Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effects of Milk or Water on Lunch Intake in Preschool Children

In Sweden, milk and milk products are important sources of daily energy intake but the role of milk with preschool lunch meals has been debated frequently and water is often alternatively given today. We studied the effects of milk or water on lunch energy intake. Water or milk alternatively was served in a controlled, within-subject design on 12 occasions to 36 children aged 4-6 years, and energy intake was analysed at an individual level in three typical preschool lunches with a varying degree of preference among the children. When milk was given with the meals, a mean additional energy intake of 17% (p<0.0001) was found. The pattern was similar among boys and girls and irrespective of the lunch dish served. However, for the least preferred dish (fish with potatoes) milk helped to increase the energy intake by 26%. Physical activity measured as MET units (energy expenditure/body weight), atmosphere at the table as registered by a three-graded scale, and meal duration did not differ with meals or milk/water. Milk with preschool lunch meals seems to be a significant source of energy to achieve nutritional goals for this group of children.
Amino Acid Signaling in Yeast: Casein Kinase I and the Ssy5 Endoprotease Are Key Determinants of Endoproteolytic Activation of the Membrane-Bound Stp1 Transcription Factor

ABSTRACT Saccharomyces cerevisiae cells possess a plasma membrane sensor able to detect the presence of extracellular amino acids and then to activate a signaling pathway leading to transcriptional induction of multiple genes, e.g., AGP1, encoding an amino acid permease. This sensing function requires the permease-like Ssy1 and associated Ptr3 and Ssy5 proteins, all essential to activation, by endoproteolytic processing, of the membrane-bound Stp1 transcription factor. The SCFGrr1 ubiquitin-ligase complex is also essential to AGP1 induction, but its exact role in the amino acid signaling pathway remains unclear. Here we show that Stp1 undergoes casein kinase I-dependent phosphorylation. In the yck mutant lacking this kinase, Stp1 is not cleaved and AGP1 is not induced in response to amino acids. Furthermore, we provide evidence that Ssy5 is the endoprotease responsible for Stp1 processing. Ssy5 is significantly similar to serine proteases, its self-processing is a prerequisite for Stp1 cleavage, and its overexpression causes inducer-independent Stp1 cleavage and high-level AGP1 transcription. We further show that Stp1 processing also requires the SCFGrr1 complex but is insensitive to proteasome inhibition. However, Stp1 processing does not require SCFGrr1, Ssy1, or Ptr3 when Ssy5 is overproduced. Finally, we describe the properties of a particular ptr3 mutant that suggest that Ptr3 acts with Ssy1 in amino acid detection and signal initiation. We propose that Ssy1 and Ptr3 form the core components of the amino acid sensor. Upon detection of external amino acids, Ssy1-Ptr3 likely allows—in a manner dependent on SCFGrr1—the Ssy5 endoprotease to gain access to and to cleave Stp1, this requiring prior phosphorylation of Stp1 by casein kinase I.
Total and regional bone mineral density by dual photon absorptiometry in patients on maintenance hemodialysis.

To evaluate bone loss in renal osteodystrophy, we measured total and regional (head, trunk, pelvis, leg and arm) bone mineral density (BMD) by dual photon absorptiometry in 72 patients on maintenance hemodialysis (HD). We also examined the validity of serum carboxy-terminal parathyroid hormone (C-PTH) and intact-PTH as an indicator of secondary hyperparathyroidism. Total BMD correlated inversely with age in female patients (r = -0.57, p less than 0.01), but not in male patients. Female patients older than 50 years were omitted from analysis to exclude the effect of menopause on bone. Among clinical and biochemical parameters, only trunk BMD correlated inversely with the duration of HD (r = -0.26, p less than 0.05). Head, trunk and total BMD correlated inversely with serum alkaline phosphatase, C-PTH and intact-PTH, while pelvis BMD did not. Leg and arm BMD also correlated inversely with serum intact-PTH, but not with serum C-PTH. The serum level of C-PTH correlated positively with the duration of HD (r = 0.40, p less than 0.005), while intact-PTH did not. As compared with 18 control male volunteers aged 25-42 years, trunk, pelvis, leg, arm and total BMD were significantly lower in male patients on HD aged 22-49 years, whereas head BMD did not differ significantly between the two groups. The percent decrease of BMD was most prominent in the trunk (-19.6%, p less than 0.001). (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Analyzing GPS signals to investigate path diversity effects of non-geostationary orbit satellite communication systems

