Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
MicroRNA-152 represses VEGF and TGFβ1 expressions through post-transcriptional inhibition of (Pro)renin receptor in human retinal endothelial cells

Purpose The (pro)renin receptor (PRR), a component of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS), plays an important role in the physiologic and pathophysiological regulation of blood pressure and fluid/electrolyte homeostasis. The RAS including the PRR has been identified in retinal endothelial cells and other ocular tissues. In this study, the potential involvement of miRNAs in the posttranscriptional regulation of PRR was investigated in human retinal endothelial cells (hRECs) under high glucose (HG) conditions. Methods miRNA-152 (miR-152) was identified in silico as a potential regulator of PRR, and this was confirmed by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) and PRR 3′-untranslated region (UTR) reporter assays. Using RNA interference, both AT1R and PRR were implicated in the HG-mediated induction of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), VEGF receptor 2 (VEGFR-2), and transforming growth factor β1 (TGFβ1). Results The downregulation of miR-152 was observed in hRECs and rat retinal tissues under HG conditions. In parallel, PRR (target of miR-152), VEGF, VEGFR-2, and TGFβ1 at mRNA levels were elevated. However, the transfection of hRECs with miR-152 mimics in HG conditions resulted in the suppression of the PRR expression, as well as reduced VEGF, VEGFR-2, and TGFβ1 production. This was reversed by transfecting cells with the antisense (antagomir) of miR-152, suggesting the glucose-induced upregulation of VEGF, VEGFR-2, and TGFβ1 is mediated through PRR, and this regulation is likely achieved through the HG-mediated modulation of miRNAs. Conclusions We have demonstrated that miR-152 interacting with PRR regulates downstream VEGF, VRGFR-2, and TGFβ1 expressions in hRECs in HG conditions. These studies suggest miR-152 and PRR may play a role in the pathogenesis of diabetic retinopathy (DR).
Relations between ISM tracers in galaxies

Aims. We study the relations existing between fluxes emitted at CO(1-0) line, 60 and 100 µm wavelengths, B and soft X-ray wavebands for galaxies of all morphological types. The large set of data that we created allows to revisit some of known relations existing between the different tracers of the Interstellar Medium (ISM): the link between the FIR flux and the CO line emission, the relation between X-ray emission in non active galaxies and the blue or FIR luminosity. Methods. Using catalogues of galaxies and works presented in the literature, we collected fluxes in FIR, 21 cm, CO(0-1) line and soft X-ray for two samples, consisting of normal and interacting galaxies respectively. Joining together these samples, we have data for a total of 2953 galaxies, not all observed in the four above wavebands. Results. All the relations found are discussed in the frame of the star formation activity that is the link for most of them. We note that when an active star formation is present, it may link the galaxy fluxes at almost all wavelengths, from X to microwaves. On the contrary, in early-type galaxies where the current star formation rate has faded out the X-FIR fluxes link disappears. This result obtained for early-type galaxies is discussed and explained in detail in the frame of a suitable theoretical model, obtained coupling chemo-dynamical N-body simulations with a dusty spectrophotometric code of population synthesis.
Visualization of the social bot's fingerprints

As the number of social media users increases for platforms such as Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram, so does the number of bot or spam accounts on these platforms. Typically, these bots or spam accounts are automated programmatically using the social media site's API and attempt to convey or spread a particular message. Some bots are designed for marketers trying to sell products or attract users to new sites. Other types of bots are much more malicious and disseminate misinformation that harms or tricks users. Such bots (fake accounts) may lead to serious consequences, as people's social network has become one of the determining factors in their general decision making. Therefore, these accounts have the potential to influence people's opinions drastically and hence real life events as well. Through different machine learning techniques, researchers have now begun to investigate ways to detect these types of malicious accounts automatically. To successfully differentiate between real accounts and bot accounts, a comprehensive analysis of the behavioral patterns of both types of accounts is required. In this paper, we investigate ways to select the best features from a data set for automated classification of different types of social media accounts (ex. bot versus real account) via visualization. To help select better feature combinations, we try to visualize which features may be more effective for classification using self-organizing maps.
Proposal of a New Method for Measuring Förster Resonance Energy Transfer (FRET) Rapidly, Quantitatively and Non-Destructively

