Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Lactoferrin attenuates cardiac fibrosis and cardiac remodeling after myocardial infarction via inhibiting mTORC1/S6K signaling pathway

Rationale: Myocardial infarction (MI) causes a severe injury response that eventually leads to adverse cardiac remodeling and heart failure. Lactoferrin (Ltf), as a secreted protein, bears multi-pharmacological properties. Present study aims to establish the cardioprotective function and corresponding mechanism of Ltf in MI process. Methods and results: We performed proteomic analysis in Tregs derived from MI heart, and identified Ltf as a remarkably upregulated secreted protein. However, Ltf was decreased in circulation and positively correlated with cardiac function both in mice and patients after MI. Ltf administration remarkably alleviated cardiac fibrosis and remodeling, improved cardiac function, and reduced incidence of heart failure in mice post-MI. In vitro, Ltf suppressed fibroblast to myofibroblast conversion induced by transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β). Mechanistically, phosphoproteomic landscape analysis revealed that Ltf repressed the activation of mTORC1/S6K/eIF-4B signaling pathway via interaction with CD74 receptor. Administration of mTORC1/S6K/eIF-4B axis agonist MHY1485 abolished the cardioprotective effects of Ltf. Besides, MHY1485 also markedly reversed the effects of Ltf on suppressing the transformation of fibroblast to myofibroblast mediated by TGF-β. Conclusion: Our study established the cardiac protective role of Ltf in attenuating cardiac remodeling and improving cardiac function by inhibiting the activation of myofibroblasts through suppressing mTORC1/S6K/eIF-4B signaling pathway post-MI. Treatment with Ltf may serve as a potential novel therapeutic intervention in patients with MI.
Death of parent, sibling, spouse, and child in a Swedish national sample and risk of subsequent stress reaction, major depression, alcohol-use disorder, and drug-use disorder

Abstract Background To determine, in a general population, how much rates of stress reactions (SR), major depression (MD), alcohol-use disorder (AUD) and drug-use disorder (DUD) increase after the death of close relatives. Methods SR, MD, AUD, and DUD registrations were assessed from national Swedish registries. From the population followed from 2000 to 2018, those exposed to death of a close relative in 2002–2016 were matched to unexposed controls and analyzed in males and females by a controlled pre-post design using a difference-in-difference method. Results Substantial, brief increases in risk for SR and more modest prolonged increases in MD were observed after death of relatives in both men and women greatest with children, followed by spouses, parents, and siblings. Relatively long-lasting modest increases in AUD but not DUD were also observed following death of relatives. The absolute increases for SR and MD were greater in females than males and for AUD greater in males than females. However, logistic regression analyses showed most effects did not differ significantly by sex. Consistently larger increases in disorder risk were seen with the death of younger v. older parents, siblings, and spouses and with accidental v. non-accidental death in children. Conclusions Applying a matched cohort design to Swedish population registries, death of close relatives was associated with, and likely caused, substantial increases in rates of SR, MD, and AUD, consistent with smaller prior clinical investigations. Through such registries, we can, in large representative samples, integrate the impact of exposures to selected environmental adversities into disorder risk pathways.
Long-Term Trajectory Prediction for Oil Tankers via Grid-Based Clustering

Vessel trajectory prediction is an important step in route planning, which could help improve the efficiency of maritime transportation. In this article, a high-accuracy long-term trajectory prediction algorithm is proposed for oil tankers. The proposed algorithm extracts a set of waymark points that are representative of the key traveling patterns in an area of interest by applying DBSCAN clustering to historical AIS data. A novel path-finding algorithm is then developed to sequentially identify a subset of waymark points, from which the predicted trajectory to a fixed destination is produced. The proposed algorithm is tested using real data offered by the Danish Maritime Authority. Numerical results demonstrate that the proposed algorithm outperforms state-of-the-art vessel trajectory prediction algorithms and is able to make high-accuracy long-term trajectory predictions.
CAPITAL TAXES, LABOR TAXES AND THE HOUSEHOLD ∗

: Westudytheimpactofcapitalandlabortaxationinaneconomywhere couples bargain over the intrahousehold allocation under limited commitment. In this framework more wealth improves commitment and gives rise to insurance gains within the household. Our theory motivates these gains by the empirical observation that wealth, in contrast to labor income, is a commonly held resource within households. Based on this observation we study whether eliminating capital taxes from the economy, and raising labor taxes to balance the government’s budget, may generate welfare gains to married households. We illustrate that the quantitative effects from this reform are rather small. We attribute the small effects to the life cycle pattern of wealth accumulation and to the impact of labor income taxes on household risk sharing: In particular, we show that higher labor taxes may make the limited commitment friction more severe, even though they may make the distribution of labor income more equitable within the household.
State-of-the-Art in the Drug Discovery Pathway for Chagas Disease: A Framework for Drug Development and Target Validation

