Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Comparison of Herpes Simplex Virus Reactivation in Ganglia In Vivo and in Explants Demonstrates Quantitative and Qualitative Differences

ABSTRACT The in vivo ganglionic environment directs the latent herpes simplex virus transcriptional program. Since stress-driven perturbations in sensory neurons are thought to play a critical role in the transition from latency to reactivation, a primary concern in the selection of a valid model of the molecular interactions leading to reactivation is the faithful recapitulation of these environments. In this study reactivation of latently infected ganglia excised and cultured in vitro (explanted) is compared to reactivation occurring in latently infected ganglia in vivo following hyperthermic stress. Three notable points emerged. (i) Neurons in explanted ganglia exhibited marked morphological changes within 2 to 3 h postexplant. DNA fragmentation in neuronal nuclei was detected at 3 h, and atypical expression of cell cycle- and stress-regulated proteins such as geminin, cdk2, cdk4, and cytochrome c became apparent at 2 to 48 h. These changes were associated with axotomy and explant and not with the initiation or progression of reactivation and were not observed in ganglia following in vivo hyperthermic stress. (ii) Despite these differences, during the first 22 h primary reactivation events were restricted to a very small number of neurons in vivo and in explanted ganglia. This suggests that at any given time only a few latently infected neurons are competent to reactivate or that the probability of reactivation occurring in any particular neuron is very low. Importantly, the marked changes detected in explanted ganglia were not correlated with increased reactivation, demonstrating that these changes were not associated with the reactivation process per se. (iii) Secondary spread of virus was evident in explanted ganglia within 36 h, an event not observed in vivo. We conclude that explant reactivation may provide an ancillary system for selected studies of the early events in reactivation. However, clear signs of neuronal degeneration within 2 to 3 h postexplant indicate that these ganglia are undergoing major physiological changes not associated with the reactivation process. This ongoing neurodegeneration could alter even the early virus-host interactions in reactivation, and thus caution in the extrapolation of results obtained in explants to the in vivo interactions initiating reactivation is warranted.
Vocational Training in French Schools: The State/Employer Alliance.

In France today most initial vocational training is delivered within the school system, in the lycees professionnels (vocational lycees) and the technological streams of general lycees. Historically this characteristic feature of the French system came about at the end of the 19th century as a result of the educational policy of the Third Republic in conjunction with the needs of the mechanical engineering and electrical engineering industries. From the 1960s on, the standing of this training system suffered as it systematically took in pupils who had failed in general secondary education. For their part, employers who originally supported the State's efforts when there was a shortage of skilled labour have sought to regain control over training in a contemporary situation where labour is plentiful and flexibility desired. The future of such training is uncertain and new forms of collaboration between enterprises and vocational and technical training establishments are gradually emerging.
Retrieval of Cirrus Microphysical Properties with a Suite of Algorithms for Airborne and Spaceborne Lidar, Radar, and Radiometer Data

Abstract Algorithms are developed to convert data streams from multiple airborne and spaceborne remote sensors into layer-averaged cirrus bulk microphysical properties. Radiometers such as the Moderate-Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) observe narrowband spectral radiances, and active remote sensors such as the lidar on the Cloud–Aerosol Lidar and Infrared Pathfinder Satellite Observation (CALIPSO) satellite and the millimeter radar on CloudSat will provide vertical profiles of attenuated optical backscatter and radar reflectivity. Equivalent airborne remote sensors are also routinely flown on the NASA WB-57F and ER-2 aircraft. Algorithms designed to retrieve cirrus microphysical properties from remote sensor data must be able to handle the natural variability of cirrus that can range from optically thick layers that cause lidar attenuation to tenuous layers that are not detected by the cloud radar. An approach that is adopted here is to develop an algorithm suite that has internal consistency .
The leader peptide of mutacin 1140 has distinct structural components compared to related class I lantibiotics

Lantibiotics are ribosomally synthesized peptide antibiotics composed of an N‐terminal leader peptide that promotes the core peptide's interaction with the post translational modification (PTM) enzymes. Following PTMs, mutacin 1140 is transported out of the cell and the leader peptide is cleaved to yield the antibacterial peptide. Mutacin 1140 leader peptide is structurally unique compared to other class I lantibiotic leader peptides. Herein, we further our understanding of the structural differences of mutacin 1140 leader peptide with regard to other class I leader peptides. We have determined that the length of the leader peptide is important for the biosynthesis of mutacin 1140. We have also determined that mutacin 1140 leader peptide contains a novel four amino acid motif compared to related lantibiotics. PTM enzyme recognition of the leader peptide appears to be evolutionarily distinct from related class I lantibiotics. Our study on mutacin 1140 leader peptide provides a basis for future studies aimed at understanding its interaction with the PTM enzymes.
The New Imperial Order: Indigenous Responses to Globalization

Starting from a Maori perspective, this book examines the development of international law and the world order of nation states. In engaging with these issues across macro and micro levels, the international arena, the national state and forms of regionalism are identified as sites for the reshaping of the global politico-economic order and the emergence of Empire. Overarching these problems is the emergence of a new form of global domination in which the connecting roles of militarism and the economy, and the increase in technologies of surveillance and control have acquired overt significance.
The Intermittent Traveling Salesman Problem with Different Temperature Profiles: Greedy or not?

