Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Whole grain consumption and risk of cardiovascular disease, cancer, and all cause and cause specific mortality: systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis of prospective studies

Objective To quantify the dose-response relation between consumption of whole grain and specific types of grains and the risk of cardiovascular disease, total cancer, and all cause and cause specific mortality. Data sources PubMed and Embase searched up to 3 April 2016. Study selection Prospective studies reporting adjusted relative risk estimates for the association between intake of whole grains or specific types of grains and cardiovascular disease, total cancer, all cause or cause specific mortality. Data synthesis Summary relative risks and 95% confidence intervals calculated with a random effects model. Results 45 studies (64 publications) were included. The summary relative risks per 90 g/day increase in whole grain intake (90 g is equivalent to three servings—for example, two slices of bread and one bowl of cereal or one and a half pieces of pita bread made from whole grains) was 0.81 (95% confidence interval 0.75 to 0.87; I2=9%, n=7 studies) for coronary heart disease, 0.88 (0.75 to 1.03; I2=56%, n=6) for stroke, and 0.78 (0.73 to 0.85; I2=40%, n=10) for cardiovascular disease, with similar results when studies were stratified by whether the outcome was incidence or mortality. The relative risks for morality were 0.85 (0.80 to 0.91; I2=37%, n=6) for total cancer, 0.83 (0.77 to 0.90; I2=83%, n=11) for all causes, 0.78 (0.70 to 0.87; I2=0%, n=4) for respiratory disease, 0.49 (0.23 to 1.05; I2=85%, n=4) for diabetes, 0.74 (0.56 to 0.96; I2=0%, n=3) for infectious diseases, 1.15 (0.66 to 2.02; I2=79%, n=2) for diseases of the nervous system disease, and 0.78 (0.75 to 0.82; I2=0%, n=5) for all non-cardiovascular, non-cancer causes. Reductions in risk were observed up to an intake of 210-225 g/day (seven to seven and a half servings per day) for most of the outcomes. Intakes of specific types of whole grains including whole grain bread, whole grain breakfast cereals, and added bran, as well as total bread and total breakfast cereals were also associated with reduced risks of cardiovascular disease and/or all cause mortality, but there was little evidence of an association with refined grains, white rice, total rice, or total grains. Conclusions This meta-analysis provides further evidence that whole grain intake is associated with a reduced risk of coronary heart disease, cardiovascular disease, and total cancer, and mortality from all causes, respiratory diseases, infectious diseases, diabetes, and all non-cardiovascular, non-cancer causes. These findings support dietary guidelines that recommend increased intake of whole grain to reduce the risk of chronic diseases and premature mortality.
Characteristics of Prevotella intermedia‐specific CD4+ T cell clones from peripheral blood of a chronic adult periodontitis patient

Periodontitis is a chronic destructive inflammatory disease associated with periodontopathic bacteria. In addition, autoantigens such as collagen and heat shock proteins (hsp) have been suggested to play a role. Established periodontal lesions are characterized by dense infiltrations of immune cells such as cytokine‐producing CD4+ and CD8+ T cells. CD4+ T cells specific for Prevotella intermedia can be isolated from lesional gingiva, suggesting an active role for CD4+ T cells in the response to this bacterium. We therefore investigated the characteristics of a panel of 13 P. intermedia‐specific CD4+ T cells generated from the peripheral blood of a patient with chronic adult periodontitis. All 13 P. intermedia‐specific CD4+ T cells recognized the antigens in the context of HLA‐DR. The T cell clones were mainly classified as Th0, producing comparable amounts of interferon‐gamma (IFN‐γ) and IL‐4, and Th2, producing high amounts of IL‐4 and almost no IFN‐γ. None of the P. intermedia‐specific T cell clones recognized antigens of the periodontopathic bacteria Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans and Porphyromonas gingivalis and of the autoantigens collagen and hsp. The reactivity profile of the T cell clones to size‐fractionated cell envelope antigens of P. intermedia indicated that P. intermedia‐specific CD4+ T cell clones recognize probably five different antigen specificities in the context of the MHC class II molecules, DR7 or DR15. These results suggest that a broad panel of cell‐associated protein antigens play a role in the induction of P. intermedia‐specific CD4+ T cell response.
Sphingosine 1-phosphate rapidly activates the mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway by a G protein-dependent mechanism

