Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Primary photoreactions of phylloquinone (vitamin K_1) and plastoquinone-1 in solution

The photoreactions of electron transport quinones vitamin K_1 (1) and plastoquinone-1 (2) were studied by picosecond pump-probe spectroscopy, nanosecond flash photolysis, step-scan FTIR spectroscopy, and by irradiation in glassy solvents at 77 K with optical and EPR detection. In polar solvents, charge transfer from the β,γ-double bond to the quinone moiety initiates intramolecular proton transfer from the side chain, k = 2.7 × 10^11 s^−1, yielding 1,3-quinone methide diradicals, which establish a metastable equilibrium between the singlet and the triplet state. Subsequent proton transfer through the solvent forms 1,2-quinone methides. In apolar solvents the predominant primary photoreaction is formation of cyclic ‘preoxetane’ diradicals ( k _form >3 × 10^11 s^−1, k _decay ≈1 × 10^9 s^−1), which revert to a photostationary E / Z mixture of the starting materials, unless they are trapped by oxygen. The β,γ-double bond in the isoprenoid side chain thus provides two efficient deactivation processes, which prevent the intermolecular photoreactions commonly observed with the parent quinones. A combined mechanistic scheme rationalises the known photoreactions of 1, 2 and related compounds in solution.
De novo synaptogenesis induced by GABA in the developing mouse cortex

Dendrites of cortical pyramidal neurons contain intermingled excitatory and inhibitory synapses. We studied the local mechanisms that regulate the formation and distribution of synapses. We found that local γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) release on dendrites of mouse cortical layer 2/3 pyramidal neurons could induce gephyrin puncta and dendritic spine formation via GABA type A receptor activation and voltage-gated calcium channels during early postnatal development. Furthermore, the newly formed inhibitory and excitatory synaptic structures rapidly gained functions. Bidirectional manipulation of GABA release from somatostatin-positive interneurons increased and decreased the number of gephyrin puncta and dendritic spines, respectively. These results highlight a noncanonical function of GABA as a local synaptogenic element shaping the early establishment of neuronal circuitry in mouse cortex.
Testosterone and attribution of successful competition

Mood, personal merit, and/or its perception have been suggested to be mediating factors in testosterone responses to competition. Previously we have found that personal contribution and attribution were related to testosterone levels after successful competition. To confirm such associations, two basketball teams (n = 17 players) that emerged as winners in two actual matches were studied. Salivary testosterone levels and mood were measured before and after the games. Individual contribution to the outcome was assessed, and personal satisfaction and causal attribution of outcome were reported by players. Testosterone concentrations increased to near significance in Team 1 but not in Team 2, who attributed their victory more to luck than did Team 1. This latter team showed notably decreased vigor, and both teams showed fatigue at the end of the match. Post-match testosterone levels were only significantly, negatively related to external attribution. The results support the idea that causal attribution of the outcome is contributing to the variance of the testosterone responses to real confrontations where the outcome is highly dependent on personal merit.
Physicians' Perceived Barriers to Promoting Smoking Cessation

Background/Aims: Physicians' reluctance to promoting smoking cessation reduces the effectiveness of evidence-based recommendations resulting in suboptimal patient outcomes. Primary aim: to draw together findings from studies that addressed physicians' perceived barriers to promoting smoking cessation. Secondary aim: to assess whether interventions for reducing such perceived barriers impact on smoking cessation rates. Methods: Literature search in peer-reviewed journals focused on physicians' perceived barriers to addressing smoking cessation or on intervention studies aimed at alleviating these barriers. Results: The most frequently reported perceived barriers were: time constraints, high workload, lack of training, lack of reimbursement of smoking cessation interventions and the physician's own smoking status. Low outcome expectancy, lack of self-efficacy, fear of losing patients, being uncomfortable to discuss smoking hazards, dissatisfaction with professional activity were also reported. Smoking quit rates of intervention studies aimed to reduce perceived barriers varied according to the barrier targeted. Conclusion: Primary care physicians report a great number of perceived barriers to addressing smoking cessation. Results of intervention studies designed to reduce specific barriers with the purpose of increasing quit rates, remain conflicting. Multilevel intervention studies seem to be needed to assess the efficacy of alleviating perceived barriers to addressing smoking cessation.
Evaluation of a Computer Simulation to Assess Subject Preference for Different Types of Incentive Pay

