Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Outer membrane vesicles from Neisseria meningitidis

Flow cytometry was used to study the expression of leukocyte adhesion molecules CD11a, CD11b, CD11c, CD14, and CD62L (L‐selectin) and production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in an ex vivo human whole‐blood system stimulated with lipopolysaccharide‐containing outer membrane vesicles (LPS‐OMV) from N. meningitidis. Results demonstrated a dose‐dependent increase in surface expression of CD11a, CD11b, CD11c and CD14 in granulocytes and monocytes (maximal at 30–120 min) upon OMV‐LPS challenge, whereas CD62L expression was heavily downregulated (maximal at 30–120 min). The OMV‐associated LPS was almost as potent (on a weight basis) as purified LPS from E. coli in inducing adhesion molecule modulation but the response was delayed. Upon stimulation with OMV‐LPS or E. coli‐LPS, the production of intracellular ROS increased in both granulocytes and monocytes when dihydroethidium (DHE, mainly reflecting superoxide anion) was used as a probe, whereas peroxynitrite production monitored with dihydrorhodamine 123 (DHR) was not significantly changed. The OMV‐mediated modulation of leukocyte adhesion molecule expression and increased ROS production may certainly lead to increased entrapment of leukocytes in the microcirculation and contribute to untoward inflammatory reactions as seen in systemic meningococcal disease.
A Layered Architecture for Fair Resource Allocation in Multicellular Multicarrier Systems

We consider a multicell multicarrier system with frequency reuse distance that is equal to one. Allowing all cells to transmit on the whole bandwidth unveils large potential gains in terms of spectral efficiency, in comparison with conventional cellular systems. Such a scenario, however, is often deemed unfeasible because of the strong multiple access interference (MAI) that negatively affects system performance. This paper presents a layered architecture that integrates a packet scheduler with an adaptive resource allocator that was explicitly designed to take care of the MAI. Each cell performs its resource management in a distributed way with no central controller. Iterative resource allocation assigns radio channels to the users to minimize interference. Packet scheduling guarantees that all users get a fair share of resources, regardless of their position in the cell. This scheduler-allocator architecture integrates both goals and is able to self-adapt to any traffic and user configuration. An adaptive distributed load control strategy can reduce the cell load so that the iterative procedure always converges to a stable allocation, regardless of the interference. Numerical results show that the proposed architecture guarantees both high spectral efficiency and throughput fairness among flows.
Handedness and spatial ability: Differential patterns of relationships

The purpose of this exploratory study was to add to our understanding of hemispheric specialisation by examining the relationships between functional laterality (as measured by handedness, eyedness, earedness, and footedness) and spatial tests. A total of 55 males and 170 females were tested for laterality preferences and spatial test performance using a range of six spatial tests. There was a statistically significant relationship between each of the laterality measures employed, with handedness and footedness demonstrating the most robust association. Multiple regression analyses highlighted that once potential confounds were statistically controlled (age, sex, and other types of functional laterality), 3‐D rotation/visualisation and speeded visual exploration task performance showed small, but significant, relations with a tendency towards left‐handedness over right‐handedness in total and secondary (two‐handed) scale scores. Flexibility of closure performance was associated with a tendency towards left‐handedness in the total and one‐handed scale scores. Spatial location memory was the lone spatial ability relating with a tendency towards right‐handedness. Overall, these findings offer new insights into the interplay of handedness with alternative measures of laterality as well as with spatial abilities.
Theory of Stochastic Dissipative Systems

By introducing the escape time, a new definition of the dissipativity is introduced under some assumptions that are very reasonable for most physical models. Based on this definition, criteria on the existence and the stability of the solution are presented, which can be seen as the extension of Lyapunov method to the non-smooth case. The dissipativity is applied to cascaded nonlinear stochastic systems and interconnected systems to display the superiority of the new framework, which shows that there is no need to calculate the first exit time and the escape time.
Melatonin implants prevent the onset of seasonal quiescence and suppress the release of prolactin in response to a dopamine antagonist in the Bennett's wallaby (Macropus rufogriseus rufogriseus).

