Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Molecular biology and pathogenesis of the human T‐cell leukaemia/lymphotropic virus Type‐1 (HTLV‐1)

Retroviruses are associated with a variety of diseases, including immunological and neurological disorders, and various forms of cancer. In humans, the Human T‐cell Leukaemia/Lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV‐1), which belongs to the Oncovirus family, is the aetiological agent of two diverse diseases: Adult T‐cell leukaemia/lymphoma (ATLL) ( Poiesz et al. 1980 ; Hinuma et al. 1981 ; Yoshida et al. 1982 ), as well as the neurological disorder tropical spastic paraparesis/HTLV‐1‐associated myelopathy (TSP/HAM) ( Gessain et al. 1985 ; Rodgers‐Johnson et al. 1985 ; Osame et al. 1986 ). HTLV‐1 is the only human retrovirus known to be the aetiological agent of cancer.A genetically related virus, HTLV‐2, has been identified and isolated ( Kalyanaraman et al. 1982 ). However, there has been no demonstration of a definitive aetiological role for HTLV‐2 in human disease to date. Simian T‐cell lymphotropic viruses types 1 and 2 (STLV‐1 and ‐2) and bovine leukaemia virus (BLV) have also been classified in same group, Oncoviridae, based upon their similarities in genetic sequence and structure to HTLV‐1 and ‐2 ( Burny et al. 1988 ; Dekaban et al. 1995 ; Slattery et al. 1999 ). This article will focus on HTLV‐1, reviewing its discovery, molecular biology, and its role in disease pathogenesis.
ICOS Mediates the Development of Insulin-Dependent Diabetes Mellitus in Nonobese Diabetic Mice1

Initiation of diabetes in NOD mice can be mediated by the costimulatory signals received by T cells. The ICOS is found on Ag-experienced T cells where it acts as a potent regulator of T cell responses. To determine the function of ICOS in diabetes, we followed the course of autoimmune disease and examined T cells in ICOS-deficient NOD mice. The presence of ICOS was indispensable for the development of insulitis and hyperglycemia in NOD mice. In T cells, the deletion of ICOS resulted in a decreased production of the Th1 cytokine IFN-γ, whereas the numbers of regulatory T cells remained unchanged. We conclude that ICOS is critically important for the induction of the autoimmune process that leads to diabetes.
Consumer Drivers of Muscadine Wine Purchase Decisions

Muscadine wine, fresh muscadine grapes, and other derivatives have enjoyed a heritage niche for decades in the Southeast. Muscadine growers in North Carolina in the United States (US) have asked whether the purchase of muscadine wine is linked to consumption of the fruit itself or even familiarity with other muscadine-based products in terms of spillover effects. The authors explored the interdependency between the market for fresh muscadine grapes and muscadine wine purchase. Consumer panel data were obtained from a State of North Carolina agency with oversight of the grape and wine industry; the agency contracted quota sampling of online consumers from six states in the US South. A total of 543 cases were used in the present study. The Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS)® was employed in analysis. Results show that prior muscadine wine knowledge and knowledge of other muscadine products, e.g., jams, juices, smoothies, sauces, and health/beauty products were significant factors associated with buying muscadine wine. Beliefs about muscadine grapes as a healthy ingredient showed a slight influence, while direct experience with fresh muscadines and consumer attitudes towards buying local or US products were insignificant. Therefore, marketing efforts should focus on increasing consumer exposure to and knowledge of muscadine wine and other muscadine related products.
Trophic interactions under stress: hypoxia enhances foraging in an estuarine food web

Ecosystem-level effects of stressors are critical to understanding community regulation, and environmental stress models are useful in describing such effects. Hypoxia is an important stres- sor in aquatic ecosystems that usually decreases abundance and biomass of benthic fauna. In field surveys, predator abundance is low in hypoxic areas, and in lab experiments, predators reduce their feeding rates under hypoxic conditions, leading to the hypothesis that consumer stress models (CSMs), rather than prey stress models (PSMs), apply to the systems. We tested predictions from these models with manipulative field experiments wherein we varied predator access to marked Macoma balthica clams at deep and shallow sites in the York River, Chesapeake Bay, before (June) and during (August) hypoxic episodes. In June, dissolved oxygen in deep and shallow sites was normoxic (>2 mg l -1 ) for most of the experiment. In August, the shallow zone remained normoxic, while the deep zone experienced several hypoxic episodes. During hypoxia, predation rates in hypoxic sites were more than twice those in normoxic sites, whereas mortality due to physical stress did not differ between time periods or depths. Ambient clam densities were lower at the deep sites than at the shallow sites, and in August than in June. We conclude that hypoxia increased the suscep- tibility of benthic prey to predation, enhancing infaunal secondary production available to predators, but concurrently reducing the resilience of the benthic community. These findings are inconsistent with the predictions of CSMs, indicating that PSMs better describe this system.
Review of Pododermatitis circumscripta (ulceration of the sole) in dairy cows.

