Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Pancreatic Glucagon, Plasma Insulin and Blood Glucose Responses to Arginine Infusion in Nondiabetic Subjects Following Biguanide Pretreatment

Nine healthy volunteers were studied after Oimethylbiguanide (OMB) and placebo in randomized sequence 8 days apart. OMB (850 mg) or placebo was given twice daily for 2 days p.rior to the study. In addition 1 gm OMB or placebo was administered 1 hour before starting infusion. Arginine (30 grn) was infused continuously over aperiod of 30 minutes. Venous blood sampies were taken at the following time intervals: -10,0, 15, 20, 30, 45 and 60 minutes. Blood glucose (hexakinase method), immunoreactive insulin and pancreatic glucagon concentrations (radioimmunoassay using a specific antiserum for pancreatic glucagon devoiding non specific reaction with plasma pro tein; Stahl, Girard, Dlafson and Rohner 1973) were determined. Tbe results obtained were statistica1ly evaluated by the paired t-test and by the Wilkoxon-Ranktest if variances were found to be significant.
Single-stage MPPT control realization for Aalborg inverter in photovoltaic system

In this paper, the single-stage Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) control strategy for the Aalborg photovoltaic inverter is presented. Aalborg inverter has many advantages, such as high efficiency, wide range of input voltage, minimum voltage drop of the filtering inductors, etc. Nevertheless, it is essentially a “half-bridge” inverter with two input sources, where one source works in MPPT mode, the other is out of control. If without the reasonable parameter design and the proper control, the bus-voltage of this inverter may change greatly, resulting in the serious power oscillation around maximum power point and the reduction of the energy utilization of PV array. In this paper, the MPPT algorithm of two independent PV arrays is proposed, and then the relation between ripple ratio and dc-link capacitance is analyzed. An 110V/50Hz prototype has been constructed. Simulations and experiments show that the proposed control strategy has good steady-state and dynamic performances.
Analysis of head movements and its role in spoken dialogue

The authors analyzed the relationship between semantics of utterances and movements of the head in a natural dialogue and a task oriented dialogue in Japanese. They show that visual information such as head movement will be useful for managing a dialogue and reducing the vagueness of semantics. First they extract the head movements calculated automatically in a natural conversation and indicate the role of this. After this they present an analysis of head movements during a cooperative problem solving task to construct a natural dialogue system in which the initiative of the conversation moves. They show the effectiveness of using visual information in a multimodal dialogue system.
Wet phases in the Sahara/Sahel region and human migration patterns in North Africa

The carbon isotopic composition of individual plant leaf waxes (a proxy for C3 vs. C4 vegetation) in a marine sediment core collected from beneath the plume of Sahara-derived dust in northwest Africa reveals three periods during the past 192,000 years when the central Sahara/Sahel contained C3 plants (likely trees), indicating substantially wetter conditions than at present. Our data suggest that variability in the strength of Atlantic meridional overturning circulation (AMOC) is a main control on vegetation distribution in central North Africa, and we note expansions of C3 vegetation during the African Humid Period (early Holocene) and within Marine Isotope Stage (MIS) 3 (≈50–45 ka) and MIS 5 (≈120–110 ka). The wet periods within MIS 3 and 5 coincide with major human migration events out of sub-Saharan Africa. Our results thus suggest that changes in AMOC influenced North African climate and, at times, contributed to amenable conditions in the central Sahara/Sahel, allowing humans to cross this otherwise inhospitable region.
Tinbergen Institute The Tinbergen Institute is the institute for economic research of the Erasmus Universiteit

This paper investigates the welfare effect of adverse weather through changes in the speed of individuals’ car commuting trips in the entire Netherlands. Weather measurements are local and time specific (hourly basis). As most commuters travel twice a day between home and work, we are able to estimate the effect of adverse weather employing panel data techniques, which is novel in this context. We find that for most commuters the welfare effects of adverse weather conditions are negative but small. However, the commuters’ welfare costs due to rain are rather substantial during rush hours in congested areas (and up to 15 percent of the overall commuting costs).
An Attribute-Based Development Framework of Node Software for Various Operating Systems in Sensor Network Environment

This paper proposes a framework for the development of sensor node software for various operating systems in a sensor network environment. The proposed development framework consists of attributes, code templates and development support tool. Sensor node software is developed, based on the framework through four steps —sensor network modeling, PIM design, PSM design and code generation. Accordingly, this paper presents the methods for attributes design, code templates design, PIM-to-PSM mapping, and source code generation. Through the proposed technique, reusability of sensor network software will be increased since models, attributes and code templates can be reused for various operating systems through the framework. Productivity of software development will be increased, because software design is easily performed using attributes and software codes for all nodes in the sensor network can be generated at once from a model. Also, expandability of sensor network software will be increased, since new functions of existing operating systems or new operating systems can be added through the framework and sensor network software can be rebuilt by applying the added functions or operating systems.
Diagnostic Efficiency of Cystatin C and Serum Creatinine as Markers of Reduced Glomerular Filtration Rate in the Elderly

