Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Validation of Simple Indices to Assess Insulin Sensitivity and Pancreatic Beta-Cell Function in Patients with Renal Dysfunction

Background/Aims: Insulin resistance and hyperinsulinemia has been reported in patients with chronic renal failure. However, usefulness and validation of new indices for assessment to insulin sensitivity and pancreatic beta-cell function were unknown. Methods: We evaluated insulin sensitivity and pancreatic beta-cell function in 61 normal glucose tolerant (NGT) and 60 diabetic (DM) subjects; both groups were subdivided as normal renal function (NRF; Ccr ≥ 70 ml/min) and impaired renal function (IRF; Ccr <70 ml/min). Insulin sensitivity were assessed by homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) and plasma glucose and insulin concentrations obtained at fasting or during a 75-gram oral glucose tolerance test (insulin sensitivity index), and pancreatic beta-cell function were assessed by insulinogenic index, first-phase insulin secretion index, and area under the response curve for plasma insulin (insulin-AUC0–180). Results: There was no evidence of insulin resistance in NGT-IRF group. No differences in both insulinogenic index and first-phase insulin secretion index between NGT-NRF and NGT-IRF, but these were significantly decreased in DM-NRF and DM-IRF. There were inverse linear correlations between the insulin sensitivity index and insulin-AUC0–180 in patients with NGT and DM, respectively. These correlations were similarly robust in NRF subjects and IRF subjects. Conclusions: New indices for assessment of insulin sensitivity and pancreatic beta-cell function calculated from plasma glucose and plasma insulin concentrations after OGTT are applicable for clinical use even in patients with renal dysfunction.
Reconstruction of cornea in three-dimensional collagen gel matrix culture.

PURPOSE To report on an in vitro reconstruction of cornea composed of three main layers. METHODS These layers were reconstructed from isolated bovine corneal cells in three-dimensional collagen gel culture conditions. RESULTS The topmost layer, corneal epithelial cells on collagen gel, was treated by what was designated as the "air-liquid interface method," a method developed specifically for this study. The treatment induced proliferation and differentiation of this layer. Those epithelial cells were positively immunostained with anti-epithelial keratin (55-kD/64-kD) antibody, AE5, which was specific for in vivo corneal epithelial cells. The middle layer consisted of keratocytes in the three-dimensional collagen gel matrix. This layer was comparable to the stroma in vivo. The underlayer, the counterpart of in vivo endothelial layer, was composed of corneal endothelial cells. CONCLUSIONS This culture system probably provides a physiologic environment for detailed investigations of corneal cells.
Signalment factors, comorbidity, and trends in behavior diagnoses in dogs: 1,644 cases (1991-2001).

OBJECTIVE To determine trends in behavior diagnoses; assess the relationship between diagnoses and age, sex, reproductive status, and breed; and evaluate associations between diagnoses within the same dog (comorbidity). DESIGN Retrospective case series. ANIMALS 1,644 dogs. PROCEDURES Medical records of dogs evaluated for behavioral problems were reviewed for breed, sex, reproductive status, consultation year, birth date, and diagnoses. RESULTS Numbers of dogs with aggression, anxiety, and unruly behavior increased over the course of the study, as did the total number of dogs evaluated for behavioral problems. In general and for aggression, Dalmatians, English Springer Spaniels, German Shepherd Dogs, and mixed-breed dogs were evaluated more often than expected, whereas Labrador Retrievers and Golden Retrievers were evaluated less often than expected. Labrador Retrievers were also underrepresented for anxiety, whereas mixed-breed dogs were overrepresented. Males were overrepresented except for interdog aggression, anxieties, and phobias, whereas females were overrepresented for phobias. Dogs with phobias were evaluated at a median age of 6.5 years, compared with dogs with other problems (median age, 2.5 years). A mean of 1.6 diagnoses/dog was observed, with certain diagnoses clustered. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Results suggested that in dogs, behavioral problems changed over the course of the study; age, sex, and breed distributions varied among diagnoses; and certain diagnoses were likely to occur together.
Gene expression profiling of familial and sporadic interstitial pneumonia.

