Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Expression and identification of hepatitis C virus polyprotein cleavage products

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is the major cause of transfusion-acquired non-A, non-B hepatitis. HCV is an enveloped positive-sense RNA virus which has been classified as a new genus in the flavivirus family. Like the other two genera in this family, the flaviviruses and the pestiviruses, HCV polypeptides appear to be produced by translation of a long open reading frame and subsequent proteolytic processing of this polyprotein. In this study, a cDNA clone encompassing the long open reading frame of the HCV H strain (3,011 amino acid residues) has been assembled and sequenced. This clone and various truncated derivatives were used in vaccinia virus transient-expression assays to map HCV-encoded polypeptides and to study HCV polyprotein processing. HCV polyproteins and cleavage products were identified by using convalescent human sera and a panel of region-specific polyclonal rabbit antisera. Similar results were obtained for several mammalian cell lines examined, including the human HepG2 hepatoma line. The data indicate that at least nine polypeptides are produced by cleavage of the HCV H strain polyprotein. Putative structural proteins, located in the N-terminal one-fourth of the polyprotein, include the capsid protein C (21 kDa) followed by two possible virion envelope proteins, E1 (31 kDa) and E2 (70 kDa), which are heavily modified by N-linked glycosylation. The remainder of the polyprotein probably encodes nonstructural proteins including NS2 (23 kDa), NS3 (70 kDa), NS4A (8 kDa), NS4B (27 kDa), NS5A (58 kDa), and NS5B (68 kDa). An 82- to 88-kDa glycoprotein which reacted with both E2 and NS2-specific HCV antisera was also identified (called E2-NS2). Preliminary results suggest that a fraction of E1 is associated with E2 and E2-NS2 via disulfide linkages.
Etude expérimentale du fonctionnment cavitant d'une pompe lors de séquences de démarrage rapide

Resume : Sur les moteurs des lanceurs spatiaux comme Ariane V, le demarrage des turbopompes est effectue en quelques secondes. Par consequent, ces pompes atteignent leurs conditions de fonctionnement nominales apres seulement quelques rotations de la roue. Au cours de ces premieres rotations, l'ecoulement du fluide dans la roue est gouverne par des phenomenes transitoires, bases principalement sur l'augmentation du debit et de la vitesse de rotation. Ce comportement transitoire de la pompe se traduit par des fluctuations de pressions significatives qui peuvent provoquer la vaporisation partielle du fluide, c'est a dire la cavitation. L'etude realisee porte sur les effets de la cavitation sur les performances d'une pompe centrifuge durant des demarrages rapides avec deux objectifs : i) analyser le comportement cavitant de la pompe durant le transitoire, ii) integrer l'influence de la cavitation dans un modele existant de prediction des transitoires de demarrages. Un banc d'essais existant au LML (Laboratoire de Mecanique de Lille) a ete adapte pour permettre l'etude des demarrages rapides en cavitation. Des mesures instantanees de couple, de vitesse de rotation, de debit et des pressions a l'aspiration et au refoulement ont permis de caracteriser le fonctionnement transitoire de la pompe en fonction des conditions de cavitation. Des visualisations, effectuees a l'aide d'une camera rapide, ont complete le dispositif experimental. Le modele fonctionnel de transitoire de pompe a ete ameliore par la prise en compte, a chaque instant du demarrage, de l'attenuation de la performance due a la cavitation, et mesuree dans les memes conditions de fonctionnement en stationnaire. Pour tenir compte egalement des variations de densite locale qui interviennent de facon significative dans les termes transitoires, des mesures par rayons X dans la pompe ont ete effectuees en collaboration avec le CEA (Commissariat a L'Energie Atomique). Elles permettent de determiner localement la fraction volumique de vapeur dans la roue au cours des demarrages rapides en cavitation. Ces resultats pourront a l'avenir etre integres dans le modele fonctionnel afin d'optimiser la prediction du comportement transitoire et cavitant de la pompe.
The VASCULATURE COMPLEXITY AND CONNECTIVITY Gene Encodes a Plant-Specific Protein Required for Embryo Provasculature Development1[C][W][OPEN]

