Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Genetic Polymorphisms in Toll-Like Receptors among Pediatric Patients with Renal Parenchymal Infections of Different Clinical Severities

Background Although several studies have suggested single gene defects or variations in the genes associated with host immune response could confer differences in susceptibility to urinary pathogen invasion, no studies have examined the genetic polymorphisms in various toll-like receptors (TLRs) that activate innate immune responses in pediatric renal parenchymal infections of different clinical severities, namely acute pyelonephritis and the clinically more severe disease, acute lobar nephronia. Methodology Patients who fulfilled the diagnostic criteria for acute pyelonephritis (APN) and acute lobar nephronia (ALN) without underlying diseases or structural anomalies, except for vesicoureteral reflux (VUR), were enrolled. Genotyping of the single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the genes encoding TLR-1, TLR-2, TLR-4, TLR-5, and TLR-6 was performed by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight-based mini-sequencing analysis. Principal Findings A total of 16 SNPs were selected for genotyping. Analysis of 96 normal and 48 patients’ samples revealed that only four SNPs had heterozygosity rates >0.01. These SNPs were selected for further investigation. Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium was satisfied for the observed genotype frequencies. Statistically significant differences in the genotype frequency of TLR-2 (rs3804100, T1350C) between controls and ALN or (APN+ALN) combined group were identified using the recessive model with the correction for multiple-SNP testing. Further genotype pattern frequency analysis in TLR-2 SNPs (rs3804099 and rs3804100) showed significantly reduced occurrence of the rare allele homozygote (CC+CC) in the no-VUR subgroup of APN and ALN cases. Conclusions As the inflammatory responses in ALN patients are more severe than those in APN patients (higher CRP levels, longer duration of fever after antibiotic treatment), these findings suggest that the genetic variant in TLR-2 (rs3804100, T1350C) may protect the host from severe urinary tract infections as ALN.
Iron-resistant anaemia and latent rickets in schoolchildren

Of thirty children, aged between one and four years, with active rickets examined by Findlay (1909), only nine were anaemic, and he concluded that the anaemia was due to secondary complications of the rickets. Hess (1929) states that anaemia is usually found in advanced rickets, but is not characteristic. Parsons (1934) says that anaemia is in no sense a symptom of rickets, although a degree of nutritional anaemia is not unusual, because a diet which is defective in one factor is likely to be defective in others. McDonough and Borgen (1937) studied thirty children, aged between six months and three years, with active rickets. Of the nineteen uncomplicated cases, six had haemoglobin values below 60 per cent. , whilst only three had values above 80 per cent. Of the eleven complicated cases, six had haemoglobin values below 60 per cent. (two being below 40 per cent.), whilst none had values above 80 per cent. The ' complications ' were poor diet, cleft palate, upper respiratory infections, otitis media and suppurative adenitis. Since these authors regard only values below 60 per cent. haemoglobin as indicating anaemia, they conclude that the anaemia seen in rickets is due rather to secondary infection or lack of other nutritional factors than to lack of vitamin D. If 80 per cent. be taken as the minimal normal haemoglobin value for the young child, their figures show only three rachitic children with normal values. It appears that rachitic children are often, but not always, anaemic. It has not been possible to find any description of anaemia in late rickets or in latent rickets. The work to be described here shows that existence of ironresistant anaemia in school-children, associated with latent or chemical rickets, and the therapeutic results seem to indicate a close connexion between the anaemia and the rickets.
Active and Passive Microwave Sensors as a Tool to Monitor Soil Moisture Over Winter

The present case study focuses on monitoring the wetness state of the experimental Bibeschbach catchment (10.8 km2), located within the Alzette river basin in the Grand-Duchy of Luxemburg over the last three winters (2005-2008). The objectives of this study are (1) to retrieve soil moisture from spaceborne active and passive microwave sensors, namely AMSR-E and ERS-2 SAR, (2) to compare the remote sensing-derived estimates of basin-averaged soil moisture with ground measurements that are performed throughout the catchment.
Molecular Pathway to Protection From Age-Dependent Photoreceptor Degeneration in Mef2 Deficiency

