Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effects of keratinocyte growth factor on intra‐alveolar surfactant fixed in situ: Quantitative ultrastructural and immunoelectron microscopic analysis

Quantitative (immuno) transmission electron microscopy using design‐based stereology was performed on specimens collected by means of systematic uniform random sampling of rat lungs, which were fixed by vascular perfusion to stabilize intra‐alveolar surfactant in situ. This procedure ensures that the data recorded are representative of the whole organ. Ultrathin sections of specimens embedded at low temperature in Lowicryl HM20 were labeled by indirect immuno‐gold staining for surfactant protein A. We observed that, 3 days after treatment of lungs in vivo with truncated keratinocyte growth factor (ΔN23‐KGF), a potent mitogen of alveolar epithelial type II cells, surfactant protein A associated with the tubular myelin fraction of intra‐alveolar surfactant was increased by 47% in comparison with buffer‐treated control lungs. Despite the marked type II cell hyperplasia, the relative amount of ultrastructural surfactant subtypes was not significantly affected. Because surfactant protein A reduces the sensitivity to inhibition of the biophysical activity of surfactant by exudating plasma proteins, we propose that pretreatment of lungs with ΔN23‐KGF ameliorates adverse effects observed in acute lung injury following, for example, ischemia and reperfusion. Anat Rec, 2007. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Towards an information system for the collaborative investigation of neurodegenerative diseases

In today’s clinical research the importance of collaboration and the need to distribute research results increase. Integrated information systems for manipulating heterogeneous data become more and more important. In this paper, we introduce a web-based information system for the management of clinical trials. Heterogeneous and distributed data of probands and clinical trials are stored and managed in a centralized system. After describing the main functionalities of the system, we will focus on heterogeneous data and retrieval concepts which enable the search for appropriate probands and clinical trials in the system.
Securing functional programs with floating-label information-flow control

The work presented in this thesis focuses on information-flow control systems for functional programs, particularly on the LIO library in Haskell. The thesis considers three main aspects in this area: timing covert channels, dynamic policies and enforcement mechanisms that improve precision of the analysis. Timing channels are dangerous in the presence of concurrency. We start with the design, formalisation and implementation of a concurrent version of LIO which is secure against them. More specifically, we remove leaks due to non-terminating behaviour of programs (termination covert channel) and leaks produced by forcing certain interleavings of threads, as a result of affecting their timing behaviour (internal timing covert channel). The key insight is to decouple computations so that threads observing the timing or termination behaviour of other threads are required to be at the same confidentiality level. This work only deals with internal timing that can be exploited through language-level operations. We also mitigate leaks that result from the precise measurement of the timing of observable events (external timing covert channel), e.g. by using a stopwatch. In further work, we tackle leaks that result from hardware-based shared resources, such as the processor cache. This thesis presents a cache-based attack on LIO and proposes two solutions that rely on time-agnostic scheduling: the first one consists in a modification to the Haskell runtime and the other one is a purely language-based implementation. We also present a new manifestation of internal timing in Haskell, by exploiting lazy evaluation to encode sensitive information as timing perturbations. Dynamic policies arise when the set of allowed flows of information is permitted to change as the program runs. Declassification can be viewed as a special case of dynamic policies. This thesis introduces an extension to LIO which supports dynamic policies and can encode well-known label formats such as the DLM and DC labels. Moreover, we also present the notion of restricted privileges, giving principals the ability to restrict the ways in which their authority can be used in the system, and supporting robust declassification. We also add flow-sensitivity to LIO, which consists in the ability for the security labels of references to mutate, depending on the sensitivity of what is stored in them. Finally, we introduce a hybrid enforcement which mixes static and dynamic analyses. In particular, we leverage advanced type system features in Haskell to give the programmer control over which parts of the program are dynamically checked and which parts are statically checked. The core of this library is a general technique for deferring checking of type-class constraints to runtime which is applicable to other domains beyond language-based security.
First bite syndrome: our experience of laser tympanic plexus ablation.

