Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Pterins as Sensors of Response to the Application of Fe3+-Dextran in Piglets

The aim of the presented study was to assess the effect of a single administration of Fe3+-dextran on immune cell counts and pterin biomolecule production as novel sensors of the piglets’ immune system activation, and to determine concentrations of cortisol, a traditional hormonal biosensor of the stress response. Pterins (neopterin and biopterin) in the piglets’ blood serum were analyzed by separation using reversed-phase HPLC. A single dose of Fe3+-dextran produced a special stress situation in the piglets’ organism which manifested itself by an increased production of neopterin (p < 0.05) and biopterin (p < 0.01) in the experimental piglets. Changes in cortisol concentrations and leukocyte counts were influenced by handling stress and were not specifically correlated to iron dextran application. Iron concentrations in the internal environment of the experimental piglets’ group were higher by an order of magnitude compared with the controls, and the highest serum concentrations of iron (p < 0.01) were reached 24 h following Fe3+-dextran administration. The data presented offer a new perspective on the evaluation of stress situations in the animal organism and, not least importantly, extends the rather modest current list of references on the role of pterins in livestock animals.
Comparing Bioinformatic Gene Expression Profiling Methods: Microarray and RNA-Seq

Understanding the control of gene expression is critical for our understanding of the relationship between genotype and phenotype. The need for reliable assessment of transcript abundance in biological samples has driven scientists to develop novel technologies such as DNA microarray and RNA-Seq to meet this demand. This review focuses on comparing the two most useful methods for whole transcriptome gene expression profiling. Microarrays are reliable and more cost effective than RNA-Seq for gene expression profiling in model organisms. RNA-Seq will eventually be used more routinely than microarray, but right now the techniques can be complementary to each other. Microarrays will not become obsolete but might be relegated to only a few uses. RNA-Seq clearly has a bright future in bioinformatic data collection.
STABILIZATION OF PHENOLIC COMPOUNDS FROM Opuntia oligacantha F¨ orst BY MICROENCAPSULATION WITH AGAVE SAP (AGUAMIEL) ESTABILIZACI ´ ON DE COMPUESTOS FEN ´ OLICOS DE Opuntia oligacantha F¨ orst POR MICROENCAPSULACI ´ ON CON AGAVE SAP (AGUAMIEL)

The aim of this research was to determine the stability of phenolic compounds from Opuntia oligacantha F¨ (xoconostle) by microencapsulation with a blend of biopolymers (maltodextrin and gum arabic) and agave sap (aguamiel) as a thermoprotector. The particle size distribution, morphology, stability during storage at di erent temperatures and water activity of the microcapsules were determined. The results showed significant di erences (P<0.05) among the microcapsules. Higher protection was found in the microcapsules containing aguamiel. The microcapsules had a spherical shape with an average diameter of 7.72 m. It was observed that the microcapsules containing aguamiel had a minor change in colour independent of the drying temperature and preserved the phenolic compounds for more than 1467 days at a storage temperature of 25 °C. These results suggest the application of microencapsulation with phenolic compounds from xoconostle for food products.
Correction for Wodarz and Levy, Human immunodeficiency virus evolution towards reduced replicative fitness in vivo and the development of AIDS

Correction for ‘Human immunodeficiency virus evolution towards reduced replicative fitness in vivo and the development of AIDS’ by Dominik Wodarz and David N. Levy (Proc. R. Soc. B 274, 2481–2490. (doi: 10.1098/rspb.2007.0413)). On p. 2482, equations (2.1), (2.2) and the equation in the penultimate sentence of the paragraph following equation (2.1) as well as references to ax in sections 2a, 2b and 3b were presented incorrectly.
Type-1 and interval type-2 ANFIS: A comparison

