Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Interplay of Viral and Host Factors in Chikungunya Virus Infection: Targets for Antiviral Strategies

Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) has re-emerged as one of the many medically important arboviruses that have spread rampantly across the world in the past decade. Infected patients come down with acute fever and rashes, and a portion of them suffer from both acute and chronic arthralgia. Currently, there are no targeted therapeutics against this debilitating virus. One approach to develop potential therapeutics is by understanding the viral-host interactions. However, to date, there has been limited research undertaken in this area. In this review, we attempt to briefly describe and update the functions of the different CHIKV proteins and their respective interacting host partners. In addition, we also survey the literature for other reported host factors and pathways involved during CHIKV infection. There is a pressing need for an in-depth understanding of the interaction between the host environment and CHIKV in order to generate potential therapeutics.
The Role of Candida albicans Transcription Factor RLM1 in Response to Carbon Adaptation

Candida albicans is the main causative agent of candidiasis and one of the most frequent causes of nosocomial infections worldwide. In order to establish an infection, this pathogen supports effective stress responses to counter host defenses and adapts to changes in the availability of important nutrients, such as alternative carbon sources. These stress responses have clear implications on the composition and structure of Candida cell wall. Therefore, we studied the impact of lactate, a physiologically relevant carbon source, on the activity of C. albicans RLM1 transcriptional factor. RLM1 is involved in the cell wall integrity pathway and plays an important role in regulating the flow of carbohydrates into cell wall biosynthesis pathways. The role of C. albicans RLM1 in response to lactate adaptation was assessed in respect to several virulence factors, such as the ability to grow under cell wall damaging agents, filament, adhere or form biofilm, as well as to immune recognition. The data showed that growth of C. albicans cells in the presence of lactate induces the secretion of tartaric acid, which has the potential to modulate the TCA cycle on both the yeast and the host cells. In addition, we found that adaptation of C. albicans cells to lactate reduces their internalization by immune cells and consequent % of killing, which could be correlated with a lower exposure of the cell wall β-glucans. In addition, absence of RLM1 has a minor impact on internalization, compared with the wild-type and complemented strains, but it reduces the higher efficiency of lactate grown cells at damaging phagocytic cells and induces a high amount of IL-10, rendering these cells more tolerable to the immune system. The data suggests that RLM1 mediates cell wall remodeling during carbon adaptation, impacting their interaction with immune cells.
The glycerol backbone of phospholipids derives from noncarbohydrate precursors in starved lung cancer cells

Significance Phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK) has a unique position in cell metabolism by allowing the flexible use of nutrients for anabolic biosynthetic reactions. PEPCK activity has just recently been described in cancer cells. It has been shown to promote cancer cell survival under nutrient deprivation, a typical feature in solid cancers, as well as cancer growth. To decipher the metabolic downstream pathways of PEPCK is critical for a better understanding of cancer cell adaptive responses under low nutrient stress. Here, we show that mitochondrial PEPCK (PEPCK-M) mediates the synthesis of glycerol phosphate from noncarbohydrate precursors, and that PEPCK-M is needed to maintain levels of glycerophospholipids, major constituents of biomembranes, in starved lung cancer cells. Cancer cells are reprogrammed to consume large amounts of glucose to support anabolic biosynthetic pathways. However, blood perfusion and consequently the supply with glucose are frequently inadequate in solid cancers. PEPCK-M (PCK2), the mitochondrial isoform of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK), has been shown by us and others to be functionally expressed and to mediate gluconeogenesis, the reverse pathway of glycolysis, in different cancer cells. Serine and ribose synthesis have been identified as downstream pathways fed by PEPCK in cancer cells. Here, we report that PEPCK-M–dependent glycerol phosphate formation from noncarbohydrate precursors (glyceroneogenesis) occurs in starved lung cancer cells and supports de novo glycerophospholipid synthesis. Using stable isotope-labeled glutamine and lactate, we show that PEPCK-M generates phosphoenolpyruvate and 3-phosphoglycerate, which are at least partially converted to glycerol phosphate and incorporated into glycerophospholipids (GPL) under glucose and serum starvation. This pathway is required to maintain levels of GPL, especially phosphatidylethanolamine (PE), as shown by stable shRNA-mediated silencing of PEPCK-M in H23 lung cancer cells. PEPCK-M shRNA led to reduced colony formation after starvation, and the effect was partially reversed by the addition of dioleyl-PE. Furthermore, PEPCK-M silencing abrogated cancer growth in a lung cancer cell xenograft model. In conclusion, glycerol phosphate formation for de novo GPL synthesis via glyceroneogenesis is a newly characterized anabolic pathway in cancer cells mediated by PEPCK-M under conditions of severe nutrient deprivation.
Immunohistochemical expression of p 16 INK 4 A protein in oral lichen planus

The expression of p16 has been investigated in oral leukoplakias (OLK), but no data are available about oral lichen planus (OLP). In this study, p16 immunohistochemical expression was evaluated in 56 OLP and 36 OLK (12 without inflammation [NI-OLK] and 24 with chronic inflammation [I-OLK]) and compared with 23 reactive nonspecific inflammations (INF) and 14 normal control samples. The p16 immunostaining was considered to be positive when 5% of keratinocytes were stained. All normal control samples were negative. Positive p16 was detected in OLP, IOLK, and INF. Significant differences in p16 positivity were found between OLP (64%) and OLK (28%) ( 2 17.7; P .01), and between I-OLK and NI-OLK ( 2 4.5; P .05). No significant difference was found between OLP and INF (43%). In conclusion, positive p16 in OLP patients seems to be related to reactive inflammatory processes rather than to a risk of progression to oral squamous cell carcinoma. (Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol Oral Radiol Endod 2011;112:222-227)
Analysis of Behavior Patterns to Identify Nicknames of a User in Online Community

An online community is a virtual group that is mediated through the Internet for users to share interests and hobbies. Unlike social network service (SNS), an online community is an anonymous service mainly based on nickname. Some users exploit this anonymity and conduct malicious activities. Actions should be taken to filter these users and limit their activities. One problem lies in that nicknames are frequently changed in online communities, and automatically filtering nicknames is difficult when they are constantly malicious. Another problem is data fragmentation in which the data of the same user exists under different nicknames due to the first problem. Therefore, to solve these issues, we propose a behavior pattern feature vector, which considers online community characteristics and identifies nicknames of the same user. Specifically, we propose a method to identify nicknames of the same user using actual data of an online community in Korea.
Changing phenotype and disease behaviour of chronic pancreatitis in India: evidence for gene–environment interactions

Background The idiopathic variety of chronic pancreatitis (CP) in India particularly in Kerala state was earlier called ‘tropical pancreatitis’ with peculiar features: early age of onset, severe malnutrition, diabetes and poor prognosis. A change in disease phenotype and behaviour has been observed recently. Objective To review the changing profile of CP in India and examine its relationship with environmental influences and socio-economic development. Methods Relevant studies on CP in India were reviewed along with social and economic parameters in Kerala over the past 4 decades. Results There has been a definite change in the phenotype of CP in India with onset in mid twenties, better nutritional status, and a much better prognosis compared with the reports in 1970s. Genetic susceptibility due to genetic mutations particularly in SPINK1, CFTR, CTRC, and CLDN2/MORC4 genes is the most important factor and not malnutrition or dietary toxins for idiopathic CP suggesting the term ‘tropical pancreatitis’ is a misnomer. We observed a close relationship between socio-economic development and rising income in Kerala with late onset of disease, nutritional status, and better prognosis of CP. Conclusion Changing profile of CP in India and better understanding of risk factors provide evidence for gene–environmental interactions in its pathobiology.
Heat sensitivity of eggs attributes to the reduction in Agasicles hygrophila population

Agasicles hygrophila has been introduced worldwide as a control agent for the invasive weed Alternanthera philoxeroides. However, global warming has potential impact on its controlling efficacy. The aim of this research was to explore the primary factors responsible for the greatly reduced A. hygrophila population in hot summers. To imitate the temperature conditions in summers, different developmental stages of A. hygrophila were treated with high temperatures from 32.5 °C to 45 °C for 1–5 h. Based on the survival rate, the heat tolerance of each developmental stage was ranked from lowest to highest as follows: egg, 1st, 2nd, 3rd instar larva, adult and pupa. Eggs showed the lowest heat tolerance with 37.5 °C as the critical temperature affecting larval hatching. Heat treatment of the A. hygrophila eggs at 37.5 °C for 1 h decreased the hatch rate to 24%. Our results indicated that when compared with the control at 25 °C, 1 h treatment at 37.5 °C prolonged the duration of the egg stage, shortened the duration of oviposition and total longevity, and changed the reproductive pattern of A. hygrophila. The net reproductive rate, intrinsic rate and finite rate were all significantly reduced. The results suggest that low heat tolerance of the eggs was the major factor responsible for the reduction of A. hygrophila populations, and the key temperature was 37.5 °C. Therefore, appropriate measures should be taken to protect eggs in order to maintain the efficacy of A. hygrophila in the biological control of A. philoxeroides in hot summers.
Do nitrogen inputs stimulate dissolved organic carbon production in upland peat bogs?

