Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Extracellular vesicles derived from Krüppel-Like Factor 2-overexpressing endothelial cells attenuate myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury by preventing Ly6Chigh monocyte recruitment

Background: The ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) process in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) triggers an immune response, resulting in myocyte death. Krüppel-Like Factor 2 (KLF2), which is highly expressed in endothelial cells (ECs) under laminar flow, exerts anti-inflammatory effects. In this study, we explored the role of small extracellular vesicles (EVs) from KLF2-overexpressing ECs (KLF2-EVs) in the immunomodulation and its implications in myocardial I/R injury. Methods and Results: The small EVs were isolated from KLF2-overexpressing ECs' supernatant using gradient centrifugation. Mice were subjected to 45 min of ischemia followed by reperfusion, and KLF2-EVs were administrated through intravenous injection. KLF2-EVs ameliorated I/R injury and alleviated inflammation level in the serum and heart. We employed the macrophage depletion model and splenectomy and showed that Ly6Chigh monocyte recruitment from bone marrow was the main target of KLF2-EVs. miRNA-sequencing of KLF2-EVs and bioinformatics analysis implicated miRNA-24-3p (miR-24-3p) as a potent candidate mediator of monocyte recruitment and CCR2 as a downstream target. miR-24-3p mimic inhibited the migration of Ly6Chigh monocytes, and miR-24-3p antagomir reversed the effect of KLF2-EVs in myocardial I/R. Conclusion: Our data demonstrated that KLF2-EVs attenuated myocardial I/R injury in mice via shuttling miR-24-3p that restrained the Ly6Chigh monocyte recruitment. Thus, KLF2-EVs could be a potential therapeutic agent for myocardial I/R injury.
Quasi-likelihood estimation of GARCH models with missing values

This work presents a new method to deal with missing values in financial time series. Previous works are generally based in state space models and Kalman filter and few consider ARCH family models. The traditional approach is to bound the data together and perform the estimation without considering the presence of missing values. The existing methods generally consider missing values in the returns. The proposed method considers the presence of missing values in the price of the assets instead of in the returns. The performance of the method in estimating the parameters and the volatilities is evaluated through a Monte Carlo simulation. Value at risk is also considered in the simulation. An empirical application to NASDAQ 100 Index series is presented.
Eliciting Moral Preferences: Theory and Experiment

We examine to what extent a person(cid:146)s moral preferences can be inferred from observing their choices, for instance via experiments, and in particular, how one should interpret certain behaviors that appear deontologically motivated. Comparing the performance of the direct elicitation (DE) and multiple-price list (MPL) mechanisms, we characterize in each case how (social or self) image motives in(cid:135)ate the extent to which agents behave prosocially. More surprisingly, this signaling bias is shown to depend on the elicitation method, both per se and interacted with the level of visibility: it is greater under DE for low reputation concerns, and greater under MPL when they become high enough. We then test the model(cid:146)s predictions in an experiment in which nearly 700 subjects choose between money for themselves and implementing a 350 e donation that will, in expectation, save one human life. Interacting the elicitation method with the decision(cid:146)s level of visibility and salience, we (cid:133)nd the key crossing e⁄ect predicted by the model. We also show how certain (cid:147)Kantian(cid:148) postures (turning down all prices in the o⁄ered range) can easily emerge under MPL when reputation becomes important enough.
Technologies to Aid Public Understanding in Running Performance

Measurement technologies and visualisation techniques are changing the way public audiences engage with televised coverage of sport. However, the adoption of measurement technologies for broadcast coverage of running—to engage audiences and improve public understanding of performance—has been limited. This might reflect measurement challenges of athletic competition environments; athlete-worn measurement devices can be impractical, and video-based analyses typically require well-defined input videos for analysis (e.g., calibration, etc.). Recently, single-camera and calibration-independent video processing has advanced practical analyses of running performance in sports environments. This paper presents (1) the application of a method to quantify temporal running parameters using broadcast footage of 100 m sprint and 1-mile endurance running, (2) the application of human posture detection to quantify spatial running parameters using hand-held action camera footage and (3) examples of co-developed data visualisations, aimed at improving public engagement and understanding of running performance.
Braking Performance Improvement for Hybrid Electric Vehicle Based on Electric Motor's Quick Torque Response

Electric motors have much better response characteristics than hydraulic actuators, and can generate rapid and continuous output torque. But conventional Hybrid Electric Vehicles do not make use of these excellent characteristics. By utilizing electric motors, we can compensate for the error in hydraulic actuators, and realize the ideal Anti-lock Braking System. But the capacity of the electric motor in Hybrid Electric Vehicles is small, so the electric motor cannot produce suÆcient braking torque. By designing cooperative braking control of the hydraulic actuator and electric motor, we can realize excellent ABS which we name Hybrid-ABS. By combining these control methods, we propose a novel methods of motion control in Hybrid Electric Vehicle(HEV).
The relationship between learning approaches and st udents' achievements in statistics units in Argentina

