Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Contribution of Fibronectin ED-A Expression to Myofibroblast Transdifferentiation in Diabetic Renal Fibrosis

It is well known that glomerulosclerosis and tubulointerstitial fibrosis occur during the early stages of diabetic nephropathy. It has been demonstrated that the development of tubulointerstitial lesions is more closely correlated with a progressive decline in renal function compared to glomerular lesions (Bohle et al., 1991). Tubulointerstitial fibrosis ultimately leads to renal failure as a result of renal atrophy. The myofibroblasts emerging in tubulointerstitial fibrosis tissue have been indicated to play a crucial role in the development and progression of fibrosis (Simonson, 2007). They overproduce extracellular matrix (ECM) molecules, including type I collagen and fibronectin, and repress ECM degradation through the production of tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase1 (TIMP-1) (Edwards et al., 1987) and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) in response to transforming growth factor-┚1 (TGF-┚1), which is increased in DN (Laiho et al., 1987), followed by ECM accumulation (i.e. fibrosis). Furthermore, the myofibroblasts may induce fibrosis tissue contraction via increased cell contraction promoted by ┙smooth muscle actin (┙-SMA) expression, leading to renal atrophy and failure. Myofibroblasts are considered to be derived from various kinds of cells, e.g. fibroblasts (Strutz and Zeisberg, 2006), epithelial cells (Iwano et al., 2002), endothelial cells (Zeisberg et al., 2008), pericytes (Humphreys et al., 2010), and bone marrow-originated cells (Keeley et al., 2010), via stimulation by TGF-┚1. Although ┙-SMA expression, which is the most pronounced characteristic of myofibroblasts, has been considered to cause tissue contraction, the detailed mechanism has not yet been determined. Myofiboblasts were first described in wound-healing granulation tissue
Level and Contamination Assessment of Environmentally Sensitive Elements in Smaller than 100 μm Street Dust Particles from Xining, China

Concentrations of the environmentally sensitive elements (ESEs) As, Co, Cu, Mn, Ni, Pb, V and Zn in smaller than 100 μm street dust particles from Xining were measured using X-ray fluorescence spectrometry and their contamination levels were assessed based on enrichment factor (EF), geoaccumulation index (Igeo) and pollution load index (PLI). The concentrations of As, Co, Cu, Mn, Ni, Pb, V and Zn in smaller than 100 μm street dust particles from Xining are 0.1–0.8, 2.7–10.9, 0.7–5.2, 0.3–1.1, 0.6–2.5, 1.2–11.1, 0.7–1.3 and 0.4–2.9 times the background values of Qinghai soil, respectively. The calculated EF and Igeo values reveal the order Co > Pb > Cu > Zn > V > Ni > Mn > As. The EF and Igeo values of Co, Cu, Pb and Zn are higher indicating that there is considerable pollution by these elements in smaller than 100 μm street dust particles, especially for Co. The EF and Igeo of Mn, Ni and V are lower and the assessment results indicate an absence of distinct Mn, Ni and V pollution in the studied samples. The mean value of PLIsite is 1.14, indicating a slightly pollution in the whole city of Xining. The order of PLIarea for the five tested districts is Center District (CD) > East District (ED) > West District (WD) > North District (ND) > South District (SD), showing that ESEs pollution in the South District is the lightest while it is the highest in the Central District.
An accurate detailed routing routability prediction model in placement

Routability is one of the primary objectives in placement. There have been many researches on forecasting routing problems and improving routability in placement but no perfect solution is found. Most traditional routability-driven placers aim to improve global routing result, but true routability lies in detailed routing. Predicting detailed routing routability in placement is extremely difficult due to the complexity and uncertainty of routing. In this paper, we propose a new detailed routing routability prediction model based on supervised learning. After extracting key features in placement and detailed routing, multivariate adaptive regression is performed to train the connection between these two stages. Using a well-trained model, most design rule violations after detailed routing can be foreseen in placement stage. Experiments show that our average prediction accuracy is 79.8%, which is comparable with other state-of-art routability estimation techniques.
Human behavioral thermoregulation during exercise in the heat

