Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Perfection within Reach: Exact MCMC Sampling

The amount of research done by the MCMC community has been very impressive in the last two decades, as testified by this very volume. The power of MCMC has been demonstrated in countless instances in which more traditional numerical algorithms are helpless. However, one ubiquitous problem remains: the detection of convergence or lack thereof. Among the large number of procedures designed for detecting lack of convergence or for establishing convergence bounds (e.g., see Chapters X and XX in this volume), there is one class of MCMC algorithms that stands apart simply because it avoids the problem altogether. Whereas examples of such algorithms can be traced back to at least 1989 (see [56]), it is Propp and Wilson’s 1996 seminal paper [48] that introduced the general scheme of coupling from the past (CFTP). Since then, there has been an intense search and research for perfect sampling or exact sampling algorithms, so named because such algorithms use Markov chains and yet obtain genuine i.i. d. draws—hence perfect or exact—from their limiting distributions within a finite numbers of iterations.
Synbiotics as Supplemental Therapy for the Alleviation of Chemotherapy-Associated Symptoms in Patients with Solid Tumours

Chemotherapy is still the first line of treatment for most cancer patients. Patients receiving chemotherapy are generally prone to infections, which result in complications, such as sepsis, mucositis, colitis, and diarrhoea. Several nutritional approaches have been trialled to counter the chemotherapy-associated side effects in cancer patients, but none have yet been approved for routine clinical use. One of the approaches to reduce or avoid chemotherapy-associated complications is to restore the gut microbiota. Gut microbiota is essential for the healthy functioning of the immune system, metabolism, and the regulation of other molecular responses in the body. Chemotherapy erodes the mucosal layer of the gastrointestinal tract and results in the loss of gut microbiota. One of the ways to restore the gut microbiota is through the use of probiotics. Probiotics are the ‘good’ bacteria that may provide health benefits if consumed in appropriate amounts. Some studies have highlighted that the consumption of probiotics in combination with prebiotics, known as synbiotics, may provide better health benefits when compared to probiotics alone. This review discusses the different nutritional approaches that have been studied in an attempt to combat chemotherapy-associated side effects in cancer patients with a particular focus on the use of pre-, pro- and synbiotics.
Comparison of Microwave and Radio-Frequency Heating of Dealuminated Zeolites and Al2O3

Abstract In the present study, the dielectric heating option was investigated for various dry materials: USY zeolite, ZSM-5 zeolite, and α- & γ-alumina. These materials are characterized by low effective dielectric loss factors; therefore they are often considered as not accessible for direct dielectric heating. Applying technically relevant volumes up to 20 L, dielectric heating could be demonstrated for all these materials when employing radio waves (RW) whereas heating with microwaves (MW) was difficult or even impossible. Dielectric heating experiments were also simulated with the CST electromagnetic simulation software. It could be shown that for all tested materials RW heating is more suitable than MW heating with regard to heating rates, temperature rise (both at equal power input) and homogeneity of the temperature pattern. The comparison of experimental data and simulation shows an excellent agreement. Thus, dielectric heating utilizing frequencies in the MHz range (radio-frequencies, RF) was demonstrated to be well applicable, even for materials with low loss factors, up to technically relevant temperatures and scales. This study also includes the evaluation of the energy efficiency for RW heating on the basis of the heating and power input data. Reasons for lower efficiencies, even under optimal fitting conditions applying an electronic matching network, are discussed and interpreted using literature and own experimental results, namely temperature-programmed desorption (TPD).
Women With Mandarin Accent in the Canadian English-Speaking Hiring Context: Can Evaluations of Warmth Undermine Gender Equity?