Learning approaches refer to the strategies student s adopt in order to learn and why they choose them. A deep strategy is based on a critical analysis of new ideas related to prior knowledge leading to lon gterm concept retention, which may be used in solvin g problems in unusual situations. Conversely, a surface approach is characterized by a tacit accept ance of information leading to material rote-learni ng in an unrelated manner. This strategy leads to shor t-term material retention. Moreover, students can adopt a strategic approach by focusing their learni ng mainly on achieving good grades. In this study, we analyzed the relationship between learning appro aches in an Introductory Statistics course and the performance obtained at the end of the course and i n a test two years later in an Advanced Statistics course. We analyzed the responses given by 91 stude nts to ASSIST (Approaches and Study Skills Inventory for Students). These students were from a n Introductory Statistics course at the Agricultural School of the University of Buenos Aires. We estima ed scores for each type of strategy based on the respective factors of the confirmatory factor analy sis. Student who take an Advanced Statistics course two years later were subjected to a pre-test on the first class in order to evaluate basic statistics knowledge. Higher scores in the deep strategy were related to higher grades obtained both at the end of the Introductory Statistics course and in the pr -test. Conversely, higher scores in the superficia l strategy were related to lower grades obtained both at e end of the Introductory Statistics course a nd in the pre-test. The students who adopted the strat egic approach obtained intermediate scores. These results provide evidence for the relationship betwe n learning strategies and learning retention in th e short and medium term.
THE FORMATION OF MULTIPLY TWINNED NANOPARTICLES OF PURE METALS DURING CRYSTALLIZATION. RESULTS OF SIMULATIONS

Structures of simulated metals (Al, Cu, Ni) obtained as a result of isothermal annealing after quick cooling up to the certain temperatures are investigated in detail. The obtained enough large structures have a core skeleton made of hcp-planes in the form of icosahedron that are also named as “Ih-fractal” (tetrahedra with internal fcc structure are divided one from another by the twinning hcp-planes). New rows from decahedra appear in the places of intersections of the secondary twinning planes, and a new family of twinning planes is formed in such a way. An outward shape of comparatively large solidificated drops has a large number of planes. Laue diffraction pattern that is constructed theoretically for these structures gives evidence of existence of five-fold symmetry axes, and it is not similar to those ones, typical for quasicrystals. Such structures are formed within the certain short temperature intervals; more simplified structures, with a multitude of the twinning planes, are formed at the higher temperature. Results concerning forms of nuclei and development of the comparatively large Ih-fractals are discussed.
Putative morphometric evidence of the presence of Acipenser naccarii Bonaparte, 1836 in Iberian rivers, or why ontogenetic allometry needs adequate treatment

I have extended my initial analyses (Rincón, 2000) of a published morphometric data set of sturgeons caught in Iberian rivers and from a fish farm, claimed to prove the native status of both Acipenser naccarii Bonaparte, 1836 and Acipenser sturio L. , 1758 in the Guadalquivir basin (GarridoRamos et al., 1997), by applying the same uniand multivariate techniques for allometric adjustment to a database expanded with further A. naccarii specimens. As previously, neither log-log scatterplots of head measurement vs. total length, nor graphical representation of the scores of individual specimens on the principal components (PC) extracted by PCAs performed on the covariance and correlation matrix, respectively, offered any suggestion of the existence of two morphologically dissimilar groups within wild Iberian sturgeons. In addition, the relatively weak (in terms of total variance accounted for) gradient in snout width that separated the one farmed Adriatic sturgeon from the wild fish found in my previous work (Rincón, 2000) was again detected, now clear and distinct, by all those techniques. Furthermore, a DFA showed that such dissimilarity produced almost perfect, highly statistically significant discrimination between farmed and wild fish, while there was no significant gradient separating the two supposed groups of wild Iberian sturgeons. Examination of the two composite variables that Garrido-Ramos et al. (1997) used to separate those groups in the extended database confirmed that they were negatively affected by ontogenetic allometry, therefore leading to the ascription of large and small specimens to different groups. I conclude that there is no morphological evidence to support the claimed autocthonous status of A. naccarii in the Iberian Peninsula.
MCMC selection of spatially and doubly balanced samples

