Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A Crucial Role for RACK1 in the Regulation of Glucose-Stimulated IRE1α Activation in Pancreatic β Cells

RACK1 dictates the response of the intracellular stress sensor IRE1α to different extracellular stimuli. Stress Control Obesity and metabolic diseases, such as diabetes, are associated with endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and the accumulation of unfolded proteins in the ER, which activates the unfolded protein response (UPR). One of the mediators of the UPR is inositol-requiring enzyme 1α (IRE1α), which is autophosphorylated and activated in response to ER stress. In pancreatic β cells, IRE1α promotes insulin biosynthesis in response to acute glucose stimulation but inhibits this process after chronic glucose stimulation. To determine the mechanisms that mediate these different responses of IRE1α to glucose stimulation, Qiu et al. searched for previously unidentified binding partners of IRE1α. They found that the scaffold protein RACK1 interacted with IRE1α after glucose stimulation. Protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A) remained associated with RACK1 after acute glucose stimulation but dissociated from RACK1 after chronic glucose stimulation or the induction of ER stress. The differential association of PP2A with RACK1 accounted for stimulus-specific alterations in the phosphorylation and activation state of IRE1α. Islets from db/db mice, which are obese and mildly diabetic, showed decreased RACK1 abundance, as well as increased IRE1α phosphorylation and insulin content, and overexpression of RACK1 in these islets partially reversed these increases. Thus, RACK1 differentially modulates the activation of IRE1α in response to the duration of glucose stimulation and to ER stress, and RACK1-mediated regulation of IRE1α may be altered by prolonged metabolic stress. Autophosphorylation of inositol-requiring enzyme 1α (IRE1α) is required for its activation, which elicits the cellular unfolded protein response (UPR) and is functionally connected with insulin biosynthesis in pancreatic β cells. We found that the scaffold protein receptor for activated C-kinase 1 (RACK1) interacted with IRE1α in a glucose-stimulated or endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress–responsive manner in pancreatic β cells and primary islets. RACK1 mediated the glucose-inducible assembly of a complex containing IRE1α, RACK1, and protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A) to promote dephosphorylation of IRE1α by PP2A, thereby inhibiting glucose-stimulated IRE1α activation and attenuating IRE1α-dependent increases in insulin production. Moreover, IRE1α activation was increased and RACK1 abundance was decreased in a mouse model of diabetes. Thus, our findings demonstrate that RACK1 functions as a key component in regulating the IRE1α signaling pathway in pancreatic β cells.
Schmidt number for density matrices

We introduce the notion of a Schmidt number of a bipartite density matrix. We show that k-positive maps witness the Schmidt number, in the same way that positive maps witness entanglement. We determine the Schmidt number of the family of states that is made from mixing the completely mixed state and a maximally entangled state. We show that the Schmidt number does not necessarily increase when taking tensor copies of a density matrix $\ensuremath{\rho};$ we give an example of a density matrix for which the Schmidt numbers of $\ensuremath{\rho}$ and $\ensuremath{\rho}\ensuremath{\bigotimes}\ensuremath{\rho}$ are both $2. $
Linking Sight and Sound: fMRI Evidence of Primary Auditory Cortex Activation during Visual Word Recognition

We describe two studies that used repetition priming paradigms to investigate brain activity during the reading of single words. Functional magnetic resonance images were collected during a visual lexical decision task in which nonword stimuli were manipulated with regard to phonological properties and compared to genuine English words. We observed a region in left-hemisphere primary auditory cortex linked to a repetition priming effect. The priming effect activity was observed only for stimuli that sound like known words; moreover, this region was sensitive to strategic task differences. Thus, a brain region involved in the most basic aspects of auditory processing appears to be engaged in reading even when there is no environmental oral or auditory component.
Electromagnetic Characterization and Simulation of a Carbonate Buffer System on a Microwave Biosensor

