Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Intermediate filament transcription in astrocytes is repressed by proteasome inhibition

Increased expression of the astrocytic intermediate filament protein glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) is a characteristic of astrogliosis. This process occurs in the brain during aging and neurodegeneration and coincides with impairment of the ubiquitin proteasome system. Inhibition of the proteasome impairs protein degradation;therefore, we hypothesized that the increase in GFAP may be the result of impaired proteasomal activity in astrocytes. We investigated the effect of proteasome inhibitors on GFAP expression and other intermediate filament proteins in human astrocytoma cells and in a rat brain model for astrogliosis. Extensive quantitative RT‐PCR, immunocyto‐ chemistry, and Western blot analysis resulted unexpectedly in a strong decrease of GFAP mRNA to <4% of control levels [Control (DMSO) 100±19.2%;proteasome inhibitor (epoxomicin) 3.5±1.3%, n=8;PK0.001] and a loss of GFAP protein in astrocytes in vitro. We show that the proteasome alters GFAP promoter activity, possibly mediated by transcription factors as demonstrated by a GFAP promoter‐luciferase assay and RT2 Profiler PCR array for human transcription factors. Most important, we demonstrate that proteasome inhibitors also reduce GFAP and vimentin expression in a rat model for induced astrogliosis in vivo. Therefore, proteasome inhibitors could serve as a potential therapy to modulate astrogliosis associated with CNS injuries and disease. — Middeldorp, J.,Kamphuis, W. , Sluijs, J. A. , Achoui, D. , Leenaars, C. H. C. , Feenstra, M. G. P., Van Tijn, P., Fischer, D. F. , Berkers, C. , Ovaa, H. , Quinlan, R. A. , Hol, E. M. Intermediate filament transcription in astrocytes is repressed by proteasome inhibition. FASEBJ. 23, 2710–2726 (2009)
Multiuser MIMO-OFDM for Visible Light Communications

Visible light communication (VLC) is emerging as a promising technique to provide ubiquitous wireless connection. In this paper, a multiuser VLC system utilizing multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (OFDM) is investigated. Since the distances of the multiple transmitter-receiver links are different, their temporal delays are also different, resulting in complex channel gain and phase differences when transformed to the frequency domain. For each subcarrier in OFDM, the corresponding precoding matrix is calculated in the frequency domain to eliminate multiuser interference. Phase information in the frequency domain is first considered, where complex, instead of real, channel matrices are used for precoding, which reduces the channel correlation and achieves better performance. Moreover, minimum dc bias, unified dc bias, and asymmetrically clipped optical OFDM-based schemes are proposed to generate real-valued nonnegative signals for intensity modulation, and their performances are validated via simulations with zero forcing and minimum mean-squared error (MMSE) precoding techniques.
Core symptoms not meeting criteria for delirium are associated with cognitive and functional impairment and mood and behavior problems in older long-term care residents

ABSTRACT Background: The immediate clinical significance of Confusion Assessment Method (CAM)-defined core symptoms of delirium not meeting criteria for delirium is unclear. This study proposed to determine if such symptoms are associated with cognitive and functional impairment, mood and behavior problems and increased Burden of Care (BOC) in older long-term care (LTC) residents. Methods: The study was a secondary analysis of data collected for a prospective cohort study of delirium. Two hundred and fifty-eight LTC residents aged 65 years and older in seven LTC facilities had monthly assessments (for up to six months) of CAM – defined core symptoms of delirium (fluctuation, inattention, disorganized thinking, and altered level of consciousness) and five outcome measures: Mini-Mental State Exam, Barthel Index, Cornell Scale for Depression, Nursing Home Behavioral Problems Scale, and Burden of Care. Associations between core symptoms and the five outcome measures were analyzed using generalized estimating equations. Results: Core symptoms of delirium not meeting criteria for delirium among residents with and without dementia were associated with cognitive and functional impairment and mood and behavior problems but not increased BOC. The associations appear to be intermediate between those of full delirium and no core symptoms and were greater for residents with than without dementia. Conclusion: CAM-defined core symptoms of delirium not meeting criteria for delirium appear to be associated with cognitive and functional impairment and mood and behavior problems in LTC residents with or without dementia. These findings may have implications for the prevention and management of such impairments and problems in LTC settings.
Synchronous multi-channel PD measurements

