Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Eysenck's Theory of Personality and the Role of Background Music in Cognitive Task Performance: A Mini-Review of Conflicting Findings and a New Perspective

The question of whether background music is able to enhance cognitive task performance is of interest to scholars, educators, and stakeholders in business alike. Studies have shown that background music can have beneficial, detrimental or no effects on cognitive task performance. Extraversion—and its postulated underlying cause, cortical arousal—is regarded as an important factor influencing the outcome of such studies. According to Eysenck's theory of personality, extraverts' cortical arousal at rest is lower compared to that of introverts. Scholars have thus hypothesized that extraverts should benefit from background music in cognitive tasks, whereas introverts' performance should decline with music in the background. Reviewing studies that have considered extraversion as a mediator of the effect of background music on cognitive task performance, it is demonstrated that there is as much evidence in favor as there is against Eysenck's theory of personality. Further, revisiting Eysenck's concept of cortical arousal—which has traditionally been assessed by activity in the EEG alpha band—and reviewing literature on the link between extraversion and cortical arousal, it is revealed that there is conflicting evidence. Due to Eysenck's focus on alpha power, scholars have largely neglected higher frequency bands in the EEG signal as indicators of cortical arousal. Based on recent findings, it is suggested that beta power might not only be an indicator of alertness and attention but also a predictor of cognitive task performance. In conclusion, it is proposed that focused music listening prior to cognitive tasks might be a more efficient way to boost performance than listening to background music during cognitive tasks.
Metallothionein genes MTa and MTb expressed under distinct quantitative and tissue-specific regulation in sea urchin embryos

Sea urchin embryo metallothionein (MT) mRNAs MTa and MTb have distinct cDNA sequences and are transcripts of different genes of a multigene family. These MT mRNAs differ in size and in their 3'-untranslated sequences. They encode proteins that are unusual among MT isotypes in that the relative positions of their cysteine residues are partially out of register, suggesting potential differences in function. In pluteus larvae MTa mRNA is expressed abundantly and exclusively in the ectoderm, while MTb mRNA, which is restricted to the endomesoderm at a low endogenous level, can be induced to a high level by heavy metal ions (M2+). MT mRNA is present in the maternal reservoir of the egg and is predominantly (greater than 95%) MTa mRNA. Endogenous expression in the embryo, which is at a much higher level than in the egg, requires M2+ for gene transcription, is developmentally regulated, and is greater than 90% MTa mRNA. When induced by added M2+, however, MTa and MTb mRNAs accumulate to almost equal levels. The differences in the ratios of MTa/MTb expressed endogenously and inductively are not attributable to differences in the stabilities of these MT mRNAs, which were observed under conditions of M2+ depletion, or in their inducibilities, which were observed at moderate to high M2+ levels. We found, instead, that the MTa gene responds to M2+ at a lower threshold level than MTb, so that at very low M2+ concentrations the ratio of induced MTa/MTb mRNA is high and equivalent to the endogenous ratio. Thus, endogenous expression of the MTa gene is selectively enhanced in the ectoderm by determinants that are responsive at low M2+ threshold concentrations.
Higher Moments and Exchange Rate Behavior

This paper uses 15‐minute exchange rate returns data for the six most liquid currencies (i.e., the Australian dollar, British pound, Canadian dollar, Euro, Japanese yen, and Swiss franc) vis‐a‐vis the United States dollar to examine whether a GARCH model augmented with higher moments (HM‐GARCH) performs better than a traditional GARCH (TG) model. Two findings are unraveled. First, the inclusion of odd/even moments in modeling the return/variance improves the statistical performance of the HM‐GARCH model. Second, trading strategies that extract buy and sell trading signals based on exchange rate forecasts from HM‐GARCH models are more profitable than those that depend on TG models.
Promoting Effects of Serotonin on Hematopoiesis: Ex Vivo Expansion of Cord Blood CD34+ Stem/Progenitor Cells, Proliferation of Bone Marrow Stromal Cells, and Antiapoptosis

