Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The G protein‐coupled receptor BLR1 is involved in murine B cell differentiation and is also expressed in neuronal tissues

The BLR1 gene, isolated initially from Burkitt lymphoma cells (Eur. J. Immunol. 1992. 22:2795), encodes a G protein‐coupled receptor with significant relationship to receptors for chemokines (IL‐8, MIP‐1α) and neuropeptides. The murine homologue of human BLR1 was cloned and used to investigate its expression in vivo. Brl1‐specific transcripts are observed in secondary lymphatic organs and to a lesser extent in brain of adult mice but not in other tissues. RNA in situ hybridization localizes blr1 transcription to primary follicles and to the mantle zone of secondary follicles. SCID mice in which mature B cell development is severely impaired exhibit a strongly reduced level of blr1‐specific RNA in the spleen. The analysis of murine lymphoid tumor cell lines representing distinct stages of the B cell lineage reveals elevated expression of blr1 in B cell lymphomas but not in pre‐B lymphomas or plasmacytomas. Induction of differentiation of resting B cells by cytokines or mitogens down‐regulates expression of blr1. RNA in situ hybridization using brain sections of adult mice detects blr1 transcription in the granule and Purkinje cell layer of the cerebellum. Interestingly, the blr1 gene is also expressed during late embryogenesis in fetal liver and brain. In view of the remarkable expression pattern in the B cell lineage we suggest that murine BLR1 may represent a cytokine/neuropeptide receptor exerting regulatory functions on recirculating mature B lymphocytes.
Effect of phlebotomy technique on serum bicarbonate values.

OBJECTIVES To determine whether the following phlebotomy technique factors result in spuriously low serum bicarbonate values: 1) small needle size, 2) prolonged tourniquet time, and 3) underfilling of Vacutainer tubes. METHODS Thirty-eight healthy young adult student volunteers from Brown University (mean age = 22 years) were randomly assigned to 1 of 2 (24-ga or 20-ga) IV needle size groups. With a tourniquet applied, the subjects had blood sampled initially and then at 3 intervals 1 minute apart. In addition, the initial blood sample was separated into four 4-mL Vacutainer tubes in blood volumes of 0.5, 1, 2, and 3 mL. Serum bicarbonate values (mmol/L) were compared using these techniques. RESULTS 1) Small needle size did not affect serum bicarbonate values (p > 0.60); 2) prolonged tourniquet time resulted in a statistically significant serum bicarbonate elevation (32.0, 32.5, 33.8, and 33.6, respectively; p < 0.01); and 3) underfilling of Vacutainer tubes resulted in significantly lower serum bicarbonate values for all 4 Vacutainer blood volume groups (21.4, 23.0, 25.0, and 26.2, respectively; p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS Small needle size does not affect serum bicarbonate values. Prolonged tourniquet time results in a statistically significant elevation of serum bicarbonate, although this elevation may not be clinically meaningful. Underfilling of Vacutainer tubes significantly influences the accuracy of serum bicarbonate values.
Modelling persistence in the conditional mean of inflation using the ARFIMA process with GARCH and GJRGARCH innovations: The case of Ghana and South Africa

This paper contributes to the debate on inflation persistence by extending an ARFIMA process with GARCH and GJR-GARCH models to describe the time-dependent heteroskedasticity and persistence in the conditional mean of Consumer Price Index (CPI) inflation series of Ghana and South Africa, under three distributional assumptions (i.e., Normal, Student-t and Generalised Error Distributions). ARFIMA-GJR-GARCH under Generalised Error Distribution and Student-t Distribution respectively, provided the best fit for modelling the time-dependent heteroskedasticity and persistence in the conditional mean of CPI inflation rate of Ghana and South Africa. The results from the study provided evidence of persistence, mean reverting though, and asymmetric effect of economic shocks on the conditional mean of CPI inflation rate of the two countries. These results would, therefore, be useful to both countries in making good portfolio decisions, assessing the efficacy of a monetary policy or programme meant to control inflation persistence and also serving as a tool for detecting volatility and its impact, for the Ghanaian and South African inflation rates and their economies at large. Keywords: CPI Inflation; Fractional integration; Persistence; Conditional mean; ARFIMA; GARCH; GJR-GARCH models
Candida albicans stimulates arachidonic acid liberation from alveolar macrophages through alpha-mannan and beta-glucan cell wall components

