Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Increased intramyocellular lipid content but normal skeletal muscle mitochondrial oxidative capacity throughout the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes

Currently inherited or acquired skeletal muscle mitochondrial dysfunction is linked to dysregulated fatty acid metabolism, resulting in increased levels of intramyocellular lipids (IMCLs) and lipid intermediates, inducing insulin resistance. The present study aimed to clarify the order of changes in IMCL levels and skeletal muscle mitochondrial function during the development of type 2 diabetes in Zucker diabetic fatty (ZDF) rats. IMCL levels and skeletal muscle oxidative capacity were determined in vivo, using localized 1H magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) and dynamic 31P MRS, respectively. In parallel, in vitro activities were measured from enzymes involved in fatty acid oxidation, the tricarboxylic acid cycle and the electron transport chain. Fa/fa ZDF rats were studied at 3 different ages corresponding to different stages of type 2 diabetes, whereas fa/ + rats served as controls. Fa/fa ZDF rats had higher IMCL contents than controls throughout the duration of the study. In vivo muscle oxidative capacity was not different in fa/fa animals compared to controls, and in vitro enzyme activity data suggested improved functionality of enzymes involved in fat oxidation in type 2 diabetic animals. Accordingly, we can conclude that in the ZDF rat model, type 2 diabetes develops in the absence of skeletal muscle mitochondrial dysfunction. — De Feyter, H. M. , Lenaers, E. , Houten, S. M. , Schrauwen, P., Hesselink, M. K. , Wanders, R. J. A. , Nicolay, K. , Prompers, J. J. Increased intramyocellular lipid content but normal skeletal muscle mitochondrial oxidative capacity throughout the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes. FASEB J. 22, 3947–3955 (2008)
The Role of Foreign and Domestic Investment in Promoting Exports and Imports. A Dynamic Panel Approach

The goal of this paper is to evaluate weather domestic or foreign investments are involved in the promotion of exports and imports in eight of the newest European Union member states. We apply the dynamic panel data model for identifying the determinants of both exports and imports in the period 1999-2013. Our main result point that there is a complementary relationship between FDI and both exports and imports. The EU membership is significant for the expansion of the trade activity, but is more relevant for the export activity than for the import one.
Analysis of Use Intention of Mobile Cloud Service using a Convergence Technology Acceptance Model

As smart devices have proliferated and network speed and accessibility of mobile have accelerated, mobile cloud services that can do the same tasks by various devices are promoted. This paper explores the analysis of use intention of mobile cloud services and influencing factors. We develop and apply a convergence technology acceptance model which combines TAM, VAM and UTAUT. The proposed model verifies some hypotheses to aware the significant factors of use intention of mobile cloud services with TAM, VAM and UTAUT including additional mobile cloud service characteristics such as mobility, high availability, easy accessibility and scalability. Eventually, this research can not only help users gain insights into mobile cloud service use intention, but also help mobile cloud service providers to develop more effective mobile cloud service and their business strategy in the future.
Certification of Audit Committee Effectiveness: Evidence from a One-Time Regulatory Event in China

The China Securities Regulatory Commission (CSRC) launched the Campaign for Strengthening Corporate Governance of Public Companies in 2007. As part of this pilot program, public firms were required to report to CSRC whether their boards had established audit committees and whether these audit committees operated effectively. Using this unique one-time regulatory event in China, we examine whether it is informative for firms to certify the effectiveness of their audit committees. Through analyzing hand-collected data from the campaign reports filed with CSRC, we find that firms with certified audit committee effectiveness are associated with less earnings management and are less likely to have modified audit opinions and delayed filings. Thus, our findings suggest that certification of audit committee effectiveness provides a firm an opportunity to credibly signal that its audit committee functions in substance rather than in appearance.
T-cell-rich B-cell lymphomas: diagnosis and response to therapy of 44 patients.

