Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Answering Natural Language Queries about Rehabilitation Robotics Ontology on the Cloud

We introduce a novel method to answer natural language queries about rehabilitation robotics, over the formal ontology \rehabo. For that, 1) we design and develop a novel controlled natural language for rehabilitation robotics, called \rehabcnl; 2) we introduce translations of queries in \rehabcnl\ into \sparql\ queries, utilizing a novel concept of query description trees and description logics concepts; 3) we use an automated reasoner to find an answer to the \sparql\ query. To facilitate the use of our method by experts, we develop an intelligent, interactive query answering system, using Semantic Web technologies, and make it available on the cloud via Amazon web services. This interface guides the users to express their queries in natural language and displays the answers to queries in a readable format, possibly with links to detailed information. Easy access to information on \rehabo\ through complex queries in natural language may help engineers inspire new rehabilitation robot designs, while also guiding practitioners to make more informed decisions on technology based rehabilitation.
Introducing human population biology through an easy laboratory exercise on mitochondrial DNA

This article describes an easy and cheap laboratory exercise for students to discover their own mitochondrial haplogroup. Students use buccal swabs to obtain mucosa cells as noninvasive tissue samples, extract DNA, and with a simple polymerase chain reaction‐restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis they can obtain DNA fragments of different sizes that can be visualized in agarose gels. The analysis of these fragments can reveal the mitochondrial haplogroup of each student. The results of the exercise can be used to provide additional insights into the genetic variation of human populations.
T-cell Immunoglobulin and ITIM Domain (TIGIT) Receptor/Poliovirus Receptor (PVR) Ligand Engagement Suppresses Interferon-γ Production of Natural Killer Cells via β-Arrestin 2-mediated Negative Signaling*

Background: T-cell immunoglobulin and ITIM domain (TIGIT) was recently defined as an inhibitory receptor that is expressed on NK cells and T cells. Results: TIGIT/poliovirus receptor (PVR) ligation signaling mediates suppression of IFN-γ production through NF-κB pathway via β-arrestin 2-mediated negative signaling. Conclusion: TIGIT/PVR signaling suppresses IFN-γ production of NK cells. Significance: TIGIT/PVR signaling acts as a potent negative mediator to down-regulate NK cell response for immune homeostasis. Natural killer (NK) cell activation is well orchestrated by a wide array of NK cell receptor repertoire. T-cell immunoglobulin and ITIM domain (TIGIT) receptor was recently defined as an inhibitory receptor that is expressed on NK cells and T cells. TIGIT receptor/poliovirus receptor (PVR) ligand engagement signaling inhibits cytotoxicity mediated by NK and CD8+ T cells. However, it is unclear how TIGIT/PVR signaling regulates cytokine secretion in NK cells. Here we show that TIGIT/PVR engagement suppresses interferon-γ (IFN-γ) production of NK cells. TIGIT transgenic NK cells generate less IFN-γ undergoing TIGIT/PVR ligation. Moreover, TIGIT knock-out NK cells produce much more IFN-γ. TIGIT/PVR ligation signaling mediates suppression of IFN-γ production via the NF-κB pathway. We identified a novel adaptor β-arrestin 2 that associates with phosphorylated TIGIT for further recruitment of SHIP1 (SH2-containing inositol phosphatase 1) through the ITT-like motif. Importantly, SHIP1, but not other phosphatases, impairs the TNF receptor-associated factor 6 (TRAF6) autoubiquitination to abolish NF-κB activation, leading to suppression of IFN-γ production in NK cells.
Comparison of PCR–RFLP, ribotyping and ERIC–PCR for typing Bacillus anthracis and Bacillus cereus strains

