Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Melanocortin Signalling and the Regulation of Blood Pressure in Human Obesity

Obesity has reached epidemic proportions worldwide. Sympathetic nervous system activation has been shown to play a major role linking obesity to the development of associated metabolic complications, such as hypertension. Recent evidence has implicated central melanocortin signalling in the regulation of blood pressure in rodents and humans. The importance of sympathetic neural activity in mediating this association has been highlighted. Humans with loss‐of‐function mutations in the melanocortin 4 receptor (MC4R) are an ideal group of subjects in whom the importance of melanocortin signalling in linking obesity to hypertension can be studied. Consistent with rodent studies, it was recently demonstrated that humans with MC4R deficiency have lower blood pressure, less hypertension, lower 24‐h urinary catecholamine excretion, lower resting heart rate and attenuated insulin‐mediated sympathetic activation compared to equally‐obese humans. In overweight and obese humans without MC4R mutations, the infusion of a highly‐selective MC4R agonist led to dose‐dependent increases in blood pressure and heart rate. All effects were independent of insulin. This evidence supports the notion that the melanocortin system regulates blood pressure and sympathetic neural function. The results obtained in rodent and human studies, in relation to blood pressure and sympathetic function, may limit the use of MC4R agonists for the treatment of obesity. Future studies will determine whether MC4R deficiency is associated with protection from development of the detrimental cardiovascular consequences that accompany obesity.
Critical level of oxygen delivery after cardiopulmonary bypass

The relationship between oxygen uptake (&OV0312;O2) and delivery (&OV0312;O2) was examined in 64 patients immediately after cardiopulmonary bypass. In 44 patients with lactate levels below 2.5 mmol/L, &OV0312;O2 decreased proportionally when &OV0312;O2 decreased below 300 ml/min ± m2. At a &OV0312;O2 over this level, &OV0312;O2 plateaued at 105 ± 13 (SD) ml/min ± m2. In a contrasting group of 22 patients with blood lactate levels above 2.5 mmol/L, &OV0312;O2 changes depended on changes in &OV0312;O2 both alone and below 300 ml/min ± m2.
Assessment of Depth Perception in Cats

A behavioural method is described for the assessment of depth perception of kittens. Measurement is made of the smallest separation in depth that can be discriminated between two adjacent stimuli under both monocular and binocular viewing conditions. Normal animals can discriminate much smaller separations in depth when using two eyes than with monocular viewing, implying the presence of a cue to depth that is uniquely available with binocular viewing. The test provides a quick and reliable way of screening animals for stereopsis.
An Improved Method of Polyp Size Measurement in Computed Tomography Colonography Images

Size and shape analysis is one of the tasks in automated measurement of colon polyps using Computed Tomography Colonography (CTC) images. The research objective was to measure the smaller polyps using image processing techniques. This paper proposes a knowledge-based approach using a semi-automatic method of colon segmentation and morphological image processing methods. The retrospective study included 35 CTC scans for evaluation. The combined approach of analyzing the polyp from domain perspective and the skeletonization has given good results. It takes ~7 minutes for smaller polyp measurement in a CTC scan of 450-500 images using multithreading on a high-performance computer. The results were statistically tested at α=5% and the measurements were acceptable.
Chromogranin A, secretogranin II and vasoactive intestinal peptide in phaeochromocytomas and ganglioneuromas

By means of immunohistochemistry we analysed the distribution of chromogranin A, secretogranin II and vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) in 16 phaeochromocytomas, twotases of combined phaeochromocytoma‐ganglioneuroma and sour adrenal ganglioneuromas. Chromogranin A was found in the majority of phaeochromocytes and in mixed phaeochromocytomas‐ganglioneuromas. Secretogranin II was present to a lesser degree in phaeochromocytes, but strong immunostaining was found in most ganglion cells of phaeochromocytomas, in the ganglioneuroma component of combined tumours and in adrenal ganglioneuromas. Vasoactive intestinal peptide was present in some ganglion cells of phaeochromocytomas, in the ganglioneuroma component of mixed tumours and in three of four adrenal ganglioneuromas. On semi‐adjacent sections a co‐localization of VIP and secretogranin II was demonstrated. These results indicate that neuronal differentiation is accompanied by an increased immunohistochemical expression of secretogranin II. Therefore, secretogranin II may be a useful marker for ganglion cell differentiation.
Heterogeneous memristive crossbar for in-memory computing

