Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Ice propagation in plants visualized at the tissue level by infrared differential thermal analysis (IDTA).

We studied ice propagation in stems and leaves of various angiosperm deciduous and evergreen trees and shrubs and gymnosperms by differential thermal analysis (DTA) of thermal images captured with a digital infrared camera. This so-called infrared DTA (IDTA) technique should elucidate the smallest freezing exotherms in plant tissues. After intrinsic ice nucleation in the stem, ice spread into the leaves. On the leaf lamina, it was possible to differentiate between initial freezing in the veins and subsequent freezing in the mesophyll. The spread of ice followed the venation and could usually be tracked to third-order lateral veins. The exception was in mature leaves of Buxus sempervirens L. , where large ice lenses formed in the central mesophyll lacunas. Longitudinal ice propagation within veins was faster (0.3-4.7 cm s(-1)) than measured in earlier studies (0.25-2.7 cm s(-1)). Peculiar leaf freezing patterns indicated that lateral ice propagation in the vascular bundles may take significantly longer than longitudinal ice propagation. Within the vascular bundle, the exact sites of initial vein freezing could not be resolved. However, the observed freezing patterns combined with chemical theory and anatomical structures suggest that initial freezing most probably occurs within the xylem vessels and tracheids. Ice barriers appeared to be present in leaf laminas of Cinnamomum camphora (L.) J. Presl. , resulting in freezing of small mesophyll compartments produced by sclerenchymatic bundle sheath extensions. The IDTA was demonstrated to be a highly efficient method for resolving peculiarities of ice propagation at the plant tissue level.
The effect of diet changes and food loss reduction in reducing the water footprint of an average American

ABSTRACT We analyzed the consumptive water reduction of diet shifting along with food waste reductions in the case of the United States. We find that a dietary shift to healthy diet will not always lead to reduced water footprint. Dietary shifts to vegan and vegetarian diets provide larger reduction in the consumptive water footprint. Reducing food loss and waste produced the largest potential water footprint reduction in our analysis of the US food system. Our findings suggest that a combination of measures that include dietary shift, reducing caloric intake, and reducing food waste result in a significant decline in water footprint.
What electric vehicle users want: Real-world preferences for public charging infrastructure

ABSTRACT Electric vehicles offer a means to achieve environmental goals within personal passenger transportation. However, one central challenge in transitioning to electric vehicles remains the lack of adequate public charging infrastructure. In this paper, we address this challenge by focusing on user preferences for public charging infrastructure. We present new insights from a survey of 843 electric vehicle users in Germany regarding their preferences for public charging infrastructure. The online survey allowed users to locate additional public charging stations required for their personal use and define the characteristics for each station: charging power, location description, accessibility, and expected frequency of use. From the results we identify a need for more public charging infrastructure. We find three critical overarching user preferences and three central infrastructure strategies. First, there is a preference for semi-fast (22 kW AC) charging stations. Second, we find that slow charging (3.7 kW AC) is acceptable for frequently used stations, whereas fast charging (50 kW DC) is desired for infrequently used stations. Third, slow charging is acceptable for locations where vehicles are parked over a longer period of time. For public charging infrastructure strategies, a mix of all station characteristics is critical. There should be infrastructure where people already park plus an additional backup fast network for infrequent charging. Finally, public stations should be provided mainly outside of the freeway system. The results of the survey provide valuable insights into effective and user-oriented public charging infrastructure, which is critical to the success of electric vehicles.
Determinants of Investor Expectations and Satisfaction: A Study With Financial Professionals

We investigate determinants of price expectations and satisfaction levels of financial professionals and students. In experiments with 150 professionals and 576 students, we systematically vary price paths according to the final return (positive or negative) and the way the final return is achieved (upswing followed by downswing or vice versa). Professionals show the most optimistic price expectations and are most satisfied if assets fall in price first and then recover. In addition, professionals' price expectations are highest after positive returns. Among students, qualitatively similar patterns emerge, but professionals' price expectations are less prone to framing effects.
Morphological evidence for the role of suprabasal keratinocytes in wound reepithelialization

