. Something between 3% 20% of admissions receive some form of SO during their stay and the rate of usage varies widely between wards. SO is used as a method of controlling and containing the most disturbed patients who are considered to be imminently at risk of harming themselves or others. Such patients tend to be younger and suffering from acute psychosis or depression. Which professional staff have the authority to initiate and terminate SO varies from place to place, as does its duration. The financial costs have been crudely assessed and are reported to be very high, perhaps up to 20% of the nursing budget for a hospital. Further variation exists on who is allowed to carry out SO. Nurses frequently make unofficial modifications to the procedure based upon their own individual judgments and assessments, and policies vary widely among hospitals. There is little agreement between authorities on what nurses should do during SO, although there is some evidence that it can, under certain circumstances, be therapeutic. However there is also evidence that nurses find SO stressful and patients dislike it.
Treatment of Infantile Spasms: Medical or Surgical?

Summary: Although infantile spasms were initially described in 1841, remarkably little progress has been made in understanding the pathophysiology of this “peculiar form of infantile convulsions. ” Consequently, our ability to treat infantile spasms is limited. Infantile spasms are classified as a “generalized” seizure disorder in the international classification system, which suggests that the underlying brain abnormality causing the seizures also must be diffuse or generalized. As the classification suggests, there are many diffuse, or multifocal, brain disorders related to infantile spasms, e.g., inborn errors of metabolism, hypoxic‐ischemic brain injury, and developmental brain defects such as tuberous sclerosis or Aicardi's syndrome. On the other hand, infantile spasms have been reported in which a localized brain abnormality was present, e.g., tumor, stroke, and trauma. On rare occasions, removal of a tumor has resulted in cessation of the generalized infantile spasms. This finding suggests that focal cortical abnormalities can cause infantile spasms and that removing the abnormality can stop the seizures. At University of California, Los Angeles, the Pediatric Epilepsy Surgery Program has developed new approaches to the treatment of infantile spasms. The principal underlying concepts are (a) children with medically refractory infantile spasms may have an area of cortical defect (called the zone of cortical abnormality) that causes the seizures and (b) infantile spasms are usually generalized seizures. Thus, the goal of the surgical assessment is not the identification of the focus of seizure onset but rather the identification of the zone of cortical abnormality.
Renal insufficiency, a frequent complication with age in oral‐facial‐digital syndrome type I

Saal S, Faivre L, Aral B, Gigot N, Toutain A, Van Maldergem L, Destree A, Maystadt I, Cosyns J‐P, Jouk P‐S, Loeys B, Chauveau D, Bieth E, Layet V, Mathieu M, Lespinasse J, Teebi A, Franco B, Gautier E, Binquet C, Masurel‐Paulet A, Mousson C, Gouyon J‐B, Huet F, Thauvin‐Robinet C. Renal insufficiency, a frequent complication with age in oral‐facial‐digital syndrome type I.