Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The replicative restriction of lymphocytotropic isolates of HIV-1 in macrophages is overcome by TGF-beta.

In vitro exposure of human blood monocyte-derived macrophages to T-cell tropic human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) isolates fails to establish a productive viral infection. Several studies have shown that such preferential HIV-1 replication in T cells or in mononuclear phagocytes (HIV tropism) may be determined by distinct viral characteristics. In the present study it was demonstrated that transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta), a factor known to be produced by platelets, macrophages, and other cells present at a wound site, can act as a mediator in overcoming the lymphocytotropic restriction of several well-characterized viral isolates of HIV-1 (i.e., LAV, Z84, pLAI, NY5). Macrophages infected with these isolates show cytopathic changes comparable to those seen upon infection with the monocytotropic isolate ADA. To achieve this effect with TGF-beta, the factor must be present after the infection period. The emerging virus retains its original cellular tropism. Based on these observations the authors propose a role for TGF-beta in the establishment and progression of HIV infection and disease.
SPCp1-09: Comparison of Pulse Repetition and Cyclic Prefix Communication Techniques for Impulse Radio UWB Systems

In this paper, the performance of two different communication techniques for impulse radio UWB systems is compared: the techniques are based on the pulse repetition according to the spreading factor value and the cyclic prefix insertion. Since both techniques cause a throughput loss, they have to be compared both in terms of performance and capacity, i.e. the maximum data rate which is afforded. Different scenarios are taken into account: in an indoor short-range environment an access point communicates with several mobile terminals by transmitting low or high data-rate flows with variable system loads. Alternative detection strategies are considered, aiming at highlighting the most suitable approach.
INBREEDING AND THE EVOLUTION OF ALTRUISM UNDER KIN SELECTION: EFFECTS ON RELATEDNESS AND GROUP STRUCTURE

Relatedness, the central concept of Hamilton's (1964a, 1964b) theory of kin selection, refers to similarity in genetic structure among groups of individuals, and plays a key role in the evolution of interactions that affect the fitness of genetically related individuals. Such interactions include, but are not limited to, interactions that are considered "social" in the usual sense of the word. For example, relatedness represents an important component of reproductive value in populations evolving sex ratio modification (Hamilton, 1972; Trivers and Hare, 1976; Uyenoyama and Bengtsson, 1981, 1982) and parthenogenesis (Williams, 1971, 1980; Maynard Smith, 1974; Uyenoyama, 1984). Relatedness within groups is determined by the rules of group formation (assortation of interacting phenotypes into demes (Hamilton, 1971)), and in the particular case of groups defined with respect to genealogical relationship it depends on the mating system. Numerous definitions of relatedness in inbred populations appear in the kin selection literature (Hamilton, 1971, 1972; Flesness, 1978; Bartz, 1979; Michod, 1979; Michod and Anderson, 1979; Aoki, 1981; Seger, 1981). However, because many of these measures were proposed independently of studies of changes in genotypic frequencies (studies in which the mating system is explicit), the significance of such definitions to requirements for the evolution of altruism remains unclear (Hamilton, 1971; Michod, 1979, 1980). Michod and Hamilton (1980) demonstrated that the several proposed definitions of relatedness are equivalent and identical to
Hepatitis C in HIV‐infected patients with and without AIDS: Prevalence and relationship to patient survival

