Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Electropositive Charge in α-Defensin Bactericidal Activity: Functional Effects of Lys-for-Arg Substitutions Vary with the Peptide Primary Structure

ABSTRACT Cationic amino acids contribute to α-defensin bactericidal activity. Curiously, although Arg and Lys have equivalent electropositive charges at neutral pH, α-defensins contain an average of nine Arg residues per Lys residue. To investigate the role of high α-defensin Arg content, all Arg residues in mouse Paneth cell α-defensin cryptdin 4 (Crp4) and rhesus myeloid α-defensin 4 (RMAD-4) were replaced with Lys to prepare (R/K)-Crp4 and (R/K)-RMAD-4, respectively. Lys-for-Arg replacements in Crp4 attenuated bactericidal activity and slowed the kinetics of Escherichia coli ML35 cell permeabilization, and (R/K)-Crp4 required longer exposure times to reduce E. coli cell survival. In marked contrast, Lys substitutions in RMAD-4 improved microbicidal activity against certain bacteria and permeabilized E. coli more effectively. Therefore, Arg→Lys substitutions attenuated activity in Crp4 but not in RMAD-4, and the functional consequences of Arg→Lys replacements in α-defensins are dependent on the peptide primary structure. In addition, the bactericidal effects of (R/K)-Crp4 and (R/K)-RMAD-4 were more sensitive to inhibition by NaCl than those of the native peptides, suggesting that the high Arg content of α-defensins may be under selection to confer superior microbicidal function under physiologic conditions.
Towards a neuromorphic implementation of hierarchical temporal memory on SpiNNaker

Hierarchical Temporal Memory (HTM) is a computational model of the neocortex that is capable of online learning to predict and detect anomalies from continuous data streams. To make HTM also available on power-constrained robot systems, we investigate the feasibility of implementing the model on SpiNNaker, a fully programmable energy-efficient neuromorphic many core system. Our contribution is twofold: First, we propose a mapping of the HTM model components to the SpiNNaker chip architecture. Second, a prototypic implementation of this mapping is successfully evaluated for different sets of model parameters.
Towards Maturity Models as Methods to Manage IT for Business Value - A Resource-based View Foundation

For more than three decades business value of IT attracts attention in Information Systems Research (ISR) and practice. Despite the fact, that corporate management considers enterprise IT increasingly as a strategic factor, the question on how to manage IT effectively for business value remains widely unsolved. With the goal to support this management task we suggest maturity models (MMs) as a new method. We found MMs in the resource-based view in order to provide maturity models with a theoretical basis in general and to lay out the feasibility of MMs as methods to manage IT resources for business value in particular. To accomplish these goals, we conduct an in-depth analysis using an argumentative-deductive research approach. We contribute to the knowledge base by adopting a well-proven approach, transferring it to a new application domain, and grounding it in theory. Taking an example from corporate management research we illustrate our findings schematically.
Comparison and statistical evaluation of neutron activation methodologies for the determination of gold in copper concentrate

Gold was determined in copper concentrate by an instrumental neutron activation analysis technique using the relative method. The determination was repeated by radiochemical and chemical neutron activation analysis with the aid of an anion exchange strategy for the chemical separation of gold from the matrix (Fe, Cu, and Zn). Irradiation of copper concentrate samples was carried out in APSARA reactor (BARC, India) with a thermal neutron flux of about 1012 cm−2 s−1. Analysis of variance established that the results obtained by instrumental, radiochemical and chemical methodologies were statistically indistinguishable. Among the three approaches, radiochemical activation showed superior detection limits, which was attributed to both the reduction in background and increase in sensitivity. The best measurement repeatability was observed in chemical activation methodology, compared to the other two. The rationale behind the improvement in measurement repeatability was the capability of chemical activation to process a larger mass of sample for each replicate, which resulted in improved counting statistics and reduction in sampling error with respect to gold. Combined uncertainty for all the three methodologies was evaluated through the bottom-up approach. Systematic evaluation of various uncertainty parameters showed that the major contributor to the combined standard uncertainty was the counting statistics during the instrumental approach and the chemical separation yield during radiochemical and chemical activation. The combined uncertainty for all the three approaches was less than the measurement repeatability indicating the inhomogeneous distribution of gold in copper concentrate. Calculations showed that the sampling constant for gold in copper concentrate was about 22 g.
Association between blood flow and inflammatory state in a T‐cell transfer model of inflammatory bowel disease in mice

