Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Aspergillus fumigatus MADS-Box Transcription Factor rlmA Is Required for Regulation of the Cell Wall Integrity and Virulence

The Cell Wall Integrity (CWI) pathway is the primary signaling cascade that controls the de novo synthesis of the fungal cell wall, and in Saccharomyces cerevisiae this event is highly dependent on the RLM1 transcription factor. Here, we investigated the function of RlmA in the fungal pathogen Aspergillus fumigatus. We show that the ΔrlmA strain exhibits an altered cell wall organization in addition to defects related to vegetative growth and tolerance to cell wall-perturbing agents. A genetic analysis indicated that rlmA is positioned downstream of the pkcA and mpkA genes in the CWI pathway. As a consequence, rlmA loss-of-function leads to the altered expression of genes encoding cell wall-related proteins. RlmA positively regulates the phosphorylation of MpkA and is induced at both protein and transcriptional levels during cell wall stress. The rlmA was also involved in tolerance to oxidative damage and transcriptional regulation of genes related to oxidative stress adaptation. Moreover, the ΔrlmA strain had attenuated virulence in a neutropenic murine model of invasive pulmonary aspergillosis. Our results suggest that RlmA functions as a transcription factor in the A. fumigatus CWI pathway, acting downstream of PkcA-MpkA signaling and contributing to the virulence of this fungus.
A survey and taxonomy on nonorthogonal multiple‐access schemes for 5G networks

The intensity in the requirements of Internet of Things and mobile internet makes the efficiency of fifth‐generation (5G) wireless communications very challenging to achieve. Accomplishing the drastically increasing demand of massive connectivity and high spectral efficiency is a strenuous task. Because of the very large number of devices, 5G wireless communication systems are inevitable to satisfy the traffic requirements. Recently, nonorthogonal multiple‐access (NOMA) schemes are immensely being explored to address the challenges in 5G, which include effective bandwidth utilization, support for a massive number of devices, and low latency. This paper provides the reader with a holistic view of multiple‐access schemes, methods, and strategies for optimization in NOMA. First, we discuss the taxonomy of multiple‐access schemes in the literature; then, we provide a detailed discussion of objectives, constraints, problem types, and solution approaches for NOMA. This paper also discusses the decoding methods and key performance indicators used in NOMA. Finally, we outline future research directions.
Oxalosis with nephrocalcinosis.

Primary hyperoxaluria type I is a rare autosomal show reflux. Cystoscopy with retrograde urogram showed no evidence of obstruction. A diagnosis of recessive metabolic disorder characterized by absence of liver specific peroxisomal alanine glyoxylate aminoend-stage renal disease (ESRD) of unknown aetiology was made. Live related donor kidney transplant was transferase (AGT ) leading to elevated urinary excretion of glycolate and oxalate [1]. Calcium oxalate has performed. The graft function was excellent and creatinine reached 0.9 mg/dl on third post-transplant day. a very low solubility leading to nephrocalcinosis, urolithiasis and progressive renal insufficiency [2]. Due to From the tenth day, there was gradual increase in serum creatinine. When creatinine rose to 1.4 mg/dl the rarity of the disease, these specific diagnostic tests are not performed routinely unless the diagnosis is on 25th day, a kidney biopsy was performed which showed tubules filled with oxalate crystals (Figure 2). strongly suspected. We report a case of primary hyperoxaluria in which the diagnosis was not entertained Over the next few days there was progressive decline in graft function due to recurrence of primary disease. because there was no past history of urinary calculi and no evidence of nephrocalcinosis on plain X-ray A repeat abdominal X-ray (Figure 3) after the patient restarted dialysis, revealed dense nephrocalcinosis in and ultrasonography. The disease was detected and diagnosed only after kidney transplantation. the native kidneys. If this nephrocalcinosis had been obvious at the initial diagnosis of ESRD, renal transA 19-year-old female presented in September 1993 with uraemic symptoms, severe anaemia and azotaemia plantation would have been avoided. This case highlights the fact that in young patients (serum creatinine, 13.6 mg/dl ). Routine urinalysis was unremarkable. Ultrasound of kidneys showed right with ESRD of unknown origin with any evidence of renal calculi, oxalosis must be excluded. kidney of 7.1×3.1 cm size and left kidney of 10.7×5.5 cm. Both kidneys showed increased echogenicity. The pelvicalyceal system of left kidney appeared References mildly dilated and a plain abdominal X-ray (Figure 1) revealed a radio-opaque density at upper pole of the 1. Gruessner RW. Pre-emptive liver transplantation from a living left kidney. A micturating cystourethrogram did not related donor for primary hyperoxaluria type I. N Eng J Med 1998; 338: 1924 2. Shah B, Antoine C, Mercier F, Julia P, Duboust A, Glotz D. Correspondence and offprint requests to: Dr Bharat V. Shah, MD, Successful kidney retransplantation after combined liver/kidney DNB, Head, Department of Nephrology, P.D. Hinduja National transplantation in primary hyperoxaluria type I. Nephrol Dial Hospital and Medical Research Centre, Veer Savarkar Marg, Transplant 1998; 13: 1568–1570 Mahim, Mumbai-400 016, India.
Segmentation and Tracing of Neurons in 3

