Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Complex Interaction of Deferasirox and Pythium insidiosum: Iron-Dependent Attenuation of Growth In Vitro and Immunotherapy-Like Enhancement of Immune Responses In Vivo

Pythium insidiosum iron acquisition mechanisms are unknown. We previously showed that the iron chelator deferasirox had weak activity in vitro and in rabbits with experimental pythiosis. Here we show that deferasirox causes damage to P. insidiosum hyphae in vitro, but that activity is diminished in the presence of exogenous iron. The tissue activity of the proinflammatory enzyme adenosine deaminase and the histological pattern observed in pythiosis lesions of rabbits treated with deferasirox were similar to the ones in animals treated with immunotherapy.
Insulin Responses to Intravenous Glucose and the Hyperglycemic Clamp in Cystic Fibrosis Patients with Different Degrees of Glucose Tolerance

ABSTRACT: The relationship between altered insulin secretion and impaired glucose tolerance was studied in 32 cystic fibrosis patients, 16 men and 16 women, aged 8–26 y, using oral and i.v. glucose tolerance tests and a hyperglycemic glucose clamp (10 mmol/L). Seven of these subjects were already being treated with insulin; seven had fasting blood glucose levels below 7.2 mmol/L but satisfied diabetic criteria at the oral glucose tolerance test; glucose tolerance was impaired in 13 subjects and normal in five. The insulin responses to the two i.v. glucose stimuli were inversely correlated with the plasma glucose levels (60 and 120 min) and the area under the curve of the oral glucose tolerance test. However, the acute insulin response to i.v. glucose was severely altered in patients with impaired glucose tolerance, whereas plasma insulin levels during the hyperglycemic clamp did not differ from those of healthy subjects. The responses to the two stimuli were dramatically low in the diabetic patients. These results suggest that cystic fibrosis patients with normal or impaired glucose tolerance retain their capacity to secrete insulin. Alterations in the acute phase of glucose-stimulated insulin secretion seem to be principally responsible for the early impairment in glucose tolerance.
Comparison of the effects of electrical field stimulation and low-level laser therapy on bone loss in spinal cord-injured rats.

OBJECTIVE This study investigated the effects of low-level laser therapy (LLLT) and electrical stimulation (ES) on bone loss in spinal cord-injured rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS Thirty-seven male Wistar rats were divided into four groups: standard control group (CG); spinal cord-injured control (SC); spinal cord-injured treated with laser (SCL; GaAlAs, 830 nm, CW, 30 mW/cm, 250 J/cm(2)); and spinal cord-injured treated with electrical field stimulation (SCE; 1.5 MHz, 1:4 duty cycles, 30 mW, 20 min). Biomechanical, densitometric, and morphometric analyses were performed. RESULTS SC rats showed a significant decrease in bone mass, biomechanical properties, and morphometric parameters (versus CG). SCE rats showed significantly higher values of inner diameter and internal and external areas of tibia diaphyses; and the SCL group showed a trend toward the same result (versus SC). No increase was found in either mechanical or densitometric parameters. CONCLUSION We conclude that the mentioned treatments were able to initiate a positive bone-tissue response, maybe through stimulation of osteoblasts, which was able to determine the observed morphometric modifications. However, the evoked tissue response could not determine either biomechanical or densitometric modifications.
Host-Toxin Interactions Involving EspC and Pet, Two Serine Protease Autotransporters of the Enterobacteriaceae

EspC and Pet are toxins secreted by the diarrheagenic enteropathogenic and enteroaggregative Escherichia coli pathotypes, respectively. Both toxins have a molecular mass around 110 kDa and belong to the same protein family called Serine Protease Autotransporters of the Enterobacteriaceae (SPATE). Furthermore, both toxins act within the cytosol of intoxicated epithelial cells to disrupt the architecture of the actin cytoskeleton. This cytopathic and enterotoxic effect results from toxin cleavage of the actin-binding protein fodrin, although the two toxins recognize different cleavage sites on fodrin. EspC and Pet also have dramatically different mechanisms of entering the target cell which appear dependent upon the E. coli pathotype. In this review, we compare/contrast EspC and Pet in regards to their mode of delivery into the target cell, their effects on fodrin and the actin cytoskeleton, and their possible effects on the physiology of the intestinal epithelial cell.
Nickel-Catalyzed Ethylene Copolymerization with Vinylalkoxysilanes: A Computational Study

