Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Subunit Vaccines Consisting of Antigens from Dormant and Replicating Bacteria Show Promising Therapeutic Effect against Mycobacterium Bovis BCG Latent Infection

To screen effective antigens as therapeutic subunit vaccines against Mycobacterium latent infection, we did bioinformatics analysis and literature review to identify effective antigens and evaluated the immunogenicity of five antigens highly expressed in dormant bacteria, which included Rv2031c (HspX), Rv2626c (Hrp1), Rv2007c (FdxA), Rv1738 and Rv3130c. Then, several fusion proteins such as Rv2007c‐Rv2626c (F6), Rv2031c‐Rv1738‐Rv1733c (H83), ESAT6‐Rv1738‐Rv2626c (LT40), ESAT6‐Ag85B‐MPT64<190‐198>‐Mtb8.4 (EAMM), and EAMM‐Rv2626c (LT70) were constructed and their therapeutic effects were evaluated in pulmonary Mycobacterium bovis Bacilli Calmette–Guérin (BCG) – latently infected rabbit or mouse models. The results showed that EAMM and F6 plus H83 had therapeutic effect against BCG latent infection in the rabbit model, respectively, and that the combination of EAMM with F6 plus H83 significantly reduced the bacterial load. In addition, the fusion proteins LT40 and LT70 consisting of multistage antigens showed promising therapeutic effects in the mouse model. We conclude that subunit vaccines consisting of both latency and replicating‐associated antigens show promising therapeutic effects in BCG latent infection animal models.
Biochemical and cellular implications of a dual lipase‐GEF function of phospholipase D2 (PLD2)

PLD2 plays a key role in cell membrane lipid reorganization and as a key cell signaling protein in leukocyte chemotaxis and phagocytosis. Adding to the large role for a lipase in cellular functions, recently, our lab has identified a PLD2‐Rac2 binding through two CRIB domains in PLD2 and has defined PLD2 as having a new function, that of a GEF for Rac2. PLD2 joins other major GEFs, such as P‐Rex1 and Vav, which operate mainly in leukocytes. We explain the biochemical and cellular implications of a lipase‐GEF duality. Under normal conditions, GEFs are not constitutively active; instead, their activation is highly regulated. Activation of PLD2 leads to its localization at the plasma membrane, where it can access its substrate GTPases. We propose that PLD2 can act as a “scaffold” protein to increase efficiency of signaling and compartmentalization at a phagocytic cup or the leading edge of a leukocyte lamellipodium. This new concept will help our understanding of leukocyte crucial functions, such as cell migration and adhesion, and how their deregulation impacts chronic inflammation.
Traitement du syndrome de l’intestin irritable : où en est-on ?

L’objectif principal du traitement du traitement du syndrome de l’intestin irritable (SII) est le soulagement de la douleur abdominale. L’amelioration des troubles du transit et du ballonnement abdominal ne doit pas etre oubliee. En pratique quotidienne, proposer un traitement efficace reste un probleme chez beaucoup de malades. Un regime (exclusion de certains sucres ou du gluten) peut etre utile. Certains antispasmodiques, la bedeillite montmorillonnite et le citrate d’alverine ont ete reevalues et ont vu leurs indications mieux definies. De nouvelles options therapeutiques sont apparues a la suite de l’evolution de la conception physiopathologique du SII qui est devenu progressivement une maladie multifactorielle. L’hypersensibilite viscerale rend logique le recours aux medicaments proposes dans les douleurs neuropathiques, tels que les antidepresseurs. Une approche non pharmacologique (hypnose notamment) a montre son efficacite dans la reduction de l’intensite des symptomes et l’amelioration de leur vecu qui conditionne l’importance du recours aux soins. L’efficacite d’autres options demande a etre confirmee par des essais cliniques mais le recours a des probiotiques ou eventuellement a des antibiotiques parait logique du fait de la dysbiose intestinale. De meme, l’indication, chez certains malades, d’un traitement anti-inflammatoire (salicyles ou steroides) est une interrogation actuelle du fait de l’existence d’une inflammation intestinale de bas grade. Certains autres traitements tels que le linaclotide (agoniste de la guanylate cyclase), devraient etre prochainement disponibles.
Balancing Soundness and Efficiency for Practical Testing of Configurable Systems

