Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Skin Autofluorescence Reflects Integration of Past Long-Term Glycemic Control in Patients With Type 1 Diabetes

OBJECTIVE The aim was to investigate the relationships between skin autofluorescence (AF) and the impact of past glycemic control and microvascular complications in Japanese patients with type 1 diabetes. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS Two hundred forty-one patients and 110 controls were enrolled. Advanced glycation end product accumulation was measured with AF reader. Three monthly HbA1c levels during the past 20 years were determined from medical records, and the HbA1c area under the curve (AUC) was calculated. We performed multivariate regression analyses to examine the associations between the severity of diabetes complications and various variables. RESULTS Skin AF values increased with increasing the severity of retinopathy (P < 10−11, linear regression analysis) and nephropathy (P < 10−5 for chronic kidney disease stage; P < 10−5 for albuminuria-based stage). HbA1c AUC values over the past 15 years were significantly correlated with skin AF values (past 5 years: R = 0.35, P < 0.0001; past 10 years: R = 0.36, P < 0.0001; past 15 years: R = 0.55, P < 0.0001; past 20 years: R = 0.22, P = 0.13). HbA1c AUC values over the past 3, 5, 10, and 15 years were significantly associated with the severity of both nephropathy and retinopathy. Multivariate analyses in which HbA1c AUC value was removed from the independent variables indicated that only skin AF was independently associated with nephropathy, whereas age at registration, age at onset of diabetes, and skin AF were independently associated with retinopathy. CONCLUSIONS Skin AF reflects past long-term glycemic control and may serve as a surrogate marker for the development of microvascular complications in place of HbA1c AUC value.
Dry EEG Electrodes

Electroencephalography (EEG) emerged in the second decade of the 20th century as a technique for recording the neurophysiological response. Since then, there has been little variation in the physical principles that sustain the signal acquisition probes, otherwise called electrodes. Currently, new advances in technology have brought new unexpected fields of applications apart from the clinical, for which new aspects such as usability and gel-free operation are first order priorities. Thanks to new advances in materials and integrated electronic systems technologies, a new generation of dry electrodes has been developed to fulfill the need. In this manuscript, we review current approaches to develop dry EEG electrodes for clinical and other applications, including information about measurement methods and evaluation reports. We conclude that, although a broad and non-homogeneous diversity of approaches has been evaluated without a consensus in procedures and methodology, their performances are not far from those obtained with wet electrodes, which are considered the gold standard, thus enabling the former to be a useful tool in a variety of novel applications.
The relationship between maternal adiposity and infant weight gain, and childhood wheeze and atopy

Background Obesity and asthma have increased in westernised countries. Maternal obesity may increase childhood asthma risk. If this relation is causal, it may be mediated through factors associated with maternal adiposity, such as fetal development, pregnancy complications or infant adiposity. We investigated the relationships of maternal body mass index (BMI) and fat mass with childhood wheeze, and examined the influences of infant weight gain and childhood obesity. Methods Maternal prepregnancy BMI and estimated fat mass (from skinfold thicknesses) were related to asthma, wheeze and atopy in 940 children. Transient or persistent/late wheeze was classified using questionnaire data collected at ages 6, 12, 24 and 36 months and 6 years. At 6 years, skin-prick testing was conducted and exhaled nitric oxide and spirometry measured. Infant adiposity gain was calculated from skinfold thickness at birth and 6 months. Results Greater maternal BMI and fat mass were associated with increased childhood wheeze (relative risk (RR) 1.08 per 5 kg/m2, p=0.006; RR 1.09 per 10 kg, p=0.003); these reflected associations with transient wheeze (RR 1.11, p=0.003; RR 1.13, p=0.002, respectively), but not with persistent wheeze or asthma. Infant adiposity gain was associated with persistent wheeze, but not significantly. Adjusting for infant adiposity gain or BMI at 3 or 6 years did not reduce the association between maternal adiposity and transient wheeze. Maternal adiposity was not associated with offspring atopy, exhaled nitric oxide, or spirometry. Discussion Greater maternal adiposity is associated with transient wheeze but not asthma or atopy, suggesting effects upon airway structure/function but not allergic predisposition.
Embryology Human oocytes express ATP-sensitive K 1 channels

