Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Cryopreservation of Babesia bovis for in vitro cultivation

Summary The most efficient procedure for cryopreserving viable Babesia bovis organisms for in vitro cultivation consists of freezing extracellular parasites in a solution of 10% (w/v) polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) using a cooling rate of 20 °C/min. Although cultures can be established from thawed infected erythrocytes, the plating efficiency is relatively low. Freezing extracellular parasites resulted in plating efficiency up to 25%, when thawed and placed in culture. Glycerin or dimethyl sulphoxide (Me2SO) can be used successfully in the cryopreservation of B. bovis, but apparent toxic effects greatly decrease their efficiency. B. bovis parasites have been kept at − 196 °C for 60 days with no appreciable reduction in plating efficiency.
Does Corporate Tax Avoidance Impair Earnings Informativeness?

We investigate a previously overlooked type of non-tax cost associated with tax avoidance: the potential loss of earnings informativeness. Expected benefits from corporate tax planning include positive effects on after-tax earnings and an increase in firm value. However, tax avoidance can entail opaqueness which clouds investors’ view on firm performance and reduce earnings informativeness. We run multiple tests on a large U.S. firm sample over the period 1993 to 2012. First, we find that tax avoidance is significantly negatively associated with earnings informativeness, as measured by the Earnings Response Coefficient (ERC) derived from a standard pricing model. Second, we introduce a dynamic partial adjustment model to study the overall firm information quality and show that firms may not be able to compensate for the tax-related loss in earnings informativeness, e.g. by providing other (non-earnings) information. Third, we extend our research design to better control for a number of factors known to affect the ERC, such as firm growth, risk, size, and leverage (Collins and Kothari [1989]). Beyond GAAP and Cash effective tax rates, we use a range of alternative tax avoidance proxies (e.g. Frank, Lynch and Rego’s [2009] DTAX measure, Wilson’s [2009] tax shelter probabilities) to further validate our findings. Results consistently suggest that higher levels of tax avoidance are associated with lower earnings informativeness and that this finding is likely not limited to particularly aggressive types of tax avoidance.
A Novel Multi-hop Broadcast Protocol for Vehicular Safety Applications

Many safety applications in Vehicular Ad hoc Networks (VANETs) are based on broadcast. Designing a broadcast protocol that satisfies VANET applications' requirements is very crucial. In this paper, we propose a reliable and efficient multi-hop broadcast routing protocol for VANETs. The proposed protocol provides the strict reliability in various traffic conditions. This protocol also performs low overhead by means of reducing rebroadcast redundancy in a high-density network environment. We also propose an enhanced multipoint relay (MPR) selection algorithm that considers vehicles' mobility and then use it for relay node selection. We show the performance analysis of the proposed protocol by simulation with ns-2 in different conditions, and give the simulation results demonstrating effectiveness of the proposed protocol compared with other VANET broadcast schemes.
New insights from the British doctors study

Risks for persistent smoking are substantially larger than previously suspected The cause of the sharp increase in lung cancer rates that began early in the last century was not well established until Richard Doll and colleagues presented the initial findings from the British doctors study exactly 50 years ago.1 That paper and the updates that followed provided irrefutable evidence showing the extraordinarily adverse health consequences of cigarette smoking. The current report represents far more than a celebratory milestone in public health.2 With the extended follow up of the British doctors cohort, this new report provides critical new information and convincingly shows that the risks for persistent cigarette smoking are actually substantially larger than had previously been suspected. Indeed, this study shows that about half to two thirds of all persistent cigarette smokers will eventually be killed by their habit. This study shows that with successive age cohorts, reflecting earlier ages at initiation, the death …
Anticipatory Effects on Lower Extremity Neuromechanics During a Cutting Task.

