Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Recovery of terrestrial plants in vegetative vigor and seedling emergence tests from exposure to atrazine

Ten species of terrestrial plants, including 6 dicotyledonous and 4 monocotyledonous species, were exposed to a direct overspray of atrazine according to US Environmental Protection Agency seedling emergence and vegetative vigor study guidelines and subsequently evaluated for potential recovery. For each species, no‐observed‐effect rate (NOER), 10% effect rate, 25% effect rate, and 50% effect rate values were calculated (where possible) for a variety of guideline‐required endpoints (but focusing on growth rate) for both the standard experimental phase and a recovery phase; and the rates subsequently were compared. For the seedling emergence study, the standard experimental (designated test 1) and recovery (designated test 2) phases encompassed days 0 to 14 and days 14 to 28, respectively. Similarly, for the vegetative vigor study, test 1 and test 2 encompassed days 0 to 21 and days 21 to 42, respectively. Plants were exposed to atrazine at nominal application rates ranging from 1.1 g active ingredient (a.i.)/ha (0.0010 lb a.i./A) to 28 000 g a.i./ha (25 lb a.i./A), depending on the species; the 28 000 g a.i./ha rate is greater than 12 times the maximum application rate of 2250 g a.i./ha (2 lb a.i./A) registered on corn. For seedling emergence, only 2 of 10 species tested, cabbage and tomato, provided clear rate responses in the initial 14 d of exposure (test 1). Based on a comparison of x% effect rate (ERx) and NOER values for growth rates of shoot length and shoot dry weight for days 0 to 14 relative to days 14 to 28, recovery was apparent for cabbage shoot length growth rate and tomato shoot length and shoot dry weight growth rates. Test application rates selected for the remaining 8 species showed either a weak response that did not allow a clear assessment of recovery or no response at all. For the vegetative vigor study, 9 of the 10 species tested provided clear rate responses in test 1 (days 0–21); corn did not demonstrate any herbicidal response up to the highest rate tested, 28 000 g a.i./ha. Based on comparison of day 0 to 21 (test 1) relative to day 21 to 42 (test 2) ERx and NOER values for shoot length, average growth rates indicated that 8 of 9 species clearly demonstrated an increase in 2 or more metrics (cabbage did not demonstrate a response based on shoot length). Clear recovery was also indicated by an increase in ERx and/or NOER values from test 1 to test 2 for shoot dry weight average growth rates for 7 of the 9 species (corn did not show a response, and oat and soybean showed variable responses). Thus, in most species, where initial herbicidal effects were observed, the effects are largely ameliorated over time. Environ Toxicol Chem 2016;35:1284–1296. © 2015 SETAC
Relation of symptom-induced impairment with other illness parameters in clinic-referred youth.

OBJECTIVE To examine the relation of caregiver ratings of psychiatric symptom-induced impairment with number and severity of symptoms and informant agreement in consecutive child psychiatry outpatient referrals. METHODS Parents and teachers completed a broadband DSM-IV-referenced rating scale with disorder-specific impairment for 636 youth (6-18 years). Illness parameters included impairment, number and severity of symptoms, and their combination (symptom + impairment) as well as categorical (cut-off) and dimensional scoring. RESULTS Agreement between impairment and other illness parameters showed considerable variation as a function of type of parameter, disorder, and informant, but to lesser extent age and gender. Many youth who met impairment cut-off for specific disorders did not meet symptom cut-off. Conversely, most youth who met symptom cut-off were impaired. Symptom cut-off evidenced greater convergence with impairment cut-off than combined symptom + impairment cut-offs. Severity of impairment was moderately to highly correlated with number and severity of symptoms. Parents' and teachers' ratings indicated little disorder-specific agreement about youth who met impairment cut-off, symptom cut-off, or combined symptom + impairment cut-off. Therefore, sole reliance on one informant greatly underestimates the pervasiveness of impairment. CONCLUSION Findings are consistent with the notion that each illness parameter represents a unique conceptual construct, which has important clinical and research implications.
Internet-Based Chronic Disease Self-Management: A Randomized Trial

