Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Associations of adiponectin, resistin, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha with insulin resistance.

CONTEXT Adipose tissue-derived adipokines may contribute to insulin resistance. OBJECTIVE We tested the hypothesis that adipokines are associated with insulin resistance in a community-based cohort and that associations are maintained in people with and without the metabolic syndrome (high vs. low risk of diabetes). DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS We studied a cross-sectional sample of 2356 individuals attending the seventh examination (1998-2001) of the Framingham Offspring Study. We measured levels of glucose, insulin, adiponectin, resistin, and TNFalpha in fasting blood samples and defined metabolic syndrome by updated National Cholesterol Education Program criteria. We used ANOVA to test associations of adipokines with insulin resistance and multivariable logistic regression models to assess joint associations of adipokines and metabolic syndrome with insulin resistance. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE Homeostasis model (HOMA-IR), with insulin resistance defined by HOMA-IR greater than the 75th percentile, was measured. RESULTS Age- and sex-adjusted HOMA-IR levels were inversely related to adiponectin (r = -0.40, P < 0.0001) and positively related to resistin (r = 0.13, P < 0.0001) and TNFalpha (r = 0.12, P < 0.0001). The prevalence of insulin resistance increased with decreasing tertiles of adiponectin (from 10.9% in the third to 42.5% in the first tertile; P < 0.0001) and increasing tertiles of resistin (from 19.3 to 30.9%; P < 0.0001) and TNFalpha (from 18.8 to 32.0%; P < 0.0001). Results were similar after adjustment for body mass index. These associations were present in individuals with or without the metabolic syndrome. In multivariable regression models, metabolic syndrome and adipokines individually and jointly were significantly associated with insulin resistance. CONCLUSION Adverse levels of adipokines are associated with insulin resistance in individuals at low or high diabetes risk.
Simulation study on a DTC system of PMSM

In order to improve the dynamic performance of PMSM, a Direct Torque Control (DTC) scheme of Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motor (PMSM) is presented. Based on in-depth analysis of PMSM mathematical model and the operation principle of DTC system, Matlab / Simulink is used to establish a simulation model of this system, and extensive research of simulation is conducted. A large number of simulation results show that the DTC System of PMSM has fast response and good dynamic performance, which verify correctness and feasibility of this system.
Bisphenol A in relation to behavior and learning of school-age children.

BACKGROUND Bisphenol A (BPA) has been shown to affect brain and behavior in rodents and nonhuman primates, but there are few studies focusing on its relationship to human neurobehavior. We aimed to investigate the relationship between environmental exposure to BPA and childhood neurobehavior. METHODS Urinary BPA concentrations and behavioral and learning characteristics were assessed in a general population of 1,089 children, aged 8-11 years. The main outcome measures were the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) and the Learning Disability Evaluation Scale (LDES). RESULTS Urinary levels of BPA were positively associated with the CBCL total problems score and negatively associated with the learning quotient from the LDES. The linear association with the CBCL anxiety/depression score and the quadratic association with the LDES listening score were significant after correction for multiple comparisons. CONCLUSIONS Environmental exposure to BPA might be associated with childhood behavioral and learning development. The results suggest possible nonmonotonic relationships.
Prevalence of Anti-Borna Disease Virus Antibody in Horses and Their Caretakers in Bangladesh

To elucidate the spread of Borna disease virus (BDV) in Asian countries, we surveyed 48 normal horses in Bangladesh and their 26 caretakers for the BDV antibody by electrochemiluminescence immunoassay. Eleven horses (23%) were found positive. None of the 5 horses at the age of < 1 year was positive. Seven of 23 horses (30%) at the age of 1 year were positive, as well as 4 of 16 horses (25%) at the age of ≥ 3 years. The geometric average of the ECLIA titer of the antibody positive horses at the age of 1 year, 3041, was significantly lower than that found at the age of ≥ 3 years, 6887, by the MannWhitney test (P = 0.012). Sexual preference in the prevalence of anti-BDV was not evident. None of the 26 male horse caretakers between the ages of 12 to 54 years was positive, including those who were taking care of the antibody positive horses. Total RNA extracted from the peripheral blood nucleated cells was tested by polymerase chain reaction coupled with reverse transcription capable of detecting 200 molecules of BDV p40 RNA per reaction. None of the 11 seropositive horses and the 5 randomly selected seronegative horses was positive. The results showed that BDV is penetrating the Bangladeshi labor horse population with similar levels reported in Germany, Iran and Japan, although the viral genome in the blood was not detected.
Reperfusion‐induced oxidative stress in diabetes: cellular and enzymatic sources

