Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effects of a Combined High-Intensity Interval Training and Resistance Training Program in Patients Awaiting Bariatric Surgery: A Pilot Study

Bariatric surgery (BS) is considered the most effective treatment for morbid obesity. Preoperative body weight is directly associated with a higher surgical morbimortality and physical activity could be effective in the preparation of patients. The aim of this study is to determine the effects of a six-month exercise training program (ETP), combining high-intensity interval training (HIIT) and resistance training in patients awaiting BS. Six candidates awaiting BS (38.78 ± 1.18 kg·m−2; 38.17 ± 12.06 years) were distributed into two groups: the ETP group (experimental group (EG), n = 3) and a control group (CG, n = 3). Anthropometrical and blood pressure (BP), cardiorespiratory fitness and maximal strength were registered before and after the ETP. The EG participated in 93.25% of the sessions, showing reductions in body mass index (BMI) compared to the CG (34.61 ± 1.56 vs. 39.75 ± 0.65, p = 0.006, ANOVA). The inferential analysis showed larger effects on BMI, excess body weight percentage and fat mass, in addition to small to moderate effects in BP and the anthropometric measurements. Peak oxygen uptake normalized to fat-free mass showed likely positive effects with a probability of >95–99%. A six-month ETP seems to be a positive tool to improve body composition, cardiometabolic health, and fitness level in patients awaiting BS, but a larger sample size is needed to confirm these findings.
Underwater ritual offerings in the Island of the Sun and the formation of the Tiwanaku state

Significance Ritual and religion are significant factors in primary or archaic state formation. These beliefs and practices not only legitimize these new political organizations in their ability to control supernatural forces, but also incentivize intragroup cooperation by punishing freeloading and rewarding cooperative behavior. Recent archaeological excavations from an underwater ceremonial location near the Island of the Sun in Lake Titicaca have revealed the remarkable constituent elements of repetitive rituals practiced by the Tiwanaku state between the 8th and 10th centuries CE. Evidence of animal sacrifice and high-value offerings of vessels, gold, shells, and lapidary stones on a strategically located reef illustrates how power was consolidated in one of the earliest Andean states. Considerable debate surrounds the economic, political, and ideological systems that constitute primary state formation. Theoretical and empirical research emphasize the role of religion as a significant institution for promoting the consolidation and reproduction of archaic states. The Tiwanaku state developed in the Lake Titicaca Basin between the 5th and 12th centuries CE and extended its influence over much of the south-central Andes of South America. We report on recent discoveries from the first systematic underwater archaeological excavations in the Khoa Reef near the Island of the Sun, Bolivia. The depositional context and compositional properties of offerings consisting of ceramic feline incense burners, killed juvenile llamas, and sumptuary metal, shell, and lapidary ornaments allow us to reconstruct the structure and significance of cyclically repeated state rituals. Using new theoretical tools, we explain the role of these rituals in promoting the consolidation of the Tiwanaku polity.
Can the Ethical Orientation Mitigate the Manager’s Earnings Management?

Research aims : This study investigates the role of the ethical orientation of management in the relationship of asymmetry information and management status toward an individual’s decision-making with respect to earnings management behaviors. Design / Methodology / Approach : This methodology is an experimental method with 2x2 between-subject designs. 55 Accounting students from three private universities participated in 4 scenarios of cases (permanent and contractual management status, high and low asymmetry information) individually. Other side, the ethical orientation is measured, relativist and idealist. The Hypothesis was analyzed by ANOVA. Research findings : The ethical orientation influence managers’ earnings management decisions. It can mitigate the influence of asymmetry information toward manager earning management decisions. Theoretical contribution / Originality : This research explains that earnings management behavior also can be explained by ethical approach, not only by using agency theory. Decision-makers will use ethical considerations when they are faced by the earnings management practices. Practitioner/Policy implication : The results support pro-social theory that ethical orientation can influence the decision making when individuals are exposed to ethical dilemmas to make earning management. Research limitation/Implication : Participants in this study used students, so they did not have experience. future studies can use professional participants and consider management status in more detail.
A Back‐to‐Base Experience of Human Normothermic Ex Situ Liver Perfusion: Does the Chill Kill?