Purpose Photoreceptor degeneration in the retina is a major cause of blindness in humans. Elucidating mechanisms of degenerative and neuroprotective pathways in photoreceptors should afford identification and development of therapeutic strategies. Methods We used mouse genetic models and improved methods for retinal explant cultures. Retinas were enucleated from Mef2d+/+ and Mef2d−/− mice, stained for MEF2 proteins and outer nuclear layer thickness, and assayed for apoptotic cells. Chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assays revealed MEF2 binding, and RT-qPCR showed levels of transcription factors. We used AAV2 and electroporation to express genes in retinal explants and electroretinograms to assess photoreceptor functionality. Results We identify a prosurvival MEF2D-PGC1α pathway that plays a neuroprotective role in photoreceptors. We demonstrate that Mef2d−/− mouse retinas manifest decreased expression of PGC1α and increased photoreceptor cell loss, resulting in the absence of light responses. Molecular repletion of PGC1α protects Mef2d−/− photoreceptors and preserves light responsivity. Conclusions These results suggest that the MEF2-PGC1α cascade may represent a new therapeutic target for drugs designed to protect photoreceptors from developmental- and age-dependent loss.
Exotic mosquitoes in New Zealand: a review of species intercepted, their pathways and ports of entry

A review was carried out to identify the exotic mosquito species intercepted in New Zealand to 2004, together with their origins, pathways and ports of entry into the country. A total of 171 interceptions have been recorded since 1929. There was little or no taxonomic information a vailable for many, but at least 27 exotic species not yet established in New Zealand have been intercepted, including important disease vectors such as Aedes albopictus, Aedes aegypti and Culex annulirostris. Of 152 interception records with a described origin, 100 (66%) have originated from the South Pacific, 42 (28%) from Australia alone, while Japan was the likely source for 22 (15%) interceptions and has become the main source of exotic mosquitoes since the 1990s. Aircraft have clearly been the main vessel for invading mosquitoes with 94 (62%) of 151 cases with a described entrance pathway, but that pattern has changed greatly in the past 15 years, with 51 (82%) of 62 interceptions occurring on ships. Auckland, New Zealand's largest city, has been the main port of entry for invaders (75/93; 81%). The data indicate that it is somewhat fortunate that New Zealand has only four exotic mosquito species established. It is necessary, therefore, to adopt comprehensive exotic species monitoring and border surveillance, with particular emphasis on incoming ships and their cargo, in order to stop further mosquito invasions that could potentially lead to future outbreaks of mosquito‐borne diseases.
Conception d'une chaîne de traitement de la langue naturelle pour un agent conversationnel assistant. (Design of a natural language processing chain for an assistant conversational agent)

HAL is a multi-disciplinary open access archive for the deposit and dissemination of scientific research documents, whether they are published or not. The documents may come from teaching and research institutions in France or abroad, or from public or private research centers. L’archive ouverte pluridisciplinaire HAL, est destinée au dépôt et à la diffusion de documents scientifiques de niveau recherche, publiés ou non, émanant des établissements d’enseignement et de recherche français ou étrangers, des laboratoires publics ou privés. Conception d’une chaîne de traitement de la langue naturelle pour un agent conversationnel assistant François Bouchet
Analysis on Software Development Approaches

- Software process models often represent a networked sequence of activities, objects, transformations, and events that embody strategies for accomplishing software evolution. Software systems come and go through a series of passages that account for their inception, initial development, productive operation, upkeep, and retirement from one generation to another.The objective of this paper is to analyze and categorize software development approaches and reveals where they can be beneficial in software industry with the type of project.
Exploring scalability of character-based storytelling

Interactive Storytelling is establishing itself as a major application of virtual embodied characters. To achieve further progress in the field, some authors have suggested that it was necessary to break the 10-minute barrier for story duration, while preserving story pace. In this context, understanding scalability issues is an essential aspect of the development of future Interactive Storytelling technologies. Scalability can be defined as the production of a richer narrative which follows the scaling-up of the Artificial Intelligence representations for plot structure or charactersý roles. We have formalised narrative events in terms of "film idioms" which are dynamically recognised as the story is generated. This enabled us to stage a number of experiments in which we modified several determinants of scalability, such as the number of feature characters or the complexity of their roles and recorded subsequent narrative extension, through the number of film idioms generated.
Type IV Secretion and Signal Transduction of Helicobacter pylori CagA through Interactions with Host Cell Receptors

