Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The biology of cachectin/TNF--a primary mediator of the host response.

Inflammation, the most ancient aspect of the host immune response, is surely of great value to the host, insofar as agents that suppress inflam­ mation in a nonspecific fashion predispose to infection. Yet, the inflam­ matory response to invasive organisms may also, if sufficiently intense or inappropriately prolonged, cause injury or death. A delicate balance has thus been achieved, one which clinicians strive to maintain through judicious application of anti-inflammatory medications (e.g. glucocorti­ coids, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents, and cytotoxic drugs). Only recently have we come to understand that many aspects of this primitive response to host invasion are governed by polypeptide hormones, in turn produced by immune effector cells. Moreover, we have come to appreciate the pleiotropic properties of these so-called "cytokines. " It would appear that a ' limited number of cytokines are capable of orches­ trating disease states that scarcely resemble one another; among them, endotoxic shock, graft-vs-host disease, cerebral malaria, and cancer cachexia. Cells of monocyte/macrophage lineage play a central role in cytokine ("mono kine") production and so act to modulate many aspects of the inflammatory response. While devoid of specificity and immunologic mem-
Effect of Calcium Glycerophosphate on Demineralization in an in vitro Biofilm Model

The aim was to investigate the anti-caries properties of calcium glycerophosphate (CaGP) using an in vitro bacterial flow cell model. Four flow cells, inoculated from a chemostat containing a seven-organism bacterial consortium, were pulsed with sucrose twice daily, to provide an acidic challenge and pH-cycling conditions. Blocks of enamel and dentine were mounted in each flow cell. In a study on the effect of CaGP concentration, CaGP was pulsed into three of the flow cells, at the same time as the sucrose, to give concentrations of 0.10, 0.25 and 0.50%. Water was pulsed into the fourth flow cell with the sucrose. Microradiography revealed a significant dose response of decreasing demineralization as CaGP concentration increased. Reductions at 0.25 and 0.5% were significant when compared to the control. A second study investigated the effect of timing of CaGP pulsing, relative to sucrose, on enamel and dentine demineralization. CaGP (flow cell concentration 0.2%), was pulsed 1 h before, during or 1 h after the sucrose pulse; a water control was employed. In enamel, pulsing CaGP before the sucrose reduced demineralization significantly compared to concurrent pulsing, which in turn gave a significant reduction compared to pulsing after sucrose, which did not reduce demineralization significantly compared to the water control. In dentine, CaGP reduced demineralization significantly only when pulsed before the sucrose. The findings suggest that in vivo, the anti-caries potential of CaGP may be greater if it is applied before a cariogenic challenge.
»Barmherzig und gnädig ist der Herr ...«

Psaume 103, 8, mais la formule variee se presente sept fois dans l'AT et meme plus de vingt fois en partie. Image de Dieu plus ancienne qu'on ne l'attendrait, liee a la priere et a la devotion du peuple d'Israel
Role of Manganese in Chronic Hemodialysis Patients

The essential trace metal manganese (Mn) (1) is necessary for the activity of various enzymes and activates them interchangably with other ions (Zn. Ni) (2). Mn localises in many intracellular organelles, especially mitochondria. Abnormal Mn metabolism occurs in several human diseases, such as severe psychiatric disorders followed by a neurological disability (4). Manganese plays a role in secondary parkinsonism. manganese madness, impotence, bradykinesia, gait disorder. and speech difficulty (5). Manganese deficiency causes skeletal abnormalities, abnormal otoliths, glucose intolerance. decreased serum cholesterol and bleeding (6) and occurs in uremia (7). Abnormalities of manganese metabolism in chronic hemodialysis patients, the main topic of this editorial, are expressed as low levels of serum manganese concentrations (8).
Reduction of HIV Concentration During Acute Infection: Independence from a Specific Immune Response

After infection with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), the concentration of the virus in the person's plasma increases. The subsequent decrease in concentration a few weeks later was thought to result from an HIV-specific immune response. This purported causal relation is investigated with a model of the dynamics of early HIV infection that incorporates no increase in the rate of removal of free virions or virus-infected cells. A pattern of changes in virus concentration similar to that observed in patients is predicted by the model. Thus, the reduction in virus concentration during acute infection may not reflect the ability of the HIV-specific immune response to control virus replication.
NTOUA at IJCNLP-2017 Task 2: Predicting Sentiment Scores of Chinese Words and Phrases

This paper describes the approaches of sentimental score prediction in the NTOU DSA system participating in DSAP this year. The modules to predict scores for words are adapted from our system last year. The approach to predict scores for phrases is keyword-based machine learning method. The performance of our system is good in predicting scores of phrases.
Cyclic AMP reverses radiocontrast media-induced apoptosis in LLC-PK1 cells by activating A kinase/PI3 kinase.

