Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Multivariate Statistical Methods: A First Course

The purpose of this book is to introduce wavelet methodology in time series applications. Emphasis is placed on the discrete wavelet transform and other discrete wavelets. There are many analogies to the spectral analysis of time series that the authors make in the book. However, they do not assume that the reader has any knowledge of Fourier analysis. They cover the relevant aspects of the frequency-domain theory of time series in Chapters 2 and 7. Just as the frequency-domain methods decompose the variance of a time series into frequency components, so do wavelets decompose the variance according to scaling. The authors take great pains in demonstrating this with several specific wavelets including the discrete wavelet transform (DWT) and the maximal overlap discrete wavelet transform (MODWT). Fast transform methods exist for wavelets as well as for Fourier transforms, and they are apparently simpler and faster for wavelets. This is a computational selling point for wavelets. The contents of the book are as follows:
Hepatocellular Carcinoma Size: Platelets, γ-Glutamyl Transpeptidase, and Alkaline Phosphatase

Background: Thrombocytopenia is a cirrhosis surrogate which is associated with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) development. Aims: To compare the clinical characteristics of HCC in the presence and absence of thrombocytopenia. Methods: The baseline clinical data of a large cohort of randomly presenting, biopsy-proven HCC patients was examined for phenotypic patterns, after organizing the data by tumor size and subdivision into tumor size terciles. Results: Small tumor size tercile I patients had the lowest platelet counts. Patients with higher platelets within each size tercile had the lowest bilirubin and prothrombin time and higher γ-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGTP) and alkaline phosphatase (ALKP) levels. When patients with similar platelet and bilirubin levels were compared, α-fetoprotein, GGTP, and ALKP were significantly increased in patients with larger tumors and in the presence of portal vein thrombus. Large tumor size tercile III patients without thrombocytopenia had larger tumors, higher GGTP and ALKP, and lower bilirubin levels than did patients with thrombocytopenia. Conclusions: Thrombocytopenia occurred in 40.7% of patients with smaller tumors but only in 11.3% of patients with larger tumors. Patients without thrombocytopenia had elevated GGTP and ALKP and lower bilirubin levels, regardless of tumor size, but they also had larger tumors within the large tumor tercile.
Skeletal responsiveness to parathyroid hormone in pseudohypoparathyroidism.

BACKGROUND Although there have been some case reports suggesting that bone in patients with pseudohypoparathyroidism (PHP) might respond to parathyroid hormone (PTH), no information is available as to whether serum PTH concentration is related to bone metabolic markers or to bone mineral density (BMD) in PHP. OBJECTIVE To address these relationships, by comparing intact serum PTH, bone metabolic markers and BMD in patients with PHP with those in patients with idiopathic hypoparathyroidism (IHP) and postoperative hypoparathyroidism (OHP). METHODS Intact serum PTH, bone metabolic markers (osteocalcin, tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase, pyridinoline, deoxypyridinoline) and BMD by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry or single-photon absorptiometry were measured in patients with PHP Ia (n=2) and PHP Ib (n=8). The results were compared with those in patients with IHP (n=5) and OHP (n=14). RESULTS All bone metabolic markers measured were present in significantly greater amounts in patients with PHP Ib than in those with IHP+OHP. The Z score (standard deviation of average BMD at each age) of the BMD of femoral neck was significantly lower in patients with PHP Ib than in those with IHP+OHP. The Z scores of BMD of lumbar spine and radius were also lower in patients with PHP Ib than in those with IHP+OHP, but the difference was not significant. Moreover, the intact serum PTH concentrations were significantly and positively related to bone metabolic marker levels in all patients, and the intact serum PTH concentrations were significantly and negatively related to BMD of lumbar spine in PHP patients. CONCLUSIONS These results suggest that PTH stimulates bone turnover in PHP Ib patients, resulting in a relatively lower BMD in PHP Ib patients than in IHP+OHP patients. The present study indicates that bones of most cases of PHP could respond to PTH.
Effect of Body Mass Index on Postural Balance and Muscle Strength in Children Aged 8-10 years

