Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Role of PI3K in the generation and survival of B cells

Summary: Engagement of the B‐cell antigen receptor (BCR) or its precursor, the pre‐BCR, induces a cascade of biochemical reactions that regulate the differentiation, selection, survival, and activation of B cells. This cascade is initiated by receptor‐associated tyrosine kinases that activate multiple downstream signaling pathways. Since it is required for metabolism, cell growth, development, and survival, the activation of phosphoinositide 3‐kinase (PI3K)‐dependent pathways represents a crucial event of BCR/pre‐BCR signaling. The phosphorylated substrates of the PI3K promote specific recruitment of selected signaling proteins to the plasma membrane, where important signaling complexes are formed to mediate the above‐mentioned biological processes. Here, we review the principles of PI3K signaling and highlight the role of an important PI3K‐driven module in VDJ recombination of immunoglobulin (Ig) genes during early B‐cell development as compared with class switch recombination of Ig genes in mature B cells after activation by specific antigens. Furthermore, we discuss the role of PI3K in the survival of mature B cells, which is strictly dependent on BCR expression and basal BCR signaling.
Adipose Tissue Inflammation and Insulin Resistance

A sustained increase in body mass, particularly fat mass, an unhealthy diet and a sedentary lifestyle trigger metabolic alterations such as metabolic syndrome, obesity, and type 2 diabetes mellitus (2DM). These metabolic conditions increase the cardiovascular disease risks and have become epidemic public health problems (Grundy 2002). Individuals who are overweight and obese are associated with almost 70% of 2DM risk in the U.S. (Sherwin et al., 2004).
Knowledge management: securing the future

Purpose – Increased focus on knowledge within firms has not addressed the security implication. This paper aims to examine the implications of knowledge management for security.Design/methodology/approach – This approach highlights the competitive advantage of knowledge with an emphasis on security. This paper reviews security for data and information and explores the dimensions of secure knowledge systems. The emphasis is on knowledge security and the development of future knowledge management systems.Findings – This paper finds that there exists a general lack of focus on security in the knowledge management framework – both in a research setting and in practical applications. Knowledge is different from information and data and needs special consideration in firms.Research implications/limitations – Designers of knowledge management systems can implement levels of security for different types of knowledge that reside within the organization. The concept of “secure knowledge management” has provided nas.
Internet-Delivered Psychological Treatments for Mood and Anxiety Disorders: A Systematic Review of Their Efficacy, Safety, and Cost-Effectiveness

Background Greater access to evidence-based psychological treatments is needed. This review aimed to evaluate whether internet-delivered psychological treatments for mood and anxiety disorders are efficacious, noninferior to established treatments, safe, and cost-effective for children, adolescents and adults. Methods We searched the literature for studies published until March 2013. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were considered for the assessment of short-term efficacy and safety and were pooled in meta-analyses. Other designs were also considered for long-term effect and cost-effectiveness. Comparisons against established treatments were evaluated for noninferiority. Two reviewers independently assessed the relevant studies for risk of bias. The quality of the evidence was graded using an international grading system. Results A total of 52 relevant RCTs were identified whereof 12 were excluded due to high risk of bias. Five cost-effectiveness studies were identified and three were excluded due to high risk of bias. The included trials mainly evaluated internet-delivered cognitive behavioral therapy (I-CBT) against a waiting list in adult volunteers and 88% were conducted in Sweden or Australia. One trial involved children. For adults, the quality of evidence was graded as moderate for the short-term efficacy of I-CBT vs. waiting list for mild/moderate depression (d = 0.83; 95% CI 0.59, 1.07) and social phobia (d = 0.85; 95% CI 0.66, 1.05), and moderate for no efficacy of internet-delivered attention bias modification vs. sham treatment for social phobia (d = −0.04; 95% CI −0.24, 0.35). The quality of evidence was graded as low/very low for other disorders, interventions, children/adolescents, noninferiority, adverse events, and cost-effectiveness. Conclusions I-CBT is a viable treatment option for adults with depression and some anxiety disorders who request this treatment modality. Important questions remain before broad implementation can be supported. Future research would benefit from prioritizing adapting treatments to children/adolescents and using noninferiority designs with established forms of treatment.
Adaptive Synchronization of Complex Dynamical Networks Governed by Local Lipschitz Nonlinearlity on Switching Topology

