Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Maternal Leptin Predicts Adiposity of the Neonate

Background: Increased adiposity at birth may identify infants at high risk of developing obesity. Maternal obesity and hyperglycemia in pregnancy are associated with increased neonatal adiposity; however, features of maternal obesity that contribute to increased neonatal adiposity need further study. Aims: To measure adiposity in neonates of obese and normal-weight women without gestational diabetes to test the hypothesis that obese women have neonates with increased adiposity compared to neonates of normal-weight women. Methods: Sixty-one pregnant women, with a normal or obese BMI, and their neonates participated in this cross-sectional study at an academic medical center. Neonatal adiposity, expressed as percent body fat (fat mass/body mass), was measured by air displacement plethysmography and cord blood was assayed for biomarkers. Results: Adiposity in neonates of obese and normal-weight mothers did not differ. Stratifying mothers by leptin level showed that neonates born to mothers with higher leptin had significantly higher adiposity (13.2 vs. 11.1%, p = 0.035). In the entire cohort, adiposity positively correlated with cord blood leptin (r = 0.48, p < 0.001) and adiponectin (r = 0.27, p = 0.04) levels. Conclusion: Obesity in normoglycemic pregnant women was not associated with increased neonatal adiposity. High maternal leptin levels identified neonates with increased adiposity.
Biofilm Formation by and Multicellular Behavior of Escherichia coli O55:H7, an Atypical Enteropathogenic Strain

ABSTRACT Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC) is an important causal agent of diarrheal illness throughout the world. Nevertheless, researchers have only recently begun to explore its capacity to form biofilms. Strain O55:H7 (DMS9) is a clinical isolate belonging to the atypical EPEC (aEPEC) group, which displays a high degree of genetic relatedness to enterohemorrhagic E. coli. Strain DMS9 formed a robust biofilm on an abiotic surface at 26°C, but not at 37°C. It also formed a dense pellicle at the air-liquid interface and developed a red, rough, and dry (RDAR) morphotype on Congo red agar. Unlike a previously described E. coli O157:H7 strain, the aEPEC strain seems to express cellulose. Transposon mutagenesis was used to identify biofilm-deficient mutants. One of the mutants was inactivated in the csgFG genes, required for assembly and secretion of curli fimbriae, while a second mutant had a mutation in crl, a thermosensitive global regulator that modulates σS activity and downstream expression of curli and cellulose. The two mutants were deficient in their biofilm formation capabilities and did not form a pellicle at the air-liquid interface. Unlike in Salmonella, the csgFG mutant in aEPEC completely lost the RDAR phenotype, while the crl mutant displayed a unique RDAR “pizza”-like morphotype. Genetic complementation of the two mutants resulted in restoration of the wild-type phenotype. This report is the first to describe and analyze a multicellular behavior in aEPEC and support a major role for curli and the crl regulator in biofilm development at low temperatures corresponding to the nonmammalian host environment.
Detection of Intracellular Free Na+ Concentration of Synaptosomes by a Fluorescent Indicator, Na+‐Binding Benzofuran Isophthalate: The Effect of Veratridine, Ouabain, and α‐Latrotoxin

Abstract: A novel fluorescent Na+ indicator, Na+‐binding benzofuran isophthalate (SBFI), was used to follow changes in the intracellular free Na+ concentration ([Na+]1) of synaptosomes. The dye, when loaded into synapto‐ somes in the form of its acetoxymethyl ester, was responsive to changes of [Na+]1. Calibration was made using the 340/380 nm excitation ratio when the cytoplasmic Na+ concentration was equilibrated with different concentrations of extracellular Na+ in the presence of 2 μM gramicidin D. The basal value of [Na+]1 in synaptosomes in the presence of 140 mM extracellular Na+ was found to be 10.9 ± 1.8 mM. Veratridine, which opens potential‐dependent Na+ channels, caused a sudden increase in [Na+]1 in a concentration‐dependent manner (1 ‐20 μM), whereas the effect of ouabain (20 and 50 μM), the inhibitor of the plasma membrane Na+,K+‐ATPase, was more gradual. The rise in the fluorescence intensity upon addition of veratridine was prevented completely by 2 μM tetrodotoxin. α‐Latrotoxin, the black widow spider toxin, caused an increase in the fluorescence intensity, which became evident 1 min after the addition of the toxin. The rate of increase was proportional to the concentration of the toxin (0.19–1.5 nM). This report confirms our earlier finding demonstrating a Na+‐dependent component in the action of α‐Iatrotoxin, and shows that changes in [Na+]1 in synaptosomes can be followed by SBFI.
Forward estimation of joint torque from EMG signal through muscle synergy combinations

