Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Matrix Metalloproteinase-10 (MMP-10) Interaction with Tissue Inhibitors of Metalloproteinases TIMP-1 and TIMP-2

Background: Stromelysins MMP-3 and MMP-10 serve distinct functions, and differential inhibition by TIMPs offers one mechanism of control. Results: MMP-10 shows reduced sensitivity to TIMP-1 and -2; the MMP-10·TIMP-1 structure provides insights into inhibitor specificity. Conclusion: MMP sequence homology poorly predicts TIMP affinity, where subtle conformational differences shape selectivity. Significance: Our results clarify biological protease regulation and suggest strategies for engineering TIMP selectivity. Matrix metalloproteinase 10 (MMP-10, stromelysin-2) is a secreted metalloproteinase with functions in skeletal development, wound healing, and vascular remodeling; its overexpression is also implicated in lung tumorigenesis and tumor progression. To understand the regulation of MMP-10 by tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMPs), we have assessed equilibrium inhibition constants (Ki) of putative physiological inhibitors TIMP-1 and TIMP-2 for the active catalytic domain of human MMP-10 (MMP-10cd) using multiple kinetic approaches. We find that TIMP-1 inhibits the MMP-10cd with a Ki of 1.1 × 10−9 m; this interaction is 10-fold weaker than the inhibition of the similar MMP-3 (stromelysin-1) catalytic domain (MMP-3cd) by TIMP-1. TIMP-2 inhibits the MMP-10cd with a Ki of 5.8 × 10−9 m, which is again 10-fold weaker than the inhibition of MMP-3cd by this inhibitor (Ki = 5.5 × 10−10 m). We solved the x-ray crystal structure of TIMP-1 bound to the MMP-10cd at 1.9 Å resolution; the structure was solved by molecular replacement and refined with an R-factor of 0.215 (Rfree = 0.266). Comparing our structure of MMP-10cd·TIMP-1 with the previously solved structure of MMP-3cd·TIMP-1 (Protein Data Bank entry 1UEA), we see substantial differences at the binding interface that provide insight into the differential binding of stromelysin family members to TIMP-1. This structural information may ultimately assist in the design of more selective TIMP-based inhibitors tailored for specificity toward individual members of the stromelysin family, with potential therapeutic applications.
Vertical handoff scheme concerning mobility in the two-hierarchy network

In a two-hierarchy cellular network — comprised of a central macrocell underlaid with shorter range femtocell, seamless vertical handoff (VHO) is a challenging issue to be approached. With regard to VHO performance requirement in heterogeneous networks, there is a critical demand to develop schemes of the connection managements with synthetically considering additional factors, such as, monetary cost, offered services, user velocity, network conditions, and user preferences besides received signal strength (RSS). To achieve this, a new VHO decision method consisting of the handoff candidates picking and a well-defined objective function optimization is proposed in this paper. When the handoff candidates are picked, the practical constraints will be considered in the new scheme, including femtocell access manner, RSS, and UE velocity. The objective function combines multiple factors that the network operator concerns and thus owns good expansibility and portability. By applying this scheme, the optimal overall performance can be achieved in the integrated system of macrocell and femtocell access networks. Results based on the detailed performance evaluation demonstrate promoted efficacy of the proposed scheme compared to the traditional ones.
S-SIFT : A Shorter SIFT without Least Discriminative Visual Orientation

Detection and description of local features are a classical problem in image processing and multimedia content analysis. Based on the inhomogeneity of visual orientation in human visual system, we propose a novel algorithm S-SIFT to detect and describe local image features. In three stages of SSIFT, the information from the least discriminability orientation is omitting. Compared with the standard SIFT algorithm, S-SIFT has lower dimension and provides a faster keypoint matching. Experiments on the standard dataset demonstrate that our algorithm yields comparable or even better results for feature detection and matching tasks. Keywords-visual orientation; real-world distribution; descriptors; scale-invariant feature transform
Anti-carbamylated protein antibodies: a specific hallmark for rheumatoid arthritis. Comparison to conditions known for enhanced carbamylation; renal failure, smoking and chronic inflammation

