Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Association Between Pituitary-Adrenal Axis Dominance Over the Renin-Angiotensin-Aldosterone System and Hypertension.

CONTEXT The hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and the renin-angiotensin aldosterone system (RAAS) are well known to be associated with hypertension. However, the extent of the effects is not yet well elucidated in general conditions. OBJECTIVE To separately determine the effect of the HPA axis and the RAAS on hypertension in a general population. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS A population-based study of 859 Japanese individuals enrolled in the 2014 Iwaki study and without hypertension or steroid treatment (age, 50.2 ± 14.7 years). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Hypertension prevalence, plasma concentration of aldosterone, ACTH, cortisol, and plasma renin activity. RESULTS Principal component (PC) analysis using these four hormones identified two PCs (PC1 and PC2), which represent levels of these hormones as a whole, and dominance between the HPA axis (ACTH and cortisol) and the RAAS (plasma renin activity and plasma concentration of aldosterone), respectively. Association between these PCs and hypertension was significant (PC1, high vs low, odds ratio [OR], 1.48; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.09-2.02; and PC2, HPA axis vs RAAS dominancy, OR, 2.08; and 95% CI, 1.51-2.85). However, association between the hormone levels as a whole and hypertension became insignificant after adjustment for multiple factors including these PCs together. However, association between the HPA axis dominance and hypertension remained significant even after the adjustment (the HPA axis vs the RAAS, OR, 1.73; 95% CI, 1.20-2.48). CONCLUSIONS The HPA axis dominance over the RAAS is significantly associated with hypertension in a Japanese population.
Genotoxicity of styrene–acrylonitrile trimer in brain, liver, and blood cells of weanling F344 rats

Styrene–acrylonitrile Trimer (SAN Trimer), a by‐product in production of acrylonitrile styrene plastics, was identified at a Superfund site in Dover Township, NJ, where childhood cancer incidence rates were elevated for a period of several years. SAN Trimer was therefore tested by the National Toxicology Program in a 2‐year perinatal carcinogenicity study in F344/N rats and a bacterial mutagenicity assay; both studies gave negative results. To further characterize its genotoxicity, SAN Trimer was subsequently evaluated in a combined micronucleus (MN)/Comet assay in juvenile male and female F344 rats. SAN Trimer (37.5, 75, 150, or 300 mg/kg/day) was administered by gavage once daily for 4 days. Micronucleated reticulocyte (MN‐RET) frequencies in blood were determined by flow cytometry, and DNA damage in blood, liver, and brain cells was assessed using the Comet assay. Highly significant dose‐related increases (P < 0.0001) in MN‐RET were measured in both male and female rats administered SAN Trimer. The RET population was reduced in high dose male rats, suggesting chemical‐related bone marrow toxicity. Results of the Comet assay showed significant, dose‐related increases in DNA damage in brain cells of male (P < 0.0074) and female (P < 0.0001) rats; increased levels of DNA damage were also measured in liver cells and leukocytes of treated rats. Chemical‐related cytotoxicity was not indicated in any of the tissues examined for DNA damage. The results of this subacute MN/Comet assay indicate induction of significant genetic damage in multiple tissues of weanling F344 male and female rats after oral exposure to SAN Trimer. Environ. Mol. Mutagen. 2012. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Value Versus Growth: The International Evidence

Value stocks have higher returns than growth stocks in markets around the world. For the period 1975 through 1995, the difference between the average returns on global portfolios of high and low book-to-market stocks is 7.68 percent per year, and value stocks outperform growth stocks in twelve of thirteen major markets. An international capital asset pricing model cannot explain the value premium, but a two-factor model that includes a risk factor for relative distress captures the value premium in international returns.
Mutations of Francisella novicida that Alter the Mechanism of Its Phagocytosis by Murine Macrophages

