Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Regulation of the inflammatory response in asthma by mast cell products

In airways, mast cells lie adjacent to nerves, blood vessels and lymphatics, which highlights their pivotal importance in regulating allergic inflammatory processes. In asthma, mast cells are predominantly activated by IgE receptor cross linking. In response to activation, preformed mediators that are stored bound to proteoglycans, for example, TNF‐α, IL‐4, IL‐13, histamine, tryptase and chymase, are released. New synthesis of arachidonic acid metabolites (leukotriene C4 (LTC4), leukotriene B4 (LTB4) and prostaglandin D2 (PGD2)) and further cytokines is stimulated. Mediators from degranulating mast cells are critical to the pathology of the asthmatic lung. Mast cell proteases stimulate tissue remodelling, neuropeptide inactivation and enhanced mucus secretion. Histamine stimulates smooth muscle cell contraction, vasodilatation and increased venular permeability and further mucus secretion. Histamine induces IL‐16 production by CD8+ cells and airway epithelial cells; IL‐16 is an important early chemotactic factor for CD4+ lymphocytes. LTC4, LTB4 and PGD2 affect venular permeability and can regulate the activation of immune cells. The best characterized mast cell cytokine in asthmatic inflammation is TNF‐α, which induces adhesion molecules on endothelial cells and subsequent transmigration of inflammatory leucocytes. IL‐13 is critical to development of allergic asthma, although its mode of action is less clear.
Harmonica: A Framework of Heterogeneous Computing Systems With Memristor-Based Neuromorphic Computing Accelerators

Following technology scaling, on-chip heterogeneous architecture emerges as a promising solution to combat the power wall of microprocessors. This work presents Harmonica-a framework of heterogeneous computing system enhanced by memristor-based neuromorphic computing accelerators (NCAs). In Harmonica, a conventional pipeline is augmented with a NCA which is designed to speedup artificial neural network (ANN) relevant executions by leveraging the extremely efficient mixed-signal computation capability of nanoscale memristor-based crossbar (MBC) arrays. With the help of a mixed-signal interconnection network (M-Net), the hierarchically arranged MBC arrays can accelerate the computation of a variety of ANNs. Moreover, an inline calibration scheme is proposed to ensure the computation accuracy degradation incurred by the memristor resistance shifting within an acceptable range during NCA executions. Compared to general-purpose processor, Harmonica can achieve on average 27.06 × performance speedup and 25.23 × energy savings when the NCA is configured with auto-associative memory (AAM) implementation. If the NCA is configured with multilayer perception (MLP) implementation, the performance speedup and energy savings can be boosted to 178.41 × and 184.24 ×, respectively, with slightly degraded computation accuracy. Moreover, the performance and power efficiency of Harmonica are superior to the designs with either digital neural processing units (D-NPUs) or MBC arrays cooperating with a digital interconnection network. Compared to the baseline of general-purpose processor, the classification rate degradation of Harmonica in MLP or AAM is less than 8% or 4%, respectively.
Nano-Scale Effect in Adhesive Friction of Sliding Rough Surfaces

Study of contact and friction at multiple length scales is necessary for the effective design and analysis of surfaces in sliding microand nano-electromechanical systems (MEMS/NEMS). As loading forces decrease in such applications, the size of the asperity contacts tends to decrease into the nano scale regime. Also with the increase in surface area to volume ratio in such systems, the surface force or adhesion becomes more prominent in contributing to surface interaction effects. Since the friction force depends on the real area of contact, which is strongly influenced by the presence of surface forces and surface roughness, it is important to analyze the effect of adhesion and roughness on the frictional behavior of small scale sliding systems. In the present study, the Hurtado and Kim model for the behavior of the friction stress is incorporated into the multi-asperity adhesive contact model of Roy Chowdhury and Ghosh which includes the asperity adhesion forces using the Johnson-Kendall-Roberts adhesion model. The well-established elastic adhesion index along with the plasticity index is used to consider the different conditions that arise as a result of varying load, material parameters and contact size. Results are obtained as the variation of coefficient of friction versus normal load for different combinations of the controlling parameters. It is found that the nano-scale effect in multi-asperity contacts is dominant for low values of adhesion index, small normal load and elastic contact conditions.
Amniotic Fluid Embolism