The process by which wounds reepithelialize remains controversial. Two models have been proposed to describe reepithelialization: the “sliding” model and the “rolling” model. In the “sliding” model, basal keratinocytes are the principal cells responsible for migration and wound closure. In this model, basal and suprabasal keratinocytes remain strongly attached to leading edge basal keratinocytes and are then passively dragged along as a sheet. The “rolling” model postulates that basal keratinocytes remain strongly attached to the basement membrane zone while suprabasal keratinocytes at the wound margin are activated to roll into the wound site. The purpose of this study was to determine which populations of keratinocytes are actively involved in reepithelialization. We evaluated expression of keratins K14, K15, K10, K2e, and K16 as well as the proliferation marker Ki67 in the migrating tongue of normal human incisional 1‐hour to 28‐day wounds and normal human 3 mm diameter excisional 1‐ to 7‐day wounds. Our results show dramatic changes in phenotype and protein expression of keratins K10, K2e, K14, K15, and K16 in suprabasal keratinocytes in response to injury. We conclude that this large population of suprabasal keratinocytes actively participates in wound closure.
Determining energy expenditure during some household and garden tasks.

PURPOSE This study: a) calculated the reproducibility (intraclass correlation coefficient, ICC) and precision (technical error of measurement, TEM) for VO2 during moderate paced walking, self-paced sweeping, window cleaning, vacuuming and lawn mowing; b) determined which of the five activities rated >or= 3.0 when exercise intensity was calculated in METs (1 MET or metabolic equivalent = VO2 of 3.5 mL.kg-1.min-1) and multiples of the measured resting metabolic rate (RMR); and c) expanded the limited database on energy expenditure during household and garden activities. METHODS Twelve men and 12 women (mean +/- SD: 39.3 +/- 3.4 yr; 171.6 +/- 9.6 cm; 81.0 +/- 15.5 kg) were measured for RMR and VO2 during the five activities on two separate days via indirect calorimetry by using the Douglas bag method. RESULTS The interday ICCs and TEMs for the five activities ranged from 0.81 to 0.97 and from 2.1 to 7.0%, respectively. The means were significantly (P < 0.001) above 3.0 for moderate paced walking (range = 3.3-8.7), sweeping (2.9-6.7), window cleaning (3.0-6.0), vacuuming (2.6-4.4), and lawn mowing (4.9-7.5) when VO2 was divided by measured RMR, but one and five subjects scored below 3.0 for sweeping and vacuuming, respectively. Division of exercise VO2 by the convention of 3.5 mL O2.kg-1.min-1 significantly decreased (P < 0.001) each mean, and lawn mowing (5.0 METs) was the only activity where all subjects scored above 3.0 METs (P < 0.001; 3.8-6.4); nevertheless, the means for walking (3.7 METs), sweeping (3.2 METs), and window cleaning (3.6 METs) were also in the moderate intensity category of 3-6 METs. CONCLUSIONS These data: a) emphasize that the VO2 during self-paced moderate intensity walking and self-paced household and garden activities can be measured with reproducibility and precision, b) demonstrate that expressing energy expenditure in conventional METs yields lower values than when it is presented as a multiple of measured RMR, c) suggest that all activities except vacuuming are performed at moderate intensity when energy expenditure is expressed in conventional METs, and d) highlight the biological variability in energy expenditure when different people perform the same task.
The surgical approach to infective endocarditis: 10 year experience.

