Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Prognostic value and immunological roles of GPX3 in gastric cancer

Objective: The prognosis for gastric cancer (GC), a prevalent tumor of the digestive system, is unfavorable. The involvement of glutathione peroxidase 3 (GPX3) in tumorigenesis is significant, yet its specific role in GC remains insufficiently investigated. Thus, the aim of this study was to determine the potential impact of GPX3 on GC and elucidate the underlying mechanism. Methods: The expression and survival of GPX3 in GC were analyzed using TCGA data. Additionally, the GPX3 mRNA and protein levels in GC were also assessed using datasets from GTEx, GEPIA, and HPA. A total of 38 pairs of GC tissues, along with their adjacent normal tissues, were collected from the Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, accompanied by detailed clinical information. The expression levels of GPX3 were subsequently determined for the purpose of validation. Following expression, correlation, and survival analyses, we proceeded to investigate the upstream non-coding RNA (ncRNA) of GPX3 using starBase and miRNet. Additionally, the co-expression networks of GPX3 were examined based on LinkedOmics. Lastly, we explored the correlation between GPX3 and immune cell infiltration, as well as the biomarkers of immune cells and immune checkpoints in GC. Furthermore, the GDSC database offered valuable drug sensitivity information. Results: A lower expression of GPX3 was observed in individuals with GC, while a higher expression of GPX3 was associated with a poorer prognosis. The DUBR/hsa-miR-502-3p/GPX3 pathway was identified as the most promising upstream ncRNA pathway related to GPX3 in GC. GO and KEGG enrichment analysis revealed that GPX3 expression was linked to coagulation cascades and cell locomotion. Furthermore, GPX3 levels in GC were positively correlated with immune cell infiltration, immune cell biomarkers, and immune checkpoint expression. The group with low GPX3 expression also exhibited increased sensitivity to 5-fluorouracil, doxorubicin, and other drugs. Conclusions: Collectively, we hypothesized that the potential involvement of non-coding RNAs in the downregulation of GPX3 could contribute to the inhibition of tumor formation during the malignant transition from gastritis to GC. Nevertheless, it was plausible that GPX3 may also facilitate tumor progression to advanced stages by promoting immune cell infiltration and activating immune checkpoints.
Biology of the Land Crabs

1. Biology of the land crabs: an introduction Warren W. Burggren and Brian R. McMaHon 2. Evolution, systematics and geographical distribution Richard G. Hartnoll 3. Ecology Thomas G. Wolcott 4. Behaviour David W. Dunham and Sandra L. Gilchrist 5. Reproduction and development Rita G. Adiyodi 6. Growth and molting Richard G. Hartnoll 7. Ion and waterbalance Peter Greenaway 8. Respiration Brian R. McMahon and Warren W. Burggren 9. Circulation Warren W. Burggren and Brian R. McMahon 10. Energetics and locomotion Clyde F. Herreid II and Robert J. Full 11. Epilogue Brian R. McMahon and Warren W. Burggren.
Trail receptor-targeted therapy : strategies to enhance DR4-and DR5-induced apoptosis

The emergence during evolution of two tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) receptors, receptor-1/DR4 and -2/DR5, able to induce apoptosis has raised the question whether they differ in function and regulation, which is of key importance for selecting either DR4 or DR5 selective pro-apoptotic agents for cancer treatment. In this review we found practically no information regarding possible differences in DR4 and DR5 function based on structural differences. On the other hand, a panel of different DR4 or DR5 selective pro-apoptotic agonists have been developed that were explored for efficacy in different tumour types in a large number of studies. Leukemic cells appear mainly sensitive for DR4-induced apoptosis, contrasting the situation in other tumour types that show heterogeneity in receptor preference and, in some cases, a slight overall preference for DR5. Both receptors were found to mediate intracellular stress-induced apoptosis, although this is most frequently reported for DR5. Interestingly, DR5 was also found to transmit non-apoptotic signalling in resistant tumour cells and recently nuclear localization and a role in microRNA maturation has been described. DR4 expression is most heavily regulated by promoter methylation, intracellular trafficking and post-translational modifications. DR5 expression is predominantly regulated at the transcriptional level, which may reflect its ability to respond to cellular stressors. It will be important to further increase our understanding of the mechanisms determining TRAIL receptor preference in order to select the appropriate TRAIL receptor selective agonists for therapy, and to develop novel strategies to enhance apoptosis activation in tumours.
2009 ASSESSMENT OF THE EFFICACY, AVAILABILITY AND ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS OF BALLAST WATER TREATMENT SYSTEMS FOR USE IN CALIFORNIA WATERS

