Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Progress on adenovirus-vectored universal influenza vaccines

Influenza virus (IFV) infection causes serious health problems and heavy financial burdens each year worldwide. The classical inactivated influenza virus vaccine (IIVV) and live attenuated influenza vaccine (LAIV) must be updated regularly to match the new strains that evolve due to antigenic drift and antigenic shift. However, with the discovery of broadly neutralizing antibodies that recognize conserved antigens, and the CD8+ T cell responses targeting viral internal proteins nucleoprotein (NP), matrix protein 1 (M1) and polymerase basic 1 (PB1), it is possible to develop a universal influenza vaccine based on the conserved hemagglutinin (HA) stem, NP, and matrix proteins. Recombinant adenovirus (rAd) is an ideal influenza vaccine vector because it has an ideal stability and safety profile, induces balanced humoral and cell-mediated immune responses due to activation of innate immunity, provides ‘self-adjuvanting’ activity, can mimic natural IFV infection, and confers seamless protection against mucosal pathogens. Moreover, this vector can be developed as a low-cost, rapid-response vaccine that can be quickly manufactured. Therefore, an adenovirus vector encoding conserved influenza antigens holds promise in the development of a universal influenza vaccine. This review will summarize the progress in adenovirus-vectored universal flu vaccines and discuss future novel approaches.
Life-Cycle Asset Allocation and Consumption Using Stochastic Linear Programming

We consider optimal consumption and (strategic) asset allocation of an investor with uncertain lifetime. The problem is solved using a multi-stage stochastic linear programming (SLP) model to be able to generalize the closed-form solution obtained by Richard (1975). We account for aspects of the application of the SLP approach which arise in the context of life-cycle asset allocation, but are also relevant for other problems of similar structure. The objective is to maximize the expected utility of consumption over the lifetime and of bequest at the time of death of the investor. Since we maximize utility (rather than other objectives which can be implemented more easily) we provide a new approach to optimize the breakpoints required for the linearization of the utility function. The uncertainty of the problem is described by discrete scenario trees. The model solves for the rebalancing decisions in the first few years of the investor's lifetime, accounting for anticipated cash flows in the near future, and applies Richard's closed-form solution for the long, subsequent steady-state period. In our numerical examples we first show that available closed-form solutions can be accurately replicated with the SLP-based approach. Second, we add elements to the problem specification which are usually beyond the scope of closed-form solutions. We find that the SLP approach is well suited to account for these extensions of the classical Merton setting.
Energy-Efficient Resource Allocation and Power Control for Downlink Multi-Cell OFDMA Networks

In this paper, we propose an energy-efficient joint resource allocation and power control scheme for downlink multi-cell orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA) networks with imperfect channel state information (CSI). Considering the maximum allowed transmit power, the tolerable outage probability, and the fact that each resource block is allocated to at most one user in each cell, we formulate the energy-efficient joint resource allocation and power control problem as a probabilistic mixed non-convex fractional programming problem, which is hard to be tackled. In order to solve the problem efficiently, we first substitute the probabilistic constraints into the objective function and then introduce new auxiliary variables to transform the original problem into a difference of two convex functions (D.C.) programming problem. As a result, we resort to D.C. algorithm to obtain a solution satisfying Karush-Kuhn-Tucker conditions of the D.C. problem. Simulation results are presented to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed scheme.
Conformational Intermediate of the Amyloidogenic Protein β2-Microglobulin at Neutral pH*

Aggregation and fibrillation of β2-microglobulin are hallmarks of dialysis-related amyloidosis. We characterize perturbations of the native conformation of β2-microglobulin that may precede fibril formation. For a β2-microglobulin variant cleaved at lysine 58, we show using capillary electrophoresis that two conformers spontaneously exist in aqueous buffers at neutral pH. Upon treatment of wild-type β2-microglobulin with acetonitrile or trifluoroethanol, two conformations were also observed. These conformations were in equilibrium dependent on the sample temperature and the percentage of organic solvent present. Circular dichroism showed a loss of β-structures and gain of α-helices. Reversal to the native conformation occurred when removing the organics. Affinity capillary electrophoresis experiments showed increased specific interactions of the nonnative β2-microglobulin conformation with the dyes 8-anilino-1-naphthalene sulfonic acid and Congo red. The observations may relate to early folding events prior to amyloid fibrillation and facilitate the development of methods to detect and inhibit pro-amyloid protein and peptide conformations.
The treatment of chronic uremia by means of intermittent hemodialysis: a preliminary report.

