Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Tear Fluid SIgA as a Noninvasive Biomarker of Mucosal Immunity and Common Cold Risk.

PURPOSE Research has not convincingly demonstrated the utility of saliva secretory immunoglobulin-A (SIgA) as a biomarker of upper respiratory tract infection (URTI) risk, and disagreement exists about the influence of heavy exercise ("open-window theory") and dehydration on saliva SIgA. Prompted by the search for viable alternatives, we compared the utility of tear and saliva SIgA to predict URTI prospectively (study 1) and assessed the influence of exercise (study 2) and dehydration (study 3) using a repeated-measures crossover design. METHODS In study 1, 40 subjects were recruited during the common-cold season. Subjects provided tear and saliva samples weekly and recorded upper respiratory symptoms (URS) daily for 3 wk. Real-time PCR confirmed common-cold pathogens in 9 of 11 subjects reporting URS (82%). Predictive utility of tear and saliva SIgA was explored by comparing healthy samples with those collected during the week before URS. In study 2, 13 subjects performed a 2-h run at 65% V˙O2peak. In study 3, 13 subjects performed exercise heat stress to 3% body mass loss followed by overnight fluid restriction. RESULTS Tear SIgA concentration and secretion rate were 48% and 51% lower, respectively, during URTI and 34% and 46% lower the week before URS (P < 0.05), but saliva SIgA remained unchanged. The risk of URS the following week increased ninefold (95% confidence interval, 1.7-48) when the tear SIgA secretion rate was <5.5 μg·min(-1) and sixfold (95% confidence interval, 1.2-29) when the tear SIgA secretion rate decreased >30%. Tear SIgA secretion rate >5.5 μg·min(-1) or no decrease of >30% predicted subjects free of URS in >80% of cases. Tear SIgA concentration decreased after exercise (-57%, P < 0.05) in line with the "open-window theory" but was unaffected by dehydration. Saliva flow rate decreased and saliva SIgA concentration increased after exercise and during dehydration (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS Tear SIgA has utility as a noninvasive biomarker of mucosal immunity and common-cold risk.
Differential Sensitivity of Naive and Memory CD8+ T Cells to Apoptosis in Vivo1

Apoptosis is a critical regulator of homeostasis in the immune system. In this study we demonstrate that memory CD8+ T cells are more resistant to apoptosis than naive cells. After whole body irradiation of mice, both naive and memory CD8+ T cells decreased in number, but the reduction in the number of naive cells was 8-fold greater than that in memory CD8+ T cells. In addition to examining radiation-induced apoptosis, we analyzed the expansion and contraction of naive and memory CD8+ T cells in vivo following exposure to Ag. We found that memory CD8+ T cells not only responded more quickly than naive cells after viral infection, but that secondary effector cells generated from memory cells underwent much less contraction compared with primary effectors generated from naive cells (3- to 5-fold vs 10- to 20-fold decrease). Increased numbers of secondary memory cells were observed in both lymphoid and non-lymphoid tissues. When naive and memory cells were transferred into the same animal, secondary effectors underwent less contraction than primary effector cells. These experiments analyzing apoptosis of primary and secondary effectors in the same animal show unequivocally that decreased downsizing of the secondary response reflects an intrinsic property of the memory T cells and is not simply due to environmental effects. These findings have implications for designing prime/boost vaccine strategies and also for optimizing immunotherapeutic regimens for treatment of chronic infections.
Neuroantigen-Specific CD4 Cells Expressing Interferon-γ (IFN-γ), Interleukin (IL)-2 and IL-3 in a Mutually Exclusive Manner Prevail in Experimental Allergic Encephalomyelitis (EAE)

Experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE) is mediated by neuroantigen-specific pro-inflammatory T cells of the Th1 and Th17 effector class. Th-17 cells can be clearly defined by expression of IL-17, but not IFN-γ, IL-2 or IL-3. Th1 cells do not express IL-17, but it is unclear presently to what extent they co-express the cytokines canonically assigned to Th1 immunity (i.e., IFN-γ, IL-2 and IL-3) and whether CD4 cells producing these cytokines indeed belong to a single Th1 lineage. It is also unclear to what extent the Th1 response in EAE entails polyfunctional T cells that co-express IFN-γ and IL-2. Therefore, we dissected the Th1 cytokine signature of neuroantigen-specific CD4 cells studying at single cell resolution co-expression of IFN-γ, IL-2 and IL-3 using dual color cytokine ELISPOT analysis. Shortly after immunization, in the draining lymph nodes (dLN), the overall cytokine signature of the neuroantigen-specific CD4 cells was highly type 1-polarized, but IFN-γ, IL-2, and IL-3 were each secreted by different CD4 cells in a mutually exclusive manner. This single cell – single cytokine profile was stable through the course of chronic EAE–polyfunctional CD4 cells co-expressing IL-2 and IFN-γ presented less than 5% of the neuroantigen-specific T cells, even in the inflamed CNS itself. The neuroantigen-specific CD4 cells that expressed IFN-γ, IL-2 and IL-3 in a mutually exclusive manner exhibited similar functional avidities and kinetics of cytokine production, but showed different tissue distributions. These data suggest that Th1 cells do not belong to a single lineage, but different Th1 subpopulations jointly mediate Th1 immunity.
Immunohistochemical Evaluation of Two Corneal Buttons With Post-LASIK Keratectasia

Purpose: To examine immunohistochemically 2 human corneal buttons after corneal transplantation for post-laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) keratectasia. Methods: Two ectatic corneas after penetrating keratoplasty and 2 postmortem control corneas from a patient after uncomplicated LASIK were used. Cryostat sections were stained by immunofluorescence for >30 extracellular matrix (ECM) components and proteinases. Results: The ratios of distance between LASIK flap interface and the upper epithelial layer to total corneal thickness were 0.27-0.34 in all cases. The whole flap interface was positive only for total and cellular fibronectin. Stromal types VI and XIV collagen, fibrillin-1, tenascin-C, and vitronectin were unchanged with no evidence of fibrosis. In ectasia cases, keratocytes adjacent to the flap did not express nidogens. Staining for type IV collagen α5 chain, nidogen-2, chains of laminin-8, and laminin-10 was weak and discontinuous in the epithelial basement membrane (EBM). Type IV collagen α1/α2 chains were found in the EBM of ectasia cases only. Matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-10 showed increase in the epithelium, and MMP-3, in some keratocytes near the flap interface of ectatic corneas. Also, cathepsin F was seen at the flap margin only. Staining for limbal basal epithelial marker, α-enolase, was mostly absent in the ectatic cases, suggesting largely normal epithelial differentiation. Conclusions: Abnormal EBM structure similar to that previously observed in keratoconus and bullous keratopathy and an increase in certain proteinases suggest ongoing EBM lysis and remodeling. Immunohistochemical staining for fibronectin may be used to reveal the position of flap interface.
Mono- and tri-cationic porphyrin–monoclonal antibody conjugates: photodynamic activity and mechanism of action

Two cationic porphyrins bearing an isothiocyanate group for conjugation to monocolonal antibodies have been synthesized. The two porphyrins conjugated efficiently to three monoclonal antibodies (anti‐CD104, anti‐CD146 and anti‐CD326), which recognize antigens commonly over‐expressed on a range of tumour cells. In vitro, all conjugates retained the phototoxicity of the porphyrin and the immunoreactivity of the antibody. Mechanistic studies showed that conjugates formed from the mono‐ and tri‐cationic porphyrin and anti‐CD104 antibody mediated apoptosis following irradiation with non‐thermal red light of 630 ± 15 nm wavelength. In vivo antibody conjugates caused suppression of human LoVo tumour growth in immunodeficient NIH III mice, similar to the commercial photodynamic therapy (PDT) agent Photofrin®, but at administered photosensitizer doses that were more than two orders of magnitude lower. Positron emission tomography (PET) following PDT showed a large, early increase in uptake of 18fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) by tumours treated with the anti‐CD104 conjugates. This effect was not observed with Photofrin® or with conjugates formed from the same photosensitizers conjugated to an irrelevant antibody.
Analysis of SecA2‐dependent substrates in Mycobacterium marinum identifies protein kinase G (PknG) as a virulence effector

