Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Evidence for Actin Cytoskeleton-dependent and -independent Pathways for RelA/p65 Nuclear Translocation in Endothelial Cells*

Activation of the transcription factor NF-κB involves its release from the inhibitory protein IκBα in the cytoplasm and subsequently, its translocation to the nucleus. Whereas the events responsible for its release have been elucidated, mechanisms regulating the nuclear transport of NF-κB remain elusive. We now provide evidence for actin cytoskeleton-dependent and -independent mechanisms of RelA/p65 nuclear transport using the proinflammatory mediators, thrombin and tumor necrosis factor α, respectively. We demonstrate that thrombin alters the actin cytoskeleton in endothelial cells and interfering with these alterations, whether by stabilizing or destabilizing the actin filaments, prevents thrombin-induced NF-κB activation and consequently, expression of its target gene, ICAM-1. The blockade of NF-κB activation occurs downstream of IκBα degradation and is associated with impaired RelA/p65 nuclear translocation. Importantly, thrombin induces association of RelA/p65 with actin and this interaction is sensitive to stabilization/destabilization of the actin filaments. In parallel studies, stabilizing or destabilizing the actin filaments fails to inhibit RelA/p65 nuclear accumulation and ICAM-1 expression by tumor necrosis factor α, consistent with its inability to induce actin filament formation comparable with thrombin. Thus, these studies reveal the existence of actin cytoskeleton-dependent and -independent pathways that may be engaged in a stimulus-specific manner to facilitate RelA/p65 nuclear import and thereby ICAM-1 expression in endothelial cells.
uStash: A Novel Mobile Content Delivery System for Improving User QoE in Public Transport

Mobile data traffic is growing exponentially and it is even more challenging to distribute content efficiently while users are “on the move” such as in public transport. The use of mobile devices for accessing content (e.g., videos) while commuting are both expensive and unreliable, although it is becoming common practice worldwide. Leveraging on the spatial and temporal correlation of content popularity and users’ diverse network connectivity, we propose a novel content distribution system, uStash, which guarantees better QoE with regards to access delays and cost of usage. The proposed collaborative download and content stashing schemes provide the uStash provider the flexibility to control the cost of content access via cellular networks. We model the uStash system in a probabilistic framework and thereby analytically derive the optimal portions for collaborative downloading. Then, we validate the proposed models using real-life trace driven simulations. In particular, we use dataset from 22 inter-city buses running on six different routes and from a mobile VoD service provider to show that uStash reduces the cost of monthly cellular data by approximately 50 percent and the expected delay for content access by 60 percent compared to content downloaded via users’ cellular network connections.
The Cortisol-Cortisone Shuttle in Children Born with Intrauterine Growth Retardation

We evaluated the involvement of a possible dysfunction of 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 2 (11β-HSD2) in the fetal growth retardation and poor growth rates of children born with intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR). Children with IUGR have a nephron deficit and are also at risk of developing cardiovascular diseases, high blood pressure, glucose intolerance, and dyslipidemia later in life. The major site of 11β-HSD2 production is the kidney and its deficit causes hypertension. We investigated plasma concentrations of cortisol (F) and cortisone (E) and the F/E ratio in 26 control children and in 40 IUGR children without catch-up growth. We also determined cholesterol, HbA1C, insulin, and glucose levels in plasma. Mean F values were 106 ± 54.2 ng/mL in control children and 114.6 ± 53.2 ng/mL in IUGR children. Mean E values were 19.5 ± 7.1 ng/mL in control children and 17.9 ± 6.85 ng/mL in IUGR children. The mean F/E ratio for control children was 5.5 ± 1.7. Eight (20%) of the IUGR children (IUGR children of group 1) had high F/E ratios more than 2 SD above the normal mean: 13.15 ± 4.26, (p < 0.0001) as compared to control children, whereas the other 32 children (IUGR children of group 2) had normal F/E ratios: 5.40 ± 1.43 (p = 0.68). Childhood height was significantly lower for group 1 than group 2 children (-3.63 SD and -2.92 SD, respectively: p < 0.01) and was negatively correlated with the F/E ratio (p < 0.01). Systolic blood pressure was higher for group 1 (p = 0.005) and for group 2 (p = 0.015) than for control children. The diastolic pressure in IUGR children of group 1 was higher than that in control children (p = 0.013) and slightly higher than that in group 2 (p = 0.1, ns). Cholesterol concentrations were higher in group 1 than in group 2 (p = 0.029), and controls (p = 0.017) and correlated positively with F/E (0.02 < p < 0.05). Fasting insulin concentrations were higher in group 1 than in group 2 (ns) and controls (ns). There was no difference in mean fasting glucose concentrations, or HbA1C between the three groups. Twenty percent of our children with IUGR and poor growth rates had high F/E ratios, suggesting a possible partial 11β-HSD2 deficit. Whether these children are at high risk of developing cardiovascular diseases as adults remains to be further evaluated.
Attentional Scanpath on the Span of Apprehension Task in Paranoid Schizophrenia

