Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
HIV-1 and HIV-2 exhibit divergent interactions with HLTF and UNG2 DNA repair proteins

Significance In nondividing host cells, HIV is targeted by intrinsic antiviral defense mechanisms that introduce marks of damage into viral cDNA, thereby tagging it for processing by cellular DNA repair machinery. Surprisingly, our findings reveal that the two main types of HIV exhibit very different interactions with enzymes involved in DNA repair. HIV-1, but not HIV-2, efficiently removes select DNA repair enzymes, whereas HIV-2 increases dNTP supply in infected cells by removing SAMHD1 (a cell cycle-regulated dNTP triphosphohydrolase) dNTPase. Our findings imply that increasing dNTP supply during viral cDNA synthesis or repair, or blocking cDNA processing by DNA repair enzymes, are alternative strategies used by HIV-2 and HIV-1 to guard their DNA genomes and facilitate their replication/persistence in the host. HIV replication in nondividing host cells occurs in the presence of high concentrations of noncanonical dUTP, apolipoprotein B mRNA-editing, enzyme-catalytic, polypeptide-like 3 (APOBEC3) cytidine deaminases, and SAMHD1 (a cell cycle-regulated dNTP triphosphohydrolase) dNTPase, which maintains low concentrations of canonical dNTPs in these cells. These conditions favor the introduction of marks of DNA damage into viral cDNA, and thereby prime it for processing by DNA repair enzymes. Accessory protein Vpr, found in all primate lentiviruses, and its HIV-2/simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) SIVsm paralogue Vpx, hijack the CRL4DCAF1 E3 ubiquitin ligase to alleviate some of these conditions, but the extent of their interactions with DNA repair proteins has not been thoroughly characterized. Here, we identify HLTF, a postreplication DNA repair helicase, as a common target of HIV-1/SIVcpz Vpr proteins. We show that HIV-1 Vpr reprograms CRL4DCAF1 E3 to direct HLTF for proteasome-dependent degradation independent from previously reported Vpr interactions with base excision repair enzyme uracil DNA glycosylase (UNG2) and crossover junction endonuclease MUS81, which Vpr also directs for degradation via CRL4DCAF1 E3. Thus, separate functions of HIV-1 Vpr usurp CRL4DCAF1 E3 to remove key enzymes in three DNA repair pathways. In contrast, we find that HIV-2 Vpr is unable to efficiently program HLTF or UNG2 for degradation. Our findings reveal complex interactions between HIV-1 and the DNA repair machinery, suggesting that DNA repair plays important roles in the HIV-1 life cycle. The divergent interactions of HIV-1 and HIV-2 with DNA repair enzymes and SAMHD1 imply that these viruses use different strategies to guard their genomes and facilitate their replication in the host.
Predicting Juvenile Diabetes from Clinical Test Results

Two approaches to building models for prediction of the onset of Type 1 diabetes mellitus in juvenile subjects were examined. A set of tests performed immediately before diagnosis was used to build classifiers to predict whether the subject would be diagnosed with juvenile diabetes. A second training set consisting of differences between test results taken at different times was used to build classifiers to predict whether a subject would be diagnosed with juvenile diabetes. Neural networks were compared with decision trees and ensembles of both types of classifiers. The highest known predictive accuracy was obtained when the data was encoded to explicitly indicate missing attributes in both cases. In the latter case, high accuracy was achieved without test results which, by themselves, could indicate diabetes.
Hæmangiomas of the Nose

VASCULAR growths of this region are not without interest from the point of view of aetiology. Haemangiomas of other regions and systems of the body have been well represented in the literature. Thus, those affecting the skin have been considered by Harvey et al. (1940) and Weber (1946), the muscles by MacDermott (1935), the skeletal system by Bucy and Capp (1930) and the central nervous system by Cushing and Bailey (1928), whilst a number of case reports on visceral involvement have been published by various authors. With the exception of the somewhat controversial nasopharyngeal angio-fibroma occurring in young subjects, _hasmangiomas of the nasal and paranasal region do not appear to have "been considered sufficiently important to warrant publication on the subject. The purpose of the present paper is to place on record a brief account of vascular growths in the upper respiratory tract and to present •evidence bearing on their true nature.
Instructor's Transformational Leadership: University Student Attitudes and Ratings

