Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Vitamin A-enriched diet modulates reverse cholesterol transport in hypercholesterolemic obese rats of the WNIN/Ob strain.

AIM Vitamin A plays a major role in lipid metabolism. Previously, we reported that chronic vitamin A feeding (129 mg/kg) for two months normalized the abnormally high plasma HDL-cholesterol (HDL-C) levels in hypercholesterolemic obese rats by upregulating the hepatic scavenger receptor class B type 1 (SR-BI) expression. In this report, we hypothesize that the administration of a dose less than 129 mg of vitamin A/kg would also be effective in lowering the plasma HDL-C levels in these rats. METHODS Changes in the activity and expression of proteins related to RCT were analyzed together with blood parameters in five-month-old male lean and obese rats supplemented with 2.6 (control group), 26, 52 and 129 mg of vitamin A/kg as retinyl palmitate for 20 weeks. RESULTS Vitamin A supplementation in the obese rats decreased the plasma HDL-C levels with a concomitant increase in the hepatic SR-BI expression and lipase activity compared to that observed in the control diet-fed obese rats treated with 2.6 mg of vitamin A/kg diet. Furthermore, vitamin A supplementation at doses of 52 and 129 mg/kg diet reduced the plasma lecithin cholesterol acyltransferase activity and increased the hepatic ATP-binding cassette transporter protein A1 expression in the obese rats. Interestingly, most of these changes were not observed in the lean rats fed a vitamin A-enriched diet. CONCLUSIONS Chronic feeding of a vitamin A-enriched diet in hypercholesterolemic obese rats normalizes the plasma HDL-C level and presumably improves RCT, with an effective dose of 52 mg/kg diet. Further studies should focus on the pharmacological potential of vitamin A supplementation to correct an abnormal human obesity-associated lipoprotein metabolism.
Competition for land

A key challenge for humanity is how a future global population of 9 billion can all be fed healthily and sustainably. Here, we review how competition for land is influenced by other drivers and pressures, examine land-use change over the past 20 years and consider future changes over the next 40 years. Competition for land, in itself, is not a driver affecting food and farming in the future, but is an emergent property of other drivers and pressures. Modelling studies suggest that future policy decisions in the agriculture, forestry, energy and conservation sectors could have profound effects, with different demands for land to supply multiple ecosystem services usually intensifying competition for land in the future. In addition to policies addressing agriculture and food production, further policies addressing the primary drivers of competition for land (population growth, dietary preference, protected areas, forest policy) could have significant impacts in reducing competition for land. Technologies for increasing per-area productivity of agricultural land will also be necessary. Key uncertainties in our projections of competition for land in the future relate predominantly to uncertainties in the drivers and pressures within the scenarios, in the models and data used in the projections and in the policy interventions assumed to affect the drivers and pressures in the future.
Different Faces of the Heme-Heme Oxygenase System in Inflammation

The heme-heme oxygenase system has recently been recognized to possess important regulatory properties. It is tightly involved in both physiological as well as pathophysiological processes, such as cytoprotection, apoptosis, and inflammation. Heme functions as a double-edged sword. In moderate quantities and bound to protein, it forms an essential element for various biological processes, but when unleashed in large amounts, it can become toxic by mediating oxidative stress and inflammation. The effect of this free heme on the vascular system is determined by extracellular factors, such as hemoglobin/heme-binding proteins, haptoglobin, albumin, and hemopexin, and intracellular factors, including heme oxygenases and ferritin. Heme oxygenase (HO) enzyme activity results in the degradation of heme and the production of iron, carbon monoxide, and biliverdin. All these heme-degradation products are potentially toxic, but may also provide strong cytoprotection, depending on the generated amounts and the microenvironment. Pre-induction of HO activity has been demonstrated to ameliorate inflammation and mediate potent resistance to oxidative injury. A better understanding of the complex heme-heme
Evaluation of multi-temporal ALOS/PALSAR for monitoring the Brazilian Amazon rainforest

