Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
In vivo and in Vitro Replication Consequences of Stereoisomeric Benzo[a]pyrene-7,8-dihydrodiol 9,10-Epoxide Adducts on Adenine N6 at the Second Position of N-ras Codon 61 (*)

Benzo[a]pyrene-7,8-dihydrodiol 9,10-epoxide (BPDE), a metabolite of the widespread environmental pollutant benzo[a]pyrene, is mutagenic in both bacterial and mammalian systems. Toward understanding the mutagenic effects of different stereoisomers of BPDE at specific sites in DNA, six stereochemically defined BPDE adducts were constructed on adenine N6 at position 2 of the human N-ras 61 codon within an 11-base oligonucleotide fragment. Both the nonadducted and BPDE-adducted N-ras 61 11-mers were inserted into a unique EcoRI site in single-stranded M13mp7L2 DNA and utilized for in vivo studies. The ligation efficiencies of BPDE-adducted 11-mers into the single-stranded vector were determined by Southern hybridization and confirmed by electron microscopy. Repair-deficient AB2480 E. coli cells were transformed with adducted and nonadducted DNA samples. The resultant plaque-forming abilities were used to evaluate the replication competence of the various BPDE adducts with respect to the nonadducted 11-mer. Point mutations due to aberrant replication at the adducted site were identified by the technique of differential DNA hybridization. All of the six BPDE adducts examined were mutagenic in vivo, generating exclusively A→G mutations at frequencies ranging from 0.26 to 1.20%. In vitro replication studies using these BPDE-adducted 11-mers involved primer extension assays with Klenow fragment. All of the BPDE-modified templates demonstrated distinct blockage at the adducted site and/or 1 base 3′ to the adducted site, allowing essentially no translesion synthesis to form fully extended polymerization products in vitro.
Endurance training delays age of decline in leg strength and muscle morphology.

PURPOSE It has been reported that maximal strength peaks at approximately 30 yr of age, plateaus, and remains relatively stable for the next 20 yr, with an age-related decline in strength becoming significant after age 50. Much of the research attributes this decrease in peak force to age-associated reductions in muscle mass, with a selective atrophy and reduction in Type II fiber area and number being the primary factors. The influence that chronic endurance training has upon age-associated changes in muscular strength and muscle morphology has been largely undetermined. The purpose of this investigation was to examine the influence of chronic endurance training and age on leg extensor strength, and muscle fiber size and type distribution. METHODS Male master runners (N = 107, age range = 40-88 yr) were tested for maximal strength of the leg extensor muscles. A subgroup of 30 master athletes participated in muscle biopsy testing. The effects of age were addressed by subdividing the sample into five cohorts. RESULTS Peak isokinetic concentric torque did not differ between age groups until after age 70 yr. Regression analysis revealed a significant (P < 0.05, r(2) = 0.1838) age-associated decrease in relative strength (N.m.kg(-1) lean body mass). Type I and Type II fiber area and distribution did not differ between age groups through the eighth decade. CONCLUSIONS These data suggest that chronic endurance training can delay the age of significant decline in peak torque and changes in muscle morphology characteristics of the vastus lateralis.
We are One: The Role of Group Identity And Self-Sacrificial Leaders on the Generation of Social Capital Within Youth Sport Programs

We are one: The role of group identity and self-sacrificial leaders on the generation of social capital within youth sport programs by Dorothy R. Collins Popular culture often assumes that participation in youth sport has a host of positive benefits, including the ability to generate social capital, spur future occupational success and encourage greater levels of civic engagement (Coalter, 2007). There is; however, little empirical evidence to support this ideal (Coakley, 2011). In fact, little is known about the specific conditions within a sport organization that likely to facilitate youth sport organizations to become more adept at generating, maintaining, and distributing social capital to their members. Using the Community of Practice framework (Wenger, McDermott & Snyder, 2002) as a lens, the author investigated the conditions under which youth sport organizations are most effectively able to generate social capital for their members. In doing so, the author explores the relationship between team identification and role identification. This is therefore the first empirical test of the theoretical work of Lock and Heere (2017) that proposed that team identification, driven by social identity theory (Tajfel, 1978) and role identification, driven by identity theory, are unique but interdependent constructs. Using structural equation modeling, the author proposed and supported a model in which the relationship between team identification and role identification was explored. Furthermore, this model examined the importance of self-sacrificial leadership on the ability of youth sport organizations to generate social capital for its members. The results of this study demonstrate that role identification positively impacts the development of team identification. Team identification and self-sacrificial leadership behaviors of the organization’s leaders positively impacted the development of social capital within the organization. Role identification does not have a positive impact on the creation of social capital. Implications for youth sport organizations and participants, including suggestions about the importance of fostering team identification are discussed. Finally, directions for future research, particularly with regards to how to effectively develop team identification and how this may relate to athlete retention are discussed.
Induction of cyclooxygenase‐2 gene expression in retinal pigment epithelium cells by photoreceptor rod outer segment phagocytosis and growth factors

Retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cells in culture display selective induction of certain early response transcription factors at the onset of photoreceptor rod outer segment (ROS)‐specific phagocytosis (Ershov et al., 1996a). Moreover, this response is modulated by prostaglandins. The purpose of this study is to examine the expression of the key enzymes in prostaglandin synthesis: cyclooxygenase‐1 (COX‐1, constitutive) and cyclooxygenase‐2 (COX‐2, inducible), during phagocytosis of ROS by RPE cells. Rat RPE cells in primary cell culture were fed with a suspension of freshly isolated rat ROS. COX‐1 and COX‐2 mRNA expression was studied by quantitative competitive reverse transcriptase‐polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR). During phagocytosis of ROS by RPE cells, RT‐PCR revealed an increase in mRNA expression of COX‐2, but not of COX‐1. COX‐2 was also induced by the phospholipid growth factor lyso‐phosphatidic acid (LPA) and by the peptide growth factors platelet derived growth factor (PDGF), basic fibroblast growth factor (FGF), and transforming growth factor (TGFβ), but not nerve growth factor (NGF). Induction of COX‐2 by ROS phagocytosis and growth factors through the modulation of prostanoid synthesis may play an important role in the regulation of cell functions associated with photoreceptor cell renewal. J. Neurosci. Res. 58:254–261, 1999. © 1999 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Optimal Inflation in a Model of Inside Money: a Further Result

We extend the Deviatov and Wallace (2014) model of inside money in which they find some examples where inflation is beneficial. Their model was restrictive in that it could not address policies that provide interests on cash due to the small upper bound on money holdings. With a higher upper bound on money holdings, such policies can be engineered without inflation, and it is uncertain whether inflation is necessary for the optima. We investigate this possibility and confirm their results in a more generalized setting. At the optima, interest on cash is not provided, and positive inflation arises in a similar manner to Deviatov and Wallace (2014).
Social Preferences in Network Games: Theory and Laboratory Evidence

In this paper, we investigate social preferences in a network game, where the network structure determines whose action affects the payoff of which player. We develop alternative theories that incorporate inequality aversion and welfare preference into the context of dominant-strategy network games, and test their implications in laboratory experiments. When the economic return is relatively low, we observe that subjects contribute more than the amount that would maximize their monetary profit; moreover, subjects at the central network positions contribute more than those at the periphery. These anomalies suggest that subject behavior is mainly driven by the welfare preference and not as much by either inequality aversion or self-interest, regardless of the network structures considered. In a supplemental experiment with an increased economic return, we find that the advantage of social preferences over self-interest in driving individual activities varies with the underlying network architecture. We also estimate the behavioral parameters and interpret the results in relation to the network topology.
Effect of Continuous Venovenous Hemofiltration Dose on Achievement of Adequate Vancomycin Trough Concentrations

ABSTRACT The vancomycin dose necessary for the achievement of target serum trough concentrations during continuous venovenous hemofiltration (CVVH) remains to be elucidated. This was a retrospective cohort study of critically ill adults at a tertiary medical center on concurrent CVVH and vancomycin between 2006 and 2010 with a steady-state vancomycin trough concentration. The 87 included patients were grouped according to low (≤30 ml/kg/h; n = 10) or high (>30 ml/kg/h; n = 77) CVVH hemofiltration rate (HFR) for analysis. Vancomycin goal trough achievement occurred in only 32 (37%) patients. The primary endpoint of trough attainment significantly differed between HFR subgroups: 90% versus 30% in low- and high-HFR individuals, respectively (P < 0.001). Patients with subtherapeutic trough concentrations had a median (interquartile range) HFR of 40 ml/kg/h (range, 37 to 47 ml/kg/h) compared to 36 ml/kg/h (range, 30 to 39 ml/kg/h) in those who achieved the trough goal. Irrespective of goal trough, an inverse correlation existed between HFR and serum vancomycin concentration (r = −0.423; P < 0.001). In the subgroup of 14 methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) patients, trough achievement was similar to the aggregate cohort (36%). Mortality at 28 days was unrelated to trough achievement in both the overall sample (P = 0.516) and in culture-positive MRSA patients (P = 0.396). Critically ill patients undergoing CVVH therapy may experience clinically significant reductions in goal vancomycin troughs. The results of the present study justify prospective evaluations in this population to determine the optimal vancomycin dosing strategy for attainment of goal trough concentrations.
Fat cell invasion in long‐term denervated skeletal muscle