The human capacity to perform prolonged exercise is impaired in hot environments. To address this issue, a number of studies have investigated behavioral aspects of thermoregulation that are recognized as important factors in determining performance. In this review, we evaluated and interpreted the available knowledge regarding the voluntary control of exercise work rate in hot environments. Our analysis indicated that: (a) Voluntary reductions in exercise work rate in uncompensable heat aid thermoregulation and are, therefore, thermoregulatory behaviors. (b) Unlike thermal behavior during rest, the role of thermal comfort as the ultimate mediator of thermal behavior during exercise in the heat remains uncertain. By contrast, the rating of perceived exertion appears to be the key perceptual controller under such conditions, with thermal perception playing a more modulatory role. (c) Prior to increases in core temperature (when only skin temperature is elevated), reductions in self‐selected exercise work rate in the heat are likely mediated by thermal perception (thermal comfort and sensation) and its influence on the rating of perceived exertion. (d) However, when both core and skin temperatures are elevated, factors associated with cardiovascular strain likely dictate the rate of perceived exertion response, thereby mediating such voluntary reductions in exercise work rate.
Aspirations et parcours scolaires des jeunes issus de l'immigration : réussites et désillusions, transmission et rupture entre générations

Cet article se propose de reprendre le debat sur la reussite scolaire des jeunes issus de l'immigration a partir de donnees recentes : le Panel 95-2002 (DEP, Ministere de l'Education) qui suit les eleves entres en 6eme en 1995 tout au long de leur scolarite. Il explore les aspirations des familles immigrees en fin de college et les parcours scolaires effectifs de leurs enfants dans le secondaire. Il s'interroge sur les effets specifiques de la migration et des origines nationales et sociales sur les aspirations et les parcours. L'utilisation des donnees longitudinales sur sept annees permet de confronter aspirations et parcours puis de mettre en evidence continuites et decalages, transmissions et ruptures entre generations. L'aspiration des familles maghrebines aux etudes generales longues influe sur les orientations des jeunes, plus nombreuses dans les filieres generales ou technologiques, comparees a celles de leurs pairs de meme milieu social. Les parents portugais privilegient les etudes courtes et professionnelles. Les aspirations fortes des parents immigres ont des effets benefiques sur les parcours scolaires de leurs enfants. Ainsi, des reussites sont mises a jour. Toutefois, celles-ci sont relatives au sein d'un meme milieu social, et sont parfois en decalage avec les aspirations en amont, en particulier chez les jeunes d'origine maghrebine, qui frequentent davantage les filieres technologiques et professionnelles et peuvent vivre, pour certains, leur orientation comme une injustice. Enfin, les projets d'etudes des secondes generations s'averent plus ambitieux que ceux des francais d'origine de meme milieu social ; ils sont moins lies aux resultats anterieurs et a la filiere scolaire suivie.
Transfer learning in genetic programming

Transfer learning is a process in which a system can apply knowledge and skills learned in previous tasks to novel tasks. This technique has emerged as a new framework to enhance the performance of learning methods in machine learning. Surprisingly, transfer learning has not deservedly received the attention from the Genetic Programming research community. In this paper, we propose several transfer learning methods for Genetic Programming (GP). These methods were implemented by transferring a number of good individuals or sub-individuals from the source to the target problem. They were tested on two families of symbolic regression problems. The experimental results showed that transfer learning methods help GP to achieve better training errors. Importantly, the performance of GP on unseen data when implemented with transfer learning was also considerably improved. Furthermore, the impact of transfer learning to GP code bloat was examined that showed that limiting the size of transferred individuals helps to reduce the code growth problem in GP.
The visually evoked defense reflex of the crayfish: habituation, facilitation, and the influence of picrotoxin.

When stimulated with rapidly approaching targets, the crayfish defense reflex exhibited habituation, spontaneous recovery, dishabituation, and stimulus generalization. The rate of habituation increased with stimulus repetition rate over a narrow range of stimulus rates. At the highest repetition rate examined, 20 min, the rate of habituation diminished. After 150 trials at 20 min, responsiveness to subsequent stimuli at lower repetition rates was enhanced. Dishabituation was elicited with mechanical prods to the dorsal thoracic carapace or a 1-min session of 20\min stimulation. After completion of habituation a 5° shift in the axis of a 10° target resulted in substantial response recovery. Evidence for weak interocular generalization of habituation was also obtained. These results suggest both retinal-dependent and retinal-independent sites of habituation. Picrotoxin (2.4 mg\kg body weight) reversed a previously established response habituation and delayed the onset of rehabituation to repetitive stimuli. The effects of picrotoxin suggest the participation an inhibitory mechanism in defense reflex habituation.
The C Terminus of the Major Yeast Telomere Binding Protein Rap1p Enhances Telomere Formation

