Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
T cell surface redox levels determine T cell reactivity and arthritis susceptibility

Rats and mice with a lower capacity to produce reactive oxygen species (ROS) because of allelic polymorphisms in the Ncf1 gene (which encodes neutrophil cytosolic factor 1) are more susceptible to develop severe arthritis. These data suggest that ROS are involved in regulating the immune response. We now show that the lower capacity to produce ROS is associated with an increased number of reduced thiol groups (−SH) on T cell membrane surfaces. Artificially increasing the number of reduced thiols on T cells from animals with arthritis-protective Ncf1 alleles by glutathione treatment lowered the threshold for T cell reactivity and enhanced proliferative responses in vitro and in vivo. Importantly, T cells from immunized congenic rats with an E3-derived Ncf1 allele (DA.Ncf1E3 rats) that cannot transfer arthritis to rats with an arthritis-associated Dark Agouti (DA)-derived mutated Ncf1 allele (DA.Ncf1DA rats) became arthritogenic after increasing cell surface thiol levels. This finding was confirmed by the reverse experiment, in which oxidized T cells from DA.Ncf1DA rats induced less severe arthritis compared with controls. Therefore, we conclude that ROS production as controlled by Ncf1 is important in regulating surface redox levels of T cells and thereby suppresses autoreactivity and arthritis development.
Recognition of social parasites as nest-mates: adoption of colony-specific host cuticular odours by the paper wasp parasite Polistes sulcifer

Colonies of the polistine wasp Polistes dominulus are parasitized by the permanent worker-less social parasite Polistes sulcifer. After usurpation of the host colony, parasite females are characterized by a change in the relative proportions of their cuticular hydrocarbons to match those of the host species. In this paper we present evidence from field data and laboratory experiments that P. sulcifer females adopt a colony–specific host odour that facilitates their acceptance by host females of the usurped colony. Presentation experiments demonstrate that parasite females are recognized as foreign individuals by workers of other parasitized nests. We show that the modification of parasite cuticular compounds is sufficient for this recognition. This provides evidence that, after invasion, P. sulcifer queens do not require appeasement or propaganda substances for their acceptance by host colonies. Furthermore, multivariate discriminant analysis of the cuticular hydrocarbon proportions of the parasites after usurpation assigns the parasites together with P. dominulus females of their own host colony. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first confirmation that social parasites adopt colony–specific host odours.
H∞ consensus of discrete time multi-agent system with communication delay and external disturbance

In this paper, discrete time multi-agent systems (MASs) with communication delays and external disturbances are studied. Since each agent can only obtain information from its neighbor, a consensus protocol considering time delay and relative position of agents is proposed. By constructing the appropriate Lyapunov function, the linear matrix inequality (LMI) is used to establish the H∞ consistency criterion, and the solution is obtained by the cone-complementarity linearization (CCL) algorithm. Simulation example shows the effectiveness of this method.
Therapeutic effects of low-level laser on lateral epicondylitis from differential interventions of Chinese-Western medicine: systematic review.

BACKGROUND Low-level laser therapy (LLLT) is a conservative treatment for lateral epicondylitis (LE), but it is also an alternative intervention between the very different approaches of Chinese and Western medicine. OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to systematically review and meta-analyze the therapeutic effects of LLLT on LE. METHODS We searched several electronic databases, including Medline, PubMed, and CINAHL, and explored studies that were randomized controlled trials on the therapeutic effects of LLLT on LE from 1990 to February 2009. These studies were systematically reviewed for the difference in therapeutic effects among various LLLTs on acupuncture points and on tender and myofascial trigger points (MTrPs). The reviewed therapeutic effects included pain, grip strength, range of motion (ROM), and weight tests, and were compared by meta-analysis. RESULTS We selected ten articles, and in seven of them the irradiation was conducted on tender points or MTrPs in the experimental groups. In two other articles, the irradiation was conducted on acupuncture points, and the last one was conducted on both kinds of points. Only three articles provided sufficient data for meta-analysis. The results revealed that applying LLLT on tender points or MTrPs is an effective means to improve the effect size (ES) of pain release after treatment (pooled ES: 0.71, 95% CI: 0.82- approximately 0.60) and follow-up (pooled ES: 1.05, 95% CI: 1.16- approximately 0.94). LLLT application was also able to increase the grip force, ROM, and weight test (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS We suggest that using LLLT on tender points or MTrPs of LE could effectively improve therapeutic effects.
A new risk grouping for IgD myeloma based on analysis of 165 Japanese patients

