Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Interleukin 15 stimulates production of matrix metalloproteinase-9 and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 by human peripheral blood mononuclear cells.

In peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC), matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-9 mediates the extravasation of immune cells and may be involved in tissue destruction during inflammation. We investigated the effect of the pro-inflammatory cytokines interleukin (IL-)12 and 15 on the secretion of MMP-9 in PBMC. IL-15, but not IL-12, induces MMP-9 in PBMC and in T cells. Moreover, the combination of IL-15 and IL-2 had an additive effect. In contrast, both IL-12 and IL-15 induced the release of tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases (TIMP)-1. IL-15 led to a dose-dependent increase of the MMP-9/TIMP-1 ratio as a measure for increased proteolytic capacity. We conclude that IL-15 mediates its effects in inflammation in part through MMP-9.
A novel spatial transcription pattern associated with the segmentation gene, giant, of Drosophila.

The segmentation gene, giant, is located in 3A1 within a cloned chromosome region surrounding the zeste locus. Rearrangement breakpoints associated with giant mutations were localized on the genomic clone map, and nearby transcription units were identified. One transcription unit is active during early embryogenesis and its transcripts are spatially localized from blastoderm into extended germband stages, consistent with expected expression patterns predicted by the ‘gap’ phenotype of giant mutants. Germ line transformation experiments using a 10‐kb DNA fragment containing this transcription unit gave complete rescue of the abdominal giant defect but only partial correction of the head defect. The effect of mutations in three other gap loci, Kr, kni and hb, were also analyzed.
Predictors of leptin concentration and association with cardiovascular risk in patients with coronary artery disease: results from the AtheroGene study

Abstract Context: Leptin is produced in white adipose tissue, but also in human coronary atherosclerotic lesions. Objective: The aim of this study is to assess the prognostic value of leptin in patients with proven coronary artery disease (CAD) (N = 1907). Methods: AtheroGene is a contemporary CAD cohort study (N = 3229). Median follow-up time was 3.8 (Quartile 1/3 with 2.8/4.9) years. Results: Leptin concentration was associated with a hazard ratio (HR) for the fully adjusted model of HR = 1.32 in women but was not significant in men. The endpoint cardiovascular death and non-fatal myocardial infarction was observed in 167 patients. Conclusion: In women with known CAD, increased leptin concentration is useful for predicting cardiovascular death and non-fatal myocardial infarction.
CXCR4 Function Requires Membrane Cholesterol: Implications for HIV Infection

HIV requires cholesterol and lipid rafts on target cell membranes for infection. To elucidate a possible mechanism, we determined that cholesterol extraction by hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin (BCD) inhibits stromal cell-derived factor 1α (SDF-1α) binding to CXCR4 on T cell lines and PBMCs. Intracellular calcium responses to SDF-1α, as well as receptor internalization, were impaired in treated T cells. Loss in ligand binding is likely due to conformational changes in CXCR4 and not increased sensitivity to internalization. SDF-1α binding and calcium responses were effectively restored by reloading cholesterol. Immunofluorescence microscopy revealed that SDF-1α binding occurred in lipid raft microdomains that contained GM1. CXCR4 surface expression, on the other hand, only partially colocalized with GM1. HIV-1IIIB infection assays confirmed the functional loss of CXCR4 in the cell lines tested, Sup-T1 and CEM-NKR-CCR5. These data suggest that cholesterol is essential for CXCR4 conformation and function and that lipid rafts may play a regulatory role in SDF-1α signaling.
Reconfigurable antenna design for cognitive radio

Because of immutable frequency, bandwidth and polarization, antenna has become one of the key limit factors for cognitive radio until reconfigurable antenna technology presents itself. According to the application need of reconfigurable antenna technology for cognitive radio, this article puts its emphasis on the design of frequency reconfigurable and frequency-polarization hybrid reconfigurable antenna. Moreover, the design cases are brought forth in this article, too.
Flying and dying in WWI: British aircrew losses and the origins of U.S. military aviation medicine.

In 1918, 1920, and 1935, William H. Wilmer wrote that of every 100 British military pilot deaths during the first year of World War I, 90 resulted from individual deficiencies (60 of these from physical defects), 8 from aircraft defects, and 2 from enemy action. "As a result of these appalling findings, the British established a special service for the 'Care of the Flier,'" thus reducing deaths from physical defects to "20% during the second year and 12% during the third. " Wilmer never specified the source of his statistics. American aeromedical texts have long cited his '90-8-2' numbers as the basis for establishing the U.S. military flight surgeon system in 1918, but these statistics never appeared in British aeromedical literature. Given the frail aircraft and sketchy mishap investigations of that era, it seems unlikely that pilot deficiencies (today, "human factors") were proven to have caused 90% of British aviation-related deaths in 1914-15, or that their military aviation medicine program reduced human factor losses to just 12% of total pilot fatalities by 1917. Recent analyses from academic British sources demonstrate that of 153 British military fliers who died while flying between August 1914 and December 1915, 89 (58%) were killed in action or died of their wounds soon after being shot down, and 64 (42%) perished from injuries suffered in training or operational mishaps. This article reviews the history of early British and American military aeromedical services, and proposes replacement of the 90-8-2 statistic with a ratio of 58:42.
Design and measurements of a 1-bit reconfigurable elementary cell for large electronic steerable reflectarrays

This paper presents a reconfigurable MEMS based radiating element for the realization of a large beam-steering reflectarray operating at 77 GHz. The elementary cell consists of a square patch slot-coupled to a phase shifting circuit realized in slot-line technology, with 1-bit phase resolution (0°/180°). Reconfigurability is obtained by integrating MEMS switches in the slot-lines. In order to obtain the best performance in terms of loss, the structure is fully realized on quartz. A board made of 16×16 elementary cells in hardwired configuration has been manufactured and tested with a dedicated measurement setup employing a pair of horns. The experimental results confirm the operating principle of the cell and the design procedure.
Modelling the constraints on consanguineous marriage when fertility declines

BACKGROUND Consanguinity - or marriage between close blood relatives, in particular first cousins - is widely practised and even socially encouraged in many countries. However, in the face of fertility transition where the number of cousins eligible to marry declines, how might such constraints on consanguinity develop in the future? OBJECTIVE Numerous studies have stated that the practice cannot continue at present levels and in its present form in the face of fertility transition. However, the future impact of fertility transition on availability of cousins to marry has not yet been quantified. METHODS We perform a simulation exercise using past and projected net reproduction rates (NRRs) derived from the UN. We calculate the average number of cousins of the opposite sex as a function of the average number of children, the average probability of an individual having at least one eligible paternal cousin of the opposite sex, and conclude with an examination of constraints on consanguineous marriage in selected countries under different fertility assumptions. RESULTS Current and projected fertility levels in Middle Eastern countries will create challenging constraints on the custom once today's birth cohorts reach marriageable age. CONCLUSIONS Either consanguinity prevalence will diminish significantly, or the institution will be forced to adapt by becoming more coercive in the face of reduced choice or at the expense of other social preferences (such as for an older groom wedding a younger bride). Fertility decline affects prospects for social change not only through its well-known consequences for mothers but also through shaping marriage conditions for the next generation.
Confined Phonons in Metallic Superlattices: Raman Study of Co/Ru.

The Raman-active transverse-optic (TO) phonon mode of Ru was measured in a series of Co/Ru superlattices. The changes in the frequency of the TO vibration, interpreted within the framework of confined phonons, are in excellent agreement with published dispersion curves for bulk Ru obtained from inelastic neutron-scattering experiments. Interpretations of the frequency shifts of the Ru TO mode as due to phonon-folding or lattice-strain effects are ruled out by the data. {copyright} {ital 1996 The American Physical Society. }
Alternative business models for visitors in office buildings

There has been much discussion about different WLAN (Wireless Local Area Networks) business models. WLAN has been well accepted as a technology and there is a clear user-demand for it, but still many of the current market approaches have failed. WLAN has been typically made available as complementary service to customers of coffee shops, hotels, airports and many other public places as well, but creating profits from this kind of business model has turned out to be very challenging. New kinds of business models have emerged, and in this paper I will research alternative business models for visitors in office buildings. Nowadays most companies are offering WLAN for their visitors for free, but in this paper I will discuss about the alternative solutions.
Anaemia in pregnancy: associations with parity, abortions and child spacing in primary healthcare clinic attendees in Trinidad and Tobago.

OBJECTIVE To determine the prevalence of anaemia in antenatal clinic attendees; to investigate the effects of parity, age, gravidity, previous abortions, child spacing and other factors on the prevalence of anaemia in pregnancy. METHODS This was a retrospective and cross-sectional study. Antenatal records of 2287 pregnant women attending 40 public healthcare centres from January 2000 to December 2005 in Trinidad and Tobago were used. Data pertaining to the investigated variables were recorded. The national prevalence of anaemia was calculated and chi-square tests, odds ratios and logistic regression were used to assess the relationship between anaemia and each variable. RESULTS The prevalence of anaemia was 15.3% (95% CI 13.4%, 16.6%). No significant difference in the prevalence of anaemia was found among the different clinics or counties. At the first haemoglobin reading, age was inversely related to the presence of anaemia, whereas gestational age at first visit was directly related. At the final haemoglobin reading, parity, gravidity, and previous spontaneous abortions were directly related to the prevalence of anaemia, while the number of visits was inversely related. Age was inversely associated to the severity of anaemia while gravidity was directly related. CONCLUSION The prevalence of anaemia decreased by 18.7% from 1967. Despite this positive indication, women under 24 years and those commencing antenatal care after the first trimester are still at a higher risk for developing anaemia. Early commencement of antenatal care and close monitoring of the risk groups identified should be strongly advocated.
Biometric Authentication Devices and Semantic Web Services - An Approach for Multi Modal Fusion Framework

Identity verification is now a days a crucial task for security applications. In the near future organizations dedicated to store individual biometric information will emerge in order to determine individual identity. Biometric authentication is currently information intensive. The volume and diversity of new data sources challenge current database technologies. Biometric identity heterogeneity arises when different data sources interoperate. New promising application fields such as the Semantic Web and Semantic Web Services can leverage the potential of biometric identity, even though heterogeneity continues rising. Semantic Web Services provide a platform to integrate the lattice of biometric identity data widely distributed both across the Internet and within individual organizations. In this paper, we present a framework for solving biometric identity heterogeneity based on Semantic Web Services. We use a multimodal fusion recognition scenario as a test-bed for evaluation.
The ‘EMIRE’ large rainfall simulator: design and field testing

Arainfallsimulatorfor510 mplotswasdesignedandtestedwithintheEMIRE(EtudeetModelisationdel'Infiltration,du Ruissellement et de l'Erosion) program. The simulator is intended to be used in the field and to reproduce natural tropical rainstorms.Thesimulatoriscomposedoffixedstandpipes. Thenozzle(SprayingSystemsCo.1H106SQ)mountedonthe topof the pipes sprays square areas. Ata water pressure of 4118 kPa themean dropdiameter is 24 mmand the calculated kinetic energy235Jm ˇ2 mm ˇ1 . The pipes are located at the corners of a 55 55 m square grid. Therainfall intensity is constant (65 mm h ˇ1 ) and spatially uniform (Christiansen's coefficient of uniformity is 78 to 92 per cent) over the plot. Repeatability of application rate and spatial variability of rainfall intensities were tested by analysing (1) variations in intensityfordifferentexperimentsonthesameplot,and(2)variationsinintensitybetweendifferentplots.Thestudyisbased ondatacollectedduringninefieldrainfallsimulationexperiments.Threereplicationsofthesamerainwereappliedonthree 50 m 2 plots. The results show good performance in all cases. The values of the mean rainfall intensities and coefficient of uniformity obtained from field data agreed with the laboratory values. The performance of this simulator is comparable to others described in the literature. Copyright # 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Evaluation of single agents and combinations of chemotherapeutic agents in mouse colon carcinomas

Single agents and combinations of agents were tested for antitumor activity against four transplantable colon tumors in mice. The most impressive anti‐tumor activity was obtained with anguidine and the combination of anguidine + 5‐FU against colon adenocarcinoma No. 38. Antitumor potentiation was obtained when the combination was injected simultaneously on a Q7d schedule (two experiments), but not on an alternating schedule of administration (3 or 4 days separating injections of the two agents). Anguidine was highly active only in a colon tumor that was very responsive to 5‐FU. The correlation between high 5‐FU sensitivity and high anguidine sensitivity may be coincidental or could be of predictive value. Other active single agents and combinations of agents against one or more of the colon tumors include 5‐FU, 5‐FUdR, MeCCNU, BCNU, homoharringtonine, ara‐C, Cis‐Pt‐II, dianhydrogalactitol, piperazinedione, cyclophosphamide; MeCCNU + 5‐FU; Adriamycin + 5‐FU; Adriamycin + cyclophosphamide; Adriamycin + palmO‐ara‐C; cyclophosphamide + procarbazine; and 5‐FU + palmO‐ara‐C. (The combination of 5‐FU + palmO‐ara‐C was potentiating only on an alternating schedule.) The results of surgery‐chemotherapy adjuvant treatment of metastatic colon tumors established that if an agent or a combination was highly active against moderately advanced tumor masses, this treatment was also highly active after surgery against residual metastatic disease. The converse was also true. That is, if the agent or combination was inactive or marginally active against moderately advanced disease, the treatment was also relatively ineffectual after surgery against residual metastatic disease. Based on surgical‐adjuvant experiments with colon tumor No. 26, the following agents and combinations are conditionally recommended: MeCCNU + 5‐FU; MeCCNU + Ara‐C; cyclophosphamide + Ara‐C; BCNU+ 5‐FU and MeCCNU. It is also assumed that those agents active against the advanced disease are likely to be active after surgery against residual metastatic cells. Thus, agents highly active against advanced‐stage colon adenocarcinoma No. 38 are possible candidates for adjuvant therapy. On this basis, anguidine and anguidine + 5‐FU are recommended.
Psychiatric symptoms in patients with chronic hepatitis C receiving interferon alfa-2b therapy.

BACKGROUND Psychiatric side effects of interferon alfa are frequently observed in the therapy of patients with chronic hepatitis C infection. The goal of the present study was to assess prospectively the incidence, spectrum, and extent of psychiatric symptoms of patients receiving interferon alfa therapy as compared with an untreated reference group. METHOD 104 patients with chronic hepatitis C were consecutively enrolled in a prospective longitudinal study. The treatment group (N = 84) received interferon alfa-2b for up to 12 months, and the reference group (N = 20) received no treatment. Patients who began treatment between November 1996 and August 1998 (N = 44) received interferon alfa-2b, 5 million units 3 times per week. Patients who began treatment in September 1998 or later (N = 40) received a combination of interferon alfa-2b, 3 to 5 million units 3 times per week, and ribavirin, 1000-1200 mg/day. Diagnostic scores for depression and anxiety were obtained by means of the psychometric instrument Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, and scores for anger/hostility were obtained with the Symptom Checklist-90 Revised. RESULTS In contrast to the untreated reference group, we found significantly increased scores for depression (p <.001) and anger/hostility (p <.001) during interferon alfa therapy in the treatment group. Even before therapy, scores of those in the treatment group were above the respective cutoff values for clinically relevant symptoms of depression in 15.5% of the patients, anxiety in 13.1% of the patients, and anger/hostility in 11.3% of the patients. These proportions rose to 35.0% (depression), 25.6% (anxiety), and 24.5% (anger/hostility). The cumulative frequency of clinically relevant emotional distress (depression, anxiety, or anger/hostility) during interferon alfa therapy was 57.7%, as compared with 22.5% before therapy. However, interferon alfa therapy had to be stopped prematurely because of untreatable psychiatric symptoms in only 8.3% of patients. CONCLUSION In view of the high frequency and extent of psychiatric symptoms with interferon alfa therapy, we recommend a close follow-up of patients receiving this therapy with respect to potential limiting mood changes.
Two novel variants of human medium chain acyl‐CoA dehydrogenase (MCAD)

Two novel rare mutations, MCAD∼842G→C (R256T) and MCAD∼1166A→G (K364R), have been investigated to assess how far the biochemical properties of the mutant proteins correlate with the clinical phenotype of medium chain acyl‐CoA dehydrogenase (MCAD) deficiency. When the gene for K364R was overexpressed in Escherichia coli, the synthesized mutant protein only exhibited activity when the gene for chaperonin GroELS was co‐overexpressed. Levels of activity correlated with the amounts of native MCAD protein visible in western blots. The R256T mutant, by contrast, displayed no activity either with or without chaperonin, but in this case a strong MCAD protein band was seen in the western blots throughout. The proteins were also purified, and the enzyme function and thermostability investigated. The K364R protein showed only moderate kinetic impairment, whereas the R256T protein was again totally inactive. Neither mutant showed marked depletion of FAD. The pure K364R protein was considerably less thermostable than wild‐type MCAD. Western blots indicated that, although the R256T mutant protein is less thermostable than normal MCAD, it is much more stable than K364R. Though clinically asymptomatic thus far, both mutations have a severe impact on the biochemical phenotype of the protein. K364R, like several previously described MCAD mutant proteins, appears to be defective in folding. R256T, by contrast, is a well‐folded protein that is nevertheless devoid of catalytic activity. How the mutations specifically affect the catalytic activity and the folding is further discussed.
Reconsidering Political and Popular Understandings of the Digital Divide

This article presents a theoretical examination of the digital divide, tracing its origins in the centre–Left social inclusion policy agenda of the 1980s and 1990s to its current status of political ‘hot topic’. It then moves on to outline four conceptual limitations to conventional dichotomous notions of the digital divide and individuals’ ‘access’ to information and communications technology (ICT): what is meant by ICT; what is meant by ‘access’; the relationship between ‘access to ICT’ and ‘use of ICT’; and a lack of consideration of the consequences of engagement with ICT. The article outlines a more sophisticated, hierarchical model of the digital divide based around these conceptual ‘stages’ while recognizing the mediating role of economic, cultural and social forms of capital in shaping individuals’ engagements with ICT. It concludes by developing a set of research themes and questions for future examination of inequalities in individuals’ use of ICT.
Design of 8/spl times/8 stacked patch array antenna on LTCC substrate operating at 40GHz band

This paper presents the design and fabrication of a very compact, cost effective and broad band 8/spl times/8 stacked patch array antenna which are backed by a metal cavity operating at 40GHz based on 4 layers LTCC technology. Gain of antenna can be enhanced by using a metal cavity, which can be easily implemented by using LTCC substrates and vias. The broadband performance can be obtained by varying the dimension of patch and the number of layers. Furthermore, to keep the feeding network as small as possible and reduce radiation from feeding network a mirrored patch orientation and embedded micro strip line are adopted. The fabricated antenna is 40/spl times/45/spl times/0.4 mm/sup 3/ in size. It shows gain 20.4dBi, beam width 10.7deg and impedance bandwidth of 10dB return loss 3.35GHz (40.9-44.25 GHz), which is about 8% of a center frequency.
Critical, but Conditional, Role of OX40 in Memory T Cell-Mediated Rejection1

Memory T cells can be a significant barrier to the induction of transplant tolerance. However, the molecular pathways that can regulate memory T cell-mediated rejection are poorly defined. In the present study we tested the hypothesis that the novel alternative costimulatory molecules (i.e., ICOS, 4-1BB, OX40, or CD30) may play a critical role in memory T cell activation and memory T cell-mediated rejection. We found that memory T cells, generated by either homeostatic proliferation or donor Ag priming, induced prompt skin allograft rejection regardless of CD28/CD154 blockade. Phenotypic analysis showed that, in contrast to naive T cells, such memory T cells expressed high levels of OX40, 4-1BB, and ICOS on the cell surface. In a skin transplant model in which rejection was mediated by memory T cells, blocking the OX40/OX40 ligand pathway alone did not prolong the skin allograft survival, but blocking OX40 costimulation in combination with CD28/CD154 blockade induced long-term skin allograft survival, and 40% of the recipients accepted their skin allograft for >100 days. In contrast, blocking the ICOS/ICOS ligand and the 4-1BB/4-1BBL pathways alone or combined with CD28/CD154 blockade had no effect in preventing skin allograft rejection. OX40 blockade did not affect the homeostatic proliferation of T cells in vivo, but markedly inhibited the effector functions of memory T cells. Our data demonstrate that memory T cells resisting to CD28/CD154 blockade in transplant rejection are sensitive to OX40 blockade and suggest that OX40 is a key therapeutic target in memory T cell-mediated rejection.