Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Role of TSPAN9 in Alphavirus Entry and Early Endosomes

ABSTRACT Alphaviruses are small enveloped RNA viruses that infect cells via clathrin-mediated endocytosis and low-pH-triggered fusion in the early endosome. Using a small interfering RNA (siRNA) screen in human cells, we previously identified TSPAN9 as a host factor that promotes infection by the alphaviruses Sindbis virus (SINV), Semliki Forest virus (SFV), and chikungunya virus (CHIKV). Depletion of TSPAN9 specifically decreases SFV membrane fusion in endosomes. TSPAN9 is a member of the tetraspanin family of multipass membrane proteins, but its cellular function is currently unknown. Here we used U-2 OS cells stably overexpressing TSPAN9 to show that TSPAN9 is localized at the plasma membrane and in early and late endosomes. Internalized SFV particles colocalized with TSPAN9 in vesicles early during infection. Depletion of TSPAN9 led to reductions in the amounts of the late endosomal proteins LAMP1 and CD63 and an increase in the amount of LAMP2. However, TSPAN9 depletion did not alter the delivery of SFV to early endosomes or change their pH or protease activity. Comparative studies showed that TSPAN9 depletion strongly inhibited infection by several viruses that fuse in early endosomes (SFV, SINV, CHIKV, and vesicular stomatitis virus [VSV]), while viruses that fuse in the late endosome (recombinant VSV-Lassa and VSV-Junin), including an SFV point mutant with a lower pH threshold for fusion (SFV E2 T12I), were relatively resistant. Our data suggest that TSPAN9 modulates the early endosome compartment to make it more permissive for membrane fusion of early-penetrating viruses. IMPORTANCE Alphaviruses are spread by mosquitoes and can cause serious human diseases such as arthritis and encephalitis. Recent outbreaks of CHIKV infection are responsible for millions of cases of acute illness and long-term complications. There are no vaccines or antiviral treatments for these important human pathogens. Alphaviruses infect host cells by utilizing the endocytic machinery of the cell and fusing their membrane with that of the endosome. Although the mechanism of virus-membrane fusion is well studied, we still know relatively little about the host cell proteins that are involved in alphavirus entry. Here we characterized the role of the host membrane protein TSPAN9 in alphavirus infection. TSPAN9 was localized to early endosomes containing internalized alphavirus, and depletion of TSPAN9 inhibited virus fusion with the early endosome membrane. In contrast, infection of viruses that enter through the late endosome was relatively resistant to TSPAN9 depletion, suggesting an important role for TSPAN9 in the early endosome.
Cigarette smoking, elevated fasting serum glucose, and risk of pancreatic cancer in Korean men

Pancreatic cancer is one of the most fatal human cancers and continues to be a major unsolved health problem. The goal of this study was to estimate the independent effects and interactions between cigarette smoking and diabetes on the risk of pancreatic cancer in Korean male population. Cigarette smoking and the risk of incidence and death from pancreatic cancer were examined in a 10‐year prospective cohort study of 446,407 Korean men aged 40 to 65 years who received health insurance from the National Health Insurance Corporation and who had a medical evaluation in 1992. Relative risks (RR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated using a Cox proportional hazards model after adjusting for age, body mass index, exercise and alcohol use. Current smoking was associated with an increased risk of incidence (RR = 1.7, 95% CI = 1.6–1.9) and mortality (RR = 1.6, 95% CI = 1.4–1.7) from pancreatic cancer. The RR for pancreatic cancer increased with both duration and amount of smoking. Diabetes was also associated with an increased risk of both incidence (RR = 1.8, 95% CI = 1.5–2.2) and mortality (RR = 1.7, 95% CI = 1.4–2.1) from pancreatic cancer. There was no interaction between smoking and fasting serum glucose in terms of pancreatic cancer risk. Thus, our prospective study has demonstrated that cigarette smoking and elevated fasting serum glucose are independently associated with an increased risk of pancreatic cancer in a large cohort of Korean males. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Advancements in the Reactive Liquid  ${\rm Mg}$ Infiltration Technique to Produce Long Superconducting ${\rm MgB}_{2}$ Tubular Wires

