Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Achievable Rates for Multiterminal Source Coding with Scalar Quantizers

New inner and outer bounds are given for the classical problem of multiterminal source coding with discrete memoryless sources. These bounds are defined over identical classes of joint probability distributions and hence, unlike the well-known Berger-Tung bounds, their corresponding rate ex- pressions can be compared directly. Such direct comparison reveals a gap, for which an explicit formula is given. This gap depends only on combinatorial properties of the encoding maps, but it is independent of the distribution of the source and/or the auxiliary variables. It is shown that when attention is restricted to a class of codes of great practical relevance (scalar quantizers followed by entropy coders), the gap vanishes, thus providing a conclusive answer to the problem. It is conjectured that the gap vanishes for any discrete source, and therefore that the region reported here, defined without the restriction to the scalar case, is indeed the long-sought region of achievable rates for multiterminal source coding.
Intracerebral Interleukin 12 Induces Glioma Rejection in the Brain Predominantly by CD8+ T Cells and Independently of Interferon-&ggr;

The prognosis of gliomas is generally poor since these tumors elude established therapeutic approaches. Immunotherapy might present an effective therapy in particular because the glioma cells are diffusely dispersed in the infiltration zone of the tumor and show a strong propensity to invade the surrounding brain along white matter tracts. Although various immune therapies for brain tumors are successful in rodents, there is currently no effective therapy in humans. In the present study, we investigated the mechanisms by which intracerebral IL-12 mediates rejection of GL261 cells in a syngenic mouse glioma model. Wild type mice revealed smaller tumors as compared to mice lacking functional T and B cells indicating that considerable immune dependent tumor rejection occurs physiologically in this model. However, glioma rejection was significantly enhanced in mice expressing IL-12 in the CNS and was predominantly dependent on the presence of CD8+ T cells while CD4+ T cells had less impact. Interestingly, the rejection of tumors was independent of IFN-&ggr;. Our findings contrast results obtained after in vitro or systemic stimulation with IL-12 and demonstrate that successful IL-12 induced glioma rejection critically depends on the localization, duration and time of IL-12 expression.
Decreased frequency of CD73+CD8+ T cells of HIV‐infected patients correlates with immune activation and T cell exhaustion

Recent studies indicate that murine Tregs highly express the ENTDP1, as well as the 5′‐NT and thereby, suppress Teff function by extracellular adenosine production. Furthermore, CD73 seems to play a role as costimulatory molecule for T cell differentiation. In this study, we analyzed the expression of CD73 on peripheral and lymph nodal Teffs and Tregs in a cohort of 95 HIV patients at different stages of disease, including LTNP and ECs. In contrast to murine Tregs, CD73 was only expressed on a small minority (∼10%) of peripheral Tregs. In contrast, we see high expression of CD73 on peripheral CD8+ T cells. In HIV infection, CD73 is markedly reduced on all Teffs and Tregs, regardless of the memory subtype. On CD8+ T cells, a positive correlation between CD73 expression and CD4 counts (P=0.0003) was detected. CD73 expression on CD8+ T cells negatively correlated with HLA‐DR (<0.0001) and PD1 (P=0.0457) expression. The lower CD73 expression on CD8+ T cells was partially reversible after initiation of ART (P=0.0016). Functionally, we observed that CD8+CD73+ T cells produce more IL‐2 upon HIV‐specific and unspecific stimulation than their CD73− counterparts and show a higher proliferative capacity. These data indicate that down‐regulation of CD73 on CD8+ T cells correlates with immune activation and leads to functional deficits in HIV infection.
Numerical study of the Ingestion phenomenon in a turbine Rim Seal : cFD Validation and Real Engine Assessment

