Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Diagnostics of energetic electrons with anisotropic distributions in solar flares

Aims. The paper aims are to simulate steady-state distributions of electrons beams precipitating in collisional and Ohmic losses with pitch angle anisotropy into a flaring atmosphere with converging magnetic field and to apply these to the interpretation of HXR photon spectra, directivity and polarization observed for different photon energies and flare positions on the solar disk. Methods. Summary approximation method is applied to a time-dependent Fokker-Planck equation by splitting the temporal derivative equally between the derivatives in depth, energy and pitch angles and finding the solutions in forward and backward directions for each variable. Results. For softer beams, there is a noticeable flattening of the photon spectra at lower energies caused by the self-induced electric field that increases for larger viewing angles. For the models with an electric field, the HXR emission with lower energies (30 keV) becomes directed mainly upwards at upper atmospheric levels owing to the increased number of particles moving upwards, while in deeper layers it again becomes directed downwards. The polarization maximum shifts to higher energies with every precipitation depth approaching 25 keV for the models with pure collisions and 100 keV for the models with return currents. At deeper layers, the polarization decreases because of the isotropization of electrons by collisions. The maximum polarization is observed at the viewing angle of , becoming shifted to lower angles for softer beams. The integrated polarization and directivity shows a dependence on a magnetic field convergence for harder beams, while for softer beams the directivity is strongly affected by the self-induced electric field changing from a downward motion to an upward one at upper atmospheric depths. Conclusions. The proposed precipitation model for an electron beam with wider pitch angle dispersion of 0.2 taking into account collisional and Ohmic losses allowed us to fit the double power law HXR photon spectra with a spectrum flattening at lower energies observed in the flares of 20 and 23 July 2002. The observed directivity of HXR photons of 20 keV derived for a large number of flares located from the disk center to limb is also reproduced well by the theoretical directivity calculated for an electron beam with a very narrow pitch angle dispersion of 0.02. The simulated polarization of this narrowly-directed electron beam fits up to 90% of all the available polarimetric observations carried out at various locations across the solar disk.
Guillain-Barré syndrome anti-ganglioside-complex antibodies at mouse

Objectives: Anti-ganglioside antibodies are present in about half of the patients with Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS). Recently it has been shown that a considerable proportion of these patients has serum antibodies against antigenic epitopes formed by a complex of two different gangliosides. However, direct experimental evidence for neuropathogenicity of this special category of antibodies is currently lacking. Here we explored a series of GBS and GBS-variant sera with anti-ganglioside-complex antibodies for their ability to induce complement-dependent deleterious effects at the living neuronal membrane. Methods: The neuropathophysiological potential of 31 GBS sera containing either antiGM1/GD1aor anti-GM1/GQ1b-ganglioside-complex antibodies was studied at motor nerve terminal presynaptic membranes in the mouse phrenic nerve/diaphragm muscle ex vivo experimental model. With electrophysiological measurements and confocal fluorescence microscopy we assessed and quantified the damaging effect on neuronal membranes by antiganglioside-complex antibodies. Results: We show that anti-GM1/GD1aand anti-GM1/GQ1b-ganglioside-complex positive sera can induce complement-mediated functional and morphological injury at mouse motor nerve terminals ex vivo. Of the 31 investigated anti-ganglioside-complex patient sera, 17 sera induced increases in miniature endplate potential frequency in this experimental model, mostly associated with muscle fibre twitches. Variability in potency was observed, with the anti-GM1/GD1a-complex sera inducing the most outspoken effects. Conclusions: This study demonstrates the presence of ganglioside-complexes as available antigens in living neuronal membranes and supplies proof-of-principle that anti-gangliosidecomplex antibodies in sera from GBS patients can induce complement-mediated damage. This strongly supports the hypothesis that autoimmune targeting of ganglioside-complexes is of pathogenic relevance in a proportion of GBS patients.
First-degree relatives of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and risk of non-alcoholic Fatty liver disease.

