Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Common Patterns of B Cell Perturbation and Expanded V4-34 Immunoglobulin Gene Usage in Autoimmunity and Infection

Features of the lymphocyte population in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) include a disordered B cell profile and production of autoantibodies. An additional distinctive perturbation is the over-expression of V4-34-encoded serum immunoglobulins (Ig). A similar rise in V4-34-encoded Ig occurs in normal subjects following infection with c ertain herpesviruses, and is found in Epstein–Barr virus (EBV)-associated infectious mononucleosis (IM). To assess common and distinctive features of B cells in patients with SLE and IM, we compared the B cell profile and V4-34 gene involvement in patients with SLE and IM. B cell profiles from patients with IM paralleled those of patients with SLE, showing a differential loss of naïve and memory B cells and the maintenance of plasmablast/early plasma cells. Class-switched V4-34-encoded IgG from plasmablast/early plasma cells was evident both in patients with SLE and IM and revealed common features of oligoclonal expansions with most having undergone somatic hypermutation. It has been proposed that, in healthy individuals, expression of the V4-34 gene is specifically censored prior to isotype switch as a control on autoreactivity. If so, censoring is bypassed following EBV infection, after which equilibrium is restored. Continuing high serum levels in SLE may arise either by disordered regulation, or by subclinical reactivation of endogenous virus.
Expression of CCR9 in HTLV‐1+ T cells and ATL cells expressing Tax

Adult T‐cell leukemia (ATL) is a highly aggressive mature CD4+ T‐cell malignancy that is etiologically associated with human T‐lymphotropic virus Type 1 (HTLV‐1). ATL is characterized by frequent infiltration of lymph nodes, spleen, liver, skin and gut. Previously, we and others have shown that the majority of ATL cases are strongly positive for CCR4, which may explain the frequent skin invasion of ATL. Here, we examined whether ATL cells express CCR9, which is involved in T‐cell homing to the gastrointestinal tract. Human T cell lines carrying HTLV‐1 consistently expressed CCR9 together with the HTLV‐1‐encoded transcriptional activator Tax. Although ATL cells freshly isolated from peripheral blood hardly expressed CCR9, ATL cells cultured for 1 day consistently expressed CCR9 in parallel with the upregulation of Tax. Induction of Tax by Cd2+ in JPX‐9, a subline of Jurkat human T cell line carrying Tax under the control of metallothionein promoter, led to upregulation of CCR9. A luciferase reporter gene under the control of the CCR9 promoter was expressed by cotransfection of an expression vector for Tax or in Cd2+‐treated JPX‐9 cells. Furthermore, immunohistochemical staining demonstrated that ATL cells infiltrating gastrointestinal tract were frequently positive for CCR9. Collectively, CCR9 is inducible in ATL cells expressing Tax and may play a role in the gastrointestinal involvement of ATL. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Bioaugmentation Combined with Biofilim Process in the Treatment of Petrochemical Wastewater at Low Temperatures

Three sets of lab-scale reactors, which applied activated sludge process, bioaugmented activated sludge process and bioagumented biofilm process, respectively, were operated parallel to explore the optimum process for the treatment of petrochemical wastewater at low temperatures (13-15 degC ). Though being inoculated twice with enriched specialized bacteria, the bioaugmented activated sludge reactor (R2) did not show significant overall improvement on effluent quality when compared with the unbioaugmented reactor (Rl) (average removal efficiency, COD: Rl=65.02%, R2=70.39%; NH4+-N: Rl=42.07%, R2=52.49%), except for increased levels of enzyme activity as described by dehydrogenase activity (DHA) and slightly better performance at the early stage of inoculation. Microscopic observation indicated that free-living cells were scarce in R2 and the main explanation was the grazing of protozoa to the bioaugmented cells. However, the application of porous polyurethane foam as carrier in the bioaugmented biofilm reactor (R3) could retain sufficient biomass within the reactor, and the COD (75.80%) and NH4 +-N (70.13%) removal efficiencies were enhanced with more stable performances. In conclusion, massive inoculation could not always warrant successful bioaugmentation due to predation to the inoculated specialized bacteria, and biofilm process was promising when combined with bioaugmentation technology in the treatment of petrochemical wastewater at low temperatures.
Proteins can adopt totally different folded conformations.