Amniotic fluid embolism remains one of the most devastating conditions in obstetric practice with an incidence of approximately 1 in 40,000 deliveries and a reported mortality rate ranging from 20% to 60%. The pathophysiology appears to involve an abnormal maternal response to fetal tissue exposure associated with breaches of the maternal–fetal physiologic barrier during parturition. This response and its subsequent injury appear to involve activation of proinflammatory mediators similar to that seen with the classic systemic inflammatory response syndrome. Progress in our understanding of this syndrome continues to be hampered by a lack of universally acknowledged diagnostic criteria, the clinical similarities of this condition to other types of acute critical maternal illness, and the presence of a broad spectrum of disease severity. Clinical series based on population or administrative databases that do not include individual chart review by individuals with expertise in critical care obstetrics are likely to both overestimate the incidence and underestimate the mortality of this condition by the inclusion of women who did not have amniotic fluid embolism. Data regarding the presence of risk factors for amniotic fluid embolism are inconsistent and contradictory; at present, no putative risk factor has been identified that would justify modification of standard obstetric practice to reduce the risk of this condition. Maternal treatment is primarily supportive, whereas prompt delivery of the mother who has sustained cardiopulmonary arrest is critical for improved newborn outcome.
A framework of medical equipment management system for in-house clinical engineering department

Medical equipment management is an important issue for safety and cost in modern hospital operation. In addition, the use of an efficient information system effectively promotes the managing performance. In this study, we designed a framework of medical equipment management system used for in-house clinical engineering department. The system was web-based, and it integrated clinical engineering and hospital information system components. Through related information application, it efficiently improved the operation management of medical devices immediately and continuously. This system has run in the National Taiwan University Hospital. The results showed only few examples in the error analysis of medical equipment by the maintenance sub-system. The information can be used to improve work quality, to reduce the maintenance cost, and to promote the safety of medical device used in patients and clinical staffs.
Impact of surgical margin clearance for resection of secondary hepatic malignancies

Over the past several decades, there has been increasing discussion regarding the optimal management of secondary liver malignancies. Traditionally, resection has only been recommended if it could be accomplished with negative microscopic margins of at least 10 mm. However, many investigators have pushed this limit to offer resection to patients with narrower margins. We review the data regarding the impact of margin clearance on outcomes for patients undergoing hepatic metastasectomy. J. Surg. Oncol. 2016;113:289–295. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Infestation with pathogen-free nymphs of the tick Ixodes scapularis induces host resistance to transmission of Borrelia burgdorferi by ticks

Female BALB/c mice were infested four times with pathogen-free Ixodes scapularis nymphs prior to infestation with nymphs infected with Borrelia burgdorferi B31. Each infestation was separated by a 14-day tick-free period. Mean weights of fed ticks and percentage reaching repletion did not indicate development of acquired resistance. Only 16.7% of mice repeatedly infested with pathogen-free ticks prior to infected I. scapularis nymph challenge became positive for B. burgdorferi. One hundred percent of control mice infested only with infected ticks were culture positive for B. burgdorferi.
Effect of Sirolimus on Calcineurin Inhibitor-Induced Nephrotoxicity Using Renal Expression of KLOTHO, an Antiaging Gene

