Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Impaired in Vivo Insulin Clearance in Patients With Severe Target-Cell Resistance to Insulin

The concentration of insulin in plasma is determined by both its rate of secretion and its rate of clearance from the plasma compartment. The effect of marked insulin resistance on insulin clearance in vivo has not been determined in man. We have employed the euglycemic insulin clamp technique to measure insulin sensitivity and insulin clearance in 16 control subjects and in 4 subjects with marked target-cell resistance to insulin. Two insulin-resistant patients had reduced receptor concentration on peripheral mononuclear cells, and two patients had normal receptor number and affinity. During 80-mU/m2/min insulin clamp studies, the clearance rate in each insulin-resistant patient was lower than that in any controls; the mean insulin clearance rate was 511 ± 74 ml/m2/min in control subjects and 205 ml/m2/min (P < 0.001) in insulin-resistant patients. These findings demonstrate an association between marked target-cell resistance to insulin and impaired in vivo insulin clearance, and suggest an important role for receptor-mediated pathways in insulin clearance in vivo.
Internet Privacy Concerns: An Integrated Conceptualization and Four Empirical Studies

Internet privacy concerns (IPC) is an area of study that is receiving increased attention due to the huge amount of personal information being gathered, stored, transmitted, and published on the Internet. While there is an emerging literature on IPC, there is limited agreement about its conceptualization in terms of its key dimensions and its factor structure. Based on the multidimensional developmental theory and a review of the prior literature, we identify alternative conceptualizations of IPC. We examine the various conceptualizations of IPC with four online surveys involving nearly 4,000 Internet users. As a baseline, study 1 compares the integrated conceptualization of IPC to two existing conceptualizations in the literature. While the results provide support for the integrated conceptualization, the second-order factor model does not outperform the correlated first-order factor model. Study 2 replicates the study on a different sample and confirms the results of study 1. We also investigate whether the prior results are affected by the different perspectives adopted in the wording of items in the original instruments. In study 3, we find that focusing on one’s concern for websites’ behavior (rather than one’s expectation of websites’ behavior) and adopting a consistent perspective in the wording of the items help to improve the validity of the factor structure. We then examine the hypothesized third-order conceptualizations of IPC through a number of alternative higher-order models. The empirical results confirm that, in general, the third-order conceptualizations of IPC outperform their lower-order alternatives. In addition, the conceptualization of IPC that has the best fit with the data contains a third-order general IPC factor, two second-order factors of interaction management and information management, and six first-order factors (i.e., collection, secondary usage, errors, improper access, control, and awareness). Study 4 cross-validates the results with another dataset and examines IPC within the context of a nomological network. The results confirm that the third-order conceptualization of IPC has nomological validity, and it is a significant determinant of both trusting beliefs and risk beliefs. Our research helps to resolve inconsistencies in the key underlying dimensions of IPC, the factor structure of IPC, and the wording of the original items in prior instruments of IPC. Finally, we discuss the implications of this research.
A novel PWM strategy for three-phase inverters based on controllability theory

A novel space vector pulse width modulation strategy is proposed to reduce the switching frequencies of transistors in high-power inverters. The inverter is modeled as a switched linear system such that the controllability properties of the inverter can be investigated. After that, the 3-operation modes modulation strategy based on the m-modes controllability is proposed. With the 3-operation modes modulation technique, switching frequencies of the transistors can be reduced by one-third, therefore, the switching losses of the system can be reduced and the overall efficiency of the system can be improved. Finally, the simulation as well as experimental results verified the correctness of the approach.
Clinical significance of miRNA host gene promoter methylation in prostate cancer