The process of radiationless energy transfer from a chromophore in an excited electronic state (the “donor”) to another chromophore (an “acceptor”), in which the energy released by the donor effects an electronic transition, is known as “Förster Resonance Energy Transfer” (FRET). The rate of energy transfer is dependent on the sixth power of the distance between donor and acceptor. Determining FRET efficiencies is tantamount to measuring distances between molecules. A new method is proposed for determining FRET efficiencies rapidly, quantitatively, and non-destructively on ensembles containing donor acceptor pairs: at wavelengths suitable for mutually exclusive excitations of donors and acceptors, two laser beams are intensity-modulated in rectangular patterns at duty cycle ½ and frequencies f1 and f2 by electro-optic modulators. In an ensemble exposed to these laser beams, the donor excitation is modulated at f1, and the acceptor excitation, and therefore the degree of saturation of the excited electronic state of the acceptors, is modulated at f2. Since the ensemble contains donor acceptor pairs engaged in FRET, the released donor fluorescence is modulated not only at f1 but also at the beat frequency Δf: = |f1 − f2|. The depth of the latter modulation, detectable via a lock-in amplifier, quantitatively indicates the FRET efficiency.
Antibodies to Cyclic Citrullinated Peptides in Patients With Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis and Patients With Rheumatoid Arthritis: Shared Expression of the Inherently Autoreactive 9G4 Idiotype

Antibodies to cyclic citrullinated peptides (anti‐CCP) in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) can express the inherently autoreactive gene VH4–34, detected using the rat monoclonal antibody 9G4. Patients with the polyarticular subtype of juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) share some but not all of the features of adult patients with RA. This study was undertaken to compare serologic findings for rheumatoid factor (RF), anti‐CCP, and 9G4‐expressing anti‐CCP in a large JIA cohort with a cohort of adult RA patients.
Balancing the educational choices in the decision-making of a dean of medicine: Fission or fusion?

Background. The literature on deans of medicine focuses mostly on the qualifications, roles, abilities, management and leadership competence of the deans. The gap between theory and practice is, however, the nucleus of the position. Objectives. To describe insights into the educational forces that act on a dean of medicine and the implications for those who wish to bring about change – in this case, changes in the inclusion of public health in the medical curriculum. Methods. A series of in-depth interviews of a vice dean (VD) of medicine was conducted over a period of a year. The interviews were transcribed. Initial in-depth analysis of the transcriptions was done using open coding, prior to a second round of coding that resulted in themes. Results. The interviews revealed a serendipitous aspect, namely the ontological realities of the VD’s practice. This practice is characterised by balancing multiple internal and external forces, such as the breadth and depth of the curriculum that acts on the medical curriculum. Conclusion. The ontological realities of the VD bring to life the qualifications and leadership, and management competence, roles and abilities described in the literature. The multiple – often opposing – educational choices that deans face are an inescapable reality of deanship. Medical deans must balance these opposing forces to ensure fusion within the curriculum, and those interested in changes, such as strengthening the teaching of public health in this curriculum, need to plan on how to overcome this.
Polarization changes in partially coherent electromagnetic beams propagating through turbulent atmosphere

Abstract In this paper, we study the effects of turbulent atmosphere on the degree of polarization of a partially coherent electromagnetic beam, which propagates through it. The beam is described by a 2⊗2 cross–spectral density matrix and is assumed to be generated by a planar, secondary, electromagnetic Gaussian Schell–model source. The analysis is based on a recently formulated unified theory of coherence and polarization and on the extended Huygens–Fresnel principle. We study the behaviour of the degree of polarization in the intermediate zone, i.e. in the region of space where coherence properties of the beam and the atmospheric turbulence are competing. We illustrate the analysis by numerical examples.
Reinforcement learning for landmark-based robot navigation

In landmark-based navigation, robots start in an unknown locationand must navigate to a desired target using visually-acquired land-marks. In the scenario that we are studying the target isvisible fromthe robot’s initial location, but it may subsequently be occludedby intervening objects. The challenge for the robot is to acquireenough information about the environment so that it can, even inthat case move, from the starting location to the target position.In this paper, we build upon our previously described multiagentsystem for outdoor landmark-based navigation [2]. It is composedof three systems: the Pilot, responsible for all motions of the robot,the Vision system, responsible for identifying and tracking land-marks and for detecting obstacles, and the Navigation system, re-sponsible for choosing high-level robot motions.These three systems must cooperate to achieve the overall task ofreaching the target. For instance, the Pilot needs the Vision systemto identify obstacles and the Navigation system to select a path tothe goal. The systems are also competing, for instance, the Pilotand the Navigation system both compete for the Vision system. ThePilot needs it for obstacle avoidance, while the Navigation systemneeds it for landmark detection and tracking.To manage this cooperation and competition, in [2] we had chosena bidding mechanism. Each system generates bids for the servicesoffered by the Pilot and Vision systems. The service actually exe-cuted by each system depends on the winning bid at each point intime. In [2] we proposed bidding functions to obtain good perfor-mance from the combined system. In this paper we use Reinforce-ment Learning (RL) [5] to tune the parameters of those functions.The Navigation system is also implemented as a multiagent sys-tem composed of six agents with the following goals: keep the tar-get located with maximum precision and reach it (Target Tracker),keep the risk of losing the target low (Risk Manager), recover from
The ontogeny of trilobite segmentation: a comparative approach

