Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Thyroid function is intrinsically linked to insulin sensitivity and endothelium-dependent vasodilation in healthy euthyroid subjects.

CONTEXT Levels of TSH respond to fluctuations in serum free T(4) (fT(4)) but remain in a very narrow individual range. There exists current controversy regarding the upper limit of normal serum TSH values above which treatment should be indicated. OBJECTIVE We aimed to study whether the individually determined fT(4)-TSH relationship was associated with plasma lipids, insulin sensitivity, and endothelial dysfunction in healthy subjects with strictly normal thyroid function according to recent recommendations (0.3-3.0 mU/liter). DESIGN This was a cross-sectional study. SETTING The study consisted of a cohort of healthy men from the general population (n = 221). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Oral glucose tolerance, insulin sensitivity (S(I), minimal model), endothelium-dependent vasodilation (high-resolution ultrasound), and plasma lipids were measured in relation to thyroid function tests. RESULTS Both serum TSH and fT(4). TSH product were positively associated with fasting and postload insulin concentration and negatively with S(I). After body mass index stratification, these associations were especially significant among lean subjects. Serum TSH and fT(4). TSH product also correlated positively with fasting triglycerides and negatively with high-density lipoprotein cholesterol. In a multiple linear regression analysis, age (P = 0.007) and S(I) (P = 0.02) but not body mass index, fasting triglycerides, or serum high-density lipoprotein concentration contributed independently to 3.7 and 3.3%, respectively, of the variance in fT(4). TSH. Those subjects over the median of fT(4). TSH showed reduced endothelium-dependent vasodilation. CONCLUSIONS Thyroid function tests are intrinsically linked to variables of insulin resistance and endothelial function. It is possible that underlying factors lead simultaneously to increased serum TSH, insulin resistance, ensuing dyslipidemia, and altered endothelial function even within current normal TSH levels.
Diélectriques - Bases théoriques

Avant d’aborder l’etude des isolants et des systemes d’isolation, l’ingenieur doit se familiariser avec les concepts de base et connaitre les theories les plus utiles ; il peut ainsi apprecier la signification exacte des proprietes electriques definissant un isolant et utiliser efficacement les theories qu’il met en œuvre. En se limitant a une presentation des notions essentielles du domaine des dielectriques, cet article traite les points suivants : la polarisation des dielectriques , qui, dans la pratique, s’exprime par une propriete fondamentale, a savoir la permittivite relative ; les pertes dielectriques , qui, sous une tension continue, se manifestent dans un materiau par la presence de courants d’absorption ; sous une tension alternative, elles sont traduites quantitativement par la tangente de l’angle de pertes (tan δ) mesuree, si cela se revele necessaire, dans une plage etendue de frequence ; les phenomenes de relaxation dans les liquides isolants, dont la theorie de Pellat-Debye fournit la representation la plus simple ; les phenomenes de polarisation interfaciale , dont les theories de Maxwell et de Maxwell-Wagner donnent une representation approchee mais suffisante pour expliquer le comportement d’une association de materiaux de permittivites et de conductivites differentes. Les mecanismes de courants de conduction seront traites dans un article specifique. Nota : le lecteur se reportera a l’article D 2 301 Dielectriques . Courants de conduction . Il pourra egalement consulter D 2 305 Dielectriques solides et charge d’espace et D 2 430 Conduction electrique dans les liquides .
Incorporating speculative execution into scheduling ofcontrol-flow-intensive designs

Speculative execution refers to the execution of parts of a computation before the execution of the conditional operations that decide whether they need to be executed. It has been shown to be a promising technique for eliminating performance bottlenecks imposed by control flow in hardware and software implementations alike. In this paper, we present techniques to incorporate speculative execution in a fine-grained manner into scheduling of control-flow-intensive behavioral descriptions. We demonstrate that failing to take into account information such as resource constraints and branch probabilities can lead to significantly suboptimal performance. We also demonstrate that it may be necessary to speculate simultaneously along multiple paths, subject to resource constraints, in order to minimize the delay overheads incurred when prediction errors occur. Experimental results on several benchmarks show that our speculative scheduling algorithm can result in significant (up to seven-fold) improvements in performance (measured in terms of the average number of clock cycles) as compared to scheduling without speculative execution. Also, the best and worst case execution times for the speculatively performed schedules are the same as or better than the corresponding values for the schedules obtained without speculative execution.
Identification in rat stomach mucosae of a cell population characterized by a deficiency for the repair of O6-methyldeoxyguanosine from DNA.

