Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Spatial and Temporal Oxygen Dynamics in Macrofaunal Burrows in Sediments: A Review of Analytical Tools and Observational Evidence

The availability of benthic O2 plays a crucial role in benthic microbial communities and regulates many important biogeochemical processes. Burrowing activities of macrobenthos in the sediment significantly affect O2 distribution and its spatial and temporal dynamics in burrows, followed by alterations of sediment microbiology. Consequently, numerous research groups have investigated O2 dynamics in macrofaunal burrows. The introduction of powerful tools, such as microsensors and planar optodes, to sediment analysis has greatly enhanced our ability to measure O2 dynamics in burrows at high spatial and temporal resolution with minimal disturbance of the physical structure of the sediment. In this review, we summarize recent studies of O2-concentration measurements in burrows with O2 microsensors and O2 planar optodes. This manuscript mainly focuses on the fundamentals of O2 microsensors and O2 planar optodes, and their application in the direct measurement of the spatial and temporal dynamics of O2 concentrations in burrows, which have not previously been reviewed, and will be a useful supplement to recent literature reviews on O2 dynamics in macrofaunal burrows.
Quantification of Human Cytomegalovirus DNA in Amniotic Fluid of Mothers of Congenitally Infected Fetuses

ABSTRACT A quantitative PCR assay was used to quantitate human cytomegalovirus DNA in amniotic fluid of mothers of 21 fetuses with congenital infection. Seven fetuses presented ultrasound abnormalities or were born with symptoms, whereas 14 fetuses were subclinically infected. Although the median DNA level was higher in symptomatic fetuses, the difference was not statistically significant (P = 0.09).
Closed-loop Supply Chain Network Design under Uncertain Quality Status: Case of Durable Products Closed-loop Supply Chain Network Design under Uncertain Quality Status: Case of Durable Products

This paper proposes a two-stage stochastic mixed-integer programming model for a closed-loop supply chain network design problem in the context of modular structured products in which the reverse network involves several types of recovery options. It accounts for uncertainty in the quality status of the return stream, modeled as binary scenarios for each component in the reverse bill of material corresponding to such products. To deal with the intractable number of scenarios in the proposed model, a scenario reduction scheme is adapted to the problem of interest to preserve the most pertinent scenarios based on a modified Euclidean distance measure. The reduced stochastic large-scale optimization problem is then solved via a L-shaped algorithm enhanced with surrogate constraints and Pareto-optimal cuts. Numerical results indicate that the scenario reduction algorithm provides good quality solutions to the stochastic problem in a reasonable amount of time through applying the enhanced L-shaped method. Acknowledgment. The authors would like to thank the Fonds de recherche du Québec-Nature et technologie (FRQNT), for the financial support in this research project.
MDM2 SNP309 Polymorphism as Risk Factor for Susceptibility and Poor Prognosis in Renal Cell Carcinoma

Purpose: MDM2 is a major negative regulator of p53, and a single nucleotide polymorphism in the MDM2 promoter region SNP309 (rs2279744) has been shown to increase the affinity of the transcriptional activator Sp1, resulting in elevated MDM2 transcription and expression in some cancers. There is currently no information about the role of MDM2 polymorphism in renal cell carcinoma (RCC). We investigated polymorphisms in p53-related genes, including MDM2, and their interactions in renal cancer. Experimental Design: We genotyped three single nucleotide polymorphisms of three genes (p53 Arg72Pro, p21 Ser31Arg, and MDM2 SNP309) in 200 patients with renal cancer and 200 age- and gender-matched healthy subjects. Genotyping was confirmed by direct DNA sequencing. Samples that showed significant polymorphic variants were analyzed for MDM2 expression by immunohistochemistry. Association of polymorphic variants on survival of RCC patients was analyzed by Kaplan-Meier curves. Results: A significant increase in the GG genotype of the MDM2 SNP309 was observed in RCC patients compared with healthy controls (odds ratio, 1.80; 95% confidence interval, 1.14-2.84). To investigate the effect of the MDM2 SNP309 polymorphism on MDM2 expression, immunohistochemistry was done in genotyped RCC tissues. Positive staining for MDM2 was detected in 2 of 15 (13%) TT genotype, 4 of 15 (26%) TG genotype, and 5 of 10 (50%) GG genotype carriers. The frequency of MDM2 expression in GG genotype carriers was significantly higher than that in TT genotype carriers. Polymorphisms of p53 Arg72Pro and p21 Ser31Arg did not show significant association with RCC. In univariate and multivariate analysis, MDM2 SNP309 GG genotype was independently associated with poor prognosis. Kaplan-Meier curve analysis showed that survival of patients with GG carriers was significantly worse than that of carriers with TG + TT genotypes. Conclusions: This is the first report to show a significant association between functional polymorphisms in MDM2 and increased risk of developing renal cancer. In addition, the MDM2 polymorphism was shown to be an independent adverse prognostic factor for RCC. Patients with MDM2 309GG genotype showed worse prognosis and low survival.
Diabetic nephropathy: changes after diabetes surgery?

