Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Heme Inhibits Human Neutrophil Apoptosis: Involvement of Phosphoinositide 3-Kinase, MAPK, and NF-κB

High levels of free heme are found in pathological states of increased hemolysis, such as sickle cell disease, malaria, and ischemia reperfusion. The hemolytic events are often associated with an inflammatory response that usually turns into chronic inflammation. We recently reported that heme is a proinflammatory molecule, able to induce neutrophil migration, reactive oxygen species generation, and IL-8 expression. In this study, we show that heme (1–50 μM) delays human neutrophil spontaneous apoptosis in vitro. This effect requires heme oxygenase activity, and depends on reactive oxygen species production and on de novo protein synthesis. Inhibition of ERK and PI3K pathways abolished heme-protective effects upon human neutrophils, suggesting the involvement of the Ras/Raf/MAPK and PI3K pathway on this effect. Confirming the involvement of these pathways in the modulation of the antiapoptotic effect, heme induces Akt phosphorylation and ERK-2 nuclear translocation in neutrophils. Futhermore, inhibition of NF-κB translocation reversed heme antiapoptotic effect. NF-κB (p65 subunit) nuclear translocation and IκB degradation were also observed in heme-treated cells, indicating that free heme may regulate neutrophil life span modulating signaling pathways involved in cell survival. Our data suggest that free heme associated with hemolytic episodes might play an important role in the development of chronic inflammation by interfering with the longevity of neutrophils.
On the relation between cardiodynamics and heartbeat perception.

The mediation of heartbeat perception by cardiodynamic parameters was investigated by experimentally introducing changes in heart performance. Twenty-five subjects (14 women, 11 men) underwent bicycle ergometric exercises (0-75 W) at different tilt angles (90 degrees-0 degree). After each of the 31 tilt/exercise phases, the following measures of cardiac performance were taken using impedance cardiography: stroke volume, Heather Index (as an indicator of contractile force), heart rate, and an estimate of the momentum of the ejected blood mass. Additionally, a heartbeat perception task was performed. The different tilt/exercise combinations induced profound changes in all cardiodynamic measures. The correlation between heartbeat perception and cardiodynamic parameters was highest for "momentum" (r = .67) and for stroke volume (r = .59). From our data, we infer that intraindividually occurring changes in cardiac perception are mediated partially by characteristics of heart dynamics and that the source of these interoceptive signals lies in the heart or in its close vicinity.
Technology trends in mobile handsets

The mobile handset is well established as a business and consumer device, expanding beyond the foundation built on earlier mobile handset technology. The functions and capabilities of the handset are continually evolving. Handset providers, application developers and users are putting ever greater demands on handsets which simultaneously strain limited battery power and require higher data transfer. This results in ever more challenging requirements on the RF front-end of the handset. At the same time there are cost pressures that require functions to be provided ever more economically. This paper discussed these trends, the implications in front-end architecture, and some of the advanced implementations that address these dynamics.
Distinct patterns of HIV-specific memory T lymphocytes in HIV-exposed uninfected individuals and in HIV-infected patients

Background:Repeated exposure to HIV is not always associated with infection and multiple cohorts of HIV-exposed but seronegative individuals (ESN) have been described. HIV-specific CD4 and CD8 T lymphocytes are detected both in HIV patients and in ESN; we verified whether different patterns of HIV-specific memory T lymphocytes would be detected in individuals in whom exposure to HIV results or does not result in infection. Methods:Gag-specific T cells were analysed in 15 ESN, 14 HIV patients, and 15 healthy controls using extensive flow cytometry analysis. Results:Data confirmed that gag-specific T lymphocytes are present in ESN. Gag-specific T cells mainly secrete interleukin-2 in ESN and interferon-γ in HIV patients. In addition the CD4/CD8 and the memory/naive ratios are altered, central memory (45RA−/CCR7+) CD4 and CD8 T lymphocytes are more abundant, and terminally differentiated (45RA+/CCR7− and 27−/28−) CD8 T lymphocytes are augmented in ESN individuals. Conclusions:Exposure to HIV occurs in high risk seronegative individuals; the observation that naive cells and CM are skewed in ESN indicate that this exposure is robust enough to modulate the CM/EM ratio. The increase in late effectors and in natural killer cells seen in ESN suggests a role for these cells in preventing actual infection.
A wideband dielectric resonator antenna with a cross slot aperture for 5G communications

