Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effects of HbA1c and weight reduction on blood pressure in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus treated with exenatide *

Aim: Treatment of patients with type 2 diabetes with glucagon‐like peptide‐1 (GLP‐1) receptor agonist exenatide has showed improvements in glycaemic control coupled with weight loss and lowered blood pressure (BP). We examined the synergy between improved glycaemia and weight loss on BP reduction in patients treated with either exenatide twice daily (BID) or once weekly (QW).
Draft 1 Mouth rinsing with a sweet solution increases energy expenditure and decreases appetite during 60 minutes of self-regulated walking exercise

Complete List of Authors: Deighton, Kevin; Leeds Beckett University, Institute for Sport, Physical Activity and Leisure Duckworth, Lauren; Leeds Beckett University, Institute for Sport, Physical Activity and Leisure Matu, Jamie; Leeds Beckett University, Institute for Sport, Physical Activity and Leisure Suter, Matthew; Leeds Beckett University, Institute for Sport, Physical Activity and Leisure Fletcher, Charlotte; Leeds Beckett University, Institute for Sport, Physical Activity and Leisure Stead, Samuel; Leeds Beckett University, Institute for Sport, Physical Activity and Leisure Ali, Shaho; Leeds Beckett University, Institute for Sport, Physical Activity and Leisure Gunby, Neil; Leeds Beckett University, Institute for Sport, Physical Activity and Leisure Korsness, Keelie; Leeds Beckett University, Institute for Sport, Physical Activity and Leisure
Sustained c-Jun-NH2-Kinase Activity Promotes Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition, Invasion, and Survival of Breast Cancer Cells by Regulating Extracellular Signal-Regulated Kinase Activation

The c-Jun NH2-terminus kinase (JNK) mediates stress-induced apoptosis and the cytotoxic effect of anticancer therapies. Paradoxically, recent clinical studies indicate that elevated JNK activity in human breast cancer is associated with poor prognosis. Here, we show that overexpression of a constitutively active JNK in human breast cancer cells did not cause apoptosis, but actually induced cell migration and invasion, a morphologic change associated with epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), expression of mesenchymal-specific markers vimentin and fibronectin, and activity of activator protein transcription factors. Supporting this observation, mouse mammary tumor cells that have undergone EMT showed upregulated JNK activity, and the EMT was reversed by JNK inhibition. Sustained JNK activity enhanced insulin receptor substrate-2–mediated ERK activation, which in turn increased c-Fos expression and activator protein activity. In addition, hyperactive JNK attenuated the apoptosis of breast cancer cells treated by the chemotherapy drug paclitaxel, which is in contrast to the requirement for inducible JNK activity in response to cytotoxic chemotherapy. Blockade of extracellular signal-regulated kinase activity diminished hyperactive JNK-induced cell invasion and survival. Our data suggest that the role of JNK changes when its activity is elevated persistently above the basal levels associated with cell apoptosis, and that JNK activation may serve as a marker of breast cancer progression and resistance to cytotoxic drugs. Mol Cancer Res; 8(2); 266–77
Gene delivery in the equine cornea: a novel therapeutic strategy.

OBJECTIVE To determine if hybrid adeno-associated virus serotype 2/5 (AAV5) vector can effectively deliver foreign genes into the equine cornea without causing adverse side effects. The aims of this study were to: (i) evaluate efficacy of AAV5 to deliver therapeutic genes into equine corneal fibroblasts (ECFs) using enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) marker gene, and (ii) establish the safety of AAV5 vector for equine corneal gene therapy. MATERIAL Primary ECF cultures were harvested from healthy donor equine corneas. Cultures were maintained at 37°C in humidified atmosphere with 5% CO(2). PROCEDURE AAV5 vector expressing EGFP under control of hybrid cytomegalovirus + chicken β-actin promoter was applied topically to ECF. Expression of delivered EGFP gene in ECF was quantified using fluorescent microscopy. Using fluorescent staining, the total number of cells and transduction efficiency of tested AAV vector was determined. Phase contrast microscopy, trypan blue and TUNEL assays were used to determine toxicity and safety of AAV5 for ECFs. RESULTS Topical AAV5 application successfully transduced significant numbers of ECFs. Transduction efficiency was 13.1%. Tested AAV5 vector did not cause phenotype change or significant cell death and cell viability was maintained. CONCLUSIONS Tested AAV5 vector is effective and safe for gene therapy in ECFs in vitro.
Loop-free updates of forwarding tables