A plant-specific protein controls the complexity and connectivity of veins in cotyledons. The molecular mechanisms by which vascular tissues acquire their identities are largely unknown. Here, we report on the identification and characterization of VASCULATURE COMPLEXITY AND CONNECTIVITY (VCC), a member of a 15-member, plant-specific gene family in Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) that encodes proteins of unknown function with four predicted transmembrane domains. Homozygous vcc mutants displayed cotyledon vein networks of reduced complexity and disconnected veins. Similar disconnections or gaps were observed in the provasculature of vcc embryos, indicating that defects in vein connectivity appear early in mutant embryo development. Consistently, the overexpression of VCC leads to an unusually high proportion of cotyledons with high-complexity vein networks. Neither auxin distribution nor the polar localization of the auxin efflux carrier were affected in vcc mutant embryos. Expression of VCC was detected in developing embryos and procambial, cambial, and vascular cells of cotyledons, leaves, roots, hypocotyls, and anthers. To evaluate possible genetic interactions with other genes that control vasculature patterning in embryos, we generated a double mutant for VCC and OCTOPUS (OPS). The vcc ops double mutant embryos showed a complete loss of high-complexity vascular networks in cotyledons and a drastic increase in both provascular and vascular disconnections. In addition, VCC and OPS interact physically, suggesting that VCC and OPS are part of a complex that controls cotyledon vascular complexity.
Transcardiac tunneling technique for endoscopic submucosal dissection of gastric fundus tumors arising from the muscularis propria

The promising endoscopic resection techniques for upper gastrointestinal submucosal tumors (SMTs) are challenged when performed in the gastric fundus. Here, we report on the development of a transcardiac endoscopic tunneling technique (TCTT) for the resection of tumors in this area. A total of 18 patients with gastric fundus SMTs arising from the muscularis propria on endoscopic ultrasound underwent TCTT. The procedure involved the excavation of a submucosal tunnel from the esophagus, through the cardia, to the gastric SMT for resection. The tunnel was closed by clips after retrieval of the tumor. The mean tumor size was 2.1 cm (range 0.8 – 5.0 cm). The mean procedure time was 75.1 minutes (range 40 – 100 minutes). Complete resection was achieved in all cases. Iatrogenic perforation occurred in one case. This and one other patient developed mild pneumoperitoneum on the day after the procedure; symptoms resolved under conservative management. No patient developed gastrointestinal leakage, delayed bleeding, or secondary infection. Therefore, in this pilot study, TCTT provided a definitive histological diagnosis as well as a feasible, safe, and easy therapeutic approach for gastric fundus SMTs arising from muscularis propria in the circular area within 8 cm below the cardia.
Cardiovascular morbidity in long‐term survivors of early‐onset cancer: A population‐based study

Improvements in cancer therapy have resulted in an expanding population of early‐onset cancer survivors. In contrast to childhood and adolescent cancer survivors, there is still a lack of data concerning late morbidities among young adult (YA) cancer survivors. Thus, our aim was to investigate cardiac and vascular morbidity among early‐onset cancer survivors with a special interest in YA cancer survivors. In a population‐based setting, we explored the risk of cardiovascular disease in early‐onset cancer survivors compared to healthy siblings. Patients diagnosed with cancer below 35 years of age since 1975 were identified from the Finnish Cancer Registry, and 5‐year survivors were included in our study (N = 13,860). Information on cardiovascular morbidity was collected from the national hospital discharge registry. Compared to siblings, cancer survivors aged 0–19 and 20–34 at diagnosis had significantly elevated hazard ratios (HRs) for the studied outcomes: HR 13.5 (95% CI 8.9–20.4) and 3.6 (95% CI 2.8–4.6) for cardiomyopathy/cardiac insufficiency; HR 3.4 (95% CI 2.3–5.1) and 1.7 (95% CI 1.4–2.0) for atherosclerosis/brain vascular thrombosis; HR 3.3 (95% CI 1.7–6.5) and 1.8 (95% CI 1.5–2.1) for myocardial infarction/cardiac ischemia and HR 1.7 (95% CI 1.2–2.6) and 1.4 (95% CI 1.2–1.7) for cardiac arrhythmia. In both groups, depending on the outcome, the HR for adverse events was highest among lymphoma, brain tumor, leukemia and testicular malignancy survivors. Our results regarding late effects of childhood cancer survivors confirmed previous findings. Additionally, our study provides novel information concerning the YA cancer survivor population. Hence, our data may help in planning the risk‐based long‐term follow‐up of early‐onset cancer survivors.
A Full-Diversity Space-Time-Frequency Coded MIMO-OFDM System with Linear Decoding Complexity

Early research on space-time-frequency (STF) codes are aimed at achieving maximum frequency and spatial diversity only. Over a space-time-frequency selective fading channel, there is a possibility of achieving better performance if coding across spatial, temporal, and spectra dimensions is designed properly. To date, only two STF codes were proposed to achieve full diversity. The decoding complexity, however, of these codes is prohibitive. In this paper, full diversity STF codes with linear decoding complexity are proposed. Simulation results over 3GPP-SCM are presented to support the code designs
Características fenológicas e produtivas da goiabeira ‘paluma’ podada em diferentes épocas e intensidades no norte fluminense

