Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Cercarial Elastase Is Encoded by a Functionally Conserved Gene Family across Multiple Species of Schistosomes*

Water borne cercaria(ae) of the trematode genusSchistosoma rapidly penetrate host skin. A single serine protease activity, cercarial elastase, is deposited in advance of the invading parasite by holocytosis of vesicles from ten large acetabular gland cells. Cercarial elastase activity is a composite of multiple isoforms. Genes coding for the isoforms can be divided into two classes by amino acid and promoter sequence homology. Two of the five genes identified in Schistosoma mansoni account for over 90% of the activity and protein released. The remaining genes produce little protein or are silent. Positional scanning synthetic combinatorial substrate libraries demonstrate that the two major isoforms have similar substrate specificities and are, therefore, isoenzymes. The closely related Schistosoma hematobium and the distantly related Schistosomatium douthitti also contain multiple orthologous cercarial elastase genes suggesting that gene duplication may have occurred after speciation in Schistosoma evolution and that this duplication has been conserved.
Hypernym extraction from Wikipedia

Hypernym extraction from Wikipédia The volume of available documents on the Web continues to increase, the texts contained in these documents are rich information describing concepts and relationships between concepts specific to a particular field. In this paper, we propose and exploit an hypernymy extractor based on lexico-syntactic patterns designed for Wikipedia semi-structured pages, especially the disambiguation pages, to enrich a knowledge base as BabelNet and DBPedia. The results show a precision of 0.68 and a recall of 0.75 for the patterns that we have defined, and an enrichment rate up to 33% for both BabelNet and DBPédia semantic resources.
MMSE equalization for bandwidth-efficient multicarrier systems

Multicarrier systems, used in many of today's communications standards like 802.11b, are very prominent candidates for future mobile communication systems. Complex modulated transmultiplexer filter banks (Tzannes et al., 1994) providing improved frequency responses in comparison to orthogonal frequency division multiplex (OFDM) are proposed without a cyclic prefix. For the sake of increased bandwidth efficiency, they require an equalizer which mitigates the distortion of the frequency selective transmission channel. An efficient implementation of these transmultiplexer filter banks leads to discrete Fourier transformation (DFT) transmultiplexer filter banks. The advantages of such modifications with respect to OFDM are discussed and the results for the design of the required channel equalizer are presented
Behavioral characteristics in 3‐ to 12‐month‐old infant with atopic dermatitis: a case–control study

There have been reports that refer to the personality of the patients with atopic dermatitis (AD) especially adult patients but there are few studies regarding the behavioral characteristics in AD infants. The aim of this study was to compare behavioral characteristics of 30 AD infants (3–12 months old) with 40 controls. The infants with the definite diagnosis of AD (according to Hanifin and Rajka criteria) referring to children medical center were included in this study. For assessing behavioral characteristics we used revised version of Infant Behavior Questionnaire for measuring 11 scales of behavioral characteristics (Fear, Perceptual Sensitivity, Distress to Limitations, Sadness, High Pleasure, Low pleasure, Approach, Rate of Recovery from Distress, Soothability, Smiling and Laugher, and Duration of Orienting). Questionnaires were filled out by the physicians with the cooperation of the parents. The AD group showed significantly higher scores in Perceptual Sensitivity, Soothability, and High Pleasure compared with control group (p = 0.000). In other characteristics no significant difference were noticed between atopic and non‐patients. For eight characteristics, scores of atopic infants were similar healthy infants, but they tend to show more pleasure when subjected to an intense, novel or incongruity stimuli compared with healthy infants. Theoretically, higher scores in Perceptual Sensitivity, Soothability, and High Pleasure are concordant with the pervious studies about adrenomedullary system over activity.
Effect of oxytetracycline-medicated feed on antibiotic resistance of gram-negative bacteria in catfish ponds

