Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Myo-inositol enhances teratogenicity of valproic acid in the mouse.

BACKGROUND Valproic acid (VPA) is an anticonvulsant drug that is widely used therapeutically for a variety of neurological conditions. VPA is also well known for its teratogenic potential in both humans and experimental animal models. The typical malformations observed following VPA exposure include neural tube defects (NTDs) and craniofacial and skeletal malformations. Nevertheless, the mechanisms underlying VPA's anticonvulsant efficacy or its teratogenicity remain to be elucidated. It was recently suggested that a relationship exists between VPA exposure and the cellular depletion of myo-inositol (INO). Furthermore, INO has been shown to rescue NTDs in the curly tail mouse. The aim of this study was to investigate the interactions of VPA and INO in the developing embryo. METHODS For this purpose, 2 strains of mice were used: SWV/Fnn (known to be sensitive to VPA) and LM/Bc (known to be resistant to VPA-induced NTDs). Pregnant females were randomly assigned to 4 experimental groups: control, VPA (600 mg/kg), INO (400 mg/kg), and VPA plus INO. VPA was injected IP at 8.5 days postcoitum (dpc). INO was administered PO twice a day from 6.5 to 10.5 dpc. At term the dams were killed, the uteri were removed, and all of the general toxicological parameters (number of implants, resorptions, dam weight, and fetus weight) were recorded and statistically analyzed. RESULTS Postimplantation loss in the SWV/Fnn strain and NTDs in the LM/Bc strain were significantly increased after the coadministration of VPA and INO. CONCLUSIONS This work clearly indicates that INO enhances VPA-induced teratogenicity in the mouse.
On Perception of Semi‐Transparent Streamlines for Three‐Dimensional Flow Visualization

One of the standard techniques to visualize three‐dimensional flow is to use geometry primitives. This solution, when opaque primitives are used, results in high levels of occlusion, especially with dense streamline seeding. Using semi‐transparent geometry primitives can alleviate the problem of occlusion. However, with semi‐transparency some parts of the data set become too vague and blurry, while others are still heavily occluded. We conducted a user study that provided us with results on perceptual limits of using semi‐transparent geometry primitives for flow visualization. Texture models for semi‐transparent streamlines were introduced. Test subjects were shown multiple overlaying layers of streamlines and recorded how many different flow directions they were able to perceive. The user study allowed us to identify a set of top scoring textures. We discuss the results of the user study, provide guidelines on using semi‐transparency for three‐dimensional flow visualization and show how varying textures for different streamlines can further enhance the perception of dense streamlines. We also discuss the strategies for dealing with very high levels of occlusion. The strategies are per‐pixel filtering of flow directions, when only some of the streamlines are rendered at a particular pixel, and opacity normalization, a way of altering the opacity of overlapping streamlines with the same direction. We illustrate our results with a variety of visualizations.
The Human T cell Receptor Beta Variable (TRBV) Genes

‘Human T Cell Receptor Beta Variable (TRBV) Genes’, the seventh report of the ‘IMGT Locus on Focus‘ section, comprises four tables: (1) ‘Number of human germline TRBV genes at 7q35 and potential repertoire’; (2) ‘Human germline TRBV genes at 7q35’; (3) ‘Human TRBV orphons on chromosome 9 (9p21)’, and (4) ‘Human TRBV allele table’. These tables are available at the IMGT Marie-Paule page from IMGT, the international ImMunoGeneTics database (http://imgt.cines.fr: 8104) created by Marie-Paule Lefranc, Université Montpellier II, CNRS, France.
Robust worst-case design for optimizing average performance in OFDM using quantized CSI

Orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (OFDM) has been able to successfully exploit channel state information (CSI) at the transmitter, allowing to implement dynamic resource allocation schemes that improve spectral efficiency and error resilience. In most wireless communication systems, though, achieving a perfect CSI at the transmitter is difficult. For this reason a limited-rate feedback mode has been proposed, in which only quantized CSI at the transmitter is available through a finite number of bits that are fed back by the receiver. In this paper we design resource allocation schemes for OFDM systems, that use limited-rate feedback and do not assume any structure on the channel quantizer. The new schemes are obtained by solving an optimization problem that maximizes average ergodic rate subject to average power and bit error rate constraints. The latter constraint is satisfied by implementing a worst-case robust approach that reduces the dimensionality of the problem. The main burden is associated to the computation of optimal Lagrange multipliers. Provably convergent ensemble schemes that rely on the channel distribution as well as stochastic schemes that catch the average behavior of the system on-the-fly are developed for such task. Different alternatives to reduce the amount of feedback and the extension to multiple user systems wrap-up this paper.
Antecedents and Consequences of Relationship Quality: An Exploratory Study on Hospitals in Thailand

