Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Dengue viruses – an overview

Dengue viruses (DENVs) cause the most common arthropod-borne viral disease in man with 50–100 million infections per year. Because of the lack of a vaccine and antiviral drugs, the sole measure of control is limiting the Aedes mosquito vectors. DENV infection can be asymptomatic or a self-limited, acute febrile disease ranging in severity. The classical form of dengue fever (DF) is characterized by high fever, headache, stomach ache, rash, myalgia, and arthralgia. Severe dengue, dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF), and dengue shock syndrome (DSS) are accompanied by thrombocytopenia, vascular leakage, and hypotension. DSS, which can be fatal, is characterized by systemic shock. Despite intensive research, the underlying mechanisms causing severe dengue is still not well understood partly due to the lack of appropriate animal models of infection and disease. However, even though it is clear that both viral and host factors play important roles in the course of infection, a fundamental knowledge gap still remains to be filled regarding host cell tropism, crucial host immune response mechanisms, and viral markers for virulence.
THE EFFECTS OF PATCH SHAPE ON INDIGO BUNTINGS: EVIDENCE FOR AN ECOLOGICAL TRAP

Habitat loss and fragmentation have led to a widespread increase in the proportion of edge habitat in the landscape. Disturbance-dependent bird species are widely assumed to benefit from these edges. However, anthropogenic edges may concentrate nest predators while retaining habitat cues that birds use to select breeding habitat. This may lead birds to mistakenly select dangerous habitat—a phenomenon known as an ''ecological trap. '' We experimentally demonstrated how habitat shape, and thus amount of edge, can adversely affect nest site selection and reproductive success of a disturbance-dependent bird species, the Indigo Bunting (Passerina cyanea). We did so within a landscape-scale experiment composed of equal-area habitat patches that differed in their amount of edge. Indigo Buntings preferentially selected edgy patches, which contained 50% more edge than more compact rectangular patches. Further, buntings fledged significantly fewer young per pair in edgy patches than in rectangular patches. These results provide the first experimental evidence that edges can function as ecological traps.
Determination of human insulin and its analogues in human blood using liquid chromatography coupled to ion mobility mass spectrometry (LC-IM-MS).

The qualitative and quantitative determination of insulin from human blood samples is an emerging topic in doping controls as well as in other related disciplines (e.g. forensics). Beside the therapeutic use, insulin represents a prohibited, performance enhancing substance in sports drug testing. In both cases accurate, sensitive, specific, and unambiguous determination of the target peptide is of the utmost importance. The challenges concerning identifying insulins in blood by liquid chromatography coupled to ion mobility mass spectrometry (LC-IM-MS) are detecting the basal concentrations of approximately 0.2 ng/mL and covering the hyperinsulinaemic clamps at > 3 ng/mL simultaneously using up to 200 μL of plasma or serum. This is achieved by immunoaffinity purification of the insulins with magnetic beads and subsequent separation by micro-scale liquid chromatography coupled to ion mobility / high resolution mass spectrometry. The method includes human insulin as well as the synthetic or animal analogues insulin aspart, glulisine, glargine, detemir, lispro, bovine, and porcine insulin. The method validation shows reliable results considering specificity, limit of detection (0.2 ng/mL except for detemir: 0.8 ng/mL), limit of quantification (0.5 ng/mL for human insulin), precision (CV < 20%), linearity (r > 0.99), recovery, accuracy (>90%), robustness (plasma/serum), and ion suppression. For quantification of human insulin a labelled internal standard ([[(2) H10 ]-Leu(B6,B11,B15,B17) ] - human Insulin) is introduced. By means of the additional ion mobility separation of the different analogues, the chromatographic run time is shortened to 8 min without losing specificity. As proof-of-concept, the procedure was successfully applied to different blood specimens from diabetic patients receiving recombinant synthetic analogues.
A purely combinatorial proof of the Hadwiger Debrunner (p, q) Conjecture

Af amily of sets has the (p;q) property if among any p members of the family some q have a nonempty intersection. The authors have proved that for every p‚ q‚ d +1 there is a c = c(p;q;d) <1 such that for every familyF of compact, convex sets in R d which has the (p;q) property there is a set of at most c points in R d that intersects each member ofF, thus settling an old problem of Hadwiger and Debrunner. Here we present a purely combinatorial proof of this result. AMS Subject Classiflcation: 52A35
Non-parametric Modeling of Partially Ranked Data

