Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
An Efficiently Cleaved HIV-1 Clade C Env Selectively Binds to Neutralizing Antibodies

An ideal HIV-1 Env immunogen is expected to mimic the native trimeric conformation for inducing broadly neutralizing antibody responses. The native conformation is dependent on efficient cleavage of HIV-1 Env. The clade B isolate, JRFL Env is efficiently cleaved when expressed on the cell surface. Here, for the first time, we report the identification of a native clade C Env, 4-2.J41 that is naturally and efficiently cleaved on the cell surface as confirmed by its biochemical and antigenic characteristics. In addition to binding to several conformation-dependent neutralizing antibodies, 4-2.J41 Env binds efficiently to the cleavage-dependent antibody PGT151; thus validating its native cleaved conformation. In contrast, 4-2.J41 Env occludes non-neutralizing epitopes. The cytoplasmic-tail of 4-2.J41 Env plays an important role in maintaining its conformation. Furthermore, codon optimization of 4-2.J41 Env sequence significantly increases its expression while retaining its native conformation. Since clade C of HIV-1 is the prevalent subtype, identification and characterization of this efficiently cleaved Env would provide a platform for rational immunogen design.
Chemical evolution models of local dwarf spheroidal galaxies

We calculate chemical evolution models for four dwarf spheroidal (dSph) satellites of the Milky Way (Carina, Ursa Minor, Leo I and Leo II) for which reliable non-parametric star formation histories have been derived. In this way, the independently-obtained star formation histories are used to constrain the evolution of the systems we are treating. This allows us to obtain robust inferences on the history of such crucial parameters of galactic evolution as gas infall, gas outflows and global metallicities for these systems. We can then trace the metallicity and abundance ratios of the stars formed, the gas present at any time within the systems and the details of gas ejection, of relevance to enrichment of the galaxies environment. We find that galaxies showing one single burst of star formation (Ursa Minor and Leo II) require a dark halo slightly larger that the current estimates for their tidal radii, or the presence of a metal-rich selective wind that might carry away much of the energy output of their supernovae before this might have interacted and heated the gas content, for the gas to be retained until the observed stellar populations have formed. Systems showing extended star formation histories (Carina and Leo I), however, are consistent with the idea that their tidally-limited dark haloes provide the necessary gravitational potential wells to retain their gas. The complex time structure of the star formation in these systems remains difficult to understand. Observations of detailed abundance ratios for Ursa Minor strongly suggest that the star formation history of this galaxy might in fact resemble the complex picture presented by Carina or Leo I, but localized at a very early epoch.
Dietary Iron Enhances Colonic Inflammation and IL-6/IL-11-Stat3 Signaling Promoting Colonic Tumor Development in Mice

Chronic intestinal inflammation and high dietary iron are associated with colorectal cancer development. The role of Stat3 activation in iron-induced colonic inflammation and tumorigenesis was investigated in a mouse model of inflammation-associated colorectal cancer. Mice, fed either an iron-supplemented or control diet, were treated with azoxymethane and dextran sodium sulfate (DSS). Intestinal inflammation and tumor development were assessed by endoscopy and histology, gene expression by real-time PCR, Stat3 phosphorylation by immunoblot, cytokines by ELISA and apoptosis by TUNEL assay. Colonic inflammation was more severe in mice fed an iron-supplemented compared with a control diet one week post-DSS treatment, with enhanced colonic IL-6 and IL-11 release and Stat3 phosphorylation. Both IL-6 and ferritin, the iron storage protein, co-localized with macrophages suggesting iron may act directly on IL-6 producing-macrophages. Iron increased DSS-induced colonic epithelial cell proliferation and apoptosis consistent with enhanced mucosal damage. DSS-treated mice developed anemia that was not alleviated by dietary iron supplementation. Six weeks post-DSS treatment, iron-supplemented mice developed more and larger colonic tumors compared with control mice. Intratumoral IL-6 and IL-11 expression increased in DSS-treated mice and IL-6, and possibly IL-11, were enhanced by dietary iron. Gene expression of iron importers, divalent metal transporter 1 and transferrin receptor 1, increased and iron exporter, ferroportin, decreased in colonic tumors suggesting increased iron uptake. Dietary iron and colonic inflammation synergistically activated colonic IL-6/IL-11-Stat3 signaling promoting tumorigenesis. Oral iron therapy may be detrimental in inflammatory bowel disease since it may exacerbate colonic inflammation and increase colorectal cancer risk.
Explaining social inequalities in mortality : evidence from the British Whitehall II and the French GAZEL studies