When the forwarding paths in an IP network change due to a link failure or a link weight modification, the forwarding tables in the routers may need to be updated. Each of these updates may cause transient loops if they are not performed in an appropriate order. In this paper, we propose an order to update the forwarding tables that avoids transient loops for non-urgent changes. The order is obtained by studying the changes in the forwarding tables, therefore it can be used in networks running any routing protocols, and for any type of forwarding path changes. After presenting the order, we prove that it is correct, and present an efficient algorithm to compute the order. Thereafter, we present several algorithms for performing forwarding table updates in accordance with the order. We also discuss how the update algorithms can be applied to both networks with centralized control and decentralized routing protocols. Finally, we study the update algorithms' performance on several network topologies and with varying parameter settings and for several types of forwarding path changes.
Inhibitory Effects of Yuzu and Its Components on Human Platelet Aggregation

Our previous study demonstrated that yuzu has an anti-platelet effect in rat blood. In the present study, we examined whether the anti-platelet effect of yuzu can be extended to human blood by investigating its ability to inhibit aggregations induced by various agonists in human platelet rich plasma (PRP). This study also investigated the underlying mechanism of yuzu focusing on ADP granule secretion, TXB2 formations, and PLCγ/Akt signaling. The results from this study showed that ethanolic yuzu extract (YE), and its components, hesperidin and naringin, inhibited human platelet aggregation in a concentration-dependent manner. YE, hesperidin and naringin also inhibited TXB2 formation and ADP release. The phosphorylation of PLCγ and Akt was significantly inhibited by YE, heperidin and naringin. Furthermore, we demonstrated that YE, heperidin and naringin has anti-platelet effects in rat ex vivo studies, and lower side effects in mice tail bleeding time studies. The results from this study suggest that YE, hesperidin and naringin can inhibit human platelet aggregation, at least partly through the inhibition of PLCγ and Akt, leading to a decrease in TXB2 formation and granule secretion.
Adaptive Image Decomposition by Improved Bilateral Filter

This paper presents an adaptive image decomposition method based on the newly proposed texture descriptor, which combines contrast variation and structure correlation. By incorporating it into the classical edge-preserving bilateral filter, we construct an adaptive nonlinear filter capable of preserving edges and removing texture parts effectively. We derive the variational formulation of the proposed filter and explore its relationship with robust statistics. Comparative experiments against other state-of-the-art decomposition approaches show that better separation results of geometric structure from texture are obtained.
Expression of Mutant or Cytosolic PrP in Transgenic Mice and Cells Is Not Associated with Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress or Proteasome Dysfunction

The cellular pathways activated by mutant prion protein (PrP) in genetic prion diseases, ultimately leading to neuronal dysfunction and degeneration, are not known. Several mutant PrPs misfold in the early secretory pathway and reside longer in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) possibly stimulating ER stress-related pathogenic mechanisms. To investigate whether mutant PrP induced maladaptive responses, we checked key elements of the unfolded protein response (UPR) in transgenic mice, primary neurons and transfected cells expressing two different mutant PrPs. Because ER stress favors the formation of untranslocated PrP that might aggregate in the cytosol and impair proteasome function, we also measured the activity of the ubiquitin proteasome system (UPS). Molecular, biochemical and immunohistochemical analyses found no increase in the expression of UPR-regulated genes, such as Grp78/Bip, CHOP/GADD153, or ER stress-dependent splicing of the mRNA encoding the X-box-binding protein 1. No alterations in UPS activity were detected in mutant mouse brains and primary neurons using the UbG76V-GFP reporter and a new fluorogenic peptide for monitoring proteasomal proteolytic activity in vivo. Finally, there was no loss of proteasome function in neurons in which endogenous PrP was forced to accumulate in the cytosol by inhibiting cotranslational translocation. These results indicate that neither ER stress, nor perturbation of proteasome activity plays a major pathogenic role in prion diseases.
Identifying and Exploiting the Similarities between Rationale Management and Variability Management

