Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Estrogenic Effect of Bisphenol A Disrupts Pancreatic β-Cell Function In Vivo and Induces Insulin Resistance

The function of the pancreatic β-cell is the storage and release of insulin, the main hormone involved in blood glucose homeostasis. The results in this article show that the widespread environmental contaminant bisphenol-A (BPA) imitates 17β-estradiol (E2) effects in vivo on blood glucose homeostasis through genomic and nongenomic pathways. The exposure of adult mice to a single low dose (10 μg/kg) of either E2 or BPA induces a rapid decrease in glycemia that correlates with a rise of plasma insulin. Longer exposures to E2 and BPA induce an increase in pancreatic β-cell insulin content in an estrogen-receptor–dependent manner. This effect is visible after 2 days of treatment and starting at doses as low as 10 μg/kg/day. After 4 days of treatment with either E2 or BPA, these mice developed chronic hyperinsulinemia, and their glucose and insulin tolerance tests were altered. These experiments unveil the link between environmental estrogens and insulin resistance. Therefore, either abnormal levels of endogenous estrogens or environmental estrogen exposure enhances the risk of developing type 2 diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and dyslipidemia.
Eigenvalues of Words in Two Positive Definite Letters

The question of whether all words in two real positive definite letters have only positive eigenvalues is addressed and settled (negatively). This question was raised some time ago in connection with a long-standing problem in theoretical physics. A large class of words that do guarantee positive eigenvalues is identified, and considerable evidence is given for the conjecture that no other words do. In the process, a fundamental question about solvability of symmetric word equations is encountered.
The Problem of Shot Selection in Basketball

In basketball, every time the offense produces a shot opportunity the player with the ball must decide whether the shot is worth taking. In this article, I explore the question of when a team should shoot and when they should pass up the shot by considering a simple theoretical model of the shot selection process, in which the quality of shot opportunities generated by the offense is assumed to fall randomly within a uniform distribution. Within this model I derive an answer to the question “how likely must the shot be to go in before the player should take it? ” and I show that this lower cutoff for shot quality depends crucially on the number of shot opportunities remaining (say, before the shot clock expires), with larger demanding that only higher-quality shots should be taken. The function is also derived in the presence of a finite turnover rate and used to predict the shooting rate of an optimal-shooting team as a function of time. The theoretical prediction for the optimal shooting rate is compared to data from the National Basketball Association (NBA). The comparison highlights some limitations of the theoretical model, while also suggesting that NBA teams may be overly reluctant to shoot the ball early in the shot clock.
Increasing virulence, but not infectivity, associated with serially emergent virus strains of a fish rhabdovirus

Surveillance and genetic typing of field isolates of a fish rhabdovirus, infectious hematopoietic necrosis virus (IHNV), has identified four dominant viral genotypes that were involved in serial viral emergence and displacement events in steelhead trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) in western North America. To investigate drivers of these landscape-scale events, IHNV isolates designated 007, 111, 110, and 139, representing the four relevant genotypes, were compared for virulence and infectivity in controlled laboratory challenge studies in five relevant steelhead trout populations. Viral virulence was assessed as mortality using lethal dose estimates (LD50), survival kinetics, and proportional hazards analysis. A pattern of increasing virulence for isolates 007, 111, and 110 was consistent in all five host populations tested, and correlated with serial emergence and displacements in the virus-endemic lower Columbia River source region during 1980–2013. The fourth isolate, 139, did not have higher virulence than the previous isolate 110. However, the mG139M genotype displayed a conditional displacement phenotype in that it displaced type mG110M in coastal Washington, but not in the lower Columbia River region, indicating that factors other than evolution of higher viral virulence were involved in some displacement events. Viral infectivity, measured as infectious dose (ID50), did not correlate consistently with virulence or with viral emergence, and showed a narrow range of variation relative to the variation observed in virulence. Comparison among the five steelhead trout populations confirmed variation in resistance to IHNV, but correlations with previous history of virus exposure or with sites of viral emergence varied between IHNV source and sink regions. Overall, this study indicated increasing viral virulence over time as a potential driver for emergence and displacement events in the endemic Lower Columbia River source region where these IHNV genotypes originated, but not in adjacent sink regions.
Facial clefting and oroauditory pathway manifestations in ankyloblepharon–ectodermal defects‐cleft lip/palate (AEC) syndrome