Abstract Chagas disease is the most important protozoan infection in the Americas, and constitutes a significant public health concern throughout the world. Development of new medications against its etiologic agent, Trypanosoma cruzi, has been traditionally slow and difficult, lagging in comparison with diseases caused by other kinetoplastid parasites. Among the factors that explain this are the incompletely understood mechanisms of pathogenesis of T. cruzi infection and its complex set of interactions with the host in the chronic stage of the disease. These demand the performance of a variety of in vitro and in vivo assays as part of any drug development effort. In this review, we discuss recent breakthroughs in the understanding of the parasite’s life cycle and their implications in the search for new chemotherapeutics. For this, we present a framework to guide drug discovery efforts against Chagas disease, considering state-of-the-art preclinical models and recently developed tools for the identification and validation of molecular targets.
Spectral characteristics of steady-state Lévy flights in confinement potential profiles

The steady-state correlation characteristics of superdiffusion in the form of Lévy flights in one-dimensional confinement potential profiles are investigated both theoretically and numerically. Specifically, for Cauchy stable noise we calculate the steady-state probability density function for an infinitely deep rectangular potential well and for a symmetric steep potential well of the type U(x)∝x2m. For these potential profiles and arbitrary Lévy index α, we obtain the asymptotic expression of the spectral power density.
A constitutive description on the deformation of alpha uranium based on the use of the mechanical threshold stress as a state variable

Modelisation, a l'aide d'une description constitutive, de la deformation de l'uranium α isotropique dans un intervalle de vitesses de deformation de 10 −4 a 10 4 s −1 , a des temperatures comprises entre 78 et 900 K et avec une deformation allant jusqu'a 0,6
Sex differences in scientific productivity and impact are largely explained by the proportion of highly productive individuals: a whole-population study of researchers across six disciplines in Sweden

ABSTRACT Sex differences in human performance have been documented across a wide array of human endeavours. Males tend to exhibit higher performance in intellectually demanding and competitive domains, and this difference tends to be more pronounced the higher the level of performance. Here, we analyse publishing performance for the whole population of associate and full professors in relatively sex-balanced disciplines, namely Education, Nursing and Caring Science, Psychology, Public Health, Sociology, and Social Work, comprising 426 women and 562 men. We find that sex differences in the number of publications, citations, and citations per publication were small across low and medium levels of productivity, but become more pronounced the higher the level of performance. In the top performing 10% the female proportion decreases from the average 43.2% to 26% (25 F, 71 M), which further decreases to 15% in the top 5%. The results are discussed with respect to the greater male variability hypothesis, sex differences in psychological traits, and environmental factors such as sex discrimination.
Inferring gene regulatory networks by an order independent algorithm using incomplete data sets

Analyzing incomplete data for inferring the structure of gene regulatory networks (GRNs) is a challenging task in bioinformatic. Bayesian network can be successfully used in this field. k-nearest neighbor, singular value decomposition (SVD)-based and multiple imputation by chained equations are three fundamental imputation methods to deal with missing values. Path consistency (PC) algorithm based on conditional mutual information (PCA–CMI) is a famous algorithm for inferring GRNs. This algorithm needs the data set to be complete. However, the problem is that PCA–CMI is not a stable algorithm and when applied on permuted gene orders, different networks are obtained. We propose an order independent algorithm, PCA–CMI–OI, for inferring GRNs. After imputation of missing data, the performances of PCA–CMI and PCA–CMI–OI are compared. Results show that networks constructed from data imputed by the SVD-based method and PCA–CMI–OI algorithm outperform other imputation methods and PCA–CMI. An undirected or partially directed network is resulted by PC-based algorithms. Mutual information test (MIT) score, which can deal with discrete data, is one of the famous methods for directing the edges of resulted networks. We also propose a new score, ConMIT, which is appropriate for analyzing continuous data. Results shows that the precision of directing the edges of skeleton is improved by applying the ConMIT score.
Re‐Examining Temporal Variations in Intermediate‐Depth Seismicity

Changes in the frequency of intermediate‐depth (60–300 km) earthquakes in response to static stress transfer can provide insights into the mechanisms of earthquake generation within subducting slabs. In this study, we use the most up‐to‐date global and regional earthquake catalogs to show that both the aftershock productivity of large earthquakes, and the changes in the frequency of intermediate‐depth earthquakes around the timing of major megathrust slip, support the view that faults within the slab are relatively insensitive to static stress transfer on the order of earthquake stress drops. We interpret these results to suggest the population of faults within the slab are much further from their failure stress than is typical for shallow fault systems. We also find that aftershock productivity varies within slabs over small spatial scales, indicating that the mechanism that enables faults to rupture at intermediate depths is likely to be spatially heterogeneous over length‐scales of a few tens of kilometres. We suggest dehydration‐related weakening mechanisms can best account for this heterogeneity.
A review of experimental research on organizational trust

