Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Low Phytoestrogen Levels in Feed Increase Fetal Serum Estradiol Resulting in the “Fetal Estrogenization Syndrome” and Obesity in CD-1 Mice

Background Although estrogenic chemicals can disrupt development of the reproductive system, there is debate about whether phytoestrogens in soy are beneficial, benign, or harmful. Objectives We compared reproductive and metabolic characteristics in male and female mice reared and maintained on non-soy low-phytoestrogen feed or soy-based high-phytoestrogen feed. Methods The low-phytoestrogen diet was non-soy PMI 5K96 (verified casein diet), and the high-phytoestrogen diet consisted of soy-based PMI 5008 during pregnancy and lactation and soy-based PMI 5001 maintenance feed after weaning. Results In fetuses whose mothers consumed the low-phytoestrogen PMI 5K96 feed, we found a paradoxical significant elevation in endogenous serum estradiol, which was associated postnatally with adverse reproductive outcomes referred to as the “fetal estrogenization syndrome (FES)”. In females, this syndrome included early puberty and increased uterine responsiveness to estrogen, and in males, it included reduced testis, epididymis, and seminal vesicle size, but an enlarged prostate. The low-phytoestrogen–fed males and females were lighter at birth, but, between weaning and adulthood, they became obese and developed abnormally high serum leptin levels; these males, but not females, showed impaired glucose regulation. Conclusions Removing phytoestrogens from mouse feed produces an obese phenotype consistent with metabolic syndrome, and the associated reproductive system abnormalities are consistent with FES due to elevated endogenous fetal estradiol. Laboratory rodents may have become adapted to high-phytoestrogen intake over many generations of being fed soy-based commercial feed; removing all phytoestrogens from feed leads to alterations that could disrupt many types of biomedical research.
Co-composting of horticultural waste with fruit peels, food waste, and soybean residues

Horticultural waste was co-composted with fruit peels, food waste, and soybean residues individually to evaluate the effects of these easily available organic wastes in Singapore on the composting process and product quality. Each co-composting material was mixed with horticultural waste in the wet weight ratio of 1:1 and composted for 46 days. Results showed that all co-composting materials accelerated the degradation of total carbon and resulted in higher nutrients of nitrogen (N), phosphorous (P), and potassium (K) in the final product compared with horticultural waste alone. Mixture with fruit peels achieved the fastest total carbon loss; however, did not reach the minimum required temperature for pathogen destruction. The end product was found to be the best source for K and had a higher pH that could be used for the remediation of acidic soil. Food waste resulted in the highest available nitrate (NO3-N) content in the end product, but caused high salt content, total coliforms, and slower total carbon loss initially. Soybean residues were found to be the best co-composting material to produce compost with high N, P, and K when compared with other materials due to the highest temperature, fastest total carbon loss, fastest reduction in C/N ratio, and best conservation of nutrients.
Field trial of four cowside antibiotic-residue screening tests.

Four commercially available screening tests for antibiotic residues in milk were evaluated for their ability to correctly identify the antibiotic status of cows. A field trial, which included 199 cows from 2 herds, was conducted. Sensitivity, specificity, and likelihood ratios for a positive test result were calculated by using the Bacillus stearothermophilus var calidolactis disk assay as the reference test. The relationship of risk factors to the probability of a false-positive result for each screening test was modeled by use of unconditional logistic regression. The risk factors evaluated in these models were loge somatic cell count (scc), intramammary infection, herd, milk appearance, time milk sample frozen before tested, days in lactation, parity, and manufacturer's lot number. The risk factors log(e) scc and intramammary infection were forced into all models. The overall specificities for the 4 tests ranged from 0.78 to 0.95, whereas likelihood ratios for a positive test result ranged from 4.54 to 20.0. When the confounding of cofactors was controlled in the logistic model, there was a positive effect of log(e) scc on the probability of a false-positive result for 3 of the screening tests, that is, for incremental increases in log(e) scc, there was an increasing likelihood for a false-positive result. In some of the tests, parity and intramammary infection also influenced the likelihood of a false-positive result. The goal of cowside testing is to assist in the production of high-quality, antibiotic residue-free milk from dairies. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Revisiting the origin of the high metallicities of sub-damped Lyman-alpha systems

