Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
One year soy protein supplementation does not improve lipid profile in postmenopausal women

Based on recent evidence, there is a need to reevaluate the claim that foods containing 25 g of soy protein per serving may reduce cholesterol. The purpose of the present study was to examine if one‐year consumption of soy protein‐containing foods exerts beneficial effects on blood lipids and lipoproteins in postmenopausal women. Eighty‐seven hypercholesterolemic eligible postmenopausal women were randomly assigned to consume soy or control foods daily for one year. Serum samples were analyzed for total cholesterol (TC), LDL, HDL, triglycerides (TG), Apo A and Apo B. Sixty‐two of the 87 women completed the one year study. TC and HDL showed a trend towards increasing from baseline after one year of soy protein supplementation (230.04±6.1 vs. 242.57±6.2 mg/dl P=0.09 and 56.87±2.5 vs. 60.33±2.5 mg/dl, respectively, P=0.08). There were no significant differences in LDL or TG, however a significant increase in Apo B (105.5±5.9 vs. 120.21±5.9 mg/dl P=0.002), and a significant decrease in Apo A (189.36±10 vs. 173.21±10 mg/dl, P=.009) was seen. Our data indicate that one year soy protein supplementation does not confer cardiovascular benefits in postmenopausal women in terms of improving lipid profile. These findings as well as those from other studies lend credence for reevaluating the soy protein health claim issued almost a decade ago.
Reduction in Average Fluoroscopic Exposure Times for Interventional Spinal Procedures Through the Use of Pulsed and Low-Dose Image Settings

Objective: A practice improvement project was completed with the goal of reducing radiation exposure times in a busy spinal intervention practice through the use of "pulsed" and "low-dose fluoroscopy. " The goal was to quantify the reduction in fluoroscopy exposure times with these modes. Design: Exposure times were recorded for 316 patients undergoing spinal interventional procedures before and after the implementation of this project. Before implementation, 158 consecutive patients received spinal interventions with nonpulsed fluoroscopy on an Orthopedic Equipment Company 9800 and exposure times were recorded. After implementation of the practice improvement project, 158 consecutive patients received spinal interventions with pulsed and low-dose modes. Exposure times were then compared between these groups. Results: Pulsed and low-dose fluoroscopy modes reduced overall exposure times by 56.7% after implementation of the practice improvement project. Conclusions: The use of pulsed and low-dose fluoroscopy in addition to lead shielding; increasing distance from the radiation source; collimation; limited use of magnification, boost, or digital subtraction; and proficiency with interventional techniques should be used to reduce radiation exposure in concordance with the principle of "as low as reasonably achievable. "
Carbon nanotube-based self-adhesive polymer electrodes for wireless long-term recording of electrocardiogram signals

Abstract In this study, the concept of polymer electrodes integrated with a wireless electrocardiogram (ECG) system was described. Polymer electrodes for long-term ECG measurements were fabricated by loading high content of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) in polydimethylsiloxane. Silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) were added to increase the flexibility of the polymer and the conductivity of the electrode. An ECG electrode patch was fabricated by integrating the electrodes with an adhesive polydimethylsiloxane (aPDMS) layer. Holes in the electrode filled with aPDMS can enable robust contact between the electrode and skin, reducing motion artifacts. A wireless ECG measurement system was developed and adapted to the polymer electrodes. The polymer electrodes combined with the measurement system were successfully applied in wireless, long-term recording of ECG signals. An eleven-day continuous test showed that the ECG signal did not degrade over time. The results of attach/detach tests demonstrated that the ECG signal was affected by motion artifacts after six attach/detach cycles. The electrodes produced are flexible and exhibit good ECG performance, and therefore can be used in wearable medical monitoring systems. The approach proposed in this study holds significant promise for commercial application in medical fields.
The Loss of PIN1 Deregulates Cyclin E and Sensitizes Mouse Embryo Fibroblasts to Genomic Instability*