The synchronous, multi-channel PD measurements provide a new potential in location, identification and separation of multiple PD sources and their discrimination from external noise in variety of HV assets. The independent PD observers, like coupling capacitors, bushing taps, capacitive or inductive sensors made the multi-channel PD evaluation feasible on HV motors, generators, three phase transformers or single-line cable systems with cross-bonding links. Three different multi-channel PD evaluation techniques are proposed: 3-phase amplitude relation diagram (3PARD), 3-phase time relation diagram (3PTRD) and 3-channel frequency relation diagram (3CFRD). The successful application of all techniques is presented.
Effect of SAR average mass on correlation with temperature elevation in Japanese head model

This study investigates the correlation between temperature elevation and spatial-average SAR (specific absorption rate) in a Japanese head model due to a dipole antenna. The frequencies considered are in the range between 800 MHz and 3 GHz. Our attention focuses on the SAR average mass maximizing the correlation with local temperature elevation. Our computational results suggest that an appropriate average mass of SAR does not exist over wide frequencies, which is attributed to the frequency-dependent penetration depth of microwaves. Added to this, the heat evolved in the pinna played an important role on the correlation between spatial-average SAR and temperature elevation. Furthermore, the effect of blood perfusion rate on this correlation was confirmed to be significant, as predicted in our previous study.
Cytopathic effects of Mycoplasma pulmonis in vivo and in vitro

This study was performed to evaluate the cytopathic features resulting from Mycoplasma pulmonis infection of tracheal organ cultures compared to with those seen in in vivo infection and to use this system to determine possible differences in cytopathic effects in two M. pulmonis variants found to cause different diseases in vivo. The attachment of M. pulmonis to respiratory epithelium was similar in vivo and in vitro. Cytopathic effects seen in both systems were also similar in loss of tight junctions between cells and exfoliation of respiratory cells, resulting in exposure of the subepithelial layer. These similarities indicate that the observed tissue damage is initiated by the mycoplasmas rather than by immunologic host responses but does not exclude the possibility that host responses may subsequently contribute to the cytopathological events. Comparison of the effects of the two variants (one known to cause death in vivo) did not reveal differences in vitro. This suggests that host factors (not present in vitro) may account for differences in virulence. Detailed in vitro studies allowed the identification of the time frame corresponding to the in vivo infection and also revealed the limitations of the in vitro system.
Selectively Impaired CD8+ but Not CD4+ T Cell Cycle Arrest during Priming as a Consequence of Dendritic Cell Interaction with Plasmodium-Infected Red Cells1

Individuals living in malaria-endemic areas show generally low T cell responses to malaria Ags. In this study, we show murine dendritic cell (DC) interaction with parasitized erythrocytes (pRBC) arrested their maturation, resulting in impaired ability to stimulate naive, but not recall T cell responses in vitro and in vivo. Moreover, within the naive T cell population, pRBC-treated DC were selectively deficient in priming CD8+ but not CD4+ T cells. Indeed, DC that had taken up pRBC were shown for the first time to efficiently prime CD4+ T cell responses to a known protective merozoite Ag, MSP4/5. In contrast, impaired priming resulted in decreases in both proliferation and cytokine production by CD8+ T cells. Deficient priming was observed to both a model and a Plasmodium berghei-specific CD8+ T cell epitope. The mechanisms underlying the inability of parasite-treated DC to prime CD8+ T cells were explored. pRBC treatment of DC from wild-type C57BL/6, but not from IL-10 knockout animals, suppressed DC-mediated T cell priming across a Transwell, suggesting active IL-10-dependent suppression. CD8+ T cells were arrested at the G0 stage of the cell cycle after two cell divisions post-Ag stimulation. The proliferation arrest was partially reversible by the addition of IL-2 or IL-7 to responder cultures. These results suggest that in malaria-endemic areas, priming of CD8+ T cell responses may be more difficult to induce via vaccination than the priming of CD4+ T cells. Moreover, pathogens may selectively target the CD8+ T cell arm of protective immunity for immune evasion.
Pilins from the B serogroup of Bacteroides nodosus: characterization, expression, and cross-protection

