Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Relationship between insulin resistance and amino acids in women and men

Insulin resistance has been associated with higher plasma amino acid (AA) concentrations, but majority of studies have used indirect measures of insulin resistance. Our main objective was to define the relationship between plasma AA concentrations and a direct measure of insulin resistance in women and men. This was a cross‐sectional study of 182 nondiabetic individuals (118 women and 64 men) who had measurement of 24 AAs and steady‐state plasma glucose (SSPG) concentration (insulin resistance) using the insulin suppression test. Fourteen out of 24 AA concentrations were significantly (P < 0.05) higher in men than women; only glycine was lower in men. Majority of these AAs were positively associated with SSPG; only glycine concentration was negatively associated. Glutamic acid, isoleucine, leucine, and tyrosine concentrations had the strongest correlation with SSPG (r ≥ 0.4, P < 0.001). The degree of association was similar in women and men, independent of obesity, and similar to traditional markers of insulin resistance (e.g., glucose, triglyceride, high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol). Compared with women, men tended to have a more unfavorable AA profile with higher concentration of AAs associated with insulin resistance and less glycine. However, the strength of association between a direct measurement of insulin resistance and AA concentrations were similar between sexes and equivalent to several traditional markers of insulin resistance.
Effort of Genre Variation and Prediction of System Performance

Domain adaptation is an important task in order for NLP systems to work well in real applications. There has been extensive research on this topic. In this paper, we address two issues that are related to domain adaptation. The first question is how much genre variation will affect NLP systems' performance. We investigate the effect of genre variation on the performance of three NLP tools, namely, word segmenter, POS tagger, and parser. We choose the Chinese Penn Treebank (CTB) as our corpus. The second question is how one can estimate NLP systems' performance when gold standard on the test data does not exist. To answer the question, we extend the prediction model in (Ravi et al., 2008) to provide prediction for word segmentation and POS tagging as well. Our experiments show that the predicted scores are close to the real scores when tested on the CTB data.
Andrographolide sensitizes cancer cells to TRAIL-induced apoptosis via p53-mediated death receptor 4 up-regulation

Tumor necrosis factor–related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) is an important member of the tumor necrosis factor subfamily with great potential in cancer therapy. Andrographolide (Andro), a diterpenoid lactone isolated from a traditional herbal medicine Andrographis paniculata, is known to possess potent anti-inflammatory and anticancer activities. Here, we showed that pretreatment with Andro significantly enhances TRAIL-induced apoptosis in various human cancer cell lines, including those TRAIL-resistant cells. Such sensitization is achieved through transcriptional up-regulation of death receptor 4 (DR4), a death receptor of TRAIL. In search of the molecular mechanisms responsible for DR4 up-regulation, we found that the tumor suppressor p53 plays an essential role in DR4 transcriptional activation. Andro is capable of activating p53 via increased p53 phosphorylation and protein stabilization, a process mediated by enhanced reactive oxygen species production and subsequent c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase activation. Pretreatment with an antioxidant (N-acetylcysteine) or a c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase inhibitor (SP600125) effectively prevented Andro-induced p53 activation and DR4 up-regulation and eventually blocked the Andro-induced sensitization on TRAIL-induced apoptosis. Taken together, these results present a novel anticancer effect of Andro and support its potential application in cancer therapy to overcome TRAIL resistance. [Mol Cancer Ther 2008;7(7):2170–80]
Metacognitive Strategies and Reading Comprehension Enhancement in Iranian Intermediate EFL Setting

This study examined the relationship between metacognitive strategy instruction and reading comprehension enhancement. Metacognitive strategies are something potentially important in learning a foreign language (Larsen Freeman 1991). In this study, an attempt is made to investigate the effects of metacognitive strategies on enhancing reading comprehension in Iranian intermediate learners of English. For this purpose, 70 English major students studying at Isfahan Payam-Noor University were invited to take part in a reading comprehension TOEFL test (2007 version) to homogenize them then a total number of 40 participants whose scores were within the range of one standard deviation below and above the mean were divided into two groups of experimental and control. Participants in experimental group received twelve sessions of two hour classes, every other week, on reading comprehension instruction as well as metacognitive strategies while the control group remained intact and the regular process of reading instructions went on. In order to see if there was a significant difference between the participants' attitudes toward metacognitive strategies before and after the treatment an attitude questionnaire was administered to the experimental group and the subjects were asked to fill it. Then after the treatment both groups received an immediate test as post-test and the experimental group took the second post-test as the delayed recall test with the same design as the pre-test. The result indicates that there was a significant difference between the two groups and the participants in experimental group outperformed those in control group.
Passion in sport: a look at determinants and affective experiences.

