Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Food 2030: Towards a Redefinition of Food? A Commentary on the New United Kingdom Government Food Strategy

The British government published its new food strategy in January 2010, entitled ‘Food 2030: How We Get There’. This emerges out of a considerable amount of policy activity and debate since the sharp rises in food prices during 2007–2008. This demonstrated the need both to now have an explicit food policy, and to position this as a goal across various government departments. In addition, it is recognised that food security and hunger are key global concerns. How does the strategy face up to the arrival of these new and combined challenges associated with the need to produce more food sustainably and to allocate it more fairly? Clearly, we are in a period of new productivism with regard to trying to solve national and international food security and sustainability issues. Yet this strategy misses an opportunity to stimulate a new strategic approach in enhancing and developing the United Kingdom's food supply system albeit in its international context. We need more governmental and political innovation and imagination if we are to meet these challenges. The new food strategy may come to represent the start of this process.
Akt Signals Upstream of L-Type Calcium Channels to Optimize Insulin Secretion

Objectives Both the serine/threonine protein kinase Akt and the voltage-gated L-type calcium channel act as important players in glucose-stimulated insulin secretion. Akt recruits the L-type calcium channel to and maintains them in the plasma membrane. This study aimed to characterize the role of L-type calcium channels in mediation of Akt signaling in glucose-stimulated insulin secretion. Methods Insulin secretion was evaluated in rat pancreatic islets and INS-1 pancreatic &bgr; cells by a standard insulin radioimmunoassay. Results Akt inhibition effectively abrogates not only glucose-stimulated but also potassium depolarization-stimulated insulin secretion from rat islets, the latter critically relying on the voltage-gated calcium channel-mediated Ca2+ influx without involvement of glucose metabolism. Likewise, Akt inhibition also reduces both glucose-stimulated and potassium depolarization–stimulated insulin secretion from INS-1 cells. Importantly, pharmacological ablation of L-type calcium channels partially blocks Akt inhibition–induced reduction in glucose-stimulated insulin secretion but completely prevents that in potassium depolarization–evoked insulin release from INS-1 cells. Furthermore, Akt inhibition does not influence calcium ionophore A23187-induced insulin secretion from INS-1 cells, which occurred without involvement of L-type calcium channels. Conclusions Akt signals upstream of L-type calcium channels to optimize glucose-stimulated insulin secretion. Abbreviations CaV - voltage-gated calcium
Effect of GFR on plasma N-terminal connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) concentrations.

BACKGROUND Connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) has a key role in the pathogenesis of renal and cardiac fibrosis. Its amino-terminal fragment (N-CTGF), the predominant form of CTGF detected in plasma, has a molecular weight in the middle molecular range (18 kDa). However, it is unknown whether N-CTGF is a uremic retention solute that accumulates in chronic kidney disease (CKD) due to decreased renal clearance and whether it can be removed by hemodiafiltration. STUDY DESIGN 4 observational studies in patients and 2 pharmacokinetic studies in rodents. SETTING & PARTICIPANTS 4 single-center studies. First study (cross-sectional): 88 patients with CKD not receiving kidney replacement therapy. Second study (cross-sectional): 23 patients with end-stage kidney disease undergoing low-flux hemodialysis. Third study: 9 kidney transplant recipients before and 6 months after transplant. Fourth study: 11 low-flux hemodialysis patients and 12 hemodiafiltration patients before and after one dialysis session. PREDICTOR First, second, and third study: (residual) glomerular filtration rate (GFR). Fourth study: dialysis modality. OUTCOMES & MEASUREMENTS Plasma (N-)CTGF concentrations, measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS In patients with CKD, we observed an independent association between plasma CTGF level and estimated GFR (β = -0.72; P < 0.001). In patients with end-stage kidney disease, plasma CTGF level correlated independently with residual kidney function (β = -0.55; P = 0.046). Successful kidney transplant resulted in a decrease in plasma CTGF level (P = 0.008) proportional to the increase in estimated GFR. Plasma CTGF was not removed by low-flux hemodialysis, whereas it was decreased by 68% by a single hemodiafiltration session (P < 0.001). Pharmacokinetic studies in nonuremic rodents confirmed that renal clearance is the major elimination route of N-CTGF. LIMITATIONS Observational studies with limited number of patients. Fourth study: nonrandomized, evaluation of the effect of one session; randomized longitudinal study is warranted. CONCLUSION Plasma (N-)CTGF is eliminated predominantly by the kidney, accumulates in CKD, and is decreased substantially by a single hemodiafiltration session.
Effect of Intensive Insulin Therapy on Glycemic Thresholds for Counterregulatory Hormone Release

