Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
MRG15 Regulates Embryonic Development and Cell Proliferation

ABSTRACT MRG15 is a highly conserved protein, and orthologs exist in organisms from yeast to humans. MRG15 associates with at least two nucleoprotein complexes that include histone acetyltransferases and/or histone deacetylases, suggesting it is involved in chromatin remodeling. To study the role of MRG15 in vivo, we generated knockout mice and determined that the phenotype is embryonic lethal, with embryos and the few stillborn pups exhibiting developmental delay. Immunohistochemical analysis indicates that apoptosis in Mrg15 − / − embryos is not increased compared with wild-type littermates. However, the number of proliferating cells is significantly reduced in various tissues of the smaller null embryos compared with control littermates. Cell proliferation defects are also observed in Mrg15 − / − mouse embryonic fibroblasts. The hearts of the Mrg15 − / − embryos exhibit some features of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. The increase in size of the cardiomyocytes is most likely a response to decreased growth of the cells. Mrg15 − / − embryos appeared pale, and microarray analysis revealed that α-globin gene expression was decreased in null versus wild-type embryos. We determined by chromatin immunoprecipitation that MRG15 was recruited to the α-globin promoter during dimethyl sulfoxide-induced mouse erythroleukemia cell differentiation. These findings demonstrate that MRG15 has an essential role in embryonic development via chromatin remodeling and transcriptional regulation.
Randomized clinical trials with added rescue medication: some approaches to their analysis and interpretation

Patients in some randomized clinical trials may start additional non‐randomized medication because of an exacerbation of symptoms or insufficient therapeutic effect. Typically this rescue medication reduces the observed treatment effect in intention‐to‐treat analysis. We discuss methods of analysis which take account of rescue medication in order to achieve a more meaningful comparison of the randomized treatments, focusing on trials with a repeated quantitative outcome. Ignoring all data after rescue is likely to be biased because rescued patients are a highly selected group. Instead we propose using methods based on ranks or multilevel models. The rank‐based methods assume that rescued patients have especially bad underlying outcomes. The multilevel regression model relates a patient's outcome to allocated treatment and rescue status at each time, and requires correct modelling of all prognostic factors which predict starting rescue medication and of the covariance between outcomes measured at different times. We also describe sensitivity analyses over a range of possible models for the effect of rescue medication. We illustrate these methods in a trial in Parkinson's disease. It appears that adjustment for rescue medication will not radically alter the randomized treatment comparison unless rescue medication is substantially imbalanced between randomized groups and has a substantial effect on the outcome. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Investigation on the short circuit safe operation area of SiC MOSFET power modules

This paper gives a better insight of the short circuit capability of state-of-the-art SiC MOSFET power modules rated at 1.2 kV by highlighting the physical limits under different operating conditions. Two different failure mechanisms have been identified, both reducing the short-circuit capability of SiC power modules in respect to discrete SiC devices. Based on such failure mechanisms, two short circuit criteria (i.e., short circuit current-based criterion and gate voltage-based criterion) are proposed in order to ensure their robustness under short-circuit conditions. A Safe Operation Area (SOA) of the studied SiC MOSFET power modules is formulated based on the two proposed criteria.
Current best practice in the management of Turner syndrome

Turner syndrome (TS) is characterized by partial or complete loss of the second X-chromosome in phenotypic females resulting in a constellation of clinical findings that may include lymphedema, cardiac anomalies, short stature, primary ovarian failure and neurocognitive difficulties. Optimizing health care delivery is important to enable these individuals achieve their full potential. We review the current best practice management recommendations for individuals with TS focusing on the latest consensus opinion in regard to genetic diagnosis, treatment of short stature, estrogen supplementation, addressing psychosocial issues, as well screening for other comorbidities. A multidisciplinary approach and a well-planned transition to adult follow-up care will improve health care delivery significantly for this population.
Positive psychological factors are associated with lower PTSD symptoms among police officers: post Hurricane Katrina.

