Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Protein Kinase R Degradation Is Essential for Rift Valley Fever Virus Infection and Is Regulated by SKP1-CUL1-F-box (SCF)FBXW11-NSs E3 Ligase

Activated protein kinase R (PKR) plays a vital role in antiviral defense primarily by inhibiting protein synthesis and augmenting interferon responses. Many viral proteins have adopted unique strategies to counteract the deleterious effects of PKR. The NSs (Non-structural s) protein which is encoded by Rift Valley fever virus (RVFV) promotes early PKR proteasomal degradation through a previously undefined mechanism. In this study, we demonstrate that NSs carries out this activity by assembling the SCF (SKP1-CUL1-F-box)FBXW11 E3 ligase. NSs binds to the F-box protein, FBXW11, via the six amino acid sequence DDGFVE called the degron sequence and recruits PKR through an alternate binding site to the SCFFBXW11 E3 ligase. We further show that disrupting the assembly of the SCFFBXW11-NSs E3 ligase with MLN4924 (a small molecule inhibitor of SCF E3 ligase activity) or NSs degron viral mutants or siRNA knockdown of FBXW11 can block PKR degradation. Surprisingly, under these conditions when PKR degradation was blocked, NSs was essential and sufficient to activate PKR causing potent inhibition of RVFV infection by suppressing viral protein synthesis. These antiviral effects were antagonized by the loss of PKR expression or with a NSs deleted mutant virus. Therefore, early PKR activation by disassembly of SCFFBXW11-NSs E3 ligase is sufficient to inhibit RVFV infection. Furthermore, FBXW11 and BTRC are the two homologues of the βTrCP (Beta-transducin repeat containing protein) gene that were previously described to be functionally redundant. However, in RVFV infection, among the two homologues of βTrCP, FBXW11 plays a dominant role in PKR degradation and is the limiting factor in the assembly of the SCFFBXW11 complex. Thus, FBXW11 serves as a master regulator of RVFV infection by promoting PKR degradation. Overall these findings provide new insights into NSs regulation of PKR activity and offer potential opportunities for therapeutic intervention of RVFV infection.
Rates of Crime and Unemployment: An Analysis of Aggregate Research Evidence

The unemployment/crime rate relationship (U-C) has been described recently as “inconsistent,” “insignificant,” and “weak. ” Prior assessments of the U-C relationship have used no more than 18 U-C studies, and no more than 7 with 1970s data. In this paper, I review the findings of 63 U-C studies, 40 of which involve data from the 1970s when unemployment rose dramatically. My analysis shows the conditional nature of the U-C relationship. Property crimes, 1970s data, and sub-national levels of aggregation produce consistently positive and frequently significant U-C results. I discuss the implications of these results and argue that it is premature to abandon “this now well-plowed terrain” and suggest potentially fruitful paths for future studies of the U-C relationship.
Blastocyst transfer does not improve cycle outcome as compared to D3 transfer in antagonist cycles with an elevated progesterone level on the day of hCG

Objective: To evaluate the association between progesterone elevation on the day of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) administration and clinical pregnancy rates of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) antagonist in vitro fertilization/intracytoplasmic sperm injection (IVF/ICSI) cycles with the transfer of embryos at different developmental stages (day-3 versus day-5 ETs). Material and Methods: This is a retrospective analysis of fresh IVF/ICSI; 194 cycles out of 2676 conducted in a single center. Results: A total of 2676 cycles were analyzed, of which 386 had no progesterone measurements available. Two hundred eighteen cycles had progesterone elevation (p>1.5 ng/mL) giving an overall incidence of 9.5%. Twenty-four cycles were excluded from further analysis. Of the remaining 194 cycles, 151 had day-3 transfers and 43 had blastocyst transfers. There was no statistically significant difference in pregnancy and clinical pregnancy rates per transfer between the D3-ET and D5-ET groups (46% vs. 49%, and 39% vs. 35%, respectively). Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that blastocyst transfer does not improve cycle outcomes compared with D3 transfer in GnRH antagonist cycles with an elevated progesterone level on the day of hCG.
On distinguishing between Internet power law topology generators