Human movement is a result of synergetic combinations of multiple muscle contractions. The summation of motor unit action potentials can be measured through Electromyography (EMG), thus the processed EMG can be regarded as the muscle activation to be employed to estimate joint movement or torque production. Such forward relationship for representing the joint torque can be established and identified through associated EMG/activations of extension and flexion muscle groups. On the other hand, muscle synergy always exists indicating how quantitatively central nervous system (CNS) drives correlated muscle groups to accomplish the joint torque generation. In this paper, we investigate the approaches of estimating the ankle joint torque from EMG/activatons of associated muscle groups. The approaches discussed fall into two main categories: i) full utilization of both of extension and flexion EMG/activations for estimating the joint torque; ii) exploitation of muscle synergy extraction of EMG/actvations and consequent usage of extracted components in reduced space for estimating the joint torque. Comparison is made between the two methods with experimental data of five able-bodied subjects. From the results we conclude that, method ii) with muscle synergy extraction may not degrade the performance of method i) but meanwhile show the the muscle synergic ratios for generating the joint torque, and involvement of joint position and velocity information can improve the estimation for both methods.
A MDP Approach to Fault-Tolerant Routing

This paper defines a theoretical framework based on Markov Decision Processes (MDP) to deal with fault-tolerant routing algorithms in heterogeneous home networks, which are realized through the integration of different wired and wireless telecommunication technologies. Such networks are characterized by fast dynamics of link availability, mainly due to the wide use of wireless technologies. The novelty of this paper is the MDP approach to the fault-tolerant routing problem, which is addressed by introducing a re-routing policy: when a path becomes unavailable, the flows transmitted over that path are re-routed on another available path; the new path is selected taking into consideration the probability that also the new path can become unavailable in the future, in order to minimize re-routing occurrences. Numerical simulations show the effectiveness of the proposed approach.
Intention towards halal logistics: a case study of Indonesian consumers

The development of halal principles extends not only to halal products but also to logistics processes. This study applies structural equation modelling (SEM) to analyse the structural relationships among perceived value, perceived usefulness, knowledge, intention, and behaviour toward halal logistics acceptance. Through a questionnaire survey, 779 items of feedback were obtained. This study finds that there is a positive relationship between perceived value and knowledge on halal logistics with perceived usefulness. The findings suggest that in the context of promoting halal logistics, firms producing halal products need to educate consumers to have perceived usefulness of halal logistics.
The Short Oblique Fracture of the Distal Fibula Without Medial Injury: An Assessment of Displacement

Eighteen patients with ankle injuries presenting as short oblique fractures of the distal fibula with no clinical or radiographic evidence of injury to the medial ankle were studied for fracture displacement. Plain radiographs and computed tomography were used for analysis. All fractures were clinically diagnosed as supination-external rotation stage 2 (SE-II) injuries under the Lauge-Hansen scheme. All exhibited slight displacement on plain radiographs and were treated nonoperatively. Computerized tomography using axial cuts across the fracture site and ankle mortise revealed normal positioning of the talus beneath the tibial plafond, as evidenced by no abnormality of the medial joint space in all patients. In the majority of patients, the relationship between the talus and distal fibula also appeared undisturbed, with fracture displacement being confined to a change in position of the proximal fibular fragment relative to the tibia as compared with the contralateral ankle. In a minority of cases, in addition to the above-described displacement of the proximal fibular fragment, the distal fibular fragment was noted to shift slightly laterally relative to the talus, with mild widening of the lateral joint space. Occult-associated avulsion fractures off the distal tibia were present in 39% of the cases.
Immunogenicity and efficacy of a DNA vaccine in aged mice.

