Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Cucurbitacins in plant food

Poisoning due to Cucurbitaceous vegetables seems to be linked to intake of immensely bitter vegetables. The bitter and toxic compounds in these vegetables are cucurbitacins, which are well known in wild varieties of these food plants and their related species. The cultivated forms, on the other hand, have during cultivation been selected for being free of the bitter and toxic compounds. Occasionally, cultivars of cucurbitaceous food plants (e.g. squash) back-mutate and regain the ability to produce toxic amounts of cucurbitacins. This review summarises the information available on cucurbitacins in food plants of the family Cucurbitaceae, with the aim to lay down background information required to evaluate the potential risk of being intoxicated by cucurbitacins as a part of the safety assessment of cucurbitaceous food plants, and especially in relation to genetically modified Cucurbitaceous plants.
Is it optimal to combine forecast with a simple average

This paper proposes a unified framework to study the theoretical properties of forecast combination. By setting up the forecast combination problem as a panel data model, the paper obtains the necessary and sufficient conditions for optimal weight as well as the necessary and sufficient conditions for the simple average to be the optimal weight under Mean Squared Forecast Errors (MSFE). These conditions are consistent with existing results in the literature but the derivations are much simpler due to the proposed framework. In addition to existing results, this paper also establishes two useful theoretical results. First, it derives the necessary and sufficient conditions for a single model to outperform simple average of forecasts. As argued in the paper, it is unlikely that any individual model would satisfy these conditions in practice and therefore, it explains the empirical observation that simple average of forecasts often outperforms any single model. More importantly, it provided a theoretical explanation on the superiority of forecast combinations, at least in the MSFE sense. Second, the paper also shows that the MSFE of simple average of forecast decreases as the number of model increases. This implies that a single model is unlikely to be superior over simple average of forecasts if the number of models increases in the combination. This paper shows that the proposed framework is also useful in studying the forecast combination puzzle. The paper verifies the existing view that the puzzle may be a result of estimation error in the optimal weight but more importantly, it identifies an additional cause of the puzzle. Specifically, the MSFE may be an inconsistent estimator of the forecast variance and thus, it may produce inconsistent results on the forecast performance of different models with different weighting schemes. A series of Monte Carlo experiments provided overwhelming support of this explanation. An important implication of this results is that selecting optimal model based on naı̈ve comparison of MSFE values without further statistical test may produce inconsistent results.
Evaluating the prognostic value and functional roles of transcription factor AP4 in colorectal cancer

The basic helix-loop-helix transcription factor AP4 (TFAP4) gene serves an important function in the genesis and progression of tumors. However, few studies to date have defined the role of this gene in colorectal cancer (CRC). The aim of the present study was to assess the expression of TFAP4 in CRC and its impact on the prognosis of patients with CRC. In the present study, the expression of TFAP4 was detected in 30 matched pairs of fresh CRC tissues, 187 cases of clinical paraffin-embedded CRC tissues and CRC cell lines using the reverse transcriptase-quantitative polymerase chain reaction, immunohistochemistry or western blot analysis. Survival analysis was based on TFAP4 expression. The effects of TFAP4 on CRC cell function were investigated by ectopic expression or knockdown of TFAP4 in vitro. TFAP4 expression was revealed to be increased in human CRC tissues and cell lines. The overall survival (OS) time of patients with high TFAP4 expression was significantly decreased compared with patients with low TFAP4 expression (P<0.001). In addition, TFAP4 was revealed to be an independent prognostic factor for the OS time of patients with CRC (hazard ratio, 2.607; 95% confidence interval, 1.469–4.627; P=0.001). Ectopic TFAP4 expression promoted CRC cell proliferation, migration and invasion in vitro, and the silencing of TFAP4 expression resulted in the inhibition of these events. These results demonstrated that TFAP4, which was overexpressed in CRC tissues and cell lines, increased the malignant potential of CRC cells and may serve as an indicator for poor prognosis in patients with CRC.
Delayed treatment of propofol inhibits lipopolysaccharide-induced inflammation in microglia through the PI3K/PKB pathway

