Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Naringenin chalcone suppresses allergic asthma by inhibiting the type-2 function of CD4 T cells.

BACKGROUND Some polyphenols possess anti-allergic activities. Naringenin chalcone is one of the polyphenols that is present in the skin of red tomatoes. In this study, we investigated the effect of naringenin chalcone in allergic responses in vivo using an experimental mouse model system of allergic asthma. METHODS Allergic airway inflammation was induced in mice by sensitization and challenge with ovalbumin. Naringenin chalcone was orally administrated every day during the course of the experiment. Airway hyperreactivity, the eosinophilic infiltration in the bronchioalveolar lavage fluid and Th2 cytokine production from splenic CD4 T cells were assessed. RESULTS Eosinophilic airway inflammation, airway hyperreactivity and Th2 cytokine production from CD4 T cells were significantly suppressed in mice that were treated with naringenin chalcone. Hyperproduction of mucus was slightly reduced. CONCLUSIONS The results of this study suggest that naringenin chalcone suppresses asthmatic symptoms by inhibiting Th2 cytokine production from CD4 T cells. Thus, naringenin chalcone may be a useful supplement for the suppression of allergic symptoms in humans.
Comparative Physicochemical Evaluation of Kharekhasak (Tribulus terrestris Linn.) Before and After Mudabbar Process

Background and Objectives: Mudabbar/Tadbeere advia is referred to the processes performed on the drugs to detoxify, purify, and enhance therapeutic action and to reduce its doses before making the formulations in Unani medicine. It improves quality of drugs either by optimizing its desirable characteristics or minimizing the undesirable ones; it makes drug effective, safe, and specific. There is a need of comparative evaluation to understand its significance. Tadbeer of Kharekhasak (KK) khurd (Tribulus terrestris Linn. fruit) is described by Rabban Al-Tabari in Firdausul Hikmat, Akbar Arzani in Qarabadeene Qadri, etc., during the compounding of aphrodisiac formulations. Mudabbar Kharekhasak (MKK) used in Safoofe Kharekhasak mentioned in Al-Qarabadeene was evaluated in this work. Methods: Mudabbar/Tadbeer process was carried out by blending fresh KK. Juice with powdered dry KK and drying it under the sun. Juice used for process is thrice the weight of dry KK powder. The KK before and after the process was evaluated using physicochemical tests: powder characterization, extractive value, alcohol and water soluble matter, ash value, loss on drying (LOD) at 105°C, pH, high-performance thin layer chromatography (HPTLC) fingerprinting, and diosgenin content. Results: Powder characterizations were set in. Increase in successive and nonsuccessive extractive values in various solvents, water/alcohol-soluble content, total ash, acid-insoluble ash, water-soluble ash, and sulfated ash of MKK was noted in comparison with KK. Decrease in LOD at 105°C and pH of MKK powder was observed. HPTLC fingerprinting data were developed for the identification and evaluation. Quantification of diosgenin content increased to 432.1 g/g in MKK as compared to 144.5 g/g in KK, suggesting significant increase in saponin content. Conclusion: Data obtained clearly indicated changes in MKK validating the classical Mudabbar process, probably to enhance/modify the action of drug. Standards for crude and MKK were established for future reference. Abbreviations Used: KK: Kharekhasak, TT: Tribulus terrestris, MKK: mudabbar Kharekhasak, SK: Safoofe Kharekhasak, LOD: loss of weight on drying, HPTLC: High performance thin layer chromatography, BSS: British standard sieve, μl: microliter, SEM: Standard error of mean, nm: nanometer, g: gram.
A Peptide Hormone and Its Receptor Protein Kinase Regulate Plant Cell Expansion

