Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Arginase Activities and Global Arginine Bioavailability in Wild-Type and ApoE-Deficient Mice: Responses to High Fat and High Cholesterol Diets

Increased catabolism of arginine by arginase is increasingly viewed as an important pathophysiological factor in cardiovascular disease, including atherosclerosis induced by high cholesterol diets. Whereas previous studies have focused primarily on effects of high cholesterol diets on arginase expression and arginine metabolism in specific blood vessels, there is no information regarding the impact of lipid diets on arginase activity or arginine bioavailability at a systemic level. We, therefore, evaluated the effects of high fat (HF) and high fat-high cholesterol (HC) diets on arginase activity in plasma and tissues and on global arginine bioavailability (defined as the ratio of plasma arginine to ornithine + citrulline) in apoE−/− and wild-type C57BL/6J mice. HC and HF diets led to reduced global arginine bioavailability in both strains. The HC diet resulted in significantly elevated plasma arginase in both strains, but the HF diet increased plasma arginase only in apoE−/− mice. Elevated plasma arginase activity correlated closely with increased alanine aminotransferase levels, indicating that liver damage was primarily responsible for elevated plasma arginase. The HC diet, which promotes atherogenesis, also resulted in increased arginase activity and expression of the type II isozyme of arginase in multiple tissues of apoE−/− mice only. These results raise the possibility that systemic changes in arginase activity and global arginine bioavailability may be contributing factors in the initiation and/or progression of cardiovascular disease.
An Investigation of the Automatic Relative Gravimeters

The laboratory and field investigations of the several automatic gravimeters Scintrex CG_5 with a quartz elastic system used for the determining of gravity acceleration were performed. Research on characteristics of four gravimeters includes a five-year period. The data consists of gravimetric observations at a laboratory, on the gravimetric testline and at the points of the Lithuanian gravimetric network. The evaluation of the phenomena of the spring systems of the gravimeters was made. The stress on the estimation of the zero drift at a laboratory and field investigations was done. It was detected that zero drift does not exceed 500 μGal per day with a diapason of 200 μGal. The zero drifts per hour do not exceed 25 μGal, mostly they are under 10 μGal. According to the annual calibration results the character of the changes of the linear scale coefficients of the gravimeters were analysed too. The calibration base of 270 km length in Lithuania where the difference of the gravity acceleration of the end points is 201 mGal was used for investigations. The research showed that the biggest deviation from the unit of the linear scale coefficients does not exceed 0.013. It was noted, that the values of the linear scale coefficients of the gravimeters have a tendency to decrease. Also was noted, that the values of the linear scale coefficients have a tendency to decrease in the period between field works, and to increase - in the field works period. So the calibration of the gravimeters should be carried out before and after the field works. Based on measurements carried out during development of the Lithuanian gravimetric network, which consists of 686 gravimetric points, accuracy of gravity acceleration increments was assessed. The comparison of the observations results against the results, obtained by the LaCoste and Romberg gravimeters with metal elastic system, is presented too. The total number of common points is 51. It was stated, that the differences of the gravity accelerations measured by the different types of gravimeters at gravimetric points do not differ more than 10 μGal, therefore maximum difference of 25 μGal was received. The standard deviations of the gravity accelerations of the gravimetric points do not exceed 7 μGal. Such results show the good performance of the SCINTREX CG_5 gravimeters.
Efficient bioconversion of ethanol to acetaldehyde using a novel mutant strain of the methylotrophic yeast Hansenula polymorpha.

We report the isolation of mutant strains of the methylotrophic yeast Hansenula polymorpha that are able to efficiently oxidize ethanol to acetaldehyde in an intact cell system. The oxidation reaction is catalyzed by alcohol oxidase (AOX), a key enzyme in the methanol metabolic pathway that is typically present only in H. polymorpha cells growing on methanol. At least three mutations were introduced in the strains. Two of the mutations resulted in high levels of AOX in glucose-grown cells of the yeast. The third mutation introduced a defect in the cell's normal ability to degrade AOX in response to ethanol, and thus stabilizing the enzyme in the presence of this substrate. Using these strains, conditions for bioconversion of ethanol to acetaldehyde were examined. In addition to pH and buffer concentration, we found that the yield of acetaldehyde was improved by the addition of the proteinase inhibitor phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride (PMSF) and by permeabilization of the cells with digitonin. Under optimal shake-flask conditions using one of the H. polymorpha mutant strains, conversion of ethanol to acetaldehyde was nearly quantitative.
Functional Organization of Golgi N- and O-Glycosylation Pathways Involves pH-dependent Complex Formation That Is Impaired in Cancer Cells*

