Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Mast Cells in Cardiac Fibrosis: New Insights Suggest Opportunities for Intervention

Mast cells (MC) are innate immune cells present in virtually all body tissues with key roles in allergic disease and host defense. MCs recognize damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs) through expression of multiple receptors including Toll-like receptors and the IL-33 receptor ST2. MCs can be activated to degranulate and release pre-formed mediators, to synthesize and secrete cytokines and chemokines without degranulation, and/or to produce lipid mediators. MC numbers are generally increased at sites of fibrosis. They are potent, resident, effector cells producing mediators that regulate the fibrotic process. The nature of the secretory products produced by MCs depend on micro-environmental signals and can be both pro- and anti-fibrotic. MCs have been repeatedly implicated in the pathogenesis of cardiac fibrosis and in angiogenic responses in hypoxic tissues, but these findings are controversial. Several rodent studies have indicated a protective role for MCs. MC-deficient mice have been reported to have poorer outcomes after coronary artery ligation and increased cardiac function upon MC reconstitution. In contrast, MCs have also been implicated as key drivers of fibrosis. MC stabilization during a hypertensive rat model and an atrial fibrillation mouse model rescued associated fibrosis. Discrepancies in the literature could be related to problems with mouse models of MC deficiency. To further complicate the issue, mice generally have a much lower density of MCs in their cardiac tissue than humans, and as such comparing MC deficient and MC containing mouse models is not necessarily reflective of the role of MCs in human disease. In this review, we will evaluate the literature regarding the role of MCs in cardiac fibrosis with an emphasis on what is known about MC biology, in this context. MCs have been well-studied in allergic disease and multiple pharmacological tools are available to regulate their function. We will identify potential opportunities to manipulate human MC function and the impact of their mediators with a view to preventing or reducing harmful fibrosis. Important therapeutic opportunities could arise from increased understanding of the impact of such potent, resident immune cells, with the ability to profoundly alter long term fibrotic processes.
Model instability in predictive exchange rate regressions

Abstract In this paper we aim to improve existing empirical exchange rate models by accounting for uncertainty with respect to the underlying structural representation. Within a flexible Bayesian framework, our modeling approach assumes that different regimes are characterized by commonly used structural exchange rate models, with transitions across regimes being driven by a Markov process. We assume a time‐varying transition probability matrix with transition probabilities depending on a measure of the monetary policy stance of the central bank at home and in the USA. We apply this model to a set of eight exchange rates against the US dollar. In a forecasting exercise, we show that model evidence varies over time, and a model approach that takes this empirical evidence seriously yields more accurate density forecasts for most currency pairs considered.
The Trailer of Strategic Alliance for Blockchain Governance Game

This paper deals with design of the alternative secure Blockchain network framework to prevent damages from an attacker. The concept of the strategic alliance of the management is applied on the top of the recent developed stochastic game framework. This new enhanced hybrid theoretical model has been developed based on the combination of the conventional game theory, the fluctuation theory and the Blockchain Governance Game to find best strategies towards preparation for preventing a network malfunction from an attacker by making the strategic alliance with other genuine miners. Analytically tractable results for decision making parameters are fully obtained which enable to predict the moment for operations and deliver the optimal number of the alliance with other nodes to protect the Blockchain network. This research helps for whom considers the initial coin offering or launching new blockchain based services with enhancing the security features by alliance with the trusted miners within the decentralized network.
Machine Learning Estimation of Heterogeneous Causal Effects: Empirical Monte Carlo Evidence

We investigate the finite-sample performance of causal machine learning estimators for heterogeneous causal effects at different aggregation levels. We employ an empirical Monte Carlo study that relies on arguably realistic data generation processes (DGPs) based on actual data in an observational setting. We consider 24 DGPs, eleven causal machine learning estimators, and three aggregation levels of the estimated effects. Four of the considered estimators perform consistently well across all DGPs and aggregation levels. These estimators have multiple steps to account for the selection into the treatment and the outcome process.
Errors and Insight: Intentional and accidental studies of human chromosome abnormalities.

