Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Hyperspectral image restoration by Hybrid Spatio-Spectral Total Variation

We propose a new regularization technique, named Hybrid Spatio-Spectral Total Variation (HSSTV), for hyperspectral image (HSI) restoration. Popular regularization techniques for HSIs are total variation functions (TV), and there have been proposed a variety of TVs for HSI restoration. However, they do not fully exploit both spatial and spectral smoothness, which are the underlying properties of HSIs, and/or they result in computationally expensive optimization. Our proposed HSSTV is designed to evaluate the two properties via two types of discrete differences of an HSI, leading to much more effective regularization than existing TVs for HSI restoration. HSSTV is defined with local discrete difference operators and the ℓ1/mixed ℓ1,2 norm, so that optimization problems involving it can be efficiently solved by proximal splitting methods, such as the so-called alternating direction method of multipliers. Experimental results illustrate the advantages of HSSTV over state-of-the-art methods.
Foraminifera promote calcification by elevating their intracellular pH

Surface seawaters are supersaturated with respect to calcite, but high concentrations of magnesium prevent spontaneous nucleation and growth of crystals. Foraminifera are the most widespread group of calcifying organisms and generally produce calcite with a low Mg content, indicating that they actively remove Mg2+ from vacuolized seawater before calcite precipitation. However, one order of foraminifera has evolved a calcification pathway, by which it produces calcite with a very high Mg content, suggesting that these species do not alter the Mg/Ca ratio of vacuolized seawater considerably. The cellular mechanism that makes it possible to precipitate calcite at high Mg concentrations, however, has remained unknown. Here we demonstrate that they are able to elevate the pH at the site of calcification by at least one unit above seawater pH and, thereby, overcome precipitation-inhibition at ambient Mg concentrations. A similar result was obtained for species that precipitate calcite with a low Mg concentration, suggesting that elevating the pH at the site of calcification is a widespread strategy among foraminifera to promote calcite precipitation. Since the common ancestor of these two groups dates back to the Cambrian, our results would imply that this physiological mechanism has evolved over half a billion years ago. Since foraminifera rely on elevating the intracellular pH for their calcification, our results show that ongoing ocean acidification can result in a decrease of calcite production by these abundant calcifyers.
Utilisation of eye care services in rural south India: the Aravind Comprehensive Eye Survey

Aim: To determine utilisation of eye care services in a rural population of southern India aged 40 years or older. Methods: 5150 subjects aged 40 years and older selected through a random cluster sampling technique from three districts in southern India underwent detailed ocular examinations for vision impairment, blindness, and ocular morbidity. Information regarding previous use of eye care services was collected from this population through a questionnaire administered by trained social workers before ocular examinations. Results: 3476 (72.7%) of 5150 subjects examined required eye care examinations. 1827 (35.5%) people gave a history of previous eye examinations, primarily from a general hospital (n = 1073, 58.7%). Increasing age and education were associated with increased utilisation of eye care services. Among the 3323 people who had never sought eye care, 912 (27.4%) had felt the need to have an eye examination but did not do so. Only one third of individuals with vision impairment, cataracts, refractive errors, and glaucoma had previously utilised services. Conclusions: A large proportion of people in a rural population of southern India who require eye care are currently not utilising existing eye care services. Improved strategies to improve uptake of services is required to reduce the huge burden of vision impairment in India.
The yeast telomere‐binding protein RAP1 binds to and promotes the formation of DNA quadruplexes in telomeric DNA.

The protein RAP1 is essential for the maintenance of the telomeres of Saccharomyces cerevisiae and binds in vitro to multiple sites found within the TG1‐3 telomeric repeats. We show here that, in addition to its known binding activity for double‐stranded DNA, RAP1 binds sequence‐specifically to the GT‐strands. This indicates that RAP1 is the protein that binds to the telomeric terminal GT‐tails. Furthermore, we have found that RAP1 binds to and promotes the formation of G‐tetrads, i.e. DNA quadruplexes, in GT‐strand oligonucleotides at nanomolar concentrations. The formation of DNA quadruplexes appears to involve the intermolecular association of GT‐strands. The minimal DNA‐binding domain of RAP1 (DBD) binds only to double‐stranded DNA, so that the novel DNA‐binding activity we have found involves regions of the protein located outside of the DBD. The finding that a telomeric protein promotes the formation of G‐tetrads argues for the use of DNA quadruplexes in telomere association.
Is There a Kuznets Curve in China’s Rural Area?—An Empirical Analysis on Provincial Panel Data