Serotonin is a monoamine neurotransmitter that has multiple extraneuronal functions. We previously reported that serotonin exerted mitogenic stimulation on megakaryocytopoiesis mediated by 5‐hydroxytryptamine (5‐HT)2 receptors. In this study, we investigated effects of serotonin on ex vivo expansion of human cord blood CD34+ cells, bone marrow (BM) stromal cell colony‐forming unit‐fibroblast (CFU‐F) formation, and antiapoptosis of megakaryoblastic M‐07e cells. Our results showed that serotonin at 200 nM significantly enhanced the expansion of CD34+ cells to early stem/progenitors (CD34+ cells, colony‐forming unit‐mixed [CFU‐GEMM]) and multilineage committed progenitors (burst‐forming unit/colony‐forming unit‐erythroid [BFU/CFU‐E], colony‐forming unit‐granulocyte macrophage, colony‐forming unit‐megakaryocyte, CD61+CD41+ cells). Serotonin also increased nonobese diabetic/severe combined immunodeficient repopulating cells in the expansion culture in terms of human CD45+, CD33+, CD14+ cells, BFU/CFU‐E, and CFU‐GEMM engraftment in BM of animals 6 weeks post‐transplantation. Serotonin alone or in addition to fibroblast growth factor, platelet‐derived growth factor, or vascular endothelial growth factor stimulated BM CFU‐F formation. In M‐07e cells, serotonin exerted antiapoptotic effects (annexin V, caspase‐3, and propidium iodide staining) and reduced mitochondria membrane potential damage. The addition of ketanserin, a competitive antagonist of 5‐HT2 receptor, nullified the antiapoptotic effects of serotonin. Our data suggest the involvement of serotonin in promoting hematopoietic stem cells and the BM microenvironment. Serotonin could be developed for clinical ex vivo expansion of hematopoietic stem cells for transplantation.
Building a Natural Language Processing Tool to Identify Patients With High Clinical Suspicion for Kawasaki Disease from Emergency Department Notes.

OBJECTIVE Delayed diagnosis of Kawasaki disease (KD) may lead to serious cardiac complications. We sought to create and test the performance of a natural language processing (NLP) tool, the KD-NLP, in the identification of emergency department (ED) patients for whom the diagnosis of KD should be considered. METHODS We developed an NLP tool that recognizes the KD diagnostic criteria based on standard clinical terms and medical word usage using 22 pediatric ED notes augmented by Unified Medical Language System vocabulary. With high suspicion for KD defined as fever and three or more KD clinical signs, KD-NLP was applied to 253 ED notes from children ultimately diagnosed with either KD or another febrile illness. We evaluated KD-NLP performance against ED notes manually reviewed by clinicians and compared the results to a simple keyword search. RESULTS KD-NLP identified high-suspicion patients with a sensitivity of 93.6% and specificity of 77.5% compared to notes manually reviewed by clinicians. The tool outperformed a simple keyword search (sensitivity = 41.0%; specificity = 76.3%). CONCLUSIONS KD-NLP showed comparable performance to clinician manual chart review for identification of pediatric ED patients with a high suspicion for KD. This tool could be incorporated into the ED electronic health record system to alert providers to consider the diagnosis of KD. KD-NLP could serve as a model for decision support for other conditions in the ED.
Thermal unfolding studies show the disease causing F508del mutation in CFTR thermodynamically destabilizes nucleotide‐binding domain 1

