Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Ginseng and Ginsenoside Re Do Not Improve β-Cell Function or Insulin Sensitivity in Overweight and Obese Subjects With Impaired Glucose Tolerance or Diabetes

OBJECTIVE Ginseng and its active component, ginsenoside Re, are popular herbal products that are advocated for treatment of diabetes. The purpose of this study was to determine whether ginseng or ginsenoside Re improves β-cell function and insulin sensitivity (IS) in insulin-resistant subjects. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS Overweight or obese subjects (BMI = 34 ± 1 kg/m2) with impaired glucose tolerance or newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes were randomized to 30 days of treatment with ginseng root extract (8 g/day), ginsenoside Re (250–500 mg/day), or placebo. β-Cell function was assessed as the disposition index (DI) and measured by a frequently sampled oral glucose tolerance test, and IS was assessed as the relative increase in glucose disposal during a hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp procedure plus stable isotope tracer infusion. RESULTS Values for DI and IS after therapy (Post) were not different from values before therapy (Pre) in the placebo (DI: Pre, 5.8 ± 0.9 × 10−3 and Post, 5.8 ± 0.8 × 10−3, P = 0.99; IS: Pre,165 ± 29% and Post, 185 ± 24%, P = 0.34), ginseng (DI: Pre, 7.7 ± 2.0 × 10−3 and Post, 6.0 ± 0.8 × 10−3, P = 0.29; IS: Pre, 171 ± 72% and Post,137 ± 59%, P = 0.88), and ginsenoside Re (DI: Pre, 7.4 ± 3.0 × 10−3 and Post, 5.9 ± 1.1 × 10−3, P = 0.50; IS: Pre, 117 ± 31% and Post, 134 ± 34%, P = 0.44) groups. Ginsenosides Re, Rb1, and Rb2 were not detectable in plasma after treatment with ginseng root extract or ginsenoside Re. CONCLUSIONS Oral ginseng or ginsenoside Re therapy does not improve β-cell function or IS in overweight/obese subjects with impaired glucose tolerance or newly diagnosed diabetes. Poor systemic bioavailability might be responsible for the absence of a therapeutic effect.
Near-Optimal Generalisations of a Theorem of Macbeath

The existence of Macbeath regions is a classical theorem in convex geometry ("A Theorem on non-homogeneous lattices", Annals of Math, 1952). We refer the reader to the survey of I. Barany for several applications. Recently there have been some striking applications of Macbeath regions in discrete and computational geometry. In this paper, we study Macbeath's problem in a more general setting, and not only for the Lebesgue measure as is the case in the classical theorem. We prove near-optimal generalizations for several basic geometric set systems. The problems and techniques used are closely linked to the study of espilon-nets for geometric set systems.
Chemotactic Preferences and Strain Variation in the Response of Phytophthora sojae Zoospores to Host Isoflavones

The zoospores of Phytophthora sojae are chemotactically attracted to the isoflavones genistein and daidzein that are released by soybean roots. In this study we have examined the response of P. sojae zoospores to a wide range of compounds having some structural similarity to genistein and daidzein, including isoflavones, flavones, chalcones, stilbenes, benzoins, benzoates, benzophenones, acetophenones, and coumarins. Of 59 compounds examined, 43 elicited some response. A comparison of the chemotactic responses elicited by the various compounds revealed a primary role for the phenolic 4(prm1)- and 7-hydroxyl groups on the isoflavone structure. A few compounds acted as repellents, notably methylated flavones with a hydrophobic B ring. The chemotactic response to many of the analogs was markedly different among different strains of P. sojae.
Perception and Attitude of Parents towards Aflatoxins Contamination in Complementary Foods and Its Management in Central Tanzania

