Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Comparative Multi-omic Mapping of Human Pancreatic Islet Endoplasmic Reticulum and Cytokine Stress Responses Provides Insights into Type 2 Diabetes Genetics

Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and inflammatory stress responses are two pathophysiologic factors contributing to islet dysfunction and failure in Type 2 Diabetes (T2D). However, how human islet cells respond to these stressors and whether T2D-associated genetic variants modulate these responses is unknown. To fill this knowledge gap, we profiled transcriptional (RNA-seq) and epigenetic (ATAC-seq) remodeling in human islets exposed to ex vivo ER (thapsigargin) or inflammatory (IL-1β+IFN-γ) stress. 5,427 genes (∼32%) were associated with stress responses; most were stressor-specific, including upregulation of genes mediating unfolded protein response (e.g. DDIT3, ATF4) and NFKB signaling (e.g. NFKB1, NFKBIA) in ER stress and cytokine-induced inflammation respectively. Islet single-cell RNA-seq profiling revealed strong but heterogeneous beta cell ER stress responses, including a distinct beta cell subset that highly expressed apoptotic genes. Epigenetic profiling uncovered 14,968 stress-responsive cis-regulatory elements (CREs; ∼14%), the majority of which were stressor-specific, and revealed increased accessibility at binding sites of transcription factors that were induced upon stress (e.g. ATF4 for ER stress, IRF8 for cytokine-induced inflammation). Eighty-six stress-responsive CREs overlapped known T2D-associated variants, including 20 residing within CREs that were more accessible upon ER stress. Among these, we linked the rs6917676 T2D risk allele (T) to increased in vivo accessibility of an islet ER stress-responsive CRE and allele-specific beta cell nuclear factor binding in vitro. We showed that MAP3K5, the only ER stress-responsive gene in this locus, promotes beta cell apoptosis. Consistent with its pro-apoptotic and putative diabetogenic roles, MAP3K5 expression inversely correlated with beta cell abundance in human islets and was induced in beta cells from T2D donors. Together, this study provides new genome-wide insights into human islet stress responses and putative mechanisms of T2D genetic variants.
Sarcomeric SRX:DRX Equilibrium in Alport and LDLR/P407 Mouse Models of HFpEF

Cardiac myosin energetic states that regulate heart contractility define interactions of myosin cross-bridges with actin-containing thin filaments have been functionally linked with the pathology of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). In particular, the balance between the disordered relaxed (DRX) and super relaxed (SRX) states that correlate respectively with enhanced force and energy conservation significantly determine myocardial performance and energy utilization. Compelling evidence suggests that a balanced SRX and DRX states proportion is a prerequisite for long-term cardiac health. Whereas roles for altered SRX: DRX proportions in HCM have been studied in depth, the mechanics of sarcomeric dysfunction and SRX: DRX proportions have not been reported in models of acquired heart failure (HF) including HF with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). Here, we quantified SRX andDRX myosin populations in two mouse models of HFpEF, including Alport and LDLR/P407 mice that represent cardiorenal/hypertensive and cardiometabolic/hyperlipidemic mouse models of HFpEF, respectively. We report significant changes in the SRX:DRX in both HFpEF mouse models, with an increased DRX state associated with Alport mice and a stabilized SRX state associated with LDLR/P407 mice. These findings correlate respectively with the hypercontractility and metabolic dysregulation with bradycardia phenotypes.
Mapping Worlds: Frames of Reference in MalakMalak

In lieu of an abstract, here is a brief excerpt: This paper presents an analysis of spatial language, in particular, ‘Frames of Reference’ (FoR) utilizing elicitation, stimuli and natural discourse in fieldwork settings. The language in question is MalakMalak, a non-Pama-Nyungan Northern Daly language with eleven identified remaining speakers mainly based in the Daly River Region in Australia.
Aceriphyllum rossii Exerts Lipid-Lowering Action in Both Normal and Hyperlipidemic Mice

