Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Abstract P216: The Association Between Reduction in Inflammation and Changes in Lipoprotein Levels and HDL Cholesterol Efflux Capacity in Rheumatoid Arthritis

Background: Potent anti-inflammatory RA treatments are associated with reduced cardiovascular (CV) risk as well as increases in low density lipoprotein (LDL). This apparent paradox may be explained by favorable changes in other lipid measurements. The objective of this study was to determine the longitudinal association between changes in inflammation with advanced lipoprotein measurements and HDL cholesterol efflux capacity. Methods and Results: We conducted this study in a longitudinal RA cohort from a large academic center. We included subjects with hsCRP reduction ≥10mg/L at two time points one year apart. Subjects on statins during the study period or 6 months prior were excluded. We measured total cholesterol (TC), LDL, high density lipoprotein (HDL), apolipoprotein B (apoB), apoA1, and HDL cholesterol efflux capacity at baseline and one year follow-up. We determined the correlations between reduction in hsCRP and change in lipid parameters using the Pearson test. We studied 90 RA subjects, mean age 57 years, 89% female, all subjects were on disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs; median baseline hsCRP was 28.6mg/L and follow-up 4.3 mg/L (reduction of 85%, p<0.0001). We observed significant correlations between a reduction in hsCRP with increases in LDL (r=0.25,p=0.02, Figure 1a), HDL (r=0.23, p=0.03), apoA1 (r=0.27, p=0.01 and HDL cholesterol efflux capacity (r=0.24, p=0.02), an overall improvement of efflux capacity of 5.7% (p=5x10-4, Figure 1b). Conclusion: Reduction in inflammation was associated increased LDL levels, and concomitant increases in HDL, ApoA1, and improvements in HDL cholesterol efflux capacity. These findings provide further insight into lipid modulation and the beneficial effect of reduction in inflammation on lipids in vivo. [][1] [1]: /embed/graphic-1.gif
Characterization of the integrated filamentous phage Pf5 and its involvement in small-colony formation

Bacteriophages play an important role in bacterial virulence and phenotypic variation. It has been shown that filamentous bacteriophage Pf4 of Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain PAO1 mediates the formation of small-colony variants (SCVs) in biofilms. This morphology type is associated with parameters of poor lung function in cystic fibrosis patients, and SCVs are often more resistant to antibiotics than wild-type cells. P. aeruginosa strain PA14 also contains a Pf1-like filamentous prophage, which is designated Pf5, and is highly homologous to Pf4. Since P. aeruginosa PA14 produces SCVs very efficiently in biofilms grown in static cultures, the role of Pf5 in SCV formation under these conditions was investigated. The presence of the Pf5 replicative form in total DNA from SCVs and wild-type cells was detected, but it was not possible to detect the Pf5 major coat protein by immunoblot analysis in PA14 SCV cultures. This suggests that the Pf5 filamentous phage is not present at high densities in the PA14 SCVs. Consistent with these results, we were unable to detect coaB expression in SCV cultures and SCV colonies. The SCV variants formed under static conditions were not linked to Pf5 phage activity, since Pf5 insertion mutants with decreased or no production of the Pf5 RF produced SCVs as efficiently as the wild-type strain. Finally, analysis of 48 clinical P. aeruginosa isolates showed no association between the presence of Pf1-like filamentous phages and the ability to form SCVs under static conditions; this suggests that filamentous phages are generally not involved in the emergence of P. aeruginosa SCVs.
Risk Assessment Model for Congestive Heart Failure

Congestive heart failure is a common, chronic and debilitating condition with an extremely poor prognosis. This paper presents an approach to creation of risk assessment model for congestive heart failure. Two types of hierarchical multi-attribute models are developed and compared: qualitative and quantitative. The results for both models showed that the models can successfully assist and help the experts in their decision for estimation of the patient's risk. Also, the models analysis techniques can assist additionally by giving advices for future improvement of patient's health.
The Transformerless Single-Phase Universal Active Power Filter for Harmonic and Reactive Power Compensation

