Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 gp120 Reprogramming of CD4+ T-Cell Migration Provides a Mechanism for Lymphadenopathy

ABSTRACT Infection by human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) is associated with decreases in peripheral CD4+ T cells and development of lymphadenopathy. The precise mechanisms by which HIV-1 induces these changes have not been elucidated. T-cell trafficking through lymphoid tissues is facilitated by CCL21-mediated entry and sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P)-mediated egress. Having previously determined that HIV-1 envelop glycoprotein, gp120, directly alters T-cell migration, we investigated whether gp120 without HIV-1 infection could influence the responses of CD4+ T cells to the signals involved in T-cell trafficking through lymph tissue. Incubation of normal human T cells with gp120 for 1 h resulted in reprogramming of CD4 T-cell migratory responses by increasing sensitivity to CCL20 and CCL21 and complete inhibition of migration to S1P. Incubation of human T cells with gp120 prior to injection into NOD.CB17-Prkdcscid/J mice resulted in increases in lymph node accumulation of CD4+ T cells, with reciprocal decreases in blood and spleen compared to T cells not exposed to gp120. The effects of gp120 required CD4 signaling mediated through p56lck. These findings suggest that gp120 alone can alter CD4+ influx and efflux from lymph nodes in a fashion consistent with the development of lymphopenia and lymphadenopathy.
Broadband additive spiral antenna

A novel low cost and high performance miniaturized broadband Additive Spiral Antenna (ASA) technology (patent pending) has been developed. Unlike other conventional spiral designs, this new spiral antenna leverages Additive Manufacturing (AM) 3D zig-zag shapes to achieve an efficient slow wave radiation structure for extending spiral's low frequency performance without size increases. Conversely, this 3D additive structure allows a significant antenna miniaturization for the given frequency band, without gain bandwidth performance degradations. As a result, an initial 4″ prototype ASA has been successfully designed and tested with the measured gain bandwidth performance approaching the Chu's fundamental limit for the given antenna size. More importantly, the ASA aperture size is significantly reduced by more than 50% with excellent transmit and receive gain efficiency and power handling capabilities. This paper describes the ASA prototype design and the antenna near field and far field compact range measurement results to demonstrate Additive Manufacturing technology can enhance antenna performance that otherwise not realizable with conventional fabrication techniques.
CMOS LNA design at 30 GHz — A case study

This paper presents a case study of LNA design at 30 GHz. Two single-stage LNA topologies are implemented, namely a magnetic feedback LNA and a cascode LNA. The simulation results reveal that a single-stage LNA can deliver adequate power gain along with low noise figure and high linearity even at mm-wave frequencies. The cascode LNA topology, using SNIM is analyzed and described in detail. The post layout simulations give a forward gain (S21) of 5.9 dB, a reverse isolation (-S12) of 18.1 dB, an input reflection (S11) of -11.8 dB and an output reflection (S22) of -11.4 dB. The NF of the circuit is 3.9 dB while the corresponding IIP3 is 4.9 dBm. The power consumption is 7.2 mW and the circuit occupies 0.37 mm2 including the pads. The design is implemented in TSMC's LP 90 nm CMOS process.
Using multi-resolution analysis and fractal geometry to locate license plate

License plate location plays a key role in the license plate recognition system. In this study, we proposed a method to reduce the interference caused by the external environment. Based on multi-resolution fractal feature, the candidate area of license plate location can be effectively extracted from the captured image. Finally, an algorithm of license plate location is proposed to locate the license plate. From the experimental results, the license plate location is 100% of and non-plate rejection is 98.4% for the images captured under diverse weather conditions.
Botulinum Toxin for Neck Rejuvenation: Assessing Efficacy and Redefining Patient Selection