Normothermic machine perfusion (NMP) has been shown to protect livers from injury between procurement and transplantation in a randomized controlled trial, where the machine was transported to and from the donor center. The aim of this study was to determine whether an alternative, more practical back‐to‐base approach after initial static cold storage would compromise beneficial outcomes. Between February 2015 and June 2018, a nonrandomized pilot study was performed at a single site. Outcomes of back‐to‐base livers (n = 26) were compared with those of grafts procured locally that underwent immediate NMP (n = 17). The primary outcome measure (safety) was defined as 30‐day patient and graft survival. A total of 46 liver grafts were perfused with NMP, of which 3 were discarded based on poor ex situ perfusion function. The 30‐day patient and graft survival in the back‐to‐base and local NMP groups were both 100% (primary outcome: safety). Despite significantly prolonged mean cold ischemia time (6 versus 3.2 hours; P = 0.001), the back‐to‐base livers demonstrated no difference in graft function, incidence of complications, or graft and patient survival. In conclusion, the back‐to‐base approach was safe, did not compromise the overall benefit of NMP, and offers a practical alternative to portable normothermic ex situ machine transport.
Evidence-based analysis: the success factors of a new competitor entering the negotiation in B2B e-procurement

ABSTRACT The paper is providing a unique insight into the increased B2B competition answering the question what are the predictors of the new competitor´s success, using empirical research on large comprehensive real procurement data set, validating and enhancing the qualitative research within the mentioned studies. The research based on the logistic regression and CHAID decision tree showed the following outcomes: (1) competition environment with a successful new competitor does not generate higher competitive pressure and does not bring significant additional savings against the competition with an unsuccessful new competitor; (2) the most crucial factors determining the winning of the new competitor are the number of new competitors with its ratio and transparency of competition. This model reveals the importance of transparency in a competition where a higher transparent environment pushes frequent competitors to more intensive competition leading to their higher success rate. Low transparency in the competition within the B2B supply chain reduces the competitive behaviour of frequent competitors leading to a higher success rate of a new competitor to win the contract.
Hypoxia tolerance of giant axon-mediated escape jetting in California market squid (Doryteuthis opalescens)

ABSTRACT Squids display a wide range of swimming behaviors, including powerful escape jets mediated by the giant axon system. For California market squid (Doryteuthis opalescens), maintaining essential behaviors like the escape response during environmental variations poses a major challenge as this species often encounters intrusions of cold, hypoxic offshore waters in its coastal spawning habitats. To explore the effects of hypoxia on locomotion and the underlying neural mechanisms, we made in vivo recordings of giant axon activity and simultaneous pressure inside the mantle cavity during escape jets in squid exposed to acute progressive hypoxia followed by return to normal dissolved oxygen (DO) concentration (normoxia). Compared with those in normoxia (>8 mg l−1 DO), escape jets were unchanged in moderate hypoxia (4 and 2 mg l−1 DO), but giant axon activity and associated mantle contractions significantly decreased while neuromuscular latency increased under severe hypoxia (0.5 mg l−1 DO). Animals that survived exposure to severe hypoxia reliably produced escape jets under such conditions and fully recovered as more oxygen became available. The reduction in neuromuscular output under hypoxia suggests that market squid may suppress metabolic activity to maintain sufficient behavioral output, a common strategy in many hypoxia-tolerant species. The ability to recover from the deleterious effects of hypoxia suggests that this species is well adapted to cope with coastal hypoxic events that commonly occur in Monterey Bay, unless these events become more severe in the future as climate change progresses. Summary: The escape response and underlying neural mechanisms in market squid can tolerate severe hypoxia through reduced neuromuscular activity, and complete recovery can occur after oxygen is replenished.
Neurourology and Urodynamics