Addition of sphingosine 1-phosphate induces proliferation of quiescent Swiss 3T3 fibroblasts by unknown mechanisms. To identify the pathways involved, the ability of sphingosine 1-phosphate to activate mitogen- activated protein (MAP) kinase was studied. Sphingosine 1-phosphate rapidly activated the Raf/MAP kinase kinase (MKK)/MAP kinase pathway, and the concentration dependence for MAP kinase activation correlated with that for induction of DNA synthesis. Both MKK1 and MKK2 were activated by sphingosine 1-phosphate, assessed by specific immune complex kinase assays. Prior treatment of the Swiss 3T3 cells with pertussis toxin inhibited 70-80% of the sphingosine 1-phosphate- stimulated MAP kinase activity. Thus, one of the direct or indirect targets of exogenous sphingosine 1-phosphate appears to be a G(i)/G(o) protein.
Compact Balanced Dual- and Tri-band Bandpass Filters Based on Stub Loaded Resonators

A stub loaded resonator (SLR) is presented in this letter, which can achieve dual-band or tri-band differential-mode (DM) bandpass response with a high common-mode (CM) suppression. By changing the length of the center-loaded stub, the resonant frequency of the CM can be varied without affecting that of the DM. This helps in simplifying the design and tuning processes of the balanced filters. In order to validate its practicalbility, two balanced bandpass filters (BPFs) with two and three DM passbands and good CM suppression are designed. Good agreement between simulated and measured results is observed. To our best knowledge, the proposed balanced tri-band BPF is the first ever reported.
An on-chip detection circuit for the verification of IC supply connections

Presents a noninvasive, highly reliable, testable and (boundary) scan controllable on-chip CMOS current monitor, suited for the validation of IC and module connections and its application at SOC, board and system level. The monitor provides a solution to the problem of verifying the multiple power and ground connections, required to assure a proper power distribution to today's complex designs. These connections are very difficult to verify as they are connected in parallel and hence a failing connection will only marginally affect the overall connection characteristics but will affect a device's reliability. The application of the monitor described is an alternative and improvement to the currently used optical. X-ray and other inspection techniques. The monitor presented is designed such that it is fully transparent, testable, guarantees a proper detection, irrespective of local and global process parameter variations -avoiding the need for calibrationand can be put in a power down mode. The application of the monitor is based on the detection of a current flowing through the tested connection, thereby exploiting the inherent resistance of the connection. The sensor can easily be merged to different technologies without making major changes, which makes it well suited for intellectual property re-use.
Neural network output feedback passivation of MIMO uncertain systems: The case of unmodeled dynamics

A robust adaptive output feedback neural network switching controller is designed, capable of rendering an affine in the control uncertain MIMO nonlinear system strictly passive, in the presence of unmodeled dynamics. Subsequently, a simple output feedback is employed to stabilize the system without using any measurement or estimation of the unmodeled state. Under an Unboundedness Observability property assumed for the unmodeled dynamics, uniform ultimate boundedness of both the system's output and of the nominal system's state is guaranteed, along with boundedness of all other closed loop signals.
Acetyl-L-carnitine undervalued in the treatment of chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy?

clinically meaningful difference. Instruments should be reliable, valid, and responsive, developed using robust and reproducible methods [2] and taking account of the patients’ perspective [3]. EMA’s role in backing these requirements is necessary to assess the therapeutic added value related to a better PRO (which is also important for patients). However, this may not be enough if investigators do not fully understand how a given PRO could confirm well formulated hypotheses and are not appropriately trained on the use of instruments to collect them. To ensure correct data collection throughout a trial, time and efforts must be invested to make study participants aware of the value of the information they provide with questionnaires on the definition of the overall benefit-harm profile of a new treatment. Clinical sites should be monitored and corrective measures taken to reduce missing or invalid data, which limit the robustness of the results. Even when all these specified measures are adopted, the question of data interpretation remains. To what extent a given difference is meaningful for patients depends on several factors: setting, line of therapy, patients’ values and culture. This needs to be defined and agreed by all the stakeholders [4]. PROs can contribute greatly to decision making, but only if investigators and patients’ representatives are fully engaged in the discussion about their importance at the same table. Acknowledgments
P2 receptor antagonists prevent synaptic failure and extracellular signal‐regulated kinase1/2 activation induced by oxygen and glucose deprivation in rat CA1 hippocampus in vitro