This study aimed to evaluate the lipid-lowering effect of the MeOH extract of Aceriphyllum rossii and its CHCl3 fraction, as well as its inhibitory activity on DGAT in vitro, in normal and hyperlipidemic mice. We separated the MeOH extract of A. rossii into two portions, a CHCl3-soluble part and the remaining water residue, and performed DGAT enzymatic activity assay on them. Further assessment carried out to reveal that the MeOH extract and its CHCl3 fraction suppress the intestinal TG absorption after an acute lipid challenge, and ameliorate hyperlipidemia as well as obesity-related parameters (body weight gain, serum lipid profiles, and several adipose tissue weights) in HFD-induced obese mice. First, the MeOH extract and its CHCl3 fraction strongly inhibit DGAT1 and DGAT2 in vitro enzymatic activity. Second, the MeOH extract and the CHCl3 fraction inhibit intestinal TG absorption after an acute lipid challenge in mice. Finally, the CHCl3 fraction ameliorates various parameters of HFD-induced obesity mice, including body weight gain and serum levels of TG and glucose. Data obtained from the results obviously indicated that A. rossii prevents HFD-induced hyperlipidemia as well as obesity in mice possibly by inhibiting DGAT activity. We suggest that A. rossii MeOH extract and its CHCl3 fraction would be a useful material for the therapy of hyperlipidemia.
Learning Based Infinite Terrain Generation with Level of Detailing

Infinite terrain generation is an important use case for computer graphics, games and simulations. However, current techniques are often procedural which reduces their re-alism. We introduce a learning-based generative framework for infinite terrain generation along with a novel learning-based approach for level-of-detailing of terrains. Our framework seamlessly integrates with quad-tree-based terrain rendering algorithms. Our approach leverages image completion techniques for infinite generation and progressive super-resolution for terrain enhancement. Notably, we propose a novel quad-tree-based training method for terrain enhancement which enables seamless integration with quad-tree-based rendering algorithms while minimizing the errors along the edges of the enhanced terrain. Comparative evaluations against existing techniques demonstrate our framework’s ability to generate highly realistic terrain with effective level-of-detailing.
1 Executive summary

This analysis compares grades 3, 4, and 5 using ST Math for 1-2 years in schools supported by donors versus those not supported by donors, along with their accompanying matched control sets. All treatment groups, donor-supported and otherwise, outpeformed their matched controls. Schools supported by donors showed better implementation of the ST Math program compared to schools not supported by donors.
Formulation and quality analysis of detox drink

Cucumber, Lemon, Ginger, Mint leaves, Cinnamon and Apple cider Vinegar were optimized, blended in a Warring blender, for the formulation of standard and the extract was stored in a PET bottle under refrigerated temperature of 12 °C for 5 days. Two variants (V1 and V2) were prepared with added wheat grass at 0.5% and 1%. All the three beverages were evaluated for Physico-chemical and Sensory analysis (9 point hedonic scale). Marginal changes in acidity and Vitamin–C were observed. Vitamin-C (2.6mg) decreased and the acidity of the juice (1.89 – 2.11) increased progressively during the shelf life. The mean overall acceptability scores were above 8 on Day 1 and lessened throughout the storage period. The samples were rejected on the 5th day of storage (rejection score < 6). The product is recommended for obese and young people and is to be consumed within 3 days.
Spoiler Alert : Machine Learning Approaches to Detect Social Media Posts with Revelatory Information

Spoilers—critical plot information about works of fiction that “spoil” a viewer’s enjoyment—have prompted elaborate conventions on social media to allow readers to insulate themselves from spoilers. However, these solutions depend on the conscientiousness and rigor of Internet posters and are thus an imperfect system. We create an automatic alternative that could alert users when a piece of text contains a spoiler. An automated spoiler detector serves not only as an additional protection against spoilers, but it also contributes to important problems in computational linguistics. We develop a new dataset of spoilers gathered from social media and create automatic classifiers using machine learning techniques. After establishing baseline performance using lexical features, we develop metadata-based features that substantially improve performance on the spoiler detection task.
The Use and Effects of Explicit Reading Strategies in the EFL Classrooms of Upper-Secondary School

