Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
p-Cymene Protects Mice Against Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Acute Lung Injury by Inhibiting Inflammatory Cell Activation

The objective of this study was to test the hypothesis that p-cymene can attenuate acute lung injury induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in vivo. In the mouse model of LPS-induced acute lung injury, intraperitoneal preconditioning with p-cymene resulted in a significant reduction of pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6), lung water gain, inﬂammatory cell inﬁltration, lung tissue myeloperoxidase activity. In addition, p-cymene blocked the phosphorylation of IκBα protein and mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK) signaling pathway activation. Histopathologic examination of lung tissue indicated that p-cymene treatment markedly decreased focal thickening, congestion, pulmonary edema, and inflammatory cells infiltration. The results showed that p-cymene had a protective effect on LPS-induced ALI in mice.
A generalization of the Multiple-try Metropolis algorithm for Bayesian estimation and model selection

We propose a generalization of the Multipletry Metropolis (MTM) algorithm of Liu et al. (2000), which is based on drawing several proposals at each step and randomly choosing one of them on the basis of weights that may be arbitrary chosen. In particular, for Bayesian estimation we also introduce a method based on weights depending on a quadratic approximation of the posterior distribution. The resulting algorithm cannot be reformulated as an MTM algorithm and leads to a comparable gain of e‐ciency with a lower computational efiort. We also outline the extension of the proposed strategy, and then of the MTM strategy, to Bayesian model selection, casting it in a Reversible Jump framework. The approach is illustrated by real examples.
Administration of BMSCs with Muscone in Rats with Gentamicin-Induced AKI Improves Their Therapeutic Efficacy

The therapeutic action of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) in acute kidney injury (AKI) has been reported by several groups. However, recent studies indicated that BMSCs homed to kidney tissues at very low levels after transplantation. The lack of specific homing of exogenously infused cells limited the effective implementation of BMSC-based therapies. In this study, we provided evidence that the administration of BMSCs combined with muscone in rats with gentamicin-induced AKI intravenously, was a feasible strategy to drive BMSCs to damaged tissues and improve the BMSC-based therapeutic effect. The effect of muscone on BMSC bioactivity was analyzed in vitro and in vivo. The results indicated that muscone could promote BMSC migration and proliferation. Some secretory capacity of BMSC still could be improved in some degree. The BMSC-based therapeutic action was ameliorated by promoting the recovery of biochemical variables in urine or blood, as well as the inhibition of cell apoptosis and inflammation. In addition, the up-regulation of CXCR4 and CXCR7 expression in BMSCs could be the possible mechanism of muscone amelioration. Thus, our study indicated that enhancement of BMSCs bioactivities with muscone could increase the BMSC therapeutic potential and further developed a new therapeutic strategy for the treatment of AKI.
Offensive playing profiles of football teams from the 1999 Women’s World Cup Finals.

The present study was designed to examine the offensive tactic of elite women’s football teams. The sample of the study constituted of 20 games of the four top(quarter finalists) teams of the 3rd Women’s World Cup (USA, China, Brazil, Norway). Totally, 749 offensive phases were analyzed. Teams’ offensive patterns during games were coded using the following categories: (1) team, (2) zone of scoring attempt, (3) source of scoring attempt, (4) ball possession and (5) type of passes. Correspondence analysis showed that the four teams had different offensive profile. USA’s scoring attempts were mainly executed from the central zones using combinations of small and medium passes with low possession and set plays. China’s scoring attempts were mainly performed from the central and left zone after a combination of two or three small and intermediate passes. The source of Brazil’s scoring attempts was frequently executed from the box area and the right offensive zone, using combination with small passes and individual actions. The source of Norway’s final scoring attempts was mainly crosses and opponents mistake, executed from the box area. In addition, Norway frequently used small possession with long balls beginning from the defend area directed to the opponents’ box area.
The Formation of Massive Stars I. Observational Background

