Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Serum biomarkers and outcomes in patients with moderate COPD: a substudy of the randomised SUMMIT trial

Rationale Systemic levels of C reactive protein (CRP), surfactant protein D (SPD), fibrinogen, soluble receptor of activated glycogen end-product (sRAGE) and club cell protein 16 (CC-16) have been associated with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) outcomes. However, they require validation in different cohorts. Objectives Relate systemic levels of those proteins to forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) decline, exacerbations, hospitalisations and mortality in COPD patients (FEV1 of ≥50 and ≤70% predicted) and heightened cardiovascular risk in a substudy of the Study to Understand Mortality and MorbidITy trial. Methods Participants were randomised to daily inhalations of placebo, vilanterol 25 µg (VI), fluticasone furoate 100 µg (FF) or their combination (VI 25/FF 100) and followed quarterly until 1000 deaths in the overall 16 485 participants occurred. Biomarker blood samples were available from 1673 patients. The FEV1 decline (mL/year), COPD exacerbations, hospitalisations and death were determined. Associations between biomarker levels and outcomes were adjusted by age and gender. Results Systemic levels of CC-16, CRP, sRAGE, SPD and fibrinogen did not relate to baseline FEV1, FEV1 decline, exacerbations or hospitalisations. Fibrinogen and CRP were related to mortality over a median follow-up of 2.3 years. Only the CC-16 changed with study therapy (VI, FF and FF/VI, p<0.01) at 3 months. Conclusions In COPD, systemic levels of CC-16, CRP, sRAGE, SPD and fibrinogen were not associated with FEV1 decline, exacerbations or hospitalisations. These results cast doubts about the clinical usefulness of the systemic levels of these proteins as surrogate markers of these COPD outcomes. The study confirms that CRP and fibrinogen are associated with increased risk of death in patients with COPD. Trial registration number NCT01313676.
Strategies for the Development of Drugs for Pharmacoresistant Epilepsies

Summary: Presently, most strategies for development of antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) center around seizure models that are known to respond to presently marketed AEDs. These strategies do not take into account that epilepsy can be a progressive disease. Moreover, region‐specific aspects of ep‐ileptogenesis are rarely considered when new AEDs are developed. Seizures in the temporal lobe are often difficult to treat. Animal studies on various seizure models in the hippocampus and the entorhinal cortex (EC) suggest that these structures do not a priori produce seizures that are difficult to treat. However, seizure‐like events in the EC tend to progress to a state of status epilepticus‐like activity that cannot be suppressed by presently marketed AEDs. Loss of 7‐aminobutyric acid (GABA)ergic neurotransmission and increased excitatory synaptic coupling seem to cooperate for induction of this state. Epilepsy induced alterations in the interaction between the EC and the hippocampus may lead to alterations that facilitate precipitation of seizures. Because of the recurrent interaction between the hippocampus and the EC, these seizures may reach an intensity that is no longer controllable by presently available AEDs. Ontogenetic alterations of the circuitry between the EC and the hippocampus. seizure‐induced stabilization of synaptic connections over‐expressed during ontogenesis, seizure‐induced lesions and subsequent rearrangements of internal cell properties, and synaptic arrangements and kindling‐like alterations of nerve cell and glial behavior may all be involved in the generation of a neuronal aggregate whose balance between inhibitory and excitatory processes becomes readily disturbed. Strategies for the development of AEDs treating such seizures should suppress hyperactivity and prevent progression of epilepto‐genesis. AEDs directed against seizures may be effective if they can be given in sufficient concentrations to suppress very intense local seizures.
Effect of non-starch-polysaccharide-degrading enzymes as feed additive on the rumen bacterial population in non-lactating cows quantified by real-time PCR.

