Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Cholecystokinin Decreases Intestinal Hexose Absorption by a Parallel Reduction in SGLT1 Abundance in the Brush-Border Membrane*

The dual lumenaly and vascularly perfused small intestine was used to determine the mechanism by which cholecystokinin octapeptide (CCK-8) decreases the rate of glucose absorption. With CCK-8 in the vascular perfusate the rate of 3-O-methyl-d-glucose absorption decreased, whereas the rate of d-fructose absorption was unaffected. The substrate pool size within the tissue during steady-state transport, in the presence and absence of CCK-8, was estimated by compartmental analysis of the 3-O-methyl-d-glucose washout into the vascular bed. When CCK-8 was included in the vascular perfusate, the absorptive cell pool size decreased when compared with untreated tissue. Both the steady-state hexose absorption data and the washout studies indicated that the locus of action of CCK-8 was the SGLT1 transporter located in the brush-border membrane. The SGLT1 protein abundance in isolated brush-border membranes, as quantified by Western blotting, showed a decrease that paralleled the decrease in the steady-state transport rate induced by CCK-8. These results indicate that CCK-8 diminishes the rate of intestinal hexose absorption by decreasing SGLT1 protein abundance in the brush-border membrane of the rat jejunum and therefore provides evidence for acute enteric hormonal regulation of the rate of glucose absorption across the small intestine.
LQG Control for MIMO Systems Over Multiple Erasure Channels With Perfect Acknowledgment

This technical note concerns control applications over lossy data networks. Sensor data is transmitted to an estimation-control unit over a network and control commands are issued to subsystems over the same network. Sensor and control packets may be randomly lost according to a Bernoulli process. In this context, the discrete-time linear quadratic gaussian (LQG) optimal control problem is considered. In Schenato , a complete analysis was carried out for the case that sensor measurements and control inputs are delivered into a single packet to the estimator and to the actuators respectively. Here, a nontrivial generalization for MIMO systems is presented under the assumption that each sensor and each actuator exchange data with the control unit in an independent way by using their own data packet (no aggregation). In such a framework, it is shown that the separation principle still holds in the case where packet arrivals are acknowledged by the receiver. Moreover, the optimal LQG control is a linear function of the state that explicitly depends on the loss probabilities of the actuator channels. Such a dependence is not present in the single channel case considered in mean-square. In the infinite horizon case, stability conditions on the packet arrival probabilities are provided in terms of linear matrix inequalities (LMIs).
Consensus for EGFR Mutation Testing in Non-small Cell Lung Cancer: Results from a European Workshop

Introduction: Activating somatic mutations of the tyrosine kinase domain of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) have recently been characterized in a subset of patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Patients harboring these mutations in their tumors show excellent response to EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors (EGFR-TKIs). The EGFR-TKI gefitinib has been approved in Europe for the treatment of adult patients with locally advanced or metastatic NSCLC with activating mutations of the EGFR TK. Because EGFR mutation testing is not yet well established across Europe, biomarker-directed therapy only slowly emerges for the subset of NSCLC patients most likely to benefit: those with EGFR mutations. Methods: The “EGFR testing in NSCLC: from biology to clinical practice” International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer-European Thoracic Oncology Platform multidisciplinary workshop aimed at facilitating the implementation of EGFR mutation testing. Recommendations for high-quality EGFR mutation testing were formulated based on the opinion of the workshop expert group. Results: Co-operation and communication flow between the various disciplines was considered to be of most importance. Participants agreed that the decision to request EGFR mutation testing should be made by the treating physician, and results should be available within 7 working days. There was agreement on the importance of appropriate sampling techniques and the necessity for the standardization of tumor specimen handling including fixation. Although there was no consensus on which laboratory test should be preferred for clinical decision making, all stressed the importance of standardization and validation of these tests. Conclusion: The recommendations of the workshop will help implement EGFR mutation testing in Europe and, thereby, optimize the use of EGFR-TKIs in clinical practice.
Extremophile‐inspired strategies for enzymatic biomass saccharification

