Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Disruption of LANA in Rhesus Rhadinovirus Generates a Highly Lytic Recombinant Virus

ABSTRACT Rhesus monkey rhadinovirus (RRV) is a gammaherpesvirus that is closely related to human Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV/HHV-8). RRV is the closest relative to KSHV that has a fully sequenced genome and serves as an in vitro and an in vivo model system for KSHV. The latency-associated nuclear antigen (LANA) protein of both KSHV and RRV plays key roles in the establishment and maintenance of these herpesviruses. We have constructed a RRV recombinant virus (RRVΔLANA/GFP) in which the RRV LANA open reading frame has been disrupted with a green fluorescent protein (GFP) expression cassette generated by homologous recombination. The integrity of the recombinant virus was confirmed by diagnostic PCR, restriction digestion, Southern blot analysis, and whole-genome sequencing. We compared the single-step and multistep replication kinetics of RRVΔLANA/GFP, RRV-GFP, wild-type (WT) RRV H26-95, and a revertant virus using traditional plaque assays, as well as real-time quantitative PCR-based genome quantification assays. The RRVΔLANA/GFP recombinant virus exhibited significantly higher lytic replicative properties compared to RRV-GFP, WT RRV, or the revertant virus. This was observed upon de novo infection and in the absence of chemical inducers such as phorbol esters. In addition, by using a quantitative real-time PCR-based viral array, we are the first to report differences in global viral gene expression between WT and recombinant viruses. The RRVΔLANA/GFP virus displayed increased lytic gene transcription at all time points postinfection compared to RRV-GFP. Moreover, we also examined several cellular genes that are known to be repressed by KSHV LANA and report that these genes are derepressed during de novo lytic infection with the RRVΔLANA/GFP virus compared to RRV-GFP. Finally, we also demonstrate that the RRVΔLANA/GFP virus fails to establish latency in B cells, as measured by the loss of GFP-positive cells and intracellular viral genomes.
Asymmetric membrane capsule for osmotic delivery of flurbiprofen

Asymmetric membrane capsule for osmotic delivery of flurbiprofen An asymmetric membrane capsule of cellulose acetate for osmotic delivery of flurbiprofen has been developed and influence of osmogents and solubilizing agent on in vitro drug release were evaluated. The capsule membrane was prepared by the phase inversion technique. To ensure the osmotic delivery of drug, two approaches were adopted: (i) the drug was encapsulated with osmogents like sodium chloride and mannitol to increase the osmotic pressure of the core, and (ii) the drug was encapsulated with sodium lauryl sulfate in the core of the formulation to increase the solubility and thus its osmotic pressure. Scanning electron microscopy of the membrane confirmed its porous, dense asymmetric nature. Dye test revealed in situ pore formation. The in vitro release study showed that as the proportion of osmogent and solubilizing agent was increased the release rate also increased. A good correlation was observed between the zero-order rate constant and the amount of the osmogent and solubilizing agent used. Kapsule s asimetričnom membranom za osmotsku isporuku flurbiprofena U radu je opisan razvoj kapsula s asimetričnom membranom od celuloznog acetata za osmotsku isporuku flurbiprofena. Proučavan je utjecaj osmotski-aktivnih tvari i tvari za povećanje topljivosti na oslobađanje ljekovite tvari in vitro. Membrane kapsula su priređene metodom inverzne faze. Osmotska isporuka je osigurana na dva načina. Ljekovita tvar je kapsulirana s: i) osmotski-aktivnim tvarima poput natrijeva klorida i manitola koji su povećali osmotski tlak jezgre, ii) natrijevim lauril-sulfatom koji je povećao topljivost te ujedno i osmotski tlak. Pretražna elektronska mikroskopija ukazuje na poroznu membranu asimetrične gustoće, a test boje na stvaranje pora in situ. In vitro pokusi su pokazali da oslobađanje ljekovite tvari iz kapsula raste s povećanjem količine osmotski-aktivnih tvari i tvari za povećanje topljivosti te da postoji dobra korelacija između upotrebljene količine tih tvari i konstante oslobađanja nultog reda.
Interventions to promote repeat breast cancer screening with mammography: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND Various interventions to promote repeat use of mammography have been evaluated, but the efficacy of such interventions is not well understood. METHODS We searched electronic databases through August 15, 2009, and extracted data to calculate unadjusted effect estimates (odds ratios [ORs] and 95% confidence intervals [CIs]). Eligible studies were those that reported estimates of repeat screening for intervention and control groups. We tested homogeneity and computed summary odds ratios. To explore possible causes of heterogeneity, we performed stratified analyses, examined meta-regression models for 15 a priori explanatory variables, and conducted influence analyses. We used funnel plots and asymmetry tests to assess publication bias. Statistical tests were two-sided. RESULTS The 25 eligible studies (27 effect estimates) were statistically significantly heterogeneous (Q = 69.5, I(2) = 63%, P < . 001). Although there were homogeneous subgroups in some categories of the 15 explanatory variables, heterogeneity persisted after stratification. For all but one explanatory variable, subgroup summary odds ratios were similar with overlapping confidence intervals. The summary odds ratio for the eight heterogeneous reminder-only studies was the largest observed (OR = 1.79, 95% CI = 1.41 to 2.29) and was statistically significantly greater than the summary odds ratio (P(diff) = . 008) for the homogeneous group of 17 studies that used the more intensive strategies of education/motivation or counseling (OR = 1.27, 95% CI = 1.17 to 1.37). However, reminder-only studies remained statistically significantly heterogeneous, whereas the studies classified as education/motivation or counseling were homogeneous. Similarly, in meta-regression modeling, the only statistically significant predictor of the intervention effect size was intervention strategy (reminder-only vs the other two combined as the referent). Publication bias was not apparent. CONCLUSIONS The observed heterogeneity precludes a summary effect estimate. We also cannot conclude that reminder-only intervention strategies are more effective than alternate strategies. Additional studies are needed to identify methods or strategies that could increase repeat mammography.
Modern theory of polymer solutions