Plant cells are immobile; thus, plant growth and development depend on cell expansion rather than cell migration. The molecular mechanism by which the plasma membrane initiates changes in the cell expansion rate remains elusive. We found that a secreted peptide, RALF (rapid alkalinization factor), suppresses cell elongation of the primary root by activating the cell surface receptor FERONIA in Arabidopsis thaliana. A direct peptide-receptor interaction is supported by specific binding of RALF to FERONIA and reduced binding and insensitivity to RALF-induced growth inhibition in feronia mutants. Phosphoproteome measurements demonstrate that the RALF-FERONIA interaction causes phosphorylation of plasma membrane H+–adenosine triphosphatase 2 at Ser899, mediating the inhibition of proton transport. The results reveal a molecular mechanism for RALF-induced extracellular alkalinization and a signaling pathway that regulates cell expansion. A signaling system important in the regulation of plant cell size during development is identified. A Peptide Finds Its Receptor Because plant cells cannot move around within the plant, developmental changes are orchestrated by changes in cell size and shape. Using quantitative phosphoproteomics, genetics, and chemical analyses, Haruta et al. (p. 408) identified a signaling chain that links a secreted peptide, RALF (rapid alkalinization factor), with its receptor kinase, FERONIA, at the cell surface. FERONIA is involved in reproductive and vegetative development–processes that require the changes in cell size initiated by RALF signaling.
An epidemiological study of temporomandibular joint ankylosis

Introduction: The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) forms the very cornerstone of craniofacial integrity and its ankylosis in a growing child may cause problems in daily food intake, speech, appearance, and oral hygiene is affected to a major extent. It is one of the common acquired pathologies afflicting the skeleton. It is also the most overlooked and under-managed problem in children. Materials and Methods: A house to house survey was conducted between 2010 and 2011 in rural and urban areas of Lucknow. A total of 21,720 children aged between 3-15 years from 9090 houses comprising a representative sample were included. Results: Ten TMJ ankylosis cases were identified in 21,720 children. Of these, six were bilateral and four were unilateral. Male to female ratio was 1:9, with most patients (70.0%) being in the 10-15 years’ age group (mean age was 11.1 years ± 3.34). The most common cause of ankylosis was trauma for 90.0% of cases. The majority of patients (70%) were reporting the condition for the first time, with 30% patients having had previous treatment. Conclusion: TMJ ankylosis is an acquired condition in most of the cases. Birth/childhood trauma would be the major causative factor. Knowledge amongst parents, providers of health about this entity was poor. Initial management of the causative factor was poor. Mere knowledge among the general population and healthcare providers can result in primary prevention and also secondary prevention along with its successful definitive treatment.
A Racing Algorithm for Configuring Metaheuristics

This paper describes a racing procedure for finding, in a limited amount of time, a configuration of a metaheuristic that performs as good as possible on a given instance class of a combinatorial optimization problem. Taking inspiration from methods proposed in the machine learning literature for model selection through cross-validation, we propose a procedure that empirically evaluates a set of candidate configurations by discarding bad ones as soon as statistically sufficient evidence is gathered against them. We empirically evaluate our procedure using as an example the configuration of an ant colony optimization algorithm applied to the traveling salesman problem. The experimental results show that our procedure is able to quickly reduce the number of candidates, and allows to focus on the most promising ones.
Glucose-dependent de Novo Lipogenesis in B Lymphocytes

Background: The metabolic requirements underlying B lymphocyte differentiation are poorly understood. Results: Differentiation is accompanied by glucose metabolism into fatty acid and cholesterol synthesis, mediated by ATP-citrate lyase (ACLY). Conclusion: ACLY-dependent lipogenesis is required for several phenotypic changes defining plasma cell differentiation. Significance: This study proposes a critical role for ACLY coupled glucose-dependent de novo lipogenesis in LPS-induced B lymphocyte differentiation. Bacterially derived lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulates naive B lymphocytes to differentiate into immunoglobulin (Ig)-secreting plasma cells. Differentiation of B lymphocytes is characterized by a proliferative phase followed by expansion of the intracellular membrane secretory network to support Ig production. A key question in lymphocyte biology is how naive B cells reprogram metabolism to support de novo lipogenesis necessary for proliferation and expansion of the endomembrane network in response to LPS. We report that extracellularly acquired glucose is metabolized, in part, to support de novo lipogenesis in response to LPS stimulation of splenic B lymphocytes. LPS stimulation leads to increased levels of endogenous ATP-citrate lyase (ACLY), and this is accompanied by increased ACLY enzymatic activity. ACLY produces cytosolic acetyl-CoA from mitochondrially derived citrate. Inhibition of ACLY activity in LPS-stimulated B cells with the selective inhibitor 2-hydroxy-N-arylbenzenesulfonamide (compound-9; C-9) blocks glucose incorporation into de novo lipid biosynthesis, including cholesterol, free fatty acids, and neutral and acidic phospholipids. Moreover, inhibition of ACLY activity in splenic B cells results in inhibition of proliferation and defective endomembrane expansion and reduced expression of CD138 and Blimp-1, markers for plasma-like B cell differentiation. ACLY activity is also required for LPS-induced IgM production in CH12 B lymphoma cells. These data demonstrate that ACLY mediates glucose-dependent de novo lipogenesis in response to LPS signaling and identify a role for ACLY in several phenotypic changes that define plasma cell differentiation.
Evaluation of a new interrupter device for measuring bronchial responsiveness and the response to bronchodilator in 3 year old children.