The study aims to investigate the impact of reading strategies within the EFL educational context. It emphasises their implementation within the educational context of English as a Foreign Language (EFL) in upper-secondary schools, addressing the current decline of adolescents’ reading comprehension in English. The study relies on peer-reviewed articles as the basis of the methodology, acquired through systematic searches in three databases: Education Research Complete (ERC), Education Research Information Centre (ERIC), SwePUB, and Libsearch. Several research articles were found through these databases, presenting differing perspectives and theories for the study. The study results reveal a discrepancy between teachers’ tacit awareness and explicit instruction of reading strategies, leading to the infrequent teaching of these strategies. When reading strategies were employed, the most common strategy was discussing with peers. The applied strategies positively impacted reading comprehension and motivation for further reading. The study later discusses the impact of teaching and using reading strategies on students’ reading comprehension and their preparedness for higher education. While examining and comparing the results, further research is warranted to determine which reading strategies are most beneficial for reading comprehension regarding the effectiveness of implementing explicit instructions to enhance students’ reading comprehension and motivation in a rapidly changing educational environment. The project concludes by providing reflections and guidance for implementing reading strategies, highlighting the need for explicit instruction of reading strategies tailored to students' extramural and professional/academic interests.
Managerial Overconfidence, Agency Problems, Financing Decisions and Firm Performance

We analyse the effects of managerial overconfidence on financing decisions and firm value when investors face managerial moral hazard. We consider two cases. In the first case, the manager may have an incentive to exert an inefficiently low level of effort in running the business (‘managerial shirking’). The manager may issue high debt as a commitment device (the increase in expected financial distress drives him to a higher effort level). An overconfident manager overestimates his ability, and underestimates financial distress costs. Therefore, our first model predicts a positive relationship between overconfidence and debt. However, the effect of overconfidence on firm value is ambiguous, and depends which factor (the positive effect of higher effort, or the negative effect of higher debt and higher expected financial distress) dominates. In the second case, the manager has an incentive to use free cash flow to invest in a new pet project that may be value-reducing (the free cash flow problem). In contrast to the first case, overconfidence may result in a decrease in debt (the rational manager knows that the new project is value-reducing and uses high debt to commit not to invest in it, while the overconfident manager perceives the new project as value-increasing, and reduces debt in order to make the investment). Again, the effect of overconfidence on firm value is ambiguous, since a project that may have been value-reducing under a rational manager may indeed be value-increasing under an overconfident manager, as the overconfident manager exerts higher effort. We conclude our analysis by conceptualising a model of “ excessive life-cycle debt sensitivity due to managerial overconfidence ” not previously explored in the literature.
A primer on partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM)

With applications using SmartPLS (www.smartpls.com)—the primary software used in partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM)—this practical guide provides concise instructions on how to use this evolving statistical technique to conduct research and obtain solutions. Featuring the latest research, new examples, and expanded discussions throughout, the Second Edition is designed to be easily understood by those with limited statistical and mathematical training who want to pursue research opportunities in new ways.
Connecting the Last Billion is a Solved Problem

— The problem of serving the critical digital connectivity needs of every person in the world is a solved problem. The key challenges of achieving critical mass and bringing down the costs to a level affordable even in very low income countries and communities can be met with current technology. Unfortunately, the solution is not acceptable to the telecommunications industry or its surrogates in government and community organizations. Thus we continue to pursue expensive strategies that are difficult to deploy globally but which conform to the assumptions and business models of the telecommunications industry. Those efforts may benefit the next billion unconnected individuals, but it will likely never reach the last billion --- those in the most remote, disrupted and economically disadvantaged communities, whose connectivity is delayed ad infinitum.
Bioinformatic Approaches to Detecting Copy Number Variation in Next Generation Sequencing Data for Clinical Diagnostics

