Generalized gingival hyperplasia and rectorrhagia in a 13-year-old boy

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Meta-validation of bipartite network projections

Monopartite projections of bipartite networks are useful tools for modeling indirect interactions in complex systems. The standard approach to identify significant links is statistical validation using a suitable null network model, such as the popular configuration model (CM) that constrains node degrees and randomizes everything else. However different CM formulations exist, depending on how the constraints are imposed and for which sets of nodes. Here we systematically investigate the application of these formulations in validating the same network, showing that they lead to different results even when the same significance threshold is used. Instead a much better agreement is obtained for the same density of validated links. We thus propose a meta-validation approach that allows to identify model-specific significance thresholds for which the signal is strongest, and at the same time to obtain results independent of the way in which the null hypothesis is formulated. We illustrate this procedure using data on scientific production of world countries.The configuration model, in its various formulations, is a widely used null model for statistical validation of bipartite network projections. Here, the authors show that different formulations might bring to very different results, and propose a meta-validation approach that allows to identify model-specific significance thresholds while remaining null-model independent

A context-based approach for partitioning big data

In recent years, the amount of available data keeps growing at fast rate, and it is therefore crucial to be able to process them in an efficient way. The level of parallelism in tools such as Hadoop or Spark is determined, among other things, by the partitioning applied to the dataset. A common method is to split the data into chunks considering the number of bytes. While this approach may work well for text-based batch processing, there are a number of cases where the dataset contains structured information, such as the time or the spatial coordinates, and one may be interested in exploiting such a structure to improve the partitioning. This could have an impact on the processing time and increase the overall resource usage efficiency. This paper explores an approach based on the notion of context, such as temporal or spatial information, for partitioning the data. We design a context-based multi-dimensional partitioning technique that divides an n 12dimensional space into splits by considering the distribution of the each contextual dimension in the dataset. We tested our approach on a dataset from a touristic scenario, and our experiments show that we are able to improve the efficiency of the resource usage

What is the role of context in fair group recommendations?

We investigate the role played by the context, i.e. the situation the group is currently experiencing, in the design of a system that recommends sequences of activities as a multi-objective optimization problem, where the satisfaction of the group and the available time interval are two of the functions to be optimized. In particular, we highlight that the dynamic evolution of the group can be the key contextual feature that has to be considered to produce fair suggestions

Verifying synonymies between grape cultivars from France and Northwestern Italy using molecular markers

Thirty-one grape cultivars from France and Northwestern Italy, presumed to be synonymous, were analyzed using RAPD (Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA) and SSR (Simple Sequence Repeats or microsatellite) markers to verify 25 synonym hypotheses. RAPD analyses were performed with 8 selected decamer primers and the profiles of 7 microsatellite loci were used in order to confirm RAPD results, if required. Sixteen synonymies were confirmed, including the French cv. Verdesse with the Italian cv. Bian ver, the French cv. Persan with the Italian cv. Biquet, the French cv. Chatus with the Italian cv. Neiret, the French cv. Gouais blanc with the Italian cvs Preveiral and Liseiret. Most of the investigated cultivars belong to the Vitis vinifera germplasm of both sides of the Western Alps and the occurrence of synonyms indicates the existence of a common pool of grapes grown under different names in this part of Europe.

Use of Drug Dependency to Entrap and Control Victims of Sex Trafficking: A Call for a U.S. Federal Human Rights Response

Survivors of sex trafficking who were forced into drug use as victims are in need of social services to treat their drug dependency and other mental disorders. Access to social services is a human rights issue that must be acted upon by state and federal officials. The law, however, requires approval of the T-Visa for receipt of benefits. Along with the T-visa application process, the applicant (human trafficking survivor) must be willing to assist in every reasonable way in the investigation and prosecution of the trafficker. The authors argue that drug dependency treatment and other social service benefits should be a separate issue and not dependent upon the T-visa and cooperation with the investigation and prosecution of the trafficker

BAG3 directly interacts with mutated alphaB-crystallin to suppress its aggregation and toxicity.

A homozygous disruption or genetic mutation of the bag3 gene causes progressive myofibrillar myopathy in mouse and human skeletal and cardiac muscle disorder while mutations in the small heat shock protein αB-crystallin gene (CRYAB) are reported to be responsible for myofibrillar myopathy. Here, we demonstrate that BAG3 directly binds to wild-type αB-crystallin and the αB-crystallin mutant R120G, via the intermediate domain of BAG3. Peptides that inhibit this interaction in an in vitro binding assay indicate that two conserved Ile-Pro-Val regions of BAG3 are involved in the interaction with αB-crystallin, which is similar to results showing BAG3 binding to HspB8 and HspB6. BAG3 overexpression increased αB-crystallin R120G solubility and inhibited its intracellular aggregation in HEK293 cells. BAG3 suppressed cell death induced by αB-crystallin R120G overexpression in differentiating C2C12 mouse myoblast cells. Our findings indicate a novel function for BAG3 in inhibiting protein aggregation caused by the genetic mutation of CRYAB responsible for human myofibrillar myopathy

Fragment-based identification of determinants of conformational and spectroscopic change at the ricin active site

