Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
SHOULD MULTIPLE ENDOCRINE NEOPLASIA BE AN INSURANCE PROBLEM OR NOT ?

We survey the relevant literature on Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia Type 2 (MEN2), an inherited form of cancers of the endocrine system that is one of the seven disorders listed as being potentially significant for insurance by the Association of British Insurers (ABI). Unlike some other disorders on the ABI’s list, genetic screening of members of at-risk families is cheap and becoming widely available, and early surgical intervention is both tolerable and effective. The advent of genetic testing ought therefore to be wholly beneficial, and this should neutralise the risk MEN2 presents to life and critical illness insurers, even to the extent of reducing or removing the risk that was presented by a family history of MEN2 before genetic screening was possible. We suggest that the priority for the insurance industry is to ensure that underwriting practices do not deter persons at risk of MEN2 from undergoing screening.
Situationally Aware Options

Hierarchical abstractions, also known as options -- a type of temporally extended action (Sutton et. al. 1999) that enables a reinforcement learning agent to plan at a higher level, abstracting away from the lower-level details. In this work, we learn reusable options whose parameters can vary, encouraging different behaviors, based on the current situation. In principle, these behaviors can include vigor, defence or even risk-averseness. These are some examples of what we refer to in the broader context as Situational Awareness (SA). We incorporate SA, in the form of vigor, into hierarchical RL by defining and learning situationally aware options in a Probabilistic Goal Semi-Markov Decision Process (PG-SMDP). This is achieved using our Situationally Aware oPtions (SAP) policy gradient algorithm which comes with a theoretical convergence guarantee. We learn reusable options in different scenarios in a RoboCup soccer domain (i.e., winning/losing). These options learn to execute with different levels of vigor resulting in human-like behaviours such as `time-wasting' in the winning scenario. We show the potential of the agent to exit bad local optima using reusable options in RoboCup. Finally, using SAP, the agent mitigates feature-based model misspecification in a Bottomless Pit of Death domain.
Development of an All Kapton-Based Thin-Film Thermocouple Matrix for In Situ Temperature Measurement in a Lithium Ion Pouch Cell

Based on the design of a lithium ion battery cell and the resulting thermophysical properties, considerable temperature gradients may form within the cell not only during abusive scenarios. While the temperature gradients during normal operation are mostly negligible for small cells, which are commonly employed in mobile applications, the discrepancy between the temperature inside a battery cell and the cell's surface can be significant for larger scaled cells, which are employed, e.g., in automotive applications. Battery management systems that rely on a monitoring of the cell's surface temperature may consequently lead to an unfavorable operation of the whole battery in terms of aging and safety aspects. Thus, we hereby present an approach of designing, producing, and incorporating an all Kapton-based temperature sensor for an in situ temperature monitoring of lithium ion pouch cells. First prototypes are developed as a proof of concept when using a common potential for a thermocouple matrix that will later allow for a spatially resolved temperature monitoring within a lithium ion pouch cell. The interactions between the sensor and the cell are investigated and further design steps for improvements in functionality are elaborated.
The APO‐1/Fas (CD95) receptor is expressed in homozygous MRL/lpr mice

APO‐1/Fas (CD95) is a transmembrane receptor that transduces apoptotic signals within various cells including T and B cells. The APO‐1 gene was found to be defective in lpr mice. In these mice insertion of a retrotransposon gives rise to transcription of an abnormal mRNA and only a fraction of wild‐type APO‐1 mRNA. It is not clear if lpr mice still express wild‐type APO‐1 protein. To address this question, we prepared rabbit anti‐APO‐1 antibodies (Ab) with a peptide representing the extracellular sequence corresponding to residues 5‐23 of APO‐1. The rabbit Ab reacted with thymocytes from different mouse strains and the extent of binding was correlated with the two known APO‐1 alleles. In addition, the Ab reacted with mouse cell lines expressing mouse APO‐1 mRNA but not with human cell lines. Binding of the Ab to MRL and BALB/c thymocytes was completely blocked by the immunizing peptide. Immunofluorescence analysis of MRL/lpr thymocytes showed that they still express APO‐1 protein at approximately one tenth of the wild‐type expression level on their surface. In addition, in lpr as in wild‐type mice we found a decrease of APO‐1 expression in the more mature thymic compartment. Western blot analysis of whole cell lysates from lpr and wild‐type thymocytes showed that the Ab recognized APO‐1 in both cell types. Approximately 50% of CD3+ splenocytes and 80% of in vitro activated CD3+ cells from wild‐type mice reacted with the Ab, but to a lower extent than thymocytes. The same differential reactivity was found in lpr CD3+ splenocytes. lpr T cells, however, showed a substantially lower level of APO‐1. Thus, the differential expression of APO‐1 on thymic versus peripheral lpr T cells might influence their sensitivity towards APO‐1‐mediated apoptosis.
The local effect of octreotide on mechanical pain sensitivity is more sensitive in DA rats than DA.1U rats

