Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Title Protein-enriched meal replacements do not adversely affect liver , kidney or bone density : an outpatient randomized controlled trial Permalink

Background: There is concern that recommending protein-enriched meal replacements as part of a weight management program could lead to changes in biomarkers of liver or renal function and reductions in bone density. This study was designed as a placebo-controlled clinical trial utilizing two isocaloric meal plans utilizing either a high protein-enriched (HP) or a standard protein (SP) meal replacement in an outpatient weight loss program. Subjects/methods: 100 obese men and women over 30 years of age with a body mass index (BMI) between 27 to 40 kg/m were randomized to one of two isocaloric weight loss meal plans 1). HP group: providing 2.2 g protein/kg of lean body mass (LBM)/day or 2). SP group: providing 1.1 g protein/kg LBM/day. Meal replacement (MR) was used twice daily (one meal, one snack) for 3 months and then once a day for 9 months. Body weight, lipid profiles, liver function, renal function and bone density were measured at baseline and 12 months. Results: Seventy subjects completed the study. Both groups lost weight (HP -4.29 ± 5.90 kg vs. SP -4.66 ± 6.91 kg, p < 0.01) and there was no difference in weight loss observed between the groups at one year. There was no significant change noted in liver function [AST (HP -2.07 ± 10.32 U/L, p = 0.28; SP 0.27 ± 6.67 U/L, p = 0.820), ALT (HP -1.03 ± 10.08 U/L, p = 0.34; SP -2.6 ± 12.51 U/L, p = 0.24), bilirubin (HP 0.007 ± 0.33, U/L, p = 0.91; SP 0.07 ± 0.24 U/L, p = 0.120), alkaline phosphatase (HP 2.00 ± 9.07 U/L, p = 0.240; SP -2.12 ± 11.01 U/L, p = 0.280)], renal function [serum creatinine (HP 0.31 ± 1.89 mg/dL, p = 0.380; SP -0.05 ± 0.15 mg/dL, p = 0.060), urea nitrogen (HP 1.33 ± 4.68 mg/dL, p = 0.130; SP -0.24 ± 3.03 mg/dL, p = 0.650), 24 hour urine creatinine clearance (HP -0.02 ± 0.16 mL/min, p = 0.480; SP 1.18 ± 7.53 mL/min, p = 0.400), and calcium excretion (HP -0.41 ± 9.48 mg/24 hours, p = 0.830; SP -0.007 ± 6.76 mg/24 hours, p = 0.990)] or in bone mineral density by DEXA (HP 0.04 ± 0.19 g/cm, p = 0.210; SP -0.03 ± 0.17 g/cm, p = 0.320) in either group over one year. Conclusions: These studies demonstrate that protein-enriched meals replacements as compared to standard meal replacements recommended for weight management do not have adverse effects on routine measures of liver function, renal function or bone density at one year. Clinicaltrial.gov: NCT01030354.
TARBoard: Tangible Augmented Reality System for Table-top Game Environment ∗

In this paper, we propose TARBoard which is a tangible augmented reality system designed for table-top game environment. The objective of TARBoard system is to let users fashion the board or card game in a more interactive and intuitive way. To achieve this goal, TARBoard adopt two features, augmented reality and tangible user interface. Augmented reality makes the game more realistic and interactive and tangible user interface enables users to interact with virtual objects in the game intuitively. TARBoard consists of a glass table, two cameras and a mirror. Markers are attached to the bottom of objects or cards used in a game. A camera is for tracking markers and the other camera is for augmenting virtual objects. The proposed system separates the tracking camera from the augmenting camera. The tracking camera tracks the image of markers reflected in the mirror below the glass table. The augmenting camera provides images where the virtual objects are augmented. As a result, TARBoard avoids occlusion problem in table-top augmented reality environment. In addition, TARBoard allows various types of objects to be used as tangible user interface, instead of cubes or flat panels which are frequently used in tangible augmented reality.
Multiscale Description and Upscaling of Fluid Flow in Subsurface Reservoirs