Infection with the bacterial pathogen Francisella tularensis tularensis (F. tularensis) causes tularemia, a serious and debilitating disease. Francisella tularensis novicida strain U112 (abbreviated F. novicida), which is closely related to F. tularensis, is pathogenic for mice but not for man, making it an ideal model system for tularemia. Intracellular pathogens like Francisella inhibit the innate immune response, thereby avoiding immune recognition and death of the infected cell. Because activation of inflammatory pathways may lead to cell death, we reasoned that we could identify bacterial genes involved in inhibiting inflammation by isolating mutants that killed infected cells faster than the wild-type parent. We screened a comprehensive transposon library of F. novicida for mutant strains that increased the rate of cell death following infection in J774 macrophage-like cells, as compared to wild-type F. novicida. Mutations in 28 genes were identified as being hypercytotoxic to both J774 and primary macrophages of which 12 were less virulent in a mouse infection model. Surprisingly, we found that F. novicida with mutations in four genes (lpcC, manB, manC and kdtA) were taken up by and killed macrophages at a much higher rate than the parent strain, even upon treatment with cytochalasin D (cytD), a classic inhibitor of macrophage phagocytosis. At least 10-fold more mutant bacteria were internalized by macrophages as compared to the parent strain if the bacteria were first fixed with formaldehyde, suggesting a surface structure is required for the high phagocytosis rate. However, bacteria were required to be viable for macrophage toxicity. The four mutant strains do not make a complete LPS but instead have an exposed lipid A. Interestingly, other mutations that result in an exposed LPS core were not taken up at increased frequency nor did they kill host cells more than the parent. These results suggest an alternative, more efficient macrophage uptake mechanism for Francisella that requires exposure of a specific bacterial surface structure(s) but results in increased cell death following internalization of live bacteria.
On the capacity of strong asynchronous multiple access channels with a large number of users

This paper studies the impact of block asynchronism on the capacity of a slotted Multiple Access Channel (MAC) whose number of users K<sub>n</sub> increases with the blocklength n. In a slotted strong-asynchronous MAC, the K<sub>n</sub> users have independent transmission start times that are integer multiples of n (slotted) which are uniformly distributed on a window of length A<sub>n</sub> = e<sup>nα</sup> (strong-asynchronism). All users' messages as well as transmission times need to be reliably decoded at the single receiver. We show that for K<sub>n</sub> = e<sup>nν</sup> with ν > α, not even synchronization is possible when transmitting a single message per user. We also show that for K<sub>n</sub> = e<sup>ν</sup> with ν = o(n), each user can achieve its point-to-point asynchronous capacity, which is a trivial upper bound for the capacity of the MAC. Finally, achievable rates for K<sub>n</sub> = e<sup>nν</sup>. with 0 <; ν <; α/2 are derived.
Catalytic capsids: the art of confinement

In the cell, enzymes are almost always spatially confined in crowded and tightly controlled cellular compartments. The entrapment of enzymes in artificial nanoreactors as biomimetic systems can be expected to contribute to the understanding of the activity and the interactions of enzymes in confined spaces. The capsid of the Cowpea Chlorotic Mottle virus (CCMV) represents such an artificial nanoreactor that can be used to encapsulate multiple proteins in its interior. Employing a controlled encapsulation process we are able to load a precise number of proteins (Pseudozyma antarctica lipase B and EGFP) into the CCMV capsid and to study their activity. In the case of the enzyme, our results indicate that the apparent overall reaction rate increases upon encapsulation and is almost independent of the number of enzymes in the capsid. These observation are the result of the extremely high confinement molarity of the enzyme inside the capsid (Mconf = ∼ 1 mM) leading to very rapid formation of the enzyme–substrate complex. These results highlight the importance of small volumes for efficient multi-enzyme cascade catalysis.
The effects of planning on second language (L2) learners’ narrative oral production / Guo Zhonglan