Following Hurricane Katrina, police officers in the New Orleans geographic area faced a number of challenges. This cross-sectional study examined the association between resilience, satisfaction with life, gratitude, posttraumatic growth, and symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder in 84 male and 30 female police officers from Louisiana. Protective factors were measured using the Connor-Davidson Resilience scale, Satisfaction with Life Scale, the Gratitude Questionnaire, and the Posttraumatic Growth inventory. Symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder were measured using the Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist--Civilian (PCL-C). Potential associations were measured using linear regression and analysis of variance. Models were adjusted for age, sex, race, education, and alcohol. Mean PCL-C symptoms were 29.5 ± 14.5 for females and 27.8 ± 12.1 for males. Adjusted mean levels of PCL-C symptoms significantly decreased as quartiles of resilience (p < .001), satisfaction with life (p < .001), and gratitude (p < .001) increased. In contrast, PCL-C symptoms were not associated with posttraumatic growth in this sample. These results indicate that positive factors such as resilience, satisfaction with life, and gratitude may help mitigate symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder. To further explore these relationships, longitudinal follow-up in a larger population would be of interest.
Optimization of Gene Transfection Condition using Taguchi Method for an Electroporation Microchip

This study has demonstrated the optimization of an electroporation (EP) system for gene transfection by using the Taguchi method. The parameters of the EP system, which could have an influence on the transecting rate, were optimized, resulting in values of 50 mum electrode gap, 80 mug/mL pEGFP-Nl concentration, 6 V pulse voltage, and 2-pulse. A larger-the-better Omega transformation was employed for better additivity. The analyzed results of interaction A times C, A times D, and C times D showed that there were strong interactions on level 3 of factors A, C, and D to each others. Using optimized EP system, the pEGFP-Nl plasmid was successfully transfected into the basal cell carcinoma cell line (BCC) with 40.36% average transecting rate.
Integrating Heterogeneous omics Data via Statistical Inference and Learning Techniques

Multi-omics studies are believed to provide a more comprehensive picture of a complex biological system than traditional studies with one omics data source. However, from a statistical point of view data integration implies non-trivial challenges. In this review, we highlight recent statistical inference and learning techniques that have been devised in this context. In the first part of our article, we focus on techniques to identify a relevant biological sub-system based on combined omics data. In the second part of our article we ask, in which way integrated omics data could be used for better personalized patient treatment in a supervised as well as unsupervised learning setting. Different classes of algorithms are discussed for both application tasks. Existing and future challenges for data integration methods are pointed out.
TinyFTL: an FTL architecture for flash memory cards with scarce resources

In this paper, we focus on firmware design for flash memory cards that have scarce resources such as small amount of SRAM and low performance processors. Our design goals include devising practical, commercial grade features required for commercial flash memory cards and minimizing memory requirements to support these features. To this end, we propose TinyFTL (Flash Translation Layer) that has low memory requirements for implementing full features such as efficient garbage collection, mapping, caching, and fast boot-up. Through implementation and experiments, we show that even with smaller memory footprints TinyFTL performs better in terms of performance and boot-up time than implementations of state-of-the-art FTLs.
Using GPS Data to Understand Driving Behavior

Although collecting travel behavior data by global positioning system (GPS) allows researchers to address the dynamic properties of travel behavior, the volume of data can be massive and converting points of data into a meaningful model of highly complex travel is cumbersome. This paper seeks to explain the methodological challenges of converting an enormous set of geocoded data points into a meaningful database that describes the complexity of trips and tours. It also seeks to illustrate the kinds of valuable lessons that transportation analysts can learn from GPS data by describing in detail the driving characteristics of a single driver over the course of a month of driving. Driving behavior based on GPS data is investigated for 78 drivers living in the Detroit metropolitan region. Automobile use was tracked on a day-to-day basis for four weeks, with geographic positions captured every second by GPS. This GPS data was combined with geocoded street addresses of business establishments, land-use polygons, aerial photographs, census data and road attributes. Results show that travel patterns are more complex than traditional travel surveys reveal. Although GPS data can be difficult to process, the database developed in this study offers several advantages over conventional travel survey data: travel routes between destinations are known; patterns can be observed in a single driver over a full month; and events are captured as a driver is in motion. These findings indicate that travel behavior data captured by GPS offers many opportunities for transportation engineers and planners.
Development of built environment and its implication on flood risk in Gombe Metropolis, Nigeria

