Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Expression profiling of Wnt family of genes in normal and inflammatory bowel disease primary human intestinal myofibroblasts and normal human colonic crypt epithelial cells

Background: Wnt signaling regulates intestinal epithelial stem cell function. Wnt ligands bind Frizzled (Fz) receptors and low‐density lipoprotein‐receptor‐related protein (LRP) 5 and 6. Secreted Frizzled‐related protein (SFRP) and Dickkopf families inhibit Wnt signaling. Our aim was to study expression of Wnt family of genes in isolated intestinal myofibroblasts and crypt epithelial cells. Methods: Myofibroblasts were isolated from normal colonic and small intestinal mucosal samples and those affected by ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn's disease. Expression of the Wnt family of genes was studied by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) array. Epithelial proliferation was studied using IEC‐6 cells. Results: Most of the myofibroblast isolates expressed Wnt2, Wnt5A, Wnt5B, Fzd1, Fzd2, Fzd4, Fzd6, Fzd7, Fzd8, LRP6, Dickkopf1, and SFRP1. Compared to myofibroblasts isolated from normal colonic mucosal samples, real‐time reverse transcription‐PCR studies (using additional isolates) showed significantly reduced expression of SFRP1 in UC myofibroblasts (3.34‐fold reduction, P < 0.01). Recombinant SFRP1 inhibited proliferation of IEC‐6 epithelial cells. In colonic crypt epithelial cells, expression of Wnt ligands and their inhibitors was generally either absent or very weak. By contrast, all the crypt epithelial preparations expressed Fzd1, Fzd5, Fzd7, Fzd8, and LRP6. Conclusions: Human intestinal myofibroblasts expressed a number of Wnt ligands, their receptors, and inhibitors. In contrast, colonic crypt epithelial cells predominantly expressed Wnt receptors. Compared to myofibroblasts isolated from normal colonic mucosa, those affected by UC showed significantly reduced expression of SFRP1. Since reduced SFRP1 expression has been associated with malignancy, low myofibroblast expression of this Wnt inhibitor may be implicated in increased risk of cancer in UC. (Inflamm Bowel Dis 2011;)
rTMS treatments combined with speech training for a conduction aphasia patient

Rationale: To date, little is known regarding the neural mechanisms of the functional recovery of language after repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) in aphasia. Our aim was to investigate the mechanism that underlies rTMS and speech training in a case report. Patient concerns and diagnoses: We report the case of a 39-year-old woman who was initially diagnosed with conduction aphasia following a left hemisphere stroke. Interventions: The rTMS location comprised the left Broca area, and a frequency of 5 Hz for 20 min/d for 10 days during a 2-week period was used. She had received speech rehabilitation training 1 month after stroke. Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and diffusion tensor imaging were used to investigate the functional and microstructural changes before and after rTMS treatment. Outcomes: The results demonstrated that the Western Aphasia Battery scores significantly improved for language ability at 2 weeks post-treatment, and the gains were steadily increased at 2.5 months post-treatment. The fMRI results indicated a more focused activation pattern and showed significant activation in the left dominant hemisphere relative to the right hemisphere, especially in the perilesional areas, post-treatment during 2 language tasks compared with pretreatment. Moreover, the fractional anisotropy increased in the left superior temporal gyrus, which comprises an important area that is involved in language processing. Lessons: Our findings suggest that rTMS combined with speech training improved the speech-language ability of this chronic conduction aphasia patient and enhanced the cerebral functional and microstructural reorganization.
A genetic fuzzy rule-based classifier for land cover image classification

This paper proposes the use of a Boosted Genetic Fuzzy Classifier (BGFC) for land cover classification from multispectral images. The model's learning algorithm is divided into two stages. The first stage iteratively generates fuzzy rules, employing a boosting algorithm that localizes new rules in uncovered subspaces of the feature space. Each rule is obtained through an efficient genetic rule extraction method, which both adapts the parameters of the fuzzy sets in the premise space and determines the required features of the rule, further improving the interpretability of the obtained model. The second stage fine-tunes the obtained rule base through an evolutionary algorithm (EA), improving the cooperation among the fuzzy rules and, thus, increasing the classification performance attained after the first stage. The BGFC is tested using an IKONOS multispectral VHR image, in the agricultural area surrounding a lake-wetland ecosystem in northern Greece. The results indicate that the proposed system is able to handle multi-dimensional feature spaces, effectively exploiting information from different feature sources.
Heart rate monitoring to assess energy expenditure in children with reduced physical activity.