There are several differences between red and white muscles submitted to different experimental conditions, especially following denervation: a) denervation atrophy is more pronounced in red than white muscles; b) the size of the fibers in the red muscles does not vary between different parts of the muscle before and after denervation, when compared to white muscles; c) the regional difference in the white muscles initially more pronounced after denervation than red muscle; d) red muscle fibers and fibers of the deep white muscle present degenerative changes such as disordered myofibrils and sarcolemmal folds after long‐term denervation; e) myotube‐like fibers with central nuclei occur in the red muscle more rapidly than white after denervation. Denervation of skeletal muscles causes, in addition to fibers atrophy, loss of fibers with subsequent regeneration, but the extent of fat cell percentage invasion is currently unknown. The present article describes a quantitative study on fat cell invasion percentage in red m. soleus and white m. extensor digitorum longus (EDL) rat muscles at 7 weeks for up to 32 weeks postdenervation. The results indicate that the percentage of fat cells increase after denervation and it is steeper than the age‐related fat invasion in normal muscles. The fat percentage invasion is more pronounced in red compared with white muscle. All experimental groups present a statistically significant difference as regard fat cell percentage invasion. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc. Microsurgery, 2007.
EDUCATION, HEALTH, AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

This paper examines the relationships of income with education and health using heterogeneous panel cointegration techniques to account for the potential cross-country heterogeneity in the effects of education and health. Our main results are: (i) education and health are, on average, income-enhancing; (ii) for different schooling levels, although primary education lowers income, both secondary and tertiary education raise income with larger impacts for the former than the latter, on average; (iii) there is considerable heterogeneity in the effects of education and health on income across countries; and (iv) the effect of education (health) on income tends to be greater (smaller) in countries with higher levels of development, greater (less) trade openness, less abundant natural resources, less corruption, higher levels of democracy, and a more homogeneous society.
Expected shortfall assessment in commodity (L)ETF portfolios with semi-nonparametric specifications

ABSTRACT This paper studies the risk assessment of semi-nonparametric (SNP) distributions for leveraged exchange trade funds, (L)ETFs. We applied the SNP model with dynamic conditional correlations (DCC) and EGARCH innovations, and implement recent techniques to backtest Expected Shortfall (ES) to portfolios formed by bivariate combinations of major (L)ETFs on metal (Gold and Silver) and energy (Oil and Gas) commodities. Results support that multivariate SNP-DCC model outperforms the Gaussian-DCC and provides accurate risk measures for commodity (L)ETFs.
Experience in the United States with intact abdominal aortic aneurysm repair.

OBJECTIVES The purpose of this study was to determine the current outcome in the United States and to identify predictors of mortality and "bad outcome" after open, intact abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) repair. METHODS In a retrospective analysis, data were obtained from the Nationwide Inpatient Sample during 1994-1996. The Nationwide Inpatient Sample is a 20% all-payer stratified sample of nonfederal United States hospitals. Patients older than 49 years were identified by the presence of primary diagnostic (441.4-intact AAA) and procedure (38.44-resection of abdominal aorta with replacement) codes of the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision (ICD-9 ). In-hospital mortality rate, discharge disposition, bad outcome (death or discharge to an institution), complications (ICD-9 postoperative codes), length of stay, and charges were determined. The mortality rate and bad outcome were analyzed by the use of patient demographics (age, sex, race), patient comorbidities (ICD-9 diagnostic codes), calendar year, and hospital characteristics (size, location, teaching status) with univariate and multivariate analyses. RESULTS We identified 16,450 intact AAAs repairs during the study years. The mean patient age was 72 +/- 7 (+/- SD) years, and most patients were male (79.7%) and white (94.6%). Most repairs were performed at large (67.3%), urban (92.5%), and nonteaching (66.7%) institutions. The in-hospital mortality rate was 4.2%, the overall complication rate was 32.4%, and 91.2% of patients were discharged home, whereas the bad outcome rate was 12.6%. The median length of stay was 8 days (mean, 10.0 +/- 8.1), and median hospital charges were $28,052 (mean, $35,681 +/- $33,006) in 1996 dollars. Multivariate analysis showed that the mortality rate (P <.05) increased with age (70-79 years, 1.8 odds ratio [OR] [95% CI, 1.4-2.3], > 79 years, 3.8 OR [95% CI, 2.9-4.9]), sex (female, 1.6 OR [95% CI, 1.3-1.9]), cerebral vascular occlusive disease (1.8 OR [95% CI, 1.3-2.5]), preoperative renal insufficiency (9.5 OR [95% CI, 7.7-11.7]), and more than three comorbidities (11.2 OR [95% CI, 3.6-35.4]). Multivariate analysis also showed that bad outcome was associated with the same variables in addition to hospital size (small/medium), year of procedure (1996), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and two to three comorbidities. CONCLUSIONS Outcome after open repair of intact AAA across the United States is quite good. Older, sicker patients may benefit from nonoperative treatment or the potentially lower risk endovascular approaches.
Embryonic Progenitor Cells in Adipose Tissue Engineering