Background: Glycans are synthesized in the Golgi by sequentially acting glycosyltransferases, but it is not known how their functions are coordinated in live cells. Results: N- and O-glycosyltransferases form enzymatically active homo- and/or heteromeric complexes. Conclusion: Glycosyltransferases function as physically distinct enzyme complexes rather than single enzymes. Significance: The results help understand the overall functioning of the Golgi glycosylation pathways both in health and disease. Glycosylation is one of the most common modifications of proteins and lipids and also a major source of biological diversity in eukaryotes. It is critical for many basic cellular functions and recognition events that range from protein folding to cell signaling, immunological defense, and the development of multicellular organisms. Glycosylation takes place mainly in the endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi apparatus and involves dozens of functionally distinct glycosidases and glycosyltransferases. How the functions of these enzymes, which act sequentially and often competitively, are coordinated to faithfully synthesize a vast array of different glycan structures is currently unclear. Here, we investigate the supramolecular organization of the Golgi N- and O-glycosylation pathways in live cells using a FRET flow cytometric quantification approach. We show that the enzymes form enzymatically active homo- and/or heteromeric complexes within each pathway. However, no complexes composed of enzymes that operate in different pathways, were detected, which suggests that the pathways are physically distinct. In addition, we show that complex formation is mediated almost exclusively by the catalytic domains of the interacting enzymes. Our data also suggest that the heteromeric complexes are functionally more important than enzyme homomers. Heteromeric complex formation was found to be dependent on Golgi acidity, markedly impaired in acidification-defective cancer cells, and required for the efficient synthesis of cell surface glycans. Collectively, the results emphasize that the Golgi glycosylation pathways are functionally organized into complexes that are important for glycan synthesis.
Oestrogen‐dependent satellite cell activation and proliferation following a running exercise occurs via the PI3K signalling pathway and not IGF‐1

The purpose of this study was to determine whether 17β‐estradiol (E2) enhances the activation, proliferation and differentiation of muscle satellite cells (SC) following eccentric exercise either via insulin‐like growth factor‐1 (IGF‐1) or through phosphatidylinositol 3‐kinase (PI3K) signalling.
Effects of food deprivation and particle size of ground wheat on digestibility of food components in broilers fed on a pelleted diet

1. The first aim of the experiment was to study the effect of wheat (Triticum aestivum) particle size on the digestibility of starch in a pelleted diet given to broilers. The second aim was to study the consequences of food deprivation before the excreta collection period (from 21 to 24 d). Wheat from a strong hardness cultivar was incorporated at 546·1 g/kg in diets. The other main ingredients were soybean meal (353·5 g/kg) and rapeseed oil (55·0 g/kg). Diets were given as pellets. The experimental design was a 2 × 2 factorial design testing two particle sizes of wheat flour and two procedures of a balance experiment (with or without food deprivation). 2. Birds given diet C (wheat coarse grinding before pelleting) had significantly greater gizzard weight than birds fed on diet F (wheat fine grinding before pelleting). 3. Starch digestibility value was significantly increased when birds were fed on diet F. This effect was halved by food deprivation. No significant effect of grain particle size was observed for protein and lipid digestibility values. However, food deprivation decreased apparent protein digestibility, with an effect which was more pronounced for fine than for coarse grinding. 4. AMEN of the diet was significantly improved by fine grinding of wheat and decreased by food deprivation. However, no significant differences in growth performance were induced by differences in wheat grinding. 5. No significant effect of grinding was observed on the water excretion:feed intake ratio. No significant difference was observed for vent score between treatments. 6. There was over-excretion of starch in the first hours of refeeding following food deprivation.
Externalities in Cake Cutting

The cake cutting problem models the fair division of a heterogeneous good between multiple agents. Previous work assumes that each agent derives value only from its own piece. However, agents may also care about the pieces assigned to other agents; such externalities naturally arise in fair division settings. We extend the classical model to capture externalities, and generalize the classical fairness notions of proportionality and envyfreeness. Our technical results characterize the relationship between these generalized properties, establish the existence or nonexistence of fair allocations, and explore the computational feasibility of fairness in the face of externalities.
Evolution of aesthetically pleasing images without human-in-the-loop

Evolutionary Art is a sub-field of Evolutionary Computing that involves creating interesting images using Evolutionary Techniques. Previously Genetic Programming has been used to create such images autonomously — that is, without a human in the loop. However, this work did not explore alternative fitness measures, consider colour in fitness or provide independent validation of results. Four fitness functions based on the concept that the pleasingness of an image is based on the ratio of image complexity to processing complexity are explored. We introduce the use of Shannon Entropy as a measure of image complexity to compare with Jpeg Compression. Similarly, we introduce Run Length Encoding to compare with Fractal Compression as a measure of processing complexity. A survey of 100 participants showed that it is possible to generate aesthetically pleasing graphics using each fitness function. Importantly, it was the introduction of colour that separated the aesthetic effects of the fitness measures.
Information Systems Management