CONTEXT Continued research into the mechanism of noncontact anterior cruciate ligament injury helps to improve clinical interventions and injury-prevention strategies. A better understanding of the effects of anticipation on landing neuromechanics may benefit training interventions. OBJECTIVE To determine the effects of anticipation on lower extremity neuromechanics during a single-legged land-and-cut task. DESIGN Controlled laboratory study. SETTING University biomechanics laboratory. PARTICIPANTS Eighteen female National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I collegiate soccer players (age = 19.7 ± 0.8 years, height = 167.3 ± 6.0 cm, mass = 66.1 ± 2.1 kg). INTERVENTION(S) Participants performed a single-legged land-and-cut task under anticipated and unanticipated conditions. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S) Three-dimensional initial contact angles, peak joint angles, and peak internal joint moments and peak vertical ground reaction forces and sagittal-plane energy absorption of the 3 lower extremity joints; muscle activation of selected hip- and knee-joint muscles. RESULTS Unanticipated cuts resulted in less knee flexion at initial contact and greater ankle toe-in displacement. Unanticipated cuts were also characterized by greater internal hip-abductor and external-rotator moments and smaller internal knee-extensor and external-rotator moments. Muscle-activation profiles during unanticipated cuts were associated with greater activation of the gluteus maximus during the precontact and landing phases. CONCLUSIONS Performing a cutting task under unanticipated conditions changed lower extremity neuromechanics compared with anticipated conditions. Most of the observed changes in lower extremity neuromechanics indicated the adoption of a hip-focused strategy during the unanticipated condition.
Improving health by fighting the sedentary lifestyle

120 Corresponding author: Jorge Mota: Faculty of Sport, University of Porto, Rua Dr. Placido Costa, 91, 4200-450 Porto, Portugal • Tel: 00351225074785 • Fax: 00351225500689 • Email: jmota@fade.up. pt Copyright ©2012 CIAFEL. This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/deed.en). You are free: to share to copy, distribute and transmit the work, provided the original author and source are credited. Editorial DOI: 10.5628/aehd.v3i1-2.119
Lessons From Computer Intrusion at TJX

In January, 2007, TJX reported that it had suffered from a computer intrusion. The company was sure neither of the identity of the perpetrators nor of how many customers were affected. A deeper analysis revealed that the intrusion had started earlier and affected more customers than previously thought. Ensuing investigation concluded that TJX was collecting unnecessary information, keeping it for too long and employing obsolete and insufficient safeguards. TJX denied any wrongdoing but implemented most of the recommended remedies to strengthen their security.
Mixed AC/DC-coupled averaging technique for ADC nonlinearity reduction

A new combined AC/DC-coupled output averaging technique for input amplifier design of flash analog-to-digital converters (ADC) is presented. The new offset averaging design technique takes full advantages of traditional DC-coupled resistance averaging and AC-coupled capacitance averaging techniques to minimize offset-induced ADC nonlinearities. Circuit analysis allows selection of optimum resistance and capacitance averaging factors to achieve maximum offset reduction in ADC designs. The new averaging method was verified in designing a 4bits 1Gs/s flash ADC that was implemented in foundry 0. 13μm CMOS technology.
Network lifetime enhancement in wireless sensor network using network coding

Power management is the key issue in the design and operation of wireless network applications like sensor networks, pervasive computing and ubiquitous computing where the network is primarily driven by battery-powered embedded devices. This paper studies network coding as power minimization technique. Network coding is a new research area that may have interesting applications in practical networking systems. With network coding, intermediate nodes may send out packets that are linear combinations of previously received information. Thus network coding reduces the power consumption by minimizing the number of transmissions required to communicate a given amount of information across the network. Hence it improves the lifetime of the network when network coding is being applied. This paper explains what is network coding and the benefits of network coding. Evaluation results indicate that the proposed solution is more efficient than no-network coding solution while still meeting the required lifetime constraints.
The development of human sera tests for HDL-bound serum PON1 and its lipolactonase activitys⃞ Published, JLR Papers in Press, April 13, 2007.