The increasing frequency of flood events in urban areas and its devastating impact on lives, properties, resources and the environment as a whole has posed a serious concern to environmental scientist the world over. There are many different perspectives regarding factors responsible for flood risk in urban areas, which range from hydrological extremes to man-induced factors. This paper examines the impact of built environment on the increasing flood occurrences in Gombe Metropolis in Nigeria. Data was essentially collected through questionnaire survey and analyzed using statistical model so as to discover the main factors causing flood in the metropolis. A multi-stage sampling technique was applied for data collection, where Gombe Metropolis was categorized into eleven residential quarters and a total of two hundred and fifty one questionnaires were administered to chief householders in the respective residential quarters in the metropolis, and finally multi- linear regression analysis was conducted, where flood risk is conveyed as a function of some selected urban development variables and used to examine the relationships and impact of these variables on causing flooding and the increasing flood risk via a statistical model. The result shows that rapid growth of built-up environment with poor implementation of building control measures is the main factor for flood risk in Gombe Metropolis. However, construction of built-up areas on floodplains as well as inadequate space between building structures as recommended by the town planning laws, has also contributed immensely to the increasing flood risk in Gombe Metropolis. Key words: Flood risk, built environment, Gombe Metropolis, hydrological extremes, vulnerability.
Feature extraction based design retrieval

An efficient and flexible indexing mechanism for retrieving design objects that possess similar design features as described by the user is presented. The underlying database is composed of rotational objects represented by constructive solid geometry. Both efficiency and flexibility have been taken into account when building and using indices. Regarding efficiency, the pattern matching machine extracts all features from an input pattern string in a single pass, and the algorithm deriving a pattern string from the PAR (principal axis representation) has a linear time complexity with respect to the number of axis segments in the PAR. As for flexibility, A.V. Aho and M.J. Corasick's algorithm (1975) automatically constructs the pattern matching machine for any new features and the pattern matching machine extracts multiple features and builds multiple indices automatically. The effort required to build and use engineering indices in a CAD/CAM database management system is illustrated. <<ETX>>
Chronic widespread pain after motor vehicle collision typically occurs through immediate development and nonrecovery: results of an emergency department-based cohort study

Abstract Motor vehicle collision (MVC) can trigger chronic widespread pain (CWP) development in vulnerable individuals. Whether such CWP typically develops through the evolution of pain from regional to widespread or through the early development of widespread pain with nonrecovery is currently unknown. We evaluated the trajectory of CWP development (American College of Rheumatology criteria) among 948 European–American individuals who presented to the emergency department (ED) for care in the early aftermath of MVC. Pain extent was assessed in the ED and 6 weeks, 6 months, and 1 year after MVC on 100%, 91%, 89%, and 91% of participants, respectively. Individuals who reported prior CWP at the time of ED evaluation (n = 53) were excluded. Trajectory modeling identified a 2-group solution as optimal, with the Bayes Factor value (138) indicating strong model selection. Linear solution plots supported a nonrecovery model. Although the number of body regions with pain in the non-CWP group steadily declined, the number of body regions with pain in the CWP trajectory group (192/895, 22%) remained relatively constant over time. These data support the hypothesis that individuals who develop CWP after MVC develop widespread pain in the early aftermath of MVC, which does not remit.
A discrete-time queueing system with changes in the vacation times

Abstract This paper considers a discrete-time queueing system in which an arriving customer can decide to follow a last come first served (LCFS) service discipline or to become a negative customer that eliminates the one at service, if any. After service completion, the server can opt for a vacation time or it can remain on duty. Changes in the vacation times as well as their associated distribution are thoroughly studied. An extensive analysis of the system is carried out and, using a probability generating function approach, steady-state performance measures such as the first moments of the busy period of the queue content and of customers delay are obtained. Finally, some numerical examples to show the influence of the parameters on several performance characteristics are given.
Recombinant monomeric CD40 ligand for delivering polymer particles to dendritic cells