Misfolding and degradation of CFTR is the cause of disease in patients with the most prevalent CFTR mutation, an in‐frame deletion of phenylalanine (F508del), located in the first nucleotide‐binding domain of human CFTR (hNBD1). Studies of (F508del)CFTR cellular folding suggest that both intra‐ and inter‐domain folding is impaired. (F508del)CFTR is a temperature‐sensitive mutant, that is, lowering growth temperature, improves both export, and plasma membrane residence times. Yet, paradoxically, F508del does not alter the fold of isolated hNBD1 nor did it seem to perturb its unfolding transition in previous isothermal chemical denaturation studies. We therefore studied the in vitro thermal unfolding of matched hNBD1 constructs ±F508del to shed light on the defective folding mechanism and the basis for the thermal instability of (F508del)CFTR. Using primarily differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and circular dichroism, we show for all hNBD1 pairs studied, that F508del lowers the unfolding transition temperature (Tm) by 6–7°C and that unfolding occurs via a kinetically‐controlled, irreversible transition in isolated monomers. A thermal unfolding mechanism is derived from nonlinear least squares fitting of comprehensive DSC data sets. All data are consistent with a simple three‐state thermal unfolding mechanism for hNBD1 ± F508del: N(±MgATP) ⇄ IT(±MgATP) → AT → (AT)n. The equilibrium unfolding to intermediate, IT, is followed by the rate‐determining, irreversible formation of a partially folded, aggregation‐prone, monomeric state, AT, for which aggregation to (AT)n and further unfolding occur with no detectable heat change. Fitted parameters indicate that F508del thermodynamically destabilizes the native state, N, and accelerates the formation of AT.
Mucosal Immunization with Vibrio cholerae Outer Membrane Vesicles Provides Maternal Protection Mediated by Antilipopolysaccharide Antibodies That Inhibit Bacterial Motility

ABSTRACT Vibrio cholerae is the causative agent of cholera, a severe diarrheal disease that remains endemic in many parts of the world and can cause outbreaks wherever sanitation and clean water systems break down. Prevention of disease could be achieved through improved sanitation and clean water provision supported by vaccination. V. cholerae serogroup O1 is the major cause of cholera; O1 serotypes Inaba and Ogawa have similar disease burdens, while O139 is the only non-O1 serogroup to cause epidemics. We showed previously that immunization of adult female mice with purified V. cholerae outer membrane vesicles (OMVs) elicits an antibody response that protect neonates from oral V. cholerae challenge and that suckling from an immunized dam accounts for the majority of protection from V. cholerae colonization. Here we report that lipopolysaccharide (LPS) is the major OMV protective antigen. Mucosal immunization with OMVs from Inaba or Ogawa provides significant cross-serotype protection from V. cholerae colonization, although serotype-specific antigens are dominant. OMVs from O1 or O139 do not provide cross-serogroup protection, but by immunization with a mixture of O1 and O139 OMVs, cross-serogroup protection was achieved. Neonatal protection is not associated with significant bacterial death but may involve inhibition of motility, as antibodies from OMV-immunized mice inhibit V. cholerae motility in vitro, with trends that parallel in vivo protection. Motility assays also reveal that a higher antibody titer is required to immobilize O139 compared to O1, a phenotype that is O139 capsule dependent.
Dechlorination and para-hydroxylation of polychlorinated phenols by Rhodococcus chlorophenolicus

In this paper we show that a polychlorophenol degrader Rhodococcus chlorophenolicus PCP-I initially attacked polychlorinated phenols (pentachlorophenol, 2,3,4,5-, 2,3,4,6-, and 2,3,5,6-tetrachlorophenol, and 2,3,5- and 2,3,6-trichlorophenol) by tetra- or trichlorohydroquinone-producing para-hydroxylation. The novel hydroxyl group was set in position 4, whether or not a substrate had chlorine substituent in this position. The hydroxyl was in each case derived from water molecules, as was shown by following the incorporation of oxygen from H2(18)O into the reaction products. Nevertheless, the para-hydroxylation reaction required the presence of molecular oxygen, whereas further metabolism of the reaction product, tetrachlorohydroquinone, proceeded also in anaerobiosis. All polychlorinated phenols were readily transformed at 41 degrees C, but none were transformed at 44 degrees C. In contrast to this, tetrachlorohydroquinone was metabolized at a high rate at 50 degrees C, but was not metabolized at 55 degrees C. Polychlorinated phenols were specific inducers of the para-hydroxylating enzymes; para-hydroxylated reaction products did not induce these enzymes. On the other hand, the degradation of tri- and tetrachlorohydroquinone was induced by any of the chlorophenols and also by hydroquinones.
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Background: Accurately segmenting vegetation from the background within digital images is both a fundamental and a challenging task in phenotyping. The performance of traditional methods is satisfactory in homogeneous envi‑ ronments, however, performance decreases when applied to images acquired in dynamic field environments. Results: In this paper, a multi‑feature learning method is proposed to quantify vegetation growth in outdoor field conditions. The introduced technique is compared with the state‑of the‑art and other learning methods on digital images. All methods are compared and evaluated with different environmental conditions and the following criteria: (1) comparison with ground‑truth images, (2) variation along a day with changes in ambient illumination, (3) compari‑ son with manual measurements and (4) an estimation of performance along the full life cycle of a wheat canopy. Conclusion: The method described is capable of coping with the environmental challenges faced in field conditions, with high levels of adaptiveness and without the need for adjusting a threshold for each digital image. The proposed method is also an ideal candidate to process a time series of phenotypic information throughout the crop growth acquired in the field. Moreover, the introduced method has an advantage that it is not limited to growth measure‑ ments only but can be applied on other applications such as identifying weeds, diseases, stress, etc.
Identifying and Disentangling the Impact of Fiscal Decentralization on Economic Growth