Antibodies that target carbamylated proteins (anti-CarP antibodies) have been described as a biomarker in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). 1 However, little is known about the factors that predispose to the production of anti-CarP antibodies. Carbamylation is a posttranslational modification resulting from the conversion of lysines into homocitrullines that requires the presence of cyanate. There are several conditions in which the concentration of cyanate (and therefore carbamylation) is increased, such as renal failure, chronic inflammation and heavy smoking.2–4 We therefore addressed the question whether conditions of enhanced carbamylation could result in the induction of anti-CarP antibodies. To investigate this, we determined the presence of anti-CarP antibodies in serum samples from patients with renal failure,5 inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)6 and in heavy smokers with or without chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)7 (see table 1). The presence of anti-CarP antibodies in healthy controls and patients with RA was used as a comparison.1 ,8 The collection of these cohorts was approved by the Leiden University Medical Center ethics committee and informed consent …
Construction d'indicateurs de toxicites cumulees : cas des composes organiques semi volatils dans les environnements interieurs.

Les composes organiques semi volatils (COSV) sont largement presents dans les environnements interieurs et sont suspectes d’etre repro- ou neurotoxiques, mais peu de donnees sont disponibles quant a leur toxicite en melanges. L’objectif de cette these est de proposer des indicateurs de toxicite cumules pour les COSV detectes dans les logements francais, dans un cadre d’evaluation des risques sanitaires cumules. Les COSV ont ete regroupes en fonction de leurs modes d’action communs, en lien avec les effets reprotoxiques (diminution de la concentration de testosterone serique) et neurotoxiques (diminution de la viabilite neuronale). Des benchmark doses (BMD) ont ensuite ete estimees par modelisation (modele de Hill, PROAST, RIVM) des relations dose-reponse de la litterature decrivant la reponse d’interet. Des BMD comparables ont pu etre estimees seulement pour 6 des 19 COSV reprotoxiques induisant une diminution de testosterone de 10 ou 50 % chez le rat adulte expose par voie orale. Les facteurs de toxicite relatifs (RPF) estimes a partir des BMD sont sensiblement les memes en fonction du niveau de reponse (de 1600 pour le B(a)P a 0,1 pour le BBP), excepte pour le biphenol A qui passe de 7E+6 a 180. Considerant la mort neuronale in vitro, des BMD ont pu etre estimees pour 13 COSV neurotoxiques, a partir de donnees provenant de differentes lignees et especes. Les BMD equivalent a un niveau de reponse de 10 % s’echelonnent de 0,07 (PCB-153) a 95 µM (diazinon). L’originalite de ce travail repose sur le regroupement de composes de familles chimiques differentes qui constituent des contaminations reelles de notre environnement. Si l’estimation des quelques BMD a ete possible a partir des donnees de la litterature, de nombreuses limites methodologiques conduisent a emettre des recommandations en particulier sur la standardisation des protocoles experimentaux et la disponibilite des resultats sous une forme adaptee a la modelisation de la relation dose-reponse.
Image Holistic Scene Understanding Based on Image Intrinsic Characteristics and Conditional Random Fields

Image holistic scene understanding based on image intrinsic characteristics and conditional random fields is proposed. The model integrates image scene classification, image semantic segmentation and object detection. 1) For the scene classification, we use method of PHOW feature extraction plus KPCA dimensional reduction to obtain feature information for each image. 2) For object detection section, saliency detection and segmentation characteristics of the image object detection is useful. We propose the method by integrating image segmentation information got by the method proposed in literature [1]. 3) For the semantic segmentation: (1) For the unary potentials, we incorporating HOG, RGB color histogram and LBP features by the methods proposed in literature [2]; (2) The image manifold structural features can better reflect the importance between hyper-pixel regions and eventually boost accuracy. Therefore, we add the higher-order potential item to reflect inherent manifold image feature of each super pixel region. The experiments testify that model performance has raised on all three sub-tasks.
Social trust: impacts on social influential diffusion

