Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Prrx1 limb enhancer marks an adult subpopulation of injury-responsive dermal fibroblasts

ABSTRACT The heterogeneous properties of dermal cell populations have been posited to contribute toward fibrotic, imperfect wound healing in mammals. Here we characterize an adult population of dermal fibroblasts that maintain an active Prrx1 enhancer which originally marked mesenchymal limb progenitors. In contrast to their abundance in limb development, postnatal Prrx1 enhancer-positive cells (Prrx1enh+) make up a small subset of adult dermal cells (∼0.2%) and reside mainly within dermal perivascular and hair follicle niches. Lineage tracing of adult Prrx1enh+ cells shows that they remain in their niches and in small numbers over a long period of time. Upon injury however, Prrx1enh+ cells readily migrate into the wound bed and amplify, on average, 16-fold beyond their uninjured numbers. Additionally, following wounding dermal Prrx1enh+ cells are found out of their dermal niches and contribute to subcutaneous tissue. Postnatal Prrx1enh+ cells are uniquely injury-responsive despite being a meager minority in the adult skin. This article has an associated First Person interview with the first author of the paper. Summary: Dermal Prrx1-enhancer cells are injury-responsive fibroblasts. Prrx1enh+ cells readily migrate into the wound bed and amplify on average 16-fold beyond their uninjured numbers.
Association between cardiometabolic risk factors and body mass index, waist circumferences and body fat in a Zanzibari cross-sectional study

Objectives To determine the prevalence of obesity indices (body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), body fat per cent (BF%)) and cardiometabolic risk factors. To investigate the association between obesity indices and cardiometabolic risk factors in a Zanzibari population. Designs Cross-sectional study. Settings Participants randomly selected from 80 Shehias (wards) in Unguja, Zanzibar in 2013. Participants A total of 470 participants between 5 and 95 years were examined. Data on socioeconomic status, area of residence, anthropometry and venous blood were collected. Associations between obesity indices and cardiometabolic risk factors were investigated using multilevel logistic regression analyses in two steps: first, each obesity indicator was tested independently; second, all indicators combined in one model were tested for their association with cardiometabolic risk factors. Results The proportion of overweight/obese individuals was 26.4%, high WC (24.9%) and high BF% (31.1%). Cardiometabolic risk factors with highest prevalence of abnormal values included hypertension (24.5%), low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) (29.4%), high low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) (21.3%) and high glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) (19.1%). Obesity and hypertension increased with age, and were most prevalent in participants aged 45 years and above. Low HDL-C was most prevalent among participants aged ≥18 to <45 years, while high LDL-C was more prevalent in those above 45 years. High WC and high BF% were associated with high levels of LDL-C (OR=2.52 (95% CI 1.24 to 5.13), OR=1.91 (95% CI 1.02 to 3.58), respectively). Additionally, BMI and WC were associated with high levels of HbA1c (OR=2.08 (95% CI 1.15 to 3.79), OR=3.01 (95% CI 1.51 to 6.03), respectively). In the combined regression model, WC was associated with higher chances for hypertension (OR=2.62 (95% CI 1.14 to 6.06)) and for high levels of HbA1c (OR=2.62 (95% CI 1.12 to 6.15)). Conclusion High BMI, WC and BF% were strongly associated with hypertension, with individuals with high WC being twice more likely to have hypertension; this calls for early and effective screening strategies for this study population.
Deep peroneal nerve palsy after opening wedge high tibial osteotomy

Abstract Rationale: Peroneal nerve injury is one of the major complications that may occur after closing wedge high tibial osteotomy (CWHTO). In contrast, the reduced risk of the peroneal nerve injury has been considered as one of the advantages of opening wedge HTO (OWHTO). Patient concerns: A 61-year-old male who underwent OWHTO showed a dropped big toe immediately after surgery. Diagnosis: Injury of deep peroneal nerve was confirmed by electrodiagnostic study. It was probably caused by a posterolaterally protruded screw. Interventions: The protruded screw was replaced with a shorter one 3 weeks after OWHTO. Outcomes: The motor weakness and sensory reduction were completely recovered at 9 months after surgery. Lessons: OWHTO has been known to be safe from peroneal nerve injury. However, considering the anatomical course of deep peroneal nerve, great care should be taken to avoid damage to the deep peroneal nerve while drilling holes and inserting distal screws toward the posterolateral aspect of the proximal tibia.
Temperature coupling of mate attraction signals and female mate preferences in four populations of Enchenopa treehopper (Hemiptera: Membracidae)

