Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Different Endosomal Proteolysis Requirements for Antigen Processing of Two T-cell Epitopes of the M5 Protein from ViableStreptococcus pyogenes *

We studied endosomal proteolysis of the surface fibrillar M5 protein from viable Streptococcus pyogenes as an essential step involved in major histocompatibility complex class II-restricted antigen processing of two immunodominant CD4+T-cell epitopes (17–31/Ed and 308–319/Ad). Intracellular proteolysis of viable streptococci for presentation of 17–31, bound by serine proteinase cleavage sites, was mediated by serine proteinases, whereas processing of soluble recombinant M5 protein required in addition cysteine proteinases. Furthermore, processing of 17–31 was resistant to ammonium chloride and thus was not dependent on endosome acidification. Cysteine and serine proteinase cleavage sites were located adjacent to 308–319, and its processing was dependent on serine, cysteine, and aspartic proteinases, as well as on endosomal acidification. The data suggest that antigen processing of two major T-cell epitopes on streptococcal M5 protein occurred in different endosomal compartments by different classes of intracellular proteinases.
Analysis Toward an Algorithmic Criticism

The inability of computing humanists to break into the mainstream of literary critical scholarship may be attributed to the prevalence of scientific methodologies and metaphors in humanities computing research—methodologies and metaphors that are wholly foreign not only the language of literary criticism, but to its entire purpose. Breaking out of this unfortunate misalignment entails reaching for more appropriate paradigms. The ‘algorithmic criticism’ here proposed rejects the empiricist vision of the computer as a means by which critical interpretations may be verified, and instead seeks to locate computational processes within the rich tradition of interpretive endeavours (usually aligned more with art than criticism), which seek not to constrain meaning, but to guarantee its multiplicity. Computational processes, which are perhaps more conformable to this latter purpose, may be usefully viewed as ways of providing the necessary conditions for interpretive insight. Algorithmic criticism seeks, therefore, in the narrowing forces of constraint embodied and instantiated in the strictures of algorithmic processing, an analogue to the liberating potentialities of art and the ludic values of humanistic inquiry. It proposes that we reconceive computer-assisted text analysis as an activity best employed not in the service of a heightened critical objectivity, but as one that embraces the possibilities of that deepened subjectivity upon which critical insight depends. Lit&Ling 18/2 167-174 FINAL 8/8/03 10:36 am Page 167
Iron Uptake by the Halotolerant Alga Dunaliella Is Mediated by a Plasma Membrane Transferrin*

A 150-kDa transferrin-like protein (Ttf) is associated with the plasma membrane of the halotolerant unicellular alga Dunaliella salina (Fisher, M., Gokhman, I., Pick, U., and Zamir, A. (1997) J. Biol. Chem. 272, 1565–1570). The Ttf level rises with medium salinity or upon iron depletion. Evidence that Ttf is involved in iron uptake by Dunaliellais presented here. Algal iron uptake exhibits characteristics resembling those of animal transferrins: high specificity and affinity for Fe3+ ions, strict dependence on carbonate/bicarbonate ions, and very low activity in acidic pH. Reducing the level of Ttf by mild proteolysis of whole cells is accompanied by lowered uptake activity. Conversely, accumulation of high levels of Ttf is correlated with an enhancement of iron uptake. Kinetically, iron uptake consists of two steps: an energy-independent binding of iron to the cell surface and an energy-dependent internalization. Salinities as high as 3.5 m NaCl do not inhibit iron uptake or decrease the apparent affinity for Fe3+ ions, implying that Ttf activity is not affected by high salt. These results indicate that transferrins, hitherto identified only in animals, are present and function in iron transport also in plant systems.
Work-Related Psychosocial Factors and Chronic Pain: A Prospective Cohort Study in Canadian Workers

Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine whether organizational and psychosocial aspects of work experience affect the risk of chronic pain conditions. Methods: We used longitudinal data from the National Population Health Survey in Canada (n = 6571). The data were analyzed using the Cox model. Results: Work-related stress was a risk factor for developing chronic pain or discomfort. The relative risk was 1.39 (95% CI = 1.01–1.91) for medium stress and 1.80 (95% CI = 1.28–2.52) for high stress. High psychological demands and low skill discretion were independently associated with pain/discomfort. There was no association between psychosocial factors at work and physician-diagnosed chronic back problems, arthritis, or migraine headaches. Conclusions: Work-related stress is a significant risk factor for nonspecific complaints of pain or discomfort among workers.
Analysis of Relationship between Psychological Health and Life Qualities of Internet Addicts by SEM