Abstract The study investigated the use of a computer simulation, incorporating a behavioral choice procedure, to assess preference for different types of incentive pay. Subjects were ten undergraduates. Subjects chose to work under pay systems in which they earned 0%, 25%, 50%, 75% or 100% of their total simulated pay in incentives. Subjects were faced with choices involving higher, riskier pay versus lower, more stable pay. Work performance was simulated. The independent variable was the percentage of monthly living expenses relative to expected total pay. Two values were examined, 85% and 95%, using an ABAB design. Each phase lasted 2 simulated years. After four weeks, subjects paid expenses. Every three months, subjects chose the pay system they preferred. The adequacy of the simulation was assessed by examining the stability of choices under the two expense conditions and determining whether subjects chose lower, more stable pay when their expenses were higher. Three of the ten subjects demonstrated .
An o(log2 k)-approximation algorithm for the k-vertex connected spanning subgraph problem

We present an O(log n• log k)-approximation algorithm for the problem of finding k-vertex connected spanning subgraph of minimum cost, where n is the number of vertices in the input graph, and k is the connectivity requirement. Our algorithm works for both directed and undirected graphs. The best known approximation guarantees for these problems are O(ln k• min{√k,n/n-k ln k}) by Kortsarz and Nutov, and O(ln{k}) in the case of undirected graphs where n≥ 6k2 by Cheriyan, Vempala, and Vetta. Our algorithm is the first that has a polylogarithmic guarantee for all values of k. Combining our algorithm with the algorithm of Kortsarz and Nutov in case of small k, e.g., k<n/2, we have an O(log2 k)-approximation algorithm. As in previous work, we use the Frank-Tardos algorithm for finding k-outconnected subgraphs as a subroutine. However, with a structural lemmas that we proved, we are able to show that we need only partial solutions returned by the Frank-Tardos algorithm; thus, we can avoid paying the whole cost of the optimal solution every time the algorithm is applied.
Low-sensitivity H ∞ filter design for linear delta operator systems with sampling time jitter

This article is concerned with the problem of designing H ∞ filters for a class of linear discrete-time systems with low-sensitivity to sampling time jitter via delta operator approach. Delta-domain model is used to avoid the inherent numerical ill-condition resulting from the use of the standard shift-domain model at high sampling rates. Based on projection lemma in combination with the descriptor system approach often used to solve problems related to delay, a novel bounded real lemma with three slack variables for delta operator systems is presented. A sensitivity approach based on this novel lemma is proposed to mitigate the effects of sampling time jitter on system performance. Then, the problem of designing a low-sensitivity filter can be reduced to a convex optimisation problem. An important consideration in the design of correlation filters is the optimal trade-off between the standard H ∞ criterion and the sensitivity of the transfer function with respect to sampling time jitter. Finally, a numerical example demonstrating the validity of the proposed design method is given.
Lex Talionis: Testosterone and the Law of Retaliation

Research examining both the organizing and activating effects of testosterone in one-shot bargaining contexts has been vexed by inconsistencies. Some research finds that high testosterone men are more likely to reject unfair offers in an ultimatum game and exogenous administration of testosterone to men leads to less generous offers. In contrast, other research finds that higher prenatal exposure to testosterone predicts more generous dictator game offers and administering testosterone to women leads to more generous ultimatum game offers. The current research examines how the organizing effects of testosterone affect bargaining behavior. Because testosterone is associated with status seeking and concerns with social reputation, we hypothesized that testosterone would predict aggressive bargaining but only after provocation. Two studies found that prenatal testosterone exposure, as measured by 2D:4D ratio, led to aggressive responses for both males and females, but only after they received unfair offers. Furthermore, perceptions of fairness violations moderated but did not mediate the effect of testosterone on retributional responding. These results suggest that the organizing effects of testosterone have consistent effects on bargaining behavior for both males and females but its predictive ability requires some form of provocation to emerge.
Bilateral parotid gland metastases from gastric signet-ring cell carcinoma