AIMS The aim of this study was to determine whether first-degree relatives (FDR) of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) are at higher risk of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) than healthy controls. METHODS A total of 222 FDR of consecutive patients with T2DM aged between 35 and 55 years and 202 healthy individuals with no family history of diabetes were investigated for NAFLD. Fatty liver was diagnosed by ultrasonography using standard criteria. Height, weight, fasting glucose, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), total cholesterol and triglyceride were determined by routine laboratory methods. RESULTS Compared to subjects with no family history of diabetes, the age and sex adjusted odds ratio (OR) of NAFLD was 1.83 (95% CI: 1.11-3.03) for FDR of patients with T2DM. After further adjusting for BMI, fasting glucose, ALT, asparate aminotransferase (AST), triglyceride and cholesterol, the multivariate OR of prevalent NAFLD in FDR of patients with T2DM compared with individuals with no family history of diabetes was 1.56 (95% CI: 0.85-2.86). CONCLUSIONS The present study suggests that the relation between FDR of patients with T2DM and NAFLD is affected by the other covariates, in particular obesity, which points to a more complex relationship between the diseases. It appears that obesity and diabetes may independently predispose to NAFLD.
70 th Anniversary : Body weight regulation – food , gut and brain signalling Symposium I : Food – gut interactions Nutrient sensing and signalling by the gut

Recent advances highlight that nutrient receptors (such as T1R1/T1R3 heterodimer, Ca sensing receptor and GPR93 for amino acids and protein, GPR40, GPR41, GPR43 and GPR120 for fatty acids, T1R2/T1R3 heterodimer for monosaccharides) are expressed in the apical face of the gut and sense nutrients in the lumen. They transduce signals for the regulation of nutrient transporter expressions in the apical face. Interestingly, they are also localised in enteroendocrine cells (EEC) and mainly exert a direct control on the secretion in the lamina propria of gastro-intestinal peptides such as cholecystokinin, glucagon-like peptide-1 and peptide YY in response to energy nutrient transit and absorption in the gut. This informs central nuclei involved in the control of feeding such as the hypothalamus and nucleus of the solitary tract of the availability of these nutrients and thus triggers adaptive responses to maintain energy homoeostasis. These nutrient receptors then have a prominent position since they manage nutrient absorption and are principally the generator of the first signal of satiation mechanisms mainly transmitted to the brain by vagal afferents. Moreover, tastants are also able to elicit gut peptides secretion via chemosensory receptors expressed in EEC. Targeting these nutrient and tastant receptors in EEC may thus be helpful to promote satiation and so to fight overfeeding and its consequences.
Correlates of Depression among Patients Diagnosed with Chronic Illnesses in Saudi Arabia

Background: Depression contributes to an increased medical morbidity and mortality among patients with chronic medical illnesses. The purpose of this study was to investigate correlates of depression among patients diagnosed with chronic illnesses in Saudi Arabia. Methods: A cross sectional survey using 412 patients diagnosed with chronic illnesses has been used to collected data in regards to depressive symptoms, psychological distress, coping, and life satisfaction. Results: 25.2% of the patients reported that they had moderate to severe depressive symptoms, and about 13.8% of them had mild level of depression. Psychological distress and life satisfaction were significant correlates with depressive symptoms (r = 0.33, 0.54, p < 0.001), while coping strategies is not. The results also showed that there is a significant and negative correlation between patients’ age and depression score (r = 0.17, p ≤ 0.001). Regarding gender differences, the analysis showed that there was no significant difference between male and female patients in their depressive symptoms (t = ﹣0.69, p = 0.488). Conclusion: implication for clinical practice and research discussed.
Visual Steering Commands for Trade Space Exploration: User-Guided Sampling With Example

