Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Trypsin Stimulates Integrin α5β1-dependent Adhesion to Fibronectin and Proliferation of Human Gastric Carcinoma Cells through Activation of Proteinase-activated Receptor-2*

Trypsin is widely expressed in various non-pancreatic tissues at low levels and overexpressed in some types of human cancers. In the present study, we found that trypsin stimulates integrin-dependent adhesion and growth of MKN-1 human gastric carcinoma cells. MKN-1 cells expressed both proteinase-activated receptor-1 (PAR-1) and PAR-2, which are activated by thrombin and trypsin, respectively. Both trypsin and the PAR-2 ligand SLIGKV promoted integrin α5β1-mediated adhesion of MKN-1 cells to fibronectin, and less effectively integrin αvβ3-mediated cell adhesion to vitronectin, but not that to type IV collagen or laminin-1 at all. Thrombin and the PAR-1 ligand SFLLRN promoted the cell adhesion to vitronectin more strongly than trypsin or the PAR-2 ligand, but not the cell adhesion to fibronectin at all. The cell adhesion-stimulating effect of the PAR-2 ligand was significantly reduced by the pre-treatment of cells with trypsin, indicating that the effect of trypsin is mediated by PAR-2 activation. The trypsin-stimulated cell adhesion to vitronectin, but not to fibronectin, was effectively inhibited by the Giprotein blocker pertussis toxin, and both cell adhesions were completely inhibited by the Src kinase inhibitor herbimycin A. Furthermore, trypsin and the PAR-2 ligand stimulated growth of MKN-1 cells more strongly than thrombin or the PAR-1 ligand. These results show that trypsin regulates cellular adhesion and proliferation by inducing PAR-2/G protein signalings, and that the integrin α5β1- and integrin αvβ3-dependent cell adhesions are regulated by different PAR/G protein signalings.
Milk yield, milk composition, fatty acid profile and indices of milk fat quality as affected by feeding with extruded full-fat soybean

The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of extruded full-fat soybean in diets of dairy cows on nutrient intake, milk yield, content and daily production of milk components, fatty acid (FA) profile and indices of milk fat quality. Four lactating Holstein cows were divided into control group fed a diet containing extruded rapeseed cake (R) and the experimental group fed a diet in which a part of extruded rapeseed cake was substituted by extruded full-fat soybean (RS). Dry matter intake (DMI), milk yield and milk composition were recorded. Milk FA profile was determined with subsequent calculation of atherogenicity index (AI), peroxidisability index (PI), desaturation indeks (DI) and spreadability index (SI) characterising quality of milk fat. Cows fed diet containing RS had higher DMI (17.8 kg/d) than cows fed diet containing R (16.8 kg/d, P<0.05). Milk yield in RS (19.5 kg/d) was higher compared to R (17.6 kg/d, P<0.05). Content of protein and casein was lower in RS than in R while content of lactose and urea was higher in RS than in R (P<0.05). Experimental diet (RS) compared to control (R) had higher (P<0.05) content of unsaturated FA (31.64 % and 30.69 %, respectively). Content of polyunsaturated FA in RS (4.03 %) was significantly higher (P<0.05) than in R (3.66 %) mainly due to differences in C 18:2n6c, C 18:3n6 and C 18:3n3 FA (P<0.05). Proportion of short-, medium- and long-chain FA was similar in both groups (P>0.05). PI was higher (P<0.05) in RS than in R being 5.54 and 5.06, respectively.
X.500 Type Databases For Flexible and Highly Available Common and Logically Centralized User Data Storage in Telecommunication

This paper discusses the technical background and advantages of deploying a centralized user database as a general repository for network and management applications. Central focus will be the fact that the user data need to be highly available. The paper shows how the principles of distributed systems can be used to provide a database, which is common to all applications needing user data and whose distribution is transparent for these applications. The author then proves that databases built according to the principles described by ITU-T's Recommendations for Directory Services allow for a non proprietary implementation of the centralized user database described above.
The Association of Healthful Diets and Cognitive Function: A Review

