Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Specific interaction acting at a cellulose-binding domain/cellulose interface for papermaking application

Specific and strong cellulose-binding characteristics were utilized for promoting retention of additives in contaminated papermaking systems. Cellulose-binding domain (CBD) of cellulase derived from Trichoderma viride was separated by digestion with papain, and then introduced into anionic polyacrylamide (A-PAM) through a condensation reaction using water-soluble carbodiimide. The CBD-modified A-PAM (CBD-A-PAM) showed good retention on pulp fibers, resulting in high tensile strength paper sheets. The effect remained almost unchanged in the presence of model interfering substances such as ligninsulfonate and Ca2+ ions, whereas commercial cationic paper-strengthening polymer became ineffective. The cellulose-binding force of CBD was quantitatively determined by atomic force microscopy (AFM) in the liquid state. Histidine-tagged CBD protein was obtained using Escherichia coli via an expression of CBD derived from Cellulomonas fimi, and immobilized on a gold-coated AFM probe. A strong attractive force was detected only at a CBD/cellulose interface, even when Ca2+ ions were present in high concentration. Direct estimation of CBD affinity for cellulose substrate by AFM would provide significant information on the interfacial interactions useful for the functional design of papermaking additives.
Invasive Salmonellosis in Urban Thai Children: A Ten-Year Review

Background: Invasive, extraintestinal salmonellosis carries a significant burden of childhood morbidity especially among infants and young children in developing countries. Objectives: To determine the clinical manifestations, outcomes, laboratory findings and antimicrobial susceptibility patterns in patients with invasive salmonellosis. Methods: A retrospective chart review was conducted among children 0–18 years of age diagnosed with invasive salmonellosis receiving care at Queen Sirikit National Institute of Child Health, Bangkok, Thailand, from 2001 to 2010. Results: We analyzed the records of 229 patients with culture-proven invasive salmonellosis. Sixty-three percent of cases had no documented underlying disease. Fever, diarrhea and respiratory symptoms were reported in 92%, 40% and 29% of cases, respectively. The spectrum of disease included isolated bacteremia (90%), clinical pneumonia (24.8%), bacteremia with meningitis (7.8%), septic arthritis (1.3%) and empyema thoracis (0.4%). Forty-seven of 57 cases presenting with clinical pneumonia had abnormal infiltrations on chest radiograph (20.5% of all cases). Despite the invasive nature of the illness, 53.1% of patients had a normal white blood cell count. Antimicrobial resistance was found among ampicillin (68.3%), chloramphenical (15.2%), trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (33.9%), ceftriaxone (17.4%) and ciprofloxacin (3%). The case fatality rate was 4.8%, 91% of whom had an underlying disease. Multivariate analysis indicated that age, underlying liver disease and presence of pneumonia were significant predictors of fatality. Conclusions: Fever, diarrhea and respiratory symptoms were among the most common presenting symptoms of invasive nontyphoidal salmonellosis. Older age, hepatobiliary disease and presence of pneumonia were associated with increased risk of fatality. Resistance to third-generation cephalosporins poses a major concern for its use as empiric antimicrobial therapy for this condition.
Evocative gene–environment correlation in the mother–child relationship: A twin study of interpersonal processes

Abstract The behavior genetic literature suggests that genetically influenced characteristics of the child elicit specific behaviors from the parent. However, little is known about the processes by which genetically influenced child characteristics evoke parental responses. Interpersonal theory provides a useful framework for identifying reciprocal behavioral processes between children and mothers. The theory posits that, at any given moment, interpersonal behavior varies along the orthogonal dimensions of warmth and control and that the interpersonal behavior of one individual tends to elicit corresponding or contrasting behavior from the other (i.e., warmth elicits warmth, whereas control elicits submission). The current study thus examined these dimensions of interpersonal behavior as they relate to the parent–child relationship in 546 twin families. A computer joystick was used to rate videos of mother–child interactions in real time, yielding information on mother and child levels of warmth and control throughout the interaction. Analyses indicated that maternal control, but not maternal warmth, was influenced by evocative gene–environment correlational processes, such that genetic influences on maternal control and child control were largely overlapping. Moreover, these common genetic influences were present both cross-sectionally and over the course of the interaction. Such findings not only confirm the presence of evocative gene–environment correlational processes in the mother–child relationship but also illuminate at least one of the specific interpersonal behaviors that underlie this evocative process.
Are neutrophil/lymphocyte and platelet/lymphocyte rates in patients with non-small cell lung cancer associated with treatment response and prognosis?