The effects of non-starch-polysaccharide-degrading enzymes, added to a maize silage- and grass silage-based total mixed ration (TMR) at least 14 h before feeding, on the rumen bacterial population were investigated. Six non-lactating Holstein Friesian cows were allocated to three treatment groups using a duplicate 3 × 3 Latin square design with three 31-day periods (29 days of adaptation and 2 days of sampling). Treatments were control TMR [69% forage and 31% concentrates on a dry matter (DM) basis] or TMR with 13.8 or 27.7 ml/kg of feed DM of Roxazyme G2 liquid with activities (U/ml enzyme preparation) of xylanase 260 000, β-glucanase 180 000 and cellulase 8000 (DSM Nutritional Products, Basel, Switzerland). The concentrations of 16S rDNA of Anaerovibrio lipolytica, Fibrobacter succinogenes, Prevotella ruminicola, Ruminococcus flavefaciens, Selenomonas ruminantium and Treponema bryantii, and their relative percentage of total bacteria in rumen samples obtained before feeding and 3 and 7 h after feeding and from two rumen fractions were determined using real-time PCR. Sampling time had only little influence, but bacterial numbers and the composition of the population differed between the transition layer between rumen fluid and the fibre mat (fraction A) and the rumen fluid (fraction B) highlighting the importance to standardize sampling. The 16S rDNA copies of total bacteria and the six bacterial species as well as the population composition were mainly unaffected by the high levels of exogenous enzymes supplemented at all sampling times and in both rumen fractions. Occasionally, the percentages of the non-fibrolytic species P. ruminicola and A. lipolytica changed in response to enzyme supplementation. Some increases in the potential degradability of the diet and decreases in lag time which occurred collaterally indicate that other factors than changes in numbers of non-particle-associated bacteria are mainly responsible for the effects of exogenous enzymes.
The atypical Rho GTPase RhoU interacts with intersectin-2 to regulate endosomal recycling pathways

ABSTRACT Rho GTPases play a key role in various membrane trafficking processes. RhoU is an atypical small Rho GTPase related to Rac/Cdc42, which possesses unique N- and C-terminal domains that regulate its function and its subcellular localization. RhoU localizes at the plasma membrane, on endosomes and in cell adhesion structures where it governs cell signaling, differentiation and migration. However, despite its endomembrane localization, RhoU function in vesicular trafficking has been unexplored. Here, we identified intersectins (ITSNs) as new binding partners for RhoU and showed that the second PxxP motif at the N terminus of RhoU mediated interactions with the SH3 domains of ITSNs. To evaluate the function of RhoU and ITSNs in vesicular trafficking, we used fluorescent transferrin as a cargo for uptake experiments. We showed that silencing of either RhoU or ITSN2, but not ITSN1, increased transferrin accumulation in early endosomes, resulting from a defect in fast vesicle recycling. Concomitantly, RhoU and ITSN2 colocalized to a subset of Rab4-positive vesicles, suggesting that a RhoU–ITSN2 interaction may occur on fast recycling endosomes to regulate the fate of vesicular cargos. Summary: Transient interaction between RhoU and ITSN2 on a subset of vesicles regulates cargo recycling.
Structural and functional features of Streptolysin O

Streptolysin O, a 63 kDa exotoxin coded by slo gene, is a well-characterised thiol-activated cytolysin, which damages cholesterol-containing membranes resulting in disruption and lysis of the target cell. On the basis of homology model and secondary structure analysis, the toxin has four domains of which domain 4 is of particular importance and is directly linked to domain 2 by a glycine linker and remained consistent in initial membrane recognition. Domain 4 reduces the hydrophobic ratio when compared with its template, which would affect the activity of the toxin at low pH.
Partnership for Advanced Computing in Europe Enabling Large-Molecule Simulations of Biological Interest through LSDALTON ' s DFT Method

