Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Inhibition of rat hepatic lipocyte activation in culture by interferon‐γ

Hepatic lipocytes (perisinusoidal, Ito cells) are the primary matrix‐producing cells in liver fibrosis. During liver injury they undergo activation, a process characterized by cell proliferation and increased fibrogenesis. We and others have established a culture model in which in vivo features of lipocyte activation can be mimicked by cells grown on plastic. Additionally, we recently showed that activation is associated with new expression of smooth muscle–specific α‐actin both in vivo and in culture. Although interferon‐γ is known to inhibit collagen production in some systems, its action as a general modulator of lipocyte activation has not been examined; this issue forms the basis for our study.
Systemic Risk in Global Banking: What Can Available Data Tell Us and What More Data are Needed?

The recent financial crisis has shown how interconnected the financial world has become. Shocks in one location or asset class can have a sizable impact on the stability of institutions and markets around the world. But systemic risk analysis is severely hampered by the lack of consistent data that capture the international dimensions of finance. While currently available data can be used more effectively, supervisors and other agencies need more and better data to construct even rudimentary measures of risks in the international financial system. Similarly, market participants need better information on aggregate positions and linkages to appropriately monitor and price risks. Ongoing initiatives that will help in closing data gaps include the G20 Data Gaps Initiative, which recommends the collection of consistent bank-level data for joint analyses and enhancements to existing sets of aggregate statistics, and the enhancement to the BIS international banking statistics.
MondoA-Mlx Transcriptional Activity Is Limited by mTOR-MondoA Interaction

ABSTRACT Mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) integrates multiple signals, including nutrient status, growth factor availability, and stress, to regulate cellular and organismal growth. How mTOR regulates transcriptional programs in response to these diverse stimuli is poorly understood. MondoA and its obligate transcription partner Mlx are basic helix-loop-helix leucine zipper (bHLHZip) transcription factors that sense and execute a glucose-responsive transcriptional program. MondoA-Mlx complexes activate expression of thioredoxin-interacting protein (TXNIP), which is a potent inhibitor of cellular glucose uptake and aerobic glycolysis. Both mTOR and MondoA are central regulators of glucose metabolism, yet whether they interact physically or functionally is unknown. We show that inhibition of mTOR induces MondoA-dependent expression of TXNIP, coinciding with reduced glucose uptake. Mechanistically, mTOR binds to MondoA in the cytoplasm and prevents MondoA-Mlx complex formation, restricting MondoA's nuclear entry and reducing TXNIP expression. Further, we show that mTOR inhibitors and reactive oxygen species (ROS) regulate interaction between MondoA and mTOR in an opposing manner. Like mTOR's suppression of the MondoA-TXNIP axis, MondoA can also suppress mTOR complex 1 (mTORC1) activity via its direct transcriptional regulation of TXNIP. Collectively, these studies reveal a regulatory relationship between mTOR and the MondoA-TXNIP axis that we propose contributes to glucose homeostasis.
Mama Edha at SemEval-2017 Task 8: Stance Classification with CNN and Rules

For the competition SemEval-2017 we investigated the possibility of performing stance classification (support, deny, query or comment) for messages in Twitter conversation threads related to rumours. Stance classification is interesting since it can provide a basis for rumour veracity assessment. Our ensemble classification approach of combining convolutional neural networks with both automatic rule mining and manually written rules achieved a final accuracy of 74.9% on the competition’s test data set for Task 8A. To improve classification we also experimented with data relabeling and using the grammatical structure of the tweet contents for classification.
Skin damage and mitochondrial dysfunction after acute ultraviolet B irradiation: relationship with nitric oxide production

Background: Ultraviolet (UV) radiation is the main environmental carcinogen. It is able to induce injury in the keratinocytes, which triggers mechanisms in order to protect the skin against molecular alterations that may lead to the development of skin cancer. UVB is capable of producing genotoxic damage, directly or indirectly through reactive oxygen species, inducing DNA alterations and mutations. UVB radiation has also been associated with the generation of nitric oxide (NO), which is able to induce many physiological and physiopathological processes. The aim of the current study was to investigate the effect of UVB irradiation in hairless mice skin.
In Search Of Pockets Of Predictability

