Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The multifaceted nature of endogenous cardiac regeneration

Since the first evidence of cardiac regeneration was observed, almost 50 years ago, more studies have highlighted the endogenous regenerative abilities of several models following cardiac injury. In particular, analysis of cardiac regeneration in zebrafish and neonatal mice has uncovered numerous mechanisms involved in the regenerative process. It is now apparent that cardiac regeneration is not simply achieved by inducing cardiomyocytes to proliferate but requires a multifaceted response involving numerous different cell types, signaling pathways and mechanisms which must all work in harmony in order for regeneration to occur. In this review we will endeavor to highlight a variety of processes that have been identifed as being essential for cardiac regeneration.
The discretely observed immigration-death process: Likelihood inference and spatiotemporal applications

ABSTRACT We consider a stochastic process, the homogeneous spatial immigration-death (HSID) process, which is a spatial birth-death process with as building blocks (i) an immigration-death (ID) process (a continuous-time Markov chain) and (ii) a probability distribution assigning iid spatial locations to all events. For the ID process, we derive the likelihood function, reduce the likelihood estimation problem to one dimension, and prove consistency and asymptotic normality for the maximum likelihood estimators (MLEs) under a discrete sampling scheme. We additionally prove consistency for the MLEs of HSID processes. In connection to the growth-interaction process, which has a HSID process as basis, we also fit HSID processes to Scots pine data.
Evaluation of the teratogenic effect of water extract of Sonchus arvensis L. and Anredera cordifolia (Ten.) Steenis leaves as a combination in Wistar rat

: Water extract of Sonchus arvensis and Anredera cordifolia leaves as a combination has been proven for their antihypertensive activity, but there is no information about its safety for pregnant women yet. This experiment aimed to evaluate the teratogenic effect of water extract of S. arvensis and A. cordifolia leaves as a combination (1:1) at doses of 100 mg/kg bw, 400 mg/kg bw, and 1000 mg/kg bw in Wistar rats. The extract was made into suspension in sodium carboxymethyl cellulose (Na-CMC) 0.5% and given orally to pregnant rats on gestation day 6-15 as much as 1 mL/100 gram bw. Pregnant rats were sacrificed at gestation day 19. All parameters related to fetuses included the number of fetuses, fetal weight, skeletal and organ malformation were evaluated. The percentage of skeletal and organ malformation of each treatment groups was compared to the control group and analyzed with one-way ANOVA method using IBM SPSS 28. There was no significant difference in both average number and fetal weight from all treatment groups compared to the control group ( P >0.05). Skeletal malformation was not found, but there were undeveloped fetuses (resorption) and some fetuses with small brains in all groups. The percentage of each treatment groups for those two conditions was not significantly different compared to the control group. Therefore, water extract of S. arvensis and A. cordifolia leaves as a combination at doses of 100 mg/kg bw, 400 mg/kg bw, and 1000 mg/kg bw contraindicated for pregnant women and those who are planning on pregnancy.
The longitudinal association between children’s growth mindset in senior primary school and their parents’ growth mindset

Growth mindset plays a positive role in children’s development, but few studies use longitudinal data to investigate the developmental trajectory of children’s growth mindset. In addition, previous studies have shown that there may be no intergenerational transmission of mindset, but the influence of parents’ growth mindset on the development and change of children’s growth mindset cannot be denied. Based on the abovementioned factors, the present study used a sample of fourth-grade primary school students and their parents in Beijing (N = 4,004), and five waves of longitudinal data over two-and-a-half years were collected to identify the trajectories of growth mindset in senior primary school with latent growth modeling and to examine the effects of parents’ growth mindset with a parallel process latent growth model. The results showed the following. (1) The growth mindset of the senior primary school children decreased over time, and there were significant individual differences in the initial level and growth of mindset. (2) Children in senior primary school showed higher levels of growth mindset after two-and-a-half years if their mothers reported higher levels of growth mindset in the beginning. Children showed higher levels of growth mindset after two-and-a-half years if their mothers’ growth mindset declined slower during this period, while they showed lower levels if their mothers’ growth mindset declined rapidly; when the mothers’ growth mindset declines, the children’s growth mindset would also show a downward trend during this time. Finally, (3) there was no significant relationship between both the initial level and the decline of the father’s growth mindset and the development pattern of the children’s growth mindset.
Severe outbreaks of respiratory disease in dairy herds caused by bovine respiratory syncytial virus