In this paper, we present the performance of LSDALTON's DFT method in large molecular simulations of biological interest. We primarily focus on evaluating the performance gain by applying the density fitting (DF) scheme and the auxiliary density matrix method (ADMM). The enabling effort is put towards finding the right build environment (composition of the compiler, an MPI and extra libraries) which generates a full 64-bit integer-based binary. Using three biological molecules varying in size, we verify that the DF and the ADMM schemes provide much gain in the performance of the DFT code, at the cost of large memory consumption to store extra matrices and a little change on scalability characteristics with the ADMM calculation. In the insulin simulation, the parallel region of the code accelerates by 30 percent with the DF calculation and 56 percent in the case of the DF-ADMM calculations.
Optimal data fusion for pedestrian navigation based on UWB and MEMS

Indoor pedestrian navigation is probably a very challenging research area. In this context, an optimal data fusion filter that hybridises a large set of observations: angles of arrival (AOA), time differences of arrival (TDOA), accelerations, angular velocities and magnetic field measurements is presented. The coupling of UWB and MEMS data relies on an extended Kalman filter complemented with specific procedures. Geometry based algorithms and a RANSAC paradigm that mitigates the non line of sight (NLOS) UWB propagation are detailed. The benefit of the solution is evaluated and compared with the pure inertial positioning system.
The Effect of Moods on Accounting Judgment

This paper investigates the impact of mood on decision making by accounting professionals. Prior research suggests that different moods can impact professional judgment. Prior research has also found that mood affects auditor conservatism and dispersion on inventory valuation decisions. Our experiment with 117 accounting professionals suggests that mood impacts professional judgment but contradicts the results of prior research. Prior research has found that positive mood subjects had lower consensus and less conservative estimates of inventory valuation than neutral or negative mood subjects. We find that negative mood participants had the lowest consensus and least conservative estimates of inventory valuation.
Course and Prognosis: Clinical Study of Epileptic Type Moyamoya Disease in Children

Twenty-three patients with epileptic type moyamoya disease are reviewed among 200 moyamoya disease patients. Ten boys and 13 girls aged 5 months to 12 years were followed over 6 months to 17.3 years. Six had generalized seizure and 17 had focal seizure. Operations were performed within 1 year in eight patients, within 1-3 years in five, and more than 3 years after onset in 10. Nineteen patients im proved and suffered no seizure without receiving antiepileptic drugs, but four patients developed true epilepsy and three of these suffered cerebral infarction. Multivariate analyses showed that toddlers aged less than 1 year and mild or severe abnormal computed tomographic (CT) findings correlated with a bad outcome. This study showed that epileptic type moyamoya disease has the same clinical features as transient ischemic attack or infarction type. Age under 1 year and CT abnormalities in dicate a poor prognosis and necessity for early reconstructive surgery.
Towards a dynamic evaluation of personalized information system based on multi-agents approach: Application in intelligent transport

Today, and in particular in the field of public transportation, Personalized Information Systems (PIS) are increasingly developing. In fact, many efforts were made towards user modelling, design methods and tools for HCI generation. But, the evaluation of such systems is often neglected. To fill up this lack, it is necessary to envisage new evaluation methods taking into account the personalization quality. This method is based on multi-agents approach. This evaluation approach has been validated by applying them to evaluate PIS in transport field.
Minimizing the Self-weight Deflection of Tensegrity Structures

In this paper, we consider optimizing the design of kinematically indeterminate tensegrity structures. These tensegrity structures will have modes of deformation where the stiffness will scale linearly with a typical level of tension carried by the structure. These modes tend to be the softest modes of deformation, and can lead to significant deformations due to self-weight: this tends to be most noticeable for highly symmetric structures, where, for instance, significant oblation may occur if the structure is resting on a flat surface. We will explore how these deformations can be optimized through material choice. We will also consider optimal choices where, for aesthetic reasons, the compression members are slender.
Genome-Wide Profiling of RNA from Dried Blood Spots: Convergence with Bioinformatic Results Derived from Whole Venous Blood and Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells

ABSTRACT Genome-wide transcriptional profiling has emerged as a powerful tool for analyzing biological mechanisms underlying social gradients in health, but utilization in population-based studies has been hampered by logistical constraints and costs associated with venipuncture blood sampling. Dried blood spots (DBS) provide a minimally invasive, low-cost alternative to venipuncture, and in this article we evaluate how closely the substantive results from DBS transcriptional profiling correspond to those derived from parallel analyses of gold-standard venous blood samples (PAXgene whole blood and peripheral blood mononuclear cells [PBMC]). Analyses focused on differences in gene expression between African-Americans and Caucasians in a community sample of 82 healthy adults (age 18–70 years; mean 35). Across 19,679 named gene transcripts, DBS-derived values correlated r = . 85 with both PAXgene and PBMC values. Results from bioinformatics analyses of gene expression derived from DBS samples were concordant with PAXgene and PBMC samples in identifying increased Type I interferon signaling and up-regulated activity of monocytes and natural killer (NK) cells in African-Americans compared to Caucasian participants. These findings demonstrate the feasibility of DBS in field-based studies of gene expression and encourage future studies of human transcriptome dynamics in larger, more representative samples than are possible with clinic- or lab-based research designs.
A Tetravalent Formulation Based on Recombinant Nucleocapsid-like Particles from Dengue Viruses Induces a Functional Immune Response in Mice and Monkeys

Despite the considerable effort that has been invested in elucidating the mechanisms of protection and immunopathogenesis associated with dengue virus infections, a reliable correlate of protection against the disease remains to be found. Neutralizing Abs, long considered the prime component of a protective response, can exacerbate disease severity when present at subprotective levels, and a growing body of data is challenging the notion that their titers are positively correlated with disease protection. Consequently, the protective role of cell-mediated immunity in the control of dengue infections has begun to be studied. Although earlier research implicated cellular immunity in dengue immunopathogenesis, a wealth of newer data demonstrated that multifunctional CD8+ T cell responses are instrumental for avoiding the more severe manifestations of dengue disease. In this article, we describe a new tetravalent vaccine candidate based on recombinant dengue virus capsid proteins, efficiently produced in Escherichia coli and purified using a single ion-exchange chromatography step. After aggregation to form nucleocapsid-like particles upon incubation with an oligodeoxynucleotide containing immunostimulatory CpG motifs, these Ags induce, in mice and monkeys, an IFN-γ–secreting cell response that significantly reduces viral load after challenge without the contribution of antiviral Abs. Therefore, this new vaccine candidate may not carry the risk for disease enhancement associated with Ab-based formulations.
Quality of life and scar evolution after negative pressure or conventional therapy for wound dehiscence following post‐bariatric abdominoplasty

No studies have examined scars and quality of life after different treatments of wound dehiscence in patients undergoing post‐bariatric abdominoplasty. Scars and quality of life of patients with postoperative wound dehiscence managed with negative pressure wound therapy (group A) and conventional wound therapy (group B) were reviewed 6 months after wound healing. Of 38 patients undergoing treatment for wound dehiscence after 203 abdominoplasty, 35 (group A = 14 versus group B = 21) entered the study. Wound healing in group A was significantly faster than group B (P = 0·001). Patients (P = 0·0001) and observers (P = 0·0001) reported better overall opinions on a scar assessment scale for group A. Better overall quality of life and general health satisfaction were observed in group A (P < 0·05). A significant correlation was observed between the World Health Organization Quality of Life scores and Patient and Observer Scar Assessment Scale scores (r=−0·68, P < 0·0001) in all 35 patients. Negative pressure wound therapy is feasible and effective in patients with wound dehiscence following post‐bariatric abdominoplasty. An adequate post‐treatment outcome is achieved compared with conventional wound therapy in light of a strong association found between worse patient scar self‐assessment and poor overall quality of life, regardless of the received treatment.
Prevalence of gastrointestinal complaints in runners competing in a long-distance run: An internet-based observational study in 1281 subjects