This paper investigates the adaptive synchronization of complex dynamical networks satisfying the local Lipschitz condition with switching topology. Based on differential inclusion and nonsmooth analysis, it is proved that all nodes can converge to the synchronous state, even though only one node is informed by the synchronous state via introducing decentralized adaptive strategies to the coupling strengths and feedback gains. Finally, some numerical simulations are worked out to illustrate the analytical results.
Global assessment of the status of coral reef herbivorous fishes: evidence for fishing effects

On coral reefs, herbivorous fishes consume benthic primary producers and regulate competition between fleshy algae and reef-building corals. Many of these species are also important fishery targets, yet little is known about their global status. Using a large-scale synthesis of peer-reviewed and unpublished data, we examine variability in abundance and biomass of herbivorous reef fishes and explore evidence for fishing impacts globally and within regions. We show that biomass is more than twice as high in locations not accessible to fisheries relative to fisheries-accessible locations. Although there are large biogeographic differences in total biomass, the effects of fishing are consistent in nearly all regions. We also show that exposure to fishing alters the structure of the herbivore community by disproportionately reducing biomass of large-bodied functional groups (scraper/excavators, browsers, grazer/detritivores), while increasing biomass and abundance of territorial algal-farming damselfishes (Pomacentridae). The browser functional group that consumes macroalgae and can help to prevent coral–macroalgal phase shifts appears to be most susceptible to fishing. This fishing down the herbivore guild probably alters the effectiveness of these fishes in regulating algal abundance on reefs. Finally, data from remote and unfished locations provide important baselines for setting management and conservation targets for this important group of fishes.
Operating System Support for High Performance Parallel I/O Systems

This document describes the operating system support component in the Scalable I/O Initiative. Our e orts cover three critical areas of scalable, parallel I/O for for highperformance multicomputers: networking, memory management, and le and object store. We are leveraging o on-going research results in these three areas. Our main e orts in the scalable I/O initiative will be directed towards hardening, porting, tuning, and deploying our technology on the target platforms.
Improved Removal of Anti‐A and Anti‐B Antibodies from Plasma Using Blood‐Group‐Active Haptens

Highly efficient anti‐blood group A and B immunoadsorbents for extracorporeal treatment were developed by immobilizing A and B trisaccharide and A tetrasaccharide haptens on Sepharose 4FF and Fractogel TSK using three different methods. The adsorption of the IgG and IgM anti‐A antibodies was essentially the same regardless of the A hapten used or the method of oligosaccharide coupling. The adsorption of IgM anti‐A was found to be more sensitive than IgG anti‐A to changes in column flow rate. The binding of both the IgM and IgG antibodies was slightly lower at 37°C than at 22°C. An anti‐A/anti‐B adsorbent column potentially suitable for treatment of patients was prepared. A column switching system resulted in a more efficient adsorption of antibodies. Hapten leakage from the column was very low. No nonspecific adsorption of plasma proteins to the column (other than traces of albumin) could be detected.
Oxidative stress as a cause of nigral cell death in Parkinson's disease and incidental lewy body disease