Blood samples were collected from 6 herds, 408 cows/herd in the acute phase of respiratory disease and 3-4 weeks later during the convalescence period. Bovine respiratory syncytial virus was shown to be the cause of outbreaks of severe respiratory illness in dairy herds throughout Sweden during 1988-89. The diagnosis was made by comparison of paired acute and convalescent serum antibody titres. An ELISA, applying a monoclonal antibody (MAb) to bovine immunoglobulin IgG was used. To screen for the prevalence of the infection on a herd basis, the indirect ELISA- test was also used for bulk milk samples. 21 milk samples from clinically ill and 15 milk samples from apparently healthy herds were tested. The mean absorbance values for positive herds were 0.94 whereas it was 0.02, for negative herds. It was concluded that this test was a highly sensitive and rapid method to screen for the prevalence of respiratory syncytial virus infection on a herd.
Uncoupled nitric oxide synthase activity promotes colorectal cancer progression

Increased levels of reactive oxygen/nitrogen species are one hallmark of chronic inflammation contributing to the activation of pro-inflammatory/proliferative pathways. In the cancers analyzed, the tetrahydrobiopterin:dihydrobiopterin ratio is lower than that of the corresponding normal tissue, leading to an uncoupled nitric oxide synthase activity and increased generation of reactive oxygen/nitrogen species. Previously, we demonstrated that prophylactic treatment with sepiapterin, a salvage pathway precursor of tetrahydrobiopterin, prevents dextran sodium sulfate–induced colitis in mice and associated azoxymethane-induced colorectal cancer. Herein, we report that increasing the tetrahydrobiopterin:dihydrobiopterin ratio and recoupling nitric oxide synthase with sepiapterin in the colon cancer cell lines, HCT116 and HT29, inhibit their proliferation and enhance cell death, in part, by Akt/GSK-3β–mediated downregulation of β-catenin. Therapeutic oral gavage with sepiapterin of mice bearing azoxymethane/dextran sodium sulfate–induced colorectal cancer decreased metabolic uptake of [18F]-fluorodeoxyglucose and enhanced apoptosis nine-fold in these tumors. Immunohistochemical analysis of both mouse and human tissues indicated downregulated expression of key enzymes in tetrahydrobiopterin biosynthesis in the colorectal cancer tumors. Human stage 1 colon tumors exhibited a significant decrease in the expression of quinoid dihydropteridine reductase, a key enzyme involved in recycling tetrahydrobiopterin suggesting a potential mechanism for the reduced tetrahydrobiopterin:dihydrobiopterin ratio in these tumors. In summary, sepiapterin treatment of colorectal cancer cells increases the tetrahydrobiopterin:dihydrobiopterin ratio, recouples nitric oxide synthase, and reduces tumor growth. We conclude that nitric oxide synthase coupling may provide a useful therapeutic target for treating patients with colorectal cancer.
Patterns, Trends and Correlates of Ten Major Reported Crimes in Ondo State, Nigeria

We analysed the trend, patterns, and correlates of ten major crimes among Local Government Areas (LGAs) in Ondo State. The number of reported crimes from 2007 to 2016 were used to assess the trend in crimes, while the reported number of crimes in 2007 and 2010 from the 18 LGAs were used for the analysis of the spatiotemporal distribution and pattern of crimes. The reported number of murders, rape and indecent assault, assault, pretense/cheating, breach of the public peace, kidnapping and forgery increased while burglary and armed robbery declined. Akure South, Ondo West, Akure North, and Ilaje LGAs had the highest reported crimes. Nearly all the crimes exhibited a random distributional pattern in 2007 and 2010 except assault and kidnapping. There was a significant difference between the number of reported crimes in urban and rural LGAs (F(1,358)=4.148) while the number of hotels and population density was highly correlated with some crimes. The availability of relatively long-time data provides the opportunity to understand the spatiotemporal trend, pattern and correlates of major crimes in Ondo State, Nigeria.
Optimization models for the force and energy in competitive sports

