Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A maternal Western diet during gestation and lactation modifies offspring's microbiota activity, blood lipid levels, cognitive responses, and hippocampal neurogenesis in Yucatan pigs

A suboptimal early nutritional environment (i.e., excess of energy, sugar, and fat intake) can increase susceptibility to diseases and neurocognitive disorders. The purpose of this study was to investigate in nonobese Yucatan minipigs (Sus scrofa) the impact of maternal diet [standard diet (SD) vs. Western diet (WD)] during gestation and 25 d of lactation on milk composition, blood metabolism, and microbiota activity of sows (n = 17) and their piglets (n = 65), and on spatial cognition (n = 51), hippocampal plasticity (n = 17), and food preferences/motivation (n = 51) in the progeny. Milk dry matter and lipid content, as well as plasma total cholesterol and free fatty acid (FFA) concentrations (P < 0.05) were higher in WD than in SD sows. Microbiota activity decreased in both WD sows and 100‐d‐old piglets (P < 0.05 or P < 0.10, depending on short‐chain FAs [SCFAs]). At weaning [postnatal day (PND) 25], WD piglets had increased blood triglyceride and FFA levels (P < 0.01). Both SD and WD piglets consumed more of a known SD than an unknown high‐fat and ‐sucrose (HFS) diet (P < 0.0001), but were quicker to obtain HFS rewards compared with SD rewards (P < 0.01). WD piglets had higher working memory (P = 0.015) and reference memory (P < 0.001) scores, which may reflect better cognitive abilities in the task context and a higher motivation for the food rewards. WD piglets had a smaller hippocampal granular cell layer (P = 0.03) and decreased neurogenesis (P < 0.005), but increased cell proliferation (P < 0.001). A maternal WD during gestation and lactation, even in the absence of obesity, has significant consequences for piglets’ blood lipid levels, microbiota activity, gut–brain axis, and neurocognitive abilities after weaning. —Val‐Laillet, D. , Besson, M. , Guérin, S. , Coquery, N. , Randuineau, G. , Kanzari, A. , Quesnel, H. , Bonhomme, N. , Bolhuis, J. E. , Kemp, B. , Blat, S. , Le Huërou‐Luron, I. , Clouard, C. A maternal Western diet during gestation and lactation modifies offspring's microbiota activity, blood lipid levels, cognitive responses, and hippocampal neurogenesis in Yucatan pigs. FASEB J. 31, 2037–2049 (2017). www.fasebj. org
Sex-Specific Regulation of AMP-Activated Protein Kinase (AMPK) in the Pacific Oyster Crassostrea gigas1

ABSTRACT The hermaphrodite Pacific oyster Crassostrea gigas displays a high energy allocation to reproduction. We studied the expression of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) during gametogenesis in the gonad and characterized the mRNA sequences of the AMPK subunits: the AMPK alpha mRNA sequence was previously characterized; we identified AMPK beta, AMPK gamma, and mRNAs of putative AMPK-related targets following bioinformatics mining on existing genomic resources. We analyzed the mRNA expression of the AMPK alpha, beta, and gamma subunits in the gonads of male and female oysters through a reproductive cycle, and we quantified the mRNA expression of genes belonging to fatty acid and glucose metabolism. AMPK alpha mRNA levels were more abundant in males at the first stage of gametogenesis, when mitotic activity and the differentiation of germinal cells occur, and were always more abundant in males than in females. Some targets of fatty acid and glucose metabolism appeared to be correlated with the expression of AMPK subunits at the mRNA level. We then analyzed the sex-specific AMPK activity by measuring the phosphorylation of the catalytic AMPK alpha protein and its expression at the protein level. Both the amount of AMPK alpha protein and threonine 172 phosphorylation appeared to be almost totally inhibited in mature female gonads at stage 3, at the time when accumulation of reserves in oocytes was promoted, while it remained at a high level in mature spermatozoa. Its activation might play a sex-dependent role in the management of energy during gametogenesis in oyster.
A Social History of Twentieth-Century Europe