Since the discovery of α-diimine catalysts in 1995, an extensive series of Brookhart-type complexes have shown their excellence in catalyzing ethylene polymerizations with remarkable activity and a high molecular weight. However, although this class of palladium complexes has proven proficiency in catalyzing ethylene copolymerization with various polar monomers, the α-diimine nickel catalysts have generally exhibited a much worse performance in these copolymerizations compared to their palladium counterparts. Recently, Brookhart et al. reported a notable exception, demonstrating that α-diimine nickel catalysts could catalyze the ethylene copolymerization with some vinylalkoxysilanes effectively, producing functionalized polyethylene incorporating trialkoxysilane (-Si(OR)3) groups. This breakthrough is significant since Pd-catalyzed copolymerizations are commercially less usable due to the high cost of palladium. Thus, the utilization of Ni, given its abundance in raw materials and cost-effectiveness, is a landmark in ethylene/polar vinyl monomer copolymerization. Inspired by these findings, we used density functional theory (DFT) calculations to investigate the mechanistic study of ethylene copolymerization with vinyltrimethoxysilane (VTMoS) catalyzed by Brookhart-type nickel catalysts, aiming to elucidate the molecular-level understanding of this unique reaction. Initially, the nickel complexes and cationic active species were optimized through DFT calculations. Subsequently, we explored the mechanisms including the chain initiation, chain propagation, and chain termination of ethylene homopolymerization and copolymerization catalyzed by Brookhart-type complexes. Finally, we conducted an energetic analysis of both the in-chain and chain-end of silane enchainment. It was found that chain initiation is the dominant step in the ethylene homopolymerization catalyzed by the α-diimine Ni complex. The 1,2- and 2,1-insertion of vinylalkoxysilane exhibit similar barriers, explaining the fact that both five-membered and four-membered chelates were identified experimentally. After the VTMoS insertion, the barriers of ethylene reinsertion become higher, indicating that this step is the rate-determining step, which could be attributed to the steric hindrance between the incoming ethylene and the bulky silane substrate. We have also reported the energetic analysis of the distribution of polar substrates. The dominant pathway of chain-end -Si(OR)3 incorporation is suggested as chain-walking → ring-opening → ethylene insertion, and the preference of chain-end -Si(OR)3 incorporation is primarily attributed to the steric repulsion between the pre-inserted silane group and the incoming ethylene molecule, reducing the likelihood of in-chain incorporation.
Deposition Rates of Fine and Coarse Particles in Residential Buildings: Literature Review and Measurements in an Occupied Townhouse | NIST

Several studies have shown the importance of particle losses in real homes due to deposition and filtration; however, none have quantitatively shown the impact of using a central forced air fan and in-duct filter on particle loss rates. In an attempt to provide such data, we measured the deposition of fine and coarse particles following specific source events in an occupied townhouse and also in an unoccupied test house. Experiments were run with three different sources (cooking with a gas stove, citronella candle, pouring kitty litter), with the central heating and air conditioning (HAC) fan on or off, and with two different types of in-duct filters (electrostatic precipitator and ordinary furnace filter). These tests resulted in a database of deposition rates for particles ranging from 0.3 µ m to 10 µ m under a wide range of occupancy conditions. Particle size, HAC fan operation, and the electrostatic precipitator had significant effects on particle loss rates. The standard furnace filter had no effect on loss rates. Surprisingly, the type of source (combustion vs. mechanical generation) and the type of furnishings (fully furnished including carpet vs. largely unfurnished including mostly bare floor) also had no measurable effect on the deposition rates of particles of comparable size. With the HAC fan off, average deposition rates varied from 0.3 h -1 for the smallest particle range (0.3 µ m to 0.5 µ m) to 5.2 h -1 for particles greater than 10 µ m. Operation of the central HAC fan approximately doubled these rates for particles < 5 µ m, and increased rates by 2 h -1 for the larger particles. An in-duct electrostatic precipitator increased the loss rates compared to the fan-off condition by factors of 5 to 10 for particles < 2.5 µ m, and by a factor of 3 for the larger particles.
Aldosterone Dysregulation With Aging Predicts Renal Vascular Function and Cardiovascular Risk

