Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Immunogenicity of NYVAC Prime-Protein Boost Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 Envelope Vaccination and Simian-Human Immunodeficiency Virus Challenge of Nonhuman Primates

ABSTRACT A preventive human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) vaccine is an essential part of the strategy to eradicate AIDS. A critical question is whether antibodies that do not neutralize primary isolate (tier 2) HIV-1 strains can protect from infection. In this study, we investigated the ability of an attenuated poxvirus vector (NYVAC) prime-envelope gp120 boost to elicit potentially protective antibody responses in a rhesus macaque model of mucosal simian-human immunodeficiency virus (SHIV) infection. NYVAC vector delivery of a group M consensus envelope, trivalent mosaic envelopes, or a natural clade B isolate B.1059 envelope elicited antibodies that mediated neutralization of tier 1 viruses, cellular cytotoxicity, and phagocytosis. None of the macaques made neutralizing antibodies against the tier 2 SHIV SF162P3 used for mucosal challenge. Significant protection from infection was not observed for the three groups of vaccinated macaques compared to unvaccinated macaques, although binding antibody to HIV-1 Env correlated with decreased viremia after challenge. Thus, NYVAC Env prime-gp120 boost vaccination elicited polyfunctional, nonneutralizing antibody responses with minimal protective activity against tier 2 SHIV mucosal challenge. IMPORTANCE The antibody responses that confer protection against HIV-1 infection remain unknown. Polyfunctional antibody responses correlated with time to infection in previous macaque studies. Determining the ability of vaccines to induce these types of responses is critical for understanding how to improve upon the one efficacious human HIV-1 vaccine trial completed thus far. We characterized the antibody responses induced by a NYVAC-protein vaccine and determined the protective capacity of polyfunctional antibody responses in an R5, tier 2 mucosal SHIV infection model.
Serum Hepcidin Concentration in Individuals with Sickle Cell Anemia: Basis for the Dietary Recommendation of Iron

Dietary iron requirements in patients with sickle cell disease (SCD) remain unclear. SCD is a neglected hemoglobinopathy characterized by intense erythropoietic activity and anemia. Hepcidin is the hormone mainly responsible for iron homeostasis and intestinal absorption. Intense erythropoietic activity and anemia may reduce hepcidin transcription. By contrast, iron overload and inflammation may induce it. Studies on SCD have not evaluated the role of hepcidin in the presence and absence of iron overload. We aimed to compare serum hepcidin concentrations among individuals with sickle cell anemia, with or without iron overload, and those without the disease. Markers of iron metabolism and erythropoietic activity such as hepcidin, ferritin, and growth differentiation factor 15 were evaluated. Three groups participated in the study: the control group, comprised of individuals without SCD (C); those with the disease but without iron overload (SCDw); and those with the disease and iron overload (SCDio). Results showed that hepcidin concentration was higher in the SCDio > C > SCDw group. These data suggest that the dietary iron intake of the SCDio group should not be reduced as higher hepcidin concentrations may reduce the intestinal absorption of iron.
Technological appropriations as workarounds: Integrating electronic health records and adaptive structuration theory research

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to further adaptive structuration theory (AST) by associating technological appropriations with health information technology workarounds. The author argues that appropriating electronic health record (EHR) technology ironically – in a way other than it is designed to be used – and divergently across an organization results in enhanced perceptions of EHR technology and its implementation. Design/methodology/approach Data were collected from 345 healthcare employees in a single healthcare organization that was switching to EHRs from paper records. Two major constructs of AST – unfaithfulness and dissension in appropriation – were operationalized and analyzed using multivariate regressions to test the relationship between the type of appropriation and perceptions of EHR technology’s relative advantage and implementation success. Findings Results reveal that both ironic (unfaithful) technological appropriation and dissension in technological appropriation across the organization predicted employees’ perceptions of EHR’s relative advantage and perceptions of EHR implementation success. Furthermore, physicians are the least likely to perceive EHR’s relative advantage or EHR implementation success. These results exemplify that EHR workarounds are taking place and reaffirm AST’s principle that employees evolve technology to better suit their working environments and preferences. Originality/value The survey and scales used in this study further demonstrate that there are meaningful statistical measures to accompany the qualitative methods frequently used in the AST literature. In addition, this paper expands AST research by exploring the positive outcomes that follow ironic and divergent technology appropriations.
Rupture details of the 28 March 2005 Sumatra Mw 8.6 earthquake imaged with teleseismic P waves