This paper presents a universal active filter for harmonic and reactive power compensation for single-phase systems applications. The proposed system is a combination of parallel and series active filters without transformer. It is suitable for applications where size and weight are critical factors. The model of the system is derived and it is shown that the circulating current observed in the proposed active filter is an important quantity that must be controlled. A complete control system, including pulse-width modulation (PWM) techniques, is developed. Comparisons between the structures are made from weighted total harmonic distortion (WTHD). The steady-state analysis is also presented in order to demonstrate the possibility to obtain an optimum voltage angle reducing the current amplitude of both series and parallel converters and, consequently, the total losses of the system. Simulated and experimental results validate the theoretical considerations.
Pharmacological disruption of calcium channel trafficking by the α2δ ligand gabapentin

The mechanism of action of the antiepileptic and antinociceptive drugs of the gabapentinoid family has remained poorly understood. Gabapentin (GBP) binds to an exofacial epitope of the α2δ-1 and α2δ-2 auxiliary subunits of voltage-gated calcium channels, but acute inhibition of calcium currents by GBP is either very minor or absent. We formulated the hypothesis that GBP impairs the ability of α2δ subunits to enhance voltage-gated Ca2+channel plasma membrane density by means of an effect on trafficking. Our results conclusively demonstrate that GBP inhibits calcium currents, mimicking a lack of α2δ only when applied chronically, but not acutely, both in heterologous expression systems and in dorsal root-ganglion neurons. GBP acts primarily at an intracellular location, requiring uptake, because the effect of chronically applied GBP is blocked by an inhibitor of the system-L neutral amino acid transporters and enhanced by coexpression of a transporter. However, it is mediated by α2δ subunits, being prevented by mutations in either α2δ-1 or α2δ-2 that abolish GBP binding, and is not observed for α2δ-3, which does not bind GBP. Furthermore, the trafficking of α2δ-2 and CaV2 channels is disrupted both by GBP and by the mutation in α2δ-2, which prevents GBP binding, and we find that GBP reduces cell-surface expression of α2δ-2 and CaV2.1 subunits. Our evidence indicates that GBP may act chronically by displacing an endogenous ligand that is normally a positive modulator of α2δ subunit function, thereby impairing the trafficking function of the α2δ subunits to which it binds.
Ballistic Limit of Laminated Panels with Different Joining Materials Subjected to Steel-Hardened Core Projectile

This paper presents the computational-based ballistic limit of laminated metal panels comprised of high-strength steel and aluminium alloy Al7075-T6 plates to necessitate a weight reduction of 25% in the existing armour steel plate using three different joining materials. Numerical models of the triple-layered panels were developed using the commercial Explicit Finite Element code and were impacted by a 7.62-mm armour-piercing projectile at velocities ranging from 400 m/s to 1000 m/s. The ballistic performance of each configuration plate in terms of the ballistic limit velocity, depth of penetration and end of penetration, was quantified and considered. It was found that the panels with joining materials exhibited a better ballistic limit on an average of 1.5% than that of the panel without a joining material. The penetration depth of the panel joined by polyurethane possessed the lowest depth of 22 mm with a higher contact duration compared to the panel without a joining material. This happened because the polyurethane adhesive was better able to absorb energy at a high strain rate impact than the other joining materials. Thus, based on the investigation that was carried out, polyurethane seems to be the most interesting option for joining different metals of Ar500 and Al7075-T6 as a laminated panel for armoured vehicle applications.
A Preliminary Result of Treatment of Neuromyelitis Optica With Autologous Peripheral Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation

Autologous peripheral hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (APHSCT) was performed to treat a patient with neuromyelitis optica. We observed that the patient achieved clinical remission after APHSCT during 12 months of follow-up. The patient improved on the expanded disability status scale neurologic assessment and the Scripps neurologic rating scale worksheet scores on follow-up examination compared with baseline. The MRI abnormalities on T1WI and T2WI improved. The postpartum maternal blood helper T (CD3+CD4+ T cell) and the CD4+/CD8+ ratio were decreased, and the cytotoxic T (CD3+CD8+ T) cell increased. This shows that APHSCT in this patient with neuromyelitis optica appears to reduce the frequency of attacks with improvement in disability. However, a larger study with more patients and a longer follow-up would be required to assess the encouraging preliminary results.
DEVELOPMENT OF RISK-CONSTRAINED OFFERING STRATEGIES FOR A WIND POWER PRODUCER UNDER UNCERTAINTY