Preface. 1. Introduction 2. Population 3. Families and households 4. Social stratification and social mobility 5. The welfare state 6. Work, consumption and leisure 7. Politics and society 8. Urbanization 9. Education, religion and culture 10. Conclusions: the societies of Europe and Europe as a society in the 20th century. Selected bibliography
Extensions and evaluations of a general quantitative theory of forest structure and dynamics

Here, we present the second part of a quantitative theory for the structure and dynamics of forests under demographic and resource steady state. The theory is based on individual-level allometric scaling relations for how trees use resources, fill space, and grow. These scale up to determine emergent properties of diverse forests, including size–frequency distributions, spacing relations, canopy configurations, mortality rates, population dynamics, successional dynamics, and resource flux rates. The theory uniquely makes quantitative predictions for both stand-level scaling exponents and normalizations. We evaluate these predictions by compiling and analyzing macroecological datasets from several tropical forests. The close match between theoretical predictions and data suggests that forests are organized by a set of very general scaling rules. Our mechanistic theory is based on allometric scaling relations, is complementary to “demographic theory,” but is fundamentally different in approach. It provides a quantitative baseline for understanding deviations from predictions due to other factors, including disturbance, variation in branching architecture, asymmetric competition, resource limitation, and other sources of mortality, which are not included in the deliberately simplified theory. The theory should apply to a wide range of forests despite large differences in abiotic environment, species diversity, and taxonomic and functional composition.
Robot‐assisted right lobe donor hepatectomy

Recent advances in robotic surgical technology have enabled application to complex surgical procedures. Following extensive institutional experience with major robotic liver resections, we determined that it was safe to apply this technology to right lobe donor hepatectomy (RLDH). The procedure was performed using the Da Vinci Robotic Surgical System, in an entirely minimally invasive fashion, during which the liver graft was safely extracted through a limited lower abdominal incision. Both donor and recipient recovered well, without acute complications. To our knowledge, this is the first case reported in the literature. The technical feasibility of this minimally invasive approach is demonstrated, exemplifying the novel exciting opportunities offered by robotic technology.
Clinical and functional aspects of work-related musculoskeletal disorders among active workers.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate musculoskeletal disorders among active industrial workers. METHODS The study was carried out in São Carlos, Southeastern Brazil, in 2005. One hundred and thirty-four female workers were physically evaluated and answered questions about their physical symptoms, filled out a pain scale and gave responses in the Oswestry Disability Questionnaire, and the Work Ability Index questionnaire. The data were analyzed descriptively, and in correlation tests and through applying logistic regression. The outcome was evaluated in relation to the perceptions of pain, symptoms, physical assessment, ability to work and disability. RESULTS Clinical evaluations and sick leave presented positive correlations with the subjective variables. The Work Ability Index presented a negative correlation with the physical disability index (r=-0.69). Symptoms reported at the time of the assessment presented a good correlation with the results from the pain scale and the clinical findings. Previous sick leave showed an association with disability (OR=1.13; 95% CI:1.08;1.18). CONCLUSION Symptom reports and pain scales may be useful for assessing current conditions at the time of evaluating individuals with work-related musculoskeletal disorders, as they are easier to apply. In more severe cases of such injuries, clinical and functional evaluations and questionnaires such as those relating to ability to work and disability are preferable. Precise and specific evaluations of these disorders may contribute towards fairer legal and administrative decisions.
Signal and noise: applying a laboratory trigger tool to identify adverse drug events among primary care patients

