Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
1D simulation of blood flow characteristics in the circle of Willis using THINkS

Abstract One-dimensional (1D) simulation of the complete vascular network, so called THINkS (Total Human Intravascular Network Simulation) is developed to investigate changes of blood flow characteristics caused by the variation of CoW. THINkS contains 158 major veins, 85 major arteries, and 77 venous and 43 arterial junctions. THINkS is validated with available in vivo blood flow waveform data. The overall trends of flow rates in variations of the CoW, such as the missing anterior cerebral artery (missing-A1) or missing posterior cerebral artery (missing-P1), are confirmed by in vivo experimental data. It is demonstrated that the CoW has the ability to shunt blood flow to different areas in the brain. Flow rates in efferent arteries remain unaffected under the variation of CoW, while the flow rates in afferent vessels can be subject to substantial changes. The redistribution of blood flow can cause particular vessels to undergo extra flow rate and hemodynamic stresses.
The human SKA complex drives the metaphase-anaphase cell cycle transition by recruiting protein phosphatase 1 to kinetochores

The spindle- and kinetochore-associated (Ska) complex is essential for normal anaphase onset in mitosis. The C-terminal domain (CTD) of Ska1 binds microtubules and was proposed to facilitate kinetochore movement on depolymerizing spindle microtubules. Here, we show that Ska complex recruits protein phosphatase 1 (PP1) to kinetochores. This recruitment requires the Ska1 CTD, which binds PP1 in vitro and in human HeLa cells. Ska1 lacking its CTD fused to a PP1-binding peptide or fused directly to PP1 rescues mitotic defects caused by Ska1 depletion. Ska1 fusion to catalytically dead PP1 mutant does not rescue and shows dominant negative effects. Thus, the Ska complex, specifically the Ska1 CTD, recruits PP1 to kinetochores to oppose spindle checkpoint signaling kinases and promote anaphase onset. Microtubule binding by Ska, rather than acting in force production for chromosome movement, may instead serve to promote PP1 recruitment to kinetochores fully attached to spindle microtubules at metaphase. DOI: http://dx.doi. org/10.7554/eLife.12902. 001
Bacteria as bioindicators in wetlands: Bioassessment in the Bonneville Basin of Utah, USA

Bacteria should be excellent indicators of the early signs of degradation caused by human intervention because they have the highest surface area to volume ratio of all organisms. We determined the utility of a simple procedure that measures aerobic bacterial metabolic diversity (BIOLOG EcoPlates) as a reliable tool for assessing the effects of cattle grazing on spring ecosystems of the Bonneville Basin, Utah, USA. Marshes disturbed by cattle could be distinguished from protected marshes using EcoPlate analyses. The diversity of organic compounds used by bacteria was greater in grazed versus ungrazed marshes. A separate genetic analysis (DGGE) provided corroborating evidence. Greater metabolic diversity (EcoPlates) corresponded to greater bacterial assemblage diversity in grazed versus protected marshes. Greater plant diversity at grazed sites might account for the greater diversity of organic substrates used by bacteria in grazed sites. However, the results were not conclusive. In some marshes, a greater diversity of organic substrate use occurred where there was greater plant diversity, whereas in other marshes the diversity of organic substrates used by bacteria was lower where plant diversity was greatest. Regardless of the mechanism, aerobic bacterial metabolic diversity (EcoPlates) is a potentially valuable tool for assessing the early signs of degradation in wetland ecosystems.
A prospective randomized trial examining health care utilization in individuals using multiple smartphone-enabled biosensors

Background Mobile health and digital medicine technologies are becoming increasingly used by individuals with common, chronic diseases to monitor their health. Numerous devices, sensors, and apps are available to patients and consumers – some of which have been shown to lead to improved health management and health outcomes. However, no randomized controlled trials have been conducted which examine health care costs, and most have failed to provide study participants with a truly comprehensive monitoring system. Methods We conducted a prospective randomized controlled trial of adults who had submitted a 2012 health insurance claim associated with hypertension, diabetes, and/or cardiac arrhythmia. The intervention involved receipt of one or more mobile devices that corresponded to their condition(s) and an iPhone with linked tracking applications for a period of 6 months; the control group received a standard disease management program. Moreover, intervention study participants received access to an online health management system which provided participants detailed device tracking information over the course of the study. This was a monitoring system designed by leveraging collaborations with device manufacturers, a connected health leader, health care provider, and employee wellness program – making it both unique and inclusive. We hypothesized that health resource utilization with respect to health insurance claims may be influenced by the monitoring intervention. We also examined health-self management. Results & Conclusions There was little evidence of differences in health care costs or utilization as a result of the intervention. Furthermore, we found evidence that the control and intervention groups were equivalent with respect to most health care utilization outcomes. This result suggests there are not large short-term increases or decreases in health care costs or utilization associated with monitoring chronic health conditions using mobile health or digital medicine technologies. Among secondary outcomes there was some evidence of improvement in health self-management which was characterized by a decrease in the propensity to view health status as due to chance factors in the intervention group. Disclosure of Funding This research is funded in part by a NIH/NCATS flagship Clinical and Translational Science Award Grant (1UL1 TR001114), Qualcomm Foundation Scripps Health Digital Medicine Research Grant, and Scripps Health’s Division of Innovation and Human Capital and Division of Scripps Genomic Medicine. Support for the study is also provided by HealthComp Third Party Administrator, Sanofi, AliveCor, and Accenture. Trial Registration: clinicaltrials.gov Identifier NCT01975428
Deep reinforcement learning for page-wise recommendations