The Span of Apprehension task represents a putative cognitive vulnerability marker for schizophrenia. To investigate the nature of the scanning deficits on the Span of Apprehension shown by patients with paranoid schizophrenia a wide visual angle partial report version of the task was administered to 18 paranoid schizophrenics and 18 normal controls. An analysis of scan paths, based upon target detection rates as a function of target location, suggests that patients with paranoid schizophrenia use a similar path and number of covert scan moves in iconic memory as do normal controls. Some evidence was found for an impairment related to the speed of processing information in iconic memory. Paranoid schizophrenics appear to suffer from a delay in the initiation of covert search, but not from an impairment in discrete computational functions (i.e. disengage, move and engage functions). Once search is initiated it seems to be carried out as efficiently as in normal controls (German J Psychiatry 1998; 1: 1-5).
Mural and Extramural Venous Invasion and Prognosis in Colorectal Cancer

BACKGROUND: Extramural venous invasion is a known independent predictor of poor prognosis after resection of colorectal adenocarcinoma, but the prognostic value of mural venous invasion alone and the association between venous invasion and prognosis within tumor stages has received little research attention. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to determine whether associations between mural and extramural venous invasion and outcome differ among tumor stages after adjustment for other factors known to influence prognosis. DESIGN: This study is a retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data. SETTINGS: Data were drawn from a registry of 3040 consecutive patients undergoing resection between 1980 and 2005 under the care of specialist surgeons in a tertiary referral public hospital and an affiliated private hospital. A standardized protocol was used for the pathological assessment of specimens. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The primary outcomes measured were overall survival, cancer-specific survival, and recurrence. RESULTS: There was no significant association between venous invasion and survival in stages A (n = 544) or B (n = 1078). In stage C (n = 899), overall survival time was significantly shorter in patients with mural invasion alone or extramural invasion (both p < 0.001) than in those without invasion, and this persisted after adjustment for other prognostic variables. Equivalent bivariate associations were found in stage D, but only the effect of extramural invasion persisted after adjustment. LIMITATIONS: Our findings arise from the experience of a single surgical group and may not be generalizable to other settings. Only hematoxylin and eosin staining was used. CONCLUSIONS: The association between venous invasion and prognosis was stage specific. Both mural venous invasion alone and extramural venous invasion independently predicted overall survival in patients with stage C tumors, but not in patients with stages A, B, or D tumors. Although mural invasion alone was rare, the separate reporting of both mural and extramural invasion in patients with stage C tumor is informative and desirable.
Incremental dosing versus single-dose spinal anesthesia and hemodynamic stability.

