Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Effects of Hypo- and Hyperthermic Pretreatment on Sodium Taurocholate-Induced Acute Pancreatitis in Rats

Introduction Heat shock proteins (HSPs) have indispensable functions in the synthesis, degradation, folding, transport, and translocation of intracellular proteins. HSPs are proteins that help cells to survive stress conditions by repairing damaged proteins. Aim To investigate the potential effects of HSP preinduction by cold-water (CWI) or hot-water immersion (HWI) on sodium taurocholate (TC)-induced acute pancreatitis in rats. Methodology TC was injected into the common biliopancreatic duct of the animals at the peak level of HSP synthesis, as determined by Western blot analysis. The rats were killed by exsanguination through the abdominal aorta 6 hours after the TC injection. The serum amylase activity, the IL-1, IL-6 and TNF-&agr; levels, the pancreatic weight/body weight ratio, and the pancreatic contents of DNA, protein, amylase, lipase, and trypsinogen were measured, and a biopsy for histology was taken. Results HWI significantly elevated HSP72 expression, whereas CWI significantly increased HSP60 expression. It was demonstrated that CWI pretreatment ameliorated the pancreatic edema and the serum amylase level increase, whereas the morphologic damage was more severe in this form of acute pancreatitis. HWI pretreatment did not have any effects on the measured parameters in TC-induced pancreatitis. Conclusions The findings suggest a possible role of HSP60, but not HSP72, in the slight protection in the early phase of this necrohemorrhagic pancreatitis model.
Characterization of skin abnormalities in a mouse model of osteogenesis imperfecta using high resolution magnetic resonance imaging and Fourier transform infrared imaging spectroscopy

Evaluation of the skin phenotype in osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) typically involves biochemical measurements, such as histologic or biochemical assessment of the collagen produced from biopsy‐derived dermal fibroblasts. As an alternative, the current study utilized non‐invasive magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) microscopy and optical spectroscopy to define biophysical characteristics of skin in an animal model of OI. MRI of skin harvested from control, homozygous oim/oim and heterozygous oim/+ mice demonstrated several differences in anatomic and biophysical properties. Fourier transform infrared imaging spectroscopy (FT‐IRIS) was used to interpret observed MRI signal characteristics in terms of chemical composition. Differences between wild‐type and OI mouse skin included the appearance of a collagen‐depleted lower dermal layer containing prominent hair follicles in the oim/oim mice, accounting for 55% of skin thickness in these. The MRI magnetization transfer rate was lower by 50% in this layer as compared to the upper dermis, consistent with lower collagen content. The MRI transverse relaxation time, T2, was greater by 30% in the dermis of the oim/oim mice compared to controls, consistent with a more highly hydrated collagen network. Similarly, an FT‐IRIS‐defined measure of collagen integrity was 30% lower in the oim/oim mice. We conclude that characterization of phenotypic differences between the skin of OI and wild‐type mice by MRI and FT‐IRIS is feasible, and that these techniques provide powerful complementary approaches for the analysis of the skin phenotype in animal models of disease. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Gold intercalation of boron-doped graphene on Ni(111): XPS and DFT study

The intercalation of a graphene layer adsorbed on a metal surface by gold or other metals is a standard procedure. While it was previously shown that pristine, i.e., undoped, and nitrogen-doped graphene sheets can be decoupled from a nickel substrate by intercalation with gold atoms in order to produce quasi-free-standing graphene, we find the gold intercalation behavior for boron-doped graphene on a Ni(111) surface to be more complex: for low boron contents (2–5%) in the graphene lattice only partial gold intercalation occurs and for higher boron contents (up to 20%) no intercalation is observed. In order to understand this different behavior, a density functional theory investigation is carried out, comparing undoped as well as substitutional nitrogen- and boron-doped graphene on Ni(111). We identify the stronger binding of the boron atoms to the nickel substrate as the factor responsible for the different intercalation behavior in the case of boron doping. However, the calculations predict that this energetic effect prevents the intercalation process only for large boron concentrations and that it can be overcome for smaller boron coverages, in line with our x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy experiments.
Robust unit commitment with large-scale battery storage

