Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Implication of G Protein-Coupled Receptor 43 in Intestinal Inflammation: A Mini-Review

Short chain fatty acids (SCFAs, e.g., acetate, propionate, and butyrate) are a subset of fatty acids that are produced by gut microbiota during the fermentation of dietary fiber. They modulate different processes in the gastrointestinal tract and play various positive roles in mediating the intestinal health. Most beneficial roles of SCFAs in the gastrointestinal tract are mediated by directly activating its receptor, G protein-coupled receptor 43 (GPR43, also known as FFAR2). Various recent studies have demonstrated the role of GPR43 in intestinal inflammatory diseases, such as inflammatory bowel diseases. These SCFAs-mediated regulations of intestinal health are associated with neutrophil chemotaxis, T cell differentiation, activation, and subsequent cytokines production. Therefore, GPR43 could potentially be a drug target for intestinal inflammatory diseases. In this review, we review the current knowledge on the regulatory mechanisms associated with GPR43 in intestinal inflammation. The role of GPR43-mediated regulation of antibody responses is also discussed.
Morphological Characterization of Basally Located Uninucleate Trophoblast Cells as Precursors of Bovine Binucleate Trophoblast Giant Cells

Binucleate trophoblast giant cells (TGCs) are one characteristic feature of the ruminant placenta. In cows, the frequency of TGCs remains constant for most of the duration of pregnancy. As TGCs are depleted by their fusion with uterine epithelial cells, they need to be constantly formed. It is still unclear whether they develop from stem cells within the trophectoderm or whether they can arise from any uninucleate trophoblast cell (UTC). Within the latter, generally accepted theory, a basally located uninucleate cell (BUC) without contact to the feto-maternal interface would represent a transient cell between a UTC and a TGC. So far, no evidence for the existence of such transient cells or for the presence of stem cells has been shown. The aim of the present study is to morphologically characterize the early stages of TGC development. Placentomal tissue of 6 pregnant cows from different gestational stages (gestational days 51–214) was examined for BUCs, UTCs, and TGCs either in serial sections (light and transmission electron microscopy, TEM, n = 3), in single sections (TEM, n = 2), or by serial block face-scanning electron microscopy (n = 1). These investigations revealed the occurrence of BUCs, as well as young TGCs showing contact with the basement membrane (BM), but without apical contact to the feto-maternal interface. The study morphologically defines these 2 cell types as early stages of TGC development and shows that binucleation of TGCs can precede detachment from the BM.
Plasmon-mediated emergence of collective emission and enhanced quantum efficiency in quantum dot films

We present experimental and theoretical results on monolayer colloidal cadmium selenide quantum dot films embedded with tiny gold nanoparticles. By varying the density of the embedded gold nanoparticles, we were able to engineer a plasmon-mediated crossover from emission quenching to enhancement regime at interparticle distances for which only quenching of emission is expected. This crossover and a nonmonotonic variation of photoluminescence intensity and decay rate, in experiments, is explained in terms of a model for plasmon-mediated collective emission of quantum emitters which points to the emergence of a new regime in plasmon-exciton interactions. The presented methodology to achieve enhancement in optical quantum efficiency for optimal doping of gold nanoparticles in such ultrathin high-density quantum dot films can be beneficial for new-generation displays and photodetectors.
The Millennium Galaxy Catalogue: star counts and the structure of the Galactic stellar halo

