Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Secure broadcast in distributed networks with strong adversaries

This paper proposes a framework that enables secure one-to-many communication for networks with limited capabilities in the face of a strong adversary that can capture an arbitrary set of nodes. Our approach consists of two main components: a group key establishment protocol and b special key management. Especially, we try to address the following question: How strong of security properties can we achieve for broadcast communication in hardware-limited networks with a strong adversary? We propose approaches and their variants that neither require special hardware nor use costly cryptographic operations. With thorough security and efficiency analyses, we discuss how our solutions can be applied to a variety of hardware-limited distributed systems. We also describe the implementation and evaluation results of the most promising variants. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Helical arrays of U-shaped ATP synthase dimers form tubular cristae in ciliate mitochondria

Significance The structure of mitochondrial cristae in different species and tissues is highly variable. The molecular basis of these variations and their effect on mitochondrial function is not understood. Dimers of ATP synthase, the essential membrane protein complex that produces most of the ATP in the cell, are thought to shape lamellar cristae, for example in humans or yeasts. Here, we present the ATP synthase dimer structure from the ciliate Paramecium tetraurelia, which assembles into helical arrays around the outer perimeter of twisted tubular cristae. The similarities between the morphology of the helical arrays and the tubular cristae indicate that ATP synthase dimers are responsible for shaping the cristae of mitochondria. F1Fo-ATP synthases are universal energy-converting membrane protein complexes that synthesize ATP from ADP and inorganic phosphate. In mitochondria of yeast and mammals, the ATP synthase forms V-shaped dimers, which assemble into rows along the highly curved ridges of lamellar cristae. Using electron cryotomography and subtomogram averaging, we have determined the in situ structure and organization of the mitochondrial ATP synthase dimer of the ciliate Paramecium tetraurelia. The ATP synthase forms U-shaped dimers with parallel monomers. Each complex has a prominent intracrista domain, which links the c-ring of one monomer to the peripheral stalk of the other. Close interaction of intracrista domains in adjacent dimers results in the formation of helical ATP synthase dimer arrays, which differ from the loose dimer rows in all other organisms observed so far. The parameters of the helical arrays match those of the cristae tubes, suggesting the unique features of the P. tetraurelia ATP synthase are directly responsible for generating the helical tubular cristae. We conclude that despite major structural differences between ATP synthase dimers of ciliates and other eukaryotes, the formation of ATP synthase dimer rows is a universal feature of mitochondria and a fundamental determinant of cristae morphology.
Autocrine Role of TGFβ1 in Adrenal

Three main criteria are required to postulate that a factor has an autocrine action in any cell: presence of receptors and biological effects of the factor; local production which must be regulated by physiological signals and the inhibition of its secretion or action should cause effects opposite to those caused by the exogenous factor. In adrenal cells, transforming growth factor beta1 (TGFbeta1) fulfilled these criteria: 1) Adrenal cells possess TGFbeta1 receptors and this factor regulates the expression of adrenal cell specific genes, including ACTH and angiotensin II (AngII) receptors and several steroidogenic enzymes, leading to changes in the steroidogenic responsiveness; 2) Adrenal cells express and secrete TGFbeta1 and its secretion is regulated by the two adrenal specific hormones ACTH and AngII; 3) The blockade of TGFbeta1 protein synthesis by an antisense oligonucleotide produces changes in adrenal cell functions opposed to those induced by the exogenous factor.
Insulin resistance in human preeclamptic placenta is mediated by serine phosphorylation of insulin receptor substrate-1 and -2.