Recent work has shown that the node degree in the WWW induced graph and the autonomous system (AS) level Internet topology exhibit power laws. Since then, several algorithms have been proposed to generate such power law graphs. We evaluate the effectiveness of these generators to generate representative AS-level topologies. Our conclusions are mixed. Although they (mostly) do a reasonable job at capturing the power law exponent, they do less well in capturing the clustering phenomena exhibited by the Internet topology. Based on these results, we propose a variation of the recent incremental topology generator of R. Albert and A. Barabasi (see Phys. Rev. Letters, vol.85, p.5234-7, 2000) that is more successful at matching the power law exponent and the clustering behavior of the Internet. Last, we comment on the small world behavior of the Internet topology.
Right wing authoritarianism, social dominance orientation and the dimensions of generalized prejudice

Prior research suggests that individuals' prejudiced attitudes form a single generalized dimension predicted by Right Wing Authoritarianism (RWA) and Social Dominance Orientation (SDO). A dual process approach, however, expects different domains of generalized prejudice that relate differentially to RWA and SDO. To test this, 212 participants rated attitudes to 24 typically disliked groups. Factor analysis revealed three distinct generalized prejudice dimensions. Hierarchical Linear Modelling indicated that attitudes towards a ‘dangerous’ groups domain was significantly related only with RWA, attitudes toward a second ‘derogated’ groups domain was related only to SDO, and attitudes toward a third, ‘dissident’ groups, domain was significantly related to both, but powerfully with RWA and weakly with SDO. These findings have implications for explaining and reducing prejudice. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Grid-Connected Integrated Battery Chargers in Vehicle Applications: Review and New Solution

For vehicles using grid power to charge the battery, traction circuit components are not engaged during the charging time, so there is a possibility to use them in the charger circuit to have an onboard integrated charger. The battery charger can be galvanically isolated or nonisolated from the grid. Different examples of isolated or nonisolated integrated chargers are reviewed and explained. Moreover, a novel isolated-high-power three-phase battery charger based on a split-phase permanent-magnet motor and its winding configuration is presented in this paper. The proposed charger is a bidirectional high-power charger with a unity power factor operation capability that has high efficiency.
Adaptive optics near-infrared imaging of NGC 2992 — unveiling core structures related to radio figure-of-8 loops

We present near-infrared adaptive optics, Very Large Array (VLA) radio and Hubble Space Telescope (HST) optical imaging of the nearby Seyfert galaxy NGC 2992. Spiral structure and an extension to the west are traced down to the core region at the limiting resolution of our near-infrared images. A faint, diffuse loop of near-infrared and radio emission is also observed to the north, embedded within the prominent 2-arcsec radio loop previously observed to the north-west. Near-infrared colour maps and CO narrow-band imaging are then used to identify which regions may not be purely reddened stellar populations. Our new data provide evidence that the VLA radio-loop morphology in the shape of a figure of 8 represents two components superimposed: (1) outflow bubbles out of the plane of the disc, coincident with the extended emission-line region (EELR); (2) star formation along the spiral arm within the galaxy disc and through the dust lane. The near-infrared continuum emission associated with the outflowing radio bubbles suggests that the radio loops are driven by the active nucleus.
Protective effects of organic solvent fractions from the seeds of Vigna radiata L. wilczek against antioxidant mechanisms

This study was conducted to evaluate the in vitro scavenging activity and inhibitory effect of low-density lipoprotein oxidation of pro-oxidant reactive species in response to treatment with organic solvent fractions from mung bean (seeds of Vigna radiata) extracts using various screening methods including biological and non-biological oxidants. The antioxidant activity of different organic solvent fractions from mung bean extracts were studied in vitro methods by evaluating the total phenol components, measuring the antioxidant activity by trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity, measuring the scavenging effects on reactive oxygen species and on reactive nitrogen species as well as measuring the inhibitory effect on Cu2+-induced human low-density lipoprotein oxidation. The mung bean extracts were found to have a potent scavenging activity against all of the reactive species tested as well as an inhibitory effect on low-density lipoprotein oxidation, the studied mung bean was revealed to be very effective against the evaluated pro-oxidant species, including reactive oxygen species and on reactive nitrogen species.
Comparative Study of Glucose Homeostasis, Lipids and Lipoproteins, HDL Functionality, and Cardiometabolic Parameters in Modestly Severely Obese African Americans and White Americans With Prediabetes: Implications for the Metabolic Paradoxes