PCR–RFLP analysis of the vrrA gene and cerAB gene was used to investigate the genomic diversity in 21 strains of Bacillus anthracis and 28 strains of Bacillus cereus, and was compared with results obtained by ribotyping and enterobacterial repetitive intergenic consensus–PCR (ERIC–PCR) analysis. VrrA‐typing divided the B. anthracis into four groups. Except for one Pasteur vaccine strain, the vrrA PCR–RFLP profiles of the B. anthracis were separated into three groups, which were different from those of the B. cereus strains. Ribotyping separated the B. anthracis isolates into seven ribotypes, and a common fragment of an approximately 850 bp band from the ERIC–PCR fingerprints separated most B. anthracis strains into two groups. VrrA/cerAB PCR–RFLP, ribotyping and ERIC–PCR generated 18, 22 and 23 types, respectively, from B. cereus strains. The results suggest that a combination of all three methods provides a high resolution typing method for B. anthracis and B. cereus. Compared with ribotyping and ERIC–PCR, PCR–RFLP is simple to perform and has potential as a rapid method for typing and discriminating B. anthracis strains from other B. cereus group bacteria.
Impact of anti-hepatitis Bc-positive grafts on the outcome of liver transplantation for HBV-related cirrhosis1

Background. The present scarcity of organ donors requires consideration of grafts from sources not previously used. Several studies have addressed the use of grafts from donors who have antibodies to the hepatitis B core antigen (anti-HBc+). The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of the use of anti-HBc+ grafts in patients transplanted for hepatitis B virus (HBV)-related cirrhosis. Methods. Recipients of first hepatic transplants from donors with antibodies to HBV were identified retrospectively. All patients who had serology suggestive of active HBV and were negative for hepatitis C and D were included in the analysis. The Kaplan-Meier method was used to assess the actuarial recurrence-free survival on patients with graft survival longer than 1.5 months. The stepwise Cox regression model was used to identify independent predictors of HBV recurrence. Results. One thousand seven hundred seventeen first liver transplants were performed at the Thomas E. Starzl Transplantation Institute from September 1, 1990, to December 31, 1999. HBV was the cause of cirrhosis in 112 patients (6.5%). Thirty-three patients had coexistent viral infection (23 HCV and 10 HDV). Fourteen donors (17.2%) were positive for HBV markers, with nine anti-HBc+ and with five both anti-HBc+ and anti-HB surface-positive; of these, 13 anti-HBc+ organ recipients had long-term survival. Nine (69.2%) of these cases were reinfected versus 20 (35.7%) in the group that received grafts from HBV− donors (P <0.05, Fisher’s exact test). The mean time to reinfection was shorter in the anti-HBc+ group (2.9 yr vs. 6.4 yr, P <0.005). There were no statistical differences in graft or patient survival between the two groups. HBV prophylaxis with combined lamivudine and hepatitis B immunoglobulin (HBIG) significantly reduced the reinfection rate (P <0.03). Hepatitis Be (Hbe) antigen-positive recipients trended to faster reinfection (not significant). Cox regression analysis revealed that both anti-HBc graft donor status (RR, 2.796;P =0.020) and combination of lamivudine/HBIG (RR, 0.249;P =0.021) are independently associated with reinfection. Conclusions. The use of anti-HBc+ liver grafts does not affect graft or patient survival. However, patients who receive these organs are 2.5 times more likely to develop HBV recurrence. Lamivudine and HBIG combination decreases HBV recurrence 4-fold.
Identification of a Transferable Sorting Domain for the Regulated Pathway in the Prohormone Convertase PC2*

The mammalian subtilisin-like endoproteases furin and PC2 catalyze similar reactions but in different parts of the cell: furin in the trans-Golgi network and PC2 in dense-core granules. To map targeting domains within PC2, chimeras were constructed of the pro-, catalytic, and middle domains of furin with the carboxyl-terminal domain of PC2 (F-S-P) or of the pro- and catalytic domains of furin with the middle and carboxyl-terminal domains of PC2 (F-N-P). Their behavior in stable transfected AtT-20 cells was compared to a furin mutant truncated after the middle domain (F-S), wild-type furin, and with wild-type PC2. F-S-P, F-N-P, and F-S were catalytically active and underwent post-translational proteolysis and N-glycosylation with similar kinetics to wild-type furin. The truncated furin mutant was not stored intracellularly, whereas both chimeras, like PC2, showed intracellular retention and regulated release. Immunofluorescence and immuno-electron microscopy showed the presence of the chimeras and PC2 in dense-cored secretory granules together with proopiomelanocortin immunoreactivity. PC2 was sorted more efficiently than F-S-P, and the inclusion of the middle domain (F-N-P) further enhanced intracellular retention. It is concluded that sorting of PC2 into the regulated pathway depends on its carboxyl terminus. The middle domain may provide additional sorting determinants or a conformational framework for expression of the sorting signal.
‘Protective premedication’: an option with gabapentin and related drugs?