Recommender systems can mitigate the information overload problem by suggesting users' personalized items. In real-world recommendations such as e-commerce, a typical interaction between the system and its users is - users are recommended a page of items and provide feedback; and then the system recommends a new page of items. To effectively capture such interaction for recommendations, we need to solve two key problems - (1) how to update recommending strategy according to user's real-time feedback, and 2) how to generate a page of items with proper display, which pose tremendous challenges to traditional recommender systems. In this paper, we study the problem of page-wise recommendations aiming to address aforementioned two challenges simultaneously. In particular, we propose a principled approach to jointly generate a set of complementary items and the corresponding strategy to display them in a 2-D page; and propose a novel page-wise recommendation framework based on deep reinforcement learning, DeepPage, which can optimize a page of items with proper display based on real-time feedback from users. The experimental results based on a real-world e-commerce dataset demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed framework.
Pre-Clinical Testing of Hip Prosthetic Designs: A Comparison of Finite Element Calculations and Laboratory Tests

To investigate the accuracy of finite element (FE) models for pre-clinical testing of unbonded hip prostheses, relative to aspects of load transfer and micromobility, two previously published laboratory experiments were simulated, using three-dimensional FE models. It was found for the load-transfer analyses that the experiment and the FE study revealed results that were very similar. The trends in the mobility experiments were also reproduced in the FE simulations, although quantitative differences were found. It is concluded that FE analysis can effectively be used for design evaluation of hip prostheses before prototypes are made.
Validation of a Spanish version of the Leicester Cough Questionnaire in non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis

The Leicester Cough Questionnaire (LCQ) has been validated in non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis (NCFBC). The present study aimed to create and validate a Spanish version of the LCQ (LCQ-Sp) in NCFBC. The LCQ-Sp was developed following a standardized protocol. For reliability, we assessed internal consistency and the change in score over a 15-day period in stable state. For responsiveness, we assessed the change in scores between visit 1 and the first exacerbation. For validity, we evaluated convergent validity through correlation with the Saint George’s Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ) and discriminant validity. Two hundred fifty-nine patients (118 mild bronchiectasis, 90 moderate bronchiectasis and 47 severe bronchiectasis) were included. Internal consistency was high for the total scoring and good for the different domains (Cronbach’s α: 0.86–0.91). The test–retest reliability shows an intraclass correlation coefficient of 0.87 for the total score. The mean LCQ-Sp score at visit 1 decreased at the beginning of an exacerbation (15.13 ± 4.06 vs. 12.24 ± 4.64; p < 0.001). The correlation between LCQ-Sp and SGRQ scores was −0.66 (p < 0.01). The differences in the LCQ-Sp total score between the different groups of severity were significant (p < 0.001). The LCQ-Sp discriminates disease severity, is responsive to change when faced with exacerbations and is reliable for use in bronchiectasis.
Mature mRNA 3′ end formation stimulates RNA export from the nucleus.

We have analysed nucleocytoplasmic export of mRNAs in primate cells with the aim of identifying signals promoting RNA transport. Our results demonstrate that sequences directing either histone mRNA 3′ processing or cleavage/polyadenylation of mRNA stimulate nucleocytoplasmic RNA transport. To elucidate the nature of this stimulation, we engineered test gene transcripts which could obtain a mature histone 3′ end by the RNA cleaving activity of a cis‐acting ribozyme, thus circumventing the cellular 3′ end processing machinery. However, such transcripts were found to be transport deficient and accumulated in the nuclear compartment. Our experiments provide genetic evidence that there is a linkage between 3′ end formation and the export of RNA transcripts from the nucleus. Analysis of a similar series of histone mRNAs in which the mature 3′ end was generated by means of ribozyme cleavage led to the discovery of a second export mechanism which relies on features specific for mature histone RNA and which can be uncoupled from the cellular processing machinery. The presence of histone mRNA sequences and of the highly conserved histone hairpin structure, positioned close to the 3′ terminus, are critical determinants for this export mechanism.
Effects of Chronic Hypercapnia in the Neonatal Mouse Lung and Brain