INTRODUCTION Obesity, as a central piece inside metabolic syndrome, is associated with early chronic kidney disease (CKD). In addition, several observational, cross sectional, and longitudinal studies have demonstrated that obesity is as an independent risk factor for the onset, aggravated course, and poor outcomes of CKD including diabetic nephropathy. This implies that when obesity is reversed, many CKD risk factors and CKD itself could be favorably influenced. So all measures aimed at weight loss are recommended to minimize risks from obesity-related conditions and generate improvements in the metabolic profile. Recent evidence shows that bariatric surgery (BS) can revert or improve proteinuria and CKD in morbidly obese patients. OBJECTIVES AND METHODS The present review is aimed to provide the evidence regarding the beneficial effects of weight loss after BS in different stages of CKD including kidney transplant recipients, with an special focus on the beneficial effect in reducing or improving proteinuria and renal failure. Furthermore, this updated systematic review of the literature analyzes potential adverse effects that BS could induce not only on renal function but also on morbidity and mortality risk in perioperative and postoperative period. CONCLUSIONS Results from the different case reports, meta analysis as well as systematic review of clinical trials show that obesity treatment by way of lifestyle changes, pharmacotherapies and BS can reduce proteinuria and help to prevent loss of renal function. Also BS may reduce complications, and allow obese patients with end-stage renal disease to undergo kidney transplantation with good results.
Towards a theory of individual differences in statistical learning

In recent years, statistical learning (SL) research has seen a growing interest in tracking individual performance in SL tasks, mainly as a predictor of linguistic abilities. We review studies from this line of research and outline three presuppositions underlying the experimental approach they employ: (i) that SL is a unified theoretical construct; (ii) that current SL tasks are interchangeable, and equally valid for assessing SL ability; and (iii) that performance in the standard forced-choice test in the task is a good proxy of SL ability. We argue that these three critical presuppositions are subject to a number of theoretical and empirical issues. First, SL shows patterns of modality- and informational-specificity, suggesting that SL cannot be treated as a unified construct. Second, different SL tasks may tap into separate sub-components of SL that are not necessarily interchangeable. Third, the commonly used forced-choice tests in most SL tasks are subject to inherent limitations and confounds. As a first step, we offer a methodological approach that explicitly spells out a potential set of different SL dimensions, allowing for better transparency in choosing a specific SL task as a predictor of a given linguistic outcome. We then offer possible methodological solutions for better tracking and measuring SL ability. Taken together, these discussions provide a novel theoretical and methodological approach for assessing individual differences in SL, with clear testable predictions. This article is part of the themed issue ‘New frontiers for statistical learning in the cognitive sciences’.
Optical Character Recognition for English and Tamil Script Kanimozhi

optical character recognition is an evergreen area of research and is verily used in various real time applications. This paper proposes a new technique of optical character recognition using Hough transform and statistical method. This method proves to be very effective with the use of randomized Hough transform for feature extraction and Statistical method for developing the model. The model proposed is trained and validated for two languagescursive English and Tamil script and the results are found to be very much encouraging. The model developed works for the entire character set in both the languages. Keywords— Hough transform, optical character recognition, statistical method
ERK-mediated phosphorylation of Thr735 in TNFα-converting enzyme and its potential role in TACE protein trafficking