The possibility to manufacture superconducting MgB2 wires, applying the reactive liquid Mg infiltration (RLI) process, was demonstrated several years ago, obtaining wires characterized by hollow cores. The short samples of these wires gave transport critical currents in line with the best powder in tube (PIT) wires produced by "in situ" technique. Nevertheless the extension of the RLI technology to long superconducting wires initially was prevented owing to difficulties in controlling the liquid magnesium dynamics during the reaction. Now we succeed in controlling the reaction and in the manufacturing wires or tubular long manufacts. For tubular manufacts having large diameter, of several millimetres, useful for current leads or relatively short resistive current limiters, the liquid Mg is also supplied continuously during the reaction, to refill completely the core of the tube. For thin wires, with diameter of the order of a millimetre or less, useful for magnets and racetrack winding and other filamentary manufacts, the movement of liquid Mg is counteracted by the liquid metal surface tension. Concerning the superconducting characteristics of the wires, we have explored some key variables effective on the quality of the crystalline MgB2: they include the choice of the original Boron powders and the addition of doping elements.
The use of GIS to evaluate traffic-related pollution

GIS for exposure modelling One of the major challenges in epidemiological research is to devise appropriate metrics and methods for exposure assessment. In the context of traffic-related air pollution, this is particularly problematic because of continuing uncertainty about the causal agents, the likelihood of important interactive and cumulative effects from different pollutants, high levels of both spatial and temporal variability in pollutant concentrations and a dearth of monitoring data. Against this background, models that can estimate at unsampled locations are clearly needed. The paper by Morgensten et al 1 (see page 8) in this issue presents an example of how geographic information system (GIS) techniques can be used to develop such models for urban-scale analysis, on the basis of readily available data. The use of GIS methods for exposure modelling in this way has a relatively recent history. Outside epidemiology, the emphasis has mainly been on dispersion modelling, and a range of so-called second-generation models have been developed (eg, AERMOD, ADMS-Urban) to support air pollution management. To date, however, these models have been rather rarely used for epidemiological purposes, partly because of their demanding data requirements, and also, no doubt, because of lack of awareness, lack of understanding or distrust by this research community. By contrast, in epidemiology, the focus has been on developing GIS-based methods. Initially, these mainly involved the extraction of relatively simple distance-based metrics of exposure (eg, based on proximity to source). However, over the past 10 years, attention has turned to GIS-based pollution mapping, using interpolation techniques, such as inverse distance weighting and kriging, and what has become known (perhaps rather misleadingly) as land use regression modelling. …
Matching Techniques for Miniaturized UHF RFID Loop Antennas

Two types of matching techniques are proposed for the UHF RFID antennas in Korea. One is to create dual-resonance mode inside loop antenna, and the other is to use folded dipole loop antenna with capacitive loading. The measured maximum gains are -2.9 and 1.8 dBi, respectively. In both cases, the measured bandwidths are 6 and 8 MHz. The proposed antenna has achieved 80% size reduction compared with a one-wavelength long loop antenna.
Planar nanogap electrodes by direct nanotransfer printing.

Planar nanogap electrodes of predetermined spacing are fabricated using direct high-resolution metal nanotransfer printing on a solid substrate (see image). A GaAs/AlGaAs heterostructure featuring a nanoscale groove on a cleaved plane is the mold. Successful transfer experiments yield sectioned metal thin films with gap separation down to about 10 nm having excellent electrical properties.
IMPACT OF BODY HABITUS ON PERIOPERATIVE MORBIDITY ASSOCIATED WITH FUSION OF THE THORACOLUMBAR AND LUMBAR SPINE

