Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Three CARMA Sisters: So Different, So Similar: A Portrait of the Three CARMA Proteins and Their Involvement in Human Disorders

Initially identified by their ability to modulate the functional activity of BCL10, the three CARMA proteins, CARMA1, ‐2, and ‐3, have recently themselves taken a leading role on the stage of molecular medicine. Although considered for some time as simple ancillary proteins, increasingly accumulating recent data evidently indicate a role of primary importance for these three proteins in the pathophysiology of several human tumors and inflammatory disorders. In fact, recent scientific literature clearly establishes that CARMA1 is one of the most mutated genes in a subtype of B‐cell lymphoma and, at the same time, responsible for some rare human immunodeficiency conditions. On the other hand, mutations in CARMA2 are responsible for the hereditary transmission of some inflammatory disorders of the skin, including familial psoriasis and ptiriasis; whereas expression of CARMA3 appears to be deregulated in different human tumors. Here we describe and summarize the mutations found in the genes coding for the three CARMA proteins in these different human pathological conditions, and offer an interpretation of the molecular mechanisms from which arise the biological outcomes in which these proteins are involved. J. Cell. Physiol. 229: 990–997, 2014. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Path-directed signaling usage in the Internet

The real-time nature and complexity of multimedia applications, the availability of Internet connectivity from everywhere in the globe and deployments of heterogeneous application hosts, increases the challenges for widespread deployments of multimedia applications. These applications need to receive the appropriate quality of service (QoS), without topology awareness, through firewalls and network address translators (NATs). This document analyses how path-directed network signaling protocols can be used to meet the challenges imposed on multimedia application deployments. It demonstrates how standards organizations can minimize the proliferation of signaling protocols intended to control network services, especially the ones requiring network topology knowledge.
Adaptive finite element methods for plate bending problems

The major theme of the thesis is the development of goal-oriented model adaptive continuous-discontinuous Galerkin (c/dG) finite element methods (FEM), for the numerical solution of the Kirchhoff and Mindlin-Reissner (MR) plate models. Hierarchical modeling for linear elasticity on thin domains (beam-like) in two spatial dimensions is also considered, as a natural extension of the Bernoulli and Timoshenko beam theories. The basic idea behind model adaptivity is to refine, not only the computational mesh, but the underlying physical model as well. Consequently different mathematical formulations - usually partial differential equations - may be discretized on the element level. Our algorithms use duality-based a posteriori error estimates, which separate the discretization and modeling errors into an additive split (allows for independent reduction the error contributions). The error representation formulas are linear functionals of the error, which is often more relevant in engineering applications. In standard FEM the continuity constraints can make it difficult to construct the approximating spaces on unstructured meshes. When solving the plate formulations, continuous quadratic polynomials are used for the lateral displacements, and first-order discontinuous polynomials for the rotation vector, whose inter-element continuity is imposed weakly by Nitsche's method. The bilinear form is coercive if a computable penalty parameter is large enough (and small enough to avoid locking). The discretization of the MR model converges to the Kirchhoff model as the thickness of the plate tends to zero. This makes the introduced c/dG FEM particularly interesting in the context of model adaptivity, and as such it constitutes the main result of the thesis.
Model reduction of port-Hamiltonian systems based on reduction of Dirac structures

The geometric formulation of general port-Hamiltonian systems is used in order to obtain two structure preserving reduction methods. The main idea is to construct a reduced-order Dirac structure corresponding to zero power flow in some of the energy-storage ports. This can be performed in two canonical ways, called the effort- and the flow-constraint methods. We show how the effort-constraint method can be regarded as a projection-based model reduction method.
Hybrid Control Technique-Based Three-Phase Cascaded Multilevel Inverter Topology

A three-phase cascaded multilevel inverter topology and a hybrid control technique are presented in this paper. The topology is derived from a proposed module of addition and subtraction of sources. An attempt is made to optimize the component count, viz., power switches count, gate drive count, capacitor count, diode count, and source count. The operating modes of basic module and the proposed three-phase topology are explained. The analysis is presented for both symmetrical and asymmetrical configurations. The fundamental frequency hybrid control technique, which is derived from nearest level control (NLC) and switching frequency optimal (SFO) algorithms, is presented. The power semiconductor switches in the topology are driven by gating signals generated with hybrid SFO–NLC technique. The necessary comparisons are done to show the enhanced features with the view of optimized component count and power quality. The simulations are carried out by MATLAB/SIMULINK software tool under both steady state and dynamic conditions. Experimental results are presented to validate the simulation results.
Replication and Assembly of Human Papillomaviruses

