Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Interactions of Cations with Membrane Fractions of Smooth and Rough Strains of Salmonella typhimurium and Other Gram-Negative Bacteria

Addition of cations (20 to 50 mM for Mg2+ or Ca2+ or 100 to 500 mM for Na+) to N-2-hydroxyethylpiperazine-N′-2-ethanesulfonic acid buffer during preparation of membranes from smooth and rough strains of Salmonella typhimurium LT2, Salmonella minnesota, and Escherichia coli O8 had two effects on the composition of the membranes isolated. First, in rough strains of chemotypes Ra to Re the “total membranes” (pellets from high-speed centrifugation) were deficient in the proteins of the outer membrane. The missing proteins were found to have been sedimented in a prior low-speed centrifugation in a fraction we call “cation-aggregated membranes. ” Since these membranes were enriched for lipopolysaccharide and for outer membrane proteins, deficient in succinic dehydrogenase, and contained primarily the dense peak after sucrose gradient centrifugation, it appears to be relatively pure outer membrane. About 10% of the membrane protein of smooth strains and up to 50% that of rough strains were cation-aggregated membranes, appearing to contain most of the outer membrane of rough strains. Thus, cation aggregation may be a useful means of preparation of outer membrane samples. The second effect was that with cation addition, several high-molecular-weight proteins not seen when membranes were prepared without cation addition were found in the total membranes of both smooth and rough strains after high-speed centrifugation. These proteins were bound by cations to the inner membranes, since they were soluble in Triton X-100 and separated into the less dense peak upon sucrose gradient centrifugation. They originated from the cytoplasm or the periplasm, since they corresponded to soluble proteins found in the supernatant after high-speed centrifugation and were depleted from this supernatant when preparation was done in the presence of cations.
PSS based time synchronization for 3GPP LTE downlink receivers

Time synchronization based on primary synchronization signal (PSS) is investigated for 3GPP Long Term Evolution (LTE) downlink receivers. Frequency offset and low SNR are two factors which degrades the detection performance during initial synchronization. In the proposed scheme, the receiver performs sliding differential mirror correlation and further accumulates correlated results of multiple PSS transmission periods. During these procedures, differential operations eliminate the detrimental effect of frequency offset and performance at low SNR is further improved by superimposing multiple correlated results. Simulation results show that the proposed scheme can provide robust capabilities under fading scenarios.
A novel variable structure based adaptive control with disturbance estimation

A novel, improved adaptive control methodology equipped with variable structure controller which utilizes the disturbance estimate is proposed for the control of robot manipulators. The main property of the method is that, it does not requires for any information about the disturbances that act on the system such as bounds or limits. On the other hand, the proposed control method eliminates the drawbacks of the classical adaptive controllers such as poor transient responses and poor disturbance rejection capabilities by online disturbance estimation subsystem. Simulation results on an anthropomorphic robot manipulator which is assumed to have nine unknown parameters demonstrate that, the proposed control system can achieve favorable tracking and high disturbance rejection performance when compared with its counterparts
‘Getting back to real living’: a qualitative study of the process of community reintegration after stroke

Objectives: To examine the process of community reintegration over the first year following stroke, from the patient’s perspective. Design: Qualitative, longitudinal, grounded theory study involving ten participants. During the first year post discharge from inpatient rehabilitation, 46 one-on-one semi-structured interviews were conducted with ten participants. Interviews were completed with participants before discharge from inpatient stroke rehabilitation and in their homes at two weeks, three months, six months and one year post discharge. Analysis was guided by grounded theory methods described by Corbin and Strauss. Subjects: Four women and six men (mean age 59.6 ± 18.0, all with left hemiparesis and without aphasia) who had sustained their first hemispheric stroke and were returning to the community following inpatient rehabilitation. Results: The process of community reintegration after stroke involved transitioning through a series of goals: gaining physical function, establishing independence, adjusting expectations and getting back to real living. The ultimate challenge for stroke survivors during this process of community reintegration was to create a balance between their expectations of themselves and their physical capacity to engage in meaningful roles. Conclusions: Over the first year after stroke, participants reported that the process of community reintegration was marked by ongoing changes in their goals. Formal and informal caregivers need to work with stroke survivors living in the community to facilitate realistic and achievable goal setting. Tools which identify meaningful activities should also be incorporated to provide stroke survivors with the opportunity to contribute and engage with others in the community.
Recursive Wavelength Routed Optical Network for Optical Network-on-Chips

