Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Enhanced gluconeogenesis from lactate in perfused livers after endurance training.

The effects of endurance training (running 90 min/day at 30 m/min, 10% grade) on hepatic gluconeogenesis were studied in 24-h-fasted rats with use of the isolated liver perfusion technique. After isolation, the liver was perfused (single pass) for 30 min with Krebs-Henseleit bicarbonate buffer and fresh bovine erythrocytes (hematocrit 22-24%) with no added substrate. Subsequent to the "washout" period, the reservoir was elevated with various concentrations of lactate and [U-14C]lactate (10,000 dpm/ml) to assess hepatic glucose production. Relative flow rates were not significantly different between trained (1.94 +/- 0.05 ml/g liver) and control livers (1.91 +/- 0.05 ml/g liver). Furthermore, no significant differences were observed in perfusate pH, hematocrit, bile production, or serum alanine aminotransferase effluxing from trained or control livers. At saturating arterial lactate concentrations (> 2 mM), the maximal rate (Vmax) for hepatic glucose production was significantly higher for trained (0.91 +/- 0.04 mumol.min-1 x g liver-1) than for control livers (0.73 +/- 0.02 mumol.min-1 x g liver-1). That this reflected increased gluconeogenesis is supported by a significant elevation in the Vmax for [14C]glucose production from trained (13,150 +/- 578 dpm.min-1 x g liver-1) compared with control livers (10,712 +/- 505 dpm.min-1 x g liver-1). Significant increases were also observed in the Vmax for lactate uptake (25%), O2 consumption (19%), and 14CO2 production (23%) from endurance-trained livers. The Km for hepatic glucose output, approximately 1.05 mM lactate, was unchanged after endurance training. These findings demonstrate that chronic physical activity results in an elevated capacity for hepatic gluconeogenesis, as assessed in situ at saturating lactate concentrations.
Wind generation scheduling with pump storage unit by Collocation method

Wind generation is currently undergoing the fastest rate of growth of any form of electricity generation in the world. Integration of wind power into systems could be problematic, however, due to availability and variability of wind supply. As a proven storage technology, pump storage may provide/absorb additional capacity so as to hedge against adverse situations. A scheduling software is needed to coordinate wind generation and pump storage units, given existing price and wind forecasting modules. This paper first implements a “Collocation Method” to solve a dispatching problem of wind and pump storage units, given the forecasting of future price and wind generation. Second, given that a pumping decision is discrete while generation dispatching is continuous, this paper uses a two-step strategy to solve a mixed-integer problem. Transition constraints are modeled based on the property of collocation method. Third, this paper uses real wind generation and real-time energy price data to simulate scheduling activities by the proposed model. A comparison of expected profits between wind only and wind plus pump storage unit is given.
Surface engineering of biomaterials with plasma techniques

In this study, 3 types of plasma techniques, i.e. plasma modification, plasma deposition and plasma followed by grafting reaction, are used for the fabrication of tools, medical devices and biomaterials. Depending on purpose, bioadhesion of cells and biomolecules is either looked for or avoided. Since the mechanisms of bioadhesion depend on the characteristics of the surface (hydrophilic or hydrophobic), modifying the surface by a treatment will alter the bioadhesion. These treatments are developed for the anti-fouling process, the sterilisation and the improvement of the formation of biofilms. They have also proved useful for the synthesis of biomimicking devices.
The reputation-building process and spatial strategies of creative industries: A case study of product design firms in Taipei

Extant research has increasingly recognized that local reputation determines creative firms’ competitiveness. However, current research over-emphasizes that the spatial cluster facilitates the innovation dynamic of creative industries rather than investigating whether the trans-local dynamic of trade fairs and competitions underpins the reputation-building process of local creative industries. This paper contributes to exploring the reputation-building process and spatial strategy of creative industries through a case study of product design firms in Taipei. Drawing on a qualitative methodology, this paper analyses 35 in-depth interviews with product design company executives, concluding that the spatial strategy of product design firms situated in the Taipei city context must acknowledge local strategic advantage and increasingly build a reputation through connections to trans-local design fairs and competitions. Meanwhile, the reputation-building process reflects that product design firms must capture and negotiate symbolic value through a strategic co-presence in local, regional, and global temporary event spaces. Finally, the process and strategies imply that the design industry needs a new form of intervention in latecomer cities to respond to the uneven development of the global design economy.
An Enhanced Theory of Learning Including Learning from the Future