The objective of this work was to evaluate a series of ScanSAR images of the Advanced Land Observation Satellite ALOS/PALSAR for monitoring the Brazilian Amazon rainforest. For this, a study area with approximately 6,814 km2 was selected in the Mato Grosso State, Brazilian Amazon. This area was covered by two orbits of ALOS/PALSAR providing 16 scenes during the March 2009 to March 2011 time period. The maps available from PRODES (Monitoring of Brazilian Amazon Rainforest) and DETER (Detection of Deforested Areas in Real Time) projects were used for supporting the proposed method. The results showed that there is a need for pre-processing procedures such as balancing the series of ALOS/PALSAR images affected by precipitation occurred before the acquisition date. Then the ALOS/PALSAR could be incorporated into the PRODES and DETER projects for monitoring the Amazon region.
Variants of the FADS1 FADS2 Gene Cluster, Blood Levels of Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids and Eczema in Children within the First 2 Years of Life

Background Association of genetic-variants in the FADS1-FADS2-gene-cluster with fatty-acid-composition in blood of adult-populations is well established. We analyze this genetic-association in two children-cohort-studies. In addition, the association between variants in the FADS-gene-cluster and blood-fatty-acid-composition with eczema was studied. Methods and Principal Findings Data of two population-based-birth-cohorts in the Netherlands and Germany (KOALA, LISA) were pooled (n = 879) and analyzed by (logistic) regression regarding the mutual influence of single-nucleotide-polymorphisms (SNPs) in the FADS-gene-cluster (rs174545, rs174546, rs174556, rs174561, rs3834458), on polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) in blood and parent-reported eczema until the age of 2 years. All SNPs were highly significantly associated with all PUFAs except for alpha-linolenic-acid and eicosapentaenoic-acid, also after correction for multiple-testing. All tested SNPs showed associations with eczema in the LISA-study, but not in the KOALA-study. None of the PUFAs was significantly associated with eczema neither in the pooled nor in the analyses stratified by study-cohort. Conclusions and Significance PUFA-composition in young children's blood is under strong control of the FADS-gene-cluster. Inconsistent results were found for a link between these genetic-variants with eczema. PUFA in blood was not associated with eczema. Thus the hypothesis of an inflammatory-link between PUFA and eczema by the metabolic-pathway of LC-PUFAs as precursors for inflammatory prostaglandins and leukotrienes could not be confirmed by these data.
Skandium: Multi-core Programming with Algorithmic Skeletons

This paper argues that algorithmic skeletons are a suitable programming model for multi-core architectures. The high-level abstractions offered by algorithmic skeletons provide a simple way for non-parallel programmers to address parallel programming. Previous algorithmic skeleton frameworks and libraries have addressed distributed computing environments such as Clusters and Grids. This paper proposes a parallel skeleton library, Skandium; and concludes, after an experimental evaluation, that algorithmic skeletons are an effective methodology to program multi-core architectures.
A Unified Approach To Real-Time, Multi-Resolution, Multi-Baseline 2d View Synthesis And 3d Depth Estimation Using Commodity Graphics Hardware

We present a new method for using commodity graphics hardware to achieve real-time, on-line, 2D view synthesis or 3D depth estimation from two or more calibrated cameras. Our method combines a 3D plane-sweeping approach with 2D multi-resolution color consistency tests. We project camera imagery onto each plane, compute measures of color consistency throughout the plane at multiple resolutions, and then choose the color or depth (corresponding plane) that is most consistent. The key to achieving real-time performance is our use of the advanced features included with recent commodity computer graphics hardware to implement the computations simultaneously (in parallel) across all reference image pixels on a plane. Our method is relatively simple to implement, and flexible in term of the number and placement of cameras. With two cameras and
Reorientation transitions in ultrathin ferromagnetic films by thickness- and temperature-driven anisotropy flows.

