Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Pancreatic Islets from Non-Heart-Beating Donor Pig: Two-layer Preservation Method in an in Vitro Porcine Model

Purpose Pancreata from non-heart beating donors could represent an unlimited source of islets if their cell viability can be efficiently preserved during the time necessary to process the organs by the use of a better solution of preservation compared to the classic University of Wisconsin solution. The aim of this study was to determine whether it is possible to obtain functioning “alive islets” from non-heart-beating donors by comparing, on a porcine model, the classic “UW ice-store” method with a two-layer cold storage method (TLM) using oxygenated Perfluorocarbons (PFC) and UW. Methods Whole pancreata were harvested from 20 NHBDs female pigs with similar characteristics and preserved for 4 h in UW solution (n=10) or TLM (UW/PFC) solution (n=10). The isolated islets were then evaluated for number, viability, purity, and insulin secretion, also estimated after 8 weeks of cryopreservation. Results The total number of islets obtained from isolation, and their function assayed by the insulin stimulation index, before and after cryopreservation, showed a higher value in the TLM group. No significative differences in terms of purity and viability before and after cryopreservation were found when comparing the two groups. Conclusions TLM solution for NHBDs porcine pancreata with cold ischemia time lower than 4 h offers significant advantages over UW solution storage, thereby increasing the isolation yield and isolation success rate of the pancreatic porcine islets.
POXN: A New Passive Optical Cross-Connection Network for Low-Cost Power-Efficient Datacenters

Passive optical devices, characterized by low cost, zero energy consumption, and high reliability, are essential building blocks for today's telecom network infrastructure, permeating from conventional backbone transport networks towards next-generation broadband access networks. Motivated by the striking features of passive optical devices, in this paper, we seek their potential applications in emerging datacenter networks to tackle the scalability challenges arising from cost and power. Specifically, we propose passive optical cross-connection networks (POXNs) that enable cost-saving, power-efficient, and reliable communication within datacenters. To support POXNs in warehouse-scale datacenters, we address physical-layer scalability challenges by using advanced interconnection techniques. Next, we propose a distributed polling protocol to address link-layer issues that arise from the broadcast nature of the medium. The performance of our protocol is studied through analysis and simulation. In particular, we develop an analytical model to compute lower and upper bounds on the expected delay of a packet. Numerical results show that the mean packet delay is equal to the lower bound in one regime, while converges to the upper bound in the complementary regime. Results also show that our protocol can achieve high bandwidth efficiency (no less than 85% in our studied case). Additionally, we demonstrate that our protocol can embrace scheduling algorithms that support fairness and QoS. Last, we sketch the roles POXNs can play in various datacenter network architectures in terms of capital and operational cost reductions.
Demo: In-situ Power Consumption Meter for Sensor Networks supporting Extreme Dynamic Range

Typical wireless sensor devices feature an extreme power consumption range between their active and sleep states, thus requiring different hardware setups for measuring their expenditure with high accuracy. In this demo paper we present the NITOS dynamic ACM, an in-situ power meter that exploits auto-ranging methods to support high dynamic currents. Our implementation features 250 kSps of sampling rate, while attaining high precision in both the active and sleep states of the targeted device, by using two different shunt resistors that are alternated automatically with the aid of a high speed comparator. The acquired results indicate the smooth performance of our system as well as the high accuracy attained.
Yeast Cap Binding Complex Impedes Recruitment of Cleavage Factor IA to Weak Termination Sites

