Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Nature Medicine Advance Online Publication Live Attenuated Recombinant Vaccine Protects Nonhuman Primates against Ebola and Marburg Viruses

Vaccines and therapies are urgently needed to address public health needs stemming from emerging pathogens and biological threat agents such as the filoviruses Ebola virus (EBOV) and Marburg virus (MARV). Here, we developed replication-competent vaccines against EBOV and MARV based on attenuated recombinant vesicular stomatitis virus vectors expressing either the EBOV glycoprotein or MARV glycoprotein. A single intramuscular injection of the EBOV or MARV vaccine elicited completely protective immune responses in nonhuman primates against lethal EBOV or MARV challenges. Notably, vaccine vector shedding was not detectable in the monkeys and none of the animals developed fever or other symptoms of illness associated with vaccination. The EBOV vaccine induced humoral and apparent cellular immune responses in all vaccinated monkeys, whereas the MARV vaccine induced a stronger humoral than cellular immune response. No evidence of EBOV or MARV replication was detected in any of the protected animals after challenge. Our data suggest that these vaccine candidates are safe and highly efficacious in a relevant animal model. Ebola virus (EBOV) and Marburg virus (MARV) of the virus family Filoviridae are emerging and reemerging pathogens that cause hemorrhagic fever with high mortality rates in humans and nonhuman primates 1–3. The public health concern about filoviruses has increased in recent years as a result of increased awareness and frequency of cases in central Africa as evidenced by the current outbreak of MARV in Angola 4 and also because filoviruses are considered to be potential agents of bioterrorism 5. Currently, there are no EBOV or MARV vaccines or therapies approved for human use. Recently, we generated live attenuated recombinant vesicular stomatitis viruses (rVSV) expressing the transmembrane glycoprotein of Zaire ebolavirus (ZEBOV; VSV ∴∆G/ZEBOVGP) and MARV (VSV∆G/MARVGP) 6. Our study evaluated the utility of these rVSV vectors as candidate vaccines for EBOV and MARV using the cynomolgus macaque model. Filovirus vaccine research has been extensively reviewed in the past and has primarily focused on EBOV 7,8. The first EBOV vaccine to protect nonhuman primates was a DNA prime–adenovirus boost approach using both the glycoprotein and nucleoprotein as target antigens 9. This approach required several months for immunity to develop, which limited the utility of this strategy. More recently, an accelerated vaccine was described. A single immunization of nonhuman primates with 2 × 10 12 particles of an equal mixture of human adenovirus 5 vectors carrying either the gene encoding ZEBOV glycoprotein or the gene encoding ZEBOV nucleoprotein …
Visual transformations in gesture imitation: what you see is what you do

We propose an approach for a robot to imitate the gestures of a human demonstrator. Our framework consists solely of two components: a Sensory-Motor Map (SMM) and a View-Point Transformation (VPT). The SMM establishes an association between an arm image and the corresponding joint angles and it is learned by the system during a period of observation of its own gestures. The VPT is widely discussed in the psychology of visual perception and is used to transform the image of the demonstrator's arm to the so-called ego-centric image, as if the robot were observing its own arm. Different structures of the SMM and VPT are proposed in accordance with observations in human imitation. The whole system relies on monocular visual information and leads to a parsimonious architecture for learning by imitation. Real-time results are presented and discussed.
Redundant-via enhanced maze routing for yield improvement

Redundant via insertion is a good solution to reduce the yield loss by via failure. However, the existing methods are all post-layout optimizations that insert redundant via after detailed routing. In this paper, we propose the first routing algorithm that considers feasibility of redundant via insertion in the detailed routing stage. Our routing problem is formulated as maze routing with redundant via constraints. The problem is transformed to a multiple constraint shortest path problem, and solved by Lagrangian relaxation technique. Experimental results show that our algorithm can find routing layout with much higher rate of redundant via than conventional maze routing.
Regulation of the membrane wrapping transition of a cylindrical target by cytoskeleton adhesion