Abstract— The wavelength routed optical network (WRON) is a promising optical interconnection architecture that can be integrated into a System-on-Chip (SoC) with an intention to replace traditional wire-connected on-chip micro-networks which pose severe bandwidth limitations on future super large SoC chips. In this paper, we present a new recursive architecture, the Recursive Wavelength Routed Optical Network (RCWRON) based on the WRON, and provide the solution to the routing problem on RCWRON based on two of three routing parameters (the source node address, the destination node address and the routing wavelength). Compared with WRON, RCWRON has many advantages, such as its recursive structure and fault tolerance capability.
[Psychoprophylaxis and the rate of cesarean section].

BACKGROUND The psychoprophylactic programs (PPP) have been widely used in women to face the fear-tension-pain cycle, reducing anxiety and pain during labour. The aim was to demonstrate if a PPP reduces the caesarean rate. METHODS 300 low risk pregnant women were included; 100 in the PPP group and 200 in the control group. The PPP participants attended theory and practical sessions; they visited labor, delivery, recovery and hospitalization areas. Chi-square, Student's t test and odds ratio were applied. RESULTS Pregnancy ended by caesarean section in 35/100 of PPP group and in 99/200 (49.5%) in control group (p < 0.02, OR = 1.8, IC = 1.1-2.9). Maternal complications occurred in 13/100 in the PPP group, and 42/200 (21%) in control group (p = 0.09, RM = 0.56). The newborn (NB) complications were observed in 9/100 in PPP and 46/200 (23%) in control group (p < 0.02, OR = 0.33). In the PPP group, 70% assisted to three or more sessions. Hospital stance in control group, accumulated 17 days more in mothers and 171 days more in NB than in the PPP group. CONCLUSIONS In PPP group observed a caesarean rate reduction with fewer maternal and perinatal complications.
Relationship of obesity with physical activity, aerobic fitness and muscle strength in Flemish adults.

AIM The aim of this study was to analyse differences in physical activity, cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) and muscle strength between normal weight, overweight and obese adults and to investigate the role of physical activity variables in the analyses of differences in CRF and muscle strength between these groups. METHODS A total of 807 men and 633 women (age: 18-75 years) were included in this cross-sectional study. Weight, height, waist circumference (WC) and bioelectrical impedance were measured. Different dimensions of physical activity were assessed using a validated questionnaire. CRF (VO(2peak)) was evaluated by a maximal test on a cycle ergometer. Knee strength was measured with a calibrated Biodex System Pro 3 dynamometer. Three methods were used for classification in obesity groups: body mass index (BMI), WC and combined BMI-WC classification. RESULTS Health-related sports and physical activity level are negatively associated with obesity in men, but not in women. Television viewing is positively associated with obesity, while VO(2peak)/fat free mass (FFM) and knee strength/FFM show a negative association with obesity in both genders. Overall, subjects with normal WC seem to be more physically active and to have somewhat better values for CRF compared to those with high WC within the same BMI category. Lower values for relative CRF and knee strength in obese subjects compared to their lean counterparts remain after adjustment for physical activity. CONCLUSION This study confirms the lower level of physical activity and the impaired CRF and knee strength in obese adults compared to their lean counterparts. This study also sustains the importance of measuring WC and CRF during clinical examinations.
Use of Sertoli cell transplants to provide local immunoprotection for tissue grafts

