Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Are benefits from diabetes self-management education sustained?

OBJECTIVES To evaluate whether outcomes from diabetes self-management education for patients with suboptimal control were sustained. STUDY DESIGN A randomized controlled trial of 623 adults with type 2 diabetes and glycated hemoglobin (A1C) > 7% assigned to receive conventional individual education (IE), group education (GE) using US Diabetes Conversation Maps, or usual care (UC) with no education. METHODS A1C tests, Problem Areas in Diabetes (PAID), Diabetes Self-Efficacy (DES), Recommended Food Score (RFS), physical activity, and medication use were quantified at baseline and 1 year of follow-up through electronic health records and quarterly mailed surveys. Short-term (mean 6.8 months) and long-term (12.8 months) outcomes were evaluated using linear mixed models. In addition, follow-up trajectories were plotted in a random effects generalized additive model with smooth splines. RESULTS Compared with UC, IE resulted in long-term improved DES and PAID scores (DES, +.11, P = .03 and PAID, -2.94, P = .04), but not significantly improved long-term RFS or physical activity change. The A1C trajectory declined more steeply in IE than GE and UC for the first 150 days post randomization. However, by 250 days, there was no treatment group A1C difference. The model fit likelihood ratio test for A1C intervention trends was significant for 3 distinct non-linear trajectories (P = .02). CONCLUSIONS Conventional IE (but not GE) resulted in significant and sustained improvements in self-efficacy and reduced diabetes distress compared with UC, but short-term improvements in A1C, nutrition, and physical activity were not sustained. Patients may need ongoing reinforcement to achieve lasting behavioral change and glucose control.
Merging multiple sources of information using dissimilarity based approaches

The ways distances are computed (the metric used) or measured (by mean of different sources) enable us to have different representations of the same objects. Therefore we need either to make a selection or to combine them. A combination of differently measured (or computed) dissimilarities can occur at different stages of a pattern recognition system, e.g. using the outputs of classifiers built on each of them separately but also by combining the various dissimilarity directly. The key point of classifier combination lies either in a proper averaging over different experts/sources or in an integration of different and hopefully complementary approaches. In this paper we want to focus on possible ways of merging different sources of informations given by different dissimilarity representations. The combination step is employed in a selection or weighted average of the data used for our classification task. A simple averaging of these matrices is shown ([1], [2], [3]) to allow for classification accuracies that outperform the single ones. We compare this approach here with a dissimilarity forward selection and other techniques based on the learning of weights of linear and quadratic forms. The more advanced forms of combination of such multiple representations can lead to a better representation of the underlying data and therefore better classification accuracies but this does not hold always. Our general conclusion is that combining given distance matrices before any training stage is apparently always worthwhile.
Transcriptional Activation by Yeast PDR1p Is Inhibited by Its Association with NGG1p/ADA3p*

NGG1p/ADA3p forms a coactivator/repressor complex (ADA complex) in association with at least two other yeast proteins, ADA2p and GCN5p, that is involved in regulating transcriptional activator proteins including GAL4p and GCN4p. Using a two-hybrid analysis, we found that the carboxyl-terminal transcriptional activation domain of PDR1p, the primary regulatory protein involved in yeast pleiotropic drug resistance, interacts with the amino-terminal 373 amino acids of NGG1p (NGG1p1-373). This interaction was confirmed by coimmunoprecipitation of epitope-tagged derivatives of NGG1p and PDR1p from crude extracts. An overlapping region of the related transcriptional activator PDR3p was also found to interact with NGG1p. Amino acids 274–307 of NGG1p were required for interaction with PDR1p. This same region is required for inhibition of transcriptional activation by GAL4p. The association between NGG1p1-373 and PDR1p may be indirect, possibly mediated by the ADA complex since the two-hybrid interaction required the presence of full-length NGG1. A partial requirement for ADA2 was also found. This suggests that an additional component of the ADA complex, regulated by ADA2p, may mediate the interaction. Transcriptional activation by a GAL4p DNA binding domain fusion of PDR1p was enhanced in ngg1 and ada2 disruption strains. Similar to its action on GAL4p, the ADA complex acts to inhibit the activation domain of PDR1p.
Early Inpatient Rehabilitation Admission and Stroke Patient Outcomes

ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to examine the associations of onset days, time from stroke onset to inpatient rehabilitation facility (IRF) admission, and patient outcomes (FIM gain, discharge destination, and IRF length of stay), using nationally representative data. DesignA secondary data analysis was conducted on a random sample of stroke patients discharged from IRFs in the United States between 2009 and 2011, including mildly (n = 649), moderately (n = 2185), and severely (n = 2390) impaired patients. ResultsThe study sample had a median of onset days of 5.5, with an interquartile range of 4–9. With the use of 15–365 days as reference, the severely impaired patients had a higher cognition gain (P < 0.01) and were more likely to be discharged to the community (odds ratio, 1.45; 95% confidence interval, 1.12–1.87) when admitted within 7 days, a greater motor gain when admitted within 14 days (P < 0.01), and a lower risk for acute hospital transfer when admitted 3–7 days (odds ratio, 0.62; 95% confidence interval, 0.43–0.90). The moderately impaired patients had a greater motor gain when admitted within 7 days (P < 0.01). Early IRF admission was also associated with a shorter length of stay. ConclusionsEarlier IRF admission was beneficial among severely and moderately impaired patients. IRF admission within 7 days is recommended for stroke patients who achieved medical stability.
ZCS Bridgeless Boost PFC Rectifier Using Only Two Active Switches

Existing bridgeless boost (BLB) converter with soft switching utilize more than two active switches and extra resonant networks. In this paper, a new zero-current-switching BLB rectifier with high power factor (PF) using only two active switches is proposed. The proposed BLB converter is based on a totem-pole BLB (TPBLB) configuration, which allows the current to flow from high side to low side and vice versa during resonance. Hence, no auxiliary active switch is needed to provide soft switching for all semiconductor devices. The soft switching also reduces the body diode reverse recovery problem, hence allowing the TPBLB to operate in continuous conduction mode. Standard components are used to prove that the proposed converter is working with an acceptable performance compared with other BLB converters with soft switching. In order to achieve smooth input current waveform, high PF, and wide soft-switching operations, a pulsewidth modulation controller is proposed and developed, which combines a conventional PF correction average current mode controller with several logic gates and a phase detector. A detailed analysis of the converter operation and control is presented. Design considerations and parameter values calculations are given. An experimental prototype is developed and tested to verify the converter performance.
Effects of SKF-96365 , a TRPC inhibitor , on melittin-induced inward current and intracellular Ca 2 + rise in primary sensory cells

Objective Melittin (MEL) is a major component of bee venom and can produce both persistent spontaneous nociception and pain hypersensitivity when injected subcutaneously in the periphery. The present study aimed to examine the roles of transient receptor potential canonical (TRPC) channels in mediation of MEL-induced activation of primary nociceptive cells. Methods Whole-cell patch-clamp and laser scanning confocal calcium detection were used to evaluate the effects of SKF-96365, a TRPC inhibitor, applied on the acutely isolated dorsal root ganglion (DRG) cells of rat, on MEL-induced increase in intracellular calcium concentration ([Ca]i) and inward current. Results Under voltageclamp mode, 43.9% (40/91) DRG cells were evoked to give rise to the inward current by 2 μmol/L MEL, which could be significantly suppressed by 3 doses of SKF-96365 (1, 5 and 10 μmol/L) in a dose-dependent manner. Of the other 210 cells, 67.6% responded to MEL with an intracellular Ca rise, as revealed by confocal calcium imaging. Of these MELsensitive cells, 46.5% (66/142) were suppressed by the highest dose of SKF-96365. Conclusion MEL-induced activation of small to medium-sized DRG cells can be suppressed by SKF-96365, suggesting the involvement of TRPC channels in the mediation of MEL-induced activation of primary nociceptive cells.
Climatic context and ecological implications of summer fog decline in the coast redwood region

