Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Regulation of de novo adipocyte differentiation through crosstalk between adipocytes and pre-adipocytes Novel adipokines regulating adipocyte differentiation

There are many known adipokines differentially secreted from the different adipose depots, however, their paracrine and autocrine effects on de novo adipocyte formation are not fully understood. By developing a co-culture method of pre-adipocytes with primary subcutaneous and visceral adipocytes or tissue explants, we could show that the total secretome inhibited preadipocyte differentiation. Using a proteomics approach with fractionated secretome samples, we were able to identify a spectrum of factors which either positively or negatively affected adipocyte formation. Among the secreted factors, Slc27a1, Vim, Cp and Ecm1 promoted adipocyte differentiation, whereas Got2, Cpq, Il1rl1/ST2-IL-33, Sparc, and Lgals3bp decreased adipocyte differentiation. In human subcutaneous adipocytes of lean, obese and obese/type 2 diabetic subjects, Vim and Slc27a1 expression was negatively correlated with adipocyte size and body mass index (BMI) and positively correlated with insulin sensitivity, while Sparc and Got2 showed the opposite trend. Furthermore, we demonstrate that Slc27a1 was increased upon weight loss in morbidly obese patients, while Sparc expression was reduced. Taken together, our findings identify adipokines that regulate adipocyte differentiation through positive or negative paracrine and autocrine feedback loop mechanisms, which could potentially affect whole body energy metabolism. Page 2 of 61 Diabetes
Disrupted Brain Circuitry for Pain‐Related Reward/Punishment in Fibromyalgia

While patients with fibromyalgia (FM) are known to exhibit hyperalgesia, the central mechanisms contributing to this altered pain processing are not fully understood. This study was undertaken to investigate potential dysregulation of the neural circuitry underlying cognitive and hedonic aspects of the subjective experience of pain, such as anticipation of pain and anticipation of pain relief.
Eye Movements to Natural Images as a Function of Sex and Personality

Women and men are different. As humans are highly visual animals, these differences should be reflected in the pattern of eye movements they make when interacting with the world. We examined fixation distributions of 52 women and men while viewing 80 natural images and found systematic differences in their spatial and temporal characteristics. The most striking of these was that women looked away and usually below many objects of interest, particularly when rating images in terms of their potency. We also found reliable differences correlated with the images' semantic content, the observers' personality, and how the images were semantically evaluated. Information theoretic techniques showed that many of these differences increased with viewing time. These effects were not small: the fixations to a single action or romance film image allow the classification of the sex of an observer with 64% accuracy. While men and women may live in the same environment, what they see in this environment is reliably different. Our findings have important implications for both past and future eye movement research while confirming the significant role individual differences play in visual attention.
Detailed Comparison of America's Army Game and Unit of Action Experiments

America’s Army game and Unit of Action experiments are simulations of military units. America’s Army is a simulation of a squad level military organization, and the Unit of Action experiments simulate the brigade/battalion level command and control structure. Studies of both these domains reveal that configuring and organizing a unit is important in enhancing its performance. Thus, we may argue that there is a fundamental similarity between the game and the experiment. In this paper, we compare the two simulation analyses in terms of their initial features, results, and recommendations. The comparison of the initial features suggests that both domains use similar explanatory variables, and the comparison of the results shows that the findings of these domains also correspond in many ways. Finally, we investigate different ways of capturing implications in both domains, and based on that, discuss future research issues for the Unit of Action experiments such as developing an ideal communication network or policy by adopting a research method used in the America’s Army analysis.
Effectiveness of rotavirus vaccine in preventing severe gastroenteritis in young children according to socioeconomic status