PURPOSE Clinicopathologic features of 44 patients with well-documented T-cell-rich B-cell lymphomas (TCRBCLs) were reviewed to determine if there were distinguishing clinical characteristics and to evaluate the responsiveness to therapy. PATIENTS AND METHODS Forty-one patients had de novo TCRBCL, while three patients had a prior diagnosis of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. Seventeen TCRBCLs were identified from a retrospective analysis of 176 lymphomas diagnosed before 1988 as peripheral T-cell lymphoma (PTCLs). The initial pathologic diagnosis was incorrect in 36 of 44 cases (82%), usually due to the absence of adequate immunophenotypic and/or genotypic studies at the initial study. RESULTS The median age of patients was 53 years (range, 17 to 92), and the male-to-female ratio was 1.4:1. B symptoms were present in 22 of 41 patients (54%); splenomegaly was detected in 11 patients (25%). Clinical stage at diagnosis was as follows: I (n = 8), II (n = 6), III (n = 15), IV (n = 14), and unstaged (n = 1). Although therapy was heterogeneous, the disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) rates at 3 years for patients with de novo TCRBCL were 29% and 46%, respectively. A complete response (CR) to combination chemotherapy for intermediate-grade lymphomas was observed in 16 of 26 patients (62%); 11 of these patients (42%) had a continuous CR, compared with one of 14 patients (7%) who received radiation therapy or therapy for low-grade lymphoma or Hodgkin's disease (HD) (P < .05). However, there was no difference in OS between patients who received chemotherapy for intermediate-grade lymphoma versus other therapies (49% v 48%) due to a high response rate to salvage therapies, including seven patients without disease after marrow transplantation. CONCLUSION TCRBCLs are difficult to recognize without immunoperoxidase studies. Patients with TCRBCL have clinical features similar to patients with other large B-cell lymphomas, except they may have more splenomegaly and advanced-stage disease; they should receive combination chemotherapy directed at large-cell lymphomas.
Utility of Colonoscopy in the Evaluation of Diarrhea in Solid Organ Transplant Recipients

Background. Diarrhea is common in solid organ transplant recipients. Colonoscopy with random biopsies is performed frequently in the diagnostic evaluation of the posttransplant population with diarrhea. The purpose of this study was to determine the sensitivity of colonoscopy with random biopsy in determining a specific diagnosis and changing management in solid organ transplant recipients with diarrhea. Methods. From October 1996 to June 2008, 88 patients were identified who had undergone solid organ transplantation and subsequently underwent colonoscopy for an indication of “diarrhea. ” These patient’s electronic medical records were reviewed to determine patient demographics, laboratory results, findings on colonoscopy and histopathology, and any subsequent diagnoses made and management changes in relation to the diarrhea. Results. Eighty-eight patients (mean age 54 years, 65% male) underwent colonoscopy a mean of 69 months after transplantation. Abnormal colonoscopic findings were seen in 16 (18.2%) patients. Histopathology was abnormal in 17/80 (21.3%). However, only eight (9.1%) had findings on colonoscopy or pathologic condition that led to specific diagnosis being made. In addition, only nine (10.2%) patients had a change in medical management as a direct result of colonoscopy with biopsy. Conclusion. Although colonoscopic or histopathologic abnormalities are common in the solid organ transplant recipient with diarrhea, the findings rarely lead to a specific diagnosis or management change. Colonoscopy with biopsy should be performed only after noninvasive testing for infectious diarrhea and a thorough review and adjustment of medications. In many patients, a trial of antidiarrheal medication is warranted before colonoscopy.
Value of Magnetic Resonance Cholangiography in Benign and Malignant Biliary Stenosis: Comparative Study with Direct Cholangiography