OBJECTIVESpinal fusion is performed in patients ranging from young and healthy to aged and frail. Although recent population trends in the United States are toward obesity, no large-scale study has evaluated how body habitus affects mortality, complications, and resource utilization for lumbar spine fusion. Such information is important for patient selection and to confirm the safety of such procedures in this population. METHODSData for 244 170 patients who underwent thoracolumbar or lumbar spine fusion for degenerative disease between 1988 and 2004 were collected from the Nationwide Inpatient Sample database, and subjects were grouped by surgical approach and body habitus. Multivariate logistic regression evaluated group effects on selected postoperative complications, length of stay, resource utilization, and discharge disposition. RESULTSThis study confirms that body habitus affects perioperative morbidity sustained by patients undergoing thoracolumbar or lumbar spine fusion. Demographic heterogeneity exists for race, geography, and number of diseased levels among body habitus groups, prompting application of multivariate logistic regression for outcomes. For all approaches, higher body mass index associated with increased transfusion requirements and likelihood of discharge to assisted living. Furthermore, morbidly obese patients undergoing posterior fusion sustained more wound complications and postoperative infections. CONCLUSIONThis nationwide study describes inpatient complications encountered during fusion surgery in patients who are obese. For a given surgical approach, patients with higher body mass index sustain increased transfusion requirements and utilize more resources during thoracolumbar and lumbar spine fusion. Nevertheless, the findings of equivalent mortality, length of stay, and other complication rates suggest that patients who are obese remain safe surgical candidates.
Agent Based Material Transfer Scheduling in Steel Works

In steel works, locomotives are used to transport products between factories. To attain the stable production, it is necessary to make an appropriate route plan for transferring products between plants effectively and smoothly. However, in a large-scale transportation system of steel works, a lot of products with variety of specification and weight are are treated. As the result, calculation time to make route plan increases, and it is difficult to correspond to frequent transfer request. In this paper, product transfer route planning method in steel works using autonomous decentralized agent is proposed. In the proposal method, each locomotive is considered as an agent, and each locomotive makes the route plan autonomously. In route planning, the problem is to determine transfer route to minimize transportation time with avoiding the collision of locomotives. The entire route plan is cooperatively optimized by each agent repeating an individual optimization of route plan and information exchange.
Volumetric Magnetic Resonance Imaging of Functionally Relevant Structural Alterations in Chronic Epilepsy after Pilocarpine‐induced Status Epilepticus in Rats

Summary: Purpose: After pilocarpine‐induced epilepsy in rats, volumetric magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) reveals significant morphologic changes in functionally relevant structures of the brain. To relate structural changes to functional alteration, we studied the correlation of regional brain atrophy (e.g., of the hippocampus) with lesion‐induced learning deficits in the Morris water maze.
Multiple channel microelectrode system for human epilepsy research

In this paper we present a novel multiple channel microelectrode system capable of recording field potential and cellular firing activity from the cortex of patients having medically intractable epilepsy. With the aid of this system, we can have a more detailed insight into the cortical mechanisms of epilepsy. The main concepts of the system design and some of the preliminary results are discussed.
Modeling and stopping transient process simulation of electric propulsion system of UUV

Due to the shipping experiment of unmanned underwater vehicle (UUV) needs long period and high cost, a method is provided to test the character of the propulsive motor by computer simulation in this paper. Firstly, the mathematic models of the propulsion motors and the Zn/AgO battery and the shifting electrical equipment and counter-rotating propellers were established, and secondly, the stopping transient process of electric propulsion system of UUV was simulated by SIMULINK. The research shows that the simulation results are close to the experiment results, it could replace the shipping experiment to shorten the design-making cycle and depress the cost.
DIABETOGENIC INFLUENCE OF HYPERDIET AND CYCLOPHOSPHAMIDE ON THE NON OBESE DIABETIC (NOD) MOUSE.

