Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Mode of action of SDZ NIM 811, a nonimmunosuppressive cyclosporin A analog with activity against human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) type 1: interference with HIV protein-cyclophilin A interactions

Cyclosporins, in particular the nonimmunosuppressive derivative SDZ NIM 811, exhibit potent anti-human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) activity in vitro. SDZ NIM 811 interferes at two stages of the viral replication cycle: (i) translocation of the preintegration complex to the nucleus and (ii) production of infectious virus particles. Immunosuppressive activity is not correlated with anti-HIV-1 activity of cyclosporins. However, binding to cyclophilin A, the major cellular receptor protein of cyclosporins, is a prerequisite for HIV inhibition: all structural changes of the cyclosporin A molecule leading to loss of affinity to cyclophilin abolished the antiviral effect. Cyclosporin derivatives did not interact directly with HIV-1 proteins; cyclophilin was the only detectable receptor protein for antivirally active cyclosporins. There is no evidence that inhibition of HIV occurs via a gain of function of cyclophilin in the presence of cyclosporins: the complex of cyclophilin A with SDZ NIM 811 does not bind to calcineurin or to any other viral or cellular proteins under conditions in which calcineurin binding to the cyclophilin A-cyclosporin A complex is easily detectable. Thus, the loss of function caused by binding of cyclosporins to cyclophilin seems to be sufficient for the anti-HIV effect. Cyclophilin A was demonstrated to bind to HIV-1 p24gag, and the formation of complexes was blocked by cyclosporins with 50% inhibitory concentrations of about 0.7 microM. HIV-2 and simian immunodeficiency virus are only weakly or not at all inhibited by cyclosporins. For gag-encoded proteins derived from HIV-1, HIV-2, or simian immunodeficiency virus particles, cyclophilin-binding capacity correlated with sensitivity of the viruses to inhibition by cyclosporins. Cyclophilin A also binds to HIV-1 proteins other than gag-encoded proteins, namely, p17gag, Nef, Vif, and gp120env; the biological significance of these interactions is questionable. We conclude that HIV-1 Gag-cyclophilin A interaction may be essential in HIV-1 replication, and interference with this interaction may be the molecular basis for the antiviral activity of cyclosporins.
Influencia del capital intelectual en la jerarquía organizacional

En el presente articulo se pretende analizar la influencia del Capital Intelectual en los diferentes Niveles Organizacionales (Estrategico, Tactico y Operativo) de una empresa generica en funcion de la literatura revisada y analizada. Se describen las actividades relacionadas con el Capital Intelectual desarrolladas en cada uno de los Niveles Organizacionales y la informacion que se emplea en cada uno de ellos con el objetivo de integrar la gestion del Capital Intelectual en todos los Niveles Organizacionales de la empresa
A Study of Collaborative Group Work With and Without Computer-Based Support

As organizational environments become more turbulent and as managers spend more time in meetings in an effort to deal with that turbulence, using information technology to support meetings has become more important. This paper reports on an experiment that compared meetings supported by information technology to meetings with conventional manual support only. The experiment differs from most previous group decision support system (GDSS) experiments in that solutions to the task it used could be objectively scored, it introduced assigned leadership as an independent variable, and it is the first GDSS experiment to compare use of a subset of the University of Arizona GroupSystems GDSS tools to manual group methods. In addition to a communication condition (GDSS or manual) and assigned leadership, the experiment also investigated the effects of anonymity on group process and outcomes. The experiment found that GDSS groups were less likely to reach consensus, took more time to reach a decision, and had more e.
Cultural Roots of Values, Morals, and Religious Orientations in Adolescent Development

Values, morals, and religious beliefs are organizing factors in the development of selfand worldviews. These factors are assumed to be a driving force in adolescents' agentic regulation of development, which is embedded in the cultural context and influenced by universal and culturally specific processes. Adolescents regulate their individual development by integrating values, morals, and religious purpose in line with their selfand worldviews to achieve an optimal cultural fit . First, the relations among culture, self-views, and worldviews in adolescent development are discussed . Second, selected culture-informed studies on values, morals, and religious purpose as part of selfand worldviews are presented. Third, the focus is on the developmental conditions relating these aspects. In the conclusion, a model bridging the lens of culture and the lens of adolescent development is suggested, specifying some psychologically relevant factors in this process.
Empowering enterprises through next-generation enterprise computing