Modeling variability is a challenging issue in product line requirements engineering. Particular problems include, the instantiation of variations for individual products, the long-term evolution of the product line, and the support of collaboration between stakeholders. These problems are even more complicated when the product line organization is globally distributed. To address theses problems, this paper identifies four higher-level similarities between rationale management (which focus on knowledge management during software design) and variability management. Furthermore, exploiting the similarities, rationale management is combined with variability management to contribute issue-based variability modeling. Issue-based variability modeling was implemented and empirically evaluated based on a series of case studies with multi-case design. The results of the evaluation show that our approach improves the instantiation and evolution of variability, enables better informal collaboration between distributed stakeholders with different levels of modeling expertise and enhances the longevity of product lines.
Hypothesis of dark matter and dark energy with negative mass

From the observance of the HSS team and SCP team in 1998, they gained the mass density of the negative(HSS: ΩM = -0.38(±0.22), SCP: ΩM = -0.4(±0.1) ), using field equations which do not have the cosmological constant. In they thought, the quantity of the mass couldn't be a negative value, so the value was discarded. We have to know that not the field equation has disposed the value, but our thought disposed that value. In the world of positive mass, ground state is a point that energy is low, but in case of negative mass, ground state is a point that energy is the highest. Accordingly, in the world of negative mass, energy level is filled from the highest to the lowest, and stable state means the highest energy state, so the catastrophe to energy level of minus infinity never happens even if negative mass spontaneously emits energy. Assuming that negative mass exists, Newton's Law of motion was derived in between negative and positive masses and also between negative and negative masses. As a method for proving the existence of negative mass, an explanation on the revolution velocity of the galaxy through negative mass has been presented. In this process, the existence of spherical mass distribution was given; furthermore, explanation was done using this, to show observation results where dark matter effect through negative mass is proportional to distance r. If ΩM is -0.38, universe's age is 14.225 Gyr. It is in the range estimated by other observations. Universe's radius R is 96:76[-11:44+12:13]Gly = (85.32 ~ 108.89)Gly. Assuming that negative mass and positive mass were born together at the beginning of universe, it satisfies the various problems that previous dark matter and dark energy possess, such as, centripetal force effects of galaxy and galaxy clusters from previous dark matters, mass effects that is proportional to the distance r, repulsive force needed for expansion, dark energy that has positive values, low interaction between dark matter when collision occurs between dark matter, deceleration expansion and acceleration expansion of universe, formation of void, in ation mechanism, fine tuning problem of mass density, collision of Bullet cluster, universe's age, universe's size, the reason of that dark energy seems to has a small and non-zero value. Also, we prove to the dark energy observation value (10-47GeV4). As a result, the necessity of observation focusing on exact computation and detection of negative mass is stated.
TMEAS, A Testability Measurement Program

TMEAS is a program that implements a testability measure for digital circuits. In this paper important features of TMEAS are described, including the circuit models it assumes, the testability measure it applies, and the various commands for analyzing the information generated by the testability measure. In addition, a discussion is provided of possible use modes for TMEAS and some examples of its use so far.
Improving Gender and Ethnic Relations: Strategies for Schools and Further Education

