Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Influence of fluticasone and salmeterol on airway effects of inhaled organic dust;an in vivo and ex vivo study

Inhalation of dust from swine confinement buildings induces airway inflammation with an increase in both inflammatory cell numbers and secretion of proinflammatory cytokines in the lungs. It is not known whether anti‐asthma drugs, which influence airway inflammation in asthma, also influence the airway reaction to inhaled organic dust. In the present study we examined the effects of a ß2‐agonist (salmeterol) and an inhaled steroid (fluticasone) on the swine dust‐induced cell and cytokine content of the lower airways, and cytokine release in cultured alveolar macrophages. Healthy volunteers were pretreated with inhaled salmeterol (n = 8), fluticasone propionate (n = 8) or placebo (n = 8) for about 2 weeks and exposed to dust in a pig house. Bronchoalveolar lavage was performed both before medication and after dust exposure. Cell differential counts and cytokine analyses in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) were examined. Alveolar macrophages were cultured and cytokine release was studied, both in unstimulated cells and after lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulation. Unstimulated alveolar macrophages from swine dust‐exposed individuals released less IL‐6, IL‐8 and tumour necrosis factor‐alpha (TNF‐α) after, than before, exposure (P < 0·01). Medication did not influence basal cytokine production. Fluticasone inhibited LPS‐induced IL‐6 and IL‐8 release (P < 0·05). There was no significant difference between the groups . There was a large and significant increase (P < 0·05) in alveolar macrophage, granulocyte, lymphocyte numbers, and IL‐6 and TNF‐α content in BALF in all three groups following dust exposure, with no significant difference between the groups. These findings suggest that drugs which are known to influence and control airway inflammation in asthma do not have major effects on airway inflammation induced by the inhalation of organic dust.
Using the 100-g oral glucose tolerance test to predict fetal and maternal outcomes in women with gestational diabetes mellitus.

BACKGROUND This 5-year cohort study investigated gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) using new diagnostic criteria and predictive factors for maternal and fetal outcomes. METHODS From March 2001 to February 2006, 8557 pregnant women underwent a 50-g glucose challenge test (GCT) at 24 to 28 weeks of gestation. A diagnosis of GDM was based on a a one-hour plasma glucose level >/= 140 mg/dl on the 50 g GCT, followed by at lease two abnormal values on a 100-g oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT), according to the Carpenter and Coustan modification of the National Diabetes Data Group (NDDG) criteria. Maternal and fetal outcomes were compared with women with normal glucose tolerance (NGT). RESULTS The incidence of GDM was 7.4%. After excluding women with twin pregnancies, 617 women with GDM and 1250 women with NGT were enrolled for comparison. Older age (33.7 +/- 4.1 vs. 32.2 +/- 4.1, p < 0.001), lower weight gain during pregnancy (13.2 +/- 4.4 vs. 14.6 +/- 4.0 kg, p < 0.001), and higher rates of caesarean section (43.8% vs. 32.7%, p < 0.001) occurred in women with GDM compared to those in the NGT group. The rates of macrosomia and neonatal death were higher in the GDM group than the NGT group (7.0% vs. 1.9%, p < 0.001 and 0.6% vs. 0.0%, p = 0.005 respectively). The fasting glucose on the 100-g OGTT was positively correlated with birth weight in the GDM group (r = 0.117, 95% CI 0.038-0.194, p = 0.004). A value exceeding 90 mg/dl was 80% sensitive and 50% specific for macrosomia. CONCLUSIONS The incidence of GDM in Taiwan is increasing more than before based on current diagnostic criteria. The fasting glucose on the 100-g OGTT correlates closely with birth weight and is also an independent risk factor for macrosomia. Focusing on women with fasting blood glucose concentrations > 90 mg/dL is anticipated to improve outcomes effectively.
Central administration of thyrotropin releasing hormone (TRH) and related peptides inhibits feeding behavior in the Siberian hamster