Statistical models on full and partial rankings of n items are often of limited practical use for large n due to computational consideration. We explore the use of non-parametric models for partially ranked data and derive efficient procedures for their use for large n. The derivations are largely possible through combinatorial and algebraic manipulations based on the lattice of partial rankings. In particular, we demonstrate for the first time a non-parametric coherent and consistent model capable of efficiently aggregating partially ranked data of different types.
Association of CYP2B6 c.516G>T Polymorphism with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia Susceptibility

Abstract:Objective: To investigate whether any association exists between genetic polymorphism in CYP2B6 c.516G>T and individual susceptibility to acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Methods: Our study group consisted of 96 ALL patients(T-ALL 17 cases, B-ALL 79 cases) and 348 unrelated healthy newborn volunteers as a control group. Genomic DNA was extracted from peripheral blood and cord blood leukocytes. We genotyped CYP2B6 c.516G>T polymorphism by use of PCR with sequence-specific primers (PCR-SSP). The data were analyzed statistically using chi-square and logistic regression analyses. Results: The frequencies of GG genotype were 74.14%, 57.29%, 29.41% and 63.29%, and GT genotype were 23.85%, 37.50%, 64.71% and 31.65%, and TT genotype were 2.01%, 5.21%, 5.88% and 5.06% in control group, ALL, T-ALL, and B-ALL cases, respectively. Chi-square test showed a signiﬁcant correlation between the CYP2B6 c.516G>T polymorphism GT genotype and ALL patients (OR=2.035, 95%CI=1.249-3.313, P=0.004); and T-ALL patients (OR=6.839, 95%CI=2.309-20.252, P=0.000); whereas and B-ALL patients (OR=1.554, 95%CI=0.906-2.667, P=0.108). Conclusions: This study revealed the CYP2B6 c.516GT genotype may be a risk factor to the development of ALL, especially T-ALL.
Antihypertensive Therapy for Patients With Diabetes Mellitus

A pproximately 30-40% of patients with diabetes mellitus will succumb to end-stage renal disease (1). Furthermore, diabetic nephropathy accounts for 25% of all new cases of uremia in the Western world (2). The pathogenesis of diabetic nephropathy is multifactorial, including metabolic control (3) which has been recognized for years and the recently investigated advanced glycosylation end products (4). Other contributing factors include puberty (4) and, perhaps most importantly, blood pressure control. Since the landmark studies of Parving et al. (6) in 1983 demonstrating a decline in the rate of deterioration in renal function with reduction of elevated blood pressure, adequate blood pressure control has become the standard of medical practice for the hypertensive diabetic subject. Thus, for patients with hypertension and diabetes mellitus, when to treat and what antihypertensive to treat with become important questions. A recent review by Mogensen et al. (7) have suggested maintenance of a mean arterial pressure of 90-95 mmHg to maintain or decrease microalbuminuria (in adults) and 100-105 mmHg to maintain glomerular filtration rate (GFR), providing fair metabolic control is also achieved (HbAlc 8.5-9.0%). Because the excretion of even small amounts of albumin (30 jxg/min) has been proposed as a harbinger of future deterioration in renal function (8), increases or decreases in this measurement have been used as a frequent outcome measure for many clinical studies. Other investigators would argue that microalbuminuria poorly reflects the histological changes of mesangial matrix expansion, the hallmark of progressive disease (9). Nevertheless, microalbuminuria (or proteinuria), GFR, and blood pressure are the frequently monitored clinical end points of antihypertensive trials.
A Cell-Free Assay Allows Reconstitution of Vps33p-Dependent Transport to the Yeast Vacuole/Lysosome