Department of Renal and Genitourinary Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan Department of Physical Therapy, School of Rehabilitation Sciences, Health Sciences University of Hokkaido, Tobetsu, Japan Department of Physical Therapy, Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Japan Department of Female Urology, Japanese Red Cross Nagoya First Hospital, Nagoya, Japan
An approach based on Haar wavelet for the approximation of fractional calculus with application to initial and boundary value problems

In this paper, we propose the numerical approximation of fractional initial and boundary value problems using Haar wavelets. In contrast to the Haar wavelet methods available in literature, where the fractional derivative of the function is approximated using the Haar basis, we approximate the function and its classical derivatives using Haar basis functions. Moreover, error bounds in the approximation of fractional integrals and the fractional derivatives are derived, which depend on the index J of the approximation space VJ and the fractional order α. A neural network problem modeled by a system of nonlinear fractional differential equations is also solved using the proposed method. The numerical results show that the proposed numerical approach is efficient.
Impact of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D on cardiac prognosis in Chinese patients with heart failure

Abstract There is growing evidence that suggests the association of vitamin D status with the development and progression of heart failure (HF). The objective of the present study is to assess the impact of concentration of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) on cardiac prognosis in patients with HF. Between 1 January 2015 and 31 December 2016, we consecutively recruited patients with HF. Patients were followed prospectively for a median duration of 1 year. Serum concentration of 25(OH)D was measured with competitive chemiluminescent immunoassay. The endpoints were cardiac events, including CVD death and rehospitalisation for worsening HF. Univariate and multivariable adjustments were performed with Cox proportional-hazard regression analyses. The 25(OH)D concentration was obtained in 343 patients with a median value of 17·4 (interquartile range 12·6–23·4) ng/ml. There were 102 cardiac events, including forty-three deaths and fifty-nine rehospitalisations. Multivariate Cox hazard analysis found that the serum concentration 25(OH)D was independently associated with cardiac events (hazard ratio 0·93, 95 % CI 0·88, 0·97) and CVD mortality (hazard ratio 0·83; 95 % CI 0·77, 0·89) after adjustment for confounding factors. We divided the HF patients into four groups according to the 25(OH)D quartiles. Kaplan–Meier analysis found that the patients with lower serum 25(OH)D concentration had a higher risk of cardiac events or CVD mortality than those with high serum 25(OH)D concentration (log-rank test P < 0·001 and P = 0·032). Decreased serum concentrations of 25(OH)D were associated with cardiac prognosis and CVD mortality in a Chinese population with HF independent of other baseline HF markers.
Corruption, public debt and economic growth – evidence from developing countries

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to empirically examine the effect of corruption on public debt and economic growth in 20 developing countries over the period 1996-2018. Design/methodology/approach This study makes use of the autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) model to detect the long-term relationships, on the one hand, between corruption and public debt and, on the other hand, between corruption and economic growth. Findings The empirical results reveal that corruption increases the debt-to-GDP ratio and that the interactions between corruption and public revenues and between corruption and public spending have a positive influence on public debt in the long run. The estimations also show that high corruption hampers long-term economic growth and increases the negative effect of public debt on economic growth in developing countries. Originality/value While corruption is a prevalent phenomenon in most developing countries, the literature still lacks empirical examination of its economic effects. This study fills this gap with the aim of highlighting that high corruption hinders development in developing nations. This study also examines the impact of the interactions between corruption and components of the fiscal balance on public debt. Moreover, while the existing empirical literature uses regression techniques, this paper uses a panel ARDL approach to detect the long-term effects of corruption.
Interaction of Nerve Growth Factor β with Adiponectin and SPARC Oppositely Modulates its Biological Activity