A general optimal control model for running and swimming is developed, whose principal parameters are the energy reserves, the breathing rate and the force. This model is then applied to the world records in these disciplines. It describes the data very well and the parameters employed have values, which agree closely with those obtained by other means.
Identification of Dynamic Discrete Choice Models with Hyperbolic Discounting Using a Terminating Action

We study the identification of dynamic discrete choice models with hyperbolic discounting using a terminating action. We provide novel identification results for both sophisticated and naive agents’ discount factors and their utilities in a finite horizon framework under the assumption of a stationary flow utility. In contrast to existing identification strategies we do not require to observe the final period for the sophisticated agent. Moreover, we avoid normalizing the flow utility of a reference action for both the sophisticated and the naive agent. We propose two simple estimators and show that they perform well in simulations.
Semiglobal stabilization of a class of nonlinear systems using output feedback

The stabilization of a class of multivariable nonlinear systems, about an equilibrium point at the origin, using output feedback is considered. Emphasis is placed on a class of systems that can be transformed into a global normal form with no zero dynamics. Semiglobal stabilization means that for every compact set of initial conditions, it is possible to design an output feedback controller that stabilizes the origin and includes the given compact set in the region of attraction. The system equations are allowed to depend on constant unknown parameters that do not change the vector relative degree of the system. The controller is robust with respect to these parameters. Global Lipschitz conditions are not required. <<ETX>>
The chemical composition of the secretions, their antibacterial activity, and the pygidial gland morphology of selected European Carabini ground beetles (Coleoptera: Carabidae)

The pygidial glands of carabids produce strong-smelling vapours. In this study, we examined the chemical composition of the gland secretions and the structure of the glands in five species of Carabini ground beetles (one species from the subtribe Calosomatina and four species from the subtribe Carabina): Calosoma (Calosoma) maderae (Fabricius, 1775), Carabus (Carabus) granulatus Linnaeus, 1758, C. (Limnocarabus) clathratus Linnaeus, 1760, C. (Carabus) ulrichii Germar, 1823, and C. (Procerus) gigas Creutzer, 1799. Additionally, we tested the antibacterial potential of the pygidial gland secretions of the two latter species against 11 bacterial strains. In order to detect the chemical content of the secretions, we used gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS). The secretion extracts were applied against selected strains of medically important bacteria. We used bright-field microscopy to examine the morphology of the glands. We discovered a total of 11 chemical compounds in the pygidial gland extracts of the ground beetles we analysed. Ten of these compounds were identified as seven carboxylic acids, two hydrocarbons, and one aromatic aldehyde, while one chemical remained unidentified. Most of the components were isolated from the secretion of C. (L.) clathratus (nine), while the lowest number of compounds was found in C. (P.) gigas (two). Methacrylic acid was the most dominant compound by percentage in all five species, while angelic acid was also detected in all samples. As expected, salicylaldehyde was exclusively found in the species of the genus Calosoma Weber, 1801. The secretion of C. (P.) gigas was shown to achieve the highest level of antibacterial activity against Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Salmonella enterica, and S. typhimurium (even the same level as the positive control streptomycin), while the secretion of C. (C.) ulrichii achieved the highest antimicrobial potential against Staphylococcus epidermidis, S. aureus, Listeria monocytogenes, and Bacillus cereus. The most noticeable difference in the structure of the glands between the two genera is that the reservoir in Calosoma is more significantly narrowed as it leads into the efferent duct, compared to that of Carabus.
A Clinical Prediction Model for Breast Cancer in Women Having Their First Mammogram