BACKGROUND Radiographic contrast material is one of agents that are prone to cause nephropathy, although little is known about cellular mechanisms underlying contrast media-induced renal failure. The present study was designed to determine the role of caspase in contrast media-induced renal injury. The modulation by cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) of cell injury was subsequently examined. METHODS LLC-PK1 cells (a proximal renal tubular cell line of porcine origin) were exposed to diverse contrast media for 30 minutes followed by incubation for 24 hours in normal medium. Cell viability was assessed by mitochondrial enzyme activity and propidium iodide stain. Apoptosis was determined by DNA electrophoresis and annexin V stain. Caspase activity was measured fluorometrically. The mRNA for bax and bcl-2 was determined by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). RESULTS Iodinated and magnetic resonance contrast media reduced cell viability due to apoptosis. The cell damage induced by a non-ionic contrast medium ioversol was inhibited by specific inhibitors for caspase-3 and -9 but not caspase-8. Ioversol enhanced the activities of caspase-3 and -9, but to a lesser extent, caspase-8. The bax mRNA was enhanced, while bcl-2 mRNA was reduced, after exposure to ioversol. All of these actions of ioversol were reversed by dibutyl cAMP in the manner sensitive to a protein kinase A inhibitor H89 and a phosphatidylinositol 3 (PI3) kinase inhibitor wortmannin. CONCLUSION We demonstrated for the first time that cAMP reversed caspase-dependent apoptotic renal cell damage caused by contrast media. Both protein kinase A and PI3 kinase might be involved in protective effect of cAMP.
Bone Marrow-Derived Hemopoietic Precursors Commit to the T Cell Lineage Only after Arrival in the Thymic Microenvironment1

T lymphocytes develop in the thymus from hemopoietic precursors that commit to the T cell lineage under the influence of Notch signals. In this study, we show by single cell analyses that the most immature hemopoietic precursors in the adult mouse thymus are uncommitted and specify to the T cell lineage only after their arrival in the thymus. These precursors express high levels of surface Notch receptors and rapidly lose B cell potential upon the provision of Notch signals. Using a novel culture system with complexed, soluble Notch ligands that allows the titration of T cell lineage commitment, we find that these precursors are highly sensitive to both Delta and Jagged ligands. In contrast, their phenotypical and functional counterparts in the bone marrow are resistant to Notch signals that efficiently induce T cell lineage commitment in thymic precursors. Mechanistically, this is not due to differences in receptor expression, because early T lineage precursors, bone marrow lineage marker-negative, Sca-1-positive, c-Kit-positive and common lymphoid progenitor cells, express comparable amounts of surface Notch receptors. Our data demonstrate that the sensitivity to Notch-mediated T lineage commitment is stage-dependent and argue against the bone marrow as the site of T cell lineage commitment.
Ergebnisse eines Mathematischen Kolloquiums

Foreword (Gerard Debreu) ? Economics in a mathematics colloquium ? Menger? s Ergebnisse ? a biographical introduction (Karl Sigmund) ? Logical contributions to the Menger colloquium (John W. Dawson jr.) ? Topology in the Ergebnisse (Ryszard Engelking) ? An exposition of Wald? s existence proof (Werner Hildenbrand) ? On the direction of ideas and the prinicipal tendencies of the Vienna Mathematical Colloquium (Karl Menger) ? A table of contents of the Ergebnisse ? Reprint of "Die Ergebnisse eines Mathematischen Kolloquiums, Vol. 1? 8? Biographical notes on the editors of the Ergebnisse ? Editorial notices ? Afterword (Franz Alt)
CONSISTÊNCIA NA ANÁLISE DE SINAL EMG DE SUPERFÍCIE NOS MEMBROS INFERIORES EM DIFERENTES CONTRAMOVIMENTOS VERTICAIS

