Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Acute abnormalities of sensory nerve function associated with oxaliplatin-induced neurotoxicity.

PURPOSE Neurotoxicity is becoming increasingly recognized as the major dose-limiting toxicity of oxaliplatin. Because the mechanism of oxaliplatin-induced neurotoxicity remains unclear, the present study investigated the potential of axonal excitability techniques in identifying pathophysiologic mechanisms and early markers of nerve dysfunction. PATIENTS AND METHODS Measures of sensory axonal excitability were recorded before and after infusion over 88 treatment cycles in 25 patients with colorectal cancer, who received a total oxaliplatin dose of 766 +/- 56 mg/m(2). Neurologic assessment, clinical rating scales, and routine nerve conduction studies were performed. RESULTS By completion of treatment, 16% of patients had developed severe (grade 3) neurotoxicity, and oxaliplatin dose reduction or cessation as a result of neurotoxicity was required in 40% of patients. Changes in axonal excitability occurred after infusion and could be explained on the basis of alterations in axonal membrane sodium (Na+) channel function (refractoriness: 7.6% +/- 1.7% before infusion v 4.5% +/- 1.4% after infusion; P = .03; superexcitability: -22.8% +/- 0.8% before infusion v -20.1% +/- 1.1% after infusion; P = .0002). Changes became less pronounced in later treatment cycles, suggesting that chronic nerve dysfunction and sensory loss masked acute effects at higher cumulative doses. Importantly, patients who demonstrated reductions in superexcitability in early treatment were subsequently more likely to develop moderate to severe neurotoxicity. The findings suggest that the degree of acute nerve dysfunction may relate to the development of chronic neurotoxicity. CONCLUSION Sensory axonal excitability techniques may facilitate identification of Na+ channel dysfunction in oxaliplatin-induced neurotoxicity and thereby provide a method to identify patients at risk for neurotoxicity to target those most likely to benefit from future neuroprotective strategies.
Anomaly detection using firefly harmonic clustering algorithm

The performance of communication networks can be affected by a number of factors including misconfigu-ration, equipments outages, attacks originated from legitimate behavior or not, software errors, among many other causes. These factors may cause an unexpected change in the traffic behavior, creating what we call anomalies that may represent a loss of performance or breach of network security. Knowing the behavior pattern of the network is essential to detect and characterize an anomaly. Therefore, this paper presents an algorithm based on the use of Digital Signature of Network Segment (DSNS), used to model the traffic behavior pattern. We propose a clustering algorithm, K-Harmonic means (KHM), combined with a new heuristic approach, Firefly Algorithm (FA), for network volume anomaly detection. The KHM calculate a weighting function of each point to calculate new centroids and circumventing the initialization problem present in most center based clustering algorithm and exploits the search capability of FA from escaping local optima. Processing the DSNS data and real traffic adata is possible to detect and point intervals considered anomalous with a trade-off between the 90% true-positive rate and 30% false-positive rate.
Nuclear transplantation and the control of gene activity in animal development

The transplantation of nuclei from differentiated or determined somatic cells to enucleated frogs’ eggs consistently leads to a complete and clearly recognizable change of gene activity. Within 1 to 2 h of nuclear transfer, somatic nuclei have come to resemble in structure and metabolism the zygote nuclei of fertilized eggs. The change in gene activity therefore takes place very soon after nuclear transfer and results from an effect of egg cytoplasm. The induced change in gene activity is associated with a selective accumulation of cytoplasmic proteins in transplanted nuclei. Examples are given of various ways in which nuclear transplantation and microinjection can be used to elucidate the intracellular movement of proteins and the effect of known protein fractions on gene activity.
Long‐term results of living kidney transplantation from HLA‐identical sibling donors under calcineurin inhibitor immunosuppression

Background: Recently, it has been revealed that alloantigen‐independent causes are important factors for late graft loss in kidney transplantation. We compared the results of living kidney transplantation from HLA‐identical siblings with those from HLA‐non‐identical siblings to analyse the impact of alloantigen‐independent factors on long‐term graft survival.
Football and alcohol: a short diary of a long and complex relationship

KEY MESSAGES Football is a high profile sport with a close relationship with alcohol, and many elite players have had problems with addiction. This can help raise public awareness of problem drinking. WHY THIS MATTERS TO US We encounter alcohol problems daily in our different perspectives as a GP and an Accident and Emergency Consultant. Both of us are avid football fans.
Vergleich psychophysikalischer Methoden zur Ermittlung von Wahrnehmungskennwerten

Zusammenfassung: In der vorliegenden Arbeit sollen psychophysikalische Methoden zur Ermittlung von Wahrnehmungskennwerten verglichen werden. Dazu wird zunachst eine Einfuhrung in die Psychophysik gegeben. Die Schwellwertmessung und die Darstellung der Schwellwerte mit Hilfe der psychometrischen Funktion werden beschrieben. Darauf aufbauend wird aufgezeigt wie die psychometrische Funktion, durch Antworten eines Probanden auf Reize, aufgestellt werden kann. Dabei wird im Rahmen der Signal Detection Theory unter anderem auf die Trennung von Sinnesempfindlichkeit und Entscheidungsverhalten eingegangen. Anschliesend werden die Ergebnisse der Literaturrecherche zu psychophysikalischen Methoden vorgestellt. Daraus werden die Method of Constants, die Gruppe der Staircase Methoden, die Maximum Likelihood Methoden und die Parameter Estimation by Sequential Testing Methoden zur weiteren Untersuchung ausgewahlt. Die ausgewahlten Methoden werden mit der Simulationsumgebung MATLAB analysiert, um sie auf ihre Effektivitat und Robustheit gegenuber Gewohnungseffekten und fluktuierenden Entscheidungskriterien zu testen. Um die Effektivitat zu beurteilen, wird ein Proband mit kontrollierbaren Sinnesempfindlichkeiten und Entscheidungskriterien entwickelt. Method of Constants und Staircase Methoden, sowie ein den Anforderungen entsprechender Proband, sind in MATLAB implementiert. Ein Intra-Methodenvergleich ist fur diese Methoden moglich. Mit Hilfe des entwickelten Simulationsprogramms konnen Empfehlungen fur Probandentests gegeben werden. So wird z.B. berechnet, mit wie vielen Durchlaufen ein Test durchgefuhrt werden muss, um eine bestimmte Genauigkeit der Ergebnisse zu gewahrleisten. So zeigen die Versuche zur Method of Constants (bei bestimmten Parametern), dass eine Erhohung der Anzahl der Versuche auf uber zehn Durchlaufe kaum noch zu einer Steigerung der Qualitat, und damit zu sinkender Effektivitat, fuhrt. Des Weiteren kann die Effektivitat der sogenannten Staircase Methoden deutlich gesteigert werden, wenn Methoden mit Startpunkten von unterschiedlicher Signalstarke kombiniert werden.
CD 147 INHIBITS THE NUCLEAR FACTOR OF ACTIVATED T-CELLS BY IMPAIRING Vav 1 AND Rac 1 DOWNSTREAM SIGNALING *

CD147 is a transmembrane protein that plays crucial roles in the development and function of the reproductive, visual, and nervous systems. CD147 also exerts positive and negative actions in T-cells by still obscure mechanisms. In this work, we have analyzed the expression, localization, and function of CD147 during T-cell receptor signaling responses. We show here that CD147 is an integral component of the T-cell immune synapse and that its overexpression leads to the inhibition of NF-AT activity induced by Vav1, a Rac1 exchange factor. This inhibitory activity is mediated by the CD147 intracellular tail and totally independent of its extracellular or transmembrane regions. The molecular dissection of the influence of CD147 on the Vav1 pathway indicates that its inhibitory action takes place downstream of Vav1 and Rac1 but upstream of the serine/threonine kinases JNK and Pak1. The interference of CD147 with these pathways is highly specific, since the overexpression of CD147 does not affect the activity of other GDP/GTP exchange factors or the stimulation of the Erk cascade. Finally, we show that the CD147 knockdown in Jurkat cells promotes higher levels of NF-AT stimulation and Pak1 phosphorylation upon Tcell receptor cross-linking. Instead, the lack of CD147 does not affect other signaling cascades that participate in the same cellular response. Taken together, these results indicate that CD147, via the selective inhibition of specific downstream elements of the Vav1/Rac1 route, contributes to the negative regulation of T-cell responses. The interaction of cells with the extracellular environment requires the use of surface molecules that sense nutritional, hormonal, mitogenic, cellderived, and substrate-originated signals to induce appropriate cellular responses. Due to this, the elucidation of these human proteome components is crucial for understanding the signaling basis of cell responses and for elucidating and treating human pathologies. CD147, frequently referred to also as basigin and emmprin (extracellular matrix metalloproteinase inducer), is one of the transmembrane proteins that has been subjected to intense scrutiny during recent times. CD147 is a glycosylated, type-I transmembrane protein that belongs to the Ig superfamily. Its structure contains an extracellular domain with one or two Ig-like domains depending on the CD147 isoform, a transmembrane region, and a 39 amino acid-long cytoplasmic tail (1-5).
Evolutionary games with different time scales of strategy updating

Variation in learning rates within populations suggests that evolutionary game theory may not necessarily be restricted to uniform time scales associated with the game interaction and strategy adaption evolution. Using agent-based evolutionary simulation in the framework of prisoner's dilemma game, we demonstrate the sustainability of cooperation and the emergence of different macro-effects, when equipping agents with non-uniform time scale preferences. We employ a spatial random regular grid to describe the social interactions among agents. We conclude that the cooperation level has a strong dependence on the population composition, and the suitable fraction of the fast-updating players in the system which is associated with the maximal cooperation frequency has been found out. Besides, the extent of the promotive effect of diversifying time scales is also closely related with the payoff adoption rules in strategy updating, especially when we invent a past history for each agent. Summing up the gained results, a general conclusion can be drawn, saying that the combination of these factors (e.g. time scales and memory) gives rise to rich dynamic behavior of the system.
On packet selection criteria for clock recovery

Many packet-based clock recovery algorithms use only a subset of timing packet arrivals to discipline the local oscillator. One commonly used selection process is to partition the time into non-overlapping windows and, for each window, select only the one that had the smallest network transit time. This process is a non-linear filter, developed mostly based on intuition and widely accepted by many researchers and developers without much formal analysis. In this paper, we analyze the output statistics of such a filter, provide a closed-form expression for some commonly observed packet delay profiles, and back the results with experimental data. We also point out some network scenarios where usage of the filter is not well justified.
Genetic Manipulation of Staphylococcus aureus

Staphylococcus aureus is a facultative anaerobic Gram‐positive coccus and a member of the normal skin flora, as well as that of the nasal passages of humans. However, S. aureus can also gain entry into the host and cause life‐threatening infections or persist as disease foci that develop into suppurative abscesses. While genetically tractable, the manipulation of S. aureus remains challenging. This unit describes methods developed in our laboratory for gene disruption by allelic replacement and transposition. We also provide a protocol for bacteriophage‐mediated transduction of mutants marked with selectable alleles and describe plasmid utilization for complementation studies. Curr. Protoc. Microbiol. 32:9C.3. 1‐9C.3. 19. © 2014 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Final results from a meta-analysis of remedial interventions with drink/drive offenders.

A meta-analysis of the efficacy of remediation with drinking/driving offenders included 215 independent evaluations identified through a comprehensive literature search. Study characteristics, including dimensions of methodological quality were coded using scales and protocols developed by expert panels. Better methodological quality (as indicated by group equivalence) was associated with smaller effect size and less variation in effect size. Among studies with adequate methods (as determined empirically through examination of effect size variation with quality), the average effect of remediation on drinking/driving recidivism was an 8-9% reduction over no remediation. A similar effect size was found for alcohol involved crashes. However, licensing actions tended to be associated with reduction in occurrence of non-alcohol events (e.g. non-alcohol crashes). Exploratory regression analysis and confirmatory within study analysis suggested that combinations of modalities--in particular those including education, psychotherapy/counseling and follow-up contact/probation--were more effective than other evaluated modes for reducing drinking/driving recidivism. Treatment effects are probably underestimated in the literature due to overemphasis on education as a treatment for all offenders and drinking/driving recidivism as the most frequent measure of outcome. Limitations of the primary literature and future research needs are discussed.
Inhibition of NF-kappa B with proteasome inhibitors enhances apoptosis in human lung adenocarcinoma cells in vitro.

BACKGROUND Nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-kappa B) nuclear translocation has an important role in preventing apoptotic cell death in some cancers. However, little is known about the role of NF-kB in non-small cell carcinoma. MATERIALS AND METHODS Human lung adenocarcinoma cells were stimulated with tumor necrosis factor (TNF) alone or TNF with proteasome inhibitors to block NF-kappa B translocation. Cytotoxicity assays, histone-associated DNA-fragmentation ELISA, immunoblots of poly-(ADP ribose)-polymerase (PARP) and electron microscopy were used to evaluate apoptosis. RESULTS TNF induced I kappa B proteolysis and NF-kappa B nuclear translocation; however, this was blocked by pretreatment with proteasome inhibitors. TNF alone was not cytotoxic, but when NF-kappa B was blocked TNF induced cell death. Specifically, the cytotoxicity was due to apoptosis as noted by increased DNA-fragmentation, degradation of PARP and characteristic morphology. CONCLUSIONS Proteasome inhibition was an effective method to inhibit NF-kappa B activation in lung adenocarcinoma cells. TNF in conjunction with. NF-kappa B inhibition was a potent stimulus for apoptosis.
Processing of the AIDA‐I precursor: removal of AIDAC and evidence for the outer membrane anchoring as a β‐barrel structure

The AIDA‐I adhesin known to be responsible for the diffuse adherence (DA) phenotype of the diarrhoea‐genie Escherichia coli (DAEC) strain 2787 has been shown previously to be synthesized as a precursor protein and to undergo additional C‐terminal processing. Here, the C‐terminal processing of the AIDA‐I precursor and the outer membrane topology of the cleaved C‐terminal fragment, AIDAC, were investigated. By isolation of the cleaved AIDAC fragment and N‐terminal sequencing, the C‐terminal cleavage site was identified between Ser‐846 and Ala‐847 thereby indicating a molecular mass of 47.5 kDa for AIDAC. The correct processing to AIDA‐I and AIDAC in OmpT, OmpP and DegP protease‐deficient E. coli strains as well as in avirulent salmonellae and shigellae points to an autocatalytic cleavage mechanism. The cleaved AIDAC was localized in the outer membrane. A leader sequence‐AIDAC fusion was efficiently routed to the outer membrane. Analysis by protease digestion, secondary‐structure prediction and modelling, by comparison with structurally related bacterial proteins like the lgA1 protease from neisseria, the vacuolating toxin from Helicobacter pylori, and the VirG protein of Shigella flexneri, strongly indicates that AIDAC is present in the outer membrane as a β‐barrel structure.
Modelling dynamic interactions and adaptive behavior in Balancing Mechanism offers

