Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effect of Triacontanol on Numbers and Functions of Cells Involved in Inflammatory Responses

Abstract A preparation of a triacontanol-containing compound was studied for its effect on cells involved in the inflammatory response. C57BL/6 mice were injected intraperitoneally with various concentrations of this compound and investigated for total body weight, wet weight of thymus tissue, number of thymus cells and splenocytes, interleukin 1 production of spleen monocytes, and response of splenocytes to the T cell mitogen, phytohemagglutinin. Mice treated with the triacontanol preparation exhibited decreased total body weight, 24% reduction in thymus weights, 39% decrease in the number of thymus cells, and 21% depression in total splenocytes. Splenic monocytes of these animals produced a significantly reduced amount of interleukin 1 and splenocytes had a significantly depressed response to phytohemagglutinin. It is concluded that triacontanol has an inhibitory effect on at least some of the cells responsible for inflammation.
Absolute Bounds on Set Intersection and Union Sizes from Distribution Information

A catalog of quick closed-form bounds on set intersection and union sizes is presented; they can be expressed as rules, and managed by a rule-based system architecture. These methods use a variety of statistics precomputed on the data, and exploit homomorphisms (onto mappings) of the data items onto distributions that can be more easily analyzed. The methods can be used anytime, but tend to work best when there are strong or complex correlations in the data. This circumstance is poorly handled by the standard independence-assumption and distributional-assumption estimates. >
Design and testing of a functional group-specific DNA probe for the study of natural populations of acetogenic bacteria

The acetogens, although phylogenetically diverse, can be characterized by their possession of the acetyl coenzyme A (acetyl-CoA) pathway for autotrophic CO2 fixation. The gene encoding formyltetrahydrofolate synthetase, a key enzyme of the acetyl-CoA pathway, was previously cloned from the thermophilic acetogen Clostridium thermoaceticum and has now been tested as a group-specific probe for acetogens. Stable hybrids were formed between the probe and single DNA fragments from eight known acetogens representing six genera. A hybrid was also formed between the probe and a DNA fragment from one sulfate reducer known to be capable of both autotrophic CO2 fixation and acetate catabolism. No such hybrid was formed between the probe and DNA from a homoacetate fermenter not known to use the acetyl-CoA pathway, with two known formyltetrahydrofolate synthetase-producing purine fermenters, or with DNA from 27 other species representing 16 genera of organisms that do not use the acetyl-CoA pathway. DNA purified from cells extracted from horse manure was also screened with the acetogen probe. Six hybrids, indicating at least six detectable acetogen "strains," were observed.
Impact of Coupled Transmission-Distribution on Static Voltage Stability Assessment

With the rapid growth of distributed generators, the distribution static voltage stability assessment (D-VSA) becomes as important as the transmission voltage stability assessment (T-VSA). However, the T-VSA and D-VSA normally treat the transmission and distribution separately, neglecting the interactions between transmission and distribution (T-D). This letter studies the impact of coupled T-D on VSA via physical analysis and numerical simulation. We observe that without considering the T-D interaction, D-VSA may exaggerate the actual load margin significantly, and T-VSA may either exaggerate or underestimate the actual load margin, both of which are unreliable. Hence, the coupled T-D interactions must be considered in both T-VSA and D-VSA.
Improved glycemic control and lipid profile and normalized fibrinolytic activity on a low-glycemic index diet in type 2 diabetic patients.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the effects of varying the glycemic index (GI) of carbohydrate-rich foods on metabolic control in type 2 diabetic patients. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS In a randomized crossover study, 20 patients, 5 women and 15 men, were given preweighed diets with different GIs during two consecutive 24-day periods. Both diets were composed in accordance with dietary recommendations for people with diabetes. The macronutrient composition and type and amount of dietary fiber were identical. Differences in GI were achieved mainly by altering the structure of the starchy foods. RESULTS Peripheral insulin sensitivity increased significantly and fasting plasma glucose decreased during both treatment periods. There was a significant difference in the changes of serum fructosamine concentrations between the diets (P < 0.05). The incremental area under the curve for both blood glucose and plasma insulin was approximately 30% lower after the low- than after the high-GI diet. LDL cholesterol was significantly lowered on both diets, with a significantly more pronounced reduction on the low-GI diet. Plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 activity was normalized on the low-GI diet, (-54%, P < 0.001), but remained unchanged on the high-GI diet. CONCLUSIONS A diet characterized by low-GI starchy foods lowers the glucose and insulin responses throughout the day and improves the lipid profile and capacity for fibrinolysis, suggesting a therapeutic potential in diabetes.
Regulation of BRCA1 Expression by the Rb-E2F Pathway*