Immunohistochemical studies have been used to show the time course for the cell-specific methylation of DNA in the upper gastrointestinal tract of rats treated with N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine (MNNG). The doses used were 1, 5, 25 and 50 mg MNNG/kg (i.g.) and tissue samples were analysed at intervals of from 1 to 192 h after treatment. Relatively little reaction with nuclear DNA was observed in the forestomach and still less in the oesophagus. Reaction with DNA was most extensive in the corpus, pylorus and the duodenum, reaching a peak of staining intensity between 2 and 4 h and then declining progressively there-after. Staining for the presence of O6-methyldeoxyguanosine (O6-MedG) in DNA was highly selective and tended to occur in the nuclei of the basal cell of the oesophagus and forestomach and in the cells of the lumenal border of the glands and villi of the corpus, pylorus and duodenum. There were also areas, 5-15, glands apart where staining for O6-MedG in the corpus and pylorus extended as far down as the basal mucosa. From 12 h after MNNG treatment, in the corpus and pylorus, a band of strongly methylated cells became apparent about 3-6 cells deep from the lumen and remained identifiable up to 168 h after treatment with the higher doses. These cells, which apparently have a very low O6-MedG repair capacity, are stationary (i.e. not part of the escalator) and are located in the mesenchymal tissue elements as demonstrated by staining of serial sections with cytokeratin or vementin. The significance of this population of cells is unknown.
PIFA antenna with tilted circular polarization angle for RFID readers

In this paper, a miniaturized circularly polarized (CP) antenna for RFID readers is presented. This structure, made up of two crossed PIFA has been designed to operate in the European RFID UHF band [0.865-0.868 GHz]. Thanks to two shorts circuits, miniaturization and CP are achieved with only one feed. By optimizing the different parameters of the structure, CP direction can be also tilted in a desired angle. The simulated impedance matching and axial ratio bandwidths are 4% and 16%, respectively. The realized gain is 1.85 dBi at 0.866 GHz. The overall dimensions of the structure are 0. 5λ0 × 0. 5λ0 × 0. 06λ0.
Tgl4p and Tgl5p, Two Triacylglycerol Lipases of the Yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae Are Localized to Lipid Particles*

Triacylglycerol (TAG) lipases are required for mobilization of TAG stored in lipid particles. Recently, Tgl3p was identified as a major TAG lipase of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae (Athenstaedt, K., and Daum, G. (2003) J. Biol. Chem. 278, 23317–23323). Here, we report the identification of Tgl4p and Tgl5p as additional TAG lipases of the yeast. Both polypeptides, encoded by open reading frames YKR089c/TGL4 and YOR081c/TGL5, share 30 and 26% homology, respectively, to Tgl3p. Cell fractionation experiments and microscopic inspection of strains bearing Tgl4p-GFP and Tgl5p-GFP hybrids demonstrated that both proteins are localized to lipid particles similar to Tgl3p. A 1.7-fold increased amount of TAG enriched in myristic and palmitic acids and the reduced mobilization rate of TAG from tgl4Δ in the presence of the fatty acid synthesis inhibitor cerulenin demonstrated the lipolytic function of Tgl4p in vivo. In contrast, neither the total amount of TAG nor the TAG mobilization rate after addition of cerulenin was affected in tgl5Δ cells. However, the enrichment of C26:0 esterified to TAG of tgl5Δ, an additional increase of TAG in the tgl4Δtgl5Δ double deletion mutant compared with tgl4Δ, and the impairment of TAG mobilization in the tgl4Δtgl5Δ strain in the presence of cerulenin suggested that also Tgl5p functions as a TAG lipase in vivo. Most importantly, the purified His6-tagged Tgl4p and Tgl5p hybrids exhibited TAG lipase activity demonstrating their function in vitro. In summary, our data obtained by biochemical, molecular, and cell biological analyses unambiguously identified Tgl4p and Tgl5p as novel TAG lipases of yeast lipid particles with certain enzymatic specificities.
Pseudomonas aeruginosa Forms Biofilms in Acute Infection Independent of Cell-to-Cell Signaling