We image the rupture of the 28 March 2005 Sumatra Mw 8.6 earthquake by back‐projecting teleseismic P waves recorded by the Global Seismic Network and the Japanese Hi‐net to their source. The back‐projected energy suggests that the rupture started slowly, had a total duration of about 120 s, and propagated at 2.9 to 3.3 km/s from the hypocenter in two different directions: first toward the north for ∼100 km and then, after a ∼40 s delay, toward the southeast for ∼200 km. Our images are consistent with a rupture area of ∼40,000 km2, the locations of the first day of aftershocks, and the Harvard CMT Mw of 8.6, which implies an average slip of ∼6 m. The earthquake is similar in its location, size, and geometry to a Mw ∼8.5 event in 1861. Our estimated average slip is consistent with a partially coupled subduction interface, GPS forearc velocities, and the ∼59 mm/yr convergence rate if the 2005 earthquake released elastic strain that accumulated over many hundreds of years rather than just since the last 1861 event.
Effect of Addition of Fish Oil on the Performance Parameters of Laying Hens and the Fatty Acid Composition of their Egg Yolk

Fish oil (FO) has been reported to have a wide range of health-beneficial effects, including anti carcinogenic, anti atherogenic, anti-diabetic, and immune stimulatory effects. The aim of this study is undertaken to examine or to evaluate the effect of addition of FO on the performance parameters of laying hens and the fatty acid composition of their egg yolk. Ten months old single comb white leghorn (SCWL) layers were fed diets containing 3.0% FO or olein oil in a total of two experiments. Hen day egg production percentage, egg weight were determined daily for three weeks. The fatty acids composition was determined of the end of experiment (after three weeks of feeding the experiment feed) sixty hens was the total of the experiment birds (30 hens fed olein, 30 hens fed fish oil) were allocated to two dietary treatments ( 3% FO, 3% olein) with 3 replicates. The results of the study showed that hens fed 3% FO had increase egg, production, and egg weight (P < 0.05) than the hens fed 3% olein oil. Concentration of unsaturated fatty acids in egg yolk lipids of hen fed fish oil was increased significantly (P < 0.05), as a result of monounsaturated fatty acids and polyunsaturated fatty acids increased as FO added (P < 0.05). It can be concluded from the present experiments that addition of FO to hen’s diet increased the amount of oleic and linoleic acids throw weeks of the experiment and that this increase is accompanied by egg size, and egg production.
Compressed Sensing-Aided Downlink Channel Training for FDD Massive MIMO Systems

There is much discussion in industry and academia about possible technical solutions to address the growth in demand for wireless broadband. Massive multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) systems are one of the most popular solutions to addressing this broadband demand in fifth generation (5G) cellular systems. Massive MIMO systems employ tens or hundreds of antennas at the base station to enable advanced multiuser MIMO communications. To reap the massive MIMO throughput gain, coherent transmission exploiting accurate channel state information at the transmitter is required. While it is expected that many 5G systems will employ frequency division duplexing (FDD), channel sounding for FDD systems requires a large pilot overhead, which usually scales proportionally to the number of transmit antennas. To resolve this problem, a compressed sensing (CS)-aided channel estimation scheme is proposed, which exploits the observation that the channel statistics change slowly in time. By utilizing a conventional least squares approach and a CS technique simultaneously, the proposed scheme reduces the pilot overhead. Simulation results show that the proposed scheme can estimate the channel with a reduced pilot overhead even when conventional CS cannot be applied.
Prediction of human pharmacokinetics of typical compounds by a physiologically based method using chimeric mice with humanized liver

