Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
OXIDATIVE STRESS RESPONSES AND HISTOLOGICAL HEPATIC ALTERATIONS IN BARBEL, Barbus bocagei, FROM VIZELA RIVER, PORTUGAL

Barbel (Barbus bocagei) a common species in Portuguese rivers was studied to assess the impact of water contamination on hepatic oxidative stress response, lipid peroxidation and histology. The Vizela River is a tributary of the Ave River, located in one of the most industrialized areas of Portugal. The oxidative stress biomarkers analyzed included superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione S-transferase, glutathione reductase, glucose 6‑phosphate dehydrogenase and xanthine oxidase activities. Levels of reduced glutathione and lipid peroxidation were also evaluated. Except xanthine oxidase activity, that did not show any alteration, all the other enzymatic activities were increased in the liver of barbel captured in the Vizela River when compared with reference barbel. While, no differences were observed for glutathione reductase content, lipid peroxidation was higher in barbel from the Vizela River. Liver histological alterations were determined and their severity scored. Though lymphocyte foci were only observed in Vizela River barbel, macrophage aggregates were also present in reference barbel, although the severity score was higher in Vizela fish. The results of this study show that barbel liver oxidative stress responses, lipid peroxidation and histology are sensitive to the contaminants present in Vizela River water and are valuable biomarkers for monitoring purposes.
Does sports participation during adolescence prevent later alcohol, tobacco and cannabis use?

AIMS To study whether participation in organized sports during adolescence predicts increased smoking of tobacco, alcohol intoxication and cannabis use from late adolescence to adulthood when controlling for potential confounders. Moreover, to study whether such increased drug use varies according to type of sport (team versus individual), main skills needed (endurance, strength or technical) and level of competition. DESIGN, SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS Survey of national sample of Norwegian high school students (aged 13-19 years) in 1992 (T1) followed-up in 1994 (T2), 1999 (T3) and 2006 (T4) (n = 3251). MEASUREMENTS Outcome measures included smoking of tobacco and 12-month prevalences of alcohol intoxication and cannabis use, respectively. Confounders included pubertal timing, friends' drug use, perceived social acceptance, grades and parental socio-economic status. FINDINGS Latent growth curve analyses showed that initial level of participation in organized sports predicted growth in alcohol intoxication. Those involved initially in team sports had greater growth in alcohol intoxication, but lower growth in tobacco use and cannabis use, during the adolescent and early adult years compared to those involved in technical or strength sports. Practising endurance sports, as opposed to technical or strength sports, predicted reduced growth in alcohol intoxication and tobacco use. CONCLUSIONS Sports participation in adolescence, and participation in team sports in particular, may increase the growth in alcohol intoxication during late adolescent and early adult years, whereas participation in team sports and endurance sports may reduce later increase in tobacco and cannabis use.
On the Effect of Operator Modality on Social and Spatial Presence during Teleoperation of a Human-Like Robot

With an increasing availability of affordable and effective robotic telepresence systems, key questions in the design of such systems arise, in particular when they aim at untrained users. Previous research regarding telepresence systems has focused on the (mobile) robotic platforms themselves or the differences between virtual as compared to physical representations thereof. The design space of the operator interface, i.e., the operator modality, with its potential impact on presence, however, has not been explored systematically. This paper reports results of an empirical study investigating how two different operator modalities impact the perceived spatial and social presence of operators in dyadic remote multi-modal interaction. The robot Daryl, used as telepresence medium in our study, features three degrees of freedom in its head unit as well as a stereo camera system. This enabled the transmission of a stereo, first-person perspective, which was used by the operator in combination with a head-mounted display whose movements were tracked to drive the robot’s head. Compared to a previously realized console-based operator interface, our results show significantly higher spatial as well as social presence for the head-mounted display modality while no significant difference in task performance was found. We conclude that for robotic telepresence platforms with mobile head units and stereo camera systems it seems advisable to use a head-mounted display as part of the teleoperation interface in order to provide operators with a particularly immersive remote presence experience.
The somatotopic organization of forelimb cutaneous nerves in the brachial dorsal horn: An anatomical study in the cat