Background: The “Nefertiti lift” consists of injecting the platysmal bands and the inferior border of the mandible with botulinum toxin. No clinical trial has evaluated its effect on the different lower face and neck aging components, and little is known about the clinical characteristics that predict treatment success. Methods: Patients were injected with abobotulinumtoxinA along the inferior border of the mandible and into the platysmal bands. Using standardized preinjection and postinjection photographs, the jowls, marionette lines, oral commissures, neck volume, and platysmal bands at maximal contraction and at rest were assessed with validated photonumeric scales. In addition, the overall appearance of the lower face and neck was evaluated by the Investigators and Subjects Global Aesthetic Improvement Score. Pain and patient satisfaction rates were also evaluated. Results: Thirty patients were injected with a mean dose of 124.9 U of abobotulinumtoxinA per patient. Platysmal bands at rest and with maximal tension reached a statistically significant improvement. The other components showed a tendency for improvement but did not reach statistical significance; 93.3 percent of investigators and patients rated the overall results as improved, and 96.6 percent of patients were satisfied with their results. When comparing the patients who improved the most to all the other patients, they had lower preinjection region-specific scores. Conclusions: The Nefertiti lift can be used on its own or in conjunction with other rejuvenating procedures. It is particularly helpful in younger patients with platysma muscle hyperactivity and retained skin elasticity. CLINICAL QUESTION/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic, IV.
Cure of hepatitis C.

Since the discovery of the hepatitis C virus in 1989, many epidemiological data have been acquired, especially in Europe. Treatments have showed substantial improvement over the past 25 years and have taken a great leap forward with the development of the direct antiviral agents (DAAs). However, the burden of hepatitis C remains important in Europe with more than 5 million individuals living with HCV in the European Union. The peak of highest incidence occurred between 1970 and 1990 in most countries through transfusion, unsafe care and development of intravenous drug use. Transmission among intra-venous drug users is still an issue in most European countries, providing the majority of the new cases of HCV infection. Due to the chronic state of the viral infection and the usual slow progression of the liver disease, the peak of prevalence occurred around 2010, but the peak of complications, such as decompensated cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma is still to come in most of the European countries.1 The risk of cirrhosis is usually estimated at 10 to 20% in 20 to 30 years of HCV infection evolution,2 higher in men than in women, but this risk increases in case of comorbidities such as excessive alcohol consumption, diabetes, obesity, HBV or HIV coinfection. The risk of decompensated cirrhosis can be estimated at 2 to 3% per year and that of hepatocellular carcinoma at 1 to 4% per year, also depending on the presence of comorbidities. In the next future, the challenge will be to identify infected people and treat with new effective treatments all patients at risk of developing complications, with the objective of decreasing the disease burden. Large discrepancies exist in Europe between countries in terms of knowledge of the disease burden, rate of infected people screened and access to treatment. All these factors play a major role on the expected evolution of the HCV epidemics. In countries where drug use has been the major risk factor of transmission, where screening and access to treatment are at a low level (e.g. England), the risk of decompensated cirrhosis, HCC and liver transplant will still increase in the coming years. By contrast, in countries where transfusions have played a large role in the diffusion of the epidemics, where screening and access to treatment
The adrenergic innervation of the rat thalamus as revealed by the glyoxylic acid fluorescence method

The adrenergic innervation of the thalamus, epithalamus, metathalamus, and subthalamus in the rat has been investigated by means of the recently introduced glyoxylic acid fluorescence method. Many areas of the thalamus and adjoining regions, that appear sparsely innervated by catecholamine (CA) fibers in specimens processed according to the standard Falck‐Hillarp formaldehyde method, were found to be richly supplied with such fibres in the glyoxylic acid‐treated specimens. Moreover, the glyoxylic acid method allows the tracing of the CA axons from the cell bodies up to the terminals, and in combination with stereotaxic lesions the following CA systems to the thalamus could be established: 1 The locus coeruleus system. Most of these axons ascend in the so‐called dorsal tegmental bundle through the mesencephalon and the zona incerta into the medial forebrain bundle. From this bundle branches were traced along several routes, giving rise to extensive terminal systems in many thalamic, metathalamic and pretectal areas, most notably the anterior, ventral and lateral nuclear complexes, and the medial and lateral geniculate bodies. 2 The dorsal periventricular bundle, which constitutes a previously not described adrenergic component of the dorsal longitudinal fasciculus. This system originates in cell bodies (defined as the A11 cell group) in the dorsal raphe region, the central gray of the mesencephalon, and in the periventricular gray of the caudal thalamus. The axons ascend within the dorsal longitudinal fasciculus and give rise to a thalamic and hypothalamic periventricular system, projecting to medial and midline thalamic, epithalamic and pretectal regions. 3 Part of the terminals in the paraventricular thalamic nucleus was identified with a non‐locus projection from cell bodies in the pontine or medullary reticular formation. 4 A system of delicate, probably dopamine‐containing axons was revealed in the caudal thalamus, the zona incerta and the dorsal and anterior hypothalamus. This system probably originates in the dopamine cell bodies of the diencephalic A11 and A13 cell groups, forming a hitherto unknown intradiencephalic dopaminergic system.
The Nijmegen Corpus of Casual Spanish