Recent advancements in computing power and speed provide opportunities to revolutionize trade space exploration, particularly for the design of complex systems such as automobiles, aircraft, and spacecraft. In this paper, we introduce three Visual Steering Commands to support trade space exploration and demonstrate their use within a powerful data visualization tool that allows designers to explore multidimensional trade spaces using glyph, 1-D and 2-D histogram, 2-D scatter, scatter matrix, and parallel coordinate plots; linked views; brushing; preference shading and Pareto frontier display. In particular, we define three user-guided samplers that enable designers to explore (1) the entire design space, (2) near a point of interest, or (3) within a region of high preference. We illustrate these three samplers with a vehicle configuration model that evaluates the technical feasibility of new vehicle concepts. Future research is also discussed.Copyright © 2007 by ASME and General Motors
No 385 Social Background , Cooperative Behavior , and Norm Enforcement

Studies have shown that there are differences in cooperative behavior across countries. Furthermore, differences in the use and the reaction on the introduction of a norm enforcement mechansism have been documented in cross-cultural studies, recently. We present data which prove that stark differences in both dimensions can exist even within the same town. For this end, a unique data set was created, based on public goods experiments conducted in South Africa. Most of the group differences can, however, be explained by variables accounting for social capital and social environment, such as trust or household violence.
In vitro Effect of Aqueous Extract of Fresh Leaves of Abroma augusta L on the Diffusion of Glucose

There have been a number of reports concerning the role of dietary fiber in hampering the diffusion of glucose and lowering the postprandial serum glucose. The present study investigates the effect of viscous aqueous leaf extract of Abroma augusta L (Family: Sterculiaceae, Bengali name: Ulatkambal, English name: Devil's cotton, DC) on the diffusion of glucose in vitro. Different mixtures were prepared using varying concentrations of sodium carboxymethylcellulose (Na-CMC) and aqueous extract of A. augusta with a fixed concentration of glucose. The diffusion of glucose from these systems into the outer medium through the ultra-fine membrane was measured. The results showed that both Na-CMC and aqueous extract of ulatkambal significantly (p<0.05) reduced the diffusion of glucose compared to control in a concentration-dependent manner. The result of this study suggested that dietary fiber present in the aqueous leaf extract of A. augusta may be potentially effective in the management of type 2 diabetes mellitus by reducing post-prandial glucose absorption from the gastrointestinal tract.
Arsenics Nonlinear Dose- Response: Moving from Theory to Implementation

Please note that the version of the document that was made public was not the same version that the Panel was discussing on the call. We would like to request that, for the next calls, the most current version of the document be made available to the public. Additionally, the Panel was discussing other documents that were not made public. It would be helpful if all the documents that are discussed are made public.
REV IEWS AND SYNTHES IS Testing the metabolic theory of ecology

Charles A. Price,* Joshua S Weitz,* Van M. Savage,* James Stegen, Andrew Clarke, David A. Coomes, Peter S. Dodds, Rampal S. Etienne, Andrew J. Kerkhoff, Katherine McCulloh, Karl J. Niklas, Han Olff and Nathan G. Swenson Abstract The metabolic theory of ecology (MTE) predicts the effects of body size and temperature on metabolism through considerations of vascular distribution networks and biochemical kinetics. MTE has also been extended to characterise processes from cellular to global levels. MTE has generated both enthusiasm and controversy across a broad range of research areas. However, most efforts that claim to validate or invalidate MTE have focused on testing predictions. We argue that critical evaluation of MTE also requires strong tests of both its theoretical foundations and simplifying assumptions. To this end, we synthesise available information and find that MTE’s original derivations require additional assumptions to obtain the full scope of attendant predictions. Moreover, although some of MTE’s simplifying assumptions are well supported by data, others are inconsistent with empirical tests and even more remain untested. Further, although many predictions are empirically supported on average, work remains to explain the often large variability in data. We suggest that greater effort be focused on evaluating MTE’s underlying theory and simplifying assumptions to help delineate the scope of MTE, generate new theory and shed light on fundamental aspects of biological form and function.
Changes in Rate of Learning in Autistic Children Following 9 Months on a Gluten-Free Diet.