This paper represents design of a wideband Rectangular Dielectric Resonator antenna fed by an aperture coupled technique. A bandwidth of 2.2 GHz has been achieved using a cross slot aperture in a ground plane for Dielectric Resonator Antenna (DRA). The simulated gain value achieved is 6.5dBi. The Rectangular Dielectric Resonator which has been designed in this paper can be used in 5G application frequency band of 24.25-27.5 GHz. The calculated percentage bandwidth is 15.38 %. An optimization of slot dimensions has also mentioned which can help to select a desired impedance match. The measured gain and bandwidth are efficient to use this design for various 5G applications. This unit cell wideband DRA can be used for millimeter wave frequencies of 5G.
Biodiesel blend estimation based on fuel consumption and engine power

Biodiesel as a renewable alternative fuel for petroleum based diesel fuel produces lower emissions of all types (CO, HC .) except Nitrogen Oxides (NOx) when compared to the petroleum diesel fuel. Reducing Nitrogen Oxides produced from engines running on biodiesel is a challenging task to be able to meet the emission requirements. Knowledge of fuel blend could be very helpful for control and adaptation purposes to tune the engine control system parameters leading to lower NOx emission and improved engine performance. Biodiesel can be used in different blends with conventional diesel and estimating the percentage of the biodiesel fuel has become a new area of research in the past few years. Biomass content estimation based on fuel injection rate per engine cycle and the produced power from the engine is presented in this paper to fulfill this goal. The proposed method employs information about the produced power from a brake torque estimation algorithm and injected fuel from engine control unit (ECU). The designed estimator is tuned using the data collected from a developed engine model. Orthogonal Least Squares and Neural Network are the two system identification techniques used in this paper. The estimation results from the two identification methods are compared and illustrate that the designed estimator is accurate in both cases.
Cell Wall Alterations Associated with the Hyperproduction of Extracellular Enzymes in Neurospora crassa

A pleiotropic mutation in Neurospora (exo-1), which confers derepression of α-amylase, glucoamylase, β-fructofuranosidase, and trehalase, appears to also affect the composition of the cell wall. Segregants resulting from the backcross of exo-1 to the wild-type strain from which it derived are altered in the ratio of galactosamine to glucosamine in hydrolysates of isolated cell walls. Conidial cell walls exhibit a marked decrease in the amount of galactosamine in both exo-1 and exo-1+ strains. Increased levels (approximately sevenfold) of amylase are found in conidia of exo-1, as compared with those of exo-1+.
The complete DNA sequence of myxoma virus.

Myxomatosis in European rabbits is a severely debilitating disease characterized by profound systemic cellular immunosuppression and a high rate of mortality. The causative agent, myxoma virus, is a member of the poxvirus family and prototype of the Leporipoxvirus genus. As a major step toward defining the genetic strategies by which the virus circumvents host antiviral responses, the genomic DNA sequence of myxoma virus, strain Lausanne, was determined. A total of 171 open reading frames were assigned to cover the 161.8-kb genome, including two copies each of the 12 genes that map within the 11.5-kb terminal inverted repeats. Database searches revealed a central core of approximately 120 kb that encodes more than 100 genes that exhibit close relationships to the conserved genes of members of other poxvirus genera. Open reading frames with predicted signal sequences, localization motifs, or homology to known proteins with immunomodulatory or host-range functions were examined more extensively for predicted features such as hydrophobic regions, nucleic acid binding domains, ankyrin repeats, serpin signatures, lectin domains. and structural cysteine spacings. As a result, several novel, potentially immunomodulatory proteins have been identified, including a family with multiple ankyrin-repeat domains, an OX-2 like member of the neural cell adhesion molecule family, a third myxoma serpin, a putative chemokine receptor fragment, two natural killer receptor-like species, and a variety of species with domains closely related to diverse host immune regulatory proteins. Coupled with the genomic sequencing of the related leporipoxvirus Shope fibroma virus, this work affirms the existence of a conserved complement of poxvirus-specific core genes and expands the growing repertoire of virus genes that confer the unique capacity of each poxvirus family member to counter the immune responses of the infected host.
Novel tunable frequency selective meta-surfaces