The immunogenicity and protective efficacy of a DNA vaccine encoding the circumsporozoite protein of the Plasmodium yoelii malaria parasite was evaluated in young (2 months) versus aged (>26 months) BALB/c mice. The primary and secondary humoral immune response of aged mice was 19- and 7-fold lower, respectively, than that of similarly treated young animals (p < .01). Cytotoxic T lymphocyte activity in aged mice was also lower than in younger animals. The vaccine response of aged animals was characterized by a 6-fold increase in interleukin-4 and a 3-fold increase in interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) secreting cells, whereas in young animals immunization only stimulated the production of the type 1 cytokine IFN-gamma. Overall, 80% of young vaccinated mice were protected from subsequent challenge with live malaria sporozoites whereas only 40% of aged mice were protected. These results are the first to demonstrate that DNA vaccination induces less effective immunity in aged than young animals.
Prospective Assessment of Lower-Extremity Peripheral Arterial Disease in Diabetic Patients Using a Novel Automated Optical Device

A new optical device based on the photoplethysmograph (PPG) method and an innovative algorithm for the assessment of lower-extremity peripheral arterial disease was investigated prospectively in patients with type II diabetes. This new functional PPG (fPPG) technique uses a cuffless functional test to assess diabetic peripheral arterial disease without operator dependency and the incompressible arteries, issues associated with ankle brachial pressure index (ABPI) measurement. Diabetic patients (n = 24; 47 legs; age, 70 ± 3 years) were recruited from the vascular clinic, and controls (n = 15; 30 legs; age, 66 ± 5 years) were recruited from the orthopedic outpatient clinic. All underwent resting ABPI, fPPG, and duplex angiography (DA) as “gold standard. ” fPPG requires the placement of an optical probe on the toe for acquisition of pulsatile arterial perfusion for a period of 30 seconds with the leg in supine and raised at 45° positions. The data were analyzed, and indices were generated by an automated computer system. In those with diabetes, fPPG correlated significantly with DA (r = −.68, P < .01) and ABPI (r = −.65, P < .01). We also found a significant correlation between ABPI and DA (r = .81, P < .01). The analysis of the receiver operator curve showed that optimum sensitivity and specificity for ABPI and fPPG were 80% and 93% and 83% and 71%, respectively, against DA. This method uses changes in pulsatile arterial blood volume using a simple cuffless functional test. The fPPG investigation period was much shorter (5 minutes) with independence of operator skills, whereas ABPI took longer (10-15 minutes) and required operator experience. Although the fPPG results are promising, further improvement (eg, by incorporation of functional skin color and temperature changes) is required to improve the sensitivity and specificity of the system.
Correlation Between Abdominal Perforator Vessels Identified With Preoperative CT Angiography and Intraoperative Fluorescent Angiography in the Microsurgical Breast Reconstruction Patient

BackgroundCT angiography (CTA) has become a reliable method of perforator vessel identification. Indocyanine green fluorescent angiography (ICGLA) produces a real-time image of large- and small-caliber blood vessels. The aim of this prospective study was to compare ICGLA with CTA to evaluate its reliability of vessel identification and correlation to perforator vessel size and number determined preoperatively by CTA. The effect of both imaging techniques on flap design or intraoperative plan was also evaluated. MethodsOver a 1-year period, patients presenting for free-tissue transfer breast reconstruction underwent preoperative CTA mapping of abdominal perforators followed by intraoperative ICGLA. Using visualization software, scaling factors were calculated so CTA and ICGLA data could be compared. ResultsEighteen patients (24 breast reconstructions) were included. Larger CTA perforator size was associated with larger actual size (P = 0.04). The largest CTA perforator or largest actual perforator was used 78% of the time. Increasing body mass index was not associated with larger CTA perforator size (P = 0.67) or more intense ICGLA blushes (P = 0.13). No significant correlation was found between CTA perforator location and ICGLA skin blush location, size, or intensity. CTA or SPY guided intraoperative procedure adjustments in 72% of patients. ICGLA identified poor soft-tissue perfusion and guided flap resection in 46% of patients. ConclusionsICGLA skin blush location, size, and intensity do not correlate with CTA-identified perforating vessel location or actual perforating vessel size. Despite this, the ICGLA information was useful for evaluation of soft-tissue perfusion and flap design.
Attenuation of colonic inflammation by partial replacement of dietary linoleic acid with α-linolenic acid in a rat model of inflammatory bowel disease