The effect of oxytetracycline-medicated feeds on antibiotic resistance in gram-negative bacteria from fish intestines and water in catfish ponds was investigated. In experiments in the fall and spring, using ponds with no previous history of antibiotic usage, percentages of tetracycline-resistant bacteria in catfish intestines obtained from medicated ponds increased significantly after 10 days of treatment. In the fall, resistance of the intestinal and aquatic bacteria returned to pretreatment levels within 21 days after treatment. In the spring, resistance declined after treatment but remained higher than pretreatment levels for at least 21 days in intestinal bacteria and for 5 months in aquatic bacteria. Plesiomonas shigelloides, Aeromonas hydrophila, and Citrobacter freundii were isolated frequently in both spring and fall; Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Edwardsiella tarda, and Enterobacter spp. were isolated primarily in the spring. Oxytetracycline treatment did not affect the distribution of bacterial species in the fall but may have accelerated a shift toward greater prevalence of members of the family Enterobacteriaceae in the spring. Multiple antibiotic resistance did not appear to be elicited by oxytetracycline treatment.
Raman Spectroscopy of Proteins

A protein Raman spectrum comprises discrete bands representing vibrational modes of the peptide backbone and its side chains. The spectral positions, intensities, and polarizations of the Raman bands are sensitive to protein secondary, tertiary, and quaternary structures and to side ‐chain orientations and local environments. In favorable cases, the Raman spectrum serves as an empirical signature of protein three‐dimensional structure, intramolecular dynamics, and intermolecular interactions. Here, the strengths of Raman spectroscopy are illustrated by considering recent applications that address (1) subunit folding and recognition in assembly of the icosahedral capsid of bacteriophage P22, (2) orientations of subunit main chains and side chains in native filamentous viruses, (3) roles of cysteine hydrogen bonding in the folding, assembly, and function of virus structural proteins, and (4) structural determinants of protein/DNA recognition in gene regulatory complexes. Conventional Raman, UV‐resonance Raman, and polarized Raman techniques are surveyed.
A trans-Complementing Recombination Trap Demonstrates a Low Propensity of Flaviviruses for Intermolecular Recombination

ABSTRACT Intermolecular recombination between the genomes of closely related RNA viruses can result in the emergence of novel strains with altered pathogenic potential and antigenicity. Although recombination between flavivirus genomes has never been demonstrated experimentally, the potential risk of generating undesirable recombinants has nevertheless been a matter of concern and controversy with respect to the development of live flavivirus vaccines. As an experimental system for investigating the ability of flavivirus genomes to recombine, we developed a “recombination trap,” which was designed to allow the products of rare recombination events to be selected and amplified. To do this, we established reciprocal packaging systems consisting of pairs of self-replicating subgenomic RNAs (replicons) derived from tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV), West Nile virus (WNV), and Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) that could complement each other in trans and thus be propagated together in cell culture over multiple passages. Any infectious viruses with intact, full-length genomes that were generated by recombination of the two replicons would be selected and enriched by end point dilution passage, as was demonstrated in a spiking experiment in which a small amount of wild-type virus was mixed with the packaged replicons. Using the recombination trap and the JEV system, we detected two aberrant recombination events, both of which yielded unnatural genomes containing duplications. Infectious clones of both of these genomes yielded viruses with impaired growth properties. Despite the fact that the replicon pairs shared approximately 600 nucleotides of identical sequence where a precise homologous crossover event would have yielded a wild-type genome, this was not observed in any of these systems, and the TBEV and WNV systems did not yield any viable recombinant genomes at all. Our results show that intergenomic recombination can occur in the structural region of flaviviruses but that its frequency appears to be very low and that therefore it probably does not represent a major risk in the use of live, attenuated flavivirus vaccines.
Automatic generation control in power plant using PID, PSS and Fuzzy-PID controller

This paper is proposed to show the interaction between the LFC and the AVR loops in the Power Plant. The combinational effects of these two LFC and AVR loops are studied by extending the linear zed AGC system. A complete system model for LFC with Speed Governor, Turbine, Integral controller and Power System and AVR with Excitation System and PID controllers are described. LFC is for regulation of system frequency. It is also called a power factor control loop and influence the active power balances in the power system network. The LFC is achieved by the speed-governor mechanism. The basic principle of the speed-governor mechanism is to adjust itself as per the load variations. The voltage of the generator is proportional to the speed and excitation of the generator. If the speed is kept at constant, then the excitation system is used to control the voltage. The voltage control is also called as an excitation control system. This combined model is tested with conventional PID Controller, PID with Power System Stabilizer and Fuzzy-PID with Power System Stabilizer. The results are shown by using simulation; this will be reachable in dynamic and steady state responses.
Design optimisation of a TOF-based collimated camera prototype for online hadrontherapy monitoring