Biogeographical, physiological, and paleoecological evidence suggests that the coast redwood [Sequoia sempervirens (D. Don) Endl. ] is closely associated with the presence of summer marine fog along the Pacific coast of California. Here we present a novel record of summer fog frequency in the coast redwood region upon the basis of direct hourly measurements of cloud ceiling heights from 1951 to 2008. Our analysis shows that coastal summer fog frequency is a remarkably integrative measure of United States Pacific coastal climate, with strong statistical connections to the wind-driven upwelling system of the California Current and the broad ocean temperature pattern known as the Pacific Decadal Oscillation. By using a long-term index of daily maximum land temperatures, we infer a 33% reduction in fog frequency since the early 20th century. We present tree physiological data suggesting that coast redwood and other ecosystems along the United States west coast may be increasingly drought stressed under a summer climate of reduced fog frequency and greater evaporative demand.
On the function of placental corticotropin‐releasing hormone: a role in maternal‐fetal conflicts over blood glucose concentrations

Throughout the second and third trimesters, the human placenta (and the placenta in other anthropoid primates) produces substantial quantities of corticotropin‐releasing hormone (placental CRH), most of which is secreted into the maternal bloodstream. During pregnancy, CRH concentrations rise over 1000‐fold. The advantages that led selection to favour placental CRH production and secretion are not yet fully understood. Placental CRH stimulates the production of maternal adrenocorticotropin hormone (ACTH) and cortisol, leading to substantial increases in maternal serum cortisol levels during the third trimester. These effects are puzzling in light of widespread theory that cortisol has harmful effects on the fetus. The maternal hypothalamic‐pituitary‐adrenal (HPA) axis becomes less sensitive to cortisol during pregnancy, purportedly to protect the fetus from cortisol exposure. Researchers, then, have often looked for beneficial effects of placental CRH that involve receptors outside the HPA system, such as the uterine myometrium (e.g. the placental clock hypothesis). An alternative view is proposed here: the beneficial effect of placental CRH to the fetus lies in the fact that it does stimulate the production of cortisol, which, in turn, leads to greater concentrations of glucose in the maternal bloodstream available for fetal consumption. In this view, maternal HPA insensitivity to placental CRH likely reflects counter‐adaptation, as the optimal rate of cortisol production for the fetus exceeds that for the mother. Evidence pertaining to this proposal is reviewed.
Optimal Fiscal Decentralization

Modelin the local and central government behaviours to assess the welfare/efficiency/equity impacts of fiscal decentralization. Static optimization; simulation The relative welfare and efficiency effects of fiscal decision mechanisms (defined as social planners optimum choice of fiscal decnetralization versus the tax choice of the government) depend on the extent of spillovers. Social planner's decision yield higher efficiency but lower welfare than the centralized fiscal decision in the presence of spillovers.
New Mouse Model for Dengue Virus Vaccine Testing

ABSTRACT Several dengue (DEN) virus vaccines are in development; however, the lack of a reliable small animal model in which to test them is a major obstacle. Because evidence suggests that interferon (IFN) is involved in the human anti-DEN virus response, we tested mice deficient in their IFN functions as potential models. Intraperitoneally administered mouse-adapted DEN 2 virus was uniformly lethal in AG129 mice (which lack alpha/beta IFN and gamma IFN receptor genes), regardless of age. Immunized mice were protected from virus challenge, and survival times increased following passive transfer of anti-DEN polyclonal antibody. These results demonstrate that AG129 mice are a promising small animal model for DEN virus vaccine trials.
Systemic and regional haemodynamics in pigs with acute liver failure and the effect of albumin dialysis