Background The extent of outpatient adverse drug events (ADEs) remains unclear. Trigger tools are used as a screening method to identify care episodes that may be ADEs, but their value in a population with high chronic-illness burden remains unclear. Methods The authors used six abnormal laboratory triggers for detecting ADEs among adults in outpatient care. Eligible patients were included if they were >18 years, sought primary or urgent care between November 2008 and November 2009 and were prescribed at least one medication. The authors then used the clinical / administrative database to identity patients with these triggers. Two physicians conducted in-depth chart review of any medical records with identified triggers. Results The authors reviewed 1342 triggers representing 622 unique episodes among 516 patients. The trigger tool identified 91 (15%) ADEs. Of the 91 ADEs included in the analysis, 49 (54%) occurred during medication monitoring, 41 (45%) during patient self-administration, and one could not be determined. 96% of abnormal international normalised ratio triggers were ADEs, followed by 12% of abnormal blood urea nitrogen triggers, 9% of abnormal alanine aminotransferase triggers, 8% of abnormal serum creatinine triggers and 3% of aspartate aminotransferase triggers. Conclusions The findings imply that other tools such as text triggers or more complex automated screening rules, which combine data hierarchically are needed to effectively screen for ADEs in chronically ill adults seen in primary care.
Mining the Unknown: A Systems Approach to Metabolite Identification Combining Genetic and Metabolic Information

Recent genome-wide association studies (GWAS) with metabolomics data linked genetic variation in the human genome to differences in individual metabolite levels. A strong relevance of this metabolic individuality for biomedical and pharmaceutical research has been reported. However, a considerable amount of the molecules currently quantified by modern metabolomics techniques are chemically unidentified. The identification of these “unknown metabolites” is still a demanding and intricate task, limiting their usability as functional markers of metabolic processes. As a consequence, previous GWAS largely ignored unknown metabolites as metabolic traits for the analysis. Here we present a systems-level approach that combines genome-wide association analysis and Gaussian graphical modeling with metabolomics to predict the identity of the unknown metabolites. We apply our method to original data of 517 metabolic traits, of which 225 are unknowns, and genotyping information on 655,658 genetic variants, measured in 1,768 human blood samples. We report previously undescribed genotype–metabotype associations for six distinct gene loci (SLC22A2, COMT, CYP3A5, CYP2C18, GBA3, UGT3A1) and one locus not related to any known gene (rs12413935). Overlaying the inferred genetic associations, metabolic networks, and knowledge-based pathway information, we derive testable hypotheses on the biochemical identities of 106 unknown metabolites. As a proof of principle, we experimentally confirm nine concrete predictions. We demonstrate the benefit of our method for the functional interpretation of previous metabolomics biomarker studies on liver detoxification, hypertension, and insulin resistance. Our approach is generic in nature and can be directly transferred to metabolomics data from different experimental platforms.
A GaN power amplifier for 100 VDC bus in GPS L-band

An innovative approach in RF GaN technology suitable for Global Positioning System (GPS) L-band transmitters is presented. The solution operates directly from the 100 VDC voltage bus without the need for a DC-DC step-down converter to typical 28 V or 50 V. It is based on a mature GaN HEMT process which is radiation tolerant and reliable for space applications. The prototype single stage amplifier reported in this paper operates at 100 V bias and achieves 100 W CW output power with 19 dB gain and high efficiency > 60% at the L1 frequency band of 1575 ± 50 MHz. Preliminary results at L2 and L5 GPS bands are also reported. The demo amplifier consists of a single die with 12 mm gate periphery in a hermetic package. Higher power can easily be attained by utilizing multiple chips in one package. The proposed technology reduces SWaP figure of merit and simplifies the design of transmitters for GPS satellites.
A new 3D monitor-based random-dot stereotest for children.

