Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Group B Streptococcus Capsular Polysaccharide-Cholera Toxin B Subunit Conjugate Vaccines Prepared by Different Methods for Intranasal Immunization

ABSTRACT Group B Streptococcus (GBS) type III capsular polysaccharide (CPS III) was conjugated to recombinant cholera toxin B subunit (rCTB) using three different methods which employed (i) cystamine and N-succinimidyl-3-(2-pyridyldithio)propionate (SPDP), (ii) carbodiimide with adipic acid dihydrazide (ADH) as a spacer, or (iii) reductive amination (RA). The CPS III-rCTB conjugates were divided into large- and small-molecular-weight (Mr) fractions, and the immunogenicities of the different preparations after intranasal (i.n.) immunization were studied in mice. Both large- and small-Mrconjugates of CPS III-rCTBRA or CPS III-rCTBADHinduced high, almost comparable levels of CPS-specific immunoglobulin G (IgG) in serum, lungs, and vagina that were generally superior to those obtained with CPS III-rCTBSPDP conjugates or a CPS III and rCTB mixture. However, the smaller-Mrconjugates of CPS III-rCTBRA or CPS III-rCTBADHin most cases elicited a lower anti-CPS IgA immune response than the large-Mr conjugates, and the highest anti-CPS IgA titers in both tissues and serum were obtained with the large-Mr CPS III-rCTBRA conjugate. Serum IgG anti-CPS titers induced by the CPS III-rCTBRAconjugate had high levels of specific IgG1, IgG2a, IgG2b, and IgG3 antibodies. Based on the effectiveness of RA for coupling CPS III to rCTB, RA was also tested for conjugating GBS CPS Ia with rCTB. As for the CPS III-rCTB conjugates, the immunogenicity of CPS Ia was greatly increased by conjugation to rCTB. Intranasal immunization with a combination of CPS Ia-rCTB and CPS III-rCTB conjugates was shown to induce anti-CPS Ia and III immune responses in serum and lungs that were fully comparable with the responses to immunization with the monovalent CPS Ia-rCTB or CPS III-rCTB conjugates. These results suggest that the GBS CPS III-rCTB and CPS Ia-rCTB conjugates prepared by the RA method may be used in bivalent and possibly also in multivalent mucosal GBS conjugate vaccines.
Perioperative Exercise Programs Improve Early Return of Ambulatory Function After Total Hip Arthroplasty: A Randomized, Controlled Trial

Wang AW, Gilbey HJ, Ackland TR: Perioperative exercise programs improve early return of ambulatory function after total hip arthroplasty: A randomized, controlled trial. Am J Phys Med Rehabil 2002;81:801–806. Objective Patients with endstage hip arthritis have poor ambulatory function. The aim of this study was to determine if perioperative exercise programs are well tolerated by these elderly patients and if a customized program can achieve an earlier recovery of normal ambulatory function after total hip arthroplasty. Design Twenty-eight subjects scheduled for total hip arthroplasty were randomized to either the exercise group and received a perioperative customized exercise program or the control group and received the routine perioperative care. Ambulatory function was assessed by measurement of gait parameters during a 25-m walk test, and walking endurance was assessed by a 6-min walk test. Results Exercise group subjects attended 97.3% of scheduled exercise sessions with no training injuries. Exercise group subjects demonstrated greater stride length and gait velocity at 3 wk postsurgery. At 12 and 24 wk postsurgery, gait velocity was greater, and the 6-min walking distance was significantly greater than the control group. Conclusion The study indicates that perioperative customized exercise program are well tolerated in the elderly patient with endstage hip arthritis and are effective in improving the rate of recovery in ambulatory function in the first 6 mo after total hip arthroplasty.
The hippocampal CA3 region can generate two distinct types of sharp wave‐ripple complexes, in vitro

