Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Do hepatitis B virus and hepatitis C virus co‐infections increase hepatocellular carcinoma occurrence through synergistically modulating lipogenic gene expression?

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections cause a wide range of liver diseases including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Because of the similar modes of transmission, HBV HCV co‐infections are found in approximately 7–20 million people globally. Compared with HBV or HCV mono‐infections, co‐infections are associated with more severe liver diseases and higher risk of HCC. Abnormal lipid biosynthesis and metabolism has been increasingly recognized as a cause for cancer. While HBV infection does not seem to significantly increase the risk of developing hepatic steatosis, steatosis is a prominent feature of chronic hepatitis C (CHC). In addition, steatosis in HBV or HCV mono‐infections is a significant and independent risk factor for HCC. However, whether and how HBV HCV co‐infections synergistically increase the risk of HCC development through modulating lipid metabolism is not well understood. Possible mechanisms by which steatosis causes HCC include: activation of sterol regulatory element‐binding protein‐mediated lipogenesis through the PI3K–Akt pathway, abnormal activation of peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptors and endoplasmic reticulum stress. Here, we review the potential mechanisms by which HBV HCV co‐infections may increase HCC risk through modulation of lipogenic gene expression. We begin with reviewing the impact of HBV and HCV on host lipogenic gene expression and carcinogenesis. We then discuss the potential mechanisms by which HBV and HCV can increase carcinogenesis through synergistically activating lipid biosynthesis and metabolism. We end by sharing our thoughts on future research directions in this emerging paradigm with an ultimate goal of developing effective therapeutics.
Renal Medullary Microcirculation: Architecture and Exchange

The architecture of the renal medullary microcirculation is highly specialized. Consistent with their role in countercurrent exchange, the vessels (the vasa recta and the intervening capillaries) have high permeabilities to fluid and small hydrophilic solutes. The urea permeability of the continuous endothelium of the descending vasa recta (DVR) in the outer medulla is greatly enhanced by a urea transporter. Aquaporin channels have also been identified in these vessels. In spite of the absence of lymphatics from the inner medulla, fluid uptake from the interstitial fluid (ISF) through the fenestrated endothelium of the ascending vasa recta (AVR) appears to be driven by differences in hydrostatic and oncotic pressure. Because the AVR have high Lp's [10−5 cm s−1 (cm H2O)−1] and are mechanically linked to surrounding structures, small increments of ISF pressures above the pressure within the AVR can drive significant volumes of fluid into AVR if ISF volume expands. The lower reflection coefficients to serum albumin of the AVR as compared with the DVR may be important in the clearance of interstitial plasma protein. Recent work on isolated DVR from the outer medulla has revealed that these vessels are capable of vasoconstriction and thus of regulating medullary blood flow.
Prevalence of Fibromyalgia Among Patients With Chronic Hepatitis C Infection: Relationship to Viral Characteristics and Quality of Life

Objectives: We determined the prevalence of fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) in a cohort of subjects with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV), and the relationship to subject demographics, viral characteristics, and quality of life. Methods: In a cross-sectional study of a cohort of HCV-infected individuals, all subjects underwent a standard assessment including history, clinical examination, and functional assessments for pain and disability. Results: A total of 185 subjects met the inclusion criteria. Median age was 48.7 years, and 110 (59%) were women. A total of 106 (57%) of the subjects met criteria for the presence of FMS. Widespread pain and ≥11 tender points were present in all of the subjects with FMS, fatigue in 98 (92%), and depression in 60 (57%). Among those with FMS, mean pain score was 70±11.78 and 36% reported some functional impairment on (HAQ-DI>0), with 17% reporting moderate-to-severe functional impairment (HAQ-DI≥1.5). Conclusions: This study reveals a high prevalence of FMS (57%) among subjects with chronic HCV infection, one third of whom reported some degree of functional impairment. Recognition and management of this condition in such patients will help improve their quality of life.
Role of DC‐SIGN in the activation of dendritic cells by HPV‐16 L1 virus‐like particle vaccine