PURPOSE Objective testing for random-dot stereovision in preverbal children requires some type of dissociating glasses. Drawbacks of such methods are the alteration of natural visual conditions and sometimes nonacceptance of the glasses. For this reason, a new, natural method for random-dot stereopsis measurement was developed and tested. METHODS Random-dot circles (diameter 10 cm, crossed disparity of 0.34 degrees ) were generated on an autostereoscopic display and presented to 18 normal children (mean age, 5.1 +/- 1.1 years), 8 with anisometropic amblyopia (mean age, 4.9 +/- 1.3 years), 14 with infantile essential esotropia (mean age, 5.3 +/- 0.7 years), and 16 with primary microstrabismus (mean age, 5.2 +/- 1.4 years). While the position of the stimulus randomly changed among four possible locations, eye positions were recorded by infrared photo-oculography. If two or more consecutive saccades ends corresponded to the stimulus coordinates, a positive response was assumed. The results with the new test were compared with the ability to recognize the Lang I random-dot stereotest. RESULTS Twenty-four of 26 Lang I-positive children had positive responses (sensitivity of 92.3%), 29 of 30 Lang I-negative children had negative three-dimensional (3D) stimulus responses (specificity, 96.7%). The positive predictive value of the new test was 0.96 (95% CI, 0.79-0.99); the negative predictive value, 0.94 (95% CI, 0.78-0.99); and the overall accuracy, 0.95 (95% CI, 0.85-0.99). CONCLUSIONS This new 3D monitor-based test allows objective assessment of random-dot stereopsis in children older than 3 years.
Upstream and downstream influence on the unsteadiness of STBLI using DNS data in two configurations

Statistical analysis of the upstream and downstream flow influence on shock unsteadiness in shock and turbulent boundary layer interactions are performed using DNS data of a compression corner Wu & Martin and a reflected shock case interaction. For both cases, the scaling proposed by Dussauge et al. for the characteristic low frequency applies. The statistical analysis for the compression corner shows that the unsteadiness of the shock is dominated by the downstream flow. The same analysis applied to the reflected shock case also indicates downstream influence. Additional studies are required to fully characterize the reflected shock case DNS data.
The Effects of IT Application Orchestration Capability on Performance

This paper investigates the effects on performance of a firm's capability to orchestrate its portfolio of IT applications. It conceives of IT application orchestration as a dynamic capability and develops a model where the effects of this capability on performance are mediated by an important IT-enabled business outcome: Process agility. Results from an international survey of IT executives show that IT application orchestration capability has a direct positive effect on agility, which in turn improves performance. Further, we show that agility fully mediates the effect of IT application orchestration capability on performance. This paper extends prior theory by proposing and testing for the performance effects of an IT-enabled dynamic capability that has not been previously investigated. The implication of this study for practice is to show that the benefits generated by managing the portfolio of IT applications are realized at the process-level and result in increased
Detection of Non-Symmetrical Damage in Smart Plate-Like Structures

A two-dimensional model for in-plane vibrations of a cantilever plate with a nonsymmetrical damage is used in the context of defect identification in materials with piezoelectric ceramic patches bonded to their surface. These patches can act both as actuators and sensors in a selfanalyzing fashion, which is a characteristic of smart materials. A Galerkin method is used to approximate the dynamic response of these structures. The natural frequency shifts due to the damage are estimated numerically and compared to experimental data obtained from tests on cantilever aluminum plate-like structures damaged at different locations with defects of different depths. The damage location and extent are determined by an enhanced least square identification method. Efficacy of the frequency shift based algorithms is demonstrated using experimental data.
The Independent and Interactive Effects of Embodied-Agent Appearance and Behavior on Self-Report, Cognitive, and Behavioral Markers of Copresence in Immersive Virtual Environments

The current study examined how assessments of copresence in an immersive virtual environment are influenced by variations in how much an embodied agent resembles a human being in appearance and behavior. We measured the extent to which virtual representations were both perceived and treated as if they were human via self-report, behavioral, and cognitive dependent measures. Distinctive patterns of findings emerged with respect to the behavior and appearance of embodied agents depending on the definition and operationalization of copresence. Independent and interactive effects for appearance and behavior were found suggesting that assessing the impact of behavioral realism on copresence without taking into account the appearance of the embodied agent (and vice versa) can lead to misleading conclusions. Consistent with the results of previous research, copresence was lowest when there was a large mismatch between the appearance and behavioral realism of an embodied agent.
IL-1, IL-6 and TNF-alpha concentrations in the peritoneal fluid of women with pelvic adhesions.

