Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Reversible and Efficient Activation of HIV-1 Cell Entry by a Tyrosine-Sulfated Peptide Dissects Endocytic Entry and Inhibitor Mechanisms

ABSTRACT HIV-1 membranes contain gp120-gp41 trimers. Binding of gp120 to CD4 and a coreceptor (CCR5 or CXCR4) reduces the constraint on metastable gp41, enabling a series of conformational changes that cause membrane fusion. An analytic difficulty occurs because these steps occur slowly and asynchronously within cohorts of adsorbed virions. We previously isolated HIV-1JRCSF variants that efficiently use CCR5 mutants severely damaged in the tyrosine-sulfated amino terminus or extracellular loop 2. Surprisingly, both independent adaptations included gp120 mutations S298N, F313L, and N403S, supporting other evidence that they function by weakening gp120's grip on gp41 rather than by altering gp120 binding to specific CCR5 sites. Although several natural HIV-1 isolates reportedly use CCR5(Δ18) (CCR5 with a deletion of 18 N-terminal amino acids, including the tyrosine-sulfated region) when the soluble tyrosine-sulfated peptide is present, we show that HIV-1JRCSF with the adaptive mutations [HIV-1JRCSF(Ad)] functions approximately 100 times more efficiently and that coreceptor activation is reversible, enabling synchronous efficient entry control under physiological conditions. This system revealed that three-stranded gp41 folding intermediates susceptible to the inhibitor enfuvirtide form slowly and asynchronously on cell surface virions but resolve rapidly, with virions generally forming only one target. Adsorbed virions asynchronously and transiently become competent for entry at 37°C but are inactivated if the CCR5 peptide is absent during their window of opportunity. This competency is conferred by endocytosis, which results in inactivation if the peptide is absent. For both wild-type and adapted HIV-1 isolates, early gp41 refolding steps obligatorily occur on cell surfaces, whereas the final step(s) is endosomal. This system powerfully dissects HIV-1 entry and inhibitor mechanisms. IMPORTANCE We present a powerful means to reversibly and efficiently activate or terminate HIV-1 entry by adding or removing a tyrosine-sulfated CCR5 peptide from the culture medium. This system uses stable cell clones and a variant of HIV-1JRCSF with three adaptive mutations. It enabled us to show that CCR5 coreceptor activation is rapidly reversible and to dissect aspects of entry that had previously been relatively intractable. Our analyses elucidate enfuvirtide (T-20) function and suggest that HIV-1 virions form only one nonredundant membrane fusion complex on cell surfaces. Additionally, we obtained novel and conclusive evidence that HIV-1 entry occurs in an assembly line manner, with some steps obligatorily occurring on cell surfaces and with final membrane fusion occurring in endosomes. Our results were confirmed for wild-type HIV-1. Thus, our paper provides major methodological and mechanistic insights about HIV-1 infection.
Assessment of severe reperfusion injury with T2* cardiac MRI in patients with acute myocardial infarction

Background In patients with acute myocardial infarction, restoration of coronary flow by primary coronary intervention (PCI) can lead to profound ischaemia-reperfusion injury with detrimental effects on myocardial salvage. Non-invasive assessment of interstitial myocardial haemorrhage by T2* cardiac MRI (T2*-CMR) provides a novel and specific biomarker of severe reperfusion injury which may be of prognostic value. Objective To characterise the determinants of acute ischaemia-reperfusion injury following ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) using CMR. Methods and results Fifty patients with acute STEMI who had been successfully treated by PCI were studied. T2*-CMR was used to identify the presence of reperfusion haemorrhage and contrast enhancement was used to measure microvascular obstruction (MVO) and infarct size. Haemorrhagic ischaemia-reperfusion injury was present in 29 patients (58%) following PCI and occurred despite rapid revascularisation (mean 4.2±3.3 h). Haemorrhage was only present when the infarct involved at least 80% (mean±SD 91±5.3%) of the left ventricular wall thickness. There was a strong association between the extent of MVO and reperfusion haemorrhage (r2=0.87, p<0.001). Transmural infarcts (n=43) showed significantly impaired systolic wall thickening at the infarct mid point when reperfusion haemorrhage was present (21.5±16.7% vs 3.7±12.9%), p<0.0001) compared with non-haemorrhagic infarcts. Conclusions Severe reperfusion injury may occur when there is near-transmural myocardial necrosis despite early and successful revascularisation. Reperfusion haemorrhage is closely associated with the development of MVO. These findings indicate that, once advanced necrosis has developed, the potential for severe myocardial reperfusion injury is significantly enhanced.
Poorer Prognosis of Primary Signet-Ring Cell Carcinoma of the Breast Compared with Mucinous Carcinoma