Objective. To assess the prevalence, risk factors and timing of gastrointestinal (GI) complaints in a large group of runners competing in a long-distance run. GI symptoms indicating GI ischaemia were of specific interest. Material and methods. A questionnaire was sent by e-mail to 2076 athletes who had competed in a recreational run and 1281 (62% response rate) were returned. Reported GI complaints were related to variables such as age, gender, distance, fluid and food ingestion and running experience. For statistical analyses, χ2 tests and logistic regression analyses were used. Results. The run was completed by 98% of the runners. Three athletes dropped out because of GI complaints, 45% had at least one GI complaint during running, while 11% of the runners suffered from serious GI complaints during the run, the last mentioned being significantly related to runners who were not familiar with fluid ingestion, those of younger age, female gender and those who did not complete the run. Of the runners, 2.7% had complaints during the first 24 h after the run. This was significantly related to female gender and GI complaints during the run. Conclusions. The prevalence of GI complaints during and after running was low compared with that reported in other studies, which is partly due to the definition of “symptomatic” used in our study. The risk factors associated with becoming symptomatic were identical to those in other studies. The relationship between complaints during the run and the type of complaints afterwards suggests a role of GI ischaemia in the pathophysiology of running-induced GI symptoms.
Recognizing degree of continuous facial expression change

Describes a method for recognition of continuous facial expression change from time-sequential images. The method is composed of two parts, (1) facial feature tracking by using a labeled graph matching with weighted links and (2) facial expression recognition by making a comparison between the trajectory of features and the expression change model. The expression change model is constructed by using B-spline curves, which represent the relationship between the motion of facial features and the change of expression. Not only the type, but also the degree of expression change can be recognized. Furthermore, the obtained expressional information is then fed back to guide the tracking in the next frame.
Chinese Peoples : Perspectives of Filial Piety

Filial piety has been considered an indigenous psychological construct that governs the familial and intergenerational relationships of Chinese people. Few existing studies, however, have explored the psychological implications of filial piety in the counseling context. In this article, several psychological themes related to filial piety will first be reviewed. The adaptive functions and the potential psychological dilemma associated with filial piety will then be discussed. Finally, several applications of this psychological construct in the counseling of Chinese people will be suggested.
HOW TO MANAGE THE ONLINE EXPERIENCE CONCERNING TRANSACTIONAL AND EXPERIMENTAL CUSTOMERS: CASE OF E-FASHION SECTOR

The online fashion and textile sector is growing in recent years, becoming one of the online sectors with the highest volume of business. However, the bibliography on e-service quality and its consequences in this sector has been underdeveloped in the last years. This paper presents a model that incorporates the direct and indirect effects of e-service quality (utilitarian and hedonic experience) on satisfaction and loyalty of two segments of customers: transactional and online experimental customers. This research focuses on six online sale platforms, and it has been tested with data on 405 regular customers. The study also develops a model that incorporates the direct and indirect effect of e-service experiences on satisfaction, positive WOM, repurchase intention and price tolerance. The findings indicate that direct and indirect effects of e-service quality on satisfaction and loyalty are different for each segment of customers. While utilitarian quality is more relevant for those customers that only search for information, hedonic quality is especially significant for experiential customers.
GIS As a Tool for Efficient Functioning of Local Governments in Nigeria - Case Study of Ifako-Ijaye LGA in Lagos, Nigeria

This study demonstrated the importance of GIS as an indispensable tool for resource mobilization and service delivery in LGA administration in the developing countries. The case study area was Ifako/Ijaye, a metropolitan LGA in Lagos, Nigeria. Attempt was made to track the spatial asset base of the LGA using high resolution satellite imagery and GPS campaign and the data were integrated and analysed for economic returns within a GIS. The results show that there are about 18,947 properties (building stocks) and about 370.6 km of transport artery within the LGA. The property-facility ratio for the LGA is as low as 9,474 for parks/recreation, 4,737 for police station and 702 for clinics/health centres. The LGA can also make a conservative one hundred and forty-two million naira as internally generated revenue annually if GIS is employed. The study also discusses how the GIS database will assist in instituting transparency and efficient service delivery by LGAs in Nigeria.