Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
MALT1/Paracaspase Is a Signaling Component Downstream of CARMA1 and Mediates T Cell Receptor-induced NF-κB Activation*

T cell receptor (TCR) induces a series of signaling cascades and leads to activation of multiple transcription factors, including NF-κB. Although the mechanism of TCR-induced NF-κB activation is not fully understood, recent studies indicate that Bcl10 and CARMA1, two adaptor/scaffold proteins, play essential roles in mediating TCR-induced NF-κB activation. MALT1/paracaspase is a caspase-like protein that contains an N-terminal death domain, two Ig-like domains, and a C-terminal caspase-like domain. It binds to Bcl10 through its Ig-like domains and cooperates with Bcl10 to activate NF-κB. Recently, it has been shown that MALT1 is involved in mediating TCR signal transduction, leading to activation of NF-κB. In this study, we show that MALT1 is recruited into the lipid rafts of the immunological synapse following activation of the TCR and the CD28 coreceptor (CD3/CD28 costimulation). This recruitment of MALT1 is dependent on CARMA1 because CD3/CD28 costimulation failed to recruit MALT1 into lipid rafts in CARMA1-deficient T cells. In addition, we also found that MALT1 not only binds to Bcl10 directly, but also associates with CARMA1 in a Bcl10-independent manner. Therefore, MALT1, Bcl10, and CARMA1 form a trimolecular complex. Expression of a MALT1 deletion mutant containing only the N-terminal death domain and the two Ig-like domains completely blocked CD3/CD28 costimulation-induced, but not tumor necrosis factor-α-induced, NF-κB activation. Together, these results indicate that MALT1 is a crucial signaling component in the TCR signaling pathway.
An Interactive 3d Visualization System Based on Pc Using Intel Simd, 3d Texturing and Thinning Techniques

An efficient 3D visualization system has not only fast volume rendering algorithms but also effective navigation methods. Rendering speed is one of key technologies in most 3D visualization applications. We exploit software, Pentium 4 and graphics hardware technologies, such as threshold segmentation, Intel SIMD and 3D texturing, to obtain interactive volume rendering on a standard PC without specialized expensive hardware. Path planning is essential in many 3D visualization applications, such as virtual endocopy, in order to accelerate exploring. There are three major types of methods to extract the navigation path from a 3D data set, including manual, 3D distance transform and thinning based techniques. 3D thinning is a desirable method to extract skeletons of objects, but it has some severe problems to be solved. It is time consuming with discontinuity and small branches. An effective encoding and coordinates transform based scheme is presented to generate a look up table of 3D thinning templates to speed up path extracting, and a two-pass tracking technique is followed to trim the small branches of skeletons. Tri-pass cubic Bezier technique is proposed to decrease large curvatures caused by discrete representation of path. A smooth and C1 continuity navigation path is thus produced by our algorithms. Following this path, the camera moves and rotates smoothly without any dithering. Our system is very useful and can be widely applied due to full utilization of the existing inexpensive capabilities of PCs.
The metabolic syndrome in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

PURPOSE This study was undertaken to evaluate the presence of the metabolic syndrome in COPD patients who participated in a cardiopulmonary rehabilitation program. The metabolic syndrome is characterized by the presence of abdominal obesity, atherogenic dyslipidemia, raised blood pressure, presence of insulin resistance, and prothrombotic and inflammatory states that predispose to cardiovascular diseases. METHODS Thirty-eight COPD patients (age: 66 +/- 7 years, [mean +/- SD], FEV1: 43 +/- 16% predicted) and 34 control participants matched for age and gender are included in this study. The criteria for the identification of the metabolic syndrome include 3 or more of the following features: abdominal obesity (waist circumference: > 102 cm in men, > 88 cm in women), triglycerides levels (>or= 1.69 mmol/L), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels (< 1.0 mmol/L in men, < 1.3 mmol/L in women), blood pressure (>or= 130/ >or= 85 mm Hg), and fasting glucose levels (>or= 6.1 mmol/L). RESULTS Forty-seven percent of COPD patients and 21% of control participants presented 3 or more determinants of the metabolic syndrome. CONCLUSIONS The presence of metabolic syndrome is frequent in patients with COPD who participated in a cardiopulmonary program. Hence, this population should be considered for screening for the metabolic syndrome.
Upregulation of Mesangial Growth Factor and Extracellular Matrix Synthesis by Advanced Glycation End Products Via a Receptor-Mediated Mechanism