BACKGROUND About 40% of patients with infective endocarditis will require surgical treatment. The guidelines for such treatment were formulated by the American College of Cardiology and American Heart Association in 1998. OBJECTIVES To examine our experience with surgical treatment of infective endocarditis in light of these guidelines. METHODS Surgery was performed in 59 patients with infective endocarditis between 1990 and 1999. The patients' mean age was 48 years (range 13-80). The indications for surgery were hemodynamic instability, uncontrolled infection, and peripheral embolic events. The surgical treatment was based on elimination of infection foci and correction of the hemodynamic derangement. These objectives were met with valve replacement in the majority of patients. Whenever conservative surgery was possible, resection of vegetation and subsequent valve repair were performed and the native valve was preserved. RESULTS Six patients (10%) died perioperatively from overwhelming sepsis (n = 3), low cardiac output (n = 2) and multiogran failure (n = 1). The mean hospital stay was 15.6 days. Of 59 patients, 47 (80%) underwent valve replacement and in 11 (19%) the surgical treatment was based on valve repair. After 1 year of follow-up there was no re-infection. CONCLUSION The new guidelines for surgical treatment of infective endocarditis allow better selection of patients and timing of surgery for this aggressive disease, which consequently decreases the mortality rate. Valve repair is feasible and is preferred whenever possible. According to the new guidelines, patients with neurologic deficit in our series would not have been operated upon, potentially decreasing the operative mortality to 7%.
Illness perception and health‐related quality of life in multiple sclerosis

Aims – A number of physical and psychological factors have been shown to affect health‐related quality of life (HRQoL) in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). Among these, the role of illness perceptions has not been established as an independent factor. This study, the first of its kind in an Australian population, aimed to use a large sample to determine the relative importance of individual factors to each domain of HRQoL, in particular the role of illness perception.
Mitochondria-targeted antioxidants do not prevent tumour necrosis factor-induced necrosis of L929 cells

Mitochondrial production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) is widely reported as a central effector during TNF-induced necrosis. The effect of a family of mitochondria-targeted antioxidants on TNF-induced necrosis of L929 cells was studied. While the commonly used lipid–soluble antioxidant BHA effectively protected cells from TNF-induced necrosis, the mitochondria-targeted antioxidants MitoQ3, MitoQ5, MitoQ10 and MitoPBN had no effect on TNF-induced necrosis. Since BHA also acts as an uncoupler of mitochondrial membrane potential, two additional uncouplers were tested. FCCP and CCCP both provided dose-dependent inhibition of TNF-induced necrosis. In conclusion, the generation of mitochondrial ROS may not be necessary for TNF-induced necrosis. Instead, these results suggest alternative mitochondrial functions, such as a respiration-dependent process, are critical for necrotic death.
Effects of Diltiazem and Esmolol on Cycle Length and Spontaneous Conversion of Atrial Fibrillation

Background: Calcium channel blocking agents have been shown to prolong the duration of atrial fibrillation. This study compared the effects of intravenous diltiazem and esmolol on the cycle length and conversion rate of pacing-induced atrial fibrillation. Methods and Results: In 41 adults without structural heart disease, atrial fibrillation was induced by rapid atrial pacing. After 3 minutes, either diltiazem (n = 13), esmolol (n = 15), or saline (n = 13) was infused. In the diltiazem group, the atrial fibrillation cycle length shortened by a mean of 43 milliseconds and became significantly shorter than in the control group, while the atrial fibrillation cycle length in the esmolol group did not change. Spontaneous termination of atrial fibrillation occurred significantly less often in the diltiazem group (23%) than in the esmolol (67%, P < 0.05) or placebo groups (77%, P = 0.01). Conclusions: Intravenous diltiazem shortens the atrial fibrillation cycle length and lowers the probability of spontaneous conversion of recent-onset atrial fibrillation to sinus rhythm. These results suggest that the use of diltiazem for acute rate control may unwittingly prolong the duration of recent-onset atrial fibrillation.
A Rhizobiales-Specific Unipolar Polysaccharide Adhesin Contributes to Rhodopseudomonas palustris Biofilm Formation across Diverse Photoheterotrophic Conditions