An investigation into whether monolingual teachers can teach awareness of language successfully to the benefit of all children in a multi-lingual primary school, Wendy Reeds personal and social education - a vehicle for prejudice reduction, Lynn Powell the use of drama as a method of experiencing temporary disadvantage leading to a prejudice reduction in a multicultural programme for lecturers at a college of further education, Carol Cooke an investigation into the use of curriculum material and teaching methods to reduce prejudice and maintain academic standards in an A-level Human Geography syllabus, Anna Schlesinger a study into the effects of cross-ethnic tutoring on inter-racial relationships and educational achievement, Cecilia Datta an investigation into the development and implementation of strategies designed to reduce racial prejudice among young white people in youth clubs, Peter Davies women in science - access, experience and progression, Viv Shelley.
Spoken Document Retrieval Using Multilevel Knowledge and Semantic Verification

This study presents a novel approach to spoken document retrieval based on multilevel knowledge indexing and semantic verification. Multilevel knowledge indexing considers three information sources, namely transcription data, keywords extracted from spoken documents, and hypernyms of the extracted keywords. A semantic network with forward-backward propagation is presented for semantic verification of the retrieved documents. In the forward step for semantic verification, a bag of keywords is chosen based on word significance measures. Semantic relations are estimated and adopted for verification in the backward procedure. The verification score is then utilized to weight and rerank the retrieved documents to obtain the final results. Experiments are performed on 40 h of anchor speech extracted from 198 h of collected broadcast news. Experimental results indicate that multilevel knowledge indexing and semantic verification achieve better retrieval results than other indexing schemes.
Trustworthy Web Service Selection Using Probabilistic Models

Software architectures of large-scale systems are perceptibly shifting towards employing open and distributed computing. Service Oriented Computing (SOC) is a typical example of such environment in which the quality of interactions amongst software agents is a critical concern. Agent-based web services in open and distributed architectures need to interact with each other to achieve their goals and fulfill complex user requests. Two common tasks are influenced by the quality of interactions among web services: the selection and composition. Thus, to ensure the maximum gain in both tasks, it is essential for each agent-based web service to maintain a model of its environment. This model then provides a means for a web service to predict the quality of future interactions with its peers. In this paper, we formulate this model as a machine learning problem which we analyze by modeling the trustworthiness of web services using probabilistic models. We propose two approaches for trust learning of single and composed services; Bayesian Networks and Mixture of Multinomial Dirichlet Distributions (MMDD). The effectiveness of our approaches is empirically assessed using a simulation study. Our results show that representing the quality of a web service by Multinomial Dirichlet Distribution (MDD) provides high flexibility and accuracy in modeling trust. They also show that using our approaches to estimate trust enhances web services selection and composition.
Microbial flora in eyes of current and former contact lens wearers

Microbial flora from the right eye conjunctival sac of 84 consecutively presenting contact lens patients were compared with cultures from both surfaces of their lens after aseptic removal and with the flora of their storage cases. Similar results were obtained from contact lens and conjunctival cultures of each individual; however, there was no correlation between storage case isolates and lens or conjunctival flora, suggesting that in uncomplicated lens wear, the eye is highly efficient in eradicating microorganisms introduced via handling. Conjunctival flora during daily contact lens wear was similar to the conjunctival flora of a matched control group of non-lens wearers. However, bacteria that are considered to be part of the normal ocular flora were isolated significantly more often from former contact lens wearers. The data also indicated that the use of nonperoxide chemical lens disinfection was associated with a higher proportion of positive cultures for pathogenic microorganisms than the use of other forms of disinfection, for both current and former contact lens wearers. The isolation of potential pathogens was particularly common among elderly subjects using thick contact lenses for extended wear. These changes to conjunctival flora may contribute to the increased risk of ocular infection associated with contact lens wear.
Astrometry with digital sky surveys: from SDSS to LSST

