Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Susceptibilities of zidovudine-susceptible and -resistant human immunodeficiency virus isolates to antiviral agents determined by using a quantitative plaque reduction assay

Conventional assays based on infection of T-cell lymphoblastoid lines with tissue culture-adapted strains of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) are well established and have been used successfully to discover potent inhibitors of HIV replication. In this report we show that such assays are not easily applied to testing the susceptibilities of clinical HIV isolates to inhibitors because of differences in replication rates and cytotoxicity, thus demonstrating that conventional HIV assays should be used with caution when the zidovudine susceptibility of clinical isolates is assessed. An assay based on plaque reduction in CD4+ HeLa cell monolayers was validated by determining susceptibilities of HIV to a large number of inhibitors in this system. In general, 50% inhibitory doses for HIV type 1 and 2 strains derived from plaque reduction data were in good agreement with susceptibility data obtained by using conventional assays with T-cell lines. The susceptibilities of previously identified zidovudine-resistant HIV isolates to a large group of inhibitors, including nonucleosides, such as interferons and soluble CD4, were tested by using a plaque reduction assay in CD4+ HeLa cells. Surprisingly, an extremely narrow range of cross resistance was observed; cross resistance was limited to nucleoside analogs containing a 3'-azido group. These data point the way to the use of combinations of inhibitors to delay the appearance of drug resistance.
Cognitive changes during pregnancy in female wistar rats

During pregnancy, a considerable number of women experience some degree of cognitive change that has come to be colloquially called “pregnancy brain” or “baby brain”, characterized by forgetfulness and memory disturbances. Studies investigating cognitive changes during pregnancy have been highly conflicting. The current study evaluated learning and memory using the elevated plus maze in non-pregnant and pregnant females at two time periods during pregnancy. Twenty (20) Wistar rats were used for this study, they were randomly assigned to three groups; non-pregnant female (n=6), and two pregnant groups of seven (7) animals each, one was evaluated for learning and memory on gestational day 11 and 12 and the other was evaluated on gestational day 18 and 19. Two females were mated by placing them with one sexually active male in one cage unit until the occurrence of spermatozoid in the vaginal epithelium determined by examination of vaginal smear. All females were returned to their home cages after mating. Day of conception was designated as gestational day zero. The findings showed that there was no significant change (p>0.05) in learning and memory in the pregnant group when compared to the non-pregnant group, although the non-pregnant group appeared to perform better in both activities but it was not statistically significant different (p>0.05) when compared to the control group. In conclusion, the results obtained from this study suggest that pregnancy does not have apparent effect on cognitive abilities in Wistar rats.
Pervasive and Largely Lineage-Specific Adaptive Protein Evolution in the Dosage Compensation Complex of Drosophila melanogaster

Dosage compensation refers to the equalization of X-linked gene transcription among heterogametic and homogametic sexes. In Drosophila, the dosage compensation complex (DCC) mediates the twofold hypertranscription of the single male X chromosome. Loss-of-function mutations at any DCC protein-coding gene are male lethal. Here we report a population genetic analysis suggesting that four of the five core DCC proteins—MSL1, MSL2, MSL3, and MOF—are evolving under positive selection in D. melanogaster. Within these four proteins, several domains that range in function from X chromosome localization to protein–protein interactions have elevated, D. melanogaster-specific, amino acid divergence.
Human papillomavirus 16 infection as a potential risk factor for prostate cancer: an adaptive meta-analysis

OBJECTIVES: Although an expert review published in 2013 concluded that an association between human papillomavirus (HPV) infection and prostate cancer (PCa) risk had not yet been firmly established, a 2011 systematic review of 14 articles revealed an increased prevalence of HPV-16 DNA in PCa tissues. Another meta-analysis of the related articles is needed to evaluate the potential link between HPV infection and PCa risk. METHODS: A snowballing search strategy was applied to the previously cited articles in the above-mentioned expert review and systematic review. Additional articles selected for this meta-analysis should fulfill all following inclusion criteria: (a) evaluation of detected HPV-16 DNA in tissue samples and the PCa risk and (b) report of the HPV-16 prevalence in both cancer and control tissues. Estimated summary odds ratios (sOR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated using fixed effect or random-effect models. RESULTS: Hand searching identified 16 new articles. The sOR of the total 30 articles indicated a significant HPV-16 infection-related increase in the PCa risk (sOR, 1.851; 95% CI, 1.353 to 2.532, I2=37.82%). CONCLUSIONS: These facts provide additional supportive evidence for a causal role of HPV-16 infection in prostate carcinogenesis. As the PCa incidence rates have increased rapidly in Asian countries, including Korea, during the last several decades, further studies of HPV-related PCa carcinogenesis may be necessary.
MRI findings in people with epilepsy and nodding syndrome in an area endemic for onchocerciasis: an observational study.

BACKGROUND Onchocerciasis has been implicated in the pathogenesis of epilepsy. The debate on a potential causal relationship between Onchocerca volvulus and epilepsy has taken a new direction in the light of the most recent epidemic of nodding syndrome. OBJECTIVE To document MRI changes in people with different types of epilepsy and investigate whether there is an association with O. volvulus infection. METHODS In a prospective study in southern Tanzania, an area endemic for O. volvulus with a high prevalence of epilepsy and nodding syndrome, we performed MRI on 32 people with epilepsy, 12 of which suffered from nodding syndrome. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) of O. volvulus was performed in skin and CSF. RESULTS The most frequent abnormalities seen on MRI was atrophy (twelve patients (37.5%)) followed by intraparenchymal pathologies such as changes in the hippocampus (nine patients (28.1%)), gliotic lesions (six patients (18.8%)) and subcortical signal abnormalities (three patients (9.4%)). There was an overall trend towards an association of intraparenchymal cerebral pathologies and infection with O. volvulus based on skin PCR (Fisher's Exact Test p=0.067) which was most pronounced in children and adolescents with nodding syndrome compared to those with other types of epilepsy (Fisher's Exact Test, p=0.083). Contrary to skin PCR results, PCR of CSF was negative in all patients. CONCLUSION The observed trend towards an association of intraparenchymal cerebral pathological results on MRI and a positive skin PCR for O. volvulus despite negative PCR of CSF is intriguing and deserves further attention.
Detection of gyrA Mutations among 335Pseudomonas aeruginosa Strains Isolated in Japan and Their Susceptibilities to Fluoroquinolones

ABSTRACT gyrA point mutations in 335 clinical Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates were examined mainly by nonisotopic single-strand conformation polymorphism analysis and direct sequencing. Seven types of missense gyrA mutations were observed in 70 of 335 strains (20.9%), and ciprofloxacin MICs were ≥3.13 μg/ml for 63 of 70 strains (90.0%). These included two double point mutations and three novel mutations (Ala-67→Ser plus Asp-87→Gly, Ala-84→Pro, and Gln-106→Leu). Thr-83→Ile mutants were predominantly observed (63 of 70 mutants) and showed high-level fluoroquinolone resistance (ciprofloxacin MIC at which 50% of isolates are inhibited, 25 μg/ml).
Globally Optimal 2D-3D Registration from Points or Lines without Correspondences

We present a novel approach to 2D-3D registration from points or lines without correspondences. While there exist established solutions in the case where correspondences are known, there are many situations where it is not possible to reliably extract such correspondences across modalities, thus requiring the use of a correspondence-free registration algorithm. Existing correspondence-free methods rely on local search strategies and consequently have no guarantee of finding the optimal solution. In contrast, we present the first globally optimal approach to 2D-3D registration without correspondences, achieved by a Branch-and-Bound algorithm. Furthermore, a deterministic annealing procedure is proposed to speed up the nested branch-and-bound algorithm used. The theoretical and practical advantages this brings are demonstrated on a range of synthetic and real data where it is observed that the proposed approach is significantly more robust to high proportions of outliers compared to existing approaches.
Network clustering along diabetes progression in three tissues of Goto-Kakizaki rats

We investigated the macroscopic changes in the regulatory coordination of diabetes progression during three periods in three tissues, adipose, liver and muscle, of Goto-Kakizaki (GK) rats. For this purpose, we performed network clustering by the Newman algorithm for the regulatory networks inferred by a modified path consistency algorithm, and investigated the biological functions of each cluster by an enrichment analysis of the constituent genes. We then compared the network clusters characterized by biological functions with the diabetes progression of GK rats in each of the three tissues. The network structure, the number of clusters, and the number of clusters characterized by biological functions during the three periods showed similar patterns in the three tissues. In contrast, further scrutiny of the biological functions at coordinated clusters revealed characteristic differences between the three tissues along the diabetes progression. In particular, the hypothetical roles of each tissue emerged: adipose and liver function at the cellular and molecular levels at the early stage, respectively, and all three tissues are responsible for diabetes progression, under the control of various transcriptional regulators.
Synergistic Effect of the MTHFR C677T and EPHX2 G860A Polymorphism on the Increased Risk of Ischemic Stroke in Chinese Type 2 Diabetic Patients

The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between the combined effect of MTHFR C677T (rs1801133) and EPHX2 G860A (rs751141) polymorphism and ischemic stroke in Chinese T2DM patients. This case-control study included a total of 626 Chinese T2DM patients (236 T2DM patients with ischemic stroke and 390 T2DM patients without ischemic stroke). The rs1801133 and rs751141 were genotyped using real-time polymerase chain reaction. Statistical analysis was performed with SPSS 17.0. Results showed that the combined effect of MTHFR TT and EPHX2 GG or GA + AA genotype has a higher risk of ischemic stroke compared with the control group (combined effect of MTHFR CC and EPHX2 GA + AA genotypes; OR = 3.46 and OR = 3.42, resp.; P = .001 and P = .002, resp.). The A allele showed marked association with a lower risk of ischemic stroke in patients with the lowest Hcy levels under additive, recessive, and dominant genetic models (OR = 0.45, OR = 0.11, and OR = 0.44, resp.; P = .002, P = .035, and P = .008, resp.), which was not observed in medium or high Hcy level groups. In conclusion, the T allele of rs1801133 and the G allele of rs751141 may be risk factors of ischemic stroke in the Chinese T2DM population.
Experimental Validation of a Distributed Algorithm for Dynamic Spectrum Access in Local Area Networks

Next generation wireless networks aim at a significant improvement of the spectral efficiency in order to meet the dramatic increase in data service demand. In local area scenarios user- deployed base stations are expected to take place, thus making the centralized planning of frequency resources among the cells, a non-viable solution. Cognitive Radio (CR) and Dynamic Spectrum Access (DSA) are the research paradigms which are expected to provide the network nodes the capabilities for an autonomous and efficient selection of the spectrum resources. In this paper we present the first experimental activities with the Autonomous Component Carrier Selection (ACCS) algorithm, a distributed solution for interference management among small neighboring cells. A preliminary evaluation of the algorithm performance is provided considering its live execution on a software defined radio network testbed. The obtained experimental results confirm the performance trends obtained from prior simulation studies. The analysis in dynamic environment conditions also allowed identifying the utilization of static thresholds in the decision making process, as a critical aspect for the optimization of network capacity.
Developing a User-defined Interface for In-vehicle Mid-air Gestural Interactions

Despite the recent developments in gesture-driven technologies facilitating multi-touch and mid-air gesture recognition, there has been little formal user evaluation and analysis of these systems for in-vehicle interfaces. Mid-air gesture-based interfaces can provide a less cumbersome in-vehicle interface for safer driving. Recent developments in gesture-driven technologies have facilitated multi-touch and mid-air gesture recognition. However, for in-vehicle interfaces, research needs to be conducted on the most efficient gesture vocabulary for performing secondary tasks. Following the Interaction Design process user requirements need to be explored, followed by evaluation of characteristics and functions. Then, the outcomes of user evaluation study can be used to develop an efficient in-vehicle gestural interface.
The Effects of Resisted Sprint Training on Speed Performance in Women

Purpose. The main aim of the study was to examine the effects of resisted and standard sprint training on the kinematics of sprintrunning acceleration in women. Methods. Thirty-six untrained but physically active female college students were randomly assigned to one of three groups: a running resisted training group (rTG, n = 12), a standard training group (STG, n = 12), and a control group (cON, n = 12). All participants in the experimental groups trained three times a week for four weeks, followed by a 1-week training break, after which they trained again for four weeks. Pre-training, post-training and detraining (three weeks after completing the training programs) measures of mean running velocity, stride length, stride frequency, knee angle at toe off and footstrike, ground contact time, and flight time were analyzed by a 20 m sprint test. Results. The rTG improved mean running velocity and increased stride length and knee angle at toe off. Simultaneously, the rTG featured decreased stride frequency and increased ground contact time. The STG demonstrated an increase in mean running velocity due to higher stride frequency and a decrease in ground contact time. All of the measured parameters did not significantly decrease after the three-week detraining period. The control group featured no changes. Conclusions. Both resisted and standard sprint training improves speed in sprint-running acceleration in women by improving different sprint kinematic parameters.
Fast Online Policy Gradient Learning with SMD Gain Vector Adaptation

Reinforcement learning by direct policy gradient estimation is attractive in theory but in practice leads to notoriously ill-behaved optimization problems. We improve its robustness and speed of convergence with stochastic meta-descent, a gain vector adaptation method that employs fast Hessian-vector products. In our experiments the resulting algorithms outperform previously employed online stochastic, offline conjugate, and natural policy gradient methods.
Brain storming optimization algorithm for heating dispatch scheduling of thermal power plant

In the traditional scheduling mode of the current thermal power plants, only the power load distribution of the unit was considered. And there was no enough guidance to the heat source scheduling. This can not meet the current energy-saving and emission-reduction requirements. In this paper, an optimal heat load dispatching model is set up under the premise of power load distribution of thermal power plant. Three kinds of heat loads including to high-pressure, medium-pressure and low-pressure are taken into account in the scheduling model. According to the characteristics of the problem, Brain Storming Optimization (BSO) algorithm is used to get the optimal distribution strategy. The comparison with the original scheme shows the correctness of the model and the optimization algorithm. Moreover, the optimization ability and effectiveness of brain storming optimization algorithm in solving complex optimization problems are verified by comparing the proposed algorithm with the other different optimization algorithms, such as Particle Swarm Optimization(PSO) and Differential Evolution (DE) algorithm.
Adaptive dereverberation of speech signals with speaker-position change detection

This paper proposes a method for adaptive speech dereverberation and speaker-position change detection, which have not previously been addressed. Signal transmission channels in rooms are modeled as auto-regressive systems in individual frequency bands. The proposed method adaptively estimates the regression coefficients of this model, which are called room regression coefficients (RRCs). The proposed method has two distinguishing features: (1) The method is based on the weighted recursive least squares algorithm, which enables an efficient RRC-estimate update as well as a fast convergence rate; (2) The method detects changes in speaker position and so can quickly catch up with the sudden channel changes that such position changes cause. Detection is realized by finding time frames where the power of dereverberated speech is anomalously amplified. Experimental results showed that the proposed method attained convergence in 5 seconds and successfully detected changes in speaker position.
Macelignan inhibits bee pathogenic fungi Ascophaera apis growth through HOG1 pathway

