Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A Novel Peroxisome Proliferator-activated Receptor (PPAR)α Agonist and PPARγ Antagonist, Z-551, Ameliorates High-fat Diet-induced Obesity and Metabolic Disorders in Mice*

Background: Obesity is one of the principal causes of metabolic syndrome. Results: A novel PPARα agonist/γ antagonist, Z-551, ameliorates obesity, insulin resistance, and impairment of glucose and lipid metabolisms in mice. Conclusion: Z-551 might be clinically useful for preventing or treating obesity and obesity-related metabolic disorders. Significance: A novel combination of PPARα agonist/γ antagonist is effective to improve obesity and obesity-related metabolic disorders. A novel peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) modulator, Z-551, having both PPARα agonistic and PPARγ antagonistic activities, has been developed for the treatment of obesity and obesity-related metabolic disorders. We examined the effects of Z-551 on obesity and the metabolic disorders in wild-type mice on the high-fat diet (HFD). In mice on the HFD, Z-551 significantly suppressed body weight gain and ameliorated insulin resistance and abnormal glucose and lipid metabolisms. Z-551 inhibited visceral fat mass gain and adipocyte hypertrophy, and reduced molecules involved in fatty acid uptake and synthesis, macrophage infiltration, and inflammation in adipose tissue. Z-551 increased molecules involved in fatty acid combustion, while reduced molecules associated with gluconeogenesis in the liver. Furthermore, Z-551 significantly reduced fasting plasma levels of glucose, triglyceride, free fatty acid, insulin, and leptin. To elucidate the significance of the PPAR combination, we examined the effects of Z-551 in PPARα-deficient mice and those of a synthetic PPARγ antagonist in wild-type mice on the HFD. Both drugs showed similar, but weaker effects on body weight, insulin resistance and specific events provoked in adipose tissue compared with those of Z-551 as described above, except for lack of effects on fasting plasma triglyceride and free fatty acid levels. These findings suggest that Z-551 ameliorates HFD-induced obesity, insulin resistance, and impairment of glucose and lipid metabolisms by PPARα agonistic and PPARγ antagonistic activities, and therefore, might be clinically useful for preventing or treating obesity and obesity-related metabolic disorders such as insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes, and dyslipidemia.
Prospective case-cohort study of intestinal colonization with enterococci that produce extracellular superoxide and the risk for colorectal adenomas or cancer

Objective:The aim of this study was to determine whether intestinal colonization with enterococci that produce extracellular superoxide (O2−·), a free radical implicated in the development of colorectal cancer, is associated with these lesions or their precursors.Methods:A prospective case-cohort study was performed by isolating enterococci from stools of consecutive patients undergoing colonoscopy who had no prior history of colonoscopy or colorectal cancer. A food frequency questionnaire was also administered to control for dietary factors known to affect the risk for these lesions.Results:Among 159 evaluable participants were 77 with no precancerous or cancerous pathology, 61 with adenomas <2 cm, 10 with adenomas ≥2 cm, and 11 with cancer. Regression analyses found no associations for those subjects with adenomas of any size or with cancer and colonization with O2−·-producing enterococci, any nutrient, or age. For those patients with large adenomas ≥2 cm or cancer, however, significant associations were noted for age (OR 1.94 per decade, 95% CI 1.2–3.5), β-carotene (OR 0.44 per 500 μg/1000 kcal/day, 95% CI 0.2–0.8), vitamin A (OR 3.20 per 500 μg/1000 kcal/day, 95% CI 1.2–8.9), and vitamin E (OR 0.09 per 10 mg/1000 kcal/day, 95% CI 0.006–0.9), but not colonization with O2−·-producing enterococci. Second stools collected 1 yr later, however, often contained dissimilar enterococcal flora, undermining an important study assumption.Conclusion:Significant associations were found for those with large adenomas or cancer (but not small adenomas), with age, and with foods enriched for vitamin A, vitamin E, and β-carotene. An association between colonization with O2−·-producing enterococci and colorectal adenomas or cancer, however, could not be ascertained, possibly because intestinal enterococcal flora changes over time, leaving a potentially cohesive hypothesis of colon cancer and risk factors as yet unanswered.
[Classification of cerebrovascular diseases].