ABSTRACT Biofilms are bacterial communities residing within a polysaccharide matrix that are associated with persistence and antibiotic resistance in chronic infections. We show that the opportunistic pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa forms biofilms within 8 h of infection in thermally injured mice, demonstrating that biofilms contribute to bacterial colonization in acute infections as well. Using light, electron, and confocal scanning laser microscopy, P. aeruginosa biofilms were visualized within burned tissue surrounding blood vessels and adipose cells. Although quorum sensing (QS), a bacterial signaling mechanism, coordinates differentiation of biofilms in vitro, wild-type and QS-deficient P. aeruginosa strains formed similar biofilms in vivo. Our findings demonstrate that P. aeruginosa forms biofilms on specific host tissues independently of QS.
Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Master of Science Degree With a Major in Food and Nutritional Sciences

ii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS . v TABLE OF CONTENTS . vi LIST OF TABLES . ix LIST OF FIGURES.xi CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION . 1 1. Statement of the Problem.4 2. Objectives of the Study . 4 CHAPTER TWO: REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE.5 1. Nutritional Status of Chinese People (Taiwan) . 5 2. How Nutrition Status Changes as Cultures Migrate ----Migrant Epidemiological Studies . 7 3. Studies on the Dietary Patterns of Chinese Immigrants.9 4. Dietary Beliefs of Chinese . 10 5. The Health Risks Faced by Chinese Immigrants . 13 6. Chinese People Dietary Survey ----Which Nutrients Have Low Intakes.14 7. Food Frequency Questionnaire . 17 8. 24-Hour Recall.20 9. Implications for Future Research . 21 CHAPTER THREE: RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODOLOGY . 22 1. Human Subjects Consent Form.22
Evaluation of Education in Palliative Care: Determining the Effects on Nurses’ Knowledge and Attitudes

Our study was an evaluation of a pilot course in palliative nursing care designed to improve practising nurses’ knowledge regarding cancer pain management and attitudes toward care of the dying patient. The course involved 12 weeks (36 hours) of systematic classroom instruction for registered nurses, and a one-day observational experience on a designated palliative care unit. A total of 16 nurses participated in the study. A repeated measures design was used to evaluate the effectiveness of the course. Attitudes toward care of the dying patient and his/her family were also evaluated. Results showed that nurses’ attitudes improved significantly from Time 1 (first day of course) to Time 2 (last day of course) (p=0.0007), and that this improvement was maintained at Time 3 (three months later) (p=0.064). The observational experience on a palliative care unit held in conjunction with the course was reported to be helpful to students in consolidating theoretical instruction.
Dependence of Write-Window on Write Error Rates in Bit Patterned Media

In bit patterned media (BPM), the medium is patterned into nanometer-sized magnetic islands where each island stores one bit. Although BPM samples of credible densities have been made, many problems remain, one of which is the synchronization of the write head switching position with respect to the targeted island. An accurate but efficient model has been developed to calculate the timing margin available for a given required write bit error rate (BER). The model predicts the write-error performance of BPM composed of populations of islands with distributions of magnetic, position, and geometric parameters, and can be used to calculate the write-window for a given BER. The effect of distributions of island position, geometric and magnetic properties has been investigated, and it has been shown that island position and magnetic properties have a much more significant effect upon BER than geometric (shape/size) variations. This model enables the relationship between servo requirements and raw BER to be established for disk drives using BPM.
High aluminum levels in cerebrospinal fluid of patients with neurodegenerative diseases

Aluminum is the most abundant metal on earth. It is not known to have any biological metabolism; conversely it has a toxic effect that has been related to several damages including some neurodegenerative diseases. We sampledcerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in 141 patients with different chronic diseases, assessing the levels of aluminum contained. Our aim was to assess differences in aluminum levels between neuro-degenerative and non-neurodegenerative diseases. We found that patients with neurodegenerative diseases have higher levels of aluminum in cerebrospinal fluid than other non-degenerative diseases. These findings support previous descriptions of a chronic life-time aluminum accumulation in CSF as an environmental contributor to the Patophysiology of neurodegeneration. While aluminum and neurodegenerative diseases have already been correlated in previous studies, this report is, to the best of our knowledge, the first that directly correlates levels of aluminum in CSF with clinical status. Further investigation based on these findings has to be done in order to determine if this correlation is causality of specific diseases. In the meantime we encourage a wider sampling of aluminum (and other metals) in CSF in both patients with a neurodegenerative disease and healthy population as well as the analysis of aluminum-containing products.
Results Insulin Stimulates the Tyrosine Phosphorylation of Proteins in Caveolin-enriched Triton-insoluble Complexes