During the G0/G1-S phase transition, the timely synthesis and degradation of key regulatory proteins is required for normal cell cycle progression. Two of these proteins, c-Myc and cyclin E, are recognized by the Cdc4 E3 ligase of the Skp1/Cul1/Rbx1 (SCF) complex. SCFCdc4 binds to a similar phosphodegron sequence in c-Myc and cyclin E proteins resulting in ubiquitylation and degradation of both proteins via the 26 S proteosome. Since the prolyl isomerase Pin1 binds the c-Myc phosphodegron and participates in regulation of c-Myc turnover, we hypothesized that Pin1 would bind to and regulate cyclin E turnover in a similar manner. Here we show that Pin1 regulates the turnover of cyclin E in mouse embryo fibroblasts. Pin1 binds to the cyclin E-Cdk2 complex in a manner that depends on Ser384 of cyclin E, which is phosphorylated by Cdk2. The absence of Pin1 results in an increased steady-state level of cyclin E and stalling of the cells in the G1/S phase of the cell cycle. The cellular changes that result from the loss of Pin1 predispose Pin1 null mouse embryo fibroblasts to undergo more rapid genomic instability when immortalized by conditional inactivation of p53 and sensitizes these cells to more aggressive Ras-dependent transformation and tumorigenesis.
Breast Cancer Treatment and Cognitive Function: The Current State of Evidence, Underlying Mechanisms and Potential Treatments

Within the last decade, several studies have investigated whether adjuvant treatment of breast cancer affects cognitive function. A number of prospective studies have demonstrated inconsistent results regarding whether chemotherapy affects cognitive function. Approximately half of the studies demonstrated subtle cognitive decline in a wide range of domains among some breast cancer patients following chemotherapy, and half did not. Concomitant changes in brain structure and function have been identified in neuroimaging and neurophysiologic studies. Estrogenic therapy has been specifically associated with deterioration in verbal memory and processing speed. However, evidence is mostly based on smaller studies with cross-sectional data. Breast cancer patients who underwent both chemotherapy and estrogenic therapy showed the most deterioration and the most persistant decline in cognitive function. Since cognitive impairment is subtle, if evident at all, discrepant findings are due to hormonal, physiological, psychological or temporal confounding variables and differences in study design. Neuropsychological training has been demonstrated to improve cognitive dysfunction experienced by breast cancer patients after chemotherapy. Future research may examine the unique impact of endocrine therapy on cognitive function with prospective, controlled trials, as well as the role of further confounding variables (e.g., menopausal status, cytokine deregulation, cortisol and concurrent medication).
Changes in anthropometry and mortality in maintenance hemodialysis patients in the HEMO Study.

BACKGROUND Poor nutritional status has been associated with worse patient survival in maintenance hemodialysis patients. Anthropometric values are important nutritional measures, incorporating muscle and fat mass. However, the association of changes in anthropometry, including midarm circumference (MAC) and skinfold measurements, with mortality in hemodialysis patients remains unknown. Accordingly, we explored this association in the Hemodialysis (HEMO) Study. STUDY DESIGN Post hoc analysis of cohort data from a clinical trial. SETTING & PARTICIPANTS 1,846 hemodialysis patients enrolled in the HEMO Study. PREDICTORS MAC and skinfold measurements. OUTCOMES Longitudinal changes in MAC and skinfolds were jointly modeled using repeated measures and survival modeling. Time-to-event outcomes were all-cause mortality, cardiac death and hospitalization, and infection-related death. RESULTS Mean MAC was 30.1 cm, and mean baseline sum of subscapular, biceps, and triceps skinfolds was 42.4 mm. During a median follow-up of 2.5 years, there were 845 deaths. During follow-up, MAC and the skinfold measurement declined 0.26 cm and 1.1 mm per year, respectively. Declines in MAC (per cm) and skinfold (per mm) measurements were associated with higher all-cause mortality (HRs of 1.58 [95% CI, 1.29-1.94; P < 0.001] and 1.06 [95% CI, 0.99-1.13; P = 0.09], respectively), poorer cardiac outcomes (HRs of 1.49 [95% CI, 1.23-1.81; P < 0.001] and 1.05 [95% CI, 0.99-1.10; P = 0.09], respectively), and higher infection-related hospitalization (HRs of 2.45 [95% CI, 1.55-3.88; P < 0.001] and 1.16 [95% CI, 0.98-1.37; P = 0.08], respectively). The association between declining MAC and skinfold with patient survival was most notable for those with body mass index (BMI) ≤25 kg/m2 (HRs of 2.41 [95% CI, 1.81-3.19; P < 0.001] and 1.22 [95% CI, 1.10-1.35; P < 0.001], respectively). LIMITATIONS Prevalent dialysis patients only, excluding individuals weighing >85 kg. CONCLUSIONS Declines in skinfold thickness were not associated significantly with outcomes except for participants with BMI ≤25 kg/m2. Declines in MAC are associated significantly with all-cause mortality and cardiac outcomes in hemodialysis patients, most notably in those with BMI ≤25 kg/m2.
Echinococcus multilocularis as an experimental model in stem cell research and molecular host-parasite interaction

