Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Depression of Human Neutrophil Motility by Influenza Virus In Vitro

After in vitro treatment of human peripheral neutrophils for 60 min at 37°C with purified influenza A virus, their random locomotion (no chemoattractant), chemokinesis (migration in the presence of a chemoattractant without a gradient), and chemotaxis were depressed, as determined by a modification of the Boyden method. The inhibition was accentuated by the presence of human serum devoid of antibodies to the virus. A strain of influenza B virus did not depress neutrophil motility at the same concentration and agglutinated the neutrophils at higher concentrations. Antiserum treatment partly abolished the inhibitory activity of the influenza virus. Inactivation of the virus infectivity with Tween 80 and ether did not change the ability of the virus to inhibit neutrophil motility. Bacterial neuraminidase did not inhibit neutrophil motility. Pretreatment of neutrophils with amantadine hydrochloride, which has been reported to block viral replication in its early stages, did not modify the depression of neutrophil motility by influenza A virus. The results give additional support to the suggested mechanism of depressed neutrophil function as a cause of bacterial superinfection after influenza.
Quantifying mortality of tropical rain forest trees using high-spatial-resolution satellite data

Assessment of forest responses to climate change is severely hampered by the limited information on tree death on short temporal and broad spatial scales, particularly in tropical forests. We used 1-m resolution panchromatic IKONOS and 0.7-m resolution QuickBird satellite data, acquired in 2000 and 2002, respectively, to evaluate tree death rates at the La Selva Biological Station in old-growth Tropical Wet Forest in Costa Rica, Central America. Using a calibration factor derived from ground inspection of tree deaths predicted from the images, we calculated a landscape-scale annual exponential death rate of 2.8%. This corresponds closely to data for all canopy-level trees in 18 forest inventory plots, each of 0.5 ha, for a mostly-overlapping 2-year period (2.8% per year). This study shows that high-spatial-resolution satellite data can now be used to measure old-growth tropical rain forest tree death rates, suggesting many new avenues for tropical forest ecology and global change research.
A New Nucleoporin-like Protein Interacts with Both HIV-1 Rev Nuclear Export Signal and CRM-1*

The HIV-1 Rev is a shuttling protein required for the nuclear export of unspliced and partially spliced viral mRNA. In this study, we have identified a new Rev-interacting protein, that specifically interacts with the Rev nuclear export signal both in yeast and mammalian cells. This protein has features found in nucleoporins including many phenylalanine-glycine repeats, a very high serine content, a putative zinc finger, and a coiled-coil domain; we thus called it NLP-1 (nucleoporin-likeprotein 1). In addition, gene expression analysis and wheat germ agglutinin chromatography experiments suggested that NLP-1 is an ubiquitous O-glycosylated nuclear protein. Recently, a cellular factor called CRM-1 has been shown to be an essential nuclear export factor interacting directly with nuclear export signals including the Rev nuclear export signal in a RanGTP-dependent manner. We show here that NLP-1, like the previously described Rev-interacting protein hRIP/Rab and several nucleoporins, also interacts with CRM-1 both in yeast and mammalian cells.
Shape Changes of the Anterior Lamina Cribrosa in Normal, Ocular Hypertensive, and Glaucomatous Eyes Following Acute Intraocular Pressure Elevation.

