Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Hypothyroidism Impairs Human Stem Cell–Derived Pancreatic Progenitor Cell Maturation in Mice

Pancreatic progenitors derived from human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) are a potential source of transplantable cells for treating diabetes and are currently being tested in clinical trials. Yet, how the milieu of pancreatic progenitor cells, including exposure to different factors after transplant, may influence their maturation remains unclear. Here, we examined the effect of thyroid dysregulation on the development of hESC-derived progenitor cells in vivo. Hypothyroidism was generated in SCID-beige mice using an iodine-deficient diet containing 0.15% propyl-2-thiouracil, and hyperthyroidism was generated by addition of L-thyroxine (T4) to drinking water. All mice received macroencapsulated hESC-derived progenitor cells, and thyroid dysfunction was maintained for the duration of the study (“chronic”) or for 4 weeks posttransplant (“acute”). Acute hyperthyroidism did not affect graft function, but acute hypothyroidism transiently impaired human C-peptide secretion at 16 weeks posttransplant. Chronic hypothyroidism resulted in severely blunted basal human C-peptide secretion, impaired glucose-stimulated insulin secretion, and elevated plasma glucagon levels. Grafts from chronic hypothyroid mice contained fewer β-cells, heterogenous MAFA expression, and increased glucagon+ and ghrelin+ cells compared to grafts from euthyroid mice. Taken together, these data suggest that long-term thyroid hormone deficiency may drive the differentiation of human pancreatic progenitor cells toward α- and ε-cell lineages at the expense of β-cell formation.
Elder care and the impact of caregiver strain on the health of employed caregivers.

OBJECTIVE As the baby-boom generation moves towards middle age, and their parents toward old age, the number of employees who combine care for an elderly dependant and work will increase in number. These employees are "at risk" of experiencing caregiver strain. This paper advances our understanding of these trends by examining the relationship between caregiver strain and the health of employed caregivers. PARTICIPANTS Our study involved the analysis of data from the 2001 Canadian National Work, Family and Lifestyle Study (N= 31,517). METHODS MANOVA was used to determine the relationship between caregiver strain and three situational factors: (1) gender; (2) where the care recipient lives compared to the caregiver; and, (3) family type. Regression was used to determine the relationship between caregiver strain and mental health. RESULTS We found that caregiver strain depends on gender, family type and location of care. Emotional strain was a significant predictor of mental health. CONCLUSIONS These findings support the need for organizations to expand their thinking around work-life balance to include employees who have eldercare responsibilities.
The impact of back bias on the floating body effect in UTBOX SOI devices for 1T-FBRAM memory applications

In this paper, the floating body effect used in one Transistor Floating Body Random Access Memory (1T-FBRAM) is experimentally investigated on Fully Depleted Ultra Thin Box Silicon On Insulator devices (FD UTBOX SOI). It is shown that using a positive back bias allows further scaling of 1T-FBRAM by increasing the current sense margin as well as the VG read window. Furthermore, the VD operating bias is reduced to the minimal drain voltage needed for impact ionization, which is beneficial for reliability.
Optimization by iterative improvement: an experimental evaluation on two-way partitioning

Recently, Johnson et al. [1989] presented an excellent comparison of simulated annealing and Kernighan-Lin algorithms. However, their test beds were limited to random and geometric graphs. We present a complete evaluation by adding real circuitry into the test beds. A two-level partitioning algorithm called the primal-dual algorithm is also incorporated for comparison. We show that at least 500 runs are necessary to demonstrate the performance of the Fiduccia-Mattheyses algorithm, whereas traditional way of evaluation tends to underestimate. Nevertheless, our new results show that for two-way partitioning on real circuits, the primal-dual algorithm is, in general, a better choice than both the Fiduccia-Mattheyses algorithm and the simulated annealing algorithm. This conclusion is more likely to hold when the primal-dual algorithm is switched to a simpler mode. >
CPS fed linearly-tapered cavity backed slot antenna for 60 GHz applications

In this paper a cavity-backed linearly tapered slot antenna for 60 GHz operation is presented. Compared with other antennas, the footprint of the new antenna are reduced. This allows their usage in arrays at a finer pitch, thus reducing the footprint requirements of the whole array or allowing the usage of more antenna elements in an unscaled array. The antenna is shown to have a gain better than 6 dBi over a frequency range of 57…66 GHz and a very smooth pattern both in the E- and H-plane.
Comparison of outpatient versus inpatient transurethral prostate resection for benign prostatic hyperplasia: Comparative, prospective bi-centre study.

