Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Role of renal nerves in hemodynamic and natriuretic responses to saline in rabbits with impaired baroreflex sensitivity.

The hemodynamic and urinary Na+ excretory response to a 2.5-fold increase in NaCl by i.v. infusion were assessed in conscious male rabbits with either high (BShi, salt-insensitive) or low (BSlo, salt-sensitive) cardiac baroreflex sensitivity, before, and 11-14 days after bilateral renal denervation. Effective renal plasma flow (ERPF) and proximal tubular Na+ reabsorption were measured by para-amino-hippurate (PAH) and Li+ clearances, respectively, before and after NaCl infused for 2 hr at a rate of 0.11 mL/kg/min. Intact BShi rabbits, showed a significant natriuresis within 30 min which was associated with an increase in ERPF and inhibition of proximal tubular reabsorption. The Na+ excretion rate was much slower in BSlo rabbits, while ERPF and proximal tubular reabsorption remained unchanged. Renal denervation reduced MAP, increased basal ERPF, Na+ and Li+ excretion in both groups, and abolished the difference in the renal hemodynamic re-sponse and Li+ excretion to increased NaCl, but not that in the rate of Na+ excretion. The data suggest that BSlo rabbits do not increase their ERPF and Li+ in response to saline because of an inability to bring about an inhibition of renal sympathetic nerve activity. This could be due to an impairment in the sensitivity of their cardiopulmonary baroreceptors. The difference in the rate of natriuresis in the two groups of rabbits which remained after renal denervation could involve an additional hormonal or a local renal mechanism.
Systems and Trans-System Level Analysis Identifies Conserved Iron Deficiency Responses in the Plant Lineage[W][OA]

Transcriptomes of iron-limited versus -deficient Chlamydomonas reinhardtii cells under photoheterotrophic versus photoautotrophic conditions are described. Increased transcript abundance was positively correlated with protein abundance, except for iron-containing proteins where negative correlation was found. Some responses, including upregulation of MDAR1 and CGLD27/At5g67370, are conserved in land plants. We surveyed the iron nutrition-responsive transcriptome of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii using RNA-Seq methodology. Presumed primary targets were identified in comparisons between visually asymptomatic iron-deficient versus iron-replete cells. This includes the known components of high-affinity iron uptake as well as candidates for distributive iron transport in C. reinhardtii. Comparison of growth-inhibited iron-limited versus iron-replete cells revealed changes in the expression of genes in chloroplastic oxidative stress response pathways, among hundreds of other genes. The output from the transcriptome was validated at multiple levels: by quantitative RT-PCR for assessing the data analysis pipeline, by quantitative proteomics for assessing the impact of changes in RNA abundance on the proteome, and by cross-species comparison for identifying conserved or universal response pathways. In addition, we assessed the functional importance of three target genes, VITAMIN C 2 (VTC2), MONODEHYDROASCORBATE REDUCTASE 1 (MDAR1), and CONSERVED IN THE GREEN LINEAGE AND DIATOMS 27 (CGLD27), by biochemistry or reverse genetics. VTC2 and MDAR1, which are key enzymes in de novo ascorbate synthesis and ascorbate recycling, respectively, are likely responsible for the 10-fold increase in ascorbate content of iron-limited cells. CGLD27/At5g67370 is a highly conserved, presumed chloroplast-localized pioneer protein and is important for growth of Arabidopsis thaliana in low iron.
Prevalence and risk factors of advanced colorectal neoplasms in asymptomatic Korean people between 40 and 49 years of age

Current guidelines recommend colon cancer screening for persons aged over 50 years. However, there are few data on colorectal cancer screening in 40‐ to 49‐year‐olds. This study assessed the prevalence and risk factors of colorectal neoplasms in 40‐ to 49‐year‐old Koreans.
The accuracy of the ACSM and a new cycle ergometry equation for young women.