To evaluate the effect of strict glycemie control of insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) on the plasma glucose threshold initiating counterregulatory hormone responses to hypoglycemia, we used the glucose clamp technique to produce a standardized gradual glucose decline from 90 to 40 mg/dl in seven young IDDM patients before and after 2–6 mo of intensified insulin therapy. Before intensive therapy [hemoglobin A1 (HbA1) 9.6 ± 1.1%], epinephrine responses were triggered at a higher plasma glucose level (67 ± 4 mg/dl) than in normal control subjects (56 ± 1 mg/dl, P < .05), and clinical symptoms of hypoglycemia appeared at glucose levels of 50–60 mg/dl. After intensive therapy (HbA, 7.1 ± 0.7%), the glucose threshold for epinephrine release consistently declined to values (46 ± 2 mg/dl) below normal (P < .01). Furthermore, epinephrine concentrations were markedly reduced at each hypoglycemie level, and a greater hypoglycemie stimulus was required to elicit symptoms. The glucose threshold stimulating release of growth hormone also significantly declined after intensive therapy. We conclude that strict glycemie control of IDDM lowers the plasma glucose level required to generate epinephrine release during hypoglycemia. This may diminish patient recognition of moderate hypoglycemia and increase the risk of severe hypoglycemia in intensively treated IDDM.
Reversible Ca2+‐induced fast‐to‐slow transition in primary skeletal muscle culture cells at the mRNA level

The adult fast character and a Ca2+‐inducible reversible transition from a fast to a slow type of rabbit myotube in a primary culture were demonstrated at the mRNA level by Northern blot analysis with probes specific for different myosin heavy chain (MyHC) isoforms and enzymes of energy metabolism. No non‐adult MyHC isoform mRNA was detected after 22 days of culture. After 4 weeks of culture the fast MyHCIId mRNA was strongly expressed while MyHCI mRNA was virtually absent, indicating the fast adult character of the myotubes in the primary skeletal muscle culture. The data show that a fast‐to‐slow transition occurred in the myotubes at the level of MyHC isoform gene expression after treatment with the Ca2+ ionophore A23187. The effects of ionophore treatment were decreased levels of fast MyHCII mRNA and an augmented expression of the slow MyHCI gene. Changes in gene expression started very rapidly 1 day after the onset of ionophore treatment. Levels of citrate synthase mRNA increased and levels of glyceraldehyde 3‐phosphate dehydrogenase mRNA decreased during ionophore treatment. This points to a shift from anaerobic to oxidative energy metabolism in the primary skeletal muscle culture cells at the level of gene expression. Withdrawal of the Ca2+ ionophore led to a return to increased levels of MyHCII mRNA and decreased levels of MyHCI mRNA, indicating a slow‐to‐fast transition in the myotubes and the reversibility of the effect of ionophore on MyHC isoform gene expression.
Impact of Anxiety on the Satisfaction of Dental Implant Patients.