This master's thesis addresses the numerical modeling of hot gas ingestion through rim seals of rotor-stator cavities in modern gas turbines. In the current environmental context for greener aviation, this topic deserves special attention as significant gains in terms of overall engine efficiency can be achieved through better rotor-stator seal designs limiting ingress of hot gas coming from the main gaspath. Adequate physical modeling of hot gas ingestion is now recognized as critical to develop a better understanding of the flow mechanisms involved. With this in mind, Pratt & Whitney Canada has appointed the Laboratoire de Mécanique des Fluides Numérique (LMFN) at Université Laval to conduct a comprehensive study of the ingestion phenomenon. This thesis is part of this study and it aims at describing the development, application and validation of numerical simulation techniques to characterize qualitatively and quantitatively the ingestion phenomenon observed through the rim seal and into the rotor-stator cavity of a gas turbine. The proposed numerical approach being specifically designed for predictions in the context of an experimental turbine operating in laboratory conditions, its reliability limits for predictions under real engine conditions are also investigated. Adequate parameterization of the problem and the validity of extrapolating the numerical results obtained in a rig to predict the actual ingress in an engine representative environment are also examined in this project. The methodology considers two calculation phases allowing adequate ingestion diagnoses with the use of a passive marker. A series of numerical validations and comparisons with experimental results are also presented. The CFD methodology is considered robust and reliable, but only partially validated.
Pilot Study and Review: Physiological Differences in BDNF, a Potential Biomarker in Males and Females with Autistic Disorder

Aims There is a need for more biologic research in autistic disorder (AD) to determine if biomarkers exist that would be useful for correlating to symptom severity and/or clinical improvement during treatment. Given the fact that AD is 4 times more common in males than females, gender differences in physiological biomarkers may be present. One potential biomarker that has begun to be studied is brain-derived neurotropic factor (BDNF), a peptide involved in the regulation of neuronal cell survival, differentiation, and plasticity, and possessing an ability to influence neurotransmitter systems by modulating gene expression. This pilot study examined whether serum BDNF differed according to gender in children with AD and whether differences were associated with a behavioral phenotype or severity of illness. Study Design Data for this investigation were collected during the participants’ baseline visit of an intervention study. Participants were males (n=29) and females (n=7), aged 5 to 12 years diagnosed with AD. Baseline serum BDNF concentration was determined for comparison to clinical ratings using an autism severity measure and the Pervasive Developmental Disorder-Behavior Inventory (PDD-BI). Results BDNF serum concentrations were higher in females (p<0.049). The baseline BDNF value corresponded significantly to hyperactivity in females (p<0.0002) but not in males. BDNF did not correlate with severity of disease in either gender. Conclusion Although this is a small study, a better understanding of the central role of BDNF may provide insight into the pathophysiology of the disease and elucidate why gender differences exist in prevalence and behavioral phenotype of AD.
Predictive relevance of PD-L1 expression with pre-existing TILs in gastric cancer

Expression of programmed cell death receptor ligand 1 (PD-L1) has been shown to be up-regulated in some gastric cancer patients and to correlate with the density of tumour infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs). However, conflicting results have been reported regarding TILs and the expression of PD-L1 as a prognostic marker for gastric cancer. We investigated the correlation of PD-L1 and TILs expression with clinicpathological characteristics in 105 well characterized gastric cancer patients. PD-L1 expression and CD3+ and CD8+ TILs were evaluated by fluorescent multiplex immunohistochemistry (mIHC) analysis. PD-L1 positive staining on tumour cells was observed in 35% cases and 48% cases showed PD-L1 expression on immune cells. Up-regulated PD-L1 expression on tumour cells and immune cells was associated with high density of pre-existing tumour infiltrating CD3+ and CD8+. In additional, more than 70% tumor infiltrating CD3+ cells were CD3+CD8+ cells. More than 60% PD-L1+ immune cells were PD-L1+CD3+CD8+ cells. PD-L1 expression in tumour cells was associated with poor prognosis and high density CD3+ and CD8+ TILs indicated improved overall survival in gastric cancer patients. Increased PD-L1 expression with low density CD3+ and CD8+ TILs had the shortest overall survival. In accordingly, PD-L1 absence with high density CD3+ and CD8+ TILs indicated the best prognosis. Combination of PD-L1 with pre-existing TILs may be more precise than PD-L1 alone for predicting survival in gastric cancer.
Finding Maximum on an Array Processor with a Global Bus

