Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The influence of diabetes enhanced inflammation on cell apoptosis and periodontitis

Aim: Diabetes mellitus is a metabolic disorder leading to hyperglycemia and exhibiting altered fat and protein metabolism. Diabetes altered cellular microenvironment caused myriad untoward effects. Periodontitis is chronic inflammatory disease. Diabetes and periodontitis had higher prevalence in populations. The objective studied the relationship between diabetes and periodontitis associated with cell apoptosis and the influence of diabetes enhanced inflammation on apoptosis and periodontitis. Methods: This paper studied and analyzed the papers which published in the worldwide associated with the influence of diabetes enhanced inflammation on cell apoptosis and periodontitis, and reviewed the probably mechanism associated with apoptosis. Results: Diabetes induced hyperglycemia enhanced inflammation related to cell apoptosis. Periodontitis had a higher morbidity on diabetes patients. Periodontal intervention may be benefit to controlling the diabetes. The bidirectional efficiency happened between diabetes and periodontitis. Anti-apoptotic and anti-inflammation option can improve the therapeutic effects on diabetes and periodontitis. The finding included following several aspects. 1) Advanced glycation end products enhanced inflammatory response; 2) Hyperglycemia induced cell apoptosis; 3) inflammatory cytokines caused cell apoptosis; 4) Mutuality between cell apoptosis and periodontitis; 5) Diabetes induce periodontitis and bone loss; 6) Periodontitis induced insulin resistance. 7) TNFα induce prostaglandins elicited cell apoptosis; 8) periodontal therapies had effects on diabetes. Conclusion: Diabetes can enhance inflamemation leading to apoptosis and periodontitis. Effective periodontal therapy and control glucose may produce better effects on diabetes or periodontitis. Further research required to investigate the bidirectional mechanism between diabetes and periodontitis.
The Timing and Profitability of Insider Trading in Canada

This paper examines the timing and profitability of insider trading in Canada from 1987 to 2000. In contrast to studies done on earlier time periods, we find that insiders are net sellers of shares. This is especially true of senior officers who sell nearly seven shares for every share they purchase. We attribute this change to the increased use of stock options as compensation. Insiders are shown to be contrarian investors. During the twelve-months before they buy (sell), the abnormal stock return is –12.73% (19.01%). In the month around their trades, insiders buy on dips and sell after run-ups. Some types of insiders demonstrate exceptional timing in their trades. Shares bought by affiliated insiders, which includes bank officers and directors, have abnormal long-term performance. Outside directors earn the highest abnormal returns before selling and avoid the greatest losses by timing their sells. Their superior returns are not attributable to selling prior to bad news. The paper finds evidence that some insiders are profiting by violating securities legislation. In particular, we find an abnormal volume of insider sales prior to ‘bad’ news and no decrease in insider purchases prior to ‘good’ news. * McNally and Smith are at the Clarica Financial Services Research Centre, School of Business and Economics, Wilfrid Laurier University. McNally is the contacting author and can be contacted at the School of Business and Economics, Wilfrid Laurier University, 75 University Avenue West, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada N2L 3C5. Phone: 519-884-0710 ext. 2793. Fax: 519-884-0201. E-mail: wmcnally@wlu.ca. The authors acknowledge financial support from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada. We appreciate the work of our research assistant, Serdar Tari. The usual disclaimer applies. The Timing and Profitability of Insider Trading in Canada
Vitamin-D deficiency predicts infections in young north Indian children: A secondary data analysis