RATIONALE Idiopathic interstitial pneumonia (IIP) and its familial variants are progressive and largely untreatable disorders with poorly understood molecular mechanisms. Both the genetics and the histologic type of IIP play a role in the etiology and pathogenesis of interstitial lung disease, but transcriptional signatures of these subtypes are unknown. OBJECTIVES To evaluate gene expression in the lung tissue of patients with usual interstitial pneumonia or nonspecific interstitial pneumonia that was either familial or nonfamilial in origin, and to compare it with gene expression in normal lung parenchyma. METHODS We profiled RNA from the lungs of 16 patients with sporadic IIP, 10 with familial IIP, and 9 normal control subjects on a whole human genome oligonucleotide microarray. RESULTS Significant transcriptional differences exist in familial and sporadic IIPs. The genes distinguishing the genetic subtypes belong to the same functional categories as transcripts that distinguish IIP from normal samples. Relevant categories include chemokines and growth factors and their receptors, complement components, genes associated with cell proliferation and death, and genes in the Wnt pathway. The role of the chemokine CXCL12 in disease pathogenesis was confirmed in the murine bleomycin model of lung injury, with C57BL/6(CXCR4+/-) mice demonstrating significantly less collagen deposition than C57BL/6(CXCR4+/+) mice. Whereas substantial differences exist between familial and sporadic IIPs, we identified only minor gene expression changes between usual interstitial pneumonia and nonspecific interstitial pneumonia. CONCLUSIONS Taken together, our findings indicate that differences in gene expression profiles between familial and sporadic IIPs may provide clues to the etiology and pathogenesis of IIP.
IC3 software model checking on control flow automata

In recent years, the inductive, incremental verification algorithm IC3 had a major impact on hardware model checking. Also with respect to software model checking, a number of adaptations of Boolean IC3 and combinations with CEGAR and ART-based techniques have been developed. However, most of them exploit the peculiarities of software programs, such as the explicit representation of control flow, only to a limited extent. In this paper, we propose a technique that supports this explicit representation in the form of control flow automata, and integrates it with symbolic reasoning about the data state space of the program. It thus provides a true lifting of IC3 from hardware to software model checking. By evaluating the approach on a number of case studies using a prototypical implementation, we demonstrate that our method shows promising results.
Impact of a pivot nurse in oncology on patients with lung or breast cancer: symptom distress, fatigue, quality of life, and use of healthcare resources.

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVES To examine the impact on continuity of nursing care delivered by a pivot nurse in oncology to improve symptom relief and outcomes for patients with lung or breast cancer. DESIGN Randomized controlled trial in which participants were randomly assigned to an intervention group (n = 93) with care by a pivot nurse in oncology and usual care by clinic nurses or to a control group (n = 97) with usual care only. SETTING Three outpatient ambulatory oncology clinics in a large university health center in Quebec, Canada. SAMPLE 113 patients with lung cancer and 77 patients with breast cancer. METHODS Participants in both groups completed the Symptom Distress Scale, Brief Fatigue Inventory, and Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy Scale-General version 4 at eight intervals over six months. Healthcare usage was evaluated through a review of hospital records. MAIN RESEARCH VARIABLES Symptom distress, fatigue level, quality of life, and healthcare usage. FINDINGS Researchers found no significant differences in symptom distress, fatigue, quality of life, and healthcare usage between groups. CONCLUSIONS The new nursing role did not have an impact on the patient outcomes under study. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING Experienced nurses with specialized knowledge of oncology symptom assessment and management may reduce the symptom burden experienced by ambulatory patients with breast or lung cancer during active treatment.
Can Investors Fully Adjust for Known Biases in Manager Communications

