Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
On the role of the incretin hormones GIP and GLP-1 in the pathogenesis of Type 2 diabetes mellitus.

BACKGROUND In 1906, extracts of mucosa from the porcine upper small intestine were used by Moore et al. as a treatment for diabetes, hoping that “the pancreas secretion might be stimulated by the substance of the nature of a hormone yielded by the duodenal mucosa membrane” (1). In 1932, La Barre named the unidentified substance thought to exert this effect “incretin” (2). Thirty years later, McIntyre et al. demonstrated that gut derived factors have a potentiating effect on insulin secretion after ingestion of glucose (3). Some years later, a polypeptide was discovered and named gastric inhibitory polypeptide (GIP) because of its inhibitory effect on gastric acid secretion in dogs (4). Eventually, it was shown to be insulinotropic at elevated glucose concentrations (5-7). Its gastric inhibitory effects were weak (8, 9) and it was, therefore, suggested that GIP should be renamed “glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide” (5-7). Today, both names are still in use. Later, experimental and clinical studies suggested that the gut produces more than a single insulinotropic hormone (10, 11). In 1983, the gene encoding the human pancreatic hormone, glucagon, was cloned, and the structure of its precursor, proglucagon, was deduced and shown to include the sequence of two glucagon-like peptides, in addition to glucagon itself (12). The gene was found to be expressed in both the pancreatic α-cells and the intestinal L-cells. The primary transcripts and translation products of the gene in the two types of cells are identical (13), but the post-translational processing differs markedly in these two tissues (14-16). In the pancreas proglucagon is cleaved to glucagon, glicentin-related pancreatic peptide (GRPP) and a major proglucagon fragment (14). Apart from glucagon, all of these fragments seem to be biologically inactive (17). In contrast, in the intestinal L-cells, the molecule is processed to GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1), GLP-2 (glucagon-like peptide-2) (18) and glicentin (19) (Figure 1). GLP-1 was found to be strongly insulinotropic (20, 21) and GLP-2 to be a key regulator of small bowel growth (22). Today, therefore, we have two major incretin hormones: glucosedependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) and glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), which together are thought to be responsible for the incretin effect. The incretin effect is quantitated by comparison of the insulin response after oral and intravenous glucose, administered in such a way that identical blood glucose concentrations are obtained (23-26) .
Optimized trajectory planning for mobile robot in the presence of moving obstacles

Navigation and obstacle avoidance are essential for mobile robots. In the dynamic environment, the obstacles may move with varying velocities. It is thus crucial to develop an effective scheme for moving obstacle avoidance. Motivated by this, in this paper, we propose such a scheme based on parametric trajectory planning. With the conditions for collision avoidance formulated as the constraints, a feasible collision-free trajectory is then derived by solving an unconstrained optimization problem. The corresponding control torques for robot governing is calculated using the dynamic model and derived trajectory, with the information about the obstacle not known a priori. Simulations are performed to demonstrate the efficiency of the proposed approach.
Efficacy of intra‐ and extraturbinal microdebrider turbinoplasty in perennial allergic rhinitis

Microdebrider‐assisted inferior turbinoplasty (MAIT) has become a popular method for relieving symptoms of allergic rhinitis and can be performed intraturbinally or extraturbinally. The objective of this study was to evaluate and compare the long‐term efficacy of these two methods.
Electronic Word-of-Mouth for E-Commerce Consumption in Mobile Social Network: a Case Study from WeChat

With the population of social networking services (SNS) like WeChat, they have emerged as an increasingly important media or platform that facilitates product-focused electronic word-of-mouth (eWOM) activities. Meanwhile, e-commerce has become an essential part of our daily life. The goal of the current research is to discover the key factors that affect consumers’ willingness to engage in eWOM behaviors on mobile social media like WeChat. We mainly investigate eight factors including personal factors, WeChat usage, social communication, e-commerce participation, consumer online perceptions, perceived risk, platform factors, and product factors, which may encourage or restrain consumers to spread eWOM on WeChat. We have constructed a theoretic model and proposed a series of hypotheses. In order to verify the model as well as the hypotheses, we have carried out a questionnaire survey. Moreover, we use SPSS 20 software to analyze the results of the survey. We try to find out the significant factors that affect eWOM most on WeChat. According to the result, social communications and consumer online perceptions have shown strong influence on eWOM. Finally we make a discussion on the results, which could be used to support the marketing or sales activities of potential enterprises.
Geographical and temporal distribution of Ockelbo disease in Sweden

