Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A role for ethylene in the yellowing of broccoli after harvest

Ethylene production from florets of 'Shogun' harvested broccoli ( Brassica oleracea L.var. italica) held at 20C in darkness increased as the sepal tissues yellowed. The pattern of respiration rate and ethylene production from branchlets or entire heads was similar, although the magnitude of ethylene and carbon dioxide production appeared to be diluted by the other fleshy stem tissues. The reproductive structures, stamens and pistil, may have a role in determining the rate of sepal degreening, since removing them from florets reduced the yellowing rate. The pistil and stamens also had 7-fold higher levels of 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (ACC) oxidase activity and more than double the ethylene production of other tissues within the floret. Stamen ACC oxidase activity was high on the first day after harvest, before yellowing became obvious. Changes in ACC oxidase activity of the pistil and stamens mirrored changes in ACC content in these tissues. The climacteric status of harvested broccoli was confirmed by exposure to 0.5% propylene. Propylene stimulated respiration and ethylene production and accelerated yellowing (measured as chlorophyll and hue-angle decline). Broccoli tissues did not respond to propylene immediately after harvest. In tissues aged in air before treatment, the time for response to propylene was shorter, a result suggesting a change in tissue sensitivity. Ethylene exposure induced a dose-dependent decline in hue angle, with 1 ppm ethylene giving the maximum response.
College Students' Perceived Self-efficacy and Use of Information and Communication Technologies in EFL Learning

This study examines Vietnamese, non-English major college students' perceived self-efficacy and their comfort in using information and communication technologies (ICTs) in learning English as a foreign language. A survey was completed by 975 students. Findings revealed that half of the students ranked themselves as basic EFL users, and fewer rated themselves as independent users or proficient users. Inferential statistics analysis found students' perceived self-efficacy differed by their comfort levels in using ICTs. Specifically, those with a high to very high comfort level were more self-efficacious in their learning of English compared to those with an average or low level. These findings may help explain the issue of limited proficiency in EFL learning among non-English major college students in Vietnam, in relation to how comfortable they are using ICTs. Further investigation is needed however to clarify the relationship between technology comfort levels and self-efficacy among EFL learners.
Scaling theory of polymer adsorption

We discuss the equilibrium properties of flexible chains adsorbed on a flat surface, assuming that a) adsorption is weak, resulting in large thicknesses D for the adsorption layer, b) the chains are very long, c) the solvent is good, so that excluded volume effects become important (contrary to an early opinion of Hoeve). The repulsion between monomers are incorporated through a scaling theory which goes beyond the usual mean field (Flory-Huggins) approximations. The central assumption is that polymer concentrations in the first layer and in the next layers scale in the same way, (although they do differ by a constant factor). We can then predict the surface exponents of interest in terms of standard exponents for self avoiding walks; for the latter we use the Flory values. One then finds three regimes of adsorption : (i) In the dilute limit (separate coils) D is independent of the polymerization index N, and varies with the strength of the effective monomer surface attraction (measured by a small parameter δ) according to D ∼ δ -3/2 instead of D ∼ δ-1 in mean field. (ii) There is a semi dilute regime where the coils begin to overlap, but where D remains essentially the same. (iii) The most important case corresponds to the plateau in the adsorption isotherm : here we show that the correlations inside the layer are similar to those in a three dimensional system. Then D ∼ Nδ(ln cB) -1 where cB is the bulk concentration. The dependence on N is stronger than in mean field (D ∼ N1/2) but not incompatible with existant data.
Role of Antioxidants Supplementation in the Treatment of Male Infertility

Nutritional utilization of antioxidants, such as vitamins C, E, ß-Carotene and micronutrients, such as folate and zinc, have been shown to be critically essential for normal semen quality and reproductive function. However, it is still, a large knowledge gap exists concerning the role of antioxidants on semen parameters and the role in treatment of male subfertility. Therefore, the current review article designed to find out the positive effect of antioxidants on semen quality, alterations in physiological functions of spermatozoa and infertility treatment It is advisable that patients with oxidative DNA disruption should be asked to take a simple course of antioxidants prior to undertaking assisted reproduction treatment (ART). In conclusion, antioxidant may be employed as a potent antioxidant and may improve infertility treatment outcomes with ART.
The Effects of the Affordable Care Act Dependent Coverage Mandate on Parents' Labor Market Outcomes

