Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A mannoprotein constituent of Candida albicans that elicits different levels of delayed-type hypersensitivity, cytokine production, and anticandidal protection in mice

To identify major immunogenic constituents of Candida albicans, the effect of a mannoprotein fraction (MP-F2) on the elicitation of a delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) reaction, cytokine production, and protection from a virulent Candida challenge in a mouse candidiasis model was studied. In mice immunized with whole cells of a low-virulence strain of C. albicans and thus protected against a challenge with a highly virulent strain of this fungus, MP-F2 was able to elicit a strong DTH response that was accompanied by splenocyte proliferation in vitro in the presence of Candida antigen. The supernatants of MP-F2-stimulated splenocyte cultures contained gamma interferon (IFN-gamma, a typical CD4+ T helper-1 (Th1) cytokine, but no interleukin-4, (IL-4), a typical CD4+ Th2 cytokine. IFN-gamma was produced by CD4+ cells, and its level could be greatly increased by the addition of anti-IL-4 or, mostly, anti-IL-10 antibodies to the CD4+ cell cultures. Upon a suitable schedule of immunization, MP-F2 was also able to induce a vigorous DTH response in Candida-uninfected mice, a response that could be efficiently transferred into naive recipients by CD4+ cells from the spleens of MP-F2-immunized mice. The immunization described above also conferred to mice a low degree of protection against a virulent Candida challenge, both in terms of median survival time and in the number of Candida cells in the kidney. However, while DTH induction by MP-F2 was as strong as that induced by whole cells, MP-F2-induced protection was significantly weaker than that conferred by Candida whole-cell immunization. Mice immunized with either MP-F2 or Candida whole cells had an inverted ratio between the number of CD4+ splenocytes producing IFN-gamma and that of cells producing IL-4, compared with nonimmunized animals. However, the number of IL-4-producing CD4+ cells was significantly higher in MP-F2-vaccinated, weakly protected mice than in Candida whole-cell-vaccinated, highly protected animals. Overall, our data suggest that the MP-F2 fraction contains one or more major immunogens of C. albicans which are capable of interfering with the balance of CD4+ Th1 and Th2 responses that is so critical in the outcome of host-Candida relationship and are thus potentially relevant in the mechanisms of Candida-specific DTH regulation and protection.
Effects of a Nebulized NONOate, DPTA/NO, on Group B Streptococcus–Induced Pulmonary Hypertension in Newborn Piglets

NONOates are chemical compounds that are stable as solids but generate nitric oxide (NO) in aqueous solutions. When nebulized or instilled intratracheally, NONOates can attenuate pulmonary hypertension in adult animals with lung injury. To assess the effect of a nebulized NONOate, DPTA/NO, on group B Streptococcus (GBS)-induced pulmonary hypertension in newborn piglets, we studied 20 anesthetized and mechanically ventilated piglets (4–10 d). They were randomly assigned to receive nebulized placebo solution or DPTA/NO (100 mg) 15 min after sustained pulmonary hypertension. Pulmonary artery and wedge, systemic, and right atrial pressures; cardiac output; and arterial blood gases were obtained at baseline and every 15 min during 120 min of continuous GBS infusion (6 × 108 CFU/min). Methemoglobin levels were measured at baseline and 60 min. A significant decrease in pulmonary artery pressure, pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR), systemic arterial pressure, and systemic vascular resistance (SVR) was observed after DPTA/NO nebulization (p < 0.001). Whereas the increase in PVR/SVR observed after GBS infusion was sustained for 120 min in the placebo group, this ratio decreased after DPTA/NO nebulization and remained significantly lower throughout the study period (p < 0.01). Cardiac output, arterial blood gases, and methemoglobin values did not differ between groups. These data demonstrate that the pulmonary hypertension induced by GBS infusion is markedly attenuated by DPTA/NO nebulization. The lower PVR/SVR observed in the treated group indicates that the vasodilatory effect of NONOate is more pronounced in the pulmonary than systemic vasculature. Therefore, NONOates may have clinical application in the management of pulmonary hypertension secondary to sepsis in neonates.
Effects of insulin on carbohydrate and protein metabolism in voluntary running rats.

