Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
p-adic monodromy of the ordinary locus of Picard moduli scheme

P -ADIC MONODROMY OF THE ORDINARY LOCUS OF PICARD MODULI SCHEME Dong Uk Lee Ching-Li Chai Let E be an imaginary quadratic number field, p be a rational prime splitting in OE and m,n be distinct natural numbers. The naive p-adic monodromy of the ordinary locus of the good reduction of a Shimura variety of U(m, n) type over F̄p is a subgroup of GLm(Zp)×GLn(Zp). In this paper, we prove that for any point in the basic locus of the moduli space, the local monodromy is an open subgroup of GLm(Zp)×GLn(Zp). From this local information, the global p-adic monodromy is shown to be as big as possible, i.e. GLm(Zp)×GLn(Zp).
A Rule-Based Controller to Mitigate DC-Side Second-Order Harmonic Current in a Single-Phase Boost Inverter

Single conversion stage DC/AC boost inverters are an attractive solution when integrating energy storage devices, such as a battery, fuel cell, or supercapacitor to a single-phase AC grid. However, a second-order harmonic current ripple appears at the DC side of the inverter increasing the internal heat and losses in the energy storage device and degrading its lifetime. In this paper, a rule-based controller is proposed to reduce such harmonic current ripple component. A key feature and advantage of the proposed controller is its ability to reduce the ripple current amplitude in all four inverter output power operating quadrants without being affected by the capacitor tolerances and the internal resistance of the inductors. Presented experimental results validate the performance of the proposed controller on a single-phase grid-connected DC/AC boost inverter-based battery energy storage system.
Termination of endothelin signaling: Role of nitric oxide

Cellular mechanisms responsible for the termination of ET‐1 signal are poorly understood. In order to examine the hypothesis that nitric oxide serves as a physiological brake of ET‐ 1 signaling, Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells stably transfected with the ETA receptor cDNA (CHO‐ET) were studied. CHO‐ET responded to ET‐1 with robust [Ca2+], transients and developed a long‐lasting homologous desensitization. Donors of nitric oxide (NO), 3‐morpholino‐sydnonimine HCl(SIN‐1), or sodium nitroprusside (SNP) reduced the amplitude of these responses, accelerated the rate of [Ca2+], recovery, and counteracted the development of homologous desensitization by a cyclic GMP‐independent mechanism, suggesting an alternative mode for NO modulation of ET‐1 responses. Stimulation of CHO‐ET cells with mastoparan, a wasp venom acting directly on G proteins (bypassing receptor activation), was inhibited by NO, revealing a postreceptoral target for NO‐induced modulation of [Ca2+] mobilization. Using a lys9‐biotinylated ET‐1 (ET‐1 [BtK9]), binding sites were “mapped” in CHO‐ET cells. Receptor‐ligand complexes did not exhibit spontaneous dissociation during 60min observations. Quantitative fluorescence microscopy revealed that SNP or SIN‐1 caused a rapid, concentration‐dependent, and reversible dissociation of biotinylated ET‐ 1 from ETA receptor (EC50 = 75 μM and 6 μM, respectively), an effect that was not mimicked by 8‐bromo‐cyclic GMP. “Sandwich” co‐culture of endothelial cells with CHO‐ET showed that activation of NO production by endothelial cells similarly resulted in dissociation of ET‐1 [BtK9] from ETA receptors. We hypothesize that NO plays a role in physiological termination of ET‐1 signalling by dual mechanisms: (1) displacement of bound ET‐1 from its receptor, thus preventing homologous desensitization, and (2) interference with the postreceptoral pathway for [Ca2+] mobilization, hence inhibiting end‐responses to ET‐1. © 1994 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Envy-Free Cake-Cutting among Families

This paper extends the classic cake-cutting problem to a situation in which the "cake" is divided among families. Each piece of cake is owned and used simultaneously by all members of the family. A typical example of such a cake is land. We examine three ways to assess the fairness of such a division, based on the classic no-envy criterion: (a) Average envy-freeness means that for each family, the average value of its share (averaged over all family members) is weakly larger than the average value of any other share; (b) Unanimous envy-freeness means that in each family, each member values the family's share weakly more than any other share; (c) Democratic envy-freeness means that in each family, at least half the members value the family's share weakly more than any other share. We study each of these definitions from both an existential and a computational perspective.
Noninvasive imaging of carotid plaque inflammation