ABSTRACT Nuclear cap binding complex (CBC) is recruited cotranscriptionally and stimulates spliceosome assembly on nascent mRNAs; however, its possible functions in regulating transcription elongation or termination were not well understood. We show that, while CBC appears to be dispensable for normal rates and processivity of elongation by RNA polymerase II (Pol II), it plays a direct role in preventing polyadenylation at weak termination sites. Similarly to Npl3p, with which it interacts, CBC suppresses the weak terminator of the gal10-Δ56 mutant allele by impeding recruitment of termination factors Pcf11p and Rna15p (subunits of cleavage factor IA [CF IA]) and does so without influencing Npl3p occupancy at the termination site. Importantly, deletion of CBC subunits or NPL3 also increases termination at a naturally occurring weak poly(A) site in the RNA14 coding sequences. We also show that CBC is most likely recruited directly to the cap of nascent transcripts rather than interacting first with transcriptional activators or the phosphorylated C-terminal domain of Pol II. Thus, our findings illuminate the mechanism of CBC recruitment and extend its function in Saccharomyces cerevisiae beyond mRNA splicing and degradation of aberrant nuclear mRNAs to include regulation of CF IA recruitment at poly(A) selection sites.
The Use of Actigraphy Revised: The Value for Clinical Practice in Insomnia

In the last years, actigraphy has been used more often for clinical research and research evaluation of sleep disorders. Compared to polysomnography, actigraphy is cheap and less time-consuming. Actigraphy provides more objective information about sleep than sleep logs. Although the algorithms to score sleep and wake based on motions measured by actigraphy are still being improved, we believe that the role of actigraphy in the clinical evaluation of sleep in insomnia is limited. Instead of using actigraphy to distinguish a wakeful state from sleep in insomnia, we might better use the activity plots which the actigraph provides to get more insight into the physiological hyperarousal or restfulness of insomnia patients.
The influence of workload and health behavior on job satisfaction of general practitioners.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES Workload, personal health behavior, and job satisfaction of the physicians are crucial aspects for the quality of care they provide. The aim of our study was to identify influencing factors on job satisfaction with regard to general practitioners' (GPs) characteristics such as age, gender, health behavior, body mass index (BMI), and workload. METHODS A cross-sectional survey with a sample of 1,027 German GPs was used. Job satisfaction was measured according to a modified version of the Warr-Cook-Wall job satisfaction scale. Further, we collected data about health behavior and BMI of GPs and demographic data. Group comparison was evaluated using ANOVA with Bonferroni correction for post-hoc tests. A linear regression analysis was performed in which each of the job satisfaction items were handled as a dependent variable. RESULTS The response rate was 34.0%. GPs were rather satisfied with their job with the exception of "hours of work," "physical working condition," and "income. " GPs working in cities had less working hours per week, less number of patients per day, longer consultation times, and a higher proportion of privately insured patients compared to GPs working in rural areas. Being female, a higher age, a good health behavior, a lower BMI, and a high proportion of privately insured patients were positively associated with job satisfaction. CONCLUSIONS Our results suggest that job satisfaction depends on different aspects of working conditions and individual characteristics. Therefore, strategies to improve job satisfaction should target improving working conditions and activating physicians' health resources.
Specification Searching and Significance Inflation Across Time, Methods and Disciplines

I am very grateful to the editor, Jonathan Temple, and three anonymous referees for useful comments and suggestions. I also thank Edward Miguel, Bill Easterly, David Card, Ernesto Dal Bo, Hunt Allcott, Elizabeth Tipton, Vinci Chow, Willa Friedman, Xing Huang, Michaela Pagel, Steven Pennings, Edson Severnini, seminar participants at the University of California, Berkeley, Columbia University, New York University, the World Bank, Princeton University, the University of Toronto, the London School of Economics, Cornell University, the University of Ottawa, the Stockholm School of Economics, and participants at the 2015 ASSA meeting and 2013 Association for Public Policy Analysis and Management Fall Research Conference for feedback on an earlier draft of this paper. I am also grateful for the work put in by many at AidGrade to create the data set used in this paper, including Bobbie Macdonald, Diana Stanescu, Cesar Augusto Lopez, Jennifer Ambrose, Naomi Crowther, Timothy Catlett, Joohee Kim, Gautam Bastian, Christine Shen, Taha Jalil, Risa Santoso and Catherine Razeto.
Plant roots use a patterning mechanism to position lateral root branches toward available water