Purpose: Magnetic resonance cholangiography (MRC) is currently under investigation for imaging of biliary stenosis. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic value of MRC compared with direct cholangiography in biliary duct diseases, with the exception of biliary‐enteric anastomosis. Method: Forty‐nine patients (26 men, 23 women; median age 60 years) with clinically suspected bile duct stenosis were prospectively included. Magnetic resonance cholangiography was performed within 7 days before direct cholangiography, considered to be the gold standard. Stenosis location, extension, and type according to Bismuth classification as well as diagnostic presumed causes were determined by 2 radiologists and 1 endoscopist. Results: Magnetic resonance cholangiography correctly identified the level of biliary ductal obstruction compared with direct cholangiography findings in 96% patients. Excellent agreement between MRC and direct cholangiography was found for the stenosis location (kappa value, 0.89). Sensitivity and specificity of MRC to detect common bile duct stenosis were 88% and 100%, respectively. Sensitivity and specificity of MRC to detect biliary confluence stenosis were 96% and 93%, respectively. Precise location of the lesion according to Bismuth classification was correctly evaluated on MRC in 74% of patients (kappa value, 0.64). The overall interobserver concordance between radiologists for the level of stenosis was good (kappa value, 0.625). In 35 patients with intrahepatic bile ducts dilation identified on direct cholangiography, 97% of patients were identified on MRC. Moderate concordance between MRC and direct cholangiography was confirmed in the evaluation of the surgical management (kappa value, 0.55). Conclusion: Magnetic resonance cholangiography is able to replace diagnostic direct cholangiography to restrict the use of invasive procedures to cases in which therapeutic procedures are anticipated or MRC findings are equivocal, especially in biliary tract diseases.
A refined method to determine the elastic constants of SiO2 thin films

We use differential delay lines to extract the phase velocity of a SAW on a LiNbO<sub>3</sub> substrate covered with thin SiO<sub>2</sub> films which have been deposited by a plasma enhanced chemical vapour deposition (PECVD) and a physical vapour deposition (PVD) process. The variation in film thickness of the PVD process between the differential delay lines has to be corrected to a reference thickness which is done by signal processing. The accuracy of the results allows the determination of the elastic constants (c<sub>11</sub> and c<sub>44</sub>) and the density ρ of the PECVD thin film within an accuracy of ±2.4% and of the PVD SiO<sub>2</sub> process within an accuracy of ±4.1% by fitting corresponding simulations.
Cutaneous Aspergillosis

Although extensive investigation has clarified multiple aspects of pulmonary aspergillosis in immunocompromised patients, cutaneous aspergillosis occurs relatively less frequently and therefore remains poorly characterized. Previous reports have described cutaneous aspergillosis as either primary (2, 17, 25, 38) or secondary (15, 19) infection. Primary cutaneous aspergillosis usually involves sites of skin injury, namely, at or near intravenous access catheter sites, at sites of traumatic inoculation, and at sites associated with occlusive dressings, burns, or surgery. Secondary cutaneous lesions result either from contiguous extension to the skin from infected underlying structures or from widespread blood-borne seeding of the skin. Herein, we present a review of cutaneous aspergillosis among immunocompromised patient populations. With this review, we have attempted to better define risk factors and common clinical presentations, as well as to formulate a reasonable approach to the diagnosis and management of cutaneous aspergillosis.
Replicability of measurements of density of the human body as determined by underwater weighing.

Ten healthy young men were maintained for a period of 2 weeks on a diet, the calorific value of which exactly equaled their energy expenditure. During this period measurements of body density by underwater weighing were made on several occasions to determine the reproducibility. The standard error of a single observation was 0.0023 units of density. The replicability of the method seems satisfactory, since the formulas used to estimate total body fat do not justify a technique where the accuracy would be better than that obtained here. Submitted on May 11, 1959
Effects of imidazoline I2 receptor ligands on acute nociception in rats

This study examined the antinociceptive effects of seven imidazoline I2 receptor ligands in a rat warm water tail withdrawal procedure (46 and 50°C). Agmatine, 2-BFI, phenyzoline, and diphenyzoline produced a significant antinociceptive activity at 46°C. BU224, S22687, and idazoxan had no effect at 46°C up to doses that altered the locomotor activity. None of the drugs showed antinociceptive activity at 50°C. It is suggested that I2 receptor agonists have antinociceptive activity for acute phasic pain under weak noxious stimulus, and the effects are efficacy-dependent. These data explain the findings that I2 receptor agonists enhance the antinociceptive effects of opioids and support developing higher-efficacy I2 receptor agonists for the treatment of pain.
Transepithelial HCO 3 absorption is defective in renal thick ascending limbs from Na / H exchanger NHE 1 null mutant mice