INTRODUCTION We compare the symptomatic relief with urodynamic parameter change and operative safety of the outpatient transurethral resection in saline (TURIS-V) technique with inpatient transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) for the management of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). METHODS This prospective cohort comparison study enrolled patients who needed BPH surgery. Between January 2010 and June 2011, outpatient TURIS-V was performed at 1 centre and the results of the treatment were compared with inpatient TURP performed at a separate hospital. Preoperative characteristics, including prostate volume, were similar in both groups. Perioperative data and any treatment complications were recorded. The analysis compared postoperative outcomes, including a 6-month postoperative International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS), a quality of life (QoL) evaluation and a record of any changes in uroflowmetry findings, between the 2 groups. RESULTS In the TURIS-V patient group, 75 patients agreed to be in the study. Of these, 69 ultimately complete the study. In the TURP group, 76 patients agreed and 71 of these completed the study. Both study groups were well-matched for age, IPSS, QoL and uroflowmetry findings. The TURIS-V group experienced both shorter operation times (54.6 vs. 74.8 minutes) and shorter catheterization times (2.2 vs. 4.2 days) when compared to the TURP group. There were comparable improvements in the 6-month postoperative IPSS, QoL, and uroflowmetry findings between the 2 groups. There were also equally low incidence rates of procedural complications. CONCLUSIONS Both TURIS-V and TURP relieve lower urinary tract symptoms in a similar way, with great efficacy and safety. Overall, TURIS-V had shorter operative and catheterization times compared to TURP. Notwithstanding the paper's limitations (non- randomized cohort comparison with possible selection or surgeon bias and small heterogeneous sample size), TURIS-V can be performed safely even in an outpatient setting.
Coupling functions between brain waves : Significance of opened / closed eyes

In dynamical systems, the information flows converge or diverges in state space and is integrated or communicated between different cells assemblies termed as CFC. This process allows different oscillatory systems to communicate in accurate time, control and distribute the information flows in cell assemblies. The CF interactions allow the oscillatory rhythms to communicate in accurate time, and reintegrate the separated information. The intrinsic brain dynamics in Electroencephalography (EEG) with eye closed (EC) and eye open (EO) during resting states have been investigated to see the changes in brain complexity i.e. simple visual processing which are associated with increase in global dimension complexity. In order to study these changes in EEG, we have computed the coupling to see the inhibitory interneurons response and interregions functional connectivity differences between the eye conditions. We have investigated the fluctuations in EEG activities in low (delta, theta) and high (alpha) frequency brain oscillations. Coupling strength was estimated using Dynamic Bayesian inference approach which can effectively detect the phase connectivity subject to the noise within a network of time varying coupled phase oscillators. Using this approach, we have seen that delta-alpha and theta-alpha CFC are more dominant in resting state EEG and applicable to multivariate network oscillator. It shows that alpha phase was dominated by low frequency oscillations i.e. delta and theta. These different CFC help us to investigate complex neuronal brain dynamics at large scale networks. We observed the local interactions at high frequencies and global interactions at low frequencies. The alpha oscillations are generated from both posterior and anterior origins whereas the delta oscillations found at posterior regions.
Intracellular calcium dynamics in response to action potentials in bullfrog sympathetic ganglion cells.