ABSTRACT Bacteria predominantly exist as members of surfaced-attached communities known as biofilms. Many bacterial species initiate biofilms and adhere to each other using cell surface adhesins. This is the case for numerous ecologically diverse Alphaprotebacteria, which use polar exopolysaccharide adhesins for cell-cell adhesion and surface attachment. Here, we show that Rhodopseudomonas palustris, a metabolically versatile member of the alphaproteobacterial order Rhizobiales, contains a functional unipolar polysaccharide (UPP) biosynthesis gene cluster. Deletion of genes predicted to be critical for UPP biosynthesis and export abolished UPP production. We also found that R. palustris uses UPP to mediate biofilm formation across diverse photoheterotrophic growth conditions, wherein light and organic substrates are used to support growth. However, UPP was less important for biofilm formation during photoautotrophy, where light and CO2 support growth, and during aerobic respiration with organic compounds. Expanding our analysis beyond R. palustris, we examined the phylogenetic distribution and genomic organization of UPP gene clusters among Rhizobiales species that inhabit diverse niches. Our analysis suggests that UPP is a conserved ancestral trait of the Rhizobiales but that it has been independently lost multiple times during the evolution of this clade, twice coinciding with adaptation to intracellular lifestyles within animal hosts. IMPORTANCE Bacteria are ubiquitously found as surface-attached communities and cellular aggregates in nature. Here, we address how bacterial adhesion is coordinated in response to diverse environments using two complementary approaches. First, we examined how Rhodopseudomonas palustris, one of the most metabolically versatile organisms ever described, varies its adhesion to surfaces in response to different environmental conditions. We identified critical genes for the production of a unipolar polysaccharide (UPP) and showed that UPP is important for adhesion when light and organic substrates are used for growth. Looking beyond R. palustris, we performed the most comprehensive survey to date on the conservation of UPP biosynthesis genes among a group of closely related bacteria that occupy diverse niches. Our findings suggest that UPP is important for free-living and plant-associated lifestyles but dispensable for animal pathogens. Additionally, we propose guidelines for classifying the adhesins produced by various Alphaprotebacteria, facilitating future functional and comparative studies.
Women in Leadership: Contextual Dynamics and Boundaries

Women leaders in many parts of the world have leadership opportunities that never existed before as a result of technology, globalization, and demographic shifts that have produced more female graduates than in the past and created a workforce which consists almost 50% of women. At the same time, objectifying women in contexts such as sports and the media or the patriarchal ideology that permeates contexts such as the military and the church have changed very little. This book acknowledges and discusses the belief that the context in which women exercise leadership is critically important in shaping their leadership style. Each chapter opens with a vignette of an extraordinary women leader representing the context, including Angela Merkel, Carly Fiorina, Condoleezza Rice, and Marie Curie. What is the future of women's leadership in the global environment characterized by ambiguity, uncertainty, increasing interdependence and interconnectivity? Find out in 'Women in Leadership', the new book from award-winning author Karin Klenke.
Breast carcinomas with borderline (2+) HER2 immunohistochemistry: percentage of cells with complete membrane staining for HER2 and the frequency of HER2 amplification

Aim HER2 status is vital for selecting breast cancer patients for trastuzumab treatment. One recommended approach is to assess immunohistochemical staining and then perform in situ hybridisation on those tumours with a borderline (2+) immunohistochemical result. This audit aimed to assess the value of the percentage of immunohistochemical staining in 2+ tumours in selecting tumours for in-situ hybridisation. Methods HER2 immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridisation was performed according to UK guidelines. The percentage of complete membrane staining of invasive carcinoma cells for HER2 was recorded as part of routine reporting. Results 191 (11%) of 1735 invasive carcinomas were scored as 3+. 419 (24%) were scored as 2+. 57 of 413 2+ carcinomas (14%) were amplified (ratio of HER2 to chromosome 17≥2.0). The frequency of amplification was related to the percentage of complete membrane staining: eight of 149 (5%) with 10–19% membrane staining, 11 of 93 (12%) with 20–29% staining, 26 of 150 (17%) with 30–79% staining and 12 of 21 (57%) with 80–100% staining. Conclusions This audit suggests that increasing the threshold for 2+ from 10% to 20% complete membrane staining would reduce the number of in-situ hybridisation tests by 36%, but reduce the detection of amplified tumours by 14%.
The Effects of Politically Connected Audit Committees on Audit Fees: Evidence in Malaysia