The concept behind path diversity is that a user who can access several satellites simultaneously will be able to communicate more effectively than a user who could only access one. The success of this method depends on the environment, the satellite constellation, and diversity combining technology. This paper explores the path diversity effects of non-geostationary orbit (NGO) satellite personal communication services, for different degrees of user mobility, under various scenarios, using the constellation of the global positioning system (GPS). Measurements are taken near downtown Taipei. Three types of mobilities (fixed-point, pedestrian, and vehicular) are examined, and the switch diversity and maximum ratio combining method are applied to determine the path diversity gain and calculate bit error probability. The error probability performance of applying diversity schemes in coherent binary phase shift keying (BPSK) and non-coherent differential phase shift keying (DPSK) modulations over Rician fading channels are also analysed and evaluated by using the characteristic function method. The results show that fading can be significantly reduced and diversity greatly increased. A significant diversity gain and improvement in bit error rate (BER) can be expected in all cases by simply applying switch diversity scheme. Besides, for the maximum ratio combining method, the results imply that summing two satellite signals suffices to increase diversity and improve the bit error rate performance. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Carotid, aorta and renal arteries intima-media thickness in patients with sporadic idiopathic hypoparathyroidism

Background: Alteration in homeostasis of calcium, phosphate and parathyroid hormone (PTH) predispose to vascular calcification that increases the risk of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. The data on this aspect are scarce in patients with sporadic idiopathic hypoparathyroidism (SIH). Objective: The aim was to assess the effect of altered calcium, phosphate and PTH homeostasis in patients with SIH on intima media thickness (IMT), a surrogate marker of increased vascular risk. Methods: In this case–control study, we measured carotid IMT (CIMT), aortic IMT (AIMT) and renal arteries IMT (RIMT) in 30 consecutive patients with SIH, and compared with healthy subjects. IMT was measured by ultrasound by a single operator blinded to subject's details. Results: CIMT, AIMT, RIMT values in patients with SIH were significantly more than healthy subjects (0.60 ± 0.08 mm vs. 0.52 ± 0.09 mm, P = 0.001; 0.73 ± 0.09 mm vs. 0.65 ± 0.10, P = 0.004; and 0.34 ± 0.04 mm vs. 0.30 ± 0.05, P = 0.003, respectively). Clinical or biochemical parameters did not correlate with CIMT, AIMT and RIMT in patients with SIH. Conclusion: The vascular risk is increased in patients with SIH as assessed by CIMT, AIMT, and RIMT.
Clinical expression of haemochromatosis in Irish C282Y homozygotes identified through family screening

Background In Ireland, the homozygote frequency of the C282Y mutation in the HFE gene is 1/83. The biochemical expression of this mutation is high in haemochromatosis (HH) individuals identified through family screening, but the clinical expression of the mutation in Irish HH subjects to date has not been investigated fully. Objectives To determine the clinical, biochemical and histological penetrance of the C282Y mutation in Irish C282Y homozygotes identified through family screening. Method Two hundred and nine C282Y homozygous individuals comprising of 172 first-degree relatives, 31 second-degree relatives and four unrelated individuals were identified following HFE mutation analysis of 167 families. The following variables were analysed: age at identification, gender, fasting transferrin saturation, fasting serum ferritin, liver enzymes, clinical symptomatology, liver histopathology and histochemical iron staining. Results An elevated transferrin saturation in combination with an elevated ferritin was present in 43.4% of males and 23.3% of females. Abnormal liver enzymes were found in 32.3% of males. Diabetes, a haemochromatosis-specific association, was noted in 2.8% of males. Of those individuals requiring liver histopathology evaluation, 38% had moderate-to-severe iron staining, and 42% had fibrosis; 2.8% of the biopsied cohort had cirrhosis. Thus, HH cirrhotics were identified in less than 1% of the screened population. Conclusion Although the homozygote frequency in Ireland is very high, the prevalence of advanced liver disease was less than 1% of the family members screened. Nevertheless, 42% of biopsied patients had histological evidence of iron overload-related architectural change and 2.8% had cirrhosis. This cohort of young people had previously unrecognized biochemical iron overload and histopathological change. This emphasizes the importance and value of both genetic and biochemical screening in first-degree relatives of identified homozygotes.
Viewing the world through language-tinted glasses: Elucidating the neural mechanisms of language-perception interactions

