Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Rearrangement of the Genes of Vesicular Stomatitis Virus Eliminates Clinical Disease in the Natural Host: New Strategy for Vaccine Development

ABSTRACT Gene expression among the nonsegmented negative-strand RNA viruses is controlled by distance from the single transcriptional promoter, so the phenotypes of these viruses can be systematically manipulated by gene rearrangement. We examined the potential of gene rearrangement as a means to develop live attenuated vaccine candidates againstVesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) in domestic swine, a natural host for this virus. The results showed that moving the nucleocapsid protein gene away from the single transcriptional promoter attenuated and ultimately eliminated the potential of the virus to cause disease. Combining this change with relocation of the surface glycoprotein gene yielded a vaccine that protected against challenge with wild-type VSV. By incremental manipulation of viral properties, gene rearrangement provides a new approach to generating live attenuated vaccines against this class of virus.
Rapid Identification of Mycobacterium genavense with a New Commercially Available Molecular Test, INNO-LiPA MYCOBACTERIA v2

ABSTRACT We report a rare mesenteric localized Mycobacterium genavense infection in a severely immunocompromised human immunodeficiency virus-infected patient. An INNO-LiPA MYCOBACTERIA v2 test was performed directly on biopsy samples. This new molecular tool could be used for simultaneous identification of mycobacterium species from human specimens, but other studies are needed to validate our first results.
CCASENSE: Canonical Correlation Analysis for Estimation of Sensitivity Maps for Fast MRI

Magnetic Resonance Imaging is an established technology for both imaging and functional studies in clinical and research environments. The field is still very research intense. Two major research areas are acquisition time and signal quality. The last decade has provided tools for more efficient possibilities of trading these factors against each other through parallel imaging. In this thesis one parallel imaging method, Sensitivity Encoding for fast MRI (SENSE) is examined. An alternative solution CCASENSE is developed. CCASENSE reduces the acquisition time by estimating the sensitivity maps required for SENSE to work instead of running a reference scan. The estimation process is done by Blind Source Separation through Canonical Correlation Analysis. It is shown that CCASENSE appears to estimate the sensitivity maps better than ICASENSE which is a similar algorithm.
Quality of life is not impaired in patients with hereditary neuropathy with liability to pressure palsies

Institute of Neurology, Università Cattolica, Rome; Fondazione Don Carlo Gnocchi, Rome; Department of Neurological and Visual Sciences, Section of Clinical Neurology, University of Verona, Verona; Department of Neurosciences, Università degli Studi, Catania; Istituto Nazionale Neurologico C. Besta , Milan; Azienda OU Policlinico di Catanzaro, Università di Catanzaro, Catanzaro; Policlinico GB Rossi, Università di Verona, Verona; Department of Neuroscience, Psychiatry and Anaesthesiology, Azienda OU Policlinico di Messina, Messina; and Department of Neurological and Vision Sciences, University of Genova, Genova, Italy
Investigation of the molecular similarity in closely related protein systems: The PrP case study

The amyloid conversion is a massive detrimental modification affecting several proteins upon specific physical or chemical stimuli characterizing a plethora of diseases. In many cases, the amyloidogenic stimuli induce specific structural features to the protein conferring the propensity to misfold and form amyloid deposits. The investigation of mutants, structurally similar to their native isoform but inherently prone to amyloid conversion, may be a viable strategy to elucidate the structural features connected with amyloidogenesis. In this article, we present a computational protocol based on the combination of molecular dynamics (MD) and grid‐based approaches suited for the pairwise comparison of closely related protein structures. This method was applied on the cellular prion protein (PrPC) as a case study and, in particular, addressed to the quali/quantification of the structural features conferred by either E200K mutations and treatment with CaCl2, both able to induce the scrapie conversion of PrP. Several schemes of comparison were developed and applied to this case study, and made up suitable of application to other protein systems. At this purpose an in‐house python codes has been implemented that, together with the parallelization of the GRID force fields program, will spread the applicability of the proposed computational procedure. Proteins 2015; 83:1751–1765. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Synthesis of Nanostructured Tin Oxide ( SnO 2 ) Powders and Thin Films by Sol-Gel Method

