Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Coffee Consumption and Coronary Heart Disease in Men and Women: A Prospective Cohort Study

Background— We examined the association between long-term habitual coffee consumption and risk of coronary heart disease (CHD). Methods and Results— We performed a prospective cohort study with 44 005 men and 84 488 women without history of cardiovascular disease or cancer. Coffee consumption was first assessed in 1986 for men and in 1980 for women and then repeatedly every 2 to 4 years; the follow-up continued through 2000. We documented 2173 incident cases of coronary heart disease (1449 nonfatal myocardial infarctions and 724 fatal cases of CHD) among men and 2254 cases (1561 nonfatal myocardial infarctions and 693 fatal cases of CHD) among women. Among men, after adjustment for age, smoking, and other CHD risk factors, the relative risks (RRs) of CHD across categories of cumulative coffee consumption (<1 cup/mo, 1 cup/mo to 4 cups/wk, 5 to 7 cups/wk, 2 to 3 cups/d, 4 to 5 cups/d, and ≥6 cups/d) were 1.0, 1.04 (95% confidence interval 0.91 to 1.17), 1.02 (0.91 to 1.15), 0.97 (0.86 to 1.11), 1.07 (0.88 to 1.31), and 0.72 (0.49 to 1.07; P for trend=0.41); among women, the RRs were 1.0, 0.97 (0.83 to 1.14), 1.02 (0.90 to 1.17), 0.84 (0.74 to 0.97), 0.99 (0.83 to 1.17), and 0.87 (0.68 to 1.11; P for trend=0.08). Stratification by smoking status, alcohol consumption, history of type 2 diabetes mellitus, and body mass index gave similar results. Similarly, we found no effect when the most recent coffee consumption was examined. RRs for quintiles of caffeine intake varied from 0.97 (0.84 to 1.10) in the second quintile to 0.97 (0.84 to 1.11) in the highest quintile (P for trend=0.82) in men and from 1.02 (0.90 to 1.16) to 0.97 (0.85 to 1.11; P for trend=0.37) in women. Conclusions— These data do not provide any evidence that coffee consumption increases the risk of CHD.
USV course controller optimization based on elitism estimation of distribution algorithm

PID controller is used in most of the course-keeping closed-loop control of Unmanned Surface Vehicle (USV). However, the parameters of PID are difficult to tuning. In this paper, we adopt an elitism estimation of distribution algorithm (EEDA) to optimize the PID, which makes use of the probabilistic model to estimate the optimal solution distribution. It has a better global searching ability. A linear Nomoto model is adopted to simulate the USV, and the PID controller is used to control the course of the USV. The simulation results exhibit the validity of the EEDA.
Mycobacterium tuberculosis SigF Regulates Genes Encoding Cell Wall-Associated Proteins and Directly Regulates the Transcriptional Regulatory Gene phoY1

ABSTRACT Mycobacterium tuberculosis SigF is homologous to stress response and sporulation sigma factors in many bacteria. Consistent with a possible role in mycobacterial survival under stress conditions, M. tuberculosis sigF is strongly induced within cultured human macrophages and upon nutrient starvation, and SigF has been implicated in M. tuberculosis entry into stationary phase. On the other hand, SigF appears to contribute to the immune pathology of tuberculosis (TB), and a sigF-deficient mutant has altered cell membrane properties. Using an M. tuberculosis sigF deletion mutant, we show here that sigF is not required for bacillary survival under nutrient starvation conditions and within activated murine macrophages or for extracellular persistence in an in vivo granuloma model of latent TB infection. Using a chemically inducible recombinant strain to conditionally overexpress sigF, we did not observe arrest or retardation of growth in exponentially growing cultures or reduced susceptibility to rifampin and isoniazid. Consistent with our hypothesis that SigF may mediate TB immunopathogenesis by altering cell membrane properties, we found that overexpression of sigF resulted in the differential regulation of many cell wall-associated proteins, including members of the MmpL, PE, and PPE families, several of which have been shown to influence host-pathogen interactions. The most highly upregulated gene by quantitative reverse transcription-PCR at all time points following sigF induction was Rv3301c (phoY1), which encodes a probable transcriptional regulatory protein homologous to PhoU proteins involved in regulation of phosphate uptake. Using in vitro transcription analysis, we show that SigF directly regulates phoY1, whose proposed promoter sequence is GGATTG-N16-GGGTAT.
Anomalous diffusion of isolated flow singularities and of fractal or spiral structures.