We compared the hemodynamic stability after spinal anesthesia with two different dosing regimens in the elderly. Fifty patients, all older than 60 yr and scheduled for elective knee or hip surgery were assigned to two groups. After administration of 10 mL/kg of lactated Ringer's solution (RL) intravenously (i.v.) in the first group, we performed a continuous spinal anesthesia (CSA) by means of a 28-gauge catheter through which repetitive injections of 2.5-5 mg of plain bupivacaine 0.5% were given. In the other group, a single-dose spinal anesthesia (SS) with 20 mg of the same local anesthetic (LA) was carried out. Noninvasive mean arterial pressure (MAP), heart rate, and levels of analgesia were measured. To maintain MAP within 25% of initial value, the patients received additional i.v. fluids (RL) as first measure. When MAP could not be maintained despite hydration, incremental doses of ephedrine were given i.v. Six patients in the CSA group and 17 in the SS group developed a level of anesthesia higher than T6 (P < 0.01). In the SS group more fluid was needed (792 vs 388 ml) than in the CSA group (P < 0.01). Moreover, more patients of the SS group (11 vs 4) required ephedrine (P < 0.05). We conclude that CSA produces reliable and predictable analgesia for lower limb surgery with less need for correction of hemodynamic changes compared to SS.
Notice of RetractionRecovery of Rare Earths from Spent Fluorescent Lamps

An effective method is developed to reclaim rare earth (RE) metals from spent Fluorescent Lamps. The effects of pH, solid-liquid ratio, stirring intensity and the reaction temperature on leaching process were investigated. The results show that: rare earth trichromatic phosphors contains Y, Eu, Ce, Tb and La, rare earth oxide content is as high as 27.94%; In the experiments, it is found that the rate of rare earth leaching reached 89.85% when the optimum process conditions were as follows: hydrochloric acid concentration of 4.0 mol·L-1, pH of 8.0,solid-liquid ratio of 100 g-1, stirring intensity of 600 rpm, reaction temperature of 60°C and reaction time of 1 h; the rate of rare earth recovery reached 94.98% when the process conditions were ammonia concentration of 33.70 g·L-1, Oxalic acid concentration of 6.25 g·L-1, aging time of 3 h. The obtained RE sample's component is analysed by XRF. XRF investigation shows the product is mainly exists in the form of Y2O3, indicating few impurities phase appeared. The occupation ratio of Y and Eu oxides reaches 99.35% in the RE products.
Mutation of the htrB Locus of Haemophilus influenzae Nontypable Strain 2019 Is Associated with Modifications of Lipid A and Phosphorylation of the Lipo-oligosaccharide (*)

The HtrB protein was first identified in Escherichia coli as a protein required for cell viability at high temperature, but its expression was not regulated by temperature. We isolated an htrB homologue from nontypable Haemophilus influenzae strain (NTHi) 2019, which was able to functionally complement the E. coli htrB mutation. The promoter for the NTHi 2019 htrB gene overlaps the promoter for the rfaE gene, and the two genes are divergently transcribed. The deduced amino acid sequence of NTHi 2019 HtrB had 56% homology to E. coli HtrB. In vitro transcription-translation analysis confirmed production of a protein with an apparent molecular mass of 32-33 kDa. Primer extension analysis revealed that htrB was transcribed from a -dependent consensus promoter and its expression was not affected by temperature. The expression of htrB and rfaE was 2.5-4 times higher in the NTHi htrB mutant B29 than in the parental strain. In order to study the function of the HtrB protein in Haemophilus, we generated two isogenic htrB mutants by shuttle mutagenesis using a mini-Tn3. The htrB mutants initially showed temperature sensitivity, but they lost the sensitivity after a few passages at 30°C and were able to grow at 37°C. They also showed hypersensitivity to deoxycholate and kanamycin, which persisted on passage. SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis analysis revealed that the lipo-oligosaccharide (LOS) isolated from these mutants migrated faster than the wild type LOS and its color changed from black to brown as has been described for E. coli htrB mutants. Immunoblotting analysis also showed that the LOS from the htrB mutants lost reactivity to a monoclonal antibody, 6E4, which binds to the wild type NTHi 2019 LOS. Electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry analysis of the O-deacylated LOS oligosaccharide indicated a modification of the core structure characterized in part by a net loss in phosphoethanolamine. Mass spectrometric analysis of the lipid A of the htrB mutant indicated a loss of one or both myristic acid substitutions. These data suggest that HtrB is a multifunctional protein and may play a controlling role in regulating cell responses to various environmental changes.
A systematic review of factors affecting driving and public transportation among youth and young adults with acquired brain injury

