Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Pseudomonas aeruginosa - Pathogenesis and Pathogenic Mechanisms

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a common bacterium, Gram-negative opportunistic pathogen capable of infecting humans with compromised natural defenses and causing severe pulmonary disease. It is one of the leading pathogen associated with nosocomial infections. It has a vast arsenal of pathogenicity factors that are used to interfere with host defenses. Pathogenesis in P. aeruginosa facilitates adhesion, modulate or disrupt host cell pathways, and target the extracellular matrix. The propensity of P. aeruginosa to form biofilms further protects it from antibiotics and the host immune system. P. aeruginosa is intrinsically resistant to a large number of antibiotics and can be acquired resistance to many others, making treatment difficult. P. aeruginosa provokes a potent inflammatory response during the infectious process. The majority of mortalities in immunocompromised patients; cystic fibrosis, can be attributed to the progressive decline of lung function resulting from chronic infection by pathogens such as P. aeruginosa. Antibiotic treatment of chronic P. aeruginosa infections may temporarily suppress symptoms; however, they do not eradicate the pathogen. Lung diseases caused by P. aeruginosa are a leading cause of death in immunocompromised individuals as well as in children. Although immunocytes recruitment is critical to augment the host defense, excessive neutrophil accumulation results in life-threatening diseases, such as acute lung injury, as well as acute respiratory distress syndrome. Several virulence factors have been studied for their roles as potential vaccine candidate, although there is currently no clinically accepted vaccine. Understanding host-pathogen interaction is critical for the development of effective therapeutic strategies to control the damage in the lung.
Initial experience with transcatheter pacemaker implantation for adults with congenital heart disease

Transvenous pacemaker systems have significant advantages over epicardial systems in patients with congenital heart disease (CHD). Frequently though, unique anatomic challenges preclude the use of transvenous leads. Although originally developed for patient with normal anatomy, leadless pacemaker systems have enormous potential in the CHD population.
Forensic Applications of Whole Genome Amplification

Whole genome amplification (WGA) has been touted as a possible technique to augment fragment analysis of STRs in amplifying low-levels of DNA recovered from crime scenes or items. Only LCN DNA analysis is routinely used as an additional amplification step; but this is not without problems, such as the increased incidents of stochastic variations. A review of the literature was carried out in order to assess the latest research and to identify a potentially fit for purpose whole genome amplification technique. There are three potential alternative techniques which show promise, miPEP, dcDOP-PCR and MDA used in conjunction with a macromolecular crowder; with the majority of studies investigating the effect of non-crowded MDA on a variety of stains, including degraded, low-level and stains containing mixtures of DNA. A number of techniques are suggested for incorporation into STR analysis depending on the sample type as well as future strands of work.
Alpha-Lactalbumin in Human Milk Alters the Proteolytic Degradation of Soluble CD14 by Forming a Complex

Mother's milk represents a foundational step in the proper development of newborn immunity. This is achieved, in part, through the action of numerous regulatory proteins such as soluble cluster of differentiation 14 (sCD14) found in significant quantities in human milk (∼25–50 μg/mL). In adults, CD14 stimulates cytokine production in response to lipopolysaccharide (LPS), the major lipid component found in the outer membrane of Gram-negative bacteria. However, the fate and function of sCD14 in the neonatal gastrointestinal (GI) tract are unknown and may function differently from adults. Therefore, we administered human sCD14 to experimental animals and observed that it persisted in the upper GI tract after feeding. In our search for potential proteolytic protectants, immunoprecipitation of sCD14 from human milk revealed a 15-kD novel protein that copurified with sCD14. Mass spectrometry analysis of the protein identified alpha-lactalbumin. CD14 was also identified by immunoblot after immunoprecipitation of alpha-lactalbumin from milk. In vitro digestion assays revealed that purified alpha-lactalbumin decreases the proteolytic degradation of human milk derived sCD14 in vitro, suggesting a mechanism by which this key LPS receptor may remain functional in the neonate gut.
Nutritional-inflammation status and resistance to erythropoietin therapy in haemodialysis patients.