Recently, researches concerning task planning and its effects on second language (L2) learners’ speaking performance have demonstrated that planning can generally enhance learners’ speaking performance (Abdi, Eslami & Zahedi, 2012; Ahangari & Abdi, 2011; Bagheri & Hamrang, 2013; Crookes, 1989; Ellis, 1987; Mehnert, 1998; Mehrang & Rahimpour, 2010; Ortega, 1995; Ortega 1999; Rouhi & Marefat, 2006; Yuan & Ellis, 2003). However, in terms of pre-task planning and within task planning, there are no conclusive findings on which type of planning can benefit more to L2 learners’ speaking performance. Furthermore, few studies have explored the planning effects of pre-task planning plus within task planning as suggested by Yuan and Ellis (2003). Additionally, previous studies investigated learners’ planning process mainly from the perspective of the planning strategies that learners used. Few have studied learners’ planning process from the perspective of Levelt’s (1989) Model of Speech Production which explains how speaking takes place and where planning occurs during speaking and how planning can influence speech production, with the exception of Yuan and Ellis (2003). Nevertheless, Yuan and Ellis (2003) theoretically analyzed learners’ planning process. They did not collect data to analyze how learners approached the task. The present study attempted to fill the gaps stated above and explored learners’ planning process practically. This study utilized a between-subject experimental design. The participants in this study were randomly assigned to 4 groups, including 3 experimental groups and 1 control group. They were required to perform a narrative task under 4 conditions: pre-task planning, within task planning, pre-task planning plus within task planning and no planning. To investigate the planning effects, the participants’ speech was analyzed in terms of accuracy, complexity and fluency. To understand the learners’ planning process, information from post-task questionnaire was elicited and analyzed qualitatively based on Levelt’s (1989) speech production model. The results showed that pre-task planning can contribute more to learners’ L2 speaking performance than within task planning in general. Moreover, pre-task planning plus within task planning can positively influence learners’ speaking performance but there is no significant difference in its planning effects compared with pre-task planning and within task planning. These findings infer that learners’ speaking performance could be significantly enhanced when learners are well-equipped with explicit knowledge and are given time to plan under guidance. In addition, the results of the post-task questionnaire demonstrated that learners actually experienced the stages of Levelt’s (1989) Model of Speech Production. This finding strengthens Levelt’s (1989) theory. Key words: planning effects speaking L2 narrative
Natural Biopolymer-Based Nanocomposite Films for Packaging Applications

Concerns on environmental waste problems caused by non-biodegradable petrochemical-based plastic packaging materials as well as the consumer's demand for high quality food products has caused an increasing interest in developing biodegradable packaging materials using annually renewable natural biopolymers such as polysaccharides and proteins. Inherent shortcomings of natural polymer-based packaging materials such as low mechanical properties and low water resistance can be recovered by applying a nanocomposite technology. Polymer nanocomposites, especially natural biopolymer-layered silicate nanocomposites, exhibit markedly improved packaging properties due to their nanometer size dispersion. These improvements include increased modulus and strength, decreased gas permeability, and increased water resistance. Additionally, biologically active ingredients can be added to impart the desired functional properties to the resulting packaging materials. Consequently, natural biopolymer-based nanocomposite packaging materials with bio-functional properties have a huge potential for application in the active food packaging industry. In this review, recent advances in the preparation of natural biopolymer-based films and their nanocomposites, and their potential use in packaging applications are addressed.
Unplanned readmissions after hospital discharge among patients identified as being at high risk for readmission using a validated predictive algorithm

Background Unplanned hospital readmissions are common, expensive and often preventable. Strategies designed to reduce readmissions should target patients at high risk. The purpose of this study was to describe medical patients identified using a recently published and validated algorithm (the LACE index) as being at high risk for readmission and to examine their actual hospital readmission rates. Methods We used population-based administrative data to identify adult medical patients discharged alive from 6 hospitals in Toronto, Canada, during 2007. A LACE index score of 10 or higher was used to identify patients at high risk for readmission. We described patient and hospitalization characteristics among both the high-risk and low-risk groups as well as the 30-day readmission rates. Results Of 26 045 patients, 12.6% were readmitted to hospital within 30 days and 20.9% were readmitted within 90 days of discharge. High-risk patients (LACE ≥ 10) accounted for 34.0% of the sample but 51.7% of the patients who were readmitted within 30 days. High-risk patients were readmitted with twice the frequency as other patients, had longer lengths of stay and were more likely to die during the readmission. Interpretation Using a LACE index score of 10, we identified patients with a high rate of readmission who may benefit from improved post-discharge care. Our findings suggest that the LACE index is a potentially useful tool for decision-makers interested in identifying appropriate patients for post-discharge interventions.
Cognitive bias modification : the effect of mental imagery on reaction rate to emotionally valenced stimuli

