Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Serum Heat Shock Protein 27 and Diabetes Complications in the EURODIAB Prospective Complications Study

OBJECTIVE—Heat shock protein 27 (HSP27) is a member of the small heat shock protein family of proteins. HSP27 expression is enhanced in target tissues of diabetic microvascular complications, and changes in circulating serum HSP27 levels (sHSP27) have been reported in patients with macrovascular disease. We investigated whether sHSP27 levels were associated with micro- and macrovascular complications in type 1 diabetic patients. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS—A cross-sectional, nested, case-control study from the EURODIAB Prospective Complications Study of 531 type 1 diabetic patients was performed. Case subjects (n = 363) were defined as those with one or more complications of diabetes; control subjects (n = 168) were defined as those with no evidence of any complication. We measured sHSP27 levels and investigated their associations with diabetes complications. RESULTS—Mean sHSP27 levels were significantly higher in case subjects with distal symmetrical polyneuropathy (DSP) than in control subjects, even after adjustment for age and albumin excretion rate (AER) (785.9 vs. 574.7 pg/ml, P = 0.03). In logistic regression analysis, sHSP27 levels in the upper quartile were associated with a twofold increased odds ratio (OR) of DSP, independently of conventional risk factors, markers of inflammation, and AER (OR 2.41 [95% CI 1.11–5.24]). CONCLUSIONS—In this large cohort of type 1 diabetic subjects, we found an independent association between sHSP27 and DSP. This suggests that sHSP27 levels may be a novel marker for diabetic neuropathy.
On the editing distance of graphs

An edge‐operation on a graph G is defined to be either the deletion of an existing edge or the addition of a nonexisting edge. Given a family of graphs $\cal G$, the editing distance from G to $\cal G$ is the smallest number of edge‐operations needed to modify G into a graph from $\cal G$. In this article, we fix a graph H and consider Forb(n, H), the set of all graphs on n vertices that have no induced copy of H. We provide bounds for the maximum over all n‐vertex graphs G of the editing distance from G to Forb(n, H), using an invariant we call the binary chromatic number of the graph H. We give asymptotically tight bounds for that distance when H is self‐complementary and exact results for several small graphs H. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Graph Theory 58:123–138, 2008
The research of memristor-based neural network components operation accuracy in control and communication systems

This research is aimed to create a general approach to developing methods and algorithms designed for defining and providing memristor-based artificial neural network (ANNM) components operation accuracy in control and communication systems. Here we list factors which affect the operation accuracy of memristors usied as the synapses in the ANNM. We have created Simscape models of memristor neurons and ANNM for investigating the influence of these factors on the ANNM accuracy. This article presents the results of the initial phase of our research.
Antitumor Memory T-Cells Become Functionally Mature from 30 to 100 days in a Mouse Model of Neoplasia.

BACKGROUND Late metastases develop from cancer of the breast, prostate, lung, kidney and malignant melanomas. Memory T-cells have excellent potential to prevent this devastating development in the same way that they routinely prevent emergence of latent viruses. MATERIAL AND METHODS A peritoneal tumor mouse model of viral oncotherapy was used to generate therapeutic antitumor memory T-cells. Functional in vivo and in vitro assays were used to study the temporal evolution of their anticancer effects. RESULTS Highly therapeutic antitumor memory was generated by viral oncolytic immunotherapy 30 days after treatment and matured to maximal potency at 100 days. Maturation was not uniform across different measures. CONCLUSION The results provide guidelines for developing a viral oncolytic vaccine strategy to generate antitumor memory T-cells that can eliminate small nests of metastatic cancer cells in sanctuary sites and prevent emergence of tumors from dormant cancer cell collections. The results are relevant to any immunization strategy designed to generate antitumor memory T-cells.
Direct Force Measurement of Liposomes by Atomic Force Microscopy