Human papillomaviruses (HPVs) are small dsDNA tumor viruses, which are the etiologic agents of most cervical cancers and are associated with a growing percentage of oropharyngeal cancers. The HPV capsid is non-enveloped, having a T=7 icosahedral symmetry formed via the interaction among 72 pentamers of the major capsid protein, L1. The minor capsid protein L2 associates with L1 pentamers, although it is not known if each L1 pentamer contains a single L2 protein. The HPV life cycle strictly adheres to the host cell differentiation program, and as such, native HPV virions are only produced in vivo or in organotypic “raft” culture. Research producing synthetic papillomavirus particles—such as virus-like particles (VLPs), papillomavirus-based gene transfer vectors, known as pseudovirions (PsV), and papillomavirus genome-containing quasivirions (QV)—has bypassed the need for stratifying and differentiating host tissue in viral assembly and has allowed for the rapid analysis of HPV infectivity pathways, transmission, immunogenicity, and viral structure.
Low Health Literacy: A Challenge to Critical Care

Health literacy—“the degree to which individuals have the capacity to obtain, process, and understand basic health information and services needed to make appropriate health decisions”—has been identified as a cross-cutting quality-of-care issue by the Institute of Medicine. This article defines the scope of the health literacy problem, discusses the literacy demands of critical care, and offers strategies for nurses to improve the quality of health communication with patients and families in the critical care environment.
Reduced myocardial flow reserve in anatomically normal coronary arteries due to elevated baseline myocardial blood flow in men with old myocardial infarction

BackgroundDecreased myocardial flow reserve (MFR) in angiographically normal coronary arteries in patients with old myocardial infarction (OMI) has been reported.Methods and ResultsTo clarify factors for the reduced MFR in OMI and to compare them with those in angina pectoris (AP), baseline myocardial blood flow (MBF) and MBF during dipyridamole administration were measured with nitrogen 13 ammonia positron emission tomography, after which MFR was calculated for 13 men with AP, 18 men with OMI, and 15 age-matched male control subjects. MFR was compared among the 3 groups in segments perfused by nonstenotic arteries. Baseline MBF in patients with OMI was significantly higher than that in patients with AP and control subjects. MBF during dipyridamole administration in patients with OMI was significantly lower than that in control subjects. MFR in patients with AP was 2.50 ± 0.91 (P < .05 vs control subjects [3.47 ± 1.25]), and that in patients with OMI was 1.83 ± 0.61 (P < .01 vs control and AP groups). Ejection fraction (EF) in patients with OMI was significantly decreased compared with that in patients with AP. However, there was no significant difference in the mean score of the individual risk factors between patients with AP and those with OMI. In the pooled data with AP and OMI, baseline MBF and EF were significant for the reduced MFR.ConclusionsMFR and EF in patients with OMI were significantly decreased compared with those in patients with AP. Increased baseline MBF and decreased EF were significant factors for the reduced MFR in patients with AP and OMI.
Assessment of multiparametric MRI in a human glioma model to monitor cytotoxic and anti‐angiogenic drug effects

Early imaging or blood biomarkers of tumor response is needed to customize anti‐tumor therapy on an individual basis. This study evaluates the sensitivity and relevance of five potential MRI biomarkers. Sixty nude rats were implanted with human glioma cells (U‐87 MG) and randomized into three groups: one group received an anti‐angiogenic treatment (Sorafenib), a second a cytotoxic drug [1,3‐bis(2‐chloroethyl)‐1‐nitrosourea, BCNU (Carmustine)] and a third no treatment. The tumor volume, apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) of water, blood volume fraction (BVf), microvessel diameter (vessel size index, VSI) and vessel wall integrity (contrast enhancement, CE) were monitored before and during treatment. Sorafenib reduced tumor CE as early as 1 day after treatment onset. By 4 days after treatment onset, tumor BVf was reduced and tumor VSI was increased. By 14 days after treatment onset, ADC was increased and the tumor growth rate was reduced. With BCNU, ADC was increased and the tumor growth rate was reduced 14 days after treatment onset. Thus, the estimated MRI parameters were sensitive to treatment at different times after treatment onset and in a treatment‐dependent manner. This study suggests that multiparametric MR monitoring could allow the assessment of new anti‐tumor drugs and the optimization of combined therapies. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Evaluation d'associations sémantiques dans une ontologie de domaine

