Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Plant secondary metabolites and gut health: the case for phenolic acids

Plant-based diets contain a plethora of secondary metabolites that may impact on health and disease prevention. Much attention has been focused on the potential bioactivity and nutritional relevance of several classes of phytochemicals such as flavonoids, carotenoids, phyto-oestrogens and glucosinolates. Less attention has been paid to simple phenolic acids that are widely found in fruit, vegetables, herbs, spices and beverages. Daily intakes may exceed 100 mg. In addition, bacteria in the gut can perform reactions that transform more complex plant phenolics such as anthocyanins, procyanidins, flavanones, flavonols, tannins and isoflavones into simple phenolic metabolites. The colon is thus a rich source of potentially active phenolic acids that may impact both locally and systemically on gut health. Both the small and large intestine (colon) contain absorption sites for phenolic acids but low post-prandial concentrations in plasma indicate minimal absorption early in the gastrointestinal tract and/or rapid hepatic metabolism and excretion. Therefore, any bioactivity that contributes to gut health may predominantly occur in the colon. Several phenolic acids affect the expression and activity of enzymes involved in the production of inflammatory mediators of pathways thought to be important in the development of gut disorders including colon cancer. However, at present, we remain largely ignorant as to which of these compounds are beneficial to gut health. Until we can elucidate which pro-inflammatory and potentially carcinogenetic changes in gene expression can be moderated by simple phenolic acids, it is not possible to recommend specific plant-based foods rich in particular phenolics to optimise gut health.
Five Years' Experience of Transverse Groin Incision for Femoral Artery Access in Arterial Reconstructive Surgery: Parallel Observational Longitudinal Group Comparison Study

Vertical groin incisions (VGIs) have been used to access femoral vessels, but reports allude to wound complications. Our aim was to compare VGI with transverse groin incision (TGI) for femoral artery exposure. Over a 5-year interval, 196 patients with 284 femoral artery exposures for supra- and infrainguinal procedures were studied. Primary endpoints were surgical skin site wound infection, seroma, haematoma formation, and major lower limb amputation. Secondary endpoints were graft patency, wound paresthesias, and length of hospital stay. There were 160 TGIs and 124 VGIs. The demographics and risk factor profile were not statistically different between groups. Seroma developed in 4.4% of TGIs and 13.7% of VGIs (p = .005). The complicated skin and soft tissue infection rate was five times greater with VGI (p = .001). The VGI group had a significantly higher rate of major amputation (p = .0005). Significantly higher graft failure rates were observed in the VGI group (p = .011). No paresthesia was reported in any TGI wound. The mean hospital stay was also significantly shorter in the TGI group (p = .006). The study data support and expound on the theory that an alternative incision to VGI offers lower short- and long-term morbidity. Our findings sustain the selection of the TGI in femoral artery surgery for both supra- and infrainguinal procedures without compromise of vessel exposure.
(2D & 3D Nonlinear Dynamic Analysis of an Asphaltic Concrete Core Rockfill Dam (a Case Study

2D & 3D nonlinear numerical analyses have been performed for the highest dam with asphalt concrete core in Iran (Shur River Dam) under seismic forces. The dam has 85 meters height and is under Construction in an area with high earthquake hazard with MDE equal to 0.8 g. Different stages of construction and impounding were analyzed using the hyperbolic model with Finite Difference Method. Nonlinear dynamic analyses were performed to investigate asphaltic core behavior under earthquake loading. Both 2D & 3D analysis confirms that earthquake shock can lead to developing some small cracks and increasing permeability of asphalt in the upper part of the core, also maximum vertical deformations occur near the crest and at the lower part of the upstream slope. But there are some differences between 2 & 3D analysis. The pattern of the core deformation in 2D analysis includes settlements of the shells behind the asphaltic core and the core remains upright but 3D analysis shows that the core can settle with the neighbor shells. Furthermore 2D analysis shows more settlements and less crest accelerations in comparison with 3D analysis. Shear strains in the asphaltic core have different trends in the two types of analyses.
Failure of ascorbic acid to prevent contrast-media induced nephropathy in patients with renal dysfunction.