The academia always argue about whether there is a Kuznets curve for a long time, however, rare people care about Kuznets curve in countryside. The thesis first analyzes the possibility of the Kuznets curve in China’ rural area theoretically; and then based on the provincial panel data, the thesis adopts fixed effect and random effect models to analyze the relationship between China’s rural economic growth and income distribution inequality among rural residents, so as to verify whether the Kuznets curve is applicable in the rural area of our country. The results show that there is a Kuznets curve in the process of rural economic development in China, namely there is a reversed U-shaped relationship between rural economic growth and income inequality within rural residents. At the same time, the economic growth of most provinces has not yet reached the inflection point to reduce the income inequality degree.
Aggregate demand, sunk costs and discontinuous adjustments in an amended new consensus model

ABSTRACT In standard new consensus macroeconomics models, the impact of shocks disappears until the economy reaches a time-independent steady-state equilibrium. Introducing sunk costs and capital indivisibilities in capacity adjustment decisions implies the rejection of asymptotic stability and a reconsideration of the relevance and usefulness of traditional steady-state analysis based on a fixed and exogenous ‘center of gravity’. Moreover, effective demand and Keynesian discretionary policies regain a central role in economic policy by determining the transient equilibriums that emerge endogenously.
Regulatory Coordination between Two Major Intracellular Homeostatic Systems

Background: Both autophagy and the heat stress response represent protein management alternatives for the stressed cell. Their inter-relationship is not known. Results: Heat shock factor-1 knockdown increases and HSP70 overexpression inhibits autophagy in cell culture model. Preactivation of heat shock inhibits exercise-induced autophagy in humans. Conclusion: Heat shock response plays a negative role in autophagy regulation. Significance: Heat shock response regulates autophagy. The eukaryotic cell depends on multitiered homeostatic systems ensuring maintenance of proteostasis, organellar integrity, function and turnover, and overall cellular viability. At the two opposite ends of the homeostatic system spectrum are heat shock response and autophagy. Here, we tested whether there are interactions between these homeostatic systems, one universally operational in all prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells, and the other one (autophagy) is limited to eukaryotes. We found that heat shock response regulates autophagy. The interaction between the two systems was demonstrated by testing the role of HSF-1, the central regulator of heat shock gene expression. Knockdown of HSF-1 increased the LC3 lipidation associated with formation of autophagosomal organelles, whereas depletion of HSF-1 potentiated both starvation- and rapamycin-induced autophagy. HSP70 expression but not expression of its ATPase mutant inhibited starvation or rapamycin-induced autophagy. We also show that exercise induces autophagy in humans. As predicted by our in vitro studies, glutamine supplementation as a conditioning stimulus prior to exercise significantly increased HSP70 protein expression and prevented the expected exercise induction of autophagy. Our data demonstrate for the first time that heat shock response, from the top of its regulatory cascade (HSF-1) down to the execution stages delivered by HSP70, controls autophagy thus connecting and coordinating the two extreme ends of the homeostatic systems in the eukaryotic cell.
Algorithms for computational solvent mapping of proteins

Computational mapping methods place molecular probes (small molecules or functional groups) on a protein surface to identify the most favorable binding positions by calculating an interaction potential. We have developed a novel computational mapping program called CS‐Map (computational solvent mapping of proteins), which differs from earlier mapping methods in three respects: (i) it initially moves the ligands on the protein surface toward regions with favorable electrostatics and desolvation, (ii) the final scoring potential accounts for desolvation, and (iii) the docked ligand positions are clustered, and the clusters are ranked on the basis of their average free energies. To understand the relative importance of these factors, we developed alternative algorithms that use the DOCK and GRAMM programs for the initial search. Because of the availability of experimental solvent mapping data, lysozyme and thermolysin are considered as test proteins. Both DOCK and GRAMM speed up the initial search, and the combined algorithms yield acceptable mapping results. However, the DOCK‐based approaches place the consensus site farther from its experimentally determined position than CS‐Map, primarily because of the lack of a solvation term in the initial search. The GRAMM‐based program also finds the correct consensus site for thermolysin. We conclude that good sampling is the most important requirement for successful mapping, but accounting for desolvation and clustering of ligand positions also help to reduce the number of false positives. Proteins 2003;51:340–351. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Opposite influences of host anaemia on blood feeding rate and fecundity of mosquitoes

SUMMARY We tested a theoretical model based on the physics of capillary flow and confirmed that anaemia accelerates blood intake in the yellow-fever mosquito, Aedes aegypti (L.). We also investigated the influence of anaemic blood on egg production of mosquitoes and found that it has a negative influence on fecundity. Based strictly on egg production and the physics of fluid intake, we propose that although anaemia associated with blood-borne parasites may be detrimental to mosquitoes that can engorge to repletion in one session, it may be beneficial to those interrupted before repletion because the greater quantity of the bloodmeal may compensate for its lower quality. Epidemiological consequences are discussed but require further inquiry.
First-order contests for second-order parties? Differentiated candidate nomination strategies in European Parliament elections