Max-Planck-Insitut fu¨r Mikrostrukturphysik, Weinberg 2, D-06120 Halle, Germany~Received 14 December 1995; revised manuscript received 21 March 1996! A uniﬁed thermodynamic treatment is presented for reorientation transitions in ultrathin ferromagnetic ﬁlms,driven by temperature or thickness variations. Since the physical mechanism underlying such transitions is thecompetition between surface, bulk, and shape anisotropy, the natural and proper scenery to examine theproblem is the anisotropy space of the corresponding system. The recently developed anisotropy-ﬂow conceptis then applied to detect and characterize the possible thickness- and temperature-driven reorientation transi-tions, consistent with the standard, though not universally valid, assumption for the additive separation of thebulk and surface contributions. Three generic types of transition are easily identiﬁed with a number of subcaseseach. Each generic scenario is seen to come about as a simple consequence of the route which the systemfollows in the anisotropy space under variations of the driving parameter. The relevant characteristic thick-nesses are easily identiﬁed. We ﬁnd that, as a rule, there existtwo borderlines in the ferromagnetic part of theT-d diagram of the system; these should lead in principle to a much richer structure of the diagram in questionthan has been reported so far. @S0163-1829~96! 07329-8#I. INTRODUCTION
On deployment optimization strategy for hybrid wireless sensor networks

For a hybrid sensor network constructing with static nodes and mobile nodes, adjusting the position of the mobile nodes can improve network coverage and target detection rate effectively. In this paper, we present the “Bidding” protocol based on probability detection model, and then propose a distributed covering algorithm DPFA (Distributed Potential Field Algorithm) for hybrid wireless sensor network based on artificial potential field. The coverage holes generate a gravitational field, which generates a virtual force to determine the mobile node's motion paths. Simulation results show that DPFA algorithm significantly increase the effective coverage of the network compared to the “Bidding” protocol.
Small Molecule Drug Discovery at the Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor

The therapeutic success of peptide glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists for the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus has inspired discovery efforts aimed at developing orally available small molecule GLP-1 receptor agonists. Although the GLP-1 receptor is a member of the structurally complex class B1 family of GPCRs, in recent years, a diverse array of orthosteric and allosteric nonpeptide ligands has been reported. These compounds include antagonists, agonists, and positive allosteric modulators with intrinsic efficacy. In this paper, a comprehensive review of currently disclosed small molecule GLP-1 receptor ligands is presented. In addition, examples of “ligand bias” and “probe dependency” for the GLP-1 receptor are discussed; these emerging concepts may influence further optimization of known molecules or persuade designs of expanded screening strategies to identify novel chemical starting points for GLP-1 receptor drug discovery.
Cost-Effectiveness of Clinical Decision Support System in Improving Maternal Health Care in Ghana

Objective This paper investigated the cost-effectiveness of a computer-assisted Clinical Decision Support System (CDSS) in the identification of maternal complications in Ghana. Methods A cost-effectiveness analysis was performed in a before- and after-intervention study. Analysis was conducted from the provider’s perspective. The intervention area was the Kassena- Nankana district where computer-assisted CDSS was used by midwives in maternal care in six selected health centres. Six selected health centers in the Builsa district served as the non-intervention group, where the normal Ghana Health Service activities were being carried out. Results Computer-assisted CDSS increased the detection of pregnancy complications during antenatal care (ANC) in the intervention health centres (before-intervention= 9 /1,000 ANC attendance; after-intervention= 12/1,000 ANC attendance; P-value=0.010). In the intervention health centres, there was a decrease in the number of complications during labour by 1.1%, though the difference was not statistically significant (before-intervention =107/1,000 labour clients; after-intervention= 96/1,000 labour clients; P-value=0.305). Also, at the intervention health centres, the average cost per pregnancy complication detected during ANC (cost –effectiveness ratio) decreased from US$17,017.58 (before-intervention) to US$15,207.5 (after-intervention). Incremental cost –effectiveness ratio (ICER) was estimated at US$1,142. Considering only additional costs (cost of computer-assisted CDSS), cost per pregnancy complication detected was US$285. Conclusions Computer –assisted CDSS has the potential to identify complications during pregnancy and marginal reduction in labour complications. Implementing computer-assisted CDSS is more costly but more effective in the detection of pregnancy complications compared to routine maternal care, hence making the decision to implement CDSS very complex. Policy makers should however be guided by whether the additional benefit is worth the additional cost.
Expressivity comes from your soul: A questionnaire study of music students' perspectives on expressivity