Sub-damped Lyman-alpha systems (sub-DLAs) have previously been found to exhibit a steeper metallicity evolution than the classical damped Lyman-alpha systems (DLAs), evolving to close to solar metallicity by z∼ 1. From new high-resolution spectra of 17 sub-DLAs, we have increased the number of measurements of [Fe/H] at z 1.7 are statistically consistent. We also present the first evidence that sub-DLAs follow a velocity width–metallicity correlation over the same velocity range as DLAs, but the relation is offset to higher metallicities than the DLA relation. On the basis of these results, we revisit the previous explanation that the systematically higher metallicities observed in sub-DLAs are indicative of higher host galaxy masses. We discuss the various problems that this interpretation encounters and conclude that in general sub-DLAs are not uniquely synonymous with massive galaxies. We rule out physically related sources of bias (dust, environment, ionization effects) and examine systematics associated with the selection and analysis of low-redshift sub-DLAs. We propose that the high metallicities of sub-DLAs at z < 1.7 that drives an apparently steep evolution may be due to the selection of most low-redshift sub-DLAs based on their high Mg ii equivalent widths.
Mutual Fund Shareholder Letter Tone – Do Investors Listen?

Fund companies regularly send shareholder letters to their investors. We use textual analysis to investigate whether these letters matter for fund flows and whether they predict performance and investment styles. We find that fund investors react to the writing style of shareholder letters; a less negative tone and a personal writing style lead to higher net flows. Thus, fund companies can use shareholder letters as a strategic instrument to avoid redemptions. Letter writing style is informative for fund investors as it predicts changes in fund managers' risk taking and investment styles. A personal writing style additionally predicts better fund performance.
Heating Process in Pasteurization and not in Sterilization Decreases the Iodine Concentration of Milk

Background: Iodine is a vital component of the thyroid hormones and is required for normal growth, development, and tissue metabolism in humans and animals. Objectives: This study for the first time compares the effects of heating during pasteurization and sterilization on the iodine concentration of milk for an adequate provision of dietary iodine. Materials and Methods: This study was carried out on multiparous Holstein Friesian lactating cows. Thirty Holstein dairy cows were fed with a diet containing 10 mg of potassium iodide (KI) per kilogram dry matter of diet. Milk samples were obtained on days 4 and 2 before and again on days 2, 4, 6, and 8 after the inclusion of KI into the total mixed ration diet of the dairy cows. The milk samples were sterilized using ultra-high temperature, following which the effect of the heating process during sterilization on the cows’ iodine concentration was compared to that in the only previous documented study from Iran in which milk supplementation with KI was the same as ours. Milk in that study was pasteurized via the high-temperature short-time method, a method which involves temperatures in excess of 73°C for durations longer than 15 seconds. Results: The inclusion of KI in the diet of the dairy cows in these 2 separate experiments increased their milk iodine levels. Pasteurization decreased the iodine content of the milk (P < 0.05), while no significant difference was observed in the iodine concentration of the sterilized milk. Conclusions: The present study showed that the iodine concentration is not decreased during the heating process in sterilization, indicating that supplemented sterilized milk could be a good alternative vehicle for dietary iodine in the prevention of iodine deficiency.
Spectral Learning of General Latent-Variable Probabilistic Graphical Models : A Supervised Learning Approach

In this CS 229 project, I designed, proved and tested a new spectral learning algorithm for learning probabilistic graphical models with latent variables by reducing the hard learning problem into a pipeline of supervised learning tasks. This new algorithmic framework can provide us with more learning power by giving us the freedom to plug in all different kinds of supervised learning algorithms into certain slots that can better fit the model. I also demonstrated the effectiveness of this new spectral learning algorithm through experimenting with a learning task in computational biology called DNA Splicing Sites Classification.
Myocardial Stunning with Hemodialysis: Clinical Challenges of the Cardiorenal Patient

