Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Cowpea fresh pods - a new legume for the market: assessment of their quality and dietary characteristics of 37 cowpea accessions grown in southern Europe.

BACKGROUND Cowpea is traditionally cultivated in some regions of southern Europe for its dried seeds; however, there is a scarcity of information on the quality and dietary characteristics of fresh pods, which are occasionally used in folk diets. This paper aims at covering this gap in knowledge, thereby contributing to the dissemination of fresh cowpea pods as a novel product for the market. The quality and dietary characteristics of pods from 37 accessions (Vigna unguiculata ssp. unguiculata and ssp. sesquipedalis) grown in southern Europe were assessed in an attempt to provide information on pod quality and nutritional properties and to identify relationships between quality traits and accession origin. RESULTS Pods from the sesquipedalis accessions were heavier and larger, and reached commercial maturity 2 days later, than those from the unguiculata accessions. There were also large differences in the quality and dietary characteristics of the accessions. The pods of most accessions were rich in proteins, chlorophylls, carotenoids and phenolics, and showed high antioxidant activity and low concentrations of nitrates and raffinose-family oligosaccharides. Cluster analysis based on quality, dietary or antinutritional traits did not reveal any apparent grouping among the accessions. All the quality characteristics were independent of accession origin and subspecies. CONCLUSION Most of the accessions produced fresh pods of good quality and high dietary value, suitable for introduction in the market and/or for use as valuable genetic material for the development of new improved varieties. © 2017 Society of Chemical Industry.
Gender‐associated differences in dyspnoea and health‐related quality of life in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Background and objectives: Recent studies have reported several gender‐associated differences among patients with COPD, but gender‐associated differences in health‐related quality of life (HRQoL) in patients with COPD have not yet been clarified. This study evaluated gender differences in dyspnoea and HRQoL in patients with COPD.
The effect of proteasome inhibitor MG132 on experimental inflammatory bowel disease

Immunoproteasome up‐regulation enhances the processing of nuclear factor‐κB (NF‐κB) and degradation of IκBα, which correlates with increased amounts of NF‐κB in the various cells. Aberrant activation of NF‐κB is involved in the pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The aim of this study was to elucidate the effect of proteasome inhibitor MG132 on experimental IBD. We investigated the effects of MG132 on intestinal inflammation and epithelial regeneration in both interleukin‐10‐deficient (IL‐10−/−) mice and mice with dextran sulphate sodium (DSS)‐induced colitis. Body weight, histological findings and tumour necrosis factor (TNF)‐α mRNA expression, epithelial cell proliferation and NF‐κB p65 activity in colonic tissues were examined. The effects of MG132 on cell proliferation, migration and multiple drug resistance 1 (MDR1) gene expression were determined in vitro. MG132 ameliorated intestinal inflammation of IL‐10−/− mice by decreasing TNF‐α mRNA expression in the colonic tissues, which was associated with suppression of NF‐κB activation, and reduced significantly the number of Ki‐67‐positive intestinal epithelial cells. On the other hand, MG132 did not reduce intestinal inflammation in mice with DSS‐induced colitis, and delayed significantly the recovery of body weight and epithelial regeneration. MG132 also suppressed significantly epithelial cell proliferation, cell migration and MDR1 gene expression in vitro. Proteasome inhibition reduces T cell‐mediated intestinal inflammation, but may interrupt both epithelial regeneration and barrier function of colonic mucosa. Optimal use of proteasome inhibitor should be kept in mind when we consider its clinical application for patients with IBD.
When extremists win : Cultural transmission via iterated learning when priors are heterogeneous

How does the process of information transmission affect the cultural or linguistic products that emerge out of that process? This question is often studied experimentally and computationally via iterated learning, in which participants learn from previous participants in a chain. Much research in this area builds on mathematical analyses suggesting that when all agents share the same priors, iterated learning chains converge to those priors (Griffiths & Kalish, 2007) or exaggerate weak ones (Kirby, Dowman, & Griffiths, 2007). Here we present three simulation studies and one experiment demonstrating that when the population of learners is heterogeneous, these previous results do not hold. Rather, the behaviour of the chain is systematically distorted by the learners with the most extreme biases, resulting in populationlevel outcomes that do not reflect the behaviour of any individuals within the population. We discuss implications for the use of iterated learning as a methodological tool as well as for the processes that might have shaped cultural and linguistic products in the real world.
Airway management techniques in a restricted-access situation: a manikin study