To investigate the role of purinergic P2 receptors under ischemia, we studied the effect of P2 receptor antagonists on synaptic transmission and mitogen‐activated protein kinase (MAPK) activation under oxygen and glucose deprivation (OGD) in rat hippocampal slices. The effect of the P2 antagonists pyridoxalphosphate‐6‐azophenyl‐2′,4′‐disulfonate (PPADS, unselective, 30 μm), N 6‐methyl‐2′‐deoxyadenosine‐3′,5′‐bisphosphate (MRS2179, selective for P2Y1 receptor, 10 μm), Brilliant Blue G (BBG, selective for P2X7 receptor, 1 μm), and 5‐[[[(3‐phenoxyphenyl)methyl][(1S)‐1,2,3,4‐tetrahydro‐1‐naphthalenyl]amino]carbonyl]‐1,2,4‐benzenetricarboxylic acid (A‐317491, selective for P2X3 receptor, 10 μm), and of the newly synthesized P2X3 receptor antagonists 2‐amino‐9‐(5‐iodo‐2‐isopropyl‐4‐methoxybenzyl)adenine (PX21, 1 μm) and 2‐amino‐9‐(5‐iodo‐2‐isopropyl‐4‐methoxybenzyl)‐N 6‐methyladenine (PX24, 1 μm), on the depression of field excitatory postsynaptic potentials (fEPSPs) and anoxic depolarization (AD) elicited by 7 min of OGD were evaluated. All antagonists significantly prevented these effects. The extent of CA1 cell injury was assessed 3 h after the end of 7 min of OGD by propidium iodide staining. Substantial CA1 pyramidal neuronal damage, detected in untreated slices exposed to OGD injury, was significantly prevented by PPADS (30 μm), MRS2179 (10 μm), and BBG (1 μm). Western blot analysis showed that, 10 min after the end of the 7 min of OGD, extracellular signal‐regulated kinase (ERK)1/2 MAPK activation was significantly increased. MRS2179, BBG, PPADS and A‐317491 significantly counteracted ERK1/2 activation. Hippocampal slices incubated with the ERK1/2 inhibitors 1,4‐diamino‐2,3‐dicyano‐1,4‐bis(2‐aminophenylthio)butadiene (U0126, 10 μm) and α‐[amino[(4‐aminophenyl)thio]methylene]‐2‐(trifluoromethyl) benzeneacetonitrile (SL327, 10 μm) showed significant fEPSP recovery after OGD and delayed AD, supporting the involvement of ERK1/2 in neuronal damage induced by OGD. These results indicate that subtypes of hippocampal P2 purinergic receptors have a harmful effect on neurotransmission in the CA1 hippocampus by participating in AD appearance and activation of ERK1/2.
A Bialgebraic Review of Regular Expressions, Deterministic Automata and Languages

This papers reviews the classical theory o f deterministic automata and regular languages from a categorical perspective. The basis is formed by Rutten's description o f the Brzozowski automaton structure in a coalgebraic framework. We enlarge the framework to a so-called bialgebraic one, by including algebras together with suitable distributive laws connecting the algebraic and coalgebraic structure of regular expressions and languages. This culminates in a reformulated proof via finality of Kozen's completeness result. It yields a complete axioma­ tisation o f observational equivalence (bisimilarity) on regular expressions. We suggest that this situation is paradigmatic for (theoretical) computer science as the study o f "generated behaviour" .
Correction for Woodward et al., WNT/β-catenin mediates radiation resistance of mouse mammary progenitor cells