Complementary foods in Tanzania are contaminated with aflatoxins (AF), a group of highly toxic metabolites produced mostly by the fungi Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus parasiticus. Although intake of aflatoxins contaminated food may cause cancer of the liver, very few parents perceive aflatoxins exposure as a public health threat. This study was crosssectional designed and used both quantitative and qualitative approaches to assess perception and attitude towards aflatoxins contamination in child foods and its management among 364 parents with children aged between 6-23 months in central Tanzania. Health Belief Model (HBM) was used to determine parents’ perception and attitude of aflatoxins. Exploratory Factor Analysis identified the underlying constructs of the Health Belief Model (HBM). The multivariate analysis indicated that mean perception score for parents aged above 34 years was significantly higher (β=0.3666, p<0.05) compared to those aged below or equal 34 years. The mean perception score for parents with primary education was significantly higher (β=0.3730, p<0.05) in comparison to mean score of those that had never been to school. The estimated mean attitude towards aflatoxins score for parents in union was significantly higher (β=0.2639, p<0.05) compared to those not in union. Parents with primary education and those with secondary education (β=0.3405, p<0.05) and (β=0.5528, p<0.05), respectively, were significantly important predictors of attitude for actions towards aflatoxins reduction. There was strong association between perception and attitude scores towards aflatoxin contamination and reduction to the foods. The findings were complemented by results of the focus group discussions (FGDs) which showed that people were not provided with education about aflatoxin contamination in complementary foods, although few of them were using their experience to control fungi. Health professionals and public extension officers should work together to advise the people about the problem of aflatoxins and means to prevent its occurrence in complementary foods. To cite this article [Ngoma, S.J., Kimanya, M. , Tiisekwa, B. , & Mwaseba, D. (2017). Perception and Attitude of Parents Towards Aflatoxins Contamination in Complementary Foods and Its Management in Central Tanzania.The Journal of Middle East and North Africa Sciences, 3(3), 6-21]. (P-ISSN 24129763) (e-ISSN 2412-8937). www.jomenas. org. 2
Modelling growth of genetically improved Norway spruce

In Latvia, Norway spruce Picea abies (L.) Karst. is a common forest tree species. It is often regenerated with planting, mostly using genetically improved stock. Since the middle of the 20th century breeding measures are active aiming for higher productivity and stem quality. However, there is a lack of studies related to possible changes in growth dynamics when using genetically improved material in Latvia. In addition, growth modelling of particularly young stands has gained attention only in recent years. The aim of the study was to test a Swedish model for individual tree height growth for young Norway spruce stands in Latvian conditions. Data from four young genetic trials in Latvia were used to investigate whether the model based on data from unimproved material could be used to predict the height increment. Stand level projections for full rotation length were done based on the height growth model’s results. The height growth model intended for non-improved material predicted the height increment for genetically improved Norway spruce in Latvia with sufficient accuracy. No trends over estimated height increment and over improvement level were observed. Mean predicted genetic effect for the highest genetic entries was 0.17. For projected full rotation length, best genetic entries had on average by 11 % higher mean annual increment (MAI) and by 15 % higher net present value. Final felling age was decreased by 9 % comparing to group of the worst performing genetic entries. Rotation length for projected sites varied from 45 to 53 years. Final felling age according to economic maturity was estimated to be reached 5 -14 years earlier than culmination of MAI. First commercial thinning could be applied, when stand was on average 23 years old.
Frequency of Deposition and Location of Baylisascaris Procyonis Eggs in Raccoon Feces

Baylisascaris procyonis is a large ascarid nematode found in the small intestine of raccoons (Procyon lotor). Infection with larvae of B. procyonis can produce visceral, ocular, and neural larval migrans in humans. Infected raccoons can shed millions of eggs a day in their feces. However, it is unknown whether eggs are consistently shed or whether eggs occur at irregular intervals by the population of female nematodes within a host. We trapped, infected, and collected daily fecal samples from 11 raccoons maintained in captivity. Eggs from B. procyonis were obtained from anterior, central, and posterior sections of raccoon feces, isolated by flotation, and quantified under 100× magnification. Naturally infected raccoons were collected and used as a comparison with the experimentally infected group. All raccoons in the experimental group (n=11) became infected with B. procyonis after consuming one infected mouse. Additionally, differential egg deposition rates were observed among individual raccoons from the experimental and naturally infected groups. Mean number of eggs per gram of feces (means±SE) was 16,563±4,321, which was less than previously reported for the species. However, no differences (F2,30=0.84, P=0.45) were noted in mean number of eggs per gram of feces among fecal sections. Wildlife biologists, veterinarians, health officials, and researchers of B. procyonis should collect daily fecal samples for a minimum of 3 days before identifying a raccoon as negative for B. procyonis infection. However, it does not matter where within the fecal matter the sample is obtained.
Utilizing the Growing Local Supply of Distillers Grains