Natural geological formations are complex objects, involving geological, mechanical, physico-chemical processes occurring over very wide length scales and time scales. Phenomena ranging from the molecular scale to several hundred of kilometers may influence the overall behaviour of fluid transport in a geological formation. For example, wettability properties, themselves due to molecular effects, have a very strong impact on the water/oil displacements in oil reservoirs. Analogously, reservoir heterogeneities that cover a large range of spatial scales play an essential role to channel fluid-flows, especially when they are coupled with non linearities inherent to fluid dynamics. In order to face this complexity, and to be able to hierarchize the influence of the various relevant geological and physico-chemical phenomena, it is thus essential to handle a multiscale description of fluid transport in these reservoirs. This is an essential tool to help reservoir engineers to focus on the crucial phenomena that control the flow. This helps them to integrate data, and this results in a lowering of the uncertainties of the reservoir description that enhances economical decisions. In this paper, we present classical upscaling approaches, as well as more recent multiscale concepts.
5 0 AMP-activated protein kinase ac tivity is increased in adipose tissue of northern elephant seal pups during prolonged fasting-induced insulin resistance

Northern elephant seals endure a 2to 3-month fast characterized by sustained hyperglycemia, hypoinsulinemia, and increased plasma cortisol and free fatty acids, conditions often seen in insulin-resistant humans. We had previously shown that adipose Glut4 expression and 5 0AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) activity increase and plasma glucose decreases in fasting seals suggesting that AMPK activity contributes to glucose regulation during insulin-resistant conditions. To address the hypothesis that AMPK activity increases during fasting-induced insulin resistance, we performed glucose tolerance tests (GTT) on early (nZ5) and late (nZ8)-fasted seal pups and compared adipose tissue expression of insulin signaling proteins, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor g (PPARg), and AMPK, in addition to plasma adiponectin, leptin, cortisol, insulin, and non-esterified fatty acid (NEFA) levels. Fasting was associated with decreased glucose clearance, plasma insulin Journal of Endocrinology (2011) 209, 317–325 0022–0795/11/0209–317 q 2011 Society for Endocrinology Printed in Great and adiponectin, and intracellular insulin signaling, as well as increased plasma cortisol and NEFAs, supporting the suggestion that seals develop insulin resistance late in the fast. The expression of Glut4 and VAMP2 increased (52 and 63% respectively) with fasting but did not change significantly during the GTT. PPARg and phosphorylated AMPK did not change in the early fasted seals, but increased significantly (73 and 50% respectively) in the late-fasted seals during the GTT. Increased AMPK activity along with the reduction in the activity of insulin-signaling proteins supports our hypothesis that AMPK activity is increased following the onset of insulin resistance. The association between increased AMPK activity and Glut4 expression suggests that AMPK plays a greater role in regulating glucose metabolism in mammals adapted to prolonged fasting than in non-fasting mammals. Journal of Endocrinology (2011) 209, 317–325
Clinical situation of endemic malaria in Yemen

Malaria remains a major public health problem causing mortality and morbidity in tropical and subtropical countries. A cross-sectional study was carried out to determine malaria prevalence and its clinical pattern during malaria season in Yemen. Blood samples were collected from 511 patients with fever who voluntary participated in this study, of them 268 were males and 242 females. Malaria was screened using Giemsa-stained thick and thin blood films. Clinical profile was recorded through physical and laboratory examinations and biodata were collected by pre-tested standard questionnaire. The overall prevalence was 15.3%. Three malaria species (Plasmodium falciparum, Plasmodium vivax and Plasmodium malarae) were detected with the predominance of P. falciparum (83.33%). People living in the rural areas had higher infection rate compared to urban areas (p <0.005). Children were at higher risk of developing severe malaria compared to adults (p <0.05). Severe anaemia, respiratory distress, jaundice, convulsion and bleeding were more apparent among younger age groups of malaria cases compared to older children. The study indicates that malaria is still a public health problem with children being at high risk of developing severe malaria which may lead to death.
Epigenetic mechanisms and implications in tendon inflammation (Review)