General rights Copyright for the publications made accessible via the Edinburgh Research Explorer is retained by the author(s) and / or other copyright owners and it is a condition of accessing these publications that users recognise and abide by the legal requirements associated with these rights. Take down policy The University of Edinburgh has made every reasonable effort to ensure that Edinburgh Research Explorer content complies with UK legislation. If you believe that the public display of this file breaches copyright please contact openaccess@ed.ac. uk providing details, and we will remove access to the work immediately and investigate your claim. background: ATP-sensitive K + (K ATP) channels link intracellular metabolism with membrane excitability and play crucial roles in cellular physiology and protection. The K ATP channel protein complex is composed of pore forming, Kir6.x (Kir6.1 or Kir6.2) and regulatory, SURx (SUR2A, SUR2B or SUR1), subunits that associate in different combinations. The objective of this study was to determine whether mammalian oocytes (human, bovine, porcine) express K ATP channels. methods: Supernumerary human oocytes at different stages of maturation were obtained from patients undergoing assisted conception treatments. Bovine and porcine oocytes in the germinal vesicle (GV) stage were obtained by aspirating antral follicles from abattoir-derived ovaries. The presence of mRNA for K ATP channel subunits was determined using real-time RT –PCR with primers specific for Kir6.2, Kir6.1, SUR1, SUR2A and SUR2B. To assess whether functional K ATP channels are present in human oocytes, traditional and perforated patch whole cell electrophysiology and immunoprecipitation/western blotting were used. results: Real-time PCR revealed that mRNA for Kir6.1, Kir6.2, SUR2A and SUR2B, but not SUR1, were present in human oocytes of different stages. Only SUR2B and Kir6.2 mRNAs were detected in GV stage bovine and porcine oocytes. Immunoprecipitation with SUR2 antibody and western blotting with Kir6.1 antibody identified bands corresponding to these subunits in human oocytes. In human oocytes, 2,4-dinitrophenol (400 mM), a metabolic inhibitor known to decrease intracellular ATP and activate K ATP channels, increased whole cell K + current. On the other hand, K + current induced by low intracellular ATP was inhibited by extracellular glibenclamide (30 mM), an oral anti-diabetic known to block the opening of K ATP channels. conclusions: In conclusion, mammalian oocytes express K ATP channels. This opens a new avenue of research into the complex relationship between metabolism and membrane excitability in oocytes under different conditions, including conception.
Temperature (5.6-300K) Dependence Comparison of Carrier Transport Mechanisms in HfO2/SiO2 and SiO2 MOS Gate Stacks

Temperature dependent measurements have been used to examine transport mechanisms and energy band structure in MOS devices. In this study, a comparison between high-k HfO2 dielectrics and conventional SiO2 dielectrics is made to investigate dielectric specific thermally activated mechanisms. Temperature dependent measurements on large area n/pMOSFETs composed of SiO2 and HfO2/SiO2 gate dielectrics were performed from 5.6 K to 300 K. A large increase in the gate leakage current is observed at the formation of the minority carrier channel. The data indicate that gate leakage current prior to the formation of the minority channel is carrier rate limited while gate leakage current is tunneling rate limited above the threshold voltage. Gate leakage current measurements show two distinct Arrhenius transport regimes for both SiO2 and HfO2 gate dielectrics. The Arrhenius behavior of the gate leakage current is characterized by a strong temperature dependent regime and a weak temperature dependent regime. The activation energy of the strong temperature regime is found to vary with the applied gate voltage. Frenkel-Poole or other electric field models are able to explain the gate voltage dependence of the gate leakage current for the low-temperature/voltage regime investigated. The data suggest that the variation of the activation energy for the Arrhenius behavior is weakly electric-field driven and strongly voltage, or Fermi energy level, driven.
Absence of Effects of Cyclosporine on Myocardial Lymphocyte Subsets in Coxsackievirus B3 Myocarditis in the Aviremic Stage