Enhanced advanced glycosylation end product (AGE) formation has been shown to participate in the patho-genesis of diabetes-induced glomerular injury by mediating the increased extracellular matrix (ECM) deposition and altered cell growth and turnover leading to mesangial expansion. These effects could be exerted via an AGE-receptor-mediated upregulation of growth factors, such as the IGFs and transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β). We tested this hypothesis in human and rat mesangial cells grown on nonglycated or native bovine serum albumin (BSA), glycated BSA with AGE formation (BSA-AGE), or glycated BSA in which AGE formation was prevented by the use of aminoguanidine (BSA-AM), in the presence or absence of an antibody, α-p60, directed against the p60/OST protein named AGE-receptor 1 (AGE-R1), or normal control (pre-immune) serum. The mRNA and/or protein levels of IGF-I, IGF-II, IGF receptors, IGF binding proteins (IGFBPs), TGF-β1 and the ECM components fibronectin, laminin, and collagen IV were measured, together with cell proliferation. Both human and rat mesangial cells grown on BSA-AGE showed increased IGF-I and total and bioac-tive TGF-β medium levels and enhanced IGF-I, IGF-II, and TGF-β1 gene expression, compared with cells grown on BSA, whereas total IGFBP and IGFBP-3 medium content, IGF receptor density and affinity, and IGF-I receptor transcripts were unchanged. Moreover, cells grown on BSA-AGE showed increased ECM protein and mRNA levels versus cells cultured on BSA, whereas cell proliferation was unchanged in human mesangial cells and slightly reduced in rat mesangial cells. Growing cells on BSA-AM did not affect any of the measured parameters. Co-incubation of BSA-AGE with anti-AGE-R1, but not with pre-immune serum, prevented AGE-induced increases in IGF-I, TGF-β1, and ECM production or gene expression; anti-AGE-R1 also reduced growth factor and matrix synthesis in cells grown on BSA. These results demonstrate that mesangial IGF and TGF-β1 synthesis is upregulated by AGE-modified proteins through an AGE-receptor-mediated mechanism. The parallelism with increased ECM production raises the speculation that the enhanced synthesis of these growth factors resulting from advanced nonen-zymatic glycation participates in the pathogenesis of hyperglycemia-induced mesangial expansion.
Good Self- Rated Health is Related to Psychosocial Resources and a Strong Cortisol Response to Acute Stress: The LiVicordia Study of Middle- Aged Men

Self- rated health (SRH) is a strong predictor for disease and death. The relations among SRH, psychosocial factors, and cortisol dynamics were tested using pooled data from the LiVicordia study of 50- year- old men in Lithuania (n = 94) and Sweden (n = 89), controlling for effect of residence. SRH was assessed by “How would you assess your own health? ” A standardized laboratory stress test included measures of cortisol in serum and saliva.Good SRH related to high scale scores of decision latitude, social support at work, coping, self- esteem, and sense of coherence; itto low scores of overcommitment (all p < .01) and vital exhaustion (r = - 0.40, p < 0.001); to low concentrations of saliva baseline cortisol (r = - .26, p = .001); and to a strong cortisol response to stress (r = .27, p = .001). Findings that good SRH related to favorable psychosocial characteristics and to a dynamic cortisol stress response indicate a possible explanation for observed lower risk for disease and death in this state.
Robust linear estimation using M-estimation and weighted L1 regularization: Model selection and recursive implementation

This paper studies an M-estimation-based method for linear estimation with weighted L1 regularization and its recursive implementation. Motivated by the sensitivity of conventional least-squares-based L1-regularized linear estimation (Lasso) in impulsive noise environment, an M-estimator-based Lasso (M-Lasso) method is introduced to restrain the outliers and an iterative re-weighted least-squares (IRLS) algorithm is proposed to solve this M-estimation problem. Moreover, instead of using the matrix inversion formula, QR decomposition (QRD) is employed in the M-Lasso for recursive implementation with a lower arithmetic complexity. Simulation results show that the M-estimation-based Lasso performs considerably better than the traditional LS-based Lasso in suppressing the impulsive noise, and its recursive QRD algorithm has a good performance in online processing.
Evidence by electron micrographs for a high incidence of bacteriophage particles in the waters of Yaquina Bay, oregon: ecological and taxonomical implications