Background: Limited information is available about the prevalence of hepatitis C virus in patients with human immunodeficiency virus in relation to specific risk factors or about the influence of hepatitis C virus coinfection on survival. This retrospective study addressed these questions. Methods: The study population consisted of 512 predominantly non‐intravenous drug‐using male homosexuals, 224 of whom had AIDS. Samples positive for hepatitis C virus antibody by second‐generation enzyme immunoassay were further tested by means of strip immunoblot assay, and for hepatitis C virus RNA by means of polymerase chain reaction amplification. A randomly selected set of enzyme immunoassay‐negative samples was also tested for hepatitis C virus RNA and, if hepatitis C virus RNA positive, by a second‐generation recombinant immunoblot assay. Results: The prevalence of hepatitis C virus infection unaccounted for by intravenous drug use or transfusion was 11.7% by enzyme immunoassay, and 87% of sera positive by enzyme immunoassay were also positive by second‐generation recombinant immunoblot assay or hepatitis C virus RNA analysis. Hepatitis C virus RNA was detectable in 53% of enzyme immunoassay‐positive samples but in only about 1% of enzyme immunoassay‐negative samples. Hepatitis C virus coinfection did not influence survival of HIV‐infected patients with or without manifestations of AIDS. Conclusions: Hepatitis C virus infection in nontransfused, non‐intravenous drug‐using patients with HIV infection is several times more prevalent than in volunteer blood donors, suggesting homosexual transmission of hepatitis C virus. About half of patients seropositive for hepatitis C virus antibody have detectable hepatitis C virus RNA, and serologically occult hepatitis C virus viremia is rare. Hepatitis C virus coinfection does not appear to adversely influence survival. (Hepatology 1994;20:1152–1155).
Mucoid variation in Pseudomonas aeruginosa induced by the action of phage.

Summary Mucoid colonial forms of Pseudomonas aeruginosa were obtained by subculture from areas of “sliming” around zones of lysis on phage-typing plates. These mucoid forms were not spontaneous variants, but depended on the presence of phage in the lytic cycle for their initiation and continued existence. The properties of naturally occurring and phage-induced mucoid forms were similar. The mucoid colonial form was observed frequently only in patients with chronic disease of the respiratory tract.
Protection by Clinoptilolite or Zeolite NaA against Cadmium-Induced Anemia in Growing Swine

Abstract Weanling Landrace X Yorkshire swine were fed a basal diet or a diet containing 3% clinoptilolite (a natural zeolite) with or without 150 ppm CdCl2 or 3% zeolite NaA (a synthetic zeolite) with or without 150 ppm CdCl2 for 31 days. Hematocrit and hemoglobin were depressed significantly in animls fed Cd in the absence of zeolites, but not in their presence. Liver Cd concentration was increased dramatically by added dietary Cd but was significantly lower in animals fed clinoptilolite with Cd than in those fed Cd alone (11.4 vs 16.5 ppm). Liver Fe and Zn were decreased by dietary Cd; liver Fe was not affected significantly by clinoptilolite or zeolite NaA, but liver Zn was increased by zeolite NaA. Kidney dry matter, Zn, and Cd concentrations were increased by dietary Cd; neither clinoptilolite nor zeolite NaA affected kidney Cd concentration. Zeolite NaA increased kidney dry matter both in the presence and in the absence of dietary Cd. Plasma urea-N, K, Na, and Mg were unaffected by Cd or by either zeolite. The data illustrate the different effects of dietary clinoptilolite compared with zeolite NaA on blood plasma, liver, and kidney concentrations of minerals and provide evidence that both zeolites offer some protection against Cd-induced Fe-deficiency anemia; the magnitude of this protection and the effects of each zeolite on tissue concentrations of Cd and other materials need further quantification.
Effect of pulmonary rehabilitation on peripheral muscle fiber remodeling in patients with COPD in GOLD stages II to IV.