Abstract This is a secondary analysis of data from a cross-sectional study to evaluate the diagnostic efficiency of cystatin C as a marker of the glomerular filtration rate in the elderly. Thirty patients (15 male, 15 female, mean age 75.4±7.1 years) attending a geriatric ward were enrolled. Exclusion criteria were previously diagnosed renal disease, dementia and heart failure (NYHA III or IV). Cystatin C in serum was determined by a particle-enhanced turbidimetric assay. Inulin clearance was assessed using a single-shot method. Also, Cockcroft-Gault formula was calculated. Twelve patients had a reduced glomerular filtration rate (<70 ml/min/1.73m2). The mean values were 88.4 μmol/l (±27.7) for serum creatinine, 1.57 mg/l (±0.34) for cystatin C and 88.7 ml/min/1.73 m2 (±34.6) for inulin clearance. Maximum efficiency was 0.73 for serum creatinine (cut-off limit 82 μmol/l), 0.67 for cystatin C (cut-off limit 1.63 mg/l) and 0.8 for Cockcroft and Gault estimation (cut-off limit 54 ml/min/1.73 m2). A receiver operating characteristics (ROC) analysis did not show any differences between the various methods. Therefore, cystatin C in serum may not improve the diagnostic efficiency in detecting a reduced glomerular filtration rate in the elderly. Furthermore, normal ranges for serum creatinine in the elderly might need to be adjusted.
A Dash of Salt-Inducible Kinase 1 Keeps Insulin Levels in Check

The precise control of insulin release from pancreatic β-cells in response to changes in circulating glucose levels is essential for maintaining metabolic homeostasis. Understanding the pathways coupling insulin secretion to blood glucose levels is critical for the development of new strategies to treat a variety of metabolic disorders, including type 2 diabetes. In this issue of Diabetes , Kim et al. (1) propose a novel regulatory feedback mechanism operating within β-cells that acts to reduce insulin secretion. Within β-cells, cyclic AMP (cAMP) acts as a positive regulator of insulin secretion by both nontranscriptional and transcriptional mechanisms. Increased cAMP levels can directly potentiate insulin granule release, as well as regulate genes involved in β-cell function and survival (2–4). Thus, cAMP levels within β-cells must be tightly regulated in order to ensure proper secretion of adequate amounts of insulin. The importance of cAMP in type 2 diabetes is underscored by the proliferation of incretin-based drugs on the market over the past decade, including glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonists and dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors, which potentiate insulin release by increasing cAMP signaling in β-cells (5). Thus, developing our understanding of the mechanisms controlling cAMP levels in β-cells has great potential to uncover new therapeutic …
A pilot study of expiratory flow limitation and lung volume reduction surgery.

STUDY OBJECTIVES To examine the relationships between changes in expiratory flow limitation (FL) during anesthesia and postoperative responses to lung volume reduction surgery (LVRS). DESIGN Prospective consecutive case comparison. SETTING University medical center. PATIENTS Eight patients with severe emphysema. INTERVENTIONS General anesthesia with muscle paralysis and thoracic epidural analgesia were provided for LVRS via median sternotomy. MEASUREMENTS FEV(1), functional residual capacity (FRC), and total lung capacity (TLC) were measured preoperatively and 3 months postoperatively. Tidal volume (VT) flow/volume (F/V) curves were obtained with a Pitot-type spirometer. VT, expiratory flow rate at 0. 25 x VT (V'VT,25% ), and peak expiratory flow rate (V'VT,MAX) were obtained from VT F/V curves to derive V'VT,25%/V'VT,MAX ratio as a measure of FL. RESULTS Closed chest VT F/V curves during anesthesia pre-LVRS showed four patients with FL (group A) whose V'VT,25%/V'VT, MAX ratio was 0.38 +/- 0.06 (mean +/- SD) and four patients without FL (group B) whose V'VT,25%/V'VT,MAX ratio was 0.82 +/- 0.06 (p = 0. 0001). Closed chest post-LVRS V'VT,25%/V'VT,MAX ratio during anesthesia increased by 0.48 +/- 0.08 in group A, compared with a 0. 19 +/- 0.16 reduction in group B (p = 0.0001). Preoperative FEV(1) was 0.57 +/- 0.10 L for group A vs 0.82 +/- 0.13 L for group B (p = 0.02). Postoperative FEV(1) increased by 67 +/- 40% for group A (p = 0.03) vs 29 +/- 21% for group B (not significant). FRC decreased by 33 +/- 3% for group A vs 17 +/- 5% for group B (p = 0.0007), and FRC/TLC decreased by 0.14 +/- 0.05 for group A vs 0.01 +/- 0.07 for group B (p = 0.026). Post-LVRS V'VT,25%/V'VT,MAX ratio change during anesthesia correlated with postoperative reduction in FRC (r(2) = 0. 89, p = 0.0004) and FRC/TLC (r(2) = 0.52, p = 0.045). CONCLUSION Post-LVRS change in V'VT,25%/V'VT,MAX ratio during anesthesia showed a linear relationship with 3-month postoperative improvement in dynamic hyperinflation. Thus, V'VT,25%/V'VT,MAX ratio may help provide valuable insights into the interactions between chest wall recoil, dynamic hyperinflation, and VT flow rates in patients with severe COPD and LVRS.
Bone Morphogenetic Protein Receptor IB Signaling Mediates Apoptosis Independently of Differentiation in Osteoblastic Cells*

Bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP-2) is an important regulator of osteoblast differentiation. However, the regulation of osteoblast apoptosis by BMP signaling remains poorly understood. Here we examined the role of type I BMP receptor (BMP-RI) in osteoblast apoptosis promoted by BMP-2. Despite undetectable BMP-RIB expression in OHS4 cells, BMP-2 or BMP-2 overexpression increased osteoblast differentiation similarly as in SaOS2 cells which express BMP-RIB, as shown by alkaline phosphatase and CBFA1/RUNX2 expression. In contrast to SaOS2 cells, however, BMP-2 or BMP-2 overexpression did not increase caspase-9 and caspases-3, -6, and -7 activity and DNA fragmentation in OHS4 cells. Consistently, BMP-2 increased protein kinase C (PKC) activity, and PKC inhibition suppressed BMP-2-induced caspase activity in SaOS2 but not in OHS4 cells that lack BMP-RIB. A dominant negative BMP-RIB inhibited BMP-2-induced caspase activity, whereas wild-type BMP-RIB promoted caspase activity induced by BMP-2 in SaOS2 and MC3T3-E1 cells. Wild-type BMP-RIB rescued the apoptotic response to BMP-2, and a constitutively active BMP-RIB restored the apoptotic signal in OHS4 cells, supporting an essential role for BMP-RIB in osteoblast apoptosis. We also assessed whether BMP-2-induced apoptosis occurred independently of osteoblast differentiation. General inhibition of caspases did not abolish BMP-2-induced alkaline phosphatase and CBFA1/RUNX2 expression in SaOS2 cells. Furthermore, broad caspases inhibition increased matrix mineralization but did not reverse the BMP-2 effect on mineralization in MC3T3-E1 cells. These results indicate that BMP-2-induced apoptosis was mediated by BMP-RIB in osteoblasts and occurred independently of BMP-2-induced osteoblast differentiation, which provides additional insights into the dual mechanism of BMP-2 action on osteoblast fate.
Borrelia garinii Induces CXCL13 Production in Human Monocytes through Toll-Like Receptor 2

ABSTRACT Recent studies have suggested an important role for the B-cell-attracting chemokine CXCL13 in the B-cell-dominated cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) infiltrate in patients with neuroborreliosis (NB). High levels of CXCL13 were present in the CSF of NB patients. It has not been clear, however, whether high CSF CXCL13 titers are specific for NB or are a characteristic of other spirochetal diseases as well. Furthermore, the mechanisms leading to the observed CXCL13 expression have not been identified yet. Here we describe similarly elevated CSF CXCL13 levels in patients with neurosyphilis, while pneumococcal meningitis patient CSF do not have high CXCL13 levels. In parallel, challenge of human monocytes in vitro with two of the spirochetal causative organisms, Borrelia garinii (the Borrelia species most frequently found in NB patients) and Treponema pallidum, but not challenge with pneumococci, induced CXCL13 release. This finding implies that a common spirochetal motif is a CXCL13 inducer. Accordingly, we found that the lipid moiety N-palmitoyl-S-(bis[palmitoyloxy]propyl)cystein (Pam3C) (three palmitoyl residues bound to N-terminal cysteine) of the spirochetal lipoproteins is critical for the CXCL13 induction in monocytes. As the Pam3C motif is known to signal via Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2) and an anti-TLR2 monoclonal antibody blocked CXCL13 production of human monocytes incubated with B. garinii, this suggests that TLR2 is a major mediator of Borrelia-induced secretion of CXCL13 from human monocytes.
Régulation de la maturation en 3' des pré-ARNm de gènes de susceptibilité aux cancers p53 et msh6