1. Dynamic changes in the intracellular free Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) following electrical membrane activity, were recorded from the neurone soma of the excised bullfrog sympathetic ganglion, using Fura‐2 fluorescence and compared with the accompanying Ca(2+)‐dependent electrical membrane responses. 2. The resting [Ca2+]i was about 100 nM, a value little changed by penetration with an intracellular electrode. 3. A net rise in fluorescence at a wavelength of 340 nm (Ca2+ transient) induced by a single action potential in Ringer solution rose almost in parallel with the initial decay phase of a slow Ca(2+)‐dependent after‐hyperpolarization; decayed in parallel with the late phase; and increased in amplitude and duration in the presence of tetraethylammonium (20 mM). 4. A Ca2+ transient induced by repetitive action potentials was increased asymptotically in amplitude and progressively in duration by increasing the number of spikes, and was slower in time course than the associated Ca(2+)‐dependent K+ current. 5. Scanning a single horizontal line across the cytoplasm with an ultraviolet argon ion laser (351 nm) and recording Indo‐1 fluorescence with a confocal microscope demonstrated an inward spread of a rise in [Ca2+]i following a tetanus. 6. Both single spike‐ and tetanus‐induced Ca2+ transients were abolished in a Ca(2+)‐free solution, while single or repetitive transient rises in [Ca2+]i induced by caffeine (5‐10 mM) were generated under the same conditions. 7. Ryanodine (10‐50 microM) did not affect tetanus‐induced Ca2+ transients, whereas it blocked completely the caffeine‐induced oscillation of [Ca2+]i. 8. Ca2+ transients induced by a tetanus in Ringer solution were independent of the interval from the preceding tetanus. The amplitude of Ca2+ transients induced by a tetanus in the presence of caffeine (5 mM) was equal to, or greater than, that generated in Ringer solution in any of the phases of [Ca2+]i oscillation. 9. It is suggested that under the physiological conditions here, the induction of action potentials does not cause the release of Ca2+ in the cells of the freshly excised bullfrog sympathetic ganglion, and that Ca(2+)‐buffering systems contribute not only to lowering a transient rise in [Ca2+]i but also to sustaining an increased [Ca2+]i after a large Ca2+ load into the cell.
Memristor emulator based on single CCII

With the introduction of the memristor design by the HP lab, there has been a surge of interest to perform different theoretical and experimental works to investigate various potential applications of the memristor. However, since the memristor is not available commercially, it is essential to design the emulator circuit for the memristors from the available electronic components. In this paper, we present the validation of a previously published memristor emulator through experimentation and introduce a simpler memristor emulator circuit that is built using only one second generation current conveyer (CCII), two diode-connected transistors, a capacitor and some resistors. The proposed circuit satisfies the fingerprints of the memristor in the I-V plane accurately. The circuit is very simple to implement in the lab for educational purpose. Furthermore, the mathematical model and analysis of the proposed emulator circuit are introduced. SPICE simulation and experimental results are also provided.
Two placebo-controlled, randomized withdrawal studies to evaluate the fentanyl 1 day patch in opioid-naïve patients with chronic pain

Abstract Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of fentanyl 1 day patch in opioid-naïve patients with non-cancer chronic pain insufficiently relieved by non-opioid analgesics. Research design and methods: Two phase III placebo-controlled, double-blind, group-comparison, randomized withdrawal studies were conducted in patients with osteoarthritis and/or low back pain (N01 study) and post-herpetic neuralgia, complex regional pain syndrome, or chronic postoperative pain (N02) in Japan. Both studies consisted of period I (10–29 days of titration, fentanyl 12.5–50.0 µg/h) and period II (12 weeks double-blind). Clinical trial registration: N01, NCT01008618; N02, NCT01008553 Main outcome measures: The primary endpoint was the number of days until study discontinuation due to insufficient pain relief in period II, and secondary endpoints included pain scored on visual analog scale (VAS), subject’s overall assessment, the number of rescue dose, brief pain inventory short form score, score on short-form 36-item health survey version 2.0, physician’s overall assessment, and assessment of adverse events. Results: Of the 218 (N01) and 258 (N02) subjects who entered period I, 150 and 163 subjects entered period II, respectively. In the N01 study, the between-group difference was significant in the VAS score (95% CI: 7.3 [1.1, 13.5] mm, P = 0.0215) but not in the primary endpoint (P = 0.0846, log-rank test). In the N02 study, both primary efficacy (P = 0.0003) and VAS (8.7 [2.4, 15.0] mm, P = 0.0071) results showed that fentanyl was more effective than placebo. The major adverse events were nervous system and gastrointestinal disorders typically associated with opioid analgesic use. The incidence of adverse events in the fentanyl group was 68.5% to 85.7%. Conclusions: Although the primary efficacy results showed significant effects of fentanyl in the N02 but not the N01 study, overall results showed that fentanyl 1 day patch is effective and well tolerated.
The hypotensive effect of an oral adenosine analog with selectivity for the A2 receptor in the spontaneously hypertensive rat.

