Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Design and characterization of a new hybrid peptide from LL-37 and BMAP-27

Background and purpose: The world is heading to a post-antibiotic era where the treatment of bacterial infections will not be possible even with well-known last-line antibiotics. Unfortunately, the emergence of multidrug resistant bacterial strains is uncontrollable, and the humanity will face a life-threatening fate unless new antimicrobial agents with new bacterial target sites are promptly developed. Herein, we design a hybrid antimicrobial peptide (B1) from helical parts taken from the parent peptides: LL-37 and BMAP-27. The purpose of this design is to improve the potency and enhance the toxicity profile of the parent peptides. Methods: Rational design was used to hybridize two antimicrobial peptides, in which two helical parts from the bovine analog BMAP-27, and the human cathelicidin LL-37 were used to generate a novel peptide (B1). The physicochemical properties were checked using in silico methods. The antimicrobial activities were tested against nine control and resistant strains of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. On the other hand, the antibiofilm activities were tested against four resistant strains. The cytotoxicity on mammalian cells was tested using HEK293, and the hemolysis activity was also investigated on human blood. Finally, synergistic studies were performed with four conventional antibiotics against four resistant strains of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. Results: The new peptide B1 exhibited broad-spectrum activities against all tested strains. The concentration against planktonic cells ranged between 10 and 20 µM. However, 40–60 µM were needed to eradicate the biofilms. B1 showed reduced toxicity toward mammalian cells with minimal hemolysis risk. On the other hand, the synergistic studies showed improved activities for the combined conventional antibiotics with a huge reduction in their minimum inhibitory concentration values. The concentrations of B1 peptide combined with the tested antibiotics were also decreased markedly down to 0.5 µM in some cases. Conclusion: B1 is a hybrid peptide from two cathelicidin peptides. It showed an improved activity compared to parent peptides. The hybridization was successful in this study. It generated a new potent broad-spectrum antimicrobial. The toxicity profile was improved, and the synergism with the convention antibiotics showed promising results.
Effects of Aging, Skill Modification, and Demand Alternation on Multiple- Task Performance

The magnitude of age effects in single- and dual-tasks may be affected by the degree to which performance depends on well-learned skills that were previously developed. In addition, age-effects may be affected by the requirement to modify these skills and by attentional requirements emerging from the mutual relation of subtasks. Effects of skill modification and emergent attentional processes were examined in an experiment in which experienced subjects performed two perceptual-motor tasks, a vehicle steering task and car-following task in a driving simulator. Car-following was performed under two conditions of familiarity, determining whether or not a normal psychomotor routine had to be modified. In dual-task performance, the demand of sub tasks was constant or alternating in counterphase. In general, the older subjects' performance did not differ from that of their younger counterparts, except when the single- or dual-task involved routine modification in car-following. Dual-task costs were basically manifested in the car-following task. Post hoc interpretations of the data indicated that the results were not completely consistent with the complexity hypothesis.
A remuneração de capital nas telecomunicações e o novo contexto regulatório brasileiro [The remuneration of capital in the telecommunications and the new Brazilian regulatory context]

In this paper we discuss the several aspects involved in the determination of the cost of capital of the telecommunications industry in Brazil. The cost of capital determination for regulated industries is extremely important, both to regulators and firms, since through the pertinent rate of return it becomes possible to maintain the sustainability and expansion of the public service.
Long-Term Deficits Following Cerebral Hypoxia–Ischemia in Four-Week-Old Rats: Correspondence between Behavioral, Histological, and Magnetic Resonance Imaging Assessments