We report a cell-free system that measures transport-coupled maturation of carboxypeptidase Y (CPY). Yeast spheroplasts are lysed by extrusion through polycarbonate filters. After differential centrifugation, a 125,000-g pellet is enriched for radiolabeled proCPY and is used as “donor” membranes. A 15,000-g pellet, harvested from nonradiolabeled cells and enriched for vacuoles, is used as “acceptor” membranes. When these membranes are incubated together with ATP and cytosolic extracts, ∼50% of the radiolabeled proCPY is processed to mature CPY. Maturation was inhibited by dilution of donor and acceptor membranes during incubation, showed a 15-min lag period, and was temperature sensitive. Efficient proCPY maturation was possible when donor membranes were from a yeast strain deleted for the PEP4 gene (which encodes the principal CPY processing enzyme, proteinase A) and acceptor membranes from a PEP4 yeast strain, indicating intercompartmental transfer. Cytosol made from a yeast strain deleted for the VPS33 gene was less efficient at driving transport. Moreover, antibodies against Vps33p (a Sec1 homologue) and Vam3p (a Q-SNARE) inhibited transport >90%. Cytosolic extracts from yeast cells overexpressing Vps33p restored transport to antibody-inhibited assays. This cell-free system has allowed the demonstration of reconstituted intercompartmental transport coupled to the function of a VPS gene product.
Pathogenetical Correlations between Periarteritis Nodosa, Renal Hypertension and Rheumatic Lesions.

Female, aged 44 (C.G. No. B38234). This patient accidentally plunged her forearm through a window pane and suffered a severe laceration and severance of the radial artery. She was admitted to hospital about two hours after the accident in a state of severe collapse as a result of profuse haemorrhage; she was semiconscious, very pale; the skin was cold and moist; the pulse rate was barely perceptible, 50 per minute and the systolic blood pressure 45 mm. of mercury. The rapid intravenous administration of 500 c.c. of 5% glucose in physiological saline, resulted in slight improvement. This was immediately followed by the infusion of 800 c.c. of 6% isinglass over a period of twenty minutes, following which she was markedly improved; she was alert, the pulse rate was 60 per minute and the blood pressure 120/72; the hwmoglobin was 38%. An anaesthetic was given, the radial artery ligated and the wound sutured. Although the patient's condition was satisfactory and the blood pressure was well maintained, a transfusion of 500 c.c. of blood was given five hours after the administration of isinglass because of the anemia. Subsequently the patient progressed well. Her temperature never rose above 1000 F. Four days after the accident the hwemoglobin was 48% and the red blood count 2.8.
Regulation of Emotional Security by Children after Entry to Special and Regular Kindergarten Classes

In this paper early adaptation after children's entry to kindergarten is conceptualized as a process of achieving emotional security. It was hypothesized that children adapt to school by means of security seeking from the teacher and behavioral inhibition. 30 normal children from regular classes and 36 children with a variety of problems, e.g., behavioral, emotional, and family problems, from special classes were rated by their teachers on the Inhibition Scale and Security Seeking Scale on 5 occasions during the first 3 mo. at school. By the end of this period teachers judged the intensity of behavior problems on the Internalizing Problem Scale and the Externalizing Problem Scale. Analysis showed that initial high scores on the Security Seeking Scale and Inhibition Scale decreased sharply during the first weeks, and that children from special classes scored consistently higher on the Security Seeking Scale and more variable on the Inhibition Scale than children from regular classes. Girls had higher scores than boys on both scales. Recent stress in the family as rated by the teacher was positively related to both scores on the Inhibition and Security Seeking Scales after entry. Finally, scores on the Security Seeking and Inhibition Scales over the first three months predicted scores on the Internalizing Problem Scale by the end of this period, especially for children in special classes. We conclude that understanding adaptation after school entry as a process of obtaining emotional security is productive, providing a means to link entry behavior to precursors and consequences.
A Synoptic Assessment of the Amazon River-Ocean Continuum during Boreal Autumn: From Physics to Plankton Communities and Carbon Flux