The projection of forelimb cutaneous nerves to the brachial dorsal horn was studied in the cat by the transganglionic transport method. The results demonstrate a precise somatotopic termination pattern. Afferent nerves from the paw occupy the largest area, with the palm represented most medially in the dorsal horn, followed progressively more laterally by the representations for the palmar and dorsal surfaces of the digits and the dorsum of the paw. The digits are represented in a longitudinal sequence, with the first digit in the caudal part of C6 and the fifth in the caudal part of C8. The projections of the wrist and arm are split, with the line of discontinuity located along the ventral surface of the limb, so that the radial side is represented rostral to the paw and the ulnar side caudal to the paw, with the dorsal surface of the arm represented lateral to the paw. Nerves innervating the skin of the back project to the lateralmost part of the dorsal horn. The degree of overlap or separation of the terminal fields of the nerves along the mediolateral axis of the dorsal horn seems to correspond to the degree of overlap or separation of the peripheral innervation fields. However, along the rostrocaudal axis there appears to be an overlap for which there is no counterpart peripherally.
Determinants of Corporate Bond Trading: A Comprehensive Analysis

This paper studies the determinants of trading volume and liquidity of corporate bonds. Using transactions data from a comprehensive dataset of insurance company trades, our analysis covers more than 17,000 US corporate bonds of 4,151 companies over a five-year period prior to the introduction of TRACE. Our transactions data show that a variety of issue- and issuer-specific characteristics impact corporate bond liquidity. Among these, the most economically important determinants of bond trading volume are the bond’s issue size and age — trading volume declines substantially as bonds become seasoned and are absorbed into less active portfolios. Stock-level activity also impacts bond trading volume. Bonds of companies with publicly traded equity are more likely to trade than those with private equity. Further, public companies with more active stocks have more actively traded bonds. Finally, we show that while the liquidity of high-yield bonds is more affected by credit risk, interest-rate risk is more important in determining the liquidity of investment-grade bonds.
Promoting Effect of Kaempferol on the Differentiation and Mineralization of Murine Pre-osteoblastic Cell Line MC3T3-E1

A number of agents have been reported to influence osteoblastic differentiation and to prevent and treat bone loss. We found that kaempferol, a flavonoid identified in extracts of the medicinal plant, Polygonum tinctorium. Lour, had stimulatory effects on the differentiation and mineralization of the murine pre-osteoblastic cell line, MC3T3-E1. After enhancing the alkaline phosphatase activity, significant augmentation of calcification by kaempferol was observed between concentrations of 10 and 20 μM, without any marked effect on cell proliferation. When kaempferol was combined with ipriflavone, which is clinically applied to treat bone loss, calcification was synergistically augmented, suggesting that these two flavonoids may have different mechanisms of action. These results suggest that kaempferol may be a promising agent for the prevention or treatment of bone loss, especially when combined with ipriflavone.
Innovative Service Quality in the Banking Sector: An Assessment Based on SERVQUAL Measures