Inheritance of a mutant allele of the breast cancer susceptibility gene BRCA1 confers increased risk of developing breast and ovarian cancers. Likewise, inheritance of a mutant allele of the retinoblastoma susceptibility gene (RB1) results in the development of retinoblastoma and/or osteosarcoma, and both alleles are often mutated or inactivated in sporadic forms of these and other cancers. We now demonstrate that the product of the RB1 gene, Rb, regulates the expression of the murine Brca1 and human BRCA1 genes through its ability to modulate E2F transcriptional activity. TheBrca1 gene is identified as an in vivo target of E2F1 in a transgenic mouse model. The Brca1 promoter contains E2F DNA-binding sites that mediate transcriptional activation by E2F1 and repression by Rb. Moreover, ectopic expression of cyclin D1 and Cdk4 can stimulate the Brca1 promoter in an E2F-dependent manner, and this is inhibited by coexpression of the p16 INK4a cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor. The human BRCA1 promoter also contains a conserved E2F site and is similarly regulated by E2F1 and Rb. This functional link between the BRCA1 and Rb tumor suppressors may provide insight into the mechanism by which BRCA1 inactivation contributes to cancer development.
Hormone-Diversity Fit: Collective Testosterone Moderates the Effect of Diversity on Group Performance

Prior research has found inconsistent effects of diversity on group performance. The present research identifies hormonal factors as a critical moderator of the diversity-performance connection. Integrating the diversity, status, and hormone literatures, we predicted that groups collectively low in testosterone, which orients individuals less toward status competitions and more toward cooperation, would excel with greater group diversity. In contrast, groups collectively high in testosterone, which is associated with a heightened status drive, would be derailed by diversity. Analysis of 74 randomly assigned groups engaged in a group decision-making exercise provided support for these hypotheses. The findings suggest that diversity is beneficial for performance, but only if group-level testosterone is low; diversity has a negative effect on performance if group-level testosterone is high. Too much collective testosterone maximizes the pains and minimizes the gains from diversity.
Cardioprotective Effect of MicroRNA-21 in Murine Myocardial Infarction.

INTRODUCTION To investigate the cardioprotective effect of MicroRNA-21 (miR-21) in murine myocardial infarction (MI). METHODS Forty C57BL/6 male mice were divided into sham group, MI group, LV-GFP group, and miR-21 group. Mice in the MI group, LV-GFP group, and miR-21 group were subjected to MI by left anterior descending artery (LAD) ligation, while chest was opened/closed without ligation in sham group. In MI group, expression of miR-21 in the MI area and its surrounding areas was detected at 1st, 2nd, and 4th week after experiment. Subsequently, lentivirus expressing miR-21 and lentivirus that did not express miR-21 were transfected into mice left ventricular cavity of miR-21 group and LV-GFP group, respectively. Cardiac function, MI size, miR-21 expression, collagen I level, fibronectin content, number of α-SMA-positive cells, number of apoptotic cells, apoptosis-related factors were compared between the three groups. RESULTS Compared with sham group, miR-21 levels in MI group were significantly decreased in the 1st week and 2nd week, but were almost the same in the 4th week. Left ventricular fractional shortening (LVFS) and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) in the miR-21 group improved compared to the LV-GFP group. In miR-21 group, myocardial infarct size reduced by 36.9% in comparison with LV-GFP group. Compared to sham group, miR-21 expression in the miR-21 group and LV-GFP group decreased significantly. In the miR-21 group, collagen I level, fibronectin content and number of α-SMA-positive cells of miR-21 decreased significantly compared to the LV-GFP group. The number of apoptotic cells in the MI areas of the miR-21 group was significantly less than the LV-GFP group. Compared with the LV-GFP group, Bcl-2 level and the ratio of Bcl-2 to Bax were significantly increased, and the levels of Bax and Caspase-3 decreased. CONCLUSIONS Our results suggest miR-21 is an important regulatory molecule in the pathophysiology of MI.
Impacts of Climate Smart Agriculture Practices on Soil Water Conservation and Maize Productivity in Rainfed Cropping Systems of Uganda