Variation in temperature can affect the expression of a variety of important fitness‐related behaviours, including those involved with mate attraction and selection, with consequences for the coordination of mating across variable environments. We examined how temperature influences the expression of male mating signals and female mate preferences—as well as the relationship between how male signals and female mate preferences change across temperatures (signal–preference temperature coupling)—in Enchenopa binotata treehoppers. These small plant‐feeding insects communicate using plantborne vibrations, and our field surveys indicate they experience significant natural variation in temperature during the mating season. We tested for signal–preference temperature coupling in four populations of E. binotata by manipulating temperature in a controlled laboratory environment. We measured the frequency of male signals—the trait for which females show strongest preference—and female peak preference—the signal frequency most preferred by females—across a range of biologically relevant temperatures (18°C–36°C). We found a strong effect of temperature on both male signals and female preferences, which generated signal–preference temperature coupling within each population. Even in a population in which male signals mismatched female preferences, the temperature coupling reinforces predicted directional selection across all temperatures. Additionally, we found similar thermal sensitivity in signals and preferences across populations even though populations varied in the mean frequency of male signals and female peak preference. Together, these results suggest that temperature variation should not affect the action of sexual selection via female choice, but rather should reinforce stabilizing selection in populations with signal–preference matches, and directional selection in those with signal–preference mismatches. Finally, we do not predict that thermal variation will disrupt the coordination of mating in this species by generating signal–preference mismatches at thermal extremes.
New models of phosphate kinetics in dialysis patients

During a dialytic treatment, plasma phosphate (Pi) has a peculiar time course. It reaches a nadir value approximately 90 minutes after the beginning of the treatment and then, despite the ongoing removal, it exhibits either a constant steady state or a slow rebound. In order to quantitatively describe this kinetics, the authors have proposed three different two-compartment models, in which the first compartment represents plasma and extracellular fluids and the second one intra-cellular fluids (IF); to explain the Pi time course, an endogenous release of phosphate must also be present. The models have been identified from a set of data (7 patients). The hypotheses underlying their structure and the identification results were discussed and one model was chosen as the best description of the system, in terms of both mathematical indices and physiological considerations. In this model, the endogenous production of phosphate enters the IF compartment and is dependent on the plasma concentration and on the difference from its initial value. This model was also capable of correctly predicting the qualitative time course of Pi also in the post dialysis period.
Vertical Integration and Regulation in US Coal Production ∗

This paper examines how a policy reform affected the organizational choices of firms. The MINER Act of 2006 resulted in increased scrutiny and penalties for underground coal mining operations relative to surface operations. In turn, this changed the incentives for coal preparation facilities to own these mines. Particularly, markets most affected by the reform saw an increase in ownership along an extensive margin and markets already integrated saw a decrease along an intensive margin. I argue these results reflect the competing incentives created by the policy. The increased riskiness of shut downs and flows in production resulted in preparation plants integrating with at least one mine to assure a basic level of supply. The increased regulatory liability of ownership induced by the new regulatory structure resulted in a countervailing force, reducing the intensity of integration in markets that were integrated prior to the reform. ∗I wish to thank David Weil and Andrew Newman for their support, ideas and advice. Comments from Amrit Amirapu, Michael Manove, Robert Margo, Anusha Nath, Claudia Olivetti, and Marc Rysman are gratefully acknowledged as well as comments from the BU Development Reading Group and BU Micro Seminar participants. I also benefited from excellent research assistance provided by Andrew Razov, Haifan Guo and Steve Wu. A special thanks to Dan Andersen, Ted Offner, and Chris Llop of Analysis Group for aiding in parts of the GIS mapping portion of this project. Thanks to Jay Mattos and his staff at MSHA, Aron Patrick and the Kentucky EEC for hosting me and providing both data support and industry guidance. Research support provided by a pilot project grant awarded by the Harvard-NIOSH Education and Research Center under Grant No. 2 T42 OH008416-07. All errors are mine. †Department of Economics, Boston University. Email: buessing@bu.edu
Towards Modeling the Value of a System’s Production – Matching DEMO and e3Value

This paper presents an alignment between two ontologies, DEMO and e3Value, with the aim of bridging the semantic gap between Value Modeling and Enterprise Ontology. DEMO contributes with a theory and method for designing and engineering enterprises. e3Value contributes with the notion of purpose through value semantics and system context. The ontology matching effort was guided to address three common concern areas: Demand/Offer definition, Actor and Transaction. The resulting ontology includes shared core concepts and introduces positive constraints which, we argue, improve system development efforts by combining two relevant and complementary approaches.
A Mental Model of Sports Fan Behaviour : From a Self-Concept Perspective

