Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Longitudinal Analysis of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 nef/Long Terminal Repeat Sequences in a Cohort of Long-Term Survivors Infected from a Single Source

ABSTRACT We studied the evolution of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) in a cohort of long-term survivors infected with an attenuated strain of HIV-1 acquired from a single source. Although the cohort members experienced differing clinical courses, we demonstrate similar evolution of HIV-1 nef/long-terminal repeat (LTR) sequences, characterized by progressive sequence deletions tending toward a minimal nef/LTR structure that retains only sequence elements required for viral replication. The in vivo pathogenicity of attenuated HIV-1 is therefore dictated by viral and/or host factors other than those that impose a unidirectional selection pressure on the nef/LTR region of the HIV-1 genome.
NORADRENERGIC HYPERINNERVATION IN THE HEART OF STROKE‐PRONE SPONTANEOUSLY HYPERTENSIVE RATS

1. Noradrenergic (NA) nerve fibre distribution was investigated in the epicardium and myocardium of the heart in stroke‐prone spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRSP) and was compared to that in normotensive Wistar‐Kyoto (WKY) rats. Fluorescent NA nerve fibres in the left and right epicardium of both strains aged 10, 30, 60, 90 and 180 days, and in the myocardium of left and right ventricles and the ventricular septum of both strains aged 30, 90 and 180 days were examined by the glyoxylic acid method. The distribution densities of NA nerve fibres were measured by quantitative image analysis.
Postprandial versus preprandial blood glucose monitoring in women with gestational diabetes mellitus requiring insulin therapy.

BACKGROUND The fetuses of women with gestational diabetes mellitus are at risk for macrosomia and its attendant complications. The best method of achieving euglycemia in these women and reducing morbidity in their infants is not known. We compared the efficacy of postprandial and preprandial monitoring in achieving glycemic control in women with gestational diabetes. METHODS We studied 66 women with gestational diabetes mellitus who required insulin therapy at 30 weeks of gestation or earlier. The women were randomly assigned to have their diabetes managed according to the results of preprandial monitoring or postprandial monitoring (one hour after meals) of blood glucose concentrations. Both groups were also monitored with fasting blood glucose measurements. The goal of insulin therapy was a preprandial value of 60 to 105 mg per deciliter (3.3 to 5.9 mmol per liter) or a postprandial value of less than 140 mg per deciliter (7.8 mmol per liter). Obstetrical data and information on neonatal outcomes were collected. RESULTS The prepregnancy weight, weight gain during pregnancy, gestational age at the diagnosis of diabetes and at delivery, degree of compliance with therapy, and degree of achievement of target blood glucose concentrations were similar in the two groups. The mean (+/- SD) change in the glycosylated hemoglobin value was greater in the group in which postprandial measurements were used (-3.0 +/- 2.2 percent vs. 0.6 +/- 1.6 percent, P < 0.001) and the infants' birth weight was lower (3469 +/- 668 vs. 3848 +/- 434 g, P = 0.01). Similarly, the infants born to the women in the postprandial-monitoring group had a lower rate of neonatal hypoglycemia (3 percent vs. 21 percent, P = 0.05), were less often large for gestational age (12 percent vs. 42 percent, P = 0.01) and were less often delivered by cesarean section because of cephalopelvic disproportion (12 percent vs. 36 percent, P = 0.04) than those in the preprandial-monitoring group. CONCLUSIONS Adjustment of insulin therapy in women with gestational diabetes according to the results of postprandial, rather than preprandial, blood glucose values improves glycemic control and decreases the risk of neonatal hypoglycemia, macrosomia, and cesarean delivery.
Simple life-history traits explain key effective population size ratios across diverse taxa

Effective population size (Ne) controls both the rate of random genetic drift and the effectiveness of selection and migration, but it is difficult to estimate in nature. In particular, for species with overlapping generations, it is easier to estimate the effective number of breeders in one reproductive cycle (Nb) than Ne per generation. We empirically evaluated the relationship between life history and ratios of Ne, Nb and adult census size (N) using a recently developed model (agene) and published vital rates for 63 iteroparous animals and plants. Nb/Ne varied a surprising sixfold across species and, contrary to expectations, Nb was larger than Ne in over half the species. Up to two-thirds of the variance in Nb/Ne and up to half the variance in Ne/N was explained by just two life-history traits (age at maturity and adult lifespan) that have long interested both ecologists and evolutionary biologists. These results provide novel insights into, and demonstrate a close general linkage between, demographic and evolutionary processes across diverse taxa. For the first time, our results also make it possible to interpret rapidly accumulating estimates of Nb in the context of the rich body of evolutionary theory based on Ne per generation.
Personality and smoking: individual-participant meta-analysis of nine cohort studies.

