Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Trans-Fatty Acids and Colon Cancer

Trans-fatty acids have been hypothesized to be carcinogenic, although there are limited data in humans testing this hypothesis. In this study, we examine the association between trans-fatty acids and colon cancer using data from a case (n = 1,993)-control (n = 2,410) study conducted in Utah, Northern California, and Minnesota. Dietary data were collected using a detailed diet history questionnaire, and nutrient values were generated from the Nutrition Coordinating Center nutrient database. After adjustment for other variables, including age at diagnosis, body size, physical activity, aspirin and/or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (referred to collectively as NSAIDs) use, energy intake, and dietary fiber and calcium, we found a weak association in women [odds ratio (OR) = 1.5, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.1-2.0] but not in men (OR = 1.2, 95% CI = 0.9-1.7); no increased risk was observed for the cis form of the fatty acids. For men and women, slightly stronger associations were observed in those ≥67 years of age (OR = 1.4, 95% CI = 0.9-2.1 for men; OR = 1.6, 95% CI = 1.0-2.4 for women). Those who did not use NSAIDs were at a 50% greater risk of developing colon cancer when they consumed high levels of trans-fatty acids. Women who were estrogen negative, i.e., postmenopausal not taking hormone replace therapy, had a twofold increase in risk from high levels of trans-fatty acids in the diet, while women who were estrogen positive did not experience an increased risk of colon cancer, regardless of level of trans-fatty acids consumed. We believe that these data have important public health implications. It seems prudent to avoid consuming partially hydrogenated fats, since no increased risk was observed for the cis form of fatty acids, while suggestions of increased risk from trans-fatty acids exist for subsets of the population.
Kaposi's Sarcoma-Associated Herpesvirus Infection Promotes Invasion of Primary Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells by Inducing Matrix Metalloproteinases

ABSTRACT Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) play important roles in cancer invasion, angiogenesis, and inflammatory infiltration. Kaposi's sarcoma is a highly disseminated angiogenic tumor of proliferative endothelial cells linked to infection by Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV). In this study, we showed that KSHV infection increased the invasiveness of primary human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) in a Matrigel-based cell invasion assay. KSHV-induced cell invasion was abolished by an inhibitor of MMPs, BB-94, and occurred in both autocrine- and paracrine-dependent fashions. Analysis by zymography and Western blotting showed that KSHV-infected HUVEC cultures had increased secretion of MMP-1, -2, and -9. KSHV increased the secretion of MMP-2 within 1 h following infection without upregulating its mRNA expression level. In contrast, the secretion of MMP-1 and -9 was not increased until 6 h after KSHV infection and was correlated with the upregulation of their mRNA expression levels. Promoter analysis by reporter assays and electrophoretic mobility shift assays identified an AP-1 cis-element as the dominant KSHV-responsive site in the MMP-1 promoter. Together, these results suggest that KSHV infection modulates the production of multiple MMPs to increase cell invasiveness and thus contributes to the pathogenesis of KSHV-induced malignancies.
Analysis of Harmonics in Power Systems Using the Wavelet-Packet Transform

This paper proposes a new algorithm based on the wavelet-packet transform for the analysis of harmonics in power systems. The proposed algorithm decomposes the voltage/current waveforms into the uniform frequency bands corresponding to the odd-harmonic components of the signal and uses a method to reduce the spectral leakage due to the imperfect frequency response of the used wavelet filter bank. This paper studies the selection of the mother wavelet, the sampling frequency, and the frequency characteristics of the wavelet filter bank for the two most common wavelet functions used for harmonic analysis and compares the performance of the proposed method with the results obtained using the discrete Fourier transform (DFT) analysis and the harmonic-group concept introduced by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) under different measurement conditions.
Antigenic cross‐reactivity between the human whipworm, Trichuris trichiura, and the mouse trichuroids Trichuris muris and Trichinella spiralis

