Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Alternate complement pathway activation by group A streptococci: role of M-protein

Avirulent strains of group A streptococci readily activate the complement system in normal human serum via the alternate complement pathway (ACP). Virulent M-positive group A streptococci are much less potent as activators of the ACP. The ability of M-positive streptococci to activate the ACP is enhanced by trypsinization or mild peptic digestion. The latter treatment removes the serologically active and antiphagocytic type-specific moieties of M protein, but retains the surface fuzzy layer. The phagocytosis of avirulent streptococci is markedly enhanced by preopsonization in serum chelated with Mg-ethylene glycol tetraacetic acid (classic complement pathway blocked) but not in serum devoid of heat-labile factors. These studies suggest that the function of M protein as a virulence factor may be mediated, at least in part, by its ability to retard interaction of ACP components with structures present on the streptococcal cell surface.
Fluid sequence editing based on ARAP deformation model

Fluid phenomena such as smoke, fire, and waterfall can be easily acquired via a video recorder in the nature. However, only very few researches are about how to edit and reuse the fluid sequences. In this paper, we develop a novel method to edit the fluid sequence spatially and temporally based on grid deformation. We use an as-rigid-as-possible (ARAP) deformation model to edit the fluid sequences. ARAP is like energy model to deform a coarse regular grid in real-time editing stage. Our ARAP model penalizes three parts of energy to make the deformation as rigid as possible. This model is very easy to solve, and users can adjust the weighting coefficients for the three energies to obtain various results. In the rasterization stage, one can use linear interpolation to export the dense texture coordinate field for the grid. And finally we integrate our deformation method with some other techniques to achieve different types of editing effects.
VRRobot: Robot actuated props in an infinite virtual environment

We present the design and development of a fully immersive virtual reality (VR) system that can provide prop-based haptic feedback in an infinite virtual environment. It is conceived as a research tool for studying topics related to haptics in VR and based on off-the-shelf components. A robotic arm moves physical props, dynamically matching pose and location of an object in the virtual world. When the user reaches for the virtual object, his or her hands also encounter it in the real physical space. The interaction is not limited to specific body parts and does not rely on an external structure like an exoskeleton. In combination with a locomotion platform for close-to-natural walking, this allows unrestricted haptic interaction in a natural way in virtual environments of unlimited size. We describe the concept, the hardware and software architecture in detail. We establish safety design guidelines for human-robot interaction in VR. Our technical evaluation shows good response times and accuracy. We report on a user study conducted with 34 participants indicating promising results, and discuss the potential of our system.
Response to Comment on Breiner et al. Does the Prevailing Hypothesis That Small-Fiber Dysfunction Precedes Large-Fiber Dysfunction Apply to Type 1 Diabetic Patients? Diabetes Care 2014;37:1418–1424

We read with interest the comments of Vas et al. (1) regarding our article (2), which used noninvasive tests of small-fiber structure and function to demonstrate the presence of small-fiber dysfunction prior to large-fiber change in patients with type 1 diabetes. We would like to respond to the following points. Vas et al. (1) raised concerns regarding low laser Doppler imaging of heat-evoked flare (LDIflare) sensitivity for detection of polyneuropathy. In our study, LDIflare was measured using the moorLDI2 instrument (Moor Instruments Ltd., Axminster, U.K.), according to published techniques (3). In a previous study, we have shown …
Multiplex polymerase chain reaction for detection and differentiation of the microbial insecticide Bacillus thuringiensis

A rapid identification of Bacillus thuringiensis strains was established by using multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Primers of high homology specific to regions within genes encoding three major classes of B. thuringiensis crystal proteins were used to generate a PCR product profile characteristic of each strain of B. thuringiensis subsp. kurstaki. Differentiation among these strains was made on the basis of the electrophoretic pattern of the PCR products. Known B. thuringiensis subsp. kurstaki strains as well as unidentified strains isolated from insect cadavers were analyzed by PCR. Small amounts of crude sample lysates were assayed in a two-step PCR containing five primers capable of distinguishing between the strains giving products of 1,500, 858, and 653 bp for the CryIA(a) CryIA(b), and CryIA(c) genes, respectively. The method can be applied to rapidly detect the strains of B. thuringiensis subsp. kurstaki in commercial formulations and in the field.
Constrained State Feedback Speed Control of PMSM Based on Model Predictive Approach