The aim of the study was to assess whether heart rate (HR) monitoring is suitable to estimate energy expenditure in spastic cerebral palsied (CP) children, who are known to have very low levels of daily physical activity. Total daily energy expenditure (TEE) predicted from HR recording (TEEHR, measured over 2 or 3 d) was therefore compared with TEE measured by doubly labeled water (TEEDLW, measured over 14 d) in nine children with spastic diplegia/tetraplegia (mean +/- SD age 10.7 +/- 1.6 yr). At group level, there was no difference in TEEDLW (7.4 +/- 2.1 MJ.d-1) and TEEHR (7.4 +/- 2.2 MJ.d-1). Spearman correlation between both methods was 0.88 (P < 0.001). Individual estimates of TEEHR ranged from -16.9% to +20.0%, with five TEEHR values within +/- 10% of TEEDLW. It was concluded that also in children with low levels of daily physical activity, HR monitoring (preferably 3 sampling days) can provide a close group estimate of energy expenditure. At the individual level, the method is not suitable.
Transforming the communities of tomorrow

The exponential globalisation of the economy warrants the formulation of a pathway that harnesses the human and social capital that can work together collaboratively and proactively to promote the development of sustainable communities. Education for Sustainability presents that pathway to ensure transformation of the current human and social capital thus fostering change in society and helping build communities that can be more sustainable in all aspects. However the power of education in achieving sustainable development has been seriously undermined indicated by the relatively slow implementation of sustainability concepts in most educational curricula. This paper elaborates the importance of education for sustainability and expounds on an Applied Technology degree offered at Unitec, New Zealand. Based on a qualitative study the research corroborates that student’s perspectives and opinions on sustainability undergo significant transformation when concepts of sustainability are embedded and integrated in the curriculum. The findings demonstrate that educating the current student generation is essential for manoeuvring the community towards sustainable development.
Permanganate-based synthesis of manganese oxide nanoparticles in ferritin

This paper investigates the comproportionation reaction of MnII with MnO 4 − as a route for manganese oxide nanoparticle synthesis in the protein ferritin. We report that MnO 4 − serves as the electron acceptor and reacts with MnII in the presence of apoferritin to form manganese oxide cores inside the protein shell. Manganese loading into ferritin was studied under acidic, neutral, and basic conditions and the ratios of MnII and permanganate were varied at each pH. The manganese-containing ferritin samples were characterized by transmission electron microscopy, UV/Vis absorption, and by measuring the band gap energies for each sample. Manganese cores were deposited inside ferritin under both the acidic and basic conditions. All resulting manganese ferritin samples were found to be indirect band gap materials with band gap energies ranging from 1.01 to 1.34 eV. An increased UV/Vis absorption around 370 nm was observed for samples formed under acidic conditions, suggestive of MnO2 formation inside ferritin.
The Relationship between Kt/VUrea and Npna in Anuric Peritoneal Dialysis Patients: A Comparison with Predialysis Patients