Introduction: Signet-ring cell (SRC) carcinoma is a common subtype of gastric adenocarcinoma associated with poor prognosis. Metastatic involvement of the parotid gland has been reported in gastric cancer patients, but never bilaterally nor in association with the SRC histotype. Here, we report the first case and a brief review of the literature. Case description: A 47-year-old woman was referred to our center for a signet-ring gastric carcinoma with synchronous hepatic and peritoneal metastases. After 3 lines of chemotherapy, the patient reported a progressive bilateral enlargement in the periauricolar area. An ultrasound of the salivary glands and a fine needle biopsy were diagnostic for parotid metastases of gastric origin. In the literature, only 3 cases of parotid gland metastases arising from gastric cancer are described – none with a feature of SRC carcinoma. Conclusions: To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of gastric SRC carcinoma with bilateral parotid metastases. This case highlights the importance of considering a parotid enlargement as a possible sign of disease progression in a patient with gastric cancer. Fine-needle biopsy and immunocytochemistry are essential in establishing the origin of the secondary lesion.
A New Diagnostic Way for Behcet's Disease: Skin Prick with Self-Saliva

Behcet's disease (BD) is a mysterious multisystemic disorder characterized by recurrent involvement of mucocutaneous (including recurrent aphthous stomatitis; RAS), ocular, intestinal, vascular, and/or nervous system organs. Previously, the positivity of “pathergy test”, which is one of the diagnostic examinations, was reported to be related to the possession of HLA-B51 gene in BD patients, even though the positivity is low and different from the countries. Here, instead of the ordinal pathergy test, we would like to propose the prick with self-saliva as a new diagnostic way for patients with RAS of BD based on the genetic intrinsic factors including HLA-B51 and extrinsic triggering factors. BD patients are considered to acquire the hypersensitivity against oral streptococci through the innate immune mechanism in the oral cavity. Bes-1 gene and 65 kD of heat shock protein (HSP-65) derived from oral S. sanguinis are supposed to play important roles as extrinsic factors in BD pathogenesis. Although the prick positivity was not related to the possession of HLA-B51 gene, the method is suggested to be a significant way for BD diagnosis. The results also suggest that BD symptoms are due to the vascular immune responses by monocytes expressed oral streptococcal agents of the patients.
A cross-cultural study of sixth-graders' new year's resolutions: Middle-class versus Mennonite and Amish Youth

The New Year's resolutions of middle-class sixth-graders were compared with those of Mennonite and Amish sixth-graders. The Mennonite and Amish youngsters generally resolved to try harder at various things, whereas middle-class youngsters focused on the outcome of their efforts, resolving to do better. The resolutions of middle-class youth were also notably more dynamic and imaginative than those of the Amish and Mennonites. In addition, certain sex differences were found in both cultures. Girls consistently wrote longer resolutions and more of them. Girls also wrote more about home responsibilities and personal health habits, whereas boys wrote more about religious responsibilities and sports and hobbies. All of these sex differences, however, were more pronounced among the Amish and Mennonite youth.
Laparoscopic Compared With Robotic Sacrocolpopexy for Vaginal Prolapse: A Randomized Controlled Trial

