Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
From the gating charge response to pore domain movement: Initial motions of Kv1.2 dynamics under physiological voltage changes

Abstract Recent structures of the potassium channel provide an essential beginning point for explaining how the pore is gated between open and closed conformations by changes in membrane voltage. Yet, the molecular details of this process and the connections to transmembrane gradients are not understood. To begin addressing how changes within a membrane environment lead to the channel’s ability to sense shifts in membrane voltage and to gate, we performed double-bilayer simulations of the Kv1.2 channel. These double-bilayer simulations enable us to simulate realistic voltage drops from resting potential conditions to depolarized conditions by changes in the bath conditions on each side of the bilayer. Our results show how the voltage sensor domain movement responds to differences in transmembrane potential. The initial voltage sensor domain movement, S4 in particular, is modulated by the gating charge response to changes in voltage and is initially stabilized by the lipid headgroups. We show this response is directly coupled to the initial stages of pore domain motion. Results presented here provide a molecular model for how the pre-gating process occurs in sequential steps: Gating charge response, movement and stabilization of the S4 voltage sensor domain, and movement near the base of the S5 region to close the pore domain.
Elevated D-dimer level is an independent risk factor for cardiovascular death in out-patients with symptoms compatible with heart failure

Summary D-dimer, a marker of fibrin turnover, exhibits many interesting properties as a biological marker of thrombosis. Some of the properties of D-dimer might also be used to provide additional information about patients with heart failure. In this study, we evaluate the prognostic information acquired from D-dimer concerning increased risk of cardiovascular mortality in an elderly population with symptoms associated with heart failure. A cardiologist examined 458 elderly patients, out of 548 invited, attending primary care for symptoms of dyspnoea, fatigue and/or peripheral oedema and assessed NYHA functional class and cardiac function. Abnormal systolic function was defined as EF <40% on Doppler echocardiography. Abnormal diastolic function was defined as reduced E/A ratio and/or an abnormal pattern of pulmonary venous flow. Blood samples were drawn, and BNP and D-dimer were analysed. D-dimer was analysed using an automated micro-latex assay. A statistical analysis was performed to identify the prognostic value of increased plasma concentration of D-dimer. Results showed that during a median follow-up period of 5.5 years, 68 (14%) patients died of cardiovascular disease. No gender difference was noted. A plasma concentration of D-dimer >0.25mg/L increased the risk almost 4-fold. In conclusion, D-dimer is an independent risk factor for cardiovascular mortality that may be used to risk-stratify patients with heart failure.
Strategy for modeling flow diverters in cerebral aneurysms as a porous medium

Simulations using the patient‐specific geometry of the aneurysm may help in a better planning of the treatment and in a consequent reduction of the associated risks. We propose, evaluate, and implement a methodology for the simulation of flow diverter (FD) devices in intracranial aneurysms by using a porous medium method (PMM), which greatly reduces the computational cost of these simulations compared with immersed method (IMM) approaches used to model complex FDs. The method relies on parameters from an empirical correlation derived from experimental observations in wire screens, consistent with CFD simulations. The verification of our PMM strategy was carried out by comparing the results of simulations in different (patient‐specific) geometries and FDs, to those obtained under identical conditions by the IMM. Overall, both quantitative and qualitative results are consistent between IMM and PMM in cases where the local porosity remains roughly uniform throughout the neck, with differences in the reduction of the observables lower than 10%. This PMM strategy is up to 10 times faster than the IMM, which allows for a runtime of hours instead of days, bringing it closer for its application in the clinic. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Immunization with the Yersiniabactin Receptor, FyuA, Protects against Pyelonephritis in a Murine Model of Urinary Tract Infection