This assessment discusses the effectiveness, availability and environmental impacts of ballast water treatment systems in the waterways of California. It concludes that, because of the limited number of ballast water treatment systems that are nominally available at the present time and the need for further testing, the implementation date for use of such systems by ships in California waters should be delayed until 2012. In the meantime, the state should support continued research promoting technology development and performance evaluation.
Predictive performance of multi-model ensemble forecasts of COVID-19 across European nations

Background: Short-term forecasts of infectious disease burden can contribute to situational awareness and aid capacity planning. Based on best practice in other fields and recent insights in infectious disease epidemiology, one can maximise the predictive performance of such forecasts if multiple models are combined into an ensemble. Here we report on the performance of ensembles in predicting COVID-19 cases and deaths across Europe between 08 March 2021 and 07 March 2022. Methods: We used open-source tools to develop a public European COVID-19 Forecast Hub. We invited groups globally to contribute weekly forecasts for COVID-19 cases and deaths reported from a standardised source over the next one to four weeks. Teams submitted forecasts from March 2021 using standardised quantiles of the predictive distribution. Each week we created an ensemble forecast, where each predictive quantile was calculated as the equally-weighted average (initially the mean and then from 26th July the median) of all individual models predictive quantiles. We measured the performance of each model using the relative Weighted Interval Score (WIS), comparing models forecast accuracy relative to all other models. We retrospectively explored alternative methods for ensemble forecasts, including weighted averages based on models past predictive performance. Results: Over 52 weeks we collected and combined up to 28 forecast models for 32 countries. We found a weekly ensemble had a consistently strong performance across countries over time. Across all horizons and locations, the ensemble performed better on relative WIS than 84% of participating models forecasts of incident cases (with a total N=862), and 92% of participating models forecasts of deaths (N=746). Across a one to four week time horizon, ensemble performance declined with longer forecast periods when forecasting cases, but remained stable over four weeks for incident death forecasts. In every forecast across 32 countries, the ensemble outperformed most contributing models when forecasting either cases or deaths, frequently outperforming all of its individual component models. Among several choices of ensemble methods we found that the most influential and best choice was to use a median average of models instead of using the mean, regardless of methods of weighting component forecast models. Conclusions: Our results support the use of combining forecasts from individual models into an ensemble in order to improve predictive performance across epidemiological targets and populations during infectious disease epidemics. Our findings further suggest that median ensemble methods yield better predictive performance more than ones based on means. Our findings also highlight that forecast consumers should place more weight on incident death forecasts than incident case forecasts at forecast horizons greater than two weeks.
REndo: Internal Instrumental Variables to Address Endogeneity

Endogeneity is a common problem in any causal analysis. It arises when the independence assumption between an explanatory variable and the error in a statistical model is violated. The causes of endogeneity are manifold and include response bias in surveys, omission of important explanatory variables, or simultaneity between explanatory and response variables. Instrumental variable estimation provides a possible solution. However, valid and strong external instruments are difficult to find. Consequently, internal instrumental variable approaches have been proposed to correct for endogeneity without relying on external instruments. The R package REndo implements various internal instrumental variable approaches, i.e., latent instrumental variables estimation (Ebbes, Wedel, Boeckenholt, and Steerneman 2005), higher moments estimation (Lewbel 1997), heteroscedastic error estimation (Lewbel 2012), joint estimation using copula (Park and Gupta 2012) and multilevel generalized method of moments estimation (Kim and Frees 2007). Package usage is illustrated on simulated and real-world data.
Observations of polar mesospheric summer echoes resembling kilometer-scale varicose-mode flows