Novel tunable low-loss Frequency Selective Meta-Surfaces are presented, operating at around 15GHz. The proposed multi-layer Frequency Selective Meta-Surfaces (FSmS) exhibit significant tuning of their pass-band response with low losses employing bender piezoelectric actuator. The FSmS consist of three closely spaced periodic arrays of sub-wavelength non-resonant elements, namely an array of metallic square loops placed between two arrays of square apertures in metallic sheets, separated by air cavities. The combination of the square loop array and one of the square aperture arrays produces a High Impedance Surface response which is tuned using the piezoelectric actuators. This in turn alters the resonance condition of the complete FSmS structure and thus the central frequency of the pass-band. The structures have been investigated through simulations, achieving a frequency tuning range of 13.3%.
Independent Allocation of Attention to Eye and Hand Targets in Coordinated Eye-Hand Movements

When reaching for objects, people frequently look where they reach. This raises the question of whether the targets for the eye and hand in concurrent eye and hand movements are selected by a unitary attentional system or by independent mechanisms. We used the deployment of visual attention as an index of the selection of movement targets and asked observers to reach and look to either the same location or separate locations. Results show that during the preparation of coordinated movements, attention is allocated in parallel to the targets of a saccade and a reaching movement. Attentional allocations for the two movements interact synergistically when both are directed to a common goal. Delaying the eye movement delays the attentional shift to the saccade target while leaving attentional deployment to the reach target unaffected. Our findings demonstrate that attentional resources are allocated independently to the targets of eye and hand movements and suggest that the goals for these effectors are selected by separate attentional mechanisms.
Peanut and tree nut allergy

Among foods causing allergic reactions in children, peanut (a legume) and tree nuts (ie, walnut, hazel nut, Brazil nut, pecan) have attracted considerable attention for several reasons. Allergies to these foods are common, frequently have an onset in the first few years of life, generally persist, and account for severe and potentially fatal allergic reactions. Furthermore, the ubiquity of these foods in the diet makes avoidance difficult and accidental ingestions, with reactions, common. This review discusses recent and emerging information on the prevalence, clinical characteristics, natural history, genetic basis, and current treatment of these allergies. In addition, recent advances in the molecular and immunologic characteristics of these allergens, and novel therapeutic options under investigation in animal models, are reviewed.
The Solution Structure of EMILIN1 Globular C1q Domain Reveals a Disordered Insertion Necessary for Interaction with the α4β1 Integrin*

The extracellular matrix protein EMILIN1 (elastin microfibril interface located protein 1) is implicated in maintaining blood pressure homeostasis via the N-terminal elastin microfibril interface domain and in trophoblast invasion of the uterine wall via the globular C1q (gC1q) domain. Here, we describe the first NMR-based homology model structure of the human 52-kDa homotrimer of the EMILIN1 gC1q domain. In contrast to all of the gC1q (crystal) structures solved to date, the 10-stranded β-sandwich fold of the gC1q domain is reduced to nine β strands with a consequent increase in the size of the central cavity lumen. An unstructured loop, resulting from an insertion unique to EMILIN1 and EMILIN2 family members and located at the trimer apex upstream of the missing strand, specifically engages the α4β1 integrin. Using both Jurkat T and EA.hy926 endothelial cells as well as site-directed mutagenesis, we demonstrate that the ability of α4β1 integrins to recognize the trimeric EMILIN1 gC1q domain mainly depends on a single glutamic acid residue (Glu933). Static and flow adhesion of T cells and haptotactic migration of endothelial cells on gC1q is fully dependent on this residue. Thus, EMILIN1 gC1q-α4β1 represents a unique ligand/receptor system, with a requirement for a 3-fold arrangement of the interaction site.
Chemical structure and biodegradability of halogenated aromatic compounds. Two catechol 1,2-dioxygenases from a 3-chlorobenzoate-grown pseudomonad.

1. Two catechol 1,2-dioxygenases, pyrocatechase I and pyrocatechase II, were found in 3-chlorobenzoate-grown cells of Pseudomonas sp. B 13. The latter enzyme showed high relative activities with 3- and 4-chlorocatechol compared with catechol. 2. In benzoate-grown cells, only pyrocatechase I was induced. It was purified 29-fold with a final specific activity of 20 mumol of catechol oxygenated/min per mg of protein and an overall yield of 22%. Because of the instability of pyrocatechase II on chromatography and dialysis, no increase of specific activity was obtained during the purification experiments. 3. Molecular weights of pyrocatechase I and pyrocatechase II were 82000 and 67000 respectively. 4. For both pyrocatechases the pH optimum was found to be at 8.0. 5. Inhibitions of the two pyrocatechases by Cu2+ and Hg2+ ions and p-chloromercuribenzoate were different. The effect on pyrocatechase I after incubation for 20 h with the heavy metals was decreased by addition of 1 mM-2-mercaptoethanol to the reaction mixture. The inhibition of pyrocatechase II was even enhanced under these conditions. 6. Extradiol cleavage of 3-methylcatechol in addition to intradiol fission at a ratio of 1:14 was observed only with pyrocatechase I.
Phloem-Specific Expression of the Tobacco Mosaic Virus Movement Protein Alters Carbon Metabolism and Partitioning in Transgenic Potato Plants

The tobacco mosaic virus movement protein (TMV-MP) has pleiotropic effects when expressed in transgenic tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) plants. In addition to its ability to increase the plasmodesmal size-exclusion limit, the TMV-MP alters carbohydrate metabolism in source leaves and dry matter partitioning between the various plant organs. In the present study the TMV-MP was expressed under the control of a phloem-specific promoter (rolC), and this system was employed to further explore the potential sites at which the TMV-MP exerts its influence over carbon metabolism and transport in transgenic potato (Solanum tuberosum) plants. Immunohistochemical analyses indicated that the TMV-MP was localized mainly to phloem parenchyma and companion cells. Starch and sucrose accumulated in source leaves of these plants to significantly higher levels compared with control potato lines. In addition, the rate of sucrose efflux from excised petioles was lower compared with control plants. Furthermore, under short-day conditions, carbon partitioning was lower to the roots and higher to tubers in rolC plants compared with controls. These results are discussed in terms of the mode(s) by which the TMV-MP exerts its influence over carbon metabolism and photoassimilate translocation.
Implant Design Affects Knee Arthroplasty Kinematics during Stair-stepping

Knee implant motions have a direct influence on patient function and implant longevity. The purpose of this study was to determine if there were consistent differences in knee motions among three groups of knee implants. Two hundred thirteen knees in 173 patients, with 25 implant designs, were studied using fluoroscopy during stair-stepping. All knee implants were assigned to one of three groups based on the design: fixed-bearing posterior-stabilized, fixed-bearing posterior cruciate-retaining, and mobile-bearing. All types of implants had the same pattern of internal/external rotations, but different designs had different anteroposterior translations. Seventy-five percent of posterior-stabilized knee implants had a medial center of rotation, indicating posterior femoral translation with flexion. Sixty-three percent of cruciate-retaining fixed-bearing knee implants had a lateral center of rotation. Eighty-six percent of mobile-bearing knee implants had a lateral center of rotation, indicating anterior femoral translation with flexion. Knee motion in patients with successful total knee arthroplasties is related directly to the constraints of the implant design.
[Lobectomy versus limited resection to treat non-small cell lung cancer in stage I: a study of 78 cases].

