Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Secretion of Cytokines, Histamine and Leukotrienes in Chronic Urticaria

Background: Approximately 35–40% of patients with chronic urticaria have an IgG autoantibody to the IgE receptor which can activate basophils and mast cells so that they release histamine. In this study we assessed the cytokine profile present in chronic urticaria sera, and then measured cytokine and leukotriene release from basophils and mast cells upon incubation with chronic urticaria sera. Finally we assessed cytokine expression at the single-cell level and characterized the T cell subpopulations involved in their production. We chose IL-4 as representative of Th2 lymphocytes and IFN-γ for Th1 lymphocytes. Methods: We analyzed IL-4, IL-5 and IFN-γ in 60 chronic urticaria sera versus 51 controls. Sera were incubated with purified human basophils and cutaneous mast cells and the release of histamine, IL-4 and leukotrienes (C4, D4, E4) was quantitated. Immunoblotting was performed to identify IgG antibody to FcΕRIα, α subunit. We measured intracellular cytokine production in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of 17 chronic urticaria patients compared to 50 healthy controls. Results: We found higher IL-4 levels (p = 0.028) in the sera of chronic urticaria patients (1.03 pg/ml) versus healthy donors (0.20 pg/ml) but no difference between urticaria sera and atopic control sera (0.52 pg/ml). We did not detect IFN-γ or IL-5 in any serum. However, sera that activated basophils so that they released histamine also produced leukotriene and IL-4, and leukotriene production by cutaneous mast cells and basophils was closely correlated. However, there was no correlation between immunoblotting and the functional ability to induce either histamine or IL-4. After stimulating with PMA-ionomycin we found significant differences in CD4+ lymphocyte production of IL-4 and IFN-γ with no differences in CD8+ lymphocyte production of either cytokine. Conclusion: Our data support the presence of basophil and mast cell activators in the sera of patients with chronic urticaria which can lead to the production of leukotrienes and IL-4 in addition to the histamine. IL-4 levels are similar to those seen in atopic subjects. We found that CD4+ T cells from patients with chronic urticaria are activated and tend to produce higher cytokine levels than CD4+ T cells from healthy controls. There were no differences when cytokine production by CD8+ lymphocytes was similarly assessed. These results are consistent with the histology found in biopsies of chronic urticaria lesions, where a CD4+-predominant infiltrate is found with cytokine production suggesting either a Th0 response or a mixture of Th1 and Th2 lymphocytes.
olysome profiling of the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum oshua

In the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum, global studies of translational regulation have been hampered by the inability to isolate malaria polysomes. We describe here a novel method for polysome profiling in P. falciparum, a powerful approach which allows both a global view of translation and the measurement of ribosomal loading and density for specific mRNAs. Simultaneous lysis of infected erythrocytes and parasites releases stable, intact malaria polysomes, which are then purified by centrifu-
Clopidogrel for percutaneous coronary revascularization: time for more pretreatment, retreatment, or both?

NTIPLATELET AGENTS—ASPIRIN, THIENOPYRIDINES, andglycoproteinIIb/IIIa(GpIIb/IIIa)inhibitors— have become cornerstones in the treatment of ischemic heart disease for patients with acute coronarysyndrome(ACS)andforthoseundergoingpercutaneous coronaryintervention(PCI). Dependingontheclinicalscenario and the concomitant anticoagulants used, regimens combining 2 or more of these antiplatelet agents have resulted in fewer ischemic events and sometimes more bleedingeventscomparedwithaspirinalone.InpatientswithSTsegment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), aspirin has been shown to safely reduce mortality vs placebo, 1 and itthereforeservesafoundationalroleinthrombolytictherapy regimens. The addition of the most potent platelet aggregationinhibitors,GpIIb/IIIareceptorantagonists,tothrombolytic therapy (aspirin, heparin, and a fibrinolytic agent) in STEMI patients has not resulted in lower mortality rates but has reduced reinfarction rates. A meta-analysis of randomized trials testing abciximab (a GpIIb/IIIa inhibitor) among23166STEMIpatientsreceivingthrombolytictherapy
On a Piecewise-Linear Approximation for Network Revenue Management

The network revenue management (RM) problem arises in airline, hotel, media, and other industries where the sale products use multiple resources. It can be formulated as a stochastic dynamic program, but the dynamic program is computationally intractable because of an exponentially large state space, and a number of heuristics have been proposed to approximate its value function. In this paper we show that the piecewise-linear approximation to the network RM dynamic program is tractable; specifically we show that the separation problem of the approximation can be solved as a relatively compact linear program. Moreover, the resulting compact formulation of the approximate dynamic program turns out to be exactly equivalent to the Lagrangian relaxation of the dynamic program, an earlier heuristic method proposed for the same problem. We perform a numerical comparison of solving the problem by generating separating cuts or as our compact linear program. We discuss extensions to versions of the network RM problem with overbooking as well as the difficulties of extending it to the choice model of network revenue RM.
Experimental Infection of Pregnant Ewes withChlamydia pecorum

ABSTRACT Pregnant ewes were infected in midpregnancy with three isolates ofChlamydia pecorum derived from the feces of healthy lambs from three different farms. Oral infection, alone or together withFasciola hepatica, did not result in tissue invasion, since all placental and fecal samples were negative for chlamydiae. Intravenous infection resulted in placental infection in 16 of 18 ewes in that chlamydiae were cultured from placentas or vaginal swabs. Two ewes bore dead lambs after a shortened gestation time. The chlamydiae isolated were all C. pecorum. There were no significant differences between the weights of the lambs from the infected groups and those from uninfected control ewes. Most ewes showed no serological evidence of infection by the complement fixation test; therefore, it is unlikely that the enteric subtype ofC. pecorum is responsible for the cross-reactions sometimes seen in flocks being tested for C. psittaciinfection.
A Searchable Symmetric Encryption Scheme using BlockChain

At present, the cloud storage used in searchable symmetric encryption schemes (SSE) is provided in a private way, which cannot be seen as a true cloud. Moreover, the cloud server is thought to be credible, because it always returns the search result to the user, even they are not correct. In order to really resist this malicious adversary and accelerate the usage of the data, it is necessary to store the data on a public chain, which can be seen as a decentralized system. As the increasing amount of the data, the search problem becomes more and more intractable, because there does not exist any effective solution at present. In this paper, we begin by pointing out the importance of storing the data in a public chain. We then innovatively construct a model of SSE using blockchain(SSE-using-BC) and give its security definition to ensure the privacy of the data and improve the search efficiency. According to the size of data, we consider two different cases and propose two corresponding schemes. Lastly, the security and performance analyses show that our scheme is feasible and secure.
An important perspective on the recent history of leprosy - and its implications for the current Global Strategy.

The Sasakawa Memorial Health Foundation (SMHF) has just published a fascinating book: “A Life Fighting Leprosy: a collection of the speeches and writings of Dr Yo Yuasa”, which will be of interest to many readers of Leprosy Review, and beyond. Few, if any, individuals have played so many important roles in the field of leprosy over the past several decades as has Dr Yuasa: from clinical medical officer in leprosy hospitals in Hong Kong and Nepal, to Secretary and then President of the International Leprosy Association, to Medical and then Executive Director of the Sasakawa Foundation, which has been one of the largest and most influential supporters of leprosy work around the world over the past 40 years. The book consists of 22 speeches and essays by Dr Yuasa, delivered or written over 30 years, 1982 – 2012. Few of them have been published before, and all are elegantly written. They cover the important period from the initiation of MDT as recommended by the WHO Study Group in 1981, to the elimination declaration by the World Health Assembly (WHA) in 1991, to the struggles to maintain the ILA and the International Leprosy Journal in the early 2000s, and include reflections on the successive strategies developed and promoted through ILEP, the ILA and WHO through 2012. They reveal their author to be both a pragmatist and a philosopher. The book contains many references to major figures in the leprosy world of recent decades, providing glimpses of personal interactions and events behind the scenes at important points in the history of leprosy policy. There are fascinating historical anecdotes – such as how what became known as the first International Leprosy Congress in Berlin was organised in 1897 because of concerns over 34 leprosy cases among Russian immigrants to Prussia. And we learn of a bargain between Riochi Sasakawa, founder of the SMHF, and Halfdan Mahler, Director General of WHO, in 1974/5, when WHO accepted $500,000 for leprosy work only on the condition that an equivalent amount from the SMHF went to rescue a funding shortfall of the Smallpox Eradication Programme.
Alpha-Particle-Induced Changes in the Stability and Size of DNA