Ever since the introduction of the first artificial kidney by Abel, Rountree and Turner in 1913 (1) and its development into a clinically useful apparatus by Kolif (2), it has seemed possible that life could be prolonged in patients dying of chronic renal failure. Yet, the technical problems associated with intermittent hemodialysis have been so great that it has not been possible to effectively treat such patients. The chief efforts to study the role of dialysis in chronic renal failure have emerged from the laboratories of AIwall (3), Merrill (4) and Sehreiner (5, 6). The results to date have not been encouraging. In general, significant prolongation of life has been limited to those patients who have acute reversible extrarenal factors jeopardizing their mmimal renal function. Dialysis has also been of limited benefit to those patients who have very slowly progressive renal disease and considerable remaining function at the time dialysis was undertaken. The best results have been obtained in patients with polycystic disease with remissions from the uremic syndrome of as long as six months or more. The discouraging results and those that bear on the cases to be reported herein are those obtained in cases of subacute nephritis. These patients remained oligunic or anunic throughout the course of therapy. The case reported in this issue of the Transactions by Mahen, Schreiner and Waters (6) is typical and demonstrates that a major problem is inability to maintain the nutritional status of the patient despite repeated dialyses. Merrill also emphasizes that he has been unable to prevent mental deterioration for more than a few weeks in patients with complete loss of renal function (7). The development of a technique for permanent indwelling teflon cannulation of radial artery and forearm vein has made it possible to perform an unlimited number of dialyses on patients with chronic renal failure (8). As a result, a study was undertaken to evaluate the effect of frequent intermittent hemodialyses in two patients who were dying from uremia due to chronic glomenulonephnitis. The techniques of cannulation and hemodialysis are reported elsewhere in this journal (8, 9). Essentially, they consisted of placement of indwelling teflon cannulae in the radial artery and a forearm vein. When not in
Morphological variation of layer III pyramidal neurones in the occipitotemporal pathway of the macaque monkey visual cortex.

We compared the morphological characteristics of layer III pyramidal neurones in different visual areas of the occipitotemporal cortical 'stream', which processes information related to object recognition in the visual field (including shape, colour and texture). Pyramidal cells were intracellularly injected with Lucifer Yellow in cortical slices cut tangential to the cortical layers, allowing quantitative comparisons of dendritic field morphology, spine density and cell body size between the blobs and interblobs of the primary visual area (V1), the interstripe compartments of the second visual area (V2), the fourth visual area (V4) and cytoarchitectonic area TEO. We found that the tangential dimension of basal dendritic fields of layer III pyramidal neurones increases from caudal to rostral visual areas in the occipitotemporal pathway, such that TEO cells have, on average, dendritic fields spanning an area 5-6 times larger than V1 cells. In addition, the data indicate that V1 cells located within blobs have significantly larger dendritic fields than those of interblob cells. Sholl analysis of dendritic fields demonstrated that pyramidal cells in V4 and TEO are more complex (i.e. exhibit a larger number of branches at comparable distances from the cell body) than cells in V1 or V2. Moreover, this analysis demonstrated that the dendrites of many cells in V1 cluster along specific axes, while this tendency is less marked in extrastriate areas. Most notably, there is a relatively large proportion of neurones with 'morphologically orientation-biased' dendritic fields (i.e. branches tend to cluster along two diametrically opposed directions from the cell body) in the interblobs in V1, as compared with the blobs in V1 and extrastriate areas. Finally, counts of dendritic spines along the length of basal dendrites revealed similar peak spine densities in the blobs and the interblobs of V1 and in the V2 interstripes, but markedly higher spine densities in V4 and TEO. Estimates of the number of dendritic spines on the basal dendritic fields of layer III pyramidal cells indicate that cells in V2 have on average twice as many spines as V1 cells, that V4 cells have 3.8 times as many spines as V1 cells, and that TEO cells have 7.5 times as many spines as V1 cells. These findings suggest the possibility that the complex response properties of neurones in rostral stations in the occipitotemporal pathway may, in part, be attributed to their larger and more complex basal dendritic fields, and to the increase in both number and density of spines on their basal dendrites.
Management of Social Transformations: Introduction