Both adiponectin and secreted protein, acidic and rich in cysteine (SPARC) inhibit platelet-derived growth factor-BB (PDGF-BB)-induced and basic fibroblast growth factor (FGF2)-induced angiogenic activities through direct and indirect interactions. Although SPARC enhances nerve growth factor (NGF)-dependent neurogenesis, the physical interaction of NGFβ with adiponectin and SPARC remains obscure. Therefore, we first examined their intermolecular interaction by surface plasmon resonance method. NGFβ bound to immobilized SPARC with the binding constant of 59.4 nM, comparable with that of PDGF-BB (24.5 nM) but far less than that of FGF2 (14.4 µM). NGFβ bound to immobilized full length adiponectin with the binding constant of 103 nM, slightly higher than those of PDGF-BB (24.3 nM) and FGF2 (80.2 nM), respectively. Treatment of PC12 cells with SPARC did not cause mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) activation and neurite outgrowth. However, simultaneous addition of SPARC with NGFβ enhanced NGFβ-induced MAPK phosphorylation and neurite outgrowth. Treatment of the cells with adiponectin increased AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) phosphorylation but failed to induce neurite outgrowth. Simultaneous treatment with NGFβ and adiponectin significantly reduced cell size and the number of cells with neurite, even after silencing the adiponectin receptors by their siRNA. These results indicate that NGFβ directly interacts with adiponectin and SPARC, whereas these interactions oppositely regulate NGFβ functions.
Increased expression of the bacterial glycolipid MPIase is required for efficient protein translocation across membranes in cold conditions

Protein integration into and translocation across biological membranes are vital events for organismal survival and are fundamentally conserved among many organisms. Membrane protein integrase (MPIase) is a glycolipid that drives membrane protein integration into the cytoplasmic membrane in Escherichia coli. MPIase also stimulates protein translocation across the membrane, but how its expression is regulated is incompletely understood. In this study, we found that the expression level of MPIase significantly increases in the cold (<25 °C), whereas that of the SecYEG translocon does not. Using previously created gene-knockout E. coli strains, we also found that either the cdsA or ynbB gene, both encoding rate-limiting enzymes for MPIase biosynthesis, is responsible for the increase in the MPIase expression. Furthermore, using pulse-chase experiments and protein integration assays, we demonstrated that the increase in MPIase levels is important for efficient protein translocation, but not for protein integration. We conclude that MPIase expression is required to stimulate protein translocation in cold conditions and is controlled by cdsA and ynbB gene expression.
KEOPS complex promotes homologous recombination via DNA resection

Abstract KEOPS complex is one of the most conserved protein complexes in eukaryotes. It plays important roles in both telomere uncapping and tRNA N6-threonylcarbamoyladenosine (t6A) modification in budding yeast. But whether KEOPS complex plays any roles in DNA repair remains unknown. Here, we show that KEOPS complex plays positive roles in both DNA damage response and homologous recombination-mediated DNA repair independently of its t6A synthesis function. Additionally, KEOPS displays DNA binding activity in vitro, and is recruited to the chromatin at DNA breaks in vivo, suggesting a direct role of KEOPS in DSB repair. Mechanistically, KEOPS complex appears to promote DNA end resection through facilitating the association of Exo1 and Dna2 with DNA breaks. Interestingly, inactivation of both KEOPS and Mre11/Rad50/Xrs2 (MRX) complexes results in synergistic defect in DNA resection, revealing that KEOPS and MRX have some redundant functions in DNA resection. Thus we uncover a t6A-independent role of KEOPS complex in DNA resection, and propose that KEOPS might be a DSB sensor to assist cells in maintaining chromosome stability.
Accelerated Greenland Ice Sheet Mass Loss Under High Greenhouse Gas Forcing as Simulated by the Coupled CESM2.1‐CISM2.1