Substantial progress has been made during the last decades in our understanding of acute pain mechanisms, and this knowledge has encouraged the search for novel treatments. Of particular interest has been the observation that tissue injury initiates a number of modulations of both the peripheral and the central pain pathways, which convert the system from a ‘physiological’ to a ‘pathological’ mode of processing afferent information. Gabapentin, which binds to the α2δ subunit of the voltage‐dependent calcium channel, is active in animal models of ‘pathological’ but not in models of ‘physiological’ pain. Consequently, attention has so far been focused on neuropathic pain as a target for the clinical use of gabapentin and analogues. Recently, several reports have indicated that gabapentin may have a place in the treatment of post‐operative pain. This article presents a brief summary of the potential mechanisms of post‐operative pain, and a systematic review of the available data of gabapentin and pregabalin for post‐operative analgesia. It is concluded that the results with gabapentin and pregabalin in post‐operative pain treatment published so far are promising. It is suggested that future studies should explore the effects of ‘protective premedication’ with combinations of various antihyperalgesic and analgesic drugs for post‐operative analgesia.
Degradation of the hexose transporter Hxt5p in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Background information. Hxt5p is a member of a multigene family of hexose transporter proteins which translocate glucose across the plasma membrane of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. In contrast with other major hexose transporters of this family, Hxt5p expression is regulated by the growth rate of the cells and not by the external glucose concentration. Furthermore, Hxt5p is the only glucose transporter expressed during stationary phase. These observations suggest a different role for Hxt5p in S. cerevisiae. Therefore we studied the metabolism and localization of Hxt5p in more detail.
Activity of the Ketolide Telithromycin Is Refractory to Erm Monomethylation of Bacterial rRNA

ABSTRACT Methylation of specific nucleotides in rRNA is one of the means by which bacteria achieve resistance to macrolides-lincosamides-streptogramin B (MLSB) and ketolide antibiotics. The degree of resistance is determined by how effectively the rRNA is methylated. We have implemented a bacterial system in which the rRNA methylations are defined, and in this study we investigate what effect Erm mono- and dimethylation of the rRNA has on the activity of representative MLSB and ketolide antibiotics. In the test system, >80% of the rRNA molecules are monomethylated by ErmN (TlrD) or dimethylated by ErmE. ErmE dimethylation confers high resistance to all the MLSB and ketolide drugs. ErmN monomethylation predictably confers high resistance to the lincosamides clindamycin and lincomycin, intermediate resistance to the macrolides clarithromycin and erythromycin, and low resistance to the streptogramin B pristinamycin IA. In contrast to the macrolides, monomethylation only mildly affects the antimicrobial activities of the ketolides HMR 3647 (telithromycin) and HMR 3004, and these drugs remain 16 to 250 times as potent as clarithromycin and erythromycin. These differences in the macrolide and ketolide activities could explain the recent reports of variation in the MICs of telithromycin for streptococcal strains that have constitutive erm MLSB resistance and are highly resistant to erythromycin.
Quantum entanglement percolation on monolayer honeycomb lattice

The problem of establishing Bell and Greenberger-Horne-Zeilinger states between faraway places or distant nodes of a circuit is a difficult and an extremely important one, and a strategy which addresses it is entanglement percolation. We provide a method for attaining the end through a quantum measurement strategy involving three-, two-, and single-qubit measurements on a single-layer honeycomb lattice of partially entangled bipartite entangled states.
Type III effector genes and other virulence factors of Shiga toxin-encoding Escherichia coli isolated from wastewater.