We extend leadership research by examining the effect of an instructor's transformational leadership on university students. 120 undergraduate students provided ratings for their instructors on Charisma, Intellectual Stimulation, and Individual Consideration as well as the Instructors' Performance and the Students' Involvement in class. Multiple regression analyses indicated that Intellectual Stimulation and Charisma together accounted for 66.3% of the variance in the prediction of Instructor's Performance ratings. In turn, Intellectual Stimulation and Individual Consideration combined to account for 55.1% of the variance in predicting Student Involvement.
Nursing student plans for the future after graduation: a multicentre study

BACKGROUND When modelling the nursing workforce, estimations of the numbers and characteristics of new graduates over the forecast period are assumed on the basis of previous generations; however, new graduates may have different plans for their future than those documented previously in different socio-economical contexts. AIMS To explore (a) nursing student plans after graduation and factors influencing their plans, and (b) factors associated with the intention to emigrate. METHODS A survey questionnaire was developed and distributed to students attending their final third year of nursing education in seven universities in Italy in 2015. Nine hundred and twenty-three (90.4%) students participated. FINDINGS Four different plans after graduation emerged: about two-thirds reported an intention to look for a nursing job in Italy; the remaining reported (a) an intention to emigrate, looking for a nursing job abroad, (b) an intention to search for a nursing job in both Italy and abroad, and (c) while a few an intention to continue nursing education in Italy. Having previous experience abroad, the need to grow and be satisfied, trusting the target country and a desire to increase knowledge encouraged an intention to emigrate, whereas the desire to stay in a comfortable environment and nurture personal relationships prevented the desire to migrate. CONCLUSION Nursing students may have different plans after graduation, and this should be considered when modelling the nursing workforce of the future. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING/HEALTH POLICY Policymakers should be aware of different plans after graduation to guide healthcare human resource strategies. Knowing these trajectories allows policymakers to estimate the appropriate nursing workforce, and also to act at both macro- and meso-levels, on work environments and opportunities for professional development, according to the different levels of expectations.
Modeling of Strength Degradation for Fiber-reinforced Polymer Composites in Fire

A model for predicting composite material strength degradation under elevated and high temperatures is proposed. This model is based on the morphology of the mixture of materials in different states. The degradation of resin-dominated shear strength can be well described by the rule of mixture while the degradation of nominal compressive strength tends to follow the lower bound of strength defined by the inverse rule of mixture. Composite materials under tension may exhibit fiber- or resin-dominated behavior. In a lower temperature range, strength is dominated by the fiber tensile strength, while at higher temperatures, tensile components may exhibit resin-dominated failure in joint regions. The parameters required in the model can be obtained on the basis of kinetic analysis of dynamic mechanical analysis results. The fitting of experimental curves of material strength degradation is not necessary. The proposed modeling scheme can easily be incorporated into structural theory to predict mechanical responses and time-to-failure.
Preferential in vivo action of F15599, a novel 5‐HT1A receptor agonist, at postsynaptic 5‐HT1A receptors

Background and purpose: F15599, a novel 5‐hydroxytryptamine (5‐HT)1A receptor agonist with 1000‐fold selectivity for 5‐HT compared with other monoamine receptors, shows antidepressant and procognitive activity at very low doses in animal models. We examined the in vivo activity of F15599 at somatodendritic autoreceptors and postsynaptic 5‐HT1A heteroreceptors.
Using Information Content to Evaluate Semantic Similarity in a Taxonomy

This paper presents a new measure of semantic similarity in an IS-A taxonomy, based on the notion of information content. Experimental evaluation suggests that the measure performs encouragingly well (a correlation of r = 0.79 with a benchmark set of human similarity judgments, with an upper bound of r = 0.90 for human subjects performing the same task), and significantly better than the traditional edge counting approach (r = 0.66).
Organic microcavities and OLEDs