Summary Cross‐reactivity was demonstrated between circulating antibodies from Trichuris trichiura‐infected humans and T. muris‐infected mice for heterologous antigen preparations. Mouse immune sera raised against excretory/secretory (E/S) products and anterior end homogenate from adult T. muris showed marked affinity for T. trichiura adult homogenate in ELISA, and 35S‐methionine‐labelled adult T. muris E/S products were precipitated by T. trichiura infection sera. Monoclonal antibodies recognizing a 48 kD Trichinella spiralis muscle larval β‐stichocyte granule antigen also showed avidity for T. trichiura adult homogenate in ELISA, as did scrum from mice with patent T. muris worm burdens. This cross‐reactivity is thought to result from shared stichocyte antigens and the relevance of this observation is discussed.
HEAVY TRAINING STRESS IN MALE ROWERS: EFFECTS ON CIRCULATORY RESPONSES AND MOOD STATE PROFILES

The effects of short-term overreaching on the circulatory responses and mood state parameters were investigated in male rowers. Fourteen national team level rowers (18.6 ± 2.0 yrs; 186.9 ± 5.7 cm; 82.4 ± 6.9 kg) were monitored during a six-day training camp. The training regimen consisted mainly of low-intensity onwater rowing and resistance training, for 19.2 ± 3.9 h, corresponding to an approximate 100% increase in the training load. The 2,000 m rowing ergometer performance time increased from 395.9 ± 10.8 to 404.2 ± 11.9 s corresponding to a mean power of 361.9 ± 28.5 and 349.0 ± 32.8 W, respectively. Blood lactate concentration measured five minutes after the test (from 19.2 ± 2.9 to 16.2 ± 2.3 mmol.l-1) and mean heart rate (from 184.6 ± 7.5 to 179.2 ± 7.4 beats.min-1) decreased. Maximal oxygen consumption remained unchanged. The subjective ratings of fatigue and muscle soreness increased and were related to the training volume (r>0.52). The blood parameters of the red blood cell count, hemoglobin concentration and hematocrit were decreased, while blood and plasma volumes were increased after the training period. The blood variables were not correlated with the training volume (r<-0.44; p>0.05). The change between tests in the corresponding heart rate demonstrated correlation to the changes in blood (r=-0.48) and plasma (r=-0.55) volumes. It is concluded that the most appropriate and simple tool for monitoring a short-term overload training period is the self-reported ratings of well-being on a daily basis.
Management of virtual machine images in heterogeneous clouds

This paper presents the image server of the VISOR cloud agnostic virtual machine images management service. An evaluation approach is also described and the results are discussed. VISOR is not intended to fit in a specific cloud framework but rather to overreach sharing and interoperability limitations among different frameworks. Such feature is achieved by relying on a flexible image metadata schema and in a storage abstraction layer, where the latter seamlessly abstracts the heterogeneity of distinct cloud storage systems into which images can be saved. VISOR is an open source highly distributed system composed of several independent web services. In its development we have focused in modularity, extensibility and performance. Conducted evaluation tests have shown encouraging results regarding performance and scalability.
Regulation of Insulin-stimulated GLUT4 Translocation by Munc18c in 3T3L1 Adipocytes*

Insulin stimulates glucose transporter (GLUT) 4 vesicle translocation from intracellular storage sites to the plasma membrane in 3T3L1 adipocytes through a VAMP2- and syntaxin 4-dependent mechanism. We have observed that Munc18c, a mammalian homolog of the yeast syntaxin-binding protein n-Sec1p, competed for the binding of VAMP2 to syntaxin 4. Consistent with an inhibitory function for Munc18c, expression of Munc18c, but not the related Munc18b isoform, prevented the insulin stimulation of GLUT4 and IRAP/vp165 translocation to the plasma membrane without any significant effect on GLUT1 trafficking. As expected, overexpressed Munc18c was found to co-immunoprecipitate with syntaxin 4 in the basal state. However, these complexes were found to dissociate upon insulin stimulation. Furthermore, endogenous Munc18c was predominantly localized to the plasma membrane and its distribution was not altered by insulin stimulation. Although expression of enhanced green fluorescent protein-Munc18c primarily resulted in a dispersed cytosolic distribution, co-expression with syntaxin 4 resulted in increased localization to the plasma membrane. Together, these data suggest that Munc18c inhibits the docking/fusion of GLUT4-containing vesicles by blocking the binding of VAMP2 to syntaxin 4. Insulin relieves this inhibition by inducing the dissociation of Munc18c from syntaxin 4 and by sequestering Munc18c to an alternative plasma membrane binding site.
Biomimetic CO2 capture using a highly thermostable bacterial α-carbonic anhydrase immobilized on a polyurethane foam