Cerebrovaskularne bolesti predstavljaju grupu poremecaja u kojima je deo mozga, ili ceo mozak, prolazno ili konacno ostecen ishemijom ili krvavljenjem, a posledica je patoloskog procesa na jednom ili vise krvnih sudova. S obzirom na to da ove bolesti predstavljaju jedan od vodecih uzroka mortaliteta, zajedno s kadiovaskularnim i malignim bolestima, veoma je važno napraviti jedinstvenu klasifikaciju ovih bolesti, koja bi omogucavala bolje razumevanje ovih problema. Zbog toga smo u ovom clanku prikazali najsavremeniju i najcesce koriscenu klasifikaciju, zasnovanu na razlicitim patoanatomskim, patogenetskim, topografskim i klinickim merilima.
Predicting Returns on Mutual Fund: Some Indian Evidence

Common indicators of business and monetary conditions, the lagged mutual fund- risk premium and the market- risk premium are used to predict mutual fund returns for a time horizon of one-day. In isolation, each of the four predictors significantly forecast mutual-fund returns from April 2008 to March 2011 for Indian market. The indicator of monetary conditions, i.e., the MIBOR premium, is found to have the strongest forecast power. Multivariate analysis confirms that the four predictors are indeed strong forecasters of mutual fund returns. Moreover, the MIBOR premium, term premium and lagged mutual-fund-risk premium emerge as the best and most consistent predictors of mutual fund returns. The market-risk premium is found to be good, but less consistent as predictor of mutual-fund returns.
Distribution properties of lightning surge current induced from earth electrodes in household wiring

In the modern information society, lightning surges represent a serious risk to home electronics and telecommunication equipment. In this study, the distribution properties of a lightning surge current from the earth through indoor wiring were investigated by using model circuits of common home electronics. The distribution properties of the surge current were significantly affected by the conditions of the grounding systems, protection devices, and the circuits of home electronics. To protect the electrical circuits from the lightning surge, it is necessary to adopt a common grounding system and to introduce appropriate protection devices.
Social support and subsequent disability: it is not the size of your network that counts.

BACKGROUND high levels of social support and engagement may help sustain good health and functional ability. However, the definition of social support in previous research has been inconsistent and findings are mixed. The aim of this analysis was to explore the effect of two aspects of social support on subsequent disability in a group of community dwelling older women and men. METHODS data were drawn from two concurrent prospective observational cohort studies of community-based older Australian women (N = 2,013) and men (N = 680). Baseline and follow-up data were drawn from the second (1999) and fifth (2008) surveys of the women and the second (2001) and third (2008) surveys of the men. At baseline, social support was measured by the two subscales (social network and subjective support) of the Duke Social Support Index (DSSI). The outcome measure was Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) and Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADLs). RESULTS overall, social network size was not associated with subsequent disability in either women or men. After adjusting for health status at baseline, lack of satisfaction with social support was associated with greater difficulties in ADLs and IADLs for both women and men. CONCLUSIONS our results suggest that the provision of social support is insufficient to limit subsequent disability: support provided must be subjectively perceived to be relevant and adequate.
Life Cycle Assessment of Transportation Fuels and GHGenius

Life cycle assessment (LCA) is a "cradle-to- grave" (or "well-to-wheels") approach for assessing industrial systems. "Cradle-to-grave" begins with the gathering of raw materials from the earth to create the product and ends at the point when all materials are returned to the earth. LCA evaluates all stages of a product's life from the perspective that they are interdependent (i.e. meaning that one operation leads to the next). LCA enables the estimation of the cumulative environmental impacts resulting from all stages in the product life cycle, often including impacts not considered in more traditional analyses (e.g. raw material extraction, material transportation, ultimate product disposal). By including the impacts throughout the product life cycle, LCA provides a comprehensive view of the environmental aspects of the product or process and a more accurate picture of the true environmental trade-offs in product selection.
Automated Verification Methodology of Security Events Based on Heuristic Analysis

