Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Implementing diabetes passports to focus practice reorganization on improving diabetes care.

OBJECTIVE Although an active role of the patient is often stressed in diabetes care, it is not easily implemented in daily practice. The aim of the study was to measure the effects of introducing a diabetes passport to patients after embedding the passport in the organization of care. DESIGN Randomized controlled trial. SETTING Forty general practice in The Netherlands. PARTICIPANTS Pre- and post-intervention data were obtained from 993 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Patients treated in secondary care and patients over 80 years of age were excluded. INTERVENTION The intervention consisted of clarifying the diabetes care tasks for all practice staff and embedding the diabetes passports in the structured care. Main outcome measure. Self-reported use of the diabetes passport. RESULTS Diabetes passports were issued to 87% of the patients. After 15 months, 76% of the patients reported that the passport was being used during clinic visits. The process indicators of care improved by 10% on average in the intervention group. However, there were no changes in the outcome measures. CONCLUSION Diabetes passports can be introduced successfully in structured primary care and they lead to improved effect measures for medical behaviour.
Boundary Stabilization of Marine Structure

Abstract This note addresses the stabilization problem of a marine structure (i.e. cable/riser), connected to a surface vessel at one end and to a thruster unit at the other. Here, only lateral motion is considered. Based on boundary measurements, stabilizing control laws are designed. The controllers consist only on feedback from boundary measurements. The costs are thus minimized and the spillover instabilities are avoided. Simulation results are included.
T Cell–Independent Mechanisms Associated with Neutrophil Extracellular Trap Formation and Selective Autophagy in IL-17A–Mediated Epidermal Hyperplasia

IL-17A has been strongly associated with epidermal hyperplasia in many cutaneous disorders. However, because IL-17A is mainly produced by αβ and γδT cells in response to IL-23, the role of T cells and IL-23 has overshadowed any IL-17A–independent actions. In this article, we report that IL-17A gene transfer induces epidermal hyperplasia in Il23r−/−Rag1−/−- and Tcrδ-deficient mice, which can be prevented by neutrophil depletion. Moreover, adoptive transfer of CD11b+Gr-1hi cells, after IL-17A gene transfer, was sufficient to phenocopy the disease. We further show that the IL-17A–induced pathology was prevented in transgenic mice with impaired neutrophil extracellular trap formation and/or neutrophils with conditional deletion of the master regulator of selective autophagy, Wdfy3. Our data demonstrate a novel T cell–independent mechanism that is associated with neutrophil extracellular trap formation and selective autophagy in IL-17A–mediated epidermal hyperplasia.
Radio detections of neutral hydrogen at redshift Z=3.4.

We have used the Very Large Array to search for «21-cm» narrow-band signals from neutral hydrogen at redshift Z=3.4. We detect absorption at Z=3.3968±0.0004 against a radio source that has been previously identified with a «normal» galaxy at Z=3.395±0.005. We detect emission 'at Z=3.3970±0.0003 separated from the absorption by 3-3'(7-24 Mpc, depending on the cosmological model). This narrow-band emission signal is due to about 3×10 14 M○+ of neutral hydrogen as expected from a protocluster of galaxies
Gain characteristics improvement of broadband circular polarized patch antenna using artificial ground structure

Gain characteristics improvement of a broadband circularly polarized patch antenna using artificial ground structure is studied. The antenna has a simulated S11 bandwidth of 48.6% and axial ratio bandwidth of less than 3dB of 21.2%. However, gain characteristics of boresight direction decreases in the frequency range of 5.5GHz. In this paper, by modifying shapes of the ground plane, we attempted to keep the gain characteristics almost constant with respect to frequency.
Adherence of oral streptococci: evidence for nonspecific adsorption to saliva-coated hydroxylapatite surfaces

