Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Inhibition of Human Papillomavirus Type 16 E7 Phosphorylation by the S100 MRP-8/14 Protein Complex

ABSTRACT The human papillomavirus type 16 (HPV16) E7 is a major viral oncoprotein that is phosphorylated by casein kinase II (CKII). Two S100 family calcium-binding proteins, macrophage inhibitory-related factor protein 8 (MRP-8) and MRP-14, form a protein complex, MRP-8/14, that inactivates CKII. The MRP-8/14 protein complex may inhibit CKII-mediated E7 phosphorylation and therefore may alter its interaction with cellular ligands and reduce E7 oncogenic activity. We examined the inhibitory effect of the MRP-8/14 complex on CKII activity and HPV16 E7 phosphorylation. We have shown that CKII activity and HPV16 E7 phosphorylation were inhibited by uptake of exogenous MRP-8/14 and activation of endogenous MRP-8/14. MRP-8/14-mediated inhibition of E7 phosphorylation occurred at the G1 phase of the cell cycle. Analysis of MRP expression in primary keratinocytes and in HPV16- and 18-transformed cervical and foreskin epithelial cell lines showed that expression of MRP-8, MRP-14, and the MRP-8/14 complex was detected only in primary untransformed keratinocytes and not in the HPV-infected immortalized epithelial cells. CKII activity in HPV-immortalized keratinocytes was approximately fourfold higher than in HPV-negative primary keratinocytes. Treatment of HPV-positive immortalized epithelial cells with exogenous MRP-8/14 resulted in E7 hypophosphorylation and complete inhibition of cell growth within 2 weeks, compared with HPV-negative primary and immortalized HPV-negative cervical epithelial cells, which showed 25 and 40% growth inhibition, respectively. Together these results suggests that the MRP-8/14 protein complex in HPV-infected epithelial cells may play an important role in regulation of CKII-mediated E7 phosphorylation and inhibition of its oncogenic activity.
Clostridium difficile Infection and Fecal Microbiota Transplant

ABSTRACT Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) is a major source of morbidity and mortality for hospitalized patients. Although most patients have a clinical response to existing antimicrobial therapies, recurrent infection develops in up to 30% of patients. Fecal microbiota transplant is a novel approach to this complex problem, with an efficacy rate of nearly 90% in the setting of multiple recurrent CDI. This review covers the current epidemiology of CDI (including toxigenic and nontoxigenic strains, risk factors for infection, and recurrent infection), methods of diagnosis, existing first‐line therapies in CDI, the role of fecal microbiota transplant for multiple recurrent CDIs, and the potential use of fecal microbial transplant for patients with severe or refractory infection.
PKCS #5: Password-Based Cryptography Specification Version 2.1

This document provides recommendations for the implementation of password-based cryptography, covering key derivation functions, encryption schemes, message authentication schemes, and ASN.1 syntax identifying the techniques. This document represents a republication of PKCS #5 v2.1 from RSA Laboratories' Public-Key Cryptography Standards (PKCS) series. By publishing this RFC, change control is transferred to the IETF. This document also obsoletes RFC 2898.
Prophylactic effect of papaverine prolonged-release pellets on cerebral vasospasm in dogs.

OBJECTIVE A drug delivery system using copoly(lactic/glycolic acid) was developed for the intracranial administration of papaverine. A rod-shaped implant prepared by a heat compression method was tested to determine its efficacy in preventing cerebral vasospasm in dogs. METHODS Sixteen dogs were randomly assigned to one of two groups, i.e., placebo or papaverine. Control angiography was performed, followed by right craniectomy and the induction of subarachnoid hemorrhage by the placement of a clot in the Sylvian fissure. Two pellets, containing either 25 mg of papaverine or no papaverine, were placed in the cistern. In in vitro studies, 56% of the actual papaverine loading was released in the first 4 days and 78% within 8 days. On Day 7, angiography was repeated and the animals were killed. A similar experiment using low-dose pellets containing 5 mg of papaverine, half of which was released within 7 days, was performed with 16 mongrel dogs. RESULTS There were significant differences between the papaverine- and placebo-treated groups in the reductions of vessel diameters of the internal carotid, middle cerebral, and anterior cerebral arteries on the clot side. The mean concentration of papaverine in the clot was 4.5 x 10(-4) mol/L. The low-dose pellet failed to prevent cerebral vasospasm, although the mean concentration of papaverine in the clot was 2.3 x 10(-5) mol/L. CONCLUSION A prolonged-release preparation of papaverine that could be implanted intracranially at the time of surgery prevented vasospasm significantly while maintaining an appropriate concentration of papaverine in the cistern.
Sustainable fisheries