A normative experimental study was undertaken to establish whether engaging in positive, negative, and neutral mental imagery affected the reaction rate of participants to positive, negative, and neutral word stimuli. The sample consisted of computer literate, English speaking participants with no history of clinical disorders. A total of 80 participants took part in the study, with 40 participants from either gender. The results of a factorial ANOVA indicated that the type of mental imagery engaged in had a significant effect on the rate at which participants responded to stimuli (p=.00023, F=8.4057), whilst the emotional valence of the stimuli did not have a significant effect (p=.30503, F=1.1877). However, the interaction between the type of mental imagery and the emotional valence of the stimuli was highly significant (p=.00794, F=3.4576), thereby indicating that engaging in positive or negative mental imagery did bias participants towards a faster reaction rate to positive or negative stimuli respectively.
Hemodynamic and ventilatory changes during implant surgery with intravenous conscious sedation.

PURPOSE This study was conducted to determine the hemodynamic and ventilatory changes during implant surgery with intravenous conscious sedation, and whether preoperative anxiety, gender or age influence these parameters. PATIENTS AND METHODS A prospective study carried out between May 2004 and February 2007, on 102 patients treated with dental implants under local anesthesia and conscious intravenous sedation. Patients completed a questionnaire prior to surgery to evaluate preoperative dental anxiety using Corah's scale. The hemodynamic and ventilatory changes were evaluated by monitoring systolic pressure (SP), diastolic pressure (DP), heart rate (HR) and oxygen saturation (SaO2). These values were collected at 5 points during surgery; before commencing the operation (baseline value), during local anesthetic injection, at the moment of incision and raising of a mucoperiosteal flap, during implant placement, and finally at suturing. Intravenous conscious sedation was administered between baseline value and injection of the local anesthetic. RESULTS The highest SP and DP were recorded at baseline and at suturing. The highest HR was recorded at the moment of incision and raising of the mucoperiosteal flap; the lowest SaO2 was recorded at local anesthetic injection. There was no relationship between hemodynamic and ventilatory values and preoperative anxiety or gender. A greater age was associated with higher SP and lower SaO2, these differences being statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS Most of the cardiovascular and ventilatory changes induced by the implant surgery with intravenous conscious sedation were within normal ranges. The results indicate that midazolam with fentanyl do not produce important hemodynamic and ventilatory changes, being a good association for intravenous conscious sedation in dental implant surgery.
Deformation Time-Series Generation in Areas Characterized by Large Displacement Dynamics: The SAR Amplitude Pixel-Offset SBAS Technique

We exploit the amplitude information of a sequence of synthetic aperture radar (SAR) images, acquired at different times, in order to generate displacement time-series in areas characterized by large and/or rapid deformation, the size of which is on the order of the image's pixel dimensions. We follow the same rationale of the Small BAseline Subset (SBAS) differential SAR interferometry (DInSAR) approach, by coupling the available SAR images into pairs characterized by a small separation between the acquisition orbits. We exploit the amplitudes of the selected image pairs in order to calculate the relative across-track (range) and along-track (azimuth) pixel-offsets (PO). Finally, we apply the SBAS inversion strategy to retrieve the range and azimuth displacement time-series. This approach, referred to as pixel-offset (PO-) SBAS technique, has been applied to a set of 25 ENVISAT SAR observations of the Sierra Negra caldera, Galápagos Islands, spanning the 2003-2007 time interval. The retrieved deformation time-series show the capability of the technique to detect and measure the large displacements affecting the inner part of the caldera that, in correspondence to the October 2005 eruption, reached several meters. Moreover, by comparing the PO-SBAS results to continuous GPS measurements, we estimate that the accuracy of the PO-SBAS time-series is on the order of 1/30th of a pixel for both range and azimuth directions.
El Libro de Recuerdos (Book of Memories): A Latina Student's Exploration of Self and Religion in Public School

