Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Lactate is a Preferential Oxidative Energy Substrate over Glucose for Neurons in Culture

The authors investigated concomitant lactate and glucose metabolism in primary neuronal cultures using 13C- and 1H-NMR spectroscopy. Neurons were incubated in a medium containing either [1-13C]glucose and different unlabeled lactate concentrations, or unlabeled glucose and different [3-13C]lactate concentrations. Overall, 13C-NMR spectra of cellular extracts showed that more 13C was incorporated into glutamate when lactate was the enriched substrate. Glutamate 13C-enrichment was also found to be much higher in lactate-labeled than in glucose-labeled conditions. When glucose and lactate concentrations were identical (5.5 mmol/L), relative contributions of glucose and lactate to neuronal oxidative metabolism amounted to 21% and 79%, respectively. Results clearly indicate that when neurons are in the presence of both glucose and lactate, they preferentially use lactate as their main oxidative substrate.
Numerical Computation of the Radiated Fields from a Thin Wire Dipole

A numerical comparison is made of three different computational methods used to determine the electric fields radiated by an isolated thin wire dipole antenna. These fields are calculated by the far-field equation, near-field equations obtained from the induced emf method, and the method of moments using constant, linear, and sinusoidal sub-domain functions. These methods are compared to each other while varying the distance between the source and field point in order to see at which distances these results agree. Validation of these results is done by comparing the resulting input admittance against measured data by Mack.
Revision total knee arthroplasty with the Total Condylar III system: A comparative analysis of 71 consecutive cases of osteoarthritis or inflammatory arthritis

Background As revision total knee arthroplasty surgery is becoming more common, it is necessary to evaluate how individual revision prosthesis systems perform in degenerative and inflammatory arthritides. In this study, results of the use of the Total Condylar III (TC III) system in osteoarthritis (55 knees) were compared to results of its use in inflammatory arthritis (16). Methods Patients were followed radiographically for 5.9 (3.0–10.2) years and clinically for 3.0 (0.2–6.8) years, using re-revision as the endpoint. Results At 1 year after revision and at final follow-up, the total Knee Society knee score, function score and range of motion had improved (p < 0.001) with no differences between osteoarthritis and inflammatory arthritis. No knee had definite component loosening, although 23 knees had asymptomatic radiolucent lines. Complications comprised 4 infections, 1 patellar pain syndrome and 1 rupture of the patellar tendon. Using any re-revi-sion of the prosthesis as the endpoint, 5-year survival was 95% and 8-year survival was 94%. Interpretation Concentration of demanding revision knee arthroplasties to a few hands led to good or excellent knee joint knee score results in four-fifths of the patients, and showed good outcome with the TCIII system. In spite of ligamentous laxity, propensity to develop infections, bone destruction and poor general health, patients with inflammatory arthritis had results similar to those with osteoarthritis.
Tolerance and Long-Lasting Peripheral Chimerism After Allogeneic Intestinal Transplantation in MGH Miniature Swine

Background and Objective. Clinical intestinal transplantation (Int-Tx) is limited by high rates of rejection, infection, and graft versus host disease. To improve clinical outcomes and eliminate the comorbidities associated with chronic immunosuppression, the induction of donor-specific tolerance to intestinal grafts is desirable, especially in the pediatric population. This study determined the ability of intestinal grafts to facilitate tolerance induction in major histocompatibility complex (MHC)–inbred miniature swine. Methods. Seven MGH-miniature swine received heterotopic intestinal grafts, two across MHC-matched, minor-antigen disparities, three across a class I MHC disparity with 12 days of cyclosporine A, and two across a class I MHC disparity without an immunosuppressant. Chimerism was assessed by FACS analysis and immunohistochemistry. Cell-mediated lympholysis assays were used to assess antidonor responses. Results. Two animals receiving intestinal grafts without an immunosuppressant developed antidonor IgG in 14 days and rejected these completely. All other grafts were accepted with 12 days of cyclosporine A across both MHC-matched and MHC class I barriers. Cell-mediated lympholysis assays showed donor-specific unresponsiveness by day 30 across MHC class I barriers. Greater than 15% peripheral donor cell chimerism persisted for more than 60 days after MHC-matched Int-Tx. Although less than 1.5% peripheral donor cell chimerism was seen during the maintenance period after class I-mismatched Int-Tx, 5% to 10% myeloid chimerism was found in the peripheral blood 14 to 90 days after Int-Tx. FACS analysis demonstrated that 1% to 2% of lymphocytes in the graft mesenteric lymph nodes were CD4+/CD25high+/Foxp3+ cells. Conclusion. To our knowledge, this is the first demonstration of tolerance induction and persistence of chimerism in a large animal intestinal transplant model.
ACE2, angiotensin‐(1‐7) and Mas receptor axis in inflammation and fibrosis