We examine the evidence for free radical involvement and oxidative stress in the pathological process underlying Parkinson's disease, from postmortem brain tissue. The concept of free radical involvement is supported by enhanced basal lipid peroxidation in substantia nigra in patients with Parkinson's disease, demonstrated by increased levels of malondialdehyde and lipid hydroperoxides. The activity of many of the protective mechanisms against oxidative stress does not seem to be significantly altered in the nigra in Parkinson's disease. Thus, activities of catalase and glutathione peroxidase are more or less unchanged, as are concentrations of vitamin C and vitamin E. The activity of mitochondrial superoxide dismutase and the levels of the antioxidant ion zinc are, however, increased, which may reflect oxidative stress in substantia nigra. Levels of reduced glutathione are decreased in nigra in Parkinson's disease; this decrease does not occur in other brain areas or in other neurodegenerative illnesses affecting this brain region (i.e., multiple system atrophy, progressive supranuclear palsy). Altered glutathione metabolism may prevent inactivation of hydrogen peroxide and enhance formation of toxic hydroxyl radicals. In brain material from patients with incidental Lewy body disease (presymptomatic Parkinson's disease), there is no evidence for alterations in iron metabolism and no significant change in mitochondrial complex I function. The levels of reduced glutathione in substantia nigra, however, are reduced to the same extent as in advanced Parkinson's disease. These data suggest that changes in glutathione function are an early component of the pathological process of Parkinson's disease. The data presented suggest (1) there is oxidative stress in the substantia nigra at the time of death in advanced Parkinson's disease that manifests in terms of increased lipid peroxidation, superoxide dismutase activity, and zinc levels; (2) there is a major impairment of the glutathione pathway in Parkinson's disease; and (3) alterations in reduced glutathione levels may occur very early in the illness.
A low-complexity delay injection algorithm for improving TCP performance during LTE intra handover

While the wireless technologies have experienced remarkable improvement for decades, TCP protocol haven't been properly supported the mobility features of advanced wireless networks like 3GPP Long Term Evolution(LTE). Especially for handover, TCP performance is seriously degraded by spurious timeout since the core network is congested by data forwarding between serving eNodeB and target eNodeB. In this paper, we propose a low-complexity delay injection algorithm for reducing packet forwarding during LTE intra handover. In the proposed algorithm, artificially manipulated delay is injected, when TCP acknowledge is sent, to increase the interval of new packet arrival from the server. By doing so, packet forwarding between serving eNodeB and target eNodeB can be reduced. The proposed algorithm makes no alteration in TCP function and the standard LTE intra handover procedure. And every procedure of the proposed algorithm operates at ME simplicity of implementation. Simulation results show that the proposed algorithm successfully reduces timeout during handover. And also total TCP throughput of the entire core network increases since the proposed algorithm effectively reduces redundant use of resource in the core network.
Overall and Cause-Specific Mortality in Ulcerative Colitis: Meta-analysis of Population-Based Inception Cohort Studies

OBJECTIVES:It remains debated whether patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) are at greater risk of dying and whether a possible alteration in mortality can be attributed to specific causes of death. We aimed to clarify this issue by conducting a meta-analysis of population-based inception cohort studies on overall and cause-specific mortality in patients with UC.METHODS:The MEDLINE search engine and abstracts from international conferences were searched for relevant literature by use of explicit search criteria. STATA meta-analysis software was used to calculate pooled risk estimates (SMR, standardized mortality ratio, observed/expected deaths) of overall mortality and specific causes of death and to conduct metaregression analyses of the influence of specific variables on SMR.RESULTS:Ten papers fulfilled the inclusion criteria, reporting SMRs varying from 0.7 to 1.4. The overall pooled estimate was 1.1 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.9–1.2, P = 0.42). However, greater risk of dying was observed during the first years of follow-up, in patients with extensive colitis, and in patients from Scandinavia. Metaregression analysis showed an increase in SMR by increasing cohort size. UC-related mortality accounted for 17% of all deaths. Mortality from gastrointestinal diseases, nonalcoholic liver diseases, pulmonary embolisms, and respiratory diseases was increased whereas mortality from pulmonary cancer was reduced.CONCLUSIONS:The overall risk of dying in patients with UC did not differ from that of the background population, although subgroups of patients were at greater risk of dying. The cause-of-death distribution seemed to differ from that of the background population.
Effect of α-Allocryptopine on Transient Outward Potassium Current in Rabbit Ventricular Myocytes