Sequences of pilin genes from four strains of serogroup B of the ovine pathogen Bacteroides nodosus have been determined. These sequences permit comparisons of amino acid sequence between pilins from different subtypes (B1, B2, B3, B4) of the B serogroup and assessment of intraserogroup variation. Pili of B. nodosus strains 234 (B1) and 183 (B2) were produced by Pseudomonas aeruginosa harboring a plasmid-borne B. nodosus pilin gene, and these pili were used in sheep vaccination trials. Pili from strain 183 (B2) were found to be a senior antigen to pili from strains of other B subtypes, providing protection against footrot infection caused by strains of the other B subtypes. Pili of this strain are therefore the most suitable candidate for inclusion in a pilus-based vaccine. Pili of strain 234 from subtype B1, the reference strain of the B serogroup, provided poor protection against infection with other subtypes.
Linkage between Dendritic and T Cell Commitments in Human Circulating Hematopoietic Progenitors

The relationships between commitments of dendritic cells (DCs) and T cells in human hematopoietic stem cells are not well understood. In this study, we enumerate and characterize conventional DC and plasmacytoid DC precursors in association with T cell and thymus-derived types of NK cell precursors among CD34+ hematopoietic progenitor cells (HPCs) circulating in human peripheral blood. By limiting-dilution analyses using coculture with stroma cells expressing Notch1 ligand, the precursor frequencies (PFs) of DCs in HPCs were found to significantly correlate with T cell PFs, but not with NK cell PFs, among healthy donors. Clonal analyses showed that the majority of T/NK dual- and T single-lineage precursors—but only a minority of NK single-lineage precursors—were associated with the generation of DC progenies. All clones producing both DC and T cell progenies were found with monocyte and/or granulocyte progenies, suggesting DC differentiation via myeloid DC pathways. Analyses of peripheral blood HPC subpopulations revealed that the lineage split between DC and T/NK cell progenitor occurs at the stage prior to bifurcation into T and NK cell lineages. The findings suggest a strong linkage between DC and T cell commitments, which may be imprinted in circulating lymphoid-primed multipotent progenitors or in more upstream HPCs.
AA.AG@helix.ends: A:A and A:G base-pairs at the ends of 16 S and 23 S rRNA helices.

This study reveals that AA and AG oppositions occur frequently at the ends of helices in RNA crystal and NMR structures in the PDB database and in the 16 S and 23 S rRNA comparative structure models, with the G usually 3' to the helix for the AG oppositions. In addition, these oppositions are frequently base-paired and usually in the sheared conformation, although other conformations are present in NMR and crystal structures. These A:A and A:G base-pairs are present in a variety of structural environments, including GNRA tetraloops, E and E-like loops, interfaced between two helices that are coaxially stacked, tandem G:A base-pairs, U-turns, and adenosine platforms. Finally, given structural studies that reveal conformational rearrangements occurring in regions of the RNA with AA and AG oppositions at the ends of helices, we suggest that these conformationally unique helix extensions might be associated with functionally important structural rearrangements.
Dynamics of the human antibody repertoire after B cell depletion in systemic sclerosis