ABSTRACT Urinary tract infections (UTI) are common and represent a substantial economic and public health burden. Roughly 80% of these infections are caused by a heterogeneous group of uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC) strains. Antibiotics are standard therapy for UTI, but a rise in antibiotic resistance has complicated treatment, making the development of a UTI vaccine more urgent. Iron receptors are a promising new class of vaccine targets for UTI, as UPEC require iron to colonize the iron-limited host urinary tract and genes encoding iron acquisition systems are highly expressed during infection. Previously, three of six UPEC siderophore and heme receptors were identified as vaccine candidates by intranasal immunization in a murine model of ascending UTI. To complete the assessment of iron receptors as vaccine candidates, an additional six UPEC iron receptors were evaluated. Of the six vaccine candidates tested in this study (FyuA, FitA, IroN, the gene product of the CFT073 locus c0294, and two truncated derivatives of ChuA), only FyuA provided significant protection (P = 0.0018) against UPEC colonization. Intranasal immunization induced a robust and long-lived humoral immune response. In addition, the levels of FyuA-specific serum IgG correlated with bacterial loads in the kidneys [Spearman's rank correlation coefficient ρ(14) = −0.72, P = 0.0018], providing a surrogate of protection. FyuA is the fourth UPEC iron receptor to be identified from our screens, in addition to IutA, Hma, and IreA, which were previously demonstrated to elicit protection against UPEC challenge. Together, these iron receptor antigens will facilitate the development of a broadly protective, multivalent UTI vaccine to effectively target diverse strains of UPEC.
Mgoduyanuka: terminal Iron Age settlement in the Natal grasslands

This paper gives the first description of a type of Late Iron Age settlement which is characteristic of a large part of the interior grasslands of Natal. The site, dated to about the seventeenth or eighteenth century, had an economy based on cattle, small stock and cultivation, particularly of maize. Cultural aspects relate it to Nguni-speaking peoples, but differentiate it from all such groups described in the anthropological literature. To cite this article: Maggs, T. 1982. Mgoduyanuka: terminal Iron Age settlement in the Natal grasslands. Annals of the Natal Museum 25 (1): 83-113.
Dichloran as an Inhibitor of Mold Spreading in Fungal Plating Media: Effects on Colony Diameter and Enumeration

Problems associated with overgrowth by spreading molds are not addressed by currently recommended fungal enumeration media. Twenty-two fungi, including 12 mold and 3 yeast genera, were evaluated for the effects of dichloran (2,6-dichloro-4-nitroaniline), previously identified as a mold-spreading inhibitor, on colony diameter and enumeration. On malt agar or antibiotic-potato-dextrose agar (APDA), colony diameters were effectively reduced when dichloran was added. Colony diameters decreased as the dichloran concentration increased. Counts obtained with mixed mold spore suspensions were lower on APDA supplemented with 25 μg of dichloran per ml than on APDA and were higher than APDA with the addition of 5 μg of dichloran per ml (APDA-D-5). Overall counts of mixed and individual mold spore and yeast suspensions were higher in APDA-D-5 than in APDA. The additional advantages of APDA-D-5 may be useful in routine enumeration of fungi.
Geometric-progression-free sets over quadratic number fields

In Ramsey theory one wishes to know how large a collection of objects can be while avoiding a particular substructure. A problem of recent interest has been to study how large subsets of the natural numbers can be while avoiding three-term geometric progressions. Building on recent progress on this problem, we consider the analogous problem over quadratic number fields. We first construct high-density subsets of the algebraic integers of an imaginary quadratic number field that avoid three-term geometric progressions. When unique factorization fails, or over a real quadratic number field, we instead look at subsets of ideals of the ring of integers. Our approach here is to construct sets ‘greedily’, a generalization of the greedy set of rational integers considered by Rankin. We then describe the densities of these sets in terms of values of the Dedekind zeta function. Next, we consider geometric-progression-free sets with large upper density. We generalize an argument by Riddell to obtain upper bounds for the upper density of geometric-progression-free subsets, and construct sets avoiding geometric progressions with high upper density to obtain lower bounds for the supremum of the upper density of all such subsets. Both arguments depend critically on the elements with small norm in the ring of integers.
Surviving a Gender-Variant Childhood: The Views of Transgender Adults on the Needs of Gender-Variant Children and Their Parents