The global marketplace has virtually forced the service sector to transform itself into a truly customer-oriented, service-focused enterprise. Service quality innovation results when a firm is able to focus its entire energies to think on behalf of customer for an outcome that surpasses customers’ expectation of superior value. However such initiatives to innovate the service quality have often lead to increasing expectations among customers as well, and hence, constitutes a self created challenge (Kandampully, 2002). In the present study, the focus is on the critical factors determining service quality in the banking sector by using both traditional and modifying SERVQUAL measures (Parasuraman et al. 1983, 1994). The first study is based on responses of customers (N= 305) in a premier nationalized bank in India with regards to “expected” & “perceived” service quality. In another study, responses of customers (N= 200) in the said bank have been analysed by using the modified SERVQUAL measures (Parasuraman, 1995). Analysis of customers’ responses, across 5-dimensions of service quality (in Study-I) and 10-dimensions of service quality (in Study-II), revealed that customers’ perceptions of service quality were poor as compared with their ‘expectations’ from these banks. An analysis of service quality perceptions by the employees of these banks has been made, by taking into account the responses of the bank staff (N=55) on the modified SERVQUAL scale. This paper seeks to identify some critical factors influencing service quality in Indian banks, and could be used as a basis for bankers and researchers in differentiating the good and poor quality of services offered by banks. Its focus is on: How appropriate innovations in banking service could yield benefits in the new organizational arrangements‘ The impact of organizational and technological innovations in Indian banks has also been cited. Findings of this paper could offer interesting information on the level of service quality in the banking sector of a developing economy, i.e. India.
Correction for phylogeny, small number of observations and data redundancy improves the identification of coevolving amino acid pairs using mutual information

MOTIVATION Mutual information (MI) theory is often applied to predict positional correlations in a multiple sequence alignment (MSA) to make possible the analysis of those positions structurally or functionally important in a given fold or protein family. Accurate identification of coevolving positions in protein sequences is difficult due to the high background signal imposed by phylogeny and noise. Several methods have been proposed using MI to identify coevolving amino acids in protein families. RESULTS After evaluating two current methods, we demonstrate how the use of sequence-weighting techniques to reduce sequence redundancy and low-count corrections to account for small number of observations in limited size sequence families, can significantly improve the predictability of MI. The evaluation is made on large sets of both in silico-generated alignments as well as on biological sequence data. The methods included in the analysis are the APC (average product correction) and RCW (row-column weighting) methods. The best performing method was APC including sequence-weighting and low-count corrections. The use of sequence-permutations to calculate a MI rescaling is shown to significantly improve the prediction accuracy and allows for direct comparison of information values across protein families. Finally, we demonstrate how a lower bound of 400 sequences <62% identical is needed in an MSA in order to achieve meaningful predictive performances. With our contribution, we achieve a noteworthy improvement on the current procedures to determine coevolution and residue contacts, and we believe that this will have potential impacts on the understanding of protein structure, function and folding.
The Retention Effects of Unvested Equity: Evidence from Accelerated Option Vesting

We document that firms can effectively retain executives by granting deferred equity pay. We show this by analyzing a unique regulatory change (FAS 123-R) that prompted 723 firms to suddenly eliminate stock option vesting periods. This allowed CEOs to keep 33% more options when departing the firm, and we find that voluntary CEO departure rates subsequently rose from 5% to 21%. Our identification strategy exploits FAS 123-R’s almost-random timing, which was staggered by firms’ fiscal year-ends. Firms that experienced departures suffered negative stock price reactions, and responded by increasing compensation for remaining and newly hired executives.Received June 6, 2016; editorial decision October 10, 2017 by Editor Andrew Karolyi. Authors have furnished an Internet Appendix, which is available on the Oxford University Press Web site next to the link to the final published paper online.
Land-cover classification-based persistent scatterers identification for peri-urban applications

We illustrate, through a sample application to a difficult landslide test site, the use of a novel method to detect potentially stable objects in Persistent Scatterers SAR Interferometry (PSI). Conventional PSI processing involves selecting first-guess potential stable objects, called PS Candidates (PSC), through thresholding of the amplitude dispersion index. This method can lead, in applications to scenes characterized by scarce urbanization, to very low PSC numbers, insufficient for a successful subsequent phase analysis if their spatial distribution is very sparse. Our classification-based approach relies on the proven fact that urban areas are more likely to contain PS pixels than any other land-cover class. Therefore, using pixels belonging to the urban land-cover class as PSC is a convenient way of increasing the number of initial fiducial points while keeping false alarm probabilities to reasonable levels. Results show that PSC belonging to the urban class, selected through simple external classification algorithms, lead to more consistent results for the final PS, both in terms of spatial density, and of reliability of displacement series.
Dietary and lifestyle habits and the associated health risks in shift workers