Dendritic cell‐specific intercellular adhesion molecule‐grabbing non‐integrin (DC‐SIGN), a specific C‐type lectin expressed on DC, binds and transmits different pathogens to susceptible cells. In the present study, we examined the role of DC‐SIGN in the capture of human papillomavirus (HPV) pseudovirions and activation of DC. We demonstrate that HPV virus‐like particles (VLP) bind to DC‐SIGN expressed on transfected Raji cells and that antibodies against DC‐SIGN block this interaction. DC take up VLP, which activate expression of costimulatory markers and cytokines/chemokines. Although our results indicate that DC‐SIGN is not the major receptor for VLP in DC, this interaction contributes to the activation of DC surface antigens (HLA class I) and of various cytokines/chemokines, particularly TNF‐α, IL‐6, and RANTES. Induction of these markers in DC by VLP was significantly abrogated when binding to DC‐SIGN was blocked by anti‐DC‐SIGN antibodies. These results suggest that DC‐SIGN has a functional role in DC activation induced by HPV‐16 L1‐VLP, and thus highlight new aspects of DC interactions with HPV VLP.
Asp-ase Activity of the Opossum Granzyme B Supports the Role of Granzyme B as Part of Anti-Viral Immunity Already during Early Mammalian Evolution

Granzyme B is one of the key effector molecules in our defense against viruses and intracellular bacteria. This serine protease together with the pore forming protein perforin, induces caspase or Bid-dependent apoptosis in target cells. Here we present the first characterization of a granzyme B homolog, the grathepsodenase, in a non-placental mammal, the American opossum (Monodelphis domestica). The recombinant enzyme was produced in a human cell line and used to study its primary and extended cleavage specificity using a panel of chromogenic substrates and recombinant protein substrates. The opossum granzyme B was found to have a specificity similar to human granzyme B, although slightly less restrictive in its extended specificity. The identification of a granzyme B homolog with asp-ase (cleaving after aspartic acid) specificity in a non-placental mammal provides strong indications that caspase or Bid-dependent apoptosis by a serine protease with a conserved primary specificity has been part of anti-viral immunity since early mammalian evolution. This finding also indicates that an asp-ase together with a chymase were the first two serine protease genes to appear in the mammalian chymase locus.
Towards a Logistics Cloud

This paper describes an approach for the development of a logistics cloud as a “vertical cloud”. In contrast to a generic or “horizontal cloud” components of the cloud platform are custom tailored to the specific needs of the logistics application area. The NIST cloud services model serves as a basis for structuring logistics specific cloud service requirements. In the next step the domain specific model is used as a basis for the development of Logistics Mall, a domain specific cloud platform for the trading and usage of logistics IT services and logistics processes. The paper closes with an overview of the implementation status and an outlook to future work.
Quality Competition Versus Price Competition Goods: An Empirical Classification

Based on the recent trade models of the Heterogeneous Firms Trade (HFT) model and the Quality Heterogeneous Firms Trade (QHFT) model, we classify export goods (at the HS 6-digit level of disaggregation) by quality and price competition. We find a high proportions of quality-competition goods for the major EU countries and lower proportions for Canada, Australia and China. However, the overlap of these quality-competition goods is not large, which suggests that characteristics of export goods are substantially different across countries at the same HS 6-digit code.
HEDup: Secure Deduplication with Homomorphic Encryption