OBJECTIVE To compare mortality and loco-regional recurrence rates in patients treated surgically for stage I non-small cell lung cancer by either lobectomy or sublobar lung resection (pulmonary wedge) from 1994 to 1998. PATIENTS AND METHODS Seventy-eight patients who underwent lung resection for stage I non-small cell lung cancer from January 1994 to December 1998 were reviewed retrospectively. Fifty patients underwent lobectomy and 28 limited resection (pulmonary wedge). We reviewed oncologic history, tumor histology, loco-regional recurrence and tumor-related mortality during the follow-up period. RESULTS Histology, lobectomies: 36 (72%) squamous cell carcinomas, 12 (24%) adenocarcinomas and 2 (4%) large cell carcinomas. Histology, wedge resection: 12 (42.8%) squamous cell carcinomas and 16 (57.2%) adenocarcinomas. Staging, lobectomies: 15 Ia (30%) and 35 Ib (70%). Staging, wedge resections: 16 Ia (57.2%) and 12 Ib (42.8%). Loco-regional recurrence: lobectomies 9 (18%) and wedge resections 4 (14.3%) plus 1 remote metastasis (3.6%). Mortality during follow-up: lobectomies 8 (16%) and wedge resections 4 (14.3%). Accumulated survival rate (in months): lobectomies 62.38 and wedge resections 63.92. The rates of loco-regional recurrence and accumulated survival in the two groups were not significantly different. CONCLUSIONS The rates of loco-regional recurrence and accumulated survival in this study agree with those from other retrospective studies. We found no statistically significant differences between patients undergoing lobectomy and those undergoing sublobar resection. Wedge resection is an appropriate technique for patients with stage I non-small cell lung cancer who can not tolerate lobectomy.
From Ostpolitik to ‘frostpolitik’? Merkel, Putin and German foreign policy towards Russia

Germany's relationship with Russia has historically been one of the most crucial in shaping Europe's fate. Despite radical transformation in the nature of European Great Power politics, it continues to be pertinent from the perspective of today's world. Germany's willingness to establish good relations with the Soviet Union in the late 1960s—its emphasis on economic relations and cooperation instead of political disagreements—prepared the ground for the end of the Cold War and German unification twenty years later. Germany's basic policy towards Russia remained broadly unchanged despite German unification and changes in the domestic political coalitions and leadership, sometimes against political expectations. In the European context, Germany's attitude towards Russia created the backbone of EU–Russia relations. During 2012–13, however, the continuity in Germany's policy towards Russia was seen as having come to an end. Political twists came to the fore and the atmosphere was loaded with tensions, made worse by the Ukrainian crisis. This article reviews the recent, alleged changes in Germany's policy towards Russia during the Merkel era. It asks two basic questions: first, whether Germany's policy really has changed and if it has, what are the theoretical tools that give us the best potential understanding of these changes? The article argues that the policy has changed, but not as dramatically as made out by some headlines. Moreover, the article suggests that a key element in analysing the degree of change in Germany's policy towards Russia is neither the external power relations nor domestic politics and related changes in the prevailing interpretation of national interest, though these are important too, but the interaction between the leaders and foreign policy elites.
Schumpeter and the Micro-foundations of Endogenous Growth

This chapter traces the idea that technological change is endogenous to microeconomic roots considerably earlier than those emphasized in the "new" macroeconomic theories of economic growth. Building upon contributions by Richard Nelson, Jacob Schmookler, F.M. Scherer, and Yoram Barzel, it presents a lean model of how incentives for technological innovation arise endogenously from the interplay of changes in knowledge and demand. Paradoxes attributable to monopoly, parallel but independent technical initiatives, uncertainty, and the divergence between social and private benefits are resolved. A simulation analysis explores the implications of skew stochastic payoff distributions for the optimal number of R&D approaches.