The adsorption of external objects to the cell membrane often triggers cellular responses involving large deformations. In phagocytosis, upon contact with the target, the cell creates large extensions that wrap around the target and ultimately lead to its engulfment. Although active force generation, in particular by actin polymerization, is required for completion of this process, the elastic deformation of the cell membrane upon adhesion to an external object might play an important part in its initiation. In this paper, the elastic deformation of a bilayer owing to the binding of a cylindrical object is studied, taking into account the membrane bending rigidity and the surface tension, the membrane adhesion to both the external target and inner cytoskeleton. The problem is studied within the framework of the Helfrich–Hamiltonian and using force balance relations and the proper boundary conditions that are related to the adhesion energy coefficients. It is shown that membrane wrapping around the target may be a continuous or abrupt transition upon increasing the target binding energy, depending on the value of the parameter. The degree of wrapping and the shape of the membrane in the vicinity of the object are computed numerically, and analytical expressions are given for the boundaries separating the different wrapping regimes in the parameter space.
Effect of smoking cessation intervention on results of acute fracture surgery: a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND Tobacco smoking is a major health and economic concern and is also known to have a significant negative effect on surgical outcomes. The benefits of a smoking cessation intervention prior to elective orthopaedic surgery have been evaluated previously. Our aim was to assess whether a smoking cessation program, initiated during the acute hospitalization period and carried out for six weeks, could reduce the number of complications following emergency surgical treatment of fractures. METHODS In a multicenter, single-blinded, randomized, controlled clinical trial, 105 smokers with a fracture of the lower or upper extremity that needed acute surgical treatment were randomized to an intervention group (n = 50) or a control group (n = 55). The intervention group was offered a standardized smoking cessation program for six weeks, and all patients were followed at two to three weeks, four weeks, and six to twelve weeks. RESULTS The proportion of patients with at least one postoperative complication was significantly larger in the control group than it was in the intervention group (38% and 20%, respectively; p = 0.048). The development of two or more postoperative complications was also more common among the controls (p = 0.039). The rates of superficial wound infection, the most frequently recorded complication in both groups, were 20% and 8%, but this difference was not significant. A secondary analysis showed that the odds of having a complication were 2.51 times (95% confidence interval, 0.96 to 6.9 times) higher in the control group than in the intervention group, but this difference was not significant. CONCLUSIONS Our results indicate that a smoking cessation intervention program during the first six weeks after acute fracture surgery decreases the risk of postoperative complications.
Using Gateways To Build A Route Map

We present a simple, compact representation that allows a mobile robot to navigate through its environment. At the heart of the representation are gateways, transition points between spaces in the environment. This paper gives an algorithm for detecting orthogonal gateways using sonar sensors. This algorithm was implemented as a state machine on a mobile robot operating in the hallways of our laboratory. In tests of our implementation we guided the robot along several paths in our experimental space. The robot stored these paths as productions that constituted a route map of the environment. Them, when told a start space and a goal space, the robot could retraverse a route by passing through the gateways that connect the start space with the goal space; the route productions told the robot which way to turn at each gateway. In addition, this paper describes how the decision to choose gateways as the basis for our route map representation impacts the organization of additional levels of representation that will allow the robot to store sensory information about spaces and to store global information about the environment.
Motion planning amidst fat obstacles

The complexity of exact motion planning algorithms highly depends on the complexity of the robot’s free space, i.e., the set of all collision-free placements of the robot. Theoretically, the complexity of the free space can be very high. In practice, the complexity of the free space tends to be much smaller. We show that, under some realistic assumptions, the complexity of the free space of a robot moving amidst fat obstacles is linear in the number of obstacles. The complexity results lead to efficient algorithms for motion planning amidst fat obstacles: we show that the motion planning algorithm by Schwartz and Sharir runs in time if the obstacles are fat. Finally, we modify the algorithm to improve the running time to
Online Diabetes Self-Management Program

