Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Persistência na variância e quebras estruturais nas séries de preços das frutas no mercado produtor de Juazeiro (BA)

The aim of this paper was to verify the persistence on variance and the occurrence of structural breaks in the time series of fruits prices at the Juazeiro Producer Market (JPM-BA), given the simultaneity of these facts that undermine the efficiency of the financial risk management models that consider variance as a measure of this risk. The price of 21 fruits was collected from the JPM-BA Administration, in R$/kg, monthly, between January/2001 and December/2014, totalling 168 observations per fruit. The GARCH (1,1) model was used to identify the persistence on variance and a pure Markov Switching (MS) variance model to identify the structural breaks. Regarding persistence on variance, only two fruits showed signs of structural breaks on their variance. On the structural breaks, the pure MS variance model was able to deal better with heteroscedasticity than the GARCH (1,1) model, mainly regarding the expected duration of the high volatility due to the shocks. Therefore, the study pointed to a low incidence of these phenomena in the fruits of JPM-BA, suggesting certain “immunity” to the Brazilian and international macroeconomic changes that occurred between 2001 and 2014.
Polarity switching of ovarian cancer cell clusters via SRC family kinase is involved in the peritoneal dissemination

Peritoneal dissemination is a predominant pattern of metastasis in patients with advanced ovarian cancer. Despite recent progress in the management strategy, peritoneal dissemination remains a determinant of poor ovarian cancer prognosis. Using various histological types of patient‐derived ovarian cancer organoids, the roles of the apicobasal polarity of ovarian cancer cell clusters in peritoneal dissemination were studied. First, it was found that both ovarian cancer tissues and ovarian organoids showed apicobasal polarity, where zonula occludens‐1 (ZO‐1) and integrin beta 4 (ITGB4) served as markers for apical and basal sides, respectively. The organoids in suspension culture, as a model of cancer cell cluster floating in ascites, showed apical‐out/basal‐in polarity status, while once embedded in extracellular matrix (ECM), the organoids switched their polarity to apical‐in/basal‐out. This polarity switch was accompanied by the SRC kinase family (SFK) phosphorylation and was inhibited by SFK inhibitors. SFK inhibitors abrogated the adherence of the organoids onto the ECM‐coated plastic surface. When the organoids were seeded on a mesothelial cell layer, they cleared and invaded mesothelial cells. In vivo, dasatinib, an SFK inhibitor, suppressed peritoneal dissemination of ovarian cancer organoids in immunodeficient mice. These results suggest SFK‐mediated polarity switching is involved in peritoneal metastasis. Polarity switching would be a potential therapeutic target for suppressing peritoneal dissemination in ovarian cancer.
Effect of astragaloside IV on the immunoregulatory function of adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells from patients with psoriasis vulgaris.

OBJECTIVE To compare the phenotype and adipogenic and osteogenic differentiation capacities of adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (AMSCs) isolated from patients with psoriasis vulgaris and healthy donors, and to explore the effects of astragaloside IV, a Traditional Chinese Medicine, on the immunoregulatory function of AMSCs. METHODS AMSCs were isolated from human adipose tissue and cultured for three generations in vitro. Cell phenotype and cell cycle analysis were performed by flow cytometry. Adipogenic and osteogenic differentiation of AMSCs was examined by lipid (oil red O) and alkaline phosphatase staining, respectively. Expression of inflammatory mediators was examined by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction analysis, and proliferation was quantified using the cell counting kit-8 assay. RESULTS Expression of CD29, CD44, and CD73 was higher in AMSCs from healthy donors than psoriasis patients, while the reverse was true for expression of CD45, CD31, and HLA-DR. AMSCs from psoriasis patients had a greater ability to undergo adipogenic differentiation than cells from healthy donors, whereas there was no significant difference in osteogenic differentiation between AMSCs from the two sources. Compared with AMSCs from healthy donors, psoriasis patient-derived AMSCs expressed lower levels of the anti-inflammatory cytokines interleukin-10 and trans-forming growth factor-β (TGF-β) and the immune checkpoint ligand programmed cell death 1 ligand 1 (PD-L1) (P < 0.05) and higher levels of the pro-inflammatory cytokines tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interferon-γ (IFN-γ). Incubation of AMSCs from psoriasis patients with astragaloside IV had no significant effect on pro-liferation but increased the expression of TGF-β and PD-L1 and decreased the expression of IFN-γ and TNF-α. CONCLUSION AMSCs from patients with psoriasis vulgaris display abnormal proliferation and adipogenesis and an enhanced pro-inflammatory phenotype. These defects were normalized by treatment with astragaloside IV, suggesting that this Traditional Chinese Medicine may be useful for restoring the immunoregulatory function of AMSCs and immune homeostasis in patients with psoriasis vulgaris.
Mitochondrial DNA copy number, metabolic syndrome, and insulin sensitivity: Insights from the Sugar, Hypertension, and Physical Exercise studies

