Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Assessment of immune responses to H5N1 inactivated influenza vaccine among individuals previously primed with H5N2 live attenuated influenza vaccine

During the past decade, a number of H5 subtype influenza vaccines have been developed and tested in clinical trials, but most of them induced poor serum antibody responses prompting the evaluation of novel vaccination approaches. One of the most promising ones is a “prime-boost” strategy, which could result in the induction of prompt and robust immune responses to a booster influenza vaccine following priming with homologous or heterologous vaccine strains. In our study we evaluated immunogenicity of an adjuvanted A(H5N1) inactivated influenza vaccine (IIV) in healthy adult subjects who received A(H5N2) live attenuated influenza vaccine (LAIV) 1.5 years earlier and compared this with a group of naïve subjects. We found that priming with A(H5N2) LAIV induced a long-lasting B-cell immunological memory against influenza A(H5N1) virus, which was brought on by more prompt and vigorous antibody production to a single dose of A(H5N1) IIV in the primed group, compared to the naïve controls. Thus, by day 28 after the first booster dose, the hemagglutination inhibition and neutralizing (MN) antibody titer rises were 17.2 and 30.8 in the primed group, compared to 2.3 and 8.0 in the control group, respectively. The majority (79%) of the primed individuals achieved seroprotective MN antibody titers at 7 days after the first dose of the IIV. All LAIV-primed volunteers had MN titers ≥1:40 by Day 28 after one dose of IIV, whereas only 58% subjects from the naïve control group developed similar immune responses at this time point. The second A(H5N1) IIV dose did not increase the immune response in the LAIV-primed group, whereas 2 doses of IIV were required for naïve volunteers to develop significant immune responses. These findings were of special significance since Russian-based LAIV technology has been licensed to WHO, through whom the vaccine has been provided to vaccine manufacturers in India, China and Thailand — countries particularly vulnerable to a pandemic influenza. The results of our study will be useful to inform the development of vaccination strategies in these countries in the event of a pandemic
Accessing Earth system science data and applications through high-bandwidth networks

We discuss gigabit network applications enabled by "Mission to Planet Earth", an international effort to monitor the Earth as a system. We describe the design of a network architecture to support applications developed as part of this program; introduce a new component, public access resource centers (PARCs); and discuss how PARCs would facilitate access by users outside the traditional research community. We also describe how a particular class of users, agriculture users, might benefit from access to data collected as part of the Mission to Planet Earth program and delivered in a value-added form to them by a so-called AgPARC. The suggested architecture requires the deployment of high-bandwidth networks. >
Microarray Analysis of the Toxicogenomics and the Genotoxic Potential of a Cationic Lipid-Based Gene Delivery Nanosystem in Human Alveolar Epithelial A549 Cells

ABSTRACT Viral and nonviral vectors have been widely used in gene therapy as delivery reagents for nucleic acids. Toxicity with viral vectors has increasingly led to the search for suitable nonviral vectors, such as cationic lipids/polymers, as potentially safer alternatives. However, little is known about the genomic toxicity of these delivery systems in target cells/tissues. In the current investigation, we report on the toxicogenomics and genotoxicity of cationic lipid Oligofectamine (OF) nanosystems in human alveolar epithelial A549 cells. To investigate the nature and the ontology of the gene expression changes in A549 cells upon treatment with OF nanoliposomes, microarray gene expression profiling methodology was utilized. For microarray analysis, cyanine (Cy3/Cy5)-labeled cDNA samples from treated and untreated cells were hybridized on target arrays housing 200 genes. Both OF and OF-DNA lipoplex induced significant gene expression changes belonging to the different genomic ontologies such as cell defense and apoptosis pathways. Flow cytometry analyses revealed induction of apoptosis in A549 cells treated with these nanosystems that is likely due to interactions and/or deterioration of the cell membranes. However, no DNA damage was detected by the Comet assay. These data suggest that cationic nanoliposomes in the absence of direct DNA damage elicit multiple gene expression changes in A549 cells that may compromise the main goals of gene medicine where only therapy-defined gene changes are required.
Differential effects of nitrogen and sulfur deprivation on growth and biodiesel feedstock production of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii

Biodiesel production from microalgae is a promising approach for energy production; however, high cost of its process limits the use of microalgal biodiesel. Increasing the levels of triacylglycerol (TAG) levels, which is used as a biodiesel feedstock, in microalgae has been achieved mainly by nitrogen starvation. In this study, we compared effects of sulfur (S) and nitrogen (N) starvation on TAG accumulation and related parameters in wild‐type Chlamydomonas reinhardtii CC‐124 mt(−) and CC‐125 mt(+) strains. Cell division was interrupted, protein and chlorophyll levels rapidly declined while cell volume, total neutral lipid, carotenoid, and carbohydrate content increased in response to nutrient starvation. Cytosolic lipid droplets in microalgae under nutrient starvation were monitored by three‐dimensional confocal laser imaging of live cells. Infrared spectroscopy results showed that relative TAG, oligosaccharide and polysaccharide levels increased rapidly in response to nutrient starvation, especially S starvation. Both strains exhibited similar levels of regulation responses under mineral deficiency, however, the degree of their responses were significantly different, which emphasizes the importance of mating type on the physiological response of algae. Neutral lipid, TAG, and carbohydrate levels reached their peak values following 4 days of N or S starvation. Therefore, 4 days of N or S starvation provides an excellent way of increasing TAG content. Although increase in these parameters was followed by a subsequent decline in N‐starved strains after 4 days, this decline was not observed in S‐starved ones, which shows that S starvation is a better way of increasing TAG production of C. reinhardtii than N starvation. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2012; 109:1947–1957. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Research to practice: throwing a rope across the divide

The application of research to practice has emerged over the last decade as one of the most pressing issues in such diverse professions as management, nursing and human resource development (HRD). For HRD, pressures of limited resources within organizations and increased expectations of clients are just two factors that have created an environment in which practitioners are increasingly expected to justify intervention designs in advance of implementation. Research evidence forms part of that justification, and the Academy for Human Resource Development (AHRD), with its mission of ‘Leading the profession through research’, emphasizes a belief that research should be a cornerstone of solid HRD practice. The efforts of the Academy and equivalent organizations, such as the University Forum for HRD in the United Kingdom, have resulted in the publication of high-quality HRD research and increased dialogue between HRD researchers across the globe. Despite the good faith efforts of these professional bodies, the nagging question remains: is HRD research influencing HRD practice in meaningful ways? ‘To some extent’ may be an optimistic response given that many researchers still wonder why practice does not change in the light of their research findings and many practitioners cannot find the research evidence needed to guide or justify intervention designs. At the same time, HRD has struggled as a profession to rid itself of what some commentators have referred to as fad-ridden practices that lack any real basis in theory and research (Bing et al. 2003). In the face of such criticism, it seems reasonable to conclude that there is still a clear gap between research and practice in the world of HRD. In the light of the ongoing gap between HRD research and practice, several efforts have been made to explore and identify the issues that are holding the gap in place. Over the past two years, the ASTD Research-to-Practice Committee and AHRD Practitioner Partnership Committee have sponsored joint pre-conferences on the topic. In addition, the AHRD used research – practice links as a focus for its 2004 conference, with keynote speakers, a Town Hall forum and an innovative session all HRDI 7:3 (2004), pp. 403–409
A Structure-Based Classification and Analysis of Protein Domain Family Binding Sites and Their Interactions

While the number of solved 3D protein structures continues to grow rapidly, the structural rules that distinguish protein-protein interactions between different structural families are still not clear. Here, we classify and analyse the secondary structural features and promiscuity of a comprehensive non-redundant set of domain family binding sites (DFBSs) and hetero domain-domain interactions (DDIs) extracted from our updated KBDOCK resource. We have partitioned 4001 DFBSs into five classes using their propensities for three types of secondary structural elements (“α” for helices, “β” for strands, and “γ” for irregular structure) and we have analysed how frequently these classes occur in DDIs. Our results show that β elements are not highly represented in DFBSs compared to α and γ elements. At the DDI level, all classes of binding sites tend to preferentially bind to the same class of binding sites and α/β contacts are significantly disfavored. Very few DFBSs are promiscuous: 80% of them interact with just one Pfam domain. About 50% of our Pfam domains bear only one single-partner DFBS and are therefore monogamous in their interactions with other domains. Conversely, promiscuous Pfam domains bear several DFBSs among which one or two are promiscuous, thereby multiplying the promiscuity of the concerned protein.
On the performance of non-coherent and differential-coherent uwb-dcc system

In this paper, the performance of the non-coherent and the differential-coherent ultra-wideband direct chaotic communication (UWB-DCC) systems are evaluated. Both of these systems are proposed for the low-rate wireless personal area applications. Based on these systems, a 2 GHz wide chaotic signal is directly generated into the lower band of the UWB spectrum i.e. 3.1-5.1 GHz. The information component is modulated by the chaotic signal based on either the chaotic-on-off keying or the differential-chaos-shift-keying modulation schemes. At the receiver, for the non-coherent scheme, a simple envelope detector is used as an energy collector. While for the differential-coherent scheme, a delay line and an integrator are required. Various system design parameters and tradeoffs are discussed in the paper in order to meet the low complexity, low power consumption and low cost requirements while still compliant with the FCC UWB regulation. An overview of the IEEE 802.15. 4a standardized UWB channel models used for system simulations is given. Additionally, the system performance in both AWGN channel and various types of multipath channels are provided in order to further demonstrate the capability and to compare the two proposed schemes
Gaussian Belief Propagation for Solving Systems of Linear Equations: Theory and Application

