Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Pancreatitis Associated With Incretin-Based Therapies

In recent years, incretin-based therapies such as glucagon-like peptide-1 agonists (GLP-1) and dipeptidyl peptidase-IV inhibitors (DPP-IV) have become important therapeutic options for treatment of type 2 diabetes. Although these agents are considered safe, long-term safety outcome studies are lacking. Theoretically, the combination of these two classes of agents could increase efficacy, but there is no strong supporting clinical evidence. While both GLP-1 and DPP-IV agents are approved for use as monotherapy and with other diabetes drugs, the combined use of these drugs classes has not been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). In a recent case report, Patel et al. (1) noted an improvement in glycemic control in a patient with type 2 diabetes on a combination of …
Functional genomics and biochemical characterization of the C. elegans orthologue of the Machado‐Joseph disease protein ataxin‐3

Machado‐Joseph disease (MJD) is the most common dominant spinocerebellar ataxia. MJD is caused by a CAG trinucleotide expansion in the ATXN3 gene, which encodes a protein named ataxin‐3. Ataxin‐3 has been proposed to act as a deubiquitinating enzyme in the ubiquitin‐proteasome pathway and to be involved in transcriptional repression;nevertheless, its precise biological function(s) remains unknown. To gain further insight into the function of ataxin‐3, we have identified the Caenorhabditis elegans orthologue of the ATXN3 gene and characterized its pattern of expression, developmental regulation, and subcellular localization. We demonstrate that, analogous to its human orthologue, C. elegans ataxin‐3 has deubiquitinating activity in vitro against polyubiquitin chains with four or more ubiquitins, the minimum ubiquitin length for proteasomal targeting. To further evaluate C. elegans ataxin‐3, we characterized the first known knockout animal models both phenotypically and biochemically, and found that the two C. elegans strains were viable and displayed no gross phenotype. To identify a molecular phenotype, we performed a large‐scale microarray analysis of gene expression in both knockout strains. The data revealed a significant deregulation of core sets of genes involved in the ubiquitin‐proteasome pathway, structure/motility, and signal transduction. This gene identification provides important clues that can help elucidate the specific biological role of ataxin‐3 and unveil some of the physiological effects caused by its absence or diminished function. —Rodrigues, A‐J., Coppola, G. , Santos, C. , do Carmo Costa, M. , Ailion, M. , Sequeiros, J., Geschwind, D. H. , Maciel, P. Functional genomics and biochemical characterization of the C. elegans orthologue of the Machado‐Joseph disease protein ataxin‐3. FASEB J. 21, 1126–1136 (2007)
General inattentiveness is a long-term reliable trait independently predictive of psychological health: Danish validation studies of the Mindful Attention Awareness Scale.

The Mindful Attention Awareness Scale (MAAS) measures perceived degree of inattentiveness in different contexts and is often used as a reversed indicator of mindfulness. MAAS is hypothesized to reflect a psychological trait or disposition when used outside attentional training contexts, but the long-term test-retest reliability of MAAS scores is virtually untested. It is unknown whether MAAS predicts psychological health after controlling for standardized socioeconomic status classifications. First, MAAS translated to Danish was validated psychometrically within a randomly invited healthy adult community sample (N = 490). Factor analysis confirmed that MAAS scores quantified a unifactorial construct of excellent composite reliability and consistent convergent validity. Structural equation modeling revealed that MAAS scores contributed independently to predicting psychological distress and mental health, after controlling for age, gender, income, socioeconomic occupational class, stressful life events, and social desirability (β = 0.32-.42, ps < .001). Second, MAAS scores showed satisfactory short-term test-retest reliability in 100 retested healthy university students. Finally, MAAS sample mean scores as well as individuals' scores demonstrated satisfactory test-retest reliability across a 6 months interval in the adult community (retested N = 407), intraclass correlations ≥ . 74. MAAS scores displayed significantly stronger long-term test-retest reliability than scores measuring psychological distress (z = 2.78, p = .005). Test-retest reliability estimates did not differ within demographic and socioeconomic strata. Scores on the Danish MAAS were psychometrically validated in healthy adults. MAAS's inattentiveness scores reflected a unidimensional construct, long-term reliable disposition, and a factor of independent significance for predicting psychological health. (PsycINFO Database Record
Inférence des réseaux de régulation de la synthèse des protéines de réserve du grain de blé tendre (Triticum aestivum L.) en réponse à l'approvisionnement en azote et en soufre