Background: Digital mammography is the most efficient screening and diagnostic modality for breast cancer (BC). However, the technology is not widely available in rural areas. This study aimed to construct a prediction model for BC in women scheduled for their first mammography at a breast center to prioritize patients on waiting lists. Methods: This retrospective cohort study analyzed breast clinic data from January 2013 to December 2017. Clinical parameters that were significantly associated with a BC diagnosis were used to construct predictive models using stepwise multiple logistic regression. The models’ discriminative capabilities were compared using receiver operating characteristic curves (AUCs). Results: Data from 822 women were selected for analysis using an inverse probability weighting method. Significant risk factors were age, body mass index (BMI), family history of BC, and indicated symptoms (mass and/or nipple discharge). When these factors were used to construct a model, the model performance according to the Akaike criterion was 1387.9, and the AUC was 0.82 (95% confidence interval: 0.76–0.87). Conclusion: In a resource-limited setting, the priority for a first mammogram should be patients with mass and/or nipple discharge, asymptomatic patients who are older or have high BMI, and women with a family history of BC.
Morpho-anatomical, palynological studies on Astragalus microcephalus; Anatolian tragacanth

: Astragalus microcephalus Willd. (Fabaceae) is a member of the section Rhacophorus Bunge and is an element of the Irano-Turanian phytogeographic region. It grows mainly in the steppes of central Anatolia. Extraction of tragacanth and selenium is a valuable tool in pharmacy and is also important economically and ecologically. In this study, morphological, anatomical, pollen characteristics and seed surface properties of A. microcephalus were investigated in detail. The plant consists of thorny bushes that make up a pillow. Morphological characters such as the shape of paripinnate leaves, stipules and bracts, flowers whitish-yellow and purple colored in margins, the flower number in the inflorescence, the stenonychioid type of standard and reniform type of seed can be helpful to distinguish species of Astragalus. There is secondary growth in stem anatomy. The stem of this species has got tragacanth canals in pith. Sclerenchyma tissue is well developed in the petiole. A. microcephalus has equifasial leaves. The vascular bundles are surrounded by a bundle sheath. The pollen grains of A. microcephalus are tricolpate and prolate-spheroidal. The exine sculpturing is microreticulate with perforate while the seed surface is rugulate. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) is used to determine pollen and seed morphology.
The Temperature Dependence of the Hexagonal Boron Nitride Oxidation Resistance, Insights from First−Principle Computations

In this work, we studied the oxidation stability of h−BN by investigating different variants of its modification by −OH, −O− and −O−O− groups using an atomistic thermodynamics approach. We showed that up to temperatures of ~1700 K, oxygen is deposited on the surface of hexagonal boron nitride without dissociation, in the form of peroxide. Only at higher temperatures, oxygen tends to be incorporated into the lattice of hexagonal boron nitride, except in the presence of defects Nv, when the embedding occurs at all temperatures. Finally, the electronic and magnetic properties of the oxidized h−BN were studied.
Theory of Modulation Response of Semiconductor Quantum Dot Lasers

In this dissertation, a theory of modulation response of a semiconductor quantum dot (QD) laser is developed. The effect of the following factors on the modulation bandwidth of a QD laser is studied and the following results are obtained: 1) Carrier capture delay from the optical confinement layer into QDs Closed-form analytical expressions are obtained for the modulation bandwidth –3 dB of a QD laser in the limiting cases of fast and slow capture into QDs. –3 dB is highest in the case of instantaneous capture into QDs, when the cross-section of carrier capture into a QD n = . With reducing n, –3 dB decreases and becomes zero at a certain non-vanishing n min . This n min presents the minimum tolerable capture cross-section for the lasing to occur at a given dc component j0 of the injection current density. The higher is j0, the smaller is n min and hence the direct modulation of the output power is possible at a slower capture. The use of multiple layers with QDs is shown to considerably improve the modulation response of the laser – the same –3 dB is obtained in a multi-layer structure at a much lower j0 than in a single-layer structure. 2) Internal optical loss in the optical confinement layer The internal optical loss, which increases with free-carrier density in the waveguide region, considerably reduces the modulation bandwidth –3 dB of a QD laser. With internal loss crosssection int increasing and approaching its maximum tolerable value, the modulation bandwidth decreases and becomes zero. There exists the optimum cavity length, at which –3 dB is highest; the larger is int, the longer is the optimum cavity. 3) Excited states in QDs Direct and indirect (excited-state-mediated) mechanisms of capture of carriers from the waveguide region into the lasing ground state in QDs are considered, and the modulation response of a laser is calculated. It is shown that, when only indirect capture is involved, the excited-to-ground-state relaxation delay strongly limits the ground-state modulation bandwidth of the laser — at the longest tolerable relaxation time, the bandwidth becomes zero. When direct capture is also involved, the effect of excited-to-ground-state relaxation is less significant and the modulation bandwidth is considerably higher.
Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis-Autoimmune Hepatitis Overlap Syndrome: Significant Barriers in Liver Disease Diagnosis and Treatment Experienced by the Latino Community