Dendritic cells (DCs) are considered the most efficient antigen‐presenting cells and are therefore ideal targets for in vivo delivery of antigen for vaccines. We are investigating the strategy of using CD40 ligand (CD40L) as a targeting moiety because this protein has the potential to not only target DCs, but also stimulate cell maturation, leading to more potent immune responses. We have shown that a recombinant, monomeric CD40 ligand fusion protein conjugated to polystyrene micro‐ and nanoparticles led to significantly enhanced uptake by DCs in vitro. This enhancement was observed for particles of both sizes and in both a murine DC cell line and primary DCs. The uptake appeared to be specifically mediated by CD40L binding to CD40 expressed on DCs. Enhanced uptake of nanoparticles in draining lymph nodes of mice was not observed, however, 48 hours after subcutaneous injection. These findings suggest that CD40 ligand may be a potentially useful targeting moiety for delivery of particulate vaccines to DCs, and that further optimization of both CD40L and the polymer carriers is necessary to achieve efficacy in vivo. © 2011 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Biotechnol. Prog. , 2011
A novel design of charge controller for a standalone solar photovoltaic system

The paper presents the design of a charge controller for a standalone photovoltaic (PV) system. It comprises of a battery to store the energy for eliminating intermittency in the electricity supply, a boost converter solely operated to achieve MPPT and a bidirectional buck-boost DC-DC converter for intriguing the philosophy of charge control. The charge control algorithm envisages controlling the charging and discharging action in all the three operating zones of the battery. The perspective owes to reduce the overall system cost through the use of a novel battery charging management technique and accomplish greater battery charge levels for increasing its life expectancy. The scheme evaluates the potential of the intended method using simulation analyses from a 250W solar panel allowed to charge a 12V, 100AH battery. The results reveal a balanced energy stream out of the PV module directed towards battery as well as the load in addition to ensuring the optimal use of the PV power.
Long-Term Clinical Outcomes After Percutaneous Coronary Intervention Versus Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting for Ostial / Midshaft Lesions in Unprotected Left Main Coronary Artery From the DELTA Registry A Multicenter Registry Evaluating Percutaneous Coronary Intervention Versus Coronary Artery Bypas

Toru Naganuma, MD,* Alaide Chieffo, MD,* Emanuele Meliga, MD,y Davide Capodanno, MD, PHD,z Seung-Jung Park, MD,x Yoshinobu Onuma, MD,k Marco Valgimigli, MD,{ Sanda Jegere, MD,#** Raj R. Makkar, MD,yy Igor F. Palacios, MD,zz Charis Costopoulos, MD,* Young-Hak Kim, MD,x Piotr P. Buszman, MD, PHD,xx Tarun Chakravarty, MD,yy Imad Sheiban, MD,kk Roxana Mehran, MD,{{ Christoph Naber, MD,*** Ronan Margey, MD,zz Arvind Agnihotri, MD,zz Sebastiano Marra, MD,kk Piera Capranzano, MD,z Martin B. Leon, MD,## Jeffrey W. Moses, MD,## Jean Fajadet, MD,*** Thierry Lefevre, MD,yyy Marie-Claude Morice, MD,yyy Andrejs Erglis, MD,#** Corrado Tamburino, MD, PHD,z Ottavio Alfieri, MD,* Patrick W. Serruys, MD, PHD,k Antonio Colombo, MD*
Realtime Rendering Glossy to Glossy Reflections in Screen Space

