Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The pathophysiological role of TDP-43 in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis due to C9orf72 mutations

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) is a neurodegenerative condition that affects corticospinal and spinal motor neurons and leads to death within 30 months of symptom onset in half of all cases. It remains incurable and treatment is supportive. The genetic and molecular understanding of ALS has gone through a rapid expansion in recent years, notably with the discoveries of TDP-43, a heterogeneous ribonucleoprotein as a major component of neuronal inclusions in ALS, as well as the discovery of the C9orf72 hexanucleotide expansion as the most common genetic cause of this disease. This first part of this thesis addresses the question of which of the various pathological hallmarks of the C9orf72 Hexanucleotide Repeat Expansion (HRE) in autopsy material correlates best with the clinical presentation. The main finding is that TDP-43 distribution, rather than C9orf72 RNA foci or dipeptide aggregation in the brain, corresponds best with the areas relevant to the clinical subtype of ALS-FTD. Subsequently the role of TDP-43 was investigated in induced pluripotent stem cell derived motor neurons, and no evidence of the hallmarks of TDP-43 dysfunction, were seen in this model of the disease. No mislocalisation is found on immunofluorescence, and biochemical analysis shows no differences in insoluble species between the patient and control cell lines. In the final section, RNA sequencing was used to study the transcriptome of a BAC transgenic mouse carrying a human M337V transgene expressed at low levels, to identify early presymptomatic differences in gene expression. Interestingly, no changes were found in genes known to be associated with ALS through mutations, and the constitutive nuclear functions of TDP-43 in the regulation of splicing was maintained, prior to the emergence of a clinical phenotype in the mouse. This favours a gain of function mechanism for TDP-43 mutations in ALS.
Sparse Array Channel Estimation for Subarray-Based Hybrid Beamforming Systems

Subarray-based hybrid beamforming communication systems are a cost- and power-efficient architectural solution to realize massive multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) systems. To estimate the required channel state information (CSI) current research focuses on beam training algorithms, which suffer from long estimation times and require precise system calibration. In order to overcome these problems, two channel estimation algorithms in combination with suitable beamforming algorithms are proposed. The presented algorithms are based on sparse array measurements, where only one antenna per subarray is active during the estimation process. This allows for the reconstruction of the complex MIMO channel matrix by performing multiple sparse array measurements. Channel estimation algorithms, which drastically reduce the channel estimation time are proposed in this letter. Their high performance is proven in small cell communication measurements around 28 GHz.
Polymer Biomedical Films

الافلام المركبة لكل من بولي فنيل الكحول مع السليكا النانوية - اوكسيد الزنك النانوي. بولي مثيل ميثا اكريليت مع السليكا النانوية - اوكسيد الزنك النانوي- الكلوروفيل يتم تحضيرها باستخدام طريقة الصب ويتم تقييم تطبيقاتها الطبية. في هذه الدراسة السليكا النانوية واوكسيد الزنك النانوي تستخدم كماده ماله لتحسين الخواص البيولوجية والميكانيكه للأفلام المركبة. يتم اجراء العديد من الاختبارات على الافلام المركبة مثل مطياف الأشعة تحت الحمراء والفعالية المضادة للبكتريا واختبار الشد. اضهرت النتائج أن أوكسيد الزنك لديه نشاط مضاد للجراثيم ممتاز وهذا النشاط يزداد في الأفلام المركبة مع زيادة تركيز اوكسيد الزنك. الافلام المركبة البولي مثيل ميثا اكريليت اضهرت قوة شفاء أفضل من لأفلام المركبة لبولي فنيل الكحول. ولتجنب الشقوق على افلام بولي مثل ميثا اكريلت المنتجة، الكلوروفيل كصبغه طبيعية حيوية تضاف حيث انها تعمل كملدن وبذالك تزال الشقوق من الافلام المركبة. جميع الاختبارات الميكانيكية والفيزيائية تظهر ان لأفلام المركبة لبولي فنيل الكحول لها قيم اعلى من قيم الافلام المركبة البولي مثيل ميثا اكريليت وهذا يرجع الى حقيقة ان بولي فنيل الكحول يمكن ان يبني اواصر هيدروجينية مع اضافات اوكسيد الزنك النانوي او السليكا النانوية بينما بولي مثيل ميثا اكريليت لا يمتلك ميل لعمل اواصر هيدروجينية.
An investigation of photovoltaic devices based on p‐type Cu2O and n‐type γ‐WO3 junction through an electrolyte solution containing a redox pair