This report discusses the outcomes of a study that investigated the effects of a gluten-free diet on three males with autism between the ages of 5 to 8 years old. All subjects were also participants in prior studies on the effects of the gluten-free diet on the learning processes of children with autism in an applied behavioral analysis program. The three subjects on the gluten-free diet had an average of 2.1 years experience of applied behavioral analysis. Rates of learning of five behavioral targets of the participants involved the number of attempts required to reach a behavioral target during a pretreatment baseline and at 9 months after the initiation of the gluten-free diet. The total number of attempts for the last five targets mastered following 6 months and 9 months on the gluten-free diet comprised the post-treatment scores for each participant. Both the between subjects and within subjects measures revealed no significant increase in the rate of learning following the implementation of the gluten-free diet over a 9-month period. The report discusses the etiology of autism, the background of the gluten-free diet movement, behavioral analysis, the search for new treatment strategies, and treatment effects of facilitated communication. (Contains 30 references.) (CR) Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made from the original document. Changes in Rate of Learning in Autistic Children following 9 Months on a Gluten-Free Diet U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION Office of Educational Research and Improvement ED ATIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION CENTER (ERIC) This document has been reproduced as received from the person or organization originating it. Minor changes have been made to improve reproduction quality. Points of view or opinions stated in this document do not necessarily represent official OERI position or policy. Jamie Lyn Pontino
Periodontal diseases as a risk factor

Summary There is an increasing body of evidence in periodontology that speaks in favor of the association between human chronic inflammatory diseases and opportunistic infections. Considering their frequency and microbiological etiology, periodontal diseases, especially severe periodontitis, have become subjects of many studies. Periodontitis is a major infectious threat to the whole organism, since it can affect distant organs and tissues by releasing microbes, their products and mediators of inflammation into the bloodstream. This fact has reduced the boundaries between medicine and dentistry, but the change in thinking has developed an entirely new field of periodontology, also known as “periodontal medicine”. Over the past decade a growing body of scientific evidence shows a strong connection between periodontal disease and systemic conditions and diseases such as atherosclerosis, cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, premature birth, diabetes and respiratory diseases. Most of the research has been focused on the relationship between periodontal disease and atherosclerosis since they have many common, potential pathophysiological mechanisms, including complex etiology, and share many risk factors, especially smoking history. There is data linking periodontitis with an increased risk for atherosclerosis and thromboembolic events. Periodontitis in pregnant women may increase the risk for preterm birth and low birth-weight. The role of diabetes as a risk factor for periodontal disease has been investigated earlier, but a number of studies suggest that there may be a two-way relationship, in accordance with the concept that infection may weaken metabolic control of diabetes. The results of numerous studies and the development of periodontal medicine have led to productive cooperation with colleagues in medicine, and discovered many new evidences that suggest that the oral cavity is an integral part of the human body, and that systemic health must include oral and periodontal health.
Revised Version Automatic Text Recognition in Natural Scene Using Neural Network Classifier with Dynamic-group-based Hybrid Particle Swarm Optimization

This paper presents a two-stage algorithm for automatic text detection and recognition. In the first stage, using a stroke width transform and an improved connected component, an edge analysis method detects a candidate character region. Subsequently, a text region is located by filtering and linking characters with similar font sizes and colors. For the second stage, a histogram of oriented gradient is employed as a feature descriptor, and a neural network classifier is built with dynamic-group-based hybrid particle swarm optimization (DGHPSO) for character recognition. In DGHPSO, each group's threshold value of similarity depends on the threshold values of fitness and distance. In addition, a local search algorithm is used to improve the search for a global optimum. The proposed algorithm was experimentally validated; it outperformed a number of recently published studies in terms of the text recognition rate when tested on the ICDAR 2003 database and the Street View Text database.
RETREATMENT OF RECURRENT HEAD AND NECK CANCER AFTER PRIOR DEFINITIVE RADIATION