Sole ulcers are among the most frequent causes of lameness in dairy cattle. They are found most commonly in the hind lateral claw, are frequently bilateral, and have a high rate of reoccurrence. The pathogenesis of sole ulceration is primarily based on mechanical injury by the 3rd phalanx to the corium, basement membrane, and basal layers of the sole epidermis as a result of failure of the suspensory apparatus in the claw. The main pathways in the failure of the suspensory system include inflammatory (dermal vascular changes followed by disruption of keratinocyte proliferation and differentiation caused by local and systemic mediators) and noninflammatory (hormonal and biochemical changes in the peripartum period resulting in alterations of connective tissue in the suspensory system) pathways. Sole ulcers tend to occur in specific locations; the most reported site is the junction of the axial heel and sole. Other locations include the apex of the toe and the heel. Varying degrees of lameness may result, and the most severe are seen with complicated cases in which ascending infection affects the deeper structures of the claw. Pathologic changes at the ulcer site include dyskeratosis and dilated horn tubules with microcracks. Vascular changes include dilatation and thrombosis of capillaries with "neocapillary formation. " Areas of dyskeratosis may remain for as long as 50 days at the ulcer site. Treatment includes corrective trimming and relief of weight bearing. Complicated cases may require surgical intervention.
Transcriptional response to vancomycin in a highly vancomycin-resistant Streptomyces coelicolor mutant.

AIM The main objective of this study is to understand the mechanism of vancomycin resistance in a Streptomyces coelicolor disrupted mutant highly resistant to vancomycin. MATERIALS & METHODS Different techniques have been performed in the study including gene disruption, primer extension, antibiotic susceptibility tests, electron microscopy, confocal microscopy, cell wall analysis and microarrays. RESULTS During the phenotypical characterization of mutant strains affected in phosphate-regulated genes of unknown function, we found that the S. coelicolor SCO2594 disrupted mutant was highly resistant to vancomycin and had other phenotypic alterations such as antibiotic overproduction, impaired growth and reduction of phosphate cell wall content. Transcriptomic studies with this mutant indicated a relationship between vancomycin resistance and cell wall stress. CONCLUSION We identified a S. coelicolor mutant highly resistant to vancomycin in both high and low phosphate media. In addition to Van proteins, others such as WhiB or SigE appear to be involved in this regulatory mechanism.
The UNIX system: UNIX operating system porting experiences

One of the reasons for the dramatic growth in popularity of the UNIX™ operating system is the portability of both the operating system and its associated user-level programs. This paper highlights the portability of the UNIX operating system, presents some general porting considerations, and shows how some of the ideas were used in actual UNIX operating system porting efforts. Discussions of the efforts associated with porting the UNIX operating system to an Intel™ 8086-based system, two UNI VAC™ 1100 Series processors, and the AT&T 3B20S and 3B5 minicomputers are presented.
Load identification from power recordings at meter panel in residential households

Identification of electrical appliance usage(s) from the meter panel power reading has become an area of study on its own. Many approaches over the years have used signal processing approaches at a high sampling rate (1 second typically) to evaluate the appliance load signature and subsequently used pattern recognition techniques for identification from a previously trained classifier(s). The proposed approach tries to identify the usage of high power consuming appliance(s) by using the aggregate power consumption at 10 minutes interval from the meter panel. The novelty of the approach lies in using a time series windowing approach which gives addition information about an aggregate power state. The usage of hour of the day as input to the systems also takes into account the temporal behavior of residential users. The usage of Multi-label classification approach for identification is also new for this domain. The model is tested over the IRISE data set and the results are encouraging. Due to its low sampling rate with time stamped aggregate power at 10 minutes scale as the only input from the user, the proposed approach is both practical and affordable.
Implementing a Decision Support Module in Distributed Multi-Agent System for Task Allocation Using Granular Rough Model

