Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Identification of the Salmonella enterica serotype Typhimurium SipA domain responsible for inducing neutrophil recruitment across the intestinal epithelium

In human intestinal disease induced by Salmonella enterica serotype Typhimurium (S. typhimurium) transepithelial migration of polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs) rapidly follows attachment of the bacteria to the epithelial apical membrane. Previously, we have shown that the S. typhimurium effector protein, SipA, plays a pivotal role in signalling epithelial cell responses that lead to the transepithelial migration of PMNs. Thus, the objective of this study was to determine the functional domain of SipA that regulates this signalling event. SipA was divided into two fragments: the SipAb C‐terminal fragment426−684 (259 AA), which binds actin, and the SipAa fragment2−425 (424 AA), which a role has yet to be described. In both in vitro and in vivo models of S. typhimurium‐induced intestinal inflammation the SipAa fragment exhibited a profound ability to induce PMN transmigration, whereas the SipAb actin‐binding domain failed to induce PMN transmigration. Subsequent mapping of the SipAa domain identified a 131‐amino‐acid region (SipAa3294−424) responsible for modulating PMN transepithelial migration. Interestingly, neither intracellular translocation nor actin association of SipA was necessary for its ability to induce PMN transepithelial migration. As these results indicate SipA has at least two separate functional domains, we speculate that during infection S. typhimurium requires delivery of SipA to both extracellular and intracellular spaces to maximize pro‐inflammatory responses and mechanisms of bacterial invasion.
Prospects and Problems in Applying GIS to the Study of Chalcolithic Archaeology in Southern Israel

This paper is a brief investigation of the problems and possibilities for GIS analysis in Chalcolithic archaeology in the Negev Desert of Israel. Although the region is rich in archaeological data for the Chalcolithic period, very little work has thus far been undertaken in terms of spatial analysis, the quantification of data, and the use of GIS. We shall show that the main problem with Chalcolithic studies in the Negev is a simple lack of quantified data, but that the prospects for GIS in terms of spatial analysis, the reconstruction of past landscapes, and the simulation of ancient environments are enormous. A simple analysis of settlement patterns using the data presently available for 403 Chalcolithic sites in the Negev is given as an example and shows that while access to farming land, water, grazing, and Mediterranean maquis was very important, settlement patterns were also predicated on factors of separation (in terms of both distance and visibility).
CONFIGURABLE 1 MeV TEST STAND CYCLOTRON FOR HIGH INTENSITY INJECTION SYSTEM DEVELOPMENT

In order to study and optimize the ion source and injection system of our multiple cyclotron products, Best ® Cyclotron Systems Inc. (BCSI) has assembled in its Vancouver office a 1 MeV cyclotron development platform. To accommodate different injection line configurations, the main magnet median plane is vertically oriented and rail mounted which also allows easy access to the inner components. In addition, the main magnet central region is equipped with interchangeable magnetic poles, RF elements, and inflector electrodes in order to replicate the features of the simulated cyclotrons. Multiple diagnostic devices are available to fully characterize the beam along the injection line and inside the cyclotron. This paper will describe the design of two system configurations: the 60 MeV H2+ for the DAEΓALUS [1,2,3] experiment (MIT, BEST, INFN-LNS) and the BCSI 70 MeV H - cyclotron.
Sulphate excretion by dogs following ingestion of ammonium sulphate or meat.

1. When normal conscious dogs were given small doses of (NH4)2SO4 by stomach tube, the rate of excretion of SO4 increased due to increase in plasma SO4 without change in creatinine clearance. After eating meat, increased SO4 excretion was due to increase in glomerular filtration rate without change in plasma SO4. 2. The calculated rate of tubular reabsorption of SO4 did not change significantly either after (NH4)2SO4 or after meat. 3. The rate of production of SO4 after meat was estimated. In 4 hr approximately one fifth of the S in meat was converted to inorganic SO4; in the same time approximately one third of the N in the meat was converted into urea. 4. Half of the SO4 in the doses of (NH4)2SO4 was absorbed from the gut; all of the NH was converted into urea. (NH4)2SO4 thus produced acidosis. 5. After (NH4)2SO4, increased excretion of NH4+ accompanied the increased excretion of SO4‐but Na+, K+ in urine also increased.
Evaluation of the benefits of using dual-source energy storage in hybrid electric vehicles