This entry describes new features of adsorbed vesicles byAFM investigation. AFM imaging and force measurementwere conducted simultaneously in liquid on adsorbedbut intact unilamellar vesicles with sizes less than 50 nm.The unilamellar vesicles were made by sonication fromegg yolk phosphatidylcholine (EggPC) dispersion. TheAFM tip can be moved on top of individual vesicles sothat mechanical properties of the smallest vesicles can bemeasured at the nanometer scale. The EggPC vesicleundergoes reversible shape changes from convex to flat-tened and concave shape with increasing image force. Inaddition to the monotonic repulsion because of vesicleresistance to the AFM tip advancement and compression,there exist several characteristic breaks in the force-vs.-distance curves. Hertz analysis of the slope ofrepulsion gives a measure of vesicle elastic properties.The Youngs modulus ( E ) and the bending modulus ( k
Qualitative Methods in Empirical Studies of Software Engineering

While empirical studies in software engineering are beginning to gain recognition in the research community, this subarea is also entering a new level of maturity by beginning to address the human aspects of software development. This added focus has added a new layer of complexity to an already challenging area of research. Along with new research questions, new research methods are needed to study nontechnical aspects of software engineering. In many other disciplines, qualitative research methods have been developed and are commonly used to handle the complexity of issues involving human behaviour. The paper presents several qualitative methods for data collection and analysis and describes them in terms of how they might be incorporated into empirical studies of software engineering, in particular how they might be combined with quantitative methods. To illustrate this use of qualitative methods, examples from real software engineering studies are used throughout.
Theta-Modulated Place-by-Direction Cells in the Hippocampal Formation in the Rat

We report the spatial and temporal properties of a class of cells termed theta-modulated place-by-direction (TPD) cells recorded from the presubicular and parasubicular cortices of the rat. The firing characteristics of TPD cells in open-field enclosures were compared with those of the following two other well characterized cell classes in the hippocampal formation: place and head-direction cells. Unlike place cells, which code only for the animal's location, or head-direction cells, which code only for the animal's directional heading, TPD cells code for both the location and the head direction of the animal. Their firing is also strongly theta modulated, firing primarily at the negative-to-positive phase of the locally recorded theta wave. TPD theta modulation is significantly stronger than that of place cells. In contrast, the firing of head-direction cells is not modulated by theta at all. In repeated exposures to the same environment, the locational and directional signals of TPD cells are stable. When recorded in different environments, TPD locational and directional fields can uncouple, with the locational field shifting unpredictably (“remapping”), whereas the directional preference remains similar across environments.
Journal Fü R Die Reine Und Angewandte Mathematik Multigraded Castelnuovo-mumford Regularity

We develop a multigraded variant of Castelnuovo-Mumford regularity. Motivated by toric geometry, we work with modules over a polynomial ring graded by a finitely generated abelian group. As in the standard graded case, our definition of multi-graded regularity involves the vanishing of graded components of local cohomology. We establish the key properties of regularity: its connection with the minimal generators of a module and its behavior in exact sequences. For an ideal sheaf on a simplicial toric variety X , we prove that its multigraded regularity bounds the equations that cut out the associated subvariety. We also provide a criterion for testing if an ample line bundle on X gives a projectively normal embedding.
Bias-free adaptive IIR filtering

We present a new family of algorithms that solve the bias problem in the equation-error based adaptive infinite impulse response (IIR) filtering. A novel constraint, called the constant-norm constraint, unifies the quadratic constraint and the monic one. By imposing the monic constraint on the mean square error (MSE) optimization, the merits of both constraints are inherited and the shortcomings are overcome. A new cost function based on the constant-norm constraint and Lagrange multiplier is defined. Minimizing the cost function gives birth to a new family of bias-free adaptive IIR filtering algorithms. For example, three efficient algorithms belonging to the family are proposed. The analysis of the stationary points is presented to show that the proposed methods can indeed produce bias-free parameter estimates in the presence of noise. The simulation results demonstrate that the proposed methods perform better than existing algorithms, while being very simple both in computation and implementation.
Effects of Remote Ischemic Preconditioning on Heme Oxygenase-1 Expression and Cutaneous Wound Repair