AIMS To investigate cross-sectional and longitudinal associations between personality and smoking, and test whether socio-demographic factors modify these associations. DESIGN Cross-sectional and longitudinal individual-participant meta-analysis. SETTING Nine cohort studies from Australia, Germany, the United Kingdom and the United States. PARTICIPANTS A total of 79 757 men and women (mean age = 50.8 years). MEASUREMENTS Personality traits of the five-factor model (extraversion, neuroticism, agreeableness, conscientiousness and openness to experience) were used as exposures. Outcomes were current smoking status (current smoker, ex-smoker and never smoker), smoking initiation, smoking relapse and smoking cessation. Associations between personality and smoking were modelled using logistic and multinomial logistic regression, and study-specific findings were combined using random-effect meta-analysis. FINDINGS Current smoking was associated with higher extraversion [odds ratio per 1 standard deviation increase in the score: 1.16; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.08-1.24], higher neuroticism (1.19; 95% CI = 1.13-1.26) and lower conscientiousness (95% CI = 0.88; 0.83-0.94). Among non-smokers, smoking initiation during the follow-up period was predicted prospectively by higher extraversion (1.22; 95% CI = 1.04-1.43) and lower conscientiousness (0.80; 95% CI = 0.68-0.93), whereas higher neuroticism (1.16; 95% CI = 1.04-1.30) predicted smoking relapse among ex-smokers. Among smokers, smoking cessation was negatively associated with neuroticism (0.91; 95% CI = 0.87-0.96). Socio-demographic variables did not appear to modify the associations between personality and smoking. CONCLUSIONS Adult smokers have higher extraversion, higher neuroticism and lower conscientiousness personality scores than non-smokers. Initiation into smoking is associated positively with higher extraversion and lower conscientiousness, while relapse to smoking among ex-smokers is associated with higher neuroticism.
Synthesis and in vitro and in vivo Antifungal Activity of the Hydroxy Metabolites of Saperconazole

Herein we describe the scalable diastereoselective and enantioselective syntheses of eight enantiomers of hydroxy metabolites of saperconazole. The in vitro antifungal activity of the eight stereoisomers (compounds 1–8) was compared against a broad panel of Candida spp. (n=93), Aspergillus spp. (n=10), Cryptococcus spp. (n=19), and dermatophytes (n=27). The four 2S isomers 1–4 of the new agent were generally slightly more active than the four 2R isomers 5–8. All eight isomers were tested in a model of experimental A. fumigatus infection in guinea pigs by intravenous inoculation of the fungal conidia. Treatment doses were 1.25 mg kg−1 and 2.5 mg kg−1 per day. Infection severity was measured in terms of mean survival time (MST) after infection and mean tissue burdens in brain, liver, spleen, and kidney at postmortem examination. Among the eight isomers, the 2S diastereomers 1–4 showed a generally higher level of activity than the 2R diastereomers 5–8, revealing compounds 1 and 4 as the most potent overall in eradicating tissue burden and MST. Compared with reference compounds itraconazole and saperconazole, the hydroxy isomers 1–8 are less potent inhibitors of the growth of A. fumigatus in vitro and of ergosterol biosynthesis in both A. fumigatus and C. albicans.
Revisiting Mednick’s Model on Creativity-Related Differences in Associative Hierarchies. Evidence for a Common Path to Uncommon Thought