ABSTRACT The telomeres of most organisms consist of short repeated sequences that can be elongated by telomerase, a reverse transcriptase complex that contains its own RNA template for the synthesis of telomere repeats. In Saccharomyces cerevisiae, the RAP1gene encodes the major telomere binding protein Rap1p. Here we use a quantitative telomere formation assay to demonstrate that Rap1p C termini can enhance telomere formation more than 30-fold when they are located at internal sites. This stimulation is distinct from protection from degradation. Enhancement of formation required the gene for telomerase RNA but not Sir1p, Sir2p, Sir3p, Sir4p, Tel1p, or the Rif1p binding site in the Rap1p C terminus. Our data suggest that Rap1p C termini enhance telomere formation by attracting or increasing the activity of telomerase near telomeres. Earlier work suggests that Rap1p molecules at the chromosome terminus inhibit the elongation of long telomeres by blocking the access of telomerase. Our results suggest a model where a balance between internal Rap1p increasing telomerase activity and Rap1p at the termini of long telomeres controlling telomerase access maintains telomeres at a constant length.
Communication system using ferrite antennas in electrical transmission lines

This work describes the wireless transmission of data using antennas with ferrite nucleus that transmits information through the high voltage line. The second ferrite antenna is the receiver one, to which is connected a circuit with detection stages and filtrate, besides the adaptation to the amplifier system. With this system one can have diversity of routing of the information that is sent among different substations remote using the electric power transmission lines.
Author’s Reply: Valuing Equity-Indexed Annuities - Discussion by G. Thomas Mitchell; Hans U. Gerber; Elias S. W. Shiu

BJÖRK, T. 1998. Arbitrage Theory in Continuous Time. Oxford, England: Oxford. BRIYS, E. , BELLALAH, M. , MAI, H. M. , AND DE VARENNE, F. 1998. Options, Futures and Exotic Derivatives. Chichester, England: Wiley. CLEWLOW, L. , AND STRICKLAND, C. , eds. 1997. Exotic Options: The State of the Art. London: International Thomson. DURRETT, R. 1999. Essentials of Stochastic Processes. New York: Springer-Verlag. DWASS, M. 1970. Probability—Theory and Applications. New York: Benjamin. EL BABSIRI, M. , AND NOEL, G. 1998. “Simulating Path-Dependent Options: A New Approach. ” Journal of Derivatives 6 (2):65–83. GERBER, H. U. , AND PAFUMI, G. 2000. “Pricing Dynamic Investment Fund Protection,” North American Actuarial Journal 4 (2):28–37; Discussions 37–41. GERBER, H. U. , AND SHIU, E. S. W. 1996. “Actuarial Bridges to Dynamic Hedging and Option Pricing. ” Insurance: Mathematics and Economics 18:183–218. GERBER, H. U. , AND SHIU, E. S. W. 2000. “Pricing Lookback Options and Guarantees in Equity-Indexed Annuities. ” Working paper. HARRISON, J. M. 1985. Brownian Motion and Stochastic Flow Systems. New York: Wiley. Reprinted 1990 by Krieger, Malabar, FL. HAUG, E. P. 1998. The Complete Guide to Option Pricing Formulas. New York: McGraw-Hill. KARATZAS, I. , AND SHREVE, S. E. 1991. Brownian Motion and Stochastic Calculus, 2nd ed. New York: Springer-Verlag. KWOK, Y. K. 1998. Mathematical Models of Financial Derivatives. Singapore: Springer-Verlag. MUSIELA, M. , AND RUTKOWSKI, M. 1997. Martingale Methods in Financial Modelling. Berlin: Springer-Verlag. RESNICK, S. I. 1992. Adventures in Stochastic Processes. Boston: Birkhäuser. REVUZ, D. , AND YOR, M. 1991. Continuous Martingales and Brownian Motion. New York: Springer-Verlag. WILMOTT, P. 1998. Derivatives: The Theory and Practice of Financial Engineering. New York: Wiley. ZHANG, P. G. 1998. Exotic Options: A Guide to Second Generation Options, 2nd ed. Singapore: World Scientific.
Computation of extreme heat waves in climate models using a large deviation algorithm