SYNOPSIS Perhaps every career makes sense in retrospect. I've spent mine facing a series of accidental environmental exposures that derailed our studies but provided new insight. Although at times I have felt more catalyst than scientist, the journey has been extraordinary, and the problem I have spent my career studying - human aneuploidy - has taken on new significance with growing evidence of the sensitivity of the germline to the environment.
Learning L2 Continuous Regression Functionals via Regularized Riesz Representers

Many objects of interest can be expressed as an L2 continuous functional of a regression, including average treatment effects, economic average consumer surplus, expected conditional covariances, and discrete choice parameters that depend on expectations. Debiased machine learning (DML) of these objects requires a learning a Riesz representer (RR). We provide here Lasso and Dantzig learners of the RR and corresponding learners of affine and other nonlinear functionals. We give an asymptotic variance estimator for DML. We allow for a wide variety of regression learners that can converge at relatively slow rates. We give conditions for root-n consistency and asymptotic normality of the functional learner. We give results for non affine functionals in addition to affine functionals.
LncRNA LINC00673 inhibits p53 expression by interacting with EZH2 and DNMT1 in papillary thyroid carcinoma.

OBJECTIVE This study aims to elucidate the regulatory role of long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) LINC00673 in proliferative, invasive and metastatic capacities of papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC), and to investigate the possible underlying mechanism. PATIENTS AND METHODS LINC00673 expression in PTC tissues and cell lines was detected by quantitative Real Time-Polymerase Chain Reaction (qRT-PCR). The correlation between LINC00673 expression and PTC prognosis was analyzed. By plasmid transfection, we constructed PTC cell lines with stable knockdown of LINC00673. The regulatory effect of LINC00673 on the proliferation of K1 and TPC-1 cells were determined by Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) assay and colony formation assay. The transwell assay was conducted to evaluate the effect of LINC00673 on the metastatic ability of PTC cells. The binding condition between LINC00673 with enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (EZH2) and DNA Methyltransferase 1 (DNMT1) was verified by RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP), chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) and Western blot. The cellular mechanism of p53 in regulating biological behaviors of PTC cells was explored by Western blot. Finally, the gain-of-function experiment was performed to elucidate whether LINC00673 could regulate PTC development by inhibiting p53 expression. RESULTS LINC00673 expression in PTC tissues was significantly higher than that of the adjacent normal tissues. Besides, higher expression of LINC00673 indicated worse prognosis of PTC. The knockdown of LINC00673 in K1 and TPC-1 cells markedly reduced the proliferative rate. Meanwhile, LINC00673 down-regulation remarkably inhibited the migratory and invasive capacities of K1 and TPC-1 cells. RIP and ChIP assay demonstrated that LINC00673 could bind to EZH2 and DNMT1. Besides, Western blot analysis showed that LINC00673 negatively regulated p53 expression. In addition, the knockdown of p53 in K1 and TPC-1 cells partially reversed the inhibitory effect of LINC00673 deficiency on the proliferation and metastasis of PTC cells. CONCLUSIONS High expression of LINC00673 in PTC predicts a poor prognosis. LINC00673 remarkably promotes the proliferation and invasion of PTC cells by inhibiting p53 expression by binding to EZH2 and DNMT1.
The utility of prognostic indices, early events, and histological subtypes on predicting outcomes in non‐follicular indolent B‐cell lymphomas