ABSTRACT Purpose: Although many people with an acquired brain injury (ABI) encounter difficulties with executive functioning and memory which could negatively affect driving, few people are assessed for fitness to drive after injury. The purpose of this systematic review was to synthesize the literature on factors affecting driving and public transportation among youth and young adults with ABI, post injury. Method: Seven databases were systematically searched for articles from 1980 to 2016. Studies were screened independently by two researchers who performed the data extraction. Study quality was appraised using the Standard Quality Assessment Criteria (Kmet) for evaluating primary research from a variety of fields. Results: Of the 6577 studies identified in the search, 25 met the inclusion criteria, which involved 1527 participants with ABI (mean age = 25.1) across eight countries. Six studies focused on driving assessment and fitness to drive, ten on driving performance or risk of accidents and nine studies explored issues related to accessing or navigating public transportation. Quality assessment of the included studies ranged from 0.60 to 0.95. Conclusions: Our findings highlight several gaps in clinical practice and research along with a critical need for enhanced fitness to drive assessments and transportation-related training for young people with ABI.
The Trans-autostimulatory Activity of Rad27 Suppresses dna2 Defects in Okazaki Fragment Processing*

Background: The significance of physical/genetic interactions between Dna2 and Fen1 is poorly understood. Results: Fen1 stimulated the endonuclease activity of both Dna2 and Fen1 itself. Conclusion: Fen1 is a bona fide trans-autostimulatory enzyme, and this activity resides within the C-terminal 16 amino acids of Rad27. Significance: Our finding provides a novel insight into how Dna2 and Rad27 jointly contribute to processing of Okazaki fragments. Dna2 and Rad27 (yeast Fen1) are the two endonucleases critical for Okazaki fragment processing during lagging strand DNA synthesis that have been shown to interact genetically and physically. In this study, we addressed the functional consequences of these interactions by examining whether purified Rad27 of Saccharomyces cerevisiae affects the enzymatic activity of Dna2 and vice versa. For this purpose, we constructed Rad27DA (catalytically defective enzyme with an Asp to Ala substitution at amino acid 179) and found that it significantly stimulated the endonuclease activity of wild type Dna2, but failed to do so with Dna2Δ405N that lacks the N-terminal 405 amino acids. This was an unexpected finding because dna2Δ405N cells were still partially suppressed by overexpression of rad27DA in vivo. Further analyses revealed that Rad27 is a trans-autostimulatory enzyme, providing an explanation why overexpression of Rad27, regardless of its catalytic activity, suppressed dna2 mutants as long as an endogenous wild type Rad27 is available. We found that the C-terminal 16-amino acid fragment of Rad27, a highly polybasic region due to the presence of multiple positively charged lysine and arginine residues, was sufficient and necessary for the stimulation of both Rad27 and Dna2. Our findings provide further insight into how Dna2 and Rad27 jointly affect the processing of Okazaki fragments in eukaryotes.
A fog-enabled IoT platform for efficient management and data collection