SUMMARY The incidence of Ockelbo disease and the prevalence of Ockelbo virus neutralizing antibodies were investigated in a sample of the Swedish population. The disease occurs throughout most of Sweden but with higher incidence and antibody prevalence rates in the central part of the country. It generally affects middle-aged men and women, with equal incidence between sexes, and is uncommon in people younger than 20 years of age. The disease occurs during a short period each year between the third week of July and the first week of October, with a peak during the second half of August. During the 8 years studied (1981–8), an average of 31 Ockelbo patients/year were diagnosed. The antibody prevalence rates in the oldest age groups were 20–40 times higher than the accumulated life-risk of being diagnosed and reported as an Ockelbo disease patient, which suggests that many cases are asymptomatic and/or unreported.
Review. Routine characterization and interpretation of complex alkali feldspar intergrowths

Abstract Almost all alkali feldspar crystals contain a rich inventory of exsolution, twin, and domain microtextures that form subsequent to crystal growth and provide a record of the thermal history of the crystal and often of its involvement in replacement reactions, sometimes multiple. Microtextures strongly influence the subsequent behavior of feldspars at low temperatures during diagenesis and weathering. They are central to the retention or exchange of trace elements and of radiogenic and stable isotopes. This review is aimed at petrologists and geochemists who wish to use alkali feldspar microtextures to solve geological problems or who need to understand how microtextures influence a particular process. We suggest a systematic approach that employs methods available in most well founded laboratories. The crystallographic relationships of complex feldspar intergrowths were established by the 1970s, mainly using single-crystal X‑ray diffraction, but such methods give limited information on the spatial relationships of the different elements of the microtexture, or of the mode and chronology of their formation, which require the use of microscopy. We suggest a combination of techniques with a range of spatial resolution and strongly recommend the use of orientated sections. Sections cut parallel to the perfect (001) and (010) cleavages are the easiest to locate and most informative. Techniques described are light microscopy; scanning electron microscopy using both backscattered and secondary electrons, including the use of surfaces etched in the laboratory; electron-probe microanalysis and analysis by energy-dispersive spectrometry in a scanning electron microscope; transmission electron microscopy. We discuss the use of cathodoluminescence as an auxiliary technique, but do not recommend electron-backscattered diffraction for feldspar work. We review recent publications that provide examples of the need for great care and attention to pre-existing work in microtextural studies, and suggest several topics for future work.
Prenatal exposure to bisphenol A alters mouse fetal pancreatic morphology and islet composition

Abstract Background: Exposure to bisphenol A (BPA), an endocrine disrupting chemical, during gestation is associated with a variety of metabolic dysfunctions in adulthood, including hyperinsulinemia, glucose intolerance and insulin resistance. These modifications in glucose homeostasis largely stem from alterations in pancreatic function. However, the effects of BPA on the fetal pancreas have never been explored. The present study addressed this important question by examining the effects of prenatal BPA exposure on the mouse fetal pancreatic development. Materials and methods: Pregnant mice were fed a BPA diet (25 mg BPA/kg diet) from embryonic day 7.5 (E7.5) to E18.5. At E18.5, fetal pancreata were collected and analyzed for morphological changes in the endocrine pancreas such as islet size, number and β and α cell distribution. Results: We showed that BPA exposed fetal pancreata had a greater number of islet-cell clusters (ICCs; <300 μm2; p<0.05) compared with controls. Furthermore, immunohistochemical analysis revealed that prenatal BPA exposure increased both glucagon expression in islets and the numbers of glucagon-expressing islet-cell clusters (p<0.05). Conclusion: Considering that ICCs represent the initial stages of islet development in the fetal pancreas, our findings suggest that BPA promotes islet differentiation or delays the conversion of ICCs into mature islets. Moreover, the increase in glucagon expression suggests a potential alteration in the α:β-cell ratio in islets, which may have significant implications for the fetal pancreas both structurally and functionally. This study provides novel insight into the effects of BPA exposure on the fetal pancreata, indicating alterations in glucagon expression in islets and ICCs.
Herpes simplex virus ICP27 protein provides viral mRNAs with access to the cellular mRNA export pathway

The role of herpes simplex virus ICP27 protein in mRNA export is investigated by microinjection into Xenopus laevis oocytes. ICP27 dramatically stimulates the export of intronless viral mRNAs, but has no effect on the export of cellular mRNAs, U snRNAs or tRNA. Use of inhibitors shows, in contrast to previous suggestions, that ICP27 neither shuttles nor exports viral mRNA via the CRM1 pathway. Instead, ICP27‐mediated viral RNA export requires REF and TAP/NXF1, factors involved in cellular mRNA export. ICP27 binds directly to REF and complexes containing ICP27, REF and TAP are found in vitro and in virally infected cells. A mutant ICP27 that does not interact with REF is inactive in viral mRNA export. We propose that ICP27 associates with viral mRNAs and recruits TAP/NXF1 via its interaction with REF proteins, allowing the otherwise inefficiently exported viral mRNAs to access the TAP‐mediated export pathway. This represents a novel mechanism for export of viral mRNAs.
A novel anti‐ischemic nitric oxide donor (LA419) reduces thrombogenesis in healthy human subjects