In a previous paper, we proposed an extended ANFIS architecture and showed that interval type-2 ANFIS produced larger errors than type-1 ANFIS on the well-known IRIS classification problem. In this paper, more experiments on both synthetic and real-world data are conducted to further investigate and compare the performance of interval type-2 ANFIS and type-1 ANFIS. For each dataset, interval type-2 ANFIS is optimised in three different ways, including a strategy suggested by Mendel such that interval type-2 ANFIS would be no worse than type-1 ANFIS. Our results show that in some circumstances the performance of interval type-2 ANFIS can be improved when it is initialised with blurred optimised type-1 ANFIS parameters. However, in general, interval type-2 ANFIS does not produce a clear performance improvement compared to type-1 ANFIS, especially on Mackey-Glass data with large noise. Thus, we conclude that the choice of interval type-2 ANFIS over type-1 ANFIS should be carefully considered, since type-2 ANFIS is more computationally complex, yet significantly better performance cannot be easily obtained.
Multiobjective Fractional Programming Involving Generalized Semilocally V-Type I-Preinvex and Related Functions

We study a nonlinear multiple objective fractional programming with inequality constraints where each component of functions occurring in the problem is considered semidifferentiable along its own direction instead of the same direction. New Fritz John type necessary and Karush-Kuhn-Tucker type necessary and sufficient efficiency conditions are obtained for a feasible point to be weakly efficient or efficient. Furthermore, a general Mond-Weir dual is formulated and weak and strong duality results are proved using concepts of generalized semilocally V-type I-preinvex functions. This contribution extends earlier results of Preda (2003), Mishra et al. (2005), Niculescu (2007), and Mishra and Rautela (2009), and generalizes results obtained in the literature on this topic.
Cooperative Spectrum Sharing in Cognitive Radio Networks: A Game-Theoretic Approach

We consider the problem of cooperative spectrum sharing among a primary user (PU) and multiple secondary users (SUs), where the PU selects a proper set of secondary users to serve as the cooperative relays for its transmission. In return, the PU leases portion of channel access time to the selected SUs for their own transmission. The PU decides the portion of channel access time it will leave for the selected SUs (i.e., the cooperative relays), and the cooperative relays decide their respective power level used to help PU's transmission in order to achieve proportional access time to the channel. We assume that the PU and SUs are rational and selfish, i.e., they only aim at maximizing their own utility. As SU's utility is in term of their own transmission rate and the power cost for PU's transmission, so they will choose a proper power level to meet the tradeoff between transmission rate and power cost. PU will choose a proper portion of channel access time for the cooperative relays to attract them to employ higher power level. We formulate the problem as a non-cooperative game between PU and SUs, and prove that the proposed game converges to a unique Stackelberg equilibrium. By employing an iterative updating algorithm, we can achieve the unique equilibrium point.
Clinical overlap between fibromyalgia tender points and enthesitis sites in patients with spondyloarthritis who present with inflammatory back pain.

OBJECTIVES To assess the extent of coexistence of inflammatory back pain (IBP) with fibromyalgia (FM) features in patients with spondyloarthritis (SpA), and to assess the degree of overlap of FM tender points (TeP) and enthesitis sites (ES) in patients with SpA. METHODS We evaluated 61 consecutive patients who presented with IBP. Anterior and posterior anatomic diagrams were used as an aid to record assessments of TeP typically seen in FM and ES. RESULTS Of the patients assessed (n=61), 60 patients (97.9%) fulfilled criteria for IBP (male: female=17:43 (28.3%:71.7%); mean age=47.9 years (SD=11.5) and were included in the analysis. Of those who returned the questionnaire (n=47 (78.3%), 76.6% had onset of symptoms at ≤40 years (mean age=33.5±12.5 years), 87.2% had back pain of ≥3 months duration, 91.5% had morning stiffness (mean duration=70±66 minutes), and 60% showed improvement of pain with exercise. Eating disorders were reported by 21.3% of subjects, and stress was identified as a disease trigger by 40.4% of the respondents. Other symptoms related to FM were reported by 68.1% of the interviewed subjects. Of the 60 patients assessed, 18 (30%) fulfilled the clinical criteria for FM (at least 11 out of 18 TeP). Using regression analysis, a significant correlation was identified between FM TeP and ES. CONCLUSIONS One third of patients with IBP fulfilled the criteria for FM. There is a significant degree of overlap between FM TeP and ES in patients with IBP.
Finding maximal repetitions in a word in linear time