As the renewable energy levels are constantly increasing, scheduling of generating units in the day ahead stage is becoming more challenging for system operators. Energy storage is emerging as an attractive solution for dealing with uncertainty and variability of renewable generation. Specifically, large-scale battery storage units are gaining popularity due to their modularity, fast response and ongoing cost reduction. In this paper we model a two-stage adaptive robust unit commitment model with large-scale energy storage. The objective is to minimize the operating costs of thermal generators under the worst wind power output scenario. The over-protection is addressed using a parameter that controls the conservatism of the model. This control parameter can be extended to cover the uncertainty more realistically using multiple bands as the time horizon progresses. The proposed model is tested on an updated IEEE RTS-96 system. Different levels of protecting the system against uncertainty are evaluated and the role of energy storage is analyzed.
${\rm DA}\Phi {\rm NE}\ \gamma $-rays Factory

Gamma ray sources with high flux and spectral densities are the main requirements for new nuclear physics experiments to be performed in several worldwide laboratories with dedicated facilities. The paper is focalized on a proposal of experiment on γ photons production using Compton collisions between the DAΦNE electron beam and a high average power laser pulse, amplified in a Fabry-Pérot optical resonator. The calculations show that the resulting γ beam source has extremely interesting properties in terms of spectral density, energy spread and γ flux comparable (and even better) with the last generation γ sources. The energy of the γ beam depends on the adopted laser wavelength and can be tuned changing the energy of the electron ring. In particular we have analyzed the case of a γ factory tunable in the 2-9 MeV range. The main parameters of this new facility are presented and the perturbation on the transverse and longitudinal electron beam dynamics is discussed. A preliminary accelerator layout to allow experiments with the γ beam is presented with a first design of the accelerator optics.
Japan’s trade agreements aren’t “window dressing” after all

ABSTRACT We analyze eight of the 15 existing Japanese economic partnership agreements (EPAs) from 1997 to 2012. First, we construct bilateral measures of trade barriers for Japan and its partners using input-output and trade data. Next, we conduct panel regressions using those measures and find that when Japan forms an EPA, the tariff-equivalent barrier between the two countries falls approximately 2% to 3%. Contrary to conventional wisdom, this suggests that Japan’s EPAs may not be merely “window dressing” after all. This has implications for larger trade agreements in the works, such as the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP).
Discovering That the Shoe Fits

Stereotypes can influence social perceptions in many ways. The current research examined a previously unexplored possibility—that activation of a stereotype can validate thoughts about other people when the thoughts are stereotype consistent (i.e., that stereotype activation can increase people's confidence in their previous stereotype-consistent thoughts). Given previous results for other forms of metacognition, this thought validation from stereotype activation should be most likely when people have the cognitive capacity to carefully process individuating information. In two experiments, participants were given information about a target person and then a description designed to activate a stereotype. When processing capacity was high, confidence in thoughts was greater when the initial information produced thoughts consistent, rather than inconsistent, with the stereotype that was later activated, and higher confidence in thoughts was associated with stronger perception-consistent recommendations related to the target. When processing capacity was low, an activated stereotype served its familiar heuristic role in judgment, and thought confidence played no role in judgment-related recommendations.
Taxonomic Problems in the Drosophila melanica Species Group (Diptera: Drosophilidae) from Southern China, with Special Reference to Karyotypes and Reproductive Isolation