Objective. Acute liver failure (ALF) is haemodynamically characterized by a hyperdynamic circulation. The aims of this study were to investigate the systemic and regional haemodynamics in ALF, to measure changes in nitric oxide metabolites (NOx) and to evaluate whether these haemodynamic disturbances could be attenuated with albumin dialysis. Material and methods. Norwegian Landrace pigs (23–30 kg) were randomly allocated to groups as controls (sham-operation, n=8), ALF (hepatic devascularization, n=8) and ALF + albumin dialysis (n=8). Albumin dialysis was started 2 h after ALF induction and continued for 4 h. Systemic and regional haemodynamics were monitored. Creatinine clearance, nitrite/nitrate and catecholamines were measured. A repeated measures ANOVA was used to analyse the data. Results. In the ALF group, the cardiac index increased (PGT<0.0001), while mean arterial pressure (PG=0.02) and systemic vascular resistance decreased (PGT<0.0001). Renal resistance (PG=0.04) and hind-leg resistance (PGT=0.003) decreased in ALF. There was no difference in jejunal blood flow between the groups. ALF pigs developed renal dysfunction with increased serum creatinine (PGT=0.002) and decreased creatinine clearance (P=0.02). Catecholamines were significantly higher in ALF, but NOx levels were not different. Albumin dialysis did not attenuate these haemodynamic or renal disturbances. Conclusions. The haemodynamic disturbances during the early phase of ALF are characterized by progressive systemic vasodilatation with no associated changes in metabolites of NO. Renal vascular resistance decreased and renal dysfunction developed independently of changes in renal blood flow. After 4 h of albumin dialysis there was no attenuation of the haemodynamic or renal disturbances.
Effect of Monosodium Glutamate on Behavioral Phenotypes, Biomarkers of Oxidative Stress in Brain Tissues and Liver Enzymes in Mice

The effects of oral administration of low doses of monosodium glutamate (MSG) on behavioral phenotypes, biomarkers of oxidative stress in the brain and liver enzymes in mice were evaluated in this study. Mice were treated orally with MSG (100, 250 and 500 mg/kg) daily for 21 days before testing for behavioral phenotypes; memory, anxiety, spontaneous motor activity (SMA) and depression. Thereafter, the brain levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) and glutathione (GSH) as well as the activities of liver enzymes, aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) were determined spectrophotometrically. MSG did not produce significant (P > 0.05) impairment of memory in the Y-maze test. It also failed to modify the behaviors of mice in the elevated plus maze and light/dark transition tests of animal models of anxiety. MSG had no significant effect on SMA but produced depressive-like symptoms in the forced swim test at a dose of 500 mg/kg. Moreover, it increased the levels of MDA and decreased GSH concentrations in brain tissues of mice. The activity of AST and ALT were elevated in the blood of MSG-treated mice suggesting liver injury. Taken together, these findings suggested that MSG induced oxidative stress in the brain and impaired liver functions but did not produce any behavioral abnormalities in mice at lower doses.
Variation in precaecal amino acid and energy digestibility between pea (Pisum sativum) cultivars determined using a linear regression approach

1. An experiment was conducted to study the variation in the precaecal amino acid (AA) and energy digestibility of 4 cultivars of white-flowering peas (Pisum sativum) for broiler chickens. The 4 cultivars were grown and harvested under the same agronomic and environmental conditions. 2. One basal diet and 8 diets including each pea cultivar at inclusion rates of either 150 or 300 g/kg were used. Peas were included at the expense of starch. Hence, the differences in dietary crude protein and AA concentrations resulted only from the inclusion of peas. Titanium dioxide was included as an indigestible marker. 3. Crude protein concentrations in the complete diets ranged from 164 to 244 g/kg. All diets were fed ad libitum to broiler chickens between 14 and 21 d of age. Seven pens of 12 chickens were allocated to each treatment. Digesta were sampled on a pen basis from the section of the gastrointestinal tract between Meckel's diverticulum and 2 cm anterior to the ileo-caeco-colonic junction. 4. The proportions of crude protein and AAs digested responded linearly to increased intake and the relationships between quantitative intake and digested amounts of AAs were described by multiple linear regressions. The slope determined for each pea cultivar was taken as a measure of AA digestibility without the need for consideration of basal endogenous crude protein and AA secretions. 5. Digestibility of AAs in peas ranged from 0·60 to 0·91. One cultivar had significantly lower AA digestibilities than the other three cultivars. This could be explained neither by the trypsin inhibitor activity nor by tannin levels. The AAs with the highest digestibilities in all cultivars were arginine > glutamic acid > lysine > methionine > phenylalanine > leucine. The AAs with the consistently lowest digestibilities were cystine < threonine. The ranking of the remaining AAs varied slightly between cultivars. 6. The multiple linear regression approach is suitable to study differences in AA digestibilities without the need for consideration of basal endogenous AA losses. 7. Diets containing 300 g/kg of peas had significantly lower energy digestibilities than the pea-free basal diet. The pea cultivar with the lowest AA digestibility caused the lowest energy digestibility at both levels of pea inclusion.
Cardiovascular risks from fine particulate air pollution.