The association of diet with mild cognitive impairment has not been extensively studied. Consumption of a healthful diet may help to attenuate age-related decline in older adults. Published studies have suggested that greater adherence to a Mediterranean-style dietary pattern is associated with a lower risk of developing Alzheimer's disease and with a slower rate of cognitive decline with age. However, published findings are inconsistent. The discrepancies most likely can be explained by the variations in both dietary and cognitive methodologies. It is not clear how diet contributes to the development of neurocognitive changes with age. This review will update available knowledge on the relationship between adherence to healthful diets and cognition and document the need for researchers to adopt more coherent and uniform methodology to allow for better quantification of the association of diet with cognitive function. There appears to be a relationship between diet and cognition.
Aromatic alpha-glycosides of mannose are powerful inhibitors of the adherence of type 1 fimbriated Escherichia coli to yeast and intestinal epithelial cells

Adherence of bacteria via their surface lectins to host epithelial cells is considered an important initial event in bacterial pathogenesis. Mannose-specific (type 1) fimbriae are among the most commonly found lectins in enterobacteria. We studied the effect of aromatic alpha-glycosides of mannose on the agglutination of mannan-containing yeasts by different strains of Escherichia coli and on the adherence of the bacteria to guinea pig ileal epithelial cells. In both systems these compounds were considerably more effective inhibitors than methyl alpha-mannoside, with 4-methylumbelliferyl alpha-mannoside and p-nitro-o-chlorophenyl alpha-mannoside being the strongest inhibitors. Both compounds were approximately 400-times stronger inhibitors of yeast agglutination by E. coli O128 than was methyl alpha-mannoside and 1,000- and 470-fold stronger, respectively, than was methyl alpha-mannoside in inhibiting the adherence of the bacteria to ileal epithelial cells. 4-Methylumbelliferyl alpha-mannoside was 540 to 1,000 times more effective in inhibiting yeast agglutination by four additional strains of mannose-specific E. coli. It was also more efficient than methyl alpha-mannoside in removing adherent E. coli O128 from ileal epithelial cells. Our results provide further evidence that type 1 fimbriae of E. coli possess a hydrophobic region next to the mannose-binding site. The results suggest that 4-methylumbelliferyl alpha-mannoside and p-nitro-o-chlorophenyl alpha-mannoside are good candidates for the design of therapeutic agents that may prevent adherence in vivo and infection by E. coli strains that express type 1 fimbriae.
Cross-media analysis and reasoning: advances and directions

Cross-media analysis and reasoning is an active research area in computer science, and a promising direction for artificial intelligence. However, to the best of our knowledge, no existing work has summarized the state-of-the-art methods for cross-media analysis and reasoning or presented advances, challenges, and future directions for the field. To address these issues, we provide an overview as follows: (1) theory and model for cross-media uniform representation; (2) cross-media correlation understanding and deep mining; (3) cross-media knowledge graph construction and learning methodologies; (4) cross-media knowledge evolution and reasoning; (5) cross-media description and generation; (6) cross-media intelligent engines; and (7) cross-media intelligent applications. By presenting approaches, advances, and future directions in cross-media analysis and reasoning, our goal is not only to draw more attention to the state-of-the-art advances in the field, but also to provide technical insights by discussing the challenges and research directions in these areas.
The synthesis and study of side-chain lactam-bridged peptides.