The interrupter technique for measuring airway resistance is non-invasive and convenient, and therefore ideally suited for the assessment of induced changes in airway calibre in preschool children. The aim of this study was to evaluate a commercially available interrupter device (based on Microlab 4000), which calculates the interrupter resistance (Rint) from pressure and flow following a brief interruption of expiration during quiet breathing. The repeatability of Rint was assessed, and its response to methacholine challenge and the bronchodilator salbutamol were compared with an indirect technique, the fall in transcutaneous oxygen tension (Ptc,O2), using the sensitivity index (SI, i.e. the change after challenge expressed in multiples of the baseline standard deviation) in 12 wheezy children (aged 3 yrs +/- 2 months). The mean (SD) baseline value of Rint was 0.91 (0.20) kPa.L-1.s. Short-term repeatability and baseline variability were satisfactory for Rint (intraclass correlation coefficient = 0.6; mean intrasubject coefficient of variation = 13%). Although 10 of the 12 subjects obtained a significant response using Rint at maximal bronchoconstriction (i.e. SI > 2), overall, Rint was five times less sensitive than Ptc,O2 (geometric mean SI: Rint 3 vs Ptc,O2 16; p < 0.0001). Reversal of obstruction with administration of a bronchodilator was clearly demonstrated in almost all subjects: Rint after challenge (mean +/- SD) 1.25 (0.22) kPa.L-1.s; after salbutamol 0.78 (0.19) kPa.L-1.s; p < 0.001. In conclusion, the convenient interrupter resistance method appears more promising for detecting bronchodilator responses than induced bronchoconstriction in wheezy preschool children; however, measurement of transcutaneous oxygen tension provides a reliable indirect means of detecting induced airway obstruction in this age-group.
Potential Sexual Transmission of Zika Virus

In December 2013, during a Zika virus (ZIKV) outbreak in French Polynesia, a patient in Tahiti sought treatment for hematospermia, and ZIKV was isolated from his semen. ZIKV transmission by sexual intercourse has been previously suspected. This observation supports the possibility that ZIKV could be transmitted sexually.
Computational elucidation, mutational and hot spot-based designing of potential inhibitors against human acid-sensing ion channels (hASIC-1a) to treat various physiological conditions

Acid-sensing ion channels are ligand/proton-gated ion channels belonging to the family of the degenerin/epithelial Na+ channel (DEG/ENaC). They function as a sodium-selective pore for Ca2+ entry into neuronal cells during pathological conditions. The blocking of this channel has therapeutic importance, because at basal physiological pH (7.2), it is in a closed state and under a more acidic condition, and the ASIC1a ion channel is activated. To investigate the different states of the hASIC1a channel based on mutational analysis, structure-based virtual screening and molecular dynamics simulation studies. The system showed stability after 30 ns (after 1500 frame), and it was stabilized to an average value around 2. 2Å. During the simulation, the ion channel residues in persistent contact with toxin PcTx1 were D237, E238, D347, D351, E219 and E355. These residues are important physiologically for the activation of the channel. From in silico alanine scanning, the significant hotspots obtained in hASIC1 are E344, P347, F352, D351, E355 and E219. From the sitemap analysis, it was evident that the sitemap found one of the active sites at the PcTx1 binding site with a site score of 1.086 and a D-score of 1.035 for hASIC1. We obtained a few promising hits and final potential hits from the virtual screening in hASIC1 that made interactions with the residues in the acidic pocket (E344, P347, F352, D351, E355 and E219). Based on these studies, the hits and scaffolds of potential therapeutic interest against various pathological conditions are associated with hASIC1a for future studies.
Text Image Compression Using Soft Pattern Matching

