Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Urban Soundscape Informational Quantization : Validation Using a Comparative Approach

Through interaction with environmental parameters such as light or sound, urban and architectural spaces generate ambiences with identifiable characteristics. This notion of ambiences is related to the human being position through its perception of environmental physical phenomenon during a pedestrian walk. Presented work aims to evaluate, so as to characterize, the impact of sound ambiences (soundscape) onto an urban pedestrian pathway using GIS spatial dynamical mapping. To carry out this scheme, our research work within AMBIOFLUX project concerns spatial interaction between sound ambience (soundscape) and man urban spatial trajectory (soundwalk). Spatial impression of soundsources or soundmarks has to be both defined through acoustical measurement and perception informational evaluation. The remainder of this paper is dedicated to the evaluation’s methodology of the pedestrian pathway’s acoustic fingerprint using the GearScape spatial formalism described thereafter. Preliminary results we have obtained will also be presented and validated.
DONSON, a gene responsible for microcephalic primordial dwarfism, ensures proper centriole duplication cycle by maintaining centriole engagement during interphase

Microcephalic primordial dwarfism (MPD) is a genetic disorder characterized by short stature and microcephaly. MPD-related genes are known to regulate centrosome biogenesis, DNA replication or the DNA damage response. Although some of the MPD-related proteins that are implicated in DNA replication localize to centrosomes, how these proteins affect centrosome biogenesis remains mostly elusive. Here, we revisit the potential function of these DNA replication mediators in human centrosome biogenesis. Among these proteins, depletion of DONSON leads to excessive number of centrosomes in interphase, caused by precocious centriole disengagement. Such disengaged centrioles are converted to centrosomes, followed by centriole reduplication during interphase. These extra centrosomes lead to abnormal spindle formation and chromosome segregation errors. Importantly, similar defects are observed in MPD patients’ cells with DONSON mutations, suggesting a possible cause of the disease. Overall, these results indicate that DONSON is involved in regulating the centriole duplication cycle by ensuring the maintenance of centriole engagement during interphase.
Phenotypic and Genotypic Characterization of Nosocomial Isolates of Staphylococcus aureus with Reference to Methicillin Resistance

Purpose : To investigate the occurrence, species prevalence, antibacterial resistance, and molecular characteristics of S. aureus isolates from different wards located in a university hospital. Methods : A total of one hundred and fifty S. aureus isolates were recovered from various clinical specimens. The isolates were tested phenotypically by conventional methods and genotypically by polymease chain reaction (PCR) for direct detection of femB and mecA genes. Results : Thirty one isolates (20.7 %) of these were identified as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) by oxacillin agar screen test and 124 (82.7 %) of the isolates were β-lactamase producers. The prevalence of MRSA strains among S. aureus isolates was 20.7 %. The overall resistance of MRSA to a variety of antibiotics tested was linezolid, 48.7 %; ciprofloxacin, 15.3 %; sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim (TMS), 14.0 %; gentamicin, 12.7 %; and rifampicin, 6.7 %. All MRSA isolates were positive for femB and mecA genes; one MSSA carried mecA gene. Conclusion : Since S. aureus isolates are commonly associated with wound infections, skin and soft tissue infections and blood stream infections, glycopeptides, mupirocin, and quinupristin/dalfopristin (Q/D) would be the most effective antibiotics for the treatment of MRSA infections. Keywords : Staphylococcus aureus , mecA, femB, Antibiotics, Staphylococcal infections, Methicillin resistance
SPT-CL J2040−4451: AN SZ-SELECTED GALAXY CLUSTER AT z = 1.478 WITH SIGNIFICANT ONGOING STAR FORMATION

