Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
ERK1/2‐driven and MKP‐mediated inhibition of EGF‐induced ERK5 signaling in human proximal tubular cells

The MEK1‐ERK1/2 signaling pathway has been implicated in the regulation of renal epithelial cell proliferation, epithelial‐to‐mesenchymal transition and the induction of an invasive cell phenotype. Much less information is available about the MEK5‐ERK5 module and its role in renal epithelial cell proliferation and differentiation. In the present study we have investigated the regulation of these two families of extracellular signal‐regulated kinases in epidermal growth factor (EGF)‐stimulated human kidney‐2 (HK‐2) cells and a possible interaction between ERK1/2 and ERK5. Here we report that 5 ng/ml EGF led to a strong stimulation of HK‐2 cell proliferation, which was largely U0126‐sensitive. Both synthetic MEK1/2 inhibitors U0126 and Cl‐1040, when used at 10 and 1 µM, respectively, inhibited basal and EGF‐induced ERK1/2 phosphorylation but not ERK5 phosphorylation. Long‐term inhibition of MEK1/2‐ERK1/2 signaling and/or vanadate‐sensitive protein phosphatases enhanced and prolonged EGF‐induced ERK5 phosphorylation, while transient expression of an adenoviral constitutively active MEK1 (Ad‐caMEK1) construct completely blocked EGF‐induced ERK5 phosphorylation. Expression of Ad‐caMEK1 in HK‐2 cells resulted in the upregulation of the dual‐specificity phosphatases MKP‐3/DUSP6, MKP‐1/DUSP1, and DUSP5. The EGF‐mediated time‐dependent induction of MKP‐3, MKP‐1 and DUSP5 mRNA levels was U0126‐sensitive at a concentration, which blocked EGF‐mediated ERK1/2 phosphorylation but not ERK5 phosphorylation. Furthermore, U0126 inhibited EGF‐induced MKP‐3 and MKP‐1 protein expression. Both MKP‐3 and MKP‐1 co‐immunoprecipitated with ERK5 in unstimulated as well as in EGF‐stimulated HK‐2 cells. These results suggest the existence of an ERK1/2‐driven negative feed‐back regulation of ERK5 signaling in EGF‐stimulated HK‐2 cells, which is mediated by MKP‐3, DUSP5 and/or MKP‐1. J. Cell. Physiol. 211: 88–100, 2007. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Evidence for a recent increase in forest growth is questionable

In a recent article, McMahon et al. (1) examined forest-plot biomass accumulation across a range of stands in the mid-Atlantic United States and suggest that climate change and trends in atmospheric CO2 explain an increase in forest growth. To show this increase, they fit a simple model to live above-ground forest biomass (AGB) as a function of stand age, and then propose that the derivative of this model is the expected rate of ensemble biomass change (). They conclude that biomass changes within census plots that exceed the ensemble expectation constitute recent increases in growth rates.
Stabilization effects of CAD/CAM ceramic restorations in extended MOD cavities.

PURPOSE Using extended, standardized MOD preparations, it was the aim of this in vitro study to examine the performance of CAD/CAM ceramic inlays in comparison to composite inlays after mechanical and thermal fatigue loading in terms of marginal quality and stabilization of the remaining tooth structure. MATERIALS AND METHODS Standardized cavities with different wall thicknesses were prepared in 90 extracted premolars; 10 additional premolars remained untreated. Composite inlays (Tetric) and CAD/CAM restorations (Cerec II; Vita Mark II) were adhesively placed in the cavities. After loading in a chewing simulator, quantitative and qualitative marginal gap examinations were conducted and fracture resistance determined. RESULTS The results show that ceramic inlays provide significantly greater stabilization and better marginal quality than do composite inlays. CONCLUSION Chairside-fabricated ceramic inlays inserted using adhesive technology are able to stabilize weakened cusps. In the case of very thin remaining walls (about 1.3 mm), however, the marginal quality and the cusp-stabilizing effect are also reduced.
Coordinated charging strategy for battery switch station considering battery charging characteristics