ABSTRACT Trust profoundly shapes organisational, group, and dyadic outcomes. Reflecting its importance, a substantial and growing body of scholarship has investigated the topic of trust. Much of this work has used experiments to identify clear, causal relationships. However, in contrast to theoretical work that conceptualises trust as a multi-faceted (e.g. ability, benevolence, integrity), multi-level (e.g. interpersonal, intergroup), and dynamic construct, experimental scholarship investigating trust has largely investigated benevolence-based trust in dyadic relationships. As a result of the relatively limited set of paradigms experimental scholars have used to investigate trust, many questions related to different forms and types of trust remain un- and under-explored in experimental work. In this review, we take stock of the existing experimental trust scholarship and identify key gaps in our current understanding of trust. We call for future experimental work to investigate ability-based and integrity-based trust, to advance our understanding of the interplay between relationship history and trust, to study trust as a multi-level construct, to focus on the consequences of trust including the hazards of misplaced trust, and to study trust maintenance. To support these lines of inquiry, we introduce an ideal-typical process model to develop or adapt appropriate trust experiments.
Estimating covariance between exchange rate devaluation and oil price volatility during COVID-19

The economies of West African Monetary Zone (WAMZ) countries have recorded a long trend of currency devaluation and hiking instability in oil prices. We estimated the covariance of currency devaluation and volatilities in global oil prices caused by the COVID-19 outbreak on WAMZ economies from January 30 to December 30, 2020. The BEKK model was estimated for analysis. The results from generalized autoregressive conditional heteroskedasticity (GARCH) show that all variance equation coefficients, are significant, suggesting strong volatility transmission and spillovers between the COVID-19 outbreak and oil price shocks on the economic performance of WAMZ. The estimates obtained for both current and lagged gross domestic product (GDP) equations are relatively similar. Consequently, all WAMZ economies weakly responded to shocks arising from fluctuations in international oil prices, volatility of inflation rate, and excess devaluation caused by the COVID-19 outbreak. The instabilities in oil prices and devaluation caused by the COVID-19 outbreak had decelerating consequences on the output growth of WAMZ economies. The estimated covariance effects of oil price shock and currency devaluation are negative for all countries in the study. A 1 percent devaluation-oil price shock caused by the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in negative output growth rates of 1.3 percent, 1.12 percent, 1.1 percent, and 1.09 percent in Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Ghana, and The Gambia, respectively.
Open-Access Electronic-Resources and Extent of Accessibility by Postgraduate Students of Federal Universities in South-South, Nigeria

: Access to scholarly literature oils the machine of academics knowledge flow. The barrier of hoarding and economic restriction of information resources has been greatly displaced by Open Access. This allows corpus of scholarly literature to be freely accessible, accelerated with the expansion of the availability of the Internet. Giving the availability Open Access, this study examines the accessibility of Open-Access electronic-resources by Postgraduate students of Federal Universities in South-South, Nigeria. The study adopted descriptive survey design. Purposive sampling was used to select four (4) universities from south south, Nigeria. The population for the study was 1401, consisting of all registered 330 Doctoral (PhD) and 1,071 Masters of Education (M.Ed) students of the faculty of education of the institutions. This study which is on accessibility of Open-Access e-resources by Postgraduate students of Federal Universities in South-South, Nigeria, had shown that postgraduate students access Open-Access e-resources for academic purposes. This paper emphasised postgraduate student’s access to Open Access e-resources and highlights the extent which was high, with no significant difference to both Med and PhD. This prompt the recommendations that adequate library ICT infrastructures be provided in the universities for postgraduate use as well as stable power supply to power the facilities.
Yet more on a stochastic economic model: part 2: initial conditions, select periods and neutralising parameters

Abstract In this paper, we consider a number of practical and theoretical aspects of the Wilkie asset model, many of which apply to any similar model used for simulation over time. We discuss the experience of the Wilkie model since 2009. We then discuss the variables that can form the working set, the input set and the output set, all of which may be different. There are different ways of simulating, either in a linear parallel structure or in a branching tree structure. We then discuss the initial conditions required, which may be market conditions at some date, or may be “neutral” initial conditions, which may be defined in different ways. One method of generating initial conditions would be to simulate them randomly, from their own long-term distribution, and we show how to calculate the means, variances and covariances of these. What we call “neutralising parameters” may have a role, and we discuss how these may be found. Finally, we suggest using additional information in the first periods of the simulation to adjust the formulae or parameters for a limited “select period”.
The Nexus between Industrial Parks and the Sustainability of Small and Medium-Scaled Ventures

