Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Potential of Albiglutide, a Long-Acting GLP-1 Receptor Agonist, in Type 2 Diabetes

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the efficacy, safety, and tolerability of incremental doses of albiglutide, a long-acting glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist, administered with three dosing schedules in patients with type 2 diabetes inadequately controlled with diet and exercise or metformin monotherapy. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS In this randomized multicenter double-blind parallel-group study, 356 type 2 diabetic subjects with similar mean baseline characteristics (age 54 years, diabetes duration 4.9 years, BMI 32.1 kg/m2, A1C 8.0%) received subcutaneous placebo or albiglutide (weekly [4, 15, or 30 mg], biweekly [15, 30, or 50 mg], or monthly [50 or 100 mg]) or exenatide twice daily as an open-label active reference (per labeling in metformin subjects only) over 16 weeks followed by an 11-week washout period. The main outcome measure was change from baseline A1C of albiglutide groups versus placebo at week 16. RESULTS Dose-dependent reductions in A1C were observed within all albiglutide schedules. Mean A1C was similarly reduced from baseline by albiglutide 30 mg weekly, 50 mg biweekly (every 2 weeks), and 100 mg monthly (−0.87, −0.79, and −0.87%, respectively) versus placebo (−0.17%, P < 0.004) and exenatide (−0.54%). Weight loss (−1.1 to −1.7 kg) was observed with these three albiglutide doses with no significant between-group effects. The incidence of gastrointestinal adverse events in subjects receiving albiglutide 30 mg weekly was less than that observed for the highest biweekly and monthly doses of albiglutide or exenatide. CONCLUSIONS Weekly albiglutide administration significantly improved glycemic control and elicited weight loss in type 2 diabetic patients, with a favorable safety and tolerability profile.
The Phenomenology of Meditation for Female Survivors of Intimate Partner Violence

An existential-phenomenological methodology was utilized to investigate the experience of meditation for female survivors of intimate partner violence. Six coresearchers were taught a form of concentrative meditation and were asked to meditate daily and to attend a weekly group meditation for 6 weeks. Semistructured interviews were utilized to gather the data. The essence of the experience that was revealed was the emergence of a centered awareness that is distinctly different from the usual mode of being in the world. Findings suggest the value of meditation as an intervention strategy with survivors and demonstrate the need for further research in this area.
DsbG, a Protein Disulfide Isomerase with Chaperone Activity*

DsbG, a protein disulfide isomerase present in the periplasm of Escherichia coli, is shown to function as a molecular chaperone. Stoichiometric amounts of DsbG are sufficient to prevent the thermal aggregation of two classical chaperone substrate proteins, citrate synthase and luciferase. DsbG was also shown to interact with refolding intermediates of chemically denatured citrate synthase and prevents their aggregation in vitro. Citrate synthase reactivation experiments in the presence of DsbG suggest that DsbG binds with high affinity to early unstructured protein folding intermediates. DsbG is one of the first periplasmic proteins shown to have general chaperone activity. This ability to chaperone protein folding is likely to increase the effectiveness of DsbG as a protein disulfide isomerase.
RA and FGF Signalling Are Required in the Zebrafish Otic Vesicle to Pattern and Maintain Ventral Otic Identities

During development of the zebrafish inner ear, regional patterning in the ventral half of the otic vesicle establishes zones of gene expression that correspond to neurogenic, sensory and non-neural cell fates. FGF and Retinoic acid (RA) signalling from surrounding tissues are known to have an early role in otic placode induction and otic axial patterning, but how external signalling cues are translated into intrinsic patterning during otic vesicle (OV) stages is not yet understood. FGF and RA signalling pathway members are expressed in and around the OV, suggesting important roles in later patterning or maintenance events. We have analysed the temporal requirement of FGF and RA signalling for otic development at stages after initial anteroposterior patterning has occurred. We show that high level FGF signalling acts to restrict sensory fates, whereas low levels favour sensory hair cell development; in addition, FGF is both required and sufficient to promote the expression of the non-neural marker otx1b in the OV. RA signalling has opposite roles: it promotes sensory fates, and restricts otx1b expression and the development of non-neural fates. This is surprisingly different from the earlier requirement for RA signalling in specification of non-neural fates via tbx1 expression, and highlights the shift in regulation that takes place between otic placode and vesicle stages in zebrafish. Both FGF and RA signalling are required for the development of the otic neurogenic domain and the generation of otic neuroblasts. In addition, our results indicate that FGF and RA signalling act in a feedback loop in the anterior OV, crucial for pattern refinement.
Localization and Quantitation of the Chromosome 6-Encoded Dystrophin-Related Protein in Normal and Pathological Human Muscle