Tumor necrosis factor α-converting enzyme (TACE/ADAM17) has been implicated in the inducible shedding of numerous cell surface proteins. In light of this, the regulation of TACE catalytic activation and protein maturation has recently received considerable interest in the context of extracellular signal-regulated kinase activation and the subsequent phosphorylation of TACE at residue Thr735. In this study, we analysed the subcellular localisation of TACE derivatives using laser-scanning confocal microscopy and cell surface biotinylation. Whereas WT.TACE- and T735A.TACE-enhanced green fluorescent protein (-eGFP) fusion derivatives of TACE were both found to localise with the endoplasmic reticulum, a phosphomimicking form of TACE (T735E.TACE-eGFP) was found to colocalise predominantly with components of the protein secretory pathway (COPII vesicles and trans-Golgi network). Additionally, upon analysis of biotinylated ectopic TACE, we observed that inducible trafficking of TACE to the cell surface was dependent upon extracellular signal-regulated kinase activation and phosphorylation of Thr735. We conclude from our observations that phosphorylation of TACE at Thr735 highlights a key step in inducible TACE protein trafficking and maturation.
Genome Sequence of Enterobacter cloacae Strain SENG-6, a Bacterium Producing Histo-Blood Group Antigen-Like Substances That Can Bind with Human Noroviruses

ABSTRACT Enterobacter sp. strain SENG-6, isolated from healthy human feces, produces histo-blood group antigen (HBGA)-like substances that can bind with human noroviruses. Based on the genome sequence analysis, strain SENG-6 belongs to the species Enterobacter cloacae. The genome sequence of this strain should help identify genes associated with the production of HBGA-like substances.
Role of stem cell transplant in lymphoma in the era of new drugs

Purpose of review Better understanding of the lymphoma pathogenesis and molecular biology has introduced a new era in the lymphoma therapy with the advent of targeted drugs. In this new era, the role of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is evolving, and the purpose of this review is to demonstrate how the introduction of novel agents has affected the current treatment strategy of different subtypes of lymphoma. Recent findings Autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) remains the standard of care for patients with relapsed Hodgkin Lymphoma and high-grade non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL). In the group of the indolent lymphomas, ASCT maintains its role in the relapsed setting. Novel targeted agents like idelalisib and ibrutinib have shown to induce prolonged remissions with a very good safety profile. However, the follow-up is still relatively short and none of these drugs have demonstrated a curative potential, as opposed to HSCT. Summary For many authors, the advent of new targeted drugs is challenging the role of HSCT in different subsets of lymphoma. The actual challenge is how to make the best use of these drugs, in certain circumstances in combination with HSCT, to further improve the outcome of patients with lymphoma.
Research on the returned logistics network optimal design of packaging materials in storage & transportation process based on TOC

Wastes of packaging materials are pollution sources but are useful resources in some sense. The world attaches its importance to recovery and reuse of them. Packaging materials of in all kinds of storage & transportation process are most commonly used and have a high recovery value. To achieve effective logistics management in the packaging materials returned system, ideas of Theory of Constraints are applied in this paper. Goods flows decision model for global optimization in the network is proposed whose objective function is throughput. Accordingly, the allocation of the corresponding goods flows in the network can be decided. On this basis, optimal lot size model for local optimization is set up. Finally, an example is presented to demonstrate the validity of the integrated model, and shows that the model is superior to the traditional approach.
Neuroserpin, a Neuroprotective Factor in Focal Ischemic Stroke