To address the key issues confronting communities across the globe, policy-makers need the benefit of social science research that is relevant, transdisciplinary, methodologically capable of capturing global and local trends, swift to respond to fundamental research questions, and offering findings which are clearly articulated, effectively disseminated, and oriented to outcomes. This was the challenge confronting Unesco at the beginning of the 1990s in the midst of substantial turbulence affecting the vast majority of its member states. Countries freed from totalitarian regimes, particularly in Eastern Europe, were urgently seeking to understand how to create vibrant democracies and market economies. Ecological threats of a magnitude which affected human existence in many regions cried out for new holistic approaches to sustainable development. Severe political and social tensions had arisen from mega-migration patterns on a scale seldom seen before, including vast numbers of refugees and itinerants confronting a lack of identity status and the normal conditions of citizenship. The growth of cities had given rise to a melange of crises in the human condition and exacerbated ecological pressure, particularly in the heavily populated coastal zones of the world.
The mechanism of high voltage storage capacitor under large impulse discharge

High voltage storage capacitors have been widely used in industry, agriculture and military fields. From the former researches, it was found breakdown always happened during large impulse discharge process. Through waveforms comparison, large impulse discharge had the similar high dv/dt to high voltage rectangular wave. The high dv/dt caused much partial discharge and space charge effect to insulation under high voltage rectangular. Then, the capacitor research during large impulse discharge could be related with partial discharge and space discharge. Partial discharge happened severely under large impulse discharge. Space charge would affect the actions of partial discharge. According to the two main effectors and the work process of high voltage storage capacitor, partial discharge under DC is suitable for insulation property detection.
Management of Complex Groin Wounds: Preferred Use of the Rectus Femoris Muscle Flap

This study reviews our experience with the rectus femoris muscle flap for complex groin wound reconstruction. Over the past 5 years, the rectus femoris has become our routine method of groin wound reconstruction. The rectus femoris is harvested through a midanterior incision extending over the distal two-thirds of the thigh. The muscle is elevated on its pedicle and transposed into the groin wound defect either directly or through an intervening skin bridge. Hospital and outpatient records were reviewed for all patients undergoing groin wound reconstruction with this technique from 1999 through 2003. Thirty-seven rectus femoris muscle flaps were performed in 33 patients. The mean patient age was 65.3 years (range, 25 to 88 years). Thirty groin wounds (81.1 percent) occurred after infrainguinal revascularization, 23 (76.7 percent) of which contained prosthetic material. Five (21.7 percent) of these wounds had their prosthetic material removed at the time of reconstruction. The remaining seven groin wounds (18.9 percent) occurred after femoral vessel cannulation for either cardiac or transplant surgery. There were no intraoperative mortalities and no anastomotic hemorrhages. There were no flap losses. Thirty-five of the 37 treated wounds healed (94.6 percent), 26 primarily (70.3 percent) and nine (24.3 percent) after delayed healing and contracture. Reoperation was performed in one patient for flap readvancement and in three patients for prosthetic graft removal after initial flap reconstruction. Two patients (6.1 percent) died during their hospitalization with persistent open groin wounds after flap reconstruction. All muscle flap donor incisions healed, with only two (5.4 percent) experiencing minimal delayed healing. There were no donor-site wound infections and no donor sites required reoperation. Thirty-three groin wounds (89.2 percent) demonstrated culture-positive microbial infection, 15 (45.5 percent) of which were polymicrobial. The 30-day mortality rate was 15.2 percent and the 6-month mortality rate increased to 27.2 percent, with multisystem organ failure as the most common cause. The rectus femoris muscle flap is an effective and reliable means of complex groin wound reconstruction. The muscle flap is dependable and the donor site is not problematic, even in the presence of peripheral vascular disease. On the basis of our clinical results, we believe that the rectus femoris muscle flap is the flap of choice for groin wound reconstruction.
Investigation of backlash phenomena appearing in a twin AC cement kiln drive