CONTEXT Preeclampsia is a severe complication of human pregnancy often associated with maternal risk factors. Insulin resistance represents a major risk for developing preeclampsia during pregnancy. OBJECTIVE A putative second messenger of insulin, inositol phosphoglycan P type (P-IPG), was previously shown to be highly increased during active preeclampsia. Its association with insulin resistance was investigated. DESIGN AND SETTING A cross-sectional study was carried out in a referral center. PATIENTS Nine preeclamptic (PE) and 18 healthy women were recruited and matched for maternal age, body mass index, parity, and ethnicity in a 1:2 ratio. Placental specimens were collected immediately after delivery. INTERVENTION Placental tissue was incubated with insulin and P-IPG production assessed. Insulin signaling proteins were subsequently studied by immunoblotting. RESULTS P-IPG extracted from human term placentas upon incubation with insulin was found to be far lower in those with preeclampsia than controls (P < 0.001). Immunoblotting studies revealed serine phosphorylation of insulin receptor substrate-1 and -2 in PE placentas (P < 0.001) with downstream impairment of insulin signaling. The activation of the p85 regulatory subunit of phosphatidylinositol 3- kinase was markedly decreased in PE samples (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS These findings highlight the importance of P-IPG in active preeclampsia and demonstrate a substantially different response to the insulin stimulus of human PE placentas. Acquired alterations in activation of proteins involved in insulin signaling may play a role in the complex pathogenesis of preeclampsia, probably as a consequence of the immunological dysfunction that occurs in this syndrome. These results seem to confirm an insulin-resistant state in PE placenta and shed a different light on its role in the pathogenesis of this disease with potential therapeutic implications.
ICT infrastructure for rural community sustainability

ABSTRACT This article attempts to determine the effect of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) on rural community sustainability by comparing digital literacy, degree of community economic vitality, and online activities between villages with well-equipped ICT infrastructure and typical villages. Digital literacy was measured with a weighted personal informatization index. Community economic vitality was analyzed with annual income and economic opportunity. Community online activities were examined with three themes: media utilization status, online activity, and degree of online participation in community issues. The results show that ICT infrastructure improved digital literacy and invigorated community economy and community activities. Nevertheless, this study exposed a few problems. These include (1) inefficiencies to enhance individuals’ ability to use computer hardware and software, and (2) reduced income levels below average national farm household income.
Structure of the piriform cortex of the opossum. III. Ultrastructural characterization of synaptic terminals of association and olfactory bulb afferent fibers

Terminals of olfactory bulb afferent (OB) and association (ASSN) fiberswithin the piriform cortex were characterized ultrastructurally. Identification was by electron microscopic (EM) autoradiography following injections of tritiated amino acids into the olfactory bulb and anterior piriform cortex. The results show that terminals of both fiber systems contain round vesicles and make asymmetrical synaptic contacts predominantly onto dendriticspines. Profiles with pleomorphic vesicles do not appear to be labeled from either site. Since there is strong evidence that both fiber systems generate excitatory postsynaptic potentials (EPSPs) in pyramidal cells, these results provide additional examples in the mammalian CNS of terminals with round vesicles and asymmetrical contacts that mediate an excitatory effect.
[Metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular diseases].

Identify at-risk patients Explain individual contributing factors Aid in patient education and motivation Direct comprehensive care and Choose the most appropriate interventions Comprehensively revised to reflect leading-edge research and now organized to facilitate easy access to essential information and clinically-relevant guidance, Metabolic Syndrome and Cardiovascular Disease, 2e offers this and more.
Epidemiology of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus and Cutaneous Lupus Erythematosus in a Predominantly White Population in the United States

Epidemiologic studies comparing the incidence and prevalence of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and isolated cutaneous lupus erythematosus (CLE) are few. Olmsted County, Minnesota provides a unique setting for such a study owing to resources of the Rochester Epidemiology Project. We sought to describe and compare the incidence and prevalence of SLE and CLE from 1993–2005.
Quantification of thin-section CT lung attenuation in acute pulmonary embolism: correlations with arterial blood gas levels and CT angiography.