Deduplication on encrypted data is a promising trend for both cloud storage providers and subscribers. Data deduplication allows cloud storage providers (CSP) to save storage space by eliminating the copies of the same data. Data encryption can ensure the confidentiality of customer's data both in transit and at rest. However, deduplication that works on detecting identical data does not work well with encrypted data provided by conventional encryption. Encryption of the same data using different key (by different subscribers) will result in different ciphertexts that will not allow the CSP to carry out deduplication. In this paper, we propose a scheme to allow deduplication on encrypted data with the aid of a key server deployed at cloud service provider premises, called HEDup (Homomorphic Encryption Deduplication). In this solution, the subscriber encrypts data with data-encryption key obtained from key server via various key-management schemes, one of which uses homomorphic encryption. The main contributions of this project are (1) with a key server deployed at cloud provider premises, it will not only deduplicate data from particular domain but also for the CSP's entire client base including public and different enterprise users - this results in higher storage savings and (2) data owners still maintain exclusive control of their data and data-encryption keys, i.e. CSP has no access to any of it - strong confidentiality guarantees. The experiments conducted show that data uploads and downloads using HEDup have minor storage and latency overhead. Our implementation also shows significant performance optimization when compared to commercial key management service for cloud object storage.
Chromosomal aberrations in blood lymphocytes of astronauts after long-term space flights.

PURPOSE To analyse lymphocyte chromosomes from astronauts of MIR and EUROMIR missions. MATERIALS AND METHODS Peripheral lymphocytes from seven astronauts before and after space flights were cultured and analysed for structural chromosomal aberrations. RESULTS Chromosome-type but not chromatid-type aberrations were significantly elevated after space flights when compared to pre-flight values. In one astronaut two rogue cells were found. CONCLUSIONS Overall the frequencies of aberrations were found to be correlated with estimated absorbed cosmic radiation doses.
Tir Triggers Expression of CXCL1 in Enterocytes and Neutrophil Recruitment during Citrobacter rodentium Infection

ABSTRACT The hallmarks of enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC) infection are formation of attaching and effacing (A/E) lesions on mucosal surfaces and actin-rich pedestals on cultured cells, both of which are dependent on the type III secretion system effector Tir. Following translocation into cultured cells and clustering by intimin, Tir Y474 is phosphorylated, leading to recruitment of Nck, activation of N-WASP, and actin polymerization via the Arp2/3 complex. A secondary, weak, actin polymerization pathway is triggered via an NPY motif (Y454). Importantly, Y454 and Y474 play no role in A/E lesion formation on mucosal surfaces following infection with the EPEC-like mouse pathogen Citrobacter rodentium. In this study, we investigated the roles of Tir segments located upstream of Y451 and downstream of Y471 in C. rodentium colonization and A/E lesion formation. We also tested the role that Tir residues Y451 and Y471 play in host immune responses to C. rodentium infection. We found that deletion of amino acids 382 to 462 or 478 to 547 had no impact on the ability of Tir to mediate A/E lesion formation, although deletion of amino acids 478 to 547 affected Tir translocation. Examination of enterocytes isolated from infected mice revealed that a C. rodentium strain expressing Tir_Y451A/Y471A recruited significantly fewer neutrophils to the colon and triggered less colonic hyperplasia on day 14 postinfection than the wild-type strain. Consistently, enterocytes isolated from mice infected with C. rodentium expressing Tir_Y451A/Y471A expressed significantly less CXCL1. These result show that Tir-induced actin remodeling plays a direct role in modulation of immune responses to C. rodentium infection.
An evaluation of predator control and hatchery operations as management actions to assist with the recovery of the endangered Cultus Lake sockeye salmon

The Cultus lake sockeye salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) population has declined dramatically over the past few decades, and was classified as endangered by the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) in 2003. There are currently three major initiatives underway for assisting the recovery of this population (harvest management, predator control, and hatchery operations). I use a stochastic simulation model within a decision analysis framework to evaluate management strategies associated with these three initiatives. I estimate the probability of meeting pre-specified survival and recovery objectives for four alternative management strategies. My results suggest that the probability of recovery for Cultus Lake sockeye salmon is low under current marine survival rates. I also describe trade-offs between probability of achieving the conservation objectives and reductions in the commercial sockeye salmon fishery to help evaluate the relative merits of these initiatives.
Pharmacokinetics of Concentration-Controlled Mycophenolate Mofetil in Proliferative Lupus Nephritis: An Observational Cohort Study

