Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Antidiabetic Action of a Liver X Receptor Agonist Mediated By Inhibition of Hepatic Gluconeogenesis*

The oxysterol receptors LXR (liver X receptor)-α and LXRβ are nuclear receptors that play a key role in regulation of cholesterol and fatty acid metabolism. We found that LXRs also play a significant role in glucose metabolism. Treatment of diabetic rodents with the LXR agonist, T0901317, resulted in dramatic reduction of plasma glucose. In insulin-resistant Zucker (fa/fa) rats, T0901317 significantly improved insulin sensitivity. Activation of LXR did not induce robust adipogenesis but rather inhibited the expression of several genes involved in hepatic gluconeogenesis, including phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK). Hepatic glucose output was dramatically reduced as a result of this regulation. Nuclear run-on studies indicated that transcriptional repression was primarily responsible for the inhibition of PEPCK by the LXR agonist. In addition, we show that the regulation of the liver gluconeogenic pathway by LXR agonists was a direct effect on hepatocytes. These data not only suggest that LXRs are novel targets for diabetes but also reveal an unanticipated role for these receptors, further linking lipid and glucose metabolism.
Germinal Centers Regulate Human Th2 Development1

In the present study we demonstrate that all CD4+ T cells in human tonsil expressing the Th2-selective receptor chemoattractant receptor-homologous molecule expressed on Th2 cells (CRTH2) also 1) express high levels of CXCR5, and 2) display a transitional CD45RA/RO phenotype and consistently do not produce significant amounts of cytokines when immediately analyzed ex vivo. Hence, they represent precursors of Th2 effector cells, a conclusion confirmed by their robust production of IL-4, IL-5, and IL-13, but not IFN-γ, after in vitro activation. CD4+ T cells, which express only intermediate levels of CXCR5, instead develop into IFN-γ-producing cells under identical culture conditions, thus establishing a correlation between relative levels of CXCR5 expression and the acquired cytokine profile. Because CXCR5 is critically involved in follicular localization, the results suggest that these CRTH2+ Th2 cells preferentially develop their cytokine-producing phenotype within germinal centers (GCs), whereas extrafollicular differentiation instead promotes Th1 development. In support for this proposal, we show that T cells with an intermediate expression of CXCR5 can be forced to also produce IL-4 and IL-13 if cultured with allogenic GC B cells. Finally, we demonstrate that the previously described CD57+ GC T cells also express high levels of CXCR5 but instead of comprising a Th2 precursor, they represent anergized T cells. Taken together, these data suggest that GCs and B cells regulate CD4+ T cell differentiation in a finely tuned fashion, either by promoting differentiation of Th2 cells, which apparently leave the lymphoid tissue before evolving a cytokine-producing phenotype, or by furnishing T cell unresponsiveness.
New Fundamental Solution for Time varying Differential Riccati Equation

Using the tools of optimal control, semiconvex duality and \maxp algebra, this work derives a unifying representation of the solution for the matrix differential Riccati equation (DRE) with time-varying coefficients. It is based upon a special case of the \maxp fundamental solution, first proposed in \cite{FlemMac}. Such fundamental solution can extend a special solution of certain bivariate DRE into the general solution, and can analytically solve the DRE starting from any initial condition. This paper also shows that under a fixed duality kernel, the semiconvex dual of a DRE solution satisfies another dual DRE, whose coefficients satisfy the matrix compatibility conditions involving Hamiltonian and certain symplectic matrices. For the time invariant DRE, this allows us to make dual DRE linear and thereby solve the primal DRE analytically. This paper also derives various kernel/duality relationships between the primal and time shifted dual DREs, which leads to an array of DRE solutions. Time invariant analogue of one of these methods was first proposed in \cite{Funda}.
Effect of Influenza Vaccination in the First Trimester of Pregnancy