BACKGROUND Chronic kidney disease patients who are resistant to erythropoietin (EPO) treatment may suffer from malnutrition and/or inflammation. METHODS In a cross-sectional study of haemodialysis patients, we investigated the relationship between the natural logarithm of the weekly EPO dose normalized for post-dialysis body weight and outcome measures of nutrition and/or inflammation [BMI, albumin and C reactive protein (CRP)] by means of multiple linear regression analysis. On the basis of the decile distribution of weekly EPO doses, we also evaluated four groups of patients: untreated, hyper-responders, normo-responders and hypo-responders. RESULTS Six hundred and seventy-seven adult haemodialysis patients were recruited from five Italian centres. BMI and albumin were lower in the hypo-responders than in the other groups (21.3+/-3.8 vs 24.4+/-4.7 kg/m(2), P<0.001; and 3.8+/-0.6 vs 4.1+/-0.4 g/dl, P<0.001), whereas the median CRP level was higher (1.9 vs 0.8 mg/dl, P = 0.004). The median weekly EPO dose ranged from 30 IU/kg/week in the hyper-responsive group to 263 IU/kg/week in the hypo-responsive group. Transferrin saturation linearly decreased from the hyper- to hypo-responsive group (37+/-15 to 25+/-10%, P = 0.003), without any differences in transferrin levels. Ferritin levels were lower in the hypo-responsive than in the other patients (median 318 vs 445 ng/ml, P = 0.01). At multiple linear regression analysis, haemoglobin, BMI, albumin, CRP and serum iron levels were independently associated with the natural logarithm of the weekly EPO dose (R(2) = 0.22). CONCLUSIONS Our findings support a clear association between EPO responsiveness and nutritional and inflammation variables in haemodialysis patients; iron deficiency is still a major cause of hypo-responsiveness.
Inflammatory bowel disease and lymphoproliferative disorders: the dust is starting to settle

The risk of lymphoproliferative disorders (LDs) has become a major concern for clinicians managing patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Yet it is difficult to distinguish the possible responsibility of immunosuppressive therapy from the background risk due to the inflammatory disorder itself. LDs are clonal B or T cell proliferation showing considerable heterogeneity and the incidence has increased since the 1970s. The strongest and best-established risk factors for LDs are primary and acquired immunodeficiency (HIV, immunosuppressant), notably via defective immune surveillance of Epstein–Barr virus. In many auto-immune diseases (eg, Sjögren’s syndrome), inflammatory diseases (eg, rheumatoid arthritis) or chronic suppuration (chronic pyothorax), the risk of LD is increased. In IBD patients, in general, the risk of LD seems to be similar to or very slightly higher than in the general population. The role of immunosuppressants in lymphomagenesis is difficult to individualise because other factors potentially involved are inter-linked. Concordant data suggest that thiopurine therapy is associated with a moderately increased risk of LD. Data regarding methotrexate are scarce and come from diseases other than IBD but the risk seems low. Data regarding risk of LD in IBD patients receiving anti-tumour necrosis factor α (TNFα) agents are insufficient at this time, mainly because most of the patients are co-treated with thiopurines. The recently individualised risks of hepatosplenic T cell lymphoma and fatal post-mononucleosis LD, in young male patients with IBD who are co-treated with anti-TNFα and thiopurines, and EBV-seronegative IBD males, respectively, are probably low but remain to be better quantified.
Reply to the letter to the editor ‘European cancer mortality predictions for the year 2019 with focus on breast cancer, by Malvezzi M et al’ by Marsden and Hamoda, On behalf of the British Menopause Society Medical Advisory Council

We agree with Dr Marsden and Dr Hamoda that the key determinant of the declines in breast cancer mortality across Europe has been improved management, including essentially better treatments, together with early diagnosis and organized screening [1]. We only mentioned in two lines a possible role of decrease in menopausal hormone use on national breast cancer rates [2]. Indeed, changes in hormonal replacement therapy (HRT) use had a relevant impact on incidence, but their influence on mortality is limited and not adequately quantified [3, 4]. Still, despite the better prognosis of breast cancer diagnosed in women using HRT [5], some rises in breast cancer incidence may well translate to an increase of mortality, though smaller than that of incidence. This remains unquantified, but in agreement with Dr Marsden and Dr Hamoda, is likely to have a limited impact as compared to the improvements in breast cancer management over the last few decades [6].
The Incidence of T-2 and HT-2 Toxins in Cereals and Methods of their Reduction Practice by the Food Industry

T-2 toxin and its major metabolite HT-2 toxin are type A trichothecene mycotoxins pro- duced by the Fusarium moulds, present mainly in cereals and cereal-based products. The studies quoted under this chapter bring data on the incidence of T-2 and HT-2 toxin in unprocessed cereals (n = 285) harvested in Croatia during a two-year period. They also demonstrate the influence of certain thermal food processing methods on the reduction of T-2 and HT-2 toxin in naturally contaminated cereals. In analysed cereals, the highest percentage of T-2- and HT-2-positive samples was determined in oat sam- ples (56.9%), followed by triticale (34.5%), maize (32.1%) and barley samples (22.7%), whereas the highest mean (94.8 ± 63.7 μg/kg) and maximal concentration (420 μg/kg) of the toxins in reference were determined in maize. The summary T-2/HT-2 concentrations found in one maize and one triticale sample were higher than the indicative levels, necessitating further sampling and investigations of conditions under which the production of these toxins takes place. Thermal food processing in terms of roasting (which enabled 28.8–54.4%-toxin reduction) and especially extrusion (which enabled 73.0–92.5%-toxin reduction) efficiently reduces T-2/HT-2 levels, whereas cooking does not significantly aid in their reduction (<10%-toxin reduction achieved).
REVIEW: Pin1 in Alzheimer's disease

Proteolytic processing and phosphorylation of amyloid precursor protein (APP), and hyperphosphorylation of tau protein, have been shown to be increased in Alzheimer's disease (AD) brains, leading to increased production of β‐amyloid (Aβ) peptides and neurofibrillary tangles, respectively. These observations suggest that phosphorylation events are critical to the understanding of the pathogenesis and treatment of this devastating disease. Pin‐1, one of the peptidyl‐prolyl isomerases (PPIase), catalyzes the isomerization of the peptide bond between pSer/Thr‐Pro in proteins, thereby regulating their biological functions which include protein assembly, folding, intracellular transport, intracellular signaling, transcription, cell cycle progression and apoptosis. A number of previous studies have shown that Pin1 is co‐localized with phosphorylated tau in AD brain, and shows an inverse relationship to the expression of tau. Pin1 protects neurons under in vitro conditions. Moreover, recent studies demonstrate that APP is a target for Pin1 and thus, in Aβ production. Furthermore, Pin1 was found to be oxidatively modified and to have reduced activity in the hippocampus in mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and AD. Because of the diverse functions of Pin1, and the discovery that this protein is one of the oxidized proteins common to both MCI and AD brain, the question arises as to whether Pin1 is one of the driving forces for the initiation or progression of AD pathogenesis, finally leading to neurodegeneration and neuronal apoptosis. In the present review, we discuss the role of Pin1 with respect to Alzheimer's disease.
Some Beginnings of Word Comprehension in 6-Month-Olds

Previous studies of infants' comprehension of words estimated the onset of this ability at 9 months or later. However, these estimates were based on responses to names of relatively immobile, familiar objects. Comprehension of names referring to salient, animated figures (e.g., one's parents) may begin even earlier. In a test of this possibility, 6-month-olds were shown side-by-side videos of their parents while listening to the words “mommy” and “daddy. ” The infants looked significantly more at the video of the named parent. A second experiment revealed that infants do not associate these words with men and women in general. Infants shown videos of unfamiliar parents did not adjust their looking patterns in response to “mommy” and “daddy. ”
2 Empirical Comparisons of Virtual Environment Displays

There are many different visual display devices used in virtual environment (VE) systems. These displays vary along many dimensions, such as resolution, field of view, level of immersion, quality of stereo, and so on. In general, no guidelines exist to choose an appropriate display for a particular VE application. Our goal in this work is to develop such guidelines on the basis of empirical results. We present two initial experiments comparing head-mounted displays with a workbench display and a foursided spatially immersive display. The results indicate that the physical characteristics of the displays, users' prior experiences, and even the order in which the displays are presented can have significant effects on performance.
Surviving Breast Cancer A study of cancer recurrence and mortality after mastectomy in postmenopausal women receiving radiotherapy and Tamoxifen

This paper analyzes mortality, cancer recurrence (loco-regional, other types of cancer and distant) and the impact of progesterone status on the effect of Tamoxifen using survival analysis methods. The data consists of 258 postmenopausal women from the Southern Sweden health care region with estrogen positive receptor status receiving radiotherapy, Tamoxifen and a combination of those after mastectomy. The period of the study is from 1978 to 2003. Three additional explanatory variables are included in the regression models: patient age, number of positive lymph nodes and tumor size. The combined treatment is found to be significantly better than radiotherapy from the 6th year and on. The death rate is decreased by 36.5 %. The difference in cumulative incidence of loco-regional breast cancer recurrences is significant between the Tamoxifen vs. the combined group and the radiotherapy vs. the combined group. The lowest and highest cumulative incidence of loco-regional recurrences is found in the combined group and Tamoxifen group, respectively. For other types of cancer recurrence (non-breast related), the hazard is 3.27 times higher in the combined treatment group compared to the radiotherapy group. The effect of the treatment variable on distant cancer recurrences interacts with the age variable, i.e. age at the beginning of the study. One extra year of age results in a 10.4 % decrease of the hazard in the radiotherapy group, while the rate of distant recurrence for every additional year of age increases by 1.1 % in the combined group. The progesterone status for the survival rate of patients receiving Tamoxifen is significant. Progesterone status 400 days after the randomization date results in 49.7 % lower hazard in the progesterone receptor positive group compared to the progesterone receptor negative group.
Ultrahigh Performance of Nanoengineered Graphene-Based Natural Jute Fiber Composites

Natural fibers composites are considered as a sustainable alternative to synthetic composites due to their environmental and economic benefits. However, they suffer from poor mechanical and interfacial properties due to a random fiber orientation and weak fiber–matrix interface. Here we report nanoengineered graphene-based natural jute fiber preforms with a new fiber architecture (NFA) which significantly improves their mechanical properties and performances. Our graphene-based NFA of jute fiber preform enhances the Young modulus of jute–epoxy composites by ∼324% and tensile strength by ∼110% more than untreated jute fiber composites, by arranging fibers in a parallel direction through individualization and nanosurface engineering with graphene derivatives. This could potentially lead to manufacturing of high-performance natural alternatives to synthetic composites in various stiffness-driven applications.
The effects of dexamethasone on 17β-HSD1 levels at the rat optic nerve

Dexamethasone (DEX) is associated with many inflammation and metabolic diseases. We analyzed the effects of DEX on the expression of estrogen metabolism enzyme 17β-HSD1 at the optic nerve. Rats were treated with different concentrations of intraperitoneal DEX. Western Blot analysis showed that 17β-HSD protein was expressed in the optic nerve tissue. The enzyme was detected by immunohistochemistry on the terminal foot of Muller cells from the ganglion cell layer of rat retina. ELISA analysis showed that the 17β-HSD1 protein expression of DEX-treated group is 2.4 fold comparing to the control group. The results indicated that DMXS sodium phosphate might modulate the expression of 17β-HSD1 protein in optic tissue. This study sheds light on understanding of the relationship among DEX, 17β-HSD presence and distribution of visual neural systems. At the same time, DEX treatment affects the athletic ability and memory of the animals. Compared with the control group, the experimental group showed slow response to stimulation, inertia, depression, cowardice and lack of appetite. The results of ethology experiments showed that all the parameters decreased by 15–30%.
Title Capacity payments and the pricing of reliability in competitivegeneration markets

In restructured electric power industries around the world, power pool designers have enabled generators to earn revenues consisting of energy and capacity payments. This paper discusses uses and abuses of capacity payments, and links provision of these payments to the issue of pricing reliability. A general formula for determining the ideal capacity price in a generation supply system is presented and the theoretical basis discussed. Methods of achieving an ideal level of system reliability through price-setting of capacity payments (in more regulated markets) and through price discovery (in more competitive markets) are contrasted. The paper concludes with market design recommendations that could better realize customer preference for reliability at prices customers are willing to pay.
Biophysical Characterization of a Thermoalkaliphilic Molecular Motor with a High Stepping Torque Gives Insight into Evolutionary ATP Synthase Adaptation*

F1F0 ATP synthases are bidirectional molecular motors that translocate protons across the cell membrane by either synthesizing or hydrolyzing ATP. Alkaliphile ATP synthases are highly adapted, performing oxidative phosphorylation at high pH against an inverted pH gradient (acidin/alkalineout). Unlike mesophilic ATP synthases, alkaliphilic enzymes have tightly regulated ATP hydrolysis activity, which can be relieved in the presence of lauryldimethylamine oxide. Here, we characterized the rotary dynamics of the Caldalkalibacillus thermarum TA2.A1 F1 ATPase (TA2F1) with two forms of single molecule analysis, a magnetic bead duplex and a gold nanoparticle. TA2F1 rotated in a counterclockwise direction in both systems, adhering to Michaelis-Menten kinetics with a maximum rotation rate (Vmax) of 112.4 revolutions/s. TA2F1 displayed 120° unitary steps coupled with ATP hydrolysis. Torque measurements revealed the highest torque (52.4 piconewtons) derived from an F1 molecule using fluctuation theorem. The implications of high torque in terms of extreme environment adaptation are discussed.
Car license plate recognition through Hausdorff distance technique

Many researches have been done on car license plate (CLP) recognition. However, these are no sufficient number of works on Thai CLP. The existing works on Thai CLP have been focused on localization, extraction, and partial recognition (only for upper line) of the license plate. Generally, Thai CLP has 2 lines (upper and lower). The upper line presents character category in 2-position formatted, following by running number (up to 4 digits). The lower line presents province name. Recognition of the lower line is a difficult task because Thai words can be composed of 4 levels (top level, above level, base line and below level). Hence, appearance of noises in the original image easily causes misrecognition. This paper presents an approach to recognize off-line entire Thai CLP using Hausdorff distance technique (HD) for similarity measurement. The recognition rate obtained by the proposed method is 92%
A changing treatment landscape for multiple sclerosis: challenges and opportunities

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is primarily an autoimmune disease of the central nervous system, but also encompasses prominent neurodegenerative aspects. A significant proportion of MS patients will develop neurological disability over time and up until recently treatment options have been limited. However, MS treatment is now at a stage of rapid progress, with several new drugs that have reached the market or will be launched in the near future. This provides new opportunities for individualized treatment, but also creates new challenges regarding monitoring of disease activity, long‐term safety issues and efficacy, not least in patients with progressive disease.
Practical Predictive Race Detection

Widely used data race detectors, including the state-of-the-art FastTrack algorithm, incur performance costs that are acceptable for regular in-house testing, but miss races detectable from the analyzed execution. Predictive analyses detect more data races in an analyzed execution than FastTrack does, but at significantly higher cost. This paper presents SmartTrack, an algorithm that optimizes predictive race detection analyses, including two analyses from prior work and a new analysis introduced in this paper. SmartTrack's algorithm incorporates two main optimizations: epoch and ownership optimizations from prior work, applied to predictive analysis for the first time; and novel conflicting critical section optimizations introduced by this paper. Our evaluation shows that SmartTrack achieves performance competitive with FastTrack-a qualitative improvement to the state-of-the-art in data race detection.