Background:Childhood overweight and obesity, which are considered as global epidemic, can be assessed using Body Mass Index (BMI). BMI difference can lead to anatomic changes due to an increased body load. This increase might also affect motor performance, including changes in postural balance and muscle strength. Aims and Objectives: to explain the influence of BMI on postural balance and lower limb muscle strength and to assess the correlation between those two variables in children aged 8-10 years. Material and methods:The sample consisted of 63 children aged 8-10 years, which were divided in 3 groups: BMI-normal, BMI-overweight, and BMI-obese. The postural balance was assessed using single leg balance test on MatScan and the Center Of Pressure (COP) area was recorded. Isometric muscle strength of hip extensor and knee extensor were measured using a hand-held dynamometer. Results: Obese children had significantly largerCOP area than overweight (p = 0.004) and normal weight children (p = 0.000). There were no significant differences in hip extensor muscle strength between obese children with overweight and normal weight children (p=0.527). The absolute knee extensor muscle strength in obese group was significantly higher than the overweight and normal group (p = 0.003). However the relative muscle strength of lower limb for obese children was significantly lower than for normal weight. There was no significant correlation between absolute hip extensor and knee extensor muscles strength with COP area. Conclusion: Obese children have decreased postural balance and increased absolute knee extensor Effect of Body Mass Index on Postural Balance and Muscle Strength in Children Aged 8-10 years 1,2* 3 4 Lucky Prasetiowati , Sasanthy Kusumaningtyas , Tirza Z Tamin Master of Biomedical Science, Faculty of Medicine, University of Indonesia, Jakarta, 2 Indonesia, Department of Anatomy , Faculty of Medicine, UniversitasAirlangga, 3 Surabaya, Indonesia, Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, University of Indonesia, Jakarta, 4 Indonesia, Department of Medic Rehabilitation, Faculty of Medicine, University of Indonesia, Jakarta, Indonesia and Histology muscle strength significantly when compared to overweight and normal children. There is no significant correlation between postural balance and muscle strength.
Labor supply, income distribution, and tax progressivity in a search model

Abstract We develop a search model with risk-averse households to study the impact of tax progressivity on labor supply and income inequality across education groups. Labor supply responses are considered along both intensive and extensive margins. Our quantitative results are consistent with those of the existing empirical literature. First, we find that a decline in tax progressivity associated with the Tax Reform Act of 1986 has a significant impact on the aggregate labor supply with approximately 61 percent occurred along the extensive margin. Second, households differ in their labor and income responses to tax reform. A decline in tax progressivity changes the income composition of each household by affecting labor supplies and asset holdings. This leads to an increase in income inequality. Therefore, the tax share paid by the most educated group rises due to an increase in capital income after tax reforms are instituted.
p31comet acts to ensure timely spindle checkpoint silencing subsequent to kinetochore attachment

p31comet opposes the activities of the Mad2 spindle assembly checkpoint protein, localizes to unattached kinetochores, and like many checkpoint proteins, turns over rapidly at that site. Depletion of p31comet prevents timely passage into anaphase, showing that mitotic progression requires an active mechanism for silencing the spindle checkpoint.
The Role of Entrepreneurship Skills Training in the Economic Reintegration of LRA Ex-Combatants in Post-armed Conflict in Northern Uganda