Abstract: The common staging systems for myeloma do not include IgD myeloma because its rarity makes analysis difficult. We studied a series of 165 Japanese patients with IgD myeloma retrospectively to assess which of the easily assessable parameters present at the time of diagnosis were of prognostic significance. The important individual variables detected in a previous univariate analysis were placed in a multiple regression model to identify the major prognostic factors for survival. This analysis showed that light‐chain subtype and white blood cell (WBC) count had a strong predictive relationship for the length of survival. These two factors were used to construct a model containing four categories of patients at increased risk for shortened survival. These categories divided the patients into three groups with respective 5‐year survival rates of 66% (low risk), 23% (moderate risk), and 0% (high risk). This new risk grouping showed prognostic validity for IgD myeloma.
Nutritional Factors Affecting the Ratio of Solvents Produced by Clostridium acetobutylicum

Fermentation of whey by Clostridium acetobutylicum yielded butanol and acetone in a ratio of approximately 100:1. This ratio amounted to only 2:1 in synthetic media with glucose, lactose, or glucose plus galactose as substrates. Removal of citrate from whey and addition of minerals resulted in an increase in the amount of acetone produced. Experiments carried out in a chemostat with a low-phosphate synthetic medium revealed that the butanol/acetone ratio could be increased from 2:1 to 3.8:1 by cofermentation of l-lactate and from 2:1 to 8:1 by iron limitation. The performance of the fermentation in a low-iron glucose medium above pH 5.1 yielded l-lactate as the main product.
Direct Generation of 4.6-nJ 78.9-fs Dissipative Solitons in an All-Fiber Net-Normal-Dispersion Er-Doped Laser

We have demonstrated the direct generation of 4.6-nJ 78.9-fs ultrashort pulses with 58 kW peak power in an all-fiber net-normal-dispersion oscillator. Such high peak power is a record in an all-fiber oscillator and is comparable to chirped-pulse amplification systems. The corresponding spectrum has steep spectral edges, which is the typical shape of dissipative solitons (DS). Also, we find that the spectral width is tunable from 40 to 58 nm by adjusting polarization controllers, and the pulse duration can be tuned from 1.7 ps to 120 fs through increasing the pump power, which is attractive to applications. Besides, we demonstrate experimentally the relationship between spectral width and the pump power of DS laser for the first time.
Interaction of murine cytomegalovirus with separated populations of spleen cells

Mouse spleen cultures were infected with murine cytomegalovirus, either before or after separating the cells into various classes, and the growth of virus and production of infectious centers were measured in each cell class. The separation techniques, which were used in various combinations, comprised: adherence to plastic surfaces; adherence to nylon wool columns; gamma irradiation; and treatment with anti-immunoglobulin serum plus complement. The "macrophage population" took up most of the input virus, as shown by autoradiography of spleen cells infected with radioactive virus. These cells formed infectious centers but replicated the virus only transiently. In contrast, the "B-lymphocyte population" contained a minor cell fraction which was permissive for replication. The "T-lymphocyte population" appeared to be nonpermissive for replication and did not produce infectious centers.
Parts per million CH4 chemoresistor sensors based on multi wall carbon nanotubes/metal-oxide nanoparticles