Ankyloblepharon–ectodermal defects‐cleft lip/palate (AEC) Syndrome is a rare disorder characterized by ectodermal dysplasia, along with other malformations such as cleft lip and palate, and various secondary issues such as chronic sinusitis, otitis media, and conductive hearing loss (CHL). The International Research Symposium for AEC Syndrome convened at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas. Patients with a suspected diagnosis of AEC syndrome attended, and members of the dental, dermatology, plastic surgery, otolaryngology, and audiology services examined each patient. Eighteen patients with a diagnosis of AEC were evaluated. Mean age was 7.5 years (range: 4 months–30 years). Fourteen of the 15 subjects tested (93.33%) demonstrated CHL, with seven showing moderate to severe hearing deficits (41–90 dB). Nine of 13 respondents reported hoareness or voice problems; 8 were noted to display this on examination. Fourteen of 16 subjects reported speech was below average for age; 8 were in speech therapy. All 18 subjects reported a history of otitis externa or otitis media. Eleven of the subjects (61.11%) required myringotomy and pressure equalizing (PE) tubes. All patients demonstrated cleft palate defects. Of these, 16 (94.11%) presented with clefting of the soft palate, and 10 (58.82%) showed hard palate defects. Three subjects (16.67%) were noted to have submucous clefts. Our experience leads us to propose that while the oroauditory problems in those with AEC syndrome is likely multifactorial, many issues may stem from palatal clefting. Despite this, some abnormalities persist following surgical cleft closure, which indicates other complicating factors are also involved. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Predictors of first recurrence in Clostridium difficile-associated disease. A study of 306 patients hospitalized in a Romanian tertiary referral center.

BACKGROUND & AIMS Clostridium difficile is recognized as the major cause of nosocomial gastroenteritis usually related to antibiotic treatment. Although treatable, C. difficile--associated disease (CDAD) tends to recur in many patients. The purpose of the study was to analyze the risk factors for recurrence in patients with CDAD after the first treatment with vancomycin, metronidazole or both. METHOD We conducted a retrospective study of all patients admitted to the Teaching Hospital of Infectious Diseases Cluj-Napoca, Romania, between January 2011 and October 2012 with the diagnosis of CDAD or who developed diarrhoea after admission. A clinical diagnosis was made and culture and toxin A and B detection were carried out. We performed a statistical analysis taking into consideration: age, gender, previous hospital exposure, previous antibiotic treatment, and treatment duration. The patients were followed-up for at least 60 days. RESULTS We included 306 patients (177 women and 129 men) with a median age of 71 years; 208 patients (68%) had prior hospitalization and 195 (64%) had received prior antibiotic treatment. Actual treatment consisted of vancomycin in 76 (25%) patients, metronidazole in 132 (43%) and both combined in 98 (32%) patients. The average duration of treatment was 10 days. Sixty patients (20%) experienced 95 recurrences and 9 patients died (3%). Treatment with metronidazole, vancomycin or both for 10 or more days did not prevent recurrences. Age over 70 (RR 1.5, CI 95%: 1.055-2.71) and use of PPI (RR 1.3, CI 95%: 1.16-3.1) significantly increased the risk of first recurrence of CDAD. CONCLUSIONS CDAD recurrence rates were similar to those reported in the literature. The risk of first recurrence was significantly higher in patients older than 70 who also received PPI treatment.
The practice on using machine learning for network anomaly intrusion detection