Side-chain lactam bridges linking amino acid residues that are spaced several residues apart in the linear sequence offer a convenient and flexible method for introducing conformational constraints into a peptide structure. The availability of a variety of selectively cleavable protecting groups for amines and carboxylic acids allows for several approaches to the synthesis of monocyclic, dicyclic, and bicyclic lactam-bridged peptides by solid-phase methods. Multicyclic structures are also accessible, but segment-condensation syntheses with solution-phase cyclizations are most likely to provide the best synthetic approach to these more complex constrained peptides. Lactam bridges linking (i, i + 3)-, (i, i + 4), and (i, i + 7)-spaced residue pairs have all proven useful for stabilization of alpha helices, and (i, i + 3)-linked residues have also been demonstrated to stabilize beta-turns. These structures are finding an increasing number of applications in protein biology, including studies of protein folding, protein aggregation, peptide ligand-receptor recognition, and the development of more potent peptide therapeutics. Defining the functional roles of the amphiphilic alpha-helices in medium-sized peptide hormones, and studying helix propagation from rigid, alpha-helix initiating bicyclic peptides are among the most exciting developments currently underway in this field.
Gram-negative bacteremia upon hospital admission: when should Pseudomonas aeruginosa be suspected?

BACKGROUND Pseudomonas aeruginosa is an uncommon cause of community-acquired bacteremia among patients without severe immunodeficiency. Because tension exists between the need to limit unnecessary use of anti-pseudomonal agents and the need to avoid a delay in appropriate therapy, clinicians require better guidance regarding when to cover empirically for P. aeruginosa. We sought to determine the occurrence of and construct a model to predict P. aeruginosa bacteremia upon hospital admission. METHODS A retrospective study was conducted in 4 tertiary care hospitals. Microbiology databases were searched to find all episodes of bacteremia caused by gram-negative rods (GNRs) <or= 48 h after hospital admission. Patient data were extracted from the medical records of 151 patients with P. aeruginosa bacteremia and of 152 randomly selected patients with bacteremia due to Enterobacteriaceae. Discriminative parameters were identified using logistic regression, and the probabilities of having P. aeruginosa bacteremia were calculated. RESULTS P. aeruginosa caused 6.8% of 4114 unique patient episodes of GNR bacteremia upon hospital admission (incidence ratio, 5 cases per 10,000 hospital admissions). Independent predictors of P. aeruginosa bacteremia were severe immunodeficiency, age >90 years, receipt of antimicrobial therapy within past 30 days, and presence of a central venous catheter or a urinary device. Among 250 patients without severe immunodeficiency, if no predictor variables existed, the likelihood of having P. aeruginosa bacteremia was 1:42. If >or= 2 predictors existed, the risk increased to nearly 1:3. CONCLUSIONS P. aeruginosa bacteremia upon hospital admission in patients without severe immunodeficiency is rare. Among immunocompetent patients with suspected GNR bacteremia who have >or= 2 predictors, empirical anti-pseudomonal treatment is warranted.
On resource sharing and careful overbooking for network virtualisation

Network virtualisation implies the need for sharing network resources. However, exclusive resource allocation to users drives blocking probabilities and cost while potentially leaving precious resources underutilised in constrained environments. Motivated by these observations, this paper analyses careful overbooking according to Service Level Agreements that specify desired degrees of availability. Besides of full availability of the requested resources, a second level of limited availability, implying a well-defined reduction of the allocated resource, is taken into account. Particular attention is paid to the gain borderline, representing the possibility of accommodating one extra user beyond exclusive allocation without violating the SLAs. Simple but telling formulae provide insights into requirements for careful overbooking, worst-case capacity reduction factors from full to limited availability, and the conditions under which it is sensible to integrate users with different activity levels. We also link capacity reductions to potential decreases in quality of experience.
Exacerbation of underlying pulmonary disease in pregnancy