Glossy to glossy reflections are lights bounced between glossy surfaces. Such directional light transports are important for humans to perceive glossy materials, but difficult to simulate. This paper proposes a new method for rendering screen‐space glossy to glossy reflections in realtime. We use spherical von Mises‐Fisher (vMF) distributions to model glossy BRDFs at surfaces, and employ screen space directional occlusion (SSDO) rendering framework to trace indirect light transports bounced in the screen space. As our main contributions, we derive a new parameterization of vMF distribution so as to convert the non‐linear fit of multiple vMF distributions into a linear sum in the new space. Then, we present a new linear filtering technique to build MIP‐maps on glossy BRDFs, which allows us to create filtered radiance transfer functions at runtime, and efficiently estimate indirect glossy to glossy reflections. We demonstrate our method in a realtime application for rendering scenes with dynamic glossy objects. Compared with screen space directional occlusion, our approach only requires one extra texture and has a negligible overhead, 3% ∼ 6% loss at frame rate, but enables glossy to glossy reflections.
Infinite Mario Bross AI using Genetic Algorithm

Evolutionary Algorithm (EA) is commonly used to generate optimal Artificial Intelligence (AI) controller. It is a technique used to enhance the performance of generated controller. EA enables the system to evolve, to adapt and learn to give a better output. The implementation of EA into 2D game is not something new. Researchers used gaming platforms to test their own ideology or proposed algorithms. In this paper, a finite state machine which suitable to be used for Infinite Mario Bros game is proposed. The Genetic Algorithm (GA) is used along with the proposed finite state machine to evolve an AI agent that is capable to pass some levels of the game. The experimentation results showed that the finite state machine evolved with GA is able to create a competitive game bot that can pass through at least 3 levels of different game maps. The generated AI controller can guarantee to accomplish the tasks for some levels.
Global Financial Crisis's Impact on the Credit Risk of Logistics Companies: Comparative Analysis between China and US with KMV Model

In order to investigate the global financial crisis’s impact on logistics industry quantitatively, this paper selects 10 logistics listed companies respectively from China and US stock market as samples, calculates the default distances of the companies based on KMV model which is first proposed by US KMV company, analyzes the trend of credit risk change from the third quarter of 2008 to the third quarter of 2009. The results show the financial crisis has a severe impact on the credit risk of logistics companies and KMV model is an effective tool for measuring the credit risk of logistics companies. Furthermore, on average, the trend of credit risk of logistics companies does not coincide with the Gross Domestic Product’s respond to the financial crisis in time completely. The trend of credit risk during the crisis between China and US are not quite the same, and appetites of the two nation’s companies are also different. Finally, authors propose some suggestions about how to manage credit risk and how to respond to the financial crisis for logistics companies and other investors.
Inhibition of erythropoietin gene expression signaling involves the transcription factors GATA‐2 and NF‐κB

The anemia of chronic inflammatory and malignant diseases is partly due to impaired synthesis of the hormone erythropoietin (Epo). The proinflammatory cytokines interleukin‐1 (IL‐1) and tumor necrosis factor α (TNF‐α) suppress in vitro Epo gene expression and Epo protein secretion. However, the molecular mechanisms of this inhibition are poorly understood. The human Epo promoter and the 5' flanking region contain several recognition sequences for transcription factors acting either positively or negatively. Herein, we investigated the roles of the transcription factors GATA‐2 and NF‐κB in the modulation of Epo gene expression by IL‐1β and TNF‐α in the human hepatoma cell line HepG2. Electrophoretic mobility shift assays revealed increased GATA‐2 and NF‐κB DNA binding in cells treated with IL‐1β or TNF‐α. Reporter gene assays with a sequence from the Epo promoter in front of the firefly luciferase gene showed that the cytokines reduced Epo reporter gene activity. Functional inactivation of GATA‐2 and NF‐κB by oligo‐decoy techniques prevented the inhibition of Epo production by IL‐1β and TNF‐α. In HepG2 cells stably transfected with a dominant‐negative form of IκBα, the activation of NF‐κB was inhibited, while Epo mRNA levels and Epo secretion increased. Thus, both GATA‐2 and NF‐κB seem to be involved in the suppression of Epo gene expression by IL1β and TNF‐α in vitro and may be responsible for impaired Epo synthesis in inflammatory diseases in vivo.