A Multi-Agent System (MAS) is a branch of distributed artificial intelligence, composed of a number of distributed and autonomous agents. In MAS, an effective coordination is essential for autonomous agents to reach their goals. Any decision based on a foundation of knowledge and reasoning can lead agents into successful cooperation, so to achieve the necessary degree of flexibility in coordination, an agent requires making decisions about when to coordinate and which coordination mechanism to use. The performance of any MAS depends directly with the right decisions that the agents made. Therefore the agents must have the ability of making right decisions. In this paper, we propose a decision support module in a distributed multi-agent system, which enables any agent to make decisions needed for Task allocation problem; we propose an algorithm for Task Allocation Decision Maker (TADM) based on Granular Rough Model (GRM). Furthermore, a number of experiments were performed to validate the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm (TADM)); we compare the efficiency of our algorithms with recent frameworks. The preliminary results demonstrate the efficiency of our algorithms
Coledocolitiasis, colangitis ascendente y pancreatitis biliar

La enfermedad por calculos biliares es una de las patologias digestivas mas frecuentes y costosas que requieren la hospitalizacion en EE. UU. , e impone unos costes directos anuales de 5.800 millones de dolares segun los calculos [1]. Cada ano se diagnostica esta enfermedad a mas de un millon de estadounidenses y se practica una colecistectomia a 700.000 [2]. La prevalencia de los calculos biliares varia segun las etnias, y las tasas se aproximan a una cifra de entre el 10 y el 15% en EE. UU. y en Europa [3]. El espectro clinico de la colelitiasis oscila desde un estadio asintomatico hasta complicaciones mortales. Los pacientes con una colelitiasis asintomatica corren un riesgo anual de colico biliar proximo al 1% [4], [5], de colecistitis aguda del 0,3% [4–6], de coledocolitiasis sintomatica del 0,2% [5,6] y de pancreatitis biliar de 0,04–1,5% [7,8]. Sin embargo, estos pequenos porcentajes suponen un elevado numero de pacientes, dada la prevalencia total de los calculos biliares.
Separation of Mixtures of Complex Sinusoidal Signals with Independent Component Analysis

ICA (Independent Component Analysis) has a remarkable capability of separating mixtures of stochastic random signals. However, we often face problems of separating mixtures of deterministic signals, especially sinusoidal signals, in some applications such as radar systems and communication systems. One may ask if ICA is effective for deterministic signals. In this paper, we analyze the basic performance of ICA in separating mixtures of complex sinusoidal signals, which utilizes the fourth order cumulant as a criterion of independency of signals. We theoretically show that ICA can separate mixtures of deterministic sinusoidal signals. Then, we conduct computer simulations and radio experiments with a linear array antenna to confirm the theoretical result. We will show that ICA is successful in separating mixtures of sinusoidal signals with frequency difference less than FFT resolution and with DOA (Direction of Arrival) difference less than Rayleigh criterion.
Characterization of a sHsp of Schizosaccharomyces pombe, SpHsp15.8, and the implication of its functional mechanism by comparison with another sHsp, SpHsp16.0