Abstract Only a part of prostate cancer (PCa) patients has aggressive malignancy requiring adjuvant treatment after radical prostatectomy (RP). Biomarkers capable to predict biochemical PCa recurrence (BCR) after RP would significantly improve preoperative risk stratification and treatment decisions. MicroRNA (miRNA) deregulation has recently emerged as an important phenomenon in tumor development and progression, however, the mechanisms remain largely unstudied. In the present study, based on microarray profiling of DNA methylation in 9 pairs of PCa and noncancerous prostate tissues (NPT), host genes of miR‐155‐5p, miR‐152‐3p, miR‐137, miR‐31‐5p, and miR‐642a, ‐b were analyzed for promoter methylation in 129 PCa, 35 NPT, and 17 benign prostatic hyperplasia samples (BPH) and compared to the expression of mature miRNAs and their selected targets (DNMT1, KDM1A, and KDM5B). The Cancer Genome Atlas dataset was utilized for validation. Methylation of mir‐155, mir‐152, and mir‐137 host genes was PCa‐specific, and downregulation of miR‐155‐5p significantly correlated with promoter methylation. Higher KDM5B expression was observed in samples with methylated mir‐155 or mir‐137 promoters, whereas upregulation of KDM1A and DNMT1 was associated with mir‐155 and mir‐152 methylation status, respectively. Promoter methylation of mir‐155, mir‐152, and mir‐31 was predictive of BCR‐free survival in various Cox models and increased the prognostic value of clinicopathologic factors. In conclusion, methylated mir‐155, mir‐152, mir‐137, and mir‐31 host genes are promising diagnostic and/or prognostic biomarkers of PCa. Methylation status of particular miRNA host genes as independent variables or in combinations might assist physicians in identifying poor prognosis PCa patients preoperatively.
Simulation methods of a normal-mode helical antenna in a human body condition

In implantable antenna applications for human health care, normal-mode helical antenna (NMHA) is considered to be one of promising candidates. Due to antennas put inside human body, electromagnetic simulations are needed to model human body and clarify electrical characteristics of antennas. Electromagnetic performances of NMHA can be conveniently calculated by using Method of Moment (MoM). However, accuracies of calculated results were not clear. In this paper, another simulation method of finite element method (FEM) is employed as a reference. Calculated results such as self-resonant structures, electromagnetic field distributions, input impedances and radiation pattern are compared between MoM and FEM. Through very good agreements between two simulation methods, calculation accuracies of MoM are ensured.
The use of flexible quantile-based measures in risk assessment

ABSTRACT A new family of distortion risk measures—GlueVaR—is proposed in Belles-Sampera et al. (2014) to procure a risk assessment lying between those provided by common quantile-based risk measures. GlueVaR measures may be expressed as a combination of these standard risk measures. We show here that this relationship may be used to obtain approximations of GlueVaR measures for general skewed distribution functions using the Cornish–Fisher expansion. A subfamily of GlueVaR measures satisfies the tail-subadditivity property. An example of risk measurement based on real insurance claim data is presented, where implications of tail-subadditivity in the aggregation of risks are illustrated.
Fruit quality of ‘Eva’ e ‘Princesa’ apples grown under nitrogen fertigation in semiarid climate

A producao de frutos de qualidade constitui um fator necessario para a adaptacao e producao de frutas com viabilidade economica. Assim, o presente experimento foi conduzido de julho de 2012 a janeiro de 2013 com o objetivo de avaliar a qualidade fisica e quimica de frutos das macieiras ‘Eva’ e ‘Princesa’, em funcao da adubacao nitrogenada em Petrolina-PE. Adotou-se delineamento em blocos casualizados em esquema fatorial 2 x 4, correspondentes a Cultivares de macieira (Eva e Princesa) e doses de nitrogenio em cobertura (40; 80; 120 e 160 kg de N ha-1) com quatro repeticoes e tres plantas por parcela. As caracteristicas dos frutos massa dos frutos, a coloracao da casca (luminosidade, cromaticidade, e ângulo de cores), tamanho, firmeza da polpa, acidez titulavel (AT), solidos soluveis (SS) e a razao SS/AT foram avaliadas. Nao houve influencia de doses de N nos atributos qualitativos de frutos da macieira, cultivares Eva e Princesa. A qualidade das macas difere entre as cultivares avaliadas: firmeza, razao SS/AT, massa do fruto e diâmetro dos frutos sao superiores para a “Princesa”, enquanto que o comprimento da “Eva” e superior.
Photosynthetic Adaptation to Length of Day Is Dependent on S-Sulfocysteine Synthase Activity in the Thylakoid Lumen1[W]

Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) chloroplasts contain two O-acetyl-serine(thiol)lyase (OASTL) homologs, OAS-B, which is an authentic OASTL, and CS26, which has S-sulfocysteine synthase activity. In contrast with OAS-B, the loss of CS26 function resulted in dramatic phenotypic changes, which were dependent on the light treatment. We have performed a detailed characterization of the photosynthetic and chlorophyll fluorescence parameters in cs26 plants compared with those of wild-type plants under short-day growth conditions (SD) and long-day growth conditions (LD). Under LD, the photosynthetic characterization, which was based on substomatal CO2 concentrations and CO2 concentration in the chloroplast curves, revealed significant reductions in most of the photosynthetic parameters for cs26, which were unchanged under SD. These parameters included net CO2 assimilation rate, mesophyll conductance, and mitochondrial respiration at darkness. The analysis also showed that cs26 under LD required more absorbed quanta per driven electron flux and fixed CO2. The nonphotochemical quenching values suggested that in cs26 plants, the excess electrons that are not used in photochemical reactions may form reactive oxygen species. A photoinhibitory effect was confirmed by the background fluorescence signal values under LD and SD, which were higher in young leaves compared with mature ones under SD. To hypothesize the role of CS26 in relation to the photosynthetic machinery, we addressed its location inside of the chloroplast. The activity determination and localization analyses that were performed using immunoblotting indicated the presence of an active CS26 enzyme exclusively in the thylakoid lumen. This finding was reinforced by the observation of marked alterations in many lumenal proteins in the cs26 mutant compared with the wild type.
Correlations Between Awareness of Green Marketing, Corporate Social Responsibility, Product Image, Corporate Reputation, and Consumer Purchase Intention

This research aims to assess the correlations between awareness of green marketing, corporate social responsibility (CSR), product image, corporate reputation and consumer purchase intentions toward green products. A self-administered questionnaire was utilized for data collection among a set of 250 respondents located at the Federal Territory of Labuan, Malaysia, who had purchased green products over the last six months. Pearson correlation values revealed that awareness of green marketing, corporate social responsibility, product image, and corporate reputation are significantly associated with consumer purchase intentions of green products. Indeed, CSR has the strongest linkage with significant positive correlation coefficients for consumer purchase intentions of green products, followed by product image and awareness of green marketing, respectively. Furthermore, consumer purchase intentions of green products are minimally associated with corporate reputation. Directions for further work are also presented.
Difficulties with conventional phytoplasma diagnostic using PCR/RFLP analyses.

Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with subsequent restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis is often used for phytoplasma identification and classification. Although these techniques are very sensitive and specific, in some cases, nonspecific reactions, false positives and negatives results, as well as unusual or illegible profiles after RFLP analyses, amplification of plant host ́s DNA or other difficulties occurred. Experiences with suitability of positive and negative controls integration in PCR, evaluation of critical samples and other difficulties in phytoplasma PCR/RFLP identification are reported.
Vitamin D receptor and interleukin-1 receptor antagonist gene polymorphism in spinal tuberculosis

Our earlier studies revealed that both MHC (Major Histocomptibility Complex) and non-MHC genes are associated with the susceptibility to pulmonary tuberculosis (TB). To find out whether non-MHC genes such as vitamin D receptor (VDR) and interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1RA) genes are associated with the susceptibility to spinal TB (extrapulmonary form of TB), the present study was carried out in spinal TB patients (n=66) and spouses of TB patients (spinal-TB and pulmonary-TB) ( n = 80) (family contacts). A trend towards an increased per cent genotype frequency of IL-1RA genotype variant 22 (12.1%) was seen in spinal TB patients when compared to the controls (3.8%) (spouses of the patients) (P=0.057; odds ratio 3.5). No difference was observed in the frequency of VDR genotypes between the overall spinal TB patients and the family contacts. However, the VDR mutant genotype tt was seen at a higher frequency in female patients with TB spine (TBS) (12.8%) than female contacts (4.2%) ( P >0.05 not significant; odds ratio 3.5). Among the contacts, a significantly increased frequency of wild type genotype TT (wild homozygotes) was seen in female contacts (55.1%) than male contacts (16.1%) (P =0.0012). Similarly a significant decrease in tt genotype was seen in female contacts (4.1%) than male contacts (25.8%) (P=0.012). The present study suggests that IL-1RA genotype 22 may be associated with the susceptibility to spinal TB. Moreover, vitamin D receptor tt genotype may be associated with the susceptibility to spinal TB in female patients. The study reveals that multicandidate genes may be associated with the susceptibility to spinal TB.
Coffee intake and the risk of colorectal adenoma: The colorectal adenoma study in Tokyo