Purpose The purpose of this study was to estimate and compare changes in anterior lamina cribrosa (LC) morphology in normal, ocular hypertensive (OHT), and glaucomatous eyes following acute elevations in intraocular pressure (IOP). Methods The optic nerve heads (ONHs) of 97 subjects (17 OHT, 19 primary open-angle glaucoma [POAG], 31 primary angle-closure glaucoma [PACG], and 30 normal subjects) were imaged using optical coherence tomography (OCT). Intraocular pressure was raised twice by applying forces to the anterior sclera, using an ophthalmodynamometer. After each IOP elevation, IOP was held constant and measured; each ONH was rescanned with OCT. In each OCT volume, the anterior LC was enhanced, delineated, and its global shape index (GSI) calculated and compared across groups. Results The baseline IOP was 17.5 ± 3.5 mm Hg and was increased to 38 ± 5.9 mm Hg and then to 46.5 ± 5.9 mm Hg. At the first IOP increment, mean GSI was significantly smaller than that at baseline in normal subjects and glaucoma subjects (P < 0.05) but not in OHT subjects (P = 0.12). For the second IOP increment, the mean GSI was significantly smaller than that at baseline in normal subjects and in OHT eyes (P < 0.05). After adjusting for age, sex, and baseline IOP, the LC of POAG eyes was found to be significantly more posteriorly curved than that of normal subjects (P = 0.04). Conclusions Acute IOP elevations altered anterior LC shape in a complex nonlinear fashion. The LC of POAG eyes was more cupped following acute IOP elevations compared to that of normal subjects.
Effects of Triclosan and Biosolids on Microbial Community Composition in an Agricultural Soil

Triclosan (TCS) is a widely used antimicrobial agent found at high concentrations in biosolids produced during municipal wastewater treatment. The effect of adding TCS, in the presence or absence of biosolids, on the composition of an agricultural soil microbial community was measured using phospholipid fatty acid analysis (PLFA). Most changes observed in microbial community composition were attributable to the addition of biosolids or to the passage of time, with smaller changes due to TCS exposure, regardless of the presence of biosolids. TCS slightly reduced the relative abundance of Gram‐positive and Gram‐negative bacteria and fungi, with or without biosolids. Bacteria were more sensitive than eukaryotes, consistent with the mode of action of TCS, which selectively targets fatty acid synthesis and disrupts cell membranes of bacteria. TCS slightly increased biomarkers of microbial stress, but stress biomarkers were lower in all biosolid treated soils, presumably due to increased availability of nutrients mitigating potential TCS toxicity.
Implementing Mobile Learning Curricula in Schools: A Programme of Research from Innovation to Scaling

Many countries, regions and education districts in the world have experimented with models of one-device-per- student as an enabler of new or effective pedagogies supported by mobile technologies. Researchers have also designed innovations or interventions for possible adoption by schools or for informal learning. Of critical interest to the community is the question of how the more successful of these top-down or bottom-up models or innovations can proliferate to more usage, adoption and adaptation across levels of the education system. This paper describes a research programme that demonstrates how to make successful research innovations count in practice and that delineates what types of educational R&D involving scaling need to take place to make the critical link to impacting practice. We do this in the context of one such curricular innovation in a Singapore school that moves through the various phases to where the innovation is becoming an integral part of routine classroom practices.
Trends in Profile of Leprosy Cases Reporting to a Tertiary Care Centre in Delhi during 2006-2015

the year 2008. However, due to variety of problems the reported prevalence continues to be high in the national capital. This study has been carried out to understand the profile of leprosy cases reporting to a Tertiary Care Centre in Delhi. A retrospective analysis of 1487 registered cases from the leprosy clinic of Lok Nayak Hospital, New Delhi from the year 2005-06 to 2015-16 was carried out. Among these 66.71% cases had multibacillary disease, while 33.29% were found to have paucibacillary disease as per WHO classification being used for treatment purposes. This ratio has remained nearly same during this 10 year period. 10.96% had pure neurtitic leprosy. The mean age at presentation was found to be 31.72 years. Male to female ratio was found to be 2.9:1. Childhood leprosy was present in 7.59% of the total patients. Migrant population constituted 89.51% of the total patient load, 80% of them belonging to two endemic states of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. A total of 22.1% patient developed signs of reaction, while 26.5% (7.5% grade 1 and 19% grade 2) had deformities. Overall Delhi govt data and our hospital data are similar, can be considered to be representative of National Capital Region (NCR). As such the conclusions drawn from this study are meaningful and can be considered important in planning strategies to strengthen the National Leprosy Eradication Programme (NLEP) in NCR by proper planning, expertise building of care providers for improving the access to services required by these people.
Factors Enhancing Manpower Efficiency from the Viewpoint of Clinical and Non-clinical Faculty Members at Guilan University of Medical Sciences in 2011