BACKGROUND In most patients with COPD, rehabilitative exercise training partially reverses the morphologic and structural abnormalities of peripheral muscle fibers. However, whether the degree of improvement in muscle fiber morphology and typology with exercise training varies depending on disease severity remains unknown. METHODS Forty-six clinically stable patients with COPD classified by GOLD (Global Initiative for Obstructive Lung Disease) as stage II (n = 14), III (n = 18), and IV (n = 14) completed a 10-week comprehensive pulmonary rehabilitation program consisting of high-intensity exercise three times weekly. RESULTS At baseline, muscle fiber mean cross-sectional area and capillary density did not significantly differ between patients with COPD and healthy control subjects, whereas muscle fiber type I and II proportion was respectively lower (P < .001) and higher (P < .002) in patients with GOLD stage IV compared with healthy subjects and patients with GOLD stages II and III. Exercise training improved, to a comparable degree, functional capacity and the St. George Respiratory Questionnaire health-related quality of life score across all three GOLD stages. Vastus lateralis muscle fiber mean cross-sectional area was increased (P < .001) in all patient groups (stage II: from 4,507 ± 280 μm² to 5,091 ± 271 μm² [14% ± 3%]; stage III: from 3,753 ± 258 μm² to 4,212 ± 268 μm² [14% ± 3%]; stage IV: from 3,961 ± 266 μm² to 4,551 ± 262 μm² [17% ± 5%]), whereas all groups exhibited a comparable reduction (P < .001) in type IIb fiber proportion (stage II: by 6% ± 2%; stage III: by 6% ± 1%; stage IV: by 7% ± 1%) and an increase (P < .001) in capillary to fiber ratio (stage II: from 1.48 ± 0.10 to 1.81 ± 0.10 [23% ± 5%]; stage III: from 1.29 ± 0.06 to 1.56 ± 0.09 [21% ± 5%]; stage IV: from 1.43 ± 0.10 to 1.71 ± 0.13 [18 ± 3%]). The magnitude of changes in the aforementioned variables did not differ across GOLD stages. CONCLUSIONS Functional capacity and morphologic and typologic adaptations to rehabilitation in peripheral muscle fibers were similar across GOLD stages II to IV. Pulmonary rehabilitation should be implemented in patients at all COPD stages.
Translating Falls Prevention Knowledge to Community-Dwelling Older PLWD: A Mixed-Method Systematic Review.

PURPOSE OF THE STUDY Falls prevention evidence is strong, but little is known about uptake of strategies for people living with dementia (PLWD). This mixed-method systematic review aimed to integrate evidence of falls prevention efficacy with views/experiences of PLWD. DESIGN AND METHODS Eight electronic databases were searched. Inclusion criteria included quantitative or qualitative studies examining knowledge translation of falls prevention strategies in community-dwelling PLWD and/or their caregiver. Study quality was assessed, and findings are narratively described. RESULTS Six quantitative and five qualitative studies were included. Study quality was mixed. Quantitative studies showed limited evidence of effectiveness on reduction in falls risk, falls and hospitalization rates, nursing home admission, decline in activities of daily living, and adherence to strategies. Qualitative themes showed inclusion of caregiver and health professionals as key to program success, but many factors influence participation. IMPLICATIONS Synthesizing the findings generated a new understanding of falls prevention for this high-risk group. A focus upon health professional and caregiver involvement and accommodation of individual preferences may result in increased engagement with falls prevention strategies.
Spatial and temporal variability of net ecosystem production in a tropical forest: testing the hypothesis of a significant carbon sink

Tropical forest ecosystems play an important role in the global carbon balance. Depending on age and land use, they can act as carbon sources, sinks, or be in approximate balance, but it is uncertain if global environmental changes are forcing these ecosystems outside their natural range of variation. We asked the question of whether or not the net carbon flux of a tropical primary forest, which should be in balance over the long term, is within the expected range of natural variation. A simple Bayesian hypothesis testing method was used to address this question for primary forests in the Porce region of Colombia. Net ecosystem production (NEP) was measured in this forest in a set of 33 permanent plots from 2000 to 2002 in 2, 1‐year intervals. Our estimate of NEP ranged between −4.03 and 2.22 Mg C ha−1 yr−1 for the two intervals. This range was compared with a priori defined range of natural variation estimated from the ecosystem model STANDCARB, which estimated spatial and temporal variation due to gap dynamics. The prior range of variation was estimated between −1.5 and 1.5 Mg C ha−1 yr−1. The observed data on NEP did not provide sufficient evidence to reject the null hypothesis that these forests are in C balance. We concluded that the ecosystem is likely behaving within its range of natural variation, but measurement uncertainties were a major limitation to finding evidence to reject the null hypothesis. A literature review of C flux studies in the tropics revealed that about half of the observations could be explained by gap dynamics alone, while significant C sinks have only been observed during La Niña years, with contrasting results in other tropical forests. In conclusion, observational data of carbon fluxes do not appear to provide direct evidence for a significant carbon sink in some sites in the tropics.
CDKB1;1 Forms a Functional Complex with CYCA2;3 to Suppress Endocycle Onset1[W][OA]