Background Recent studies have demonstrated a relationship between poor vitamin D status and respiratory infections and diarrhea among young children. Acute lower respiratory infections (ALRI) and diarrhea are among the two most important causes of death in under-5 children. In this paper, we examined the extent to which vitamin-D deficiency (<10 ng/ml) predicts ALRI, clinical pneumonia and diarrhea among 6 to 30 months old children. Methods We used data from a randomized controlled trial (RCT) of daily folic acid and/or vitamin B12 supplementation for six months in 6 to 30 months old children conducted in Delhi, India. Generalized estimating equations (GEE) were used to examine the associations between vitamin-D deficiency and episodes of ALRI, clinical pneumonia and diarrhea. Results Of the 960 subjects who had vitamin-D concentrations measured, 331(34.5%) were vitamin-D deficient. We found, after controlling for relevant potential confounders (age, sex, breastfeeding status, wasting, stunting, underweight, anemia status and season), that the risk of ALRI was significantly higher among vitamin-D deficient (OR 1.26; 95% CI: 1.03 to 1.55) compared to vitamin-D-replete children in the six months follow-up period. Vitamin-D status was not associated with episodes of diarrhea or clinical pneumonia. Conclusion Vitamin-D deficiency is common in young children in New Delhi and is associated with a higher risk of ALRI. The role of vitamin D in Indian children needs to be elucidated in further studies.
Living with less: Prospects for sustainability.

In spite of the growing awareness that a more sustainable way of living is necessary, consuming less is still a very difficult option. This dissertation studies the impact of spending less money on the way of living in a post-modern consumer society. Besides a theoretical analysis of 150 years of consumer studies, the dissertation describes the development of thinking about economy from ancient times until now. Qualitative and quantitative empirical research results among other in the consumption behaviour model”: the Transformation Model Living with Less. Furthermore, a socio-economic profile of Dutch downshifters is presented. Based on the so-called Triple G of a sustainable lifestyle (Money, Green, Health) the results for sustainability are discussed. Finally, the dissertation presents recommendations for a marketing strategy to promote a sustainable lifestyle.
Minding the gaps: teachers' cultures, students' cultures

The story of the digital generation gap is a familiar trope in debates about young people and new media. Its rhetoric of cyberkids, digital natives and immigrants, and the net generation, is already beginning to sound tired; and the excessive optimism about the redemptive power of computer technologies on which it depends has been comprehensively critiqued (Buckingham, 2007; Livingstone, 2009). It may now be time to ask some more specific questions, not least in relation to education. How distinct and different are these generations? How do they (or don‟t they) map on to the teacherstudent relationship? How aware are teachers of students‟ media cultures? Are these cultures, in any case, as unremittingly rooted in „new media‟ as is often claimed? What part do the „old media‟ of print, television, film and radio play? Are new media really enabling young people to become producers of media, rather than „mere consumers‟? And how does any of this make its way into the school curriculum; and, specifically, the media education curriculum?
Assessment of proximal pulmonary arterial stiffness using magnetic resonance imaging: effects of technique, age and exercise

Introduction To compare the reproducibility of pulmonary pulse wave velocity (PWV) techniques, and the effects of age and exercise on these. Methods 10 young healthy volunteers (YHV) and 20 older healthy volunteers (OHV) with no cardiac or lung condition were recruited. High temporal resolution phase contrast sequences were performed through the main pulmonary arteries (MPAs), right pulmonary arteries (RPAs) and left pulmonary arteries (LPAs), while high spatial resolution sequences were obtained through the MPA. YHV underwent 2 MRIs 6 months apart with the sequences repeated during exercise. OHV underwent an MRI scan with on-table repetition. PWV was calculated using the transit time (TT) and flow area techniques (QA). 3 methods for calculating QA PWV were compared. Results PWV did not differ between the two age groups (YHV 2.4±0.3/ms, OHV 2.9±0.2/ms, p=0.1). Using a high temporal resolution sequence through the RPA using the QA accounting for wave reflections yielded consistently better within-scan, interscan, intraobserver and interobserver reproducibility. Exercise did not result in a change in either TT PWV (mean (95% CI) of the differences: −0.42 (−1.2 to 0.4), p=0.24) or QA PWV (mean (95% CI) of the differences: 0.10 (−0.5 to 0.9), p=0.49) despite a significant rise in heart rate (65±2 to 87±3, p<0.0001), blood pressure (113/68 to 130/84, p<0.0001) and cardiac output (5.4±0.4 to 6.7±0.6 L/min, p=0.004). Conclusions QA PWV performed through the RPA using a high temporal resolution sequence accounting for wave reflections yields the most reproducible measurements of pulmonary PWV.
COMPACT UWB BANDNOTCH ANTENNA WITH TRANSMISSION-LINE-FED