Previous studies showed that combining learning based on experiences in the past with learning from an envisioned future scenario results in more innovative and radical ideas as well as in a higher number of covered content domains. However, currently there is no holistic learning theory which integrates both sources of learning. The main purpose of our paper is to propose an enhanced theory of learning, linking the two most important sources of learning: learning from past experiences and learning from the future. Our suggested theory, which is based on the learning theory by Gregory Bateson, will be described in detail. Moreover, we will present some empirical experiences with the enhanced theory of learning.
Integrated genomic and transcriptional profiling identifies chromosomal loci with altered gene expression in cervical cancer

For a better understanding of the consequences of recurrent chromosomal alterations in cervical carcinomas, we integrated genome‐wide chromosomal and transcriptional profiles of 10 squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs), 5 adenocarcinomas (AdCAs) and 6 normal controls. Previous genomic profiling showed that gains at chromosome arms 1q, 3q, and 20q as well as losses at 8q, 10q, 11q, and 13q were common in cervical carcinomas. Altered regions spanned multiple megabases, and the extent to which expression of genes located there is affected remains unclear. Expression analysis of these previously chromosomally profiled carcinomas yielded 83 genes with significantly differential expression between carcinomas and normal epithelium. Application of differential gene locus mapping (DIGMAP) analysis and the array CGH expression integration tool (ACE‐it) identified hotspots within large chromosomal alterations in which gene expression was altered as well. Chromosomal gains of the long arms of chromosome 1, 3, and 20 resulted in increased expression of genes located at 1q32.1‐32.2, 3q13.32‐23, 3q26.32‐27.3, and 20q11.21‐13.33, whereas a chromosomal loss of 11q22.3‐25 was related to decreased expression of genes located in this region. Overexpression of DTX3L, PIK3R4, ATP2C1, and SLC25A36, all located at 3q21.1‐23 and identified by DIGMAP, ACE‐it or both, was confirmed in an independent validation sample set consisting of 12 SCCs and 13 normal ectocervical samples. In conclusion, integrated chromosomal and transcriptional profiling identified chromosomal hotspots at 1q, 3q, 11q, and 20q with altered gene expression within large commonly altered chromosomal regions in cervical cancer. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Ascorbic acid induces either differentiation or apoptosis in MG-63 osteosarcoma lineage.

BACKGROUND/AIM Osteosarcoma originates from mesenchymal stem cells with impaired bone differentiation. In the present study we investigated the effect of ascorbic acid (AsA) on osteogenic differentiation and apoptosis of the MG-63 osteosarcoma cell line. MATERIALS AND METHODS We evaluated the expression of runt-related transcription factor-2 (RUNX2) and secreted phosphoprotein 1 (SPP1) genes by real-time Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) and of endogenous bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP2) and osteocalcin proteins by immunohistochemistry. We analyzed osteoblast maturation by phosphatase alkaline synthesis and calcium deposition, and apoptosis by (TUNEL) test and Annexin staining. RESULTS Our results showed that RUNX2 and SPP1 gene expression was increased in cells treated with low concentrations of AsA with respect to untreated cells. At higher concentrations, AsA induced apoptosis of osteosarcoma cells, possibly with the involvement of p21. CONCLUSION Our findings support the ability of AsA to induce both differentiation, by affecting the target involved in early and late phases of osteogenic maturation, and apoptosis in poorly-differentiated osteosarcoma cells.
[Characteristics of septic patients in an intensive care unit of a tertiary private hospital from Recife, northeast of Brazil].