The goal of this study was to assess the effects of voluntary running activity in rats on various aspects of carbohydrate and protein metabolism. After 6 wk of exercise training, rats (ET) were rested for 24 h and their hindquarters, along with those from sedentary control (SC) and dietary control (DC) rats, were perfused with 0, 60, 250, or 6,000 microU/ml insulin. At 0 insulin, glucose clearance was similar for all groups, and it was increased with added insulin. However, the insulin effect was 20-40% greater for ET rats at all insulin concentrations (P less than 0.05). Muscle glycogen deposition also increased with added insulin but showed muscle-specific differences. Specifically, glycogen content of the plantaris muscle was significantly higher in ET compared with SC or DC rats, whereas this pattern was reversed in soleus muscle. In plantaris muscle, insulin stimulated glucose 6-phosphate (G-6-P)-independent (-G-6-P) glycogen synthase activity only in SC and DC rats and increased its affinity for G-6-P at 250 microU/ml in all groups. In contrast, the -G-6-P synthase activity was not increased in soleus muscle and was actually decreased in all groups at 6,000 microU/ml. Tyrosine release was suppressed by insulin in all groups, but this effect was significantly greater at insulin levels of 60 microU/ml (P less than 0.02) in hindquarters from ET rats compared with SC and DC rats. Neither insulin nor exercise training decreased 3-methylhistidine release from perfused hindquarters. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Deep Long Short-Term Memory: A New Price and Load Forecasting Scheme for Big Data in Smart Cities

This paper focuses on analytics of an extremely large dataset of smart grid electricity price and load, which is difficult to process with conventional computational models. These data are known as energy big data. The analysis of big data divulges the deeper insights that help experts in the improvement of smart grid’s (SG) operations. Processing and extracting of meaningful information from data is a challenging task. Electricity load and price are the most influential factors in the electricity market. For improving reliability, control and management of electricity market operations, an exact estimate of the day ahead load is a substantial requirement. Energy market trade is based on price. Accurate price forecast enables energy market participants to make effective and most profitable bidding strategies. This paper proposes a deep learning-based model for the forecast of price and demand for big data using Deep Long Short-Term Memory (DLSTM). Due to the adaptive and automatic feature learning mechanism of Deep Neural Network (DNN), the processing of big data is easier with LSTM as compared to the purely data-driven methods. The proposed model was evaluated using well-known real electricity markets’ data. In this study, day and week ahead forecasting experiments were conducted for all months. Forecast performance was assessed using Mean Absolute Error (MAE) and Normalized Root Mean Square Error (NRMSE). The proposed Deep LSTM (DLSTM) method was compared to traditional Artificial Neural Network (ANN) time series forecasting methods, i.e., Nonlinear Autoregressive network with Exogenous variables (NARX) and Extreme Learning Machine (ELM). DLSTM outperformed the compared forecasting methods in terms of accuracy. Experimental results prove the efficiency of the proposed method for electricity price and load forecasting.
Management of petroclival meningiomas by stereotactic radiosurgery.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the role of stereotactic radiosurgery in the management of petroclival meningiomas, we retrospectively reviewed our experience with 62 patients managed at the University of Pittsburgh during an 8-year period. METHODS All patients had cranial base meningiomas involving the region between the petrous apex and the upper two-thirds of the clivus. Some tumors extended into the cavernous sinus. Each of 39 patients (63%) had previously undergone one or more attempts at surgical resection. Seven patients (11%) had received fractionated external beam radiation therapy. Using the gamma knife, conformal multiple isocenter radiosurgery was performed with tumor margin doses of 11 to 20 Gy. RESULTS During the median follow-up period of 37 months, neurological statuses improved in 13 patients (21%), remained stable in 41 patients (66%), and eventually worsened in 8 patients (13%). Tumor volumes decreased in 14 patients (23%), remained stable in 42 patients (68%), and increased in 5 patients (8%). Despite the proximity of these tumors to critical neural and vascular structures, complications resulting from radiosurgery were rare. Five patients (8%) developed new cranial nerve deficits within 24 months of radiosurgery, although none had evidence of tumor progression. These deficits resolved completely in two patients within 6 months of onset. CONCLUSION Although an even longer follow-up period is desirable, we conclude that stereotactic radiosurgery provides a safe and effective management strategy for petroclival meningiomas, both as a primary procedure and as an adjunct to incomplete resection.
In vivo nitrate tolerance is not associated with reduced bioconversion of nitroglycerin to nitric oxide.