Abstract The merging fields of photonics and organic electronics into organic optoelectronics has created a surge of enthusiasm over the possibility of developing low-cost and large-area advanced optoelectronic systems. These applications can combine the best functionalities of both fields, such as tailoring the organic semiconductors by chemical means, engineering the structure in which organic materials are embedded in, are to name a few. These advances have stimulated the excitement over the next generation of optoelectronic systems with enhanced capabilities and low-cost manufacturing processes compared to their inorganic counterparts. Such technology direction is mainly reflected by the high investments towards the aim of developing flexible, and roll-to-roll organic light-emitting diodes and organic solar cells. Interestingly, more sophisticated applications require a deeper understanding of the underlying mechanisms at play that merge concepts from the fields of photonics and organic electronics. Particularly, organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) under certain constraints (such as cavity light confinement, strong exciton-photon interaction) exhibit modified spectral emission compared to OLED devices that are not bounded by the same conditions. The introduction of the polariton concept as a quasi-particle, which is part-light and part-matter, has emerged to describe such new physical phenomena caused by this photon-exciton intricate interaction. Polariton physics is well established in inorganic semiconductors were a plethora of physical phenomena have been demonstrated, such as the appearance of Bose-Einstein Condensation or low-threshold laser devices. The later is what has as yet to be demonstrated from the field of solid state physics utilising organic semiconductors. This thesis is focused on the study of the physics and the engineering of organic light-emitting diodes that will aid in the realization of efficient organic polariton LEDs. The main body of work examines various organic semiconductor materials in their ability to reach the strong light and matter interaction regime and, subsequently, to be used in OLEDs as the emissive component. Furthermore, a degradation investigation highlights the issues that affect small-molecule based OLEDs, and finally, the possible pathways for achieving efficient polariton OLEDs are discussed.
Noninvasive Molecular Imaging of Apoptosis in a Mouse Model of Anthracycline-Induced Cardiotoxicity

Background—Anthracycline-induced cardiotoxicity and myocardial dysfunction may be associated with apoptosis. Caspase 3 catalyzes a terminal step in apoptosis, and its expression may serve as a marker of cardiomyocyte apoptosis. We synthesized 18F-CP18, a caspase-3 substrate and evaluated cardiac 18F-CP18 uptake in a mouse model of anthracycline cardiotoxicity. Methods and Results—For 12 weeks, mice were injected with doxorubicin, 3 mg/kg/week, or vehicle (control). Left ventricular fractional shortening was quantified by echocardiography. CP18 uptake after intravenous injection of 250 &mgr;Ci of 18F-CP18, 24 hours post-doxorubicin treatment was quantified by microPET, autoradiography, and gamma counting. Apoptosis was assessed by enzymatic assay of myocardial caspase 3 and TUNEL staining of tissue sections. Compared with controls, at 6 and 12 weeks of doxorubicin treatment, fractional shortening was reduced (20.7%±2.5% versus 31%±3.5%, P=0.010; and 20.3%±3.1% versus 32.4%±2.1%, P=0.011). Doxorubicin treatment was associated with increased 18F-CP18 uptake in %ID/g by gamma counting from 0.36±0.01 (week 1) to 0.78±0.01 (week 12), P=0.003. A similar increase in 18F-CP18 uptake was observed by microPET (0.41±0.04 versus 0.73±0.1, P=0.014) and autoradiography (1.1±0.3 versus 2.8±0.2 P=0.001). Caspase 3 enzymatic activity and apoptosis by TUNEL staining were also increased after 12 weeks of doxorubicin compared with weeks 1 and 3. CP18 uptake in controls was relatively unchanged at weeks 1, 3, and 12. Conclusions—In a mouse model of cardiotoxicity, doxorubicin treatment is associated with increased myocardial caspase 3 expression and an increase in CP18 uptake. 18F-CP18 may be useful for detection of anthracycline-induced myocardial apoptosis.
CADM1 and MAL methylation status in cervical scrapes is representative of the most severe underlying lesion in women with multiple cervical biopsies

