Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Short-term soy and probiotic supplementation does not markedly affect concentrations of reproductive hormones in postmenopausal women with and without histories of breast cancer.

BACKGROUND Observational studies suggest that dietary isoflavones reduce breast cancer risk, and this may be caused in part by effects on endogenous hormone concentrations. Because intestinal bacteria metabolize isoflavones, it was hypothesized that consumption of probiotic bacteria would enhance the biologic effects of isoflavones, including effects on endogenous hormones. DESIGN Twenty (20) postmenopausal breast cancer survivors and 20 healthy postmenopausal women completed four 42-day diet periods in a randomized, crossover design. They received one of the following: isolated soy protein; isolated milk protein; soy + probiotic capsules; or milk + probiotic capsules. Each protein supplement provided 0.38 g protein/(kg body weight/day) (26.6 +/- 4.5 g protein/day) and soy protein provided 0.64 mg isoflavones/(kg body weight/day) (44.4 +/- 7.5 mg isoflavones/day). Probiotic capsules provided 10(9) colony-forming units Lactobacillus acidophilus (strain DDS-1), Bifidobacterium longum, and 15-20 mg fructo-oligosaccharide. MEASURES Plasma samples were collected at baseline and after each diet for analysis of estrogens, follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), androgens, and sex hormone? binding globulin (SHBG). RESULTS Hormone levels were not affected by soy, probiotic supplements, or equol producer status, and neither cancer status nor equol producer status altered the effects of soy or probiotics. Furthermore probiotics did not alter the effects of soy consumption. Soy protein tended to decrease SHBG compared to milk protein diets (p = 0.05), although both proteins significantly decreased SHBG relative to baseline (p = 0.0001 and p = 0.03). CONCLUSIONS These data suggest that short-term, moderate consumption of isoflavone-containing soy protein and consumption of these particular probiotic capsules do not significantly alter reproductive hormone concentrations in breast cancer survivors or controls, regardless of equol producer status.
Polymorphism of the beta(2)-adrenoceptor in COPD in Chinese subjects.

STUDY OBJECTIVES To assess the frequencies of three polymorphisms at amino acid positions 16, 27, and 164 of the beta(2)-adrenoceptor (beta(2)-AR) gene and their effects on COPD patients. DESIGN Prospective, case-control study PATIENTS Sixty-five patients with COPD and 41 healthy subjects were included. MEASUREMENTS Polymorphisms of the beta(2)-AR coding block were delineated using an allele-specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR) approach. The allele-specific PCR technique was verified by direct dideoxy sequencing of PCR products. Pulmonary function tests were performed in all patients. RESULTS The Arg16 beta(2)-AR polymorphism was less prevalent in COPD patients than in healthy populations (p = 0.01). A significant correlation (p < 0.018) between the Gln27 beta(2)-AR polymorphism and FEV(1) percent predicted value was found. Patients with the Gln27 polymorphism had a higher percentage of low FEV(1) percent predicted than did patients with the GlnGlu and GluGlu variants. CONCLUSIONS The polymorphism of Gly16 may increase the patient's susceptibility to the development of COPD. The Gln27 beta(2)-AR polymorphism may be associated with the severity of COPD in a Chinese population.
Cellulose acetate/multiwalled carbon nanotube nanocomposites with improved mechanical, thermal, and electrical properties

Cellulose acetate (CA)-based nanocomposites with various contents of neat multiwalled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) or acid-treated one (MWCNT-COOH) are prepared via melt-compounding method and investigated their morphology, thermal stability, mechanical, and electrical properties. SEM microphotographs reveal that MWCNT-COOHs are dispersed uniformly in the CA matrix, compared with neat MWCNTs. FTIR spectra support that there exists a specific interaction between carboxyl groups of MWCNT-COOHs and ester groups of CA, indicating good interfacial adhesion between MWCNT-COOHs and CA matrix. Accordingly, thermal stability and dynamic mechanical properties of CA/MWCNT-COOH nanocomposites were higher than those of CA/MWCNT composites. On the contrary, electrical volume resistivities of CA/MWCNT-COOH nanocomposites are found to be somewhat higher than those of CA/MWCNT composites, which is because of the deterioration of graphene structures for MWCNT-COOHs and the good dispersion of MWCNT-COOHs in the CA matrix. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2010
An efficient pseudo-codeword search algorithm for Belief Propagation decoding of LDPC codes