BACKGROUND In vitro data suggest that reduced bioconversion of nitroglycerin (NTG) to nitric oxide (NO) contributes to the development of vascular and hemodynamic tolerance to NTG. We examined the in vivo validity of this hypothesis by measuring NTG-derived NO formation by in vivo spin-trapping of NO in vascular tissues from nitrate-tolerant and -nontolerant rats. METHODS AND RESULTS Five groups (n = 6 to 8 each) of conscious chronically catheterized rats received NTG (0.2 or 1 mg/h IV) for 72 hours (nitrate-tolerant groups). Four other groups received either NTG vehicle (placebo, for 72 hours) or were left untreated (control). Nitrate tolerance was substantiated by a reduced (55% to 85%) hypotensive response to NTG in vivo and a reduced relaxation to NTG in isolated aortic rings. NTG-derived NO formation in aorta, vena cava, heart, and liver was measured as NOFe(DETC)2 and NO-heme complexes formed in vivo during 35 minutes combined with ex vivo cryogenic electron spin resonance spectroscopy. NO formation was significantly (P < .05) increased in all tissues in nitrate-tolerant rats in an NTG dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, the amount of NO formed from a bolus dose of NTG (6.5 mg/kg over 20 minutes) was similar in nitrate-tolerant and -nontolerant rats. CONCLUSIONS The results suggest that vascular and hemodynamic NTG tolerance occurs despite high and similar rates of NO formation by NTG in tolerant and nontolerant target tissues. This finding is compatible with the assumption that reduced biological activity of NO, rather than reduced bioconversion of NTG to NO, contributes to in vivo development of nitrate tolerance.
Torsional optokinetic nystagmus: normal response characteristics

Background/aims: Few studies have investigated normal response characteristics of torsional optokinetic nystagmus (tOKN). The authors have investigated the effect of stimulus velocity and central/peripheral stimulation on tOKN. Methods: Torsional OKN was elicited using a sinusoidal grating rotating at velocities of 3°/s to 1000°/s in clockwise and anticlockwise directions. To investigate the effect of central stimulation, stimulus size was varied from 2.86° to 50.8°. An artificial scotoma placed over a 50.8° stimulus was varied from 2.86° to 43.2° to investigate peripheral stimulation. Eight subjects participated in each experiment and torsional eye movements were recorded using video-oculography. The mean slow phase velocity (MSPV) and gain were calculated. Results: The maximum gain occurred in response to 8°/s stimulation. The MSPV increased up to a stimulus velocity of 200°/s achieving a maximum of 3°/s in both directions. MSPV was linearly correlated with the log of stimulus velocity. The smallest field size, rotating at 40°/s, evoked 10% of the gain elicited by the largest display. When the most peripheral stimulus was used, the gain was maintained at 50% of the gain evoked when the full display was used. Conclusions: A wide range of stimulus velocities can elicit tOKN and peripheral field stimulation contributes significantly to its response.
Immunogenetic Risk and Protective Factors for the Idiopathic Inflammatory Myopathies: Distinct HLA-A, -B, -Cw, -DRB1, and -DQA1 Allelic Profiles Distinguish European American Patients With Different Myositis Autoantibodies