Background:Adoptive transfer of naive T‐lymphocyte subsets into lymphopenic mice initiates chronic gut inflammation that mimics several aspects of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Patients with IBD can have profound alterations in intestinal blood flow, but whether the same is true in the T‐cell transfer model has yet to be determined. Methods:In the current study, chronic intestinal inflammation was induced in recombinase‐activating gene‐1‐deficient (RAG−/−) mice by adoptive transfer of CD4+ T‐lymphocytes obtained from interleukin‐10 deficient (IL‐10−/−) mice. Results:Four weeks later, widespread colonic inflammation was observed in the reconstituted recipients, in contrast to 2 control sets of mice injected with a different subset of lymphocytes or with vehicle alone. We observed that the resulting pathology induced in the reconstituted RAG−/− mice was divided distinctly into 2 subsets: 1 with blood flow near normal with very high inflammation scores, and the other with severely attenuated blood flow but with much lower signs of inflammation. Colonic and ileal blood flow rates in the latter subset of CD4+ mice averaged only ≈30% compared to the mice with higher inflammation scores. The lower blood flow rates were associated with greatly reduced red blood cell concentrations in the tissue, suggesting a possible loss of vascular density. Conclusions:In this model of chronic intestinal inflammation, mild inflammation was associated with significant decreases in blood flow. Inflamm Bowel Dis 2009
Use of the recombinant Onchocerca volvulus protein Ov20/OvS1 for the immunodiagnostic differentiation between onchocerciasis and mansonelliasis and for the characterization of hyperreactive onchocerciasis (sowda)

Summary The protein Ov20/OvS1 was used as antigen in ELISA and Western blot in order to differentiate onchocerciasis from African mansonelliasis and to characterize the hyperreactive form of Onchocerca volvulus infection (sowda). The specificity of the IgG4 Western blot was 98% for the differentiation between persons with onchocerciasis and Mansonella microfilariae (mf) carriers (125 persons with M. perstans and 92 with M. streptocerca), whereas the IgG4 ELISA showed a specificity of 81% in 137 M. perstans mf carriers and 85% in 94 M. streptocerca mf carriers. The sensitivity of Ov20/OvS1 in identifying onchocerciasis using the IgG4 ELISA was 75% for 103 O. volvulus mf carriers with the generalized and 89% for 44 patients with the sowda form of onchocerciasis. IgE antibodies against OvS1 were found in 95% of 39 patients with hyperreactive onchocerciasis but only in 15% of 47 persons with the generalized form. Thus, Ov20/–OvS1 appears a promising candidate antigen for the diagnosis of onchocerciasis and in particular for the detection of the sowda type of disease.
Differential Fault Analysis for Block Ciphers: an Automated Conservative Analysis

Differential Fault Analysis (DFA) exploits the differences between a correct and a faulty output of a cipher implementation to derive the secret parameters. All the current DFA techniques are tailored to the cipher being attacked and do not provide a general framework. We propose an automated general framework to assess the vulnerability of block ciphers against DFAs, providing a conservative analysis on the attacker capabilities and a practical lower bound on the attacker effort required to extract the secret-key. The proposed technique is based on dataflow analysis of software cipher implementations and has been implemented as a pass of the llvm compiler infrastructure. This work shows how the automated tool we developed is able to detect which and how many faults an attacker can exploit to recover the values of portions of the secret-key material employed by a standard block cipher, validating the effectiveness of our approach. The precise analysis provided by our tool allows to apply the computationally demanding fault attack countermeasures only to the vulnerable portions of the cipher.
Dose Pattern Evolution and Therapeutic Benefit in Patients on Solifenacin or Fesoterodine Treatment in Daily Clinical Practice

