Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Genetic and Biochemical Analysis of Dimer and Oligomer Interactions of the λ S Holin

ABSTRACT Bacteriophage λ uses a holin-endolysin system for host cell lysis. R, the endolysin, has muralytic activity. S, the holin, is a small membrane protein that permeabilizes the inner membrane at a precisely scheduled time after infection and allows the endolysin access to its substrate, resulting in host cell lysis. λ S has a single cysteine at position 51 that can be replaced by a serine without loss of the holin function. A collection of 27 single-cysteine products of alleles created from λ SC51S were tested for holin function. Most of the single-cysteine variants retained the ability to support lysis. Mutations with the most defective phenotype clustered in the first two hydrophobic transmembrane domains. Several lines of evidence indicate that S forms an oligomeric structure in the inner membrane. Here we show that oligomerization does not depend on disulfide bridge formation, since the cysteineless SC51S(i) is functional as a holin and (ii) shows the same oligomerization pattern as the parental S protein. In contrast, the lysis-defective SA52V mutant dimerizes but does not form cross-linkable oligomers. Again, dimerization does not depend on the natural cysteine, since the cysteineless lysis-defective SA52V/C51S is found in dimers after treatment of the membrane with a cross-linking agent. Furthermore, under oxidative conditions, dimerization via the natural cysteine is very efficient for SA52V. Both SA52V (dominant negative) and SA48V(antidominant) interact with the parental S protein, as judged by oxidative disulfide bridge formation. Thus, productive and unproductive heterodimer formation between the parental protein and the mutants SA52V and SA48V, respectively, may account for the dominant and antidominant lysis phenotypes. Examination of oxidative dimer formation between S variants with single cysteines in the hydrophobic core of the second membrane-spanning domain revealed that positions 48 and 51 are on a dimer interface. These results are discussed in terms of a three-step model leading to S-dependent hole formation in the inner membrane.
Los conflictos étnicos, ¿catalizadores del uso de violencia sexual?

Una revision de la Historia permite demostrar la extension e impacto de la violencia sexual en los conflictos armados; queda facilmente constatando que no es un fenomeno nuevo. La violacion de mujeres o su condena a la esclavitud durante la guerra ha sido legitimado a lo largo de la Historia considerarselas como parte del botin. La mujer se encontraba, por asi decirlo, al mismo nivel que el ganado. Incluso en el antiguo testamento se hacen referencias claras, como se lee en Zacarias 14:2: «Movilizare (Dios) a todas las naciones para que peleen contra ti. Te conquistaran, saquearan tus casas y violaran a tus mujeres. La mitad de tus habitaciones ira en exilio, pero el resto del pueblo quedara contigo. »
DURATION OF BORRELIA BURGDORFERI INFECTIVITY IN WHITE-FOOTED MICE FOR THE TICK VECTOR IXODES SCAPULARIS UNDER LABORATORY AND FIELD CONDITIONS IN ONTARIO

The duration of Borrelia burgdorferi infectivity in white-footed mice (Peromyscus leucopus) experimentally inoculated or infested with infected Ixodes scapularis nymphs was evaluated. Infectivity was assessed by infesting these mice with unfed I. scapularis larvae at 7, 21, 35 and 49 days post-inoculation (DPI) or post-infestation (PI). At 7 DPI, B. burgdorferi was transmitted from 18 of 24 syringe-inoculated mice and all three tick-infected mice to I. scapularis larvae which fed upon them. However, at 21, 35 and 49 DPI, significantly fewer mice were infective. Borrelia burgdorferi was isolated from tissues of 14 of 22 syringe-inoculated mice about 56 DPI, and from all three tick-infected mice. However, the level of agreement between xeno-diagnosis and bacterial culture was no greater than would be expected by chance alone. We also determined if B. burgdorferi infectivity of mice varied in relation to periods of tick feeding in the field. White-footed mice were trapped during April, July and August 1993 from two habitats on Long Point peninsula (Ontario, Canada), where B. burgdorferi is endemic. Mice from each habitat were infested with laboratory-reared I. scapularis larvae. Ticks from each mouse were subsequently examined by immunofluorescent assay for B. burgdorferi infection and mice were cultured for B. burgdorferi. None of 3577 I. scapularis larvae fed on 62 mice captured within the cottonwood dune habitat were infected with B. burgdorferi, although it was isolated from six of these mice. Within the maple forest habitat, 0/24, 8/21 (38%) and 1/21 (5%) mice transmitted B. burgdorferi to I. scapularis larvae during April, July and August, respectively. Most mice from the maple forest with B. burgdorferi-positive tissues (14/21) were collected during July, although the level of agreement between xenodiagnosis and tissue culture was poor. Because B. burgdorferi infectivity in mice appears to be of short duration, overwintered I. scapularis larvae and nymphs may have to feed upon infected hosts at the same time of year in order for a cycle of B. burgdorferi infection to be maintained on Long Point. Infected I. scapularis nymphs, rather than persistently infected vertebrate hosts, likely serve as the overwintering “reservoir” for B. burgdorferi on Long Point.
Cyanoacrylate Surgical Glue for Mesh Fixation in Laparoscopic Total Extraperitoneal Hernia Repair