Coffee is a commonly consumed beverage which contains several potential anticarcinogenic and chemopreventive compounds, and has been hypothesized to have protective effects in colorectal neoplasia. However, the limited available data on coffee consumption in relation to colorectal adenoma (CRA), a precursor lesion to most colorectal cancers, remain largely inconsistent. In this study, we evaluated the association of coffee intake with the risk of CRA in a middle‐aged Japanese population. Study subjects were selected from examinees who underwent total colonoscopy as part of a cancer screening program and responded to self‐administered dietary and lifestyle questionnaires. A total of 738 patients with adenoma and 697 controls were included in the study. Coffee intake was assessed with a food frequency questionnaire, and divided into quartiles based on the distribution among controls. Unconditional logistic regression models were used to estimate odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) of CRA, with adjustment for potential confounding factors. High coffee consumption was associated with a reduced risk of CRA, with a multivariate‐adjusted OR for the highest versus lowest quartile of coffee intake of 0.67 (95% CI = 0.48–0.93; ptrend = 0.02). The inverse association of coffee intake was limited to proximal (OR = 0.64; 95%CI = 0.44–0.95; ptrend = 0.04) and distal colon adenoma (OR = 0.62; 95%CI = 0.39–0.99; ptrend = 0.06), and appeared to be more evident with small (OR = 0.68; 95%CI = 0.49–0.96; ptrend = 0.04) and single adenomas (OR = 0.65; 95%CI = 0.44–0.95; ptrend = 0.02). Green tea intake was not found to be associated with CRA risk. This study provides support for the protective effect of coffee drinking on colon adenomas, a precursor of colon cancer.
Focal nodular hyperplasia of the liver in patients previously treated for pediatric neoplastic diseases.

SUMMARY The discovery of a liver nodule during postcancer follow-up suggests malignancy recurrence. However, patients previously treated for pediatric cancers are at greater risk of developing benign hepatic tumors, raising the problems of getting an accurate noninvasive diagnosis. Here we report 3 cases of focal nodular hyperplasia of the liver in patients previously treated for pediatric neoplastic diseases. Radiologic findings and needle-biopsies remained insufficient in 2 cases to rule out metastasis or a potentially threatening tumor. Only surgical resection led to positive diagnosis and prevented complications. However, a review of the literature shows that if the nodule presents with typical features of focal nodular hyperplasia a close imaging follow-up is all that is recommended.
Round table conference on clinical trials for the treatment of sepsis.

OBJECTIVES Using an evidence-based approach for a round table conference, to discuss sepsis according to its current epidemiology and clinical management, lessons which we feel can be learned by investigators from the design and conduct of previous clinical trials of drug therapy, and to describe the "optimum" clinical trials design for treatments of this syndrome. DATA SOURCES Experts in the field of sepsis were selected and requested to apply an "evidence-based" approach to the published literature, from which recommendations would be synthesized and rated according to levels of evidence. These experts undertook a review of appropriate literature, primarily focusing on evidence presented by clinical trials. Applicable articles were searched for by individual experts, using a variety of on-line search strategies (i.e., MEDLINE, Current Contents; Clinical Medicine). DATA EXTRACTION AND REVIEW: Presentation at the round table conference was followed by agreement by consensus amongst participants as to the grade of recommendation. Individual presentations and arguments for grading of levels of evidence will be published independently. Where possible, recommendations on individual topics were ranked according to the level of evidence presented. Levels I to V were used to rank randomized, controlled trials through case series, respectively. Grade A recommendation is supported by Level I evidence, Grade B recommendation is supported by Level II evidence, and Grade C recommendation is supported by Levels III, IV or V evidence. CONCLUSION Recommendations for the design, conduct and analysis of future trials of sepsis therapies were summarized.
Pharmacokinetics of Anthocyanins and Ellagic Acid in Healthy Volunteers Fed Freeze‐Dried Black Raspberries Daily for 7 Days