Nanocrystalline SnO2 powder was successfully prepared by using simple sol-gel technique. The sol-gel obtained was washed and calcinated at 400 C to obtain the SnO2 nano-powder. The structural property of (SnO2) nanocrystalline powder was investigated by using X-ray diffraction (XRD) technique. The optical properties were studied using Uv-Vis Spectroscopy, by recording the absorbance and transmittance spectra. The XRD pattern of the as-prepared sample demonstrated the formation of a rutile structure of SnO2 nanocrystallites. The Scanning Electron Microscopic (SEM) analysis showed a homogeneous distribution of quite small grains over scanned area. The Uv-Vis absorbance spectra also showed a characteristic peak of absorbance at   312 nm corresponding to SnO2. The energy band gap measurement for nanocrystalline SnO2 thin film was done from the graph of variation of (hν)2 versus hν. The measured value of optical bandgap energies for SnO2 thin film is 3.78 eV. The results show that the transmittance of the synthesized SnO2 film is 78 % in the spectral range 350 nm to 800 nm.
Search for the rare decays B 0 s → + − and B 0 → + −

: A search for the decays Bs -> mu+ mu- and B0 -> mu+ mu- is performed with 0.37 fb − 1 ofppcollisionsatsqrts = 7 TeV collectedbytheLHCbexperimentin 2011 . TheupperlimitsonthebranchingfractionsareBR ( Bs − > mu + mu − ) < 1 . 6 x 10 − 8 andBR ( B 0 − > mu + mu − ) < 3 . 6 x 10 − 9 at 95% confidencelevel.AcombinationoftheseresultswiththeLHCblimitsobtainedwiththe 2010 datasetleadstoBR ( Bs − > mu + mu − ) < 1 . 4 x 10 − 8 andBR ( B 0 − > mu + mu − ) < 3 . 2 x 10 − 9 at 95% confidencelevel. Other titles: Search for the rare decays Bs -> mu+ mu- and B0 -> mu+ mu-Posted Abstract A search for the decays B 0 s → µ + µ − and B 0 → µ + µ − is performed with 0.37 fb − 1 of pp collisions at √ s = 7 TeV collected by the LHCb experiment in 2011. The upper limits on the branching fractions are B ( B 0 s → µ + µ − ) < 1 . 6 × 10 − 8 and B ( B 0 → µ + µ − ) < 3 . 6 × 10 − 9 at 95 % conﬁdence level. A combination of these results with the LHCb limits obtained with the 2010 dataset leads to B ( B 0 s → µ + µ − ) < 1 . 4 × 10 − 8 and B ( B 0 → µ + µ − ) < 3 . 2 × 10 − 9 at 95 % conﬁdence level.
Does Reduced Skeletal Loading Account for Age‐Related Bone Loss?

A leading theory suggests that decreasing activity and muscle mass is the main cause of age‐related bone loss. However, in a population‐based study of 375 women and 325 men (age, 21–97 years), we failed to find a close correspondence between these variables and changes in bone strength with aging.
BIOREFINING MIXED SUGARS USING HIGH DENSITIES OF GROWTH-ARRESTED CORYNEBACTERIA