Candida albicans is an increasingly important fungal pathogen. Alveolar macrophages respond to fungal components such as zymosan by releasing arachidonic acid (AA) and AA metabolites. However, few studies hypothesized that macrophages respond to C. albicans by releasing AA and generating AA metabolites as a consequence of interaction of mannose and beta-glucan receptors with fungal cell wall components. [14C]AA-labeled rabbit alveolar macrophages released AA following stimulation with either live or heat-killed C. albicans. High-pressure liquid chromatography analysis revealed that 55% of the AA released was metabolized via cyclooxygenase and lipoxygenase pathways. The metabolites consisted of prostaglandin E2, prostaglandin F2 alpha, 6-ketoprostaglandin F1 alpha, thromboxane B2, and leukotrienes B4 and D4. We further examined the roles of alpha-mannan and beta-glucan components of C. albicans in mediating these alterations of eicosanoid metabolism. Prior work in our laboratory has shown that soluble alpha-mannan and beta-glucan inhibit macrophage mannose and beta-glucan receptors, respectively. Incubation of alveolar macrophages with soluble alpha-mannan derived from C. albicans (1 mg/ml) resulted in 49.8% +/- 2.6% inhibition of macrophage AA release during stimulation with intact C. albicans (P = 0.0001 versus control). Macrophage AA release in response to C. albicans was also inhibited to a significant but lesser degree by soluble beta-glucan (36.2% +/- 1.3%; P = 0.008 versus control). These results indicate that C. albicans stimulates macrophage AA metabolism and that these effects are partly mediated by alpha-mannan and beta-glucan constituents of the fungus.
Using 17 α-hydroxyprogesterone caproate to impact rates of recurrent preterm delivery in clinical practice

Objective. Evaluation of an outpatient 17 α-hydroxyprogesterone caproate (17P) administration programme. Methods. A retrospective analysis of data collected from patients with a history of preterm birth (PTB) and current singleton gestation enrolled between 16.0 and 20.9 weeks' gestational age (GA) for weekly outpatient 17P administration and nursing assessment between 7/2004 and 12/2007 was conducted (n = 3139). Results. The population was mostly white (50.3%), 18–35 years old (77.7%), and married (67.0%). Median GA at 17P initiation and stop was 17.4 (16.0, 20.9) weeks and 35.1 (18.6, 37.4) weeks. Mean injections per patient were 16.5 ± 4.9, at an interval of 7.2 days. Median GA at delivery was 37.3 (18.6, 44.0) weeks. Rate of recurrent spontaneous PTB was 29.8%, with 15.5% and 7.0% with PTB at <35 and <32 weeks. Conclusions. This represents the largest cohort reported to date of patients prescribed 17P therapy in clinical practice to prevent recurrent spontaneous PTB.
Acute Confusion or Altered Mental State: Consider Nonconvulsive Status Epilepticus

Background: The diagnosis of nonconvulsive status epilepticus (NCSE) is particularly challenging in elderly patients. Confusion, personality change, dysphasia, subtle motor activity and nystagmus may be the only presenting signs. Objective: To review current knowledge about NCSE with special focus on older people. Methods: Systematic review of the current literature via Medline search. Conclusion: Although prospective studies are still lacking, NCSE may be one of the most frequently missed diagnoses in patients presenting with altered mental status. Elderly patients are at particular risk of diagnostic errors because of the broad range of presentations of NCSE, significant comorbidities (especially cerebrovascular disease), limited awareness of this particular seizure emergency or difficulties with access to electroencephalography. Although diagnostic criteria and treatment remain controversial, the diagnosis of NCSE is important because it is potentially reversible.
Calcitonin gene‐related peptide released by capsaicin suppresses myoelectrical activity of gastric smooth muscle