Abstract. The mesosphere and lower thermosphere (MLT) region represents a captivating yet challenging field of research. Remote sensing techniques, such as radar, have proven invaluable for investigating this domain. The Middle Atmosphere Alomar Radar System (MAARSY), located in northern Norway (69∘ N, 16∘ E), uses polar mesospheric summer echoes (PMSEs) as tracers to study MLT dynamics across multiple scales. Chau et al. (2021) recently discovered a spatiotemporally highly localized event showing a varicose mode (simultaneous upward and downward movements), which is characterized by extreme vertical velocities (|w|≥3σ) of up to 60 m s−1 in the vertical drafts. Motivated by this finding, our objective is to identify and quantify similar extreme events or comparable varicose structures, i.e., defined by quasi-simultaneous updrafts and downdrafts, that may have been previously overlooked or filtered out. To achieve this, we conducted a thorough manual search through a MAARSY dataset, considering the PMSE months (i.e., May, June, July, August) spanning from 2015 to 2021. This search has revealed that these structures do indeed occur relatively frequently with an occurrence rate of up to 2.5 % per month. Over the 7-year period, we observed and recorded more than 700 varicose-mode events with a total duration of about 265 h and documented their vertical extent, vertical velocity characteristics, duration, and their occurrence behavior. Remarkably, these events manifest throughout the entire PMSE season with pronounced occurrence rates in June and July, while the probability of their occurrence decreases towards the beginning and end of the PMSE seasons. Furthermore, their diurnal variability aligns with that of PMSEs. On average, the observed events persisted for 20 min, while the varicose mode caused an average expansion of the PMSE layer by a factor of 1.5, with a maximum vertical expansion averaging around 8 km. Notably, a careful examination of the vertical velocities associated with these events confirmed that approximately 17 % surpassed the 3σ threshold, highlighting their non-Gaussian velocity distribution and extreme nature.
Longitudinal Analysis Reveals Distinct Antibody and Memory B Cell Responses in SARS-CoV2 Naïve and Recovered Individuals Following mRNA Vaccination

Novel mRNA vaccines for SARS-CoV2 have been authorized for emergency use and are currently being administered to millions of individuals worldwide. Despite their efficacy in clinical trials, there is limited data on vaccine-induced immune responses in individuals with a prior SARS-CoV2 infection compared to SARS-CoV2 naive subjects. Moreover, how mRNA vaccines impact the development of antibodies as well as memory B cells in COVID-19 experienced versus COVID-19 naive subjects remains poorly understood. In this study, we evaluated antibody responses and antigen-specific memory B cell responses over time in 33 SARS-CoV2 naive and 11 SARS-CoV2 recovered subjects. mRNA vaccination induced significant antibody and memory B cell responses against full-length SARS-CoV2 spike protein and the spike receptor binding domain (RBD). SARS-CoV2 naive individuals benefitted from both doses of mRNA vaccine with additional increases in antibodies and memory B cells following booster immunization. In contrast, SARS-CoV2 recovered individuals had a significant immune response after the first dose with no increase in circulating antibodies or antigen-specific memory B cells after the second dose. Moreover, the magnitude of the memory B cell response induced by vaccination was lower in older individuals, revealing an age-dependence to mRNA vaccine-induced B cell memory. Side effects also tended to associate with post-boost antibody levels, but not with post-boost memory B cells, suggesting that side effect severity may be a surrogate of short-term antibody responses. The frequency of pre-vaccine antigen-specific memory B cells in SARS-CoV2 recovered individuals strongly correlated with post-vaccine antibody levels, supporting a key role for memory B cells in humoral recall responses to SARS-CoV2. This observation may have relevance for future booster vaccines and for responses to viral variants that partially escape pre-existing antibodies and require new humoral responses to be generated from memory B cells. Finally, post-boost antibody levels were not correlated with post-boost memory responses in SARS-CoV2 naive individuals, indicating that short-term antibody levels and memory B cells are complementary immunological endpoints that should be examined in tandem when evaluating vaccine response. Together, our data provide evidence of both serological response and immunological memory following mRNA vaccination that is distinct based on prior SARS-CoV2 exposure. These findings may inform vaccine distribution in a resource-limited setting.
Anthropometric and Physical Profiles of English Academy Rugby Union Players