This article describes the preparation, recording and orthographic transcription of a new speech corpus, the Nijmegen Corpus of Casual Spanish (NCCSp). The corpus contains around 30 hours of recordings of 52 Madrid Spanish speakers engaged in conversations with friends. Casual speech was elicited during three different parts, which together provided around ninety minutes of speech from every group of speakers. While Parts 1 and 2 did not require participants to perform any specific task, in Part 3 participants negotiated a common answer to general questions about society. Information about how to obtain a copy of the corpus can be found online at http://mirjamernestus.ruhosting. nl/Ernestus/NCCSp
Current and emerging antiviral treatments for hepatitis C infection

Newly licensed direct acting antivirals for hepatitis C virus HCV are able to cure up to 75% of patients chronically infected with genotype‐1 infection, which is the predominant HCV strain in Europe and North America. Emerging antiviral therapies promise further increases in virological response, as well as improved tolerability, reduced duration of therapy, and will potentially eliminate the need for interferon use. This review highlights the main therapeutic agents used in current standard of care, including telaprevir and boceprevir. It goes on to evaluate the mechanisms of emerging drugs, their stage of development and response rates seen in research to date. Finally, it projects into the not too distant future to consider treatment strategies involving combinations of agents and interferon‐free therapies, and in which patients they might prove most successful.
Optimal allocation of remote controlled switches in radial distribution systems

There is an increasing interest in the analysis of power distribution systems, including demands to improve the distribution networks reliability. Regulatory agencies define reliability indices to quantify and evaluate the electric quality. In order to improve system reliability and provide a good quality service, this work proposes to install a minimum amount of switch devices at appropriate locations in the distribution network. A methodology is presented to effectively evaluate, even for large real networks the impact on reliability following contigen-cies. Firstly, are propose a constructive heuristic that allocates sectionalizers and tie switches, automatic and non-automatic, in a radial distribution system. This procedure aims to minimize the unsupplied energy caused in the network by determining a proper number, location and type of switches. A genetic algorithm is designed to further improve the switches location suggested by the constructive heuristic. The good performance of the proposed approach is confirmed by some case studies with large real energy distribution network.
Alpha-tomatine activates cell cycle checkpoints in the absence of DNA damage in human leukemic MOLT-4 cells

Summary Alpha-tomatine is a major glycoalkaloid found in the roots, leaves, stems and fruit of tomatoes Lycopersicon esculentum. Recently, alpha-tomatine has been recognized as a potential anticancer drug. In the present study, we identified the signaling cascades involved in the antitumor effect of alpha-tomatine on MOLT-4 leukemic cells. Alpha-tomatine inhibited the proliferation and decreased the viability of MOLT-4 cells in a dose-dependent manner. An increase in the activity of caspases 9 and 3/7 was not observed. However, an increase in the amount of p53 and its phosphorylation on serine 15, as well as an increased amount of mitochondrial protein PUMA was detected 4 and 24 h after exposure to alpha-tomatine at a concentration of 1–3 μml/l. Inhibition of the proliferation of MOLT-4 cells by alpha-tomatine is also associated with an increase in p21 WAF1/CIP1 and the activation of Chk2. The comet assay did not detect significant amounts of single or double DNA strand breaks in cells treated with alpha-tomatine at concentrations of 0.1–9 μmol/l. Our results thus contribute to the understanding of the anticancer action of alpha-tomatine.
Monte Carlo techniques in medical radiation physics.

