Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Differentiation in the microbial ecology and activity of suspended and attached bacteria in a nitritation‐anammox process

A directed differentiation between the biofilm and suspension was observed in the molecular microbial ecology and gene expression of different bacteria in a biofilm nitritation‐anammox process operated at varying hydraulic residence times (HRT) and nitrogen loading rates (NLR). The highest degree of enrichment observed in the biofilm was of anaerobic ammonia‐oxidizing bacteria (AMX) followed by that of Nitrospira spp. related nitrite‐oxidizing bacteria (NOB). For AMX, a major shift from Candidatus “Brocadia fulgida” to Candidatus “Kuenenia stuttgartiensis” in both suspension and biofilm was observed with progressively shorter HRT, using discriminatory biomarkers targeting the hydrazine synthase (hzsA) gene. In parallel, expression of the hydrazine oxidoreductase gene (hzo), a functional biomarker for AMX energy metabolism, became progressively prominent in the biofilm. A marginal but statistically significant enrichment in the biofilm was observed for Nitrosomonas europaea related ammonia‐oxidizing bacteria (AOB). In direct contrast to AMX, the gene expression of ammonia monooxygenase subunit A (amoA), a functional biomarker for AOB energy metabolism, progressively increased in suspension. Using gene expression and biomass concentration measures in conjunction, it was determined that signatures of AOB metabolism were primarily present in the biofilm throughout the study. On the other hand, AMX metabolism gradually shifted from being uniformly distributed in both the biofilm and suspension to primarily the biofilm at shorter HRTs and higher NLRs. These results therefore highlight the complexity and key differences in the microbial ecology, gene expression and activity between the biofilm and suspension of a nitritation‐anammox process and the biokinetic and metabolic drivers for such niche segregation. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2015;112: 272–279. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Immune deviation and Fas-mediated deletion limit antitumor activity after multiple dendritic cell vaccinations in mice.

Genetic immunization with a single injection of dendritic cells (DCs) expressing a model melanoma antigen generates antigen-specific, MHC-restricted, protective immune responses. After initiating the immune response, additional vaccinations may increase the protection or conversely downregulate the immune response. Groups of mice were vaccinated several times with DCs transduced with the MART-1 gene, and the anti-tumor protection was compared with that of mice receiving a single vaccination. C3H mice had poorer protection from a syngeneic MART-1-expressing tumor challenge with multiple vaccinations. This was accompanied by lower levels of splenic CTL effectors and a shift from a type 1 to a type 2 cytokine profile. On the contrary, multiple vaccinations in C57BL/6 mice generated greater in vivo antitumor protection with no decrease in splenic CTLs and no cytokine shift. Antiadenoviral humoral or cellular immune responses did not seem to contribute to these effects. When studies were performed in Fas receptor-negative C3H. (lpr) mice, the adverse effect of multiple vaccinations disappeared, and there was no cytokine shift pattern. In conclusion, C3H mice but not C57BL/6 mice receiving multiple vaccinations with DCs expressing the MART-1 tumor antigen show decreased protection associated with deviation from a type 1 to a type 2 cytokine response attributable to a Fas-receptor mediated clearance of antigen-specific IFN-gamma-producing cells.
Distributed Brillouin Fiber Sensor Assisted by First-Order Raman Amplification

Distributed optical fiber Brillouin sensors provide innovative solutions for the monitoring of temperature and strain in large structures. The effective range of these sensors is typically of the order of 20-30 km, which limits their use in certain applications in which the distance to monitor is larger. In this work, we have developed a new technique to significantly extend the measurement distance of a distributed Brillouin Optical Time-Domain Analysis (BOTDA) sensor. Distributed Raman Amplification in the sensing fiber provides the means to enhance the operating range of the setup. Three Raman pumping configurations are theoretically and experimentally investigated: co-propagating, counter-propagating and bidirectional propagation with respect to the Brillouin pump pulse. We show that some of the amplification schemes tested can extend the measurement range and improve the measurement quality over long distances.
Increased “Vigilance” of Antioxidant Mechanisms in Neural Stem Cells Potentiates Their Capability to Resist Oxidative Stress