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Using the multilevel imbricated cells topologies in the design of low-power power-factor-corrector converters

Power-factor-corrector (PFC) converters are now commonly used in low-power supply systems connected to AC networks. In addition to their basic PFC properties, they constitute the best technical solution to directly obtain the compatibility with a large range of AC voltages provided by different distribution networks around the world (typically, from 85 to 265 V rms). It is the main application of these converters. This function is achieved with an additional cost and volume, and this extra price to pay needs to be minimized. In this context, we first recall the main approaches of the design of conventional PFCs based on the boost converter topology. We emphasize the different critical points of the sizing that mainly concern the input choke and the silicon devices, in regard with the choice of the switching frequency. Few ways of improvement are then presented for these conventional PFCs. In a second part, always in the context of a large input voltage range, we consider the possibility to introduce the multi-level concept to reduce the input choke and filters. A solution using a multi-level flying capacitor two-cell converter is presented. It is shown that it can lead to a significant increase of the performances, with several options of sizing which can be suited to different requirements of the applications.
Object-sensitive Type Analysis of PHP

In this paper we develop an object-sensitive type analysis for PHP, based on an extension of the notion of monotone frameworks to deal with the dynamic aspects of PHP, and following the framework of Smaragdakis et al. for object-sensitive analysis. We consider a number of instantiations of the framework to see how the choices affect the running cost of the analysis, and the precision of the outcome. In this setting we have not been able to reproduce the major gains reported by Smaragdakis et al., but do find that abstract garbage collection substantially increases the scalability of our analyses.
Performance Evaluation of Optic Disc Segmentation Algorithms in Retinal Fundus Images: an Empirical Investigation

Careful evaluation of Optic nerve head structure and its documentation is extremely important for diagnosis of Glaucoma, an eye disease which leads to vision loss. This work focuses on automatic segmentation of Optic disc from fundus images, which is an important parameter for disease diagnosis. We investigate and compare performance of five methods used for Optic disc segmentation. These five methods are based on use of algorithms namely; distance regularized level set, Otsu thresholding, region growing, particle Swarm optimization, generalized regression neural network. For ease of comparison all the methods were implemented and tested on a single database. The method using generalized regression neural network best suits the said application. It outperforms the other four due to highest region agreement, lowest non overlap ratio, lowest relative absolute area difference and low execution time.
Strong analytic controllability for hydrogen control systems

The realization and representation of so(4, 2) associated with the hydrogen atom Hamiltonian are derived. By choosing operators from the realization of so(4, 2) as interacting Hamiltonians, a hydrogen atom control system is constructed, and it is proved that this control system is strongly analytically controllable based on a time-dependent strong analytic controllability theorem.
Product structures for Legendrian contact homology

Abstract Legendrian contact homology (LCH) is a powerful non-classical invariant of Legendrian knots. Linearization makes the LCH computationally tractable at the expense of discarding nonlinear (and non-commutative) information. To recover some of the nonlinear information while preserving computability, we introduce invariant cup and Massey products – and, more generally, an A∞ structure – on the linearized LCH. We apply the products and A∞ structure in three ways: to find infinite families of Legendrian knots that are not isotopic to their Legendrian mirrors, to reinterpret the duality theorem of the fourth author in terms of the cup product, and to recover higher-order linearizations of the LCH.
Knowledge and Implementation of Tertiary Institutions’ Social Health Insurance Programme (TISHIP) in Nigeria: a case study of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka

Introduction Tertiary Institutions’ Social Health Insurance Programme (TISHIP) is an arm of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), which provides quality healthcare to students in Nigerian higher institutions. The success of this scheme depends on the students’ knowledge and awareness of its existence as well as the level of its implementation by healthcare providers. This study was therefore designed to assess students’ knowledge and attitude towards TISHIP and its implementation level among health workers in Nnamdi Azikiwe University Medical Centre. Methods Using a stratified random sampling technique, 420 undergraduate students of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka were assessed on their level of awareness and general assessment of TISHIP through an adapted and validated questionnaire instrument. The level of implementation of the scheme was then assessed among 50 randomly selected staff of the University Medical Center. Data collected were analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 20 software. Results Whereas the students in general, showed a high level of TISHIP awareness, more than half of them (56.3%) have never benefited from the scheme with 52.8% showing dissatisfaction with the quality of care offered with the scheme. However, an overwhelming number of the students (87.9%) opined that the scheme should continue. On the other hand, the University Medical Centre staff responses showed a satisfactory scheme implementation. Conclusion The study found satisfactory TISHIP awareness with poor attitude among Nnamdi Azikiwe University students. Furthermore, the University Medical Centre health workers showed a strong commitment to the objectives of the scheme.
The Non-Canonical Effect of N-Acetyl-D-Glucosamine Kinase on the Formation of Neuronal Dendrites