Objective: To compare available analysis methods for determining fetal fraction on single read next generation sequencing data. This is important as the performance of non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT) procedures depends on the fraction of fetal DNA. Methods: We tested six diﬀerent methods for the detection of fetal fraction in NIPT samples. The same clinically obtained data were used for all methods, allowing us to assess the eﬀect of fetal fraction on the test result, and to investigate the use of fetal fraction for quality control. Results: We show that non-NIPT methods based on body mass index (BMI) and gestational age are unreliable predictors of fetal fraction, male pregnancy speciﬁc meth-ods based on read counts on the Y chromosome perform consistently and the fetal sex-independent new methods SeqFF and SANEFALCON are less reliable but can be used to obtain a basic indication of fetal fraction in case of a female fetus. Conclusion: We recommend the use of a combination of methods to prevent the issue of reports on samples with insuﬃcient fetal DNA; SANEFALCON to check for presence of fetal DNA, SeqFF for estimating the fetal fraction for a female pregnancy and any Y-based method for estimating the fetal fraction for a male pregnancy.
The Role of Democratic Transformational Leadership Style in Supporting Clan Organizational Culture

Leadership plays a critical role in achieving organizational success and shaping its culture. This paper investigates the role of leadership in shaping organizational culture, specifically within a leading automotive dealership in Indonesia aiming to strengthen its clan culture. This paper aims to evaluate the existing leadership approach in the company and identify a style that would better support a clan culture. Primary data for the study was gathered through a quantitative survey of 324 employees, selected using Slovin’s formula. The questionnaire model that was employed is the Vannsimpco Leadership Survey (VLS). The tools that were used for analysis are descriptive analysis and gap analysis. Results show that the organization predominantly exhibits an Autocratic-Transformational leadership approach. In contrast, the expected leadership style that emerged from the results is Democratic-Transactional. Based on the findings, the company is advised to strategically realign its leadership to a Democratic-Transformational style, emphasizing participative decision-making, open communication, and collaborative, employee-focused approaches to foster a clan culture.
Geographies of Biomass and Solar Energy: Spatial Decision Support for Regional Energy Sustainability

i Coauthorship ii Acknowledgements iii Statement of Originality v List of Figures x List of Tables xi List of Abbreviations xii Chapter 1 – Introduction 1. Background 2 2. Thesis objectives 3 2.1 Discussion of thesis objectives 4 2.2 Discussion of study area 7 3. Final opening remarks 10 References 12 Chapter 2 – What is energy geography? Perspectives on a fertile academic borderland
Análise da Evolução dos Discursos de Pré-candidatos à Presidente por meio de Representações Linguísticas Vetoriais

Comumente, os pré-candidatos aos cargos governamentais expressam suas opiniões e plataformas de campanha em discursos informais, previamente ao período oficial. Esse comportamento é essencial para que o eleitor conheça as ideologias e plataformas de campanha, de forma a tomar sua decisão de voto. No processo decisório, o eleitor pode considerar a semelhança entre discursos de diferentes candidatos, como o discurso varia ao longo do tempo, e qual a adequação do discurso aos temas mais relevantes para a sociedade. Entretanto, analisar e capturar tais aspectos a partir dos discursos informais é uma tarefa difícil para o eleitor, dado o volume de informação disponibilizada por diversos veículos de comunicação, e o viés político de alguns deles. Assim, nesse artigo, propomos uma ferramenta de análise de discurso político baseada em técnicas de Aprendizado de Representações Linguísticas para auxiliar o eleitor na sua decisão. Resultados obtidos a partir dos discursos dos pré-candidatos ao cargo de Presidente do Brasil em 2018 permitem verificar como os candidatos se comportam em termos de seus próprios discursos e dos discursos de seus concorrentes.
Evaluation of Muscle Long Non-Coding RNA Profile during Rearing and Finishing Phase of Bulls Subjected to Different Prenatal Nutritional Strategies