The mitosis-to-endocycle transition requires the controlled inactivation of M phase-associated cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) activity. Previously, the B-type CDKB1;1 was identified as an important negative regulator of endocycle onset. Here, we demonstrate that CDKB1;1 copurifies and associates with the A2-type cyclin CYCA2;3. Coexpression of CYCA2;3 with CDKB1;1 triggered ectopic cell divisions and inhibited endoreduplication. Moreover, the enhanced endoreduplication phenotype observed after overexpression of a dominant-negative allele of CDKB1;1 could be partially complemented by CYCA2;3 co-overexpression, illustrating that both subunits unite in vivo to form a functional complex. CYCA2;3 protein stability was found to be controlled by CCS52A1, an activator of the anaphase-promoting complex. We conclude that CCS52A1 participates in endocycle onset by down-regulating CDKB1;1 activity through the destruction of CYCA2;3.
Granular Matter: A Tentative View

Granular matter refers to particle systems in which the size d is larger than one micron. Below one micron, thermal agitation is important, and Brownian motion can be seen. Above one micron, thermal agitation is negligible. We are interested here in many-particle systems, at zero temperature, occupying a large variety of metastable states: if we pour sand on a table, it would like to go to a ground state, with a monolayer of grains giving the lowest gravitational energy. But in reality the sand remains as a heap; the shape of the heap and the stress distribution inside depend critically on how the heap was made. Hence come many difficulties.
An Investigation on the Plant Modeling Filter's Parameters for Active Noise Control System

Usually an FIR filter is used to model the physical paths in an active noise control system. However, the order of the filter to be modeled is a key factor for determining the computational load for the adaptive algorithms associated with active noise control (ANC), particularly for multi-channel algorithms. In this letter, the relationships among the filter's order, the plant modeling error and the location of poles for the transfer functions of the physical paths in an ANC system are theoretically examined and numerical examples are given to verify the theoretical results.
Multi Level Caching and Anticipated Parallel Processing-based Algorithm for Improving the Performance of the Distributed File System

Large amount of data is getting generated due to the extensive use of web applications by billions of users around the globe. The organizations which has deployed web applications are pondering over solutions for scalable storage and faster access of large data. Distributed file systems (DFSs) have been emerged as efficient storage solutions so that the data can be stored and accessed efficiently. Modern cloud-based data centers have been using the DFS as main storage component. Improving the performance of read operations have become important as most of users of the web applications carry out read operations in the web. Caching and speculationbased approaches are proposed in the literature for improving the performance of read operations in the DFS. In this paper, we have proposed an anticipated parallel processing-based algorithm which considers the presence of multi level caches namely local cache, local cache of neighbouring node (nearby cache) and global cache. We have carried out the performance evaluation of the algorithms using mathematical analysis and simulation modeling. The results of the analysis indicate that the proposed algorithm performs better than the speculation-based algorithm proposed in the literature.
Institute of Medicine. 2012. Accelerating progress in obesity prevention: solving the weight of the nation. Washington, DC: the National Academies Press.

Background and process Obesity is blind to age, race, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status, costsw$190 billion annually, and lurks as the driving force behind myriad chronic diseases and devastating disability. With two-thirds of U.S. adults and almost one-third of U.S. children overweight or obese, there is no debating that America has a serious problem in this regard. Although some progress has been made over the past few decades in preventing and treating obesity, rates continue to increase. In response, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation recently teamed up with the Institute of Medicine (IOM) to identify catalysts that might speed progress in obesity prevention. The Committee on Accelerating Progress in Obesity Prevention, chaired by Daniel Glickman (executive director of congressional programs at the Aspen Institute and senior fellow at The Bipartisan Policy Center) was charged by the IOM with developing a set of recommendations for accelerating progress toward obesity prevention over the next decade and proposing potential measures of progress toward this goal. After identifying nearly 800 previously published recommendations and associated strategies and actions related to obesity prevention, the committee filtered out those that could work together most effectively, reinforce one another’s impact, and be used to achieve the goal of nationwide obesity reduction. The committee then used a systems approach to develop 5 goals encompassing 5 “environments” needing immediate public action. Details concerning these goals, the environments, and the committee’s associated recommendations and strategies are available in the committee’s final report, Accelerating Progress in Obesity Prevention: Solving the Weight of the Nation (The National Academies Press, 2012).
Granulocyte/macrophage colony-stimulating factor and interleukin-4-induced dendritic cells.