A variety of viral particles, the majority of them clearly identifiable as bacteriophages, were found in the seawater of Yaquina Bay, Oregon. These phages were obtained as free particles from the seawater without employing specific hosts for enrichments or further purification in the laboratory. A variety of electron micrographs showing different morphologies of phages as well as phage-bacterium interactions found in the seawater are presented. In the area where the bay received organic enrichment from seafood processing plants, a minimum of 10(4) phage particles per ml was estimated. Since the technique used was designed to concentrate particles 0.2 micrometer in diameter or larger it is assumed that the actual number of phage particles is higher than 10(4) particles per ml. The implications of the presence of such phage concentrations in bays and estuaries with a certain level of eutrophication are of obvious importance in considering the microbial ecology of these environments.
Plasmid-Mediated qepA Gene among Escherichia coli Clinical Isolates from Japan

ABSTRACT Seven hundred fifty-one Escherichia coli clinical isolates collected from 140 Japanese hospitals between 2002 and 2006 were screened for the qepA and qnr genes. Two E. coli isolates (0.3%) harbored qepA, but no qnr was identified. The results suggested a low prevalence of E. coli harboring qepA or qnr in Japan.
Prospective study on cost-effectiveness of home-based motor assessment in Parkinson’s disease

Introduction Treatment adjustments in Parkinson’s disease (PD) are in part dependent on motor assessments. The aim of this study was to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of home-based motor monitoring plus standard in-office visits versus in-office visits alone in patients with advanced PD. Methods The procedures consisted of a prospective, one-year follow-up, randomized, case-control study. A total of 40 patients with advanced PD were randomized into two groups: 20 patients underwent home-based motor monitoring by using wireless motion sensor technology, while the other 20 patients had in-office visits. Motor and non-motor symptom severities, quality of life, neuropsychiatric symptoms, and comorbidities were assessed every four months. Direct costs were assessed using a standardized questionnaire. Cost-effectiveness was assessed using the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER). Results Both groups of PD patients were largely comparable in their clinical and demographic variables at baseline; however, there were more participants using levodopa-carbidopa intestinal gel in the home-based motor monitoring group. There was a trend for lower Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale functional status (UPDRS II) scores in the patients monitored at home compared to the standard clinical follow-up (p = 0.06). However, UPDRS parts I, III, IV and quality-adjusted life-years scores were similar between both groups. Home-based motor monitoring was cost-effective in terms of improvement of functional status, motor severity, and motor complications (UPDRS II, III; IV subscales), with an ICER/UPDRS ranging from €126.72 to €701.31, respectively. Discussion Home-based motor monitoring is a tool which collects cost-effective clinical information and helps augment health care for patients with advanced PD.
Social and Behavioral Correlates of Cigarette Smoking among Mid-Atlantic Latino Primary Care Patients

Tobacco use is the leading preventable cause of death for the U.S. Hispanic population. The goal of this study was to identify social and behavioral correlates of smoking behavior among urban, multiethnic Latino primary care patients seen in community clinics. Spanish-language interviews were completed with 141 current smokers and 158 former and nonsmokers. Twenty countries of origin were represented. Eighty-three percent of participants were from Central or South America and 71% spoke primarily Spanish. Current smokers were more likely than nonsmokers or former smokers to originate from South America (38% versus 26%) and to be single (63% versus 42%). Current smokers also were more likely to use alcohol on a regular basis (59% versus 31%) and to experience daily symptoms of depression (29% versus 19%). Logistic regression analysis suggested a moderating effect of depression on the relationship between alcohol use and smoking, such that current users of alcohol who reported depression were more likely to smoke (82%) than were current users of alcohol who did not report depression (56%). As both social and behavioral factors were uniquely associated with smoking, country of origin, marital status, and comorbid alcohol use and depression should be considered in designing and implementing tobacco control interventions targeted to this community.
Optical Quality-Assessment of High-Order One-Dimensional Silicon Photonic Crystals With a Reflectivity Notch at $\lambda \sim 1.55\ \mu\hbox{m}$