Domestic ethanol production in the USA relies on starch feedstocks using a first generation bioprocess. Enzymes that contribute to this industry remain of critical value in new and established markets as commodity additives and for in planta production. A transition to non‐food feedstocks is both desirable and essential to enable larger scale production. This objective would relieve dependence on foreign oil and strengthen the national economy. Feedstocks derived from corn stover, wheat straw, perennial grasses and timber require pretreatment to increase the accessibility of the cellulosic and hemicellulosic substrates to commodity enzymes for saccharification, which is followed by fermentation‐based conversion of monosaccharides to ethanol. Hot acid pretreatment is the industrial standard method used to achieve deconstruction of lignocellulosic biomass. Therefore, enzymes that tolerate both acid and heat may contribute toward the improvement of lignocellulosic biomass processing. These enzymes are produced naturally by extremely thermophilic microbes, sometimes called extremophiles. This review summarizes information on enzymes from selected (acido)thermophiles that mediate saccharification of α‐ and ß‐linked carbohydrates of relevance to biomass processing.
Oxidized LDL and NO Synthesis as Biomarkers of Atherogenesis - Correlations with Metabolic Profile in Elderly

Atherosclerosis is a complex, multifactorial disease, developed in the arterial wall in response to various forms of injurious stimuli, resulting in excessive inflammatory and fibro-proliferative reactions. The endothelial cells are involved in all stages of atherogenesis and their dysfunction is a key initial event in the atherosclerotic plaque formation (Simionescu, 2007). The vascular endothelium, with its broad spectrum of paracrine and autocrine functions, can be regarded as a multifunctional organ and “chief governor” of body homeostasis. Occupying a strategic location between the blood and tissues, the endothelial cells exist in a “high-risk position” and react progressively to aggressive factors, at first by modulation of the constitutive functions permeability and biosynthesis (Simionescu & Antohe, 2006; Sima et al., 2009). Atherogenesis is an intricate process involving hyperlipidemia, oxidative stress and vascular inflammation. Among the diversity of mechanisms implicated in the pathogenesis of atherosclerotic vascular diseases two of them have been discovered in parallel and studied extensively: the oxidation of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and the synthesis of endothelium-derived nitric oxide (NO).
Mutation Profiling in Haemophilia A

Summary Haemophilia A is a X-linked recessive bleeding disorder caused by deficiency or absence of coagulation factor VIII (FVIII) due to heterogeneous defects in the FVIII gene. The large size of the FVIII gene (26 exons spanning 186 kb) has hampered mutation analysis for many years. In 1991 the first systematic analysis of the complete coding region of the FVIII gene was performed by Higuchi et al. using Denaturing Gradient Gel Electrophoresis (DGGE) as a mutation screening method (1, 2). Notably, the causative mutation was not found in about half of the severely affected patients (1). This mystery was solved in 1993, when the intron 22 inversion was discovered (3, 4) that accounts for about 50% of the severe haemophilia A cases. The inversion mutation can be easily detected by Southern Blot. A recently described PCR-based method is more sophisticated, however once established, it allows rapid and convenient detection of the intron 22 inversion (5).
Complete Blood Cell Count as a Surrogate CD4 Cell Marker for HIV Monitoring in Resource-Limited Settings

Background:A total lymphocyte count (TLC) of 1200 cells/mL has been used as a surrogate for a CD4 count of 200 cells/μL in resource-limited settings with varying results. We developed a more effective method based on a decision tree algorithm to classify subjects. Methods:A decision tree was used to develop models with the variables TLC, hemoglobin, platelet count, gender, body mass index, and antiretroviral treatment status of subjects from the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) observational database. Models were validated on data from the Birmingham Veterans Affairs Medical Center (BVAMC) and Zambia, with primary decision trees also generated from these data. Results:A total of 1189 patients from the UAB observational database were included. The UAB decision tree classified a CD4 count ≤200 cells/μL as better than a TLC cut-point of 1200 cells/mL, based on the area under the curve of the receiver-operator characteristic curve (P < 0.0001). When applied to data from the BVAMC and Zambia, the UAB-based decision tree performed better than the TLC cut-point of 1200 cells/mL (BVAMC: P < 0.0001; Zambia: P = 0.0009) but worse than a decision tree based on local data (BVAMC: P ≤ 0.0001; Zambia: P ≤ 0.0001). Conclusion:A decision tree algorithm based on local data identifies low CD4 cell counts better than one developed from a different population or a TLC cut-point of 1200 cells/mL.
The role of cardiorespiratory fitness on plasma lipid levels