We present an automated verification methodology of the security events, that is, IDS alerts, based on heuristic analysis. The proposed verification methodology aims to automatically identify real cyberattacks from the security events and filter out false positive, so that the security analyst is able to conduct security monitoring and response more effectively. For the proposed verification methodology, we used the 1,528,730,667 security events that were obtained from Science and Technology Security Center (S&T-SEC). We then extracted the core security events that were caused by the real cyberattacks. Among the core security events, we selected the top 20 types of the security events in the number of the real attacks that they raised. By analyzing the top 20 types of the security events, we discovered essential elements and optional elements for using in the automated verification of the security events. The evaluation results showed that the proposed verification methodology could contribute to the reduction (about 67%) of the meaningless security events. Furthermore, we demonstrated that the proposed verification methodology contributed to the detection of 140 true negatives that were not identified by the security analyst and the total accuracy of the proposed verification methodology was 96.1%.
Application of hydrolases and probiotic Pediococcus acidilactici BaltBio01 strain for cereal by-products conversion to bioproduct for food/feed

Abstract The aim of this study was to apply the enzymatic treatment and fermentation by Pediococcus acidilactici BaltBio01 strain for industrial cereal by-products conversion to food/feed bioproducts with high amount of probiotic lactic acid bacteria (LAB). LAB propagated in potato media and spray-dried remained viable during 12 months (7.0 log10 cfu/g) of storage and was used as a starter for cereal by-products fermentation. The changes of microbial profile, biogenic amines (BAs), mycotoxins, lactic acid (L+/D−), lignans and alkylresorcinols (ARs) contents in fermented cereal by-product were analysed. Cereal by-products enzymatic hydrolysis before fermentation allows to obtain a higher count of LAB during fermentation. Fermentation with P. acidilactici reduce mycotoxins content in fermented cereal by-products. According to our results, P. acidilactici multiplied in potato juice could be used for cereal by-products fermentation, as a potential source to produce safer food/feed bioproduct with high amount of probiotic LAB for industrial production.
Classification of Chinese-to-English translated social network timelines using naive Bayes

This study proposes a method that classifies Chinese social network positive-negative comments (Weibo) using naive Bayes algorithm trained from English social network (Twitter) corpus. We train our text classifier using Twitter corpus (in English language), and use this classifier to classify Chinese text. In the previous research, Chinese sentences are processed using Chinese word segmentation algorithms before the application of machine learning algorithm. Chinese word segmentation algorithms split Chinese sentences into a series of words since a Chinese word consists of several Chinese characters unlike English sentences. Therefore, the quality of word segmentation algorithm obviously influences the accuracy of Chinese text categorization problems. In our research, we eliminate Chinese word segmentation stage (a traditional preprocessing stage of Chinese text classification) to avoid the effect on the quality of segmentation algorithms. Instead of Chinese word segmentation processing, we translate Chinese text into English text via Google translator. Based on Twitter corpus, we directly generate a text classifier by using naive Bayes multinomial algorithm. Finally, the text classifier classifies a new Chinese text (a Weibo text, which has been translated into English by Google translation at preprocessing stage). We conduct an experiment comparing the performance of naive Bayes multinomial algorithm and C4.5 in terms of accuracy.
Numerical Simulation of Acoustic Streaming on Surface Acoustic Wave-driven Biochips

A novel type of microfluidic biochip employs acoustic surface waves as a pumping mechanism for fluids. Piezoelectric substrate materials in the chip efficiently convert an electromagnetic input signal into an elastic wave confined to the surface layer of the substrate, hence the surface acoustic wave. The interaction of these waves with an adjoining fluid volume leads to streaming patterns in the fluid or of the motion of the fluid as a whole. In this work we study this acoustic streaming effect. We present a two-scale mathematical model, some theoretical results on the well-posedness of the model problem, as well as numerical simulations based on the finite element method. The model will include the case of free capillary fluid boundaries.
Impact of Sex on Systemic Lupus Erythematosus-Related Causes of Premature Mortality in the United States.