Hadrontherapy is an innovative radiation therapy modality for which one of the main key advantages is the target conformality allowed by the physical properties of ion species. However, in order to maximise the exploitation of its potentialities, online monitoring is required in order to assert the treatment quality, namely monitoring devices relying on the detection of secondary radiations. Herein is presented a method based on Monte Carlo simulations to optimise a multi-slit collimated camera employing time-of-flight selection of prompt-gamma rays to be used in a clinical scenario. In addition, an analytical tool is developed based on the Monte Carlo data to predict the expected precision for a given geometrical configuration. Such a method follows the clinical workflow requirements to simultaneously have a solution that is relatively accurate and fast. Two different camera designs are proposed, considering different endpoints based on the trade-off between camera detection efficiency and spatial resolution to be used in a proton therapy treatment with active dose delivery and assuming a homogeneous target.
Effect of Spatial Position in the Field of View on Dimensional Changes in Cone Beam Computed Tomography

Objectives: This study aimed to assess the relation between dimensional changes and object location in the field of view (FOV) using cone beam computed tomography (CBCT). Materials and Methods: A custom-made phantom was fabricated from base plate wax. To analyze the accuracy of measurements in horizontal and longitudinal dimensions, aluminum squares (0.5 mm thickness, 10×10 mm dimensions) were constructed and placed in three levels (upper, middle, and lower) and five positions (central, right, left, anterior and posterior). This phantom was scanned using Asahi, Planmeca and NewTom CBCT systems. CBCT scans were measured three times by use of their corresponding software. Statistical analysis was performed using one-way ANOVA, post-hoc test and two-way ANOVA (P<0.05). Results: The differences between the mean horizontal dimensions of different systems were not significant (P=0.296). However, the differences between the mean longitudinal dimensions of different systems were significant (P=0.039). The differences between the different positions and the mean horizontal and longitudinal dimensions were significant (P<0.001, and P<0.001, respectively). The differences between the mean horizontal dimensions and different levels were not significant (P=0.51), but the differences between the mean longitudinal dimensions and different levels were significant (P<0.001). The interaction effect of level and position on the accuracy of horizontal and longitudinal measurements was significant (P<0.0001). Conclusions: We found statistically significant differences in most of our comparisons; however, these differences were not clinically significant. Therefore, CBCT could be an accurate device for measurement of dimensions of objects placed in different positions in the FOV.
Salmonella surveillance: a global survey of public health serotyping

To better understand the global epidemiology of salmonellosis and the national surveillance programmes used for salmonella infections in humans, we conducted a global survey of the 191 WHO Member States. We gathered information on the total number of salmonella isolates serotyped, and the 15 most commonly isolated serotypes from humans in 1990 and 1995. Of the 104 countries that responded, 76 (73.1%) conducted public health surveillance for salmonella and 69 of these (90.8%) conducted serotyping as part of the surveillance. Fifty-nine countries (56.7% of those responding) provided information about the most commonly isolated serotypes in 1995. Three serotypes, Enteritidis, Typhimurium and Typhi accounted for 76.1% of all isolates reported in 1995. One of these three was the most common serotype identified in 93.2% of countries reporting data for that year. In 1995, Enteritidis was the most frequently isolated serotype in 35 countries, followed by Typhi (12 countries) and Typhimurium (8 countries). The global pandemic of Salmonella Enteritidis continued to expand. The mean national proportion of all salmonella isolates that were Enteritidis increased globally from 25.6% in 1990 to 36.3% in 1995. Serotyping is a frequently used component of a public health response to the global challenge of salmonellosis. Support for serotyping as part of national salmonella surveillance, and for rapid international communication of the results via a new WHO electronic website will help target future prevention strategies.
Surgical anatomy, radiological features, and molecular biology of the lumbar intervertebral discs

The intervertebral disc (IVD) is a joint unique in structure and functions. Lying between adjacent vertebrae, it provides both the primary support and the elasticity required for the spine to move stably. Various aspects of the IVD have long been studied by researchers seeking a better understanding of its dynamics, aging, and subsequent disorders. In this article, we review the surgical anatomy, imaging modalities, and molecular biology of the lumbar IVD. Clin. Anat. 30:251–266, 2017. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Differentiation of crypt epithelium in human palatine tonsils: the microenvironment of crypt epithelium as a lymphoepithelial organ.