We discuss the current state of knowledge related to the pathogenesis of myocardial stunning as well as the potential mechanisms responsible for the clinical presentation of myocardial stunning in hemodialysis patients. We suggest future research areas for this critical and clinically important condition in this high-risk patient population. In consideration of acute and chronic changes secondary to dialysis, especially in patients with risk for coronary artery disease, the prevalence of myocardial stunning and its role in the natural history of these patients’ disease progression is considered. We propose a paradigm: that the majority of the pathophysiologic mechanisms by which hemodialysis may induce myocardial stunning falls into two categories with (1) vascular and/or (2) metabolic contributions. In order to prevent eventual myocardial hibernation, myocardial remodeling, scarring, and loss of contractile function with aberrant electrical conductivity that could lead to sudden death, it is imperative to identify the risk factors associated with myocardial stunning during hemodialysis. Further understanding of these mechanisms may lead to novel clinical interventions and pharmacologic therapeutic agents.
MOTIVATIONAL AND SELF-REGULATED LEARNING COMPONENTS OF CLASSROOM ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE

Self-regulated learning (SRL) is learning that is guided by metacognition, strategic action and motivation to learn. Self- regulation of cognition and behavior is an important aspect of student learning. However, knowledge of cognitive and metacognitive strategies is usually not enough to promote student achievement. Students also must be motivated to use the strategies as well as regulate their cognition and effort. This study determines the relationships between motivational and self-regulated learning dimensions. The theoretical framework for conceptualizing students motivation is adaptation of a general expectancy–value model constructed by Eccles (1983). The study was conducted in Kolej Universiti Islam Antarabangsa Selangor (KUIS). 50 questionnaires have been administrated personally to Bachelor of Accounting (Hons) students. The findings revealed that self–efficacy has strong relationship towards motivational as compared to intrinsic value. Meanwhile, cognitive strategy used and self-regulation has strong relationship towards selfregulated learning.
Tonotopic Optimization for Temporal Processing in the Cochlear Nucleus

In the auditory system, sounds are processed in parallel frequency-tuned circuits, beginning in the cochlea. Auditory nerve fibers reflect this tonotopy and encode temporal properties of acoustic stimuli by “locking” discharges to a particular stimulus phase. However, physiological constraints on phase-locking depend on stimulus frequency. Interestingly, low characteristic frequency (LCF) neurons in the cochlear nucleus improve phase-locking precision relative to their auditory nerve inputs. This is proposed to arise through synaptic integration, but the postsynaptic membrane's selectivity for varying levels of synaptic convergence is poorly understood. The chick cochlear nucleus, nucleus magnocellularis (NM), exhibits tonotopic distribution of both input and membrane properties. LCF neurons receive many small inputs and have low input thresholds, whereas high characteristic frequency (HCF) neurons receive few, large synapses and require larger currents to spike. NM therefore presents an opportunity to study how small membrane variations interact with a systematic topographic gradient of synaptic inputs. We investigated membrane input selectivity and observed that HCF neurons preferentially select faster input than their LCF counterparts, and that this preference is tolerant of changes to membrane voltage. We then used computational models to probe which properties are crucial to phase-locking. The model predicted that the optimal arrangement of synaptic and membrane properties for phase-locking is specific to stimulus frequency and that the tonotopic distribution of input number and membrane excitability in NM closely tracks a stimulus-defined optimum. These findings were then confirmed physiologically with dynamic-clamp simulations of inputs to NM neurons. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT One way that neurons represent temporal information is by phase-locking, which is discharging in response to a particular phase of the stimulus waveform. In the auditory system, central neurons are optimized to retain or improve phase-locking precision compared with input from the auditory nerve. However, the difficulty of this computation varies systematically with stimulus frequency. We examined properties that contribute to temporal processing both physiologically and in a computational model. Neurons processing low-frequency input benefit from integration of many weak inputs, whereas those processing higher frequencies progressively lose precision by integration of multiple inputs. Here, we reveal general features of input-output optimization that apply to all neurons that process time varying input.
Particle-assisted GaxIn1−xP nanowire growth for designed bandgap structures

