Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Therapeutic potential of neutralizing antibodies in the treatment of HIV-1 infection.

In 1981 unusual cases of severe immune deficiency were reported. Two years later the cause of the acquired immuno- deficiency syndrome (AIDS) was identified: a retrovirus, designated the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), that caused a loss of important immune functions leading to a dramatic vulnerability to a variety of bacterial, viral and fungal infections. The finding that the presence of neutral- izing antibodies correlated with the disease status suggested that infusion with hyperimmune plasma and human HIV- specific immunoglobulin (HIVIG) obtained from chronically HIV-1-infected asymptomatic donors may be of benefit to patients. However, early clinical studies were disappointing. No clear benefits were found for the majority of patients treated. 1 The introduction of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) in 1996 caused great excitement. HAART drugs inhibit viral replication within infected cells by interfering with two crucial viral enzymes: reverse transcriptase and pro- tease. The initial hope that HIV could be eradicated in patients undergoing several years of HAART was not fulfilled and it became clear that HAART had major drawbacks. The high degree of severe side effects, short drug half-life, persistent viral reservoirs and the increasing prevalence of drug- resistant viruses underscored the need for additional thera- peutic approaches against HIV-1. Drugs that prevent viral replication at earlier steps such as virus entry into target cells and integration of the viral genome into the host genome are the focus of current drug development. Fusion inhibitors such as the T20 peptide, which prevents conformational changes in the viral membrane necessary for virus entry, are currently in clinical development. 2 However, T20 has to be injected daily owing to its short half-life, and induces adverse reactions at the site of administration. During the last decade several human monoclonal anti- bodies (hmAbs) were established to have an unusually high antiviral potential against HIV-1. The hmAbs neutralize the virus by binding to conserved epitopes of the proteins gp120 (antibodies 2G12, 3,4 IgG1b12 5 ) or gp41 (2F5, 6 4E10 7 ) representing 'natural' entry inhibitors with half-lives 50- 100 times longer than fusion inhibitor peptides. These anti- bodies inhibit replication of the majority of primary isolates with high potency. 8 Moreover, there is evidence that these antibodies are capable of lysing virus particles and infected cells by antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) and complement activation. 4,9 Although the high antiviral potential of these antibodies has been demonstrated in vitro, their usefulness for in vivo application was doubted by many. The unsatisfying results in HIVIG studies and the difficulties in hmAb large-scale technology were major hurdles for the development of antibody therapy.
Effects of IL-4 on pulmonary fibrosis and the accumulation and phenotype of macrophage subpopulations following thoracic irradiation

Abstract Purpose: Thoracic irradiation injures lung parenchyma, triggering inflammation and immune cell activation, leading to pneumonitis and fibrosis. Macrophage polarization contributes to these processes. Since IL-4 promotes pro-fibrotic macrophage activation, its role in radiation-induced lung injury was investigated. Materials and methods: Lung macrophage subpopulations were characterized from 3–26 weeks following exposure of WT and IL-4−/− mice to 0 or 12.5 Gray single dose thoracic irradiation. Results: Loss of IL-4 did not prevent fibrosis, but blunted macrophage accumulation within the parenchyma. At 3 weeks following exposure, cell numbers and expression of F4/80 and CD206, an alternative activation marker, decreased in alveolar macrophages but increased in infiltrating macrophages in WT mice. Loss of IL-4 impaired recovery of these markers in alveolar macrophages and blunted expansion of these populations in infiltrating macrophages. CD206+ cells were evident in fibrotic regions of WT mice only, however Arg-1+ cells increased in fibrotic regions in IL-4−/− mice only. Radiation-induced proinflammatory Ly6C expression was more apparent in alveolar and interstitial macrophages from IL-4−/− mice. Conclusions: IL-4 loss did not prevent alternative macrophage activation and fibrosis in irradiated mice. Instead, a role is indicated for IL-4 in maintenance of macrophage populations in the lung following high single dose thoracic irradiation.
The FFT-based multiuser detection for DS-CDMA ultra-wideband communication systems

