Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Wnt/β-catenin pathway in arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy

Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway plays essential roles in heart development as well as cardiac tissue homoeostasis in adults. Abnormal regulation of this signaling pathway is linked to a variety of cardiac disease conditions, including hypertrophy, fibrosis, arrhythmias, and infarction. Recent studies on genetically modified cellular and animal models document a crucial role of Wnt/β-catenin signaling in the molecular pathogenesis of arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy (AC), an inherited disease of intercalated discs, typically characterized by ventricular arrhythmias and progressive substitution of the myocardium with fibrofatty tissue. In this review, we summarize the conflicting published data regarding the Wnt/β-catenin signaling contribution to AC pathogenesis and we report the identification of a new potential therapeutic molecule that prevents myocyte injury and cardiac dysfunction due to desmosome mutations in vitro and in vivo by interfering in this signaling pathway. Finally, we underline the potential function of microRNAs, epigenetic regulatory RNA factors reported to participate in several pathological responses in heart tissue and in the Wnt signaling network, as important modulators of Wnt/β-catenin signaling transduction in AC. Elucidation of the precise regulatory mechanism of Wnt/β-catenin signaling in AC molecular pathogenesis could provide fundamental insights for new mechanism-based therapeutic strategy to delay the onset or progression of this cardiac disease.
DataSHIELD: taking the analysis to the data, not the data to the analysis

Background: Research in modern biomedicine and social science requires sample sizes so large that they can often only be achieved through a pooled co-analysis of data from several studies. But the pooling of information from individuals in a central database that may be queried by researchers raises important ethico-legal questions and can be controversial. In the UK this has been highlighted by recent debate and controversy relating to the UK’s proposed ‘care.data’ initiative, and these issues reflect important societal and professional concerns about privacy, confidentiality and intellectual property. DataSHIELD provides a novel technological solution that can circumvent some of the most basic challenges in facilitating the access of researchers and other healthcare professionals to individual-level data. Methods: Commands are sent from a central analysis computer (AC) to several data computers (DCs) storing the data to be co-analysed. The data sets are analysed simultaneously but in parallel. The separate parallelized analyses are linked by non-disclosive summary statistics and commands transmitted back and forth between the DCs and the AC. This paper describes the technical implementation of DataSHIELD using a modified R statistical environment linked to an Opal database deployed behind the computer firewall of each DC. Analysis is controlled through a standard R environment at the AC. Results: Based on this Opal/R implementation, DataSHIELD is currently used by the Healthy Obese Project and the Environmental Core Project (BioSHaRE-EU) for the federated analysis of 10 data sets across eight European countries, and this illustrates the opportunities and challenges presented by the DataSHIELD approach. Conclusions: DataSHIELD facilitates important research in settings where: (i) a co-analysis of individual-level data from several studies is scientifically necessary but governance restrictions prohibit the release or sharing of some of the required data, and/or render data access unacceptably slow; (ii) a research group (e.g. in a developing nation) is particularly vulnerable to loss of intellectual property—the researchers want to fully share the information held in their data with national and international collaborators, but do not wish to hand over the physical data themselves; and (iii) a data set is to be included in an individual-level co-analysis but the physical size of the data precludes direct transfer to a new site for analysis.
Disruptive Behaviour and Weather Patterns in a West Cumbria Secondary School

Arrangements for mid‐morning breaks on wet days, snow in the playground, windy days, etc., and their connections with pupil behaviour are part of teacher folklore. But is there any statistical relationship between the incidence of disruptive behaviour and weather conditions? This paper looks at correlations between the number of disruptive incidents on any one day, as indicated by referrals to a school quiet room, and weather variables such as maximum temperature, minimum temperature and wind speed. Support is found for previous research indicating that it is not so much the particular stable weather conditions on any one day, but rather the sudden changes in weather that may be predictive of pupil disturbance. A multi‐variable regression technique is used to identify the strength and order of weather variables predictive of the number of disruptive pupil referrals.
Analysis of corneal topography in patients with pure microphthalmia in Eastern China

Objectives To determine the typical corneal changes in pure microphthalmia using a corneal topography system and identify characteristics that may assist in early diagnosis. Methods Patients with pure microphthalmia and healthy control subjects underwent corneal topography analysis (Orbscan IIZ® Corneal Topography System; Bausch and Lomb, Bridgewater, NJ, USA) to determine degree of corneal astigmatism (mean A), simulation of corneal astigmatism (sim A), mean keratometry (mean K), simulated keratometry (sim K), irregularities in the 3 - and 5-mm zone, and mean thickness of nine distinct corneal regions. Results Patients with pure microphthalmia (n = 12) had significantly higher mean K, sim K, mean A, sim A, 3.0 mm irregularity and 5.0 mm irregularity, and exhibited significantly more false keratoconus than controls (n = 12). There was a significant between-group difference in the morphology of the anterior corneal surface and the central curvature of the cornea. Conclusions Changes in corneal morphology observed in this study could be useful in borderline situations to confirm the diagnosis of pure microphthalmia.
Accounting for the “good administration of justice”: The Farnese State of Abruzzo in the sixteenth century