Non-tapered vertically straight GaxIn1−xP nanowires were grown in a compositional range from Ga0.2In0. 8P to pure GaP in particle-assisted mode by controlling the trimethylindium, trimethylgallium and hydrogen chloride flows in metal–organic vapor phase epitaxy. X-ray energy dispersive spectroscopy in transmission electron microscopy revealed homogeneous radial material composition in single nanowires, whereas variations in the material composition were found along the nanowires. High-resolution x-ray diffraction indicates a variation of the material composition on the order of about 19% measuring an entire sample area, i.e., including edge effects during growth. The non-capped nanowires emit room temperature photoluminescence strongly in the energy range of 1.43–2.16 eV, correlated with the bandgap expected from the material composition.
Impact of Indian Cinema on Adolescents: A Sociological Study of Jaipur-Rajasthan, India

The term adolescence meaning “to emerge” or “achieve identity” is a relatively new concept, especially in development thinking. The origins of the term from the Latin word, ‘adolescere’ meaning “to grow, to mature” indicate the defining features of adolescence. A human being starts communicating as soon as he starts producing his first noise in the act of drawing his parents’ attention. Every emotion that we portray on our faces, the movement of our hands, the way we look at someone and our speech instantly communicates our ideas to others. Communication is highly necessary for our society, as it is only through exchange of ideas and co-operation that a society can grow and develop. This study is, therefore, timely as the society needs to be made aware of the influence of Cinema on the social and moral turnout of the viewers. Via this study, an attempt has been made to evaluate the social implications of Impact of Cinema on Indian Adolescents “A Sociological Study of Jaipur” Therefore the current study proves that for adolescent Viewing Cinema as a powerful medium of information, education and entertainment results in the process of opinion building in various social groups. And cinema is the medium of cinema reciprocates in bringing a social change. And at-last it can be concluded that adolescents are very much influenced by the cinema and they inhale psychological, cultural, sociological changes along with the drastic changes in lifestyle, behavior, and so on.
Tumor necrosis factor and IFN induce a common set of proteins.

The treatment of cells with TNF or IFN results in the development of an antiviral state and in the induction of a common set of proteins with m.w. of 80,000, 67,000, and 56,000. The induction of the 80,000- and 56,000-Da proteins after TNF treatment is dependent on the synthesis of an intermediary protein, whereas the induction of the 67,000-Da protein appears to occur as a direct result of the TNF treatment. The effects of antibodies to IFN on the TNF-mediated effects have been evaluated and reveal that the incubation of TNF-treated cells with antibody to rIFN-beta 1 greatly reduces the antiviral effectiveness of the TNF treatment and blocks the ability of TNF to induce the 80,000-Da protein. Incubation with antibodies to either IFN-alpha or IFN-gamma failed to affect the TNF-mediated responses. Thus, the induction by TNF of each of the proteins is regulated differently and is mediated through both IFN-dependent and IFN-independent mechanisms.
Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and the risk of cancer: a mendelian randomization study.

BACKGROUND Low plasma levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol are associated with an increased risk of cancer, but whether this association is causal is unclear. METHODS We studied 10 613 participants in the Copenhagen City Heart Study (CCHS) and 59 566 participants in the Copenhagen General Population Study, 6816 of whom had developed cancer by May 2009. Individuals were genotyped for PCSK9 R46L (rs11591147), ABCG8 D19H (rs11887534), and APOE R112C (rs429358) and R158C (rs7412) polymorphisms, all of which are associated with lifelong reduced plasma LDL cholesterol levels. Plasma LDL cholesterol was calculated using the Friedewald equation in samples in which the triglyceride level was less than 354 mg/dL and measured directly by colorimetry for samples with higher triglyceride levels. Risk of cancer was estimated prospectively using Cox proportional hazards regression analyses and cross-sectionally by logistic regression analyses. Causality was studied using instrumental variable analysis. All statistical tests were two-sided. RESULTS In the CCHS, compared with plasma LDL cholesterol levels greater than the 66th percentile (>158 mg/dL), those lower than the 10th percentile (< 87 mg/dL) were associated with a 43% increase (95% confidence interval [CI] = 15% to 79% increase) in the risk of cancer. The polymorphisms were associated with up to a 38% reduction (95% CI = 36% to 41% reduction) in LDL cholesterol levels but not with increased risk of cancer. The causal odds ratio for cancer for a 50% reduction in plasma LDL cholesterol level due to all the genotypes in both studies combined was 0.96 (95% CI = 0.87 to 1.05), whereas the hazard ratio of cancer for a 50% reduction in plasma LDL cholesterol level in the CCHS was 1.10 (95% CI = 1.01 to 1.21) (P for causal odds ratio vs observed hazard ratio = .03). CONCLUSION Low plasma LDL cholesterol levels were robustly associated with an increased risk of cancer, but genetically decreased LDL cholesterol was not. This finding suggests that low LDL cholesterol levels per se do not cause cancer.
The GW/LT3 VarDial 2016 Shared Task System for Dialects and Similar Languages Detection