Centrally acting thyrotropin releasing hormone (TRH), independent of endocrine action, has been shown to regulate several metabolic and behavioral parameters in rats, including food intake and locomotor activity. The present study investigated and compared the effects of central TRH on feeding behavior in Siberian hamsters exposed to long (LP) or short (SP) photoperiods, which induce natural physiological states of obesity and leanness respectively. The effects of two TRH analogues, RX77368 (a metabolically stable TRH analogue) and TRH-Gly (an endogenous precursor to TRH with putative preferential action at the central TRH receptor, TRH-R2), were also investigated. All peptides were infused via the third ventricle (i.c.v.). Food intake was measured, and the proportion of time spent interacting with food, active or resting was scored. TRH (5 μg) significantly reduced food intake without producing associated changes in activity in hamsters maintained in both LP (p < 0.001) and SP (p < 0.05). A lower dose of TRH (0.5 μg) only decreased feeding significantly (p < 0.01) in hamsters exposed to SP, indicating that there may be an underlying difference in sensitivity to TRH depending on metabolic state. RX77368 (1 μg) produced substantial hypophagia (p < 0.001) and decreased the proportion of time spent interacting with food, but, unlike TRH, may produce this via an increase in locomotor activity. TRH-Gly (5 μg) produced a small decrease in food intake (p < 0.05), lasting for 6 h. We conclude that TRH and TRH analogues possess anorexigenic capacities in this species, with a likely site of action in the hypothalamus. Increased sensitivity to the hypophagic effects of central TRH may contribute to the long-term catabolic state induced by short photoperiods.
Lipoprotein N-acyl transferase (Lnt1) is dispensable for protein O-mannosylation by Streptomyces coelicolor.

A protein glycosylation system related to that for protein mannosylation in yeast is present in many actinomycetes. This system involves polyprenyl phosphate mannose synthase (Ppm), protein mannosyl transferase (Pmt), and lipoprotein N-acyl transferase (Lnt). In this study, we obtained a series of mutants in the ppm (sco1423), lnt1 (sco1014), and pmt (sco3154) genes of Streptomyces coelicolor, which encode Ppm, Lnt1, and Pmt, to analyze their requirement for glycosylation of the heterologously expressed Apa glycoprotein of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The results show that both Ppm and Pmt were required for Apa glycosylation, but that Lnt1 was dispensable for both Apa and the bacteriophage φC31 receptor glycosylation. A bacterial two-hybrid assay revealed that contrary to M. tuberculosis, Lnt1 of S. coelicolor does not interact with Ppm. The D2 catalytic domain of M. tuberculosisPpm was sufficient for complementation of an S. coelicolor double mutant lacking Lnt1 and Ppm, both for Apa glycosylation and for glycosylation of φC31 receptor. On the other hand, M. tuberculosisPmt was not active in S. coelicolor, even when correctly localized to the cytoplasmic membrane, showing fundamental differences in the requirements for Pmt activity in these two species.
Structural Basis for a Bispecific NADP+ and CoA Binding Site in an Archaeal Malonyl-Coenzyme A Reductase*

Background: Malonyl-CoA reductase of the CO2 assimilating 3-hydroxypropionate/4-hydroxybutyrate cycle reduces malonyl-CoA to malonic semialdehyde. Results: Malonyl-CoA reductase complexed with CoA and NADP+ was structurally characterized. Conclusion: The protein acts as rigid template to press CoA and NADP+ into similar S-shaped, superimposable forms. Significance: The data indicate how to construct a bispecific cofactor binding site and to engineer a malonyl- into methyl-malonyl-CoA reductase for polyester building block production. Autotrophic members of the Sulfolobales (crenarchaeota) use the 3-hydroxypropionate/4-hydroxybutyrate cycle to assimilate CO2 into cell material. The product of the initial acetyl-CoA carboxylation with CO2, malonyl-CoA, is further reduced to malonic semialdehyde by an NADPH-dependent malonyl-CoA reductase (MCR); the enzyme also catalyzes the reduction of succinyl-CoA to succinic semialdehyde onwards in the cycle. Here, we present the crystal structure of Sulfolobus tokodaii malonyl-CoA reductase in the substrate-free state and in complex with NADP+ and CoA. Structural analysis revealed an unexpected reaction cycle in which NADP+ and CoA successively occupy identical binding sites. Both coenzymes are pressed into an S-shaped, nearly superimposable structure imposed by a fixed and preformed binding site. The template-governed cofactor shaping implicates the same binding site for the 3′- and 2′-ribose phosphate group of CoA and NADP+, respectively, but a different one for the common ADP part: the β-phosphate of CoA aligns with the α-phosphate of NADP+. Evolution from an NADP+ to a bispecific NADP+ and CoA binding site involves many amino acid exchanges within a complex process by which constraints of the CoA structure also influence NADP+ binding. Based on the paralogous aspartate-β-semialdehyde dehydrogenase structurally characterized with a covalent Cys-aspartyl adduct, a malonyl/succinyl group can be reliably modeled into MCR and discussed regarding its binding mode, the malonyl/succinyl specificity, and the catalyzed reaction. The modified polypeptide surrounding around the absent ammonium group in malonate/succinate compared with aspartate provides the structural basis for engineering a methylmalonyl-CoA reductase applied for biotechnical polyester building block synthesis.
Adaptive trajectory tracking control of a wheeled mobile robot via Lyapunov techniques