La teneur et la composition en proteines de reserve du grain de ble tendre (Triticum aestivum L.) sont les principaux determinants de sa valeur d’usage et de sa qualite nutritionnelle. La composition en proteines de reserve du grain est determinee par la teneur en assimilâts azotes et soufres par grain via des lois d’echelle qui pourraient etre les proprietes emergentes de reseaux de regulation. Plusieurs facteurs de transcription intervenant dans cette regulation ont ete mis en evidence, mais les voies et mecanismes impliques sont encore tres peu connus. Le constat est identique en ce qui concerne l’impact de la nutrition azotee et soufree sur ce reseau de regulation. Le developpement des outils de genomique fonctionnelle et de bioinformatique permet aujourd’hui d’aborder ces regulations de maniere globale via une approche systemique mettant en relation plusieurs niveaux de regulation. L’objectif du travail presente est d’explorer les reseaux de regulation –omiques impliques dans le controle de l’accumulation des proteines de reserve dans le grain de ble tendre et leur reponse a l’approvisionnement en azote et en soufre. Une approche d’inference de reseaux basee sur la decouverte de regles a ete etendue, implementee sous la forme d’une plateforme web. L’utilisation de cette plateforme a permis de definir des semantiques multiples afin d’inferer dans un cadre global, des regles possedant differentes significations biologiques. Des facteurs de transcription specifiques de certains organes et certaines phases de developpement ont ete mis en evidence et un interet particulier a ete apporte a leur position dans les reseaux de regles inferes, notamment en relation avec les proteines de reserve. Les travaux inities dans cette these ouvrent un champ d’investigation innovant pour l’identification de nouvelles cibles de selection varietale pour l’amelioration de la valeur technologique et de la qualite nutritionnelle du ble. Ils devraient ainsi permettre de mieux maitriser la composition en proteines de reserve et ainsi produire des bles adaptes a des utilisations ciblees ou carence en certaines fractions proteiques impliquees dans des phenomenes d’allergenicite et d’intolerance du gluten, ce dans un contexte d’agriculture durable et plus econome en intrants.
EASY-HIT: HIV Full-Replication Technology for Broad Discovery of Multiple Classes of HIV Inhibitors

ABSTRACT HIV replication assays are important tools for HIV drug discovery efforts. Here, we present a full HIV replication system (EASY-HIT) for the identification and analysis of HIV inhibitors. This technology is based on adherently growing HIV-susceptible cells, with a stable fluorescent reporter gene activated by HIV Tat and Rev. A fluorescence-based assay was designed that measures HIV infection by two parameters relating to the early and the late phases of HIV replication, respectively. Validation of the assay with a panel of nine reference inhibitors yielded effective inhibitory concentrations consistent with published data and allowed discrimination between inhibitors of early and late phases of HIV replication. Finer resolution of the effects of reference drugs on different steps of HIV replication was achieved in secondary time-of-addition assays. The EASY-HIT assay yielded high Z′ scores (>0.9) and signal stabilities, confirming its robustness. Screening of the LOPAC1280 library identified 10 compounds (0.8%), of which eight were known to inhibit HIV, validating the suitability of this assay for screening applications. Studies evaluating anti-HIV activities of natural products with the EASY-HIT technology led to the identification of three novel inhibitory compounds that apparently act at different steps of HIV-1 replication. Furthermore, we demonstrate successful evaluation of plant extracts for HIV-inhibitory activities, suggesting application of this technology for the surveillance of biological extracts with anti-HIV activities. We conclude that the EASY-HIT technology is a versatile tool for the discovery and characterization of HIV inhibitors.
Group IIa sPLA2 inhibition attenuates NF-κB activity and promotes apoptosis of lung cancer cells.