Testing configurable systems is important and challenging due to the enormous space of configurations where errors can hide. Existing approaches to test these systems are often costly or unreliable. This paper proposes S-SPLat, a technique that combines heuristic sampling with symbolic search to obtain both breadth and depth in the exploration of the configuration space. S-SPLat builds on SPLat, our previously developed technique, that explores all reachable configurations from tests. In contrast to its predecessor, S-SPLat sacrifices soundness in favor of efficiency. We evaluated our technique on eight software product lines of various sizes and on a large configurable system – GCC. Considering the results for GCC, S-SPLat was able to reproduce all five bugs that we previously found in a previous study with SPLat but much faster and it was able to find two new bugs in a recent release of GCC. Results suggest that it is preferable to use a combination of simple heuristics to drive the symbolic search as opposed to a single heuristic. S-SPLat and our experimental infrastructure are publicly available.
3-Isopropyl-1-{2-[(1-methyl-1H-tetrazol-5-yl)sulfanyl]acetyl}-2,6-diphenylpiperidin-4-one hemihydrate

In the title compound, C24H27N5O2S·0.5H2O, the piperidine ring adopts a distorted boat conformation. The phenyl rings subtend dihedral angles of 69.7 (1) and 88.7 (1)° with the best plane through the piperidine moiety. In the crystal, symmetry-related molecules are linked through a network of C—H⋯O and C—H⋯N interactions, the former connecting them into zigzag chains along the c-axis direction and the latter forming an R 2 2(4)motif. The dimer formation (C—H⋯N) and the repetition of symmetry-related molecules (C—H⋯O) along the b-axis direction stabilize the packing mode. The water molecule is located on a twofold rotation axis.
Analysis of indirect matrix converter topologies in voltage step-up operation mode

Matrix converters have been considered as one of the future converter concepts for renewable energy applications, due to higher power density and efficiency. Typically, these converters are employed in voltage step-down operation mode, e.g. variable speed drives. In this paper, the voltage step-up operation mode is analyzed for the indirect matrix converters. Simulations results demonstrate the performance of the analyzed system.
Open source science clouds

Most of nowadays cloud computing infrastructures are commercially based with their own cloud computing services, but there are also many open-source software clouds emerging in academia, providing a limited number of computational platforms on demand. Distributed computing framework Apache Hadoop and four IaaS platforms Eucalyptus, Nimbus, OpenNebula and Cumulus project are presented.
Games to support problem-based learning

How can a game be used to motivate students towards a specific scientific area and, at the same time, support those students in the development of personal and social skills? eCity online game is an educational platform based on a city simulation engine designed to support Problem Based Learning (PBL) in the STEM area. The game is used to motivate high school students for an academic course in science and engineering helping to solve one of the current problems of society: the lack of students and professionals in these areas. Initial results have been promising in the motivation and satisfaction of the involved students and teachers.
Development of electrical rhythmicity in the murine gastrointestinal tract is specifically encoded in the tunica muscularis

1 Interstitial cells of Cajal (ICCs) have been identified as pacemaker cells in the gastrointestinal (GI) tracts of vertebrates. We have studied the development of ICCs in pacemaker regions and the onset of electrical rhythmicity in the gastric antrum, small bowel and proximal colon of the mouse. 2 ICCs, as detected by c‐Kit immunofluorescence, were found during embryogenesis in regions of the GI tract that eventually become pacemaker areas. Prior to birth, these cells were organized into well‐structured networks, and by the end of the embryonic period the morphology of ICC networks in pacemaker regions appeared very similar to that observed in adult animals. 3 Electrical rhythmicity was recorded prior to birth (by E18) in the proximal GI tract (stomach and jejunum), and this activity developed to adult‐like behaviour within a week after birth. In the ileum and proximal colon rhythmicity developed after birth, and adult‐like characteristics were apparent within the first week. 4 Post‐junctional responses of smooth muscles to neural inputs could be recorded at birth, and stimulation of intrinsic nerves often led to oscillatory activity resembling slow waves for up to several minutes following brief stimuli. Nerve stimulation augmented spontaneous activity in the proximal portions of the GI tract and elicited rhythmic activity temporarily in quiescent tissues of the distal GI tract. 5 ICCs and rhythmicity developed in an apparently normal manner in tissues isolated at birth and placed in organ culture. These data suggest that the tunica muscularis provides a suitable microenvironment for the development of ICCs and rhythmicity without the need for extrinsic stimuli. 6 Treatment of small intestinal tissues taken from embryos at E15 with neutralizing c‐Kit antibodies abolished ICC development and the organization of ICCs into networks that typically occurs during the late embryonic period. Treatment of muscles taken from newborn animals with c‐Kit antibodies blocked postnatal development of ICCs, disrupted already established and functional ICC networks, and rendered muscles electrically quiescent. 7 In summary, ICC networks develop in the pacemaker regions of the murine GI tract before birth. Development and organization of ICCs of the myenteric plexus region into networks precedes the development of electrical rhythmicity. Post‐natal development of electrical rhythmicity is mainly characterized by enhancement of the amplitude and frequency of slow waves. The development of ICCs and electrical rhythmicity persists in vitro. ICCs appear to be necessary for the initiation of electrical rhythmicity. These findings provide further evidence for the pacemaker role of ICCs.
Nosocomial urinary tract infection with a slowly growing, fastidious Escherichia coli

Escherichia coli recovered from a nosocomially acquired urinary tract infection required 48 h of incubation on blood agar and did not grow on other routine clinical laboratory media. This bacterium dissociated readily into three colony types, all of which were confirmed as E. coli by DNA hybridization studies. Preliminary studies indicate a prolonged lag phase that could not be corrected by the addition of a variety of peptones and yeast extracts. Better growth was achieved by the addition of 10% horse serum.
Thymic lymphosarcoma of T cell lineage in a koala (Phascolarctos cinereus).

OBJECTIVE To diagnose and characterise thymic lymphosarcoma in a koala. DESIGN A pathological case. ANIMAL Seven-year-old female koala. PROCEDURE The neoplastic process was investigated macroscopically, haematologically, histologically and immunohistologically. RESULTS The koala had difficulty swallowing because of a medial swelling in the lower neck. Biopsy of this mass and blood examination revealed lymphosarcoma with a leukaemic manifestation; necropsy and histopathological examination showed the mass to be thymus. Palatine tonsils, cervical, axillary and mesenteric lymph nodes, spleen, liver, gut, bronchi, genitalia and bone marrow were infiltrated by neoplastic cells. Immunohistological staining of the thymic mass, cervical and mesenteric lymph nodes, bone marrow, spleen and gut revealed the neoplastic cells to be of T lymphocyte origin (positive for both anti-human CD3 and CD5). CONCLUSIONS It is speculated that the neoplastic process originated in the thymus and was disseminated by bloodborne neoplastic cells. This first report of thymic lymphosarcoma in a marsupial confirms that antibodies raised originally to investigate human lymphoid neoplasia can cross-react with neoplastic lymphocytes in koalas.
Speech recognition technology in the ubiquitous/wearable computing environment

Due principally to the technology of making computers smaller, more powerful and cheaper, the ubiquitous and wearable computing era is expected to come into being in the beginning of 21st century. In such an environment, speech recognition will be widely used as one of the principal methods of human-computer interaction, and in most of cases it will be performed using a microphone and a networked computer worn and tailored to each person. Accordingly, speech recognition systems will comprise very different structures than do present systems. Promptly retrieving environmental information, such as noise, which is regularly monitored by computers, and task-dependent information transmitted according to each application to the personalized recognizers will significantly improve system adaptability to the new tasks and robustness. Nonetheless, a number of salient issues remain to be resolved to generate the ubiquitous/wearable computing environment.
Isolation and characterization of the cell-associated region of group A streptococcal M6 protein

