Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Inhibition of Land P-selectin by a rationally synthesized novel core 2-like branched structure containing GalNAc-Lewisx and Neu 5 Ac α 2 – 3 Gal β 1 – 3 GalNAc sequences

The selectins interact in important normal and pathological situations with certain sialylated, fucosylated glycoconjugate ligands containing sialyl Lewisx (Neu5Acα2–3Galβ1–4(Fucα1–3)GlcNAc). Much effort has gone into the synthesis of sialylated and sulfated Lewisx analogs as competitive ligands for the selectins. Since the natural selectin ligands GlyCAM-1 and PSGL-1 carry sialyl Lewisx as part of a branched Core 2 O-linked structure, we recently synthesized Gal β1–4(Fucα1–3)GlcNAcβ1–6(SE-3Gal β1–3)GalNAc1αOMe and found it to be a moderately superior ligand for L and P-selectin (Koenig et al., Glycobiology 7, 79–93, 1997). Other studies have shown that sulfate esters can replace sialic acid in some selectin ligands (Yeun et al., Biochemistry, 31, 9126–9131, 1992; Imai et al., Nature, 361, 555, 1993). Based upon these observations, we hypothesized that Neu5Ac α2–3Galβ1–3GalNAc might have the capability of interacting with Land P-selectin. To examine this hypothesis, we synthesized Galβ1–4(Fucα1–3)GlcNAcβ1–6(Neu5Acα2–3Galβ1–3)-GalNAcα1-OB, which was found to be 2to 3-fold better than sialyl Lex for P and L selectin, respectively. We also report the synthesis of an unusual structure GalNAc β1–4(Fucα1– 3)GlcNAcβ1-OMe (GalNAc-Lewisx-O-methyl glycoside), which also proved to be a better inhibitor of Land P-selectin than sialyl Lewisx-OMe. Combining this with our knowledge of Core 2 branched structures, we have synthesized a molecule that is 5to 6-fold better at inhibiting Land P-selectin than sialyl Lewisx-OMe,
Unbundling and Incumbent Investment in Quality Upgrades and Cost Reduction

We study the investment of a telecommunications incumbent in quality and in cost reduction when an entrant can use its network through unbundling of the local loop. We ? nd that unbundling may lower incentives for quality improvements, but raises incentives for cost reduction. Therefore, it is not true that all types of investment are crowded out with unbundling. If the regulator can commit to a socially optimal unbundling price before investment, the incumbent makes both types of investment. In the absence of commitment, the incumbent will not invest, so that unbundling regulation may lower welfare as compared to no regulation.
Optimization of Cascading Processes in Multiscale Networks with Stochastic Interactions

We consider the problem of optimal propagation of cascading, or “domino”-type processes in networks under the presences of uncertainties. To this end, we propose a general model that represents a cascading process in a network as a Markov process on a multiscale graph. Assuming that the parameters governing this Markov process can be modified at certain costs, we investigate the question of optimal resource allocation that would minimize the time by which the cascading process reaches all the nodes in the network. Under some simple assumptions, we derive analytical solutions for an optimal resource allocation that optimizes the spread of the cascade. These expressions explicitly elucidate the importance of network interactions in the context of the rate at which the cascade spreads. We show that an optimal resource allocation can be computed in a strongly polynomial time in terms of the size of the network. Importantly, the obtained solution is expressed via a minimum spanning arborescence on an auxiliary graph and provides a hierarchy that classifies the clusters of the network in terms of their importance with respect to the cascade propagation.
Distributed Time Division Pattern Formation for Wireless Communication Networks

This paper proposes a novel communication timing control for wireless sensor networks, named Phase Diffusion Time Division method. This is based on the mutual synchronization of coupled phase oscillatory dynamics with a stochastic adaptation, according to the history of collision frequency in communication nodes. Through local and fully distributed interactions in the communication network, the coupled phase dynamics self-organizes an efficient time division pattern of the communication so that the network reduces the collision frequency by diffusion of the phase pattern, while it sustains sufficient throughput of the communications. We introduce the built-in virtual node dynamics model for sensor device, to implement impulse signal based interactions. This method is designed for applications in a regular grid model of the wireless network, but it can be extended to an irregular grid model as simulation results illustrate, where the proposed method outperforms CSMA method in the efficiency.
Association of TLR2 gene Arg753Gln polymorphism with urinary tract infection in children