In this paper, high-order silicon/air vertical 1-D photonic crystals (PhCs) featuring a deep reflectivity notch (Q of about 3000) within the third telecommunication transmission window are fabricated by electrochemical micromachining of silicon and optically characterized. Although, from scanning electron microscope (SEM) investigations, the microfabricated structures appear to be of high quality in terms of in-plane and out-of-plane uniformity as well as of low surface roughness, optical measurements highlight variability of the spectral position of reflectivity notches, which turns out to be affected by fine variations of structural features induced by fabrication. A nondestructive optical method is used to recover the distribution of typical fabrication features, which is not easily quantifiable with other techniques in these high aspect-ratio vertical structures, from the experimentally detected distribution of the optical features. Optical distribution is obtained by scanning the device with high spatial resolution and recording spectral reflectivity at normal incidence (in the wavelength range 1.0-1.7 μm) on different locations of the 1-D PhC surface (X-Y plane). Distribution of silicon thickness variation on the X-Y plane is then inferred by best fitting the experimental spectral reflectivity data with theoretical spectra that are calculated by taking into account nonidealities of both PhC structure and measuring setup. On-sample fabrication-induced variation of the average silicon thickness, as a function of the X-Y position, is estimated to be limited to ±80 nm (percentage error of ±1%) within a range of ±100 μm from a reference location. As a consequence of such thickness variation, a maximum shift of the reflectivity spectrum of 40 nm occurs as a function of the X-Y position in the range of ±100 μm. Sample-to-sample average silicon thickness variation among nominally equivalent structures is also tested in similar X-Y positions and found to be lower than ±1.5% (absolute variation of ±120 nm), within a range of ±15 μm, with respect to the average value on the investigated samples.
Two regulatory levels of transcriptional gene silencing in Arabidopsis

In mammals, some fungi, and plants, DNA methylation plays a central role in the epigenetic control of gene transcription. Recently, however, a subclass of Arabidopsis mutants revealed that the release of transcriptional gene silencing (TGS) does not necessarily require DNA demethylation. Here, we address the fundamental question of whether these mutants delineate a previously uncharacterized, methylation-independent level of epigenetic regulation, or whether they just act downstream of DNA methylation signals. Two mutants described earlier, ddm1 and mom1, reactivate previously silent loci: ddm1 impairs TGS by reducing chromosomal DNA methylation, and mom1 releases TGS without affecting DNA methylation. We examined the epistatic relationship between ddm1 and mom1 by constructing double mutant strains. The synergistic release of TGS revealed by gene expression patterns from silent loci, drastic developmental abnormalities, and characteristic changes in nuclear architecture in these double mutants implies that DDM1 and MOM are likely to operate at independent levels in TGS control. Our results indicate that the methylation-independent silencing mechanism reinforces the methylation-based system and prevents extremely rapid epigenetic deregulation in plants with DNA methylation deficiencies.
Oxygen Ion Implantation Isolation Planar Process for AlGaN/GaN HEMTs

A multienergy oxygen ion implantation process was demonstrated to be compatible with the processing of high- power microwave AlGaN/GaN high electron mobility transistors (HEMTs). HEMTs that are isolated by this process exhibited gate-lag- and drain-lag-free operation. A maximum output power density of 5.3 W/mm at Vgs = -4 V and Vds = 50 V and a maximum power added efficiency of 51.5% at Vgs = -4 V and Vds = 30 V at 3 GHz were demonstrated on HEMTs without field plates on sapphire substrate. This isolation process results in planar HEMTs, circumventing potential problems with enhanced gate leakage due to the gate contacting the 2-D electron gas at the mesa sidewall.
Parameter Design and Static Performance of Dual Stator-Winding Induction Generator Variable Frequency AC Generating System With Inductive and Capacitive Loads

In this paper, the design methods of the auxiliary excitation capacitors and the filter inductances are investigated for the dual stator-winding induction generator (DWIG) variable frequency ac (VFAC) generating system with inductive and capacitive loads, and the system static performance is presented as well. For this generating system, the proper selection of the auxiliary excitation capacitors and the filter inductances can minimize the reactive power capacity of the control winding, reduce the capacity of the static excitation converter (SEC) and improve the system static performance of the output voltage. The corresponding design principles and methods are proposed based on the change law of the control-winding reactive power and the requirements of the control-winding current. The experimental results show that the proposed design methods are correct and valid, and the DWIG VFAC generating system has a good static performance with the minimum-capacity control-winding reactive power and a compact-size SEC.
INFUSION OF GRADED CONCENTRATIONS OF SOMATOSTATIN IN MAN: PHARMACOKINETICS AND DIFFERENTIAL INHIBITORY EFFECTS ON PITUITARY AND ISLET HORMONES