Background:The small-group Chronic Disease Self-Management Program (CDSMP) has proven effective in changing health-related behaviors and improving health statuses. An Internet-based CDSMP was developed to reach additional chronic-disease patients. Objectives:We sought to determine the efficacy of the Internet-based CDSMP. Design:We compared randomized intervention participants with usual-care controls at 1 year. We compared intervention participants with the small-group CDSMP at 1 year. Subjects:Nine-hundred fifty-eight patients with chronic diseases (heart, lung, or type 2 diabetes) and Internet and e-mail access were randomized to intervention (457) or usual care control (501). Measures:Measures included 7 health status variables (pain, shortness of breath, fatigue, illness intrusiveness, health distress, disability, and self-reported global health), 4 health behaviors (aerobic exercise, stretching and strengthening exercise, practice of stress management, and communication with physicians), 3 utilization variables (physician visits, emergency room visits, and nights in hospital), and self-efficacy. Results:At 1 year, the intervention group had significant improvements in health statuses compared with usual care control patients. The intervention group had similar results to the small-group CDSMP participants. Change in self-efficacy at 6 months was found to be associated with better health status outcomes at 1 year. Conclusions:The Internet-based CDSMP proved effective in improving health statutes by 1 year and is a viable alternative to the small-group Chronic Disease Self Management Program.
Tissue and serum CA125 expression in endometrial cancer

Serum CA125 is elevated in some endometrial cancer patients. The purpose of the present study was to assess the correlation between the presence of CA125 in endometrial cancer tissue and elevated CA125 serum levels. Serum levels of CA125 were examined in 39 patients with endometrial cancer prior to definitive surgery. After diagnosis reconfirmation, additional slides were prepared from each case for immunohistochemical staining for anti-CA125 antigens. Of the 39 patients, 28 had endometrioid endometrial carcinoma (EEC) and 11 had mixed mesodermal sarcoma (MMS). In EEC, 21.4% of the patients had an elevated CA125 serum level, and that correlated with stage (P = 0.02) but not with grade. The percentage of EEC patients with positive tissue staining was significantly higher than the percentage with elevated serum levels (89.3% vs. 21.4%, P < 0.0001). No correlation between positive tissue staining and stage or grade was observed. In MMS the percentage of positive tissue staining was also higher than that with elevated serum CA125 levels and the percentage with elevated serum levels was higher than in EEC. However, the differences were statistically not significant. Our study indicates that the majority of EEC tissues contain CA125 and that the percentage of positive CA125 tissue staining is significantly higher than that of elevated CA125 serum levels. This indicates the presence of some mechanism that prevents the access of CA125 into the circulation. This mechanism is probably less effective in more advanced EEC's and in MMS.
Accruals quality, managers’ incentives and stock market reaction: evidence from Europe

ABSTRACT We investigate if accruals quality is a valuable indicator of earnings quality for stock market investors. Our particular focus is on the incremental informative value of taking into account managers’ incentives for using accruals. We propose a market-based approach for assessing the usefulness of this indicator to improve investors’ decisions. Specifically, we examine the association between accruals quality and information asymmetry among stock market participants. Our empirical study uses data on European firms and our results are consistent with a positive association between poor earnings quality and high information asymmetry. However, given some previous studies suggesting that accruals-based measures may be noisy indicators of earnings quality, we develop a method to increase the informational content of the accruals quality measure. Based on our results, we find that combining accruals quality with the dispersion in analysts’ forecasts provides a better indicator of earnings quality rather than only accruals quality.
Transnational Climate Governance Initiatives: Designed for Effective Climate Change Mitigation?