Research and development of renewable energies has recently regained prominence given anticipated shortages of fossil-fuel-based energies and parallel rising prices of fossil-derived fuels and chemicals. This changing economic landscape combines with environmental degradation to constitute powerful forces of change [36]. Particularly, the quantities of ethanol produced via biotechnological processes to displace petroleum as a transportation fuel are expected to dramatically increase in the coming years [8]. At present, the bulk of the industrial ethanol production is ensured via the fermentation of easily accessible sugars, for example derived from corn starch, sugar cane or sugar beet. The yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae is the primary organism to ensure these fermentations [3]. However, the cost analysis of the existing production processes clearly demonstrates that their economic performances are tightly linked to the costs of fermentation raw materials [27], and thus indirectly to the amount –and limitation– of arable land that can be redirected for the production of these materials. Furthermore, the flattening experience-curve observed by industrial manufacturers suggests that radical innovation is needed to make bio-ethanol a competitive commodity compared to fossil fuels [35]. As a result, it becomes increasingly clear that the global scale implementation of ethanol as a primary transportation fuel will only become a reality once sugars can be extracted from abundant and easily accessible lignocellulosic biomass in a cost-effective manner [9, 26, 35]. However, current technological limitations of yeast-based processes include their inability to use the pentose xylose, a major component of typical lignocellulosic fractions, and their sensitivities to the presence of various growth inhibitors that are generated at the pre-treatment step of the saccharification process of lignocellulosic materials [16].
Assessment of Arterial Stiffening and Vascular Calcifications in End‐Stage Renal Disease Patients

Background and Objective: Epidemiological and clinical studies have shown that vascular calcification and arterial vascular stiffness are associated with all-cause and cardiovascular (CV) mortality in the general populations and end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients. The objective of this study was the assessment of arterial stiffness and vascular calcification in ESRD patients in Sohag University Hospital. Patients and Methods: In this cross-sectional descriptive study, 100 patients with ESRD (63 males and 37 females) were included. The patients were on regular hemodialysis (HD) for 65.18 ± 50.25 months. Arterial stiffness was measured by brachial pulse pressure (PP). A simple vascular calcification score (SVCS) based on plain radiographic films of pelvis and hands was used for assessment of vascular calcification. The patients undergoing clinical evaluation and serum calcium, phosphorus and parathyroid hormone (PTH) were obtained. Results: PP > 70 mmHg was observed in 24 patients (24%) and vascular calcifications were detected in 50 patients (50%). SVCS ≥ 3 was observed in 36 patients (36%) and 10 patients (10%) had both SVCS ≥ 3 and PP > 70 mmHg. PP > 70 was significantly associated with presence of vascular disease (odds ratio; 5, 95% CI = 1.56 - 16.01; P = 0.007). In multivariate analysis, PP > 70 was independently associated with elevated systolic blood pressure (odds ratio; 1.34, 95% CI = 1.11 - 1.6; P = 0.002) and serum PTH (odds ratio; 1.004, 95% CI = 1 - 1.008; P = 0.03). SVCS ≥ 3 was association with age (odds ratio; 1.05, 95% CI = 1.02 - 1.09; P = 0.003) and presence of vascular disease (odds ratio; 3.19, 95% CI = 1.3 - 7.85; P = 0.01). Elevated systolic blood pressure was independently associated with SVCS ≥ 3 (odds ratio; 1.08, 95% CI = 1.03 - 1.14; P = 0.002). Conclusion: Arterial stiffness and vascular calcifications are common in patients with ESRD on regular hemodialysis. PP and SVCS are simple and inexpensive methods in assessment of vascular calcifications and arterial stiffness in hemodialysis patients. PP and SVCS may provide important information that may guide the management of these patients.
Protection of DNA Ends by Telomeric 3′ G-Tail Sequences*

The extreme ends of eukaryotic chromosomes contain 3′ extensions in the form of single-stranded G-rich repeats, referred to as telomeric 3′ G-tails or overhangs. Increasing evidence has suggested that telomeric 3′ G-tails can adopt a G-quadruplex conformation both in vitro and in vivo. However, the role of G-quadruplexes on the structure and function of telomeric 3′ G-tails remains unclear. In the current study, we showed that the human telomeric 3′ G-tail sequence protected the duplex DNA ends in cis from being recognized as double strand breaks. This protection is dependent on the G-quadruplex conformation of the 3′ G-tail sequence. These results suggest that the ability of telomeric 3′ G-tails to adopt the endprotecting G-quadruplex conformation may be one of the reasons for the existence of the evolutionarily conserved G-stretch motifs in telomeric DNA sequences.
ncorporating the perceptual range of animals into onnectivity models

