Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A High-Directivity, Wideband, Efficient, Electrically Small Antenna System

A high-directivity, wideband, efficient, near-field resonant parasitic, electrically small antenna system is presented. By introducing two different near-field resonant parasitic (NFRP) Egyptian axe dipole elements oriented in parallel in the near field of a traditional small dipole antenna, two nearby fundamental resonance modes are produced. Both are much lower in frequency than the fundamental mode of the driven dipole. The corresponding frequency bands of both resonators are optimized to be overlapping in order to create a wide operating bandwidth. The resulting antenna has linear polarization radiation characteristics broadside to the stack of planes containing the radiating elements. The currents on the NFRP elements dominate the radiation process and are designed to be out-of-phase to achieve a high directivity endfire effect perpendicular to the element stack. A prototype of the antenna is fabricated and tested to demonstrate the effectiveness of this design. The measured results show that this low-profile ( total height = 0.092 λL, where λL indicates the free-space wavelength corresponding to the lower bound of the operating frequency band) and electrically small ( ka = 0.679) antenna provides broadside realized gains in the range of 2.62 ±0.99 dB with ~ 10% fractional bandwidth. The performance characteristics of a yet smaller version ( ka = 0.494) are also explored numerically.
Autoantibody-associated kappa light chain variable region gene expressed in chronic lymphocytic leukemia with little or no somatic mutation. Implications for etiology and immunotherapy

Recently the minor B cell subpopulation that expresses the CD5 (Leu-1) antigen has been implicated as a source of IgM autoantibodies. Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), the most common leukemia in humans, represents a malignancy of small B lymphocytes that also express the CD5 antigen. However, little is known concerning the antibody variable region genes (V genes) that are used by these malignant CD5 B cells. We have found that a relatively high frequency of CLL patients have leukemic B cells with surface immunoglobulin (sIg) recognized by 17.109, a murine mAb specific for a kappa light chain associated crossreactive idiotype (CRI) associated with rheumatoid factor and other IgM autoantibodies. Flow cytometric analyses revealed that the relative expression of the 17.109-CRI by circulating leukemic B cells was directly proportional to the levels of sIg kappa light chain, indicating that there exists stable idiotype expression in the leukemic population. To examine this at the molecular level, the nucleic acid sequences encoding the Ig kappa light chains of two unrelated patients with CLL bearing sIg with the 17.109-CRI were determined. Analyses of multiple independent kappa light chain cDNA clones did not reveal any evidence for sequence heterogeneity in the CLL cell population. Furthermore, the nucleic acid sequences expressed by the leukemic cells of these two patients were identical or very homologous to a germline V kappa gene isolated from placental DNA, designated Humkv 325, or "V kappa RF" because of its association with IgM autoantibodies. This study suggests; (a) that the malignant CD5+ B lymphocytes in CLL use the same V kappa gene that has been highly associated with IgM autoantibodies and (b) that the expression of V genes is stable in CLL, in contrast to other B cell malignancies examined to date. We propose that many CLL cases represent malignancies of autoreactive CD5 B cells that use a restricted set of conserved V genes. This property may render CLL particularly amenable to immunotherapy with antiidiotypic antibodies.
Stepwise Evolution of Essential Centromere Function in a Drosophila Neogene

Essential Novelty The evolution of essential function for newly originated genes presents a conundrum, in that prior to the gene's origin either the essential function was absent or else performed by another gene or set of genes. In order to better understand how new genes acquire essential function, Ross et al. (p. 1211) investigated the origin of the Drosophila gene Umbrea. Umbrea became an essential protein in certain Drosophila species through the gain of localization at the centromere and a role in chromosome segregation. How does a recently evolved gene come to encode an essential function? Evolutionarily young genes that serve essential functions represent a paradox; they must perform a function that either was not required until after their birth or was redundant with another gene. How young genes rapidly acquire essential function is largely unknown. We traced the evolutionary steps by which the Drosophila gene Umbrea acquired an essential role in chromosome segregation in D. melanogaster since the gene's origin less than 15 million years ago. Umbrea neofunctionalization occurred via loss of an ancestral heterochromatin-localizing domain, followed by alterations that rewired its protein interaction network and led to species-specific centromere localization. Our evolutionary cell biology approach provides temporal and mechanistic detail about how young genes gain essential function. Such innovations may constantly alter the repertoire of centromeric proteins in eukaryotes.
TOPICAL APPLICATION OF DRUGS: MECHANISMS INVOLVED IN CHEMICAL ENHANCEMENT