We examined whether following a hypoxic-ischemic insult in young animals there are long-lasting functional deficits that correlate either to histological tissue damage or to potential compensatory plasticity changes. Four-week-old rats were subjected to an episode of cerebral hypoxia-ischemia (right carotid artery occlusion + 30 min of hypoxia) or a sham operation. In hypoxic-ischemic animals there were gross neurological deficits 1, 24, and 48 h postinsult with recovery by 1 week. Behavioral deficits were observed in both the acquisition and the performance of a response duration differentiation test and a fine motor control test (staircase test) 3 months after the hypoxia-ischemia. Functional magnetic resonance imaging studies demonstrated less activation in the sensory-motor cortex of hypoxic-ischemic animals in response to left vs right forepaw stimulation 4 months postinsult. Histological assessment delineated striatal, cortical, and hippocampal damage in the hypoxic-ischemic hemisphere and a reduction in cortical thickness, bilaterally. GFAP immunoreactivity was increased in injured striatum and cortex. Neurofilament heavy chain (NF200) immunoreactivity was normally most intense in white matter and decreased in areas of ipsilateral cortical damage. Synaptophysin immunoreactivity was reduced around areas of infarction and somewhat increased in adjacent undamaged striatum and in layer IV of parietal cortex. The histological damage or chronic degenerative changes could account for much of the variance in functional outcome detected with sensitive behavioral tests so that overall the compensatory or plasticity changes evident within the juvenile brain are rather modest.
Functional brain dynamic analysis of ADHD and control children using nonlinear dynamical features of EEG signals

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder is a neurodevelopmental condition associated with varying levels of hyperactivity, inattention, and impulsivity. This study investigates brain function in children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder using measures of nonlinear dynamics in EEG signals during rest. During eyes-closed resting, 19 channel EEG signals were recorded from 12 ADHD and 12 normal age-matched children. We used the multifractal singularity spectrum, the largest Lyapunov exponent, and approximate entropy to quantify the chaotic nonlinear dynamics of these EEG signals. As confirmed by Wilcoxon rank sum test, largest Lyapunov exponent over left frontal-central cortex exhibited a significant difference between ADHD and the age-matched control groups. Further, mean approximate entropy was significantly lower in ADHD subjects in prefrontal cortex. The singularity spectrum was also considerably altered in ADHD compared to control children. Evaluation of these features was performed by two classifiers: a Support Vector Machine and a Radial Basis Function Neural Network. For better comparison, subject classification based on frequency band power was assessed using the same types of classifiers. Nonlinear features provided better discrimination between ADHD and control than band power features. Under four-fold cross validation testing, support vector machine gave 83.33% accurate classification results.
An O antigen can interfere with the function of the Yersinia pseudotuberculosis invasin protein

Escherichia coli strains harbouring the Yersinia pseudotuberculosis inv gene are able to enter cultured mammalial cells. We show here that this property is not shared by all enteric bacteria, since Shigella flexneri 2a cured of its virulence‐associated plasmid and harbouring the inv gene is unable to enter mammalian cells efficiently. Mapping studies showed that the region of the chromosome responsible for this phenotype includes rfaB, a locus involved in the production of O antigen. S. flexneri 2a strains that express O antigen were unable to enter mammalian cells, even though invasin was efficiently expressed and localized, showing that this structure interferes with invasin activity. The O antigen either masks invasin or sterically hinders the ability of the mammalian cell receptor to bind this protein.
The Role of Income Effects in Early Retirement: Income Effects in Early Retirement

We provide a long-term perspective on the individual retirement behavior and on the future of retirement by emphasizing the role of (negative) income effects. We consider a political economic theoretical framework, with actuarially “fair” and “unfair” early retirement schemes, and derive a political equilibrium with positive social security contribution rates and early retirement. A reduction in the wages in youth, consistent with the recent labor market trends since the massive introduction of temporary jobs, induces workers to postpone retirement, and—in the “unfair” system—leads to lower contribution rates. A reduction in the growth rate of the economy has opposite effects on the retirement decisions, leading—in the “unfair” system—to more early retirement. Aging induces a negative income effect, but has also an opposite political effect on social security contributions and retirement decisions. For an actuarially “fair” social security system, we provide conditions for the political effect José Ignacio Conde-Ruiz, Fundación de Estudios de Economı́a Aplicada (FEDEA), C/ Jorge Juan, 46, 28001 Madrid, Spain (conde-ruiz@fedea.es). Vincenzo Galasso, Università della Svizzera Italiana, Institute of Economics and CEPRA, Via Buffi 13, 6900 Lugano, Switzerland (vincenzo.galasso@usi.ch). Paola Profeta, Università Bocconi, via Röntgen 1, 20136 Milano, Italy (paola.profeta@unibocconi.it). We thank G. Casamatta, M. Padula, P. Poutvaara, participants at the Fourth CEPR/RTN workshop “Financing Retirement in Europe” at CORE, Louvain-la-Neuve, and at the CEBR/CESifo conference on “Pension Reform” in Copenhagen. Szabolcs Deak provided excellent research assistance. All remaining errors are ours. Financial support from Fundacion Ramon Areces and Fundacion BBVA is gratefully acknowledged. Received September 24, 2010; Accepted June 1, 2011. C © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Journal of Public Economic Theory, 15 (3), 2013, pp. 477–505.
A hard (metal) case: Value of analytical scanning electron microscopy