The pathogenicity of mycobacteria is closely associated with their ability to export virulence factors. For this purpose, mycobacteria possess different protein secretion systems, including the accessory Sec translocation pathway, SecA2. Although this pathway is associated with intracellular survival and virulence, the SecA2‐dependent effector proteins remain largely undefined. In this work, we studied a Mycobacterium marinum secA2 mutant with an impaired capacity to initiate granuloma formation in zebrafish embryos. By comparing the proteomic profile of cell envelope fractions from the secA2 mutant with wild type M. marinum, we identified putative SecA2‐dependent substrates. Immunoblotting procedures confirmed SecA2‐dependent membrane localization for several of these proteins, including the virulence factor protein kinase G (PknG). Interestingly, phenotypical defects of the secA2 mutant are similar to those described for ΔpknG, including phagosomal maturation. Overexpression of PknG in the secA2 mutant restored its localization to the cell envelope. Importantly, PknG‐overexpression also partially restored the virulence of the secA2 mutant, as indicated by enhanced infectivity in zebrafish embryos and restored inhibition of phagosomal maturation. These results suggest that SecA2‐dependent membrane localization of PknG is an important determinant for M. marinum virulence.
Les outils de la recherche participative

Les rapports produits sur les SAS2 sont verses a la bibliotheque afin de mettre rapidement l’information a la disposition des chercheurs interesses. Afin d’en assurer l’exactitude et la qualite, ce rapport a ete soumis a un processus d’examen interne.
A mono-window algorithm for retrieving land surface temperature from Landsat TM data and its application to the Israel-Egypt border region

Remote sensing of land surface temperature (LST) from the thermal band data of Landsat Thematic Mapper (TM) still remains unused in comparison with the extensive studies of its visible and near-infrared (NIR) bands for various applications. The brightness temperature can be computed from the digital number (DN) of TM6 data using the equation provided by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). However, a proper algorithm for retrieving LST from the only one thermal band of the sensor still remains unavailable due to many difficulties in the atmospheric correction. Based on thermal radiance transfer equation, an attempt has been made in the paper to develop a mono-window algorithm for retrieving LST from Landsat TM6 data. Three parameters are required for the algorithm: emissivity, transmittance and effective mean atmospheric temperature. Method about determination of atmospheric transmittance is given in the paper through the simulation of atmospheric conditions with LOWTRAN 7 program. A practicable approach of estimating effective mean atmospheric temperature from local meteorological observation is also proposed in the paper when the in situ atmospheric profile data is unavailable at the satellite pass, which is generally the case in the real world especially for the images in the past. Sensitivity analysis of the algorithm indicates that the possible error of ground emissivity, which is difficult to estimate, has relatively insignificant impact on the probable LST estimation error i T, which is sensible to the possible error of transmittance i 6 and mean atmospheric temperature i T a . Validation of the simulated data for various situations of seven typical atmospheres indicates that the algorithm is able to provide an accurate LST retrieval from TM6 data. The LST difference between the retrieved and the simulated ones is less than 0.4°C for most situations. Application of the algorithm to the sand dunes across the Israel-Egypt border results in a reasonable LST estimation of the region. Based on this LST estimation, spatial variation of the interesting thermal phenomenon has been analysed for comparison of LST difference across the border. The result shows that the Israeli side does have significantly higher surface temperature in spite of its denser vegetation cover than the Egyptian side where bare sand is prevalent.
FastRoute: A Step to Integrate Global Routing into Placement

