Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Induction of rabies virus-specific T-helper cells by synthetic peptides that carry dominant T-helper cell epitopes of the viral ribonucleoprotein

The T-helper cell response to the internal proteins of rabies virus was investigated. The rabies virus nucleoprotein was shown to be a major target antigen for T-helper cells that cross-react between rabies and rabies-related viruses. T-helper cells were assayed in vitro by testing virus-induced lymphocytes for lymphokine secretion in response to antigen. Immunodominant T-helper cell epitopes of the viral nucleoprotein were identified in vitro by using synthetic peptides delineated from the amino acid sequence of the nucleoprotein. The response to synthetic peptides were under Ir gene control. Antigenic peptides were tested in vivo for stimulation of rabies virus-specific T-helper cells. Inoculation of mice with peptides bearing immunodominant T-helper cell epitopes resulted in an accelerated and enhanced neutralizing antibody response upon booster immunization with inactivated rabies virus.
Synthetic viability genomic screening defines Sae2 function in DNA repair

DNA double‐strand break (DSB) repair by homologous recombination (HR) requires 3′ single‐stranded DNA (ssDNA) generation by 5′ DNA‐end resection. During meiosis, yeast Sae2 cooperates with the nuclease Mre11 to remove covalently bound Spo11 from DSB termini, allowing resection and HR to ensue. Mitotic roles of Sae2 and Mre11 nuclease have remained enigmatic, however, since cells lacking these display modest resection defects but marked DNA damage hypersensitivities. By combining classic genetic suppressor screening with high‐throughput DNA sequencing, we identify Mre11 mutations that strongly suppress DNA damage sensitivities of sae2∆ cells. By assessing the impacts of these mutations at the cellular, biochemical and structural levels, we propose that, in addition to promoting resection, a crucial role for Sae2 and Mre11 nuclease activity in mitotic DSB repair is to facilitate the removal of Mre11 from ssDNA associated with DSB ends. Thus, without Sae2 or Mre11 nuclease activity, Mre11 bound to partly processed DSBs impairs strand invasion and HR.
PhOTO Zebrafish: A Transgenic Resource for In Vivo Lineage Tracing during Development and Regeneration

Background Elucidating the complex cell dynamics (divisions, movement, morphological changes, etc.) underlying embryonic development and adult tissue regeneration requires an efficient means to track cells with high fidelity in space and time. To satisfy this criterion, we developed a transgenic zebrafish line, called PhOTO, that allows photoconvertible optical tracking of nuclear and membrane dynamics in vivo. Methodology PhOTO zebrafish ubiquitously express targeted blue fluorescent protein (FP) Cerulean and photoconvertible FP Dendra2 fusions, allowing for instantaneous, precise targeting and tracking of any number of cells using Dendra2 photoconversion while simultaneously monitoring global cell behavior and morphology. Expression persists through adulthood, making the PhOTO zebrafish an excellent tool for studying tissue regeneration: after tail fin amputation and photoconversion of a ∼100µm stripe along the cut area, marked differences seen in how cells contribute to the new tissue give detailed insight into the dynamic process of regeneration. Photoconverted cells that contributed to the regenerate were separated into three distinct populations corresponding to the extent of cell division 7 days after amputation, and a subset of cells that divided the least were organized into an evenly spaced, linear orientation along the length of the newly regenerating fin. Conclusions/Significance PhOTO zebrafish have wide applicability for lineage tracing at the systems-level in the early embryo as well as in the adult, making them ideal candidate tools for future research in development, traumatic injury and regeneration, cancer progression, and stem cell behavior.
Assessment of genetic diversity and phylogenetic relationships of Korean native chicken breeds using microsatellite markers