This paper revisits the relationship between fiscal decentralization and economic growth by addressing the endogeneity issue stemming from reverse causality and unobserved factors that has plagued the extensive previous literature on this subject. In our approach, we use the Geographic Fragmentation Index (GFI) and country size as instrumental variables, which we argue are strong and consistent instruments for fiscal decentralization. Empirically, we find that indeed both instruments are strong and valid in the first stage of estimation and that on average, a 10-percent increase in subnational expenditure or revenue shares—the conventional measures of decentralization—will increase GDP per capita growth by approximately 0.4 percentage points; however, the results differ for developed versus developing countries.
Fluconazole vs. amphotericin B for the management of candidaemia in adults: a meta‐analysis

Summary. The incidence of bloodstream infections caused by Candida species is rising. Few published studies have compared the efficacy of fluconazole with that of amphotericin B. We performed a meta‐analysis of the prospective studies that compared fluconazole and amphotericin B for the treatment of candidaemia in adults. Data on total mortality, candidaemia‐attributable mortality, efficacy, microbiological failure, and toxicity were extracted from eligible studies. All studies appeared homogeneous with respect to the outcome measures. Most patients were at relatively low risk for death as evidenced by the low average physiologic score and the lack of intense immunosuppression. The odds ratios (OR) of treatment with amphotericin B versus fluconazole and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were as follows: total mortality (OR, 1.06; CI, 0.89–1.25), candidaemia‐attributable mortality (OR, 1.0; CI, 0.70–1.45), clinical response (OR, 1.14; CI, 0.93–1.39) and microbiological failure according to all Candida species (OR, 0.99; CI, 0.78–1.26). A trend favouring amphotericin B was seen in mycological eradication of non‐albicans Candida species (OR, 0.70; CI, 0.47–1.06). Finally, amphotericin B was more toxic than fluconazole (OR, 2.94; CI, 2.14–4.4). In conclusion, fluconazole is as efficacious and less toxic than amphotericin B in stable, not severely immunosuppressed candidaemic patients at low risk for death. However, fluconazole may be less effective than amphotericin B in candidaemias caused by some non‐albicans Candida species.
Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase C677T polymorphism: Association with risk for childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia and response during the initial phase of chemotherapy in greek patients

As of late, a number of studies have focused on the association of the gene for methyletetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) with risk for acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) in children and in adults, as well as with response to chemotherapy. The degree of this association may vary according to the ethnic background and geographic localization of the population under study, or the phase of treatment when response to chemotherapy is concerned.
Estimating the effect of buyers’ bargaining power on Kenyan small food manufacturers’ income

The purpose of this study is to predict the effect of buyers’ bargaining power (customers’ price sensitivity, knowledge level, union, ability to integrate backward, switching costs and resale buying) on incomes of small food manufacturers. A survey of perceptions of 132 sampled small food processors in Nairobi and Busia Counties was done. From the gradation of the perceptions on seven-point likert scale, inferences were made on buyers bargaining power influence on the larger population of small food manufacturers in Kenya. On one hand, the study revealed that every unit of buyer’s sensitivity to prices, not unionized, integrated backwards and bought for goods for resale accounted for a positive change small food processors’ income by 0.011, 0.013, 0.005 and 0.010, respectively. On the other hand, the study showed a negative change of 0.006 and 0.008 in incomes of small agro-food processors with every unit change in the level of buyer’s knowledge and shifted to alternative product, respectively. Using Ordinary Least Square (OLS) linear regression statistical inference, there was no single standalone buyers’-bargaining-power-factor that significant influenced incomes of small food manufacturers in Kenya. However, the amalgam of the buyers bargaining power cues actually did influence the incomes (t=8.294, p= 0.00, sig <0.05, 2 tailed). Given the findings, the study recommends that marketers of food products should treat buyers bargaining powers factors as a whole and not as individual components. Further studies should consider structural equation modeling to determine a model with critical buyers-bargaining-powers factors.
Contribution of immunoglobulins M and G, complement, and properdin to the intracellular killing of Escherichia coli by polymorphonuclear leukocytes