We derive a star catalogue generated from the images taken as part of the � 37.5 deg 2 Millennium Galaxy Catalogue. These data, alone and together with colours gained from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey Early Data Release, allow the analysis of faint star counts (BMGC < 20) at high Galactic latitude (41 ◦ < b < 63 ◦ ), as a function of Galactic longitude (239 ◦ < l < 353 ◦ ). We focus here on the inner stellar halo, providing robust limits on the amplitude of substructure and on the large-scale flattening. In line with previous results, the thick disk, an old, intermediatemetallicity population, is clearly seen in the colour-magnitude diagram. We find that the Galactic stellar halo within � 10 kpc (the bulk of the stellar mass) is significantly flattened, with an axial ratio of (c/a) = 0.56 ± 0.01, again consistent with previous results. Our analysis using counts-in-cells, angular correlation functions and the Lee 2D statistic, confirms tidal debris from the Sagittarius dwarf but finds little evidence for other substructure in the inner halo, at heliocentric distances of < 5 kpc. This new quantification of the smoothness in coordinate space limits the contribution of recent accretion/disruption to the build-up of the bulk of the stellar halo.
Chinese Acculturation Measurement

In 2001, the Chinese were the largest visible minority group in Canada, with over one million individuals identifying themselves as Chinese. There is a growing concern about the extent to which the Chinese and other minority members can adjust to and become assimilated into the majority society. However, there is currently no instrument available that can be used to measure the acculturation levels of Chinese residing in Canada. This paper develops an acculturation measure specifically designed for Chinese in Canada. The measure consists of seven dimensions: social interactions, language preference, self-construal, ethnic identity, gift giving and holiday celebration, food and community preference, and filial piety. The measure demonstrates content, discriminant, and predictive validity, as well as high overall reliability. Research limitations and future research needs are also discussed.
Traditional Fish Handling and Preservation in Nigeria

The time elapsing between lifting of the nets and delivery to the shore can vary with the distance that has to be covered. It can at times be a period of several hours. The fish, when brought aboard is usually more or less alive. It is stored simply on the bottom of the canoe, lying there in a pool of warm, dirty water. The fish is never gutted and freely exposed to the sun. Needless to say the product thus handled has an extremely short keeping period that could be improved by more hygienic handling and by keeping the fish in shade. The ultimate aim at least for the fish to be entered into the fresh fish trade should of course be to have the fish iced. The same applies to the handling after landing. No precautions are taken to prevent the fish from being covered with sand, leaves, sticks, etc. Better handling practices would be a prerequisite to the development of a fresh fish export trade towards the larger towns in the north and south. It is a well known fact that fishes' rigor mortis period lasts longest with fish kept at a low temperature and is also favourably influenced by killing the fish as soon as possible after catching; in other words by shortening its death struggle and avoiding chemical and enzymic deterioration after passing the rigor mortis period at the lowest possible level. It is recommended that future research tries to establish whether the relationship between killing the fish right after landing on board and a consequent extension of the rigor mortis period is of sufficient significance to be taken up in a programme of improvement of fish handling. Fish handling, filleting, fish preservation, chilling, super chilling, freezing, drying, smoking, salting and fermentation are reviewed in this article to provide information for improvement of culture fisheries management and practices in Nigeria.
Improved brachial artery shear patterns and increased flow‐mediated dilatation after low‐volume high‐intensity interval training in type 2 diabetes

What is the central question of this study? Can low‐volume high‐intensity interval training and continuous moderate‐intensity exercise modulate oscillatory and retrograde shear, blood flow and flow‐mediated arterial dilatation in patients with type 2 diabetes? What is the main finding and its importance? Low‐volume high‐intensity interval training, by increasing anterograde shear and decreasing retrograde shear and oscillatory index, can increase nitric oxide production and consequently result in increased flow‐mediated dilatation and outward arterial remodelling in patients with type 2 diabetes.
Effectiveness of Workplace Lactation Interventions on Breastfeeding Outcomes in the United States: An Updated Systematic Review