Jolien C. Francken Viewing the world through language-tinted glasses. Elucidating the neural mechanisms of language-perception interactions The work described in this doctoral thesis shows that language automatically changes how we perceive the world, even when we are not aware of linguistic information. These results are in line with earlier evidence showing that perception is a constructive process, combining all relevant sources of information, such as expectations. The studies further show that the integration of language and perception occurs in the language system in the brain, rather than the visual cortex. This is contrary to recent proposals on 'embodied cognition' and 'predictive coding'. From these findings it follows that the semantic system is a central part of perception. It seems that the associations between words and the objects they refer to are quite strong, resulting in automatic 'translations' of perceptual input into a more conceptual format. Proefschrift
H∞ guaranteed cost control for time-delay uncertain discrete systems

This paper studies the problem of robust H∞ guaranteed cost control for a class of time-varying uncertain discrete systems with both state and input delays. Suppose that the time-varying uncertain parameters are norm-bounded, but the matched conditions are not required to satisfy. A new sufficient condition of H∞ robust stabilization and satisfies guaranteed cost index is given for the systems by linear matrix inequalities approach. Robust H∞ guaranteed cost controllers can be obtained only from solving corresponding linear matrix inequalities such that a guaranteed cost function for the closed-loop systems has an upper bound irrespective of all admissible parameters uncertainties. Furthermore, the upper bound can be optimized by incorporating with a minimum problem. A numerical example is given to show the potential of the proposed techniques
Hypoxia-inducible Lipid Droplet-associated (HILPDA) Is a Novel Peroxisome Proliferator-activated Receptor (PPAR) Target Involved in Hepatic Triglyceride Secretion*

Background: PPARα is an important regulator of hepatic lipid metabolism via target gene regulation. Results: HILPDA is regulated by PPARα via an upstream PPRE. Targeted overexpression of HILPDA increases hepatic triglyceride storage via reduction of TG secretion. Conclusion: HILPDA is a novel PPARα target involved in hepatic triglyceride secretion. Significance: HILPDA might be a potential target in the treatment of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs) play major roles in the regulation of hepatic lipid metabolism through the control of numerous genes involved in processes such as lipid uptake and fatty acid oxidation. Here we identify hypoxia-inducible lipid droplet-associated (Hilpda/Hig2) as a novel PPAR target gene and demonstrate its involvement in hepatic lipid metabolism. Microarray analysis revealed that Hilpda is one of the most highly induced genes by the PPARα agonist Wy14643 in mouse precision cut liver slices. Induction of Hilpda mRNA by Wy14643 was confirmed in mouse and human hepatocytes. Oral dosing with Wy14643 similarly induced Hilpda mRNA levels in livers of wild-type mice but not Ppara−/− mice. Transactivation studies and chromatin immunoprecipitation showed that Hilpda is a direct PPARα target gene via a conserved PPAR response element located 1200 base pairs upstream of the transcription start site. Hepatic overexpression of HILPDA in mice via adeno-associated virus led to a 4-fold increase in liver triglyceride storage, without any changes in key genes involved in de novo lipogenesis, β-oxidation, or lipolysis. Moreover, intracellular lipase activity was not affected by HILPDA overexpression. Strikingly, HILPDA overexpression significantly impaired hepatic triglyceride secretion. Taken together, our data uncover HILPDA as a novel PPAR target that raises hepatic triglyceride storage via regulation of triglyceride secretion.
Day differences in the cortisol awakening response predict day differences in synaptic plasticity in the brain