Dyslipidemia is a treatable risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Epidemiological studies have demonstrated the importance of treatment for abnormalities in total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol and triglycerides. Aside from pharmacotherapy, exercise and cardio-respiratory fitness have been shown to have beneficial effects on decreasing cardiovascular disease risk. Even though previous data regarding the benefits of exercise on plasma lipids have been somewhat conflicting, numerous studies have demonstrated that exercise increases HDL-cholesterol and reduces the triglyceride levels. Also, smaller, more atherogenic LDL particles seem to decrease with increases in cardio-respiratory fitness and exercise, and favorable blood lipid profiles seem to persist longer through the adult life span.
Selective microvascular dysfunction in mice lacking the gene encoding for desmin

The intermediate filament desmin has a key role in the integrity and contractility of skeletal and cardiac myocytes. Its absence or aggregation leads to cardiomyopathies. In arteries desmin is distributed heterogeneously; vascular disorders might also occur in its absence. We studied endothelial and muscular functions in arteries from mice lacking desmin (des‐/‐), compared with control (des+/+). Carotid and mesenteric resistance arteries were mounted in vitro in arteriographs. Desmin was located exclusively in smooth muscle cells. In arteries from des‐/‐mice, pressure‐induced (myogenic) tone was unchanged, but agonist‐induced tone decreased in resistance arteries (no change in large arteries). Flow (shear stress)‐ and acetylcholine‐induced, endothelium‐dependent dilation, as well as endothelium‐independent dilation, were also decreased in resistance arteries.
Prevalence estimates for chronic diseases in Italy: exploring the differences between self-report and primary care databases.

BACKGROUND The aim of this study was to describe population and primary care morbidity and to examine how the differences vary across the diseases and are influenced by patients' demographic characteristics. METHODS A comparison of the prevalence of four chronic conditions for 432747 patients from the Health Search Database (HSD) and 119799 individuals from a Health Interview Survey was carried out. A linear regression was performed to study the associations between age and difference in morbidity. RESULTS Similar prevalence was found for diabetes and hypertension, whereas for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and gastroduodenal ulcer lower HSD prevalence was reported. Among females, age was always associated with morbidity difference. Among males, significant associations were found only for COPD (R2 = 0.81; p = 0.001) and gastroduodenal ulcer (R2 = 0.93; p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS The difference between population and primary care morbidity is affected by disease under investigation and patients' demographic characteristics. Therefore, in choosing the more cost-effective approach to collect data such evidence should be taken into account, and results should be interpreted with great caution.
Multivariate Connectome-Based Symptom Mapping in Post-Stroke Patients: Networks Supporting Language and Speech

Language processing relies on a widespread network of brain regions. Univariate post-stroke lesion-behavior mapping is a particularly potent method to study brain–language relationships. However, it is a concern that this method may overlook structural disconnections to seemingly spared regions and may fail to adjudicate between regions that subserve different processes but share the same vascular perfusion bed. For these reasons, more refined structural brain mapping techniques may improve the accuracy of detecting brain networks supporting language. In this study, we applied a predictive multivariate framework to investigate the relationship between language deficits in human participants with chronic aphasia and the topological distribution of structural brain damage, defined as post-stroke necrosis or cortical disconnection. We analyzed lesion maps as well as structural connectome measures of whole-brain neural network integrity to predict clinically applicable language scores from the Western Aphasia Battery (WAB). Out-of-sample prediction accuracy was comparable for both types of analyses, which revealed spatially distinct, albeit overlapping, networks of cortical regions implicated in specific aspects of speech functioning. Importantly, all WAB scores could be predicted at better-than-chance level from the connections between gray-matter regions spared by the lesion. Connectome-based analysis highlighted the role of connectivity of the temporoparietal junction as a multimodal area crucial for language tasks. Our results support that connectome-based approaches are an important complement to necrotic lesion-based approaches and should be used in combination with lesion mapping to fully elucidate whether structurally damaged or structurally disconnected regions relate to aphasic impairment and its recovery. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT We present a novel multivariate approach of predicting post-stroke impairment of speech and language from the integrity of the connectome. We compare it with multivariate prediction of speech and language scores from lesion maps, using cross-validation framework and a large (n = 90) database of behavioral and neuroimaging data from individuals with post-stroke aphasia. Connectome-based analysis was similar to lesion-based analysis in terms of predictive accuracy and provided additional details about the importance of specific connections (in particular, between parietal and posterior temporal areas) for preserving speech functions. Our results suggest that multivariate predictive analysis of the connectome is a useful complement to multivariate lesion analysis, being less dependent on the spatial constraints imposed by underlying vasculature.
Development of a digital micro-manufacturing process for high frequency ultrasound transducers