Abstract Karyotypes and reproductive isolation were studied in two allopatric populations of Drosophila tsigana, one from Guizhou Province in southern China and the other from Hokkaido in northern Japan, and in one population of a closely related species, D. longiserrata, from Guizhou. In metaphase plates of larval brain cells, both geographic strains of Drosophila tsigana showed 2n=10 chromosomes, with 2 pairs of metacentric (V-shape), 2 pairs of acrocentric (R-shape), and 1 pair of dot-liked (D-shape) chromosomes. Drosophila longiserrata showed the same number, 10 chromosomes, comprising 2V, 1J (sub-metacentric chromosome), 1R, and 1D. X chromosomes of both species were acrocentric, the presumed ancestral form. Premating isolation was complete between D. tsigana and D. longiserrata, and successful mating was also limited in crosses between the two geographic populations of D. tsigana, especially in crosses between Japanese (JP) females and Guizhou (GZ) males. F1 hybrids were obtained only from crosses between GZ females and JP males, and fertilities of both F1 females and males were quite incomplete. The results of morphological observations, karyotypic analyses, and crossing experiments clearly showed that the GZ and JP populations of “D. tsigana” were highly divergent from each other and that each population should be recognized as a biologically valid species. The present morphological observations and chromosomal analyses, together with the original descriptions, strongly suggest that “Guizhou D. tsigana” might be conspecific with D. bisetata Toda, 1988 from Myanmar, and that D. longiserrata might be conspecific with D. afer Tan, Hsu, and Sheng, 1949 from Meitan, Guizhou.
Studies on the mechanism of arterial vasodilation produced by the novel antihypertensive agent, carvedilol

Summary— The mechanism(s) responsible for arterial vasodilation observed following acute administration of racemic carvedilol, a novel vasodilator/beta adrenoceptor antagonist, has been investigated in rats. In conscious spontaneously hypertensive rats, carvedilol (0.03–3.0 mg/kg, iv) produced a dose‐dependent reduction in blood pressure with no significant effect on heart rate. Because cardiac output was relatively unaffected, the antihypertensive response of carvedilol was associated with a dose‐dependent reduction in total peripheral vascular resistance. Submaximal antihypertensive doses of carvedilol were chosen for mechanism of action studies in pithed rats. Carvedilol (0.3 mg/kg, iv) produced a significant inhibition of the β1 adrenoceptor mediated positive chronotropic response to isoproterenol. This same dose of carvedilol also inhibited, but to a lesser degree, the β2 adrenoceptor mediated vasodepressor response to salbutamol in pithed rats whose blood pressure was elevated by a constant intravenous infusion of angiotensin II. Thus, carvedilol blocks both β1 and β2 adrenoceptors at antihypertensive doses, with modest selectivity being observed for the β1 adrenoceptor subtype. Carvedilol produced significant inhibition of the α1 adrenoceptor mediated pressor response to cirazoline in the pithed rat, but had no effect on the α2 adrenoceptor mediated pressor response to B‐HT 933, suggesting that carvedilol is also an α1 adrenoceptor antagonist at antihypertensive doses. Carvedilol had no effect on the pressor response elicited by angiotensin II, indicating a lack of nonspecific vasodilator activity. The vasopressor response to the calcium channel activator, BAY‐K‐8644, which is mediated through the opening of voltage dependent calcium channels and the subsequent translocation of extracellular calcium, was significantly inhibited by carvedilol (1 mg/kg, iv), suggesting that carvedilol is also a calcium channel antagonist, consistent with our previous in vitro studies. In anesthetized spontaneously hypertensive rats, the antihypertensive activity of carvedilol was nearly abolished by combined pretreatment of the rats with high doses of the α1 adrenoceptor antagonist, prazosin (1 mg/kg, iv), and the nonselective β adrenoceptor antagonist, propranolol (3 mg/kg, iv), suggesting that the majority of the antihypertensive response produced by carvedilol may be accounted for by blockade of β and α1 adrenoceptors. We therefore conclude that carvedilol, at antihypertensive doses, is an antagonist of β1, β2, and α1 adrenoceptors, and also of calcium channels in vascular smooth muscle. The β1 adrenoceptor blocking properties of carvedilol appear to account for the lack of reflex tachycardia that occurs in response to baroreceptor activation, and the arterial vasodilation appears to result largely from selective α1 adrenoceptor blockade, with little or no contribution being derived from calcium channel blockade.
Extracellular glucose can fuel metabolism in red blood cells from high glycemic Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) but not low glycemic short-horned sculpin (Myoxocephalus scorpius)