Managerial communications often contain biased information because of managerial incentives and other influences. A common assumption in accounting literature is that if investors are aware of managerial biases, they will be able to fully adjust for those known biases when reacting to managerial communications. Drawing on insights from psychology, I experimentally document that investors are not able to fully adjust for known biases in managerial communications—even when investors know the quantitative amount of the manager’s bias. Indeed, investors behave contrary to economic theory as they are unable to fully unravel the effects of known biases when rendering judgments about the firm. My study has implications for researchers, regulators, and investors. I greatly appreciate Lisa Koonce, my dissertation chair, for her guidance and direction on this project. I also thank Patrick Badolato, Brett Cantrell, Shuping Chen, Marlone Henderson, Eric Hirst, Volker Laux, Tracie Majors, John McInnis, Todd Thornock, Jeff Wilks, Michael Williamson, David Wood, and brownbag participants at the University of Texas at Austin for their insightful comments and suggestions. Funding for this paper was provided by the Harrington Fellowship and the Deloitte Foundation.
Characteristics of the Cellular Receptor Influence the Intracellular Fate and Efficiency of Virus Infection

ABSTRACT The intracellular fate of internalized virus-receptor complexes is suspected of influencing the efficiency of virus infection. However, direct evidence of a link between infection and the fate of internalized virus has been difficult to obtain. To directly address this question, we generated human 293 cell lines stably expressing comparable cell surface levels of three different members of the somatostatin receptor family (SSTR) which have natural differences in intracellular trafficking. Utilizing a glycoprotein that recognizes SSTR, we found that distinctive receptor subtype-specific destinations correlated with observable differences in the level of infection. Infection via SSTR-2 and -3 is restricted at a point after receptor binding and endocytosis but prior to penetration into the host cytoplasm. In contrast, entry via SSTR-5 featured a slower internalization with greater dependence on cholesterol. Quantitative real-time PCR showed that virus bound to SSTR-5 was directed to an intracellular environment that allowed near-wild-type (WT) levels of penetration, possibly due to a more favorable complement of host cell proteases, whereas SSTR-2 and -3 directed virions to a degradative compartment in which cytosol penetration was less efficient. Taken together, the results support that the superior receptor capacity of SSTR-5 results from its internalization into a cellular compartment that is more favorable to the cytoplasmic penetration of viral cores and reverse transcription. They suggest that the intracellular destination of internalized complexes is an important characteristic of a virus receptor and may have exerted a selective pressure on the choice of an entry receptor during evolution of viral glycoproteins.
Optimized Gal4 genetics for permanent gene expression mapping in zebrafish

Combinatorial genetics for conditional transgene activation allows studying gene function with temporal and tissue specific control like the Gal4-UAS system, which has enabled sophisticated genetic studies in Drosophila. Recently this system was adapted for zebrafish and promising applications have been introduced. Here, we report a systematic optimization of zebrafish Gal4-UAS genetics by establishing an optimized Gal4-activator (KalTA4). We provide quantitative data for KalTA4-mediated transgene activation in dependence of UAS copy numbers to allow for studying dosage effects of transgene expression. Employing a Tol2 transposon-mediated KalTA4 enhancer trap screen biased for central nervous system expression, we present a collection of self-reporting red fluorescent KalTA4 activator strains. These strains reliably transactivate UAS-dependent transgenes and can be rendered homozygous. Furthermore, we have characterized the transactivation kinetics of tissue-specific KalTA4 activation, which led to the development of a self-maintaining effector strain “Kaloop. ” This strain relates transient KalTA4 expression during embryogenesis via a KalTA4-mediated autoregulatory mechanism to live adult structures. We demonstrate its use by showing that the secondary octaval nucleus in the adult hindbrain is likely derived from egr2b-expressing cells in rhombomere 5 during stages of early embryogenesis. These data demonstrate prolonged and maintained expression by Kalooping, a technique that can be used for permanent spatiotemporal genetic fate mapping and targeted transgene expression in zebrafish.
Object oriented classification of high spatial imagery using Gabor textures and composite kernels