Conventional methods for fabricating ultrasound imaging transducers especially for high frequency (>20 MHz) range are expensive, time consuming and limited to relatively simple geometries. In this paper, the development of an additive digital micro-manufacturing method for piezomaterials and composites based on digital micromirror devices (DMD) to be used in HF ultrasound transducers is presented. Photocured piezoelectric materials with micro-scale features were fabricated. Different piezoelectric characteristics of the materials have been tested and compared with the bulk case. The Density of the fabricated samples was increased by applying hot uniaxial press and adding PZT composite sol-gel to the photocure solution. The dielectric constant (£r) and the tangent loss (tgθ) of the samples at 1 KHz were found to be around 610 and 0.025, respectively. The measured piezoelectric constant (d33) of the fabricated samples was around 156×1012 C/N, and the sound velocity about 1850 m/s. The polarization (Pr) and the coercive field (Ec) were 18 µC/cm² and 80 kV/cm, respectively.
T cell receptor excision circle levels in CD94-expressing CD8 T Cells during graft-versus-host disease

T cell receptor excision circles (TRECs) have been suggested to be useful markers of recent thymic output and graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) was thought to have an adverse effect on thymic output. On the other hand, TREC concentrations are diluted with T cell expansion. The C-type lectin superfamily inhibitory receptor CD94 expression on T cells might be a consequence of CD8 T cell expansion. Therefore, this study was designed to analyse TREC DNA level in CD4 and CD8 T cell subset expressing CD94 during GVHD. We investigated TREC DNA copy numbers (TREC levels) of CD4+, CD94+/CD8+ and CD94−/CD8+ T cells in 24 patients who had undergone allogeneic stem cell transplantation and also of in vitro activated and expanded CD94-expressing cells by immobilised anti-CD3 mAb and IL-15. TREC level of CD94+/CD8+ T cells in patients with chronic GVHD was lower than that in patients with no GVHD and with remission status of GVHD. In vitro activated and expanded CD94-expressing cells had a significantly lower TREC level than that in untreated CD8 cells. Therefore, the low TREC level of CD94+/CD8+ T cells is related to chronic GVHD and may reflect T cell expansion during chronic GVHD.
La régénération des bras de Sepia officinalis L. (Mollusque Céphalopode Coléoïdé)