Cellular inflammation is not just an immediate response following pathogenic infections or resulting from damage due to injury, it is also associated with normal physiological functions, including wound healing and tissue repair. The existence of such a definitive role in normal physiology and in disease pathology indicates the presence of a regulatory mechanism that is tightly controlled in normal cells. A tight control over gene expression is associated with regulatory mechanisms in the cells, which can be either inducible or epigenetic. Among other intracellular mechanisms that contribute to epigenetic gene regulation, DNA methylation has been shown to maintain a tight control over gene expression through the actions of DNA methyltransferases (DNMTs). With a clear role in developmental and tissue-specific temporal gene regulation, the involvement of DNMTs is evident in normal and pathological conditions. In this review article, inflammation in tendons associated with disease pathology and tissue repair or regeneration at the musculoskeletal joints is critically reviewed. More specifically, the review focuses on known epigenetic mechanisms and their role in the clinical presentation of the disease in human joint disorders associated with tendon inflammation, with an emphasis on the gene regulatory mechanisms that are controlled through DNA methylation, histone deacetylation, and microRNAs.
Communications Broadband Dual Linear Polarized Antenna for Statistical Detection of Breast Cancer

A broadband planar antenna capable of dual linear polarization is designed to be used for the detection of breast tumors. This antenna along with a breast model is simulated using the Ansoft HFSS v10.1. The S-parameters are used as input to Artificial Neural Networks for data processing to investigate the effect of polarization on the statistical detection. Using a dual polarized antenna allowed the calculation of all vertical and horizontal coand cross-polarizations. The numerical results show that using polarizations parallel to the tumor’s major axis increases the likelihood of tumor detection.
Who Benefits from Recreational Use of Protected Areas

Public support for protected areas depends, in part, upon clear demonstrations of the importance of the ecosystem services provided by these areas. However, only a limited number of studies have examined the value of protected areas in providing these services, and even less work has assessed how equitably these benefits are distributed across society. We used on-site surveys to characterize people who derived recreational benefit from a set of areas in the United Kingdom that were originally protected for their conservation value. We found that an unrepresentative subset of society enjoyed this benefit. Site visitor populations were biased towards older people and men, and minority groups were starkly underrepresented, comprising only 1% of overall visitors. When the characteristics of visitors were examined, the more privileged sectors of society were found to have received disproportionate benefits. These biases persisted across weekday and weekend visits and whether sites were considered altogether or individually. Conservation goals will only be met if broad public support for the natural environment is engaged and maintained, for example, through nature recreation. However, our results suggest that at present a worrying disconnect exists between public conservation efforts and much of society.
Immunohistochemical Localization of KRAS and BRAF and its Clinical Utility in Patients with Colorectal Cancer

Background: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a multistep process occurring due to the accumulation of several genetic alterations. The most important ones are RAS and RAF that have been implicated as key intermediates in RAS-mediated signaling cascade. KRAS and BRAF protein expression levels and prognostic evaluation in CRC patients remains unknown. Moreover, minimal evidence exists regarding the predictive role of KRAS and BRAF for fluoropyrimidine-based adjuvant chemotherapy. Hence, present study aimed to investigate the prevalence of KRAS and BRAF protein expressions in CRC patients and further to correlate the results with clinicopathological parameters and prognosis. Methods and findings: A total 82 CRC patients were included in this retrospective study. KRAS and BRAF protein expressions were studied by immunohistochemistry technique using paraffin embedded tumor tissue blocks. The data was analyzed using SPSS software. p value = 0.05 was considered as statistically significant. Immunohistochemical localization of KRAS and BRAF showed cytoplasmic staining in 34% and 63% of patients, respectively. BRAF immunopositivity was found to be significantly higher in patients with positive nodal status (p=0.018), presence of perineural invasion (p=0.039) and = 5.0 ng/mL pre-operative serum CEA levels (p=0.008) as compared to their respective counterparts. Moreover, a trend of higher positive BRAF expression was observed in advanced stage patients as compared to early stage patients (p=0.080). Survival analysis demonstrated a significant reduced relapse-free survival (RFS) with KRAS positive expression in rectal cancer patients (p=0.045). Similar trend of reduced RFS was observed with positive KRAS expression in the subgroup of rectal cancer patients treated with adjuvant therapy (p=0.073). However, BRAF protein expression failed to show any prognostic or predictive value in CRC patients. Conclusion: KRAS and BRAF protein expression might be associated with disease aggressiveness in CRC. Further, KRAS protein expression could be useful prognostic and predictive marker in rectal cancer patients.
HERSCHEL-SPIRE FOURIER TRANSFORM SPECTROMETER OBSERVATIONS OF EXCITED CO AND [C i] IN THE ANTENNAE (NGC 4038/39): WARM AND COLD MOLECULAR GAS