To test the therapeutic efficacy of immunosuppression with cyclosporine upon the aviremic stage of coxsackievirus B3 (CB3) myocarditis, 2-week-old BALB/c mice were inoculated with 3xlO2 plaque-forming units of CB3, and the effects of cyclosporine on peripheral, splenic, and myocardial lymphocyte subsets were investigated. Cyclosporine, 25 mg/kg/day, was administered subcutaneously daily on days 10-31 (experiment 1) and days 30-51 (experiment 2). Treated groups were compared with infected controls for each experiment. In experiment 1, the survival rate of the cyclosporine-treated group was low (17/25 vs. 24/25, p<0.05). The severity of myocardial lesions and the distribution of lymphocyte subsets in myocardium and spleen on days 15-18 did not differ between treated and control groups; on the other hand, the percentages of peripheral Thy 1.2+ (pan T) and L3T4+ (activated helper T) cells on days 15-18 were decreased in the treated group, and those of B, Lyt 1+ (helper/inducer T), and Lyt 2+ (suppressor/cytotoxic T) subsets did not differ significantly. Notably, myocardial interleukin-2 receptor (IL-2R) positive cells, through which cyclosporine is considered to act, were scarce in both groups. In experiment 2, survival rates of two groups did not differ (treated, 32/34; untreated, 34/34; /p =NS). The severity of myocardial lesions and the distribution of splenic lymphocyte subsets on days 35-38 also were not different between two groups. The percentages of peripheral lymphocyte subsets (Thy 1.2+ and L3T4+ were decreased in the treated group; those of B, Lyt 1+, and Lyt 2+ subsets did not differ significantly. In experiments 1 and 2, the thymus/body weight ratio in the treated groups was smaller than in the untreated group, but the spleen/body weight ratio in the treated group did not differ from the untreated group; histologically, medullary cellular depletion was evident in the thymus, not in the spleen, of the treated groups. We conclude that cyclosporine failed to change the distribution of lymphocyte subsets in the spleen as well as in the myocardium in CB3 myocarditis although it had effects on the peripheral blood and thymus, which may account for the higher mortality in the treated groups. The absence of beneficial effects of cyclosporine upon the CB3 -infected myocardium may be related to the paucity of cyclosporine-sensitive cells (IL-2R, L3T4, and Lyt 2 positive cells) in the myocardium.
Association Between Neuropathic Pain and A-Waves in Leprosy Patients With Type 1 and 2 Reactions

Summary: Neuropathic pain (NP) is a well-recognized feature of leprosy neuropathy. However, the diagnosis of NP is difficult using only clinical criteria. In the study reported here, by means of conventional nerve conduction studies, the authors sought for an association between long-latency responses and NP complaints in leprosy patients with type 1 and 2 reactions. Of the 27 ulnar nerves of leprosy patients, 18 with type 1 reaction (T1R) and 9 with type 2 reaction (T2R) were followed-up for 6 months before and after steroid treatment. Clinical characteristics of pain complaints and clinical function were assessed, as well as the presence of F- and A-waves of the ulnar nerve using nerve conduction studies. The clinical and the neurophysiologic findings were compared to note positive concordances (presence of NP and A-waves together) and negative concordances (absence of NP and A-waves together) before and after treatment. Both reactions presented a high frequency of A-waves (61.1% in T1R and 66.7% in T2R, P < 0.05) and prolonged F-waves (69.4% in T1R and 65.8% in T2R, P = 0.4). No concordances were seen between pain complaints and F-waves. However, significant concordances between NP and A-waves were observed, although restricted to the T2R group (&khgr;2 = 5.65, P = 0.04). After treatment, there was a significant reduction in pain complaints, as well as the presence of F- and A-waves in both groups (P < 0.05 for all comparisons). In conclusion, the presence of A-waves correlates well with pain complaints of neuropathic characteristics in leprosy patients, especially in those with type 2 reaction. Probably, such response shares similar mechanisms with the small-fiber dysfunction seen in these patients with NP, such as demyelination, intraneural edema, and axonal sprouting. Further studies using specific tools for small-fiber assessment are warranted to confirm our findings.
Radial Velocities of Globular Clusters in the Giant Elliptical Galaxy NGC 1399