Abstract The cortisol awakening response (CAR) is the most prominent, dynamic and variable part of the circadian pattern of cortisol secretion. Despite this, its precise purpose is unknown. Aberrant patterns of the CAR are associated with impaired physical and mental health and reduced cognitive function, suggesting that it may have a pervasive role or roles. It has been suggested that the CAR primes the brain for the expected demands of the day but the mechanisms underlying this process are unknown. We examined temporal covariation of the CAR and rapid transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS)-induced long term depression (LTD)-like responses in the motor cortex. Plasticity was evaluated across 180 measures from five time points on four sessions across nine healthy researcher participants, mean age 25 ± 2.5 years. Plasticity estimates were obtained in the afternoon after measurement of the CAR on 4 days, at least 3 days apart. As both CAR magnitude and rTMS-induced responses are variable across days, we hypothesized that days with larger than individual average CARs would be associated with a greater than individual average plasticity response. This was confirmed by mixed regression modelling where variation in the CAR predicted variation in rTMS-induced responses (df: 1, 148.24; F: 10.41; p = 0.002). As the magnitude of the CAR is regulated by the “master” circadian CLOCK, and synaptic plasticity is known to be modulated by peripheral “slave” CLOCK genes, we suggest that the CAR may be a mediator between the master and peripheral circadian systems to entrain daily levels of synaptic plasticity.
Six weeks of whole-body vibration exercise improves pain and fatigue in women with fibromyalgia.

OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of a 6-week traditional exercise program with supplementary whole-body vibration (WBV) in improving health status, physical functioning, and main symptoms of fibromyalgia (FM) in women with FM. METHODS Thirty-six (36) women with FM (mean +/- standard error of the mean age 55.97 +/- 1.55) were randomized into 3 treatment groups: exercise and vibration (EVG), exercise (EG), and control (CG). Exercise therapy, consisting of aerobic activities, stretching, and relaxation techniques, was performed twice a week (90 min/day). Following each exercise session, the EVG underwent a protocol with WBV, whereas the EG performed the same protocol without vibratory stimulus. The Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQ) was administered at baseline and 6 weeks following the initiation of the treatments. Estimates of pain, fatigue, stiffness, and depression were also reported using the visual analogue scale. RESULTS A significant 3 x 2 (group x time)-repeated measures analysis of variance interaction was found for pain (p = 0.018) and fatigue (p = 0.002) but not for FIQ (p = 0.069), stiffness (p = 0.142), or depression (p = 0.654). Pain and fatigue scores were significantly reduced from baseline in the EVG, but not in the EG or CG. In addition, the EVG showed significantly lower pain and fatigue scores at week 6 compared to the CG, whereas no significant differences were found between the EG and CG (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION Results suggest that a 6-week traditional exercise program with supplementary WBV safely reduces pain and fatigue, whereas exercise alone fails to induce improvements.
Dispersive estimates for higher dimensional Schrödinger operators with threshold eigenvalues. II. The even dimensional case

We investigate L(R) → L(R) dispersive estimates for the Schrödinger operator H = −∆ + V when there is an eigenvalue at zero energy in even dimensions n ≥ 6. In particular, we show that if there is an eigenvalue at zero energy then there is a time dependent, rank one operator Ft satisfying ‖Ft‖L1→L∞ . |t| 2−n 2 for |t| > 1 such that ‖ePac − Ft‖L1→L∞ . |t| 1− n 2 , for |t| > 1. With stronger decay conditions on the potential it is possible to generate an operatorvalued expansion for the evolution, taking the form e itH Pac(H) = |t| 2− n 2 A−2 + |t| 1− n 2 A−1 + |t| − n 2 A0, with A−2 and A−1 mapping L (R) to L(R) while A0 maps weighted L 1 spaces to weighted L∞ spaces. The leading-order terms A−2 and A−1 are both finite rank, and vanish when certain orthogonality conditions between the potential V and the zero energy eigenfunctions are satisfied. We show that under the same orthogonality conditions, the remaining |t|− n 2 A0 term also exists as a map from L (R) to L(R), hence ePac(H) satisfies the same dispersive bounds as the free evolution despite the eigenvalue at zero.
Sulphur abundances in halo stars from multiplet 3 at 1045 nm