Aging and abnormal aldosterone regulation are both associated with vascular disease. We hypothesized that aldosterone dysregulation influences the age-related risk of renal vascular and cardiovascular disease. We conducted an analysis of 562 subjects who underwent detailed investigations under conditions of liberal and restricted dietary sodium intake (1124 visits) in the General Clinical Research Center. Aldosterone regulation was characterized by the ratio of maximal suppression to stimulation (supine serum aldosterone on a liberal sodium diet divided by the same measure on a restricted sodium diet). We previously demonstrated that higher levels of this Sodium-modulated Aldosterone Suppression-Stimulation Index (SASSI) indicate greater aldosterone dysregulation. Renal plasma flow (RPF) was determined via p-aminohippurate clearance to assess basal renal hemodynamics and the renal vascular responses to dietary sodium manipulation and angiotensin II infusion. Cardiovascular risk was calculated using the Framingham Risk Score. In univariate linear regression, older age (&bgr;=−4.60; P<0.0001) and higher SASSI (&bgr;=−58.63; P=0.001) predicted lower RPF and a blunted RPF response to sodium loading and angiotensin II infusion. We observed a continuous, independent, multivariate-adjusted interaction between age and SASSI, where the inverse relationship between SASSI and RPF was most apparent with older age (P<0.05). Higher SASSI and lower RPF independently predicted higher Framingham Risk Score (P<0.0001) and together displayed an additive effect. Aldosterone regulation and age may interact to mediate renal vascular disease. Our findings suggest that the combination of aldosterone dysregulation and renal vascular dysfunction could additively increase the risk of future cardiovascular outcomes; therefore, aldosterone dysregulation may represent a modifiable mechanism of age-related vascular disease.
The composition of ileostomy fluid

The paper presents data on the sodium, potassium, and water content of ileostomy dejecta from 12 patients with new ileostomies and six patients with established ones. The effects of administration of electrolytes and codeine on these parameters are described. The literature on the chemistry of ileostomy is critically reviewed.
A characterization of the four Chebyshev orthogonal families

We obtain a property which characterizes the Chebyshev orthogonal polynomials of first, second, third, and fourth kind. Indeed, we prove that the four Chebyshev sequences are the unique classical orthogonal polynomial families such that their linear combinations, with fixed length and constant coefficients, can be orthogonal polynomial sequences.
Registration, calibration and blending in creating high quality panoramas

This paper presents a system for creating a full 360-degree panorama from rectilinear images captured from a single nodal position. The solution to the problem is divided into three steps. The first step registers all overlapping images projectively. A combination of a gradient-based optimization method and a correlation-based linear search is found to be robust even in cases of drastic exposure differences and small amount of parallax. The second step takes the projective matrices and their associated hessian matrices as inputs, and calibrates the internal and external parameters of every image through a global optimization. The objective is to minimize the overall image discrepancies in all overlap regions while converting projective matrices into camera parameters such as focal length, aspect ratio, image center, 3D orientation, etc. The third step re-projects all images onto a panorama by a Laplacian-pyramid-based blending. The purpose of blending is to provide a smooth transition between images and eliminate small residues of misalignments resulting from parallax or imperfect pairwise registrations. The blending masks are generated automatically through the grassfire transform. At the end, we briefly explain the necessary human interface for initialization, feedback and manual options.
Diet and Lifestyle Intervention-Induced Pattern of Weight Loss Related to Reduction in Low-Attenuation Coronary Plaque Burden