Hippocampal sharp wave‐ripples (SPW‐Rs) occur during slow wave sleep and behavioral immobility and are thought to play an important role in memory formation. We investigated the cellular and network properties of SPW‐Rs with simultaneous laminar multielectrode and intracellular recordings in a rat hippocampal slice model, using physiological bathing medium. Spontaneous SPW‐Rs were generated in the dentate gyrus (DG), CA3, and CA1 regions. These events were characterized by a local field potential gradient (LFPg) transient, increased fast oscillatory activity and increased multiple unit activity (MUA). Two types of SPW‐Rs were distinguished in the CA3 region based on their different LFPg and current source density (CSD) pattern. Type 1 (T1) displayed negative LFPg transient in the pyramidal cell layer, and the associated CSD sink was confined to the proximal dendrites. Type 2 (T2) SPW‐Rs were characterized by positive LFPg transient in the cell layer, and showed CSD sinks involving both the apical and basal dendrites. In both types, consistent with the somatic CSD source, only a small subset of CA3 pyramidal cells fired, most pyramidal cells were hyperpolarized, while most interneurons increased firing rate before the LFPg peak. Different neuronal populations, with different proportions of pyramidal cells and distinct subsets of interneurons were activated during T1 and T2 SPW‐Rs. Activation of specific inhibitory cell subsets—with the possible leading role of perisomatic interneurons—seems to be crucial to synchronize distinct ensembles of CA3 pyramidal cells finally resulting in the expression of different SPW‐R activities. This suggests that the hippocampus can generate dynamic changes in its activity stemming from the same excitatory and inhibitory circuits, and so, might provide the cellular and network basis for an input‐specific and activity‐dependent information transmission. © 2014 The Authors Hippocampus Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Classification of healthy subjects and patients with pulmonary emphysema using continuous respiratory sounds

In this paper, we propose a new method for classifying patients with pulmonary emphysema and healthy subjects using lung sounds. Using conventional classification methods, every boundary between inspiratory and expiratory phases in successive respiratory sounds are detected manually prior to automatic classification. However, manual segmentation must be performed accurately and has therefore created significant obstacles in achieving automatic classification. In our proposed method, adequate boundaries are detected automatically in the classification process, based on the criterion of maximizing the difference between the acoustic likelihoods for a candidate with abnormal respiration and one with normal respiration. The proposed method achieved a classification rate of 83.9% between healthy subjects and patients. The reported rate was 1.3% greater than the rate achieved using the conventional method, which required manual phase-wise segmentation. Furthermore, the resulting rate was 2.2% higher than the rate obtained by the classification in which a lung sound sample was divided into phases of equal duration, indicating the effectiveness of the proposed method.
A new analaytical algoritem for the determination of the load reflection coefficient to maximization dynamic range in high frequency power amplifiers

In recent decades, S-parameters have been used to model the Linear High Frequency Amplifier behavior. Using the S-parameter, the source and load reflection coefficient can be calculated, which is useful for designing the Input and Output matching network in linear amplifier. The S-parameter cannot model the behavior of the nonlinear amplifiers. X-parameter were introduced to modeling nonlinear amplifier behavior. In this paper we introduce a new algorithm and simulated based on the X-parameter analytical computations, whose purpose is to achieve an optimum load reflection coefficient to minimize the output second harmonic power and increase the dynamic range of a nonlinear amplifier.
Flexible and stretchable lithium-ion batteries and supercapacitors based on electrically conducting carbon nanotube fiber springs.

The construction of lightweight, flexible and stretchable power systems for modern electronic devices without using elastic polymer substrates is critical but remains challenging. We have developed a new and general strategy to produce both freestanding, stretchable, and flexible supercapacitors and lithium-ion batteries with remarkable electrochemical properties by designing novel carbon nanotube fiber springs as electrodes. These springlike electrodes can be stretched by over 300 %. In addition, the supercapacitors and lithium-ion batteries have a flexible fiber shape that enables promising applications in electronic textiles.
Folding, Flavinylation, and Mitochondrial Import of 6-Hydroxy-D-nicotine Oxidase Fused to the Presequence of Rat Dimethylglycine Dehydrogenase (*)