Abstract Ontogenetic stages of trilobites have traditionally been recognized on the basis of the development of exoskeletal segmentation. The established protaspid, meraspid, and holaspid phases relate specifically to the development of articulated joints between exoskeletal elements. Transitions between these phases were marked by the first and last appearances of new trunk segment articulations. Here we propose an additional and complementary ontogenetic scheme based on the generation of new trunk segments. It includes an anamorphic phase during which new trunk segments appeared, and an epimorphic phase during which the number of segments in the trunk remained constant. In some trilobites an ontogenetic boundary can also be recognized at the first appearance of morphologically distinct posterior trunk segments. Comparison of the phase boundaries of these different aspects of segment ontogeny highlights rich variation in the segmentation process among Trilobita. Cases in which the onset of the holaspid phase preceded onset of the epimorphic phase are here termed protarthrous, synchronous onset of both phases is termed synarthromeric, and onset of the epimorphic phase before onset of the holaspid phase is termed protomeric. Although these conditions varied among close relatives and perhaps even intraspecifically in some cases, particular conditions may have been prevalent within some clades. Trilobites displayed hemianamorphic development that was accomplished over an extended series of juvenile and mature free-living instars. Although developmental schedules varied markedly among species, morphological transitions during trilobite development were generally regular, limited in scope, and extended over a large number of instars when compared with those of many living arthropods. Hemianamorphic, direct development with modest change between instars is also seen among basal members of the Crustacea, basal myriapods, pycnogonids, and in some fossil chelicerates. This mode may represent the ancestral condition of euarthropod development.
Candidatus Rickettsia andeanae, a spotted fever group agent infecting Amblyomma parvum ticks in two Brazilian biomes

Adult ticks of the species Amblyomma parvum were collected from the vegetation in the Pantanal biome (state of Mato Grosso do Sul) and from horses in the Cerrado biome (state of Piauí) in Brazil. The ticks were individually tested for rickettsial infection via polymerase chain reaction (PCR) targeting three rickettsial genes, gltA, ompA and ompB. Overall, 63.5% (40/63) and 66.7% (2/3) of A. parvum ticks from Pantanal and Cerrado, respectively, contained rickettsial DNA, which were all confirmed by DNA sequencing to be 100% identical to the corresponding fragments of the gltA, ompA and ompB genes of Candidatus Rickettsia andeanae. This report is the first to describe Ca. R. andeanae in Brazil.
The essential GTPase RbgA (YlqF) is required for 50S ribosome assembly in Bacillus subtilis

In this paper the essential GTPase YlqF is shown to participate in the biogenesis of the 50S ribosomal subunit in Bacillus subtilis. Cells depleted of YlqF displayed gene expression profiles and nucleoid morphologies that were consistent with a function for YlqF in translation. In addition, YlqF is evolutionarily linked to two eukaryotic GTPases, Nog2p and Nug1p, that are involved in the biogenesis and the nuclear export of the 60S ribosomal subunit. Analysis of ribosomes from cells depleted of YlqF demonstrated that the formation of 70S ribosomes was greatly reduced and the large subunit sedimented at 45S. Cells grown with varying depleted levels of YlqF, yielding doubling times ranging from 38 min to 150 min, all displayed the 45S intermediate. Purified YlqF‐His6 protein associates with the 45S intermediate, but not the mature 50S subunit in vitro. Analysis of proteins from the 45S intermediate indicated that ribosomal protein L16, which is added late during in vitro Escherichia coli 50S ribosome biogenesis, was missing from the 45S intermediate. These results support a model in which YlqF participates in the formation of active 70S ribosomes in the cell by functioning in a late step of 50S subunit biogenesis. Based on these results we propose to rename the ylqF gene rbgA (ribosome biogenesis GTPase A).
Functional diversity and clonal frequencies of reactivity in the available antibody repertoire

The present experiments address functional antibody diversity and clonal distribution in murine available repertoires. IgM‐containing supernatants were prepared by unbiased, polyclonal stimulation of resting splenic B cells from C57BL/6 mice, to ensure similar numbers of responding clones/culture and equivalent growth and maturation of all clones. The repertoires of clones and clonal mixtures were quantitatively assayed by limiting dilution analysis (LDA) on immunoblots of sodium dodecylsulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of homologous liver extracts, allowing to determine specific clonal frequencies towards the many hundred blotted antigens. The clonal frequency of reactivity of B cells with the extract was shown to be a bi‐modal distribution of specific frequencies between 1/220 and 1/100 000. Cross‐correlation analysis of reactivity to different bands in individual supernatants revealed low levels of cross‐reactivity, suggesting that the blotted extract provides a very diverse set of antigens. Investigation of the affinity/concentration thresholds for detection of antigen‐antibody interactions of our assay supports the notion that global repertoire analyses on immunoblots were highly discriminative and non‐degenerate. Furthermore, reactivity patterns obtained with complex antibody mixtures correlated with the frequency of clonal reactivities as determined by LDA. The results demonstrate a large functional diversity of resting B lymphocytes, indicating a minimal repertoire size that is orders of magnitude higher than previous theoretical proposals suggested, and extensively heterogeneous in the size of clonal specificities.
Testing the CAPM Revisited