Abstract This article examines an alternative logic for candidate renomination to the European Parliament (EP), based upon the size and ideological nature of a Member of the European Parliament’s (MEP’s) home party, as well as timing of EP elections. I derive expectations from the second-order election hypothesis to show that parties from outside of the national mainstream should expect to benefit disproportionately from EP elections and therefore renominate experienced incumbents at higher rates. Using original data on the career behaviour of MEPs during the 2009 and 2014 elections, I find that such parties are more likely to treat EP contests as ‘first order’ in their importance, particularly when European elections are held during the midterm period of the national election cycle. My findings have new implications for the differentiated volatility of the EP, specifically, as well as for internal party dynamics in multi-level systems, more generally.
TENB2, a proteoglycan identified in prostate cancer that is associated with disease progression and androgen independence

TENB2 encodes a putative transmembrane proteoglycan, related to the EGF/heregulin family of growth factors and follistatin, which has been identified through the application of a differential display technique to a xenograft model of prostate cancer. Northern analysis and competitive PCR were used to demonstrate significantly increased TENB2 expression (p = 0.0003) on the acquisition of androgen independence in the model system. TENB2 is also overexpressed in clinical prostate carcinoma vs. its benign counterpart (p < 0.0001), with particular prominence in high‐grade tumours, and shows a high degree of tissue specificity, being detected on a multitissue Northern array exclusively in brain and prostate material. Studies of recombinant protein expression demonstrate that TENB2 is a chondroitin sulphate proteoglycan. The presence of an EGF and 2 follistatin domains suggests a role in the regulation of growth factor signalling either as a ligand precursor, a membrane‐bound receptor or as a binding protein for growth factors. These data are indicative of a significant role for TENB2 in the progression of poorly differentiated tumour types, with implications for prostate cancer detection, prognosis and therapy. © 2001 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Diabetes Mellitus and Risk of Hepatocellular Carcinoma

The occurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is two to three times higher in patients with diabetes mellitus (DM), the prevalence of which is increasing sharply worldwide. The purpose of this review was to describe clinical links between DM and HCC and potential biological mechanisms that may account for this association. We evaluated the role of potential pathways that could account for the development of HCC with different etiologies in the presence of DM. In addition, we also briefly discuss the potential effect of other factors such as type and dosage of antidiabetic medicines and duration of DM on HCC risk.
Isolation of placental cadherin cDNA: identification of a novel gene family of cell‐cell adhesion molecules.

Ca2+‐dependent cell–cell adhesion molecules, termed cadherins, are classified into subclasses with different tissue distributions and distinct cell–cell binding specificities. We report the cloning of cDNA encoding a cadherin present in the placenta which is called P‐cadherin. The deduced sequence encodes a polypeptide of 822 amino acids with the characteristic features of integral membrane proteins. A computer search of the amino acid sequence homology of P‐cadherin against itself showed that this molecule contains internal repeats in the extracellular domain. Comparison of the primary structure of P‐cadherin with that of the epithelial cadherin (E‐cadherin) showed that there is 58% homology in their amino acid sequences. These results provide evidence for our hypothesis that cadherins constitute a gene family.
Endonasal Laser-Assisted Dacryocystorhinostomy

Dacryocystorhinostomy is a procedure that is performed to allow drainage of tears from the lacrimal sac directly into the nasal cavity. Endonasal telescopes facilitate performance of this operation with better visualization and decreased morbidity. We present our experience with endoscopic laser-assisted DCR. In the last 31 months, we have performed 31 procedures on 23 patients with either the holmium: YAG laser or the argon: HGM laser. We have a 97% overall success rate with a mean follow-up of 16 months. Our series includes both adult and pediatric patients as well as five revision procedures after failed external DCR. We present our technique, results, and the reasons for our change in laser delivery systems. Most importantly, we discuss the technical factors that contribute to our overall success. These include a large rhinostomy size, simultaneous correction of intranasal and/or sinus pathology, the avoidance of laser use within the lacrimal sac, and close postoperative monitoring with intranasal debridement. We conclude that endoscopic laser-assisted DCR is a better alternative to standard external DCR because it avoids a cutaneous scar, excessive tissue injury, and postoperative morbidity.
Sex differences in insomnia: a meta-analysis.