The focal construct in this study is the relationship quality between the hospitals and the patients. The previous studies had developed relationship quality dimensions mostly in terms of “want to” aspect and tested their model in various B2B and B2C contexts. However, in several long-term relationships, “ought to” and “have to” aspects of relationship are also important in helping create the relationship longevity in spite of dissatisfaction in the relationship. Very few empirical researches on relationship quality have captured these dimensions. The objectives of this study were to explore the dimensions of relationship quality by using the Investment Theory (Rusbult, 1980); to explore the antecedents of relationship quality by applying the Transaction Cost Analysis (TCA) Theory (Williamson, 1985); and to explore the consequences of relationship quality by using the Exit-Voice Theory (Hirschman, 1970). The in-depth interviews were conducted with 25 respondents who usually visit the same hospital. Trust, inertia, and dependence were found to be the dimensions of relationship quality. The results also found that the antecedents of relationship quality included doctor expertise, knowledge on patient, patient familiarity, perceived hospital image, doctor effective communication, patient switching risks, and hospital alternative scarcity. The three consequences of relationship quality revealed from the in-depth interviews included constructive feedback, revisit intention, and switching intention. All these antecedents and consequences were also found supported in previous literatures.
The advantages of computerized fetal heart rate analysis

A brief account is given of the advantages of computerized analysis of human fetal heart rate (FHR) traces antenatally, based on clinical use over 8 years. Accuracy is greater. Results are presented quantitatively and consistently. The numerical measures of the FHR pattern are related to other objective measures of fetal health, e.g. initial compensated hypoxaemia or terminal acidaemia. Computerized analysis has shown that changes in FHR variation are a better guide than the presence or absence of large decelerations. Recording time is used better. Synoptic displays of data over 4 weeks show significant trends in fetal heart rate variation and movements with time. And the problems generated by the limitations of fetal heart rate monitors are identified to exclude spurious information.
Cannabis Use is Associated with Lower Odds of Prescription Opioid Analgesic Use Among HIV-Infected Individuals with Chronic Pain

ABSTRACT Background: Chronic pain is common in the United States and prescribed opioid analgesics use for noncancer pain has increased dramatically in the past two decades, possibly accounting for the current opioid addiction epidemic. Co-morbid drug use in those prescribed opioid analgesics is common, but there are few data on polysubstance use patterns. Objective: We explored patterns of use of cigarette, alcohol, and illicit drugs in HIV-infected people with chronic pain who were prescribed opioid analgesics. Methods: We conducted a secondary data analysis of screening interviews conducted as part of a parent randomized trial of financial incentives to improve HIV outcomes among drug users. In a convenience sample of people with HIV and chronic pain, we collected self-report data on demographic characteristics; pain; patterns of opioid analgesic use (both prescribed and illicit); cigarette, alcohol, and illicit drug use (including cannabis, heroin, and cocaine) within the past 30 days; and current treatment for drug use and HIV. Results: Almost half of the sample of people with HIV and chronic pain reported current prescribed opioid analgesic use (N = 372, 47.1%). Illicit drug use was common (N = 505, 63.9%), and cannabis was the most commonly used illicit substance (N = 311, 39.4%). In multivariate analyses, only cannabis use was significantly associated with lower odds of prescribed opioid analgesic use (adjusted odds ratio = 0.57; 95% confidence interval: 0.38–0.87). Conclusions/Importance: Our data suggest that new medical cannabis legislation might reduce the need for opioid analgesics for pain management, which could help to address adverse events associated with opioid analgesic use.
Nasal immune system: distinctive Th0 and Th1/Th2 type environments in murine nasal‐associated lymphoid tissues and nasal passage, respectively

The nasal mucosa, an important arm of the mucosal immune system, is the first site of contact with inhaled antigens to induce an IgA response. A major aim of this study was to characterize the Th1 and Th2 cytokine expression of mucosal T cells residing in nasal‐associated lymphoid tissue (NALT) and nasal passages (NP) as IgA inductive and effector sites, respectively, at the transcription and cellular levels. An application of single‐cell reverse transcription‐PCR for analysis of Th1 (IFN‐γ) and Th2 (IL‐4 and IL‐6) cytokine‐specific mRNA revealed the presence of CD4+ T cells with a Th0 profile in NALT, while high numbers of Th2 cytokine‐specific mRNA expressed by CD4+ T cells were noted in NP followed by Th1‐type cells. NALT CD3+ CD4+ T cells of Th0 type have the capacity to become Th1‐ and/or Th2‐type cells since their activation via the TCR‐CD3 complex resulted in the expression of an array of Th1 and Th2 cytokines. CD3+ CD4+ T cells from NP, but not NALT, provide a helper function for the induction of antibody‐forming cells including IgA isotype in B cell cultures. These findings suggest that NALT is characterized by a Th0 environment which can gain a Th1 and/or Th2 phenotype. In contrast, NP is considered to be a Th2 dominant site with some Th1 cells that can support the induction of IgA‐producing cells.
Various job scheduling algorithms in cloud computing: A survey