The three-dimensional structure of a protein is determined by interactions between its amino acids and by interactions of the amino acids with molecules of the environment. The great influence of the latter interactions is demonstrated for the enzyme phosphoglycerate kinase from yeast (PGK). In the native state, PGK is a compact, bilobal molecule; 35% and 13% of its amino acids are organised in the form of alpha-helices and beta-sheets, respectively. The molecules unfold at acidic pH and low ionic strength forming random-walk structures with a persistence length of 3 nm. More than 90% of the amino acid residues of the ensemble have phi,psi-angles corresponding to those of a straight beta-chain. Upon addition of 50% (v/v) trifluoroethanol to the acid-unfolded protein, the entire molecule is transformed into a rod-like, flexible alpha-helix. Addition of anions, such as chloride or trichloroacetate, to the acid-unfolded protein leads to the formation of amyloid-like fibres over a period of many hours when the anion concentration exceeds a critical limit. Half of the amino acid residues are then organised in beta-sheets. Both of the non-natively folded states of PGK contain more regular secondary structure than the native one. The misfolding starts in both cases from the acid-unfolded state, in which the molecules are essentially more expanded than in other denatured states, e.g. those effected by temperature or guanidine hydrochloride.
Exposure to 900 MHz Radiofrequency Radiation Induces Caspase 3 Activation in Proliferating Human Lymphocytes

Abstract Palumbo, R. , Brescia, F. , Capasso, D. , Sannino, A. , Sarti, M. , Capri, M. , Grassilli, E. and Scarfì, M. R. Exposure to 900 MHz Radiofrequency Radiation Induces Caspase 3 Activation in Proliferating Human Lymphocytes. Radiat. Res. 170, 327– 334 (2008). In this study, the induction of apoptosis after exposure to 900 MHz radiofrequency radiation (GSM signal) was investigated by assessing caspase 3 activation in exponentially growing Jurkat cells and in quiescent and proliferating human peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBLs). The exposure was carried out at an average specific absorption rate of 1.35 W/kg in a dual wire patch cell exposure system where the temperature of cell cultures was accurately controlled. After 1 h exposure to the radiofrequency field, a slight but statistically significant increase in caspase 3 activity, measured 6 h after exposure, was observed in Jurkat cells (32.4%) and in proliferating human PBLs (22%). In contrast, no effect was detected in quiescent human PBLs. In the same experimental conditions, apoptosis was also evaluated in Jurkat cells by Western blot analysis and in both cell types by flow cytometry. To evaluate late effects due to caspase 3 activity, flow cytometry was also employed to assess apoptosis and viability 24 h after radiofrequency-radiation exposure in both cell types. Neither the former nor the latter was affected. Since in recent years it has been reported that caspases are also involved in processes other than apoptosis, additional cell cycle studies were carried out on proliferating T cells exposed to radiofrequency radiation; however, we found no differences between sham-exposed and exposed cultures. Further studies are warranted to investigate the biological significance of our findings of a dose–response increase in caspase 3 activity after exposure to radiofrequency radiation.
Extracellular microbial polysaccharides: Generalized power law for biopolysaccharide solutions