Spidyn is a technical indicator aimed at discovering pockets of predictability of the order of a few days in stock markets, based on the detection of positive or negative unsustainable price accelerations. Coupled with an appropriate execution strategy, the Spidyn indicator could be used for algorithmic trading purposes. The goal of this Master s Thesis is threefold. First, try to verify in a robust way the predictive power of Spidyn by capturing a signal that confirms an added value to the indicator. Second, by incorporating this knowledge into our trading strategies, conduct portfolio tests and compare the results obtained with previous ones. Last but not least, and almost equally meaningful, is to get a feel for finance and complex systems and try to understand some of the underlying mechanisms of the stock market. I wrote this paper in a linear and structured fashion, with the idea in mind that it would encourage and aid another master s student or PhD in this pursuit.
Rectilinear and O-convex hull with minimum area

Let P be a set of n points in the plane and O be a set of k lines passing through the origin. We show: (1) How to compute the O-hull of P in Θ(n log n) time and O(n) space, (2) how to compute and maintain the rotated hull OHθ(P ) for θ ∈ [0, 2π) in O(kn log n) time and O(kn) space, and (3) how to compute in Θ(n log n) time and O(n) space a value of θ for which the rectilinear convex hull, RHθ(P ), has minimum area, thus improving the previously best O(n) algorithm presented by Bae et al. in 2009.
Heart failure in long-term peritoneal dialysis patients: a 4-year prospective analysis.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES Heart failure occurs frequently in end-stage renal disease patients. However, there are no prospective, longitudinal follow-up data on its prevalence, severity, and risk factors in long-term peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients. DESIGN, SETTING, PARTICIPANTS, & MEASUREMENTS A prospective observational study was conducted in 220 long-term PD patients followed up for 4 years or until death. Echocardiography was obtained at baseline. Primary study end points were heart failure and mortality. RESULTS Eighty-six patients had a previous history of heart failure at study entry. The cumulative 4-year survival probability was 37.4% and 64.7% for patients with and without previous heart failure, respectively (P<0.0001). During follow-up, 87 patients (40.9%) developed heart failure, of which 53 were recurrence and 34 were new-onset heart failure. Diabetes, background atherosclerotic vascular disease, systolic hypertension, left ventricular (LV) mass index, systolic dysfunction, and hypoalbuminemia were significant risk factors predicting heart failure in the entire cohort. Diabetes and LV mass and volume index were significant predictors of new-onset heart failure. Systolic hypertension, LV volume index, and hypoalbuminemia were significant predictors of recurrent heart failure. CONCLUSIONS Heart failure is a highly prevalent complication in long-term PD patients and predicts adverse clinical outcomes. More attention should be focused on improving BP and volume control and identifying treatment strategies that effectively lower atherosclerotic burden and reverse LV hypertrophy, remodeling, and systolic dysfunction in PD patients.
Reliability of the anaerobic threshold in cardiopulmonary exercise testing of patients with abdominal aortic aneurysms *

Anaerobic threshold (AT), determined by cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET), is a well‐documented measure of pre‐operative fitness, although its reliability in patient populations is uncertain. Our aim was to assess the reliability of AT measurement in patients with abdominal aortic aneurysms. Eighteen patients were recruited. CPET was performed four times over a 6‐week period. We examined shifts in the mean AT to evaluate systematic bias with random measurement error assessed using typical within‐patient error and intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC, 3,1) statistics. There was no significant or clinically substantial change in mean AT across the tests (p = 0.68). The typical within‐patient error expressed as a percentage coefficient of variation was 10% (95% CI, 8–13%), with an ICC of 0.74 (95% CI, 0.55–0.89). We consider the reliability of the AT to be acceptable, supporting its clinical validity and utility as an objective marker of pre‐operative fitness in this population.
The Transparency Of Executive Stock Option Disclosures In Australian Annual Reports