Primary signet-ring cell carcinoma (PSRCC) of the breast is a rare entity and classified under mucin producing tumors in the WHO classification. However, little is known about the clinicopathological characteristics and clinical outcomes of PSRCC as opposed to mucinous carcinoma. Eleven patients with PSRCC in our center from 1995 to 2010 were evaluated in this study, as compared to 50 cases of mucinous breast cancer (MBC) during the same period. The clinicopathologic features of PSRCC compared to MBC were assessed. Furthermore, overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) were calculated at 5 years of follow up. Patients with PSRCC showed more frequent lymphatic metastasis, higher Ki67 labeling index and more advanced stage disease than that of MBC (P = 0.018, p = 0.023, P = 0.000, respectively), although there was no difference in age, tumor size, and ER, PR expression between PSRCC and MBC. In addition, PSRCC was associated with simultaneous vimentin upregulation and E-cadherin downregulation. The 5-year OS of PSRCC (54.5%) was significantly lower than that of MBC (88%) (P = 0.004). Similarly, the DFS of PSRCC was poorer than that of MBC significantly (5-year DFS: 27.3% vs. 80%, P = 0.000). Conclusions Our results confirmed the more aggressive behavior of PSRCC compared to MBC. This tumor is frequently associated with more frequent lymphatic metastasis, higher Ki67 labeling index, more advanced stage disease as well as simultaneous vimentin upregulation and E-cadherin downregulation. Different management guidelines should be considered for the two types.
A Lightweight and Extensible AspectJ Implementation

Extending AspectJ to experiment with new language features can be cumbersome, even with an extensible implementation. Often, a language designer only needs a rapid prototyping environment, but has to deal with a full compiler infrastructure, and must address low-level implementation issues. This work completes a lightweight extensible implementation of AspectJ with a declarative assimilation layer based on Stratego. This layer brings together an extensible syntax definition of AspectJ and the core semantics provided by the Reflex AOP kernel. Using this implementation, language extensions are defined using declarative high-level constructs, significantly reducing the cost of the extension process.
Acquisition and Decomposition of the EMG Signal

In this chapter we refer to the decomposition of the myoelectric (ME) signal as the procedure by which the ME signal is separated into its constituents motor units action potential trains (MUAPTs). This concept is illustrated in Figure 1. The development of a system to accomplish such a decomposition will be beneficial to both researchers interested in understanding motor unit properties and behaviour, and clinicians interested in assessing and monitoring the state of a muscle. In the clinical environment, measurements of some characteristics of the motor unit action potential (MUAP) waveform (for example shape and amplitude) are currently used to assess the severity of a neuromuscular disease or in some cases to assist in making a diagnosis. Thus, the decomposition of the ME signal is useful in two ways. First, a partial decomposition must be implicitly performed by the clinical investigator to insure that what is actually observed is a MUAP and not a superposition of two or more MUAPs or some other ephemeral artifact. Second averaging the MUAP waveforms present in the same MUAPT will produce a low noise representation of the MUAP and hence provide a more faithful representation of the events occuring within the muscle. Any decomposition scheme devised for such application, (i. e. to extract only MUAP shape and amplitude) will have weak constraints on its performance. A useful technique should allow detection of some (but not necessarily all) firing of a single unit in a particular record. Simultaneous observation of more than one MUAP, although useful, is not necessary because several MUAPs can be derived from different records with only one MUAP detected per record.
Defect Detection for Patterned Fabric Images Based on GHOG and Low-Rank Decomposition