Based on the Dualistic Model of Passion (Vallerand et al., 2003), a sequence involving the determinants and affective experiences associated with two types of passion (harmonious and obsessive) toward sport was proposed and tested. This sequence posits that high levels of sport valuation and an autonomous personality orientation lead to harmonious passion, whereas high levels of sport valuation and a controlled personality orientation facilitate obsessive passion. In turn, harmonious passion is expected to lead to positive affective experiences in sport but to be either negatively related or unrelated to negative affective experiences. Conversely, obsessive passion is hypothesized to be positively related to negative affective experiences in sport but to be either negatively related or unrelated to positive affective experiences. Results of three studies conducted with recreational and competitive athletes involved in individual and team sports provided support for the proposed integrative sequence. These.
Nonthermal Electrons in Radiatively Inefficient Accretion Flow Models of Sagittarius A*

We investigate radiatively inefficient accretion flow models for Sgr A*, the supermassive black hole in our Galactic center, in light of new observational constraints. Confirmation of linear polarization in the submillimeter emission argues for accretion rates much less than the canonical Bondi rate. We consider models with low accretion rates and calculate the spectra produced by a hybrid electron population consisting of both thermal and nonthermal particles. The thermal electrons produce the submillimeter emission and can account for its linear polarization properties. As noted in previous work, the observed low-frequency radio spectrum can be explained if a small fraction (≈1.5%) of the electron thermal energy resides in a soft power-law tail. In the innermost region of the accretion flow, turbulence and/or magnetic reconnection events may occasionally accelerate a fraction of the electrons into a harder power-law tail. We show that the synchrotron emission from these electrons, or the Compton upscattering of synchrotron photons by the same electrons, may account for the X-ray flares observed by Chandra.
The Costs and Consequences of Clean Air Act Regulation of CO2 from Power Plants

US climate policy is unfolding under the Clean Air Act. Mobile source and construction permitting regulations are in place. Most important, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the states will determine the form and stringency of the regulations for existing power plants. It is widely believed that flexible approaches could be suggested in EPA guidelines or proposed by states. Various approaches would create an implicit price on emitting greenhouse gases and create valuable assets that would be distributed differently among electricity producers, consumers, and the government. We compare a tradable performance standard with three variations on cap-and-trade policies that would distribute the asset value in different ways. Keeping the value within the electricity sector by distributing it to fossil-fueled producers or consumers or spending on energy efficiency has smaller effects on average electricity prices than a revenue-raising policy. These approaches impose greater social cost, but comparable net benefits in the sector.
Dyadic Diaphony

1. Introduction. Diaphony (see Zinterhof [13] and Kuipers and Nieder-reiter [6, Exercise 5.27, p. 162]) is a numerical quantity that measures the irregularity of the distribution of sequences in the s-dimensional unit cube [0, 1[
Up in Smoke: The Passage of Medical Marijuana Legislation and Enactment of Dispensary Moratoriums in Massachusetts

In November 2012, Massachusetts’ voters passed a medical marijuana law that was soon followed by municipal moratoriums prohibiting marijuana dispensaries. This study uses structural equation modeling (SEM) to examine (a) whether municipal characteristics predict voting outcomes for medical marijuana, (b) whether these same characteristics predict moratorium enactment, and (c) whether voting outcomes mediate the relationships between municipal characteristics and moratorium enactment. Results indicate that municipal characteristics predict voter support and indifference for medical marijuana, and this support and indifferences in turn predicts moratorium passage. However, most municipal characteristics only indirectly affect moratorium passage via voting activity. This suggests moratorium enactment may be an extension of municipal voting activity, in turn reflecting the characteristics of a municipality’s population. Policy implications are discussed.
Information Security Challenges in Industrial Automation Systems

Industrial automation systems are showing a strong trend towards convergence and networking. Infrastructures and devices with standardized implementations are increasingly being used in the industrial environment where traditionally isolated solutions have been used before. Information security management has become an important concern in the field. We are investigating the challenges of information security management in a modern industrial automation environment.
An Adaptation, Validity and Reliability of the Lifespan Sibling Relationship Scale to the Turkish Adolescents.

