Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Functional characterisation of Vizottin, the first factor Xa inhibitor purified from the leech Haementeria vizottoi

Summary The strategic position of factor Xa (FXa) in blood coagulation makes it a compelling target for the development of new anticoagulants. Bloodsucking animals have in their salivary glands mixtures of anticoagulants, which could be used for designing novel antithrombotic compounds. Herein, we describe Vizottin, the first FXa inhibitor from the salivary complex of the leech Haementeria vizottoi. Vizottin was purified by gel filtration and reverse-phase chromatography, and shown to have anticoagulant effects in human plasma, prolonging the recalcification time in a dose-dependent manner (IC50 40 nM). Vizottin induced blood incoagulability in FX-deficient plasma, whereas in normal and reconstituted plasma, Vizottin doubled the prothrombin time at 160 nM. This peptide competitively inhibited human FXa (Ki 2 nM) like FXa inhibitors from other leeches, albeit via a distinct mechanism of action. At high concentrations, vizottin inhibited the amidolytic activity of factor VIIa/tissue factor (IC50 96.4 nM). Vizottin inhibited FXa in the prothrombinase complex and Gla-domainless FXa. Moreover, vizottin did not interfere with FX activation induced by RVV-X, a known enzyme that requires the Gla-domain of FX for activation. Competition experiments in the presence of FXa and GGACK-FXa (active site blocked) demonstrated that the inhibition of FXa by vizottin is through binding to the active site rather than an exosite. This novel inhibitor appears to exert its inhibitory effects through direct binding to the active site of FXa in a time-dependent manner, but not involving a tight-binding model. In this context, vizottin is a promising model for designing novel anticoagulants for the treatment of thrombotic diseases.
Integrated Management Planning in Canada's Northern Marine Environment: Engaging Coastal Communities

In accordance with international law and custom, Canada declared an exclusive economic zone of 2.9 million km² when it passed the Oceans Act in 1997. Extensive resource management responsibilities were associated with this declaration. An early effort to engage a northern coastal community in the first stages of an integrated management planning process focused on the small northern community of Churchill, Manitoba, and a 150 km stretch of the Hudson Bay coastline. The steps taken included communicating the importance of management planning for the town's coastal region; conducting personal interviews on coastal activities and concerns with a representative sample of the community; consolidating, tabulating, and mapping the results of these interviews; verifying results with the community; and evaluating the effectiveness of the process used. The approach taken, as well as the weeks spent living in the community, were important factors in developing a relationship of trust between the researcher and the community. Those interviewed were more comfortable participating once they had had a number of opportunities to become familiar with the context of the study, its relevance to them, and the researcher.
AUGMENTED REALITY IN LIVE VIDEO STREAMS USING POST-ITS FINAL REPORT JUNE 6TH, 2016

In this paper, we set the goal to use generic Post-it notes as fiducial markers for real-time augmented reality applications. We compare detection using SIFT, Template Matching and a custom designed “ColorShape” method, and find that the latter approach delivers high quality results, allowing for robust and accurate projective pose estimation at low processing time.
Group Visual Sentiment Analysis

In this paper, we introduce a framework for classifying images according to high-level sentiment. We subdivide the task into three primary problems: emotion classification on faces, human pose estimation, and 3D estimation and clustering of groups of people. We introduce novel algorithms for matching body parts to a common individual and clustering people in images based on physical location and orientation. Our results outperform several baseline approaches.
ADVANCED TECHNIQUES FOR THE STUDIES OF STONES AND PAINTINGS ON WALLS : STATE OF THE ART AND OPEN PROBLEMS

Different imaging techniques are presented and applied to the study of historical and artistic objects and buildings, mainly belonging to Renaissance time, in the city of Bologna, where the arenaria (sandstone) of which they are constituted is largely degradated in the surfaces due to the effects of pollutants present in the atmosphere, since suitable 3D reconstruction algorithm may be very useful in panning restoration works. We based our investigation on multispectral techniques ranging from infrared reflectography, digital thermography and thermal diffusivity (mirage effect) and ultraviolet fluorescence. Possible contributions from ultrasound analysis as well as other non-destructive techniques are addressed. In addition, an original portable equipment based on the detection of Compton scattering photons and a further statistical analysis of the collected data has been utilized.
3 DQRS : A method to obtain reliable QRS complex detection within high field MRI using 12-lead ECG traces