ABSTRACT In 2011, the monovalent rotavirus vaccine was introduced into a universal immunization program in Quebec (Canada). This retrospective cohort study assessed vaccine effectiveness (VE) in preventing acute gastroenteritis (AGE) and rotavirus gastroenteritis (RVGE) hospitalizations among children <3 y living in the Quebec Eastern Townships region according to socioeconomic status (SES). Data were gathered from a tertiary hospital database paired with a regional immunization registry. Three cohorts of children were followed: (1) vaccinated children born in post-universal vaccination period (2011–2013, n = 5,033), (2) unvaccinated children born in post-universal vaccination period (n = 1,239), and (3) unvaccinated children born in pre-universal vaccination period (2008–2010, n = 6,436). In each cohort, AGE and RVGE hospitalizations were identified during equivalent follow-up periods to calculate VE globally and according to neighborhood-level SES. Using multivariable logistic regression, adjusted odds ratios (OR) were computed to obtain VE (1-OR). Adjusted VE of 2 doses was 62% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 37%–77%) and 94% (95%CI: 52%–99%) in preventing AGE and RVGE hospitalization, respectively. Stratified analyses according to SES showed that children living in neighborhoods with higher rates of low-income families had significantly lower VE against AGE hospitalizations compared to neighborhoods with lower rates of low-income families (30% vs. 78%, p = 0.027). Our results suggest that the rotavirus vaccine is highly effective in preventing severe gastroenteritis in young children, particularly among the most well-off. SES seems to influence rotavirus VE, even in a high-income country like Canada. Further studies are needed to determine factors related to lower rotavirus VE among socioeconomically disadvantaged groups.
Role of Uncoupling Proteins in Cancer

Uncoupling proteins (UCPs) are a family of inner mitochondrial membrane proteins whose function is to allow the re-entry of protons to the mitochondrial matrix, by dissipating the proton gradient and, subsequently, decreasing membrane potential and production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Due to their pivotal role in the intersection between energy efficiency and oxidative stress, UCPs are being investigated for a potential role in cancer. In this review we compile the latest evidence showing a link between uncoupling and the carcinogenic process, paying special attention to their involvement in cancer initiation, progression and drug chemoresistance.
A two-band model for the phase separation induced by the chemical mismatch pressure in different cuprate superconductors

A two-band model is used to study the phase separation in systems with different kinds of strongly correlated charge carrier, with a special emphasis on cuprate superconductors near optimum doping. We show that such a system can decompose into two metallic-like phases with more and less localized carriers. This phase separation is controlled by the energy splitting between the two bands. In cuprate superconductors, this energy splitting can be related to the internal chemical pressure on the CuO2 layer due to interlayer mismatch. The interplay between the surface energy of nanoscale inhomogeneities and the long-range Coulomb interaction determines the geometry of the phase-separated state (droplet- or stripe-like, depending on doping). The model is able to reproduce the regime of phase separation at doping higher than 1/8 in the experimental pressure–doping–Tc phase diagram of cuprates at large microstrain as it appears in superoxygenated La2CuO4.
‘Ideal victims’ in capital penalty hearings: an assessment of victim impact evidence and sentencing outcomes

ABSTRACT Critics have argued that victim impact evidence (VIE) may enhance sentencing biases by encouraging judges and juries to treat some types of victims as worthier than others. Yet, research to date has not utilized trial transcripts to assess differences in the quantity and quality of evidence presented. The current study addresses this gap by utilizing transcripts from Delaware capital sentencing hearings (2001–2011). The results indicated that more VIE witnesses were called and a greater amount of VIE was presented when victims aligned more closely with the cultural stereotype of the ‘ideal victim. ’ ‘Ideal victims’ were also more likely to be described as having contributed to the community and to be associated with the judge issuing a death sentence. However, VIE itself, what witnesses said about victims and their characters, was not correlated with sentencing outcomes. These findings suggest that victim attributes rather than VIE may be driving sentencing bias.
Personal networks and desistance from crime in young offenders

In this article we analyse the structure, composition and relational resources of young offenders’ personal networks in order to identify how they are related to desistance. We present a mixed-methods analysis of a sample of young offenders, either in juvenile custody or on probation in Catalonia’s juvenile justice system. We first construct a typology of personal networks according to their composition and structure. In each of the profiles we conduct a qualitative analysis in order to identify the role of relational resources in desistance processes and the meaning that desisters give to these resources. Results show the different relevance of strong and weak ties according to the characteristics of the network and explain how these ties may contribute to the process of desistance.
Magnetohydrodynamics in the Early Universe and the Damping of Non-linear Alfven Waves