Machine learning is regarded as an effective tool utilized by intrusion detection system (IDS) to detect abnormal activities from network traffic. In particular, neural networks, support vector machines (SVM) and decision trees are three significant and popular schemes borrowed from the machine learning community into intrusion detection in recent academic research. However, these machine learning schemes are rarely employed in large-scale practical settings. In this paper, we implement and compare machine learning schemes of neural networks, SVM and decision trees in a uniform environment with the purpose of exploring the practice and issues of using these approaches in detecting abnormal behaviors. With the analysis of experimental results, we claim that the real performance of machine learning algorithms depends heavily on practical context. Therefore, the machine learning approaches are supposed to be applied in an appropriate way in terms of the actual settings.
A Critical Discourse Analysis of Discursive Structures in a Political Text

Critical Discourse Analysis mainly focuses on the way certain ideologies are used and attitudes are produced, disseminated, inculcated and naturalized through discourse. One significant way of creation and neutralization of ideologies and personal opinions is through the dichotomous categorization of positive self representation and negative other representation. Different linguistic techniques are at the disposal of speakers and writers to bring about their own ideas, values, aspirations and feelings. Techniques such as consensus, generalization, national self-glorification or merely self glorification, self-congratulations, self-aggrandizement, number game, populism and presupposition are maybe employed to persuade people about certain view and even prompt them to take the desired action. The amalgamation of such techniques can be an effective to the way utilized by the speaker or writer to most dramatically gain his or her ideological, political, social purpose. The above mentioned linguistic elements are examples of what is technically referred to as discursive structures which signify any speech act which includes ideological, political implications. In other words, discursive structures encompass discourse written or spoken which is ideologically laden. In this study, the discursive structures in Obama's Victory Speech as manifested in his utilization of linguistic techniques of euphemization and derogation are detected and elicited through the lends of Critical Discourse Analyses (thereafter CDA). His efforts to create the feelings of euphoria, felicity, excitement, glorified patriotism, enormous success are linguistically manifested in his appeal to psychological procedures of self and national glorification through the dominant discursive structures of euphemization and derogation. This study is an attempt to detect and illuminate those structures and create awareness and a deep insight into the manner in which language can be a tool at the hands of speakers or writers for publicity, advertisement, persuasion and creation of the necessary dazzling charisma.
Muscle strength in breast cancer patients receiving different treatment regimes

Muscle dysfunction and sarcopenia have been associated with poor performance status, an increased mortality risk, and greater side effects in oncologic patients. However, little is known about how performance is affected by cancer therapy. We investigated muscle strength in breast cancer patients in different adjuvant treatment settings and also compared it with data from healthy individuals.
Contextual Influences on Obstetric Morbidity and Related Care Seeking Behaviour in Thailand

This study examines the association of individual and community-level characteristics with obstetric morbidity and care seeking behaviour in Thailand. Community characteristics have been recognized to shape individual health, but there have been only a few studies explaining their influence on obstetric morbidity. Multi-level logistic regression analysis among 930 women, living in 86 villages indicated that not the community social and health infrastructure but community impoverishment was associated with the likelihood of reporting the morbidity and seeking appropriate care. The findings suggest that community factors should be taken into consideration while implementing programmes to improve maternal health.
The phytogenic feed additive Sangrovit modulates dextran sulfate sodium-induced colitis in rats

The alkaloids of Macleaya cordata (Papaveracae) are active components of the phytogenic feed additive Sangrovit. The present study was conducted to evaluate the effects of Sangrovit on dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis using rats as an experimental model. Thirty-five male rats were randomly assigned to a control group (Group 1, n = 5), a Sangrovit group (Group 2, n = 20) and a DSS group (Group 3, n = 10). Group 1 received standard diet and tap water for 14 days. Group 2 received 500 ppm Sangrovit in their feed for 14 days and in the second week 5% DSS was added to the tap water. The animals in Group 3 were fed for seven days with standard diet and tap water and for the next seven days with standard diet and 5% DSS added to their tap water. The rats were sacrificed on day 14 and the following parameters were measured: disease activity (body and organ weight, colon length, presence of blood in stool), colon myeloperoxidase activity, expression of colon cyclooxygenase-2 (COx-2), hematological parameters, histological colitis score and selected parameters of oxidative stress. The animals treated with DSS for seven days (Groups 2 and 3) showed increases in liver and cecum weight, leukocyte count and colon shortening, decreases in hemoglobin and hematocrit associated with hematochezia. In comparison with Group 3 where DSS caused mucosal edema, cellular infiltration and epithelial disruption, the Sangrovit group showed less severe damage to the colon mucosa and decreased histological colitis scores. The Sangrovit group also showed diminished expression of DSS-induced COx-2, significantly mitigated myeloperoxidase activity in colon tissue and level of reduced glutathione in erythrocytes. In conclusion, some parameters of DSS-induced colitis were modulated by 500 ppm Sangrovit added to feed.
Text World Theory, real readers and emotional responses to The Remains of the Day