ABSTRACT The Paris Agreement of December 2015 set a highly ambitious target for global climate change mitigation, but it remains unclear how it will be reached, and the individual countries’ pledges do not add up to the overall target. Can transnational climate governance initiatives be expected to fill the gap? We assess 109 such initiatives based on four design criteria: existence of mitigation targets; incentives for mitigation; definition of a baseline; and existence of a monitoring, reporting, and verification procedure. About half of the initiatives do not meet any of these criteria, and not even 15% satisfy three or more. Many initiatives were created only for the purpose of networking. Orchestration by national governments and international organizations increases the number of criteria met. On average, the mitigation focus of new initiatives was highest during the “heyday” of the international climate policy regime between 2005 and 2010. While mitigation-oriented entrepreneurial initiatives are generally started only in response to existing regulation, subnational governments and NGOs show some attempts to go beyond that and compensate for insufficient regulation at the national and international level. Yet, given the low overall quality assessment, transnational climate governance initiatives cannot be expected to fill the “mitigation gap. ”
The use of free non-dementia-specific Apps on iPad to conduct group communication exercises for individuals with Alzheimer’s disease (Innovative Practice)

This study examined the use of various iPad Apps to conduct group cognitive exercises for clients with mild or early stage dementia of Alzheimer’s type. A list of free non-dementia-specific Apps suitable for group sessions was compiled. The procedures in choosing these Apps and determining the most successful ones for group exercises were discussed. Based on participants’ and professionals’ responses to the use of these Apps, the results would render practitioners useful guidelines in replicating and running technology-based training for individuals with dementia.
Spine Topographical Distribution of Skin &agr;-Synuclein Deposits in Idiopathic Parkinson Disease

Phosphorylated α-synuclein (p-syn) in skin nerves mainly in the proximal sites is a promising neurodegenerative biomarker for idiopathic Parkinson disease (IPD). However, the p-syn spine distribution particularly in patients with unilateral motor dysfunctions remains undefined. This study aimed to investigate in IPD p-syn differences between left and right cervical spine sites in patients with prevalent unilateral motor symptoms, and cervical and thoracic spine sites in patients with bilateral motor symptoms. We enrolled 28 IPD patients fulfilling clinical diagnostic criteria associated with abnormal nigro-striatal DatScan and cardiac MIBG: 15 with prevalently unilateral motor symptoms demonstrated by DatScan; 13 with bilateral motor symptoms and DatScan abnormalities. Patients underwent skin biopsy searching for intraneural p-syn deposits: skin samples were taken from C7 paravertebral left and right sites in unilateral patients and from cervical (C7) and thoracic (Th12) paravertebral spine regions in bilateral patients. Unilateral patients displayed 20% of abnormal p-syn deposits in the affected motor site, 60% in both sites and 20% only in the non-affected site. P-syn was found in all patients in C7 but in only 62% of patients in Th12. Our data showed that cervical p-syn deposits displayed a uniform distribution between both sides not following the motor dysfunction in unilateral patients, and skin nerve p-syn deposits demonstrated a spine gradient with the cervical site expressing the highest positivity.
Quantification of Liver Fat with mDIXON Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Comparison with the Computed Tomography and the Biopsy.

INTRODUCTION Accurate, non-invasive method of fat estimation is a valuable test for evaluation of diseases with abnormal hepatic fat. AIM To determine the accuracy of mDixon MR technique in assessment of liver fat over CT and to correlate the CT and MRI findings with biopsy. MATERIALS AND METHODS A prospective observational study was conducted at Imaging Services of Narayana Multispeciality Hospital between March 2011- December 2012. Thirty patients who attended the clinic for non-hepatic complaints were included in the study. Patients with known liver disease, cirrhosis, alcoholic liver disease, bleeding diathesis and claustrophobic patients were excluded from the study. Subjects underwent sonography, CT liver and MR examination of liver for fat estimation using mDixon protocol. Biopsy of the liver was performed either by image guidance or by direct biopsy. Liver Attenuation Index (LAI), fat estimation by MR methods were reviewed independently by two observers and compared with biopsy results. The statistical analysis was performed by SPSS. Pearson correlation was used to find the correlation between the left and right lobe of liver segments by CT and histological correlation. RESULTS There was good correlation between the MR estimation of liver fat and histological grading. Majority (90%) of patients had fat content of less than 10%. Maximal fat content of 28% was observed in one patient. LAI values poorly correlated with the MRI and histological observations. CONCLUSION MR estimation of the liver using mDixon technique yielded specific information about liver fat, correlated well with the histological grading. Technique is more accurate than CT, does not involve ionising radiation, hence recommended as method of choice.
GUN4-Protoporphyrin IX Is a Singlet Oxygen Generator with Consequences for Plastid Retrograde Signaling*

