Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Circumsporozoite proteins of human malaria parasites Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax

Monoclonal antibodies were raised against sporozoites of two species of malaria parasites, Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax. The antibodies reacted with polypeptides (circumsporozoite proteins) that are uniformly distributed over the entire surface of sporozoites, as shown by indirect immunofluorescence and by the circumsporozoite precipitin reaction. The epitopes recognized by the monoclonal antibodies were expressed on sporozoites from different geographical isolates of the homologous species but were not detected on sporozoites of heterologous species nor on blood forms of the parasite. The monoclonal antibody to P. falciparum specifically immunoprecipitated two polypeptides of apparent 67,000 mol wt (Pf67) and 58,000 mol wt (Pf58) from extracts of [35S]methionine-labeled P. falciparum sporozoites. Similarly, the anti-P. vivax monoclonal immunoprecipitated two proteins of 51,000 mol wt (Pv51) and 45,000 mol wt (Pv45) from extracts of metabolically labeled P. vivax sporozoites. The extracts were also reacted with the serum of human volunteers successfully vaccinated with sporozoites of either P. vivax or P. falciparum. The patterns of immunoprecipitation were almost identical to those obtained with the corresponding monoclonal antibodies. The circumsporozoite proteins of P. falciparum and P. vivax play a role in immune protection. Incubation of the appropriate monoclonal antibody with viable sporozoites of the homologous species significantly reduced parasite infectivity, as determined by sporozoite neutralization assays carried out in splenectomized chimpanzees.
Baseline subendocardial viability ratio influences left ventricular systolic improvement with cardiac rehabilitation

Objective: Subendocardial viability ratio (SEVR), defined as diastolic to systolic pressure-time integral ratio, is a useful tool reflecting the balance between coronary perfusion and arterial load. Suboptimal SEVR creating a supply–demand imbalance may limit favorable cardiac response to cardiac rehabilitation (CR). To explore this hypothesis, we designed a study to analyze the relationship between baseline SEVR and response to CR in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). Methods: In this prospectively study, after baseline arterial tonometry, echocardiography, and cardiopulmonary exercise tests (CPETs), patients undergone 20 sessions of CR. Post-CR echocardiographic and CPET measurements were obtained for comparison. Results: Final study population was comprised of fifty subjects. Study population was divided into two subgroups by median SEVR value (1.45, interquartile range 0.38). Although both groups showed significant improvements in peak VO2, significant improvements in oxygen pulse (πO2) (from 16.1±3.4 to 19.1±4.8 mL O2.kg–1.beat–1; p<0.001) and stroke volume index (from 31±5 to 35±6 mL; p=0.008) were observed in only the patients in the above-median subgroup. The change in πO2 was also significantly higher in the above-median SEVR subgroup (2.9±3.3 vs. 0.5±2.4; p=0.007). Conclusion: Our study shows that baseline supply–demand imbalance may limit systolic improvement response to CR in patients with CAD.
Resources for Functional Genomics Studies in Drosophila melanogaster

Drosophila melanogaster has become a system of choice for functional genomic studies. Many resources, including online databases and software tools, are now available to support design or identification of relevant fly stocks and reagents or analysis and mining of existing functional genomic, transcriptomic, proteomic, etc. datasets. These include large community collections of fly stocks and plasmid clones, “meta” information sites like FlyBase and FlyMine, and an increasing number of more specialized reagents, databases, and online tools. Here, we introduce key resources useful to plan large-scale functional genomics studies in Drosophila and to analyze, integrate, and mine the results of those studies in ways that facilitate identification of highest-confidence results and generation of new hypotheses. We also discuss ways in which existing resources can be used and might be improved and suggest a few areas of future development that would further support large- and small-scale studies in Drosophila and facilitate use of Drosophila information by the research community more generally.
XXIII ACTIVATION AND SELECTION OF COMPETING RESPONSES : A TMS STUDY OF THE FRONTOPARIETAL NETWORK