The differentiation of the keratinocytes of the human palatine tonsils were studied by means of light and electron microscopy and immunohistochemistry using a polyclonal (K) and two monoclonal antikeratin antibodies (PKK1, PKK2). In the surface epithelium, the basal cells, cuboidal or columnar in shape, undergo progressive terminal differentiation and are transformed into the flattened cells of the upper layers. K reacts with both the basal and spinous layers, while PKK1 and PKK2 mark exclusively the basal layer. In the neck portion of the crypt, cavities containing one or aggregated lymphocytes with amorphous substances are observed in the spinous layer. The cavities are surrounded by elongated cytoplasmic processes of transformed epithelial cells bearing surface microvilli. These transformed epithelial cells display intense PKK1- and PKK2-positive reactions, whereas other conventional polygonal cells in the vicinity remain PKK1- and PKK2-negative as do those in the surface epithelium. In the deep portion of the crypt, where numerous lymphocytes invade the epithelium, the epithelial cells are transformed into star-shaped reticulum cells showing PKK1- and PKK2-positive reactions. The extended and branched cytoplasmic processes interconnect with one another constituting a complex network of reticulum cells, the well known reticulation of the crypt epithelium. Ten-nm filaments are usually oriented parallel to the longitudinal axis of transformed epithelial cells. Our observations suggest that the cell-shape transformation, i.e., from conventional polygonal epithelial cells into epithelial reticulum cells, occurs when the epithelial cells are in close contact with the infiltrating lymphocytes, and that this transformation is accompanied by a change in keratin phenotype.
Community‐based diabetic retinopathy screening in Hong Kong: ocular findings

Background: Diabetic retinopathy is one of the most common causes of blindness. Timely retinal evaluation is known to prevent or minimise visual loss. This study compared the prevalence of ocular disorders in patients who have and have not undergone a retinal examination since diagnosis of their type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Such data might be useful for planning purposes by health care authorities and agencies in Hong Kong.
Propofolsedering utförd av grundutbildad personal vid koloskopiundersökning - en vinst för patienten?

Bakgrund: Propofolsedering har blivit ett alternativ till traditionell sedering under koloskopi, och procedurrelaterad propofolsedering har utforts i flera lander av grundutbildad sjukskoterska. Syfte: Denna studie syftade till att utrona om den postoperativa vardtiden samt forekomsten av smarta skilde sig at mellan de tva sederingsmetoderna. Metod: Data fran 285 patienter som genomgatt sedering under perioden juni 2017 - februari 2018 samlades in ur journalsystemet SectraRIS®. Resultat: Studien visade att de patienter som erhallit propofolsedering hade en kortare postoperativ vardtid och en lagre forekomst av smarta an de patienter som erhallit traditionell sedering. Andra faktorer som paverkade den postoperativa vardtiden var kon, smarta under undersokningen och alder. Konklusion: Ytterligare studier behovs for att faststalla om en okad anvandning av propofolsedering hade varit gynnsam for att minska den postoperativa vardtiden och forekomsten av smarta under koloskopiundersokningar. (Less)
Serum thrombopoietin and erythropoietin levels in patients with acute promyelocytic leukaemia during all‐trans retinoic acid treatment