Cloud Computing provides a Computing environment where different resources, infrastructures, development platforms and software are delivered as a service to customers virtually on pay per time basis. Low cost, scalability, reliability, utility-based computing are important aspects of cloud computing. Job scheduling is an essential and most important part in any cloud environment. With increasing number of users, Job scheduling becomes a strenuous task. Ordering the jobs by scheduler while maintaining the balance between quality of services (QoS), efficiency and fairness of jobs is quite challenging. Scheduling algorithms are implemented considering parameters such as throughput, resource utilization, latency, cost, priority, computational time, physical distances, performance, bandwidth, resource availability. Though there are different scheduling algorithms available in cloud computing, a very less comparative study has been done on performance of various scheduling algorithms with respect to above mentioned parameters. This paper aims at a comparative study of various types of job scheduling algorithms that provide efficient cloud services.
Mammalian prion amyloid formation in bacteria

ABSTRACT Mammalian prion proteins (PrPs) that cause transmissible spongiform encephalopathies are misfolded conformations of the host cellular PrP. The misfolded form, the scrapie PrP (PrPSc), can aggregate into amyloid fibrils that progressively accumulate in the brain, evolving to a pathological phenotype. A particular characteristic of PrPSc is to be found as different strains, related to the diversity of conformational states it can adopt. Prion strains are responsible for the multiple phenotypes observed in prion diseases, presenting different incubation times and diverse deposition profiles in the brain. PrP biochemical properties are also strain-dependent, such as different digestion pattern after proteolysis and different stability. Although they have long been studied, strain formation is still a major unsolved issue in prion biology. The recreation of strain-specific conformational features is of fundamental importance to study this unique pathogenic phenomenon. In our recent paper, we described that murine PrP, when expressed in bacteria, forms amyloid inclusion bodies that possess different strain-like characteristics, depending on the PrP construct. Here, we present an extra-view of these data and propose that bacteria might become a successful model to generate preparative amounts of prion strain-specific assemblies for high-resolution structural analysis as well as for addressing the determinants of infectivity and transmissibility.
Optimized Mucoadhesive Coated Niosomes as a Sustained Oral Delivery System of Famotidine

The objective of this study is to develop an oral formulation of famotidine niosomes coated with a mucoadhesive polymer, chitosan. Famotidine (FMT) has low oral bioavailability of 40–45% and short half-life between 2.5 to 4 h. Famotidine is classified as class IV in BCS because of its low aqueous solubility (0.1% w/v) and low permeability. Thus, FMT was loaded to the bioadhesive coated niosomes to improve its solubility, enhance its oral bioavailability, and sustain FMT release pattern. Different formulations were prepared by thin-film hydration method and characterized in terms of entrapment efficiency, morphological features, vesicle size, and zeta potential. In vitro release and ex vivo permeability of famotidine from the formulations were evaluated. The optimized formula was coated with chitosan and its mucoadhesion and stability in bile salt was tested. The optimized formula showed a high entrapment efficiency of 74%, as well sustained the in vitro release of FMT in the simulated gastric medium and enhanced its permeation through an excised goat’s intestinal membrane by 1.4 fold in comparison to FMT control suspension. The mucoadhesive coated formula exhibited a significantly higher (p < 0.05) mucoadhesive efficiency and more stability in the bile salt as compared to the uncoated formula. Therefore, it could be considered as an efficient delivery system to maintain the prolonged release of FMT and improve its oral bioavailability.
Medical application of glycosaminoglycans: a review

The characteristic molecular composition of the different glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) is related to their role as structural components and regulators of a multitude of functions of proteins, cells and tissues in the human body. Therefore, it is not surprising that GAGs are widely used as coating materials for implants, components of 3D‐constructs such as tissue engineering scaffolds and hydrogels, but also as diagnostic devices such as biosensors and in controlled release applications. Beside a physisorption or encapsulation of GAGs, these applications often require their chemical modification to allow a stable covalent attachment on surfaces or cross‐linking reactions with other molecules. Then, the preservation of the functionality of GAGs under maintenance of their biocompatibility is a challenging task and must be addressed in accordance with the designated field of application. Here, we will give a brief overview on structure and biological functions of GAGs, different methods of their activation and immobilization, the recent progress in GAG‐related biomaterials development, as well as some examples of their application in the field of tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Game Theoretic Dynamic Channel Allocation for Frequency-Selective Interference Channels