The aim of this study is to investigate Arg753Gln allele polymorphisms of toll‐like receptor‐2 (TLR2) gene distribution, allele frequency in urinary tract infection (UTI) and genotype–phenotype association of TLR2 gene in children with UTI. The polymorphism was investigated in 124 children with UTI (22 boys and 102 girls; mean age 5.81 ± 3.47 years) with direct DNA sequencing‐based method. TLR2 gene Arg753Gln allele frequency was higher in the patient group when compared with control group (OR 3.14, 95%CI 1.53–6.44, P < 0.001). The frequency of the Arg753Gln allele was significantly higher in gram‐positive group than in gram‐negative group (OR 7.64, 95%CI 2.80–20.81, P < 0.001). The frequency of UTI was found significantly higher in the Arg753Gln allele carriers of TLR2 gene than the non‐carriers (OR 4.94, 95%CI 1.09–22.33, P < 0.05). Similarly, the incidence of asymptomatic UTI was also found significantly higher in the group carrying Arg753Gln allele (OR 3.73, 95%Cl 1.54–9.04, P < 0.05). As a result, we suggest that TLR2 gene could be the predisposing factor for urinary tract infection. Additionally, we observed that subjects carrying the TLR2 Arg753Gln allele had higher risk of urinary tract infection with gram‐positive pathogens, history of more than two attacks of UTI and asymptomatic UTI.
An Analysis of First-Grade Writing Profiles and Their Relationship to Compositional Quality

To help all students meet the writing expectations of the Common Core State Standards, researchers need a deeper understanding of the characteristics of struggling writers. The purpose of this study was to explore the writing profiles of students including those who have or are at risk for writing disabilities. First-grade students (N = 391) were assessed at the end of the school year using three writing assessments (spelling, sentence writing fluency, writing achievement). The researchers used latent profile analysis to identify students as fitting into one of five profiles (At Risk, Low Fluency, Low Writing, Average, and Above Average). Students also wrote narrative and descriptive texts that were scored multiple ways. The researchers used confirmatory factor analysis to identify four common factors: quality/length, spelling, mechanics, and syntax. Students in the At Risk profile wrote narratives and descriptions that scored lower on all aspects of writing when compared to students in the Average and Above Average profiles. These findings provide further evidence of the distinct difference among writers as early as first grade, and they offer insight into the characteristics of at-risk writers. The implications of these findings for instruction and assessment and directions for future research are described.
Combined pressure‐thermal inactivation effect on spores in lu‐wei beef – a traditional Chinese meat product

This study investigated the inactivation effect and kinetics of Bacillus coagulans and Geobacillus stearothermophilus spores suspended in lu‐wei beef by combining high pressure (500 and 600 MPa) and moderate heat (70 and 80°C or 80 and 90°C).
Study on optimal design method for passive power filters set at high voltage bus considering many practical aspects

This paper proposes the optimal designs of passive power filter (PPF) using the advanced particle swarm optimization (PSO) method. In the PPF optimal design, the purposes are to minimize the total harmonic distortion (THD) and original investment cost, while maximize fundamental reactive power compensation. Several constraints of THD, individual harmonics, fundamental reactive power compensation, and parallel and series resonance with systems are considered comprehensively. Furthermore, the detuning effect is considered as a constraint during the optimal process, which improves the reliability and practicability of design results. And a novel optimal strategy is proposed in this paper to solve the multiobjectvie optimization problems for PPF, which can make a compromise among all the objectives. Finally, the optimal design results are compared with those designed by the conventional method, which shows the superiority and availability of the proposed design methods based on PSO.
Hepatitis C in the HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) Atlanta V.A. (Veterans Affairs Medical Center) Cohort Study (HAVACS): the effect of coinfection on survival.