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the effect of first-trimester influenza vaccination on fetal and neonatal outcomes. METHODS: This was a retrospective cohort study examining delivery and neonatal outcomes after antepartum exposure to the seasonal trivalent inactive influenza vaccine. Data were collected and entered into an established computerized database. Outcomes by trimester of vaccination were then compared with women who did not receive the vaccine. RESULTS: During the 5-year study period, 10,225 women received the seasonal influenza vaccine antepartum; 8,690 of these delivered at our institution, 439 in the first trimester and 8,251 in the second and third trimesters. Women vaccinated antepartum were significantly older with higher parity than women who declined vaccination. Neonates born to mothers receiving the vaccine in any trimester did not have an increase in major malformations regardless of trimester of vaccination (2% regardless of vaccination group, P=.9). Stillbirth (0.3% compared with 0.6%, P=.006), neonatal death (0.2% compared with 0.4%, P=.01), and premature delivery (5% compared with 6%, P=.004) were significantly decreased in the vaccinated group. CONCLUSION: Influenza vaccination in the first trimester was not associated with an increase in major malformation rates and was associated with a decrease in the overall stillbirth rate. This information will aid in counseling women regarding the safety of influenza vaccination in the first trimester. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: II
Extracellular K+ in the supraoptic nucleus of the rat during reflex bursting activity by oxytocin neurones.

1. We have investigated changes in extracellular potassium concentration [K+]o in the supraoptic nucleus of lactating rats and in particular those that occur during the intense burst of firing by the oxytocin neurones involved in the milk ejection reflex. 2. Double‐barrelled K(+)‐selective microelectrodes containing a highly selective sensor based on valinomycin were lowered through the exposed cortex towards the supraoptic nucleus (SON) of female rats anaesthetized with urethane. The mean resting [K+]o in the hypothalami of five rats was 2.4 mM, S.D. = 0.3 mM. 3. Where the reference barrel recorded extracellular action potentials from an oxytocin cell, the reflex burst of firing (4 s, typical maximum 50 Hz) was accompanied by a mean increase in [K+]o (delta[K+]o) of 0.22 mM (S.E.M. = 0.02 mM, fifty‐seven bursts in eight cells in seven rats). The rise in [K+]o did not begin more than 0.1 s before the onset of the burst, and began to fall from its maximum during the burst. Slow field potentials, indicative of spatial buffering of K+, were undetectable (less than 50 microV). When the electrode was advanced in steps, the amplitudes of both delta[K+]o and the action potential declined steeply to about 10% over a distance of 20 microns: K+ from oxytocin cells appears to be prevented from dispersing freely through the extracellular space of the SON. 4. When the electrode recorded action potentials from a vasopressin cell, delta[K+]o during an oxytocin cell burst was very small: 0.021 mM (S.E.M. = 0.005 mM). At other sites in the SON, where antidromic stimulation evoked a field potential but no action potential, delta[K+]o was 0.047 +/‐ 0.005 mM. We conclude that the reason oxytocin bursts do not affect vasopressin cells is that [K+]o rises very little around vasopressin cells. A fortiori, since the increases in [K+]o were very small except where action potentials from oxytocin cells were recorded, they can make no significant contribution to synchronizing the onsets of bursts in oxytocin cells that are not contiguous. 5. A standard antidromic stimulation from the pituitary stalk, at 40 Hz for 4 s, which stimulated both oxytocin neurones and vasopressin neurones, caused a delta[K+]o of 0.17‐1.8 mM, the variation being mainly from rat to rat. The larger delta[K+]o values were accompanied by slow negative potentials of up to 1.5 mV, there was a gradient in delta[K+]o decreasing towards the pia at the inferior limit of the SON, and there was a slow increase in [K+] in the subarachnoid space. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
Decreased performance of live attenuated, oral rotavirus vaccines in low-income settings: causes and contributing factors

ABSTRACT Introduction: Numerous studies have shown that the oral rotavirus vaccines are less effective in infants born in low income countries compared to those born in developed countries. Identifying the specific factors in developing countries that decrease and/or compromise the protection that rotavirus vaccines offer, could lead to a path for designing new strategies for the vaccines’ improvement. Areas covered: We accessed PubMed to identify rotavirus vaccine performance studies (i.e., efficacy, effectiveness and immunogenicity) and correlated performance with several risk factors. Here, we review the factors that might contribute to the low vaccine efficacy, including passive transfer of maternal rotavirus antibodies, rotavirus seasonality, oral polio vaccine (OPV) administered concurrently, microbiome composition and concomitant enteric pathogens, malnutrition, environmental enteropathy, HIV, and histo blood group antigens. Expert commentary: We highlight two major factors that compromise rotavirus vaccines’ efficacy: the passive transfer of rotavirus IgG antibodies to infants and the co-administration of rotavirus vaccines with OPV. We also identify other potential risk factors that require further research because the data about their interference with the efficacy of rotavirus vaccines are inconclusive and at times conflicting.
Understanding corticotropin releasing factor neurobiology: contributions from mutant mice