Serum paraoxonase (PON1) is a lipolactonase that associates with HDL-apolipoprotein A-I (HDL-apoA-I) and thereby plays a role in the prevention of atherosclerosis. Current sera tests make use of promiscuous substrates and provide no indications regarding HDL-PON1 complex formation. We developed new enzymatic tests that detect total PON1 levels, irrespective of HDL status and R/Q polymorphism, as well as the degree of catalytic stimulation and increased stability that follow PON1's tight binding to HDL-apoA-I. The tests are based on measuring total PON1 levels with a fluorogenic phosphotriester, measuring the lipolactonase activity with a chromogenic lactone, and assaying the enzyme's chelator-mediated inactivation rate. The latter two are affected by tight HDL binding and thereby derive the levels of the serum PON1-HDL complex. We demonstrate these new tests with a group of healthy individuals (n = 54) and show that the levels of PON1-HDL vary by a factor of 12. Whereas the traditionally applied paraoxonase and arylesterase tests weakly reflect PON1-HDL levels (R = 0.64), the lipolactonase test provides better correlation (R = 0.80). These new tests indicate the levels and activity of PON1 in a physiologically relevant context as well as the levels and quality of the HDL particles with which the enzyme is associated.
Ultrasound versus magnetic resonance arthrography in acetabular labral tear diagnostics: a prospective comparison in 20 dysplastic hips

Background: Acetabular labral tears are highly associated with hip dysplasia. Magnetic resonance arthrography (MR arthrography) is the expensive and time-consuming contemporary gold-standard method in the radiological assessment of acetabular labral tears. Purpose: To assess the diagnostic ability of noninvasive ultrasound (US) examination compared to MR arthrography in diagnosing acetabular labral tears in dysplastic hip joints. Material and Methods: The study compared US examination and MR arthrography diagnosis of labral tears in 20 consecutively referred dysplastic hip joints. Results: The ability to diagnose acetabular labral tears upon US examination was calculated: sensitivity 44%, specificity 75%, positive predictive value 88%, and negative predictive value 25%. Conclusion: The ability of US examination in diagnosing acetabular labral tears is not yet good enough. The technique is still to be developed, and more experience, especially with the interpretation of US examinations, is needed.
Mechanical health assessment of a railway traction system

The AC electrical machines have been used in railway traction systems for about 40 years ago. The main advantage of this choice is to discard the power limitation and permits high power light-weight drives. This enable constructor to achieve higher traction speed and this area now is in permanent development. In this way, the security and reliability of the system becomes more important. The railway traction has a complex structure and the diagnosis of the electromechanical system based on non invasive electrical sensors becomes the interest of research in recent years. In this paper, a test-bed based on a real traction bogie is proposed to study machine current signature analysis for mechanical condition monitoring.
Identification de Classes Sémantiques Basée sur des Mesures de Proximité Sémantique

L’acquisition de relations sémantiques tend à s’automatiser. Cependant, leur validation reste une tâche manuelle sujette aux erreurs. Les mesures de similarité basées sur l’hypothèse distributionnelle harissienne (Harris, 1954) permettent de suggérer l’existence d’une relation sémantique entre deux entités lexicales, mais n’apportent pas d’indication quant à leur éventuelle classe sémantique contrairement à la méthode d’Hearst (Hearst, 1992) basée sur des motifs syntaxiques. Cependant, cette dernière ne permet pas de juger la validité des relations extraites. Oliveira (Costa et al., 2011) croise les deux méthodes dans une approche basée sur le web permettant l’obtention de mesures de proximité sémantique indicatives d’une classe sémantique. Cependant, la méthode par seuil utilisée révèle des faiblesses pour distinguer entre elles des relations sémantiques correctes associées à différentes classes sémantiques. Notre objectif principal est d’identifier automatiquement la classe de relations sémantiques. Pour ce faire nous étudions une méthode d’apprentissage de classes sémantiques en fonction de mesures de proximité sémantique associées à des motifs syntaxiques. Dans un premier temps nous présentons les grandes lignes de notre méthode, puis nous exposons l’expérience permettant d’évaluer cette dernière. Enfin, nous discutons des résultats obtenus et concluons en ouvrant sur des perspectives d’évolution. La première étape de la méthode est l’acquisition de mesures de proximité sémantique. Afin d’obtenir ces mesures statistiques, nous avons suivi la méthodologie proposée par (Costa et al., 2011). Nous avons suivi deux pistes d’amélioration des mesures de proximité sémantique avec d’une part la mise en place de contraintes contextuelles (phrase, page web) dans l’expression de cette dernière et d’autre part une analyse de la cohérence entre la relation sémantique cherchée et celles présentes dans les résultats retournés se concrétisant dans un « score de conformité ». La seconde étape de notre méthode configure un algorithme d’apprentissage supervisé (réseau de neurones) afin de permettre l’identification des classes sémantiques associées à des relations en travaillant sur les mesures de proximité créées. Nous avons fait le choix d’un perceptron monocouche pour sa simplicité d’utilisation, sa popularité et son accessibilité avec notamment le package R nnet.
Lumped parameter magnetic circuit model for fractional-slot concentrated-winding interior permanent magnet machines