The natural function of the skin is to protect the body against loss of endogenous substances such as water and against undesired influences from exogenous substances in the environment. The main barrier for diffusion of molecules across the skin resides in its outermost layer, the stratum corneum (SC) (1). The SC consists of keratin-filled dead cells, the corneocytes, which are entirely surrounded by crystalline lamellar lipid regions (Fig. 1). The cell boundary of the corneocytes consists of a densely cross-linked protein layer, the corneocyte envelope, that readily protects absorption of drugs into the cells. Consequently, substances mainly diffuse along the lipid regions. This decreases the total skin surface area accessible for diffusion and makes the lipid regions of predominant importance for the skin barrier function (2,3). The composition of SC lipids differs greatly from that of cell membranes of living cells. Its major lipid classes are ceramides (CER), cholesterol (CHOL), and free fatty acids (FFA) (4–6). The length of the CER acyl chains varies between 16 and 33 carbons, whereas the most abundant acyl chain lengths of FFA are C22 and C24, all significantly longer than those of phospholipids present in plasma membranes. Furthermore, ceramide head groups are small and contain several functional groups that can form lateral hydrogen bonds with adjacent lipids. J. OF RECEPTOR & SIGNAL TRANSDUCTION RESEARCH, 21(2&3), 259–286 (2001)
Inflammasome-Dependent IFN-γ Drives Pathogenesis in Streptococcus pneumoniae Meningitis

The pathology associated with Streptococcus pneumoniae meningitis results largely from activation of immune-associated pathways. We systematically investigated the production of IFN subtypes, as well as their influence on pathology, in a mouse model of S. pneumoniae meningitis. Despite the occurrence of a mixed IFN type I/II gene signature, no evidence for production or involvement of type I IFNs in disease progression was found. In contrast, type II IFN (IFN-γ) was strongly induced, and IFN-γ−/− mice were significantly protected from severe disease. Using intracellular cytokine staining and targeted cell-depletion approaches, NK cells were found to be the dominant source of IFN-γ. Furthermore, production of IFN-γ was found to be dependent upon ASC and IL-18, indicating that an ASC-dependent inflammasome pathway was responsible for mediating IFN-γ induction. The influence of IFN-γ gene deletion on a range of processes known to be involved in bacterial meningitis pathogenesis was examined. Although neutrophil numbers in the brain were similar in infected wild-type and IFN-γ−/− mice, both monocyte recruitment and CCL2 production were less in infected IFN-γ−/− mice compared with infected wild-type controls. Additionally, gene expression of NO synthase was strongly diminished in infected IFN-γ−/− mice compared with infected controls. Finally, bacterial clearance was enhanced in IFN-γ−/− mice, although the underlying mechanism remains unclear. Together, these data suggest that inflammasome-dependent IFN-γ contributes via multiple pathways to pathology during S. pneumoniae meningitis.
Eeg Alpha Desynchronization in Musicians and Nonmusicians in Response to Changes in Melody, Tempo, and Key in Classical Music

Two experiments were performed to examine musicians' and nonmusicians' electroencephalographic (EEG) responses to changes in major dimensions (tempo, melody, and key) of classical music. In Exp. 1, 12 nonmusicians' and 12 musicians' EEGs during melody and tempo changes in classical music showed more alpha desynchronization in the left hemisphere (F3) for changes in tempo than in the right. For melody, the nonmusicians were more right-sided (F4) than left in activation, and musicians showed no left-right differences. In Exp. 2, 18 musicians' and 18 nonmusicians' EEG after a key change in classical music showed that distant key changes elicited more right frontal (F4) alpha desynchronization than left. Musicians showed more reaction to key changes than nonmusicians and instructions to attend to key changes had no significant effect. Classical music, given its well-defined structure, offers a unique set of stimuli to study the brain. Results support the concept of hierarchical modularity in music processing that may be automatic.
Functional significance of bone density measurements in children with osteogenesis imperfecta.