The perceptual range of an animal towards different landscape elements affects its movements through heterogeneous landscapes. However, empirical knowledge and modeling tools are lacking to assess the consequences of variation in the perceptual range for movement patterns and connectivity. In this study we tested how changes in the assumed perception of different landscape elements affect the outcomes of a connectivity model. We used an existing individual-based, spatially explicit model for the dispersal of Eurasian lynx (Lynx lynx). We systematically altered the perceptual range in which animals recognize forest fragments, water bodies or cities, as well as the probability that they respond to these landscape elements. Overall, increasing the perceptual range of the animals enhanced connectivity substantially, both qualitatively and quantitatively. An enhanced range of attraction to forests had the strongest impact, doubling immigration success; an enhanced range of attraction to rivers had a slightly lower impact; and an enhanced range of avoidance of cities had the lowest impact. Correcting the enhancement in connectivity by the abundance of each of the landscape elements in question reversed the results, indicating the potential sensitivity of connectivity models to rare landscape elements (in our case barriers such as cities). Qualitatively, the enhanced perception resulted in strong changes in movement patterns and connectivity. Furthermore, model results were highly parameterspecific and patch-specific. These results emphasize the need for further empirical research on the perceptual capabilities of different animals in different landscapes and conditions. They further indicate the usefulness of spatially explicit individual-based simulation models for recognizing consistent patterns that emerge, despite uncertainty regarding animals’ movement behavior. Altogether, this study demonstrates the need to extend the concept of ‘perceptual ranges’ beyond patch detection processes, to encompass the wide range of elements that can direct animal movements during dispersal through heterogeneous
Parkinson's disease selectively impairs preattentive auditory processing: an MEG study

AUDITORY stimuli elicit auditory evoked magnetic fields (AEFs) called P50m and N100m, which index preconscious auditory processing in human. We investigated with a whole-head magnetometer whether Parkinson's disease (PD) impairs parallel preattentive auditory processing between the hemispheres. Stimulus blocks consisting of standard (80%) and deviant (20%) tones were monaurally presented in a passive condition to 11 PD patients with unilateral motor symptoms and to 11 age-matched healthy controls. The constant interstimulus intervals (ISIs) were 0.5 s and 2.5 s in separate blocks. The interhemispheric latency differences of the P50m and N100m were significantly lengthened in PD patients in the left-ear condition. This might be caused by the basal ganglia dysfunction in PD together with the simultaneous age-related neural degeneration predominant in the left auditory cortex.
Tumor and Stem Cell Biology DDB 2 Suppresses Epithelial-to-Mesenchymal Transition in Colon Cancer

Colon cancer is one of the deadliest cancers worldwide because of its metastasis to other essential organs. Metastasis of colon cancer involves a complex set of events, including epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) that increases invasiveness of the tumor cells. Here, we show that the xeroderma pigmentosum group E (XPE) gene product, damaged DNA-binding protein (DDB)-2, is downregulated in high-grade colon cancers, and it plays a dominant role in the suppression of EMT of the colon cancer cells. Depletion of DDB2 promotes mesenchymal phenotype, whereas expression of DDB2 promotes epithelial phenotype. DDB2 constitutively represses genes that are the key activators of EMT, indicating that DDB2 is amaster regulator of EMT of the colon cancer cells. Moreover, we observed evidence that DDB2 functions as a barrier for EMT induced by hypoxia and TGF-b. Also, we provide evidence that DDB2 inhibits metastasis of colon cancer. The results presented here identify a transcriptional regulatory pathway of DDB2 that is directly linked to the mechanisms that suppress metastasis of colon cancer. Cancer Res; 73(12); 3771–82. 2013 AACR.
People tracking and following using multiple RGB-D cameras