More than a decade ago, prospective epidemiologic studies showed that mortality was increased among people living in communities with elevated concentrations of fine particulate air pollution.1,2 Subsequent research has shown that particulate air pollution is statistically and mechanistically linked to increased cardiovascular disease.3 New data are beginning to shed light on which persons are at heightened risk. In this issue of the Journal, Miller et al.4 report on data from the Women's Health Initiative (WHI) observational study, which greatly expands our understanding of how fine particulate pollution affects health. Earlier long-term prospective cohort studies showed an association between levels .
Inhibition of interleukin 2‐induced proliferation of cloned murine T cells by glucocorticoids. Possible involvement of an inhibitory protein

The ability of glucocorticoids to inhibit interleukin 2 (IL2)‐induced T cell proliferation in two cytotoxic T cell (CTL) clones has been studied. A complete inhibition of DNA synthesis by dexamethasone (Dx) could be observed when IL2‐depleted cultures of CTL were either incubated for 6 h with the hormone prior to the addition of IL2 or treated simultaneously with Dx and a low concentration of IL2. No significant reduction in the number and affinity of IL2 receptors was seen after 6 h incubation with Dx. The order of potency observed with the different steroids indicated that this inhibitory effect was mediated through binding to a specific glucocorticoid receptor. The action of these hormones possibly involves the synthesis of an inhibitory protein(s), since the presence of cycloheximide during the incubation with Dx prevented the inhibition of DNA synthesis. Furthermore, supernatant from Dx‐treated CTL contained a nondialyzable factor which inhibited DNA synthesis and cell growth of CTL clones induced by IL2. Blocking of IL2 synthesis and IL2 receptor formation have been proposed as one of the major mechanisms of glucocorticoid‐induced immunosuppression. Our results indicate that these hormones may also affect T cell proliferation by inhibiting IL2 activity.
Role of the cholinergic nervous system in rheumatoid arthritis: aggravation of arthritis in nicotinic acetylcholine receptor α7 subunit gene knockout mice

Background The α7 subunit of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (α7nAChR) can negatively regulate the synthesis and release of proinflammatory cytokines by macrophages and fibroblast-like synoviocytes in vitro. In addition, stimulation of the α7nAChR can reduce the severity of arthritis in murine collagen-induced arthritis (CIA). Objective To provide more insight into the role of the α7nAChR in the pathogenesis of arthritis by investigating the effect of the absence of α7nAChR in CIA in α7-deficient (α7nAChR-/-) compared with wild-type (WT) mice. Methods CIA was induced in α7nAChR-/- and WT littermate mice at day 0 by immunisation with chicken collagen type II (cCII) followed by a booster injection with cCII on day 20. Mice were killed on day 44 or day 63 and arthritis activity as well as radiological and histological damage were scored. The effects on the immune response were evaluated by measurement of antigen-specific antibodies and cytokines, and evaluation of the effects on antigen-specific stimulated spleen cells. Results In α7nAChR-/- mice a significant increase in the incidence and severity of arthritis as well as increased synovial inflammation and joint destruction were seen. Exacerbation of CIA was associated with elevated systemic proinflammatory cytokines and enhanced T-helper cell 1 (Th1)-cytokine and tumour necrosis factor α production by spleen cells. Moreover, a specific decrease in the collagen-specific ‘Th1-associated’ IgG2a response was seen, whereas IgG1 titres were unaffected. Conclusions The results presented here indicate that immune cell function in a model of rheumatoid arthritis is regulated by the cholinergic system and, at least in part, mediated by the α7nAChR.
Compact planar 3-way power divider using left handed transmission lines

In this paper, we propose a three-way planar fork power divider that has its ports located on a straight line. To achieve equal phase output ports, transmission lines are inserted between the fork divider and two of the output ports. To reduce circuit size without the need for meandering, left-handed transmission lines are also used. Simulations of a 3-way microstripline power divider operating at 5 GHz demonstrated that the performance was comparable to a 3-way divider realized from only microstripline, but with a size reduction of 27%.