It's been quite a while since scientists are seeking for the ancestor of von Neumann computing architecture. Among the most promising candidates, memristor demonstrates advantageous characteristics, which open new pathways for the exploration of advanced computing paradigms. In this work we propose the design of a novel crossbar geometry, which is heterogeneous in terms of its cross-point devices, allowing for the realization of true in-memory digital logic computations. More specifically, it is a combination of two stacked crossbar arrays with a shared intermediate nanowire layer. The variety of available cross-points types allows the execution of parallel memristive logic computations, where the logic state variable is voltage. Moreover, the utilization of insulating patterns in the crossbar arrays, at the expense of a small area-overhead, permits the simultaneous parallel read/write memory operation of two memory words. Memory/logic operation is determined through control signals driven from the peripheral CMOS-based driving circuitry, which also comprises row/column decoders, tri-state drivers, and summing/sense amplifiers to allow for the proper programming/reading of the memristive cross-points.
Evaluation of the thermoplasticity of gutta-percha and Resilon® using the Obtura II System at different temperature settings.

AIM To analyse the thermoplasticity of several endodontic filling materials using the Obtura II System at different temperature settings. METHODOLOGY The following materials based on gutta-percha: Regular Obtura (OBT), Obtura Flow 150 (OBT F), Endo Flow (EDF), Odous (ODO) and the synthetic thermoplastic polymer material Resilon (RE) were heated using the Obtura II System at three temperature settings (140, 170 and 200 °C). Samples of the heated materials were placed on the sensor of a digital thermometer (THR-140; Instrutherm, São Paulo, Brazil) to determine their real temperature (RT) when the system was set at 140 °C (from 64.5 to 69 °C), 170 °C (from 73.8 to 77.5 °C) and 200 °C (from 83.6 °C for EDF and 100 °C for RE). Specimens (n = 30) were made by placing samples of each material in metallic ring moulds and compressing them between two glass slabs. After 24 h, specimens (n = 10) were heated at the different settings (RT) and submitted to compression under a 5-kg load. Plasticization was assessed by calculating the differences between the post-compression and initial diameters of each specimen. Data were submitted to anova and Tukey's test at 5% significance. RESULTS At 140 °C, Obtura Flow presented the highest thermoplasticity values and Regular Obtura, the lowest. At 170 °C, Obtura Flow and Resilon demonstrated greater plasticization. Resilon had the highest mean thermoplasticity values at 200 °C. CONCLUSIONS Thermoplasticity values were influenced both by the temperature settings on the Obtura II System and by the type of material analysed. Obtura Flow and Resilon had the highest mean thermoplasticity values.
Auditory Scene Analysis: the interaction of stimulation rate and frequency separation on pre‐attentive grouping

Segregation of auditory inputs into meaningful acoustic groups is a key element of auditory scene analysis. Previously, we showed that two interwoven sets of tones differing widely along multiple feature dimensions (duration, pitch and location) were pre‐attentively separated into different groups, and that tones separated in this manner did not elicit the mismatch negativity component with respect to each other. Grouping was studied with human subjects using a stimulus rate too slow to induce streaming. Here, we varied the separation of tone sequences along a single feature dimension, i.e. frequency. Frequency differences were either 24 Hz (small) or 1054 Hz (large). Two relatively slow stimulus rates were used (2.7 or 1 tone/s) to explicitly investigate grouping outside the so‐called ‘streaming effect’, which requires rates of about 4 tones/s or faster. Two tones were presented in a quasi‐random manner with embedded trains of one to four identical tones in a row. Deviants were defined as frequency switches after trains of four identical tones. Mismatch negativity was only elicited for small frequency switches at the slower stimulation rate. The data indicate that pre‐attentive grouping of tones occurred when the frequency difference that separated them was large, regardless of stimulation rate. For small frequency differences, inputs were only grouped separately when the stimulation rate was relatively fast.
Testing Potential Effects of Maize Expressing the Bacillus thuringiensis Cry1Ab Endotoxin (Bt Maize) on Mycorrhizal Fungal Communities via DNA- and RNA-Based Pyrosequencing and Molecular Fingerprinting