AIMS Contrast-media induced nephropathy (CIN) remains a common complication after contrast dye exposure especially in patients with chronic renal impairment (CRI). We sought to evaluate the efficacy of the antioxidant ascorbic acid as an adjunct to hydration in limiting the incidence of contrast induced nephrotoxicity after coronary procedures. MATERIALS AND METHODS In a randomized, double-blind, prospective, single center-study, 143 consecutive patients with CRI (creatinine level > 120 micromol/l) referred to coronary angiography/intervention were randomly assigned to receive 1 g ascorbic acid or placebo in adjunct to saline hydration prior to and after angiography. Creatinine and urea nitrogen levels were measured prior to and up to 6 days after exposure to contrast agent. RESULTS The development of CIN occurred totally in 8/143 (5.6%) patients. Between the two groups no significant difference was detected (Vitamin C 5/74 (6.8%) patients; placebo 3/69 (4.3%) patients). After adjusting for the amount of contrast dye, drug treatment, cardiovascular risk factors, ejection fraction, or sex, again no differences were detected. No patient required dialysis. More patients with diabetes had development of CIN (7/85; 8.2%) compared with nondiabetic patients (1/58; 1.7%), although not significant (p = 0.14). The incidence of CIN was elevated in patients with high amounts (> 140 ml) of contrast volume used (6/8). CONCLUSIONS Our study does not support the prophylactic use of ascorbic acid in patients with renal dysfunction exposed to contrast dye.
Comparison of three human papillomavirus DNA detection methods: Next generation sequencing, multiplex‐PCR and nested‐PCR followed by Sanger based sequencing

To compare the diagnostic performance for HPV infection using three laboratorial techniques. Ninty‐five cervicovaginal samples were randomly selected; each was tested for HPV DNA and genotypes using 3 methods in parallel: Multiplex‐PCR, the Nested PCR followed by Sanger sequencing, and the Next_Gen Sequencing (NGS) with two assays (NGS‐A1, NGS‐A2). The study was approved by the Brazilian National IRB (CONEP protocol 16,800). The prevalence of HPV by the NGS assays was higher than that using the Multiplex‐PCR (64.2% vs. 45.2%, respectively; P = 0.001) and the Nested‐PCR (64.2% vs. 49.5 %, respectively; P = 0.003). NGS also showed better performance in detecting high‐risk HPV (HR‐HPV) and HPV16. There was a weak interobservers agreement between the results of Multiplex‐PCR and Nested‐PCR in relation to NGS for the diagnosis of HPV infection, and a moderate correlation for HR‐HPV detection. Both NGS assays showed a strong correlation for detection of HPVs (k = 0.86), HR‐HPVs (k = 0.91), HPV16 (k = 0.92) and HPV18 (k = 0.91). NGS is more sensitive than the traditional Sanger sequencing and the Multiplex PCR to genotype HPVs, with promising ability to detect multiple infections, and may have the potential to establish an alternative method for the diagnosis and genotyping of HPV. J. Med. Virol. 88:888–894, 2016. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Willingness to Wait under Risk and Ambiguity: Theory and Experiment

This paper studies theoretically and experimentally the distinctive eects of risk and ambiguity on willingness to wait. We analyze a simple real options model in which a decision maker chooses the timing of investment and can observe the environment to learn about it. The model predicts that higher risk delays investment. Higher ambiguity accelerates investment if decision makers are ambiguity averse, while a delay of investment indicates an ambiguity seeking attitude. Experimental data reveal that willingness to wait increases in both risk and ambiguity. This con…rms the predicted eect of risk and implies that subjects are ambiguity seeking. The last …nding is in contrast with aversion towards ambiguity often found in static willingness-to-pay experiments.
Mortality associated with HIV infection in rural Rakai District, Uganda

