Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Epstein‐Barr virus infection and its role in the expanding spectrum of human diseases

Recent advances of the various laboratory tests to detect Epstein‐Barr virus (EBV) infection have clarified the causative role for a spectrum of EBV‐associated diseases. They include lymphoproliferative disorders (LPD), which occur in immunologically compromised individuals, Hodgkin's disease (HD), chronic active EBV infection (CAEBV), virus‐associated hemophagocytic syndrome (VAHS), certain forms of T cell lymphoma, and some gastric carcinomas, in addition to the classical EBV‐associated diseases such as EBV genome‐positive Burkitt's lymphoma (BL), undifferentiated nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) and infectious mononucleosis (IM). This review intends to introduce the recent progress of studies on EBV infection mainly from the clinical points of view.
Bio-layer interferometry : méthode d’intérêt dans les procédés de fabrication et pour le contrôle des préparations hospitalières à base d’anticorps monoclonaux thérapeutiques

La biolayer interferometry (BLI) est une technique basee sur le phenomene physique d’interference lumineuse appliquee aux biocouches formees par des interactions proteiques. Cette technique relativement recente apparue au cours des annees 2000 vient concurrencer des methodes comme la resonance plasmonique de surface ou la biochromatographie. L’interet de cette technique repose sur une mesure simple d’un deplacement spectral qui permet de suivre les etapes d’association et de dissociation d’interactions bimoleculaires. Elle permet notamment de suivre des interactions antigene/anticorps monoclonaux grâce a des biocapteurs prets a l’emploi. Ces therapies se democratisant representent a l’heure actuelle une part importante du marche et ont une place de choix dans l’arsenal therapie, et plus particulierement en oncologie. Cela a conduit a une augmentation des preparations hospitalieres d’anticorps monoclonaux et a mis en evidence les carences des techniques actuelles dans le controle de ces preparations. Les essaies preliminaires menees sur la BLI pour son utilisation en technique de routine pour le controle des preparations se sont reveles satisfaisant notamment ceux menes avec le biocapteur Fab-CH1. Et devrons etre approfondis dans le futur pour en faire une methode de reference.
A simulation study of the impact of mobility on TCP/IP

This paper presents a simulation analysis of the impact of mobility on data transport protocols. We consider the TCP/IP protocol augmented with features to support host mobility in wide area networks. Our results show that the existing version of TCP can yield low throughput in highly mobile environments due to the fact that TCP cannot discriminate packets dropped due to hand-offs with those dropped due to congestion in one or more network resources. We investigate a proposal in which the transport layer explicitly receives information from the network layer of any ongoing mobility. We show that by effectively capitalizing this information, TCP can appropriately extend the slow-start phase in the recovery process and achieve higher throughput. Based on the simulation analysis we also show the robustness of this scheme in the presence of both host mobility and network congestion. <<ETX>>
A meta-analysis of head-to-head comparisons of second-generation antipsychotics in the treatment of schizophrenia.

OBJECTIVE Whether there are differences in efficacy among second-generation antipsychotics in the treatment of schizophrenia is a matter of heated debate. The authors conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of blinded studies comparing second-generation antipsychotics head-to-head. METHOD Searches of the Cochrane Schizophrenia Group's register (May 2007) and MEDLINE (September 2007) were conducted for randomized, blinded studies comparing two or more of nine second-generation antipsychotics in the treatment of schizophrenia. All data were extracted by at least three reviewers independently. The primary outcome measure was change in total score on the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale; secondary outcome measures were positive and negative symptom subscores and rate of dropout due to inefficacy. The results were combined in a meta-analysis. Various sensitivity analyses and metaregressions were used to examine bias. RESULTS The analysis included 78 studies with 167 relevant arms and 13,558 participants. Olanzapine proved superior to aripiprazole, quetiapine, risperidone, and ziprasidone. Risperidone was more efficacious than quetiapine and ziprasidone. Clozapine proved superior to zotepine and, in doses >400 mg/day, to risperidone. These differences were due to improvement in positive symptoms rather than negative symptoms. The results were rather robust with regard to the effects of industry sponsorship, study quality, dosages, and trial duration. CONCLUSIONS The findings suggest that some second-generation antipsychotics may be somewhat more efficacious than others, but the limitations of meta-analysis must be considered. In tailoring drug treatment to the individual patient, small efficacy superiorities must be weighed against large differences in side effects and cost.
Current harmonics and commercial losses in smart grids