Background Access to patients can be restricted in emergency situations. A variety of techniques and devices are available for use in patients who require oxygenation in a restricted-access situation. Objectives The aim of this study was to investigate whether there is one ventilation technique that is superior to others. Materials and methods Fifty-four emergency medical services providers including emergency medical technicians, paramedics and physicians were asked to use a bag-valve mask (BVM), a laryngeal mask airway (LMA), and a laryngeal tube (LT) to ventilate a full-scale manikin sitting upright in the driver’s seat of a motor vehicle. Access to the manikin was gained through the side window and from the backseat. Results There were significant differences in time to first successful ventilation between the two approaches for access to the airway. The fastest median time to ventilation was obtained with the BVM (7 and 8 s), followed by the LT (13 and 14 s) and the LMA (15 s for both types of access). Overall success rates were 97.2% for the BVM, 96.3% for the LMA, and 100% for the LT. Most participants needed two attempts for each device. There were no significant differences between participants depending on the level of qualification or professional experience. The BVM was rated the lowest and the LT was rated the highest for ease of use. Conclusion Supraglottic airway devices appear to offer advantages in restricted-access situations.
Why a Trade-Off? The Relationship between the External and Internal Validity of Experiments

Much of the methodological discussion around experiments in economics and other social sciences is framed in terms of the notions of internal and external validity. The standard view is that internal validity and external validity stand in a relationship best described as a trade-off. However, it is also commonly held that internal validity is a prerequisite to external validity. This article addresses the problem of the compatibility of these two ideas and analyzes critically the standard arguments about the conditions under which a trade-off between internal and external validity arises. Our argument stands against common associations of internal validity and external validity with the distinction between field and laboratory experiments and assesses critically the arguments that link the artificiality of experimental settings done in the laboratory with the purported trade-off between internal and external validity. We conclude that the idea of a trade-off or tension between internal and external validity seems, upon analysis, far less cogent than its intuitive attractiveness may lead us to think at first sight.
Appliance Scheduling Optimization in Smart Home Networks

In this paper, we propose a solution to the problem of scheduling of a smart home appliance operation in a given time range. In addition to power-consuming appliances, we adopt a photovoltaic (PV) panel as a power-producing appliance that acts as a micro-grid. An appliance operation is modeled in terms of uninterruptible sequence phases, given in a load demand profile with a goal of minimizing electricity cost fulfilling duration, energy requirement, and user preference constraints. An optimization algorithm, which can provide a schedule for smart home appliance usage, is proposed based on the mixed-integer programming technique. Simulation results demonstrate the utility of our proposed solution for appliance scheduling. We further show that adding a PV system in the home results in the reduction of electricity bills and the export of energy to the national grid in times when solar energy production is more than the demand of the home.
Plan Synthesis for Probabilistic Activity Recognition

We analyze the applicability of model-based approaches to the task of inferring activities in smart environments. We introduce a symbolic approach to representing human behavior that enables the use of prior knowledge on the causality of human action and outline its probabilistic semantics. Based on an experimental analysis of a real world scenario from the smart meeting room domain, we show that such a symbolic approach allows to build reusable behavior models that compete with data-driven models at the performance level and that are able to track human behavior across a wide range of scenarios.
CRASH HEDGING STRATEGIES AND WORST-CASE SCENARIO PORTFOLIO OPTIMIZATION

Crash hedging strategies are derived as solutions of non-linear differential equations which itself are consequences of an equilibrium strategy which make the investor indifferent to uncertain (down) jumps. This is done in the situation where the investor has a logarithmic utility and where the market coefficients after a possible crash may change. It is scrutinized when and in which sense the crash hedging strategy is optimal. The situation of an investor with incomplete information is considered as well. Finally, introducing the crash horizon, an implied volatility is derived.
Micronuclei and chromosomal aberrations in healthy tobacco chewers and controls: A study from Gujarat, India