Abstract The biomimetic approach represents an interesting strategy for carbon dioxide (CO2) capture, offering advantages over other methods, due to its specificity for CO2 and its eco-compatibility, as it allows concentration of CO2 from other gases, and its conversion to water soluble ions. This approach uses microorganisms capable of fixing CO2 through metabolic pathways or via the use of an enzyme, such as carbonic anhydrase (CA, EC 4.2.1.1). Recently, our group cloned and purified a novel bacterial α-CA, named SspCA, from the thermophilic bacteria, Sulfurihydrogenibium yellowstonense YO3AOP1 living in hot springs at temperatures of up to 110 °C. This enzyme showed an exceptional thermal stability, retaining its high catalytic activity for the CO2 hydration reaction even after being heated at 70 °C for several hours. In the present paper, the SspCA was immobilized within a polyurethane (PU) foam. The immobilized enzyme was found to be catalytically active and showed a long-term stability. A bioreactor containing the “PU-immobilized enzyme” (PU-SspCA) as shredded foam was used for experimental tests aimed to verify the CO2 capture capability in conditions close to those of a power plant application. In this bioreactor, a gas phase, containing CO2, was put into contact with a liquid phase under conditions, where CO2 contained in the gas phase was absorbed and efficiently converted into bicarbonate by the extremo-α-CA.
Type D personality, quality of life and physical symptoms in the general population: A dimensional analysis

Objective: Type D personality, the interaction of negative affectivity (NA) and social inhibition (SI), has been associated with a range of adverse health-related outcomes in cardiac patients and healthy participants. However, recent studies which have adopted a dimensional approach to Type D found no effect of Type D (NA × SI) on mortality or quality of life, after controlling for its constituent elements. To date, no study has determined if Type D is associated with negative health outcomes in healthy individuals when conceptualised as a dimensional variable. Design: A cross-sectional self-report study with 177 healthy participants. Main Outcome Measures: Physical symptoms and quality of life. Results: Using the traditional categorical analysis for Type D, it was found that Type D’s report significantly more symptoms and significantly lower quality of life than non-Type D’s report. However, when analysed as a dimensional construct (NA × SI), using multiple regression analysis, Type D (NA × SI) was not a significant predictor of physical symptoms or quality of life, after controlling for the main effects of NA and SI separately. Conclusion: These findings support those of recent studies that have identified null effects of Type D on outcome when analysed as a dimensional construct.
[Imbalance between pro-oxidative and anti-oxidative processes in children with neoplastic disease].

UNLABELLED THE AIM of the study was to assess the concentration of malondialdehyde (MDA), vitamin E and total antioxidant status (TAS) of serum and activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPX) in erythrocytes. MATERIAL AND METHODS a total of 56 children, aged 1,5-18 years, treated between 2001-2002, were diagnosed as having malignant disease. Of these, 27 patients had leukemia, 20 had solid tumours and 9 -lymphoma. These patients were examined before treatment and on achieving remission during therapy. RESULTS the imbalance between pro-oxidative and antioxidative processes were found in all the children with neoplastic disease. TAS was lower and GPX was higher than normal in all children with cancer; MDA was higher in the newly diagnosed children before treatment. CONCLUSIONS the role of vitamin E in the pathogenesis of childhood neoplastic disease need to be evaluated. Further studies on a larger group of patients are needed.
Industrial Management & Data Systems