The resent study was undertaken (1) to determine the plasma levels of somatostatin‐like immunoreactivity (SLI) during constant infusion of graded concentrations of synthetic somatostatin‐14 (S‐14); (2) to determine the half‐life (t1/2) and metabolic clearance rate (MCR) of SLI; (3) to correlate the plasma SLI levels with the degree of inhibition of pituitary and islet hormone secretion and (4) to establish whether the plasma SLI levels capable of inhibiting pituitary and islet hormone secretion fall into the physiological range. Four normal subjects on separate occasions were each infused with saline or S‐14 (25, 50, and 75 μg/h) at a constant rate for 2 1/2 h. Thirty min following the infusions, TRH (200 μg) and arginine (0·5 g/kg) were given i.v. Blood samples were drawn every 15 min for measurement of GH, TSH, insulin, glucagon and SLI (by RIA of acid‐ethanol extracted plasma) and at rapid intervals for 10 min after stopping the infusions for measurement of SLI disappearance. During S‐14 infusions, plasma SLI rose rapidly, reached a plateau from 15–150 min and declined rapidly on cessation of the infusions with a mean t1/2 of 2·72 ± 0·45 min. Mean plateau SLI levels were: 149 ± 3 pg/ml (25 μg/h), 465 ± 35 pg/ml (50 μg/h), and 1244 ± 71 pg/ml (75 μg/h). SLI was cleared rapidly but the MCR exhibited a dose‐dependent decrease from 3225 ± 699 ml/min for the 25 μg infusion to 1249 ± 241 ml/min for the 75 μg/h infusion (P < 0·05). The 25 μg/h infusion dose produced near‐maximal suppression of GH secretion and inhibited insulin secretion but not TSH or glucagon secretion. The intermediate dose significantly inhibited GH, TSH, and insulin but not glucagon whereas the 75 μg/h infusion suppressed all four hormones. In six normal subjects endogenous plasma SLI rose from a basal value of 32·5 ± 4·9 pg/ml to 75·5 ± 9·0 pg/ml following ingestion of a mixed meal. This level was 50% of that resulting from
The reparameterization trick for acquisition functions

Bayesian optimization is a sample-efficient approach to solving global optimization problems. Along with a surrogate model, this approach relies on theoretically motivated value heuristics (acquisition functions) to guide the search process. Maximizing acquisition functions yields the best performance; unfortunately, this ideal is difficult to achieve since optimizing acquisition functions per se is frequently non-trivial. This statement is especially true in the parallel setting, where acquisition functions are routinely non-convex, high-dimensional, and intractable. Here, we demonstrate how many popular acquisition functions can be formulated as Gaussian integrals amenable to the reparameterization trick and, ensuingly, gradient-based optimization. Further, we use this reparameterized representation to derive an efficient Monte Carlo estimator for the upper confidence bound acquisition function in the context of parallel selection.
Neuronal nitric oxide synthase inhibitor has a neuroprotective effect in a rat model of brain injury.

PURPOSE The aim of the present study was to assess the effects of neuronal nitric oxide synthase (NOS I) inhibitors and a combination of NOS I and NOS II inhibitors on lesion volume after experimental brain injury. METHODS Cold lesion of the brain was induced by application of a precooled (. 78 °C) copper cylinder to the intact dura of the rat for 6 s. Brains were removed 24 h after the injury and lesion volume determined using the triphenyltetrazolium-chloride method. RESULTS The specific NOS I inhibitor 3-bromo-7-nitroindazole (Br-7-NI) reduced lesion volume significantly by 21 % compared with the vehicle control. In contrast, 7-nitroindazole had no effect on lesion volume. When aminoguanidine, a specific NOS II inhibitor, was adminis-tered after Br-7-NI, lesion volume was significantly reduced but not significantly more than with either compound alone. CONCLUSION Brain injury after cold lesion is partly mediated by NOS I activity and can be attenuated successfully with Br-7-NI, while coin-hibition of NOS II does not improve the outcome significantly.