protein has folded, the metal-binding sites are inaccessible to other metals, and the protein can be safely exposed to the periplasmic environment. In other words, the metal that binds to the protein is selected by the compartment in which the protein folds. Tottey and colleagues suggest that cytoplasmic metal insertion might be crucial not only for periplasmic proteins that bind individual metal ions, but also for the numerous Tat substrates that bind to other kinds of metalcontaining cofactors, such as clusters of metal and sulphur atoms or complexes of metals with organic molecules. They propose that cytoplasmic insertion prevents the misincorporation of tightly binding metals into such cofactors; once ensconced within the folded protein, the cofactors are shielded from any interference by competing metals. For example, the authors note that iron–sulphur clusters are susceptible to the misincorporation of transition-metal ions such as cobalt and copper, and that periplasmic proteins that contain iron–sulphur clusters are always transported to their site of action by the Tat pathway. Strikingly, and consistent with the authors’ proposal, the only periplasmic protein that has a copper–sulphur cofactor receives this cluster in the periplasm, rather than in the cytoplasm. Eukaryotic cells (such as those of animals, plants and fungi) might also control the metal loading of their secreted proteins by a variation of the protected-compartment strategy. In these cells, secreted proteins fold in the endoplasmic reticulum — an intracellular organelle that controls the concentrations of metal ions in its interior — before they reach the extracellular milieu. But in contrast to the mechanism described by Tottey et al., these folded proteins are transferred to the outside world in vesicles that release their contents on fusion with the cell membrane; no physical transport of the protein across a membrane is required. Some transport of folded proteins into organellar compartments does occur in eukaryotic cells — across the membranes of peroxisomes (ubiquitous organelles involved in metabolism) and across the photosynthetic thylakoid membranes of chloroplasts (which possess a Tat apparatus). It will be interesting to see whether these systems, like the bacterial Tat pathway, are exploited to control metal binding in organellar proteins. More generally, Tottey and colleagues’ work reminds us that different cellular compartments have their own distinct metal compositions, which are vital in determining which metals associate with their resident macromolecules. ■
Immuno-Genomic Profiling of Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease: A Systematic Review of Genetic and Functional In Vivo Studies of Implicated Genes

Background:Over the last 2 decades, there has been an ever-expanding catalog of genetic variants implicated in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) through genome-wide association studies and next generation sequencing. In this article, we highlight the remarkable developments in understanding the genetic and immunological basis of IBD. The main objective of the study was to perform a systematic review of published literature detailing functional/immunological studies in patients known to harbor genetic variations in the implicated genes. Methods:A panel of 71 candidate genes implicated in IBD was prioritized using 5 network connectivity in silico methods. An electronic search using MEDLINE and EMBASE from 1996 to February 2014 for each of the selected genes was conducted. Only studies describing genotyped IBD cohorts with concurrent in vivo functional studies were included. Results:Between the reviewers, a total of 35,142 potentially eligible publications were identified. Only 8 genes had publications meeting the inclusion criteria. A total of 67 studies were identified across the selected genes. The NOD2 gene had the most number with 41 studies followed by IL-10 with 11 eligible studies. A meta-analysis was not practical given the heterogeneity of the study design and the number of implicated genes with diverse immunological and physiological functions. Conclusions:There is a clear lack of functional studies in humans to assess the in vivo impact of the various genetic variants implicated. A collaborative approach merging genomics and functional studies will help to unravel the obscure mechanisms involved in IBD.
Reproductive stimulation by low doses of xenoestrogens contrasts with the view of hormesis as an adaptive response