Although many workers speak with a non-native English accent, our understanding of this phenomenon is limited because prior work predominantly focused on men. This overlooks whether the biases women experience due to their accent manifests differently. To address this omission, we use an intersectional lens to examine how non-native accents associated with more gender-traditional countries may affect women's hiring outcomes. We argue that the bias women with these accents face is subtle due to an association of non-native (vs. native) accents with perceptions of women's warmth (whereas there are no such effects for men) and consequently higher perceptions of hireability. Yet we posit that the indirect effect on hireability occurs within feminine, but not masculine, industries, which ultimately undermines equity by pushing women with these non-native accents into lower pay and prestige occupations. We found support for our hypotheses in three vignette-based experiments conducted in Canada using a Mandarin accent. Managers and decision-makers need to be aware of the insidious bias women with these non-native accents experience because it may not be immediately apparent that an association of accent with higher ratings of warmth may undermine women at work. Additional online materials for this article are available on PWQ's website at https://journals.sagepub. com/doi/suppl/10.1177/03616843231165475
Nutrition-Related N-of-1 Studies Warrant Further Research to Provide Evidence for Dietitians to Practice Personalized (Precision) Medical Nutrition Therapy: A Systematic Review

N-of-1 trials provide a higher level of evidence than randomized controlled trials for determining which treatment works best for an individual, and the design readily accommodates testing of personalized nutrition. The aim of this systematic review was to synthesize nutrition-related studies using an N-of-1 design. The inclusion criterion was adult participants; the intervention/exposure was any nutrient, food, beverage, or dietary pattern; the comparators were baseline values, a control condition untreated or placebo, or an alternate treatment, alongside any outcomes such as changes in diet, body weight, biochemical outcomes, symptoms, quality of life, or a disease outcome resulting from differences in nutritional conditions. The information sources used were Medline, Embase, Scopus, Cochrane Central, and PsychInfo. The quality of study reporting was assessed using the Consort Extension for N-of-1 trials (CENT) statement or the STrengthening Reporting of OBservational Studies in Epidemiology (STROBE) guidelines, as appropriate. From 211 articles screened, a total of 7 studies were included and were conducted in 5 countries with a total of 83 participants. The conditions studied included prediabetes, diabetes, irritable bowel syndrome, weight management, and investigation of the effect of diet in healthy people. The quality of reporting was mostly adequate, and dietary assessment quality varied from poor to good. The evidence base is small, but served to illustrate the main characteristics of N-of-1 study designs and considerations for moving research forward in the era of personalized medical nutrition therapy.
Persistence of E. coli in Streambed Sediment Contaminated with Faeces from Dairy Cows, Geese, and Deer: Legacy Risks to Environment and Health

Legacy stores of faecal pollution in streambed sediments can result in delayed impacts on environmental quality and human health if resuspended into the overlying water column. Different catchment sources of faecal pollution can contribute to a legacy store of microbial pollutants, with size of stores influenced by microbial die-off and faecal accrual rates in the streambed. The aim of this study was to use a mesocosm experiment to characterise the persistence of E. coli derived from faeces of dairy cows, deer, and geese once introduced to streambed sediment under different temperature regimes. The settling rate of solid constituents of faecal material into streambed sediment once delivered into an aquatic environment was also quantified. The persistence patterns of E. coli in streambed sediment were found to vary as a function of faecal source and temperature; die-off of E. coli in sediment contaminated with goose faeces was more rapid than in sediments contaminated with dairy cow or deer faeces. Goose faeces also recorded a more rapid settling rate of faecal particles through the water column relative to dairy cow and deer faeces, suggesting a more efficient delivery of E. coli to streambed sediments associated with this faecal source. Our findings provide new evidence to improve understanding of the potential longer-term risks to both the environment and public health posed by sediments when contaminated with livestock, wildlife, and wildfowl faeces.
Can employees capitalize upon their role breadth self-efficacy and innovative work behaviour to enhance their prospects of promotion?