Objective:The presence of underlying pulmonary disease in women of childbearing potential can present a significant challenge during pregnancy and the postpartum period. Management of the underlying disease, recognizing and preventing disease progression, and, most important, managing and minimizing toxic side effects of various therapies require the expertise of an interdisciplinary team. This team must involve close collaboration between intensive care physicians, pulmonary physicians, and high-risk obstetricians familiar with these disease states in an effort to minimize fetal and maternal morbidity and mortality. We will review the impact of the pregnant state in lung transplant recipients, patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension, and patients with underlying cystic fibrosis. Design:Review of the literature in regards to pregnancy outcomes and issues for patients with cystic fibrosis, pulmonary hypertension, and lung transplants. Methods:A review of the epidemiology, pathophysiology, risk factors, classification, clinical features, and outcomes for pregnant patients with underlying pulmonary diseases. Conclusions:Safety of pregnancy in the female lung transplant recipient concerns three outcomes: maternal outcome, fetal outcome, and transplanted graft outcome.
Optical demultiplexer using a holographic concave grating for POF-WDM systems

POF-AC, University of Applied Sciences, Wassertorstrase 10, 90489 Nuremberg, Germany; e-mail: hans.poisel@fh-nuernberg.dePolymer optical fiber (POF) is one of the best transmission media for short-distance communications.To increase the transmission capacity of the fiber a wavelength-division-multiplexing (WDM)technique is commonly used. Several POF-WDM systems have been realized using interferencefilters and plane diffraction gratings as wavelength selective elements. In the present paper, forthe first time a concave diffraction grating is applied with POF. A holographic concave grating iscalculated and optimized for the use in an optical demultiplexer. The optical losses in the designeddemultiplexer are estimated theoretically.Keywords: polymer optical fiber (POF), holographic concave grating, optical demultiplexer.
Frequency-Efficient Receding Horizon $H_\infty $ FIR Filtering in Discrete-Time State-Space

We solve a robust receding horizon finite impulse response (FIR) filtering problem in a discrete-time state space in three frequency regions under severe disturbances. Novel design conditions are derived for the finite frequency region FIR filter, called FFFF or 4F, in terms of the linear matrix inequality and equality constraint, such that the 4F ensures the <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$H_{\infty }$ </tex-math></inline-formula> performance and deadbeat property. The 4F attenuates the effects of disturbances in the user-given low-, middle-, and high-frequency regions. The new design conditions, which do not involve the equality constraint, are also investigated. An example of applications for the <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$F$ </tex-math></inline-formula>-404 turbofan engine system demonstrates the much better performance of the proposed 4F compared with the existing entire frequency FIR filter and the finite frequency region infinite impulse response filter.
Non-isolated bidirectional ZVT converter with a single resonant inductor for energy storage system

This paper proposes a non-isolated bidirectional dc-dc converter for use in renewable power generation, fuel cell, battery, electric vehicles (EV), and small scale DC-UPS systems. Compared to the traditional bidirectional dc-dc converters, the proposed converter integrates interleaved synchronous energy flow and soft switching technology. By using a resonant cell, the converter can realize zero-voltage-transition (ZVT) where both the switch and the rectifier diode achieve soft condition without increasing their voltage and current stresses. The proposed converter has the advantages of simple circuitry, reduced size, low cost and high efficiency because of a sing resonant inductor. The operation principle of the converter is analyzed and described. Simulation results of the proposed bidirectional ZVT dc-dc converter are shown to verify its feasibility.
Immobilized fibrinogen in PEG hydrogels does not improve chondrocyte‐mediated matrix deposition in response to mechanical stimulation

The present investigation aims to explore the role of cell‐scaffold interactions and whole cell compression in chondrocyte mechanotransduction using encapsulating poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) hydrogel scaffolds and primary bovine chondrocytes. Scaffolds made from PEG hydrogels with immobilized fibrinogen molecules were seeded with chondrocytes and subjected to 15% dynamic compressive strain at 1‐Hz frequency. Dynamic strain stimulation resulted in a 37% increase in the levels of sulfated glycosaminoglycan (sGAG) after 2 weeks of stimulation, when compared to static controls. Comparing results of the PEG‐fibrinogen scaffolds with their respective PEG control group did not show significant differences between the two, even following 2 weeks of dynamic mechanical stimulation. Accordingly, these findings indicate that while cell deformations cause metabolic changes in chondrocytes seeded in PEG hydrogels, it is difficult to ascertain the role of matrix bioactivity in enhancing chondrocyte mechanotransduction in encapsulating scaffolds subjected to physical deformations. This study shows how interactions between mechanical stimulation and scaffold composition are evaluated using an experimental approach and customized biomaterial scaffolds. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Evidence for the role of organics in aerosol particle formation under atmospheric conditions