Mice with transgenic expression or deletion of the CRF peptide, transgenic expression of the CRF-BP or deletion of specific CRF receptor subtypes exist and will be valuable for examining candidate mediators in animal model systems recapitulating a variety of normal function. In particular, results described in this review implicate CRF in acute emotional responses studied in animal models of anxiety and drug abstinence. CRF also appears to play a role in behavioral and physiological plasticity judging by alterations in HPA reactivity to stress, information processing and energy balance regulation in CRF mutant models. Accordingly, the creation of genetically engineered mice now permits the evaluation of contributory roles for several CRF-related gene products in the pathophysiology of a variety of complex behavioral disorders. For example, the postulated causal linkage between overactivation of CRF systems and the hyper-emotionality which characterizes human affective disorders can now be more thoroughly evaluated by examining the phenotype of CRF mutant mice in animal models of depression, dementia and substance abuse.
Neuroblast survival depends on mature vascular network formation after mouse stroke: role of endothelial and smooth muscle progenitor cell co‐administration

Pro‐angiogenic cell‐based therapies constitute an interesting and attractive approach to enhancing post‐stroke neurogenesis and decreasing neurological deficit. However, most new stroke‐induced neurons die during the first few weeks after ischemia, thus impairing total recovery. Although the neovascularization process involves different cell types and various growth factors, most cell therapy protocols are based on the biological effects of single‐cell‐type populations or on the administration of heterogeneous populations of progenitors, namely human cord blood‐derived CD34+ cells, with scarce vascular progenitor cells. Tight cooperation between endothelial cells and smooth muscle cells/pericytes is critical for the development of functional neovessels. We hypothesized that neuroblast survival in stroke brain depends on mature vascular network formation. In this study, we injected a combination of endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) and smooth muscle progenitor cells (SMPCs), isolated from human umbilical cord blood, into a murine model of permanent focal ischemia induced by middle cerebral artery occlusion. The co‐administration of SMPCs and EPCs induced enhanced angiogenesis and vascular remodeling in the peri‐infarct and infarct areas, where vessels exhibited a more mature phenotype. This activation of vessel growth resulted in the maintenance of neurogenesis and neuroblast migration to the peri‐ischemic cortex. Our data suggest that a mature vascular network is essential for neuroblast survival after cerebral ischemia, and that co‐administration of EPCs and SMPCs may constitute a novel therapeutic strategy for improving the treatment of stroke.
Persistence and Migration of Alkylphenol Ethoxylate Degradation Products Associated with Land-applied Biosolids

Nonylphenol (NPs) and nonylphenol ethoxylates (NPEOs) enter the environment during the course of land-application of sewage sludge (biosolids). These xenoestrogens have been previously reported in biosolids at concentrations as high as parts per thousand, g/kg (dry weight). Here we examine their residence time and potential for migration during runoff events from pasturelands that received biosolids (anaerobic and aerobic/lime stabilized). Biosolid aggregates (> 0.5 cm) were randomly collected for analysis from these fields at 50 and 175 days after application. Concentrations from each set were compared to the original material. Minimal mineralization was observed 50 days after application, but was substantially greater at 175 days for NPs and NPEOs. Surface runoff created by means of applying artificial rainfall to the biosolids treated and control pasture-plots were compared. Greater levels (P < 0.05) of NPs and NPEOs were observed for the treated plots (range 1.69 to 5.35 μg/L). A stronger correlation (R =0.562) between NP concentrations and PtOC (particle organic carbon) was also observed compared to DOC (dissolved organic carbon) (R=0.125) and TOC (total organic carbon) (R=0.252), indicating that NPs were more associated with runoff solids. Although not conclusive, during the first 50-days after application grazing animals have the greatest potential to be exposed to NPs and NPEOs with burdens continuing at a minimum up to six months thereafter. (U.S. regulations restrict grazing up to 30 days after application.) It also appears that these xenoestrogens have the potential to migrate with runoff from biosolid-applied fields during rainfall events.
Performance Improvement Approaches for Apache Spark