We report radial velocity measurements for 18 globular clusters and one dE galaxy in the field of the giant elliptical galaxy NGC 1399, the dominant galaxy of the Fornax Cluster. We also present radial velocity measurements for some possible young and super–metal-rich globular clusters, which turn out to be foreground or background objects (viz., 28 stars and seven galaxies). The genuine globular clusters are selected, on the basis of their magnitudes and colors, to be metal-rich. For this cluster sample, we measure a mean radial velocity of vrad = 1353 ± 79 km s-1 and a velocity dispersion of σ = 338 ± 56 km s-1. Using a few different mass estimators, this implies M/L values in the range 50–130 within a radius of 28 kpc, consistent with M/L increasing with radius. Our velocity dispersion estimate (σ) is intermediate between the value computed from the integrated stellar light at smaller radii and that computed at large radii from recent X-ray observations.
THE EVALUATION OF EFFECTIVENESS OF RHIZOBIUM LUPINI STRAINS

Biologically fixed nitrogen plays an important role in crop rotation of green agriculture. Significant increase of legumes yields are obtained by seed treatment with active nitrogen fixing bacteria strains before sowing. The possibility of the improvement of plant biomass yields through the use of more efficient combinations of Rhizobia and legumes was explored. Experiments were carried out the at Institute of Pl ant and Soil Sciences Latvian University of Agriculture to investigate the effectiveness of two Rhizobium lupini strains- a commercial preparation, nitragin , marketed by the company ‘Bioefekts’ and the strai n Rhizobium lupini from the collection of the Institute of Soil and Plant S ciences. The test samples were placed in 5 L pots with washe d river sand, mixed with Kemira GrowHow NPK 0 ‐ 5 ‐ 20 and microelements fertilizer. Nitrogen was added as ammonium nitrate, 0.024 g per 1 kg of sand for inoculated plants, and ten times more (0.24 g kg -1 ) for the control variant, where plants were not inoculated. In the v egetation pot experiments three lupines species, L. luteus variety ‘Juno’, L. angustifolius variety ‘Sonet’ and L. albus variety ‘Wat’ were used. Before sowing the lupine seeds were inoculated with Rhizobium lupini strains. The results showed that plants receiving increased nitrogen dosages sprout later and lag in height in the period of active growth. The plant le ngth depends on plant species. The smallest length was observed of the species L. angustifolius variety ‘Sonet’, the largest are plants of the species L. luteus variety ‘Juno’. The inoculation of plant seeds prom otes increase in plant length till the phase of bud formation. There are no significan t differences between Rhizobium lupini strains. The largest fresh and dry weights were observed for L. albus variety ‘Wat’, but species L. angustifolius had the smallest fresh and dry weight. The largest dry matter content in plants till the stage of bud formation was observed for inoculated plants. After the phase of flowering it was found that symbiotic systems are not sufficient in providing nitrogen. The effectiveness of Rhizobium lupini strains are species dependent.
Effect of fracture on the health care use of nursing home residents.

BACKGROUND Osteoporotic fractures result in increased health care use. Care following fracture has been characterized for community dwellers but not for nursing home residents, whose fracture rates are as much as 11 times higher than those of age-matched community dwellers. Knowing the amount of care following fracture may help determine the effects of fracture prevention on use and costs in this population. METHODS A prospective cohort study was conducted, with 18 months of follow-up, of 1427 randomly selected white, female nursing home residents 65 years and older from 47 randomly selected nursing homes in Maryland. RESULTS After controlling for age, comorbidities, and mobility, nursing home residents who experienced a fracture were hospitalized more than 15 times as often as those who did not in the month following the fracture (relative rate, 15.35; 95% confidence interval, 12.27-19.21) and at a higher rate from 3 through 12 months postfracture. Rates in the first month were higher for persons with a hip fracture (relative rate, 31.01; 95% confidence interval, 26.52-36.24). Rates of emergency department use and contacts with physicians and therapists were increased, the latter two for 12 months following fracture. Also, before the fracture, patients who experienced a fracture visited the emergency department and had more physician contacts; for those with a hip fracture, there were fewer prefracture hospitalizations. CONCLUSIONS Health care use remained elevated through 1 year postfracture. Comparisons with community patients suggest that this care may be less than what would be provided in other settings. For patients who fractured a hip, higher use decreased after 6 months, similar to community cohorts. Nursing home residents who visit the emergency department may warrant special screening for a fracture.
DNA cytoskeleton for stabilizing artificial cells