: Modern Theory of Polymer Solutions : Yamakawa, Hiromi : , : 1971 : Harper & Row : Hiromi Yamakawa. Modern Theory of Polymer Solutions. Electronic Edition. Harper & Row, 1971, 434p. : 1 : 434 : It has been just thirty years since this volume, Modern Theory of Polymer Solutions, was published by Harper & Row, Publishers. It is now out of print but is still in some demand. Furthermore, it is also an introduction to the author’s new book, Helical Wormlike Chains in Polymer Solutions, published by Springer-Verlag in 1997, although some parts of it are now too old and classical and have only the significance of historical survey. Under these circumstances, the author approved of the preparation of this electronic edition without revision at the Laboratory of Polymer Molecular Science, Department of Polymer Chemistry, Kyoto University. On that occasion, however, he attempted his efforts to correct errors as much as possible. Finally, it is a pleasure to thank Prof. T. Yoshizaki, Mrs. E. Hayashi, and his other collaborators for preparing this electronic edition. : Copyright © 1971 by Hiromi Yamakawa URI: http://hdl.handle. net/2433/50527
Speech Emotion Recognition using Gaussian Mixture Vector Autoregressive Models

It is believed that modeling temporal structure of the speech data may be useful for the problem of speech emotion recognition (T. Nwe et al., 2003). In this paper, Gaussian mixture vector autoregressive model is proposed as a statistical classifier for this task. The main motivation behind using such a model is its ability to model the dependency among extracted speech feature vectors as well as the multi-modality in their distribution. When applied to the Berlin emotional speech database, the proposed technique provides a classification accuracy of 76% versus 71% for the hidden Markov model, 67% for the k-nearest neighbors, 55% for feed-forward neural networks. The model gives also better discrimination between high-arousal, low arousal, and neutral emotions than the HMM.
Course on System Design (structural approach)