In order to understand the brain, we need to first understand the morphology of neurons. In the neurobiology community, there have been recent pushes to analyze both neuron connectivity and the influence of structure on function. Currently, a technical roadblock that stands in the way of these studies is the inability to automatically trace neuronal structure from microscopy. On the image processing side, proposed tracing algorithms face difficulties in low contrast, indistinct boundaries, clutter and complex branching structure. To tackle these difficulties, we develop Tree2Tree, a robust automatic neuron segmentation and morphology generation algorithm. Tree2Tree uses a local medial tree generation strategy in combination with a global tree linking to build a maximum likelihood global tree. Recasting the neuron tracing problem in a graph-theoretic context enables Tree2Tree to estimate bifurcations naturally, which is currently a challenge for current neuron tracing algorithms. Tests on cluttered confocal microscopy images of Drosophila neurons give results that correspond to ground truth within a margin of % normalized mean absolute error.
Synthesis and Antidiabetic Activity of Some New Furochromonyl-2,4-thiazolidinediones

Summary A new series of furochromone-2,4-thiazolidinedione derivatives (VIIa−h) was prepared by Knoevenagel reaction of substituted-2,4-thiazolidinediones (VIa−h) with Khellin-2-carboxaldehyde (IV ). The prepared compounds were tested for their insulinotropic activities in INS-1 cells. Compounds VIId and VIIf (at lower concentration; 1 µg/ml) were able to increase insulin release in the presence of 5.6 mmol/l glucose. Both these compounds (VIId and VIIf ) and VIIg increased glucose uptake in NIH-3T3 cells. Thus these 3 compounds should be tested for antidiabetic effects in vivo.
Design of Customized Rehabilitation Devices and Bench Testing System

Off-the-shelf rehabilitation devices are currently prescribed to assist patients with stroke. Current fabrication processes of custom-made rehabilitation devices are time consuming and laborious. The process could be only performed by skilled therapists. In addition, quantitative assessment of mechanical properties is crucial in the design of customized rehabilitation devices. By the design and the real time implementation of a 3D printed hand exoskeleton and a biomimetic testbed for AnkleFoot Orthoses (AFOs), the improved digitalized methodologies of design and bench testing systems for customized rehabilitation devices were presented in this study. A customized 3D printed hand exoskeleton (the EXCELSIOR) was developed and prototyped to assist stroke patients for finger extension exercises. 3D printing was combined with 3D scanning to create a custom-fit clamp. Compliant finger elements were designed and optimized utilizing Finite Element Analysis. Embedded strain gauges were applied to measure angular positions of the finger joints. In addition, a novel biomimetic testbed was designed to perform stiffness measurement and functional analysis for AFOs. A biomimetic footplate was designed to adjust pivot centers for the metatarsophalangeal (MTP) joint and the ankle joint according to the patient specific anatomy. Feedback control systems were developed and real time implemented to perform AFO stiffness measurement. An impedance control system was developed and real time implemented to simulate the kinematics of the human ankle for further functional analysis in gait. Real time implementation of the hand exoskeleton and AFO testbed proved the concepts of the design and the testing for customized rehabilitation devices.
Coordination among heterogeneous robotic soccer players

