Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Lower Cerebrospinal Fluid/Plasma Fibroblast Growth Factor 21 (FGF21) Ratios and Placental FGF21 Production in Gestational Diabetes

Objectives Circulating Fibroblast Growth Factor 21 (FGF21) levels are increased in insulin resistant states such as obesity, type 2 diabetes mellitus and gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). In addition, GDM is associated with serious maternal and fetal complications. We sought to study human cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and corresponding circulating FGF21 levels in women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and in age and BMI matched control subjects. We also assessed FGF21 secretion from GDM and control human placental explants. Design CSF and corresponding plasma FGF21 levels of 24 women were measured by ELISA [12 GDM (age: 26–47 years, BMI: 24.3–36.3 kg/m2) and 12 controls (age: 22–40 years, BMI: 30.1–37.0 kg/m2)]. FGF21 levels in conditioned media were secretion from GDM and control human placental explants were also measured by ELISA. Results Glucose, HOMA-IR and circulating NEFA levels were significantly higher in women with GDM compared to control subjects. Plasma FGF21 levels were significantly higher in women with GDM compared to control subjects [234.3 (150.2–352.7) vs. 115.5 (60.5–188.7) pg/ml; P<0.05]. However, there was no significant difference in CSF FGF21 levels in women with GDM compared to control subjects. Interestingly, CSF/Plasma FGF21 ratio was significantly lower in women with GDM compared to control subjects [0.4 (0.3–0.6) vs. 0.8 (0.5–1.6); P<0.05]. FGF21 secretion into conditioned media was significantly lower in human placental explants from women with GDM compared to control subjects (P<0.05). Conclusions The central actions of FGF21 in GDM subjects maybe pivotal in the pathogenesis of insulin resistance in GDM subjects. The significance of FGF21 produced by the placenta remains uncharted and maybe crucial in our understanding of the patho-physiology of GDM and its associated maternal and fetal complications. Future research should seek to elucidate these points.
Different Counterparties In A Small Bank's FX Trading

This study examines the USD/EUR-trading of a small bank in Germany over a fourmonth period and thereby complements previous analyses of large market makers. Our data comprehensively differentiates deal-by-deal trading information between other banks, commercial customers and the increasingly important financial customers. Results reveal that these differences play an insignificant role for inventory control. However, information levels between groups clearly differ. Correspondingly, cumulative order flows of incoming interbank and financial customer trades are informative, even at the small bank. Spreads and profits increase for trading with less informed counterparties. Proprietary trading seems to be profitable. JEL-Classification: G15, F31
Selected pesticide residues or metabolites in blood and urine specimens from a general population survey.

The National Center for Health Statistics collaborated with the National Human Monitoring Program of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in a four-year study to assess the exposure of the general population to selected pesticides through analysis of blood serum and urine specimens. Specimens were collected on a national probability half sample of persons 12-74 years of age from 64 locations across the United States comprising the sample areas in the Second Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES II) and analyzed for selected organochlorine, carbamate, chlorophenoxy and organophosphorus pesticides. Medical, nutritional and pesticide usage data are also available for each sample person. Preliminary results of the blood serum and urine analyses indicate that the general population is being exposed to some of these types of pesticides. Since 1970, EPA has conducted a national probability sampling of human adipose tissue. Specimens obtained on a survey design representative of the general population were analyzed for selected organochlorine pesticides and toxic chemicals. Findings from the 1978 survey also indicate exposure of the general population to some of these chemicals. Medical data collected from both surveys have yielded no overt correlations between health effects and residue levels. More intensive statistical analyses are underway to investigate the possible existence of more subtle relationships.
Directed Multiobjective Optimization Based on the Weighted Hypervolume Indicator

Recently, there has been a large interest in set-based evolutionary algorithms for multi objective optimization. They are based on the definition of indicators that characterize the quality of the current population while being compliant with the concept of Pareto-optimality. It has been shown that the hypervolume indicator, which measures the dominated volume in the objective space, enables the design of efficient search algorithms and, at the same time, opens up opportunities to express user preferences in the search by means of weight functions. The present paper contains the necessary theoretical foundations and corresponding algorithms to (i) select appropriate weight functions, to (ii) transform user preferences into weight functions and to (iii) efficiently evaluate the weighted hypervolume indicator through Monte Carlo sampling. The algorithm W-HypE, which implements the previous concepts, is introduced, and the effectiveness of the search, directed towards the user's preferred solutions, is shown using an extensive set of experiments including the necessary statistical performance assessment. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
trans-4-Hydroxytamoxifen concentration and metabolism after local percutaneous administration to human breast.

