Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Invariant Natural Killer T (iNKT) Cells in HAART-Treated, HIV-Positive Patients with Bone and Cardiovascular Impairment

Background Invariant Natural Killer T (iNKT) cells represent a determinant in the course of infections and diseases, however, their role in the pathogenesis of non-infectious co-morbidities in HIV-positive patients is unknown. Methods Flow cytometry was used to investigate iNKT cell frequency, phenotype and function in HIV-infected patients on HAART with bone and/or cardiovascular disorders and in HIV-positive controls free from co-morbidities. Results iNKT cells from subjects with bone and cardiovascular impairment expressed high levels of CD161 and predominantly secreted TNF. iNKT cells from individuals with bone disease alone did not show any distinctive phenotypical or functional characteristics. The functional capacity of iNKT cells in patients with cardiovascular disorder was impaired with no cytokine release upon stimulation. Conclusion iNKT cells may have a role in non-infectious co-morbidities in treated HIV disease, possibly through the exacerbation of inflammation. Further studies are needed to investigate iNKT cells in the pathogenesis of non-communicable disorders in HIV infection.
Jamming Attacks on Remote State Estimation in Cyber-Physical Systems: A Game-Theoretic Approach

We consider security issues in remote state estimation of Cyber-Physical Systems (CPS). A sensor node communicates with a remote estimator through a wireless channel which may be jammed by an external attacker. With energy constraints for both the sensor and the attacker, the interactive decision making process of when to send and when to attack is studied. We formulate a game-theoretic framework and prove that the optimal strategies for both sides constitute a Nash equilibrium of a zero-sum game. To tackle the computation complexity issues, we present a constraint-relaxed problem and provide corresponding solutions using Markov chain theory.
Fractional Laser Photothermolysis in the Treatment of Skin Defects: Possibilities and Effectiveness (Review)

For skin defect treatment and rejuvenation the ablative laser skin resurfacing with a CO2 laser is widely applied in cosmetology and dermatology. However this treatment can result in the risk of undesirable side effects and requires a long-term recovery after the procedure. When non-ablative laser skin rejuvenation is used as an alternative, the level of safety is increased, however the efficacy of the procedure is considerably reduced. The use of fractional laser photothermolysis is a particularly important step in the development of laser technology for cosmetology and dermatology. Due to the creation of only microscopic areas of thermal damage under the laser exposure, this method results in safe, quick healing and complete recovery of the skin without any undesirable side effects. The review presented here illustrate the high efficacy of the application of both ablative and non-ablative fractional laser photothermolysis for wrinkles reduction, for general improvement of the skin appearance, for the abnormal pigmentation treatment, and the removal or appearance improvement of atrophic scars from acne as well as in areas of skin stretching (striae).
FATIGUE-LIFE DISTRIBUTIONS OF CONCRETE FOR VARIOUS STRESS LEVELS

The paper presents a study of fatigue-life distributions of concrete for various levels of applied stresses. An experiment was conducted to obtain the fatigue lives of concrete at various given stress levels. The concrete beam specimens were tested under 4-point flexural loading. Three different levels of applied fatigue stresses were considered. The present study indicates that the probabilistic distributions of fatigue life of concrete depend on the level of applied fatigue stress. The shapes of the Weibull distribution to describe the fatigue life of concrete differ for various levels of applied stresses. This effect must be taken into account in realistic fatigue reliablity analysis to secure adequate fatigue resistance of concrete structures. The graphnical method, the method of moment, and the method of maximum likelihood estimation are shown to yield very similar values of distribution parameters for the present fatigue data. The shape parameter of the Weibull distribution for the fatigue life of concrete ranges from 2.0 to 4.0, depending on the level of applied fatigue stress.
Increased Affinity for RNA Targets Evolved Early in Animal and Plant Dicer Lineages through Different Structural Mechanisms

Abstract Understanding the structural basis for evolutionary changes in protein function is central to molecular evolutionary biology and can help determine the extent to which functional convergence occurs through similar or different structural mechanisms. Here, we combine ancestral sequence reconstruction with functional characterization and structural modeling to directly examine the evolution of sequence-structure-function across the early differentiation of animal and plant Dicer/DCL proteins, which perform the first molecular step in RNA interference by identifying target RNAs and processing them into short interfering products. We found that ancestral Dicer/DCL proteins evolved similar increases in RNA target affinities as they diverged independently in animal and plant lineages. In both cases, increases in RNA target affinities were associated with sequence changes that anchored the RNA’s 5′phosphate, but the structural bases for 5′phosphate recognition were different in animal versus plant lineages. These results highlight how molecular-functional evolutionary convergence can derive from the evolution of unique protein structures implementing similar biochemical mechanisms.
Characterization and Expression Analysis of MicroRNAs in the Tube Foot of Sea Cucumber Apostichopus japonicus