Permissive hypercapnia is increasingly utilized in the care of premature infants to prevent bronchopulmonary dysplasia. In a previous investigation, we described gene expression changes in the neonatal mouse lung exposed to chronic hypercapnia that might contribute to lung protection and accelerated maturation. However, it is unknown whether chronic hypercapnia increases alveolar formation, nor if it has detrimental effects in other developing organs such as the brain.
Impact of Export on Economic growth of Pakistan

This research paper employed Augmented Dickey- Fuller to determine “impact of export on economic growth” while granger causality test which is statistically hypothesis test was used to determined the direction of causality between the selected variables under consideration whether selected time series is useful in forecasting. Correlation analysis was also deployed to determine the degree of relationship between the selected variables and the result shows that all the variables are highly correlated. The study uses time series data from 1992-2015, data obtained from the World Bank. The study reviles that export has an optimistic and significant impact on economic growth in Pakistan peroxide by GDP. Export was also found to be confidently and significantly impacting to economic growth in Pakistan proxied by GDP. Foreign reserve also has a optimistic and positive impact on economic growth of the country. Research result shows that the overall regression was statistically significant at both 99% and 95% level of confidence. The result of R2 (0.99) shows that the line of best fit was highly fitted. The result of the granger causality test shows that GDP granger causes Import & FDI. The research finds that, growth-export hypothesis is valid in Pakistan context. We therefore recommend among other things, that the government of Pakistan should take some necessary steps to restructure the Import sector so as to improve their contribution to the growth of Pakistani economy. The government should introduce more policies that will adequately boost the export sector of the Pakistan economy so that it will impact more meaningfully on economic growth of the Pakistan; other programs that encourages increase in foreign reserve should also be adopted in other to increase the growth of the economy in the country.
Incidence and outcomes of cytomegalovirus in pancreas transplantation with steroid‐free immunosuppression

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is a common opportunistic infection encountered after pancreas transplantation. The records of 407 pancreas transplant recipients (226 simultaneous pancreas and kidney transplant (SPK), 101 pancreas transplant after kidney (PAK), and 97 pancreas transplants alone [PTA]) performed at a single center with at least 1‐yr follow‐up were reviewed. Immunosuppression included rabbit antithymocyte globulin induction, steroid withdrawal, and maintenance therapy of tacrolimus and sirolimus (± mycophenolate). In addition, PTA recipients received a single dose of rituximab. All recipients received valganciclovir prophylaxis. Donor (D)+/recipient (R)− recipients received 6 months of prophylaxis; all others received 3 months. The overall CMV infection rate was 12%. The cumulative incidences of CMV infection at 3, 6, 9, and 12 months after transplant were 0.25%, 3%, 7%, and 8%, respectively. CMV infection rates were 20.2% in the D+/R− group, 16.5% in the D+/R+ group, 5.0% in the D−/R+ group, and 2.8% in the D−/R− group. Infections were less common in SPK recipients. Most infections developed at least 3 months post‐transplant, and 24% demonstrated tissue‐invasive disease. Immunosuppression was NOT reduced in 72% of patients with infections. Ganciclovir‐resistant CMV occurred in four patients. No patients died or lost their allografts due to CMV‐related infection; one graft was lost due to chronic rejection associated with a reduction in immunosuppression. In many cases, CMV infections may be treated in pancreas transplant recipients without necessarily reducing immunosuppression.
Interdisciplinary Learning Opportunities in Agriculture, Food, Natural Resources, and Science: The Role of the Teacher

Providing interdisciplinary learning opportunities in agriculture, food, natural resources (AFNR), and science is critically important. School-based agricultural education offers a valuable platform to connect AFNR and science; however, interdisciplinary teaching requires willing and able teachers. The current study considered the intentions of school-based agriculture teachers to teach science within AFNR curriculum. Using the theory of planned behavior, attitude toward teaching science, subjective norms, perceived behavioral control, and perceived science knowledge were considered as independent variables to teaching science within AFNR curriculum. The explanatory model was analyzed using structural equation modeling. In total, school-based agriculture teachers intended to teach science in 39.91% of AFNR curriculum. Only perceived science knowledge was a statistically significant, negative predictor of intended science teaching. Findings pinpoint the need for additional research into the unexpected relationship between perceived science knowledge and science teaching intentions. The need and nature of potential explorations, along with specific recommendations for practice, are discussed.
Price Dispersion and Demand Uncertainty: Evidence from U.S. Scanner Data

I use the Prescott (1975) hotels model to explain variations in price dispersion across items sold by supermarkets in Chicago. The effect of uncertainty about aggregate demand on price dispersion is highly significant and quantitatively important: My estimates suggest that more than 40% of the cross&#8208;sectional standard deviation of log prices is due to demand uncertainty. I also find that price dispersion measures are negatively correlated with the average price but are not negatively correlated with the revenues from selling the good (across stores and weeks) and with the number of stores that sell the good.
Antidepressant Use During Pregnancy and the Risk of Autism Spectrum Disorder in Children.