We introduce the use of Fast Flat Histogram (FFH) method employing Wang Landau Algorithm in an adaptive noise sampling framework using Random Walk to find out the pseudo-codewords and consequently the pseudo-weights for the Belief Propagation (BP) decoding of LDPC codes over an Additive White Gaussian Noise (AWGN) channel. The FFH method enables us to tease out pseudo-codewords at very high Signal-to-Noise Ratios (SNRs) exploring the error floor region of a wide range of codes varying in length and structure. We present the pseudo-weight (effective distance) spectra for these codes and analyze their respective behavior.
Acetamiprid, carbendazim, diuron and thiamethoxam sorption in two Brazilian tropical soils

Sorption of acetamiprid ((E)-N1-[(6-chloro-3-pyridyl)methyl]-N2-cyano-N1-methylacetamidine), carbendazim (methyl benzimidazol-2-ylcarbamate), diuron (N-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-N, N-dimethyl urea) and thiamethoxam (3-(2-chloro-thiazol-5-ylmethyl)-5-methyl-[1,3,5]oxadiazinan-4-ylidene-N-nitroamine) was evaluated in two Brazilian tropical soils, Oxisol and Entisol, from Primavera do Leste region, Mato Grosso State, Brazil. To describe the sorption process, batch experiments were carried out. Linear and Freundlich isotherm models were used to calculate the K d and K f coefficients from experimental data. The K d values were utilized to calculate the partition coefficient normalized to soil organic carbon (K oc ). For the pesticides acetamiprid, carbendazim, diuron and thiamenthoxan the K oc (mL g− 1) values ranged in both soils from 98 – 3235, 1024 – 2644, 145 – 2631 and 104 – 2877, respectively. From the studied pesticides, only carbendazim presented correlation (r2 = 0.82 and p < 0.01) with soil organic carbon (OC) content. Acetamiprid and thiamethoxam showed low sorption coefficients, representing a high risk of surface and ground water contamination.
Regulation of redox metabolism in the mouse oocyte and embryo

Energy homeostasis of the oocyte is a crucial determinant of fertility. Following ovulation, the oocyte is exposed to the unique environment of the Fallopian tube, and this is reflected in a highly specialised biochemistry. The minute amounts of tissue available have made the physiological analysis of oocyte intermediary metabolism almost impossible. We have therefore used confocal imaging of mitochondrial and cytosolic redox state under a range of conditions to explore the oxidative metabolism of intermediary substrates. It has been known for some time that the early mouse embryo metabolises external pyruvate and lactate but not glucose to produce ATP. We now show at the level of single oocytes, that supplied glucose has no effect on the redox potential of the oocyte. Pyruvate is a cytosolic oxidant but a mitochondrial reductant, while lactate is a strong cytosolic reductant via the activity of lactate dehydrogenase. Unexpectedly, lactate-derived pyruvate appears to be diverted from mitochondrial oxidation. Our approach also reveals that the level of reduced glutathione (GSH) in the oocyte is maintained by glutathione reductase, which oxidises intracellular NADPH to reduce oxidised glutathione. Surprisingly, NADPH does not seem to be supplied by the pentose phosphate pathway in the unfertilised oocyte but rather by cytosolic NADP-dependent isocitrate dehydrogenase. Remarkably, we also found that the oxidant action of pyruvate impairs development, demonstrating the fundamental importance of redox state on early development.
Physical Demands of Top-Class Soccer Friendly Matches in Relation to a Playing Position Using Global Positioning System Technology