Enterprise computing is concerned with exploiting interconnected computers to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of larger companies. Such companies form business organizations that manage various sorts of information, used by disparate groups of people, who are situated at different geographical locations. This motivates the use of computer-based information systems, not only to reduce costs and increase productivity, but also to enable novel business models. As a result of the importance of enterprise computing to business organizations, information systems have been massively deployed. In order to cope with legacy and heterogeneity problems and consequently with lack of interoperability, considerable research efforts have been spent on integration of otherwise isolated systems either within the scope of a single organization or across organizational boundaries. This has spawned a number of important developments, including Enterprise Application Integration (EAI), Business Process Management (BPM), Business-to-Business integration (B2Bi), and, more recently, Service Oriented Architecture (SOA). In this editorial we reflect on current and future enterprise computing developments that would further empower enterprises. We do this inspired by the articles in this special issue, which are revised versions of selected best papers of the 13th IEEE International EDOC Conference (EDOC 2009), “The Enterprise Computing Conference”, held on 1-4 September 2009 in Auckland, New Zealand. In addition, we discuss a new technology-driven paradigm that may have considerable impact on enterprise computing and hence on the future of enterprises.
Type II Isopentenyl Diphosphate Isomerase from Synechocystis sp. Strain PCC 6803

ABSTRACT Open reading frame sll1556 in the cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. strain 6803 encodes a putative type II isopentenyl diphosphate (IPP) isomerase. The His6-tagged protein was produced in Escherichia coli and purified by Ni2+ chromatography. The homotetrameric enzyme required NADPH, flavin mononucleotide, and Mg2+ for activity; KmIPP was 52 μM, and kcatIPP was 0.23 s−1.
Conceptualizing quality of life for elderly people with stroke

Purpose : Despite increased interest in quality of life (QOL) as an outcome measure and as a means of identifying client needs in health care, its conceptualisation and the identification of its constituents have been poorly researched for elderly people with stroke in Hong Kong. Method : This article analysed the literature to identify components relevant to the QOL of Chinese elderly people with stroke living in the community in Hong Kong. Results : While common components of QOL for elderly people with and without stroke and regardless of cultural background were identified, a number were specific to an elderly Chinese stroke population. Conclusion : Recommendations for future research have been made with reference to further exploring and validating these components for the target population. A clear understanding of these aspects is essential for the development of sensitive QOL measures to guide and evaluate service delivery to this population.
Transient noise reduction controlled by DOA estimation for video conferencing system

In this paper, a novel transient noise reduction technique for video conferencing system is proposed. Transient noise such as paper rustling noise of documents, prevents users of video conferencing systems from smooth conversation. To reduce transient noise, the proposed method utilizes vertically aligned multiple microphones. By spatial beamforming technique controlled by DOA (Direction Of Arrival) estimation, the proposed method can reduce transient noise. Implementation of the proposed method into teleconferencing system is also described.
Object-Oriented Concepts for Professional Software Developers

A general description of the graduate courses in object‐oriented (OO) development taught at the University of St. Thomas is presented. The nature of our student body (all professional software developers) accentuates some general problems confronted when teaching OO methods. Our response to these teaching challenges is somewhat unique, including an emphasis on what might be described as philosophical issues and the presentation of a development method that synthesizes aspects of data, model and responsibility driven approaches.
The Immune Evasion Paradox: Immunoevasins of Murine Cytomegalovirus Enhance Priming of CD8 T Cells by Preventing Negative Feedback Regulation

ABSTRACT Cytomegaloviruses express glycoproteins that interfere with antigen presentation to CD8 T cells. Although the molecular modes of action of these “immunoevasins” differ between cytomegalovirus species, the convergent biological outcome is an inhibition of the recognition of infected cells. In murine cytomegalovirus, m152/gp40 retains peptide-loaded major histocompatibility complex class I molecules in a cis-Golgi compartment, m06/gp48 mediates their vesicular sorting for lysosomal degradation, and m04/gp34, although not an immunoevasin in its own right, appears to assist in the concerted action of all three molecules. Using the Ld-restricted IE1 epitope YPHFMPTNL in the BALB/c mouse model as a paradigm, we provide here an explanation for the paradox that immunoevasins enhance CD8 T-cell priming although they inhibit peptide presentation in infected cells. Adaptive immune responses are initiated in the regional lymph node (RLN) draining the site of pathogen exposure. In particular for antigens that are not virion components, the magnitude of viral gene expression providing the antigens is likely a critical parameter in priming efficacy. We have therefore focused on the events in the RLN and have related priming to intranodal viral gene expression. We show that immunoevasins enhance priming by downmodulating an early CD8 T-cell-mediated “negative feedback” control of the infection in the cortical region of the RLN, thus supporting the model that immunoevasins improve antigen supply for indirect priming by uninfected antigen-presenting cells. As an important consequence, these findings predict that deletion of immunoevasin genes in a replicative vaccine virus is not a favorable option but may, rather, be counterproductive.
The impact of nonclinical factors on practice variations: the case of hysterectomies.