N-acetylglucosamine kinase (GlcNAc kinase or NAGK; EC 2.7.1.59) is a N-acetylhexosamine kinase that belong to the sugar kinase/heat shock protein 70/actin superfamily. In this study, we investigated both the expression and function of NAGK in neurons. Immunohistochemistry of rat brain sections showed that NAGK was expressed at high levels in neurons but at low levels in astrocytes. Immunocytochemistry of rat hippocampal dissociate cultures confirmed these findings and showed that NAGK was also expressed at low levels in oligodendrocytes. Furthermore, several NAGK clusters were observed in the nucleoplasm of both neuron and glia. The overexpression of EGFP- or RFP (DsRed2)-tagged NAGK in rat hippocampal neurons (DIV 5–9) increased the complexity of dendritic architecture by increasing the numbers of primary dendrites and dendritic branches. In contrast, knockdown of NAGK by shRNA resulted in dendrite degeneration, and this was prevented by the co-expression of RFP-tagged NAGK. These results suggest that the upregulation of dendritic complexity is a non-canonical function of NAGK.
Rab6 Dependent Post-Golgi Trafficking of HSV1 Envelope Proteins to Sites of Virus Envelopment

Herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV1) is an enveloped virus that uses undefined transport carriers for trafficking of its glycoproteins to envelopment sites. Screening of an siRNA library against 60 Rab GTPases revealed Rab6 as the principal Rab involved in HSV1 infection, with its depletion preventing Golgi‐to‐plasma membrane transport of HSV1 glycoproteins in a pathway used by several integral membrane proteins but not the luminal secreted protein Gaussia luciferase. Knockdown of Rab6 reduced virus yield to 1% and inhibited capsid envelopment, revealing glycoprotein exocytosis as a prerequisite for morphogenesis. Rab6‐dependent virus production did not require the effectors myosin‐II, bicaudal‐D, dynactin‐1 or rabkinesin‐6, but was facilitated by ERC1, a factor involved in linking microtubules to the cell cortex. Tubulation and exocytosis of Rab6‐positive, glycoprotein‐containing membranes from the Golgi was substantially augmented by infection, resulting in enhanced and targeted delivery to cell tips. This reveals HSV1 morphogenesis as one of the first biological processes shown to be dependent on the exocytic activity of Rab6.
Cerebral Vascular Accident in a Patient With Reactive Thrombocytosis: A Rare Cause of Stroke

Background and Purpose:Reactive thrombocytosis (RT) is usually a benign process and is not associated with thrombotic or hemorrhagic events Summary of Case:We report a case of a young man who suffers a stroke caused by RT, which was secondary to splenectomy, iron deficiency, and infection. Conclusions:Although rarely documented, RT can be the cause of a major vascular event.
Towards a Naturalistic Brain-Machine Interface: Hybrid Torque and Position Control Allows Generalization to Novel Dynamics

Realization of reaching and grasping movements by a paralytic person or an amputee would greatly facilitate her/his activities of daily living. Towards this goal, control of a computer cursor or robotic arm using neural signals has been demonstrated in rodents, non-human primates and humans. This technology is commonly referred to as a Brain-Machine Interface (BMI) and is achieved by predictions of kinematic parameters, e.g. position or velocity. However, execution of natural movements, such as swinging baseball bats of different weights at the same speed, requires advanced planning for necessary context-specific forces in addition to kinematic control. Here we show, for the first time, the control of a virtual arm with representative inertial parameters using real-time neural control of torques in non-human primates (M. radiata). We found that neural control of torques leads to ballistic, possibly more naturalistic movements than position control alone, and that adding the influence of position in a hybrid torque-position control changes the feedforward behavior of these BMI movements. In addition, this level of control was achievable utilizing the neural recordings from either contralateral or ipsilateral M1. We also observed changed behavior of hybrid torque-position control under novel external dynamic environments that was comparable to natural movements. Our results demonstrate that inclusion of torque control to drive a neuroprosthetic device gives the user a more direct handle on the movement execution, especially when dealing with novel or changing dynamic environments. We anticipate our results to be a starting point of more sophisticated algorithms for sensorimotor neuroprostheses, eliminating the need of fully automatic kinematic-to-dynamic transformations as currently used by traditional kinematic-based decoders. Thus, we propose that direct control of torques, or other force related variables, should allow for more natural neuroprosthetic movements by the user.