Eleven subjects completed a clinical trial to determine the safety/tolerability of freeze‐dried black raspberries (BRB) and to measure, in plasma and urine, specific anthocyanins‐cyanidin‐3‐glucoside, cyanidin‐3‐sambubioside, cyanidin‐3‐rutinoside, and cyanidin‐3‐xylosylrutinoside, as well as ellagic acid. Subjects were fed 45 g of freeze‐dried BRB daily for 7 days. Blood samples were collected predose on days 1 and 7 and at 10 time points postdose. Urine was collected for 12 hours predose on days 1 and 7 and at three 4‐hour intervals postdose. Maximum concentrations of anthocyanins and ellagic acid in plasma occurred at 1 to 2 hours, and maximum quantities in urine appeared from 0 to 4 hours. Overall, less than 1% of these compounds were absorbed and excreted in urine. None of the pharmacokinetic parameters changed significantly between days 1 and 7. In conclusion, 45 g of freeze‐dried BRB daily are well tolerated and result in quantifiable anthocyanins and ellagic acid in plasma and urine.
Vascular risk factors in women with hypertension and diabetes mellitus type 2 1 ADRIANA ALBU , 1

Background. Diabetes mellitus and arterial hypertension are two very frequent diseases. Both of them have important effects on vascular system and their major complications are caused by alterations of vasculature. Arterial hypertension and type 2 diabetes are frequently associated. Beyond classical risk factors implicated in both diseases, in recent years some novel markers of vascular involvement have been studied, such as intima – media thickness (IMT) and parameters of arterial stiffness. Women seem to have an increased vascular risk associated with diabetes than do men but this is not clean from the current literature. The aim of our study was to determine the consequences of hypertension and of hypertension associated with diabetes on intima media thickness and arterial stiffness in women. Patients and methods. We studied 30 women with hypertension (group 1), 33 with diabetes mellitus and hypertension (group 2) and 21 healthy controls (HC), matched for age. We evaluated some classical risk factors for atherosclerosis, such as age, body mass index, smoking, lipid and glucose profile in all patients and controls. We determined IMT of the common carotid artery using an ultrasound device (ALOKA prosound ɑ10) and parameters of aortic stiffness – pulse wave velocity (PWV) and augmentation index (Aix) in all patients and controls using an oscillometric device, Arteriograph (Tensio Med Ltd., Budapest, Hungary). We also determined with the same device central aortic systolic blood pressure (SBPao) and aortic pulse pressure (PPao). We compared data obtained between the three different groups examined. Results. We found that PWV was increased in group 1 patients compared HC (p<0.05) but those from group 2 had even higher values of PWV compared to HC (p=0.001). IMT was increased in patients from group 1 compared with HC and diabetic patients had a supplementary increase of this parameter compared with hypertensive patients but the values were significantly higher only when compared to controls. From the classical risk factors, BMI and also fasting plasma glucose were significantly higher in diabetic patients. Parameters of arterial stiffness were correlated with age. IMT was correlated with age, fasting plasma glucose, values of brachial systolic, diastolic and mean pressure and with aortic systolic blood pressure. IMT was also correlated with parameters of arterial stiffness, PWV and AIx. Conclusion. Women with hypertension had increased arterial stiffness compared to controls. Those with hypertension and diabetes had more increased arterial stiffness and also increased IMT compared to hypertensive women and to HC. In our patients age was an important determinant of parameters of arterial stiffness. IMT was correlated with age, values of peripheral and central arterial pressure and with parameters of arterial stiffness. Coexistent diabetes and hypertension in women is associated with increased markers of vascular disease that may be a link to the important cardiovascular risk seen in these patients.