IMPORTANCE The association between the use of antidepressants during gestation and the risk of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in children is still controversial. The etiology of ASD remains unclear, although studies have implicated genetic predispositions, environmental risk factors, and maternal depression. OBJECTIVE To examine the risk of ASD in children associated with antidepressant use during pregnancy according to trimester of exposure and taking into account maternal depression. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS We conducted a register-based study of an ongoing population-based cohort, the Québec Pregnancy/Children Cohort, which includes data on all pregnancies and children in Québec from January 1, 1998, to December 31, 2009. A total of 145,456 singleton full-term infants born alive and whose mothers were covered by the Régie de l'assurance maladie du Québec drug plan for at least 12 months before and during pregnancy were included. Data analysis was conducted from October 1, 2014, to June 30, 2015. EXPOSURES Antidepressant exposure during pregnancy was defined according to trimester and specific antidepressant classes. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES Children with ASD were defined as those with at least 1 diagnosis of ASD between date of birth and last date of follow-up. Cox proportional hazards regression models were used to estimate crude and adjusted hazard ratios with 95% CIs. RESULTS During 904,035.50 person-years of follow-up, 1054 children (0.7%) were diagnosed with ASD; boys with ASD outnumbered girls by a ratio of about 4:1. The mean (SD) age of children at the end of follow-up was 6.24 (3.19) years. Adjusting for potential confounders, use of antidepressants during the second and/or third trimester was associated with the risk of ASD (31 exposed infants; adjusted hazard ratio, 1.87; 95% CI, 1.15-3.04). Use of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors during the second and/or third trimester was significantly associated with an increased risk of ASD (22 exposed infants; adjusted hazard ratio, 2.17; 95% CI, 1.20-3.93). The risk was persistent even after taking into account maternal history of depression (29 exposed infants; adjusted hazard ratio, 1.75; 95% CI, 1.03-2.97). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE Use of antidepressants, specifically selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, during the second and/or third trimester increases the risk of ASD in children, even after considering maternal depression. Further research is needed to specifically assess the risk of ASD associated with antidepressant types and dosages during pregnancy.
Disulfide-Linked Oligomers of the Major Outer Membrane Protein of Chlamydiae

The major outer membrane protein of chlamydial elementary bodies was identified in dimer, trimer, and other multimeric forms. These natural multimers were stabilized by disulfide-mediated cross-linking. Such cross-linking of outer membrane proteins may play an important role in the formation and evolution of chlamydial cell wall structure.
Are infections protecting from atopy?

The ‘Hygiene Hypothesis’ proposes that overcrowding and unhygienic contacts early in life may protect from atopic diseases by facilitating exposure to microbes. Longitudinal studies have recently shown that among subjects exposed early in life to other children at home, or at day care, the risk of wheezing steadily declined with age to levels significantly lower than controls. Evidences supporting a protective role of respiratory infections or BCG immunization on the development of allergic asthma are still insufficient. By contrast, the observation of a lower prevalence of atopic sensitization among children raised on a farm has been consistently reproduced. Several new studies have recently investigated the role of changes of human microbial flora, declining exposure to foodborne and orofecal infections, to helminths and to environmental sources of endotoxin as putative contributors to the rise of allergy and asthma cases among populations living with a western lifestyle.
The role of the bone marrow in neutrophil clearance under homeostatic conditions in the mouse

In humans, 1011 neutrophils are released from the bone marrow per day, and these cells have a half‐life in the blood of only ~6.5 h. Although it is generally believed that neutrophils are cleared from the circulation via the liver and spleen, in this study using 111In‐labeled senescent neutrophils, we show that in mice, 32% of neutrophils are cleared from the circulation via the bone marrow. We have previously shown that senescent neutrophils home to the bone marrow in a CXCR4‐dependent manner, and we show here that pretreatment of neutrophils with pertussis toxin significantly inhibits neutrophil clearance via the bone marrow (75%), consistent with a role for chemokines in this process. By labeling senescent neutrophils with inert fluorescent microspheres, we have tracked their fate and shown that in vivo, they are ultimately phagocytosed by bone marrow stromal macrophages. Finally, we show that under noninflammatory conditions, circulating levels of neutrophils are regulated by granulocyte‐colony stimulating factor (G‐CSF), but not interleukin‐17. Interestingly, we report that the uptake of apoptotic neutrophils by bone marrow macrophages stimulates their production of G‐CSF in vitro. Taken together, these data provide evidence that the bone marrow represents a major site of neutrophil clearance in mice. —Furze, R. C. , Rankin, S. M. The role of the bone marrow in neutrophil clearance under homeostatic conditions in the mouse. FASEB J. 22, 3111–3119 (2008)