This paper develops the control methodologies under the specific assumption of the data source environments, for trajectory tracking of a wheeled mobile robot (WMR) with vision data. To solve the problem of trajectory tracking control of WMR, one novel kinematics control law is presented to steer the vehicle to asymptotically follow the desired trajectories. To compensate for dynamic effects associated with the dynamic models, an adaptive nonlinear trajectory tracking control law is presented to ensure asymptotic trajectory tracking for the vehicle. The experimental system is composed of a wireless RS232 modem, a digital signal processor (DSP), a wheeled mobile robot, and a vision system with a host computer. A computation-effective and high-performance controller using the digital signal processor is constructed for executing the developed sophisticated trajectory tracking laws. Simulation and experimental results are included to illustrate the feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed control method.
Rural Social Movements and Agroecology: Context, Theory, and Process

Rural social movements have in recent years adopted agroecology and diversified farming systems as part of their discourse and practice. Here, we situate this phenomenon in the evolving context of rural spaces that are increasingly disputed between agribusiness, together with other corporate land-grabbers, and peasants and their organizations and movements. We use the theoretical frameworks of disputed material and immaterial territories and of re-peasantization to explain the increased emphasis on agroecology by movements in this context. We provide examples from the farmer-to-farmer movement to show the advantages that social movements bring to the table in taking agroecology to scale and discuss the growing agroecology networking process in the transnational peasant and family farmer movement La Via Campesina.
Semianalytical Modeling of Short-Channel Effects in Lightly Doped Silicon Trigate MOSFETs

A simple analytical expression of the 3-D potential distribution along the channel of lightly doped silicon trigate MOSFETs in weak inversion is derived, based on a perimeter-weighted approach of symmetric and asymmetric double-gate MOSFETs. The analytical solution is compared with the numerical solution of the 3-D Poisson's equation in the cases where the ratios of channel length/silicon thickness and channel length/channel width are ges 2. Good agreement is achieved at different positions within the channel. The perimeter-weighted approach fails at the corner regions of the silicon body; however, by using corner rounding and undoped channel to avoid corner effects in simulations, the agreement between model and simulation results is improved. By using the extra potential induced in the silicon film due to short-channel effects, the subthreshold drain current is determined in a semianalytical way, from which the subthreshold slope, the drain-induced barrier lowering, and the threshold voltage are extracted.
Mutational definition of the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 Rev activation domain

Replication of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 requires the functional expression of the virally encoded Rev protein. The binding of this nuclear trans activator to its viral target sequence, the Rev-response element, induces the cytoplasmic expression of unspliced viral mRNAs. Mutation of the activation domain of Rev generates inactive proteins with normal RNA binding capabilities that inhibit wild-type Rev function in a trans-dominant manner. Here, we report that the activation domain comprises a minimum of nine amino acids, four of which are critically spaced leucines. The preservation of this essential sequence in other primate and nonprimate lentivirus Rev proteins indicates that this leucine-rich motif has been highly conserved during evolution. This conclusion, taken together with the observed permissiveness of a variety of eukaryotic cell types for Rev function, suggests that the target for the activation domain of Rev is likely to be a highly conserved cellular protein(s) intrinsic to nuclear mRNA transport or splicing.
Curvature and torsion formulas for conflict sets