Fifty years ago, Mednick [Psychological Review, 69 (1962) 220] proposed an elaborate model that aimed to explain how creative ideas are generated and why creative people are more likely to have creative ideas. The model assumes that creative people have flatter associative hierarchies and as a consequence can more fluently retrieve remote associative elements, which can be combined to form creative ideas. This study aimed at revisiting Mednick’s model and providing an extensive test of its hypotheses. A continuous free association task was employed and association performance was compared between groups high and low in creativity, as defined by divergent thinking ability and self-report measures. We found that associative hierarchies do not differ between low and high creative people, but creative people showed higher associative fluency and more uncommon responses. This suggests that creativity may not be related to a special organization of associative memory, but rather to a more effective way of accessing its contents. The findings add to the evidence associating creativity with highly adaptive executive functioning.
An asymmetric clustered processor based on value content

This paper proposes a new organization for clustered processors. Such processors have many advantages, including improved implementability and scalability, reduced power, and, potentially, faster clock speed. Difficulties lie in assigning instructions to clusters (steering) so as to minimize the effect of inter-cluster communication latency. The asymmetric clustered architecture proposed in this paper aims to increase the IPC and reduce power consumption by using two different types of integer clusters and a new steering algorithm. One type is a standard, 64b integer cluster, while the other is a very narrow, 20b cluster. The narrow cluster runs at twice the clock rate of the standard cluster.A new instruction steering mechanism is proposed to increase the use of the fast, narrow cluster as well as to minimize inter-cluster communication. Steering is performed by a history-based predictor, which is shown to be 98% accurate.The proposed architecture is shown to have a higher average IPC than its un-clustered equivalent for a four-wide issue processor, something that has never been achieved by previously proposed clustered organizations. Overall, a 3% increase in average IPC over an un-clustered design and a 8% over a symmetric cluster with dependence based steering are achieved for a 2-cycle intercluster communication latency.Part of the reason for higher IPC is the ability of the new architecture to execute most of the address computations as narrow, fast operations. The new architecture exploits its early knowledge of partial address values to achieve a 0-cycle address translation for 90% of all address computations, further improving performance.
Bearings-only TMA from electromagnetic and acoustic waves

This paper presents a novel BOTMA based upon two types of bearing measurements: the angles of arrival of electromagnetic waves and the angles of arrival of acoustic waves. The difference of the propagation delays makes the problem observable even when the observer is motionless or non-maneuvering. We construct a recursive estimator (using the extended Kalman filter) and a batch estimator (the maximum likelihood estimator) whose respective performances are evaluated by Monte-Carlo simulations, and compared to the Cramér-Rao lower bound.
ABRICATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF NICKEL NANOWIRES

This paper shows that nickel nanowires of length 11μm and diameters 800 and 15nm were grown within the pores of nuclear track polycarbonate membrane by electrodepositing nickel. Surface morphology and crystallographic structure of the deposited nanowires was investigated using SEM, TEM and XRD respectively. It is found that low current density gives good result, while high current density leads to the formation of curled nanowires. Fabricated nanowires were further investigated for electrical properties and found that nanowires obey ohm’s law. Through structural characterization it has been observed that the fabricated nanowires posses FCC lattice structure.
Software interleaving

We investigate the costs and benefits of implementing memory interleaving in software. As our main contribution, we compare software memory interleaving to row-major allocation and logarithmic broadcasting. Our analysis demonstrates the clear superiority of software interleaving over row-major allocation in the presence of memory contention. Our analysis also indicates that the choice between software interleaving and logarithmic broadcasting is less clear, as it depends both on the type of synchronization used and the number of processors. We conclude that, on large-scale multiprocessors, software memory interleaving and lock-based synchronization is the most effective combination for reducing memory contention in matrix computations. <<ETX>>
Common Binding Sites for β-Amyloid Fibrils and Fibroblast Growth Factor-2 in Heparan Sulfate from Human Cerebral Cortex*

Heparan sulfate found in the cerebral plaques of Alzheimer's disease binds to β-amyloid (Aβ) fibrils. This interaction has been proposed to enhance fibril deposition and mediate Aβ-induced glia activation and neurotoxicity. On the other hand, heparan sulfate augments signaling of fibroblast growth factor-2 (FGF-2), a neuroprotective factor that antagonizes the neurotoxic effects of Aβ. We defined structures in heparan sulfate from human cerebral cortex that bind Aβ fibrils. The minimal binding site is found in N-sulfated hexasaccharide domains and contains critical 2-O-sulfated iduronic acid residues. By contrast, binding of Aβ monomers requires, in addition, 6-O-sulfate groups on glucosamine residues. The binding specificity of fibrillar Aβ is shared by FGF-2, and we here show that cerebral heparan sulfate domains selected for binding to Aβ-(1–40) fibrils bind also to FGF-2. These data suggest that neurotoxic and neuroprotective signals may converge by competing for the same binding sites on the heparan sulfate chain.
The interpersonal world of infant

