Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Ability of an Oligomeric Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 (HIV-1) Envelope Antigen To Elicit Neutralizing Antibodies against Primary HIV-1 Isolates Is Improved following Partial Deletion of the Second Hypervariable Region

ABSTRACT Partial deletion of the second hypervariable region from the envelope of the primary-like SF162 virus increases the exposure of certain neutralization epitopes and renders the virus, SF162ΔV2, highly susceptible to neutralization by clade B and non-clade B human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-positive) sera (L. Stamatatos and C. Cheng-Mayer, J. Virol. 78:7840–7845, 1998). This observation led us to propose that the modified, SF162ΔV2-derived envelope may elicit higher titers of cross-reactive neutralizing antibodies than the unmodified SF162-derived envelope. To test this hypothesis, we immunized rabbits and rhesus macaques with the gp140 form of these two envelopes. In rabbits, both immunogens elicited similar titers of binding antibodies but the modified immunogen was more effective in eliciting neutralizing antibodies, not only against the SF162ΔV2 and SF162 viruses but also against several heterologous primary HIV type 1 (HIV-1) isolates. In rhesus macaques both immunogens elicited potent binding antibodies, but again the modified immunogen was more effective in eliciting the generation of neutralizing antibodies against the SF162ΔV2 and SF162 viruses. Antibodies capable of neutralizing several, but not all, heterologous primary HIV-1 isolates tested were elicited only in macaques immunized with the modified immunogen. The efficiency of neutralization of these heterologous isolates was lower than that recorded against the SF162 isolate. Our results strongly suggest that although soluble oligomeric envelope subunit vaccines may elicit neutralizing antibody responses against heterologous primary HIV-1 isolates, these responses will not be broad and potent unless specific modifications are introduced to increase the exposure of conserved neutralization epitopes.
Poliovirus cis-Acting Replication Element-Dependent VPg Uridylylation Lowers the Km of the Initiating Nucleoside Triphosphate for Viral RNA Replication

ABSTRACT Initiation of RNA synthesis by RNA-dependent RNA polymerases occurs when a phosphodiester bond is formed between the first two nucleotides in the 5′ terminus of product RNA. The concentration of initiating nucleoside triphosphates (NTPi) required for RNA synthesis is typically greater than the concentration of NTPs required for elongation. VPg, a small viral protein, is covalently attached to the 5′ end of picornavirus negative- and positive-strand RNAs. A cis-acting replication element (CRE) within picornavirus RNAs serves as a template for the uridylylation of VPg, resulting in the synthesis of VPgpUpUOH. Mutations within the CRE RNA structure prevent VPg uridylylation. While the tyrosine hydroxyl of VPg can prime negative-strand RNA synthesis in a CRE- and VPgpUpUOH-independent manner, CRE-dependent VPgpUpUOH synthesis is absolutely required for positive-strand RNA synthesis. As reported herein, low concentrations of UTP did not support negative-strand RNA synthesis when CRE-disrupting mutations prevented VPg uridylylation, whereas correspondingly low concentrations of CTP or GTP had no negative effects on the magnitude of CRE-independent negative-strand RNA synthesis. The experimental data indicate that CRE-dependent VPg uridylylation lowers the Km of UTP required for viral RNA replication and that CRE-dependent VPgpUpUOH synthesis was required for efficient negative-strand RNA synthesis, especially when UTP concentrations were limiting. By lowering the concentration of UTP needed for the initiation of RNA replication, CRE-dependent VPg uridylylation provides a mechanism for a more robust initiation of RNA replication.
ENVIRONMENTAL UNCERTAINTY AND BUDGETARY EVALUATION: CASE OF MOROCCAN FIRMS

Using data from 62 firms based in Morocco, this research reports the findings of a study designed to examine the relationship between budgetary evaluation and environmental uncertainty. In this research, we identified three principal styles of budgetary evaluation: “strict budgetary evaluation” adopted by 21% of the sample; “moderate budgetary evaluation” adopted by 27.4% of enterprises surveyed and “lower budgetary evaluation” adopted by 51.6% of the sample. The environmental uncertainty has no significant effect on the budgetary evaluation.
Influence of elicitation with H₂O₂ on phenolics content, antioxidant potential and nutritional quality of Lens culinaris sprouts.

BACKGROUND The use of lentil sprouts as bioreactors for obtaining low-processed food with modified composition and biological activity was studied. Special emphasis was placed on the nutritional quality. Sprouts metabolism was elicited with 20 mmol L⁻¹ and 200 mmol L⁻¹ H₂O₂. The polyphenolics content and antioxidative abilities at different germination stages of lentil were studied. RESULTS Both sprouting and elicitation significantly influenced the nutritional and nutraceutical quality of sprouts. In comparison to control conditions both treatments gave an increase in caffeic, salicylic acid and genistein contents in 4-day-old sprouts and p-hydroxybenzoic, chlorogenic, o-coumaric, p-coumaric acids and naringenin, (+)-catechin contents for 6-day-old sprouts. Elicitation significantly increased the ability to prevent lipid against peroxidation. The antioxidant potential was the most effectively elevated in 6-day-old sprouts. Elicitation caused a significant decrease in protein content associated with a significant elevation in the non-protein nitrogen content. Induction of sprout metabolism caused a decrease of bioavailable starch and subsequent elevation of resistant starch content. CONCLUSION The significantly elevated antioxidant potential, high content of resistant starch and low starch bioaccessibility of sprouts elicited with H₂O₂ indicated that this technology allows the production of functional food products with particular characteristics.
Proliferative and Antiapoptotic Signaling Stimulated by Nuclear-Localized PDK1 Results in Oncogenesis

PDK1 in the nucleus drives oncogenesis in mice and correlates with human prostate tumor grade. PDK1 Goes Nuclear Many tumors exhibit enhanced phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) signaling, which results in increased activity of the kinase Akt and cellular proliferation. Phosphoinositide-dependent protein kinase 1 (PDK1) activates Akt at the plasma membrane downstream of PI3K; however, in cells in which PI3K signaling is enhanced, some PDK1 is localized to the nucleus. Kikani et al. showed that nuclear localization of PDK1 in mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) both enhanced Akt-dependent proliferation and inhibited proapoptotic signaling. Transfer of MEFs expressing a nuclear-localized mutant PDK1, but not wild-type PDK1, into athymic nude mice resulted in the robust formation of solid tumors. Analysis of human prostate tumor samples revealed that greater nuclear localization of PDK1 correlated with higher-grade tumors. Together, these data suggest that PDK1 in the nucleus is oncogenic and that therapeutic blocking of the nuclear translocation of PDK1 may be effective in treating cancers with enhanced PI3K activity. Enhanced activation of phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) is a hallmark of many human tumors because it promotes cell proliferation and survival through several mechanisms. One of these mechanisms is the phosphorylation of the serine and threonine kinase Akt at the cytosolic side of the plasma membrane by phosphoinositide-dependent protein kinase 1 (PDK1), which is recruited and activated by binding to the phosphoinositides produced by PI3K. We previously demonstrated increased nuclear accumulation of PDK1 in cells with enhanced PI3K activity. We report that nuclear PDK1 promoted cell proliferation by suppressing FOXO3A-dependent transcription of the gene encoding p27Kip1 (an inhibitor of cell cycle progression), whereas it enhanced cell survival by inhibiting the activation of c-Jun amino-terminal kinase. Cells with nuclear-localized PDK1 showed anchorage-independent growth, and when injected into mice, these cells induced the formation of solid tumors. In human prostate tumors, cytoplasmic localization of PDK1 correlated only with early-stage, low-risk tumors, whereas nuclear PDK1 localization correlated with high-risk tumors. Together, our findings suggest a role for nuclear-translocated PDK1 in oncogenic cellular transformation and tumor progression in mice and humans.
Animation-by-Demonstration Computer Puppetry Authoring Framework

This paper presents Master of Puppets (MOP), an animation-by-demonstration framework that allows users to control the motion of virtual characters (puppets) in real time. In the first step, the user is asked to perform the necessary actions that correspond to the character's motions. The user's actions are recorded, and a hidden Markov model (HMM) is used to learn the temporal profile of the actions. During the runtime of the framework, the user controls the motions of the virtual character based on the specified activities. The advantage of the MOP framework is that it recognizes and follows the progress of the user's actions in real time. Based on the forward algorithm, the method predicts the evolution of the user's actions, which corresponds to the evolution of the character's motion. This method treats characters as puppets that can perform only one motion at a time. This means that combinations of motion segments (motion synthesis), as well as the interpolation of individual motion sequences, are not provided as functionalities. By implementing the framework and presenting several computer puppetry scenarios, its efficiency and flexibility in animating virtual characters is demonstrated.
Regional-Scale High Spatial Resolution Mapping of Aboveground Net Primary Productivity (ANPP) from Field Survey and Landsat Data: A Case Study for the Country of Wales

This paper presents an alternative approach for high spatial resolution vegetation productivity mapping at a regional scale, using a combination of Normalised Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) imagery and widely distributed ground-based Above-ground Net Primary Production (ANPP) estimates. Our method searches through all available single-date NDVI imagery to identify the images which give the best NDVI–ANPP relationship. The derived relationships are then used to predict ANPP values outside of field survey plots. This approach enables the use of the high spatial resolution (30 m) Landsat 8 sensor, despite its low revisit frequency that is further reduced by cloud cover. This is one of few studies to investigate the NDVI–ANPP relationship across a wide range of temperate habitats and strong relationships were observed (R2 = 0.706), which increased when only grasslands were considered (R2 = 0.833). The strongest NDVI–ANPP relationships occurred during the spring “green-up” period. A reserved subset of 20% of ground-based ANPP estimates was used for validation and results showed that our method was able to estimate ANPP with a RMSE of 15–21%. This work is important because we demonstrate a general methodological framework for mapping of ANPP from local to regional scales, with the potential to be applied to any temperate ecosystems with a pronounced green up period. Our approach allows spatial extrapolation outside of field survey plots to produce a continuous surface product, useful for capturing spatial patterns and representing small-scale heterogeneity, and well-suited for modelling applications. The data requirements for implementing this approach are also discussed.
The relationship between medicine and the public: the challenge of concordance

Concordance is based on the idea that patients and practitioners should work together towards an agreement on treatment choice. This requires a redefinition of the relations and encounters between doctors and their patients. This redefinition emphasizes the need for patient involvement and participation. In this article we examine concordance against the background of wider social change, structural as well as interpersonal. We focus in particular on challenges to trust, noting that the almost instinctive trust that people formerly had for professional experts has for many reasons diminished. One consequence of this, we suggest, is that concordance is being espoused at a time when its accomplishment may be particularly threatened. In fact there are strong grounds for claiming that support for the notion of concordance could possibly result in a growth of ‘hidden’ communication pathologies by means of what the social theorist Habermas (1984) has termed ‘systematically distorted communication’.
Average Generalized Ambiguity Function Analysis for Passive Bistatic SAR Systems Using PSK Modulating Signal

Abstract: The formula of the Generalized Ambiguity Function (GAF) of passive bistatic SAR 11 system using the non-cooperative illuminators which transmit PSK modulating signals is derived 12 to analyze the spatial resolution of the system. The average GAF is introduced to remove the effect 13 of particular sequence of symbols on resolution because the particular sequence of symbols is 14 usually unpredictable before being received. The influence of the waveform parameters of the PSK 15 modulating signals, such as length of the symbol sequence and roll-off factor, on spatial resolution 16 is investigated by numerical simulation. It is confirmed that the influence of the length of the 17 symbol sequence and roll-off factor is very slight but still exists. 18
The inhibition of neuraminidase and antiviral action.

The number of compounds showing in vitro antiviral action increases daily. The mode of action of these compounds is mainly still uncertain. We have attempted to find an antiviral agent active because of its ability to inhibit a known component of a particular virus. Thus the enzyme neuraminidase appears to have an important role to play in the activity of the influenza virus; we have therefore tried to discover neuraminidase inhibitors, which, by virtue of this property, would be anti-(influenza) viral agents. The neuraminidases are associated with the viruses of the myxo-group and with some bacteria. These enzymes that the most active inhibitor known was N-acetylneuraminic acid inhibited the enzyme, but only at a concentration of 10-2M.
A Wideband High Efficiency Ka-Band MMIC Power Amplifier for 5G Wireless Communications

A compact wideband Ka-band monolithic microwave/ millimeter-wave integrated circuit (MMIC) power amplifier (PA) is demonstrated using a 0.15-μm pseudomorphic high electron mobility transistor (pHEMT) Gallium Arsenide (GaAs) process. The proposed harmonic load-pull and radial stub matching technique have been employed to achieve wideband and high-efficiency performance. The fabricated PA exhibits a measured output power of 24 dBm, gain of 20 dB and 35% power added efficiency (PAE). The PA has a wideband performance in which the power maintains higher than 23 dBm, and the PAE is higher than 30% over a wide frequency range from 25 to 34 GHz.
Impact of Economic Crisis on Buying Behaviour and Marketing-Mix Tools

International business environment is changing in the context of economic crisis. Consumers react by adapting their buying behaviour from impulse acquisitions to more prudent and rational purchasing decisions. As consumers are buying necessities and have a tendency to migrate to generics or cheaper brands, in recession many companies opt for an assortment selection strategy, withdrawing from the market those products and services that record a visible decline in demand. Price discounts are frequently adopted by companies in order to offset the negative effects of lower demand. Intermediaries with low performances are usually eliminated. Promotional budgets are decreased and mainly allocated to sales promotion techniques.
Cognitive substrates of thought disorder, I: the semantic system.

OBJECTIVE Few studies have explored in detail the relation of cognitive deficits in attention, working memory, and semantics to thought disorder. The authors sought to determine whether thought disorder resides in the semantic system or elsewhere. METHOD Twenty-three normal comparison subjects and 23 patients with schizophrenia participated in the study. All subjects received tests of executive function and working memory, including the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test and the Letter-Number Span test; a test of deployment of attentional resources; and tests of semantic processing and language comprehension, including the Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test, the Speed and Capacity of Language-Processing Test, the Boston Naming Test, and tests of semantic verbal fluency and phonologic verbal fluency, from which was derived a difference score. All patients were also administered the Scale for the Assessment of Thought, Language, and Communication to assess thought disorder. RESULTS The normal subjects were compared with the schizophrenic patients who were rated as having mild thought disorder (N=13) or moderate to severe thought disorder (N=10). While differences between the schizophrenic subgroups and the comparison subjects were observed on nearly all tests, a large difference in effect size between the two schizophrenic subgroups was apparent only in the verbal fluency difference score. In a series of multiple regression analyses, two variables made significant contributions to the prediction of positive thought disorder: the verbal fluency difference score and the Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test score. CONCLUSIONS These results suggest that clinically rated thought disorder is associated with and may result from semantic processing abnormalities. In particular, patients with more severe thought disorder may have difficulty accessing semantic items because of disorganization of the semantic systems and, to a more limited degree, may also lack a semantic or conceptual knowledge base.
Radiated immunity testing of integrated circuits in reverberation chambers

Radiated immunity testing of integrated circuits in the higher frequency range above 1 GHz is characterized by several challenges, e.g the required high field strengths and a rising influence of the EUT orientation. The existing methods show various limitations in this respect. Due to its entirely different principle of operation the reverberation chamber provides an opportunity to overcome the drawbacks of existing methods in the higher frequency range.
Autologous stem cell transplantation improves microcirculation in systemic sclerosis

Background: In systemic sclerosis (SSc) reduced capillary density decreases blood flow and leads to tissue ischaemia and fingertip ulcers. Nail fold videocapillaroscopy (NVC) is a diagnostic and follow-up parameter useful to evaluate the severity, activity and the stage of SSc microvascular damage. Autologous haemopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is a new treatment for patients with severe diffuse cutaneous systemic sclerosis (dcSSc) refractory to conventional therapies. We aimed to evaluate the improvement of microvasculature after HSCT using NVC. Methods: A total of 16 patients with severe dcSSc with a “late” videocapillaroscopy pattern underwent an immunesuppressive treatment: 6 were treated with HSCT and 10 with monthly pulse cyclophosphamide (CYC) 1 g for 6 months and then orally with 50 mg/day for further 6 months. NVC was performed before and after 3 months from the beginning of each treatment and then repeated every 3 months. Results: In all patients, before HSCT NVC showed large avascular areas and ramified capillaries and vascular architectural disorganisation (“late” pattern). At 3 months after HSCT, the NVC pattern changed from “late” into “active”, showing frequent giant capillaries (>6/mm) and haemorrhages, absence of avascular areas and angiogenesis phenomena; 1 year after HSCT, microvascular abnormalities were still in the “active” pattern. In patients treated with CYC, no NVC modifications were observed during 24 months of follow-up and the pattern always remained “late”. Conclusions: These results indicate that HSCT with a high dose CYC regimen may foster vascular remodelling, while CYC at lower doses and with a chronic regimen does not influence the microvasculature.
Anti-Invasive Effects of Green Tea Polyphenol EpiGalloCatechin-3-Gallate (EGCG), a Natural Inhibitor of Metallo and Serine Proteases

Abstract Several reports have attributed to green tea chemopreventive and therapeutic properties. Epidemiological studies have linked the regular use of green tea to a reduced incidence of breast and colon carcinomas. Tea contains several antioxidants, including polyphenols of the catechin (green tea) and theaflavin (black tea) groups. Green tea derivatives have been shown to act in vitro and in vivo as antiinflammatory, antiviral and antitumor drugs. Despite the extensive body of data only few studies have investigated the molecular mechanisms underlying these effects. In this brief review we focus on the inhibitory activity of catechins derived from green tea toward proteases involved in tumor invasion.
Mapping the Impact of Social Media and Mobile Internet on Chinese Academia's Performance: A Case on Telemedicine Research 2005-2013

Social media and mobile internet are both hottest topics in internet technologies which bring great challenges and wonderful opportunities for a large number of researchers in recent years. In some research fields, i.e., telemedicine or e-healthcare, Chinese researchers quickly took advantage of the spread of social media and mobile internet. In this study, we conducted a citation analysis with CiteSpace II by comparing the performance between researchers from China and advanced countries (e.g., USA) in Telemedicine field from 2005- 2013. Although there remain huge gaps between China and developed countries, we found that social networks and mobile internet helped Chinese researchers to narrow the gap quickly in recent years. We also found that in the sub fields such as "SNS-facilitated telemedicine" or "m- healthcare", Chinese researchers even achieved similar performance as compared with world class researchers. These findings implicate that SNS or mobile internet may help researchers in developing countries to bridge the digital divide and enhance "late-mover advantage".
Salivary Steroids at Rest and After a Training Load in Young Male Athletes: Relationship with Chronological Age and Pubertal Development

Puberty influences both the performance and the hormonal responses to exercise-related stress. We evaluated the distribution and the correlation between pubertal characteristics and the salivary cortisol (sC) and testosterone (sT) responses to acute physical exercise in young male athletes (13.4 +/- 2.1 yr, n = 110). The mean pre-exercise nmol . L (-1) sC and sT concentrations were 19.08 +/- 4.32 and 0.34 +/- 0.15 and increased to 21.27 +/- 5.51 and 0.41 +/- 0.16 after a 90-min training session (p < 0.01). The sC concentration at rest was positively correlated with chronological age (p < 0.01) and negatively correlated with fat % (p < 0.05), whereas significant negative correlations of DeltasC and DeltasC% after exercise with age, pubertal stage and mean testis volume (p < 0.05) were observed. The sT increase after exercise was correlated with chronological age, pubertal stage and pre-exercise sT levels (p < 0.01), whereas the DeltasT and DeltasT% of increase were negatively correlated with chronological age and resting sT levels (p < 0.05 and p < 0.01). In the present study, we observed the presence of high inter-individual variability of different biological parameters (anthropometry, pubertal stage, hormones, etc.) within athletes selected by chronological age in the same class and the presence of significant correlations between chronological age, puberty and the steroid hormone responses to physical exercise. Our data suggest the need for different criteria in exercise prescription and selection of young athletes and in the evaluation of stress reactivity at puberty.