DNA sequence analysis of the complete M6 protein gene revealed 19 hydrophobic amino acids at the C terminus which could act as a membrane anchor and an adjacent proline- and glycine-rich region likely to be located in the cell wall. To define this region within the cell wall and its role in attaching the molecule to the cell, we isolated the cell-associated fragment of the M protein. Assuming that the cell-associated region of the M protein would be embedded within the wall and thus protected from trypsin digestion, cells were digested with this enzyme, and the wall-associated M protein fragment was released by phage lysin digestion of the peptidoglycan. With antibody probes prepared to synthetic peptides of C-terminal sequences, a cell wall-associated M protein fragment (molecular weight, 16,000) was identified and purified. Amino acid sequence analysis placed the N terminus of the 16,000-molecular-weight fragment at residue 298 within the M sequence. Amino acid composition of this peptide was consistent with a C-terminal sequence lacking the membrane anchor. Antibody studies of nitrous acid-extracted whole bacteria suggested that, in addition to the peptidoglycan-associated region, a 65-residue helical segment of the C-terminal domain of the M protein is embedded within the carbohydrate moiety of the cell wall. Since no detectable amino sugars were associated with the wall-associated fragment, the C-terminal region of the M6 molecule is likely to be intercalated within the cross-linked peptidoglycan and not covalently linked to it. Because the C-terminal region of the M molecule is highly homologous to the C-terminal end of protein A from staphylococci and protein G from streptococci, it is likely that the mechanism of attachment of these proteins to the cell wall is conserved.
STUDY OF THE KIDNEY IN THE BANTU WITH HYPERTENSION

Hypertension is common in the Bantu of Southern Africa (Becker, 1946; Ordman, 1948; Schrire, 1958). Schrire (1958) found that diastolic pressures were higher and electrocardiographic changes of left ventricular hypertrophy greater in the Bantu than in whites, and that hypertension occurs at an earlier age in the non-white races. There has been some difference of opinion about the renal pathology in Bantu subjects with hypertension. Levin (1957) stated that in 398 consecutive necropsies in Bantus 54 showed evidence of hypertension of which 34 (63%) were essential and 18 (33%) were secondary to chronic pyelonephritis. Uys on the other hand, while claiming that 48 per cent of those with hypertension in his autopsy series had underlying renal disease nevertheless found that only 12 per cent showed pyelonephritis, whereas 29 per cent showed glomerulonephritis. This paper presents the morbid anatomical and histopathological findings in the kidneys of a series of Bantu subjects with severe hypertension.
Communicative second language teaching: defeating the purpose?

'n “Kommunikatiewe benadering” tot tweedetaalonderrig word vandag hoog aangeskryf in opvoedkundige kringe in Suid-Afrika. Dit word aktief bevorder as die aangewese vertrekpunt vir die suksesvolle taalonderwyser. Die benadering toon egter 'n aantal ontoereikendhede wat daarop dui dat 'n onkritiese navolging daarvan, veral in die Suid-Afrikaanse konteks bepaalde gevare kan inhou. So byvoorbeeld steun die teoriee van tweedetaalverwerwing wat hierdie benadering onderle, sterk op spraakhandelingsteorie deurdat navorsers hul beroep op 'n aantal sleutelkonsepte wat in die werk van Austin en Searle voorsien word. In die jongste tyd betoog navorsers soos Thomas (1983) en Wierzbica (1991) met toenemende oortuiging dat die aannames onder-liggend aan spraakhandelingsteorie 'n etnosentriese vooroordeel vertoon deurdat Anglo-Saksiese norme en waardes as universeel geldend beskou word. Dit is 'n verdoemende oordeel oor die kommunikatiewe benadering in 'n etnies plojbare situasie soos die onderrig van Afrikaans aan sprek.
Neural stimulation successfully treats depression in patients with prior ablative cingulotomy.

In this article, we describe the case of a patient who, under the direction of a multidisciplinary case committee, underwent both an ablative cingulotomy and subsequent bilateral deep brain stimulation placement in the Cg25 area. Review of this case provides a means of comparing the two techniques and of illustrating what we feel are some important advantages to using stimulation in the treatment of major depression. This report also provides potential insight into common and unique mechanisms mediating the two procedures.
Laminar bone as an adaptation to torsional loads in flapping flight

Using a new histometric method, the orientation of primary osteons was measured in the main long bones of adult mallards (Anas platyrhynchos). In the light of previous biomechanical and ontogenetic studies, a functional hypothesis is proposed, explaining the histological differences observed between long bones; laminar bone tissue, mainly found in the wing bones, may be a biomechanical adaptation to torsional loads caused by flapping flight.
Body Composition as an Important Determinant of Metabolic Syndrome in Postmenopausal Women