Aim: To explore in daily clinical practice the evolution in time of the fesoterodine and solifenacin dose pattern and assess the therapeutic benefit provided by the highest dose of these anti-muscarinics. Patients and Methods: This was a post-hoc analysis of data from an observational, cross-sectional, retrospective and multicenter study. Adult patients diagnosed with over active bladder (OAB) who initiated fesoterodine or solifenacin treatment were included. Data on the prescribed treatment and dose, change of dose, reasons for switching and treatment benefit were recorded. Results: A total of 828 subjects were analyzed (262 receiving solifenacin and 566 fesoterodine). Most subjects were women with a mean time since diagnosis of more than one year and aged around 60 years old. The majority of patients initiated the OAB treatment with the lowest available dose (64% fesoterodine vs. 77% solifenacin). At the follow-up visit 54% of the fesoterodine group and 66% of the solifenacin opted for dose escalation. At the study visit, 70.1% fesoterodine vs. 43.3% solifenacin remained on the highest dose. A significantly greater proportion of subjects receiving fesoterodine 8 mg, reported higher improvement in terms of both patient-reported-treatment benefit and clinical global impression compared with solifenacin 10 mg (p < 0.05). Conclusion: In routine clinical practice more than half of the patients opted for the higher dose and remained on it over time, suggesting a desire for greater efficacy. Fesoterodine 8 mg seems to provide greater benefits from the physician’s and the patient’s point of view compared with those provided by solifenacin 10 mg.
Picoplankton Bloom in Global South? A High Fraction of Aerobic Anoxygenic Phototrophic Bacteria in Metagenomes from a Coastal Bay (Arraial do Cabo—Brazil)

Abstract Marine habitats harbor a great diversity of microorganism from the three domains of life, only a small fraction of which can be cultivated. Metagenomic approaches are increasingly popular for addressing microbial diversity without culture, serving as sensitive and relatively unbiased methods for identifying and cataloging the diversity of nucleic acid sequences derived from organisms in environmental samples. Aerobic anoxygenic phototrophic bacteria (AAP) play important roles in carbon and energy cycling in aquatic systems. In oceans, those bacteria are widely distributed; however, their abundance and importance are still poorly understood. The aim of this study was to estimate abundance and diversity of AAPs in metagenomes from an upwelling affected coastal bay in Arraial do Cabo, Brazil, using in silico screening for the anoxygenic photosynthesis core genes. Metagenomes from the Global Ocean Sample Expedition (GOS) were screened for comparative purposes. AAPs were highly abundant in the free-living bacterial fraction from Arraial do Cabo: 23.88% of total bacterial cells, compared with 15% in the GOS dataset. Of the ten most AAP abundant samples from GOS, eight were collected close to the Equator where solar irradiation is high year-round. We were able to assign most retrieved sequences to phylo-groups, with a particularly high abundance of Roseobacter in Arraial do Cabo samples. The high abundance of AAP in this tropical bay may be related to the upwelling phenomenon and subsequent picoplankton bloom. These results suggest a link between upwelling and light abundance and demonstrate AAP even in oligotrophic tropical and subtropical environments. Longitudinal studies in the Arraial do Cabo region are warranted to understand the dynamics of AAP at different locations and seasons, and the ecological role of these unique bacteria for biogeochemical and energy cycling in the ocean.
Stability anlysis and controller synthesis of networked control system (NCS) with arbitrary packet drop-outs

The applications of Networked Control has increased by a number of folds in recent days due to its certain advantages over traditional point to point control protocol and thus has been dealt by number of researchers in myriad ways due to its certain foremost advantages. In this paper a two-switch model of a NCS has been developed with networks in the forward and the backward path simulating the most common issues in NCS, i.e. datatransfer and/or data-drop. This paper also uses the concept to design an optimal Full State Feedback Controller (FSFC) which guarantees the stability of the NCS by placing the poles of the closed loop system inside a specified disc within the unit circle using Discrete Linear Quadratic Regulator (DLQR) technique. The FSFC thus developed, tackles the most dominant issues of the NCS i.e. packet drop-out and/or jitter. The results have been verified using MATLAB-Simulink and has been procured at the end to validate the propositions.
Experimental reliability of the doubly labeled water technique.