Under a market framework, the development of optimal offering strategies is crucial for wind power producers to achieve maximum profit. In this paper, a two-stage stochastic programming approach is proposed, considering the uncertainties on wind power production and electricity market prices. An artificial intelligence model allows generating wind-price scenarios. Also, risk management is appropriately addressed. Results from a real-world case study are presented, in order to illustrate the proficiency of the proposed approach. Finally, conclusions are duly drawn.
Error performance of a duplex retrodirective array system

A retrodirective antenna array has the property that it is capable of independently phasing the array elements so that it provides an improved link gain in the direction of the incoming signal without prior knowledge of the position of the source radiator. Many schemes have been proposed to achieve the retrodirectivity including the use of digital signal processing techniques. However, the diverse digital RF communication schemes pose a considerable challenge when it comes to quantitatively measuring the quality of a retrodirective system. Therefore, it becomes necessary to perform the analysis in time, frequency and modulation domains in order to obtain an insight into the RF system performance. Error vector magnitude (EVM) measurements by virtue of their ability to process the signals in full vector (magnitude and phase), provides us with a quantitative figure-of-merit for a digitally modulated signal. This paper presents the simulation model of a retrodirective communication system and its error performance in terms of EVM. The simulation and EVM measurements were performed for the first time on a DSP based half duplex retrodirective system.
Transition From Intravenous to Subcutaneous Insulin

OBJECTIVE The study objectives were 1) to assess the effectiveness and safety of a standardized protocol for the transition to subcutaneous insulin and oral feeding in diabetic or hyperglycemic patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) who were receiving intravenous insulin and glucose at the time of the transfer from the intensive cardiac care unit to a general ward and 2) to identify predictors of transition outcome. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS This was a prospective observational study. The protocol specifies that patients receive a 100% of their daily subcutaneous insulin requirement from the first day of oral feeding, calculated from the intravenous insulin rate during the final 12 h divided into two: 50% basal and 50% prandial. RESULTS In 142 patients (93 male, 49 female, age range 47–88 years, 135 with known diabetes) the first day after transition, 44.8% of blood glucose (BG) measurements were within the strict range of 100–140 mg/dL before meals and 100–180 mg/dL after meals, and 70.8% were within the broader ranges of 80–160 mg/dL and 80–200 mg/dL, respectively. Pre- or postprandial hypoglycemia (BG <70 mg/dL) occurred in 11 patients (7.7%) on the first day and in 38 patients (26.8%) on the first 3 days after transition. Old age, high doses of intravenous insulin, and wide BG variations in the 24 h before insulin infusion was stopped were predictive of poor BG control after transition. CONCLUSIONS This study shows the effectiveness and safety of a standardized protocol for the transition from intravenous to subcutaneous insulin in patients with ACS when regular oral feeding was resumed.
Age‐related alterations in the dynamic behavior of microglia

Microglia, the primary resident immune cells of the central nervous system (CNS), exhibit dynamic behavior involving rapid process motility and cellular migration that is thought to underlie key functions of immune surveillance and tissue repair. Although age‐related changes in microglial activation have been implicated in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases of aging, how dynamic behavior in microglia is influenced by aging is not fully understood. In this study, we employed live imaging of retinal microglia in situ to compare microglial morphology and behavioral dynamics in young and aged animals. We found that aged microglia in the resting state have significantly smaller and less branched dendritic arbors, and also slower process motilities, which probably compromise their ability to survey and interact with their environment continuously. We also found that dynamic microglial responses to injury were age‐dependent. While young microglia responded to extracellular ATP, an injury‐associated signal, by increasing their motility and becoming more ramified, aged microglia exhibited a contrary response, becoming less dynamic and ramified. In response to laser‐induced focal tissue injury, aged microglia demonstrated slower acute responses with lower rates of process motility and cellular migration compared with young microglia. Interestingly, the longer term response of disaggregation from the injury site was retarded in aged microglia, indicating that senescent microglial responses, while slower to initiate, are more sustained. Together, these altered features of microglial behavior at rest and following injury reveal an age‐dependent dysregulation of immune response in the CNS that may illuminate microglial contributions to age‐related neuroinflammatory degeneration.
The Isolation System Design in Hydraulic Networks

