Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Cereals, cereal fibre and colorectal cancer risk: a review of the epidemiological literature

Burkitt and Walker first promoted the idea that colorectal cancer could be prevented by dietary fibre. Early studies of this hypothesis were hampered by problems with the definition of dietary fibre, and the lack of good analytical methods to assess its intake. Dietary fibre is a complex carbohydrate of plant origin that escapes small-bowel digestion and so reaches the colon. It was assumed that the major plant polysaccharide, starch, is completely digested in the small bowel, and that dietary Fibre consists of nonstarch polysaccharide. However, there is some evidence that nonstarch polysaccharide accounts for only about 25% of the true intake of dietary fibre. Therefore it is better at present to use fibre-rich foods as a measure rather than the inaccurate assays of dietary fibre found in epidemiological studies. A re-examination of the epidemiological literature has shown that although the strength of the protection given by dietary fibre may be disputed, there is no doubt about the protection afforded by Cereal fibre.
Protein Kinase D2 Assembles a Multiprotein Complex at the Trans-Golgi Network to Regulate Matrix Metalloproteinase Secretion*

Vesicle formation and fission are tightly regulated at the trans-Golgi network (TGN) during constitutive secretion. Two major protein families regulate these processes: members of the adenosyl-ribosylation factor family of small G-proteins (ARFs) and the protein kinase D (PKD) family of serine/threonine kinases. The functional relationship between these two key regulators of protein transport from the TGN so far is elusive. We here demonstrate the assembly of a novel functional protein complex at the TGN and its key members: cytosolic PKD2 binds ARF-like GTPase (ARL1) and shuttles ARL1 to the TGN. ARL1, in turn, localizes Arfaptin2 to the TGN. At the TGN, where PKD2 interacts with active ARF1, PKD2, and ARL1 are required for the assembly of a complex comprising of ARF1 and Arfaptin2 leading to secretion of matrix metalloproteinase-2 and -7. In conclusion, our data indicate that PKD2 is a core factor in the formation of this multiprotein complex at the TGN that controls constitutive secretion of matrix metalloproteinase cargo.
Interactions between the cytochrome b, cytochrome c1, and Fe-S protein subunits at the ubihydroquinone oxidation site of the bc1 complex of Rhodobacter capsulatus.

Ubihydroquinone:cytochrome (cyt) c oxidoreductase (bc1 complex and its plant counterpart b6f complex) is a vital component of energy-transducing systems in most organisms from bacteria to eukaryotes. In the facultative phototrophic (Ps) bacterium Rhodobacter capsulatus, it is constituted by the cyt b, cyt c1, and Rieske Fe-S protein subunits and is essential for Ps growth. Of these subunits, cyt b has two nontransmembrane helices, cd1 and cd2, which are critical for its structure and function. In particular, substitution of threonine (T) at position 163 on cd1 with phenylalanine (F) or proline (P) leads to the absence of the bc1 complex. Here, Ps+ revertants of B:T163F were obtained, and their detailed characterizations indicated that position 163 is important for the assembly of the bc1 complex by mediating subunit interactions at the Qo site. The loss of the hydroxyl group at position 163 of cyt b was compensated for by the gain of either a hydroxyl group at position 182 of cyt b or 46 of the Fe-S protein or a sulfhydryl group at position 46 of cyt c1. Examination of the mitochondrial bc1 complex crystal structure [Zhang, Z. , Huang, L. , Shulmeister, V. M. , Chi, Y. -I. , Kim, K. K. , Hung, L. -W. , Crofts, A. R. , Berry, E. A. , and Kim, S. -H. (1998) Nature 392, 677-684] revealed that the counterparts of B:G182 (i.e., G167) and F:A46 (i.e. , A70) are located close to B:T163 (i.e., T148), whereas the C:R46 (i.e., R28) is remarkably far from it. The revertants contained substoichiometric amounts of the Fe-S protein subunit and exhibited steady-state and single-turnover, electron transfer activities lower than that of a wild-type bc1 complex. Interestingly, their membrane supernatants contained a smaller form of this subunit with physicochemical properties identical to those of its membrane-bound form. Determination of the amino-terminal amino acid sequence of this soluble Fe-S protein revealed that it was derived from the wild-type protein by proteolytic cleavage at V44. This work revealed for the first time that position 163 of cyt b is important both for proper subunit interactions at the Qo site and for inactivation of the bc1 complex by proteolytic cleavage of its Fe-S protein subunit at a region apparently responsible for its mobility during Qo site catalysis.
Exchange Rate Forecasting: A Combination Approach

