Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effects of Replacing Sucrose with Various Sugar Alcohols on Quality Properties of Semi-dried Jerky

The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of replacing sucrose with sugar alcohols (sorbitol, glycerol and xylitol) on the quality properties of semi-dried jerky. Total 7 treatments of jerkies were prepared as follows: control with sucrose, and treatments with 2.5 and 5.0% of sucrose replaced by each sugar alcohol, respectively. Drying yield, pH, water activity, moisture content, shear force, myofibrillar fragmentation index (MFI), 2-thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (TBARS) value, sugar content, and sensory evaluation were evaluated. Xylitol slightly decreased the pH when compared to the other sugar alcohols (p>0.05). The water activity of the semi-dried jerky was significantly reduced by treatment with glycerol and xylitol (p<0.05). The moisture content of semi-dried jerky containing various sugar alcohols was significantly higher than that of the control (p<0.05), while replacing sucrose with glycerol yielded the highest moisture content. The shear force of semi-dried jerky containing sugar alcohols was not significantly different for the sorbitol and glycerol treatments, but that replacing sucrose with 5.0% xylitol demonstrated the lowest shear force (p<0.05). The TBARS values of semi-dried jerkies with sugar alcohols were lower than the control (p<0.05). The sugar content of the semi-dried jerkies containing sorbitol and glycerol were lower than the control and xylitol treatment (p<0.05). In comparison with the control, the 5.0% xylitol treatment was found to be significantly different in the sensory evaluation (p<0.05). In conclusion, semi-dried jerky made by replacement with sugar alcohols improved the quality characteristics, while xylitol has applicability in manufacturing meat products.
Supplementary Material Supplementary Methods

Generation of transgenic models of cardiomyopathy associated with modifications of MYBPC3. In order to generate transgenic (TG) mice with altered MYBPC3 phosphorylation, the indicated cDNA for mouse was obtained by RT-PCR using RNA isolated from the mouse cardiac ventricle. 1, 2 The MYBPC3 phosphorylation sites (Ser273, Ser282, and Ser302), along with 2 adjacent sites that could be potentially phosphorylated (Thr272, Thr281), were converted to alanine and a sequence encoding the myc epitope incorporated. 3 The cDNA was sub-cloned into the mouse α-MHC promoter and used to generate multiple lines of TG mice. To ensure the absence of endogenous phosphorylatable MYBPC3, mice showing germ-line transmission of the transgene (MYBPC3 AllP-) were bred with mice that expressed less than 10% of normal MYBPC3 level (MYBPC3 (t/t)). The small amount of protein that is present in these animals is truncated and unstable. 4 The TG mice expressing MYBPC3 AllP-emulated ablation at the phosphorylation sites through expression of the non-polar amino acid alanine. The cDNA for mouse MYBPC3 was also used to convert Ser-273, Ser-282, and Ser-302 to aspartate (MYBPC3 AllP+), the myc epitope was incorporated. TG cross-breeding with a MYBPC3 (t/t) background resulted in recovery with phospho-mimetic MYBPC3 AllP+ , similar to wild-type (MYBPC3
Migrants, Ancestors, and Foreign Investments

We use 130 years of data on historical migrations to the U.S. to show a causal effect of the ancestry composition of U.S. counties on foreign direct investment (FDI) sent and received by local firms. To isolate the causal effect of ancestry on FDI, we build a simple reduced-form model of migrations: Migrations from a foreign country to a U.S. county at a given time depend on (1) a push factor, causing emigration from that foreign country to the entire U.S., and (2) a pull factor, causing immigration from all origins into that U.S. county. The interaction between time-series variation in origin-specific push factors and destination-specific pull factors generates quasi-random variation in the allocation of migrants across U.S. counties. We find that doubling the number of residents with ancestry from a given foreign country relative to the mean increases the probability that at least one local firm engages in FDI with that country by 4 percentage points. We present evidence that this effect is primarily driven by a reduction in information frictions, and not by better contract enforcement, taste similarities, or a convergence in factor endowments.
CB2 Receptor Activation Ameliorates the Proinflammatory Activity in Acute Lung Injury Induced by Paraquat