Structures with isolated singularities and structures with nonisolated singularities (fractal structures) arise in many different physical situations such as in vertical and turbulent flows, chaotic mixing, clouds, shear layers, lightning, snowflakes, and flames, to name but a few. Whereas the mathematical description of the instantaneous geometry of many fractal structures has been widely explored, less attention has been devoted to the evolution of such structures under the action of physical fluxes. Do space-filling properties, for example, affect the way in which physical fluxes act on the structure? Here we consider the effects of molecular diffusion on scalar fields with singularities that are in the field itself rather than in the field s environment. These singularities may be simple power-law singularities in which case the stronger the singularity the faster its early decay by diffusive attrition; or may be fractal or isolated spiral singularities, in which case early diffusive decay is accelerated by the space-filling properties of fractal or spiral structures, and the diffusive length scale is a simple function of the geometry and structure of the field.
Smart Citizens, Smarter State: The Technologies of Expertise and the Future of Governing

Governments make too little use of the skills and experience of citizens. New tools-what Beth Simone Noveck calls technologies of expertise-are making it possible to match citizen expertise to the demand for it in government. She offers a vision of participatory democracy rooted not in voting or crowdsourcing but in people's knowledge and know-how.
A MINIATURIZED TRIPLE-BAND METAMATERIAL ANTENNA WITH RADIATION PATTERN SELECTIVITY AND POLARIZATION DIVERSITY

A novel triple-band single-fed compact microstrip antenna with varied polarization states and radiation patterns is proposed based on two-dimensional artiflcial metamaterial transmission line (TL). The TL element is composed of complementary split ring resonators (CSRRs) etched in the ground plane and a capacitive gap embedded in the stepped-impedance conductor line. By inserting a 2 £ 2 array of the original element in conventional patch and feeding the resultant structure with an annular-ring slot along the diagonal, an antenna working in three resonant modes (n = i1, n = 0, and n = +2) is engineered at three speciflc well-separated frequencies fi1 = 1:5, f0 = 2:4 and f+2 = 3:5GHz, respectively. As a result, both the numerical and experimental results illustrate that the antenna exhibits a patch-like radiation with pure linear polarization in the n = i1 mode, a monopolar radiation with circular polarization in the n = 0 and also an asymmetric quasi monopolar radiation with a hybrid linear polarization in the n = +2 mode. The antenna features compact whose patch occupying only an area of 0:246‚0 £ 0:246‚0 £ 0:03‚0 at fi1 and exhibits groups of advantages such as high radiation e-ciency. Moreover, the proposed prescription, free of any metallic via, perturbation structure and complicated feeding network, is of practical value and opens an alternative avenue toward new types of antenna with agile polarization capability and versatile radiation patterns.
Increased Expression of BDNF and trkB mRNA in Rat Facial Motoneurons after Axotomy

Motoneurons of the adult survive after axotomy even though they are deprived of putative target derived trophic factors. Alternative sources of trophic support may substitute. In this study we test the hypothesis that the immediate environment of the motoneuronal cell body or the cell body itself increases the production of trophic factors after axonal injury. Using in situ hybridization (ISH) and reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR), we report that after axotomy, rat facial motoneurons increase the expression of mRNA for brainderived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and its receptor trkB. After transection of the facial nerve, we measured a 2‐to 4‐fold increase in BDNF mRNA expression which had its onset between 3 and 8 h after injury. The BDNF mRNA levels peaked at ∼1–2 days and gradually declined thereafter to return to contralateral levels within 7 days of injury. Western blotting revealed a several‐fold increase in BDNF as early as 24 h, which subsequently reached a maximum in ∼5–7 days and was still sustained at 2 weeks post‐axotomy. Using exon‐specific primers, we determined that the increase in BDNF mRNA is largely due to an increased expression from the promoters of exons IV and III, and to a lesser extent from exons I and II. Analysing the mRNA expression for the BDNF receptor, trkB, we found a 2‐ to 3‐fold increase in full‐length trkB mRNA expression starting 2 days after axotomy which lasted for 2–3 weeks. These findings suggest that BDNF might act locally on axotomized motoneurons in an autocrine fashion, providing support for axotomized motoneurons during the first weeks after axotomy.
Fault-Tolerant Consensus of Multi-Agent System With Distributed Adaptive Protocol

