Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Costimulatory and coinhibitory receptors in anti‐tumor immunity

Summary: Despite the expression of antigens by tumor cells, spontaneous immune‐mediated rejection of cancer seems to be a rare event. T‐cell receptor engagement by peptide/major histocompatibility complexes constitutes the main signal for the activation of naive T cells but is not sufficient to initiate a productive generation and maintenance of effector cells. Full activation of T cells requires additional signals driven by costimulatory molecules present on activated antigen‐presenting cells but rarely on tumors. Following the discovery of B7‐1 (CD80), several other costimulatory molecules have been shown to contribute to T‐cell activation and have relevance for improving anti‐tumor immunity. Moreover, increasing the understanding of coinhibitory receptors has highlighted key additional pathways that can dominantly inhibit anti‐tumor T‐cell function. Improving positive costimulation, and interfering with negative regulation, continues to represent an attractive immunotherapeutic approach for the treatment of cancer. This review focuses upon those pathways with the highest potential for clinical application in human cancer patients.
Four Ports Wideband Pattern Diversity MIMO Antenna

In this paper a broadband four ports MIMO antenna with pattern diversity is presented. To obtain pattern diversity, four microstrip feeding lines are printed on one side of the substrate where as the modified ground plane is printed on the other side. These microstrip lines generate orthogonal radiation patterns. In annular slot four shorts are placed between the microstrip lines to maintain isolation more than 25dB. The antenna operates in the range of frequencies from 2.3GHz to 12.6GHz (nearly 139%) which covers FCC defined wireless applications. Besides FCC, the proposed antenna covers WLAN and Wi-Max applications. A design and optimization of proposed geometry is done in Ansoft’s HFSS 13. Simulated and measured reflection coefficients, coupling coefficients and radiation patterns are presented.
Valuation of Inflation Swap Volatility Under a Market Model and Pricing of Real Yield Options

The inflation market, despite its exploding growth remains not very liquid except for vanilla derivatives. And unlike interest rates, it does not yet offer liquid and reliable swaption prices. Key objective of this paper is to compute inflation swaption volatility from liquid year on year volatility. Following a similar method as for the derivation of swaption volatility from interest cap in a market model, we derive a closed form solution for the inflation swaption volatility. We examine various more simple methods to compare our relative value computation. Using this estimate of the inflation volatility, we compute not only inflation swaption but also options on real yield and inflation spreads.
The endocannabinoid system and pivotal role of the CB2 receptor in mouse spermatogenesis

The exact role of the endocannabinoid system (ECS) during spermatogenesis has not been clarified. We used purified germ cell fractions representative of all phases of spermatogenesis and primary cultures of spermatogonia. This approach allowed the precise quantification of the cannabinoid receptor ligands, anandamide and 2-arachidonoylglycerol, and of the expression at transcriptional and transductional levels of their metabolic enzymes and receptors. Our data indicate that male mouse germ cells possess an active and complete ECS, which is modulated during meiosis, and suggest the presence of an autocrine endocannabinoid signal during spermatogenesis. Mitotic cells possess higher levels of 2-arachidonoylglycerol, which decrease in spermatocytes and spermatids. Accordingly, spermatogonia express higher and lower levels of 2-arachidonoylglycerol biosynthetic and degrading enzymes, respectively, as compared to meiotic and postmeiotic cells. This endocannabinoid likely plays a pivotal role in promoting the meiotic progression of germ cells by activating CB2 receptors. In fact, we found that the selective CB2 receptor agonist, JWH133, induced the Erk 1/2 MAPK phosphorylation cascade in spermatogonia and their progression toward meiosis, because it increased the number of cells positive for SCP3, a marker of meiotic prophase, and the expression of early meiotic prophase genes.
Structural Basis for Functional Tetramerization of Lentiviral Integrase

