Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
In Vivo and in Vitro Regulation of Sterol 27-Hydroxylase in the Liver during the Acute Phase Response

The host response to infection is associated with several alterations in lipid metabolism that promote lipoprotein production. These changes can be reproduced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) administration. LPS stimulates hepatic cholesterol synthesis and suppresses the conversion of cholesterol to bile acids. LPS down-regulates hepatic cholesterol 7α-hydroxylase, the rate-limiting enzyme in the classic pathway of bile acid synthesis. We now demonstrate that LPS markedly decreases the activity of sterol 27-hydroxylase, the rate-limiting enzyme in the alternate pathway of bile acid synthesis, in the liver of Syrian hamsters. Moreover, LPS progressively decreases hepatic sterol 27-hydroxylase mRNA levels by 75% compared with controls over a 24-h treatment period. LPS also decreases oxysterol 7α-hydroxylase mRNA levels in mouse liver.In vitro studies in HepG2 cells demonstrate that tumor necrosis factor and interleukin (IL)-1 decrease sterol 27-hydroxylase mRNA levels by 48 and 80%, respectively, whereas IL-6 has no such effect. The IL-1-induced decrease in sterol 27-hydroxylase mRNA expression occurs early, is sustained for 48 h, and requires very low doses. In vivo IL-1 treatment also lowers hepatic sterol 27-hydroxylase mRNA levels in Syrian hamsters. Studies investigating the molecular mechanisms of LPS-induced decrease in sterol 27-hydroxylase show that LPS markedly decreases mRNA and protein levels of hepatocyte nuclear factor-1 (HNF-1), a transcription factor that regulates sterol 27-hydroxylase, in the liver. Moreover, LPS decreases the binding activity of HNF-1 by 70% in nuclear extracts in hamster liver, suggesting that LPS may down-regulate sterol 27-hydroxylase by decreasing the binding of HNF-1 to its promoter. Coupled with our earlier studies on cholesterol 7α-hydroxylase, these data indicate that LPS suppresses both the classic and alternate pathways of bile acid synthesis. A decrease in bile acid synthesis in liver would reduce cholesterol catabolism and thereby contribute to the increase in hepatic lipoprotein production that is induced by LPS and cytokines.
LEPROSY IN ARMADILLOS (DASYPUS NOVEMCINCTUS) FROM TEXAS

Tissue sections from 237 nine-banded armadillos (Dasypus novemcinctus) from 51 central Texas counties were examined microscopically for acid-fast bacilli and/or lesions of leprosy. Neither were found. A review of the literature relative to the incidence of leprosy from armadillos in Texas indicates that residents of counties along the Texas Gulf Coast may be at risk of contracting leprosy by handling infected armadillos or their tissues.
Exploration of presence/absence variation and corresponding polymorphic markers in soybean genome.

This study was designed to reveal the genome-wide distribution of presence/absence variation (PAV) and to establish a database of polymorphic PAV markers in soybean. The 33 soybean whole-genome sequences were compared to each other with that of Williams 82 as a reference genome. A total of 33,127 PAVs were detected and 28,912 PAV markers with their primer sequences were designed as the database NJAUSoyPAV_1. 0. The PAVs scattered on whole genome while only 518 (1.8%) overlapped with simple sequence repeats (SSRs) in BARCSOYSSR_1. 0 database. In a random sample of 800 PAVs, 713 (89.13%) showed polymorphism among the 12 differential genotypes. Using 126 PAVs and 108 SSRs to test a Chinese soybean germplasm collection composed of 828 Glycine soja Sieb. et Zucc. and Glycine max (L.) Merr. accessions, the per locus allele number and its variation appeared less in PAVs than in SSRs. The distinctness among alleles/bands of PCR (polymerase chain reaction) products showed better in PAVs than in SSRs, potential in accurate marker-assisted allele selection. The association mapping results showed SSR + PAV was more powerful than any single marker systems. The NJAUSoyPAV_1. 0 database has enriched the source of PCR markers, and may fit the materials with a range of per locus allele numbers, if jointly used with SSR markers.
Testosterone binding and free plasma androgen concentrations under physiological conditons: chararacterization by flow dialysis technique.