In this article, we report a solar cell prepared with p‐type cuprous oxide (Cu2O) and n‐type gamma‐tungsten oxide (γ‐WO3) films combined by an redox electrolyte in a configuration similar to that used in dye‐sensitized solar cells. Cu2O films were prepared by the electrochemical method in three different pH conditions. X‐ray diffraction patterns revealed that the Cu2O films presented a crystalline phase with cubic structure after deposition, whereas the n‐type γ‐WO3 film was prepared by the drop‐casting method. Optical analyses showed that both oxide films absorb visible light. After the photoelectrochemical characterization of the films, solar cells configured like a “sandwich” (Cu2O/electrolyte/γ‐WO3) were assembled and investigated under irradiation of 100 mW cm−2. The solar cell with I−/ I3− redox pair showed better results than that prepared with polysulfide K2S/ Sn2− electrolyte. For each solar cell, the investigated parameters were short‐circuit current density, open‐circuit voltage, fill factor, maximum power, and cell efficiency. The method proposed here can be considered new, promising, and simple for the preparation of solar cells with a p–n junction.
Remodeling of the Optic Nerve during Metamorphosis in Xenous laevis

The optic nerve of the amphibian Xenopus laevis shortens in length by approximately one-half during its metamorphosis from tadpole to frog. This dramatic shortening event takes place over the course of only a few days at metamorphic climax, when levels of thyroid hormone, the master transcriptional regulator of amphibian metamorphosis, peaks. The shortening of the optic nerve is associated with the remodeling of the retinal ganglion cell axons which make up the nerve. My thesis work focused on how the myelinated axons remodel during optic nerve shortening using primarily electron microscopy based quantitative analyses and reconstructions. Through cell type specific transgenic overexpression of a dominant negative thyroid hormone receptor α construct, the remodeling process was found to involve the distinct but coordinated activities of retinal ganglion cells, oligodendrocytes and astrocytes. Myelin remodeling, in contrast to demyelination, does not involve an immune response. Myelin segments decrease in length proportionally with the optic nerve itself and this shortening involves the production of focal myelin-axon detachments and myelin protrusions from otherwise intact myelin segments. Astrocyte processes selectively remove these local myelin dystrophies from the remodeling segments. This process uses known phagocytic machinery, including the opsonin Mfge8 and the downstream effector involved in cytoskeletal rearrangement, Rac1, as determined by transgenic overexpression of dominant negative constructs in astrocytes. By the end of shortening, one quarter of all myelin in the optic nerve is associated with astrocytes. However, the astrocytes are able to efficiently clear the myelin they internalize within approximately one month after the completion of metamorphosis. These results provide evidence for a new role for astrocytes in the developmental remodeling of myelin segments. Advisor: Nicholas Marsh-Armstrong, Ph.D.
Optimal Model Averaging Based on Generalized Method of Moments

We propose a model averaging method to combine estimators from the generalized method of moments (GMM). Unlike other GMM-based model averaging procedures, this method allows all candidate models to be misspecified (not locally misspecified). We prove that when all candidate models are misspecified, the proposed method is optimal in the sense of minimizing estimation loss; when there exists at least one correctly specified model, the method can achieve the common root-n convergence rate. Simulation experiments and an application to the housing market show the superiority of our method with respect to other methods.
Preload Effect Elimination Technique for Piezoelectric Force Touch Sensing in Human-Machine Interactivities

Piezoelectric touch sensing in interactive displays gains increasing attentions due to its high force detection sensitivity and intrinsic mechanical-to-electrical conversion ability. However, the instable force-voltage responsivity induced by preload effect of piezoelectric materials reduces the force detection accuracy of secondary force touches, which is important to touch and haptic applications such as peek-pop. To address this issue, in this article, we present a preload effect elimination technique, in which the relationship between the piezoelectric coefficients and static preload is studied first, and then the detected secondary force touch is calibrated by using the previously applied static force information. Experimental results demonstrate that the force detection accuracy is boosted by 15.17% after applying the developed technique to secondary force touches with different preload values, potentially allowing the system to precisely interpret secondary force touch amplitude and hence enhancing the development of touch sensing in interactive displays.
How might a therapeutic ethos serve young adults? – A commentary on the theme issue