One of the most promising emerging technologies, Internet-of-Things, refers to the interconnection of thousands (or even millions) of smart objects, supporting a large number of applications like environmental monitoring, smart agriculture, e-health, etc. Research groups in both the academia and industry, have proposed and/or developed a significant number of IoT architectures and platforms, however not focusing on platform management-related issues. Furthermore, the vast amount of the sensory data and the rapid proliferation of the smart devices (i.e. sensors) make a new approach regarding efficient data collection and storage inevitable. Fog Computing (FC) is an environment where data are stored and pre-processed before transmitting them to the cloud, having a number of advantages like scalable real-time services, fault detection and isolation, enhanced security and privacy, etc. In this work, we present a fog-enabled IoT platform used for sensory data collection, presenting several metrics that can be used as the basis for a Management-Platform-as-a-Service, able to efficiently monitor the IoT platform and predict potential failures.
Rational Design of Topographical Helix Mimics as Potent Inhibitors of Protein–Protein Interactions

Protein–protein interactions encompass large surface areas, but often a handful of key residues dominate the binding energy landscape. Rationally designed small molecule scaffolds that reproduce the relative positioning and disposition of important binding residues, termed “hotspot residues”, have been shown to successfully inhibit specific protein complexes. Although this strategy has led to development of novel synthetic inhibitors of protein complexes, often direct mimicry of natural amino acid residues does not lead to potent inhibitors. Experimental screening of focused compound libraries is used to further optimize inhibitors but the number of possible designs that can be efficiently synthesized and experimentally tested in academic settings is limited. We have applied the principles of computational protein design to optimization of nonpeptidic helix mimics as ligands for protein complexes. We describe the development of computational tools to design helix mimetics from canonical and noncanonical residue libraries and their application to two therapeutically important protein–protein interactions: p53-MDM2 and p300-HIF1α. The overall study provides a streamlined approach for discovering potent peptidomimetic inhibitors of protein–protein interactions.
Temperature Sensitivity of Agonist High‐Affinity Binding Sites of Solubilized and Reconstituted D1 Dopamine Receptors

Abstract: Solubilization of rat striatal membranes with sodium cholate, followed by reconstitution into phospholipid vesicles, leads to a 6.5‐fold increase in the agonist high‐affinity binding sites of the D1 dopamine receptor. These high‐affinity binding sites display differential sensitivity toward temperature. When reconstituted receptors were preincubated for 1 h at 0–4°C (on ice) or at 22°C (room temperature) followed by radioligand binding assays with dopamine, neither the high‐affinity values of the receptor for dopamine nor the percent receptors in the high‐affinity state (31–39%) were changed from control reconstituted receptors, which were not subject to any preincubations. At 30°C, there was a partial loss in the number of high‐affinity D1 receptors with only 25% of the total receptor population in the high‐affinity state; there was no change in the affinity values of the high‐affinity binding sites. At 37°C, there was a 40% loss in total number of D1 receptor binding sites. All the high‐affinity binding sites were lost and the remaining 60% of binding activity represented the low‐affinity binding state of the receptor. These results indicate that the high‐affinity binding sites of the reconstituted D1 dopamine receptors are uniquely sensitive to higher temperatures.
Multi-view underwater 3D reconstruction using a stripe laser light and an eye-in-hand camera

Autonomous manipulation in unestructured underwater scenarios is a high challenging skill that has been poorly studied and is becoming more and more important in the last years. One of the main problems regarding the autonomous manipulation, is to find out the characteristics of the object which is going to be manipulated. This paper presents a new approach to obtain an accurate 3D reconstruction of this object. This approach consists in attaching a laser stripe emitter and a camera in the forearm of a robotic arm. Moving the arm, the laser scans the scene where the object is and, at the same time, the camera records the scan. Thanks to the arm and the position of the camera, the scene can be reconstructed from different views and from a position close to the object. The recorded images are processed to obtain the 3D position of the part of the scene projected by the laser. Before the intervention, a process of calibration is needed to calculate the relationship between each part of the system. Furthemore, in order to reduce the time of processing of the images recorded during the scan, an optimization algorithm is presented which consists in discarding, before the processing, the pixels of the image which do not contain relevant information. The approach herein presented and the optimization algorithm are tested using an underwater simulator.