Accounting historians have rarely investigated the role of accounting in the administration of justice. Drawing on Foucault's “governmentality” framework, this article explores the 1571 Ordinances enacted by Margaret of Austria that specifically regulated and shaped the behaviour of officers working within the justice apparatus of the State's towns and lands. The article documents the role played by accounting, and especially financial information, in the administration of the sixteenth-century justice offices with a focus on the use of that information for the control of magistrates/officers working in the decentralized apparatus. The study provides evidence of the major technologies of government enforced by Margaret of Austria for the “good administration of justice”, and devoted to the removal of the “bad order of Tribunals” and to assist in the elimination of “abuses”. The article also seeks to enhance our understanding of accounting by highlighting the interplay between justice and accounting officers and their functions.
Asperger Syndrome and Academic Achievement

This study focused on identifying the academic characteristics of children and youth Who have Asperger syndrome (AS). Significant numbers of school-age children have AS, yet little is knoWn about the unique educational features of individuals With this pervasive developmental disorder. TWenty-one children and youth With diagnoses of AS Were assessed using the Wechsler Individual Achievement Test (WIAT; Psychological Corp., 1992), the Test of Problem Solving—Elementary, Revised (TOPS-R; Zachman, Barrett, Huisingh, Orman, & LoGiudice, 1994), and the Test of Problem Solving— Adolescent (TOPS-A; Zachman, Barrett, Huisingh, Orman, & Blagden, 1991). The study revealed the academic achievement, problem-solving, and critical thinking traits of school-age children and youth Who have AS. Results are discussed in the context of their implications for identifying and developing educational plans and strategies
Three Views on the Ethics of Tax Evasion

In 1944, Martin Crowe, a Catholic priest, wrote a doctoral dissertation titled The Moral Obligation of Paying Just Taxes. His dissertation summarized and analyzed 500 years of theological and philosophical debate on this topic, much of which took place in Latin. Since Crowe’s dissertation, not much has been written on the topic of tax evasion from an ethical perspective, with a few exceptions. In 1998 and 1999, a few articles were published on the ethics of tax evasion in the Journal of Accounting, Ethics & Public Policy. An edited book on this topic was published in 1998. The present paper summarizes, updates and expands on Crowe’s work and the other more recent work that has been published on this topic. Three basic views on the ethics of tax evasion have emerged over the centuries. This article presents and critiques those three views and raises some questions about points that have not yet been explored in the literature.
The Language of Loss: Modeling a Transformative Narrative of Grief

This article is a fictional narrative that is based on the true experience of the author’s undergraduate fieldwork at a senior retirement community. Through its silences and suffering, the language of loss speaks through Jacob, a grieving widower, as the author compiles her field notes to make sense of his pain. The imagined lens of a patient–counselor dynamic serves an important role in being mindful of the collision between the theoretical and the interpersonal. By interweaving psychological theories and counseling experience, the creative narrative is grounded in the transformative dialectic between patient and counselor as they both navigate the space between grief and recovery. Ultimately, a relational-cultural approach begins to heal all who share the experience of this loss. PERSPECTIVES is a special feature included in this issue of the Journal of Creativity in Mental Health that provides mental health professionals with an opportunity to discuss their positions on a variety of creativity-related topics. In this article, Sophia E. Terazawa, writer and performance artist, shares her perspective on helping a client cope with the death of his wife. The story is based on Sophia’s experience working in a retirement community as part of her undergraduate field work.
Canadian Homicide

Recent literature suggests that different styles of homicide will most appropriately be reflected in the different types of behaviors committed by offenders at a crime scene. These distinctions, it has been proposed (e.g., Salfati, 2000), can best be understood using an instrumental and expressive thematic framework for the way the offender acts at the crime scene. Multidimensional analysis was carried out on the crime-scene actions derived from 75 Canadian single-offender, single-victim homicides, with the aim to replicate these earlier studies. A multivariate structure resulted, encompassing both hypothesized styles. Results are discussed in terms of implications for cross-national similarities and differences in the thematic structure of homicide and explorations regarding future avenues for research regarding crime-scene classification.
Algorithms for Lossless Compression in Image Processing Systems