This paper re-examines the tests of the Sharpe-Lintner Capital Asset Pricing Model (CAPM). The null that the CAPM intercepts are zero is tested for ten size-based stock portfolios and for twenty five book-to-market sorted portfolios using five-year, ten-year and longer sub-periods during 1965-2004. The paper shows that the evidence for rejecting the CAPM on statistical grounds is weaker than the consensus view suggests, and highlights the pitfalls of testing multiple hypotheses with the conventional heteroskedasticity and autocorrelation robust (HAR) test with asymptotic P-values. The conventional test rejects the null for almost all sub-periods, which is consistent with the evidence in the literature. By contrast, the null is not rejected for most of the sub-periods by the new HAR tests developed by Kiefer et al. (2000), Kiefer and Vogelsang (2005), and Sun et al. (2008).
Predicting breast cancer survivability using random forest and multivariate adaptive regression splines

In this paper, we propose a hybrid of random forest and multivariate adaptive regression splines algorithms for building a breast cancer survivability prediction model. We use random forest to perform a preliminary screening of variables and to receive a importance ranks. Then, the new dataset is extracted from initial WDBC dataset according to top-k important predictors and is input into the MARS procedure, which is responsible for building interpretable models for predicting breast cancer survivability. The capability of this combination method is evaluated using basic performance measurements (e.g., accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity) along with a 10-fold cross-validation. Experimental results show that the proposed method provides a higher accuracy and a relatively simple model.
Global Optimization Ensemble Model for Classification Methods

Supervised learning is the process of data mining for deducing rules from training datasets. A broad array of supervised learning algorithms exists, every one of them with its own advantages and drawbacks. There are some basic issues that affect the accuracy of classifier while solving a supervised learning problem, like bias-variance tradeoff, dimensionality of input space, and noise in the input data space. All these problems affect the accuracy of classifier and are the reason that there is no global optimal method for classification. There is not any generalized improvement method that can increase the accuracy of any classifier while addressing all the problems stated above. This paper proposes a global optimization ensemble model for classification methods (GMC) that can improve the overall accuracy for supervised learning problems. The experimental results on various public datasets showed that the proposed model improved the accuracy of the classification models from 1% to 30% depending upon the algorithm complexity.
The influence of permeability of group boundaries and stability of group status on strategies of individual mobility and social change.

According to social identity theory, striving of group members for enhancement of their social identity may be resolved through individual mobility (i.e. by dissociation from one's own group in order to gain membership of a higher status group), or by social change (i.e. by upgrading the status position of the in-group as a whole). Individual mobility may only be achieved when group boundaries are permeable; social change is only feasible when group status is unstable. This study investigates how these structural characteristics of the intergroup situation affect group members' preference for the individual mobility or social change strategy. In a laboratory setting subjects were given bogus feedback to induce differential levels of individual ability and group status. Additionally, the permeability of group boundaries and the stability of group status were manipulated. The main results are that, generally, members of high status groups show more satisfaction and in-group identification than members of low status groups. Permeable group boundaries apparently induce a tendency to strive for individual mobility, regardless of the in-group's status position. In relation to members of impermeable groups, members of groups with permeable boundaries show decreased in-group identification; there is evidence of (anticipatory) identification with the higher status group instead. A collective attempt at social change seems to be evoked when group status is unstable. In all groups with unstable status, members indicate their readiness to try to improve their group's status position. Moreover, members of low status groups with unstable status positions show relatively strong in-group identification, despite the lack of positive distinctiveness available to the in-group at the time.
Correctness of Slicing Finite State Machines

We consider slicing of extended finite state machines. These may be nondeterministic and hence standard techniques for slicing, developed for control flow graphs, are not immediately applicable. In this paper we propose ways of expressing the semantic correctness of slicing. We shall demand that the sliced machine simulates the original machine, in that each “observable” step by the latter can also be done by the former. In the other direction, we cannot hope for a perfect simulation, but demand that for each observable step by the sliced machine, either the original machine simulates it or (i) it gets stuck, or (ii) it loops. To ensure correctness, it suffices to demand that the set of transitions in the slice satisfies two conditions: it must be closed under the well-known notion of data dependence, and it must have the “weak commitment” property highlighted by Danicic et al. If the slice also has the “strong commitment” property, the case (ii) above can be ruled out, meaning that the original machine will simulate the sliced machine except that it may get stuck. We prove that for each of the properties “weak commitment” and “strong commitment”, there exists a least set with that property; we also give algorithms to compute that least set.