Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Flow cytometric CD34+ stem cell enumeration: Lessons from nine years' external quality assessment within the Benelux countries

A biannual external quality assurance (EQA) scheme for flow cytometric CD34+ haematopoietic stem cell enumeration has been operational in the Benelux countries since 1996. In an evaluation of the results of 16 send‐outs, we studied the effects of the methods used on assay outcome and whether or not this exercise was effective in reducing between‐laboratory variation.
Prevalence of classification methods for patients with lumbar impairments using the McKenzie syndromes, pain pattern, manipulation, and stabilization clinical prediction rules

Abstract Objectives: Aims were (1) to determine the proportion of patients with lumbar impairments who could be classified at intake by McKenzie syndromes (McK) and pain pattern classification (PPCs) using Mechanical Diagnosis and Therapy (MDT) assessment methods, manipulation, and stabilization clinical prediction rules (CPRs) and (2) for each Man CPR or Stab CPR category, determine classification prevalence rates using McK and PPC. Methods: Eight physical therapists practicing in eight diverse clinical settings classified patients typically referred to rehabilitation by McKenzie syndromes (i.e. derangement, dysfunction, posture, or other), pain pattern classification [i.e. centralization (CEN), not centralization (Non CEN), and not classified (NC)], Manipulation CPR (positive, negative), and stabilization CPR (positive, negative). Prevalence rates with 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated for each classification category by McK, PPC, and manipulation and stabilization CPRs. Prevalence rates (95% CIs) for McK and PPC were calculated for each CPR category separately. Results: Data from 628 adults [mean age: 52±17 years, 56% female] were analyzed. Prevalence rates were: McK — derangement 67%, dysfunction 5%, posture 0%, other 28%; PPC — CEN 43%, Non CEN 39%, NC 18%; manipulation CPR — positive 13%; Stab CPR — positive 7%. For patients positive for manipulation CPR (n=79), prevalence rates for derangement were 89% and CEN 68%. For patients positive for stabilization CPR (n=41), prevalence rates for derangement were 83% and CEN 80%. Discussion: The majority of patients classified based on initial clinical presentation by manipulation and stabilization CPRs were also classified as derangements whose symptoms centralized. Manipulation and stabilization CPRs may not represent a mutually exclusive treatment subgroup but may include patients who can be initially treated using a different classification method.
Leveraging Public-key-based Authentication for the Internet of Things

The vision of the IP-based Internet of Things (IoT) anticipates the interconnection of constrained devices in the physical world with the Internet. Specifically, the IoT aims at enabling future technologies and visions, e.g., smart home, building automation, smart city, and e-health. In many of these scenarios, it is possible to prevent leakage of personal information and harmful actuating tasks by means of peer authentication and secure data transmission. However, standard IP-based security solutions do not suffice as they are not designed with the limitations of constrained devices in mind. Hence, more lightweight security mechanisms which are tailored for constrained environments are needed. Public-key-based peer authentication is predominantly considered impracticable for constrained environments, due to expensive crypto operations. In this thesis, we investigate this claim. To this end, we implement the public-keyand certificatebased DTLS to add practical results to the applicability discussion and determine the resource requirements for constrained devices. We introduce proposals for minimal required certificate information and extensions of existing protocol mechanisms to reduce the overheads after the initial handshake. Furthermore, we introduce a novel delegation architecture for one-way certificate-based authentication, despite exceedingly high constraints for public-key crypto. Our evaluation results show that the certificate-based authentication causes 3 times higher transmission overhead and 28 times higher processing overhead than a preshared-key-based authentication. Our delegation architecture requires similar amount of resources as the pre-shared-key approach and causes overheads of the same order. The high overhead of a certificate-based authentication, can be amortized over several sessions by means of our protocol extensions. Hence, the number of expensive certificate-based authentications could be reduced to only installation and maintenance phases.
Arabidopsis Histone Acetyltransferase AtGCN5 Regulates the Floral Meristem Activity through the WUSCHEL/AGAMOUS Pathway*