Although the potential value of transplanted and endogenous neural stem cells (NSCs) for the treatment of the impaired central nervous system (CNS) has widely been accepted, almost nothing is known about their sensitivity to the hostile microenvironment in comparison to surrounding, more mature cell populations. Since many neuropathological insults are accompanied by oxidative stress, this report compared the alertness of antioxidant defense mechanisms and cell survival in NSCs and postmitotic neural cells (PNCs). Both primary and immortalized cells were analyzed. At steady state, NSCs distinguished themselves in their basal mitochondrial metabolism from PNCs by their lower reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels and higher expression of the key antioxidant enzymes uncoupling protein 2 (UCP2) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx). Following exposure to the mitochondrial toxin 3‐nitropropionic acid, PNC cultures were marked by rapidly decreasing mitochondrial activity and increasing ROS content, both entailing complete cell loss. NSCs, in contrast, reacted by fast upregulation of UCP2, GPx, and superoxide dismutase 2 and successfully recovered from an initial deterioration. This recovery could be abolished by specific antioxidant inhibition. Similar differences between NSCs and PNCs regarding redox control efficiency were detected in both primary and immortalized cells. Our first in vivo data from the subventricular stem cell niche of the adult mouse forebrain corroborated the above observations and revealed strong baseline expression of UCP2 and GPx in the resident, proliferating NSCs. Thus, an increased “vigilance” of antioxidant mechanisms might represent an innate characteristic of NSCs, which not only defines their cell fate, but also helps them to encounter oxidative stress in diseased CNS.
Synthesis, Kinetic Characterization and X-Ray Analysis of Peptide Aldehydes as Inhibitors of the 20S Proteasomes from Thermoplasma acidophilum and Saccharomyces cerevisiae

A comparative kinetic characterization of the peptide aldehydes Ac-Leu-Leu-X-H [X = Trp, Tyr and Tyr(tBu)] and Z-Gly-Pro-Gly-Gly-Leu-Leu-Nle-H as inhibitors of the chymotryptic activity of 20S proteasomes from the archaebacterium T. acidophilum and yeast S. cerevisiae revealed significantly differentiated inhibitory potencies that can be rationalized on the basis of X-ray crystallographic data.
Latin American Experience with Alzheimer's Disease Cerebrospinal Fluid Biomarkers

Fil: Surace, Ezequiel Ignacio. Fundacion para la Lucha Contra las Enfermedades Neurologicas de la Infancia. Instituto de Investigaciones Neurologicas "Raul Carrea"; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Cientificas y Tecnicas; Argentina
Scan insertion criteria for low design impact

The paper focuses an the constraints that the new silicon technologies impose on the implementation of partial and full scan approach. In particular the ordering of Flip-Flops inside each scan chain must be decided taking into account the capacitance constraints imposed by new technologies. The main goal of this paper is to prove that recent technologies impose a new design flow, exploiting layout information for scan chain reordering. Two algorithms are then described, which reduce both the average and the maximum distance between FFs in the chains, thus reducing the power dissipation of the circuit, too. Preliminary results, obtained through the implementation of the algorithms in the Italtel Design Environment and their application on a sample circuit, are reported.
Graph patterns : structure, query answering and applications in schema mappings and formal language theory

Graph data appears in a variety of application domains, and many uses of it, such as querying, matching, and transforming data, naturally result in incompletely specified graph data, i.e., graph patterns. Queries need to be posed against such data, but techniques for querying patterns are generally lacking, and even simple properties of graph patterns, such as the languages needed to specify them, are not well understood. In this dissertation we present several contributions in the study of graph patterns. We analyze how to query them and how to use them as queries. We also analyze some of their applications in two different contexts: schema mapping specification and data exchange for graph databases, and formal language theory. We first identify key features of patterns, such as node and label variables and edges specified by regular expressions, and define a classification of patterns based on them. Next we study how to answer standard graph queries over graph patterns, and give precise characterizations of both data and combined complexity for each class of patterns. If complexity is high, we do further analysis of features that lead to intractability, as well as lower-complexity restrictions that guarantee tractability. We then turn to the the study of schema mappings for graph databases. As for relational and XML databases, our mapping languages are based on patterns. They subsume all previously considered mapping languages for graph databases, and are capable of expressing many data exchange scenarios in the graph database context. We study the problems of materializing solutions and query answering for data exchange under these mappings, analyze their complexity, and identify relevant classes of mappings and queries for which these problems can be solved efficiently. We also introduce a new model of automata that is based on graph patterns, and define two modes of acceptance for them. We show that this model has applications not only in graph databases but in several other contexts. We study the basic properties of such automata, and the key computational tasks associated with them.
Development of a simulation model for inner-gas-pipe inspection robot: SPRING