The problem of finding the maximum of a set of values stored one per processor on an n X n array of processors is analyzed. The array has a time-shared global bus in addition to conventional processor-processor links. A two-phase algorithm for finding the maximum is presented that uses conventional links during the first phase and the global bus during the second. This algorithm is faster than algorithms that use either only the global bus or only the conventional links.
CCAT2: A novel oncogenic long non‐coding RNA in human cancers

Colon cancer‐associated transcript 2 (CCAT2) was originally identified as an oncogenic long non‐coding RNA in colorectal cancer. Since its discovery, the oncogenic role of CCAT2 has been increasingly demonstrated in human cancers. In this connection, CCAT2 upregulation is frequently reported and very often associated with tumour progression and poor clinical outcomes. Functionally, knockdown of CCAT2 could induce cancer cell apoptosis and suppress cell proliferation and invasiveness, suggesting that CCAT2 might be a therapeutic target. The present review summarized current literature concerning the expression and functional role of CCAT2 in human malignancies.
A review of ammonia-oxidizing bacteria and archaea in Chinese soils

Ammonia (NH3) oxidation, the first and rate-limiting step of nitrification, is a key step in the global Nitrogen (N) cycle. Major advances have been made in recent years in our knowledge and understanding of the microbial communities involved in ammonia oxidation in a wide range of habitats, including Chinese agricultural soils. In this mini-review, we focus our attention on the distribution and community diversity of ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB) and ammonia oxidizing archaea (AOA) in Chinese soils with variable soil properties and soil management practices. The niche differentiation of AOB and AOA in contrasting soils have been functionally demonstrated using DNA-SIP (stable isotope probing) methods, which have shown that AOA dominate nitrification processes in acidic soils, while AOB dominated in neutral, alkaline and N-rich soils. Finally, we discuss the composition and activity of ammonia oxidizers in paddy soils, as well as the mitigation of the greenhouse gas nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions and nitrate leaching via inhibition of nitrification by both AOB and AOA.
Daytime Periodic Wave‐like Structures in the Ionosphere Observed at Low Latitudes over the Asian‐Australian Sector Using Total Electron Content from Beidou Geostationary Satellites

Daytime periodic wave‐like structures are statistically analyzed for the first time in the low‐latitude ionosphere over the Asian‐Australian sector using total electron content from Beidou geostationary satellites during 2016–2017. These structures have periods of about 18–28 min, which frequently occur during 11:00–17:00 local time in the winter at latitudes ranging between 17 and 25°N (10–18°N magnetic latitude [MLAT]) in the Northern Hemisphere, where they have a maximum occurrence rate of 80% at ~21°N (14°N MLAT). In the Southern Hemisphere, daytime periodic wave‐like structures are also observed during 11:00–15:00 local time in the winter within latitudes ranging between 6.0 and 11.1°S (15.4–21.6°S MLAT), although the peak occurrence rate is only approximately 40%. Compared with stratospheric gravity waves (GWs), the seasonal and latitudinal variations of daytime periodic wave‐like structures are generally consistent with those of stratospheric GWs. This gives a possible argument that daytime periodic wave‐like structures in the low‐latitude ionosphere could be generated in the low‐latitude ionosphere and triggered by GWs from the lower atmosphere.
RelAp43, a Member of the NF-κB Family Involved in Innate Immune Response against Lyssavirus Infection

NF-κB transcription factors are crucial for many cellular processes. NF-κB is activated by viral infections to induce expression of antiviral cytokines. Here, we identified a novel member of the human NF-κB family, denoted RelAp43, the nucleotide sequence of which contains several exons as well as an intron of the RelA gene. RelAp43 is expressed in all cell lines and tissues tested and exhibits all the properties of a NF-κB protein. Although its sequence does not include a transactivation domain, identifying it as a class I member of the NF-κB family, it is able to potentiate RelA-mediated transactivation and stabilize dimers comprising p50. Furthermore, RelAp43 stimulates the expression of HIAP1, IRF1, and IFN-β - three genes involved in cell immunity against viral infection. It is also targeted by the matrix protein of lyssaviruses, the agents of rabies, resulting in an inhibition of the NF-κB pathway. Taken together, our data provide the description of a novel functional member of the NF-κB family, which plays a key role in the induction of anti-viral innate immune response.
Structure of the Extracellular Domain of Matrix Protein 2 of Influenza A Virus in Complex with a Protective Monoclonal Antibody