BACKGROUND We investigated whether GM-CSF/IL-4 is the most efficient cytokine combination for differentiating dendritic cells (DC) in terms of its ability to elicit an antitumor immune response. MATERIALS AND METHODS Two experimental models were examined: C57BL/6 mice bearing MC38 cells and Balb/c mice bearing cachexia-inducible Colon-26 cells. After immunization with DC pulsed with whole tumor cell lysate, tumors were inoculated into the subcutis. RESULTS C57BL/6 mice immunized with lysate-pulsed DC effectively rejected the MC38 challenge and detectable MC38-specific cytotoxic lymphocytes (CTL) were observed. However, even those groups immunized with lysate-pulsed DC exhibited no protective immunity against Colon-26 challenge in Balb/c mice. Unexpectedly, mice inoculated with lysate-unpulsed DC showed an acceleration of cachectic progression (p=0.031) compared to control mice. CONCLUSION We speculate that GM-CSF/IL-4-induced DC promotes Th2-dominated immunity in Balb/c mice. Consideration might be given to which combination of cytokines is appropriate for the ex vivo differentiation of DC in tumor immunotherapy.
Spiking Neuron Models based on Midbrain Mechanisms that Guide Visual Behavior

In teleost fishes, each lobe of the midbrain optic tectum receives visual input almost exclusively from the opposite eye. Tectum also makes reciprocal connections with the nucleus isthmi (NI) in the tegmentum on the same side. Multiunit spiking activity in NI ramps-up at the sight of an object approaching the eye, such that the instantaneous level of firing appears to signal the proximity of the object [1]. Previously, we modeled the tectum-NI interrelations with a network of linear-threshold units [3], and showed that such a system can successfully control the behavior of a simulated animat, allowing it to avoid stationary obstacles and moving predators using information provided only by the motion of visual images [7]. The model was able to discriminate close objects, which must be avoided, from distant objects, which can be ignored, and it did so independently of image size. Here we extend this modeling effort see how tectum-NI could control approach to objects of interest as well as avoidance, capabilities that depend on monocular motion information to determine object size and distance. To make our new networks more biologically realistic we employ spiking neurons [2].
A Systematic Review of Parental Perception of Overweight Status in Children

To systematically review the proportion of parents able to recognize overweight status in their children who were recorded as being overweight by internationally recognized standards. Two independent reviewers searched electronic databases including MEDLINE, EMBASE, PSYCHINFO, and CINAHL for studies from inception to August 2007 using search terms related to childhood overweight and parents. Twenty-three studies satisfied inclusion criteria, representing 3864 overweight children from 7 countries and 5 distinct standard definitions of overweight status. Seventeen of 23 studies employed either greater than 95th centile or the International Obesity Task Force criteria. Parental recognition of their child's overweight status ranged from 6.2% to 73%, but in 19 of 23 studies, it was less than 50%. More than half of parents cannot recognize when their child is overweight. Relying on parents to seek help for their overweight children is likely to be ineffective, and hence population-based screening may be justified.
Formation and physical properties of yogurt.

Yogurt gels are a type of soft solid, and these networks are relatively dynamic systems that are prone to structural rearrangements. The physical properties of yogurt gels can be qualitatively explained using a model for casein interactions that emphasizes a balance between attractive (e.g., hydrophobic attractions, casein cross-links contributed by calcium phosphate nanoclusters and covalent disulfide cross-links between caseins and denatured whey proteins) and repulsive (e.g., electrostatic or charge repulsions, mostly negative at the start of fermentation) forces. Various methods are discussed to investigate the physical and structural attributes of yogurts. Various processing variables are discussed which influence the textural properties of yogurts, such as total solids content, heat treatment, and incubation temperatures. A better understanding of factors contributing to the physical and structural attributes may allow manufacturers to improve the quality of yogurt.