With increasing interest in ultra-wideband impulse radio (UWB-IR) for wireless communication systems, the challenges of dealing with the multiple access interference (MAI) and the inter-symbol interference (ISI) become significant. A multiuser detection scheme for UWB-IR systems is demonstrated, based on block-spread code-division multiple-access (BS-CDMA). By inserting the cyclic prefix at the beginning of the data block, the proposed data transmission strategy not only maintains the code orthogonality at the receiver, but also the UWB channel model can also be represented as a block-circulant matrix. With this feature, fast Fourier transform (FFT) based equalization schemes are applied to mitigate the ISI to such an extent that the system performance approaches that of an AWGN channel. It is important to note that the computation complexity of the proposed scheme is significantly less than that of the conventional DS-CDMA UWB schemes.
Extra‐abdominal desmoid tumor: an unusual subcutaneous lesion presenting as shoulder pain

A 50‐year‐old Hispanic woman presented to the medical walk‐in clinic of a local community hospital complaining of shoulder pain. The problem had begun 9 months previously, and first manifested as dull right shoulder pain that developed after she carried a bag of groceries up one flight of stairs. A diagnosis of “muscle strain” and “arthritis” was made for which nonnarcotic analgesics were prescribed. The pain persisted, and 2 months later she was re‐evaluated and diagnosed with degenerative joint disease. An orthopedics consultation was sought for further evaluation. During this examination, she pointed out to the physician that she had a “lump in her shoulder,” but she was informed that this was of no consequence and that her complaints were due to arthritis. Roentgenograms of the right shoulder and thoracic spine were performed and determined to be within normal limits. Once again she attempted to control the pain with nonsteroidal anti‐inflammatory agents to no avail. Because the pain had become unbearable, she sought relief at the medical walk‐in clinic. Physical examination was remarkable for a solitary, skin‐colored, firm, deeply‐seated tumor measuring 3×4 cm located over the right
Multilevel and graphical views of metadata

Digital libraries help users to search for, evaluate and retrieve information. Metadata is indispensable in this process of locating information and evaluating its fitness for specific uses. This paper describes a multilevel organization and presentation of metadata for spatial information in digital libraries. It is proposed that a single organization of metadata within the context of large distributed heterogeneous (text, image, video, audio, etc.) collections is inadequate. The organization of metadata should change, depending upon the purpose for which it is being used and the state of an information-seeking task. We argue for at least a three-level organization of metadata and graphical presentation of metadata for digital library users. The Content Standard for Geospatial Metadata provides a foundation for this approach.
Fuzzy specification of finite state machines

Finite state machines (FSM) are widely used in digital systems because of their transparent structure, of a thorough theoretical understanding and of powerful CAD-tools for their automated synthesis. In addition, special hardware components support the implementation of FSMs in a direct manner. The paper deals with unprecise specification techniques for FSMs that allow more design freedom than conventional ones. This strategy greatly increases the number of possible implementations especially when embedding problems in given hardware structures like programmable logic devices must be solved economically. <<ETX>>
The effect of carvedilol on morbidity and mortality in patients with chronic heart failure. U.S. Carvedilol Heart Failure Study Group.