Overlap syndrome (OS) is a term that comprises the presentation of multiple hepatic disease characteristics in the same patient, such as the presence of autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) features in addition to primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) or primary biliary cholangitis (PBC). Standard therapy for AIH is immunosuppression, while ursodeoxycholic acid is the preferred treatment for PBC. Additionally, liver transplantation (LT) may be considered in severe cases. Hispanics have been found to have a higher prevalence of chronic liver disease and develop more complications associated with portal hypertension at the time of listing for LT. Despite being the fastest-growing population in the USA, Hispanics have a higher probability of not receiving an LT due to issues with social determinants of health (SDOH). It has been reported that Hispanics are more likely to be removed from the transplant list. We report a case of a 25-year-old female immigrant from a Latin American developing country who presented with symptoms consistent with worsening liver disease after years of inappropriate workup and late diagnosis due to barriers within the healthcare system. The patient had a history of unresolved jaundice and pruritus and presented with worsening of her previous symptoms and new onset abdominal distention, bilateral leg edema, and telangiectasias. Laboratory and imaging studies confirmed the diagnosis of AIH and primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC-AIH syndrome). The patient was started on steroids, azathioprine, and ursodeoxycholic acid, showing improvement. Due to her migratory status, she could not receive an appropriate diagnosis and follow up with a single provider or healthcare institution, putting her at increased risk for life-threatening complications. Although medical management is the first step, the probability of future liver transplants exists. The patient is still undergoing liver transplant evaluation and completing a workup since she was found to have an elevated model for end-stage liver disease (MELD) score. Even with the introduction of new scores and policies that aim to reduce disparities in LT, Hispanic patients are still at higher risk of being removed from the waitlist because of death or clinical deterioration compared to non-Hispanics. To this day, Hispanics have the highest percentage of waitlist deaths (20.8%) of all ethnicities and the lowest overall rate for undergoing LT. Understanding and addressing the causes that could contribute to and explain this phenomenon is essential. Increasing awareness of this problem is vital to promote more research on LT disparities.
Match Analysis and Physical Performance of High-Level Young Tennis Players in Simulated Matches: A Pilot Study

Match Analysis and Physical Performance of High-Level Young Tennis Players in Simulated Matches: A Pilot Study Objective: The aims of this study were to compare the kinematic characteristics of young tennis players at different competitive levels and to analyze the correlation between the Hit and Turn Tennis Test (HTTT) performance and the locomotor performance indices during tennis matches. Methods: Six national level and six regional level tennis players performed the HTTT and a tennis match. The match activities were monitored using GPS units. The distance covered in different speed zones and the numbers of accelerations were analyzed. The inference based on magnitudes was used to compare the match physical performance between groups. Results: The total distance (2716.7 ± 203.3 m vs. 1988.5 ± 346 m), high intensity running distance (42.7 ± 30.6 m vs. 11.8 ± 8.7 m), number of high intensity activities (20.8 ± 12.1 vs. 5.3 ± 4.8) and accelerations >1.5 g were greater in national level than in regional level players. The HTTT was moderately to highly correlated (Spearman’s test) to the total distance covered and the distance covered >15 km/h, and to accelerations >1.5 g. Conclusion: The present study showed that young tennis players of national level performed better than regional level ones during matches. In addition, the HTTT performance was positively correlated with match physical performance, evidencing its validity in tennis.