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Ricin is a potent toxin and known bioterrorism threat with no available antidote. The ricin A-chain (RTA) acts enzymatically to cleave a specific adenine base from ribosomal RNA, thereby blocking translation. To understand better the relationship between ligand binding and RTA active site conformational change, we used a fragment-based approach to find a minimal set of bonding interactions able to induce rearrangements in critical side-chain positions.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We found that the smallest ligand stabilizing an open conformer of the RTA active site pocket was an amide group, bound weakly by only a few hydrogen bonds to the protein. Complexes with small amide-containing molecules also revealed a switch in geometry from a parallel towards a splayed arrangement of an arginine-tryptophan cation-pi interaction that was associated with an increase and red-shift in tryptophan fluorescence upon ligand binding. Using the observed fluorescence signal, we determined the thermodynamic changes of adenine binding to the RTA active site, as well as the site-specific binding of urea. Urea binding had a favorable enthalpy change and unfavorable entropy change, with a ΔH of -13 ± 2 kJ/mol and a ΔS of -0.04 ± 0.01 kJ/(K*mol). The side-chain position of residue Tyr80 in a complex with adenine was found not to involve as large an overlap of rings with the purine as previously considered, suggesting a smaller role for aromatic stacking at the RTA active site.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>We found that amide ligands can bind weakly but specifically to the ricin active site, producing significant shifts in positions of the critical active site residues Arg180 and Tyr80. These results indicate that fragment-based drug discovery methods are capable of identifying minimal bonding determinants of active-site side-chain rearrangements and the mechanistic origins of spectroscopic shifts. Our results suggest that tryptophan fluorescence provides a sensitive probe for the geometric relationship of arginine-tryptophan pairs, which often have significant roles in protein function. Using the unusual characteristics of the RTA system, we measured the still controversial thermodynamic changes of site-specific urea binding to a protein, results that are relevant to understanding the physical mechanisms of protein denaturation.</p

GAS MANAGEMENT AS POSSIBLE SOLUTION FOR LONG-LIFE LI-ION BATTERIES

This research work has been aimed at developing an innovative analytical methodology, useful to reveal gaseous side products within Li-ion cells. The analytical protocol is based on the coupling of infrared spectroscopy and electrochemical techniques. Experiments have been carried out on Full Li-ion cell under resting and operative conditions. The time evolution of the most relevant gaseous product (CO2) has been monitored, revealing the conditions during which its generation is induced. The analytical information have been used to project and develop a specific scavenger for CO2 adsorption. The scavenger has been configured in order to be complaint to battery requirements and its reliability has been proved, under battery condition, by the means of an absorption volumetric bench

Primordial and primary prevention of peri-implant diseases: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Aim: This systematic review and meta-analysis aims to assess the efficacy of risk factor control to prevent the occurrence of peri-implant diseases (PIDs) in adult patients awaiting dental implant rehabilitation (primordial prevention) or in patients with dental implants surrounded by healthy peri-implant tissues (primary prevention). Materials and Methods: A literature search was performed without any time limit on different databases up to August 2022. Interventional and observational studies with at least 6&nbsp;months of follow-up were considered. The occurrence of peri-implant mucositis and/or peri-implantitis was the primary outcome. Pooled data analyses were performed using random effect models according to the type of risk factor and outcome. Results: Overall, 48 studies were selected. None assessed the efficacy of primordial preventive interventions for PIDs. Indirect evidence on the primary prevention of PID indicated that diabetic patients with dental implants and good glycaemic control have a significantly lower risk of peri-implantitis (odds ratio [OR]&nbsp;=&nbsp;0.16; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.03–0.96; I2: 0%), and lower marginal bone level (MBL) changes (OR&nbsp;=&nbsp;–0.36 mm; 95% CI: −0.65 to −0.07; I2: 95%) compared to diabetic patients with poor glycaemic control. Patients attending supportive periodontal/peri-implant care (SPC) regularly have a lower risk of overall PIDs (OR&nbsp;=&nbsp;0.42; 95% CI: 0.24–0.75; I2: 57%) and peri-implantitis compared to irregular attendees. The risk of dental implant failure (OR&nbsp;=&nbsp;3.76; 95% CI: 1.50–9.45; I2: 0%) appears to be greater under irregular or no SPC than regular SPC. Implants sites with augmented peri-implant keratinized mucosa (PIKM) show lower peri-implant inflammation (SMD&nbsp;=&nbsp;–1.18; 95% CI: −1.85 to −0.51; I2: 69%) and lower MBL changes (MD&nbsp;=&nbsp;–0.25; 95% CI: −0.45 to −0.05; I2: 62%) compared to dental implants with PIKM deficiency. Studies on smoking cessation and oral hygiene behaviors were inconclusive. Conclusions: Within the limitations of available evidence, the present findings indicate that in patients with diabetes, glycaemic control should be promoted to avoid peri-implantitis development. The primary prevention of peri-implantitis should involve regular SPC. PIKM augmentation procedures, where a PIKM deficiency exists, may favour the control of peri-implant inflammation and the stability of MBL. Further studies are needed to assess the impact of smoking cessation and oral hygiene behaviours, as well as the implementation of standardized primordial and primary prevention protocols for PIDs