Significance Few studies have asked at what spatial scale environmental stimuli regulate plant development and when during the patterning process these signals act. We have discovered that plant roots can sense microscale heterogeneity in water availability across their circumference, which causes dramatic differences in the patterning of tissues along this axis. Root branching is a target of such hydropatterning; lateral roots only form on the side of the main root contacting water in soil or agar. We show that hydropatterning is a conserved process in Arabidopsis, maize, and rice and reveal the importance of auxin biosynthesis and transport in regulating this process. The architecture of the branched root system of plants is a major determinant of vigor. Water availability is known to impact root physiology and growth; however, the spatial scale at which this stimulus influences root architecture is poorly understood. Here we reveal that differences in the availability of water across the circumferential axis of the root create spatial cues that determine the position of lateral root branches. We show that roots of several plant species can distinguish between a wet surface and air environments and that this also impacts the patterning of root hairs, anthocyanins, and aerenchyma in a phenomenon we describe as hydropatterning. This environmental response is distinct from a touch response and requires available water to induce lateral roots along a contacted surface. X-ray microscale computed tomography and 3D reconstruction of soil-grown root systems demonstrate that such responses also occur under physiologically relevant conditions. Using early-stage lateral root markers, we show that hydropatterning acts before the initiation stage and likely determines the circumferential position at which lateral root founder cells are specified. Hydropatterning is independent of endogenous abscisic acid signaling, distinguishing it from a classic water-stress response. Higher water availability induces the biosynthesis and transport of the lateral root-inductive signal auxin through local regulation of TRYPTOPHAN AMINOTRANSFERASE OF ARABIDOPSIS 1 and PIN-FORMED 3, both of which are necessary for normal hydropatterning. Our work suggests that water availability is sensed and interpreted at the suborgan level and locally patterns a wide variety of developmental processes in the root.
Multivariate meta‐analysis: A method to summarize non‐linear associations

Multivariate meta‐analysis represents a promising statistical tool in several research areas. Here, we provide a brief overview of the application of this methodology to combining complex multi‐parameterized relationships, such as non‐linear or delayed associations, in multi‐site studies. The discussion focuses on the advantages over simpler univariate methods, estimation and computational issues and directions for further research. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Spo0A controls the sigma A-dependent activation of Bacillus subtilis sporulation-specific transcription unit spoIIE

The spoIIE operon is a developmentally regulated transcription unit activated in the second hour of sporulation in Bacillus subtilis. Its promoter has an unusual structure, containing sequences which conform perfectly to the consensus for vegetative promoters recognized by sigma A-associated RNA polymerase (E sigma A), but with a spacing of 21 bp between the apparent -10 and -35 elements instead of the 17- or 18-bp spacing typical of promoters utilized by E sigma A. Mutations introduced into the apparent -10 element affected transcription in a manner consistent with its functioning as a polymerase recognition sequence. The deleterious effect of one -10 mutation was also suppressed in an allele-specific manner by a mutation in sigA known to suppress analogous -10 mutations in conventional vegetative promoters recognized by E sigma A. Similar suppression experiments failed to provide evidence for a direct interaction between E sigma A and the "-35-like" element, however, and DNase I protection experiments suggested instead that the Spo0A protein binds to a site overlapping this -35-like hexamer. Moreover, the effects of mutations within the -35-like hexamer on the binding of Spo0A in vitro paralleled their effects on transcription in vivo. We suggest that spoIIE belongs to a class of early-intermediate sporulation genes whose transcription by E sigma A is activated by the Spo0A protein.
Scope for regulation of cigarette smoke toxicity according to brand differences in published toxicant emissions.