OBJECTIVE To determine whether modestly severe obesity modifies glucose homeostasis, levels of cardiometabolic markers, and HDL function in African Americans (AAs) and white Americans (WAs) with prediabetes. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS We studied 145 subjects with prediabetes (N = 61 WAs, N = 84 AAs, mean age 46.5 ± 11.2 years, mean BMI 37.8 ± 6.3 kg/m2). We measured fasting levels of lipids, lipoproteins, and an inflammatory marker (C-reactive protein [CRP]); HDL functionality (i.e., levels of paraoxonase 1 [PON1]); and levels of oxidized LDL, adiponectin, and interleukin-6 (IL-6). We measured serum levels of glucose, insulin, and C-peptide during an oral glucose tolerance test. Values for insulin sensitivity index (Si), glucose effectiveness index (Sg), glucose effectiveness at zero insulin (GEZI), and acute insulin response to glucose (AIRg) were derived using a frequently sampled intravenous glucose tolerance test (using MINMOD software). RESULTS Mean levels of fasting and incremental serum glucose, insulin, and C-peptide tended to be higher in WAs versus AAs. The mean Si was not different in WAs versus AAs (2.6 ± 2.3 vs. 2.9 ± 3.0 × 10−4 × min−1 [μU/mL]−1). Mean values for AIRg and disposition index as well as Sg and GEZI were lower in WAs than AAs. WAs had higher serum triglyceride levels than AAs (116.1 ± 55.5 vs. 82.7 ± 44.2 mg/dL, P = 0.0002). Mean levels of apolipoprotein (apo) A1, HDL cholesterol, PON1, oxidized LDL, CRP, adiponectin, and IL-6 were not significantly different in obese AAs versus WAs with prediabetes. CONCLUSIONS Modestly severe obesity attenuated the ethnic differences in Si, but not in Sg and triglyceride levels in WAs and AAs with prediabetes. Despite the lower Si and PON1 values, AAs preserved paradoxical relationships between the Si and HDL/apoA1/triglyceride ratios. We conclude that modestly severe obesity has differential effects on the pathogenic mechanisms underlying glucose homeostasis and atherogenesis in obese AAs and WAs with prediabetes.
Liability and the Internet: Risks and Recommendations for Social Work Practice

SUMMARY Use of the Internet for counseling and information services has increased dramatically in the last five years. Although the Internet may benefit consumers by helping them secure needed services and resources, social workers and social service agencies who provide counseling over the Internet need to be aware of the legal risks associated with its use. Among the most salient concerns that need to be addressed are client confidentiality and privacy of records, appropriateness of treatment services, and the duty to warn others of harm that a client might pose to them. This paper looks at these legal concerns in light of appropriate Social Work practice and recommends methods to abate the risks that might occur when Internet counseling and service is provided.
The Correlation Between Body Fat, Visceral Fat, and Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease.

BACKGROUND This study investigated the correlation between body fat, visceral fat, and the presence of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). METHODS In this cross-sectional study, participants were required to be 20 years or older, and free of liver disease (comprising either the hepatitis C virus antibody or hepatitis B surface antigen), cirrhosis, and malignant or biliary diseases. A total of 2759 participants were collected for this study. Demographic and biochemical data were collected by chart review. For estimating body fat and visceral fat, anthropometric and bioelectrical impedance analyses were conducted, whereas fatty livers were diagnosed through an abdominal ultrasound. RESULTS The waist circumference (WC), body mass index (BMI), body fat, visceral fat, and metabolic syndrome (MS) were associated with NAFLD. A larger WC, higher BMI, higher levels of body and visceral fat, and the MS significantly correlated with the presence of a fatty liver. Additionally, the receiver operating characteristic suggested that the visceral fat cutoff point was 70.5 cm2 (Youden's index = 0.4352). CONCLUSIONS Visceral fat is a strong predictor of NAFLD.
Influence of bilirubin on surface tension properties of lung surfactant.