The paper presents some results of investigations of commercial losses in power networks with consumers, which are sources of current harmonics. It is shown that the active power losses in transformers, which supply such consumers, are the commercial losses of the power systems. The values of the commercial losses versus the magnitudes of the total harmonic current distortion coefficient and of the coefficient K-factor are estimated. It turns out that in many cases these losses exceed 1% of the power or energy consumption. To improve the efficiency of power systems and to reduce their commercial losses, it is suggested to take into account these losses, when estimating the balance of the produced and the consumed energy, by calculating them or by installing active energy meters at the primary side of the power system transformers of nonlinear loads.
Exploring Smart Pilot for Wireless Rate Adaptation

Rate adaptation is an essential component in today's wireless standards, which help approach the channel capacity and maximize the throughput. However, how to estimate the optimal data rate in a fluctuated channel remains of great concern. Previous wisdoms leverage PHY layer information for rate estimation, including confidence information like SoftPHY hints, and channel state information (CSI) measurements. However, when experiencing rapid time varying and frequency selective fading channel, the above metrics can be inaccurate. The reason roots from the fact that there are not enough cost-efficient pilots, which are pre-known symbols inserted in a packet for channel estimation. In this paper, we observe that by digging into both PHY layer decoder and upper layer protocol headers, more reliable data bits with high confidence level can be exploited. These data bits, termed smart pilot, can be used to calibrate the channel estimation measurements cost-efficiently. Based on the calibrated estimation, we further propose a novel greedy rate selection algorithm to track the optimal data rate, which successfully avoids the impact of deep fading subcarriers in both legacy 802.11a/g and 802.11n MIMO systems. Our experiments on GNU radio testbed show that SmartPilot quickly tracks the link variance, and improve the channel estimation accuracy by 87%. Furthermore, the trace driven simulation reveals that greedy rate selection algorithm predicts the data rate as good as the optimal rate adaptation algorithms for 802.11 standards.
Outcome Measures Following Sonodynamic Photodynamic Therapy - A Case Series

Sonodynamic Photodynamic Therapy (SPDT) is a novel cancer treatment approach using a photosensitive agent (Sonnelux-1) with reported ultrasound-activated properties. The sensitiser is administered prior to a cycle of light and low-intensity ultrasound exposure. Ultrasound has the advantage of significantly greater tissue penetrance compared to light, which potentially allows non-invasive activation of the sensitiser within deep-sited tumours. Sonnelux-1 has previously demonstrated significant tumour cell inhibition following ultrasound administration in animal studies, and several case reviews have been published reporting clinical benefits in metastatic cancer patients. This current case series presents outcome measures of five patients with a variety of cancer diagnoses following SPDT, providing further evidence of beneficial treatment outcomes.
Human acid sphingomyelinase - Assignment of the disulfide bond pattern