The article describes a course on system design (structural approach) which involves the following: issues of systems engineering; structural models; basic technological problems (structural system modeling, modular design, evaluation/comparison, revelation of bottlenecks, improvement/upgrade, multistage design, modeling of system evolution); solving methods (optimization, combinatorial optimization, multicriteria decision making); design frameworks; and applications. The course contains lectures and a set of special laboratory works. The laboratory works consist in designing and implementing a set of programs to solve multicriteria problems (ranking/selection, multiple choice problem, clustering, assignment). The programs above are used to solve some standard problems (e.g., hierarchical design of a student plan, design of a marketing strategy). Concurrently, each student can examine a unique applied problem from his/her applied domain(s) (e.g., telemetric system, GSM network, integrated security system, testing of microprocessor systems, wireless sensor, corporative communication network, network topology). Mainly, the course is targeted to developing the student skills in modular analysis and design of various multidisciplinary composite systems (e.g., software, electronic devices, information, computers, communications). The course was implemented in Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology (State University).
Noncommutative residue for Heisenberg manifolds. I

In this paper we construct a noncommutative residue for the Heisenberg calculus, that is, for the hypoelliptic calculus on Heisenberg manifolds, including on CR and contact manifolds. This noncommutative residue as the residual induced on operators of integer orders by the analytic extension of the usual trace to operators of non-integer orders and it agrees with the integral of the density defined by the logarithmic singularity of the Schwartz kernel of the input operator. We also present applications of this constructions concerning traces and sum of commutators, zeta functions of hypoelliptic operators, logarithmic metric estimates for Green kernels of hypoelliptic operators and the Dixmier trace of the operators in the Heisenberg calculus.
Rigid polyurethane–clay nanocomposite foams: Preparation and properties

Rigid polyurethane–clay nanocomposite foams considered in this work are made with different clay types and for different clay concentrations. The densities of the foams are in the range of 140–160 kg/m3 with possible application as structural materials and for underwater buoyancy-related uses. Wide-angle X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy studies confirm the formation of nanocomposites. The compressive modulus and the storage modulus of the foams increase and the mean cell size decreases with addition of clay. However, the hydraulic resistance of the nanocomposite foams, a measure of the strength of the foam lamellae, is lower than that of the foams without clay. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 103: 2802–2809, 2007
Deficiency in core circadian protein Bmal1 is associated with a prothrombotic and vascular phenotype

Aging is associated with both the disturbances of circadian rhythms and a prothrombotic phenotype. It remains poorly understood how the circadian system regulates thrombosis, a critical outcome of aging‐related cardiovascular disease. Using multiple in vivo models, we now show that mice with genetic ablation of the core clock gene Bmal1, which display pre‐mature aging, have a dramatic prothrombotic phenotype. This phenotype is mechanistically linked to changes in the regulation of key risk factors for cardiovascular disease. These include circulating vWF, fibrinogen, and PAI‐1, all of which are significantly elevated in Bmal1−/− mice. We also show that major circadian transcriptional regulators CLOCK and Bmal1 directly regulate the activity of vWF promoter and that lack of Bmal1 results in upregulation of vWF both at mRNA and protein level. Here we report a direct regulation of vWF expression in endothelial cells by biological clock gene Bmal1. This study establishes a mechanistic connection between Bmal1 and cardiovascular phenotype. J. Cell. Physiol. 226: 132–140, 2010. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Long-term efficacy of dietary treatment of obesity : a systematic review of studies published between 1931 and 1999 reduction

Methods: MEDLINE surveys were carried out and reference lists were crosschecked to identify publications on long-term outcome for dietary treatment of obesity. 898 papers were identified, 17 fulfilled our planned criteria for inclusion (dietary treatment; adults; follow-up period ≥ 3 years; follow-up rate ≥ 50% of original study group; information on one of the success criteria: maintenance of all weight initially lost (or further weight reduction) or maintenance of at least nine to 11kg of initial weight loss; obesity complications of the patient group not over-represented; English, German or Scandinavian languages). Results: The 17 included publications (hereof three publications on randomized clinical trials with control group relevant for this review) reported on 21 study groups, comprising 3030 patients. Of these 2131 (70%) were followed-up for 3–14 years (median 5 years). Mean initial weight loss ranged from four to 28 kg (median 11 kg). Overall, 15% (median, range 0–49%) of followed-up patients fulfilled one of the criteria for success. Overall, success rates seemed stable for up to 14 years of observation. Diet combined with group therapy lead to better long-term success rates (median 27%) than did diet alone (median 15%) or diet combined with behaviour modification (median 14%). Active follow-up was generally associated with better success rates than was passive follow-up (19% vs. 10%). Conventional diet seemed to be most efficacious in addition with group therapy, whereas VLCD apparently was most efficacious if combined with behaviour modification and active follow-up. Conclusion: The literature on long-term follow-up of dietary treatment of obesity, although limited and inhomogeneous, points to an overall median success rate of 15% and a possible adjuvant effect of group therapy, behaviour modification and active follow-up.
Study on Failure Characteristic of Rock‐Like Materials With an Open‐Hole Under Uniaxial Compression