Reintegration of ex-combatants has been a concern after every armed conflict the world over. Northern Uganda experienced two decades (1986-2006) of such conflict. After the Juba Peace Talks that ended the hostilities between the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) rebels and the government forces, many LRA ex-combatants, under the Amnesty Act, have returned and are being reintegrated into their communities. This is under the disarmament, demobilization and reintegration (DDR) programme. Some received a reinsertion package between 2005 and 2009 to allow them reintegrate economically but this has not been effective. The purpose of this study was to assess the relevance of entrepreneurship skills training in the economic re-integration of the LRA ex-combatants. It was conducted in Gulu, Nwoya and Kitgum districts in Acholi Sub-region in northern Uganda. A sample size of 99 respondents was drawn from ex-combatants, their family members, business persons and Civil Society Organisations staffs. Forty eight were ex-combatants who were proportionately and randomly drawn from the three study districts. Both descriptive and inferential analyses carried out using SPSS software version 16. It was established that majority of the ex-combatants have extreme financial burdens arising from their marital status, polygamous type of marriage, number of children, and number of dependants that they have. Majority of them had no formal education while many had only primary education. Most were in the youth age group (18-35yrs) and 47.8% of them had no formal education. They had poor employability and low financial independence. Entrepreneurship skill training was established to be correlated to economic reintegration and that 44.7% of economic reintegration can be explained by entrepreneurship skill training. Business skills and financial literacy training were statistically significant predictors of economic reintegration. It was recommended that the government leads in financially supporting and cultivating the environment suitable for entrepreneurships skills training of ex-combatants.
Increased Brachial-Ankle Pulse Wave Velocity Is Independently Associated with White Matter Hyperintensities

Background: White matter hyperintensities (WMHs) are a risk factor for stroke. Their etiology is considered to be cerebral microvascular abnormality. However, the association between WMHs and arteriosclerosis is not yet clear. The aim of this hospital-based cohort study was to identify the arteriosclerotic characteristics associated with WMHs. Methods: We cross-sectionally included 240 consecutive patients with no history of stroke. We measured the brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV), ankle brachial pressure index, and intima-media thickness of the common carotid artery, and we performed magnetic resonance brain imaging. WMHs were defined as periventricular hyperintensity (Fazekas grade ≧3) and/or separate deep white matter hyperintense signals (Fazekas grade ≧2). We determined the prevalence of WMHs, silent brain infarction (SBI), hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, diabetes mellitus, ischemic heart disease, and smoking. We compared 2 groups of patients, defined by the presence or absence of WMHs, using multiple logistic regression analyses. Results: In multivariable analysis, SBI (OR 3.38; 95% CI 1.52–7.72), hypertension (OR 2.23; 95% CI 1.03–5.15), female sex (OR 1.95; 95% CI 1.03–3.76), baPWV (OR 1.12; 95% CI 1.02–1.23), and age (OR 1.09; 95% CI 1.04–1.14) were independently associated with WMHs. Conclusions: An increased baPWV is associated with WMHs. Management of increased baPWV may help to prevent the progression of WMHs and stroke.
Prognostic value of internal tandem duplication of the FLT3 gene in childhood acute myelogenous leukemia.

BACKGROUND Recently, an internal tandem duplication of the FLT3 gene (FLT3/ITD) was found in 20% of adult cases of acute myelogenous leukemia (AML), and this length abnormality was suggested to be associated with leukemic progression. PROCEDURE We examined the mRNA expression of the FLT3 gene by using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) in 64 children with AML, and further abnormal transcripts were cloned and sequenced. RESULTS An unexpected longer product was found in seven patients (11%) by RT-PCR of the FLT3 gene. Sequence analysis of these abnormal products revealed the presence of tandemly duplicated fragments in all seven patients. Three factors were identified to be associated with high incidence of FLT3/ITD; older patients (> or = 10 years) (P = 0.049), high WBC count (> or = 50,000/microl) at presentation (P = 0.002), and M3 in FAB subtypes (P = 0.002). Induction failure was observed in 3 (43%) of 7 patients with FLT3/ITD. Only FLT3/ITD was identified as a significant risk factor for induction failure by univariate analysis (P = 0.013), although it was not significant by multivariate analysis (P = 0.11). The Kaplan-Meier estimate of event-free survival rate at 5 years was 14% for patients with FLT3/ITD, which was significantly lower in comparison with 69% for patients without FLT3/ITD (P = 0.003). This finding was also identified by multivariate analysis (P = 0.01). CONCLUSIONS In this study, FLT3/ITD was observed in 11% of childhood AML and identified to be associated with poor prognosis. A large prospective study with uniform treatment is necessary to confirm our results.
Style Investing and the ICAPM