We analyzed the folding, covalent flavinylation, and mitochondrial import of the rabbit reticulocyte lysate-translated bacterial 6-hydroxy-D-nicotine oxidase (6-HDNO) fused to the mitochondrial targeting sequence of rat liver dimethylglycine dehydrogenase. Translation of 6-HDNO in FAD-supplemented reticulocyte lysate resulted in a protein that contained covalently incorporated FAD, exhibited enzyme activity, and was trypsin-resistant, a characteristic of the tight conformation of the holoenzyme. The attached mitochondrial presequence did not prevent folding, binding of FAD, or enzyme activity of the 6-HDNO moiety of the fusion protein (pre-6-HDNO). Pre-6-HDNO was imported into rat liver mitochondria and processed by the mitochondrial processing peptidase. Incubation of the trypsin-resistant pre-holo-6-HDNO protein with deenergized rat liver mitochondria demonstrated that upon contact with mitochondria, the protein was unfolded and became trypsin sensitive. Mitochondrial import assays showed that the unfolded pre-holo-6-HDNO with covalently attached FAD was imported into rat liver mitochondria. Inside the mitochondrion the holo-6-HDNO was refolded into the trypsin-resistant conformation. However, when pre-apo-6-HDNO was imported only part of the protein became trypsin resistant (approximately 20%). Addition of FAD and the allosteric effector glycerol 3-phosphate to apo-6-HDNO containing mitochondrial matrix was required to transform the protein into the trypsinresistant conformation characteristic of holo-6-HDNO.
Warpage and electrical performance of embedded device package, MCeP

In recent years, along with miniaturization and high functionality of electronics, many embedded device substrates and packages have been developed by various companies. We have also been developing embedded device package named MCeP, Molded Core embedded Package. Adopting MCeP structure, it was possible to shrink package size and maintain warpage less than 80um. For this study MCeP thickness was 555um, not including BGA ball height. And planning for thinner MCeP, it was necessary to establish a warpage simulation method. Layer thickness effect for MCeP warpage was investigated. Individual layer thickness was simulated for warpage to achieve a less than 400um thickness MCeP. Based on this simulation, a 390um thick MCeP was also manufactured and confirmed that the warpage was less than −80um. MCeP has another beneficial characteristic. It is relatively easy to embedded passive components with IC devices. To increase electrical performance, decoupling capacitor was embedded in MCeP and Power-GND impedance was evaluated. At first, electrical simulation was performed. Then actual samples were manufactured and Power-GND impedance for GHz range was measured. The layers and locations where capacitors were embedded or mounted determined the effectiveness for decreasing Power-GND impedance.
Mechanisms of Integrin–Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor Cross-Activation in Angiogenesis

The functional responses of endothelial cells are dependent on signaling from peptide growth factors and the cellular adhesion receptors, integrins. These include cell adhesion, migration, and proliferation, which, in turn, are essential for more complex processes such as formation of the endothelial tube network during angiogenesis. This study identifies the molecular requirements for the cross-activation between &bgr;3 integrin and tyrosine kinase receptor 2 for vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) receptor (VEGFR-2) on endothelium. The relationship between VEGFR-2 and &bgr;3 integrin appears to be synergistic, because VEGFR-2 activation induces &bgr;3 integrin tyrosine phosphorylation, which, in turn, is crucial for VEGF-induced tyrosine phosphorylation of VEGFR-2. We demonstrate here that adhesion- and growth factor–induced &bgr;3 integrin tyrosine phosphorylation are directly mediated by c-Src. VEGF-stimulated recruitment and activation of c-Src and subsequent &bgr;3 integrin tyrosine phosphorylation are critical for interaction between VEGFR-2 and &bgr;3 integrin. Moreover, c-Src mediates growth factor–induced &bgr;3 integrin activation, ligand binding, &bgr;3 integrin-dependent cell adhesion, directional migration of endothelial cells, and initiation of angiogenic programming in endothelial cells. Thus, the present study determines the molecular mechanisms and consequences of the synergism between 2 cell surface receptor systems, growth factor receptor and integrins, and opens new avenues for the development of pro- and antiangiogenic strategies.
Protection of enterprise resources: A novel security framework