Because of the increasing dominance of interconnect issues in advanced IC technology, placement has become a critical step in the IC design flow. To get accurate interconnect information during the placement process, it is desirable to incorporate global routing into it. However, previous global routers are computationally expensive. It is impractical to perform global routing repeatedly during placement. In this paper, we present an extremely fast and high-quality global router called FastRoute. In traditional global routing approaches, congestion is not considered during Steiner tree construction. So they have to rely on the time-consuming maze routing technique to eliminate routing congestion. Different from traditional approaches, we proposed a congestion-driven Steiner tree topology generation technique and an edge shifting technique to determine the good Steiner tree topologies and Steiner node positions. Based on the congestion-driven Steiner trees, we only need to apply maze routing to a small percentage of the two-pin nets once to obtain high quality global routing solutions. We also proposed a new cost function based on logistic function to direct the maze routing. Experimental results show that FastRoute generates less congested solutions in 132times and 64times faster runtimes than the state-of-the-art academic global routers Labyrinth (R. Kastner et al, 2000) and Chi Dispersion router (R. T. Hadsell and P. H. Madden, 2003), respectively. It is even faster than the highly-efficient congestion estimator FaDGloR (J. Westra and P. Groeneveld, 2005). The promising results make it possible to incorporate global routing directly into placement process without much runtime penalty. This could dramatically improve the placement solution quality. We believe this work will fundamentally change the way the EDA community look at and make use of global routing in the whole design flow
International Relations Theory and Game Theory: Baroque Modeling Choices and Empirical Robustness

The increasing popularity of game modeling in international relations theory has fostered a tendency toward theoretical elegance to the detriment of empirical concerns. In this article attention is focused on the empirical implications of a series of choices that users of game theory must make when they model social interactions. In particular, possible trade-offs between theoretical complexity and empirical robustness are evaluated. This is done both abstractly and with specific references to recent modeling efforts in the fields of security and international political economy.
Classification of Sculpture images

Recognizing smooth objects, such as sculptures, is an unsolved problem in computer vision and pattern recognition. We study the sculpture features and aim to design a scalable classification of sculpture images. This paper serves as a design, implementation and result evaluation document, illustrating that the classification we implemented has a simpler structure and comparable matching performance. The classification we built can be used in a larger image retrieval system, as well as has potential extension on classifying other smooth objects.
Innate Immunity Mediates Follicular Transport of Particulate but Not Soluble Protein Antigen

Ag retention on follicular dendritic cells (FDCs) is essential for B cell activation and clonal selection within germinal centers. Protein Ag is deposited on FDCs after formation of immune complexes with specific Abs. In this study, by comparing the same antigenic determinant either as soluble protein or virus-like particle (VLP), we demonstrate that VLPs are transported efficiently to murine splenic FDCs in vivo in the absence of prior immunity. Natural IgM Abs and complement were required and sufficient to mediate capture and transport of VLPs by noncognate B cells. In contrast, soluble protein was only deposited on FDCs in the presence of specifically induced IgM or IgG Abs. Unexpectedly, IgG Abs had the opposite effect on viral particles and inhibited FDC deposition. These findings identify size and repetitive structure as critical factors for efficient Ag presentation to B cells and highlight important differences between soluble proteins and viral particles.
The Structure of Epidemic Models

Summary This paper reviews the basic components of epidemic models, and discusses some of the dierent ways of combining them, and relations between the resulting models. The fundamental aim is to help understanding of the relation between assumptions and the resulting dynamics: because without such understanding even a model which fits data perfectly can be of no scientific value. Analysis of the structure of epidemic models is vital because of (1) the scarcity of good data and (2) the sensitive dependence of results on assumptions. In evaluating model dynamics, we need to look carefully at their dependence, not only on parameters, but also on the structure of the model: for instance, whether the population is treated as stochastic or deterministic, discrete or continuous, and how the timing and distribution of infectious contacts within the population is modelled. The practical target is to identify those parts of models that have most eect on dynamics: a few key parameters can drive a model (see e.g. Mollison 1984, 1985, Cairns, this volume). The approach taken here is to analyse models in terms of their elements: expressing them in terms of simple key parameters that reflect individual lifehistories, flows between states, and contact relationships. Basic definitions must be in terms of what one individual does to another; this implies that discrete models are basic, and that the stochastic aspect is usually important, if only in formulating and interpreting models. Although more complex, stochastic models can have advantages in showing structure more clearly, as for instance in the technique of coupling which allows elegant comparisons of related models (see Ball, this volume).
AFRAID - A Frequently Redundant Array of Independent Disks