Purpose This paper aims to present social trust as a variable of influence by demonstrating the possibilities of trusted social nodes to improve influential capability and rate of successfully influenced social nodes within a social networking environment. Design/methodology/approach This research will be conducted using simulated experiments. The base algorithm in research uses genetics algorithm diffusion model (GADM) where it carries out social influence calculations within a social networking environment. The GADM algorithm will be enhanced by integrating trust values into its influential calculations. The experiment simulates a virtual social network based on a social networking site architecture from the data set used to conduct experiments on the enhanced GADM and observe their influence capabilities. Findings The presence of social trust can effectively increase the rate of successfully influenced social nodes by factorizing trust value of one source node and acceptance rate of another recipient node into its probabilistic equation, hence increasing the final acceptance probability. Research limitations/implications This research focused exclusively on conceptual mathematical models and technical aspects so far; comprehensive user study, extensive performance and scalability testing is left for future work. Originality/value Two key contributions of this paper are the calculation of social trust via content integrity and the application of social trust in social influential diffusion algorithms. Two models will be designed, implemented and evaluated on the application of social trust via trusted social nodes and domain-specified (of specific interest groups) trusted social nodes.
Ultrastructure of hybrid chitosan–glycerol phosphate blood clots by environmental scanning electron microscopy

Chitosan‐based polymers have been extensively studied for biomedical applications. Recently, liquid solutions of chitosan in a glycerol phosphate buffer (chitosan–GP) with physiological pH and osmolality were mixed with autologous blood to form hybrid chitosan–GP/blood implants that improved the repair of articular cartilage lesions in a large animal model. The mixture of chitosan–GP and blood forms a viscous liquid, which solidifies in minutes via normal blood coagulation as well as chitosan‐mediated mechanisms. Here we have examined the ultrastructure of these chitosan–GP/blood clots as well as regular blood clots and chitosan–GP gels, the latter produced by heating. Both unfixed and fixed samples of chitosan–GP/blood clots, regular blood clots, and chitosan–GP gels were investigated by environmental scanning electron microscopy (ESEM) in conjunction with energy dispersive X‐ray spectrometry (EDS), the former permitting direct observation of the ultrastructure in hydrated conditions simulating the natural state. By examination of unfixed specimens using ESEM we found that chitosan formed a network structure in both chitosan–GP gels and chitosan–GP/blood clots; however this structure was altered by aldehyde fixation to produce artifactual aggregates of chitosan microparticles. We were also able to identify chitosan in chitosan–GP/blood clots by washing samples in low concentration NaCl solutions followed by local EDS analyses to identify excess chloride versus sodium, and thus presence of cationic chitosan in analyzed features. Additional results indicated that the majority of glycerol phosphate diffuses freely from chitosan–GP gels (by EDS of phosphorus) and that hyperosmotic paraformaldehyde‐based fixatives (i.e. 4% w/v) significantly disturb erythrocyte morphology in fixed whole blood clots. Microsc. Res. Tech., 2008. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Electronic Health Record System: A Perspective to Improve the Value of Services Rendered to Patients in Healthcare Organization in Rwanda, Case of CHUB and Hopital De Nemba

