Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Visualizing enveloping layer glycans during zebrafish early embryogenesis

Developmental events can be monitored at the cellular and molecular levels by using noninvasive imaging techniques. Among the biomolecules that might be targeted for imaging analysis, glycans occupy a privileged position by virtue of their primary location on the cell surface. We previously described a chemical method to image glycans during zebrafish larval development; however, we were unable to detect glycans during the first 24 hours of embryogenesis, a very dynamic period in development. Here we report an approach to the imaging of glycans that enables their visualization in the enveloping layer during the early stages of zebrafish embryogenesis. We microinjected embryos with azidosugars at the one-cell stage, allowed the zebrafish to develop, and detected the metabolically labeled glycans with copper-free click chemistry. Mucin-type O-glycans could be imaged as early as 7 hours postfertilization, during the gastrula stage of development. Additionally, we used a nonmetabolic approach to label sialylated glycans with an independent chemistry, enabling the simultaneous imaging of these two distinct classes of glycans. Imaging analysis of glycan trafficking revealed dramatic reorganization of glycans on the second time scale, including rapid migration to the cleavage furrow of mitotic cells. These studies yield insight into the biosynthesis and dynamics of glycans in the enveloping layer during embryogenesis and provide a platform for imaging other biomolecular targets by microinjection of appropriately functionalized biosynthetic precursors.
DECOMPOSITION OF GENDER WAGE GAP IN POLAND USING COUNTERFACTUAL DISTRIBUTION WITH SAMPLE SELECTION

Abstract In the paper, we compare income distributions in Poland taking into account gender differences. The gender pay gap can only be partially explained by differences in men’s and women’s characteristics. The unexplained part of the gap is usually attributed to the wage discrimination. The objective of this study is to extend the Oaxaca-Blinder decomposition procedure to different quantile points along the income distribution. We use the RIF-regression method to describe differences between the incomes of men and women along the two distributions and to evaluate the strength of the influence of personal characteristics on the various parts of the income distributions. As the sample selection is a serious issue for the study, therefore our decomposition approach will be adjusted for sample selection problems. The results suggest not only differences in the income gap along the income distribution (in particular sticky floor and glass ceiling), but also differences in the contribution of selection effects to the pay gap at different quantiles. The analysis is based on data from the EU-SILC data for Poland in 2014.
Producers’ and Consumers’ Perception of the Sustainability of Short Food Supply Chains: The Case of Parmigiano Reggiano PDO

Recent literature has highlighted the importance of testing the sustainability performances of supply chains. Nevertheless, this field of research is still in its early stages, in particular with reference to short food supply chains (SFSCs). This research analyzed producers’ and consumers’ perception of the economic, social and environmental sustainability of two SFSCs of a specific quality of cheese (Parmigiano Reggiano PDO) placed in two different contexts: the first is a rural area in the Appennino Tosco-Emiliano National Park mountains and the second is a peri-urban area in Parma surroundings, both in Italy. The case study also analyzed the carbon emissions of shopping for Parmigiano Reggiano at dairy shops. Qualitative and quantitative methodologies were employed to achieve the aims of the present study. For producers in both areas, the SFSC is a successful strategy to sell a part of their output in their own outlets, gain reputation, reduce costs and at the same time increase their levels of self-esteem. Product quality is the biggest factor attracting consumers to the outlet; moreover, it is associated with trust in the producers and the idea of combining “leisure with pleasure”. However, the environmental impact of the consumers’ purchase activities is a drawback.
NCAA rule change improves weight loss among national championship wrestlers.