Propofol is a short-acting intravenous anesthetic agent with potential neuroprotective effect. In this study, we aim to investigate whether delayed propofol treatment is protective against lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated inflammatory responses in microglial cells. Cultured BV2 microglial cells were exposed to propofol at various time points after initiation of LPS stimulation. Nitrite production and cell viability were assessed after stimulation with LPS for 24 h. The effect of propofol on mRNA levels of cyclooxygenase-2 (Cox-2), interleukin-6 (IL-6), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), tumor necrosis factor &agr; (TNF-&agr;) and interleukin-1&bgr; (IL-1&bgr;) was analyzed using reverse transcription PCR (RT-PCR) 6 h after LPS stimulation. The production of TNF-&agr; and reactive oxygen species was also studied. Propofol applied 0–4 h after the initiation of LPS dose-dependently inhibits nitric oxide production. Propofol application also decreased LPS-induced Cox-2, IL-6, iNOS, TNF-&agr;, and IL-1&bgr; mRNA expression and induced significant protein kinase B (PKB) phosphorylation in BV2 cells. Treatment with phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/PKB inhibitor wortmannin decreased PKB phosphorylation induced by propofol, and abolished the inhibitory effect of propofol on LPS-stimulated NO, reactive oxygen species and TNF-&agr; production. Our results suggest that delayed propofol treatment can reduce LPS-induced activation of microglial cells. These effects may be mediated by activation of the PI3K/PKB pathway.
Prevalence, causes, and behavioral and emotional comorbidities of acute symptomatic seizures in Africa: A critical review

Seizures with fever includes both febrile seizures (due to nonneurological febrile infections) and acute symptomatic seizures (due to neurological febrile infections). The cumulative incidence (lifetime prevalence) of febrile seizures in children aged ≤6 years is 2–5% in American and European studies, but there are no community‐based data on acute symptomatic seizures in Africa. The incidence of acute symptomatic seizures in sub‐Saharan Africa is more than twice that in high‐income countries. However, most studies of acute symptomatic seizures from Africa are based on hospital samples or do not conduct surveys in demographic surveillance systems, which underestimates the burden. It is difficult to differentiate between febrile seizures and acute symptomatic seizures in Africa, especially in malaria‐endemic areas where malaria parasites can sequester in the brain microvasculature; but this challenge can be addressed by robust identification of underlying causes. The proportion of complex acute symptomatic seizures (i.e., seizures that are focal, repetitive, or prolonged) in Africa are twice that reported in other parts of the world (>60% vs. ∼30%), which is often attributed to falciparum malaria. These complex phenotypes of acute symptomatic seizures can be associated with behavioral and emotional problems in high‐income countries, and outcomes may be even worse in Africa. One Kenyan study reported behavioral and emotional problems in approximately 10% of children admitted with acute symptomatic seizures, but it is not clear whether the behavioral and emotional problems were due to the seizures, shared genetic susceptibility, etiology, or underlying neurological damage. The underlying neurological damage in acute symptomatic seizures can lead not only to behavioral and emotional problems but also to neurocognitive impairment and epilepsy. Electroencephalography may have a prognostic role in African children with acute symptomatic seizures. There are significant knowledge gaps regarding acute symptomatic seizures in Africa, which results in lack of reliable estimates for planning interventions. Future epidemiological studies of acute symptomatic seizures should be set up in Africa.
Improving speech-in-noise recognition for children with hearing loss: Potential effects of language abilities, binaural summation, and head shadow

Abstract Objective: This study examined speech recognition in noise for children with hearing loss, compared it to recognition for children with normal hearing, and examined mechanisms that might explain variance in children's abilities to recognize speech in noise. Design: Word recognition was measured in two levels of noise, both when the speech and noise were co-located in front and when the noise came separately from one side. Four mechanisms were examined as factors possibly explaining variance: vocabulary knowledge, sensitivity to phonological structure, binaural summation, and head shadow. Study sample: Participants were 113 eight-year-old children. Forty-eight had normal hearing (NH) and 65 had hearing loss: 18 with hearing aids (HAs), 19 with one cochlear implant (CI), and 28 with two CIs. Results: Phonological sensitivity explained a significant amount of between-groups variance in speech-in-noise recognition. Little evidence of binaural summation was found. Head shadow was similar in magnitude for children with NH and with CIs, regardless of whether they wore one or two CIs. Children with HAs showed reduced head shadow effects. Conclusion: These outcomes suggest that in order to improve speech-in-noise recognition for children with hearing loss, intervention needs to be comprehensive, focusing on both language abilities and auditory mechanisms.
Immigration: analysis, trends and outlook on the global research activity