Three groups of adult female wallabies were maintained out of doors under conditions of natural photoperiod and temperature from late December to mid-August. One group (M1; N = 6) received Silastic elastomer melatonin implants on 14 December, a second group (M2; N = 5) were given implants on 16 February and a third group (C; N = 7) were unimplanted controls. Group C animals had all ceased cycling by 15 March and the subsequent breeding season commenced on 5 July +/- 6.9 days. Group M1 wallabies continued to cycle throughout the experimental period and did not exhibit ovarian quiescence. In Group M2, 2/5 animals continued to undergo repeated oestrous cycles and 3/5 ceased cycling between 14 December and 27 January and began again after the insertion of melatonin implants on 16 February. The prolactin response 30 min after s.c. administration of the dopamine antagonist domperidone was determined approximately every 4 weeks. In Group C, peak responses were high during the period of seasonal quiescence (January-June; mean range 14.2-19.6 ng/ml) and fell significantly (P less than 0.02) at the beginning of the breeding season in early July to 7.4 +/- 3.1 ng/ml. In Group M1, prolactin levels remained low (2.8-8.2 ng/ml) throughout the course of the experiment while in Group M2, response to domperidone fell following the insertion of the implants and subsequently remained at levels similar to those in Group M1. Our data support the hypothesis that photoperiod-induced changes in the secretion of melatonin after the winter solstice drive this species into seasonal quiescence by influencing the dopaminergic control of prolactin secretion.
Working Toward the Experimenter

The behavior of participants within Milgram’s obedience paradigm is commonly understood to arise from the propensity to cede responsibility to those in authority and hence to obey them. This parallels a belief that brutality in general arises from passive conformity to roles. However, recent historical and social psychological research suggests that agents of tyranny actively identify with their leaders and are motivated to display creative followership in working toward goals that they believe those leaders wish to see fulfilled. Such analysis provides the basis for reinterpreting the behavior of Milgram’s participants. It is supported by a range of material, including evidence that the willingness of participants to administer 450-volt shocks within the Milgram paradigm changes dramatically, but predictably, as a function of experimental variations that condition participants’ identification with either the experimenter and the scientific community that he represents or the learner and the general community that he represents. This reinterpretation also encourages us to see Milgram’s studies not as demonstrations of conformity or obedience, but as explorations of the power of social identity-based leadership to induce active and committed followership.
Expression and function of B7‐1 (CD80) and B7‐2 (CD86) on human epidermal Langerhans cells

In addition to T cell receptor triggering, activation of T cells requires co‐stimulatory signals that have been shown to be mainly initiated through CD28. We analyzed the expression and function of the two ligands for CD28, B7‐1 (CD80) and B7‐2 (CD86), on human Langerhans cells (LC), the antigen‐presenting cells from epidermis. Human LC freshly isolated from epidermis (fLC) expressed significant level of B7‐2, which was increased upon a short culture in vitro. In contrast, B7‐1 was undetectable on fLC but appeared at the cell surface after a 3‐day culture in vitro. Pre‐incubation of 18‐h cultured LC with anti‐B7‐2 monoclonal antibodies (mAb) was sufficient to abrogate the binding of CTLA4‐Ig fusion protein, while a combination of both mAb against B7‐1 and B7‐2 was necessary to obtain a complete inhibition of CTLA4‐Ig binding on 3‐day cultured LC, showing the absence of a third CTLA4 ligand. The function of B7‐1 and B7‐2 on human LC has been analyzed by adding mAb at the beginning of mixed epidermal cell lymphocyte reactions. Anti‐B7‐2 mAb and CTLA4‐Ig, but not anti‐B7‐1 mAb, strongly inhibited allogeneic, as well as recall antigen‐induced T cell proliferation supported by fLC or 3‐day cultured LC. Collectively, these results demonstrate that B7‐2 is the major ligand for CD28/CTLA4 at the LC surface and that it plays a crucial role in human LC co‐stimulatory function with little, if any, dependence on B7‐1 expression.
Case Presentation: Xenograft Resistance to Protease Degradation in a Vasculitic Ulcer