The recent success of allogeneic islet transplantation for the treatment of type I diabetes has renewed interest in cell therapy for diseases of secretory cell dysfunction. Unfortunately, widespread clinical use of cell transplantation is limited by tissue availability and the need for long-term immunosuppresion. Testicular Sertoli cells can confer local immunoprotection for co-transplanted cells and may provide a means of overcoming the obstacles associated with cell transplantation. Sertoli cell grafts protect islets in animal models of diabetes and can be transplanted into the brain to enhance regeneration and promote the survival of co-grafted tissues. This review describes the role that Sertoli cells normally play in testicular immunology, details the preclinical data using transplanted Sertoli cells in models of diabetes and Parkinson’s disease and discusses some of the possible mechanisms involved in this phenomena, as well as the future of this technology.
On Estimating the Large Entries of a Convolution

We give a Monte Carlo algorithm that computes an unbiased estimate of the convolution of two vectors. The variance of our estimate is small for entries of the convolution that are large; this corresponds to the situation in which convolution is used in pattern matching or template matching, where one is only interested in the largest entries of the resulting convolution vector. Experiments performed with our algorithm confirm the theory and suggest that, in contexts where one cares about only the large entries in the convolution, the algorithm can be a faster alternative to performing an FFT-based convolution.
Heart Rate Variability in Depressed Patients

HEART RATE VARIABILITY IN DEPRESSED PATIENTS Objective: There are conflicting results on the relationship between heart rate variability (HRV) and major depression. There is some research reporting decreased heart rate variability in depressed patients, which may result in increased cardiovascular mortality and morbidity. This study aims to investigate the HRV in a group of physically healthy depressed patients in comparison to healthy subjects. Method: Twenty-one depressed subjects were compared to same number of healthy controls on the measures of HRV as measured by Kardiosis DL 700 Digital tree channel recorder Holter monitors. The study group was also assessed with Hamilton anxiety and depression scales. The HRV measures were compared in between the two groups and correlations between levels of anxiety and depression with HRV measures were sought for. Results: There was no statistically significant difference between the study and control groups on the measures of HRV. No significant relationship between the levels of anxiety and depression and HRV measures were found. Conclusions: In physically healthy depressed adults HRV does not differ from healthy subjects. This means that depression does not pose an additional risk factor for cardiovascular disease in physically healthy adults. This finding gives support to some previous research which did not find any relationship between depression and heart rate variability.
Diabetic neuropathies: components of etiology

Abstract This review examines the putative role of glucose in the etiology of diabetic neuropathies. Excessive glucose generates several secondary metabolic anomalies — principally oxidative stress (via both the polyol pathway and glucoxidation) and non‐enzymic glycation of macromolecules. The latter is also facilitated by glucoxidation. These metabolic deviations trigger cellular responses that are inappropriate to normal function. Principal among these are neurotrophic deficits and phosphorylation of mitogen‐activated protein kinases (MAPK). Downstream of these events are aberrant ion channel function and disordered gene expression, leading to changes in cellular phenotype. This leads directly to disordered nerve conduction, a recognised early clinical sign, and indirectly, via as yet undisclosed links, to sensory loss and axonopathy. Recent work also links MAPK activation to the development of neuropathic pain.
Recombinant Bet v 1 vaccine for treatment of allergy to birch pollen

Therapeutic vaccination is the only disease modifying allergy treatment. Recombinant allergen vaccines represent defined component vaccines and are advantageous compared to allergen extract vaccines because of their well defined and measurable allergen content. As the major birch pollen allergen Bet v 1 is the dominant disease-eliciting allergen in birch pollen Bet v 1 vaccines based on GMP produced recombinant (r)Bet v 1 have been developed for treatment of birch pollen allergic patients. Three vaccines comprising hypoallergenic rBet v 1 derivatives have in clinical trials been shown to improve allergic symptoms and to favourable modify the immune response to Bet v 1. In a phase II trial, vaccination with rBet v 1 resulted in reduced rhinoconjunctivitis symptoms and rescue medication compared to placebo. Vaccination with rBet v 1 formulated as tablets for sublingual administration revealed clinical relevant efficacy in rhinoconjunctivitis patients. The positive results imply that rBet v 1 vaccines constitute a therapeutic alternative for birch pollen allergic patients.
Genetic analysis of adeno-associated virus: properties of deletion mutants constructed in vitro and evidence for an adeno-associated virus replication function