The positioning of isolation valves on water distribution networks is a hard design issue in hydroinformatics. Hydraulic engineers usually solve it by way of genetic algorithms, which do not exploit the constrained structure of the problem. Several solving approaches, based on constrained optimisation, have been developed in Artificial Intelligence, and prove that this discipline can surely have a prominent role in hydraulic networks design.
The Importance of Both Rules Based Approach and Principles Based Approaches to Eradicate Threats from Accounting and Auditing Profession

Ideally, by means of misdistribution of affluence from place to place and hence numerous individuals are existing in shabbiness whereas others breathe in richness beyond resourcefulness, the individual might acknowledge that entrepreneurship in addition to the free marketplace is all nearby unique wins as well as unique loses in several business. The unrestricted marketplace, nonetheless, develops a corrupt blow for the reason that free marketplaces do not happen. Every accounting and auditing place that values rule based and principles based methods in accounting and auditing within certain technique, figure, or system is organized by administration bureaucrats. Consequently, the consequential misdistribution of revenue as well as affluence and those employment outcomes in one champion and one failure in today’s biosphere is essentially instigated by the well-ordered economy, not unique of an unrestricted marketplace.
Web-based toolkits for topology prediction of transmembrane helical proteins, fold recognition, structure and binding scoring, folding-kinetics analysis and comparative analysis of domain combinations

We have developed the following web servers for protein structural modeling and analysis at : THUMBUP, UMDHMMTMHP and TUPS, predictors of transmembrane helical protein topology based on a mean-burial-propensity scale of amino acid residues (THUMBUP), hidden Markov model (UMDHMMTMHP) and their combinations (TUPS); SPARKS 2.0 and SP3, two profile–profile alignment methods, that match input query sequence(s) to structural templates by integrating sequence profile with knowledge-based structural score (SPARKS 2.0) and structure-derived profile (SP3); DFIRE, a knowledge-based potential for scoring free energy of monomers (DMONOMER), loop conformations (DLOOP), mutant stability (DMUTANT) and binding affinity of protein–protein/peptide/DNA complexes (DCOMPLEX & DDNA); TCD, a program for protein-folding rate and transition-state analysis of small globular proteins; and DOGMA, a web-server that allows comparative analysis of domain combinations between plant and other 55 organisms. These servers provide tools for prediction and/or analysis of proteins on the secondary structure, tertiary structure and interaction levels, respectively.
Double barrier magnetic tunnel junctions for innovative spintronic devices

One of the dilemmas faced by the present STT-MRAM technology is the reduction of the power consumption and increase of data access speed without jeopardizing the data retention. A possible solution lies on the double barrier magnetic tunnel junction (DBMTJ) where the amplitude of the spin transfer torque (STT) on the storage layer can be tuned through a proper magnetic configuration of the outer electrodes. Thus providing more reliable read/write operation modes for MRAM. Despite the reduction in half of the switching current, previous studies on DBMTJs with in-plane magnetization report undesired switchings in read mode associated with field-like torque. In this thesis, we further investigate the complex interplay between damping-like and field-like torques in these double barrierstructures. Measurements using DC current and short voltage pulses in DBMTJ with symmetric and asymmetric barriers have revealed a strong presence of the field-like torque both in write and read modes. Moreover, in DBMTJs with symmetric barriers set in read mode, we demonstrate pure field-like torque switching which is proportional to a quadratic voltage and adjusted by a b2 prefactor. Furthermore, this torque favors a antiparallel alignment between the storage layer magnetization and the two references’ magnetizations. The results obtained experimentally were in agreement with macrospin simulation performed with a proper tuning of the damping-like and field-like torque prefactors. In order to suppress the field-like torque and aiming for a further reduction of the writing currents and enhancedscalability of MTJs, we developed and realized DBMTJs with perpendicular anisotropy (p-DBMTJs). Novel seedless multilayers with improved perpendicular magnetic anisotropy to be used as top reference were designed and implemented in functional p-DBMTJs. The optimized p-DBMTJs were patterned into sub-300nm nanopillars and the spin transfer torque studied experimentally in write and read modes.The use of W instead of Ta as a spacer in the FeCoB/spacer/FeCoB composite storage layer showed a 3x improvement of STT efficiency. In write mode, p-DBMTJs have also demonstrated a considerable enhancement of STT efficiency when compared to single barrier p-MTJs. In read mode, switching has been prevented at the center of the bistable region but its thermal stability degraded with high voltage. Among several proposed explanations of this phenomenon, the reduction of the saturation magnetization and effective anisotropy with increasing temperature has been supported by macrospin simulations as the most probable one.
Controlo da Evolução de Sistemas Legados