ABSTRACT The cultivation of genetically modified (GM) crops has increased significantly over the last decades. However, concerns have been raised that some GM traits may negatively affect beneficial soil biota, such as arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), potentially leading to alterations in soil functioning. Here, we test two maize varieties expressing the Bacillus thuringiensis Cry1Ab endotoxin (Bt maize) for their effects on soil AM fungal communities. We target both fungal DNA and RNA, which is new for AM fungi, and we use two strategies as an inclusive and robust way of detecting community differences: (i) 454 pyrosequencing using general fungal rRNA gene-directed primers and (ii) terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism (T-RFLP) profiling using AM fungus-specific markers. Potential GM-induced effects were compared to the normal natural variation of AM fungal communities across 15 different agricultural fields. AM fungi were found to be abundant in the experiment, accounting for 8% and 21% of total recovered DNA- and RNA-derived fungal sequences, respectively, after 104 days of plant growth. RNA- and DNA-based sequence analyses yielded most of the same AM fungal lineages. Our research yielded three major conclusions. First, no consistent differences were detected between AM fungal communities associated with GM plants and non-GM plants. Second, temporal variation in AMF community composition (between two measured time points) was bigger than GM trait-induced variation. Third, natural variation of AMF communities across 15 agricultural fields in The Netherlands, as well as within-field temporal variation, was much higher than GM-induced variation. In conclusion, we found no indication that Bt maize cultivation poses a risk for AMF.
Computing a Consensus of Multilabeled Trees

In this paper we consider two challenging problems that arise in the context of computing a consensus of a collection of multilabeled trees, namely (1) selecting a compatible collection of clusters on a multiset from an ordered list of such clusters and (2) optimally refining high degree vertices in a multilabeled tree. Forming such a consensus is part of an approach to reconstruct the evolutionary history of a set of species for which events such as genome duplication and hybridization have occurred in the past. We present exact algorithms for solving (1) and (2) that have an exponential run-time in the worst case. To give some impression of their performance in practice, we apply them to simulated input and to a real biological data set highlighting the impact of several structural properties of the input on the performance.
Towards Sharable Application Ontologies for the Automatic Generation of UIs for Dialog based Linked Data Applications

The emerging Internet of Everything is a driving force for businesses to expose their processes as services to third parties to be integrated into their applications (e.g. the booking of a trip or requesting the quote for a complex product). To standardize the processes and related data, increasingly semantic web technologies are applied leading to a shared conceptualization of the business domains and thus creating a linked data service ecosystem for domain-specific services. Although the communication on machine-level is standardized by using semantic web technologies, the integration of the user into the overall process is still a manual task: User Interfaces (UI) for collecting the input data for a process are built manually for multiple platforms and user groups. The claim of this paper is, that given a linked data service ecosystem, UIs can be modelled and automatically generated for integration into linked data applications. The paper presents an ontologybased, model-driven approach for modelling UI variants for automatically generating dialog-based applications, providing output understood by associated linked data services.
Anti‐inflammatory mechanisms of leukotriene modulators