Testosterone binding to plasma has been analyzed under physiological conditions. Flow dialysis technique (FDT) has permitted precise studies of whole 37 C plasma with negligible disturbance of the equilibrium state. The information obtained by FDT was compared with that obtained by a charcoal adsorption assay (CA), which primarily assesses testosterone binding totestosterone-estradiol-binding globulin (TEBG). The results of the two methods correlated closely(r = 0.98). Consequently, the percentage of testosterone free in plasma under in vivo conditions could be readily calculated from data generated by the much easier CA technique. Plasma free androgenconcentrations were then computed for a large variety of sera. For example, the mean (±SDplasma free testosterone concentrations of normal men, hirsute women, normal women, and pregnant women were found to be 128 ± 57, 16.1 ± 11.7, 5.4 ± 2.7, and 4.6 ± 1.7 pg⁄ml, respectively. Theselevels are in close agreement with previous estimates. The plasma free testos.
Elderly Labor Supply: Work or Play?

Approximately 15 percent of individuals over the age of 65 are employed. Due to the apparent reversal in the trend toward early retirement and the aging of the U.S. population, these individuals are becoming an increasingly important part of the labor force. However, very little research has examined labor market behavior in this population. In this paper, the authors examine a series of questions in an attempt to better understand why the elderly continue to work. The results indicate that labor supply is concentrated among the most educated, wealthiest, and healthiest elderly. Despite this, the authors find that the wages of the elderly are low both relative to younger populations and relative to the wages they earned when they themselves were young. Among individuals over the age of 70, the authors find that changes in health status dominate labor market transitions. Overall, the findings suggest that non-pecuniary considerations play an important role in determining elderly labor supply decisions.
The role of the housefly, Musca domestica, in the spread of Aujeszky's disease (pseudorabies)

Abstract. Starved houseflies were held over a suspension of Aujeszky's virus (PRV‐1) for 24–48 h. One group was rinsed in 70% ethanol to kill virus attached to the body surface. No virus was isolated from this group. For the other group the titre of virus decreased more rapidly on the body surface of flies than in the environment. Model experiments demonstrated that the Aujeszky's virus cannot survive in the body of the housefly but the body surface may be contaminated for a period of time depending on the initial viral titre. Experiments showed that susceptible pigs fed on flies contaminated with Aujeszky's virus may become infected. The quantity of virus (5 × 105 pfu ml‐1) shed by a single housefly during biting and vomiting on the cornea or abraded skin proved to be sufficient to cause infection in susceptible pigs, rabbits and a lamb. It is possible that houseflies could play a role in transmission of infection within herds. Transmission between herds is much less likely.
Identification of Four Vectors of Human Plasmodium spp. by Multiplex PCR: Anopheles rangeli, An. strodei, An. triannulatus, and An. trinkae (Diptera: Culicidae: Nyssorhynchus)

Abstract One of the major obstacles for studies of the biology, ecology, and behavior of Neotropical vectors of human Plasmodium has been the lack of reliable and efficient means of identifying many species. Although the subgenus Nyssorhynchus includes most species responsible for human transmission in South America, there are no polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based techniques for identifying members of this taxon. We describe the first multiplex PCR for identifying four species in the subgenus Nyssorhynchus that are vectors of human Plasmodium spp. Four species specific primers, together with a universal primer that anneals to the 5.8S rDNA region, produce amplicons of the internal transcribed spacer two with base pair sizes of 131, 308, 371, and 441 for An. triannulatus, An. trinkae, An. strodei, and An. rangeli, respectively.
Phylogenetic and Geographic Relationships of Severe Fever With Thrombocytopenia Syndrome Virus in China, South Korea, and Japan.