Increasing prevalence of inflammatory bowel disease may be due to imbalance in the intake of n-6 and n-3 PUFA in the diet. This study investigates the impact of varying ratios of dietary linoleic acid (LA, 18 : 2n-6) to α-linolenic acid (ALA, 18 : 3n-3) on the inflammatory response in dextran sulphate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis. Weanling male Sprague–Dawley rats were divided into five groups: a non-colitic group with a LA:ALA ratio of 215 (CON-215), and colitic groups with LA:ALA ratios of 215 (DSS-215), 50 (DSS-50), 10 (DSS-10) and 2 (DSS-2). Blends of groundnut, palmolein and linseed oils were used to provide varying LA:ALA ratios. All the rats were fed the respective experimental isoenergetic diets containing 10 % fat for 90 d and DSS was administered during the last 11 d. Colonic inflammation was evaluated by clinical, biochemical and histological parameters. The results showed attenuation of colitis in the DSS-2 group as evidenced by significant reductions in disease activity index, mucosal myeloperoxidase activity (P < 0·05), alkaline phosphatase activity (P < 0·01) and increase in colon length (P < 0·01) compared to the groups fed with higher ratios (DSS-215). This was accompanied by significant reductions in mucosal proinflammatory cytokines TNF-α (P < 0·01) and IL-1β (P < 0·01) and improvement in the histological score. Further, ALA supplementation increased long-chain (LC) n-3 PUFA and decreased LC n-6 PUFA in colon structural lipids. These data suggest that substitution of one-third of LA with ALA (LA:ALA ratio 2) mitigates experimental colitis by down-regulating proinflammatory mediators.
Dimerization and a Novel Tax Speckled Structure Localization Signal Are Required for Tax Nuclear Localization

ABSTRACT The human T-cell leukemia virus type 1 oncoprotein Tax has pleiotropic activities, a subset of which likely leads to immortalization of T cells. Tax is expressed and known to function in both the cell nucleus and the cytoplasm. Tax has defined nuclear localization (NLS) and nuclear export signals that enable shuttling between the two compartments. In this study, we identified a novel region in Tax that targets the protein to discrete nuclear foci that we have previously termed Tax speckled structures (TSS). We demonstrated that the identified region is both necessary and sufficient for directing proteins to TSS. This novel TSS localization signal (TSLS), spanning amino acids 50 to 75, is separable from and adjacent to the NLS of Tax. Coexpression of a Tax NLS mutant and a Tax TSLS mutant rescued the nuclear entry and subnuclear TSS targeting of both proteins, demonstrating that these signals are independent domains. Our analysis also revealed that Tax proteins deficient for dimerization fail to localize to the nucleus. Consequently, when we restored dimerization via induction of a heterologous “dimerizer” domain, nuclear localization was rescued. Thus, we defined additional domains in Tax specific for nuclear localization and subnuclear targeting. Our results reveal a more complex network for regulation of Tax subcellular localization and subsequent function.
Resilience and effectuation for a successful business takeover

Purpose: This study explores how resilience can support entrepreneurs in uncertain environments. The study's objective is to show how different dimensions of resilience (emotional/cognitive) are dynamically connected to different logics of actions (causation/effectuation) allowing the development of a successful entrepreneurial project. Methodology: The study is based on a qualitative analysis of a blog written by an entrepreneur during the first seventeen months of a search, negotiation, and financing process for a company takeover. Findings: The results highlight that in high uncertainty, strong entrepreneurial resilience and shift of logics of action can contribute to the success of a business takeover. This study identifies forms of resilience during the business takeover process that helped the entrepreneur overcome adversity and succeed. Moreover, these forms of resilience seem to be related to effectual and causal logics. Practical implications: This study could help future entrepreneurs succeed in the creation or takeover of an organization by improving knowledge of the relationship between resilience and logics of actions. Originality: This study proposes a different approach to the study of entrepreneurial resilience by analysing it in relation with the logics of action (causation/effectuation). Moreover, the study offers a modern methodological approach by using an internet blog as a data source.
CARD6 Is Interferon Inducible but Not Involved in Nucleotide-Binding Oligomerization Domain Protein Signaling Leading to NF-κB Activation