Abstract Georgakilas, A.G. , Haveles, K.S. , Sophianopoulou, V. , Sakelliou, L. , Zarris, G. and Sideris, E.G. Alpha-Particle-Induced Changes in the Stability and Size of DNA. The effect of α-particle radiation on the thermal stability and size of calf thymus DNA molecules in deoxygenated aqueous solutions was investigated by thermal transition spectrophotometry, pulsed-field gel electrophoresis, and standard agarose gel electrophoresis. The thermal transition of DNA from helix to coil was studied through analysis of the UV A260 absorbance. The results obtained for α particles of mean LET of 128 keV μm−1 reveal a dual dose response: a tendency for thermal stability of the DNA helix at “low” doses, followed by an increasing instability at higher doses. The same phenomenon was observed for the mean molecular weight of DNA molecules exposed to α particles. The results reported here for α particles in the low-dose region of 0–16 Gy are consistent with our previous hypothesis of inter- and intramolecular interactions of a covalent character in γ-irradiated DNA molecules in the dose region of 0–4 Gy.
Multi-pair massive MIMO relay networks: power scaling laws and user scheduling strategy

This study studies a multi-pair massive multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) relaying network, where multiple pairs of users are served by a single relay station with a large number of antennas, and the amplify-and-forward protocol and zero-forcing (ZF) beamforming are used at the relay. The authors investigate the ergodic achievable rates for the users and obtain tight approximations in closed form for finite number of antennas. The rate performance and power efficiency are studied based on the analytical results for asymptotic scenarios, and the effect of scaling factors of transmit powers for users and relay are discussed. The closed-form expressions enable us to determine the optimal user scheduling which maximizes the ergodic sum-rate for the selected pairs. A simplified user scheduling algorithm is proposed which greatly reduces the average complexity of the optimal use pair search without any rate loss. Moreover, the complexity reduction for the proposed algorithm increases nonlinearly with the increase of the number of user pairs, which indicates that the simplified scheduling algorithm has notable advantages when the number of users is increased. The tightness for the analytical approximations and the superiority of the proposed algorithm are verified by Monte-Carlo simulation results.
Two- and three-dimensional proton NMR studies of apo-neocarzinostatin.

Neocarzinostatin (NCS) is an antitumor protein from Streptomyces carzinostaticus that is identical in apo-protein sequence with mitomalcin (MMC) from Streptomyces malayensis. We describe the use of apo-NCS as a model system for applying combined two- and three-dimensional (2D and 3D) proton NMR spectroscopy to the structure determination of proteins (Mr greater than 10K) without isotope labeling. Strategies aimed at accurately assigning overlapped 2D cross-peaks by using semiautomated combined 2D and 3D data analysis are developed. Using this approach, we have assigned 99% of the protons, including those of the side chains, and identified about 1270 intra- and interresidue proton-proton interactions (fixed distances are not included) in apo-NCS. Comparing our results with those reported recently on 2D NMR studies of apo-NCS [Adjadj, E. , Mispelter, J., Quiniou, E. , Dimicoli, J.-L. , Favadon, V. , & Lhoste, J.-M. (1990) Eur. J. Biochem. 190, 263-271; Remerowski M. L. , Glaser, S. J., Sieker, L. , Samy, T. S. A. , & Drobny, G. P. (1990) Biochemistry 29, 8401-8409] demonstrated advantages of proton 3D NMR spectroscopy in protein spectral assignments. We are able to obtain more complete proton resonance and secondary structural assignments and find several misassignments in the earlier report. Strategies utilized in this work should be useful for developing automation procedures for spectral assignments.
Efficacies of BMS 284756 against Penicillin-Sensitive, Penicillin-Resistant, and Quinolone-Resistant Pneumococci in Experimental Meningitis