Abstract: The failure strength model of brittle materials with a pre‐existing open‐hole defect is proposed in this paper. A modified Sammis–Ashby model is deduced, in which it can be used to calculate the peak strength of brittle materials. It shows the law between peak strength σp and independent variable μ, which is the ratio of open‐hole radius (a) to half‐width of the specimen (t). Moreover, numerical and experimental investigations on failure process of rock‐like materials with an open‐hole imperfection were carried out. In the experiments, 3D‐digital image correlation method, an optical technique which utilises the full‐field and non‐contact measurement, was employed. A progressive elastic damage method realistic failure process analysis (RFPA) was used in the numerical investigation to inspect and verify the modified model and simulate the failure process. The investigation finds that there are good correlations between the experimental, numerical and theoretical results. Moreover, because of the influences of boundary conditions, shear failure type was obtained both experimentally and numerically.
Species richness and soil properties in Pinus ponderosa forests: A structural equation modeling analysis

Abstract Question: How are the effects of mineral soil properties on understory plant species richness propagated through a network of processes involving the forest overstory, soil organic matter, soil nitrogen, and understory plant abundance? Location: North-central Arizona, USA. Methods: We sampled 75 0.05-ha plots across a broad soil gradient in a Pinus ponderosa (ponderosa pine) forest ecosystem. We evaluated multivariate models of plant species richness using structural equation modeling. Results: Richness was highest at intermediate levels of understory plant cover, suggesting that both colonization success and competitive exclusion can limit richness in this system. We did not detect a reciprocal positive effect of richness on plant cover. Richness was strongly related to soil nitrogen in the model, with evidence for both a direct negative effect and an indirect non-linear relationship mediated through understory plant cover. Soil organic matter appeared to have a positive influence on understory richness that was independent of soil nitrogen. Richness was lowest where the forest overstory was densest, which can be explained through indirect effects on soil organic matter, soil nitrogen and understory cover. Finally, model results suggest a variety of direct and indirect processes whereby mineral soil properties can influence richness. Conclusions: Understory plant species richness and plant cover in P. ponderosa forests appear to be significantly influenced by soil organic matter and nitrogen, which are, in turn, related to overstory density and composition and mineral soil properties. Thus, soil properties can impose direct and indirect constraints on local species diversity in ponderosa pine forests.
Tryptamine receptors

Two groups of investigators have independently isolated 5-hydroxytryptamine (HT) from natural sources and demonstrated its great pharmacological activity. Rapport and his colleagues called it serotonin and showed that it was present in extracts of serum and had a powerful vasoconstrictor action on the perfused ear of a rabbit (Rapport, 1949). Erspamer and his colleagues called it enteramine, and obtained evidence that it was present in extracts of intestine and in various marine animals, and had a powerful excitor action on isolated plain muscle (Erspamer & Boretti, 1951; Erspamer & Asero, 1952). It has also been synthesized (Hamlin & Fischer, 1951; Speeter, Heinzelmann & Weisblat, 1951). Most of the known actions of HT involve the excitation of plain muscle (Rapport, Green & Page, 1948; Reid & Rand, 1951), and bear a qualitative resemblance to those of tryptamine (Laidlaw, 1912; Reid, 1951). The object of the present paper is to present evidence that HT and tryptamine act on the same receptors in guinea-pig's ileum. The results were communicated to the British Pharmacological Society in January 1952.
Uncovering Hidden Layers of Cell Cycle Regulation through Integrative Multi-omic Analysis