Paraquat, a widely used herbicide, is well known to exhibit oxidative stress and lung injury. In the present study, we investigated the possible underlying mechanisms of cannabinoid receptor-2 (CB2) activation to ameliorate the proinflammatory activity induced by PQ in rats. JWH133, a CB2 agonist, was administered by intraperitoneal injection 1 h prior to PQ exposure. After PQ exposure for 4, 8, 24, and 72 h, the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid was collected to determine levels of TNF-α and IL-1β, and the arterial blood samples were collected for detection of PaO2 level. At 72 h after PQ exposure, lung tissues were collected to determine the lung wet-to-dry weight ratios, myeloperoxidase activity, lung histopathology, the protein expression level of CB2, MAPKs (ERK1/2, p38MAPK, and JNK1/2), and NF-κBp65. After rats were pretreated with JWH133, PQ-induced lung edema and lung histopathological changes were significantly attenuated. PQ-induced TNF-α and IL-1β secretion in BALF, increases of PaO2 in arterial blood, and MPO levels in the lung tissue were significantly reduced. JWH133 could efficiently activate CB2, while inhibiting MAPKs and NF-κB activation. The results suggested that activating CB2 receptor exerted protective activity against PQ-induced ALI, and it potentially contributed to the suppression of the activation of MAPKs and NF-κB pathways.
Paraneoplastic cerebellar degeneration with anti‐Yo antibodies – a review

The ataxic syndrome associated with Anti‐Yo antibody, or Purkinje cell cytoplasmic antibody type 1 (PCA1), is the most common variant of paraneoplastic cerebellar degeneration (PCD). The typical presentation involves the subacute development of pancerebellar deficits with a clinical plateau within 6 months. The vast majority of cases have been reported in women with pelvic or breast tumors. Magnetic resonance imaging of the brain is often normal in the early stages, with cerebellar atrophy seen later. The underlying mechanism is believed to be an immunological reaction to cerebellar degeneration‐related protein 2 (CDR2), a protein usually found in the cerebellum that is ectopically produced by tumor cells. Although both B‐ and T‐cell abnormalities are seen, there is debate about the relative importance of the autoantibodies and cytotoxic T lymphocytes in the neuronal loss. Cerebrospinal fluid abnormalities, primarily elevated protein, lymphocytic pleocytosis, and oligoclonal bands, are common in the early stages. The low prevalence of this condition has not allowed for large‐scale randomized controlled trials. Immunotherapies, such as steroids, intravenous immune globulins, and plasma exchange, have been extensively used in managing this condition, with limited success. Although some reports indicate benefit from antitumor therapies like surgery and chemotherapy, this has not been consistently observed. The prognosis for anti‐Yo PCD is almost uniformly poor, with most patients left bedridden. Further studies are required to clarify the pathophysiology and provide evidence‐based treatment options.
Aircraft power management - Algorithms and interactions

To build ever more efficient aircraft, the part of the aircraft electrical system which supplies non-flight relevant systems is being investigated for weight-optimization with power management (PM). Realizing power management requires thorough consideration of boundary conditions and studies on potential interactions scenarios. It was found that so far, a reactive power management function is best suited for the given purpose. It can be realized in a centralized or decentralized shape with identical PM algorithms if precise data synchronization is given. Interaction control with higher load management functions can be restrictive and simple as the probability for interactions to occur is low. Protective devices involved in power management are to be adapted or inrush current limits reduced to permit smooth PM integration into today's electrical system.
Large-alphabet Chinese Text Compression Using Adaptive Markov Model and Arithmetic Coder

In this paper, an approach to compress Chinese text is proposed. This approach first extends the alphabet to include those Chinese characters in Big-5 code. Then, an adaptive Markov model is used to model the contextual dependency, and arithmetic coding is used to encode the data more compactly. In the case of large alphabet size, a practical implementation method for adaptive Markov model is studied, and a data structure for fast arithmetic coding is proposed. Furthermore, to demonstrate its credibility, this approach has been programmed into a ready-to-use software package. A series of experiments have been conducted. The two example texts used are CX1 (from Chinese textbooks of primary school) and CX2 (from newspaper editorials). The experiments show that the compression ratios (output file length divided by input file length) obtained from our approach to be 42.3% and 48.4% for CX1 and CX2 respectively, which are considerably better than 52.8% and 60.6%, from the popular software package ARJ, and 53.0% and 60.8% from the package PKZIP. And for shorter files, our approach is still capable of obtaining a much improved compression ratios.
Development and validation of the Youth Externalizing Behavior Screener: A brief and effective measure of behavioral problems

ABSTRACT Universal screening is a useful way to identify emotional and behavioral problems and develop prevention or intervention strategies for adolescents at-risk in schools. The purpose of the present study is to report the preliminary development and validation of a brief and effective instrument—the Youth Externalizing Behavior Screener (YEBS)—aimed at measuring youths’ externalizing behavior problems. Findings from exploratory factor analyses (N = 229) showed that responses to the scale yielded a three-factor latent structure, which consisted of 12 items, targeting core symptoms of conduct problems, hyperactivity, and attention problems. Thereafter, confirmatory factor analysis (N = 243) confirmed the three-factor measurement model providing a good data–model fit. Three constructs were characterized by adequate-to-strong latent construct and internal reliability coefficients. The concurrent validity outcomes provided further evidence, indicating the small-to-strong associations between the YEBS and criterion variables. Latent variables path model showed the second-order measurement model had moderate-to-large predictive effect on the school-specific well-being structures, self-report academic achievement, and happiness. Taken together, these results suggested that the YEBS was a structurally reliable and valid instrument for assessing externalizing behavior problems among adolescents.
Estimating demand for differentiated products with error in market shares

