Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Measuring the vibrancy of urban neighborhoods using mobile phone data with an improved PageRank algorithm

A neighborhood is a shared space for spatial interaction. The vibrancy of a neighborhood represents a synergy between the people, activities, and values in a place, which increases community vitality and spurs economic opportunity. It can be investigated both qualitatively and quantitatively. However, there are technical challenges involved in accurately charting vibrancy. With the recent advances in communication technology and the prevalence of location‐aware devices such as mobile phones, individual trajectories can be collected and analyzed on a large scale. In previous research, the weights of the vibrancies corresponding to different trajectories were not differentiated. In this study, an improved PageRank algorithm using a weighted bipartite graph is proposed to measure the vibrancy of an urban neighborhood from a different perspective, which highlights the differences between vibrancies arising from different types of citizens. This method connects the land much more closely with human activities and provides a new perspective on, and guidance for, urban resource allocation and urban planning.
Sexual Dysfunctions and Their Association with the Dual Control Model of Sexual Response in Men and Women with High-Functioning Autism

Adults with an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) are characterized by impairments in social interaction and communication, repetitive and stereotyped interests and behaviours as well as hyper- and/or hyposensitivities. These disorder specific symptoms could be associated with the development of sexual disorders. The Dual Control Model of Sexual Response presents one approach that is frequently used to explain the emergence of sexual dysfunctions. The aim of the present study was to assess the extent of symptoms of sexual dysfunctions in men and women with ASD and to evaluate their association with the individual propensity of sexual excitation and inhibition as defined by the Dual Control Model. Both men and women with ASD were more likely to report about sexual dysfunctions than individuals from the control group. In men with ASD, sexual inhibition was significantly correlated with the emergence of sexual dysfunctions, while there was no association between sexual functioning and sexual excitation. In women, the opposite pattern was found. Especially the peculiarities in sensitive perception could be responsible for the observed problems with sexual functioning in individuals with ASD. The present findings highlight the great need for specialized treatment programs addressing the frequently observed sexuality-related problems in individuals with ASD. However, up to now such treatment programs are lacking.
Blister-Actuated LIFT Printing for Multiparametric Functionalization of Paper-Like Biosensors

Laser induced forward transfer (LIFT) is a flexible digital printing process for maskless, selective pattern transfer, which uses single laser pulses focused through a transparent carrier substrate onto a donor layer to eject a tiny volume of the donor material towards a receiver substrate. Here, we present an advanced method for the high-resolution micro printing of bio-active detection chemicals diluted in a viscous buffer solution by transferring droplets with precisely controllable volumes using blister-actuated LIFT (BA-LIFT). This variant of the LIFT process makes use of an intermediate polyimide layer partially ablated by the laser pulses. The expanding gaseous ablation products lead to blisters in the polyimide and ejection of droplets from the subjacent viscous solution layer. A relative movement of donor and receiver substrates for the transfer of partially overlapping pixels is realized with a custom-made positioning system. Using a specially developed donor ink containing bio-active components presented method allows to transfer droplets with well controllable volumes between 20 fL and 6 pL, which is far more precise than other methods like inkjet or contact printing. The usefulness of the process is demonstrated by locally functionalizing laser-structured nitrocellulose paper-like membranes to form a multiparametric lateral flow test. The recognition zones localized within parallel micro channels exhibit a well-defined and homogeneous color change free of coffee-ring patterns, which is of utmost importance for reliable optical readout in miniature multiparametric test systems.
Clinical impact of endocapillary proliferation with modified cutoff points in IgA nephropathy patients