trans-4-Hydroxytamoxifen (4-OHTAM), a very active metabolite of the antiestrogen tamoxifen, was percutaneously administered to the affected breast of nine patients before surgery for breast cancer in order to evaluate 4-OHTAM absorption through the skin and its subcellular localization and metabolism. After percutaneous administration of 80 muCi, [3H]-4-OHTAM was detected in breast tissue. It was especially concentrated in tumor tissue and nuclear and cytosolic fractions, in which it remained unmetabolized except for limited isomerization from the trans to the cis form. In contrast to breast tissue, concentrations of radioactivity remained low in plasma but with a high proportion of metabolites. In another experiment [3H]tamoxifen was percutaneously administered over the breast of 3 patients, resulting in tissue retention weaker and shorter than after [3H]-4-OHTAM. In addition [3H]-4-OHTAM was administered to either breast or abdominal skin; the appearance of radioactivity in plasma and urine was delayed after administration to the breast in comparison with administration to the abdomen. It therefore appears that 4-OHTAM passes through the skin and is concentrated in receptor structures of breast tissue, thus avoiding the hepatic metabolism subsequent to p.o. administration. We suggest that local percutaneous administration of this active antiestrogen could be useful in the treatment of hormone-dependent benign breast diseases.
Single hazy image restoration based on fields of experts model and guided filtering

A kind of haze removal algorithm is proposed, so as to improve the visibility of degraded image with only single image. Firstly, the raw atmospheric transmission map is obtained using the dark channel prior. Then, Fields of Experts model with guided filtering is integrated to get the priors from the degraded image, so as to amend the raw atmosphere transmission map. Finally, the scene albedo is restored based on the atmosphere scattering model. Results on a variety of outdoor haze images show the feasibility and validity of our algorithm. Moreover, a comparative study is also proposed with several other state-of-the-art algorithms demonstrate that our algorithm has similar or even better haze removal results.
Deep Neural Networks Based Recognition of Plant Diseases by Leaf Image Classification

The latest generation of convolutional neural networks (CNNs) has achieved impressive results in the field of image classification. This paper is concerned with a new approach to the development of plant disease recognition model, based on leaf image classification, by the use of deep convolutional networks. Novel way of training and the methodology used facilitate a quick and easy system implementation in practice. The developed model is able to recognize 13 different types of plant diseases out of healthy leaves, with the ability to distinguish plant leaves from their surroundings. According to our knowledge, this method for plant disease recognition has been proposed for the first time. All essential steps required for implementing this disease recognition model are fully described throughout the paper, starting from gathering images in order to create a database, assessed by agricultural experts. Caffe, a deep learning framework developed by Berkley Vision and Learning Centre, was used to perform the deep CNN training. The experimental results on the developed model achieved precision between 91% and 98%, for separate class tests, on average 96.3%.
THE CLOSE T TAURI BINARY SYSTEM V4046 Sgr: ROTATIONALLY MODULATED X-RAY EMISSION FROM ACCRETION SHOCKS

We report initial results from a quasi-simultaneous X-ray/optical observing campaign targeting V4046 Sgr, a close, synchronous-rotating classical T Tauri star (CTTS) binary in which both components are actively accreting. V4046 Sgr is a strong X-ray source, with the X-rays mainly arising from high-density (ne∼ 1011–1012 cm−3) plasma at temperatures of 3–4 MK. Our multi-wavelength campaign aims to simultaneously constrain the properties of this X-ray-emitting plasma, the large-scale magnetic field, and the accretion geometry. In this paper, we present key results obtained via time-resolved X-ray-grating spectra, gathered in a 360 ks XMM-Newton observation that covered 2.2 system rotations. We find that the emission lines produced by this high-density plasma display periodic flux variations with a measured period, 1.22 ± 0.01 d, that is precisely half that of the binary star system (2.42 d). The observed rotational modulation can be explained assuming that the high-density plasma occupies small portions of the stellar surfaces, corotating with the stars, and that the high-density plasma is not azimuthally symmetrically distributed with respect to the rotational axis of each star. These results strongly support models in which high-density, X-ray-emitting CTTS plasma is material heated in accretion shocks, located at the base of accretion flows tied to the system by magnetic field lines.
Incremental Difference as Feature for Lipreading

This paper represents a method of computing incremental difference features on the basis of scan line projection and scan converting lines for the lipreading problem on a set of isolated word utterances. These features are affine invariants and found to be effective in identification of similarity between utterances by the speaker in spatial domain. KeywordsIncremental Difference Feature, Euclidean distance, Lipreading.
System fusion for high-performance voice conversion