Being able to locate a specified people and to simultaneously follow him in an unknown environment has become an essential capability of service robots. Lots of efficient methods for implementing this so-called people tracking and following capability have been proposed. However, these mature methods cannot be applied for civil use readily for their high cost. The appearance of low-cost RGB-D camera solves this problem and there have been sorts of methods describing how to build a people tracking and following module with RGB-D camera. For the sake of cost control, the modules based on low-cost RGB-D camera always suffer from noise, low-range and low-precision problem. We present a method that implements people tracking and following based on RGB-D data generated by Microsoft Kinect sensor, in indoor environment. Furthermore, we also discuss a set of methods to optimize the result in order to filter the noise, extend the detected range and decreasing the effect of low-precision.
Speech-Language Pathologists and the Common Core Standards Initiative: An Opportunity for Leadership and Organizational Change

Abstract The Common Core State Standards initiative within public school education is designed to provide uniform guidelines for academic standards, including more explicit language targets. Speech-language pathologists (SLPs) are highly qualified language experts who may find new leadership roles within their clinical practice using the Common Core Standards. However, determining its usage by SLPs in clinical practice needs to be examined. This article seeks to discover the social context of organizations and organizational change in relation to clinical practice. Specifically, this article presents the diffusion of innovations theory to explain how initiatives move from ideas to institutionalization and the importance of social context in which these initiatives are introduced. Next, the values of both SLPs and organizations will be discussed. Finally, this article provides information on how to affect organizational change through the value of an affirmative, socially based theoretical perspective and methodology, appreciative inquiry.
Giant Cell Arteritis: Diagnosis, Management, and Cardiovascular Implications

Giant cell arteritis is a relatively common form of systemic vasculitis, best known for its predisposition to affect the extracranial branches of the carotid artery and associated potential for visual loss. Additional vascular manifestations include stroke, aortic aneurysm or dissection, and even aortic rupture. Cardiac manifestations include coronary artery disease, aortic valve insufficiency, or left ventricular dysfunction, which may occur independently from the valvular disease or hypertension. Physicians need to be vigilant for this disorder, particularly because the tragic end-organ outcomes such as visual loss can be effectively prevented with early use of corticosteroids. We review the pathophysiology and clinical manifestations of giant cell arteritis and present a rationale for diagnosis and therapy for this disease.
User Association Techniques in Future Heterogeneous Networks

The exponential increase in the demand of data rate and scarcity of the available spectrum have evolved to the more advanced network topology which efficiently utilizes the radio spectrum such as Heterogeneous Networks (HetNets). HetNets consist of many tiers of base stations, having different transmit powers. The macro base stations transmit at high power level whereas pico and femto base stations have much less power as compared to macro. An efficient user association becomes necessary to exploit the actual benefits of the HetNets. However, the user association is challenging task and recently a number of techniques have been proposed. In this study, we summarize the recent developments in user association methods under different constraints.
Validation of the General Motor Function Assessment Scale–An instrument for the elderly

Purpose. The purpose of this study was to test the General Motor Function Assessment Scale (GMF) for content and criterion validity in geriatric home-rehabilitation. Furthermore, the GMF was analysed with respect to sensitivity, distribution, and for floor and ceiling effects. Method. Content validity was explored by questionnaires circulated to ten experts in the field of geriatrics. Three assessment instruments were used to test 66 patients in home rehabilitation. In order to evaluate criterion validity GMF results were compared to results from the ADL-taxonomy test, and the Timed ‘Up and Go’ (TUG) test. GMF scores were analysed regarding, sensitivity, distribution and to check for floor or ceiling effects. Comparisons between pre-intervention assessments and post-intervention assessments were also made. Non-parametric statistics were used. Results. GMF covered and measured areas of relevance according to content validity. No floor effects in any of the subscales of GMF were seen. Comparison of pre-intervention and post-intervention assessments showed significant ceiling effects for all three subscales. As for criterion validity all subscales of GMF in terms of dependence, pain and insecurity correlated significantly with the activity parameter mobility of the ADL-taxonomy and TUG. GMF was sensitive enough to demonstrate changes between pre-intervention and post-intervention status. Conclusions. GMF is a relevant instrument of assessment suitable for physiotherapists rehabilitating elderly in the home environment. For elderly with minor functional limitations the GMF shows ceiling effects.