OBJECTIVE This study was conducted to investigate the basic information on genetic structure and characteristics of Korean Native chickens (NC) and foreign breeds through the analysis of the pure chicken populations and commercial chicken lines of the Hanhyup Company which are popular in the NC market, using the 20 microsatellite markers. METHODS In this study, the genetic diversity and phylogenetic relationships of 445 NC from five different breeds (NC, Leghorn [LH], Cornish [CS], Rhode Island Red [RIR], and Hanhyup [HH] commercial line) were investigated by performing genotyping using 20 microsatellite markers. RESULTS The highest genetic distance was observed between RIR and LH (18.9%), whereas the lowest genetic distance was observed between HH and NC (2.7%). In the principal coordinates analysis (PCoA) illustrated by the first component, LH was clearly separated from the other groups. The correspondence analysis showed close relationship among individuals belonging to the NC, CS, and HH lines. From the STRUCTURE program, the presence of 5 clusters was detected and it was found that the proportion of membership in the different clusters was almost comparable among the breeds with the exception of one breed (HH), although it was highest in LH (0.987) and lowest in CS (0.578). For the cluster 1 it was high in HH (0.582) and in CS (0.368), while for the cluster 4 it was relatively higher in HH (0.392) than other breeds. CONCLUSION Our study showed useful genetic diversity and phylogenetic relationship data that can be utilized for NC breeding and development by the commercial chicken industry to meet consumer demands.
Towards the Immunoproteome of Neisseria meningitidis

Despite the introduction of conjugated polysaccharide vaccines for many of the Neisseria meningitidis serogroups, neisserial infections continue to cause septicaemia and meningitis across the world. This is in part due to the difficulties in developing a, cross-protective vaccine that is effective against all serogroups, including serogroup B meningococci. Although convalescent N. meningitidis patients develop a natural long-lasting cross-protective immunity, the antigens that mediate this response remain unknown. To help define the target of this protective immunity we identified the proteins recognized by IgG in sera from meningococcal patients by a combination of 2D protein gels, western blots and mass spectrometry. Although a number of outer membrane antigens were identified the majority of the antigens were cytoplasmic, with roles in cellular processes and metabolism. When recombinant proteins were expressed and used to raise sera in mice, none of the antigens elicited a positive SBA result, however flow cytometry did demonstrate that some, including the ribosomal protein, RplY were localised to the neisserial cell surface.
Altered Sorbitol and myo‐Inositol Metabolism as the Basis for Defective Protein Kinase C and (Na,K)‐ATPase Regulation in Diabetic Neuropathy a

Diabetic neuropathy is probably the most common and one of the most troubling late complications of diabetes mellitus. It is responsible for a major portion of the pain and disability associated with diabetes and is the leading cause of amputations in diabetic patients. Until recently, little was known about its pathogenesis and effective therapy was unavailable. Recent studies performed in vitro in animal models, and now in humans, suggest that perturbations in membrane function, specifically phosphoinositide, protein kinase C, and (Na,K)-ATPase regulation, constitute an important permissive link between elevations in blood glucose and the functional and structural defects in peripheral nerve that characterize diabetic neuropathy.l. 2 myo-Inositol depletion is induced in tissues susceptible to diabetic complications (retina, renal glomerulus, arterial wall, and peripheral nerve) as a result of an increase in intracellular glucose and its subsequent metabolism to sorbitol by the enzyme aldose reductase. This conclusion is based on the ability of aldose reductase inhibitors of varying molecular structures to block myo-inositol depletion when administered in v ~ v o , ~ , ~ ~ although competitive inhibition of myo-inositol uptake by glucose cannot be excluded as a contributing element in myo-inositol depletion (FIGURE 1). 6 myo-Inositol depletion, by interfering with membrane phosphoinositide metabol i~m,~ . ' links cytosolic carbohydrate and polyol metabolism with membrane function. Altered membrane phosphoinositide metabolism impairs (Na,K)-ATPase activitY'*4,5*7-10 presumably by a protein kinase C-mediated mechanism (FIGURE 1) . 2 Reduced activation of protein kinase C by phosphoinositide-derived diacylglycerol was initially implicated in the impaired (Na,K)-ATPase activity of diabetic nerve by experiments in which phorbol esters or exogenous diacylglycerol acutely restored normal ouabain-inhibitable oxygen consumption, a measure of (Na,K)-ATPase activity, in diabetic peripheral nerve in vitro (FIGURE 2). 2 Since diminished enzymatically measured (Na,K)-ATPase can be normalized by exposure of broken cell preparations or isolated membrane fractions derived from diabetic rat or rabbit nerve to phorbol esters or diacylglycerol, the functional association between the phorbol ester receptor (presumably protein kinase C) and the (Na,K)-ATPase must be preserved in the diabetic The ability of protein kinase C agonists to reactivate the (Na,K)-ATPase in broken cell preparations or in the absence of added calcium
Mobility performance of LTE co-channel deployment of macro and pico cells