An arrangement for reducing the size of an opening on the bottom face of an evaporator cabinet adapted to be mounted on the top of a furnace, the filler arrangement comprising one or more channel-shaped members which include one leg portion interengaging with a flanged border of the opening, a web which includes end portions overlapping the face of the wall containing the opening, and another leg portion including bendable tab means at the ends thereof bendable to a position to clear the opening for insertion, and then adapted to be bent back into their original planes for engagement with the distal edges of the flange means around the opening. The number of filler panels to be used in the arrangement is dictated by the reduction to be effected and may include one or two to reduce the length of the opening in increments, and an additional one or two extending transversely to the first two to reduce the width of the opening in increments.
Quality of Life in Non‐Melanoma Skin Cancer—The Skin Cancer Quality of Life (SCQoL) Questionnaire

BACKGROUND Disease‐specific quality of life (QoL) questionnaires are increasingly used to provide patient‐reported out‐come measures in both malignant and non‐malignant disease. OBJECTIVE To create, validate and test the psychometrics of the Skin Cancer Quality of Life (SCQoL), which was designed to measure health‐related QoL in patients with non‐melanoma skin cancer affecting any area and undergoing any therapy. METHODS AND MATERIALS The SCQoL was developed in a stepwise approach. Three pilot studies (testing content and face validity) and psychometric testing (scale structure, reliability, domains and known‐groups validity, concurrent and convergent validity) were conducted. Rasch analyses were performed on the final questionnaire. RESULTS The initial 10‐item questionnaire was reduced to 9 items following interviews and inter‐item correlations. The nine item scale was confirmed by Item Response Theory (IRT) and internal consistency. Differential Item Functioning (DIF) was found for a single item, but the effect was small. CONCLUSION The final 9‐item SCQoL is unidimensional and consists of 3 domains covering function, emotions and control. Furthermore there is one single global item. The total score range from 0 to 27. Higher score denote a greater impairment of the QoL.
3D facial expression intensity measurement analysis

This study used 3D distance vector measurements as the facial feature to classify six basic expressions and the distance vectors are chosen based on Facial Action Coding System (FACS) component, facial action units (AUs). The statistical values are calculated and analyze to determine the AUs involved in facial expression and distance vectors to be taken into account to measure the intensity of each facial expression in a quantitative manner. As a result, 14 facial points are classified as significant in facial expression classification. Those facial points are in the eye, eyebrow and mouth region only. This work reveals that it is not necessary to rely on all facial feature points in estimating facial expression intensity. For Sad expression, the random mean and standard deviation of distance measurements do not indicate which AU should be taken into account to classify this expression.
Stabilization of Enzymes against Thermal Stress and Freeze-Drying by Mannosylglycerate

2-O-(beta)-Mannosylglycerate, a solute that accumulates in some (hyper)thermophilic organisms, was purified from Pyrococcus furiosus cells, and its effect on enzyme stabilization in vitro was assessed. Enzymes from hyperthermophilic, thermophilic, and mesophilic sources were examined. The thermostabilities of alcohol dehydrogenases from P. furiosus and Bacillus stearothermophilus and of glutamate dehydrogenases from Thermotoga maritima and Clostridium difficile were improved to a significant extent when enzyme solutions were incubated at supraoptimal temperatures in the presence of 2-O-(beta)-mannosylglycerate, but no effect on the thermostability of glutamate dehydrogenase from P. furiosus was detected. On the other hand, there was a remarkable effect on the thermal stabilities of rabbit muscle lactate dehydrogenase, baker's yeast alcohol dehydrogenase, and bovine liver glutamate dehydrogenase, which were used as model systems to evaluate stabilization of enzymes of mesophilic origin. For all of the enzymes examined and at the highest temperatures tested, 2-O-(beta)-mannosylglycerate was a better thermoprotectant than trehalose. The stabilizing effect exerted by 2-O-(beta)-mannosylglycerate on enzymes suggests a role for this compound as a protein thermostabilizer under physiological conditions. 2-O-(beta)-Mannosylglycerate was also effective in the protection of enzymes against stress imposed by freeze-drying, with its protecting effect being similar to or better than that exerted by trehalose. The data show 2-O-(beta)-mannosylglycerate to be a potential enzyme stabilizer in biotechnological applications.
Randomness in microtubule dynamics: an error that requires correction or an inherent plasticity required for normal cellular function?