In an attempt to find the ideal surgical technique for mesh fixation during laparoscopic total extraperitoneal inguinal hernia repair, we evaluate the use of a synthetic surgical glue (N-butyl-cyanoacrylate—Glubran 2) in an effort to reduce postoperative pain and the complications associated with the use of staples. We have prospectively evaluated 61 consecutive patients (73 hernias) with a minimum follow-up period of 18 months and an average of 29.7 months, without any significant complications present. The majority (59%) only required low dosages of painkillers during the first 24 hours after surgery and have not experienced any cases of chronic pain or recurring hernias in the time period described. On the basis of this initial experience, the use of the surgical glue used to repair inguinal hernias with the laparoscopic total extraperitoneal technique has been proved to be a simple and effective surgical method for mesh fixation.
Classification of Healthcare-Associated Staphylococcus aureus Bacteremia: Influence of Different Definitions on Prevalence, Patient Characteristics, and Outcome

We investigated whether different definitions of healthcare-associated infection influenced the prevalence, characteristics, and mortality of patients with Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia. With different definitions, the proportion of patients classified as having healthcare-associated S. aureus bacteremia varied substantially and the distribution of patient characteristics was influenced, whereas 30-day mortality remained robust. Infect. Control Hosp. Epidemiol. 2016;37(2):208–211
Carbohydrate-Binding Agents: A Potential Future Cornerstone for the Chemotherapy of Enveloped Viruses?

Carbohydrate-binding agents (CBAs) inhibit HIV-1 and it is proposed that therapy with such agents may have important implications for the future of anti-HIV therapy. Examples of CBAs include the procaryotic cyanovirin-N (CV-N), plant lectins such as HHA, GNA, NPA, CA and UDA, the monoclonal antibody 2G12 directed against a glycan-containing epitope on HIV envelope gp120, and the mannose-specific non-peptidic antibiotic Pradimicin A, which inhibits the entry of HIV-1 into its target cells. CBAs prevent not only virus infection of susceptible cells, but also inhibit syncytia formation between persistently HIV-infected cells and uninfected lymphocytes. In addition, CBAs may also prevent DC-SIGN-mediated transmission of HIV to T-lymphocytes. Therefore, CBAs qualify as potential microbicide drugs. Long-term exposure of HIV to CBAs in cell culture results in the progressive deletion of N-glycans of HIV gp120 in an attempt of the virus to escape drug pressure. In this respect, the CBAs are endowed with a high genetic barrier. Multiple mutations at N-glycosylation sites are required before pronounced phenotypic drug resistance development becomes evident. CBA treatment of HIV may consist of a novel chemotherapeutic concept with a dual mechanism of antiviral action: a direct antiviral activity by preventing HIV entry and transmission to its target cells, and an indirect antiviral activity by forcing HIV to delete glycans in its gp120 envelope. The latter phenomenon will result in creating ‘holes’ in the protective glycan shield of the HIV envelope, whereby the immune system may become triggered to produce neutralizing antibodies against previously hidden immunogenic epitopes of gp120. If this concept can be proven in in vivo, low-molecular-weight non-peptidic CBAs such as Pradimycin A may become the cornerstone for the efficient treatment of infections of those viruses that require a glycosylated envelope (that is, HIV, but also hepatitis C virus) for entry into its target cells. In addition, influenza virus and coronavirus infections may also qualify to be treated by CBAs.
Asymptotic UTD analysis of the radiation of a TW magnetic current distribution over a PEC cylinder

In this paper, a uniform geometrical theory of diffraction (UTD) ray solution is developed for describing in a collective fashion the radiation fields produced by a magnetic traveling wave (TW) surface current which is conformal to a doubly curved, smooth convex surface made of PEC. The fields are described collectively, in terms of just a few rays which are launched from specific critical points in the interior and on the boundary of the whole area occupied by the surface TW current. In practical applications the magnetic surface current can result from the application of equivalence theorem on the convex surface housing antenna arrays, which are conformal to a portion of a much larger and complex platform: an aircraft fuselage, a spacecraft body, a satellite, etc. The magnetic surface current is subsequently expanded into a finite set of magnetic TW surface currents, whose radiation is efficiently treated through UTD ray techniques. The proposed approach, once integrated in a UTD ray code, allows a drastic reduction of the time required for the prediction of the interaction of array antennas with their complex platform, when compared to a standard element-by-element description.
Event-triggered real-time scheduling for stabilization of passive and output feedback passive systems

Event-triggered control has been recently pro posed as an alternative approach to the traditional periodic implementation of control tasks. The possibility of reducing the number of executions while guaranteeing stability makes event-triggered control very appealing in the context of sensor/actuator networked control systems. In this paper, we revisit the event-triggered control from an input-to-output perspective and we propose a simple event-triggered control strategy for stabilization of passive and output feedback passive systems. The triggering condition is derived based on the output information of the control system and an estimate of the lower bound on inter-sampling time is also provided.
Analysis of an X-shaped cavity-backed wide slot 2×2-element sub-array by hybrid MoM/FEM with numerical eigenmode basis functions

Application of the method of moments (MoM) with eigenmode expansion to a waveguide slot array enables fast analysis even though the number of the slots is large because of small analysis scale, that is, the unknowns are sources placed only in the slot apertures. However, the method is applicable typically to slot shapes whose eigenmodes are analytically derivable. The hybrid MoM/FEM was proposed for analysis of an array of slots with arbitrary shapes. The eigenmodes of a waveguide with the cross section of the slot shape are numerically derived by the finite element method (FEM) for the basis functions of the magnetic currents in the slot in MoM. In this paper, we apply the hybrid MoM/FEM to an X-shaped cavity-backed wide slot 2×2-element sub-array in the corporate-feed double-layer hollow-waveguide slot array antenna. The 2×2-element sub-array is the radiation unit and fed in equal amplitude and phase by a coupling slot placed at each end of the feed waveguide in the antenna.
Development of a diazinon-degrading bacterium in paddy water after repeated applications of diazinon.

A decline in the brown planthopper control effectivity of diazinon was noticed after its continuous application to rice paddies for years at the International Rice Research Institute. In a study undertaken to determine the factor involved in this decline, rapid inactivation of diazinon was recorded within 3 to 5 days of its incubation with water from a rice field that had received several applications of diazinon. During the same period, its degradation in water from an untreated rice field was non-significant. This indicated the development of a degrading agent in paddy water following diazinon treatments.The inactivation of diazinon on incubation with water from treated fields was retarded if the incubation mixture was sterilized or kept anaerobically. Release of 14CO2 from 14C-diazinon was rapid from water of treated fields, but was inhibited when streptomycin was added to the system. A lag of 2 or 3 days, followed by a rapid degradation, was generally evident. Thus these data established the fact that.
Liver regeneration and tumour stimulation: implications of the renin–angiotensin system

Liver resection is the most effective treatment for primary liver tumours and metastasis to the liver, and remains the only potentially long‐term curative therapy for patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) liver metastases. Nevertheless, there is a significant incidence of tumour recurrence following liver resection. Cellular and molecular changes resulting from resection and the subsequent liver regeneration process may influence the kinetics of tumour growth, contributing to recurrence. Although commonly associated with the systemic homeostasis of blood pressure, fluid and electrolyte, the renin–angiotensin system (RAS) has recently been shown to play a role in regulating cell proliferation, apoptosis and angiogenesis in local organs as well as in malignancies. An electronic search of the English literature on the role of the RAS in liver regeneration and tumourigenesis was performed using PubMed, with additional relevant articles sourced from reference lists. Studies have shown that the blockade of the RAS pathway stimulates liver regeneration and inhibits tumour progression. An understanding of the role of RAS in liver regeneration and tumourigenesis may enable alternative strategies to improve patient outcome and survival after liver resection. This review will discuss the role of the RAS in liver regeneration and in tumour recurrence post‐liver resection. The potential of the RAS as a novel therapeutic target for CRC liver metastases patients undergoing liver resection will be outlined.
Unfulfilled promise, untapped potential: Feedback at the crossroads

Abstract Feedback should be a key support for optimizing on-the-job learning in clinical medicine. Often, however, feedback fails to live up to its potential to productively direct and shape learning. In this article, two key influences on how and why feedback becomes meaningful are examined: the individual learner’s perception of and response to feedback and the learning culture within which feedback is exchanged. Feedback must compete for learners’ attention with a range of other learning cues that are available in clinical settings and must survive a learner’s judgment of its credibility in order to become influential. These judgments, in turn, occur within a specific context—a distinct learning culture—that both shapes learners’ definitions of credibility and facilitates or constrains the exchange of good feedback. By highlighting these important blind spots in the process by which feedback becomes meaningful, concrete and necessary steps toward a robust feedback culture within medical education are revealed.
Restricted replication of two alphaviruses in ricin-resistant mouse L cells with altered glycosyltransferase activities

Two mouse L cell variant lines (CL 3 and CL 6) selected for resistance to the toxic plant lectin ricin were restricted in their ability to replicate the two alphaviruses Sindbis virus and Semliki Forest virus. CL 3 cells have been shown to exhibit increased CMP-sialic acid:glycoprotein sialyltransferase and GM3 synthetase activities, whereas CL 6 cells have been shown to contain decreased UDPgalactose:glycoprotein galactosyltransferase and UDP-N-acetylglucosamine:glycoprotein N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase activities. The adsorption of Sindbis virus to CL 6 cells was considerably reduced, suggesting that the loss or inaccessibility of the receptors for Sindbis virus accounted for a major defect in virus production in these cells. In contrast, CL 3 synthesized Sindbis viral RNA and proteins but were unable to convert the precursor glycoprotein PE2 to the structural protein E2. The cleavage of PE2 to E2 was also blocked in both CL 3 and CL 6 cells infected with Semliki Forest virus.
Effect of Carnitine on Uptake, Oxidation and Esterification of Palmitate by the Perfused Rat Heart 1

Summary The effect of carnitine on the uptake, oxidation, and esterification of circulating palmitate has been studied with the isolated perfused rat heart. At concentrations of 0.5 mM and 5.0 mM, carnitine depressed the extraction of palmitate by perfused heart throughout the 45-min perfusion period. There was no significant effect of perfusing carnitine on the oxidation of labeled palmitate to 14CO2, but this could be explained by the low level of carnitine uptake under the same experimental conditions. Despite this, both levels of carnitine resulted in an increased percentage of recovery of extracted palmitate in the esterified lipids of the heart. Among the various lipid fractions of cardiac tissue, 5 mM carnitine perfusion caused a decrease in the percentage of label in unesterified fatty acids and diglycerides, and a significant increase in label recovered as phospholipids and triglycerides. This apparent increase in esterification of labeled palmitate was confirmed by separation of the subcellular fractions of heart after perfusion with palmitate in the absence and presence of carnitine. In the presence of carnitine, there was significant increases in palmitate incorporation into mitochondrial and microsomal triglycerides, while the other cell fractions were not affected.
Wavelength-switchable La-codoped bismuth-based erbium-doped fiber ring laser

A wavelength-switchable La-codoped bismuth-based erbium-doped fiber ring laser with the capability to switch to one of 35 lasing wavelengths, spaced at 0.8 nm from 1545 to 1575 nm, is reported. Excellent wavelength stability of better than 1 pm and power fluctuation of less than 0.15 dB were observed during a 2-h stability test.
The impact of neurocognitive impairment on occupational recovery of clinically stable patients with bipolar disorder: a prospective study

Bearden CE, Shih VH, Green MF, Gitlin M, Sokolski KN, Levander E, Marusak S, Hammen C, Sugar CA, Altshuler LL. The impact of neurocognitive impairment on occupational recovery of clinically stable patients with bipolar disorder: a prospective study. Bipolar Disord 2011: 13: 323–333. © 2011 The Authors. Journal compilation © 2011 John Wiley & Sons A/S.
Exposure to 16O-Particle Radiation Causes Aging-Like Decrements in Rats through Increased Oxidative Stress, Inflammation and Loss of Autophagy

Exposing young rats to particles of high energy and charge (HZE particles), a ground-based model for exposure to cosmic rays, enhances indices of oxidative stress and inflammation, disrupts the functioning of neuronal communication, and alters cognitive behaviors. Even though exposure to HZE particles occurs at low fluence rates, the cumulative effects of long-term exposure result in molecular changes similar to those seen in aged animals. In the present study, we assessed markers of autophagy, a dynamic process for intracellular degradation and recycling of toxic proteins and organelles, as well as stress and inflammatory responses, in the brains of Sprague-Dawley rats irradiated at 2 months of age with 5 and 50 cGy and 1 Gy of ionizing oxygen particles (16O) (1000 MeV/n). Compared to nonirradiated controls, exposure to 16O particles significantly inhibited autophagy function in the hippocampus as measured by accumulation of ubiquitin inclusion bodies such as P62/SQSTM1, autophagosome marker microtubule-associated protein 1 beta light chain 3 (MAP1B-LC3), beclin1 and proteins such as mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR). The molecular changes measured at short (36 h) and long (75 days) intervals after 16O-particle exposure indicate that the loss of autophagy function occurred shortly after exposure but was recovered via inhibition of mTOR. However, HZE-particle radiation caused significant sustained loss of protein kinase C alpha (PKC-α), a key G protein modulator involved in neuronal survival and functions of neuronal trophic factors. Exposure to 16O particles also caused substantial increases in the levels of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), indicating glial cell activation 75 days after exposure. This is the first report to show the molecular effects of 16O-particle radiation on oxidative stress, inflammation and loss of autophagy in the brain of young rats.
SEMUD: Secure multi-hop device-to-device communication for 5G public safety networks

Multi-hop Device-to-Device (D2D) communication has emerged as a key enabler for public safety applications in 5G networks. A failure of these applications would be catastrophic since they control vital human-in-the-loop services. As a result, it is of utmost importance to identify and mitigate security risks prior to commercial deployment. To this end, we devise SEMUD, the first secure multi-hop D2D solution for 5G mobile networks. It enables robust and secure communication even in the absence of supporting infrastructure. We design SEMUD to be compliant with 3GPP Proximity-based Services, the standard to implement D2D communications. We implement SEMUD in the ns-3 simulator and our testbed. Via extensive simulation, we assert its resilience against strong adversaries and attacks. Furthermore, we show the energy efficiency and achievable throughput of our proposal on real devices.
Near-GeV Electron Beams from the Laser Wakefield Accelerator in the &#8220;Bubble&#8221; Regime

This paper describes a 2D-PIC simulation of a laser wakefield accelerator in which an ultrashort, petawatt-class laser is focused and propagated through an underdense preformed plasma. We are looking at the phase-spaces of a large number of background plasma electrons that are accelerated to very high energies by the laser-induced plasma bubble. The result shows the possibility of generating a GeV-level electron beam in a few millimeters plasma size.