Objective It is unknown whether a given level of urea clearance by the native kidneys provides better or similar control of uremia than the same level of urea clearance by continuous peritoneal dialysis (PD). More insight into possible differences between renal and peritoneal urea clearances is warranted. Therefore, we investigated the relationship between Kt/Vurea and protein equivalent of total nitrogen appearance normalized to body weight (nPNA), the relationship between urea clearance and creatinine appearance, and other nutritional parameters in PD patients without residual renal function, and in predialysis end-stage renal disease patients. Patients All patients participated in the Netherlands Cooperative Study on the Adequacy of Dialysis. This is a prospective cohort study of incident dialysis patients, in whom regular assessments of renal function are done. A group of 75 PD patients was identified at the first follow-up assessment in which their urine production was less than 100 mL/day. These patients were considered the anuric group. This group was compared with a control group of 97 predialysis patients studied 0 – 4 weeks before the start of dialysis treatment. Results Linear relationships were present between Kt/Vurea and nPNA, in both the predialysis patients and the anuric PD patients. A significant difference was present between the slopes of the two regression lines (0.40 vs 0.18, p = 0.007). When Kt/Vurea exceeded 1.3/week, a given level of Kt/Vurea was associated with a higher nPNA in predialysis than in anuric PD patients. Similar relationships were found between Kturea and PNA. Kturea was also significantly related to urine or dialysate creatinine appearance. A significant difference existed between the slopes of the regression lines in the two groups of patients (p < 0.001). A weekly Kturea of 70 L was associated with a urine creatinine appearance of 11.0 mmol/day and a dialysate creatinine appearance of 8.4 mmol/day. Nutritional status measured with creatinine appearance and Subjective Global Assessment was better in the predialysis population, despite much lower values for Kt/Vurea in these patients. Conclusions The relationship between Kt/Vurea and nPNA in anuric PD patients is different from that in a predialysis population. It follows from our results that, when Kt/Vurea is above 1.3/week, a given level of Kt/Vurea is associated with a higher nPNA in predialysis than in anuric PD patients. This challenges the concept of equivalency between renal and peritoneal Kt/Vurea with respect to control of uremic morbidity.
Structural and biochemical insights into the role of testis-expressed gene 14 (TEX14) in forming the stable intercellular bridges of germ cells

Significance Germ cells possess the inherent ability to inactivate cell abscission through TEX14 (testis-expressed gene 14), and they may provide information on inactivation of the abscission in abnormal cells, including cancer cells. Structural and functional studies of how TEX14 inactivates germ cell abscission reveal that the AxGPPx3YxPP motif of TEX14 competitively binds to CEP55-EABR [endosomal sorting complex required for transport (ESCRT) and ALIX-binding region] to prevent the recruitment of ALIX, which is a component of the ESCRT machinery and which contains the AxGPPx3Y motif. Multiexperiment analyses of CEP55-EABR–TEX14 interactions showed how the TEX14 peptide binds dominantly to CEP55-EABR in the presence of ALIX and safeguards the intercellular bridges of germ cells. Intercellular bridges are a conserved feature of spermatogenesis in mammalian germ cells and derive from arresting cell abscission at the final stage of cytokinesis. However, it remains to be fully understood how germ cell abscission is arrested in the presence of general cytokinesis components. The TEX14 (testis-expressed gene 14) protein is recruited to the midbody and plays a key role in the inactivation of germ cell abscission. To gain insights into the structural organization of TEX14 at the midbody, we have determined the crystal structures of the EABR [endosomal sorting complex required for transport (ESCRT) and ALIX-binding region] of CEP55 bound to the TEX14 peptide (or its chimeric peptides) and performed functional characterization of the CEP55–TEX14 interaction by multiexperiment analyses. We show that TEX14 interacts with CEP55-EABR via its AxGPPx3Y (Ala793, Gly795, Pro796, Pro797, and Tyr801) and PP (Pro803 and Pro804) sequences, which together form the AxGPPx3YxPP motif. TEX14 competitively binds to CEP55-EABR to prevent the recruitment of ALIX, which is a component of the ESCRT machinery with the AxGPPx3Y motif. We also demonstrate that a high affinity and a low dissociation rate of TEX14 to CEP55, and an increase in the local concentration of TEX14, cooperatively prevent ALIX from recruiting ESCRT complexes to the midbody. The action mechanism of TEX14 suggests a scheme of how to inactivate the abscission of abnormal cells, including cancer cells.
The Long View of Financial Risk, August 2009

An extended history of market returns reveals aspects of financial risk that are not evident over short timescales. The most enduring risk measure is variance, which quantifies short-term regularities in return dispersion. An alternative measure, shortfall, quantifies the risk of extreme market moves, and calls for a deep history to inform its forecasts. Both variance and shortfall are convex, meaning that they tend to promote diversification and can be used in optimization. By offering a long-view counterpart to variance, shortfall can significantly broaden an investor's risk perspective.
On the primary nature of fluorescence yield changes associated with photosynthesis.