BACKGROUND Controlled clinical trials have shown that beta-blockers can produce hemodynamic and symptomatic improvement in chronic heart failure, but the effect of these drugs on survival has not been determined. METHODS We enrolled 1094 patients with chronic heart failure in a double-blind, placebo-controlled, stratified program, in which patients were assigned to one of the four treatment protocols on the basis of their exercise capacity. Within each of the four protocols patients with mild, moderate, or severe heart failure with left ventricular ejection fractions < or = 0.35 were randomly assigned to receive either placebo (n = 398) or the beta-blocker carvedilol (n = 696); background therapy with digoxin, diuretics, and an angiotensin-converting-enzyme inhibitor remained constant. Patient were observed for the occurrence death or hospitalization for cardiovascular reasons during the following 6 months, after the beginning (12 months for the group with mild heart failure). RESULTS The overall mortality rate was 7.8 percent in the placebo group and 3.2 percent in the carvedilol group; the reduction in risk attributable to carvedilol was 65 percent (95 percent confidence interval, 39 to 80 percent; P < 0.001). This finding led the Data and Safety Monitoring Board to recommend termination of the study before its scheduled completion. In addition, as compared with placebo, carvedilol therapy was accompanied by a 27 percent reduction in the risk of hospitalization for cardiovascular causes (19.6 percent vs. 14.1 percent, P = 0.036), as well as a 38 percent reduction in the combined risk of hospitalization or death (24.6 percent vs, 15.8 percent, P < 0.001). Worsening heart failure as an adverse reaction during treatment was less frequent in the carvedilol than in the placebo group. CONCLUSIONS Carvedilol reduces the risk or death as well as the risk of hospitalization for cardiovascular causes in patients with heart failure who are receiving treatment with digoxin, diuretics, and an angiotensin-converting-enzyme inhibitor.
FlhD/FlhC Is a Regulator of Anaerobic Respiration and the Entner-Doudoroff Pathway through Induction of the Methyl-Accepting Chemotaxis Protein Aer

ABSTRACT The regulation by two transcriptional activators of flagellar expression (FlhD and FlhC) and the chemotaxis methyl-accepting protein Aer was studied with glass slide DNA microarrays. An flhD::Kan insertion and an aer deletion were independently introduced into two Escherichia coli K-12 strains, and the effects upon gene regulation were investigated. Altogether, the flhD::Kan insertion altered the expression of 29 operons of known function. Among them was Aer, which in turn regulated a subset of these operons, namely, the ones involved in anaerobic respiration and the Entner-Doudoroff pathway. In addition, FlhD/FlhC repressed enzymes involved in aerobic respiration and regulated many other metabolic enzymes and transporters in an Aer-independent manner. Expression of 12 genes of uncharacterized function was also affected. FlhD increased gltBD, gcvTHP, and ompT expression. The regulation of half of these genes was subsequently confirmed with reporter gene fusions, enzyme assays, and real-time PCR. Growth phenotypes of flhD and flhC mutants were determined with Phenotype MicroArrays and correlated with gene expression.
Selection of projection sets and order of calculation in ordered subsets expectation maximization method

Maximum likelihood-expectation maximization (ML-EM) is well known as a method to reconstruct images from projection data, while the ordered subsets algorithm (OS) has been proposed to improve the performance of iterative calculation. In a combination of this algorithm with expectation maximization (OS-EM), the projection data are divided into subsets, and pixels are updated for each subset according to the projection data; this method achieves recovery of high-frequency components in few iterations. In this paper, OS-EM is explored in terms of the dependence of image quality on the manner in which the subsets are built, and the order in which they are then calculated. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Syst Comp Jpn, 33(13): 96–102, 2002; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/scj.1176
Trends in childhood leukemia mortality over a 25-year period.

OBJECTIVE To analyze trends in childhood leukemia mortality in the state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, between 1980 and 2006. METHOD Gender-stratified leukemia mortality data for children aged < 15 years from 1980 to 2006 were retrieved from the Brazilian Mortality Information System for the state of Rio de Janeiro. Data were stratified by place of death (city of Rio de Janeiro proper, the state capital; Rio de Janeiro Metropolitan Region, excluding the capital; and rest of the state). Leukemia deaths were defined according to death certificate ICD-9 and ICD-10 coding (for deaths occurring in 1980-1995 and 1996-2006, respectively). Leukemia mortality rates were calculated by age and calendar year and age-adjusted to a standard world population. Polynomial linear regression with a 5% significance level was used to evaluate mortality trends in the study regions. RESULTS The three studied regions revealed similar trends, with a continuous downward pattern; the most substantial decline was detected in the municipality of Rio de Janeiro (city proper). In all studied areas, leukemia mortality was highest among males. CONCLUSION A downward trend in childhood leukemia mortality was detected throughout the state of Rio de Janeiro. The most pronounced reduction occurred in the state capital.
Isolation and molecular characterization of bacillus megaterium isolated from different agro climatic zones of Karnataka and its effect on seed germination and plant growth of Sesamum indicum