BACKGROUND Inflammation is a critical component of tumor progression. Many cancers arise from sites of infection, chronic irritation, and inflammation. It is now becoming clear that the tumour microenvironment, which is largely orchestrated by inflammatory cells, is an essential participant in the neoplastic process, promoting proliferation, survival and migration. Platelets can release some growth factors such as platelet-derived growth factor, platelet factor 4, and thrombospondin. Such factors have been shown to promote hematogenous tumour spread, tumor cell adhesion and invasion, and angiogenesis and to play an important role in tumor progression. In this study, we aimed to investigate effects of the pretreatment neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and the platelet to lymphocyte ratio (PLR) on survival and response to chemoradiotherapy in patients with non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). MATERIALS AND METHODS Ninety-four patients with non-metastatic NSCLC were included and separated into two groups according to median value of NLR and PLR (low: <3.44 or high: ≥ 3.44 and low: <194 or high ≥ 194, respectively). RESULTS Pretreatment high NLR and PLR were associated with significantly shorter disease-free and overall survival rates. Multivariate analysis revealed that the overall survival rates were significantly linked with PLR (OR: 1.87, CI: 1.20-2.91, p: 0.006) and response to chemoradiotherapy (OR: 1.80, CI: 1.14-2.81, p: 0.012) and the disease-free survival rates were significantly associated with NLR (OR: 1.81, CI: 1.16-2.82, p: 0.009) and response to chemoradiotherapy (OR: 2.30, CI: 1.45-3.66, p: 0.001). There was no significant difference between patients with high and low NLR in terms of response to chemoradiotherapy. Similarly, there was no significant influence of the PLR. CONCLUSIONS Pretreatment NLR and PLR measurements can provide important prognostic results in patients with NSCLC and assessment of the two parameters together appears to better predict the prognosis in patients with NSCLC. The effect of inflammation, indicators of NLR and PLR, on survival seems independent of the response to chemoradiotherapy.
Effects of angiotensin II on kinase-mediated sodium and potassium transport in the distal nephron

Purpose of reviewThe aim is to review the recently reported effects of angiotensin II (Ang II) on sodium and potassium transport in the aldosterone-sensitive distal nephron, including the signaling pathways between receptor and transporter, and the (patho)physiological implications of these findings. Recent findingsAng II can activate the sodium chloride cotransporter (NCC) through phosphorylation by Ste20-related, proline-alanine rich kinase (SPAK), an effect that is independent of aldosterone but dependent on with no lysine kinase 4 (WNK4). A low-sodium diet (high Ang II) activates NCC, whereas a high-potassium diet (low Ang II) inhibits NCC. NCC activation also contributes to Ang-II-mediated hypertension. Ang II also activates the epithelial sodium channel (ENaC) additively to aldosterone, and this effect appears to be mediated through protein kinase C and superoxide generation by nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate oxidase. While aldosterone activates the renal outer medullary potassium channel (ROMK), this channel is inhibited by Ang II. The key kinase responsible for this effect is c-Src, which phosphorylates ROMK and leaves WNK4 unphosphorylated to further inhibit ROMK. SummaryThe effects of Ang II on NCC, ENaC, and ROMK help explain the renal response to hypovolemia which is to conserve both sodium and potassium. Pathophysiologically, Ang-II-induced activation of NCC appears to contribute to salt-sensitive hypertension.
Fundamental Modulation Limits for Minimum Switching Frequency Inband-Error-Free High-Efficiency Power Amplifiers