We present a method for both lossless and lossy compression of bi-level images that consist mostly of printed or typed text. The key feature of the method is soft pattern matching, a way of making use of the information in previously encountered characters without risking the introduction of character substitution errors. We can obtain lossless compression which is about 20% better than that of the JBIG standard by direct application of this method. By allowing some loss based partly on the pattern matching using a technique called selective pixel reversal, we can obtain compression ratios about 2-4 times the compression ratios of JBIG and 3-8 times those of G3 facsimile with no visible loss of quality. If used in facsimile machines, these compression improvements would translate directly into communication cost reductions of the same factors, or into the capability of transmitting images at higher resolution with no increase in the number of bits sent.
Nonlinear analysis of contemporary and historic masonry vaulted elements externally strengthened by FRP

This paper addresses numerical modeling and nonlinear analysis of unreinforced masonry walls and vaults externally strengthened using fiber reinforced polymers (FRP). The aim of the research is to provide a simple method for design of strengthening interventions for masonry arched structures while considering the nonlinear behavior. Several brick masonry walls and vaults externally strengthened by FRP which have been previously tested experimentally are modeled using finite elements. Numerical modeling and nonlinear analysis are performed using commercial software. Description of the modeling, material characterization and solution parameters are given. The obtained numerical results demonstrate that externally applied FRP strengthening increased the ultimate capacity of the walls and vaults and improved their failure mode. The numerical results are in good agreement with the experimentally obtained ultimate failure load, maximum displacement and crack pattern; which demonstrates the capability of the proposed modeling scheme to simulate efficiently the actual behavior of FRP-strengthened masonry elements. Application is made on a historic masonry dome and the numerical analysis managed to explain its structural behavior before and after strengthening. The modeling approach may thus be regarded a practical and valid tool for design of strengthening interventions for contemporary or historic unreinforced masonry elements using externally bonded FRP.
Cellular and Molecular Targets of Menthol Actions

Menthol belongs to monoterpene class of a structurally diverse group of phytochemicals found in plant-derived essential oils. Menthol is widely used in pharmaceuticals, confectionary, oral hygiene products, pesticides, cosmetics, and as a flavoring agent. In addition, menthol is known to have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and analgesic effects. Recently, there has been renewed awareness in comprehending the biological and pharmacological effects of menthol. TRP channels have been demonstrated to mediate the cooling actions of menthol. There has been new evidence demonstrating that menthol can significantly influence the functional characteristics of a number of different kinds of ligand and voltage-gated ion channels, indicating that at least some of the biological and pharmacological effects of menthol can be mediated by alterations in cellular excitability. In this article, we examine the results of earlier studies on the actions of menthol with voltage and ligand-gated ion channels.
Evolving Petri Nets for Situation Recognition

Situation recognition is an important problem to address for developing newcapabilities in the surveillance domain. It is concerned with recognizing a priori deﬁned situations of interest, which can be of concurrent and temporal nature, possibly occurring in a continuous ﬂow of data and information. It is however a complex task to manually deﬁne what constitutes an interesting situation, and we therefore investigate the possibility of using genetic algorithms for evolving Petri nets for situation recognition. Our results show that: (1) it is possible to evolve complex Petri nets, (2) it is possible to increase the performance of manually designed Petri nets, and (3) a dynamic genome representation consisting of complex genes is beneﬁcial compared to a representation consisting of bit strings.
Features of the Antitumor Effect of Vaccinia Virus Lister Strain