BACKGROUND/AIM Group IIa secretory phospholipase A2 (sPLA2 IIa) has been implicated in the regulation of metastasis of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and the present study investigates its contribution to lung cancer growth and progression. PLA2s initiate signaling in several pathways that mediate cell survival including phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase-AKT (PI3K-AKT), p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38 MAPK), extracellular-signal-regulated kinase (ERK) and nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB). MATERIALS AND METHODS Human NSCLC cell lines (A549 and NCI-H358) were treated with a specific sPLA2 IIa inhibitor. Cells were assayed for apoptosis, viability, proliferation and changes in cell morphology. Effects on AKT, p38 MAPK, ERK1/2 and NF-κB signaling pathways were investigated. RESULTS sPLA2 IIa inhibition reduced proliferation and increased apoptosis. NF-κB activity was attenuated, whereas AKT, ERK1/2, p38 MAPK were variably affected by sPLA2 IIa inhibition. NF-κB inhibitor-associated apoptosis confirmed the dominant role of NF-κB. CONCLUSION sPLA2 IIa attenuates growth and promotes apoptosis predominantly via its effects on NF-κB activity.
Pulmonary Rehabilitation and Interstitial Lung Disease: AIDING THE REFERRAL DECISION

BACKGROUND: Limited evidence exists regarding the effectiveness of pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) within interstitial lung disease (ILD). Oxygen is frequently prescribed for these patients but has not been explored in the context of PR. The aim of this study was to compare short-term outcomes of PR and 2-year mortality in patients with ILD, who use home oxygen against those without oxygen. METHODS: Using an observational cohort design and principles of comparative effectiveness research, data were collected from patients with ILD referred for a 7-week outpatient PR program. Hospital notes were reviewed, oxygen use was documented, and survival status was recorded at 2 years. Exercise capacity and quality of life were measured at baseline and discharge from PR. RESULTS: One hundred fifteen patients were identified (96 with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis); 43 used oxygen and 72 were nonoxygen users. Nonoxygen users improved their Incremental Shuttle Walk Test more than oxygen users (P < .05). Significant improvements were found after PR for nonoxygen users (Incremental Shuttle Walk Test 39.0 ± 54.3 m, Endurance Shuttle Walk Test 319 ± 359 seconds, Chronic Respiratory Questionnaire (CRQ)-Dyspnea 0.74 ± 0.94, CRQ-Fatigue 0.73 ± 1.15, CRQ-Emotion 0.61 ± 0.98, CRQ-Mastery 0.55 ± 1.01), whereas only Endurance Shuttle Walk Test (197 ± 287 seconds) improved for oxygen users (P < .05). Significant differences were found in survival rates between the 2 groups, 2 years after initial PR assessment (hazard ratio, oxygen users vs nonoxygen users: 2.7 [95% CI = 1.41 − 4.98], P = .002). CONCLUSIONS: Oxygen users gain less from PR and have a higher mortality rate than nonoxygen users. These results should be used to aid discussion between patients and clinicians regarding referral to PR and the anticipated benefits.
A Multistage CPE Scheme Based on Crossed Constellation Transformation for M-QAM

A multistage carrier phase estimation (CPE) scheme for any m-ary quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM) formats is proposed and analyzed in coherent optical communication systems. The scheme is based on the crossed constellation transformation algorithm that is transparent to all modulation formats whose constellations are on the square grid. Simulation results show that the hardware complexity of the proposed CPE scheme can be significantly reduced by the group factors of 6.1/8.6, 4.7/6, and 2.6/3.3 (in the form of multipliers/adders) for 32-QAM, 64-QAM, and 128-QAM compared with the singlestage blind phase search algorithm. In 32-QAM, 64-QAM, and 128-QAM, coherent optical communication systems with 1-dB SNR penalty at bit error rate is 1 × 10-2, the comparable linewidth symbol duration can be reached with the values of 6 × 10-5, 4 × 10-5, and 8 × 10-6, respectively.
Voices of modern Greece : selected poems