In this paper, a compact band-notched UWB planar antenna with Transmission-Line-fed is presented and I'm using a new technique by etching a narrowband resonance H-shape slot in the ground plane of the antenna. This antenna is capable reducing the interference at the WLAN bands by eliminating the 4.85-6.17 GHz band. The proposed antenna has compact size of 16 × 22 mm 2 including the ground plane and because of miniature dimensions, good radiation patterns with monopolar characteristics are obtained in the frequency band of interest i.e., at least 10 dB isolation exists between co-polarization and cross-polarization. The gain is suppressed very well in WLAN bands. The maximum suppression is in 5.4 GHz that is 13.6 dB less than the gain of normal antenna.
Patient personality and therapist response: an empirical investigation.

OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between therapists' emotional responses and patients' personality disorders and level of psychological functioning. METHOD A random national sample of psychiatrists and clinical psychologists (N=203) completed the Therapist Response Questionnaire to identify patterns of therapists' emotional response, and the Shedler-Westen Assessment Procedure-200 to assess personality disorders and level of psychological functioning in a randomly selected patient currently in their care and with whom they had worked for a minimum of eight sessions and a maximum of 6 months (one session per week). RESULTS There were several significant relationships between therapists' responses and patients' personality pathology. Paranoid and antisocial personality disorders were associated with criticized/mistreated countertransference, and borderline personality disorder was related to helpless/inadequate, overwhelmed/disorganized, and special/overinvolved countertransference. Disengaged countertransference was associated with schizotypal and narcissistic personality disorders and negatively associated with dependent and histrionic personality disorders. Schizoid personality disorder was associated with helpless/inadequate responses. Positive countertransference was associated with avoidant personality disorder, which was also related to both parental/protective and special/overinvolved therapist responses. Obsessive-compulsive personality disorder was negatively associated with special/overinvolved therapist responses. In general, therapists' responses were characterized by stronger negative feelings when working with lower-functioning patients. CONCLUSIONS Patients' specific personality pathologies are associated with consistent emotional responses, which suggests that clinicians can make diagnostic and therapeutic use of their responses to patients.
The Dynamics of Technical and Business Knowledge Networks in Industrial Clusters: Embeddedness, Status, or Proximity?

Abstract Although informal knowledge networks have often been regarded as a key ingredient behind the success of industrial clusters, the forces that shape their structure and dynamics remain largely unknown. Drawing on recent network dynamic models, we analyze the evolution of business and technical knowledge networks within a toy cluster in Spain. Empirical results suggest that the dynamics of the two networks differ to a large extent. We find that status drives the formation of business knowledge networks, proximity is more crucial for technical knowledge networks, while embeddedness plays an equally important role in the dynamics of both networks.
Impact of Assets quality management on profitability and shareholders’ Value – The case of Jordanian Listed Commercial Banks (2001 – 2012)

Solidity of the country`s economy depends mainly on the strength of the financial system. (Beck and Levine, 2004), argued that healthy banking sector has a positive influence on economic growth. Being the core of any financial system, banking sector plays an essence role in its stability in recent days. The analysis of the type of assets that banks hold and its quality, is due to the significant importance on the overall performance and the financial results of the bank, IMF (2011) assets quality demonstrate a threat to banking sector stability. This study will investigate and assess the impact of total credit to total assets and total investment to total assets as a proxy for assets quality (independent variables) on the bank`s performances represented by EPS, ROA, ROE and Book value per share (Dependant variable). Applying multi and simple regression analysis, the most significant result was that bank`s assets quality indicators collectively have a positive impact on the profitability as well as shareholders value indicators, this implies the importance of investment diversification that banks` financial management should take into consideration to achieve sustainability in its performance.
Marine and Freshwater Cyanophages in a Laurentian Great Lake: Evidence from Infectivity Assays and Molecular Analyses of g20 Genes