The existence of severe mechanical malfunctions and the appearance of mechanical vibrations due to these malfunctions is very critical especially for a high power electromechanical system working in an industrial environment. The reliable diagnosis and the early fixing of these malfunctions is authoritative concerning the demands of the industry. Such a critical electromechanical system for the cement industry is the rotary kiln. In this paper, the mechanical model of the rotary kiln drive as well as the development of an appropriate laboratory simulating system in order to examine the effects of gear backlash phenomena appearing in a cement kiln rotated by a dual ac drive are presented.
Sectoral and Structural Considerations in China's Rural Development

Since 1984, China's rural-based non-agricultural sector (the Township Village, and Private enterprises – TVEs) has seen dynamic growth, underpinning the rapid improvement in livelihood of some hundreds of millions of rural dwellers. Within the rural economy, however, serious tensions have arisen between TVEs and agricultural production per se. The Chinese government now confronts a central policy dilemma in which further development of the collectively owned TVE sector in particular is counterpoised against the maintenance of stable agricultural output, especially that of food grains. This paper examines the causes of the dilemma, focusing on the impact of the off-farm sector on agricultural production, and the structural imbalances that now need to be addressed. The paper argues that under current conditions, in which farming communities are pulled in two directions – traditional crop production or rural industries – the absence of functional and spatial segregation is creating serious economic and ecological imbalances in China's countryside. The authors suggest possible solutions which rest upon clearer physical differentiation between urban and rural spheres.
Single-equation maximum likelihood estimates of the cointegrating vector in a dollar—lira exchange rate model

Several single-equation asymptotically maximum likelihood techniques are applied to estimate the cointegrating vector in a dollar–lira exchange rate model. For compatison, the results from a systems approach are also reported. Differences in results from the different approaches probably reflect the small sample, but the parameter estimates for each variable have the correct sign and are statistically significant. The results indicate that factors from both monetary and real exchange rate models are important.
Adapting to climate change in the Godavari River basin of India by restoring traditional water storage systems

Food, climate and water crises are interrelated and interdependent. Climate change is projected to significantly alter rainfall patterns, with implications for the annual runoff for the Godavari River basin of the Indian subcontinent. Agriculture, especially rain-fed agriculture, will be particularly affected, due to changes such as periodicity and intensity of rainfall. This paper describes field interventions in 2005–2007 designed to restore traditional water management systems (in the form of water tanks; that is, wetlands embedded in a semi-arid region), with the aim of mitigating the effects of increased climate variability and the frequency of weather extremes. Our findings suggest that traditional water management methods can be both socially and economically effective in coping with variability in precipitation patterns, decentralizing management institutions, improving crop productivity and increasing groundwater recharge. This approach is preferable to large projects for increasing water storage capacity or expanding areas under irrigation, which are expensive, and can displace people and degrade ecosystems.
TREND-CYCLE DECOMPOSITION OF OUTPUT AND EURO AREA INFLATION FORECASTS: A REAL-TIME APPROACH BASED ON MODEL COMBINATION