Abstract Traditionally only a small proportion of the workforce was engaged in shift work. Changing economic pressures have resulted in increased engagement in shift work, with approximately 17 % of the workforce in Europe engaged in this work pattern. The present narrative review aimed to summarise the data on the effects of shift work on the diet, lifestyle and health of employees, while addressing the barriers to, and opportunities for, improving health among shift workers. Shift work can result in low-quality diet and irregular eating patterns. Adverse health behaviours are also reported; particularly increased smoking and poor sleep patterns. These altered lifestyle habits, in conjunction with disruption to circadian rhythms, can create an unfavourable metabolic phenotype which facilitates the development and progression of chronic disease. Although the data are inconclusive due to issues such as poor study design and inadequate control for confounding factors; shift workers appear to be at increased mental and physical health risk, particularly with regard to non-communicable diseases. Information is lacking on the obstacles to leading a healthier lifestyle while working shifts, and where opportunities lie for intervention and health promotion among this group. In order to provide an informed evidence base to assist shift workers in overcoming associated occupational hazards, this gap must be addressed. This review highlights the unique nutritional issues faced by shift workers, and the subsequent effect on health. In societies already burdened with increased incidence of non-communicable chronic diseases, there is a clear need for education and behaviour change interventions among this group.
Determination of the Left Bundle Branch Refractoriness by Distal His Bundle Pacing in Patients with Left Bundle Branch Block

Electrophysiological studies were carried out in two patients with an idiopathic leff bundle branch block. Consisfenl distal His bundle pacing resulted in the normalization of the QRS complex in both pa lien ts. Extrastimulation during basic distal His pacing at several cycle lengths was carried out successfully. Using this technique, the refractory periods of the left bundle branches were measured and found to be within the normal range. In addition, they decreased with the shortening of the basic cycle length. These results demonstrated the possibility of determining the refractoriness of the left bundle branch by His bundle pacing in patients with left bundle branch block. Hypotheses are postulated about the presumed location of the lesion responsible for the left bundle branch block.
Initial Clinical Status and Spot Sign Are Associated with Intraoperative Aneurysm Rupture in Patients Undergoing Surgical Clipping for Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage

Abstract Objective To assess clinical and radiographic risk factors for intraoperative aneurysm rupture (ioAR) during surgical clipping after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH) and to analyze its influence on patient outcome. Methods Patient selection was based on a retrospective analysis of our prospective subarachnoid hemorrhage patient database including consecutive patients between January 2008 and August 2012 with aSAH undergoing microsurgical clipping. Demographic data, cardiovascular risk factors, preoperative radiologic aneurysm characteristics, as well as timing of surgery and preoperative severity grades (Hunt and Hess [HH], Fisher, World Federation of Neurological Societies [WFNS]), were collected from hospital charts and surgery videos and compared between patients with and without ioAR. Results Of 100 patients (38 men, 62 women) with a median age of 57.4 years (range: 23–85 years), ioAR occurred in 34 cases (34%). Univariate analyses showed that severity grades were significantly higher in the ioAR group (Fisher p = 0.012; HH p = 0.002; WFNS p = 0.023). IoAR was significantly associated with intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) (23% versus 47%; p = 0.013) and the spot sign as an indicator of active bleeding within the ICH (0% vs 44%; p = 0.007). Multivariate analysis showed that HH was the only significant predictor of ioAR (p = 0.03; odds ratio: 2.3; 95% confidence interval, 1.1–5.0). With a mean follow-up of 17.6 months ( ± 16.6), Glasgow Outcome Scale score, mortality rate (12% versus 15%; p = 0.82), delayed cerebral ischemia (36% versus 38%; p = 0.51), and shunt dependency (32% versus 44%; p = 0.23) were comparable between the non-ioAR and ioAR group. Conclusions Initial clinical status and spot sign were associated with ioAR during microsurgical clipping of ruptured aneurysms. However, there was no difference regarding clinical outcome and complications of the two groups.
Characterization of Benthic Microbial Community Structure by High-Resolution Gas Chromatography of Fatty Acid Methyl Esters