Histone acetyltransferases, which are able to acetylate histone and non-histone proteins, play important roles in gene regulation. Many histone acetyltransferases are related to yeast Gcn5, a component of two transcription regulatory complexes SAGA and ADA. In this work, by characterizing a mutation in the Arabidopsis GCN5 gene (AtGCN5) we studied the regulatory function of this gene in controlling floral meristem activity. We show that in addition to pleiotropic effects on plant development, this mutation also leads to the production of terminal flowers. The flowers show homeotic transformations of petals into stamens and sepals into filamentous structures and produce ectopic carpels. The phenotypes correlate to an expansion of the expression domains within floral meristems of the key regulatory genes WUSCHEL (WUS) and AGAMOUS (AG). These results suggest that AtGCN5 is required to regulate the floral meristem activity through the WUS/AG pathway. This study brings new elements on the elucidation of specific developmental pathways regulated by AtGCN5 and on the control mechanism of meristem regulatory gene expression.
Thermal and electrical characterization and modeling of thin copper layers

This paper presents the experimental and theoretical study on the effects of electron scattering at grain and boundaries on the reduction of effective thermal conductivity. The present study measures the electrical resistivity and lateral thermal conductivity of thin copper layers of thicknesses 50 and 144 nm at temperatures between 40 and 400 K, using Joule heating and electrical-resistance thermometry in suspended micro fabricated structures. A fitting model including the size effect and grain boundary scattering is used to model the thermal conductivity and electrical resistivity of thin copper film simultaneously and is consistent with the experimental results. The thermal conductivity of the 50 nm thick copper layer is ~150 W m-1 K-1, which is much smaller than the bulk value (~400 W m-1 K-1) at room temperature. The experimental and modeling data are essential to address performance and reliability issues for future device and interconnect technologies
Autoantigen specific T cells inhibit glutamate uptake in astrocytes by decreasing expression of astrocytic glutamate transporter GLAST: a mechanism mediated by tumor necrosis factor‐α

Glutamate excitotoxicity is increasingly being recognized as a pathogenic mechanism in autoimmune inflammatory disorders of the central nervous system (CNS). Astrocytes are the predominant players in clearing the extracellular space from glutamate and normally have extensive spare capacities in terms of glutamate uptake. We asked what might be the basis of glutamate accumulation in T cell triggered autoimmune inflammation. In vitro, coculture of primary rat astrocytes with activated myelin basic protein (MBP)‐specific T cells resulted in a decrease of astrocytic glutamate uptake rates (Fmax). In parallel, the amount of the Na+‐dependent glutamate transporter GLAST was reduced within 48–60 h. Significant decreases of GLAST protein were observed in astrocytes harvested after incubation with T cells activated by MBP during coculture or after incubation with T cell blasts preactivated in the presence of splenocytes beforehand. Since exposure of astrocytes to cell‐free supernatant of MBP‐activated T cells also resulted in reduced expression of GLAST, a humoral factor appeared to be the driving agent. In blocking experiments using neutralizing antibodies and by incubation of astrocytes with recombinant cytokines, tumor necrosis factor‐α (TNF‐α) was identified as being responsible for the down‐modulation of GLAST. GLAST was also down‐regulated in the CNS of autoimmune encephalomyelitic rats but not in animals suffering from systemic inflammation. Since the loss of GLAST was not confined to inflammatory infiltrates, here too, a humoral factor seemed to be causative. In conclusion, T cell derived TNF‐α impairs glutamate clearance capacity of astrocytes in vitro and probably also in vivo providing a pathogenic link to glutamate excitotoxicity that may contribute to early axonal dysfunction remote from active autoimmune inflammatory demyelination.
Value of urinary simple phenol and indican determinations in the diagnosis of the stagnant loop syndrome.