Background Returning to work is one of the main barriers to breastfeeding duration among working mothers in the United States. However, the impact of workplace lactation programs is unclear. Research Aim The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of workplace lactation programs in the United States on breastfeeding practices. Methods A systematic search was conducted of seven databases through September 2017. Articles (N = 10) meeting the inclusion criteria of describing a workplace lactation intervention and evaluation in the United States and measuring initiation, exclusivity, or duration using an experimental or observational study design were critically evaluated. Two reviewers conducted quality assessments and reviewed the full-text articles during the analysis. Results Common services provided were breast pumps, social support, lactation rooms, and breastfeeding classes. Breastfeeding initiation was very high, ranging from 87% to 98%. Several factors were significantly associated with duration of exclusive breastfeeding: (a) receiving a breast pump for one year (8.3 versus 4.7 months), (b) return-to-work consultations (40% versus 17% at 6 months), and (c) telephone support (42% versus 15% at 6 months). Each additional service (except prenatal education) dose-dependently increased exclusively breastfeeding at 6 months. Sociodemographic information including older maternal age, working part-time, longer maternity leave, and white ethnicity were associated with longer breastfeeding duration. Conclusion Workplace lactation interventions increased breastfeeding initiation, duration, and exclusive breastfeeding, with greater changes observed with more available services. More evidence is needed on the impact of workplace support in low-income populations, and the cost-effectiveness of these programs in reducing health care costs.
Evidence of Remote Forcing in the Equatorial Atlantic Ocean

Abstract An analysis of sea-surface temperature (SST) and surface winds in selected areas of the tropical Atlantic indicates that the nonseasonal variability of SST in the eastern equatorial Atlantic (Gulf of Guinea) is highly correlated with the nonseasonal variability of the zonal wind stress in the western equatorial Atlantic. A negative (positive) anomaly of the zonal wind stress near the north Brazilian coast is followed by a positive (negative) SST anomaly in the Gulf of Guinea about one month later. Furthermore, the correlation between the local wind stress anomaly and SST anomaly in the Gulf of Guinea is considerably smaller. These preliminary results indicate that remote forcing in the western equatorial Atlantic Ocean is an important factor affecting the eastern equatorial Atlantic sea-surface temperature. Recent equatorial theories are consistent with these observations.
Dissemination of a Web-Based Tool for Supporting Health Insurance Plan Decisions (Show Me Health Plans): Cross-Sectional Observational Study

Background The rate of uninsured people has decreased dramatically since the Affordable Care Act was passed. To make an informed decision, consumers need assistance to understand the advantages and disadvantages of health insurance plans. The Show Me Health Plans Web-based decision support tool was developed to improve the quality of health insurance selection. In response to the promising effectiveness of Show Me Health Plans in a randomized controlled trial (RCT) and the growing need for Web-based health insurance decision support, the study team used expert recommendations for dissemination and implementation, engaged external stakeholders, and made the Show Me Health Plans tool available to the public. Objective The purpose of this study was to implement the public dissemination of the Show Me Health Plans tool in the state of Missouri and to evaluate its impact compared to the RCT. Methods This study used a cross-sectional observational design. Dissemination phase users were compared with users in the RCT study across the same outcome measures. Time spent using the Show Me Health Plans tool, knowledge, importance rating of 9 health insurance features, and intended plan choice match with algorithm predictions were examined. Results During the dissemination phase (November 2016 to January 2017), 10,180 individuals visited the SMHP website, and the 1069 users who stayed on the tool for more than one second were included in our analyses. Dissemination phase users were more likely to live outside St. Louis City or County (P<.001), were less likely to be below the federal poverty level (P<.001), and had a higher income (P=.03). Overall, Show Me Health Plans users from St. Louis City or County spent more time on the Show Me Health Plans tool than those from other Missouri counties (P=.04); this association was not observed in the RCT. Total time spent on the tool was not correlated with knowledge scores, which were associated with lower poverty levels (P=.009). The users from the RCT phase were more likely to select an insurance plan that matched the tool’s recommendations (P<.001) compared with the dissemination phase users. Conclusions The study suggests that a higher income population may be more likely to seek information and online help when making a health insurance plan decision. We found that Show Me Health Plans users in the dissemination phase were more selective in the information they reviewed. This study illustrates one way of disseminating and implementing an empirically tested Web-based decision aid tool. Distributing Web-based tools is feasible and may attract a large number of potential users, educate them on basic health insurance information, and make recommendations based on personal information and preference. However, using Web-based tools may differ according to the demographics of the general public compared to research study participants.
VprBP (DCAF1) Regulates RAG1 Expression Independently of Dicer by Mediating RAG1 Degradation