It is proposed that binding of oral streptococci to saliva-coated hydroxylapatite (SHA) surfaces is a multifactorial process involving both specific and nonspecific receptors. In this context, specific binding is described as a high-affinity, saturable interaction between the cell and binding surface. Conversely, nonspecific binding is considered to be a nonsaturable, generalized, low-affinity reaction. Experimental differentiation of specific binding from nonspecific binding was achieved with a competition assay which utilized a large excess of nonradiolabeled bacteria to compete with the 3H-labeled cells for attachment to receptors on 1.5 mg of SHA crystals. Competition assays of Streptococcus sanguis and Streptococcus mitis adhesion clearly demonstrated that the total binding isotherm was composed of a saturable specific binding reaction and a minor nonspecific binding component. This was further substantiated by analysis of nonlinear Scatchard plots of the total binding data. The competition data for Streptococcus mutans binding indicated that ca. 50% of the S. mutans binding appeared to be specific, although saturation of the SHA surfaces with bacterial cells could not be demonstrated. Experiments measuring desorption of radiolabeled cells from SHA crystals into buffer showed that ca. 50% of the bound S. mutans cells were removed after 4 h, whereas less than 5% of the S. sanguis cells were eluted from the SHA surfaces. The kinetics of attachment were studied by using an extract of Persea americana as a noncompetitive inhibitor of adherence. The total cell binding data for these experiments suggested a very rapid binding reaction followed by a slower rate of attachment. It was concluded from these three different experimental approaches that adherence of selected oral streptococci to SHA surfaces involves specific, high-affinity and nonspecific, low-affinity binding reactions. The concept is developed that in vitro streptococcal attachment to SHA can be described as a two-reaction process in which the low-affinity interaction of the cell with the SHA surface precedes the establishment of the stronger, specific bonds needed for the maintenance of streptococci in the oral cavity.
Question Answering as a Knowledge Discovery Technique

Apparatus for transferring self-adhesive labels from a supply roll to continuously advancing containers or packaging material, including means for simple, on-site adjustment of the label positions with respect to the velocity and/or spacing of the items to be labeled. The labels move on a conveyor belt transversely of the material flow path, while an indicator moves oppositely to and in synchronism with the conveyor belt past one or more sensors controlling the conveyor belt drive. The positions of the sensors are easily adjustable to correspond to the desired labeling positions.
Wireless Communication System for Energy Meter Reading

Energy meter reading is a tedious and an expensive affair. The meter reader has to go and take the reading manually to issue the bill, which will later be entered in the software to automate the billing and payment system. It would have reduced the laborious task and financial wastage if can automate the manual meter reading process and bill data entry process. This paper proposes a new network communication system for energy meter reading by integrating communication technology and software system along with the existing meters. A wireless or wired communication system will be integrated with electronic energy meter to have remote access over the usage of electricity. Even though they are two different modules, energy meter deliver the reading details as on when it demands by the communication system. The communication system is further connected with electricity regional/sub-regional office, which will rather act as a base station. Instead of creating a separate communication system and backbone, any of the secure existing communication service infrastructures may also be utilized to avoid any initial investments. The communication channel is identified by the consumer’s number and it is secured by any cryptographic standards. Base office can verify the energy meters performance by checking the day to day consumption of energy. This will also help to avoid any tampering or break down of energy meter.
Tropical precipitation extremes: Response to SST‐induced warming in aquaplanet simulations

Scaling of tropical precipitation extremes in response to warming is studied in aquaplanet experiments using the global Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model. We show how the scaling of precipitation extremes is highly sensitive to spatial and temporal averaging: while instantaneous grid point extreme precipitation scales more strongly than the percentage increase (∼7% K−1) predicted by the Clausius‐Clapeyron (CC) relationship, extremes for zonally and temporally averaged precipitation follow a slight sub‐CC scaling, in agreement with results from Climate Model Intercomparison Project (CMIP) models. The scaling depends crucially on the employed convection parameterization. This is particularly true when grid point instantaneous extremes are considered. These results highlight how understanding the response of precipitation extremes to warming requires consideration of dynamic changes in addition to the thermodynamic response. Changes in grid‐scale precipitation, unlike those in convective‐scale precipitation, scale linearly with the resolved flow. Hence, dynamic changes include changes in both large‐scale and convective‐scale motions.
DNA supercoiling changes the spacing requirement of two lac operators for DNA loop formation with lac repressor.