SUMMARY Background: Tobacco chewing is attributed to oral cancer. Prediction of cancer development by genotoxicity analysis is a major challenge to identify tobacco users at greater risk. Therefore, present study aimed to analyze tobacco related genotoxic effects in chewers monitoring micronuclei (MN) and chromosome aberrations (CA). The biomarkers were compared with non chewer to (i) predict risk for genotoxicity, (ii) estimate synergistic effect of tobacco exposure with level of biomarkers, and (iii) identify best cellular site of measurements for genotoxicity assessment. Methods: Healthy tobacco chewers (n=47); and controls (n=48) were enrolled in the study. The peripheral blood lymphocyte and exfoliated buccal mucosa cells were studied for CA and micro nucleated cell count (MNC) respectively. An arbitrary unit was obtained for Lifetime Tobacco Exposure (LTE) using frequency/day multiplied by duration of years of tobacco use. Data were analyzed using SPSS statistical software. Results: MNC was significantly higher (p=0.001) in chewers than controls. CA was higher in chewers than controls. MNC can differentiate higher tobacco exposure in chewers than CA. Controls having MNC above cutoff level have greater risk of genotoxic exposition (95% C.I.; 1.462-23.26, p=0.012). Conclusion: The present study concludes that MNC is a better surrogate biomarker to predict genotoxicity than CA for tobacco exposure and DNA damage index in tobacco chewers.
Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder: magnetic resonance imaging morphometric analysis of the corpus callosum.

OBJECTIVE The following study seeks to document possible differences in corpus callosal area and shape between children with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and controls. METHODS Fifteen carefully diagnosed right-handed male subjects with ADHD with overactivity symptomatology were compared to 15 right-handed male control subjects. The corpus callosum was divided into seven areas on the midsagittal slice of a magnetic resonance image with shape analysis also conducted. RESULTS An exploratory shape analysis showed no significant differences in shape between the groups. No group differences were found in the area, length, or anterior regions of the corpus callosum. The ADHD subjects were found to have significantly smaller posterior corpus callosum regions than the control group, with the splenium accounting for most of the variance between the groups. CONCLUSIONS The splenial area of the corpus callosum is smaller in children with ADHD than in a sample of normally developing children. These smaller areas may relate to commonly seen sustained attention deficits which in turn negatively impact on the development of more advanced levels of attention such as self-regulation. Further study of the regions surrounding the splenial area is suggested to determine whether they are correlated in size to the smaller corpus callosum.
Warm skin alters cardiovascular responses to cycling after preheating and precooling.

PURPOSE Exercise in hot conditions increases core (TC) and skin temperature (TSK) and can lead to a progressive rise in HR and decline in stroke volume (SV) during prolonged exercise. Thermoregulatory-driven elevations in skin blood flow (SkBF) adds complexity to cardiovascular regulation during exercise in these conditions. Presently, the dominant, although debated, view is that raising TSK increases SkBF and reduces SV through diminished venous return; however, this scenario has not been rigorously investigated across core and skin temperatures. We tested the hypothesis that high TSK would raise HR and reduce SV during exercise after precooling (cold water bath) and preheating (hot water bath) and that no relationship would exist between SkBF and SV during exercise. METHODS Non-endurance-trained individuals cycled for 20 min at 69% ± 1% VO₂peak on four occasions: cool skin-cool core (SkCCC), warm skin-cool core (SkWCC), cool skin-warm core (SkCCW), and warm skin-warm core (SkWCW) on separate days. RESULTS After precooling of TC, the rise in HR was greater in SkWCC than in SkCCC (P < 0.001), yet SV was similar (P = 0.26), which resulted in higher QC at min 20 in SkWCC (P < 0.01). Throughout exercise after preheating of TC, HR was higher (P < 0.001), SV was reduced (P < 0.01), and QC was similar (P = 0.40) in SkWCW versus SkCCW. When all trials were compared, there was no relationship between SkBF and SV (r = -0.08, P = 0.70); however, there was an inverse relationship between HR and SV (r = -0.75, P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS These data suggest that when TSK is elevated during exercise, HR and TC will rise but SV will only be reduced when TC is also elevated above 38°C. Furthermore, changes in SV are not related to changes in SkBF.
Evaluation of Maxillary Sinus Volume in Cleft Alveolus Patients Using 3-Dimensional Computed Tomography