This paper aims at analyzing the mobility performance in heterogeneous 3GPP (3rd Generation Partnership Project) Long Term Evolution (LTE) networks. The main objective is to analyze the behavior of LTE macro/pico co-channel networks with different mobility parameters, such as the “Time-To-Trigger” (TTT). For this purpose, a system simulator has been utilized to assess the performance. The system must have different settings depending on the user velocity and on which cell-layer user is being serviced. Additionally, we have considered scenarios with a mixture of users moving freely or constrained to a hotspot, and different pico cell deployments.
Benefits and limitations of tapping into stored energy for datacenters

Datacenter power consumption has a significant impact on both its recurring electricity bill (Op-ex) and one-time construction costs (Cap-ex). Existing work optimizing these costs has relied primarily on throttling devices or workload shaping, both with performance degrading implications. In this paper, we present a novel knob of energy buffer (eBuff) available in the form of UPS batteries in datacenters for this cost optimization. Intuitively, eBuff stores energy in UPS batteries during “valleys” - periods of lower demand, which can be drained during “peaks” - periods of higher demand. UPS batteries are normally used as a fail-over mechanism to transition to captive power sources upon utility failure. Furthermore, frequent discharges can cause UPS batteries to fail prematurely. We conduct detailed analysis of battery operation to figure out feasible operating regions given such battery lifetime and datacenter availability concerns. Using insights learned from this analysis, we develop peak reduction algorithms that combine the UPS battery knob with existing throttling based techniques for minimizing datacenter power costs. Using an experimental platform, we offer insights about Op-ex savings offered by eBuff for a wide range of workload peaks/valleys, UPS provisioning, and application SLA constraints. We find that eBuff can be used to realize 15-45% peak power reduction, corresponding to 6-18% savings in Op-ex across this spectrum. eBuff can also play a role in reducing Cap-ex costs by allowing tighter overbooking of power infrastructure components and we quantify the extent of such Cap-ex savings. To our knowledge, this is the first paper to exploit stored energy - typically lying untapped in the datacenter - to address the peak power draw problem.
Contact impedance estimation for robotic systems

In this paper, the problem of online estimation of the mechanical impedance during the contact of a robotic system with an unknown environment is considered. This problem is of great interest when controlling a robot in an unstructured and unknown environment, such as in telemanipulation tasks, since it can be easily shown that the exploitation of the knowledge of the mechanical properties of the environment can greatly improve the performance of the robotic system. In particular, a single-point contact is considered, and the (nonlinear) Hunt-Crossley model is taken into account, instead of the classical (linear) Kelvin-Voigt model. Indeed, the former achieves a better physical consistency and also allows describing the behavior of soft materials. Finally, the online estimation algorithm is described and experimental results are presented and discussed.
Caspase-10-Dependent Cell Death in Fas/CD95 Signalling Is Not Abrogated by Caspase Inhibitor zVAD-fmk