This paper estimates univariate and multivariate trend-cycle decomposition models of GDP and considers the novel possibility of regime switches in the growth of potential output. We compute both ex post and real-time estimates of the output gap to check the stability of our estimates to GDP data revisions. We find some evidence of regime changes in the growth of potential output during the recessions experienced by the euro area. We also run a forecasting experiment to evaluate the predictive power of the output gap for inflation. The benchmark autoregressive model tends to obtain the best forecasts for one-quarter-ahead forecasts, but the output gap measures help to forecast inflation for longer horizons.
Microstructure and Dielectric Properties of LPCVD/CVI-SiBCN Ceramics Annealed at Different Temperatures

SiBCN ceramics were introduced into porous Si3N4 ceramics via a low-pressure chemical vapor deposition and infiltration (LPCVD/CVI) technique, and then the composite ceramics were heat-treated from 1400 °C to 1700 °C in a N2 atmosphere. The effects of annealing temperatures on microstructure, phase evolution, dielectric properties of SiBCN ceramics were investigated. The results revealed that α-Si3N4 and free carbon were separated below 1700 °C, and then SiC grains formed in the SiBCN ceramic matrix after annealing at 1700 °C through a phase-reaction between free carbon and α-Si3N4. The average dielectric loss of composites increased from 0 to 0.03 due to the formation of dispersive SiC grains and the increase of grain boundaries.
[Combined surgery of acute type A aortic dissections by ascending aorta replacement and bare stent].

UNLABELLED Aim. After surgical treatment of type A aortic dissections a long segment of these aortas often remain dissected. Our goal was to analyse feasibility and first clinical and pathophysiological results of a combined treatment by ascending aorta replacement and stenting of the arch or descending aorta with Djumbodis(R) bare stents. PATIENTS AND METHODS Twenty two cases from two centres were analyzed (Universitary Hospital of Parma and Rangueil Universitary Hospital of Toulouse). RESULTS All the stents have been implanted with short times of circulatory arrest. Average follow-up was 278 days (0-2005). There were two peroperative deaths (9.1%). One year cumulate survival rate was 72.7%. Postoperative complications were mainly respiratory and renal. We have shown a reduction in number of perfused false lumen for aortic arches, more often stented, than for descending aortas (p=0.0104), and for dissected and stented segments versus dissected unstented segments (p=0.0083). CONCLUSION Our study demonstrates feasibility of this combined procedure and its positive effect on pathophysiologic evolution. Long term results have to be evaluated, but we think promising to extend this treatment to the whole dissected aorta.
Cross-Language Phonetic Interference: Arabic to English

This study compares phonetic implementation of the stop voicing contrast produced in Arabic by Saudi Arabians and by both Americans and Saudis in English. The English stops produced by Saudis manifested temporal acoustic correlates of stop voicing (VOT, stop closure duration, and vowel duration) similar to those found in Arabic stops. Despite such phonetic interference from Arabic to English, however, American listeners generally had little difficulty identifying the English stops produced by the Saudis, with the exception of /p/. This phoneme, which is absent in Arabic, was frequently produced with glottal pulsing during the stop closure interval. The timing of /p/, however, suggests that the Saudis did grasp the phonological nature of /p/ (i.e., that the contrast between /p—b/ is analogous to that between /t—d/ and /k—g/) but were unable to control all the articulatory dimensions by which this sound is produced.
Variable Waist-Diameter Mach–Zehnder Tapered-Fiber Interferometer as Humidity and Temperature Sensor

In-line single-mode tapered-fiber Mach-Zehnder interferometer (MZI-SMTF) with average waist diameters (davg) of 4.05 and 2.89 μm have been fabricated, and both the temperature and the humidity sensitivity of the surrounding media have been measured and compared. The humidity and the temperature were measured over the ranges from 0% to 90% and 28 °C to 40 °C, respectively. The stability of the system at 50%RH and 90%RH was investigated, while the temperature of the chamber was maintained at about 28 °C. The humidity and temperature sensitivity resolution values were 0.02 nm/%RH and 0.05 nm/0.1 °C for the MZI-SMTF-1 with an average waist diameter of 4.05 μm, while they were 0.01 nm/%RH and 0.025 nm/0.1 °C for the MZI-SMTF-2 with an average waist diameter of 2.89 μm.