Investigations on industrial parks appear to be slim with inadequate statistical data in spite of their growing connectedness with sustainability and the importance of their establishment. They were required to curb the overarching challenges of small and medium-scaled ventures (SMVs). To revert the status quo and justify the call for the timeliness of empiricism in this regard, the study investigated the extent to which industrial parks (IPs) impact the sustainability of SMVs. Specifically, it hypothesizes that competition among IP firms affects innovativeness and that government tax incentives impact the cost efficiency of SMVs in Enugu State in Nigeria. Empirical data for the study’s analyses were gathered from the distributive trade, manufacturing, agriculture and allied products, and commerce and tourism sub-sectors of SMVs in the Enugu metropolis, Enugu State, Nigeria. Adopting a descriptive survey design, 711 staff members from the aforementioned SMV sub-sectors in Enugu State, Nigeria were included as the research population. The regression analytics tool was used to analyze the data, following collection, using a structured questionnaire. The study’s results indicate that competition had a significant positive impact on SMVs’ innovativeness in the Enugu metropolis (R = 0.575, β = 0.283, t = 6.794, p = 0.000 < 0.05), while the government’s tax incentive had a significant positive impact on SMVs’ cost-effectiveness (R = 0.267, β = 0.213, t = 6.472, p = 0.000 < 0.05). Therefore, the study concluded that the pursuit of sustainability stimulated competition, resulting in higher levels of innovativeness, while government support in the form of tax incentives helped to lower SMVs’ costs of operating in the parks. As a result, SMVs can maintain viability through a well-planned structure of the industrial park.
The Role of Entrepreneurial Marketing and Relationship Marketing That Strengthen The Women Entrepreneurs' Business Performance

: The role of marketing in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) has a unique characteristic compared to conventional marketing in large organizations. This research is focused on the apparel industrial entrepreneurs in the city of Bandung. This research intended to examine the impact of entrepreneurial and relationship marketing on business performance, moderated by motivation. The research method used in this paper was the quantitative method with descriptive and verificative approaches. The sample size used in this research is around 150 SME businesses. This research indicates that business motivation significantly moderated the impact of entrepreneurial marketing on business performance and significantly moderated the effect of relationship marketing on business performance. This research concluded that it is crucial for SME entrepreneurs in the fashion sector in Bandung to further develop their businesses by motivating them to improve their business performance through entrepreneurial marketing and relationship marketing.
Interfacial reconstruction and superconductivity in cuprate–manganite multilayers of YBa2Cu3O7−δ and Pr0.68Ca0.32MnO3

Interfacial reconstruction in multilayers of YBa2Cu3O7−δ and Pr0.68Ca0. 32MnO3 and its impact on superconducting properties is investigated by means of electron energy-loss spectroscopy and dc electrical transport measurements. Massive underdoping of the cuprate is found by both electron transfer from the manganite and interfacial oxygen depletion, presumably as an adaptation to compressive epitaxial stress. The decrease of the optimally doped volume becomes evident from a distinct suppression of the superconducting transition temperature. This doping effect is stronger than the impact of a competing ferromagnetic order parameter reported for similar multilayer samples with spin-polarized manganites.
Posteromedial Translation for Correction of Severe Hypokyphosis in Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis: Outcome Analysis with 2-year Follow-ups

Background: The deformity in the coronal plane is over-emphasized in the surgical management of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS), whereas the importance of the patient’s sagittal profile is generally neglected. Gold standard treatment in AIS consists of posterior instrumentation, deformity correction - through a reduction maneuver - and arthrodesis. The main focus in most reduction techniques is placed on the correction of deformity in the coronal and/or axial plane, worsening the patient’s sagittal profile. Objectives: This outcome analysis study aimed to investigate the surgical treatment of AIS patients with severe thoracic hypokyphosis (< 10) by adopting the posteromedial translation technique (PMT). Methods: In this retrospective study, the data and records of the patients with minimum 2-year follow-ups were analyzed. Correction of the deformity was radiologically assessed based on Cobb’s angle, thoracic kyphosis, and apex translation. The Scoliosis Research Society 22-item questionnaire (SRS-22r) was used for clinical evaluation before and after the surgery. Results: A total of 11 AIS patients (8 females and 3 males) with hypokyphosis underwent operations by the PMT at Imam Khomeini Hospital Complex between 2000 and 2020. According to the results, 78% correction in the coronal plane and an average correction of 56° (P < 0.001) were obtained. As for the sagittal plane, 18.8° correction was recorded (75%) (P < 0.001). Scoliosis Research Society 22-item questionnaire subscale analysis showed a significant improvement in patients' self-image (P = 0.035) and satisfaction (P = 0.043). Conclusions: The management of hypokyphosis in AIS was challenging. The PMT facilitated the tri-planar deformity correction, including a restoration of the thoracic kyphosis in all patients. A significant improvement was observed in both the coronal and sagittal profiles of the patients.