The specialized plasma membrane structures termed caveolae and the caveolar-coat protein caveolin are highly expressed in insulin-sensitive cells such as adipocytes and muscle. Stimulation of 3T3-L1 adipocytes with insulin significantly increased the tyrosine phosphorylation of caveolin and a 29-kD caveolin-associated protein in caveolin-enriched Triton-insoluble complexes. Maximal phosphorylation occurred within 5 min, and the levels of phosphorylation remained elevated for at least 30 min. The insulin-dose responses for the tyrosine phosphorylation of caveolin and the 29-kD caveolin-associated protein paralleled those for the phosphorylation of the insulin receptor. The stimulation of caveolin tyrosine phosphorylation was specific for insulin and was not observed with PDGF or EGF, although PDGF stimulated the tyrosine phosphorylation of the 29-kD caveolin-associated protein. Increased tyrosine phosphorylation of caveolin, its associated 29-kD protein, and a 60-kD protein was observed in an in vitro kinase assay after incubation of the caveolin-enriched Triton-insoluble complexes with Mg-ATP, suggesting the presence of an intrinsic tyrosine kinase in these complexes. These fractions contain only trace amounts of the activated insulin receptor. In addition, these complexes contain a 60-kD kinase detected in an in situ gel kinase assay and an ~60 kD protein that cross-reacts with an antibody against the Src-family kinase p59 Fy". Thus, the insulin-dependent tyrosine phosphorylation of caveolin represents a novel, insulinspecific signal transduction pathway that may involve activation of a tyrosine kinase downstream of the insu-
Predictors of Progression in Hypertensive Renal Disease in Children

In hypertensive renal disease in children, several risk factors influence the development and the rate of progression of renal damage, including blood pressure levels, proteinuria, lipid disorders, and genetic differences. The impact of blood pressure on renal structures, the most important of the factors, depends not only on blood pressure levels, but also on the persistence of the blood pressure levels over time, mainly during the hours when the patient is resting or sleeping. Abnormal circadian variability is frequently observed in patients with renal damage, and nocturnal blood pressure reduction should be a major therapeutic objective to protect against a decline in renal function. Proteinuria is a guide for establishing targets and for monitoring treatment. It should be reduced as much as possible to obtain maximal renoprotective effect. The role of the other factors, such as lipid disorders and genetics, remains elusive.
Dietary arginine supplementation of mice alters the microbial population and activates intestinal innate immunity.

Currently, little is known about the function of arginine in the homeostasis of the intestinal immune system. This study was conducted to test the hypothesis that dietary arginine supplementation may alter intestinal microbiota and innate immunity in mice. Mice were fed a basal diet (containing 0.93% l-arginine; grams per gram) or the basal diet supplemented with 0.5% l-arginine for 14 d. We studied the composition of intestinal microbiota, the activation of innate immunity, and the expression of toll-like receptors (Tlrs), proinflammatory cytokines, and antimicrobials in the jejunum, ileum, or colon of mice. Signal transduction pathway activation in the jejunum and ileum, including TLR4-nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB), mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), and phosphoinositide-3 kinase (PI3K)/PI3K-protein kinase B (Akt), was analyzed by Western blotting. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction analysis revealed that arginine supplementation induced (P < 0.05) a shift in the Firmicutes-to-Bacteroidetes ratio to favor Bacteroidetes in the jejunum (0.33 ± 0.04 vs. 1.0 ± 0.22) and ileum (0.20 ± 0.08 vs. 1.0 ± 0.27) compared with the control group. This finding coincided with greater (P < 0.05) activation of the innate immune system, including TLR signaling, as well as expression of proinflammatory cytokines, ​secretory immunoglobulin A, mucins, and Paneth antimicrobials in the jejunum and ileum. Finally, arginine supplementation reduced (P < 0.05) expression of the proteins for NF-κB, MAPK, and PI3K-Akt signaling pathways but activated (P < 0.05) p38 and c-Jun N-terminal protein kinase in the jejunum and the ileum, respectively. Collectively, dietary arginine supplementation of mice changes the intestinal microbiota, contributing to the activation of intestinal innate immunity through NF-κB, MAPK, and PI3K-phosphorylated Akt signaling pathways.
Finite element analysis of a linear actuator used for biomedical application Comparison with Matlab and position sensor