Introduction: There are various factors that affect manpower efficiency. Identification of the most important and influential factors on efficiency is quite essential. Analysis of factors affecting manpower efficiency from the viewpoint of clinical and non-clinical faculty members at Guilan University of Medical Sciences in 2011. Methods: This descriptive, analytical, cross-sectional study was performed in October and November in 2011. The study sample consisted of 186 faculty members, including 128 clinical and 58 non-clinical. Instruments used to collect library data were questionnaire and field studies. Exploratory factor analysis with Varimax rotation was utilized to determine the factors influencing manpower efficiency as well as loading level of each of the variables. Results: Among clinical faculty members, 70.66% of changes in manpower efficiency, and among non-clinical faculty members, 79.57% of changes in manpower efficiency were explained by 9 and 8 factors, respectively Conclusion: Staff empowerment and organizational culture were recognized as the most important factors enhancing manpower efficiency from the viewpoint of clinical and non-clinical faculty members, respectively.
Outpatient Encounter Data for Risk Adjustment: Strategic Issues for Medicare and Medicaid

Payers are increasingly using diagnostic data from outpatient encounter records to adjust the payment to health plans. Although much has been written about the ability of such data to predict health care costs, little has been written about the data itself—its quality and availability. Fee-for-service (FFS) data face several threats to their validity, including the possibility that they may seriously underreport diagnoses. Because the systems and incentives that yield FFS and managed care diagnosis data are quite different, they may not be comparable, depending on circumstances such as audit rules. The next generation of risk adjustment models should be designed around the capabilities and potentialities of plans' information systems.
A neutrophil elastase inhibitor reduces cigarette smoke-induced remodelling of lung vessels

Cigarette smoking produces pulmonary hypertension (PHT) through unknown mechanisms. In animal models acute smoke exposure induces cell proliferation in the small arteries adjacent to the alveolar ducts, and chronic exposure results in muscularisation of these vessels, with changes related to the development of PHT. Studies indicate that serine-elastase inhibitors can prevent experimental monocrotaline-induced PHT. This study examined whether they could also prevent cigarette smoke-induced pulmonary vascular disease. Guinea-pigs were exposed to cigarette smoke or air for 6 months. Some animals also received ZD0892, an orally active, synthetic, selective, serine-elastase inhibitor. The percentage of muscularised, small, pulmonary arteries was determined by morphometric analysis of histological sections and vascular cell proliferation by proliferating cell nuclear antigen staining. Vascular cell proliferation was markedly increased in the smoke-exposed animals and the percentage of completely muscularised small vessels was increased four-fold. Cell proliferation indices correlated with muscularisation indices. In the animals treated with ZD0892, the number of completely muscularised vessels was reduced by 50% and cell proliferation was reduced by 61%. These data suggest that smoke-induced cell proliferation leads to pulmonary arterial muscularisation. Serine-elastase inhibitors appear to be able to reduce cell proliferation and vascular remodelling.
Caffeine lowers perceptual response and increases power output during high-intensity cycling