In order to develop a fast, sensitive and easy-to-produce biosensor, a high-quality microwave split-ring resonator is going to be developed. In the final sensing device, a blood sample will be placed as a droplet on the sensitive area of the sensor. In case of specific target biomolecules binding a shift in resonance frequency will be induced due to the effective permittivity change. This shift in resonance frequency depends on the concentration of biomolecules and is therefore quantitative. The aim of this work is to find a position for the bio-functionalization that providesa measurable frequency shift when the analyte is added. Different areas are tested experimentally and via simulations. Two buffer solutions are used which have to be characterized in terms of its electromagnetic properties in advance. This preliminary study should pave the way for the measurements in real human samples such as serum or plasma.
Inhibition of return in discrimination tasks.

Although inhibition of return is known to affect a wide range of detection tasks, it has not been found consistently in discrimination tasks. To examine this issue, 5 experiments were conducted in which participants discriminated between a visual target and a distractor. The responses were not inhibited if, before the onset of stimuli, attention had been overtly oriented (i.e., an eye movement was made) to the future target location and the stimulus at that location was the same symbol as the upcoming target. However, if attention was covertly oriented (i.e., no eye movement was made) to the future location of the target, or if the stimulus at the earlier attended location was a symbol different from the target, responses to the target were inhibited. Overall, the findings provide insights into the relation between movements of attention and discrimination judgments and support the notion that inhibition of return is an attentional phenomenon.
High redshift galaxies in the ALHAMBRA survey: I. selection method and number counts based on redshift PDFs

Context. Most observational results on the high redshift restframe UV-bright galaxies are based on samples pinpointed using the so called dropout technique or Ly-alpha selection. However, the availability of multifilter data allows now replacing the dropout selections by direct methods based on photometric redshifts. In this paper we present the methodology to select and study the population of high redshift galaxies in the ALHAMBRA survey data. Aims. Our aim is to develop a less biased methodology than the traditional dropout technique to study the high redshift galaxies in ALHAMBRA and other multifilter data. Thanks to the wide area ALHAMBRA covers, we especially aim at contributing in the study of the brightest, less frequent, high redshift galaxies. Methods. The methodology is based on redshift probability distribution functions (zPDFs). It is shown how a clean galaxy sample can be obtained by selecting the galaxies with high integrated probability of being within a given redshift interval. However, reaching both a complete and clean sample with this method is challenging. Hence, a method to derive statistical properties by summing the zPDFs of all the galaxies in the redshift bin of interest is introduced. Results. Using this methodology we derive the galaxy rest frame UV number counts in five redshift bins centred at z=2.5, 3.0, 3.5, 4.0, and 4.5, being complete up to the limiting magnitude at m_UV(AB)=24. With the wide field ALHAMBRA data we especially contribute in the study of the brightest ends of these counts, sampling well the surface densities down to m_UV(AB)=21-22. Conclusions. We show that using the zPDFs it is easy to select a clean sample of high redshift galaxies. We also show that statistical analysis of the properties of galaxies is better done using a probabilistic approach, which takes into account both the incompleteness and contamination in a natural way.
Recognition of cello-oligosaccharides by a family 17 carbohydrate-binding module: an X-ray crystallographic, thermodynamic and mutagenic study.

The crystal structure of the Clostridium cellulovorans carbohydrate-binding module (CBM) belonging to family 17 has been solved to 1.7 A resolution by multiple anomalous dispersion methods. CBM17 binds to non-crystalline cellulose and soluble beta-1,4-glucans, with a minimal binding requirement of cellotriose and optimal affinity for cellohexaose. The crystal structure of CBM17 complexed with cellotetraose solved at 2.0 A resolution revealed that binding occurs in a cleft on the surface of the molecule involving two tryptophan residues and several charged amino acids. Thermodynamic binding studies and alanine scanning mutagenesis in combination with the cellotetraose complex structure allowed the mapping of the CBM17 binding cleft. In contrast to the binding groove characteristic of family 4 CBMs, family 17 CBMs appear to have a very shallow binding cleft that may be more accessible to cellulose chains in non-crystalline cellulose than the deeper binding clefts of family 4 CBMs. The structural differences in these two modules may reflect non-overlapping binding niches on cellulose surfaces.
A generalized quadratic-based model for optimal power flow