Good, David W. , Bruns A. Watts, III, Thampi George, Jamie W. Meyer, and Gary E. Shull. Transepithelial HCO3 absorption is defective in renal thick ascending limbs from Na /H exchanger NHE1 null mutant mice. Am J Physiol Renal Physiol 287: F1244– F1249, 2004. First published August 3, 2004; doi:10.1152/ajprenal. 00176.2004. —In the medullary thick ascending limb (MTAL) of rat kidney, inhibiting basolateral Na /H exchange with either amiloride or nerve growth factor (NGF) results secondarily in inhibition of apical Na /H exchange, thereby decreasing transepithelial HCO3 absorption. To assess the possible role of the Na /H exchanger NHE1 in this regulatory process, MTALs from wild-type and NHE1 knockout (NHE1 / ) mice were studied using in vitro microperfusion. The rate of HCO3 absorption was decreased 60% in NHE1 / MTALs (15.4 0.5 pmol min 1 mm 1 wild-type vs. 6.0 0.5 pmol min 1 mm 1 NHE1 / ). Transepithelial voltage, an index of the NaCl absorption rate, did not differ in wild-type and NHE1 / MTALs. Basolateral addition of 10 M amiloride or 0.7 nM NGF decreased HCO3 absorption by 45–49% in wild-type MTALs but had no effect on HCO3 absorption in NHE1 / MTALs. Inhibition of HCO3 absorption by vasopressin and stimulation by hyposmolality, both of which regulate MTAL HCO3 absorption through primary effects on apical Na /H exchange, were similar in wild-type and NHE1 / MTALs. Thus the regulatory defect in NHE1 / MTALs is specific for factors (bath amiloride and NGF) shown previously to inhibit HCO3 absorption through primary effects on basolateral Na /H exchange. These findings demonstrate a novel role for NHE1 in transepithelial HCO3 absorption in the MTAL, in which basolateral NHE1 controls the activity of apical NHE3. Paradoxically, a reduction in NHE1-mediated H extrusion across the basolateral membrane leads to a decrease in apical Na /H exchange activity that reduces HCO3 absorption.
Social Environment and Forms of Governance -- Monetary and Non-Monetary Punishment and the Role of Emotions

The question to what extent social environment affects how individuals govern their groups, has received no special academic attention, yet. Within the framework of a ten-period public goods experi&ment we analyse how social identity affects subjects' choice of punishment: They may either sanction group members by monetary and/or by non-monetary sanctions bearing differentconsequences on welfare. What is more, we are also the first to address how emotions influence the effectiveness of punishment in terms of maintaining contributions. Our results show that under the threat of both punishments identity-heterogeneous (out-) groups tend to contribute more to the public good than identity-homogenous (in-) groups. Nevertheless, subjects of out-groups are more likely to govern their group via monetary, in-group members rather via non-monetary punishment. What is more, we demonstrate that emotions of guilt and anger differently affect subsequent contributions dependent on the social environment.
Discourses on the implementation of wind power: stakeholder views on public engagement

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Precious memories: a randomized controlled trial on the effects of an autobiographical memory intervention delivered by trained volunteers in residential care homes

ABSTRACT Objectives: This study assesses the effects of an autobiographical memory intervention on the prevention and reduction of depressive symptoms in older persons in residential care. Trained volunteers delivered the intervention. Methods: A randomized controlled trial was carried out with depressive symptoms as the primary outcome. The experimental condition received the intervention Precious Memories one-on-one, whereas the control condition had individual unstructured contacts with a volunteer. Participants were 86 older persons living in residential care. There were three measurements: pre-intervention, post-intervention (2 months after the first measurement), and follow-up (8 months after the first measurement). Besides depressive symptoms, the retrieval of specific positive memories was measured as a process variable. Anxiety, loneliness, well-being, and mastery were assessed as secondary outcomes. Results: Depressive symptoms improved equally in the intervention and the control condition at post-measurement. Participants with clinically relevant depressive symptoms also maintained the effects at follow-up in both conditions. The retrieval of specific positive memories improved more in the autobiographical memory intervention, although this was not maintained at follow-up. Anxiety and loneliness improved equally well in both conditions, but no effects were found for well-being or mastery. Conclusion: It is concluded that volunteers can deliver the intervention and contribute to the mental health of this highly vulnerable group of older adults.
TRAPPIII is responsible for vesicular transport from early endosomes to Golgi, facilitating Atg9 cycling in autophagy