A poda de frutificacao na goiabeira proporciona a producao de frutos na entressafra, mas a previsao de colheita depende da epoca de sua realizacao, alem das condicoes edafoclimaticas. Neste trabalho, sao apresentados dados sobre a fenologia e a producao da goiabeira ‘Paluma’, submetida a diferentes epocas e intensidades de poda de frutificacao, em Sao Francisco do Itabapoana, RJ. O experimento foi realizado em delineamento inteiramente casualizado, e os tratamentos foram distribuidos em esquema de parcelas subdivididas, com as parcelas compostas pelas epocas de poda, realizadas nos meses de agosto, outubro, dezembro e fevereiro; e as subparcelas pelas intensidades de poda (curta, media e longa). O ciclo da goiabeira ‘Paluma’, da poda a colheita dos frutos, variou de 168 dias para a poda realizada em outubro a 210 dias para a realizada em fevereiro. A poda longa, realizada em agosto, proporcionou maior numero de ramos produtivos e maior numero de frutos por ramo. A intensidade da poda afetou o crescimento dos ramos novos, mas nao influenciou no tamanho dos frutos. A maior producao de frutos ocorreu nas plantas podadas em dezembro.
The Effectiveness of a Phonics-Based Early Intervention for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Preschool Children and Its Possible Impact on Reading Skills in Elementary School: A Case Study

The study explored the effects of a phonics-based early intervention package on the early reading skills of three preschool students who were d/Deaf or hard of hearing who differed in regard to degree of hearing loss, use of amplification, and communication mode. The 40-week intervention (50-week in one case) was delivered through individual and group phonics-based instruction supplemented by Visual Phonics in a language-enriched preschool classroom. Standardized assessments were conducted before, during, and after the intervention. Along with some additional assessments, the same assessments were conducted in early elementary school. The results showed that all participants demonstrated at least some use of phonemic awareness and phonics skills when they were explicitly trained, and that these skills were sustained in early elementary school. Furthermore, all participants exhibited overall reading levels at or above age level when measured in early elementary school.
Improving access to yoga: barriers to and motivators for practice among health professions students.

BACKGROUND Yoga is gaining momentum as a popular and evidence-based, integrative health care and self-care practice. The characteristics of yoga practitioners are not proportional to the demographics of the general population, especially with respect to gender and ethnicity. Several access barriers have been implicated (eg, time, cost, and access to teachers). No studies have explored the barriers to practice among health professions students. Their participation in yoga is deemed important because they are future health professionals who will make referrals to other services. Research has shown that providers who practice yoga refer more patients to yoga. OBJECTIVE To increase yoga practice among health professions students, an understanding must be developed of factors that interfere with or facilitate a regular yoga practice. The current study intended to identify such barriers and motivators. DESIGN This study was a small population survey. SETTING The setting was a private university in the northwestern United States, including students in 3 of its colleges and 10 professional programs. PARTICIPANTS All students (N = 1585) in the programs of the 10 health professions received e-mail requests for participation. OUTCOME MEASURES The Acceptability of Yoga Survey was developed for purposes of a larger yoga perceptions study and implemented with health professions students. Participants were solicited via e-mail; the survey was administered online. The current study used data from that survey. RESULTS Of the 498 usable, completed surveys (ie, a response rate of approximately 30%), 478 were relevant to the current study. The sample's demographics--78% women and 79% white--did not differ significantly from the population's demographics. The findings revealed the existence of common barriers that were related to (1) time; (2) cost; (3) lack of pragmatic information about access to yoga classes and teachers; and (4) stereotypes related to flexibility, athleticism, and typical yoga practitioners. Motivators included athleticism, health promotion, and emotional well-being as well as the seeking of pain relief and a sense of community. A referral by health care providers was the least-frequently cited motivator. CONCLUSIONS The findings have implications for strategies that may help motivate health professionals toward a yoga practice, because having done yoga personally may be related to a willingness to perceive the benefits of and to refer patients to yoga as a viable integrative treatment for patients. Improved access can be developed in 3 ways: (1) integration of yoga research into health curricula to acquaint care providers with yoga's benefits to patients and care givers; (2) have yoga available as close to the workplace as possible to obviate some of the larger access barriers; and (3) societally, project yoga as a healing art and science, not simply as a weight loss strategy or athletic endeavor.
Major Depressive Disorder With Anger Attacks and Subcortical MRI White Matter Hyperintensities

Previous reports of increased rates of cardiovascular risk factors in major depressive disorder (MDD) with anger attacks led the authors to hypothesize that MDD with anger attacks may be associated with brain vascular changes (magnetic resonance imaging white matter hyperintensities [WMHs]). Sixty-five subjects meeting DSM-III-R criteria for major depressive disorder were administered brain magnetic resonance imaging scans at 1.5T to detect T2 WMH. The severity of brain WMH was classified with the Fazekas scale. We used standardized scales to assess melancholic MDD, atypical MDD, and MDD with anger attacks. In logistic regression analyses, MDD with anger attacks was associated with higher severity of subcortical WMH and of total WMH, but not with periventricular WMH. Atypical and melancholic MDD subtypes were not significantly associated with brain WMH. In conclusion, subcortical brain vascular lesions may be more prevalent or severe in MDD with anger attacks.
Asymptotic performance of a buffer model in a data sharing environment