The right steps to follow for a Finite Element Analysis (F.E.A) applied to a linear actuator used for biomedical application are represented in this paper. The Ampere's theorem is detailed in order to prove the essential role of the air gap. The position reached by the actuator using an analog sensor is compared to the ones with Matlab and the finite element software from INFOLYTICA. The alloys from AK Steel company were introduced to choose the high permeability material for a best magnetic performance. The desired position of 100 mils which is equal to 2.54 mm is reached by three different methods starting by Matlab simulation and was confirmed by both of the Finite Element Methods and an experimental test using an analog position sensor. In this paper, a complete research of the linear actuator is proposed which encompasses all the subjects and considered as a sample to follow.
Serum tocilizumab trough concentration can be used to monitor systemic IL-6 receptor blockade in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: a prospective observational cohort study

Objectives: To investigate the pharmacokinetics (PK) and dynamics of tocilizumab (TCZ) in daily practice. Method: An observational study of 66 consecutive RA patients treated with TCZ 8 mg/kg once every 4 weeks intravenously, monitored for 24 weeks. Spearman’s rank test was used to investigate the correlation between TCZ concentration and C-reactive protein (CRP). Clinical improvement was assessed at week 24 using the Disease Activity Score in 28 joints (DAS28) compared to baseline, and its relationship with TCZ concentration was investigated using linear regression analyses. TCZ trough concentrations and anti-drug antibodies were measured using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and antigen binding test, respectively. Results: At baseline, 26 patients (39.4%) had a CRP level above 10 mg/L with a median (interquartile range, IQR) of 37.7 (21.9–49.7) mg/L. A TCZ concentration above 1 mg/L was sufficient to normalize CRP levels. Spearman’s rank test showed a correlation coefficient of −0.460 (p < 0.0001). The TCZ concentration varied widely, with concentrations < 1 mg/L in 17–31% of patients, depending on the time point of measurement. Anti-TCZ antibodies were detected in one sample. Linear regression analyses showed a coefficient of 0.080 with a 95% confidence interval (CI) of 0.039–0.113 (p < 0.001) for the association between TCZ concentration and ΔDAS28. No confounders were identified. Conclusions: The TCZ standard regimen results in a wide variety of serum TCZ trough concentrations; this is mostly due to target binding and to a lesser extent to immunogenicity. The majority of patients obtained TCZ concentrations > 1 mg/L, which is sufficient for CRP normalization. Therefore, dose taper strategies might be possible in a substantial proportion of patients.
Imaging Regional Metabolic Changes in the Ischemic Rat Heart In Vivo Using Hyperpolarized [1-13C]Pyruvate

We evaluated the use of hyperpolarized 13C magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in an open-chest rat model of myocardial infarction to image regional changes in myocardial metabolism. In total, 10 rats were examined before and after 30 minutes of occlusion of the left anterior descending coronary artery using hyperpolarized [1-13C]pyruvate. Cardiac metabolic images of [1-13C]pyruvate and its metabolites [1-13C]lactate, [1-13C]alanine, and [13C]bicarbonate were obtained before and after ischemia. Significant reduction in the [1-13C]alanine and [1-13C]lactate signals were observed in the ischemic region post ischemia. The severity of the ischemic insult was verified by increased blood levels of troponin I and by using late contrast-enhanced MRI that showed enhanced signal in the ischemic region. This study shows that hyperpolarized MRI can be used to image regional metabolic changes in the in vivo rat heart in an open-chest model of ischemia reperfusion. Hyperpolarized MRI enables new possibilities for evaluating changes in cardiac metabolism noninvasively and in real time, which potentially could be used for research to evaluate new treatments and metabolic interventions for myocardial ischemia and to apply knowledge to future application of the technique in humans.