Summary. Background: Platelet and endothelial production of nitric oxide (NO) is known to be impaired in coronary artery disease patients. Compounds that release NO (e.g. nitrates) have antiplatelet effects, but at supratherapeutic doses with hypotensive side effects. Objectives: To investigate the antithrombotic effect on human blood of a novel NO donor (LA419) with known anti‐ischemic properties but without hypotensive side effects and to compare with abciximab. Patients/methods: Healthy subjects (n = 8; 32 ± 3 years) received daily aspirin starting three days prior to the study day. Treatments (LA419 10 and 20 μm, and abciximab 4 μm) were added ex vivo to non‐anticoagulated blood, and the antithrombotic properties were assessed by measuring changes in thrombus size from pretreatment baseline in the Badimon perfusion chamber at low and high shear rates. Platelet surface adhesion using a Cone and Platelet Analyzer (CPA) and platelet fibrinogen‐receptor activation with flow cytometry were also evaluated. Results: At low shear rates, LA419 displayed a reduction in thrombus area of 43% ± 8% (10 μm) and 56% ± 6% (20 μm), whereas at high shear rates the reductions were 44% ± 3% (10 μm) and 62% ± 6% (20 μm). Platelet surface adhesion with the CPA was also reduced. Abciximab exhibited a strong inhibitory effect on thrombus formation, platelet surface adhesion and fibrinogen receptor activation. Conclusions: The novel NO donor, LA419, shows a strong antithrombotic effect in human blood, which is comparable to abciximab, especially under high shear rate conditions. Our observations suggest that the availability of an NO donor could prove beneficial in the prevention of thrombotic complications of cardiovascular disease. Further clinical studies are warranted.
Analysis of Channel Dynamic Delay Effect on Satellite Navigation Channel Simulation System

Running satellite navigation channel simulation system for satellite navigation system simulation has many kinds of benefits, such as reserving the signal characteristic of satellite or signal source, adapting to navigation signal structure variation, and distinguishing the final impacts on satellite navigation system performance made by navigation signal source and channel characteristic apart. First of all, the structure of environment-simulation channel in channel simulation system is introduced in this paper, then the impacts on system simulation made by environment-simulation channel dynamic delay is analyzed, and the expression of the error resulting from dynamic delay when simulating single point positioning and timing, and single channel common-view time transfer, is derived.
Effects of sintering temperatures on microstructures and mechanical properties of Sn4.0Ag0.5Cu1.0Ni solder alloy

This research was carried out to investigate the effects of sintering temperature on the properties of Sn-4.0Ag-0.5Cu-1.0Ni solder alloy by varying the temperatures. The Sn-4.0Ag-0.5Cu-1.0Ni solder alloy was prepared by using powder metallurgy method by press and sinter routes. 99.9% of pure Sn, Ag, Cu and Ni powder were used in this research where the pre-mixed powder undergoing milling process for 6 hours using a planetary ball machine. Hydraulic press machine was used to compact the solder powder at identically 5 tons(125 bars) for all samples. Five different temperatures of sintering specifically at 120°C, 150°C, 180°C, 220°C and 250°C were used. Characterizations on the microstructures such as grain size, thickness of intermetallic compound and, wettability angle were carried out using Scanning Electron Microscopy. Meanwhile, properties of the solder alloy were also evaluated through hardness and tensile test. It is expected that sintering process could be able to improve the strength of the solder joint by decreasing the intermetallic compound grain size. So far, most papers commonly used 180°C as their sintering parameter without anyone providing the promising findings and various effects of the temperature onto solder. Therefore, this work is conducted to make a clarification and be the pilot study for the next sintering works for soldering. This paper reports experimental results of properties of Sn-4.0Ag-0.5Cu-1.0Ni solder alloy at different sintering temperatures.
Letter to the Editor Mechanisms of change in an internet-based therapy for depression – a comment on Van der Zanden et al.: a reply