ABSTRACT BMS 284756 penetrated well into inflamed meninges (44% ± 11%) and produced good bactericidal activity (−0.82 ± 0.22 Δlog10 CFU/ml · h) in the treatment of experimental meningitis in rabbits due to a penicillin-sensitive strain. BMS 284756 monotherapy had a greater potency than the standard regimen of ceftriaxone and vancomycin (−0.49 ± 0.08 Δlog10 CFU/ml · h) against a penicillin-resistant strain (MIC, 4 mg/liter). Even against a penicillin- and quinolone-resistant strain, BMS 284756 showed good bactericidal activity (−0.52 ± 0.12 Δlog10 CFU/ml · h). The antibacterial activity of BMS 284756 was confirmed by time-killing assays over 8 h in vitro.
Quantifying the Biomechanical Properties of Bovine Skin under Uniaxial Tension

Skin is an important organ and many studies have been carried out to understand its functions and behaviour. Nevertheless, there is still lack of reliable data and theory that could best define skin deformation behaviour. Therefore, this paper aims to quantify the biomechanical properties of bovine under uniaxial tension skin utilising experiment-numerical approach. Bovine skin samples were tested according to ASTM D2209-00 standard to obtain stress-stretch data. Based on the experiment data, a programme is written using Matlab to quantify and determine the bovine skin biomechanical properties. The Ogden parameters are found to be μ = 0.4 and α = 4.6. These values are important for future reference and therefore proving that the current study is significant and has contributed to the pool of knowledge in the area of skin
Erroneous Arrhenius: Modified Arrhenius Model Best Explains the Temperature Dependence of Ectotherm Fitness

The initial rise of fitness that occurs with increasing temperature is attributed to Arrhenius kinetics, in which rates of reaction increase exponentially with increasing temperature. Models based on Arrhenius typically assume single rate‐limiting reactions over some physiological temperature range for which all the rate‐limiting enzymes are in 100% active conformation. We test this assumption using data sets for microbes that have measurements of fitness (intrinsic rate of population growth) at many temperatures and over a broad temperature range and for diverse ectotherms that have measurements at fewer temperatures. When measurements are available at many temperatures, strictly Arrhenius kinetics are rejected over the physiological temperature range. However, over a narrower temperature range, we cannot reject strictly Arrhenius kinetics. The temperature range also affects estimates of the temperature dependence of fitness. These results indicate that Arrhenius kinetics only apply over a narrow range of temperatures for ectotherms, complicating attempts to identify general patterns of temperature dependence.
Improving the User Experience in Mobile Recommender Systems

Mobile recommender systems support the decision making process of users by providing suggestions for items that are of potential use for them in a certain mobile context. This dissertation presents a framework that indicates how developers can improve the user experience of mobile recommender systems. A key contribution lies in the evaluation of this framework consisting of concrete presentation guidelines, efficient algorithms, a strategy to automatically generate interactive explanations and a suitable stereotype user model.
Regional hemodynamics during postexercise hypotension. II. Cutaneous circulation.

After an acute bout of exercise, there is an unexplained elevation in systemic vascular conductance that is not completely offset by an increase in cardiac output, resulting in a postexercise hypotension. The contributions of the splanchnic and renal circulations are examined in a companion paper (Pricher MP, Holowatz LA, Williams JT, Lockwood JM, and Halliwill JR. J Appl Physiol 97: 2065-2070, 2004). The purpose of this study was to determine the contribution of the cutaneous circulation in postexercise hypotension under thermoneutral conditions (approximately 23 degrees C). Arterial blood pressure was measured via an automated sphygmomanometer, internal temperature was measured via an ingestible pill, and skin temperature was measured with eight thermocouples. Red blood cell flux (laser-Doppler flowmetry) was monitored at four skin sites (chest, forearm, thigh, and leg), and cutaneous vascular conductance (CVC) was calculated (red blood cell flux/mean arterial pressure) and scaled as percent maximal CVC (local heating to 43 degrees C). Ten subjects [6 men and 4 women; age 23 +/- 1 yr; peak O(2) uptake (Vo(2 peak)) 45.8 +/- 2.0 ml.kg(-1). min(-1)] volunteered for this study. After supine rest (30 min), subjects exercised on a bicycle ergometer for 1 h at 60% of their Vo(2 peak) and were then positioned supine for 90 min. Exercise elicited a postexercise hypotension reaching a nadir at 46.0 +/- 4.5 min postexercise (77 +/- 1 vs. 82 +/- 2 mmHg preexercise; P < 0.05). Internal temperature increased (38.0 +/- 0.1 vs. 36.7 +/- 0.1 degrees C preexercise; P < 0.05), remaining elevated at 90 min postexercise (36.9 +/- 0.1 degrees C vs. preexercise; P < 0.05). CVC at all four skin sites was elevated by the exercise bout (P < 0.05), returning to preexercise values within 50 min postexercise (P > 0.05). Therefore, although transient changes in CVC occur postexercise, they do not appear to play an obligatory role in mediating postexercise hypotension under thermoneutral conditions.
Temporal changes in plankton of the North Sea: community shifts and environmental drivers