Recent studies have shown that CADM1/MAL methylation levels in cervical scrapes increase with severity and duration of the underlying cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) lesion. Multiple lesions of different histological grades and duration are frequently present on the cervix. To gain more insight into the possible epigenetic heterogeneity and its consequences for the methylation status in cervical scrapes, we performed an exploratory study of CADM1/MAL methylation in different grades of CIN lesions present in women with multiple cervical biopsies. CADM1‐M18 and MAL‐M1 methylation was assessed using a standardised, multiplex, quantitative methylation specific PCR on 178 biopsies with various grades of CIN in 65 women, and in their corresponding cervical scrapes. CADM1/MAL methylation positivity increased with disease severity, from 5.5% in normal biopsies to 63.3% and 100% in biopsies with CIN3 and cervical cancer, respectively. In the majority (8/9) of women where besides a CIN2/3 lesion a biopsy from normal cervical tissue was present, the CIN2/3 biopsy was CADM1/MAL methylation positive and the normal biopsy was CADM1/MAL methylation negative. A good concordance (78%) was found between CADM1/MAL methylation results on the scrapes and the biopsy with the worst diagnosis, particularly between samples of women with CIN3 and cervical cancer (92% and 100% concordance, respectively). Thus, in women with multiple cervical biopsies, CADM1/MAL methylation increases with severity of the lesion and is lesion‐specific. CADM1/MAL methylation status in cervical scrapes appears to be representative of the worst underlying lesion, particularly for CIN3 and cervical cancer.
Predictors of Complete Response and Disease Recurrence Following Chemoradiation for Rectal Cancer

Objective Approximately 10–40% of rectal patients have a complete response (CR) to neoadjuvant chemoradiation (CRT), and these patients have improved survival. Thus, non-operative management (“watch-and-wait” approach) may be an option for select patients. We aimed to identify clinical predictors of CR following CRT. Methods Patients treated with definitive CRT for T3–T4, locally unresectable T1–T2, low-lying T2, and/or node-positive rectal cancer from August 2004 to February 2015 were retrospectively reviewed. Most patients were treated with 50.4 Gy radiation and concurrent 5-fluoruracil or capecitabine. Patients were considered to have a CR if surgical pathology revealed ypT0N0M0 (operative management), or if they had no evidence of residual disease on clinical and radiographic assessment (non-operative management). Statistical analysis was carried out to determine predictors of CR and long-term outcomes. Results Complete records were available on 138 patients. The median follow-up was 24.5 months. Thirty-six patients (26.3%) achieved a CR; 30/123 operatively managed patients (24.5%) and 6/15 (40%) non-operatively managed patients. None of the 10 patients with mucinous adenocarcinoma achieved a CR. Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) ≥5 μg/L at diagnosis (OR 0.190, 95% CI 0.037–0.971, p = 0.046), tumor size ≥3 cm (OR 0.123, 95% CI 0.020–0.745, p = 0.023), distance of tumor from the anal verge ≥3 cm (OR 0.091, 95% CI 0.013–0.613, p = 0.014), clinically node-positive disease at diagnosis (OR 0.201, 95% CI 0.045–0.895, p = 0.035), and interval from CRT to surgery ≥8 weeks (OR 5.267, 95% CI 1.068–25.961, p = 0.041) were independent predictors of CR. The CR group had longer 3-year distant metastasis-free survival (DMFS) (93.7 vs. 63.7%, p = 0.016) and 3-year disease-free survival (DFS) (91.1 vs. 67.8%, p = 0.038). Three-year locoregional control (LRC) (96.6 vs. 81.3%, p = 0.103) and overall survival (97.2 vs. 87.5%, p = 0.125) were higher in the CR group but this did not achieve statistical significance. CR was not an independent predictor of LRC, DMFS, or DFS. Conclusion CEA at diagnosis, tumor size, tumor distance from the anal verge, node positivity at diagnosis, and interval from CRT to surgery were predictors of CR. These clinical variables may offer insight into patient selection and timing of treatment response evaluation in the watch-and-wait approach.
Information on How to Cite Items within Roar@uel: Relapse to Smoking during Unaided Cessation: Clinical, Cognitive, and Motivational Predictors