There exist two small heat shock proteins (sHsps) in the fission yeast, Schizosaccharomyces pombe (S. pombe), whose expressions are highly induced by heat stress. We have previously expressed, purified, and characterized one of the sHsps, SpHsp16.0. In this study, we examined the other sHsp, SpHsp15.8. It suppressed the thermal aggregation of citrate synthase (CS) from porcine heart and dithiothreitol‐induced aggregation of insulin from bovine pancreas with very high efficiency. Almost one SpHsp15.8 subunit was sufficient to protect one protein molecule from aggregation. Like SpHsp16.0, SpHsp15.8 dissociated into small oligomers and then interacted with denatured substrate proteins. SpHsp16.0 exhibited a clear enthalpy change for denaturation occurring over 60°C in differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). However, we could not observe any significant enthalpy change in the DSC of SpHsp15.8. The difference is likely to be caused by the adhesive characteristics of SpHsp15.8. The oligomer dissociation of SpHsp15.8 and SpHsp16.0 and their interactions with denatured substrate proteins were studied by fluorescence polarization analysis (FPA). Both sHsps exhibited a temperature‐dependent decrease of fluorescence polarization, which correlates with the dissociation of large oligomers to small oligomers. The dissociation of the SpHsp15.8 oligomer began at about 35°C and proceeded gradually. On the contrary, the SpHsp16.0 oligomer was stable up to ∼45°C, but then dissociated into small oligomers abruptly at this temperature. Interestingly, SpHsp16.0 is likely to interact with denatured CS in the dissociated state, while SpHsp15.8 is likely to interact with CS in a large complex. These results suggest that S. pombe utilizes two sHsps that function in different manners, probably to cope with a wide range of temperatures and various denatured proteins. Proteins 2009. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Using Evapotranspiration Reports for Furrow Irrigation Scheduling

WHAT IS EVAPOTRANSPIRATION? Evapotranspiration is the term coined to describe the amount of water used by a growing crop (not the amount applied by an irrigation system). It is the combination of two words: evaporation and transpiration, and it is often referred to as ET. Any water, whether deposited by dew, precipitation, or irrigation, can be consumed by the crop to fulfill the ET requirement. The amount of ET that occurs is influenced by climatic or atmospheric conditions such as temperature, relative humidity, wind, and solar radiation. In addition, crop conditions such as stage of growth and plant health affect ET. Procedures to calculate ET based on weather and crop data have been developed for many Kansas crops and are available for use. In western Kansas, ET information may be available through radio and newspaper reports. However, if these sources are not available, other methods exist to estimate ET and to aid in developing a crop water budget and irrigation schedule.
Protein expression pattern of PAWP in bull spermatozoa is associated with sperm quality and fertility following artificial insemination

Post‐acrosomal WW‐domain binding protein (PAWP) is a signaling molecule located in the post‐acrosomal sheath (PAS) of mammalian spermatozoa. We hypothesized that the proper integration of PAWP in the sperm PAS is reflective of bull‐sperm quality and fertility. Cryopreserved semen samples from 298 sires of acceptable, but varied, fertility used in artificial insemination services were analyzed using immunofluorescence microscopy and flow cytometry for PAWP protein. In normal spermatozoa, PAWP fluorescence formed a regular band around the proximal PAS. Anomalies of PAWP labeling in defective spermatozoa were reflected in flow cytometry by varied intensities of PAWP‐induced fluorescence. Distinct sperm phenotypes were also identified, including morphologically normal and some defective spermatozoa with moderate levels of PAWP; grossly defective spermatozoa with low/no PAWP; and defective spermatozoa with high PAWP. Analysis by ImageStream flow cytometry confirmed the prevalence of abnormal sperm phenotypes in the spermatozoa with abnormal PAWP content. Live/dead staining and video recording showed that some abnormal spermatozoa are viable and capable of progressive motility. Conventional flow‐cytometric measurements of PAWP correlated significantly with semen quality and fertility parameters that reflect the sires' artificial insemination fertility, including secondary sperm morphology, conception rate, non‐return rate, and residual value. A multiplex, flow‐cytometric test detecting PAWP, aggresomes (ubiquitinated protein aggregates), and acrosomal integrity (peanut‐agglutinin‐lectin labeling) had a predictive value for conception rate, as demonstrated by step‐wise regression analysis. We conclude that PAWP correlates with semen/fertility parameters used in the cattle artificial insemination industry, making PAWP a potential biomarker of bull fertility. Mol. Reprod. Dev. 81: ? –? , 2014. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Antigenic peptides

Although most short, linear peptide fragments of proteins are unstructured in aqueous solution, a number of immunogenic and antigenic peptides have been shown to have conformational preferences for structured forms. By using mainly NMR and CD spectroscopy, it has been possible to detect and quantify quite small populations of β‐turn, helical, and nascent helical conformations. Recent studies have been published indicating that the presence of structured forms is correlated with the location of T cell and/or B cell epitopes in peptide sequences. X‐ray crystal structures of complexes between peptides and anti‐peptide antibodies frequently show the peptides bound in β‐turn conformations, and the presence of helix in one peptide‐antibody complex has been shown by NMR spectroscopy Studies of peptides free in solution and bound to anti‐peptide antibodies in the crystal indicate that the structure of the principal neutralizing determinant of HIV‐1 probably includes at least one β‐turn in a highly conserved region. These results can potentially be used in the design of peptide‐based vaccines. —Dyson, H. J., Wright, P. E. Antigenic peptides. FASEB J. 9, 37‐42 (1995)
Assessment and Treatment of Torture Victims: A Critical Review