Objective The aim of the study was to evaluate the volume of the maxillary sinus in patients with cleft alveolus. Study Design This is a retrospective, descriptive study. Patients and Methods The 3-dimensional computed tomographic data of 218 maxillary sinuses of 109 patients with cleft alveolus were compared with those of 100 sinuses of 50 healthy individuals. Results No significant difference in the maxillary sinus volume was found between the patients with cleft alveolus and the noncleft individuals. In the patients with cleft palate and alveolus, the maxillary sinus volume was significantly larger on the right side, but no significant difference was found between the cleft and noncleft sides. Conclusions The volume of the maxillary sinus in the patients with cleft alveolus is not different from that of the noncleft individuals. The information about the maxillary sinus is clinically important in executing such operations as endoscopic sinus surgery.
Occurrence of Tetrathyridia of Mesocestoides sp. (Cestoidea: Cyclophyllidea) in North American Anurans (Amphibia)

A new host and geographic locality record is reported for tetrathyridia of Mesocestoides sp. in two species of ranid frogs (Rana berlandieri and R. pipiens) from Texas and New York, respectively. Tetrathyridia were found encapsulated in liver and mesenteries of the hosts. Morphological examination and experimental inoculation of these tetrathyridia into mice demonstrated the absence of capacity for asexual proliferation. Overall prevalence of infection was low in anurans from Arkansas, Texas and New York, but intensities can be generally high. In addition, a summary of frogs and toads from North America reported as hosts of tetrathyridia of Mesocestoides sp. is presented.
Identification of the simian foamy virus transcriptional transactivator gene (taf)

Simian foamy virus type 1 (SFV-1), a member of spumavirus subfamily of retroviruses, encodes a transcriptional transactivator that functions to strongly augment gene expression directed by the viral long terminal repeat (LTR). The objective of this study was to identify the viral gene responsible for transactivation. Nucleotide sequences between the env gene and the LTR of SFV-1 were determined. The predicted amino acid sequence revealed two large open reading frames (ORFs), designated ORF-1 (311 amino acids) and ORF-2 (422 amino acids). In the corresponding region of the human foamy virus, three ORFs (bel-1, bel-2, and bel-3) have been identified (R. M. Flugel, A. Rethwilm, B. Maurer, and G. Darai, EMBO J. 6:2077-2084, 1987). Pairwise comparisons of the ORF-1 and ORF-2 with bel-1 and bel-2 show small clusters of homology; less than 39% overall homology of conserved amino acids is observed. A counterpart for human foamy virus bel-3 is not present in the SFV-1 sequence. Three species of viral RNA have been identified in cells infected with SFV-1; an 11.5-kb RNA representing full-length transcripts, a 6.5-kb RNA representing the env message, and a 2.8-kb RNA from the ORF region. Analysis of a cDNA clone encoding the ORF region of SFV-1 reveals that the 2.8-kb message is generated by complex splicing events involving the 3' end of the env gene. In transient expression assays in cell lines representing several species. ORF-1 was shown to be necessary and sufficient for transactivating viral gene expression directed by the SFV-1 LTR. The target for transactivation is located in the U3 domain of the LTR, upstream from position - 125 (+ 1 represents the transcription initiation site). We propose that OFF-1 of SFV-1 be designated the transcriptional transactivator of foamy virus (taf).
Models of Easter Island Human-Resource Dynamics: Advances and Gaps