In today's growing technological world, Information Communication Technology (ICT) plays an important role in the efficient functioning of an enterprise. The data and information are the most important resources of the organization. The security of organization resources is a major problem. In this paper, our contribution is twofold, firstly we investigate and analyze the different security architectures of important organization such as online banking, E-government, higher education sector, E-health, Internet of Things (IoT) and cloud computing etc. Secondly, we propose a universal security framework for an enterprise for the protection of its resources. We divide the security framework into three layers, perimeter security layer, network security layer and internal security layer. With this categorization, we aim to provide an easy and concise view of the design details of an enterprise security architecture.
Comparative Neurovirulence of Herpes Simplex Virus Type 1 Strains After Peripheral or Intracerebral Inoculation of BALB/c Mice

Twenty-three strains of herpes simplex virus type 1 were compared for their pathogenicity in 4-week-old BALB/c mice after peripheral (footpad) or intracerebral inoculation. Among those strains examined were (i) six clinical isolates of brain or cerebrospinal fluid origin, (ii) seven clinical isolates of oral or genital origin, (iii) five prototype laboratory strains that have been passaged numerous times in culture, and (iv) five syncytial variants capable of producing cell fusion in culture. Based on comparative 50% lethal dose values, the strains appeared to segregate into one of three classes of neurovirulence. Class I strains were highly virulent by both the peripheral and intracerebral routes of inoculation, class II strains were highly virulent by the intracerebral route only, and class III strains were highly attenuated by both routes of inoculation. In vivo growth curves for whole brain homogenates infected with class III strains revealed titers of infectious virus approaching those found in the brains of animals infected with class I or II strains. These results would therefore suggest that (i) a strain-dependent variation in neural spread exists that may influence the ability of the virus to cause acute neurological disease and (ii) the amount of infectious virus present within an infected brain does not necessarily determine or reflect the clinical status of the animal. Of the clinical isolates examined, the strains recovered from brain tissue of humans after fatal episodes of encephalitis were found to be no more neurovirulent in mice than the strains isolated from nonneural sites. However, although syncytial variants were found to be highly attenuated by the peripheral route, as a group these strains proved to be among the most virulent when inoculated directly into the central nervous system.
Design and Evaluation of a Prosthetic Knee Joint Using the Geared Five-Bar Mechanism

This paper presents the mechanical design, dynamics analysis and ankle trajectory analysis of a prosthetic knee joint using the geared five-bar mechanism. Compared with traditional four-bar or six-bar mechanisms, the geared five-bar mechanism is better at performing diverse movements and is easy to control. This prosthetic knee joint with the geared five-bar mechanism is capable of fine-tuning its relative instantaneous center of rotation and ankle trajectory. The centrode of this prosthetic knee joint, which is mechanically optimized according to the centrode of human knee joint, is better in the bionic performance than that of a prosthetic knee joint using the four-bar mechanism. Additionally, the stability control of this prosthetic knee joint during the swing and stance phase is achieved by a motor. By adjusting the gear ratio of this prosthetic knee joint, the ankle trajectories of both unilateral and bilateral amputees show less deviations from expected than that of the four-bar knee joint.
Geographic origin is a significant determinant of human papillomavirus prevalence in oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma: Systematic review and meta-analysis

Abstract Background: Since the first reports in 1982 suggesting an aetiological role for human papillomavirus (HPV) in a subset of oesophageal squamous cell carcinomas (ESCC), the literature reporting HPV detection in ESCC has expanded rapidly. However no formal meta-analysis of this literature has been published yet. The objective of this study was to perform a systematic review and formal meta-analysis of the literature reporting HPV detection in ESCC. Methods: MEDLINE and Current Contents were searched through March 2012. The effect size was calculated as event rates and their 95% confidence interval (95% CI), with homogeneity testing using Cochran's Q and I2 statistics. Meta-regression was used to test the impact of study-level covariates (HPV detection method, geographic origin of study) on effect size, and potential publication bias was estimated using funnel plot symmetry (Begg and Mazumdar rank correlation, Egger's regression, and Duval and Tweedie's trim and fill method). Results: Of the 1177 abstracts found, 152 studies were determined to be eligible for this meta-analysis. These 152 studies covered a total of 10,234 ESCC cases, analysed by different HPV detection methods in different geographic regions. Of these 10,234 cases, 3135 (30.6%) tested HPV-positive, translating to an effect size of 0.372 (95% CI 0.360–0.384; fixed effects model) and 0.290 (95% CI 0.251–0.31; random effects model). When stratified by HPV detection technique, there was a significant heterogeneity between the studies, but importantly, the between-strata summary comparison was not significant (random effects model; p = 0.440). In contrast, there was significant heterogeneity between the studies from the different geographic regions. In the maximum likelihood meta-regression, HPV detection method was not a significant study-level covariate, in contrast to the geographic origin of the study, which had a significant impact (p = 0.00005) on the summary effect size estimates. No evidence for significant publication bias was found in funnel plot symmetry testing. In the sensitivity analysis, all meta-analytic results appeared robust to all (n = 151) one-by-one study removals. Conclusions: These meta-analysis results indicate that the reported wide variability in HPV detection rates in ESCC is not due to the HPV detection techniques, but is explained by the geographic origin of the study. These data substantiate the recently elaborated concept that ESCC might have a different aetiology in low-incidence and high-incidence geographic regions, HPV playing an important role only in the latter.
Patient Satisfaction with Family Physician Colonoscopists