Absorbance changes of C-550 and cytochrome b(559), and fluorescence-yield changes were measured during irradiation of chloroplasts at -196 degrees . The photo-reduction of C-550 proceeded more rapidly than the photo-oxidation of cytochrome b(559), and the fluorescence-yield change had similar kinetics to the cytochrome b(559) change. The fluorescence yield of chloroplasts exposed to a 16-musec flash at -196 degrees did not increase during the flash, but increased in the dark after the flash. Both of these experiments indicate that the fluorescence yield follows the dark reduction of the primary electron donor of Photosystem II, not the photoreduction of the acceptor. This explanation would also account for the recent results of Mauzerall [Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci. USA (1972) 69, 1358-1362] showing that the fluorescence yield of chloroplasts at room temperature requires about 20 musec to reach a maximum after a very brief flash.
Analytical Modelling of Voltage Balance Dynamics for a Flying Capacitor Multilevel Converter

This paper presents a strategy for the analytic determination of the natural voltage balancing dynamics of flying capacitor converters. The approach substitutes Double Fourier series representations of the PWM switching signals into a nonlinear dynamic circuit model of the converter. The result reduces to a linearised state space model that can be readily solved, with the Fourier solution coefficients defining the state space matrix terms. The solution can be readily developed for converters of any level, and allows rapid analytical investigation of the dynamic (and static) balancing behaviour over a wide range of conditions. Furthermore, the approach allows powerful strategies such as root locus to be used to investigate the converter's performance as a function of changes in parameters such as modulation index and load. The analysis approach has been fully verified by comparing it against experimental results on a low voltage prototype converter.
Transport Characteristics of CVD-YBCO Coated Conductor under Hoop Stress

Transport characteristics of IBAD/ CVD-YBa2Cu3O7 (YBCO) coated conductor were measured at 4.2 K under hoop stress. The conductor was fabricated by a multi-stage metal-organic chemical vapor deposition (CVD) method. The YBCO layer was deposited on Hastelloy substrate with PLD-Ce02 and IBAD-Gd2Zr207 buffer layers. A 20-mum silver layer was sputtered as a protective and stabilizing layer. The hoop stress test coils were fabricated by winding the conductor on a 250-mm diameter stainless-steel bobbin by five turns. Two coils, denoted as coils A and B, were fabricated. The Hastelloy substrate located outside for coil A and inside for coil B. Both coils were tested in magnetic field at 4.2 K under hoop stresses. Coil A and B experienced 1028 and 777 MPa at 11 T, 4.2 K. The measured stress-strain curves provided that the Young's modulus of the conductor was 190 GPa. The tolerable stress of ~1000 MPa and the Young's modulus of 190 GPa are consistent with the values obtained by a tensile test. The hoop stress test results indicates that the YBCO coated conductor is promising for application under huge hoop stress.
Comparison of different PWM schemes for n-phase VSI

This paper presents the development of three different generalized PWM schemes for a n-phase voltage source inverter (VSI) in matlab/simulink. Multiphase (n-phase) voltage source inverters are dominantly used to supply the multi-phase drives which are used for high power applications. It is necessary to develop suitable switching schemes for the inverters to provide required output voltages to a multiphase machine.The schemes namely SPWM, PWM technique with mth harmonic injection and offset injection are discussed. The performances of the inverter with 5, 7 and 9 phases are analyzed with these switching techniques. The output voltage, THD and current ripple are observed through simulation. The effectiveness of the schemes is compared for different modulation indices and the results are presented.
Improved energy storage system & unit commitment scheduling

System operators must schedule sufficient controllable generation ahead of time to compensate unavoidable realtime mismatches between the production and consumption of electricity. If energy storage (ES) facilities are required to provide such flexibility, the technical constraints on the operation of ES must be taken into account in this scheduling problem, which is typically not done in deterministic models. Stochastic optimization enhances the procurement of flexibility, but may require more computational resources. This paper proposes an improved deterministic model for the co-optimization of controllable generation and ES, accounting for the technical constraints of the ES system and arbitrage opportunities with conventional reserve capacity. In a case study, the proposed unit commitment (UC) model is shown to yield significant operational cost reductions without affecting the systems reliability, while the increase in calculation times is limited.
Procarboxypeptidase U (proCPU, TAFI, proCPB2) in cerebrospinal fluid during ischemic stroke is associated with stroke progression, outcome and blood–brain barrier dysfunction