The evolution and viscous damping of cosmic magnetic fields in the early universe is analyzed. Using the fact that the fluid, electromagnetic, and shear viscous energy-momentum tensors are all conformally invariant, the evolution is transformed from the expanding universe setting into that in flat spacetime. Particular attention is paid to the evolution of nonlinear Alfv\'en modes. For a small enough magnetic field, which satisfies our observational constraints, these wave modes either oscillate negligibly or, when they do oscillate, become overdamped. Hence they do not suffer Silk damping on galactic and subgalactic scales. The smallest scale which survives damping depends on the field strength and is of the order of a dimensionless Alfv\'en velocity times the usual baryon-photon Silk damping scale. After recombination, nonlinear effects can convert the Alfv\'en-type mode into compressional, gravitationally unstable waves and seed cosmic structures if the cosmic magnetic field is sufficiently strong.
Opposite Effect of Mast Cell Stabilizers Ketotifen and Tranilast on the Vasoconstrictor Response to Electrical Field Stimulation in Rat Mesenteric Artery

Objectives We analyzed whether mast cell stabilization by either ketotifen or tranilast could alter either sympathetic or nitrergic innervation function in rat mesenteric arteries. Methods Electrical field stimulation (EFS)-induced contraction was analyzed in mesenteric segments from 6-month-old Wistar rats in three experimental groups: control, 3-hour ketotifen incubated (0.1 αmol/L), and 3-hour tranilast incubated (0.1 mmol/L). To assess the possible participation of nitrergic or sympathetic innervation, EFS contraction was analyzed in the presence of non-selective nitric oxide synthase (NOS) inhibitor L-NAME (0.1 mmol/L), α-adrenergic receptor antagonist phentolamine (0.1 µmol/L), or the neurotoxin 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA, 1.46 mmol/L). Nitric oxide (NO) and superoxide anion (O2 .-) levels were measured, as were vasomotor responses to noradrenaline (NA) and to NO donor DEA-NO, in the presence and absence of 0.1 mmol/L tempol. Phosphorylated neuronal NOS (P-nNOS) expression was also analyzed. Results EFS-induced contraction was increased by ketotifen and decreased by tranilast. L-NAME increased the vasoconstrictor response to EFS only in control segments. The vasodilator response to DEA-NO was higher in ketotifen- and tranilast-incubated segments, while tempol increased vasodilator response to DEA-NO only in control segments. Both NO and O2 - release, and P-nNOS expression were diminished by ketotifen and by tranilast treatment. The decrease in EFS-induced contraction produced by phentolamine was lower in tranilast-incubated segments. NA vasomotor response was decreased only by tranilast. The remnant vasoconstriction observed in control and ketotifen-incubated segments was abolished by 6-OHDA. Conclusion While both ketotifen and tranilast diminish nitrergic innervation function, only tranilast diminishes sympathetic innnervation function, thus they alter the vasoconstrictor response to EFS in opposing manners.
A new underdetermined blind source separation algorithm under the anechoic mixing model

This paper includes mixed matrix estimation of underdetermined blind source separation (UBSS) under the anechoic mixing model and introduces single source points to the anechoic mixing model. First, we adopt a clustering algorithm to get the amplitude in the mixing matrix. Then, utilizing the amplitudes, We use a single source point detection method to determine the presence of only one source signal. This algorithm finds that single source points by using the real and the imaginary parts of the TF coefficients of mixed signals. Finally, using the points of single source cluster to obtain the mixing matrix. The results of our experiments indicate it can calculate the mixing matrix accurately under the condition when there are more sources using the proposed algorithm.
A Role for TLR4 in Clostridium difficile Infection and the Recognition of Surface Layer Proteins