BACKGROUND The treatment of osteogenesis imperfecta has been directed at improvement of bone mineral density, yet the importance of bone mineral density in predicting functional and clinical outcome in this patient population has not been demonstrated. We used a validated functional outcome measure to identify the relationship between bone mineral density and physical function in children with osteogenesis imperfecta, and we also evaluated the relationship of bone mineral density to the rate of surgery and fracture in patients with osteogenesis imperfecta. METHODS Twenty patients (age range, four to seventeen years) with osteogenesis imperfecta who had undergone bone mineral densitometry as measured by dual x-ray absorptiometry of the lumbar spine, wrist, and proximal aspect of the femur between November 1999 and April 2001 were retrospectively analyzed. Functional outcome was measured with use of the Pediatric Outcomes Data Collection Instrument. These questionnaires were completed by the parents of all twenty patients and, in addition, by fifteen patients in the study who were between the ages of eleven and eighteen years. Fracture and surgery rates were calculated on the basis of the number of documented fractures and surgical procedures that the patient had had from the time of the initial presentation until the time of the latest follow-up visit. RESULTS There were significant relationships between the bone mineral density of the lumbar spine and the scores obtained on the parent-completed questionnaires with regard to upper-extremity functioning (r = 0.57, p < 0.01), transfers and basic mobility (r = 0.55, p = 0.01), sports and physical functioning (r = 0.55, p = 0.01), and global functioning (r = 0.60, p < 0.004). There were also significant relationships between the bone mineral density of the wrist and the scores obtained on the child-completed questionnaires with regard to upper-extremity functioning (r = 0.82, p < 0.01), sports and physical functioning (r = 0.76, p < 0.01), and global functioning (r = 0.83, p = 0.001). There were significant negative relationships between the bone mineral density of the lumbar spine and the rate of fractures (r = -0.69, p < 0.001) and the bone mineral density of the lumbar spine and the rate of surgery (r = -0.60, p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS There is a relationship between bone mineral density and the functional outcome, rate of fracture, and rate of surgery in patients with osteogenesis imperfecta. Bone mineral density appears to be an indicator of disease severity and may be predictive of long-term functional outcome. To establish specific guidelines for treatment, more data on normative bone-mineral density in children with osteogenesis imperfecta will be needed.
The Importance of Being Convex: An Advantage for Convexity when Judging Position

Perception of contour polarity was investigated in five experiments in which observers had to judge the vertical position of a vertex. When the vertex was perceived as convex, the level of performance as measured by reaction time and errors was higher than when the same vertex was perceived as concave. I conclude that contour polarity affects how observers perceive shape, and in particular part structure, and that the position of a part is more readily available than the position of a boundary between parts.
Kyphotic Deformity of the Spine in Ankylosing Spondylitis

Patients who present with apparent kyphotic deformity of the spine associated with ankylosing spondylitis may have their main deformity in the hip joints, in the lumbar spine, the thoracic spine, or it may be primarily cervical in situation. If any major correction is to be carried out, then the correction should be done in the area of the main deformity. Deformity in each of these areas is amenable to surgical correction, but this requires a very careful assessment, meticulous preoperative planning, and very precise attention to operative technique to allow reasonably consistent success without major risk to the patient.
Behavior and Design of T-Section Thin-Walled Columns

This work presents and discusses the buckling, post-buckling and ultimate behaviour of centrally compressed thin-walled T-sections members. It is firstly presented a brief literature review on recent studies involving this type of columns, and secondly the stability analysis of a wide range of members, with both ends fixed and different cross sections dimensions, obtain through GBTUL code, based on the Generalized Beam Theory  the study made possible to characterize the column buckling modes and select the dimensions, namely the length of the members. Then, the elastic and elasto-plastic post-buckling behaviours of short-to-intermediate columns with different values tensile stresses is analysed, using ABAQUS code. Finally, based in a parametric study carried out to determine a wide range of ultimate load values, the quality of the Direct Strength Method (DSM) predictions to estimate the resistance of cold formed steel fixed-ended T section columns is assessed.
Leveraging health through the enhancement of information access using Mobile and service oriented technology