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a class of endogenous non-coding small RNA with average length of 22 nucleotides, participating in the post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression. In this study, we report the identification and characterization of miRNAs in the tube foot of sea cucumber (Apostichopus japonicus) by next generation sequencing with Illumina HiSeq 2000 platform. Through the bioinformatic analysis, we identified 260 conserved miRNAs and six novel miRNAs from the tube foot small RNA transcriptome. Quantitative realtime PCR (qRT-PCR) was performed to characterize the specific expression in the tube foot. The results indicated that four miRNAs, including miR-29a, miR-29b, miR-2005 and miR-278-3p, were significantly up-regulated in the tube foot. The target genes of the four specifically expressed miRNAs were predicted in silico and validated by performing qRT-PCR. Gene ontology (GO) and KEGG pathway analyses with the target genes of these four miRNAs were conducted to further understand the regulatory function in the tube foot. This is the first study to profile the miRNA transcriptome of the tube foot in sea cucumber. This work will provide valuable genomic resources to understand the mechanisms of gene regulation in the tube foot, and will be useful to assist the molecular breeding in sea cucumber.
A study on the ageing of polymeric materials in the presence of space charge

The use of polymeric power cables for high voltage direct current HVDC has become increasingly popular for renewable power sources such as offshore wind farms. The long term reliability of polymeric cables operating under DC conditions is still unknown and therefore of concern to the industry. However, there is no an explicit consideration of how the injected charges can cause effects to the prediction of the life-time. Thus, it is important to develop an ageing model can assist of understanding the effect of these charges on the insulating material. Regarding to the polymeric material that are used as an electrical insulation, the presence of space charges could be the consequence of material degradations that are thermally activated and accelerated by the presence of electric field. The dynamics of space charge, therefore, can be potentially used to characterise the material. In this direction, an ageing model in which parameters have clear physical meanings has been developed and applied to the material to extrapolate the lifetime. The kinetic equation has been established based on charge trapping and detrapping of the injected charge from electrodes. The local electromechanical energy stored in the region surrounding the trap reduces the trap depth with a value related to the electric field. At a level where the internal electric field exceeds the detrapping field in the material, an electron can be efficiently detrapped and the released energy per detrapped charge can cause a weak bond or chain scission i.e. material degradation. The model has been applied to the electro-thermally aged low density polyethylene LDPE film samples. To evaluate the damages structure during ageing process, a simulation work was performed on the developed ageing model to investigate the susceptibility of such parameters that can cause an explicit effect to the ageing process. The simulation work is performed on a two-dimensional square grid that is assumed to represent a part of the insulating material. The mesh structure is divided using the finite element method. Based on the nature of polyethylene, its structure is semi-crystalline with a spatially varying morphology. Consequently, each bond in the grid is assigned a set of parameter values. One of these parameters is the critical fraction of trapped charges C*, which needs to be reached in order to fail a bond. It is chosen at random values from a range centred on the characteristic value obtained from the experimental results. This indicates that the insulation life at varying parameter C* is lower than its characteristic value.
Co‐speech gestures influence neural activity in brain regions associated with processing semantic information

Everyday communication is accompanied by visual information from several sources, including co‐speech gestures, which provide semantic information listeners use to help disambiguate the speaker's message. Using fMRI, we examined how gestures influence neural activity in brain regions associated with processing semantic information. The BOLD response was recorded while participants listened to stories under three audiovisual conditions and one auditory‐only (speech alone) condition. In the first audiovisual condition, the storyteller produced gestures that naturally accompany speech. In the second, the storyteller made semantically unrelated hand movements. In the third, the storyteller kept her hands still. In addition to inferior parietal and posterior superior and middle temporal regions, bilateral posterior superior temporal sulcus and left anterior inferior frontal gyrus responded more strongly to speech when it was further accompanied by gesture, regardless of the semantic relation to speech. However, the right inferior frontal gyrus was sensitive to the semantic import of the hand movements, demonstrating more activity when hand movements were semantically unrelated to the accompanying speech. These findings show that perceiving hand movements during speech modulates the distributed pattern of neural activation involved in both biological motion perception and discourse comprehension, suggesting listeners attempt to find meaning, not only in the words speakers produce, but also in the hand movements that accompany speech. Hum Brain Mapp, 2009. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
“A Tale of Two Planes”: Deep Versus Superficial Serratus Plane Block for Postmastectomy Pain Syndrome