Abstract In this study, total body clearance (CLt), volume of distribution at steady state (Vss) and plasma concentration–time profiles in humans of model compounds were predicted using chimeric mice with humanized livers. On the basis of assumption that unbound intrinsic clearance (CLUint) per liver weight in chimeric mice was equal to those in humans, CLt were predicted by substituting human liver blood flow and liver weights in well-stirred model. Vss were predicted by Rodgers equation using scaling factors of tissue-plasma concentration ratios (SFKp) in chimeric mice estimated from a difference between the observed and predicted Vss. These physiological approaches showed high prediction accuracy for CLt and Vss values in humans. We compared the predictability of CLt and Vss determined by the physiologically based predictive approach using chimeric mice with those from predictive methods reported by Pharmaceutical Research Manufacturers of America. The physiological approach using chimeric mice indicated the best prediction accuracy in each predictive method. Simulation of human plasma concentration–time profiles were generally successful with physiologically based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) model incorporating CLUint and SFKp obtained from chimeric mice. Combined application of chimeric mice and PBPK modeling is effective for prediction of human PK in various compounds.
Abnormal Expression of Cerebrospinal Fluid Cation Chloride Cotransporters in Patients with Rett Syndrome

Objective Rett Syndrome is a progressive neurodevelopmental disorder caused mainly by mutations in the gene encoding methyl-CpG-binding protein 2. The relevance of MeCP2 for GABAergic function was previously documented in animal models. In these models, animals show deficits in brain-derived neurotrophic factor, which is thought to contribute to the pathogenesis of this disease. Neuronal Cation Chloride Cotransporters (CCCs) play a key role in GABAergic neuronal maturation, and brain-derived neurotrophic factor is implicated in the regulation of CCCs expression during development. Our aim was to analyse the expression of two relevant CCCs, NKCC1 and KCC2, in the cerebrospinal fluid of Rett syndrome patients and compare it with a normal control group. Methods The presence of bumetanide sensitive NKCC1 and KCC2 was analysed in cerebrospinal fluid samples from a control pediatric population (1 day to 14 years of life) and from Rett syndrome patients (2 to 19 years of life), by immunoblot analysis. Results Both proteins were detected in the cerebrospinal fluid and their levels are higher in the early postnatal period. However, Rett syndrome patients showed significantly reduced levels of KCC2 and KCC2/NKCC1 ratio when compared to the control group. Conclusions Reduced KCC2/NKCC1 ratio in the cerebrospinal fluid of Rett Syndrome patients suggests a disturbed process of GABAergic neuronal maturation and open up a new therapeutic perspective.
Salt tolerance study of six cultivars of sugar beet ( Beta vulgaris , l . ) during seedling stage

In order to study response of six sugar beet genotypes (Raspoly, Nada, Strube, Almaz, Toro, Oskarpoly) under seven salinity levels (control treatment, 1500, 3000, 4500, 6000, 7500 and 9000 ppm NaCl) and seed soaking in gibberellic acid levels (control, 100 ppm and 200 ppm of GA3) were studied its effect on early seedling stage. A laboratory experiment in factorial arrangement was conducted by using randomize complete block design with four replications. Root and plumule of seedling lengths and root to shoot ratio, seedling height reduction and response index were measured. Seed soaked in GA3 significantly affected shoot and root lengths (cm), seedling height reduction (SHR %), response index (RI) and root to shoot ratio. Highest averages of these characters were produced from soaking sugar beet seed in 200 ppm of GA3. While, the lowest values of these characters were produced from the control treatment. Sugar beet cultivars significantly differed in all studied characters. Highest averages of these characters were recorded with Raspoly cultivar, followed by Nada and Strube cultivars without significant differences between them. Result of means comparison showed that all studied genotypes recorded a decrease in root and shoot length due to salinity stress increment. Increasing salinity concentration from 0 to 9000 ppm significantly decreased shoot and root lengths (cm) and root to shoot ratio. On the other hand, SHR and RI were increased with increasing salinity concentrations. It could be summarized that seedling parameters were enhanced under salinity stress when seed priming of Raspoly cultivar with 200 ppm GA3.
Intrinsic Gaussian processes on complex constrained domains