Recent advances have improved our understanding of the renin‐angiotensin system (RAS). These have included the recognition that angiotensin (Ang)‐(1‐7) is a biologically active product of the RAS cascade. The identification of the ACE homologue ACE2, which forms Ang‐(1‐7) from Ang II, and the GPCR Mas as an Ang‐(1‐7) receptor have provided the necessary biochemical and molecular background and tools to study the biological significance of Ang‐(1‐7). Most available evidence supports a counter‐regulatory role for Ang‐(1‐7) by opposing many actions of Ang II on AT1 receptors, especially vasoconstriction and proliferation. Many studies have now shown that Ang‐(1‐7) by acting via Mas receptor exerts inhibitory effects on inflammation and on vascular and cellular growth mechanisms. Ang‐(1‐7) has also been shown to reduce key signalling pathways and molecules thought to be relevant for fibrogenesis. Here, we review recent findings related to the function of the ACE2/Ang‐(1‐7)/Mas axis and focus on the role of this axis in modifying processes associated with acute and chronic inflammation, including leukocyte influx, fibrogenesis and proliferation of certain cell types. More attention will be given to the involvement of the ACE2/Ang‐(1‐7)/Mas axis in the context of renal disease because of the known relevance of the RAS for the function of this organ and for the regulation of kidney inflammation and fibrosis. Taken together, this knowledge may help in paving the way for the development of novel treatments for chronic inflammatory and renal diseases.
Association between hepatocellular carcinoma and type 2 diabetes mellitus in Italy: potential role of insulin.

AIM To investigate the relationships between Type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM2) and the risk of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). METHODS We studied the association between DM2 and HCC in a large case-control study that enrolled 465 consecutive Caucasian patients with HCC (78.3% males, mean age 68.5 +/- 8.9 years) compared with an age and sex matched control group of 490 subjects. RESULTS Prevalence of DM2 was significantly higher in HCC patients (31.2% vs 12.7%; OR = 3.12, 95% CI: 2.22-4.43) and in HCC cases with alcohol abuse. DM2 has been diagnosed before the appearance of HCC in 84.1% of diabetic HCC subjects with mean duration of 141.5 mo, higher in cases treated with insulin than in those with oral antidiabetic agents (171.5 vs 118.7 mo). Compared to controls, males DM2 with HCC were more frequently treated with insulin (38.1% vs 17.6%, P = 0.009) and with sulfonylurea with or without metformin than with diet with or without metformin (84% vs 68.3%, P = 0.049). CONCLUSION DM2 in our patients is associated with a 3-fold increase risk of HCC. In most of our cases DM2 pre-existed to HCC. Patients with DM2 and chronic liver disease, particularly insulin treated males, should be considered for HCC close surveillance programs.
Silicon-carbide high-voltage (400 V) Schottky barrier diodes

The authors describe the fabrication and characteristics of the first high-voltage (400-V) silicon-carbide (6H-SiC) Schottky barrier diodes. Measurements of the forward I-V characteristics of these diodes demonstrate a low forward voltage drop of approximately 1.1 V at an on-state current density of 100 A/cm/sup 2/ for a temperature range of 25 to 200 degrees C. The reverse I-V characteristics of these devices exhibit a sharp breakdown, with breakdown voltages exceeding 400 V at 25 degrees C. In addition, these diodes are shown to have superior reverse recovery characteristics when compared with high-speed silicon P-i-N rectifiers. <<ETX>>
The effects of consecutive night shifts on neuropsychological performance of interns in the emergency department: a pilot study.

STUDY OBJECTIVE We obtain preliminary information on the neuropsychological performance of house officers at the beginning and end of a shift while they worked consecutive night shifts in the emergency department. METHODS We prospectively studied interns working 12-hour consecutive night shifts in an urban Level I trauma center ED. All consecutive non-emergency medicine interns rotating for 1 month were eligible except those older than 40 years and those with sleep disorders or depression (identified by using the Profile of Mood Scale, Sleep Diagnostic Questionnaire). We tested research subjects at the beginning of a day shift and at the beginning and end of night shifts 1 and 3 of 4 consecutive night shifts at times of estimated baseline wakefulness (10 PM) and maximum fatigue (3 AM). We used 3 standardized neuropsychological tests: (1) Delayed Recognition Span Test (visual memory capacity); (2) Continuous Performance Test (attentional function, vigilance); and (3) Santa Ana Form Board Test (psychomotor speed, coordination). We analyzed data with mixed-model analysis, with research subject as a random effect. RESULTS Thirteen interns were eligible, and 1 declined. Twelve interns (6 men and 6 women; age range 25 to 35 years) were enrolled. The Delayed Recognition Span Test (number correct before first error) revealed significant deterioration from the beginning of the shift to the end of the shift (mean difference -2.2; 95% confidence interval -3.1 to -1.3). This represents an 18.5% decrease in visual memory capacity. There were no significant differences found for the other tests. CONCLUSION Interns working nights demonstrated a significant reduction in visual memory capacity across the night shift. Research involving neuropsychological performance during night shifts in the ED is important. It might provide valuable insights into ways to improve our performance during night shifts.
The effect of production system on fatty acid composition in beef meat of Cika young bulls.