Empirical multifactor models of excess returns are theoretically grounded in Merton’sICAPM. Merton modeled investors who maximize expected utility of their own consumption. Multiplepriced factors arise as “hedge portfolios” most closely correlated with state variables that driveintertemporal changes in the investment opportunity set. It is puzzling that empirically useful factorshave not been convincingly identified as those portfolios, despite massive e ort. But the majorityof asset demand now arises from style investors, i.e. institutionally managed funds that try to eithermeet (index funds) or beat (actively managed) returns from style-specific benchmark portfolios. Sowe modify Merton’s derivation to incorporate the aggregate demands derived from style investors’di erent objective functions. In addition to resolving the aforementioned puzzle, we show that thisstyle investing version of the ICAPM is more consistent with recent empirical evidence documentingcomovement among assets held in a style benchmark. Finally, the model casts doubt on the widespreadbelief that individual investors will necessarily benefit from funds with positive multifactor alpha.
CD36 and taste of fat

Purpose of reviewThis review explores the recent literature on the role of CD36 in the taste of fat, eating behavior and obesity risk in rodents and humans. Recent findingsDuring the last decade, evidence was accumulated supporting the existence of a taste of fat responsible for the spontaneous preference for lipid-rich foods. Surprisingly, the multifunctional membrane-associated protein CD36 appears to play a significant role in this system in rodents. Recently, another plausible gustatory lipid sensor, the GPR120, was also identified in mice, revealing that the mechanism involved in oral fat detection is more complex than initially expected. Interestingly, lingual CD36 and GPR120 display a differential regulation during a meal suggesting complementary functions. CD36 and GPR120 have also been identified in human taste buds. Implication of lingual CD36 in the chemoreception of fat in foods and consequences on eating behavior and obesity risk is actively studied in various species. SummaryRecent studies suggest that lingual CD36 is involved in the attraction for fatty foods in rodents. The fact that it is also expressed in taste buds in humans raises the possibility of a universal function as gustatory lipid sensor able to affect eating behavior.
Use of a lux reporter system for monitoring rapid changes in alpha-toxin gene expression in Clostridium perfringens during growth.

To determine whether the luxA-luxB reporter system is suitable as a sensitive reporter for rapid real-time measurements of alpha-toxin gene (cpa) expression in Clostridium perfringens, and to widen the range of alpha-toxin-producing C. perfringens strains examined with respect to cpa expression during growth, the reporter plasmid pPS14 (possessing the alpha-toxin promoter region plus 0.7 kb of upstream region linked to the luxA-luxB genes), was used in batch growth experiments of C. perfringens P90.2. 2, an alpha-toxin-producing strain with no known association with disease. Levels of in vivo bioluminescence obtained during growth were broadly in agreement with previous mRNA and reporter studies of cpa expression (Bullifent et al., FEMS Microbiol. Lett. 131 (1995) 99-105), confirming the suitability of lux as an accurate reporter system in this organism, but the sensitive nature of the lux reporter permitted the in vivo detection of a very rapid reduction in expression during late-exponential phase that was not attributable to loss in cell viability or limiting bioluminescence assay substrates. There was also a small peak in cpa expression in early- to mid-exponential phase cells, that was not detected in previous studies with other reporters. This may be indicative of the exquisite sensitivity of the lux reporter, or this may be a difference in cpa expression that occurs specifically in this C. perfringens strain. Whichever is the case, these results confirm the complexity of alpha-toxin gene expression in different strains of this pathogenic bacterium.
Mate competition and evolutionary outcomes in genetically modified zebrafish (Danio rerio)