Coordination among multiple robots has been extensively studied, since a number of practical tasks can be performed in a more effective way by employing a fleet of coordinated robotic bases. In particular, distributed coordination among robotic agents has been considered within the framework offered by the robotic soccer competitions. We describe the methods and the results achieved in coordinating the players of the ART team participating in the RoboCup F-2000 league. The team is formed by several heterogeneous robots having different mechanics, different sensors, different control software, and, in general, different abilities for playing soccer. The coordination framework we have developed has been successfully applied during the 1999 official competitions allowing both for a significant improvement of the overall team performance and for a complete interchangeability of all the robots.
The European organization for research and treatment of cancer — satisfaction with cancer care questionnaire: revision and extended application development

Anne Brédart*, Ariane Beaudeau, Teresa Young, Hugo Moura De Alberquerque Melo, Juan Ignacio Arraras, Liz Friend, Heike Schmidt, Krzysztof A. Tomaszewski, Mia Bergenmar, Amélie Anota, Anna Costantini, Frédéric Marchal, Iwona M. Tomaszewska, Vassilios Vassiliou, Wei-Chu Chie, José Hureaux, Thierry Conroy, John Ramage, Franck Bonnetain, Dagmara Kulis, Neil K. Aaronson and EORTC Quality of Life Group Psycho-Oncology Unit, Institut Curie, Paris, France University Paris Descartes, Boulogne Billancourt, France Lynda Jackson Macmillan Centre, Mount Vernon Cancer Centre, London, UK Palliative Care and Internal Medicine, Institute of Integrative Medicine, Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil Department of Oncology, Hospital of Navarre, Pamplona, Spain Basingstoke and North Hampshire Hospital, Basingstoke, UK Institute for Health and Nursing Science, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle-Wittenberg, Germany Department of Anatomy, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Krakow, Poland 5 Military Clinical Hospital, Krakow, Poland Department of Oncology–Pathology, Karolinska Institutet, Center for Digestive Diseases, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden Methodology and Quality of Life in Oncology Unit (EA 3181), National Quality of Life and Cancer Clinical Research Platform, CHU, Besançon, France Psychoncology Unit, Sant’Andrea Hospital, Faculty of Medicine and Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy Institut de Cancérologie de Lorraine, Surgery Department, CRAN, UMR 7039, Lorraine University, CNRS, Vandoeuvre-lès-Nancy, France Department of Medical Education, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Krakow, Poland Bank of Cyprus Oncology Centre, Nicosia, Cyprus Institute of Preventive Medicine, College of Public Health, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan Pneumology Department, CHU Angers, Angers, France Angers University, Angers, France Institut de Cancérologie de Lorraine, Medical Oncology Department and EA 4360, Lorraine University, Vandoeuvre-lès-Nancy, France Quality of Life Department, EORTC, Brussels, Belgium Division of Psychosocial Research and Epidemiology, The Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Silencing of Rac3 inhibits proliferation and induces apoptosis of human lung cancer cells.

BACKGROUND Rac3, a member of the Rac family of small guanosine triphosphatases (GTPases), regulates a variety of cell functions, including the organization of the cytoskeleton, cell migration, and invasion. Overexpression of Rac3 has been reported in several human cancers. However, the role of Rac3 in lung cancer (LC) has not been determined in detail. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of silencing of Rac3 expression in human LC cells and the consequences for cell survival. MATERIALS AND METHODS Lentivirus small hairpin RNA (shRNA) interference techniques were utilized to knock down the Rac3 gene. Gene and protein expression was quantified by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and Western blotting. LC cell apoptosis was examined by annexin V-APC /propidium iodide staining. RESULTS Efficient silencing of Rac3 strongly inhibited A549 cell proliferation and colony formation ability, and significantly decreased tumor growth. Moreover, flow cytometry analysis showed that knockdown of Rac3 led to G2/M phase cell cycle arrest as well as an excess accumulation of cells in the G1 and S phase. CONCLUSIONS Thus, functional analysis using shRNAs revealed a critical role for Rac3 in the tumor growth of LC cells. shRNA silencing of Rac3 could provide an effective strategy to treat LC.
Stimulation Index for PCNA mRNA in Peripheral Blood as Immune Function Monitoring After Renal Transplantation