SPT-CL J2040−4451—spectroscopically confirmed at z = 1.478—is the highest-redshift galaxy cluster yet discovered via the Sunyaev–Zel'dovich effect. SPT-CL J2040−4451 was a candidate galaxy cluster identified in the first 720 deg2 of the South Pole Telescope Sunyaev–Zel'dovich (SPT-SZ) survey, and has been confirmed in follow-up imaging and spectroscopy. From multi-object spectroscopy with Magellan-I/Baade+IMACS we measure spectroscopic redshifts for 15 cluster member galaxies, all of which have strong [O ii] λλ3727 emission. SPT-CL J2040−4451 has an SZ-measured mass of M500, SZ = 3.2 ± 0.8 × 1014 M☉ h, corresponding to M200, SZ = 5.8 ± 1.4 × 1014 M☉ h. The velocity dispersion measured entirely from blue star-forming members is σv = 1500 ± 520 km s−1. The prevalence of star-forming cluster members (galaxies with >1.5 M☉ yr−1) implies that this massive, high-redshift cluster is experiencing a phase of active star formation, and supports recent results showing a marked increase in star formation occurring in galaxy clusters at z ≳ 1.4. We also compute the probability of finding a cluster as rare as this in the SPT-SZ survey to be >99%, indicating that its discovery is not in tension with the concordance ΛCDM cosmological model.
Leukaemia and neoplastic processes treated with Langat and Kyasanur Forest disease viruses: a clinical and laboratory study of 28 patients.

Temporary relief of pain at the time of treatment was recorded in 92% of the patients receiving traction and 86% of those who were positioned without traction. The rate of improvement was approximately the same in the five treatment groups, as judged by clinical assessment two weeks and four weeks after the beginning of treatment and by followup questionary at six weeks and six months. The improvement at four weeks was influenced by age, the initial severity of symptoms, the number of previous attacks, the duration of previous attacks, and whether the patient was getting better or worse when first seen.
Perturbation of beta-glucan receptors on human neutrophils initiates phagocytosis and leukotriene B4 production.

Normal human neutrophils were stimulated with the yeast cell wall product, zymosan, and examined for two biologic responses, ingestion of particles and production of leukotriene B4 (LTB4), under conditions that were comparable and optimal for the quantitation of each response. Monolayers of adherent neutrophils ingested unopsonized zymosan particles, at particle-to-cell ratios of 12.5:1 to 125:1, in a dose- and time-related manner. At a ratio of 125:1, the percentages of neutrophils ingesting greater than or equal to 1 and greater than or equal to 3 zymosan particles reached plateau levels of 55 +/- 6 and 32 +/- 9% (mean +/- SD, n = 8), respectively, within 30 min. At this same ratio, neutrophils during gravity sedimentation with zymosan particles synthesized LTB4 in a time-dependent manner for at least 45 min. The maximum amount of immunoreactive LTB4 released into supernatants was 3.8 +/- 1.2 ng per 10(6) neutrophils (mean +/- SD, n = 5) and the corresponding total immunoreactive LTB4 was 6.2 +/- 1.9 ng per 10(6) neutrophils. Treatment of 2 x 10(7) suspended neutrophils with 250 micrograms of trypsin for 20 min before concurrent assessment of neutrophil phagocytosis and LTB4 production reduced both of these responses by about 50%. Pretreatment of neutrophils with 800 micrograms/ml of soluble yeast beta-glucan inhibited their ingestion of zymosan by 84% (mean +/- SD, n = 3), with 50% inhibition occurring with 100 micrograms/ml of soluble beta-glucan; 800 micrograms/ml of soluble yeast alpha-mannan had no inhibitory effect. Pretreatment of neutrophils with 400 micrograms/ml of soluble yeast beta-glucan inhibited neutrophil synthesis of LTB4 by 90%, with 50% occurring with 200 micrograms/ml; 400 micrograms/ml of soluble yeast alpha-mannan had no inhibitory effect. The presence of 1.25 micrograms/ml of cytochalasin B during incubation with zymosan particles reduced neutrophil phagocytosis from 65 to 6%, and neutrophil synthesis of LTB4 from total levels of 6.0 +/- 0.3 ng/10(6) cells to zero (mean +/- SD, n = 3). Pretreatment with either cytochalasin B or vinblastine did not alter neutrophil generation of LTB4 induced by calcium ionophore. Neutrophils pretreated with vinblastine, at 4 x 10(-6) to 4 x 10(-4) M, and then maintained at one-half these concentrations during incubation with unopsonized zymosan particles exhibited no diminution in particle ingestion, but were markedly reduced in zymosan-induced synthesis of LTB4. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
B-type natriuretic peptide release in the coronary effluent after acute transient ischaemia in humans