We have used a gel retardation assay to investigate the influence of DNA supercoiling on loop formation between lac repressor and two lac operators. A series of 15 DNA minicircles of identical size (452 bp) was constructed carrying two lac operators at distances ranging from 153 to 168 bp. Low positive or negative supercoiling (sigma = +/‐ 0.023) changed the spacing between the two lac operators required for the formation of the most stable loops. This reveals the presence of altered double helical repeats (ranging from 10.3 to 10.7 bp) in supercoiled DNA minicircles. At elevated negative supercoiling (sigma = −0.046) extremely stable loops were formed at all operator distances tested, with a slight spacing periodicity remaining. After relaxation of minicircle‐repressor complexes with topoisomerase I one superhelical turn was found to be constrained in those minicircles which carry operators at distances corresponding to a non‐integral number of helical turns. This indicates that DNA loop formation can define local DNA domains with altered topological properties of the DNA helix.
Using game engines in ray tracing physics

This paper shows the used of a complete open source game engine and the significant advanced in computer graphics for applied ray tracing physics techniques in urban environment of propagation. We used techniques and software developed for open source game engine to: 1) The ray tracing physics algorithm for path loss, reflection and multiple diffraction. 2) The efficient use of graphic processing unit (GPU) and the multiple processor of the CPU.
SREBP2 Activation Induces Hepatic Long-chain Acyl-CoA Synthetase 1 (ACSL1) Expression in Vivo and in Vitro through a Sterol Regulatory Element (SRE) Motif of the ACSL1 C-promoter*

Long-chain acyl-CoA synthetase 1 (ACSL1) plays a key role in fatty acid metabolism. To identify novel transcriptional modulators of ACSL1, we examined ACSL1 expression in liver tissues of hamsters fed a normal diet, a high fat diet, or a high cholesterol and high fat diet (HCHFD). Feeding hamsters HCHFD markedly reduced hepatic Acsl1 mRNA and protein levels as well as acyl-CoA synthetase activity. Decreases in Acsl1 expression strongly correlated with reductions in hepatic Srebp2 mRNA level and mature Srebp2 protein abundance. Conversely, administration of rosuvastatin (RSV) to hamsters increased hepatic Acsl1 expression. These new findings were reproduced in mice treated with RSV or fed the HCHFD. Furthermore, the RSV induction of acyl-CoA activity in mouse liver resulted in increases in plasma and hepatic cholesterol ester concentrations and reductions in free cholesterol amounts. Investigations on different ACSL1 transcript variants in HepG2 cells revealed that the mRNA expression of C-ACSL1 was specifically regulated by the sterol regulatory element (SRE)-binding protein (SREBP) pathway, and RSV treatment increased the C-ACSL1 abundance from a minor mRNA species to an abundant transcript. We analyzed 5′-flanking sequence of exon 1C of the human ACSL1 gene and identified one putative SRE site. By performing a promoter activity assay and DNA binding assays, we firmly demonstrated the key role of this SRE motif in SREBP2-mediated activation of C-ACSL1 gene transcription. Finally, we demonstrated that knockdown of endogenous SREBP2 in HepG2 cells lowered ACSL1 mRNA and protein levels. Altogether, this work discovered an unprecedented link between ACSL1 and SREBP2 via the specific regulation of the C-ACSL1 transcript.
Pleiotropic effects of lysophosphatidic acid on striatal astrocytes

Lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) is a potent lipid mediator that is likely involved in diverse functions in the brain. Several recent studies have suggested that astrocytes are important target cells for LPA. In the present study, we have identified the signal transduction pathways activated following LPA stimulation in mouse striatal astrocytes in primary culture. In cells prelabeled with myo‐[3H]inositol, LPA stimulated the formation of [3H]inositol phosphates (EC50 = 0.7 μM). This effect was reproduced neither by other lysophospholipids nor by phosphatidic acid. Astrocyte pretreatment with pertussis toxin partially abolished this LPA response indicating the involvement of a Gi/Go protein. In [3H]adenine‐prelabeled cells, LPA strongly inhibited the formation of [3H]cyclic AMP induced by forskolin (EC50 = 0.3 μM) and by isoproterenol and PACAP‐38. These inhibitory effects were strongly reduced by pertussis toxin treatment. Although with a lesser potency (EC50 = 5 μM), LPA also stimulated the release of [3H]arachidonic acid from [3H]arachidonic acid‐prelabeled astrocytes. This latter effect was totally inhibited by mepacrine, did not involve a pertussis toxin‐sensitive G protein, and was highly dependent on external calcium. LPA also stimulated the activity of both extracellular signal‐regulated kinases (Erk) Erk1 and Erk2 by a mechanism involving a Gi/Go protein. Surprisingly, in contrast to that observed in fibroblasts, LPA was totally ineffective in stimulating DNA synthesis. These results provide additional evidence in favor of an important physiological role of LPA in the astrocytic functions. GLIA 28:25–33, 1999. © 1999 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Retinal Ganglion Cell Death in Glaucoma: The How, the Why, and the Maybe