Predictive values of mesangial proliferation (M), endocapillary proliferation (E), segmental glomerulosclerosis (S), and crescents (C) among 19 validation studies of the Oxford Classification of IgA nephropathy (IgAN) were discrepant, especially in Asian patients. These validation studies indicate that cutoffs of MESC score in the Oxford Classification may not be generalizable. Thus, we aimed to improve the clinical value of MESC scores by modifying the cutoff points. A total of 104 patients with IgAN were diagnosed from 2001 to 2012 vai renal biopsy and retrospectively evaluated at Nagoya University Hospital. The cutoff point for modified (M´E´S´C´) was determined using the receiver operating characteristic curve in association with renal outcome in the training cohort. Clinical values of the Oxford MESTC vs M´E´S´C´ cutoff points were analyzed using Kaplan-Meier and Cox regression in association with poor renal outcome in the validation and the entire cohort. Of 104 patients, 12.5% reached poor renal outcome over a median of 6.25 [4.16–9.61] years of follow-up. The modified cutoffs were defined as ≥40%, ≥10%, ≥20%, and ≥5% in the glomeruli for M´E´S´, and C´ respectively. In univariate analysis, E´, S ´, and T were significantly associated with poor renal outcome, whereas Oxford MESC, M´, and C´ in the training and validation cohort were not associated with poor renal outcome. Using multivariate analysis in the presence of estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), only E´ was a significant predictive factor for poor renal outcome. The E´ with modified cutoff point of 10% significantly improved predictive value for poor renal outcome in IgAN. Therefore, the clinical value of modified cutoff points for M´E´S´C´ scores should be validated with various cohort studies in different regions.
Loss of postnatal quiescence of neural stem cells through mTOR activation upon genetic removal of cysteine string protein-α

Significance Neural stem cells generate newborn neurons in the postnatal brain by a process known as neurogenesis. Cysteine string protein-α (CSP-α) maintains healthy nerve terminals and, when mutated in humans, causes a serious disease known as neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis related to lysosomal pathologies. We have now found that neural stem cells without CSP-α hyperproliferate, leading to depletion of the neural stem cell pool in the mouse hippocampus. Biochemically, the hyperproliferation occurs through the hyperactivation of the mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling pathway. Our findings demonstrate the disruption of postnatal neurogenesis in the absence of CSP-α and unveil an intriguing signaling interaction between CSP-α and mTOR that may underlie molecular mechanisms of brain dysfunction and neurodegeneration. Neural stem cells continuously generate newborn neurons that integrate into and modify neural circuitry in the adult hippocampus. The molecular mechanisms that regulate or perturb neural stem cell proliferation and differentiation, however, remain poorly understood. Here, we have found that mouse hippocampal radial glia-like (RGL) neural stem cells express the synaptic cochaperone cysteine string protein-α (CSP-α). Remarkably, in CSP-α knockout mice, RGL stem cells lose quiescence postnatally and enter into a high-proliferation regime that increases the production of neural intermediate progenitor cells, thereby exhausting the hippocampal neural stem cell pool. In cell culture, stem cells in hippocampal neurospheres display alterations in proliferation for which hyperactivation of the mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling pathway is the primary cause of neurogenesis deregulation in the absence of CSP-α. In addition, RGL cells lose quiescence upon specific conditional targeting of CSP-α in adult neural stem cells. Our findings demonstrate an unanticipated cell-autonomic and circuit-independent disruption of postnatal neurogenesis in the absence of CSP-α and highlight a direct or indirect CSP-α/mTOR signaling interaction that may underlie molecular mechanisms of brain dysfunction and neurodegeneration.
Hepatic posttranscriptional network comprised of CCR4–NOT deadenylase and FGF21 maintains systemic metabolic homeostasis