Kenya has a vision to create a globally competitive and prospective nation with a high quality of life by 2030. In order to achieve this, it developed a social pillar that aims at improving the quality of life through projects that are health related. We propose a project that aims at contributing to this vision by ensuring that health related information is accessible to all through an affordable and flexible solution. This study sets out to find a flexible, adaptable, and cost efficient, approach for storing and accessing information from the government portal. We draw these benefits from using the concept of cloud computing. However, cloud computing is not a new concept. The use of popular and readily available technology such as the Mobile phone can aid in leveraging information access through cloud computing. The innovative aspect of this study is the proposal of a solution that is flexible through the concept of runtime software adaptation in Service Orientated Architecture. An increasingly important requirement of software is ensuring that the system can adapt quickly and effectively to changing business and system needs. Several problem specific runtime adaptation techniques have been put forward. We propose a solution that is generic and hence can be used to address any challenge presented by information access on any information or sector represented on the government portal.
The Role of P2Y1 Purinergic Receptors and Cytosolic Ca2+ in Hypotonically Activated Osmolyte Efflux from a Rat Hepatoma Cell Line*

Exposure of HTC rat hepatoma cells to a 33% decrease in extracellular osmolality caused the cytosolic Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+] i ) to increase transiently by ∼90 nm. This rise in [Ca2+] i was inhibited strongly by apyrase, grade VII (which has a low ATP/ADPase ratio) but not by apyrase grade VI (which has a high ATP/ADPase ratio) or hexokinase, indicating that extracellular ADP and/or ATP play a role in the [Ca2+] i increase. The hypotonically induced rise in [Ca2+] i was prevented by the prior discharge of the intracellular Ca2+ store of the cells by thapsigargin. Removal of extracellular Ca2+ or inhibition of Ca2+ influx by 1–10 μm Gd3+depleted the thapsigargin-sensitive Ca2+ stores and thereby diminished the rise in [Ca2+] i . The hypotonically induced rise in [Ca2+] i was prevented by adenosine 2′-phosphate-5′-phosphate (A2P5P) and pyridoxyl-5′-phosphate-6-azophenyl-2′,4′-disulfonate, inhibitors of purinergic P2Y1 receptors for which ADP is a major agonist. Both inhibitors also blocked the rise in [Ca2+] i elicited by addition of ADP to cells in isotonic medium, whereas A2P5P had no effect on the rise in [Ca2+] i elicited by the addition of the P2Y2 and P2Y4 receptor agonist, UTP. HTC cells were shown to express mRNA encoding for rat P2Y1, P2Y2, and P2Y6 receptors. Inhibition of the hypotonically induced rise in [Ca2+] i blocked hypotonically induced K+ (86Rb+) efflux, modulated the hypotonically induced efflux of taurine, but had no significant effect on Cl− (125I−) efflux. The interaction of extracellular ATP and/or ADP with P2Y1purinergic receptors therefore plays a role in the response of HTC cells to osmotic swelling but does not account for activation of all the efflux pathways involved in the volume-regulatory response.
Biology of Zika Virus Infection in Human Skin Cells

ABSTRACT Zika virus (ZIKV) is an emerging arbovirus of the Flaviviridae family, which includes dengue, West Nile, yellow fever, and Japanese encephalitis viruses, that causes a mosquito-borne disease transmitted by the Aedes genus, with recent outbreaks in the South Pacific. Here we examine the importance of human skin in the entry of ZIKV and its contribution to the induction of antiviral immune responses. We show that human dermal fibroblasts, epidermal keratinocytes, and immature dendritic cells are permissive to the most recent ZIKV isolate, responsible for the epidemic in French Polynesia. Several entry and/or adhesion factors, including DC-SIGN, AXL, Tyro3, and, to a lesser extent, TIM-1, permitted ZIKV entry, with a major role for the TAM receptor AXL. The ZIKV permissiveness of human skin fibroblasts was confirmed by the use of a neutralizing antibody and specific RNA silencing. ZIKV induced the transcription of Toll-like receptor 3 (TLR3), RIG-I, and MDA5, as well as several interferon-stimulated genes, including OAS2, ISG15, and MX1, characterized by strongly enhanced beta interferon gene expression. ZIKV was found to be sensitive to the antiviral effects of both type I and type II interferons. Finally, infection of skin fibroblasts resulted in the formation of autophagosomes, whose presence was associated with enhanced viral replication, as shown by the use of Torin 1, a chemical inducer of autophagy, and the specific autophagy inhibitor 3-methyladenine. The results presented herein permit us to gain further insight into the biology of ZIKV and to devise strategies aiming to interfere with the pathology caused by this emerging flavivirus. IMPORTANCE Zika virus (ZIKV) is an arbovirus belonging to the Flaviviridae family. Vector-mediated transmission of ZIKV is initiated when a blood-feeding female Aedes mosquito injects the virus into the skin of its mammalian host, followed by infection of permissive cells via specific receptors. Indeed, skin immune cells, including dermal fibroblasts, epidermal keratinocytes, and immature dendritic cells, were all found to be permissive to ZIKV infection. The results also show a major role for the phosphatidylserine receptor AXL as a ZIKV entry receptor and for cellular autophagy in enhancing ZIKV replication in permissive cells. ZIKV replication leads to activation of an antiviral innate immune response and the production of type I interferons in infected cells. Taken together, these results provide the first general insights into the interaction between ZIKV and its mammalian host.
Contribution of the MLH1 -93G>a promoter polymorphism in modulating susceptibility risk in Malaysian colorectal cancer patients.