Apache Spark a new big data processing framework, caches data in memory and then processes it. Spark creates Resilient Distributed Datasets (RDD’s) from data which are cached in memory. Although Spark is popular for its performance in iterative applications, its performance can be limited by some factors. One such factor is of disk access time. This paper incorporates some approaches for performance improvement in Spark by trying to improve its disk access time. KeywordsApache Spark, Caching, Prefetching.
Breakthrough Technologies Dynamic Transcriptomic Pro fi les between Tomato and a Wild Relative Re fl ect Distinct Developmental Architectures 1 [ C ] [ W ] [ OA ]

Developmental differences between species commonly result from changes in the tissue-specific expression of genes. Clustering algorithms are a powerful means to detect coexpression across tissues in single species but are not often applied to multidimensional data sets, such as gene expression across tissues in multiple species. As next-generation sequencing approaches enable interspecific analyses, methods to visualize and explore such data sets will be required. Here, we analyze a data set comprising gene expression profiles across six different tissue types in domesticated tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) and a wild relative (Solanum pennellii). We find that self-organizing maps are a useful means to analyze interspecies data, as orthologs can be assigned to independent levels of a “super self-organizing map. ” We compare various clustering approaches using a principal component analysis in which the expression of orthologous pairs is indicated by two points. We leverage the expression profile differences between orthologs to look at tissue-specific changes in gene expression between species. Clustering based on expression differences between species (rather than absolute expression profiles) yields groups of genes with large tissue-by-species interactions. The changes in expression profiles of genes we observe reflect differences in developmental architecture, such as changes in meristematic activity between S. lycopersicum and S. pennellii. Together, our results offer a suite of data-exploration methods that will be important to visualize and make biological sense of next-generation sequencing experiments designed explicitly to discover tissue-by-species interactions in gene expression data.
Design study on hybrid excitation flux switching motor with permanent magnet placed at middle of field coil slot for HEV drives

This paper presents design study on a hybrid excitation flux switching motor that can compete with an interior permanent magnet synchronous motor installed on TOYOTA PRIUS-2010. A stator body of a hybrid excitation flux switching motor generally consists of not only laminated core and three-phase armature windings, but also field excitation coils and permanent magnets as field mmf sources. This machine can be classified into three types according to permanent magnet location. Two of them have the permanent magnet located at either bottom or top of field excitation coil slot. Each of them has own advantages and disadvantages. In order to mitigate their disadvantages, this design study focuses on another type with the permanent magnet located at middle of field excitation coil slot. The design results using finite element magnetic analysis show that the machine achieves the maximum torque and power for the target vehicle drive under given constraints while reducing coercive force of the permanent magnet required to avoid demagnetization. Experimental results using a test motor are demonstrated to validate the design results.
Development of the Mucus-secreting Elements in Human Lung

Recent interest in chronic bronchitis has necessarily drawn attention to the functional and anatomical aspecLs of mucus secretion. In the bronchial tree mucus is secreted by goblet cells in the surface epithelium (sometimes called " intraepithelial glands ") and by the tubulo-acinar glands external to the muscle layer and opening to the bronchial surface by an excretory duct. The latter are herein referred to as glands and the former as goblet cells. This paper describes the intrapulmonary development of the glands and the goblet cells in the foetal human lung and their number and distribution, which last is expressed by reference to the number of bronchial generations and in relation to the extension of cartilage at a given age. Previous papers have described (a) the pattern of branching of the intrasegmental bronchial tree and cartilage development (Bucher and Reid, 1961), and (b) the mucous glands in the trachea (Thurlbeck, Benjamin, and Reid, 1961).
Chemical composition fiber gratings in a high mixed gamma neutron radiation field