This study uses a 10‐year record of precipitation, soil, and stream concentration of nutrient and carbon species from an upland peat catchment to examine whether or not changes in nutrient inputs can explain long‐term increases in DOC flux from peat. The study uses time series analysis and particularly the derivation of impulse response functions to provide an alternative approach to environmental manipulations and experimental additions of nitrogen. The study shows that (1) the catchment has a fixed capacity for nitrogen uptake and as such nitrogen flux from the catchment is controlled by precipitation inputs; (2) the DOC flux from the catchment shows no relationship with precipitation inputs and flux from the peat itself continues to increase over the period; (3) impulse response functions suggest that high DOC concentrations suppress nutrient flux from the catchment and not the other way around; and (4) no significant correlation could be found between nutrient time series and the residual of the DOC concentrations after removing the effects of both temperature and changes in water table. The study can find no evidence of a link between nutrient inputs and the release of DOC from the peat profile. The DOC flux corrected for rainfall inputs and the residual time series of regression all show sharp step changes in the DOC release after severe drought.
Towards a GSM enabled remote monitoring medical system

Telemedicine is becoming an important part of the modern healthcare system with the increasing interest in expanding access to quality healthcare in remote or rural areas. We present an innovative telecare system with GSM functionality, detailing its architecture as well as design processes and procedures that were undertaken during the development. Design science research (DSR) was used in the design and development of the system. Different system blocks were designed separately and then integrated as a functional unit system. The system was compared against the calibrated medical instruments for verification. The results showed that the system performed as anticipated against the calibrated medical equipment.
Anomaloglossus meansi sp. n., a new Pantepui species of the Anomaloglossus beebei group (Anura, Aromobatidae)

Abstract Recent extinctions and drastic population declines have been documented in the Guiana Shield endemic frog genus Anomaloglossus, hence the importance to resolve its alpha-taxonomy. Based on molecular phylogenies, the literature has long reported the occurrence of an undescribed species in the Pakaraima Mountains of Guyana in the Pantepui region. We here describe this new taxon and demonstrate that in addition to divergence at the molecular level the new species differs from congeners by a unique combination of morphological characters, notably a small size (maximum SVL in males 18.86 mm, maximum SVL in females 21.26 mm), Finger I = Finger II when fingers adpressed, Finger III swollen in breeding males, fringes on fingers absent, toes basally webbed but lacking fringes, in life presence of a thin dorsolateral stripe from tip of snout to tip of urostyle, and a black throat in preserved males (immaculate cream in females). Virtually nothing is known about the ecology of the new species. We suggest the new species to be considered as Data Deficient according to IUCN standards.
A Nanophotonic 4x4 Wavelength Router in Silicon-on-Insulator

We demonstrate a 400x150um2 Silicon-on-insulator 4x4 arrayed waveguide grating with 3.5dB insertion loss, fabricated with CMOS technology. The device was pigtailed and used as a wavelength router in a 10 Gb/s reconfigurable optical backplane interconnect.
Response of hearing-impaired children to piano lessons: Engagement and enjoyment of music

This multiple single-subject research study explores how deaf children with cochlear implants (CIs) can appreciate and engage in piano lessons. Three CI children and 2 normalhearing children received 6 months of formal individual piano lessons where aural modeling was the main teaching method. Engagement was measured by a daily practice logbook indicating the number of days of practice a week, the duration of each practice session and the number of days listening to the audio modeling CD. In addition, student and parent had to rate the quality of the practice sessions. The engagement shown by hearing-impaired children was comparable to the two normal-hearing children who had lessons during the same period of time. This study suggests that it is possible for hearing-impaired children to learn to play the piano and to enjoy music making. The proposed study represents the first attempt to study how children with a profound hearing deficit respond to piano lessons in terms of engagement and enjoyment.
High performance carbon nanotube based folded cascode operational transconductance amplifiers

In this work, we propose and simulate two new folded cascode operational transconductance amplifiers (FC-OTAs). The novelty of the proposed OTAs is the use of carbon nanotube field effect transistors (CNT-FET) in their design. The two proposed OTAs include one employing the combination of n-type CNT-FETs and conventional-PMOS transistors and the other one using the combination of p-type CNT-FETs and conventional-NMOS transistors. The design is based on 45 nm technology node. The proposed structures show a significant improvement in performance in comparison to the conventional one. An increase of 72.44% in DC voltage gain and ∼22% decrease in average power is observed in the proposed n-CNT-FET-PMOS-OTA in comparison to CMOS counterpart. Further, the performance can be improved further by using an optimized number of nanotubes in the CNT-FETs used.
Worth a thousand words? Visual concept mapping of the quality of life of people with severe mental health problems

Conventional approaches to quality of life (QoL) measurement rely heavily on verbal, language‐based communication. They require respondents to have significant cognitive and verbal ability, making them potentially unsuitable for people with severe mental health problems. To facilitate an alternative approach to QoL assessment, the current study aims to develop an alternative, visual representation of QoL for people with severe mental health problems.
SuperSim: Extensible Flit-Level Simulation of Large-Scale Interconnection Networks