With the popularization of electric vehicles (EVs) in the whole world, the charging load of EV battery packs will bring great impacts on power grid, such as overloading, voltage reduction, etc. In order to reduce the negative impact of EV battery packs, a coordinated charging strategy is proposed in this paper to optimize the charging starting time of each battery pack in EV battery switch station (BSS), considering its specific charging characteristics. In the proposed strategy, electric vehicles' needs for battery packs, BSS and grid operation constraints are all taken into account. Test results show that the strategy can effectively flatten the substation load curve by reducing the sum of squares, the peak-valley difference and the peak value, as well as the total charging cost of battery packs in BSS.
Big Data in Firms and Economic Research

This paper discusses how firms use i°big datai± and the role and challenges for economists when getting involved in big data research. The firmsi¯ success stories have taken advantage of building the biggest databases, using the best extraction tools, and using the fastest algorithms for data analysis and management. Although there are already great examples of economists entering big data research, analysts involved at present are mostly statisticians and computer scientists. The challenges economists face lie in computation, publication, and replication when using proprietary big data. The opportunities for economists lie in modeling and designing frameworks for analyzing large observational data panels, as well as developing empirical designs and strategies that are motivated by a model framework; in this way, economists can guide large-scale big data experiments toward identifying causal effects, rather than just correlations.
Feasibility of Gauss-Newton method for indoor positioning

This paper addresses the feasibility of using iterative least-squares (ILS) methods for indoor positioning, where coordinates are to be determined based on estimated/measured ranges. Special attention is given to the Gauss-Newton method, since it is well suited for solving (small residual) non-linear problems and most commonly applied in positioning. Dealing with non-linear inverse problems, the parameter estimation possibly features local minima next to the sought for global one, and the position estimator is inherently biased. In satellite positioning systems, e.g. GPS, or other large scale systems, an initial guess that leads the iterative method to a global convergence is not hard to obtain, and the bias due to non-linearity is negligible. However, in indoor systems, both effects can become problematic, and therefore extra care needs to be taken to properly apply the ILS methods. Two schemes are proposed in this paper, one to obtain a good initial guess and the other to test the significance of the bias due to non-linearity. The validation of the proposed schemes is supported by simulations as well as by experimental results obtained with an UWB acoustic positioning system, which achieves centimeter level positioning accuracy with LoS propagation and full bandwidth between 3.6 and 12.1 kHz (with equal wavelength compared to the radio signals with the bandwidth between 3.1 to 10.6 GHz allowed for UWB radio communications). The proposed schemes are validated with a number of system setups, differing in the positions of transmitters, the position of the receiver, redundancy, the bandwidth used and therefore the range measurement error.
Reporting Standard Compliance in Publications of Vestibular Schwannoma Patients Treated With Microsurgery

Background In 2003, Kanzaki and colleagues published a set of reporting standards for vestibular schwannoma (VS) to serve as a guide for future publication, with the specific purpose of promoting standardization of reporting results in VS. Objective Here, the current published body of literature on VS cases treated with microsurgery was reviewed to determine its degree of adherence to consensus guidelines. Methods A comprehensive search of the English language literature was performed to identify studies reporting outcome data in patients treated with microsurgery for VSs. Each publication was reviewed to determine whether it had properly reported each of the 7 items relevant to surgical management described in the Consensus Meeting reporting guidelines. The number of studies that had included each of the key items before and after the publication of the reporting guidelines was compared. Results After the publication of the standards, there were a significantly greater proportion of studies that properly reported the nature of the tumor and facial nerve function. Since the publication of the Consensus Meeting Guidelines, there also were trends toward greater proportions of articles that properly reported the size, hearing function, preoperative symptoms, and postoperative complications of the patients treated. Conclusion Since the release of the reporting system guidelines for VS, the focus of the publications seems to have shifted away from basic clinical characteristics and toward posttreatment neurologic function. Future studies reporting the clinical characteristics and surgical outcomes for patients with VS cases should strive to include all the elements described in the Consensus Meeting guidelines.
Performing thoracic transforaminal injections: a new technique.