PURPOSE To study the influence of anxiety on dental implant patient satisfaction, and to explore if hemoglobin levels and the amount of body fat affected patient satisfaction. MATERIALS AND METHODS One hundred three partially edentulous patients (mean age 42.06 years) who had received dental implant therapy were enrolled in the study. Self-administered questionnaires were given to those patients to evaluate their level of satisfaction with implant treatment. The State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) self-reported questionnaire was used to determine anxiety levels. Hemoglobin levels (HB) were measured using an electronic hemoglobin meter, and body fat (BF) was measured using a special diagnostic scale. Statistical analysis was conducted using T-test to assess any significant differences between the groups. Pearson Correlation was used to measure the correlation between variables. RESULTS Overall satisfaction for all patients was high (86.7%) for both STAI-trait and STAI -state anxiety groups. Highly significant differences in patient satisfaction were found between high and low STAI-state anxiety groups (p < 0.01). Patients with low STAI-state anxiety levels demonstrated significant negative correlations of many parts of patient satisfaction with HB levels and STAI-state scores. While for patients in the low STAI-trait anxiety group, the negative correlation was just with HB levels. For the patients with high STAI-state anxiety levels, a highly significant positive correlation was observed between many elements of patient satisfaction and BF and patient age. CONCLUSION The results of this study indicated that patient satisfaction with dental implant treatment was high in all patients. STAI-state anxiety had a greater impact on patient satisfaction than did trait anxiety. HB levels negatively affected patient satisfaction in patients with low STAI-trait and STAI-state anxiety levels. BF positively affected patient satisfaction in patients with high STAI-state anxiety levels.
A PHOTOMETRIC REDSHIFT OF z ∼ 9.4 FOR GRB 090429B

Gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) serve as powerful probes of the early universe, with their luminous afterglows revealing the locations and physical properties of star-forming galaxies at the highest redshifts, and potentially locating first-generation (Population III) stars. Since GRB afterglows have intrinsically very simple spectra, they allow robust redshifts from low signal-to-noise spectroscopy, or photometry. Here we present a photometric redshift of z ∼ 9.4 for the Swift detected GRB 090429B based on deep observations with Gemini-North, the Very Large Telescope, and the GRB Optical and Near-infrared Detector. Assuming a Small Magellanic Cloud dust law (which has been found in a majority of GRB sight lines), the 90% likelihood range for the redshift is 9.06 < z < 9.52, although there is a low-probability tail toward somewhat lower redshifts. Adopting Milky Way or Large Magellanic Cloud dust laws leads to very similar conclusions, while a Maiolino law does allow somewhat lower redshift solutions, though in all cases the most likely redshift is found to be z > 7. The non-detection of the host galaxy to deep limits (Y(AB) ∼ 28, which would correspond roughly to 0.001L* at z = 1) in our late-time optical and infrared observations with the Hubble Space Telescope strongly supports the extreme-redshift origin of GRB 090429B, since we would expect to have detected any low-z galaxy, even if it were highly dusty. Finally, the energetics of GRB 090429B are comparable to those of other GRBs and suggest that its progenitor is not greatly different from those of lower redshift bursts.
Planktonic versus Biofilm Catabolic Communities: Importance of the Biofilm for Species Selection and Pesticide Degradation

ABSTRACT Chloropropham-degrading cultures were obtained from sludge and soil samples by using two different enrichment techniques: (i) planktonic enrichments in shaken liquid medium and (ii) biofilm enrichments on two types of solid matrixes (plastic chips and gravel). Denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis fingerprinting showed that planktonic and biofilm cultures had a different community composition depending on the presence and type of added solid matrix during enrichment. This was reflected in the unique chloropropham-degrading species that could be isolated from the different cultures. Planktonic and biofilm cultures also differed in chloropropham-degrading activity. With biofilm cultures, slower chloropropham removal was observed, but with less build-up of the toxic intermediate 3-chloroaniline. Disruption of the biofilm architecture resulted in degradation characteristics shifting toward those of the free suspensions, indicating the importance of a well-established biofilm structure for good performance. These results show that biofilm-mediated enrichment techniques can be used to select for pollutant-degrading microorganisms that like to proliferate in a biofilm and that cannot be isolated using conventional shaken-liquid procedures. Furthermore, the influence of the biofilm architecture on the pesticide degradation characteristics suggests that for bioaugmentation the use of biofilm catabolic communities might be a proficient alternative to using planktonic freely suspended cultures.
Commentary--Defined contribution health plans: attracting the healthy and well-off.