Purpose—To develop a technique that accurately detects the QRS complex in 1.5T, 3T and 7T MRI scanners. ” Theory and Methods—During early systole, blood is rapidly ejected into the aortic arch, traveling perpendicular to the MRI’s main field, which produces a strong voltage (VMHD) that eclipses the QRS complex. Greater complexity arises in arrhythmia patients, since VMHD can vary between sinus-rhythm and arrhythmic beats. The 3DQRS method uses a kernel consisting of 6 ECG precordial leads, compiled from a 12-lead ECG performed outside the magnet. The kernel is cross-correlated with signals acquired inside the MRI in order to identify the QRS complex in real time. The 3DQRS method was evaluated against a Vectorcardiogram-based (VCG) approach in 2 Premature Ventricular Contraction (PVC) and 2 Atrial Fibrillation (AF) patients, a healthy exercising athlete and 8 healthy volunteers, within 1.5T and 3T MRIs, using a prototype MRIconditional 12 lead ECG system. 2 volunteers were recorded at 7T using a Holter recorder. Results—For QRS complex detection, 3DQRS subject-averaged sensitivity levels, relative to VCG were: 1.5T (100% vs. 96.7%), 3T (98.9% vs. 92.2%), 7T (96.2% vs. 77.7%). Conclusions—The 3DQRS method was shown to be more effective in cardiac gating than a conventional VCG-based method.
Brain Viscoelasticity Alteration in Chronic-Progressive Multiple Sclerosis

Introduction Viscoelastic properties indicate structural alterations in biological tissues at multiple scales with high sensitivity. Magnetic Resonance Elastography (MRE) is a novel technique that directly visualizes and quantitatively measures biomechanical tissue properties in vivo. MRE recently revealed that early relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (MS) is associated with a global decrease of the cerebral mechanical integrity. This study addresses MRE and MR volumetry in chronic-progressive disease courses of MS. Methods We determined viscoelastic parameters of the brain parenchyma in 23 MS patients with primary or secondary chronic progressive disease course in comparison to 38 age- and gender-matched healthy individuals by multifrequency MRE, and correlated the results with clinical data, T2 lesion load and brain volume. Two viscoelastic parameters, the shear elasticity μ and the powerlaw exponent α, were deduced according to the springpot model and compared to literature values of relapsing-remitting MS. Results In chronic-progressive MS patients, μ and α were reduced by 20.5% and 6.1%, respectively, compared to healthy controls. MR volumetry yielded a weaker correlation: Total brain volume loss in MS patients was in the range of 7.5% and 1.7% considering the brain parenchymal fraction. All findings were significant (P<0.001). Conclusions Chronic-progressive MS disease courses show a pronounced reduction of the cerebral shear elasticity compared to early relapsing-remitting disease. The powerlaw exponent α decreased only in the chronic-progressive stage of MS, suggesting an alteration in the geometry of the cerebral mechanical network due to chronic neuroinflammation.
Oral Health Issues in Psoriasis: An Overview of the Literature

Psoriasis is defined as an immune-mediated multiple-cause disease of genetic basis [1] and different phenotypes [2] that affects up to 8.5% of the population in the Western countries and requires careful management [3]. Among the skin chronic forms of psoriasis, those with circumscribed thick white to silver plaques, surrounded by areas redness are more common [4]. Psoriasis can spread to the elbows, knees, shins, scalp, lower back, nails, genitals, mouth and joint areas with many grades of damage, leading to the emotional consequences with negative impact in the patient’s life [3, 6]. Oral cavity can reveals details about systemic health status. Oral diseases also have immune-involvement with multiple causes and can lead to local and systemic complications. Oral care are the health treatments that people more often have performed [74]. Relying on surgical resources and increasingly advanced pharmacological therapy, these treatments can lead to the damages, even in healthy patients [4]. In some conditions, dental treatments can be invasive and for Psoriasis it can cause problems in complex ways. The oral aspects for psoriasis were not assessed with a comprehensive literature review and accurate inferences are possible only if a previous systematic analysis of risk factors was done [5].
Role of dipolar interactions in a system of Ni nanoparticles studied by magnetic susceptibility measurements