Objective: The objective of the study is to evaluate whether the hyper diet and cyclophosphamide accelerates diabetes related metabolic changes in the male NOD mice stock. Materials and Methods: Different groups of NOD male mice were fed with hyperdiet and injected intraperitoneally with cyclophosphamide single dose and multiple split doses. Hepatic Hexokinase Glucose 6 phosphatase, Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, Glutathione reductase and Glutathione S Transferase activities were determined. Results: Significancant differences showed in hyperglycemia in hyperdiet, cyclophosphamide single dose and cyclophosphamide multiple split dose treated animals. Glycosylated hemoglobin showed that there was a significant difference in all the three groups when compared with that of the control group. Whereas, hyperdiet treated and the cyclophosphamide multiple split dose treated animals showed significant similarity. The altered activities of hexokinase, glucose 6 phosphatase, and glucose 6 phosphate dehydrogenase in the liver of NOD male mice resulted in the hyperglycemic state of the treated animals. Conclusion: Hyperdiet and cyclophosphamide treated animals showed significant hyperglycemia and also altered few enzyme activity of carbohydrate metabolism. Hence, the non diabetic NOD male mice treated with hyper diet and cyclophosphamide may be a useful model to test therapeutic approaches for amelioration of chronic diabetic complications in humans.
Design and implementation of a scalable constraint-based routing module for QoS path computation

Quality of Service in computer networks depends on several variables like bandwidth, delay, jitter, cost, and packet loss which affect the overall user experience. In Multiprotocol Label Switching Networks, paths can be established end-to-end and resources can be guaranteed on each hop. However, due to several reasons, among them the computational cost involved, these paths are normally computed with constraints for only one variable. In this paper we propose a design and implementation of a scalable module for multi-constraint path computation in the context of the Path Computation Element architecture. We present all the design issues involved in an integral solution that accounts for all problems involved, some examples of the problem, and a scalable architecture to solve it. Finally, we present our performance results on simulated scenarios and real world networks.
nteraction Between Childhood Adversity , Brain-erived Neurotrophic Factor val / met and Serotonin ransporter Promoter Polymorphism on Depression : he TRAILS Study

ackground: The three-way interaction between the functional polymorphism in the serotonin transporter gene linked promoter region, he val66met polymorphism in the brain-derived neurotrophic factor gene, and childhood adversity in the prediction of depression in hildren, reported by Kaufman and colleagues in 2006, has only been confirmed in adult samples. This study examines the gene-by-geney-environment interaction in an adolescent sample.
General Optimized Lower and Upper Bounds for Discrete and Continuous Arithmetic Asian Options

We propose an accurate method for pricing arithmetic Asian options on the discrete or continuous average in a general model setting by means of a lower bound approximation. In particular, we derive analytical expressions for the lower bound in the Fourier domain. This is then recovered by a single univariate inversion and sharpened using an optimization technique. In addition, we derive an upper bound to the error from the lower bound price approximation. Our proposed method can be applied to computing the prices and price sensitivities of Asian options with fixed or floating strike price, discrete or continuous averaging, under a wide range of stochastic dynamic models, including exponential Levy models, stochastic volatility models, and the constant elasticity of variance diffusion. Our extensive numerical experiments highlight the notable performance and robustness of our optimized lower bound for different test cases.
FlhA, a Component of the Flagellum Assembly Apparatus of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Plays a Role in Internalization by Corneal Epithelial Cells