Recent studies have identified a subpopulation of highly tumorigenic cells with stem/progenitor cell properties from human breast cancers, and it has been suggested that stem/progenitor cells, which remain after breast cancer therapy, may give rise to recurrent disease. We hypothesized that progenitor cells are resistant to radiation, a component of conventional breast cancer therapy, and that that resistance is mediated at least in part by Wnt signaling, which has been implicated in stem cell survival. To test this hypothesis, we investigated radioresistance by treating primary BALB/c mouse mammary epithelial cells with clinically relevant doses of radiation and found enrichment in normal progenitor cells (stem cell antigen 1-positive and side population progenitors). Radiation selectively enriched for progenitors in mammary epithelial cells isolated from transgenic mice with activated Wnt/beta-catenin signaling but not for background-matched controls, and irradiated stem cell antigen 1-positive cells had a selective increase in active beta-catenin and survivin expression compared with stem cell antigen 1-negative cells. In clonogenic assays, colony formation in the stem cell antigen 1-positive progenitors was unaffected by clinically relevant doses of radiation. Radiation also induced enrichment of side population progenitors in the human breast cancer cell line MCF-7. These data demonstrate that, compared with differentiated cells, progenitor cells have different cell survival properties that may facilitate the development of targeted antiprogenitor cell therapies.
From Digital Business Strategy to Market Performance: Insights into Key Concepts and Processes

A digital business strategy has become a management priority for firms in several industries. Many firms pursue a digital business strategy to establish a guiding framework for value creation and capture with digital resources. This study develops and tests a research model on how a firm’s digital business strategy transforms into market performance, considering the intervening roles of market intelligence capability and subsequent value creation and value capture. The results of a study with 161 firms from different industries lend support for the proposed effects. These findings add to the current IS and strategic management literature by further illuminating the causal process linking digital business strategy and market performance and by indicating firms’ market intelligence capability as a key component of this process. The findings guide managers by specifying critical mechanisms in the digital business strategymarket performance relationship and by developing an instrument to monitor firms’ market intelligence capability.
Fast state of polarization and PMD drift in submarine fibers

We report on the measurements of state of polarization (SOP) and differential group delay (DGD) in submarine fibers. The experimental autocorrelation function shows the fastest change in both SOP and DGD is faster than 15 s, which is limited by the measurement speed. The Fourier transform is utilized to study ocean-wave-induced vibrations on submarine fibers.
ACE inhibitors in African Americans with hypertension associated with worse outcomes as compared to other antihypertensives

Commentary on : Bangalore S, Ogedegbe G, Gyamfi J, et al. Outcomes with angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors vs other antihypertensive agents in hypertensive blacks. Am J Med 2015;128:1195–203. [OpenUrl][1][CrossRef][2][PubMed][3] Hypertension affects one-third of the world's population and remains a leading cause of myocardial infarction, stroke, heart failure, renal failure and death. Although hypertension control has improved,1 the prevalence is increasing due to an ageing population, rising obesity and a shift towards western lifestyles and disease patterns in low-income and middle-income countries. Hypertension is now also a major contributor to heart failure in low-income countries.2 Furthermore, control of blood pressure (<140/90 mm Hg) is achieved in only half of patients.1 In the recent landmark Systolic Blood Pressure Intervention Trial (SPRINT) a systolic blood pressure target of 120 vs 140 mm Hg led to a considerable reduction in cardiovascular outcomes and death.3 Therefore, a pressing worldwide concern is how to obtain adequate blood pressure control. This is especially … [1]: {openurl}? query=rft.jtitle%253DAm%2BJ%2BMed%26rft.volume%253D128%26rft.spage%253D1195%26rft_id%253Dinfo%253Adoi%252F10.1016%252Fj.amjmed. 2015.04. 034%26rft_id%253Dinfo%253Apmid%252F26071821%26rft.genre%253Darticle%26rft_val_fmt%253Dinfo%253Aofi%252Ffmt%253Akev%253Amtx%253Ajournal%26ctx_ver%253DZ39.88-2004%26url_ver%253DZ39.88-2004%26url_ctx_fmt%253Dinfo%253Aofi%252Ffmt%253Akev%253Amtx%253Actx [2]: /lookup/external-ref? access_num=10.1016/j.amjmed. 2015.04. 034&link_type=DOI [3]: /lookup/external-ref? access_num=26071821&link_type=MED&atom=%2Febmed%2F21%2F1%2F33.atom
On Track for Efficiency: Concurrent Multiband Envelope-Tracking Power Amplifiers