Aim: Consistency assessment of the analysis and results of different EMG surface signal from lower limb strategic muscle groups during vertical countermovement (CM) for maximum vertical impulse jump (MVIJ). Methods: The sample group is composed by n=6 sports and physical education degree students, without any specific training or ability. Subjects with ages (21,5±1,4) years old were weighted (76,7±6,7) kg and measured their height (1,79±0,05) m. Skintact F55 Aqua-Wet electrodes were disposed according to SENIAN convention on bipolar configuration at lower limb selected muscles rectus femoris (RF), vastus medialis (VM), vastus lateralis (VL), medial and lateral gastrocnemius (MG/LG). Each subject performed a total of 3 trials for each MVIJ, without CM (SJ - Squat Jump), with long CM (CMJ - Counter Movement Jump) and with short CM (DJ - Drop Jump). EMG raw signal were rectified, filtered and linear envelope obtained for linear correlation (CR) to detect synergistic, agonistic and antagonistic activity, principal component analysis (PCA) for detection of uncorrelated components explaining maximum variability, as well as normalized cross-correlation (NCCR) for detection of maximum correlation and time delay.Results: Correlations of EMG linear envelops lead to detection of higher co-activities at DJ when compared to SJ and higher co-activities at SJ when compared to CMJ with higher synergies at DJ in relation to SJ and CMJ, both presenting loops associated to EMG phase delay. NCCR of EMG linear envelops also pointed to higher co-activities at DJ when compared to SJ, both with higher co-activities when compared to CMJ. Principal component analysis detected 1 component explaining 92.2% variability of considered EMG at DJ, 90.6% at SJ and 78.7% at CMJ, with second component explaining 4.9% variability at DJ, 6.7% at SJ and 15.3% at CMJ. Conclusions: Linear correlation (CR), normalized cross-correlation (NCCR) and principal component analysis (PCA) presented consistent results concerning EMG signal analysis of selected muscle groups during considered countermovement.
Sequence variation of bradykinin receptors B1 and B2 and association with hypertension

Objective To identify variants in the complete genomic sequence of the two subtypes of bradykinin receptors: B1 (BDKRB1) and B2 (BDKRB2) and to examine the association of these variants with essential hypertension. Design A case–control design comparing hypertensive and normotensive individuals was used. Method A 64.4 kb genomic region containing the BDKRB1 and BDKRB2 genes was sequenced in 30 African-American individuals. A total of 282 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were identified. A total of 21 SNPs were genotyped in our complete cohorts of hypertensive and normotensive African-Americans (n = 218), American-Caucasians (n = 220) and Greek-Caucasians (n = 194). Pair-wise correlation coefficients were computed to assess linkage disequilibrium (LD) patterns among the SNPs. Chi-squared tests and logistic regression were used to assess association between the SNPs and hypertension status. Result Pairwise LD demonstrated a general pattern of decline with increasing distance, which was consistent among the three groups with less LD in African-Americans. One SNP in the promoter region of BDKRB2 (rs1799722) was associated with hypertension (P = 0.044) in African-Americans. One SNP in BDKRB2 and three SNPs in BDKRB1 were associated with hypertension (P-values between 0.026 and 0.0004) in American-Caucasians. Haplotypes including those four SNPs and one SNP in B2, which results in an amino acid change, demonstrated a significant haplotype frequency difference between hypertensive and normotensive American-Caucasians (P = 0.025). Conclusion These results support the hypothesis that the African-American population is an older population compared with the other samples and the two bradykinin receptors may play a role in blood pressure regulation.
Identification of a Gene Cluster Enabling Lactobacillus casei BL23 To Utilize myo-Inositol