This study aims to contribute to an understanding of politically connected audit committees on audit fees in an emerging market, using the case of Malaysia. Malaysia offers an interesting and important setting as Malaysian companies are highly concentrated and politically sensitive. In particular, the study seeks to examine the level of political connections represented in the audit committees associated with the level of audit fees incurred by Malaysian public listed companies. For the purpose of this study, a quantitative approach (archival data analysis) has been adopted. Three hypotheses are tested: (1) There is a positive relationship between the proportion of audit committee members who are senior government officers (SGO) and audit fees; (2) There is a positive relationship between the proportions of audit committee members who are politicians and audit fees; (3) There is a positive relationship between audit committee characteristics (independence, size, meeting and financial expertise) and audit fees. The results of the study indicate that politically connected audit committees (identified by members who are either senior government officers or politicians) have a significant association with the incidence of higher audit fees. This suggests that politically connected audit committees are able to capitalize on their connections to influence companies and create direct demand for the auditors to increase their audit effort, as measured by audit fees. One of the issues that emerge from these findings is that companies highly value political connections to obtain external resources given the uncertainties in the business environment. Also, the findings highlight the need for stronger corporate governance to mitigate the higher inherent audit risks in politically connected companies.
High incidence of falls and fall-related injuries in wheelchair users with spinal cord injury: A prospective study of risk indicators.

OBJECTIVE To identify risk indicators for, and incidence of, recurrent falls and fall-related injuries in wheelchair users with traumatic spinal cord injury. DESIGN Prospective multi-centre study. SUBJECTS One hundred and forty-nine wheelchair users with spinal cord injury attending follow-up in Sweden and Norway. METHODS Inclusion criteria: wheelchair users ≥ 18 years old with traumatic spinal cord injury ≥ 1 year post-injury. EXCLUSION CRITERIA individuals with motor complete injuries above C5. Falls were prospectively reported by text message every second week for one year and were followed-up by telephone interviews. Outcomes were: fall incidence, risk indicators for recurrent (> 2) falls and fall-related injuries. Independent variables were: demographic data, quality of life, risk willingness, functional independence, and exercise habits. RESULTS Of the total sample (n = 149), 96 (64%) participants fell, 45 (32%) fell recurrently, 50 (34%) were injured, and 7 (5%) severely injured. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that reporting recurrent falls the previous year increased the odds ratio (OR) of recurrent falls (OR 10.2, p < 0.001). Higher quality of life reduced the OR of fall-related injuries (OR 0.86, p = 0.037). CONCLUSION Previous recurrent falls was a strong predictor of future falls. The incidence of falls, recurrent falls and fall-related injuries was high. Hence, prevention of falls and fall-related injuries is important.
Why Korean Young Women Consumers Buy Luxury Goods? The Influence of Cultural Orientation and Media Use

Purpose - This study investigated the relationship among cultural disposition (Chemyeon, Noonchi, Woozzul), media use, and attitude toward luxury goods consumption. Research design, data, and methodology - We analyzed online survey data for 300 Korean Women between 20 and 39 years of age who lived in Seoul, capital of South Korea. We used multiple regression analysis to examine the relative influence of cultural orientation on cognition of luxury goods, Sobel test. to determine mediating effect, and a two-way analysis of variance in IBM SPSS 23.0. Results - The finding suggests that cultural disposition (Chemyeon, Noonchi, conspicuous Woozzul) correlated significantly with perceived self-identity, attitude toward luxury goods. The effects of Chemyeon, Noonchi, and selfish Woozzul on the attitude toward luxury goods was fully mediated by perceived self-identity. However, association between conspicuous Woozzul and attitude toward luxury goods was partially mediated by perceived self-identity. Regarding media effects, the results indicate that there were interaction effects between selfish Woozzul and amount of time spent on TV on attitude toward luxury goods, as well as between selfish Woozzul and amount of time spent on Internet. Conclusions - These findings suggest that luxury goods consumption of Korean young women is consumer behavior that reflects individual cultural disposition and media use.