Demonstrating relationships between sexual selection mechanisms and trait evolution is central to testing evolutionary theory. Using zebrafish, we found that wild‐type males possessed a significant advantage in mate competition over transgenic RFP Glofish® males. In mating trials, wild‐type males were aggressively superior to transgenic males in male–male chases and male–female chases; as a result, wild‐type males sired 2.5× as many young as did transgenic males. In contrast, an earlier study demonstrated that female zebrafish preferred transgenic males as mates when mate competition was excluded experimentally. We tested the evolutionary consequence of this conflict between sexual selection mechanisms in a long‐term study. The predicted loss of the transgenic phenotype was confirmed. More than 18,500 adults collected from 18 populations across 15 generations revealed that the frequency of the transgenic phenotype declined rapidly and was eliminated entirely in all but one population. Fitness component data for both sexes indicated that only male mating success differed between wild‐type and transgenic individuals. Our predictive demographic model based on fitness components closely matched the rate of transgenic phenotype loss observed in the long‐term study, thereby supporting its utility for studies assessing evolutionary outcomes of escaped or released genetically modified animals.
Bioclimatic transect networks: Powerful observatories of ecological change

Abstract Transects that traverse substantial climate gradients are important tools for climate change research and allow questions on the extent to which phenotypic variation associates with climate, the link between climate and species distributions, and variation in sensitivity to climate change among biomes to be addressed. However, the potential limitations of individual transect studies have recently been highlighted. Here, we argue that replicating and networking transects, along with the introduction of experimental treatments, addresses these concerns. Transect networks provide cost‐effective and robust insights into ecological and evolutionary adaptation and improve forecasting of ecosystem change. We draw on the experience and research facilitated by the Australian Transect Network to demonstrate our case, with examples, to clarify how population‐ and community‐level studies can be integrated with observations from multiple transects, manipulative experiments, genomics, and ecological modeling to gain novel insights into how species and systems respond to climate change. This integration can provide a spatiotemporal understanding of past and future climate‐induced changes, which will inform effective management actions for promoting biodiversity resilience.
AQP4e-Based Orthogonal Arrays Regulate Rapid Cell Volume Changes in Astrocytes

Water channel aquaporin 4 (AQP4) plays a key role in the regulation of water homeostasis in the brain. It is predominantly expressed in astrocytes at the blood–brain and blood–liquor interfaces. Although several AQP4 isoforms have been identified in the mammalian brain, two, AQP4a (M1) and AQP4c (M23), have been confirmed to cluster into plasma membrane supramolecular structures, termed orthogonal arrays of particles (OAPs) and to enhance water transport through the plasma membrane. However, the role of the newly described water-conductive mammalian isoform AQP4e is unknown. Here, the dynamics of AQP4e aggregation into OAPs and its role in the regulation of astrocyte water homeostasis have been studied. Using super-resolution structured illumination, atomic force, and confocal microscopies, the results revealed that, in female rat astrocytes, AQP4e isoform colocalizes with OAPs, affecting its structural dynamics. In hypoosmotic conditions, which elicit cell edema, OAP formation was considerably enhanced by overexpressed AQP4e. Moreover, the kinetics of the cell swelling and of the regulatory volume decrease was faster in astrocytes overexpressing AQP4e compared with untransfected controls. Furthermore, the increase in maximal cell volume elicited by hypoosmotic stimulation was significantly smaller in AQP4e-overexpressing astrocytes. For the first time, this study demonstrates an active role of AQP4e in the regulation of OAP structural dynamics and in water homeostasis. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Water channel aquaporin 4 (AQP4) plays a key role in the regulation of water homeostasis in the brain. To date, only AQP4a and AQP4c isoforms have been confirmed to enhance water transport through plasmalemma and to cluster into orthogonal arrays of particles (OAPs). We here studied the dynamics, aggregation, and role in the regulation of astrocyte water homeostasis of the newly described water-conductive mammalian isoform AQP4e. Our main findings are as follows: brain edema mimicking hypoosmotic conditions stimulates the formation of new OAPs with larger diameters, due to the incorporation of additional cytoplasmic AQP4 channels and the redistribution of AQP4 channels of the existing OAPs; and AQP4e affects the dynamics of cell swelling and regulatory volume decrease in astrocytes exposed to hypoosmotic conditions.