Since 1996, a novel class of anti-asthma drugs has been licensed in almost 50 countries world-wide [1]. The mechanism of action of these compounds is based on inhibiting the synthesis of leukotrienes in inflammatory leucocytes, or blocking their activity at specific receptors on target tissues. Leukotrienes are derived from arachidonic acid by the 5-lipoxygenase (5-LO) pathway and comprise cysteinyl-leukotrienes (cys-LTs: LTC 4, LTD4, and LTE4) and LTB4 [2]. There is ample evidence that cys-LTs are potent pro-inflammatory mediators playing an important role in the pathophysiology of asthma-producing bronchospasm, increased vascular permeability, and mucus hypersecretion [2,3]. In addition, cys-LTs have been shown to cause airway hyperresponsiveness in both asthmatic and healthy subjects [4]. Several classes of leukotriene modulators have been developed [1]. Leukotriene synthesis inhibitors (LTSI) inhibit either 5-lipoxygenaseor 5-lipoxygenaseactivating protein (FLAP). Only the 5-LO inhibitor zileuton (ZyfloTM) has so far been licensed. The three cys-LT receptor antagonists (cysLTRAs) so far licensed – pranlukast (Ultair), montelukast (Singulair ) and zafirlukast (Accolate) – block the CysLT1 receptor subtype on target tissues such as airway smooth muscle. Antagonists of the LTB4 receptor (BLT) remain in clinical trials. Numerous studies in asthma have shown that leukotriene modulators are effective bronchodilators in asthmatics [1]. Recent studies also suggest anti-inflammatory effects on airway leucocytes that are likely to have a direct bearing on the positioning of leukotriene modulators in international guidelines for asthma management. This review will assess this evidence and discuss the possible mechanisms of the anti-eosinophilic effect of leukotriene modulators.
QRGQR: Query Relevance Graph for Query Recommendation

Query recommendation is an important feature of the search engine with the explosive and diverse growth of web contents. Different kind of recommendation like query, image, movies, music and book etc. Are used every day. Various types of data sources are used for the recommendations. If we model the data into various kinds of graphs then we can build a general method for any recommendation. In this paper, we have proposed a general method for query recommendation by combining two graphs: 1) query click graph which captures the relationship between queries frequently clicked on common URLs and 2) query text similarity graph which finds the similarity between two queries using Jaccard similarity. The proposed method provides literally as well as semantically relevant queries for users' need. Simulation results show that the proposed algorithm outperforms heat diffusion method by providing more number of relevant queries. It can be used for recommendation tasks like query, image, and product recommendation.
Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of the Role of Defunctioning Stoma in Low Rectal Cancer Surgery

Summary Background Data:The role of a defunctioning stoma in patients undergoing low anterior resection for rectal cancer is still the subject of controversy. Recent studies suggest reduced morbidity after low anterior rectal resection with a defunctioning stoma. Methods:Retrospective and prospective studies published between 1966 and 2007 were systematically reviewed. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing anterior resections with or without defunctioning stoma were included in a meta-analysis. The pooled estimates of clinically relevant anastomotic leakages and of reoperations were analyzed using a random effects model (odds ratio and 95% confidence interval, CI). Results:Relevant retrospective single (n = 18) and multicenter (n = 9) studies were identified and included in the systematic review. Analysis of incoherent data of the leakage rates in these nonrandomized studies demonstrated that a defunctioning stoma did not influence the occurrence of anastomotic failure but seemed to ameliorate the consequences of the leak. Four RCTs were included in the meta-analysis. The odds ratio for clinically relevant anastomotic leakage was 0.32 (95% CI 0.17–0.59), revealing a statistically significant benefit conferred through a defunctioning stoma (Z = 3.65, P = 0.0003). The odds ratio for reoperation because of leakage-caused complications was 0.27 (95% CI 0.14–0.51), with significantly fewer reoperations in patients with a defunctioning stoma (Z = 3.95, P < 0.0001). Overall mortality rates were comparable regardless of the presence of a defunctioning stoma. Conclusion:A defunctioning stoma reduces the rate of clinically relevant anastomotic leakages and is thus recommended in surgery for low rectal cancers.
Game Sense Research in Coaching: Findings and Reflections

Game Sense coaching has challenged the traditional directive sport-as-techniques approach (Jones, 2006; Kidman, 2001; Light, 2013; Pill, 2012). This paper presents an analysis of the data driven Game Sense research in coaching and the professional literature advocating Game Sense coaching, with the purpose of establishing the similarities, differences and emerging patterns of the research conducted this far. A systematic review of the studies will be conducted. Findings of this study will provide information on how the Game Sense approach is, and has been, used in coaching currently, as well as the uncertainties and ambiguities surrounding the Game Sense approach that have emerged from this research. Benefits and limitations of the Game Sense approach will also be identified, along with the views and attitudes of those involved in implementing the Game Sense approach in coaching practice. This information will inform the future research agenda of Game Sense research in coaching.
The voltage dependence of membrane capacity.