Energy metabolism was assessed in red blood cells (RBCs) from Atlantic cod and short-horned sculpin, two species that have markedly different levels of blood glucose. The objective was to determine whether the level of extracellular glucose has an impact on rates of glucose metabolism. The blood glucose level was 2.5 mmol l−1 in Atlantic cod and 0.2 mmol l−1 in short-horned sculpin, respectively. Oxygen consumption, lactate production and glucose utilization were measured in whole blood and related to grams of RBCs. Glucose utilization was assessed by measuring both glucose disappearance and the production of 3H2O from [2-3H]-glucose. RBCs from both species have an aerobic-based metabolism. In Atlantic cod, extracellular glucose is sufficient to provide the sum of glucosyl equivalents to support both oxidative metabolism and lactate production. In contrast, extracellular glucose can account for only 10% of the metabolic rate in short-horned sculpin RBCs. In both species, about 70% of glucose enters the RBCs via facilitated transport. The difference in rates of extracellular glucose utilization is related to the extremely low levels of blood glucose in short-horned sculpin. In this species energy metabolism by RBCs must be supported by alternative fuels.
HUMAN CAPITAL, FERTILITY, AND THE INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION

The Industrial Revolution and the Demographic Transition are the two great forces that explain the upward march of modern incomes. This paper sets out the empirical realities attempts to unify these events through theories of human capital investment have to meet. The major difficulty is to form an explanation which connects them which can also reconcile the seeming differences in fertility behavior over time and in cross section in the pre-industrial world, the transition period, and the modern world. (JEL: J1, N3, O4) Copyright (c) 2005 The European Economic Association.
Analysis of Factors Influencing Bank Profitability: Evidence from the West African Economic and Monetary Union Banking Sector

This paper investigates the factors that influence bank profitability. Using static and dynamic panel data techniques, a sample of 86 banks from eight countries making up the West African Economic and Monetary Union over the period 2006-2014 is utilized. framework, the size effect is investigated for both determinants of profitability and CAR models, while the time effect is incorporated in the dynamic framework. In regards to the determinants of bank profitability, the results show evidence of significant effects of bank specific factors, as well as bank macroeconomic factors on profitability in WAEMU except two bank-specific factors (ratios of liquid asset to total deposit and nonperforming asset insignificant. Also, due to less competition in the banking sector, the results point to a significant persistence of profit from year to year. Furthermore, the analysis of the bank size effect confirms evidence of significant economies and discectomies of scale in the bankin sector. DOI: 10.32602/j
Case-Based Learning in Dermatology

Importance: The instruction of dermatology can be challenging due to its large scope, heavy clinical nature, and limited curriculum space. Case-based learning (CBL) is an emerging education paradigm and has no current literature on its use in dermatology. Objectives: Assess CBL in undergraduate dermatology medical education. Methods: Case-based learning was implemented in the preclerkship dermatology curriculum at the University of Toronto to 3 student cohorts (totaling 710 students and 93 tutors) between May 2016 and April 2017. We analyzed assignment performance, pre- and post-CBL knowledge test scores, and experience surveys on students and tutors. Surveys were evaluated using aggregate descriptive statistics for quantitative data and thematic data analysis for qualitative data. All assessments were anonymous and voluntary. Results: We received strong positive feedback on the CBL experience, with no score less than 3.8 on a 5-point scale (where 5 indicated strongly agree with a positively phrased question). Thematic data analysis revealed several key themes, including positive comments for a specialist tutor, the use of visual media, and the “mini-cases” style of CBL, while challenges included a lack of motivation. Group assignments scored high, ranging from 88.9% to 99.3%. Tracked pre- and post-CBL knowledge test scores showed a 32% (from 42% to 74%) increase in scores after the CBL experience. Conclusion and Relevance: CBL in dermatology medical education was well received by students and tutors, with high scores in content evaluation and knowledge assessment. Future studies should examine optimal delivery methods and its long-term effects on knowledge retention.
Predicting and Characterizing the Health of Individuals and Communities through Language Analysis of Social Media