Forecasting exchange rates is an important financial problem that is receiving increasing attention especially because of its difficulty and practical applications. This paper compares three models for forecasting Exchange Rate, Regression, Simple Naive and ARIMA and focuses on finding the best model for forecasting Exchange Rate based on RMSE. It finds using just one method, caused to lose valuable information contained in the discarded forecast, so no single method is the best. Then try to combine methods with the lowest RMSE. Finally Empirical results indicate that the proposed method is better than the conventional forecasting models.
Cardiovascular function is better in veteran football players than age‐matched untrained elderly healthy men

The aim of the study was to determine whether lifelong football training may improve cardiovascular function, physical fitness, and body composition. Our subjects were 17 male veteran football players (VPG; 68.1 ± 2.1 years) and 26 healthy age‐matched untrained men who served as a control group (CG; 68.2 ± 3.2 years). Examinations included measurements of cardiac function, microvascular endothelial function [reactive hyperemic index (RHI)], maximum oxygen uptake (VO2max), and body composition. In VPG, left ventricular (LV) end‐diastolic volume was 20% larger (P < 0.01) and LV ejection fraction was higher (P < 0.001). Tissue Doppler imaging revealed an augmented LV longitudinal displacement, i.e., LV shortening of 21% (P < 0.001) and longitudinal 2D strain was 12% higher (P < 0.05), in VPG. In VPG, resting heart rate was lower (6 bpm, P < 0.05), and VO2max was higher (18%, P < 0.05). In addition, RHI was 21% higher (P < 0.05) in VPG. VPG also had lower body mass index (P < 0.05), body fat percentage, total body fat mass, android fat percentage, and gynoid fat percentage (all P < 0.01). Lifelong participation in football training is associated with better LV systolic function, physical fitness, microvascular function, and a healthier body composition. Overall, VPG have better cardiovascular function compared with CG, which may reduce their cardiovascular morbidity and mortality.
An Investigation of the Difference in Stereoacuity between Crossed and Uncrossed Disparities Using Frisby and TNO Tests

Is stereoacuity better, on average, with a crossed test disparity? To answer this question, 15 subjects with good stereoacuity performed Frisby and TNO stereotests with test plates in each of 2 possible orientations, crossed and uncrossed. Stereoacuities and response times were measured. The answer was that a subject's stereoacuity with crossed and uncrossed disparity could be different, e.g., 30 and 480 sec arc, respectively, but that, on average, a crossed disparity was no easier to detect than an uncrossed one. There were more and greater differences with the TNO than with the Frisby test and Frisby stereoacuity was, on the average, 4 times better. It is recommended that tests which can have two orientations be tested in both and the best result taken as the stereoacuity.
Mechanisms of Defibrillation Failure

Since defibrillation by high-energy electric shocks is the only effective means for termination of ventricular fibrillation, defibrillation shocks are now widely used in clinical practice for prevention of sudden cardiac death. However, the high-energy shocks could result in myocardial dysfunction and damage (Runsio et al., 1997) and in psychological trauma (Maisel, 2006). Comprehensive understanding of the ventricular response to electric shocks as well as the mechanisms of defibrillation failure is the approach most likely to succeed in reducing shock energy. Recent experimental techniques, such as high-resolution mapping with multi-electrodes or optical recordings, have provided new characterizations of tissue responses to electric shocks. However, the mechanisms of the success and failure of defibrillation are not fully understood since the presently available experimental techniques, which provide detailed information about the myocardial surface (mostly epicardial) activity, are insufficient in resolving depth information during and after the electric shocks. Moreover, electrical or optical signal artifacts during the shock make it difficult for the researchers to get direct evidence regardig the mechanisms of electrical defibrillation. It has been demonstrated experimentally that after the delivery of shocks of strength near the defibrillation threshold (DFT) from an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) device, the first global activation consistently arises focally on the left ventricle (LV) (Chattipakorn et al., 2001, 2003) following an isoelectric window (a quiescent period following the shock). Understanding the origins of the isoelectric window is thus of great importance for uncovering the mechanisms of defibrillation failure. Various hypothesis have been proposed for the existence of the isoelectric window, including virtual electrodeinduced propagated graded response (Trayanova et al., 2003), calcium sinkholes (Hwang et al., 2006), and activations emanating from Purkinje fibers (Dosdall et al., 2007); however, the mechanisms responsible for it remain inconclusive. In this context, we hypothesized that submerged “tunnel propagation” of postshock activation (PA) through shock-induced intramural excitable areas underlies both fibrillation induction and failed defibrillation by shocks as well as the existence of an isoelectric window. To test this hypothesis, we analyzed the global three-dimensional activity in ventricles with the use of a recently-developed realistic computer model of stimulation/defibrillation in the rabbit heart (Trayanova et al., 2002). Simulations with this
Analysis of p53 protein expression levels on ovarian cancer tissue microarray using automated quantitative analysis elucidates prognostic patient subsets.