This paper presents a novel atomic layer deposition (ALD) based ZnO functionalization of surface pretreated multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) for highly sensitive methane chemoresistive sensors. The temperature optimization of the ALD process leads to enhanced ZnO nanoparticle functionalization and improvement in their crystalline quality as shown by transmission electron microscopy. Here we propose a facile and effective top-down method for the high-yield fabrication of chemoresistor sensors making use of MWCNTs/ZnO composite. The behavior of MWCNTs/ZnO sensors in presence of methane concentrations down to 10 ppm level has been investigated. The sensor is currently being tested under a range of conditions that include potentially interfering gases and changes to relative humidity.
Between canonical and antibacterial autophagy: Rab7 is required for GAS-containing autophagosome-like vacuole formation

Group A streptococcus (GAS) invades nonphagocytic human cells, but here it is selectively sequestered within GAS-containing autophagosome-like vacuoles (GcAVs) and killed upon fusion of GcAvs with lysosomes. GcAV formation shares core Atg machinery with canonical starvation-induced autophagy. We have recently identified a small GTPase Rab7 as a crucial factor in GcAV formation. Since Rab7 is dispensable in canonical autophagosome formation, this represents a distinction between canonical and anti-bactrial autophagy at the molecular level. We also showed that homotypic fusion of the initial GcAV leads to the formation of large GcAV, which is also unobserved in canonical autophagy.
Improving CBIR using feature extraction based on wavelet transform

The "gap semantic" and the "curse of dimensionality" are two shortcomings of content-based image retrieval techniques that rely on automatic feature extracted from images to process similarity queries. The first one represents the semantic gap that exists between low-level features automatically extracted by a computational system, and the high-level user interpretation of images. The second one involves problems occurring when similarity is defined over high-dimensional feature spaces. This paper shows a method that deals with these both shortcomings. We use discrete wavelet transforms to obtain the image representation from a multiresolution point of view. The feature vectors were composed of the features from the approximation subspace, which succinctly represent the images in the processing of similarity queries. In addition, the multiresolution method was used to reduce the dimensionality of the feature space. This work shows the evaluation of three different image datasets, where the first two are composed of medical images and the third one is a generic image dataset. The results are promising and show an improvement of up to 90% for recall values up to 65%, in the query results using the Daubechies wavelet transform.
Ultra low power analog design and technology for artificial neurons

In a context of the end of Moore's law, energy dissipation constitutes a real challenge. Among the new energy efficient paradigms for data processing, bio-inspired computing is very promising, moreover introducing cognitive characteristics. As applications at very high scale are addressed, the size and energy dissipation of both the neuron and synapse cells needs to be minimized. In this context, this paper presents the design of an original artificial neuron, using standard 65nm CMOS technology with optimized energy efficiency and its application in basic neural networks. By recalling brain and neuron features, it is shown why neuron energy efficiency is roughly limited to 1 pJ/spike in biological neuron. Biological and artificial neurons features are carefully compared, highlighting the importance of downscaling. The artificial neuron circuit presented was designed to exhibit wide band spiking frequencies, targeting large scale bio-inspired information processing applications. The most important feature of the fabricated circuits is the neuron energy efficiency in the few fJ/spike range, which improves prior state-of-the-art by two to three orders of magnitude. This performance is achieved by minimizing two key parameters: the supply voltage and the related membrane capacitance. Meanwhile, the obtained standby power at a resting output does not exceed tens of picowatts. The circuit is sized to 35μm2, reaching a spiking output frequency of 26kHz. It is then shown how this artificial technology has already been used for two applications: (i) emulation of bursting mode, important in brain stimulation context or for robotics (locomotion rhythm), (ii) stochastic resonance application, useful to detect an electrical signal buried in noise, phenomena exploited in nature by species. These results already allow envisioning the development of highly integrated neuro-processors (vision application). A variant circuit (biomimetic) could be used for robotics, neuroscience or medical applications.
The Cognitive Analysis of Semantic Compatibility Degree of Modern Chinese Visual Verbs

visual verb is a special type of verb. Between the semantic characteristics of modern Chinese visual verbs exists relation of compatibility or repulsion. Through calculation and analysis of the compatibility degree, we find that, in semantic characteristics, the relation can be "compatibility" or "repulsion", which is determined by the features of visual behavior itself. In addition, there is no complete consistency between correlative degree of semantic characteristics of visual verbs and the general cognitive intuition.
Impact of Ion Energy and Species on Single Event Effects Analysis