Significance Although liposomes and lipid droplets have been used for numerous applications, the fragility of the lipid membrane causes an unintentional collapse, which is problematic for advanced applications. To solve this problem, we constructed an artificial cytoskeleton with DNA nanotechnology (a DNA cytoskeleton). The DNA cytoskeleton is a DNA network formed underneath the membrane of positively charged lipids through electrostatic interactions without the need for special handling. The DNA cytoskeleton significantly improves mechanical stability and, therefore, confers tolerance against osmotic shock to liposomes like the cytoskeleton in live cells. Because of its biocompatibility and the easiness of implementing design changes, the DNA cytoskeleton could become a tool for great stabilizer of liposomes and lipid droplets. Cell-sized liposomes and droplets coated with lipid layers have been used as platforms for understanding live cells, constructing artificial cells, and implementing functional biomedical tools such as biosensing platforms and drug delivery systems. However, these systems are very fragile, which results from the absence of cytoskeletons in these systems. Here, we construct an artificial cytoskeleton using DNA nanostructures. The designed DNA oligomers form a Y-shaped nanostructure and connect to each other with their complementary sticky ends to form networks. To undercoat lipid membranes with this DNA network, we used cationic lipids that attract negatively charged DNA. By encapsulating the DNA into the droplets, we successfully created a DNA shell underneath the membrane. The DNA shells increased interfacial tension, elastic modulus, and shear modulus of the droplet surface, consequently stabilizing the lipid droplets. Such drastic changes in stability were detected only when the DNA shell was in the gel phase. Furthermore, we demonstrate that liposomes with the DNA gel shell are substantially tolerant against outer osmotic shock. These results clearly show the DNA gel shell is a stabilizer of the lipid membrane akin to the cytoskeleton in live cells.
Neuroaxonal Dystrophy in Calcium-Independent Phospholipase A2β Deficiency Results from Insufficient Remodeling and Degeneration of Mitochondrial and Presynaptic Membranes

Infantile neuroaxonal dystrophy (INAD) is a fatal neurodegenerative disease characterized by the widespread presence of axonal swellings (spheroids) in the CNS and PNS and is caused by gene abnormality in PLA2G6 [calcium-independent phospholipase A2β (iPLA2β)], which is essential for remodeling of membrane phospholipids. To clarify the pathomechanism of INAD, we pathologically analyzed the spinal cords and sciatic nerves of iPLA2β knock-out (KO) mice, a model of INAD. At 15 weeks (preclinical stage), periodic acid-Schiff (PAS)-positive granules were frequently observed in proximal axons and the perinuclear space of large neurons, and these were strongly positive for a marker of the mitochondrial outer membrane and negative for a marker of the inner membrane. By 100 weeks (late clinical stage), PAS-positive granules and spheroids had increased significantly in the distal parts of axons, and ultrastructural examination revealed that these granules were, in fact, mitochondria with degenerative inner membranes. Collapse of mitochondria in axons was accompanied by focal disappearance of the cytoskeleton. Partial membrane loss at axon terminals was also evident, accompanied by degenerative membranes in the same areas. Imaging mass spectrometry showed a prominent increase of docosahexaenoic acid-containing phosphatidylcholine in the gray matter, suggesting insufficient membrane remodeling in the presence of iPLA2β deficiency. Prominent axonal degeneration in neuroaxonal dystrophy might be explained by the collapse of abnormal mitochondria after axonal transportation. Insufficient remodeling and degeneration of mitochondrial inner membranes and presynaptic membranes appear to be the cause of the neuroaxonal dystrophy in iPLA2β-KO mice.
The Local Langlands Conjecture for GSp(4)

We show that the local Langlands conjecture for $Sp(2n)$ follows from that for $GSp(2n)$. In particular, we prove the local Langlands conjecture for $Sp(4)$, based on our previous work on the local Langlands conjecture for $GSp(4)$. We also determine the possible sizes of $L$-packets for $Sp(4)$.