Robert M. Kaiser University of Wisconsin-Extension Dairy Agent Introduction Across the Midwest, ethanol plants (primarily dry mill vs. wet mill process) are being planned and built and existing plants expanded. Today over 98 percent of commercially produced ethanol is used to extend gasoline. The attributes of ethanol allow it to be utilized as an octane booster, replacing gasoline additives such as lead and benzene, and as the preferred oxygenate for gasoline replacing MTBE (methyl tertiary butyl ether). Ethanol maintains widespread support for its ability to improve the environment and public health by reducing harmful vehicle emissions. Ethanol contains 35% oxygen and adding ethanol to fossil fuels (gasoline and diesel) results in more complete fuel combustion, reducing tailpipe emissions. Ethanol is non-toxic and is rapidly biodegraded in surface water, ground water and soil. Current energy legislation before congress contains a Renewable Fuels Standard which, if approved, will further accelerate the growth of ethanol and biodiesel production.
Evaluation of Gaps or Voids Occurring in Roots Filled with Three Different Sealers

Objectives: The purpose of this in vitro study was to evaluate gaps or voids occurring in roots filled with three different sealers. Methods: Thirty extracted human single-rooted teeth were decoronated, instrumented using NiTi rotary instruments, divided into three groups (n=10 per group) and obturated with one of the following: Epiphany with Resilon, MetaSEAL with gutta-percha or AH Plus with gutta-percha using the match-taper single-cone technique. After storage for one week in 100% humidity at 37°C, the teeth were horizontally sectioned (n=10). Photographs were taken from the coronal, median and apical parts of the roots using a stereomicroscope at 10X magnification, and the images were then transferred to a computer. The mathematical method known as the ‘Affine Transformation’ was used for the transformation of pixel coordinates to ground coordinates in the Netcad Software program. The mean areas (μm2) of the gaps between the sealer and root dentin or gutta percha/resilon and the gaps between the sealer and/or voids inside the sealer mass were measured, scored on a 0–3 scale and statistically analyzed with the Kruskal-Wallis test. Results: The mean total area of gaps or voids for each sealer was 4631.80 μm2 for the Epiphany-Resilon, 3826.80 μm2 for the MetaSEAL-gutta-percha and 31334 μm2 for the AH Plus-gutta-percha. The MetaSEAL-gutta-percha group showed more gap or void-free interfaces. No significant differences were found among the sealers in the scores for the gap areas (P<.05), and the MetaSEAL showed similar interfaces with Epiphany. Conclusions: No significant differences in the mean areas of gaps or voids were found among the tested resin-based sealers.
Effects of ambient particulate matter and ozone on daily mortality in Rotterdam, The Netherlands.

The association between daily variations in all-cause mortality from 1983-1991 in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, and ambient air pollution was investigated. Twenty-four-hour average concentrations of total suspended particulates, Black Smoke, ozone, sulfur dioxide, and carbon monoxide were available on a daily basis. Every other day, total iron content in total suspended particulates samples was available. Poisson regression analysis was used to study associations between air pollution and mortality; generalized additive models were used to adjust for confounders (e.g., seasonal trends, weather). Daily mortality was associated most consistently with previous-day concentrations of total suspended particulates (relative risk = 1.05 for a change of 91 microg/m3) and ozone (relative risk = 1.06 for a change of 67 microg/m3). Total iron was associated less consistently with mortality than total suspended particulate mass was. The associations of mortality with ozone and total suspended particulates were independent of sulfur dioxide and carbon monoxide. The relative risks of total suspended particulates and particularly ozone were higher for subjects older than 78 y. The relationship between mortality and ozone did not deviate significantly from linear. The relationship between mortality and total suspended particulates was linear below 100 microg/m3 and leveled off at higher concentrations. If a threshold exists for the effects on mortality of these components, it exists at very low levels.
Linear dependent types for differential privacy