PURPOSE To evaluate a technique to perform fluoroscopically directed thoracic transforaminal epidural injections. MATERIALS AND METHODS Institutional review board approval and a waiver of consent were obtained for this retrospective HIPAA-compliant study. Findings from 198 consecutively performed foraminal nerve blocks and foraminal epidural injections in the thoracic spine from June 27, 1997 to December 29, 2007 were retrospectively reviewed. This study was designed to evaluate a current technique and the experience with an approach that improves safety by decreasing the chance of inadvertent injury to nontargeted structures. Fluoroscopic spot views retained as part of a quality assurance program were available in all patients for review. RESULTS By utilizing this technique, there was a single delayed pneumothorax that occurred because of deviation from the accepted technique. No other major complications occurred (which the authors defined as death, neurovascular injury, pneumothorax, and infection). Inadvertent puncture of the dura did not occur. Minor complications included vasovagal response and transient pain during the administration of injectate, which were resolved by the termination of the procedure. The ease of identifying the ribs fluoroscopically and utilizing the rib as a conduit into the foramen provided an advantage in patients with osteopenia, severe osteoarthritis, and scoliosis compared with previously described techniques. CONCLUSION This study evaluated an innovative technique to perform fluoroscopically directed thoracic intraforaminal nerve blocks that showed few complications and anatomically avoided transgression of structures in the posterior mediastinum.
Effect of efficiency optimization on linearity of LINC amplifiers with CDMA signal

The linear and efficient power amplification can be achieved with LINC (linear amplification with nonlinear components) amplifiers because RF power amplifiers deal with constant envelope signals in LINC systems. To increase the average efficiency in some modulation schemes with high peak to average ratio, reactance termination in combining circuit is used. However, the shunt reactance termination degrades the linearity performance of LINC. This work shows the effect of efficiency optimization with reactance termination on ACLR (Adjacent Channel Leakage Ratio) of LINC amplifiers with WCDMA modulation systems using envelope simulation.
A Case Study: Study of Amman Stock Exchange Volatility during 1994-2013

This paper investigates the volatility of Amman stock exchange volatility during the period 1994–2013, also the paper focuses on the performance of various Garch models, were Arch model not dismissed in term of their ability of delivering volatility forecasts for Amman stock market return data, in this paper a stationary Garch models were estimated, I have assess the performance of the maximum likelihood estimator, finally I have attempt to fit the dynamic of daily Amman stock return, by different models and BL, approach. A quantified data of the returns of weekly dealing has been used to achieve the goals of paper, enhance the (? ) leverage used to test for asymmetric volatility. This paper is an attempt to study and modules the volatility of Amman stock market using daily observations as the day-of-a week return index for the period from January, 1994 through the period up to end of June, 2013, to achieve this purpose I have divided the period of study into two periods, then I have estimated the data by using Arch (1), Garch, E Garch, and the Go-Garch models are employed. Arch (1) and E-Garch models are utilized in this paper to have the symmetry effects, whereas E-Garch are used to capturing the asymmetric effect. Results can be stated as: the E-Garch model is most fitted model to forecasting data of returns volatility between Garch (1, 1) and Garch (1, 2) as model performance is very small, according to BL approach Alpha of AMS portfolio and frontiers returns is (-0.5492), and the risk ratio is (0.5683).
Project management in research projects

Project Management (PM) is a set of activities which enables successful implementation of a project, where a project may be defined as involving a group of inter- related activities that are planned and then executed in a certain sequence to create a unique output (product or service) within a specific time frame. Research projects differ in many ways from development projects, the most significant being (lack of) clear requirements and (in)ability to plan an output from the start of the project. In terms of outputs, evaluation criteria for a research project must take into account such, we well as other "particularities"; for example, that proving that something can not be done may represent a positive result for a research project. This article describes particularities of research projects, and proposes adequately adjusted project management process and practices. It also gives examples and evaluation of successful application thereof in practice, in joint projects between academia and industry over the past five years.
The design of controllers for batch bioreactors