Adipose tissue is extensively used in facial plastic surgery as a soft tissue filler for small-to-large facial defects. Variable results with autologous fat grafting and lipoinjection has led to interest in alternative forms of adipose tissue, including tissue engineered adipose tissue. Tissue engineering combines cells, scaffolds, and bioactive signals to regenerate organs or tissue. Cell sources include preadipocytes, adult stem cells, and embryonic stem cells. Although adult cells may be easily accessible from a patient, embryonic progenitor cells have comparative advantages over adult stem cells including indefinite self-renewal (high proliferative and expansion capacity) and strong tissue-forming capacity. This article will describe the types of embryonic progenitor cells and the cell culture conditions, common biomaterials, signaling factors, and biomechanical forces used in adipose tissue engineering. We will identify optimal conditions to generate functional, long-lasting adipose-like tissue. Lastly, we will propose potential future directions for the rapidly expanding field of adipose tissue engineering.
Mental accounting and public choice

Evidence from the consumer behaviour literature show that people like private costs to either precede or occur at the same time as the benefits. No one wants to pay for a vacation after it has become a memory, or a dishwasher after it has gone to the tip. Likewise, no one wants to work for a salary that has already been spent. It is likely that similar preferences exist for communal expenditures. With this in mind, this thesis presents a series of studies into how ordinary citizens make (or want to make) communal financial decisions (i.e. cost-benefit trade-offs). The aim is to learn if people’s communal preferences are similar to their personal preferences; and if the prospective double-entry mental accounting model (Prelec & Loewenstein, 1998) – a well-supported theory of individual preferences – can explain these communal preferences. Eight studies (six communal and two personal) confirmed that people use similar mental rules to the ones prescribed by the double-entry model to make financial choices on a communal (and personal) level. That is, people prefer to have the communal costs to either precede or occur at the same time as the benefits; and when either is not possible, to minimise the temporal distance between the two. These preferences are observed for monetary gains and losses; for decisions that have a direct impact on the decision maker, or no impact at all; and for choices made between and within participants. These findings provide valuable insights for policy makers who are keen to design public finance policies that are efficient and have public support.
Prevalence of physical activity and inactivity among Saudis aged 30-70 years. A population-based cross-sectional study.

OBJECTIVE To assess physical activity levels among Saudi adults, and to examine the relationships of physical activity with body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC) and obesity prevalence. METHODS Data taken from the Coronary Artery Disease in Saudis Study which is a National Epidemiological Health Survey carried out between 1995 and 2000. Participants included 17395 Saudi males and females aged 30-70 years, selected randomly using a multistage stratified cluster sampling technique. Leisure-type and sport-related physical activities including walking were assessed using an interviewed-administered questionnaire. The activities were classified into five intensity categories and assigned metabolic equivalents (MET) according to the compendium of physical activity. Based on the intensity, duration and frequency of physical activity, subjects were classified into active or inactive category. RESULTS Inactivity prevalence (96.1%) was very high. There were significantly (p<0.001)) more inactive females (98.1%) than males (93.9%). Inactivity prevalence increases with increasing age category, especially in males, and decreases with increasing education levels. Inactivity was the highest in the central region (97.3%; 95% CI = 96.8-97.8%) and the lowest in the southern region of Saudi Arabia (94.0%; 95% CI = 93.2-94.8%). Further, active individuals exhibited lower values of BMI and WC. CONCLUSION These findings reveal the sedentary nature of Saudi population. The overwhelming majority of men and women did not reach the recommended physical activity levels necessary for promoting health and preventing diseases. The high prevalence of inactivity among Saudis represents a major public health concern.
Market competition, green technology progress and comparative advantages in China

Purpose Technical progress is an important technique within improving China’s comparative advantages, as new and renewable technologies will be beneficial for energy security. Productive technical progress and green technical innovation are necessary to improve working conditions and productivity of industries. Therefore, the propose of this paper is to study technical progress in China under such harsh competitive circumstances, as well as types of technical progress that can be promoted, productive technical progress or green technology progress, and how technical progress will affect China’s competitive advantages. Design/methodology/approach Performing a Multi-index Multi-factor Constitutive model based on a sample of 468 Chinese industries, and divides the industries into 4 categories. Findings-Results indicate that there is a “U-shape” relationship between green technology progress and comparative advantages and an inverted “U”-shape relationship between the intensity of market competition and compa.