Simple Summary The study examines how different prenatal nutrition plans affect muscle development and epigenetic mechanisms in Nellore cows’ offspring. It looks at 63 male calves from cows given no supplementation (NP), partial supplementation (PP), or full supplementation (CP) during pregnancy. RNA sequencing showed no difference in epigenetic mechanisms, but did reveal 1823 transcripts at 15 months and 1533 at 22 months. Among these, a few showed differences between groups. Interestingly, while maternal nutrition didn’t affect epigenetic mechanisms directly, it seemed to influence how certain RNA molecules regulated them. Abstract Maternal nutrition has the ability of influence critical processes in fetal life, including muscle development. Also, in this period, epigenetic sensitivity to external stimuli is higher and produces long-lasting effects. Thus, the aim of this study was to investigate epigenetic mechanisms, including the identification and characterization of long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) from animals that had undergone different strategies of prenatal supplementation. A group of Nellore cows (n = 126) were separated into three nutritional plans: NP (control)—Not Programmed, without protein–energy supplementation; PP—Partially Programmed, protein–energy supplementation in the final third of pregnancy; and CP—Complete Programming, protein–energy supplementation during the full period of gestation. A total of 63 male offspring were used in this study, of which 15 (5 per treatment) had Longissimus thoracis muscle at 15 (biopsy) and 22 months (slaughter). Biopsy samples were subjected to RNA extraction and sequencing. Differential expression (DE) of remodeling factors and chromatin-modifying enzyme genes were performed. For the identification and characterization of lncRNA, a series of size filters and protein coding potential tests were performed. The lncRNAs identified had their differential expression and regulatory potential tested. Regarding DE of epigenetic mechanisms, no differentially expressed gene was found (p > 0.1). Identification of potential lncRNA was successful, identifying 1823 transcripts at 15 months and 1533 at 22 months. Among these, four were considered differentially expressed between treatments at 15 months and 6 were differentially expressed at 22 months. Yet, when testing regulatory potential, 13 lncRNAs were considered key regulators in the PP group, and 17 in the CP group. PP group lncRNAs possibly regulate fat-cell differentiation, in utero embryonic development, and transforming growth factor beta receptor, whereas lncRNA in the CP group regulates in utero embryonic development, fat-cell differentiation and vasculogenesis. Maternal nutrition had no effect on differential expression of epigenetic mechanisms; however, it seems to impair lncRNA regulation of epigenetics.
Características hidrogeomorfológicas das bacias hidrográficas dos rios Santa Maria do Rio Doce e Santa Joana/ES

Sediment generated by erosion in watersheds often are carried by rain to water bodies compromising water quality. The objective of this study was to perform a comparative assessment of the watersheds Santa Maria do Rio Doce and Santa Joana about the potential generation of sediment from hydrogeomorfophology analysis, hydrossedimentology analysis and mapping of erosion fragility on the watersheds. Characterization of watersheds identified existing environmental scenarios, emphasizing the main aspects that affect erosion processes, such as terrain slope, soil type, use and land cover, among others. Hydrogeomorphology analysis was performed from the morphometric drainage basin data of linear, areal and hypisographic parameters. it was also attempted to relate the results of hydrossedimentology with hydrogeomorfology analysis. The mapping of erosion fragility contributed to the spatial understanding of the main focus of erosion in river basins. Thus, sub-basins were suggested interventions for erosion control and hydrosedimentological monitoring. The weighted average of erosion fragility classes allowed a more direct comparison with the values obtained for other parameters analised. Results related with morphometric parameters and weighted average of erosion fragility classes suggest that the tendency of sediment yield per unit area of Santa Maria do Rio Doce river basin is slightly higher than the corresponding to the Santa Joana basin. Hydrosedimentological data, although limited to a few rain events, allowed a sense of solid transport in the river of the two main basins. Analysis methods used in the study proved to be important tools for understanding the erosive dynamics on watersheds and, therefore, important tools for future projects to improve the water quality of the studied watercourses.