This paper presents constrained state feedback speed control of a permanent-magnet synchronous motor (PMSM). Based on classical control theory, nonlinear state-space model of PMSM is developed. A simple linearization procedure is employed to design a linear state feedback controller (SFC). Digital redesign of a SFC is carried out to achieve discrete form suitable for implementation in a DSP. Model predictive approach is used to a posteriori constraint introduction into control system. It overcomes limitations of motion control system with nonconstrained SFC resulting in low dynamic properties. The novel concept utilizes machine voltage equation model to calculate the boundary values of control signals which provide permissible values of the future state variables. Secondary control objectives such as zero d-axis current are included. Simulation and experimental results are presented to validate the proposed constrained state feedback control algorithm in comparison to nonconstrained state feedback control and cascade control structure, respectively.
Guidelines for the management of asymptomatic primary hyperparathyroidism: summary statement from the third international workshop.

OBJECTIVE Asymptomatic primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT) is a common clinical problem. The purpose of this report is to guide the use of diagnostics and management for this condition in clinical practice. PARTICIPANTS Interested professional societies selected representatives for the consensus committee and provided funding for a one-day meeting. A subgroup of this committee set the program and developed key questions for review. Consensus was established at a closed meeting that followed and at subsequent discussions. EVIDENCE Each question was addressed by a relevant literature search (on PubMed), and the data were presented for discussion at the group meeting. CONSENSUS PROCESS Consensus was achieved by a group meeting. Statements were prepared and reviewed by all authors who represented the Planning Committee and the participating professional societies.
K+ fluctuations in the extracellular spaces of cardiac muscle. Evidence from the voltage clamp and extracellular K+ - selective microelectrodes.

UNDERSTANDING cellular cardiac electrophysiology is an important first step in developing the ability to predict and alter pathological conditions in the whole heart. Over the past 30 years, many cardiac electrophysiologists have attempted to analyze the membrane properties of cardiac muscle in a manner similar to the classic analysis of the squid axon (Hodgkin and Huxley, 1952). The upstroke (Weidmann, 1955; Dudel and Rudel, 1970; Colatsky and Tsien, 1979), the plateau (Beeler and Reuter, 1970; Noble and Tsien, 1969), and the diastolic depolarization (Noble and Tsien, 1968) have been interpreted by assuming a number of parallel ionic channels with timeand voltage-dependent conductances. Neurophysiologists have enjoyed significant experimental advantages over the cardiac electrophysiologist in pursuing the initial observations of Hodgkin and Huxley. First, they were able to control the ionic concentrations on either side of the membrane more effectively because of their ability to perfuse the squid axon internally (Baker et al., 1962). Second, selective blockers of the two timeand voltage-dependent channels (tetrodotoxin for the Na channel and tetraethylammonium for the K channel) were available. Third, the squid axon can be voltage clamped by inserting an axial wire
Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Periodontal Pathogens in the Oral Cavity and Lungs of Cystic Fibrosis Patients: a Case-Control Study

ABSTRACT Cystic fibrosis (CF) is the most frequent lethal genetic disease in the Caucasian population. Lung destruction is the principal cause of death by chronic Pseudomonas aeruginosa colonization. There is a high prevalence of oropharyngeal anaerobic bacteria in sputum of CF patients. This study was carried out due to the lack of results comparing subgingival periodontal pathogenic bacteria between the oral cavity and lungs in patients with CF in relation with P. aeruginosa presence. Our first goal was to detect P. aeruginosa in oral and sputum samples by culture and molecular methods and to determine clonality of isolates. In addition, subgingival periodontal anaerobic bacteria were searched for in sputum. A cross-sectional pilot case-control study was conducted in the CF Reference Center in Roscoff, France. Ten CF patients with a ΔF508 homozygous mutation (5 chronically colonized [CC] and 5 not colonized [NC]) were enrolled. P. aeruginosa was detected in saliva, sputum, and subgingival plaque samples by real-time quantitative PCR (qPCR). Subsequently, periodontal bacteria were also detected and quantified in subgingival plaque and sputum samples by qPCR. In CC patients, P. aeruginosa was recovered in saliva and subgingival plaque samples. Sixteen P. aeruginosa strains were isolated in saliva and sputum from this group and compared by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE). Subgingival periodontal anaerobic bacteria were found in sputum samples. A lower diversity of these species was recovered in the CC patients than in the NC patients. The presence of the same P. aeruginosa clonal types in saliva and sputum samples underlines that the oral cavity is a possible reservoir for lung infection.
Contributions of Inflammation and Cardiac Matrix Metalloproteinase Activity to Cardiac Failure in Diabetic Cardiomyopathy

We investigated the effect of the angiotensin type 1 (AT-1) receptor antagonist, irbesartan, on matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) activity and cardiac cytokines in an animal model of diabetic cardiomyopathy. Diabetes was induced in 20 C57/bl6 mice by injection of streptozotocin (STZ). These animals were treated with irbesartan or placebo and were compared with nondiabetic controls. Left ventricular (LV) function was measured by pressure-volume loops with parameters for systolic function (end systolic elastance [Ees]) and diastolic function (cardiac stiffness) 8 weeks after STZ treatment. The cardiac protein content of interleukin (IL)1β and transforming growth factor (TGF)β1 were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The total cardiac collagen content and collagen type 1 and 3 were measured by histochemestry, and MMP-2 activity was measured by gelatin zymography. LV dysfunction was documented by impaired Ees and diastolic stiffness in STZ mice compared with controls. This was accompanied by increased TGFβ, IL1β, and fibrosis and decreased MMP-2 activity. Treatment with irbesartan attenuated LV dysfunction, IL1β, TGFβ, and cardiac fibrosis compared with untreated diabetic animals and normalized MMP activity. These findings present evidence that AT-1 receptor antagonists attenuate cardiac failure by decreasing cardiac inflammation and normalizing MMP activity, leading to normalized cardiac fibrosis in STZ-induced diabetic cardiomyopathy.
The Glu318Gly mutation of the presenilin‐1 gene does not necessarily cause Alzheimer's disease

In early‐onset familial Alzheimer's disease pathogenic mutations have been found in the amyloid precur sor protein (APP) gene and in the presenilin (PS)‐1 and PS‐2 genes. We screened for mutations in these genes in 20 patients with familial AD from the Finnish population. In addition, we sampled 41 sporadic AD patients and 59 controls to test for mutations identified in our familial AD cases. We detected an A‐to‐G transition in the PS‐1 gene, resulting in a glutamic acid (G1u)‐to‐ glycine (Gly) substitution at codon 318 in 2 familial and 2 sporadic AD patients. The Glu318Gly mutation has previously been reported to cause AD. We also found the Glu318Gly mutation in 4 healthy aged controls (range, 74–87 years). We thus conclude that the mutation is most likely a rare polymorphism not related to AD.
Valence fluctuation phenomena

Valence fluctuation phenomena occur in rare-earth compounds in which the proximity of the 4f level to the Fermi energy leads to instabilities of the charge configuration (valence) and/or of the magnetic moment. The authors review the experimental results observed in the subset of such systems for which the 4f ions form a lattice with identical valence on each site. The discussion includes key thermodynamic experiments, such as susceptibility and lattice constant, and spectroscopic experiments such as XPS and neutron scattering. This is followed by a review of existing theoretical work concerning both the ground states and the isomorphic phase transitions which occur in such compounds; the emphasis is on those aspects which make valence fluctuation phenomena such a challenging many-body problem.
Twin Rotors System Modeling and Bumpless Transfer Implementation Algorithm for LQ Control