A quadratic-based model of a power system is used to formulate a generalized optimum power system flow problem. The conditions for feasibility, convergence, and optimality are included in the construction of the optimal power flow (OPF) algorithm. The algorithm is capable of using hierarchical structures to include multiple objective functions and selectable constraints. The generalized algorithm using sensitivity of objective functions with optimal adjustments in the constraints yields a global optimal solution. The generalized algorithm includes special cases of the OPF that reduces the computational burden when the number of constraints is equal to the number of variables and can select the constraint sets that are binding or nonbinding. The package is flexible and can accommodate other models and solution methods. The algorithm has been tested using different objective functions on actual power systems, and optimal solutions were reached in relatively few iterations. The potential of the method for online application is being investigated with several utility companies. <<ETX>>
Prediction of Shrinkage Defect in Steel Casting for Marine Engine Cylinder Cover by Numerical Analysis

Shrinkage defect in an alloy steel casting for marine engine cylinder cover was estimated by numerical analysis with reference to casting variables such as riser and chiller. Retained melt modulus was employed as a prediction parameter in this study. Shrinkage defects were developed at the final solidification region. This is associated with hot spots, which could be controlled more effectively by adjusting the height of riser and by attaching chiller to the casting outside. Based on the numerical analysis, sound castings were produced successfully and economically.
Effectiveness of a smartphone application to promote physical activity in primary care: the SMART MOVE randomised controlled trial.

BACKGROUND Physical inactivity is a major, potentially modifiable, risk factor for cardiovascular disease, cancer, and other chronic diseases. Effective, simple, and generalisable interventions that will increase physical activity in populations are needed. AIM To evaluate the effectiveness of a smartphone application (app) to increase physical activity in primary care. DESIGN AND SETTING An 8-week, open-label, randomised controlled trial in rural, primary care in the west of Ireland. METHOD Android smartphone users >16 years of age were recruited. All participants were provided with similar physical activity goals and information on the benefits of exercise. The intervention group was provided with a smartphone app and detailed instructions on how to use it to achieve these goals. The primary outcome was change in physical activity, as measured by a daily step count between baseline and follow-up. RESULTS A total of 139 patients were referred by their primary care health professional or self-referred. In total, 37 (27%) were screened out and 12 (9%) declined to participate, leaving 90 (65%) patients who were randomised. Of these, 78 provided baseline data (intervention = 37; control = 41) and 77 provided outcome data (intervention = 37; control = 40). The mean daily step count at baseline for intervention and control groups was 4365 and 5138 steps per day respectively. After adjusting, there was evidence of a significant treatment effect (P = 0.009); the difference in mean improvement in daily step count from week 1 to week 8 inclusive was 1029 (95% confidence interval 214 to 1843) steps per day, favouring the intervention. Improvements in physical activity in the intervention group were sustained until the end of the trial. CONCLUSION A simple smartphone app significantly increased physical activity over 8 weeks in a primary care population.
[COMT Val158Met polymorphism and schizophrenia in a series of Spanish patients].