BACKGROUND p53 protein is regarded as a valuable prognostic marker in cancer with a potential use as a molecular target. Here, we sought to determine the prognostic value of p53 in ovarian cancer using a novel method of compartmentalized in situ protein analysis. PATIENTS AND METHODS A tissue array composed of 141 advanced stage ovarian cancers uniformly treated was constructed. For evaluation of p53 protein expression, we used an immunofluorescence-based method of automated in situ quantitative measurement of protein analysis (AQUA). RESULTS High nuclear p53 expression levels were associated with better outcome for overall survival (OS) (P = 0.0023) and disease-free survival (P = 0.0338) at 5-years. High cytoplasmic p53 expression levels were associated with better outcome for OS (P = 0.0002). In multivariable analysis, high nuclear and high cytoplasmic p53 level with International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) stage were the most significant predictor variables for OS and high nuclear p53 level with FIGO stage were the significant predictor variables for disease-free survival. CONCLUSIONS Assessment of the prognostic value of p53 protein levels using conventional immunohistochemistry is limited by the nonquantitative nature of the method. AQUA provides precise estimation of p53 protein levels and was able to elucidate the association of p53 protein levels and ovarian cancer prognosis.
Novel Short-term Hypothermic Oxygenated Perfusion (HOPE) System Prevents Injury in Rat Liver Graft From Non-Heart Beating Donor

Objective:To assess a machine perfusion system in rescuing liver grafts from non-heart-beating donors (NHBD). Summary Background Data:The introduction of extracorporeal liver perfusion systems in the clinical routine depends on feasibility. Conceivably, perfusion could be performed during recipient preparation. We investigated whether a novel rat liver machine perfusion applied after in situ ischemia and cold storage can rescue NHBD liver grafts. Methods:We induced cardiac arrest in male Brown Norway rats by phrenotomy and ligation of the subcardial aorta. We studied 2 experimental groups: 45 minutes of warm in situ ischemia + 5 hours cold storage versus 45 minutes of warm in situ ischemia + 5 hours cold storage followed by 1 hour hypothermic oxygenated extracorporeal perfusion (HOPE). In both groups, livers were reperfused in a closed sanguineous isolated liver perfusion device for 3 hours at 37°C. To test the benefit of HOPE on survival, we performed orthotopic liver transplantation in both experimental groups. Results:After cold storage and reperfusion, NHBD livers showed necrosis of hepatocytes, increased release of AST, and decreased bile flow. HOPE improved NHBD livers significantly with a reduction of necrosis, less AST release, and increased bile flow. ATP was severely depleted in cold-stored NHBD livers but restored in livers treated by HOPE. After orthotopic liver transplantation, grafts treated by HOPE demonstrated a significant extension on animal survival. Conclusions:We demonstrate a beneficial effect of HOPE by preventing reperfusion injury in a clinically relevant NHBD model.
OLAC: An Open-Loop controller for low-latency adaptive video streaming