Vasculitic ulcers are related to numerous underlying etiologies including autoimmune disease, rheumatoid arthritis and other inflammatory conditions.The resulting ulcerations are associated with high levels of pain, inflammation and tissue necrosis. Current therapies, including surgical intervention, are limited by the underlying inflammatory process and complications secondary to the wound etiology. conservative care has been relatively unsuccessful in promoting wound closure.This case presentations reviews the successful results of using a xenograft in the treatment of an inflammatory ulcer associated with cryoglobulinemia and vasculitis. Product integrity was maintained postoperatively, compared to an allograft, thereby allowing the wound treatment site to progress to closure.The type of cross linkage of acellular grafts may have a direct effect on product stability and treatment outcomes.
Comparison of 3-dimensional scapular position and orientation between subjects with and without shoulder impingement.

STUDY DESIGN Nonrandomized 2 group post-test only. OBJECTIVE To compare scapular position and orientation between subjects with and without impingement syndrome. BACKGROUND Abnormal scapular motion is commonly believed to be a contributing factor to shoulder impingement syndrome. METHODS AND MEASURES Twenty nonimpaired subjects with a mean age of 34.3 (+/- 7.5 years) and 17 patients with impingement syndrome with a mean age of 45.8 (+/- 11.0) participated. A 3-dimensional electromechanical digitizer was used to measure scapular position and orientation in 3 planes. Measurements were taken with the arm at the side, elevated in the scapular plane to horizontal, and at maximum elevation. One-way analysis of variance was used to compare nonimpaired subjects to the impingement group and the symptomatic and asymptomatic sides within the impingement group. Five scapular kinematic variables were assessed at each arm position. Orientation was described by posterior tilting angle, upward rotation angle, and internal rotation angle. Position was described by medial-lateral position and superior-inferior position and determined by the distance from the scapula centroid to the seventh cervical vertebra (C7). RESULTS During scapular plane elevation of the arm, the scapula showed a general pattern of increasing posterior-tilt angle, increasing upward-rotation angle, and decreasing internal-rotation angle in both impingement and nonimpaired groups. Also, the scapula moved to a more superior position and a slightly more medial position with increasing arm elevation. Compared to nonimpaired subjects (34.6 degrees +/- 9.7), those with impingement demonstrated a significantly lower posterior tilting angle of the scapula in the sagittal plane (25.1 degrees +/- 9.1). Subjects with impingement also demonstrated higher superior-inferior scapular position with maximal arm elevation (5.2 cm +/- 1.6 below the first thoracic vertebrae) compared to nonimpaired subjects (7.5 cm +/- 1.5). CONCLUSIONS These results suggest that altered scapular kinematics may be an important aspect of the impingement syndrome.
Informalidad y pobreza en América Latina

Las actividades informales son una fuente importante de empleo en la region. Sin embargo, hay controversia sobre la interpretacion de este fenomeno y sus consecuencias. Algunos afirman que su existencia obedece a la insuficiencia dinamica de la economia y representa una estrategia de sobrevivencia, y, como tal, un refugio involuntario de los pobres. Otros sostienen que su origen se halla en las alteraciones del mercado de trabajo causadas por las regulaciones que impone el Estado, y miran la actividad informal como una alternativa favorable de trabajo que puede generar ingresos mayores que muchos trabajos asalariados. Este articulo busca aportar elementos que contribuyan a esclarecer si es efectivo que la pobreza proviene solo del sector informal, o en que medida contribuye a ella el sector asalariado, y que proporcion de los trabajadores informales son pobres. Para fines analiticos, se considera aqui como integrantes del sector informal a los trabajadores por cuenta propia y familiares no remunerados; a los de la microempresa, definida como una unidad de produccion que emplea hasta cinco personas, y a los que se desempenan en el empleo domestico. Entre las conclusiones de este articulo destaca la de que la mayor parte de los pobres pertenece al sector informal de la economia, pero ello no significa que todos los trabajadores informales sean pobres.
Mortal Pots: On Use Life and Vessel Size in the Formation of Ceramic Assemblages