Pathogenic Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) strains share the genes encoding Shiga toxins (stx) and many other virulence factors. The classification and evolutionary studies of pathogenic E. coli based on their virulence genes have been conducted with E. coli isolated from human and animal infections or outbreaks. In this study, we used 103 STEC strains isolated from faecally polluted water environments to analyse 23 virulence genes (stx1 , cdt, hlyA, saa, eae, three type III effector genes encoded within the locus of enterocyte effacement (LEE) and 15 non-LEE-encoded type III effector genes). Despite the presence of several stx2 variants, our isolates demonstrated low prevalence of the virulence genes (only 46.6% of the strains were positive for virulence determinants). Among these, the largest repertoire was found in a few O157:H7 isolates (most from cattle wastewater and one from sewage), while other serotypes showed fewer virulence determinants. The occurrence of most virulence genes seemed to be independent from one another. This was clear for hlyA (the most prevalent), cdt and cif (the least prevalent). Other effector genes, could be found or not in combination with others, suggesting that they can be mobilized independently. Our data suggest that E. coli strains can evolve separately by independently acquiring mobile genetic elements.
Social Sharing of Television Content: An Architecture

Television, since its invention, has been considered a social link between people. This paper presents an architecture that enhances this social link by support- ing micro-personal recommendation messages of tele- vision content. The architecture allows end-users to share a fragment of television content, with optional media overlays, with others. In addition, it considers a variety of message transmission technologies such as mobile networks by using MMS and traditional commu- nications technologies such as e-mail, blog posting, and RSS feeds. Finally, the architecture covers a wide space of communication alternatives such as one-to-one, and one-to-many communications. This paper presents the architecture and an implemented prototype.
Estimation of direct and indirect cost of diabetes in Morocco

Due to its chronic nature with severe complications, diabetes needs costly prolonged treatment and care. The high economic burden of diabetes is particularly threatening low and middle income countries. World-wide, studies have shown that the cost of diabetes per person is much higher than the per capita health expenditure. This study is the first to estimate the direct and indirect cost of diabetes in Morocco. The direct cost of diabetes was computed by assuming three scenarios of prices (low, medium and high) due to different prices of insulin, oral drugs and other items used in diabetes treatment and care. Indirect costs of diabetes were estimated by the lifetime forgone earnings caused by premature death and disability due to diabetes. The direct cost of diabetes in Morocco was estimated to be between US $0.47 and US $1.5 billion whereas the indirect cost was estimated to be around US $2 billion accounting for 57% of the total cost of diabetes under the high cost scenario, 69% under the medium scenario and 81% under the low cost scenario. The average per capita indirect cost was estimated to be US $1113, relatively higher than the direct cost of diabetes which was seen to vary from US$ 259 to US $830. The results yielded by this study were compared to those obtained by similar studies in different regions and countries of the world. As a conclusion, the findings of this study indicate a high economic burden of diabetes and stress the importance that Moroccan health decision makers should give to sensitisation, early diagnosis and treatment of diabetes especially with the crucial growing trend of diabetes prevalence.
Glutamate and GABA in the balance: Convergent pathways sustain seizures during status epilepticus

Seizures rapidly become self‐sustaining and pharmacoresistant to benzodiazepines during status epilepticus (SE). A decrease in the number of postsynaptic γ‐aminobutyric acid (GABA)A receptors with SE causes a loss of synaptic inhibition, whereas increases in postsynaptic glutamatergic receptors further upset the balance between excitation and inhibition. Although extracellular GABA levels may increase during SE and contribute to postsynaptic GABAA receptor desensitization, other pathways involving glutamatergic activation ultimately may be responsible for the persistent down‐regulation of postsynaptic GABAA receptors and erosion of synaptic inhibition.
Fixing TIM : Identifying Functional Mutations in Protein Families through the Interactive Exploration of Sequence and Structural Data

We present the design and implementation of a visual mining and analysis tool to help identify protein mutations across family structural models, and to help discover the effect of these mutations on protein function. We follow a client-server approach in which distributed data sources for 3D structure and non-spatial sequence information are seamlessly integrated into a common visual interface. Multiple linked views and a computational backbone allow comparison at the molecular and atomic levels, while a trend-image visual abstraction allows for the sorting and mining of large collections of sequences and of their residues. We evaluate our tool on the triosephosphate isomerase (TIM) family structural models and sequence data, and show that our tool provides an effective, scalable way to navigate a family of proteins, as well as a means to inspect the structure and sequence of individual proteins.
System Monitoring

the context of the Torino Process in 2022 and completed in 2023. 1 “Performance” describes the extent to which the VET system delivers against a targeted selection of national and international obligations (commitments) to learners and other stakeholders in support of learning through life (lifelong learning - LLL). “VET system” 2 refers to the network of institutions, people, policies, practices, resources, and methodologies in a country and the way in which they are organised to provide individuals of any age with the practical skills, knowledge, and competencies needed for specific occupations, trades, or professions.
Power–Throughput Tradeoff in MIMO Heterogeneous Networks