Summary Autophagy is a bulk protein-degradation process that is regulated by many factors. In this study, we quantitatively assessed the contribution of each essential yeast gene to autophagy. Of the contributing factors that we identified, we focused on the TRAPPIII complex, which was recently shown to act as a guanine-nucleotide exchange factor for the Rab small GTPase Ypt1. Autophagy is defective in the TRAPPIII mutant under nutrient-rich conditions (Cvt pathway), but starvation-induced autophagy is only partially affected. Here, we show that TRAPPIII functions at the Golgi complex to receive general retrograde vesicle traffic from early endosomes. Cargo proteins in this TRAPPIII-dependent pathway include Atg9, a transmembrane protein that is essential for autophagy, and Snc1, a SNARE unrelated to autophagy. When cells were starved, further disruption of vesicle movement from late endosomes to the Golgi caused defects in Atg9 trafficking and autophagy. Thus, TRAPPIII-dependent sorting pathways provide Atg9 reservoirs for pre-autophagosomal structure and phagophore assembly sites under nutrient-rich conditions, whereas the late endosome-to-Golgi pathway is added to these reservoirs when nutrients are limited. This clarification of the role of TRAPPIII elucidates how general membrane traffic contributes to autophagy.
The Concise Guide to Pharmacology 2013/14: G Protein-Coupled Receptors

The Concise Guide to PHARMACOLOGY 2013/14 provides concise overviews of the key properties of over 2000 human drug targets with their pharmacology, plus links to an open access knowledgebase of drug targets and their ligands (www.guidetopharmacology.org), which provides more detailed views of target and ligand properties. The full contents can be found at http://onlinelibrary.wiley. com/doi/10.1111/bph.12444/full.
Proximity, co-location and productivity spillovers from foreign MNEs on domestic firms: evidence on the services sector

The paper analyses productivity spillovers from foreign MNEs on domestic manufacturing firms. Using a database on foreign MNEs in Italy, our results reveal that local firms do benefit from the presence of foreign MNEs, and the effect is higher when local and foreign firms are in manufacturing sectors and co-located. However, spillovers benefiting domestic firms are likely to be less influenced by co-location when foreign MNEs are in services sectors as the latter are different from manufacturing industries under a number of aspects that overcome the effect of distance. In fact, in these sectors, proximity and interaction are often obtained through professional mobility and temporary inter-organizational routines.
Thermally moderated firefly activity is delayed by precipitation extremes

The timing of events in the life history of temperate insects is most typically primarily cued by one of two drivers: photoperiod or temperature accumulation over the growing season. However, an insect’s phenology can also be moderated by other drivers like rainfall or the phenology of its host plants. When multiple drivers of phenology interact, there is greater potential for phenological asynchronies to arise between an organism and those with which it interacts. We examined the phenological patterns of a highly seasonal group of fireflies (Photinus spp, predominantly P. pyralis) over a 12-year period (2004–2015) across 10 plant communities to determine if interacting drivers could explain the variability observed in the adult flight activity density (i.e. mating season) of this species. We found that temperature accumulation was the primary driver of phenology, with activity peaks usually occurring at a temperature accumulation of ~800 degree days (base 10°C), however, our model found this peak varied by nearly 180 degree day units among years. This variation could be explained by a quadratic relationship with the accumulation of precipitation in the growing season; in years with either high and low precipitation extremes at our study site, flight activity was delayed. More fireflies were captured in general in herbaceous plant communities with minimal soil disturbance (alfalfa and no-till field crop rotations), but only weak interactions occurred between within-season responses to climatic variables and plant community. The interaction we observed between temperature and precipitation accumulation suggests that, although climate warming has potential to disrupt phenology of many organisms, changes to regional precipitation patterns can magnify these disruptions.