Introduction Postmastectomy pain syndrome (PMPS) is a significant burden for breast cancer survivors. Although multiple therapies have been described, an evolving field of serratus anterior plane blocks has been described in this population. We describe the addition of the deep serratus anterior plane block (DSPB) for PMPS. Methods Four patients with history of PMPS underwent DSPB for anterior chest wall pain. A retrospective review of these patients' outcomes was obtained through postprocedure interviews. Results Three of the patients previously had a superficial serratus anterior plane block, which was not as efficacious as the DSPB. The fourth patient had a superficial serratus anterior plane that was difficult to separate with hydrodissection but had improved pain control with a DSPB. Conclusions We illustrate 4 patients who have benefitted from a DSPB and describe indications that this block may be more efficacious than a superficial serratus plane block. Further study is recommended to understand the intercostal nerve branches within the lateral and anterior muscular chest wall planes.
Mechanical properties and morphology of high‐density polyethylene/linear low‐density polyethylene blend

The binary blend of high-density polyethylene (HDPE) and linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE) in the range of composition from 100% HDPE to 100% LLDPE has been investigated for tensile and flexural properties and the morphology in the deformed state on tensile fracture. Tensile properties (initial modulus, yield stress, and elongation-at-yield, ultimate tensile strength and elongation-at-break, and work of yield and work of rupture) and flexural properties (flexural modulus and flexural yield stress) are studied as a function of blend composition. Behavior, in terms of these properties, is distinguishable in three zones of blend composition, viz. (i) HDPE-rich blend, (ii) LLDPE-rich blend, and (iii) the middle zone. In zones (i) and (ii), the variations of these properties are more or less linear, whereas in the middle region [i.e., zone (iii)], there is a reversal of trends in variation or sometimes a behavior opposite to the expected one. The results are explained on the basis of the effects of cocrystallization and the presence of octene-containing segments in the amorphous phase. Scanning electron micrographs of the tensile fracture surfaces are presented to illustrate the occurrence of transverse bands interconnecting the fibrils.
β-Hairpin-Mediated Formation of Structurally Distinct Multimers of Neurotoxic Prion Peptides

Protein misfolding disorders are associated with conformational changes in specific proteins, leading to the formation of potentially neurotoxic amyloid fibrils. During pathogenesis of prion disease, the prion protein misfolds into β-sheet rich, protease-resistant isoforms. A key, hydrophobic domain within the prion protein, comprising residues 109–122, recapitulates many properties of the full protein, such as helix-to-sheet structural transition, formation of fibrils and cytotoxicity of the misfolded isoform. Using all-atom, molecular simulations, it is demonstrated that the monomeric 109–122 peptide has a preference for α-helical conformations, but that this peptide can also form β-hairpin structures resulting from turns around specific glycine residues of the peptide. Altering a single amino acid within the 109–122 peptide (A117V, associated with familial prion disease) increases the prevalence of β-hairpin formation and these observations are replicated in a longer peptide, comprising residues 106–126. Multi-molecule simulations of aggregation yield different assemblies of peptide molecules composed of conformationally-distinct monomer units. Small molecular assemblies, consistent with oligomers, comprise peptide monomers in a β-hairpin-like conformation and in many simulations appear to exist only transiently. Conversely, larger assemblies are comprised of extended peptides in predominately antiparallel β-sheets and are stable relative to the length of the simulations. These larger assemblies are consistent with amyloid fibrils, show cross-β structure and can form through elongation of monomer units within pre-existing oligomers. In some simulations, assemblies containing both β-hairpin and linear peptides are evident. Thus, in this work oligomers are on pathway to fibril formation and a preference for β-hairpin structure should enhance oligomer formation whilst inhibiting maturation into fibrils. These simulations provide an important new atomic-level model for the formation of oligomers and fibrils of the prion protein and suggest that stabilization of β-hairpin structure may enhance cellular toxicity by altering the balance between oligomeric and fibrillar protein assemblies.
What shall I do now? State-dependent variations of life-history traits with aging in Wandering Albatrosses