Conflict set are the points at equal distance from a number of manifolds. Known results on the differential geometry of these sets are generalized and extended. Introduction. This paper is concerned with the study of curvature and regularity properties of conflict sets. Conflict sets are sets that are at equal distance from a number of hypersurfaces. The term “conflict set” was introduced by Thom. Conflict sets were studied in the context of curves in R in [Sie99]. There a simple formula for the curvature of the conflict set of two curves γi with normal ni and curvature κi was obtained. This formula can be obtained in another way. Take two circles with centers B1 and B2. The line at equal distance from the two circles is a conic C. Its parametrization can be calculated and thus its curvature. If we denote by Ti the signed distance from the center Bi to a point q on C, then the curvature of the hyperbola at q is κc = 1 2 ( 1 T1 − 1 T2 ) sinα. (1) Here α is half of the angle between n1 and n2, or what amounts to the same, the angle between ni and the tangent to the conflict set. The quantities 1 Ti are the curvatures κi of the curves propagated along the normals to the point q. One can argue with “contact-type” arguments that the case of two circles is representative for all other situations: essentially the k-jet of the conflict set is completely fixed once the k-jets of the γi are known. Several questions now arise: • If the hypersurfaces are not smooth boundaries of mutually disjoint convex domains what then is the right definition of the conflict set? (Definition 1.3) 2000 Mathematics Subject Classification: Primary 53A07; Secondary 53B20. The paper is in final form and no version of it will be published elsewhere.
Schizophrenic Neologism versus Aphasic Neologism: Characteristics in Writings of Japanese Schizophrenic Patients

Abstract: Three cases of schizophrenia with ideographic neologisms in Japanese are presented and compared with aphasic neologisms reported in Japanese literature. Schizophrenic neologisms are different from aphasic neologisms in nature. The contrast becomes obvious when both are compared in Japanese writing based on the dual writing system of kanji (Chinese characters, ideogram) and kana (phonetic characters, syllabogram).
Demonstration of Large Coupling-Induced Phase Delay in Silicon Directional Cross-Couplers

We investigate directional couplers in silicon-on-insulator photonic technology. We theoretically and experimentally demonstrate a large coupling-induced phase delay that occurs when nearly all light is coupled from one waveguide to the other, i.e., when the coupler operates as a cross-coupler. We show that even a tiny asymmetry in the two waveguides of the coupler causes a significant additional phase delay. The observed change in the free-spectral-range of ring resonators from 5.0 nm to 6.4 nm is explained by a small 0.1% difference in the propagation constants of the two waveguides. Such a difference can be caused by for example a 1 nm difference in the widths of the two waveguides.
Pattern matching with abstract data types

Abstract Pattern matching in modern functional programming languages is tied to the representation of data. Unfortunately, this is incompatible with the philosophy of abstract data types. Two proposals have been made to generalize pattern matching to a broader class of types. The laws mechanism of Miranda allows pattern matching with non-free algebraic data types. More recently, Wadler proposed the concept of views as a more general solution, making it possible to define arbitrary mappings between a physical implementation and a view supporting pattern matching. Originally, it was intended to include views in the new standard lazy functional programming language Haskell. Laws and views each offer important advantages, particularly with respect to data abstraction. However, if not used with great care, they also introduce serious problems in equational reasoning. As a result, laws have been removed from Miranda and views were not included in the final version of Haskell. We propose a third approach which unifies the laws and views mechanisms while avoiding their problems. Philosophically, we view pattern matching as a bundling of case recognition and component selection functions instead of a method for inverting data construction. This can be achieved by removing the implied equivalence between data constructors and pattern constructors. In practice, we allow automatic mapping into a view but not out of the view. We show that equational reasoning can still be used with the resulting system. In fact, equational reasoning is easier, since there are fewer hidden traps.
Very-long-chain Acyl-CoA Synthetases*