In this paper we introduce a new approach to estimating a differentiated product demand system that allows for error in market shares as measures of choice probabilities. In particular, our approach allows for products with zero sales in the data, which is a frequent phenomenon that arises in product differentiated markets but lies outside the scope of existing demand estimation techniques. Although we find that error in market shares generally undermine the standard point identification of discrete choice models of demand, we exploit shape restrictions on demand implied by discrete choice to generate a system of moment inequalities that partially identify demand parameters. These moment inequalities are fully robust to the variability in market shares yet are also adaptive to the information revealed by market shares in a way that allows for informative inferences. In addition, we construct a profiling approach for parameter inference with moment inequalities, making it feasible to study models with a large number of parameters (as typically required in demand applications) by focusing attention on a profile of the parameters, such as the price coefficient. We use our approach to study consumer demand from scanner data using the Dominick's Finer Foods database, and find that even for the baseline logit model, demand elasticities nearly double when the full error in market shares is taken into account.
Executive Functioning and Learning Skills of Adolescent Children Born at Fewer than 26 Weeks of Gestation

Aims To assess the cognitive and behavioral aspects of executive functioning (EF) and learning skills in extremely preterm (EPT) children compared with term control children aged 10 to 15 years. Methods A total of 132 of 134 (98% of all eligible survivors) EPT children born at the 2 Swedish regional tertiary care centers from 1992 to 1998 (mean age = 12 years, mean birth weight = 718 g, and mean gestational age = 24.4 weeks) and 103 matched term controls were assessed. General intelligence was assessed using the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (WISC-III-R), and cognitive aspects of EF were analyzed using EF-sensitive subscales of the WISC-III-R and Tower test of the Delis-Kaplan Executive Function Scale (D-KEFS). Behaviors related to EF and learning skills were assessed using the Five to Fifteen questionnaire, which is a validated parent and teacher instrument. Academic performance in school was assessed by teachers’ responses on Achenbach’s Teachers Report Form. Analyses performed included multivariate analyses of covariance (ANCOVA and MANCOVA) and logistic regression analyses. Results The EPT children displayed significant deficits in cognitive aspects of EF compared with the controls, exhibiting decreases on the order of 0.9 SD to 1.2 SD for tasks of verbal conceptual reasoning, verbal and non-verbal working memory, processing speed and planning ability (P <0.001 for all). After excluding the children with major neurosensory impairment (NSI) or a Full Scale intelligence quotient (FSIQ) of < 70, significant differences were observed on all tests. Compared with controls, parents and teachers of EPT children reported significantly more EF-related behavioral problems. MANCOVA of teacher-reported learning skills in children with FSIQ >70 and without major NSI revealed no interactions, but significant main effects were observed for the behavioral composite executive function score, group status (EPT vs control) and FSIQ, for which all effect sizes were medium to large. The corresponding findings of MANCOVA of the parent-reported learning skills were very similar. According to the teachers’ ratings, the EPT children were less well adjusted to the school environment. Conclusion EPT children born in the 1990s who received active perinatal care are at an increased risk of executive dysfunction, even after excluding children with significant neurodevelopmental disabilities. Even mild to moderate executive dysfunctions has a significant impact on learning skills. These findings suggest the need for timely interventions that address specific cognitive vulnerabilities and executive dysfunctions.
Educational formats, student profiles and academic results

This work analyzes the three educational formats: face-to-face, blended-learning (b-learning) and online, used in the Master’s in Public Health program of the National Institute of Public Health (NIPH) between 2006 and 2009. These formats were compared in terms of the student profile, academic results and students’ satisfaction. Methodologically, the study combined quantitative and qualitative techniques for data collection and analysis. Results show the existence of a different type of student for each educational format. On-line students are usually doctors who are more than 40 years old, in high executive positions. Those in the face-to-face format are mostly people who are under 30 years of age, who just received their bachelor’s degree and their entering careers broaden to the health sciences and professions. Those in the b-learning format are in intermediate age groups (between 30 and 40) and are the most multidisciplinary group although health professions are still the majority. The academic results also show differences. The best grades are mostly obtained in the b-learning format, in spite of the fact that no significant differences were found. The levels of satisfaction with the teaching process are greater in the face-to-face and b-learning formats, than with on-line.
SCALING OF CHIRAL ORDER PARAMETER IN TWO-FLAVOR QCD