We consider a single-macrocell heterogeneous multiple-input multiple-output network, where the macrocell shares the same frequency band with the femto network. The interference power to the macro users from the femto base stations is kept below a threshold to guarantee that the performance of the macro users does not degrade due to the femto network. We consider the problem of finding the set of all achievable power-rate tuples for this setting. We first formulate a two-dimensional vector optimization problem in which we consider maximizing the sum-rate and minimizing the sum-power, subject to maximum power and interference threshold constraints. The considered problem is NP-hard. We provide a method to solve the problem by using the relationship between the weighted sum-rate maximization and weighted-sum-mean-squared-error minimization problems. Furthermore, using the proposed algorithm, we evaluate the impact of imposing interference threshold constraints and the impact of co-channel deployment in heterogeneous networks. The proposed algorithm can be used to evaluate the performance of real heterogeneous networks via off-line numerical simulations.
Endurance exercise, plasma oxidation and cardiovascular risk

Objective — Although physical activity is beneficial to health, people who exercise at high intensities throughout their lifetime may have increased cardiovascular risk. Aerobic exercise increases oxidative stress and may contribute to atherogenesis by augmented oxidation of plasma lipoproteins. The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between aerobic power and markers of oxidative stress, including the susceptibility of plasma to oxidation. Methods and results — Aerobic power was measured in 24 healthy men aged 29 ± 9 years (mean ± SD). Plasma was analysed from subjects of high aerobic power (HAP; VO2max, 64.6 ± 6.1 ml/kg/min) and lower aerobic power (LAP;VO2max, 45.1 ± 6.3 ml/kg/min) for total antioxidant capacity (TAC), malondialdehyde (MDA) and susceptibility to oxidation.Three measures were used to quantify plasma oxidizability: (1) lag time to conjugated diene formation (lag time); (2) change in absorbance at 234 nm and; (3) slope of the oxidation curve during propagation (slope). The HAP subjects had significantly lower TAC (1.38 ± 0.04 versus 1.42 ± 0.06 TEAC units; P < 0.05), significantly higher change in absorbance (1.55 ± 0.21 versus 1.36 ± 0.17 arbitrary units; P < 0.05), but no difference in MDA (P = 0.6), compared to LAP subjects.There was a significant inverse association between TAC and slope (r = –0.49; P < 0.05). Lipoprotein profiles and daily intake of nutrients did not differ between the groups. Conclusions — These findings suggest that people with high aerobic power, due to extreme endurance exercise, have plasma with decreased antioxidant capacity and higher susceptibility to oxidation, which may increase their cardiovascular risk.
Shift-Reagent–Aided 23Na NMR Spectroscopy

Nondestructive observation of intracellular sodium (Nai+) levels is of utmost clinical and biochemical importance. 23Na is a relatively sensitive nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR)-observable nuclide, and NMR is intrinsically noninvasive. Since, however, the frequency position of Nai+ and Nao+ is identical, paramagnetic dysprosium complexes have to be used as shift reagents. The latter differentiate between signals from intracellular and extracellular spaces, providing a nondestructive, continuous method to monitor intracellular cation concentration, in real time. In this article, the methodology of shift-reagent-aided 23Na NMR spectroscopy is discussed. Application is demonstrated by results from two studies in isolated perfused rat hearts. In hearts subjected to hypoxia (or ischemia) followed by reoxygenation (or reflow), the authors show that recovery following an ischemic or hypoxic insult can be predicted by monitoring Nai+ levels by NMR. In a study in paced hearts, the authors show an accumulation of Nai+ with increased heart rate, and also a positive coupling between elevated sodium levels and increased systolic pressure during the pacing-up period, as predicted by the Na-pumplag theory.