We discuss the similarities and differences of two types of effects that occur at low but not high doses of chemicals: hormesis and stimulation by oestrogenic endocrine-disrupting chemicals or xenoestrogens. While hormesis is a general phenomenon evoked by many compounds, oestrogenic stimulation occurs for specific chemicals that disrupt actions of endogenous oestrogen. Both types of phenomena can induce an inverted-U dose-response curve, from low-dose stimulation of response, and thus challenge current methods of risk assessment. Hormesis is generally thought to be caused by an over-reaction of detoxification mechanisms, which is considered an adaptive response that should protect an organism from subsequent stress. One view of the hormetic low-dose stimulatory response, i.e., increased performance, is that it is beneficial. In contrast, we propose that for manmade xenoestrogens this is never the case. This is demonstrated with examples for low doses of the oestrogenic environmental chemicals bisphenol A and octylphenol, and the oestrogenic drug-response curves is underestimated by the current threshold model used in risk assessment, and this is likely to apply to other endocrine-disrupting chemicals.
A novel high-yield volume-reduction method for the cryopreservation of UC blood units.

BACKGROUND For the application of umbilical cord blood (UCB) units as hematopoietic grafts, a dose of 3.7 x 10(7) nucleated cells (NC)/kg body weight is required. NC can be lost during volume-reduction processing and during thawing. A novel modification of the double-processing protocol with the aim of minimizing NC loss is described and evaluated. METHODS One-hundred and fifty UCB were collected. The volume was reduced by a centrifugation step following double-processing in the presence of 2% HES 200/0.5. Pre- and post-processing cell counts and platelet parameters were measured with an automatic counter. The number of viable CD34+ hemopoietic stem cells was measured by flow cytometry. In 25 of the samples, colony-forming units (CFU) were also determined. The same samples were thawed 6 months after cryopreservation and re-evaluated. RESULTS The volume was reduced to 6 +/- 1.5 mL. The recovery of NC, MNC, CD34+ hemopoietic stem cells, RBC depletion and CFU following double-processing was 93.6 +/- 3.2%, 95.8 +/- 2.2%, 98.4 +/- 1.5%, 96.8 +/- 1.1% and 107.1 +/- 6.1% (for 25 samples), respectively. The post-thaw recoveries of NC, MNC, CD34+ hemopoietic stem cells and CFU (for 25 samples) were 78.6 +/- 5.4%, 90.8 +/- 4.4%, 96.4 +/- 2.5%, 89.1 +/- 4.1%, respectively. No post-thaw cell aggregation was observed. A significant (P<0.05) post-thaw loss of platelets and signs of platelet activation was observed. DISCUSSION The protocol uses non-expensive equipment and clinically approved materials and results in samples that can be used in patients with a mean weight of 32.7 kg.
A Hybrid Cascade Asymmetrical Multilevel Converter with Isolated Voltage Source

In this paper, a hybrid cascade asymmetrical multilevel converter is proposed. The converter is based on connection of multiple single-phase asymmetrical multilevel converter modules. The multilevel waveform is synthesized by addition or of the voltages generated by the different cells. The primary advantage of the converter is that the number of voltage levels can be increased for a given number of devices. However the converter requires fixed isolated supplies and therefore transformer/rectifier circuits may be used to supply the sources by adjusting transformer ratio according to the needs of the converter. Selective harmonic elimination method is used to eliminate the specified harmonics in the output voltage. Experimental results are presented to verify the proposed method.
Effective Microorgainsm (EM) Fermentation Extract Attenuates Airway Hyperreactivity and Lung Inflammation In A Mouse Model of Asthma