The canonical problem of solving a system of linear equations arises in numerous contexts in information theory, communication theory, and related fiel ds. In this contribution, we develop a solution based upon Gaussian belief propagation (GaBP) that does not involve direct matrix inversion. The iterative nature of our approach allows for a distribute d message-passing implementation of the solution algorithm. We address the properties of the GaBP solver, including convergence, exactness, computational complexity, message-passing efficiency and its relation to classical solution methods. We use numerical examples and applications, like linear detection, to illustrate these properties through the use of computer simulations. This empirical study demonstrates the attractiveness (e.g. , faster convergence rate) of the proposed GaBP solver in comparison to conventional linear-algebraic iterative solution methods.
Effects of domestic violence policies, alcohol taxes and police staffing levels on intimate partner homicide in large US cities

Objective To assess the relationships between intimate partner homicide (IPH) and public policies including police staffing levels in large US cities. Design The research uses a multiple time-series design to examine the effects of statutes aimed at restricting access to firearms for perpetrators of domestic violence, allowing or mandating arrest for violators of domestic violence restraining orders (DVROs), beer excise taxes, and police staffing levels on IPH in 46 of the largest US cities from 1979 to 2003. Both total IPH and IPH committed with a firearm are analysed. Generalised estimating equations using a Poisson distribution are used to regress IPH on the policies and potential confounders. Results State statutes restricting those under DVROs from accessing firearms, and laws allowing the warrantless arrest of DVRO violators are associated with reductions in total and firearm IPH. Police staffing levels are also negatively associated with IPH and firearm IPH. There was no evidence that other policies to restrict firearm access to domestic violence offenders or alcohol taxes had a significant impact on IPH. Conclusions Reducing access to firearms for DVRO defendants, increasing police staffing levels and allowing the warrantless arrest of DVRO violators may reduce the city-level risk of IPH. Future research should evaluate factors that may mediate the effect of these laws and increased police staffing levels on IPH to determine whether there are opportunities to increase their protective effect. Further research is needed on firearm law implementation to determine why the other tested laws were not found effective.
Membranous glomerulonephritis with ANCA-associated necrotizing and crescentic glomerulonephritis.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES Only rare cases of concurrent membranous glomerulonephritis (MGN) and antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated necrotizing and crescentic glomerulonephritis (NCGN) have been reported. DESIGN, SETTING, PARTICIPANTS, & MEASUREMENTS The authors report the clinical and pathologic findings in 14 patients with MGN and ANCA-associated NCGN. RESULTS The cohort consisted of eight men and six women with a mean age of 58.7 yr. ANCA positivity was documented by indirect immunofluorescence or ELISA in all patients. Indirect immunofluorescence was positive in 13 patients (seven P-ANCA, five C-ANCA, one atypical ANCA). ELISA was positive in nine of 10 patients (five MPO-ANCA, three PR3-ANCA, one MPO- and PR3-ANCA). Clinical presentation included heavy proteinuria (mean 24-hr urine protein 6.5 g/d), hematuria, and acute renal failure (mean creatinine 4.4 mg/dl). Pathologic evaluation revealed MGN and NCGN, with crescents involving a mean of 32% of glomeruli. On ultrastructural evaluation, the majority of cases showed stage I or II membranous changes. Follow-up was available for 13 patients, 12 of whom were treated with steroids and cyclophosphamide. At a mean follow-up of 24.3 mo, five patients progressed to ESRD, seven had stabilization or improvement in renal function, and one had worsening renal function. Five patients, including three with ESRD, died during the follow-up period. The only independent predictor of progression to ESRD was serum creatinine at biopsy. CONCLUSIONS MGN with ANCA-associated NCGN is a rare dual glomerulopathy seen in patients with heavy proteinuria, acute renal failure, and active urine sediment. Prognosis is variable, with 50% of patients reaching endpoints of ESRD or death.
Relationships Among the Professional Practices and Demographic Characteristics of School Psychologists

Abstract A national database resulting from a survey of school psychologists was used to examine relationships between the professional practices of school psychologists and the factors of practitioner training, experience, gender, school district setting, and students-to-school-psychologist ratio. School psychologists with more years of experience and those with higher levels of training were found to have served more students through consultation and to have conducted more inservice programs than did those with less experience or training. Rural school psychologists were generally less experienced and were found to have conducted more special education reevaluations but fewer consultations than had their urban and suburban peers. Larger students-to-school-psychologist ratios were associated with special-education-related practices such as initial evaluations and reevaluations. Implications for future research are discussed.
Human data relations and the lifeworld

This paper introduces a new approach to classifying the way in which data visualizations mediate our experience of the world. In doing so we will use the concept of human-technology relations as developed by Don Ihde, a phenomenological philosopher of technology. Following a synopsis of Ihde’s four human-technology relations, each is then developed in the context of specific data visualization technologies/artefacts.
Pharmacokinetics of succinylcholine in man.