BACKGROUND Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS) is a tick-borne acute infectious disease caused by the SFTS virus (SFTSV). SFTS has been reported in China, South Korea, and Japan as a novel Bunyavirus. Although several molecular epidemiology and phylogenetic studies have been performed, the information obtained was limited, because the analyses included no or only a small number of SFTSV strains from Japan. METHODS The nucleotide sequences of 75 SFTSV samples in Japan were newly determined directly from the patients' serum samples. In addition, the sequences of 7 strains isolated in vitro were determined and compared with those in the patients' serum samples. More than 90 strains that were identified in China, 1 strain in South Korea, and 50 strains in Japan were phylogenetically analyzed. RESULTS The viruses were clustered into 2 clades, which were consistent with the geographic distribution. Three strains identified in Japan were clustered in the Chinese clade, and 4 strains identified in China and 26 in South Korea were clustered in the Japanese clade. CONCLUSIONS Two clades of SFTSV may have evolved separately over time. On rare occasions, the viruses were transmitted overseas to the region in which viruses of the other clade were prevalent.
A Personality Based Emotion Model for Intelligent Virtual Agents

Modeling intelligent virtual agent is a new research field that integrates artificial life and computer animation together. A believable virtual agent should have personality, motivation, and emotion. Personality is an important characteristic for a virtual agent, the relative researches on intelligent agents are summarized, and the formal definitions for personality and emotions are presented in fuzzy set theory. A computational model of emotion is set up, inner motivation variable and outer stimuli variable can drive the trigger of a basic emotion, the quantitative relations among personality, motivation, and emotion are proposed. The result shows that a virtual agent with different personality variables may express an emotion or not.
[Effect of laparoscopic sleeve gatrectomy on type 2 diabetes mellitus in obese patients with body mass index less than 40 kg/m2].

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the effect of laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy(LSG) on type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in patient with a body mass index(BMI) less than 40 kg/m2. METHODS Twenty four obese patients with T2DM and BMI less than 40 kg/m2 received LSG between 1 January 2011 and 1 September 2013 at the Department of General Surgery in Chinese PLA General Hospital. The clinical data and 3-year follow-up outcomes regarding weight loss and remission of diabetes were retrospectively analyzed. RESULTS There were 10 males and 14 females with a median age of 40.8(35 to 48) years. The preoperative body weight and BMI was(99.9±15.0) kg and (34.4±2.8) kg/m2, respectively. The median duration of type 2 diabetes was 4.3(2 to 15) years. The preoperative fasting blood glucose and glycosylated hemoglobin(HbAlc) was (11.4±1.3) mmol/L and (8.7±0.8)%, respectively. All these patients were preoperatively diagnosed as T2DM by the multidisciplinary experts of the surgical treatment team for obesity and diabetes in our center. All these patients were eligible for surgical treatment through the screening and evaluation by the multidisciplinary joint outpatient service. All the procedures were successfully completed without conversion to laparotomy. There were no severe postoperative complications. The mean fasting blood glucose was (6.4±1.8) mmol/L, (6.1±1.7) mmol/L, (6.0±1.5) mmol/L, (5.9±1.4) mmol/L and (6.0±1.4) mmol/L, respectively, at 6, 9, 12, 24 and 36 months after operation. The mean HbA1c in the same observation intervals was (6.6±1.1)%, (6.2±1.2)%, (6.1±1.2)%, (6.0±1.3)% and (6.1±1.3)%, respectively. The body weight was (89.4±11.4) kg, (86.3±10.6) kg, (83.1±10.2) kg,(80.6±9.8) kg and (81.3±10.1) kg, respectively. The corresponding BMI was (30.8±1.6) kg/m2, (29.8±1.5) kg/m2, (28.7±1.5) kg/m2, (27.8±1.8) kg/m2 and (28.1±1.8) kg/m2, respectively. The %EWL was (36.7±8.7)%, (47.6±12.5)%, (58.8±16.4)%, (67.2±20.3)% and (64.8±21.5)%, respectively. The overall remission rate of diabetes at 6, 9, 12, 24 and 36 months was 50.0%(12/24), 79.2%(19/24), 70.8%(17/24), 66.7%(16/24) and 62.5%(15/24), respectively. The complete remission rate was 33.3%(8/24), 50.0%(12/24), 54.2%(13/24), 45.8%(11/24) and 50.0%(12/24), respectively. For patients with a duration of T2DM shorter than 5 years, the overall remission rate at 9, 12 and 24 months after operation was 10/10, 9/10 and 9/10, respectively, significantly higher than that of patients with a duration of 11-15 years (2/6, 2/6 and 2/6, Fisher's exact tests, P=0.008, 0.036 and 0.036, respectively). CONCLUSION The present study confirms the efficacy of LSG in the treatment of T2DM patients with a BMI less than 40 kg/m2.
Concept sense disambiguation in concept maps using WordNet