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE Catecol-O-methyl transferase (COMT) enzyme plays a significant role in the regulation of the dopaminergic system in the prefrontal cortex. Several studies have assessed the association between modifications of the COMT activity and schizophrenia, but without consistent results. COMT gene contains a single nucleotide functional polymorphism which produces the change of a valine for a methionine at position 158. The effect of this aminoacid change is a modification of COMT enzymatic activity: valine-COMT displays a significantly higher capacity of postsynaptic dopamine degradation than methionine-COMT. The objective of this study is to carry out a genetic association study of the functional polymorphism Val158Met in a sample of Spanish schizophrenic patients and healthy controls. PATIENTS AND METHOD This is a case-control study made up of 177 patients and 141 healthy controls. All patients -115 males and 62 females, with ages between 27 and 49 years; mean (standard deviation) of 38 (10.7) years- were being treated in the outpatient Psychiatric Clinic of the Hospital Universitario 12 de Octubre, and fulfilled the DSM-IV (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th edition) criteria for schizophrenia (n = 162) or schizoaffective disorder (n = 15). Control subjects -92 males and 49 females, with ages between 26 and 47 years; mean of 36 (9.4) years- were free from medical and psychiatric disorders. Genotype identification was done by means of human genetic molecular techniques coupled to ADN polymerase chain reaction and single strand conformational polymorphism (SSCP) of the COMT Val158Met polymorphism. RESULTS No statisticaly significant differences were found in the allele frequencies for this polymorphism between patient and control samples. Nevertheless, in genotype analysis and when a model of recessive inheritance (Val/Val vs Val/Met and Met/Met) was assumed, a possible tendency towards statistical significance was observed. Our results do not allow to confirm the possible COMT gene variants contribution to schizophrenia etiopathogenesis, but they offer some evidence which would point to its implication in some patients subgroups. CONCLUSIONS With the results obtained in this study a possible contribution of the COMT gene in schizophrenia etiopathogenesis cannot be ruled out. The issue of the possible effect of the COMT Val158Met polymorphism in schizophrenia would remain to be open and calls for the need to replicate this kind of studies in greater samples that will allow stratificate analysis by patients subgroups.
Predictive value of leucocytosis in head trauma.

AIM Head trauma is associated with an acute phase response which is characterized by leucocytosis due to increased levels of catecholamine and cortisol. Early edema formation following severe head injury may also be associated with microglia activation. Therefore, increased white blood cell (WBC) count after head trauma may be a predictive parameter of the severity of craniocerebral trauma. MATERIAL AND METHODS We retrospectively studied 59 patients with severe, moderate and minor injury between February 2007 and March 2009. WBC counts of all patients were obtained within the first day of their admission. All patients were divided into separate groups according to their Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) scores and hospital stay durations. Their CT progressions and Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOS) scores were also assessed. The relationship between these parameters and WBC counts were evaluated by statistical methods. RESULTS There was a favorable correlation between WBC counts of the patients and GCS scores (pI0.01), hospital stay (p=0.006), CT progression (p < 0.01) and GOS scores (p < 0.01). CONCLUSION AWBC count exceeding 17.5 x 106/l has a predictive value for poor GCS score, and long hospital stay. CT progression tends to be seen in patients with moderate and severe head injury.
Predictive significance of changes in dietary restraint in obese patients with binge eating disorder during treatment.

OBJECTIVE To examine whether changes in different aspects of dietary restraint in obese patients with binge eating disorder (BED) participating in a treatment study predict outcomes. METHOD Fifty obese patients with BED in a randomized controlled study of orlistat administered with cognitive-behavioral therapy, guided-self-help (CBTgsh) completed dietary restraint measures at baseline, during- and post-treatment, and three-month follow-up. RESULTS Change in the restraint scale of the Eating Disorder Examination-Questionnaire did not predict binge abstinence or 5% weight loss. Increased flexible restraint subscale of the Three Factor Eating Questionnaire (TFEQ) during treatment significantly predicted binge abstinence at post-treatment and three-month follow-up and 5% weight loss at post-treatment. Change in the rigid restraint subscale of the TFEQ predicted binge abstinence at post-treatment. DISCUSSION Our findings clarify further pathologic and adaptive aspects of restraint and suggest the importance of enhancing flexible restraint in order to improve both binge eating and weight loss outcomes.
A study on telecommunication technology and remote-control algorithm in minimally invasive surgical robotic system