The aim of the study was to determine chemical and fatty acid composition in meat of Cika bulls fattened in two production systems. Eight bulls were semi-intensively fattened with a total mix ratio (TMR), while ten were grazed without cereals supplementation. Housed bulls were slaughtered at the age of 20.0 months while grazed bulls were slaughtered at the age of 23.5 months. Samples of M. longissimus dorsi located between the 7th and 8th rib were used to determine the chemical and fatty acid composition. Data were analysed using the GLM procedure of the SAS/ STAT. Model 1 was used to test the effect of production system on the chemical composition of meat. Model 2 was used to test the effects of production system and the intramuscular fat content nested within the production system as linear regression on the fatty acid composition. Significant differences were determined in intramuscular fat (14.54 vs. 8.57 g/kg, P = 0.015) and in dry matter content (231.85 vs. 239.49 g/kg, P = 0.032) in beef meat of TMR fed and in grazed bulls, respectively. Beef meat of grazed bulls contained significantly lower palmitic acid (19.87 vs. 21.03 wt.%, P = 0.002), oleic acid (26.18 vs. 30.01 wt.%, P = 0.007) and MUFA (29.88 vs. 33.80 wt.%, P = 0.010) and higher α-linolenic (3.33 vs. 1.45 wt.%, P = 0.014), EPA (1.40 vs. 0.57 wt.%, P = 0.002), DPA (1.84 vs. 1.06 wt.%, P = 0.001), PUFA (21.42 vs. 19.43 wt.%, P = 0.047) and n-3PUFA (6.80 vs. 3.24 wt.%, P = 0.001) compared to TMR fed bulls.
The Chronology of the Iron Age in Bantu Africa

Mrs Barbara Ottaway has proposed that the interquartile range of the radiocarbon dates available for a given industry will provide an estimate of the floruit of that industry. The present paper examines some four hundred radiocarbon dates which have so far been processed from Iron Age sites in Bantu Africa, and concludes that the intersextile range provides a more accurate approximation for the floruit of individual industries than does the interquartile range. This approach permits the presentation of a more precise inter-regional synthesis of Iron Age chronology than has previously been attempted. It is demonstrated that the earliest manifestations of the Early Iron Age Industrial Complex are in East Africa. Further to the south, two distinct streams of the Early Iron Age are recognized: that in the eastern part of the sub-continent had penetrated as far to the south as the Transvaal some centuries before the western stream spread into what is now Zambia. The inception of the later Iron Age, around the eleventh century A.D., is shown to have been at least as rapid as was that of the Early Iron Age. In view of the greater precision which the above methodology imparts to the radiocarbon-based chronology, a brief discussion is presented of the calibrations which dendrochronological studies provide between radiocarbon ages and calendar ages. It is concluded that, for the period of the sub-Saharan African Iron Age, the corrections which are called for are minor in comparison with the standard errors of individual radiocarbon dates; and the application of such calibrations to Iron Age dates is not recommended.
Maternal diet and aging alter the epigenetic control of a promoter–enhancer interaction at the Hnf4a gene in rat pancreatic islets

Environmental factors interact with the genome throughout life to determine gene expression and, consequently, tissue function and disease risk. One such factor that is known to play an important role in determining long-term metabolic health is diet during critical periods of development. Epigenetic regulation of gene expression has been implicated in mediating these programming effects of early diet. The precise epigenetic mechanisms that underlie these effects remain largely unknown. Here, we show that the transcription factor Hnf4a, which has been implicated in the etiology of type 2 diabetes (T2D), is epigenetically regulated by maternal diet and aging in rat islets. Transcriptional activity of Hnf4a in islets is restricted to the distal P2 promoter through its open chromatin configuration and an islet-specific interaction between the P2 promoter and a downstream enhancer. Exposure to suboptimal nutrition during early development leads to epigenetic silencing at the enhancer region, which weakens the P2 promoter–enhancer interaction and results in a permanent reduction in Hnf4a expression. Aging leads to progressive epigenetic silencing of the entire Hnf4a locus in islets, an effect that is more pronounced in rats exposed to a poor maternal diet. Our findings provide evidence for environmentally induced epigenetic changes at the Hnf4a enhancer that alter its interaction with the P2 promoter, and consequently determine T2D risk. We therefore propose that environmentally induced changes in promoter-enhancer interactions represent a fundamental epigenetic mechanism by which nutrition and aging can influence long-term health.
Crowdsensing-based organic fingerprint for Wi-Fi localization