Les differences de morbidite et de mortalite entre les groupes socioeconomiques constituent un des resultatsle plus coherent de la recherche epidemiologique. Cependant, les mecanismes qui sous-tendent cetteassociation demeurent encore mal compris. Les donnees de deux grandes cohortes europeennes ont eteutilisees pour decrire l'ampleur des differences socioeconomiques de mortalite toutes causes et specifique, etexaminer le role des comportements de sante et du soutien social dans ces inegalites. Les indicateurs de lasituation socioeconomique dans l’enfance se sont reveles lies a la mortalite a l'âge adulte, meme si toutefoisles trois mesures examinees – position socioprofessionnelle du pere, niveau d’etudes et taille – etaientdifferemment liees a la mortalite. Les indicateurs de la position socioeconomique a l'âge adulte, categoriesocioprofessionnelle et revenu, etaient associes a la mortalite toutes causes et cardiovasculaire dans les deuxcohortes. Dans l'etude Whitehall II, les comportements de sante etaient socialement distribues etexpliquaient une grande partie des inegalites sociales de mortalite, en particulier lorsque les changementsdans ces comportements au cours du suivi etaient pris en compte. Les memes comportements expliquaienttres peu les inegalites sociales de mortalite dans l'etude GAZEL, leur repartition sociale etant faible danscette cohorte. Parmi les mesures de soutien social considerees, le statut marital expliquait egalement unepartie du gradient socioeconomique de mortalite dans l'etude Whitehall II, mais pas dans GAZEL, tandis quele role de la participation sociale et du reseau social etait negligeable dans les deux cohortes. Differentsmecanismes semblent jouer un role dans les inegalites sociales de sante dans ces deux pays europeensvoisins. Cela implique que des recherches comparatives visant a comprendre les determinants communs etspecifiques des differences sociales de sante sont necessaires. D’autres recherches visant davantage lescauses fondamentales des inegalites sociales de sante sont egalement souhaitables.
Clinical Application of an Innovative Multiplex-Fluorescent-Labeled STRs Assay for Prader-Willi Syndrome and Angelman Syndrome

Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) and Angelman syndrome (AS) are two clinically distinct neurodevelopmental disorders caused by absence of paternally or maternally expressed imprinted genes on chr15q11.2-q13.3. Three mechanisms are known to be involved in the pathogenesis: microdeletions, uniparental disomy (UPD) and imprinting defects. Both disorders are difficult to be definitely diagnosed at early age if no available molecular cytogenetic tests. In this study, we identified 5 AS patients with the maternal deletion and 26 PWS patients with paternal deletion on chr15q11-q13 by using an innovative multiplex-fluorescent-labeled short tandem repeats (STRs) assay based on linkage analysis, and validated by the methylation-specific PCR and array comparative genomic hybridization techniques. More interesting, one of these PWS patients was confirmed as maternal uniparental isodisomy by the STR linkage analysis. The phenotypic and genotypic characteristics of these individuals were also presented. Our results indicate that the new linkage analysis is much faster and easier for large-scale screening deletion and uniparental disomy, thus providing a valuable method for early diagnosis of PWS/AS patients, which is critical for genetic diagnosis, management and improvement of prognosis.
Clinical use of the meropenem-clavulanate combination for extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis [Case study].

Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains resistant to almost all available anti-tuberculosis drugs are an increasing threat to public health worldwide. Among existing drugs with potential antimycobacterial effects, the combination of meropenem with clavulanate has been shown to have potent in vitro bactericidal activity against extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis (XDR-TB). To explore its potential clinical efficacy, a meropenem-clavulanate-containing salvage regimen was started in six patients with severe pulmonary XDR-TB, in association with the only one or two remaining active second-line drugs. Encouraging preliminary data are detailed and discussed.
The relationship of treatment adherence to the risk of death after myocardial infarction in women.

OBJECTIVE To examine the relationship between adherence to a medical regimen and mortality following a myocardial infarction in women. DESIGN Analysis of the female cohort entered into a randomized double-blind multicenter trial. SETTING National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute beta-Blocker Heart Attack Trial. PARTICIPANTS The 602 women, aged 30 to 69 years, enrolled in the beta-Blocker Heart Attack Trial. INTERVENTION Random assignment to propranolol hydrochloride or placebo 5 to 21 days following a myocardial infarction. MEASUREMENTS Adherence for each patient was calculated as the mean of all quarterly adherence estimates during the course of the trial (median follow-up, 26 months). Adherence was classified as good (taking > or = 75% of medication) or poor (taking < 75% of medication). The end point was death from all causes occurring at any time during the trial, adjusted for treatment category and other clinical and sociodemographic features. RESULTS Adherence data were available on 505 women, of whom 32 (6.3%) died. Death occurred in 13.6% of poor adherers compared with 5.6% of good adherers (relative risk, 2.4; 95% confidence interval, 1.1 to 5.6). The effect of adherence on mortality remained undiminished after adjustment for treatment category (propranolol or placebo), age, severity of myocardial infarction, congestive heart failure, smoking history, marital status, educational level, and race (adjusted relative risk of death for poor adherers, 2.5 to 3.0; P < or = .02). CONCLUSIONS The independent effect of adherence on mortality following a myocardial infarction in women is clinically substantial, statistically significant, and similar in magnitude to that reported earlier for men.
A SPEECH/MUSIC DISCRIMINATOR -BASED AUDIO BROWSER WITH A DEGREE OF CERTAINTY MEASURE

In recent years the field of content-based audio signal classification and retrieval has gained a growing amount of interest among researchers around the world. This paper describes a technique, which is used to automatically discriminate audio signals between speech and music. Our goal was to achieve reliable classification results using computationally inexpensive time-domain features. The classification results for lengthy real-world signals are presented as filtered time series that show the degree of certainty of belonging to a particular class. We use a four-dimensional feature space and a standard kNN-classifier. The used features are based on the fluctuation of energy and power over time. The current performance accuracy of the system is 97.9%.
Hiking, Haiku, or Happy Hour After Hours: The Effects of Need Satisfaction and Proactive Personality on the Recovery-Strain Relationship

Hiking, Haiku, or Happy Hour After Hours: The Effects of Need Satisfaction and Proactive Personality on the Recovery-Strain Relationship Woodruff, Paige N. , M.A. Minnesota State University, Mankato, 2011.65pp. The primary purpose of the current study was to improve understanding of the process of recovery from work stress by examining need satisfaction as a mediator of the recovery experience-strain relationship and by examining proactive personality as a moderator of the recovery experience-strain relationship. Study findings provided support for the mediating role of need satisfaction and the moderating role of proactive personality; however, these relationships appeared to depend on the type of recovery experience. Mediation analysis of survey data from a sample of professionals (N=123) revealed that the need for competence and need for autonomy fully mediated the mastery-strain relationship for the gastrointestinal problems strain outcome variable. Both needs partially mediated this relationship for perceived stress while need for autonomy also partially mediated for headaches and respiratory infection variables. Moderation multiple regression analyses (N=123) revealed a significant interaction between proactive personality and detachment predicting perceived stress and headaches. It appears that proactive employees should be encouraged to spend their evening hours seeking learning opportunities that provide insightful challenges and not forced to detach. Their passive counterparts should attempt to leave work at work.
The International Journal On Advances in Systems and Measurements is Published by IARIA