Experimental evidence suggests that a tetramer of integrase (IN) is the protagonist of the concerted strand transfer reaction, whereby both ends of retroviral DNA are inserted into a host cell chromosome. Herein we present two crystal structures containing the N-terminal and the catalytic core domains of maedi-visna virus IN in complex with the IN binding domain of the common lentiviral integration co-factor LEDGF. The structures reveal that the dimer-of-dimers architecture of the IN tetramer is stabilized by swapping N-terminal domains between the inner pair of monomers poised to execute catalytic function. Comparison of four independent IN tetramers in our crystal structures elucidate the basis for the closure of the highly flexible dimer-dimer interface, allowing us to model how a pair of active sites become situated for concerted integration. Using a range of complementary approaches, we demonstrate that the dimer-dimer interface is essential for HIV-1 IN tetramerization, concerted integration in vitro, and virus infectivity. Our structures moreover highlight adaptable changes at the interfaces of individual IN dimers that allow divergent lentiviruses to utilize a highly-conserved, common integration co-factor.
Casemix Funding Optimisation: Working Together to Make the Most of Every Episode

Eastern Health, a large public Victorian Healthcare network, conducted a WIES optimisation audit across the casemix-funded sites for separations in the 2009/2010 financial year. The audit was conducted using existing staff resources and resulted in a significant increase in casemix funding at a minimal cost. The audit showcased the skill set of existing staff and resulted in enormous benefits to the coding and casemix team by demonstrating the value of the combination of skills that makes clinical coders unique. The development of an internal web-based application allowed accurate and timely reporting of the audit results, providing the basis for a restructure of the coding and casemix service, along with approval for additional staffing resources and inclusion of a regular auditing program to focus on the creation of high quality data for research, health services management and financial reimbursement.
Research on Methods to Improve Precise Time Synchronization for IRIG-B Code Encoder

IRIG-B is a code of time Information Interchange which is being widely used in time-frequency devices. With the rapid development of power system, there is an increasing demand for time synchronization, so is the demand for Precise Time Synchronization of IRIG-B code. This paper precisely analyzes factors which affect the accuracy of time synchronization from both software and hardware aspects. The paper also proposes a low-cost hardware circuit program which is based on MCU, and designs the synchronous IRIG-B encoder which has advantages such as simple-structure, low-cost and high accuracy. The engineering practice has proved that the accuracy of time synchronization is less than 100ns and the pulse rising time is less than 100ns. These figures completely satisfy the requirements of power systems.
Isolation and Characterization of the Candida albicans PFY1 Gene for Profilin

We have isolated the Candida albicans gene for profilin, PFY1. Degenerate oligonucleotide primers based on regions of high homology were utilized to obtain a polymerase chain reaction‐amplified copy of the gene. This was then used as a probe to isolate the gene from a C. albicans genomic library. Our studies indicate that the full‐length gene is unstable in Escherichia coli. Several clones were sequenced, and the predicted amino acid sequence demonstrated homology with profilin proteins from other organisms, most notably Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Northern analysis revealed that the gene is expressed in C. albicans. Attempts to express the gene in S. cerevisiae cells were unsuccessful until the C. albicans promoter was replaced with an S. cerevisiae promoter. Functional complementation of the gene was demonstrated in S. cerevisiae profilin‐requiring cells. Antibodies raised to isolated C. albicans profilin protein recognized a protein of the predicted molecular weight when the gene was expressed in S. cerevisiae cells. The sequence of the C. albicans PFY1 gene has been deposited in the Genome Sequence database under Accession Number L3783. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
An incubation perspective on social innovation: the London Hub as a social