The assembly of Ig genes in developing B lymphocytes by V(D)J recombination is initiated by the RAG1–RAG2 endonuclease complex. We previously identified an interaction between RAG1 and viral protein R binding protein (VprBP) (also known as DNA damage binding protein 1 cullin 4–associated factor 1 [DCAF1]), a substrate receptor for the cullin 4–really interesting new gene (RING) E3 ubiquitin ligase (CRL4). We report in this article that in mice, B cell–intrinsic loss of VprBP increases RAG1 protein levels and disrupts expression of the endoribonuclease Dicer, which is essential for microRNA maturation. Rag1/2 transcription is known to be derepressed by loss of microRNA-mediated suppression of phosphatase and tensin homolog, raising the possibility that the elevated level of RAG1 observed in VprBP-deficient B cells is caused indirectly by the loss of Dicer. However, we show that VprBP restrains RAG1 expression posttranscriptionally and independently of Dicer. Specifically, loss of VprBP stabilizes RAG1 protein, which we show is normally degraded via a mechanism requiring both 20S proteasome and cullin–RING E3 ubiquitin ligase activity. Furthermore, we show that RAG1 stabilization through small molecule inhibition of cullin–RING E3 ubiquitin ligase activation promotes V(D)J recombination in a murine pre–B cell line. Thus, in addition to identifying a role for VprBP in maintaining Dicer levels in B cells, our findings reveal the basis for RAG1 turnover and provide evidence that the CRL4VprBP(DCAF1) complex functions to maintain physiological levels of V(D)J recombination.
Condom-Use Self-Efficacy as a Mediator Between Syndemics and Condomless Sex in Men Who Have Sex With Men (MSM)

Objective: Among men who have sex with men (MSM), HIV sexual risk and poor self-care behavior is associated with syndemics, or co-occurring psychosocial problems. Though prior research has demonstrated an additive total effect of syndemics on HIV risk behavior and infection, mostly within cross-sectional designs, it is possible that these associations are not direct but rather that syndemics disrupt relevant individual-level mediating psychological variables. One of the more common individual-level psychological variables that predicts health behavior generally, and HIV risk behavior specifically, is self-efficacy. This study sought to examine the potential effects of syndemics on condomless sex via condom-use self-efficacy as an intermediary variable. Method: In high-risk MSM (N = 197), across 3 time points (baseline, 3 months, and 6 months) we used latent growth curve modeling to test the degree to which self-efficacy mediated the relationship between syndemics (heavy alcohol use, substance use disorder, sexual compulsivity, depression, social anxiety, intimate partner violence, childhood sexual abuse) and condomless anal sex. Results: The baseline analyses were consistent with an indirect effect of the association between syndemics and condomless sex through self-efficacy. Prospective longitudinal mediation was partially supported, such that baseline syndemics were associated with lower baseline self-efficacy, which in turn predicted higher increases in condomless anal sex across time. Conclusions: These findings provide preliminary evidence (due to the partial support for the longitudinal model) that syndemics themselves may not be directly causal in their association with condomless sex, but the association may be through modifiable social–cognitive mechanisms such as condom self-efficacy.
Linc00472 suppresses proliferation and promotes apoptosis through elevating PDCD4 expression by sponging miR-196a in colorectal cancer