The purpose of this study was to determine the accuracy of the American College of Sports Medicine's (ACSM) equation for estimating the oxygen cost of exercise performed by women on a cycle ergometer. Sixty healthy, young females performed a five-stage submaximal cycle ergometry test. Results indicated the SEE for the predicted oxygen values ranged from 79-156 ml.min-1, with total errors (E) ranging from 107-275 ml.min-1. Correlations between the actual and predicted values ranged from r = -0.22 to r = 0.38. The r, SEE, and E were 0.96, 118, and 172, respectively for all of the power loads combined. A revised equation was developed based upon the actual VO2-power relationship. This equation appears as: VO2 (ml.min-1) = kgm.min-1 x 1.6 ml.min-1 + ((3.5 ml.kg-1.min-1 x kg body weight) + 205 ml.min-1). Cross validation was performed on an independent sample of 40 subjects. All of the SEE and E were lower and all of the correlations were higher at each power load in the validation sample. Since the revised equation is based on an actual VO2-power relationship, it would appear that it provides a more accurate depiction of the cycle ergometry VO2-power relationship for women. These facts support its use.
The Journey of QoS-Aware Autonomic Cloud Computing

In a cloud environment, uncertainty and resource dispersion lead to problems with resource allocation due, for instance, to heterogeneity, dynamism, and failures. Unfortunately, existing resource management techniques, frameworks, and mechanisms are insufficient to handle these environments, applications, and resource behaviors. To provide efficient workload performance and applications, these issues must be addressed effectively. The authors offer a broad, methodical literature analysis of resource management in cloud computing, including resource provisioning, resource scheduling, and autonomic resource provisioning and scheduling. They describe the current status of resource management in cloud computing and provide further analysis of its techniques as developed by various industry and academic groups. They also look at possible future directions for resource management in cloud computing.
Inflammation in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis spinal cord and brain is mediated by activated macrophages, mast cells and T cells

Recent studies have shown inflammatory markers in affected neural tissues of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) patients. We examined immunocytochemically spinal cord tissues of six patients with ALS, two with corticospinal tract degeneration secondary to cerebral infarcts and three control subjects without neuropathologic abnormalities. ALS spinal cords had dense macrophage infiltration (one log greater than control spinal cords) involving the white and gray matter, with heaviest infiltration of lateral and ventral columns and, in one patient, prefrontal gyrus and the occipital lobes of the brain. Macrophages in ALS spinal cord showed strong expression of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) (one log greater than control tissues) and inducible nitric oxide synthase. In the gray matter, macrophages surrounded and appeared to phagocytize neurons (NeuN-positive) that appeared to be dying. Vessels showed damage to the tight junction protein ZO-1 in relation to perivascular CD40 receptor-positive macrophages and CD40 ligand-positive T lymphocytes. ALS spinal cords, but not control cords, were sparsely infiltrated with mast cells. In control cases with corticospinal tract degeneration following hemispheric cerebral infarction, macrophage infiltration of the white matter was COX-2-negative and restricted to lateral and anterior corticospinal tracts. Our data suggest that inflammation in ALS spinal cord and cortex is based on innate immune responses by macrophages and mast cells and adaptive immune responses by T cells.
Chronic relapsing demyelinating polyneuropathy associated with hepatitis B infection

We studied a patient with chronic relapsing polyneuropathy associated with immune complexes of hepatitis B virus. There were cycles of remission and exacerbation in parallel with liver dysfunction. Immunofluorescent deposits of hepatitis B antigen, immunoglobulin, and C3 component were detected in the vasa nervorum. Ultrastructural study revealed electron-dense deposits that might have been immune complexes composed of hepatitis B virus, both around the endoneural capillary and in the endoneurium. Immune complexes composed of hepatitis B virus may play a role in the pathogenesis of chronic relapsing polyneuropathy.
Future of Information Seeking on the Internet and Web Advertising: How Can We Guide Web Advertising for Users' Information Seeking on a Website?