ABSTRACT Exposure to hard metal (tungsten carbide) dust is a rare cause of interstitial lung disease. Although most cases have a distinctive morphology known as giant cell interstitial pneumonitis, other patterns have been described as well. In such cases, the true nature of the interstitial process may be difficult to recognize. We present a case with unusual morphological features in which analytical scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to detect the presence of tungsten as well as other metallic particles. A combination of careful exposure history and examination by analytical SEM is useful for arriving at the correct diagnosis in such difficult cases.
Systematic analysis of protein identity between Zika virus and other arthropod-borne viruses

Abstract Objective To analyse the proportions of protein identity between Zika virus and dengue, Japanese encephalitis, yellow fever, West Nile and chikungunya viruses as well as polymorphism between different Zika virus strains. Methods We used published protein sequences for the Zika virus and obtained protein sequences for the other viruses from the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) protein database or the NCBI virus variation resource. We used BLASTP to find regions of identity between viruses. We quantified the identity between the Zika virus and each of the other viruses, as well as within-Zika virus polymorphism for all amino acid k-mers across the proteome, with k ranging from 6 to 100. We assessed accessibility of protein fragments by calculating the solvent accessible surface area for the envelope and nonstructural-1 (NS1) proteins. Findings In total, we identified 294 Zika virus protein fragments with both low proportion of identity with other viruses and low levels of polymorphisms among Zika virus strains. The list includes protein fragments from all Zika virus proteins, except NS3. NS4A has the highest number (190 k-mers) of protein fragments on the list. Conclusion We provide a candidate list of protein fragments that could be used when developing a sensitive and specific serological test to detect previous Zika virus infections.
The combination of SOX5, SOX6, and SOX9 (the SOX trio) provides signals sufficient for induction of permanent cartilage.

OBJECTIVE To regenerate permanent cartilage, it is crucial to know not only the necessary conditions for chondrogenesis, but also the sufficient conditions. The objective of this study was to determine the signal sufficient for chondrogenesis. METHODS Embryonic stem cells that had been engineered to fluoresce upon chondrocyte differentiation were treated with combinations of factors necessary for chondrogenesis, and chondrocyte differentiation was detected as fluorescence. We screened for the combination that could induce fluorescence within 3 days. Then, primary mesenchymal stem cells, nonchondrogenic immortalized cell lines, and primary dermal fibroblasts were treated with the combination, and the induction of chondrocyte differentiation was assessed by detecting the expression of the cartilage marker genes and the accumulation of proteoglycan-rich matrix. The effects of monolayer, spheroid, and 3-dimensional culture systems on induction by combinations of transcription factors were compared. The effects of the combination on hypertrophic and osteoblastic differentiation were evaluated by detecting the expression of the characteristic marker genes. RESULTS No single factor induced fluorescence. Among various combinations examined, only the SOX5, SOX6, and SOX9 combination (the SOX trio) induced fluorescence within 3 days. The SOX trio successfully induced chondrocyte differentiation in all cell types tested, including nonchondrogenic types, and the induction occurred regardless of the culture system used. Contrary to the conventional chondrogenic techniques, the SOX trio suppressed hypertrophic and osteogenic differentiation at the same time. CONCLUSION These data strongly suggest that the SOX trio provides signals sufficient for the induction of permanent cartilage.
Development of multi-axes CMOS-MEMS resonant magnetic sensor using Lorentz and electromagnetic forces