Purpose – Knowledge market has become an important issue of knowledge management. The purpose of this paper is to study the design of an internal knowledge market for enabling knowledge transfer within an organization. Design/methodology/approach – The knowledge market is modeled as a pull market, where buyers post and price their questions to elicit answers from potential sellers. Designing and offering different incentives and information technology (IT) support to knowledge workers with heterogeneous knowledge levels, a ﬁrm maintains the efﬁciency of the market and maximizes the organizational beneﬁt from knowledge transfer. Findings – The authors identify two payment policies, a priori and a posteriori, and two market-regulating mechanisms, Locking and Open mechanisms. The optimal designs of incentive contracts and IT support are fully demonstrated for the a priori policy and Locking mechanism. The beneﬁts of the market for knowledge transfer are illustrated from three aspects: transaction price as sharing reward; market as payment platform; and IT as transaction facilitator. Originality/value – The paper provides valuable insights for practitioners to effectively manage knowledge assets within markets.
Experimental human muscle damage: morphological changes in relation to other indices of damage.

The effects of eccentric exercise have been examined in human calf and biceps muscles. Release of muscle creatine kinase and uptake of technetium pyrophosphate have been followed for up to 20 days after the exercise and the results are related to the morphological changes seen in needle biopsy samples. The response to exercise was variable, all subjects developing pain and tenderness in the exercised muscles after 1‐2 days and this was followed, in most subjects, by a large increase in plasma creatine kinase 4‐6 days after the exercise. This was paralleled by an increased uptake of technetium pyrophosphate into the exercised muscle. Biopsies of the affected muscles showed little or no change in the first 7 days after the exercise but later degenerating fibres were seen, as well as infiltration by mononuclear cells and eventually, by 20 days, signs of regeneration. Very extensive changes were seen in the calf muscle of one subject; changes in the biceps were qualitatively similar but not so severe. In the severely affected calf muscle type II fibres were preferentially damaged. Mononuclear cell infiltration both between and within degenerating fibres was maximal well after the time of peak plasma creatine kinase and it is likely that in eccentrically exercised muscle infiltrating mononuclear cells act to scavenge cellular debris rather than to cause damage to the muscle.
Penicillin-aminoglycoside synergy in experimental Streptococcus viridans endocarditis.

In vitro synergism has been described for many strains of Streptococcus viridans with penicillin and streptomycin; however, the in vivo correlation of this phenomenon is lacking. Rabbits with catheter-induced aortic valve endocarditis caused by S. viridans (MIC, 0.06 [tg/ml) were treated with penicillin, penicillin plus streptomycin, and penicillin plus gentamicin. The bacteria were eradicated from the cardiac vegetations in approximately one-half of the time with the penicillinaminoglycoside combinations (three to four days) than was required with penicillin alone (seven to 10 days), as determined by titrations of viable bacteria from vegetations and relapse after discontinuation of therapy.
An Improved Dempster-Shafer Algorithm Using a Partial Conflict Measurement

Multiple evidences based decision making is an important functionality for computers and robots. To combine multiple evidences, mathematical theory of evidence has been developed, and it involves the most vital part called Dempster’s rule of combination. The rule is used for combining multiple evidences. However, the combined result gives a counterintuitive conclusion when highly conflicting evidences exist. In particular, when we obtain two different sources of evidence for a single hypothesis, only one of the sources may contain evidence. In this paper, we introduce a modified combination rule based on the partial conflict measurement by using an absolute difference between two evidences’ basic probability numbers. The basic probability number is described in details in Section 2 “Mathematical Theory of Evidence”. As a result, the proposed combination rule outperforms Dempster’s rule of combination. More precisely, the modified combination rule provides a reasonable conclusion when combining highly conflicting evidences and shows similar results with Dempster’s rule of combination in the case of the both sources of evidence are not conflicting. In addition, when obtained evidences contain multiple hypotheses, our proposed combination rule shows more logically acceptable results in compared with the results of Dempster’s rule.
Why does multiple sclerosis only affect human primates?