Transfection of a pBR322-based, recombinant plasmid, pAV2, containing the entire adeno-associated virus (AAV) type 2 genome into human 293 cells in the presence of helper adenovirus resulted in rescue and replication of AAV to yield infectious particles. We constructed mutants of pAV2 containing deletions within the AAV sequence. We describe here the phenotypes of these AAV deletion mutants. The results can be summarized as follows. Mutants (cap-) with deletions between map positions 53 and 85 did not synthesize capsid antigen or progeny single-stranded DNA but accumulated normal levels of duplex replicating form DNA. Mutants (rep-) with deletions between map positions 17 and 36 failed to rescue or replicate any AAV DNA. The rep- mutants could be complemented for replicating form DNA synthesis by a cap- mutant. This clearly demonstrates an AAV-coded replication function which is different from the capsid antigen. Other mutants (inf-) with deletions in the region between map positions 40 and 52 synthesized abundant amounts of replicating form DNA and capsid antigen but gave a low yield of infectious particles. This suggests that there may be an additional region of AAV, perhaps within the intron, which is required for efficient particle assembly. This work shows that AAV is genetically complex and expresses at least three clearly different functions.
Identification of inhibitors of inducible nitric oxide synthase from microbial extracts.

A new member of the angucycline family, vineomycin C (3), together with four known metabolites saquayamycin A1 (1), A-7884 (2), rabelomycin (5) and xanthomegnin (6) were isolated from microbial extracts. The structures were determined by 1D and 2D NMR techniques and chemical degradation. Compounds 1-3 and 5 were isolated from a fermentation of Streptomyces sp. , while 6 was isolated from a fungal fermentation extract. All five compounds have shown potent inhibitory activity in the inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) assay.
Implementation of Elliptic Curve Digital Signature Algorithm on an IRIS mote using SHA-512

Wireless Sensor Networks (WSN) are spatially distributed nodes monitoring physical or environmental conditions such as temperature, pressure, sound, light etc using sensors. The sensed data is cooperatively passed through a series of nodes in a network to a main base-station (BS) where it is analysed by the user. The data is communicated over a wireless channel between the nodes and since wireless channel has minimum security, the data has to communicated in a secure manner. Different encryption techniques can be applied to transmit the data securely. This work provides an efficient implementation of Elliptic Curve Digital Signature Algorithm (ECDSA) using SHA-512 algorithm on an IRIS mote. The ECDSA does not actually encrypt the data but provides a means to check the integrity of the received data. If the received data has been modified by an attacker, the ECDSA detects it and signals to the transmitter for retransmission. The SHA-512 algorithm is the hash algorithm used in the ECDSA and is implemented for an 8-bit architecture. The SHA-512 algorithm is chosen as it provides better security than its predecessors.
Phycobilisomes Supply Excitations to Both Photosystems in a Megacomplex in Cyanobacteria

Complexing Photosynthesis Photosynthesis operates through a series of protein complexes that harvest sunlight and turn it into chemical energy. The separate complexes—including photosystems I and II, phycobilisome antennae, and reaction centers—are understood for a number of photosynthetic organisms; however, the large-scale organization and interactions between them are less clear. Using protein cross-linking, Liu et al. (p. 1104) demonstrate how the individual components are organized when present as a megacomplex in the cyanobacterium Synechocystis PCC 6803. Time-resolved fluorescence spectroscopy indicated that the phycobilisomes transfer energy to both photosystems, which is consistent with their molecular arrangement. The organization of several protein complexes involved in photosynthesis elucidates their energy transfer mechanisms. In photosynthetic organisms, photons are captured by light-harvesting antenna complexes, and energy is transferred to reaction centers where photochemical reactions take place. We describe here the isolation and characterization of a fully functional megacomplex composed of a phycobilisome antenna complex and photosystems I and II from the cyanobacterium Synechocystis PCC 6803. A combination of in vivo protein cross-linking, mass spectrometry, and time-resolved spectroscopy indicates that the megacomplex is organized to facilitate energy transfer but not intercomplex electron transfer, which requires diffusible intermediates and the cytochrome b6f complex. The organization provides a basis for understanding how phycobilisomes transfer excitation energy to reaction centers and how the energy balance of two photosystems is achieved, allowing the organism to adapt to varying ecophysiological conditions.
Service flow simulation using reinforcement learning models and scene transition nets