Background Upon CD95/Fas ligation, the initiator caspase-8 is known to activate effector caspases leading to apoptosis. In the presence of zVAD-fmk, a broad-spectrum caspase inhibitor, Fas engagement can also trigger an alternative, non-apoptotic caspase-independent form of cell death, which is initiated by RIP1. Controversy exists as to the ability of caspase-10 to mediate cell death in response to FasL (CD95L or CD178). Herein, the role of caspase-10 in FasL-induced cell death has been re-evaluated. Methodology and Principal Findings The present study shows that FasL-induced cell death was completely impaired in caspase-8- and caspase-10-doubly deficient (I9-2e) Jurkat leukaemia T-cell lines. Over-expressing of either caspase-8 or caspase-10 in I9-2e cells triggered cell death and restored sensitivity to FasL, further arguing for a role of both initiator caspases in Fas apoptotic signalling. In the presence of zVAD-fmk, FasL triggered an alternative form of cell death similarly in wild-type (A3) and in caspase-8-deficient Jurkat cells expressing endogenous caspase-10 (clone I9-2d). Cell death initiated by Fas stimulation in the presence of zVAD-fmk was abrogated in I9-2e cells as well as in HeLa cells, which did not express endogenous caspase-10, indicating that caspase-10 somewhat participates in this alternative form of cell death. Noteworthy, ectopic expression of caspase-10 in I9-2e and HeLa cells restored the ability of FasL to trigger cell death in the presence of zVAD-fmk. As a matter of fact, FasL-triggered caspase-10 processing still occurred in the presence of zVAD-fmk. Conclusions and Significance Altogether, these data provide genetic evidence for the involvement of initiator caspase-10 in FasL-induced cell death and indicate that zVAD-fmk does not abrogate caspase-10 processing and cytotoxicity in Fas signalling. Our study also questions the existence of an alternative caspase-independent cell death pathway in Fas signalling.
(2,2′-Bipyridine-κ2 N,N′)chlorido[4′-(2,5-dimethoxyphenyl)-2,2′:6′,2′′-terpyridine-κ3 N,N′,N′′]ruthenium(II) hexafluoridophosphate acetonitrile monosolvate

In the title compound, [RuCl(C10H8N2)(C23H19N3O2)]PF6·CH3CN, the ligand environment about the RuII atom is distorted octahedral, with the substituted terpyridyl ligand coordinated in a meridional fashion, the bipyridyl ligand coordinated in a cis fashion and the Cl atom trans to one of the bipyridyl N atoms. The Ru—N distances are in the range 2.036 (2)–2.084 (2) Å with the exception of the central Ru—N bond from the terpyridyl ligand, which is shorter [1.9503 (19) Å], as expected. The pendant dimethoxyphenyl substituent is not coplanar with the terpyridyl unit; the dihedral angle between the central pyridyl ring and the benzene ring is 46.72 (11)°. The anion is disordered equally over two positions around an F—P—F bond axis.
The World Health Organization Disability Assessment Scale, WHODAS II: reliability and validity in the measurement of activity and participation in a spinal cord injury population.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the reliability and validity of WHODAS II within the spinal cord injury population. SUBJECTS Sixty-three people with traumatic spinal cord injury. METHODS The World Health Organization Disability Assessment Scale II (WHODAS II), Craig Handicap Assessment and Reporting Technique, and Medical Outcomes Study 36-item Short-Form Health Survey (MOS SF-36) were administered at 2 years post discharge from rehabilitation. Distribution, reliability, discriminant validity, and convergent/divergent validity were evaluated using classical tests. Rasch analyses were applied to assess dimensionality, item spread, and person/item reliability. RESULTS Cronbach's alpha coefficients ranged from 0.61 (getting around) to 0.97 (participation). Ceiling effects were present in 4 out of 6 domains. WHODAS II discriminated between levels of impairment and work force status on 'self-care', 'getting around', 'life activities', and total score. Correlations with MOS SF-36 supported convergent/divergent validity. Five items didn't fit the Rasch model. The item/person map reveald a shortage of items able to differentiate the more able person. WHODAS II demonstrated good person and item separation and reliability. CONCLUSION This study provides preliminary support for reliability and validity of WHODAS II in a spinal cord injured population. Limitations were noted for dimensionality and item person distribution. Findings need to be confirmed in larger samples.
Survival After Segmentectomy and Wedge Resection in Stage I Non–Small-Cell Lung Cancer