Purpose: Assessing patient satisfaction after endoscopy with a standardized survey is recommended by gastrointestinal professional societies. The purpose of this study was to assess both patient satisfaction with colonoscopy performed by family physicians and physicians’ technical competence in colonoscopy. Methods: Modified Group Health Association of America 9 surveys were sent to all 230 patients who received a colonoscopy by family physicians at Madigan Army Medical Center from June to December 2007. Responses were graded on a 5-point Likert scale (LS), with a score of ≥3 (good to excellent) defined as a favorable response. Procedure reports and medical records were reviewed for all patients, and selected quality indicators were compared with recommended colonoscopy standards. Results: Sixty-nine percent of patients responded: 85 men (54%; mean age ± SD, 54.9 ± 5.6 years) and 73 women (46%; mean age ± SD, 54.3 ± 4.3 years). The overall rating of the visit received a favorable response rate of 98% (average LS rating, 4.6). Nearly all patients said they would have the procedure repeated by the same physician (98%) and at the same facility (98%). The overall reach-the-cecum rate was 100%. Adenomas were detected in 22% of women and 36% of men. All polyps measuring <2 cm were removed, and 99% of the procedures had scope withdrawal times of at least 6 minutes. Hemostasis techniques were used for 2 patients after polypectomy. There were no perforations. Conclusion: Family physicians can perform colonoscopy with a high level of accuracy, safety, and patient satisfaction.
Clinical trials in acute heart failure: simpler solutions to complex problems. Consensus document arising from a European Society of Cardiology cardiovascular round‐table think tank on acute heart failure, 12 May 2009

This European consensus document aims to identify the main reasons for the apparent lack of progress in the introduction of new medicines for acute heart failure. Relevant issues include not only the heterogeneity of the patient group but also the pharmacology of the medicines themselves and the design of the trials. Above all, this document attempts to provide some pragmatic solutions to this complex syndrome to simplify the execution of meaningful therapeutic endeavours in this area of undoubted unmet clinical need in the future.
Multidimensional poverty dynamics in Ethiopia: how do they differ from consumption-based poverty dynamics?

Poverty can take many different forms, ranging widely over dimensions both monetary, such as consumption or income, and nonmonetary, such as health and education. One large class of nonmonetary measures of poverty is the multidimensional poverty index (MPI); recent studies document that people identified as poor in one dimension are often different from those who found to be poor in another dimension. This paper extends the literature by examining whether MDP dynamics are similar to the dynamics of a related consumption based measure of poverty. Using two waves of Ethiopian panel data (2011-12 and 2013-14) we estimate poverty based on a monetary value of real consumption and a non monetary weighted deprivation index (our underlying measure of MDP). Similar to studies for other countries, we find that the two estimates of poverty identify significantly different groups of Ethiopians as poor. A key contribution of this paper is the finding that changes in consumption are largely independent of changes in multidimensional wellbeing: Awareness that an individual’s wellbeing improved over time as measured by improvements in the weighted deprivation index provides no information about whether his or her well being has improved where consumption is concerned.