Although more effective and potent immunosuppressive agents have recently reduced the incidence of acute rejection, drug-induced toxicity and infection caused by over-immunosuppression occasionally elicit a serious problem. However, no effective assay for evaluating overall patient’s immune condition is in widespread use at present. We attempted to measure the stimulation index for mRNA of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), which is synthesized in early G1 and S phases of the cell cycle and would be expected to reflect the proliferation capacity of T lymphocytes under the immunosuppressive condition. The stimulation index for PCNA mRNA seemed to be closely related to the immunosuppressive state of renal transplant recipients. Patients with stimulation index less than 2.0 tended to have viral reactivation after transplantation. It was suggested that PCNA mRNA monitoring in peripheral blood could provide a warning of possible over-immunosuppression as one simple assay for immune function monitoring.
Mixed infections of trypanosomes in tsetse and pigs and their epidemiological significance in a sleeping sickness focus of Côte d'Ivoire

In a sleeping sickness focus of Côte d'Ivoire, trypanosomes were characterized in humans, pigs and tsetse using various techniques. Out of 74 patients, all the 43 stocks isolated by KIVI (Kit for In Vitro Isolation) appeared to belong to only one zymodeme of Trypanosoma brucei gambiense group 1 (the major zymodeme Z3). The only stock isolated on rodents belonged to a different, new, zymodeme (Z50), of T. b. gambiense group 1. From 18 pigs sampled in the same locations as the patients, PCR showed a high proportion of mixed infections of T. brucei s. l. and T. congolense riverine-forest. Zymodemes of T. brucei s. l. from these pigs were different from those found in humans. From a total of 16260 captured tsetse (Glossina palpalis palpalis), 1701 were dissected and 28% were found to be infected by trypanosomes. The most prevalent trypanosome was T. congolense riverine-forest type, followed by T. vivax, T. brucei s. l. and T. congolense savannah type, this latter being associated to the forest type of T. congolense in most cases. Mixed infections by 2 or 3 of these trypanosomes were also found. Use of a microsatellite marker allowed us to distinguish T. b. gambiense group 1 in some of the mature infections in tsetse. Differences in infection rates and in trypanosome genotypes according to the host might indicate that the pig may not be an active animal reservoir for humans in this focus.
Diminished Ovarian Reserve, Clomid, and Traditional Chinese Medicine: A Case Study.

BACKGROUND Infertility caused by diminished ovarian reserve (DOR) can result from an endocrinological imbalance. A rise in follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and decrease in antral follicle count (AFC) for women age ≤35 can lower pregnancy rates to <5%, and increase miscarriage rates to >75%. Chinese medicine may improve FSH and AFC levels in patients with DOR. It is common for women to seek adjunctive Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) treatment with biomedical clomid treatment. OBJECTIVE This article reports the case of a female with DOR who had completed three multiple, serial clomid cycles from September to December 2005, and for whom clomid failed. DESIGN SETTING AND PATIENT This is a case study of a 34-year-old patient with a 5-year history of infertility caused by DOR. She was treated in a private practice in Bellevue, WA. INTERVENTION TCM treatment-including acupuncture and herbal therapy-lasted from from January 2007 to April 2007. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES The main outcomes sought were improvements in this patient's reproductive hormone panel, including tests for FSH, estradiol, and AFC levels; in addition a pregnancy outcome was desired. RESULTS After 4 months of TCM treatment, the patient returned to biomedical care. Pregnancy was not achieved during three more clomid cycles, although she had improvements her levels of FSH (from 14.5 mIU/mL to 8.7 mIU/mL) and AFC (from 10-12 to 16-18 total). After 3 more cycles with clomid, her FSH level increased to 16.8 mIU/mL and her AFC level was <10. CONCLUSIONS After three failed clomid cycles, a patient with DOR had improved FSH and AFC levels when she received TCM treatment. However, this patient was still unable to conceive although three more clomid cycles were attempted. More research is needed to discern demographically which patients benefit best from multiple, serial clomid interventions. In addition, it is important to investigate more-integrative treatments for patients with DOR, including assisted reproductive techniques, acupuncture, and Chinese herbs.
On-Site LVRT Testing Method for Full-Power Converter Wind Turbines

Low-voltage ride-through (LVRT) capability is now required for all large-scale wind turbines (WTs) connected to the grid. This paper presents an on-site LVRT testing method for full-power converter (FPC) WTs. The new method makes use of the already installed WTs to emulate the grid and produce a given fault for the WT under test. To guarantee the safety of grid, both the test and grid emulation WTs are disconnected from the network and operate in stand-alone mode during the test. The system configuration, testing procedure, and control strategies are studied in the paper. Practical issues including the capability of emulated grid, WT overspeed limitation, network impedance, and fault conditions emulation are discussed. A wind farm with typical 2-MW FPC permanent magnet synchronous generator (PMSG) WTs is modeled in MATLAB. Simulation results show that with only proper modifications of a WT control algorithm, it is feasible to conduct on-site a series of LVRT tests for the FPC WT safely under given conditions.
A 99mTc-pyrophosphate kit: a convenient, economical, and high-quality skeletal-imaging agent.