Abstract Major advances in our understanding of the Universe have historically come from dramatic improvements in our ability to accurately measure astronomical quantities. The astrometric observations obtained by modern digital sky surveys are enabling unprecedentedly massive and robust studies of the kinematics of the Milky Way. For example, the astrometric data from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS), together with half a century old astrometry from the Palomar Observatory Sky Survey (POSS), have enabled the construction of a catalog that includes absolute proper motions as accurate as 3 mas/year for about 20 million stars brighter than V=20, and for 80,000 spectroscopically confirmed quasars which provide exquisite error assessment. We discuss here several ongoing studies of Milky Way kinematics based on this catalog. The upcoming next-generation surveys will maintain this revolutionary progress. For example, we show using realistic simulations that the Large Synoptic Survey Telescope (LSST) will measure proper motions accurate to 1 mas/year to a limit 4 magnitude fainter than possible with SDSS and POSS catalogs, or with the Gaia survey. LSST will also obtain geometric parallaxes with accuracy similar to Gaia's at its faint end (0.3 mas at V=20), and extend them to V=24 with an accuracy of 3 mas. We discuss the impact that these LSST measurements will have on studies of the Milky Way kinematics, and potential synergies with the Gaia survey.
Overexpression of the Orotate Phosphoribosyl-Transferase Gene Enhances the Effect of 5-Fluorouracil on Gastric Cancer Cell Lines

Objective: Orotate phosphoribosyl-transferase (OPRT) is the initial enzyme of the 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) metabolic pathway, converting 5-FU into 5-fluorouridinemonophosphate, which is the most important mechanism of 5-FU activation. We therefore investigated whether overexpression of the OPRT gene enhances sensitivity to 5-FU. Methods: An expression vector of the OPRT gene (pTARGET-OPRT) was transfected into two gastric cancer cell lines, TMK-1 and MKN-45, with low baseline expression levels of OPRT. The sensitivity to and anti-tumor activity of 5-FU were then investigated in vitro and in vivo in these two transfected clones (TMK-OPRT and MKN-OPRT). Results: Although cell growth was unaltered compared to parent cells, overexpression of the OPRT gene was confirmed by Western blotting in both the TMK-OPRT and MKN-OPRT cells. OPRT enzyme activity increased 38-fold in TMK-OPRT cells and 8.0 fold in MKN-OPRT cells compared to their parent cells. Interestingly, although the sensitivity to Adriamycin, cis-platinum, mitomycin C and paclitaxel was unaltered in the transfected clones, the sensitivity to 5-FU was increased 14.2- and 6.0-fold in TMK-OPRT and MKN-OPRT cells, respectively, compared to their parent cells. Moreover, enhanced sensitivity was also confirmed in the in vivo study. Conclusion: The results indicate that overexpression of the OPRT gene plays an important role in the antiproliferative effect of 5-FU and might therefore be a predictive factor of response to 5-FU in gastric cancer patients.
Cloud-Based Pedestrian Road-Safety with Situation-Adaptive Energy-Efficient Communication

Pedestrian detection using wireless communication complements sensor-based pedestrian detection in driverless and conventional cars. This fusion improves road-safety particularly in obstructed visibility and bad weather conditions. This paper seeks developing such wireless-based vehicle-to-pedestrian (V2P) collision avoidance using energy-efficient methods and non-dedicated existing technologies namely smartphones (widespread among pedestrians and drivers), cellular network and cloud. Our roadsafety mobile app can be set to driver mode or pedestrian mode. This app frequently sends vehicle and pedestrian geolocation data (beacons) to cloud servers. Cloud performs threat analysis and sends alerts to road users who are in risky situation. However, constant pedestrian-to-cloud (P2C) beaconing can quickly drain smartphone battery and make the system impractical. We employ adaptive multi-mode (AMM) approach built on situation-adaptive beaconing. AMM reduces power consumption using beacon rate control while it keeps the data freshness required for timely vehicle-to-pedestrian collision prediction. AMM runs on cloud servers and commands the mobile apps to change P2C beaconing frequency according to collision risk level from the surrounding vehicular traffic. Cityscale mobility simulation demonstrates energy efficiency of our approach. We evaluate battery lifetime according to geolocational variations over the city map. Results show that road-safety system imposes a small mean overhead on smartphone battery's state-of-charge. Furthermore, our evaluation of computation and network load shows feasibility of running such road-safety systems on conventional cellular networks and cloud providers. We use server-side prototype experiment to estimate minimum cloud resources and cloud service costs needed to handle computation of city-scale geolocation data.