This paper explores the modulation bandwidth limits for switching amplifiers, by analyzing the fundamental tracking capabilities of two-level switching signals. With this aim, this work synthesizes two-level switching signals by obtaining the distribution of switching events providing both minimum average switching frequency and inband-error-free encoding, targeting to minimize the amplifier switching losses when tracking a generic bandlimited signal. This analysis also provides a framework reference to characterize the deviation from such limit in modulations used in actual amplifiers.
MAGED1: Molecular insights and clinical implications

Abstract The melanoma antigen (MAGE) protein family contains more than 25 members that share a conserved MAGE homology domain (MHD). Type I MAGE genes exhibit cancer/testis-specific expression patterns and antigenic properties which render them ideal candidates for cancer immunotherapies. Maged1, a type II MAGE gene, is ubiquitously expressed and has been previously shown to play an important role in neuronal apoptosis during development. Recent studies have expanded the functional tissues and processes in which Maged1 activity is important and uncovered interacting partners of MAGED1 protein, adding novel layers to Maged1 functions. Maged1 plays a role in anti-tumorigenesis in a variety of cell types, and the down-regulation of MAGED1 has been observed in tumor cells. Moreover, MAGED1 can interact with a specific group of nuclear members and regulate circadian clock functions. These newly identified functions will enrich the molecular and clinical studies of the MAGE family of proteins.
Arginine Transport via Cationic Amino Acid Transporter 2 Plays a Critical Regulatory Role in Classical or Alternative Activation of Macrophages1

Arginine is processed by macrophages in response to the cytokines to which these cells are exposed. Th1-type cytokines induce NO synthase 2, which metabolizes arginine into nitrites, while the Th2-type cytokines produce arginase, which converts arginine into polyamines and proline. Activation of bone marrow-derived macrophages by these two types of cytokines increases l-arginine transport only through the y+ system. Analysis of the expression of the genes involved in this system showed that Slc7A1, encoding cationic amino acid transporters (CAT)1, is constitutively expressed and is not modified by activating agents, while Slc7A2, encoding CAT2, is induced during both classical and alternative activation. Macrophages from Slc7A2 knockout mice showed a decrease in l-arginine transport in response to the two kinds of cytokines. However, while NO synthase 2 and arginase expression were unmodified in these cells, the catabolism of arginine was impaired by both pathways, producing smaller amounts of nitrites and also of polyamines and proline. In addition, the induction of Slc7A2 expression was independent of the arginine available and of the enzymes that metabolize it. In conclusion, the increased arginine transport mediated by activators is strongly regulated by CAT2 expression, which could limit the function of macrophages.
Ocular complications of leprosy in Cameroon.

PURPOSE This study aimed to identify the main ocular complications of leprosy in Cameroon. PATIENTS AND METHODS It is a prospective cross-sectional study which took place from July 1998 to January 1999 in five leprosaria in Cameroon. The ophthalmological examination of all patients was performed by the same team. RESULTS Of the 218 patients examined, 60.1% were males and 39.9% females. 72.5% had a paucibacillary leprosy and 27.5% a multibacillary form. 77.5% of patients had at least one ocular lesion and 38.3% of eyes had visual acuity < or = 1/10. Madarosis and anterior uveitis were more frequent in multibacillary forms while lagophthalmos and cataract were so in paucibacillary forms. CONCLUSION Ocular complications are frequent in leprosy in Cameroonians. It is a true public health problem and it is important to prevent these lesions by early diagnosis and adequate treatment.
Low-Rank Approximation of Generic p˟q˟2 Arrays and Diverging Components in the Candecomp/Parafac Model