Experimental evidence and Monte-Carlo simulations for several technologies show that accurate SEE response predictions depend on a detailed description of the variability of radiation events (e.g., nuclear reactions), as opposed to the classical single-valued LET parameter. Rate predictions conducted with this simulation framework exhibit excellent agreement with the average observed SEU rate on NASA's MESSENGER mission to Mercury, while a prediction from the traditional IRPP method, which does not include the contribution from ion-ion reactions, falls well below the observed rate. While rate predictions depend on availability of technology information, the approach described here is sufficiently flexible that reasonably accurate results describing the response to irradiation can be obtained even in the absence of detailed information about the device geometry and fabrication process.
Eighteen- to Twenty-Five-Year Follow-up After Acute Partial Anterior Cruciate Ligament Rupture

Of 22 consecutive patients with minor knee instability after a partial rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament, all could be reexamined after a mean of 12 years and all but 1 could be reexamined after a mean of 20 years. Three patients needed surgery during the follow-up period, but nobody had an anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction. The Lysholm knee function score was excellent and did not change between 12 and 20 years. Patients had decreased their activities from contact sports before injury to physical fitness activities at the late follow-up. Four patients changed activities because of a knee problem. The quality of life score was somewhat higher than may be expected in an age-matched average population. At late follow-up, eight patients had a 1 Lachman sign, two a 2 Lachman sign, and one a positive pivot shift. Also at late followup, 7 knees showed no signs of radiographic osteoarthrosis, 10 had Fairbank's signs, and 3 had minor and 1 a major joint space reduction. Of the 12 patients with longitudinal radiographic observation, 3 knees had developed a higher degree of osteoarthrosis, and 9 had remained unchanged. The patients had a mean age of 48 years at the late follow-up. This suggests that the results may be regarded as final outcome after this specific knee injury.
La formation du symbole chez l’enfant

La fonction symbolique est cette faculte proprement humaine de creer des images mentales, des concepts, des symboles, qui permettent de se forger un monde imaginaire, de communiquer, de penser de facon abstraite, de creer des representations complexes du monde. Dans La formation du symbole chez l'enfant, ecrit en 1945, Piaget decrit ce moment decisif du developpement cognitif de l'enfant quand apparait cette capacite de symbolisation.
Self-Organizing Fuzzy Controller Using Command Fusion Method and Genetic Algorithm

According to increase of the factory-automation(FA) in the field of production, the importance of the autonomous guided vehicle`s(AGV) role has also increased. This paper is about an active and effective controller which can flexibly prepare for changeable circumstances. For this study, research about an behavior-based system evolving by itself is also being considered. In this Paper, we constructed an active and effective AGV fuzzy controller to be able to carry out self-organization. To construct it, we tuned suboptimally membership function using a genetic algorithm(GA) and improved the control efficiency by self-correction and the generation of control rules.
Staphylococcus aureus enterotoxins: a key in airway disease?

Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus), one of three pathogenic species of the Gram-positive cocci, is often found as part of the normal microflora of the human skin, the upper respiratory tract, especially the vestibulum nasi, and the intestinal tract. Transmission of the organism is frequently achieved by direct contact with an infected individual, although it may also be airborne or infect via fomites. It is thought that about 25% of the population are permanent carriers of S. aureus and whilst approximately 20% of all human staphylococcal infections are autogenous, several factors have been identified that predispose the host to increased susceptibility to infection by S. aureus (1). These include injury to skin or mucous membrane, abnormal leukocyte function, viral infections (e.g., influenza), metabolic abnormalities (e.g., diabetes mellitus and uraemia) and miscellaneous conditions (e.g., malnutrition, old age, malignancies, etc.). Under appropriate conditions, the organism leads to a variety of clinical conditions, affecting the skin, lungs, heart, central nervous system (CNS), bones and joints, gastrointestinal tract and the blood system (1). Skin infections, lung abscesses, pneumonia, osteomyelitis, food poisoning, fever, scalded skin syndrome and toxic shock syndrome are among the most common conditions. Although the pathogenicity of S. aureus is closely correlated with the production of coagulase enzymes, and many conditions result as a consequence of invasion by the bacterium, these organisms also contain a number of cellular antigens and produce a variety of toxins with superantigenic properties (2, 3). Recent studies of these staphylococcal superantigens have demonstrated that they can influence the activity of both immunomodulatory and pro-inflammatory effector cell types, and therefore may have a potentially important role in the pathogenesis of chronic inflammatory disease.
Terminator: An Efficient and Light-weight Fault Localization Framework