In this paper, fault-tolerant consensus in multi-agent system using distributed adaptive protocol is investigated. Firstly, distributed adaptive online updating strategies for some parameters are proposed based on local information of the network structure. Then, under the online updating parameters, a distributed adaptive protocol is developed to compensate the fault effects and the uncertainty effects in the leaderless multi-agent system. Based on the local state information of neighboring agents, a distributed updating protocol gain is developed which leads to a fully distributed continuous adaptive fault-tolerant consensus protocol design for the leaderless multi-agent system. Furthermore, a distributed fault-tolerant leader-follower consensus protocol for multi-agent system is constructed by the proposed adaptive method. Finally, a simulation example is given to illustrate the effectiveness of the theoretical analysis.
Drug Identification through in vivo Screening of Chemical Libraries

Specific cell-surface molecules can direct leukocytes and certain tumor cells to particular organs. Recent work by our group has shown that peptides, selected by using the in vivo phage-screening approach, are also capable of mediating selective in vivo localization of phage to individual organs as well as tumors. To develop our targeting technology beyond peptide-based systems, we investigated the feasibility of screening a chemical library to identify small molecules other than peptides that possess a preferential affinity for particular organs or tissues. As a proof of principle, we screened
Serum interspecies differences in metabolic pathways of bradykinin and [des-Arg9]BK: influence of enalaprilat.

Among the different enzymes responsible for the metabolism of bradykinin (BK), three peptidases look relevant in vivo: kininase I (KI), which transforms BK into its active metabolite, [des-Arg9]BK; kininase II (KII); and neutral endopeptidase, which inactivate BK and [des-Arg9]BK. The in vitro incubation of BK and [des-Arg9]BK in the serum of four species with or without enalaprilat and the quantification of the immunoreactivity of both peptides at different time intervals allowed the measurement of the kinetic parameters characterizing their metabolic pathways. Highly sensitive chemiluminescent enzyme immunoassays were used to measure the residual concentrations of BK and [des-Arg9]BK. Half-life (t1/2) of BK showed significant difference among species: rats (10 +/- 1 s) = dogs (13 +/- 1 s) < rabbits (31 +/- 1 s) < humans (49 +/- 2 s). t1/2 values of [des-Arg9]BK were also species dependent: rats (96 +/- 6 s) < < rabbits (314 +/- 6 s) = dogs (323 +/- 11 s) = humans (325 +/- 12 s). Enalaprilat significantly prevented the rapid BK and [des-Arg9]BK degradation in all species except that of [des-Arg9]BK in rat serum. Relative amount of BK hydrolyzed by serum KII was given as follows: rabbits (93.7 +/- 14.8%) = rats (83.6 +/- 6.7%) = humans (76.0 +/- 7.5%) > dogs (50.0 +/- 3.9%). Its importance in the hydrolysis of [des-Arg9]BK was 5.2 +/- 0.5% in rats < < 33.9 +/- 1.5% in humans < 52.0 +/- 1.1% in rabbits < 65.1 +/- 3.4% in dogs. The participation of serum KI in the transformation of BK into [des-Arg9]BK was dogs (67.2 +/- 5.3%) > > humans (3.4 +/- 1.2%) = rabbits (1.8 +/- 0.2%) = rats (1.4 +/- 0.3%). Finally, no significant difference on t1/2 values for BK and [des-Arg9]BK could be demonstrated between serum and plasma treated with either sodium citrate or a thrombin inhibitor. These results revealed striking species differences in the serum metabolism of kinins that could address at least partially some of the controversial data related to the cardioprotective role of kinins.
Evidence that the herpes simplex virus type 1 uracil DNA glycosylase is required for efficient viral replication and latency in the murine nervous system