ABSTRACT This engaging symposium opens up the question of therapeutic work with young adults in a consistently engrossing way that is refreshingly unpredictable and richly diverse. Particularly important is the appropriately extensive space given to the cultural context of therapy in late modernity; the impact and implications of the Zeitgeist for working therapeutically with young adults; the contested place of training with this client group; and the demonstration of thoughtful and sensitive clinical work with a client group whose ‘emerging-adulthood-in-process’ necessitates that therapists do all they can not to get in the way of the complex developmental struggles of the troubled young adults who find their way into therapy.
Water balance for agriculture production in the dry seasons of the Mekong river delta in Vietnam

The Vietnamese Mekong river delta (MD) is the largest wetland region in the southernmost part of the Mekong river basin and connects more than 700 km of coastal line to the East Sea and the Gulf of Thailand (Fig. 1). The Delta is four million ha in size (12% of total natural land of Vietnam) and hosts more than 18 million inhabitants (about 22% of the entire country’s population in 2009). For more than 300 years, the local people have lived close to rivers and streams to facilitate the domestic use of water, such as for agricultural cultivation, fishery, and river transportation. Thus, any change in the water source affects their activities and the ecosystem of the area. The MD is recognized as the largest agriculture and aquaculture production region of Vietnam. The delta supplies more than 53% of the nation’s staple food, rice (Fig. 2), 65% of the total fish production, and 75% of the tropical fruit trees. Further, rice production is considered to be the main economic sector, which occupies more than 60% of the labour force in the MD.
Determination of some quality characteristics in pet foods

Bu calismada kedi ve kopek mamalarinda bazi kalite ozelliklerinin belirlenmesi amaclanmistir. Bu amacla piyasadan 36 adet kedi ve 36 adet kopek kuru ekstrude mamalarindan ornekler alinarak nem, su aktivitesi ve dayaniklilik indeksi yonunden analiz edilmistir. Kedi kuru ektrude mamalarda ortalama su aktivitesi degerleri 24.59˚C’ de 0.41, kopek kuru ekstrude mamalarinda ise ortalama 24.47˚C’de 0.44 olarak bulunmustur. Nem duzeyi kedi mamalarinda ortalama %5.89 ve kopek mamalarinda ise %6.44 duzeyinde, dayaniklilik indeksi kedi mamalarinda %98.22, kopek mamalarinda ise %98.91 olarak saptanmistir. Kedi ve kopek ekstrude mamalarinda su aktivitesinin nem duzeyi ile korelasyon katsayisi sirasiyla 0.580 ve 0.525 olarak bulunmustur (P<0.01). Kopek kuru ekstrude mamalarinda su aktivitesi degeri (P<0.05) ve nem duzeyi (P<0.01) kedi mamalarindan onemli olcude daha yuksektir. Sonuc olarak, piyasadan toplanan 36 kedi ve 36 kopek kuru ekstrude mamalarinin raf omrunu etkileyen ozellikler bakimindan iyi kaliteli oldugu belirlenmistir
Podarcis siculus (Reptilia: Sauria: Lacertidae), a new alien species for Russian fauna