The urinary excretion of phenol, p-cresol, and indican was determined in 7 patients with the stagnant loop syndrome, 26 patients with coeliac disease, chronic pancreatitis, and partial gastrectomy, and 18 control patients. The mean excretion of the compounds in the patients with the stagnant loop syndrome and in the control patients, respectively, was 77 and 2.3 mg/24 h of phenol (p less than 0.05), 164 and 39.5 mg/24 h of p-cresol (n.s.), and 369 and 41.5 mg/24 h of indican (p less than 0.01). When applied as diagnostic tests for the stagnant loop syndrome, the phenol excretion showed 2 false negative results, the p-cresol excretion 3 false negative and 2 false positive results, and the indican excretion 6 false positive results. The combined use of phenol and indican determinations eliminated the number of false positive results with the indican test, and was found most useful as screening procedure. Determination of phenol and indican in a 24-hour urine sample is likely to provide a simple method for selecting patients with signs of abnormal bacterial colonization in the small intestine for more detailed investigations.
Serum PON-1 activity but not Q192R polymorphism is related to the extent of atherosclerosis.

AIM Paraoxonase-1 (PON1) is an antioxidant enzyme located in high density lipoprotein (HDL). PON1 was defined as a protective factor against atherosclerosis. The aim of this study was to investigate the possible relationship between serum paraoxonase (PONase), homocysteine thiolactonase (HTase) activities and PON1 Q192R polymorphism, and the extent and severity of atherosclerosis. METHODS Blood specimens were collected from 142 individuals who had no coronary artery lesions angiographically (control group) and 128 individuals who had angiographically documented coronary artery disease of several degrees (patient group). The extent and severity of arterial lesions were evaluated by the Gensini scoring system. PONase and HTase activities were measured in serum using a spectrophotometric method. PON1 Q192R polymorphism was evaluated using PCR-RFLP after DNA isolation from blood. RESULTS Serum PONase and HTase activities were significantly lower in the patient group than in healthy controls (135.7±56.0U/mL vs 153.8±62.0U/mL, p< 0.05; 36.0±6.1 U/mL vs 43.0±4.04 U/mL, p< 0.01; respectively). In the patient group, there was a negative correlation between PONase, HTase activities and the Gensini score (r=-0.168, p= 0.039; r=-0.164, p= 0.006, respectively). In both groups, there was no significant difference in the distribution of PON1 Q192R polymorphism. In the patient group, the distribution of Gensini scores according to genotypes was not significant. CONCLUSION It has been concluded that serum PONase and HTase activities might be a more relevant marker than PON1 genotype in evaluating the extent and severity of atherosclerosis.
Rapid identification of clinical mycobacterial isolates by protein profiling using matrix assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry.

PURPOSE The purpose of this study was to evaluate the identification of Mycobacterium tuberculosis which is often plagued with ambiguity. It is a time consuming process requiring 4-8 weeks after culture positivity, thereby delaying therapeutic intervention. For a successful treatment and disease management, timely diagnosis is imperative. We evaluated a rapid, proteomic based technique for identification of clinical mycobacterial isolates by protein profiling using matrix assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS). MATERIALS AND METHODS Freshly grown mycobacterial isolates were used. Acetonitrile/trifluoroacetic acid extraction procedure was carried out, following which cinnamic acid charged plates were subjected to identification by MALDI-TOF MS. RESULTS A comparative analysis of 42 clinical mycobacterial isolates using the MALDI-TOF MS and conventional techniques was carried out. Among these, 97.61% were found to corroborate with the standard methods at genus level and 85.36% were accurate till the species level. One out of 42 was not in accord with the conventional assays because MALDI-TOF MS established it as Mycobacterium tuberculosis (log (score)>2.0) and conventional methods established it to be non-tuberculous Mycobacterium. CONCLUSIONS MALDI-TOF MS was found to be an accurate, rapid, cost effective and robust system for identification of mycobacterial species. This innovative approach holds promise for early therapeutic intervention leading to better patient care.
High Precision Multi-frequency Multi-function Receiver for Electrical Exploration