PURPOSE The present investigation was initiated to examine the weight management practices among wrestlers participating in the NCAA Division I, II, and III wrestling tournaments. Part 1 examined the efficacy of body composition assessment between preseason (PRE) and postseason (POST). Part 2 examined rapid weight loss (RWL) during the 20 h preceding the weigh-in and the rapid weight gained (RWG) during the first day's competition. METHODS Subjects include 811 competitors from Divisions I, II, and III participating in the NCAA national championship tournaments between 1999 and 2004. Measurements included relative body fatness (% BF) and weight (WT) on the day preceding the tournament and the evening of the first day. Minimal weight (MW) was computed with 5% BF. Retrospectively, MW, % BF, and WT from the previous fall were obtained for comparisons from NCAA records. RESULTS Part 1: WT and % BF decreased significantly PRE (WT 74.0 +/- 11.1 kg; % BF 12.3 +/- 3.4%) to POST (WT 71.5 +/- 10.4 kg; % BF 9.5 +/- 1.8%), but MW (PRE MW 68.0 +/- 9.2 kg, POST MW 67.9 +/- 9.1 kg) remained unchanged. Heavier wrestlers and Division I and II wrestlers showed the greatest changes in WT and % BF. Part 2: RWL averaged (+/- SD) 1.2 +/- 0.9 kg and relative to weight 1.7 +/- 1.2%. Division I and lighter wrestlers showed the greatest change. RWG averaged 0.9 +/- 0.8 kg, or 1.3 +/- 1.2%. RWG was greater among lighter and Division I and II wrestlers. CONCLUSIONS Minimal weight estimates PRE appear valid compared with POST. RWL and RWG are reduced significantly over previous investigations with only mat-side weigh-ins. The NCAA weight management program appears effective in reducing unhealthy weight cutting behaviors and promoting competitive equity. Efforts to institute similar programs among younger wrestlers seem warranted.
Do Tax Cuts Produce More Einsteins? The Impacts of Financial Incentives vs. Exposure to Innovation on the Supply of Inventors

Many countries provide financial incentives to spur innovation, ranging from tax incentives to research and development grants. In this paper, we study how such financial incentives affect individuals' decisions to pursue careers in innovation. We _first present empirical evidence on inventors' career trajectories and income distributions using de-identified data on 1.2 million inventors from patent records linked to tax records in the U.S. We find that the private returns to innovation are extremely skewed - with the top 1% of inventors collecting more than 22% of total inventors' income - and are highly correlated with their social impact, as measured by citations. Inventors tend to have their most impactful innovations around age 40 and their incomes rise rapidly just before they have high-impact patents. We then build a stylized model of inventor career choice that matches these facts as well as recent evidence that childhood exposure to innovation plays a critical role in determining whether individuals become inventors. The model predicts that financial incentives, such as top income tax reductions, have limited potential to increase aggregate innovation because they only affect individuals who are exposed to innovation and have no impact on the decisions of star inventors, who matter most for aggregate innovation. Importantly, these results hold regardless of whether the private returns to innovation are known at the time of career choice. In contrast, increasing exposure to innovation (e.g., through mentorship programs) could have substantial impacts on innovation by drawing individuals who produce highimpact inventions into the innovation pipeline. Although we do not present direct evidence supporting these model-based predictions, our results call for a more careful assessment of the impacts of financial incentives and a greater focus on alternative policies to increase the supply of inventors.
Prevalence of Depression and Anxiety in Adult Patients with β-Thalassemia Major and Intermedia

Objective: To evaluate and compare the prevalence and risk factors for anxiety and depression in adults with β-thalassemia major (TM) and intermedia (TI). Method: A cross-sectional study of TI and TM patients at a Chronic Care Center in Lebanon. A total of 80 patients agreed to participate (32 TI (median age 24 years) and 48 TM (median age 23 years)). The Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) questionnaires were used to assess the depression and anxiety levels of patients, respectively. Data on patient demographics, clinical complications, and socioeconomic status were also collected. Results: Patients with TM had a significantly longer median duration with a known thalassemia diagnosis than patients with TI (p < 0.001). A considerable proportion of patients had depression (35.0%), State (S)-anxiety (22.5%) or Trait (T)-anxiety (36.2%). Patients with TI had a higher median S-anxiety score compared with TM (p = 0.035), although the median T-anxiety and depression scores were similar. On linear regression analysis, the significant association between the thalassemia diagnosis (TM versus TI) and S-anxiety score (beta: 5.740; 95% CI: 0.201 to 11.278; p = 0.042) was no longer observed upon adjustment for the co-variate duration with a known thalassemia diagnosis (beta: 3.162; 95% CI: −2.949 to 9.274; p = 0.306). Conclusions: A considerable proportion of adult patients with TM and TI show evidence of depression and anxiety. Patients with TI are more liable to state anxiety than TM patients of a similar age, which is attributed to a shorter duration of living with a thalassemia diagnosis.
A nonvolatile ferroelectric RAM with common plate folded bit-line cell and enhanced data sensing scheme

