Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Incretin Therapy and Islet Pathology: A Time for Caution

The past 25 years have seen the introduction of a number of new classes of medications for treating type 2 diabetes. The primary goal of these drugs is to safely lower plasma glucose in order to simultaneously reduce vascular complications and improve quality of life. It is equally critical to demonstrate an agent’s therapeutic effectiveness as it is to prove its safety. Frequently, this determination of safety occurs in the very early stages of drug development. However, in some instances, it is only after sufficient clinical experience has been obtained that the potential for harm becomes apparent. Recent examples include two therapeutically effective thiazolidinediones: troglitazone, which increased the risk of hepatic injury (1), and rosiglitazone, which a meta-analysis suggested increased the risk of cardiovascular events (2). Two recently introduced classes of glucose-lowering agents increase incretin action. One is the glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists. In 2005, exenatide was the first of these agents to be introduced (3). The other is the dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitors, of which sitagliptin was initially approved in 2006 (3). These medications are widely used, and are associated with a reduced risk of hypoglycemia and weight gain. This, despite the fact that they may increase the risk of pancreatitis (4,5), a condition that is known to be more common in type 2 diabetes (6). In this issue of Diabetes , authors from Florida and California together report pancreatic morphology from a limited series of samples from diabetic individuals who did or did not receive incretin therapy and a cohort not known to have diabetes (7). Seven of the diabetic samples were from patients who received sitagliptin and one who received exenatide, all for unknown periods of time beyond 1 year. Pancreata were procured from brain-dead organ donors by the Network for Pancreatic …
Apoptosis in the small intestinal allograft of the rat.

BACKGROUND Necrosis and apoptosis are different cell death mechanisms. Necrosis is a pathological process that occurs after destruction of the cell membrane. Apoptosis is a DNA-dependent cell death mechanism, which occurs under physiological and pathological conditions. Although necrosis is a well-defined phenomenon in an acute graft rejection, the occurrence and relevance of apoptosis during this process is largely unknown. METHODS The enterocyte apoptosis rates in allografted (n=24) and isografted (n=24) small intestines of the rat were compared using the in situ end-labeling technique. RESULTS In situ end-labeling showed a dramatically increased number of apoptotic enterocytes in allografted small intestines, whereas increased labeling could not be observed in isogeneic small intestinal grafts. CONCLUSIONS We suggest that graft rejection-associated apoptosis, in addition to necrosis, plays an important role in the course of organ failure, and that the degree of apoptosis represents another reliable indicator for the diagnosis and prognosis of transplant rejection.
Developmental changes in spatial distribution of in vivo fluorescence and epidermal UV absorbance over Quercus petraea leaves.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS Epidermal phenolic compounds (mainly flavonoids) constitute a vital screen that protects the leaf from damage by natural ultraviolet (UV) radiation. The effectiveness of epidermal UV-screening depends on leaf anatomy, the content of UV-screening compounds and their spatial uniformity over the leaf area. To investigate in vivo the spatial pattern of the epidermal UV-screen during leaf development, a fluorescence imaging method was developed to map the epidermal UV-absorbance at a microscopic scale. This study was done on oak (Quercus petraea) leaves that were used as a model of woody dicotyledonous leaves. METHODS The leaf development of 2-year-old trees, grown outdoors, was monitored, at a macroscopic scale, by in vivo measurements of chlorophyll content per unit area and epidermal UV-absorbance using two optical leaf-clip meters. The distribution of pigments within leaves was assessed in vivo spectroscopically. The microscopic images of UV-induced fluorescence and UV-absorbance acquired in vivo during leaf development were interpreted from spectral characteristics of leaves. KEY RESULTS At a macroscopic scale, epidermal UV-absorbance was high on the upper leaf side during leaf development, while it increased on the lower leaf side during leaf expansion and reached the adaxial value at maturity. At a microscopic scale, in immature leaves, for both leaf sides, the spatial distribution of epidermal UV-absorbance was heterogeneous, with a pattern depending on the flavonoid content of vacuoles in developing epidermal cells. At maturity, epidermal UV-absorbance was uniform. CONCLUSIONS The spatial pattern of epidermal UV-screen over the area of oak leaves is related to leaf anatomy during development. In vivo spectroscopy and fluorescence imaging of the leaf surface showed the distribution of pigments within the leaf and hence can provide a tool to monitor optically the leaf development in nature.
Lesion Distribution and Epidemiology of Mycobacterium bovis in Elk and White-Tailed Deer in South-Western Manitoba, Canada