INTRODUCTION First bite syndrome is a condition characterised by severe facial pain brought on by the first bite of each meal. This can severely affect the patient's ability to eat. METHODS We present a 70-year-old woman for whom we performed a laser ablation of the left ear tympanic plexus, as treatment of first bite syndrome. A permeatal approach was used to raise a tympanomeatal flap. The tympanic plexus was identified on the promontory and a 4 mm2 area of the plexus was ablated using CO2 laser. The flap was repositioned and a dressing was placed with topical antibiotics. RESULTS At two-month follow up, there was full resolution of the patient's symptoms. DISCUSSION First bite syndrome carries a high morbidity; treatment options are variable, and often unsuccessful. We describe the first documented case of laser tympanic plexus ablation, with a very effective initial response. This procedure represents a useful therapeutic option for first bite syndrome.
F-18 FDG PET-CT Findings of Intraperitoneal Carbon Particles-Induced Granulomas Mimicking Peritoneal Carcinomatosis

F-18 FDG PET-CT is a useful modality for monitoring residual or recurrent tumors after surgical resection. We report on 3 patients with intraperitoneal charcoal-induced granulomas mimicking peritoneal carcinomatosis on PET-CT images. Two of them underwent a radical gastrectomy because of advanced gastric cancer, and the other underwent a hemicolectomy because of sigmoid colon cancer. All 3 patients had a history of intraperitoneal chemotherapy using mitomycin C bound to activated carbon particles during surgery. Follow-up PET-CT studies demonstrated increased FDG uptake mimicking peritoneal carcinomatosis on PET images alone. However, the accompanying noncontrast CT showed variously shaped hyperdense nodules in the dependent positions of the peritoneal cavity, including the paracolic gutter and rectovesical space, indicating charcoal-induced granulomas rather than peritoneal carcinomatosis.
ECG based human authentication with using Generalized Hurst Exponent

Using the ECG as a biometric trait provides significant advantages such as universality, uniqueness, robustness to attacks, liveness detection, continuous authentication and etc. The chaotic behavior of ECG has been proven in the studies and nonlinear methods have been applied to study the nonlinear properties of this signal. In this paper we apply four different nonlinear Methods, Rescaled Range Analysis (RSA), Higuchi's Fractal Dimension (HFD), Detrended Fluctuation Analysis (DFA) and Generalized Hurst Exponent (GHE) to extract features for authentication system. Support Vector Machine is used to classify the fractal feature together with some fiducial features. The proposed approach has been tested using 18 different subjects ECG signal of MIT-BIH Normal Sinus Rhythm Database. The obtained results show that the authentication accuracy is 99.06±0.26%.
The Structure- and Metal-dependent Activity of Escherichia coli PgaB Provides Insight into the Partial De-N-acetylation of Poly-β-1,6-N-acetyl-d-glucosamine*

Background: Polysaccharide intercellular adhesin-dependent biofilm formation in E. coli requires the de-N-acetylation of poly-β-1,6-N-acetyl-d-glucosamine by PgaB. Results: Nickel- and iron-bound structures of PgaB have been determined, and the metal-dependent de-N-acetylase activity of the enzyme has been characterized. Conclusion: PgaB has low catalytic efficiency and shows preference for Co2+, Ni2+, and Fe2+ ions. Significance: The structure of PgaB will guide inhibitor design to combat biofilm formation. Exopolysaccharides are required for the development and integrity of biofilms produced by a wide variety of bacteria. In Escherichia coli, partial de-N-acetylation of the exopolysaccharide poly-β-1,6-N-acetyl-d-glucosamine (PNAG) by the periplasmic protein PgaB is required for polysaccharide intercellular adhesin-dependent biofilm formation. To understand the molecular basis for PNAG de-N-acetylation, the structure of PgaB in complex with Ni2+ and Fe3+ have been determined to 1.9 and 2.1 Å resolution, respectively, and its activity on β-1,6-GlcNAc oligomers has been characterized. The structure of PgaB reveals two (β/α)x barrel domains: a metal-binding de-N-acetylase that is a member of the family 4 carbohydrate esterases (CE4s) and a domain structurally similar to glycoside hydrolases. PgaB displays de-N-acetylase activity on β-1,6-GlcNAc oligomers but not on the β-1,4-(GlcNAc)4 oligomer chitotetraose and is the first CE4 member to exhibit this substrate specificity. De-N-acetylation occurs in a length-dependent manor, and specificity is observed for the position of de-N-acetylation. A key aspartic acid involved in de-N-acetylation, normally seen in other CE4s, is missing in PgaB, suggesting that the activity of PgaB is attenuated to maintain the low levels of de-N-acetylation of PNAG observed in vivo. The metal dependence of PgaB is different from most CE4s, because PgaB shows increased rates of de-N-acetylation with Co2+ and Ni2+ under aerobic conditions, and Co2+, Ni2+ and Fe2+ under anaerobic conditions, but decreased activity with Zn2+. The work presented herein will guide inhibitor design to combat biofilm formation by E. coli and potentially a wide range of medically relevant bacteria producing polysaccharide intercellular adhesin-dependent biofilms.
Systemic Chemotherapy using FLOT - Regimen Combined with Cytoreductive Surgery plus HIPEC for Treatment of Peritoneal Metastasized Gastric Cancer. .