Background: It is widely accepted that the inhibition of gastric motor activity as well as the maintenance of gastric mucosal blood flow and mucous secretion are important for the homeostasis of the gastric mucosa. The present study was performed to ascertain whether or not capsaicin, which can protect the stomach from noxious stimuli, affects gastric motor activity.
Upregulation of Cdh1 Attenuates Isoflurane-Induced Neuronal Apoptosis and Long-Term Cognitive Impairments in Developing Rats

Neonatal exposure to isoflurane can result in neuroapoptosis and persistent cognitive impairments. However, the underlying mechanisms remain elusive. Anaphase-promoting complex/cyclosome (APC/C) and its co-activator Cdh1 are E3 ubiquitin ligases that play important roles in the central nervous system, including in the regulation of neuronal survival, synaptic development, and mammalian learning and memory. However, whether APC/C-Cdh1 is involved in isoflurane-induced neurotoxicity in developing rats remains unclear. In this study, postnatal day-7 (P7) rat pups and primary hippocampal neurons were exposed to 2% isoflurane for 6 h. Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) staining was used to detect neuronal apoptosis, and the expression of proteins involved in apoptosis (cleaved caspase-3, Bax and Bcl-2) was assessed by western blot. The level of Cdh1 in the hippocampus was downregulated during isoflurane-induced neuroapoptosis. Cdh1-encoding lentivirus was transfected before isoflurane-treatment to increase the level of Cdh1. Our results showed that Cdh1 overexpression by a recombinant Cdh1-encoding lentivirus reduced isoflurane-induced neuronal apoptosis. Moreover, bilateral intra-hippocampal injection with Cdh1-encoding lentivirus attenuated long-term cognitive deficits after exposure to isoflurane in developing rats. Our study indicates that Cdh1 is an important target to prevent isoflurane-induced developmental neurotoxicity.
Essays On Asset Pricing, Debt Valuation, And Macroeconomics

My dissertation consists of three chapters which examine topics at the intersection of financial markets and macroeconomics. Two of the sections relate to the valuation of U.S. Treasury and corporate debt while the third understands the role of banking frictions on equity markets. More specifically, the first chapter asks the question, what is the role of monetary policy fluctuations for the macroeconomy and bond markets? To answer this question we design a novel asset-pricing framework which incorporates a time-varying Taylor rule for monetary policy, macroeconomic factors, and risk pricing restrictions from investor preferences. By estimating the model using U.S. term structure data, we find that monetary policy fluctuations significantly impact inflation uncertainty and bond risk exposures, but do not have a sizable effect on the first moments of macroeconomic variables. Monetary policy fluctuations contribute about 20% to the variation in bond risk premia. Models with frictions in financial contracts have been shown to create persistence effects in macroeconomic fluctuations. These persistent risks can then generate large risk premia in asset markets. Accordingly, in the second chapter, we test the ability that a particular friction, Costly State Verification (CSV), has to generate empirically plausible risk exposures in equity markets, when household investors have recursive preferences and shocks occur in the growth rate of productivity. After embedding these mechanisms into a macroeconomic model with financial intermediation, we find that the CSV friction is negligible in realistically augmenting the equity risk premium. While the friction slows the speed of capital investment, its contribution to asset markets is insignificant. The third chapter examines how firms manage debt maturity in the presence of investment opportunities. I document empirically that debt maturity tradeoffs play an important role in determining economic fluctuations and asset prices. I show at aggregate and firm levels that corporations lengthen their average maturity of debt when output and investment rates are larger. To explain these findings, I construct an economic model where firms simultaneously choose investment, short, and long-term debt. In equilibrium, long-term debt is more costly than short-term debt and is only used when investment opportunities present themselves in peaks of the business cycle. Degree Type Dissertation Degree Name Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) Graduate Group Finance First Advisor Joao F. Gomes This dissertation is available at ScholarlyCommons: https://repository.upenn. edu/edissertations/2650 Second Advisor Amir Yaron
THU-EE System Description for NIST LRE 2015