The pharmacokinetics of succinylcholine (SCh) 1 or 2 mg/kg was studied in 14 anesthetized patients. Arterial blood concentrations of SCh were measured using a high-performance liquid chromatographic assay. The arterial concentration vs. time data were analyzed by log-linear regression and fitted to an one-compartment model. The pharmacokinetic parameters were (SCh 1, n = 8 and 2 mg/kg, n = 6): apparent volume of distribution (16.4 +/- 14.7 and 5.6 +/- 6.8 ml/kg, mean +/- S.D.), total body clearance (40.5 +/- 38.7 and 15.0 +/- 14.8 liter/min), area under the plasma concentration-time curve (124.3 +/- 163.2 and 695.3 +/- 1008.9 min.micrograms/ml), and elimination half-life (16.6 +/- 4.8 and 11.7 +/- 4.5 sec). The rapid disappearance of SCh from the blood may be due to diffusion out of the blood vessel.
Predicting Protein Subcellular Localisation From Amino Acid Sequence Information

Predicting the subcellular localisation of proteins is an important part of the elucidation of their functions and interactions. Here, the amino acid sequence motifs that direct proteins to their proper subcellular compartment are surveyed, different methods for localisation prediction are discussed, and some benchmarks for the more commonly used predictors are presented.
Generation of a Mouse Model with Down-Regulated U50 snoRNA (SNORD50) Expression and Its Organ-Specific Phenotypic Modulation

Box C/D-type small nucleolar RNAs (snoRNAs) are functional RNAs responsible for mediating 2′-O-ribose methylation of ribosomal RNAs (rRNAs) within the nucleolus. In the past years, evidence for the involvement of human U50 snoRNA in tumorigenesis has been accumulating. We previously identified U50HG, a non-protein-coding gene that hosted a box C/D-type U50 snoRNA, in a chromosomal breakpoint in a human B-cell lymphoma. Mouse genome analysis revealed four mouse U50 (mU50) host-genes: three mU50HG-a gene variants that were clustered in the genome and an mU50HG-b gene that we supposed to be the U50HG ortholog. In this study, to investigate the physiological importance of mU50 snoRNA and its involvement in tumorigenesis, we eliminated mU50 snoRNA sequences from the mU50HG-b gene. The established mouse line (ΔmU50(HG-b)) showed a significant reduction of mU50 snoRNA expression without alteration of the host-gene length and exon-intron structure, and the corresponding target rRNA methylation in various organs was reduced. Lifelong phenotypic monitoring showed that the ΔmU50(HG-b) mice looked almost normal without accelerated tumorigenicity; however, a notable difference was the propensity for anomalies in the lymphoid organs. Transcriptome analysis showed that dozens of genes, including heat shock proteins, were differentially expressed in ΔmU50(HG-b) mouse lymphocytes. This unique model of a single snoRNA knockdown with intact host-gene expression revealed further new insights into the discrete transcriptional regulation of multiple mU50 host-genes and the complicated dynamics involved in organ-specific processing and maintenance of snoRNAs.
Morphology of the regressing corpus luteum in the ewe.

Ultrastructural features of the regressing corpus luteum have been studied in the ewe at the end of the estrous cycle. Luteal cells secrete densely-staining granules which have been reported to contain progesterone. This process appears to be maximal at Day 10 of the cycle and begins to taper off noticeably at Day 12. The secretory activity declines gradually till Day 14, but up to this time the fine structure of other cytoplasmic organdIes in the luteal cell shows no remarkable change, save for a gradual increase in the number of autophagocytic bodies which first begin to appear at Day 12. In contrast, on Day 15 there is evidence of marked degeneration; the luteal cells are shrunken, granule secretion has ceased, autophagocytic bodies are numerous and lipid droplets, rarely seen in the fully functional cell, are present in abundance, Lysosomes are observed at all stages of the cycle and there is no dramatic increase in their number towards the end, In some cells at Day 15 the process of degeneration has advanced to the stage where the fine structure of organelles is no longer recognizable and within autophagocytic bodies there are large sites associated with acid phosphatase activity.
A toolbar for efficient interaction in online communities

Teams and communities on the Internet need virtual meeting places for the development of business and information. Today the interaction of people is not so much the result of the closeness to each other than the common tasks, goals, and interests of people. Online communities represent a social network of people with a common interest needing common information. Users want to exchange experiences and get in touch with others so that everybody can profit from each other's knowledge. New effective ways of producing common knowledge, sharing information and coordinating activities are required to make communication and cooperation in distributed working and interest groups possible. This paper presents a framework extending portal systems with functions for effective knowledge cooperation and efficient collaboration in online communities.