Recently, a number of voice conversion methods have been developed. These methods attempt to improve conversion performance by using diverse mapping techniques in various acoustic domains, e.g. high-resolution spectra and low-resolution Mel-cepstral coefficients. Each individual method has its own pros and cons. In this paper, we introduce a system fusion framework, which leverages and synergizes the merits of these state-of-the-art and even potential future conversion methods. For instance, methods delivering high speech quality are fused with methods capturing speaker characteristics, bringing another level of performance gain. To examine the feasibility of the proposed framework, we select two state-of-the-art methods, Gaussian mixture model and frequency warping based systems, as a case study. Experimental results reveal that the fusion system outperforms each individual method in both objective and subjective evaluation, and demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed fusion framework.
Opioid receptor desensitization: mechanisms and its link to tolerance

Opioid receptors (OR) are part of the class A of G-protein coupled receptors and the target of the opiates, the most powerful analgesic molecules used in clinic. During a protracted use, a tolerance to analgesic effect develops resulting in a reduction of the effectiveness. So understanding mechanisms of tolerance is a great challenge and may help to find new strategies to tackle this side effect. This review will summarize receptor-related mechanisms that could underlie tolerance especially receptor desensitization. We will focus on the latest data obtained on molecular mechanisms involved in opioid receptor desensitization: phosphorylation, receptor uncoupling, internalization, and post-endocytic fate of the receptor.
Measurement of 226Ra, 232Th, 137Cs and 40K activities of Wheat and Corn Products in Ilam Province – Iran and Resultant Annual Ingestion Radiation Dose

Background: Background: Natural background radiation is the main source of human exposure to radioactive material. Soils naturally have radioactive mineral contents. The aim of this study is to determine natural (238 U, 232 Th, 40 K) and artificial (137 Cs) radioactivity levels in wheat and corn fields of Eilam province. Methods: HPGe detector was used to measure the concentration activity of 238 U and 232 Th series, 40 K and 137 Cs in wheat and corn samples taken from different regions of Eilam province, in Iran. Results: In wheat and corn samples, the average activity concentrations of 226 Ra, 232 Th, 40 K and 137 Cs were found to be 1, 67, 0.5, 91.73, 0.01 and 0.81, 0.85, 101.52, 0.07 Bq/kg (dry weight), respectively. H ex and H in in the present work are lower than 1. The average value of H ex was found to be 0.02 and 0.025 and average value of H in to be found 0.025 and 0.027 in wheat fields samples and corn samples in Eilam provinces, respectively. The obtained values of AGDE are 30.49 mSv/yr for wheat filed samples and 37.89 mSv/yr for corn samples; the AEDE rate values are 5.28 mSv/yr in wheat filed samples and this average value was found to be 6.13 mSv/yr in corn samples in Eilam. Transfer factors (TFs) of long lived radionuclide such as 137 Cs, 226 Ra, 232 Th and 40 K from soils to corn and wheat plants have been studied by radiotracer experiments. Conclusion: The natural radioactivity levels in Eilam province are not at the range of high risk of morbidity and are under international standards.
Fibromyalgia and Chronic Pain Syndromes

This manuscript, developed by a group of chronic pain researchers and clinicians from around the world, aims to address the state of knowledge about fibromyalgia (FM) and identify ongoing challenges in the field of FM and other chronic pain syndromes that may be characterized by pain centralization/amplification/hypersensitivity. There have been many exciting developments in research studies of the pathophysiology and treatment of FM and related syndromes that have the potential to improve the recognition and management of patients with FM and other conditions with FM-like pain. However, much of the new information has not reached all clinicians, especially primary care clinicians, who have the greatest potential to use this new knowledge to positively impact their patients’ lives. Furthermore, there are persistent misconceptions about FM and a lack of consensus regarding the diagnosis and treatment of FM. This paper presents a framework for future global efforts to improve the understanding and treatment of FM and other associated chronic pain syndromes, disseminate research findings, identify ways to enhance advocacy for these patients, and improve global efforts to collaborate and reach consensus about key issues related to FM and chronic pain in general.
Reflections on and implications of the Programme for International Student Assessment 2015 (PISA 2015) performance of students in Taiwan: The role of epistemic beliefs about science in scientific literacy