ABSTRACT The extracellular domain of influenza A virus matrix protein 2 (M2e) is conserved and is being evaluated as a quasiuniversal influenza A vaccine candidate. We describe the crystal structure at 1.6 Å resolution of M2e in complex with the Fab fragment of an M2e-specific monoclonal antibody that protects against influenza A virus challenge. This antibody binds M2 expressed on the surfaces of cells infected with influenza A virus. Five out of six complementary determining regions interact with M2e, and three highly conserved M2e residues are critical for this interaction. In this complex, M2e adopts a compact U-shaped conformation stabilized in the center by the highly conserved tryptophan residue in M2e. This is the first description of the three-dimensional structure of M2e. IMPORTANCE M2e of influenza A is under investigation as a universal influenza A vaccine, but its three-dimensional structure is unknown. We describe the structure of M2e stabilized with an M2e-specific monoclonal antibody that recognizes natural M2. We found that the conserved tryptophan is positioned in the center of the U-shaped structure of M2e and stabilizes its conformation. The structure also explains why previously reported in vivo escape viruses, selected with a similar monoclonal antibody, carried proline residue substitutions at position 10 in M2.
Heritability, phenotypic and genetic correlations of size and shape of Drosophila mediopunctata wings

We have studied the morphology of wings of Drosophila mediopunctata employing the ellipse method, a procedure that allows precise descriptions of wing size (SI), wing shape outline (SH), and placement of longitudinal wing veins. We have found that the SH and the points which determine the position of the apices of the third, fourth and fifth longitudinal wing veins show high heritability in nature (the lower bound for the natural heritability is above 0.25). The values found are similar to those obtained for the broad-sense heritabilities (H2) in the laboratory. However, SI and the point which determines the apex of the second longitudinal wing vein showed small lower bounds for heritability in nature, 0.05 and 0.07, respectively, in spite of the high estimates of H2 in the laboratory. These results suggest that size and shape have different genetic properties. We observed a high positive phenotypic correlation between the SH, the fourth and the fifth longitudinal wing veins, which contrasts with a negative correlation between these traits and the second longitudinal vein. That is, as the SH gets longer, the apices of the second and fifth veins become closer to each other. Positive genetic correlations in the field were detected between SH, the fourth and the fifth longitudinal veins and also between the third and the fourth veins.
Lag as a determinant of human performance in interactive systems

The sources of lag (the delay between input action and output response) and its effects on human performance are discussed. We measured the effects in a study of target acquisition using the classic Fitts' law paradigm with the addition of four lag conditions. At the highest lag tested (225 ms), movement times and error rates increased by 64% and 214% respectively, compared to the zero lag condition. We propose a model according to which lag should have a multiplicative effect on Fitts' index of difficulty. The model accounts for 94% of the variance and is better than alternative models which propose only an additive effect for lag. The implications for the design of virtual reality systems are discussed.
Changes in the Proteome of Candida albicans in Response to Azole, Polyene, and Echinocandin Antifungal Agents