Significance We propose an algorithm to sample rare events in climate models with a computational cost from 100 to 1,000 times less than direct sampling of the model. Applied to the study of extreme heat waves, we estimate the probability of events that cannot be studied otherwise because they are too rare, and we get a huge ensemble of realizations of an extreme event. Using these results, we describe the teleconnection pattern for the extreme European heat waves. This method should change the paradigm for the study of extreme events in climate models: It will allow us to study extremes with higher-complexity models, to make intermodel comparison easier, and to study the dynamics of extreme events with unprecedented statistics. Studying extreme events and how they evolve in a changing climate is one of the most important current scientific challenges. Starting from complex climate models, a key difficulty is to be able to run long enough simulations to observe those extremely rare events. In physics, chemistry, and biology, rare event algorithms have recently been developed to compute probabilities of events that cannot be observed in direct numerical simulations. Here we propose such an algorithm, specifically designed for extreme heat or cold waves, based on statistical physics. This approach gives an improvement of more than two orders of magnitude in the sampling efficiency. We describe the dynamics of events that would not be observed otherwise. We show that European extreme heat waves are related to a global teleconnection pattern involving North America and Asia. This tool opens up a wide range of possible studies to quantitatively assess the impact of climate change.
Systemic Mastocytosis: An Intriguing Disorder

Systemic Mastocytosis (SM) is a mast cell (MC) neoplasm of the haematopoietic tissue. It is a rare disorder, but perhaps its prevalence is underestimated, as MC infiltrates may often be undetected. The aim of this chapter is to emphasize the importance of an active and careful work-up through multimodality approaches in order to achieve the diagnosis of SM. This might increase the incidence of SM. Moreover, it must be considered that SM is frequently associated with a second and, in rare cases, a third clonal blood disorder that isn’t mast cell derived. Similar cases may be important for the correct initial evaluation and classification, as well as for a better risk stratification and management of patients with haematopoietic malignancies. Therapy could also improve, being personalized and tailored for each single SM patient.
Measurement-Based Research on the Biomechanics Characteristics of a Knee Joint

This paper inspects the biomechanics characteristics of a human knee joint with measurement data. First, the biomechanics characteristics of a joint are introduced. Then a knee joint is simplified as a joint with one axis, and the biomechanics characteristics are studied quantitatively through X-ray Photo measurement and STK video analyzing system. The maximum range of motions of a knee joint in dynamic and static states as well as the changes of the length and the force arm of the muscles participating in knee joint motions are measured, and the extent of the muscular participation and the sequence to reach the maximum force arm are found out. This paper demonstrates the biomechanics characteristics of a knee joint motion and provides theoretical basis for the analysis and prevention of knee joint injury.
Design and Synthesis of Novel Indolizine Analogues as COX-2 Inhibitors: Computational Perspective and in vitro Screening

Design and synthesis of a new series of ethyl 7-methoxy-2-substituted-3-(substituted benzoyl) indolizine-1-carboxylates 2a-i was achieved and screened for their in vitro inhibitory activity against COX-2 enzyme. Compound 2a and 2c emerged as promising COX-2 enzyme inhibitor with IC50 of 6.56 and 6.94 μM respectively from the synthesized series when compared to Celecoxib and Indomethacin as selective and nonselective standards, respectively. Computational docking study identified the possible reasons for such activity that may be due to the cis configuration of the indolizines that resulted in the most stable conformation similar to that of Indomethacin.
Trench Foot or Non-Freezing Cold Injury As a Painful Vaso-Neuropathy: Clinical and Skin Biopsy Assessments