The author's main purpose is to review the techniques and applications of the Monte Carlo method in medical radiation physics since Raeside's review article in 1976. Emphasis is given to applications where proton and/or electron transport in matter is simulated. Some practical aspects of Monte Carlo practice, mainly related to random numbers and other computational details, are discussed in connection with common computing facilities available in hospital environments. Basic aspects of electron and photon transport are reviewed, followed by the presentation of the Monte Carlo codes widely available in the public domain. Applications in different areas of medical radiation physics, such as nuclear medicine, diagnostic X-rays, radiotherapy physics (including dosimetry), and radiation protection, and also microdosimetry and electron microscopy, are presented. Actual and future trends in the field, like Inverse Monte Carlo methods, vectorization of codes and parallel processors calculations are also discussed.
Association of Plasma Phospholipid Long-Chain Omega-3 Fatty Acids With Incident Atrial Fibrillation in Older Adults: The Cardiovascular Health Study

Background— Experimental studies suggest that long-chain n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFAs) may reduce the risk of atrial fibrillation (AF). Prior studies evaluating fish or n-3 PUFA consumption from dietary questionnaires and incident AF have been conflicting. Circulating levels of n-3 PUFAs provide an objective measurement of exposure. Methods and Results— Among 3326 US men and women ≥65 years of age and free of AF or heart failure at baseline, plasma phospholipid levels of eicosapentaenoic acid, docosapentaenoic acid, and docosahexaenoic acid were measured at baseline by use of standardized methods. Incident AF (789 cases) was identified prospectively from hospital discharge records and study visit ECGs during 31 169 person-years of follow-up (1992–2006). In multivariable Cox models adjusted for other risk factors, the relative risk in the top versus lowest quartile of total n-3 PUFAs (eicosapentaenoic acid+docosapentaenoic acid+docosahexaenoic acid) levels was 0.71 (95% confidence interval, 0.57–0.89; P for trend=0.004) and of DHA levels was 0.77 (95% confidence interval, 0.62–0.96; P for trend=0.01). Eicosapentaenoic acid and docosapentaenoic acid levels were not significantly associated with incident AF. Evaluated nonparametrically, both total n-3 PUFAs and docosahexaenoic acid showed graded and linear inverse associations with incidence of AF. Adjustment for intervening events such as heart failure or myocardial infarction during follow-up did not appreciably alter results. Conclusions— In older adults, higher circulating total long-chain n-3 PUFA and docosahexaenoic acid levels were associated with lower risk of incident AF. These results highlight the need to evaluate whether increased dietary intake of these fatty acids could be effective for the primary prevention of AF.
Neuroscience: Viable Applications in Education?

As a relatively young science, neuroscience is still finding its feet in potential collaborations with other disciplines. One such discipline is education, with the field of neuroeducation being on the horizon since the 1960s. However, although its achievements are now growing, the partnership has not been as successful as first hopes suggested it should be. Here the authors discuss the theoretical barriers and potential solutions to this, which have been suggested previously, with particular focus on levels of research in neuroscience and their applicability to education. Moreover, they propose that these theoretical barriers are driven and maintained by practical barriers surrounding common language and research literacy. They propose that by overcoming these practical barriers through appropriate training and shared experience, neuroeducation can reach its full potential.
The Incidence of Mental Illness in Early Motherhood in a Population-Based Survey

The present study examined the risk of mental disorders within the first 3 postpartum years in a nationally representative sample and the sociodemographic risk factors for mental illness in early motherhood. Women aged 18 to 55 years were asked, “Are you pregnant at this time? ” at baseline. A total of 13,839 women answered, with 365 of these women reporting pregnancy. Mental disorders were assessed using the Alcohol Use Disorder and Associated Disabilities Interview Schedule–IV version. After adjusting for sociodemographics, postpartum women were found to be at lower risk than non-postpartum women for having several first onset mental disorders (adjusted odds ratio range: 0.49–0.58). Postpartum women with a history of mental illness were at lower risk for the onset of any mental disorder (adjusted odds ratio: 0.60, 95% confidence interval: 0.39–0.91). No sociodemographic correlates of mental disorders were identified. Clinicians should be aware of these findings when counseling women about mental disorder risk postbirth.
Parametric study on board-level electronic test device subjected to JEDEC vibration loads