This anthology is composed of recently revised translations selected from the five volumes of work by major poets of modern Greece offered by Edmund Keeley and Philip Sherrard during the past two decades. The poems chosen are those that translate most successfully into English and that are also representative of the best work of the original poets. C. P. Cavafy and Angelos Sikelianos are major poets of the first half of the twentieth century. George Seferis and Odysseus Elytis, who followed them, both won the Nobel Prize in literature. Nikos Gatsos is a very popular translator, lyricist, and critic.
Redundant Function of Plasmacytoid and Conventional Dendritic Cells Is Required To Survive a Natural Virus Infection

ABSTRACT Viruses that spread systemically from a peripheral site of infection cause morbidity and mortality in the human population. Innate myeloid cells, including monocytes, macrophages, monocyte-derived dendritic cells (mo-DC), and dendritic cells (DC), respond early during viral infection to control viral replication, reducing virus spread from the peripheral site. Ectromelia virus (ECTV), an orthopoxvirus that naturally infects the mouse, spreads systemically from the peripheral site of infection and results in death of susceptible mice. While phagocytic cells have a requisite role in the response to ECTV, the requirement for individual myeloid cell populations during acute immune responses to peripheral viral infection is unclear. In this study, a variety of myeloid-specific depletion methods were used to dissect the roles of individual myeloid cell subsets in the survival of ECTV infection. We showed that DC are the primary producers of type I interferons (T1-IFN), requisite cytokines for survival, following ECTV infection. DC, but not macrophages, monocytes, or granulocytes, were required for control of the virus and survival of mice following ECTV infection. Depletion of either plasmacytoid DC (pDC) alone or the lymphoid-resident DC subset (CD8α+ DC) alone did not confer lethal susceptibility to ECTV. However, the function of at least one of the pDC or CD8α+ DC subsets is required for survival of ECTV infection, as mice depleted of both populations were susceptible to ECTV challenge. The presence of at least one of these DC subsets is sufficient for cytokine production that reduces ECTV replication and virus spread, facilitating survival following infection. IMPORTANCE Prior to the eradication of variola virus, the orthopoxvirus that causes smallpox, one-third of infected people succumbed to the disease. Following successful eradication of smallpox, vaccination rates with the smallpox vaccine have significantly dropped. There is now an increasing incidence of zoonotic orthopoxvirus infections for which there are no effective treatments. Moreover, the safety of the smallpox vaccine is of great concern, as complications may arise, resulting in morbidity. Like many viruses that cause significant human diseases, orthopoxviruses spread from a peripheral site of infection to become systemic. This study elucidates the early requirement for innate immune cells in controlling a peripheral infection with ECTV, the causative agent of mousepox. We report that there is redundancy in the function of two innate immune cell subsets in controlling virus spread early during infection. The viral control mediated by these cell subsets presents a potential target for therapies and rational vaccine design.
M-learning + ARD for problem-based learning: a work-life readiness strategy: Virtual laboratory for business practices

This dissertation explores how m-learning or the use of mobile devices as a support tool in the teaching-learning process is part of the educational innovation that suggests the influence of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT), in the pedagogical orientation directed to the university population. The paper exposes how problem-based learning (PBL) is a facilitator for the application of action research and decision making, and how the creation of a virtual laboratory for the realization of business practices that works through a mobile application will favor the symbiotic relationship University - Company by enabling the approach of students with the productive sector; bringing them closer to the business environment, challenging them to generate alternative solutions to real problems and preparing them for their intervention in society as future professionals. The goal is that by incorporating mobile digital elements easily accessible to students (smart phones, digital tablets and technologies related to the Internet) in teaching strategies, collaborative learning and knowledge generation will be motivated. The program is intended for students of the Faculty of Business and Administrative Sciences of the Corporación Universitaria de Sabaneta who are currently in eighth and ninth semester and who are about to apply to the business practice phase as a requirement to qualify for the degree. For this purpose, a descriptive qualitative approach study is proposed in which different tools of information collection are linked using quantitative and qualitative methods under a pre-experimental design of a single case. Once the study has been carried out, its characteristics, responsibilities and practices will make it possible to generate a model that favors its employability in different educational contexts and training areas.
Combining N-gram based Similarity Analysis with Sentiment Analysis in Web Content Classification