OBJECTIVE The purposes of this study were to investigate the frequency histogram of lung attenuation on CT angiography (CTA) in patients with and without acute pulmonary embolism (PE) and to evaluate the relation of the frequency histogram of lung attenuation and hypoxemia. MATERIALS AND METHODS Twenty-six patients with PE and 11 patients without PE who underwent CTA were evaluated with frequency histograms. We obtained quantitative parameters such as mean lung attenuation, median lung attenuation, SD, skewness, kurtosis, and the proportion of lung attenuation except for the median +/- 50 H (P +/- 50 H). Lung attenuation was also assessed visually and scored. The relationship between those histogram parameters, or visual score, and Pa(O2) was evaluated. CTA scores for evaluation of the degree of pulmonary artery obstruction were obtained, and the relation with Pa(O2) was assessed. RESULTS No significant differences were found in mean lung attenuation and median lung attenuation between patients with and without PE. Meanwhile, SD, skewness, kurtosis, and P +/- 50 H were significantly different between patients with and without PE (p = 0.0003, 0.0071, 0.0047, and 0.0028, respectively) and significantly correlated with Pa(O2) (r = -0.770, 0.797, 0.786, -0.871, respectively). Significant differences were found in visual scores between patients with and without PE (p < 0.0001). There were significant but relatively low correlations between CTA score and arterial blood gas levels (r = -0.442, p = 0.03). CONCLUSION In patients with acute PE, heterogeneity in lung attenuation is more prominent than in patients without PE.
Lectin-mediated aggregation of liposomes containing glycolipids with variable hydrophilic spacer arms.

Synthetic glycolipids containing a cholesterol anchor group attached via a spacer group to a sugar moiety can be incorporated into small unilamellar liposomes, rendering them susceptible to agglutination by the appropriate multivalent lectin [Rando, R. R. , Orr, G. A. , & Bangerter, F. W. (1979) J. Biol. Chem. 254, 8318-8323; Rando, R. R. , & Bangerter, F. W. (1979) J. Supramol. Struct. 11, 295-309]. We report here on the role of spacer arm length in rendering these liposomes susceptible to agglutination. In order to eliminate the ambiguities inherent in using hydrophobic or charged spacer groups, we have synthesized a hydrophilic, ethylene glycol based amino acid (8-amino-3,6-dioxaoctanoic acid) for these studies. The Ricinus communis agglutinin (ricin) mediated agglutination of these beta-galactoside-containing glycolipids was studied. A spacer arm length of four atoms will not support agglutination under any conditions. A seven-atom spacer will support agglutination, but only at high phospholipid concentrations (0.24 mumol/mL) with a pseudo-first-order rate of agglutination of 0.0079 min-1. With 13 and 22 atom spacer groups, the pseudo-first-order rate constants were 0.4 min-1 and 1.3 min-1, respectively, at a phospholipid concentration of 0.06 mumol/mL. Under conditions where the liposomes containing the glycolipid with the 13-atom hydrophilic spacer arm were completely agglutinated by ricin, 9.3% of the total available sugar moieties of the liposome were bound to ricin. This means that, on the average, 38 interliposomal bonds were formed in an aggregate.
Noninvasive evaluation of wall shear stress on retinal microcirculation in humans.

PURPOSE To evaluate wall shear stress (WSS) on retinal microcirculation noninvasively. METHODS Retinal vessel diameter (D) and mean centerline blood velocity (V(max, mean)) were measured in the retinal arterioles and venules at first- and second-order branches in 13 subjects using laser Doppler velocimetry (LDV). Retinal blood flow (RBF) and wall shear rate (WSR) were calculated using these two parameters. Blood viscosity at the calculated shear rate was also measured using a cone-plate viscometer. WSS was calculated as the product of the WSR and the blood viscosity. RESULTS In the first-order branches, the averaged D, V(max, mean), RBF, and WSR(mean) were 108 +/- 13 microm, 41 +/- 10 mm/s, 11 +/- 4 microL/min, and 1539 +/- 383 s(-1) in the arterioles and 147 +/- 13 microm, 23 +/- 3 mm/s, 12 +/- 4 microL/min, and 632 +/- 73 s(-1) in the venules, respectively. The apparent blood viscosities at the measured shear rates were 3.5 +/- 0.3 centipoise (cP) in the arterioles and 3.8 +/- 0.4 cP in the venules. Therefore, the averaged WSS was 54 +/- 13 dyne/cm2 in the arterioles and 24 +/- 4 dyne/cm2 in the venules. The WSS in the second-order arterioles was significantly lower than that in the first-order branches (P = 0.002), but the WSS in the first-order venules was similar to that in the second-order venules. CONCLUSIONS The authors demonstrated that the WSS in the retinal vessels could be evaluated noninvasively in humans using LDV and cone-plate viscometry. This system may be useful for further clinical investigation of the role of shear stress in the pathogenesis of various retinal disorders.
Regulation of directed motility in Myxococcus xanthus