In this research, we discuss the intermittent traveling salesman problem (ITSP), which extends the traditional traveling salesman problem (TSP) by imposing temperature restrictions on each node. These additional constraints limit the maximum allowable visit time per node, and result in multiple visits for each node which cannot be serviced in a single visit. We discuss three different temperature increase and decrease functions, namely a linear, a quadratic and an exponential function. To solve the problem, we consider three different solution representations as part of a metaheuristic approach. We argue that in case of similar temperature increase and decrease profiles, it is always beneficial to apply a greedy approach, i.e. to process as much as possible given the current node temperature.
Androgen receptor CAG and GGN repeat length variation contributes more to the tumorigenesis of osteosarcoma

The androgen receptor (AR) is involved in the differentiation and growth of many cancers. We hypothesized that two microsatellite polymorphic variants, AR (CAG)n and (GGN)n repeats, were also associated with the development of Papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) and Osteosarcoma. In current study, we conducted two case-control studies in a Chinese population to investigate the possible relationship between these two AR repeat polymorphisms and the risk of PTC and Osteosarcoma. The AR CAG repeat length was significantly associated with both risk of PTC and Osteosarcoma. Subjects with shorter AR CAG repeats had a higher risk of developing PTC (OR = 1.47, 95% CI: 1.17–1.85, P = 0.001) and Osteosarcoma (OR = 1.53, 95% CI: 1.19–1.97, P = 9.2 × 10–4). Specifically, shorter GGN repeats also contribute a significant increased risk of Osteosarcoma (OR = 1.35, 95% CI: 1.03–1.77, P = 0.030). Our results contribute to a better understanding of the complex hormone related mechanisms underlying PTC and Osteosarcoma.
Profile of lebrikizumab and its potential in the treatment of asthma

Interleukin (IL)-13 has been associated with multiple inflammatory features of asthma. It affects multiple cellular lines in asthma and is a key mediator in airway hyperreactivity and remodeling. Periostin, an extracellular protein, has been used as a surrogate marker of IL-13 activity and has been linked to airway remodeling by inducing subepithelial fibrosis. Lebrikizumab is a humanized monoclonal antibody that targets IL-13. Studies have demonstrated promising results with lebrikizumab therapy in asthma with regard to pulmonary function and exacerbation rates, especially on those patients with surrogate markers of T helper cell type 2-driven inflammation (ie, elevated immunoglobulin E levels, eosinophil counts, periostin levels). Lebrikizumab appears to be a safe therapy, but there are ongoing studies evaluating its efficacy and safety profile. Other therapies that target IL-13 and the receptor of IL-4/IL-13 have been studied, but future studies are needed to determine their role in the treatment of asthma.
Electrophysiological Assessment of the Effects of Obstructive Sleep Apnea on Cognition

We used electrophysiological measures to investigate the effects of obstructive sleep apnea on attention, learning, and memory. Thirty subjects (OSA group, n = 15, control group n = 15) participated in n-back tests, accompanied by P300 recordings, to investigate working memory and attention. The mirror-drawing test was used to study procedural memory, and the trail-making test (TMT) was used to evaluate divided attention and executive function. No significant group difference in reaction time was found in the 0-back and 1-back tests. In the 2-back test, reaction times of patients were longer than those of the control group. No P300 wave was obtained in the OSA group in any (0-, 1-, or 2-back) n-back test. In contrast, in the control group, significant P300 waves were recorded except for the 2-back test. The mirror-drawing scores were unaffected by sleep apnea. There was no difference between groups in the TMT-A test on any of the trials. Although no group difference was found in the first or second trials of the TMT-B test, OSA patients were less successful in learning on the third trial. According to our study results, OSA affects attention and executive function adversely however, we could not detect a significant effect on working or procedural memory.
Lessons learned about minority recruitment and retention from the Centers on Minority Aging and Health Promotion.

