Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effects of 2-(4-Morpholinyl)-8-Phenyl-4H-1-Benzopyran-4-One on Synaptic Vesicle Cycling at the Frog Neuromuscular Junction

Inositol phospholipids are thought to play an important regulatory role in synaptic membrane traffic. We investigated the effects of perturbing 3-phosphoinositide metabolism on neurotransmission at the frog neuromuscular junction. We used the reversible phosphoinositide-3 kinase (PI3K) inhibitor 2-(4-morpholinyl)-8-phenyl-4H-1-benzopyran-4-one [LY294002 (LY)] and we examined its effects by intracellular recording, fluorescence imaging with styryl dyes (FM 1-43 and FM 2-10), calcium imaging, and electron microscopy. LY treatment reversibly inhibited vesicle cycling; electron micrographs indicated a dramatic reduction in the number of vesicles, balanced by the appearance of numerous cisternas. LY wash-off reverted the phenotype; terminals were refilled with vesicles, and they resumed normal FM 1-43 uptake and release. Surprisingly, LY treatment also enhanced the frequency of spontaneous release up to 100-fold in a calcium-independent manner. LY evoked similar effects in normal frog Ringer's solution, Ca-free Ringer's solution, and BAPTA AM-pretreated preparations; imaging of nerve terminals loaded with the calcium-sensitive fluorescent dye fluo-3 showed no significant change in fluorescence intensity during LY treatment. FM 1-43 imaging data suggested that LY evoked the cycling of 70–90% of all vesicles. The LY-induced effect on spontaneous release was reproduced by the casein kinase 2 inhibitor 5,6-dichlorobenzimidazole riboside but not, however, by the PI3K inhibitor wortmannin. Because LY has been shown recently to potently inhibit casein kinase 2 as well as PI3K, we hypothesize that casein kinase 2 inhibition is responsible for the enhancement of spontaneous release, whereas PI3K inhibition induces the block of vesicle cycling.
Evaluation of Left Ventricular Diastolic Function by Global Strain Rate Imaging in Patients with Obstructive Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy: A Simultaneous Speckle Tracking Echocardiography and Cardiac Catheterization Study

Impaired left ventricular (LV) diastolic function is a common pathophysiological feature of patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). The noninvasive evaluation of diastolic function in these patients remains a challenge. Speckle tracking echocardiography (STE) provides direct information on intrinsic myocardial function and may improve the diagnostic of diastolic dysfunction in HCM patients.
The Association of Dietary l-Arginine Intake and Serum Nitric Oxide Metabolites in Adults: A Population-Based Study

This study was conducted to investigate whether regular dietary intake of l-arginine is associated with serum nitrate + nitrite (NOx). In this cross-sectional study, 2771 men and women, who had participated in the third examination of the Tehran Lipid and Glucose Study (2006–2008), were recruited. Demographics, anthropometrics and biochemical variables were evaluated. Dietary data were collected using a validated 168-food item semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire and dietary intake of l-arginine was calculated. To determine any association between dietary l-arginine and serum NOx, linear regression models with adjustment for potential confounders were used. Mean age of participants (39.2% men) was 45.9 ± 15.9 years. After adjustment for all potential confounding variables, a significant positive association was observed between l-arginine intake and serum NOx concentrations in the fourth quartile of l-arginine (β = 6.63, 95% CI = 4.14, 9.12, p for trend = 0.001), an association stronger in women. Further analysis, stratified by age, body mass index and hypertension status categories, showed a greater association in middle-aged and older adults (β = 9.12, 95% CI = 3.99, 13.6 and β = 12.1, 95% CI = 6.48, 17.7, respectively). l-arginine intakes were also strongly associated with serum NOx levels in overweight and obese subjects in the upper quartile (β = 10.7, 95% CI = 5.43, 16.0 and β = 11.0, 95% CI = 4.29, 17.5); a greater association was also observed between l-arginine intakes and serum NOx in non-hypertensive (HTN) compared to HTN subjects (β = 2.65, 95% CI = 2.1–3.2 vs. β = 1.25, 95% CI = −1.64–4.15). Dietary l-arginine intakes were associated to serum NOx and this association may be affected by sex, age, body mass index, and hypertension status.
Machine learning attacks against the Asirra CAPTCHA