Abstract: The idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIM) are systemic connective tissue diseases defined by chronic muscle inflammation and weakness associated with autoimmunity. We have performed low to high resolution molecular typing to assess the genetic variability of major histocompatibility complex loci (HLA-A, -B, -Cw, -DRB1, and -DQA1) in a large population of European American patients with IIM (n = 571) representing the major myositis autoantibody groups. We established that alleles of the 8.1 ancestral haplotype (8.1 AH) are important risk factors for the development of IIM in patients producing anti-synthetase/anti-Jo-1, -La, -PM/Scl, and -Ro autoantibodies. Moreover, a random forests classification analysis suggested that 8.1 AH-associated alleles B*0801 and DRB1*0301 are the principal HLA risk markers. In addition, we have identified several novel HLA susceptibility factors associated distinctively with particular myositis-specific (MSA) and myositis-associated autoantibody (MAA) groups of the IIM. IIM patients with anti-PL-7 (anti-threonyl-tRNA synthetase) autoantibodies have a unique HLA Class I risk allele, Cw*0304 (pcorr = 0.046), and lack the 8.1 AH markers associated with other anti-synthetase autoantibodies (for example, anti-Jo-1 and anti-PL-12). In addition, HLA-B*5001 and DQA1*0104 are novel potential risk factors among anti-signal recognition particle autoantibody-positive IIM patients (pcorr = 0.024 and p = 0.010, respectively). Among those patients with MAA, HLA DRB1*11 and DQA1*06 alleles were identified as risk factors for myositis patients with anti-Ku (pcorr = 0.041) and anti-La (pcorr = 0.023) autoantibodies, respectively. Amino acid sequence analysis of the HLA DRB1 third hypervariable region identified a consensus motif, 70D (hydrophilic)/71R (basic)/74A (hydrophobic), conferring protection among patients producing anti-synthetase/anti-Jo-1 and -PM/Scl autoantibodies. Together, these data demonstrate that HLA signatures, comprising both risk and protective alleles or motifs, distinguish IIM patients with different myositis autoantibodies and may have diagnostic and pathogenic implications. Variations in associated polymorphisms for these immune response genes may reflect divergent pathogenic mechanisms and/or responses to unique environmental triggers in different groups of subjects resulting in the heterogeneous syndromes of the IIM. Abbreviations: AH = ancestral haplotype, DM = dermatomyositis, EA = European Americans, HVR3 = third hypervariable region, IBM = inclusion body myositis, IIM = idiopathic inflammatory myopathies, MAA = myositis-associated autoantibodies, MHC = major histocompatibility complex, MSA = myositis-specific autoantibodies, PM = polymyositis, RF = random forests, RSP = restrictive supertype patterns, SRP = signal recognition particle.
Comparison of 17 genome types of adenovirus type 3 identified among strains recovered from six continents

Restriction endonucleases BamHI, BclI, BglI, BglII, BstEII, EcoRI, HindIII, HpaI, SalI, SmalI, XbalI, and XholI were used to analyze 61 selected strains of adenovirus type 3 (Ad3) isolated from Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, North America, and South America. It was noted that the use of BamHI, BclI, BglII, HpaI, SalI, and SmaI was sufficient to distinguish 17 genome types; 13 of them were newly identified. All 17 Ad3 genome types could be divided into three genomic clusters. Genome types of Ad3 cluster 1 occurred in Africa, Europe, South America, and North America. Genomic cluster 2 was identified in Africa; genomic cluster 3 was identified in Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe (a few), and North America. This was of interest because 15 identified genome types of Ad7 could also be divided into three genomic clusters. The degree of genetic relatedness between the 17 Ad3 and the 15 Ad7 genome types was analyzed and was expressed in a three-dimensional model.
The role of iNOS in wound healing.

BACKGROUND We have previously shown that the blockade of nitric oxide (NO) synthesis impairs wound healing, in particular collagen synthesis. Conversely, impaired wound healing is accompanied by decreased wound NO synthesis. Fibroblast collagen synthesis, proliferation, and fibroblast-mediated matrix contraction are critical to wound healing. We examined the wound healing-related phenotypic changes that are induced by the loss of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) gene function in fibroblasts. METHODS Dermal fibroblasts were obtained from 8- to 12-week-old iNOS--knock out (KO; C57BL/Ai-[KO] Nos2 N5) and wild type mice by an explant technique and used after 1 to 3 passages. Proliferation ([(3)H]-thymidine incorporation) and collagen synthesis ([(3)H]-proline incorporation into collagenase-sensitive protein) were studied after stimulation with 10% fetal bovine serum. Matrix remodeling was assessed by the measurement of the contraction of fibroblast-populated collagen lattices. RESULTS iNOS-KO fibroblasts proliferated more slowly, synthesized less collagen, and contracted fibroblast-populated collagen lattices more slowly than wild-type fibroblast. Collagen synthesis was restored to normal in KO fibroblasts in response to NO donors (s-nitroso-N-acetylpenicillamine). CONCLUSIONS iNOS deficiency causes significant impairment in wound healing-related properties of fibroblasts, which suggests that NO plays an important role in wound healing.
A high-speed, low-power capacitive-coupling transceiver for wireless wafer-level testing systems

A high-speed, low-power capacitive-coupling transceiver is presented for wireless wafer-level testing systems. The proposed transceiver achieves the highest data rate of 15Gb/s in 65nm CMOS process which is 7.5 times higher than previous work. The parallel termination increases the signal bandwidth in a printed circuit board (PCB) by 8.5 times. The glitch signaling reduces the static power consumption of conventional nonreturn-to-zero (NRZ) signaling by 30%. These two design techniques lead to the lowest energy per bit of 0.47pJ/b in a chip-to-board communication.
Electrophysiological responses of serotoninergic dorsal raphe neurons to 5‐HT1A and 5‐HT1B agonists