Menopause-related hormonal changes are associated with an increased prevalence of various cardiometabolic risk factors, components of the metabolic syndrome, and an excess risk of all-cause and cardiovascular mortality. Estrogen withdrawal and the subsequent androgenicity interact in a synergistic manner to predispose post menopausal women to an increase in total body weight but also to a pronounced change of body composition. Central fat accumulation and ectopic fat storage constitute potent determinants of the increased cardiometabolic risk in post menopausal women. In contrast, peripheral subcutaneous fat has an independent cardioprotective and anti-atherogenic impact. Data are less conclusive regarding the contribution of lean body mass to metabolic syndrome and cardiometabolic health in post menopausal women.
Hypoelliptic Diffusion and Human Vision: A Semidiscrete New Twist

This paper presents a semidiscrete alternative to the theory of neurogeometry of vision, due to Citti, Petitot, and Sarti. We propose a new ingredient, namely, working on the group of translations and discrete rotations $SE(2,N)$. The theoretical side of our study relates the stochastic nature of the problem with the Moore group structure of $SE(2,N)$. Harmonic analysis over this group leads to very simple finite dimensional reductions. We then apply these ideas to the inpainting problem which is reduced to the integration of a completely parallelizable finite set of Mathieu-type diffusions (indexed by the dual of $SE(2,N)$ in place of the points of the Fourier plane, which is a drastic reduction). The integration of the the Mathieu equations can be performed by standard numerical methods for elliptic diffusions and leads to a very simple and efficient class of inpainting algorithms. We illustrate the performances of the method on a series of deeply corrupted images.
The impact of method of distal ureter management during radical nephroureterectomy on tumour recurrence.

INTRODUCTON Radical nephroureterectomy for upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC) must include some form of distal ureter management to avoid high rates of tumour recurrence. It is uncertain which distal ureter management technique has the best oncologic outcomes. To determine which distal ureter management technique resulted in the lowest tumour recurrence rate, we analyzed a multi-institutional Canadian radical nephroureterectomy database. METHODS We retrospectively analyzed patients who underwent radical nephroureterectomy with distal ureter management for UTUC between January 1990 and June 2010 at 10 Canadian tertiary hospitals. Distal ureter management approaches were divided into 3 categories: (1) extravesical tenting for ureteric excision without cystotomy (EXTRAVESICAL); (2) open cystotomy with intravesical bladder cuff excision (INTRAVESICAL); and (3) extravesical excision with endoscopic management of ureteric orifice (ENDOSCOPIC). Data available for each patient included demographic details, distal ureter management approach, pathology and operative details, as well as the presence and location of local or distant recurrence. Clinical outcomes included overall recurrence-free survival and intravesical recurrence-free survival. Survival analysis was performed with the Kaplan-Meier method. Multivariable Cox regression analysis was also performed. RESULTS A total of 820 patients underwent radical nephroureterectomy with a specified distal ureter management approach at 10 Canadian academic institutions. The mean patient age was 69.6 years and the median follow-up was 24.6 months. Of the 820 patients, 406 (49.5%) underwent INTRAVESICAL, 316 (38.5%) underwent EXTRAVESICAL, and 98 (11.9%) underwent ENDOSOPIC distal ureter management. Groups differed significantly in their proportion of females, proportion of laparoscopic cases, presence of carcinoma in situ and pathological tumour stage (p < 0.05). Recurrence-free survival at 5 years was 46.3%, 35.6%, and 30.1% for INTRAVESICAL, EXTRAVESICAL and ENDOSCOPIC, respectively (p < 0.05). Multivariable Cox regression analysis confirmed that INTRAVESICAL resulted in a lower hazard of recurrence compared to EXTRAVESICAL and ENDOSCOPIC. When looking only at intravesical recurrence-free survival (iRFS), a similar trend held up with INTRAVESICAL having the highest iRFS, followed by ENDOSCOPIC and then EXTRAVESICAL management (p < 0.05). At last follow-up, 406 (49.5%) patients were alive and free of disease. CONCLUSION Open intravesical excision of the distal ureter (INTRAVESICAL) during radical nephroureterectomy was associated with improved overall and intravesical recurrence-free survival compared with extravesical and endoscopic approaches. These findings suggest that INTRAVESICAL should be considered the gold standard oncologic approach to distal ureter management during radical nephroureterectomy. Limitations of this study include its retrospective design, heterogeneous cohort, and limited follow-up.