The finite temperature transition of QCD with two degenerate light quarks is studied on the lattice with a renormalization group improved gauge action and the Wilson quark action. We have made simulations on an 8{sup 3}{times}4 lattice near the chiral transition point. It is shown that the chiral condensate, which is the order parameter of chiral symmetry, satisfies remarkably a scaling relation with the exponents of the three-dimensional O(4) Heisenberg model. This indicates that the chiral transition in two-flavor QCD is of second order in the continuum limit. {copyright} {ital 1997} {ital The American Physical Society}
Overview of Spintronic Sensors, Internet of Things, and Smart Living

Smart living is a trending lifestyle that envisions lower energy consumption, sound public services, and better quality of life for human being. The Internet of Things (IoT) is a compelling platform connecting various sensors around us to the Internet, providing great opportunities for the realization of smart living. Spintronic sensors with superb measuring ability and multiple unique advantages can be an important piece of cornerstone for IoT. In this review, we discuss successful applications of spintronic sensors in electrical current sensing, transmission and distribution lines monitoring, vehicle detection, and biodetection. Traditional monitoring systems with limited sensors and wired communication can merely collect fragmented data in the application domains. In this paper, the wireless spintronic sensor networks (WSSNs) will be proposed and illustrated to provide pervasive monitoring systems, which facilitate the intelligent surveillance and management over building, power grid, transport, and healthcare. The database of collected information will be of great use to the policy making in public services and city planning. This work provides insights for realizing smart living through the integration of IoT with spintronic sensor technology.
Effects of progesterone on hyperoxia‐induced damage in mouse C8‐D1A astrocytes

The birth of most mammals features a dramatic increase in oxygen while placenta‐derived hormones such as β‐estradiol and progesterone plummet. In experimental newborn animals, transiently elevated oxygen concentrations cause death of neurons, astrocytes, and oligodendrocyte precursors. High oxygen has been associated with cerebral palsy in human preterm infants while progesterone is being used to prevent preterm delivery and investigated as a neuroprotective agent.
A Novel Substituted Piperazine, CM156, Attenuates the Stimulant and Toxic Effects of Cocaine in Mice

Cocaine is a highly abused drug without effective pharmacotherapies to treat it. It interacts with sigma (σ) receptors, providing logical targets for the development of medications to counteract its actions. Cocaine causes toxic and stimulant effects that can be categorized as acute effects such as convulsions and locomotor hyperactivity and subchronic effects including sensitization and place conditioning. In the present study, 3-(4-(4-cyclohexylpiperazin-1-yl)butyl)benzo[d]thiazole-2(3H)-thione (CM156), a novel compound, was developed and tested for interactions with σ receptors using radioligand binding studies. It was also evaluated against cocaine-induced effects in behavioral studies. The results showed that CM156 has nanomolar affinities for each of the σ receptor subtypes in the brain and much weaker affinities for non-σ binding sites. Pretreatment of male Swiss-Webster mice with CM156, before administering either a convulsive or locomotor stimulant dose of cocaine, led to a significant attenuation of these acute effects. CM156 also significantly reduced the expression of behavioral sensitization and place conditioning evoked by subchronic exposure to cocaine. The protective effects of CM156 are consistent with σ receptor-mediated actions. Together with previously reported findings, the data from CM156 and related σ compounds indicate that σ receptors can be targeted to alleviate deleterious actions of cocaine.
Exploring predictors of reading comprehension for English language learners

Past reading research with English Language Learners (ELLs) in elementary school suggests that a number of component factors contribute to reading comprehension performance. Although comprehensive models of reading comprehension have been proposed, such as the Simple View of Reading (SVR), which explains reading comprehension as the combination of decoding and linguistic comprehension, further research is required to determine if these models adequately describe reading performance for ELLs. The purpose of the present study was twofold. First, seeing as a recently developed version of a sentence repetition task would be used in the present study as a potential predictor of reading comprehension, the researcher aimed to closely examine the roles that working memory and oral language play in English and Spanish versions of this sentence repetition task. Second, the sentence repetition task was incorporated, along with a comprehensive measure of English Language Proficiency (ELP), decoding, and working memory, to determine whether these predictors could combine to explain greater variance in reading comprehension than the SVR did alone. Eighty-four firstand second-grade ELL students were administered measures for all potential predictive variables, as well as reading comprehension. Results suggested that both working memory and oral language contributed to performance on the English sentence repetition task, but that only working memory was a significant contributor to performance on the Spanish sentence repetition task. When investigating the SVR, findings indicated that although the SVR was an adequate reading comprehension model, adding ELP and working memory significantly improved the percentage of variance in reading comprehension that was explained. These findings have implications for development of universal screening and progress monitoring tools utilized within schools for ELLs struggling with reading comprehension. Additionally, these findings emphasize the importance of ELP and working memory in reading comprehension outcomes for ELLs. INDEX WORDS: English Language Learners, Reading, Comprehension, Simple view of reading, Language proficiency, Children EXPLORING PREDICTORS OF READING COMPREHENSION FOR ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNERS