Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Induced Packaging of Cellular MicroRNAs into HIV-1 Virions Can Inhibit Infectivity

ABSTRACT Analysis of the incorporation of cellular microRNAs (miRNAs) into highly purified HIV-1 virions revealed that this largely, but not entirely, mirrored the level of miRNA expression in the producer CD4+ T cells. Specifically, of the 58 cellular miRNAs detected at significant levels in the producer cells, only 5 were found in virions at a level 2- to 4-fold higher than that predicted on the basis of random cytoplasmic sampling. Of note, these included two miRNAs, miR-155 and miR-92a, that were reported previously to at least weakly bind HIV-1 transcripts. To test whether miRNA binding to the HIV-1 genome can induce virion incorporation, artificial miRNA target sites were introduced into the viral genome and a 10- to 40-fold increase in the packaging of the cognate miRNAs into virions was then observed, leading to the recruitment of up to 1.6 miRNA copies per virion. Importantly, this high level of incorporation significantly inhibited HIV-1 virion infectivity. These results suggest that target sites for cellular miRNAs can inhibit RNA virus replication at two distinct steps, i.e., during infection and during viral gene expression, thus explaining why a range of different RNA viruses appear to have evolved to avoid cellular miRNA binding to their genome. IMPORTANCE The genomes of RNA viruses have the potential to interact with cellular miRNAs, which could lead to their incorporation into virions, with unknown effects on virion function. Here, it is demonstrated that wild-type HIV-1 virions essentially randomly incorporate low levels of the miRNAs expressed by infected cells. However, the specific incorporation of high levels of individual cellular miRNAs can be induced by insertion of cognate target sites into the viral genome. Of note, this results in a modest but significant inhibition of virion infectivity. These data imply that cellular miRNAs have the potential to inhibit viral replication by interfering with not only viral mRNA function but also virion infectivity. The genomes of RNA viruses have the potential to interact with cellular miRNAs, which could lead to their incorporation into virions, with unknown effects on virion function. Here, it is demonstrated that wild-type HIV-1 virions essentially randomly incorporate low levels of the miRNAs expressed by infected cells. However, the specific incorporation of high levels of individual cellular miRNAs can be induced by insertion of cognate target sites into the viral genome. Of note, this results in a modest but significant inhibition of virion infectivity. These data imply that cellular miRNAs have the potential to inhibit viral replication by interfering with not only viral mRNA function but also virion infectivity.
Object Category Retrieval for Multimedia Databases

In this paper, a novel content-based object category retrieval technique using salient regions and moment invariants is presented. The salient regions are detected according to Shannon entropy and scale selection. They are invariant under various viewpoint transformations, and intra-class variations. These regions are the most informative ones, hence are potentially more effective for image indexing and retrieval. Generalized colour moment invariants are used as the invariant descriptor on the selected salient regions to characterize them. The distance of the moment invariant vectors calculated from regions of different images is evaluated to be the similarity measure between images. The experimental results show that our proposed method is very efficient and effective on retrieving object categories from image databases
Ex-Prisoners and the Transformation of Self through Higher Education

This study explores how experiences of higher education among ex-prisoner’s impact upon their path to desistance. It examines their initial catalysts for change and how education enabled them to re-evaluate their sense of selves and provide them with new identities. Through the use of 24 face-to-face semi-structured interviews examining the experiences of ex-prisoners who are studying for degrees, have graduated and in some cases gained successful academic positions, the participants were asked to talk about their life experiences including their childhoods, offending, prison, desistance, employment and the reasons behind why they chose to enter higher education. Their catalysts for change ranged from their experiences of prison where they encountered existential crises created by the pains of imprisonment; how others viewed them; the strengthening of social bonds; to the belief and trust afforded by others being prepared to give them a second chance. Beyond prison, they experienced prolonged periods of liminality where they became trapped in limbo between two social worlds caused by stigma, labelling and rejection. But their unfaltering resilience, persistence and belief and hope for a better future eventually enabled them to develop new identities which were further transformed by external influences as they made their transitions into ‘conventional society’. Some preferred to reject their past identities, while others merged their past and new identities to become successful in their chosen career paths. Some have remained in academe where they continue to use their past experiences to inform their teaching and research while others have become counselling professionals viewing themselves as ‘wounded healers’ by helping others with substance and alcohol issues and homelessness. But all of them used higher education as their conduit to aspire towards self-betterment, a renewed self-belief and self-concept which enabled them to transform their lives.
Spiritual Perception, Attitudes about Spiritual Care, and Spiritual Care Practices among Nurse Practitioners

The purpose of the nonexperimental study was to examine the relationships among spiritual perception, attitudes about spiritual care, and spiritual care practices in nurse practitioners. Attitudes about providing spiritual care and spiritual care practices have been studied among nurse generalists, but little research has been conducted on nurses in advanced practice. All nurse practitioners registered by the state of Indiana were sent Reed’s Spiritual Perspective Scale (SPS) and a modified version of the Nurses’ Spiritual Care Perspectives Scale developed by Taylor, Highfield, and Amenta. Pearson correlation techniques were used to test for significant relationships. Statistically positive relationships were between perception of personal spirituality and 9 of the 12 spiritual care practices. Eight of the 13 items describing attitude toward providing spiritual care were statistically significant with the SPS. Implications of the findings are discussed.
Inhibitory control predicts language switching performance in trilingual speech production*

This study investigated the role of domain-general inhibitory control in trilingual speech production. Taking an individual differences approach, we examined the relationship between performance on a non-linguistic measure of inhibitory control (the Simon task) and a multilingual language switching task for a group of fifty-six native English (L1) speakers learning French (L2) and Spanish (L3). Better inhibitory control was related to reduced switch costs, but only when switching into or out of the more dominant L1, where inhibitory control has been theorized to be most important (Green, 1998). The results provide evidence of a direct link between inhibitory control abilities and language switching capabilities, and suggest constraints on the conditions under which a domain-general inhibitory control mechanism supports language switching.
Informed Hybrid Game Tree Search

In this paper, we introduce a universal game playing agent that is able to successfully play a wide variety of video games. It combines the strengths of Monte Carlo tree search with conventional heuristic search into a single hybrid search agent, which is able to select the appropriate strategy based on its observations about the game dynamics. In particular, the agent learns a knowledge base which provides the agent with information such as an approximate transition function, the type of agents and objects that participate in the game as well as their possible effects, heuristics for focusing and pruning the search, and more. This hybrid strategy proved to be successful in the 2015 General Video Game Competition, in which our agent emerged as the clear winner.
Nitrogen and Phosphorus Retranslocation of Leaves and Stemwood in a Mature Eucalyptus Forest Exposed to 5 Years of Elevated CO2

Elevated CO2 affects C cycling processes which in turn can influence the nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) concentrations of plant tissues. Given differences in how N and P are used by plants, we asked if their stoichiometry in leaves and wood was maintained or altered in a long-term elevated CO2 experiment in a mature Eucalyptus forest on a low P soil (EucFACE). We measured N and P concentrations in green leaves at different ages at the top of mature trees across 6 years including 5 years in elevated CO2. N and P concentrations in green and senesced leaves and wood were determined to evaluate both spatial and temporal variation of leaf N and P concentrations, including the N and P retranslocation in leaves and wood. Leaf P concentrations were 32% lower in old mature leaves compared to newly flushed leaves with no effect of elevated CO2 on leaf P. By contrast, elevated CO2 significantly decreased leaf N concentrations in newly flushed leaves but this effect disappeared as leaves matured. As such, newly flushed leaves had 9% lower N:P ratios in elevated CO2 and N:P ratios were not different in mature green leaves (CO2 by Age effect, P = 0.02). Over time, leaf N and P concentrations in the upper canopy slightly declined in both CO2 treatments compared to before the start of the experiment. P retranslocation in leaves was 50%, almost double that of N retranslocation (29%), indicating that this site was P-limited and that P retranslocation was an important mechanism in this ecosystem to retain P in plants. As P-limited trees tend to store relatively more N than P, we found an increased N:P ratio in sapwood in response to elevated CO2 (P < 0.01), implying N accumulation in live wood. The flexible stoichiometric ratios we observed can have important implications for how plants adjust to variable environmental conditions including climate change. Hence, variable nutrient stoichiometry should be accounted for in large-scale Earth Systems models invoking biogeochemical processes.
A Bayesian Network approach to integrating economic and biophysical modelling

It has been recognised that the complex interrelationships between environmental processes and socio-economic systems require integrated approaches to catchment management (Cai et al., 2003; Jakeman and Letcher, 2003;). Until recently, integrated modelling tools were often limited to either biophysical processes to assess environmental changes, or to economic models focussing on socio-economic systems. Despite the policy interest in integrated catchment management, there is still limited experience in linking environmental and socio-economic systems in one modelling framework (Heinz, 2007; Reinhard, 2006). The study reported in this paper aims to demonstrate how biophysical science can be linked with economic non-market valuation in an integrated Bayesian Network (BN) framework. In the context of this study, a BN was deemed a suitable modelling technique to integrate the various systems impacted by catchment management changes. The model can incorporate data of different types and quality, and its structure provides an explicit depiction of the uncertainties in environmental and economic systems. We develop an integrated model for a case study of the George catchment in northeast Tasmania, Australia. The modelling framework incorporates a water quality model, ecological information and economic data (Figure 1). The major innovations of the research reported here are the parallel development of the various models, enabling increased integration, and the use of an environmental valuation technique known as Choice Experiments (CE) to elicit economic information on the non-market costs and benefits of catchment management changes. To the best of our knowledge, CE data has not previously been linked to biophysical modelling in a BN framework. Furthermore, the biophysical modelling provides more scientific foundation for the valuation study than is typically available (Brookshire, 2007). Figure 1. Processes considered in the integrated biophysical-economic model In this paper, an overview is given of the BN development process that integrates CE with natural science modelling. Specific issues related to linking economic and biophysical knowledge include the selection and description of catchment environment indicators relevant for all research components, and matching the variables’ states in the BN to the levels of the environmental attributes in the CE survey. Several of the challenges in developing an integrated, multidisciplinary model are discussed in this paper.
An adaptive honeypot configuration, deployment and maintenance strategy

Since honeypots first appeared as an advanced network security concept they suffer from poor deployment and maintenance strategies. State-of-the-Art deployment is a manual process in which the honeypot needs to be configured and maintained by a network administrator. In this paper we present a method for a dynamic honeypot configuration, deployment and maintenance strategy based on machine learning techniques. Our method features an identification mechanism for machines and devices in a network. These entities are analysed and clustered. Based on the clusters, honeypots are intelligently deployed in the network. The proposed method needs no configuration and maintenance and is therefore a major advantage for the honeypot technology in modern network security.
What is Wrong With The Quality of Hotel Service? The Critical Role of Work – Family Conflict and Its Negative Outcomes

Background. Hospitality jobs are characterised by long, unsocial working hours, irregular and inflexible work schedules, limited time off, shift work, etc. All these aspects, including changes in customers’ needs, create a stressful workplace, where increased demands require more time and energy from employees that “must be” devoted to work related activities instead of family life. Thus, unsurprisingly, hotel employees who try to deliver excellent service and meet high quality standards may be particularly prone to experience work-family conflict, which in turn may lead to very adverse effect for customer service and, as a result, many negative outcomes. Research aims. The aim of the study is to investigate the relationship between work-family conflict and its critical consequences for customer service. The research problem is to find an answer to the questions: 1. is there a relationship between work-family conflict and employees’ depersonalisation, which is displayed by treating others (hotel guests) as objects rather that people, through cynical and uncaring attitudes, and 2. may employees’ depersonalisation significantly decrease employees’ customer orientation and the extra-role customer service. Methodology. The survey instrument was used to collect information from eight hotels in the Pomerania Province (Northern Poland). A total of 130 hotel employees agreed to participate in the study. Key findings. The study results showed that employees who experience high work-family conflict are also more likely to be detached and emotionally callous towards hotel guests, as a result demonstrating lower customer orientation and decreased extra-role service.
Analytical approaches to identify potential migrants in polyester–polyurethane can coatings

The safety of a polyester–polyurethane can coating has been assessed using a suite of complementary analytical methods to identify and estimate the concentrations of potential chemical migrants. The polyester was based on phthalic acids and aliphatic diols. The polyisocyanate cross-linking agent was 1-isocyanato-3-isocyanatomethyl-3,5,5-trimethyl cyclohexane homopolymer (IPDI) blocked with methylethylketone oxime (MEKO) to make a one-part formulation. The overall migrate, obtained using solvent extraction of cured films, comprised almost completely of 12 cyclic and one linear polyester oligomer up to molecular weight 800 and containing up to six monomer units. These 13 oligomers covered a total of 28 isomeric forms. Other minor components detected were plasticisers and surfactants as well as impurities present in the starting materials. There was no detectable residue of either the blocked isocyanate (<0.01 µg/dm2) used as the starting substance or the unblocked isocyanate (<0.02 µg/dm2). The level of extractable IPDI was used as an indicator of the completeness of cure in experimental coatings. These studies revealed that there was an influence of time, temperature and catalyst content. Polymerisation was also influenced by the additives used and by the ageing of the wet coating formulation over several months. These studies allow parameters to be specified to ensure that commercial production coatings receive a full cure giving low migration characteristics.
Ty1 retrotransposition and programmed +1 ribosomal frameshifting require the integrity of the protein synthetic translocation step.

Programmed ribosomal frameshifting is utilized by a number of RNA viruses to ensure the correct ratio of viral structural to enzymatic proteins for viral particle assembly. Altering frameshifting efficiencies upsets this ratio, inhibiting virus propagation. Two yeast viruses that induce host cell ribosomes to shift translational reading frame were used as tools to explore the interactions between viruses and host cellular protein synthetic machinery. Previous studies showed that the ribosome-inactivating protein pokeweed antiviral protein specifically inhibited propagation of the Ty1 retrotransposable element of yeast as a consequence of inhibition of programmed +1 ribosomal frameshifting. Here, complementary genetic and pharmacological approaches were employed to test whether inhibition of Ty1 retrotransposition is a general feature of alterations in the translocation step of elongation and +1 frameshifting. The results demonstrate that cells harboring a variety of mutant alleles of two host-encoded proteins that are involved in translocation, eukaryotic elongation factor-2 and the ribosome-associated protein RPP0, have Ty1 propagation defects. We also show that sordarin, a fungus-specific inhibitor of eEF-2 function, specifically inhibits programmed +1 ribosomal frameshifting and Ty1 retrotransposition. These findings serve to link inhibition of Ty1 retrotransposition and +1 frameshifting to changes in the translocation step of elongation.
The Impact of Paid Parental Leave on Fertility Intentions*

Paid parental leave has become an increasingly important part of family policy in OECD countries: by 2004 on average over a year of leave paid at 59% of average wages was provided. Australia's Paid Parental Leave (PPL) scheme was introduced in 2011 and provides 18 weeks of leave paid at the full time minimum wage for the primary carer of a child. Prior to the scheme, federal and state legislation provided paid maternity leave for most state and federal employees. We estimate the effect of access to paid parental leave on women's fertility desires and intentions by exploiting the differential impact of the scheme for women working in the public and private sectors. We find that the announcement of the scheme had no impact on fertility desires or intentions at the extensive margin but that, conditional on intending to have at least one (more) child, the number of children intended increases by 0.28, a 13% increase. This effect is driven by highly educated women who do not already have children. As it has been shown that fertility intentions predict fertility outcomes, these results suggest that even modest paid parental leave programs can increase the fertility of working women and so moderate the declines in fertility rates seen in many developed countries.
Research Note: Seasonal Preferences and Survey Design — Tourism Expenditure Models with Household Budget Surveys Revisited

There is an increasing strand of literature on tourism expenditure which draws microdata from national household budget surveys (HBS). In this paper the authors discuss the fact that, owing to tourists' seasonal preferences, papers based on HBS that do not use spending information covering the whole year for each household are seasonally biased. The authors show that this bias occurs as a result of either the design of the HBS or inadequate treatment of the data by researchers. When the bias occurs, tourism expenditure estimates are misleading. Analysing the issue in detail, the authors argue that it underestimates the participation rate and exerts a downward bias on income elasticity values. These hypotheses are tested empirically with Spanish microdata, showing that the seasonal bias severely affects the results obtained. In this regard, previous literature on tourism expenditure affected by this seasonal bias should be revisited.
Prognosis and Survival in Acute Myelogenous Leukemia

Progress in understanding the prognosis and survival in acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) has been dramatic over the last few decades. Traditionally, clinical risk factors such as age and performance status have been the main prognostic factors in AML. However, recent advances in cytogenetic studies and molecular markers in AML have revolutionized our approach to this disease. These have changed our understanding of AML as a heterogeneous group of diseases rather than a single disease, provided greater insight not only in understanding disease biology but also into predicting response to therapy and helped in the development of risk stratification-based treatment approach. In 2010, there are about 12,330 new cases in the United States which represent about 0.8% and 29% of all new cancer and leukemia cases respectively. With about 8,950 estimated deaths related to AML, this represents about 1.6% of cancer related deaths in 2010. (American Cancer Society, 2010) Although there has been some improvement in survival for AML patients over the last few decades, mainly in younger age groups as shown in figure 1, AML long term survival is still a big challenge. In the United States, data from Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) dataset for 2001 to 2007 showed 5-year overall survival (OS) of 22.6% for all AML patients. There is still a lot to be done especially in the oldest age group (>65 years), that is showing a dismal 5-year OS of less than 5%, See Figure 2. This is of particular concern as more than half of the patients diagnosed in 2000-2004 were over 65 years old. (Howlader et al., 2011).