Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Manganese Complexes of Curcumin Analogues: Evaluation of Hydroxyl Radical Scavenging Ability, Superoxide Dismutase Activity and Stability towards Hydrolysis

In order to improve the antioxidant property of curcumin and its analogue, diacetylcurcumin, manganese was incorporated into the structures in order to enhance superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity. Manganese (Mn) complexes of curcumin (CpCpx) and diacetylcurcumin (AcylCpCpx) were synthesized and firstly investigated for SOD activity and hydroxyl radical (HO•) scavenging ability. SOD activity was evaluated by both the nitroblue tetrazolium (NBT) reduction assay and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) with 5,5-dimethyl-1-pyrroline-N-oxide (DMPO) as a spin trapping agent. CpCpx and AcylCpCpx inhibited the NBT reduction and decreased the DMPO/OOH adduct much greater than corresponding antioxidants or ligands, with IC50 values of 29.9 and 24.7 μM (NBT), and 1.09 and 2.40 mM (EPR), respectively. For EPR, potassium superoxide (KO2) was used as a source of O2-• where qualitative results suggested that CpCpx and AcylCpCpx were SOD mimics, which catalyze the conversion of O2-• to dioxygen and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). Additionally, CpCpx and AcylCpCpx exhibited the great inhibition of DMPO/OH adduct formation with an IC50 of 0.57 and 0.37 mM, respectively, which were comparable to that of curcumin (IC50 of 0.64 mM), indicating that both Mn complexes are also an effective HO• scavenger. The stability against hydrolysis in water, various buffers and human blood/serum was carried out in vitro. It was found that both Mn complexes were pH and salt concentration dependent, being more stable in basic pH. In the human blood/serum test, CpCpx was more stable against hydrolysis than AcylCpCpx with about 10 and 20% of free Mn2+releasing, respectively.
Design of Statically Stable Walking Robot: A Review

The superior mobility characteristics of legged animals compared to those of wheeled or tracked vehicles for off-road locomotion motivated the development of artificial walking machines. The sustained worldwide efforts for the last few decades resulted in a large number of legged robots with different levels of sophistication. Here, various design approaches made so far to realize artificial legged locomotion are discussed. Mainly, different vehicle configurations as well as leg mechanisms which are already explored by researchers are reviewed in brief. The author hopes that this will serve as a brief account of previous research efforts and help future walking robot designers to develop more sophisticated machines. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Risk of persistent or recurrent and intractable upper gastrointestinal bleeding in the era of therapeutic endoscopy.

OBJECTIVES Patients who present to the emergency department with upper gastrointestinal bleeding can have persistent or recurrent (further) bleeding or self-limited bleeding. We performed a study to determine the frequency, risks factors, and impact on outcome of further bleeding. METHODS Clinical predictors of further bleeding were retrospectively identified in 137 consecutive patients presenting to our institution with upper gastrointestinal bleeding in 1994-1995. RESULTS Persistent or recurrent bleeding occurred in 30.7% of the cases, bleeding intractable to endoscopic therapy occurred in 15.3%. Hematemesis (odds ratio [OR] 5.7; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.4-13.1, p = 0.0001) and a initial hemoglobin (OR, 0.8; 95% CI, 0.7-0.96; p = 0.01) were independent risk factors for persistent or recurrent bleeding, whereas liver disease (OR, 6.0; 95% CI, 2.0-18.4; p = 0.002) and hematemesis were independent risk factors for intractable bleeding. The mortality rate was 14.3 and 1%, respectively, in patients with and without further bleeding. In patients who did not present with hematemesis, liver disease, coagulopathy, hypotension, and initial hemoglobin < 11 g/dl, the frequency of further bleeding and mortality was 0%. CONCLUSIONS Persistent, recurrent, and intractable bleeding occurs in a substantial proportion of patients admitted with upper gastrointestinal bleeding. The risk of further bleeding can be estimated on the basis of clinical presentation. Further bleeding is associated with a worse outcome.
Identification of Novel Proteins Secreted by Lactobacillus plantarum That Bind to Mucin and Fibronectin

Lactobacillus plantarum is a lactic acid bacterium that can be isolated from a high variety of fermented foods, including dairy products. In the present work, eight novel proteins secreted by three L. plantarum strains have been identified by tandem mass spectrometry. Seven of them were predicted as extracellular proteins containing putative signal peptides. The sixth, identified as glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH), is a cytoplasmic protein that has been detected on the surface of several microorganisms. Muramidase and GAPDH were secreted only by the L. plantarum BMCM12 strain. Two other bands present in this strain were not identified, in spite of their yielding good tryptic profiles, suggesting an absence of homolog sequences in the molecular databases. Four of these proteins, including GAPDH, bound to mucin and fibronectin. These proteins might play important roles in the physiology and ecology of this bacterium, notably in the interaction with the human host.
Finding a Smallest Augmentation to Biconnect a Graph

The problem of finding a minimum number of edges whose addition biconnects an undirected graph is considered. This problem has been studied by several other researchers, two of whom presented a linear-time algorithm for this problem in an earlier volume of this journal. However, that algorithm contains an error that is exposed in this paper. A corrected linear-time algorithm for this problem, as well as a new efficient parallel algorithm, are presented. The parallel algorithm runs in $O(\log ^2 n)$ time with a linear number of processors on an EREW PRAM, where n is the number of vertices in the input graph.
Fluoroquinolone and macrolide 1 resistance-associated mutations in 2 Mycoplasma genitalium 3 4 5 Antibiotic resistance in Mycoplasma genitalium

13 14 Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, NSW, Australia 15 Centre for Infectious Diseases and Microbiology, Institute of Clinical Pathology and 16 Medical Research, Westmead Hospital, NSW, Australia 17 Western Sydney Sexual Health Centre, Westmead Hospital, NSW, Australia 18 Sydney Emerging Infections and Biosecurity Institute, University of Sydney, NSW, 19 Australia 20 21 22 #kaitlin.tagg@sydney.edu. au 23 neisha.jeoffreys@swahs.health. nsw.gov. au 24 deborah.couldwell@swahs.health. nsw.gov. au 25 jenny.donald@mq.edu. au 26 lyn.gilbert@sydney.edu. au 27 Copyright © 2013, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved. J. Clin. Microbiol. doi:10.1128/JCM.00495-13 JCM Accepts, published online ahead of print on 8 May 2013
Distance-two information in self-stabilizing algorithms

In the state-based self-stabilizing algorithmic paradigm for distributed computing, each node has only a local view of the system (seeing its neighbors' states), yet in a finite amount of time the system converges to a global state satisfying some desired property. In this paper we introduce a general mechanism that allows a node to act only on correct distance-two knowledge, provided there are IDs. We then apply the mechanism to graph problems in the areas of coloring and domination. For example, we obtain an algorithm for maximal 2-packing which is guaranteed to stabilize in polynomial moves under a central daemon.
The Role of Inattention on Academics, Fluid Reasoning, and Visual–Spatial Functioning in Two Subtypes of ADHD

The purpose of this study was to determine whether subtype differences and the role of inattention in children with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder-combined type (ADHD-C) and ADHD-predominately inattentive type (ADHD-PI) and controls on measures of achievement, problem solving, and visual–spatial abilities are present. A secondary purpose was to evaluate the relation between ADHD symptoms and performance on visual–spatial–motor tasks. Children with ADHD-C and ADHD-PI and controls, all aged 8 to 16 years old, were compared on tests of achievement, fluid reasoning, and visual–motor skills. Children with ADHD-C and ADHD-PI performed significantly poorer on the mathematics calculation, written expression, fluid reasoning, and visual–motor tests compared with the controls. Inattention, but not hyperactivity or impulsivity, was found to significantly predict performance on these measures. The role of inattention on these tasks is important for understanding why children with both subtypes of ADHD experience significant academic problems even when performing in the average range on achievement tests.
Intermediate nerve conduction velocities define X‐linked Charcot‐Marie‐Tooth neuropathy families

Three genetic loci for the Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT) syndromes with slow motor nerve conduction velocities (hereditary motor and sensory neuropathy: HMSN type I) have been mapped to chromosomes 1 (CMT1B), 17 (CMT1A), and the X chromosome (CMTX). The clinical features of these three CMT subgroups are similar. To determine whether any clinical features distinguish CMTX families, the range of clinical findings and motor nerve conduction velocities were examined in two large CMTX families with CMTX proven by linkage to X-chromosome markers. CMTX males had more wasting and weakness than CMTX females or individuals with CMT1A. Patellar reflexes were more often retained in CMTX. Motor nerve conduction velocities were faster than in CMT1A. Intermediate-range median nerve conduction velocities were present in CMTX females (45 ± 9 m/sec; range, 26 to 61 m/sec). These velocities were significantly faster than those for CMT1A females (22 ± 8 m/sec, p < 0.0001). Median nerve conduction velocities in CMTX males (31 ± 6 m/sec) were significantly slower than in CMTX females and faster than in CMT1A males (20 ± 6 m/sec, p < 0.0001). The combination of slow conduction velocities in affected males (<40 m/sec) and intermediate-range median motor conduction velocity results (>40 m/sec) in affected or obligate carrier females is a useful distinguishing feature to separate CMTX from CMT1A, as intermediate conduction velocities are not present in autosomal-dominant CMT1A families. This feature defines possible CMTX families for linkage studies. Families with no male-to-male inheritance of the syndrome, slow motor nerve conductions in affected males, and normal or intermediate-range conduction velocities in carrier females should be considered to be X-linked CMT families.
Analysis of free prostate-specific antigen (PSA) after chemical release from the complex with alpha(1)-antichymotrypsin (PSA-ACT).

BACKGROUND Prostate-specific antigen (PSA), a marker for prostate cancer (CaP), forms a covalent complex with alpha(1)-antichymotrypsin (ACT) in human blood. Structural analysis of the PSA-ACT complex is difficult, and complexation may be a reason for biased immunological assays when compared with the analysis of free PSA. We developed a method to cleave the PSA-ACT complex chemically. The liberated PSA was thus available for analysis as free PSA (F-PSA). METHODS PSA was released from the PSA-ACT complex by cleaving the interprotein ester bond with ethanolamine under alkaline conditions. The release was followed by reversed-phase HPLC and an immunoassay for F-PSA. Released PSA obtained from human blood was further immunopurified and analyzed by matrix-assisted laser desorption-induced time of flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrometry. RESULTS In vitro-prepared PSA-ACT complex was completely cleaved by treatment with nucleophilic compounds such as ethanolamine at pH 9-10. The released PSA was stable under these conditions and could be measured by reversed-phase HPLC as well as the ENZYMUN immunoassay for F-PSA. When plasma from a CaP patient [containing 190 microg/L F-PSA and 1890 microg/L total PSA (T-PSA)] was treated under similar conditions, a concentration of approximately 1600 microg/L F-PSA was measured at the end of the incubation, indicating that the PSA-ACT complex was completely cleaved. Two benign prostatic hyperplasia and CaP sera panels (12 and 13 sera, respectively) containing 4-45 microg/L T-PSA were similarly treated. The concentrations of F-PSA measured after incubation were, on average, 85% of the T-PSA values of the untreated sera. Finally, the PSA released from the complex of the CaP plasma was isolated by immunosorption, analyzed by MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry, and compared to PSA obtained from semen. The intact PSA as well as the peptides observed after digestion with endoproteinase Lys C did not reveal any structural difference between the PSA from these two sources. CONCLUSIONS PSA complexed to ACT in plasma of a CaP patient seems to be structurally very similar to the PSA reference material from semen. The release of PSA from the PSA-ACT complex allows F-PSA and T-PSA to be measured by the same immunological assay, thus eliminating any possible bias between two different assays.
Proinflammatory Cytokine Gene Expression in the Stomach Correlates with Vaccine-Induced Protection against Helicobacter pylori Infection in Mice: an Important Role for Interleukin-17 during the Effector Phase

ABSTRACT CD4+ T cells have been shown to be essential for vaccine-induced protection against Helicobacter pylori infection in mice. Less is known about the relative contributions of individual cell subpopulations, such as Th1 and Th17 cells, and their associated cytokines. The aim of the present study was to find immune correlates to vaccine-induced protection and further study their role in protection against H. pylori infection. Immunized and unimmunized mice were challenged with H. pylori, and immune responses were compared. Vaccine-induced protection was assessed by measuring H. pylori colonization in the stomach. Gastric gene expression of Th1- and/or Th17-associated cytokines was analyzed by quantitative PCR, and contributions of individual cytokines to protection were evaluated by antibody-mediated in vivo neutralization. By analyzing immunized and unimmunized mice, a significant inverse correlation between the levels of interleukin-12p40 (IL-12p40), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF), gamma interferon (IFN-γ), and IL-17 gene expression and the number of H. pylori bacteria in the stomachs of individual animals after challenge could be demonstrated. In a kinetic study, upregulation of TNF, IFN-γ, and IL-17 coincided with vaccine-induced protection at 7 days after H. pylori challenge and was sustained for at least 21 days. In vivo neutralization of these cytokines during the effector phase of the immune response revealed a significant role for IL-17, but not for IFN-γ or TNF, in vaccine-induced protection. In conclusion, although both Th1- and Th17-associated gene expression in the stomach correlate with vaccine-induced protection against H. pylori infection, our study indicates that mainly Th17 effector mechanisms are of critical importance to protection.
Interferon induction by viruses. XV. Biological characteristics of interferon induction-suppressing particles of vesicular stomatitis virus.

A single interferon (IFN) induction-suppressing particle (ISP) of vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) blocked completely the yield of IFN in a cell otherwise programmed to produce IFN. With mouse L cells as hosts, one lethal hit of UV radiation (D37 = 52.5 ergs/mm2) to the VSV genome sufficed to inactivate ISP activity; however, with "aged" primary chick embryo cells as hosts, it took 198 lethal hits (D37 = 10,395 ergs/mm2). ISP expression in chick cells did not require virus replication or amplified RNA synthesis, but did involve functional virion-associated L protein. ISP in chick cells also were capable of inhibiting, in a multiplicity-dependent manner, the plaquing efficiency of two viruses that require cellular polymerase II (pol II) for replication, e.g., pseudorabies and influenza. The refractory state to IFN inducibility that resulted from infection of chick cells with ISP (VSV tsO5 [UV = 100 hits]) was still extant after 6 days. In contrast, the plaquing efficiency of pseudorabies virus returned to control levels by 5 h after ISP infection. Chick cells infected with UV ISP remained viable, served as hosts for the replication of other viruses, and could be subcultured. Models are presented to account for these contrasting effects. The involvement of viral plus-strand leader RNA as an inhibitor of cellular pol II-dependent RNA synthesis, and the multifunctional activities of the virion-associated L protein, are discussed as possible molecules involved in the action of ISP in chick cells.
Antiphospholipid Syndrome with Cutaneous Necrotic Lesion of the Lower Limbs

To the Editor: A 71-year-old woman presented with a 7-day history of a tender rash and necrosis on both shins. Six months prior to admission, she first noticed intermittent occurrence of purpura on her legs. She had been taking non-steroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAID) for her joint pain for 2 months and was not taking any anticoagulants. She was a nonsmoker with no history of miscarriages or allergies. Her history was unremarkable and no family history of autoimmune diseases, cancer, diabetes, or coagulopathies was elicited. On examination, she was afebrile with no cardiovascular, respiratory, or abdominal findings. On the lower limbs, there was bilateral involvement with skin necrosis on the medial distal third, more pronounced on the left, which was surrounded by purpura and ecchymosis. In addition, there were erythema and purpura, more confluent on the dorsum of the feet, but also scattered on both lower limbs (Figure 1). Routine investigations including full blood count, urea and electrolytes, and … Address correspondence to Prof. Zheng; E-mail: jie-zheng2001{at}126.com
IT security governance evaluation with use of COBIT 5 framework: A case study on UIN Syarif Hidayatullah library information system

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the application system TULIS in the Main Library of UIN Syarif Hidayatulllah Jakarta by using COBIT 5 framework focuses on the process of managing security (APO13) and managed security services and to know the gap and provide recommendations to top management of the Library. This study used Likert scale calculations. The results of this study are as score value for APO13 was 0.65 and for DSS05 was 0.87 which indicated that both were in the level of capability 1 (Performed Process) but security governance standard has not been well implemented yet. Moreover, value for to beAPO13 was 1.65 and DSS05 was 0.87 which indicated that both were in the capability level 2. Besides upgrading the system, having high standard security policy were among recommendations to overcome the problems. Firewall and SSL (Secure Socket Layer) needed to be implement into the system to protect any attacks.
On the sidelobe reduction of reflector antenna's radiation by using non-periodic grating apertures

This paper presents a non-periodic grating technique to reduce the sidelobe levels of radiation from a reflector antenna. In particular, the theoretic foundation is developed in this paper to examine the possibility of using the grating screen to reduce the sidelobe levels. The grating screens are placed over the reflector's aperture so that it can eliminate the waves that are negative to the sidelobe suppression. Theoretic formulation as well as demonstrating examples will be presented to validate the feasibility.
Semantically-enabled business process models discovery

Business process (BP) model discovery is a pillar technique for BP model reuse. Current discovery approaches cannot deal with the functional granularity gap that exists between BP models on the one hand, and BP queries on the other hand. In addition, they focus only on the structural dimension and do not consider functional and non-functional requirements. In this paper, we present an approach for BP model discovery which resolves the above problems. We present an RDF vocabulary which captures functional and non-functional aspects in addition to the control flow perspective. Having the functional and non-functional descriptions of basic activities, we use a set of algorithms to compute those of structured activities and therefore derive different representations of the same BP model at different granularity levels. Using a set of extraction rules, we build an RDF knowledge base that can be interrogated using SPARQL.
The cochlear compromise.

It is conjectured that the design of the cochlea is influenced by two conflicting requirements: (1) the cochlea should act as a precise frequency analyzer and (2) waves propagating along the basilar membrane should be transmitted without reflections. Accurate frequency analysis is possible only if the mechanical properties of the cochlea change rapidly with distance along the basilar membrane. Reflections of waves traveling on the basilar membrane will be negligible, however, only if these same mechanical properties change slowly. A compromise between these two requirements is possible if a loss constant δ related to the sharpness of response of the basilar membrane to a pure tone is related to the number N of wavelengths of the wave on the basilar membrane [N/(δ)1/2? 1]. Furthermore, if sizable changes in the displacement occur only over distances larger than the width of a hair cell, then δ must be larger than the ratio of the width w of a hair cell to the distance d along the basilar membrane over which.
Scripting computer-supported collaboration by university students 1

The present work studies the virtual collaborative elaboration of written documents in three groups of university students, and the influence of the assistance provided by the teacher on this elaboration. For the analysis a model of phases of collaborative construction of knowledge, adapted to the features of the studied tasks, is used. The results show that, although the students follow the instructions proposed by the teacher, they usually do not manage to reach the more advanced phases of collaborative construction of the model.
Pharmacodynamic studies of the epidermal growth factor receptor inhibitor ZD1839 in skin from cancer patients: histopathologic and molecular consequences of receptor inhibition.

PURPOSE The epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) tyrosine kinase inhibitor ZD1839 (Iressa; AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals, Alderley Park, United Kingdom) is under development as an anticancer agent. We studied the pharmacodynamic effects of ZD1839 on EGFR in the skin, an EGFR-dependent tissue, in cancer patients participating in ZD1839 phase I clinical trials. PATIENTS AND METHODS We studied 104 pre- and/or on-ZD1839 therapy ( approximately at day 28 of therapy) skin biopsies from 65 patients receiving escalating doses of daily oral ZD1839. We measured ZD1839 effects on EGFR activation by immunohistochemistry using an antibody specific for the activated (phosphorylated) EGFR. Effects on receptor signaling (activated mitogen-activated protein kinase [MAPK]), proliferation, p27(KIP1), and maturation were also assessed. RESULTS Histopathologically, the stratum corneum of the epidermis was thinner during therapy (P <.001). In hair follicles, prominent keratin plugs and microorganisms were found in dilated infundibula. ZD1839 suppressed EGFR phosphorylation in all EGFR-expressing cells (P <.001). In addition, ZD1839 inhibited MAPK activation (P <.001) and reduced keratinocyte proliferation index (P <.001). Concomitantly, ZD1839 increased the expression of p27(KIP1) (P <.001) and maturation markers (P <.001) and increased apoptosis (P <.001). These effects were observed at all dose levels, before reaching dose-limiting toxicities. CONCLUSION ZD1839 inhibits EGFR activation and affects downstream receptor-dependent processes in vivo. These effects were profound at doses well below the one producing unacceptable toxicity, a finding that strongly supports pharmacodynamic assessments to select optimal doses instead of a maximum-tolerated dose for definitive efficacy and safety trials.