Myxococcus xanthus is a Gram‐negative bacterium that exhibits a complex life cycle. During vegetative growth, cells move as large swarms. However, when starved, cells aggregate into fruiting bodies and sporulate. Both vegetative swarming and developmental aggregation require gliding motility, which involves the slow movement of cells on a solid surface in the absence of flagella. The frequency of cell reversals controls the direction of movement and is regulated by the frz genes, which encode the ‘frizzy’ signal‐transduction proteins. These proteins contain domains which bear striking similarities to the major chemotaxis proteins of the enteric bacteria: CheA, CheY, CheW, CheR, CheB and Tar. However, significant differences exist between the Myxococcus Frz proteins and the enteric Che/MCP proteins. For example, the Frz system contains three CheY‐like response‐regulator domains: one is present on FrzE, which also contains a CheA‐like domain, and two are present on FrzZ, which is a novel protein required for attractant, but not for repellent, responses. The identification of multiple CheY homologues in this system indicates a more complex regulatory pathway than that found in the enteric bacteria. While responses to repellent stimuli appear to follow the enteric paradigm, responses to attractants during vegetative swarming and development are more complex and may involve self‐generated autoattractants. The Frz signal‐transduction system regulates directed motility in M. xanthus and is essential for controlling both fruiting‐body development and vegetative swarming.
Gender Differences in Departure from a Large Firm

Looking at the personnel records of workers in a large company, where detailed reasons for worker departure are recorded, I find striking differences in the exit patterns between men and women. As is well known, a higher proportion of women leave for a variety of non-market reasons. Further, women state more often that wages, and not opportunities, as a reason for switching jobs. Women, on average, are more likely to leave the firm. This is specially true in periods of early tenure. For both men and women, the likelihood of departure increases in the first two months of tenure, and then declines at a decreasing rate. This decline is stronger for women. Using a proportional hazard model, with controls for observed characteristics, I find that tenure beyond five years, women are less likely to leave the firm than men. Tenure turnover profiles are computed for the different reasons of departure. This detailed breakdown provides additional insights into gender differences in quit behavior.
4.9 A 1ms high-speed vision chip with 3D-stacked 140GOPS column-parallel PEs for spatio-temporal image processing

High-speed vision systems that combine high-frame-rate imaging and highly parallel signal processing enable instantaneous visual feedback to rapidly control machines over human-visual-recognition speeds. Such systems also enable a reduction in circuit scale by using a fast and simple algorithm optimized for high-frame-rate processing [1]. Previous studies on vision systems and chips [1–4] have yielded low imaging performance due to large matrix-based processing element (PE) parallelization [1–3], and low functionality of the limited-purpose column-parallel PE architecture [4], constraining vision-chip applications.
Infection of P388D1 macrophages and respiratory epithelial cells by Histoplasma capsulatum: selection of avirulent variants and their potential role in persistent histoplasmosis

We evaluated P388D1 macrophagelike cells as model host cells for studying the intracellular survival and strain-specific virulence of Histoplasma capsulatum. Previously characterized strains which were virulent for mice destroyed monolayers of these cells within a few days. In contrast, related avirulent "smooth" variants failed to do so even after 20 days, although they persisted within P388D1 cells for at least 7 days. On the basis of this observation, we developed a quantitative radiolabel assay to use as an initial screen for virulence. Another cell type lining the respiratory tract was then examined as a potential host for H. capsulatum. Hamster trachea epithelial (HTE) cells readily internalized a variety of strains lacking alpha-(1,3)-glucan in their cell walls; however, the tracheal cells were only rarely infected by organisms possessing this polysaccharide. We subsequently inoculated HTE cells with alpha-(1,3)-glucan-positive strains and enriched for the few yeasts infecting these cells. The progeny resembled smooth variants in terms of colony morphology, the absence of alpha-(1,3)-glucan in their cell walls, and their inability to kill macrophages. Did the HTE cells select for these variant yeasts from the parent inoculum or instigate a change from the parental phenotype? Following a 3-h uptake period, only 2% of the ingested yeasts lacked alpha-(1,3)-glucan. One day later, nearly half of the intracellular organisms lacked this polymer. This rapid conversion of a large proportion of the inoculum suggests some type of environmentally triggered change, perhaps analogous to phase variation seen in many other pathogens. Infection of epithelial cells or some other nonprofessional phagocyte during natural histoplasmosis might give rise to similar variants, thus establishing a reservoir of organisms capable of causing chronic or latent infections.
Comparison of Viral Env Proteins from Acute and Chronic Infections with Subtype C Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 Identifies Differences in Glycosylation and CCR5 Utilization and Suggests a New Strategy for Immunogen Design