The stacking of metal/tungsten layers as the in-plane magnetic-coil for CMOS-MEMS magnetic sensor has been proposed and demonstrated for the first time. Magnetic fields introduce forces through in-plane coils to drive suspended spring-mass structure. Capacitance sensing electrodes could detect the dynamic response of spring-mass structure to determine magnetic fields. Such design has the following advantages: (1) Number of turns for proposed in-plane magnetic-coil is not restricted by the space and thin film layers, (2) in-plane magnetic-coil could respectively generate Lorentz and electromagnetic forces by out-of-plane and in-plane magnetic fields for multi-axes magnetic field detection, and (3) easy integration with CMOS-MEMS accelerometers and sensing circuits [1]. The design was implemented using the standard TSMC 2P4M CMOS process. A 400μm×300μm proof-mass with embedded in-plane magnetic-coil of 35-turns/5μm-wide is demonstrated. Measurement indicates the 3-axis magnetic fields were successfully detected using two monolithically integrated perpendicular sensing units. At 1atm, the sensor has the resolution of 319.9nT/rtHz (x-axis magnetic field), 296.5nT/rtHz (y-axis), and 121.6nT/rtHz (z-axis).
Towards system-on-substrate approach for future millimeter-wave and photonic wireless applications

This paper reviews the state-of-the-art and underlying features of our proposed integration platforms for designing the next generation millimeter-wave and photonic wireless integrated circuits (ICs). Challenging issues and future R&D directions are discussed. Potential problems and possible solutions are also presented. It is believed that the newly proposed substrate integrated circuits (SICs) schemes will offer potentially cost-effective and performance promising solutions for widespread applications. With the development of new fabrication processes and synthetic waveguide techniques, unique hybrid and monolithic high-density 3-D integration of planar and non-planar structures (or called system-on-substrate (SoS) approaches) become realizable.
Oil Price Fluctuations and Trade Balance of Turkey

The relationship between oil price fluctuations and the trade balance of Turkey is the main concern of this paper. Economic growth performance of Turkey depends on imported capital goods as well as imported oil. Oil price increases bring a heavy burden for Turkish economy. Therefore, it is important to analyze the effects of oil price increases on external balances as well as on economic growth rate. We aim to examine the effects of imported oil price fluctuations on Turkeyâ€™s trade balance using structural vector autoregression (VAR) model. The variables used in this model are imported crude oil price, imports of crude oil, industrial production index, and trade balance to GDP ratio. Monthly data set for the period of September 2009-June 2014 is used in this study. The results show that the oil price shock creates a negative impact on trade balance and this effect continues while declining for more than 10 months. Most of the variation in forecast error of trade balance ratio is explained by the shock on itself and only a limited variation, around 4%, is explained by oil price for a 10 months period.
Income Distribution, Parallel Imports and Innovations in Health Care Markets

This paper examines the implications of parallel trade for the level of innovations in health care market, the price of the innovated drug and for welfare levels of the Third and the Rich world. We have shown in terms of a very simple analytical framework that regardless of intra country differences, parallel imports results in lower level of health-care innovation but, contrary to popular as well as conventional theoretical wisdom, lower price in the third world compared to market-based discrimination. Despite such lower price, however, parallel imports unambiguously makes all buyers in the Third world worse off when intra-country income disparity exist. The only gainers from parallel imports appear to be the buyers in the rich world.
Evaluation of Resistance of US Rice Breeding Lines to the Rice Blast Pathogen

Rice blast, caused by the fungus Magnaporthe oryzae (anamorph: Pyricularia oryzae ), is a ubiquitous disease that threatens rice production in the USA and worldwide. Growing resistant cultivars is the most economical and effective way to manage this disease. Multiple races exist in the M. oryzae population in the USA. It is necessary to know the resistance spectrum of rice cultivars to the prevalent rice blast races in the areas where they are grown. Twelve isolates of M. oryzae collected from the southern US rice-growing region were used in this study. The genetic diversity of these isolates was evaluated with genetic and molecular methods, and the pathogenicity to different rice blast resistance genes was determined by the disease reaction of two sets of near-isogenic lines containing one blast R gene per line. From 2005 to 2016, about 200 Uniform Regional Rice Nursery (URRN) breeding lines have been tested with 9–12 reference isolates annually, and a total of 2377 breeding lines have been tested. The varieties with good resistance to rice blast disease have been identified. The results could be useful for the management of rice blast disease in the southern US rice production area.
Thin collagenous septa in cardiac muscle