A recent study by the authors indicated that major histocompatibility complex (MHC) genes are associated with the differences in basal pain sensitivity and in formalin model between Dark‐Agouti (DA) and novel congenic DA.1U rats, which have the same genetic background as DA rats except for the u alleles of MHC. The objective of the present study is to investigate whether there is a difference in the pristane‐induced arthritis (PIA) model and local analgesic effect of octreotide (OCT) between DA and DA.1U rats. The hindpaw mechanical withdrawal threshold (MWT) and heat withdrawal latency (HWL) were observed. The C unit firings of the tibial nerve evoked by non‐noxious and noxious toe movements were recorded by electrophysiological methods in normal and PIA models in DA and DA.1U rats before and after local OCT administration. The expression of somatostatin receptor 2A (SSTR2A) was observed by immunohistochemistry. The results demonstrate that DA rats have a higher mechanical sensitivity than DA.1U rats after PIA. Local OCT administration significantly elevated MWT in DA rats under normal and PIA sate, but not in DA.1U rats. The electrophysiological experiments showed OCT significantly attenuated the firings of C units evoked by non‐noxious and noxious stimulation in DA rats more than those in DA.1U rats both in normal and PIA states. In addition, the expression of SSTR2A in the dorsal horn of the spinal cord was significantly higher in DA than in DA.1U rats. All of the findings suggest a higher local analgesic effect of OCT in DA rats than DA.1U rats, which might be associated with the MHC genes.
Inhibition of THP-1 cell-mediated low-density lipoprotein oxidation by the macrophage-synthesised pterin, 7,8-dihydroneopterin

Abstract Human macrophages release the pterin, 7,8-dihydroneopterin when exposed to the immune stimulant γ-interferon (IFN-γ). Previous in vitro studies have shown 7,8-dihydroneopterin is a potent antioxidant, which inhibits copper- and peroxyl-radical mediated low-density lipoprotein (LDL) oxidation. Using THP-1 cells, a human derived monocyte-like cell line, we have found that low micromolar concentrations of 7,8-dihydroneopterin inhibit cell mediated oxidation of LDL, as measured by electrophoretic mobility, α-tocopherol loss, and lipid oxidation. Stimulation of the THP-1 cells with IFN-γ caused a significant reduction in the cells' ability to oxidise LDL. The extracellular pterin concentration increased from 0 to 16 nM with IFN-γ stimulation, while the intracellular concentration increased from 0.21 to 1.69 nmol/mg cell protein.
A Very High-Order Subharmonically Injection-Locked Oscillator Using a Resonant-Tunneling HEMT

A novel high-order subharmonically injection-locked oscillator (ILO) using a resonant-tunneling HEMT (RTHEMT) is presented. Due to the strong nonlinear characteristic of RTHEMT's, the monolithic ILO can be locked for higher-ordersubharmonics as highas 128. The ILO exhibits an adjacent spur levelas low as ¿30 dBc for all subharmonic factors. In addition, the degradation rate of phase noise against subharmonic factors is close to 6 dB/octave, the same as that of ideal frequency multipliers. This is the highest-order subharmonically injection-locked oscillator yet reported.
Coherent Parity Check Construction for Quantum Error Correction