Abstract Darrall-Jones, JD, Jones, B, and Till, K. Anthropometric and physical profiles of English academy rugby union players. J Strength Cond Res 29(8): 2086–2096, 2015—The purpose of this study was to evaluate the anthropometric and physical characteristics of English regional academy rugby union players by age category (under 16s, under 18s and under 21s). Data were collected on 67 academy players at the beginning of the preseason period and comprised anthropometric (height, body mass, and sum of 8 skinfolds) and physical (5-, 10-, 20-, and 40-m sprint, acceleration, velocity, and momentum; agility 505; vertical jump; Yo-Yo intermittent recovery test level 1; 30-15 intermittent fitness test; absolute and relative 3 repetition maximum front squat, split squat, bench press, prone row, and chin; and isometric mid-thigh pull). One-way analysis of variance demonstrated significant increases across the 3 age categories (p ⩽ 0.05) for height (e.g., 16s = 178.8 ± 7.1; 18s = 183.5 ± 7.2; 21s = 186.7 ± 6.61 cm), body mass (e.g., 16s = 79.4 ± 12.8; 18s = 88.3 ± 11.9; 21s = 98.3 ± 10.4 kg), countermovement jump height and peak power, sprint momentum, velocity, and acceleration; absolute, relative, and isometric (e.g., 16s = 2,157.9 ± 309.9; 18s = 2,561.3 ± 339.4; 21s = 3,104.5 ± 354.0 N) strength. Momentum, maximal speed, and the ability to maintain acceleration were all discriminating factors between age categories, suggesting that these variables may be more important to monitor rather than sprint times. These findings highlight that anthropometric and physical characteristics develop across age categories and provide comparative data for English Academy Rugby Union players.
An investigation of serious injury motor vehicle crashes across metropolitan, regional and remote Western Australia

Previous research has identified that road crashes in the non-metropolitan area are significantly more likely to result in more severe injuries compared with those occurring in the metropolitan area. The aims of this study were twofold: to (i) review the published literature in regard to the factors associated with serious injury crashes across metropolitan and rural (regional and remote) areas, and (ii) to quantify and elucidate the risk of serious injury across Western Australia using police reported crash data for the period 2005-2009. Compared with crashes in the metropolitan area, crashes in the regional and remote area were 25-50 per cent more likely to result in an injury (any level) and two to three times more likely to result in either the death or hospitalisation of an involved road user. A range of crash, road, road user and behavioural issues were identified and discussed as contributing factors to the increased incidence of serious injuries in the regional and remote areas. This was followed up with a number of recommendations for further research in the areas of safer roads and roadsides, safer speeds, and safer road use and users.
An Empirical Examination of the Option Value of College Enrollment