We review observational and theoretical evidence bearing on the origin of high-mass stars. The conventional theory of protostellar infall successfully accounts for objects between about 2 and 10 M. After formation, these stars undergo quasi-static contraction with radiative interiors. In this stage, they correspond to Herbig Ae and Be stars. More massive objects have no pre-main-sequence phase and disrupt their infalling envelopes through strong winds and radiation pressure. Nevertheless, there is spectrosopic evidence for ongoing collapse in a number of systems associated with compact HII regions. The striking concentration of massive stars toward the centers of young clusters provides an important clue. The indication is that stars well in excess of 10 M arise from the coalescence of already existing cluster members of lower mass. Coalescence may occur after the merger of dense molecular cores that contain the lower-mass stars. Our picture of stellar birth is most securely established for objects of solar and subsolar mass. Pre-main-sequence stars in this regime, the well-studied T Tauri class, exist in abundance within a few hundred parsecs. Conversely, one must cast one's observational net out to the ends of the Galaxy to sample a comparable number of O and B-type stars. It is true that the high luminosity of a massive star renders it conspicuous even at such distances and beyond. On the other hand, the object's prodigious radiative output, coupled with the momentum of its stellar wind, quickly and eeectively disperses natal cloud matter. This circumstance has impeded progress in understanding the formation mechanism.
Optimal Fiscal and Monetary Policy in a Medium-Scale Macroeconomic Model

In this paper, we study Ramsey-optimal fiscal and monetary policy in a medium-scale model of the U.S. business cycle. The model features a rich array of real and nominal rigidities that have been identified in the recent empirical literature as salient in explaining observed aggregate fluctuations. The main result of the paper is that price stability appears to be a central goal of optimal monetary policy. The optimal rate of inflation under an income-tax regime is 1/2 percent per year, with a volatility of 1.1 percent. This result is surprising given that the model features a number of frictions-particularly nonstate-contingent nominal public debt, no lump-sum taxes, and sticky wages-that, in isolation, would call for a volatile rate of inflation. Under an income-tax regime, the optimal income-tax rate is quite stable, with a mean of 30 percent and a standard deviation of 1.1 percent. Simple monetary and fiscal rules are shown to implement a competitive equilibrium that mimics well the one induced by the Ramsey policy. When the fiscal authority is allowed to tax capital and labor income at different rates, optimal fiscal policy is characterized by a large and volatile subsidy on capital.
Impact of the Location of CpG Methylation within the GSTP1 Gene on Its Specificity as a DNA Marker for Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Hypermethylation of the glutathione S-transferase π 1 (GSTP1) gene promoter region has been reported to be a potential biomarker to distinguish hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) from other liver diseases. However, reports regarding how specific a marker it is have ranged from 100% to 0%. We hypothesized that, to a large extent, the variation of specificity depends on the location of the CpG sites analyzed. To test this hypothesis, we compared the methylation status of the GSTP1 promoter region of the DNA isolated from HCC, cirrhosis, hepatitis, and normal liver tissues by bisulfite–PCR sequencing. We found that the 5′ region of the position −48 nt from the transcription start site of the GSTP1 gene is selectively methylated in HCC, whereas the 3′ region is methylated in all liver tissues examined, including normal liver and the HCC tissue. Interestingly, when DNA derived from fetal liver and 11 nonhepatic normal tissue was also examined by bisulfite-PCR sequencing, we found that methylation of the 3′ region of the promoter appeared to be liver-specific. A methylation-specific PCR assay targeting the 5′ region of the promoter was developed and used to quantify the methylated GSTP1 gene in various diseased liver tissues including HCC. When we used an assay targeting the 3′ region, we found that the methylation of the 5′-end of the GSTP1 promoter was significantly more specific than that of the 3′-end (97.1% vs. 60%, p<0.0001 by Fisher's exact test) for distinguishing HCC (n = 120) from hepatitis (n = 35) and cirrhosis (n = 35). Encouragingly, 33.8% of the AFP-negative HCC contained the methylated GSTP1 gene. This study clearly demonstrates the importance of the location of CpG site methylation for HCC specificity and how liver-specific DNA methylation should be considered when an epigenetic DNA marker is studied for detection of HCC.
MAX-STABLE MODELS FOR MULTIVARIATE EXTREMES