Resume : Dans une ontologie de domaine, une association semantique entre deux entites (concepts, attributs d’un concept) est une representation d’un chemin ou d’un lien semantique (LS) indirect entre elles. Un defi prometteur pour le Web semantique est de developper des methodes pour decouvrir des donnees fortement liees dans un nombre important d’associations semantiques rassemblees a partir des sources disparates. Dans ce contexte, cet article presente, en premier lieu, le degre d’un lien semantique (DLS) pour mesurer une relation directe entre deux entites, et en deuxieme lieu le degre d’une association semantique (DAS) pour mesurer des associations semantiques extraites a partir d’une ontologie de domaine. Les resultats experimentaux montrent l’avantage des methodes proposees et demontrent leur efficacite prometteuse. Mots-cles : association semantique, degre d’un lien semantique, degre d’une association semantique, ontologie de domaine, concept.
Genetic controls of DNA damage avoidance in response to acetaldehyde in fission yeast

ABSTRACT Acetaldehyde, a primary metabolite of alcohol, forms DNA adducts and disrupts the DNA replication process, causing genomic instability, a hallmark of cancer. Indeed, chronic alcohol consumption accounts for approximately 3.6% of all cancers worldwide. However, how the adducts are prevented and repaired after acetaldehyde exposure is not well understood. In this report, we used the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe as a model organism to comprehensively understand the genetic controls of DNA damage avoidance in response to acetaldehyde. We demonstrate that Atd1 functions as a major acetaldehyde detoxification enzyme that prevents accumulation of Rad52-DNA repair foci, while Atd2 and Atd3 have minor roles in acetaldehyde detoxification. We found that acetaldehyde causes DNA damage at the replication fork and activates the cell cycle checkpoint to coordinate cell cycle arrest with DNA repair. Our investigation suggests that acetaldehyde-mediated DNA adducts include interstrand-crosslinks and DNA-protein crosslinks. We also demonstrate that acetaldehyde activates multiple DNA repair pathways. Nucleotide excision repair and homologous recombination, which are both epistatically linked to the Fanconi anemia pathway, have major roles in acetaldehyde tolerance, while base excision repair and translesion synthesis also contribute to the prevention of acetaldehyde-dependent genomic instability. We also show the involvement of Wss1-related metalloproteases, Wss1 and Wss2, in acetaldehyde tolerance. These results indicate that acetaldehyde causes cellular stresses that require cells to coordinate multiple cellular processes in order to prevent genomic instability. Considering that acetaldehyde is a human carcinogen, our genetic studies serve as a guiding investigation into the mechanisms of acetaldehyde-dependent genomic instability and carcinogenesis.
Chemotherapy of malignant pleural mesothelioma

Background: Owing to worldwide use of asbestos during the past century, the global incidence of mesothelioma is still increasing. Although the outcome for patients remains poor, there has been definite progress in the systemic treatment of this disease within the past 5 years. Objective: By examining the clinical trials performed and the role of novel emerging agents, this review aims to provide an ‘expert opinion’ on evidences that validate chemotherapy as current ‘standard of care’ for inoperable mesothelioma. Methods: Relevant literature about clinical trials was reviewed using a PubMed search and other relevant data about novel therapeutic approaches both established and in development. Conclusion: The response rates achieved using chemotherapeutic treatments are higher than previous ones, and in the future may be improved by the use of combined and personalized therapies.
Partial Nephrectomy for Renal Cell Carcinoma: Risk Factors for Acute Post-Operative Hemorrhage and Impact on Subsequent Hospital Course and Complete Nephrectomy Rate. An Analysis of 200 Consecutive Cases