A repetition in a word w is a subword with the period of at most half of the subword length. We study maximal repetitions occurring in w, that is those for which any extended subword of w has a bigger period. The set of such repetitions represents in a compact way all repetitions in w. We first prove a combinatorial result asserting that the sum of exponents of all maximal repetitions of a word of length n is bounded by a linear function in n. This implies, in particular that there is only a linear number of maximal repetitions in a word. This allows us to construct a linear-time algorithm for finding all maximal repetitions. Some consequences and applications of these results are discussed, as well as related works.
Factors influencing IT Adoption by Bank Employees: An Extended TAM Approach

The use of Information Technology (IT) in the banking sector has seen a phenomenal growth in India. For its effective use and implementation, employees' acceptance and the consequent use of IT are important. Davis' Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) (1989) explains users' acceptance of electronic systems. By applying the extended TAM approach to this study, the authors aim to uncover various factors that affect the attitude and acceptance of bank employees towards CBS. The TAM model identifies perceived usefulness (PU), and perceived ease of use (PEU) as impacting attitude towards IT and behavioural intention. The model is extended by identifying social influence, computer self-efficacy, and technological facility as factors affecting perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use. The target respondents for this study were bank employees from the public and private sectors banks (State Bank of India, Union Bank, Bank of India, ICICI Bank, and Axis Bank) situated in the National Capital Territory (NCT) of Delhi. Measurement items applied in this study were an adaptation of previously validated measures or were developed on the basis of a literature review. Responses were analysed using the 7-point Likert Scale that ranged from (1) ‘strongly disagree’ to (7) ‘strongly agree’. To test the reliability of the measures, a pilot study was conducted with 20 randomly chosen employees and modified scales. Structural equation modelling was used to analyse the data. Overall, the findings suggest that extended TAM variables positively influence the intention and usage behaviour through PU and PEU. That is, social influence enhances perceived usefulness; and computer self-efficacy and technology facility influence the perceived ease of use. Again, perceived ease of use significantly influences perceived usefulness which in turn has significant effect on behavioural intention and usage behaviour. Social influence of superiors was the prominent determinant of perceived usefulness of the CBS technology. Hence the role of managers as effective communicators is heightened especially in conveying the benefits of using IT and in turn achieving organizational goals.
A Model of Invariant Object Recognition in the Visual System: Learning Rules, Activation Functions, Lateral Inhibition, and Information-Based Performance Measures

VisNet2 is a model to investigate some aspects of invariant visual object recognition in the primate visual system. It is a four-layer feedforward network with convergence to each part of a layer from a small region of the preceding layer, with competition between the neurons within a layer and with a trace learning rule to help it learn transform invariance. The trace rule is a modified Hebbian rule, which modifies synaptic weights according to both the current firing rates and the firing rates to recently seen stimuli. This enables neurons to learn to respond similarly to the gradually transforming inputs it receives, which over the short term are likely to be about the same object, given the statistics of normal visual inputs. First, we introduce for VisNet2 both single-neuron and multiple-neuron information-theoretic measures of its ability to respond to transformed stimuli. Second, using these measures, we show that quantitatively resetting the trace between stimuli is not necessary for good performance. Third, it is shown that the sigmoid activation functions used in VisNet2, which allow the sparseness of the representation to be controlled, allow good performance when using sparse distributed representations. Fourth, it is shown that VisNet2 operates well with medium-range lateral inhibition with a radius in the same order of size as the region of the preceding layer from which neurons receive inputs. Fifth, in an investigation of different learning rules for learning transform invariance, it is shown that VisNet2 operates better with a trace rule that incorporates in the trace only activity from the preceding presentations of a given stimulus, with no contribution to the trace from the current presentation, and that this is related to temporal difference learning.
A variant on the graph parameters of Colin de Verdiere: Implications to the minimum rank of graphs

For a given undirected graph G, the minimum rankof G is defined to be the smallest possible rankover all real symmetric matrices A whose (i, j)th entry is nonzero whenever ij and {i, j} is an edge in G. Building upon recent workinvolving maximal corank s (or nu llities) of certain symmetric matrices associated with a graph, a new parameter ξ is introduced that is based on the corankof a different but related class of symmetric matrices. For this new parameter some properties analogous to the ones possessed by the existing parameters are verified. In addition, an attempt is made to apply these properties associated with ξ to learn more about the minimum rankof graphs - the original motivation.
Stochastics and Statistics on a Dual Queueing System with Preemptive Priority Service Discipline