With climate change, maize production is becoming more constrained by limited water availability especially in rainfed production systems. Climate Smart Agriculture (CSA) practices have potential to enhance water availability and water use efficiency in rainfed production systems, but their efficiencies have not been adequately investigated. The study evaluated the performance of permanent planting basins (PPB), mulching (M), and halfmoon pits (HM) on soil moisture storage, maize yield, and water use efficiency in a maize cropping system for the sub-humid areas of Uganda for three cropping seasons in Albert region. The control treatment consisted of bare soil as the existing conventional farming practice without any CSA practice. Maize growth parameters and soil moisture storage were monitored and evaluated in each cropping season and CSA treatment. The maize yield, water use efficiency, and evapotranspiration (ET), were determined in each CSA treatment. Results showed that CSA practices significantly increased (P < 0.05) total soil water storage (1–12%) than the control treatment. It was also noted that; the use of M, PPB, and HM increased the water use efficiency by 9 – 68% and 8 – 66% of grain yield compared to the control in the three growing seasons. Our results indicate that even under unreliable and limited precipitation in sub-humid regions, the studied CSA practices indicate a high possibility to increase maize productivity than conventional farming practices (control). These findings are critical as climate change continues to affect maize productivity in rainfed farming systems where there limited supplemental water alternative sources for smallholder farmers. The adoption of CSA practices will enhance the resilience of maize production in sub-humid regions.
Case Report: Acute Renal and Splenic Infarctions Secondary to Atrial Fibrillation

Acute renal and splenic infarctions are an uncommon condition that can result from obstruction or decrease of renal and splenic arterial flow. We described a 73-year-old woman who presented with right flank pain and nocturnal dyspnea. The computed tomography (CT) scan with intravenous contrast showed multiple infarcts in both bilateral kidneys and spleen. Serum creatinine clearance was impaired. Further investigation by electrocardiogram (ECG) and 24-h Holter revealed that the patient had paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (PAF). Transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiographic findings were unremarkable except for severe spontaneous echo contrast (SEC) in the left atrial appendage. The development of thromboembolic renal and splenic infarction was attributed to embolism caused by atrial fibrillation. Anticoagulant therapy was initiated with low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) and followed by an oral anticoagulant. To manage PAF and prevent further embolism, the “One-stop” procedure, including atrial fibrillation catheter ablation and left atrial appendage occlusion (LAAO), was applied to this patient. Follow-up at 1 month showed normal sinus rhythm, improved renal function, and relieved renal and splenic infarction.
Application of Time Series Based SVM Model on Next-Day Electricity Price Forecasting Under Deregulated Power Market