This paper presents the main issues in the diagnosis and treatment of psychiatric sequelae in torture victims. The concept of post traumatic stress disorder is used to organize literature on psychiatric casualties resulting from massive psychic trauma, e.g., the Nazi Holocaust, the Vietnam and Israeli wars, and the current world epidemic of torture. Torture is a unique humanmade stressor resulting in category-specific diagnostic symptoms. Medical assessment can be complemented with photographs, x-rays, electroencephalograms, and sleep studies. Individual psychotherapy and group techniques focus on the issues of denial and trust, loss, survivor guilt, and reparation. Programs of psychological and social rehabilitation and treatment with benzodiazepines, tricyclic antidepressants, and other compounds are reviewed. Future research needs include the conceptualization of the trauma of torture and its sequelae in broader terms, the application of standardized measurements to facilitate international comparisons, and the testing of various approaches to intervention in an experimental design. An ethical physician must resist the pressures of totalitarian governments to assume neutrality in the presence of human rights violations affecting his/her patients.
A transcription factor from simian virus 40 chromosomes which activates the viral late promoter in vitro

We have characterized a transcription factor, obtained from simian virus 40 (SV40) chromosomes, which activates transcription from the SV40 late promoter in vitro. The late promoter-activating factor was distinct from SV40 T antigen as judged by its behavior on chromatography on hydroxylapatite; it was not recognized by anti-T antibodies, while T antigen itself was recognized. T antigen from SV40 chromosomes, on the other hand, abolished transcription in vitro from the early promoter. In DNase I footprinting experiments, a partially purified late promoter-activating factor preparation protected a region of DNA centered on SV40 nucleotide 270, which is between the repeated 72-base-pair enhancer and the major late RNA start site. Proteins from HeLa cells did not give the same footprint at this position. Gel mobility shift assays showed that proteins from SV40-infected CV-1 cells form a complex with DNA containing this binding site. The complex has a different rate of gel migration and a higher stability than complexes formed with proteins from uninfected cells.
Stearoyl-CoA Desaturase 1 Gene Expression Is Necessary for Fructose-mediated Induction of Lipogenic Gene Expression by Sterol Regulatory Element-binding Protein-1c-dependent and -independent Mechanisms*

Stearoyl-CoA desaturase (SCD) synthesizes oleate necessary for the biosynthesis of triglycerides and other lipids. Mice with a targeted disruption of the SCD1 gene are deficient in tissue oleate and have reduced expression of the sterol regulatory element-binding protein (SREBP) and its target genes. The SREBP-1c isoform is a known mediator of insulin action on hepatic gene expression, but its transcriptional effects due to glucose or fructose are still unclear. We found that fructose compared with glucose is a stronger inducer of SREBP-1c and lipogenic gene expression, causing a dramatic increase in hepatic triglyceride levels. However, when fed to the SCD1–/– mice, fructose failed to induce SREBP-1 or lipogenic genes and the triglyceride levels were not increased. Instead fructose feeding caused a decrease in hepatic glycogen and plasma glucose levels. The induction of SREBP-1 and lipogenic gene expression as well as the levels of liver triglycerides, glycogen, and plasma glucose was partially restored when the fructose diet was supplemented with very high levels of oleate (20% by weight) but not with palmitate, stearate, or linoleate. Fructose in a long term feeding induced the expression of SCD1 and that of other lipogenic genes in the liver of SREBP-1c–/– mice, and a further increase in expression of these genes occurred when the fructose diet was supplemented with oleate. Our observations demonstrated that oleate produced by SCD is necessary for fructose-mediated induction of lipogenic gene expression through SREBP-1c-dependent and -independent mechanisms and suggested that SCD1 gene expression is important in lipid and carbohydrate homeostasis.