Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Influence of roasting on the chemopreventive potential of in vitro fermented almonds in LT97 colon adenoma cells

Abstract The consumption of almonds may contribute to the prevention of colon cancer due to their unique composition of health promoting compounds. Since almonds are often consumed roasted, the impact of different roasting (R) conditions (R1 = 139.2 °C/25 min, R2 = 161.5 °C/20 min and R3 = 170.8 °C/15 min) on chemopreventive effects of in vitro-fermented almonds was analysed in LT97 colon adenoma cells. Fermentation supernatants (FS) of raw and roasted almonds had no genotoxic effects. FS obtained from raw or mildly roasted almonds (R1) significantly increased mRNA levels of CAT (4.6-fold), SOD2 (5.6-fold) and GSTP1 (3.9-fold) but not of GPx1. FS of almonds significantly reduced the growth of LT97 cells in a time- and dose-dependent manner. Treatment with 5% almonds FS increased the number of early apoptotic cells (17.4%, on average) and caspase-3 activity (4.9-fold, on average). The results indicate a chemopreventive potential of in vitro-fermented almonds which is largely independent of the roasting process.
Influence of Substrate Biasing on (Al, Ti)N Thin Films Deposited by a Hybrid HiPIMS/DC Sputtering Process

(Al, Ti)N coatings were reactively cosputtered using a hybrid process in Ar/ N2 atmosphere, where aluminum and titanium targets were supplied via classical pulsed-dc and HiPIMS power units, respectively. Aiming to study the influence of substrate biasing on the properties of the coatings, all other parameters were kept constant. Unexpectedly, the titanium content seems to remain unchanged, whereas the deposition rate, the morphology, the structure, and the mechanical properties of the coatings strongly depend on the applied voltage on the samples. Increasing the negative bias voltage leads to a slight decrease in the deposition rate of up to -100 V, and for a higher bias voltage, the deposition rate drops drastically. The compressive stresses show similar evolution. These behaviors depend on the attraction of highly energetic metallic and Ar+ ions, which strongly impinge the biased substrates. Finally, all the films synthesized below a negative bias of -100 V are crystallized in hcp-AIN form, whereas those deposited above -130 V exhibit the c-TiN structure. This induces a hardness enhancement, but combined to poor adhesion due to a too high level of internal stresses, this induces the characteristic of a brittle and rigid character.
The tissue-specific and developmentally regulated expression patterns of the SAUR41 subfamily of SMALL AUXIN UP RNA genes

The plant hormone auxin modulates cell proliferation and cell expansion in part by changing gene expression. Among the three primary auxin response gene families, Aux/IAA, GH3 and SAUR, the function of SAUR genes remains unclear. SAUR transcripts were initially identified in epidermal and cortical cells of elongating tissues and thus were supposed to regulate cell expansion downstream of auxin transport and auxin signaling. Recent studies have proposed that SAUR proteins are able to modulate auxin transport and cell expansion by an unknown mechanism. We present our work on the SAUR41 subfamily genes of Arabidopsis (SAUR41, SAUR40, SAUR71 and SAUR72). Similar to the fusion protein between SAUR41 and EGFP, both SAUR40-EGFP and SAUR71-EGFP were identified in the cytoplasm of all types of root tip cells. This result indicated that the subcellular location pattern of SAUR proteins among the members of the same subfamily could be similar to each other, although the overall location pattern of SAUR proteins appeared to be highly diverse. SAUR41 was distinctively expressed in the quiescent center and cortex/endodermis initials of root stem cell niches and in the endodermis of hypocotyls, whereas SAUR71 and SAUR72 were expressed in the steles of young roots and hypocotyls. In addition, SAUR71 was differentially expressed during stomatal formation. The tissue-specific and developmentally regulated expression patterns of the SAUR41 subfamily genes imply that SAUR transcripts or SAUR proteins might serve as signal molecules to ensure the coordination of cell proliferation and cell expansion. Finally, Arabidopsis seedlings expressing TAP (tandem affinity peptide) tagged SAUR41 displayed phenotypes, indicating that it was rational to use the TAP approach for identification of potential binding partners of SAUR41 proteins.
Characterization of harmonic distortion and memory effects for RF power amplifiers based on volterra algorithm