Podarcis siculus (Rafinesque-Schmaltz, 1810) or Italian wall lizard is one of the most invasive reptile-species. Recently, this lacertid lizard has been introduced to Mediterranean areas of southern Europe, South-West Asia (Turkey) and North America (USA). An abundant population of P. siculus was discovered on one of the sites of the Natural Ornithological Park in the Imeretinskaya Lowland, on an area of over 0.22 km2 (Sochi, Russia). The data were collected in the May of 2020. in a strip survey method in the Imeretinskaya Lowland. To identify the colonization area of the invader, we examined all 8 sections of the Natural Ornithological Park in the Imeretinskaya Lowland and adjacent urbanized areas. More than 150 animals were observed. These Italian wall lizards, undoubtedly, belong to the northern-central Italian morphotype (presumably P. s. campestris). This is the first record of this species in the former USSR area and, also, this is the species’ north-easternmost locality. The population inhabits secondary natural biotopes and urban area. Among them are the banks of artificial water bodies, areas with cultivated trees and shrubs, as well as parks, and house lawns in the urban area. Population density was estimated from eight to 40 specimens per 100 m of the transect. A moderate proportion of young specimens (more than a 40%) would indicate a healthy and continued growth of the emerging population. To determine the possible period of the species introduction, space images of the Imeretinskaya Lowland were analyzed beginning from the transformation of its landscape for the Winter Olympic Games of Sochi 2014 until the May of 2020. The introduction of the species presumably occurred with the delivery of large-sized ornamental trees and shrubs from Italy in 2012–2013. Podarcis siculus should be included in the list of herpetofauna of Russia and particularly of the Caucasus. This is an alien species with a proven ability to become an invasive species, what will lead to a greater undesirable and unavoidable contact with native small lizards of the genus Darevskia Arribas, 1997. On the other hand, as it is often observed with new invaders, a sudden rise in population abundance could be followed by a sharp decline. A continuous monitoring of the area in question and of the number of local Italian wall lizards is necessary to confirm or refute the assumed scenarios of further invasion of P. siculus on the Black Sea Coast of the Caucasus. Further action plans for this population should be developed depending on supposed future trends.
A Comparison of Neural-Network and Surrogate-Severe Probabilistic Convective Hazard Guidance Derived from a Convection-Allowing Model

A feed-forward neural network (NN) was trained to produce gridded probabilistic convective hazard predictions over the contiguous United States. Input fields to the NN included 174 predictors, derived from 38 variables output by 497 convection-allowing model forecasts, with observed severe storm reports used for training and verification. These NN probability forecasts (NNPFs) were compared to surrogate-severe probability forecasts (SSPFs), generated by smoothing a field of surrogate reports derived with updraft helicity (UH). NNPFs and SSPFs were produced each forecast hour on an 80-km grid, with forecasts valid for the occurrence of any severe weather report within 40 or 120 km, and 2 h, of each 80-km grid box. NNPFs were superior to SSPFs, producing statistically significant improvements in forecast reliability and resolution. Additionally, NNPFs retained more large magnitude probabilities (>50%) compared to SSPFs since NNPFs did not use spatial smoothing, improving forecast sharpness. NNPFs were most skillful relative to SSPFs when predicting hazards on larger scales (e.g., 120 vs 40 km) and in situations where using UH was detrimental to forecast skill. These included model spinup, nocturnal periods, and regions and environments where supercells were less common, such as the western and eastern United States and high-shear, low-CAPE regimes. NNPFs trained with fewer predictors were more skillful than SSPFs, but not as skillful as the full-predictor NNPFs, with predictor importance being a function of forecast lead time. Placing NNPF skill in the context of existing baselines is a first step toward integrating machine learning–based forecasts into the operational forecasting process.
Opportunity for Pharmaceutical Intervention in Lung Cancer: Selective Inhibition of JAK1/2 to Eliminate EMT-Derived Mesenchymal Cells

EMT-Mediated Metastasis After EMT has transpired, the newly formed mesenchymal cells enter the bloodstream through the process of intravasation (invasion of cancer cells through the basement membrane) and disseminate throughout the body, eventually invading a distant organ site, through the process of extravasation (cancer cells exit the capillaries and invade an organ; Fig 1). At this distant organ site, the cancer cells undergo a Mesenchymal-Epithelial Transition (MET), the reverse process of EMT, in order to colonize and form a secondary epithelial tumor. By reverting to their original epithelial phenotype, the cells regain the ability to proliferate rapidly and form cellcell junctions, two characteristics that are necessary for successful colonization. These characteristics were lost during the original EMT, when the cells acquired the ability to metastasize (Kalluri & Weinberg, 2009). After MET has occurred and a second epithelial tumor is established, the process of metastasis is complete. Thus, EMT is considered an important process during the early stages of metastasis, while MET is considered an important process during the later stages of metastasis (Brabletz, 2012). EMT induction primarily occurs through the activation of phosphorylation cascades by various cytokines and growth factors present within the tumor microenvironment, including TransINTRODUCTION Lung cancer is currently the most prevalent form of cancer in the United States, causing over 158,000 deaths each year (American Lung Association, 2016). More than 90% of these deaths and other cancer-associated mortality can be attributed to metastasis (Ray & Jablons, 2009). An immense clinical need exists for novel treatments either targeting or preventing metastasis, especially in early stage cancer patients. In order for distant metastasis to occur, primary tumor cells must disseminate through the blood vessels and invade a distant organ site (Brabletz, 2012). A biological phenomenon known as the Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition (EMT) is a key facilitator of this process. EMT involves a series of changes which allow a cancer cell to transition from a stationary epithelial phenotype to a migratory, drug resistant mesenchymal phenotype. This process includes the disassembly of epithelial cell-junctions and a loss of epithelial polarity in exchange for mesenchymal characteristics, such as a fibroblast-like morOpportunity for Pharmaceutical Intervention in Lung Cancer: Selective Inhibition of JAK1/2 to Eliminate EMT-Derived Mesenchymal Cells
Using Different Bioinformatics Software Tools for Determining the CarbonDioxide (CO2) Dependence in Staphhylococcus aureus

Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) is a Gram-positive bacterium that occurs in microscopic bunches similar to grapes. In general, S. aureus shows two different colonies; on agar dishes S. aureus forms huge golden yellow colonies, while on blood agar dishes it has haemolytic properties. Recently, different major studies have discovered CO2-dependent S. aureus strains that can be found as an inhabitant of small colony variants (SCV) S. aureus, which can cause recurrent and persistent infections. Although it has been investigated the mechanism of this CO2 dependence, this paper aims to use different bioinformatics software tools, such as MUMmer, BLAST, Jalview and ClustalW, in order to compare and search for the differences in the enzymes involved in pathways that can be altered in the CO2-dependent S. aureus strain. That is, the entire genome of CO2-dependent S. aureus strain was compared against another strain, not CO2-dependent using the software tool MUMmer. Based on this tool, the results show that the plots of the CO2-dependent strain against the COL and Mu50 strains did not show any gaps, while the connected thick diagonal line reveals strong similarities between the sequences in comparison to the thin diagonal line. Surprisingly, the results of using BLAST alignment tool did not illustrate any obvious mutations. Besides, the comparison between a number of strains and the CO2-dependent S. aureus strain was carried out using the ClustalW alignment tool and Jalview software; consequently it did not show any observable mutations, as well.
The effects of urban park on residents’ health: an empirical study based on Tangxi River Park in Hefei

As an important way for urban residents to access nature environment, urban park has a certain degree of impact on the health of the population. In this study, Tangxihe Park in Hefei City was used as the research site, and the impact of urban parks on population health was quantitatively studied by analyzing the demographic characteristics, physical and mental health of park users, and park satisfaction. The results show that the quality of overall environment, green space and activity facilities of the park have a positive effect on improving the physical and mental health of the residents, the time of residents spending in the park have a positive effect on their physical and mental health, the longer of the residents spending in the park, the higher of the health benefits they received. Physical health regression analysis showed that residents received better physical health benefits by using the park between 6am to 9am compared to those entering the park between 12pm to 14pm and 14pm to 18pm. Mental health regression analysis showed that residents entering the park between 14pm to 18pm received better mental health benefits than those entering the park between 6am to 9am. The research results verify the specific health effects of urban parks in the context of Chinese demographic and geographic background, and enrich the theoretical content on the health benefits of urban parks in different regional contexts.
The Effects of Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) on Hospitality Industry: A Case Study

Hospitality industry COVID-19 2019-nCoV Crisis in tourism Epidemic disease Abstract This study aims to investigate the effects of the coronavirus epidemic on hospitality industry. In the study, evaluations were made by taking into consideration both the guest statistics and the opinions of the managers of the business. The analysis was done with the help of Excel and MAXQDA programs. As a result of the analysis, serious decreases were observed in both the group and individual sales in the overnight stay, income, incoming guests and occupancy rates of the business after the outbreak of the epidemic. The epidemic also affected the business in the short term in terms of crisis management and psychology. This study is one of the field studies showing the repercussions of the coronavirus on tourism with the help of data. It also provides an insight into how hospitality businesses are acting in such a crisis situation. Therefore, the work is considered to have an important place in the literature.