A generalized power low model, \documentclass{article}\pagestyle{empty}\begin{document}$ \eta \, = \,\eta _0 [1\, + \,(\dot \gamma /\gamma _0 )]^{N - 1} $\end{document}, is shown to described satisfactorily the shear viscosity data for xanthan gum solutions from 0.18 g/L to nearly 4 g/L and low to intermediate shear rates. Since mixing, mass and heat transfer, residence time distributions, and power input for agitation and aeration all depend on shear viscosity, this equation provides a simple prediction of this important quantity over the shear rate ranges characteristic of fermentations.
Vulvovaginal sequelae in toxic epidermal necrolysis.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the incidence of vulvar lesions during the acute and healing periods in toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN), to describe the clinical aspects and functional consequences, and to evaluate surgical treatment. STUDY DESIGN During the acute period in 40 patients, cutaneous and mucous lesions were described on the day of hospitalization and daily thereafter. To evaluate the healing period, a questionnaire was sent to the same 40 patients to obtain information on symptomatology after the acute period, anatomic modifications, and the quality of sexual and other genital activity. RESULTS During the acute period, genital lesions were present in 28 of the 40 patients studied (70%). In 24/28 (89%) the lesions were vulvar only, and in 3/28 (11%) they were vulvovaginal. In one case vaginal involvement could not be proven because the patient was a virgin. During the healing period, sequelae occurred in 5 of the 40 patients (12.5%): four cases were known since the patients had visited the Department of Gynecology because of secondary effects, and one case was detected by the questionnaire. The symptoms occurred during hospitalization in 1 case, at the end of the second month in 2, at the 12th month in 1 and unknown in 1. The site was the vulva in all five cases and was the vulva and vagina in three. Again, the virgin could not be examined. The average interval between secondary effects and the original gynecologic visit was 7 months (3-12). The sequelae were treated surgically in two of the five affected patients: on the vulva, nymphoplasty, posthectomy and median perineotomy; in the vagina, sharp and blunt dissection, with use of a soft mold. The first patient had a recurrence six months after surgery, and the second had no recurrence but has been unable to engage in intercourse. CONCLUSION From our study of the involvement of the vulva and vagina during TEN and the sequelae, it is clear that detection from the questionnaire was insufficient. Some women can have synechiae without functional sequelae, and others can have minor involvement with important psychological repercussions. A prospective study with systematic examination of the vulvovaginal area and systematic follow-up for at least one year is needed. For therapy, a lubricant gel (perhaps topical steroids) could be useful. Placing a soft mold in the vagina as soon as possible, though difficult, and keeping it there until complete healing occurs can lead to infection. It is not clear that use of a mold would promote healing or be tolerated. Intercourse immediately after the acute period would be helpful but probably would not be welcome to the patients. However useful, a prospective survey would be difficult because it would entail many years of study.
Oleic Acid Stimulates Complete Oxidation of Fatty Acids through Protein Kinase A-dependent Activation of SIRT1-PGC1α Complex*

Background: Different fatty acids signal to control intracellular lipid dynamic metabolism. Results: In skeletal muscle cells, oleic acid induces cAMP/PKA and SIRT1 Ser-434 phosphorylation and activity, causing PGC1α deacetylation and increased fatty acid oxidation. Conclusion: Oleic acid signals to the SIRT1-PGC1α complex to increase rates of fatty acid oxidation. Significance: Pharmacological manipulation of the oleic acid signaling pathway might be a therapeutic option for conditions of lipid dysregulation. Fatty acids are essential components of the dynamic lipid metabolism in cells. Fatty acids can also signal to intracellular pathways to trigger a broad range of cellular responses. Oleic acid is an abundant monounsaturated omega-9 fatty acid that impinges on different biological processes, but the mechanisms of action are not completely understood. Here, we report that oleic acid stimulates the cAMP/protein kinase A pathway and activates the SIRT1-PGC1α transcriptional complex to modulate rates of fatty acid oxidation. In skeletal muscle cells, oleic acid treatment increased intracellular levels of cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) that turned on protein kinase A activity. This resulted in SIRT1 phosphorylation at Ser-434 and elevation of its catalytic deacetylase activity. A direct SIRT1 substrate is the transcriptional coactivator peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ coactivator 1-α (PGC1α), which became deacetylated and hyperactive after oleic acid treatment. Importantly, oleic acid, but not other long chain fatty acids such as palmitate, increased the expression of genes linked to fatty acid oxidation pathway in a SIRT1-PGC1α-dependent mechanism. As a result, oleic acid potently accelerated rates of complete fatty acid oxidation in skeletal muscle cells. These results illustrate how a single long chain fatty acid specifically controls lipid oxidation through a signaling/transcriptional pathway. Pharmacological manipulation of this lipid signaling pathway might provide therapeutic possibilities to treat metabolic diseases associated with lipid dysregulation.
Gene expression profiles of human osteosarcoma cell sublines with different pulmonary metastatic potentials