The performance of a transaction processing system is very sensitive to the buffer hit probability. In a data sharing environment where multiple computing nodes are coupled together with direct access to shared data on disks, buffer coherency needs to be maintained such that if a data granule is updated by a node, the old copies of this granule present in the buffer of other nodes must be invalidated. The buffer invalidation phenomenon reduces the buffer hit probability in a multi-node environment. After the buffer reaches a certain size, the buffer hit probability will remain constant regardless of further increase in buffer size due to the buffer invalidation effect. This puts an upper limit on the achievable buffer hit probability. Thus the selection of appropriate buffer size is one of the critical issues in a data sharing environment. In this paper, we develop an asymptotic analysis of the Markov model for a buffer in the data sharing environment. Important relations between buffer size, number of nodes, write-probability and the size of the database to the buffer hit probability had been found in all range of system parameters. A simple expression is obtained for the maximum achievable buffer hit probability and also for the maximum usable buffer size. Various properties of the maximum achievable buffer hit probability and usable buffer size are derived for a skewed access workload. The accuracy of the asymptotic method is validated by numerous case studies.
A psychophysiological investigation of the selection and the use of partial stimulus information in response choice.

Two alternative explanations were examined for why selective response activation sometimes starts before stimulus identification is complete (e.g., J. O. Miller & S. A. Hackley, 1992) and sometimes starts only after stimulus identification is complete (e.g., R. De Jong, M. Wierda, G. Mulder, & L. J. M. Mulder, 1988). Distinct psychophysiological methods related to stimulus identification and response selection provided evidence suggesting that partial stimulus information is identified but is or is not used before the stimulus is identified more fully, depending on task requirements. This result (a) suggests strategic adaptation of task performance, (b) is inconsistent with particular discrete and continuous models of information processing, and (c) shows the existence of a central selection mechanism that can prevent the automatic activation of responses associated with preliminary available stimulus information.
The burning rate of energetic films of nanostructured porous silicon.

A systematic study of nanoenergetic films consisting of nanostructured porous silicon impregnated with sodium perchlorate is carried out. The explosive properties of these films are investigated as a function of thickness, porosity, and confinement. The films' burning rates are investigated using fiber-optic velocity probes, demonstrating that flame-front velocities vary between approximately 1 and 500 m s(-1) and are very sensitive to the films' structural characteristics. Analysis of the flame profile by high-speed video is also presented, suggesting that the reaction type is a deflagration rather than a detonation. A strong plume of flame is emitted from the surface, indicating the potential for this material to perform useful work either as an initiator or as a propellant. The shape of the flame front transitioned from an inverted V at thin-film thicknesses to a neat square-shaped front once the material became self-confining at 50 μm.
Cholesterol levels and cholesterol lowering in idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy.

We greatly appreciate the comments of Fauchier et al. regarding our recently published findings.1 Experimental and observational studies have raised concerns whether cholesterol lowering may adversely affect outcome in patients with chronic heart failure. We believe that those studies may not adequately address this clinically important issue due to (i) the artificial nature of those experimental studies …
Contact sensitivity in pruritus vulvae: a common and manageable problem

Some dermatologists patch test frequently, others less so and some not at all (I). Rietschel (2) suggests that a range of between 30 to 65% positives indicates an appropriate usage rate. Our 64.6% positivity to the European standard series suggests that the pick-up rate is satisfactory, but that we could afford to broaden our selection criteria and patch test more patients. This compares with the results obtained by our colleagues in Leeds and Bradford, who have 37% and 70% positivities to the European standard series (3). The pick-up rate for the vehicle series was poor at 18%, suggesting that we are not using it selectively enough. It would be better to limit the use of this series to specific indications, rather than applying it for routine screening. The yield for additional tests (apart from perming solutions) was low. Patients with atopic dermatitis have been thought to have a lower risk of developing contact dermatitis than control subjects ( 4). However, we tested 9 atopies in this group, of whom 7 were positive. Lantiga eta! (5) found that 57% of nickel-positive patients had atopic dermatitis. In 6 of our patients, the results were relevant to occuSHORT COMMUNICATIONS
A novel computational approach to detect isolated and continuous phase in structured materials

In this paper, a novel simple algorithm based on geometrical considerations is proposed to identify and classify in three-dimensional images phases which are interconnected or isolated. The approach is tested on two types of materials - composite reinforced with different fractions of spherical ceramic particles and nuclear graphite with different contents of porosity. The fraction of continuous phase are in good agreement with percolation threshold, which validates the approach