Oncolytic abilities of vaccinia virus (VACV) served as a basis for the development of various recombinants for treating cancer; however, “natural” oncolytic properties of the virus are not examined in detail. Our study was conducted to know how the genetically unmodified L-IVP strain of VACV produces its antitumor effect. Human A431 carcinoma xenografts in nude mice and murine Ehrlich carcinoma in C57Bl mice were used as targets for VACV, which was injected intratumorally. A set of virological methods, immunohistochemistry, light and electron microscopy was used in the study. We found that in mice bearing A431 carcinoma, the L-IVP strain was observed in visceral organs within two weeks, but rapidly disappeared from the blood. The L-IVP strain caused decrease of sizes in both tumors, however, in different ways. Direct cell destruction by replicating virus plays a main role in regression of A431 carcinoma xenografts, while in Ehrlich carcinoma, which poorly supported VACV replication, the virus induced decrease of mitoses by pushing tumor cells into S-phase of cell cycle. Our study showed that genetically unmodified VACV possesses at least two mechanisms of antitumor effect: direct destruction of tumor cells and suppression of mitoses in tumor cells.
Need of Assessment of Outcomes in Cancer-Treating Centers: Specific Challenges in the Management of Pediatric Acute Leukemia in India

We read with interest the comments by Yadav et al [1] on management challenges involved in treating acute myeloid leukemia (AML) at their center. They reiterate several important aspects and difficulties specific to the developing world, especially India [2]. We believe that the following comments would be noteworthy. The authors suggest that outcomes of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) have improved up to 60% to 74%. However, the authors cite a single-center experience with modest number of patients. Earlier we have shown that although outcomes in ALL in India are improving, these results are certainly not generalizable to the entire nation and therapy abandonment and high rates of relapse and mortality continue to be major challenges [3]. Additionally, there is clear need of using contemporary risk-adapted treatment protocols in ALL. The authors discuss the management experience of pediatric AML at their center, which clearly adds to the body of existing and sparse literature from India. Although publication of outcomes is not mandatory, rigorous assessment of institutional outcomes is clearly important and helpful for further planning. The rate of abandonment at their institution is very high (54.9%). Further insights into the exact causes of therapy abandonment and loss to follow-up would be extremely useful to design urgent interventions [4] to prevent this high rate of dropout. More inputs from the authors as to the cost of therapy (which is likely several-fold higher) at their non–public-funded institution would provide useful information to shed light on the pattern of abandonment. Details of the treatment protocol and any modifications in doses and duration done to suit the logistics of administering intense therapy in a resource-limited setting would help other pediatric oncologists in India. With high treatment-related mortality, the authors report a very modest survival at their institution and rightly suggest the need of improving supportive care at their center. Especially, if those who abandoned therapy are included in the calculation of survival, the outcome would drop to 11.8% (6 alive out of 51 who presented to
Current Harmonics Compensation Based on Multiresonant Control in Synchronous Frames for Symmetrical  $n$-Phase Machines

Low-order odd current harmonics arise in practical multiphase drives due to machine and converter nonlinear behavior (e.g., deadtime and flux saturation). If the windings are distributed, some harmonics cause torque ripple, whereas others produce losses. The latter is aggravated by the small impedance in the no-torque subspaces. Current harmonics can be compensated without steady-state error by proportional-integral controllers in multiple synchronous frames (SFs); however, a heavy computational load is required. In three-phase systems, the computational burden of this multiple SF (MSF) scheme is often avoided by implementing instead resonant controllers (RCs) tuned at the harmonics that are multiples of six in an SF rotating with the fundamental frequency. A similar structure has been proposed for nonlinearities compensation in asymmetrical six-phase machines. This paper extends this multiple RC (MRC) strategy to symmetrical machines of any phase number. The optimum frequencies for the RCs and for the SF in each plane, so that the number of RCs is minimized, are established. Then, the computational load of the resulting generic MRC scheme is assessed and compared with that of the MSF structure. The conditions in which the former is particularly preferable over the latter are identified. Experimental results are provided.