Reactive oxygen metabolites (ROMs) have been implicated in the pathogenesis of the inflammatory response to ischemia/reperfusion (I/R), which is exacerbated in diabetes. This study revealed an increased (P < 0.01) ROMs production in mesenteric tissue (measured using the oxidant‐sensitive fluorochrome dihydrorhodamine 123) after I/R in control and diabetic rats, with larger increments (P < 0.0001) observed in the latter group, that was associated with an increased inflammatory response measured by intravital microscopy. Either xanthine oxidase inhibition, superoxide scavenging, ICAM‐1 immunoneutralization, or blockade of platelet‐activating factor or leukotrienes effectively reduced leukocyte recruitment and ROMs production in control and diabetic rats. Moreover, neutrophils from diabetic rats showed an enhanced production of ROMs in vitro in basal and stimulated conditions. We conclude that the oxidative stress during reperfusion is markedly enhanced in diabetes and this appears to result from increased leukocyte recruitment and a higher capacity of diabetic leukocytes to generate ROMs in response to stimulation. J. Leukoc. Biol. 66: 59–66; 1999.
Detection of extrascleral extension in uveal melanoma with histopathological correlation

ABSTRACT Purpose: Uveal melanoma is the most common primary intraocular malignancy. Extrascleral extension (ESE) is rare, but associated with an increased rate of orbital recurrence and an overall poor prognosis. Clinical studies show low rates when compared with histological studies. Due to the prognostic importance of ESE, we sought to compare our clinical, intraoperative, and histological detection rates. Design: A retrospective cross-sectional case series. Methods: A list of eyes enucleated for uveal melanoma was compiled from the admissions records of the London Ocular Oncology Service during the 28-month period, i.e. January 2010–April 2012. The surgical and clinical notes of patients with histopathology proven ESE were reviewed to determine when it was first diagnosed or suspected. The subsequent management of these cases is discussed. Results: A total of 16 out of 174 (9%) eyes had histologically proven ESE. Eight of 16 cases were detected preoperatively at clinical examination, including the use of ocular ultrasound, 3 of 16 were discovered intra-operatively, and 5 of 16 deemed microscopic ESE, were first detected on histological examination. Seven of 7 (100%) of cases with anterior ESE were detected clinically by slit lamp biomicroscopy, while only 1 out of 9 (11%) of cases with posterior ESE was detected preoperatively with ultrasound. Conclusions: Slit lamp biomicroscopy is sensitive for detecting anterior ESE. Most posterior ESE is microscopic, but macroscopic posterior ESE may also be missed by B-scan ocular ultrasound. Orbital surgeons should be suspicious of clinically undetected posterior ESE, and consider adjuvant orbital radiotherapy in cases with macroscopic ESE.
Ictal Brain Hyperperfusion Contralateral to Seizure Onset: The SPECT Mirror Image

Summary: Purpose: Ictal single‐photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) may help localize the seizure‐onset zone (SOZ) by detecting changes in regional cerebral blood flow induced by epileptic discharges. This imaging method also reveals hyperperfusions in areas of seizure propagation, including the hemisphere contralateral to the SOZ. We have studied the occurrence, the topography, and the clinical value of such contralateral ictal hyperperfusion areas (HPAs).
Flavitalea gansuensis sp. nov., isolated from soil from an arid area, and emended descriptions of the genus Flavitalea and Flavitalea populi.