The characterization of RF power amplifiers can benefit from the classic Volterra series theory. As a frequency domain form of Volterra series, Volterra algorithm is constituted by Volterra basis and Volterra coefficients. In this paper, the process of extracting Volterra coefficients is proposed and simulated with the harmonic balance simulator. A five order Volterra algorithm has been used to predict time domain waveforms, and a better agreement has been achieved, contrasting with X-parameter model. As an application, two Volterra coefficients concerned with three-order intermodulations is useful for characterizing memory effects influenced by modulation bandwidth.
Blunted Prolactin Responses to d-Fenfluramine in Sociopathy

Using a neuroendocrine probe we studied nine male’ offenders in a forensic hospital, convicted of murder, with a diagnosis of antisocial personality disorder, who had been behaviourally ‘quiescent’ for varying periods and who had not recently been abusing drugs. Nine healthy age-matched men also participated. All subjects received 30 mg d-fenfluramine (d-FEN), a 5–HT releasing agent, orally, after an overnight fast, and serial samples for prolactin estimation were taken hourly for five hours. Responses were significantly impaired in the patients, suggesting a subsensitivity of certain 5–HT systems in antisocial personality disorder, regardless of recent or ongoing behavioural disturbance.
Tight Lower and Upper Bounds on the Minimum Distance of LDPC Codes

In this letter, we obtain lower and upper bounds on the minimum distance <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$d_{\min }$ </tex-math></inline-formula> of low-density parity-check (LDPC) codes. The bounds are derived by categorizing the non-zero code words of an LDPC code into two categories of elementary and non-elementary. The first category contains code words whose induced subgraph has only degree-2 check nodes. We propose an efficient search algorithm that can find the elementary code words of an LDPC code with weight less than a certain value <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$a_{\max }$ </tex-math></inline-formula>, exhaustively. We also derive a lower bound <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$L_{ne}$ </tex-math></inline-formula> on the weight of non-elementary code words. By performing the search with <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$a_{\max } = L_{ne}$ </tex-math></inline-formula>, we either obtain an elementary code word with the smallest weight <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$d_{\min }$ </tex-math></inline-formula>, or establish the lower bound of <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$L_{ne}$ </tex-math></inline-formula> on <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$d_{\min }$ </tex-math></inline-formula>. For the upper bound, we modify our search algorithm to reach elementary codewords of larger weights at the cost of being non-exhaustive. Once such a codeword is found, its weight acts as an upper bound on <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$d_{\min }$ </tex-math></inline-formula>. We examine a large number of regular and irregular LDPC codes, and demonstrate the efficiency and versatility of our technique in finding lower and upper bounds on, and in many cases the exact value of, <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$d_{\min }$ </tex-math></inline-formula>. Finding <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$d_{\min }$ </tex-math></inline-formula>, or establishing search-based lower or upper bounds, for many of the examined codes are out of the reach of any existing algorithm.
Computational Electromagnetic Analysis in a Human Head Model with EEG Electrodes and Leads Exposed to RF-Field Sources at 915 MHz and 1748 MHz

Abstract An electromagnetic analysis of a human head with EEG electrodes and leads exposed to RF-field sources was performed by means of Finite-Difference Time-Domain simulations on a 1-mm3 MRI-based human head model. RF-field source models included a half-wave dipole, a patch antenna, and a realistic CAD-based mobile phone at 915 MHz and 1748 MHz. EEG electrodes/leads models included two configurations of EEG leads, both a standard 10–20 montage with 19 electrodes and a 32-electrode cap, and metallic and high resistive leads. Whole-head and peak 10-g average SAR showed less than 20% changes with and without leads. Peak 1-g and 10-g average SARs were below the ICNIRP and IEEE guideline limits. Conversely, a comprehensive volumetric assessment of changes in the RF field with and without metallic EEG leads showed an increase of two orders of magnitude in single-voxel power absorption in the epidermis and a 40-fold increase in the brain during exposure to the 915 MHz mobile phone. Results varied with the geometry and conductivity of EEG electrodes/leads. This enhancement confirms the validity of the question whether any observed effects in studies involving EEG recordings during RF-field exposure are directly related to the RF fields generated by the source or indirectly to the RF-field-induced currents due to the presence of conductive EEG leads.
Implementing and Integrating Policies on Performance-Based Pay: Coordinating the “One-Employer Approach” in a Swedish Municipality