Adults with gender-variant childhoods have often lived traumatic lives because of the attitudes and limited understanding that people in their environment had of the concept of gender variance. This study explores the childhoods of transgender adults with the aim to understand their gender-related difficulties as children, in order to identify their needs and the needs of their parents at that time. The authors conducted a semi-structured survey with 110 transgender adults in order to explore their retrospective childhood experiences. Responses were analyzed through content and thematic coding. Their needs most commonly identified as children were for educated authority figures; acceptance and support to discuss their gender variance; freedom of identity expression; validation; and recognition. The needs most commonly allocated to their parents were access to information, education to increase other's awareness, peer support, and access to educated professionals.
Effect of liquid-solid electromigration on interfacial reaction in Cu/Sn-9Zn/Cu solder joint

The diffusion behavior of Zn atoms and the interfacial reactions in line-type Cu/Sn-9Zn/Cu solder joints undergoing liquid-solid electromigration (L-S EM) were investigated under a current density of 5.0×103 A/cm2 at 230 °C. Liquid-solid (L-S) reaction without current at 230°C was also conducted for comparison. It was clearly observed that there existed a reverse polarity effect induced by the Zn atoms migration towards the cathode undergoing L-S EM, i.e., the interfacial intermetallic compounds (IMCs) at the cathode grew continuously and were significantly thicker than those at the anode. At the anode, dissolution and massive spalling of the interfacial Cu-Zn IMCs occurred and the depletion of Zn resulted in the formation of Cu6Sn5 IMC. At the cathode, the interfacial IMCs remained as Cu5Zn8. It was deduced that the effective charge number (Z*) of Zn atoms in both liquid Sn-Zn solder and interfacial Cu-Zn IMCs turned into positive, resulting in the abnormal diffusion behavior of Zn atoms undergoing L-S EM.
[Paradental cyst].

The paradental cyst is an odontogenic inflammatory cyst (WHO classification, 1992). It has been rarely described in the french literature and includes: The inflammatory paradental cyst which occurs on the buccal or distal aspects of an erupted third mandibular molar or of a canine (first description by Main in 1970); the mandibular infected buccal cyst which occurs on the buccal surface of the mandibular second or first molar in children around 6-8 years of age with an associated history of inflammatory signs (Stoneman and North, 1993). The histological features are the same as those of the radicular cyst. Prognosis is excellent after enucleation. This paper present an additional case report of a paradental cyst located on a second mandibular molar.
Mokymosi mokytis kompetencijos ugdymo aspektai Virginija