In this paper a twin rotors system is implemented, and a proper analytic nonlinear model is derived based on real data. Also, linear models are proposed at each operating point to design a linear controller. Next, a bumpless transfer algorithm is proposed for the LQ control of twin rotors system. Via some simulations we exemplify the performance of the proposed bumpless transfer algorithm and show usefulness through applying it to the real twin rotors system
Phenotypic characterization of the novel, non-hotspot oncogenic KRAS mutants E31D and E63K

KRAS proto-oncogene, GTPase (KRAS) functions as a molecular switch at the apex of multiple signaling pathways controlling cell proliferation, differentiation, migration, and survival. Canonical KRAS mutants, such as those in codons 12 and 13, produce constitutively active oncoproteins that short-circuit epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-initiated signaling, resulting in dysregulated downstream effectors associated with cellular transformation. Therefore, anti-EGFR therapy provides little to no clinical benefit to patients with activating KRAS mutations. Current genotyping procedures based on canonical mutation detection only account for ~40% of non-responders, highlighting the need to identify additional predictive biomarkers. In the present study, two novel non-hotspot KRAS mutations were functionally characterized in vitro: KRAS E31D was identified from a genetic screen of colorectal cancer specimens at the UP-National Institutes of Health. KRAS E63K is curated in the Catalogue of Somatic Mutations in Cancer database. Similar to the canonical mutants KRAS G12D and KRAS G13D, NIH3T3 cells overexpressing KRAS E31D and KRAS E63K showed altered morphology and were characteristically smaller, rounder, and highly refractile compared with their non-transformed counterparts. Filamentous actin staining also indicated cytoplasmic shrinkage, membrane ruffling, and formation of pseudopod protrusions. Further, they displayed higher proliferative rates and higher migratory rates in scratch wound assays compared with negative controls. These empirical findings suggest the activating impact of the novel KRAS mutations, which may contribute to resistance to anti-EGFR therapy. Complementary studies to elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying the transforming effect of the rare mutants are required. In parallel, their oncogenic capacity in vivo should also be investigated.
Identifying Generators at Risk of SSR in Meshed Compensated AC/DC Power Networks

The paper presents a methodology to identify generators at risk of subsynchronous resonance (SSR) in meshed AC/DC networks. Two risk indices are developed to rank generators based on the level of exposure to SSR. One of them measures the severity of subsynchronous torsional interactions, and the other indicates the gravity of transient torque problem. It is shown that proposed indices can be used to identify generators in the network that are at the risk of experiencing high mechanical torques due to SSR and to rank them based on severity of potential exposure to SSR. The methodology is demonstrated on meshed 16-machine, 68-bus IEEE test network with different series compensation levels of AC lines, asymmetrical compensation and voltage source converter (VSC) based HVDC lines. Finally, electromagnetic transient simulations are used to verify the ranking of generators obtained using developed indices.
Organization of shared memory with synchronization for multiprocessor-on-a-chip

The TSVM is a logical structured memory with a synchronization to improve a performance in a multi-threaded parallel processing. The physical TSVM is realized by the TSVM cache (TC) and a conventional memory in a Multiprocessor-on-a-chip (MOC) system. The L1 cache in a CPU consists of the TC, the General variable cache (GVC) and the instruction cache. The IYA (IY architecture) that is a new architecture divides a conventional data cache into the TC and GVC. The TC caches the shared variables with a synchronization, and the GVC caches other general variables. Regardless of a CPU core, a MOC with the IYA can utilize parallelisms from the instruction level and the statement level to the thread level systematically. To estimate the effect of the TC, preliminary experiments are performed on the multi-chip multiprocessor including the stand-alone TSVM. The result shows that the TSVM cache improves the performance.
Is GPR30 the membrane aldosterone receptor postulated 20 years ago?

To the Editor: Gros et al1 describe the involvement of GPR30 in rapid actions of aldosterone. The hypothesis that a structure other than the mineralocorticoid receptor (MR) may mediate rapid actions of aldosterone was postulated many years ago. Wehling et al2 showed in 1991 that the rapid effect of aldosterone on the sodium-proton exchanger in human mononuclear leukocytes and vascular smooth muscle cells was independent of classic aldosterone antagonists like canrenoate or canrenone.3 Grossmann et al4 showed almost 15 years later that cytosolic Ca2+ was increased by aldosterone in mock- and in human MR-transfected cells to the same extent, and spironolactone did not block this effect, pointing to MR-independent mechanisms. Most recently, aldosterone binding sites were detected at the membrane …
Impact of Enterovirus Testing on Resource Use in Febrile Young Infants: A Systematic Review.

CONTEXT Enterovirus infection commonly causes fever in infants aged 0 to 90 days and, without testing, is difficult to differentiate from serious bacterial infection. OBJECTIVE To determine the cost savings of routine enterovirus testing and identify subgroups of infants with greater potential impact from testing among infants 0 to 90 days old with fever. DATA SOURCES Studies were identified systematically from published and unpublished literature by using Embase, Medline, the Cochrane database, and conference proceedings. STUDY SELECTION Inclusion criteria were original studies, in any language, of enterovirus infection including the outcomes of interest in infants aged 0 to 90 days. DATA EXTRACTION Standardized instruments were used to appraise each study. The evidence quality was evaluated using Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation criteria. Two investigators independently searched the literature, screened and critically appraised the studies, extracted the data, and applied the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation criteria. RESULTS Of the 257 unique studies identified and screened, 32 were completely reviewed and 8 were included. Routine enterovirus testing was associated with reduced hospital length of stay and cost savings during peak enterovirus season. Cerebrospinal fluid pleocytosis was a poor predictor of enterovirus meningitis. The studies were all observational and the evidence was of low quality. CONCLUSIONS Enterovirus polymerase chain reaction testing, independent of cerebrospinal fluid pleocytosis, can reduce length of stay and achieve cost savings, especially during times of high enterovirus prevalence. Additional study is needed to identify subgroups that may achieve greater cost savings from testing to additionally enhance the efficiency of testing.
Analyzing Neutrophil Morphology, Mechanics, and Motility in Sepsis: Options and Challenges for Novel Bedside Technologies

Objective:Alterations in neutrophil morphology (size, shape, and composition), mechanics (deformability), and motility (chemotaxis and migration) have been observed during sepsis. We combine summarizing features of neutrophil morphology, mechanics, and motility that change during sepsis with an investigation into their clinical utility as markers for sepsis through measurement with novel technologies. Data Sources:We performed an initial literature search in MEDLINE using search terms “neutrophil,” “morphology,” “mechanics,” “dynamics,” “motility,” “mobility,” “spreading,” “polarization,” “migration,” and “chemotaxis. ” We then combined the results with “sepsis” and “septic shock. ” We scanned bibliographies of included articles to identify additional articles. Study Selection and Data Extraction:Final selection was done after the authors reviewed recovered articles. We included articles based on their relevance for our review topic. Data Synthesis:When compared with resting conditions, sepsis causes an increase in circulating numbers of larger, more rigid neutrophils that show diminished granularity, migration, and chemotaxis. Combined measurement of these variables could provide a more complete view on neutrophil phenotype manifestation. For that purpose, sophisticated automated hematology analyzers, microscopy, and bedside microfluidic devices provide clinically feasible, high-throughput, and cost-limiting means. Conclusions:We propose that integration of features of neutrophil morphology, mechanics, and motility with these new analytical methods can be useful as markers for diagnosis, prognosis, and monitoring of sepsis and may even contribute to basic understanding of its pathophysiology.
Speak No Evil: Targeting a Population’s Neutrality to Defeat an Insurgency

Using Iraq as a model, this article seeks to examine the relationship between the people and the insurgency, with the ultimate questions being: What role does the civilian population play in the insurgency, and how can this situation be influenced to achieve success? The article examines the traditional military doctrines of insurgency and finds that: (1) though unique, the Iraqi insurgency is following a predictable pattern of development; (2) the civilian population plays a determinative role in the success or failure of the insurgency; and (3) the civilian population can be more effectively influenced though a more selective and efficient application of civil-military operations.