Surveillance for Mycobacterium bovis in free-ranging elk (Cervus elaphus) and white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) from south-western Manitoba was carried out from 1997 to 2010 to describe the lesions, epidemiology, and geographic distribution of disease. Tissues were cultured from animals killed by hunters, culled for management, blood-tested, or found opportunistically. Period prevalence in elk was approximately six times higher than deer, suggesting a significant reservoir role for elk, but that infected deer may also be involved. Prevalence was consistently higher in elk compared to deer in a small core area and prevalence declines since 2003 are likely due to a combination of management factors instituted during that time. Older age classes and animals sampled from the core area were at significantly higher risk of being culture positive. Positive elk and deer were more likely to be found through blood testing, opportunistic surveillance, and culling compared to hunting. No non-lesioned, culture-positive elk were detected in this study compared to previous studies in red deer.
Oscillations, SE(2)-snakes and motion control: A study of the Roller Racer

This paper is concerned with the problem of motion generation via cyclic variations in selected degrees of freedom (usually referred to as shape variables) in mechanical systems subject to non-holonomic constraints (here the classical system of a disc rolling without sliding on a flat surface). In earlier work, we identified an interesting class of such problems arising in the setting of Lie groups, and investigated these under a hypothesis on constraints, that naturally led to a purely kinematic approach. In the present work, the hypothesis on constraints does not hold, and as a consequence, it is necessary to take into account certain dynamical phenomena. Specifically we concern ourselves with the group SE (2) of rigid motions in the plane and a concrete mechanical realization dubbed the 2-node, 1-module SE (2)snake. In a restricted version, it is also known as the Roller Racer (a patented ride/ toy). Based on the work of Bloch, Krishnaprasad, Marsden and Murray, one recognizes in the example of this paper a balance law called the momentum equation, which is a direct consequence of the interaction of the SE (2)-symmetry of the problem with the constraints. The systematic use of this type of balance law results in certain structures in the example of this paper. We exploit these structures to demonstrate that the single shape freedom in this problem can be cyclically varied to produce a rich variety of motions of the SE (2)-snake. In their study of the snakeboard, a patented modification of the skateboard that also admits the group SE (2) as a symmetry group, Lewis, Ostrowski, Burdick and Murray exploited the same type of balance law as that discussed here to generate motions. A key difference, however, is that, in the present paper, we have only one control variable and thus controllability considerations become somewhat more delicate. In the present paper, we give a self-contained treatment of the geometry, mechanics and motion control of the Roller Racer.
Enhancement of Oxygen Mass Transfer and Gas Holdup Using Palm Oil in Stirred Tank Bioreactors with Xanthan Solutions as Simulated Viscous Fermentation Broths

Volumetric mass transfer coefficient (k L a) is an important parameter in bioreactors handling viscous fermentations such as xanthan gum production, as it affects the reactor performance and productivity. Published literatures showed that adding an organic phase such as hydrocarbons or vegetable oil could increase the k L a. The present study opted for palm oil as the organic phase as it is plentiful in Malaysia. Experiments were carried out to study the effect of viscosity, gas holdup, and k L a on the xanthan solution with different palm oil fractions by varying the agitation rate and aeration rate in a 5 L bench-top bioreactor fitted with twin Rushton turbines. Results showed that 10% (v/v) of palm oil raised the k L a of xanthan solution by 1.5 to 3 folds with the highest k L a value of 84.44 h−1. It was also found that palm oil increased the gas holdup and viscosity of the xanthan solution. The k L a values obtained as a function of power input, superficial gas velocity, and palm oil fraction were validated by two different empirical equations. Similarly, the gas holdup obtained as a function of power input and superficial gas velocity was validated by another empirical equation. All correlations were found to fit well with higher determination coefficients.
TRPV3 and TRPV4 Mediate Warmth-evoked Currents in Primary Mouse Keratinocytes*

Recently, a family of temperature-activated ion channels has been identified in mammalian and nonmammalian species that appear to contribute to thermosensation. Two of these proteins, TRPV3 and TRPV4, are ion channels activated by modest increases in ambient temperature. Localization studies have indicated that both proteins, in addition to being expressed in sensory neurons, are also expressed in skin keratinocytes. These and other findings have suggested that keratinocytes might act in concert with sensory neurons to perceive our thermal environment. In this study, we demonstrate that primary keratinocytes isolated from mouse skin exhibit two distinct heat-evoked current responses to mild increases in ambient temperature. The more common of these response types bears considerable similarity to responses mediated by recombinant TRPV4, is absent in mice lacking this ion channel, and is restored upon TRPV4 reintroduction. The second, rarer response strongly resembles those mediated by recombinant TRPV3. Together, these findings demonstrate that keratinocytes can indeed act as thermosensory cells and that they do so via at least two distinct transduction mechanisms.
An integrated manual and autonomous driving framework based on driver drowsiness detection