Herpes simplex virus (HSV) encodes a uracil DNA glycosylase (UNG; UL2), which has been shown to be dispensable for normal replication of HSV-1 in cultured cells (J. Mullaney, H.W. Moss, and D.J. McGeoch, J. Gen. Virol. 70:449-454, 1989). In adult neurons, UNG activity is undetectable (F. Focher, P. Mazzarello, A. Verri, U. Hubscher, and S. Spadari, Mutat. Res. 237:65-73, 1990), suggesting that the HSV-1 UNG may play an important role in viral replication in neurons acutely and/or following reactivation. To examine the contribution of the HSV-1 UNG in vivo, two independent strain 17 Syn+ Ung- mutants, designated uB1 and uB2, were examined in a mouse model of herpetic disease. Following direct intracranial inoculation, both mutants exhibited a 10-fold reduction in neurovirulence compared with the parental strain 17 Syn+. Inoculations by a peripheral route demonstrated that the Ung- mutants were at least 100,000-fold less neuroinvasive than 17 Syn+. Replication kinetics in vivo demonstrated that uB1 and uB2 replicated less well in both the mouse peripheral and central nervous systems. Latency was established by both of the mutants in 100% of the animals examined. Following transient hyperthermia, however, the frequency of reactivation of the mutants in vivo was dramatically reduced. Restoration of the UNG locus resulted in full neurovirulence, neuroinvasiveness, and the ability to reactivate in vivo. These findings suggest that the HSV-1 UNG plays an important role during acute viral replication in vivo and possibly in the reactivation process.
Bologna Process and Initial Teacher Education Reform in France

Purpose – This chapter describes the Bologna process in teacher education in France. Since the beginning of the reform in 2005, university teacher training institutes (IUFMs) were integrated in the universities, and the possession of a master's degree became a requirement to teach in France. The main objective of our study is to point out ambiguities, tensions and difficulties that have accompanied implementation of this reform.Methodology – The study is based on the examination of official publications of French stakeholders during the reform's design and implementation. The content analyses of the collected data are carried out using the concept of “universitarisation” and its three dimensions: structures; knowledge and curriculum; and actors. Other data collected during the “Teacher Education Curriculum in the EU” research project complete this study.Findings – The impact of the reform on teacher candidates is described as a “disaster,” in French scientific literature. The policymakers did not grasp the opportunity the Bologna process presented to enhance the quality of teacher education and improve the status of the teaching profession. On the contrary, in the context of budgetary constraints in education, the government has used this reform to remove the posts of teacher trainees, thus reducing the internship period.Value – This chapter addresses practitioners and researchers interested in comparative educational studies and teacher education policy development in the context of the Bologna process.
Three metamaterial-based gap waveguides between parallel metal plates for mm/submm waves

This paper presents the basic ideas of how local waveguides and transmission lines can be designed to propagate along desired paths in the air gap between two metal surfaces. The principle of operation is related to the performance of artificial magnetic conductors, EBG surfaces and soft and hard surfaces. Three different major types of gap waveguides are described: ridge gap waveguides, microstrip gap lines and groove gap waveguides. Different realizations of the cut-off structures suppressing normal parallel plate modes are described, as well as expected applications, and possible problem areas preferably seen as research challenges.
The Role of Sequestration in G Protein-coupled Receptor Resensitization

G protein-coupled receptor kinases phosphorylate the agonist occupied conformation of G protein-coupled receptors in the plasma membrane, leading to their desensitization. Receptor resensitization requires receptor dephosphorylation, a process which is mediated by a plasma and vesicular membrane-associated form of PP-2A. We present evidence that, like receptor phosphorylation, receptor dephosphorylation is tightly regulated, requiring a specific receptor conformation induced by vesicular acidification. In vitro, spontaneous dephosphorylation of phosphorylated receptors is observed only at acidic pH. Furthermore, in intact cells upon agonist stimulation, phosphorylated receptors traffic from the plasma membrane to vesicles where they become physically associated with the phosphatase and dephosphorylated. Treatment of cells with NH4Cl, which disrupts the acidic pH found in endosomal vesicles, blocks association of the receptors with the phosphatase and blocks receptor dephosphorylation. These findings suggest that a conformational change in the receptor induced by acidification of the endosomal vesicles is the key determinant regulating receptor dephosphorylation and resensitization.
Plasma deuterium oxide accumulation following ingestion of different carbohydrate beverages.