The Asirra CAPTCHA [EDHS2007], proposed at ACM CCS 2007, relies on the problem of distinguishing images of cats and dogs (a task that humans are very good at). The security of Asirra is based on the presumed difficulty of classifying these images automatically. In this paper, we describe a classifier which is 82.7% accurate in telling apart the images of cats and dogs used in Asirra. This classifier is a combination of support-vector machine classifiers trained on color and texture features extracted from images. Our classifier allows us to solve a 12-image Asirra challenge automatically with probability 10.3%. This probability of success is significantly higher than the estimate of 0.2% given in [EDHS2007] for machine vision attacks. Our results suggest caution against deploying Asirra without safeguards. We also investigate the impact of our attacks on the partial credit and token bucket algorithms proposed in [EDHS2007]. The partial credit algorithm weakens Asirra considerably and we recommend against its use. The token bucket algorithm helps mitigate the impact of our attacks and allows Asirra to be deployed in a way that maintains an appealing balance between usability and security. One contribution of our work is to inform the choice of safeguard parameters in Asirra deployments.
Quantification of Ploidy in Proteobacteria Revealed the Existence of Monoploid, (Mero-)Oligoploid and Polyploid Species

Bacteria are generally assumed to be monoploid (haploid). This assumption is mainly based on generalization of the results obtained with the most intensely studied model bacterium, Escherichia coli (a gamma-proteobacterium), which is monoploid during very slow growth. However, several species of proteobacteria are oligo- or polyploid, respectively. To get a better overview of the distribution of ploidy levels, genome copy numbers were quantified in four species of three different groups of proteobacteria. A recently developed Real Time PCR approach, which had been used to determine the ploidy levels of halophilic archaea, was optimized for the quantification of genome copy numbers of bacteria. Slow-growing (doubling time 103 minutes) and fast-growing (doubling time 25 minutes) E. coli cultures were used as a positive control. The copy numbers of the origin and terminus region of the chromosome were determined and the results were in excellent agreement with published data. The approach was also used to determine the ploidy levels of Caulobacter crescentus (an alpha-proteobacterium) and Wolinella succinogenes (an epsilon-proteobacterium), both of which are monoploid. In contrast, Pseudomonas putida (a gamma-proteobacterium) contains 20 genome copies and is thus polyploid. A survey of the proteobacteria with experimentally-determined genome copy numbers revealed that only three to four of 11 species are monoploid and thus monoploidy is not typical for proteobacteria. The ploidy level is not conserved within the groups of proteobacteria, and there are no obvious correlations between the ploidy levels with other parameters like genome size, optimal growth temperature or mode of life.
Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy for Preventing Relapse in Recurrent Depression: A Randomized Dismantling Trial

Objective: We compared mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) with both cognitive psychological education (CPE) and treatment as usual (TAU) in preventing relapse to major depressive disorder (MDD) in people currently in remission following at least 3 previous episodes. Method: A randomized controlled trial in which 274 participants were allocated in the ratio 2:2:1 to MBCT plus TAU, CPE plus TAU, and TAU alone, and data were analyzed for the 255 (93%; MBCT = 99, CPE = 103, TAU = 53) retained to follow-up. MBCT was delivered in accordance with its published manual, modified to address suicidal cognitions; CPE was modeled on MBCT, but without training in meditation. Both treatments were delivered through 8 weekly classes. Results: Allocated treatment had no significant effect on risk of relapse to MDD over 12 months follow-up, hazard ratio for MBCT vs. CPE = 0.88, 95% CI [0.58, 1.35]; for MBCT vs. TAU = 0.69, 95% CI [0.42, 1.12]. However, severity of childhood trauma affected relapse, hazard ratio for increase of 1 standard deviation = 1.26 (95% CI [1.05, 1.50]), and significantly interacted with allocated treatment. Among participants above median severity, the hazard ratio was 0.61, 95% CI [0.34, 1.09], for MBCT vs. CPE, and 0.43, 95% CI [0.22, 0.87], for MBCT vs. TAU. For those below median severity, there were no such differences between treatment groups. Conclusion: MBCT provided significant protection against relapse for participants with increased vulnerability due to history of childhood trauma, but showed no significant advantage in comparison to an active control treatment and usual care over the whole group of patients with recurrent depression.
Tumor rejection in experimental animals treated with radioprotective thiols.