UNIVERSITA' DEGLI STUDI DI PADOVA 2 Investigating an effect, rather than cognitive mechanisms or phenomena, was the least useful thing I could imagine. The fascinating thing about the Simon effect, and the experimental design used to create it, is that it provides a particularly useful window into a whole number of central aspects of human cognition and action. ABSTRACT In the every day life, we are continuously presented with multiple opportunities for action. Cognitive models maintain that response conflicts may arise from simultaneous sensorimotor processes: Trough a direct route, response codes that most closely correspond to the stimulus are automatically activated, whereas a slower indirect route is proposed to select responses on the basis of task-relevant stimulus features. In the Simon task an irrelevant spatial code of the stimulus competes with relevant non-spatial information (e.g., the colour of the stimulus). When the appropriate response called by task instruction does not match that primed by stimulus position, a conflict arises at the response selection stage, which has to be resolved before action execution. In the present work, transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) was used to investigate the contribution of different cortical areas within a frontoparietal network which is thought to be implicated in response activation and selection during conflict. The results of the first study showed that distinct parietal subregions play a different role in visuomotor transmission which leads to the activation of the response on the basis of irrelevant spatial information. Results revealed that spTMS over posterior parietal cortex (PPC) reduced the Simon effect as if no irrelevant spatial code influenced performance. Our findings suggest that the posterior portion of PPC, as being crucially involved in orienting attention, is essential for a spatial code to the assigned to the stimulus, whereas the anterior portion of PPC, is involved in transforming spatial code into code for action, a process related to motor attention. The second study reported evidence that the frontal eye fields (FEF), which have been characterized for their role in oculomotor control, contribute to the generation of the spatial conflict in the Simon task. Finally results of the third study suggested that response selection in the conflict task is mediated by the dorsal premotor cortex (PMd). The temporal pattern of TMS interference over this area gave new insights about the mechanisms underlying response selection during resolution. Overall the results of the present study contributes not only to detect the locations …
Neither pulled nor pushed: Genetic drift and front wandering uncover a new class of reaction-diffusion waves

Short Abstract Traveling waves describe diverse natural phenomena from crystal growth in physics to range expansions in biology. Two classes of waves exist with very different properties: pulled and pushed. Pulled waves are noisy because they are driven by high growth rates at the expansion edge, where the number of organisms is small. In contrast, fluctuations are suppressed in pushed waves because the region of maximal growth is shifted towards the population bulk. Although it is commonly believed that expansions are either pulled or pushed, we found an intermediate class of waves with bulk-driven growth, but exceedingly large fluctuations. Such waves have many unusual properties because their foci of growth, ancestry, and diversity are spatially separated from each other. Long Abstract Epidemics, flame propagation, and cardiac rhythms are classic examples of reaction-diffusion waves that describe a switch from one alternative state to another. Only two types of waves are known: pulled, driven by the leading edge, and pushed, driven by the bulk of the wave. Here, we report a distinct class of semi-pushed waves for which both the bulk and the leading edge contribute to the dynamics. These hybrid waves have the kinetics of pushed waves, but exhibit giant fluctuations similar to pulled waves. The transitions between pulled, semi-pushed, and fully-pushed waves occur at universal ratios of the wave velocity to the Fisher velocity (linear spreading velocity). We derive these results in the context of a species invading a new habitat by examining front diffusion, rate of genetic drift, and fluctuation-induced corrections to the expansion velocity. All three quantities decrease as a power law of the population density with the same exponent. For fully-pushed waves, the exponent is −1 consistent with the central limit theorem. In semi-pushed waves, however, the fluctuations average out much more slowly, and the exponent approaches 0 towards the transition to pulled waves. As a result, a rapid loss of genetic diversity and large fluctuations in front position occur even for populations with cooperative growth and other forms of an Allee effect. The outcome of spatial spreading in such populations could therefore be less predictable than previously thought.
Transient NEMP field coupling with buried shielded cables

The interaction of transient electromagnetic field due to an NEMP with buried cables has been studied in this paper. The cables studied were of two types: shielded as well as unshielded cables. Using transmission line analysis, the induced voltage and current are computed at the load end of the cable for different soil conductivities, different depths of burial of cable and for different lengths of the cable. Effect of shielding on the induced voltage on the cable inner conductor as well as the dependence of the induced voltage on the shield thickness are also studied.
Effects of alcohol tax and price policies on morbidity and mortality: a systematic review.