The genomes uncoupled 4 (GUN4) protein is a nuclear-encoded, chloroplast-localized, porphyrin-binding protein implicated in retrograde signaling between the chloroplast and nucleus, although its exact role in this process is still unclear. Functionally, it enhances Mg-chelatase activity in the chlorophyll biosynthesis pathway. Because GUN4 is present only in organisms that carry out oxygenic photosynthesis and because it binds protoporphyrin IX (PPIX) and Mg-PPIX, it has been suggested that it prevents production of light- and PPIX- or Mg-PPIX-dependent reactive oxygen species. A chld-1/GUN4 mutant with elevated PPIX has a light-dependent up-regulation of GUN4, implicating this protein in light-dependent sensing of PPIX, with the suggestion that GUN4 reduces PPIX-generated singlet oxygen, O2(a1Δg), and subsequent oxidative damage (Brzezowski, P., Schlicke, H., Richter, A., Dent, R. M., Niyogi, K. K., and Grimm, B. (2014) Plant J. 79, 285–298). In direct contrast, our results show that purified GUN4 and oxidatively damaged ChlH increase the rate of PPIX-generated singlet oxygen production in the light, by a factor of 5 and 10, respectively, when compared with PPIX alone. Additionally, the functional GUN4-PPIX-ChlH complex and ChlH-PPIX complexes generate O2(a1Δg) at a reduced rate when compared with GUN4-PPIX. As O2(a1Δg) is a potential plastid-to-nucleus signal, possibly through second messengers, light-dependent O2(a1Δg) generation by GUN4-PPIX is proposed to be part of a signal transduction pathway from the chloroplast to the nucleus. GUN4 thus senses the availability and flux of PPIX through the chlorophyll biosynthetic pathway and also modulates Mg-chelatase activity. The light-dependent O2(a1Δg) generation from GUN4-PPIX is thus proposed as the first step in retrograde signaling from the chloroplast to the nucleus.
Inhibition of ATP-induced calcium influx in HT4 cells by glucocorticoids: involvement of protein kinase A

AbstractAim:In our previous observations, adenosine triphosphate (ATP) was found to evoke immediate elevations in intracellular free calcium concentration ([Ca2+]i) in HT4 neuroblastoma cells of mice. We tried to see if a brief pretreatment of glucocorticoids could inhibit the Ca2+ response and reveal the underlying signaling mechanism.Methods:Measurement of [Ca2+]i was carried out using the dual-wavelength fluorescence method with Fura-2 as the indicator.Results:Preincubation of HT4 cells for 5 min with corticosterone (B) or bovine serum albumin conjugated corticosterone (B-BSA) inhibited the peak [Ca2+]i increments in a concentration-dependent manner. Cortisol and dexamethasone had a similar action, while deoxycorticosterone and cholesterol were ineffective. Both extracellular Ca2+ influx and internal Ca2+ release contributed to ATP-induced [Ca2+]i elevation. The brief treatment with only B attenuated Ca2+ influx. Furthermore, the [Ca2+]i elevation induced by the P2X receptor agonist adenosine 5′-(β,γ-methylene) triphosphate (β,γ-meATP) was also suppressed. The rapid inhibitory effect of B can be reproduced by forskolin 1 mmol/L and blocked by H89 20 mmol/L. Neither nuclear glucocorticoid receptor antagonist mifepristone nor protein kinase C inhibitors influenced the rapid action of B.Conclusion:Our results suggest that glucocorticoids modulate P2X receptor-medicated Ca2+ influx through a membrane-initiated, non-genomic and PKA-dependent pathway in HT4 cells.
A Modified Reduced-Form Model with Time-Varying Default and Recovery Rates and Its Applications in Pricing Convertible Bonds