Background: The association between B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) and coronary artery disease is not fully understood. Objective: To assess whether ischaemia per se is a stimulus for BNP secretion. Setting: University tertiary hospital, Spain (Virgen de la Arrixaca). Design: Prospective interventional study. Patients: 11 patients (55 (9) years, left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) 45% (7%) with a non-complicated anterior myocardial infarction (MI) and isolated stenosis of the left anterior descending (LAD) coronary artery, successfully treated by primary angioplasty. Interventions: 11.0 (0.9) days after MI, the LAD was occluded (20 min) for intracoronary infusion of progenitor cells. Blood samples were obtained from the femoral artery (peripheral circulation (PC)) and the coronary sinus (coronary circulation (CC)) immediately before and after coronary occlusion. Main outcome measures: BNP (pg/ml) was measured and ischaemia biomarkers were monitored. Results: During coronary occlusion, all patients experienced transitory chest pain and ST-segment dynamic changes. After coronary occlusion, lactic acid levels rose in CC (1.42 (0.63) –1.78 (0.68) ng/ml, p = 0.003). Myoglobin and cardiac troponin T did not differ in CC or PC at 24 h. No differences were found in LVEF (+0.18% (2.4)%, p = 0.86) and motion score index (–0.02 (0.06), p = 0.37). Before occlusion, BNP levels did not differ significantly in CC versus PC (253 (56) vs 179 (34), p = 0.093). After occlusion, BNP showed a significant increase in CC (vs 332 (61), p = 0.004), but no change occurred in PC (vs 177 (23), p = 0.93), and circulating BNP levels were higher in CC versus PC (p = 0.008). Conclusions: In response to acute ischaemia, BNP levels immediately increase in coronary sinus but not at the peripheral level. BNP release in the coronary effluent may exert local beneficial effects.
Characterization of radial force and radial stiffness in Ca(2+)‐activated skinned fibres of the rabbit psoas muscle.

1. When chemically skinned muscle fibres are activated by Ca2+ at an ionic strength of 170 mM, the spacing between the filaments has been shown to decrease with increasing force, suggesting that the cross‐bridges can generate force not only in the axial but also in the radial direction. In the present study, radial force and radial stiffness of activated single skinned rabbit psoas fibres were studied by X‐ray diffraction. The responses of the lattice spacing to changes in osmotic pressure by application of dextran T500, which is equivalent to force applied in the radial direction, was examined. The radial force generated by the attached cross‐bridges was calculated, with the approximation that a negligible fraction of cross‐bridges was attached in the relaxed muscle at the same ionic strength of 170 mM. 2. The active radial force was found to be a slightly non‐linear function of lattice spacing, reaching zero at 34 nm. The radial force was compressive at lattice spacing greater than 34 nm and expansive at less than 34 nm. 3. The active axial force, on the other hand, was found to be much less affected by the application of dextran T500. Active axial force increased by 4% to a plateau at 4% dextran T500 and then decreased by 10% at 8% dextran T500. 4. While not under osmotic pressure, the radial force of the activated fibre was determined to be 400 pN (single thick filament)‐1. This is of the same order of magnitude as the axial force. The radial stiffness was also comparable to the axial stiffness at 7 pN (thick filament)‐1 (0.1 nm)‐1. 5. The radial elasticity of the fully activated fibre differs significantly from that of the fibre in rigor. The radial stiffness exhibited by fibres in rigor was approximately five times higher, at 30 pN (thick filament)‐1 (0.1 nm)‐1 and the point where the radial force reached zero was 38 nm. 6. In the activated state, the point at which radial force reaches zero is independent of the level of Ca2+ activation, i.e. independent of the number of cross‐bridges attached to actin in the force‐generating state. We suggest that the zero‐force point is equivalent to the equilibrium point of a spring and is an intrinsic property of the radial elasticity of the cross‐bridge. 7. It is concluded that activated and rigor cross‐bridges exhibit a spring‐like property in the radial direction. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
Identification and characterization of ZIIBC, a complex formed by cellular factors and the ZII site of the Epstein-Barr virus BZLF1 promoter