PURPOSE This article presents a summary of an earlier monograph on the recruitment and retention of older ethnic minority individuals. DESIGN AND METHODS The authors provide an overview of recruitment and retention efforts made by six National Institutes of Health Office of Minority Research/National Institute on Aging-funded Centers on Minority Aging and Health Promotion. We rely on a model that focuses on barriers and enablers to recruitment that stem from the minority community as well as the research community. RESULTS The summary of findings suggests that recruitment and retention success occurs when there is a match between the goals of the ethnic minority communities and the research community. IMPLICATIONS Recognizing and understanding the culture of each ethnic minority community as well the research perspectives is essential to successful recruitment and retention of ethnic minority elderly individuals.
Towards 3D mapping of forests: A comparative study with first/last pulse and full waveform LiDAR data

This paper highlights several approaches to segment and reconstruct trees from LIDAR data and compares the results acquired both from first/last pulse and full waveform data. In a first step, we set up a conventional watershed based segmentation procedure, which robustly interpolates the CHM from the LIDAR data and finds possible stem positions of the tallest trees in the segments calculated from the local maxima of the CHM. Secondly, we combine this segmentation approach with a special stem detection method. Stem positions in the segments of the watershed segmentation are detected by hierarchically clustering points below the crown base height and reconstructing the stems with a robust RANSAC-based adjustment of the stem points. Finally, we implement a new 3D segmentation of single trees using the normalized cut method. This tackles the problem of how to segment small trees below the CHM. Experiments were conducted in the Bavarian Forest National Park with conventional first/last pulse data and full waveform LIDAR data. The first/last pulse data were collected in a flight with the Falcon II system from TopoSys in a leaf-on situation at a point density of 10 points/m. Full waveform data were captured with the Riegl LMS Q-560 system at a point density of 25 points/m (leaf-off and leaf-on) and at a point density of 10 points/m (leaf-on). The study results prove that the new 3D segmentation approach is capable of detecting small trees in the lower forest layer. So far, this has been practically impossible when tree segmentation techniques based on the CHM were applied to LIDAR data. Compared to the standard watershed segmentation procedure, the combination of the stem detection method and the normalized cut segmentation leads to the best segmentation results and is superior in the best case by 12%. Moreover, the experiments show clearly that the usage of full waveform data is superior to first/last pulse data. * Corresponding author.
Economic Research and Statistics Division Telecommunications Services in Africa: The Impact of Multilateral Commitments and Unilateral Reform on Sector Performance and Economic Growth

This paper examines the impact of telecommunications liberalization in Africa on both sectoral performance and economic growth. Besides unilateral measures, we account for WTO commitments fostering the credibility of reforms. Actual regulatory quality plays a major role in bringing down prices and in improving access to telecommunication services in Africa. Competition, notably in the mobile telephony segment, also improves sector performance. Increasing access to mobile networks by 1 per cent translates into a 0.5 per cent increase in real GDP per capita. In Africa, multilateral commitments do not reflect recent reforms. However, at the global level, adherence to the WTO Reference Paper entails lower prices.
A Polynomial-Time Dynamic Programming Algorithm for Phrase-Based Decoding with a Fixed Distortion Limit

Decoding of phrase-based translation models in the general case is known to be NP-complete, by a reduction from the traveling salesman problem (Knight, 1999). In practice, phrase-based systems often impose a hard distortion limit that limits the movement of phrases during translation. However, the impact on complexity after imposing such a constraint is not well studied. In this paper, we describe a dynamic programming algorithm for phrase-based decoding with a fixed distortion limit. The runtime of the algorithm is O(nd! lhd+1) where n is the sentence length, d is the distortion limit, l is a bound on the number of phrases starting at any position in the sentence, and h is related to the maximum number of target language translations for any source word. The algorithm makes use of a novel representation that gives a new perspective on decoding of phrase-based models.
Being old and living alone in urban areas: the meaning of self-care and health on the perception of life situation and identity

Background Living alone in urban areas when getting old is an important and necessary field for research as the growth of the urban population worldwide increases, and due to the fact that people live longer. How older people manage their self-care and health, and how this might influence their identity and life situation may be very important to understand when planning for a new, upcoming older generation. The aim of this study was to elucidate the meaning of self-care and health for the perception of life situation and identity among single-living older individuals in urban areas in southern Norway. Methods A phenomenological–hermeneutic approach inspired by Ricoeur was applied. Nine single-living older persons in urban areas, 70–82 years of age, and identified to be in good health were interviewed. The interviews were audiotaped, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed using a phenomenological–hermeneutic method. Results Strength and a time dimension characterized the meaning of self-care and health for the perception of life situation and identity as narrated by the group of single-living older individuals in urban areas in southern Norway. The informants were, as older individuals, caring, autonomous, and robust characters, who had gone through difficult times in life, and in a resilient way moved towards a new future. They valued and were grateful for what they had learned in their lives and could go forward and still experience and explore. Conclusion Self-care is significant in the perception of life situation and identity among single urban older people in this study, and characterized by strength, temporality, gratitude, autonomy, and natality. Society needs to acknowledge the strengths and capabilities of older people to a greater extent.
Comparative Transcriptomics between Synechococcus PCC 7942 and Synechocystis PCC 6803 Provide Insights into Mechanisms of Stress Acclimation