Ischemic stroke occurs as a result of thromboembolism from ruptured carotid atheromatous plaques.1,2⇓ Histologic data from coronary atherosclerosis has suggested that plaque rupture may be predictable by thinness of fibrous caps that overlie large necrotic lipid cores and by the presence of large numbers of active macrophages.3 Therefore, identification of such “vulnerable” plaques has the potential to offer early aggressive pharmacotherapy, refine patient selection for surgery, and identify asymptomatic subjects thought to be at high risk of atherosclerosis based on risk factor assessment. High-resolution MRI of the carotid bifurcation has demonstrated that the fibrous cap and lipid core components can be identified using a multisequence algorithm4 and that such a technique may form the basis for automated classification of the diseased vessel.5 However, these techniques only provide structural and morphologic plaque characteristics. Invasive studies using …
Topical administration of dual siRNAs using fusogenic lipid nanoparticles for treating psoriatic-like plaques.

AIM Psoriasis is a chronic autoimmune skin disorder with substantial negative impact on the patient's quality of life. The present study was carried out to demonstrate the efficiency of a novel topical delivery system in the transport of two siRNAs for the treatment of psoriatic-like plaques. MATERIALS & METHODS We designed and developed a novel fusogenic nucleic acid lipid particle (F-NALP) system containing two therapeutic nucleic acids, anti-STAT3 siRNA (siSTAT3) and anti-TNF-α siRNA (siTNF-α). Novel cationic amphiphilic lipid with oleyl chains was synthesized and used in the nanocarrier system. Therapeutic efficacies of F-NALPs were assessed using an imiquimod-induced psoriatic-like plaque model. RESULTS Hydrodynamic size and surface potential of F-NALPs were 102 ± 6 nm and 32.14 ± 6.21 mV, respectively. F-NALPs delivered fluorescein isothiocyanate-siRNA to a skin depth of 360 µm. F-NALPs carrying siSTAT3 and siTNF-α significantly (p < 0.05) reduced expression of STAT3 and TNF-α mRNAs and IL-23 and Ki-67 proteins compared with solution, and was superior in comparison with Topgraf(®) (GlaxoSmithKline Pharmaceuticals Limited, Maharashtra, India). CONCLUSION Our observations demonstrate that F-NALPs can efficiently carry siSTAT3 and siTNF-α into the dermis and combination of the two nucleic acids can synergistically treat psoriatic-like plaques.
Resistance of retinal ganglion cells to an increase in intraocular pressure is immune-dependent.

PURPOSE Glaucoma is widely accepted as a neurodegenerative disease in which retinal ganglion cell (RGC) loss is initiated by a primary insult to the optic nerve head, caused, for example, by increased intraocular pressure (IOP). In some cases, the surviving RGCs, despite adequate IOP control, may continue to degenerate as a result of their heightened susceptibility to self-destructive processes evoked by the initial damage. In animal models of mechanical or biochemical injury to the optic nerve or retina, a T-cell-mediated immune response evoked by the insult helps to reduce this ongoing loss. The current study was conducted to find out whether the ability to resist the IOP-induced loss of RGCs in a rat model is affected by the immune system. METHODS The ocular veins and limbal plexus of rats of two strains differing in their resistance to experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) and in their ability to manifest a beneficial autoimmune response were laser irradiated twice to induce an increase in IOP. The pressure was measured weekly, and RGC losses were assessed 3 and 6 weeks after the first irradiation. To verify the existence of a relationship between the immune system and RGC survival, we assessed neuronal survival in Sprague-Dawley (SPD) rats devoid of mature T cells as well as after transferring splenocytes from Fisher rats, an EAE-resistant rat strain capable of manifesting T-cell-mediated neuroprotection, to rats of a major histocompatibility complex (MHC)-matched EAE-susceptible strain (Lewis), in which the ability to manifest such protective immunity is limited. RESULTS Both 3 and 6 weeks after the increase in IOP was initiated, the number of surviving RGCs in SPD rats, a strain in which a beneficial autoimmune response can be evoked spontaneously, was significantly higher than in Lewis rats. Moreover, in SPD rats that were thymectomized at birth, the number of surviving RGCs after an increase in IOP as adults was significantly diminished. Passive transfer of splenocytes from Fisher rats to Lewis rats significantly reduced the IOP-induced loss of RGCs in the latter. CONCLUSIONS In rats of different strains, a similar increase in IOP results in differing amounts of RGC loss. This disparity was found to correlate with immune potency. These findings may explain why patients with glaucoma experience different degrees of visual loss after pressure reduction, even when the severity of the disease at the time of diagnosis is similar. The results have far-reaching prognostic and therapeutic implications.
Identification and cardiotropic actions of sulfakinin peptides in the American lobster Homarus americanus