Skin wounds may lead to scar formation and impaired functionality. Remote ischemic preconditioning (RIPC) can induce the anti-inflammatory enzyme heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) and protect against tissue injury. We aim to improve cutaneous wound repair by RIPC treatment via induction of HO-1. RIPC was applied to HO-1-luc transgenic mice and HO-1 promoter activity and mRNA expression in skin and several other organs were determined in real-time. In parallel, RIPC was applied directly or 24h prior to excisional wounding in mice to investigate the early and late protective effects of RIPC on cutaneous wound repair, respectively. HO-1 promoter activity was significantly induced on the dorsal side and locally in the kidneys following RIPC treatment. Next, we investigated the origin of this RIPC-induced HO-1 promoter activity and demonstrated increased mRNA in the ligated muscle, heart and kidneys, but not in the skin. RIPC did not change HO-1 mRNA and protein levels in the wound 7 days after cutaneous injury. Both early and late RIPC did not accelerate wound closure nor affect collagen deposition. RIPC induces HO-1 expression in several organs, but not the skin, and did not improve excisional wound repair, suggesting that the skin is insensitive to RIPC-mediated protection.
Estrogen and selective estrogen receptor modulator LY117018 enhance release of nitric oxide in rat aorta.

We report on the modulatory effects of chronic subcutaneous or oral estrogen and LY117018, a selective estrogen receptor modulator, on the release of nitric oxide in rings of rat aorta studied under isometric conditions. Dilator responses to acetylcholine (ACh; 10[8] to 10[-5] M) were obtained in phenylephrine (PE; 2 microM)-contracted aorta, and constrictor dose-response curves to PE (10[-8] to 10[-5] M) were generated before and after pretreatment with N omega-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME; 200 microM), an inhibitor of nitric oxide synthase. Tissue segments were obtained from five groups of rats implanted with a subcutaneous pellet delivery system for 21 days: (1) male, (2) sham-operated placebo-treated female, (3) ovariectomized placebo-treated, (4) ovariectomized, 17beta-estradiol treated (0.5 mg/pellet) and (5) ovariectomized, progesterone (15 mg/pellet) and 17beta-estradiol (0.5 mg/pellet)-treated. Aortic rings from sham rats and ovariectomized rats receiving estrogen relaxed more to ACh (10[-6] to 10[-5] M) than did the rings from ovariectomized, progesterone plus estrogen-treated and male rats (P < .05). They were also characterized by a greater potentiation of the PE responses after L-NAME compared with male, progesterone plus estrogen-treated and ovariectomized rats (P < .05) and a similar sensitivity to PE. In addition, ACh-induced relaxation and L-NAME-induced potentiation of PE contractions in aortic rings from rats dosed orally with LY117018 were similar to responses of aortic rings from rats dosed orally with estrogen. These results demonstrate that chronically administered estrogen and LY117018 enhance the release of nitric oxide from endothelium in rat aortic rings.
Cross-kingdom signalling: exploitation of bacterial quorum sensing molecules by the green seaweed Ulva

The green seaweed Ulva has been shown to detect signal molecules produced by bacteria. Biofilms that release N-acylhomoserine lactones (AHLs) attract zoospores—the motile reproductive stages of Ulva. The evidence for AHL involvement is based on several independent lines of evidence, including the observation that zoospores are attracted to wild-type bacteria that produce AHLs but are not attracted to mutants that do not produce signal molecules. Synthetic AHL also attracts zoospores and the attraction is lost in the presence of autoinducer inactivation (AiiA) protein. The mechanism of attraction is not chemotactic but involves chemokinesis. When zoospores detect AHLs, the swimming rate is reduced and this results in accumulation of cells at the source of the AHL. It has been demonstrated that the detection of AHLs results in calcium influx into the zoospore. This is the first example of a calcium signalling event in a eukaryote in response to bacterial quorum sensing molecules. The role of AHLs in the ecology of Ulva is discussed. It is probable that AHLs act as cues for the settlement of zoospores, rather than being directly involved as a signalling mechanism.
A high-level abstraction of shared accesses