We present a framework for constructing and analysing quantum error correction codes that gives simple and intuitive tools for designing codes based on device specifications. Built from a direct analog of classical parity checking, these coherent parity codes use a simple model for constraints between qubits and decoding of information. With an associated graphical language, this coherent parity check (CPC) construction enables automated search for codes, and we give discovered examples of low-overhead codes for small devices ([[10,3,3]], and [[12,4,3]]) based on realistic error rates taken from current ion trap state-of-the-art . We show that CPC codes form a class of CSS codes. We further show that the graphical language maps to the category-theoretic ZX calculus, which enables the use of the automated reasoning tool Quantomatic to derive properties of the codes. We show how automated reasoning allows us to perform computation between qubits in the same code-block without requiring multiple codeblocks and/or transversal gates. These tools offer a significant aid to put quantum error correction theory into design practice for practical quantum technologies in both the immediate future and looking forwards to large-scale deployable quantum computing. Furthermore, the close theoretical link between the CPC construction and classical error correction codes opens up the possibility of constructing quantum versions of modern high- performance error correction codes (such as LDPC and turbo codes) that approach the Shannon limit.
The relapsing fever spirochaete, Borrelia crocidurae, activates human endothelial cells and promotes the transendothelial migration of neutrophils

The blood‐borne, erythrocyte‐aggregating Borrelia crocidurae, the causative agent of African relapsing fever, have been shown to induce severe cellular lesions in mice. In this paper, we present the first report of how the endothelium is stimulated during an African relapsing fever B. crocidurae infection. B. crocidurae co‐incubated with cultured human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) activated endothelium in such way that E‐selectin and intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM‐1) became upregulated in a dose‐ and time‐dependent fashion, as determined by a whole‐cell enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The upregulation was reduced by treatment that killed the bacteria, suggesting that viability is important for the stimulation of HUVECs by B. crocidurae. Furthermore, conditioned medium from HUVECs stimulated with B. crocidurae contained interleukin (IL)‐8, which is a chemotactic agent for neutrophils. Activation of HUVECs by B. crocidurae resulted in migration of subsequently added neutrophils across the endothelial monolayers, and this migration was inhibited by antibodies to IL‐8. The activation of endothelium by B. crocidurae may constitute a key pathophysiological mechanism in B. crocidurae‐induced vascular damage.
Metropolitan Growth and Neighborhood Segregation by Income

U.S. metropolitan neighborhoods have become increasingly segregated by income over the past thirty years. The metropolitan areas with the largest rises in income segregation include a number of distressed cities in industrial decline, as well as a subset of rapidly growing metropolitan areas. I propose a simple model based on the notion that rising income inequality creates market pressure (or “demand”) for segregation by income in the housing market. Housing markets in rapidly growing areas easily respond to changing preferences, so rising inequality translates into residential segregation. On the other hand, because housing is durable and existing housing may cost less than the price of new construction, slow growth areas witness rising segregation only if the change in demand for segregated housing is sufficient to overcome construction costs. Several implications of the model are supported empirically. First, higher levels of income inequality are associated with higher levels of residential segregation by income. Second, inequality (at the top of the distribution, but not the bottom) has a bigger effect on segregation in rapidly growing areas than in slowly growing areas. Third, large increases in segregation are coupled with higher than expected housing construction in slow-growth areas but not rapidgrowth areas. Finally, income segregation levels are persistent, and the persistence is more pronounced in cities with older housing stocks. The model helps to explain the U-shaped relationship between residential segregation by income and metropolitan area growth.
A two-dimensional edge excited metamaterial-based leaky wave antenna

A two-dimensional structure is proposed as an edge-excited leaky-wave antenna. The structure can be modeled as a composite right/left-handed (CRLH) transmission line consisting of lumped elements and RH transmission lines. The radiation patterns for the antenna are shown and demonstrate a scanning range of -24/spl deg/ to 0/spl deg/ in the backward region and 0/spl deg/ to 47/spl deg/ in the forward region.
GENETIC VARIABILITY AMONG POPULATIONS OF XIPHOPENAEUS KROYERI ( DECAPODA , PENAEIDAE ) FROM THE NORTHERN AND NORTHEASTERN COAST OF BRAZIL USING DNA FINGERPRINTING ANALYSIS