In diesem Artikel wird die Bedeutung der Entwicklung und Entfaltung der Lernkompetenz erlautet, sowie analysiert die Autorin die Faktoren, die fur die Entstehung der Voraussetzungen dieses Phanomens entscheidend sind. Es wird gezeigt, dass jedes Individuum uber Potenzen verfugt, die Lernaktivitaten selbststandig zu organisieren, zu steuern und sie zu kontrollieren und dass die Lernenden erlernen mussen, diese Potenzen sinnvoll, wirksam und erfolgsvoll zu benutzen. Das Lernen ist immer ein subjektiver Prozess und die Tatigkeit der Lernenden, die Prioritaten und die Entwicklung der Kompetenzen bezieht sich auf Weltanschauungen der Individuen. Die Voraussetzungen fur die Lernkompetenz werden durch bestimmte Faktoren gebildet, die nach der Meinung vieler Autoren wichtig sind: (1) Kenntnisse uber das Lernen und Gedachtnis uberhaupt, (2) Kenntnisse uber den individuellen Lernstil der Lernenden, (3) Kenntnisse uber bestimmte Lernstrategien, (4) Planung, Steuerung und Kontrolle des Lernprozesses, (5) Organisation des individuellen, langfristigen Lernens. Das Lernen des Lernens, d. h. , die Lernkompetenz beschreibt also einen Prozess, der das selbstmotivierte, selbstgesteuerte, lebenslange Lernen umfasst. Angesichts der vielfaltigen Lernkompetenzdefinitionen wird in diesem Artikel das hypothetische Modell des metakompetenten Lernens vorgelegt. Als Ausgangspunkt werden hier die personlichen Potenzen des Individuums, seine Handlungsfahigkeiten, die durch erworbenes Wissen und bestimmte Fertigkeiten gekennzeichnet sind, sowie auch die individuelle Bereitschaft zum Lernen, d. h. positive Einstellungen, die die Richtung fur die Lerntatigkeit geben, dargestellt. Zur produktiven und effektiven Tatigkeit in einer bestimmten Situation reicht nur die Handlungsfahigkeit nicht aus. In diesem Falle spricht man von einem Determinanten, ohne dessen keine sinnvolle und wirksame Tatigkeit moglich ist, d. h. psychologische, emotionelle Handlungsbereitschaft, die durch positive Einstellungen charakterisiert wird. Den Kern des Modells bilden sechs eng verbundene Fahigkeiten, die verschiedene kognitive, metakognitive, motivationelle, soziale Aspekte des Lernprozesses umfassen. Stichwort: Lernprozesses, Lebenslanges Lernen, Kompetenz
Leaching out from acrylic bone cement. Experimental evaluation.

Using common salt and C.M. W. bone cement mixture with Barium it has been shown that even with relatively high concentrations, only a small proportion of salt is released. This release seems to be a purely surface phenomenon and the amount released is directly proportional to the surface are of the cement. If a water soluble antibiotic and NaCl are released from the bone cement by a comparable mechanism, the inclusion of antibiotic/methylmethacrylate is difficult to justify in clinical practice.
Female Mimicry by Sneaker Males Has a Transcriptomic Signature in Both the Brain and the Gonad in a Sex-Changing Fish

Phenotypic plasticity represents an elegant adaptive response of individuals to a change in their environment. Bluehead wrasses (Thalassoma bifasciatum) exhibit astonishing sexual plasticity, including female-to-male sex change and discrete male morphs that differ strikingly in behavior, morphology, and gonadal investment. Using RNA-seq transcriptome profiling, we examined the genes and physiological pathways underlying flexible behavioral and gonadal differences among female, dominant (bourgeois) male, and female-mimic (sneaker) male blueheads. For the first time in any organism, we find that female mimicry by sneaker males has a transcriptional signature in both the brain and the gonad. Sneaker males shared striking similarity in neural gene expression with females, supporting the idea that males with alternative reproductive phenotypes have "female-like brains. " Sneaker males also overexpressed neuroplasticity genes, suggesting that their opportunistic reproductive strategy requires a heightened capacity for neuroplasticity. Bourgeois males overexpressed genes associated with socio-sexual behaviors (e.g., isotocin), but also neuroprotective genes and biomarkers of oxidative stress and aging, indicating a hitherto unexplored cost to these males of attaining the reproductively privileged position at the top of the social hierarchy. Our novel comparison of testicular transcriptomes in a fish with male sexual polymorphism associates greater gonadal investment by sneaker males with overexpression of genes involved in cell proliferation and sperm quality control. We propose that morphological female-mimicry by sneaker male teleosts entails pervasive downregulation of androgenesis genes, consistent with low androgen production in males lacking well-developed secondary sexual characters.
Countermeasures for Automatic Speaker Verification Replay Spoofing Attack : On Data Augmentation, Feature Representation, Classification and Fusion