With the development of power markets, electricity price especially the market clearing price (MCP) forecasting is becoming more and more important in such new competitive markets since the MCP forecasting is the basis of decision making for participants in electricity market. In this paper the problem of modeling market clearing price forecasting in deregulated markets is studied. And electricity price forecasting with support vector machines based on time series is provided. Except considering MCP price influential factors such as previous competitive load, making-up price, competitive generating capacity etc, the past price data which are time series style or not have been included as attributes in input parameters. That is to introduce the concept of time series into our presented model. Based on these influential factors, the corresponding SVM forecasting model is presented. The proposed algorithm is more robust and reliable as compared to traditional approach and neural networks. The performance of our proposed modeling approach has been tested using practical electricity market and compared with traditional neural network. The satisfactory results with better generalization capability and lower prediction error can be obtained
Resources for Health: A Social-Ecological Intervention for Supporting Self-management of Chronic Conditions

There is a pressing need for practical interventions to support self-management of chronic illness that can be integrated with primary care, and that take into account the patient's social environment. This pilot study was conducted with low-income clients of a community health center and focused on enhancing use of social-environmental resources supportive of self-management. Twenty-eight patients having at least one chronic illness, randomized to immediate versus delayed treatment conditions, met once with a health educator to develop a self-management plan, and received one follow-up phone call and two newsletters. Significant improvements in use of community resources, minutes of physical activity, and medication adherence were obtained compared to control. Integrating brief self-management counseling with social environmental support appeared effective, although much more can be done to better link counseling to primary care practice.
An improved E-Min-Max localization algorithm in wireless sensor networks

Min-Max localization algorithm is usually used by wireless sensor nodes because of the reason that it considers few conditions and have a coarse localization which can determine a blind node within a certain range. In this paper, we propose improved Extended Min-Max (improved E-Min-Max) algorithm for localization in wireless sensor networks (WSNs). Experimental results show that improved E-Min-Max algorithm outperforms E-Min-Max algorithm in the localization accuracy.
Real-time monitoring of cytomegalovirus infections after stem cell transplantation using the TaqMan polymerase chain reaction assays.

BACKGROUND Real-time monitoring of cytomegalovirus (CMV) infections in transplant patients demands a rapid and high-throughput CMV DNA quantification method. METHODS TaqMan polymerase chain reaction assays based on CMV immediate early protein exon 4 and glycoprotein B were developed and were compared with a COBAS AMPLICOR CMV MONITOR (CMM) test for quantifying CMV DNA in peripheral blood leukocytes from seven stem cell transplant patients having received antiviral treatment. RESULTS There was a good correlation between the TaqMan assays and the CMM test for CMV DNA quantification. The throughput of the TaqMan assays was, however, about 3 times higher than that of the CMM test. The CMV DNA dynamics patterns determined by the TaqMan polymerase chain reaction were well in line with the outcome of the antiviral therapy. CONCLUSIONS The TaqMan assays may potentially serve as a useful tool for rapid quantification of CMV infections in stem cell transplant patients.
Post-myocardial infarction left ventricular remodelling and function in the rat : analysis using the pressure-volume loops * *

Introduction. Myocardial infarction (MI) triggers left ventricular (LV) remodelling, which is a progressive change of ventricular composition, shape and function. It has been characterised fairly well, though prediction of its outcome still is largely difficult. Aim. To characterise post-MI progression to heart failure using pressure-volume loop technique. Material and methods. Rats were subjected to induction of large non-reperfused MI or sham operation and were followed-up for 3, 7 days or 4 or 8 weeks after the surgery. At each point, they underwent basic echocardiographic assessment and left ventricle pressure-volume (PV) loop recording to obtain multiple parameters characterising LV remodelling, systolic and diastolic performance and preload and afterload. Results. Preload, but not afterload, progressively increased after MI. Transition to heart failure was accompanied by a progressive worsening of systolic performance and active relaxation, while LV compliance did not change much with time. While total cardiac work, represented by total PV area, remained unchanged, efficient haemodynamic stroke work was markedly reduced at the expense of significant increase in inefficient elastic potential energy. Conclusions. Detailed analysis using PV loops provides additional insight into postMI remodelling and progression to heart failure, indicating that the failing heart becomes “wasteful”, utilising most of its work for haemodynamically inefficient transfer of elastic potential energy rather than for haemodynamically effective stroke work. Improvement in mechanical efficiency of the heart may be a promising strategy for the prevention or treatment of heart failure.
Variability of Bartonella Genotypes among Small Mammals in Spain