PurposeResearch on the mechanism of cell death in experimental glaucoma indicates that ganglion cells die by apoptosis. Several stimuli may account for the activation of apoptosis in glaucoma, including neurotrophin deprivation caused by blockage of retrograde axonal transport during periods of elevated IOP, or glutamate toxicity caused by ischemia to the optic nerve and ganglion cells. ResultsThe finding that apoptosis is a significant mechanism of cell death in glaucoma may make it possible to develop new treatments that specifically block or interfere with this form of cell death. Preventing ganglion cell death may only be a stop-gap measure, however, in that it treats the result of the disease and not the cause. Still, in many cases ganglion cell death has already been stimulated in patients by the time they are diagnosed with glaucoma and continues to progress even after conventional treatments.Conclusion: Thus, therapies that prevent further ganglion cell death, in combination with standard pressure management therapies, may become a viable treatment for glaucoma in the future.
Targeted inhibition of calcineurin prevents agonist-induced cardiomyocyte hypertrophy.

Cardiac hypertrophy is a major predictor of future morbidity and mortality. Recent investigation has centered around identifying the molecular signaling pathways that regulate cardiac myocyte reactivity with the goal of modulating pathologic hypertrophic programs. One potential regulator of cardiomyocyte hypertrophy is the calcium-sensitive phosphatase calcineurin. We show here that calcineurin enzymatic activity, mRNA, and protein levels are increased in cultured neonatal rat cardiomyocytes by hypertrophic agonists such as angiotensin II, phenylephrine, and 1% fetal bovine serum. This induction of calcineurin activity was associated with an increase in calcineurin Abeta (CnAbeta) mRNA and protein, but not in CnAalpha or CnAgamma. Agonist-dependent increases in calcineurin enzymatic activity were specifically inhibited with an adenovirus expressing a noncompetitive peptide inhibitor of calcineurin known as cain [Lai, M. M. , Burnett, P. E. , Wolosker, H. , Blackshaw, S. & Snyder, S. H. (1998) J. Biol. Chem. 273, 18325-18331]. Targeted inhibition of calcineurin with cain or an adenovirus expressing only the calcineurin inhibitory domain of AKAP79 attenuated cardiomyocyte hypertrophy and atrial natriuretic factor expression in response to angiotensin II, phenylephrine, and 1% fetal bovine serum. These data demonstrate that calcineurin is an important regulator of cardiomyocyte hypertrophy in response to certain agonists and suggest that cyclosporin A and FK506 function to attenuate cardiac hypertrophy by specifically inhibiting calcineurin.
Identiﬁcation and Functional Characterization of Sphingomonas macrogolitabida Strain TFA Genes Involved in the First Two Steps of the Tetralin Catabolic Pathway

Five genes involved in the two initial steps of the tetralin biodegradation pathway of Sphingomonas macro- golitabida strain TFA have been characterized. ThnA1A2 and ThnA3A4, components of the ring-hydroxylating dioxygenase, were encoded in divergently transcribed operons. ThnA1, ThnA2, and ThnA3 were essential for tetralin ring-hydroxylating dioxygenase activity. ThnB was identiﬁed as a dehydrogenase required for tetralin biodegradation. The organic solvent tetralin (1,2,3,4-tetrahydronaphthalene) is widely used as a degreasing agent and solvent for fats, resins, and waxes and as a substitute for turpentine in paints, lacquers, and shoe polishes; tetralin is also used in the petrochemical industry in connection with coal liquefaction (7). Tetralin is a bicyclic molecule composed of an aromatic moiety and an alicyclic moiety, which share two carbon atoms. the
Smart Grid Connection of an Induction Motor Using a Three-Phase Floating H-bridge System as a Series Compensator