Penaeid shrimps represent an important economical resource in the world, yet their biology is poorly known in the Northern region of Brazil. The aim of the present work was to verify the existence of subunit populations along the Northern and Northeastern coast of Brazil (states of Pará, Maranhão, Rio Grande do Norte and Pernambuco). Sampling was conducted between April 2000 and April 2001. Genomic DNA was extracted from Xiphopenaeus kroyeri in four coastal regions in Brazil. A universal VNTR core sequence labeled primer was used in PCR. Electrophoresis was performed on an ABI377. Fifty bands with molecular weight between 300 and 500 bp were identified and different strains produced by UPGMA were generated. Based upon genetic similarity and geographic isolation, it was possible to differentiate between specimens of X. kroyeri from Northern and Northeastern Brazil in two distinct populations: one formed by shrimps from Pará (North coast) and another comprised of specimens from the Northeast coast. Great homogeneity was detected among the shrimps from the same coastal region. The present study confirms this technique as a powerful approach for the analysis of relationships in shrimp populations.
Assessment of health‐related quality of life: Swedish version of polycystic ovary syndrome questionnaire

Objective. Polycystic ovary syndrome questionnaire (PCOSQ) was developed in USA to ascertain specific health‐related quality of life (HRQL) in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). The Swedish version of PCOSQ should be tested prior to its use in research and clinical practice and the aims of the study were as follows: (a) determine the test–retest reliability and (b) confirm the domain structure of the Swedish version of PCOSQ; a 26‐item questionnaire, divided into the five domains: emotions, body hair, weight concerns, infertility concerns and menstrual irregularities. Methods. PCOSQ translation from English to Swedish was followed by a test–retest and a factor analysis of obtained PCOSQ completed twice by 69 women with PCOS. Results. The median age was 30 (21–37) years. The Kappa (κ) statistic for the five domains ranged from 0.29 to 0.69 demonstrating fair to good agreement among items. The Intra‐class Correlation Coefficient (ICC) for the five domains was high to excellent ranging from 0.79 to 0.96. The factor analysis presented six domains and the original domain structure was partly confirmed. Conclusions. The Swedish version of PCOSQ is reliable and can be used to measure HRQL in PCOS. Researchers and clinicians should be aware of the benefits of PCOSQ.
MOA-2016-BLG-227Lb: A Massive Planet Characterized by Combining Light-curve Analysis and Keck AO Imaging

We report the discovery of a microlensing planet—MOA-2016-BLG-227Lb—with a large planet/host mass ratio of q ≃ 9 × 10−3. This event was located near the K2 Campaign 9 field that was observed by a large number of telescopes. As a result, the event was in the microlensing survey area of a number of these telescopes, and this enabled good coverage of the planetary light-curve signal. High angular resolution adaptive optics images from the Keck telescope reveal excess flux at the position of the source above the flux of the source star, as indicated by the light-curve model. This excess flux could be due to the lens star, but it could also be due to a companion to the source or lens star, or even an unrelated star. We consider all these possibilities in a Bayesian analysis in the context of a standard Galactic model. Our analysis indicates that it is unlikely that a large fraction of the excess flux comes from the lens, unless solar-type stars are much more likely to host planets of this mass ratio than lower mass stars. We recommend that a method similar to the one developed in this paper be used for other events with high angular resolution follow-up observations when the follow-up observations are insufficient to measure the lens–source relative proper motion.
The Evaluation of Online Observer System of Synchronous Reluctance Motor Using a Coupled Transient FEM and Preisach Model

This study deals with the dynamic characteristics analysis of synchronous reluctance motor (SynRM) using finite element method in which the moving mesh technique is considered. The focus of this paper is to show the appropriate of online observer system for position sensorless control of a SynRM under saturation and iron loss. Comparisons are given with angle of the observer and that of proposed FEM and Preisach model of synchronous reluctance motor, respectively. The position sensorless control system is realized, and the effectiveness of the observer system is verified by experimental results.
The upright posture improves plantar stepping and alters responses to serotonergic drugs in spinal rats