Significance The mRNA poly(A) tail controls gene expression at posttranscriptional levels, including mRNA degradation and translation. Here, we show that a hitherto unknown hepatic posttranscriptional network centered on the CCR4–NOT deadenylase plays a seminal role in regulating FGF21 expression and its effects on systemic metabolism. A genome-wide search for CNOT6L-associated mRNAs unveiled the mechanism whereby CNOT6L selectively degrades a subset of mRNAs encoding metabolic factors, including FGF21. Disruption of CCR4–NOT deadenylase activity, by targeting its catalytic subunit CNOT6L, leads to an increase in FGF21 levels, which is paralleled by a dramatic improvement of metabolic syndrome. Overall, our findings describe a new paradigm in regulation of whole-body metabolism, whereby a hepatic posttranscriptional network governs systemic metabolic regulation via FGF21. Whole-body metabolic homeostasis is tightly controlled by hormone-like factors with systemic or paracrine effects that are derived from nonendocrine organs, including adipose tissue (adipokines) and liver (hepatokines). Fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) is a hormone-like protein, which is emerging as a major regulator of whole-body metabolism and has therapeutic potential for treating metabolic syndrome. However, the mechanisms that control FGF21 levels are not fully understood. Herein, we demonstrate that FGF21 production in the liver is regulated via a posttranscriptional network consisting of the CCR4–NOT deadenylase complex and RNA-binding protein tristetraprolin (TTP). In response to nutrient uptake, CCR4–NOT cooperates with TTP to degrade AU-rich mRNAs that encode pivotal metabolic regulators, including FGF21. Disruption of CCR4–NOT activity in the liver, by deletion of the catalytic subunit CNOT6L, increases serum FGF21 levels, which ameliorates diet-induced metabolic disorders and enhances energy expenditure without disrupting bone homeostasis. Taken together, our study describes a hepatic CCR4–NOT/FGF21 axis as a hitherto unrecognized systemic regulator of metabolism and suggests that hepatic CCR4–NOT may serve as a target for devising therapeutic strategies in metabolic syndrome and related morbidities.
Study of Serum Betatrophin Level in The Patients of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Background: Type 2 DM is due primarily to lifestyle and genetic factors. A number of lifestyle factors are known to be important to the development of type 2 DM. Betatrophin, also known as angiopoietin-like protein (ANGPTL8), is a circulating protein predominantly produced in the liver and adipose tissue. Betatrophin is induced as a result of insulin resistance. It is reported to modulate pancreatic β-cell mass and glucose homeostasis reflectable on lipid metabolism. Aim of the Study: Evaluation of the role of betatrophin in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Patients and Methods: This clinical study was carried out at Clinical Pathology Department, Tanta University Hospital and included 80 subjects who were divided into two groups: Group 1:40 Patients diagnosed with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Group 2: 40 normal subjects with matched age and sex as a control group. Results: In type 2 diabetes mellitus patients group, serum betatrophin ranged from 25.83 to 860.65 ng/l with a median value of 54.815 ng/l while in control group, betatrophin ranged from 7.5-53.2 ng/l with a madian value of 11.250 ng/l. There was significant statistical difference in betatrophin between the two groups. (P < 0.001). Betatrophin was significantly higher in type 2 diabtes mellitus patients as compared to control group. Conclusion: Circulating betatrophine concentrations were significantly increased in patients with T2 DM and associated with glucose homeostasis and insulin sensitivity. Thus, the level of serum betatrophin has a potential role in detection and pathogenesis of T2DM.
Unusual Roles of Secretory SNARE SYP132 in Plasma Membrane H+-ATPase Traffic and Vegetative Plant Growth1[OPEN]

The secretory SNARE SYP132 affects auxin-regulated traffic of plasma membrane H+-ATPase proteins influencing plant growth and homeostasis. The plasma membrane proton (H+)-ATPases of plants generate steep electrochemical gradients and activate osmotic solute uptake. H+-ATPase-mediated proton pumping orchestrates cellular homeostasis and is a prerequisite for plastic cell expansion and plant growth. All evidence suggests that the population of H+-ATPase proteins at the plasma membrane reflects a balance of their roles in exocytosis, endocytosis, and recycling. Auxin governs both traffic and activation of the plasma membrane H+-ATPase proteins already present at the membrane. As in other eukaryotes, in plants, SNARE-mediated membrane traffic influences the density of several proteins at the plasma membrane. Even so, H+-ATPase traffic, its relationship with SNAREs, and its regulation by auxin have remained enigmatic. Here, we identify the Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) Qa-SNARE SYP132 (Syntaxin of Plants132) as a key factor in H+-ATPase traffic and demonstrate its association with endocytosis. SYP132 is a low-abundant, secretory SNARE that primarily localizes to the plasma membrane. We find that SYP132 expression is tightly regulated by auxin and that augmented SYP132 expression reduces the amount of H+-ATPase proteins at the plasma membrane. The physiological consequences of SYP132 overexpression include reduced apoplast acidification and suppressed vegetative growth. Thus, SYP132 plays unexpected and vital roles in auxin-regulated H+-ATPase traffic and associated functions at the plasma membrane.
Comparative Analysis of Credit Risk Models in Relation to SME Segment