ABSTRACT While it is well established that viruses play an important role in the structure of marine microbial food webs, few studies have directly addressed their role in large lake systems. As part of an ongoing study of the microbial ecology of Lake Erie, we have examined the distribution and diversity of viruses in this system. One surprising result has been the pervasive distribution of cyanophages that infect the marine cyanobacterial isolate Synechococcus sp. strain WH7803. Viruses that lytically infect this cyanobacterium were identified throughout the western basin of Lake Erie, as well as in locations within the central and eastern basins. Analyses of the gene encoding the g20 viral capsid assembly protein (a conservative phylogenetic marker for the cyanophage) indicate that these viruses, as well as amplicons from natural populations and the ballast of commercial ships, are related to marine cyanophages but in some cases form a unique clade, leaving questions concerning the native hosts of these viruses. The results suggest that cyanophages may be as important in freshwater systems as they are known to be in marine systems.
Integrating Topic and Latent Factors for Scalable Personalized Review-based Rating Prediction

Personalized review-based rating prediction, a newly emerged research problem, aims at inferring users' ratings over their unrated items using existing reviews and corresponding ratings. While some researchers proposed to learn topic factor from review text to obtain interpretability for rating prediction, they often overlooked the fact that the learned topic factors are limited to review text and cannot fully reveal the complicated relations between reviews and ratings. Moreover, topic modeling based solutions for this problem usually utilize Gibbs sampling algorithms to learn topics and word distributions, resulting in non-negligible computational overload. To address the above challenges, we propose an integrated topic and latent factor model (ITLFM), which combines topic and latent factors in a linear way to make them complement each other for better accuracies in rating prediction tasks. In addition, ITLFM models review text through an additive topic model to reveal user's and item's topic factors simultaneously. To ensure high learning efficiency, we design a hybrid stochastic learning algorithm for ITLFM. We evaluate ITLFM on several standard benchmarks and compare with representative approaches. The experimental results demonstrate that the proposed ITLFM method is computationally efficient and accurate, as well as scalable for large scale applications.
The Effects of the Span Configurations and Conductor Sag on the Electric-Field Distribution Under Overhead Transmission Lines

The precise evaluation and mitigation of the electric field generated by overhead transmission lines has gained great interest due to its impact on health and environmental issues. This paper presents a more generalized technique to calculate the electric field generated by power transmission lines in three dimension coordinates. This technique has been evolved, formulated, and applied to an Egyptian 500-kV single-circuit transmission line to evaluate the effects of line topology and terrain topography on the computed electric field. The results are compared with those produced by a 2-D technique.
Enhanced Impulsive Action Selection in Middle-Aged Adults—Insights From an Oculomotor Simon Task

Several studies have investigated the age-related impact in cognitive action control. However, to our knowledge, none of the studies have focused on the effect of moderate age on the strength of automatic activation according to the activation-suppression model. We therefore investigated the effect of moderate age on cognitive action control using an oculomotor version of the Simon task and distributional analyses. A group of middle-aged (n = 39; 57 ± 9 years) healthy adults were compared to a group of young healthy participants (n = 43; 24 ± 3 years). We first analyzed the overall impact of age on the congruence effect and then used conditional accuracy functions (CAFs) and delta plots to assess the strength of automatic activation and selective inhibition, respectively. Compared to young participants, middle-aged participants showed a greater congruence effect as well as higher rates of fast errors in conflict situations indicating an enhanced impulsive action selection. Furthermore, the overall downward slope of the congruence effect’s evolution was significantly steeper in older participants and the last slope tended to be significantly steeper. This may indicate that the middle-aged participants exerted a stronger selective inhibition. Our results suggest that middle-aged adults are more prone to impulsive action selection than young adults. Recent theories postulate that older adults might implement compensatory mechanisms to supply cognitive difficulties. This is in line with our results suggesting a potential greater selective inhibition. Overall, this study proposes that moderate aging impacts both processes of impulsive response selection and suppression underlying cognitive action control.
Totally Real Perturbations and Non-Degenerate Embeddings of $S^3$