Clostridium difficile is the etiological agent of antibiotic-associated diarrhoea (AAD) and pseudomembranous colitis in humans. The role of the surface layer proteins (SLPs) in this disease has not yet been fully explored. The aim of this study was to investigate a role for SLPs in the recognition of C. difficile and the subsequent activation of the immune system. Bone marrow derived dendritic cells (DCs) exposed to SLPs were assessed for production of inflammatory cytokines, expression of cell surface markers and their ability to generate T helper (Th) cell responses. DCs isolated from C3H/HeN and C3H/HeJ mice were used in order to examine whether SLPs are recognised by TLR4. The role of TLR4 in infection was examined in TLR4-deficient mice. SLPs induced maturation of DCs characterised by production of IL-12, TNFα and IL-10 and expression of MHC class II, CD40, CD80 and CD86. Furthermore, SLP-activated DCs generated Th cells producing IFNγ and IL-17. SLPs were unable to activate DCs isolated from TLR4-mutant C3H/HeJ mice and failed to induce a subsequent Th cell response. TLR4−/− and Myd88−/−, but not TRIF−/− mice were more susceptible than wild-type mice to C. difficile infection. Furthermore, SLPs activated NFκB, but not IRF3, downstream of TLR4. Our results indicate that SLPs isolated from C. difficile can activate innate and adaptive immunity and that these effects are mediated by TLR4, with TLR4 having a functional role in experimental C. difficile infection. This suggests an important role for SLPs in the recognition of C. difficile by the immune system.
Improved Arterial Compliance by a Novel Advanced Glycation End-Product Crosslink Breaker

Background—Arterial stiffening with increased pulse pressure is a leading risk factor for cardiovascular disease in the elderly. We tested whether ALT-711, a novel nonenzymatic breaker of advanced glycation end-product crosslinks, selectively improves arterial compliance and lowers pulse pressure in older individuals with vascular stiffening. Methods and Results—Nine US centers recruited and randomly assigned subjects with resting arterial pulse pressures >60 mm Hg and systolic pressures >140 mm Hg to once-daily ALT-711 (210 mg; n=62) or placebo (n=31) for 56 days. Preexisting antihypertensive treatment (90% of subjects) was continued during the study. Morning upright blood pressure, stroke volume, cardiac output, systemic vascular resistance, total arterial compliance, carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity, and drug tolerability were assessed. ALT-711 netted a greater decline in pulse pressures than placebo (−5.3 versus −0.6 mm Hg at day 56;P =0.034 for treatment effect by repeated-measures ANOVA). Systolic pressure declined in both groups, but diastolic pressure fell less with ALT-711 (P =0.056). Mean pressure declined similarly in both groups (−4 mm Hg;P <0.01 for each group, P =0.34 for treatment effect). Total arterial compliance rose 15% in ALT-711–treated subjects versus no change with placebo (P =0.015 versus ALT-711), an effect that did not depend on reduced mean pressure. Pulse wave velocity declined 8% with ALT-711 (P <0.05 at day 56, P =0.08 for treatment effect). Systemic arterial resistance, cardiac output, and heart rate did not significantly change in either group. Conclusions—ALT-711 improves total arterial compliance in aged humans with vascular stiffening, and it may provide a novel therapeutic approach for this abnormality, which occurs with aging, diabetes, and isolated systolic hypertension.
No Longer Newsworthy

Workers in the U.S. have been increasingly invisible since the late 1960s, as the news media shifted their focus to upscale audiences and lost sight of the American working class. This bookcharts the decline of labor reporting and the shift in worker news narratives from a labor-based to a consumer-based perspective during the twentieth century. In the late 1960s and early 1970s, most American newspapers became part of large, publicly traded media companies and refocused their target market from a mass audience to upscale readership. America’s white working class, a segment of the broader working class cut adrift from mainstream journalism, eventually found the rising conservative media – right-wing newspapers, Christian television, vitriolic talk radio, Fox News, and later a host of conservative web sites that specialize in stoking white, working class grievances. The newspaper industry’s upscale turn resulted in a momentous fallout: the decline of labor reporting, changing narratives about workers, the popular deployment of frames tagging labor unions and pro-worker policies as “job killers,” the loss of political voice for the working class, the rise of conservative media, and the conditions for a Donald Trump presidency.
A Longitudinal Analysis of Memory in Patients with Schizophrenia