We present Herschel Spectral and Photometric Imaging Receiver (SPIRE) Fourier Transform Spectrometer (FTS) observations of the Antennae (NGC 4038/39), a well-studied, nearby (22 Mpc), ongoing merger between two gas-rich spiral galaxies. The SPIRE-FTS is a low spatial ( FWHM ∼ 19″–43″) and spectral (∼1.2 GHz) resolution mapping spectrometer covering a large spectral range (194–671 μm, 450–1545 GHz). We detect five CO transitions (J = 4–3 to J = 8–7), both [C i] transitions, and the [N ii] 205 μm transition across the entire system, which we supplement with ground-based observations of the CO J = 1–0, J = 2–1, and J = 3–2 transitions and Herschel Photodetecting Array Camera and Spectrometer (PACS) observations of [C ii] and [O i] 63 μm. Using the CO and [C i] transitions, we perform both a local thermodynamic equilibrium (LTE) analysis of [C i] and a non-LTE radiative transfer analysis of CO and [C i] using the radiative transfer code RADEX along with a Bayesian likelihood analysis. We find that there are two components to the molecular gas: a cold (Tkin ∼ 10–30 K) and a warm (Tkin ≳ 100 K) component. By comparing the warm gas mass to previously observed values, we determine a CO abundance in the warm gas of xCO ∼ 5 × 10−5. If the CO abundance is the same in the warm and cold gas phases, this abundance corresponds to a CO J = 1–0 luminosity-to-mass conversion factor of αCO ∼ 7 M☉ pc−2 (K km s−1)−1 in the cold component, similar to the value for normal spiral galaxies. We estimate the cooling from H2, [C ii], CO, and [O i] 63 μm to be ∼0.01 L☉/M☉. We compare photon-dominated region models to the ratio of the flux of various CO transitions, along with the ratio of the CO flux to the far-infrared flux in NGC 4038, NGC 4039, and the overlap region. We find that the densities recovered from our non-LTE analysis are consistent with a background far-ultraviolet field of strength G0 ∼ 1000. Finally, we find that a combination of turbulent heating, due to the ongoing merger, and supernova and stellar winds are sufficient to heat the molecular gas.
Self-assembly of Deinococcus radiodurans supports nanocell scenario of life origin

In many origin-of-life scenarios, first a kit of elements and simple compounds emerges, then a primitive membrane and then a nanocell with a minimal genome is self-assembled, which then proceeds to multiply by copying itself while mutating. Testing this scenario, we selected Deinococcus Radiodurans known for its exceptional self-repair properties as a model system, separated its bacterial lysis into DNA, RNA and protein fractions, while lipids were used for liposome formation. The fractions were sealed in glass tubes individually and in combinations and stored for three weeks. Upon seeding on Petri dishes, the fractions containing liposomes together with nucleic acid and/or proteins gave in total 19 colonies of Deinococcus radiodurans (confirmed by proteomics), while liposome-free fractions as well as liposome-only fractions gave no colonies. The self-assembly of viable cells from essentially dead mixtures validates the lyposome-based origin-of-life scenario.
GENERAL FEATURES OF THE UBIQUITIN / 26 PROTEASOME PATHWAY The Ubiquitin Protein

■ Abstract Much of plant physiology, growth, and development is controlled by the selective removal of short-lived regulatory proteins. One important proteolytic pathway involves the small protein ubiquitin (Ub) and the 26S proteasome, a 2-MDa protease complex. In this pathway, Ub is attached to proteins destined for degradation; the resulting Ub-protein conjugates are then recognized and catabolized by the 26S proteasome. This review describes our current understanding of the pathway in plants at the biochemical, genomic, and genetic levels, using Arabidopsis thaliana as the model. Collectively, these analyses show that the Ub/26S proteasome pathway is one of the most elaborate regulatory mechanisms in plants. The genome of Arabidopsis encodes more than 1400 (or >5% of the proteome) pathway components that can be connected to almost all aspects of its biology. Most pathway components participate in the Ub-ligation reactions that choose with exquisite specificity which proteins should be ubiquitinated. What remains to be determined is the identity of the targets, which may number in the thousands in plants.
Dietary complementation across life stages in the polyphagous lady beetle Coleomegilla maculata