OBJECTIVE We hypothesized that people with type 2 diabetes in an online diabetes self-management program, compared with usual-care control subjects, would 1) demonstrate reduced A1C at 6 and 18 months, 2) have fewer symptoms, 3) demonstrate increased exercise, and 4) have improved self-efficacy and patient activation. In addition, participants randomized to listserve reinforcement would have better 18-month outcomes than participants receiving no reinforcement. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS A total of 761 participants were randomized to 1) the program, 2) the program with e-mail reinforcement, or 3) were usual-care control subjects (no treatment). This sample included 110 American Indians/Alaska Natives (AI/ANs). Analyses of covariance models were used at the 6- and 18-month follow-up to compare groups. RESULTS At 6 months, A1C, patient activation, and self-efficacy were improved for program participants compared with usual care control subjects (P < 0.05). There were no changes in other health or behavioral indicators. The AI/AN program participants demonstrated improvements in health distress and activity limitation compared with usual-care control subjects. The subgroup with initial A1C >7% demonstrated stronger improvement in A1C (P = 0.01). At 18 months, self-efficacy and patient activation were improved for program participants. A1C was not measured. Reinforcement showed no improvement. CONCLUSIONS An online diabetes self-management program is acceptable for people with type 2 diabetes. Although the results were mixed they suggest 1) that the program may have beneficial effects in reducing A1C, 2) AI/AN populations can be engaged in and benefit from online interventions, and 3) our follow-up reinforcement appeared to have no value.
Comparison of Aerobic Capacity in Annually Certified and Uncertified Volunteer Firefighters

Abstract Hammer, RL and Heath, E.M. Comparison of aerobic capacity in annually certified and uncertified volunteer firefighters. J Strength Cond Res 27(5): 1435–1440, 2013—The leading cause of mortality among firefighters has been cardiac arrest precipitated by stress and overexertion with volunteer firefighters having double the death rate from this cause compared with career firefighters. In an attempt to reduce on-duty sudden cardiac deaths, annual fitness testing, and certification, has been widely instigated in wildland firefighters, who have half the cardiac arrest death rate of structural firefighters. The hypothesis was that annual fitness testing would serve as motivation to produce higher cardiorespiratory fitness. This study compared predicted aerobic capacity in annually certified and uncertified volunteer firefighters. Each firefighter performed a submaximal treadmill test to predict V[Combining Dot Above]O2max. Certified volunteer firefighters, who participated in annual fitness testing, had a predicted V[Combining Dot Above]O2max of 39.9 ± 8.4 ml·kg−1·min−1. Uncertified volunteer firefighters had a predicted V[Combining Dot Above]O2max of 37.8 ± 8.5 ml·kg−1·min−1. Annual fitness testing during the certification process did not contribute to statistically higher (F2,78 = 0.627, p = 0.431) V[Combining Dot Above]O2max levels in certified volunteer firefighters. Although there was no significant difference in predicted V[Combining Dot Above]O2max values for certified and uncertified volunteer firefighters, it was reported that 30% of volunteer firefighters had predicted aerobic capacities below the recommended minimum V[Combining Dot Above]O2max level of 33.5 ml·kg−1·min−1. Current annual fitness testing for volunteer firefighters does not seem to be effective. Thus, the study emphasizes the need of a higher priority for firefighter fitness programs to best ensure the safety of firefighters and the public.
The application of the binocular camera to crowd density estimation

In this paper, a new method is proposed to estimate crowd density based on binocular vision: according to the average parallax of the object in the two camera plane, first we calculate the correction parameters of monitoring location, then we fit the correction function based on the result of the correction parameters of the same target objects in different locations. By taking foreground pixels, foreground edge pixels of image as features of crowd density estimation, we could perform parameter correction. Experiments show that by comparing with existing methods, this method is effective in reducing the projective deformity and can improve the effectiveness of the features greatly. So it could enhance the accuracy of the estimation of population density.
Enantioselective artificial metalloenzymes by creation of a novel active site at the protein dimer interface.