The Amazon generates the world's largest offshore river plume, which covers extensive areas of the tropical Atlantic. The data and samples in this study were obtained during the oceanographic cruise Camadas Finas III in October 2012 along the Amazon River-Ocean Continuum (AROC). The cruise occurred during boreal autumn, when the river plume reaches its maximum eastward extent. In this study, we examine the links between physics, biogeochemistry and plankton community structure along the AROC. Hydrographic results showed very different conditions, ranging from shallow well-mixed coastal waters to offshore areas, where low salinity Amazonian waters mix with open ocean waters. Nutrients, mainly NO3− and SiO2−, were highly depleted in coastal regions, and the magnitude of primary production was greater than that of respiration (negative apparent oxygen utilization). In terms of phytoplankton groups, diatoms dominated the region from the river mouth to the edge of the area affected by the North Brazil Current (NBC) retroflection (with chlorophyll a concentrations ranging from 0.02 to 0.94 mg m−3). The North Equatorial Counter Current (NECC) region, east of retroflection, is fully oligotrophic and the most representative groups are Cyanobacteria and dinoflagellates. Additionally, in this region, blooms of cyanophyte species were associated with diatoms and Mesozooplankton (copepods). A total of 178 zooplankton taxa were observed in this area, with Copepoda being the most diverse and abundant group. Two different zooplankton communities were identified: a low-diversity, high-abundance coastal community and a high-diversity, low-abundance oceanic community offshore. The CO2 fugacity (fCO2sw), calculated from total alkalinity (1,450 < TA < 2,394 μmol kg−1) and dissolved inorganic carbon (1,303 < DIC < 2,062 μmol kg−1) measurements, confirms that the Amazon River plume is a sink of atmospheric CO2 in areas with salinities <35 psu, whereas, in regions with salinities >35 and higher-intensity winds, the CO2 flux is reversed. Lower fCO2sw values were observed in the NECC area. The ΔfCO2 in this region was less than 5 μatm (−0.3 mmol m−2 d−1), while the ΔfCO2 in the coastal region was approximately 50 μatm (+3.7 mmol m−2 d−1). During the cruise, heterotrophic and autotrophic processes were observed and are indicative of the influences of terrestrial material and biological activity, respectively.
The Effect of Histamine Stimulation and H2-Receptor Inhibition on the Pituitary Prolactin and ACTH Release and on Cortisol Secretion in Human Males

The effects of histamine (HA) on prolactin (PRL), ACTH, and cortisol secretion in human males were investigated. Specific H2 -receptor blockade caused an immediate and significant PRL release, while specific H2 -receptor stimulation (HA and mepyramine) was without effect on PRL secretion. HA significantly stimulated both ACTH and cortisol secretion, and this stimulation was probably mediated through H2 -receptors, H2 -receptor blockade caused a late, but significant ACTH release. This release was not accompanied by a release of cortisol, and might therefore be due to a spontaneous oscillation in ACTH secretion. The results support the theory that HA acts as a modulator of human ACTH secretion. A similar effect on PRL secretion as postulated by others could not be confirmed in this study.
Using inverse electrocardiography to image myocardial infarction

We propose to use methods of inverse electrocardiography (iECG) to compete in the 2007 Computers in Cardiology Challenge, which aims to delineate the location and extent of old myocardial infarct from body-surface potential maps (BSPMs) combined with anatomical imaging information. The provided 120-electrode BSPM data and MRI images were used to calculate epicardial potentials and isochrones of activation. A method was used to define the location and extent of scar tissue based on the morphology of computed epicardial electrograms. Negative Q wave deflection followed by R wave on the left ventricular surface corresponded well with the location of the scar as determined by the gold standard in the two training cases. iECG shows promise as a non-invasive imaging tool to quantitatively characterize location and extent of chronic infarcts.
Simvastatin Treatment Ameliorates Autoimmune Disease Associated with Accelerated Atherosclerosis in a Murine Lupus Model1