AIM: To investigate the influence of bilirubin on the surface tension activity of a porcine derived (Curosurf) and synthetic (Exosurf) surfactant. METHODS: The captive bubble surfactometer at phospholipid doses of 0.5 mg/ml (low dose) and 1 mg/ml (high dose) in solutions of increasing bilirubin concentrations (0.25, 0.5, and 1.0 mg/ml) was used. RESULTS: Curosurf (without bilirubin) showed a higher surface f1p4ion activity than Exosurf, as shown by area compression of 30 (SD 0.6)% compared with 76(1.4)% at low surfactant dose and 25 (0.9)% compared with 85 (0.5)% at high dose (P < 0.01). Bilirubin showed negligible surface activity at the concentrations studied. At low phospholipid dose (0.5 mg/ml Curosurf), bilirubin increased film area compression of lipid extract surfactant from 30 (0.6)% to 55 (1.6)%, 59 (0.1)%, and 68 (0.5)% at the three studied bilirubin concentrations, respectively (P < 0.01). At high phospholipid dose (1 mg/ml Curosurf), bilirubin had the same adverse, although less pronounced, effect on film area compression of porcine lipid extract surfactant (25 (0.9)% vs 26 (0.9)%, 39 (1.3)%, and 44 (1.1)%, respectively) (P < 0.01). Using synthetic surfactant (Exosurf), with a much lower original surface activity, bilirubin did not further inhibit its surface tension properties at any of the phospholipid doses studied. CONCLUSION: These results indicate that in vitro bilirubin impairs the surface tension activity of porcine lipid extract surfactant, but does not affect synthetic surfactant activity.
Excluded from privilege? Black American fraternity men’s negotiations of hegemonic masculinity

Abstract In the United States in 2015, race and masculinity are at crucial sociopolitical crossroads – particularly as individuals and communities attempt to navigate the complicated experiences Black American males must face under the backdrop of police brutality, violence, and racism (Brunson, 2007; Crenshaw, Gotanda, Peller, & Thomas, 1995). In a time where Facebook and twitter hashtags have to remind us that #blacklivesmatter, we must support space for Black men to tell their own stories about how they navigate masculinity within cultural discourses that demonize, problematize, and construct what it means to be a Black man in America. In particular, this manuscript will focus on Black fraternity men’s self-perceived understandings of masculinity as developed within Black fraternity spaces with/in American culture. These self-perceived understandings highlight the complex state of raced masculinities caught within and pushing against hegemonic expectations of gender, religiosity, heteronormativity, and ethics of care within current American contexts.
Pharmacokinetics and safety of twice-daily atazanavir 300 mg and raltegravir 400 mg in healthy individuals

Background Atazanavir plus raltegravir 300/400 mg twice daily is being explored as a ritonavir- and nucleoside- sparing treatment strategy. The pharmaco-kinetics and safety of this combination in healthy individuals were evaluated. Methods A total of 22 healthy individuals received raltegravir 400 mg on days 1–5, atazanavir 300 mg on days 6–12 and atazanavir plus raltegravir 300/400 mg on days 13–26, twice daily with a light meal. Serial blood samples were collected 12 h after the morning dose on days 5, 12 and 26; safety assessments, clinical laboratory data and serial electrocardiograms (ECGs) at 0, 2 and 6 h were obtained. Results Raltegravir coadministration reduced atazanavir geometric mean maximum plasma concentration (Cmax), area under the plasma concentration–time curve from 0 to 12 h post-dose (AUC0–12) and trough plasma concentration (Cmin) by 11%, 17% and 29%, respectively, compared with atazanavir alone. Geometric mean atazanavir Cmin was 817 ng/ml (range 250–1,550) with raltegravir coadministration. Atazanavir increased raltegravir geometric mean Cmax, AUC0–12 and Cmin by 39%, 54% and 48%, respectively. All adverse events were of mild or moderate intensity. Hyperbilirubinaemia and ECG PR increases with atazanavir were similar to those of atazanavir/ritonavir once daily. No corrected QT prolongations were noted. Mean QRS increase from baseline was 11.0 ms (range 2–25) after receiving atazanavir for 7 days; no further QRS increase was noted and no QRS interval was >120 ms with raltegravir coadministration. No ECG changes were observed with raltegravir alone. Conclusions Coadministration of atazanavir and raltegravir 300/400 mg twice daily decreased atazanavir AUC0–12 and Cmin relative to atazanavir alone, and increased AUC0–12 of raltegravir relative to raltegravir alone. Atazanavir and raltegravir alone and coadministered appeared safe and well-tolerated.
Cross-Cultural Validity of the Frost Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale in Korea