To examine the prevalence of and survival rates for coinfection with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV), data were analyzed from all HIV-infected patients tested for HCV antibody from January 1992 until May 1997. The prevalence of HCV infection among 350 HIV-infected patients was 33%. By univariate analysis, HCV-positive (HCV+) patients were more likely to be older (P = .003), be positive for hepatitis B core antibody (P = .006), be black (P = .001), be intravenous drug users (P = .001), and have an abnormal level of aspartate aminotransferase (AST) (P = .001). In a logistic regression model, only intravenous drug abuse and abnormal AST level remained independently associated with HCV positivity. Length of survival, as determined by the Cox proportional hazards model, was similar for HCV+ vs. HCV- patients when analyzed for three different endpoints: time from diagnosis of HIV to diagnosis of AIDS, time from diagnosis of HIV to death, and time from diagnosis of AIDS to death. The prevalence of HCV infection in this population is high but does not appear to affect HIV progression or survival.
A reproducible method for automated extraction of brain volumes from 3D human head mr images

An automated method for extracting brain volumes from three commonly acquired three‐dimensional (3D) MR images (proton density, T1 weighted, and T2‐weighted) of the human head is described. The procedure is divided into four levels: preprocessing, segmentation, scalp removal, and postprocessing. A user‐provided reference point is the sole operator‐dependent input required. The method's parameters were first optimized and then fixed and applied to 30 repeat data sets from 15 normal older adult subjects to investigate its reproducibility. Percent differences between total brain volumes (TBVs) for the subjects' repeated data sets ranged from . 5% to 2.2%. We conclude that the method is both robust and reproducible and has the potential for wide application.
Cryptanalysis and design of symmetric primitives

This thesis focuses on the cryptanalysis and the design of block ciphers and hash functions. The thesis starts with an overview of methods for cryptanalysis of block ciphers which are based on differential cryptanalysis. We explain these concepts and also several combinations of these attacks. We propose new attacks on reduced versions of ARIA and AES. Furthermore, we analyze the strength of the internal block ciphers of hash functions. We propose the first attacks that break the internal block ciphers of Tiger, HAS-160, and a reduced round version of SHACAL-2. The last part of the thesis is concerned with the analysis and the design of cryptographic hash functions. We adopt a block cipher attack called slide attack into the scenario of hash function cryptanalysis. We then use this new method to attack different variants of GRINDAHL and RADIOGATÚN. Finally, we propose a new hash function called TWISTER which was designed and proposed for the SHA-3 competition. TWISTER was accepted for round one of this competition. Our approach follows a new strategy to design a cryptographic hash function. We also describe several attacks on TWISTER and discuss the security issues concerning these attack on TWISTER.
Assessment of Universal Competencies under the 2009 Standards

Alice may not have cared much about direction, but faculty do care that students learn, and society cares that those engaged in public policy and in managing the public sector are capable and competent to do the jobs they are hired to do. From the beginning, accreditation has been one way we have attempted to demonstrate to the public that students graduating from public affairs programs have received a quality education. Initially this meant that we examined what was involved in offering our programs— the inputs and processes. Later we added a focus on a mission developed to reflect the program’s context while maintaining our examination of inputs and process. The shift to emphasize competencies, student learning outcomes, and overall program performance culminated with the adoption of Standards 2009. For programs engaged in public affairs education, identifying a mission, explicitly stating public sector values, and identifying outcomes tells us where we “want to get to,” and assessing outcomes tells us which way we “ought to go from here. ”
Videofluoroscopic evaluation of mastication and swallowing in individuals with TMD

Abstract To study mastication and swallowing disorders in patients with temporomandibular disorders (TMD). Objective: To investigate mastication and swallowing disorders in patients with severe TMD referred to surgery. Materials and Methods: Clinical and experimental study involving ten individuals with TMD submitted to deglutition videofluoroscopy. These patients did not have posterior teeth, mastication pain and food replacement in favor of pasty consistence food. The assessment of the oral and pharyngeal phases approached the following aspects: side of onset and preferential side for chewing, premature escape, remains of food residues in the oral cavity or in the pharyngeal recesses, number of necessary swallowing efforts, laryngeal penetration and/or tracheal aspiration. Results: During mastication and the oral phase we observed tongue compensatory movements upon chewing (n = 7; 70%), premature escape (n = 4; 40%), food remains in the cavity after swallowing (n = 5; 50%) and an excessive number of deglutition efforts (n = 5; 50%). On the pharyngeal phase we observed food remains in the valleculae (n = 6; 60%), in the pyriform sinuses (n = 4; 40%); laryngeal penetration (n = 1; 10%) and tracheal aspiration (n = 4; 40%). Conclusion: TMD patients may have alterations in their chewing and swallowing patterns, with laryngeal penetration and/or tracheal aspiration. The study indicates the need for a multidisciplinary assessment because of dysphagia in TMD patients.
Intrahepatic levels and replicative activity of covalently closed circular hepatitis B virus DNA in chronically infected patients