ABSTRACT Pseudomonas aeruginosa invades various epithelial cell types in vitro and in vivo. The P. aeruginosa genome possesses a gene (flhA) which encodes a protein that is believed to be part of the export apparatus for flagellum assembly and which is homologous to invA of Salmonella spp. Because invA is required for invasion ofSalmonella spp. , a role for flhA in P. aeruginosa invasion was explored using cultured rabbit corneal epithelial cells. An flhA mutant of P. aeruginosa strain PAO1 was constructed and was shown to be nonmotile. Complementation with flhA in transrestored motility. Corneal cells were infected for 3 h with the wild type (PAO1), the flhA mutant, the flhA mutant complemented with flhA in trans, anflhA mutant containing the plasmid vector control, or anfliC mutant (nonmotile mutant control). Invasion was quantified by amikacin exclusion assays. Both the flhA and the fliC mutants invaded at a lower level than the wild-type strain did, suggesting that both fliC andflhA played roles in invasion. However, loss of motility was not sufficient to explain the reduced invasion by flhAmutants, since centrifugation of bacteria onto cells did not restore invasion to wild-type levels. Unexpectedly, the flhA mutant adhered significantly better to corneal epithelial cells than wild-type bacteria or the fliC mutant did. The percentage of adherent bacteria that invaded was reduced by ∼80% for the flhAmutant and ∼50% for the fliC mutant, showing that only part of the role of flhA in invasion involvesfliC. Invasion was restored by complementing theflhA mutant with flhA in trans but not by the plasmid vector control. Intracellular survival assays, in which intracellular bacteria were enumerated after continued incubation in the presence of antibiotics, showed that although flhAand fliC mutants had a reduced capacity for epithelial cell entry, they were not defective in their ability to survive within those cells after entry. These results suggest that the flagellum assembly type III secretion system plays a role in P. aeruginosainvasion of epithelial cells. Since the flhA mutants were not defective in their ability to adhere to corneal epithelial cells, to retain viability at the cell surface, or to survive inside epithelial cells after entry, the role of flhA in invasion of epithelial cells is likely to occur during the process of bacterial internalization.
Amplification of DNA polymerase gene fragments from viruses infecting microalgae

Nested PCR with three highly degenerate primers was used for amplification and identification of DNA polymerase (pol) genes from viruses which infect three genera of microalgae. Group-specific primers (AVS1 and AVS2) were designed on the basis of inferred amino acid sequences unique to the DNA pol genes of viruses (PBCV-1 and NY-2A) that infect an endosymbiotic Chlorella-like alga (Chlorophyceae) and a virus (MpV-SP1) which infects the photosynthetic flagellate Micromonas pusilla (Prasinophyceae). In addition, a nested primer (POL) was designed on the basis of the highly conserved amino acid sequence YGDTDS found in most B-family (alpha-like) DNA pol genes. These primers were used to amplify DNA from the three viruses, PBCV-1, NY-2A, and MpV-SP1, for which the primers were designed, as well as eight clonal isolates of genetically distinct viruses which infect M. pusilla and others which infect Chrysochromulina spp. (Prymnesiophyceae), suggesting that these are a group of related viruses. In contrast, no product resulted from using DNA from viruses which infect the marine brown algae Ectocarpus siliculosis and Feldmannia sp. (Phaeophyceae), suggesting that these viruses may not be closely related to those that infect microalgae. These primers were also used to amplify DNA from natural virus communities. Our results indicate that nested PCR, even under low-stringency conditions, can be used as a rapid method to verify the presence in seawater of a group of related viruses which infect microalgae. Sequence analysis of these fragments should provide information on the genetic diversity and potentially the phyletic relationships among these viruses. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Evaluating the Joint Information Systems Committee's information environment: the EDNER and EDNER+ projects

Purpose. Reports on findings of work concerning the use of the JISC information environment by students, considering how information environments are related to the working environments of their users. Design/methodology/approach. CERLIM at Manchester Metropolitan University, partnered by CSALT (the Centre for Studies in Advanced Learning Technologies) at Lancaster University, has brought to bear perspectives from both information management and educational research. During 2003 to 2004 the scope of the evaluation was broadened to include all of the JISC development activity in the information environment area and has been extended to the further education sector: this is known as EDNER+. Findings. The use of quality attributes approaches can provide clues as to what it is about a service which is creating dissatisfaction among the users. Research limitations/implications. Coupled with other findings about “satisficing” behaviours, the findings are suggestive of some of the key areas which need to be given attention. They also support a finding from this and other work in EDNER/EDNER+, namely that to students internet search engines in general and Google in particular represent a benchmark of “good”. Practical implications. Given that use of bibliographic services is uniformly low among undergraduate students, and that the use of OPACs is variable, IE service developers will have to work very hard to produce services which gain acceptance among this group of users. Since IE includes further education students among its target user groups, it will be critical to address the full range of attributes against the needs of this group, as well as the higher education group, in future service design. Originality/value. Using a wide range of methodologies the team has explored the outcomes of a large number of projects funded by the JISC, as well as examining the architecture and rollout of the information environment itself.