SUMMARY Totipotent somatic stem cells (neoblasts) are key players in the biology of flatworms and account for their amazing regenerative capability and developmental plasticity. During recent years, considerable progress has been made in elucidating molecular features of neoblasts from free-living flatworms, whereas their role in parasitic species has so far merely been addressed by descriptive studies. Very recently, however, significant advances have been made in the in vitro culture of neoblasts from the cestode Echinococcus multilocularis. The isolated cells proved capable of generating mature metacestode vesicles under laboratory conditions in a manner that closely resembles the oncosphere-metacestode transition during natural infections. Using the established neoblast cultivation protocols, combined with targeted manipulation of Echinococcus genes by RNA-interference, several fundamental questions of host-dependent parasite development can now be addressed. Here, I give an overview of current cultivation techniques for E. multilocularis neoblasts and present experimental approaches to study their function. Furthermore, I introduce the E. multilocularis genome sequencing project that is presently in an advanced stage. The combined input of data from the E. multilocularis sequencing project, stem cell cultivation, and recently initiated attempts to genetically manipulate Echinococcus will provide an ideal platform for hypothesis-driven research into cestode development in the next years.
Understanding eye deformation in non-contact tonometry

Non-contact tonometers are widely used to measure the internal eye pressure, i.e. the IntraOcular Pressure (IOP), which is an important parameter for the diagnosis and treatment of glaucoma. During the measurement, the eye is deformed by a short air pulse. Commonly the pressure dependent deformation is estimated from the time when the eye becomes flat, which is derived from the monitored reflection of an incident infrared light. We used a high speed camera to capture the complete motion of the eye directly and obtain more data during the pressure measurement. Assuming a simple eye model with non-linear material properties of the cornea, we extend our previous analysis of the motion of the eye, and obtain a similar principle shape of the eye deformation as observed in the experiments
Impact of smoking on the response to treatment of thyroid associated ophthalmopathy

Background: In patients with Graves’ disease, smoking considerably increases the incidence and severity of thyroid associated ophthalmopathy (TAO). The authors sought to determine if smoking also influences the course of TAO during treatment, and the efficacy of therapy. Methods: 41 smokers and 19 non-smokers with moderate untreated TAO were included in this prospective study. All patients were treated with steroids and, 6 weeks after the beginning of drug therapy, with orbital irradiation. Follow up was performed 1.5, 4.5, 7.5, and 12 months after the beginning of the study. Proptosis, clinical activity score (CAS), and motility were evaluated. The extent of smoking was derived from the concentration of the haemoglobin adduct N-2-hydroxyethylvaline (HEV), a parameter of long term smoking. Results: There was no difference in the clinical manifestations of TAO between smokers and non-smokers at the beginning of treatment. However, CAS decreased (p<0.05) and motility improved (p<0.02) significantly faster and to a greater extent in non-smokers than smokers. Inverse correlations between the CAS decrease and the HEV levels observed 4.5 and 7.5 months after the beginning of treatment and between the improvement of motility and the HEV levels after 1.5, 4.5, and 7.5 months indicated a dose dependence. Mean HEV levels did not vary much during the follow up period and were significantly different in smokers (mean 5.4 (SD 2.7) μg/l) and non-smokers (mean 1.8 (1.3) μg/l; p<0.01). Conclusion: Smoking influences the course of TAO during treatment in a dose dependent manner. The response to treatment is delayed and considerably poorer in smokers.
Dysregulation of the Mitochondrial Unfolded Protein Response Induces Non-Apoptotic Dopaminergic Neurodegeneration in C. elegans Models of Parkinson's Disease