Ascosphaera apis is a bee pathogen that causes bee larvae infection disease, to which treatment is not yet well investigated. The aim of this study was to investigate antifungal susceptibility in vitro against A. apis and to identify a new antifungal agent for this pathogen through minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) assay and western blot analysis. Macelignan had 1.56 and 3.125 μg/mL MIC against A. apis after 24 and 48 h, respectively, exhibiting the strongest growth inhibition against A. apis among the tested compounds (corosolic acid, dehydrocostus lactone, loganic acid, tracheloside, fangchinoline and emodin-8-O-β-D-glucopyranoside). Furthermore, macelignan showed a narrow-ranged spectrum against various fungal strains without any mammalian cell cytotoxicity. In spite of miconazole having powerful broad-ranged anti-fungal activity including A. apis, it demonstrated strong cytotoxicity. Therefore, even if macelignan alone was effective as an antifungal agent to treat A. apis, combined treatment with miconazole was more useful to overcome toxicity, drug resistance occurrence and cost effectiveness. Finally, HOG1 was revealed as a target molecule of macelignan in the anti-A. apis activity by inhibiting phosphorylation using S. cerevisiae as a model system. Based on our results, macelignan, a food-grade antimicrobial compound, would be an effective antifungal agent against A. apis infection in bees.
Religion and the Morality of Positive Mentality

Previous research by Cohen and Rozin showed that Jews are much less moralizing of negative mental states than Protestants. Two alternative, theologically derived interpretations of this finding are that Jews, relative to Protestants: (a) are less attentive to both negative and positive mental states, or (b) are less attentive to negative mental states, but equally attentive to positive ones. In Studies 1 and 2, we presented Jewish and Protestant participants with vignettes about a person considering virtuous actions, and both groups gave a high degree of moral credit for such thoughts. In Study 3, we presented Jewish and Christian participants with 2 vignettes, 1 about a person considering a virtuous action and another about a different person considering an immoral action. Jews and Christians differed strongly in their moral evaluations of the person considering the immoral action, but were very similar in their moral evaluations of the person considering a virtuous action. Study 4 described an actor who helped another person partly for selfish reasons. For Protestants, this selfish motivation invalidated the moral quality of the action, but not for Jews. These studies point to complexity in the differential attention that Jews and Christians pay to positive and negative mental events, and motivations for actions.
Lies we Live By: Misapplication of Tests in Identifying the Gifted

tests play a major part in screening programs for identifying the gifted. By and large, tests can play and probably do play a valuable role in assessment, identifying students of exceptional talent and screening out students of lesser gifts. The better intelligence tests, at least, have shown sufficient validity and reliability for screening purposes when they are used in conjunction with other criteria. My contention in this article, however, is that tests only work for some of the people some of the time-not for all of the people all of the time and that certain assumptions we make in our use of tests are, at best, correct only for a segment of the tested population, and at worst, correct for none of it. As a result, we fail to identify many gifted individuals for whom the assumptions underlying our use of
NF-Y and the transcriptional activation of CCAAT promoters

The CCAAT box promoter element and NF-Y, the transcription factor (TF) that binds to it, were among the first cis-elements and trans-acting factors identified; their interplay is required for transcriptional activation of a sizeable number of eukaryotic genes. NF-Y consists of three evolutionarily conserved subunits: a dimer of NF-YB and NF-YC which closely resembles a histone, and the “innovative” NF-YA. In this review, we will provide an update on the functional and biological features that make NF-Y a fundamental link between chromatin and transcription. The last 25 years have witnessed a spectacular increase in our knowledge of how genes are regulated: from the identification of cis-acting sequences in promoters and enhancers, and the biochemical characterization of the corresponding TFs, to the merging of chromatin studies with the investigation of enzymatic machines that regulate epigenetic states. Originally identified and studied in yeast and mammals, NF-Y – also termed CBF and CP1 – is composed of three subunits, NF-YA, NF-YB and NF-YC. The complex recognizes the CCAAT pentanucleotide and specific flanking nucleotides with high specificity (Dorn et al., 1997; ; ; ). A compelling set of bioinformatics studies clarified that the NF-Y preferred binding site is one of the most frequent promoter elements (; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ). The same consensus, as determined by mutagenesis and SELEX studies (), was also retrieved in ChIP-on-chip analysis (; ; ; ). Additional structural features of the CCAAT box – position, orientation, presence of multiple Transcriptional Start Sites – were previously reviewed () and will not be considered in detail here.