• Locomotor training of rats held in an upright posture has been used recently to restore locomotion after spinal cord injury. Our results show that the upright posture alone improves locomotor recovery in spinal rats. • This improvement is reversed by the removal of cutaneous afferent feedback from the paw, showing that sensory feedback from the foot facilitates the spinal central pattern generator (CPG) for locomotion. • 5‐HT2 and 5‐HT1A/7 agonists improve locomotion in the horizontal posture but can impair locomotion in the upright posture, suggesting that a proper balance of afferent feedback from the foot and 5‐HT receptor activation is necessary for optimal locomotor recovery. • Our results provide new insights into the organization of the CPG for locomotion and the evolution of hominid bipedalism. The potent effects of cutaneous afferents from the paw revealed here must be taken into account in the design of strategies to restore locomotion after spinal cord injury.
Multimodal treatment of ruptured dissecting aneurysms of the vertebral artery during the acute stage.

OBJECT The goal of this study was to implement an algorithm for and assess the multimodal (endovascular and microsurgical) treatment of patients with ruptured dissecting aneurysms of the vertebral artery (VA) during the acute stage. METHODS During a 4-year period, the authors treated 19 ruptured dissecting aneurysms of the VA during the acute stage, within 3 days after the hemorrhage. Factors guiding management decisions were tolerance of the test occlusion and the site of the dissection. The algorithm takes into account these factors to select among treatment options, that is, trapping of the VA with Guglielmi Detachable Coils (GDCs); trapping of the VA and revascularization of the posterior inferior cerebellar artery (PICA); trapping of the VA and VA-posterior cerebral artery (PCA) anastomosis; and trapping of the VA, VA-PCA anastomosis, and revascularization of the PICA. Of the 15 aneurysms without PICA involvement, 14 were treated by trapping of the VA with GDCs and one by trapping of the VA and a VA-PCA bypass. The other four aneurysms with PICA involvement were treated by VA trapping and PICA revascularization. There was no episode of recurrent hemorrhage or ischemia during the posttreatment follow-up period. Although lateral medullary syndrome developed as a permanent complication in one patient, a good recovery was made by the other 18 patients by 6 months after the ictus. CONCLUSIONS The factors that determine the appropriate treatment for ruptured dissecting aneurysms of the VA are tolerance of a test occlusion and the site of dissection. Favorable patient outcomes can be achieved when this algorithm is used.
Impact on nodal pricing with different generators' reactive power cost models in pool based electricity markets

In this paper, the impact on nodal price determination of real and reactive power considering different reactive power price cost calculation methods for generator reactive power has been presented. The impact of FACTS controllers has also been considered taking their cost function into account. The comparison of fuel costs, reactive power cost, and cost of FACTS devices, and their impact on nodal price determination has been presented for different cases of reactive power cost models. The effectiveness of the proposed approach has been tested on IEEE 24-bus Reliability Test System (RTS).
Cardiac sources of embolism and cerebral infarction—clinical consequences and vascular concomitants

We studied clinical characteristics and coexisting causes of stroke in 305 patients admitted to a population-based primary care center with an initial ischemic stroke and a potential cardiac source of embolism (PCSE). Using systematic standardized cardiac, arterial, and cerebral investigations and the logistics of the prospective Lausanne Stroke Registry, we found that nonprogressive onset, hemianopia without hemiparesis or hemisensory disturbances, Wernicke's aphasia, ideomotor apraxia, involvement of specific territories (posterior division of middle cerebral artery, anterior cerebral artery, cerebellum, multiple territories), and a hemorrhagic component were associated with the presence of a PCSE, as compared with 1,006 initial ischemic stroke patients without PCSE. Although age and sex did not differ, the frequency of hypertension, diabetes, cigarette smoking, elevated blood cholesterol, and deep hemispheric or brainstem infarcts was higher in the patients without a PCSE. Nearly one-fourth of the patients with a PCSE had a coexisting potential arterial cause of stroke (large artery ≥ 50% stenosis or small-vessel disease). In the majority of patients with a PCSE (76.7%), cardioembolism was the most likely cause of stroke, although a direct source of embolism was uncommon (4.3%) and intracranial embolie occlusions were present in less than one-half of the patients who were angiographed.