We consider the low-rank approximation over the real field of generic $p \times q \times 2$ arrays. For all possible combinations of $p$, $q$, and $R$, we present conjectures on the existence of a best rank-$R$ approximation. Our conjectures are motivated by a detailed analysis of the boundary of the set of arrays with at most rank $R$. We link these results to the Candecomp/Parafac (CP) model for three-way component analysis. Essentially, CP tries to find a best rank-$R$ approximation to a given three-way array. In the case of $p \times q \times 2$ arrays, we show (under some regularity condition) that if a best rank-$R$ approximation does not exist, then any sequence of CP updates will exhibit diverging CP components, which implies that several components are highly correlated in all three modes and their component weights become arbitrarily large. This extends Stegeman [Psychometrika, 71 (2006), pp. 483-501], who considers $p \times p \times 2$ arrays of rank $p+1$ or higher. We illustrate our results by means of simulations.
The Significance of Adrenal Hemorrhage: Undiagnosed Waterhouse‐Friderichsen Syndrome, A Case Series

A retrospective series of five cases of nontraumatic gross adrenal hemorrhage were identified in 800 consecutive forensic autopsies. All patients were males, of different ethnicities and with ages ranging from 2 to 48 years. All patients had a clinical history and autopsy findings suggestive of sepsis. Pre‐ or postmortem microbiological cultures were variably positive for Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus, and methicillin‐resistant Staphylococcus aureus. The fifth case was positive for yeast and a coagulase negative staphylococcus; contamination of this culture medium cannot be excluded. No cases had a culture positive for Neisseria meningitidis. We find that the reviewed patients with grossly or microscopically identifiable adrenal hemorrhage were otherwise healthy individuals who died suddenly as a consequence of bacterial infection. In each case, signs and symptoms compatible with premortem adrenal insufficiency were reported; in no instance was the adrenal hemorrhage clinically identified.
IDO Expression in Brain Tumors Increases the Recruitment of Regulatory T Cells and Negatively Impacts Survival

Purpose: Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is an aggressive adult brain tumor with a poor prognosis. One hallmark of GBM is the accumulation of immunosuppressive and tumor-promoting CD4+FoxP3+GITR+ regulatory T cells (Tregs). Here, we investigated the role of indoleamine 2,3 dioxygenase (IDO) in brain tumors and the impact on Treg recruitment. Experimental Design: To determine the clinical relevance of IDO expression in brain tumors, we first correlated patient survival to the level of IDO expression from resected glioma specimens. We also used novel orthotopic and transgenic models of glioma to study how IDO affects Tregs. The impact of tumor-derived and peripheral IDO expression on Treg recruitment, GITR expression, and long-term survival was determined. Results: Downregulated IDO expression in glioma predicted a significantly better prognosis in patients. Coincidently, both IDO-competent and deficient mice showed a survival advantage bearing IDO-deficient brain tumors, when compared with IDO-competent brain tumors. Moreover, IDO deficiency was associated with a significant decrease in brain-resident Tregs, both in orthotopic and transgenic mouse glioma models. IDO deficiency was also associated with lower GITR expression levels on Tregs. Interestingly, the long-term survival advantage conferred by IDO deficiency was lost in T-cell–deficient mice. Conclusions: These clinical and preclinical data confirm that IDO expression increases the recruitment of immunosuppressive Tregs that lead to tumor outgrowth. In contrast, IDO deficiency decreases Treg recruitment and enhances T-cell–mediated tumor rejection. Thus, the data suggest a critical role for IDO-mediated immunosuppression in glioma and support the continued investigation of IDO–Treg interactions in the context of brain tumors. Clin Cancer Res; 18(22); 6110–21. ©2012 AACR.
Macular configuration determined by optical coherence tomography after idiopathic macular hole surgery with or without internal limiting membrane peeling

