Distributed Holistic Clustering on Linked Data

Link discovery is an active field of research to support data integration in the Web of Data. Due to the huge size and number of available data sources, efficient and effective link discovery is a very challenging task. Common pairwise link discovery approaches do not scale to many sources with very large entity sets. We here propose a distributed holistic approach to link many data sources based on a clustering of entities that represent the same real-world object. Our clustering approach provides a compact and fused representation of entities, and can identify errors in existing links as well as many new links. We support a distributed execution of the clustering approach to achieve faster execution times and scalability for large real-world data sets. We provide a novel gold standard for multi-source clustering, and evaluate our methods with respect to effectiveness and efficiency for large data sets from the geographic and music domains

Brainstem Correlates of a Cold Pressor Test Measured by Ultra-High Field fMRI

Introduction: Modern imaging techniques such as blood oxygen level-dependent (BOLD) functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) allow the non-invasive and indirect measurement of brain activity. Whether changes in signal intensity can be detected in small brainstem regions during a cold pressor test (CPT) has not been explored thoroughly. The aim of this study was to measure whole brain and brainstem BOLD signal intensity changes in response to a modified CPT. Methods: BOLD fMRI was measured in healthy normotensive participants during a randomized crossover study (modified CPT vs. control test) using ultra-high field 7 Tesla MRI scanner. Data were analyzed using Statistical Parametric Mapping (SPM) in a whole-brain approach, and with a brainstem-specific analysis using the spatially unbiased infra-tentorial template (SUIT) toolbox. Blood pressure (BP) and hormonal responses (norepinephrine and epinephrine levels) were also measured. Paired t-test statistics were used to compare conditions. Results: Eleven participants (six women, mean age 28 \ub1 8.9 years) were analyzed. Mean arterial BP increased from 83 \ub1 12 mm Hg to 87 \ub1 12 mm Hg (p = 0.0009) during the CPT. Whole-brain analysis revealed significant activations linked to the CPT in the right supplementary motor cortex, midcingulate (bilateral) and the right anterior insular cortex. The brainstem-specific analysis showed significant activations in the dorsal medulla. Conclusion: Changes in BOLD fMRI signal intensity in brainstem regions during a CPT can be detected, and show an increased response during a cold stress in healthy volunteers. Consequently, BOLD fMRI at 7T is a promising tool to explore and acquire new insights in the comprehension of neurogenic hypertension

Health promoting potential of herbal teas and tinctures from Artemisia campestris subsp maritima: from traditional remedies to prospective products

This work explored the biotechnological potential of the medicinal halophyte Artemisia campestris subsp. maritima (dune wormwood) as a source of health promoting commodities. For that purpose, infusions, decoctions and tinctures were prepared from roots and aerial-organs and evaluated for in vitro antioxidant, anti-diabetic and tyrosinase-inhibitory potential, and also for polyphenolic and mineral contents and toxicity. The dune wormwood extracts had high polyphenolic content and several phenolics were identified by ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-photodiode array-mass-spectrometry (UHPLC-PDA-MS). The main compounds were quinic, chlorogenic and caffeic acids, coumarin sulfates and dicaffeoylquinic acids; several of the identified phytoconstituents are here firstly reported in this A. campestris subspecies. Results obtained with this plant's extracts point to nutritional applications as mineral supplementary source, safe for human consumption, as suggested by the moderate to low toxicity of the extracts towards mammalian cell lines. The dune wormwood extracts had in general high antioxidant activity and also the capacity to inhibit a-glucosidase and tyrosinase. In summary, dune wormwood extracts are a significant source of polyphenolic and mineral constituents, antioxidants and a-glucosidase and tyrosinase inhibitors, and thus, relevant for different commercial segments like the pharmaceutical, cosmetic and/or food industries.FCT - Foundation for Science and Technology [CCMAR/Multi/04326/2013]; Portuguese National Budget; FCT [IF/00049/2012, SFRH/BD/94407/2013]; Research Foundation - Flanders (FWO) [12M8315N]info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Crystal structure of tarocystatin–papain complex: implications for the inhibition property of group-2 phytocystatins