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES Establish the clinical, epidemiological and laboratorial characteristics of septic patients in an intensive care unit (ICU) of a tertiary care private hospital from Pernambuco, in the northeast of Brazil. METHODS Cohort study without intervention that included adult patients admitted in the ICU with sepsis or that developed it during ICU stay, during a 6-month period. The patients were followed during all ICU stay period. Laboratory and clinical data were collected after sepsis diagnosis. ICU admission APACHE II score and the SOFA score during the three first days after inclusion in the study were collected. RESULTS The study included 199 patients, of whom 67.8% were older than 65 years of age. More than a half (56.3%) survived the septic episode, mean APACHE II was 18.2 ± 6.3 and mean SOFA score was 6.3 ± 3.7. The disease related to the admission in ICU was medical in 85.4%, and the majority of patients had a chronic associated disease. In 79.3% the lungs were the source of sepsis and in 40% of patients the etiologic agent of sepsis was isolated. Amongst laboratory tests, thrombocytopenia (platelets < 100.000/mm³) was observed on 20.6%, fibrinogen was elevated (> 300 mg/dL) on 81.7%, and the activity of antithrombin was low (< 70%) on 32.5% of patients. CONCLUSIONS The epidemiology of sepsis in this study, in a private hospital of Recife, was no different from what was recently described in Southeast and South of Brazil, United States and Europe.
Papanicolaou screening behavior in mothers and human papillomavirus vaccine uptake in adolescent girls.

OBJECTIVES We investigated whether maternal attitude toward prevention, as indicated by history of seeking Papanicolaou (Pap) tests and contracting sexually transmitted infections, influenced human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine uptake among their adolescent daughters. METHODS We linked the electronic health records of girls aged 9 to 17 years with their mothers at Kaiser Permanente Southern California (n = 148 350 mother-daughter pairs). Personal identifying information was removed from the data set after the matching of daughters and mothers was completed. We used logistic regression models to detect associations between mothers' history of Pap tests and abnormal results, genital or anal warts, and other sexually transmitted infections and daughters' HPV vaccine initiation and 3-dose regimen completion. RESULTS Mothers' testing history was associated with daughters' likelihood for vaccination across ethnic and neighborhood socioeconomic strata (overall odds ratio [OR] = 1.47; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.43, 1.52). Mothers' history of sexually transmitted infections was only modestly associated with daughters' vaccination. Mothers' testing history was positively associated with daughters' regimen completion (overall OR = 1.42; 95% CI = 1.31, 1.54). CONCLUSIONS Mothers' attitude toward prevention may influence HPV vaccine uptake among adolescent girls. The impacts of targeting mothers should be considered by HPV vaccination programs and investigated by further research.
ANALISIS PENGARUH INDEKS PEMBANGUNAN MANUSIA (IPM) DAN INFLASI TERHADAP PERTUMBUHAN EKONOMI DI PROPINSI RIAU TAHUN 1994-2013

Human Development Index (HDI) and inflation has a correlation with economic growth. High HDI and low inflation will increase economic growth. The objective of the research was to analyze the influence of HDI and Inflation to economic growth of Riau. The research was quantitative analytic with primary data with the time series obtained from BPS (Central Bureau of Statistics) of Riau. The result of the research showed that there was the positif influence of HDI variable to the variable economic growth. The result of the research also showed that there was the negative influence of inflation variable to the variable economic growth.
An Exploratory Study of Attendee Willingness to Pay for Environmentally Friendly Meetings

ABSTRACT The study examined meeting attendees’ willingness to pay (WTP) more for green meetings. The survey data were used to measure the impact of demographic characteristics on WTP a price premium for green meetings. The ordered-probit model was used to estimate the impact of the explanatory factors on the probabilities of meeting attendees’ WTP. Analysis of marginal effects suggested that meeting attendees who were willing to sacrifice convenience associated a green meeting were more likely to pay more for green meetings. The study also found that the green meeting attendee profile was female, married, younger age, and with a high level of education, but men and respondents with higher incomes were less willing to pay more for green meetings when respondents paid their own registration fees.
Sweet's syndrome: a spectrum of unusual clinical presentations and associations