Differential privacy offers a way to answer queries about sensitive information while providing strong, provable privacy guarantees, ensuring that the presence or absence of a single individual in the database has a negligible statistical effect on the query's result. Proving that a given query has this property involves establishing a bound on the query's sensitivity---how much its result can change when a single record is added or removed. A variety of tools have been developed for certifying that a given query differentially private. In one approach, Reed and Pierce [34] proposed a functional programming language, Fuzz, for writing differentially private queries. Fuzz uses linear types to track sensitivity and a probability monad to express randomized computation; it guarantees that any program with a certain type is differentially private. Fuzz can successfully verify many useful queries. However, it fails when the sensitivity analysis depends on values that are not known statically. We present DFuzz, an extension of Fuzz with a combination of linear indexed types and lightweight dependent types. This combination allows a richer sensitivity analysis that is able to certify a larger class of queries as differentially private, including ones whose sensitivity depends on runtime information. As in Fuzz, the differential privacy guarantee follows directly from the soundness theorem of the type system. We demonstrate the enhanced expressivity of DFuzz by certifying differential privacy for a broad class of iterative algorithms that could not be typed previously.
Antimicrobial Activity of Calcium Hydroxide in Endodontics: A Review

The purpose of endodontic therapy is to preserve the patient's natural teeth without compromising the patient's local or systemic health. Calcium hydroxide has been included in several materials and antimicrobial formulations that are used in several treatment modalities in endodontics, such as inter-appointment intracanal medicaments. The purpose of this article was to review the antimicrobial properties of calcium hydroxide in endodontics. Calcium hydroxide has a high pH (approximately 12.5-12.8) and is classified chemically as a strong base. The lethal effects of calcium hydroxide on bacterial cells are probably due to protein denaturation and damage to DNA and cytoplasmic membranes. Calcium hydroxide has a wide range of antimicrobial activity against common endodontic pathogens but is less effective against Enterococcus faecalis and Candida albicans. Calcium hydroxide is also a valuable anti-endotoxin agent. However, its effect on microbial biofilms is controversial.
Optimal, Unsupervised Learning in Invariant Object Recognition

A means for establishing transformation-invariant representations of objects is proposed and analyzed, in which different views are associated on the basis of the temporal order of the presentation of these views, as well as their spatial similarity. Assuming knowledge of the distribution of presentation times, an optimal linear learning rule is derived. Simulations of a competitive network trained on a character recognition task are then used to highlight the success of this learning rule in relation to simple Hebbian learning and to show that the theory can give accurate quantitative predictions for the optimal parameters for such networks.
Sex-contingent face after-effects suggest distinct neural populations code male and female faces

Exposure to faces biases perceptions of subsequently viewed faces. Faces similar to those seen previously are judged more normal and attractive than they were prior to exposure. Here we show sex-contingent after-effects following adaptation to eye-spacing (experiment 1), facial identity (experiment 2) and masculinity (experiment 3). Viewing faces of one sex with increased eye-spacing and faces of the other sex with decreased eye-spacing simultaneously induced opposite after-effects for male and female faces (assessed by normality judgments). Viewing faces transformed in identity or masculinity increased preferences for novel faces with characteristics similar to those viewed only when the sex of the faces presented in the adaptation phase and in post-adaptation preference tests were congruent. Because after-effects reflect changes in responses of neural populations that code faces, our findings indicate that distinct neural populations code male and female faces.
Pancreatitis from Metastatic Small Cell Lung Cancer: Successful Treatment with Endoscopic Intrapancreatic Stenting