ABSTRACT Genome analysis of Lactobacillus casei BL23 revealed that, compared to L. casei ATCC 334, it carries a 12.8-kb DNA insertion containing genes involved in the catabolism of the cyclic polyol myo-inositol (MI). Indeed, L. casei ATCC 334 does not ferment MI, whereas strain BL23 is able to utilize this carbon source. The inserted DNA consists of an iolR gene encoding a DeoR family transcriptional repressor and a divergently transcribed iolTABCDG1G2EJK operon, encoding a complete MI catabolic pathway, in which the iolK gene probably codes for a malonate semialdehyde decarboxylase. The presence of iolK suggests that L. casei has two alternative pathways for the metabolism of malonic semialdehyde: (i) the classical MI catabolic pathway in which IolA (malonate semialdehyde dehydrogenase) catalyzes the formation of acetyl-coenzyme A from malonic semialdehyde and (ii) the conversion of malonic semialdehyde to acetaldehyde catalyzed by the product of iolK. The function of the iol genes was verified by the disruption of iolA, iolT, and iolD, which provided MI-negative strains. By contrast, the disruption of iolK resulted in a strain with no obvious defect in MI utilization. Transcriptional analyses conducted with different mutant strains showed that the iolTABCDG1G2EJK cluster is regulated by substrate-specific induction mediated by the inactivation of the transcriptional repressor IolR and by carbon catabolite repression mediated by the catabolite control protein A (CcpA). This is the first example of an operon for MI utilization in lactic acid bacteria and illustrates the versatility of carbohydrate utilization in L. casei BL23.
DNA binding of regulatory factors interacting with MHC‐class‐I gene enhancer correlates with MHC‐class‐I transcriptional level in class‐I‐defective cell lines

Tumor cells frequently show a lack of surface Class‐I major histocompatibility complex (MHC) antigen expression. These molecules are key recognition structures for immune rejection of tumor cells and their absence at the surface of tumor cells could favor the progression of tumors. We have analyzed the transcriptional mechanisms that could lead to suppression of MHC‐Class‐I expression in human tumor cell K562. The expression of MHC‐Class‐I genes is highly controlled by regulatory factors interacting with an enhancer sequence upstream of MHC‐Class‐I genes. In this report we show that DNA binding activity of 2 regulatory factors, KBFI and NF‐KB, known to be essential for constitutive expression of MHC‐Class‐I genes, is deficient in nuclear extracts from K562 cells. Induction of class‐l gene expression at the surface of tumor cells by interferon‐γ (IFN‐γ) and tumor necrosis factor a (TNF‐α) shows that TNF‐a can act in synergy with IFN‐γ to induce DNA binding of both factors NF‐KB and KBFI to the Class‐I gene enhancer and that this induction of transcriptional factors is correlated with enhancement of MHC‐Class‐I mRNA transcription and cell‐surface antigen expression.
Emulation of Human Sentence Processing Using an Automatic Dependency Shift-Reduce Parser

An automatic cleaning system is provided for a mud separator apparatus. Water and mud inputs to a mud pump feeding the separator are respectively controlled by two butterfly valves ganged for cooperation, and operated by a single valve actuator motor. When the mud separator is shut off, a time delay relay is actuated which keeps the mud separator rotor motor on line during a predetermined flush cycle. The valve actuator opens the water valve, and closes the mud valve, permitting the separator to be flushed with water. Activating the start button returns the valve actuator to the position in which the mud valve is open and the water valve is closed, thereby returning the apparatus to the mud separation cycle.
Complete remission of a radio‐resistant cutaneous angiosarcoma of the scalp by systemic treatment with liposomal doxorubicin

Summary We report an 80‐year‐old man suffering from an angiosarcoma of the scalp. Because of the wide extent of the lesions, surgery was not performed. Instead, the patient was treated with electron‐beam radiation. Later, the patient failed to benefit from radiotherapy demonstrated by a local relapse and new malignant lesions. Additionally, a cervical lymph node metastasis appeared for the first time. Subsequently, we successfully administered liposomal doxorubicin (Caelyx®). Shortly after administration of two cycles the scalp angiosarcoma showed a clear regression. Following six cycles, the patient clinically showed a complete remission of all skin lesions and the cervical lymph node; metastasis was confirmed by histology and fine needle aspiration, respectively. Liposomal and pegylated doxorubicin, a cytostatic drug belonging to the anthracyclines, has already shown to be effective and mostly well tolerated in the therapy of acquired immune deficiency syndrome‐related Kaposi's sarcoma and very recently in cutaneous T‐cell lymphoma, too. Caelyx® appears to be a promising alternative to conventional treatment of cutaneous angiosarcoma.
New Insights into 5hmC DNA Modification: Generation, Distribution and Function