SUMMARY In arthropods, a group of peptides possessing a– Y(SO3H)GHM/LRFamide carboxy-terminal motif have been collectively termed the sulfakinins. Sulfakinin isoforms have been identified from numerous insect species. In contrast, members of this peptide family have thus far been isolated from just two crustaceans, the penaeid shrimp Penaeus monodon and Litopenaeus vannamei. Here, we report the identification of a cDNA encoding prepro-sulfakinin from the American lobster Homarus americanus. Two sulfakinin-like sequences were identified within the open-reading frame of the cDNA. Based on modifications predicted by peptide modeling programs, and on homology to the known isoforms of sulfakinin, particularly those from shrimp, the mature H. americanus sulfakinins were hypothesized to be pEFDEY(SO3H)GHMRFamide (Hoa-SK I) and GGGEY(SO3H)DDY(SO3H)GHLRFamide (Hoa-SK II). Hoa-SK I is identical to one of the previously identified shrimp sulfakinins, while Hoa-SK II is a novel isoform. Exogenous application of either synthetic Hoa-SK I or Hoa-SK II to the isolated lobster heart increased both the frequency and amplitude of spontaneous heart contractions. In preparations in which spontaneous contractions were irregular, both peptides increased the regularity of the heartbeat. Our study provides the first molecular characterization of a sulfakinin-encoding cDNA from a crustacean, as well as the first demonstration of bioactivity for native sulfakinins in this group of arthropods.
Different Mechanisms of Increased Luminal Stenosis After Arterial Injury in Mice Deficient for Urokinase- or Tissue-Type Plasminogen Activator

Background—Tissue-type plasminogen activator (tPA) and urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) are thought to play critical roles in vascular remodeling after injury, with tPA mediating intravascular clot lysis and uPA modulating cell migration within the vessel wall. In human vascular disease, however, thrombus organization and neointimal formation are closely interrelated processes. This study examines the differential roles of tPA and uPA in these processes in mice. Methods and Results—Carotid artery injury and thrombosis were induced in wild-type (WT), uPA-deficient (uPA−/−), and tPA-deficient (tPA−/−) mice with the use of ferric chloride. The expression of uPA and tPA was significantly upregulated in the vessel wall of WT mice 1 week after injury, and compared with WT mice, uPA−/− and tPA−/− mice had lower carotid patency rates after injury. At 3 weeks, only 55% of uPA−/− mouse vessels were patent compared with 81% in tPA−/− mice and 100% in WT mice (P =0.014). Morphometric analysis of injured arterial segments revealed severe luminal stenosis (62±28%) in uPA−/− mice compared with their tPA−/− (16±12%) and WT (6.3±3.6%, P <0.001) counterparts. Moreover, although the vascular walls of WT mice and, particularly, tPA−/− mice developed a cell-rich multilayered neointima and media, the lumen of uPA−/− vessels remained obstructed with acellular unorganized thrombotic material, and their medial areas did not expand. Conclusions—These results indicate that the roles of uPA and tPA in the arterial response to injury are different and more complex than previously assumed and emphasize the critical role of thrombus organization and resolution in neointimal formation and vascular pathology.
Immunohistochemical detection of EGFR, fibrillin‐2, P‐cadherin and AP2β as biomarkers for rhabdomyosarcoma diagnostics

Aims: Subclassification of rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) has clinical relevance, as the two major subclasses embryonal (ERMS) and alveolar (ARMS) rhabdomyosarcoma differ greatly in terms of aggressiveness and prognosis. However, histological analysis is not always sufficient for an unequivocal subclassification of RMS. Furthermore, clinical presentation of ARMS has been reported to mimic other tumour types, specifically lymphoma. The aim was to determine the role of four biomarkers in the diagnosis of rhabdomyosarcoma.
Intracellular imaging of host‐pathogen interactions using combined CARS and two‐photon fluorescence microscopies