Bacillus megaterium have been advocated as effective and economical bio inoculant to use in the integrated nutrient and pest control system. Bacillus megaterium from soil of different Agro climatic zones of Karnataka were isolated and identified. Molecular characterization of the Bacillus megaterium isolates was done using RAPD technique. The study of effect of Bacillus megaterium on seed germination of Sesamum indicum and on plant growth of Sesamum indicum was carried out. Estimation of amount of phosphate present in plants both roots and shoots was also carried out.
Influences of ambient temperature, charge density on wettability properties of monolayer MoS2 films

Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations focusing on the interactions between MoS2 films and water droplets are carried out in this article. First, the wettability of an ideal MoS2 film is investigated at room temperature, then the influences of ambient temperature and charge density of the MoS2 film on the wetting behaviors of water droplets on the film are also discussed. The simulation results indicate that the ideal MoS2 film is slightly hydrophobic, and the ambient temperature plays a negative role during the wetting processes. The observations also show that, once charged, the wetting property of MoS2 changes massively, from slightly hydrophobic to super-hydrophilic.
Transfer of silicon nanowires onto alien substrates by controlling direction of metal-assisted etching

Si nanowires (SiNWs) are promising materials for future electronic, photovoltaic, and sensor applications. To date the SiNWs are mainly formed on particular substrates or at high temperatures, greatly limiting their application flexibility. Here we report a low temperature process for forming and massively transferring vertically aligned SiNWs on alien substrates. Metal-assisted etching method was used to fabricate vertically aligned SiNWs on Si substrates. To detach SiNWs from Si substrates, the roots of the Si NWs were etched and became fragile by controlling direction of metal-assisted etching. Thus, every SiNW on the Si substrate can be easily transferred to alien substrates. Because of the low temperature process, it enables a large variety of alien substrates such as glass and plastics to be used.
Systematic template extraction from chaotic attractors: II. Genus-one attractors with multiple unimodal folding mechanisms

Asymmetric and symmetric chaotic attractors produced by the simplest jerk equivariant system are topologically characterized. In the case of this system with an inversion symmetry, it is shown that symmetric attractors bounded by genus-one tori are conveniently analyzed using a two-components Poincaré section. Resulting from a merging attractor crisis, these attractors can be easily described as being made of two folding mechanisms (here described as mixers), one for each of the two attractors co-existing before the crisis: symmetric attractors are thus described by a template made of two mixers. We thus developed a procedure for concatenating two mixers (here associated with unimodal maps) into a single one, allowing the description of a reduced template, that is, a template simplified under an isotopy. The so-obtained reduced template is associated with a description of symmetric attractors based on one-component Poincaré section as suggested by the corresponding genus-one bounding torus. It is shown that several reduced templates can be obtained depending on the choice of the retained one-component Poincaré section.
Microbiological Changes of Marinated Broiler Drumsticks Treated with the Lactoperoxidase System and with or without Thermal Treatment

The objective of this study was to evaluate the combined effects of lactoperoxidase system (LPS), thermal treatment and storage time on total microflora and psychrotrophs counts of the marinated broiler drumsticks. A marinade that contained acetic acid (1%) and salt (3%) with pH adjusted to 4 was developed as a standardized marinade. Drumsticks were marinated with various LPS levels, combined with thermal treatment (4 or 58°C for 2 min), and then stored at 4°C for 18 h. The microbial counts of the samples were measured after 0, 2, 4 and 7 days of storage for drumsticks held at 4°C. The results indicate that adding LPS at the level of 1 unit (1 µg/ml LP, 5.9 mM KSCN, and 2.5 mM H2O2) significantly (p<0.05) decreased the total microflora and psychrotrophs counts of the marinated broiler drumsticks. In addition, samples treated with a thermal treatment (58°C for 2 min) had significantly (p<0.05) lower microbial counts when compared with the control. (Asian-Aust. J. Anim. Sci. 2006. Vol 19, No. 1 : 109-112)
VII. Shared and distinctive antecedents of Adult Attachment Interview state-of-mind and inferred-experience dimensions.