BACKGROUND/AIMS The aim was to evaluate the feasibility and the effectiveness of neoadjuvant systemic chemotherapy using FLOT - protocol followed by cytoreductive surgery (CRS), hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) followed by systemic chemotherapyand in patients with peritoneal carciriomatosis (PC) from gastric cancer. METHODOLOGY Twenty six (median age 53 years, range 39 - 71) were scheduled for three cycles of neoadjuvant systemic chemotherapy using bi-weekly FLOT - protocol followed by CRS + HIPEC. Thereafter 3 additional cycles of FLOT were given. During HIPEC in Colliseum technique Oxaliplatin was given in a dosage of 200 mg/m2 and Docetaxel in a dosage of 80 mg/m2. RESULTS All patients underwent cytoreductive surgery plus HIPEC. Peritoneal Cancer index was > 15 in 3 cases only. Complete resection could be carried out in all cases (CC-O 18, CC-18). Postoperative complication rate was 23% with no mortality within 30 days. Anastomotic leakage rate was 3.2%. Overall survival was 19.0 months with a 2-year survival rate 38%. Regression analysis demonstrated a Peritoneal Cancer Index PCI > 12 as negative factor for survival. CONCLUSION Neoadju- vant chemotherapy using FLOT - protocol followed by CRS + HIPEC seems to be associated with prolonged OS in patients with peritoneal carcinomatosis from gastric cancer. This treatment is not recommended for patients with extensive peritoneal involvement and PCI > 12.
SAUR 36 , a SMALL AUXIN UP RNA Gene , Is Involved in the Promotion of Leaf Senescence in Arabidopsis 1 [ C ] [ W ] [ OA ]

Small Auxin Up RNA genes (SAURs) are early auxin-responsive genes, but whether any of them are involved in leaf senescence is not known. Auxin, on the other hand, has been shown to have a role in leaf senescence. Some of the external application experiments indicated that auxin can inhibit leaf senescence, whereas other experiments indicated that auxin can promote leaf senescence. Here, we report the identification and characterization of an Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) leaf senescenceassociated gene named SAG201, which is highly up-regulated during leaf senescence and can be induced by 1-naphthaleneacetic acid, a synthetic auxin. It encodes a functionally uncharacterized SAUR that has been annotated as SAUR36. Leaf senescence in transfer DNA insertion saur36 knockout lines was delayed as revealed by analyses of chlorophyll content, Fv/Fm ratio (a parameter for photosystem II activity), ion leakage, and the expression of leaf senescence marker genes. In contrast, transgenic Arabidopsis plants overexpressing SAUR36 (without its 39 untranslated region [UTR]) displayed an early leaf senescence phenotype. However, plants overexpressing SAUR36 with its 39 UTR were normal and did not exhibit the early-senescence phenotype. These data suggest that SAUR36 is a positive regulator of leaf senescence and may mediate auxin-induced leaf senescence and that the 39 UTR containing a highly conserved downstream destabilizes the SAUR36 transcripts in young leaves.
Identification and Structure−Activity Relationship of Phenolic Acyl Hydrazones as Selective Agonists for the Estrogen-Related Orphan Nuclear Receptors ERRβ and ERRγ

The first small molecule agonists of the estrogen-related receptors have been identified. GSK4716 (3) and GSK9089 (4) show binding to ERRγ with remarkable selectivity over the classical estrogen receptors. Notably, in cell-based reporter assays, 3 mimics the protein ligand PGC-1α in activation of human ERRβ and ERRγ.
Zeitschrift für Naturforschung / B / 3 (1948)