Pseudo-random multi-frequency (PRMF) signal's bandwidth is controllable, its energy concentrated on several frequencies, which equally spaced on log-scale coordinate, and it is used as excitation for electrical exploration to improve the working efficiency. To realize high precision data acquisition and processing of pseudo-random signal in electrical exploration, PRMF multi-function receiver for electrical exploration is developed. This receiver adopts up-to-date electronics and technology, such as low-power Pentium-166 PC/104 embedded industrial computer, 24-bit CS5321/5322 A/D converter module, high reliable Actel anti-fuse FPGA, 32-bit data acquisition and processing software based WINDOWS operation system, adaptive correlation synchronization, weak signal detection based on cross-power, digital filter de-noising, and so on. Above measures make the receiver owns the advantages of fast signal processing, large dynamic range, lightweight, easy usage, good anti-interference ability, ability to receive PRMF signal and rectangular wave. It can carry out major electrical exploration methods, such as resistivity method, induced polarization method (time and frequency domain), complex resistivity method, controlled source audio magnetotelluric (CSAMT) method, and so on.
Cdk5/p25nck5a interaction with synaptic proteins in bovine brain

Cyclin‐dependent kinase 5 (Cdk5) exists in large multimeric complexes, but its function and binding partners in these complexes are unclear. We explored these issues by chromatographic and immunochemical analyses of Cdk5 and p25nck5a (a neuronal Cdk5 activator) and their associated proteins from bovine brain. Mono‐S column enzyme eluates were divided into three fractions and analyzed by gel filtration. The majority of p25nck5a from Mono‐S fractions I, II, and III eluted from the gel filtration column at ∼60, 200, and 400 kDa, respectively, and Cdk5 was abundant in fractions >400 kDa. We characterized these macromolecular structures by immunoprecipitating p25nck5a, followed by a second immunoprecipitation of remaining unbound proteins using a Cdk5 antibody. The p25nck5a immunoprecipitates showed association with Cdk5. Amphiphysin was detected in the 400‐kDa complex and synapsin I in the >400 kDa structure. The Cdk5 immunoprecipitates, however, revealed abundant retained Cdk5 but no remaining p25nck5a, indicating that Cdk5 in macromolecular structures is mostly unassociated with p25nck5a. Thus, we demonstrate: an amphiphysin‐associated 400‐kDa Cdk5/p25nck5a complex, a synapsin I‐associated >400‐kDa Cdk5/p25nck5a complex, and nck5a‐free Cdk5 complexes (200 to >400 kDa). Amphiphysin acts as a Cdk5/p25nck5a substrate in the 400‐kDa complex and we speculate that Cdk5/p25nck5a participates in amphiphysin‐mediated endocytosis. J. Cell. Biochem. 78:151–159, 2000. © 2000 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Association of androgen receptor CAG repeat polymorphism and polycystic ovary syndrome.

CONTEXT Genetically determined heightened androgen sensitivity may influence the phenotype of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). To date, studies of the androgen receptor exon 1 polymorphic CAG repeat have produced conflicting results in PCOS. OBJECTIVE We tested the hypothesis that a lower number of CAG repeats is associated with increased odds of PCOS. We also compared X-chromosome inactivation between cases and controls. DESIGN Women with and without PCOS were genotyped for the CAG repeat and assessed for X-chromosome methylation. Association analyses were performed. SETTING Subjects were recruited from the reproductive endocrinology clinic at the University of Alabama at Birmingham; controls were recruited from the surrounding community. Genotyping took place at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. PARTICIPANTS Participants included 330 women with PCOS and 289 controls (77% white, 23% black). MAIN MEASUREMENTS Androgen receptor genotype, X-chromosome methylation, and phenotyping for PCOS were measured. RESULTS A smaller biallelic mean of CAG repeats was associated with increased odds of PCOS. X-chromosome inactivation was not different comparing cases with controls; however, in the subset with nonrandom inactivation, the chromosome bearing the shorter CAG allele was preferentially active in PCOS women. CONCLUSIONS Association of shorter CAG repeats with PCOS is consistent with in vitro functional studies demonstrating higher activity of androgen receptors expressed from alleles with fewer CAG repeats, suggesting inherited alteration in androgen sensitivity may contribute to PCOS. In some women, such heightened sensitivity may also result from preferential expression of androgen receptors with shorter alleles. Thus, genetic and epigenetic changes may be involved in the pathogenesis of PCOS.
Preliminary validation study of the Spanish version of the satisfaction with life scale in persons with multiple sclerosis