In this paper, we use matrix–analytic methods to construct a novel queueing model called the dual queue. The dual queue has the additional feature of a priority scheme to assist in congestion control. Detailed structure of the infini-tesimal generator matrix is derived and used in the solution process. Using a computational algorithm, which utilises a combination of iterative and elementary matrix techniques, the steady state solution is obtained for all queues with a finite buffer. Finally, we present numerical examples to illustrate the algorithm.
Schmid type of metaphyseal chondrodysplasia and COL10A1 mutations—findings in 10 patients

The Schmid type of metaphyseal chondrodyplasia (MCDS) is characterized by short stature, widened growth plates, and bowing of the long bones. It results from autosomal dominant mutations of COL10A1, the gene which encodes α1(X) chains of type X collagen. We report the clinical and radiographic findings in 10 patients with MCDS and COL10A1 mutations. Six patients had lower limb deformities, which necessitated orthopedic surgeries in all of them. One patient demonstrated no deformities and normal stature at age 11 years (height −1.2 SDS) while the others manifested severe short stature (<−3.5 SDS). Radiographs showed metaphyseal changes which were most pronounced at the hips and knees. Five of the identified 10 mutations in COL10A1 were novel. Six mutations resulted in truncation of the NC1 domain while four mutations were single amino‐acid substitutions. Our findings suggest that COL10A1 mutations result in a uniform pattern of growth plate abnormalities. However, the clinical variability in severity among affected individuals is greater than previously thought. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Hepatotoxicity during low-dose flutamide treatment for hirsutism

Background. The nonsteroidal antiandrogenic drug flutamide is a safe and generally well-tolerated drug used for the treatment of prostate cancer and female hyperandrogenism. Case. We describe the case of a 26-year-old girl with amenorrhea and severe hirsutism who was treated with flutamide 250 mg/day and developed liver toxicity during therapy. Results. Other causes of liver toxicity were appropriately ruled out. The use of the standard Council for International Organization of Medical Sciences (CIOMS) scale and the Maria & Vitorino (M&V) scale indicated a highly probable relationship between the development of liver toxicity and flutamide therapy. Severe liver dysfunction has been rarely documented in women with hirsutism treated with flutamide, even though cases of fulminant liver failure have been described. The mechanisms responsible for the occurrence of hepatotoxicity during treatment with flutamide are unknown, but mitochondrial dysfunction seems to be implicated. Conclusion. The potential of flutamide to act as a potent hepatotoxin should be kept in mind when treatment with this drug is being planned. This case reminds us that patients who are receiving flutamide should be regularly monitored for liver function. If drug-induced liver injury is suspected, flutamide must be discontinued promptly to avoid progression of liver injury.
The dissolution of metallic nickel in artificial sweat

The dissolution of neutron‐irradiated metallic nickel in an artificial sweat formulation has been studied. Variations in dissolution rate were found over a pH range of 3.5 to 6.5, a temperature range of 10 to 40°C and for times up to 6 h. The presence of oxygen increases the dissolution rate markedly. Typical dissolution rates at 30°C vary from 2.10−7 g Ni·cm−2min−1 at a pH of 3.5, to 1.10−9 Ni·cm−2·min−1 at a pH of 6. The relevance of the data to clinical aspects of nickel dermatitis is discussed.
A new cytoplasmic interaction between junctin and ryanodine receptor Ca2+ release channels