In this report an unsupervised and knowledge-based algorithm for concept sense disambiguation in concept maps is proposed. Concept maps are graphical tools for organizing and representing knowledge, based on concepts and labeled interconnections among them, forming propositions. The disambiguation process is carried combining Magnini’s domain, context information and the gloss. It’s supported in the Spanish WordNet lexical database and the lexical relations hypernyms-hyponyms, meronyms-holonyms and instance.
An optimization‐based approach to lookup table program transformations

Scientific programmers can improve the performance of function evaluation by precomputing and storing results in a lookup table (LUT), thereby replacing costly evaluation code with an inexpensive memory access. A code transformation that replaces computation with LUT code can improve performance; however, accuracy is reduced because of error inherent in reconstructing values from LUT data. LUTs are commonly used to approximate expensive elementary functions. The current practice is for software developers to: (i) manually identify expressions that can benefit from an LUT; (ii) modify the code by hand to implement the LUT transformation; and (iii) run experiments to determine if the resulting error is within application requirements. This approach reduces productivity, obfuscates code, and limits programmer control over accuracy and performance. We propose source code analysis and program transformation to substantially automate LUT transformations. Our approach uses a novel optimization algorithm that selects Pareto optimal sets of expressions that benefit most from an LUT, on the basis of the error and performance estimates. We demonstrate our methodology with the Mesa tool, which achieves speedups of 1.4–6.8× on scientific codes with an acceptable loss of accuracy. Our tool makes the programmer more productive and facilitates finding effective LUT transformations. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Adaptive Doubly Trained Evolution Control for the Covariance Matrix Adaptation Evolution Strategy

An area of increasingly frequent applications of evolutionary optimization to real-world problems is continuous black-box optimization. However, evaluating realworld black-box fitness functions is sometimes very timeconsuming or expensive, which interferes with the need of evolutionary algorithms for many fitness evaluations. Therefore, surrogate regression models replacing the original expensive fitness in some of the evaluated points have been in use since the early 2000s. The Doubly Trained Surrogate Covariance Matrix Adaptation Evolution Strategy (DTS-CMA-ES) represents a surrogate-assisted version of the state-of-the-art algorithm for continuous blackbox optimization CMA-ES. The DTS-CMA-ES saves expensive function evaluations through using a surrogate model. However, the model inaccuracy on some functions can slow-down the algorithm convergence. This paper investigates an extension of DTS-CMA-ES which controls the usage of the model according to the model’s error. Results of testing an adaptive and the original version of DTS-CMA-ES on the set of noiseless benchmarks are reported.
Position sensorless control method of IPMSM applying three shunt sensing PWM inverter using predictive current

In this paper, position sensorless control method of IPMSM applying three shunt sensing PWM inverter using predictive current for phase current reconstruction and EMF calculation is proposed. Considering the price and volume of the system, a motor drive system applied with shunt and sensorless has been recently studied. However, there is some area that cannot measure three phase current especially in high-speed motor operation where the MI (Modulation index) is increased. It deteriorates the control stability because of the phase current distortion in motor control. In this paper, the boundary where phase currents cannot be obtained is defined and the method for reconstructing the phases current are proposed by predicting phase current in the area which phase current measurement is impossible. Also, the EMF observer and synchronous voltage recalculation method are applied for sensorless control considering both linear area and over-modulated area.
Blood Coagulation and Living Tissue Sterilization by Floating-Electrode Dielectric Barrier Discharge in Air