Mitochondrial DNA copy number (mtDNA-CN) measured in blood has been associated with many aging-related diseases, with higher mtDNA-CN typically associated with lower disease risk. Exercise training is an excellent preventative tool against aging-related disorders and has been shown to increase mitochondrial function in muscle. Using the Sugar, Hypertension, and Physical Exercise cohorts (N = 105), we evaluated the effect of 6-months of exercise intervention on mtDNA-CN measured in blood. Although there was no significant relationship between exercise intervention and mtDNA-CN change (P = 0.29), there was a nominally significant association between mtDNA-CN and metabolic syndrome (P = 0.04), which has been seen in previous literature. We also identified a nominally significant association between higher mtDNA-CN and higher insulin sensitivity (P = 0.02).
Design procedure against thermomechanical fatigue damage of RF–MEMS switch

The RF–MEMS switch undergoes a complex loading in service, including nonlinear electromechanical excitation, heating and alternate contact between electrodes. Thermomechanical coupling makes aggressive fatigue damage, and requires a suitable strategy to effectively predict the MEMS life. This paper assesses a suitable procedure to predict the microswitch behaviour, to define a suitable range of load and temperature, in operation, against the thermomechanical damages and provides a design criterion looking compatible with set-ups of some commercial products. Structural mechatronics, RF-MEMS switch, thermomechanical fatigue, buckling, multi-physics
Network resonance can be generated independently at distinct levels of neuronal organization

Resonance is defined as maximal response of a system to periodic inputs in a limited frequency band. Resonance may serve to optimize inter-neuronal communication, and has been observed at multiple levels of neuronal organization. However, it is unknown how neuronal resonance observed at the network level is generated and how network resonance depends on the properties of the network building blocks. Here, we first develop a metric for quantifying spike timing resonance in the presence of background noise, extending the notion of spiking resonance for in vivo experiments. Using conductance-based models, we find that network resonance can be inherited from resonances at other levels of organization, or be intrinsically generated by combining mechanisms across distinct levels. Resonance of membrane potential fluctuations, postsynaptic potentials, and single neuron spiking can each be generated independently of resonance at any other level and be propagated to the network level. At all levels of organization, interactions between processes that give rise to low- and high-pass filters generate the observed resonance. Intrinsic network resonance can be generated by the combination of filters belonging to different levels of organization. Inhibition-induced network resonance can emerge by inheritance from resonance of membrane potential fluctuations, and be sharpened by presynaptic high-pass filtering. Our results demonstrate a multiplicity of qualitatively different mechanisms that can generate resonance in neuronal systems, and provide analysis tools and a conceptual framework for the mechanistic investigation of network resonance in terms of circuit components, across levels of neuronal organization.
Designing and Implementing a Single-Phase Row-Column-Parallel Sparse Matrix Vector Multiplication Algorithm based on 2D Matrix Partitioning