Reduced-form models of default risk require estimates of the recovery rate, or equivalently, the loss given default. In many cases, this is simply set at a fixed recovery rate of 40%. But the 40% rate is often far from the realized recovery amount in practice, and empirical research shows that recoveries are negatively related to ex ante default probabilities and the rate varies over time. In this article, the authors incorporate a regression-based estimate of the current recovery rate from historical data, modeling it as a function of the default probability and, potentially, macroeconomic data such as growth of the S&P Index. They then build this relationship into a lattice structure and show how it can be applied to price convertible bonds.
Substantive and Methodological Considerations of Social Desirability for Doping in Sport

Socially desirable responding (SDR) refers to the propensity for some people to excessively overestimate desirable attributes or actions and underestimate or deny undesirable qualities or behaviors in self-report scales (Paulhus, 2002). Because this construct is represented by a deliberate or unintentional act to present oneself in the best possible light for others, particularly for attributes or behaviors that are highly valued or congruent with social norms, it remains an important issue for scholars interested in the psycho-social aspects of doping in sport. The purposes of this chapter are to provide readers with an overview of substantive and methodological considerations of SDR, and assess existing doping research against these issues. To facilitate future research on doping in sport that involves self-reports, we discuss a variety of proactive (e.g., bogus pipeline) and post hoc techniques (e.g., latent variable modeling) that have been proposed to detect and control for SDR, and provide examples of how doping scholars might integrate these methods into their research. Social Desirability and Doping 3 Substantive and Methodological Considerations of Social Desirability for Doping in
HLA‐DR and DQ Antigens and Anticardiolipin Antibodies in Women With Recurrent Spontaneous Abortions

ABSTRACT: IgG anticardiolipin antibodies (ACL) have been shown to occur in a high proportion of women with repeated unexplained miscarriages. Forty‐nine women with unexplained recurrent spontaneous abortions (RSA), previously assayed for the presence of ACL by an enzyme‐linked immunoabsorbent assay, were typed for HLA‐DR and DQ antigens by the classical microlymphocytotoxicity test. Twenty‐five women were positive for ACL and 24 were negative. HLA‐DR7 was found in 24.5% of 49 habitually aborting women vs. 28% of healthy controls; but the DR7 frequency was 40% in ACL positive patients vs. 8.3% in ACL negative patients (P = 0.011). These results show that in the Italian population an association between HLA‐DR7 antigen and ACL is present in women with unexplained RSA, suggesting that HLA‐DR genes might control the susceptibility to specific autoantibody production.
A Dosimetry Methodology for Two-Photon Absorption Induced Single-Event Effects Measurements

A pulsed-laser dosimetry approach for two-photon absorption (TPA) single-event effects (SEE) measurements is presented. Development and implementation of three online beam monitors is described. The beam monitors permit characterization of the primary laser beam parameters of interest: the pulse energy delivered to the device under test, the pulse duration, and the focused laser spot size. A direct consequence of this methodology is the ability to monitor continuously the operating point of the TPA SEE pulsed-laser beamline and to make the necessary adjustments when parameters drift, either during an experiment or between experiments.
A Comparison of Radio Over Fiber Link Types for the Support of Wideband Radio Channels

Three radio over fiber link types are compared to assess their relative performance for the optical transmission of next generation wireless signals having multiple wideband radio channels with high-level modulation. These links differ in their choice of modulation device; either a directly modulated laser (DML) or external modulation using a Mach-Zehnder modulator (MZM) or a reflective semiconductor optical amplifier (RSOA). The DML and RSOA link types are shown to suffer minimal degradation of the uplink wireless range compared to the baseline value without an optical link, using optimum components in terms of cost and performance. The optimum technology depends on the relative merits of simplicity (DML) or optical network architecture flexibility (RSOA).