This study with 213 South Korean college students (113 men) examined the cross-cultural generalizability of (a) the factor structure of the Frost Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale (F-MPS) and (b) the existence of adaptive perfectionists, maladaptive perfectionists, and nonperfectionists. A confirmatory factor analysis did not support the original six-factor model of the F-MPS with 35 items. Subsequently, an exploratory factor analysis along with parallel analysis suggests five factors in Korea: Concern Over Mistakes, Organization, Parental High Standards, Personal Standards, and Doubts About Actions. Notably, Parental Expectations and Parental Criticism in the original F-MPS were subsumed under one factor, Parental High Standards. A cluster analysis results provides additional support for the existence of the three groups. Cultural implications are discussed.
Type 1 Diabetes Treatment Beyond Insulin

Objective To observe the efficacy and safety of glucagonlike peptide-1 (GLP-1) analogs in type 1 diabetes in a real-life medical practice setting. Methods We performed a retrospective chart review of patients with type 1 diabetes initiated on a GLP-1 analog and with at least one follow-up visit at more than 4 weeks. Results We identified 11 patients who were initiated on a GLP-1 analog and had a follow-up visit between 4 and 13 weeks (mean (SD) follow-up 10 ± 3 weeks; age 36.5 ± 16.4 years; duration of diabetes 17.3 ± 9.3 years; all on insulin pump therapy; all started on liraglutide). Seven of these patients had a second follow-up visit at approximately 20 weeks. By 10 weeks, there was a significant decrease in weight (4.2% of total body weight), total daily insulin dose (19.2%, of which 14.0% basal and 24.1% bolus), and mean (SD) insulin units/kg (0.57 [0.17] to 0.48 [0.17] units/kg). Hemoglobin A1c was significantly decreased (7.4 [0.7%] to 7.0 [0.7%], P = 0.02) without an increase in hypoglycemia. These effects were sustained at 20 weeks. Nausea was a common adverse effect and lead to drug discontinuation in 4 of 11 patients. Conclusions Patients with long-standing type 1 diabetes can achieve weight loss and improved glycemic control on less insulin without an increase in hypoglycemia when liraglutide is added to insulin therapy.
Variable expression of a yeast-phase-specific gene in Histoplasma capsulatum strains differing in thermotolerance and virulence

By means of differential hybridization techniques, several yeast-phase-specific DNA sequences were identified in the dimorphic pathogenic fungus Histoplasma capsulatum. A 1.85-kilobase (kb) HindIII fragment from one genomic clone, yps-3, hybridized to at least three distinct yeast poly(A)+ RNAs of 1.3, 1.05, and 0.95 kb from the virulent strain G217B. These mRNAs were not detected in mycelia. When mycelia from G217B were induced to become yeast by transfer from 25 to 37 degrees C, a process requiring approximately 9 days, expression of yps-3 was detected within 24 h, although not in the initial 2 h following the temperature shift. In contrast, a low-virulence strain (Downs) which completes the transition in approximately 2 weeks failed to express the yps-3 gene during phase transitions. A third isolate, G186B, intermediate in its virulence properties and in the time required for the transition (11 days), expressed a single 1.25-kb mRNA but only at low levels in the yeast phase and only after 3 days following the 25-to-37 degrees C temperature shift. Although yps-3 expression does not appear to be essential for the transformation to the yeast phase, it may facilitate the early adaptive processes which permit the mycelium-to-yeast transition and survival of the yeast phase of H. capsulatum at elevated host temperatures. The phase-specific yps-3 nuclear gene is carried on highly polymorphic restriction fragments in all three strains, suggesting that this probe may provide a sensitive diagnostic tool for the classification of H. capsulatum isolates.