We propose a class of intrinsic Gaussian processes (GPs) for interpolation, regression and classification on manifolds with a primary focus on complex constrained domains or irregularly shaped spaces arising as subsets or submanifolds of R , R2 , R3 and beyond. For example, intrinsic GPs can accommodate spatial domains arising as complex subsets of Euclidean space. Intrinsic GPs respect the potentially complex boundary or interior conditions as well as the intrinsic geometry of the spaces. The key novelty of the approach proposed is to utilize the relationship between heat kernels and the transition density of Brownian motion on manifolds for constructing and approximating valid and computationally feasible covariance kernels. This enables intrinsic GPs to be practically applied in great generality, whereas existing approaches for smoothing on constrained domains are limited to simple special cases. The broad utilities of the intrinsic GP approach are illustrated through simulation studies and data examples.
(Anti-)Egalitarianism Differentially Predicts Empathy for Members of Advantaged Versus Disadvantaged Groups

We explore the relationship between group-based egalitarianism and empathy for members of advantaged groups (e.g., corporate executives; state officials) versus disadvantaged groups (e.g., blue-collar workers; schoolteachers) subjected to harmful actions, events, or policies. Whereas previous research suggests that anti-egalitarians (vs. egalitarians) dispositionally exhibit less empathy for others, we propose that this relationship depends on the target’s position in the social hierarchy. We examined this question across eight studies (N = 3,154) conducted in the U.S. and the U.K., including online and in-person experiments and examining attitudinal and behavioral outcomes. We observed that (anti-)egalitarianism negatively predicted empathy for members of disadvantaged groups subjected to harmful situations, but positively predicted empathy for members of advantaged groups. This pattern held regardless of perceivers’ own membership in advantaged or disadvantaged groups (i.e., perceiver gender, race, or SES). (Anti-)egalitarianism’s differential effects on empathy for advantaged versus disadvantaged targets were attributable in part to differences in perceived degree of harm incurred (beyond roles for perceived value conflict and perceived deservingness): Egalitarians perceived the same action as more harmful than anti-egalitarians when it occurred to a disadvantaged target but less harmful than anti-egalitarians when it occurred to an advantaged target. We also explored how these patterns informed individuals’ downstream policy attitudes and policy-relevant behavior (e.g., willingness to sign a petition). Our findings enrich understanding of (anti-)egalitarianism by testing competing perspectives on the link between (anti-)egalitarianism and empathy, and by demonstrating when and why individuals’ preferences for social equality (vs. hierarchy) lead them to extend versus withhold empathy.
Association of Disease Severity With Skin Microbiome and Filaggrin Gene Mutations in Adult Atopic Dermatitis

Importance Skin microbiome correlates with disease severity for lesional and nonlesional skin, indicating a global influence of atopic dermatitis (AD). A relation between skin microbiome and filaggrin gene (FLG) mutations proposes a possible association between skin microbiome and host genetics. Objectives To assess skin and nasal microbiome diversity and composition in patients with AD and compare with healthy controls, and to investigate the microbiome in relation to disease severity and FLG mutations in patients with AD. Design, Setting, and Participants An observational case-control study of 45 adult healthy controls and 56 adult patients with AD was carried out from January 2015 to June 2015 in a tertiary referral center, Department of Dermatology, Bispebjerg Hospital, Denmark. Exposures Bacterial swabs were taken from patients with AD (lesional skin, nonlesional skin, and anterior nares) and from healthy controls (nonlesional skin and anterior nares). Eczema severity was assessed and FLG mutations noted. Bacterial DNA was extracted from swabs, and V3-V4 16S rDNA regions amplified with PCR. Samples were analyzed at Statens Serum Institut September 2015 to September 2016. Bioinformatics analyses of the microbiome were analyzed using R statistical software (version 3.3.1, R Foundation Inc). Main Outcomes and Measures Skin microbiomes were investigated using next-generation sequencing targeting 16S ribosomal RNA. Results Microbiome alpha diversity was lower in patients with AD compared with healthy controls in nonlesional skin (effect size, 0.710; 95% CI, 0.27-1.15; P = .002), lesional skin (effect size, 0.728; 95% CI, 0.35-1.33; P = .001), and nose (effect size, 1.111; 95% CI, 0.48-0.94; P < .001). Alpha diversity was inversely correlated with disease severity for lesional (effect size, 0.530; 95% CI, 0.23-1.64; P = .02) and nonlesional skin (effect size, 0.451; 95% CI, 0.04-2.44; P = .04) in patients with AD. Microbiome composition in AD nonlesional skin was linked to FLG mutations. Conclusions and Relevance An altered microbiome composition in patients with AD in nonlesional skin, lesional skin, as well as nose, suggests a global influence of AD. Microbiome composition in AD nonlesional skin is associated with FLG mutations, proposing a possible association between the skin microbiome and host genetics.
DEM GENERATION WITH SHORT BASE LENGTH PLEIADES TRIPLET