We investigate the transparency of executive stock option disclosures of Australian firms for the financial years ending 2000 and 2002. Transparency is measured using an index based on the requirements of the accounting standards dealing specifically with the disclosure of executive stock options. Our study also examines the relationship between firm characteristics and disclosure transparency and the difference in transparency between the years 2000 and 2002. We find that the transparency of executive stock option disclosures is low but improves a little in the year 2002. We also find that the existence of a compensation committee is positively associated with transparency with size being the only significant control variable. Our results are consistent with the contention of Hope (2003a) that managers of firms appear to be treating mandatory requirements as voluntary, possibly due to the low levels of enforcement of the accounting standards.
An Efficient Supplier Side Scheduling Algorithm for P2P Live Streaming System

Chunk scheduling is one of the key components in P2P streaming systems. Most of previous research works focus on receiver side’s chunk/peer selection strategies and neglect the service order and available uplink bandwidth allocation problem at supplier side, which will cause the user’s video quality descending under overloaded operating environments. In this paper, we propose the supplier side chunk priority model, formulate the supplier side scheduling problem as a linear programming problem and derive a greedy bandwidth resource allocation algorithm to solve it. The simulations demonstrate the proposed scheme effective comparing to the FCFS (First Come First Service) scheme.
Differences in use of contraception by age, sex and HIV status of 10–19-year-old adolescents in Nigeria

Abstract Objective: The study tried to identify predictors of good knowledge of contraceptive methods and use of condoms at the last sexual act with a girl/boyfriend by adolescents aged 10–19 years in Nigeria. It also tried to find the association between age, sex and HIV status with the study outcomes. Methods: This was a cross sectional study that recruited a geographically representative sample of 749 adolescents living with HIV (ALHIV) and 825 HIV negative/untested adolescents aged 10–19 years in Nigeria. A face to face interviewer-administered questionnaire was used to collect information on their socio-demographic profile, awareness of contraceptive methods, and use of contraceptives. Study participants were recruited from six of the 36 states in Nigeria and the Federal Capital Territory. Chi-square was used to establish association between self-reported HIV status, age and sex, and awareness of contraceptive methods and condom use during last sex act. Significant predictors of ‘good knowledge of modern contraceptive’ and ‘use of condoms by sexually active adolescents at last sex act’ were also determined using logistic regression. Results: Being a student significantly reduced the odds of having good knowledge about modern contraceptives (OR: 0.46; CI: 0.32–0.65; p<0.001). Having a tertiary level of education (OR: 1.36; CI: 1.12–1.64; p=0.002) and being HIV negative (OR: 2.92; CI: 1.98–4.32; p<0.001) increased the odds of having good knowledge of modern contraceptives. The only significant predictor for use of condoms at last sexual intercourse with a boy/girlfriend is self-efficacy about being about to negotiate condom use with a boy/girlfriend (OR: 141.01; CI: 14.99–1326.36; p<0.001). Conclusion: The study findings reiterate the need to introduce adolescents in general and ALHIV specifically to condom use in early adolescence prior to commencing sexual activities; and the need to provide adolescent friendly sexual and reproductive health services in Nigeria.
Genetic Engineering of the Major Timothy Grass Pollen Allergen, Phl p 6, to Reduce Allergenic Activity and Preserve Immunogenicity1