New particle formation in the atmosphere is an important parameter in governing the radiative forcing of atmospheric aerosols. However, detailed nucleation mechanisms remain ambiguous, as laboratory data have so far not been successful in explaining atmospheric nucleation. We investigated the formation of new particles in a smog chamber simulating the photochemical formation of H2SO4 and organic condensable species. Nucleation occurs at H2SO4 concentrations similar to those found in the ambient atmosphere during nucleation events. The measured particle formation rates are proportional to the product of the concentrations of H2SO4 and an organic molecule. This suggests that only one H2SO4 molecule and one organic molecule are involved in the rate-limiting step of the observed nucleation process. Parameterizing this process in a global aerosol model results in substantially better agreement with ambient observations compared to control runs.
Crystallographic Analysis Reveals Octamerization of Viroplasm Matrix Protein P9-1 of Rice Black Streaked Dwarf Virus

ABSTRACT The P9-1 protein of Rice black streaked dwarf virus accumulates in viroplasm inclusions, which are structures that appear to play an important role in viral morphogenesis and are commonly found in viruses in the family Reoviridae. Crystallographic analysis of P9-1 revealed structural features that allow the protein to form dimers via hydrophobic interactions. Each dimer has carboxy-terminal regions, resembling arms, that extend to neighboring dimers, thereby uniting sets of four dimers via lateral hydrophobic interactions, to yield cylindrical octamers. The importance of these regions for the formation of viroplasm-like inclusions was confirmed by the absence of such inclusions when P9-1 was expressed without its carboxy-terminal arm. The octamers are vertically elongated cylinders resembling the structures formed by NSP2 of rotavirus, even though there are no significant similarities between the respective primary and secondary structures of the two proteins. Our results suggest that an octameric structure with an internal pore might be important for the functioning of the respective proteins in the events that occur in the viroplasm, which might include viral morphogenesis.
Outbreak of Pneumocystis Pneumonia in Renal and Liver Transplant Patients Caused by Genotypically Distinct Strains of Pneumocystis jirovecii

Background An outbreak of 29 cases of Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia (PCP) occurred among renal and liver transplant recipients (RTR and LTR) in the largest Danish transplantation centre between 2007 and 2010, when routine PCP prophylaxis was not used. Methods P. jirovecii isolates from 22 transplant cases, 2 colonized RTRs, and 19 Pneumocystis control samples were genotyped by restriction fragment length polymorphism and multilocus sequence typing analysis. Contact tracing was used to investigate transmission. Potential risk factors were compared between PCP cases and matched non-PCP transplant patients. Results Three unique Pneumocystis genotypes were shared among 19 of the RTRs, LTRs, and a colonized RTR in three distinct clusters, two of which overlapped temporally. In contrast, Pneumocystis control samples harbored a wide range of genotypes. Evidence of possible nosocomial transmission was observed. Among several potential risk factors, only cytomegalovirus viremia was consistently associated with PCP (P=0.03; P=0.009). Mycophenolate mofetil was associated with PCP risk only in the RTR population (P=0.04). Conclusion We identified three large groups infected with unique strains of Pneumocystis and provide evidence of an outbreak profile and nosocomial transmission. LTRs may be infected in PCP outbreaks simultaneously with RTRs and by the same strains, most likely by interhuman transmission. Patients are at risk several years after transplantation, but the risk is highest during the first 6 months after transplantation. Because patients at risk cannot be identified clinically and outbreaks cannot be predicted, 6 months of PCP chemoprophylaxis should be considered for all RTRs and LTRs.