The effect of immunoglobulins and complement (C) on phagocytosis and intracellular killing of Escherichia coli was studied in vitro. The incubation system consisted of monolayers of human polymorphonuclear leukocytes and C-resistant, [3H]thymidine-labeled E. coli C source was human serum deprived of immunoglobulins and properdin by immunoabsorption. In the absence of C, only immunoglobulin G-coated bacteria were phagocytosed, whereas immunoglobulin M lacked opsonic activity. In the presence of C, phagocytosis was enhanced; however, immunoglobulin M was now more efficient than immunoglobulin G. Intracellular killing was notably augmented when C was activated by immunoglobulin G- or immunoglobulin M-coated bacteria; in contrast, the alternative activation of C by properdin had no effect on phagocytosis or intracellular killing. These results demonstrate the importance of immunoglobulins together with C not only for phagocytosis but also for efficient intracellular killing.
Medium frequency transformers for solid-state-transformer applications — Design and experimental verification

Solid-state-transformer technology pushes the specifications of electric transformers in the high-power medium-frequency range. This combination results in larger-sized transformers operating at higher frequencies whereby parasitic phenomenon should be carefully accounted for. This paper presents an analytical description of the limiting factors and the connection between frequency/power rating and the available core and copper conductor technology on the power density and efficiency of medium-frequency transformers. Furthermore, two designed transformers for 166kW/20kHz based on two different core materials and cooling systems are presented. Extensive copper, core and cooling system loss measurements on one of these transformers are discussed in order to analyze the transformers' behavior from a practical point of view.
Efficacy and Safety of Proton Pump Inhibitors in the Management of Pediatric Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease

Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) are commonly prescribed to infants and children for managing gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Recently published literature illustrates conflicting evidence on the efficacy of PPIs in infants and children. Randomized controlled trials and systematic reviews have demonstrated a lack of efficacy of PPIs, specifically in young infants. Furthermore, emerging evidence also suggests that PPIs are not as benign as once thought, with newer data implicating a potential association of PPIs with an increased risk of respiratory tract infections, gastrointestinal infections, bone fractures, hypomagnesemia, and the occurrence of rebound hyperacidity after discontinuation of PPI therapy. To summarize the emerging data in children, we reviewed the literature to assess the efficacy and safety of PPIs in managing pediatric GERD. Despite conflicting evidence on the efficacy of PPIs, most studies in children demonstrated some benefit when compared with placebo. With respect to the safety of PPIs in children, only a few small studies and case reports indicated a potential association of PPIs with an increased risk of respiratory tract or gastrointestinal infections, bone fractures, and hypomagnesemia; however, many of those studies had their own limitations. From the review, it is clear that further well‐designed trials and observational studies are needed to shed more light on the efficacy and safety of PPIs in the pediatric population.
Enhancing the direct sales of intermittent renewable electricity production: Efficiency considerations of a German market rule

This paper analyzes the competitive effect of two distinct marketing options for renewable electricity. I consider (1) a marketing regime that requires an independent system operator to transfer all available renewable electricity at zero prices to the spot market, and (2) a marketing regime where renewable plant operators directly sell their electricity on the spot or forward market. Similar marketing options coexist in Germany. I find that the dumping of renewable electricity at zero prices on the spot market is more beneficial for competition but bares the risk of negative prices at low levels of demand. Under the direct selling of renewable electricity, negative prices will not occur. However, selling renewable electricity directly can lead to substantially higher prices compared to dumping.