Dynamic video streaming performs video rate selection based on streaming client's throughput estimate. In practice, the accuracy of the estimated throughput is limited due to feedback delay and unawareness of the dynamics of the underlying HTTP/TCP transport layer. Furthermore, state-of-the-art rate selection methods inherently introduce a two-fold quantization error, as will be detailed in this paper. As a result, streaming adaptation is often erroneous and causes client buffer instability such that conventional streaming applications require an extensive buffering on the order of tens of seconds. In this paper, we present Open-Loop rAte Control (OLAC), an adaptive streaming architecture designed to support low-latency streaming applications. The key components of our architecture are a server-side simulation of the streaming client's buffer, which provides a low-delay feedback for the video rate selection, and a hybrid adaptation logic based on throughput and buffer information, which stabilizes the adaptive response to dynamics of transport and application layers. We evaluate the performance of OLAC with respect to impairment functions that model user-perceived video quality and compare it against two well-known streaming architectures, QAC and vlc-plugin DASH. The results show that our approach achieves a very low initial delay, 64% lower impairment of stalls and 20% lower impairment of quality variation in dynamic streaming with buffering delays as low as the chunk duration.
Muscle Shear Moduli Changes and Frequency of Alternate Muscle Activity of Plantar Flexor Synergists Induced by Prolonged Low-Level Contraction

During prolonged low-level contractions, synergist muscles are activated in an alternating pattern of activity and silence called as alternate muscle activity. Resting muscle stiffness is considered to increase due to muscle fatigue. Thus, we investigated whether the difference in the extent of fatigue of each plantar flexor synergist corresponded to the difference in the frequency of alternate muscle activity between the synergists using muscle shear modulus as an index of muscle stiffness. Nineteen young men voluntarily participated in this study. The shear moduli of the resting medial and lateral gastrocnemius muscles (MG and LG) and soleus muscle (SOL) were measured using shear wave ultrasound elastography before and after a 1-h sustained contraction at 10% peak torque during maximal voluntary contraction of isometric plantar flexion. One subject did not accomplish the task and the alternate muscle activity for MG was not found in 2 subjects; therefore, data for 16 subjects were used for further analyses. The magnitude of muscle activation during the fatiguing task was similar in MG and SOL. The percent change in shear modulus before and after the fatiguing task (MG: 16.7 ± 12.0%, SOL: −4.1 ± 13.9%; mean ± standard deviation) and the alternate muscle activity during the fatiguing task (MG: 33 [20–51] times, SOL: 30 [17–36] times; median [25th–75th percentile]) were significantly higher in MG than in SOL. The contraction-induced change in shear modulus (7.4 ± 20.3%) and the alternate muscle activity (37 [20–45] times) of LG with the lowest magnitude of muscle activation during the fatiguing task among the plantar flexors were not significantly different from those of the other muscles. These results suggest that the degree of increase in muscle shear modulus induced by prolonged contraction corresponds to the frequency of alternate muscle activity between MG and SOL during prolonged contraction. Thus, it is likely that, compared with SOL, the alternate muscle activity of MG occurs more frequently during prolonged contraction due to the greater increase in fatigue of MG induced by the progression of a fatiguing task.
A remark on conditioned invariance in the behavioral approach

In this paper a definition for the property of behavioral invariance is proposed with the purpose of generalizing the state space geometric approach to the behavioral setting. Based on this notion together with the well-known notion of behavioral observer, a definition of conditioned invariance is also presented. The results obtained for the characterization of the defined properties put into evidence some problems that, in our opinion, should deserve attention. This could serve as a starting point for a discussion on the foundations of an analogue of the geometric theory within the behavioral setting.
Radiation effects on antitumor immune responses: current perspectives and challenges

Radiotherapy (RT) is currently used in more than 50% of cancer patients during the course of their disease in the curative, adjuvant or palliative setting. RT achieves good local control of tumor growth, conferring DNA damage and impacting tumor vasculature and the immune system. Formerly regarded as a merely immunosuppressive treatment, pre- and clinical observations indicate that the therapeutic effect of RT is partially immune mediated. In some instances, RT synergizes with immunotherapy (IT), through different mechanisms promoting an effective antitumor immune response. Cell death induced by RT is thought to be immunogenic and results in modulation of lymphocyte effector function in the tumor microenvironment promoting local control. Moreover, a systemic immune response can be elicited or modulated to exert effects outside the irradiation field (so called abscopal effects). In this review, we discuss the body of evidence related to RT and its immunogenic potential for the future design of novel combination therapies.
Analisis Faktor-Faktor yang Mempengaruhi Pembiayaan Berbasis Margin pada Bank Umum Syariah di Indonesia