IZA DP No. 14089 FEBRUARY 2021 The Effects of the Affordable Care Act Dependent Coverage Mandate on Parents’ Labor Market Outcomes* We examine the labor market impacts of the Affordable Care Act dependent mandate (ACA-DM), which has significantly increased dependent children’s health insurance coverage through parents’ employer-sponsored health benefits. Using data from the American Community Survey, we find that the ACA-DM reduced parents’ annual wages by about $2,600. However, the probability of employment and working hours only decreased marginally. The back-of-the-envelope calculation indicates that the magnitude of the estimated wage impact is similar to the increased insurance premium of a family plan due to the ACA-DM. These findings imply that a deadweight loss associated with the expansion of dependent health coverage is likely to be small as an increase in employers’ labor costs is offset by a reduction in parents’ wages without significant reductions in labor inputs. JEL Classification: I18, J32, H51
Effect of glutaraldehyde on electrical properties of arrowroot starch + NaI electrolyte system

A biopolymer based electrolyte system has been developed using NaI as dopant salt and Arrowroot starch as polymer matrix. Problem of fungal growth in such system has been removed by the addition of Glutaraldehyde (GA). The conductivity of the Arrowroot + NaI electrolyte system is of the order of 6.7 × 10−4 S cm−1. Starch without crosslinker GA seems to be highly unstable and prone to fungal growth whereas the GA crosslinked electrolyte is quite stable. Color of the material as well as its conductivity data indicate that presence of GA affects the salt dissociation and multiplets formation. Ionic transference number of system is ≥0.95 indicating that prepared system is ionic conductor/electrolyte. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2011
On the mechanisms of sulfur isotope fractionation during microbial sulfate reduction

Underlying all applications of sulfur isotope analyses is our understanding of isotope systematics. This dissertation tests some fundamental assumptions and assertions, drawn from equilibrium theory and a diverse body of empirical work on biochemical kinetics, as applied to the multiple sulfur isotope systematics of microbial sulfate reduction. I take a reductionist approach, both in the questions addressed and experimental approaches employed. This allows for a mechanistic, physically consistent interpretation of geological and biological sulfur isotope records. The goal of my work here is to allow interpreters a more biologically, chemically and physically parsimonious framework to decipher the signals coded in modern and ancient sulfur isotope records. The key findings of these individual studies can be summed up as follows. As the rate of microbially catalyzed sulfate reduction slows, the kinetic isotope fractionations accrued during sulfate reduction approach the theoretical equilibrium exchange values (large isotope effects). As the rate increases, the kinetic values approach a biochemical minimum set by the slowest enzymatic step (assuming sulfate is not limiting or co-limiting). This step reflects the value we measure for DsrAB, 15.3‰. The actual value set by DsrAB, or any enzyme, is itself a combination of all the intermediary steps during enzymatic binding of substrate and the making or breaking of chemical bonds. This cannot be determined directly from first principles using present calculation techniques. This highlights the necessity of empirical work, such as that in chapter 4. Furthermore, the previously proposed biological threshold of 200 micromolar sulfate, below which closed system effects take over and fractionation is not expressed, is not universal, differing for microbes with different physiological abilities and evolutionary histories (chapter 3). These observations require a revisiting of the numerous geological studies where this assumption has been applied. Furthermore, our approach to understanding the intracellular dynamics of sulfate reduction through targeted genetic manipulations of the pathway further our experimental tools with which to investigate S isotope fractionation during microbial sulfate reduction (chapter 5). Though more work is needed before metabolic, diagenetic, and indeed global biogeochemical box models of the sulfur cycle can become predictive, the path forward is clear. Through constrained experiments, such as those detailed below, we may eventually come to understand the local and global biogeochemical cycling of light stable isotopes such as sulfur.
C ONTRASTIVE L EARNING WITH H ARD N EGATIVE

We consider the question: how can you sample good negative examples for contrastive learning? We argue that, as with metric learning, learning contrastive representations benefits from hard negative samples (i.e., points that are difficult to distinguish from an anchor point). The key challenge toward using hard negatives is that contrastive methods must remain unsupervised, making it infeasible to adopt existing negative sampling strategies that use true similarity information. In response, we develop a new class of unsupervised methods for selecting hard negative samples where the user can control the amount of hardness. A limiting case of this sampling results in a representation that tightly clusters each class, and pushes different classes as far apart as possible. The proposed method improves downstream performance across multiple modalities, requires only few additional lines of code to implement, and introduces no computational overhead.
Selective resputtering‐induced anisotropy in amorphous films