The purpose of this study is to adapt the Lifespan Sibling Relationship Scale (LSRS) developed by Riggio (2000) to Turkish. The scale with its original form in English consists of 48 items in total. The original scale was translated into Turkish by three instructors who are proficient both in the field and the language. Later, the original and Turkish form of the scale was submitted to expert opinion and the final version was issued with necessary arrangements made in line with their suggestions. In the next stage, the Turkish adaptation of the LSRS and the original scale were administered to 42 prospective English teachers in two sessions separated by an interval of two weeks, and correlations between the two administrations were calculated. The Turkish version of the LSRS was administered to a total of 804 students studying at the 9th, 10th and 11th grades at four different high schools in Karsiyaka district of Izmir. The six factor structure of the LSRS was tested by means of factor analysis method. For test- retest reliability, the scale was administered to 152 persons at an interval of three weeks and the correlation coefficient between the two administrations was calculated. Furthermore, the internal consistency of the scale was evaluated by calculating Cronbach Alpha coefficient and composite reliability coefficient. The results of the research reveal that the six factor structure of the LSRS has been verified and could be used in measurement of the quality of sibling relationships in adolescents. Key words: Sibling relationships, adolescence, confirmatory factor analysis.
We're playing Jeremy Kyle'! Television talk shows in the playground

This paper focuses on an episode of play in a primary school playground in England, which featured a group of children re-enacting elements of the television talk show The Jeremy Kyle Show. The episode is analysed in the light of work that has identified the key elements of the talk show genre and the children's play is examined in relation to conceptualisations of talk shows as cruelty-verité, carnivalesque spectacle and vehicles of social class anxiety. The paper explores the children's playful re-enactment not only as a parody of adult worlds, but also as a confirmation of the ‘ordinariness’ of everyday life. It is argued that in episodes such as these, the functions of play are multiple and complex, but include a desire to construct collective moral sensibilities and reinforce normative discourses relating to sexuality and what it means to be a ‘good citizen’. The paper identifies spaces of continuity and discontinuity in such traditions and suggests that in play which draws from contemporary media we see the reconstruction of traditional play themes, but can also trace newer elements that are closely related to the generic conventions of reality television.
Autophagy activation, not peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptor γ coactivator 1α, may mediate exercise‐induced improvements in glucose handling during diet‐induced obesity

What is the central question of this study? What are the individual and combined effects of muscle‐specific peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptor γ coactivator 1α (PGC‐1α) overexpression and physical activity during high‐fat feeding on glucose and exercise tolerance? What is the main finding and its importance? Our main finding is that muscle‐specific PGC‐1α overexpression provides no protection against lipid‐overload pathologies nor does it enhance exercise adaptations. Instead, physical activity, regardless of PGC‐1α content, protects against high‐fat diet‐induced detriments. Activation of muscle autophagy was correlated with exercise protection, suggesting that autophagy might be a mediating factor for exercise‐induced protection from lipid overload.
P‐Wave Indices, Distribution and Quality Control Assessment (from the Framingham Heart Study)

Background: P‐wave indices of maximum P‐wave duration and P‐wave dispersion have been examined in a broad array of cardiovascular and noncardiovascular disease states. The P‐wave indices literature has been highly heterogeneous in measurement methodologies, described quality control metrics, and distribution of values. We therefore sought to determine the reproducibility of P‐wave indices in a community‐based cohort.
Transparency in food supply chains: empirical results from German pig and dairy production

Food supply chains have been faced with increasing requirements for transparency in recent years. However, evaluating the status quo of transparency of netchains entails measurement problems, since transparency is a multifaceted phenomenon as well as a latent variable. In this paper we present a measurement model that integrates various perspectives on transparency and, moreover, considers various measurement concepts. This model provides a theoretical basis for the empirical analysis of transparency in German pig and dairy production, which reveals interesting differences between the two sectors as perceived by farmers. The model and the empirical results deliver a more comprehensive understanding of the determinants and effects of various degrees of transparency in food supply chains.
The Ideological Organization of Representational Processes in the Presentation of us and them

The present study, drawing on the work of Teun A. Van Dijk (1998) to theorize the relations between discourse and ideology, aims to show how social groups (us vs them) are presented in discourse and how ideological discourse is constructed socio-politically as a means to confirm group dominance. Simultaneously, this study uses critical discourse analysis as a methodology which grounds the theoretical claims in the idea that both the ideological loading of particular ways of using certain linguistic forms systematically and the relations of power which underlie them is often unclear to people. In this sense, critical discourse analysis aims to make these opaque aspects of discourse explicit. In doing this, critical discourse analysis gives attention to the grammar and vocabulary of texts. Three dimensions of the clause grammar are differentiated transitivity, modality and theme. These correspond to, respectively, ideational, interpersonal, and textual functions of language. The focus in this study is upon aspects of clause grammar which have to do with ideational meanings. By determining the transitivity patterns expressed with propositions through representational processes in the opinion-editorial articles that appeared in two Turkish daily newspapers with different ideological orientations, this article claims that representational processes play a significant role in the well known ideological square of positive self-presentation and negative other-presentation suggested by social identity theory, for controlling the social representations of us and them in the context of ideological conflict exhibited in `secular' and `anti-secular' discourses.
Spiking Models for Level-Invariant Encoding

