Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Differential Regulations of Lipid Profiles between Japanese Responders and Nonresponders Treated with Pioglitazone

Abstract The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of pioglitazone on lipid profiles in relation to glycemic control. Eighty-one treatment-naïve patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus received pioglitazone monotherapy. Subjects who had ≥ 1% reduction in hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) levels were defined as responders (n = 47) and those with > 1% reduction as nonresponders (n = 34). At 3 months, the HbA1c levels and several lipid parameters were compared with baseline values. Because it is known that the response to some antihyperglycemic agents is proportional to baseline HbA1c levels, the changes (Δ) in these parameters were compared for 2 groups based on their ΔHbA1c/baseline HbA1c ratio. The lowest tertile was called super-responders (n = 25) and highest tertile was called extreme nonresponders (n = 24). At baseline, HbA1c levels and body mass index (BMI) were significantly higher in responders; no significant differences were observed in total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TGs), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), LDL-C/HDL-C ratio, or non–HDL-C between the 2 groups. At 3 months, significant decreases in TGs and increases in HDL-C were observed in both groups. In contrast, TC, non–HDL-C, and LDL-C/HDL-C ratio significantly decreased in responders. Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol had a tendency to decrease in responders. However, these parameters were nonsignificantly increased in nonresponders. Body mass index significantly increased in responders, while it slightly increased in nonresponders. Analysis of covariance revealed that significant intergroup differences existed with TC, LDL-C, non–HDL-C, and LDL-C/HDL-C ratio, while no such differences were observed with TGs, HDL-C, and BMI. Very similar results were obtained with super-responders and extreme nonresponders. These results suggest that approximately 40% of the treatment-naïve Japanese subjects with type 2 diabetes mellitus were nonresponders to pioglitazone, and differential regulations of lipid parameters exist between responders and nonresponders treated with pioglitazone. Bad cholesterols (eg, TC, LDL-C, and non–HDL-C) were reduced only in responders. Irrespective of its efficacy on glycemic control, pioglitazone can significantly downregulate TGs and upregulate HDL-C levels.
Thermodynamics of Coral Diversity — Diversity Index of CoralDistributions in Amitori Bay, Iriomote Island, Japan and Intermediate Disturbance Hypothesis

The relationship between coral distributions and physical variables was investigated in Amitori Bay, Iriomote Island, Japan. Amitori Bay is located in the northeast region of Irio‐ mote Island, Japan. Broad areas of coral have developed in the bay, and their life forms, coverages, sizes, and species vary depending on their locations. In addition, Amitori Bay has no access roads, and the bay perimeter is uninhabited. Thus, this small bay, with its variety of environments and lack of human impact, is considered to be one of the most suitable areas for studying the relationship between coral distribution and physical varia‐ bles. Field observations were conducted to obtain data on coral distributions, sea temperature, sea salinity, wind speed, and river flow rate. The observed data were then used in ocean and wave model numerical simulations and soil particle tracking analysis to obtain the spatial and temporal distributions of wave height and the numbers of soil particles. Our results showed that the life forms, sizes, and species of corals significantly varied de‐ pending on their locations in the bay, because the physical variables differed significantly among these locations. From the results of the above observations and simulations, we calculated diversity index of coral distributions and its relation to physical variables. The diversity index, DI is de‐ fined as DI=-Σ ci log2 ci, where ci is the ratio of i-th group coverage to total coverage. DI is a quantitative measure for the degree in which a dataset includes different types and is related closely to entropy concept in Thermodynamics. The value of DI increases when both the number of types and the evenness increase. For a given number of types, the val‐ ue of DI is maximized when all types are equally abundant. The results show that Aver‐ ages of diversity index of the coral types at the mouth and inner parts of the bay are lower than average of the whole region, but average of diversity index at the intermedi‐ © 2017 The Author(s). Licensee InTech. This chapter is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. ate part of the bay with the intermediate physical disturbances is higher than it. This seems to support the intermediate disturbance hypothesis which states species diversity in local area is maximized when environmental disturbances is neither too weak not too strong.
Gene Expression Profiling during Wilting in Chickpea Caused by Fusarium oxysporum F. sp. Ciceri

Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. ciceri (Foc), one of the most important fungal pathogen of chickpea, is a constant threat to this crop plant. In the present study gene expression analysis of chickpea roots during Foc infection was performed using various approaches. cDNAs derived from total mRNA during infection process of susceptible (JG62)and resistant (Digvijay) cultivars, were amplified using random oligonucleotides. Sequence characterization of differentially expressed transcripts revealed their homology with many plant genes essential for various metabolic functions including defense. Further, expression patterns of specific candidate gene transcripts were analyzed in the Foc inoculated and uninoculated resistant and susceptible chickpea cultivars, on day 6 of infection. Semiquantitative RT-PCR analysis of defense related genes was performed using gene specific oligonucleotides in resistant and susceptible chickpea cultivars. The expression of fungal pathogenesis related genes and their race specific response was determined throughout the course of chickpea-Foc interaction. Temporal expression and race specific response of plant defense related and fungal virulence genes were studied in the resistant and susceptible cultivars of chickpea inoculated with three races of Foc highlighting the host-pathogen interactions. Few genes, involved in chickpea defense against Fusarium wilt which were not reported previously were unveiled in this study.
Life review therapy for older adults with moderate depressive symptomatology: a pragmatic randomized controlled trial

Background Although there is substantial evidence for the efficacy of life review therapy as an early treatment of depression in later life, its effectiveness in natural settings has not been studied. The present study evaluates an intervention based on life review and narrative therapy in a large multi-site, pragmatic randomized controlled trial (RCT). Method Life review therapy was compared with care as usual. The primary outcome was depressive symptoms; secondary outcomes were anxiety symptoms, positive mental health, quality of life, and current major depressive episode (MDE). To identify groups for whom the intervention was particularly effective, moderator analyses were carried out (on sociodemographic variables, personality traits, reminiscence functions, clinically relevant depressive and anxiety symptoms, and past MDEs). Results Compared with care as usual (n=102), life review therapy (n=100) was effective in reducing depressive symptoms, at post-treatment (d=0.60, B=−5.3, p<0.001), at 3-month follow-up (d=0.50, B=−5.0, p<0.001) and for the intervention also at 9-month follow-up (t=5.7, p<0.001). The likelihood of a clinically significant change in depressive symptoms was significantly higher [odds ratio (OR) 3.77, p<0.001 at post-treatment; OR 3.76, p<0.001 at the 3-month follow-up]. Small significant effects were found for symptoms of anxiety and positive mental health. Moderator analyses showed only two significant moderators, the personality trait of extraversion and the reminiscence function of boredom reduction. Conclusions This study shows the effectiveness of life review therapy as an early intervention for depression in an ecologically valid context, supporting its applicability to a broad target group. The intervention is also effective in reducing anxiety symptoms and strengthening positive mental health.
c-Myb-binding Sites Mediate G1/S-associated Repression of the Plasma Membrane Ca2+-ATPase-1 Promoter*

We demonstrate that two Myb-binding sites of the mouse plasma membrane Ca2+-ATPase-1 (PMCA1) promoter are required for G1/S cell cycle stage-associated repression of PMCA1 promoter activity. Nuclear run-on experiments revealed G1/S-associated repression of PMCA1transcription. Ribonuclease protection assays revealed two transcription initiation sites between two Myb-binding sites in thePMCA1 promoter. Gel shift assays showed that c-Myb can bind to wild-type but not point mutated Myb binding sequences of thePMCA1 promoter. Transient transfection assays using cell cycle-synchronized vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC) andPMCA1 promoter-luciferase constructs showed a 2-fold decrease in reporter activity at G1/S as compared with G0. Overexpression of wild-type c-Myb severely repressedPMCA1 promoter activity at both G0 and G1/S while co-transfection of a dominant negative c-Myb, or a construct encoding an anti-c-Myb neutralizing antibody, completely abolished the repression seen at G1/S. Single nucleotide substitutions in the first, second, or both Myb-binding sites alleviated the G1/S-associated repression ofPMCA1 promoter activity in transformed rat VSMC and primary mouse VSMC cultures. We conclude that c-Myb mediates G1/S-associated transcriptional repression of thePMCA1 Ca2+ pump in rodent VSMC by direct binding to the PMCA1 promoter.
Statistically Secure One Multiplication and Additions of Secret Shares ( Preliminary version )