Background: Despite extensive research on body weight and cardiovascular risk, the mechanistic relationship between weight loss and coronary plaque modification has not been adequately addressed. This study aimed to determine the association between body composition dynamics and low-attenuation coronary plaque (LAP) burden. Methods: Eighty-nine participants (40% women, 60 ± 7.7 years) of the Dietary Intervention to Stop Coronary Atherosclerosis in Computed Tomography (DISCO-CT) study with non-obstructive atherosclerosis with nonobstructive atherosclerosis confirmed in computed tomography angiography (CCTA), a randomized (1:1), prospective, single-center study were included into the analysis. Patients were randomly assigned to either experimental arm (intensive diet and lifestyle intervention atop optimal medical therapy, n = 45) or control arm (optimal medical therapy alone, n = 44) over 66.8 ± 13.7 weeks. Changes (∆) in body mass (BM) and body composition parameters, including total body fat (TBF), skeletal muscle mass (SMM), and fat-to-muscle ratio (FMR), measured with bioimpedance analyzer were compared with CCTA-measured ∆LAP. Coronary plaque analysis was performed using the 2 × 192 dual-energy scanner (Somatom Force, Siemens, Germany), while quantitative coronary plaque measurements were performed using a semi-automated plaque analysis software system (QAngioCT v3.1.3.13, Medis Medical Imaging Systems, Leiden, The Netherlands). Results: Significant intergroup differences were found for ∆BM (−3.6 ± 4.9 kg in the experimental vs. −1.4 ± 2.9 kg in the control group, p = 0.015), ∆TBF (−3.4 ± 4.8% in the experimental vs. 1.1 ± 5.5% in the control arm, p < 0.001), ∆SMM (1.9 ± 2.8% in the experimental vs. −0.7 ± 3.2% in the control arm, p < 0.001), and FMR [−12.9 (−21.2; −4.3)% in the experimental vs. 3.1 (−5.3; 10.7)% in the control arm, p < 0.001]. ∆LAP did not differ significantly between the study arms; however, in the whole study population, ∆LAP was positively correlated with ∆BM, ∆TBF, and ∆FMR (r = 0.45, p < 0.001; r = 0.300, p = 0.004; r = 0.233, p = 0.028, respectively), and negatively with ∆SMM (r = −0.285, p = 0.007). Multivariate linear regression analysis revealed the association of ∆LAP with ∆BM, ∆TBF, and ∆FMR. Conclusions: The study intervention resulted in BM reduction characterized by fat loss, skeletal muscle gain, and increased FMR. This weight loss pattern may lead to a reduction in high-risk coronary plaque. Compared to a simple weight control, tracking body composition changes over time can provide valuable information on adverse coronary plaque modification.
Output attitude tracking of a formation of spacecraft

This paper will consider the control of spacecraft in a leader-follower formation using attitude measurements only. To analyze the formation under non vanishing disturbances, the concept of uniform practical exponential stability is defined. To ease the Lyapunov analysis a new theorem is provided, giving sufficient conditions for systems that present a cascaded structure to satisfy this definition. Finally, output control is applied to both the leader and follower spacecraft and the stability of the overall system is analyzed through the application of this new result.
Split Radix Algorithm for Length  $6^{m}$ DFT

Discrete Fourier transform (DFT) is widespread used in many fields of science and engineering. DFT is implemented with efficient algorithms categorized as fast Fourier transform. A fast algorithm is proposed for computing a length-N=6m DFT. The proposed algorithm is a blend of radix-3 and radix-6 FFT. It is a variant of split radix and can be flexibly implemented a length 2r×3m DFT. Novel order permutation of sub-DFTs and reduction of the number of arithmetic operations enhance the practicability of the proposed algorithm. It inherently provides a wider choice of accessible FFT's lengths.
A mathematical model of collaborative reputation systems

This paper provides a mathematical framework for modelling collaborative reputation systems (CRSs), which are useful in many fields of electronic commerce. A CRS is an algorithm that, at discrete points in time, receives in input from a set of users some ratings of a set of objects and generates a reputation for both the raters and the evaluated objects. Sufficient conditions for the convergence of a CRS are given, using basic results of the fixed point theory, and in particular for a broad class of iterative filtering methods and their related CRSs, generalizing some previous results. Finally, we analyse a simple kind of CRS which allows to use a priori information on the reliability of a subset of raters. Experimental results provide evidence that such CRSs exhibit high level of robustness against unfair raters.
Late development of vitelliform lesions and flecks in a patient with best disease: clinicopathologic correlation.