STUDY OBJECTIVE Most but not all epidemiologic evidence suggests a female predisposition of insomnia. We applied meta-analytic methods to investigate sex differences in the risk of insomnia among the published epidemiologic studies. DESIGN Meta-analysis with Comprehensive Meta-Analysis (Englewood, NJ); 9 different analyses were performed to investigate the sex difference of insomnia among different conditions. SETTING A comprehensive search of the medical literature databases was performed to identify epidemiologic studies of insomnia. A rolling snowball method was also used. PARTICIPANTS General population. INTERVENTIONS N/A. RESULT Thirty-one related papers were found, but 2 studies only reported the subtype prevalence of insomnia. All other studies (1,265,015 participants, female/male: 718,828/546,187) were included in the overall analysis of insomnia. A risk ratio of 1.41 [95% confidence interval: 1.28-1.55] for female versus male was found. The female excess in the risk of insomnia in large and quality studies was much higher than that of small and nonquality studies. The trend of female predisposition was consistent and progressive across age, with more significance in the elderly. The use of various criteria and frequency and duration of insomnia did not influence the predisposition of female in the risk of developing insomnia. Although obvious female excess in the risk of insomnia exists among different regions, there was a relatively lower female excess in East Asia. CONCLUSION This meta-analysis confirmed a female predisposition of insomnia. Further studies will be needed to examine the roles of different factors in leading to the sex difference of insomnia.
Negative feedback loop formed by Lunatic fringe and Hes7 controls their oscillatory expression during somitogenesis

Recent studies show that the cyclic expression of Lfng in the presomitic mesoderm (PSM) is controlled at the transcription level by Notch signal through the CBF1 binding site for activation and periodic repression on the Lfng promoter. Here we provide genetic evidence that the oscillatory expression is controlled by a negative feedback mechanism. We also show that Hes7, another cyclically expressed protein, can bind to the N‐boxes on both Lfng and its own promoters and repress their activity. In addition, we demonstrate that the 3′ untranslated region (3′‐UTR) is important for rapid degradation of Lfng mRNA. genesis 43:196–204, 2005. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Ruptured Achilles tendons show increased lectin stainability.

PURPOSE To ascertain whether lectins could be a useful tool for investigation of the extracellular matrix of degenerated and normal tendons. METHODS Hematoxylin-eosin-stained slides were assessed blindly using a semiquantitative grading scale for fiber structure, fiber arrangement, rounding of the nuclei, regional variations in cellularity, increased vascularity, decreased collagen stainability, hyalinization, and glycosaminoglycan, with a pathology score giving up to three marks per each of the above variables, with 0 being normal and 3 being maximally abnormal. For lectin staining with Aleuria aurantia, Canavalia ensiformis, Galanthus nivalis, Phaseolus vulgaris, Arachis hypogea, Sambucus nigra, and Triticum vulgaris, assessment of staining on a scale from 0 (no staining) to 5 (strong staining) was performed blindly. RESULTS The mean pathology sum score of ruptured tendons (N = 14; average age 46.5 yr, range 29-61) was significantly greater than the mean pathology score of the control tendons of Achilles tendons from individuals with no known tendon pathology (N = 16; average age 62.5 yr, range 49-73) (pathology score: 18.5 +/- 3.2 vs 6.1 +/- 2.3). Four of the seven lectins used exhibited significantly positive results. CONCLUSIONS Ruptured tendons were histologically significantly more degenerated than control tendons. Ruptured tendons showed different lectin staining properties than nonruptured ones. This difference may have resulted from posttranslational changes in the extracellular matrix producing alterations in the biochemistry of the tendon, which might interfere with the interaction with the lateral sugar residues of the collagen molecules or cause steric blockade.
Influence of child rearing by grandparent on the development of children aged six to twelve years.

OBJECTIVE To investigate the influence of child rearing by grandparent on the development of children aged six to twelve years. MATERIAL AND METHOD A cross-sectional study was conducted in 320 children that were cared for by a parent and grandparent selected by cluster sampling. The data were collected between March 10 and April 8, 2006 by questionnaire about child and family factors. The TONI-III test was used to test the child development. Data were analyzed by frequency distribution, logistic regression, and multiple logistic regression. RESULTS Child caregiver had a significant influence on child development (p-value < 0.05). Children reared by a grandparent had 2.0 times higher chance of having delayed development compared with those who were reared by the parent. In addition, significant family factors that had impact on the child development were child rearing and family income. CONCLUSION Child rearing by a grandparent had 2.0 times higher chance of having delayed development than those reared by the parent. Therefore, family and health personnel should plan to ensure the development and learning process of children that are cared by the grandparent.