This paper describes the systems developed by the Department of Electronic Engineering of Tsinghua University for the NIST Language Recognition Evaluation 2015. We submitted one primary and three alternative systems for the fixed training data evaluation and didn't take part in the open training data evaluation for our limited data resources and computation capability. Both the primary system and three alternative systems are fusions of multiple subsystems. The primary system and alternative systems are identical except for the training, development and fusion data. The subsystems are different in feature, statistical modeling or backend approach. The features of our subsystems include MFCC, PLP, TFC, PNCC and Fbank. The statistical modeling of our subsystems can be roughly categorized into four types: i-vector, deep neural network, multiple coordinate sequence kernel (MCSK) and phoneme recognizer followed by vector space models (PR-VSM). The backend approach includes LDA-Gaussian, SVM and extreme learning machine (ELM). Finally, these subsystems are fused by the FoCal toolkit. Our primary system is presented and briefly discussed. Post-key analyses are also addressed, including comparison of different features, modeling backend approaches and a study of their contribution to the whole performance. The processing speed for each subsystem is also given in the paper.
Fast music retrieval using polyphonic binary feature vectors

We propose a method for retrieving similar music from a polyphonic-music audio database using a polyphonic audio signal as a query. In this task, we must consider similarities among polyphonic signals of the music, and achieve quick retrieval. Therefore, we first introduce the polyphonic binary feature vector to represent the presence of multiple notes. This feature is suitable for the search based on the similarities among polyphonic audio signals. Then, we propose a new search method, which is quicker than the exhaustive use of DP matching. The search is accelerated using a "similarity matrix" to limit the search space. Experiments using a test database containing 216 music pieces show that the search accuracy of the proposed feature is 89%, which is approximately 26% higher than that of the conventional spectrum feature. It is also shown that the new search method retrieves similar music without significant accuracy degradation as well as the exhaustive search does and the computational complexity of the new search method is about 1/4 that of exhaustive search.
Estrogens, Brain, and Behavior: Lessons from Knockout Mouse Models

The use of animal models to effectively replicate problems such as hormone deficiencies, neurologic diseases, and brain injury and stroke has certainly made a vast contribution to understanding the neuroprotective effects of estrogen in the brain. Studies using gonadectomy procedures followed by 17beta-estradiol replacement have effectively demonstrated the positive effects that estrogen provides in cognitive performance and memory performance tasks. A major problem with such studies is that local brain aromatase (the estrogen-synthesizing enzyme) may still convert locally produced androgens to estrogens. Hence, such "estrogen-deficient" models may not be completely void of estrogen. The generation of the aromatase knockout (ArKO) and estrogen receptor knockout (ERKO) mouse models has enabled researchers to characterize the effects of complete estrogen deficiency within the brain and hence behavior. This review aims to compare and contrast the results of these various mouse models.
Bladder afferent hyperexcitability in bladder pain syndrome/interstitial cystitis

Bladder pain syndrome/interstitial cystitis is a disease with lower urinary tract symptoms, such as bladder pain and urinary frequency, which results in seriously impaired quality of life of patients. The extreme pain and urinary frequency are often difficult to treat. Although the etiology of bladder pain syndrome/interstitial cystitis is still not known, there is increasing evidence showing that afferent hyperexcitability as a result of neurogenic bladder inflammation and urothelial dysfunction is important to the pathophysiological basis of symptom development. Further investigation of the pathophysiology will lead to the effective treatment of patients with bladder pain syndrome/interstitial cystitis.
Transcriptomic profiling of human hippocampal progenitor cells treated with antidepressants and its application in drug repositioning