One-dimensional (1D) partitioning of sparse matrices results in lower quality partitioning than two-dimensional (2D) partitionings in the context of parallel sparse matrix vector multiply (SpMxV) operations. However, 2D partitioning schemes incur two communication phases. We propose a novel sparse matrix partitioning scheme which achieves a single communication phase as in 1D schemes and partitions the nonzeros with a flexibility close to that in 2D schemes. In the proposed partitioning scheme, a nonzero is assigned to either the receiver or the sender processor associated with the related input-or output-vector entries. We observe that a fine-grain partitioning should satisfy this constraint for most of the nonzeros. Based on this observation, we propose a simple yet effective heuristic to obtain such a partition in two steps. In the first step, we obtain partitions on the rows, columns, and nonzeros of the given matrix using some known methods. In the second step, we refine the nonzero partition such that the aforementioned constraint is met while keeping the row and column partitions obtained in the first step intact. We demonstrate that the proposed partitioning scheme improves the performance of parallel SpMxV operations both in theory and practice with respect to 1D and 2D partitionings.
Immunomodulation - hope for patient with Glioblastoma Multiforme

Glioblastoma multiforme is the most common and highly aggressive brain tumor, causing high number of death worldwide. Current therapies are not sufficient for patients. The surgical removal followed by radio- and chemotherapy became golden standard. Overall survival is still disappointing. New approach to GBM therapy is required . Immunotherapy seems to be a proper direction.
Quantifying Uncertanties Assoeiatf!d With Climate Variaihlity and Climate Change Studies: the

as a result, droughtis the commonest phenomenon in this country. One of the drought and climatologic drought's definitions is as follow. If the precipitalion is less than average during long-term períod, it is called drought. The drQught of northwestem of lran which is due to the shortage of precipitation has caused starvation and poverty.First, the research framework, theoretical principie, and study of precipitalion fluctuations, trend, temperature, humidity, wind, évapotranspiration of stations are under study. Then lhe precipitation correlation between stationsand"precipitatibn andtemPerature correlation with respect to altitudes have been studied. In order to determine lhe reasons of drought in the region which is under study, primaríly, lhe fluctuations of time,. frequency and degree of drought as per Z score have been examined whieh prove in statistical and synopticnetwork that due to simultaneous drought in regionin terms of severity, ~kness frequency, time,location at different stations are different. And later on study of reasons of drought with regard to lhe paltem movement of general circulation of Climate with Tel connection which results in changing in paltem pressure in regian and movement of circumpolar westem line and blocking systems by benefiting from normal distribution probability the retum period 2,5,20,100,1000 were determiried and the 'occurrence of probability in distribution 0/020 & 80%was calculated and retum period with ~year'dróUghtrange and 5-year humid period range.
,B-Adrenergic Stimulation of c-fos Gene Expression in the Mouse Submandibular Gland

Isoproterenol (IPR), a 0-adrenergic agonist, induces division of acinar cells in the parotid and submandibular glands of adult rodents and produces hyperplastic and hypertrophic enlargements of these organs. We analyzed the effects of IPR on thymidine incorporation, c-fos mRNA levels, and the immunocytochemical localization of c-fos protein in the submandibular glands of adult and of 5- and 14-day-old mice. In the glands of untreated mice c-fos transcripts were not detectable. In all experimental groups, administration of IPR led to a rapid, transient increase in the c-fos mRNA level. Propranolol blocked the IPR effect, while treatment with IPR and cycloheximide led to superinduction. We observed no correlation between the effect of IPR on cell replication or organ growth and stimulation of c-fos expression, and conclude that the latter is the result of 0-adrenergic receptor-IPR interaction. The c-fos protein was localized immunocytochemically in both the cytoplasm and the nuclei of acinar cells and in the nuclei of duct cells. The
Developmental trajectory of movement-evoked cortical oscillations during REM sleep in pre-term and full-term human infants