Because recent studies have indicated that tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) aggravates neurodegenerative processes in many neural pathologies, we studied whether the endogenous tPA antagonist neuroserpin has a neuroprotective effect in an animal model of focal ischemic stroke. After induction of a focal ischemic stroke in the mouse by occlusion of the middle cerebral artery, we found that microglial cells accumulated in the marginal zone of the infarct are the most important source for both plasminogen activators, tPA and uPA. To investigate the effect of neuroserpin on the size and the histology of the infarct we produced transgenic mice overexpressing neuroserpin approximately sixfold in the nervous system. In the brain of these mice the total tPA activity in the uninjured tissue was strongly reduced. After induction of a focal ischemic stroke in the transgenic mice by a permanent occlusion of the middle cerebral artery (MCA), the infarcts were 30% smaller than in the wild-type mice. Immunohistochemical analyses and in situ hybridization revealed an attenuation of the microglial activation in the reactive zone. Concomitantly, the microglial production of tPA and uPA, as well as the PA-activity in the infarct region was markedly reduced. Thus, our results indicate that neuroserpin reduces microglial activation and, therefore, the PA activity and has a neuroprotective role after focal ischemic stroke.
Klebsiella pneumoniae Outer Membrane Porins OmpK35 and OmpK36 Play Roles in both Antimicrobial Resistance and Virulence

ABSTRACT OmpK35 and OmpK36 are the major outer membrane porins of Klebsiella pneumoniae. In this study, a virulent clinical isolate was selected to study the role of these two porins in antimicrobial resistance and virulence. The single deletion of ompK36 (ΔompK36) resulted in MIC shifts of cefazolin, cephalothin, and cefoxitin from susceptible to resistant, while the single deletion of ompK35 (ΔompK35) had no significant effect. A double deletion of ompK35 and ompK36 (ΔompK35/36) further increased these MICs to high-level resistance and led to 8- and 16-fold increases in the MICs of meropenem and cefepime, respectively. In contrast to the routine testing medium, which is of high osmolarity, susceptibility tests using low-osmolarity medium showed that the ΔompK35 mutation resulted in a significant (≥4-fold) increase in the MICs of cefazolin and ceftazidime, whereas a ΔompK36 deletion conferred a significantly (4-fold) lower increase in the MIC of cefazolin. In the virulence assays, a significant (P < 0.05) defect in the growth rate was found only in the ΔompK35/36 mutant, indicating the effect on metabolic fitness. A significant (P < 0.05) increase in susceptibility to neutrophil phagocytosis was observed in both ΔompK36 and ΔompK35/36 mutants. In a mouse peritonitis model, the ΔompK35 mutant showed no change in virulence, and the ΔompK36 mutant exhibited significantly (P < 0.01) lower virulence, whereas the ΔompK35/36 mutant presented the highest 50% lethal dose of these strains. In conclusion, porin deficiency in K. pneumoniae could increase antimicrobial resistance but decrease virulence at the same time.
Approximation Via Value Unification 1

Numerical function approximation over a Boolean domain is a classical problem with wide application to data modeling tasks and various forms of learning. A great many function approximation algorithms have been devised over the years. Because the goal is to produce an approximating function that has low expected error, algorithms are typically guided by error reduction. This guiding force, to reduce error, can bias the algorithm in a detrimental manner. We illustrate this bias, and then propose an alternative approach based on a notion of value unification.
Psychological Stress, Exercise and Immunity

In terms of cardiovascular, endocrine and immune responses, acute high-intensity aerobic exercise stress may be considered as a subcategory of stressful active coping. The cardiorespiratory responses of both include increases in heart rate, cardiac output, systolic blood pressure, skeletal muscle vasodilation and oxygen consumption. Neurohormonal responses include increases in catecholamines as well as elevations in cortisol under high but relatively low sympathetic activation. Immune system responses include increases in natural killer (NK) cell number and cytotoxicity and suppressor/cytotoxic lymphocytes as well as decreased proliferative response to mitogens. Task and recovery periods for both acute psychological stress or exercise show biphasic changes in immune response such that immune status is negatively impacted during recovery. Chronic life stressors influence acute cardiovascular, endocrine and immune responses to acute stressors. In addition, both chronic stress and unusually heavy chronic exercise can negatively impact immune status. Given impaired immune status following chronic stress and interactive effects of acute and chronic stressors (e.g. blunted acute NK responses to acute stressors), it is suggested that these factors may extend the window of vulnerability for infectious agents to act following acute psychological (e.g. examinations) or strenuous exercise (competitive athletics) stressors.
A complexity calculus for classes of recursive search programs over tree structures