Accumulating evidence demonstrates that the primary coding systems for the AAI (Main & Goldwyn, 1984–1998; Main et al., 2003–2008; Kobak, 1993) capture variation on four relatively independent dimensions. Two of these capture adults’ states of mind regarding attachment, with the first reflecting the degree to which adults freely evaluate or defensively discuss their attachment histories (i.e., dismissing states of mind) and the second capturing the extent to which adults become emotionally overwhelmed while discussing their early attachment experiences (i.e., preoccupied states of mind). Two additional dimensions capture caregiver-specific variation in how adults describe their early experiences (inferred negative experiences with maternal and paternal caregivers, respectively). This factor structure has been observed in a number of independent samples, using both exploratory (Bernier et al., 2004; Haydon et al., 2012; Kobak & Zajac, 2011; Larose et al., 2005; Roisman et al., 2007) and confirmatory techniques (Chapter 2, this volume). Taken together, these findings support an updated conceptualization of the key axes of variation in adult attachment as captured by the AAI and pave the way formore statistically powerful and empirically informed approaches to assessing the correlates and antecedents of adult attachment. Previous work has validated this approach by documenting the distinctive predictive significance of the dimensions described above in key attachmentrelateddomains: interpersonal functioning, psychopathology, and attachmentrelated cognitions. Perhaps most notably, dismissing states of mind have been associated uniquely with the provision of maternal insensitivity, whereas preoccupied states of mind have been associated uniquely with caregiving marked by higher levels of maternal intrusiveness (Whipple et al., 2011).
Evidence for survival of the central arbors of trigeminal primary afferents after peripheral neonatal axotomy: Experiments with galanin immunocytochemistry and Di‐I labelling

Studies employing axoplasmic transport techniques have suggested that the central arbors of vibrissae‐related primary afferents are rapidly and permanently lost from the trigeminal (V) brainstem complex after transection of the intraorbital nerve (ION). The present study reexamined this issue using immunocytochemistry for galanin (GAL) and anterograde labelling with Di‐I to evaluate V brainstem organization in rats that sustained damage to the ION or individual vibrissae follicles in infancy or adulthood. After adult nerve damage, GAL‐positive fibers are increased in layers I and II of V subnucleus caudalis (SpC). This was apparent by 3 days after the lesion. In rats that sustained nerve damage at birth (PO), GAL immunoreactivity (IR) appeared throughout the V brainstem complex and had a patchy distribution similar to that of vibrissae‐related V primary afferents in normal rats. Increased GAL‐IR in rostral portions of the V brainstem complex was observed in rats that sustained ION damage as late as P14. Additional experiments in which nerve damage was followed by destruction of the V ganglion demonstrated that this GAL‐IR was contained in primary afferents. Damage to single vibrissa follicles or to a row of follicles produced a single patch or row of GAL‐IR terminals in the somatotopically appropriate portion of the ipsilateral V brainstem complex. Di‐I labelling in neonatally nerve‐damaged rats demonstrated that primary afferent axons filled the central territory normally innervated by this nerve and that their terminal distribution was patchy. These results suggest that the V ganglion cells that survive neonatal axotomy may retain somatotopically organized projections to the V brainstem complex for at least a limited postnatal period.
Glycaemic index of conventional carbohydrate meals

The glycaemic index (GI) and the triacylglycerol response were measured in thirty non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus patients given 50 g portions of five different conventional Indian meals containing semolina (Triticum aestivum) cooked by two different methods, or combinations of semolina and pulse (black gram dhal (Phaseolus mungo), green gram dhal (Phaseolus aureus) or Bengal gram dhal (Cicer arietum)). There were no significant differences among meals in mean GI except for meals based on roasted semolina or semolina-black gram dhal. Compared with the blood glucose response for a 50 g glucose load, only meals based on steam-cooked semolina and semolina-Bengal gram dhal elicited a significantly lower response at 1 h postprandially, and only meals based on semolina-black gram dhal at 2 h postprandially. No significant differences were found among the meals in the triacylglycerol response