Objective: To investigate the mechanism of α-allocryptopine-induced inhibition of the transient outward potassium current (Ito) in rabbit left-ventricular myocytes. Methods: We used the whole-cell patch-clamp technique to record the Ito in the myocytes, which were isolated from the rabbit left ventricle by a Langendorff-perfusion device. Results: Allocryptopine decreased the amplitude and the density of the Ito in a concentration-dependent (range from 1 to 100 µM with an IC50 value of 37 ± 8 µM) and frequency- or use-independent manner. At a test potential of +50 mV, the peak current density of Ito was decreased from 21.56 ± 3.24 to 13.37 ± 2.86 pA/pF by 30 µM allocryptopine. The fast time constant of Ito inactivation was reduced from 9.8 ± 1.8 to 5.7 ± 0.7 ms and the slow time constant of Ito was reduced from 50.8 ± 9.0 to 32.2 ± 12.7 ms by 30 µM allocryptopine. The inactivated curve slope was changed from –19.2 ± 7.1 to –7.5 ± 0.6 mV, while the half-activated voltage and activated curve slope and half-inactivated voltage values were not affected by allocryptopine. Transmural heterogeneity of the Ito was decreased in the presence of allocryptopine. At a test potential of +50 mV, the densities of Ito were reduced by 28.6% (epimyocardium), 50.3% (midmyocardium) and 20.1% (endocardium) after expoure to 30 µM allocryptopine.Transmural dispersion of the Ito was reduced from 11.2 ± 1.2 to 4.7 ± 0.6 pA/pF by 30 µM allocryptopine. Conclusion: Allocryptopine produced a blocking effect on the Ito in cardiac myocytes, which may be an important mechanism in its antiarrhythmic effect.
The Arabidopsis Thylakoid Protein PAM68 Is Required for Efficient D1 Biogenesis and Photosystem II Assembly[W]

This work shows that PAM68 is a previously unknown PSII assembly factor that is required for efficient accumulation of photosystem II complexes in Arabidopsis thaliana and that is involved in early steps of PSII assembly in Synechocystis and Arabidopsis. Photosystem II (PSII) is a multiprotein complex that functions as a light-driven water:plastoquinone oxidoreductase in photosynthesis. Assembly of PSII proceeds through a number of distinct intermediate states and requires auxiliary proteins. The photosynthesis affected mutant 68 (pam68) of Arabidopsis thaliana displays drastically altered chlorophyll fluorescence and abnormally low levels of the PSII core subunits D1, D2, CP43, and CP47. We show that these phenotypes result from a specific decrease in the stability and maturation of D1. This is associated with a marked increase in the synthesis of RC (the PSII reaction center-like assembly complex) at the expense of PSII dimers and supercomplexes. PAM68 is a conserved integral membrane protein found in cyanobacterial and eukaryotic thylakoids and interacts in split-ubiquitin assays with several PSII core proteins and known PSII assembly factors. Biochemical analyses of thylakoids from Arabidopsis and Synechocystis sp PCC 6803 suggest that, during PSII assembly, PAM68 proteins associate with an early intermediate complex that might contain D1 and the assembly factor LPA1. Inactivation of cyanobacterial PAM68 destabilizes RC but does not affect larger PSII assembly complexes. Our data imply that PAM68 proteins promote early steps in PSII biogenesis in cyanobacteria and plants, but their inactivation is differently compensated for in the two classes of organisms.
Unusual General Error Locator Polynomials for Single-Syndrome Decodable Cyclic Codes

A cyclic code is called single-syndrome decodable if its decoding up to error-correcting capability is completely based on the single syndrome. This letter proposes a construction method of the unusual general error locator polynomial (GELP) for the triple- and quadruple-error-correcting single-syndrome decodable cyclic (SSDC) codes and gives an upper bound on the computational complexity of the unusual GELP. Both theoretical and experimental results show that the unusual GELP has lower computational complexity than the conventional GELP for triple-error-correcting SSDC codes.
Extrapolating from Animals to Humans

Clinical effectiveness for interventions in humans can only be speculated from animal studies. Because of a variety of caveats, the safety and effectiveness of interventions in human subjects can only be speculated from animal studies. Careful synthesis of data from multiple animal studies is needed to begin to assess the likelihood of successful cross-species translation (Fay et al., this issue).
A probabilistic model for intelligent Web crawlers

With the enormous growth of the World Wide Web in recent years, the issue of how to discover Web pages efficiently has become an important challenge for Web crawler designers. In this paper, we will outline a simple model to predict the distribution of the search depth in a breadth-first search to reach the first Web pages relevant to a user query. We define this probability as the crawler confidence. Recent studies by Y. Deshpande and S. Hansen (2001) indicate that at a large scale the Web structure subscribes to power law distribution on several aspects. However, our work tries to model a microscopic linkage structure of the Web from an intelligent crawler's point of view. With the information provided by crawler confidence, an intelligent crawler can adjust its crawling behavior to achieve a higher harvest rate.
Evaluation of cavitated and non-cavitated carious lesions using the WHO basic methods, ICDAS-II and laser fluorescence measurements