The role of dipolar interactions among Ni nanoparticles (NP) embedded in an amorphous SiO2/C matrix with different concentrations has been studied performing ac magnetic susceptibility Chi_ac measurements. For very diluted samples, with Ni concentrations < 4 wt % Ni or very weak dipolar interactions, the data are well described by the Neel-Arrhenius law. Increasing Ni concentration to values up to 12.8 wt % Ni results in changes in the Neel-Arrhenius behavior, the dipolar interactions become important, and need to be considered to describe the magnetic response of the NPs system. We have found no evidence of a spin-glasslike behavior in our Ni NP systems even when dipolar interactions are clearly present.
Exploring the Usability of Municipal Web Sites: A Comparison Based on Expert Evaluation Results from Four Case Studies

The usability of public administration web sites is a key quality attribute for the successful implementation of the Information Society. Formative usability evaluation aims at finding and reporting usability problems as early as possible in the development process. The objective of this paper is to present and comparatively analyze the results of an expert usability evaluation of 4 municipality web sites. In order to document usability problems an extended set of heuristics was used that is based on two sources: usability heuristics and ergonomic criteria. The explanatory power of heuristics was supplemented with a set of usability guidelines. The evaluation results revealed that a set of specific tasks with clearly defined goals helps to identify many severe usability problems that occur frequently in the municipality web sites. A typical issue for this category of web sites is the lack of information support for the user.
Sanggenon C protects against pressure overload-induced cardiac hypertrophy via the calcineurin/NFAT2 pathway

The effects of Sanggenon C on oxidative stress and inflammation have previously been reported; however, little is currently known regarding the effects of Sanggenon C on cardiac hypertrophy and fibrosis. In the present study, aortic banding (AB) was performed on mice to induce cardiac hypertrophy. After 1 week AB surgery, mice were treated daily with 10 or 20 mg/kg Sanggenon C for 3 weeks. Subsequently, cardiac function was detected using echocardiography and catheter-based measurements of hemodynamic parameters. In addition, the extent of cardiac hypertrophy was evaluated by pathological staining and molecular analysis of heart tissue in each group. After 4 weeks of AB, vehicle-treated mice exhibited cardiac hypertrophy, fibrosis, and deteriorated systolic and diastolic function, whereas treatment with 10 and 20 mg/kg Sanggenon C treatment ameliorated these alterations, as evidenced by attenuated cardiac hypertrophy and fibrosis, and preserved cardiac function. Furthermore, AB-induced activation of calcineurin and nuclear factor of activated T cells 2 (NFAT2) was reduced following Sanggenon C treatment. These results suggest that Sanggenon C may exert protective effects against cardiac hypertrophy and fibrosis via suppression of the calcineurin/NFAT2 pathway.
Development of beam position monitors for heavy ion recirculators

Work is underway at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory to design and build a small-scale, heavy ion recirculating induction accelerator. An essential part of this design work is the development of small non-intercepting diagnostics to measure beam current and position. This paper describes some of this work, with particular emphasis on the development of a small capacitive probe beam position monitor to resolve beam position to the 100 /spl mu/m level in a 6 cm diameter beam pipe. Initial measured results with an 80 keV potassium ion beam are presented.
Effects of Vagus Nerve Stimulation and Vagotomy on Systemic and Pulmonary Inflammation in a Two-Hit Model in Rats