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) covalently closed circular DNA (cccDNA) is responsible for viral persistence in the natural course of chronic HBV infection and during prolonged antiviral therapy and serves as the template for the production of HBV pregenomic RNA (pgRNA), the primary step in HBV replication. In this study, we have developed and applied sensitive and specific quantitative real‐time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays for the measurement of intrahepatic concentration, pgRNA production, and replicative activity of cccDNA in liver biopsy samples from 34 non‐treated patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB); 12 hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg)(+) and 22 HBeAg(−). Median copy number for cccDNA was 1.5 per cell and for pgRNA significantly higher, 6.5 copies per cell, with a good correlation between cccDNA and pgRNA levels in all samples. In HBeAg(−) patients, median values of cccDNA and pgRNA levels were 10‐fold and 200‐fold lower than in HBeAg(+), respectively, reflecting the differences in viral activity and clinical characteristics of the two groups. Furthermore, the replicative activity of intrahepatic cccDNA was significantly lower in HBeAg(−) patients harboring mutant HBV strains than in HBeAg(+) patients: median 3.5 versus 101 pgRNA copies per cccDNA molecule. In conclusion, the levels of both HBV cccDNA, a marker of HBV persistence, and pgRNA, an indicator of viral replication, in the liver of chronically infected patients correlate with viral activity and the phase of HBV infection. The combined measurement of cccDNA and pgRNA levels provides valuable information on the presence and replicative activity of intrahepatic HBV cccDNA. (HEPATOLOGY 2006;44:694–702.)
Phosphorus Adsorption-Desorption on Airborne Dust and Desert Particles in Natural Water

Abstract -We investigated phosphorus (P) adsorption-desorption behaviors on the airborne dust (Y1，collected during a sandstorm in Hohhot) and the desert particles (Y2、Y3 and Y4，collected from the deserts in western Inner Mongolia，source of the sandstorm) in their affected waters (Yellow River and Bohai Sea) in phosphorus cycle. The fitted experimental data using the improved Langmuir isotherm adsorption models show that the maximum P adsorption capacity Qmax are in the range of 68.493 ~ 357.143 mg•kg-1, with the largest value observed on Y3 (Juyanhai Lake particulate). The Qmax is remarkably correlated with organic matter of the particulates; The zero equilibrium phosphorus concentration EPC0 of P adsorption on Y1 in Yellow River is lower than P concentration in the overlying water (0.028mg•L-1 < 0.0469mg•L-1), while the EPC0 of particulates （Y1～Y4） in Bohai Sea water are higher than the P concentration in their corresponding water. This shows that airborne dust Y1, as a sink, adsorb P at Qingshuihe segment of Yellow River; Meanwhile, it is also as a source to releases P to Bohai Sea. There is a desorption phenomenon in P exchange between the particulates (Y1 ~ Y4) and Bohai Sea.
Anti-Fas IgM monoclonal antibody enhances apoptosis induced by low-dose cytosine arabinoside.