OBJECTIVES We systematically reviewed the effects of alcohol taxes and prices on alcohol-related morbidity and mortality to assess their public health impact. METHODS We searched 12 databases, along with articles' reference lists, for studies providing estimates of the relationship between alcohol taxes and prices and measures of risky behavior or morbidity and mortality, then coded for effect sizes and numerous population and study characteristics. We combined independent estimates in random-effects models to obtain aggregate effect estimates. RESULTS We identified 50 articles, containing 340 estimates. Meta-estimates were r = -0.347 for alcohol-related disease and injury outcomes, -0.022 for violence, -0.048 for suicide, -0.112 for traffic crash outcomes, -0.055 for sexually transmitted diseases, -0.022 for other drug use, and -0.014 for crime and other misbehavior measures. All except suicide were statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS Public policies affecting the price of alcoholic beverages have significant effects on alcohol-related disease and injury rates. Our results suggest that doubling the alcohol tax would reduce alcohol-related mortality by an average of 35%, traffic crash deaths by 11%, sexually transmitted disease by 6%, violence by 2%, and crime by 1.4%.
Toward Patient-Centered, Personalized and Personal Decision Support and Knowledge Management: A Survey

Summary Objective This paper summarizes there cent trends and highlights the challenges and opportunities in decision support and knowledge management for patient-centered, personalized, and personal healthcare. Methods The discussions are based on a broad survey of related references, focusing on the most recent publications. Major advances are examined in the areas of i) shared decision making paradigms, ii) continuity of care infrastructures and architectures, iii) human factors and system design approaches, iv) knowledge management innovations, and v) practical deployment and change considerations. Results Many important initiatives, projects, and plans with promising results have been identified. The common themes focus on supporting the individual patients who are playing an increasing central role in their own care decision processes. New collaborative decision making paradigms and information infrastructure sare required to ensure effective continuity of care. Human factors and usability are crucial for the successful development and deployment of the relevant systems, tools, and aids. Advances in personalized medicine can be achieved through integrating genomic, phenotypic and other biological, individual, and population level information, and gaining useful insights from building and analyzing biological and other models at multiple levels of abstraction. Therefore, new Information and Communication Technologies and evaluation approaches are needed to effectively manage the scale and complexity of biomedical and health information, and adapt to the changing nature of clinical decision support. Conclusion Recent research in decision support andknowledge management combines heterogeneous information and personal data to provide cost-effective, calibrated, personalized support in shared decision making at the point of care. Current and emerging efforts concentrate on developing or extendingconventional paradigms, techniques, systems,and architectures for the newpredictive, preemptive, and participatory healthcare model for patient-centered, personalized medicine. There is also an increasing emphasis on managing complexity with changing care models, processes, and settings.
One‐Step Solvent‐Free Synthesis and Characterization of Zn1−xMnxSe@C Nanorods and Nanowires