BACKGROUND Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic autoimmune disease that is a source of significantly decreased life expectancy in the United States. This study investigated causes of deaths among males and females with SLE. MATERIALS AND METHODS This cross-sectional study used the national death certificate database of ∼2.7 million death records in the United States, 2014. SLE was defined using Tenth Revision of the International Classification of Diseases codes: M32.1, M32.9, and M32.8. We compared sex-stratified demographic characteristics and the most commonly listed comorbidities in decedents with and without SLE. Relative risks (RRs) quantified the risk of dying with the most commonly listed comorbidities among decedents with SLE aged ≤50 years compared with non-SLE decedents. RESULTS There were 2,036 decedents with SLE in the United States (86.2% female). Female SLE decedents were 22 years younger than non-SLE females (median: 59 years vs. 81 years). This difference was 12 years among male decedents (median: 61 years vs. 73 years). The most frequently listed causes of death among female SLE decedents were septicemia (4.32%) and hypertension (3.04%). In contrast, heart disease (3.70%) and diabetes mellitus with complications (3.61%) were the most common among male SLE decedents. Among younger male decedents, SLE had higher co-occurrence of coagulation/hemorrhagic disorders and chronic renal failure compared with non-SLE (RR = 16.69 [95% confidence interval {CI} = 10.50-27.44] and RR = 5.76 [95% CI = 2.76-12.00], respectively). These also contributed to premature mortality among women (RR = 4.98 [95% CI = 3.69-6.70] and 8.55 [95% CI = 6.89-10.61], respectively). CONCLUSIONS Our findings identify clinically relevant comorbidities that may warrant careful consideration in patients' clinical management and the natural history of SLE.
Alternative options for DNA-based experimental therapy of β-thalassemia

Introduction: Beta-thalassemias are caused by more than 200 mutations of the β-globin gene, leading to low or absent production of adult hemoglobin. Achievements have been made with innovative therapeutic strategies for β-thalassemias, based on research conducted at the levels of gene structure, transcription, mRNA processing and protein synthesis. Areas covered: The objective of this review is to describe the development of therapeutic strategies employing viral and non-viral DNA-based approaches for treatment of β-thalassemia. Expert opinion: Modification of β-globin gene expression in β-thalassemia cells has been achieved by gene therapy, correction of the mutated β-globin gene and RNA repair. In addition, cellular therapy has been proposed for β-thalassemia, including reprogramming of somatic cells to generate induced pluripotent stem cells to be genetically corrected. Based on the concept that increased production of fetal hemoglobin (HbF) is beneficial in β-thalassemia, DNA-based approaches to increase HbF production have been optimized, including treatment of target cells with lentiviral vectors carrying γ-globin genes. Finally, DNA-based targeting of α-globin gene expression has been applied to reduce the excess of α-globin production by β-thalassemia cells, one of the major causes of the clinical phenotype.
Developing a synthetic national population to investigate the impact of different cardiovascular disease risk management strategies: A derivation and validation study

Background Many national cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factor management guidelines now recommend that drug treatment decisions should be informed primarily by patients’ multi-variable predicted risk of CVD, rather than on the basis of single risk factor thresholds. To investigate the potential impact of treatment guidelines based on CVD risk thresholds at a national level requires individual level data representing the multi-variable CVD risk factor profiles for a country’s total adult population. As these data are seldom, if ever, available, we aimed to create a synthetic population, representing the joint CVD risk factor distributions of the adult New Zealand population. Methods and results A synthetic population of 2,451,278 individuals, representing the actual age, gender, ethnicity and social deprivation composition of people aged 30–84 years who completed the 2013 New Zealand census was generated using Monte Carlo sampling. Each ‘synthetic’ person was then probabilistically assigned values of the remaining cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors required for predicting their CVD risk, based on data from the national census national hospitalisation and drug dispensing databases and a large regional cohort study, using Monte Carlo sampling and multiple imputation. Where possible, the synthetic population CVD risk distributions for each non-demographic risk factor were validated against independent New Zealand data sources. Conclusions We were able to develop a synthetic national population with realistic multi-variable CVD risk characteristics. The construction of this population is the first step in the development of a micro-simulation model intended to investigate the likely impact of a range of national CVD risk management strategies that will inform CVD risk management guideline updates in New Zealand and elsewhere.
SPECIES COMPOSITION OF ASSEMBLAGES OF CERATOMYXA (MYXOZOA), PARASITES OF LINGS GENYPTERUS (OPHIDIIDAE) IN THE SOUTHEASTERN PACIFIC OCEAN: AN ECOMORPHOMETRIC APPROACH