Optimal fluid delivery from carbohydrate solutions such as oral rehydration solutions or sports drinks is essential. The aim of the study was to investigate whether a beverage containing glucose and fructose would result in greater fluid delivery than a beverage containing glucose alone. Six male subjects were recruited (average age (+/-SD): 22 +/- 2 y). Subjects entered the laboratory between 0700 h and 0900 h after an overnight fast. A 600 mL bolus of 1 of the 3 experimental beverages was then given. The experimental beverages were water (W), 75 g glucose (G), or 50 g glucose and 25 g fructose (GF); each beverage also contained 3.00 g of D2O. Following administration of the experimental beverage subjects remained in a seated position for 180 min. Blood and saliva samples were then taken every 5 min in the first hour and every 15 min thereafter. Plasma and saliva samples were analyzed for deuterium enrichment by isotope ratio mass spectrometry. Deuterium oxide enrichments were compared using a 2-way repeated measures analysis of variance. The water trial (33 +/- 3 min) showed a significantly shorter time to peak than either G (82 +/- 40 min) or GF (59 +/- 25 min), but the difference between G and GF did not reach statistical significance. There was a significantly greater AUC for GF (55 673 +/- 10 020 delta per thousand vs. Vienna Standard Mean Ocean Water (VSMOW). 180 min) and W (60 497 +/- 9864 delta per thousand vs. VSMOW.180 min) compared with G (46 290 +/- 9622 delta per thousand vs. VSMOW.180 min); W and GF were not significantly different from each other. These data suggest that a 12.5% carbohydrate beverage containing glucose and fructose results in more rapid fluid delivery in the first 75 min than a beverage containing glucose alone.
Intimal hyperplasia after balloon injury is attenuated by blocking selectins.

BACKGROUND Cell adhesion molecules facilitate the adherence of platelets and leukocytes to the vascular endothelium in response to injury. Restenosis after balloon angioplasty is thought to represent the response to vascular injury. The role of cell adhesion in this process is unclear. METHODS AND RESULTS This study was performed in New Zealand White rabbits that underwent balloon angioplasty of the iliac artery. Expression of the cell adhesion molecule E-selectin on endothelium was determined by immunohistochemistry and increased at 6 hours with a peak expression 24 to 48 hours after balloon injury, returning to baseline by 1 week. The expression of L-selectin on circulating leukocytes, measured by flow cytometry, was significantly increased at 48 hours, with return to baseline by 1 week. In seven animals, the selectins were blocked with an analogue of sialyl-Lewis(x) given as an I.V. bolus of 10 mg/kg followed by 2 mg x kg(-1) x h(-1) I.P. infusion for 7 days. After 4 weeks, compared with control animals, the study group had a larger lumen area (57.7 versus 44.7 mm2, P<.05), smaller intima area (9.0 versus 19.2 mm2, P<.01), smaller intima/media ratio (0.4 versus 1.0, P<.01), and a smaller percent area stenosis (15.6% versus 34.3%, P<.01). CONCLUSIONS The cell adhesion molecules E-selectin and L-selectin are expressed after balloon injury. Blockade of the selectins has a favorable effect on the response to vascular injury.
Total energy expenditure in patients with Crohn's disease: measurement by the combined body scan technique.

A combined body scan technique for measuring total energy expenditure (TEE) from energy intake and changes in energy stores is presented. The TEE of 13 patients with Crohn's disease who required nutrition support over a 14-day period was measured. They had a mean TEE of 33 kcal/kg per day. The components of the TEE in these 13 patients were also measured. Seventy percent of the TEE was made up by resting metabolic expenditure, 10% by diet-induced thermogenesis, and the remaining 20% by activity energy expenditure. These patients had a mean activity energy expenditure of 369 kcal/day. The diet-induced thermogenesis was a mean 12.6% increase on the resting metabolic expenditure. Each percent increase was caused by a mean of 210 kcal of energy in either the intravenous nutrition or the enteral nutrition. There was no difference in diet-induced thermogenesis between those having enteral nutrition and those receiving intravenous nutrition. Decreased activity was significantly correlated with increased activity of the disease (r = .7, p < .01). This confirms the belief that patients with Crohn's disease require no more energy (ie, 33 kcal/kg per day) than other patients. If the resting metabolic expenditure is increased through illness, then the activity energy expenditure decreases. The combined in vivo neutron activation-dual energy x-ray absorptiometry technique has allowed for the first time measurements in ward patients with Crohn's disease. The measurements confirm that TEE is not raised and that 30 to 35 kcal/kg per day is sufficient to achieve energy balance in such patients.