ABSTRACT Junctin, a non-catalytic splice variant encoded by the aspartate-&bgr;-hydroxylase (Asph) gene, is inserted into the membrane of the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) Ca2+ store where it modifies Ca2+ signalling in the heart and skeletal muscle through its regulation of ryanodine receptor (RyR) Ca2+ release channels. Junctin is required for normal muscle function as its knockout leads to abnormal Ca2+ signalling, muscle dysfunction and cardiac arrhythmia. However, the nature of the molecular interaction between junctin and RyRs is largely unknown and was assumed to occur only in the SR lumen. We find that there is substantial binding of RyRs to full junctin, and the junctin luminal and, unexpectedly, cytoplasmic domains. Binding of these different junctin domains had distinct effects on RyR1 and RyR2 activity: full junctin in the luminal solution increased RyR channel activity by ∼threefold, the C-terminal luminal interaction inhibited RyR channel activity by ∼50%, and the N-terminal cytoplasmic binding produced an ∼fivefold increase in RyR activity. The cytoplasmic interaction between junctin and RyR is required for luminal binding to replicate the influence of full junctin on RyR1 and RyR2 activity. The C-terminal domain of junctin binds to residues including the S1–S2 linker of RyR1 and N-terminal domain of junctin binds between RyR1 residues 1078 and 2156.
Supramolecular Complex Formation between Rad6 and Proteins of the p53 Pathway during DNA Damage-Induced Response

ABSTRACT The HR6A and -B genes, homologues of the yeast Rad6 gene, encode ubiquitin-conjugating enzymes that are required for postreplication repair of DNA and damage-induced mutagenesis. Using surface plasmon resonance, we show here that HR6 protein (referred as Rad6) physically interacts with p53. Analysis of proteins coimmunoprecipitated with Rad6 antibody from metabolically labeled normal MCF10A human breast epithelial cells not only confirmed Rad6-p53 interactions in vivo but also demonstrated for the first time that exposure of MCF10A cells to cisplatin or adriamycin (ADR) induces recruitment of p14ARF into Rad6-p53 complexes. Further analysis of ADR-induced p53 response showed that stable Rad6-p53-p14ARF complex formation is associated with a parallel increase and decrease in monoubiquitinated and polyubiquitinated p53, respectively, and arrest in G2/M phase of the cell cycle. Interestingly, the ADR-induced suppression of p53 polyubiquitination correlated with a corresponding decline in intact Hdm2 protein levels. Treatment of MCF10A cells with MG132, a 26S proteasome inhibitor, effectively stabilized monoubiquitinated p53 and rescued ADR-induced downregulation of Hdm2. These data suggest that ADR-induced degradation of Hdm2 occurs via the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway. Rad6 is present in both the cytoplasmic and nuclear compartments of normal MCF10A cells, although in response to DNA damage it is predominantly found in the nucleus colocalizing with ubiquitinated p53, whereas Hdm2 is undetectable. Consistent with in vivo data, results from in vitro ubiquitination assays show that Rad6 mediates addition of one (mono-) to two (multimono-) ubiquitin molecules on p53 and that inclusion of Mdm2 is essential for its polyubiquitination. The data presented in the present study suggest that Rad6-p53-p14ARF complex formation and p53 ubiquitin modification are important damage-induced responses that perhaps determine the fidelity of DNA postreplication repair.
A System for Delivering Mechanical Stimulation and Robot-Assisted Therapy to the Rat Whisker Pad During Facial Nerve Regeneration

Functional recovery is typically poor after facial nerve transection and surgical repair. In rats, whisking amplitude remains greatly diminished after facial nerve regeneration, but can recover more completely if the whiskers are periodically mechanically stimulated during recovery. Here we present a robotic “whisk assist” system for mechanically driving whisker movement after facial nerve injury. Movement patterns were either preprogrammed to reflect natural amplitudes and frequencies, or movements of the contralateral (healthy) side of the face were detected and used to control real-time mirror-like motion on the denervated side. In a pilot study, 20 rats were divided into nine groups and administered one of eight different whisk assist driving patterns (or control) for 5-20 minutes, five days per week, across eight weeks of recovery after unilateral facial nerve cut and suture repair. All rats tolerated the mechanical stimulation well. Seven of the eight treatment groups recovered average whisking amplitudes that exceeded controls, although small group sizes precluded statistical confirmation of group differences. The potential to substantially improve facial nerve recovery through mechanical stimulation has important clinical implications, and we have developed a system to control the pattern and dose of stimulation in the rat facial nerve model.