Studies on Myxozoa have emphasized their potential impact on aquatic animal health but less on ecological aspects. In this investigation, we assess the importance of host and latitudinal variations in the morphometry of spores of Ceratomyxa Thélohan, 1892 (Myxozoa) from the gall bladder of 3 ling Genypterus (Pisces; Ophidiidae) species. Discriminant analyses indicated that several morphospecies of Ceratomyxa coexist in these hosts, despite the fact that the specific level of taxonomic resolution of each spore was not attempted. At least 4 species, i.e., Ceratomyxa hokarari Meglitsch, 1960; Ceratomyxa inversa Meglitsch, 1960; Ceratomyxa laxa Meglitsch, 1960; and Ceratomyxa elongata Meglitsch, 1960 occur in the study area, and at least 2 species co-occur in each host and geographical location. The most widespread pattern found is that spores are larger in golden ling (Genypterus blacodes) and spore size decreases with increasing latitude; this may be associated with the species composition of these assemblages, as well as with the habitat and diet segregation of the host species.
An overview on the eigenvalue computation for matrices

This paper sketches the research developments in the area of computational methods for solving the eigenvalue problems and how the methods developed relate to each other as they evolve over centuries. This is an attempt to write a complete overview on the research on computational aspects of eigenvalue problem, emphasize the history of methods that still play a role and some of those that no longer are considered to be on the main track but are somehow related to the present techniques in some smaller steps. This contribution brings out the state-of-the-art of the algorithms for solving large-scale eigenvalue problems for both symmetric and nonsymmetric matrices separately, thereby clearly drawing a comparison between the differences in the algorithms in practical use for the two. Some of the methods or modifications to the earlier methods that have been notable at the turn of the 21st century will also be covered through this paper under "Modem Approaches". Also as the standard eigenvalue problem has become better understood, in a numerical sense, progress has been made in the generalized eigenvalue problem and this will briefly cover developments in solving these problems too.
CML 42-Mediated Calcium Signaling Coordinates Responses to Spodoptera Herbivory and Abiotic Stresses in Arabidopsis 1 [ W ] [ OA ]

In the interaction between Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) and the generalist herbivorous insect Spodoptera littoralis, little is known about early events in defense signaling and their link to downstream phytohormone pathways. S. littoralis oral secretions induced both Ca and phytohormone elevation in Arabidopsis. Plant gene expression induced by oral secretions revealed upregulation of a gene encoding a calmodulin-like protein, CML42. Functional analysis of cml42 plants revealed more resistance to herbivory than in the wild type, because caterpillars gain less weight on the mutant, indicating that CML42 negatively regulates plant defense; cml42 also showed increased aliphatic glucosinolate content and hyperactivated transcript accumulation of the jasmonic acid (JA)-responsive genes VSP2 and Thi2.1 upon herbivory, which might contribute to increased resistance. CML42 up-regulation is negatively regulated by the jasmonate receptor Coronatine Insensitive1 (COI1), as loss of functional COI1 resulted in prolonged CML42 activation. CML42 thus acts as a negative regulator of plant defense by decreasing COI1mediated JA sensitivity and the expression of JA-responsive genes and is independent of herbivory-induced JA biosynthesis. JA-induced Ca elevation and root growth inhibition were more sensitive in cml42, also indicating higher JA perception. Our results indicate that CML42 acts as a crucial signaling component connecting Ca and JA signaling. CML42 is localized to cytosol and nucleus. CML42 is also involved in abiotic stress responses, as kaempferol glycosides were down-regulated in cml42, and impaired in ultraviolet B resistance. Under drought stress, the level of abscisic acid accumulation was higher in cml42 plants. Thus, CML42 might serve as a Ca sensor having multiple functions in insect herbivory defense and abiotic stress responses.