Batteries are often used as energy storage in hybrid and electric vehicles. Despite of the development, technical characteristics of batteries are the most limiting factor for further increasing the energy conversion efficiency and pure electric operation of these vehicles. In this research, dual-source energy storage system, a battery pack and ultracapacitors, has been studied by simulation of hybrid city bus models. These two different types of energy storages have complementary characteristics therefore their combination provides both high energy and high power to weight ratio. Based on the simulation results, the benefits of using dual-source energy storage in hybrid city bus are evaluated demonstrating the advantages of the proposed energy storage system.
Identification of Staphylococcus species and subspecies with the MicroScan Pos ID and Rapid Pos ID panel systems

The accuracies of the MicroScan Pos ID and Rapid Pos ID panel systems (Baxter Diagnostic Inc., MicroScan Division, West Sacramento, Calif.) were compared with each other and with the accuracies of conventional methods for the identification of 25 Staphylococcus species and 4 subspecies. Conventional methods included those used in the original descriptions of species and subspecies and DNA-DNA hybridization. The Pos ID panel uses a battery of 18 tests, and the Rapid Pos ID panel uses a battery of 42 tests for the identification of Staphylococcus species. The Pos ID panel has modified conventional and chromogenic tests that can be read after 15 to 48 h of incubation; the Rapid Pos ID panel has tests that use fluorogenic substrates or fluorometric indicators, and test results can be read after 2 h of incubation in the autoSCAN-W/A. Results indicated that both MicroScan systems had a high degree of congruence (greater than or equal to 90%) with conventional methods for the species S. capitis, S. aureus, S. auricularis, S. saprophyticus, S. cohnii, S. arlettae, S. carnosus, S. lentus, and S. sciuri and, in particular, the subspecies S. capitis subsp. capitis and S. cohnii subsp. cohnii. The Rapid Pos ID panel system also had greater than or equal to 90% congruence with conventional methods for S. epidermidis, S. caprae, S. warneri subsp. 2, S. xylosus, S. kloosii, and S. caseolyticus. For both MicroScan systems, congruence with conventional methods was 80 to 90% for S. haemolyticus subsp. 1, S. equorum, S. intermedius, and S. hyicus; and in addition, with the Rapid Pos ID panel system congruence was 80 to 89% for S. capitis subsp. ureolyticus, S. warneri subsp. 1, S. hominis, S. cohnii subsp. urealyticum, and S. simulans. The MicroScan systems identified a lower percentage (50 to 75%) of strains of S. lugdunensis, S. gallinarum, S. schleiferi, and S. chromogenes, although the addition of specific tests to the systems might increase the accuracy of identification significantly.
Immune Regulation by Platelet‐Activating Factor: II. Mediation of Suppression by Cytokine‐Stimulated Endothelial Cells In Vitro

Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (EC) can respond to endotoxin or to the inflammatory cytokines tumor necrosis factor (TNF) and interleukin 1 (IL‐1) by producing platelet‐activating factor (PAF). When EC were preexposed to TNF‐α (25 U/ml) for 1 h, and then washed, their subsequent coculture with peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) resulted in suppressed proliferative response of the latter to the mitogen Con A (P < 0.05). This effect was completely reversed by the concomitant use of the PAF receptor antagonist BN 52021 (0.1 mM). Preexposure of EC to IL‐1β (0.5 U/ml) induced similar effects, but IL‐1 and TNF were not additive. Removal of monocytes from the PBMC population abolished the effects. On the other hand, coculture of monocytes with cytokine‐preexposed EC resulted in significant induction of suppressor activity on lymphocyte proliferation. Our data indicate that EC, preexposed to inflammatory cytokines, can modulate lymphocyte functions via the production of PAF and its action on monocytes.
Modeling the Evolution of Female Meiotic Drive in Maize