In making purchasing decisions, people often try to associate themselves with the brand or products that they intend to identify with. This manifestation of self is often done through the path of symbolic consumption. This type of consumption behaviour is closely linked with the assumptions of self-concept and image congruity theory. However, in the consumer behaviour literature, self-concept has often been conceptualized as a multidimensional construct owing to various levels of selves identified by researchers. At this point, to understand the linkage between the manifold of selves and sports fan purchasing behaviours is of great importance for sports marketers. Thus, sports fan behaviour is of the main interest of this paper to apply such concept to explain their psychological affiliation with their supporting teams or sporting events. This review collecting past research will not only help to understand consumer behaviour but also acknowledge the diversified consumer trait across consumer groups. This review article scanned through 48 articles published in 10 marketing journals and one specific sports management journal within the last decade that involves the application of self-concept hypotheses and identified different types of selves in connection with the resulting behaviour of buying or not buying, from this point, a mental model has been proposed to associate these different types of selves with various sports fan behaviours for further studies.
WORK-FAMILY CONFLICT , WORK-FAMILY FACILITATION AND JOB SATISFACTION : CONSIDERING THE ROLE OF GENERATIONAL DIFFERENCES

This study investigates the relation between work-family conflict, work-family facilitation and job satisfaction among the three different generations at an Enforcement Agency in Malaysia. The term work-family conflict includes both work to family conflict and family to work conflict; whereas work-family facilitation refers to both work to family facilitation and family to work facilitation. Using questionnaire adopted from Greenhaus and Beutell (1985), Wayne, Musisca, and Fleeson (2004) and Spector (1985)’s Job Satisfaction Survey (JSS), data was collected from 300 employees at its Sarawak office. Analyses showed that Gen X reported higher job satisfaction, Gen Y reported higher work-family, while Baby Boomer reported higher work-family conflict. Pearson correlation analysis showed that workfamily conflict was negatively related to job satisfaction while work-family facilitation was positively related to job satisfaction for all three generations. When these relations were examined by cohorts, the findings showed different level of strength and significance. The study contributed towards understanding that managers need to consider generational differences in designing work-family programs, to reduce work-family conflict as well as to enhance workfamily facilitation, as these are directly related to job satisfaction.
Phase Coherence as a Measure of Perceptual Synchrony in Large-Scale Coupled Oscillator Systems

The means through which we perceive of temporal regularity play a critical role in our ability to listen, process, and construct meaning out of musical events. This experiment looks at synchrony as a subjective auditory percept in the context of several auditory scenes. I outline a model of temporal synchrony that arises in the context of periodically sounding events that converge and diverge over time using a system of event-triggered coupled oscillators. Similarly, I suggest that perceived synchrony, as well as other auditory percepts dealing with rhythm, is a processual percept that is integrated over time in response to the rhythmic coherence of independently-sounding auditory patterns. This aspect differentiates perceived synchrony from other processes involved in rhythmic beat perception in so far as it concerns the coherence of rhythm from a plethora of competing rhythmic information that are coupled to one another but are not initially related in terms of hierarchical rhythmic structures. This study examined how accurately participants were able to detect the phase coherence within different groups of coupled oscillators systems providing sound-event stimul
Optimization of extracellular mannanase production from Penicillium oxalicum KUB-SN 2-1 and application for hydrolysis property

Effects of media composition, and physical properties on the production of crude mannanase by Penicillium oxalicum KUB-SN2-1 were investigated. P.oxalicum KUB-SN2-1 was propagated in a shaking incubator at 30°C with rotation speed of 200 rpm of 7 days. The specific activity obtained during growth on robusta coffee residues (RCR) of 16.21 U/mg protein was much higher than other carbon sources tested. For nitrogen sources, yeast extract (0.11 U/mg protein) and ammonium nitrate (0.09 U/mg protein) showed maximum specific activity. Hence, guar gum was the best inducer for producing mannanase (14 U/mg protein). For evaluating the optimal concentration, the result showed that 1% guar gum, 0.5% yeast extract, 0.25% ammonium nitrate, and 0.25% RCR were the suitable sources of inducer, organic nitrogen, inorganic nitrogen, and carbon, respectively. Modified medium with initial culture pH of 5.0 at 30°C was optimum for mannanase production (53.77 U/ml for 3 day). Reducing sugars were analyzed by dinitrosalicylic acid methods. The highest reducing sugar of 7517.82 g/ml was obtained from copra meal hydrolysate after 30 h.
EXPERIMENTAL STUDY ON SWISS WHITE MICE TO EVALUATE THE ANTIANXIETY EFFECT OF COMMON WILD FIG EXTRACT (FICUS THONNINGII)