Adenosine is a potent arterial vasodilator that, because of a short duration of action and acid lability, is ineffective in the oral treatment of hypertension. Y-341 is a synthetic adenosine analog that is acid stable and has a prolonged duration of action. It is highly selective for the A2 receptor, which is prevalent in the vascular smooth muscle and mediates vasodilation. To determine the efficacy of Y-341 as an antihypertensive agent, the effect of Y-341 on arterial pressure was studied in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) in the awake state, 3 to 4 days after arterial cannulation. Y-341 (3 mg/kg) was dissolved in 5% DMSO and administered by gavage. Blood pressure and heart rate were monitored continuously at predetermined intervals. Fifteen minutes after administration, Y-341 reduced MAP from 180 +/- 4 to 126 +/- 2 mm Hg (n = 9, P < .001). There was no significant change in heart rate. The hypotensive effect was sustained over 8 h. Vehicle (n = 5) had no effect on blood pressure. The hypotensive effect was dose dependent when the dose of Y-341 was increased from 3 to 6 and 12 mg/kg. When Y-341 was administered at 3 mg/kg/day in a single dose for 5 consecutive days, there was no significant change in the magnitude of the hypotensive response over time. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Investments in Modernization, Innovation and Gains in Productivity: Evidence from Firms in the Global Paper Industry

This paper examines the impact of investments in modernization and innovation on productivity in a sample of firms in the global pulp and paper industry. This industry is important because it has traditionally accounted for significant amounts of employment and capital investment in North America and Europe. In contrast to much of the existing literature which focuses on the impact of R&D and patents on firms’ performance and productivity, we examine data on actual investment transactions in four main areas of operations: (i) mechanical, (ii) chemicals, (iii) monitoring devices and (iv) information technology. We find that firms which made decisions to implement a greater number of investment transactions in modernization achieved higher productivity, and these estimated quantitative effects are greater than the impact of standard innovation variables such as patents and R&D. Investment transactions in the information technology and digital monitoring devices imparted a particularly noticeable boost to productivity. These results are obtained after controlling for other firm-specific variables such as capital-intensity and mergers and acquisitions. Two broad messages emerge from our study. First, firms’ decisions to undertake investments in modernization and various forms of incremental innovations appear to be critical for achieving gains in productivity. While these may typically generate small gains on a year-to-year basis, they can compound to form meaningful differences in performance, productivity and competitive position across firms in the longer-run. Second, for some of the traditional industries like pulp and paper, R&D and patents seem to be particularly poor indicators of innovation and, more generally, how firms go about achieving gains in productivity. While this paper focuses on the pulp and paper industry, our broad framework and methodology is general and can be applied to understanding firms’ strategies related to enhancing performance and productivity in a variety of industries.
Blood levels of organochlorine residues and risk of breast cancer.