One of the most interesting research topics in cryptography is finding schemes for an efficient fully-homomorphic encryption (FHE), preferably information-theoretically secure schemes, which are not based on unproven computational hardness assumptions. The greatest breakthrough in the field of FHE schemes was made by Gentry [7] in 2009, and since then there were some interesting developments, e.g. Boneh et al. [13] and Barkevski and Perlman [16]. All currently known FHE schemes have computational security and are time-wise inefficient. We suggest here an information-theoretically secure secret sharing scheme of restricted values that supports one homomorphic multiplication of secrets and homomorphic additions of, practically, any number of such multiplied secrets. In particular, our scheme enables sharing secrets amongst n + 1 participants, using polynomials of degree n, in such a way that no information is revealed to any single participant, both before and after the above series of operations. Moreover, for the case n = 3 we prove that any coalition of two participants will be able to reveal only limited information concerning the secrets: when the secrets are elements of Fp, then every value for (s1, s2) ∈ Fp is possible with probability ≈ 1 p2 , except for a small portion of values that are possible with probability ≈ 2 p2 . One possible application of our scheme is a secure homomorphic evaluation of multi-variant quadratic functions and 2-CNF circuits.
THE ROLE OF OOCYTE MORPHOLOGY ON FERTILIZATION AND EMBRYO FORMATION IN ASSISTED REPRODUCTIVE TECHNIQUES

Objective: To assess the influence of MII oocyte morphology on the fertilization outcome and embryo development in ART cycles. Since, age may affect the quality of oocyte, the role of women's age was also evaluated following IVF or ICSI cycles. Materials and Methods: 200 MII oocytes from 30 IVF and ICSI cycles were evaluated. The morphology of oocytes that were fertilized in IVF cycles (IVF+) was compared with failed fertilization (IVF-). The oocytes were similarly categorized in the ICSI procedure (ICSI+ and ICSI-). The criteria for morphological evaluations were: a. normal oocytes showed clear cytoplasm with homogenous fine granularity; b. granular oocytes, dark with granularity either homogenous in whole cytoplasm or concentrated in the central portion of the oocyte; c. cytoplasmic inclusions comprised vacuoles presumed to be of endocytotic origin; d. dark zona pellucida (ZP), e. fragmented polar body (PB) of different sizes; f. non-spherical shape of oocyte; and g. wide previtelline space (PVS). Embryo transfer took place 48 h after insemination/ injection. The statistical significance of the data was analyzed using chi-square and Fisher's exact tests. Results: A total of 67 and 78 oocytes were fertilized in IVF and ICSI cycles, respectively. 46.3% and 35.9% of fertilized oocytes were shown with normal morphology in IVF and ICSI cases, respectively. The rates of grade A & B embryos were significantly higher in oocytes with normal morphology (P<0.05). The mean number of embryos transferred was similar in IVF and ICSI groups (3.3±0.4 versus 3.0±0.9). In IVF+ and ICSI+, fragmented PBs were the highest rates of single abnormality with 11.9% and 14.1%, respectively. Also, multiple abnormalities were observed in 21.0% and 48.5% of oocytes in IVF+ and IVF-, respectively (P<0.001). 15.4% and 31.8% of the oocytes from ICSI+ and ICSI- were presented with more than one abnormality. Refractile bodies were the highest type of single abnormality (18.2%) in ICSI- group. Conclusions: In both IVF and ICSI, the highest rates of fertilization and embryo formation took place in oocytes with normal morphological features that were retrieved from young patients. The most single morphological features involved in failed fertilization were refractile body in ICSI and ooplasm granulation in IVF cases. The data suggest
Beam-Gas and Thermal Photon Scattering in the NLC Main Linac as a Source of Beam Halo (LCC-0051)