Newborn infants spend 50% of their time in active sleep (precursor to REM sleep). This vigilance state is characterised by frequent isolated limb movements, which in neonatal animal models provide early proprioceptive input to the immature somatosensory system and are somatotopically encoded in the cortex by fast alpha-beta oscillations (8-20 Hz) until the equivalent of human full-term. Similar neural patterns have been identified following isolated limb movements in very pre-term human infants, but it is unknown whether they too persist until full-term age. In a cohort of 19 pre-term and term neonates (31-42 corrected gestational weeks) we showed that these same somatotopically distributed oscillations continue to occur after isolated hand movements well into the perinatal period (paired tests comparing epochs pre- and post-movement p ≤ .030), but disappear at 40 weeks corrected gestational age (equivalent to the end of gestation) (r - .253, p = .002). We also showed that these highly localised alpha-beta oscillations are associated with a more diffuse increase in delta oscillations which extends to the superior frontal area and does not decline with age. These results suggest that the frequent movements during active sleep prior to full-term could have an important role in somatomotor developmental programming, representing a fundamental mechanism of somatosensory maturation during the equivalent of the third trimester of human gestation.
Preparation and Electrochemical Performance of Ordered Mesoporous Si/C Composite for Anode Material

: U sing SBA-15 of SiO 2 template as precursor, a bundle-shaped ordered mesoporous nanoarchitecture Si/C composite (OMP-Si/C) was successfully assembled 2D-directionally by a magnesiothermic reduction reaction (MRR) route and the ensuing carbon-coating modification processing, and the MRR process of the SBA-15 was investigated in depth, the electrochemical performance of as-prepared OMP  Si/C composites was tested. Analysis based on XRD data reveals the presence of a reaction path of Mg 2 Si intermediate phase in MRR process, on which a T  t (reaction temperature-reaction time) phase transition diagram is proposed. DSC/TG analysis shows that Mg particles may melt below its melting point (648 ℃ ) upon reaction, and in liquid-solid reaction pattern react with SiO 2 via melting  reaction teamwork. Observed from FE-SEM, SBA-15 column units are validated to assemble into a lotus-root-chain-bundle shaped nanoarchitecture of ordered mesoporous silicon, which can effectively offset the drastic volume change of Si material inherent in the charge/discharge process, and exhibit excellent cycling stability and rate capability. Based on the micro-fluid field assembling mechanism, the two-dimensional directional assembly process can be reasonably interpreted.
PEDIATRIC UROLOGY Incidence of Complications Following Thermocautery-assisted Circumcisions

Purpose: This study aimed to examine the short- and long-term complications of thermocautery-assisted circumcisions. Materials and Methods: A total of 1780 children who consecutively underwent thermocautery-assisted circumcisions from May 2014 to May 2016 in Yuksekova State Hospital in Turkey were included in this study. These children were classified into perioperative, early postoperative, and long-term complication groups. In addition, the age groups were compared in terms of complications. Results: The patient age and surgical duration means were 4.16 ± 3.805 years old and 6.14 ± 1.703 minutes, respectively. Complications were observed in twelve patients, or 0.6% of the whole observation set. One patient exhibited bleeding and was included in the perioperative complications group. Four patients were included in the early postoperative complications group; three of them had bleeding and one had an infection. Finally, three patients had trapped penises, two patients had meatitis, one patient had a delayed wound healing issue, and one had a glans-skin bridge. These seven patients fell into the long-term complications group. The patients younger than 3 years old had significantly higher complication rates when compared to the older patients, and this comparison was statistically significant ( P = 0.001). Conclusion: The results showed that thermocautery-assisted circumcision is a safe and efficient surgical technique for use in children.
Socio-Economic Variables Influences on Students Academic Performance in Agricultural Science in Secondary Schools in Emohua LGA of Rivers State, Nigeria