The 2015 Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) has drawn a substantial amount of attention from science educators and educational policymakers because it marked the first time that PISA assessed students' ability to evaluate and design scientific inquiry using computer‐based simulations. We undertook a secondary analysis of the PISA 2015 Taiwan dataset of 7,973 students from 214 schools to identify critical issues of student learning and potentially reshape our educational system and policies. Thus, this study sought to identify potential latent clusters of students' scientific literacy performance according to a set of focus variables selected from the PISA student questionnaires. In addition, significant determinants of students' scientific literacy and resiliency were analyzed. Cluster analysis results demonstrated the presence of four clusters of high, medium, low, and inferior scientific literacy/epistemology/affective dispositions. Specifically, students in cluster 1 compared with other clusters showed that the higher the scientific literacy scores are, the more positive epistemic beliefs about science, achievement motivation, enjoyment of science, interests in broad science, science self‐efficacy, information and communications technology (ICT) interest, ICT autonomy, more learning time, more teacher supports and teacher‐directed instructions are. Regression results indicated that the most robust predictor of students' scientific literacy performance is epistemic beliefs about science, followed by learning time, interest in broad science topics, achievement motivation, inquiry‐based science teaching and learning practice, and science self‐efficacy. Decision tree model results showed that the descending order of the variables in terms of their importance in differentiating students as high‐ versus low‐performing were epistemic beliefs about science, learning time, self‐efficacy, interest in broad science, and scientific inquiry, respectively. A similar decision tree model to determine students as resilient versus non‐resilient also was found. Various interpretations of these results are discussed, as are their implications for science education research, science teaching, and science education policy.
Differences in Anthropometric Characteristics among Junior Soccer and Handball Players

The aim of this study was to obtain the relevant knowledge about signifi cant diff erences in some anthropometric characteristics of junior soccer and handball players. The sample included 40 male subjects divided into two subsamples. The fi rst subsample included 25 subjects, who train in the junior selection in the Football club Vojvodina from Novi Sad, while the other subsample included 15 subjects who train in the junior selection in the Handball club Vrbas, from Vrbas. The variables sample included 20 anthropometric measures that defi ned longitudinal and transversal dimensionality of skeleton, volume and mass of the body, and subcutaneous adipose tissue. The results is analysed in a statistical procedure marked as a signifi cance testing of two arithmetic means of the independent samples, a t-test at the level of signifi cance of p<0.05. Based on the result, it was concluded that signifi cant diff erences occur in wrist diameter, ankle joint diameter, upper arm circumference (min), upper arm circumference (max), lower leg circumference (max), upper arm skinfolf, lower arm skinfold, thigh skinfold, calf skinfold, chest skinfold and abdomen skinfold, while the signifi cant diff erence does not occur in body height, bodyweight, elbow diameter, knee diameter, lower arm circumference (min), lower arm circumference (max), upper leg circumference (min), upper leg circumference (max), and lower leg circumference (min).
Author ' s personal copy No association between fl uctuating asymmetry in highly stabilized traits and second to fourth digit ratio ( 2 D : 4 D ) in human fetuses

In most cases authors are permitted to post their version of the article (e.g. in Word or Tex form) to their personal website or institutional repository. Authors requiring further information regarding Elsevier's archiving and manuscript policies are encouraged to visit: No association between fluctuating asymmetry in highly stabilized traits and second to fourth digit ratio (2D:4D) in human fetuses a b s t r a c t a r t i c l e i n f o Recent studies have suggested that the ratio of the length of the second and fourth digit (2D:4D) may be associated with developmental instability (DI) as measured by the left–right asymmetry of the same digits. Because the 2D:4D ratio is amongst others, determined prenatally as a result of exposure to sex hormones, such an association could indicate that the same prenatal developmental processes determine levels of DI. In this study we criticize these earlier findings and show by simulations that they are confounded by the fact that (non-) linear combinations of the digit lengths are used as both dependent (average asymmetry in digits 2 and 4) and independent (ratio of the lengths of digits 2 and 4) variable. We therefore studied associations between 2D:4D ratios and asymmetry not only in digits but also in several other skeletal elements in deceased human fetuses. In contrast to the earlier studies, we did not find an association between 2D:4D ratios and asymmetry in digits 2 and 4. We argue that this may be due to the low levels of DI in this study, which limits the confounding effects of DI. Also, no associations were detected with the asymmetry of all other trait either. Thus, there appears to be very little evidence of any link between DI and 2D:4D in this population for limb measurements. We conclude that highly stabilized and functionally important traits such as human limbs may in general show limited increases in asymmetry with prenatal stress. Fluctuating asymmetry (FA, directionally random deviation from perfect symmetry) is most commonly used as a measure of developmental instability (D.I., the sensitivity of a developing system to random perturbations). DI is assumed to reflect individual (genetic) quality and stress experienced during development because degrees of asymmetry correlate with a range of fitness correlates and types of stress. However, patterns reported in the literature are heterogeneous, and it is at present not clear what factors determine levels of DI, …
Large Nonanonymous Repeated Games

Green, and later Sabourian studied repeated games where a player’s payoff depends on his actions and an anonymous aggregate outcome, and show that long-run players behave myopically in any equilibrium of such games. In this paper we extend these results to games where the aggregate outcome is not necessarily an anonymous function of players’ actions, and where players’ strategies may depend nonanonymously on signals of other players’ behavior. Our argument also provides a conceptually simpler proof of Green and Sabourian’s results, showing how their analysis is driven by general bounds on the number of pivotal players in a game.