Studying the complex relationship between transcription, translation and protein degradation is essential to our understanding of biological processes in health and disease. The limited correlations observed between mRNA and protein abundance suggest pervasive regulation of post-transcriptional steps and support the importance of profiling mRNA levels in parallel to protein synthesis and degradation rates. In this work, we applied an integrative multi-omic approach to study gene expression along the mammalian cell cycle through side-by-side analysis of mRNA, translation and protein levels. Our analysis sheds new light on the significant contribution of both protein synthesis and degradation to the variance in protein expression. Furthermore, we find that translation regulation plays an important role at S-phase, while progression through mitosis is predominantly controlled by changes in either mRNA levels or protein stability. Specific molecular functions are found to be co-regulated and share similar patterns of mRNA, translation and protein expression along the cell cycle. Notably, these include genes and entire pathways not previously implicated in cell cycle progression, demonstrating the potential of this approach to identify novel regulatory mechanisms beyond those revealed by traditional expression profiling. Through this three-level analysis, we characterize different mechanisms of gene expression, discover new cycling gene products and highlight the importance and utility of combining datasets generated using different techniques that monitor distinct steps of gene expression.
Generation of Multiple Replication-Competent Retroviruses through Recombination between PreXMRV-1 and PreXMRV-2

ABSTRACT We previously identified two novel endogenous murine leukemia virus proviruses, PreXMRV-1 and PreXMRV-2, and showed that they most likely recombined during xenograft passaging of a human prostate tumor in mice to generate xenotropic murine leukemia virus-related virus (XMRV). To determine the recombination potential of PreXMRV-1 and PreXMRV-2, we examined the generation of replication-competent retroviruses (RCRs) over time in a cell culture system. We observed that either virus alone was noninfectious and the RNA transcripts of the viruses were undetectable in the blood and spleen of nude mice that carry them. To determine their potential to generate RCRs through recombination, we transfected PreXMRV-1 and PreXMRV-2 into 293T cells and used the virus produced to infect fresh cells; the presence of reverse transcriptase activity at 10 days postinfection indicated the presence of RCRs. Population sequencing of proviral DNA indicated that all RCRs contained the gag and 5′ half of pol from PreXMRV-2 and the long terminal repeat, 3′ half of pol (including integrase), and env from PreXMRV-1. All crossovers were within sequences of at least 9 identical nucleotides, and crossovers within each of two selected recombination zones of 415 nucleotides (nt) in the 5′ untranslated region and 982 nt in pol were required to generate RCRs. A recombinant with the same genotype as XMRV was not detected, and our analysis indicates that the probability of generating an identical RCR is vanishingly small. In addition, the studies indicate that the process of RCR formation is primarily driven by selection for viable cis and trans elements from the parental proviruses.
Introduction to Nonlinear Optical Effects in Molecules and Polymers

Basis and Formulation of Nonlinear Optics Origin of Microscopic Nonlinearity in Organic Systems Bulk Nonlinear Optical Susceptiblity Second Order Nonlinear Optical Processes Measurement Techniques for Second-Order Nonlinear Optical Effects A Survey of Second Order Nonlinear Optical Materials Third-Order Nonlinear Optical Processes Measurement Techniques for Third-Order Effects A Survey of Third-Order Nonlinear Optical Materials Nonlinear Optics in Optical Waveguides and Fibers Device Conepts Issues and Future Directions.
BOND CHARACTERISTICS OF EPOXY COATED REINFORCING BARS

The objective of this study was to evaluate the flexural bond characteristics of epoxy coated reinforcing bars in comparison to uncoated bars under static and fatigue loadings. Comparative tests were conducted between reinforcing bars with epoxy coated, normal mill scale and blast cleaned surface conditions. Both #6 and #11 bars were included. Forth flexural bond specimens of the beam end type were tested in static and fatigue loadings. Three embedment lengths were used in the tests. In addition, six slab specimens were tested to evaluate the effect of epoxy coating on concrete crack spacing and crack width. Behavior is assessed in terms of influence on crack spacing, crack width, bond strength and bond fatigue. Suggestions for design criteria modification are proposed. (FHWA)