Background Trench foot, or non-freezing cold injury (NFCI), results from cold exposure of sufficient severity and duration above freezing point, with consequent sensory and vascular abnormalities which may persist for years. Based on observations of Trench foot in World War II, the condition was described as a vaso-neuropathy. While some reports have documented nerve damage after extreme cold exposure, sensory nerve fibres and vasculature have not been assessed with recent techniques in NFCI. Objective To assess patients with chronic sensory symptoms following cold exposure, in order to diagnose any underlying small fibre neuropathy, and provide insight into mechanisms of the persistent pain and cold hypersensitivity. Methods Thirty soldiers with cold exposure and persistent sensory symptoms (>4 months) were assessed with quantitative sensory testing, nerve conduction studies, and skin biopsies. Immunohistochemistry was used to assess intraepidermal (IENF) and subepidermal (SENF) nerve fibres with a range of markers, including the pan-neuronal marker protein gene product 9.5 (PGP 9.5), regenerating fibres with growth-associated protein 43 (GAP43), and nociceptor fibres with transient receptor potential cation channel subfamily V member 1 (TRPV1), sensory neuron-specific receptor (SNSR), and calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP). von Willebrand factor (vWF), endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS), and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) were used for assessing blood vessels, and transient receptor potential cation channel, subfamily A member 1 (TRPA1) and P2X purinoceptor 7 (P2X7) for keratinocytes, which regulate nociceptors via release of nerve growth factor. Results Clinical examination showed pinprick sensation was abnormal in the feet of 20 patients (67%), and between 67 and 83% had abnormalities of thermal thresholds to the different modalities. 7 patients (23%) showed reduced sensory action potential amplitude of plantar nerves. 27 patients (90%) had decreased calf skin PGP 9.5 IENF (p < 0.0001), the remaining 3 patients had decreased nerve markers in subepidermis or foot skin. There were marked increases of all vascular markers (for vWF in calf skin, p < 0.0001), and increased sensory or regenerating SENF (for calf skin, GAP43, p = 0.002). TRPA1 (p = 0.0012) and P2X7 (p < 0.0001) were increased in basal keratinocytes. Conclusion A range of skin biopsy markers and plantar nerve conduction studies are useful objective assessments for the diagnosis of peripheral neuropathy in NFCI. Our results suggest that an increase in blood vessels following tissue ischaemia/hypoxia could be associated with disproportionate and abnormal nerve fibres (irritable nociceptors), and may lead to NFCI as a “painful vaso-neuropathy. ”
Enhanced Mechanism for Protection and Detection of Digital Watermarks in Digitized Data

Computer and Internet make the world become digitization. Secure watermark detection techniques are important to protect the secrecy of the watermark pattern [1]. Secure data transfer over internet is a major issue in today’s era. As the technology is developing rapidly, more and more ideas take birth into the mind of the researchers. Rights of all Data Owners and Data holders have become the severe issue. The copyright and authentication gradually lose their security. To protect logical property becomes important in technical study and research. Digital watermarking [2] is a technology being developed to ensure and facilitate security, data authentication and copyright protection of digital media. For such protection and security, detection and verification of watermark is necessary for identifying whether it is valid or not. So, in our work objective is to detect the watermarking [5] of the text and images before revealing the data into the cloud. Visible as well as Invisible watermarking will be detected so that only the legal copy will be allowed to enter into the cloud resulting increase in security.
An early viral response to standard interferon‐alpha identifies resistance to combination therapy with peginterferon and ribavirin in patients infected by HCV genotype 1

As combination therapy with peginterferon (PEG‐IFN) and ribavirin has a high morbidity, identifying individuals with hepatitis C virus (HCV) who will not respond to the treatment would be beneficial. The early responses of serum HCV RNA levels to standard interferon (IFN) and PEG‐IFN were examined to determine if it was possible to identify resistance to combination therapy. One hundred thirty‐one patients infected with HCV genotype 1b were enrolled. Patients were given 6 MU of standard IFN alpha‐2b at least 2 weeks before initiating combination therapy. Serum HCV RNA levels were measured before, 24 hr after the administration of standard IFN, and 24 hr after the administration of PEG‐IFN (at the start of the combination therapy). The association between reductions in HCV RNA levels at 24 hr after the administration of standard IFN and PEG‐IFN and the outcome of combination therapy were analyzed. Reductions in HCV RNA levels were poorer in patients who did not respond than in those with a sustained virologic responses or relapses (P < 0.0001), both 24 hr after the administration of standard IFN and 24 hr after the administration of PEG‐IFN. Reductions in HCV RNA levels 24 hr after the administration of standard IFN were an independent factor associated with non‐response by multivariate analysis. An early reduction in viral load to a single administration of standard IFN is a useful predictor of non‐response in patients with HCV genotype 1, allowing for pretreatment identification of patients who will not benefit from combination therapy. J. Med. Virol. 82:1537–1544, 2010. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.