Indolent B‐cell lymphomas other than follicular lymphoma account for up to 10% of all B‐cell neoplasms. While they typically follow a slowly progressive course, some patients experience rapid progression and early mortality. Prognostic scoring systems have not been adopted, hindering the ability of clinicians or researchers to predict outcomes, or risk‐stratify patients during clinical trials. To address this, we evaluated the utility of existing prognostic indices and novel, early disease‐related outcomes, to predict subsequent long term survival. Baseline characteristics and outcomes data were generated from a longitudinal cohort study that prospectively enrolled 632 patients newly diagnosed with marginal zone lymphoma, lymphoplasmacytic lymphomas, or B‐cell lymphomas not otherwise specified, beginning in 2002. The International Prognostic Index (IPI), Follicular Lymphoma International Prognostic Index (FLIPI), and MALT International prognostic index (MALT‐IPI) demonstrated c‐statistics that ranged from 0.593‐0.612 for event‐free survival (EFS), and 0.683‐0.714 for overall survival (OS). Patients who attained event‐free survival at 12 months (EFS12) experienced similar mortality to the US general population (standardized mortality ratio [SMR] 1.19; 95% CI 0.95‐1.46). Patients who did not attain EFS12 had subsequent worse morality (SMR 3.14 (95% CI 2.05‐4.59). The MALT‐IPI demonstrated utility in predicting subsequent long‐term outcomes among patients with non‐follicular indolent B‐cell lymphomas. This index should be used by clinicians giving guidance to patients at the time of initial diagnosis, and risk stratification during clinical studies. The divergent long‐term outcomes experienced by patients who do or do not attain EFS12 suggest there exists a subset of patients who harbor high‐risk disease. Future research efforts should focus on methods to identify these patients at the time of diagnosis, in order to enable risk‐tailored therapy.
Preliminary Tests on the Sensitivity of the FORAIR_IT Air Quality Forecasting System to Different Meteorological Drivers

Since 2017, the operational high-resolution air quality forecasting system FORAIR_IT, developed and maintained by the Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development, has been providing three-day forecasts of concentrations of atmospheric pollutants over Europe and Italy, on a daily basis, with high spatial resolution (20 km on Europe, 4 km on Italy). The system is based on the Atmospheric Modelling System of the National Integrated Assessment Model for Italy (AMS-MINNI), which is a national modelling system evaluated in several studies across Italy and Europe. AMS-MINNI, in its forecasting setup, is presently a candidate model for the Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service’s regional production, dedicated to European-scale ensemble model forecasts of air quality. In order to improve the quality of the meteorological input into the chemical transport model component of FORAIR_IT, several tests were carried out on daily forecasts of NO2 and O3 concentrations for January and August 2019 (representative of the meteorological seasons of winter and summer, respectively). The aim was to evaluate the sensitivity to the meteorological input in NO2 and O3 concentration forecasting. More specifically, the Weather Research and Forecasting model (WRF) was tested to potentially improve the meteorological driver with respect to the Regional Atmospheric Modelling System (RAMS), which is currently embedded in FORAIR_IT. In this work, the WRF chain is run in several setups, changing the parameterization of several micrometeorological variables (snow, mixing height, albedo, roughness length, soil heat flux + friction velocity, Monin–Obukhov length), with the main objective being to take advantage of WRF’s consistent physics in the calculation of both mesoscale variables and micrometeorological parameters for air quality simulations. Daily forecast concentrations produced by the different meteorological model configurations are compared to the available measured concentrations, showing the general good performance of WRF-driven results, even if performance skills are different according to the single meteorological configuration and to the pollutant type. WRF-driven forecasts clearly improve the model reproduction of the temporal variability of concentrations, while the bias of O3 is higher than in the RAMS-driven configuration. The results suggest that we should keep testing WRF configurations, with the objective of obtaining a robust improvement in forecast concentrations with respect to RAMS-driven forecasts.
Hierarchy of Grid Partition (HGP) Integrating data in Software Engineering and databases