In experimental animals, a systemic treatment with thiols of the mercaptoalkylamine type has affected all of five solid tumors so far investigated. (Three of the tumors were transplanted into the strain of origin.) There was either inhibition of growth or "oncodieresis," i.e., a necrosis and sloughing of tumors conducive to full recovery and repair. Mercaptoalkylamines and derivatives of the type used in our experiments are known to bind to cellular sites by a two-point attachment involving both thiol and amino groups. One of these compounds, cysteamine, was active in its native, unsubstituted form, but did not bring about oncodieresis when either the amino or thiol group, or both, were alkylated. Mercaptopropylamine, the 3-carbon homolog of cysteamine, was less active. Cystamine, a disulfide dimer of cysteamine that has no free reactive sulfhydryl, did not induce any reaction. Thioglycerol, lacking a terminal amino group, had only negligible activity. Rejection was much more striking when treatment was started on the day of inoculation than when started 7 days later. Male mice rejected better than females. Results were inferior when tow of the agents were given simultaneously or together with other radioprotectants, such as L-cysteine, glutathione, dimethyl sulfoxide, or reserpine. Tumor rejection was enhanced when the phosphorylated thioyls, S-2-(3-aminopropylamino)ethylphosphorothioic acid or S-(2-ethylguanidine)phosphorothioci acid, were given simultaneously with the radioprotective serotonin, but there was no synergy of serotonin with the nonphosphorylated compounds S-2-aminoethylisothiouronium bromide or cysteamine. Serotonin alone did not affect the tumors.
Five of Five VHHs Neutralizing Poliovirus Bind the Receptor-Binding Site

ABSTRACT Nanobodies, or VHHs, that recognize poliovirus type 1 have previously been selected and characterized as candidates for antiviral agents or reagents for standardization of vaccine quality control. In this study, we present high-resolution cryo-electron microscopy reconstructions of poliovirus with five neutralizing VHHs. All VHHs bind the capsid in the canyon at sites that extensively overlap the poliovirus receptor-binding site. In contrast, the interaction involves a unique (and surprisingly extensive) surface for each of the five VHHs. Five regions of the capsid were found to participate in binding with all five VHHs. Four of these five regions are known to alter during the expansion of the capsid associated with viral entry. Interestingly, binding of one of the VHHs, PVSS21E, resulted in significant changes of the capsid structure and thus seems to trap the virus in an early stage of expansion. IMPORTANCE We describe the cryo-electron microscopy structures of complexes of five neutralizing VHHs with the Mahoney strain of type 1 poliovirus at resolutions ranging from 3.8 to 6. 3Å. All five VHHs bind deep in the virus canyon at similar sites that overlap extensively with the binding site for the receptor (CD155). The binding surfaces on the VHHs are surprisingly extensive, but despite the use of similar binding surfaces on the virus, the binding surface on the VHHs is unique for each VHH. In four of the five complexes, the virus remains essentially unchanged, but for the fifth there are significant changes reminiscent of but smaller in magnitude than the changes associated with cell entry, suggesting that this VHH traps the virus in a previously undescribed early intermediate state. The neutralizing mechanisms of the VHHs and their potential use as quality control agents for the end game of poliovirus eradication are discussed.
EMERALD: software metrics and models on the desktop