Human acid sphingomyelinase (haSMase, EC 3.1.4.12) catalyzes the lysosomal degradation of sphingomyelin to ceramide and phosphorylcholine. An inherited haSMase deficiency leads to Niemann-Pick disease, a severe sphingolipid storage disorder. The enzyme was purified and cloned over 10 years ago. Since then, only a few structural properties of haSMase have been elucidated. For understanding of its complex functions including its role in certain signaling and apoptosis events, complete structural information about the enzyme is necessary. Here, the identification of the disulfide bond pattern of haSMase is reported for the first time. Functional recombinant enzyme expressed in SF21 cells using the baculovirus expression system was purified and digested by trypsin. MALDI-MS analysis of the resulting peptides revealed the four disulfide bonds Cys120-Cys131, Cys385-Cys431, Cys584-Cys588 and Cys594-Cys607. Two additional disulfide bonds (Cys221-Cys226 and Cys227-Cys250) which were not directly accessible by tryptic cleavage, were identified by a combination of a method of partial reduction and MALDI-PSD analysis. In the sphingolipid activator protein (SAP)-homologous N-terminal domain of haSMase, one disulfide bond was assigned as Cys120-Cys131. The existence of two additional disulfide bridges in this region was proved, as was expected for the known disulfide bond pattern of SAP-type domains. These results support the hypothesis that haSMase possesses an intramolecular SAP-type activator domain as predicted by sequence comparison [Ponting, C.P. (1994) Protein Sci., 3, 359-361]. An additional analysis of haSMase isolated from human placenta shows that the recombinant and the native human protein possess an identical disulfide structure.
TOATAT OTITQATTTT CAAACTAAAA ATAOOTOATA TATCCACTAT aATOOAQGOT CTACCTCCCA OOTATTOOAT CCATAACCTA TTATTOCCTT TTATTTTOCA AATAACOQAA AATAAAACOT TACCAAAAGO GTTAOAAOCA ATOOTTTTCC CAATCTTCOT TAATTCCAAT TGTTOOTOAC ATTAAGGTTA ACAACCACTO TTOCAATTAO TTAOAAAOOC AACOTTAATC AATCTTTCCQ OAAATOATOO COAATOTCAT CTITACT

As a model for the isolation of species-specific sequences of ONA, we Isolated and characterized a species-specific DNA fragment from the Candida albicans genome. We used a series of differential colony hybridization experiments, in which a C. albicans genomic library was hybridized with genomic DNA probes from related organisms to minimize the number of potentially specific C. albicans DMA fragments to bs tested. Sin clones were tested by dot blot analysis, and one of them, a 1348 bp EcoRI ONA fragment, was confirmed as specific for C. elblcans. This species-specific fragment could be utilized as a DNA probe for rapid, sensitive, and specific diagnosis of C. albicans DNA in clinical specimens.
Oocyte-Expressed Interleukin 7 Suppresses Granulosa Cell Apoptosis and Promotes Oocyte Maturation in Rats1

Development of ovarian follicles is regulated by pituitary-derived gonadotropins together with local ovarian paracrine factors. Based on DNA microarray data, we performed RT-PCR and immunostaining to demonstrate the expression of interleukin 7 transcripts in oocytes of preantral, antral, and preovulatory follicles in rats. We also found the expression of interleukin 7 receptor and the coreceptor interleukin 2 receptor gamma in granulosa cells, cumulus cells, and preovulatory oocytes. In cultured rat granulosa cells obtained from early antral and preovulatory follicles, treatment with interleukin 7 stimulated the phosphorylation of AKT, glycogen synthase kinase (GSK3B), and STAT5 proteins in a time- and dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, measurement of mitochondrial reductase activity indicated that treatment with interleukin 7, similar to gonadotropins, increased the number of viable granulosa cells during a 24-h culture period. Furthermore, monitoring of the activities of apoptotic enzymes (caspase 3/7) indicated that treatment with interleukin 7 suppressed apoptosis of cultured granulosa cells from both antral and preovulatory follicles following serum withdrawal. The apoptosis-suppressing actions of interleukin 7 were blocked by an inhibitor of the phosphoinositol-3-kinase (PIK3)/AKT pathway. Furthermore, treatment of cultured preovulatory follicles with interleukin 7, like treatment with human chorionic gonadotropin, induced germinal vesicle breakdown of oocytes. The stimulatory effect of interleukin 7 was also blocked by inhibitors of the PIK3/AKT pathway. The present findings suggest that oocyte-derived interleukin 7 could act on neighboring granulosa cells as a survival factor and promote the nuclear maturation of preovulatory oocytes through activation of the PIK3/AKT pathway.
Airway Resistance and Lung Volume in the Newborn Infant