Intracellular imaging is a key tool in the investigation of host‐pathogen interactions. Advances in this area are particularly sought to understand the effect of viral infection processes on the host cell and its metabolic functions including those cases where host cell lipid metabolism is modulated as a result of infection. We demonstrate the use of combined coherent anti‐Stokes Raman scattering (CARS) and two‐photon fluorescence microscopies to image fibroblast cells infected by cytomegalovirus. CARS is used to image the host cell membrane, lipid droplets and morphology of the nucleus. Cell nuclei are found to expand during infection, approximately doubling in area. Some cells also show accumulations of lipid droplets at the nuclear periphery. Using a genetically modified virus strain expressing the green fluorescent protein also enables two‐photon imaging of the same cells to reveal the location, nature and extent of viral protein expression. (© 2010 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Effects of Curing Condition on the Surface Characteristics of Two-pack Polyurethane Coatings Containing Low Surface Energy Additive

To investigate the effects of curing condition on the surface characteristics of polyurethane coatings, the prepared coatings had undergone different curing conditions in which the rate of solvents evaporation differed. Differential scanning calorimeter, Fourier transform infrared spectroscope, atomic force microscope, and contact angle measurement system were used to characterize the coating solution as well as the cured coatings. The results showed that the curing condition substantially influenced the samples’ surface morphology and can be used as a parameter for precise engineering of surface pattern. The highest contact angle of 103° was obtained for the ambient cured sample.
Residues on Both Faces of the First Immunoglobulin Fold Contribute to Homophilic Binding Sites of PECAM-1/CD31*

CD31 (PECAM-1) is a member of the immunoglobulin superfamily whose extracellular domain is comprised of six immunoglobulin-like domains. It is widely expressed on endothelium, platelets, around 50% of lymphocytes, and cells of myeloid lineage. CD31 has been shown to be involved in interendothelial adhesion and leukocyte-endothelial interactions, particularly during transmigration. CD31-mediated adhesion is complex, because CD31 is capable of mediating both homophilic and multiple heterophilic adhesive interactions. Here we show that the NH2-terminal (membrane-distal) immunoglobulin domain of CD31 is necessary but not sufficient to support stable homophilic adhesion. Key residues forming the binding site within this domain have been identified by analysis of 26 single point mutations, representing the most systematic analysis of a fully homophilic interaction between immunoglobulin superfamily family members to date. This revealed five mutations that affect homophilic binding. Uniquely, the residues involved are exposed on both faces of the immunoglobulin fold, leading us to propose a novel mechanism for CD31 homophilic adhesion.
Order-Revealing Encryption: New Constructions, Applications, and Lower Bounds

In the last few years, there has been significant interest in developing methods to search over encrypted data. In the case of range queries, a simple solution is to encrypt the contents of the database using an order-preserving encryption (OPE) scheme (i.e., an encryption scheme that supports comparisons over encrypted values). However, Naveed et al. (CCS 2015) recently showed that OPE-encrypted databases are extremely vulnerable to "inference attacks. " In this work, we consider a related primitive called order-revealing encryption (ORE), which is a generalization of OPE that allows for stronger security. We begin by constructing a new ORE scheme for small message spaces which achieves the "best-possible" notion of security for ORE. Next, we introduce a "domain extension" technique and apply it to our small-message-space ORE. While our domain-extension technique does incur a loss in security, the resulting ORE scheme we obtain is more secure than all existing (stateless and non-interactive) OPE and ORE schemes which are practical. All of our constructions rely only on symmetric primitives. As part of our analysis, we also give a tight lower bound for OPE and show that no efficient OPE scheme can satisfy best-possible security if the message space contains just three messages. Thus, achieving strong notions of security for even small message spaces requires moving beyond OPE. Finally, we examine the properties of our new ORE scheme and show how to use it to construct an efficient range query protocol that is robust against the inference attacks of Naveed et al. We also give a full implementation of our new ORE scheme, and show that not only is our scheme more secure than existing OPE schemes, it is also faster: encrypting a 32-bit integer requires just 55 microseconds, which is more than 65 times faster than existing OPE schemes.
Replicating Rather than Nonreplicating Adenovirus-Human Immunodeficiency Virus Recombinant Vaccines Are Better at Eliciting Potent Cellular Immunity and Priming High-Titer Antibodies