Effective microorganism (EM) fermentation extract has been widely used for agricultural and environmental application. It has been recently revealed that EM cocktail treatment may be effective for treatment of diseases including cancer. In the present study, effectiveness of EM cocktail to control asthma was investigated using a mouse model of allergic asthma. Asthmatic mice sensitized and intranasally challenged with OVA were orally given EM fermentate (EM-1 ® ) during antigen challenge. Administration of EM-1 ® resulted in a significant reduction in airway hyper-reactivity (AHR) and airway recruitment of total leukocytes and eosinophils. Cytokine (IL-4, IL-5 and IFNγ) levels in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and lung tissues were not altered by EM-1 ® treatment. However, IL-13 level in BALF was considerably lower in EM-1 ® treated mice than in controls. Moreover, Ag-specific IL-4, IL-5 and IL-13 production of draining lymph node cells were markedly downregulated by EM-1 ® treatment when compared to controls, whereas their IFNγ production was not significantly different. Those data show that EM-1 ® treatment suppresses type 2 helper T (Th2), but not type 1 helper T (Th1), cell response. This finding was also supported by serum antibody data showing that IgE and IgG1 levels in EM-1 ® treated mice were significantly lower than in controls, while IgG2a level was not significantly different between two groups. In conclusion, oral administration of EM-1 ® attenuates asthmatic manifestations including AHR and airway recruitment of eosinophils in a mouse model and which possibly results from selective inhibition of Th2 cell response to allergen. Our data also suggest that EM-1 ® may be effectively applied for control of allergic asthma.
Grid Connected Interactive Photovoltaic Power Flow Analysis: A Technique for System Operation Comprehension and Sizing

The progressive tendency, of the photovoltaic (PV) system connected to the electrical grid, is establishing new applications, in a way that, such system has to be optimised. Nowadays, many of these configurations start to bring benefits into the electrical network, such as: export/import of real and reactive powers, quick fix to shortages in power when used with storage equipment, active power mains harmonics filtering, and reduction of greenhouse emission and environment friendly power generation source. In this context, this paper deals with modelling and analysis of a grid connected PV system power flow, with the consideration of chain parasitic resistances and inductances. As a result, this leads to understand and infer various possible operating modes and system design concept
Regulation of cell wall genes in response to DEFECTIVE KERNEL1 (DEK1)-induced cell wall changes

ABSTRACT Defective Kernel1 (DEK1) is a plant-specific calpain involved in epidermis specification and maintenance. DEK1 regulation of the epidermal cell wall is proposed to be key to ensure tissue integrity and coordinated growth. Changes in the expression of DEK1 are correlated with changes in the expression of cell wall-related genes. For example, we have found that Lipid transfer protein 3 (LTP3), EXPANSIN 11 (EXP11), and an AP2 transcription factor (AP2TF) are misexpressed in plants with constitutively altered levels of DEK1 activity. RT-qPCR studies show that LTP3 and AP2TF may respond to a DEK1-generated signal whereas EXP11 is not altered immediately after dexamethasone induction of CALPAIN suggesting it is not in the direct signaling pathway downstream of DEK1. Our data suggest these genes are regulated by a feedback mechanism in response to DEK1-induced changes in the cell wall, and contribute to the phenotypes seen in plants with altered DEK1 expression.
A symmetrized Euler scheme for an efficient approximation of reflected diffusions

In this article, we analyse the error induced by the Euler scheme combined with a symmetry procedure near the boundary for the simulation of diffusion processes with an oblique reflection on a smooth boundary. This procedure is easy to implement and, in addition, accurate: indeed, we prove that it yields a weak rate of convergence of order 1 with respect to the time-discretization step.
Formal Foundations for Object-Oriented Data Modeling

Class dictionary graphs, axiomatic definitions of basic structures used by object-oriented designers and programmers during the software development process, are discussed. An axiomatic foundation for object-oriented data modeling and efficient algorithms for checking whether a given data model satisfies the axioms are presented. The data model is the foundation for a number of techniques for developing object-oriented systems, including adaptive software, schema abstraction from object examples, schema optimization, planning techniques for system development, and the Law of Demeter, among others. >
Characterization of CSP-1, a Novel Extended-Spectrum β-Lactamase Produced by a Clinical Isolate of Capnocytophaga sputigena

ABSTRACT The Capnocytophaga sputigena isolate NOR, responsible for septicemia, was resistant to amoxicillin and narrow-spectrum cephalosporins. In a cloning experiment, a new gene, blaCSP-1, was identified; this gene encodes a novel extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL) that shares only 52% and 49% identities with the CME-1 and VEB-1 β-lactamases, respectively. The G+C content of this gene, its genetic environment, the absence of conjugation transfer, and its detection in two reference strains suggested that it was an intrinsic resistance gene located on the chromosome.
L’écriture universitaire : une activité sociale et pédagogique qui participe à la construction du réel disciplinaire