Extract: The total body plethysmograph method of DuBois et al. [7] for measurement of lung volume and airway resistance was adapted to the study of newborn infants. A Rendell-Baker mask directly controlled by the operator proved by trial and error to minimize the chances of pressure leaks and undesirable pressure on the nose and allowed the mandible to be pulled forward to minimize pharyngeal obstruction. Use of an oscilloscope for direct visualization of flow and pressure tracings was essential in order to detect immediately pressure leaks, artifacts, and abnormal patterns during measurements of both lung volume and airway resistance.Interpretation of the measurements of airway resistance and of the relation of conductance to lung volume over a wide range of age and lung volumes requires that the flow rates at which measurements are made be recorded, along with lung volumes.In 51 newborn infants, an airway resistance value of 19.2±5.6 cm H2O/l/s was observed. Thoracic gas volume at functional residual capacity was 89.9±15.5 ml. The resulting mean value for conductance (reciprocal of airway resistance), 0.052 l/s/cm H2O, fell above the calculated regressions of conductance versus lung volume determined by Briscoe and DuBois [3], who used data obtained from older children and adults. Direct comparison is limited since airway resistance in the older subjects was usually obtained using panting flow rates of 0.5 l/s, while the infants in this study had flow rates of approximately 0.1 l/s at the time airway resistance was measured.Speculation: Confirmation of the presence of the major expiratory flow-limiting segment in the nasal airway of newborn and small infants is needed. This location suggests a physiologic means for slowing expiratory flow and thus maintaining expiratory intraluminal pressure in the tracheobronchial tree, which might protect the compliant trachea and major bronchi from compression by positive intrapleural pressure in obstructive pulmonary disease. It is possible that there is an airflow-lung volume-airway resistance relation throughout life; however, a wide range of control data will be required to establish such a relation.
Chloroquine resistance of Plasmodium falciparum malaria in Ethiopia and Eritrea

We report on the first 2 years of operation of a new strategy for treatment for P. falciparum malaria patients who were not cured by a standard course of chloroquine. Any such patient who returned to a malaria treatment and detection post within 2 weeks was treated daily under supervision with chloroquine. Patients whose parasitaemia had not decreased below 25% of the initial level by day 3 or cleared completely by day 7 were given sulphadoxine/pyrimethamine (Fansidar). Of 39 824 patients treated initially with chloroquine, 4% returned to the malaria post within 2 weeks of treatment; 87% of these were chloroquine resistant and treated with Fansidar and 28% of the returning patients were RIII resistant.
Evaluation of risks of foot-and-mouth disease in Scotland to assist with decision making during the 2007 outbreak in the UK

An outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) occurred in Surrey on August 3, 2007. A Great Britain-wide ban on livestock movements was implemented immediately. This coincided with the start of seasonal sheep movements off the hills in Scotland; the majority of these animals are sold via markets. The ban therefore posed severe economic and animal-welfare hardships if it was to last through September and beyond. The Scottish Government commissioned an analysis to assess the risk of re-opening markets given the uncertainty about whether FMD had entered Scotland. Tracing of livestock moved from within the risk zone in England between July 16 and August 3 identified contact chains to 12 Scottish premises; veterinary field inspections found a further three unrecorded movements. No signs of infection were found on these holdings. Under the conservative assumption that a single unknown Scottish holding was infected with FMD, an estimate of the time-dependent probability of Scotland being FMD free given no detection was made. Analyses indicated that if FMD was not detected by early to mid-September then it was highly probable that Scotland was FMD free. Risk maps were produced to visualise the potential spread of FMD across Scotland if it was to spread either locally or via market sales.
Climate Drives Episodic Conifer Establishment after Fire in Dry Ponderosa Pine Forests of the Colorado Front Range, USA