The importance of credit risk management is well known and was deeply investigated by the banking industry. There is a pressure on financial institutions to still improve their credit risk management systems, so the credit risk of a bank is an unflagging object of discussion. The aim of this article to compare the predicting abilities of several bankruptcy models to the SME segment in the Czech Republic and its subsegments - medium sized, small and micro enterprises. We have focused on small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) considering their fundamental role played in the Czech economy and the considerable attention placed on SMEs. We have chosen popular bankruptcy models that are often applied, namely the Altman Z-score, Altman model developed especially for SMEs in 2007, the Ohlson O-score, the Zmijewski’s model, the Taffler’s model, and the IN05 model. The basic form of the models was used as proposed by their authors. The results were compared using the contingency table and ROC curve. We have found that the best prediction models are Zmijewski´s and Ohlson´s models which use probit and logit methodologies and according to our analysis, their prediction ability is better than that of models based on discriminant analysis. Surprisingly, model IN05 designed for Czech companies provides average results only. One of the worst performing models is Altman 2007, which was created specifically for SMEs, but according to our analysis it only provides subordinates results.
Modal Analysis and Stability Enhancement of 150 kV Sulselrabar Electrical System using PSS and RFB based on Cuckoo Search Algorithm

Small signal stability is one of the factor to assesst the reliability of a power system. Small signal stability is related to the ability of a power system to maintain synchronization after being exposed by small disturbance. In Indonesia, the reliability of power system is one of the important aspect that has to be achieved. However, very scant attention has been paid on studied small signal stability performance on Indonesia electricity. Hence, this paper studied the small signal stability analysis and its enhancement. 150 kV Sulselrabar interconnected power system is used as test system. To enhance the performance of the system designing coordinated controller of power system stabilizer (PSS) and redox flow batteries (RFB) using cuckoo search algorithm (CSA) is conducted. Eigenvalue, damping ratio, participation factor analysis, and time domain simulation is performed to assess the small signal stability performance and the successfulness of the CSA to optimize the PSS and RFB parameter. From the cases studies, it is found that 150 kV Sulselrabar has 12 local mode and 4 inter-area mode. Furthermore, the coordinated controller between PSS and RFB based on CSA could enhance the small signal stability performance of 150 kV Sulselrabar interconnected system indicated by higher damping, smallest overshoot and fastest settling time.
Are Business Incubators helping? The role of BIs in facilitating tenants development

Business incubators (BI) are among a variety of initiatives to stimulate economic growth by promoting the creation and development of new companies. The rapid growth of BIs in recent years confirms their importance in the economic fabric. In this study, we conceptualize BIs using insights from knowledge based theory of the firm, resource-based view thinking and capabilities literature. BIs will be seen as service providers geared towards helping their tenants in solving developmental problems. The more problems the BI helps to solve the bigger the incubation value for tenants; further, as tenant firms solve problems they develop important capabilities which will yield increase their chances of survival once they graduate. Results show that tenants unequivocally seek support after experiencing problems. Solving those problems is a function of BI support and other external sources part of each tenant firm’s network of contacts. Age and human capital of tenant firms have a negative impact in the total number of the problems solved, suggesting BIs’ deficiencies in helping more experienced and older tenants. Our main contribution is to shed light on the processes of delivering support to young firms within BIs. Importantly, we assess the value of the BIs’ intervention by measuring the amount of developmental problems they help tenants to overcome. Finally, we discuss the implication of our finding to BI managers, prospective tenants and policy makers.
A Thompson Sampling Algorithm for Cascading Bandits