Long intergenic non-coding RNA Linc00472 has been considered as a tumor suppressor in some cancers. However, the function and mechanism of Linc00472 in colorectal cancer has not been well elucidated. In this study, we found that Linc00472 was down-regulated in colorectal cancer tissues and cells. Elevated Linc00472 expression suppressed proliferation and induced apoptosis in colorectal cancer cells. Moreover, Linc00472 acted as a competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) of miR-196a to release programmed cell death 4 (PDCD4). Furthermore, miR-196a overexpression or PDCD4 knockdown reversed Linc00472-mediated proliferation inhibition and apoptosis induction in colorectal cancer cells. Ectopic Linc00472 expression hindered tumor growth in vivo. Our study demonstrated that Linc00472 suppressed proliferation and induced apoptosis through up-regulating PDCD4 by decoying miR-196a, which may be an effective therapeutic target for colorectal cancer.
On the Efficiency of Connection Charges—Part II: Integration of Distributed Energy Resources

This two-part paper addresses the design of retail electricity tariffs for distribution systems with distributed energy resources (DERs). Part I presents a framework to optimize ex-ante two-part tariffs for a regulated retailer who faces stochastic wholesale prices on the one hand and stochastic demand on the other. In part II, the integration of DERs is addressed by analyzing their effect on the optimal two-part tariff and the induced welfare gains. Two DER integration models are considered: a decentralized model involving behind-the-meter DERs and a centralized model with retailer-integrated DERs. It is shown that DERs integrated under either model can achieve the same social welfare and that net metering is optimal. The retail prices for both models are equal and reflect the expected wholesale prices. The connection charges differ and are affected by the retailer's fixed costs and the statistical dependencies between wholesale prices and behind-the-meter DERs. These charges are higher under the decentralized model. An empirical analysis is presented to estimate the impact of DER on welfare distribution and cross-subsidies. It shows that, with the prevailing net-metering tariffs, consumer welfare decreases with the level of DER integration. Issues of cross-subsidy and practical drawbacks of decentralized integration are also discussed.
Adaptive Voltage and Frequency Control of Islanded Multi-Microgrids

This paper introduces an adaptive voltage and frequency control method for inverter-based distributed generations (DGs) in a multi-microgrid (MMG) structure using distributed cooperative control and adaptive neural networks (ANN). First, model-based controllers are designed using the Lyapunov theory and dynamics of the inverter-based DGs. ANNs are then utilized to approximate these dynamics, resulting in an intelligent controller, which does not require a priori information about DG parameters. Also, the proposed controllers do not require the use of voltage and current proportional-integral controllers normally found in the literature. The effectiveness of the proposed controllers are verified through simulations under different scenarios on an MMG test system. Using Lyapunov analysis, it is proved that the tracking error and the neural network weights are uniformly ultimately bounded, which results in achieving superior dynamic voltage and frequency regulation.
IMCS2: Novel Device-to-Architecture Co-Design for Low-Power In-Memory Computing Platform Using Coterminous Spin Switch

Spin switch (SS) is a promising spintronic device which exhibits compactness, low power, non-volatility, input–output isolation leveraging giant spin Hall effect, spin transfer torque, and dipolar coupling. In this paper, we propose a novel device-to-architecture co-design for an in-memory computing platform using coterminous SS (IMCS2), which could simultaneously work as non-volatile memory and reconfigurable in-memory logic (AND/NAND, OR/NOR, and XOR/XNOR) without add-on logic circuits to memory chip. The computed logic output could be simply read out like a normal magnetic random access memory bit cell using the shared memory peripheral circuits. Such intrinsic in-memory logic could be used to process data within memory to greatly reduce power-hungry and long distance data communication in the conventional von Neumann computing system. The IMCS2-based in-memory bulk bitwise Boolean vector operation shows <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">${\sim }9\times $ </tex-math></inline-formula> energy saving and <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">${\sim }3\times $ </tex-math></inline-formula> speedup compared with that of DRAM-based in-memory computing platform. We further employ in-memory multiplication to evaluate the performance of the proposed in-memory computing platform for vector–vector multiplication with different vector sizes.