ObjectiveTo assess mortality impact of HIV in rural Uganda. MethodsAn open cohort of 19 983 adults aged 15–59 years, in Rakai district was followed at 10 month intervals for four surveys. Sociodemographic characteristics and symptomatology/disease conditions were assessed by interview. Deaths among residents and out-migrants were identified household census. Mortality rates were computed per 1000 person years (py) and the rate ratio (RR) of death in HIV-positive/HIV-negative subjects, and the population attributable fraction (PAF) of death were estimated according to sociodemographic characteristics. Mortality associated with potential AIDS defining symptoms and signs was assessed. ResultsHIV prevalence was 16.1%. Mortality was 132.6 per 1000 py in HIV-infected versus 6.7 per 1000 py in uninfected subjects, and 73.5% of adult deaths were attributable to HIV infection. Mortality increased with age, but the highest attributable risk of HIV associated deaths were observed in persons aged 20–39 years (PAF > 80%) and in women. HIV associated mortality was highest in the better educated (PAF ⩾ 75%) and among government employees (PAF ⩾ 82%). Of the HIV-positive subjects 40.5% reported no illness < 10 months preceding death, symptoms were poor predictors of death (sensitivity 1.6–38.8%), and only 9.1% met the World Health Organization clinical definition of AIDS. Infant mortality rates in babies of HIV-infected and uninfected mothers were 209.4 and 97.7 per 1000, respectively. ConclusionHIV is taking substantial toll in this population, particularly among the younger better educated adults, and infants. Symptomatology or the World Health Organization definition of AIDS are poor predictors of death.
Association of the CHRNA3 Locus with Lung Cancer Risk and Prognosis in Chinese Han Population

Introduction: Recent genome-wide association studies in Caucasians revealed association with lung cancer risk of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the locus containing two nicotine acetylcholine receptor CHRNA genes. However, the reported risk SNPs are extremely rare in Asians. This study sought to identify other variants on CHRNA3 associated with lung cancer susceptibility and to explore whether SNPs of CHRNA3 are of prognostic factors in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in Chinese Han population. Methods: A case-control study of 529 cases and 567 controls was performed to study the association of three SNPs (rs3743076, rs3743078, and rs3743073) in CHRNA3 with lung cancer risk in Chinese Han population using logistic regression models. The relationship between CHRNA3 polymorphisms with overall survival among 122 patients with advanced stage (stage IIIb and IV) NSCLC were evaluated using Cox multiple model based on the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer recommended tumor, node, metastasis new staging. Results: Patients with genotypes TG or GG for the novel SNP rs3743073 in CHRNA3 gene, compared with those with TT, showed an increased risk of lung cancer (adjusted odds ratio = 1.91; 95% confidence interval, 1.38–2.63; p = 9.67 × 10−5) and worst survival (adjusted hazard ratio = 2.35; 95% confidence interval, 1.05–5.26; p = 0.04) in patients with advanced stage NSCLC based on International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer recommended tumor, node, metastasis new staging. Conclusions: These results suggest that the rs3743073 polymorphism in CHRNA3 is predictive for lung cancer risk and prognostic in advanced stage NSCLC in Chinese Han population.
Imaging correlates of leukocyte accumulation and CXCR4/CXCL12 in multiple sclerosis.

OBJECTIVE To compare leukocyte accumulation and expression of the chemokine receptor/ligand pair CXCR4/CXCL12 in magnetic resonance imaging-defined regions of interest (ROIs) in brains from patients with chronic multiple sclerosis. We studied the following ROIs: normal-appearing white matter (NAWM); regions abnormal only on T2-weighted images (T2 only); and regions abnormal on T2- and T1-weighted images with an abnormal magnetization transfer ratio (T2/T1/MTR). DESIGN Case-control study. SETTING Cleveland Clinic. PATIENTS Brain tissue was acquired from 5 patients with secondary progressive multiple sclerosis (MS) and 5 nonneurological controls. INTERVENTION Magnetic resonance imaging pathological correlations were performed on the 5 cases. Based on imaging characteristics, 30 ROIs were excised. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE Using immunohistochemical analysis, we evaluated myelin status, leukocyte accumulation, and CXCR4/CXCL12 expression in the MS ROIs and white matter regions from the 5 nonneurological controls. RESULTS Eight of 10 T2/T1/MTR regions were chronic active or chronic inactive demyelinated lesions, whereas only 2 of 10 T2-only regions were demyelinated and characterized as active or chronic active lesions. Equivalent numbers of CD68+ leukocytes (the predominant cell type) were present in myelinated T2-only regions as compared with NAWM. Parenchymal T cells were significantly increased in T2/T1/MTR ROIs as compared with T2-only regions and NAWM. Expression of CXCR4 and phospho-CXCR4 were found on reactive microglia and macrophages in T2-only and T2/T1/MTR lesions. CXCL12 immunoreactivity was detected in astrocytes, astrocytic processes, and vascular elements in inflamed MS lesions. CONCLUSIONS Inflammatory leukocyte accumulation was not increased in myelinated MS ROIs with abnormal T2 signal as compared with NAWM. Robust expression of CXCR4/CXCL12 on inflammatory elements in MS lesions highlights a role of this chemokine/receptor pair in central nervous system inflammation.
Coeducation and student’s academic performance in secondary schools in Kenya