Hierarchy is a method of forming a system into grouping data in a database, while to integrate some data into an integrated data system in software engineering, there needs to be an appropriate method so that the data does not occur in an integrated system. In addition to making it easier to know the object attributes of a data, it is necessary to create a partition method, after we can do data integration with the grid method, then the combination of several methods becomes a new method, the Hierarchy of Grid Partition (HGP) Method. The purpose of the Hierarchy of Grid Partition (HGP) method is to integrate the data of an engineering software and database, in order to facilitate the user in finding the data needed and not duplicate the data. To develop this method, there needs to be design tools such as object-oriented modeling which is a unified modeling language (UML). The function of the Hierarchy of Grid Partition (HGP) method makes it easy to find data, because all data has been formed in a data partition grid system, the conclusion of this method is that the data access system is more effective and efficient.
Long-term high physical activity modulates event-related potential indices of inhibitory control in postmenopausal women

Background Inhibition processing is sensitive to aging, and an age-related decline in inhibition processing has been associated with an accelerated rate of progression to Alzheimer disease. Elderly women are two to three times more likely than age-matched men to have Alzheimer disease. Therefore, this study examined whether long-term high physical activity affects inhibitory processing, specifically among postmenopausal women. Methods In total, 251 candidates were screened using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment and the Raven’s Standard Progressive Matrices to assess their cognitive abilities and the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (Chinese version) to assess their physical activity levels. The participants were then grouped into either a long-term high physical activity group (defined as more than 3 days of high intensity activity per week and gross metabolic equivalent minutes (MET-minutes) higher than 1,500 MET-minutes/week or a gross MET higher than 3,000 MET-minutes/week obtained through walking or other moderate or high intensity activity) or a control group and matched for demographic and health characteristics as well as cognitive scores. Event-related potentials (ERPs) were recorded as participants performed a Go/No-go task to assess inhibition processing. Results The long-term high physical activity group (n = 30) had faster Go reaction times than the control group (n = 30), whereas no significant difference between the two groups was found in their performance accuracy on the No-go task. For the ERP results, the latency of N2 component was significantly shorter in the long-term high physical activity group than that in the control group. Discussion The results of this study suggested that long-term high physical activity may increase the efficiency of the inhibitory control system by increasing the activity of response monitoring processes.
p62/SQSTM1 and Nrf2 are essential for exercise‐mediated enhancement of antioxidant protein expression in oxidative muscle

Increased muscle contractile activity, as observed with regular exercise, prevents oxidative stress—induced muscle wasting, at least partially, by improving the antioxidant defense system. Phosphorylated p62/sequestosome1 competitively binds to the Kelch‐like ECH‐associated protein 1, activating nuclear factor erythroid 2—related factor 2 (Nrf2), which stimulates transcription of antioxidant/electrophile responsive elements. However, it remains to be determined if this process is activated by regular exercise in skeletal muscle. Here, we demonstrate that muscle contractile activity increases antioxidants, Nrf2 translocation into nuclei, and Nrf2 DNA‐binding activity in association with increased p62 phosphorylation (Ser351) in mouse oxidative skeletal muscle. Skeletal muscle‐specific loss of Nrf2 [i.e., Nrf2 muscle‐specific knockout (mKO) mice] abolished the expression of the Nrf2 target antioxidant gene NAD(P)H‐quinone oxidoreductase 1 (NQO1) in both glycolytic and oxidative muscles but reduced exercise‐mediated increases of antioxidants (i.e., copper/zinc superoxide dismutase (SOD) and extracellular SOD only in oxidative muscle. Interestingly, skeletal muscle—specific loss of p62 (i.e., p62 mKO mice) also abolished the expression of NQO1 and reduced exercise‐mediated increases of the same antioxidants in soleus muscle. Collectively, these findings indicate that p62 and Nrf2 cooperatively regulate the exercise‐mediated increase of antioxidants in oxidative muscle. —Yamada, M. , Iwata, M. , Warabi, E. , Oishi, H. , Lira, V. A. , Okutsu, M. p62/SQSTM1 and Nrf2 are essential for exercise‐mediated enhancement of antioxidant protein expression in oxidative muscle. FASEB J. 33, 8022–8032 (2019). www.fasebj. org
Health Care Expenditures, Financial Stability, and Participation in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)