ABSTRACT In Sweden, performance-based pay has gone furthest in the public sector. This development has placed demands on employers to have a transparent and salient salary review process with which to evaluate employees uniformly and fair – and to act in a unitary manner, as one employer. Pay policies aim to coordinate salary reviews in organizations. However, the transfer of policy to practice is not easy and research has shown a gap between intended and implemented policies. Drawing on a case study in a municipality, this article expands knowledge on policy transfer by exploring and describing how HR, unions, managers and employees perceive implementation and integration of the pay policies, and to what extent the municipality succeeds in a one-employer approach. The findings suggest that the municipality fails to act as one employer and that the units that are most successful in implementing the policy are those closer to top management.
Stability of Ecosystem CO2 Flux in Response to Changes in Precipitation in a Semiarid Grassland

Carbon dioxide (CO2) flux provides feedback between C cycling and the climatic system. There is considerable uncertainty regarding the direction and magnitude of the responses of this process to precipitation changes, hindering accurate prediction of C cycling in a changing world. We examined the responses of ecosystem CO2 flux to ambient precipitation and experimentally decreased (−35%) and increased precipitation (+20%) in a semiarid grassland in China between July 2013 and September 2015. The measured CO2 flux components included the gross ecosystem productivity (GEP), net ecosystem CO2 exchange (NEE), ecosystem respiration (Re), and soil respiration (Rs). The results showed that the seasonal and diurnal patterns of most components of ecosystem CO2 flux were minimally affected by precipitation treatments, with less than 4% changes averaged across the three growing seasons. GEP and NEE had a quadratic relationship, while Re and Rs increased exponentially with soil temperature. GEP, RE, and Rs, however, decreased with soil moisture. Decreased precipitation reduced the dependence of CO2 flux on soil temperature but partly increased the dependence on soil moisture; in contrast, increased precipitation had the opposite influence. Our results suggested a relatively stable CO2 flux in this semiarid grassland across the tested precipitation regimes.
The Effects of Short-Term Exercise Intervention on Falls Self-Efficacy and the Relationship between Changes in Physical Function and Falls Self-Efficacy in Japanese Older People: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Arai T, Obuchi S, Inaba Y, Nagasawa H, Shiba Y, Watanabe S, Kimura K, Kojima M: The effects of short-term exercise intervention on falls self-efficacy and the relationship between changes in physical function and falls self-efficacy in Japanese older people: a randomized controlled trial. Am J Phys Med Rehabil 2007;86:133–141. Objective:To evaluate the effects of short-term exercise intervention on falls self-efficacy and to evaluate the relationships between baseline falls self-efficacy and changes in physical function in older people. Design:Single-blinded randomized controlled trial. The participants were 171 subjects aged 65 and older. They were randomly assigned into an exercise intervention group or a health education group. The subjects in the exercise intervention group performed an exercise program for 3 mos. Falls self-efficacy was measured using the falls efficacy scale (FES). The measurements of physical function included static and dynamic balance, walking velocity, flexibility, and strength. Results:There was no significant improvement of FES in either group. But there were significant negative correlations between baseline FES score and the change in maximum walking velocity (r = −0.29, P < 0.018) and knee extensor strength (r = −0.25, P < 0.040. Linear regression analysis showed that the change in static balance was related to baseline FES. Conclusions:The results suggest that a short-term exercise intervention had no effect, possibly because of the high baseline FES scores of the participants, on the confidence of community-dwelling older persons. However, the negative association between FES score and increases in some measures of function suggest that short-term exercise may be beneficial to a subset of older persons with lower FES scores.
The government of self-regulation:

This paper explores the relationship between corporate social responsibility (CSR) and government. CSR is often viewed as self-regulation, devoid of government. We attribute the scholarly neglect of the variety of CSR-government relations to the inadequate attention paid to the important differences in the way in which CSR has „travelled‟ (or diffused) and has been mediated by the national governance systems, and the insufficient emphasis given to the role of the government (or government agency) in the CSR domain. We go on to identify a number of different types of CSR-government configurations, and by following empirically the CSR development trajectories in Western Europe and East Asia in a comparative historical perspective, we derive a set of propositions on the changing dynamics of CSRgovernment configurations. In particular, we highlight the varied role that the governments can play in order to promote CSR in accordance with the wider national governance systems.
Selenocysteine codons decrease polysome association on endogenous selenoprotein mRNAs

Selenocysteine incorporation has been reported to be inefficient in all systems studied, including Escherichia coli, baculovirus‐insect cell systems, rabbit reticulocyte in vitro translation systems, transiently transfected mammalian cells, and intact animals. Nonetheless, full‐length selenoproteins containing up to 17 selenocysteine residues are produced in animals, indicating that the efficiency observed in manipulated systems might not accurately reflect the true efficiency of this process in nature.
Electricity Consumption and Economic Growth Nexus: Evidence from Maki Cointegration

Access to electricity is seen as an essential driver for economic growth in both developing and developed economies. It is based on the above premise that this paper empirically revisits the dynamic relationship between electricity consumption, real gross domestic product per capita and carbon dioxide emissions for the case of Nigeria. To this end, this study leverages on annual data from 1971-2014 for the econometrics analysis. This study employs relatively new estimation techniques that accommodate for structural break(s). Stationarity properties of variables are investigated via Zivot-Andrews (1992) unit root stationarity test while, for long-run equilibrium relationship, Maki (2012) cointegration test is adopted, which accounts for multiple structural breaks. Subsequently, this study probes for direction of causation, through the Toda-Yamamoto (1995) approach. According to the Maki cointegration test, there exists a cointegration relationship between electricity consumption, economic growth and carbon dioxide emissions. Empirical findings validate the electricity-induced growth hypothesis for the study area. Further insights are elucidated in the discussion section of the study with possible action steps (implications). DOI: http://dx.doi. org/10.5755/j01.ee. 30.1. 20748
Molecular heterogeneity has a major impact on the measurement of circulating N-terminal fragments of A- and B-type natriuretic peptides.

BACKGROUND The N-terminal fragments of A- and B-type natriuretic peptides (NT-proANP and NT-proBNP) are powerful markers of cardiac function. The current assays require refinement with regard to standardization with native calibrators and the ability to detect the actual circulating forms. METHODS The following peptides were prepared with recombinant methods: NT-proANP, NT-proBNP, proBNP1-108, and Tyr0-proBNP77-108. Fifteen peptides of 13-22 amino acids, spanning the sequences of NT-proANP and NT-proBNP, were prepared by solid-phase peptide synthesis. Two immunoassays for NT-proANP and four for NT-proBNP were set up, each with a different epitope specificity. The assays were applied for the measurement of NT-proANP and NT-proBNP in healthy individuals and in patients with acute myocardial infarction. The circulating molecular forms were analyzed by gel-filtration and reversed-phase HPLC. RESULTS According to the HPLC analyses, circulating NT-proANP consists mainly of the full-length peptide, with some degradation at both ends. In contrast, circulating NT-proBNP is very heterogeneous. Most immunoreactive NT-proBNP is significantly smaller in size than NT-proBNP1-76, with truncation at both termini. The smallest fragments can be detected by assays directed at the central part of NT-proBNP only; assays directed at the ends gave 30-40% lower values. Despite the difference, the various assays correlated reasonably well with each other (r2 = 0.77-0.85). In patients with acute myocardial infarction, NT-proANP and NT-proBNP concentrations were 1.8-2.3 and 4.2-4.5 times higher than in healthy individuals. The development of heart failure further increased the concentrations. CONCLUSIONS Molecular heterogeneity of the circulating forms causes a serious risk of preanalytical errors in assays for NT-proBNP and, to a lesser extent, NT-proANP. The development of a sandwich assay for NT-proBNP would be especially challenging. The most robust and reliable assays use antibodies directed at the central portions of NT-proANP or NT-proBNP.
Did the 1980s in Latin America Need to Be a Lost Decade