In recent years, warming climate and increased fire activity have raised concern about post-fire recovery of western U.S. forests. We assessed relationships between climate variability and tree establishment after fire in dry ponderosa pine forests of the Colorado Front Range. We harvested and aged over 400 post-fire juvenile ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa) and Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) trees using an improved tree-ring based approach that yielded annually-resolved dates and then assessed relationships between climate variability and pulses of tree establishment. We found that tree establishment was largely concentrated in years of above-average moisture availability in the growing season, including higher amounts of precipitation and more positive values of the Palmer Drought Severity Index. Under continued climate change, drier conditions associated with warming temperatures may limit forest recovery after fire, which could result in lower stand densities or shifts to non-forested vegetation in some areas.
Sample size estimation to substantiate freedom from disease for clustered binary data with a specific risk profile

SUMMARY Disease cases are often clustered within herds or generally groups that share common characteristics. Sample size formulae must adjust for the within-cluster correlation of the primary sampling units. Traditionally, the intra-cluster correlation coefficient (ICC), which is an average measure of the data heterogeneity, has been used to modify formulae for individual sample size estimation. However, subgroups of animals sharing common characteristics, may exhibit excessively less or more heterogeneity. Hence, sample size estimates based on the ICC may not achieve the desired precision and power when applied to these groups. We propose the use of the variance partition coefficient (VPC), which measures the clustering of infection/disease for individuals with a common risk profile. Sample size estimates are obtained separately for those groups that exhibit markedly different heterogeneity, thus, optimizing resource allocation. A VPC-based predictive simulation method for sample size estimation to substantiate freedom from disease is presented. To illustrate the benefits of the proposed approach we give two examples with the analysis of data from a risk factor study on Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis infection, in Danish dairy cattle and a study on critical control points for Salmonella cross-contamination of pork, in Greek slaughterhouses.
Localization of glycerol-3-phosphate oxidase in the mitochondrion and particulate NAD+-linked glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase in the microbodies of the bloodstream form to Trypanosoma brucei.

We have studied the intracellular location of glycerol-3-phosphate oxidase and NAD+-linked glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase, two enzymes involved in the very active dihydroxyacetone phosphate:glycerol-3-phosphate cycle in Trypanosoma brucei. Isopycnic centrifugation of a large-granule fraction resulted in a 10–20-fold purification of the oxidase and showed that the enzyme behaved like the mitochondrial ATPase, isocitrate dehydrogenase and the particulate malate dehydrogenase. The activity profiles of these four enzymes in sucrose gradients were identical with maximal activity at a density of 1.17 g/cm3. Electron micrographs of a fraction equilibrating at this density only showed mitochondrial profiles. The particle-bound NAD+-linked glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase activity was found to band at a density of 1.23 g/cm3 in sucrose. A fraction equilibrating at this density was highly enriched in microbodies; it contained few mitochondrial profiles and less than 3% of the specific oxidase activity of the mitochondrial fraction. Because of the absence of microbody markers in T. brucei we turned to the insect trypanosome Crithidia luciliae, which contains a high activity of the microbody marker catalase. In C. luciliae part of the catalase activity bands at the same density as the particle-bound NAD+-linked glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (Q = 1.26 g/cm3). From these results we conclude that in T. brucei bloodstream forms glycerol-3-phosphate oxidase is located in the mitochondrion and not in the microbodies, as proposed by a number of other investigators, and that the particle-bound NAD+-linked glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase is located within the microbodies. It is likely that this highly active dehydrogenase plays an essential role in glycolysis.
Solar irradiance forecasting model based on extreme learning machine

The Off-Grid systems are systems with an independence on the energy supply from external grid, whereas renewables (RES) are used as a sources of electric and heat energy. The main RES is photovoltaic power plant (PVP), however this source has the stochastic character of power supply. The stochastic character of PVP is given by dependency on a weather conditions. This brings a need of solar irradiance forecasting. The solar irradiance forecasting is very important tool for the forecasting of the PVP energy production and it can be used for the optimization of the power flows in the Off-Grid systems. This paper presents a solar irradiance forecasting model based on extreme learning machine.