Die Versuche dienen zur Ü b e r p r ü f u n g der Theor ie , daß die pho toper iod i schen Reakt ionen ents tehen, wei l das L ich t in der pho toph i l en P h a s e der endogenen Rhy thmik (in der Rege l an e iner B l a t t h e b u n g e r k e n n b a r ) die B l ü t e n b i l d u n g f ö r d e r t , s ie aber in der skotophi len Phase (in der Rege l an e iner B l a t t s e n k u n g e r k e n n b a r ) hemmt. 1. Soja. Die B l a t t b e w e g u n g e n v e r l a u f e n so, wie es bei e iner K u r z t a g p f l a n z e zu erw a r t e n ist. F ü r Biloxi-Soja l ä ß t sich die aus f r ü h e r e n A r b e i t e n b e k a n n t e opt imale T a g e s l ä n g e (9—12 Stdn.) u n m i t t e l b a r a u s dem V e r l a u f der B l a t t b e w e g u n g e n erschl ießen. Die P r ü f u n g von 10 w e i t e r e n So jaso r t en mi t r ech t ve r sch iedenem photoper iodischem V e r h a l t e n e rgab ebenfa l l s e ine u n e r w a r t e t g u t e Ü b e r e i n s t i m m u n g zwischen dem Verlauf der B l a t t b e w e g u n g e n und dem schon b e k a n n t gewesenen pho toper iod i schen Ve r hal ten . So jasor ten mit l angen op t imalen T a g e s l ä n g e n ze igen e ine en t sp rechende Ver z ö g e r u n g der abendlichen B l a t t s e n k u n g , die j a den Ü b e r g a n g zur sko tophi len P h a s e anze ig t . So läßt sich in e inem g r ö ß e r e n Mate r i a l von Ke impf l anzen a l le in auf G r u n d des S tud iums der B l a t t b e w e g u n g e n leicht en tscheiden , welches pho tope r iod i sche Verha l t en d ie Pf lanze zeigen wi rd . 2. D a s Ve rha l t en d e r B l a t t b e w e g u n g e n bei den u n t e r s u c h t e n Nicotiana-Arten harmon ie r t ebenfa l l s mit den von diesen A r t e n b e k a n n t e n pho toper iod i schen E igen tüml ich kei ten . Fr ü h e r wurde vom Verf. nachzuweisen versucht 1 2 , daß die endonome T a g e s r h y t h m i k eine entscheidende G r u n d l a g e f ü r die Möglichkei t photoper iodi sche r Reak t ionen ist . Licht , das die pho toph i le P h a s e d e r endonomen Rhy thmik t r i f f t , f ö rde r t , Licht , das die sko toph i l e P h a s e dieser Rhy thmik t r i f f t , hemmt d ie B lü t enb i ldung . Der Untersch ied zwischen Lang 1 E . B ü n n i n g , F l o r a 38, 93 [1944]. 2 E . B ü n n i n g , Na tu rwi s s . 33, 271 [1946]. und Kurz tagpf lanzen e rk lä r t sich aus der unterschiedlichen Regul ie rung der endonomen Rhythmik durch den Licht -Dunkel -Wechse l : Bei Kurz tagpf lanzen tri t t die photophile P h a s e etwa gleichzeitig mit dem Beleuchtungsbeginn ein, wi rd aber nach (meist) welliger als 12 Stdn. von der sko toph i l en abgelöst , so daß w e i t e r e F o r t s e t z u n g der B e l e u c h t u n g übe r diesen Z e i t p u n k t h i n a u s f ü r die B l ü t e n b i l d u n g u n g ü n s t i g ist . Bei L a n g t a g p f l a n z e n t r i t t die pho toph i le P h a s e e r s t spät ,
A presentation deadline-based cross-layer design for IPTV services over wireless networks

Recently, IPTV services over Internet and wireless networks have been increasing rapidly. Hence, in this paper we introduce a presentation deadline-based cross-layer design for improving the QoS of IPTV services over wireless networks. Our cross-layer design uses the presentation timestamp in the RTP packet header to derive a presentation deadline for each MAC frame. In our design, the wireless Access Point (AP) uses the presentation deadline and the number of retrys to determine whether a MAC frame can be sent or not. Moreover, the MAC fragment size can adapt to the wireless channel conditions. Numerical results demonstrate that the proposed cross-layer design can avoid a waste of wireless channel resources on serving useless MAC frames which will be dropped at the receiver due to missing their presentation deadlines. In addition, the proposed cross-layer design can achieve a lower lateness loss rate and a better application layer goodput for IPTV services.
MATERNAL BODY SIZE AS AN EVOLUTIONARY CONSTRAINT ON EGG SIZE IN A BUTTERFLY