Background. The aim of this study was to observe the effect of sirolimus (SRL) on calcineurin inhibitor (CNI)-induced nephrotoxicity in the aging process by using renal expression of KLOTHO, an antiaging gene. Methods. Mice were treated with vehicle (VH; 1 mL/kg/day of olive oil), cyclosporine A (CsA; 30 mg/kg/day), or tacrolimus (FK; 1 mg/kg/day) with or without SRL (0.3 mg/kg/day) for 2 weeks. KLOTHO expression was evaluated by using reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction, immunoblotting, and immunohistochemistry. Oxidative stress was evaluated by using immunohistochemistry and urinary excretion of 8-hydroxy-2′-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG). The calcium metabolism was evaluated by using renal ectopic calcification, serum intact parathyroid hormone level, and renal fibroblast factor 23 (FGF23) expression. Results. Treatment with CsA or FK alone significantly decreased KLOTHO expression and increased urinary 8-OHdG excretion compared with VH treatment but SRL treatment did not. Treatment SRL+CsA or SRL+FK further decreased KLOTHO expression and increased urinary 8-OHdG excretion compared with treatment of CsA or FK alone. There was a strong correlation between KLOTHO expression and urinary 8-OHdG excretion (r=−0.893; P<0.001). Treatment of CsA or FK alone increased renal ectopic calcification and serum intact parathyroid hormone level and decreased renal FGF23 expression compared with VH treatment (P<0.05) but SRL treatment did not. Treatment with SRL+CNI aggravated these parameters compared with CNI alone. Conclusions. SRL accelerates the CNI-induced oxidative process by down-regulating the renal antioxidant KLOTHO expression in the kidney.
Structures of Human Steroidogenic Cytochrome P450 17A1 with Substrates*

Background: Structural information for substrate binding to human steroidogenic cytochrome P450 17A1 (CYP17A1) is unavailable. Results: Within a common overall orientation, different steroids adopt subtly different positions. Conclusion: Steric and hydrogen-bonding modulation of lateral/vertical orientation controls CYP17A1-mediated steroid oxidation. Significance: Understanding the CYP17A1 mechanism provides opportunities for better targeted drug design. The human cytochrome P450 17A1 (CYP17A1) enzyme operates at a key juncture of human steroidogenesis, controlling the levels of mineralocorticoids influencing blood pressure, glucocorticoids involved in immune and stress responses, and androgens and estrogens involved in development and homeostasis of reproductive tissues. Understanding CYP17A1 multifunctional biochemistry is thus integral to treating prostate and breast cancer, subfertility, blood pressure, and other diseases. CYP17A1 structures with all four physiologically relevant steroid substrates suggest answers to four fundamental aspects of CYP17A1 function. First, all substrates bind in a similar overall orientation, rising ∼60° with respect to the heme. Second, both hydroxylase substrates pregnenolone and progesterone hydrogen bond to Asn202 in orientations consistent with production of 17α-hydroxy major metabolites, but functional and structural evidence for an A105L mutation suggests that a minor conformation may yield the minor 16α-hydroxyprogesterone metabolite. Third, substrate specificity of the subsequent 17,20-lyase reaction may be explained by variation in substrate height above the heme. Although 17α-hydroxyprogesterone is only observed farther from the catalytic iron, 17α-hydroxypregnenolone is also observed closer to the heme. In conjunction with spectroscopic evidence, this suggests that only 17α-hydroxypregnenolone approaches and interacts with the proximal oxygen of the catalytic iron-peroxy intermediate, yielding efficient production of dehydroepiandrosterone as the key intermediate in human testosterone and estrogen synthesis. Fourth, differential positioning of 17α-hydroxypregnenolone offers a mechanism whereby allosteric binding of cytochrome b5 might selectively enhance the lyase reaction. In aggregate, these structures provide a structural basis for understanding multiple key reactions at the heart of human steroidogenesis.
A High-Level Language for Programming Complex Temporal Behaviors and Its Translation into Synchronous Circuits

We present YASL, a synchronous programming language that supports highlevel programming of finite-state machines by providing a rich set of control constructs for specifying complex temporal behaviors and an automatic procedure for translating such high-level temporal specifications into finite-state machines in the form of synchronous circuits. In addition to operators for expressing watchdog, conditional, sequencing, and concurrency, YASL offers a powerful temporal projection operator that supports hierarchical description of temporal behaviors at different granularities of time. This is a summary of a longer paper, in which we describe the syntax and semantics of YASL in detail, explain how to translate it into synchronous circuits without schizophrenia, and compare it with related languages Tempura, Esterel, and Handel. To obtain the full version, please write to the first author.
Code compression using Multi-Level Dictionary