ABSTRACT By acknowledging the role of assessing employees’ promotability in talent development and retention, along with the need to improve the understanding about its antecedents, this paper examines the impact of employees’ role breadth self-efficacy on this criterion. Specifically, it builds upon the integration of previous theoretical developments regarding the motivational virtues of role breadth self-efficacy at work, with the core assumptions of Spence’s signalling theory to empirically test whether innovative work behaviour acts as an underlying mechanism of the link between role breadth self-efficacy and promotability. Relying upon a time-lagged design with multisource data (employees and respective supervisors), evidence obtained from a sample of N = 185 software engineers supported the indirect effect of role breadth self-efficacy on supervisors’ ratings of employees’ promotability, via employees’ innovative work behaviour. The main theoretical and applied contributions of these findings are presented and discussed in the context of human resource management.
Numerical Simulation of an Aortic Flow Based on a HLLC Type Incompressible Flow Solver

In this study, a three-dimensional artificial compressibility solver based on the average-state Harten-Lax-van Leer-Contact (HLLC) (13) type Riemann solution is first proposed and developed to solve the time-dependent incompressible flow equa- tions. To implement unsteady flow calculations, a dual time stepping strategy in- cluding the LU decomposition method is used in the pseudo-time iteration and the second-order accurate backward difference is adopted to discretize the unsteady flow term. Also a third-order accurate HLLC numerical flux is derived for approximating the inviscid terms. To verify numerical accuracy, flows over a lid-driven cavity and an oscillating flat platearechosen as the benchmark tests. In addition, the currentsolver is extendedto solve bloodflows in arealistic human aortameasuredfromMRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging). The simulation geometry was derived from a three-dimensional reconstruction of a series of two-dimensional slices obtained in vivo. Numerical re- sults demonstrate wall stresses were highly dynamic, but were generally high along the outer wall in the vicinity of the branches and low along the inner wall, particu- larly in the descending aorta. The maximum wall stress distribution is presented on the aortic arch in the systole. In addition, extensive counter-clockwise secondary flows and three-dimensional helical vortex influenced considerably by the presence of vessel contraction, torsion and the branches were shown in the descending aorta in the late systole and early diastolic cycles.
Bioinformatics and Expression Analysis of the Chitinase Genes in Strawberry (Fragaria vesca) and Functional Study of FvChi-14

Plant chitinases (EC 3.2.1.14) are pathogenesis-related (PR) proteins and are well studied in many plant species. However, little is known about the genomic organization and expression of chitinase genes in strawberries (Fragaria vesca). Here, 23 FvChi genes were identified in the genome of strawberry (F. vesca) and divided into GH18 and GH19 subfamilies based on phylogenetic relationships. A detailed bioinformatics analysis of the FvChi genes was performed, including gene physicochemical properties, chromosomal location, exon–intron distribution, domain arrangement, and subcellular localization. Twenty-two FvChi genes showed upregulation after Colletotrichum gloeosporioides infection. Following the exogenous application of SA, FvChi-3, 4, and 5 showed significant changes in expression. The ectopic expression of FvChi-14 in Arabidopsis thaliana increased resistance to C. higginsianum via controlling the SA and JA signaling pathway genes (AtPR1, AtICS1, AtPDF1.2, and AtLOX3). The FvChi-14 protein location was predicted in the cell wall or extracellular matrix. We speculate that FvChi-14 is involved in disease resistance by regulating the SA and JA signaling pathways. The findings of this study provide a theoretical reference for the functional studies of FvChi genes and new candidates for strawberry stress resistance breeding programs.
Changes in the variability of North Pacific Oscillation around 1975/1976 and its relationship with East Asian winter climate

[1] The variability of North Pacific Oscillation (NPO) and the associated atmospheric circulation in the boreal winter are studied with the HadSLP2, the National Centers for Environmental Prediction/National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCEP/NCAR), and the ECMWF 40-year reanalysis (ERA-40) data. The results show that the variability of NPO is not stationary with a typical period around 3 years during 1957–1975 and shifting to around 5–6 years after that. Linear correlation and regression analysis indicates that in the winters before 1975 the geopotential height field related to the NPO is characterized by a barotropic north-south dipole around the Pacific sector, which is the traditional NPO mode. In this subperiod, the El Nino/Southern Oscillation (ENSO) has a dominant influence on the NPO. There is anomalous stationary wave propagation associated with the NPO from the subtropical-central Pacific to the northern Pacific. And the NPO has no significant relations to the East Asian climate. In the winters after 1975, however, the atmospheric circulation related to the NPO exhibits a circum-global wave train pattern over the extratropical regions in the Northern Hemisphere. Particularly, the northward wave activity propagation is enhanced over the extratropics of East Asia. The remote forcing from the tropical eastern Pacific sea surface temperature anomalies becomes small. Hence the NPO has a close relationship with the circulation over East Asia during this period.
Unaccusativity and the diachrony of null and cognate objects in Greek*