In this paper, we propose and develop a framework for automatic switching of manual driving and autonomous driving based on driver drowsiness detection. We first present the scale-down intelligent transportation system (ITS) testbed. This testbed has four main parts: an arena; an indoor localization system; automated radio controlled (RC) cars; and roadside monitoring facilities. Second, we present the drowsiness detection algorithm which integrates facial expression and racing wheel motion to recognize driver drowsiness. Third, a manual and autonomous driving switching mechanism is developed, which is triggered by the detection of drowsiness. Finally, experiments were performed on the ITS testbed to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed framework.
Robust skew estimation using straight lines in document images

Abstract. A skew-estimation method using straight lines in document images is presented. Unlike conventional approaches exploiting the properties of text, we formulate the skew-estimation problem as an estimation task using straight lines in images and focus on robust and accurate line detection. To be precise, we adopt a block-based edge detector followed by a progressive line detector to take clues from a variety of sources such as text lines, boundaries of figures/tables, vertical/horizontal separators, and boundaries of textblocks. Extensive experiments on the datasets of skewed images and competition results reveal that the proposed method works robustly and yields accurate skew-estimation results.
μ‐Opioid receptors mediate the effects of chronic ethanol binge drinking on the hippocampal neurogenic niche

Ethanol exposure and withdrawal alter the generation of new neurons in the adult hippocampus. The endogenous opioid system, particularly the μ‐opioid receptor (MOR), can modulate neural progenitors and also plays a critical role in ethanol drinking and dependence. In the present study, we sought to determine whether MOR contributes to the effects of ethanol on the dentate gyrus (DG) neurogenic niche. MOR wild‐type (WT), heterozygous (Het) and knockout (KO) littermates were subjected to voluntary ethanol drinking in repeated limited‐access two‐bottle choice (2BC) sessions. MOR deficiency did not alter progenitor proliferation, neuronal differentiation and maturation, apoptosis or microglia in ethanol‐naïve mice. When exposed to five consecutive weeks of 2BC, MOR mutant mice exhibited a gene‐dosage‐dependent reduction of ethanol consumption compared with WT mice. Introducing a week of ethanol deprivation between each week of 2BC increased ethanol consumption in all genotypes and produced equivalent intakes in WT, Het and KO mice. Under the latter paradigm, ethanol drinking decreased progenitor proliferation and neuronal differentiation in the DG of WT mice. Interestingly, WT mice exhibited a strong negative correlation between ethanol intake and proliferation, which was disrupted in Het and KO mice. Moreover, MOR deficiency blocked the effect of ethanol on neuronal differentiation. MOR deficiency also protected against the neuroimmune response to ethanol drinking. Finally, chronic binge drinking induced a paradoxical decrease in apoptosis, which was independent of MOR. Altogether, our data suggest that MOR is implicated in some of the neuroplastic changes produced by chronic ethanol exposure in the DG.
Software aging issues on the eucalyptus cloud computing infrastructure

Demands on software reliability and availability have increased due to the nature of present day applications. Cloud computing systems fundamentally provide access to large pools of data and computational resources through a variety of interfaces similarly to existing grid and HPC resource management and programming systems. This work investigates the software aging effects on the Eucalyptus cloud computing infrastructure considering workloads composed of provisioning different types of virtual machines.
Effect of Random Permutation of Symbols in a Sequence

An operation that permutes symbols in a sequence is used for several coding algorithms. The probability distribution of the permuted source is investigated, where the permutation is selected at random with a uniform distribution. Moreover, the entropy of the permuted source and the mutual information shared by the original and permuted sources are derived.
In Search of the Nordic Model in Education

The Nordic model of education is defined in this article as an attempt to construct a national education system on the foundation of specific local values and practices, but at the same time subject to international influences. According to the author, equity, participation, and welfare are the major goals and the publicly funded comprehensive school system is the major form of the ideal Nordic model. The actual and nationally varying transformation of the model or pattern from the Golden Years of the welfare state in the 1960s and 1970s until the age of restructuring from the 1990s has been described in more detail. The conditions and prospects of the Nordic model are tentatively discussed.
Why-oriented end-user debugging of naive Bayes text classification

Machine learning techniques are increasingly used in intelligent assistants, that is, software targeted at and continuously adapting to assist end users with email, shopping, and other tasks. Examples include desktop SPAM filters, recommender systems, and handwriting recognition. Fixing such intelligent assistants when they learn incorrect behavior, however, has received only limited attention. To directly support end-user “debugging” of assistant behaviors learned via statistical machine learning, we present a Why-oriented approach which allows users to ask questions about how the assistant made its predictions, provides answers to these “why” questions, and allows users to interactively change these answers to debug the assistant's current and future predictions. To understand the strengths and weaknesses of this approach, we then conducted an exploratory study to investigate barriers that participants could encounter when debugging an intelligent assistant using our approach, and the information those participants requested to overcome these barriers. To help ensure the inclusiveness of our approach, we also explored how gender differences played a role in understanding barriers and information needs. We then used these results to consider opportunities for Why-oriented approaches to address user barriers and information needs.
Belief state planning for autonomously navigating urban intersections

Urban intersections represent a complex environment for autonomous vehicles with many sources of uncertainty. The vehicle must plan in a stochastic environment with potentially rapid changes in driver behavior. Providing an efficient strategy to navigate through urban intersections is a difficult task. This paper frames the problem of navigating unsignalized intersections as a partially observable Markov decision process (POMDP) and solves it using a Monte Carlo sampling method. Empirical results in simulation show that the resulting policy outperforms a threshold-based heuristic strategy on several relevant metrics that measure both safety and efficiency.
Chronic renal failure in children.