The number of wireless devices worldwide has increased exponentially over the past decade, inherently imposing consumer requirements for faster data rates and longer device life. Current wireless standards such as long-term evolution (LTE), worldwide interoperability for microwave access (WiMAX), and the family of IEEE 802.11a/g/n/ac/ad for home-networking use orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (OFDM) as their basis for digital multicarrier modulation. An option for increasing OFDM data output is through the expansion of the constellation symbols or the number of data subcarriers.
The potential of flow cytometry in the study of Bacillus cereus

Flow cytometry (FCM) is a rapid method allowing the acquisition of multiparametric data from thousands of individual cells within a sample. As well as measuring the intrinsic light scattering properties of cells, a plethora of fluorescent dyes may be employed to yield information on macromolecule content, surface antigens present or physiological status. Despite FCM’s indispensability within other fields e.g. immunology, it is underutilized within microbiological research. In this review, a strong case is presented for the potential of FCM in the study of Gram‐positive spore‐former, Bacillus cereus. Previous reports where FCM was successfully used in the study of B. cereus are reviewed along with relevant studies involving other members of the genus. Under headings reflecting common research themes associated with B. cereus, specific instances where FCM has generated novel data, providing a unique insight into the organism, are discussed. Further applications are posited, based on the authors’ own research with FCM and B. cereus and work extant in the broader field of microbial cytometry. The authors conclude that, while the expense of equipment and reagents is an undeniable disadvantage, FCM is a technique capable of generating significantly novel data and allows the design and execution of experiments that are not possible with any other technique.
Hallux rigidus and osteoarthrosis of the first metatarsophalangeal joint.

Hallux rigidus is characterized by restriction of motion at the first metatarsophalangeal joint8,11. It is a common disorder that has been reported to affect one in forty-five individuals who are more than fifty years of age19. There is a generalized decrease in motion with particular limitation of dorsiflexion8,27,35,51. Hallux rigidus is often associated with a mechanical block to dorsiflexion caused by periarticular osteophytes, with an impingement exostosis of the first metatarsal head against an osteophyte at the base of the proximal phalanx13,15,16,37,41. The natural course of this disorder is typical of degenerative processes, with progression of the osteoarthrotic changes leading to limitation of motion and interference with function of the metatarsophalangeal joint3,13,27,41. Other terms that have been used to describe this clinical entity include hallux limitus5,22,32,66, dorsal bunion37,41, and localized arthrosis32. When there is a large dorsal osteophyte, the great toe is in a position of flexion, which has led to use of the term hallux flexus43. As the position of the great toe becomes even more plantar, the metatarsal becomes elevated, which has led to use of the term metatarsus elevatus50. Hallux rigidus has been attributed to various causes, including trauma2,11,15,41,66, metabolic disorders4,15,16,35, and congenital disorders3,4,9,15,27,28,35,42,51. These disease processes result in degenerative changes within the joint, including loss of articular cartilage, narrowing of …
Metabolic dependencies drive species co-occurrence in diverse microbial communities

Significance Although metabolic interactions have long been implicated in the assembly of microbial communities, their general prevalence has remained largely unknown. In this study, we systematically survey, by using a metabolic modeling approach, the extent of resource competition and metabolic cross-feeding in over 800 microbial communities from diverse habitats. We show that interspecies metabolic exchanges are widespread in natural communities, and that such exchanges can provide group advantage under nutrient-poor conditions. Our results highlight metabolic dependencies as a major driver of species co-occurrence. The presented methodology and mechanistic insights have broad implications for understanding compositional variation in natural communities as well as for facilitating the design of synthetic microbial communities. Microbial communities populate most environments on earth and play a critical role in ecology and human health. Their composition is thought to be largely shaped by interspecies competition for the available resources, but cooperative interactions, such as metabolite exchanges, have also been implicated in community assembly. The prevalence of metabolic interactions in microbial communities, however, has remained largely unknown. Here, we systematically survey, by using a genome-scale metabolic modeling approach, the extent of resource competition and metabolic exchanges in over 800 communities. We find that, despite marked resource competition at the level of whole assemblies, microbial communities harbor metabolically interdependent groups that recur across diverse habitats. By enumerating flux-balanced metabolic exchanges in these co-occurring subcommunities we also predict the likely exchanged metabolites, such as amino acids and sugars, that can promote group survival under nutritionally challenging conditions. Our results highlight metabolic dependencies as a major driver of species co-occurrence and hint at cooperative groups as recurring modules of microbial community architecture.