Autosomal drivers violate Mendel’s law of segregation in that they are overrepresented in gametes of heterozygous parents. For drivers to be polymorphic within populations rather than fixing, their transmission advantage must be offset by deleterious effects on other fitness components. In this paper, we develop an analytical model for the evolution of autosomal drivers that is motivated by the neocentromere drive system found in maize. In particular, we model both the transmission advantage and deleterious fitness effects on seed viability, pollen viability, seed to adult survival mediated by maternal genotype, and seed to adult survival mediated by offspring genotype. We derive general, biologically intuitive conditions for the four most likely evolutionary outcomes and discuss the expected evolution of autosomal drivers given these conditions. Finally, we determine the expected equilibrium allele frequencies predicted by the model given recent estimates of fitness components for all relevant genotypes and show that the predicted equilibrium is within the range observed in maize land races for levels of drive at the low end of what has been observed.
THE DEEP SWIRE FIELD. IV. FIRST PROPERTIES OF THE SUB-mJy GALAXY POPULATION: REDSHIFT DISTRIBUTION, AGN ACTIVITY, AND STAR FORMATION

We present a study of a 20 cm selected sample in the Deep Spitzer Wide-area InfraRed Extragalactic Legacy Survey Very Large Array Field, reaching a 5σ limiting flux density at the image center of S1.4 GHz ∼ 13.5 μJy. In a 0.6 × 0.6 deg2 field, we are able to assign an optical/IR counterpart to 97% of the radio sources. Up to 11 passbands from the NUV to 4.5 μm are then used to sample the spectral energy distribution (SED) of these counterparts in order to investigate the nature of the host galaxies. By means of an SED template library and stellar population synthesis models, we estimate photometric redshifts, stellar masses, and stellar population properties, dividing the sample into three sub-classes of quiescent, intermediate, and star-forming galaxies. We focus on the radio sample in the redshift range 0.3 < z < 1.3 where we estimate to have a redshift completeness higher than 90% and study the properties and redshift evolution of these sub-populations. We find that, as expected, the relative contributions of active galactic nuclei (AGNs) and star-forming galaxies to the μJy population depend on the flux density limit of the sample. At all flux levels, a significant population of “green-valley” galaxies is observed. While the actual nature of these sources is not definitely understood, the results of this work may suggest that a significant fraction of faint radio sources might be composite (and possibly transition) objects, thus a simple “AGN versus star-forming” classification might not be appropriate to fully understand what faint radio populations really are.
Serum Concentrations of Adrenal Steroids and Their Precursors as a Measure of Maturity of Adrenocortical Function in Very Premature Newborns

Background: Relative adrenocortical insufficiency is often seen in sick premature newborns. As the human fetal adrenal cortex does not express the 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3β-HSD) enzyme before about 23 weeks of gestation, we hypothesized that this enzymatic step may be rate limiting in cortisol synthesis in premature infants of less than 28 weeks postmenstrual age at birth. Methods: We measured cord, first day (D0) and median fourth day (D4) serum 17-OH-pregnenolone (17-OHPreg), 17-OH-progesterone (17-OHProg), 11-deoxycortisol, cortisol (F) and dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate concentrations and calculated the substrate/product ratios in 67 infants with gestational age 23.6–33.1 weeks. Results: The mean 17-OHPreg/17-OHProg ratio as a marker of 3β-HSD activity did not differ between the gestational age groups (gestational age <28 vs. ≧28 weeks: 0.40 vs. 0.48, p = 0.52 for cord, 3.1 vs. 2.4, p = 0.25 for D0, and 1.6 vs. 1.9, p = 0.62 for D4). In addition, the 17-OHPreg/17-OHProg ratio did not differ between the infants in the lowest F tertile compared to those in the highest F tertile group, and the serum 17-OHPreg and 17-OHProg concentrations were parallel with the respective F concentrations. Conclusion: We did not find evidence of significant immaturity in adrenal 3β-HSD activity in preterm infants between 24 and 28 weeks of gestation.
DAMD 1798-1-8317 TITLE : Secretory Heat Shock Protein-gp 96-Ig Chaperoned her-2 / new Vaccines