Aim: to screen the pulmonary metastasis-associated molecules of Osteosarcoma and evaluate their functions concerning prognosis prediction. Methods: cDNA microarrray analysis has been applied to 2 pairs of osteosarcoma cell sublines with differential metastatic potentials to the lung. Immunohistochemistry and survival analysis have been performed to clinical samples of osteosarcoma patients. Result: Analysis detected 484 differentially expressed genes between the high metastatic subline, F5M2, and the low metastatic subline, F4. There were 1257 genes differentially expressed between newly established high-metastatic sublines named Saos-2M2 and its parental cell line Saos-2. Furthermore, 16 commonly up-regulated genes and 5 commonly down-regulated genes were identified by clustering analysis. EREG and CHST2, two genes not previously described in osteosarcoma, were finally seen to be differentially expressed in all examined osteosarcoma cell lines and in samples between the different prognosis sample groups. Survival analysis also confirmed these two molecules could be used to predict the outcome of OSA patients. Conclusion: This work represents a rationale approach to the evaluation of microarray data and will be useful to identify genes that may be causally associated with metastasis. EREG and CHST2 will be likely considered as clinical molecular markers to predict the outcome of OSA.
Optimal Allocation of ESS in Distribution Systems With a High Penetration of Wind Energy

Environmental concerns and fuel cost uncertainties associated with the use of conventional energy sources have resulted in rapid growth in the amount of wind energy connected to distribution grids. However, based on Ontario's standard offer program (SOP), the utility has the right to curtail (spill) wind energy in order to avoid any violation of the system constraints. This means that any increase in wind energy production over a specific limit might be met with an increase in the wind energy curtailed. In spite of their cost, energy storage systems (ESSs) are considered to be a viable solution to this problem. This paper proposes a methodology for allocating an ESS in a distribution system with a high penetration of wind energy. The ultimate goal is to maximize the benefits for both the DG owner and the utility by sizing the ESS to accommodate all amounts of spilled wind energy and by then allocating it within the system in order to minimize the annual cost of the electricity. In addition, a cost/benefit analysis has been conducted in order to verify the feasibility of installing an ESS from the perspective of both the utility and the DG owner.
The relationship between individual characteristics and conflict handling styles – the case of Croatia

The objective of the paper, except determining the dominant conflict handling style in Croatian organizational setting, was to explore individual characteristics affecting the choice of conflict resolution style of Croatian employees. Therefore, the variables of gender, age, level of education achieved, field of work, hierarchical level, marital status and parenthood were in-cluded in the study. Compromising conflict handling style was found to be the most frequently used style among Croatian employees overall, as well as the dominant style in all 22 subgroups of respondents. Three out of seven individual characteristics surveyed were found to relate significantly to the conflict handling style used by Croatian employees. Precisely, gender, marital status and parenthood were found to significantly relate to the respondents’ usage of accommodating, gender and parenthood were found to relate significantly to the respondents’ usage of compromising, and parenthood was found to relate significantly to the respondents’ usage of avoiding conflict handling style. Age, education, field of work and hierarchical level were not found to relate with Croatian employees’ usage of various conflict handling styles.
Zur Bedeutung entscheidungstheoretischer Anomalien für die Ökonomik/How Important Are Choice Anomalies for Economics?