OBJECTIVE: To compare conventional laparoscopic and robotic-assisted laparoscopic sacrocolpopexy for vaginal apex prolapse. METHODS: This single-center, blinded randomized trial included participants with stage 2–4 posthysterectomy vaginal prolapse. Participants were randomized to laparoscopic or robotic sacrocolpopexy. The primary outcome was total operative time from incision to closure. Secondary outcomes were postoperative pain, functional activity, bowel and bladder symptoms, quality of life, anatomic vaginal support, and cost from a health care system perspective. RESULTS: A total of 78 patients enrolled and were randomized (laparoscopic n=38; robotic n=40). Total operative time was significantly longer in the robotic group compared with the laparoscopic group (+67-minute difference; 95% confidence interval [CI] 43–89; P<.001). Anesthesia time, total time in the operating room, total sacrocolpopexy time, and total suturing time were all significantly longer in the robotic group. Participants in the robotic group also had significantly higher pain at rest and with activity during weeks 3 through 5 after surgery and required longer use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (median, 20 compared with 11 days, P<.005). The robotic group incurred greater cost than the laparoscopic group (mean difference +$1,936; 95% CI $417–$3,454; P=.008). Both groups demonstrated significant improvement in vaginal support and functional outcomes 1 year after surgery with no differences between groups. CONCLUSION: Robotic-assisted sacrocolpopexy results in longer operating time and increased pain and cost compared with the conventional laparoscopic approach. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov, www.clinicaltrials. gov, NCT00551993. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: I
Mechanisms of Organizational Sex Segregation

This study examines the process underlying sex segregation at the organizational level by focusing on the process through which organizations renew their workforce. The authors used a sample of 1,460 Swedish workplaces that recruited 75,261 employees during the period 1991 to 1995. The results indicate that the most important factor in reproducing segregation at the organizational level is sex segregation in the occupations from which organizations recruit their personnel. Organizations’ sex composition is to a very high degree determined by the sex composition of the occupations they employ. In addition, large organizations and expanding organizations tend to make more sex-atypical recruitments compared with other organizations.
Activated Self-Concept as a Mechanism Underlying Prevention Message Effects

Recent theorizing has posited that messages influence behavior via currently activated self-concepts. This proposition was tested in the context of evaluating real-world anti-marijuana television ads. A pretest yielded two themes (autonomy and responsibility) with two exemplars each. It was hypothesized that any effects of themes on behavioral willingness to use marijuana would be mediated by accessibility of a nonuser self-concept. An experiment was conducted in which participants (N = 129) viewed one of three clips that 1) contained embedded ads about nonuse supporting autonomy; 2) contained embedded ads about nonuse supporting responsibility to others; or 3) retained original commercials (control). Outcomes included reaction-time measures that assessed nonuser self-concept and willingness to use marijuana in social situations. Among those who identified as not a “druggie” and who were unwilling to smoke a joint at a party with friends, analyses revealed that exposure to the responsibility ads resulted in slower reaction times to endorse these positions, contrary to what might be expected from prevention messages. Among these participants, exposure effects on willingness were mediated by self-concept, as predicted.
Mammalian Bufadienolide Is Synthesized From Cholesterol in the Adrenal Cortex by a Pathway That Is Independent of Cholesterol Side-Chain Cleavage

An increasing body of evidence suggests that an endogenous mammalian bufadienolide (BD) may be involved in the regulation of Na+,K+-ATPase activity and the pathogenesis of arterial hypertension. We developed a purification scheme for marinobufagenin (MBG), an amphibian cardiotonic BD, and applied it to purify and characterize material in human plasma, culture medium conditioned by Y-1 adrenocortical cells, and rat adrenal tissue. MBG immunoreactivity purified from plasma and measured by ELISA showed important similarities (chromatography and antibody cross-reactivity) to material secreted into cell culture medium by Y-1 cells. This observation indicates that circulating mammalian BD may have an adrenocortical origin. Release of mammalian BD from adrenocortical cells grown in the absence of exogenous cholesterol was reduced by treatment of cultures with mevastatin, a 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase inhibitor. Supplementation of the serum and cholesterol-free cell culture medium with the LDL fraction of human plasma increased the production of MBG material in the presence of mevastatin, supporting its origin from cholesterol. We used Y-1 cell lines transfected with genes shown to inhibit steroidogenesis through cholesterol side-chain cleavage (Y-1/DAX and Y-1/RIAB) to investigate the dependence of MBG biosynthesis on side-chain cleavage. Our results indicate that the mammalian BD is synthesized in the adrenal cortex from cholesterol and shares important similarities with the amphibian BD MBG, that its biosynthesis is independent of transfer of cholesterol to the side-chain cleavage enzyme complex mediated by steroidogenic acute regulatory protein, and that neither cAMP nor protein kinase A appears to be a critical component of the pathway controlling its biosynthesis.
Understanding the Cultural Differences in Tourist Motivation Between Anglo-American and Japanese Tourists