Piping inspection technology that does not require excavation is needed from economic and efficiency perspective. SPRING was developed as a new type of inspection robot which could meet this demand, however, several revisions are necessary in order to make the device more practical. In this paper, these revisions are discussed along with details on the development of a simulation model.
Carbohydrate-mediated Clearance of Immune Circulation

The purpose of these experiments was to evaluate the hypothesis that galactose residues on IgG mediate the clearance of IgG antigen complexes from the circulation. After 28 days of immunization of rats with bovine serum albumin (BSA), -90% of anti-BSA antibody was IgG; the circulating half-life of trace amounts of BSA antigen in immunized rats was 6 min, compared to 24 h in nonimmunized rats. Similarly, soluble IgGl""IBSA complexes formed in vitro, under conditions of antibody excess, had a circulating half-life of 4 min in normal rats. For both antigen in immunized rats, or IgG '"I-BSA complexes in normal animals, clearance was markedly inhibited by preor co-injection of asialofetuin, but was insensitive to large doses of fetuin, ovalbumin, or mannan. Liver parenchymal cells were the major site of uptake of complexes formed in vivo or in vitro. In vitro binding of IgG '251-BSA complexes by isolated hepatocytes was effectively competed by asialofetuin, asialo-orosomucoid, galactose, and N-acetylgalactosamine, but was unaffected by fetuin, orosomucoid, ovalbumin, mannan, or mannose. These data suggest that antigen-induced conformational changes in IgG result in both recognition of galactose residues on IgG and clearance of IgG-immune complexes from the circulation by the galactose-specific receptor in hepatic parenchymal cells.
Interval Type-2 Fuzzy Controller based on Sliding Mode Control for Robot Arm Driven by Artificial Muscles

In this paper, we propose the application of an Interval Type-2 Fuzzy Sliding Mode Controller IT2FSMC for 2 degrees of freedom robot arm actuated by pneumatic artificial muscles (PAM). A robust IT2FL controller based on the Lyapunov stability condition of sliding mode control SMC was adopted. The objectives of the control are: (1) to avoid the modelling problem in this type of robot, (2) to attenuate the chattering effect of the SMC, (3) to reduce the rules number of the fuzzy control, (4) to guarantee the stability and the robustness of the system and (5) to handle the uncertainties of the system. First joints of robot are approximated by adequately linear differential equations; next we present the proposed IT2FSM approach of control. In the last, this method has experimented and compared to an interval type-2 fuzzy controller IT2FC in order to demonstrate its effectiveness.
The risk of nosocomial pneumonia is not increased during partial liquid ventilation.