Aims: To evaluate the effect of pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) with or without internal limiting membrane (ILM) peeling on the closure and configuration of idiopathic macular holes (IMH). Methods: PPV was performed for IMH on 44 eyes with ILM peeling (ILM peeled group) and on 42 eyes without ILM removal (ILM preserved group). Optical coherence tomography (OCT) was performed on 34 ILM peeled eyes and 14 ILM preserved eyes after successful surgery. The repaired macular holes were classified by the OCT images as being of “good shape” (nearly normal foveal contour) or “poor shape” (abnormal foveal contour with flat fovea and steep edge, or with a thick retina without a foveal pit). Results: The anatomical closure rate was significantly higher in the ILM peeled group (93.2%) than in the ILM preserved group (76.2%) (p = 0.028). In the ILM peeled group, 31 eyes had a fovea of good shape and three eyes had a fovea with a poor shape, while in the ILM preserved group, six eyes had a fovea of good shape and eight eyes had a fovea of poor shape. The percentage of eyes with good macular configuration in the ILM peeled group was significantly higher than in the ILM preserved group (p = 0.0003). No significant difference was found in the postoperative visual acuity and the increase of visual acuity between the ILM peeled group and the ILM preserved group (p = 0.26, and p = 0.91 respectively). There was also no significant difference in the postoperative visual acuity and improvement in visual acuity between eyes with a fovea of good shape and those with fovea of poor shape fovea (p = 0.99 and p = 0.66, respectively). Conclusions: ILM peeling may provide better anatomical success and recovery of the macular shape, but the postoperative visual acuity and improvement of visual acuity were not related to the morphological results.
Evaluating Estimation of Direct-to-Reverberation Energy Ratio using D/R Spatial Correlation Matrix Model

We evaluate the accuracy of direct-to-reverberation energy ratio (DRR) estimation that uses the direct sound to reverberation spatial correlation matrix model (DRSC model). The DRSC model, which expresses the spatial correlation matrix with two different matrices of direct sound and reverberation, assumes that the direct sound propagates only from the direction of the sound source but that the reverberation arrives from every direction uniformly. The DRR is calculated from the power spectra of both the direct sound and reverberation that are estimated from the spatial correlation matrix of the observed signal. The method was evaluated using various scales in both simulated and actual acoustical environments. The evaluation results confirmed the effectiveness of DRR estimation using the DRSC model and also revealed its limitations.
When Can We Expect a Corporate Leniency Program to Result in Fewer Cartels?

Leniency programs have become widespread and are generally quite active as reflected in the number of applications. What is not well understood is how they affect the number of cartels. This paper develops and explores a theoretical framework to help understand when leniency programs are likely to be effective in reducing the presence of cartels. Plausible conditions are derived whereby a leniency program can result in more cartels. On a more positive note, we identify situations and policies that a competition authority can pursue that will make it more likely that a leniency program will have the intended effect of reducing the number of cartels.
CD13 Restricts TLR4 Endocytic Signal Transduction in Inflammation

Dysregulation of the innate immune response underlies numerous pathological conditions. The TLR4 is the prototypical sensor of infection or injury that orchestrates the innate response via sequential activation of both cell surface and endocytic signaling pathways that trigger distinct downstream consequences. CD14 binds and delivers LPS to TLR4 and has been identified as a positive regulator of TLR4 signal transduction. It is logical that negative regulators of this process also exist to maintain the critical balance required for fighting infection, healing damaged tissue, and resolving inflammation. We showed that CD13 negatively modulates receptor-mediated Ag uptake in dendritic cells to control T cell activation in adaptive immunity. In this study, we report that myeloid CD13 governs internalization of TLR4 and subsequent innate signaling cascades, activating IRF-3 independently of CD14. CD13 is cointernalized with TLR4, CD14, and dynamin into Rab5+ early endosomes upon LPS treatment. Importantly, in response to TLR4 ligands HMGB1 and LPS, p-IRF-3 activation and transcription of its target genes are enhanced in CD13KO dendritic cells, whereas TLR4 surface signaling remains unaffected, resulting in a skewed inflammatory response. This finding is physiologically relevant as ischemic injury in vivo provoked identical TLR4 responses. Finally, CD13KO mice showed significantly enhanced IFNβ-mediated signal transduction via JAK–STAT, escalating inducible NO synthase transcription levels and promoting accumulation of oxidative stress mediators and tissue injury. Mechanistically, inflammatory activation of macrophages upregulates CD13 expression and CD13 and TLR4 coimmunoprecipitate. Therefore, CD13 negatively regulates TLR4 signaling, thereby balancing the innate response by maintaining the inflammatory equilibrium critical to innate immune regulation.