Dynamic DNA modifications, such as methylation/demethylation on cytosine, are major epigenetic mechanisms to modulate gene expression in both eukaryotes and prokaryotes. In addition to the common methylation on the 5th position of the pyrimidine ring of cytosine (5mC), other types of modifications at the same position, such as 5-hydroxymethyl (5hmC), 5-formyl (5fC), and 5-carboxyl (5caC), are also important. Recently, 5hmC, a product of 5mC demethylation by the Ten-Eleven Translocation family proteins, was shown to regulate many cellular and developmental processes, including the pluripotency of embryonic stem cells, neuron development, and tumorigenesis in mammals. Here, we review recent advances on the generation, distribution, and function of 5hmC modification in mammals and discuss its potential roles in plants.
Combination of early constraint-induced movement therapy and fasudil enhances motor recovery after ischemic stroke in rats

Purpose: Constraint-induced movement therapy (CIMT) is a promising technique for the recovery of upper extremity movement in chronic stroke patients. However, the effectiveness of its use in acute ischemia has not been confirmed. Myelin-associated inhibitors, which have upregulated functions in tissues affected by acute focal infarction, limit axonal regeneration via activation of the Rho–Rho-associated protein kinase (ROCK) pathway. The present study examined whether early CIMT combined with the ROCK inhibitor fasudil promotes motor recovery after acute ischemic stroke. Materials and Methods: Rats were trained to perform the skilled-reach test and then subjected to middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO), producing a stroke affecting the preferred forelimb. Rats were assigned to one of four groups (N = 6/group): (nontreated) Control, CIMT, Fasudil, or CIMT+fasudil. CIMT and/or intraperitoneal infusion of fasudil were initiated 1 day postMCAO. Skilled reach and foot fault test data were collected once before and repeatedly over 4 weeks after the operation. Infarct volumes were calculated. Results: All four groups showed similar forelimb impairment before treatment. The performance of CIMT alone group was similar to that of controls on both tests. Fasudil alone facilitated recovery in the foot-fault test, but not in the skilled-reach test. Rats in the CIMT+fasudil group demonstrated enhanced recovery in both tests, including better performance over time than the Fasudil group on the foot-fault test. Infarct size did not differ significantly between the groups. Conclusions: Early CIMT promotes motor recovery after acute ischemic stroke when it is administered with fasudil pharmacotherapy, but not without it.
Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus saprophyticus Isolates Carrying Staphylococcal Cassette Chromosome mec Have Emerged in Urogenital Tract Infections

ABSTRACT Staphylococcus saprophyticus is a uropathogenic bacterium that causes acute uncomplicated urinary tract infections, particularly in female outpatients. We investigated the dissemination and antimicrobial susceptibilities of 101 S. saprophyticus isolates from the genitourinary tracts of patients in Japan. Eight of these isolates were mecA positive and showed β-lactam resistance. Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis showed that only some isolates were isogenic, indicating that the mecA gene was apparently acquired independently by mecA-positive isolates through staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec (SCCmec). Type determination of SCCmec by multiplex PCR showed a nontypeable element in the eight mecA-positive isolates. Sequence analysis of the entire SCCmec element from a prototype S. saprophyticus strain revealed that it was nontypeable with the current SCCmec classification due to the novel composition of the class A mec gene complex (IS431-mecA-mecR1-mecI genes) and the ccrA1/ccrB3 gene complex. Intriguingly, the attachment sites of SCCmec are similar to those of type I SCCmec in S. aureus NCTC 10442. Furthermore, the genes around the mec gene complex are similar to those of type II/III SCCmec in S. aureus, while those around the ccr gene complex are similar to those of SCC15305RM found in S. saprophyticus ATCC 15305. In comparison with known SCCmec elements, this S. saprophyticus SCCmec is a novel type.
Silicon-based monolithic millimeter-wave integrated circuits

The recent research results of silicon-based monolithic millimeter-wave (MMW) integrated circuits (MMICs) at National Taiwan University (NTU) are presented in this paper. Using standard MS/RF CMOS processes, many impressive results were demonstrated. Both the MMIC designs and measured performances will be described. Significant impacts are expected due to the development for future research works in the related areas.