In this article, it is developed some area of issues related to data compression algorithms in the field of image processing. Image processing area is very commonly used today with multiple applications in different fields, but also, the image compression methods or algorithms for imaging are used every day by the computer users. This paper will highlight the result of reports over the investigations or comparisons on image compression methods and will provide conclusions and ideas for further research in this area, with intense uses. Today there are a lot of different data compression methodologies, which are used to compress different data formats like, video, audio, image files. This article represents a comparison of several compression methods based on previous research and the analysis in the context of their current needs. In conclusion, this topic combines image processing systems, the advantage of using parallel programming, the benefits and results of the image compression and also the importance of some fundamental algorithms in this area.
Reproductive characteristics and thyroidal function in relation with season in Khuzestan buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) bulls

High ambient temperature is the major constraint on Buffalo productivity. The aim of this study was to evaluate the reproductive performance and thyroid gland function in winter and summer seasons in Khuzestan buffalo bulls. Six male indigenous buffaloes of Khuzestan with nearly the same age (2-3 years old) and weight were used. Semen and blood samples through jugular vein were collected, every two weeks throughout the summer and winter seasons. The thyroid hormones and thyrotropin stimulating hormone (TSH) concentration in blood serum were measured by radioimmunoassay method. Semen quality was determined, using computer assisted sperm analyzer (CASA) and routine methods. The concentration of thyroxin (T4) was lower in winter than summer (p ≤ 0.05). The level of T3 uptake was higher in cold season than that of in hot season (p ≤ 0.05). The differences of tri-iodotyronine (T3) and TSH concentrations, as well as free thyroxin index were not significant between seasons. The semen volume and spermatozoa parameters including concentration, progressive motility, linear velocity, mean velocity, beat cross frequency, linear coefficient and straightness coefficient were higher in winter than summer (p ≤ 0.05). Semen pH and amplitude of lateral head displacement of spermatozoa were higher in summer than winter (p ≤ 0.05). In winter, there was positive correlation between spermatozoa concentration and T3 value of blood serum (p ≤ 0.05). There were positive correlations between values of semen volume and T4, progressive spermatozoa motility percent and TSH, as well as, total motility of spermatozoa and TSH in summer (p ≤ 0.05). In general, thyroid function and semen quality of Khuzestan buffaloes may be affected by seasons.
Labor Market Advancement for Young Men: How It Differs by Educational Attainment and Race/Ethnicity During the Initial Transition to Work

Using data from the 1990 U.S. Census and the 2006–2007 American Community Survey (ACS) and a synthetic cohort method, this article examines the labor market performance of young men during their initial transition to work and how it differs by educational attainment and race. The article looks at young men between the ages of 16 to 26 in 1990 who were no longer enrolled in school and men between the ages of 32–33 and 42–43 in the 2006–2007 period. Strong patterns in the results confirm conventional wisdom that economic and labor market outcomes are superior with increased levels of educational attainment. However, outcomes were more dramatic for those with college degrees than others (relative to those who dropped out of high school), confirming the disproportionate value of obtaining a college degree. Graduating from high school, going to community college, or receiving an associate's degree also improved outcomes. The data revealed that not acquiring a high school degree, especially for domestic-born racial minorities, generates very poor labor market outcomes during the initial transition to work. Racial inequality in labor market and economic outcomes widened as educational attainment levels increased. These results strongly suggest that efforts to boost academic achievement and educational attainment of racial/ethnic minority men, although they may improve labor market and economic performance, will probably not narrow racial inequalities in outcomes. Programs and policies should target factors that limit the potential gains in the labor market from educational attainment for these men.
Long‐term results for living donor liver transplant recipients with hepatocellular carcinoma using intraoperative blood salvage with leukocyte depletion filter

Massive intraoperative bleeding during liver transplantation often requires large amounts of blood products. The goal of this study was to investigate long‐term outcomes of living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) recipients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) who underwent intraoperative use of intraoperative blood salvage (IBS) and leukocyte depletion filter (LDF). In this study, we included 230 LDLT recipients with HCC from two transplantation centers, between February 2002 and December 2007. Group 1 patients (n = 121) underwent intraoperative IBS with LDF and group 2 patients (n = 109) did not. The amount of autotransfused, filtered red blood cells (RBCs) in group 1 was 1590.2 ± 1486.8 ml, which corresponded to 5.9 units of allogenic leukocyte‐depleted RBCs saved. The incidences of renal dysfunction, postoperative bleeding, and urinary tract infection in group 2 were higher than in group 1 (P < 0.05). Recurrence‐free survival rates for 1, 3, and 5 years were 91.3%, 83.3%, and 83.3%, respectively, in group 1, and 84.6%, 79.0%, and 77.4%, respectively, in group 2 (P = 0.314). IBS using LDF does not increase the risk of cancer recurrence during LDLT for recipients with HCC. Therefore, the use of IBS with LDF appears to be safe for LDLT recipients with HCC.
Faculty Mentoring Programs: Reenvisioning Rather Than Reinventing the Wheel