AIMS To explore the scope for regulating to reduce the toxicity of manufactured cigarettes sold in New Zealand (NZ), based on published toxicant emissions by brand. METHODS Internet searches of published cigarette smoke emissions of 13 toxicants chosen on risk assessment principles, for 20 British Columbian, 15 Australian brands, and one NZ brand, Holiday Extra-mild (HEM), tested by Health Canada intensive smoke machine method at Labstat Inc, Kitchener, Ontario, as a ratio of toxicant to nicotine yield. We estimated relative overall smoke toxicity per disease group and per brand, after adjusting for the published cigarette-attributed mortality fractions for cancer, cardiovascular, and respiratory disease. RESULTS After allowing for nicotine yield, filter ventilation, and compensatory over-smoking, there were significant differences between brands, with the NZ brand estimated to be the most toxic. Low-yield cigarettes (<0.9 mg nicotine ISO) were estimated to be on average 19% more potent overall than medium-yield cigarettes (p<0.01). Of toxicants identified and measurable in smoke; 1,3-butadiene accounted for 45% of cancer potency; hydrogen cyanide for 89% of cardiovascular; and acrolein for 97% of respiratory potency--these three toxicants accounting for 65% of identified brand potency. Individual toxicant emissions varied across brands by a factor of 1.5 for carbon monoxide, to 32 for lead. Compared with HEM, one Canadian brand, 'Export A full flavor', carried a 37% lower cancer risk. This lower risk was largely due to differences in nicotine yield, lowering the toxicant/nicotine ratio. CONCLUSIONS Cigarettes, unregulated, are unduly dangerous. Though many smoke toxicants cannot yet be quantified, risk assessment based on current data suggests that regulation could partly reduce identifiable cancer risk, and possibly eliminate the excess cardiovascular and respiratory toxicity of HEM, when compared with regular Canadian brands. The first goal should be to reduce emissions of the leading three toxicants, in addition to more effective charcoal filters. Tobacco smoke, unlike unburnt or non-smoking tobacco, contains toxic gases and trillions of reactive oxygen species molecules per puff, and will remain inherently harmful. Regulation could usefully part-reduce smoke toxicity exposure for continuing smokers, while not relenting on efforts to assist smokers and society to be quit of smoking.
Interface design in cyber-physical Systems-of-Systems

A Cyber-Physical System-of-Systems (CPSoS) is a possibly huge information processing and energy transforming system. Its autonomous Constituent Systems (CSs), i.e., computer systems, and optionally physical systems and humans, interact in their common environment to realize often mutually beneficial emergent CPSoS services. Many key challenges in understanding, designing, and engineering such CPSoSs are related to the interactions of CSs. This paper conceptualizes these interactions of CSs, i.e., their interfaces, at three abstraction levels: cyberphysical, Itom, and service. The cyber-physical level concernes message-based interactions in cyber space, and stigmergic interactions in the physical environment. The Itom level involves the description of direct and indirect information transfers. The service level helps to tackle challenges related to the dynamicity and evolution of CPSoSs. The second part of the paper discusses design aspects of Relied Upon Interfaces (RUIs) which are the interfaces the overall emergent CPSoS service relies upon. The conceptualization of interfaces in CPSoSs and the proposed RUI design aspects are intended to simplify the modeling of CPSoSs and to facilitate their deployment with existing Internet-of-Things and cloud technologies.
Long-term economic growth and environmental pressure: reference scenarios for future global projections

Future projections of the impact of international climate change (and other) policies are usually presented against a “business as usual” baseline or a reference scenario. But a wide range of possible factors can affect the economic growth projections. It is therefore useful to depict a picture of possible developments. This paper presents a set of global representative scenarios that may provide alternative perspectives on future socio-economic developments and compare these scenarios in terms of their respective economic and environmental consequences. The scenarios are based on the Shared Socioeconomic Pathways (SSP) storylines developed by the Integrated Assessment Modelling Consortium (O’Neill et al., 2012). The different scenarios (i.e. SSP representations) are then framed in terms of how they affect different elements that influence growth, such as demographics, education and technology convergence. Given the long-term nature of some of the major environmental challenges, including climate change, the time horizon is 2100. This paper typically assumes a convergence process, though placing special emphasis on the drivers of GDP growth over the projection period rather than projecting convergence only on income levels. Based on this, long-term projections are made for key drivers of per capita economic growth (e.g. total factor productivity and human capital). Together with population growth, these drivers are then used to project future paths for GDP of more than 175 countries, representing 98.5% of global GDP in 2010.
Improved Verhulst model and gray effect measure of soft rock roof failure pattern analysis