This paper presents a simplified lumped-parameter magnetic circuit model (MCM) of a fractional-slot concentrated-winding (FSCW) interior permanent magnet (IPM) machine that provides rapid estimates of machine performance for use in machine design optimization software. This model incorporates several key nonlinear phenomena including (i) magnetic saturation; (ii) cross-saturation effects between the d- and q-axes affecting both flux linkages and inductances; (iii) stator slotting effects; and (iv) localized effects due to rotor bridges. A coupled permeance element is proposed that captures the cross-coupling saturation effects along with airgap modeling that captures both radial and tangential airgap flux densities. The MCM is configured to predict key machine performance variables including airgap flux densities, back-EMF, phase and dq-axis inductances, characteristic current, and torque. Finite element (FE) analysis results are presented that match the MCM results quite closely, building confidence in the MCM model.
Reticulon-1 and Reduced Migration toward Chemoattractants by Macrophages Differentiated from the Bone Marrow of Ultraviolet-Irradiated and Ultraviolet-Chimeric Mice

The ability of macrophages to respond to chemoattractants and inflammatory signals is important for their migration to sites of inflammation and immune activity and for host responses to infection. Macrophages differentiated from the bone marrow (BM) of UV-irradiated mice, even after activation with LPS, migrated inefficiently toward CSF-1 and CCL2. When BM cells were harvested from UV-irradiated mice and transplanted into naive mice, the recipient mice (UV-chimeric) had reduced accumulation of elicited monocytes/macrophages in the peritoneal cavity in response to inflammatory thioglycollate or alum. Macrophages differentiating from the BM of UV-chimeric mice also had an inherent reduced ability to migrate toward chemoattractants in vitro, even after LPS activation. Microarray analysis identified reduced reticulon-1 mRNA expressed in macrophages differentiated from the BM of UV-chimeric mice. By using an anti-reticulon-1 Ab, a role for reticulon-1 in macrophage migration toward both CSF-1 and CCL2 was confirmed. Reticulon-1 subcellular localization to the periphery after exposure to CSF-1 for 2.5 min was shown by immunofluorescence microscopy. The proposal that reduced reticulon-1 is responsible for the poor inherent ability of macrophages to respond to chemokine gradients was supported by Western blotting. In summary, skin exposure to erythemal UV radiation can modulate macrophage progenitors in the BM such that their differentiated progeny respond inefficiently to signals to accumulate at sites of inflammation and immunity.
Second-Year Results of an Obesity Prevention Program at The Dow Chemical Company

Objective: Evaluate innovative, evidence-based approaches to organizational/supportive environmental interventions aimed at reducing the prevalence of obesity among Dow employees after 2 years of implementation. Methods: A quasi-experimental study design compared outcomes for two levels of intervention intensity with a control group. Propensity scores were used to weight baseline differences between intervention and control subjects. Difference-in-differences methods and multilevel modeling were used to control for individual and site-level confounders. Results: Intervention participants maintained their weight and body mass index, whereas control participants gained 1.3 pounds and increased their body mass index values by 0.2 over 2 years. Significant differences in blood pressure and cholesterol values were observed when comparing intervention employees with controls. At higher intensity sites, improvements were more pronounced. Conclusions: Environmental interventions at the workplace can support weight management and risk reduction after 2 years.
Fungal genus Hypocrea/Trichoderma: from barcodes to biodiversity