We derive in this paper equations of motion of board-level IC packages subjected to swept sine vibration loads following the support excitation scheme. Harmonic analysis is performed based on the argument such that at each loading state over the swept sine process, hysteresis responses of solder joints following the isotropic hardening rule vanish fairly quickly so that plasticity is fully developed. Computed and measured acceleration response spectra of a board-level test vehicle are benchmarked. Stress-based failure indices as well as elastoplastic responses and strain rates of solder joints are examined for the test vehicle subjected to swept sine vibration tests of different acceleration levels with vibration frequencies up to 2 kHz.
Photosynthetic Mechanisms and Paleoecology from Carbon Isotope Ratios in Ancient Specimens of C4 and CAM Plants

Carbon istotope ratios of modern, 10,000-year-old, and more than 40,000-year-old Atriplex confertifolia (C4) material from Nevada caves indicate that the C4 photosynthetic pathway was operating in these plants over that period. Samples of a plant with crassulacean acid metabolism, Opuntia polyacantha, were also measured, and a shift in the 813C value from -21.9 per mil (more than 40,000 years ago) to -13.9 per mil (10,000 years ago) was observed. This provides unique physiological evidence to support the hypothesis that the late Pleistocene pluvial climate in the region already had become drier about 10,000 years ago.
Antioxidant capacity and identification of the constituents of ethyl acetate fraction from Rhus verniciflua Stokes by HPLC-MS

Abstract Ethyl acetate fraction (EAF) from Rhus verniciflua Stokes is an important source of bioactive compounds. The aim of this study was the tentative identification and quantification of phenolic compounds, comparison of the phenolic structure–antioxidant activity relationships. Twelve compounds of EAF belonging to polyphenol types were detected by high performance liquid chromatography and analysed on line with negative ion electrospray ionisation tandem mass spectrometry, which were ethoxy 3-hydroxy benzoic acid, gallic acid (GA), 3,4-dihydroxy amygdalic acid, gallic acid cetyl ester, protocatechuic acid (PA), fustin, ethyl gallate (EG), garbanzol, fisetin, sulfuretin, butin and 3,7-dihydroxyflavanone-4′-rhamnoside. The antioxidant activity were evaluated based on the different types of radical scavenging capacities, i.e. DPPH·, ABTS·+ and OH. The antioxidant capacity of EAF mainly depended on the GA, EG, PA, fisetin, sulfuretin and butin. The phenolics exhibited a dose-dependent behaviour and high antioxidant ability.
A rapid method for determining the molecular weight of a protein bound to nucleic acid in a mobility shift assay.

Mobility shift (or gel retardation) analysis is a powerful technique for detecting and characterizing proteins that bind to specific nucleic acid sequences (1, 2). The molecular weight of a protein bound directly to nucleic acid in a mobility shift gel can be determined by label transfer: the shift is performed using a 32p labeled DNA or RNA oligonucleotide, label is transferred to the bound polypeptide by UV crosslinking, and the protein is identified as a 32P-labeled band upon SDS denaturing gel electrophoresis (3, 4). Although straightforward in principle, in practice it can prove difficult to determine the molecular weight of polypeptides in a shifted band due to poor recovery or to proteolysis. Here we show that the gel slice containing a crosslinked protein-DNA complex can be polymerized directly into the stacking gel of a conventional Laemmli gel. Upon electrophoresis, protein-DNA complexes migrate efficiently out of the gel slice and stack normally, allowing accurate determination of the molecular weight of the crosslinked protein. A duplex, bromodeoxyuridine-substituted 36 bp oligonucleotide spanning the LR1 binding site from the Sy switch region (4), labeled to a specific activity of 1 x 108 cpm/Ig, was generated by extending a 10-base primer complementary to a 36-mer template. The 50 Iul reaction contained 20 pmol 36-mer, 20 pmol of a 10-mer complementary to the 3' end of the 36-mer, 1 U Klenow polymerase, 60 zM 5' bromo-2'deoxyuridine-5'tri-phosphate (Sigma), 60 ztM dGTP, and 70 ,uCi each of a-32p-dATP and cy-32P-dCTP