OBJECTIVE To provide the clinicopathologic findings of a patient who developed the clinical characteristics of Best disease (typically considered a juvenile macular degeneration) at the age of 75 years after being documented to be ophthalmoscopically normal at the age of 51 years. DESIGN A member of a large family with Best disease, possessing a Y227N mutation in the VMD2 gene (the gene responsible for the disease, which encodes the bestrophin protein), developed small vitelliform lesions in both eyes at the age of 75 years and later developed yellow flecklike depositions at the level of the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE), which were also identified in fundus photographs of family members. The patient died at the age of 93 years, and the histological features of the macular lesion and peripheral flecks were examined. RESULTS Histopathologically, the retinal outer nuclear layer was attenuated, particularly in the macula. This attenuation was frequently associated with normal RPE. A large area of photoreceptor degeneration was present in the central macula, with loss of the underlying RPE cells. Outside of this region, the RPE density was within normal limits. The peripheral flecks were clusters of basal laminar deposits and drusen. Bestrophin immunohistochemistry revealed labeling along both the basolateral and apical membranes of the RPE. CONCLUSIONS Findings characteristic of Best disease may not manifest in a molecularly affected individual until late in life. Mutations in bestrophin appear to lead to extracellular deposit formation outside the macula in some families. The distribution of bestrophin in the RPE suggests that the protein may be mistargeted in those with Best disease who have the Y227N mutation, and that this may be a cause of the associated RPE and photoreceptor dysfunction.
Total phenolics content and Phenolic profile of Walnut (Juglans regia L.) Leaves in different Cultivars Grown In Iran

Walnut leaves constitute a good source of healthy compounds, namely phenolics, suggesting that it could be useful in the prevention of diseases in which free radicals are implicated. In this study walnut (Juglans regia L.) leaves from eleven different cultivars (Mayette, Fernor, Mellanaise, Elit, Orientis, Lara, Hartley, Franquette, Parisienne, Arco, Marbot) were studied for their phenolic compounds. The evolution of major phenolic compounds was monitored from May to September. Two extractive procedures were assayed and the best results were obtained using acidified water (pH 2) and a solid phase extraction column purification step. Qualitative analysis was performed by HPLC-DAD/MS and, in all samples; nine phenolic compounds were identified (3-caffeoylquinic, 3-p-coumaroylquinic and 4-pcoumaroylquinic acids, quercetin 3-galactoside, quercetin 3-arabinoside, quercetin 3-xyloside, quercetin 3-rhamnoside, quercetin 3-pentoside and kaempferol 3-pentoside). Quantification of phenolic compounds was performed by HPLC-DAD, which revealed that the highest content of phenolics was found in May and July the quercetin 3-galactoside was always the major compound while 4-pcoumaroylquinic acid was the minor one. In addition, Franquette cultivars total phenolic content was the highest among all cultivars.
Structure and Function of ABCG2-Rich Extracellular Vesicles Mediating Multidrug Resistance

Multidrug resistance (MDR) is a major impediment to curative cancer chemotherapy. The ATP-Binding Cassette transporters ABCG2, ABCB1 and ABCC2 form a unique defense network against multiple structurally and functionally distinct chemotherapeutics, thereby resulting in MDR. Thus, deciphering novel mechanisms of MDR and their overcoming is a major goal of cancer research. Recently we have shown that overexpression of ABCG2 in the membrane of novel extracellular vesicles (EVs) in breast cancer cells results in mitoxantrone resistance due to its dramatic sequestration in EVs. However, nothing is known about EVs structure, biogenesis and their ability to concentrate multiple antitumor agents. To this end, we here found that EVs are structural and functional homologues of bile canaliculi, are apically localized, sealed structures reinforced by an actin-based cytoskeleton and secluded from the extracellular milieu by the tight junction proteins occludin and ZO-1. Apart from ABCG2, ABCB1 and ABCC2 were also selectively targeted to the membrane of EVs. Moreover, Ezrin-Radixin-Moesin protein complex selectively localized to the border of the EVs membrane, suggesting a key role for the tethering of MDR pumps to the actin cytoskeleton. The ability of EVs to concentrate and sequester different antitumor drugs was also explored. Taking advantage of the endogenous fluorescence of anticancer drugs, we found that EVs-forming breast cancer cells display high level resistance to topotecan, imidazoacridinones and methotrexate via efficient intravesicular drug concentration hence sequestering them away from their cellular targets. Thus, we identified a new modality of anticancer drug compartmentalization and resistance in which multiple chemotherapeutics are actively pumped from the cytoplasm and highly concentrated within the lumen of EVs via a network of MDR transporters differentially targeted to the EVs membrane. We propose a composite model for the structure and function of MDR pump-rich EVs in cancer cells and their ability to confer multiple anticancer drug resistance.