The ongoing ASVspoof 2017 challenge aims to detect replay attacks for text dependent speaker verification. In this paper, we propose multiple replay spoofing countermeasure systems, with some of them boosting the CQCC-GMM baseline system after score level fusion. We investigate different steps in the system building pipeline, including data augmentation, feature representation, classification and fusion. First, in order to augment training data and simulate the unseen replay conditions, we converted the raw genuine training data into replay spoofing data with parametric sound reverberator and phase shifter. Second, we employed the original spectrogram rather than CQCC as input to explore the end-to-end feature representation learning methods. The spectrogram is randomly cropped into fixed size segments, and then fed into a deep residual netowrk (ResNet). Third, upon the CQCC features, we replaced the subsequent GMM classifier with deep neural networks including fully-connected deep neural network (FDNN) and Bidirectional Long Short Term Memory neural network (BLSTM). Experiments showed that data augmentation strategy can significantly improve the system performance. The final fused system achieves to 16.39 % EER on the test set of ASVspoof 2017 for the common task.
Risk Factors for Cerebral Microbleeds in the Elderly

Background: To define the cardiovascular risk factors for cerebral microbleeds and to investigate the relationship between microbleeds on the one hand, and the volume of age-related white matter hyperintensities (WMH) and atrophy on the other in an elderly population. Methods: Four hundred and thirty-nine elderly subjects (age range: 72–85; mean: 77) suffering from vascular disease or at high risk for developing this condition were included in this study. For each subject the number and localization of the microbleeds was recorded. Results: The prevalence of microbleeds in this study was 24%. We found age and a history of hypertension to be risk factors for microbleeds. After regional subdivision systolic blood pressure was found to be a risk factor for microbleeds located in the basal ganglia. A history of hypertension was more prevalent in patients with corticosubcortical and basal ganglia microbleeds. Magnetic resonance imaging risk factors associated with one or more microbleeds were total WMH volume, subcortical WMH volume, and periventricular WMH volume. Total WMH volume and periventricular WMH volume were risk factors for corticosubcortical microbleeds and basal ganglia microbleeds. Conclusion: A high prevalence of microbleeds was found in a population of patients suffering from vascular disease or at high risk for developing this condition. Age, hypertension and WMH were the most important risk factors for microbleeds, especially when located in the corticosubcortial junction or in the basal ganglia.
Lone Atrial Fibrillation: Where Are We Now?

Abstract There is a growing pandemic of atrial fibrillation (AF), affecting nearly 2% of the general adult population. Atrial fibrillation is commonly associated with structural heart disease, and AF itself causes a sequence of complex processes of electrical, contractile, and structural remodeling of the atrial myocardium, which facilitate further AF progression. Nonetheless, AF may also affect individuals aged ≤ 65 years who have no evidence of associated cardiopulmonary or other disease, including hypertension; this is otherwise referred to as “lone” AF and is considered to have a generally favorable prognosis. The true prevalence of lone AF is unknown. Growing insights into the diversity of numerous mechanisms involved in the pathogenesis of AF, including acute atrial stretch, structural and electrophysiological alterations, systemic inflammation, oxidative stress, autonomic imbalance, genetic predisposition, and many others, and increasing recognition of novel risk factors for AF, including obesity, metabolic syndrome, subclinical atherosclerosis, sleep apnea, alcohol consumption, and endurance sports, suggest that apparently lone AF might not be so “lone” in many patients, which could have important prognostic and therapeutic implications. In this article, we summarize the current knowledge of epidemiology, etiopathogenesis, and pathophysiology of so-called lone AF and discuss the issues of long-term prognosis and management of patients who have an apparently lone AF.
Targeting Eukaryotic Translation Initiation Factor 4E (eIF4E) in Cancer

Recent advances in understanding the role of eukaryotic translation initiator factor 4E (eIF4E) in tumorigenesis and cancer progression have generated significant interest in therapeutic agents that indirectly or directly target aberrant activation of eIF4E in cancer. Here, we address the general function of eIF4E in translation initiation and cancer, present evidence supporting its role in cancer initiation and progression, and highlight emerging therapeutics that efficiently target hyperactivated eIF4E. In doing so, we also highlight the major differences between these therapeutics that may influence their mechanism of action. Clin Cancer Res; 16(20); 4914–20. ©2010 AACR.