Levels of ecological sounds vary over several orders of magnitude, but the firing rate and membrane potential of a neuron are much more limited in range. In binaural neurons of the barn owl, tuning to interaural delays is independent of level differences. Yet a monaural neuron with a fixed threshold should fire earlier in response to louder sounds, which would disrupt the tuning of these neurons. How could spike timing be independent of input level? Here I derive theoretical conditions for a spiking model to be insensitive to input level. The key property is a dynamic change in spike threshold. I then show how level invariance can be physiologically implemented, with specific ionic channel properties. It appears that these ingredients are indeed present in monaural neurons of the sound localization pathway of birds and mammals.
Involvement of Trichoderma harzianum Epl-1 Protein in the Regulation of Botrytis Virulence- and Tomato Defense-Related Genes

Several Trichoderma spp. are well known for their ability to: (i) act as important biocontrol agents against phytopathogenic fungi; (ii) function as biofertilizers; (iii) increase the tolerance of plants to biotic and abiotic stresses; and (iv) induce plant defense responses via the production and secretion of elicitor molecules. In this study, we analyzed the gene-regulation effects of Trichoderma harzianum Epl-1 protein during the interactions of mutant Δepl-1 or wild-type T. harzianum strains with: (a) the phytopathogen Botrytis cinerea and (b) with tomato plants, on short (24 h hydroponic cultures) and long periods (4-weeks old plants) after Trichoderma inoculation. Our results indicate that T. harzianum Epl-1 protein affects the in vitro expression of B. cinerea virulence genes, especially those involved in the botrydial biosynthesis (BcBOT genes), during the mycoparasitism interaction. The tomato defense-related genes were also affected, indicating that Epl-1 is involved in the elicitation of the salicylic acid pathway. Moreover, Epl-1 also regulates the priming effect in host tomato plants and contributes to enhance the interaction with the host tomato plant during the early stage of root colonization.
Spectral Doppler and resistive index: A promising tool in ultrasonographic evaluation of inflammation in rheumatoid arthritis

Purpose: To evaluate the use of spectral Doppler in the longitudinal follow-up of inflammatory joint involvement in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) by comparing resistive index (RI) findings with color fraction and pain on a visual analog scale (VAS). Material and Methods: Five patients on unchanged disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARD) treatment were followed after an intra-articular corticosteroids injection and received no further injections in the observation period. They were followed clinically and by ultrasound using color Doppler pixels and the spectral Doppler RI as indicators of inflammation. At 1, 6 and 12 months the measurements were repeated on the same joint. Results: At 1-month follow-up after the corticosteroids injection, a marked decrease in the color fraction was seen in 4 out of 5 patients, while the fifth patient had a moderate decrease (Wilcoxon p < 0.05). The changes in RI showed correspondingly a marked increase in 4 out of 5 patients indicating a diminished flow to the synovium (Wilcoxon p < 0.05). The effect of the corticosteroid injection could still be seen after 1 year in 4 out of 5 patients. In RI, pixel fraction and VAS there was improvement compared with the baseline values; however, only the pixel fraction was statistically significant (Wilcoxon p < 0.05). Conclusion: RI seems to be an objective alternative to pixel estimation of the degree of inflammation and treatment response in RA.
Cold pool dissipation

The mechanisms by which sensible heat fluxes (SHFs) alter cold pool characteristics and dissipation rates are investigated in this study using idealized two‐dimensional numerical simulations and an environment representative of daytime, dry, continental conditions. Simulations are performed with no SHFs, SHFs calculated using a bulk formula, and constant SHFs for model resolutions with horizontal (vertical) grid spacings ranging from 50 m (25 m) to 400 m (200 m). In the highest resolution simulations, turbulent entrainment of environmental air into the cold pool is an important mechanism for dissipation in the absence of SHFs. Including SHFs enhances cold pool dissipation rates, but the processes responsible for the enhanced dissipation differ depending on the SHF formulation. The bulk SHFs increase the near‐surface cold pool temperatures, but their effects on the overall cold pool characteristics are small, while the constant SHFs influence the near‐surface environmental stability and the turbulent entrainment rates into the cold pool. The changes to the entrainment rates are found to be the most significant of the SHF effects on cold pool dissipation. SHFs may also influence the timing of cold pool‐induced convective initiation by altering the environmental stability and the cold pool intensity. As the model resolution is coarsened, cold pool dissipation is found to be less sensitive to SHFs. Furthermore, the coarser resolution simulations not only poorly but sometimes wrongly represent the SHF impacts on the cold pools. Recommendations are made regarding simulating the interaction of cold pools with convection and the land surface in cloud‐resolving models.