Many people have been addicted to internet and game. The addiction has aroused great concern from the public and specialists. In this paper we measure the psychological state of internet addicts by some famous mental scales, and investigate their life qualities by some questionnaires. When we get basic data we make some basic statistical analysis, and use structural equations model (SEM) to analyze the relationship between the psychological health and life qualities of internet addicts. By means of SEM we discovered some interesting results. Meanwhile, we offer a new algorithm of SEM which is useful for psychological analysis.
PDB-based SLS decomposition in heterogeneous IP network

In order to provide QoS-assured service for end users, service providers (SP) must obtain sufficient network resource from network providers (NP). However, current network infrastructures belong to different NPs and are divided into a number of domains. SP may need to rely on more than one NP to get the connectivity. Thus the SLA between SP and NPs may span several domains with heterogeneous QoS technologies. Without knowing the network details, such as topology, infrastructure and QoS technology, SP is difficult to sign a proper SLA with a tradeoff between end-to-end QoS and his budget. A SLS (service level specification) decomposition service is proposed here to solve the problem. The service implementation uses distributed PDB information to conceal the network heterogeneity from SP, which acts as an indication of network performance for a certain QoS level packets. The service enables SP to get an optimized SLA and achieve inter-domain QoS without knowing the network details. A SLS Decomposition Service prototype is implemented and its feasibility is validated.
Assessment of spinal and femoral bone density by Dual X‐Ray absorptiometry: Comparison of lunar and hologic instruments

Clinical application of techniques for assessing bone mineral density (BMD) requires accurate and precise measurements that can be related to clearly defined normal ranges. In this study we investigated the clinical interpretation of BMD values in a group of individuals measured on the same day with two different dual‐energy x‐ray densitometers (Lunar DPX and Hologic QDR 1000). The BMD results were analyzed as absolute values in g/cm2 and with respect to young and age‐specific normals as defined by each manufacturer. Absolute BMD values measured by the two instruments were highly correlated (lumbar spine r = 0.98, femoral neck r = 0.95; p < 0.0001). In the lumbar spine, the two instruments assigned almost identical values when expressed as a percentage of age‐matched values and as a percentage of young normals, despite a small but systematic difference between the values assigned for the latter index. In the femoral neck, however, there were significant differences in assignments between instruments, expressed both as a percentage of young normal (mean difference 6.2%) and with respect to age‐matched values (mean difference 3.3%). In particular, in premenopausal subjects femoral neck values with the Hologic instrument were assigned significantly lower values. This study shows effective comnparability between these two instruments for absolute and relative values for the lumbar spine, as well as for absolute values at the femoral neck, but important differences for normality assignments at the femoral neck. These latter differences may produce bias in the “diagnosis” of femoral neck osteoporosis and may have important implications for clinical decision making. Until these differences are resolved, clinicians should not rely solely on femoral neck BMD measurements in clinical decision making.
Why the already difficult task of identifying sources of growth has become even more challenging

In a survey chapter as this, it is hard to detail all the important issues that growth and development economists face in their daily professional routine. Nonetheless, we summarize some important points that might be of interest to those working on growth topics, particularly for growth and development policy. It is noted that in light of the confusion in the empirical growth literature, growth economists and policy makers alike are unclear about the specific growth enhancing factors that might increase the steady-state growth rate of output. This is because, a clear explanation to the sources of growth is yet to be forthcoming. Factors such as trade openness, human capital and R&D, amongst others, have been identified to be growth enhancing. Recently, contribution from information and communications technology (ITC) seems to be significant for developed and some developing economies (see Keely and Quah, 1998). However, the empirics of growth has either supported or rejected these factors on the basis of personal proliferation, (un)complicated econometric techniques and the use of right or wrong specifications, in time series and cross-sectional studies alike. Consequently a non-exhaustive list of growth enhancing factors has been proposed, most of which have led to further confusion than AbstrAct
Survival of gastric cancer with concomitant liver metastases.

BACKGROUND/AIMS Prognosis of gastric cancer with concomitant liver metastasis is poor. Gastrectomy and chemotherapy had been reported to be beneficial to this group of patients. Whether all the patients can benefit from that treatment modality and whether the clinical characteristics can give some information about survival have not been evaluated. METHODOLOGY Eighty-three gastric cancer patients with concomitant liver metastases who had received treatment in the past 10 years were retrospectively studied with special reference to different extent of liver metastases. Clinical characteristics (peritoneal tumor dissemination, tumor markers, clinicopathological factors), treatment modalities (gastrectomy or chemotherapy) and survival were analyzed for their possible relationship with the extent of liver metastases. RESULTS There were 33 patients with liver metastases limited to one lobe and 50 patients had metastases in both lobes. The clinicopathological characteristics show no difference between uni- and bilobar liver metastases except higher percentage of concomitant peritoneal dissemination in patients with bilobar disease. More unilobar involvement patients underwent gastrectomy (70% vs. 48%, p=0.018). Higher frequency of abnormal CEA level in bilobar metastases (38% vs. 60%, p=0.045). Median survival of unilobar metastasis is 7.8 months and 4.3 months for the bilobar involvement (p=0.001). Gastrectomy might prolong the survival in patients with unilobar metastasis (p=0.005), but not in patients with bilobar diseases (p=0.074). Chemotherapy could prolong the survival in patients without gastrectomy, but not the survival after gastrectomy. CONCLUSIONS The clinicopathological characteristics and tumor markers have no role in predicting the survival among patients with liver metastases. Both gastrectomy and chemotherapy for the patients without gastrectomy could prolong survival, but chemotherapy could not prolong the survival after gastrectomy, the benefit of resection and chemotherapy are probably caused by selection bias.
A large-stroke flexure fast tool servo with new displacement amplifier