An image triplet of Pleiades images covering the area of Zonguldak, Turkey has been investigated. The height to base relation of the first to the last image is just 1:4.5 and for the first and the second image 1:9. This is quite below the usual height to base relation of 1:1.6 for a typical stereo pair of space images. The corresponding small angle of convergence influences the possible vertical accuracy, but images with such a small angle of convergence are more similar to each other as images with larger convergence angles. This enables a better image matching, improving the vertical accuracy and compensating partially the influence of poor intersection geometry. Even over forest areas no matching gaps occurred. Height models are generated with different base configurations and compared with a reference height model. Pleiades images are distributed with 50cm ground sampling distance instead of the physical size of 70cm, the image quality justifies this zooming and also the geometric results are in the range of other space images with originally 50cm GSD. The image orientation by bias corrected Rational Polynomial Coefficients (RPC) is leading with more as 160 ground control points (GCP) to root mean square (RMS) differences slightly below 1.0 GSD of the distributed images (0.5m GSD). Only negligible systematic errors have been identified. With the combination of the first and last image a standard deviation of the generated height model of 1.6m, respectively for flat terrain close to 1.0m has been reached in relation to a reference height model. The small angle of convergence is not as much influencing the height accuracy as according to simple geometric relation.
MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF AS-CAST ZA-27 / Gr / SiCp HYBRID COMPOSITE FOR THE APPLICATION OF JOURNAL

The mechanical behavior of as-cast ZA-27 alloy and hybrid composite reinforced with graphite (Gr) of constant 3% by weight and silicon carbide particle (SiCp) varying from 0-9% by weight in steps of 3% was carried out. Vortex method of production was employed in which thoroughly mixed Gr and SiC particles were poured into the vortex created by means of mechanical stirrer. The melt was cast using a pre-heated permanent mold box. Microstructure showed fine distribution of the reinforcements in the specimen. Tensile and hardness tests were carried out as per ASTM standards. The results reveal that, as the percentage of SiCp was increased, UTS and hardness increased with reduction in ductility.
CXCR4 expression in patients with high-risk locally advanced renal cell carcinoma can independently predict increased risk of disease progression and poor overall survival.

AIMS AND BACKGROUND CXC receptor 4 (CXCR4), one of chemokine receptor family, plays important roles in metastasis of solid malignancies. In the present study, we aimed to investigate the potential predictive value of CXCR4 in the metastasis of patients with high-risk locally advanced renal cell carcinoma (LARCC). MATERIALS AND METHODS From 2001 to 2005, the expression of CXCR4 in 117 high-risk LARCCs was evaluated with immunohistochemical staining and assessed for correlations with clinical characteristics, progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) of the patients. RESULTS Mean duration of follow-up was 51 months. 4-year PFS and OS of patients was 55.6% and 69.2%, respectively. High expression of CXCR4 was associated with not only increased risk for disease progression (p=0.001), but also worse OS of high-risk LARCC patients (p=0.001). Further analysis also suggested that CXCR4 expression had a significant negative predictive value for the effect of interferon alpha (IFN-α) on PFS (p=0.003). CONCLUSIONS CXCR4 is a novel biomarker for prognosis in high-risk LARCC, which might furthermore have promise to predict clinical response to adjuvant therapy.