Purified heatshock protein gp96 isolated from tumor cells is highly immunogenic and induces tumor specific immune responses. The endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-resident gp96 appears to chaperon peptides, including those derived from tumor antigens, on their way to presentation by MHC class I. Replacement of the ER-retention signal of gp96 with the Fc portion of murine lgG1, in this study, generated a secretory form of gp96, gp96-lg. Tumor cells transfected with gp96-lg exhibited decreased tumorigenicity and increased immunogenicity in vivo and were rejected after initial growth. Rejection of tumors secreting gp96-lg required CD8 T cells during the priming and during the effector phase while CD4 T cells were not required for rejection in either phase. Carrageenan, a compound known to inactivate macrophages in vivo, also did not diminish tumor rejection. Thus, immunization with tumors secreting gp96-lg, unlike immunization with purified, tumor derived gp96, or with irradiated tumor cells, generates efficient tumor rejecting CD8 CTL without requirement for CD4 or macrophage help.
A Core MPLS IP VPN Architecture

This memo presents an approach for building core Virtual Private Network (VPN) services in a service provider's MPLS backbone. This approach uses Multiprotocol Label Switching (MPLS) running in the backbone to provide premium services in addition to best effort services. The central vision is for the service provider to provide a virtual router service to their customers. The keystones of this architecture are ease of configuration, user security, network security, dynamic neighbor discovery, scaling and the use of existing routing protocols as they exist today without any modifications.
Poster: A Lightweight Live Migration Platform with Container-based Virtualization for System Resilience

When integrated with push notifications, a live migration function can be used to ensure that systems have a high reliability in cases of hardware failures. However, the dependencies for a large range of hardware devices need to be addressed before realizing emergency live migration. Our platform introduces container-based light virtualization and an automated build function to isolate an application so that it can be deployed on different devices such as Edison, Raspberry Pi model B, BeagleBone Black, and Odroid XU3.
Application of data mining in educational databases for predicting academic trends and patterns

Data mining is a process of identifying and extracting hidden patterns and information from databases and data warehouses. There are various algorithms and tools available for this purpose. Data mining has a vast range of applications ranging from business to medicine to engineering. In this paper, we discuss the application of data mining in education for student profiling and grouping. We make use of Apriori algorithm for student profiling which is one of the popular approaches for mining associations i.e. discovering co-relations among set of items. The other algorithm used, for grouping students is K-means clustering which assigns a set of observations into subsets. In the field of academics, data mining can be very useful in discovering valuable information which can be used for profiling students based on their academic record. We apply Apriori algorithm to the database containing academic records of various students and try to extract association rules in order to profile students based on various parameters like exam scores, term work grades, attendance and practical exams. We also apply K-means clustering to the same set of data in order to group the students. The implemented algorithms offer an effective way of profiling students which can be used in educational systems.
Mixing and screening of photons and gluons in a color superconductor

We calculate the Debye and Meissner masses of photons and gluons for a spin-one color superconductor in the polar and color-spin-locked phases as well as for a spin-zero color superconductor in the 2SC and color-flavor-locked phases. A general derivation for photon-gluon mixing is provided in terms of the QCD partition function. We show qualitatively and quantitatively which of the gauge bosons attain a mass via the Anderson-Higgs mechanism. Contrary to the spin-zero phases, both spin-one phases exhibit an electromagnetic Meissner effect.
Direct protective effect of interleukin-10 on articular chondrocytes in vitro.

OBJECTIVE To assess whether interleukin-10 (IL-10) is chondroprotective in vitro. METHODS Chondrocytes were isolated from femoral cartilage of rats (7-10 days) by digestion with collagenase II. The first passage cells were grown in 24- well plates with DMEM, supplemented with 10% fetal bovine serum, for 2-4 days. The cells were then cultured in 0.1% fetal bovine serum DMEM medium, and given respectively interleukin-1 (IL-1) 100 mu/ml, IL-1 100 mu/ml + recombinant murine interleukin-10 (rmIL-10) 20 ng/ml, rmIL-10 20 ng/ml, and cultured for 48 hours. Scanning electron morphology and immunohistochemical study of nitric oxide synthase 2 and matric metalloproteinase 3 mRNA in situ hybridization were performed. Cell proliferation and morphology were observed under inverted microscope from the beginning of cell culture for three weeks. RESULTS IL-1 stimulated granule production in the cytoplasma of chondrocytes, and the cells died in the second and third weeks of culture. IL-10 antagonized IL-1, protected the cells from death and maintained chondrocyte proliferation. Scanning electron morphology showed that IL-1 stimulated the formation of numerous microvilli on the cell surface, while thin and less numerous microvilli were found in cultures with IL-10. Immunohistochemical study and in situ hybridization showed that IL-10 inhibited NOS2 and MMP3 expression. CONCLUSION IL-10 not only inhibits the synthesis of inflammatory cytokines, but also directly protects chondrocytes by antagonizing IL-1.
[Colostomy closure: is it an intervention without risk?].