ABSTRAKFokus penelitian ini adalah menguji lima variable independen, yakni Non Performing Finance (NPF), inflasi, Capital Adequacy Ratio (CAR), Produk Domestik Bruto (PDB), dan Dana Pihak Ketiga (DPK) dan pengaruhnya terhadap pembiayaan berbasis margin pada Bank Umum Syariah di Indonesia. Penelitian ini terbatas pada periode 2006 sampai 2013 dengan populasi berjumlah 11 yang merupakan jumlah Bank Umum Syariah di Indonesia. Data yang diuji diperoleh dari Laporan Keuangan Publikasi Triwulanan Bank Umum Syariah Periode 2006-2013. Teknik analisis yang digunakan dalam penelitian ini adalah regresi linear berganda yang bertujuan untuk mendapatkan gambaran yang menyeluruh terkait hubungan tiap-tiap variabel yang ada. Dalam penelitian ini, uji asumsi klasik yang dipakai adalah uji normalitas, autokorelasi, heteroskedastisitas, dan multikolineritas. Dari hasil penelitian ini dapat ditarik kesimpulan bahwa variable independen NPF dan DPK berpengaruh positif terhadap pembiayaan berbasis margin. Di sisi lain, variable inflasi dan PDB tidak berpengaruh terhadap pembiayaan berbasis margin. Sedangkan variable independen CAR berpengaruh negatif terhadap pembiayaan berbasis margin.Kata Kunci: Non Performing Finance (NPF), Inflasi, Capital Adequacy Ratio (CAR), Produk Domestik Bruto (PDB), dan Dana Pihak Ketiga (DPK), Pembiayaan Berbasis Margin.ABSTRACTThe focus of this research is testing five independent variables, such as Non Performing (NPF), inflation, Capital Adequacy Ratio (CAR), Gross Domestic Product (GDP), and Dana Pihak Ketiga (DPK) and their effects towards margin based payment at Islamic Public Bank in Indonesia. This research used financial report period 2006 to 2013 with 11 populations which are the number of Islamic Public Bank in Indonesia. The tested data were obtained from Three Months Publication Financial Report of Islamic public Bank from the period of 2006 to 2013. The technique of data analysis in this research is double linear regression that the purpose is to get the whole description related to connection of each variable. In this research, the used classic assumption tests are normality test, auto correlation, heteroscedastisity, and multicolinerity. From the research result, it can be concluded that NPF and DPK have positive effect towards margin based payment. On the other hand, inflation and GDP variables have no influence towards margin based payment. Finally, CAR as the independent variable has negative effect towards margin based payment.Key Words: Non Performing Finance (NPF), Inflation, Capital Adequacy Ratio (CAR), Gross Domestic Product (GDP), Dana Pihak Ketiga (DPK), Margin Based Payment.
Moxibustion Relieves Visceral Hyperalgesia via Inhibition of Transient Receptor Potential Vanilloid 1 (Trpv1) and Heat Shock Protein (Hsp) 70 Expression in Rat Bone Marrow Cells

Objective To investigate the effects of moxibustion on visceral hyperalgesia (VH) and bone marrow cell transient receptor potential vanilloid type 1 (TRPV1) and heat shock protein (HSP) 70 expression in a rat model of VH. Methods Mechanical colorectal distension was performed to induce VH in neonatal Sprague-Dawley rats. Eight-week-old VH rats were treated with moxibustion at acupuncture point BL25 or an ipsilateral non-acupuncture point. Abdominal withdrawal reflex (AWR) scoring and pain threshold pressure assessment were performed before and after moxibustion treatment for 7 consecutive days. The expression of TRPV1 and HSP70 in bone marrow cells was quantified by real-time quantitative PCR. Results The expression of TRPV1 and HSP70 in bone marrow cells was increased in rats with VH. Moxibustion at BL25 significantly decreased AWR scores and increased pain threshold pressure in rats with VH. Furthermore, moxibustion at BL25 significantly inhibited the VH-induced increase in the expression of TRPV1 and HSP70 in bone marrow cells. Conclusions The up-regulation of TRPV1 and HSP70 expression in bone marrow cells may be involved in visceral pain development and the analgesic effect of moxibustion on VH may be mediated through down-regulation of TRPV1 and HSP70 expression in bone marrow cells.