A 4 Mb 1T1C FeRAM with a common-plate folded bit-line architecture achieves low noise without cell area penalty in nonvolatile ferroelectric RAM. The decoder of common plate scheme reduces area to about 62% that of a conventional separate-plate scheme. The chip area is reduced by 9.2% to 111 mm/sup 2/. The bit-line capacitance imbalance is resolved without speed loss or area penalty.
The Effect of Antireflection Film Use on Blink Rate and Asthenopic Symptoms during Visual Display Terminal Work

Purpose: To investigate the effect of visual display terminal antireflection (AR) films on blink rate and subjective symptoms of asthenopia. Methods: This was a nonrandomized, prospective clinical trial in which 7 healthy volunteers underwent blink rate measurements with a blink rate recording system while viewing a DVD on a computer display for 10 minutes. The measurements were carried out without an AR film on terminal displays initially. The same tasks were performed on the next day with an AR film on the displays. The subjects were also required to score their symptoms of asthenopia on a visual analog scale before and just after DVD viewing. The changes in blink rate and asthenopia scores with AR film use were assessed by the Student t test. Results: The mean baseline blink rate was 15.7 ± 5.9 blinks /min, which decreased significantly to 9.6 ± 4.3 blinks/min after DVD viewing without an AR film (P < 0.05). The mean baseline and final blink rates for DVD viewing with an AR film were 14.6 ± 9.2 and 14.3 ± 9.2 blinks/min, respectively. There were no significant differences between baseline and final blink rates after DVD viewing with an AR film (P > 0.05). The mean cumulative visual analog asthenopic symptom score after DVD viewing without an AR film was 72 ± 18% compared with the mean cumulative symptom score of 52 ± 11% after DVD viewing with an AR film. The difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05). Conclusions: Visual display terminal work appears to be associated with asthenopic symptoms and decreased blink rates. The use of AR films on computer displays may prevent both reflections of light from screen surfaces and reduction in blink rates resulting in fewer asthenopic symptoms.
External Validation of the Emergency Trauma Score for Early Prediction of Mortality in Trauma Patients*

Objectives:The Emergency Trauma Score has been developed for early estimation of mortality risk in adult trauma patients with an Injury Severity Score of 16 or higher. Emergency Trauma Score combines four early predictors available at the trauma resuscitation room: age, Glasgow Coma Scale, base excess, and prothrombin time. Our goal was to validate the Emergency Trauma Score in two large external cohorts. As the Injury Severity Score is not accurately known at the time patients present at the resuscitation room, we evaluated the performance of Emergency Trauma Score in all trauma patients. Design:External validation study using data from two prospectively collected trauma registries. Setting:Two academic level 1 trauma centers. Patients:Adult patients admitted to the hospital after treatment at the trauma resuscitation room. InterventionCalibration and discrimination of the original Emergency Trauma Score were assessed within each cohort separately. Measurement and Main Results:A total of 4,418 consecutive patients were evaluated. Discrimination was good in both validation cohorts, with areas under the receiver-operating curve curves that were even higher (0.94 and 0.92, respectively) than that in the original cohort (0.83). Predicted mortality was systematically too high compared with actual mortality in patients with low-to-medium expected risk (< 25%). Calibration improved in the lower expected risk range after exclusion of patients with Injury Severity Score less than 16. Conclusions:The Emergency Trauma Score model performs well in discriminating between trauma patients who will survive and who will not. If applied to all trauma patients, predicted mortality risks are too high in the low-risk category.
Stringent Analysis of Gene Function and Protein–Protein Interactions Using Fluorescently Tagged Genes

In Drosophila collections of green fluorescent protein (GFP) trap lines have been used to probe the endogenous expression patterns of trapped genes or the subcellular localization of their protein products. Here, we describe a method, based on nonoverlapping, highly specific, shRNA transgenes directed against GFP, that extends the utility of these collections to loss-of-function studies. Furthermore, we used a MiMIC transposon to generate GFP traps in Drosophila cell lines with distinct subcellular localization patterns, which will permit high-throughput screens using fluorescently tagged proteins. Finally, we show that fluorescent traps, paired with recombinant nanobodies and mass spectrometry, allow the study of endogenous protein complexes in Drosophila.
Lumbar Spine X-Ray as a Standard Investigation for all Low back Pain in Ghana: Is It Evidence Based?