Due to environmental insult or innate genetic deficiency, protein folding environments of the mitochondrial matrix are prone to dysregulation, prompting the activation of a specific organellar stress-response mechanism, the mitochondrial unfolded protein response (UPRMT). In Caenorhabditis elegans, mitochondrial damage leads to nuclear translocation of the ATFS-1 transcription factor to activate the UPRMT. After short-term acute stress has been mitigated, the UPRMT is eventually suppressed to restore homeostasis to C. elegans hermaphrodites. In contrast, and reflective of the more chronic nature of progressive neurodegenerative disorders such as Parkinson's disease (PD), here, we report the consequences of prolonged, cell-autonomous activation of the UPRMT in C. elegans dopaminergic neurons. We reveal that neuronal function and integrity decline rapidly with age, culminating in activity-dependent, non-apoptotic cell death. In a PD-like context wherein transgenic nematodes express the Lewy body constituent protein α-synuclein (αS), we not only find that this protein and its PD-associated disease variants have the capacity to induce the UPRMT, but also that coexpression of αS and ATFS-1-associated dysregulation of the UPRMT synergistically potentiate dopaminergic neurotoxicity. This genetic interaction is in parallel to mitophagic pathways dependent on the C. elegans PINK1 homolog, which is necessary for cellular resistance to chronic malfunction of the UPRMT. Given the increasingly recognized role of mitochondrial quality control in neurodegenerative diseases, these studies illustrate, for the first time, an insidious aspect of mitochondrial signaling in which the UPRMT pathway, under disease-associated, context-specific dysregulation, exacerbates disruption of dopaminergic neurons in vivo, resulting in the neurodegeneration characteristic of PD. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Disruptions or alterations in the activation of pathways that regulate mitochondrial quality control have been linked to neurodegenerative diseases due in part to the central role of mitochondria in metabolism, ROS regulation, and proteostasis. The extent to which these pathways, including the mitochondrial unfolded protein response (UPRMT) and mitophagy, are active may predict severity and progression of these disorders, as well as sensitivity to compounding stressors. Furthermore, therapeutic strategies that aim to induce these pathways may benefit from increased study into cellular responses that arise from long-term or ectopic stimulation, especially in neuronal compartments. By demonstrating the detrimental consequences of prolonged cellular activation of the UPRMT, we provide evidence that this pathway is not a universally beneficial mechanism because dysregulation has neurotoxic consequences.
On-chip clock network skew measurement using sub-sampling

We present a technique for an all-digital on-chip delay measurement system to measure the skews in a clock distribution network. It uses the principle of sub-sampling. Measurements from a prototype fabricated in a 65 nm industrial process, indicate the ability to measure delays with a resolution of 0.5 ps and a DNL of 1.2 ps.
Suppression of immune-mediated ocular inflammation in mice by interleukin 1 receptor antagonist administration.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the effects of an interleukin 1 receptor antagonist (IL-1RA) on the development of immune-mediated ocular inflammation in mice. METHODS Recombinant, human, nonglycosylated IL-1RA (anakinra [kineret]) was tested for its inhibitory effects in 2 systems: (1) experimental autoimmune uveitis induced by interphotoreceptor retinoid-binding protein in B10.A mice using routine procedures and evaluated by clinical and histological examination, and (2) ocular inflammation in mice induced by transfer of hen egg lysozyme-specific T cells to hen egg lysozyme-transgenic mice. Treatment with IL-1RA included daily subcutaneous injections of the drug, at 300 and 500 mg/kg, or phosphate-buffered saline as control. RESULTS Mean +/- SE experimental autoimmune uveitis scores of histological ocular changes of the mice at day 14 postimmunization with interphotoreceptor retinoid-binding protein were 1.5 +/- 0.3 in control mice; 1.0 +/- 0.4 in 300-mg/kg anakinra-treated mice; and 0.5 +/- 0.2 in 500- mg/kg anakinra-treated mice (P = .004). There was a corresponding decrease in the cellular immune response and cytokine production of immune cells in treated mice. Suppression of ocular inflammation by anakinra in the transfer system was also observed (P = .04). CONCLUSION Human IL-1RA suppresses immune-mediated ocular inflammation in mice, affecting both the afferent and efferent components of the pathogenic immune response.Clinical Relevance Systemic administration of IL-1RA may have clinical application in the management of patients with uveitis.
2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin alters the differentiation pattern of human keratinocytes in organotypic culture.

Human exposure to the environmental toxin 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) produces a severe skin pathology known as chloracne. In these studies we employed a three-dimensional, organotypic model system to study the effects of TCDD on human skin. This model uses the spontaneously immortalized human keratinocyte cell line NIKS and recapitulates both the three-dimensional microenvironment and epithelial-mesenchymal interactions found in intact human skin. Treatment of the organotypic cultures with TCDD causes alterations in the pattern of keratinocyte terminal differentiation. Analysis at both the light and electron microscope levels reveals a fully differentiated cornified layer in TCDD-treated organotypic cultures at earlier time points than observed in vehicle (dimethyl sulfoxide)-treated controls. Furthermore, TCDD-treated organotypic cultures exhibit aberrant distribution of several differentiation-specific protein markers. Basal cells in TCDD- and DMSO-treated organotypic cultures show no differences in proliferation as measured by quantification of 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine (BrdU)-positive nuclei. No aberrant BrdU uptake was detected outside of the basal layer. Neither TUNEL labeling nor immunohistochemical staining with an antibody to active caspase-3 revealed increased apoptosis in TCDD-treated organotypic cultures relative to controls. These data clearly indicate that TCDD modulates homeostasis in a model of human stratifying epithelium independent of changes in proliferation and apoptosis, exclusively by impacting keratinocyte terminal differentiation. This TCDD-induced effect on differentiation-specific proteins results in profound changes in the tissue architecture.
A Novel 50W/in3 and 96.2% efficient 48V/3.5kW single-phase rectifier

This paper presents the design and experimental performance of a compact, 50W/in3 (3kW/liter), and 96.2% peak efficiency 3.5kW single phase rectifier for telecommunication application. The rectifier is composed of two stages connected in series. The bridgeless PFC boost rectifier with bidirectional switch has less forward diode voltage drop than conventional technologies. The DC-DC converter is based on a full bridge LLC resonant converter with synchronous rectification. A fully digital controller is used to obtain the high power density of the rectifier. The efficiency, PF and THD experimental results obtained from the prototype are also presented.
A neuro-fuzzy model of the solar diffuse radiation with relevance vector machine

Solar radiation data are essential for most solar energy research and applications. However, the only measurements of solar radiation for which long-term records are available from a large number of locations are the measurements of the global solar radiation. Thus the diffuse solar radiation and the direct solar radiation must be estimated by various means from the global solar radiation. Although a number of diffuse radiation models are available nowadays, they have many drawbacks such as their dependence on geographic location, the type of data, weather conditions etc. The paper presents a different approach to modeling the diffuse solar radiation from the approaches presented in literature which is based both on fuzzy logic and artificial neural network techniques. The adopted neuro-fuzzy model employs a fuzzy inference system with the same structure as that of a Takagi-Sugeno fuzzy model but with a neural network learning mechanism called relevance vector machine. The number of fuzzy rules and parameter values of membership functions of the model are automatically generated through the relevance vector machine. The performance of the model is tested against independent measurement data and is compared to the performance of other models reported in literature. The obtained results show great effectiveness of the adopted neuro-fuzzy model, its main features being the small model dimension (fewer fuzzy rules) and a very good generalization.