Abstract The aim of this study was to examine the physical demands imposed on professional soccer players during 11-a-side friendly matches in relation to their playing position, using global positioning system (GPS) technology. One hundred and eleven match performances of a Spanish “La Liga” team during the 2010-11 and 2011-12 pre-seasons were selected for analysis. The activities of the players were monitored using GPS technology with a sampling frequency of 1 Hz. Total distance covered, distance in different speed categories, accelerations, and heart rate responses were analyzed in relation to five different playing positions: central defenders (n=23), full-backs (n=20), central midfielders (n=22), wide midfielders (n=26), and forwards (n=20). Distance covered during a match averaged 10.8 km, with wide and central midfielders covering the greatest total distance. Specifically, wide midfielders covered the greatest distances by very high-intensity running (>19.8 km·h-1) and central midfielders by jogging and running (7.2-19.7 km·h-1). On the other hand, central defenders covered the least total distance and at high intensity, although carried out more (p<0.05-0.01) accelerations than forwards, wide midfielders, and fullbacks. The work rate profile of the players obtained with the GPS was very similar to that obtained with semi-automatic image technologies. However, when comparing results from this study with data available in the literature, important differences were detected in the amount of distance covered by sprinting, which suggests that caution should be taken when comparing data obtained with the GPS with other motion analysis systems, especially regarding high-intensity activities.
Dose-Ranging Effects of Canagliflozin, a Sodium-Glucose Cotransporter 2 Inhibitor, as Add-On to Metformin in Subjects With Type 2 Diabetes

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the effects of canagliflozin, a sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitor, in type 2 diabetes mellitus inadequately controlled with metformin monotherapy. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS This was a double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group, multicenter, dose-ranging study in 451 subjects randomized to canagliflozin 50, 100, 200, or 300 mg once daily (QD) or 300 mg twice daily (BID), sitagliptin 100 mg QD, or placebo. Primary end point was change in A1C from baseline through week 12. Secondary end points included change in fasting plasma glucose (FPG), body weight, and overnight urinary glucose-to-creatinine ratio. Safety and tolerability were also assessed. RESULTS Canagliflozin was associated with significant reductions in A1C from baseline (7.6–8.0%) to week 12: −0.79, −0.76, −0.70, −0.92, and −0.95% for canagliflozin 50, 100, 200, 300 mg QD and 300 mg BID, respectively, versus −0.22% for placebo (all P < 0.001) and −0.74% for sitagliptin. FPG was reduced by −16 to −27 mg/dL, and body weight was reduced by −2.3 to −3.4%, with significant increases in urinary glucose-to-creatinine ratio. Adverse events were transient, mild to moderate, and balanced across arms except for a non–dose-dependent increase in symptomatic genital infections with canagliflozin (3–8%) versus placebo and sitagliptin (2%). Urinary tract infections were reported without dose dependency in 3–9% of canagliflozin, 6% of placebo, and 2% of sitagliptin arms. Overall incidence of hypoglycemia was low. CONCLUSIONS Canagliflozin added onto metformin significantly improved glycemic control in type 2 diabetes and was associated with low incidence of hypoglycemia and significant weight loss. The safety/tolerability profile of canagliflozin was favorable except for increased frequency of genital infections in females.
Experimental study on the effect of Kang-Lai-Te induced apoptosis of human hepatoma carcinoma cell HepG2.

BACKGROUND Kang-Lai-Te (KLT) is extracted from the traditional Chinese herbal medicine Semen Coicis, which has been used in China as an effective clinical drug for over a thousand years. It contains numerous ingredients with anti-tumor effects. In our previous studies on transplanted hepatomas in rats, KLT could stop the cells in the G2+M stage of cell cycle and then reduce the number of cells entering the stage G0 and G1, but the mechanism of the anti-proliferative effect was unknown. In this experiment, we examined whether KLT inhibits HepG2 cell growth, if so, tried to explore its mechanism. METHODS KLT at different concentrations was used for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma cells in vitro, respectively. The proliferation inhibitory rate was evaluated by MTT assay, induction of cell apoptosis rate and the protein levels of Fas and Fas ligand (FasL) were determined by flow cytometry (FCM), and the expression of Fas and FasL mRNA was detected by real-time fluorescent quantitative RT-PCR. RESULTS KLT produced an obvious time and dose-dependent inhibitory effect on HepG2 cells, and marked apoptosis was detected by FCM. The protein of Fas increased by 11.01%, 18.71%, 28.71% and 37.15%; the protein of FasL increased by 1.49%, 1.91%, 3.27% and 3.38% in comparison with the control (P<0.05). Real-time fluorescent quantitative RT-PCR showed that treating HepG2 cells with KLT caused the upregulation of Fas and FasL mRNA. CONCLUSION KLT inhibits HepG2 growth by inducing apoptosis, which may be mediated through activation of the Fas/FasL pathway.
Comparative effectiveness of 5 smoking cessation pharmacotherapies in primary care clinics.