On the basis of IgE epitope mapping data, we have produced three allergen fragments comprising aa 1–33, 1–57, and 31–110 of the major timothy grass pollen allergen Phl p 6 aa 1–110 by expression in Escherichia coli and chemical synthesis. Circular dichroism analysis showed that the purified fragments lack the typical α-helical fold of the complete allergen. Superposition of the sequences of the fragments onto the three-dimensional allergen structure indicated that the removal of only one of the four helices had led to the destabilization of the α helical structure of Phl p 6. The lack of structural fold was accompanied by a strong reduction of IgE reactivity and allergenic activity of the three fragments as determined by basophil histamine release in allergic patients. Each of the three Phl p 6 fragments adsorbed to CFA induced Phl p 6-specific IgG Abs in rabbits. However, immunization of mice with fragments adsorbed to an adjuvant allowed for human use (AluGel-S) showed that only the Phl p 6 aa 31–110 induced Phl p 6-specific IgG Abs. Anti-Phl p 6 IgG Abs induced by vaccination with Phl p 6 aa 31–110 inhibited patients’ IgE reactivity to the wild-type allergen as well as Phl p 6-induced basophil degranulation. Our results are of importance for the design of hypoallergenic allergy vaccines. They show that it has to be demonstrated that the hypoallergenic derivative induces a robust IgG response in a formulation that can be used in allergic patients.
An Examination of the Factor Structure of the Social Skills Rating System Parent Elementary Form

Although previous studies have questioned the factor structure of the Social Skills Rating System (SSRS), it continues to be one of the most prominent measures used to assess child social skills. Previous examinations of the SSRS have been conducted on samples that differ demographically from the standardization sample. The present study presents a factor analysis of the SSRS parent elementary form, social skills domain, in a sample of 298 non-referred children. Similar to previous research, the factor structure proposed by the authors of the SSRS was not replicated. An alternative 2-factor model based on previous research also did not adequately fit the data. Other psychometric properties, such as the range of interitem correlations, were evaluated and did not meet suggested guidelines for test construction. Despite its psychometric difficulties, the SSRS was related to history of treatment for peer difficulties.
A Modification of Mayer's Tannic Acid-Ferric Chloride Staining Method for Demonstrating Cellular Membranous Systems for Light Microscopy

To observe cellular membranous systems under a light microscope, we modified Mayer's tannic acid-ferric chloride stain method by adding a treatment with hematoxylin after the original procedure. We used the modified tannic acid-ferric chloride (MTA-Fe) stain method to examine kidneys, liver, heart, trachea, epididymides and other organs of rats and dogs. The MTA-Fe stain clearly demonstrated the basement membrane, brush border, basolateral invaginations and cell processes in the kidneys which enabled easy differentiation of the S1 and S3 segments of proximal convoluted tubules. Our technique also demonstrated hepatic cell membranes and bile canaliculi in the liver, cross striations and longitudinal traveling of myofibrils in the heart, cilia of the epithelial cells in the trachea, and stereocilia and terminal bars in the epididymis. The MTA-Fe stain is a convenient method to visualize cellular membranous systems even for light microscopy. The stain has the advantages of using no toxic materials, simple and easy technique, little variation of staining results, and little fading for several months after staining.
Multiparametric imaging of tumor oxygenation, redox status, and anatomical structure using overhauser‐enhanced MRI–prepolarized MRI system

An integrated Overhauser‐enhanced MRI–Prepolarized MRI system was developed to obtain radiobiological information that could be accurately coregistered with diagnostic quality anatomic images. EPR and NMR images were acquired through the double resonance technique and field cycling of the main magnetic field from 5 mT to 0.5 T. Dedicated EPR and NMR coils were devised to minimize radiofrequency power deposition with high signal‐to‐noise ratio. Trityl and nitroxide radicals were used to characterize oxygen and redox sensitivities of multispin echo Overhauser‐enhanced MRI. Oxygen resolution of 3 mmHg was obtained from 2 mM deoxygenated trityl phantoms. Trityl radicals were stable in reducing environments and did not alter the redox‐sensitive decaying rate of the nitroxide signals. Nitroxide radicals had a compounding effect for the trityl oximetry. Tumor oxygenation and redox status were acquired with anatomical images by injecting trityl and nitroxide probes subsequently in murine tumors. The Overhauser‐enhanced MRI–Prepolarized MRI system is ready for quantitative longitudinal imaging studies of tumor hypoxia and redox status as radiotherapy prognostic factors. Magn Reson Med, 2011. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
High-Performance and Energy-Efficient Fault Diagnosis Using Effective Envelope Analysis and Denoising on a General-Purpose Graphics Processing Unit