In competitive, bilateral markets, repeated interaction amongst power plants with the same economic characteristics would be expected to result in convergence of their offer prices. If they do not, it raises interesting issues related to the sustainability of heterogeneous competitive strategies. In this paper, we analyze the offer prices submitted to the UK Balancing Mechanism in 2008 by four coal-fired power stations, separately owned (by British Energy, Electricité de France, E. On and Drax), approximately of the same age, size and efficiency, all LCPD compliant, and located in the same congestion zone. We find evidence of offer price dispersion and heterogeneous offer strategies despite the repetitive and transparent nature of the market. First, differences emerge across companies concerning both the speed of mean reversion, the volatility persistence, and the frequency and intensity of spikes. Second, while Drax, BE and E. On tie their offers to coal and gas prices, BE offers track the APX day-ahead price index quite closely. Finally, vector autoregressive (VAR) and vector error-correction (VEC) model estimates show that offer prices are co-integrated with coal prices, and that EdF acts as the leader in peak-load periods.
Hysteresis in PDE model of a Li-ion battery

Lithium-ion batteries are commonly used to store energy in electric vehicles. Hysteresis is an important phenomenon observed in the response of these batteries. The most common observation for lithium ion batteries is open circuit voltage and these measurements exhibit hysteretic behavior. However, the effect of system dynamics on hysteresis has not been studied. In this work, simulations with a detailed electro-chemical model are presented that indicate that intrinsic system dynamics are a significant cause of hysteretic behavior in lithium-ion batteries.
Protection automatique des applications Web contre l'attaque par injection SQL

Dans ce travail, nous proposons une approche de detection d'anomalies contre les attaques par injection SQL et qui n'exige ni lecture, ni analyse, ni modification du code source de l'application Web a proteger. Cette approche offre une nouvelle methode de correlation d'evenements qui se base sur une logique temporelle et sur une mesure de similarite entre les demandes HTTP et les requetes SQL. Elle est capable d'analyser, de correler plusieurs evenements dans le temps et de prendre des contremesures. Nous presentons egalement l'implementation et l'evaluation d'un systeme de detection d'intrusions fonde sur l'approche proposee, nomme SQLIA-IDS, qui surveille une application Web dans le but de fournir un outil de detection d'attaques visant les bases de donnees de cette application. Ce systeme se deroule en deux phases : la phase d'apprentissage qui permet de creer le comportement normal de l'application Web en modelisant les requetes SQL normales et la phase de protection qui consiste a verifier lors de l'execution que les requetes SQL respectent le comportement normal de l'application Web. ______________________________________________________________________________ MOTS-CLES DE L’AUTEUR : application Web, demande HTTP, requete SQL, attaque par injection SQL, detection d'intrusions, SQLIA-IDS.
Water, Socioeconomic Factors, and Human Herpesvirus 8 Infection in Ugandan Children and Their Mothers

Background:Human herpesvirus 8 (HHV-8) infection is common in sub-Saharan Africa, but its distribution is uneven. Transmission occurs during childhood within families by unclear routes. Methods:We evaluated 600 Ugandan children with sickle cell disease and their mothers for factors associated with HHV-8 seropositivity in a cross-sectional study. HHV-8 serostatus was determined using an HHV-8 K8.1 glycoprotein enzyme immunoassay. Odds ratios for seropositivity were estimated using logistic regression, and factor analysis was used to identify clustering among socioeconomic variables. Results:One hundred seventeen (21%) of 561 children and 166 (34%) of 485 mothers with definite HHV-8 serostatus were seropositive. For children, seropositivity was associated with age, mother's HHV-8 serostatus (especially for children aged 6 years or younger), lower maternal education level, mother's income, and low-status father's occupation (P < 0.05 for all). Using communal standpipe or using surface water sources were both associated with seropositivity (OR 2.70, 95% CI 0.80-9.06 and 4.02, 95% CI 1.18-13.7, respectively) as compared to using private tap water. These associations remained, albeit attenuated, after adjusting for maternal education and child's age (P = 0.08). In factor analysis, low scores on environmental and family factors, which captured household and parental characteristics, respectively, were positively associated with seropositivity (Ptrend < 0.05 for both). For mothers, HHV-8 seropositivity was significantly associated with water source and maternal income. Conclusions:HHV-8 infection in Ugandan children was associated with lower socioeconomic status and using surface water. Households with limited access to water may have less hygienic practices that increase risk for HHV-8 infection.