A direct comparison was made of the effects of serotonin 5‐HT1A and 5‐HT1B selective compounds on the spontaneous firing rate of dorsal raphe serotoninergic neurons in chloral‐hydrate‐anesthetized rats. Following intravenous administration, the 5‐HT1A selective compounds ipsapirone (TVX Q 7821) and LY 165163 potently inhibited single‐unit activity in a dose‐dependent manner whereas the 5‐HT1B selective compounds, m‐chlorophenylpiperazine (mCPP) and trifluoromethylphenylpiperazine (TFMPP), displayed only weak or irregular actions. Low microiontophoretic currents of ipsapirone and LY 165163 were also effective in suppressing spontaneous firing; dose‐response relationships for the 5‐HT1A compounds were indistinguishable from that of 5‐HT itself. In contrast, dorsal raphe neurons were only weakly responsive to microiontophoretic application of mCPP and TFMPP; dose‐response relationships for the 5‐HT1B compounds were significantly displaced from that of 5‐HT. In intracellular studies, ipsapirone and LY 165163, when added to the media bathing brain slices, mimicked the actions of 5‐HT in hyperpolarizing dorsal raphe cell membranes and decreasing input resistance; however, the maximal effects of the 5‐HT1A compounds on these membrane properties exceeded those of 5‐HT. In summary, dorsal raphe 5‐HT neurons appear highly responsive to 5‐HT1A, but not to 5‐HT1B compounds; these findings are discussed with regard to the 5‐HT receptor subtypes as candidates for the somatodendritic autoreceptor of dorsal raphe neurons.
Efficacy and safety of iodopovidone pleurodesis through chest tube in spontaneous pneumothorax.

UNLABELLED Pleurodesis is one of the best methods of controlling malignant pleural effusions and pneumothorax. Recently Iodopovidone (IP) which is cheap and easily available was used for pleurodesis and demonstrated low morbidity with good results similar to talcum powder. However, in those studies a wide range of pleural diseases were included, and heterogeneity makes it difficult to draw conclusions about spontaneous pneumothorax (SP). The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of IP pleurodesis in SP. METHODS In 29 patients, we instilled 20 ml IP 10% diluted with 80 ml of normal saline through a chest tube, clamped for 4 h. Data on adverse events including chest pain, respiratory distress, allergic reactions, hypotension and failure of PD (the requirement for additional pleural procedures and recurrence) were collected. The follow-up period was 3 to 21 months. RESULTS Complete response with no recurrence was obtained in 27 (93% percent) patients. One patient with bone marrow transplantation with cystic lung changes in lungs returned two months later with bilateral pneumothoraces. A case of Wegener's granulomatosis on corticosteroids and immunosuppressive therapy returned with SP on the same side four months later. Five (13%) patients experienced chest pain with visual scale measurment 1 to 5. No hypotension, allergic reaction, visual impairment were observed. CONCLUSIONS Pleurodesis with IP was successful and was associated with only minor complication. It appears to be a good option for the pleurodesis in SP.
Nuclear β catenin expression is related to unfavourable outcome in oropharyngeal and hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma

Aims—To investigate the expression of α, β, and γ catenins in oropharyngeal and hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma and their relations to each other, as well as to clinical data, tumour differentiation, and prognosis. Methods—Primary tumours for analysis were obtained from 138 patients diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma of the oropharynx or hypopharynx between 1975 and 1998 in eastern Finland. Immunohistochemistry was used to evaluate the expression of α, β, and γ catenins. The expression patterns of all catenins were related to clinical data and survival. Results—The expression patterns of all three catenins were significantly interrelated. Reduced γ catenin expression was significantly associated with poor histological differentiation. No association was found between α or β catenin expression and clinicopathological characteristics. In univariate analysis, patients whose tumours had nuclear β catenin expression had shorter overall survival than patients with no nuclear expression. In Cox multivariate analysis, nuclear β catenin expression, tumour status (T class), and Karnofsky performance index were independent prognostic factors of overall survival. Conclusions—Reduced expression of γ catenin is associated with dedifferentiation in primary squamous cell carcinoma of the oropharynx and hypopharynx. The fact that nuclear β catenin expression independently predicts short overall survival suggests that it might be a valuable prognostic marker in pharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma.