Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Extracellular Cysteine Protease Produced by Streptococcus pyogenes Participates in the Pathogenesis of Invasive Skin Infection and Dissemination in Mice

ABSTRACT The role of an extracellular cysteine protease encoded by thespeB gene in group A Streptococcus (GAS) skin infection was studied with a mouse model. Mice were injected subcutaneously with a wild-type GAS serotype M3 strain or a cysteine protease-inactivated isogenic derivative grown to stationary phase. The mortality rate of mice injected with the M3 speB mutant strain was significantly decreased (P < 0.0008) compared to that of animals injected with the wild-type parental organism. The abscesses formed in animals infected with the cysteine protease mutant strain were significantly smaller (P< 0.0001) than those caused by the wild-type organism and slowly regressed over 3 to 4 weeks. In striking contrast, infection with the wild-type GAS isolate generated necrotic lesions, and in some animals the GAS disseminated widely from the injection site and produced extensive cutaneous damage. All of these animals developed bacteremia and died. GAS dissemination was accompanied by severe tissue and blood vessel necrosis. Cysteine protease expression in the infected tissue was identified by immunogold electron microscopy. These data demonstrate that cysteine protease expression contributes to soft tissue pathology, including necrosis, and is required for efficient systemic dissemination of the organism from the initial site of skin inoculation.
The Soundtrack of Substance Use: Music Preference and Adolescent Smoking and Drinking

A connection between preferences for heavy metal, rap, reggae, electronic dance music, and substance use has previously been established. However, evidence as to the gender-specific links between substance use and a wider range of music genres in a nationally representative sample of adolescents has to date been missing. In 2003, the Dutch government funded the Dutch National School Survey on Substance Use (DNSSSU), a self-report questionnaire among a representative school-based sample of 7,324 adolescents aged 12 to 16 years, assessed music preference, tobacco, and alcohol use and a set of relevant covariates related to both substance use and music preference. Overall, when all other factors were controlled, punk/hardcore, techno/hardhouse, and reggae were associated with more substance use, while pop and classical music marked less substance use. While prior research showed that liking heavy metal and rap predicts substance use, in this study a preference for rap/hip-hop only indicated elevated smoking among girls, whereas heavy metal was associated with less smoking among boys and less drinking among girls. The types of music that mark increased substance use may vary historically and cross-culturally, but, in general, preferences for nonmainstream music are associated positively with substance use, and preferences for mainstream pop and types of music preferred by adults (classical music) mark less substance use among adolescents. As this is a correlational study no valid conclusions in the direction of causation of the music–substance use link can be drawn.
Camelpox virus encodes a schlafen-like protein that affects orthopoxvirus virulence

Camelpox virus (CMLV) gene 176R encodes a protein with sequence similarity to murine schlafen (m-slfn) proteins. In vivo, short and long members of the m-slfn family inhibited T-cell development, whereas in vitro, only short m-slfns caused arrest of fibroblast growth. CMLV 176 protein (v-slfn) is most closely related to short m-slfns; however, when expressed stably in mammalian cells, v-slfn did not inhibit cell growth. v-slfn is a predominantly cytoplasmic 57 kDa protein that is expressed throughout infection. Several other orthopoxviruses encode v-slfn proteins, but the v-slfn gene is fragmented in all sequenced variola virus and vaccinia virus (VACV) strains. Consistent with this, all 16 VACV strains tested do not express a v-slfn detected by polyclonal serum raised against the CMLV protein. In the absence of a small animal model to study CMLV pathogenesis, the contribution of CMLV v-slfn to orthopoxvirus virulence was studied via its expression in an attenuated strain of VACV. Recombinant viruses expressing wild-type v-slfn or v-slfn tagged at its C terminus with a haemagglutinin (HA) epitope were less virulent than control viruses. However, a virus expressing v-slfn tagged with the HA epitope at its N terminus had similar virulence to controls, implying that the N terminus has an important function. A greater recruitment of lymphocytes into infected lung tissue was observed in the presence of wild-type v-slfn but, interestingly, these cells were less activated. Thus, v-slfn is an orthopoxvirus virulence factor that affects the host immune response to infection.
Mechanisms of migraine aura revealed by functional MRI in human visual cortex

Cortical spreading depression (CSD) has been suggested to underlie migraine visual aura. However, it has been challenging to test this hypothesis in human cerebral cortex. Using high-field functional MRI with near-continuous recording during visual aura in three subjects, we observed blood oxygenation level-dependent (BOLD) signal changes that demonstrated at least eight characteristics of CSD, time-locked to percept/onset of the aura. Initially, a focal increase in BOLD signal (possibly reflecting vasodilation), developed within extrastriate cortex (area V3A). This BOLD change progressed contiguously and slowly (3.5 ± 1.1 mm/min) over occipital cortex, congruent with the retinotopy of the visual percept. Following the same retinotopic progression, the BOLD signal then diminished (possibly reflecting vasoconstriction after the initial vasodilation), as did the BOLD response to visual activation. During periods with no visual stimulation, but while the subject was experiencing scintillations, BOLD signal followed the retinotopic progression of the visual percept. These data strongly suggest that an electrophysiological event such as CSD generates the aura in human visual cortex.
In Situ Production of Spherical Silica Particles Containing Self-Organized Mesopores

A spray drying method was used to produce a silica powder that contained ordered mesopores. A colloidal mixture of silica nanoparticles and polystyrene latex nanoparticles was mixed and sprayed as droplets into a vertical reactor that contained two temperature zones. The solvent in the droplets was evaporated at the front part of the reactor to produce a powder composite consisting of silica and PS nanoparticles. The PS nanoparticles in the powder were evaporated in the back portion of the reactor to produce a silica powder consisting of mesopores. The mesopores was observed to be arranged into a hexagonal packing, indicating the self-organization process occurred spontaneously during the solvent evaporation. The entire process was completed in only several seconds, which is contrary to currently available methods that require several hours or up to several days to complete this self-organization process.
Empirical Studies of Self-Stigma Reduction Strategies: A Critical Review of the Literature.

OBJECTIVE The purpose of this article was to comprehensively review published literature about strategies to reduce self-stigma among people with mental illness. Recommendations and implications for research also are discussed. METHODS The electronic databases of Ovid, PubMed, and PsycINFO were searched for peer-reviewed articles published between January 2000 and August 2011 by using the key words “self-stigma,” “internalized stigma,” “perceived stigma,” and “stigma intervention. ” The search was further narrowed to studies that described a detailed intervention and that used self-stigma as a primary or secondary outcome, tested the intervention among individuals with a psychiatric illness, and analyzed data quantitatively with acceptable statistical tools. RESULTS Fourteen articles met inclusion criteria, and eight reported significant improvement in self-stigma outcomes. Participants predominantly had schizophrenia and related disorders or depression. Six self-stigma reduction strategies were identified. Psychoeducation was the most frequently tested intervention. Self-stigma definitions, measurements, and conceptual frameworks varied considerably across these studies. Several studies lacked a theoretical framework for their intervention. Six different scales were used to measure self-stigma. CONCLUSIONS Two prominent approaches for self-stigma reduction emerged from our review: one, interventions that attempt to alter the stigmatizing beliefs and attitudes of the individual; and two, interventions that enhance skills for coping with self-stigma through improvements in self-esteem, empowerment, and help-seeking behavior. The second approach seems to have gained traction among stigma experts. Targeting high-risk groups to preempt self-stigma appears to be a promising area for future research.
Study on the Selective Grazing of Zooplankton in Plankton Ecosystem

Harmful algal blooms (Habs) caused great harm to the human environment. Habs occurrence was connected with other types of plankton. This relationship may be restrictive, and may also be promotional. Selectivity of zooplankton grazing has an important influence on the Habs. The behavior of zooplankton selective grazing was studied in the plankton ecosystem formed by three populations of nontoxic phytoplankton-toxic phytoplankton-zooplankton (NTP-TTP-Z) system. The selective grazing function of zooplankton on toxic phytoplankton and non-toxic phytoplankton was built based on Holling type IV functional response. Numerical simulation was given depending on the laboratory data. Results show that the models nicely explained the selective grazing behavior of zooplankton in the three species ecosystem, and provided key parameters for the marine ecosystem dynamics models.
Changes in Body Mass Index During a 3-Year Elementary School–Based Obesity Prevention Program for American Indian and White Rural Students

Background. Childhood obesity is a significant but largely modifiable health risk, disproportionately affecting socioeconomically disadvantaged, racial/ethnic minority, and rural children. Elementary school–aged children typically experience the greatest increases in excess weight gain and therefore are important targets for reducing adolescent and adult obesity while improving children’s health. Our study evaluated outcomes of a 3-year elementary school–based program for reducing obesity in American Indian and White students attending eight rural schools in the U.S. upper Midwest. Method. Researchers measured body mass indexes (BMI) and other health indicators and behaviors of 308 beginning third-grade students and then again at the end of students’ third, fourth, and fifth grades. The primary focus of this study is a mixed multilevel longitudinal model testing changes in age- and gender-adjusted BMI z scores (zBMI). Results. There was a significant decrease in zBMI across the 3-year study period. Ethnicity analyses showed that White students had overall decreases in zBMI whereas American Indian students’ zBMIs remained stable across the program. Comparisons with children from an age- and cohort-matched national sample provided support for the effectiveness of the school program in reducing BMI and obesity during the study period. Conclusion. An elementary school–based health program that addresses a range of students’ obesity-related health behaviors, the school health environment, and that involves educators and parents is an effective intervention for reducing or stabilizing BMI in rural White and American Indian students. School health programs for students living in rural communities may be especially effective due to greater school and community cohesiveness, and valuing of the school’s primary role in improving community health.
METHODOLOGY FOR RESIDUAL STRENGTH OF DAMAGED LAMINATED COMPOSITES

In this paper, an engineering approach is developed for the residual strength analysis of damaged, especially impacted, laminated composites. The main features of the approach are 1) an independent damage characterization method, Damage Data Structure, DDS; 2) a new failure criterion — Damage Influence (DI) criterion for composite laminates with damage; 3) a simple model, Bending Strain Energy Density (BSED), for the prediction of impact damage; and 4) an algorithm for the residual strength analysis of single and/or multiple delaminations, either introduced by impact or pre-implanted . The applicability and effectiveness of this approach were validated by numerical analysis for the tensile strength of laminates with central open hole and the compressive strength of laminates with delamination (impacted or pre-implanted), for 52 different lay-ups and of 12 material systems. Good consistency of analysis results with test results is obtained.
A Novel Leakage-tolerant Domino Logic Circuit With Feedback From Footer Transistor In Ultra Deep Submicron CMOS

As the CMOS manufacturing process scales down into the ultra deep sub-micron regime, the leakage current becomes an increasingly more important consideration in VLSI circuit design. In this paper, a high speed and noise immune domino logic circuit is presented which uses the property of the footer transistor to alleviate the sensitivity of the dynamic node to noise and results in improved performance. The new circuit has been added to conventional footed standard domino logic for highly improving leakage tolerance, especially at the beginning of the evaluation phase. According to simulation results obtained using the 70nm Berkeley predictive models, our proposed circuit increases the noise immunity by least 2times compared to previous circuits
Relationship between flow stress and atomic order in the FeCo alloy

Abstract Stress–strain curves in compression were obtained as a function of temperature for both the disordered and fully ordered FeCo–B2 type superlattice only. Supplementary observations were made of the surface slip markings after various strains, as well as of the dislocation configurations existing after these strains, using transmission electron microscopy techniques. It has been found that the deformation process occurring in the disordered alloys is similar at all strains. Furthermore, the flow stress is strongly dependent on temperature and nearly independent of strain. The profuse stepped slip lines observed on the surface of these specimens suggests that thermally activated cross-slip is the controlling mode of deformation in the disordered alloys. The ordered alloys, on the other hand, show three distinct deformation stages similar to those observed in face-centred cubic metals and alloys. The flow stress in Stage I is independent of strain. On the other hand, the flow stress in Stage II incre.
EPS: An Efficient and Privacy-Preserving Service Searching Scheme for Smart Community

Smart community leverages information and communications technology to improve the quality of life in terms of education, health care, and government services. In smart community, residents manage their home appliances to cooperate on stabilizing renewable power supply, energy saving, and information communications. In this paper, we propose an efficient and privacy-preserving service searching scheme (EPS) for smart community to enable residents to receive some Internet bandwidth from cooperative nearby homes so as to obtain pervasive Internet access at the cheap cost. Specifically, the EPS enables a resident to send a service request to nearby homes, and the latter responds the request with either uploading data via Internet connection or forwarding data to other homes via WiFi. As the Internet and WiFi bandwidth for homes is limited, the homes assign residents with different priorities and prefer to serve residents with high priorities. The priority is determined by a proximity score between residents and home owners, and the identity information is not disclosed in the calculation process. Moreover, the EPS preserves the location privacy of residents by adopting the multiple pseudonym techniques. Detailed privacy analyses in terms of the identity privacy and the location privacy are provided. In addition, the communication efficiency is validated through extensive simulations.
Short-Selling Bans Around the World: Evidence from the 2007-09 Crisis

Most stock exchange regulators around the world reacted to the 2007-2009 crisis by imposing bans or regulatory constraints on short-selling. Short-selling restrictions were imposed and lifted at different dates in different countries, often applied to different sets of stocks and featured different degrees of stringency. We exploit this considerable variation in short-sales regimes to identify their effects with panel data techniques, and find that bans (i) were detrimental for liquidity, especially for stocks with small market capitalization, high volatility and no listed options; (ii) slowed down price discovery, especially in bear market phases, and (iii) failed to support stock prices, except possibly for U.S. financial stocks.
Analysis of the Kayak Forward Stroke According to Skill Level and Knee Flexion Angle

The purpose of this study was to investigate the differences between elite and novice kayak forward stroke motion. A total of 20 subjects participated; 10 elite university kayak players and 10 male university students. The experiment was performed indoors on a kayakergometer testing between varied knee flexion angles of 90°; 120°; 150°. During the three knee flexion conditions, the following were measured; stroke frequency, paddling amplitude, joint angle ROM for the knee flexion/extension and thorax and pelvis rotational ROM, and plantar foot pressure. The results show that rowing with 120° knee flexion angle showed had a higher stroke frequency and paddling amplitude than other knee flexion angles. There were significant differences at the thorax, pelvis rotation and knee flexion-extension ROM for each condition. There were significant differences for the foot pressure between the elite and novice. In conclusion, the skilled group used more rotation of their trunk and pelvis than the unskilled and the optimum angle for knee flexion was deemed to be 120°.
The discrete Green's function and stopping rules for random walks on graphs

The discrete Green’s function (without boundary) G is a pseudo-inverse of the combinatorial Laplace operator of a graph G = (V,E). We reveal the intimate connection between Green’s function and the theory of exact stopping rules for random walks on graphs. We give an elementary formula for Green’s function in terms of state-to-state hitting times of the underlying graph. Namely, G(i, j) = πj (∑ k∈V πkH(k, j)−H(i, j) ) where πi is the stationary distribution at vertex i and H(i, j) is the expected hitting time for a random walk starting from vertex i to first reach vertex j. This formula also holds for the digraph Laplace operator. The most important characteristics of a stopping rule are its exit frequencies, which are the expected number of exits of a given vertex before the rule halts the walk. We show that Green’s function is, in fact, a matrix exit frequencies plus a rank one matrix. In the undirected case, we derive spectral formulas for Green’s function and for some mixing measures arising from stopping rules. Finally, we further explore the exit frequency matrix point-of-view, and discuss a natural generalization of Green’s function for any distribution τ defined on the vertex set of the graph. AMS MSC 05C81 ∗Department of Mathematics, Statistics and Computer Science, Macalester College, St Paul, MN 55105. abeverid@macalester.edu
Primary prevention of coronary artery disease.

The development and progression of atherosclerosis is an intricate inflammatory process dependent on intimal entry of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol. Although myriad genetic and environmental factors modulate this process, the centrality of LDL cholesterol to the physiology of plaque genesis, progression, and instability leads to the notion that reducing serum LDL cholesterol might be an effective way to mitigate or even prevent the disease. A number of clinical trials have unequivocally demonstrated the clinical utility of lowering LDL cholesterol levels. The three major cholesterol-lowering trials carried out in people without a history of coronary events (primary prevention trials) include the .
Review Lecture: Metal recycling from scrap and waste materials

Out of a total U. K. consumption of 2.5 million tonnes per annum (Mt/a) of non-ferrous metals with a value of about £1300 M, as much as 33% with a value of £300-400 M, is recovered from scrap. The structure of the industry which makes this important contribution to the economy is briefly outlined and the paper describes the technology by which the various non-ferrous metals are recovered in re-usable form from waste materials. Sections dealing with the following metals provide data on tonnages treated, descriptions of scrap arisings and the processes operated for metal extraction and refining - copper, aluminium, lead, zinc, tin and precious metals. Reference is made to difficulties encountered and the efficiency of reclamation, such as the small amount of zinc recycled as metal. Under future developments, the possible wider use of oxygen in copper refining and hydrometallurgical processing of high value and complex scrap are discussed. Mention is made of the potential for metal recovery for domestic refuse and the rôle of the Waste Management Advisory Council is described.
Microautologous Fat Transplantation for Primary Augmentation Rhinoplasty: Long-Term Monitoring of 198 Asian Patients

Background Numerous techniques and materials are available for increasing the dorsal height and length of the nose. Microautologous fat transplantation (MAFT) may be an appropriate strategy for augmentation rhinoplasty. Objectives The authors sought to determine the long-term results of MAFT with the so-called one-third maneuver in Asian patients who underwent augmentation rhinoplasty. Methods A total of 198 patients who underwent primary augmentation rhinoplasty with MAFT were evaluated in a retrospective study. Fat was harvested by liposuction and was processed and refined by centrifugation. Minute parcels of purified fat were transplanted to the nasal dorsum with a MAFT-Gun. Patient satisfaction was scored with a 5-point Likert scale, and aesthetic outcomes were validated with pre- and postoperative photographs. Results The mean age of the patients was 45.5 years. The mean operating time for MAFT was 25 minutes, and patients underwent 1-3 MAFT sessions. The mean volume of fat delivered per session was 3.4 mL (range, 2.0-5.5 mL). Patients received follow-up for an average of 19 months (range, 6-42 months). Overall, 125 of 198 patients (63.1%) indicated that they were satisfied with the results of 1-3 sessions of MAFT. There were no major complications. Conclusions The results of this study support MAFT as an appropriate fat-transfer strategy for Asian patients undergoing primary augmentation rhinoplasty. Level of Evidence: 4 Therapeutic