In this review, the authors trace the evolution of mentoring programs in the United States in business and academe, provide insight on the challenges associated with the study of mentoring, and identify the limited research-based studies of faculty mentoring programs that currently inform our understanding of this professional development practice in American higher education. The findings indicate that the sophistication of research has not advanced over the past decade. However, evidence does suggest that academe should be cautious in overgeneralizing the findings of studies conducted in corporate cultures. Although mentoring is recognized to be contextual, only recently have investigators considered the impact of organizational culture on the effectiveness of corporate mentoring programs. More rigorous investigation of this practice in higher education is warranted. As more studies point to the need to foster an employment culture that supports mentoring, understanding faculty mentoring programs within the context of their academic cultures is critical.
WLC32-2: Windowed OFDM for Spectrum Agile Radios

Cognitive and spectrum agile radios are being considered as future wireless communication systems. These systems will have the capability of sensing their environment for active primary users and adapt their transmit signal such that any harmful interference to primary users is avoided. This paper proposes the use of a wideband windowed OFDM (WOFDM) system for the physical layer of spectrum agile radios. It is shown that by properly choosing the window the system can create very deep notches in its spectrum and, hence, avoid creating interference for the narrowband primary systems in its band. The performance of such WOFDM systems are also studied.
Magnetic Properties of Magnetic Nanoparticles for Efficient Hyperthermia

Localized magnetic hyperthermia using magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) under the application of small magnetic fields is a promising tool for treating small or deep-seated tumors. For this method to be applicable, the amount of MNPs used should be minimized. Hence, it is essential to enhance the power dissipation or heating efficiency of MNPs. Several factors influence the heating efficiency of MNPs, such as the amplitude and frequency of the applied magnetic field and the structural and magnetic properties of MNPs. We discuss some of the physics principles for effective heating of MNPs focusing on the role of surface anisotropy, interface exchange anisotropy and dipolar interactions. Basic magnetic properties of MNPs such as their superparamagnetic behavior, are briefly reviewed. The influence of temperature on anisotropy and magnetization of MNPs is discussed. Recent development in self-regulated hyperthermia is briefly discussed. Some physical and practical limitations of using MNPs in magnetic hyperthermia are also briefly discussed.
Obesity: definitely a growing concern

• . we need to betrer understand the potent forces promoting the development of obesity . HJI'. S IH " IS L-,;C IUiAS ,1\G LY KECUG:\ IS EU as a healthprob'em bythe Australian communiry, with frequent drs cussions r f ob esity-rela ted issues in the media and heavy marketing . Fweighr-lcssproducts.Thereis ab undantevidence toSoupl 'l.rt lhis view, nor teasr be ingth e ( QQ ') National X urrition urvev showi ng th at 56% of adult Australians arc either over-eigh t or ob ese . I
A Genomic Redefinition of Pseudomonas avellanae species

The circumscription of bacterial species is a complex task. So far, DNA-DNA hybridization (DDH), 16S rRNA gene sequencing, and multiocus sequence typing analysis (MLSA) are currently the preferred techniques for their genetic determination. However, the average nucleotide identity (ANI) analysis of conserved and shared genes between two bacterial strains based on the pair-wise genome comparisons, with support of the tetranucleotide frequency correlation coefficients (TETRA) value, has recently been proposed as a reliable substitute for DDH. The species demarcation boundary has been set to a value of 95-96% of the ANI identity, with further confirmation through the assessment of the corresponding TETRA value. In this study, we performed a genome-wide MLSA of 14 phytopathogenic pseudomonads genomes, and assessed the ANI and TETRA values of 27 genomes, representing seven out of the nine genomospecies of Pseudomonas spp. sensu Gardan et alii, and their phylogenetic relationships using maximum likelihood and Bayesian approaches. The results demonstrate the existence of a well demarcated genomic cluster that includes strains classified as P. avellanae, P. syringae pv. theae, P. s. pv. actinidiae and one P. s. pv. morsprunorum strain all belonging to the single species P. avellanae. In addition, when compared with P. avellanae, five strains of P. s. pv. tomato, including the model strain DC3000, and one P. s. pv. lachrymans strain, appear as very closely related to P. avellanae, with ANI values of nearly 96% as confirmed by the TETRA analysis. Conversely, one representative strain, previously classified as P. avellanae and isolated in central Italy, is a genuine member of the P. syringae species complex and can be defined as P. s. pv. avellanae. Currently. The core and pan genomes of P. avellanae species consist of 3,995 and 5,410 putative protein-coding genes, respectively.