In 1979, the Federal Reserve Board, led by Chairman Paul Volcker, drastically raised the federal funds rate as part of their efforts for taming inflation. As a consequence of this increase, borrowing costs for Mexico rose substantially. Eventually the country suspended its debt payments in 1982, which was followed by an economic crisis and seven years of little to no access to foreign credit. In this paper we use a standard sovereign default model to explore the extent to which the rise in U.S. interest rates caused the default in Mexico. We find that, even if interest rates had remained low, Mexico would still have defaulted. We then extend the model to allow for endogenous re-entry to financial markets via debt restructuring. Within this framework we analyze whether the crisis could have been shorter and less severe had interest rates remained low.
Dyskerin expression influences the level of ribosomal RNA pseudo‐uridylation and telomerase RNA component in human breast cancer

Dyskerin is a nucleolar protein, altered in dyskeratosis congenita, which carries out two separate functions, both fundamental for proliferating cells. One function is the pseudo‐uridylation of ribosomal RNA (rRNA) molecules, necessary for their processing, and the other is the stabilization of the telomerase RNA component, necessary for telomerase activity. A significant feature of dyskeratosis congenita is an increased susceptibility to cancer; so far, however, no data have been reported on dyskerin changes in human tumours. Therefore, in this study, the distribution of dyskerin in a large series of human tumours from the lung, breast, and colon, as well as from B‐cell lymphomas, was analysed by immunohistochemistry. Dyskerin proved never to be lost or delocalized outside the nucleolus. A quantitative analysis of dyskerin mRNA expression was then performed in 70 breast carcinomas together with the evaluation of telomerase RNA component levels and rRNA pseudo‐uridylation. Dyskerin mRNA levels were highly variable and directly associated with both telomerase RNA component levels and rRNA pseudo‐uridylation. Dyskerin gene silencing in the MCF‐7 human breast carcinoma cell line reduced telomerase activity and rRNA pseudo‐uridylation. Significantly, patients with low dyskerin expression were characterized by a better clinical outcome than those with a high dyskerin level. These data indicate that dyskerin is not lost in human cancers and that the levels of its expression and function are associated with tumour progression. Copyright © 2006 Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Occult hepatitis B virus infection is associated with the development of hepatocellular carcinoma in chronic hepatitis C patients

Occult hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection frequently occurs in patients with HBV surface antigen (HBsAg)‐negative chronic liver disease, and much evidence suggests that it is a risk factor for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) development. However, to the authors' knowledge, no follow‐up study has been performed to date evaluating HCC occurrence over time in chronic hepatitis patients with or without occult HBV infection.
Patients' Satisfaction With Male Versus Female Physicians: A Meta-analysis

ContextFemale physicians have a more patient-centered practice style than male physicians, and patient satisfaction is predicted by a more patient-centered practice style. ObjectivesTo assess whether there is a difference in patients' satisfaction with male versus female physicians and to examine moderators of this effect. Data SourcesMEDLINE and PsycINFO databases and citation search through 2009, using keywords pertaining to patient satisfaction and physician sex. Study SelectionEnglish-language articles that compared patients' satisfaction in relation to their physicians' sex. Only studies of actual patients and physicians, including postgraduate trainees, were included. Forty-five studies reporting 28 effect sizes met inclusion criteria. Data ExtractionTwo coders independently extracted effect sizes (point-biserial correlations) and coded study attributes, then resolved disagreements through discussion. ResultsThe satisfaction difference between male and female physicians was extremely small (r < 0.04), but was statistically significant (P < 0.05) in a random effects model. Significant moderators showed that the difference favored female physicians most when physicians were less experienced, when physicians and patients were newly acquainted, when satisfaction pertained to a specific visit, when satisfaction was measured right after a visit, and when patients were younger. There was also significant variation depending on where satisfaction was measured. ConclusionsFemale physicians are not evaluated as highly by their patients, relative to male physicians, as one would expect based on their practice style and patients' values. Reasons for this disparity are discussed.