The transition from latency to lytic Epstein-Barr virus replication is dependent on the Epstein-Barr virus BZLF1 gene product. Genetic and biochemical attempts to link cellular second-messenger signaling pathways that trigger this transition with the subsequent viral gene cascade have identified functional elements within the BZLF1 promoter (Zp) that appear to bind undefined cellular transcription factors. One of these previously identified sites, ZII, has homology to consensus AP-1 and CREB binding sites, implying a role for these factors in the inductive process. We have identified and characterized ZIIBC, a ZII site binding complex that is distinct from the factors previously proposed to bind this site. Active ZIIBC was found to be present in both uninduced and chemically induced cell extracts at approximately equivalent concentrations. Analysis of the DNA sequence requirements for the binding of ZIIBC to the ZII site shows that sequences homologous to AP-1 and CREB consensus sites are necessary but not sufficient for complex formation. Although the components of ZIIBC that directly contact DNA were found to be of the same molecular masses (26 and 36 kDa) in both uninduced and chemically induced cell extracts, a slight mobility difference between DNA-protein complexes formed by these two types of extracts is observable and indicates that ZIIBC is directly affected by chemical induction. The effects of ZIIBC binding to the ZII site on expression from Zp were evaluated, and they suggest that ZIIBC plays a critical role in the regulation of Zp expression.
Molecular Cloning and Characterization of Complementary and Genomic DNA Clones for Mouse C4 and SLP

Mouse complement C4 are composed of two isotypes (C4 and Sip) encoded by two genes derived by gene duplication from a common ancester (reviewed by Shreffier 1982). Thus, these two proteins (C4 and Sip) display extensive structural homology (Karp et al. 1982a, Parker et al. 1979) and undergo essentially the same postsynthetic processing (Roos et al. 1978). The C4 gene and the Sip gene are closely linked and both are located within the S region of H-2 complex. Recent molecular genetic studies confirmed that the DNA sequences encoding mouse C4 and Sip were contained in an extensive tandem duplication of genomic DNA in the S region of BALB/c mouse (Chaplin et al. 1983, 1984). Mouse C4 and Sip have attracted the interest of many researchers primarily for two reasons. First, mouse C4 and Sip provide us with an excellent model with which structure-function relationship in multi-function proteins like complement can be studied. In spite of their extensive structural homology, mouse C4 and Sip display one definite functional difference: while C4 shows hemolytic activity. Sip does not (Ferreira et al. 1978). Secondly, the biosynthesis and the expression of mouse CA and Sip are regulated by H-2-linked genetic elements which have many fascinating aspects in terms of gene regulation in eukaryotic cells. For example, in certain mouse strains carrying Sip' allele, the expression of Sip is under strict control of testosterone, that is. Sip is present only in male adult mice (hence it is termed sex-limited protein). In mouse strains carrying Sip" allele. Sip is not detected either in male or female mice. In mouse strains carrying Sip*', Sip is constitutive; namely, it is found both in males and females, castrated
A controlled study comparing visual function in patients treated with vigabatrin and tiagabine

Objective: Vigabatrin treatment is frequently associated with irreversible retinal injury and produces retinal electrophysiological changes in nearly all patients. Concern has been raised that tiagabine and other antiepilepsy drugs (AEDs) that increase brain γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) might produce similar electrophysiological and clinical changes in visual function. The study compared visual function between groups of patients with epilepsy treated long term with tiagabine, vigabatrin, and patients treated with other AEDs. Methods: A cross sectional study comparing visual acuity, colour vision, static and kinetic perimetry, and electroretinograms between groups of patients treated with tiagabine, vigabatrin, and other AEDs (control patients). Patients were adults receiving stable AED treatment for >6 months. Results: Vigabatrin treated patients had marked visual field constrictions in kinetic perimetry (mean radius 39.6° OD, 40.5° OS), while tiagabine patients had normal findings (mean 61° OD, 62° OS) (differences OD and OS, p=0.001), which were similar to epilepsy control patients (mean 60° OD, 61° OS). Vigabatrin patients had abnormal electroretinographic photopic B wave, oscillatory, and flicker responses, which correlated with visual field constrictions. These electroretinographic responses were normal for tiagabine patients and control patients. Patients were treated with vigabatrin for a median of 46 months compared with 29 months for tiagabine. Patients taking other AEDs that may change brain GABA had normal visual function. Conclusion: Unlike vigabatrin, tiagabine treatment is associated with normal electroretinography and visual fields and ophthalmological function similar to epilepsy control patients. Differences between vigabatrin and other GABA modulating AEDs in retinal drug concentrations and other effects might explain why tiagabine increases in GABA reuptake do not cause retinal injury.
A Novel, Multi-Faceted Perception of Lactate in Neurology