Immune repertoire sequencing reveals humoral signatures of systemic sclerosis and uncovers determinism in the repertoire’s response to B cell depletion. A revealing repertoire for systemic sclerosis Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is an autoimmune disease associated with fibrosis and serious complications, including pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). Abnormal B cell responses have been associated with SSc pathogenesis, and de Bourcy et al. analyzed immunoglobulin heavy chain (IGH) transcripts of SSc-PAH patients enrolled in a B cell depletion clinical study. SSc-PAH was associated with several B cell development anomalies, particularly underuse of the IGHV2-5 segment and B cell homeostasis abnormalities. Depletion temporarily reversed these anomalous SSc-PAH disease signatures, and the data suggest that the rate of naïve B cell replenishment could be estimated from baseline measurements. These results define antibody signatures associated with SSc-PAH and reveal how B cell depletion shapes the antibody repertoire during reconstitution. Systemic sclerosis with pulmonary arterial hypertension (SSc-PAH) is a debilitating and frequently lethal disease of unknown cause lacking effective treatment options. Lymphocyte anomalies and autoantibodies observed in systemic sclerosis have suggested an autoimmune character. We study the clonal structure of the B cell repertoire in SSc-PAH using immunoglobulin heavy chain (IGH) sequencing before and after B cell depletion. We found SSc-PAH to be associated with anomalies in B cell development, namely, altered VDJ rearrangement frequencies (reduced IGHV2-5 segment usage) and an increased somatic mutation–fixation probability in expanded B cell lineages. SSc-PAH was also characterized by anomalies in B cell homeostasis, namely, an expanded immunoglobulin D–positive (IgD+) proportion with reduced mutation loads and an expanded proportion of highly antibody-secreting cells. Disease signatures pertaining to IGHV2-5 segment usage, IgD proportions, and mutation loads were temporarily reversed after B cell depletion. Analyzing the time course of B cell depletion, we find that the kinetics of naïve replenishment are predictable from baseline measurements alone, that release of plasma cells into the periphery can precede naïve replenishment, and that modes of B cell receptor diversity are highly elastic. Our findings reveal humoral immune signatures of SSc-PAH and uncover determinism in the effects of B cell depletion on the antibody repertoire.
Attitudes towards trade unions in Malta

This study exploits the rare opportunity of a national representative sample, and explores the attitudes of adults towards trade unions in Malta. Data were gathered through a telephone survey carried out among a sample of 1512 persons, representing the Maltese working-age population. Respondents have an overall positive opinion of trade unions, which are seen to carry out important functions in Maltese society. However, slightly fewer than half of the respondents claimed to be satisfied with the work of trade unions, indicating that they are less confident about the unions’ role in offering individual services to their members. A number of suggestions are given in order to stem or reverse the apparent erosion of confidence in Maltese trade unions.
Pole-Like Road Furniture Detection and Decomposition in Mobile Laser Scanning Data Based on Spatial Relations

Road furniture plays an important role in road safety. To enhance road safety, policies that encourage the road furniture inventory are prevalent in many countries. Such an inventory can be remarkably facilitated by the automatic recognition of road furniture. Current studies typically detect and classify road furniture as one single above-ground component only, which is inadequate for road furniture with multiple functions such as a streetlight with a traffic sign attached. Due to the recent developments in mobile laser scanners, more accurate data is available that allows for the segmentation of road furniture at a detailed level. In this paper, we propose an automatic framework to decompose road furniture into different components based on their spatial relations in a three-step procedure: first, pole-like road furniture are initially detected by removing ground points and an initial classification. Then, the road furniture is decomposed into poles and attachments. The result of the decomposition is taken as a feedback to remove spurious pole-like road furniture as a third step. If there are no poles extracted in the decomposition stage, these incorrectly detected pole-like road furniture—such as the pillars of buildings—will be removed from the detection list. We further propose a method to evaluate the results of the decomposition. Compared with our previous work, the performance of decomposition has been much improved. In our test sites, the correctness of detection is higher than 90% and the completeness is approximately 95%, showing that our procedure is competitive to state of the art methods in the field of pole-like road furniture detection. Compared to our previous work, the optimized decomposition improves the correctness by 7.3% and 18.4% in the respective test areas. In conclusion, we demonstrate that our method decomposes pole-like road furniture into poles and attachments with respect to their spatial relations, which is crucial for road furniture interpretation.
"Pop-up" display wth 3-dimensional microlens structures