UPMC-Paris 6 THESE presentee pour l'obtention du DIPLOME DE DOCTEUR DE SPECIALITE en BIOLOGIE ANIMALE mention OCEANOGRAPHIE BIOLOGIQUE Soutenue le par Jean-Pierre FERA L Sujet: La regeneration des bras de Sepia officinalis L. (Mollusque Cephalopode Coleoide) La regeneration des bras de Sepia officinalis (Cephalopode Decapode) est possible. Elle se fait par epimorphose pour l'epiderme et par morphallaxie pour les autres tissus. Morphologiquement, 6 stades ont ete determines : la cicatrisation (1), l 'apparition du bourgeon (demi-sphere) (2),. la croissance (cone) (3), l'apparition des ventouses (4), celle des chromatophores (5) (morphogenese). et la mobilite (6) (connections nerveuses), La regeneration est totale, Histologiquement et cytologiquement, 3 phases ont ete mises en evidence : - la cicatrisation (apport de materiel cellulaire et synthese de collagene) et la dedifferenciation. - la formation du blasteme et sa croissance, - la differenciation et la morphogenese. Les 2 dernieres phases sont en rapport, au moins temporel, avec l'apparition des systemes sanguin et nerveux dans le regenerat, Ce fait a ete interprete en terme de regulation. Une variation des proteines seriques a ete notee au cours de la regeneration. La temperature et l'apport alimentaire influencent la vitesse de regeneration. Ces facteurs ont ete remis dans le contexte de la croissance relative de Sepia, La croissance du regenerat est d'abord rapide, puis s'inflechit. On note une polarite centrifuge dans la differenciation et la morphogenese. Il a ete possible de faire un parallele entre morphogenese normale et experimentale, Par certains aspects de la regeneration de leurs bras, les Cephalopodes se rapprochent plus des Batraciens que des autres Mollusques,
Defect analysis and a new fault model for multi-port SRAMs

Semiconductor memory failures depend on the behavior of its components. This paper deals with testing of defects occurring in the memory cells of a multi-port memory. We also consider the resistive shorts between word/bit lines of same and different ports of the memory. The memory is modeled at the transistor level and analyzed for electrical defects by applying a set of patterns. Not only have existing models been taken into account in our simulation but also a new fault model for the multi-port memory is introduced. The boundaries of failure for the proposed defects are identified.
On the relative entropy of discrete-time Markov processes with given end-point densities

Given a Markov process x(k) defined over a finite interval I=[0,N], I/spl sub/Z we construct a process x*(k) with the same initial density as x, but a different end-point density, which minimizes the relative entropy of x and x*. It is shown that x* is a Markov process in the same reciprocal class as x. In the Gaussian case, the minimum relative entropy problem is related to a minimum energy LQG optimal control problem.
Quantifying 60 years of declining European eel (Anguilla anguilla L., 1758) fishery yields in Mediterranean coastal lagoons

The European eel Anguilla anguilla is thought to be in a multi-decadal decline across its range. Although its northern Atlantic sub-populations are well-studied, little is known about the historical trend and current status of eel stock in the Mediterranean Sea. To fill this gap, we gathered catch data for 86 lagoon fisheries in nine countries across the Mediterranean basin and analysed historical trends and geographical and environmental patterns. We found a region-wide decline in eel catch, beginning in the mid-1970s and exceeding the simultaneous decline in non-eel fisheries, as well as lower productivity in larger lagoons and those in the southern Mediterranean. Additionally, we developed a population dynamics model to provide a preliminary estimate of pristine, potential, and actual escapement of spawning adults (silver eels) across the Mediterranean basin under historical and current conditions. Model results suggest that current escapement is 35% of escapement at pristine biomass levels, ,40% target set by EC regulation 1100/2007. Furthermore, we estimate that a complete closure of lagoon fisheries would achieve 57% of pristine escapement under current recruitment levels. Though preliminary, this analysis represents a first step towards a full assessment of the role of the Mediterranean subpopulation in overall eel stock recovery.
Compressive Image Reconstruction in Reduced Union of Subspaces

We present a new compressed sensing framework for reconstruction of incomplete and possibly noisy images and their higher dimensional variants, e.g. animations and light‐fields. The algorithm relies on a learning‐based basis representation. We train an ensemble of intrinsically two‐dimensional (2D) dictionaries that operate locally on a set of 2D patches extracted from the input data. We show that one can convert the problem of 2D sparse signal recovery to an equivalent 1D form, enabling us to utilize a large family of sparse solvers. The proposed framework represents the input signals in a reduced union of subspaces model, while allowing sparsity in each subspace. Such a model leads to a much more sparse representation than widely used methods such as K‐SVD. To evaluate our method, we apply it to three different scenarios where the signal dimensionality varies from 2D (images) to 3D (animations) and 4D (light‐fields). We show that our method outperforms state‐of‐the‐art algorithms in computer graphics and image processing literature.