--In Rwanda, many healthcare organizations are still using a paper based patients’ data record system although it still present weaknesses to share health patients’ information across different services when necessary. In developed countries, the EHR has been put in place to revolutionize the paper based record system but still the EHR has some challenges related to privacy, security, or interoperability. The purpose of this research was to assess the existing patients’ data record system in healthcare sector in Rwanda, see what an EHR can improve to the system in place and assess the acceptance of EHR as system which is interoperable, very secure and interoperable and see whether stakeholders are ready to adopt the system. The case based methodology was used and TAM theoretical framework to design the questionnaire for the survey. A judgmental sample across two cases, CHUB and Hopital de Nemba, has been selected and SPSS has been used for descriptive statistics. After a qualitative analysis, the findings showed that the paper based record is useful, gives complete information about the patient, protects the privacy of patients but it is still less secure and less interoperable. The respondents shown that they are ready to use the proposed EHR System and want it secure, capable of enforcing the privacy but still they are not all ready for the interoperability. A conclusion has been formulated; recommendations and further research have been proposed. Keywords---EHR system, healthcare service, TAM, privacy, interoperability.
Classification of lung cancer--to be revised.

To the Editor:— The accuracy of lung cancer mortality data challenged inThe Journal( 198 :1374, 1966; 199 :674, 1967) may be considerably improved by the Eighth Revision of the International Classification of Causes of Death. The present nomenclature lists malignant neoplasm of bronchus and trachea and of lung, specified as primary (code No. 162), and malignant neoplasm of lung, unspecified as to whether primary or secondary (code No. 163). The latter category was always included in the tabulation of lung cancer mortality but uncertainty has existed as to whether the medical certifier had omitted primary specification because of the possibility that the pulmonary cancer was a metastasis from an occult extrathoracic primary site. Beginning Jan 1, 1968, there will be implemented a new nomenclature. All cases of lung cancer will be considered of primary origin (code No. 162) unless the certifier specifically designates that the tumor is of secondary
Noninvasive detection of pulmonary hypertension

Plain chest x‐rays, twelve‐lead electrocardiograms, and M‐mode echocardiograms were analyzed in 50 control patients and 79 consecutive patients with pulmonary hypertension documented at cardiac catheter‐ization in order to determine the relative values of these noninvasive techniques as screening tests in detecting pulmonary hypertension. The sensitivity and specificity of selected findings previously described as being associated with pulmonary hypertension were calculated for each test. All test results were found to have sensitivities too low to function as satisfactory noninvasive screening techniques. Most findings were highly specific for pulmonary hypertension when present. Patients with pulmonary vascular disease were detected more frequently than those with pulmonary hypertension due to pulmonary venous congestion.
Cross-platform spaceborne Sar imaging: Demonstration using TanDEM-X

The possibility of combining data acquired with different platforms to generate a single SAR image results in an advantageous relaxation of the timing and sampling requirements of the system which can be used to improve in different ways its performance. We report about a generalised approach for distributed SAR image formation which is based on a platform dedicated compensation of the observation geometry followed by a differential calibration of the data. The validity of the approach on simulated data is presented. Further tests with actual data from a TanDEM-X dedicated campaign are being conducted.
Crystal structure of PfRh5, an essential P. falciparum ligand for invasion of human erythrocytes

Plasmodium falciparum causes the most severe form of malaria in humans and is responsible for over 700,000 deaths annually. It is an obligate intracellular parasite and invades erythrocytes where it grows in a relatively protected niche. Invasion of erythrocytes is essential for parasite survival and this involves interplay of multiple protein–protein interactions. One of the most important interactions is binding of parasite invasion ligand families EBLs and PfRhs to host receptors on the surface of erythrocytes. PfRh5 is the only essential invasion ligand within the PfRh family and is an important vaccine candidate. PfRh5 binds the host receptor basigin. In this study, we have determined the crystal structure of PfRh5 using diffraction data to 2.18 Å resolution. PfRh5 exhibits a novel fold, comprising nine mostly anti-parallel α-helices encasing an N-terminal β-hairpin, with the overall shape being an elliptical disk. This is the first three-dimensional structure determined for the PfRh family of proteins. DOI: http://dx.doi. org/10.7554/eLife.04187. 001
Serum Concentrations of Estrogens, Sex Hormone Binding Globulin, and Androgens and Risk of Breast Hyperplasia in Postmenopausal Women