This paper proposes an effective envelope analysis-based methodology for machinery condition monitoring and validates its efficacy by identifying bearing failures with 1-s acoustic emission (AE) signals sampled at 1 MHz. The proposed condition monitoring methodology of low-speed bearings consists of denoising to improve the signal-noise ratio of the acquired AE signal by employing a soft-thresholding technique with adaptively estimated positive and negative noise levels and an effective envelope analysis to detect the periodic impacts of the AE signals inherent in bearing defects by utilizing a 2-D visualization technique based on the improved residual frequency component-to-peak ratios. Despite the fact that the proposed method shows satisfactory performance for bearing condition monitoring, its computational complexity limits its use in real-time applications. To improve the performance and reduce the energy consumption of the proposed method, this paper proposes an efficient parallel implementation of the proposed method on a general-purpose graphics processing unit (GPGPU) by exploiting the memory hierarchy and the massive parallelism inherent in the proposed method. Experimental results indicate that the proposed GPGPU-based approach achieves an at least 68.9× speed improvement compared to the same sequential implementation on well-known Texas Instruments digital signal processors (TI DSPs). In addition, the proposed GPGPU approach reduces the energy consumption by at least 66% compared to TI DSPs.
Managerial Ownership and Firm Performance: The Influence of Family Directors and Non-Family Directors

Abstract Purpose The main purpose of the study is to examine the influence of family directors on the firm performance of public listed companies (PLCs) in Malaysia. This study provides empirical evidence on the agency problems between controlling shareholders and minority interests in the concentrated ownership setting. Design/methodology/approach Samples of the study are 112 PLCs in year 2006. Two measures of firm performance are used: return on assets (ROA) and Tobin’s Q. Managerial ownership refers to the percentage shareholdings of executive directors with direct and indirect holdings. It was further categorized into family ownership and non-family ownership. Findings In relation to ROA, managerial ownership is found positively significant. The results also show that the positive relationship between managerial ownership is contributed by the managerial-non-family ownership. In relation to Tobin’s Q, the results show a U-shape with turning point at 31.38% for managerial ownership and 28.29% for the managerial-family ownership. The results found significant and positive relationships between managerial ownership and both measures of firm performance which indicates that managerial ownership and family ownership yield greater efficiency. Research implications The study highlights the effects of corporate governance on ROA and Tobin’s Q are somewhat different. It provides some evidence on the need to use appropriate measure of firm performance. The significant relationship supports the argument of Chami (1999), Fama and Jensen (1983), and DeAngelo and DeAngelo (1985) and empirical evidence of Lee (2004) that family ownership enhances monitoring activities. Originality/value Differentiating the types of managerial ownership into family and non-family categories enriches our knowledge about who actually contributes to the improved performance.
Correlative Memory Deficits, Aβ Elevation, and Amyloid Plaques in Transgenic Mice

Transgenic mice overexpressing the 695-amino acid isoform of human Alzheimer β-amyloid (Aβ) precursor protein containing a Lys670 → Asn, Met671 → Leu mutation had normal learning and memory in spatial reference and alternation tasks at 3 months of age but showed impairment by 9 to 10 months of age. A fivefold increase in Aβ(1–40) and a 14-fold increase in Aβ(1–42/43) accompanied the appearance of these behavioral deficits. Numerous Aβ plaques that stained with Congo red dye were present in cortical and limbic structures of mice with elevated amounts of Aβ. The correlative appearance of behavioral, biochemical, and pathological abnormalities reminiscent of Alzheimer's disease in these transgenic mice suggests new opportunities for exploring the pathophysiology and neurobiology of this disease.
Simple detection of small amounts of Pseudomonas cells in milk by using a microfluidic device

Aims: Flow cytometry offers rapid and reliable analyses of bacteria in milk. However, a flow cytometer is relatively expensive and operation is rather complicated for an unskilled operator. We applied flow cytometry using a microfluidic device (on‐chip flow cytometry) in detection of small amounts of milk‐spoiling bacteria.