Recent investigations into emotion and discourse processing using the Text World Theory framework (Werth, 1999) regard psychological projection as a key factor in readers’ emotional responses to discourse (Gavins, 2007; Lahey, 2005; Stockwell, 2009). The present article examines psychological projection in relation to an extract from Kazuo Ishiguro’s The Remains of the Day (1989) and the comments made by a group of readers discussing the novel. As a result, a more nuanced account of psychological projection is proposed, which highlights the multiple perspectives which readers are able to monitor and adopt during text-world construction. Whilst previous work in Text World Theory has focused upon psychological projection in relation to a single text-world role (such as the addressee, for example), here it is argued that multiple projections in relation to a range of text-world enactors are of fundamental significance in our emotional responses to narrative. Such multiple projections, it is proposed, should receive greater consideration in accounts of our emotional experience of literary discourse.
Formation of the planet around the millisecond pulsar J1719–1438

Context. Recently the discovery of PSR J1719–1438, a 5.8 ms pulsar with a companion in a 2.2 h orbit, was reported. The combination of this orbital period and the very low mass function is unique. The discoverers, Bailes et al. (2011, Science, 333, 1717), proposed an ultracompact X-ray binary (UCXB) as the progenitor system. However, the standard UCXB scenario would not produce this system as the time required to reach this orbital period exceeds the current estimate of the age of the Universe. The detached state of the system aggravates the problem. The inclination of the system is an important unknown, and Bailes et al. noted that for very low (a priori very unlikely) inclinations the system is better explained as having a brown dwarf companion rather than an UCXB origin. Aims. We want to understand the evolutionary history of PSR J1719–1438, and determine under which circumstances it could have evolved from an UCXB. Methods. We model UCXB evolution varying the donor size and investigate the effect of a wind mass loss from the donor, and compare the results with the observed characteristics of PSR J1719–1438. Results. An UCXB can reach a 2.2 h orbit within the age of the Universe, provided that 1) the millisecond pulsar can significantly heat and expand the donor by pulsar irradiation, or 2) the system loses extra orbital angular momentum, e.g. via a fast wind from the donor. Conclusions. The most likely scenario for the formation of PSR J1719–1438 is UCXB evolution driven by angular momentum loss ,
Reconceptualizing Church and State

In this article, we address the need to reconceptualize the relationship between democracy and the separation of religion and state. We argue that previous studies have misconceptualized the impact religion can have on democracy, or have taken a narrow focus by concentrating on specific cases. We use principle component analysis and a large-n dataset covering 125 countries to show that the separation of religion and state should be conceptualized multi-dimensionally and that it should be considered a component of democracy. Our findings also show that as separation of religion and state increases the level of democracy also increases.
Non-Coaxial Theories of Plasticity for Granular Materials

This Keynote Paper is concerned with the fundamental mechanics of granular materials with a particular reference to non-coaxial behaviour. The non-coaxial behaviour refers to the non-coincidence of principal stress directions and corresponding principal plastic strain rate directions during plastic deformation. At present, the majority of soil models used in geotechnical practice are those of a coaxial type and are not able to model the important non-coaxial behaviour. Failure to account for non-coaxial soil behaviour would lead to an unsafe design in geotechnical practice. This paper presents experimental and micromechanical evidence of the non-coaxial behaviour and its constitutive modelling using plasticity theory. In particular the paper proposes a new micromechanical fabric-based plasticity theory for modelling the non-coaxial behaviour of granular materials.
Copper Induction of Laccase Isoenzymes in the Ligninolytic Fungus Pleurotus ostreatus