We design and analyze TS-Cascade, a Thompson sampling algorithm for the cascading bandit problem. In TS-Cascade, Bayesian estimates of the click probability are constructed using a univariate Gaussian; this leads to a more efficient exploration procedure vis-a-vis existing UCB-based approaches. We also incorporate the empirical variance of each item's click probability into the Bayesian updates. These two novel features allow us to prove an expected regret bound of the form O(√KLT) where L and K are the number of ground items and the number of items in the chosen list respectively and T‎≥L is the number of Thompson sampling update steps. This matches the state-of-the-art regret bounds for UCB-based algorithms. More importantly, it is the first theoretical guarantee on a Thompson sampling algorithm for any stochastic combinatorial bandit problem model with partial feedback. Empirical experiments demonstrate superiority of TS-Cascade compared to existing UCB-based procedures in terms of the expected cumulative regret and the time complexity.
Hypoxia‐inducible factor‐1 α deletion in myeloid lineage attenuates hypoxia‐induced pulmonary hypertension

Hypoxemia is seen in patients with pulmonary hypertension and hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction worsens their clinical condition. However, vasoconstriction is not the only aspect through which hypoxia induces the progression to pulmonary hypertension. Hypoxia‐inducible factor‐1α (HIF‐1α) is a transcription factor responding to hypoxic conditions by regulating hundreds of genes involved in angiogenesis, erythropoiesis, inflammation, and proliferation. We sought to determine the contribution of HIF‐1α in myeloid lineage cells to the pulmonary vascular response to chronic exposure to hypoxia. We generated myeloid‐specific HIF‐1α knockout (MyeHIF1KO) mice by using Cre‐lox P system, and exposed them to hypoxic conditions for 3 weeks to induce pulmonary hypertension. Macrophages from MyeHIF1KO and control mice were used for western blotting, RT‐qPCR, chemotaxis assay, and ATP assay. MyeHIF1KO mice exposed to hypoxia for 3 weeks exhibited a significant reduction in the right ventricular systolic pressure accompanied by a decrease in the ratio of the right ventricular weight to left ventricular weight, muscularization of the small pulmonary arteries, and infiltration of macrophages into the lung and right ventricle compared with control mice. HIF‐1α‐deficient peritoneal macrophages showed less migration toward monocyte chemoattractant protein‐1 and a decrease in intracellular ATP levels. These results indicate that HIF‐1α in macrophages contributes to the progression of pulmonary vascular remodeling and pulmonary hypertension induced by chronic exposure to hypoxic conditions. The inhibition of myeloid‐specific HIF‐1α may be a novel therapeutic strategy for the treatment of pulmonary hypertension.
Four novel biomarkers for bladder cancer identified by weighted gene coexpression network analysis

Bladder cancer (BC) is one of the most malignancies in terms of incidence and recurrence worldwide. The aim of this study is to find out novel and prognostic biomarkers for patients with BC. First, we identified 258 differentially expressed genes by using GSE19915 from Gene Expression Omnibus database. Second, a total of 33 modules were identified by constructing a coexpression network by using weighted gene coexpression network analysis and yellow module was regarded as the key module. Furthermore, by constructing protein–protein interaction networks, we preliminarily picked out 13 genes. Among them, four hub genes (CCNB1, KIF4A, TPX2, and TRIP13) were eventually identified by using five different methods (survival analysis, one‐way analysis of variance, the Spearman correlation analysis, receiver operating characteristic curve, and expression value comparison), which were significantly correlated with the prognosis of BC. The validation of transcriptional and translational levels made sense (based on Oncomine and The Human Protein Atlas database). Moreover, functional enrichment analysis suggested that all the hub genes played crucial roles in chromosome segregation, sister chromatid segregation, nuclear chromosome segregation, mitotic nuclear division, nuclear division, and organelle fission during cell mitosis. In addition, three of the hub genes (KIF4A, TPX2, and TRIP13) might be potential targets of cancer drugs according to the results of the genetical alteration. In conclusion, this study indicates that four hub genes have great predictive value for the prognosis of BC, and may contribute to the exploration of the further and more in‐depth research of BC.