Aim: This study was aimed to compare the diagnostic outcome of the WHO criteria, ICDAS-II criteria and laser fluorescence measurements in measuring the caries ratings of children. Settings and Design: Cross-sectional study. Materials and Methods: The study involved 31 children between 3 and 14 years of age, attending the Department of Pedodontics at Maulana Azad College of Dental Sciences, New Delhi. The surface-related caries status was registered according to the WHO basic method criteria (1997). Additionally, the ICDAS-II visual criteria and the DIAGNOdent readings were documented. Statistical analysis used: The data were analysed with ezANOVA and Excel 2000 (Microsoft Corporation, Redmond, WA, USA). Results: The mean ICDAS-II values amounted to 8.76 ± 0.72. The mean values for DMFS/def were 7.67 ± 0.91, whereas for DIAGNOdent it amounted to 4.00 ± 0.62. Conclusions: In conclusion, this study showed the diagnostic potential of the ICDAS-II criteria in comparison to the traditional WHO criteria by means of the non-cavitated caries lesions additionally detected. The DIAGNOdent use in field studies that already apply detailed visual criteria seems to bring limited additional information.
A novel determination of the local dark matter density

We present a novel study on the problem of constructing mass models for the Milky Way, concentrating on features regarding the dark matter halo component. We have considered a variegated sample of dynamical observables for the Galaxy, including several results which have appeared recently, and studied a 7- or 8dimensional parameter space - defining the Galaxy model - by implementing a Bayesian approach to the parameter estimation based on a Markov Chain Monte Carlo method. The main result of this analysis is a novel determination of the local dark matter halo density which, assuming spherical symmetry and either an Einasto or an NFW density profile is found to be around 0.39 GeV cm −3 with a 1-��
Genomic Evaluation of Thermoanaerobacter spp. for the Construction of Designer Co-Cultures to Improve Lignocellulosic Biofuel Production

The microbial production of ethanol from lignocellulosic biomass is a multi-component process that involves biomass hydrolysis, carbohydrate transport and utilization, and finally, the production of ethanol. Strains of the genus Thermoanaerobacter have been studied for decades due to their innate abilities to produce comparatively high ethanol yields from hemicellulose constituent sugars. However, their inability to hydrolyze cellulose, limits their usefulness in lignocellulosic biofuel production. As such, co-culturing Thermoanaerobacter spp. with cellulolytic organisms is a plausible approach to improving lignocellulose conversion efficiencies and yields of biofuels. To evaluate native lignocellulosic ethanol production capacities relative to competing fermentative end-products, comparative genomic analysis of 11 sequenced Thermoanaerobacter strains, including a de novo genome, Thermoanaerobacter thermohydrosulfuricus WC1, was conducted. Analysis was specifically focused on the genomic potential for each strain to address all aspects of ethanol production mentioned through a consolidated bioprocessing approach. Whole genome functional annotation analysis identified three distinct clades within the genus. The genomes of Clade 1 strains encode the fewest extracellular carbohydrate active enzymes and also show the least diversity in terms of lignocellulose relevant carbohydrate utilization pathways. However, these same strains reportedly are capable of directing a higher proportion of their total carbon flux towards ethanol, rather than non-biofuel end-products, than other Thermoanaerobacter strains. Strains in Clade 2 show the greatest diversity in terms of lignocellulose hydrolysis and utilization, but proportionately produce more non-ethanol end-products than Clade 1 strains. Strains in Clade 3, in which T. thermohydrosulfuricus WC1 is included, show mid-range potential for lignocellulose hydrolysis and utilization, but also exhibit extensive divergence from both Clade 1 and Clade 2 strains in terms of cellular energetics. The potential implications regarding strain selection and suitability for industrial ethanol production through a consolidated bioprocessing co-culturing approach are examined throughout the manuscript.