Fatty acids are a widely studied group of lipids of sufficient taxonomic diversity to be useful in defining microbial community structure. The extraordinary resolution of glass capillary gas-liquid chromatography can be utilized to separate and tentatively identify large numbers of fatty acid methyl esters derived from the lipids of estuarine detritus and marine benthic microbiota without the bias of selective methods requiring culture or recovery of the microbes. The gas-liquid chromatographic analyses are both reproducible and highly sensitive, and the recovery of fatty acids is quantitative. The analyses can be automated, and the diagnostic technique of mass spectral fragmentation analysis can be readily applied. Splitless injection on glass capillary gas chromatographic columns detected by mass spectral selective ion monitoring provides an ultrasensitive and definitive monitoring system. Reciprocal mixtures of bacteria and fungi, when extracted and analyzed, showed progressive changes of distinctive fatty acid methyl esters derived from the lipids. By manipulating the environment of an estuarine detrital microbial community with antibiotics and culture conditions, it was possible to produce a community greatly enriched in eucaryotic fungi, as evidenced by scanning electron microscopic morphology. The fatty acid methyl esters from the lipids in the fungus-enriched detritus showed enrichment of the C18 dienoic and the C18 and C20 polyenoic esters. Manipulation of the detrital microbiota that increased the procaryotic population resulted in an absence of large structures typical of fungal mycelia or diatoms, as evidenced by scanning electron microscopy, and a significantly larger proportion of anteiso- and isobranched C15 fatty acid esters, C17 cyclopropane fatty acid esters, and the cis-vaccenic isomer of the C18 monoenoic fatty acid esters. As determined by these techniques, a marine settling community showed greater differences in bacterial as contrasted to microeucaryotic populations when compared with the microbial communities of benthic cores.
Pyrite Oxidation Model for Assessing Ground-Water Management Strategies in Acid Sulfate Soils

A theoretical approach for calculating pyrite oxidation in acid sulfate soil with a macropore/matrix structure is described. This approach accounts for vertical oxygen transport through soil macropores and the subsequent lateral diffusion of oxygen into the soil matrix. As oxygen is supplied into the matrix, it is consumed by pyrite and other oxygen-consuming processes. A numerical solution to the theoretical model was developed and used in the computer simulation model ACID3D. The numerical approach is based on a linear relationship between oxygen consumption and dissolved oxygen concentration. The numerical scheme is shown to be in good agreement with the analytical solutions. ACID3D was used in conjunction with a commercially available saturated/unsaturated water flow model to assess the effectiveness of a ground-water management strategy to minimize acid generation caused by pyrite oxidation currently being carried out on a trial site on the south coast of New South Wales, Australia.
Contribution of chronic conditions to aggregate changes in old-age functioning.

OBJECTIVES This study explored the role of various chronic conditions in explaining recent improvements in functioning among older Americans. METHODS We used the Supplements on Aging to the 1984 and 1994 National Health Interview Surveys to examine changes among Americans 70 years and older in reports of chronic conditions and functional limitations. We decomposed functioning changes into condition-related components, controlling for demographic shifts. RESULTS The percentage of older Americans with upper- and lower-body limitations declined from 5.1% and 34.2%, respectively, in 1984 to 4.3% and 28.5% in 1995, and the average number of lower body limitations decreased. During the same period, reports of 8 of 9 chronic conditions increased, but many of these conditions had less debilitating effects on functioning. Reductions in the debilitating effects of various chronic conditions--particularly arthritis--are important in explaining declines in limitations experienced by older Americans. CONCLUSIONS Earlier diagnosis and improved treatment and management of chronic conditions, rather than prevention, may be important contributing factors to improvements in upper- and lower-body functioning among older Americans.