ABSTRACT A major challenge in combating the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) epidemic is the development of vaccines capable of inducing potent, persistent cellular immunity and broadly reactive neutralizing antibody responses to HIV type 1 (HIV-1). We report here the results of a preclinical trial using the chimpanzee model to investigate a combination vaccine strategy involving sequential priming immunizations with different serotypes of adenovirus (Ad)/HIV-1MNenv/rev recombinants and boosting with an HIV envelope subunit protein, oligomeric HIVSF162 gp140ΔV2. The immunogenicities of replicating and nonreplicating Ad/HIV-1MNenv/rev recombinants were compared. Replicating Ad/HIV recombinants were better at eliciting HIV-specific cellular immune responses and better at priming humoral immunity against HIV than nonreplicating Ad-HIV recombinants carrying the same gene insert. Enhanced cellular immunity was manifested by a greater frequency of HIV envelope-specific gamma interferon-secreting peripheral blood lymphocytes and better priming of T-cell proliferative responses. Enhanced humoral immunity was seen in higher anti-envelope binding and neutralizing antibody titers and better induction of antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity. More animals primed with replicating Ad recombinants mounted neutralizing antibodies against heterologous R5 viruses after one or two booster immunizations with the mismatched oligomeric HIV-1SF162 gp140ΔV2 protein. These results support continued development of the replicating Ad-HIV recombinant vaccine approach and suggest that the use of replicating vectors for other vaccines may prove fruitful.
Polypharmacy: A Case Report and New Protocol for Management

Background: Polypharmacy is an important issue in primary care, yet few data are available concerning its prevalence, complications, and management in clinical medicine. The following case illustrates the clinical perils of polypharmacy and serves as a point for critical discussion. Methods: MEDLINE was searched, using the key word “polypharmacy” from 1994 to the present. A case report of polypharmacy is described, and a novel protocol for the management of polypharmacy is proposed. Results: Polypharmacy can lead to unnecessary expense, wasted time, and embarrassment on the part of the patient and confusion and mismanagement on the part of the physician. The literature reveals controversy surrounding the definition of polypharmacy and reflects the considerable morbidity and expense associated with polypharmacy. Finally, the SAIL protocol shows that physicians need to keep in mind simplicity, adverse effects, indications, and a precise list of all medications to manage appropriately a patient's drug regimen. Conclusions: Polypharmacy is associated with morbidity and iatrogenic complications. The SAIL protocol can be a useful tool in the management of this entity. More research needs to be done on the prevalence, complications, and management of polypharmacy.
Biomechanics of the musculo-skeletal system

BIOMATERIALS: Bone Articular Cartilage Ligament Tendon Muscle Joints MEASURING TECHNIQUES: Force Acceleration Optical Methods Strain Measurement EMG Inertial Properties of the Human or Animal Body MODELLING: General Comments About Modelling The Free Body Diagram Mathematically Determinate Systems Mathematically Indeterminate Systems General Considerations on Determinate and Indeterminate Systems Energy Considerations Simulation.
The EQ-5D-5L health status questionnaire in COPD: validity, responsiveness and minimum important difference

Background The EQ-5D, a generic health status questionnaire that is widely used in health economic evaluation, was recently expanded to the EQ-5D-5L to address criticisms of unresponsiveness and ceiling effect. Aims To describe the validity, responsiveness and minimum important difference of the EQ-5D-5L in COPD. Methods Study 1: The validity of the EQ-5D-5L utility index and visual analogue scale (EQ-VAS) was compared with four established disease-specific health status questionnaires and other measures of disease severity in 616 stable outpatients with COPD. Study 2: The EQ-5D-5L utility index and EQ-VAS were measured in 324 patients with COPD before and after 8 weeks of pulmonary rehabilitation. Distribution and anchor-based approaches were used to estimate the minimum important difference. Results There were moderate-to-strong correlations between utility index and EQ-VAS with disease-specific questionnaires (Pearson's r=0.47–0.72). A ceiling effect was seen in 7% and 2.6% of utility index and EQ-VAS. Utility index decreased (worsening health status) with indices of worsening disease severity. With rehabilitation, mean (95% CI) changes in utility index and EQ-VAS were 0.065 (0.047 to 0.083) and 8.6 (6.5 to 10.7), respectively, with standardised response means of 0.39 and 0.44. The mean (range) anchor estimates of the minimum important difference for utility index and EQ-VAS were 0.051 (0.037 to 0.063) and 6.9 (6.5 to 8.0), respectively. Conclusions The EQ-5D-5L is a valid and responsive measure of health status in COPD and may provide useful additional cost-effectiveness data in clinical trials.