This paper analyses long-term and seasonal changes in the North Sea plankton community during the period 1970 to 2008. Based on Continuous Plankton Recorder (CPR) data covering 38 yr, major changes in both phytoplankton and zooplankton abundance and community structure were identified. Regime changes were detected around 1978, 1989 and 1998. The first 2 changes have been discussed in the literature and are defined as a cold episodic event (1978) and a regime shift towards a warm dynamic regime (1989). The effect of these 2 regime changes on plankton indicators was assessed and checked against previous studies. The 1998 change represents a shift in the abundance and seasonal patterns of dinoflagellates and the dominant zooplankton group, the neritic copepods. Furthermore, environmental factors such as air temperature, wind speed and the North Atlantic water inflow were identified as potential drivers of change in seasonal patterns, and the most-likely environmental causes for detected changes were assessed. We suggest that a change in the balance of dissolved nutrients driven by these environmental factors was the cause of the latest change in plankton community structure, which in turn could have affected the North Sea fish community
V. Innate mechanisms of mucosal defense and repair: the best offense is a good defense.

Well-coordinated mechanisms have evolved that provide both innate protection against gastrointestinal mucosal injury and facilitation of rapid mucosal repair following mucosal damage. Generic protection from injury is provided by intrinsic structural features of the epithelium that form a highly competent barrier and a complex formed at the apical surface by trefoil peptides that comprise the interface between mucosa and lumen. When the epithelial barrier has been broken, regardless of the nature of the injury, epithelial surface continuity is rapidly reestablished through restitution as cells migrate and elongate. This process is promoted by trefoil peptides at the apical surface and a large array of cytokines and growth factors acting at the basolateral pole. Many of these regulatory peptides are products of the immune and other lamina propria cell populations, which are activated following disruption of the mucosal barrier. Thus efforts to repair the epithelium follow inherently from inflammatory effects after initial damage; the repair process in turn may allow abrogation of further inflammation. Ultimate repair of injury requires both proliferative replacement of damaged epithelial cells and remodeling of extracellular matrix and deeper cell populations to restore normal architecture and a fully functional mucosa.
Tracking badger visits to farmyards

We offer our contribution on visits by badgers to farmsteads as an addition to letters published in The Veterinary Record earlier this year. Jo Judge and others ( VR , May 23, 2009, vol 164, pp 667-668) commented on a study conducted by Paddy Sleeman and others ( VR , December 13, 2008 vol 163, p
Nucleophosmin Is Required for DNA Integrity and p19Arf Protein Stability

ABSTRACT Nucleophosmin (NPM) is a nucleolar phosphoprotein that binds the tumor suppressors p53 and p19Arf and is thought to be indispensable for ribogenesis, cell proliferation, and survival after DNA damage. The NPM gene is the most frequent target of genetic alterations in leukemias and lymphomas, though its role in tumorigenesis is unknown. We report here the first characterization of a mouse NPM knockout strain. Lack of NPM expression results in accumulation of DNA damage, activation of p53, widespread apoptosis, and mid-stage embryonic lethality. Fibroblasts explanted from null embryos fail to grow and rapidly acquire a senescent phenotype. Transfer of the NPM mutation into a p53-null background rescued apoptosis in vivo and fibroblast proliferation in vitro. Cells null for both p53 and NPM grow faster than control cells and are more susceptible to transformation by activated oncogenes, such as mutated Ras or overexpressed Myc. In the absence of NPM, Arf protein is excluded from nucleoli and is markedly less stable. Our data demonstrate that NPM regulates DNA integrity and, through Arf, inhibits cell proliferation and are consistent with a putative tumor-suppressive function of NPM.