BACKGROUND Low back pain (LBP) has a prevalence of 84% in Africa. The commonest form of imaging is plain lumbar spine x-ray. It gives a radiation dose equivalent to 65 times a chest x-ray dose and sends one of the highest doses to the human reproductive organs. The commonest cause of LBP in Africa is degenerative disease. X-ray findings do not change mode of treatment yet most physicians still routinely request for x-rays. METHODS This is a systematic review of databases including The Cochrane, CINAHL plus, AMED, and MEDLINE. Key evidence was clinical guidelines on x-ray use for low back pain. Key search terms included low back pain, x-rays, guidelines, Ghana. RESULTS Four clinical guidelines on LBP emerged from two Systematic Reviews rated excellent and four good Randomized Controlled Trials: The European guidelines for acute and sub-acute non-specific Low Back Pain, The American College of Physicians and the American Pain Society guideline for diagnostic imaging for Low Back Pain, The NICE guidelines for persistent non-specific Low Back Pain and the Ghana Standard Treatment Guidelines (GSTG). All the guidelines agree that a good history and clinical examination for all LBP patients helps in diagnosing. Only GSTG recommends routine plain spinal x-rays. CONCLUSION There is strong evidence indicating very little benefit from routine lumbar spine x-rays for all LBP. The GSTG needs to be revised considering the increased risks of radiation exposure and the x-ray costs. FUNDING None declared.
Vasoconstrictor and Inotropic Effects Induced by the Root Bark Extracts of Anthocleista schweinfurthii

The present study was undertaken to investigate the cardiovascular effect of three extracts from the root bark of Anthocleista schweinfurthii Gilg. : an aqueous extract (AE), a dichloromethane extract (DCMR) and a fraction enriched in cardiac glycoside type compounds (CARDAN). In isolated perfused frog heart, bolus injection of the extracts produced a positive inotropic effect. The responses to AE and DCMR, but not to CARDAN, were depressed by propranolol. In isolated rat aorta, DCMR produced a transient increase in contractile tension while AE and CARDAN induced a sustained constriction. AE vasoconstrictor effect was abolished by phentolamine, while contraction evoked by CARDAN was antagonized by verapamil. In aortic rings contracted in low K+ media, the addition of K+ evoked a relaxation, which was abolished by ouabain, depressed by DCMR but not affected by either AE or CARDAN. These observations indicate that Anthocleista schweinfurthii contains substances that promote vasoconstriction and increase cardiac contraction. The effect of DCMR was only partially mediated by inhibition of the Na+ pump while the mechanism of action of AE and CARDAN was distinct from the inhibition of the Na+,K+-ATPase pump, but could involve adrenergic receptors, or either direct or indirect activation of L-type calcium channels.
Drugs and Society: A Public Health Issue and the New Approaches in Portugal and Uruguay

This paper aims to present a general perspective on the relationship between drugs and society, and, at the same time, to develop an analysis of the decriminalization of drugs in Portugal, as well as of the regulated cannabis market in Uruguay. So, methodologically, it is based on both a review of the literature about that subject and an investigation of the primary sources of the Portuguese and Uruguayan drug policy. Among the results found out, it can be highlighting the following sample: 1) the prohibitionist policy on drugs is one of the cases that most reveals ambivalence when it is considered the production of social rules; 2) the so-called drug problem is not and never has been a police problem, except in the sense that the police are themselves the problem it is, rather, a problem of lack of knowledge and wrong policy approach; 3) the prohibitionist drug policies have failed; 4) Portugal is an example of a well-implemented drug decriminalization policy; 5) the philosophy of Uruguayan drug policy assumes that human rights obligations take precedence over drug control efforts. Conclusively, it is advocated, for example, the implementation of policies that regulate illicit drugs, from production through to distribution.
The Effect of Endothelin-1 on Alveolar Fluid Clearance and Pulmonary Edema Formation in the Rat