Objective: We sought to determine whether serum concentrations of estrogens, androgens, and sex hormone binding globulin in postmenopausal women were related to the presence of mammary hyperplasia, an established breast cancer risk factor. Methods: Study participants provided serum before breast biopsy or mastectomy in three hospitals in Grand Rapids, Michigan, between 1977 and 1987. A total of 179 subjects with breast hyperplasia were compared with 152 subjects with nonproliferative breast changes that are not associated with increased breast cancer risk. Results: The odds ratios (OR) associated with the three upper quartiles of estradiol in comparison with the lowest quartile were 2.2 [95% confidence interval (95% CI) 1.1-4.6], 2.5 (95% CI, 1.1-5.3), and 4.1 (95% CI, 2.0-8.5; Ptrend = 0.007). The corresponding ORs for bioavailable estradiol, estrone, and estrone sulfate were of generally similar magnitude (Ptrend = 0.003 for bioavailable estradiol, 0.0004 for estrone, and 0.0009 for estrone sulfate). Relative to women concurrently in the lowest tertile for serum estradiol, estrone, and estrone sulfate, women concurrently in the highest tertile for all three hormones had an OR of 5.8 (95% CI, 2.2-15.2). Serum concentrations of sex hormone binding globulin, testosterone, dehydroepiandrosterone, androstenedione, and androstenediol were not associated with risk of hyperplasia. Conclusions: Serum concentrations of estrogens, but not of androgens or sex hormone binding globulin, were strongly and significantly associated with risk of breast hyperplasia in postmenopausal women, suggesting that estrogens are important early in the pathologic process towards breast cancer.
Nerve Impulse Conduction and Cutaneous Receptor Responses During General Anesthesia

The effects of ether, methoxyflurane, halothane and nitrous oxide on impulse generation and impulse conduction in the peripheral nervous system were studied in 16 cats. The compound action potential, generated by electrical stimulation of the femoral nerve, was recorded from the nerve's intact saphenous branch. Spike amplitude and integrated output of cutaneous touch receptors likewise were recorded from the saphenous nerve. General anesthetics had no significant effect on conduction in myelinated (alpha and delta) fibers. Output from cutaneous receptors also was not greatly altered by inhalation anesthetics. Amplitude of non-myelinated (C-Fiber) responses decreased slightly during halothane and nitrous oxide administration, and increased slightly when ether or methoxyflurane were given. However, the changes produced in C-fibers were insignificant, and probably of little practical consequence. Thus, inhalation anesthetics—in usual anesthetic concentrations—have no important effect on conduction in the peripheral nerve or on generation of impulses in cutaneous receptors.
Okadaic acid increases fibronectin synthesis in MC353‐E1 cells

Okadaic acid, a potent specific inhibitor of serine/threonine protein phosphatases type 1 and 2A, affects several gene expressions in various cells. To determine whether okadaic acid affects the expression of fibronectin in MC3T3‐E1 cells, we measured mRNA level and synthesis of fibronectin by Northern blot hybridization and immunoprecipitation methods, respectively. Okadaic acid (10‐50 ng/ml) increased both mRNA level and synthesis of fibronectin in a dose‐dependent manner. The increase of fibronectin mRNA by okadaic acid was strongly attenuated by the inhibition of new protein synthesis. The results indicate that okadaic acid, inhibitor of protein phosphatases, increases fibronectin synthesis in MC3T3‐E1 cells.
Experimental VBLAST-MIMO and SIMO signal processing in a tunnel

In this work we use the experimental data from an extensive 8×8 MIMO (Multiple-Input Multiple-Output) wideband (2.8GHz-5GHz) measurement campaign in a straight semicircular tunnel to study the impact of different multiantenna signal processing approaches such as the MMSE-VBLAST algorithm. We focus on the 3 and 5 GHz bands, and on different distances from the transmitter and the receiver. Results are exhibited showing the relation between SNR (Signal to Noise Ratio) and SER (Symbol Error Rate).