The carbon‐encapsulated, Mn‐doped ZnSe (Zn1−xMnxSe@C) nanowires, nanorods, and nanoparticles are synthesized by the solvent‐free, one‐step RAPET (reactions under autogenic pressure at elevated temperature) approach. The aspect ratio of the nanowires/nanorods is altered according to the Mn/Zn atomic ratio, with the maximum being observed for Mn/Zn = 1:20. A 10–20 nm amorphous carbon shell is evidenced from electron microscopy analysis. The replacement of Zn by Mn in the Zn1−xMnxSe lattice is confirmed by the hyperfine splitting values in the electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) experiments. Raman experiments reveal that the Zn1−xMnxSe core is highly crystalline, while the shell consists of disordered graphitic carbon. Variable‐temperature cathodoluminescence measurements are performed for all samples and show distinct ZnSe near‐band‐edge and Mn‐related emissions. An intense and broad Mn‐related emission at the largest Mn alloy composition of 19.9% is further consistent with an efficient incorporation of Mn within the host ZnSe lattice. The formation of the core/shell nanowires and nanorods in the absence of any template or structure‐directing agent is controlled kinetically by the Zn1−xMnxSe nucleus formation and subsequent carbon encapsulation. Mn replaces Zn mainly in the (111) plane and catalyzes the nanowire growth in the [111] direction.
Binarity at the L/T brown dwarf transition. Adaptive optics search for companions

Context. Current atmospheric models cannot reproduce some of the characteristics of the transition between the L dwarfs with cloudy atmospheres and the T dwarfs with dust-depleted photospheres. It has been proposed that a majority of the L/T transition brown dwarfs could actually be a combinaison of a cloudy L dwarf and a clear T dwarf. Indeed binarity seems to occur more frequently among L/T transition brown dwarfs. Aims. We aim to refine the statistical significance of the seemingly higher frequency of binaries. Co-eval binaries would also be interesting test-beds for evolutionary models. Methods. We obtained high-resolution imaging for six mid-L to late-T dwarfs, with photometric distances between 8 and 33 pc, using the adaptive optics systems NACO at the VLT, and the Lick system, both with the Laser Guide Star. Results. We resolve none of our targets. Combining our data with published results, we obtain a frequency of resolved L/T transition brown dwarfs of $31^{\rm +21}_{-15}$%, compared to $21^{\rm +10}_{-7}$% and $14^{\rm +14}_{-7}$% for mid-L and T dwarfs (90% of confidence level). These fractions do not significantly support, nor contradict, the hypothesis of a larger binary fraction in the L/T transition. None of our targets has companions with effective temperatures as low as 360–1000 K at separations larger than 0$\farcs$5.
Use of Fibrin Adhesive to Reduce Post-Surgical Adhesion Reformation in Rabbits

Following surgery on fallopian tubes, the development of adhesions is a natural consequence of wound healing and may result in infertility. Using a rabbit model, we evaluated the anti-adhesive properties of a sponge-like equine collagen sheet (TachoComb®), which is coated on one side with human fibrinogen and bovine thrombin. TachoComb® is applied by affixing the sheet over the area of perforation or bleeding and acts as a haemostatic agent, capable of sealing perforations to prevent leakage. In our rabbit model, adhesions were induced by mechanical and chemical irritants during laparotomy. After a 1-month recovery period, adhesions were lysed using microsurgical techniques and TachoComb®, or physiological saline applied. Evaluation of adhesion reformation was determined after a minimum of 10 days. TachoComb® significantly reduced the area of adhesion reformation compared with rabbits treated using physiological saline only. Our study demonstrated that TachoComb® is effective not only as a haemostatic agent, but is also capable of reducing adhesion reformation.
Congenital Heart Disease in the General Population: Changing Prevalence and Age Distribution

Background— Empirical data on the changing epidemiology of congenital heart disease (CHD) are scant. We determined the prevalence, age distribution, and proportion of adults and children with severe and other forms of CHD in the general population from 1985 to 2000. Methods and Results— Where healthcare access is universal, we used administrative databases that systematically recorded all diagnoses and claims. Diagnostic codes conformed to the International Classification of Disease, ninth revision. Severe CHD was defined as tetralogy of Fallot, truncus arteriosus, transposition complexes, endocardial cushion defects, and univentricular heart. Prevalence of severe and other CHD lesions was determined in l985, 1990, 1995, and 2000 using population numbers in Quebec. Children were subjects <18 years of age. The prevalence was 4.09 per 1000 adults in the year 2000 for all CHD and 0.38 per 1000 (9%) for those with severe lesions. Female subjects accounted for 57% of the adult CHD population. The median age of all patients with severe CHD was 11 years (interquartile range, 4 to 22 years) in 1985 and 17 years (interquartile range, 10 to 28 years) in 2000 (P<0.0001). The prevalence of severe CHD increased from 1985 to 2000, but the increase in adults was significantly higher than that observed in children. In the year 2000, 49% of those alive with severe CHD were adults. Conclusions— The prevalence in adults and median age of patients with severe CHD increased in the general population from 1985 to 2000. In 2000, there were nearly equal numbers of adults and children with severe CHD.
A programmable parallel accelerator for learning and classification