Background: Mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) has variable pharmacokinetics. This study examines the pharmacokinetic and clinical correlations in proliferative lupus nephritis. Methods: Thirty-four patients were started on MMF, and the area under the concentration–time curve (AUC) was measured by limited sampling strategies, and dosing was adjusted to achieve an AUC of 30–60 mg·h·L−1. Twenty-seven patients had at least 2 measurements, and renal response was assessed within 1 year. Results: About 61.8% of patients had mycophenolic acid (MPA) AUC <30 mg·h·L−1 with an empiric starting dose of 30 mg/kg. About 79.4% of patients achieved renal response by 1 year, and the median time to renal response was 111 days. MMF dose per body weight had a weak correlation with the AUC and did not correlate with trough concentrations. The median dose was 1.5 g/d at entry and 2 g/d after dose modification during the induction phase. Trough concentrations had a weak correlation with AUC. Patients with serum albumin ≥35 g/L had a greater chance of having an AUC ≥30 mg·h·L−1. The between-patient coefficient of variability for dose-normalized AUC was 37.9% at entry and 31% within 1 year, whereas repeated measurements over time in an individual had a good intraclass correlation of 0.78. Infections occurred in 11.8% and toxicities in 5.9%. MPA exposure was not significantly associated with adverse events. Patients with an AUC ≥30 mg·h·L−1 had greater renal response at 1 year. Conclusions: Lupus nephritis patients induced with concentration-controlled MMF had excellent renal response and fewer adverse events with lower than usual dosing. MPA exposure had high interpatient variability, requiring measurements for personalized dosing, and fewer adverse events. Long-term cost reduction is achievable with lower doses and good renal response in the majority of patients.
C1 Inhibitor: Analysis of the Role of Amino Acid Residues Within the Reactive Center Loop in Target Protease Recognition1

Previous analysis of a naturally occurring C1 inhibitor P2 mutant (Ala443→Val) indicated a role for P2 in specificity determination. To define this role and that of other reactive center loop residues, a number of different amino acids were introduced at P2, as well as at P6 (Ala439) and P8′/9′ (Gln452Gln453). Ala439→Val is a naturally occurring mutant observed in a patient with hereditary angioedema. Previous data suggested that Gln452Gln453 might be a contact site for C1s. Reactivity of the inhibitors toward target (C1s, C1r, kallikrein, β factor XIIa, and plasmin) and nontarget proteases (α-thrombin and trypsin) were studied. Substitution of P2 with bulky or charged residues resulted in decreased reactivity with all target proteases. Substitution with residues with hydrophobic or polar side chains resulted in decreased reactivity with some proteases, but in unaltered or increased reactivity with others. Second order rate constants for the reaction with C1s were determined for the mutants with activities most similar to the wild-type protein. The three P2 mutants showed reductions in rate from 3.35 × 105 M−1s−1 for the wild type to 1.61, 1.29, and 0.63 × 105 for the Ser, Thr, and Val mutants, respectively. In contrast, the Ala439→Val and the Gln452Gln453→Ala mutants showed little difference in association rates with C1s, in comparison with the wild-type inhibitor. The data confirm the importance of P2 in specificity determination. However, the P6 position appears to be of little, if any, importance. Furthermore, it appears unlikely that Gln452Gln453 comprise a portion of a protease contact site within the inhibitor.
Effect of Strong Fragrance on Olfactory Detection Threshold

Objective To assess the olfactory threshold of healthy volunteers at the University College Hospital, Ibadan and to investigate the effect of perfume on their olfactory detection thresholds. Study Design A quasi-experimental study on olfactory detection thresholds of healthy volunteers from September 2013 to November 2013. Setting Tertiary health institution. Subjects and Methods A structured questionniare was administered to the participants in order to obtain information on sociodemographics, occupation, ability to perceive smell, use of perfume, effects of perfume on appetite and self-confidence, history of allergy, and previous nasal surgery. Participants subjectively rated their olfactory performance. Subsequently, they had olfactory detection threshold testing done at baseline and after exposure to perfume with varied concentrations of n-butanol in a forced triple response and staircase fashion. Results Healthy volunteers, 37 males and 63 females, were evaluated. Their ages ranged from 19 to 59 years with a mean of 31 years ± 8. Subjectively, 94% of the participants had excellent olfactory function. In the pre-exposure forced triple response, 88% were able to detect the odor at ≤. 25 mmol/l concentration while in the post-exposure forced triple response, only 66% were able to detect the odor at ≤. 25 mmol/l concentration. There is also a statistical significant difference in the olfactory detection threshold score between the pre-exposure and post-exposure period in the participants (P < .05). Conclusion Use of strong fragrances affects the olfactory detection threshold. Therefore patients and clinicians should be aware of this and its effects on the outcome of test of olfaction.
Profit maximization in wireless powered communications with improved non-linear energy conversion and storage efficiencies