BACKGROUND Pelvic adhesions are a significant cause of morbidity and are associated with infertility and pain. The three pro-inflammatory cytokines interleukin (IL)-1, IL-6 and tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha are involved in adhesion formation/reformation. METHODS The concentration of these three cytokines was examined in the peritoneal fluid of women undergoing laparoscopy, in order to examine the factors affecting their concentrations, with specific reference to the presence or absence of adhesions. RESULTS We found that the concentration of TNF-alpha in the peritoneal fluid was significantly correlated to the menstrual cycle day (P < 0.01), with increasing concentration as the menstrual cycle progressed from the follicular to the luteal phase. In contrast, IL-1 and IL-6 levels did not show any variation throughout the menstrual cycle. Increased TNF-alpha was found in patients with pelvic adhesions compared with those with normal pelvis; the concentration of TNF-alpha was highest in mild compared with severe adhesions. In contrast, IL-1 concentration was higher in the presence of severe adhesions. IL-6 levels were significantly correlated with the grade of endometriosis (P < 0.05), but there were no significant correlations of either TNF-alpha or IL-1 concentrations with the various grades of endometriosis. CONCLUSION The exact role of TNF-alpha and IL-1 in adhesion formation is still unknown, but the results from this study suggest that their concentration in the peritoneal fluid is associated with the degree of adhesions present.
Manifolds admitting stable forms

In this note we give a direct method to classify all stable forms on $\R^n$ as well as to determine their automorphism groups. We show that in dimension 6,7,8 stable forms coincide with non-degnerate forms. We present necessary conditions and sufficient conditions for a manifold to admit a stable form. We also discuss rich properties of the geometry of such manifolds.
Software Cost Estimation Approaches: A Survey

The software cost estimation aims to predict the most realistic effort that is required to finish a software project and so it is critical to the success of a software project management. A Software Cost Estimation affects nearly all management activities, including project bidding, resource allocation and project planning. It is affected by a number of factors, such as implementation efficiency, as well as how much the various reviews and studies completed prior to the software development stage cost. Accurate cost estimation will help us to complete the project on time and within budget. Accurate estimation is important because it has led to extensive research into the methods of software cost estimation. Some important software cost estimation methods have been studied in this research work. In addition, we have set out own criteria, which has been used to compare all the different selected methods. We have also given a score for each evaluation criteria, so that we can compare the different methods numerically for cost estimation. Our observations have shown that it is best to use a number of different estimating techniques or cost models, and then compare the results before determining the reasons for any of the large variations. None of the methods are necessarily better or worse than the others. We found, in fact, that their strengths and weaknesses often complement each other. Therefore, the main conclusion is that there is no one single technique that is best for every situation, and the results of a number of different approaches need to be carefully considered to discover what is the most likely to produce estimates that are realistic.
Exploration of Biases That Affect the Interpretation of Restriction Fragment Patterns Produced by Pulsed-Field Gel Electrophoresis

ABSTRACT Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) has been used extensively in epidemiological investigations of bacteria, especially during food-borne outbreaks or nosocomial infections. The relationship between similarities in PFGE patterns and true genetic relatedness is poorly understood. In this study, computer-simulated populations of Escherichia coli isolates were created by mutating the sequence of E. coli K-12 strain MG1655. The simulated populations of isolates were then digested, again through simulation, with different restriction enzymes and were analyzed for their relatedness by different techniques. Errors associated with band determination and band matching were incorporated into the analyses, as both of these error types have been shown to affect PFGE interpretations. These errors increased the apparent similarities of the isolates. The use of multiple enzymes improved the fidelity between the results of PFGE analyses and the true sequence similarities. These findings, when they are combined with results from laboratory studies, emphasize the need for the inclusion of multiple enzymes and additional epidemiological data in order to make more accurate interpretations.