The interconnection networks of modern largescale computing systems are quickly increasing in size and complexity to keep up with the demand for computing capability. These systems rely heavily on complex router microarchitectures and intelligent adaptive routing algorithms structured for cost-optimized low-diameter networks. These technologies need to be properly modeled and evaluated during design space exploration and for performance characterization of the system. We present SuperSim, an open-source flit-level interconnection network simulator that enables focused evaluation of issues related to designing and deploying large-scale highperformance networks. SuperSim is a programmer-centric simulation framework explicitly designed to be flexibly extended and is supported by a number of tools making it easy to use and allowing users to model systems quickly. In this work we show the results for simulation case studies demonstrating the power of SuperSim to uncover otherwise overlooked details in large-scale interconnection networks.
Effect of cysteamine hydrochloride supplementation on the growth performance, enterotoxic status, and glutathione turnover of broilers fed aflatoxin B1 contaminated diets

This study aimed to investigate the effect of cysteamine hydrochloride (CSH) supplementation on the growth performance, opportunistic bacteria and enterotoxic markers, visceral lesions, glutathione turnover, and inflammatory factors of broilers fed diets contaminated with aflatoxin B1 (AFB1). One-day-old Arbor Acres broilers (n = 480) were randomly allocated to 4 treatments with 6 replicates of 20 chicks each for a 2 × 2 design with CSH (0 or 200 mg/kg) and AFB1 (0 or 40 μg/kg). The trial lasted for 42 d. Results showed that AFB1 negatively affected (P < 0.05) growth performance, opportunistic bacteria and enterotoxic markers, intestinal lesions, glutathione turnover, and inflammatory factors. The CSH increased (P < 0.05) feed intake and body weight gain. The enterotoxic status was relieved in the CSH treatments by reducing (P < 0.05) the populations of gut Escherichia coli, Gram-negative bacteria, serum diamine oxidase, and intestinal lesions. The CSH also increased (P < 0.05) serum reduced glutathione, glutathione s-transferases, and glutathione reductase, and decreased (P < 0.05) the mRNA levels of tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-6, and interleukin-1β. Significant interactions (P < 0.05) were found on Gram-negative bacteria, diamine oxidase, and glutathione s-transferases. The results suggest that the CSH can improve glutathione turnover and reduce the risk of enterotoxic disease induced by AFB1 in broilers.
Unlabeled Text Classification Optimization Algorithm Based on Active Self-Paced Learning

This paper aims to introduce an algorithm for learning from unlabeled and very few labeled text based on the combination of convolutional neural network (CNN), one-vs-all SVM classifier and Active Self-Paced Learning(ASPL). The algorithm first initialize the classifier using a few annotated samples, and extract text features using CNN. It then rank the unlabeled samples according to their importance weight v. The top-ranked samples will be get, and form these samples into high-confidence sample set. In addition, we consider that a few annotations may contain incorrectly annotated samples, then, we re-rank them and select Top-6 ones with lowest prediction scores to verify these annotations. Experimental results shows that the accuracy of optimized text classifier can be improved by unlabeled or very few labeled text data. This algorithm can provide a more effective way for unlabeled or few labeled text samples classification.
Theoretical Study of Aluminum Hydroxide as a Hydrogen-Bonded Layered Material

In many layer-structured materials, constituent layers are bound through van der Waals (vdW) interactions. However, hydrogen bonding is another type of weak interaction which can contribute to the formation of multi-layered materials. In this work, we investigate aluminum hydroxide [Al(OH)3] having hydrogen bonding as an interlayer binding mechanism. We study the crystal structures and electronic band structures of bulk, single-layer, and multi-layer Al(OH)3 using density functional theory calculations. We find that hydrogen bonds across the constituent layers indeed give rise to interlayer binding stronger than vdW interactions, and a reduction of the band gap occurs for an isolated layer as compared to bulk Al(OH)3 which is attributed to the emergence of surface states. We also consider the alkali-halide intercalation between layers and examine how the intercalated atoms affect the atomic and electronic structures of Al(OH)3.
Automatic Exposure Compensation for Multi-Exposure Image Fusion

This paper proposes a novel luminance adjustment method based on automatic exposure compensation for multi -exposure image fusion. Multi-exposure image fusion is a method to produce images without saturation regions, by using photos with different exposures. In conventional works, it has been pointed out that the quality of those multi-exposure images can be improved by adjusting the luminance of them. However, how to determine the degree of adjustment has never been discussed. This paper therefore proposes a way to automatically determines the degree on the basis of the luminance distribution of input multi -exposure images. Moreover, new weights, called “simple weights”, for image fusion are also considered for the proposed luminance adjustment method. Experimental results show that the multi -exposure images adjusted by the proposed method have better quality than the input multi-exposure ones in terms of the well-exposedness. It is also confirmed that the proposed simple weights provide the highest score of statistical naturalness and discrete entropy in all fusion methods.