Abstract Purpose: To assess Life Satisfaction, using the Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS), and to analyze its psychometric properties in Multiple Sclerosis (MS). Method: Persons with MS (n = 84) recruited at the MS Centre of Catalonia (Spain) completed a battery of subjective assessments including the SWLS, the World Health Organization Quality of Life instrument and disability module (WHOQOL-BREF, WHOQOL-DIS) and the Hospital Anxiety Depression Scale-Depression (HADS-D); sociodemographic and disability status data were also gathered. Psychometric properties of the SWLS were investigated using standard psychometric methods. Results: Internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha coefficient) was 0.84. A factor analysis using a principal components method showed a one factor structure accounting for 62.6% of the variance. Statistically significant correlations were confirmed between SWLS with WHOQOL-BREF, WHOQOL-DIS and HADS-D. SWLS scores were significantly different between a priori defined groups: probable depressed versus nondepressed and participants perceiving a mild versus severe impact of disability on their lives. Conclusion: To the best of our knowledge, this study is the first to report on the psychometrics properties of the SWLS in persons with MS. It might be a valuable tool to use in appraising persons with MS through the continuum of care. Implications for Rehabilitation The Spanish version of the Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS) is a reliable and valid instrument in Multiple Sclerosis (MS). The SWLS is able to discriminate between participants with low or high scores on depressive symptoms or disability impact on life. SWLS might be useful through the continuum of care in persons with MS, including Rehabilitation Services.
In vivo administration of flt3 ligand markedly stimulates generation of dendritic cell progenitors from mouse liver.

The study of liver dendritic cells (DC) and their progenitors is restricted by the small numbers that can be isolated or propagated from normal hepatic tissue. We examined the ex vivo growth, phenotype, and function of these cells after the administration to mice of the recently cloned hemopoietic growth factor flt3 ligand (FL), which is highly effective in mobilizing stem/progenitor cells. FL treatment (10 microg/day for 10 days) resulted in a mean 14-fold increase in the absolute number of nonparenchymal cells recovered from collagenase-digested livers compared with the control value. Culture of these nonparenchymal cells in granulocyte-macrophage CSF (GM-CSF; 1000 U/ml) resulted in the early formation of proliferating cell clusters and maximal release (within 4-5 days) of markedly increased numbers of nonadherent, low buoyant density cells per liver. Maximal release of low buoyant density cells propagated from control livers was at the later time of 6 to 8 days. Cells from both sources were DEC-205+, CD11c+, MHC class II+, CD80(low) (i.e., low level of CD80), CD86(low) and CD40(low). This immature phenotype was linked to poor T cell allostimulatory activity, indicative of DC progenitors. Propagation of cells from livers of FL-treated mice in GM-CSF and IL-4 resulted in a more mature DC phenotype and function. Maturational changes were also observed following exposure of the GM-CSF-stimulated progenitors to type 1 collagen for 3 additional days. The ability of FL to boost production of large numbers of liver DC progenitors provides opportunities for the further study of these important APC in normal liver immunobiology and in immune-mediated hepatic disorders.
Discours, corpus, traitements automatiques

Ce chapitre traite de l'application des principes et des methodes des linguistiques de corpus a l'etude de l'organisation du texte/discours. A partir de la litterature du domaine et des travaux de l'auteur, il pose la question des exigences specifiques en termes de corpus, et des difficultes d'analyse propres au niveau discursif. Les etudes sur le discours se caracterisent actuellement par une approche qualitative, sur des donnees de faible volume, avec des methodes manuelles et donc subjectives, ce qui fait obstacle a leur reproductibilite – et partant a leur validation –, et a la generalisation de leurs resultats. Les interactions entre discours, traitement automatique des langues et analyses de corpus sont examinees a travers des applications comme le resume automatique et l'aide a la navigation. Les questions posees par ces applications recoupent en de nombreux points celles qui motivent les etudes linguistiques du discours. Les techniques numeriques auxquelles elles font appel meriteraient d'etre explorees pour leur apport potentiel a l'etude linguistique de l'organisation du discours. Un dernier aspect particulierement positif des linguistiques de corpus est l'accent mis sur la constitution de ressources collectives, en particulier de corpus enrichis d'annotations discursives (structures, relations de discours).