Network fault localization has always been a major challenge for efficient data center operation. In this paper, we propose a faulty link localization framework named “Terminator,” which provides an efficient hierarchical link probing scheme for fault localization. With both local and global probing, Terminator conserves the spine link bandwidth and localizes faulty link with high accuracy. We implement a prototype of Terminator and show that it outperforms existing benchmarks, including 007 [7], TOMO [5], PLL [6], and NetBouncer [2]. In particular, Terminator achieves an average of 37.5% internal problem-solving rate and improves the localization accuracy of 007 to nearly 100% in fat-tree topologies.
Managing Baltic Sea Fisheries under Contrasting Production and Predation Regimes: Ecosystem Model Analyses

Abstract Based on an earlier published ecosystem model, we have explored possible effects of different management scenarios for the Baltic Sea. The scenarios include an oligotrophication of the system, a drastic increase in the number of seals, and changes in the fishery management. From these simulations we conclude that fisheries, seals, and eutrophication all have strong and interacting impacts on the ecosystem. These interactions call for integrated management. The modeling highlights the potential for conflicts among management mandates such as flourishing fisheries, rebuilt seal populations, and substantially reduced eutrophication. The results also suggest that fisheries management reference points have to be adjusted in response to changes in the presence of natural predators or ecosystem productivity.
Type 1 diabetes is associated with increased risk of several cancers

People with type 1 diabetes have a higher incidence of cancer of the liver, pancreas, kidney, endometrium, and ovary and a lower incidence of prostate cancer than the general population, an analysis of diabetes registers across five countries has shown.1 Previous research has found that people with diabetes have a 20-25% higher incidence of cancer than people without diabetes, but most studies have looked at type 2 diabetes. Researchers analysed data from nationwide diabetes registers in Australia (2000-08), Denmark (1995-2014), Finland (1972-2012), Scotland (1995-2012), and Sweden (1987-2012). They found 9149 cases of …
The Properties of the Protein Tyrosine Phosphatase PTPMEG*

We previously cloned a cDNA encoding a protein tyrosine phosphatase (PTP) containing sequence homology to protein 4.1, designated PTPMEG. Recombinant protein and amino- and carboxyl-terminal peptides were used to obtain polyclonal antibodies against PTPMEG to identify endogenous PTPMEG in A172 cells and to show that the enzyme is primarily localized to the membrane and cytoskeletal fractions of these cells. We prepared recombinant protein in Sf9 and COS-7 cells to further characterize it. The protein was phosphorylated in both cell types on serine and threonine residues. The multiple sites of phosphorylation were all within the intermediate domain of the protein between amino acids 386 and 503. This region also contains two PEST sequences and two proline-rich motifs that may confer binding to Src homology 3 domains. The recombinant protein was cleaved by trypsin and calpain in this region and thereby activated 4-8-fold as assayed using Raytide as substrate. We immunoprecipitated the protein from human platelets with both amino- and carboxyl-terminal antipeptide antibodies to assess the state of the enzyme in these cells. The full-length molecule was found in extracts from unstimulated platelets, whereas extracts from both calcium ionophore- and thrombin-treated platelets contained proteolyzed and activated forms of the enzyme, indicating that proteolysis by calpain is evoked in response to thrombin. Prior incubation of platelets with calpeptin, an inhibitor of calpain, blocked the agonist-induced proteolysis.