In the present paper, we show that in contrast to the diachronic instability that unergatives and transitives present with regard to null and cognate objects, alternating unaccusative verbs constantly appear to meet more restrictions in null and cognate object constructions than the other verbal classes. The restrictions of the null objects with alternating unaccusatives hold irrespective of the structure and the voice morphology of the alternating unaccusatives: alternating unaccusative verbs can be found in causative constructions with null objects only of the most freely used type of null objects (generic null objects); the other verbal classes can appear with deictic null objects in Modern and Ancient Greek or even with referential null objects in Ancient Greek. Cognate objects in Ancient Greek show both argumental and adverbial characteristics: unergatives in Ancient Greek can take cognate objects of argumental or adverbial character, but unaccusatives only take adverbial cognate accusatives. The common complex (causative) template of alternating unaccusatives (in both causative and anticausative uses) can be observed as the cause of the obligatory presence of the patient argument in causative uses of alternating unaccusatives, while the dependence of atelic/telic interpretation in Ancient Greek (especially in Homeric Greek) on an aktionsart/situation type aspect can explain the differences found between the Ancient and the Modern Greek cognate constructions.
Clinicopathologic and Prognostic Significance of Body Mass Index (BMI) among Breast Cancer Patients in Western China: A Retrospective Multicenter Cohort Based on Western China Clinical Cooperation Group (WCCCG)

Introduction Clinicopathologic and prognostic significance of body mass index (BMI) in breast cancer (BC) patients remained conflicting. We aimed to investigate and modify the impact of BMI on clinicopathological significance and survival in western Chinese BC patients. Materials and Methods 8,394 female BC patients from Western China Clinical Cooperation Group (WCCCG) between 2005 and 2015 were identified. Multivariable logistic regression and Cox proportion hazard regressions were used to examine the difference of clinicopathologic and survival characteristics between BMI categories. Results For the premenopausal, overweight and obese (OW) patients tended to have large tumor size (>5cm) (odds ratio [OR], 1.30, P<0.01) and triple-negative BC (OR, 1.31; P=0.01) compared with normal weight (NW) patients. Premenopausal underweight (UW) patients had a significantly higher risk of HER2 positive (OR, 1.71; P=0.02) and distant metastasis (OR, 2.59; P=0.01). For postmenopausal patients, OW patients showed higher risks of large tumor size (>5cm) (OR, 1.46; P=0.01), nuclear grade III (OR, 1.24; P=0.04), and lymphovascular invasion (OR, 1.46; P=0.01) compared with NW patients. An “U” shaped relationship between BMI and DFS was found (UW versus NW, adjusted hazard ratio (HR), 2.80, P<0.001; OW versus NW, adjusted HR, 1.40, P=0.02), whereas no significant difference of disease-free survival (DFS) between OW and NW premenopausal patients (adjusted HR=1.34, P=0.18) was revealed. Conclusion We concluded that UW and OW were associated with aggressively clinicopathological characteristics, regardless of menopausal status. An “U” shaped association of BMI and DFS was revealed, and no significant difference of DFS between OW and NW in postmenopausal subgroup was revealed.
Cytological and Immunohistochemical Study of the Dromedary Iymph Nodes in Algeria