Current pharmacological treatments for major depressive disorder (MDD) are ineffective in a significant proportion of patients, and the identification of new antidepressant compounds has been difficult. ‘Connectivity mapping’ is a method that can be used to identify drugs that elicit similar downstream effects on mRNA levels when compared to current treatments, and thus may point towards possible repositioning opportunities. We investigated genome-wide transcriptomic changes to human hippocampal progenitor cells treated with therapeutically relevant concentrations of a tricyclic antidepressant (nortriptyline) and a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (escitalopram). We identified mRNA changes common to both drugs to create an ‘antidepressant mRNA signature’. We used this signature to probe the Library of Integrated Network-based Cellular Signatures (LINCS) and to identify other compounds that elicit similar changes to mRNA in neural progenitor cells. Results from LINCS revealed that the tricyclic antidepressant clomipramine elicited mRNA changes most similar to our mRNA signature, and we identified W-7 and vorinostat as functionally relevant drug candidates, which may have repositioning potential. Our results are encouraging and represent the first attempt to use connectivity mapping for drug repositioning in MDD.
The Nexus of CO2 Emissions, Energy Consumption, Economic Growth, and Trade-Openness in WTO Countries

This paper analyzes the dynamic relationship between CO2 emissions, energy consumption, GDP, and trade-openness from 1971 to 2013, based on the Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC) hypothesis for 70 WTO countries. Using recently developed secondgeneration panel data methods, the empirical results support the EKC hypothesis for the high-, middle-, and lower-income panels used. Concerning the energy consumption and economic growth nexus, the causality results support the conversion hypothesis for the high-income panel, whereas the neutrality hypothesis holds for the lower- and middle-income panels. Based on the causality results, trade-openness does not positively impact CO2 emissions, GDP leads CO2 emissions, and trade-openness causes energy consumption within any income panel. The net effect of economic growth, however, could help to stabilize future CO2 emissions within any income panel.
A pilot study on genotype announcement to induce smoking cessation by Japanese smokers.

BACKGROUND Genotype announcements related to susceptibility to hazardous effects of smoking may be effective to induce smoking cessation. METHODS Subjects were municipal government employees, 63 young smokers employed in the previous year and 59 smokers with more than 45 pack-years, who were invited to educational sessions against smoking held in December 2003 and February 2004, respectively. In the session, those who wished genetic susceptibility tests (GSTM1, GSTT1, and NQO1 C609T) were enrolled in the study. The smoking habit was ascertained three times: at the session, one month later, just before the genotype announcement, and at the follow-up three months after the announcement. RESULTS Fifty eight (92.1%) and 49 (83.1%) smokers participated in the study, respectively. One out of 58 smokers was not a habitual smoker, so was not included in the analysis. The smoking cessation rates were 15.8% (9 participants) and 6.1% (3 participants) just before the genotype announcement, and 7.0% (4 participants) and 10.2% (5 participants) at the follow-up, respectively. All subjects were satisfied with the genotype testing except for two who rather regretted participating, but one of whom actually quit smoking. CONCLUSION The present pilot study without controls indicated that the effects of genotype announcements in this framework on smoking cessation were less than might have been expected. The temporary effect of the session on younger smokers may have been due to the participation per se. The potential effects of genotype announcements for heavy smokers should now be examined in studies with adequate controls.
Multiple developmental pathways to conduct disorder: current conceptualizations and clinical implications.

OBJECTIVES Recent research has uncovered several developmental pathways through which children and adolescents can develop a tendency to display the severe antisocial behavior associated with the diagnosis of conduct disorder (CD). METHODS This focused review is designed to briefly outline three different etiological pathways described in the literature. These pathways are distinguished by the age of onset of the antisocial behavior, the presence/absence of significant levels of callous-unemotional traits, and the presence/absence of problems with anger regulation. RESULTS Evidence from developmental psychopathology research (particularly longitudinal studies) that support the different life-course trajectories and putative etiological factors associated with antisocial behavior across these pathways is presented. CONCLUSIONS Limitations in the available research on these developmental pathways and implications of this research for the prevention and treatment of children and adolescents with CD are discussed.