Pulmonary inflammation contributes to ventilator-induced lung injury. Sepsis-induced pulmonary inflammation (first hit) may be potentiated by mechanical ventilation (MV, second hit). Electrical stimulation of the vagus nerve has been shown to attenuate inflammation in various animal models through the cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway. We determined the effects of vagotomy (VGX) and vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) on systemic and pulmonary inflammation in a two-hit model. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were i.v. administered lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and subsequently underwent VGX, VNS or a sham operation. 1 hour following LPS, MV with low (8 mL/kg) or moderate (15 mL/kg) tidal volumes was initiated, or animals were left breathing spontaneously (SP). After 4 hours of MV or SP, rats were sacrificed. Cytokine and blood gas analysis was performed. MV with 15, but not 8 mL/kg, potentiated the LPS-induced pulmonary pro-inflammatory cytokine response (TNF-α, IL-6, KC: p<0.05 compared to LPS-SP), but did not affect systemic inflammation or impair oxygenation. VGX enhanced the LPS-induced pulmonary, but not systemic pro-inflammatory cytokine response in spontaneously breathing, but not in MV animals (TNF-α, IL-6, KC: p<0.05 compared to SHAM), and resulted in decreased pO2 (p<0.05 compared to sham-operated animals). VNS did not affect any of the studied parameters in both SP and MV animals. In conclusion, MV with moderate tidal volumes potentiates the pulmonary inflammatory response elicited by systemic LPS administration. No beneficial effects of vagus nerve stimulation performed following LPS administration were found. These results questions the clinical applicability of stimulation of the cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway in systemically inflamed patients admitted to the ICU where MV is initiated.
Nano-microstructured, superhydrophobic, and infrared transparent polytetrafluoroethylene/diamond films

Abstract. A self-assembled polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) nanostructure is deposited on microcrystalline diamond (MCD) films, by use of physical and chemical vapor deposition in a two-step process, to produce (fully) superhydrophobic surfaces: high water contact angle (static, 165±2 deg), very low hysteresis (dynamic, ∼4 deg), and associated sliding angle (1 deg 5′±15′), thus combining the diamond infrared transparency and self-cleaning properties. These are interpreted in light of Wenzel and Cassie-Baxter wetting models, associated with structural microscopy of nano-micro rough PTFE/MCD surfaces, and present a promising perspective for self-cleaning infrared optics applications.
Genotypic Diversity of Multidrug Resistant Shigella species from Iran

Background In many developing countries, shigellosis is endemic and also occurs in epidemics and treatment of multidrug-resistant (MDR) isolates are important. The aims of this study were to determine the antimicrobial susceptibility, prevalence of class 1 and 2 integrons and the clonal relatedness of isolates. Materials and Methods Antimicrobial susceptibility tests were performed by disc diffusion method. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-sequencing technique was employed for detection and characterization of integrons. The genetic relatedness was evaluated by using enterobacterial repetitive intergenic consensus (ERIC) PCR. Results There was a high percentage of resistance to trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (TMP/SMX) (93.7%), ampicillin (AMP) (87.3%), streptomycin (STR) (84.5%) and tetracycline (TET) (78.9%). Multidrug resistant phenotype was seen in 95.1% of total isolates. Most common MDR profile was TMP/SMX/STR/AMP resistant pattern. Among the 142 Shigella spp. analyzed in this study, 28 isolates were positive for class 1 integron with two types of gene cassette arrays (dfrA17/aadA5 = 31.7% and dfrA7 = 3.8%). The class 2 integron was more frequently detected among the isolates (94.7%) with dfrA1/sat1/aadA1 (69.4%) and dfrA1/sat1 (30.6%) gene cassettes. ERIC-PCR results showed 6, 5, 4 and 3 main genotypes among S. flexneri, S. sonnei, S. boydii and S. dysenteriae isolates, respectively. Conclusions Our findings revealed that multidrug resistant Shigella species with high prevalence of class 2 integron were very common in Iran. In addition, ERIC-PCR patterns showed limited variety of clones are responsible for shigellosis in the region of the study.
Hip posterolateral musculature strengthening in sedentary women with patellofemoral pain syndrome: a randomized controlled clinical trial with 1-year follow-up.