High spatial resolution images are widely used in many different areas. In order to increase classification accuracy, texture feature are widely studied. This paper presents a method of object oriented texture analysis method based on Gabor filters. In fusion of spectral features and Gabor textures, composite kernel methods were applied. The results show its effectiveness in extracting texture information using Gabor filters. And it is demonstrated that fusion of Gabor texture and spectral features using composite kernels is effective.
VLSI implementation of a module for realization of basic t-norms on fuzzy hardware

Fuzzy theory applications have been explored and analyzed on fields as pattern recognition, control, data classification, signal processing, expert systems, among others. To accomplish this, more complex calculations and faster processing speed are required, turning fuzzy hardware implementation to be the perfect choice. Fuzzy operations as t-norms and t-conorms are used in fuzzy systems as conjunction and disjunction operations respectively. Commonly used t-norms for hardware implementation are minimum and algebraic product, first one is cheaper to implement; second consumes more resources. On this work FPGA technology is used to implement basic fuzzy t-norms as minimum, Lukasiewicz and drastic product into an 8 bit single circuit that allows operation selection. Timing, resources and comparative results are presented.
Intraoperative Gross Examination and Intraoperative Frozen Section in Patients With Endometrial Cancer for Detecting Deep Myometrial Invasion: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Objective The aim of this study was to perform a meta-analysis comparing diagnostic performance of intraoperative gross evaluation (IGE) and intraoperative frozen section (IFS) for the assessment of myometrial invasion in patients with endometrial cancer. Methods An extensive search was performed in several databases from January 1989 to May 2015. Eligibility criteria were studies using intraoperative gross evaluation or intraoperative frozen section to determine deep myometrial invasion in patients with endometrial cancer using the final histopathology report with reference standard. Quality was assessed using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines and the Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies 2 tool. Results Forty-seven articles were identified. Of these, 35 studies were selected and included in the meta-analysis. A total of 6387 women were evaluated intraoperatively with any of the 2 methods mentioned. Pooled sensitivity and specificity for IGE were 71% (95% confidence interval [CI], 63%–77%) and 91% (95% CI, 89%–93%), respectively. Heterogeneity was found high for sensitivity (I2: 83.6%; Cochran Q: 79.4; P < 0.001) and moderate for specificity (I 2, 51.4%; Cochran Q, 29.8; P =0.01). Pooled sensitivity and specificity for IFS were 85% (95% CI, 81%–88%) and 97% (95% CI, 96%–98%), respectively. Heterogeneity was found moderate for sensitivity (I 2, 56.4%; Cochran Q, 45.9; P < 0.001) and high for specificity (I 2, 83.2%; Cochran Q, 118.9; P < 0.001). Both sensitivity (P = 0.0008) and specificity (P = 0.0021) were significantly higher for IFS compared to IGE. Conclusion Intraoperative frozen section has better diagnostic performance than intraoperative gross evaluation for the intraoperative diagnosis of deep myometrial invasion in patients with endometrial cancer.
Nuclear co‐repressor (NCoR) is required to maintain insulin sensitivity in C2C12 myotubes

Nuclear co‐repressor (NCoR) regulates peripheral insulin sensitivity; however, its role in modulating insulin sensitivity in skeletal muscle remains elusive. Present study investigated protein expression and effect of NCoR on insulin sensitivity in murine skeletal muscle cell line C2C12. Myotubes as compared to myoblasts of C2C12 cells were found to be more sensitive in response to insulin as increase in insulin‐stimulated phosphorylation of AKT at serine 473 residue (pAKTS473) was significantly higher in myotubes. Incidentally, reduced protein level of NCoR coincided with differentiation of myoblasts into myotubes of C2C12 cells. However, insulin stimulation per se failed to affect protein level of NCoR either in myoblasts or myotubes of C2C12 cells. To assess the role of NCoR on insulin sensitivity, NCoR was transiently knocked down using siRNA in myotubes of C2C12. In fact, transient silencing of NCoR led to significant reduction in insulin‐stimulated pAKTS473 and impaired glucose uptake. This observation is in contrast to published studies where NCoR has been reported to negatively regulate insulin signaling cascade. Furthermore, transient silencing of NCoR failed to improve insulin sensitivity in chronic hyperinsulinemia‐induced insulin‐resistant model of C2C12 cells. Importantly, inhibition of lysosomal protein degradation pathway using ammonium chloride restored protein level of NCoR but failed to increase glucose uptake in serum‐starved C2C12 myotubes. Collectively, data from present study show differential protein level of NCoR under different cell state (myoblast and myotubes) of C2C12 cells and NCoR proves to be vital for maintaining insulin sensitivity in C2C12 myotubes.
How force unfolding differs from chemical denaturation