A model will be presented to explain the bias voltage dependence of magnetic anisotropy in sputtered amorphous films of gadolinium cobalt alloys. It has been found that the magnetic anisotropy increases with bias voltage up to a critical bias voltage (∠150 V depending on the sputter gas) then decreases precipitously at higher voltages. The model used to explain this behavior is based on selective resputtering of atoms in different surface sites causing an anisotropic distribution of Gd and Co atoms with respect to the growth direction. For example, a Gd adatom in contact with three surface atom neighbors can have 0, 1, 2, or 3 cobalt neighbors. The sputtering threshold for each type of Gd adatom will be different so those with a low threshold will be selectively removed giving a structural anisotropy. This anisotropic atomic distributions can cause different kinds of anisotropy with respect to the growth direction depending on the type of amorphous film. For example, both easy‐axis (GdCo) and hard‐axis (G.
rAAV-Mediated Human FGF-2 Gene Therapy Enhances Osteochondral Repair in a Clinically Relevant Large Animal Model Over Time In Vivo

Background: Osteochondral defects, if left untreated, do not heal and can potentially progress toward osteoarthritis. Direct gene transfer of basic fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF-2) with the clinically adapted recombinant adeno-associated viral (rAAV) vectors is a powerful tool to durably activate osteochondral repair processes. Purpose: To examine the ability of an rAAV-FGF-2 construct to target the healing processes of focal osteochondral injury over time in a large translational model in vivo versus a control gene transfer condition. Study Design: Controlled laboratory study. Methods: Standardized osteochondral defects created in the knee joints of adult sheep were treated with an rAAV human FGF-2 (hFGF-2) vector by direct administration into the defect relative to control (reporter) rAAV-lacZ gene transfer. Osteochondral repair was monitored using macroscopic, histological, immunohistological, and biochemical methods and by micro–computed tomography after 6 months. Results: Effective, localized prolonged FGF-2 overexpression was achieved for 6 months in vivo relative to the control condition without undesirable leakage of the vectors outside the defects. Such rAAV-mediated hFGF-2 overexpression significantly increased the individual histological parameter “percentage of new subchondral bone” versus lacZ treatment, reflected in a volume of mineralized bone per unit volume of the subchondral bone plate that was equal to a normal osteochondral unit. Also, rAAV-FGF-2 significantly improved the individual histological parameters “defect filling,”“matrix staining,” and “cellular morphology” and the overall cartilage repair score versus the lacZ treatment and led to significantly higher cell densities and significantly higher type II collagen deposition versus lacZ treatment. Likewise, rAAV-FGF-2 significantly decreased type I collagen expression within the cartilaginous repair tissue. Conclusion: The current work shows the potential of direct rAAV-mediated FGF-2 gene therapy to enhance osteochondral repair in a large, clinically relevant animal model over time in vivo. Clinical Relevance: Delivery of therapeutic (hFGF-2) rAAV vectors in sites of focal injury may offer novel, convenient tools to enhance osteochondral repair in the near future.
Enhanced atrial internal-external neural remodeling facilitates atrial fibrillation in the chronic obstructive sleep apnea model

OBJECTIVE Autonomic imbalance plays a crucial role in obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) associated atrial fibrillation (AF). Here, we investigated the potential neural mechanism of AF induced by OSA. METHODS Ten dogs were divided into control group (n = 5) and OSA group (n = 5). The chronic OSA model was established by repeat apnea-ventilation cycles for 4 hours a day for 12 weeks. During the process of model establishment, arterial blood gases, atrial effective refractory period (AERP), AF inducibility, normalized low-frequency power (LFnu), normalized high-frequency power (HFnu), and LFnu/ HFnu were evaluated at baseline, 4th week, 8th week, and 12th week. Nerve activities of left stellate ganglion (LSG) and left vagal nerve(LVN) were recorded. Tyrosine hydroxylase(TH), choline acetyltransferase(CHAT), PGP9.5, nerve growth factor(NGF), and c-Fos were detected in the left atrium, LSG, and LVN by immunohistochemistry and western blot. Moreover, high-frequency stimulations of LSG and LVN were conducted to observe the AF inducibility. RESULTS Compared with the control group, the OSA group showed significantly enhanced neural activity of the LSG, increased AF inducibility, and shortened AERP. LFnu and LFnu/HFnu were markedly increased in the OSA group, while no significant difference in HFnu was observed. TH-positive and PGP9.5-positive nerve densities were significantly increased in the LSG and left atrium. Additionally, the protein levels of NGF, c-Fos, and PGP9.5 were upregulated both in the LSG and left atrium. AF inducibility was markedly increased under LSG stimulation without a stimulus threshold change in the OSA group. CONCLUSIONS OSA significantly enhanced LSG and left atrial neural remodeling, and hyperactivity of LSG may accelerate left atrial neural remodeling to increase AF inducibility.
Padded Headgear does not Reduce the Incidence of Match Concussions in Professional Men’s Rugby Union: A Case-control Study of 417 Cases