Background Sweet's syndrome (SS) is the prototypic neutrophilic dermatosis. First described in 1964, the characterization of new clinical associations, unique histopathological findings and clinical variants have stimulated much interest and discussion recently. However, the prevalence of these unusual variants and clinical associations within a single cohort of patients, has not been described.
Recognising the Usual Orientation of One's Own Face: The Role of Asymmetrically Located Details

Our ability to recognise the usual horizontal orientation of our own face (mirror orientation) as compared with another very familiar face (normal orientation) was examined in experiment 1. Participants did not use the same kind of information in determining the orientation of their own face as in determining the orientation of the other familiar face. The proportion of participants who reported having based their judgment on the location of an asymmetric feature (eg a mole) was higher when determining the orientation of their own face than when determining that of the other familiar face. In experiment 2, participants were presented with pairs of manipulated images of their own face and of another familiar face showing conflicting asymmetric features and configural information. Each pair consisted of one picture showing asymmetric features of a given face in a mirror-reversed position, while the facial configuration was left unchanged; and one picture in which the location of the asymmetric features was left unchanged, while the facial configuration was mirror-reversed. As expected from the hypothesis that asymmetric local features are more frequently used for the judgment of one's own face, participants chose the picture showing mirror-reversed asymmetric features when determining the usual orientation of their own face significantly more often than they chose the picture showing normally oriented asymmetric features when determining the orientation of the other face. These results are explained in terms of competing forward and mirror-reversed representations of one's own face.
Lactobacillus crispatus M206119 exacerbates murine DSS-colitis by interfering with inflammatory responses.

AIM To investigate the role of Lactobacillus crispatus (L. crispatus) strain China Center for Type Culture Collection (CCTCC) M206119 in intestinal inflammation. METHODS Forty 8-wk-old Balb/c mice (20 ± 2 g) were divided into four groups of 10 mice each. Three groups that had received dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) were administered normal saline, sulfasalazine or CCTCC M206119 strain, and the fourth group received none of these. We assessed the severity of colitis using a disease activity index, measured the colon length and weight, collected stools and mesenteric lymph nodes for bacterial microﬂora analysis. One centimeter of the proximal colon, middle colon and distal colon were collected and ﬁxed in 10% buffered formalin, dehydrated in ethanol, and embedded in parafﬁn. Interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6 and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α expression was detected using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. Protective factors zonula occludens (ZO)-1 and β-defensin 2 were detected by immunoblotting. The features of CCTCC M206119 strain were identified based on morphology, biochemical profile, and 16S RNA sequencing. RESULTS DSS-colitis animals treated with CCTCC M206119 had markedly more severe disease, with greater weight loss, diarrhea, fecal bleeding, and shortened colon length. In addition, the CCTCC-M206119-treated group had comparatively higher histological scores and more neutrophil infiltration than the controls. Expression of protective factors ZO-1 and β-defensin 2 was downregulated due to destruction of the mucosal barrier after CCTCC M206119 strain treatment. An in vitro assay demonstrated that CCTCC M206119 strain increased the nuclear translocation of nuclear factor-κB in epithelial cells. Intestinal proinflammatory or anti-inflammatory cytokine responses were evaluated. Proinflammatory colonic cytokine (IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α) levels were clearly increased in CCTCC-M206119-treated animals, whereas anti-inflammatory colonic cytokine (IL-10) level was lowered compared with saline or 5-aminosalicylic-acid-treated DSS-colitis mice. Next, CCTCC M206119 strain was characterized as L. crispatus by microscopic morphology, biochemical tests and 16S rRNA gene level. CONCLUSION Not all lactobacilli are beneficial for intestinal inflammation, and L. crispatus CCTCC M206119 strain is involved in exacerbation of intestinal inflammation in DSS-colitis mice.
Cigarette Smoking and Risk of Hodgkin Lymphoma: A Population-Based Case-Control Study