This article is made available online in accordance with publisher policies. Please scroll down to view the document itself. Please refer to the repository record for this item and our policy information available from the repository home page for further information. ABSTRACT Rationale: Neurobiological models of addiction suggest that abnormalities of brain reward circuitry distort salience attribution and inhibitory control processes, which in turn contribute to high relapse rates. Objectives: To determine whether impairments of salience attribution and inhibitory control predict relapse in a pharmacologically unaided attempt at smoking cessation. Methods: 141 smokers were assessed on indices of nicotine consumption / dependence (e.g. the FTND, cigarettes per day, salivary cotinine), and three trait impulsivity measures. After overnight abstinence they completed experimental tests of cue reactivity, attentional bias to smoking cues, response to financial reward, motor impulsiveness, and response inhibition (antisaccades). They then started a quit attempt with follow-up after 7 days, 1 month, and 3 months; abstinence was verified via salivary cotinine levels ≤ 20ng/ml. Results: Relapse rates at each point were 52.5%, 64% and 76.3%. The strongest predictor was pre-cessation salivary cotinine; other smoking / dependence indices did not explain additional outcome variance and neither did trait impulsivity. All experimental indices except responsivity to financial reward significantly predicted one week outcome. Salivary cotinine, attentional bias to smoking cues and antisaccade errors explained unique as well as shared variance. At one and three months, salivary cotinine, motor impulsiveness and cue reactivity were all individually predictive; the effects of salivary cotinine and motor impulsiveness were additive. Conclusions: These data provide some support for the involvement of abnormal cognitive and motivational processes in sustaining smoking dependence and suggest that they might be a focus of interventions, especially in the early stages of cessation.
Investigating Web-Based Recruitment Sources: Employee Testimonials vs. Word-of-Mouse

Although the internet has dramatically changed recruitment practices, many web-based recruitment sources have not yet been investigated. The present study examines the effects of web-based employee testimonials and web-based word-of-mouth (i.e., word-of-mouse) on organizational attraction. The source credibility framework is used to compare these company-dependent and company-independent recruitment sources. In a sample of potential applicants for a head nurse position, word-of-mouse was associated with higher organizational attractiveness than web-based employee testimonials. However, potential applicants were more attracted when testimonials provided information about individual employees than about the organization. Conversely, word-of-mouse was associated with higher organizational attractiveness and more organizational pursuit behavior when it focused on the organization instead of on employees. Most of these effects were mediated by credibility perceptions.
Comparison of n–3 fatty acid sources in laying hen rations for improvement of whole egg nutritional quality: a review

The nutritional manipulation of the diets of laying hens to include sources of n–3 fatty acids promotes the deposition of these nutrients into egg yolk. n–3 Fatty acid-rich eggs may provide an exciting alternative food source for enhancing consumer intake of these proposed healthful fatty acids. Care must be taken when designing n–3 fatty acid-rich poultry rations, however, to assure that the resulting egg fatty acid profile is useful for promoting consumer health yet maintaining egg sensory quality. In study 1 laying hens were fed on diets supplemented with graded levels of menhaden oil (MO), rich in both eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA; 20:5n–3) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA; 22: 6n–3), for 4 weeks to determine maximal yolk fatty acid deposition attainable without sensory compromise. Yolk fatty acids were analysed for an additional 4 weeks, post-MO removal, to investigate yolk n–3 fatty acid tenacity. Dietary MO levels between 15 and 30g/kg yielded the greatest yolk n–3 fatty acid content; however, only eggs from birds fed with 15g MO/kg were considered acceptable by trained flavour panelists. Evaluation of eggs from hens fed with 15g MO/kg during storage verified that the shelf-life of enriched eggs was comparable with that of typical eggs. In study 2, graded levels of whole or ground flaxseed were used for the deposition of linolenic acid (LNA; 18:3n–3) and to determine in vivo production of DHA from dietary LNA for yolk deposition. Flaxseed form influenced yolk n–3 fatty acids only when given at 150 g/kg diet. In vivo production of DHA, while significant, was not enhanced by increasing the level of dietary flaxseed nor by grinding the seed. In the third study, a DHA-rich natural marine alga (MA) was investigated as an n–3 fatty acid supplement. Despite similar DHA profiles, dietary MA was found to be more efficient for yolk DHA deposition than dietary MO. These studies suggest that there are numerous viable n–3 fatty acid supplements for poultry rations. It must be realized, however, that the fatty acid profile of the final product varies substantially depending on which supplement is fed.