La maturation en 3' des pre-ARNm constitue une etape de regulation posttranscriptionnelle indispensable a l'expression d'un gene. Elle est composee de deux reactions : le clivage de l'extremite 3' qui permet de liberer l'ARNm du site de transcription et l'ajout de la queue poly(A) qui controle a la fois l'export nucleaire, la stabilite et la traduction du transcrit mature. Plusieurs etudes montrent, d'une part, que la maturation en 3' est inhibee de maniere globale lors de dommages a l'ADN et d'autre part, que des deregulations de cette maturation peuvent contribuer au developpement tumoral. Nos travaux se sont axes sur l'etude de la regulation de la maturation en 3' (i) du pre-ARNm de p53 lors de dommages a l'ADN (ii) du pre-ARNm de MSH6 implique dans le syndrome de Lynch. (i) Nos travaux ont mis en evidence que le pre-ARNm de p53 resiste a l'inhibition de la maturation en 3' due aux dommages a l'ADN, grâce au recrutement des proteines hnRNP H/F sur une structure appelee G-quadruplexe situee en aval du site de clivage. (ii) Nous avons ensuite identifie une duplication des 20 nucleotides precedant le signal de polyadenylation du pre-ARNm de MSH6 dans deux familles distinctes atteintes du syndrome de Lynch. Cette duplication entraine une diminution de l'efficacite de la maturation en 3' du pre-ARNm de MSH6 qui semble etre a l'origine de la pathologie.
Interest of transjugular liver biopsy in adult patients with haemophilia or other congenital bleeding disorders infected with hepatitis C virus

Liver histology is important for prognosis and treatment strategy in patients with hepatitis C. We report a 10‐year experience of transjugular liver biopsy (TJLB) in patients with haemophilia and other congenital bleeding disorders (CBD) in terms of safety, efficiency and therapeutic consequences. TJLB was proposed to patients who were regularly followed for CBD, and were hepatitis C virus (HCV) positive by polymerase chain reaction. Patients with inhibitors or who were human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) positive with CD4 cells <0·2 × 109/l or with evidence of liver failure were excluded. TJLB was performed during a short hospitalization with factor replacement. Between 1992 and 2002, 88 TJLB were performed in 69 of 151 adult HCV patients (39% HIV positive). CBD was haemophilia A in 68% and haemophilia B in 24%. Few mild adverse events were recorded. Histology was assessable in 78 of 88 procedures (89%). Twenty‐nine (37%) cases demonstrated minimal change (METAVIR A ≤ 1 and F ≤ 1). Extended fibrosis or cirrhosis was recorded in 23 procedures (26%), all in patients whose infection period was longer than 20 years. No relationship between liver histology, HIV status or HCV genotype was found. TJLB appears to be safe and useful in HCV patients with CBD. One‐third of patients had minimal histological changes and could avoid systematic anti‐HCV treatment.
Brukererfaringer med svangerskaps-, fødsels og barselomsorg. En kartlegging av nasjonale undersøkelser og validerte måleinstrumenter

betydningen av et bredt brukerperspektiv i svangerskaps-, fodselsog barselomsorgen. I den forbindelse etterlyses en nasjonal temaundersokelse for a innhente brukererfaringer om denne delen av helsetjenesten. Kunnskapssenteret har fatt foringer om a gjennomfore en slik nasjonal brukererfaringsundersokelse i 2010. Undersokelsen bor ifolge stortingsmeldingen omfatte bade kvinners og partners erfaringer. Metode: Sokestrategien ble satt sammen av sokeord relatert til pasienterfaringer, svangerskaps-, fodselsog barselomsorg, sporreskjema og maleinstrument. Vi sokte etter relevante publikasjoner i databasene EMBASE, MEDLINE(R) og PsycINFO. Resultat: gere nasjonale undersokelser pa brukererfaringer og tilfredshet i Norge og heller ikke norske validerte maleinstrumenter. Derimot er det mye tilgjengelig kunnskap fra studier i andre land som gjor at det er et godt grunnlag for a utvikle en metode for a male brukererfaringer med svangerskaps-, fodselsog barselomsorgen i Norge. Brukererfaringer med svangerskaps-, fodsels og barselomsorg. En kartlegging av nasjonale undersokelser og validerte maleinstrumenter
Prospective Study of Eukaryotic Initiation Factor 4E Protein Elevation and Breast Cancer Outcome