The Greenland ice sheet (GrIS) is now losing mass at a rate of 0.7 mm of sea level rise (SLR) per year. Here we explore future GrIS evolution and interactions with global and regional climate under high greenhouse gas forcing with the Community Earth System Model version 2.1 (CESM2.1), which includes an interactive ice sheet component (the Community Ice Sheet Model v2.1 [CISM2.1]) and an advanced energy balance‐based calculation of surface melt. We run an idealized 350‐year scenario in which atmospheric CO2 concentration increases by 1% annually until reaching four times pre‐industrial values at year 140, after which it is held fixed. The global mean temperature increases by 5.2 and 8.5 K by years 131–150 and 331–350, respectively. The projected GrIS contribution to global mean SLR is 107 mm by year 150 and 1,140 mm by year 350. The rate of SLR increases from 2 mm yr−1 at year 150 to almost 7 mm yr−1 by year 350. The accelerated mass loss is caused by rapidly increasing surface melt as the ablation area expands, with associated albedo feedback and increased sensible and latent heat fluxes. This acceleration occurs for a global warming of approximately 4.2 K with respect to pre‐industrial and is in part explained by the quasi‐parabolic shape of the ice sheet, which favors rapid expansion of the ablation area as it approaches the interior “plateau. ”
Morpho‐palynological investigations of natural resources: A case study of Surghar mountain district Mianwali Punjab, Pakistan

Surghar mountain belt has comparatively less natural resources of floral diversity because it is composed of minerals of different kinds making it less favorable for the growth of different vegetation. The pollen morphology of some selected plants from Surghar belt Mainwali has been evaluated. The pollen grains were measured and demonstrated using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The examined plant specimens have a difference in size, shape, polarity, and their exine ornamentation. The pollen taxa show a huge variation in size and sculpture. Pollen fertility has also been estimated, shows that the selected plants are well‐known in the Surghar belt. The need of the hour is to conserve these plants having a higher fertility rate to cope with the deforestation in an area. The conclusion does not favor theories in which deforestation results in fast growth in population. It shows that the irrational management and unlawful cutting down of woods neglected by the forest department are the main causes of deforestation in the mountain belt of Mianwali. The findings show the importance of morphological characteristics in the identification of natural resource species in the area.
Comparison of monoexponential, intravoxel incoherent motion diffusion-weighted imaging and diffusion kurtosis imaging for assessment of hepatic fibrosis

Background Hepatic fibrosis is a dynamic, reversible process which can result in liver failure. Diagnosis and monitoring of hepatic fibrosis are clinically important. Purpose To compare the diagnostic performance of diffusion kurtosis imaging (DKI), intravoxel incoherent motion (IVIM), and monoexponential diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) to detect clinically significant fibrosis (≥ F2). Material and Methods This retrospective study was approved by Institutional Review Board and the requirement of informed consent was waived. One hundred and six patients were included who underwent liver multiple b-value DWI (10 b-values at 0–1000 s/mm2) at 1.5 T and were histologically diagnosed with hepatic fibrosis. Apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC), DKI-derived apparent kurtosis (Kapp) and diffusivity (Dapp), and IVIM-derived true diffusion (Dt), pseudodiffusion (D*), and perfusion fraction (f) were compared between no or early fibrosis (F0–1, n = 19) and clinically significant fibrosis (≥ F2, n = 87). Diagnostic performance was evaluated with receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis. Results F2–4 had a significantly lower D* (59.9±16.3 vs. 86.2±21.0 [×10−3 mm2/s]) and Dapp (3.46±0.79 vs. 4.07 ± 0.76 [×10−3 mm2/s]) but higher Kapp (1.10±0.18 vs. 0.98±0.12) than F0–1 (P < 0.01). ADC, Dt, and f did not show significant difference between two groups (P > 0.05). The area under the ROC curve for diagnosis of clinically significant fibrosis (≥ F2) was significantly larger in D* (0.89; 95% CI = 0.81–0.94) than Dapp (0.73; 95% CI = 0.63–0.81) and Kapp (0.75; 95% CI = 0.65–0.83) (P = 0.017 and 0.012, respectively). Conclusion IVIM-DWI might be more suitable for detecting hepatic fibrosis than the monoexponential and kurtosis model, and D* showed a better diagnostic performance to detect clinically significant fibrosis than other parameters.