As the rapid progress of science and technology, the free-form surface optical component has played an important role in spaceflight, aviation, national defense, and other areas of the technology. While the technology of fast tool servo (FTS) is the most promising method for the machining of free-form surface optical component. However, the shortcomings of short-stroke of fast tool servo device have constrained the development of free-form surface optical component. To address this problem, a new large-stroke flexible FTS device is proposed in this paper. A series of mechanism modeling and optimal designs are carried out via compliance matrix theory, pseudo-rigid body theory, and Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) algorithm, respectively. The mechanism performance of the large-stroke FTS device is verified by the Finite Element Analysis (FEA) method. For this study, a piezoelectric (PZT) actuator P-840.60 that can travel to 90 µm under open-loop control is employed, the results of experiment indicate that the maximum of output displacement can achieve 258. 3µm, and the bandwidth can achieve around 316.84 Hz. Both theoretical analysis and the test results of prototype uniformly verify that the presented FTS device can meet the demand of the actual microstructure processing.
Structural basis for gating charge movement in the voltage sensor of a sodium channel

Voltage-dependent gating of ion channels is essential for electrical signaling in excitable cells, but the structural basis for voltage sensor function is unknown. We constructed high-resolution structural models of resting, intermediate, and activated states of the voltage-sensing domain of the bacterial sodium channel NaChBac using the Rosetta modeling method, crystal structures of related channels, and experimental data showing state-dependent interactions between the gating charge-carrying arginines in the S4 segment and negatively charged residues in neighboring transmembrane segments. The resulting structural models illustrate a network of ionic and hydrogen-bonding interactions that are made sequentially by the gating charges as they move out under the influence of the electric field. The S4 segment slides 6–8 Å outward through a narrow groove formed by the S1, S2, and S3 segments, rotates ∼30°, and tilts sideways at a pivot point formed by a highly conserved hydrophobic region near the middle of the voltage sensor. The S4 segment has a 310-helical conformation in the narrow inner gating pore, which allows linear movement of the gating charges across the inner one-half of the membrane. Conformational changes of the intracellular one-half of S4 during activation are rigidly coupled to lateral movement of the S4–S5 linker, which could induce movement of the S5 and S6 segments and open the intracellular gate of the pore. We confirmed the validity of these structural models by comparing with a high-resolution structure of a NaChBac homolog and showing predicted molecular interactions of hydrophobic residues in the S4 segment in disulfide-locking studies.
Search for Organic and Volatile Inorganic Compounds in Two Surface Samples from the Chryse Planitia Region of Mars

Two surface samples collected from the Chryse Planitia region of Mars were heated to temperatures up to 500�C, and the volatiles that they evolved were analyzed with a gas chromatograph-mass spectrometer. Only water and carbon dioxide were detected. This implies that organic compounds have not accumulated to the extent that individual components could be detected at levels of a few parts in 109 by weight in our samples. Proposed mechanisms for the accumulation and destruction of organic compounds are discussed in the light of this limit.
Pharmacological evaluation of methanolic leaf extract of Swietenia mahagoni on acrylamide-induced neuropathic pain in rats

The present study was designed to investigate the antinociceptive effects of methanolic leaf extract of Swietenia mahagoni (MESM) on acrylamide-induced painful neuropathy in rats. The intraperitoneal administration of acrylamide (30 mg/kg; for 24 consecutive days) has been employed for the induction of painful neuropathy. Acrylamide induced nociceptive pain sensitive changes, which have been assessed by hot plate, Von Frey Hair, and tail immersion tests at different time intervals, that is, 0, 6, 12, 18, and 24th day. Furthermore, the biochemical changes, that is, thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances, reduced glutathione, and total calcium levels have been estimated in sciatic nerve tissue on 24th day and histopathological changes have been observed in sciatic nerve tissue sample. MESM and pregabalin have been administered for 14 consecutive days before 1 h of the each acrylamide injection. Administration of acrylamide resulted in significant changes in behavioral and biochemical parameters. Pretreatment of MESM ameliorated acrylamide-induced behavioral, biochemical, and histopathological changes in a dose-dependent manner, which is similar to that of pregabalin-pretreated group. These findings suggested that the neuroprotective effect of S. mahagoni may be due to its potential of antioxidative, calcium channel modulatory, and neuroprotective action.
Confronting Regulatory Cost and Quality Expectations. An Exploration of Technical Change in Minimum Efficiency Performance Standards