The study focused on socio-economic variables influences on student academic performance in agricultural science in secondary schools in Emohua LGA of Rivers State Nigeria. Multi-stage sampling technique was used to sample 300 students’ respondents through structured questionnaires and personal interviews. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics such as likert scale and one-way ANOVA. The results showed that few students 71.7% walked about 2 km distances to school, the large number of children in the family (87%) made it difficult for parents to be able to pay the fees of students as at when due making the students to be sent back home and/or punished which leads to outright failure in the class including agricultural science as a subject. The study also accepted the alternative hypothesis that socio-economic variables influenced the academic performance of the students using four point likert scale analysis. The results also showed that family income with a mean of (3.03), parent economic status (2.95), parents’ poverty level (3.57) and lack of social amenities (2.65) were significant factors that influenced the students in agricultural science. The study further found out that parents’ poverty level influenced the academic performance of students’ in agricultural science at 5% level of significance using one-way ANOVA. Therefore, the academic performance of secondary school students in agricultural science is influenced by socio-economic variables such as family income, parents’ poverty level, lack of social amenities, large number of children in the household, trekking long distances to school, etc. in Emohua LGA of Rivers State.
Shar (cid:1) ı ʿ ah governance and agency dynamics of Islamic banking operations in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Purpose – This study aims to investigate and point out the variations of agency theory in the context of Shar (cid:1) ı ʿ ah governance in Islamic banking operations in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). Design/methodology/approach – The study followed the approach of quantitative Corporate Governance Index (CGI) by computing the Gov-index (Gompers et al ., 2003) and the Gov-score (Brown and Caylor, 2004; Saffieddine, 2009) to examine corporate governance (CG) issues using primary as well as secondary data. The primary data was generated from three full-fledged Islamic banks (IBs) and nine traditional banks with Islamic banking wings, all operating in the KSA. The approach was to provide an insight into the agency structure in the context of Islamic banking, which may lead to a trade-off between the conformity of Shar (cid:1) ı ʿ ah (Islamic law) rules and processes followed in safeguarding the rights of investors. Findings – The majority of the Islamic banking services that are surveyed in this study acknowledge the significance of Shar (cid:1) ı ʿ ah governance and have implemented the fundamental methods, in conformity with this system. Certain flaws in Shar (cid:1) ı ʿ ah governance principles pertaining to audit, control and transparency are reported. Practical implications – The research outcomes will be invaluable to IBs aiming to improve existing SG practices.ItalsohasimplicationsforIBmanagerstodesignstrategieswhilecomplyingwithregulationsandto protect the interests of all investors without breaching the ethics of Shar (cid:1) ı ʿ ah. Originality/value – This paper adds original value to the body of knowledge on agency relationship by analysing the dynamics of agency theory in the unique and complex context of Shar (cid:1) ı ʿ ah governance of IBs or those offeringIslamic products in the KSA. The resultscan be used as a valuablefeedback for improvement of Shar (cid:1) ı ʿ ah governance in the banking system in the KSA and the Gulf region at large.
Devoid of Immunoproteasome Activity The Antiviral Immune Response in Mice

The replacement of the catalytically active proteasome subunits b 1, b 2, and b 5 by the immunoproteasome subunits low molecular mass polypeptide (LMP) 2 ( b 1i), multicatalytic endopeptidase complex-like–1 (MECL-1) ( b 2i), and LMP7 ( b 5i) is required for the production of numerous class I ligands. Hitherto, investigation of the immunoproteasome was conﬁned to the analysis of mice deﬁcient for one or two immunosubunits. In this study, we characterized LMP2 2 / 2 /MECL-1 2 / 2 double-deﬁcient mice and used the well-deﬁned LMP7-selective inhibitor ONX 0914 in these mice to generate mice lacking the activity of all immunoproteasome subunits. LMP2 2 / 2 /MECL-1 2 / 2 double-deﬁcient mice had strongly reduced numbers of CD8 + T cells in the spleen. Nevertheless, infection with the lymphocytic choriomeningits virus induced a normal cytotoxic T cell response in these mice, although the T cell response to several class I epitopes was altered. Treatment of LMP2 2 / 2 /MECL-1 2 / 2 double-deﬁcient mice with the LMP7-selective inhibitor ONX 0914 elicited a strong CTL response in lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus-infected mice. Thereby, the T CD8+ response to nucleoprotein 205–212, which is barely detectable in LMP2 2 / 2 /MECL-1 2 / 2 double-deﬁcient mice, could be reverted to normal levels by LMP7 inhibition. Additional experiments could demonstrate that the increased CTL response to the nucleoprotein 205–212 in mice lacking functional immunoproteasome is due to an altered class I presentation of this epitope. Taken together,