Recently, a new academic field, ldquoservice engineeringrdquo has been very actively investigated. However, there are few effective software tools to simulate and evaluate services designed based on the concept of service engineering. In the past, the authors proposed a service flow simulation method using scene transition nets(STN) which is a graphic modeling and simulation method for discrete-continuous hybrid system. However, this method cannot simulate complex service flows including customerspsila decision-making. Nowadays, ldquoneuro economicsrdquo and ldquoneuro marketingrdquo have gotten a lot of attention as new study fields to understand customerspsila behaviors from a viewpoint of brain science. In these studies, it turned out that mechanism of reinforcement learning concerns behavioral selections of customers. In this paper, the authors propose to develop decision-making processes models of customers and to simulate customerspsila behaviors and service flows by using reinforcement learning models and STN.
Combining wavelets transform and Hu moments with self-organizing maps for medical image categorization

Images are fundamental sources of information in modern medicine. The images stored in a database and divided in categories are an important step for image retrieval. For an automatic categorization process, detailed analysis is done regarding image representation and generalization method. The baseline method for this process, in the medical image context, is using thumbnails and K-nearest neighbor (KNN), which is easily implemented and has had satisfactory results in literature. This work addresses an alternative method for automatic categorization, which jointly uses discrete wavelet transform with Hu's moments for image representation and self-organizing maps (SOM) neural networks combined with the KNN classifier (SOM-KNN), for medical image categorization. Furthermore, extensive experiments are conducted, to define the best wavelet family and to select the best coefficients set, to consider the remaining wavelet coefficients set (not selected as the best ones) through their Hu's moments, and to carry out a contrastive study with other successful approaches for categorization. The categorization result from a database with 10,000 images in 116 categories yielded 81.8% of correct rate, which is much better than the 67.9% obtained by the baseline method; and the time consumed in classification processing with SOM-KNN is 100 times shorter than KNN.
Pharmacologic induction of posterior vitreous detachment in the rabbit.

OBJECTIVE To assay the proteolytic activity of plasmin on the vitreoretinal junction and to assess a potential facilitating effect on posterior vitreous detachment. METHODS We injected 1 U of plasmin into the vitreous of rabbits. Some eyes underwent vitrectomy after plasmin injection. Electroretinography and electron microscopy were performed. RESULTS In plasmin-treated eyes, electroretinography displayed a transient (3 days) decreased b-wave amplitude. Histologic examination demonstrated posterior vitreous detachment in eyes that received intravitreal plasmin followed by vitrectomy. CONCLUSION Plasmin may prove to be a useful biochemical adjunct to mechanical vitrectomy.
Endogenous serotonin stimulates striatal dopamine release in conscious rats.

Serotonin (5-HT) and dopamine (DA) are established neurotransmitters in the brain. This study examined whether, in conscious, free-moving rats, increased concentrations of endogenous 5-HT in extracellular fluid of the corpus striatum affect local release of endogenous DA. Administration of the 5-HT reuptake blocker alaproclate via a microdialysis probe increased striatal dialysate levels of DA and its metabolites dihydroxyphenylacetic acid and homovanillic acid as well as levels of 5-HT and the 5-HT metabolite 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid. Whereas DA reuptake blockade with GBR-12909 did not prevent these effects of alaproclate, serotonergic ablation by i.c. v. administration of 5,7-dihydroxytryptamine markedly decreased basal levels of 5-HT and 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid and abolished the effects of alaproclate on dialysate levels of DA, 5-HT and their metabolites. The results are consistent with a stimulatory action of endogenous 5-HT on striatal DA release in conscious animals.