Light and electron microscopy were used to study the structure and distribution of thin collagenous septa (sheets) in dog and rabbit cardiac muscle to determine whether they, like thick collagenous septa, could affect electrical impulse propagation. Generally, thin septa (0.2–0.5 μm) ensheathed myocytes or groups of myocytes for short distances and thicker septa partially or completely ensheathed groups of myocytes for long distances (up to several mm); together, thin, and thick septa divided the myocardial mass into myocyte cords (funicles) of 10–30 μm diameter. Septal architecture varied not only between regions and within regions at different ages but also within single bundles, precluding the assumption that the architecture found in one bundle can be applied to another. Electron microscopy demonstrated that thick septa consisted of many tightly packed collagen fibrils, often with distinct layers running at different angles; thin septa consisting largely of circumferential collagen fibrils. Thin septa in dog ventricular papillary muscle generally contained few and widely spaced collagen fibrils, whereas thin septa in dog atrial Bachmann's bundle contained tightly packed collagen fibrils. In either site, thin septa were rarely breached by nexuses and thus marked sites where lateral intercellular electrical coupling was unlikely. Serial 7 μm cross sections of dog Bachmann's bundle stained by a modification of the picrosirius red technique showed that thin septa sometimes persisted uninterrupted over several myocyte lengths. The results provide evidence that thin septa comprimised of tightly packed collagen fibrils may significantly modify impulse propagation transverse to the longitudinal axis of the myocytes.
A 13-bit 180-MS/s SAR ADC with Efficient Capacitor-Mismatch Estimation and Dither Enhancement

A 13-bit SAR ADC with bridged capacitor array is implemented. In order to calibrate the weight error due to parasite and mismatch. A weight redundant structure and a one-by-one foreground weight estimate scheme is proposed. A dithering mode can improve the dynamic performance further. A prototype is fabricated in a 28nm CMOS technology. The measurement of the ADC with conversion rate of 180MS/s achieves an SFDR of 79.1dBc and an SNDR of 64.3dBc, with remarkable improvement after calibration and dither.
p38 MAPK Contributes to the Growth Inhibition of Leukemic Tumor Cells Mediated by Human Umbilical Cord Mesenchymal Stem Cells

Background/Aims: Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have been implicated in antitumor therapy for hematopoietic and non-hematopoietic tumors. Cell-contact and soluble factors are demonstrated to play a role in the growth inhibition of tumor cells mediated by MSCs in vitro, while there is little clue about signaling pathways involved in the process. P38 MAPK has been implicated as a suppressor of cell proliferation and tumorigenesis. We here investigate whether p38 MAPK is involved in MSC-induced growth inhibition of leukemic tumor cells. Methods: We characterized the effect of human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (UC-MSCs) on proliferation, cell cycle and phosphorylation pattern of p38 MAPK in HL60 and K562 cells. SB203580, a specific inhibitor of p38 MAPK, or p38 MAPK-small interfering RNA (siRNA), were used to identify the role of p38 in growth suppression by UC-MSCs. We also investigated the expression of cell cycle regulators. Results: Treatment with UC-MSCs led to potent proliferation-inhibition of HL60 and K562 cells without inducing apoptosis. Growth inhibition by UC-MSCs was due to G0/G1 arrest. UC-MSCs increased phosphorylation of p38 MAPK in HL60 and K562 cells. Pharmacological inhibition or genetic silencing (through siRNA) of p38 MAPK partially abrogated the proliferation-suppression and cell cycle arrest caused by UC-MSCs. UC-MSCs also modulated the expression of cell cycle regulatory proteins in HL60 and K562 cells while SB203580 reversed the effect. Conclusion: Taken together, our findings indicate that p38 MAPK is critical for the growth inhibitory effect of UC-MSCs on leukemic tumor cells.