: The aim of this research is to make an investigation about the cellular population of the dromedary lymph nodes in the region of El Oued in Algeria in order to identify the cytological structure of these organs; a classic histological staining technique had to be performed in order to identify the cellular population in each compartment of the organ. Moreover, it was necessary to make an immunohistochemical staining technique using monoclonal ant bodies in order to identify the localization of both T & B lymphocytes. The obtained results revealed that the location of both T and B lymphocytes in the dromedary’s lymph node is identical to the general organization of lymph nodes of other mammalian species.
Achieving the Sustained Virologic Response With a Short-Course Treatment of Sofosbuvir/Velpatasvir

Hepatitis C, a single-stranded RNA virus officially discovered in 1989, is one of the most known viruses of the Flaviviridae family. Direct-acting antiviral drugs helped revolutionize the management of hepatitis C infection by guaranteeing higher cure rates. The medical field has strived to optimize the management of this disease, with recent reports proposing a shorter treatment duration to achieve the sustained virologic response (SVR). We present a case of a patient diagnosed with hepatitis C decompensated liver cirrhosis who achieved the SVR after only two weeks of treatment with sofosbuvir/velpatasvir, suggesting that short-term therapy might be beneficial for these patients.
Adherence to 2015 ESC Guidelines for the Treatment of Infective Endocarditis: A Retrospective Multicentre Study (LEIOT Study)

Background: Infective endocarditis (IE) is still a severe disease with elevated morbidity and mortality. Nevertheless, the last European guidelines (GL) date back to 2015, and a recent survey described a diffuse suboptimal adherence to their recommendations. Here, we described a real-life scenario about adherence to IE treatment GL. Methods: This was a retrospective, multicentric, case–control study. All the cases of IE admitted to our wards from 2016 to 2020 were enrolled. Patients were divided into two groups, according to the non-adherence (group A, cases) or adherence (group B, controls) to 2015 ESC guidelines. Only targeted treatments were considered. Groups were compared for demographic, clinical, microbiological, and laboratory data and outcome. As a post hoc analysis, we analysed the characteristics of deviations from the guidelines and how these deviations affected mortality. Results: A total of 246 patients were enrolled, with 128 (52%) in group A and 118 (48%) in group B. Groups were homogeneous except for aetiologies: staphylococcal and blood-culture-negative IE were more frequent in group A, while streptococcal and enterococcal IE were more frequent in group B (p < 0.001). In-hospital mortality was comparable in the two groups. The most frequent causes of deviations from the guidelines were use of daptomycin, in addition to standard treatments and the missing administration of rifampin or gentamycin. Conclusions: Adherence to 2015 ESC guidelines was limited but it did not affect mortality.
Optimising aerosol jet printing of collagen inks for enhanced piezoelectricity and controlled surface potential

Collagen is a highly versatile protein used in tissue engineering constructs and as a model piezoelectric biomaterial. The piezoelectricity of collagen can be enhanced through the alignment of collagen domains and fibres, although most fabrication techniques used to form dense collagenous constructs do not allow for significant collagen alignment. The use of aerosol jet printing (AJP) mitigates the limitations of using soluble collagen inks for bioprinting or extrusion-based 3D printing, particularly if microfibrillar collagen suspensions are used as a cost-effective and scalable ink source. In this work, Type I and Type II microfibrillar collagen from different anatomical sources were successfully deposited using AJP with two different atomisation methods, namely pneumatic-AJP (p-AJP) and ultrasonic-AJP (u-AJP). The printing parameters were optimised for their piezoelectric amplitude and surface potential. Fourier transform infrared spectra of the films revealed that ultrasonic atomisation did not cause notable denaturation of collagen, although the process resulted in the fractionation and preferential deposition of the oligomeric and gelatinous components within the slurry. The printed collagen samples displayed a piezoelectric response that was four times higher than the values obtained from drop-cast collagen films, and their surface potential was found to be positively correlated to the roughness of the films which can be controlled through the mode of atomisation. These results indicate the ability to enhance and control the piezoelectricity and surface potential using p-AJP and u-AJP, which offers a promising physical modulation technique to tailor cell adhesion, proliferation or differentiation for collagen-based tissue engineering constructs.