OBJECTIVE This study investigates the role of nonclinical factors (physician characteristics) in explaining variations in hysterectomy practice patterns. DATA SOURCES AND STUDY SETTING Patient discharge data are obtained from the Arizona state discharge database for the years 1989-1991. Physician data are obtained from the Arizona State Medical Association. The analyses are based on 36,104 cases performed by 339 physicians in 43 hospitals. STUDY DESIGN This article measures the impact of physician factors on the decision to perform a hysterectomy, controlling for a host of patient and hospital characteristics. Physician factors include background characteristics and training, medical experience, and physician's practice style. Physician effects are evaluated in terms of their overall contribution to the explanatory power of regression models, as well as in terms of specific hypotheses to be tested. DATA COLLECTION The sources of data were linked to produce one record per patient. PRINCIPAL FINDINGS As a set, physician factors account for a statistically significant increase in the explanatory power of the model after addition of patient and hospital effects. Parameter estimates provide further support for the hypothesized effects of physicians' background, experience, and practice characteristics. CONCLUSIONS Overall, the results confirm that nonclinical (physician) factors play a statistically significant role in the hysterectomy decision. Substantively, however, these factors play a smaller, secondary role compared to that of clinical and patient factors in explaining practice variations in hysterectomies. The results suggest that efforts to reduce unnecessary hysterectomies should be directed at identifying the appropriate clinical indications for hysterectomy and disseminating this information to physicians and patients. This may require such intervention strategies as continuing clinical education, promulgation of explicit practice guidelines, peer review, public education, and greater understanding and inclusion of patient preference in the decision process.
Adaptive LDMOSFET Drain and Dummy-Gate Biases for Highly Modulated Signals

Adaptive biases are proposed for both the drain and the dummy gate of LDMOSFETs to improve their overall efficiency in amplification of highly modulated signals. At low input power, the drain bias is reduced to maintain high efficiency. At high input power, the dummy-gate bias is increased to maintain high linearity. By using such adaptive biases on both the drain and dummy gate, the measured efficiency on an LDMOSFET for a signal with a 9-dB peak-to-average modulation ratio is 16 percentage units higher than that with fixed biases and 5 percentage units higher than that with adaptive bias on the drain alone.
Retrospective analysis of the health-care costs of bupropion sustained release in comparison with other antidepressants.

OBJECTIVE The objective of this study was to evaluate the health care costs associated with the treatment of a new episode of depression with bupropion sustained release (SR) rather than with other antidepressants (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors [SSRIs], tricyclic antidepressants [TCAs], and serotonin norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors [SNRIs]). METHODS This was a retrospective cohort study based on the private-pay, fee-for-service 1997 and 1998 MEDSTAT MarketScan databases. Individuals were included if they were 18 years of age or older, had an initial prescription for an antidepressant under study with an index prescription date between July 1997 and June 1998, and had a claim for a diagnosis of depression diagnosis within 30 days of the index date. All patients' claims from six months before and after receiving their index antidepressant prescription were examined. Total, outpatient, and pharmacy costs were compared among antidepressant groups using an intent-to-treat analysis with exponential regression models and bootstrapped 95% confidence intervals. RESULTS A total of 1771 patients were included in the study cohort. The mean age was 41.6 years, and 69.5% of subjects were female. Most patients (75%) continued with the index antidepressant during the 6-month follow-up period. Although the drug acquisition cost was lowest for TCAs, total costs were significantly higher for patients treated with TCAs than for those treated with bupropion SR (p < .05). In comparison with bupropion SR, patients initiating therapy with sertraline had significantly higher mental health payments (p < .05). CONCLUSIONS Initiating treatment of depression with bupropion SR was associated with lower total mental health care costs compared with TCAs and with sertraline. This study reaffirms that formulary and medical decision-makers should consider the overall impact of antidepressant treatment, including but not limited to drug acquisition costs, other health care costs, and drug efficacy and safety.
ECM Remodeling Regulates Angiogenesis: Endothelial Integrins Look for New Ligands

The process of angiogenesis is a dynamic one. Vascular endothelial cells are changing at the same time the extracellular matrix is being remodeled. Stupack and Cheresh discuss how remodeling of the extracellular matrix (ECM) and changes in the endothelial cell protein production and integrin expression contribute to the complex process of new blood vessel growth from an existing vascular bed.
Attitude Stabilization Using Modified Rodrigues Parameters without Angular Velocity Measurements