We consider the problem of distributed channel allocation in large networks under the frequency-selective interference channel. Performance is measured by the weighted sum of achievable rates. Our proposed algorithm is a modified Fictitious Play algorithm that can be implemented distributedly, and its stable points are the pure Nash equilibria of a given game. Our goal is to design a utility function for a non-cooperative game, such that all of its pure Nash equilibria have close to optimal global performance. This will make the algorithm close to optimal while requiring no communication between users. We propose a novel technique to analyze the Nash equilibria of a random interference game, determined by the random channel gains. Our analysis is asymptotic in the number of users. First, we present a natural non-cooperative game where the utility of each user is his achievable rate. It is shown that, asymptotically in the number of users and for strong enough interference, this game exhibits many bad equilibria. Then, we propose a novel non-cooperative M frequency-selective interference channel game as a slight modification of the former, where the utility of each user is artificially limited. We prove that even its worst equilibrium has asymptotically optimal weighted sum rate for any interference regime and even for correlated channels. This is based on an order statistics analysis of the fading channels that is valid for a broad class of fading distributions (including Rayleigh, Rician, m-Nakagami, and more). We carry out simulations that show fast convergence of our algorithm to the proven asymptotically optimal pure Nash equilibria.
Effect of Atorvastatin on Glycaemic Parameters in Normoglycaemic and Prediabetic Subjects: A Prospective, Panel Study.

INTRODUCTION Type 2 diabetes is associated with obesity and dyslipidemia, which are risk factor for cardiovascular disease. With recent FDA approved indications for statins being widened because of its lipid lowering and pleiotropic effects, statins are currently amongst the most widely used drugs in patients with or without diabetes. Although cardiovascular risk is reduced by statin therapy, its association with the development of diabetes is disputed. AIM This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of Atorvastatin on glycaemic status of normoglycaemic and prediabetic individuals. MATERIALS AND METHODS An observational, prospective panel study was conducted on 75 subjects who were on Atorvastatin therapy. After baseline data collection and investigations, subjects were recruited depending on their glycaemic status into three groups: normoglycaemic, Impaired Fasting Glucose (IFG) and Impaired Glucose Tolerance (IGT) group. Atorvastatin therapy was continued and the subjects were followed every 6 months up to 18 months. At every follow up all glycaemic parameters were evaluated and subjects were assessed for continuation of statin therapy, dosing schedule and possible adverse drug reactions. RESULT All three groups as a whole, irrespective of dose of Atrovastatin therapy, showed a statistically significant (p<0.0001) increase in all glycaemic parameters. In normoglycaemic group with low dose Atorvastatin, there was no significant change in 2-hour Post Prandial Blood Sugar (PPBS) but change in HbA1c% (p=0.0004) and FBS (p<0.0001) was significant, whereas, with high dose, changes in 2-hr PPBS and HbA1c % were significant from 6 months onwards. In IFG group, both with low and high dose of Atorvastatin, there was significant change in all glycaemic parameters from 12 months onwards. In case of IGT, especially with high dose Atorvastatin, significant changes were evident from 6 months onwards. CONCLUSION Atorvastatin therapy especially with higher dose was found to be associated with glucose intolerance in normoglycaemics and also caused progression towards diabetes in prediabetic individuals.
Chromosome segregation drives division site selection in Streptococcus pneumoniae

Significance Precise cell division is crucial for all cellular life. In the pneumococcus, which kills more than a million people annually, the protein MapZ was recently identified as a marker for the division site. By developing a suite of tools, including a chromosome labeling system and CRISPR/Cas9-based perturbation of chromosome segregation, we mapped the pneumococcal cell cycle in detail. We show that MapZ is not involved in division site selection but is important for setting the correct angle of the division plane. Importantly, we demonstrate that the pneumococcus has a unique chromosomal organization and that timely replication and segregation of the chromosomal origin to the future cell division site is a key determinant for correct positioning of cell division proteins. Accurate spatial and temporal positioning of the tubulin-like protein FtsZ is key for proper bacterial cell division. Streptococcus pneumoniae (pneumococcus) is an oval-shaped, symmetrically dividing opportunistic human pathogen lacking the canonical systems for division site control (nucleoid occlusion and the Min-system). Recently, the early division protein MapZ was identified and implicated in pneumococcal division site selection. We show that MapZ is important for proper division plane selection; thus, the question remains as to what drives pneumococcal division site selection. By mapping the cell cycle in detail, we show that directly after replication both chromosomal origin regions localize to the future cell division sites, before FtsZ. Interestingly, Z-ring formation occurs coincidently with initiation of DNA replication. Perturbing the longitudinal chromosomal organization by mutating the condensin SMC, by CRISPR/Cas9-mediated chromosome cutting, or by poisoning DNA decatenation resulted in mistiming of MapZ and FtsZ positioning and subsequent cell elongation. Together, we demonstrate an intimate relationship between DNA replication, chromosome segregation, and division site selection in the pneumococcus, providing a simple way to ensure equally sized daughter cells.