Resumo No âmbito de uma iniciativa de reorganizacao do processo de desenvolvimento de software na Marinha Portuguesa, desenvolveu-se um sistema de rastreio de accoes de evolucao implementado sobre a intranet da organizacao, com vista a melhor controlar a evolucao de sistemas legados. A arquitectura desse sistema e o modo como os dados recolhidos sao utilizados para melhor compreender o processo serao abordados. Uma analise detalhada sobre a definicao de um modelo de estimacao de esforco com base na complexidade envolvida na execucao de accoes de manutencao sera aqui apresentada. A evolucao das solucoes de desenho utilizadas ha uma decada na organizacao, face as adoptadas correntemente sera tambem objecto de estudo.
Formation of stacked ER cisternae by low affinity protein interactions

The endoplasmic reticulum (ER) can transform from a network of branching tubules into stacked membrane arrays (termed organized smooth ER [OSER]) in response to elevated levels of specific resident proteins, such as cytochrome b(5). Here, we have tagged OSER-inducing proteins with green fluorescent protein (GFP) to study OSER biogenesis and dynamics in living cells. Overexpression of these proteins induced formation of karmellae, whorls, and crystalloid OSER structures. Photobleaching experiments revealed that OSER-inducing proteins were highly mobile within OSER structures and could exchange between OSER structures and surrounding reticular ER. This indicated that binding interactions between proteins on apposing stacked membranes of OSER structures were not of high affinity. Addition of GFP, which undergoes low affinity, antiparallel dimerization, to the cytoplasmic domains of non–OSER-inducing resident ER proteins was sufficient to induce OSER structures when overexpressed, but addition of a nondimerizing GFP variant was not. These results point to a molecular mechanism for OSER biogenesis that involves weak homotypic interactions between cytoplasmic domains of proteins. This mechanism may underlie the formation of other stacked membrane structures within cells.
Control of a simulated wing structure with multiple segmented control surfaces

The main objective of this paper is to demonstrate that a wing with segmented control surfaces can redistribute its load, inboard or outboard, in order to perform active shape control while still maintaining level flight. Methods will be presented for controlling the plunge deflections of an aircraft wing structure. One possible solution to improving the flight envelope is a wing design with multiple segmented control surfaces all along its span. This will give an aircraft far more control over its lift distribution in comparison to a typical wing. In order to construct a wing with segmented trailing edges, it must first be shown that deflections under lift loads can be controlled. This paper introduces the research performed by the Structures, Propulsion, and Controls Engineering (SPACE) Center using a Fiber-Optic Strain-Sensing (FOSS) system that is currently implemented on the Odyssey UAV. The research will use a set of strain-based Displacement Transfer Functions (DTF) and the FOSS System both of which were developed at the NASA Dryden Flight Research Center (DFRC). Aerodynamic loads are obtained through the use of the software Athena Vortex Lattice (AVL). In addition, structural modeling is carried out with the use of finite element software. The results indicate that the shape of a wing structure can be controlled through the manipulation of segmented control surfaces to re-distribute lifting loads.