A dystrophin-related protein (DRP) encoded by a gene on chromosome 6 was studied in 14 normal and 79 pathological human skeletal muscle biopsies, as well as in cultured myotubes by light microscopic immunocytochemistry and quantitative immunoblots. In normal muscle immunoreactive DRP was present at the postjunctional surface membrane, at the surface of satellite cells, in the walls of blood vessels, in Schwann cells and in perineurium of intramuscular nerves. All of this produced a weak signal on immunoblots. In Duchenne/Becker dystrophy (DMD/BMD) and in polymyositis (PM) or dermatomyositis (DM) DRP was present throughout the extrajunctional surface membrane of extra- and intrafusal muscle fibers, particularly regenerating ones. This produced a 15-17-fold increase of DRP over normal in DMD/BMD and 4-10- fold increase over normal in PM and DM on immunoblots. In other pathological muscles, DRP localization pattern and quantity was about the same as in normals. Dystrophin-related protein was present in about the same amounts and distribution in normal and DMD cultured myoblasts and myotubes. The molecular stimulus for the marked upregulation of DRP in DMD/BMD and in the inflammatory myopathies is not known. In DMD/BMD the diffuse sarcolemmal DRP may partially compensate for dystrophin deficiency.
Nanotitania composite assembled with Graphene oxide for Photocatalytic degradation of Eosin Yellow under Visible light

Visible light responsive Graphene oxide (GO) nanotitania composite was synthesized and its photocatalytic activity was investigated for the degradation of Eosin Yellow (EY). The nanocomposite was synthesized by organic solvent free-controlled hydrolysis of titanium tetrachloride (TiCl4) exfoliated with 10 wt. % (0.5 g) of the as prepared GO particles under ultrasonication through in-situ addition of the aqueous GO solution. The synthesized nanocomposite has been characterized using X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), UV-Visible Diffuse Reflectance Spectral (UV-Vis DRS) and Field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM) techniques. In the presence of visible light, its photocatalytic activity was enhanced on contrast with the synthesized bare nanotitania particles. The aqueous solution of EY has degraded in 80 minutes (95.5 %). It was also supported with the increase in the rate constant with the composite (7.05 x 10-2 min-1) as compared with that of the nanotitania (1.41 x 10-2 min-1). Through the chemical oxygen demand (COD) studies, effective mineralization of the dye was observed with the nanocomposite.
Lung adenocarcinoma with clear cell features producing carbohydrate antigen 19-9

A 76-year-old man underwent surgery for lung cancer. Histopathologically, most of the resected tumor was composed of polygonal cells with foamy cytoplasm, and the cells were arranged predominantly in acinar patterns. In this case, although the carbohydrate antigen 19-9 level was high before surgery, it normalized after resection. The tumor was considered a carbohydrate antigen 19-9-producing tumor, which was further supported by the results of immunohistochemical analysis. Adenocarcinoma with clear cell features, producing carbohydrate antigen 19-9, is an exceedingly rare entity.
A dynamic action potential model analysis of shock-induced aftereffects in ventricular muscle by reversible breakdown of cell membrane