Aujourd'hui, les etudiants de licence et master dans l'ensemble des filieres universitaires doivent se specialiser dans les ecrits de leurs disciplines. Qu'ils soient amenes a travailler les ecrits specialises dans un champ disciplinaire comme la psychologie, l'information-communication, la geologie, le droit, l'informatique, l'economie internationale, la civilisation, la linguistique, la litterature, ou la redaction technique, le developpement de leur competence a l'ecrit va de pair avec leur specialisation universitaire et leur devenir disciplinaire et/ou professionnel. L'ecriture universitaire, comme activite sociale et pedagogique, participe de maniere structurante a la construction et a l'appropriation d'un « reel » disciplinaire par l'etudiant. Sans l'appropriation du reel disciplinaire, il court le risque de moins bien reussir a s'integrer dans une communaute professionnelle ou voie d'etudes par la suite. Nous defendons l'idee selon laquelle l'enseignement de l'ecriture universitaire peut contribuer a soutenir ce processus. Dans la presente contribution, qui repond au thematique propose pour la Journee d'etude « Le reel dans les situations de transmission, d'apprentissage et de connaissances », nous entendons par « reel » la cognition partagee, supposee ou averee, qui permet aux participants appartenant a un meme groupe social d'avoir le sentiment de dire, de faire, de voir, de comprendre et de penser la meme chose, a propos d'une activite, une situation, une forme (sociale, linguistique, discursive…), un geste, un comportement, une identite, une attitude, une idee, une valeur, une ideologie, une croyance, etc. Pour parvenir au sentiment de partage d'une realite commune, les participants s'appuient sur leur perception d'un « prototype » (Rosch, 1973) afin de categoriser leurs experiences sociales de maniere similaire (Dressen-Hammouda, 2008 ; Lakoff & Johnson, 1999). L'appartenance a un groupe social presuppose l'acces au, et l'acquisition de son « reel », sa cognition partagee et socialement situee (Wenger, 1998). Dans cette contribution, nous menerons une reflexion sur la facon dont le reel disciplinaire peut etre mobilise dans une pedagogie de l'ecrit pour faciliter son appropriation par les etudiants. Dans le cadre de l'enseignement de l'ecriture universitaire, nous expliquerons comment la reussite de cette pedagogie repose sur la coordination entre deux faces du reel : celle que nous pouvons 'voir' ou 'toucher'-ses formes explicites (linguistiques, discursives)-, et celle que nous ne pouvons qu'inferer par sa signification implicite ou tacite. Pour repondre a cette problematique, nous avons adopte une demarche pluridisciplinaire.
Building and analysing emotion corpus of the Arabic speech

This paper presents the principal phase of extraction and recognition of the basic emotions in the Arabic speech applied to five emotional states were taken into effect; neutral, sadness, fear, anger and happiness. Emotional speech database REGIM TES [1] [23] was created and evaluated to provide all practical experiences of extraction. The selected descriptors in our study are; Pitch of voice, Energy, MFCCs, Formant, LPC and the spectrogram. Descriptors showed the importance of the Arabic language on the physiological events and the influence of culture on emotional behavior.
Bayesian Estimation of Diagnostic Tests Accuracy for Semi-Latent Data with Covariates

ABSTRACT The performance of a diagnostic test is usually summarized by its sensitivity and specificity. Sensitivity is the probability of a positive result, once the individual is truly ill, and specificity is the probability of a negative result, regarding a healthy individual. These measures are obtained by comparing the test outcome and the results of a reference test generically denominated gold standard. However, in many applied problems considering two diagnostic tests, the gold standard is not available for those individuals with negative results on both tests. In addition, not all diagnostic tests have the same performance across different populations. In this context, we present a Bayesian inference approach for performance measures estimation and we propose an extension of this procedure involving the inclusion of covariates. This Bayesian approach is based on Markov Chain Monte Carlo methods. The conditional dependence between the diagnostic tests was considered. As an example, we applied the proposed methodology to a real data set obtained from the medical literature.