The finding that the intervention was directly related to changes in depression as an outcome, but not to anxiety or mastery as outcomes can be arithmetically explained by a larger effect in one of the three variables; in this study the larger effect on depression. Fifth, as a final step in their analyses, the authors determined the association between an early change in depression (between baseline and post-intervention) and a later change in anxiety (between postintervention and follow-up), and vice versa. Their peculiar assumption was that the absence of such associations would be supportive for their circularity hypothesis. This is beyond our understanding. There may be several reasons for an absence of a relationship, such as the relatively large time interval between the measurements. Therefore, the absence of an association can not be used as prove for their specific hypothesis. In fact, a negative relationship was found. The authors did not present an explanation for this finding, but the explanation may be simple: with a large early change in depression one would expect a relatively small later change in this variable, and with a small early change in depression one expects a relatively larger later change in the same variable. Because of the high correlation between depression and anxiety, one would thus expect that a greater early reduction in depression is associated with a smaller later change in anxiety (and a greater early reduction in anxiety is associated with a smaller later change in depression). To summarize, the authors did not clearly explain the concept of circularity, which is central in their article, and did not thoroughly reflect on the consequences of their circularity assumption with respect to the aim of ‘further improvement of treatments’ and with respect to analytical methods. The design and analytical methods of their study were not suited for a demonstration of mediational processes.
Genetic Analysis for Yield Potential and Quality Traits in Maize (Zea mays L.)

Grain yield is a complex phenomenon which results from the interaction of various contributing factors highly influenced by environmental variation. Phenotypic selection cannot directly improve the characters in heterozygous crops like maize unless dissected by genetic analysis. Gene action for various quantitative and qualitative traits was explored in a complete set of diallel involving seven elite inbred lines. Variance/Co-variance graphs revealed that the yield potential traits like number of days taken to tasselling, number of days taken to silking, plant height, number of ears per plant, number of kernel rows per ear, number of kernels per row, 100-kernel weight and grain yield per plant were controlled by over dominance type of gene action, while quality traits like protein and oil contents were under the control of partial dominance with additive type of gene action.
Long Term Effects of Peritoneal Dialysis on Peritoneal Morphology

p eritoneal dialysis has been employed as a life support system for the past 40 years. Only in the last 15 years has it been used on a continuous basis where the peritoneum is exposed unremittingly to the effect of dialysate, all day, every day, for years on end. Since the inception of continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) in the late 1970s, there has been persistent anxiety over possible damage to the delicate membrane arising from the continuous nature of the therapy and repeated episodes ofperitonitis. With the passage of time, practitioners of CAPD became aware of deleterious alterations in the dialyzing characteristics of the membrane in a minority of patients. A variety of new terms were devised, such as ultrafiltration loss, high permeability, membrane failure, while diagnostic procedures, for example, the peritoneal equilibration test, were developed to characterize and quantify changes in peritoneal membrane performance. Today, there are large numbers of patients who have been on CAPD for 5 years, and an increasing number maintained on the therapy for over 10 years. Despite significant advances in the safety of equipment and techniques, together with recent dramatic diminution in the incidence of peritonitis, there is still continuing concern over the durability of the peritoneum as a dialyzing membrane. Prior to the advent ofCAPD, we had developed an interest in the possible damaging effects ofPD when used in the form of ultrahigh flow tidal PD using large volumes ofhypertonic dextrose dialysate in the treatment of some categories of renal failure, liver failure, and poisoning. These concerns were addressed by obtaining peritoneal biopsies from these patients, and at this point we became aware of the remarkable
Wireless synchronization and interference alignment with limited interferer for distributed large scale multi user MIMO

Large Scale (Massive) MIMO enhances the advantages of the conventional MIMO in terms of data rate, energy efficiency and reliability. To increase the scalability of conventional massive MIMO, the distributed large scale MIMO is recommended. Synchronization for distributed large scale MIMO is needed due to the lack of common clock source to synchronize the transmitters. Limited Inter-User Connected Interference Alignment for K-User is proposed for Large Scale MU-MIMO precoding scheme. Moreover, we discuss phase rotation factor estimation and compensation to synchronize the distributed large scale MIMO. The Interference Alignment algorithm with antenna selection also employed to show the effect of the synchronization in distributed large scale MIMO performance.
Inhibition of acetylcholinesterase by physostigmine analogs: Conformational mobility of cysteine loop due to the steric effect of the alkyl chain

The effect of a series of physostigmine analogs on acetylcholinesterase activity was investigated. The second‐order rate constant kon of the enzyme–inhibitor complex correlates with the conformational positioning of aromatic residues, especially Trp84, in the transition state complex. The van der Waals interactions are an important structural element of this conformational change. A transient mobility of the cysteine loop (Cys67–Cys94) was confined only to the presence of a significant steric effect. Even with this limitation, however, the steric effect seems to be an appropriate model for future tests on the “back door” hypothesis involving facilitated opening for faster product clearance. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biochem Mol Toxicol 16:64–69, 2002; Published online in Wiley Interscience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/jbt.10026