In this paper, we investigate profit maximization problem in wireless powered communication (WPC) systems, where the profit is defined as the difference between the revenue earned from uplink data transmission and total energy cost of the system. Since the efficiencies of energy harvesting (EH) circuits and battery storage are both non-linear, conventional linear models will lead to suboptimal resource allocation. In this paper, we propose to maximize the profit of a WPC system under nonlinear energy harvesting and storage models. In order to solve the non-convex optimization problem, we develop a piecewise linear EH model, which is more accurate than conventional linear EH models and existing non-linear EH models. Numerical results show that the power and time allocation design based on the non-linear energy harvesting and storage models outperforms that based on existing linear models in terms of the profit.
Detection on Surfaces and in Caco-2 Cells of Campylobacter jejuni Cells Transformed with New gfp, yfp, andcfp Marker Plasmids

ABSTRACT We have developed two sets of Campylobacter shuttle vectors containing either the gfp (green fluorescent protein), yfp (yellow fluorescent protein), orcfp (cyan fluorescent protein) reporter gene. In one set, the reporter gene is fused to a consensus Campylobacterpromoter sequence (Pc). The other set contains a pUC18 multicloning site upstream of the reporter gene, allowing the construction of transcriptional fusions using known promoters or random genomic fragments. C. jejuni cells transformed with the Pc fusion plasmids are strongly fluorescent and easily visualized on chicken skin, on plant tissue, and within infected Caco-2 cells. In each C. jejuni strain tested, these plasmids were maintained over several passages in the absence of antibiotic selection. Also, in many C. jejuni strains, >91% of the cells transformed with the Pc fusion plasmids remained fluorescent after several days. Experiments with yellow fluorescent and cyan fluorescent C. jejuni transformants suggest that aggregates containing two or more strains of C. jejuni may be present in an enrichment broth culture. Colonies arising from these aggregates would be heterologous in nature; therefore, isolation of a pure culture of C. jejuni, by selecting single colonies, from an environmental sample may not always yield a single strain.
Emotions, heart rate and performance in archery. A case study.

BACKGROUND A case study of an elite female archer was conducted to gain insight into individual psychophysical reactions accompanying an athletic event, and to test predictions of pre-performance emotions effects upon performance. Good performance was expected when the actual pre-performance emotions resembled the recalled optimal emotion pattern. Conversely, poor performance was expected when the actual pre-performance emotions paralleled the recalled ineffective emotion pattern. METHODS EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN the investigation comprised individual emotion profiling, emotions and heart rate monitoring, final interview and performance evaluation. SETTING The research was accomplished during the 1996 European Archery Championships, one of the most important international archery competitions. PARTICIPANT An 18-year-old female athlete of the Italian archery national team. INTERVENTIONS Because of the exploratory nature of the study, no intervention was implemented. MEASURES Emotion profiling was carried out using an idiographic approach based on recalled optimal and poor performances, according to the Individual Zones of Optimal Functioning (IZOF) model. Emotions, heart rate, and performance were monitored across the five days of practice and competition. RESULTS Individual pre-performance optimal emotion pattern, heart rate deceleration during shooting, consistent shooting scores were revealed throughout practice and competition. CONCLUSIONS The good performance predicted on the basis of pre-performance emotion assessments was met and was confirmed by the archer's interpretation.