ABSTRACT Understanding human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) transmission is central to developing effective prevention strategies, including a vaccine. We compared phenotypic and genetic variation in HIV-1 env genes from subjects in acute/early infection and subjects with chronic infections in the context of subtype C heterosexual transmission. We found that the transmitted viruses all used CCR5 and required high levels of CD4 to infect target cells, suggesting selection for replication in T cells and not macrophages after transmission. In addition, the transmitted viruses were more likely to use a maraviroc-sensitive conformation of CCR5, perhaps identifying a feature of the target T cell. We confirmed an earlier observation that the transmitted viruses were, on average, modestly underglycosylated relative to the viruses from chronically infected subjects. This difference was most pronounced in comparing the viruses in acutely infected men to those in chronically infected women. These features of the transmitted virus point to selective pressures during the transmission event. We did not observe a consistent difference either in heterologous neutralization sensitivity or in sensitivity to soluble CD4 between the two groups, suggesting similar conformations between viruses from acute and chronic infection. However, the presence or absence of glycosylation sites had differential effects on neutralization sensitivity for different antibodies. We suggest that the occasional absence of glycosylation sites encoded in the conserved regions of env, further reduced in transmitted viruses, could expose specific surface structures on the protein as antibody targets.
Pleural Effusion in Patients With Acute Lung Injury: A CT Scan Study*

Objectives:Pleural effusion is a frequent finding in patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome. To assess the effects of pleural effusion in patients with acute lung injury on lung volume, respiratory mechanics, gas exchange, lung recruitability, and response to positive end-expiratory pressure. Design, Setting, and Patients:A total of 129 acute lung injury or acute respiratory distress syndrome patients, 68 analyzed retrospectively and 61 prospectively, studied at two University Hospitals. Interventions:Whole-lung CT was performed during two breath-holding pressures (5 and 45 cm H2O). Two levels of positive end-expiratory pressure (5 and 15 cm H2O) were randomly applied. Measurements:Pleural effusion volume was determined on each CT scan section; respiratory system mechanics, gas exchange, and hemodynamics were measured at 5 and 15 cm H2O positive end-expiratory pressure. In 60 patients, elastances of lung and chest wall were computed, and lung and chest wall displacements were estimated. Results:Patients were divided into higher and lower pleural effusion groups according to the median value (287 mL). Patients with higher pleural effusion were older (62 ± 16 yr vs. 54 ± 17 yr, p < 0.01) with a lower minute ventilation (8.8 ± 2.2 L/min vs. 10.1 ± 2.9 L/min, p < 0.01) and respiratory rate (16 ± 5 bpm vs. 19 ± 6 bpm, p < 0.01) than those with lower pleural effusion. Both at 5 and 15 cm H2O of positive end-expiratory pressure PaO2/FIO2, respiratory system elastance, lung weight, normally aerated tissue, collapsed tissue, and lung and chest wall elastances were similar between the two groups. The thoracic cage expansion (405 ± 172 mL vs. 80 ± 87 mL, p < 0.0001, for higher pleural effusion group vs. lower pleural effusion group) was greater than the estimated lung compression (178 ± 124 mL vs. 23 ± 29 mL, p < 0.0001 for higher pleural effusion group vs. lower pleural effusion group, respectively). Conclusions:Pleural effusion in acute lung injury or acute respiratory distress syndrome patients is of modest entity and leads to a greater chest wall expansion than lung reduction, without affecting gas exchange or respiratory mechanics.