We know a great deal about how prehistoric pots were made and used but surprisingly little about how long they lasted in service. Vessel use life, however, is an important component of ceramic assemblage formation. A growing body of ethnoarchaeological data shows that the directly measurable “primitive property” of vessel size—in its various dimensions—is positively related to use life and that height and weight are the most reliable predictors of use life. Results offer the provisional prospect of estimating use life of archaeological vessels from their size.
IL-4-Dependent Th2 Collateral Priming to Inhaled Antigens Independent of Toll-Like Receptor 4 and Myeloid Differentiation Factor 881

Allergic asthma is an inflammatory lung disease thought to be initiated and directed by type 2 helper T cells responding to environmental Ags. The mechanisms by which allergens induce Th2-adaptive immune responses are not well understood, although it is now clear that innate immune signals are required to promote DC activation and Th2 sensitization to inhaled proteins. However, the effect of ongoing Th2 inflammation, as seen in chronic asthma, on naive lymphocyte activation has not been explored. It has been noted that patients with atopic disorders demonstrate an increased risk of developing sensitivities to new allergens. This suggests that signals from an adaptive immune response may facilitate sensitization to new Ags. We used a Th2-adoptive transfer murine model of asthma to identify a novel mechanism, termed “collateral priming,” in which naive CD4+ T cells are activated by adaptive rather than innate immune signals. Th2 priming to newly encountered Ags was dependent on the production of IL-4 by the transferred Th2 population but was independent of Toll-like receptor 4 signaling and the myeloid differentiation factor 88 Toll-like receptor signaling pathway. These results identify a novel mechanism of T cell priming in which an Ag-specific adaptive immune response initiates distinct Ag-specific T cell responses in the absence of classical innate immune system triggering signals.
Skin in the Game

Program Details WHEN: Wed., January 15 TIME: 10 am — noon WHERE: Crystal Room Academy of Medicine 875 W. Peachtree St Atlanta, GA 30308 COST: $10/person RSVP by Jan. 13: Lee Suddath lee.suddath@gmail.com 404-281-3876 When you were a child, skin was just what covered you. But the further we get from the freshness of youth, the less skin problems are a matter of zits and the more they reflect the zapping our skins take in the wear and tear of daily life or from underlying health conditions. Come join us Wednesday, January 15 at 10:00 a.m. to learn from a boardcertified dermatologist, Sumayah Taliaferro, M.D. of Dermatology Affiliates, what we should all know about skin health and looking younger. Dr. Taliaferro brings with her expertise in pigmentary disorders, medical dermatology, surgery, and cosmetic dermatology. She is a fellow of the American Academy of Dermatology, among other organizations. One of the youngest board members for the Medical Association of Atlanta, she leads their new Residency Mentorship Program. Parking is available behind the building for $5.00 cash only, so carpooling is recommended. Follow the sidewalk from the rear of the building to the front entrance. Please RSVP to Lee Suddath by Monday, January 13 to pay in advance or on site. Make your check payable to the Georgia Tech Faculty Women’s Club. — Carol Griffin Skin in the Game
Mycobacterium neoaurum and Mycobacterium bacteremicum sp. nov. as Causes of Mycobacteremia