Much has been written about expressivity by philosophers, composers, musicologists, and psychologists, but little is known about how the musicians of tomorrow – music students – approach this subject. This paper reports an exploratory study in which 135 students from music conservatories in three countries (England, Italy, Sweden) filled out a questionnaire that addressed four themes: (a) conceptualizing expressivity, (b) expressivity in everyday practice, (c) expressivity in music teaching, and (d) novel teaching strategies. The results suggest that students define expressivity mainly in terms of communicating emotions and "playing with feeling". Expressive skills are regarded as highly important by students, and they would like to practice more on expressivity than is currently the case. However, most students are skeptical toward using computers in teaching of expressivity since they cannot see how such applications could work. The results suggest that expressivity deserves more attention in music education than has hitherto been the case.
Are at least 12 months of dual antiplatelet therapy needed for all patients with drug-eluting stents? All patients with drug-eluting stents need at least 12 months of dual antiplatelet therapy.

Coronary artery disease (CAD) remains a principal source of morbidity and mortality among adults in both the developed world and the developing world.1 Despite important advances in medical therapy for CAD, revascularization is frequently necessary. Currently, nearly 2 million percutaneous coronary interventions (PCIs) are performed in the United States and Europe, and >90% of them entail the deployment of at least 1 coronary stent.2 The introduction of metallic coronary stents (bare metal stents [BMS]) 2 decades ago resulted in a significant reduction in the immediate and long-term complications of PCI, particularly dissections, abrupt vessel closure, and need for repeat target lesion or target vessel revascularization. Abrupt vessel closure was essentially eliminated by stents.3 The incidence of target lesion and target vessel revascularization was halved from ≈20% to 25% at 1 year to 10% to 15%. Stents became further refined a decade ago by the addition of eluting antiproliferative agents embedded in durable or resorbable biopolymers (drug-eluting stents [DES]). 4–6 This innovation further reduced the need for target vessel or target lesion revascularization to the single-digit range. Response by Becker and Helmy on p 2009 The persisting weaknesses of coronary stents, the propensity to provoke stent thrombosis (ST) and late neoatherosclerosis, were not modified by the introduction of DES. In fact, a sentinel report in 2004 indicated that first-generation DES are prone to late (1–12 months) and very late (>12 months) ST because of their inherent delayed endothelialization.7 Intensive research into the causes and predictors of this phenomenon resulted in the current recommendations of the various professional societies to treat patients after DES implantation with 6 to 12 months of dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) consisting of aspirin and an ADP (P2Y12) receptor antagonist. This article reviews the evidence supporting the continuation of DAPT for …
Expression of trunk Hox genes in the centipede Strigamia maritima: sense and anti‐sense transcripts