This research concerns the development of web content detection systems that will be able to automatically classify any web page into pre-defined content categories. Our work is motivated by practical experience and observations that certain categories of web pages, such as those that contain hatred and violence, are much harder to classify with good accuracy when both content and structural features are already taken into account. To further improve the performance of detection systems, we bring web sentiment features into classification models. In addition, we incorporate n-gram representation into our classification approach, based on the assumption that n-grams can capture more local context information in text, and thus could help to enhance topic similarity analysis. Different from most studies that only consider presence or frequency count of n-grams in their applications, we make use of tf-idf weighted n-grams in building the content classification models. Our result shows that unigram based models, even though a much simpler approach, show their unique value and effectiveness in web content classification. Higher order n-gram based approaches, especially 5-gram based models that combine topic similarity features with sentiment features, bring significant improvement in precision levels for the Violence and two Racism related web categories.
What Did You Say? Intercultural Expectations, Misunderstandings, and Communications

What one says to compatriots in face-to-face conversations is often misunderstood; imagine the possibilities for misunderstanding with someone halfway around the world living in a very different culture and whose native language is not the one both of you are speaking! Clear communication is fundamental for the success of any project whether it is done by a small co-located group or by a globally dispersed team. And while the ubiquity of English facilitates basic communication, its use as a common language masks and disguises cultural differences and expectations. A foundation for cross-cultural communication and understanding cultural differences is not only useful but essential for any project executed by a geographically dispersed team. Culture is broadly defined as "the collective programming of the mind that distinguishes the members of one group of people from others" (Hofstede and Jofstede, 2005). Culture is different from human nature because human nature is shared by all humans. Culture is also different from personality but the border between the two is difficult to pinpoint. Generally speaking culture is what one shares with one's compatriots.
Orbital tuning of geomagnetic polarity time-scales

Milankovitch climate cyclicity and magnetic polarity stratigraphy are being successfully combined as a powerful geochronometer in the astronomical polarity time-scale (APTS). The APTS for 0 to 5.23 Ma has been rapidly accepted as the definitive chronology for the Pliocene and Pleistocene against which even high precision radiometric dating is now calibrated. Extensions of astronomical calibration to the late Miocene (5.23 Ma to ca.10 Ma) in Mediterranean and Pacific marine sections may show mutual disagreements on the order of a 100 ka eccentricity cycle, which amounts to an uncertainty of only ca.1% the age. Orbital eccentricity periods are thought to remain stable over very long times and thus provide the possibility of precise relative age control in the pre-Neogene. An APTS, for example, has been developed in a thick lacustrine section of Late Triassic age (ca.202 to 233 Ma) on the basis of the 404 ka orbital eccentricity cycle modulating the expression of the precession climate cyclicity. Finally, there has been renewed speculation about an obliquity-modulated precessional geodynamo based on periodicities in relative palaeointensity data from Ocean Drilling Program sediment cores.
Interpersonal Communication as an Indirect Pathway for the Effect of Antismoking Media Content on Smoking Cessation

In the context of health campaigns, interpersonal communication can serve at least 2 functions: (a) to stimulate change through social interaction and (b) in a secondary diffusion process, to further disseminate message content. In a 3-wave prospective study of 1,079 smokers, the authors demonstrate that mass media messages (antismoking campaigns and news coverage relevant to smoking cessation) have an indirect effect on smoking cessation intention and behavior via interpersonal communication. Exposure to campaigns and news coverage prompts discussion about the campaigns, and, in turn, about smoking cessation. Interpersonal communication regarding smoking cessation then influences intention to quit smoking and attempts to quit smoking. The study finds evidence not only for the social interaction function of interpersonal communication, but also for the secondary diffusion function. A substantial number of smokers who are not directly exposed to the antismoking campaigns are nevertheless indirectly exposed via communication with people who have seen these campaigns. These results imply that encouragement of interpersonal communication can be an important campaign objective.