In the context of incubators, particularly those that are driven to achieving social objectives, this paper investigates core processes that support the development of social innovation. Social innovation as this paper argues is underpinned by a new form of social collaboration and engagement built upon strong forms of sharing knowledge and learning. Coupled with this is the element of social capital reinforced by entrepreneurship and leadership that promotes sustainability in the community. These factors drive innovative thinking and ways of engaging among stakeholders in order to create new forms of socio-economic impact. Such value-creating activity occurs in firms that operate within incubators involving a wide range of stakeholders who work through networks to co-create and meet social challenges. Through a case study of a social incubator and an incubatee, we demonstrate the core processes that irradiate the argument on social innovation. The contribution of this paper is threefold: firstly, social innovation is an emerging area of research, of which there is a dearth in terms of examining the processes empirically. We address the gap in this field by demonstrating the value of social collaboration and engagement using different innovation models. Secondly, we establish links between social innovation and incubation using the concept of social capital. This allows us to achieve our third contribution: exemplification of a dyadic value-based partnership and collaboration processes between an incubator and an incubatee, through activities driven by social innovation which aim to have social impact. The paper concludes with practice implications and suggests directions for future research.
A Mathematical Model and Dynamic Programming Based Scheme for Service Function Chain Placement in NFV

SUMMARY Service function chain (SFC) is a series of ordered virtual network functions (VNFs) for processing tra ﬃ c ﬂows in the virtualized networking environment of future networks. In this paper, we present a mathematical model and dynamic programing based scheme for solving the problem of SFC placement on substrate networks equipped with network function virtualization (NFV) capability. In this paper, we ﬁrst formulate the overall cost of SFC placement as the combination of setup cost and operation cost. We then formulate the SFC placement problem as an integer linear programing (ILP) model with the objective of minimizing the overall cost of setup and operation, and propose a delay aware dynamic programming based SFC placement scheme for large networks. We conduct numeric simulations to evaluate the proposed scheme. We analyze the cost and performance of network under di ﬀ erent optimization objectives, with and without keeping the order of VNFs in SFC. We measure the success rate, resources utilization, and end to end delay of SFC on di ﬀ erent topologies. The results show that the proposed scheme outperforms other related schemes in various scenarios.
External coronary artery compression due to prosthetic valve bacterial endocarditis

Acute coronary syndromes in the setting of infective endocarditis may be the result of coronary compression secondary to periannular aortic valve complications, coronary embolism, obstruction of the coronary ostium due to a large vegetation, coronary atherosclerosis, and severe aortic insufficiency. External coronary artery compression as a result of infective endocarditis is a rare and lethal finding with few reported cases available in the medical literature. We present a rare occurrence of an acute coronary syndrome occurring in the setting of a bioprosthetic aortic valve abscess in which there was no complete coronary occlusion visualized and given the patient's recent unremarkable catheterization and findings of diffuse tapering of the proximal left coronary system, the most likely etiology was external compression secondary to the known aortic root abscess, which caused myocardial ischemia, and was confirmed during surgery. Although uncommon, external compression should be considered in the differential diagnosis of acute coronary syndrome in this setting and coronary angiography can be diagnostic of this entity. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
A novel speed sensorless direct torque and flux controlled interior permanent magnet synchronous motor drive

This paper investigates a modified direct torque control (DTC) scheme based on space vector modulation (SVM) for interior permanent magnet synchronous motor (IPMSM) drives. Closed-loop control of both the torque and stator flux linkage are achieved by using two proportional-integral (PI) controllers. The reference voltage vectors are generated by a SVM unit, which replaces the switching table in the conventional DTC scheme. Whilst retaining its main advantages, the new DTC method features reduced torque and flux ripples as compared to the classical DTC. A speed estimator based on the stator flux linkage and torque angle is incorporated into the proposed DTC scheme. Simulation and experimental results confirm the effectiveness of the proposed method.
UCP2 and mitochondrial haplogroups as a multiple sclerosis risk factor

In the actual scenario of the search for further genetic susceptibility factors, a recent paper noted an SNP in the UCP2 gene as a multiple sclerosis (MS) risk factor. UCP2 is a member of the mitochondrial proton transport family, which uncouples proton entry in the mitochondrial matrix from ATP synthesis. mtDNA haplogroups are also associated with ATP production, and are linked with mitochondrial proton transport. In this work, we studied the UCP2 SNP and the mitochondrial haplogroups distribution in a Spanish MS population, with a population sub-group of Basque-origin patients. Our results confirm the link between UCP2 SNP and MS, and show a slight relation between this SNP and mitochondrial haplogroups. Multiple Sclerosis 2007; 13: 454-458. http://msj.sagepub. com
Critically High Plasma Ammonia in an Adolescent Girl.