ABSTRACT Reference isolates of Mycobacterium neoaurum, Mycobacterium aurum, and the nonvalidated species “Mycobacterium lacticola” were the focus of two recent molecular taxonomic studies. On the basis of this grouping, we identified 46 clinical pigmented, rapidly growing mycobacterial isolates. By 16S rRNA gene sequencing, only two major taxa were identified: M. neoaurum and a previously uncharacterized “M. neoaurum-like” group. The M. neoaurum-like group exhibited only 99.7% identity to M. neoaurum by 16S rRNA gene sequencing and 96.5% identity to M. neoaurum by rpoB sequencing and was named M. bacteremicum. No clinical isolates of M. aurum or M. lacticola were identified. Of isolates with known sources, 4/8 (50%) of M. bacteremicum isolates and 22/34 (65%) of M. neoaurum isolates were recovered from blood, and 35% of these were known to be from patients with catheter-related sepsis. MIC and clinical data on these 46 isolates of M. neoaurum and M. bacteremicum along with a review of 16 previously reported cases of infection with the M. neoaurum-M. lacticola group demonstrated that the isolates were highly susceptible to all drugs tested except clarithromycin, and most clinical cases were successfully treated. The clarithromycin resistance suggested the presence of an inducible erm gene reported in other species of rapidly growing mycobacteria. Sequencing studies are currently required to identify these two species. Strain ATCC 25791 (originally submitted as an example of Mycobacterium aurum) is proposed to be the type strain of M. bacteremicum.
Single nucleotide polymorphism discovery from wheat next-generation sequence data.

Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) are the most abundant type of molecular genetic marker and can be used for producing high-resolution genetic maps, marker-trait association studies and marker-assisted breeding. Large polyploid genomes such as wheat present a challenge for SNP discovery because of the potential presence of multiple homoeologs for each gene. AutoSNPdb has been successfully applied to identify SNPs from Sanger sequence data for several species, including barley, rice and Brassica, but the volume of data required to accurately call SNPs in the complex genome of wheat has prevented its application to this important crop. DNA sequencing technology has been revolutionized by the introduction of next-generation sequencing, and it is now possible to generate several million sequence reads in a timely and cost-effective manner. We have produced wheat transcriptome sequence data using 454 sequencing technology and applied this for SNP discovery using a modified autoSNPdb method, which integrates SNP and gene annotation information with a graphical viewer. A total of 4,694,141 sequence reads from three bread wheat varieties were assembled to identify a total of 38 928 candidate SNPs. Each SNP is within an assembly complete with annotation, enabling the selection of polymorphism within genes of interest.
Impact of skeletal dissolution and secondary aragonite on trace element and isotopic climate proxies in Porites corals

Restricted zones of recent dissolution and secondary aragonite infilling were identified in a coral core collected in 1986 from a living massive Porites colony from the central Great Barrier Reef, Australia. Secondary aragonite needles, ≥20 μm long, cover skeletal surfaces deposited from 1972 to late 1974 and increase bulk density by 10%. Dissolution is observed above this zone, whereas older skeleton is pristine. We investigate the impact of both types of early marine diagenesis on skeletal geochemistry and coral paleoclimate reconstructions by comparison with similar records from eight contemporary Porites colonies collected at nearby reefs. Secondary aragonite overgrowth causes anomalies in skeletal density, Mg/Ca, Sr/Ca, U/Ca, δ O, and δC. The secondary aragonite is consistently associated with a cool temperature anomaly for each of the sea surface temperature (SST) proxies (δO-SST -1.6°C; Sr/Ca-SST -1.7°C; Mg/Ca-SST -1.9°C; U/Ca-SST -2.8°C). Dissolution, through incongruent leaching, also causes cool SST artifacts but only for trace element ratios (Mg/Ca-SST -1.2°C; Sr/Ca-SST -1.2°C; U/Ca-SST -2.1°C). The sequence of preference with respect to dissolution of coral skeleton in seawater is Mg > Ca > Sr > U. Rigorous screening of coral material for paleoclimate reconstructions is therefore necessary to detect both dissolution and the presence of secondary minerals. The excellent agreement between apparent SST anomalies generated by different modes of diagenesis means that replication of tracers within a single coral cannot be used to validate climate-proxy interpretations. Poor replication of records between different coral colonies, however, provides a strong indication of nonclimatic artifacts such as dissolution and secondary aragonite. Copyright 2007 by the American Geophysical Union.