Significance Proteins can be unfolded either chemically by denaturing agents (such as urea) or by mechanical force (such as optical tweezers). If these two methods produce quite different unfolded structures, the course of the subsequent protein refolding when these agents are removed will be quite different. Our computer simulations show that the respective unfolded states are indeed very different, being fully extended under force, with no contacts, and partially extended in urea with many nonnative contacts. Understanding these differences is crucial because such configurations serve as starting points for different single-molecule experimental studies of protein folding. These differences can affect both the folding mechanism and the kinetics observed, leading to very different interpretations. Single-molecule force spectroscopies are remarkable tools for studying protein folding and unfolding, but force unfolding explores protein configurations that are potentially very different from the ones traditionally explored in chemical or thermal denaturation. Understanding these differences is crucial because such configurations serve as starting points of folding studies, and thus can affect both the folding mechanism and the kinetics. Here we provide a detailed comparison of both chemically induced and force-induced unfolded state ensembles of ubiquitin based on extensive, all-atom simulations of the protein either extended by force or denatured by urea. As expected, the respective unfolded states are very different on a macromolecular scale, being fully extended under force with no contacts and partially extended in urea with many nonnative contacts. The amount of residual secondary structure also differs: A significant population of α-helices is found in chemically denatured configurations but such helices are absent under force, except at the lowest applied force of 30 pN where short helices form transiently. We see that typical-size helices are unstable above this force, and β-sheets cannot form. More surprisingly, we observe striking differences in the backbone dihedral angle distributions for the protein unfolded under force and the one unfolded by denaturant. A simple model based on the dialanine peptide is shown to not only provide an explanation for these striking differences but also illustrates how the force dependence of the protein dihedral angle distributions give rise to the worm-like chain behavior of the chain upon force.
Optimized design of hierarchical substation monitoring information based on MapReduce technology

With the rapid development of regional economy in Shandong Province, the demand of electric power increases rapidly. So, the development of the substation construction and its status information detection system has led to the massive power equipment status information data, which needs to be sorted out and standardized work. In this paper, the MapReduce technology is used for the degradation processing of monitor information according to the station control layer, bay layer and process layer; meanwhile, the voltage level of substation is used as the breakthrough point, and the similar or same monitoring information is combined and processed. Compared with the traditional method of processing power equipment monitoring information on cluster computer platform, the MapReduce technique can be verified to achieve monitoring data simplification, recursive and transplantation in substation monitoring and control information cloud platform. It could improve work efficiency in the three aspects of utility value, completion time and load balance.
Applied epistemology and understanding in information studies

Introduction. Applied epistemology allows information studies to benefit from developments in philosophy. In information studies, epistemic concepts are rarely considered in detail. This paper offers a review of several epistemic concepts, focusing on understanding, as a call for further work in applied epistemology in information studies. Method. A hermeneutic literature review was conducted on epistemic concepts in information studies and philosophy. Relevant research was retrieved and reviewed iteratively as the research area was refined. Analysis. A conceptual analysis was conducted to determine the nature and relationships of the concepts surveyed, with an eye toward synthesizing conceptualizations of understanding and opening future research directions. Results. The epistemic aim of understanding is emerging as a key research frontier for information studies. Two modes of understanding (hermeneutic and epistemological) were brought into a common framework. Conclusions. Research on the concept of understanding in information studies will further naturalistic information research and provide coherence to several strands of philosophic thought.