Background: Multiple sclerosis (MS) develops exclusively in humans. Non-human primates are resistant against MS, although they are highly susceptible to the MS animal model, experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE). Unravelling of the cause(s) underlying this discrepancy is highly relevant as insights might be gained into the elusive event(s) that trigger(s) MS. A well-established difference between the human primate (Homo sapiens) and non-human primates is that humans are unable to synthesize the sialic acid N-glycolylneuraminic acid (Neu5Gc). Viewpoint: We propose the concept that long-term ingestion by human primates of the foreign Neu5Gc, via red meat consumption, is an ignored environmental risk factor for MS. Conceptually, incorporation of dietary Neu5Gc into vital regions of the central nervous system, such as the blood–brain barrier (BBB) and the axon–myelin unit, creates targets for binding of de novo synthesized heterophilic anti-NeuGc antibodies. Binding of the antibodies can cause BBB leakage and destabilization of the axon–myelin coupling. The ensuing cytodegeneration and release of self-antigens could be a start of the characteristic pathological features of MS.
The fate of gallstones: traditional practice questioned.

AIMS Gallstones are traditionally handed back to patients as a souvenir of their cholecystectomy. The aim of this study was to review the potential hazards of this practice, the final fate of gallstones and the patients' perception of the risks. PATIENTS AND METHODS A total of 86 consecutive patients undergoing cholecystectomy for cholelithiasis were surveyed prospectively. An unrestricted Medline database search was performed to gather pertinent literature. RESULTS Of the 86 patients studied, 64% took their gallstones home, out of whom 29% actually handled the stones. In 9%, gallstones were accessible to children. Of all patients surveyed, 19% thought that the stones could be harmful. No patient received any information about the potential risks. Of the study group, 35% had discarded their stones by 6 weeks and 16% were planning to discard them. The rest were unsure or had decided to keep the stones. CONCLUSIONS Available literature establishes the presence of viable pathogenic bacteria in gallstones, but their infective potential is unknown. These bacteria are possibly more pathogenic than similar gut flora. This study has shown that gallstones are handled by a significant number of patients and are even accessible to children. The majority of patients do not consider them harmful and no information is provided to them. In this age of increasing health awareness, we recommend that patients taking their gallstones home should be informed of the potential risks.
The Response of Some Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.) Genotypes for Salt Stress during Germination and Seedling Stage

Salinity is one of the most significant abiotic factors affecting growth and yield of cowpea in arid and semi-arid areas of the world. Nineteen cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) genotypes were tested during germination and seedling stages of growth at 4 NaCl concentrations (0, 50, 100 and 200mM). The experimental design was completely randomized design (CRD) in factorial combination with three replications. Data analysis was carried out using SAS (version 9.1) statistical software. Germination percentage (GP), seedling shoot and root traits were evaluated. The analyzed data revealed highly significant (p<0.001) variation among cowpea genotypes, treatments and their interactions. It is found that salt stress significantly decreased root length and shoot length. The extent of decrease varied with accessions and salt concentrations. Most accessions were highly susceptible to 200 mM NaCl concentration. Genotypes 211557 and Asebot were better salt tolerant. The result showed the presence of broad intraspecific genetic variation in cowpea genotypes for salt tolerance.
Block-definition approaches to source coding with a fidelity citerion

We give a new variable-rate and variable-distortion coding scheme and show a coding theorem for time-discrete stationary sources with abstract alphabets and a single-letter fidelity criterion without assuming reference letters. The approach used to prove the coding theorem is then specialized to maximum-distortion coding and to fixed-rate coding and the corresponding coding theorems are proved for stationary sources. We also consider the possibility of extending the results to time-continuous sources. We still need a reference letter for fixed-rate coding.