Multivariate extreme-value analysis is concerned with the extremes in a multivariate random sample, that is, points of which at least some components have exceptionally large values. Mathematical theory suggests the use of max-stablemodels for univariate and multivariate extremes. A comprehensive account is given of the various ways in which max-stable models are described. Furthermore, a construction device is proposed for generating parametric families of max-stable distributions. Although the device is not new, its role as a model generator seems not yet to have been fully exploited.
Responses in colonic microbial community and gene expression of pigs to a long-term high resistant starch diet

Intake of raw potato starch (RPS) has been associated with various intestinal health benefits, but knowledge of its mechanism in a long-term is limited. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of long-term intake of RPS on microbial composition, genes expression profiles in the colon of pigs. Thirty-six Duroc × Landrace × Large White growing barrows were randomly allocated to corn starch (CS) and RPS groups with a randomized block design. Each group consisted of six replicates (pens), with three pigs per pen. Pigs in the CS group were offered a corn/soybean-based diet, while pigs in the RPS group were put on a diet in which 230 g/kg (growing period) or 280 g/kg (finishing period) purified CS was replaced with purified RPS during a 100-day trial. Real-time PCR assay showed that RPS significantly decreased the number of total bacteria in the colonic digesta. MiSeq sequencing of the V3-V4 region of the 16S rRNA genes showed that RPS significantly decreased the relative abundance of Clostridium, Treponema, Oscillospira, Phascolarctobacterium, RC9 gut group, and S24-7-related operational taxonomic units (OTUs), and increased the relative abundance of Turicibacter, Blautia, Ruminococcus, Coprococcus, Marvinbryantia, and Ruminococcus bromii-related OTUs in colonic digesta and mucosa. Analysis of the colonic transcriptome profiles revealed that the RPS diet changed the colonic expression profile of the host genes mainly involved in immune response pathways. RPS significantly increased proinflammartory cytokine IL-1β gene expression and suppressed genes involved in lysosome. Our findings suggest that long-term intake of high resistant starch (RS) diet may result in both positive and negative roles in gut health.
Genomic Characterization of Phenylalanine Ammonia Lyase Gene in Buckwheat

Phenylalanine Ammonia Lyase (PAL) gene which plays a key role in bio-synthesis of medicinally important compounds, Rutin/quercetin was sequence characterized for its efficient genomics application. These compounds possessing anti-diabetic and anti-cancer properties and are predominantly produced by Fagopyrum spp. In the present study, PAL gene was sequenced from three Fagopyrum spp. (F. tataricum, F. esculentum and F. dibotrys) and showed the presence of three SNPs and four insertion/deletions at intra and inter specific level. Among them, the potential SNP (position 949th bp G>C) with Parsimony Informative Site was selected and successfully utilised to individuate the zygosity/allelic variation of 16 F. tataricum varieties. Insertion mutations were identified in coding region, which resulted the change of a stretch of 39 amino acids on the putative protein. Our Study revealed that autogamous species (F. tataricum) has lower frequency of observed SNPs as compared to allogamous species (F. dibotrys and F. esculentum). The identified SNPs in F. tataricum didn’t result to amino acid change, while in other two species it caused both conservative and non-conservative variations. Consistent pattern of SNPs across the species revealed their phylogenetic importance. We found two groups of F. tataricum and one of them was closely related with F. dibotrys. Sequence characterization information of PAL gene reported in present investigation can be utilized in genetic improvement of buckwheat in reference to its medicinal value.
No effect of additional screw fixation of a cementless, all-polyethylene press-fit socket on migration, wear, and clinical outcome