Driven by a philosophy that favors unbridled faith in the free marketplace, the year 2003 may well go down in health care history as the year that the health care system officially abandoned the premise that the community has a responsibility to care for each member, replacing it with the philosophy that individuals should each look after themselves. The most visible change that nudges the system toward self-insurance is the provision in the Medicare bill that expands and makes permanent “health savings accounts” (HSAs) (formerly known as “medical savings accounts” or MSAs). This provision allows most Americans to set up tax-advantaged savings accounts (no tax is paid when money is paid in or when paid out, an unprecedented new tax loophole), when they also have a high-deductible health insurance policy. These new accounts are likely to favor the healthy (who stand to benefit financially from a new tax shelter since their accounts need not be depleted on health care expenses) and the wealthy (the higher tax brackets mean higher tax benefits). 1 In his State of the Union address, President George W. Bush's proposal for a new tax deduction for premiums for high-deductible policies introduced the possibility that health savings accounts' penetration of the marketplace—and the demise of the employer-based health care system—will be accelerated.2 The second development is the encroachment of so-called consumer-driven health care plans (CDHC) into the employer-based health insurance marketplace. This new approach is dressed up with a consumer-friendly name, but in reality, as noted in Christianson, Parente, and Feldman (2004, this issue), this new approach is characterized by higher deductibles for employees. A more apt label, and one that seems to have been overtaken by CDHC, is “defined contribution health care. ” As a gentle reminder to health researchers and policymakers that a consumer-friendly name should not be used to mask a marketplace change that may be harmful to consumers, I will use the “defined contribution health plan” (DCHP) label to refer to these new plans. “Defined contribution” accurately connotes limited employer liability for health care costs. “Consumer-driven” implies that the consumer exerts considerable control—hardly an accurate portrayal of high-risk consumers' likely experience with a high-deductible plan. The two studies raise red flags about the potential for these new plans to appeal disproportionately to the healthy and those with high income. They contribute to the dangerous distraction of policymakers from the goal of working toward a health care system that provides affordable, quality health care to all by spreading costs broadly and fairly across the community.
Effect of partial coherence on MISO FSO systems

Multiple-input single-output (MISO) techniques are employed in free space optical (FSO) systems to mitigate the degrading effects of atmospheric turbulence and therefore the link reliability is improved. In this paper, we consider an incoherent radial array beams and a finite sized slow detector for MISO FSO systems. We have derived the average power and power correlation formulas on the finite sized slow detector using the Huygens Fresnel principle in weak atmospheric turbulence. This helps us to find the system performance, such as power scintillation and aperture averaging factor. Effect of system parameters such as the source size, the ring radius, the degree of coherence, the link distance, the structure constant and the receiver aperture radius are analyzed on the performance of MISO FSO systems.
Short-Term Content Adaptation in Web-based Learning Systems

In recent years, a concentration of effort to design adaptive web application has arisen: generally, each user has different information needs, depending on her/his social role, culture, etc. Especially in the field of web-based learning, it has become progressively clearer that these needs do not only depend on a long-term characterisation of the user, but also on the contingent situation the user lives. In this paper, a model for short-term content adaptation is proposed, whose aim is to satisfy contingent needs of users by adjusting the information a web-based learning system provides on the basis of a short-term user profile. The model results in the design of an adaptive filter that acts in the interface between the data and the logic layer of the system. The designed filter is provably correct in the model, that is, it is guaranteed to exhibit a coherent shortterm adaptive behaviour.
Oracle vs. Microsoft: Corporate Espionage or Competitive Intelligence?