Hypocrea/Trichoderma is a genus of soil-borne or wood-decaying fungi containing members important to mankind as producers of industrial enzymes and biocontrol agents against plant pathogens, but also as opportunistic pathogens of immunocompromised humans and animals, while others can cause damage to cultivated mushroom. With the recent advent of a reliable, BarCode-aided identification system for all known taxa of Trichoderma and Hypocrea, it became now possible to study some of the biological fundamentals of the diversity in this fungal genus in more detail. In this article, we will therefore review recent progress in (1) the understanding of the geographic distribution of individual taxa; (2) mechanisms of speciation leading to development of mushroom diseases and facultative human mycoses; and (3) the possible correlation of specific traits of secondary metabolism and molecular phylogeny.
Calcineurin Is Required for Skeletal Muscle Hypertrophy*

Molecular signaling pathways linking increases in skeletal muscle usage to alterations in muscle size have not been identified. In the present study, we tested the hypothesis that calcineurin, a calcium-regulated phosphatase recently implicated in the signaling of some forms of cardiomyopathic growth, is required to induce skeletal muscle hypertrophy and muscle fiber type conversions associated with functional overload in vivo. Administration of the specific calcineurin inhibitors cyclosporin (CsA) or FK506 to mice, for which the fast plantaris muscle was overloaded for 1–4 weeks, prevented the rapid doubling of mass and individual fiber size and the 4–20-fold increase in the number of slow fibers that characterize this condition. CsA treatment influenced the expression of muscle myofibrillar protein genes in a way reflective of fiber phenotype transformations but only in the long term of the overload condition, suggesting that the control of this growth response by calcineurin is not limited to the transcriptional activation of these muscle-specific genes. Clinically, these results provide insight to the post-surgical muscle wasting and weakness observed in recovering transplant recipients administered therapeutic dosages of these immunosuppressants.
Tobacco Product Use Patterns, and Nicotine and Tobacco-Specific Nitrosamine Exposure: NHANES 1999–2012

Background: Few studies have examined differences in product consumption patterns and nicotine and tobacco-specific nitrosamines (TSNA) exposure between single versus dual- and poly-tobacco users. We applied the Tobacco Product Use Patterns (T-PUPs) model to fill this gap in the literature. Methods: Data from adults (age ≥18 years) who used any tobacco products during the 5 days prior to participating in the 1999–2012 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) were analyzed. Participants were classified into seven T-PUPs: (1) cigarettes only, (2) noncigarette combustibles only, (3) noncombustibles only, (4) dual noncigarette combustibles and noncombustibles, (5) dual cigarettes and noncombustibles, (6) dual cigarettes and noncigarette combustibles, and (7) poly-tobacco use. Weighted regression models were used to compare product consumption, serum cotinine, and urinary total 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanol (i.e., NNAL) levels between single-, dual-, and poly-tobacco T-PUPs. Results: Dual- and poly-tobacco T-PUPs were associated with lower product consumption compared with single-product T-PUPs only in some cases (e.g., dual cigarette and noncombustible users smoked cigarettes on 0.6 fewer days in the past 5 days compared with cigarette-only users; P < 0.05). Dual- and poly-tobacco T-PUPs had either nondistinguishable or higher levels of serum cotinine and urinary total NNAL than corresponding single-product T-PUPs. Conclusions: Product consumption, and nicotine and TSNAs exposure of dual- and poly-tobacco product category users somewhat differ from those of single-product category users as defined by the T-TUPs model. Impact: Higher levels of cotinine and NNAL among dual- and poly-tobacco T-TUPs users compared with the single-product T-TUPs users may indicate health concerns. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev; 26(10); 1525–30. ©2017 AACR.