iv Abbreviations and acronyms . viii List of tables . ix List of figures . x CHAPTER ONE INTRODUCTION 1.1 Background . 1 1.2 Statement of the problem . 4 1.3 Purpose of the study . 4 1.4 Objectives of the study. 5 1.5 Justification of the study . 5 1.6 Operational Definitions . 5 CHAPTER TWO LITERATURE REVIEW 2.
Pengaruh Pengaruh Likuiditas, Manajemen Laba Dan Corporate Governance Terhadap Agresivitas Pajak Perusahaan (Studi Empiris pada Perusahaan yang Terdaftar di BEI Periode 2008-2012)

This study ivestigated if extend of liquidity, earning management and corporate governance affected corporate tax aggresiveness.This study was a causative study. Population in this study manufacture company that registered in Indonesia stock exchange (BEI) from 2008 until 2012. The sample was choosed by purposive sampling methode. Data used in this study was secunder data from www.idx. id . Technic of Collecting data was documentation technic. The result of the hypothesis was that, liquidity measured by current ratio that had no signifficant negative impact to tax agresive, Earning Management measured by that had no signifficant positive impact to to tax agresive, and corporate governance measured by independent commissioners that had signifficant to negative impact to to tax agresive measured by Effective Tax Rate (ETR). Keyword : Corporate Tax Aggresiveness, Liquidity, Earning Management and Corporate Governance Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0cm; mso-para-margin-right:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0cm; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi; mso-fareast-language:EN-US;}
Assessing the Role of Seabirds in the Ecology of Influenza A Viruses

SUMMARY. Wild waterbirds, specifically waterfowl, gulls, and shorebirds, are recognized as the primordial reservoir of influenza A viruses (IAVs). However, the role of seabirds, an abundant, diverse, and globally distributed group of birds, in the perpetuation and transmission of IAVs is less clear. Here we summarize published and publicly available data for influenza viruses in seabirds, which for the purposes of this study are defined as birds that exhibit a largely or exclusively pelagic lifestyle and exclude waterfowl, gulls, and shorebirds, and we review this collective dataset to assess the role of seabirds in the influenza A ecology. Since 1961, more than 40,000 samples have been collected worldwide from the seabirds considered here and screened, using a variety of techniques, for evidence of active or past IAV infection. From these data, the overall prevalence of active infection has been estimated to be very low; however, serological data provide evidence that some seabird species are more frequently exposed to IAVs. Sequence data for viruses from seabirds are limited, except for murres (common murre, Uria aalge, and thick-billed murre, Uria lomvia; family Alcidae) for which there are full or partial genome sequences available for more than 80 viruses. Characterization of these viruses suggests that murres are infected with Group 1 hemagglutinin subtype viruses more frequently as compared to Group 2 and also indicates that these northern, circumpolar birds are frequently infected by intercontinental reassortant viruses. Greater temporal and spatial sampling and characterization of additional viruses are required to better understand the role of seabirds in global IAV dynamics.
Non-medical prescription drug use (NMPDU) and poor quality of life in the Swedish general population.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES Quality of life has become an increasingly important measurement in the substance use field. The main aim of the present study was to examine the relationships between non-medical use of prescription analgesics and sedatives and poor quality of life in the general population. METHODS Data were drawn from a Swedish national household survey conducted in 2008-2009. A stratified sample of 58,000 individuals aged 15-64 was randomly selected, with a response rate of 38.3% (n = 22,095). We examined the relationships between non-medical prescription drug use and quality of life in a logistic regression analysis, controlling for other substance use and sociodemographic variables. RESULTS In the final logistic regression model, both non-medical use of prescription analgesics and sedatives were independently associated with poor quality of life. Non-medical use of prescription sedatives was the strongest correlate of poor quality of life among the substance use variables. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS The associations between non-medical prescription drug use and poor quality of life might imply a need to better identify and provide treatment for this group, especially individuals with non-medical prescription sedative use, which seems to be a particularly strong correlate of poor quality of life. SCIENTIFIC SIGNIFICANCE Using a large, general population sample, the present paper is one of few to examine the relationships between non-medical prescription drug use and quality of life.
Relational embeddedness, exploratory learning and firm technological innovation performance