We describe the design and use of the tape mechanism, a new high-level abstraction of accesses to shared data for software DSMs. Tapes consolidate and generalize a number of recent protocol optimizations, including update-based locks and recorded-replay barriers. Tapes are usually created by “recording” shared accesses. The resulting recordings can be used to anticipate future accesses by tailoring data movement to application semantics. Tapes-based mechanisms are layered on top of existing shared-memory protocols, and are largely independent of the underlying memory model. Tapes can also be used to emulate the data-movement semantics of several update-based protocol implementations, without altering the underlying protocol implementation. We have used tapes to create the Tapeworm synchronization library. Tapeworm implements sophisticated record-replay mechanisms across barriers, augments locks with data-movement semantics, and allows the use of producer-consumer segments, which move entire modified segments when any portion of the segment is accessed. We show that Tapeworm eliminates 85% of remote misses, reduces message traffic by 63%, and improves performance by an average of 29% for our application suite.
MEIOTIC BEHAVIOUR OF CHROMOSOMES IN PMCS AND KARYOTYPE OF TRIFOLIUM REPENS L. FROM DARJEELING HIMALAYA

Detailed analyses of the chromosome meiotic behaviour and of mitotic metaphase chromosomes (2n = 32), as well as stainability studies of pollen fertility, were carried out in order to determine the cytological status of amphidiploid Trifolium repens L. (Dutch white clover). In amphidiploid (allotetraploid) Trifolium repens L. , diploid-like meiotic behaviour of chromosomes was found, with no multivalent formation, and a normal karyotype with a single pair of chromosome having a secondary constriction was observed. These characteristics indicate favourable genetic and cytological stability in nature, and high pollen fertility further enhances its usefulness in breeding.
Recurrent Challenges for Clinicians: Emergence of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus, Vancomycin Resistance, and Current Treatment Options

Gram-positive pathogens mainly, Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus and coagulase-negative Staphylococcus, are developing increasing resistance to glycopeptides that pose a problem in treating infections caused by these pathogens. Vancomycin is the treatment of choice in treating methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA). Community-acquired MRSA is associated with infections in patients without recent history of hospital admission and without the classical risk factors for MRSA carriage (including healthcare personnel). MRSA poses new threats and challenges beyond the hospital with the emergence of community-acquired MRSA. Indiscriminate use of vancomycin leads to the emergence and spread of vancomycin resistance in multidrug resistant strains is of growing concern in the recent years. Minimum Inhibitory concentration (MIC) remains an important determinant in choosing the right antibiotics. Infections caused by MRSA strains with vancomycin MIC > 4 μg/mL leads to the vancomycin treatment failure. The Clinical Laboratory Standards Institute had also lowered the cut-off susceptibility and resistance breakpoints for vancomycin. Despite the availability of newer antimicrobial agents (Linezolid, Daptomycin, Tigecycline) for drug-resistant Gram-positive pathogens, clinicians and patients still need options for treatment of MRSA infection. There is a need to reduce the global burden of infections caused by Gram-positive pathogens and its resistant strains (mainly MRSA). Continuous efforts should be made to prevent the spread and the emergence of glycopeptide resistance by early detection of the resistant strains and using the proper infection control measures in the hospital setting.
Within-Case and Across-Case Approaches to Qualitative Data Analysis

The generalizations developed by qualitative researchers are embedded in the contextual richness of individual experience. Qualitative data management strategies that depend solely on coding and sorting of texts into units of like meaning can strip much of this contextual richness away. To prevent this, some authors have recommended treating individual accounts as whole cases or stories, but whole cases are difficult to compare with one another when the goal of the research is to develop generalizations that represent multiple accounts. In this article, the authors describe the ways in which three different qualitative researchers combined across-case coding and sorting with a variety of within-case data management and analysis techniques to produce contextually grounded, generalizable findings.
Cross-cutting Social Networks: Testing Democratic Theory in Practice