Scattering of primary beam electrons off of residual gas molecules or blackbody radiation photons in the NLC main linac has been identified as a potential source of beam haloes which must be collimated in the beam delivery system. We consider the contributions from four scattering mechanisms: inelastic thermal-photon scattering, elastic beam-gas (Coulomb) scattering inelastic beam-gas (Bremsstrahlung) scattering, and atomic-electron scattering. In each case we develop the formalism necessary to estimate the backgrounds generated in the main linac, and determine the expected number of off-energy or large-amplitude particles from each process, assuming a main linac injection energy of 8 GeV and extraction energy of 500 GeV.
Total Antioxidant Levels are Low During Active TB and Rise with Anti‐tuberculosis Therapy

In tuberculosis, oxidative stress is a result of tissue inflammation, poor dietary intake of micronutrients due to illness, free radical burst from activated macrophages, and anti‐tuberculosis drugs. These free radicals may in turn contribute towards pulmonary inflammation if not neutralized by antioxidants. The total antioxidant status (TAS) of individuals is a function of dietary, enzymatic, and other systemic antioxidants and is therefore an indicator of the free radical load. Our aim was to evaluate the TAS of healthy and M. tuberculosis‐infected persons from a high TB incidence community, as well as tuberculosis patients at various stages of antituberculosis drug treatment and to correlate results with plasma micronutrient levels. Blood plasma samples from TB infected patients and following antituberculosis drug treatment were assayed for TAS, vitamins A, E and Zinc. Statistical analysis of results was by one‐way ANOVA and the Tukey multiple comparison post test. Active TB patients showed a significantly lower TAS (P < 0.001) compared to the community controls. We also show that TAS values increase during therapy. Results correlated with micronutrients vitamin A and zinc but vitamin E remained unaffected. We suggest that total antioxidant status of TB patients should be considered for more effective disease control and that diets low in antioxidants may render individuals susceptible to tuberculosis. IUBMB Life, 56: 101‐106, 2004
Rapid Fabrication of Disposable Micromixing Arrays Using Xurography and Laser Ablation

We assessed xurography and laser ablation for the manufacture of passive micromixers arrays to explore the scalability of unconventional manufacture technologies that could be implemented under the restrictions of the Point of Care for developing countries. In this work, we present a novel split-and-recombine (SAR) array design adapted for interfacing standardized dispensing (handheld micropipette) and sampling (microplate reader) equipment. The design was patterned and sealed from A4 sized vinyl sheets (polyvinyl chloride), employing low-cost disposable materials. Manufacture was evaluated measuring the dimensional error with stereoscopic and confocal microscopy. The micromixing efficiency was estimated using a machine vision system for passive driven infusion provided by micropippetting samples of dye and water. It was possible to employ rapid fabrication based on xurography to develop a four channel asymmetric split-and-recombine (ASAR) micromixer with mixing efficiencies ranging from 43% to 65%.
A comparison of maximal inspiratory pressure and forced vital capacity as potential criteria for initiating non‐invasive ventilation in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

Using a retrospective analysis of 161 patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) from the Western ALS study group (WALS) database, the sensitivity of maximal inspiratory pressure (MIP)<−60 cm H2O and forced vital capacity (FVC)<50% as US Medicare thresholds for initiating non‐invasive ventilation (NIV) were compared. Sixty‐five per cent of patients at enrollment met the MIP criterion, compared with only 8% of patients who met the FVC criterion. There were no cases in which FVC<50% antedated MIP<−60 cm H2O. The longitudinal data showed that patients reached the MIP criterion 4 to 6.5 months earlier than the FVC criterion. For patients with clinical signs and symptoms needing treatment with NIV, a MIP<−60 cm H2O allows US clinicians to obtain non‐invasive ventilatory support for patients earlier than if using the FVC criterion alone.
Stpahylococcus aureus biofilms on central venous haemodialysis catheters