ObjectiveTo validate the authors’ initial hypothesis-generating observation that eukaryotic initiation factor 4E (eIF4E) protein elevation predicts a higher cancer recurrence rate in patients with stage 1 to 3 breast cancer. Summary Background DataTumor size and nodal status continue to be the two most important independent prognostic markers in breast cancer, despite well-documented limitations. In a previous smaller retrospective study, eIF4E, important in the regulation of protein synthesis of mRNAs with long or complex 5′ untranslated regions, appeared promising as an independent predictor of breast cancer recurrence. MethodsSpecimens and clinical data from 191 patients with stage 1 to 3 breast cancer were accrued prospectively. Data collected include stage of disease, tumor grade, age at diagnosis, and menopausal status. Endpoints measured were disease recurrence and cancer-related death. eIF4E protein level was quantified using Western blot analysis. Immunohistochemical staining was used to determine estrogen receptor, progesterone receptor, and HER-2/ neu receptor status. Statistical analysis include Cox proportional hazards model, log-rank test, Kaplan-Meier survival curve, Fisher exact test, and t test. ResultsPatients were divided into three groups based on tertile distribution of eIF4E: low, defined as less than 7.5-fold elevation (n = 64); intermediate, defined as 7.5- to 14-fold elevation (n = 61); and high, defined as more than 14-fold elevation (n = 66). The relative risk for cancer recurrence with intermediate elevation was 4.1 times that of patients with low elevation. For patients with high elevation, the relative risk for recurrence was higher, at 7.2 times that of the low group. The relative risk for cancer-related death for high elevation was 7.3 times that of patients with low eIF4E. Using multivariate analysis, high eIF4E remained an independent predictor of cancer recurrence after adjusting for tumor size, tumor grade, nodal disease, estrogen receptor status, progesterone receptor status, and menopausal status. ConclusionsHigh eIF4E is an independent predictor of cancer recurrence in patients with stage 1 to 3 breast cancer. The relative risk for cancer recurrence increases with eIF4E protein elevation. High eIF4E elevation is also associated with an increased relative risk for cancer-related death.
Dual-band bandpass filter using coaxial Stepped Impedance Resonators

This paper presents the theory of Stepped Impedance Resonator (SIR) and modifies traditional coaxial lines into coaxial SIRs for dual-band bandpass filter design. A simple feeding structure and an inter-resonator coupling structure have been demonstrated, which simplifies fabrication as well as providing flexibility of tuning. Two Chebyshev dual-band bandpass filters working in the GSM band (900/1750 MHz) were designed and simulated. The 2nd order dual-band bandpass filter has been fabricated and tested, realizing 1.23% and 1.07% fractional bandwidth at 906.5 MHz and 1772.5 MHz, respectively.
Early participation in an HIV cohort study slows disease progression and improves survival

Battegay M, Wirz M, Steuerwald MH, Egger M, Swiss HIV Cohort Study (University Hospital of Basel, Basel, University of Berne, Berne, and University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland; and University of Bristol, Bristol, UK). Early participation in an HIV cohort study slows disease progression and improves survival. J Intern Med 1998; 244: 479–87.
Postpartum Depression Among Asian Indian Mothers

Purpose:To explore Asian Indian mothers' perspectives of postpartum depression (PPD) and mental health help-seeking behavior. Study Design:Qualitative exploratory design. Methods:Using convenience sampling, postpartum mothers were recruited through flyers posted in public places and on social media sites. Postpartum depression risk was assessed with the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) prior to qualitative interviews. Content analysis methods were used to extract themes from participant narratives. Results:Twelve self-identified, married, Asian Indian mothers, aged between 29 and 40 years, living in Northern California, who gave birth to a healthy infant within the last 12 months, took part in this study. Scores on the EPDS indicated two participants were at an increased risk for developing PPD. Content analysis revealed two emerging themes: (1) Culture-specific postpartum practices and ceremonies and their role in maternal–infant postpartum recovery; and (2) Maternal mental health help-seeking behavior. Clinical Implications:Nurses taking care of women during the extended prenatal and postpartum period have the unique opportunity to build rapport with their patients which can offer a window of opportunity to educate and help dispel myths about PPD symptoms and treatment. To promote successful maternal-infant outcomes, PPD education should be initiated at the first prenatal appointment, continue during the pregnancy, and be incorporated into well-baby visits through the first postpartum year. Education should include signs and symptoms of PPD as well as importance of timely mental-health help-seeking.