In contrast to defect-free fabric images with macro-homogeneous textures and regular patterns, the fabric images with the defect are characterized by the defect regions that are salient and sparse among the redundant background. Therefore, as an effective tool for separating an image into a redundant part (the background) and sparse part (the defect), the low-rank decomposition model provides an ideal solution for patterned fabric defect detection. In this paper, a novel patterned method for fabric defect detection is proposed based on a novel texture descriptor and the low-rank decomposition model. First, an efficient second-order orientation-aware descriptor, denoted as GHOG, is designed by combining Gabor and histogram of oriented gradient (HOG). In addition, a spatial pooling strategy based on human vision mechanism is utilized to further improve the discrimination ability of the proposed descriptor. The proposed texture descriptor can make the defect-free image blocks lay in a low-rank subspace, while the defective image blocks have deviated from this subspace. Then, a constructed low-rank decomposition model divides the feature matrix generated from all the image blocks into a low-rank part, which represents the defect-free background, and a sparse part, which represents sparse defects. In addition, a non-convex log det as a smooth surrogate function is utilized to improve the efficiency of the constructed low-rank model. Finally, the defects are localized by segmenting the saliency map generated by the sparse matrix. The qualitative results and quantitative evaluation results demonstrate that the proposed method improves the detection accuracy and self-adaptivity comparing with the state-of-the-art methods.
Voice capacity analysis of WLAN with unbalanced traffic

An analytical model to study the performance of wireless local area networks (WLANs) supporting asymmetric nonpersistent traffic using the IEEE 802.11 distributed coordination function mode for medium access control (MAC) is developed. Given the parameters of the MAC protocol and voice codecs, the voice capacity of an infrastructure-based WLAN, in terms of the maximum number of voice connections that can be supported with satisfactory user-perceived quality, is obtained. In addition, voice capacity analysis reveals how the overheads from different layers, codec rate, and voice packetization interval affect voice traffic performance in WLANs, which provides an important guideline for network planning and management. The analytical results can be used for effective call admission control to guarantee the quality of voice connections. Extensive simulations have been performed to validate the analytical results
Development of Next Generation Stevia Sweetener: Rebaudioside M

This work aims to review and showcase the unique properties of rebaudioside M as a natural non-caloric potential sweetener in food and beverage products. To determine the potential of rebaudioside M, isolated from Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni, as a high potency sweetener, we examined it with the Beidler Model. This model estimated that rebaudioside M is 200–350 times more potent than sucrose. Numerous sensory evaluations of rebaudioside M’s taste attributes illustrated that this steviol glycoside possesses a clean, sweet taste with a slightly bitter or licorice aftertaste. The major reaction pathways in aqueous solutions (pH 2–8) for rebaudioside M are similar to rebaudioside A. Herein we demonstrate that rebaudioside M could be of great interest to the global food industry because it is well-suited for blending and is functional in a wide variety of food and beverage products.
Age-Related Changes in Sleep-Dependent Consolidation of VisuoSpatial Memory

Healthy aging is associated with a reduction in slow-wave sleep (SWS), crucial for declarative memory consolidation in young adults; consequently, previously observed benefits of sleep on declarative learning in older adults could reflect a passive role of sleep in protecting memories from waking interference, rather than an active, stabilizing effect. To dissociate the passive and active roles of sleep, a visuo-spatial task was administered; memory was probed after a 12 hr interval consisting of either daytime wake or overnight sleep and post-wake/post-sleep stability of the memories was tested following task-related interference. Ninety five older adults (mean=65.43 yrs; SD=7.6 yrs) and 137 young adults (mean= 21.22yrs; SD=2.62 yrs) were tested across either an " Interference " or a " No Interference " condition (without exposure to the interference). In both young and older adults, sleep significantly benefitted performance compared to wake, such that the memories were more resistant to subsequent interference. For young adults, post-sleep performance was correlated with time spent in SWS and delta power density during SWS early in the night. Additionally, the interaction between NREM and REM early in the night played an important role in stabilizing the memories. There were no significant correlations between sleep parameters and oversleep performance changes in older adults; iv however, high performing older adults benefitted from greater amounts of REM sleep early in the night, and from the interaction between NREM and REM during this time period. These results suggest that the active role of sleep in declarative memory consolidation persists in an aging population.
The Virtual Doppelganger: Effects of a Virtual Reality Simulator on Perceptions of Schizophrenia