ABSTRACT The yeast Candida albicans is an opportunistic human fungal pathogen and the cause of superficial and systemic infections in immunocompromised patients. The classes of antifungal agents most commonly used to treat Candida infections are the azoles, polyenes, and echinocandins. In the present study, we identified changes in C. albicans protein abundance using two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight mass spectroscopy following exposure to representatives of the azole (ketoconazole), polyene (amphotericin B), and echinocandin (caspofungin) antifungals in an effort to elucidate the adaptive responses to these classes of antifungal agents. We identified 39 proteins whose abundance changed in response to ketoconazole exposure. Some of these proteins are involved in ergosterol biosynthesis and are associated with azole resistance. Exposure to amphotericin B altered the abundance of 43 proteins, including those associated with oxidative stress and osmotic tolerance. We identified 50 proteins whose abundance changed after exposure to caspofungin, including enzymes involved in cell wall biosynthesis and integrity, as well as the regulator of β-1,3-glucan synthase activity, Rho1p. Exposure to caspofungin also increased the abundance of the proteins involved in oxidative and osmotic stress. The common adaptive responses shared by all three antifungal agents included proteins involved in carbohydrate metabolism. Some of these antifungal-responsive proteins may represent potential targets for the development of novel therapeutics that could enhance the antifungal activities of these drugs.
Differences in locomotor performance between individuals: importance of parvalbumin, calcium handling and metabolism

SUMMARY Locomotor performance is linked to fitness and health of animals and is expected to be under strong selection. However, interindividual variation in locomotor performance is pronounced in many species. It was our aim to investigate the relative importance of energy metabolism and calcium handling in determining sprint and sustained locomotion in the zebrafish (Danio rerio). Sprint and sustained performance (Ucrit) varied independently from each other. Using in vivo electroporation, we found that increased parvalbumin protein concentration improved both sprint and sustained locomotion. This is the first demonstration that parvalbumin plays a role in determining whole-animal performance. High sprint performance fish had greater mRNA concentrations of the metabolic regulators PPARδ and PGC1β compared with fish with poor sprint performance. High sustained performance fish, in contrast, had greater concentrations of PGC-1α and PGC-1β. The increased expression of these metabolic regulators indicates an enhancement of the metabolic machinery in high performance animals. Sprint performance is also enhanced by creatine kinase activity, which may be associated with increased PPARδ mRNA concentration. Ryanodine receptor (RyR) and sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+-ATPase 1 (SERCA1) mRNA concentrations were significantly increased in high sustained performance fish, while parvalbumin 2, dihydropyridine (DHPR) receptor and SERCA2 mRNA levels were increased in fish with high sprint velocities. Sustained performance was more sensitive to experimentally induced decreases in RyR and DHPR activity than sprint performance. We provide mechanistic explanations of why locomotor performance differs between individuals, which is important for understanding ecological and sporting success, disease and the evolutionary processes underlying selection.
Environmental Health Particulate Air Pollution and Survival in a Copd Cohort

Background: Several studies have shown cross-sectional associations between long term exposure to particulate air pollution and survival in general population or convenience cohorts. Less is known about susceptibility, or year to year changes in exposure. We investigated whether particles were associated with survival in a cohort of persons with COPD in 34 US cities, eliminating the usual cross-sectional exposure and treating PM 10 as a within city time varying exposure.
Localized injections of botulinum toxin for the treatment of focal dystonia and hemifacial spasm

Medical treatment of dystonia usually results in an incomplete response and is frequently unsuccessful. Peripheral surgical therapy is available for some focal dystonias, but may only offer temporary relief and may have unacceptable complications. We have used local injections of botulinum toxin into the appropriate muscles for treatment of disabling focal or segmental dystonia in 93 patients with torticollis, blepharospasm, oromandibular dystonia (OMD), limb dystonia, lingual dystonia, and dystonia adductor dysphonia, in addition to four patients with hemifacial spasm. Significant relief of motor symptoms was seen in 69% of the patients with blepharospasm and 64% of patients with torticollis; 74% of the latter group with pain experience relief. Relief of symptoms was noted in most patients with OMD and limb dystonia, and all with lingual dystonia, dystonic adductor spastic dysphonia, and those with hemifacial spasm. Benefit averaged 2½‐3 months initially; however some patients experienced longer relief with subsequent injections. Adverse effects were transient, although 2 patients developed antibodies against the toxin, and we documented evidence for distant effects in others. This approach of chemically weakening contracting muscles in focal dystonia offers many advantages over pharmacotherapy and surgical therapy. Additional experience is needed to explore the proper doses, and potential for long term adverse effects.