Electrical grid voltage sags are a significant industrial power quality concern. According to a survey result across the US, voltage sags and short-duration power outages are responsible for 92% of power quality problems faced by industrial customers. These power interruptions often impose severe cost penalties in plant shutdowns for many industries. A series compensation scheme for an induction motor is presented with inherent voltage sag ride through capability. The system utilizes a system of three-phase floating capacitor H-bridge converters located in each phase between the utility grid and a squirrel-cage induction motor. By injecting a series voltage in each phase, the proposed system can manipulate the voltage supplied to a motor, increasing its tolerance of grid voltage sags. The voltage injection scheme has an inherently leading grid power factor under steady state and, hence, generates VARs into the grid, over a wide range of load conditions. The paper develops mathematical analysis of the proposed system to quantify both the voltage sag ride-through and the reactive power generation that results. The analysis shows that voltage sag tolerance of the proposed system is closely related to the motor fundamental power factor. Moreover, it is found that unity power factor operation of the system, as seen from the grid, is possible and that the reactive power generation capability can also be accurately quantified. A 5-hp experimental testbed is used to validate both the grid voltage ride-through capability feature and the reactive power generation characteristics.
All-Digital Time-Domain Smart Temperature Sensor With an Inter-Batch Inaccuracy of $-{\hbox {0.7}} ~^{\circ}{\hbox {C}}-+{\hbox {0.6}}~^{\circ}{\hbox {C}}$ After One-Point Calibration

To get rid of the heavy burden of aspect ratio tuning, bias adjustment and porting problem among processes in full-custom or mixed-mode design, a fully digital smart temperature sensor realizable with 140 field programmable gate array (FPGA) logic elements was proposed for painless VLSI on-chip integrations. By simply replacing the cyclic delay line with a retriggerable ring oscillator for accuracy enhancement, modifying the gain of time amplifier from fixed to variable for one-point calibration support and adopting a second-order master curve for curvature correction in this paper, the proposed smart temperature sensor can achieve two thirds reduction in circuit size, at least four-fold improvement in power consumption and more than two-fold enhancement in accuracy. To demonstrate the performance under practical process variation, the sensor realized with as few as 48 FPGA logic elements for rapid prototyping was measured over 0°C to 100°C range for 20 test chips from batches spreading over 4 years. The measured inaccuracy is -0.7°C-+0.6°C which is superior to -1.8°C-+2.3°C of its full-custom predecessor with a third-order master curve and five test samples from one single batch. The accuracy is even better than those of full-custom sensors with two-point calibration. The conversion rate is around 4.4 kHz and the power consumption can be reduced to 175 nJ per conversion by increasing the number of delay stages in ring oscillator to 4608.
Keha tahenduse ja rolli muutumine: kasitlused eesti uue vaimsuse opetustes ja nende jargijate seas

Teesid: Kehalisuse teema on palvinud viimastel aastakumnetel Laane kultuuriruumis uha rohkem tahelepanu ning ka kehasse suhtumine ja kehale omistatavad tahendused on muutunud. See tendents haakub kristliku tahendussusteemi moju norgenemise ning erinevate alternatiivmeditsiini ja uue vaimsuse kasitluste esiletousuga. Kehalisusega seotud teemadele pooratakse uue vaimsuse opetustes rohkelt tahelepanu: naiteks opitakse paremini oma keha tunnetama voi puutakse luua kehaga usaldusvaarset partnerlus- voi sobrasuhet. Kohutunnet voi intuitsiooni kasitletakse keha sonumina – seega antakse kehale ratsionaalselt pohjendatav viis, kuidas sonumeid saata. Keha kuulates loodetakse tervislikumalt elada voi valtida nahtamatuid ja keeruliselt tuvastatavaid riske, ent keha voib osutuda ka inimese kaitumise valvuriks ja kontrollijaks, kui naiteks haigust motestatakse marguandena voi keha sonumina teatud kaitumis- voi motlemisviisi muutmiseks. Seelabi kujundab uus vaimsus laiemalt ja fundamentaalsemalt inimeste elumaailmu ning avaldub muuhulgas naiteks muutunud kehatajus, mis saavutatakse kehaga suhtlemise ja keha impulsside tolgendama oppimise abil. Vaimsete tehnikate proovimisel saadavad kehalised ja sensoorsed tundmused on uhtlasi opetuste toimivuse kinnitajad, mis uue vaimsuse individualistlikku osalusviisi arvestades on vaga oluline. Samuti voib osalejate puhul taheldada, et keha parem tunnetamine ja kehaga saadud “kontakt” on oluline argument vaimsete praktikate ja opetustega jatkamiseks. Artikkel toetub valitookogemusele, suvaintervjuudele ja internetipohisele uuringule. Ehkki artiklis analuusitavad naited parinevad peamiselt uue vaimsuse opetustest ning nende jargijatelt, on keha tahenduste ja rollide muutumine kahtlemata ka laiem protsess ning vihjab muutustele kultuuris ka uldisemalt.