Endogenous serum thrombopoietin (TPO) and various cytokines including erythropoietin (EPO), interleukin (IL)‐3, IL‐6, IL‐11, granulocyte‐colony stimulating factor (G‐CSF), granulocyte‐macrophage‐colony stimulating factor (GM‐CSF) and stem cell factor (SCF) levels were measured in five patients with acute promyelocytic leukaemia (APL) during all‐trans retinoic acid (RA) treatment. During differentiation‐inducing therapy, platelet counts slowly increased and reached a peak between days 29 and 46 (median day 35). Serum TPO levels increased parallel to the increasing platelet counts and reached a maximum level during the first 10–20 d of all‐trans RA treatment. The circulating TPO levels then decreased in inverse correlation to the platelet counts. These unique changes in serum TPO levels revealed that TPO levels were not regulated by platelet or megakaryocyte mass in patients with APL during differentiation‐inducing therapy, and it would appear that TPO levels are directly regulated by all‐trans RA during the first 10–20 d of treatment. In addition, the change in circulating EPO levels and reticulocyte counts were similar to that of the TPO levels and platelet counts during all‐trans RA treatment, suggesting a close relationship between TPO and EPO signalling.
Use of Engineered Unique Cysteine Residues to Facilitate Oriented Coupling of Proteins Directly to a Gold Substrate

A prerequisite for any “lab on a chip” device that utilizes an electrical signal from the sensor protein is the ability to attach the protein in a specific orientation onto a conducting substrate. Here, we demonstrate the covalent attachment to a gold surface of light‐harvesting membrane proteins, from Rhodobacter sphaeroides, via cysteine (Cys) residues engineered on either the cytoplasmic or periplasmic face. This simple directed attachment is superior in its ability to retain light‐harvesting complex (LHC) function, when compared to a similar attachment procedure utilizing a self‐assembled monolayer on gold. LH 1 has previously been observed to have superior photostability over LH 2 (Magis et al. [2010] Biochim. Biophys. Acta, 1798, 637–645); this characteristic is maintained even with the introduction of Cys residues.
Strategische planning en
 fusies in Vlaamse gemeenten

De bestuurskunde als wetenschap wordt gedomineerd door drie theoretische len‐ zen. Allereerst is er de traditionele lens, ook wel de Weberiaanse Bureaucratie genoemd. Deze lens stelt dat de overheid in de eerste plaats de rechtsstaat dient te bewaken, een gelijke behandeling moet geven aan elke burger en gekenmerkt moet worden door een neutrale administratie. De tweede lens, New Public Man‐ agement, bekijkt de overheid meer als een bedrijf en stelt dat de overheid voorna‐ melijk effectief en efficiënt moet zijn door gebruik te maken van praktijken komende uit het bedrijfsleven. De derde lens, New Public Governance, stelt dat de overheid meer moet focussen op het aanpakken van de ‘grote’ maatschappelijke uitdagingen van vandaag door samen te werken met andere actoren in een net‐ werk en burgers te stimuleren om met de overheid te co-creëren en co-produceren (Osborne, 2006). Elke lens focust met andere woorden op andere publieke waar‐ den: Rechtvaardigheid, gelijkheid en neutraliteit (Weberiaanse Bureaucratie), effec‐ tiviteit, efficiëntie en verantwoording (New Public Management), samenwerking, responsiviteit en sociale impact (New Public Governance). Het is belangrijk om te melden dat deze drie lenzen niet ‘los’ van elkaar bestaan – in elke publieke organi‐ satie of andere entiteit is elke lens in meer of mindere mate aanwezig. Publieke managers en beleidsmakers moeten dus een balans vinden tussen al deze publieke waarden en beseffen dat elke lens vooren nadelen heeft die zorgvuldig moeten worden afgewogen (Koppenjan, 2012). Een interessant voorbeeld van hoe deze drie lenzen naast elkaar bestaan, betreft het burgerkabinet in Gent. Dit was een initiatief om de Gentenaar meer te betrekken bij beleidsvorming in Gent – wat mooi past binnen New Public Governance-denken. Echter, in de praktijk bleek het kabinet weinig effectief vanwege een vrij magere opkomst en bleek slechts een select aantal bevolkingsgroepen te participeren, wat de gelijkheidsprincipes aan‐ tastte. In de praktijk zien we dat in de meeste OESO-landen voornamelijk New Public Management-hervormingen op de agenda staan. Ook in Vlaanderen is dit het geval. Zo dragen de twee wellicht meest prominente hervormingen in Vlaamse gemeenten een duidelijke New Public Management-bril: enerzijds is er sprake van