Abstract Genetic and developmental constraints have often been invoked to explain patterns of existing morphologies. Yet, empirical tests addressing this issue directly are still scarce. We here set out to investigate the importance of maternal body size as an evolutionary constraint on egg size in the tropical butterfly Bicyclus anynana, employing an artificial two-trait selection experiment on simultaneous changes in body and egg size (synergistic and antagonistic selection). Selection on maternal body size and egg size was successful in both the synergistic and the antagonistic selection direction. Yet, responses to selection and realized heritabilities varied across selection regimes: the most extreme values for pupal mass were found in the synergistic selection directions, whereas in the antagonistic selection direction realized heritabilities were low and nonsignificant in three of four cases. In contrast, for egg size the highest values were obtained in the lines selected for low pupal mass. Thus, selection on body size yielded a stronger correlated response in egg size than vice versa, which is likely to bias (i.e., constrain), if weakly, evolutionary change in body size. However, it seems questionable whether this will prevent evolution toward novel phenotypes, given enough time and that natural selection is strong. Correlated responses to selection were overall weak. Egg and larval development times tended to be associated with changes in maternal size, whereas variation in pupal development times weakly tended to follow variation in egg size. Lifetime fecundity was similar across selection regimes, except for females simultaneously selected for large body mass and small egg size, exhibiting increased fecundity. Multiple regressions showed that lifetime fecundity and concomitantly reproductive investment were primarily determined by longevity, as expected for an income breeder, whereas egg size was primarily determined by pupal mass. Evidence for a phenotypic trade-off between egg size and number was weak.
Modeling Junctions in Sharp Edge Conducting Structures With Higher Order Method of Moments

Scattering targets are often made by complex structures constituted by thin metallic plates as wings, fins, winglets. When thin plates are connected together, they define surface junctions with the possible presence of sharp edges. In this paper we describe a complete procedure to handle junctions in presence of sharp edges in surface integral equation methods by defining the required basis functions and unknowns. This approach is based on the use of divergence-conforming higher order interpolatory vector basis functions, singular vector basis functions and on Kirchhoff's current law. The paper presents several numerical test cases that show the instability of solutions using classical methods and the full convergence of the proposed numerical scheme.
Reduction of the Rate of Poliovirus Protein Synthesis through Large-Scale Codon Deoptimization Causes Attenuation of Viral Virulence by Lowering Specific Infectivity

ABSTRACT Exploring the utility of de novo gene synthesis with the aim of designing stably attenuated polioviruses (PV), we followed two strategies to construct PV variants containing synthetic replacements of the capsid coding sequences either by deoptimizing synonymous codon usage (PV-AB) or by maximizing synonymous codon position changes of the existing wild-type (wt) poliovirus codons (PV-SD). Despite 934 nucleotide changes in the capsid coding region, PV-SD RNA produced virus with wild-type characteristics. In contrast, no viable virus was recovered from PV-AB RNA carrying 680 silent mutations, due to a reduction of genome translation and replication below a critical level. After subcloning of smaller portions of the AB capsid coding sequence into the wt background, several viable viruses were obtained with a wide range of phenotypes corresponding to their efficiency of directing genome translation. Surprisingly, when inoculated with equal infectious doses (PFU), even the most replication-deficient viruses appeared to be as pathogenic in PV-sensitive CD155tg (transgenic) mice as the PV(M) wild type. However, infection with equal amounts of virus particles revealed a neuroattenuated phenotype over 100-fold. Direct analysis indicated a striking reduction of the specific infectivity of PV-AB-type virus particles. Due to the distribution effect of many silent mutations over large genome segments, codon-deoptimized viruses should have genetically stable phenotypes, and they may prove suitable as attenuated substrates for the production of poliovirus vaccines.
Exploring Faultlines, Conflict, Satisfaction, and Stress in Groups of Peacekeepers

We explore group faultlines in peacekeeping troops on missions between 1995 and 1999 in Bosnia. Group faultlines are defined as hypothetical dividing lines that split a group into subgroups based on demographic characteristics (e.g. age, gender, etc.), culture, norms, work attitudes, and behavior of peacekeepers. In particular, we examine how potential faultlines become active faultlines and then result in task, relationship, and cultural conflict within a group of peacekeepers. We link these types of conflict to peacekeepers' satisfaction, perceived performance, and level of work stress. We test our hypotheses on survey data from a sample of 907 Dutch military peacekeepers (Ng = 168). Implications for practitioners and future research directions are discussed.