For learning and classification workloads that operate on large amounts of unstructured data with stringent performance constraints, general purpose processor performance scales poorly with data size. In this paper, we present a programmable accelerator for this workload domain. To architect the accelerator, we profile five representative workloads, and find that their computationally intensive portions can be formulated as matrix or vector operations generating large amounts of intermediate data, which are then reduced by a secondary operation such as array ranking, finding max/min and aggregation. The proposed accelerator, called MAPLE, has hundreds of simple processing elements (PEs) laid out in a two-dimensional grid, with two key features. First, it uses in-memory processing where on-chip memory blocks perform the secondary reduction operations. By doing so, the intermediate data are dynamically processed and never stored or sent off-chip. Second, MAPLE uses banked off-chip memory, and organizes its PEs into independent groups each with its own off-chip memory bank. These two features together allow MAPLE to scale its performance with data size. This paper describes the MAPLE architecture, explores its design space with a simulator, and illustrates how to automatically map application kernels to the hardware. We also implement a 512-PE FPGA prototype of MAPLE and find that it is 1.5–10x faster than a 2.5 GHz quad-core Xeon processor despite running at a modest 125 MHz.
Landmark-based elastic registration using approximating thin-plate splines

The authors consider elastic image registration based on a set of corresponding anatomical point landmarks and approximating thin-plate splines. This approach is an extension of the original interpolating thin-plate spline approach and allows to take into account landmark localization errors. The extension is important for clinical applications since landmark extraction is always prone to error. The authors' approach is based on a minimizing functional and can cope with isotropic as well as anisotropic landmark errors. In particular, in the latter case it is possible to include different types of landmarks, e.g., unique point landmarks as well as arbitrary edge points. Also, the scheme is general with respect to the image dimension and the order of smoothness of the underlying functional. Optimal affine transformations as well as interpolating thin-plate splines are special cases of this scheme. To localize landmarks the authors use a semi-automatic approach which is based on three-dimensional (3-D) differential operators. Experimental results are presented for two-dimensional as well as 3-D tomographic images of the human brain.
A CheW Homologue Is Required for Myxococcus xanthus Fruiting Body Development, Social Gliding Motility, and Fibril Biogenesis

ABSTRACT In bacteria with multiple sets of chemotaxis genes, the deletion of homologous genes or even different genes in the same operon can result in disparate phenotypes. Myxococcus xanthus is a bacterium with multiple sets of chemotaxis genes and/or homologues. It was shown previously that difA and difE, encoding homologues of the methyl-accepting chemoreceptor protein (MCP) and the CheA kinase, respectively, are required for M. xanthus social gliding (S) motility and development. Both difA and difE mutants were also defective in the biogenesis of the cell surface appendages known as extracellular matrix fibrils. In this study, we investigated the roles of the CheW homologue encoded by difC, a gene at the same locus as difA and difE. We showed that difC mutations resulted in defects in M. xanthus developmental aggregation, sporulation, and S motility. We demonstrated that difC is indispensable for wild-type cellular cohesion and fibril biogenesis but not for pilus production. We further illustrated the ectopic complementation of a difC in-frame deletion by a wild-type difC. The identical phenotypes of difA, difC, and difE mutants are consistent and supportive of the hypothesis that the Dif chemotaxis homologues constitute a chemotaxis-like signal transduction pathway that regulates M. xanthus fibril biogenesis and S motility.