A large and growing fraction of the global population uses social media, through which users share their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors, predominantly through text. To quantify the expression of psychological constructs in language, psychology has evolved a set of “closed-vocabulary” methods using pre-determined dictionaries. Advances in natural language processing have made possible the development of “openvocabulary” methods to analyze text in data-driven ways, and machine learning algorithms have substantially improved prediction performances. The first chapter introduces these methods, comparing traditional methods of text analysis with newer methods from natural language processing in terms of their relative ability to predict and elucidate the language correlates of age, gender and the personality of Facebook users (N = 65,896). The second and third chapters discuss the use of social media to predict depression in individuals (the most prevalent mental illness). The second chapter reviews the literature on detection of depression through social media and concludes that no study to date has yet demonstrated the efficacy of this approach to screen for clinician-reported depression. In the third chapter, Facebook data was collected and connected to patients’ medical records (N = 683), and prediction models based on Facebook data were able to forecast the occurrence of depression with fair accuracy–about as well as self-report screening surveys. The fourth chapter applies both sets of methods to geotagged Tweets to predict county-level mortality rates of atherosclerotic heart disease mortality (the leading cause of death in the U.S.) across 1,347 counties, capturing 88% of the U.S. population. In this study, a Twitter model outperformed a model combining ten other leading demographic, socioeconomic and health risk factors. Across both depression and heart disease, associated language profiles identified fine-grained psychological determinants (e.g., loneliness emerged as a risk factor for depression, and optimism showed a protective association with heart disease). In sum, these studies demonstrate that large-scale text analysis is a valuable tool for psychology with implications for public health, as it allows for the unobtrusive and cost-effective monitoring of disease risk and psychological states of individuals and large populations. Degree Type Dissertation Degree Name Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) Graduate Group Psychology First Advisor Martin E. Seligman
Modelling route choice of Dutch cyclists using smartphone data

This paper analyzes the GPS traces recorded by cyclists in the framework of the Mobile Mobility Panel throughout the Netherlands. The objective of this paper is to analyze bicycle route choice via network attributes and trip length over a sequence of trips by approximately 280 bicycle users, who were asked to register their trips by means of a specific smartphone application. Approximately 3,500 bike trips were recorded throughout the Netherlands over a four-week period in 2014. The bike trips have been matched to a specific bicycle network built and updated by a Dutch cyclists’ union. Route choice models were estimated, using both the binomial logit model and the mixed multinomial logit model with Path-size logit model formulation. The chosen alternatives were part of the choice set for the mixed multinomial logit model. Also, the shortest route was generated for each origin-destination pair. The results show that trip lengths and trip distribution over time reveal a population sample much used to cycling, frequently and over long distances. Furthermore, when considering the composition of chosen routes in terms of link type, the usage of cycleway links is frequent. For repeated trips, the shortest route option tends to be chosen more; frequent cyclists, on systematic trips, tend to optimize their trip and prefer the shortest routes. This is even truer for males and for non-leisure trips. The estimated probabilities for both multinomial and binomial models show that the binomial model tends to overestimate the probabilities of choosing the shortest route. This result is stronger in non-leisure trips, where people tend to choose a more personalized route, instead of the shortest. This research contributes to the generation of a more efficient distribution of bicycle trips over the network. Future research can more specifically address the intrapersonal variation in route—destination choice given the availability of longitudinal data.