Lung cancer metastases can occur in almost any organ. However, metastasis of small cell lung cancer to the pancreas is rare. Moreover, not all cases present with clinically diagnosed pancreatitis. We recently treated a patient with small cell lung carcinoma that invaded the pancreatic duct causing acute pancreatitis. Generally, the treatment for tumor-induced acute pancreatitis is initially supportive followed by aggressive chemotherapy or surgery. If the patient can tolerate the insertion of an endoscopic intrapancreatic stent, this is performed in addition to chemotherapy and surgery; this approach offers a safe and effective treatment modality for such patients.
Aeolian Sand Transport in Out‐of‐Equilibrium Regimes

We investigate the relaxation process toward the equilibrium regime of saltation transport in the context of nonuniform conditions. Relaxation phenomena can be described in terms of a characteristic length scale that measures the distance for the particle flux to adapt to a spatial change in flow or boundary conditions. We conducted wind tunnel experiments to document the influence of the upwind mass flux on the relaxation process. For zero upwind mass flux conditions, the relaxation process is monotone and the relaxation length is independent of the wind strength. In contrast, for nonzero upwind flux conditions (obtained by releasing particles in the flow from a finite height), the relaxation process is nonmonotone and is well captured by damped harmonic oscillations. Importantly, the relaxation length increases with increasing air flow velocity but is almost insensitive to the magnitude of the upwind flux. Our experimental outcomes clearly indicate that the relaxation of far from equilibrium transport regimes strongly deviates from a simple exponential behavior.
The Sec15 protein responds to the function of the GTP binding protein, Sec4, to control vesicular traffic in yeast

SEC15 function is required at a late stage of the yeast secretory pathway. Duplication of the gene encoding the ras-like, GTP-binding protein, Sec4, can suppress the partial loss of function resulting from the sec15-l mutation, but cannot suppress disruption of sec15. Analysis of the SEC15 gene predicts a hydrophilic protein product of 105 kD. Anti-Sec15 antibody recognizes a protein of 116-kD apparent molecular mass which is associated with a microsomal fraction of yeast in a strongly pH dependent fashion. Overproduction of Sec15 protein interferes with the secretory pathway, resulting in the formation of a cluster of secretory vesicles, and a patch of Sec15 protein revealed by immunofluorescence. The sec4-8 and sec2-4l mutations, but not mutations in other SEC genes, prevent formation of the Sec15 protein patch. We propose that Sec15 protein responds to the function of the Sec4 protein to control vesicular traffic.
Immunization with Single-Cycle SIV Significantly Reduces Viral Loads After an Intravenous Challenge with SIVmac239

Strains of simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) that are limited to a single cycle of infection were evaluated for the ability to elicit protective immunity against wild-type SIVmac239 infection of rhesus macaques by two different vaccine regimens. Six animals were inoculated at 8-week intervals with 6 identical doses consisting of a mixture of three different envelope variants of single-cycle SIV (scSIV). Six additional animals were primed with a mixture of cytoplasmic domain-truncated envelope variants of scSIV and boosted with two doses of vesicular stomatitis virus glycoprotein (VSV G) trans-complemented scSIV. While both regimens elicited detectable virus-specific T cell responses, SIV-specific T cell frequencies were more than 10-fold higher after boosting with VSV G trans-complemented scSIV (VSV G scSIV). Broad T cell recognition of multiple viral antigens and Gag-specific CD4+ T cell responses were also observed after boosting with VSV G scSIV. With the exception of a single animal in the repeated immunization group, all of the animals became infected following an intravenous challenge with SIVmac239. However, significantly lower viral loads and higher memory CD4+ T cell counts were observed in both immunized groups relative to an unvaccinated control group. Indeed, both scSIV immunization regimens resulted in containment of SIVmac239 replication after challenge that was as good as, if not better than, what has been achieved by other non-persisting vaccine vectors that have been evaluated in this challenge model. Nevertheless, the extent of protection afforded by scSIV was not as good as typically conferred by persistent infection with live, attenuated SIV. These observations have potentially important implications to the design of an effective AIDS vaccine, since they suggest that ongoing stimulation of virus-specific immune responses may be essential to achieving the degree of protection afforded by live, attenuated SIV.