BNR, NORTEL, and Bell Canada have jointly developed the Enhanced Measurement for Early Risk Assessment of Latent Defects (EMERALD) system for decision support, integrating software measurements, quality models, and delivery of results to the desktop of software developers in a timely manner (J.P. Hudepohl et al., 1996). It has been applied to a very large system with more than 12 million lines of code within procedures. The prerequisite infrastructure for reliability improvement includes a strong configuration management system, a flexible source code library system, a thorough problem reporting system, and widespread networking of the desktop systems of developers. Such systems are not part of EMERALD per se, but EMERALD would have been impossible without them.
Fluid Bed Coating and agglomeration: Scale-up and process optimisation

The degree of agglomeration and impact strength of Na2SO4 cores (all in the size range of 200–300 μm) coated with aqueous solutions of sodium sulphate and Dextrin have been investigated as a function of several process and formulation variables. The coating process was performed in a modified small-scale GEA Aeromatic-Fielder Strea-1 top-spray fluidised bed, and the impact strength was tested in bulks using a Pneumatic Impact Gun, in which granule samples of 0.5 g were exposed to ten repeated impacts at 10 m/s. Using an unreplicated double 2 fractional factor design, two regression models were derived from experimental data describing quantitatively the degree of agglomeration and impact strength, respectively. The agglomeration model suggests in accordance with previous studies that an increase in the nozzle pressure as well as in the coating solution dry-matter concentration decreases the tendency of agglomeration. The consistency between the agglomeration model and new experimental data is concluded to be satisfactory. The impact strength model indicates increasing impact strength with increasing nozzle pressure, coating solution drymatter concentration and bed temperature. These tendencies may be influenced by the large extent of droplet penetration, as observed in additional coating droplet penetration and coating layer morphology studies in the present paper. The validation of the impact strength model shows that the model clearly follows overall experimental tendencies. The derivation of these statistical models may be seen as a first step towards the development of processes for production of unagglomerated coated enzyme granules with high mechanical strength, and contribute to an improved understanding of fluid bed coating processes and products.
Characterization of microstructure and mechanical properties of electron beam welded Allvac 718Plus butt welded joint

Allvac 718Plus (718Plus) is a high strength, corrosion resistant commercial polycrystalline nickel-based superalloy developed by ATI ALLVAC over 10 years ago. 718Plus has been designed to fuse the most desired properties of Inconel 718 and Waspaloy, producing advantages of good mechanical properties, higher working temperature than Inconel 718, good fabricability and reasonable cost of production. 718Plus is strengthened by γʹ phase and other precipitates which are located mainly at grains boundaries. Compared to Inconel 718, 718Plus has increased concentration of Al, Ti and Co and decreased amount of Fe. Weldability of 718Plus is comparable to Inconel 718, thus there is a risk of intergranular microcracking in heat affected zone (HAZ). The test joint have been welded autogenously using electron beam at 120 kV accelerating voltage, 10 mA current and 78 cm/min welding speed. The microstructure of casted base material, heat affected zone (HAZ) and weld metal of electron beam welded 718Plus were investigated by means of light (LM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). SEM observations of welded joint microstructure were performed using secondary electrons (SEM–SE). SEM/EDS analysis were carried out. Both MC type carbides and Laves phase were observed in interdendritic regions of base material. The microstructure of heat affected zone was composed of γ matrix, γʹ phase and MC-type carbides, Laves phase and Laves/γ eutectic. In weld metal zone no γʹ precipitates were observed. The microhardness measurements have shown a decrease in weld metal and HAZ. It can be caused by an influence of the welding process thermal cycle.
Real-Time Fluorescence PCR Assays for Detection and Characterization of Shiga Toxin, Intimin, and Enterohemolysin Genes from Shiga Toxin-Producing Escherichia coli