Websites have become an important source of information in our daily lives. As more people spend time on the Internet, websites have become popular media for advertising. There are three major stakeholders in Web advertising: Web ad providers, website owners, and viewers. It is important to understand the effects of Web advertising on information seeking behavior for these stakeholders. This qualitative meta-analysis provides a comprehensive picture of information seeking behavior in a Web advertising situation. Also, it gives a useful guideline for both Web ad providers and website owners on how to design and display Web ads by considering the Web ads’ effectiveness and viewers’ information seeking behaviors. Based on extensive empirical studies, we recommend nine suggestions on how to minimize viewers’ annoyance with Web ads and how to maximize Web ads’ effects on viewers. We believe that we may need to consider both Web ads providers’ and viewers’ perspectives in future research with a balanced view of Web ads and information seeking.
Palliative home care and place of death among cancer patients: a population-based study

This population-based study of all cancer deaths (n = 12 343) occurring in Genoa, Italy, from 1986 to 1990 investigated the relation between place of death and age, sex, marital status, education, cancer site and provision of palliative home care (PHC). The proportion of home deaths significantly increased from 27.9% (1986) to 33.0% (1990) and was twice as frequent among PHC users (60.8%) than among nonusers (29.3%). The number of patients dying of cancer who received PHC increased from 41 in 1986 (1.6% of cancer deaths) to 191 in 1990 (8.0% of cancer deaths). PHC users, when compared to nonusers were younger, more frequently married, had a higher level of education and were more frequently affected by cancers of the lung, breast or prostate. Multivariate analysis shows that the probability of home death increased with increasing age and education level and was higher in females and in married patients. The provi sion of PHC was the strongest predictor of home death (OR = 4.00; 95% Cl = 3.33-4.81), while the temporal trend almost disappeared. These results suggest that most of the increase in home deaths from 1986 to 1990 is attributable to the PHC and that expansion of the PHC services may enable about 60% of cancer patients to die at home. These results appear to be desirable from the individual patient's viewpoint and in a public health perspective.
Connective tissue growth factor causes EMT-like cell fate changes in vivo and in vitro

Summary Connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) plays an important role in the pathogenesis of chronic fibrotic diseases. However, the mechanism by which paracrine effects of CTGF control the cell fate of neighboring epithelial cells is not known. In this study, we investigated the paracrine effects of CTGF overexpressed in fibroblasts of Col1a2-CTGF transgenic mice on epithelial cells of skin and lung. The skin and lungs of Col1a2-CTGF transgenic mice were examined for phenotypic markers of epithelial activation and differentiation and stimulation of signal transduction pathways. In addition to an expansion of the dermal compartment in Col1a2-CTGF transgenic mice, the epidermis was characterized by focal hyperplasia, and basal cells stained positive for &agr;SMA, Snail, S100A4 and Sox9, indicating that these cells had undergone a change in their genetic program. Activation of phosphorylated p38 and phosphorylated Erk1/2 was observed in the granular and cornified layers of the skin. Lung fibrosis was associated with a marked increase in cells co-expressing epithelial and mesenchymal markers in the lesional and unaffected lung tissue of Col1a2-CTGF mice. In epithelial cells treated with TGF&bgr;, CTGF-specific siRNA-mediated knockdown suppressed Snail, Sox9, S100A4 protein levels and restored E-cadherin levels. Both adenoviral expression of CTGF in epithelial cells and treatment with recombinant CTGF induced EMT-like morphological changes and expression of &agr;-SMA. Our in vivo and in vitro data supports the notion that CTGF expression in mesenchymal cells in the skin and lungs can cause changes in the differentiation program of adjacent epithelial cells. We speculate that these changes might contribute to fibrogenesis.
Immunologic factors: the major risk for decreased long-term renal allograft survival.