This paper examines the association between household healthcare expenses and participation in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) when moderated by factors associated with financial stability of households. Using a large longitudinal panel encompassing eight years, this study finds that an inter-temporal increase in out-of-pocket medical expenses increased the likelihood of household SNAP participation in the current period. Financially stable households with precautionary financial assets to cover at least 6 months worth of household expenses were significantly less likely to participate in SNAP. The low income households who recently experienced an increase in out of pocket medical expenses but had adequate precautionary savings were less likely than similar households who did not have precautionary savings to participate in SNAP. Implications for economists, policy makers, and household finance professionals are discussed.
Detection of Histomonas meleagridis DNA in dust samples obtained from apparently healthy meat turkey flocks without effect on performance

ABSTRACT Environmental dust samples obtained from 65 turkey flocks in France, of which six suffered from histomonosis whereas the rest remained apparent healthy until the end of production, were tested for the presence of Histomonas meleagridis DNA by recently developed real-time PCR based on the 18S rRNA locus. In order to determine the genotype of detected histomonads, positive samples were further subjected to conventional 18S PCR and sequencing. Additionally, production data of all tested flocks, such as average daily gain, feed conversion ratio and production index, were statistically evaluated and compared to see the effect of positive dust samples in apparently healthy flocks. Histomonad DNA was detected in the dust obtained from all six clinically affected and, surprisingly, in nine apparent healthy flocks. Sequencing of the 18S rRNA gene resulted in only one DNA sample homologous to H. meleagridis whereas 11 others revealed the presence of several other flagellates. Average daily gain and production index were negatively affected in flocks with clinical histomonosis, resulting in significant difference in comparison with the data obtained from clinically healthy flocks independent of the presence of histomonad DNA in the dust. Overall, there was no significant difference following statistical analysis of production parameters between the two last mentioned groups of tested flocks. Altogether, this is the first investigation demonstrating the presence of H. meleagridis DNA in environmental dust samples obtained from clinically unaffected turkey flocks. However, this finding could not be correlated with impact on production based on analysis and comparison of selected production data. RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS Environmental dust obtained from clinically healthy turkey flocks, in addition to dust from flocks affected by histomonosis, was found positive for the presence of Histomonas meleagridis DNA. Histomonas-positive dust samples in clinically unaffected flocks did not have a negative effect on production parameters. The results demonstrate a wider spread of H. meleagridis DNA in flocks of commercial meat turkeys than previously thought.
TESS Habitable Zone Star Catalog

We present the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) Habitable Zone Stars Catalog, a list of 1822 nearby stars with a TESS magnitude brighter than T = 12 and reliable distances from Gaia DR2, around which the NASA’s TESS mission can detect transiting planets, which receive Earth-like irradiation. For all those stars TESS is sensitive down to 2 Earth radii transiting planets during one transit. For 408 stars TESS can detect such planets down to 1 Earth-size during one transit. For 1690 stars, TESS has the sensitivity to detect planets down to 1.6 times Earth-size, a commonly used limit for rocky planets in the literature, receiving Earth-analog irradiation. We select stars from the TESS Candidate Target List, based on TESS Input Catalog Version 7. We update their distances using Gaia Data Release 2, and determine whether the stars will be observed for long enough during the 2 yr prime mission to probe their Earth-equivalent orbital distance for transiting planets. We discuss the subset of 227 stars for which TESS can probe the full extent of the Habitable Zone, the full region around a star out to about a Mars-equivalent orbit. Observing the TESS Habitable Zone Catalog Stars will also give us deeper insight into the occurrence rate of planets, out to Earth-analog irradiation as well as in the Habitable Zone, especially around cool stars. We present the stars by decreasing angular separation of the 1 au equivalent distance to provide insights into which stars to prioritize for ground-based follow-up observations with upcoming extremely large telescopes.