This article is an exploration of how an alternative text reflects the multiple identities of one high school Latina, focusing in particular on her religious identity. In this ethnographic case study, the author addresses three questions: 1) In what ways does literacy activity inside the school, in the form of the science scraphook, allow for this student to construct her religious self inside as well as outside of school? , 2) How is one students science club scraphook a symbolic representation of the struggle between the spiritual and material worlds that she negotiates? , and 3) How does this scraphook challenge traditional notions of identity and highlight the complexity of presenting a religious self in the public domain? In describing one students engagement with religion via her scraphook, the article argues for a more complex and nuanced view of religion, literacy, and identity.
ON II 1 FACTORS ARISING FROM 2-COCYCLES OF w -RIGID GROUPS

We consider II 1 factors L µ ( G ) arising from 2-cocyles µ ∈ H 2 ( G, T ) on groups G containing inﬁnite normal subgroups H ⊂ G with the relative property (T) (i.e. G w-rigid ). We prove that given any separable II 1 factor M , the set of 2-cocycles µ | H ∈ H 2 ( H, T ) with the property that L µ ( G ) is embeddable into M is at most countable. We use this result, the relative property (T) of Z 2 ⊂ Z 2 ⋊ Γ for Γ ⊂ SL (2 , Z ) non-amenable and the fact that every cocycle µ α ∈ H 2 ( Z 2 , T ) ≃ T extends to a cocycle on Z 2 ⋊ SL (2 , Z ), to show that the one parameter family of II 1 factors M α (Γ) = L µ α ( Z 2 ⋊ Γ), α ∈ T , are mutually non-isomorphic, modulo countable sets, and cannot all be embedded into the same separable II 1 factor. Other examples and applications are discussed.
The Pitfalls in System Design for Distributed Virtual Environments: A Case Study

There is a common understanding amongst the games industry that the Internet is a poor network infrastructure that wreaks havoc on all game engines. This view is shared amongst the Distributed Virtual Environment (DVE) research community, who traditionally find the Internet as the main culprit for disruptions in the experience of end users. In fact, the majority of the problems reside in the existing misconceptions regarding the nature of the Internet, leading to inefficient and inadequate network subsystems. This paper reports the lessons learnt from the attempt of using an existing DVE system to support collaboration using haptic devices over the Internet2.
DPCM-Based Edge Prediction for Lossless Screen Content Coding in HEVC

Screen content sequences are ubiquitous type of video data in numerous multimedia applications like video conferencing, remote education, and cloud gaming. These sequences are characterized for depicting a mix of computer generated graphics, text, and camera-captured material. Such a mix poses several challenges, as the content usually depicts multiple strong discontinuities, which are hard to encode using current techniques. Differential pulse code modulation (DPCM)-based intra-prediction has shown to improve coding efficiency for these sequences. In this paper we propose sample-based edge and angular prediction (SEAP), a collection of DPCM-based intra-prediction modes to improve lossless coding of screen content. SEAP is aimed at accurately predicting regions depicting not only camera-captured material, but also those depicting strong edges. It incorporates modes that allow selecting the best predictor for each pixel individually based on the characteristics of the causal neighborhood of the target pixel. We incorporate SEAP into HEVC intra-prediction. Evaluation results on various screen content sequences show the advantages of SEAP over other DPCM-based approaches, with bit-rate reductions of up to 19.56% compared to standardized RDPCM. When used in conjunction with the coding tools of the screen content coding extensions, SEAP provides bit-rate reductions of up to 8.63% compared to RDPCM.
Why the Unskilled are Unaware: Further Explorations of (Absent) Self-Insight Among the Incompetent

People are typically overly optimistic when evaluating the quality of their performance on social and intellectual tasks. In particular, poor performers grossly overestimate their performances because their incompetence deprives them of the skills needed to recognize their deficits. Five studies demonstrated that poor performers lack insight into their shortcomings even in real world settings and when given incentives to be accurate. An additional meta-analysis showed that it was lack of insight into their own errors (and not mistaken assessments of their peers) that led to overly optimistic estimates among poor performers. Along the way, these studies ruled out recent alternative accounts that have been proposed to explain why poor performers hold such positive impressions of their performance.