The aim of this study was to determine the effects of caffeine ingestion on a ‘preloaded’ protocol that involved cycling for 2 min at a constant rate of 100% maximal power output immediately followed by a 1-min ‘all-out’ effort. Eleven male cyclists completed a ramp test to measure maximal power output. On two other occasions, the participants ingested caffeine (5 mg · kg−1) or placebo in a randomized, double-blind procedure. All tests were conducted on the participants' own bicycles using a Kingcycle™ test rig. Ratings of perceived exertion (RPE; 6–20 Borg scale) were lower in the caffeine trial by approximately 1 RPE point at 30, 60 and 120 s during the constant rate phase of the preloaded test (P <0.05). The mean power output during the all-out effort was increased following caffeine ingestion compared with placebo (794±164 vs 750±163 W; P = 0.05). Blood lactate concentration 4, 5 and 6 min after exercise was also significantly higher by approximately 1 mmol · l−1 in the caffeine trial (P <0.05). These results suggest that high-intensity cycling performance can be increased following moderate caffeine ingestion and that this improvement may be related to a reduction in RPE and an elevation in blood lactate concentration.
Sustained eruptions on Enceladus explained by turbulent dissipation in tiger stripes

Significance Eruptions on the ice moon Enceladus provide access to materials from Enceladus’ ocean. The mechanism that drives and sustains the eruptions is unclear, and it is also not known what sets the rate of volcanism. We found that a simple model in which the erupting fissures are underlain by slots that connect the surface to the ocean can explain the observations. In the model, the slots are mostly filled with water, and Saturn tides drive turbulent water flow in the slots whose dissipation produces enough heat to keep slots open. In turn, long-lived water-filled slots drive a volcano-tectonic feedback that buffers the rate of volcanism to approximately the observed value. Our results suggest that the ocean–surface connection on Enceladus may be sustained on million-year timescales. Spacecraft observations suggest that the plumes of Saturn’s moon Enceladus draw water from a subsurface ocean, but the sustainability of conduits linking ocean and surface is not understood. Observations show eruptions from “tiger stripe” fissures that are sustained (although tidally modulated) throughout each orbit, and since the 2005 discovery of the plumes. Peak plume flux lags peak tidal extension by ∼1 rad, suggestive of resonance. Here, we show that a model of the tiger stripes as tidally flexed slots that puncture the ice shell can simultaneously explain the persistence of the eruptions through the tidal cycle, the phase lag, and the total power output of the tiger stripe terrain, while suggesting that eruptions are maintained over geological timescales. The delay associated with flushing and refilling of O(1)-m-wide slots with ocean water causes erupted flux to lag tidal forcing and helps to buttress slots against closure, while tidally pumped in-slot flow leads to heating and mechanical disruption that staves off slot freezeout. Much narrower and much wider slots cannot be sustained. In the presence of long-lived slots, the 106-y average power output of the tiger stripes is buffered by a feedback between ice melt-back and subsidence to O(1010) W, which is similar to observed power output, suggesting long-term stability. Turbulent dissipation makes testable predictions for the final flybys of Enceladus by Cassini. Our model shows how open connections to an ocean can be reconciled with, and sustain, long-lived eruptions. Turbulent dissipation in long-lived slots helps maintain the ocean against freezing, maintains access by future Enceladus missions to ocean materials, and is plausibly the major energy source for tiger stripe activity.
Characteristics of Persons Utilizing a Geriatric Psychiatry Outpatient Clinic

Mental-health service utilization among elderly people has been shown to be low relative to younger age groups. This study was done to determine the current proportion of elderly persons served in a university-affiliated psychiatry outpatient clinic, and to better characterize elderly patients who receive specialized mental-health care in this setting. The proportion of visits from elderly patients (aged 60 and over) was found to be 16%. Demographic and clinical characteristics of a sample of 140 consecutive geriatric patients evaluated at the clinic were obtained. The data revealed that the patients had a mean age of 74.7 ± 7.5 (SD) years, and were mostly female (72.1%) and white (78.6%). Surprisingly, the age distribution was found to be bell shaped, with a small upper tail. The three most prevalent psychiatric diagnoses were depression (56.4%), dementia (35.7%), and substance use disorder (20%). Overall, 59.3% of geriatric patients had a history of prior psychiatric treatment. Females were significantly more likely than males to have a psychiatric history (69.3% vs. 33.3%, P = .0001). Among patients with a psychiatric history, females were more likely to have a current diagnosis of major depression (P = .0006), while males were more likely to have a current substance use disorder (P = .03). The prevalence of dementia increased with each successive decade above 60, while the occurrence of bipolar and adjustment disorders was confined to younger geriatric patients. Elderly patients receiving psychiatric treatment in the clinic thus formed a heterogeneous group. Gender, age, and presence of a psychiatric history were all associated with differences in prevalence and distribution of various mental disorders in this geriatric psychiatry outpatient clinic.
Interest in learning of personal genetic risk for cancer: a general population survey.