Essentials Little is known of procarboxypeptidase U (proCPU) in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of stroke patients. ProCPU levels were studied in CSF of controls and non‐thrombolyzed acute ischemic stroke patients. ProCPU is elevated in CSF of stroke patients compared with controls. ProCPU in CSF correlates with stroke progression, outcome, and blood‐brain barrier dysfunction.
Frequent promoter hypermethylation of BRCA2, CDH13, MSH6, PAX5, PAX6 and WT1 in ductal carcinoma in situ and invasive breast cancer

Epigenetic changes are considered to be a frequent event during tumour development. Hypermethylation of promoter CpG islands represents an alternative mechanism to inactivate tumour suppressor genes, DNA repair genes, cell cycle regulators and transcription factors. In search of epigenetic events related to progression, we used MS–MLPA (ME‐0002‐B1, MRC‐Holland, Amsterdam, The Netherlands) to compare the methylation status of 25 breast cancer‐related genes between laser‐microdissected ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) and adjacent invasive ductal cancer (IDC) lesions in 33 breast cancer patients. Using absolute methylation percentages or, alternatively, a 15% cut‐off for methylation, promoter methylation in DCIS and IDC was not significantly different for any of the genes studied. Aberrant methylation in at least 50% of both the DCIS and adjacent IDC lesions was observed for PAX6, BRCA2, PAX5, WT1, CDH13 and MSH6. Methylation of MSH6, however, was also frequent in normal breast tissue. In contrast, CDKN2A, CHFR, PYCARD and one of the two analysed RB1 CpG loci were rarely (<5%) methylated in both lesions. CDKN2A and GSTP1 showed significantly (p < 0.002) higher mean methylation levels in increasing grades (I, II, III) of DCIS (1% versus 4% versus 7% for CDKN2A and 6% versus 26% versus 28% for GSTP1). The mean number of methylated genes per sample increased with increasing grades of DCIS (p = 0.014) and IDC (p = 0.109). In contrast to the observations in DCIS, none of the analysed genes showed significantly higher methylation levels with increasing grades of IDC. In conclusion, there were no differences in promoter methylation between DCIS and IDC in the 25 analysed genes, suggesting that DCIS, at the epigenetic level, is as advanced as IDC. Promoter hypermethylation of PAX6, BRCA2, PAX5, WT1, CDH13 and MSH6 seems to be a frequent early event in breast cancer and methylation levels of GSTP1 (and CDKN2A, although still low) seem to increase with increasing DCIS grade. Copyright © 2011 Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
INCOME INEQUALITY AND REDISTRIBUTION IN THE AFTERMATH OF THE 2007–2008 CRISIS

This paper provides a detailed empirical assessment of the evolution of income inequality and the redistributive effects of the tax and transfer system following the 2007–2008 crisis. It focuses on the U.S. case, drawing on data from the Current Population Survey (CPS) for the period 2007–2012. In contrast with most existing studies, it uses a wide range of inequality indicators and looks in detail at several sections of the income distribution, allowing for a clearer picture of the heterogeneous consequences of the crisis. Furthermore, it analyzes the contribution of different components of the tax and transfer system, beyond its overall cushioning effect, which allows for a more refined assessment of its effectiveness. Results show that although the crisis implied income losses across the whole income distribution, the burden was disproportionately born by low- to middle-income groups. Income losses experienced by richer households were relatively modest and transitory, while those experienced by poorer households were not only strong but also highly persistent. The tax and transfer system, particularly cash transfers, had a crucial role in taming the increase in income inequality during the Great Recession (GR) and in the immediate aftermath of the crisis. After 2010, however, its effect became weaker and income inequality experienced a new surge. The findings of this paper contribute to a better understanding of the distributional consequences of aggregate crises and the role of tax and transfer policies in stabilizing the income distribution in a crisis aftermath.