The research suggests a conceptual model about the impacts of relational embeddedness on the technological firm innovation performance through exploratory learning, and examines the influencing mechanism among relational embeddedness, exploratory learning and technological innovation performance by carrying out studies on 178 manufacturing firms. The hypotheses in the research are partially supported by the result, which justifies that trust between enterprises and joint problem solving can promote the acquisition and application of new knowledge which in turn exerts positive effects on technological innovation performance. The application of new knowledge partially plays a mediating effect in the mechanism through which the acquisition of new knowledge influences technological innovation performance.
BIOMONITORING OF SOME PERSISTENT ORGANOCHLORINE CONTAMINANTS IN THE MILK OF ANATOLIAN WATER BUFFALOES

Bu calismada, Samsun Kizilirmak deltasindaki farkli yetistiricilere ait mandalardan ( Bubalus bubalis , Linneaus, 1758) toplanan 50 cig sut orneginde, cevresel kontaminasyonu belirlemek icin 9 organik klorlu pestisit ve 16 poliklorlu bifenil bilesik kalintisi arastirildi. Sut yagindan kriyojenik yontemle ekstrakte edilen analitlerin duzeyleri elektron yakalama detektorlu gaz kromatografi (GC-ECD) ile olculdu. Sut orneklerinde ortalama alfa-HCH duzeyi 6.34 ng/g/yag, ortalama beta-HCH 20.41 ng/g yag, ortalama gamma-HCH 9.77 ng/g/yag, ortalama ∑DDT 18.11 ng/g/yag ve ortalama ∑Indikator-PCB 127.27 ng/g/yag olarak tespit edildi. Aldrin ve ∑DDT disindaki miktarlar Avrupa Birligi Yonetmelikleri ve Turk Gida Kodeksi’nde belirtilen degerlerin uzerinde bulundu. Cevrede uzun yillar etkinliklerini koruyabilen kalici organik klorlu bilesiklerin mandalardan elde edilen et, sut ve islenmis hayvansal urunlerde duzenli araliklarla izlenmesi ve bildirilmesi insan, hayvan ve cevre sagliginin degerlendirilmesi acisindan onemlidir.
Consequences of calorie restriction and calorie excess for the physiological parameters of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae cells

ABSTRACT Glucose plays an important role in cell metabolism and has an impact on cellular physiology. Changes in glucose availability may strongly influence growth rate of the cell size, cell metabolism and the rate of generation of cellular by‐products, such as reactive oxygen species. The positive effect of low glucose concentration conditions—calorie restriction is observed in a wide range of species, including the Saccharomyces cerevisiae yeast, yet little is known about the effect of high glucose concentrations—calorie excess. Such analysis seems to be particularly important due to recently common problem of diabetes and obesity. The effect of glucose on morphological and physiological parameters of the yeast cell was conducted using genetic alteration (disruption of genes involved in glucose signalling) and calorie restriction and calorie excess conditions. The results show a significant relationship among extracellular glucose concentration, cell size and reactive oxygen species generation in yeast cells. Furthermore, the results obtained through the use of mutant strains with disorders in glucose signalling pathways suggest that the intracellular level of glucose is more important than its extracellular concentration. These data also suggest that the calorie excess as a factor, which has a significant impact on cell physiology, requires further comprehensive analyses. &NA; Graphical Abstract Figure. There is a significant relationship between external glucose concentration, cell size and ROS generation. Thus, the glucose metabolism may be considered as an important factor influencing on the cell physiology.