To elucidate the subcellular mechanism underlying the aftereffects of high-intensity dc shocks, a small pore, which mimics reversible breakdown of the cell membrane (electroporation), was incorporated into the phase-2 Luo-Rudy (L-R) model of ventricular action potentials. The pore size was set to occupy 0.15%-0.25% of the total cell membrane during the 10-ms shock. The pore was assumed to decrease after the shock exponentially with a time constant of 100-1400 ms to simulate resealing process. In normal myocytes, the pore formation results in a delay of repolarization of the shocked action potential, which is followed by prolonged depolarization and oscillation of membrane potential like early afterdepolarization (EAD). Time- and voltage-dependent changes in the delayed rectifier K/sup +/ currents (I/sub Kr/, I/sub Ks/) in combination with those of L-type Ca/sup 2+/ current (I/sub Ca/, /sub (L)/) and ion flux through the pore (I/sub pore/) are responsible for the potential changes. Spontaneous excitation from the oscillation depends on activation of I/sub Ca, (L)/. In myocytes overloaded with Na/sup +/ and Ca/sup 2+/ secondary to 90% inhibition of Na/sup +/-K/sup +/ pump, the pore formation results in a delay of repolarization of the shocked action potential, which is followed by slower cyclic depolarization in response to spontaneous release of Ca/sup 2+/ from the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR). This delayed after depolarization-type oscillation is abolished by complete block of Ca/sup 2+/ release from the SR. These findings suggest that high-intensity electric field application will cause arrhythmogenic responses through a transient rupture of sarcolemma. with different subcellular events in ventricular cells under normal and pathological conditions.
Family story play: reading with young children (and elmo) over a distance

We introduce Family Story Play, a system that supports grandparents to read books together with their grandchildren over the Internet. Family Story Play is designed to improve communication across generations and over a distance, and to support parents and grandparents in fostering the literacy development of young children. The interface encourages active child participation in the book reading experience by combining a paper book, a sensor-enhanced frame, video conferencing technology, and video content of a Sesame Street Muppet (Elmo). Results with users indicate that Family Story Play improves child engagement in long-distance communication and increases the quality of interaction between young children and distant grandparents. Additionally, Family Story Play encourages dialogic reading styles that are linked with literacy development. Ultimately, reading with Family Story Play becomes a creative shared activity that suggests a new kind of collaborative story telling.
Specific Absorption Rate toward human body of multiband fractal Koch textile antenna

A multiband Koch fractal textile antenna is proposed for wearable application operating at 0.9, 2.45 and 5.8 GHz antenna. Koch fractal geometries are introduced into the design to miniaturize the antenna. The antenna is constructed on denim fabric with permittivity of 1.75 as a substrate aiming to obtain robustness, flexibility and lightweight antenna. The antenna is designed, optimized and simulated using Microwave Studio Computer Simulation Technologies (CST) to evaluate antenna performance in term of reflection coefficient. The maximum Specific Absorption Rate toward two placement body area; the chest and backside with different orientations are determined by using Voxel human model and CST software.
Increased Production of Proinflammatory Cytokines following Infection with Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome Virus and Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae

ABSTRACT Induction of the proinflammatory cytokines interleukin-1 (IL-1) (α and β), IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, IL-12, and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) in pulmonary alveolar macrophages (PAMs) was assessed following experimental infection with porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) and/or Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae by using in vivo and in vitro models. The in vivo model consisted of pigs infected with PRRSV and/or M. hyopneumoniae and necropsied at 10, 28, or 42 days postinfection. Pigs infected with both pathogens had a greater percentage of macroscopic lung lesions, increased clinical disease, and slower viral clearance than pigs infected with either pathogen alone. The pigs infected with both PRRSV and M. hyopneumoniae had significantly increased levels of mRNA for many proinflammatory cytokines in PAMs collected by bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) at all necropsy dates compared to those in uninfected control pigs. Increased levels of IL-1β, IL-8, IL-10, and TNF-α proteins in BAL fluid, as measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, confirmed the increased cytokine induction induced by the pathogens. An in vitro model consisted of M. hyopneumoniae-inoculated tracheal ring explants cultured with PRRSV-infected PAMs. PAMs were harvested at 6 or 15 h postinfection with either or both pathogens. The in vitro study detected increased IL-10 and IL-12 mRNA levels in PAMs infected with PRRSV at all time periods. In addition, IL-10 protein levels were significantly elevated in the culture supernatants in the presence of M. hyopneumoniae-inoculated tracheal ring explants. The increased production of proinflammatory cytokines in vivo and in vitro associated with concurrent M. hyopneumoniae and PRRSV infection may play a role in the increased rates of pneumonia associated with PRRSV infection. The increased levels of IL-10 may be a possible mechanism that PRRSV and M. hyopneumoniae use to exacerbate the severity and duration of pneumonia induced by PRRSV and modulate the respiratory immune response.
Patient centered assessment of ankylosing spondylitis-specific health related quality of life: evaluation of the Patient Generated Index.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the Patient Generated Index (PGI) for the measurement of individualized health related quality of life in ankylosing spondylitis (AS). METHODS The PGI asks patients to nominate areas of their lives affected by their disease that they consider the most important. Semistructured interviews with AS patients produced a trigger list of areas of life affected by AS. The PGI was self-completed by UK patients taking part in a multicenter postal survey. The instrument was assessed for data quality, reliability, validity, and responsiveness. RESULTS The PGI had acceptable completion rates. Scores covered the available range and approximated normality. Test-retest reliability estimates support the use of the PGI in group evaluation (intraclass correlation coefficient > 0.80). Comparisons with scores for other health status instruments provided evidence for the validity of the PGI. The largest levels of correlation were found for the AS Quality of Life Questionnaire (ASQoL) and the EuroQol. The informed and open format of the PGI had the strongest linear relationship with responses to both specific and general health transition questions (p < 0.01), and was the most responsive format of the PGI. CONCLUSION The PGI is the first AS-specific individualized measure of health related quality of life. There is good support for the content validity of the instrument and patient acceptability is high. Adequate levels of data quality and reliability support the use of the PGI in group evaluation. Moderate levels of responsiveness to changes in health were produced by the informed and open format of the PGI.
Genetic and Haplotypic Structure in 14 European and African Cattle Breeds

To evaluate and compare the extent of LD in cattle, 1536 SNPs, mostly localized on BTA03, were detected in silico from available sequence data using two different methods and genotyped on samples from 14 distinct breeds originating from Europe and Africa. Only 696 SNPs could be validated, confirming the importance of trace-quality information for the in silico detection. Most of the validated SNPs were informative in several breeds and were used for a detailed description of their genetic structure and relationships. Results obtained were in agreement with previous studies performed on microsatellite markers and using larger samples. In addition, the majority of the validated SNPs could be mapped precisely, reaching an average density of one marker every 311 kb. This allowed us to analyze the extent of LD in the different breeds. Decrease of LD with physical distance across breeds revealed footprints of ancestral LD at short distances (<10 kb). As suggested by the haplotype block structure, these ancestral blocks are organized, within a breed, into larger blocks of a few hundred kilobases. In practice, such a structure similar to that already reported in dogs makes it possible to develop a chip of <300,000 SNPs, which should be efficient for mapping purposes in most cattle breeds.
Piecewise-affine state feedback using convex optimization

This paper shows that Lyapunov-based state feedback controller synthesis for piecewise-affine systems can be cast as an optimization problem subject to a set of LMIs analytically parameterized by a vector. Furthermore, it is shown that continuity of the control inputs at the switchings can be guaranteed by adding equality constraints to the problem without affecting its parameterization structure. Finally, it is shown that piecewise-affine state feedback controller synthesis to maximize the decay rate of a quadratic control Lyapunov function can be cast as a set of quasi-convex optimization problems parameterized by a vector.
Role of Escherichia coli K-12 rfa genes and the rfp gene of Shigella dysenteriae 1 in generation of lipopolysaccharide core heterogeneity and attachment of O antigen