Background and purpose — Additional screw fixation of the all-polyethylene press-fit RM cup (Mathys) has no additional value for migration, in the first 2 years after surgery. However, the medium-term and long-term effects of screw fixation remain unclear. We therefore evaluated the influence of screw fixation on migration, wear, and clinical outcome at 6.5 years using radiostereometric analysis (RSA). Patients and methods — This study involved prolonged follow-up from a previous randomized controlled trial (RCT). We analyzed RSA radiographs taken at baseline and at 1-, 2-, and 6.5-year follow-up. Cup migration and wear were assessed using model-based RSA software. Wear was calculated as translation of the femoral head model in relation to the cup model. Total translation, rotation, and wear were calculated mathematically from results of the orthogonal components. Results — 27 patients (15 with screw fixation and 12 without) were available for follow-up at 6.5 (5.6–7.2) years. Total translation (0.50 mm vs. 0.56 mm) and rotation (1.01 degrees vs. 1.33 degrees) of the cup was low, and was not significantly different between the 2 groups. Wear increased over time, and was similar between the 2 groups (0.58 mm vs. 0.53 mm). Wear rate (0.08 mm/year vs. 0.09 mm/year) and clinical outcomes were also similar. Interpretation — Our results indicate that additional screw fixation of all-polyethylene press-fit RM cups has no additional value regarding medium-term migration and clinical outcome. The wear rate was low in both groups.
Communications in Mathematical Physics Asymptotics in ASEP with Step Initial Condition

In previous work the authors considered the asymmetric simple exclusion process on the integer lattice in the case of step initial condition, particles beginning at the positive integers. There it was shown that the probability distribution for the position of an individual particle is given by an integral whose integrand involves a Fredholm determinant. Here we use this formula to obtain three asymptotic results for the positions of these particles. In one an apparently new distribution function arises and in another the distribution function F2 arises. The latter extends a result of Johansson on TASEP to ASEP, and hence proves KPZ universality for ASEP with step initial condition.
Defining insight: A study examining implicit theories of insight experience.

Accounts of insight experiences have already been used to define insight or distinguish insight from noninsight; but the nature of the experience remains unclear. This research takes a quantitative approach to assessing the implicit conceptual structure of everyday insight experience in 2 studies. The aim of Study 1 was to collect descriptions of everyday insight experiences: participants were required to give as many brief descriptions as possible of experience of insight in diverse naturalistic settings. The participants provided a total of 99 categories of terms including 22 principal terms. In Study 2 the underlying structure of this set of terms was extracted through multidimensional scaling (MDS), and the 22 principal terms were further clustered. The results showed that the terms scattered in various dimensional positions and the 22 principal terms were grouped in 4 clusters. Together these 2 studies suggest that the experience of everyday insight is a multidimensional construct encompassing positive affect at the moment of insight; phenomenological experiences relating to the dynamic insight process, particularly the process of sudden restructuring; solution-related cognitive responses; and postinsight reflections. The main implications of the research are discussed.
An AI Framework to Teach English as a Foreign Language: CSIEC

CSIEC (Computer Simulation in Educational Communication), is not only an intelligent web-based human-computer dialogue system with natural language for English instruction, but also a learning assessment system for learners and teachers. Its multiple functions—including grammar-based gap filling exercises, scenario show, free chatting and chatting on a given topic—can satisfy the various requirements for students with different backgrounds and learning abilities. After a brief explanation of the conception of our dialogue system, as well as a survey of related works, we will illustrate the system structure, and describe its pedagogical functions with the underlying AI techniques in detail such as NLP and rule-based reasoning. We will summarize the free Internet usage within a six month period and its integration into English classes in universities and middle schools. The evaluation findings about the class integration show that the chatting function has been improved and frequently utilized by the users, and the application of the CSIEC system on English instruction can motivate the learners to practice English and enhance their learning process. Finally, we will conclude with potential improvements.
Association of Cardiorespiratory Fitness and Overweight with Risk of Type 2 Diabetes in Japanese Men