Background: Studies have inconsistently reported an association between tobacco smoking and Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) risk. The conflicting findings may reflect etiologic heterogeneity between HL subtypes, warranting further characterization of the relationship. Methods: We collected information on tobacco-smoking habits in 586 classic HL cases and 3,187 population controls in a Danish-Swedish case-control study. HL EBV status was established for 499 cases by standard techniques. Odds ratios (OR) for an association with cigarette smoking were calculated by logistic regression for HL overall and stratified by age, sex, major histology subtypes, and tumor EBV status, adjusting for known confounders. Results: Compared with never smokers, current cigarette smokers were at an increased overall HL risk (adjusted OR, 1.57; 95% confidence interval (95% CI), 1.22-2.03). The association was strongest for EBV-positive HL (adjusted OR, 2.36; 95% CI, 1.51-3.71), but also applied to EBV-negative HL (adjusted OR, 1.43; 95% CI, 1.05-1.97; Phomogeneity EBV-pos versus EBV-neg = 0.04). The association did not vary appreciably by age, sex, or histologic subtype, the apparent EBV-related difference present in all strata. There was no evidence of a dose-response pattern, whether by age at smoking initiation, daily cigarette consumption, number of years smoking, or cumulative number of cigarettes smoked. Similar results were obtained in analyses using non-HL patients (n = 3,055) participating in the founding study as comparison group. Conclusion: The observed association between cigarette smoking and HL risk is consistent with previous findings and biologically plausible. Although not easily dismissed as an artifact, the limited evidence of a dose-response pattern renders the overall evidence of causality weak. (Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2007;16(8):1561–6)
Prediction of In Vivo Short-Chain Fatty Acid Production in Hindgut Fermenting Mammals: Problems and Pitfalls

Short-chain fatty acids (SCFA) are considered to have important physiological functions. However, to prove this, SCFA must be determined, which is rather difficult as a lot of factors interfere with their production. This review focuses on the factors that influence the prediction of short-chain fatty acid formation in the large intestine of monogastric mammals. To mimic the in vivo situation, when predicting the amount of short-chain fatty acids produced from a certain substrate based on in vitro models, one has to estimate the amount of this substrate entering the large intestine, the retention time in the different parts of the large intestine, and the substrate fermentability. Instead of in vitro models, direct and indirect techniques may be used to measure short-chain fatty acid production in vivo. Direct techniques include the measurement of input and output or measuring differences in SCFA between portal and venous blood whereas indirect techniques measure the end products of fermentation. In this case, other factors have to be taken into account, including technical limitations and ethical considerations. In this review it is concluded that the choice for a method will rely on the purpose of the study taking into account the (dis)advantages of every method.
Effect of Prostaglandin E2 on Multidrug Resistance Transporters In Human Placental Cells

Prostaglandin (PG) E2, a major product of cyclooxygenase (COX)-2, acts as an immunomodulator at the maternal-fetal interface during pregnancy. It exerts biologic function through interaction with E-prostanoid (EP) receptors localized to the placenta. The activation of the COX-2/PGE2/EP signal pathway can alter the expression of the ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters, multidrug resistance protein 1 [P-glycoprotein (Pgp); gene: ABCB1], and breast cancer resistance protein (BCRP; gene: ABCG2), which function to extrude drugs and xenobiotics from cells. In the placenta, PGE2-mediated changes in ABC transporter expression could impact fetal drug exposure. Furthermore, understanding the signaling cascades involved could lead to strategies for the control of Pgp and BCRP expression levels. We sought to determine the impact of PGE2 signaling mechanisms on Pgp and BCRP in human placental cells. The treatment of placental cells with PGE2 up-regulated BCRP expression and resulted in decreased cellular accumulation of the fluorescent substrate Hoechst 33342. Inhibiting the EP1 and EP3 receptors with specific antagonists attenuated the increase in BCRP. EP receptor signaling results in activation of transcription factors, which can affect BCRP expression. Although PGE2 decreased nuclear factor κ-light chain-enhancer of activated B activation and increased activator protein 1, chemical inhibition of these inflammatory transcription factors did not blunt BCRP up-regulation by PGE2. Though PGE2 decreased Pgp mRNA, Pgp expression and function were not significantly altered. Overall, these findings suggest a possible role for PGE2 in the up-regulation of placental BCRP expression via EP1 and EP3 receptor signaling cascades.