OBJECTIVE To determine whether partial liquid ventilation (PLV) affects the risk of nosocomial pneumonia. STUDY DESIGN To assess in vitro bacterial adhesion and viability after liquid perfluorocarbon exposure and to assess bacterial recovery after partial liquid ventilation in vivo in rabbits. SETTING University animal research facility. SUBJECTS Thirty-six New Zealand White rabbits. INTERVENTIONS To assess adhesions, radiolabeled Escherichia coli were exposed to perfluorocarbon, incubated against artificial biosurfaces, and compared with nonexposed controls. Bacterial viability in vitro was assessed by exposing broth suspensions of Pasteurella multocida to perflubron for various times. Controls were run in parallel without exposure. Quantitative cultures were performed to determine viability. We undertook short-term and recovery in vivo investigations. The lungs of treated animals were filled with perflubron (approximately 18 mL/kg), and the control rabbits were ventilated without perflubron in an identical fashion. Cryopreserved aliquots of P. multocida were administered via an endotracheal tube. The short-term study animals were ventilated for 6 hrs before being killed. The recovery animals were ventilated for 2-4 hrs, extubated, and killed 20 hrs later. The lungs were removed, aseptically minced, and homogenized. Serial dilutions of the homogenate were quantitatively cultured by manual counting of colonies on agar plates. The recovered organisms were typed for species by the clinical microbiology laboratory. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS The adhesion of bacteria to immobilized bronchoalveolar lavage and human saliva, respectively, was reduced by 65%+/-7% and 66%+/-1% (p < .05; n = 5) after exposure to perflubron and by 63%+/-9% and 68%+/-6% after exposure to FC-77 (p < .05; n = 5); however, adhesion was not affected by exposure to Rimar. There was no difference in bacterial viability between the control and perflubron-exposed bacteria (n = 5). The in vivo study demonstrated a ten-fold or greater reduction in the number of recovered bacteria in the partial liquid ventilated group compared with the control group. CONCLUSIONS This study suggests that different perfluorocarbons affect adhesions differently. Perflubron and FC-77 appear to decrease bacterial adhesion, whereas Rimar does not. Rerflubron does not have a direct bactericidal effect. Furthermore, PLV with perflubron decreased the number of viable bacteria per gram of tissue after an intentional inoculation of the airway, suggesting that the risk of nosocomial pneumonia is unlikely to be increased during PLV and may, in fact, be reduced in patients supported with PLV.
Relationships between ambulance transports for alcohol intoxication and assault.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the association between ambulance transports for assault and those for alcohol intoxication. METHODS A retrospective analysis of emergency medical services (EMS) calls was performed. The authors used logistic regression models to compare patients transported for alcohol intoxication with a control group of patients transported for respiratory distress (asthma or shortness of breath) with respect to whether they had been transported on a separate occasion for a chief complaint of assault. RESULTS Patients transported for alcohol intoxication had 9 times the risk of transport for assault as compared with the control group (OR = 9.3; 95% CI = 6.4, 13.6). The odds of transport for assault among the alcohol patients increased 17.1% with each alcohol transport (OR = 1.17; 95% CI = 1.14, 1.20) but decreased for the control group (OR = 0.34; 95% CI = 0.26, 0.44). Repeat transports for assault were more common among the alcohol patients than among the control group (OR = 3.3; 95% CI = 1.1, 11.3). The mean number of assault transports was higher among the alcohol patients than among the patients never transported for alcohol intoxication (p < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS Patients transported on multiple occasions for acute alcohol intoxication are at relatively high risk for assault. This risk group should be targeted for focused assault prevention interventions that include components designed to reduce incidents of repeat alcohol intoxication.
Peroxidative Damage Induced by Moderate White Noise Involved in Tau Hyperphosphorylation of Hippocampus in Mice

White noise makes peroxidative damage of the brain, dose it have effect on the phosphorylation of tau in hippocampus? We used 66 mice exposed to 80 dB SPL white noise for 3 days, 1 week, and 3 weeks respectively, then detected the changes of Superoxide dismulase (SOD) activity and malondialdehyde (MDA) content in inferior colliculus (IC), auditory cortex (AC), and hippocampus. Meanwhile we detected the levels of phosphorylation of microtubule-associated protein tau in hippocampus after 1 week and 3 weeks noise exposure. We found that compared with the control group, the value of SOD/MDA of the three brain regions especially the hippocampus of the noise group decreased significantly. At the same time the phosphporylation of tau increased obviously. Our results indicated that the moderate white noise exposure can induced peroxidative damage in IC, AC, and hippocampus; and the peroxidative damage may involved in tau hyperphosphorylation of hippocampus through the lemniscal path.
Formation of exudate droplets by Metarhizium anisopliae and the presence of destruxins