Helicobacter pylori is a highly successful human bacterium, which is exceptionally equipped to persistently inhabit the human stomach. Colonization by this pathogen is associated with gastric disorders ranging from chronic gastritis and peptic ulcers to cancer. Highly virulent H. pylori strains express the well-established adhesins BabA/B, SabA, AlpA/B, OipA, and HopQ, and a type IV secretion system (T4SS) encoded by the cag pathogenicity island (PAI). The adhesins ascertain intimate bacterial contact to gastric epithelial cells, while the T4SS represents an extracellular pilus-like structure for the translocation of the effector protein CagA. Numerous T4SS components including CagI, CagL, CagY, and CagA have been shown to target the integrin-β1 receptor followed by translocation of CagA across the host cell membrane. The interaction of CagA with membrane-anchored phosphatidylserine and CagA-containing outer membrane vesicles may also play a role in the delivery process. Translocated CagA undergoes tyrosine phosphorylation in C-terminal EPIYA-repeat motifs by oncogenic Src and Abl kinases. CagA then interacts with an array of host signaling proteins followed by their activation or inactivation in phosphorylation-dependent and phosphorylation-independent fashions. We now count about 25 host cell binding partners of intracellular CagA, which represent the highest quantity of all currently known virulence-associated effector proteins in the microbial world. Here we review the research progress in characterizing interactions of CagA with multiple host cell receptors in the gastric epithelium, including integrin-β1, EGFR, c-Met, CD44, E-cadherin, and gp130. The contribution of these interactions to H. pylori colonization, signal transduction, and gastric pathogenesis is discussed.
Minimization of thermodynamic costs in cancer cell invasion

Metastasis, the truly lethal aspect of cancer, occurs when metastatic cancer cells in a tumor break through the basement membrane and penetrate the extracellular matrix. We show that MDA-MB-231 metastatic breast cancer cells cooperatively invade a 3D collagen matrix while following a glucose gradient. The invasion front of the cells is a dynamic one, with different cells assuming the lead on a time scale of 70 h. The front cell leadership is dynamic presumably because of metabolic costs associated with a long-range strain field that precedes the invading cell front, which we have imaged using confocal imaging and marker beads imbedded in the collagen matrix. We suggest this could be a quantitative assay for an invasive phenotype tracking a glucose gradient and show that the invading cells act in a cooperative manner by exchanging leaders in the invading front.
Joint power allocation for multi-cell distributed antenna systems with large-scale CSIT

In this paper, the problem of joint power allocation (PA) for the downlink of a multi-cell distributed antenna system (DAS) is addressed. Motivated by practical applications, we focus on a reasonable scenario that only the large-scale channel state information at the transmitter (CSIT) is available. Based on the observation that the capacity-achieving input covariance for each cell is diagonal and that PA optimization is enough to achieve the maximum ergodic sum capacity, we formulate a joint PA optimization problem to maximize the ergodic sum capacity of the system with a total transmit power constraint for each cell. A rather precise closed-form approximation of the ergodic sum capacity is then introduced and taken as the objective function instead so that the original joint PA optimization problem can be simplified. Finally, we propose an iterative PA scheme based on the simplified joint PA optimization problem, in which Signomial Programming (SP) is used. Monte Carlo simulations show that the proposed scheme converges quickly and can offer nearly optimal system ergodic sum capacity. Thus, we refer the proposed PA scheme as a suboptimal one. Moreover, from the simulations we can see that a significant performance gain can be achieved by multi-cell joint PA in DAS with only large-scale CSIT.
Biochar : saturated hydraulic conductivity and methylene blue sorption characteristics as applied to storm water treatment