In this paper, we demonstrate a "pop-up" display. This display provides a pop-up image in the air with double-layered plane-convex microlenses and a hole array. This microlens array is fabricated by melting photoresists and form transfer as stated in A. Schilling et al. (2000) and A. Nakai et al. (2002). The height and diameter of the microlens was 34.6 /spl mu/m and 198 /spl mu/m, therefore the focal length was calculated as 318 /spl mu/m. To inspect the pop-up length, we estimated the position of the focal plane by measuring the light intensity of the image. The "pop-up" image was formed at 2750 /spl mu/m higher from the original image on the display. In addition, we proved that the lens part needs no alignment with the original image.
Gauging the Uncertainty of the Economic Outlook Using Historical Forecasting Errors: The Federal Reserve's Approach

Since November 2007, the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) of the US Federal Reserve has regularly published participants' qualitative assessments of the uncertainty attending their individual forecasts of real activity and inflation, expressed relative to that seen on average in the past. The benchmarks used for these historical comparisons are the average root mean squared forecast errors (RMSEs) made by various private and government forecasters over the past twenty years. This paper documents how these benchmarks are constructed and discusses some of their properties. We draw several conclusions. First, if past performance is a reasonable guide to future accuracy, considerable uncertainty surrounds all macroeconomic projections, including those of FOMC participants. Second, different forecasters have similar accuracy. Third, estimates of uncertainty about future real activity and interest rates are now considerably greater than prior to the financial crisis; in contrast, estimates of inflation accuracy have changed little. Finally, fan charts – constructed as plus-or-minus one RMSE intervals about the median FOMC forecast, under the expectation that future projection errors will be unbiased and symmetrically distributed, and that the intervals cover about 70 percent of possible outcomes – provide a reasonable approximation to future uncertainty, especially when viewed in conjuction with the FOMC's qualitative assessments. That said, an assumption of symmetry about the interest rate outlook is problematic if the expected path of the federal funds rate is expected to remain low.
Interaction of the RcsB Response Regulator with Auxiliary Transcription Regulators in Escherichia coli*

The Rcs phosphorelay is a two-component signal transduction system that is induced by cell envelope stress. RcsB, the response regulator of this signaling system, is a pleiotropic transcription regulator, which is involved in the control of various stress responses, cell division, motility, and biofilm formation. RcsB regulates transcription either as a homodimer or together with auxiliary regulators, such as RcsA, BglJ, and GadE in Escherichia coli. In this study, we show that RcsB in addition forms heterodimers with MatA (also known as EcpR) and with DctR. Our data suggest that the MatA-dependent transcription regulation is mediated by the MatA-RcsB heterodimer and is independent of RcsB phosphorylation. Furthermore, we analyzed the relevance of amino acid residues of the active quintet of conserved residues, and of surface-exposed residues for activity of RcsB. The data suggest that the activity of the phosphorylation-dependent dimers, such as RcsA-RcsB and RcsB-RcsB, is affected by mutation of residues in the vicinity of the phosphorylation site, suggesting that a phosphorylation-induced structural change modulates their activity. In contrast, the phosphorylation-independent heterodimers BglJ-RcsB and MatA-RcsB are affected by only very few mutations. Heterodimerization of RcsB with various auxiliary regulators and their differential dependence on phosphorylation add an additional level of control to the Rcs system that is operating at the output level.
Protein kinase C–independent inhibition of arterial smooth muscle K+ channels by a diacylglycerol analogue

Analogues of the endogenous diacylglycerols have been used extensively as pharmacological activators of protein kinase C (PKC). Several reports show that some of these compounds have additional effects that are independent of PKC activation, including direct block of K+ and Ca2+ channels. We investigated whether dioctanoyl‐sn‐glycerol (DiC8), a commonly used diacylglycerol analogue, blocks K+ currents of rat mesenteric arterial smooth muscle in a PKC‐independent manner.