As early as 1953, it was recognized that there were at least three enzymes with ACS activity, activating short-chain (2–3 carbons), medium-chain (4–12 carbons), and long-chain ( 12 carbons) fatty acid substrates (1). The need for enzymes capable of activating saturated verylong-chain fatty acids (VLCFAs; containing 22 carbons) became evident with the discovery of elevated VLCFA levels in X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy (X-ALD) and other peroxisomal disorders (2). Formation of VLCFA-CoA is essential for degrading excess VLCFA via peroxisomal -oxidation. Singh et al. (3) were the first to demonstrate that rat brain microsomes could activate the VLCFA lignoceric acid (C24:0). Although purification of an enzyme with very-long-chain ACS (ACSVL) activity from mammalian tissues proved to be challenging, Hashimoto and co-workers (4) were successful. By following C24:0 activation, they achieved a 479-fold purification of a 70-kDa protein from rat liver peroxisomes. cDNA encoding this enzyme was cloned and expressed in COS-1 cells, yielding an enzymatically active protein (5). The endogenous enzyme localized to peroxisomes andmicrosomes and was found only in liver and kidney; thus, earlier reports of ACSVL activity in brain suggested the existence of additional enzyme(s) (3). Two years prior to the purification and cloning of ACSVL, Schaffer and Lodish (6) independently cloned cDNA encoding a novel protein that they called “fatty acid transport protein” (FATP). FATP was identified, along with a long-chain ACS, when a cDNA librarywas screened for proteins that augmented uptake of a fluorescent fatty acid, C1-BODIPY-C12, by 3T3-L1 adipocytes. mRNA encoding this 63-kDa protein was also expressed in heart, skeletal muscle, brain, and kidney. When overexpressed in 3T3 cells, FATP was associated with the plasmamembrane fraction and stimulated the uptake of radiolabeled palmitic (C16:0), oleic (C18:1), and arachidonic (C20:4) acids, thereby displaying many of the properties expected for a transporter. When the ACSVL amino acid sequence of Hashimoto and co-workers (5) was compared with data base sequences, the protein it was most homologous to was not, as expected, long-chain or other ACSs, but rather FATP. Thus began a controversy as to whether FATP and related proteins are ACSs, fatty acid transporters, or both; this controversy remains, in part, unresolved.
Periinfarct depolarizations.

In the surroundings of focal ischemic lesions, repetitive spreading depression (SD)-like depolarizations occur. These depolarizations are triggered by the anoxic release of potassium and excitatory amino acids from the infarct core, and they are propagated over the whole hemisphere at a speed of approximately 3 mm/min. The associated fluid shifts can be detected by diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and correlate with an aggravation of the metabolic disturbance. In the peripheral, normally perfused brain regions of the infarcted hemisphere, the metabolic workload of SD is coupled to a parallel increase of blood flow, ensuring undisturbed oxygen supply. In the periinfarct penumbra, in contrast, the reduced hemodynamic capacity of the collateral system prevents adequate oxygenation and results in episodes of tissue hypoxia. Periinfarct SDs induce expression of immediate early genes in all brain regions except the ischemic core, i.e, in the penumbra and the surrounding normal brain tissue. In the penumbra, the hypoxic episodes evoked by SDs produce an additional stress response that is reflected by the expression of stress proteins and the suppression of global protein synthesis. In the most severely ischemic parts of the penumbra, periinfarct depolarizations may turn into terminal depolarization, resulting in a stepwise expansion of the infarct core. Postischemic application of N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) and non-NMDA glutamate receptor antagonists suppresses periinfarct depolarizations, reverses the penumbral suppression of protein synthesis, and reduces infarct size. These observations demonstrate that periinfarct depolarizations aggravate focal ischemic injury and suggest that therapeutic suppression of these depolarizations minimizes infarct size.
Chronic Illness Experience: Insights from a Metastudy

Concurrent with the recent enthusiasm for qualitative research in the health fields, an energetic call for methods by which to synthesize the knowledge has been generated on various substantive topics. Although there is an emerging literature on meta-analysis and meta-synthesis, many authors overestimate the simplicity of such approaches and erroneously assume that useful knowledge can be synthesized from limited collections of study reports without a thorough analysis of their theoretical, methodological, and contextual foundations and features. In this article, the authors report some of the insights obtained from an extensive and exhaustive metastudy of qualitative studies of chronic illness experience. Their findings reveal the complexities inherent not only in any phenomenon of interest to health researchers but also in the study of how we have come to know what we think we know about it.