approved: _________________________________________ W. Todd Jarvis Christine J. Kelly This study evaluates the use and efficacy of biochar for treatment of source and nonpoint source pollutants in storm water. Biochar is the solid byproduct of incomplete combustion of biomass under low-oxygen and elevated temperature conditions (Keiluweit, 2010, Beesley and Dickinson, 2011, Bracmort, 2010). The source stock for tested biochar was chicken litter (500 °C), Douglas fir (550 °C) and gasification derived biochar (700 °C). This study involved screening three distinct biochars to investigate particle size characteristics, performing constant head column studies to measure saturated hydraulic conductivity, and investigating the sorption rates of three biochars using methylene blue solute batch studies for three different weights (2, 5, and 10 [and 20 g for chicken litter]). Results of the hydraulic conductivity test revealed hydraulic conductivity values of 0.32 cm/s for Douglas fir (r 2 0.93), 0.10 cm/s for gasification (r 2 0.76) and 9.0 for chicken litter derived biochar (r 2 0.34). Although it is likely that the conductivity reading for chicken litter was invalid due to turbulence. The methylene blue sorption studies results indicate that each biochar showed slightly different sorption rates. Compared to the two other biochars gasification derived biochar had the greatest adsorption rate of methylene blue dye. Douglas fir had the next highest adsorption rate and chicken litter derived biochar had the lowest adsorption rate. Biochar: Saturated Hydraulic Conductivity and Methylene Blue Sorption Characteristics as Applied to Storm Water Treatment
The evolution of flexible parenting

Parenting behaviors, such as the provisioning of food by parents to offspring, are known to be highly responsive to changes in environment. However, we currently know little about how such flexibility affects the ways in which parenting is adapted and evolves in response to environmental variation. This is because few studies quantify how individuals vary in their response to changing environments, especially social environments created by other individuals with which parents interact. Social environmental factors differ from nonsocial factors, such as food availability, because parents and offspring both contribute and respond to the social environment they experience. This interdependence leads to the coevolution of flexible behaviors involved in parenting, which could, paradoxically, constrain the ability of individuals to rapidly adapt to changes in their nonsocial environment.
Effects of Animal Pollination on Pollen Dispersal, Selfing, and Effective Population Size of Tropical Trees: A Simulation Study

Animals, especially insects, are principal pollen vectors of tropical trees and have behavior patterns that affect gene dispersal. Here, we explore complex pollination systems using a new simulation model Eco‐Gene and considering, among other factors, flowering synchrony, spatial distribution of trees, degree of selfing, population densities, pollinator flight distances, pollen deposition, and pollinator response to floral display size. Sensitivity analyses using two contrasting tree data sets (Jacaranda copaia and Dipteryx odorata) determined the importance of each parameter on three response variables: the proportion of seeds from self‐pollination, effective population size, and pollen dispersal. Spatial considerations and attractiveness of floral displays were prominent features determining the population genetic result of pollinators, and some biological implications of the results are discussed.
Physico-mechanical Properties of Paper Sludge-Thermoplastic Polymer Composites

This study investigates the effect of paper sludge’s mixing ratio and the types and concentrations of coupling agents on the physical and mechanical properties of paper sludge-thermoplastic polymer composites. In the experiment, four levels of mixing ratios of paper sludge to thermoplastic polymer (10: 90, 20: 80, 30: 70 and 40: 60) and three levels of coupling agent (Epolene G-3003TM) content (1, 3, and 5 wt.%) were designed to discuss the physical and mechanical properties of composite. Composite density, as expected, increased but melt flow index decreased when the paper sludge content increased. Thickness swelling and water absorption of composites was slightly improved by the addition of paper sludge compared with control specimens. Tensile properties of composites significantly increased as the mixing ratio of paper sludge increased. Especially, tensile modulus improved with the increase of paper sludge content. Flexural strength and modulus showed similar trends to that of the tensile properties. Notched and unnotched Izod impact strengths lowered by the addition of paper sludge. With the addition of coupling agent, G-3003TM, tensile and flexural properties improved considerably compared with control specimens (without any coupling agent). Epolene G-3003TM, with high molecular weight, was effective in the improvement of the composites’ tensile and flexural properties.
The impact of diabetic retinopathy and diabetic macular edema on health-related quality of life in type 1 and type 2 diabetes.