Exposure to conflicting political viewpoints is widely assumed to benefit the citizens of a democratic polity. Nonetheless, the benefits of exposure to heterogeneous political viewpoints have yet to be demonstrated empirically. Drawing on national survey data that tap characteristics of people's political discussion networks, I examine the impact of heterogeneous networks of political discussion on individuals' awareness of legitimate rationales for oppositional viewpoints, on their awareness of rationales for their own viewpoints, and on levels of political tolerance. Finally, utilizing a laboratory experiment manipulating exposure to dissonant and consonant political views, I further substantiate the causal role of cross-cutting exposure in fostering political tolerance.
Constructing an engineering model for moisture migration in bulk solids as a prelude to predicting moisture migration caking

The aim of this study was to examine one of the mechanisms behind moisture migration caking, where liquid solution bridges form between particles in a bulk solid system because of an increase in local relative humidity, and then solidify as the local relative humidity drops - the effect being increased as more cycles occur. The goal was to develop a one-dimensional model for the heat and mass transfer processes involved, based on established physics and the characteristic moisture sorption curve of the solid (in this case sugar). The model was verified using scaled-down equipment (a caking box) to simulate the caking in a big bag. The results of this study will assist in the prediction of caking produced in this way.
Determination of reliability criteria for liver stiffness evaluation by transient elastography

Liver stiffness evaluation (LSE) is usually considered as reliable when it fulfills all the following criteria: ≥10 valid measurements, ≥60% success rate, and interquartile range / median ratio (IQR/M) ≤0.30. However, such reliable LSE have never been shown to be more accurate than unreliable LSE. Thus, we aimed to evaluate the relevance of the usual definition for LSE reliability, and to improve reliability by using diagnostic accuracy as a primary outcome in a large population. 1,165 patients with chronic liver disease from 19 French centers were included. All patients had liver biopsy and LSE. 75.7% of LSE were reliable according to the usual definition. However, these reliable LSE were not significantly more accurate than unreliable LSE with, respectively: 85.8% versus 81.5% well‐classified patients for the diagnosis of cirrhosis (P = 0.082). In multivariate analyses with different diagnostic targets, LSE median and IQR/M were independent predictors of fibrosis staging, with no significant influence of ≥10 valid measurements or LSE success rate. These two reliability criteria determined three LSE groups: “very reliable” (IQR/M ≤0.10), “reliable” (0.10< IQR/M ≤0.30, or IQR/M >0.30 with LSE median <7.1 kPa), and “poorly reliable” (IQR/M >0.30 with LSE median ≥7.1 kPa). The rates of well‐classified patients for the diagnosis of cirrhosis were, respectively: 90.4%, 85.8%, and 69.5% (P < 10−3). According to these new reliability criteria, 9.1% of LSE were poorly reliable (versus 24.3% unreliable LSE with the usual definition, P < 10−3), 74.3% were reliable, and 16.6% were very reliable. Conclusion: The usual definition for LSE reliability is not relevant. LSE reliability depends on IQR/M according to liver stiffness median level, defining thus three reliability categories: very reliable, reliable, and poorly reliable LSE. (HEPATOLOGY 2013)
Top-k Spatial Preference Queries

A spatial preference query ranks objects based on the qualities of features in their spatial neighborhood. For example, consider a real estate agency office that holds a database with available flats for lease. A customer may want to rank the flats with respect to the appropriateness of their location, defined after aggregating the qualities of other features (e.g., restaurants, cafes, hospital, market, etc.) within a distance range from them. In this paper, we formally define spatial preference queries and propose appropriate indexing techniques and search algorithms for them. Our methods are experimentally evaluated for a wide range of problem settings.