The implementation of control algorithms to batch bioreactors is often complicated by variations in process dynamics that occur during the course of fermentation. Such a wide operating range often renders the performance of fixed gain proportional‐integral‐differential (PID) controllers unsatisfactory. In this work, detailed studies on the control of batch fermentations are per formed. Two simple controller designs are presented with the intent to compensate for changing process dynamics. One design incorporates the concepts of static feedforward‐feedback control. While this technique produces tighter control than feedback alone, it is not as successful as a controller based on gain scheduling. The gain‐scheduling controller, a subclass of adaptive controllers, uses the oxygen uptake rate as an auxiliary variable to fine‐tune the PID controller parameters. The control of oxygen tension in the bioreactor is used as a vehicle to convey the proposed ideas, analyses, and results. Simulation experiments indicate significant improvement in controller performance can be achieved by both of the proposed approaches even in the presence of measurement noise.
Disruption of Reconsolidation Erases a Fear Memory Trace in the Human Amygdala

Removing Fear Memories Disruption of reconsolidation of an activated fear memory prevents subsequent fear expression. After a memory reminder, extinction training can disrupt fear memory. In rodents, this process is dependent on a brain area called the amygdala. Agren et al. (p. 1550) used functional magnetic resonance imaging and a fear conditioning paradigm to show in humans that, after an associative fear memory was formed, reactivation and reconsolidation left a signature in the basolateral amygdala. This memory trace predicted later fear expression, which was linked to activity in areas forming the fear circuit of the brain. Extinction alone did not change this signal. However, extinction in the reconsolidation window blocked fear expression by erasing the fear memory trace in the amygdala and weakened the connection in the wider fear circuit of the brain. Interfering with memory formation at the right moment removes the signature of fear memories in human brain imaging studies. Memories become labile when recalled. In humans and rodents alike, reactivated fear memories can be attenuated by disrupting reconsolidation with extinction training. Using functional brain imaging, we found that, after a conditioned fear memory was formed, reactivation and reconsolidation left a memory trace in the basolateral amygdala that predicted subsequent fear expression and was tightly coupled to activity in the fear circuit of the brain. In contrast, reactivation followed by disrupted reconsolidation suppressed fear, abolished the memory trace, and attenuated fear-circuit connectivity. Thus, as previously demonstrated in rodents, fear memory suppression resulting from behavioral disruption of reconsolidation is amygdala-dependent also in humans, which supports an evolutionarily conserved memory-update mechanism.
Adaptive decoupling predictive temperature control for an extrusion barrel in a plastic injection molding process

This paper presents an adaptive decoupling temperature control for an extrusion barrel in a plastic injection molding process. After establishing a stochastic polynomial matrix model of the system, a corresponding decoupling system representation was then developed. The decoupling control design was derived based on the minimization of a generalized predictive performance criterion. The set-point tracking, disturbance rejection, and robustness capabilities of the proposed method can be improved by appropriate adjustments to the tuning parameters in the criterion function. A real-time control algorithm, including the recursive least-squares method, is proposed which was implemented using a digital signal processor TMS320C31 from Texas Instruments. Through the experimental results, the proposed method has been shown to be powerful under set-point changes, load disturbances, and significant plant uncertainties. The proposed control law is shown to be less computational and more effective than other well-known multivariable control strategies, and more powerful than single-loop temperature-zone control policies.
Relation between Vitamin D Deficiency and Severity of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease-A Case Control Study.