ABSTRACT In order to study which Bartonella genotypes are circulating among small mammals in Spain, we analyzed the spleens of 395 animals from three different areas—247 animals from the Basque Country (northern Spain), 121 animals from Catalonia (northeastern Spain), and 27 animals from Madrid (central Spain)—by a triplex PCR combined with a reverse line blot previously described by our group. The prevalence of Bartonella was 26.8% (106/395), and in 4.8% (19/395) of the animals more than one Bartonella genotype was detected. The study of gltA and the intergenic transcribed spacer in the positive samples demonstrated a large diversity, allowing the assignation of them into 22 genotypes. The most prevalent genotypes were 2 and 3, which are closely related to Bartonella taylorii. In addition, nine genotypes were associated with specific mammal species. Genotypes close to the zoonotic Bartonella grahamii, Bartonella elizabethae, and Bartonella rochalimae were also detected. Ten genotypes showed a percentage of similarity with known Bartonella species lower than 96%, suggesting the presence of potential new species. Further studies of the impact of these pathogens on human health and especially in cases of febrile illness in Spain are strongly recommended. Furthermore, our method has been updated with 21 new probes in a final panel of 36, which represents a robust molecular tool for clinical and environmental Bartonella studies.
Large signal model for analysis and design of HEMT gate mixer

This paper examines the problem of modeling HEMT's for calculations of conversion gain and intermodulation. An accurate and simple large signal model of discrete HEMT's has been developed. The nonlinear elements of the model are assumed to depend exclusively on the gate-source voltage. The interpolation of the measured data, using polynomial expressions, provides a description of the HEMT's nonlinearities in a CAD software. Based on the model, a hybrid HEMT gate mixer has been built. The accuracy of the model has been verified, and we obtained good agreement between the measured and simulated results. <<ETX>>
Detecting Network Degradation Using Machine Learning

Due to the prohibitive cost of downtime in large complex systems, it is important to reduce or entirely eliminate any downtime that might happen as a result of degradation in system quality. This thesis paper presents a newly developed model for network congestion detection in large scale networks, using Gaussian Mixture Model and Isolation Forest algorithms to improve early detection of failure in the Ericsson EBM data. The results from the evaluation suggests that the developed method is more robust and precise in finding anomalies, compared to the current method used by Ericsson.
Polymorphisms in the HBB gene relate to individual cardiorespiratory adaptation in response to endurance training

Objective: The crucial role of haemoglobin in endurance performance has been well documented. We examined whether polymorphisms in the HBB gene modified aerobic capacity. Methods: 102 recruits were trained by running 5000 m three times per week for 18 weeks. Exercise intensity progressively increased from an initial heart rate corresponding to 95% of the individual baseline ventilatory threshold during the first 10 weeks to 105% during the last 8 weeks. The phenotypes measured were running economy and VO2max. Running economy was determined by measuring submaximal VO2 for 5 min at a constant running speed of 12 km·h−1 and VO2max was obtained during an incremental test to exhaustion. Genomic DNA was extracted from white cells of peripheral blood and the −551C/T, intron2,+16C/G and +340 A/T genotypes were examined relative to the TAA site variants by PCR-RFLP. Results: Genotype distributions were in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium at three loci. None of the running economy and VO2max-related traits were associated with the three polymorphisms or haplotypes at baseline, while the training response of running economy was associated with −551C/T and intron2,+16C/G polymorphisms. Subjects homozygous for intron2,+16C/C or −551C/C had decreased oxygen cost of running compared to the other individuals. Discussion: It was concluded that the −551C/C or intron2,+16C/C genotype might explain part of the individual variation in the cardiorespiratory adaptation to endurance training.