In this article, we demonstrate methods for the local removal and modification of complex tangents to embeddings of $S^3$ into $\mathbb{C}^3$. In particular, given any embedding of $S^3$ and a neighborhood of the complex tangents of the embedding, we show that there exists a ($C^0$-close) totally real embedding which agrees with the original embedding outside the given neighborhood of the complex tangents. We also demonstrate that given any knot type K in $S^3$, either there exists an embedding of $S^3$ which assumes non-degenerate complex tangents exactly along K or there exists a non-degenerate embedding complex tangent along two unlinked copies of K (both cases may hold). We also note possible directions of future investigations.
The lateral batting backlift technique: is it a contributing factor to success for professional cricket players at the highest level?

Background This study aimed primarily to investigate the lateral batting backlift technique (LBBT) among semi-professional, professional and current international cricket players. A key question was to investigate whether this technique is a factor that contributes to success for cricket players at the highest levels of the game. Methods The participants in this study’s sample (n = 130) were South African semi-professional players (SP) (n = 69), professional players (PP) (n = 49) and South African international professional players (SAI) (n = 12). Biomechanical and video analyses were performed on all the participating groups. Classifiers were utilised to identify the batting backlift technique type (BBTT) employed by all batsmen. All statistics and wagon wheels (scoring areas of the batsmen on a cricket field) were sourced online. A Pearson’s Chi-squared test, Student T-test, one-way analysis of variance and T-test were performed in this study. All analyses were performed using R (R Core Team) at a significance level of α = 0.05. Results This study found that a LBBT is more common at the highest levels of batsmanship with batsmen at the various levels of cricket having percentages of the LBBT as follows: SP = 37%; PP = 38%; SAI = 75%; p = 0.001. There was also a noticeably higher difference in the highest scores and career averages between all groups of players, as well as batsmen who either use a straight batting backlift technique (SBBT) or a LBBT. This study also found that SAI batsmen who used the LBBT were more proficient at scoring runs in various areas around the cricket field (according to the wagon wheel analysis). Conclusion This study found that a LBBT is a contributing factor for success regarding players wanting to play cricket at the highest levels. Cricket coaches should also pay attention to the direction of the backlift with players, especially when correlating it to various scoring areas on the cricket field. Further in-depth research is required to fully investigate the change in batting backlift techniques among cricket players over a long-term period.
IL-10 Protects Neurites in Oxygen-Glucose-Deprived Cortical Neurons through the PI3K/Akt Pathway

IL-10, as a cytokine, has an anti-inflammatory cascade following various injuries, but it remains blurred whether IL-10 protects neurites of cortical neurons after oxygen-glucose deprivation injury. Here, we reported that IL-10, in a concentration-dependent manner, reduced neuronal apoptosis and increased neuronal survival in oxygen-glucose-deprived primary cortical neurons, producing an optimal protective effect at 20ng/ml. After staining NF-H and GAP-43, we found that IL-10 significantly protected neurites in terms of axon length and dendrite number by confocal microscopy. Furthermore, it induced the phosphorylation of AKT, suppressed the activation of caspase-3, and up-regulated the protein expression of GAP-43. In contrast, LY294002, a specific inhibitor of PI3K/AKT, reduced the level of AKT phosphorylation and GAP-43 expression, increased active caspase-3 expression and thus significantly weakened IL-10-mediated protective effect in the OGD-induced injury model. IL-10NA, the IL-10 neutralizing antibody, reduced the level of p-PI3K phosphorylation and increased the expression of active caspase-3. These findings suggest that IL-10 provides neuroprotective effects by protecting neurites through PI3K/AKT signaling pathway in oxygen-glucose-deprived primary cortical neurons.