Purpose: Clinical guidelines recommend partial nephrectomy (PN) as the preferred method of surgical excision of the small renal tumor whenever feasible. PN has comparable cancer cure rates to that of radical nephrectomy in this setting, and decreased risk of chronic kidney disease. A recognized devastating complication following partial nephrectomy is acute post-operative hemorrhage (APOH) from the reconstructed kidney. Risk factors for hemorrhage following partial nephrectomy remain poorly elucidated, as does the impact of hemorrhage on subsequent hospital stay. Identification of risk factors for hemorrhage may lead to a better understanding of and reduction of this complication. Material and Methods: We utilized a prospectively managed database comprised of patients undergoing open partial nephrectomy at our institution by the same surgical team from January 2006 to July 2012. Clinicopathologic factors assessed APOH for their relationships, including patient age, gender, diabetes, smoking, hypertension, coronary artery disease, American Society of Anesthesia Score (ASA), tumor size, RENAL nephrotomy score, pathologic result, cancer margin status, operative time, and intra-operative blood loss. The impact of APOH on subsequent hospital course was evaluated and compared with the entire cohort. Results: Data were analyzed from 200 consecutive patients. We identified 7 patients (3.5%) who experienced APOH. Compared with the entire cohort, APOH resulted in an increased hospital length of stay (median, 5 days; range, 2-11 days, p = 0.001), an increased transfusion requirement (median, 6 units; range, 1-16 units. p = 0.001), a greater risk of selective angiographic embolization (median, 2 procedures; range, 0-3, p = 0.001), and completion nephrectomy (n = 2, p = 0.001). One patient in the APOH group experienced cardiac arrest and was resuscitated. Clinicopathologic factors associated with
Axial dispersion of Brownian colloids in microfluidic channels

We present a complete theoretical framework for the axial dispersion of a Brownian colloidal suspension confined in a parallel plate channel, extending the Taylor-Aris treatment to particles with diameters comparable to the channel width. The theoretical model incorporates the effects of confinement on the colloid distribution, corrections to the velocity profile due to the effects of colloid concentration on the suspension viscosity, and position-dependent diffusivities. We test the theoretical model using explicitsolvent molecular dynamics simulations that fully incorporate hydrodynamic correlations and thermal fluctuations and obtain good quantitative agreement between theory and simulations. We find that the nonuniform colloid distributions that arise in confinement due to excluded volume between the colloids and channel walls significantly impact the axial dispersion.
A novel power gating scheme with charge recycling

In MTCMOS, the circuit state should be preserved for state retentive sleep, and the virtual power/ground rails clamp (VRC) scheme is an effective method for this purpose. Our approach realizes the voltage clamp function without additional devices like diodes, by feeding the virtual ground voltage back into a sleep signal. There are also other effects; cutting off the leak current of the sleep buffer, and charge recycling of sleep signal node. We have achieved a 19.7% lower power consumption and a 5.4% cell area reduction.
Short-term Effects of Green Tea on Blood Pressure, Endothelial Function, and Metabolic Profile in Obese Prehypertensive Women: A Crossover Randomized Clinical Trial

Background: Green tea consumption has been inversely associated with cardiovascular disease (CVD) in epidemiological studies. Although some interventional trials suggest that green tea has beneficial effects on CVD risk factors, such as hypertension and obesity, others have failed to show such benefits. Aims: To evaluate the short-term effects of green tea on blood pressure, endothelial function, metabolic profile, and inflammatory activity in obese prehypertensive women. Methods: This study was a crossover, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial. Participants were randomly allocated to receive daily 3 capsules containing either 500 mg of green tea extract (GTE) or a matching placebo for 4 weeks, with a washout period of 2 weeks between treatments. Each GTE capsule contained 260 mg of polyphenols. At the beginning and at the end of each treatment, participants were submitted to evaluation of blood pressure (ambulatory blood pressure monitoring, ABPM), endothelial function (Endo-PAT 2000 and cellular adhesion molecules), nutritional parameters, metabolic profile, and biomarkers of inflammation. Results: Twenty women age 41.1 ± 8.4 years completed the study. After 4 weeks of GTE supplementation in comparison with placebo, there was a significant decrease (p < 0.05) in systolic blood pressure at 24 hours (−3.61 ± 1.23 vs 1.05 ± 1.34 mmHg), daytime (−3.61 ± 1.26 vs 0.80 ± 1.57 mmHg), and nighttime (−3.94 ± 1.70 vs 1.90 ± 1.66 mmHg). Changes in diastolic blood pressure and in all other parameters did not present a significant difference between GTE and placebo. Conclusion: The findings of this study suggest that in obese prehypertensive women, short-term daily intake of GTE may decrease blood pressure.
Topics in the Neurobiology of Aggression: Implications to Deterrence