Summary There is considerable evidence to suggest that differences in cultural characteristics exist across the world. Among them, individualistic societies emphasize “I” consciousness, autonomy, emotional independence, pleasure seeking and universalism. On the other hand, col-lectivistic societies stress “we” consciousness, collective identity, group solidarity, sharing, and particularism. A comparative research on the motivation of tourists from different cultures may challenge current tourism research, which mainly focuses on individualism and rationalism. These values of individualism and rationalism result in underestimation of the influence of groups, norms, culture, and emotion or impulse on tourist behavior. There have been few studies which attempt to directly measure cultural characteristics and identity across culture, and to explain how these cultural characteristics play a role in creating distinctive differences in tourist motivation. Thus, this study explores (1) cultural differences underlying individualism-collectivism between Anglo-American and Japanese tourists; (2) examines the relationship of two cultural dimensions to tourist motivation, and (3) suggests management implications facing tourism industry.
Ca2+ cycling properties are conserved despite bradycardic effects of heart failure in sinoatrial node cells

Background: In animal models of heart failure (HF), heart rate decreases due to an increase in intrinsic cycle length (CL) of the sinoatrial node (SAN). Pacemaker activity of SAN cells is complex and modulated by the membrane clock, i.e., the ensemble of voltage gated ion channels and electrogenic pumps and exchangers, and the Ca2+ clock, i.e., the ensemble of intracellular Ca2+ ([Ca2+]i) dependent processes. HF in SAN cells results in remodeling of the membrane clock, but few studies have examined its effects on [Ca2+]i homeostasis. Methods: SAN cells were isolated from control rabbits and rabbits with volume and pressure overload-induced HF. [Ca2+]i concentrations, and action potentials (APs) and Na+–Ca2+ exchange current (INCX) were measured using indo-1 and patch-clamp methodology, respectively. Results: The frequency of spontaneous [Ca2+]i transients was significantly lower in HF SAN cells (3.0 ± 0.1 (n = 40) vs. 3.4 ± 0.1 Hz (n = 45); mean ± SEM), indicating that intrinsic CL was prolonged. HF slowed the [Ca2+]i transient decay, which could be explained by the slower frequency and reduced sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) dependent rate of Ca2+ uptake. Other [Ca2+]i transient parameters, SR Ca2+ content, INCX density, and INCX-[Ca2+]i relationship were all unaffected by HF. Combined AP and [Ca2+]i recordings demonstrated that the slower [Ca2+]i transient decay in HF SAN cells may result in increased INCX during the diastolic depolarization, but that this effect is likely counteracted by the HF-induced increase in intracellular Na+. β-adrenergic and muscarinic stimulation were not changed in HF SAN cells, except that late diastolic [Ca2+]i rise, a prominent feature of the Ca2+ clock, is lower during β-adrenergic stimulation. Conclusions: HF SAN cells have a slower [Ca2+]i transient decay with limited effects on pacemaker activity. Reduced late diastolic [Ca2+]i rise during β-adrenergic stimulation may contribute to an impaired increase in intrinsic frequency in HF SAN cells.
Boosting the Performances of the Recurrent Neural Network by the Fuzzy

The k-means training algorithm used for the RBF (Radial Basis Function) neural network can have some weakness like empty clusters, the choice of the cluster number and the random choice of the centers of theses clusters. In this paper, we use the Fuzzy Min Max technique to boost the performances of the training algorithm. This technique is used to determine the number of the k centers and to initialize correctly these k centers. The k-means algorithm always converges to the same result for all the tests.