Objective: Since prehistoric times, man has relied on herbal plants as a source of medicine in curing various ailments. This study was carried out to assess the antianxiety-like effect of the ethanol extract of wild fig (Ficus thonningii) in Swiss white (CD-1) mice. Methods: Thirty Swiss mice were randomly divided into three groups (1–3) (n=10). Group 1 (control) was administered normal rat fed and saline, while Group 2 (low dose) and Group 3 (high dose) were administered 10 mg/kg w/w and 20 mg/kg w/w of the plant extract, respectively. The elevated plus maze was used to assess anxiety-related behaviors. Results: Data were analyzed using the statistical tools (one-way ANOVA and student t-test). Results revealed anxiety-like behavior in the low- and high-dose-treated mice when compared to the control. Conclusion: Therefore, administration of F. thonningii reduced an anxiety-like behavior in mice.
Dynamic Simplification using Textures

We are investigating methods for simplifying large geometrical models for interactive walkthroughs using texture-based representations. This paper presents a simplification method which dynamically “caches” distant geometry into textures and trades off accurate rendering of the distant geometry for performance. Smooth transitions and continuous borders are defined between the geometry and textures thus the representations can be switched without sudden jumps (as is the case with many current texturing techniques). All the computations for the transitions can be done a priori without the need to change the textures each frame thereafter.
Productivity Growth and Complementary Assets : An Empirical Analysis of Pakistan

This paper analyzed the nonlinear relationship between economic productivity and complementary assets of Pakistan. The results indicate that in the long run there are atleast three co-integrating equations. In the second stage of analysis, the rate of change in complementary assets is calculated and regressed on the rate of change in productivity. The results give positive and increasing return to scale for labor and diminishing return to scale for capital formation.
HIF-1 α shRNAs delivered by ultrasound-targeted cationic microbubble inhibit proliferation , migration , and invasion of ovarian cancer cells

Development of effective and safe treatment for ovarian cancer is urgent. In this study, a novel cationic microbubble was fabricated using the sonication method. The resulting microbubbles had a 27.5 ± 1.62 mV. surface zeta potential. They may greatly improve shRNA binding performance, achieving (10, 20, 30, 40, 50, and 60 μg) of DNA loading capacity per 5 × 108 microbubbles. Combined with these cationic microbubbles, HIF-1αmediated gene delivery was evaluated. Gene transfection efficiency was optimized in CRL-2945TM and HTB-161TM cells. Knockdown of HIF-1α genes was successfully realized by HIF-1α-mediated shRNA transfection, resulting in HIF-1α-dependent protective effects on CRL-2945TM and HTB-161TM cells. Results indicated: (1) Ultrasound-targeted cationic microbubble-mediated shRNA transfection reduced expression levels of HIF-1α in ovarian cancer cells; (2) Ultrasound-targeted cationic microbubble-mediated shRNA transfection inhibited proliferation, migration, and invasion of ovarian cancer cells; and (3) Effects of HIF-1α shRNA transfection on tumor weight. In the current study, an ultrasound-targeted cationic microbubble system was established to successfully deliver shRNAs of HIF-1α, a key gene involved in the development and progression of ovarian cancer. HIF-1α shRNAs delivered by ultrasoundtargeted cationic microbubbles can inhibit proliferation, migration, and invasion of ovarian cancer cells.
The in fl uence of organic matter content and media compaction on the dispersal of entomopathogenic nematodes with di ff erent foraging strategies

In laboratory experiments, we investigated how media with varying ratio of peat:sand and two levels of compaction influence dispersal success of entomopathogenic nematode (EPN) species with different foraging strategies: Steinernema carpocapsae (ambusher), Heterorhabditis downesi (cruiser) and Steinernema feltiae (intermediate). Success was measured by the numbers of nematodes moving through a 4 cm column and invading a wax moth larva. We found that both compaction and increasing peat content generally decreased EPN infective juvenile (IJ) success for all three species. Of the three species, H. downesi was the least affected by peat content, and S. carpocapsae was the most adversely influenced by compaction. In addition, sex ratios of the invading IJs of the two Steinernema species were differentially influenced by peat content, and in the case of S. feltiae, sex ratio was also affected by compaction. This indicates that dispersal of male and female IJs is differentially affected by soil parameters and that this differentiation is species-specific. In conclusion, our study shows that organic matter: sand ratio and soil compaction have a marked influence on EPN foraging behaviour with implications for harnessing them as biological pest control agents.
Evaluating the impact on wages and unemployment duration of a mandatory job search program ∗

We assess the impact on unemployment duration and re-employment wages of a large scale job search program implemented in Portugal during the late 1990’s and early 2000’s, targeting eligible individuals registered as unemployed at the Portuguese employment agency. Based on the class of difference-in-differences matching methods, relatively to a situation without the treatment, the estimates of the average effects of the treatment on the treated point towards: (i) a reduction in unemployment spells inferior to 1 month, rather small in the context of long unemployment spells observed in Portugal and (ii) a negative impact in the re-employment wages of the treated.