Objective Existing evidence is limited on what extent fitness can counterbalance type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) risk associated with obesity. We investigated the joint association of weight status and estimated VO2max, a marker of fitness, with the risk of developing T2DM among Japanese men using haemoglobin A1c and fasting glucose criterion. Methods The present study included 3,523 male employees aged 18–61 years without diabetes who provided health check-up and fitness data in Japan in 2003–2005. We calculated hazard ratios and 95% confidence intervals for incident diabetes using the Cox regression model. Results During a mean follow-up of 6.0 years, 199 men developed diabetes. Multivariable-adjusted hazard ratios (95% confidence interval) of diabetes were 1.00 (reference), 1.44 (1.01–2.07), and 1.48 (1.03–2.13) for the highest through the lowest tertile of fitness (P for trend = 0.04). Additional adjustment for body mass index largely attenuated the association of fitness with diabetes. Joint analysis showed that adjusted hazard ratios of diabetes were 1.00, 1.32, 2.94, and 1.83 in normal weight high-fit men, normal weight low-fit men, overweight high-fit men, and overweight low-fit men, respectively. Conclusion The results suggest that weight control is more important than fitness in prevention of type 2 diabetes in Japanese men.
Receptor for Advanced Glycation End Products (RAGEs) and Experimental Diabetic Neuropathy

OBJECTIVE— Heightened expression of the receptor for advanced glycation end products (RAGE) contributes to development of systemic diabetic complications, but its contribution to diabetic neuropathy is uncertain. We studied experimental diabetic neuropathy and its relationship with RAGE expression using streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice including a RAGE−/− cohort exposed to long-term diabetes compared with littermates without diabetes. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS— Structural indexes of neuropathy were addressed with serial (1, 3, 5, and 9 months of experimental diabetes) electrophysiological and quantitative morphometric analysis of dorsal root ganglia (DRG), peripheral nerve, and epidermal innervation. RAGE protein and mRNA levels in DRG, peripheral nerve, and epidermal terminals were assessed in WT and RAGE−/− mice, with and without diabetes. The correlation of RAGE activation with nuclear factor (NF)-κB and protein kinase C βII (PKCβII) protein and mRNA expression was also determined. RESULTS— Diabetic peripheral epidermal axons, sural axons, Schwann cells, and sensory neurons within ganglia developed dramatic and cumulative rises in RAGE mRNA and protein along with progressive electrophysiological and structural abnormalities. RAGE−/− mice had attenuated structural features of neuropathy after 5 months of diabetes. RAGE-mediated signaling pathway activation for NF-κB and PKCβII pathways was most evident among Schwann cells in the DRG and peripheral nerve. CONCLUSIONS— In a long-term model of experimental diabetes resembling human diabetic peripheral neuropathy, RAGE expression in the peripheral nervous system rises cumulatively and relates to progressive pathological changes. Mice lacking RAGE have attenuated features of neuropathy and limited activation of potentially detrimental signaling pathways.
Neural Response Suppression Predicts Repetition Priming of Spoken Words and Pseudowords

An important method for studying how the brain processes familiar stimuli is to present the same item on more than one occasion and measure how responses change with repetition. Here we use repetition priming in a sparse functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) study to probe the neuroanatomical basis of spoken word recognition and the representations of spoken words that mediate repetition priming effects. Participants made lexical decisions to words and pseudowords spoken by a male or female voice that were presented twice, with half of the repetitions in a different voice. Behavioral and neural priming was observed for both words and pseudowords and was not affected by voice changes. The fMRI data revealed an elevated response to words compared to pseudowords in both posterior and anterior temporal regions, suggesting that both contribute to word recognition. Both reduced and elevated activation for second presentations (repetition suppression and enhancement) were observed in frontal and posterior regions. Correlations between behavioral priming and neural repetition suppression were observed in frontal regions, suggesting that repetition priming effects for spoken words reflect changes within systems involved in generating behavioral responses. Based on the current results, these processes are sufficiently abstract to display priming despite changes in the physical form of the stimulus and operate equivalently for words and pseudowords.
0 00 70 14 v 1 1 1 Ju l 2 00 0 Ground States in Non-relativistic Quantum Electrodynamics

The excited states of a charged particle interacting with the quantized electromagnetic field and an external potential all decay, but such a particle should have a true ground state — one that minimizes the energy and satisfies the Schrödinger equation. We prove quite generally that this state exists for all values of the fine-structure constant and ultraviolet cutoff. We also show the same thing for a many-particle system under physically natural conditions.