Recent scholarship suggests that virtual environments can serve as effective proxies in battling implicit stereotypes. However, existing experimental research has rarely examined the effectiveness of virtual simulations of mental illnesses in inducing empathy to combat stereotypical responses. We report results from a 4-condition, between subjects experiment (N = 112), wherein participants were exposed to either a virtual simulation of schizophrenia, a written empathy-set induction of schizophrenia, a combination of both the simulation and written empathy conditions, or a control condition. The results indicated that the virtual simulation + empathy condition induced greater empathy and more positive perceptions toward people suffering from schizophrenia than the control or written empathy-set condition. Interestingly, the simulation-only condition resulted in the greatest desire for social distance whereas not significantly differing on empathy and attitude measures from either the written empathy or simulation + empathy conditions. We discuss the implications of the findings and recommend directions for future research.
Photoportals: shared references in space and time

Photoportals build on digital photography as a unifying metaphor for reference-based interaction in 3D virtual environments. Virtual photos and videos serve as threedimensional references to objects, places, moments in time and activities of users. Our Photoportals also provide access to intermediate or alternative versions of a scenario and allow the review of recorded task sequences that include life-size representations of the captured users. We propose to exploit such references to structure collaborative activities of collocated and remote users. Photoportals offer additional access points for multiple users and encourage mutual support through the preparation and provision of references for manipulation and navigation tasks. They support the pattern of territoriality with configurable space representations that can be used for private interaction, as well as be shared and exchanged with others.
An Empirical Study of Memory Sharing in Virtual Machines

Content-based page sharing is a technique often used in virtualized environments to reduce server memory requirements. Many systems have been proposed to capture the benefits of page sharing. However, there have been few analyses of page sharing in general, both considering its real-world utility and typical sources of sharing potential. We provide insight into this issue through an exploration and analysis of memory traces captured from real user machines and controlled virtual machines. First, we observe that absolute sharing levels (excluding zero pages) generally remain under 15%, contrasting with prior work that has often reported savings of 30% or more. Second, we find that sharing within individual machines often accounts for nearly all (>90%) of the sharing potential within a set of machines, with inter-machine sharing contributing only a small amount. Moreover, even small differences between machines significantly reduce what little inter-machine sharing might otherwise be possible. Third, we find that OS features like address space layout randomization can further diminish sharing potential. These findings both temper expectations of real-world sharing gains and suggest that sharing efforts may be equally effective if employed within the operating system of a single machine, rather than exclusively targeting groups of virtual machines.
The Role of the Nasopharyngeal Airway for Obstructive Sleep Apnea in Syndromic Craniosynostosis

Syndromic craniosynostosis is known to be associated with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), which can often present in infancy. Although multifactorial, a predominant contributing factor is midface hypoplasia. Nasal continuous positive airway pressure has proven to be an effective treatment modality but may be poorly tolerated in certain cases. This study looks at the effectiveness of bypassing midface obstruction with a nasopharyngeal airway (NPA). Twenty-seven children with syndromic craniosynostosis with confirmed moderate to severe OSA were initially treated with an NPA. The mean age of NPA insertion was 12.3 months (range, 0.5-48 mo). Seventeen had severe OSA, and 10 had moderate OSA preinsertion. Post-NPA insertion, 26 of 27 children (96%) demonstrated an improvement in sleep severity scores, resulting in 3 with moderate OSA and 24 with mild OSA. There was a significant improvement in mean oxygen saturation, mean number of saturation dips greater than 4% per hour, percentage time spent less than 90% SpO2, and number of pulse rate rises per hour. There were no significant differences in mean pulse rate. The NPA was well tolerated by this patient group, with 24 of 26 children retaining it for at least 6 weeks. We believe that an NPA is therefore an effective first-line treatment modality in the management of OSA in children with syndromic craniosynostosis. It is well tolerated by the patient and may obviate the need for continuous positive airway pressure or tracheostomy.
Influence of Forest Disturbance on Stable Nitrogen Isotope Ratios in Soil and Vegetation Profiles