Manche individuelle Handlungsweisen widersprechen dem in der Ökonomik zugrundegelegten Modell rationalen Verhaltens. Die in der neueren ökonomischen Literatur diskutierten Anomalien werden kurz zusammengefaßt und die möglichen Gegenargumente aus der Sicht der Wirtschaftswissenschaft diskutiert. Insbesondere wird auf die Übertragung der Paradoxa von der individuellen auf die aggregierte Ebene eingegangen. Die Erklärungskraft der Ökonomik kann infolge der Existenz von Anomalien sogar gestärkt werden.
Irinotecan plus cisplatin has substantial antitumor effect as salvage chemotherapy against germ cell tumors

Only 20–30% of patients with refractory or recurrent germ cell tumors (GCT) are cured by salvage chemotherapy. Irinotecan, a new derivative of camptothecin, is a potent anticancer agent against a variety of solid cancers. The current pilot study investigated the efficacy of salvage chemotherapy with irinotecan in combination with cisplatin (CDDP) or nedaplatin (NDP), a derivative of cisplatin, for GCT.
Testability Exploration of 3-D RAMs and CAMs

Three-dimensional (3-D) integration is an emerging integrated circuit technology. It offers many advantages over the 2-D integration. However, testing 3-D chips is a very challenging job. The testing of a 3-D chip includes the testing for known good die (KGD) and the testing of stacked 3-D chip. This paper analyzes the test complexities of 3-D random access memories (RAMs) and content addressable memories (CAMs) in the phase of testing of stacked 3-D ICs with functional faults. Analysis results show that the 3-D CAMs and RAMs can be tested with lower test complexity than the 2-D ones. Furthermore, simple design-for-testability (DFT) methods are proposed to reduce the test complexity of 3-D RAMs and CAMs further.
Heuristics versus Econometrics as a Basis For Forecasting International Inflation Differentials

Purpose This study aims to address the issue of prediction of inflation differences for an economy that considers either fixing its exchange rate or joining a currency union. In this setting, individual countries have limited control over their inflation, and anticipating the possible course of domestic inflation relative to inflation abroad becomes an important input in policy-making. In this context, the author compares simple forecast heuristics and econometric modeling. Design/methodology/approach The study compares two basically different approaches. The first approach of forecasting consists of simple heuristics. Various heuristics are considered that differ with respect to the economic reasoning that goes into quantifying the forecast rules. The simplest such forecasting heuristic suggests that the average over all available observations of inflation differentials should be taken as a predictor for the future. Bringing more economic insight to bear suggests a further heuristic according to which historical inflation differentials should be adjusted for changes in the nominal exchange rate. A further variant of this approach suggests that a forecast should exclusively rely on data from earlier times under a pegged exchange rate. A fundamentally different approach to prediction builds on dynamic econometric models estimated by using all available historical data independent of the currency regime. Findings The author studies three small member countries of the Eurozone, i.e. Finland, Luxembourg and Portugal. For the evaluation of the various forecasting strategies, he performs out-of-sample predictions over a horizon of five years. The comparison of the four different forecasting strategies documents that the variant of the forecast heuristic that draws on data from earlier experiences under fixed exchange rates performs better than the forecast based on the estimated econometric model. Practical implications The findings of this study provide helpful guidelines for countries considering either joining a currency union or fixing their exchange rate. The author shows that a simple forecasting heuristic gives sound advice for assessing the likely course of inflation. Originality/value This study describes how economic theory can guide the selection of historical data for assessing likely future developments. The analysis shows that using a simple heuristic based on historical analogy can lead to better forecasts than the analytically more sophisticated approach of econometric modeling.
Deblurring of grayscale images using inverse and Wiener filter

Images are produced to record or display useful information. Due to imperfections in the imaging and capturing process, however, the recorded image invariably represents a degraded version of the original scene. The field of image restoration (sometimes referred to as image deblurring or image deconvolution) is concerned with the reconstruction or estimation of the uncorrupted image from a blurred and noisy one. The purpose of image restoration is to produce best estimate of source image, given the recorded data and some apriori knowledge. In this paper, technique is presented which attempts to use two algorithms for image restorations: Wiener filter and Fourier inverse filter including further work as implementation of Lucy Richardson algorithm. Inverse filtering is the process of recovering the degraded image. Inverse filters are useful for precorrecting an input signal in anticipation of the degradations caused by the system. This approach also suffers from problems that in most cases produce unacceptable results, assumes no noise, only blurring. The preferred approach is therefore to use methods based on least squares. The so-called Wiener filter is the classic solution to the problem of minimizing the mean squared restoration error, the difference between the original and restored images.