OBJECTIVE To examine whether colostomy closure is an operation with a high risk of complications. DESIGN Retrospective study of colostomy closures in a 14-year period. PARTICIPANTS 60 patients, averaging 54 years, males in 63%. The main indication for colostomy was colorectal neoplasm (47%), followed by trauma (23%). RESULTS There were 15 Hartman's procedure reconstructions, 4 reconstructions of colostomy and mucous fistula, and 41 "simple" colostomy closures. The closure was extraperitoneal in 40%, suturing only the anterior colonic wall in 42%. We had 27 postoperative complications in 33% of the patients, without mortality. The average hospital stay was 8 days longer in the group with complications. The complication rate was 29% in the "simple" closure versus 42% in the reconstruction group (this difference was not statistically significant). The statistic analysis (chi-square and Mann-Whitney tests) showed no influence on morbidity of factors such as age, sex, previous disease, age of colostomy, and type and closure technique of colostomy. CONCLUSIONS Colostomy closure has a high rate of postoperative complications (33%). These are minor in almost all cases, without mortality.
Structures of D-glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase complexed with coenzyme analogues.

Crystal structures of GAPDH from Palinurus versicolor complexed with two coenzyme analogues, SNAD+ and ADP-ribose, were determined by molecular replacement and refined at medium resolution to acceptable crystallographic factors and reasonable stereochemistry. ADP-ribose in the ADP-ribose–GAPDH complex adopts a rather extended conformation. The interactions between ADP-ribose and GAPDH are extensive and in a fashion dissimilar to the coenzyme NAD+. This accounts for the strong inhibiting ability of ADP-ribose. The conformational changes induced by ADP-ribose binding are quite different to those induced by NAD+ binding. This presumably explains the non-cooperative behaviour of the ADP-ribose binding. Unexpectedly, the SNAD+–GAPDH complex reveals pairwise asymmetry. The asymmetry is significant, including the SNAD+ molecule, active-site structure and domain motion induced by the coenzyme analogue. In the yellow or red subunits [nomenclature of subunits is as in Buehner et al. (1974). J. Mol. Biol. 90, 25–49], SNAD+ binds similarly, as does NAD+ in holo-GAPDH. While, in the green or blue subunit, the SNAD+ binds in a non-productive manner, resulting in a disordered thionicotinamide ring and rearranged active-site residues. The conformation seen in the yellow and red subunits of SNAD+–GAPDH is likely to represent the functional state of the enzyme complex in solution and thus accounts for the substrate activity of SNAD+. A novel type of domain motion is observed for the binding of the coenzyme analogues to GAPDH. The possible conformational transitions involved in the coenzyme binding and the important role of the nicotinamide group are discussed.
Electromagnetic modelling of bundle of single-walled carbon nanotubes with circular geometry for antenna applications

─ This paper aims to present an effective electromagnetic (EM) modelling approach for circular bundle of single-walled carbon nanotubes (CBSWCNTs), based on the electrical conductivity, relative complex permittivity and linear distribution impedance by applying General Ohm’s law for this bundle. The equivalent single conductor material (ESCM) model for personification the CB-SWCNTs is presented in this paper. The main target of this modelling approach is to estimate and investigate the EM properties of CBSWCNTs using common EM engineering tool solver CST (MWS). For this purpose, the CB-SWCNTs and ESCM dipole antennas will be designed and implemented using CST (MWS). Mathematically, the equivalent conductivity model, relative complex permittivity and other parameters of the CB-SWCNTs will be derived in this paper and considered as equivalent material parameters for the ESCM. This modelling technique is expected to provide new avenues for designing different antenna structures. Index Terms ─ Bundle of SWCNTs, CB-SWCNTs, CBSWCNTs dipole antenna, CNTs dipole antenna, nanodipole antenna.