A method for selecting samples from a spatial finite population that are well spread over the population in every dimension, without the use of any spatial stratification, is presented. The within sample distance matrix is summarized in a descriptive index that is used to define the probability of each sample to be selected. A set of units with higher within distance will be selected with higher probability than a set of nearby units. Through the standardization of the distance matrix, the method can be used to produce equal and unequal probability samples either exact when a linear index is used to summarize the matrix or approximate when products and powers of the mean are used. The high flexibility of the selection algorithm can make possible numerous extensions to deal with some practical topics that are usually met in spatial surveys, such as the sample coordination and the spread of units belonging to different domains. Some examples on real and simulated data show that the method gives estimates that are better than those obtained by using a classical solution as the Generalized Random Tessellation Stratified (GRTS) design and that often are even slightly better than those obtained by using recently proposed selection procedures as the Spatially Correlated Poisson Sampling (SCPS), the Pivotal method and the doubly balanced design.
Anti-Jackknifing Control of Tractor-Trailer Vehicles via Intrinsically Stable MPC

It is common knowledge that tractor-trailer vehicles are affected by jackknifing, a phenomenon that consists in the divergence of the trailer hitch angle and ultimately causes the vehicle to fold up. For the case of backwards motion, in which jackknifing can also occur at low speeds, we present a control method that drives the vehicle along a reference Cartesian trajectory while avoiding the divergence of the hitch angle. In particular, a feedback control law is obtained by combining two actions: a tracking term, computed using input-output linearization, and a corrective term, generated via IS-MPC, an intrinsically stable MPC scheme which is effective for stable inversion of nonminimum-phase systems. The proposed method has been verified in simulation and experimentally validated on a purposely built prototype.
LIFE CYCLES AND SECONDARY PRODUCTION OF EPHEMEROPTERA, PLECOPTERA, AND TRICHOPTERA (INSECTA) UNDER AN EXTREME CONTINENTAL CLIMATE (RIVER KHARAA, MONGOLIA)

There are still knowledge gaps and uncertainties concerning the research of macroinvertebrates, in particular, a life cycle study of representative species are one such section of information missing in Mongolia. Therefore, this study was conducted within the framework of the biomonitoring program in the Kharaa River Basin under the research aims of the project entitled ‘Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) in Central Asia: Model Region Mongolia (MoMo)’. This study provided the first quantitative results on the life cycle, production, growth rate and emergence of aquatic insects from Mongolia, to allow comparisons with studies in other regions using the same methods. The 3-year study (2007-2009) of the life cycles of eighteen selected species according to the larval body size distribution and emergence period showed that the life cycle strategies in Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera, and Trichoptera and their production in the Kharaa River Basin clearly indicated adaptations to the harsh environmental conditions with strict univoltinism and low secondary production. In conclusion, it is essential to obtain knowledge especially about life cycle strategies of macroinvertebrates to predict re-colonisation potential of disturbed habitats and to evaluate the efficiency of management measures.
1. Title Page Project Title: Estimating and mitigating the discard mortality rate of black sea bass in offshore recreational rod-and-reel fisheries Lead Institution: Partnership for Mid-Atlantic Fisheries Science (PMAFS);

1 Department of Marine and Coastal Sciences, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ 08901 2 Anderson Cabot Center for Ocean Life, New England Aquarium, Boston, MA 02110 3 School for the Environment, University of Massachusetts Boston, Boston, MA 02125 4 Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries, Gloucester, MA 01930 * Present Address: Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources, New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station, Rutgers University, Toms River, NJ 08755
BIO012138 1094..1104

Although proteins in the green fluorescent protein family (GFPs) have been discovered in a wide array of taxa, their ecological functions in these organisms remain unclear. Many hypothesized roles are related to modifying bioluminescence spectra or modulating the light regime for algal symbionts, but these do not explain the presence of GFPs in animals that are non-luminous and non-symbiotic. Other hypothesized functions are unrelated to the visual signals themselves, including stress responses and antioxidant roles, but these cannot explain the localization of fluorescence in particular structures on the animals. Here we tested the hypothesis that fluorescence might serve to attract prey. In laboratory experiments, the predator was the hydromedusa Olindias formosus (previously known asO. formosa), which has fluorescent and pigmented patches on the tips of its tentacles. The prey, juvenile rockfishes in the genus Sebastes, were significantly more attracted (P<1×10−5) to the medusa’s tentacles under lighting conditions where fluorescence was excited and tentacle tips were visible above the background. The fish did not respond significantly when treatments did not include fluorescent structures or took place under yellow or white lights, which did not generate fluorescence visible above the ambient light. Furthermore, underwater observations of the behavior of fishes when presented with a brightly illuminated point showed a strong attraction to this visual stimulus. In situ observations also provided evidence for fluorescent lures as supernormal stimuli in several other marine animals, including the siphonophoreRhizophysa eysenhardti. Our results support the idea that fluorescent structures can serve as prey attractants, thus providing a potential function for GFPs and other fluorescent proteins in a diverse range of organisms.
Studies of regulation of cell cycle in Plasmodium falciparum