ing is permitted with credit to the source. Libraries are permitted to photocopy or print, providing the reference is mentioned and that the resulting material is made available at no cost. Reference should mention: International Journal On Advances in Systems and Measurements, issn 1942-261x vol. 1, no. 1, year 2008, http://www.iariajournals. org/systems_and_measurements/" The copyright for each included paper belongs to the authors. Republishing of same material, by authors or persons or organizations, is not allowed. Reprint rights can be granted by IARIA or by the authors, and must include proper reference. Reference to an article in the journal is as follows: <Author list>, “<Article title>” International Journal On Advances in Systems and Measurements, issn 1942-261x vol. 1, no. 1, year 2008,<start page>:<end page> , http://www.iariajournals. org/systems_and_measurements/" IARIA journals are made available for free, proving the appropriate references are made when their
Origins and structure of social and political attitudes : insights from personality system theory and behavioural genetics

People differ, often strikingly, in their views on desired social structures and processes. For example, while some value ethnic diversity in their society, others believe non -indigenous individuals (whatever that might mean) should be repatriated to their land of origin. Similarly, whereas some believe religion should play no role in determining social policy, others strongly advocate the importance of living according to religious scripture, including at a social level. This variation in attitudes, and its implication for societal cohesion, has made research on the origins of social and political attitudes of enduring interest to psychologists, sociologists, political scientists, among many others. The goal of the current thesis was to extend work in this literature in two key ways: Firstly, I examined whether political attitudes can be understood within a personality system model. This work addresses previous mixed results on the links of basic personality traits to political conservatism. In Chapter 3, I test predictions from this model; namely, that direct influences on political behaviour flow from moral values, with personality mostly acting indirectly via these moral values, rather than directly affecting political attitudes. Findings from two studies (published as Lewis & Bates, 2011a) supported these predictions suggesting that the new model helps explain inconsistencies in previous research attempting to link personality to political orientation that have not included the intermediary level of values. Secondly, I examined the genetic architecture of social attitudes constructs in three separate studies. Chapter 4 addressed whether in -group favouritism reflects heritable effects, and, secondly, whether race -favouritism was accounted for broad or specific genetic effects. Results indicated that a common biological mechanism exists facilitating generalised favouritism, with evidence for additional genetic effects specific to each form of group favouritism. These findings
Predictors of disclosure of sero-status to sexual partners among people living with HIV/AIDS in Ogun State, Nigeria.

INTRODUCTION Disclosure may reduce the transmission of HIV by raising awareness and decreasing risky behavior, thus status disclosure is an issue to be addressed for HIV prevention and treatment. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence and determinants of HIV status disclosure to sexual partners among People Living with HIV/ AIDS (PLWAs) in Ogun state, Nigeria. MATERIALS AND METHODS This study is an analytical cross-sectional study. A sample of people living with HIV/AIDS attending secondary health facilities in Ogun State were recruited into the study. RESULTS Of the total 637 interviewed, 324 (50.9%) indicated that they have disclosed to their main sexual partner. About 44.6% of the respondents reported that they do not know their partner's HIV status, while 30.3% had a negative partner and 25.1% with HIV-positive partners. Among the participants who disclosed their HIV status, 17.3% disclosed on the day of receiving test result, 15.5% within two weeks, 9.7% in 2 to 4 weeks, 8.3% in 1 or more months. Predictors of disclosure were individuals who were married [OR = 4.52, CI = 2.06-9.92] living within monogamous family [OR = 1.67, CI = 1.10-2.53], had anticipation of partner's support before disclosure [OR = 3.68, CI = 2.36-5.76] with knowledge of partner's sero-status either positive [OR = 4.08, CI = 2.62-6.35] or negative [OR = 2.49, C.I = 1.59-3.90] and had a low self-esteem [OR = 0.61, CI = 0.42-0.89]. CONCLUSION Disclosure rate was low in this African population. The study implies that PLWAs especially those having a difficult family life should be supported to make effective decisions to disclose their status. HIV sero-status should be addressed in behavioral interventions like counseling on positive living and a multidisciplinary approach to develop positive self-esteem through follow-up counseling.
Optimal Invariant Tests in an Instrumental Variables Regression With Heteroskedastic and Autocorrelated Errors