A 12-year-old female patient presented with nonspecific symptoms including fatigue, fever, and headache persisting for approximately 4 months. Plasma ammonia was 230 μg/dL (135 μmol/L) (critical value >187 μg/dL or 110 μmol/L). The patient was referred to a pediatric emergency center for urgent evaluation of hyperammonemia. Plasma and urine amino acid testing was performed to investigate the possibility of a urea cycle disorder; however, all results were normal. Over the following 2 weeks, the patient was treated with intravenous sodium benzoate/sodium phenylacetate and l-arginine to reduce the blood ammonia concentration. However, the patient's ammonia concentration never dropped below 94 μg/dL (55 μmol/L) (upper limit of reference interval, 80 μg/dL or 47 μmol/L), with concentrations as high as 296 μg/dL (174 μmol/L) with inconsistent associations between ammonia concentrations and headaches. During the course of treatment, the patient suffered substantial side effects of intravenous therapy and underwent numerous costly clinical and laboratory investigations. Amino acid investigations were repeated but results remained normal. Given the large fluctuations in blood ammonia concentrations with inconsistent response to intravenous medications, the metabolic service contacted the laboratory to inquire about a possible preanalytical or analytical cause. One week before this query, a community physician also contacted the laboratory regarding hyperammonemia in several patients. However, no obvious preanalytical or analytical errors were discovered despite numerous audits of preanalytical conditions and review of quality control data. ### QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER 1. What is plasma ammonia and why is it important? 2. What are the physiologic causes of hyperammonemia? 3. What is the appropriate treatment for hyperammonemia? 4. What are the preanalytical causes of hyperammonemia? Ammonia is a metabolic waste product produced mainly in the gut, kidney, and skeletal muscle during exercise (1). It is generated from microbial metabolism, deamination of amino acids, nucleic acid degradation, and protein catabolism. Ammonia is normally removed from circulation by incorporation …
Structure-Based Functional Studies of the Effects of Amino Acid Substitutions in GerBC, the C Subunit of the Bacillus subtilis GerB Spore Germinant Receptor

ABSTRACT Highly conserved amino acid residues in the C subunits of the germinant receptors (GRs) of spores of Bacillus and Clostridium species have been identified by amino acid sequence comparisons, as well as structural predictions based on the high-resolution structure recently determined for the C subunit of the Bacillus subtilis GerB GR (GerBC). Single and multiple alanine substitutions were made in these conserved residues in three regions of GerBC, and the effects of these changes on B. subtilis spore germination via the GerB GR alone or in concert with the GerK GR, as well as on germination via the GerA GR, were determined. In addition, levels of the GerBC variants in the spore inner membrane were measured, and a number of the GerBC proteins were expressed and purified and their solubility and aggregation status were assessed. This work has done the following: (i) identified a number of conserved amino acids that are crucial for GerBC function in spore germination via the GerB GR and that do not alter spores' levels of these GerBC variants; (ii) identified other conserved GerBC amino acid essential for the proper folding of the protein and/or for assembly of GerBC in the spore inner membrane; (iii) shown that some alanine substitutions in GerBC significantly decrease the GerA GR's responsiveness to its germinant l-valine, consistent with there being some type of interaction between GerA and GerB GR subunits in spores; and (iv) found no alanine substitutions that specifically affect interaction between the GerB and GerK GRs.
The «Protocole d’Examen Cognitif de la Personne Agée – Lausanne» (PECPA-L): A Cognitive Assessment Tool for the French-Speaking Elderly in Switzerland