Abstract Concussion is the most common match injury in rugby union. Some players wear padded headgear, but whether this protects against concussion is unclear. In professional male rugby union players, we examined: (i) the association between the use of headgear and match concussion injury incidence, and (ii) whether wearing headgear influenced time to return to play following concussion. Using a nested case-control within a cohort study, four seasons (2013–2017) of injury data from 1117 players at the highest level of rugby union in England were included. Cases were physician-diagnosed concussion injuries. Controls were other contact injuries (excluding all head injuries). We determined headgear use by viewing video footage. Sixteen percent of cases and controls wore headgear. Headgear use had no significant effect on concussion injury incidence (adjusted odds ratio=1.05, 95% CI: 0.71–1.56). Median number of days absent for concussion whilst wearing headgear was 8 days, compared with 7 days without headgear. Having sustained a concussion in the current or previous season increased the odds of concussion more than four-fold (odds ratio=4.55, 95% CI: 3.77–5.49). Wearing headgear was not associated with lower odds of concussions or a reduced number of days' absence following a concussion.
Evasive entrepreneurship: Circumventing and exploiting institutional impediments for new profit opportunity in an emerging market

Evasive entrepreneurship (circumvention and exploitation of institutions by entrepreneurs) is a prevalent practice in many developing economies. Extant literature on the topic falls short of providing adequate theories to explain its triggers, mechanisms, and consequences. Leveraging extensive survey data from the World Bank, we used structural equation modeling to examine the relationship between evasive entrepreneurial behavior—tax evasion and bribery—and the relative payoff of such practices. Of the 2599 Nigerian entrepreneurs in our sample, the majority admitted to engaging in evasive entrepreneurship. The data suggest that institutional factors thought to constrain entrepreneurship in emerging markets are counter-intuitively perceived by founders as opportunities to earn large rents and improve firm performance. Our results emphasize the urgent need to eliminate institutional constraints that paradoxically enable the growth of evasive entrepreneurship in emerging economies. Our results also suggest that prevailing local conventions involving evasive behavior may motivate nascent entrepreneurs to imitate bribery and tax evasion, normalizing malfeasance as ‘best practice. ’
Single‐trial regression of spatial exploration behavior indicates posterior EEG alpha modulation to reflect egocentric coding

Learning to navigate uncharted terrain is a key cognitive ability that emerges as a deeply embodied process, with eye movements and locomotion proving most useful to sample the environment. We studied healthy human participants during active spatial learning of room‐scale virtual reality (VR) mazes. In the invisible maze task, participants wearing a wireless electroencephalography (EEG) headset were free to explore their surroundings, only given the objective to build and foster a mental spatial representation of their environment. Spatial uncertainty was resolved by touching otherwise invisible walls that were briefly rendered visible inside VR, similar to finding your way in the dark. We showcase the capabilities of mobile brain/body imaging using VR, demonstrating several analysis approaches based on general linear models (GLMs) to reveal behavior‐dependent brain dynamics. Confirming spatial learning via drawn sketch maps, we employed motion capture to image spatial exploration behavior describing a shift from initial exploration to subsequent exploitation of the mental representation. Using independent component analysis, the current work specifically targeted oscillations in response to wall touches reflecting isolated spatial learning events arising in deep posterior EEG sources located in the retrosplenial complex. Single‐trial regression identified significant modulation of alpha oscillations by the immediate, egocentric, exploration behavior. When encountering novel walls, as well as with increasing walking distance between subsequent touches when encountering novel walls, alpha power decreased. We conclude that these oscillations play a prominent role during egocentric evidencing of allocentric spatial hypotheses.
Rapid progression of high-risk proliferative diabetic retinopathy induced by insulin intensive therapy

Abstract Rationale: To summarize and analyze a case of rapid progression of high-risk proliferative diabetic retinopathy after the insulin intensive therapy (IT). Patient concerns: A 58-year-old type 2 diabetes female patient suffered a rapid and dramatic decline of vision acuity in the left eye in 2 months after the insulin IT. However, the best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) of her right eye, which was in much severer condition and received panretinal photocoagulation (PRP) before, improved after the IT. Interventions: The patient received intravitreal injection of conbercept (IVC) to her left eye, and 5 days later, underwent pars plana vitrectomy (PPV), combined with PRP and silicon oil injection. Outcomes: The postoperative BCVA of the left eye was 20/200 and improved to 20/160 one month later. During the subsequent 2 months of follow-up, her BCVA remained 20/160 in both eyes. Her blood glucose level also remained stable. Lessons: Insulin IT for untreated proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) patients can cause severe and irreversible consequences, so for such patients, the conservative treatment for glycemic control may be much safer. But if insulin IT is inevitable, the patient should undergo PRP promptly before the IT, and close eye monitoring during the IT is also essential.