This paper uses model symmetries in the instrumental variable (IV) regression to derive an invariant test for the causal structural parameter. Contrary to popular belief, we show there exist model symmetries when equation errors are heteroskedastic and autocorrelated (HAC). Our theory is consistent with existing results for the homoskedastic model (Andrews, Moreira and Stock(2006} and Chamberlain (2007}), but in general uses information on the structural parameter beyond the Anderson-Rubin, score, and rank statistics. This suggests that tests based only the Anderson-Rubin and score statistics discard information on the causal parameter of interest. We apply our theory to construct designs in which these tests indeed have power arbitrarily close to size. Other tests, including other adaptations to the CLR test, do not suffer the same deficiencies. Finally, we use the model symmetries to propose novel weighted-average power tests for the HAC-IV model.
CLINICAL MANIFESTATIONS OF SYSTEMIC LUPUS ERYTHEMATOSUS. COMPUTER ANALYSIS OF 520 CASES.

Diagnosis of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) was confirmed by the presence of lupus erythematosus cells in 75.7% of the patients, findings of skin biopsies in 6.0% and of renal biopsies in 1.2%, and by the clinical picture alone in 17.1%. Negroes comprised 34% of the subjects. Spontaneous remissions occurred in 35% of the patients. Proven familial SLE occurred in 2%. Myalgia was present in 48.2%. No history of cutaneous involvement at any time was found in 28%. Classic skin lesions of chronic discoid lupus at the onset of their illness were present in 10.8%. Urinary abnormalities were noted in only 46.1%. Uremia caused 34% of the 135 deaths and progressive central nervous system involvement caused 18.4%. The prognosis has markedly improved. The mean duration is now 94.8 months for the entire series versus 38.5 months in an untreated control group.
Benchmarking Performance in Retail Chains: An Integrated Approach

Standardizing performance expectations across different outlets within a chain, differing in their individual features, their consumers, and the nature of competition they face, can be an onerous task. We develop an integrated, nonlinear, block group-level market share model of store expectations that draws upon the existing trade area as well as store performance literatures. By incorporating and normalizing a large number of external and internal factors impacting performance, we are able to offer a means for the retailer to determine equitable standards. The model is estimated using a variation of the maximum-likelihood estimation, on a data set fashioned from several sources and aggregated at the block group and store levels. Finally, we propose a set of indices that allows us to evaluate relative performances of stores and regions given the competitive environments they face. We find that a block group-level model offers a better fit, as well as significantly richer implications, than a traditional store-level model. Results show that a significant number of stores operate well below their expected levels, an insight not obvious from the raw numbers used to report store statistics to upper management.
Students’ Reactions to Teachers’ Management of Compulsive Communicators

Using Expectancy Violations Theory as a framework, this study examined students’ perceptions of how teachers manage compulsive communicators (CCs). College students (n=265) were given one of three scenarios describing a teacher managing a compulsive communicator. After reading the scenario, students were asked to rate the expectedness of the teachers’ management behavior, along with their perceptions of the teacher's credibility and their affect toward the teacher. Results indicated that students have specific expectations for how teachers should manage CCs in the classroom. Moreover, the type of management strategy employed influenced students’ ratings of credibility and their affect toward the teacher. Pedagogical implications, limitations, and directions for future research are discussed.