This paper presents a new code compression method in which we merge the Huffman algorithm with the formation of patterns of blocks and three dictionaries. We seek two consecutive blocks in two levels, one of them into compressed code and the other related to uncompressed code. We have used simulation with SimpleScalar and programs from MiBench. Our proposal has achieved a compression rate of 32.6% and 31.9%, respectively, for ARM and MIPS processor.
A Novel Group Search Optimizer Inspired by Animal Behavioural Ecology

In this paper, we propose a novel optimization algorithm, group search optimizer (GSO), which is inspired by animal searching behaviour and group living theory. The algorithm is based on the Producer-Scrounger model, which assumes group members search either for 'finding' (producer) or for 'joining' (scrounger) opportunities. Animal scanning mechanisms (e.g., vision) are incorporated to develop the algorithm. We also employ 'rangers' which perform random walks to avoid entrapment in local minima. When tested against benchmark functions, GSO outperformed competitively with other evolutionary algorithms in terms of accuracy and convergence speed on most of the benchmark functions.
Acteurs et économie des métadonnées du livre en France : analyse et avenir

Dans le cadre de la transformation numerique de la filiere du livre, cet article s’interesse aux enjeux renouveles des metadonnees associees au livre. Dans le contexte francais, nous analysons l’offre de metadonnees portee par differents acteurs marchands et non marchands, et nous comparons la valeur de chacune d’entre elles. Le developpement du livre numerique installe un nouveau contexte et sont pointes, meme limites, des partenariats emergents de production des metadonnees entre bibliotheques, editeurs et intermediaires. La question de la perennite de l’offre intermediaire marchande est examinee ainsi que l’avenir de l’economie des metadonnees du livre de plus en plus diversifiees pour repondre a de nouveaux services.
High-yield expression of recombinant SARS coronavirus nucleocapsid protein in methylotrophic yeast Pichia pastoris.

AIM Nucleocapsid (N) protein plays an important role in reproduction and pathological reaction of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) coronavirus (SCoV), the antigenicity of the protein is better than spike (S) protein. This study was to find a highly specific and antigenic recombinant SCoV nucleocapsid (rSCoVN) protein, and to provide a basis for further researches on early diagnosis of SARS. METHODS Full length cDNA of SCoV nucleocapsid (SCoVN) protein was amplified through polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and cloned into yeast expression vector pPIC3.5K to construct plasmid of pPIC3.5K-SCoVN. The plasmid was linearized and then transformed into Pichia pastoris (P.pastoris) GS115 (His-Mut+) by electroporation. His(+)Mut(+) recombinant strains were identified by PCR and cultivated on MM/MD plates. The influence of different factors on biomass and rSCoVN protein production during induction phase, such as various induction media, dissolved oxygen (DO) and different final concentrations of methanol, was subsequently studied. The expression level and activation were detected by SDS-PAGE and Western-blot respectively. RESULTS All of the recombinants were His(+)Mut(+) after transformation of P.pastoris with linearized plasmids. The BMMY medium was optimal for recombinant ScoVN (rSCoVN) protein expression and growth of the recombinant strains. The final optimal concentration of methanol was 20 mL/L, the DO had a significant effect on rSCoVN protein expression and growth of recombinant strains. The rSCoVN protein expressed in recombinant strains was about 8% of the total cell protein, 520 mg/L of rSCoVN protein was achieved, and a maximum cell A at 600 nm of 62 was achieved in shake flask culture. The rSCoVN protein had a high specificity against mouse-anti-SARS-CoVN-mAb and SARS positive sera, but had no cross-reaction with normal human serum. The biological activity of rSCoVN expressed in P.pastoris was about 4-fold higher than that expressed in E.coli when the same rSCoVN protein quantity was used. CONCLUSION Active recombinant severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) coronavirus nucleocapsid (rSCoVN) protein can be successfully expressed in recombinant methylotrophic yeast P.pastoris GS115. The rSCoVN protein has a high specificity against SARS-CoVN-mAb and SARS positive sera, but has no cross-reaction with normal human serum. This provides a basis for further researches on the early diagnosis of SARS and the mechanism of SCoV.
Bacteriostatic enterochelin-specific immunoglobulin from normal human serum