A gram-reaction-negative, rod-shaped, gliding and bright-yellow-pigmented bacterial strain, designated JCN-23(T), was isolated from a soil sample collected from an arid area in Gansu Province in north-west China, and characterized by using a polyphasic taxonomic approach. This isolate grew optimally at 30 °C and in the absence of NaCl. The only respiratory quinone was menaquinone-7 and the major cellular fatty acids were iso-C(15 : 0), iso-C(17 : 0) 3-OH, summed feature 9 (iso-C(17 : 1)ω9c and/or C(16 : 0) 10-methyl) and summed feature 3 (C(16 : 1)ω7c and/or C(16 : 1)ω6c). The only polyamine was homospermidine and the major polar lipid was phosphatidylethanolamine. The DNA G+C content was 47.1 mol%. Comparative 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis showed that strain JCN-23(T) was a member of the phylum Bacteroidetes, exhibiting the highest 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity to Flavitalea populi CCTCC AB 208255(T) (97.6 %). No other recognized bacterial species showed more than 93.4 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity to the novel isolate. DNA-DNA hybridization experiments showed a low level (26 %) of DNA-DNA relatedness between strain JCN-23(T) and F. populi CCTCC AB 208255(T). On the basis of the phenotypic and genotypic data and phylogenetic inference, strain JCN-23(T) is considered to represent a novel species of the genus Flavitalea, for which the name Flavitalea gansuensis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is JCN-23(T) ( = ACCC 05418(T) = KCTC 23071(T)). Emended descriptions of the genus Flavitalea and Flavitalea populi are also proposed.
Clinical, biochemical and histological characteristics of a Sri Lankan population of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) patients.

BACKGROUND Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is common and can progress to cirrhosis. It has been regarded as a 'disease of affluence' and there are only a few reports from developing countries. OBJECTIVE To describe the clinical, biochemical, and histological characteristics of a cohort of NASH patients in Sri Lanka, and to determine their short term outcome following modifications of lifestyle. METHOD Patients who had a liver biopsy for investigation of raised hepatic enzymes were assessed during the period May 1999 - May 2003. Patients who had an alcohol intake of over 40 g/week were excluded. Detailed clinical and biochemical data of patients with histologically confirmed NASH were compiled. Histological grading and staging was done using the Brunt system. The patients were advised on lifestyle modifications and the control of diseases known to be associated with NASH. They were followed up at 3 -monthly intervals. RESULTS During the study period liver biopsies were performed on 296 patients and 100 ( 35.1%) were diagnosed as having NASH. (Men = 79, Mean age 37.2 years, SD 10.6). Risk factors for NASH included diabetes mellitus (55%), obesity (52%), hyperlipidaemia (54%), a family history of risk factors (66%) and a high dietary fat intake (66%). However, 44.3% of men and 33.3% of women were not overweight. The histological grading and staging of 80 biopsies showed Grade 1 in 31 (38.8%), Grade 2 in 29 (36.3%), Grade 3 in 20 (25%), Stage 1 in 57 (71.3%) Stage 2 in 13 (16.3%), Stage 3 in 2 (2.5%) and Stage 4 in 8 (10%). In 55/91 (60.4%) patients who were followed up for a median of 2.5 years (range 1-4 years) the serum transaminases returned to normal in a median of 7 months (range 3-14 months). CONCLUSION The clinical, biochemical and histological features of NASH patients in our series are similar to that reported in western countries. However "lean males" accounted for a significant proportion. In the short term a majority of patients showed improvement in serum transaminases with lifestyle modification.
Hindcasts of Tropical Atlantic SST Gradient and South American Precipitation: The Influences of the ENSO Forcing and the Atlantic Preconditioning

Abstract Hindcast experiments for the tropical Atlantic sea surface temperature (SST) gradient G1, defined as tropical North Atlantic SST anomaly minus tropical South Atlantic SST anomaly, are performed using an atmospheric general circulation model coupled to a mixed layer ocean over the Atlantic to quantify the contributions of the El Nino–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) forcing and the preconditioning in the Atlantic to G1 in boreal spring. The results confirm previous observational analyses that, in the years with a persistent ENSO SST anomaly from boreal winter to spring, the ENSO forcing plays a primary role in determining the tendency of G1 from winter to spring and the sign of G1 in late spring. In the hindcasts, the initial perturbations in Atlantic SST in boreal winter are found to generally persist beyond a season, leaving a secondary but nonnegligible contribution to the predicted Atlantic SST gradient in spring. For 1993/94, a neutral year with a large preexisting G1 in winter, the hindcast using.
The number of distinct values of some multiplicity in sequences of geometrically distributed random variables