BACKGROUND Although low-dose cytosine arabinoside (LD-Ara-C) therapy has been accepted as an effective treatment for patients with acute non-lymphocytic leukemia (ANLL) transformed from myelodysplastic syndromes or elderly patients with ANLL, the anti-leukemic mechanism remains to be resolved. Recently, the potential role of the Fas/Fas ligand system in chemotherapeutic drug-induced apoptosis has been studied. In the present study the relationship between the anti-leukemic effect of LD-Ara-C and the Fas/Fas ligand system was examined. MATERIALS AND METHODS The human myeloid leukemia cell line HL60 was treated with LD-Ara-C in combination with anti-Fas IgM MoAb, and apoptosis in the treated cells was estimated by morphological observation, DNA electrophoresis and flow cytometry. Simultaneously, changes in Fas antigen expression on cells treated with LD-Ara-C were investigated. RESULTS Only limited apoptosis was observed following treatment with LD-Ara-C alone or anti-Fas MoAb alone; however, a synergistic increase in apoptosis was observed by treatment with the MoAb in combination with pretreatment with LD-Ara-C. LD-Ara-C induced a slight but consistent increase in the expression of Fas antigen on the treated cells. Moreover, the expression of Fas antigen was enhanced by repeated administration of LD-Ara-C. CONCLUSIONS These findings suggest the possible involvement of the Fas/Fas ligand system in the anti-leukemic effect of LD-Ara-C therapy.
Health information technology evaluation toolkit: 2009 update

Prepared by: Caitlin M. Cusack, M.D., M.P.H. , NORC of the University of Chicago Colene M. Byrne, Ph.D., Center for IT Leadership, Partners HealthCare System Julie M. Hook, M.A., M.P.H. , John Snow, Inc. Julie McGowan, Ph.D., F.A. C.M. I. , Indiana University School of Medicine Eric Poon, M.D., M.P.H. , Division of General Medicine and Primary Care, Brigham and Women's Hospital Atif Zafar, M.D., Regenstrief Institute Inc.
The Effect of Magnesium Sulphate on Hemodynamics and Its Efficacy in Attenuating the Response to Endotracheal Intubation in Patients with Coronary Artery Disease

Laryngoscopy and endotracheal intubation may produce adverse hemodynamic effects.Magnesium has direct vasodilating properties on coronary arteries and inhibits catecholamine release, thus attenuating the hemodynamic effects during endotracheal intubation. We studied 36 patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) scheduled for elective coronary artery bypass grafting to evaluate the hemodynamic effects of magnesium and its efficacy in attenuating the response to endotracheal intubation. Patients received either 0.1 mL/kg (50%) magnesium sulfate (50 mg/kg) (Group A, n = 19) or isotonic sodium chloride solution (Group B, n = 17) before the induction of anesthesia and 0.05 mL/kg of isotonic sodium chloride solution (Group A) or lidocaine 2% (1 mg/kg) (Group B) before intubation. The hemodynamic variables were recorded before induction, after the trial drug, after induction, and after endotracheal intubation. Automatic ST segment analysis was performed throughout the study period. Magnesium sulfate administration was associated with increased cardiac index (P < 0.01), a minimal increase in heart rate, and a significant decrease in mean arterial pressure (MAP) and systemic vascular resistance (SVR) (P < 0.001). None of the patients in the magnesium group had significant ST depression compared with three patients in the control group. The magnesium group patients had a significantly lesser increase in MAP (P < 0.05) and SVR (P < 0.01) compared with the control group patients who received lidocaine before endotracheal intubation. Thus, magnesium is an useful adjuvant to attenuate endotracheal intubation response in patients with CAD. Implications: Endotracheal intubation produces adverse hemodynamic effects, which may be more detrimental in patients with coronary artery disease than in healthy patients. The present study shows that magnesium administered before endotracheal intubation can attenuate this response better than lidocaine. (Anesth Analg 1998;87:808-11)
Age differences in genetic and environmental influences on weight and shape concerns.

OBJECTIVE Previous research has shown important developmental shifts ingenetic and environmental influences for disordered eating. However, little research has examined age differences for weight/shape concerns, two key components of eating disorders. The goal of this study was to investigate these age differences in preadolescent, adolescent, young adult, and mid-adult twins. METHOD Participants included 2,618 female twins (ages of 10-41 years) from three large twin registries. Shape and weight concerns were assessed with the Eating Disorders Examination Questionnaire. RESULTS Genetic influences were modest in preadolescent twins, but significant from early-adolescence through middle adulthood. Shared environmental factors showed the opposite pattern, with the largest shared environmental contributions occurring in the youngest age group. Nonshared environmental effects remained relatively constant across age. DISCUSSION Findings highlight the importance of age differences in genetic and environmental influences. Possible mechanisms include gene x environment interactions and biological changes associated with key developmental stages.