Allocation decisions depend on an organism's condition which can change with age. Two opposite changes in life-history traits are predicted in the presence of senescence: either an increase in breeding performance in late age associated with terminal investment or a decrease due to either life-history trade-offs between current breeding and future survival or decreased efficiency at old age. Age variation in several life-history traits has been detected in a number of species, and demographic performances of individuals in a given year are influenced by their reproductive state the previous year. Few studies have, however, examined state-dependent variation in life-history traits with aging, and they focused mainly on a dichotomy of successful versus failed breeding and non-breeding birds. Using a 50-year dataset on the long-lived quasi-biennial breeding wandering albatross, we investigated variations in life-history traits with aging according to a gradient of states corresponding to potential costs of reproduction the previous year (in ascending order): non-breeding birds staying at sea or present at breeding grounds, breeding birds that failed early, late or were successful. We used multistate models to study survival and decompose reproduction into four components (probabilities of return, breeding, hatching, and fledging), while accounting for imperfect detection. Our results suggest the possible existence of two strategies in the population: strict biennial breeders that exhibited almost no reproductive senescence and quasi-biennial breeders that showed an increased breeding frequency with a strong and moderate senescence on hatching and fledging probabilities, respectively. The patterns observed on survival were contrary to our predictions, suggesting an influence of individual quality rather than trade-offs between reproduction and survival at late ages. This work represents a step further into understanding the evolutionary ecology of senescence and its relationship with costs of reproduction at the population level. It paves the way for individual-based studies that could show the importance of intra-population heterogeneity in those processes.
Atf3 links loss of epithelial polarity to defects in cell differentiation and cytoarchitecture

Interplay between apicobasal cell polarity modules and the cytoskeleton is critical for differentiation and integrity of epithelia. However, this coordination is poorly understood at the level of gene regulation by transcription factors. Here, we establish the Drosophila activating transcription factor 3 (atf3) as a cell polarity response gene acting downstream of the membrane-associated Scribble polarity complex. Loss of the tumor suppressors Scribble or Dlg1 induces atf3 expression via aPKC but independent of Jun-N-terminal kinase (JNK) signaling. Strikingly, removal of Atf3 from Dlg1 deficient cells restores polarized cytoarchitecture, levels and distribution of endosomal trafficking machinery, and differentiation. Conversely, excess Atf3 alters microtubule network, vesicular trafficking and the partition of polarity proteins along the apicobasal axis. Genomic and genetic approaches implicate Atf3 as a regulator of cytoskeleton organization and function, and identify Lamin C as one of its bona fide target genes. By affecting structural features and cell morphology, Atf3 functions in a manner distinct from other transcription factors operating downstream of disrupted cell polarity. Author Summary Epithelial cells form sheets and line both the outside and inside of our body. Their proper development and function require the asymmetric distribution of cellular components from the top to the bottom, known as apicobasal polarization. As loss of polarity hallmarks a majority of cancers in humans understanding how epithelia respond to a collapse of the apicobasal axis is of great interest. Here, we show that in the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster, the breakdown of epithelial polarity engages Activating transcription factor 3 (Atf3), a protein that directly binds the DNA and regulates gene expression. We demonstrate that many of the pathological consequences of disturbed polarity require Atf3, as its loss in this context results in normalization of cellular architecture, vesicle trafficking and differentiation. Using unbiased genome-wide approaches we identify the genetic program controlled by Atf3 and experimentally verify select candidates. Given the evolutionary conservation of Atf3 between flies and man, we believe that our findings in the Drosophila model will contribute to a better understanding of diseases stemming from compromised epithelial polarity.
The determination of the levels of burnout syndrome, organizational commitment, and job satisfaction of the health workers

Context: The concept of burnout is an important element for efficiency in occupational groups such as health and education, which necessitate constant communication with people and have a busy schedule. Aims: The determination of the levels of burnout syndrome, organizational commitment, and job satisfaction of the health workers. Materials and Methods: A questionnaire consisting of four parts was prepared so as to measure the levels of organizational commitment, job satisfaction, and burnout of the medical staff of the institution. The data for this research were gained by a questionnaire sent to 370 medical staff (doctors, nurses, contract staff, and other employees). Statistical Analysis Used: Kolmogorov Smirnov test, t-test, ANOVA, Tukey multiple comparison test and Pearson's correlation analysis were used to this study. Results: The average age of the employees taking part in the questionnaire was calculated as 34.30 years (min: 18 years, max: 59 years). The proportional value of the individuals with their 0-5 years working period in the institution was observed as 58.1%. An individual's interior work satisfaction, education level, hours worked at the hospital and their titles are also statistically important (P< 0.05). There is a positive correlation and significant relation between medical staffs' emotional exhaustion and desensitization (r = 0.573). There is a positive correlation and significant relation between normative commitment sub dimension, interior and exterior job satisfaction (r = 0.449, r = 0.472). Conclusions: Efforts to reduce the job burnout and psychological support for health care workers support motivation in order to provide better services to increase significantly. Thus, both personal productivity will be increased, and gain will be obtained in the institutional sense.