INTRODUCTION Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a chronic inflammatory disorder characterized by irreversible and progressive limitation of expiratory airflow. COPD is now considered as a systemic disease with several extra-pulmonary manifestations which include osteoporosis, muscle weakness, arrhythmia, stroke, cancer etc. The role of vitamin D in skeletal integrity is well established. Role of it in several other diseases like autoimmune, infectious, respiratory and cardiovascular diseases has been increasingly recognised. Data on vitamin D status in COPD in Indian population was limited while those comparing vitamin D with stage, pack year and body mass index were lacking. AIM To assess Vitamin D in subjects with COPD and matched controls and also to study the variability in serum vitamin D levels with COPD disease characteristics. MATERIALS AND METHODS A total of 162 patients aged 18-65 years from south India presenting to kasturba hospital were included in the study. Serum 25- hydroxy-vitamin D were measured in 81 COPD patients (combined COPD stage A-D) and compared with 81 age and gender matched controls. Level < 20 ng/ml defined deficiency. Risk estimate with Odds ratio and association of COPD characteristics with Vitamin D was assessed using logistic regression analysis. RESULTS COPD patients had an increased risk for vitamin D deficiency compared to controls after adjustment for age and gender(OR =2.687 (1.40,5.13)). Variables associated with lower 25(OH) D levels in COPD patients were higher pack year (p=0.001), current smoking status (p=0.026), Low BMI (p=0.02), and GOLD stage III- IV (p=0.001). CONCLUSION COPD was associated with an increased risk of vitamin D deficiency, and there was a significant association between vitamin D levels and Combined COPD stage severity. Also, a higher pack year and a low BMI are associated with lower levels of vitamin D.
Research progress of Streptococcus pneumoniae capsular polysaccharide-protein conjugate vaccines

Streptococcus pneumoniae is a major respiratory pathogen responsible for many diseases in young children and elderly. Because of the increasing antibiotic resistance of pneumococci recently, the need for development of an effective vaccine is more and more urgent. Since the 7-valent conjugate vaccine was licensed in the United States in 2000, its efficacy has been widely recognized. Effort on researching polysaccharide-protein conjugate vaccine never stopped. This article reviewed the conjugate vaccines in view of the carrier proteins. Key words: Conjugate vaccine, Streptococcus pneumoniae, capsular polysaccharide, carrier protein.
Validation of a Greek version of PSS-14; a global measure of perceived stress.

AIM To evaluate validity of the Greek version of a global measure of perceived stress PSS-14 (Perceived Stress Scale - 14 item). MATERIALS AND METHODS The original PSS-14 (theoretical range 0-56) was translated into Greek and then back-translated. One hundred men and women (39 +/- 10 years old, 40 men) participated in the validation process. Firstly, participants completed the Greek PSS-14 and, then they were interviewed by a psychologist specializing in stress management. Cronbach's alpha (a) evaluated internal consistency of the measurement, whereas Kendall's tau-b and Bland & Altman methods assessed consistency with the clinical evaluation. Exploratory and Confirmatory Factor analyses were conducted to reveal hidden factors within the data and to confirm the two-dimensional character of the scale. RESULTS Mean (SD) PSS-14 score was 25(7.9). Strong internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha = 0.847) as well as moderate-to-good concordance between clinical assessment and PSS-14 (Kendall's tau-b = 0.43, p < 0.01) were observed. Two factors were extracted. Factor one explained 34.7% of variability and was heavily laden by positive items, and factor two that explained 10.6% of the variability by negative items. Confirmatory factor analysis revealed that the model with 2 factors had chi-square equal to 241.23 (p < 0.001), absolute fix indexes were good (i.e. GFI = 0.733, AGFI = 0.529), and incremental fix indexes were also adequate (i.e. NFI = 0.89 and CFI = 0.92). CONCLUSION The developed Greek version of PSS-14 seems to be a valid instrument for the assessment of perceived stress in the Greek adult population living in urban areas; a finding that supports its local use in research settings as an evaluation tool measuring perceived stress, mainly as a risk factor but without diagnostic properties.
Better Balance by Being Biased

Recently, Raghavendra and Tan (SODA 2012) gave a 0.85-approximation algorithm for the Max Bisection problem. We improve their algorithm to a 0.8776-approximation. As Max Bisection is hard to approximate within αGW + ε ≈ 0.8786 under the Unique Games Conjecture (UGC), our algorithm is nearly optimal. We conjecture that Max Bisection is approximable within αGW − ε, that is, that the bisection constraint (essentially) does not make Max Cut harder. We also obtain an optimal algorithm (assuming the UGC) for the analogous variant of Max 2-Sat. Our approximation ratio for this problem exactly matches the optimal approximation ratio for Max 2-Sat, that is, αLLZ + ε ≈ 0.9401, showing that the bisection constraint does not make Max 2-Sat harder. This improves on a 0.93-approximation for this problem from Raghavendra and Tan.