In a Wi-Fi location system, the accurate fingerprint database is the key to ensure accurate positioning. Several methods have been proposed for database generating and database training, but most of them have been trying to get a static fingerprint database which is only available in stable signal environment. In this paper, we proposed a crowdsensing-based fingerprint updating algorithm which makes the fingerprint organic and guarantee the positioning accuracy both in stable and unstable Wi-Fi signal environments. To get this, we first analyze the Wi-Fi signal environments, the instability of Wi-Fi signal environments will deteriorate the positioning performance of crowdsensing-based Wi-Fi location system if the fingerprint database is fixed. To do fingerprint updating, we first proposed a fingerprint updating algorithm based on the Euclidean distance between distinct fingerprints, which effectively reduce the importing error in crowdsensing-based database generating and signal sampling. The algorithm works well in stable and short-term Wi-Fi environments, but it can't solve the problem when tremendous changes occur in Wi-Fi environments. In order to solve the problem, we proposed an advanced algorithm based on the first one: Fingerprint updating based on Wi-Fi fingerprints' reliability model. In this algorithm, we assign every fingerprint a new property, reliability, which decays with time. By utilizing the reliability of the fingerprint, the location system can automatically detect the change of Wi-Fi environments and remove the outdated fingerprints. With this updating algorithm, we can get an organic fingerprint database.
Derivation of force fields for molecular mechanics and dynamics from ab initio energy surfaces.

We present a technique for addressing the problem of deriving potential energy functions for the simulation of organic, polymeric, and biopolymeric systems, as well as for modeling vibrational spectroscopic properties. This method is designed to address three major objectives: deriving and comparing optimal functional forms for describing the energies of molecular deformations and interactions, developing a technique to rapidly and objectively determine reasonable force constants for intermolecular and intramolecular interactions, and determining the transferability of these potential forms and constants. The first two of these objectives are addressed in this paper, while the latter problem will be treated elsewhere. The technique uses ab initio molecular energy surfaces, which are described by the energy and its first and second derivatives with respect to coordinates. As an example, application to a small model compound (i.e., the formate anion) is given. A variety of analytical forms for the potential are tested against the data, to find which forms are best. The importance of anharmonicity and cross terms in accounting for structure and energy, as well as for dynamics, is demonstrated and a more accurate representation of the out-of-plane deformation for a trigonal center is derived from the energy surfaces.
Abnormal Pain Response to Visual Feedback During Cervical Movements in Chronic Whiplash: An Experimental Study

Whiplash‐associated disorders (WAD) are a debilitating condition. In chronic WAD, sensorimotor incongruence exacerbates symptoms. Sensorimotor incongruence occurs when somatosensory input and predicted motor output are in conflict, which can trigger pain. On the other hand, there is evidence that visual feedback can decrease pain in certain chronic pain conditions. Therefore, the aim of this study was to examine the effect of visual feedback and sensorimotor incongruence on pain thresholds in chronic WAD.
Matrix Method to Linearization and State Space Representation of Power Systems Containing Doubly Fed Induction Machines Operating as Wind Generators

The control design using modern control theory requires the representation of the system in state space. In electric power systems, besides the control design, the state space representation makes possible the prediction about the system transient stability through the model matrices analysis. However, power systems dynamic models consist of differential and algebraic nonlinear equations and, for large power systems, these models are too complex making difficult the controllers design and the stability analysis. The model linearization allows the application of the linear control theory in a linearized model, and the transient stability analysis through the model state matrix eigen values positioning evaluation. Some works have showed linearization and state space representation methods for power systems containing synchronous machines. This work presents methods for power systems containing doubly fed induction generators, which have an increasing penetration in power systems, mainly in Europe, operating as wind generators
Dual roles of the bZIP transcription factor PERIANTHIA in the control of floral architecture and homeotic gene expression

Flowers develop from floral meristems, which harbor stem cells that support the growth of floral organs. The MADS domain transcription factor AGAMOUS (AG) plays a central role in floral patterning and is required not only for the specification of the two reproductive organ types, but also for termination of stem cell fate. Using a highly conserved cis-regulatory motif as bait, we identified the bZIP transcription factor PERIANTHIA (PAN) as a direct regulator of AG in Arabidopsis. PAN and AG expression domains overlap, and mutations in either the PAN-binding site or PAN itself abolish the activity of a reporter devoid of redundant elements. Whereas under long-day conditions pan mutants have merely altered floral organ number, they display in addition typical AG loss-of-function phenotypes when grown under short days. Consistently, we found reduced AG RNA levels in these flowers. Finally, we show that PAN expression persists in ag mutant flowers, suggesting that PAN and AG are engaged in a negative-feedback loop, which might be mediated by the stem-cell-inducing transcription factor WUSCHEL (WUS).