Thermal plasma discharges have been widely used in the past for treatment of living human and animal tissue. However, extensive thermal damage and tissue desiccation occurs due to extreme temperatures. Some solutions have been offered where the temperature is lowered by short current pulses, addition of noble gases, or significant decrease in the size of treatment electrodes. We propose a method of direct treatment of living tissue that occurs at room temperature and pressure without visible or microscopic tissue damage. The presented Floating-Electrode Dielectric Barrier Discharge plasma is proven electrically safe to human subjects and our results show no gross (visual) or histological (microscopic) damage to skin samples in minutes, complete tissue sterilization from skin flora in seconds, and blood clot formation in seconds of electric plasma treatment. We also observe significant hastening of blood clot formation via electric plasma induced catalysis of “natural” processes occurring in human blood. A model describing these processes is offered.
" Pollination Drop " Time at the Arnold Arboretum

Pollination is a critical event in the life of seed plants. Observant gardeners tend to realize that conifer pollen, unlike that of most garden flowers visited by insects, is dispersed by wind. They are generally unaware, however, of the array of processes that relate to the capture of conifer pollen by the ovules-the future seeds. In the Arnold Arboretum’s rich collection of conifers, pollen capture generally occurs in spring. These events are subtle and unobtrusive and can scarcely compete with the simultaneous extravagance of azalea and lilac blossoms. However, with a little patience-and the use of a hand lens-the viewer can observe a process that turns out to be both beautiful and mysterious. Gymnosperms, the group of seed plants to which conifers belong, are distinguished by possessing exposed (or "naked") ovules at the time of pollination. The apex of the conifer ovule (the micropyle) receives the pollen directly, usually by means of a drop of fluid (pollination drop). Angiosperms, or flowering plants, on the other hand, retain their ovules within a closed structure (the carpel), and the process of pollination does not involve a pollination drop. Although the pollination-drop phenome-
High efficiency gene transfer into cultured primary rat and human hepatic stellate cells using baculovirus vectors.

BACKGROUND/AIMS Gene transfer into hepatic stellate cells (HSC) is inefficient when using plasmid-based transfection methods; viral-based systems are therefore being developed. A baculovirus system has recently been shown to be useful for expressing genes in mammalian cells. The aim of this study was to determine if baculovirus vectors can infect and express target genes in rat and human HSC and to assess potential cytotoxic and modulatory effects of infection. METHODS A recombinant baculovirus vector (AcCALacZ) carrying the LacZ gene was used to infect HSC. beta-Galactosidase assays and electron microscopy were used to determine efficiency of infection and gene expression. Counting of trypan blue negative cells was used to assess cytotoxic/cytostatic effects of infection. Measurement of protein content of cells and alpha-smooth muscle actin expression were performed to assess the effects of baculovirus on cell function/phenotype. RESULTS Baculovirus infection of activated HSC was highly efficient (> 90%) and provided long-term LacZ gene expression (15 days) in the absence of cytotoxic, cytostatic or modulatory effects. Infection of freshly isolated cells was also observed but at lower levels (20%). CONCLUSIONS Baculovirus vectors can therefore be used to deliver target genes to cultured rat and human HSC with high efficiency and longevity in the absence of detrimental effects on cell function.
Genetic operators in a dual genetic algorithm

It is not clear that the current distinction between crossover and mutation is necessary. We show that it is possible to implement one and only one general operator which can specialize crossover or mutation operators. We investigate this alternative. Our approach consists in inserting doubles in the population of chromosomes. This article argues that explicit mutations are unnecessary. Indeed, in dGAs without a mutation operator, chromosomes undergo the mutation effect. The dual genetic search provides a source of power for searching in a changing environment. Within this paper, a first effort is presented towards incorporating the feature of self-adaptation into GAs by using adaptive mutation rates. Finally, we study the effects of explicit mutation on a dual search space. We show that a contraction of the Hamming distance is induced from mutation. As a consequence, a dGA allows to increase the capabilities of evolution on rugged fitness landscapes.
A Perioperative Management Algorithm for Cardiac Rhythm Management Devices: The PACED‐OP Protocol

Limited data are available regarding the perioperative management of cardiac rhythm management devices (CRMDs) exposed to intraoperative electromagnetic interference. We postulated that implementation of a simple, standardized approach to CRMD management using our own institution's Pacing And Cardioverting Electronic Devices peri‐Operative Protocol (the PACED‐OP protocol) would be associated with a reduction in the amount of device reprogramming without an increase in CRMD‐related complications.