Objective: The main objective of this study was to validate and normalize, in the French-speaking population of Switzerland, an empirically derived structured cognitive assessment scale for the elderly. Method: 237 healthy elderly and 115 elderly with mild-to-moderate dementia as well as a preliminary sample of 27 subjects with MCI, all community-dwelling, were assessed using the PECPA-L for its validation and normalization using Crohnbach’s alpha, rank comparisons, and AUROC measures. Results: The internal consistency of the PECPA-L was good (Crohnbach’s Alpha = 0.79). The discriminating power of the PECPA-L between the normal elderly and the mildly to moderately demented (AUROC = 0.940) and those with MCI (AUROC = 0.925) was high. Normal aging does not influence all cognitive domains equally; therefore, the subscores of the PECPA-L vary in their discriminating power between the normal and the demented elderly, with gnosis abilities having the least (AUROC = 0.719) and delayed memory performance having the highest (AUROC = 0.927) discriminating power. Normative data according to age and education are provided. Conclusions: The PECPA-L is a highly appropriate tool for the detection and documentation of early cognitive impairment in the French-speaking population in Switzerland while accounting for age and education.
Overexpression of Fos‐related antigen‐1 in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma

The activating protein‐1 (AP‐1) family of transcription factors has been implicated in the control of proliferation and differentiation of keratinocytes, but its role in malignant transformation is not clear. The aim of this study is to assess the pattern of mRNA expression of jun‐fos AP‐1 family members in 45 samples of head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCC) and matched adjacent mucosa by means of Northern blot analysis. Transcripts of all family members were identified, except for JunB that was detected only by means of reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. Neither c‐Fos nor JunD or FosB mRNA differed between tumours and normal tissues. We observed a strong Fos‐related antigen‐1 (Fra‐1) and Fra‐2 expression, but only Fra‐1 mRNA densitometric values were higher in tumour, compared to normal adjacent mucosa (t‐test, P = 0.006). A direct relationship between the positive expression of Fra‐1 mRNA, above tumour median, was associated with the presence of compromised lymph nodes (Fischer exact test, P = 0.006). In addition, Fra‐1 protein staining was assessed in a collection of 180 tumours and 29 histologically normal samples adjacent to tumours in a tissue array. Weak reactivity, restricted to the basal cell layer, was detected in 79% of tumour adjacent normal tissues, opposed to the intense reactivity of cancer tissues. In the subgroup of oral cancers, we have observed a shift in Fra‐1 immunoreactivity, as long as the number of patients in each category, cytoplasmic or nuclear/cytoplasmic staining, was analysed (Fischer exact test, P = 0.0005). Thus, Fra‐1 gene induction and accumulation of Fra‐1 protein may contribute to the neoplastic phenotype in HNSCC.
Metaplasticity of horizontal connections in the vicinity of focal laser lesions in rat visual cortex

Focal cortical injuries are accompanied by a reorganization of the adjacent neuronal networks. An increased synaptic plasticity has been suggested to mediate, at least in part, this functional reorganization. Previous studies showed an increased long‐term potentiation (LTP) at synapses formed by ascending fibres projecting onto layers 2/3 pyramidal cells following lesions in rat visual cortex. This could be important to establish new functional connections within a vertical cortical column. Importantly, horizontal intracortical connections constitute an optimal substrate to mediate the functional reorganization across different cortical columns. However, so far little is known about their potential implication in the functional rewiring post‐lesion. Here, we investigated possible alterations of synaptic plasticity of horizontal connections in layers 2/3 in an ‘ex vivo–in vitro’ model of focal laser lesion in rat visual cortex. LTP at these synapses was found to be enhanced post‐lesion, whereas long‐term depression (LTD) was impaired, revealing a metaplastic shift toward strengthening of these synapses. Furthermore, we disclosed a prolonged decay‐time constant of NMDAR‐dependent currents, which can contribute to the enhanced LTP. Taken together these data revealed that a laser lesion‐induced focal damage of the visual cortex is accompanied by a facilitated potentiation of horizontal synaptic connections in the vicinity of the focal injury. This specific strengthening of synaptic plasticity at horizontal connections in layers 2/3 might be one important cellular mechanism to compensate focal injury‐mediated dysfunction in the cerebral cortex.