We consider a sequence of n geometric random variables and interpret the outcome as an urn model. For a given parameter m, we treat several parameters like what is the largest urn containing at least (or exactly) m balls, or how many urns contain at least m balls, etc. Many of these questions have their origin in some computer science problems. Identifying the underlying distributions as (variations of) the extreme value distribution, we are able to derive asymptotic equivalents for all (centered or uncentered) moments in a fairly automatic way.
Area/performance evaluation of digit-digit GF(2K) multipliers on FPGAS

This work describes novel hardware architectures for GF(2k) multipliers using a digit-digit approach. Contrary to the bit-serial and digit-serial approaches previously addressed in the literature, we consider the partition of the multiplier, multiplicand and modulus in several digits and execute a field multiplication in an iterative way, like in a software implementation but exploiting the parallelism in the operations. We focused on parametric designs that allow to study area-performance trade offs when the multipliers are implemented in FPGAs. This study would guide a designer to select the most appropriate configuration based on the digits sizes in order to meet system requirements such as available resources, throughput, and efficiency. Although the proposed multiplier can be implemented for any finite field of order k, we provide implementation results for GF(2163) and GF(2233), two recommended finite fields for elliptic curve cryptography. For specific digit sizes, our proposed digit-digit multiplier uses considerably less area than a bit-serial multiplier with a penalization in the timing. Compared to a digit-serial implementation, area resources can be saved with still an improvement in the timing respect to a bit-serial implementation.
Different drinking motives, different adverse consequences? Evidence among adolescents from 10 European countries

INTRODUCTION AND AIM This study, which builds on previous research demonstrating that drinking motives are associated with adverse consequences, investigates the associations between drinking motives and non-alcohol-attributed adverse consequences and disentangles alcohol-related and direct effects. DESIGN AND METHOD On the basis of a sample of 22 841 alcohol-using 13- to 16-year-olds (50.6% female) from Belgium, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Ireland, Portugal, Scotland, Slovakia, Switzerland and Wales, structural equation models were used to estimate direct and indirect effects. Additionally, differences across countries were tested in a multigroup analysis. RESULTS The indirect effect (via alcohol use) was greater for injuries and academic problems than for more general outcomes such as life dissatisfaction and negative body image. For social, enhancement and coping motives, we found positive indirect effects (via alcohol use) on injuries and academic problems; the association was negative for conformity motives. The direct effect, that is, the effect above and beyond alcohol use, indicated more negative consequences among those who tended to drink more frequently for coping motives. More negative consequences, such as injuries and negative body image, were also found among those who drink for conformity motives. The pattern of association was largely comparable across countries. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION While the actual mean level of drinking motives, alcohol use and adverse consequence varied across countries, the consistency of association patterns implies that drinking motive-inspired health promotion efforts are likely to be beneficial across Europe. This is particularly important for coping drinkers because they are especially prone to adverse consequences over and above their alcohol use. [Wicki M, Kuntsche E, Eichenberger Y, Aasvee K, Bendtsen P, Dankulincová Veselská Z, Demetrovics Z, Dzielska A, Farkas J, de Matos MG, Roberts C, Tynjälä J, Välimaa R, Vieno A. Different drinking motives, different adverse consequences? Evidence among adolescents from 10 European countries.
Requirement for PLCγ2 in IL‐3 and GM‐CSF‐stimulated MEK/ERK phosphorylation in murine and human hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells

Even though the involvement of intracellular Ca2+ (${\rm Ca}_{{\rm i}}^{{\rm 2 + }} $) in hematopoiesis has been previously demonstrated, the relationship between ${\rm Ca}_{{\rm i}}^{{\rm 2 + }} $ signaling and cytokine‐induced intracellular pathways remains poorly understood. Herein, the molecular mechanisms integrating Ca2+ signaling with the extracellular signal‐regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2) pathway in primary murine and human hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells stimulated by IL‐3 and GM‐CSF were studied. Our results demonstrated that IL‐3 and GM‐CSF stimulation induced increased inositol 1,4,5‐trisphosphate (IP3) levels and ${\rm Ca}_{{\rm i}}^{{\rm 2 + }} $ release in murine and human hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells. In addition, ${\rm Ca}_{{\rm i}}^{{\rm 2 + }} $ signaling inhibitors, such as inositol 1,4,5‐trisphosphate receptor antagonist (2‐APB), PKC inhibitor (GF109203), and CaMKII inhibitor (KN‐62), blocked phosphorylation of MEK activated by IL‐3 and GM‐CSF, suggesting the participation of Ca2+‐dependent kinases in MEK activation. In addition, we identify phospholipase Cγ2 (PLCγ2) as a PLCγ responsible for the induction of Ca2+ release by IL‐3 and GM‐CSF in hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells. Furthermore, the PLCγ inhibitor U73122 significantly reduced the numbers of granulocyte‐macrophage colony‐forming units after cytokine stimulation. Similar results were obtained in both murine and human hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells. Taken together, these data indicate a role for PLCγ2 and Ca2+ signaling through the modulation of MEK in both murine and human hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells. J. Cell. Physiol. 226: 1780–1792, 2011. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Recommandation personnalisée hybride