Background Immigration has a strong impact on the development of health systems, medicine and science worldwide. Therefore, this article provides a descriptive study on the overall research output. Methods Utilizing the scientific database Web of Science, data research was performed. The gathered bibliometric data was analyzed using the established platform NewQIS, a benchmarking system to visualize research quantity and quality indices. Findings Between 1900 and 2016 a total of 6763 articles on immigration were retrieved and analyzed. 86 different countries participated in the publications. Quantitatively the United States followed by Canada and Spain were prominent regarding the article numbers. On comparing by additionally taking the population size into account, Israel followed by Sweden and Norway showed the highest performance. The main releasing journals are the Public Health Reports, the Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health and Social Science & Medicine. Over the decades, an increasing number of Public, Environmental & Occupational Health articles can be recognized which finally forms the mainly used subject area. Conclusion Considerably increasing scientific work on immigration cannot only be explained by the general increase of scientific work but is also owed to the latest development with increased mobility, worldwide crises and the need of flight and migration. Especially countries with a good economic situation are highly affected by immigrants and prominent in their publication output on immigration, since the countries’ publication effort is connected with the appointed expenditures for research and development. Remarkable numbers of immigrants throughout Europe compel medical professionals to consider neglected diseases, requires the public health system to restructure itself and finally promotes science.
Organizational, job, and individual determinants of workplace training : Evidence from the National Organizations Survey

Les AA. affirment que les employeurs comme les salaries eux-memes considerent la formation professionnelle comme une strategie pertinente pour le developpement des entreprises, pour preparer l'adoption d'innovation technologiques, ameliorer les competences du personnel etc. Ils s'efforcent de comprendre l'influence des determinants lies au type d'activite, a la structure organisationnelle, aux caracteristiques individuelles, sur les strategies, les politiques en matiere de formation. Ils analysent un certain nombre de donnees collectees aux Etats-Unis en 1991 dans le cadre de l'enquete intitulee «National Organizations Survey»
The limits of earthquake early warning: Timeliness of ground motion estimates

In only rare cases will earthquake early warning systems be able to provide useful warnings for high levels of ground motion. The basic physics of earthquakes is such that strong ground motion cannot be expected from an earthquake unless the earthquake itself is very close or has grown to be very large. We use simple seismological relationships to calculate the minimum time that must elapse before such ground motion can be expected at a distance from the earthquake, assuming that the earthquake magnitude is not predictable. Earthquake early warning (EEW) systems are in operation or development for many regions around the world, with the goal of providing enough warning of incoming ground shaking to allow people and automated systems to take protective actions to mitigate losses. However, the question of how much warning time is physically possible for specified levels of ground motion has not been addressed. We consider a zero-latency EEW system to determine possible warning times a user could receive in an ideal case. In this case, the only limitation on warning time is the time required for the earthquake to evolve and the time for strong ground motion to arrive at a user’s location. We find that users who wish to be alerted at lower ground motion thresholds will receive more robust warnings with longer average warning times than users who receive warnings for higher ground motion thresholds. EEW systems have the greatest potential benefit for users willing to take action at relatively low ground motion thresholds, whereas users who set relatively high thresholds for taking action are less likely to receive timely and actionable information.
The Decline in Diffuse Support for National Politics

Abstract This research note considers how to track long-term trajectories of political discontent in Britain. Many accounts are confined to using either survey data drawn from recent decades or imperfect behavioral measures such as voting or party membership as indicators of political disengagement. We instead develop an approach that provides the long view on political disaffection. We first consider time-series data available from repeated survey measures. We next replicate historic survey questions to observe change in public opinion relative to earlier points in time. Finally, we use Stimson’s (1991) dyad-ratios algorithm to construct an over-time index of political discontent that combines data from multiple poll series. This reveals rising levels of political discontent for both specific and diffuse measures of mass opinion. Our method and findings offer insights into the rising tide of disillusionment afflicting many contemporary democracies.
Culture in Schooling in the Inuvialuit Settlement Region.

We describe research on Inuvialuit culture in schooling in the Inuvialuit Settlement Region in the northwestern Northwest Territories in Arctic Canada. A mixed-methods case study using questionnaires in the region’s six communities explored students’, parents,’ and high school teachers’ perspectives on Inuvialuit culture in the schools. While students and parents were pleased that local culture is reflected in the schools, most would like to see more Inuvialuit culture become part of schooling. Teachers would like to know more about Inuvialuit culture and history and would like professional development to help them teach Inuvialuit students more effectively. This research suggests that policy in the Northwest Territories to move towards culturally responsive schooling is yet to be fully embodied. It should be prioritized.
Assessing Competencies Needed to Engage With Digital Health Services: Development of the eHealth Literacy Assessment Toolkit