Nutritional conditions causing droplet exudation by Metarhizium anisopliae var. anisopliae were studied. Exudation in droplets occurred only on media with more than one carbon source and was highly dependent on the ratio of a well metabolized sugar such as trehalose and a nonpreferred sugar, in particular arabinose. Exuded droplets contained destruxin A, B and E in concentrations similar to those on submerged culture on Czapek Dox medium with equivalent C : N ratios but was clearly less than previously reported on standard Czapek Dox or Sabouraud dextrose broth. Destruxins also were found in agar samples from directly below mycelium and from up to 2 cm from the colony edge. Exudates retrieved from different media were proven to have Pr1 protease-related enzyme activity. Additional HPLC analysis indicated that droplets from diverse media did not differ in their sugar and acid content. A hypothesis is presented regarding the trigger for guttation in Metarhizium during growth under these conditions.
Generation of free gait-a graph search approach

A method is presented for the generation of a free gait for the straight-line motion of a quadruped walking machine. It uses a heuristic graph search procedure based on the A* algorithm. The method essentially looks into the consequences of a move to a certain depth before actually committing to it. Deadlocks and inefficiencies are thus sensed well in advance and avoided. >
A measure of biological robustness in microbial metabolic systems and its approximated estimation

It has long been recognized that robustness is an inherent property of all biological systems. For instance, microbes could maintain their intracellular environment in a relative stable level against the changes in the extracellular environment. We study such a phenomenon in the glycerol production by microbial continuous fermentation, in which the metabolism mechanisms are not completely known and the true metabolism system need to be identified from all possible ones. We present a quantitative index of biological robustness to measure the robustness of all candidate metabolic systems. An approximated estimation scheme for the calculation of the proposed robustness index is constructed and convergence result is presented.
Passive anti-islanding scheme based on reactive power in the smart grids

Identification of intentional and unintentional islanding situation of the dispersed generators is one of the important protection concerns in both traditional and smart grids. Regarding the safety and reliability problems of the distribution networks an exact diagnosis index is required to discriminate loss of main network from existing occurrences of parallel operation. Hence, this paper presents a new passive-based islanding detection method, according to change in ∂VDG/∂Qload index. The proposed methodology can be used in both traditional and smart grids. This technique has been applied for a sample network to evaluate the performance of the proposed method with different scenarios, including the islanding and non-islanding occurrences. At the end, the proposed method has been compared with the ROCOV relays. Simulation results show that the proposed method has smaller NDZ than the ROCOV relays and can be used as an effective alternative instead of the ROCOV relays.
Inhibition of Platelet Activation and Aggregation by Furostanol Saponins Isolated From the Bulbs of Allium macrostemon Bunge

Abstract:Three new furostanol saponins (FSs) were recently isolated from the dried bulbs of Allium macrostemon and were shown to have antiplatelet effects. This study investigated the inhibitory capabilities of these compounds on adenosine diphosphate (ADP)-induced human platelet activation. FS-1, when compared with the other 2, had a potent inhibitory effect on ADP-induced platelet aggregation and on the expression of P-selectin and integrin &bgr;-3. FS-1 also inhibited Ca2+ mobilization and significantly decreased phosphorylated AKT expression in ADP-activated platelets. The suppression by FS-1 of ADP-induced platelet activation and aggregation shown in this study indicate its potential for therapeutic applications.
Effects of malaria double infection in birds: one plus one is not two

Avian malaria parasites are supposed to exert negative effects on host fitness because these intracellular parasites affect host metabolism. Recent advances in molecular genotyping and microscopy have revealed that coinfections with multiple parasites are frequent in bird–malaria parasite systems. However, studies of the fitness consequences of such double infections are scarce and inconclusive. We tested if the infection with two malaria parasite lineages has more negative effects than single infection using 6 years of data from a natural population of house martins. Survival was negatively affected by both types of infections. We found an additive cost from single to double infection in body condition, but not in reproductive parameters (double‐infected had higher reproductive success). These results demonstrate that malaria infections decrease survival, but also have different consequences on the breeding performance of single‐ and double‐infected wild birds.