The optimal stabilization of a rigid body motion without angular velocity measurements is considered with the help of three internal rotors that effected by internal frictions. In this paper, the orientation of the body will be described in terms of the Modified Rodrigues parameters (MRPs). The optimal control law which stabilizes asymptotically this motion and minimizes the require like-energy cost is obtained in terms of the MRPs. Numerical study and simulation are introduced.
‘ ‘ Omics ’ ’ in the study of the major parasitic diseases malaria and schistosomiasis

Genomic, transcriptomic, proteomic, and metabolomic projects exemplify the ‘‘omics’’ era, and have significantly expanded available data for biomedical research. Recently, next generation sequencing technologies have even more greatly expanded DNA and RNA information. The present challenge is mining this information to obtain meaningful data such as that identifying novel drug targets and vaccine candidates. Several bioinformatics tools and new technologies have been used to high-throughput identification of potential candidates. We illustrate the utilization of new strategies in the study of two major parasitic diseases: schistosomiasis and malaria. 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Functional Food: A Growing Trend among the Health Conscious

Food can do far more than filling humans’ stomach: they can promote and protect our health. Some food contains bioactive components that are beneficial to health and are able to reduce risks of chronic diseases. These foods are known as “functional foods”. The interest in functional foods has increased in developed economies as people look for safer way to improve general health and living. Not much is known about acceptance of functional foods among Malaysian consumers. The aim of this paper is to review the definition and regulatory bodies governing functional food across different countries. This will be followed by an overview of the functional food growth potential in Malaysia and a discussion on factors that might influence the purchase of functional food.
A study of compounds which initiate and block nerve impulses in the perfused rabbit liver

1 A technique for the perfusion of the rabbit liver with Krebs solution is described: the hepatic nerves were monitored for centripetal action potentials. Spontaneous afferent activity, and a good response to stimulating agents persisted for 7 h or longer. 2 Action potentials were elicited by injections or infusions of acetylcholine, 5‐hydroxytryptamine, bradykinin, phenyldiguanide, adrenaline and various other compounds. From comparison with experiments carried out in vivo by other authors, it would appear that most of the nerves stimulated were afferent. 3 Inhibition of action potentials, either those occurring spontaneously or those elicited by injections, was produced by aspirin, paracetamol, mepyramine, chlorpheniramine, procaine and lignocaine but not by morphine or atropine. Pentolinium produced some inhibition, as did hexamethonium in concentrations of about 7·5 μg/ml. 4 Three methods for using the preparation for the assessment of local anaesthetic action are described. 5 Lobeline, potassium cyanide and 2,4‐dinitrophenol stimulated nerve bundles which were not stimulated by anoxia or hypoxia.
Cation-dependent conformational switches in d-TGGCGGC containing two triplet repeats of Fragile X Syndrome: NMR observations.

Higher ordered structures formed by different DNA sequences have been widely investigated in recent years because of their implications in a variety of biological functions. Among these, G-quadruplexes have exhibited a great variety depending on the exact sequence, the lengths of the G-stretches, interception by other nucleotides, and environmental conditions such as pH, temperature, salt type, and its concentration. We report here interesting conformational switches observed by NMR in the sequence d-TGGCGGC containing two GGC triplet repeats related to the disease Fragile X-Syndrome. At neutral pH, the solution structure is a parallel-stranded quadruplex in presence of K(+) ions. Lowering the pH does not cause a major change in the structure; however, the chemical shift patterns of the C4 and G3 base protons suggest protonation of the C-tetrad in the center of the quadruplex. In contrast, the sequence forms an antiparallel duplex in Na(+) containing solutions. As the pH of the Na(+) sample is lowered, an equilibrium mixture of a duplex and a quadruplex appears, and at pH 2.2, the molecule exists entirely as a quadruplex. These results would be of significance from the point of view of recognition and regulation by different helicase enzymes, which have been found to discriminate between different types of quadruplex structures.
Liver transplantation for hepatic epithelioid hemangioendothelioma : a case report and literature review

Background: Hepatic epithelioid hemangioendothelioma (HEHE) is a rare tumor with incidence less than one per million. Due to low incidence of the disease, the risk factors, mechanism of the disease, treatment therapy and prognosis are not studied enough. Case presentation: Herein, we report a case of female patient who was diagnosed as HEHE and received liver transplantation in our center. She underwent the first deceased liver transplantation on 26th December 2013 in our center. Fifteen months later, she presented with yellow skin and sclera. She was diagnosed as intrahepatic biliary stricture. Both drug therapy and endoscopic nasobiliary drainage failed. She underwent retransplantation at last on 22nd August 2015. She recovered well and kept in good condition until now. Conclusion: Hepatic epithelioid hemangioendothelioma (HEHE) is an indication of liver transplantation. Long term survival after liver transplantation can be achieved.