ABSTRACT PCR assays have proved useful for detecting and characterizing Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC). Recent advances in PCR technology have facilitated the development of real-time fluorescence PCR assays with greatly reduced amplification times and improved methods for the detection of amplified target sequences. We developed and evaluated two such assays for the LightCycler instrument: one that simultaneously detects the genes for Shiga toxins 1 and 2 (stx1 and stx2) and another that simultaneously detects the genes for intimin (eae) and enterohemolysin (E-hly). Amplification and sequence-specific detection of the two target genes were completed within 60 min. Findings from the testing of 431 STEC isolates of human and animal origin, 73 isolates of E. coli negative for stx genes, and 118 isolates of other bacterial species with the LightCycler PCR (LC-PCR) assays were compared with those obtained by conventional block cycler PCR analysis. The sensitivities and specificities of the LC-PCR assays were each 100% for the stx1, eae, and E-hly genes and 96 and 100%, respectively, for the stx2 gene. No stx2 genes were detected from 10 stx2f-positive isolates because of significant nucleotide differences in their primer annealing regions. Melting curve analyses of the amplified Shiga toxin genes revealed sequence variation within each of the tested genes that correlated with described and novel gene variants. The performance characteristics of the LC-PCR assays, such as their speed, detection method, and the potential subtyping information available from melting curve analyses, make them attractive alternatives to block cycler PCR assays for detecting and characterizing STEC strains.
Investigation of luminescence and structural properties of ZnO nanoparticles, synthesized with different precursors

Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) were synthesized by chemical methods using different precursors (zinc chloride, zinc nitrate hexahydrate and zinc acetate) and media (water, ethanol, and methanol). An effort has been made to precisely control the particle size and optical band gap by various methods, while maintaining the crystal structure. The particle sizes of the synthesized ZnO nanoparticles were found to be in the range of 5 nm to 20 nm, by Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM). X-ray diffraction (XRD) confirmed the hexagonal crystal structure of all the samples, with a variation in the average crystalline size, in accordance with the TEM studies. Absorption spectra of these nanoparticles exhibit broad peaks in the range of 274 to 376 nm. Optical band gap values of the synthesized ZnO NPs were found to be in the range of 3.2 eV to 3.32 eV. The photoluminescence (PL) spectra show two emission peaks; one at 393–420 nm which corresponds to band gap excitonic emission, and another located at 520–550 nm, due to the presence of defects. Variations in peak positions of the emission spectra are due to changes in the defect densities on the surfaces of the nanoparticles which were synthesized with different precursors. The number of sub peaks obtained from Gaussian peak function fitting of PL spectra shows the possible energy levels, the types of defects present in the samples and also their influence on the optical properties.
CLARIN Centro-K-español

Presentamos CLARIN Centro-K-espanol que forma parte de la infraestructura europea CLARIN, Common Language Resources and Technology Infrastructure, y cuyo objetivo es ofrecer los conocimientos y experiencia de los tres grupos que inicialmente lo componen en la utilizacion de tecnologia para la investigacion en humanidades y ciencias sociales.
A study on the termination of negotiation dialogues

Dialogue represents a powerful means to solve problems using agents that have an explicit knowledge representation, and exhibit a goal-oriented behaviour. In recent years, computational logic gave a relevant contribution to the development of Multi-Agent Systems, showing that a logic-based formalism can be effectively used to model and implement the agent knowledge, reasoning, and interactions, and can be used to generate dialogues among agents and to prove properties such as termination and success. In this paper, we discuss the meaning of termination in agent dialogue, and identify a trade-off between ensuring dialogue termination, and therefore robustness in the agent system, and achieving completeness in problem solving. Then, building on an existing negotiation framework, where dialogues are obtained as a product of the combination of the reasoning activity of two agents on a logic program, we define a syntactic transformation of existing agent programs, with the purpose to ensure termination in the negotiation process. We show how such transformations can make existing agent systems more robust against possible situations of non-terminating dialogues, while reducing the class of reachable solutions in a specific application domain, that of resource reallocation.