SUMMARY We report the coding sequence and embryonic expression of the four trunk Hox genes Antennapedia (Antp), Ultrabithorax (Ubx), abdominal‐A (abd‐A), and Abdominal‐B (Abd‐B) in the geophilomorph centipede Strigamia maritima. In geophilomorph centipedes, all leg‐bearing segments (LBS) are generated during embryogenesis, allowing us to define expression in relation to the full extent of the forming trunk. Persistent Antp expression characterizes the maxillipedal (poison claw) segment, whereas all LBS express the three Hox genes Antp, Ubx, and abd‐A. Abd‐B is never detectably expressed in segmented tissue, but is restricted to a zone around the proctodaeum that contributes to the hindgut. Expression of all these Hox genes initiates in the unsegmented tissue of the blastodisc, with expression of Antp respecting a sharply defined anterior border before the appearance of morphological segmentation in the trunk. The accumulation of Hox gene transcripts is strongly modulated by the maturing segment pattern, suggesting regulatory interactions with multiple levels of the segment patterning machinery. For one of these genes, Ubx, we detect both sense and anti‐sense transcripts. The anti‐sense transcripts originate 3′ to the Ubx coding sequence and overlap the homeobox exon; they are expressed earlier than the Ubx coding transcripts and persistently, in an axially restricted pattern comparable to but distinct from those of the Hox coding transcripts. The pattern of accumulation of Ubx sense and anti‐sense transcripts is strikingly complementary, suggesting the possibility of anti‐sense regulation of Ubx expression.
The Dilemmas of Social Democracies: The Case of Norway and Sweden

During the last couple of decades the political landscape in Norway and Sweden has changed considerably and tensions between the social democratic parties and the trade unions have emerged In this article potential sources for these developments are discussed Particular attention is given to the role of the labor market. It is argued that increasing segmentation of the labor market has produced a more diverse organizational and institutional structure which in turn has fragmented the working class and introduced new lines of social cleavage into the political system.
An Application of Fixed-point Theory to Probabilistic Social Choice

The purpose of this note is to prove the existence of a randomized mechanism, a social decision scheme (SDS), with desirable fairness, efficiency, and strategyproofness properties unmatched by all known SDSs. In particular, we disprove a conjecture by Aziz et al. (2013). Additionally, we obtain a strong existence result for the domain of random assignment. Both, the notion of efficiency and strategyproofness are based on stochastic dominance and have been studied extensively for random assignment. The proof makes crucial use of Brouwer's fixed-point theorem and is hence non-constructive. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first application of a fixed-point theorem to show the existence of a social choice function or mechanism.
Recombinant Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor 121 Infusion Lowers Blood Pressure and Improves Renal Function in Rats With Placental Ischemia-Induced Hypertension

Antagonism of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) signaling by soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase 1 occurs during preeclampsia and is proposed to play an important role in the pathogenesis of preeclampsia. We reported recently that hypertension associated with chronic reductions in uteroplacental perfusion pressure (RUPP) is associated with increased soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase 1 and decreased free VEGF. Whether restoration of circulating VEGF can restore renal function and chronically decrease arterial pressure associated with placental ischemia remains unknown. We hypothesized that chronic infusion of VEGF121 would attenuate hypertension, increase glomerular filtration rate, and reverse the endothelial dysfunction associated with chronic RUPP. VEGF121 (at either 90 or 180 &mgr;g/kg per day) was administered for 5 days via osmotic minipump placed IP. Mean arterial pressure, renal function, and tissues were obtained on day 19 of pregnancy from RUPP+VEGF, RUPP, and normal pregnant dams. Mean arterial pressure was increased in the RUPP (131±3 mm Hg) compared with the normal pregnant (102±1 mm Hg) rats, and infusion of VEGF121 resolved the hypertension (105±5 mm Hg). Glomerular filtration rate was decreased in the RUPP dams (1.5±0.3 mL/min) and restored to normal pregnant levels (3.1±0.5 mL/min) by VEGF121 treatment (3.1±0.4 mL/min). Effective renal plasma flow, decreased by RUPP, was also increased by VEGF121 infusion. Relaxation to acetylcholine was enhanced by the VEGF treatment (P<0.05). These data demonstrate that chronic infusion of VEGF121 during late gestation restores glomerular filtration rate and endothelial function and reduces high blood pressure associated with placental ischemia. The present results suggest that VEGF121 may be a candidate molecule for management of preeclampsia and its related complications.