Soil and plant stable N isotope ratios (δ¹⁵N) are influenced by atmospheric N₂ inputs and processes that regulate organic matter (OM) transformation and N cycling. The resulting δ¹⁵N patterns may be useful for discerning ecosystem differences in N cycling. We studied two ecosystems, longleaf pine (Pinus palustris Mill.)–wiregrass (Aristida stricta Michx.) (LLP) and Appalachian hardwood (AHW) forests in the US Southeast under different management regimes. In LLP, burning removes OM. In AHW, clearcutting creates large OM pulses of logging residue. Although burning removes OM and clearcutting creates a pulse addition of OM, both management regimes increase soil N availability and N₂–fixing plants. The LLP treatments included burning every 2 yr with N₂ fixers and reference fire exclusion sites without N₂ fixers. The AHW included 25-yr-old clearcut plots with and without N₂ fixers, and uncut reference without N₂ fixers. We hypothesized that: (i) compared with the reference, OM removal (LLP) would enrich δ¹⁵N values while OM addition (AHW) would deplete δ¹⁵N in soil and vegetation pools; and (ii) N₂ fixers would mitigate δ¹⁵N enrichment in LLP response and exacerbate δ¹⁵N depletion in AHW. We examined total δ¹⁵N in soil profiles, tree increment cores, and foliage. The LLP soil and vegetation δ¹⁵N values showed no treatment effect. In AHW, δ¹⁵N values in clearcut subsurface soils (20–60 cm) were lower than the reference, but N₂ fixers had no effect. Wood δ¹⁵N differed with treatment; N₂ fixers had no effect. Our data suggest that AHW soil profile δ¹⁵N patterns may indicate past disturbance; however, wood and foliar δ¹⁵N response is species specific. Additionally, N₂–fixing plants respond to ecosystem disturbance, but the data suggest that they play little role in soil or plant δ¹⁵N values.
An extension of the coconut cream agar method to screen Penicillium citrinum isolates for citrinin production

A simple and rapid screening method was developed for the detection of citrinin in fungal cultures using Coconut Cream Agar (CCA) described previously for detecting aflatoxin and ochratoxin A. Fifteen isolates of Penicillium citrinum were inoculated onto CCA and incubated at 25 and 30°C for 10 days. All isolates produced a distinct yellow green fluorescence on CCA when the reverse side of the agar plates were viewed under long wavelength UV light. Detection was optimal at 25°C after four to 5 days of incubation. Isolates positive by the CCA method also tested positive for citrinin production by the TLC agar plug method after growth on CCA, Czapek yeast extract agar and yeast extract sucrose agar. Control cultures were negative by both methods, indicating that the CCA Petri dish method was suitable for screening cultures for citrinin production.
The Role of Reflection in Managerial Learning: Theory, Research, and Practice

Introduction--Reflection in Managerial Learning: The Need and a New Approach The Contributions and Limitations of Existing Perspectives of Reflection Reflection in Management Reflection in Education Approaches to Investigating Reflection: Inductive and Deductive Research An Inductive Exploration of Reflection at Food Corp and Health Co A Theory-Building Study of Active Reflection Overview of Active Reflection How Active Reflection Operates The Role of Timing, Intuition, and Emotion Influences of Active Reflection: An Overview Key Influences that Enable Active Reflection and Learning A Deductive Examination of Reflection at Tech Inc An Experimental Study of Proactive Reflection How Reflecting Alone and With Others Enhances Learning A New, Holistic Perspective of Reflection An Integrated Model of Active and Proactive Reflection Implications for Theory and Future Research Practical Implications: Enhancing Managerial Learning References