This paper quantifies the option value that arises when human capital investment is made sequentially in the presence of uncertainty. If enrollment in college reveals information about the relative desirability of schooling and labor market entry, and if individuals have the opportunity to abandon investment after acquiring this information, then enrollment has option value. This provides an ex-ante incentive to make investments (such as attending college for only one year) that may turn out to be suboptimal ex-post. This paper is the first to estimate the magnitude of this option value, which is also shown to have implications for welfare and education policy. The parameters of a dynamic structural model of college enrollment and completion are estimated using detailed transcript data on a panel of US youth. Option value is computed by comparing the welfare predicted by the dynamic model with that predicted by the counterfactual scenario where individuals are forced to commit to an educational outcome before enrolling in college. Estimates suggest that option value is substantial, particularly for moderate-ability individuals with the greatest uncertainty about the value of schooling. This flexibility is valued at about $15,000 on average in 1992 dollars and up to $27,000 for students closer to the enrollment margin. This represents 13% of the total value of the college enrollment opportunity for the average high school graduate and up to 34% for moderate-ability students. Consequently, option value is pivotal to many individuals’ enrollment decisions and important to welfare. More than half of this value is due to information learned in the first year of college. Policy simulations reveal that structural changes introducing community colleges or improving academic preparation generally have a greater impact on educational outcomes than traditional financial incentives. Collectively, these findings suggest that uncertainty and option value are central features of educational investment and should be considered in future estimates of the returns to schooling and when evaluating education policy. Department of Economics, University of California Berkeley. Email: kstange@econ.berkeley. edu. Website: https://webfiles.berkeley. edu/~kstange/
Fast Forward Influencing the future in virtual reality increases real-life pro-environmental behaviour

To reach necessary greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions targets, behavioural change is necessary at the consumer level. Nevertheless, behavioural interventions have only a limited impact on habitual behaviours such as beef consumption, which signi�cantly contributes to the GHGs released. Immersive virtual reality (VR) in the metaverse can transform the current information-based environmental communication into more experience-based communication. To study how such a shift might change the environmental communication effectiveness, we randomly assigned N = 168 participants to a VR experience (experiencing and in�uencing future climate change scenarios based on food choices) or a VR information condition (receiving the same information from a virtual human). After the VR intervention, participants chose in real life between three meal options: beef Bolognese, 50% reduced Bolognese, and vegetarian Bolognese. To test the effectiveness of nudging in form of labelling on promoting plant-based diets, we randomly labelled the vegetarian dish with explicit or indulgent labels. The preference for a vegetarian meal did not differ across the labelling conditions. The VR experience led to higher intentions to reduce meat consumption and more pro-environmental behaviour in VR and real life as compared to the information condition. Mediation analyses con�rm that experiential VR environmental communication can increase people’s e�cacy beliefs, which increase their intentions and, consequently, lead to a reduction in beef consumption. Implications for future environmental communication are outlined.
reliable intraocular pressure measurement using automated radio-wave telemetry

Purpose: To present an autonomous intraocular pressure (IOP) measurement technique using a wireless implantable transducer (WIT) and a motion sensor. Methods: The WIT optical aid was implanted within the ciliary sulcus of a normotensive rabbit eye after extracapsular clear lens extraction. An autonomous wireless data system (AWDS) comprising of a WIT and an external antenna aided by a motion sensor provided continuous IOP readings. The sensitivity of the technique was determined by the ability to detect IOP changes resulting from the administration of latanoprost 0.005% or dorzolamide 2%, while the reliability was determined by the agreement between baseline and vehicle (saline) IOP. Results: On average, 12 diurnal and 205 nocturnal IOP measurements were performed with latanoprost, and 26 diurnal and 205 nocturnal measurements with dorzolamide. No difference was found between mean baseline IOP (13.08 ± 2.2 mmHg) and mean vehicle IOP (13.27 ± 2.1 mmHg) ( P = 0.45), suggesting good measurement reliability. Both antiglaucoma medications caused significant IOP reduction compared to baseline; latanoprost reduced mean IOP by 10% (1.3 ± 3.54 mmHg; P , 0.001), and dorzolamide by 5% (0.62 ± 2.22 mmHg; P , 0.001). Use of latanoprost resulted in an overall twofold higher IOP reduction compared to dorzolamide ( P , 0.001). Repeatability was ± 1.8 mmHg, assessed by the variability of consecutive IOP measurements performed in a short period of time ( # 1 minute), during which the IOP is not expected to change. Conclusion: IOP measurements in conscious rabbits obtained without the need for human interactions using the AWDS are feasible and provide reproducible results.