An economical physiologic skeletal-imaging agent, /sup 99m/Tc- Snpyrophosphate, preparable in convenient kit form is described. This radiopharmaceutical appears to manifest a distribution and target-to-background ratio comparable to other available /sup 99m/Tc bone imaging agents with the added benefits of using a physiologic molecule and being preparable in a stable and convenient lyophilized kit form. (auth)
Review Article: The Fraction of Influenza Virus Infections That Are Asymptomatic A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Background: The fraction of persons with influenza virus infection, who do not report any signs or symptoms throughout the course of infection is referred to as the asymptomatic fraction. Methods: We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of published estimates of the asymptomatic fraction of influenza virus infections. We found that estimates of the asymptomatic fraction were reported from two different types of studies: first, outbreak investigations with short-term follow-up of potentially exposed persons and virologic confirmation of infections; second, studies conducted across epidemics typically evaluating rates of acute respiratory illness among persons with serologic evidence of infection, in some cases adjusting for background rates of illness from other causes. Results: Most point estimates from studies of outbreak investigations fell in the range 4%–28% with low heterogeneity (I2 = 0%) with a pooled mean of 16% (95% confidence interval = 13%, 19%). Estimates from the studies conducted across epidemics without adjustment were very heterogeneous (point estimates 0%–100%; I 2 = 97%), while estimates from studies that adjusted for background illnesses were more consistent with point estimates in the range 65%–85% and moderate heterogeneity (I2 = 58%). Variation in estimates could be partially explained by differences in study design and analysis, and inclusion of mild symptomatic illnesses as asymptomatic in some studies. Conclusions: Estimates of the asymptomatic fraction are affected by the study design, and the definitions of infection and symptomatic illness. Considerable differences between the asymptomatic fraction of infections confirmed by virologic versus serologic testing may indicate fundamental differences in the interpretation of these two indicators.
Usefulness of Technetium-99m Hexamethylpropylene Amine Oxime-Labeled Leukocyte Scintigraphy to Detect Pancreatic Necrosis in Patients with Acute Pancreatitis

Background: In acute pancreatitis (AP), pancreatic necrosis (PN) is an important local complication that can be identified by means of contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CECT). Pancreatic leukocyte infiltration is a significant pathogenic event in the development of PN that can be detected by labeled leukocyte scintigraphy (LLS). The aim of this study was to evaluate the utility of LLS with technetium-99m hexamethylpropylene amine oxime (99mTc-HMPAO) to detect the presence of PN in patients with AP. Methods: Prospective cohort study of 84 patients with AP. Patients underwent LLS and the activity of images was scored on a 0–3 scale. CETC was performed to assess PN. Ranson, Glasgow and APACHE-II scores were calculated. Serum C-reactive protein (CRP) was measured. Sensitivity (Sn), specificity (Sp), positive predictive values (PPV), negative predictive values (NPV), areas under receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves, likelihood ratios, odds ratios, analysis of variances between groups and correlation coefficients between tests were calculated. Results: PN was present in 11 (13%) patients. Pancreatic labeled leukocyte uptake was present in 38 patients (45%). Sn, Sp, PPV and NPV of LLS grade 2–3 for PN diagnosis were the highest (91, 88, 53 and 98%, respectively) of all tests. Patients with LLS grade 2–3 were 71 times more likely to be at risk of PN compared to those with LLS grade 0–1. The area under ROC curve of the LLS was the largest. A significant correlation was obtained between LLS and CRP (p < 0.001). Conclusion: In patients with AP, LLS with 99mTc-HMPAO detects PN with an acceptable level of confidence and therefore could be considered an alternative technique to CECT in detecting PN.