Introduction: Although lobectomy is considered the standard surgical treatment for stage IA non–small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC), wedge resection or segmentectomy are frequently performed on patients who are not lobectomy candidates. The objective of this study was to compare survival among patients with stage IA NSCLC, who are undergoing these procedures. Methods: Using the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results registry, we identified 3525 patients. We used logistic regression to determine propensity scores for patients undergoing segmentectomy, based on the patient’s preoperative characteristics. Overall and lung cancer-specific survival of patients treated with wedge resection versus segmentectomy was compared after adjusting, stratifying, or matching patients based on propensity score. Results: Overall, 704 patients (20%) underwent segmentectomy. Analyses, adjusting for propensity scores, showed that segmentectomy was associated with significant improvement in overall (hazard ratio: 0.80, 95% confidence interval: 0.69–0.93) and lung cancer-specific survival (hazard ratio: 0.72, 95% confidence interval: 0.59–0.88) compared with wedge resection. Similar results were obtained when stratifying and matching by propensity score and when limiting analysis to patients with tumors sized less than or equal to 2 cm, or aged 70 years or younger. Conclusions: These results suggest that segmentectomy should be the preferred technique for limited resection of patients with stage IA NSCLC. The study findings should be confirmed in prospective studies.
A permeabilized cell model for studying cytokinesis using mammalian tissue culture cells

PtK1 cells lysed late in cell division in a medium containing the nonionic detergent Brij 58 and polyethylene glycol with continue to undergo cleavage after lysis. Maintenance of cleavage after lysis is dependent on the composition of the lysis medium; the pH must be around neutrality, MgATP must be present, and the free Ca++ concentration should be 1 microM for optimal constriction to occur. Cleavage can be stopped and reinitiated by raising and lowering the Ca++ levels in the lysis medium. Cleavage in the permeabilized cell is blocked by addition of phalloidin, cytochalasin B, and N-ethylmaleimide-modified myosin subfragment-1 to the lysis medium. This represents the first cell model system for studying cleavage since the pioneering studies of Hoffman- Berling in 1954.
Height and the normal distribution: evidence from italian military data

Researchers modeling historical heights have typically relied on the restrictive assumption of a normal distribution, only the mean of which is affected by age, income, nutrition, disease, and similar influences. To avoid these restrictive assumptions, we develop a new semiparametric approach in which covariates are allowed to affect the entire distribution without imposing any parametric shape. We apply our method to a new database of height distributions for Italian provinces, drawn from conscription records, of unprecedented length and geographical disaggregation. Our method allows us to standardize distributions to a single age and calculate moments of the distribution that are comparable through time. Our method also allows us to generate counterfactual distributions for a range of ages, from which we derive age-height profiles. These profiles reveal how the adolescent growth spurt (AGS) distorts the distribution of stature, and they document the earlier and earlier onset of the AGS as living conditions improved over the second half of the nineteenth century. Our new estimates of provincial mean height also reveal a previously unnoticed “regime switch” from regional convergence to divergence in this period.
Efficient utilization of peer's upload capacity in P2P networks using SVC

Scalable video coding is used with peer to peer networks to minimize the upload bandwidth of peers and to reduce the effects of churn. We have formulated an NP complete optimization problem to describe the upload bandwidth at each peer. We proposed an approximation algorithm to solve this problem. Furthermore, seed servers are deployed in the network to overcome the upload bandwidth limitation at peers. Simulation results show that the proposed method provides good quality of service, increases diversity within the network and reduces the effects of churn.
Evaluations of Filament-Reinforced Composites for Aerospace Structural Applications.

Abstract : Studies of the influence of constituent properties upon the performance of structural composites for aerospace applications are described. Previous elastic constant and tensile strength evaluations are extended to broaden their range of applicability. An analysis of compressive strength is presented. These analyses are then used in a structural efficiency study of sandwich cylindrical shells subjected to axial load conditions appropriate to the launch vehicle problem. Promising areas for future development of composite materials are indicated. (AN)
Lack of) Cosmological evidence for dark radiation after Planck

We use Bayesian model comparison to determine whether extensions to Standard-Model neutrino physics — primarily additional effective numbers of neutrinos and/or massive neutrinos — are merited by the latest cosmological data. Given the significant advances in cosmic microwave background (CMB) observations represented by the Planck data, we examine whether Planck temperature and CMB lensing data, in combination with lower redshift data, have strengthened (or weakened) the previous findings. We conclude that the state-of-the-art cosmological data do not show evidence for deviations from the standard (ΛCDM) cosmological model (which has three massless neutrino families). This does not mean that the model is necessarily correct — in fact we know it is incomplete as neutrinos are not massless — but it does imply that deviations from the standard model (e.g., non-zero neutrino mass) are too small compared to the current experimental uncertainties to be inferred from cosmological data alone.