Artificial metalloenzymes are generated by forming a novel active site on the dimer interface of the transcription factor LmrR. Two copper centers are incorporated by binding to ligands in each half of the dimer. With this system up to 97 % ee was obtained in the benchmark CuII catalyzed Diels–Alder reaction.
Putative amino acid determinants of the emergence of the 2009 influenza A (H1N1) virus in the human population

The emergence of the unique H1N1 influenza A virus in 2009 resulted in a pandemic that has spread to over 200 countries. The constellation of molecular factors leading to the emergence of this strain is still unclear. Using a computational approach, we identified molecular determinants that may discriminate the hemagglutinin protein of the 2009 human pandemic H1N1 (pH1N1) strain from that of other H1N1 strains. As expected, positions discriminating the pH1N1 from seasonal human strains were located in or near known H1N1 antigenic sites, thus camouflaging the pH1N1 strain from immune recognition. For example, the alteration S145K (an antigenic position) was found as a characteristic of the pH1N1 strain. We also detected positions in the hemagglutinin protein differentiating classical swine viruses from pH1N1. These positions were mostly located in and around the receptor-binding pocket, possibly influencing binding affinity to the human cell. Such alterations may be liable in part for the virus’s efficient infection and adaptation to humans. For instance, 133A and 149 were identified as discriminative positions. Significantly, we showed that the substitutions R133AK and R149K, predicted to be pH1N1 characteristics, each altered virus binding to erythrocytes and conferred virulence to A/swine/NC/18161/02 in mice, reinforcing the computational findings. Our findings provide a structural explanation for the deficient immunity of humans to the pH1N1 strain. Moreover, our analysis points to unique molecular factors that may have facilitated the emergence of this swine variant in humans, in contrast to other swine variants that failed.
Metallic MXene Saturable Absorber for Femtosecond Mode‐Locked Lasers

2D transition metal carbides, nitrides, and carbonitides called MXenes have attracted much attention due to their outstanding properties. However, MXene's potential in laser technology is not explored. It is demonstrated here that Ti3CN, one of MXene compounds, can serve as an excellent mode‐locker that can produce femtosecond laser pulses from fiber cavities. Stable laser pulses with a duration as short as 660 fs are readily obtained at a repetition rate of 15.4 MHz and a wavelength of 1557 nm. Density functional theory calculations show that Ti3CN is metallic, in contrast to other 2D saturable absorber materials reported so far to be operative for mode‐locking. 2D structural and electronic characteristics are well conserved in their stacked form, possibly due to the unique interlayer coupling formed by MXene surface termination groups. Noticeably, the calculations suggest a promise of MXenes in broadband saturable absorber applications due to metallic characteristics, which agrees well with the experiments of passively Q‐switched lasers using Ti3CN at wavelengths of 1558 and 1875 nm. This study provides a valuable strategy and intuition for the development of nanomaterial‐based saturable absorbers opening new avenues toward advanced photonic devices based on MXenes.
A batch fabricated biomimetic dry adhesive - eScholarship

The fine hair adhesive system found in nature is capable of reversibly adhering to just about any surface. This dry adhesive, best demonstrated in the pad of the gecko, makes use of a multilevel conformal structure to greatly increase inelastic surface contact, enhancing short range interactions and producing significant amounts of attractive forces. Recent work has attempted to reproduce and test the terminal submicrometre 'hairs' of the system. Here we report the first batch fabricated multi-scale conformal system to mimic nature's dry adhesive. The approach makes use of, massively parallel MEMS processing technology to produce 20-150 mu m platforms, supported by single slender pillars, and coated with similar to 2 mu m long similar to 200 nm diameter, organic looking polymer nanorods, or 'organorods'. To characterize the structures a new mesoscale nanoindenter adhesion test technique has been developed. Experiments indicate significantly improved adhesion with the multiscale system. Additional processing caused a hydrophilic to hydrophobic transformation of the surface and testing indicated further improvement in adhesion.
Sulfonamides incorporating fluorine and 1,3,5-triazine moieties are effective inhibitors of three β-class carbonic anhydrases from Mycobacterium tuberculosis