BACKGROUND Randomized efficacy clinical trials conducted in research settings may not accurately reflect the benefits of tobacco dependence treatments when used in real-world clinical settings. Effectiveness trials (eg, in primary care settings) are needed to estimate the benefits of cessation treatments in real-world use. METHODS A total of 1346 primary care patients attending routine appointments were recruited by medical assistants in 12 primary care clinics. Patients were randomly assigned to 5 active pharmacotherapies: 3 monotherapies (nicotine patch, nicotine lozenge, and bupropion hydrochloride sustained release [SR]) and 2 combination therapies (patch + lozenge and bupropion SR + lozenge). Patients were referred to a telephone quit line for cessation counseling. Primary outcomes included 7-day point prevalence abstinence at 1 week, 8 weeks, and 6 months after quitting and number of days to relapse. RESULTS Among 7128 eligible smokers (> or =10 cigarettes per day) attending routine primary care appointments, 1346 (18.9%) were enrolled in the study. Six-month abstinence rates for the 5 active pharmacotherapies were the following: bupropion SR, 16.8%; lozenge, 19.9%; patch, 17.7%; patch + lozenge, 26.9%; and bupropion SR + lozenge, 29.9%. Bupropion SR + lozenge was superior to all of the monotherapies (odds ratio, 0.46-0.56); patch + lozenge was superior to patch and bupropion monotherapies (odds ratio, 0.56 and 0.54, respectively). CONCLUSIONS One in 5 smokers attending a routine primary care appointment was willing to make a serious quit attempt that included evidence-based counseling and medication. In this comparative effectiveness study of 5 tobacco dependence treatments, combination pharmacotherapy significantly increased abstinence compared with monotherapies. Provision of free cessation medications plus quit line counseling arranged in the primary care setting holds promise for assisting large numbers of smokers to quit. Trial Registration clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT00296647.
A NEW APPROACH TO ANALYZING SOLAR CORONAL SPECTRA AND UPDATED COLLISIONAL IONIZATION EQUILIBRIUM CALCULATIONS. II. UPDATED IONIZATION RATE COEFFICIENTS

We have re-analyzed Solar Ultraviolet Measurement of Emitted Radiation (SUMER) observations of a parcel of coronal gas using new collisional ionization equilibrium (CIE) calculations. These improved CIE fractional abundances were calculated using state-of-the-art electron–ion recombination data for K-shell, L-shell, Na-like, and Mg-like ions of all elements from H through Zn and, additionally, Al- through Ar-like ions of Fe. They also incorporate the latest recommended electron impact ionization data for all ions of H through Zn. Improved CIE calculations based on these recombination and ionization data are presented here. We have also developed a new systematic method for determining the average emission measure (EM) and electron temperature (Te) of an isothermal plasma. With our new CIE data and a new approach for determining average EM and Te, we have re-analyzed SUMER observations of the solar corona. We have compared our results with those of previous studies and found some significant differences for the derived EM and Te. We have also calculated the enhancement of coronal elemental abundances compared to their photospheric abundances, using the SUMER observations themselves to determine the abundance enhancement factor for each of the emitting elements. Our observationally derived first ionization potential factors are in reasonable agreement with the theoretical model of Laming.
Approach, avoidance and weight-related testing: An investigation of frontal EEG asymmetry

Two motivational systems underlie behaviour and affective responses – an inhibition/avoidance system and an activation/approach system. The purpose of the present study was to explore if individual differences in these motivational systems would occur in response to common weight and body composition testing within a sample of young, adult women. Electroencephalogram was used to distinguish approach or avoidance orientations via frontal asymmetry before and after testing sessions. Clear distinctions in motivational response were found, with 65% of the sample responding with an approach motivation, while 35% responded with an avoidance motivation. Even though all participants, on average, experienced a negative affective response, only the avoidance group self-reported a subsequent increase in “comfort food” consumption of desserts and snacks the week following the testing session. As shown with other stressors, clear individual differences exist in motivational responses to common weight and body composition testing. Such testing produces a general negative affective response; however, the individual differences in motivational responses might produce different behavioural choices. Future research and interventions in health communication should be considerate to this variation in motivational responses to help explain changes in both healthy and unhealthy behaviours following interactions involving one’s body weight and/or body composition.
Prevalence of Dementia and Mild Cognitive Impairment in a Bulgarian Urban Population