1. Membrane capacity of sartorius muscle fibres has been measured at membrane potentials between ‐200 and +50 mV. Within this potential range the capacity is not independent of potential. Dielectric saturation is present at large negative and at positive internal potentials, indicating the presence in the membrane of permanent dipoles or movable charges. 2. In normally polarized fibres there is a sharp peak in the capacity‐potential relation of about ‐50 mV; the capacity at this peak is 50% larger than the capacity at ‐90 mV. 3. In depolarized fibres this sharp peak of capacity is not present. Over the range ‐200 to +50 mV the capacity variation is about 10% with a broad maximum at about ‐80 mV. 4. The dielectric behaviour of muscle membrane is most simply explained by postulating two species of permanent dipoles or mobile charges: Charge 1 present in normally polarized fibres, but neutralized or immobilized in depolarized fibres; Charge 2 present in both polarized and depolarized fibres. The distribution of Charge 1 is more steeply voltage‐dependent than is the distribution of Charge 2. 5. Movement of Charge 1 from one fully saturated configuration to the other involves a charge transfer across the membrane of between 20 and 30 nC/muF. Movement of Charge 2 in depolarized fibres requires a similar transfer of charge.
Microprocessor power optimization through multi-performance device insertion

A paradigm shift for multi-performance device insertion from optimizing product-level performance to total power is elucidated. The key limitations of a performance-based insertion methodology are reviewed, where an increase in standby current is sacrificed for an unobservable clock frequency gain. The power optimization, which is based on nodal activity factors and state probabilities, enables a 5% to 8% total power reduction on three mature mega-block designs from two separate 90nm technology generation microprocessors while maintaining constant performance.
Growth of Streptococcus pneumoniae on Human Glycoconjugates Is Dependent upon the Sequential Activity of Bacterial Exoglycosidases

ABSTRACT In the human host, Streptococcus pneumoniae encounters a variety of glycoconjugates, including mucin, host defense molecules, and glycans associated with the epithelial surface. S. pneumoniae is known to encode a number of glycosidases that may modify these glycoconjugates in vivo. Three exoglycosidases, a neuraminidase (NanA), β-galactosidase (BgaA), and N-acetylglucosaminidase (StrH), have been previously demonstrated to sequentially deglycosylate N-linked glycans on host defense molecules, which coat the pneumococcal surface in vivo. This cleavage is proposed to alter the clearance function of these molecules, allowing pneumococci to persist in the airway. However, we propose that the exoglycosidase-dependent liberation of monosaccharides from these glycoconjugates in close proximity to the pneumococcal surface provides S. pneumoniae with a convenient source of fermentable carbohydrate in vivo. In this study, we demonstrate that S. pneumoniae is able to utilize complex N-linked human glycoconjugates as a sole source of carbon to sustain growth and that efficient growth is dependent upon the sequential deglycosylation of the glycoconjugate substrate by pneumococcal exoglycosidases. In addition to demonstrating a role for NanA, BgaA, and StrH, we have identified a function for the second pneumococcal neuraminidase, NanB, in the deglycosylation of host glycoconjugates and have demonstrated that NanB activity can partially compensate for the loss or dysfunction of NanA. To date, all known functions of pneumococcal neuraminidase have been attributed to NanA. Thus, this study describes the first proposed role for NanB by which it may contribute to S. pneumoniae colonization and pathogenesis.
Microbiology of pressure‐treated foods

High hydrostatic pressure has the potential to produce high quality foods that are microbiologically safe and with an extended shelf-life. Micro-organisms vary in their response to high pressure. Bacterial spores are the most resistant group and they cannot be significantly inactivated by pressure alone. Combination treatments using high pressure and heat have been proposed as a method of producing shelf-stable low acid foods. Viruses are less resistant than bacterial spores and their infectivity can be abolished without destroying their ability to elicit antibodies, leading to the possibility of vaccine production. Yeasts, moulds and vegetative bacteria vary in their response to pressure, depending on factors such as species, strain, processing temperature and substrate, and these are reviewed in the paper. A knowledge of how these factors interact is necessary in order to select the optimum processing conditions for foods. A number of pressure-treated foods are already commercially available and these are discussed in the paper.