PURPOSE To assess the impact of diabetic retinopathy (DR) and diabetic macular edema (DME) on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in type 1 and type 2 diabetes using the EuroQoL EQ-5D generic multi-attribute utility instrument (MAUI). METHODS In this cross-sectional study, 577 patients with diabetes were recruited from specialized eye clinics in Melbourne, Australia. Each patient underwent clinical, biochemical, and anthropometric assessments. The severity of combined DR and DME (no DR/DME; mild NPDR [nonproliferative DR (NPDR)] and/or mild DME; moderate NPDR and/or moderate DME; and vision-threatening DR (VTDR) (severe NPDR or PDR and/or severe DME) in the worse eye was calculated. EQ-5D utility measures were the main outcome. Because the distribution of the utility measures was skewed, independent associations were explored using multivariate quantile regression models (five quintiles, namely 15th, 30th, 45th, 60th, 75th) ranging from poorest to highest HRQoL. RESULTS Median age of the participants was 66 years (range, 26-90 years). Of the 577 participants, 223 (38.7%) had no DR/DME, 35 (6.1%) had mild NPDR/DME, 127 (22.0%) had moderate NPDR/DME, and 192 (33.3%) had VTDR. In adjusted models, neither presence nor severity of DR/DME was significantly associated with any quantile of the EQ-5D. In contrast, the presence of diabetic complications (other than DR) (β = -0.153; SE = 0.052; P < 0.001), other nonocular comorbidities (β = -0.115; SE = 0.038; P < 0.01), and higher body mass index (β = -0.007; SE = 0.002; P < 0.001) were all associated with worse HRQoL. CONCLUSIONS Using a generic MAUI, the EQ-5D, the authors found that the presence or severity of DR/DME and concomitant vision loss were not associated with any quantile of HRQoL. These findings suggest that the EQ-5D lacks sensitivity in assessing the impact of the severity of DR/DME on HRQoL parameters and that condition-specific instruments may better capture the full impact of the association.
Interaction of macrophage cationic proteins with the outer membrane of Pseudomonas aeruginosa

The interaction of the polycationic rabbit alveolar macrophage cationic proteins MCP-1 and MCP-2 (or their identical neutrophil equivalents NP-1 and NP-2) with the surface of Pseudomonas aeruginosa was investigated. Both proteins bound avidly to purified lipopolysaccharide, as judged by their ability to competitively displace the probe dansyl polymyxin with 50% inhibition (I50) values of 2 to 3 microM. Similar I50 were measured with dansyl polymyxin as a probe for cell surface binding, suggesting that the initial binding site for MCP-1 and MCP-2 on the surface of cells was lipopolysaccharide. Both MCP-1 and MCP-2 permeabilized outer membranes to the hydrophobic fluorescent probe 1-N-phenylnaphthylamine (NPN). The initial rate of NPN uptake plotted against the concentration of MCP-1 or MCP-2 gave sigmoidal curves, suggesting cooperative permeabilization of the outer membrane. Replotting the data as a Hill plot gave an affinity parameter, S0.5, the concentration of MCP giving a half-maximal increase in the rate of NPN uptake, of 5 and 25 microM for MCP-1 and MCP-2, respectively, and thus subsequent studies concentrated on the more active permeabilizer MCP-1. Permeabilization of outer membranes to NPN was a function of buffer pH, with lower pH considerably favoring the permeabilizing effects of MCP-1. Thin-section electron microscopic visualization of MCP-1-treated cells showed production of extended blebs. Further evidence of an altered cell surface after MCP-1 treatment was obtained by demonstrating that treated unopsonized cells were more efficiently phagocytosed by unelicited rabbit alveolar macrophages. The data overall suggest that macrophage cationic proteins interact with the P. aeruginosa outer membrane in a manner typical of other polycations and suggest that one of their major functions may be to permeabilize the outer membrane.
Preventing Injuries in Older People by Preventing Falls: A Meta‐Analysis of Individual‐Level Data

OBJECTIVES: Our falls prevention research group has conducted four controlled trials of a home exercise program to prevent falls in older people. The objectives of this meta‐analysis of these trials were to estimate the overall effect of the exercise program on the numbers of falls and fall‐related injuries and to identify subgroups that would benefit most from the program.