In order to effectively predict soft rock roadway roof displacement,prevent the roof displacement and roadway destruction that brings about loss,the improved Verhulst model and gray effect measure theory were used to analyse the destruction rules of soft rock roadway roof.The displacement monitoring method was used to monitor displacement of part mine roadway,roof displacement monitoring and prediction Improved Verhulst model whose accuracy is higher was used to analyse the results,the finally displacement was gotten,and the roadway destruction was judged.The roof displacement influence factors such as roof ground stress,surrounding rock quality,road span and support pattern were applied to gray comprehensive measurement,the measurement results were combined to roadway destruction,and macroscopic stability evaluation result of mine roadway roof was gotten,when the comprehensive gray effect measure value of roadway roof is between 0? 0.705 1,the roadway is stable,which provides basis for roadway design of secondary support.
Learning Deep Features for Classification of Typical Ecological Environmental Elements in High-Resolution Remote Sensing Images

Ecological environmental elements are greatly related to both humans and nature. The rapid development of remote sensing technology has provided us more and more high-resolution remote sensing images for monitoring these elements timely and objectively. However, it has been a great challenge to recognize these elements from such images due to their diversity and complexity. In this paper, a classification approach of ecological environmental elements based on deep learning features of objects is proposed. At first, a deep convolutional neural network (DCNN) is trained for discriminating different ecological environmental elements. To extract deep features of irregular-shaped regions, sub-images are clipped from each region and used to represent the corresponding region. Then, deep features of these sub-images are extracted by the trained DCNN. After that, the softmax classifier is used to predict class probabilities of all sub-images. The class of one region is determined by considering the class probabilities of its sub-images according to the "winner-takes-all" strategy. Finally, the thematic maps of ecological environmental elements are achieved. The proposed approach is evaluated by the classification experiments on a test set of typical ecological environmental elements in high-resolution remote sensing images, and the classification accuracy reaches to 98.44%. Moreover, the classification accuracy on irregular-shaped regions also reaches to 96.77%. These results have testified the effectiveness of the proposed approach.
Risk of hepatotoxicity in cancer patients treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors: A systematic review and meta‐analysis of published data

Although existing evidence from clinical trials has demonstrated manifestation of hepatic adverse events with the use of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICPIs), overall risks have yet to be reported. Therefore, we assessed the risk of hepatotoxicity associated with inhibitors of the immune checkpoint. We examined data from the Pubmed, Medline and Google Scholar databases. We also examined original studies and review articles for crossreferences Eligible studies included randomized Phase II to Phase III trials of cancer patients treated with nivolumab, pembrolizumab, ipilimumab, tremelimumab. The authors extracted relevant information on participants' characteristics, all‐grade and high‐grade hepatotoxicity and information on the methodology of the studies. In total, 17 trials were considered eligible for the meta‐analysis. The odds ratio for all‐grade hepatotoxicity for CTLA‐4 inhibitors (Ipilimumab and tremelimumab) was 1.24 (95% confidence interval 0.75, 2.05; p = 0.39) and for high‐grade hepatotoxicity was 1.93 (95% confidence interval 0.84, 4.44; p =0.12). Moreover, the odds ratio for all‐grade hepatotoxicity for PD‐1 inhibitors was 1.52 (95% confidence interval 1.24, 1.86; p < 0.0001) and for high‐grade hepatotoxicity was 0.48 (95% confidence interval 0.29, 0.80; p =0.005). The analysis of data showed that CTLA‐4 inhibitors seem to be associated with a higher risk of all‐ and high‐grade hepatotoxicity compared with control regimens, whereas PD‐1 inhibitors seem to be associated with a lower risk of all‐ and high‐grade hepatotoxicity compared with control regimens.