BACKGROUND Both antigen-dependent (immunologic) and non-antigen-dependent (nonimmunologic) factors have been implicated in long-term renal allograft loss. Differentiating between these two factors is important because prevention strategies differ. METHODS To isolate the importance of these 2 factors, we studied long-term actuarial graft survival in a cohort of adult kidney recipients who underwent transplants at a single institution between January 1, 1984 and October 31, 1998. Excluded were recipients with graft loss as a result of death with function, technical failure, primary nonfunction, and recurrent disease, leaving 1587 recipients (757 cadaver [CAD], 830 living donor [LD]) who would be at risk for graft loss secondary to both immunologic and nonimmunologic factors. These recipients were analyzed in the following 2 groups: those treated for a previous episode of acute rejection (AR) (Group1; n = 588; 328 CAD, 260 LD) and those with no AR (Group 2: n = 999; 429 CAD, 570 LD). Actuarial graft survival and causes of graft loss were determined for each group. Presumably, graft loss in Group 1 would be caused by immunologic and nonimmunologic factors; graft loss in Group 2 would be caused primarily by nonimmunologic factors. RESULTS The 10-year graft survival rate (censored for death with function, technical failure, primary nonfunction, and recurrent disease) in Group 2 was 91%. In contrast, the 10-year graft survival rate in Group 1 was 45% (P<0.001 vs. Group 2). Causes of graft loss in Group 2 were chronic rejection in 1.8% (3.0% CAD, 0.9% LD), de novo disease, 0.4%; sepsis, 0.2%; discontinuation of immunosuppressive therapy, 0.3%; and unknown, 0.6%. In contrast, 23.8% (29.9% CAD, 16.2% LD) of recipients in Group 1 had graft loss caused by chronic rejection (P = 0.001 vs. Group 2). CONCLUSIONS This very low incidence of chronic rejection in recipients without previous AR suggests that immunologic factors are the main determinants of long-term kidney transplant outcome; nonimmunologic factors in isolation may have only a minimal impact on long-term graft survival.
Analysis of Participation Banks in Turkey in Terms of Agency Theory and a Model Proposal

The agency theory considers the problems between agents and principal and aims to reduce the agency costs arising from these problems. The theory could be applied in various fields and in many different areas where principal-agent relations occur. Participation banks in Turkey operating banking services based on Islamic principals are able to implement many different banking facilities. They could be regarded as supplementary alternatives to the conventional banks and thus, participation banks provide depth and financial product range in the banking sector. There are many different studies on several fields and subjects about participation banks and Islamic banks both in national and in international literature. However, the studies discussing the fatwa structure in the context of agency theory are very rare especially for the participation banks in Turkey. Thus, this study examines the Sariah advisory board mechanism of the participation banks in particular within the scope of agency problems and it focuses on a model proposal that could resolve agency cost. In Turkey, there is not a nationwide nor a Shariah agency or institution which control, regulate and/or supervise the services, operations, and activities of the participation banks, in accordance with Islamic concepts. In this context, the establishment of an independent Islamic Supervisory Council will help to reduce agency costs. Furthermore, sustainability and stability of Islamic financial markets will increase together with issuing appropriate financial products in compliance with Shariah principles and thus the Council will help Istanbul to achieve the goal of being the financial center.
Mobile Edge Computing Empowered Fiber-Wireless Access Networks in the 5G Era

The expected stringent requirements of future 5G networks such as ultra-low latency, user experience continuity, and high reliability will drive the need for highly localized services within RANs in close proximity to mobile subscribers. In light of this, the mobile edge computing (MEC) concept has emerged, which aims to unite telco, IT, and cloud computing to deliver cloud services directly from the network edge. To facilitate better understanding of MEC, this article first discusses its potential service scenarios and identifies design challenges of MEC-enabled networks. Given the importance of scaling up research in the area of network integration and convergence in support of MEC toward 5G, the article explores the possibilities of empowering integrated fiber-wireless (FiWi) access networks to offer MEC capabilities. More specifically, envisioned design scenarios of MEC over FiWi networks for typical RAN technologies (i.e., WLAN, 4G LTE, LTE-A HetNets) are investigated, accounting for both network architecture and enhanced resource management. The performance of MEC over Ethernet-based FiWi networks in terms of delay, response time efficiency, and battery life of edge devices is then analyzed. The obtained results demonstrate the feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed MEC over FiWi concept.
AUTOIMMUNE , CHOLESTATIC AND BILIARY DISEASE Bile Acid Changes After High-Dose Ursodeoxycholic Acid Treatment in Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis : Relation to Disease Progression