Minimally invasive surgery is commonly applied in cardiovascular diseases at present while surgeons exposed in the X-ray. With the development of automation and mechanism in robotic system, robot-assisted surgery had been introduced to solve such trouble. And minimally invasive surgical robotic technology has developed rapidly. In this paper, we propose a remote-control algorithm based on a fuzzy adaptive PID control algorithm in MIS robotic system to realize the demand for remedy in remote districts. Meanwhile, such hybrid algorithm is proposed to reduce the environmental interference and remove the effect of time-delay in signal transmission of remote operations. The results of simulation and experiments validate that such algorithm actually suppresses the interference of low frequency and improves the tracking performance of the master-slave system.
Interplay between tetrel and triel bonds in RC6H4CN⋯MF3CN⋯BX3 complexes: A combined symmetry‐adapted perturbation theory, Møller‐Plesset, and quantum theory of atoms‐in‐molecules study

Intermolecular ternary complexes composed of: (1) the centrally placed trifluoroacetonitrile or its higher analogs with central carbon exchanged by silicon or germanium (M = C, Si, Ge), (2) the benzonitrile molecule or its para derivatives on one side, and (3) the boron trifluoride of trichloride molecule (X = F, Cl) on the opposite side as well as the corresponding intermolecular tetrel‐ and triel‐bonded binary complexes, were investigated by symmetry‐adapted perturbation theory (SAPT) and the supermolecular Møller‐Plesset method (MP2) at the complete basis set limit for optimized geometries. A character of interactions was studied by quantum theory of atoms‐in‐molecules (QTAIM). A comparison of interaction energies and QTAIM bond descriptors for dimers and trimers reveals that tetrel and triel bonds increase in their strength if present together in the trimer. For the triel‐bonded complex, this growth leads to a change of the bond character from closed‐shell to partly covalent for Si or Ge tetrel atoms, so the resulting bonding scheme corresponds to a preliminary stage of the SN 2 reaction. Limitations of the Lewis theory of acids and bases were shown by its failure in predicting the stability order of the triel complexes. The necessity of including interaction energy terms beyond the electrostatic component for an elucidation of the nature of σ‐ and π‐holes was presented by a SAPT energy decomposition and by a study of differences in monomer electrostatic potentials obtained either from isolated monomer densities, or from densities resulting from a perturbation with the effective field of another monomer. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
The Glycemic and Insulinemic Index of Plain Sweet Biscuits: Relationships to in Vitro Starch Digestibility

Background: Among the various classes of processed starchy foods, wheat-based cereal products exhibit a wide range in glycemic and insulinemic responses. Understanding starch behavior during cooking and processing may help identify strategies that lower postprandial glycemia and insulinemia. Objective: To determine the relationship between the in vivo glycemic index (GI)/insulinemic index (II) and in vitro digestibility and composition characteristics (rapidly available glucose and slowly available glucose, RAG and SAG respectively) of 24 plain sweet biscuits (cookies). Methods: The products were commercially available and selected on the basis of their high starch content. In vivo responses (GI and II) were measured by standardised methods over 7 studies, with 12 subjects in each study (30 males, 42 females). In vitro digestibility characteristics were measured by the Englyst procedure. Results: The observed GI ranged from 38 to 60 (low to moderate) with the majority between 40 and 50, and correlated strongly with the observed insulinemic index (r = 0.76, P < 0.0001). The digestibility profile of carbohydrates was significantly correlated to in vivo responses (SAG and GI: r = −0.41; p = 0.04; SAG and II: r = −0.52; p < 0.01; RAG and GI: r = 0.5; p = 0.01; RAG and II: r = 0.34; p = 0.1) and explained in vivo responses better than fat, protein and fiber content amongst this selection of plain sweet biscuits. Conclusion: The findings indicate that plain sweet biscuits have a low GI and a moderate II and that these characteristics are correlated to in vitro starch digestibility and are dependent on the type of processing.