Memory deficits are widely reported in patients with schizophrenia, but uncertainties remain about the extent and the longitudinal course of these deficits. Twenty-eight patients with a DSM-IV diagnosis of schizophrenia were tested on multiple aspects of memory at baseline, 9- and 18-month follow-up. Measures included: digit span, the Rivermead Behavioural Memory test (RBMT) battery, the Graded Naming Test (GNT) and several computerized memory tests from the Cambridge Automated Neuropsychological Testing Battery (CANTAB). A group of healthy controls (N=17) was tested on the CANTAB battery at baseline and 9-month follow up. The patients performed significantly poorer than controls on all CANTAB measures; however, there was no difference in change between groups over a 9-month period. Within-group patient comparisons revealed that symptoms reduced significantly over the study period, but had no association with memory. Significant improvements were observed for patients on two verbal memory tasks: the GNT and digit span, but not on any other measure. Interestingly, these were the only two tests on which patients were within normal limits at baseline. This study shows that patients with schizophrenia have deficits in multiple aspects of memory which remain stable over long periods of time. In addition, patients showed a tendency to improve on memory tasks which contained a verbal component.
The Relationship Among Ethnic Identity, Psychological Well-being, Academic Achievement, and Intergroup Competence of School-age Hispanic/Latino Youth

The past few decades have witnessed unprecedented changes increase in the numbers of ethnic minorities in our Nations’ public schools. Due to changes in demographic scene of our country, serious concerns have been raised with regards to mental health and academic achievement of school-age children from diverse ethnic backgrounds. The major purpose of the present study was to examine the relationship between a set of psychological well-being variables (life satisfaction, self-esteem, and ethnic identity), mental health (depression), intergroup interactional competence, and academic achievement. A total number of 131 subjects in grades 9 th through 12 th were sampled to participate in the study. All sampled subjects came from low social economic status families of Mexican-American ethnic background. Seven measures were administered to each student in small groups of 10-12 students each. These measures have been found to have adequate reliability and validity in previous studies (Suzuki-Crumly & Hyers, 2004). However, the reliability of all the measures was also assessed in this study and was found to be in the moderate to high range. Implications of the study as well as recommendations for future research in this area are discussed.
Project-based learning with an online peer assessment system in a photonics instruction for enhancing led design skills

This study proposed a novel instructional approach, a two-stage LED simulation of Project-based learning (PBL) course with online peer assessment (OPA), and explored how to apply OPA to the different structured problems in a PBL course to enhance students’ professional skills in LED design as well as meta-cognitive thinking. The participants of the study, 73 junior students were divided into two groups, OPA group (with OPA) and Traditional group (without OPA). The evaluation results were listed as follows. (1) OPA group performed better than Traditional group in concept clarification. (2) For the enhancement of LED design skills in well-structured problem solving, OPA group performed better than Traditional group. (3) For the enhancement of LED design skills in ill-structured problem solving, there was no significant difference between the performances of these two groups. (4) For students’ perception about the effect of OPA applied in PBL, OPA group could benefit from inquiry learning and reflective thinking. Most students agreed that the two-stage LED simulation of PBL course was challenging and interesting and they learned useful things from the course.
Evaluation of a lifetime‐based optode to measure oxygen in aquatic systems

In this article, we evaluate the performance of a commercially available lifetime‐based optode and compare it with data obtained by other methods. We performed a set of 10 different tests, including targeted laboratory evaluations and field studies, covering a wide range of situations from shallow coastal waters and wastewater treatment plants to abyssal depths. Our principal conclusion is that, owing to high accuracy (± 2 µM), long‐term stability (more than 20 months), lack of pressure hysteresis, and limited cross‐sensitivity, this method is overall more suitable for oxygen monitoring than other methods.