BACKGROUND Previous studies have reported high interest in genetic testing for risk for colon or breast-ovarian cancer. These studies, however, have used samples which might be atypical with regard to level of interest evident among the general U.S. population. METHODS As part of an annual statewide telephone health survey, adults' (n = 649) interest in learning about their personal genetic predisposition for cancer was assessed. RESULTS High levels of interest in learning about a personal genetic predisposition for cancer in general (87%) and breast cancer in particular (93%) were expressed. Logistic regression analysis indicated that lack of interest was associated with less education, minority status, and less performance of other health-protective behaviors. Only 53% of respondents reported their understanding of genetics was "good" or "excellent. " CONCLUSION While interest in learning of one's personal genetic predisposition for cancer was high, many individuals requesting testing may have a less than good understanding of genetics and the implications of test results. Furthermore, variables associated with lack of interest in learning about personal genetic risk for cancer in this study were similar to those which have been previously found to be associated with poor utilization of other cancer control activities such as breast or cervical cancer screening.
Convolutional Sparse Coding with Overlapping Group Norms

The most widely used form of convolutional sparse coding uses an $\ell_1$ regularization term. While this approach has been successful in a variety of applications, a limitation of the $\ell_1$ penalty is that it is homogeneous across the spatial and filter index dimensions of the sparse representation array, so that sparsity cannot be separately controlled across these dimensions. The present paper considers the consequences of replacing the $\ell_1$ penalty with a mixed group norm, motivated by recent theoretical results for convolutional sparse representations. Algorithms are developed for solving the resulting problems, which are quite challenging, and the impact on the performance of the denoising problem is evaluated. The mixed group norms are found to perform very poorly in this application. While their performance is greatly improved by introducing a weighting strategy, such a strategy also improves the performance obtained from the much simpler and computationally cheaper $\ell_1$ norm.
CD31 Is Required on CD4+ T Cells To Promote T Cell Survival during Salmonella Infection

Hematopoietic cells constitutively express CD31/PECAM1, a signaling adhesion receptor associated with controlling responses to inflammatory stimuli. Although expressed on CD4+ T cells, its function on these cells is unclear. To address this, we have used a model of systemic Salmonella infection that induces high levels of T cell activation and depends on CD4+ T cells for resolution. Infection of CD31-deficient (CD31KO) mice demonstrates that these mice fail to control infection effectively. During infection, CD31KO mice have diminished numbers of total CD4+ T cells and IFN-γ–secreting Th1 cells. This is despite a higher proportion of CD31KO CD4+ T cells exhibiting an activated phenotype and an undiminished capacity to prime normally and polarize to Th1. Reduced numbers of T cells reflected the increased propensity of naive and activated CD31KO T cells to undergo apoptosis postinfection compared with wild-type T cells. Using adoptive transfer experiments, we show that loss of CD31 on CD4+ T cells alone is sufficient to account for the defective CD31KO T cell accumulation. These data are consistent with CD31 helping to control T cell activation, because in its absence, T cells have a greater propensity to become activated, resulting in increased susceptibility to become apoptotic. The impact of CD31 loss on T cell homeostasis becomes most pronounced during severe, inflammatory, and immunological stresses such as those caused by systemic Salmonella infection. This identifies a novel role for CD31 in regulating CD4 T cell homeostasis.