Biofilm bacterial infections are common in patients undergoing treatment with haemodialysis. This study involved 16 patients (7 males, 9 females; ages from 22 to 81 with an average age of 50) who had had a total of 25 temporary haemodialysis polyurethane catheter insertions into the subclavian vein (22 dual-lumen and 3 triple-lumen). The catheters remained in place from 3 to 91 days, on an average of 47 days. The reasons for catheter removal were: bad functioning (44%), suspicion of catheter-related infection (20%), availability of permanent access (16%), accidental removal (12%), signs and symptoms of infection at the site of catheter insertion (4%), and exogenous contamination (4%). Positive tip cultures were observed on seven of the catheters (28%), showing three positive blood cultures. The Staphylococcus aureus were identified in 12% of the blood cultures and isolated from one of the hubs, and biofilms were observed on all catheter tips. The S. aureus retrieved from both blood and catheters (tips and hubs) were resistant to penicillin and susceptible to azithromycin, ciprofloxacin, clindamycin, chloramphenicol, gentamicin, oxacillin, rifampin, sulfamethoxazole, tetracycline, and vancomycin. The S. aureus strains isolated from both blood and catheters (tips and hubs) were considered to be identical based on antibiotic susceptibility patterns and genetic similarity assessed using an automated ribotyping system.
Elevated temperature prolongs long‐term effects of a pesticide on Daphnia spp. due to altered competition in zooplankton communities

Considerable research efforts have been made to predict the influences of climate change on species composition in biological communities. However, little is known about how changing environmental conditions and anthropogenic pollution can affect aquatic communities in combination. We investigated the influence of short warming periods on the response of a zooplankton community to the insecticide esfenvalerate at a range of environmentally realistic concentrations (0.03, 0.3 and 3 μg L−1) in 55 outdoor pond microcosms. Warming periods increased the cumulative water temperature, but did not exceed the maximum temperature measured under ambient conditions. Under warming conditions alone the abundance of some zooplankton taxa increased selectively compared to ambient conditions. This resulted in a shift in the community composition that had not recovered by the end of the experiment, 8 weeks after the last warming period. Regarding the pesticide exposure, short‐term effects of esfenvalerate on the community structure and the sensitive taxa Daphnia spp. did not differ between the two temperature regimes. In contrast, long‐term effects of esfenvalerate on Daphnia spp. , a taxon that did not benefit from elevated temperatures, were observed twice as long under warming than under ambient conditions. This resulted in long‐term effects on Daphnia spp. until 4 months after contamination at 3 μg L−1 esfenvalerate. Under both temperature regimes, we identified strength of interspecific competition as the mechanism determining the time until recovery. However, enhanced interspecific competition under warming conditions was prolonged and explained the delayed recovery of Daphnia spp. from esfenvalerate. These results show that, for realistic prediction of the combined effects of changing environmental factors and toxicants on sensitive taxa, the impacts of stressors on the biotic interactions within the community need to be considered.
Optical Fiber Amplifier Employing a Bundle of Reduced Cladding Erbium-Doped Fibers

We propose a novel optical amplifier that employs a bundle of reduced cladding erbium-doped fibers (EDFs) for multicore fiber transmission and successfully demonstrate the amplification of seven independent signals by employing a bundle of 60-μm cladding EDFs and a planar lightwave circuit integration technique. Average gains of 23 dB with low noise figures of less than 5.1 dB in the C-band were achieved for seven individual EDFs. We also confirmed that low crosstalk characteristics can be achieved for a multicore optical fiber amplifier by using bundled EDF.