Patients with systemic lupus erythematosus develop accelerated atherosclerosis independent of traditional risk factors. The 3-hydroxy-3-methyl-glutaryl coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase inhibitors are widely prescribed for hyperlipidemia, but they also exhibit anti-inflammatory actions that appear to be independent of their suppressive actions on plasma cholesterol levels. In this study, we analyzed the effect of the HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor simvastatin on disease manifestations in gld.apoE−/− mice that lack functional Fas ligand and apolipoprotein E and exhibit accelerated atherosclerosis and aggravated lupus-like features. Wild-type, gld, apoE−/−, and gld.apoE−/− mice were maintained on a high cholesterol Western diet and received daily simvastatin (0.125 mg/kg) or saline for 12 wk. Serum cholesterol levels were unaffected by simvastatin treatment, but atherosclerotic lesion area was reduced in both apoE−/− and gld.apoE−/− mice treated with simvastatin. Simvastatin also reduced the lymphadenopathy, renal disease, and proinflammatory cytokine production seen in gld.apoE−/−, but not gld, mice. The immunomodulatory effects in gld.apoE−/− mice were associated with enhanced STAT6 and decreased STAT4 induction in submandibular lymph node cells. Along with reductions in serum TNF-α and IFN-γ levels, there was also an increase in IL-4 and IL-10 transcript levels in lymph nodes. These data indicate that HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors ameliorate atherosclerosis and lupus-like autoimmunity independent of their cholesterol-lowering effects via a shift from a Th1 to a Th2 phenotype in the gld.apoE−/− model. Thus, the anti-inflammatory activities of statins may have utility for the treatment of both autoimmunity and atherosclerosis in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.
ArMOR: Defending against memory consistency model mismatches in heterogeneous architectures

Architectural heterogeneity is increasing: numerous products and studies have proven the benefits of combining cores and accelerators with varying ISAs into a single system. However, an underappreciated barrier to unlocking the full potential of heterogeneity is the need to specify and to reconcile differences in memory consistency models across layers of the hardware-software stack and among on-chip components. This paper presents ArMOR, a framework for specifying, comparing, and translating between memory consistency models. ArMOR defines MOSTs, an architecture-independent and precise format for specifying the semantics of memory ordering requirements such as preserved program order or explicit fences. MOSTs allow any two consistency models to be directly and algorithmically compared, and they help avoid many of the pitfalls of traditional consistency model analysis. As a case study, we use ArMOR to automatically generate translation modules called shims that dynamically translate code compiled for one memory model to execute on hardware implementing a different model.
Heat capacity of vertical ground heat exchangers with single U-tube ins tallation in the function of time

One of the major problems of ensuring optimal working of ground source heat pump systems is a heat transfer around vertical ground heat exchanger. The working of vertical U-tube can be understood as a heat exchanger between the ground and the heat carrying medium. In our case this heat carrying medium is fluid, which transfers the extracted heat from the ground to the heat pump. In winter we extract heat from the ground and in summer we transfer heat to the ground. In our paper we propose a simple calculation model to calculate the temperature change and the thermal resistance in vertical ground heat exchangers with single U-tube installation. We made calculations to obtain the amount of extractable heat from the U-tube in the function of different mass flow. We did these calculations for several periods of time, 1 day, 1 year, 10 years. We found that the amount of extractable heat in winter and in summer is between 10 - 80 % in the function of mass flow, and with elapsing time its values decline.
EVOH nanocomposite films with enhanced barrier properties under high humidity conditions

To improve the oxygen and water vapor barrier properties of ethylene vinyl alcohol, EVOH/EFG nanocomposite films under high humidity conditions, we successfully prepared highly exfoliated graphite (EFG) containing a monolayer or a few layers of graphene via rapid heating treatment and ultrasonication as confirmed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscope (SEM), elemental analysis (EA), and nitrogen adsorption–desorption analysis. Six different EVOH/EFG nanocomposite films containing as-prepared EFG were prepared via a solvent blend method and their physical and barrier properties at different relative humidities were investigated as a function of EFG content. Depending on the EFG content, oxygen transmission rate (OTR) decreased from 3.7 to 0.1 cc/m2/day at dry condition, and the difference in OTR between dry condition and humid condition decreased from 6.5 to 2.3 cc/m2/day. Barrier properties of the EVOH/EFG nanocomposite films were strongly dependent on their chemical structure and morphology. Crystallinity, tortuous path length, and hydrophobicity of EVOH/EFG nanocomposite films were enhanced by the addition of EFG. However, the thermal stability and glass transition temperature of the nanocomposite films were not improved by incorporation of EFG due to the weak interaction between EVOH and EFG. To maximize the performance of EVOH/EFG nanocomposite films, the compatibility of the polymer matrix and fillers needs to be improved. POLYM. COMPOS. , 35:644–654, 2014. © 2013 Society of Plastics Engineers