The experimental reliability of measuring CO2 production rates (rCO2) with the doubly labeled water (DLW) technique was assessed in five young healthy men (23 (DLW) technique was assessed in five young healthy men (23 +/- 4 yr; 66.1 +/- 4.6 kg). To minimize the confounding effects of fluctuations in physical activity and eating patterns on variation in energy expenditure, the subjects lived under sedentary living conditions by confinement to their own room at a Clinical Research Center and were maintained on a fixed and known level of energy intake. rCO2 was determined in duplicate over two identical 9-day study periods after separate loading doses of deuterium and oxygen-18. Turnover rates were determined from multipoint sampling to reduce error from analytical uncertainty. Dilution spaces were determined by both the intercept and plateau methods. The average experimental variation for rCO2 estimates was approximately +/- 8.5% and was not significantly different among three published calculation models that differ in their assumptions regarding the relationship between the dilution spaces of deuterium and oxygen-18. The experimental reliability of +/- 8.5% exceeds theoretical values generated from calculations based on propagation of error from analytical uncertainty. Between subjects, the experimental variation ranged from 1 to 21%, and the half-width of the 95% confidence interval for the precision of rCO2 estimates was high (+/- 12 mol/day) relative to the mean reported value of approximately 16 mol/day. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Validating the Earlier Analyses and Forecasting on Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells (DSSCs)

Newly Emerging Science and Technologies (NESTs) bring numerous innovation opportunities and challenges. At the same time, the highly uncertain dynamics of NESTs pose special challenges to traditional technology forecasting tools. Dye-Sensitized solar cells (DSSCs), a promising third-generation photovoltaic technology, can add functionality and lower costs, enhancing the value proposition of solar power generation in the early years of the 21st century. We have analyzed DSSCs R&D activity patterns and trends through a series of studies in the past several years, and come to realize the validation analyses is useful to improve the Science, Technology & Innovation (ST&I) policy processes. Yet, rarely do we revisit forecasts or projections to ascertain how well they fared. One of our aim is to check accuracy, to gain some sense of how valid those studies were and whether they proved useful to others in some ways. Additionally, we want to assess the degree to which such future-oriented analyses did or did not make good use of available information. Moreover, we seek indications of what information is key, and how Future-oriented technology analyses (FTA) processes can better utilize such information.
An epistemic event‐based correlation approach for managing pervasive networks

Existing pervasive applications are based on time series data that possess the form of time‐ordered series of events. Such applications also embody the need to handle large volumes of unexpected events, often modified on‐the‐fly, containing conflicting information, and dealing with rapidly changing contexts while producing results with low latency. Correlating events across contextual dimensions holds the key to expanding the capabilities and improving the performance of these applications. In this paper we analyze complex‐event semantic correlation that examines epistemic uncertainty in computer networks by using Dempster–Shafer theory to support a high‐volume, event‐based, in‐network and non‐deterministic pervasive network management. We consider imprecision and uncertainty when an event is detected and associate a belief parameter with the semantics and the detection of composite events. The approach taps into in‐network processing capabilities of pervasive computer networks and can withstand missing or conflicting information gathered from multiple participating entities. In the end, we establish that a lightweight, distributed, large‐volume, event‐based technique which exploits epistemic uncertainty to correlate events along contextual dimensions provides a successful technique for enabling management of large‐scale and pervasive contemporary and future computer networks. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Contrôle inhibiteur et initiation de l'action : un modèle théorique alternatif et des méthodes électroencéphalographiques avancées pour des perspectives cliniques dans la maladie de Parkinson