Microtubules (MTs) play roles in regulating the mechanical structure and dynamics of cells. While MTs appear to be highly ordered structures, recent data suggest some randomness in their structure and dynamics. Part of this inherent randomness is attributed to errors and correction mechanisms are being investigated to overcome these ‘mistakes. ’ However, this randomness may also be part of the normal intracellular function of MTs. It is possible that random events in MT structure and dynamics may contribute to their normal function and may even be part of an improved efficacy mechanism. An alternative view, wherein MT and kinetochore errors are part of required cell plasticity, is also discussed. These data may further support the concept of randomness in biological pathways as part of self‐organization or accurate and enhanced function.
Biophysical Characterization of Refolded Drosophila Spätzle, a Cystine Knot Protein, Reveals Distinct Properties of Three Isoforms*

The Drosophila Spätzle protein, involved in the embryonic development of the dorsal-ventral axis and in the adult immune response, is expressed as a proprotein and is activated by the serine proteinases Easter or Spätzle-processing enzyme. Proteolytic cleavage generates a 106-amino acid COOH-terminal fragment, C106, homologous to the mature form of nerve growth factor NGF, a cystine knot protein. Through alternative splicing, the Spätzle gene encodes for several isoforms that (with one exception, the “propeptide isoform”) share C106 but differ in the prosequence. Three isoforms have been expressed recombinantly in Escherichia coli strains. The propeptide isoform could be expressed in soluble form and is unstructured according to CD and NMR measurements. Dimeric full-length Spätzle isoforms have been refolded from insoluble inclusion bodies and are able to rescue Spätzle-deficient embryos. Although the two full-length isoforms exhibit similar far-UV CD spectra, large differences in tryptophan fluorescence quenching by the respective pro-parts are observed. Both full-length isoforms exhibited highly cooperative folding transitions. Proteolytic digestion using trypsin resulted in C106, whose unfolding exhibits lower thermodynamic stability and cooperativity compared with the full-length proteins. The structure of C106 reveals a T-shaped dimer with significant differences to NGF and a deep internal cavity. Substantial β-sheet formation is observed between the two monomers, whereas a long loop containing the single tryptophan residue is disordered in the crystals. Our results suggest that the propeptides stabilize the tertiary structure of the “mature” Spätzle cystine knot.
A 55nm Ultra Low Leakage Deeply Depleted Channel technology optimized for energy minimization in subthreshold SRAM and logic

This paper presents an Ultra-Low Leakage (ULL) 55nm Deeply Depleted Channel (DDC) process technology for low power Internet of Things (IoT) applications. The DDC ULL devices provide 67% reduction in threshold (VT) variation due to Random Dopant Fluctuation (RDF). Circuit techniques such as subthreshold operation and reverse body biasing (RBB) are co-designed with the technology to maximize the energy/power saving. A test chip implements a 1Kb 6T SRAM, an FIR filter, and a 51-stage RO to showcase how the technology works with circuit techniques to minimize energy. The 6T SRAM array operates reliably down to 200mV with a reduced leakage power of 7nW (85% lower compared to non-DDC devices). The FIR filter consumes just 4.5pJ/cycle operating at 0.36V at 200 KHz.
Improved preservation medium for Campylobacter jejuni

An egg-based medium was found to be superior to the conventional Wang transport medium and the recently developed biphasic medium for the preservation of Campylobacter jejuni in the laboratory. Strains of C. jejuni preserved in egg-based medium maintained at 4 degrees C were viable for over 3 months. The survival of C. jejuni in egg-based medium held at room temperature (27 +/- 2 degrees C) was also relatively longer than in Wang transport medium and biphasic medium.