BACKGROUND Organochlorines such as DDT [2,2-bis(p-chlorophenyl)-1,1,1-trichloroethane] and PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls), which have been used extensively as insecticides and as fluid insulators of electrical components, respectively, are known to be persistent environmental contaminants and animal carcinogens. These agents have been found in human tissue due to their inefficient metabolism and their solubility in lipids, which lead to lifelong sequestration in adipose tissue. Their association with human cancer occurrence, however, has been explored only marginally, with most studies having 20 or fewer cases. PURPOSE This blinded study was designed to determine whether exposure to PCBs and to DDE [1,1-dichloro-2,2-bis(p-chlorophenyl) ethylene], the major metabolite of DDT, is associated with breast cancer risk in women. METHODS We analyzed sera from the stored blood specimens of 14,290 participants enrolled between 1985 and 1991 in the New York University Women's Health Study, a prospective cohort study of hormones, diet, and cancer. Cohort members who developed breast cancer were included as case patients in our nested case-control study. DDE and PCBs were measured by gas chromatography in the sera of 58 women with a diagnosis of breast cancer 1-6 months after they entered the cohort and in 171 matched control subjects from the same study population who did not develop cancer. RESULTS Mean levels of DDE and PCBs were higher for breast cancer case patients than for control subjects, but paired differences were statistically significant only for DDE (P = .031). After adjustment for first-degree family history of breast cancer, lifetime lactation, and age at first full-term pregnancy, conditional logistic regression analysis showed a fourfold increase in relative risk of breast cancer for an elevation of serum DDE concentrations from 2.0 ng/mL (10th percentile) to 19.1 ng/mL (90th percentile). For PCBs, the relative risk for a change in serum levels from 3.9 ng/mL (10th percentile) to 10.6 ng/mL (90th percentile) was less than twofold, a nonsignificant association that was further reduced after adjustment for DDE. CONCLUSION In this population of New York City women, breast cancer was strongly associated with DDE in serum but not with PCBs. IMPLICATIONS These findings suggest that environmental chemical contamination with organochlorine residues may be an important etiologic factor in breast cancer. Given the widespread dissemination of organochlorine insecticides in the environment and the food chain, the implications are far-reaching for public health intervention worldwide.
Tumor Necrosis Factor-α Blockade Leads to Decreased Peripheral T Cell Reactivity and Increased Dendritic Cell Number in Peripheral Blood of Patients with Ankylosing Spondylitis

Objective To study the effect of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) antagonist (etanercept) treatment on the peripheral T cell reactivity of patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS). Methods Peripheral blood mononuclear cells were collected from 40 patients with AS at baseline, after 2 and 6 weeks of etanercept treatment or placebo treatment, and from healthy controls. The number of cells secreting various cytokines was detected by enzyme linked immunospot. Serum soluble interleukin 2 (IL-2) receptor level was measured by ELISA. T cell proliferation was assayed with the WST-1 live cell-staining method. The myeloid dendritic cell (mDC) and regulatory T cell (Treg) levels were analyzed by fluorescence activated cell sorting. Results After 2 and 6 weeks of etanercept treatment, the number of TNF-α-secreting monocytes decreased. Although the T cell proliferation rate remained stable, the number of T cells secreting IL-2 and interferon-γ under anti-CD3/anti-CD28 stimulation was significantly decreased. The level of serum soluble IL-2R (sIL-2R), a T cell activation marker, also declined. The changes in T cell reactivity were correlated with a significant increase in MHC Class II-positive mDC cells in circulation. An increase in Treg cell numbers was also observed. Conclusion The anti-TNF-α therapy blockaded MHC Class II-positive mDC maturation, enhanced regulatory T cell levels, and suppressed the functions of effector T cells. The reduced T cell reactivity could contribute to the efficacy of the TNF-α antagonist therapy in patients with AS.
Overweight and obesity among North American Indian infants, children, and youth

The frequency of overweight and obesity among North American Indian children and youth exceeds that of other ethnic groups in the United States. This observation is based on studies using body mass index as the primary measure of overweight and obesity. In the mid‐20th century, there were regional differences among North American Indian groups in sub‐adults' size and shape and only a few Southwestern groups were characterized by high rates of overweight and obesity. In most populations, the high prevalence of overweight and obesity developed in the last decades of the 20th century. Childhood obesity may begin early in life as many studies report higher birth weights and greater weight‐for‐height in the preschool years. Contributing factors include higher maternal weights, a nutritional transition from locally caught or raised foods to store bought items, psychosocial stress associated with threats to cultural identity and national sovereignty, and exposure to obesogenic pollutants, all associated to some degree with poverty. Obesity is part of the profile of poor health among Native Americans in the US and Canada, and contributes to woefully high rates of diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and early mortality. Interventions that are culturally appropriate are needed to reduce weights at all points in the lifespan. Am. J. Hum. Biol. 2012. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.