Despite treatment intensification for patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), including altered radiation fractionation and the addition of chemotherapy to radiation, physicians and patients still face the challenge of recurrent or second tumors arising within or in close proximity to previously irradiated tissues. At 5 years after therapy, locoregional recurrences developed in 16%-25% of patients treated with definitive chemoradiation for larynx preservation (1) or with postoperative chemoradiation for high-risk HNSCC (2,3), and in 17%-52% of patients treated with definitive chemoradiation for locally advanced unresectable disease (4,5). Locally recurrent tumors may arise from residual neoplastic cells that survive initial treatment, perhaps because of biological parameters and tumor molecular profiles (6) associated with radiosensitivity (7). Insufficiencies in initial radiation treatment parameters, such as radiation dose, volume, fractionation, and treatment duration, were noted in a high percentage of patients enrolled on a small phase I trial of reirradiation (8) and are other potential sources of recurrence. Second cancers may arise from underlying field cancerization (9) as a radiation-induced malignancy or as a de novo process. A second HNSCC arising in the vicinity of the prior tumor may be indistinguishable from a local recurrence of the primary tumor (10). Approximately 15% of patients have developed a second primary cancer within 5 years of radiation alone for HNSCC, and approximately one-quarter of these are in the head and neck (11). Rationale for Retreatment Because locoregional tumor progression is the predominant cause of death in patients with head and neck cancer (12), achieving local control in patients with recurrent disease may impact survival. Indeed, results of a randomized trial in patients with recurrent HNSCC undergoing macroscopic complete salvage surgery found improved local control and disease-free survival in those receiving postoperative reirradiation with chemotherapy compared to observation (13). In that trial, retrospective analysis of a single institution experience found improved overall survival when local tumor control was achieved in patients reirradiated for recurrent head and neck cancer (14). In patients with recurrent or second primary tumors of the head and neck, local tumor growth is a potential source of great morbidity to include pain, disfigurement, bleeding, infection, and alteration of speech and swallowing. In a report of 150 patients reirradiated for head and neck cancer using stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) with or without cetuximab, patient-reported quality of life, after an initial 1-month decline following reirradiation, noted progressive improvements in swallowing, speech, saliva, activity, and recreation, underlining the importance of local tumor control on patient quality of life (15).
Fatty acid composition of meat and genetic mapping of quantitative trait loci in 3 generations of Japanese quail populations

The present study was carried out to evaluate the effect of different lines and generations of adult males and females of Japanese quail (Coturnix japonica) on total lipid, fatty acid (FA) composition and cholesterol content of breast muscle, as well as the identification of quantitative trait loci (QTLs) controlling the above mentioned meat quality traits. Forty-four quails (generation F0), 22 Pharaoh (F-33) meat-type males and 22 Standard (S-22) laying-type females, were crossed to produce the F1 hybrids generation. F2 generation was created by mating one F1 male with one F1 female, full siblings. The birds, randomly chosen from F0 (22 males and 22 females), F1 (22 males and 22 females) and F2 (84 males and 152 females), were raised to 20 weeks of age in collective cages. After slaughter the carcasses were dissected and the breast muscle was removed for the chemical analysis. Genomic DNA was extracted from the whole blood and 30 microsatellite markers located on two quail chromosomes were genotyped. S-22 quails exhibited higher amounts of total saturated fatty acids (SFA) and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), while F-33 quails had a greater content of total monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA). F-33 quails supplied meat with lower atherogenic and thrombogenic indexes. A partial effect of sex on the FA composition of quail meat was found in the F1 generation; while in the F2 generation a sex-effect was more evident. F2 females exhibited a higher PUFA content and PUFA/SFA ratio, and a lower muscle cholesterol content compared to F2 males. In conclusion, total lipid, FA composition and cholesterol content were affected by first- and second-generation crosses. For the cholesterol content a QTL showing additive effect has been detected on CJA02 at 85 cM; no QTLs were found for total SFA, MUFA and PUFA. To current knowledge, this is the first study of a QTL associated with muscle cholesterol in quails.