Background To achieve full potential in user-oriented eHealth projects, we need to ensure a match between the eHealth technology and the user’s eHealth literacy, described as knowledge and skills. However, there is a lack of multifaceted eHealth literacy assessment tools suitable for screening purposes. Objective The objective of our study was to develop and validate an eHealth literacy assessment toolkit (eHLA) that assesses individuals’ health literacy and digital literacy using a mix of existing and newly developed scales. Methods From 2011 to 2015, scales were continuously tested and developed in an iterative process, which led to 7 tools being included in the validation study. The eHLA validation version consisted of 4 health-related tools (tool 1: “functional health literacy,” tool 2: “health literacy self-assessment,” tool 3: “familiarity with health and health care,” and tool 4: “knowledge of health and disease”) and 3 digitally-related tools (tool 5: “technology familiarity,” tool 6: “technology confidence,” and tool 7: “incentives for engaging with technology”) that were tested in 475 respondents from a general population sample and an outpatient clinic. Statistical analyses examined floor and ceiling effects, interitem correlations, item-total correlations, and Cronbach coefficient alpha (CCA). Rasch models (RM) examined the fit of data. Tools were reduced in items to secure robust tools fit for screening purposes. Reductions were made based on psychometrics, face validity, and content validity. Results Tool 1 was not reduced in items; it consequently consists of 10 items. The overall fit to the RM was acceptable (Anderson conditional likelihood ratio, CLR=10.8; df=9; P=.29), and CCA was . 67. Tool 2 was reduced from 20 to 9 items. The overall fit to a log-linear RM was acceptable (Anderson CLR=78.4, df=45, P=.002), and CCA was . 85. Tool 3 was reduced from 23 to 5 items. The final version showed excellent fit to a log-linear RM (Anderson CLR=47.7, df=40, P=.19), and CCA was . 90. Tool 4 was reduced from 12 to 6 items. The fit to a log-linear RM was acceptable (Anderson CLR=42.1, df=18, P=.001), and CCA was . 59. Tool 5 was reduced from 20 to 6 items. The fit to the RM was acceptable (Anderson CLR=30.3, df=17, P=.02), and CCA was . 94. Tool 6 was reduced from 5 to 4 items. The fit to a log-linear RM taking local dependency (LD) into account was acceptable (Anderson CLR=26.1, df=21, P=.20), and CCA was . 91. Tool 7 was reduced from 6 to 4 items. The fit to a log-linear RM taking LD and differential item functioning into account was acceptable (Anderson CLR=23.0, df=29, P=.78), and CCA was . 90. Conclusions The eHLA consists of 7 short, robust scales that assess individual’s knowledge and skills related to digital literacy and health literacy.
Mitochondrial 10398A>G NADH-Dehydrogenase Subunit 3 of Complex I Is Frequently Altered in Intra-Axial Brain Tumors in Malaysia

Background Mitochondria are major cellular sources of reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation which can induce mitochondrial DNA damage and lead to carcinogenesis. The mitochondrial 10398A>G alteration in NADH-dehydrogenase subunit 3 (ND3) can severely impair complex I, a key component of ROS production in the mitochondrial electron transport chain. Alteration in ND3 10398A>G has been reported to be linked with diverse neurodegenerative disorders and cancers. The aim of this study was to find out the association of mitochondrial ND3 10398A>G alteration in brain tumor of Malaysian patients. Methods Brain tumor tissues and corresponding blood specimens were obtained from 45 patients. The ND3 10398A>G alteration at target codon 114 was detected using the PCR-RFLP analysis and later was confirmed by DNA sequencing. Results Twenty-six (57.8%) patients showed ND3 10398A>G mutation in their tumor specimens, in which 26.9% of these mutations were heterozygous mutations. ND3 10398A>G mutation was not significantly correlated with age, gender, and histological tumor grade, however was found more frequently in intra-axial than in extra-axial tumors (62.5% vs. 46.2%, p<0.01). Conclusion For the first time, we have been able to describe the occurrence of ND3 10398A>G mutations in a Malaysian brain tumor population. It can be concluded that mitochondrial ND3 10398A>G alteration is frequently present in brain tumors among Malaysian population and it shows an impact on the intra-axial tumors.
Cross-language associations and changes in Spanish-speaking preschoolers’ English and Spanish academic abilities

We examined the cross-language relations among Spanish-speaking preschoolers’ (N = 125; M age = 53 months, SD = 4.58) English and Spanish vocabulary, letter–word, and math skills; the changes they exhibited in those skills during 1 year of preschool; and the extent to which Spanish skills were associated with English skill gains. The results revealed that children's Spanish and English vocabulary skills were unassociated across languages, whereas their letter–word and math skills were positively associated. Children exhibited gains in vocabulary, letter–word, and math skills in English, with letter–word and math skills in Spanish at the start of preschool being positively associated with the development of those skills in English. Children also gained math skills in Spanish. However, their Spanish vocabulary and letter–word skills did not appear to change. Vocabulary skills showed positive within-language relations with children's letter–word and math skills. The findings highlight cross-language linkages between Spanish-speaking preschoolers’ academic skills in English and Spanish and how Spanish skills associate with their English academic readiness.