Background: Prevalence of cognitive impairment and dementia has not been studied in Bulgaria up to date. A 2-phase cross-sectional study was designed in order to determine the prevalence of dementia, its subtypes, and mild cognitive impairment in a Bulgarian population. Methods: The study sample consisted of 605 participants over the age of 65, residents of the city of Varna. A total of 540 participants (89%) completed the screening phase of the study. All positive screens and a control group were included in the diagnostic phase of the study, where comprehensive neuropsychological, clinical, and imaging assessments were performed. Results: Dementia was diagnosed in 39 persons (7.2%) and 36 had mild cognitive impairment (6.7%). Alzheimer’s disease was the most frequent type of dementia (3.1%), followed by vascular dementia (2.0%). Discussion: Our results support the hypothesis that prevalence of vascular cognitive impairment may be higher in Bulgaria than in most European countries.
Dynamical H II Region Evolution in Turbulent Molecular Clouds

We present numerical radiation-hydrodynamic simulations of the evolution of H II regions formed in an inhomogeneous medium resulting from turbulence simulations. We find that the filamentary structure of the underlying density distribution produces a highly irregular shape for the ionized region, in which the ionization front escapes to large distances in some directions within 80,000 years. In other directions, on the other hand, neutral gas in the form of dense globules persists within 1 pc of the central star for the full duration of our simulation (400,000 years). Divergent photoablation flows from these globules maintain an rms velocity in the ionized gas that is close to the ionized sound speed. Simulated images in optical emission lines show morphologies that are in strikingly detailed agreement with those observed in real H II regions.
Vaccine Platforms Combining Circumsporozoite Protein and Potent Immune Modulators, rEA or EAT-2, Paradoxically Result in Opposing Immune Responses

Background Malaria greatly impacts the health and wellbeing of over half of the world's population. Promising malaria vaccine candidates have attempted to induce adaptive immune responses to Circumsporozoite (CS) protein. Despite the inclusion of potent adjuvants, these vaccines have limited protective efficacy. Conventional recombinant adenovirus (rAd) based vaccines expressing CS protein can induce CS protein specific immune responses, but these are essentially equivalent to those generated after use of the CS protein subunit based vaccines. In this study we combined the use of rAds expressing CS protein along with rAds expressing novel innate immune response modulating proteins in an attempt to significantly improve the induction of CS protein specific cell mediated immune (CMI) responses. Methods and Findings BALB/cJ mice were co-vaccinated with a rAd vectors expressing CS protein simultaneous with a rAd expressing either TLR agonist (rEA) or SLAM receptors adaptor protein (EAT-2). Paradoxically, expression of the TLR agonist uncovered a potent immunosuppressive activity inherent to the combined expression of the CS protein and rEA. Fortunately, use of the rAd vaccine expressing EAT-2 circumvented CS protein's suppressive activity, and generated a fivefold increase in the number of CS protein responsive, IFNγ secreting splenocytes, as well as increased the breadth of T cells responsive to peptides present in the CS protein. These improvements were positively correlated with the induction of a fourfold improvement in CS protein specific CTL functional activity in vivo. Conclusion Our results emphasize the need for caution when incorporating CS protein into malaria vaccine platforms expressing or containing other immunostimulatory compounds, as the immunological outcomes may be unanticipated and/or counter-productive. However, expressing the SLAM receptors derived signaling adaptor EAT-2 at the same time of vaccination with CS protein can overcome these concerns, as well as significantly improve the induction of malaria antigen specific adaptive immune responses in vivo.
Multicast traffic aggregation in MPLS-based VPN networks

This article gives an overview of the current practical approaches under study for a scalable implementation of multicast in layer 2 and 3 VPNs over an IP-MPLS multiservice network. These proposals are based on a well-known technique: the aggregation of traffic into shared trees to manage the forwarding state vs. bandwidth saving trade-off. This sort of traffic engineering mechanism requires methods to estimate the resources needed to set up a multicast shared tree for a set of VPNs. The methodology proposed in this article consists of studying the effect of aggregation obtained by random shared tree allocation on a reference model of a representative network scenario.