Heat-inactivated normal human serum produces iron-reversible bacteriostasis of a number of microorganisms. This inhibitory effect was abolished by adsorption of serum with ultraviolet-killed cells of species that produce the siderophore enterochelin. Bacteriostasis also was alleviated by adsorption of serum with 2,3-dihydroxy-N-benzoyl-L-serine, a degradation product of enterochelin, bound to the insoluble matrix AH-Sepharose 4B. The adsorption process did not add iron or enterochelin to serum, nor did it remove transferrin. The immunoglobulin fraction from normal human serum was isolated; when added to a defined medium (M199) prepared so as to mimic normal human serum, the immunoglobulin rendered the medium inhibitory to an enterochelin-defective strain of Salmonella typhimurium. Adsorption of this medium with AH-Sepharose 4B-2,3-dihydroxy-N-benzoyl-L-serine removed the inhibition. Our results indicate that enterochelin-specific immunoglobulins exist in normal human serum. These immunoglobulins may act synergistically with transferrin to effect bacteriostasis of enterochelin-producing pathogens.
A deadbeat observer for LTI systems by time/output-dependent state mapping

In this paper, we propose a deadbeat state observer for LTI systems having the same dimension of the observed system and with no discontinuous high-gain injection. An invertible time/output dependent coordinate transformation is introduced to convert the original system to a so-named deadbeat observer canonical form, which is endowed with the key property of having known initial conditions. A state observer is then designed for the transformed system, providing deadbeat convergence of the estimates in the ideal case. Remarkably, in presence of noisy input and output signals, the estimation error is proved to be ISS with respect to the measurement noise and its bound is characterized theoretically. Numerical simulations are carried out to examine the effectiveness of the proposed observer in comparison with an existing finite-time method.
Philipp Sadowski “ Ashamed to be Selfish ” Second Version PIER Working Paper 09-014

We study a two-stage choice problem. In the rst stage, the decision maker (DM) chooses a set of payo¤-allocations between herself and a passive recipient. In the second stage, DM chooses an allocation from the set. The recipient is only aware of the second stage choice. Choosing sel shly in the second stage, in the face of a fairer available alternative, may inict shame on DM. We axiomatize a representation of DMs preferences over sets that identi es DMs sel sh ranking, her norm of fairness and shame. It has been suggested that altruism is a prominent motive for non-sel sh choice. We identify a condition under which shame to be sel sh can mimic altruism, when the experimenter only records the second stage choice. An additional condition implies that the norm of fairness can be characterized as the Nash solution of a bargaining game induced by the second-stage choice problem. The representation is applied to a simple strategic situation, a game of trust. JEL Classi cations: C78, D63, D64, D80, D81
Nitric oxide and vascular insulin resistance

Obesity and type‐II diabetes are growing major health issues worldwide. They are the leading risk factors for vascular insulin resistance, which plays an important role in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular disease, the leading cause of death in developed nations. Recent studies have shown that reduced synthesis of nitric oxide (NO; a major vasodilator) from L‐arginine in endothelial cells is a major factor contributing to the impaired action of insulin in the vasculature of obese and diabetic subjects. The decreased NO generation results from a deficiency of (6R)‐5,6,7,8‐tetrahydrobiopterin [BH4; an essential cofactor for NO synthase (NOS)], as well as increased generation of glucosamine (an inhibitor of the pentose cycle for the production of NADPH, another cofactor for NOS) from glucose and L‐glutamine. Accordingly, endothelial dysfunction can be prevented by (1) enhancement of BH4 synthesis through supplementation of its precursor (sepiapterin) via the salvage pathway; (2) transfer of the gene for GTP cyclohydrolase‐I (the first and key regulatory enzyme for de novo synthesis of BH4); or (3) dietary supplementation of L‐arginine (which stimulates GTP cyclohydrolase‐I expression and inhibits hexosamine production). Modulation of the arginine–NO pathway by BH4 and arginine is beneficial for ameliorating vascular insulin resistance in obesity and diabetes. © 2009 International Union of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Inc.