Synechococcus sp. PCC 7942 and Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 are model cyanobacteria from which the metabolism and adaptive responses of other cyanobacteria are inferred. Using stranded and 5′ enriched libraries, we measured the gene expression response of cells transferred from reference conditions to stress conditions of decreased inorganic carbon, increased salinity, increased pH, and decreased illumination at 1-h and 24-h after transfer. We found that the specific responses of the two strains were by no means identical. Transcriptome profiles allowed us to improve the structural annotation of the genome i.e. identify possible missed genes (including anti-sense), alter gene coordinates and determine transcriptional units (operons). Finally, we predicted associations between proteins of unknown function and biochemical pathways by revealing proteins of known functions that are co-regulated with the unknowns. Future studies of these model organisms will benefit from the cataloging of their responses to environmentally relevant stresses, and improvements in their genome annotations found here.
Pathogenesis of Systemic Sclerosis

Systemic scleroderma (SSc) is one of the most complex systemic autoimmune diseases. It targets the vasculature, connective tissue-producing cells (namely fibroblasts/myofibroblasts), and components of the innate and adaptive immune systems. Clinical and pathologic manifestations of SSc are the result of: (1) innate/adaptive immune system abnormalities leading to production of autoantibodies and cell-mediated autoimmunity, (2) microvascular endothelial cell/small vessel fibroproliferative vasculopathy, and (3) fibroblast dysfunction generating excessive accumulation of collagen and other matrix components in skin and internal organs. All three of these processes interact and affect each other. The disease is heterogeneous in its clinical presentation that likely reflects different genetic or triggering factor (i.e., infection or environmental toxin) influences on the immune system, vasculature, and connective tissue cells. The roles played by other ubiquitous molecular entities (such as lysophospholipids, endocannabinoids, and their diverse receptors and vitamin D) in influencing the immune system, vasculature, and connective tissue cells are just beginning to be realized and studied and may provide insights into new therapeutic approaches to treat SSc.
In the erythropoietin era, can we forget alternative or adjunctive therapies for renal anaemia management? The androgen example.

Anaemia is an almost-universal complication of renal insufficiency with significant consequences such as fatigue, reduced stamina, decreased cognition, sexual dysfunction, impaired immunity and diminished quality of life. It also plays a critical role in the development of the structural and functional alterations of the cardiovascular system that are associated with uraemia, and contributes to accelerated atherosclerosis [1–4]. Nowadays, it is widely recognized that anaemia bears a great responsibility for the increased morbidity and mortality of patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD).
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1  Abstract—This paper is concerned with scheduling of a set of single-operation tasks on a set of parallel machines where subcontracting is allowed. The objective is to choose a subset of machines/subcontractors from a set of available machines/subcontractors to perform all jobs to minimize sum of several costs. Processing time of jobs is assumed to be equal. Lower and upper bound for number of jobs assigned to a machine/subcontractor is considered. We first present a comprehensive survey of applications and models. We show special case of the problem when lower bound for number of jobs assigned to each machine/subcontractor is equal to zero is equivalent to single-sink fixed-charge transportation problem (SSFCT). This proves NP-hardness of the problem. Efficient dynamic programming algorithm for this special case is presented. Complicating issues regarding the general case with non-zero lower bounds for number of jobs assigned to machines/subcontractors is discussed. We transfer the general problem to multiple choice knapsack problem (MCKP) that can be solved efficiently using available algorithms. Several new problems are introduced. Complexity of each problem is resolved. Transformation to MCKP is provided that allows available algorithms to solve the problems. The main contribution of the paper is to establish theoretical results regarding the solution of these difficult problems. Note to Practitioners— To be competitive in the market place, companies must be prudent in use of their resources. This paper considers a parallel scheduling environment where choosing in-house machines or subcontractors, as resources, to perform the jobs on time is the main objective. The jobs to be performed have the same processing time or nearly equal processing times. The problem is formulated as integer programming optimization. Efficient dynamic programming procedure is presented for a special case. Transformation of the general case and several realistic problems to MCKP is provided that allows available algorithms to solve the problems.
Protein degradation corrects for imbalanced subunit stoichiometry in OST complex assembly

A combination of SILAC and targeted mass spectrometry provides a sensitive method to measure protein half-lives in yeast. Degradation rates are generally low in wild-type cells; however, ERAD is important to correct for imbalanced subunit stoichiometry. This approach is used to establish an assembly model for the OST complex.