Fiber Bragg gratings are all-fiber wavelength-selective refractive index structures manufactured through UV exposure of optical fibers. Their applications range from WDM all-fiber filters, dispersion compensators and fiber laser resonators for optical telecommunication applications to different types of point or distributed optical fiber sensors for a large variety of applications. The nuclear industry is considering the use of photonic technology for data communication in the next generation of nuclear power plants. In addition, fiber Bragg grating sensors are being evaluated by the nuclear industry for structural integrity and temperature monitoring. This work aims to study, in harsh radiation environments, a new type of FBG referred to as chemical composition grating. These gratings differ from other types of FBG in that their refractive index structure is attributed to a change in the chemical composition. Chemical composition gratings have shown to be extremely temperature stable surviving temperatures in excess of 1000/spl deg/C. We have experimentally studied the effect of very harsh gamma-neutron radiation on the properties of chemical composition gratings fabricated in a Ge-F doped silica optical fiber.
Decolonization Policies and Institutions in Africa : A Comparative Historical Approach

After World War II, four major colonizers in Africa – Britain, France, Portugal, and Belgium – chose different decolonization policies. Britain granted gradual independences and transferred their institutions to their colonies. British colonies, however, repealed the British-inspired institutions after independence except Botswana and Mauritius. France provided a choice between a continued association with France or full independence. France, however, did not transfer its institutions to the countries choosing independence. Belgium planned gradual independence, but granted hasty independence when heavy riots granted broke out. Portugal refused the demand for independence and granted independence only after 14 years of colonial war. However, once the guerrilla forces had been controlled, Portugal turned its attention to reforms for development. This paper compares the decolonization policies in Africa and investigates its impact on institutional transfers. Empirical evidence suggests that part of Africa’s weak institutions can be explained by the different decolonization processes and their consequences.
Lack of intra‐laboratory reproducibility in using Platelia Aspergillus enzyme immunoassay test for detection of Aspergillus galactomannan antigen

I. Oren, I. Avidor, H. Sprecher. Lack of intra‐laboratory reproducibility in using Platelia Aspergillus enzyme immunoassay test for detection of Aspergillus galactomannan antigen. Transpl Infect Dis 2011. All rights reserved
CLIMATE CHANGE: A STOCHASTIC DOMINANCE APPROACH

Global climate change presents a classic problem of decision making under uncertainty with learning. We provide stochastic dominance theorems that provide new insights into when abatement and investment into low carbon technology should increase in risk. We show that R&D into lowcarbon technologies and near-term abatement are in some sense opposites in terms of risk. Abatement provides insurance against the possibility of major catastrophes; R&D provides insurance against the possibility that climate change is marginally worse than average. We extend our results to the comparative statics of learning.
Effects of turmeric and its active principle, curcumin, on bleomycin-induced chromosome aberrations in Chinese hamster ovary cells

Antioxidantes de ocorrencia natural tem sido exaustivamente estudados quanto a sua capacidade de proteger organimos e celulas contra danos oxidativos. Muitos constituintes das plantas, incluindo curcuma e curcumina, parecem ser potentes antimutagenos e antioxidantes. Os efeitos de curcuma e curcumina na frequencia de aberracoes cromossomicas induzidas pelo agente radiomimetico bleomicina (BLM) foram investigados em celulas do ovario de hamster chines (CHO). Tres concentracoes de cada droga, curcuma (100, 250 e 500 mg/ml) e curcumina (2,5, 5,0 e 10 mg/ml), foram combinadas com BLM (10 mg/ml) em celulas CHO tratadas durante as fases G1/S, S ou G2/S do ciclo celular. Nem curcuma nem curcumina evitaram o dano cromossomico induzido pela BLM em fase alguma do ciclo celular. Ao contrario, a potenciacao da clastogenicidade da BLM pelo curcumina foi nitidamente observada em celulas tratadas durante as fases S e G2/S. A curcumina tambem se mostrou clastogenica na dose de 10 mg/ml nos protocolos de tratamento de 9 e 13 h. Contudo, o mecanismo exato pelo qual a curcumina produziu efeitos potenciadores e clastogenicos permanece desconhecido.