Tarocystatin (CeCPI) from taro (Colocasia esculenta cv. Kaohsiung no. 1), a group-2 phytocystatin, shares a conserved N-terminal cystatin domain (NtD) with other phytocystatins but contains a C-terminal cystatin-like extension (CtE). The structure of the tarocystatin–papain complex and the domain interaction between NtD and CtE in tarocystatin have not been determined. We resolved the crystal structure of the phytocystatin–papain complex at resolution 2.03 Å. Surprisingly, the structure of the NtD–papain complex in a stoichiometry of 1:1 could be built, with no CtE observed. Only two remnant residues of CtE could be built in the structure of the CtE–papain complex. Therefore, CtE is easily digested by papain. To further characterize the interaction between NtD and CtE, three segments of tarocystatin, including the full-length (FL), NtD and CtE, were used to analyze the domain–domain interaction and the inhibition ability. The results from glutaraldehyde cross-linking and yeast two-hybrid assay indicated the existence of an intrinsic flexibility in the region linking NtD and CtE for most tarocystatin molecules. In the inhibition activity assay, the glutathione-S-transferase (GST)-fused FL showed the highest inhibition ability without residual peptidase activity, and GST-NtD and FL showed almost the same inhibition ability, which was higher than with NtD alone. On the basis of the structures, the linker flexibility and inhibition activity of tarocystatins, we propose that the overhangs from the cystatin domain may enhance the inhibition ability of the cystatin domain against papain

La recherche d’une hypertension nocturne est-elle utile ? [Usefulness of night-time blood pressure measurement]

Since the use of ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) in the beginning of the 70's, our perception of blood pressure based only on office blood pressure has been challenged. Indeed, more specific phenotypes such as white coat hypertension, masked hypertension or different circadian patterns of blood pressure have been described and studied. This has resulted in increased use of ambulatory blood pressure measurements for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes. The main focus of this paper is night-time blood pressure. We review, in a non-systematic way, the diagnostic, the prognostic and therapeutic utility of night-time blood pressure. Finally, studies in which antihypertensive drugs are given at night will be presented

Hypertension artérielle [News in blood pressure in 2015]

Dans cette courte revue, nous présentons quatre études publiées en 2014 et 2105 qui nous paraissent importantes pour les cliniciens.L’étude SPRINT remet en question la tension artérielle systolique cible chez les patients non diabétiques et démontre qu’une cible < 120 mmHg permet de diminuer significativement la mortalité et la morbidité cardiovasculaires des patients par rapport à une cible < 140 mmHg. Les études PATHWAY 2 et 3 nous rappellent l’importance des diurétiques à épargne de potassium (spironolactone, amiloride) dans l’hypertension résistante et chez les patients hypertendus avec syndrome métabolique. Finalement, l’étude DENERHTN, réalisée en France, nous montre que la dénervation rénale n’est pas morte et que des études supplémentaires sont nécessaires pour définir sa position dans l’hypertension résistante. [In this short review, we present 4 studies published in 2014-2015 which appear to important for clinicians. The results of the SPRINT trial are challenging the target systolic blood pressure (BP) to be achieved in non-diabetic hypertensive. It shows that a target BP <120 mmHg provides clear mortality and morbidity advantages over a <140 mmHg target. The PATHWAY2 and 3 studies reemphasize the important role of potassium sparing diuretics in patients with resistant hypertension and in patients with metabolic syndrome. At last the DENERHTN study conducted in France suggests that renal denervation is not dead and that additional studies are needed to position this technique in management of resistant hypertension]

La pollution a-t-elle un impact sur la pression artérielle ? [Does pollution have an impact on blood pressure ?]

Several important public health issues such as cardiovascular events are resulting from the actual levels of pollution. There are many sources of pollution ; the most common are loud noise, ambient temperature changes and air pollution. In this article, we try to bring out the impact of these factors on blood pressure, which is probably one of the mechanisms implicated in the upsurge of cardiovascular diseases and mortality