Lactate has become one of the most re-evaluated metabolites in energy metabolism, particularly as a shuttle in neuroenergetics (Mason, 2017; Ferguson et al., 2018). In a comprehensive review in 2018, Brooks, one of the originators of the “lactate shuttle” concept, discusses the roles that lactate plays in the delivery of oxidative, and gluconeogenic substrates, as well as in cell signaling (Brooks, 2018). Brooks also appraises clinical studies that feature lactate to treat pro-inflammatory conditions, as well as reports on historic and recent studies of lactate metabolism and shuttling. A pioneering astrocyte–neuron lactate shuttle (ANLS) hypothesis was first proposed in 1994 by Pellerin and Magistretti for homeostatic conditions within the brain (Pellerin and Magistretti, 1994). The ANLS hypothesis has withstood challenges for 25 years but remains controversial as scientists continue to debate its validity (Bak and Walls, 2018; Barros and Weber, 2018). I believe, however, that the ANLS hypothesis can be extended beyond homeostatic conditions into neuropathophysiological states. The focus of this short opinion paper is to highlight studies over the past 2 years that support the notion that the route of lactate, as it acts as a shuttle in the brain, in neuropathophysiological states is emerging as crucial in neuroenergetics. This behavior is reviewed inmore detail byMason (2017). Further, this paper presents recent experimental evidence that has emerged supporting an extension of the ANLS—the newly postulated astrocyte–microglia lactate shuttle (AMLS) hypothesis (Mason et al., 2015), as described for the infectious, chronic neuroinflammatory disease tuberculous meningitis (TBM).
Risk of Bladder Cancer Associated with Family History of Cancer: Do Low-Penetrance Polymorphisms Account for the Increase in Risk?

The relationship between family history of cancer in first-degree relatives and risk of bladder cancer was examined in the Spanish Bladder Cancer Study. Information on family history of cancer was obtained for 1,158 newly diagnosed bladder cancer cases and 1,244 controls included in 18 hospitals between 1998 and 2001. A total of 464 (40.1%) cases and 436 (35.1%) controls reported a family history of cancer in ≥1 relative [odds ratio (OR), 1.32; 95% confidence interval (95% CI), 1.11-1.59]; the OR was 1.23 (95% CI, 1.01-1.50) among those with only one relative affected and 1.67 (95% CI, 1.23-2.29) among those with ≥2 affected relatives (Ptrend = 0.0004). A greater risk of bladder cancer was observed among those diagnosed at age ≤45 years (OR, 2.67; 95% CI, 1.10-6.50) compared with those diagnosed over age 45 years (OR, 1.27; 95% CI, 1.06-1.52). The OR of bladder cancer among subjects reporting a family history of cancer of the bladder was 2.34 (95% CI, 0.95-5.77). Statistically significant associations emerged between bladder cancer risk and family history of cancer of the esophagus, lung, prostate, and brain. The OR of bladder cancer for those reporting family history of bladder cancer was 4.76 (95% CI, 1.25-18.09) among NAT2-slow acetylators and 1.17 (95% CI, 0.17-7.86) among NAT2-rapid/intermediate acetylators (Pinteraction = 0.609). Among individuals with GSTM1 null and present genotypes, the corresponding ORs were 2.91 (95% CI, 0.44-19.09) and 4.21 (95% CI, 1.26-14.14), respectively (Pinteraction = 0.712). Limitations of our study are small sample size in subgroup analyses, reliability of family history data, and possible residual confounding by shared environmental exposures. Overall, our findings support the hypothesis that genetic factors play a role in bladder cancer etiology. Whether these correspond to low-penetrance cancer-predisposing polymorphisms acting together and/or interacting with environmental factors warrants further research. (Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2007;16(8):1595–600)