This paper describes the GW/LT3 contribution to the 2016 VarDial shared task on the identification of similar languages (task 1) and Arabic dialects (task 2). For both tasks, we experimented with Logistic Regression and Neural Network classifiers in isolation. Additionally, we implemented a cascaded classifier that consists of coarse and fine-grained classifiers (task 1) and a classifier ensemble with majority voting for task 2. The submitted systems obtained state-of-the art performance and ranked first for the evaluation on social media data (test sets B1 and B2 for task 1), with a maximum weighted F1 score of 91.94%.
Uremia-associated cardiovascular and lung injury

A 23-year-old woman presented to the emergency department with severe dyspnea. She reported progressively worsening dyspnea during the previous 2 weeks. She had a history of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) due to chronic glomerulonephritis. The patient had been maintained on peritoneal dialysis (PD) for 3 years. The PD prescription consisted of three 2 L exchanges per day, 1.5% dextrose solutions. Chemistries were significant for a parathyroid hormone of 146.7 pmol/L (normal, 1.3–9.3 pmol/L), phosphorous of 3.52 mmol/L (normal, 0.8–1.65 mmol/L) and serum calcium of 2.54 mmol/L (normal, 2.1–2.6 mmol/L). The chest radiograph showed a typical picture of congestive heart failure with cardiomegaly and ground glass opacity changes in both lung fields. Transthoracic echocardiography revealed a dilated left ventricle and left atrium with cardiac muscle and left ventricular papillary muscle echo enhancement (Figure 1). Chest computed tomography (CT) images showed left atrium and ventricle dilatation. CT images also showed myocardium, lung and coronary artery calcification (Figure 2). The results of single-photon emission CT technetium-99m methoxyisobutylisonitrile (SPECT 99mTc-MIBI) showed that the mild reductions of 99mTc-MIBI uptake were found in anterior, posterior and posterolateral segments of the left ventricular due to myocardial damage.
The Na, K-ATPase alpha3-isoform specifically localizes in the Schmidt-Lanterman incisures of human nerve.

INTRODUCTION To our knowledge, there is little reference in literature with regards to alpha3-isoform of Na+,K+-ATPase in human peripheral nerves. The aim of this study was to determine the expression of the neuronal alpha3-isoform of Na+,K+-ATPase in human sural nerves from patients with a permanent medullary central nervous system injury. MATERIALS AND METHODS We studied the immunolocalization of alpha3-isoform of Na+,K+-ATPase using a polyclonal antibody against the amino sequence near the phosphorylation site of the alpha3-isoforms of Na+,K+-ATPase using immunohistochemistry and confocal laser scanning microscopy. An antibody specific for alpha2-isoform of Na+,K+-ATPase was used to label the Schwann cells. RESULTS Morphometric analysis of longitudinal section of human sural nerves showed that the alpha3-isoform of Na+,K+-ATPase was distributed along the length of axolemma. The myelin sheath of the Schwann cells showed clearly a distribution of alpha3- but not alpha2-isoforms of Na+,K+-ATPase at the level of Schmidt-Lanterman incisures. CONCLUSION The human sural nerve shows a specific localization of the Na+,K+-ATPase alpha3-isoform in the Schmidt-Lanterman incisures of Schwann cells in addition to its localization in axonal membranes.