We study a restricted programming language over tree structures. For this language, we give systematic translation rules which map programs into complexity descriptors. The descriptors are in the form of generating functions of average costs. Such a direct approach avoids the recourse to recurrences; it therefore simplifies the task of analyzing algorithms in the class considered and permits analysis of structurally complex programs. It also allows for a clear discussion of analytic properties of complexity descriptors whose singularities are related to the asymptotic behavior of average costs. Algorithms that are analyzed in this way include: formal differentiation, tree matching, tree embedding and simplification of expressions in a diversity of contexts. Some general results relating (average case) complexity properties to structural properties of programs in the class can also be derived in this framework.
Comportement de réclamation : comment limiter le risque de rupture de la relation client-fournisseur ?

L’objectif de cet article est de mettre en avant les elements permettant de limiter le risque de rupture de la relation client-fournisseur. Une revue de la litterature en marketing sur les principaux modeles de dissolution de la relation permet de placer le comportement de reclamation a la frontiere entre les relations stables et les relations menacees, c’est-a-dire a risque de rupture eleve. Le comportement de reclamation des clients industriels est donc analyse dans cette recherche comme un element annonciateur de la rupture de la relation client-fournisseur. Pour verifier cette proposition, une etude qualitative est menee aupres de commerciaux et de clients industriels, adoptant ce faisant une approche dyadique du phenomene. Les resultats montrent que le comportement de reclamation, lorsqu’il n’est pas traite par l’entreprise, peut etre considere comme un element annonciateur de la rupture de la relation.
Plasmonic light trapping leads to responsivity increase in colloidal quantum dot photodetectors

We report broadband responsivity enhancement in PbScolloidalquantum dot (CQDs) photoconductive photodetectors due to absorption increase offered by a plasmonicscattering layer of Ag metal nanoparticles. Responsivity enhancements are observed in the near infrared with a maximum 2.4-fold increase near the absorption band edge of ∼1 μm for ∼400 nm thick devices. Additionally, we study the effect of the mode structure on the efficiency of light trapping provided by random nanoparticlescattering in CQD films and provide insights for plasmonicscattering enhancement in CQD thin films.
Neural Transplant Surgery: An Approach to Pre-training Recurrent Networks

Partially-recurrent networks have advantages over strictly feed-forward networks for certain spatiotemporal pattern classification or prediction tasks. However networks involving recurrent links are generally more difficult to train than their non-recurrent counterparts. In this paper we demonstrate that the costs of training a recurrent network can be greatly reduced by initialising the network prior to training with weights 'transplanted' from a non-recurrent architecture.
Treatment of saphenous vein graft lesions with paclitaxel- and sirolimus-eluting stents: comparison of short- and long-term clinical outcomes.

OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to compare treatment of saphenous vein graft (SVG) lesions with paclitaxel-eluting (PES) and sirolimus-eluting stents (SES) in daily practice with regard to short- and long-term clinical outcomes. METHODS Between August 2002 and September 2006, a total of 71 patients with SVG lesions who were implanted PES or SES with percutaneous coronary intervention in our center were evaluated retrospectively. Forty-six patients with PES (PES group) were compared to twenty-five patients treated with SES (SES group) in terms of in-hospital, 30-day, six-months and 1-year clinical outcomes. Statistical analyses were performed using Chi-Square statistics or Fisher's exact and independent sample t test. Survival analysis was done using Kaplan-Meier method and log-rank test. RESULTS Baseline clinical characteristics were similar in both groups except for a tendency toward a lower age in the SES group. No statistically significant difference was found between two groups by means of lesion and procedural characteristics. All clinical outcomes at 30-day, 6-month and 1-year after the interventions were similar in both groups. Early stent thrombosis was detected in one patient (2.2%) of PES group (p=0.65). Late stent thrombosis was not observed in both groups. The rate of major adverse cardiac events at 1-year was 8.7% in the PES group and 16% in the SES group (p=0.44). CONCLUSION Short-and long-term clinical outcomes of PES and SES in the treatment of SVG lesions are similar. The results of our study showed that both drug-eluting stents are effective and safe in real-world patient with diseased SVGs.