Disk arrays are commonly designed to ensure that stored data will always be able to withstand a disk failure, but meeting this goal comes at a significant cost in performance. We show that this is unnecessary. By trading away a fraction of the enormous reliability provided by disk arrays, it is possible to achieve performance that is almost as good as a non-parity-protected set of disks. In particular, our AFRAID design eliminates the small-update penalty that plagues traditional RAID 5 disk arrays. It does this by applying the data update immediately, but delaying the parity update to the next quiet period between bursts of client activity. That is, AFRAID makes sure that the array is frequently redundant, even if it isn't always so. By regulating the parity update policy, AFRAID allows a smooth trade-off between performance and availability. Under real-life workloads, the AFRAID design can provide close to the full performance of an array of unprotected disks, and data availability comparable to a traditional RAID 5. Our results show that AFRAID offers 42% better performance for only 10% less availability, 97% better for 23% less, and as much as a factor of 4.1 times better performance for giving up less than half RAID 5's availability. We explore here the detailed availability and performance implications of the AFRAID approach.
Mechanical Model of Dexterous Continuum Manipulators With Compliant Joints and Tendon/External Force Interactions

Dexterous continuum manipulators (DCMs) have been widely adopted for minimally- and less-invasive surgery. During the operation, these DCMs interact with surrounding anatomy actively or passively. The interaction force will inevitably affect the tip position and shape of DCMs, leading to potentially inaccurate control near critical anatomy. In this paper, we demonstrated a two-dimensional mechanical model for a tendon actuated, notched DCM with compliant joints. The model predicted deformation of the DCM accurately in the presence of tendon force, friction force, and external force. A partition approach was proposed to describe the DCM as a series of interconnected rigid and flexible links. Beam mechanics, taking into consideration tendon interaction and external force on the tip and the body, was applied to obtain the deformation of each flexible link of the DCM. The model results were compared with experiments for free bending as well as bending in the presence of external forces acting at either the tip or body of the DCM. The overall mean error of tip position between model predictions and all of the experimental results was 0.62 ± 0.41 mm. The results suggest that the proposed model can effectively predict the shape of the DCM.
The relationship of arsenic levels in drinking water and the prevalence rate of skin lesions in Bangladesh.

To determine the relationship of arsenic-associated skin lesions and degree of arsenic exposure, a cross-sectional study was conducted in Bangladesh, where a large part of the population is exposed through drinking water. Four villages in Bangladesh were identified as mainly dependent on wells contaminated with arsenic. We interviewed and examined 1,481 subjects [Greater/equal to] 30 years of age in these villages. A total of 430 subjects had skin lesions (keratosis, hyperpigmentation, or hypopigmentation). Individual exposure assessment could only be estimated by present levels and in terms of a dose index, i.e., arsenic levels divided by individual body weight. Arsenic water concentrations ranged from 10 to 2,040 microg/L, and the crude overall prevalence rate for skin lesions was 29/100. After age adjustment to the world population the prevalence rate was 30. 1/100 and 26.5/100 for males and females, respectively. There was a significant trend for the prevalence rate both in relation to exposure levels and to dose index (p < 0.05), regardless of sex. This study shows a higher prevalence rate of arsenic skin lesions in males than females, with clear dose-response relationship. The overall high prevalence rate in the studied villages is an alarming sign of arsenic exposure and requires an urgent remedy.