L'inhibition de reponse joue un role majeur dans le controle cognitif. Mais les relations entre activite cerebrale et comportement sont particulierement difficiles a apprehender puisque la fonction est precisement destinee a prevenir tout comportement observable… Dans une premiere partie, nous proposons une revue de questions mettant en evidence la necessite d'utiliser des methodes psychophysiques adaptees. Nous proposons egalement une analyse systemique des travaux utilisant l'electroencephalographie, methode largement privilegiee pour sonder la dynamique des mecanismes inhibiteurs. Dans une seconde partie, nous mettons en œuvre ces propositions dans le cadre d'une etude combinee EEG/IRMf. Grâce a des methodes avancees de traitement du signal EEG, nous suggerons la mise en jeu de mecanismes automatiques, non selectifs, d'inhibition de reponse des lors que le contexte evenementiel est incertain. Il reposerait sur la pre-activation d'une circuiterie auto-inhibitrice dans le complexe moteur supplementaire, implemente par un large reseau medial frontoparietal. Dans les troisieme et quatrieme parties, nous montrons le role majeur de cette fonction dans d'autres processus cognitifs et illustrons les consequences cliniques de son dysfonctionnement. Nous montrons en particulier que l'impulsivite n'est pas la seule expression des troubles du controle inhibiteur. La difficulte a initier une action constituerait, dans la maladie de Parkinson, une consequence directe de ce dysfonctionnement. L'implication d'une deregulation du systeme noradrenergique et de l'activite du noyau sous-thalamique dans l'occurrence du trouble est suggeree, et les perspectives therapeutiques discutees
Validation of multi-objective optimization for total airport management

Mobility is a key aspect for today's society. Whether or not a desired high level mobility is achieved, is significantly influenced by airports, which are a central interface between ground and air traffic and, thus, impact the total transportation system and its quality. That today's airports do not optimally foster mobility, is, for instance, impressively demonstrated by punctuality statistics: Unpunctuality rates of airports reach about 20%. The majority of these mobility issues can be traced back to an inefficient use of the airports' capacities, which are, in turn, caused by the low level of interconnection between the great number of processes owned by the various stakeholders at an airport (e.g., airlines, ground handlers, air traffic control, airport company, etc.). To improve these numbers and yield a high level of efficient mobility, a total airport management concept has been introduced which aims at optimizing the key performance areas “capacity”, “predictability”, “efficiency”, or “environment”. It proposes assistance systems which use multi-objective optimization algorithms to compute appropriate allocation of resources and airports. In addition, it requests a manual implementation of the proposed allocation. This human-machine interaction is introduced and first results are summarized within the scope of this paper.
Reinnervation of free skin autografts in the rat.

The objective of the present work is to study, using histochemical techniques, the regeneration of cholinesterase-positive and adrenergic nerves in free skin grafts which were applied to the dorsal muscle fascia of the rat. The first signs of regeneration of single free nerves which showed nonspecific cholinesterase (nsChE) activity were observed four weeks postoperatively in the dermis of the skin graft. The first nerves occurring in the vicinity of hair follicles were observed eight weeks after grafting. The regeneration progressed steadily and, twelve weeks postoperatively, nerve trunks, nerve plexi and nerves following blood vessels were observed. The first signs of regeneration of the fluorescent adrenergic nerves following blood vessels in the regenerated connective tissue under the graft were observed twelve weeks postoperatively, but the regeneration of adrenergic nerves was still incomplete even after 20 weeks and most blood vessels remained without nerves. The grafted skin itself remained withou.
Posttraumatic Pulmonary Insufficiency: A Treatable Disease

Posttraumatic pulmonary insufficiency was treated using positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP), intermittent mandatory ventilation, and cardiovascular monitoring and support. These were begun when intrapulmonary shunt exceeded 15% and before development of hypoxemia despite high inspired oxygen fractions; or retention of CO2; or infiltrative changes on roentgenogram. Of 39 patients treated, 28 required aggressive intervention with levels of PEEP up to 40 cm H2O and support of cardiovascular function with fluids, blood, and ionitropic agents. Those sustaining blunt trauma required the same level of interventions as those with penetrating trauma, but for a significantly longer time. All had reversal of respiratory failure with reduction of shunt to 15%. There were no deaths from respiratory failure or the treatment modalities. Early aggressive treatment for all cases was successful and allowed differentiation of the severity of the original insult.