We investigated the life history consequences of changes in diet between larval and adult life stages in the polyphagous lady beetle Coleomegilla maculata DeGeer (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae). Beetles were reared on three larval diets: greenbug, Schizaphis graminum Rondani (Homoptera: Aphididae), eggs of the flour moth, Ephestia kuehniella Zeller (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae), and bee pollen. The reproductive performance of females was then evaluated on an adult diet of either greenbug or moth eggs. Moth eggs appeared to be the most suitable diet for larvae, yielding the largest adults, and pollen the least suitable, resulting in the smallest adults and greatly extended developmental time. Pollen‐reared beetles tended to have lower fecundity and fertility than those reared on animal protein, regardless of adult diet. Female fitness was generally increased by a change in diet upon emergence to the alternative source of animal protein, suggesting that dietary complementation occurred across life stages. Among females reared on greenbug, a change of diet to moth eggs reduced the period required for production of 12 clutches and increased egg fertility compared to continued feeding on greenbug. Among females reared on moth eggs, a change of diet to greenbug increased fecundity compared to continued feeding on moth eggs. Among females fed an adult diet of greenbug, those fed moth eggs as larvae had faster production of 12 clutches and higher fecundity. We discuss these novel results in the context of coccinellid life history and ecology and their potential implications for other insects that are predatory as both larvae and adults.
Volcanic rifting at Martian grabens

[1] A large fraction of surface extension on Mars occurred at segmented grabens having width/length ratios akin to oceanic rifts on Earth. Association with volcanic landforms such as pit craters clearly suggests interconnection between tectonic and magmatic processes. A Martian rift evolution model is proposed on the basis of new geomorphological and structural interpretations of imagery, high-resolution digital elevation models (DEMs), scaled experimental modeling and three-dimensional boundary element modeling of magmatic and tectonic processes, and a comparison with terrestrial rifts. The DEMs were obtained from Mars Observer Laser Altimeter, Viking Orbiter stereo images, or a combination of both. Comparison of terrestrial rifts included Afar, Iceland, and the East Pacific Rise. The ambient extensional stress field induced by regional body forces is combined at depth with decompression melting and mantle plume thermal anomaly, resulting in emplacement of elongated magma reservoirs along the grabens. Injection of dikes above the reservoirs and flood basalt eruption result in a reservoir underpressurization of up to hundreds of MPa and induces surface collapse. Each collapse event is associated with an eruption of volcanic volumes akin to those of individual flow eruptions in large terrestrial igneous provinces. The geometry and mechanisms of graben formation and surface collapse are described and used to infer reservoir depth and width. We conclude from this study that giant dike swarms akin to typical giant terrestrial dike swarms are unlikely to underlie the volcanic Martian grabens on the basis one graben-one dike. Rather, every volcanic graben segment appears to own a local dike swarm perhaps analogous to the dike swarms in the Icelandic fissure zones. INDEX TERMS: 5475 Planetology: Solid Surface Planets: Tectonics (8149); 5480 Planetology: Solid Surface Planets: Volcanism (8450); 6225 Planetology: Solar System Objects: Mars; 8121 Tectonophysics: Dynamics, convection currents and mantle plumes; 8010 Structural Geology: Fractures and faults; KEYWORDS: rifting, graben, pit crater, magma chamber, dyke
Un mariage arrangé entre l’implication et la confiance ?

La plupart des indices d’association entre variables binaires utilisent la fréquence conditionnelle qu’ils appellent confiance ou expressions algébriques d’instanciations pour décider d’une liaison entre deux variables et en apprécier la qualité. En Analyse Statistique Implicative, une autre mesure, l’intensité d’implication, vise le même objectif en se limitant à l’implication tout en s’appuyant plutôt sur la probabilité d’apparition des contre-exemples à ce type de liaison. Dans cet article nous comparons ces deux mesures en montrant qu’elles sont étrangères mais possèdent des relations analytiques intéressantes. De ce fait, nous concevons et expérimentons une nouvelle mesure de qualité d’implication en deux approches qui associe confiance et intensité. Nous montrons l’intérêt présenté par cette combinaison pour intégrer la contraposée de l’implication, condition nécessaire pour faire jouer à ce nouvel indice une fonction d’analyse causale.