Finding solutions to the entangled problems of human population growth, resource exploitation, ecosystem degradation, and biodiversity loss is considered humanity’s grand challenge. Small and isolated societies of the past, such as the Rapanui of Easter Island, constitute ideal laboratories for understanding the consequences of human-driven environmental degradation and associated crises. By integrating different processes into a coherent and quantitative framework, mathematical models can be effective tools for investigating the ecological and socioeconomic history of these ancient civilisations. Most models of Easter Island are grounded around the Malthusian theory of population growth and designed as Lotka-Volterra predator-prey systems. Within ranges of plausible parameter values, these dynamic systems models predict a population overshoot and collapse sequence, in line with the ecocidal view about the Rapanui. With new archaeological evidence coming to light, casting doubts on the classical narrative of a human-induced collapse, models have begun to incorporate the new pieces of evidence and started to describe a more complex historical ecology, in line with the view of a resilient society that suffered genocide after the contact with Europeans. Uncertainties affecting the archaeological evidence contribute to the formulation of contradictory narratives. Surprisingly, no agent-based models have been applied to Easter Island. I argue that these tools offer appealing possibilities for overcoming the limits of dynamic systems models and the uncertainties in the available archaeological data.
Seasonal variation in prevalence of antibody to hantaviruses in rodents from southern Argentina

We conducted a small mammal trapping study to investigate temporal variation in prevalence of infection in hantavirus reservoir populations in the Patagonian Andes mountain range, Rio Negro province, Argentina. Rodent blood samples collected in natural and periurban habitats and at the home of an hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS) case patient were analysed by enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay. Organ tissue samples were tested by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and nucleotide sequence analysis. Eight species of 1032 rodents were captured in 15 551 trap nights, giving an overall trap success of 6.6%. Hantavirus antibody was detected in 30 of 555 Oligoryzomys longicaudatus (reservoir of Andes virus), three of 411 Abrothrix longipilis, and one of 10 Loxodontomys micropus. Antibody prevalences in O. longicaudatus were 13.7% in spring 1996, 59.3% in summer 1996, 2.1% in autumn 1997, 12.4% in winter 1997 and 3.1% in spring 1997. A much higher antibody prevalence (33%) was found during trapping around the residence of an HPS case patient. Higher prevalences were found in older male O. longicaudatus. There was no apparent correlation of antibody prevalence with rodent population density, or of rodent population density or antibody prevalence with numbers of human cases. For an HPS case that occurred in our study area in 1997, we identified the probable rodent reservoir and likely site of exposure by matching the genetic sequences of virus obtained from a rodent and the HPS case patient.
Cytotoxic mechanisms by M239V presenilin 2, a little‐analyzed Alzheimer's disease‐causative mutant

Although neurotoxic functions are well characterized in familial Alzheimer's disease (FAD)‐linked N141I mutant of presenilin (PS)2, little has been known about M239V‐PS2, another established FAD‐causative mutant. We found that expression of M239V‐PS2 caused neuronal cytotoxicity. M239V‐PS2 exerted three forms of cytotoxicity: one was sensitive to both an antioxidant glutathione‐ethyl‐ester (GEE) and a caspase inhibitor Ac‐DEVD‐CHO (DEVD); the second was sensitive to GEE but resistant to DEVD; and the third was resistant to both. The GEE/DEVD‐sensitive cytotoxicity by M239V‐PS2 was likely through NADPH oxidase and the GEE‐sensitive/DEVD‐resistant cytotoxicity through xanthine oxidase (XO). Both mechanisms by M239V‐PS2 were suppressed by pertussis toxin (PTX) and were mediated by Gαo, but not by Gαi. Although Aβ1–43 itself induced no cytotoxicity, Aβ1–43 potentiated all three components of M239V‐PS2 cytotoxicity. As these cytotoxic mechanisms by M239V‐PS2 are fully shared with N141I‐PS2, they are most likely implicated in the pathomechanism of FAD by PS2 mutations. Notably, cytotoxicity by M239V‐PS2 could be inhibited by the combination of two clinically usable inhibitors of superoxide‐generating enzymes, apocynin and oxypurinol. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.