Face a la surabondance des ressources et de l'information sur le net, l'acces aux ressources pertinentes devient une tâche fastidieuse pour les usagers de la toile. Les systemes de recommandation personnalisee comptent parmi les principales solutions qui assistent l'utilisateur en filtrant les ressources, pour ne lui proposer que celles susceptibles de l’interesser. L’approche basee sur l’observation du comportement de l’utilisateur a partir de ses interactions avec le e-services est appelee analyse des usages. Le filtrage collaboratif et le filtrage base sur le contenu sont les principales techniques de recommandations personnalisees. Le filtrage collaboratif exploite uniquement les donnees issues de l’analyse des usages alors que le filtrage base sur le contenu utilise en plus les donnees decrivant le contenu des ressources. Un systeme de recommandation hybride combine les deux techniques de recommandation. L'objectif de cette these est de proposer une nouvelle technique d'hybridation en etudiant les benefices de l'exploitation combinee d'une part, des informations semantiques des ressources a recommander, avec d'autre part, le filtrage collaboratif. Plusieurs approches ont ete proposees pour l'apprentissage d'un nouveau profil utilisateur inferant ses preferences pour l’information semantique decrivant les ressources. Pour chaque approche proposee, nous traitons le probleme du manque de la densite des donnees et le probleme du passage a l’echelle. Nous montrons egalement, de facon empirique, un gain au niveau de la precision des recommandations par rapport a des approches purement collaboratives ou purement basees sur le contenu
Space-frequency coded HIPERLAN/2

This paper attempts to provide an evaluation of high performance local area network type 2 (HIPERLAN/2), equipped with space-frequency coded double-antenna transmit diversity. The HIPERLAN/2 physical layer entities are simulated for frequency-selective fading channels for the standard's digital modulation schemes of BPSK, QPSK, 16-QAM and 64-QAM. Protocol data unit (PDU) error rate comparisons of HIPERLAN/2 with and without space-frequency coding reveal the potential gains and caveats. The analytical bit error probability calculations confirm that the simulation results are consistent with the theory.
Replication and repair of a reduced 2΄-deoxyguanosine-abasic site interstrand cross-link in human cells

Abstract Apurinic/apyrimidinic (AP) sites, or abasic sites, which are a common type of endogenous DNA damage, can forge interstrand DNA–DNA cross-links via reaction with the exocyclic amino group on a nearby 2΄-deoxyguanosine or 2΄-deoxyadenosine in the opposite strand. Here, we utilized a shuttle vector method to examine the efficiency and fidelity with which a reduced dG–AP cross-link-containing plasmid was replicated in cultured human cells. Our results showed that the cross-link constituted strong impediments to DNA replication in HEK293T cells, with the bypass efficiencies for the dG- and AP-containing strands being 40% and 20%, respectively. While depletion of polymerase (Pol) η did not perturb the bypass efficiency of the lesion, the bypass efficiency was markedly reduced (to 1–10%) in the isogenic cells deficient in Pol κ, Pol ι or Pol ζ, suggesting the mutual involvement of multiple translesion synthesis polymerases in bypassing the lesion. Additionally, replication of the cross-linked AP residue in HEK293T cells was moderately error-prone, inducing a total of ∼26% single-nucleobase substitutions at the lesion site, whereas replication past the cross-linked dG component occurred at a mutation frequency of ∼8%. Together, our results provided important insights into the effects of an AP-derived interstrand cross-link on the efficiency and accuracy of DNA replication in human cells.