High-dose (28-30 mg/kg/day) ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) treatment improves serum liver tests in patients with primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) but does not improve survival and is associated with increased rates of serious adverse events. The mechanism for the latter undesired effect remains unclear. High-dose UDCA could result in the production of hepatotoxic bile acids, such as lithocholic acid (LCA), because of limited small bowel absorption of UDCA and conversion of UDCA by bacteria in the colon. We determined the serum bile acid composition in 56 patients with PSC previously enrolled in a randomized, double-blind controlled trial of high-dose UDCA versus placebo. Samples for analysis were obtained at the baseline and at the end of treatment. The mean changes in the UDCA level (16.86 versus 0.05 lmol/L) and total bile acid level (17.21 versus 20.55 lmol/L) were significantly higher in the UDCA group (n 5 29) versus the placebo group (n 5 27) when pretreatment levels were compared (P < 0.0001). LCA was also markedly increased (0.22 versus 0.01 lmol/L) in the UDCA group compared to the placebo group (P 5 0.001). No significant changes were detected for cholic acid, deoxycholic acid, or chenodeoxycholic acid. Patients (n 5 9) in the UDCA group who reached clinical endpoints of disease progression (the development of cirrhosis, varices, liver transplantation, or death) tended to have greater increases in their posttreatment total bile acid levels (34.99 versus 9.21 lmol/L, P < 0.08) in comparison with those who did not. Conclusion: High-dose UDCA treatment in PSC patients results in marked UDCA enrichment and significant expansion of the total serum bile acid pool, including LCA. (HEPATOLOGY 2010;52:197-203)
Design of a Charge Equalizer Based on Battery Modularization

The charge equalizer design for a series-connected battery string is very challenging because it needs to satisfy many requirements, such as implementation possibility, equalization speed, equalization efficiency, controller simplicity, size and cost issues, voltage and current stress, and so on. Numerous algorithms and circuits were developed to meet the foregoing demands, and some interesting results have been obtained. However, for a large number of cells, for example, 80 or more batteries, the previous approaches might not easily satisfy the foregoing requirement. To overcome these difficulties, we propose a charge equalizer design method based on a battery modularization technique. In this method, a very long battery string is divided into several modules, and then, an intramodule equalizer and an outer-module equalizer are designed. This battery modularization scheme effectively reduces the number of cells that we consider in an equalizer design procedure; thus, the design of a charge equalizer becomes easier. Furthermore, by applying the previously verified charge equalizers to the intramodule and the outer module, we can make the equalizer design more flexible. Several examples and experimental results are presented to demonstrate the usefulness of the charge equalizer design method.
Integrated electromyogram and oxygen uptake during positive and negative work.

1. Integrated electromyogram (e.m.g.) from the vastus lateralis muscles, and steady‐state rates of oxygen uptake, were measured simultaneously during the performance of set rates of positive (concentric) and negative (eccentric) work at 50 rev/min on a motorized bicycle ergometer. 2. Similar experiments were also carried out at other pedalling rates and using other leg muscles. 3. The relationships between each of the variables (integrated e.m.g., oxygen consumption) and mean torque on pedals were found to be linear (r greater than 0‐98) with a remarkable degree of reproducibility in surface e.m. g. for each subject over several months. 4. The ratio of the e.m. g. slopes at 50 rev/min (positive/negative) was 1‐96 +/‐ 0‐12 while the same ratio for the oxygen uptake slopes was 6‐34 +/‐ 0‐82. The discrepancy between the ratios suggests that not only is less muscle fibre activity required to maintain the same exerted force during negative work exercise, but there is also a substantial reduction in the oxygen uptake when the fibres are stretched. This was observed for all speeds of pedalling.