Author(s): Taylor, M; Spurlock, C; Yang, H | Abstract: Expectations about technological change are central to the way policy details are set in a variety of complex public problem areas, including health, welfare, safety, and environmental protection. These details are established through a regulatory process designed to incorporate scientific, technical, economic, and other expertise while following principles of good governance such as transparency, analytical rigor, and the appropriate treatment of uncertainty. An important element of most U.S. federal regulatory processes is cost-benefit analysis, which is expected to employ “best-available” techniques that identify “changing future compliance costs that might result from technological innovation or anticipated behavioral changes (OMB 2011). Influential calls for the reform of regulatory analysis, however, locate the appropriate modeling of technological change “at the frontier of economic research. ” (Harrington, Heinzerling et al. 2009).
An integrated framework of joint venture success

It has been widely accepted that majority of joint ventures (JVs) fail to perform as per expectations. While existing research has looked at factors that influence the success and failure of alliances, such research has been largely scattered, focusing either on a particular set of factors or on a particular stage of alliance life cycle. This paper develops a comprehensive framework of firm-level and alliance-level factors across the formation, initialisation and management stages of a JV that influence its success. The findings are based on primary interviews conducted with the top management executives including CEOs of three JVs of a leading player in the Indian retail sector.
The group I metabotropic glutamate receptor antagonist S‐4‐CPG modulates the locomotor response produced by the activation of D1‐like, but not D2‐like, dopamine receptors in the rat nucleus accumbens

Functional interactions between dopamine (DA) and glutamate neurotransmissions in both the dorsal and the ventral striatum have been described for long time. However, there is much controversy as to whether glutamate transmission stimulates or attenuates DA release and locomotor activity. We investigated the functional interactions on locomotor activity between group I metabotropic glutamatergic receptors (mGlu receptors) and both D1‐like and D2‐like DA receptors in the rat nucleus accumbens. Intra‐accumbens administration of the selective group I mGlu receptor antagonist S‐4‐CPG (0.2 or 2 µg per side), which had no effect when injected alone, prevented the increase in locomotor activity produced by the selective D1‐like receptor agonist SKF 38393 (1 µg per side). Co‐administration with S‐4‐CPG of the group I mGlu receptor agonist DHPG, but not of the group II mGlu receptor agonist APDC or the group III mGlu receptor agonist AP4, reversed the antagonistic effect of S‐4‐CPG on the SKF 38393‐induced increase in locomotor activity. This indicates that the antagonistic effect of S‐4‐CPG could result from an action at the group I mGlu receptors. In contrast, administration of S‐4‐CPG showed no effect on the locomotor responses produced by either the selective D2‐like receptor agonist LY 171555 (1 µg per side) or a mixed solution of SKF 38393 + LY 171555 (1 µg per side each). Altogether, these results confirm that glutamate transmission may control locomotor function through mGlu receptors in a DA‐dependent manner, and further indicate that group I mGlu receptors would interact with D1‐like receptors, but not D2‐like receptors, to modulate DA transmission and locomotor activity.
Nonlinear Analysis of Voltage-Controlled Oscillators: A Systematic Approach

A method for the nonlinear analysis of voltage-controlled oscillators (VCOs) is presented, accounting for the nonlinear effect of both the varactors and the active devices. A nonlinear perturbation model of VCOs is presented, as well as a method for finding their steady-state oscillation, overcoming the limitation of previous analyses which rely on the solution of the tank balance equation only. Simple formulas for predicting the oscillation and its frequency correction due to the effect of nonlinearities are presented, allowing us to accurately predict the tuning curve of VCOs as well as the amplitude to phase-noise conversion due to the varactors. Their accuracy was validated by circuit simulations.
Chronic graft versus host disease

The ability to cure increasing numbers of individuals for malignant and non‐malignant diseases with the use of stem cell transplantation has resulted in a growing number of long‐term survivors with unique medical issues. Chronic graft versus host disease (GvHD) continues to be a significant problem in the allogeneic stem cell transplant setting and, as we continue to use alternative stem cell sources and attempt to modulate the immune system to increase an anti‐tumour effect, we will probably see rising numbers of patients with this complication. The capacity to treat this problem and improve both the immediate quality of life as well as long‐term effects is imperative and requires the ability of haematologists/oncologists to identify chronic GvHD and its multi‐organ system presentations. We describe the risk factors for developing chronic GvHD, its presentation and the current treatment options for both initial therapy and secondary treatment.