OBJECTIVE To determine the etiology of chronic renal failure amongst children attending the Pediatric Nephrology services at a tertiary care center. SUBJECT We reviewed the records of 305 children, diagnosed to have chronic renal failure (CRF) over a 7-year period. CRF was defined as glomerular filtration rate (GFR) below 50-mL/1.73 m2/min persisting for more than 3 months. RESULTS The mean age at onset and presentation of CRF in these patients was 5.9 and 8 years respectively. Ninety-six children were below 5 years of age. Mean (SD) levels of blood urea and creatinine at presentation were 150 and 4.6 mg/dL respectively. The median GFR at presentation was 18.5 mL/min/1.73 m(2) while 25.3 patients were already in end stage renal failure indicating that these patients were referred late. The mean (SD) hemoglobin at presentation was 7.6 (2.6) g/dL. The mean height and weight SD scores were 2.9 and 2.4 respectively. Obstructive uropathy was the commonest cause of CRF present in 97 children. Other causes included chronic glomerulonephritis in 84, reflux nephropathy in 51, hereditary nephritis in 20, renal dysplasia in 15 and hemolytic uremic syndrome in 5 children. The mean (SD) duration of follow-up was 11(15) months. Peritoneal or hemodialysis was performed in 63 patients. Fifteen patients underwent a live-related renal transplantation. The rest opted out of dialysis program and were conservatively managed due to financial constraints. CONCLUSIONS The commonest causes of CRF were obstructive and reflux nephropathy. A significant proportion of patients presented late; had severe CRF and were malnourished and stunted. Majority of these were managed conservatively due to lack of financial resources.
Self gelating isoracemosol A, new racemosaceramide A, and racemosol E from Barringtonia racemosa

Abstract Phytochemical investigation into the CHCl3 extract of the fruits of Barringtonia racemosa resulted in the isolation of two new metabolites along with isoracemosol A and betulinic acid as known metabolites. The new compounds were characterised as phytosphingosine-type ceramide [(2S,3S,4R)-2-[(2R)-2-hydroxyhexadecanoyl amino]-hexacos-8(E)-ene-1,3,4-triol, 1] and racemosol E [21β-acetoxy-22α-(2-methylbutyroxy)-olean-12-ene-3β,16α,28-triol, 2] on the basis of extensive spectroscopic data analysis and chemical modifications. In addition, the self-gelating property of isoracemosol A (3) was investigated for the first time, which leads to the unexpected agglomerated porous-like morphology.
DAPA: Diagnosing Application Performance Anomalies for Virtualized Infrastructures

As cloud service providers leverage server virtualization to host applications in virtual machines (VMs), they must ensure proper allocation of resource capacities in order to satisfy the contracted service level agreements (SLAs) with the application owners. However, the ever-growing number of virtual and physical machines within such infrastructure creates greater challenges in quickly and effectively localizing the system bottlenecks that lead to SLA violations. This paper describes DAPA, a new performance diagnostic framework to help system administrators analyze application performance anomalies and identify potential causes of SLA violations. DAPA incorporates several customized statistical techniques to capture the quantitative relationship between the application performance and virtualized system metrics. We have built a prototype implementation of DAPA on a cluster of virtualized systems to diagnose a set of SLA violations for an enterprise application. Preliminary evaluation results show that DAPA is able to localize the most suspicious attributes of the virtual machines and physical hosts that are related to the SLA violations.
An improved framework of distributed video codec

Recently, distributed video coding (DVC) has become a hot research topic, as its low complexity encoder and high complixty decoder can suit for many emerging applications. However, the practical performance gap between DVC and traditional video coding is still large and need more research about it. In this paper, we propose to exploit the capabilities of side information (SI) extraction, online estimation of correlation noise model (CNM) parameters and joint bitplane decoding to construct an integrated and improved DVC framework for better system performance. The SI extraction along with online CNM parameters estimation is exploited to help decoding, and the joint bitplane decoding that we propose in this paper is used to reduce the transmission rate for the same PSNR performance. The experimental results show that the proposed DVC architecture could work efficiently and improve the PSNR performance by 2–3db for the test sequence.