STUDY DESIGN Randomized controlled trial. OBJECTIVES To determine if adding hip-strengthening exercises to a conventional knee exercise program produces better long-term outcomes than conventional knee exercises alone in women with patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS). BACKGROUND Recent studies have shown that a hip-strengthening program reduces pain and improves function in individuals with PFPS. However, there are no clinical trials evaluating long-term outcomes of this type of program compared to conventional knee-strengthening and -stretching exercises. METHODS Fifty-four sedentary women between 20 and 40 years of age, with a diagnosis of unilateral PFPS, were randomly assigned knee exercise (KE) or knee and hip exercise (KHE). The women in the KE group (n = 26; mean age, 23 years) performed a 4-week conventional knee-stretching and -strengthening program. The women in the KHE group (n = 28; mean age, 22 years) performed the same exercises as those in the KE group, as well as strengthening exercises for the hip abductors, lateral rotators, and extensors. An 11-point numeric pain rating scale, the Lower Extremity Functional Scale, the Anterior Knee Pain Scale, and a single-hop test were used as outcome measures at baseline (pretreatment) and 3, 6, and 12 months posttreatment. RESULTS At baseline, demographic, pain, and functional assessment data were similar between groups. Those in the KHE group had a higher level of function and less pain at 3, 6, and 12 months compared to baseline (P<.05). In contrast, the KE group had reduced pain only at the 3- and 6-month follow-ups (P<.05), without any changes in Lower Extremity Functional Scale, Anterior Knee Pain Scale, or hop testing (P>.05) through the course of the study. Compared to the KE group, the KHE group had less pain and better function at 3, 6, and 12 months posttreatment (P<.05). For the Lower Extremity Functional Scale, the between-group difference in change scores from baseline at 3, 6, and 12 months posttreatment favored the KHE group by 22.0, 22.0, and 20.8 points, respectively. CONCLUSION Knee-stretching and -strengthening exercises supplemented by hip posterolateral musculature-strengthening exercises were more effective than knee exercises alone in improving long-term function and reducing pain in sedentary women with PFPS.
The “Transition Generation’s” Entrance to Parenthood: Postponement across 19 Post-Socialist Countries

This study investigates the conditions under which delayed parenthood emerges. We combined micro and macro-data to explore the timing of parenthood for women who entered adulthood during the 1990s and 2000s over a wide range of 19 post-socialist countries. Postponement was associated with higher educational attainment, but the educational composition of the population accounted for little variation in the average timing of parenthood among countries. Postponement was also associated with a more positive economic environment and accounting for the economic context absorbed over half of the variation among countries. The strength of the economy’s influence varied across educational levels, but a poorer economic context was consistently linked to earlier parenthood across all educational levels. We interpret this finding as evidence that postponement does not become widespread when there is little reason to expect improved financial circumstances. The postponing influence of economic performance also appeared to wane when women entered their late 20s and early 30s, which may be evidence of age norms or deadlines.
STAT5A/B Blockade Sensitizes Prostate Cancer to Radiation through Inhibition of RAD51 and DNA Repair

Purpose: The standard treatment for organ-confined prostate cancer is surgery or radiation, and locally advanced prostate cancer is typically treated with radiotherapy alone or in combination with androgen deprivation therapy. Here, we investigated whether Stat5a/b participates in regulation of double-strand DNA break repair in prostate cancer, and whether Stat5 inhibition may provide a novel strategy to sensitize prostate cancer to radiotherapy. Experimental Design: Stat5a/b regulation of DNA repair in prostate cancer was evaluated by comet and clonogenic survival assays, followed by assays specific to homologous recombination (HR) DNA repair and nonhomologous end joining (NHEJ) DNA repair. For HR DNA repair, Stat5a/b regulation of Rad51 and the mechanisms underlying the regulation were investigated in prostate cancer cells, xenograft tumors, and patient-derived prostate cancers ex vivo in 3D explant cultures. Stat5a/b induction of Rad51 and HR DNA repair and responsiveness to radiation were evaluated in vivo in mice bearing prostate cancer xenograft tumors. Results: Stat5a/b is critical for Rad51 expression in prostate cancer via Jak2-dependent mechanisms by inducing Rad51 mRNA levels. Consistent with this, genetic knockdown of Stat5a/b suppressed HR DNA repair while not affecting NHEJ DNA repair. Pharmacologic Stat5a/b inhibition potently sensitized prostate cancer cell lines and prostate cancer tumors to radiation, while not inducing radiation sensitivity in the neighboring tissues. Conclusions: This work introduces a novel concept of a pivotal role of Jak2–Stat5a/b signaling for Rad51 expression and HR DNA repair in prostate cancer. Inhibition of Jak2–Stat5a/b signaling sensitizes prostate cancer to radiation and, therefore, may provide an adjuvant therapy for radiation to reduce radiation-induced damage to the neighboring tissues. Clin Cancer Res; 24(8); 1917–31. ©2018 AACR.