Contributing Authors: Robert M. Sapolsky, Ph.O. , Stanford University, John A. Gunn, Ph.O. , Stanford University, Cynthia Fry Gunn Ph.O. ,Stanford University, Allan Siegel, Ph.O. , New lersey Medicai 5chool, lordan Grafman, Ph.O. , Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago, Pamela Blake, M.D., Memorial Hermann Northwest Hospital, Peter K. Hatemi, Ph.O. , Pennsylvania State University, Rose McOermott, Ph.O. , Brown University, Anthony C. Lopez, Ph.O. , Washington State University, Paul J. Zak, Ph.O. , Claremont Graduate University, James Giordano Ph.O. , MPhil. , Georgetown University Medicai (enter, Roland Benedikter Ph.O. , DrPhil. , Stanford University, & Lieutenant Generai Robert E. Schmidle, Jr., United States Marine Corps
Cloning and Functional Analysis of thepbr Lead Resistance Determinant of Ralstonia metallidurans CH34

ABSTRACT The lead resistance operon, pbr, of Ralstonia metallidurans (formerly Alcaligenes eutrophus) strain CH34 is unique, as it combines functions involved in uptake, efflux, and accumulation of Pb(II). The pbr lead resistance locus contains the following structural resistance genes: (i) pbrT, which encodes a Pb(II) uptake protein; (ii)pbrA, which encodes a P-type Pb(II) efflux ATPase; (iii)pbrB, which encodes a predicted integral membrane protein of unknown function; and (iv) pbrC, which encodes a predicted prolipoprotein signal peptidase. Downstream ofpbrC, the pbrD gene, encoding a Pb(II)-binding protein, was identified in a region of DNA, which was essential for functional lead sequestration. Pb(II)-dependent inducible transcription of pbrABCD from the PpbrApromoter is regulated by PbrR, which belongs to the MerR family of metal ion-sensing regulatory proteins. This is the first report of a mechanism for specific lead resistance in any bacterial genus.
Effect of Low Levels of Serum Vitamin B12 and Folic Acid on Cognitive Performance in Old Age: A Population-Based Study

We studied the effect of low levels of vitamin B12 and folic acid, alone or combined, on cognitive performance in a population-based sample of 698 older adults (mean age = 68.7 years). No evidence was found for a vitamin-related memory deficit, but research participants with low levels of vitamin B12 exhibited reduced information processing speed relative to participants with normal vitamin B12 levels.
Microscale Chemically Reactive Electronic Agents

Microsystems Chemistry and BioIT : BioMIP, Faculty of Chemistry and Biochemistry Ruhr Universität Bochum, Germany Bioorganic Chemistry OC1, Faculty of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Ruhr Universität Bochum, Germany Analog Integrated Circuits & Integrated Systems, Faculty of Electrical Engineering Ruhr Universität Bochum, Germany Gardiner Chair of Chemistry, Department of Chemistry University of Glasgow, United Kingdom The Institute of Chemistry, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel Zernike Institute for Advanced Materials, Department of Polymer Chemistry Rijksuniversiteit Groningen, The Netherlands FLinT Center for Fundamental Living Technology, Department of Physics and Chemistry, Syddansk Universitet, Denmark Chemical Robotics Laboratory, Department of Chemical Engineering Institute of Chemical Technology Prague, Czech Republic European Center for Living Technology, Università Ca’Foscari di Venezia, Italy Department of Physics, University of Auckland, New Zealand