ABSTRACT We have previously reported the cloning and characterization of CARD6, a caspase recruitment domain (CARD)-containing protein that is structurally related to the interferon (IFN)-inducible GTPases. CARD6 associates with microtubules and with receptor-interacting protein 2 (RIP2). RIP2 mediates NF-κB activation induced by the intracellular nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain (NOD) receptors that sense bacterial peptidoglycan. Here we report that the expression of CARD6 and RIP2 in bone marrow-derived macrophages is rapidly induced by beta IFN and gamma IFN. This IFN-induced upregulation of CARD6 is suppressed by lipopolysaccharide (LPS), in contrast to LPS's enhancement of IFN-induced RIP2 upregulation. We generated CARD6-deficient (CARD6−/−) mice and carried out extensive analyses of signaling pathways mediating innate and adaptive immune responses, including the NOD pathways, but did not detect any abnormalities. Moreover, CARD6−/− mice were just as susceptible as wild-type mice to infection by Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium, Listeria monocytogenes, Candida albicans, lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus, or mouse adenovirus type 1. Thus, although structural and in vitro analyses strongly suggest an important role for CARD6 in immune defense, the physiological function of CARD6 remains obscure.
Positive schemas, psychopathology, and quality of life in children with pediatric cancer: A pilot study

ABSTRACT Purpose: Research in the area of pediatric oncology has shown that although some children and youth diagnosed with this disease cope adaptively after their diagnosis, others continue to have long-term psychosocial difficulties. The potential mechanisms that may protect against the experience of psychopathology and poor quality of life within this population are not well known. The purpose of this pilot study was to utilize a new comprehensive measure of positive schemas to better understand the relationship between positive schemas, quality of life, and psychopathology, for children on active treatment for cancer. Methods: Participants were 22 patients, aged 8–18 years, being treated in a pediatric oncology clinic. Patients and parents completed measures of positive schemas, quality of life, and psychopathology. Results: The mean age at time of initial diagnosis of the patient sample was 11.6 years. Child-reported positive schemas were significantly related to child-reported child quality of life (r = 0.46, p = 0.03). Conclusions: This is the first study to examine positive schemas within a pediatric oncology sample. Future research is needed to further explore facets of positive schemas that may be particularly relevant to child psychological functioning in a pediatric oncology population.
Cytochrome C oxidase subunit I barcodes provide an efficient tool for Jinqian Baihua She (Bungarus parvus) authentication

Objective: To test the feasibility of DNA barcoding for accurate identification of Jinqian Baihua She and its adulterants. Materials and Methods: Standard cytochrome C oxidase subunit I (COI) gene fragments were sequenced for DNA barcoding of 39 samples from 9 snake species, including Bungarus multicinctus, the officially recognized origin animal by Chinese Pharmacopoeia, and other 8 adulterate species. The aligned sequences, 658 base pairs in length, were analyzed for divergence using the Kimura-2-parameter (K2P) distance model with MEGA5.0. Results: The mean intraspecific K2P distance was 0.0103 and the average interspecific genetic distance was 0.2178 in B. multicinctus, far greater than the minimal interspecific genetic distance of 0.027 recommended for species identification. A neighbor-joining (NJ) tree was constructed, in which each species formed a monophyletic clade with bootstrap supports of 100%. All the data were submitted to Barcode of Life Data system version 3.0 (BOLD, http://www.barcodinglife.org) under the project title “DNA barcoding Bungarus multicinctus and its adulterants”. Ten samples of commercially available crude drugs of JBS were identified using the identification engine provided by BOLD. All the samples were clearly identified at the species level, among which five were found to be the adulterants and identified as Dinodon rufozonatum. Conclusion: DNA barcoding using the standard COI gene fragments provides an effective and accurate means for JBS identification and authentication.