The rfp gene of Shigella dysenteriae 1 and the rfa genes of Escherichia coli K-12 and Salmonella typhimurium LT2 have been studied to determine their relationship to lipopolysaccharide (LPS) core heterogeneity and their role in the attachment of O antigen to LPS. It has been inferred from the nucleotide sequence that the rfp gene encodes a protein of 41,864 Da which has a structure similar to that of RfaG protein. Expression of this gene in E. coli K-12 results in the loss of one of the three bands seen in gel analysis of the LPS and in the appearance of a new, more slowly migrating band. This is consistent with the hypothesis that Rfp is a sugar transferase which modifies a subset of core molecules so that they become substrates for attachment of S. dysenteriae O antigen. A shift in gel migration of the bands carrying S. dysenteriae O antigen and disappearance of the Rfp-modified band in strains producing O antigen suggest that the core may be trimmed or modified further before attachment of O antigen. Mutation of rfaL results in a loss of the rough LPS band which appears to be modified by Rfp and prevents the appearance of the Rfp-modified band. Thus, RfaL protein is involved in core modification and is more than just a component of the O-antigen ligase. The products of rfaK and rfaQ also appear to be involved in modification of the core prior to attachment of O antigen, and the sites of rfaK modification are different in E. coli K-12 and S. typhimurium. In contrast, mutations in rfaS and rfaZ result in changes in the LPS core but do not affect the attachment of O antigen. We propose that these genes are involved in an alternative pathway for the synthesis of rough LPS species which are similar to lipooligosaccharides of other species and which are not substrates for O-antigen attachment. All of these studies indicate that the apparent heterogeneity of E. coli K-12 LPS observed on gels is not an artifact but instead a reflection of functional differences among LPS species.
Realistic and Controllable Fire Simulation

We introduce a set of techniques that are used together to produce realistic-looking animations of burning objects. These include a new method for simulating spreading on polygonal meshes. A key component of our approach consists in using individual flames as primitives to animate and render the fire. This simplification enables rapid computation and gives more intuitive control over the simulation without compromising realism. It also scales well, making it possible to animate phenomena ranging from simple candle-like flames to complex, widespread fires.
β-Defensin 1 Contributes to Pulmonary Innate Immunity in Mice

ABSTRACT Innate immunity serves as a first line defense in vertebrate organisms by providing an initial barrier to microorganisms and triggering antigen-specific responses. Antimicrobial peptides are thought to be effectors of innate immunity through their antibiotic activity and direct killing of microorganisms. Evidence to support this hypothesis in vertebrates is indirect, based on expression profiles and in vitro assays using purified peptides. Here we investigated the function of antimicrobial peptides in vivo using mice deficient in an antimicrobial peptide, mouse β-defensin-1 (mBD-1). We find that loss of mBD-1 results in delayed clearance of Haemophilus influenzae from lung. These data demonstrate directly that antimicrobial peptides of vertebrates provide an initial block to bacteria at epithelial surfaces.
Oxygen Diffusion in Perovskite: Implications for Electrical Conductivity in the Lower Mantle

Experimental determination of oxygen self-diffusion in CaTiO3 perovskite, a structural analog of (Mg,Fe)SiO3 perovskite, confirms a theoretical relation between diffusion constants and anion porosity. Oxygen diffusion rates in (Mg,Fe)SiO3 perovskite calculated with this relation increase by about eight orders of magnitude through the lower mantle. Electrical conductivity values calculated from these diffusion rates are consistent with inferred conductivity values for the lower mantle. This result suggests that the dominant conductivity mechanism in the deep mantle is ionic.
Sink node redeployment technique for upgrading Network Lifespan in Wireless sensor networks

Sensor nodes in Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs) are normally battery-powered and remain stationary after initial deployment. Sensor nodes direct the sensed data back to sink via multihop links. While reporting tasks, sensor nodes nearby the sink will consume more battery power than other sensor nodes for forwarding their own sensed data and others data; subsequently battery power of these nodes will drain out early and cut down the network lifespan. Sensor nodes will no longer provide sensing and data processing, If it runs out of energy. Due to the routing path re-allocation and failure of sensing and reporting events in the environment, this can lead to a huge loss in the network. Hence energy conservation has been getting increased consideration in WSN research workings. The concept of mobile sink has been recently introduced for WSNs in order to improve the network lifespan and overall performance of WSNs as it moves the burden of energy consumption from the sensor nodes to sink nodes, which are usually considered to have unconstrained energy source and greater computational power. In this survey, we present various moving strategies, which are mainly focuses on selecting appropriate position for relocating sink based on the residual energy of the sensor nodes in the wireless sensor networks. This survey provides a thorough analysis of the metrics supported by each technique during sink relocation and presents the limitations of these techniques.