Sulphur is a volatile α -element which is not locked into dust grains in the interstellar medium (ISM). Hence, its abundance does not need to be corrected for dust depletion when comparing the ISM to the stellar atmospheres. The abundance of sulphur in the photosphere of metal-poor stars is a matter of debate: according to some authors, [S/Fe] versus [Fe/H] forms a plateau at low metallicity, while, according to other studies, there is a large scatter or perhaps a bimodal distribution. In metal-poor stars sulphur is detectable by its lines of multiplet 1 at 920 nm, but this range is heavily contaminated by telluric absorptions, and one line of the multiplet is blended by the hydrogen Paschen ζ line. We study the possibility of using multiplet 3 (at 1045 nm) for deriving the sulphur abundance because this range, now observable at the VLT with the infra-red spectrograph CRIRES, is little contaminated by telluric absorption and not affected by blends at least in metal-poor stars. We compare the abundances derived from multiplets 1 and 3, taking into account NLTE corrections and 3D effects. Here we present the results for a sample of four stars, although the scatter is less pronounced than in previous analysis, we cannot find a plateau in [S/Fe], and confirm the scatter of the sulphur abundance at low metallicity (© 2010 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Prevalence and Clinical Characteristics Associated With Left Atrial Appendage Thrombus in Fully Anticoagulated Patients Undergoing Catheter‐Directed Atrial Fibrillation Ablation

LAA Thrombus Among Anticoagulated AF Patients. Introduction: Catheter‐directed atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation is contraindicated among patients with left atrial appendage (LAA) thrombus. The prevalence of LAA thrombus among fully anticoagulated patients undergoing AF ablation is unknown.
[The correlation between polymorphisms of Toll-like receptor 2 and Toll-like receptor 9 and susceptibility to gastric cancer].

OBJECTIVE To explore the relationship between the polymorphisms of Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2) and TLR9 and the susceptibility to gastric cancer. METHODS A population-based case-control study was conducted at Linqu county, Shandong province, China, including a total of 248 cases of gastric cancer. Another total of 496 age and sex-matched controls were randomly selected from the same cohorts. TLR2 rs3804099 and TLR9 rs187084 were detected by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism method. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence interval (CI) were computed from logistic regression models after adjusting for age, sex, Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection and smoking status. RESULTS The frequencies of TT, TC and CC genotype on TLR2 rs3804099 in control group were 43.5% (216/496), 46.6% (231/496) and 9.9% (49/496), respectively; whereas those in case group were 53.2% (132/248), 39.9% (99/248) and 6.9% (17/248), respectively. Significant differences in the frequencies of TLR2 rs3804099 were found between case and control groups (χ(2) = 6.665, P = 0.036). It was found that compared with the TT genotype, TC + CC genotype carriers obviously less susceptible to gastric cancer (OR = 0.68, 95%CI: 0.50 - 0.93). Joint effects analysis indicated that the TLR2 rs3804099 TT genotype carriers and H.pylori infectors had higher susceptibility to gastric cancer(OR = 3.42, 95%CI: 2.16 - 5.42), compared with TC + CC genotype carriers and non-H.pylori infection group. The frequencies of TT, TC and CC genotype on TLR9 rs187084 in control group were 33.3% (165/496), 49.0% (243/496) and 17.7% (88/496), respectively; whereas those in case group were 35.9% (89/248), 50.0% (124/248) and 14.1% (35/248), respectively. No significant association with gastric cancer was observed for TLR9 rs187084 polymorphism (χ(2) = 1.684, P = 0.431). CONCLUSION Our findings indicate that TLR2 rs3804099 is closely associated with susceptibility to gastric cancer.
Do Emotionally Intelligent People do Well in all Jobs? Exploring the Moderating Role of Inter-Personal Interaction

This paper studies the impact of Emotional Intelligence (EI) on job performance on a sample of 101 working executives in a pharmaceutical company in Mumbai, India. The impact of EI on job performance is studied while controlling for General Mental Ability (GMA) and the personality factor of conscientiousness. The paper also investigates the moderating effect of job characteristics (specifically, the extent of interpersonal interaction required on the job) on the relationship between EI and job performance. Analysis of the data showed that EI did not show significant impact on job performance for the entire sample. However, for individuals having high interpersonal interaction on their jobs, EI was significantly related to job performance. On the other hand, for individuals having low interpersonal interaction on their jobs, EI was not related to job performance.