BACKGROUND Colorectal cancer (CRC) exists in a more common sporadic form and less common hereditary forms, associated with the Lynch syndrome, familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) and other rare syndromes. Sporadic CRC is believed to arise as a result of close interaction between environmental factors, including dietary and lifestyle habits, and genetic predisposition factors. In contrast, hereditary forms such as those related to the Lynch syndrome result from inheritance of germline mutations of mismatch repair (MMR) genes. However, in certain cases, the influence of low penetrance alleles in familial colorectal cancer susceptibility is also undeniable. AIM To investigate the genotype frequencies of MLH1 promoter polymorphism -93G>A and to determine whether it could play any role in modulating familial and sporadic CRC susceptibility risk. METHODS A case-control study comprising of 104 histopathologically confirmed CRC patients as cases (52 sporadic CRC and 52 Lynch syndrome patients) and 104 normal healthy individuals as controls was undertaken. DNA was extracted from peripheral blood and the polymorphism was genotyped employing PCR-RFLP methods. The genotypes were categorized into homozygous wild type, heterozygous and homozygous variants. The risk association between these polymorphisms and CRC susceptibility risk was calculated using binary logistic regression analysis and deriving odds ratios (ORs). RESULTS When risk association was investigated for all CRC patients as a single group, the heterozygous (G/A) genotype showed a significantly higher risk for CRC susceptibility with an OR of 2.273, (95%CI: 1.133-4.558 and p-value=0.021). When analyzed specifically for the 2 types of CRC, the heterozygous (G/A) genotype showed significantly higher risk for sporadic CRC susceptibility with and OR of 3.714, (95%CI: 1.416-9.740 and p-value=0.008). Despite high OR value was observed for Lynch syndrome (OR: 1.600, 95%CI: 0.715-3.581), the risk was not statistically significant (P=0.253). CONCLUSION Our results suggest an influence of MLH1 promoter polymorphism -93G>A in modulating susceptibility risk in Malaysian CRC patients, especially those with sporadic disease.
Hospital-Based Evaluation of Two Rapid Human Immunodeficiency Virus Antibody Screening Tests

Two rapid human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) screening assays, HIV TRI-DOT and HIV-SPOT were compared with standard enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays according to a testing algorithm. Sensitivities and specificities in the real-time evaluation were 99.5 and 99.9% for TRI-DOT and 98.2 and 99.7% for HIV-SPOT, respectively. These two tests are suitable for use where facilities and laboratory expertise are limited.
Seroprevalence of Selected Infectious Agents in a Free-Ranging, Low-Density Lion Population in the Central Kalahari Game Reserves in Botswana

ABSTRACT Twenty-one free-ranging Central Kalahari lions (Panthera leo) exhibited a high prevalence rate of feline herpesvirus (100%) and feline immunodeficiency virus (71.4%). Canine distemper virus and feline calicivirus occurred with a low prevalence. All individuals tested negative for feline coronavirus, feline parvovirus, feline leukemia virus, Ehrlichia canis, and Anaplasma phagocytophilum.