ABSTRACT Pleurotus ostreatus is a white rot basidiomycete that produces several extracellular laccase isoenzymes, including phenol oxidase A1b (POXA1b), POXA2, and POXC. POXC was the most abundant isoenzyme produced under all of the growth conditions examined in this study. Copper was the most efficient inducer of laccase activity among the putative inducers tested. The amounts of all of the previously described laccase isoenzymes increased substantially in copper-supplemented cultures. Under these conditions expression of POX isoenzymes was regulated at the level of gene transcription. It is worth noting that poxa1b mRNA was the most abundant induced transcript at all of the growth times analyzed, and the amount of this mRNA increased until day 7. The discrepancy between thepoxa1b transcript and protein amounts can be explained by the presence of a high level of the protein in P. ostreatuscellular extract, which indicated that the POXA1b isoenzyme could be inefficiently secreted and/or that its physiological activity could occur inside the cell or on the cell wall. Moreover, the POXA1b isoenzyme behaved uniquely, as its activity was maximal on the second day of growth and then decreased. An analysis performed with protease inhibitors revealed that the loss of extracellular POXA1b activity could have been due to the presence of specific proteases secreted into the copper-containing culture medium that affected the extracellular POXA1b isoenzyme.
INFRARED SPECTROSCOPY OF GAS-PHASE POLYCYCLIC AROMATIC HYDROCARBON CATIONS IN THE 10–50 μm SPECTRAL RANGE

The gas-phase infrared spectra of four polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) cations have been recorded in the 10–50 μm (or 1000–200 cm−1) spectral range via IR multiple photon dissociation (IRMPD) spectroscopy. Ionized PAHs are formed by UV laser ionization in an effusive beam and subsequently irradiated with a single pulse of narrowband tunable infrared light produced by the Free-Electron Laser for IntraCavity Experiments FELICE. The ion population is then analyzed in a time-of-flight mass spectrometer. Upon resonance, dissociation is induced so that IR spectra can be recorded by monitoring either the depleted parent ion intensity or the appearance of fragment ions as a function of the wavelength. The intracavity IR fluence enables the recording of IRMPD spectra of strongly bound PAH cations in the hitherto inaccessible far-IR spectral range. Experimental spectra are presented for the radical cations of anthracene, tetracene, pentacene, and coronene. Spectra calculated with density functional theory at the B3LYP/6-311g(2df,2pd) level reproduce IR frequencies reasonably accurately in this spectral range when a uniform scaling factor of 0.94 over the complete 10–50 μm spectral range is employed. We show that even vibrational modes with a calculated IR intensity lower than 1 km mol−1 can be observed. For the catacondensed PAH cations we find CH out-of-plane bending vibrations involving four adjacent CH groups within a few wavenumbers of 733 cm−1, closely matching the 13.6 μm UIR band. For the larger systems, pentacene and coronene, we observe a continuous structureless background absorption above 400 cm−1 which is attributed to the high density of IR dipole allowed combination modes for these systems.
MISSING OBSERVATION FOR ESTIMATING THE DIFFERENCE : RANKED SET SAMPLING VERSUS SIMPLE RANDOM SAMPLING

The estimation of the difference of means of two variables is studied when missing observations are present. The model follows the approach proposed in the paper of Bouza and Prabhu-Ajgaonkar [1993, Biometrical J., v.35, p.245-252] when simple random sampling is the design used for selecting samples and sub-samples. In this paper, a ranked set-sampling counterpart is developed. Their sample errors are compared analytically. A numerical comparison is developed for evaluating the magnitude of accuracy gain due to the use of ranked set sampling.