Abstract A new series of fluorine containing 1,3,5-triazinyl sulfonamide derivatives obtained from cyanuric fluoride, sulfanilamide/4-aminoethylbenzenesulfonamide followed and incorporating also amin0, amino alcohol and amino acid moieties have been investigated as inhibitors of three β-carbonic anhydrases (CAs, EC 4.2.1.1) from the bacterial pathogen Mycobacterium tuberculosis, mtCA1 (Rv1284), mtCA 2 (Rv3588c) and mtCA 3 (Rv3273). All three enzymes were efficiently inhibited by these sulfonamides with KI values in the nanomolar or submicromolar range, depending on the substitution of one or both fluorine atoms at the 1,3,5-triazine ring. As some of these enzymes are crucial for the life cycle of this bacterium, the class of β-CA inhibitors reported in this study may lead to antimycobacterial agents with a different mechanism of action compared to the clinically used such drugs for which the pathogen developed extensive drug resistance.
The Value of Vaccination

Despite advances during the twentieth century, immunization coverage is far from universal and faces significant obstacles in both developing and developed countries. Weak policy emphasis on vaccination may be the result of the narrow view of its benefits in scientific and policy-making communities, which focus mainly on the averted costs of medical treatment. An investigation of the broader impacts of immunization shows that the benefits of vaccine programsâ€”in particular, their economic effects via improved healthâ€”have been underestimated, thereby causing the rate of return to be underestimated.
Continuous-time consensus dynamics with quantized all-to-all communication

This paper deals with a quantized version of a consensus dynamics in continuous-time, which is motivated by opinion dynamics applications. Under the assumption of all-to-all communication, we show existence and completeness of solutions, we characterize the equilibria, and we prove asymptotical convergence to a state of quantized consensus. For almost all initial conditions, the consensus value differs from the initial average by at most the quantizer precision. Furthermore, we discuss the implications of more general assumptions on the communication graph.
On Global Adaptive Synchronization in Weighted Complex Networks

Pinning adaptive synchronization is investigated in weighted complex networks and several criteria are obtained for globally exponentially asymptotic synchronization. The number of pinned nodes can be obtained by calculating the eigenvalue of the minor matrix of an extended coupling matrix. Especially, pinning adaptive controllers are rather simple compared with some traditional controllers. Specifically and randomly pinning schemes are considered. When the network Control Rank information is known, the specifically pinning scheme of the most highly connected nodes is shown to require a significantly smaller number of local controllers when compared with the randomly pinning scheme. Finally, numerical simulations are provided to illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed synchronization criteria in weighted dynamical networks.
A comprehensive review on anticancer mechanisms of the main carotenoid of saffron, crocin

Crocin is derived from dried stigmas of Crocus sativus L. (saffron). It has long been used to prevent and treat various diseases. Although crocin is suggested as one of the most effective cancer therapeutic constituents of saffron stigma, its exact molecular mechanisms are not fully understood. In this study, we reviewed anticancer effects of crocin and its underlying molecular mechanisms.
Inducing Partially-Defined Instances with Evolutionary Algorithms

This paper addresses the issue of reducing the storage requirements on Instance-Based Learning algorithms. Algorithms proposed by other researches use heuristics to prune instances of the training set or modify the instances themselves to achieve a reduced set of instances. Our work presents an alternative way. We propose to induce a reduced set of partially-defined instances with Evolutionary Algorithms. Experiments were performed with GALE, our fine-grained parallel Evolutionary Algorithm, and other well-known reduction techniques on several datasets. Results suggest that Evolutionary Algorithms are competitive and robust for inducing sets of partially-defined instances, achieving better reduction rates in storage requirements without losses in generalization accuracy.