Malaria is still the most serious tropical disease in the world. It kills at least one million people every year, mainly young children in Africa. Malaria transmission is increasing due to insecticide resistance of the malaria-carrying mosquito, control programme failures, drug resistance of the malaria parasite and perhaps even global warming. Therefore, a greater understanding of the genetics and molecular biology of the parasite is urgently needed in order to develop novel chemotherapeutic and vaccine based control strategies. The research aims of this thesis were to study genes and proteins which regulate the development of the malaria parasite, Plasmodium falciparum, through its intra-erythrocytic life cycle. A Plasmodium falciparum homologue of one of the components of a Chromatin-Remodelling Complex which controls binding of transcription factors to nucleosome core particles has been cloned and characterised. This sequencing effort has been broadened into a genome data bank-based review of intons and promotor sequences in Plasmodium falciparum. Immunofluorescence microscopy also shows that the PfSNF2L protein is expressed throughout the asexual stage of the cell cycle and is localised within nucleus. A proteolytic process and granular pattern on the infected red blood cell membrane is revealed by using antiPfSNF2L polyclonal antibodies on western blotting and immunoflourescence assay. Biological experiments on the cell cycle of malaria parasite have also been carried out. Process through the cell cycle has been shown to be retarded by heat shock and blocked at certain specific cell stage by drugs known to block certain key cell cycle regulatory processes in other cells. The nature of the cell death process in cycle arrested cells has also been investigated and its role in apoptosis-like cell death in malaria cells has been investigated.
Protective effect of Amorphophallus campanulatus tuber extracts against H2O2 induced oxidative damage in human erythrocytes and leucocytes

Background: Amorphophallus companulatus (Araceae) is a tuberous medicinal plant commonly used in Ayuvedic medicines as well as tribal medicines of India. Aim: Aim of the present study was to investigate the protective effect of A. companulatus tuber extracts against H2O2 induced oxidative damage in human erythrocytes and leucocytes. Setting and Design: The experiment was set and design as per available method in the literatures. Three measurements were performed under each set of extracts. Materials and Methods: The extracts of tuber of A. companulatus such as methanol, ethanol, acetone (70%) and hydro‑alcohol (1:1) used to assess catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione (GSH) and lipid peroxidation (LPO) levels of human erythrocytes and leucocytes. Statistical Analysis: All experimental data were statistically analysed and expressed as means ± SD by using the one‑way analysis of variance. Results: Results of present studies revealed that, increased in the CAT, SOD, GPx and reduction of GSH and LPO levels in H2O2 group compared with control group. The extracts of tuber of A. companulatus treated groups showed effective reduction of CAT, SOD, GPx and increased the GSH and LPO levels as compared with H2O2 group on human erythrocytes and leucocytes. The methanol extract was found more effective than others. Conclusion: The present findings suggest that, the extracts of tuber of A. companulatus possess protective effect against H2O2 induced oxidative damage. Furthermore, these tuber extracts may appeared to be beneficial in preventing H2O2 oxidative human red blood cell (RBC) damage in human and can improve RBC membrane permanence. The tubers of A. companulatus are the potential source of natural antioxidants for the treatment and prevention of disease in which LPO takes place. Key words: Amorphophallus campanulatus tuber, erythrocytes, H2O2, leucocytes, phosphate buffer solution
Conferring Cross-Resistance to Several Groups of Antibiotics by Decreased Permeability

A spontaneous one-step mutant of Salmonella paratyphi A selected on ampicillin showed cross-resistance to all P-lactam antibiotics except imipenem and to aminoglycosides, chloramphenicol, tetracycline, trimethoprimni and quinolones. It also grew as small colonies. Examination of the cell envelope of the mutant showed a quantitative decrease in three major outer membrane proteins of 40.6, 39.6 (presumably porins), and 24 kilodaltons and quantitative as well as qualitative modifications in the ladder pattern of lipopolysaccharide. Direct evidence for decreased permeabiity in the mutant included reduced uptake of [3H]glucose and norfloxacin, reduced accessibility of aztreonam and benzylpenicillin to penicillin-binding proteins in whole cells, and decreased diffusion of lactose and cephaloridine into proteoliposomes that were reconstituted with outer membrane proteins from the mutant. There was also loss of invasiveness of the mutant into HeLa cells. We assume that a pleiotropic mutation was responsible for multiple alterations in the outer membrane components of the resistant mutant of S. paratyphi A.