BACKGROUND: Endothelin-1 (ET-1) is thought to play a pivotal role in pulmonary edema formation. The underlying mechanisms remain uncertain but may include alterations in capillary pressure and vascular permeability. There are no studies investigating whether ET-1 also affects alveolar fluid clearance which is the primary mechanism for the resolution of pulmonary edema. Therefore, we performed this study to clarify effects of ET-1 on alveolar reabsorption and fluid balance in the rat lung. METHODS: Alveolar fluid clearance was measured in fluid instilled rat lungs using a 5% albumin solution with or without ET-1 (10−7 M) and/or amiloride (100 &mgr;M). Net alveolar fluid balance, time course of edema formation, pulmonary capillary pressure, and alveolar permeability to albumin were measured in the isolated, ventilated, constant pressure perfused rat lung with or without ET-1 (0.8 nM) added to the perfusate. RESULTS: In the fluid-instilled lung, ET-1 reduced alveolar fluid clearance by about 65%, an effect that was related to a decrease in amiloride-sensitive transepithelial Na+ transport (P < 0.001). The ET-1-induced inhibition was completely prevented by the endothelin B receptor antagonist BQ788 (P = 0.006), whereas the endothelin A receptor antagonist BQ123 had no effect (P = 0.663). In the isolated, ventilated, perfused rat lung ET-1 caused a net accumulation of alveolar fluid by about 20% (P = 0.011 vs control), whereas lungs of control rats cleared about 20% of the instilled fluid. ET-1 increased pulmonary capillary pressure (+9.4 cm H2O), decreased perfusate flow (−81%), accelerated lung weight gain and reduced lung survival time (P < 0.001). Permeability to albumin was not significantly affected by ET-1 (P = 0.24). CONCLUSION: ET-1 inhibitis alveolar fluid clearance of anesthetized rats by inhibition of amiloride-sensitive epithelial Na+ channels. The inhibitory effect of ET-1 results from activation of the endothelin B receptor. These findings suggest a mechanism by which ET-1, in addition to increasing capillary pressure, contributes to pulmonary edema formation.
Magnetically Reconfigurable SIW Antenna with Tunable Frequencies and Polarizations

We propose a novel reconfigurable substrate-integrated waveguide (SIW) slot antenna with frequency and polarization tunability. Based on the multimode characteristic of SIW resonant cavity, the antenna works in two bands and radiates in linear or circular polarizations by tuning a crossed radiation slot. With the loading of ferrite slabs, the polarizations and operation frequencies of the antenna can be tuned by varying the bias magnetic field (BMF). The proposed design is verified by both simulations and experiments. The measurement results show that the tunable frequency range is more than 8.1% in the lower frequency band (from 8.98 to 9.74 GHz) and 5.5% in the higher frequency band (from 9.98 to 10.54 GHz). The antenna gain is more than 5.1 dBi within the frequency tuning range. The radiation pattern of the antenna is almost not affected by the changes in the BMF.
Perceiving monetary loss as due to inequity reduces behavioral and cortical responses to pain

Studies indicate that physical and social pain may share some mechanisms and neural correlates. Nothing is known, however, on whether the neural activity in the nociceptive system, as indexed by laser‐evoked potentials (LEPs), is modified when suffering the consequences of a conspecific violating social norms. To explore this issue, we created an interaction scenario where participants could gain money by performing a time‐estimation task. On each win‐trial, another player connected online could arbitrarily decide to keep the participant's pay‐off for him‐ or herself. Thus, participants knew that monetary loss could occur because of their own failure in performing the task or because of the inequitable behavior of another individual. Moreover, participants were asked to play for themselves or on behalf of a third party. In reality, the win/loss events were entirely decided by an ad hoc programmed computer. At the end of the interaction, participants reported if they believed the game‐playing interaction was real. Results showed that the loss due to the opponent's inequitable behavior brought about a reduction both in pain intensity self‐reports and in the amplitude of LEPs' components (i.e. N2, N2/P2, P2a, P2b). Importantly, both the behavioral and neurophysiological effects were found in the participants who believed their deserved payoff was stolen by their opponent. Furthermore, reduction of vertex components was present only when the inequitable behavior was directed toward the self. These results suggest that, far from being a private experience, pain perception might be modulated by the social saliency of interpersonal interactions.