world’s second largest software manufacturer, admitted that the company hired a private investigative firm, Investigative Group International (IGI), to probe two private public policy research organizations that supported the world’s number one software firm, Microsoft Corporation of Redmond, Washington, during the recent landmark antitrust trial initiated by the U.S. Department of Justice. Oracle hired IGI, a firm headed by former Senate Watergate attorney Terry Lenzner, to gather information on whether Microsoft financially supported the Independent Institute and the National Taxpayers Union, both of which were releasing independent research supportive of Microsoft’s position during the antitrust trial. IGI ‘‘conducts confidential fact-finding around the world for corporations, law firms, financial institutions, public agencies, and private individuals. ’’ 1 ‘‘Left undisclosed, these Microsoft front groups could have improperly influenced the outcome of one of the most important cases in U.S. history,’’ said Oracle in a statement. 2 ‘‘It’s absolutely true we set out to expose Microsoft’s covert activities,’’ said Larry Ellison, Oracle’s chief executive officer. 3 According to Ellison, the Independent Institute and the National Taxpayers Union made it appear that it would be best for American taxpayers if Microsoft won the antitrust trial. 4 ‘‘These experts were bought and paid for by Microsoft, by two taxpayers, Bill Gates and Steve Balmer,’’ stated Ellison. 5 ‘‘I feel very good about what we did,’’ said Ellison. 6 Oracle’s
Trends in prevalence of symptoms of asthma, hay fever, and eczema in 12-14 year olds in the British Isles, 1995-2002: questionnaire survey

The prevalence of symptoms of asthma, allergic rhinitis, and atopic eczema in children in the United Kingdom ranks among the highest in the world.The evidence from most repeat surveys is that prevalence has increased over the past three decades,2 but the most recent of these studies observed that from 1991 to 1998 the increase was confined to milder symptoms of asthma.3 Since the early 1990s the incidence of asthma episodes presenting to general practitioners, and of hospital admissions, has fallen substantially
Influence of apoE domain structure and polymorphism on the kinetics of phospholipid vesicle solubilization DOI 10.1194/jlr.M200157-JLR200

We examined the effects of apolipoprotein E (apoE) domain structure and polymorphism on the kinetics of solubilization (clearance) of dimyristoyl-phosphatidylcholine multilamellar vesicles. This second order reaction consisted of two simultaneous kinetic phases; it also exhibited saturable kinetics when the apolipoprotein concentration was increased at a constant lipid concentration. Rigid connections between α-helices in the 4-helix bundle formed by the 22 kDa N-terminal domain of apoE reduced the reaction rate. In contrast, the more flexible interhelical connections in apoA-I and the 10 kDa C-terminal domain of apoE promoted rapid solubilization of dimyristoyl-phosphatidylcholine (DMPC) multilamellar vesicles (mLV). Full-length apoE-3 reacted at about half the rate of the C-terminal domain alone. This decrease occurred because the hinge region probably decreased the interhelical flexibility of the 10 kDa domain and because both domains are conformationally restricted when covalently linked. Furthermore, the mLV surface affinities and reaction rates of the N-terminal domain fragments of the three common apoE isoforms tended to vary inversely with the stabilities of these fragments. These results confirm the importance of apoE's structure on the kinetics of lipid interaction. They suggest that flexibility in an apolipoprotein molecule increases the time-averaged exposure of hydrophobic surface area, thereby increasing the rate of phospholipid solubilization.
Africa, the Arabian Gulf and Asia: Changing Dynamics in Contemporary West Africa's Political Economy

The last two to three decades have witnessed significant transformation in West Africa's relations to the Arabian Gulf and Asia. While ties to countries such as Saudi Arabia are historic, economic liberalization since the 1980s has introduced new trading partners and some unexpected developments. The outcome of these recent developments can be startling: so in Ghana, for example, India and China have overtaken the United Kingdom, the former colonial power, in investments and the number of operating companies. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) ranks third in the cumulative value of foreign direct investments in Ghana since 1994. This paper is an historian's attempt to provide context, some perspective and to probe the implications of these emerging patterns for the political economy of West Africa. It uses Ghana under the Kufuor regime (2000-2008) as a case study of how one West African government engaged the new economic opportunities and the growing importance of Arab and Asian trading partners and investors in the climate of South-South cooperation.