Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Autolysis of Lactococcus lactis Is Influenced by Proteolysis

ABSTRACT The autolysin AcmA of Lactococcus lactis was shown to be degraded by the extracellular lactococcal proteinase PrtP. Autolysis, as evidenced by reduction in optical density of a stationary-phase culture and concomitant release of intracellular proteins, was greatly reduced when L. lactis MG1363 cells expressed the cell wall-anchored lactococcal proteinase PrtP of the PI-type caseinolytic specificity (PI). On the other hand, lactococcal strains that did not produce the proteinase showed a high level of autolysis, which was also observed when the cells produced the secreted form of PI or a cell wall-anchored proteinase with PIII-type specificity. Autolysis was also increased when MG1363 expressed the cell wall-anchored hybrid PI/PIII-type proteinase PIac. Zymographic analysis of AcmA activity during stationary phase showed that AcmA was quickly degraded by PI and much more slowly by PrtP proteinases with PIII-type and intermediate specificities. Autolysis of L. lactis by AcmA was influenced by the specificity, amount, and location of the lactococcal proteinase. No autolysis was observed when the various proteinases were expressed in an L. lactis acmAdeletion mutant, indicating that PrtP itself did not cause lysis of cells. The chain length of a strain was significantly shortened when the strain expressed a cell wall-anchored active proteinase.
Exploring composite acoustic features for efficient music similarity query

Music similarity query based on acoustic content is becoming important with the ever-increasing growth of the music information from emerging applications such as digital libraries and WWW. However, relative techniques are still in their infancy and much less than satisfactory. In this paper, we present a novel index structure, called Composite Feature tree, CF-tree, to facilitate efficient content-based music search adopting multiple musical features. Before constructing the tree structure, we use PCA to transform the extracted features into a new space sorted by the importance of acoustic features. The CF-tree is a balanced multi-way tree structure where each level represents the data space at different dimensionalities. The PCA transformed data and reduced dimensions in the upper levels can alleviate suffering from dimensionality curse. To accurately mimic human perception, an extension, named CF+-tree, is proposed, which further applies multivariable regression to determine the weight of each individual feature. We conduct extensive experiments to evaluate the proposed structures against state-of-art techniques. The experimental results demonstrate superiority of our technique.
Stiffness of large arteries and cardiovascular risk in patients with post-traumatic stress disorder.

AIMS Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) develops after exposure to particularly traumatic events. Its severity depends on the nature and intensity of the stressor and susceptibility of the exposed person. The present study was carried out to find out whether PTSD and its severity, resulting from deportation to Siberia in the patients' childhood (from 1940 to 1946), have any association on the somatic health status and cardiovascular risk of these persons in advanced age. METHODS AND RESULTS Eighty patients with PTSD and 70 subjects without PTSD followed up in primary care setting were enrolled in the study. Post-traumatic stress disorder was diagnosed according to the DSM-IV criteria; severity of the symptoms included in the criteria was also assessed. All patients were subject to a standardized interview including demographic data and current and past diseases, supplemented with physical examination, biochemical tests, and aortic pulse wave velocity (PWV). The group of patients with PTSD resulting from deportation to Siberia in their childhood had higher prevalence of coronary artery disease (71.3 vs. 44.3%, P < 0.001), diabetes (26.3 vs. 11.4%, P < 0.05), and hearing impairment (23.8 vs. 2.9%, P < 0.001) than controls. They also had higher incidence of blood pressure >140/90 (86.0 vs. 65.7%, P = 0.003), fasting blood glucose >5.6 mmol/L (65.0 vs. 45.7%, P = 0.018), HDL level <1.0 mmol/L (31.3 vs. 8.6%, P = 0.0006), and triglyceride level >2.3 mmol/L (62.5 vs. 321.4%, P = 0.001). Patients with PTSD had higher PWV (13.7 vs. 12.9 m/s, P= 0.042). The magnitude of PWV increased with the severity of PTSD (P = 0.001). Stepwise logistic regression has shown that PTSD was a strong factor promoting the appearance of coronary heart disease in the former deportees group (OR 3.80; 95% CI: 1.62-8.94; P = 0.002). CONCLUSION Several-year long deportation in childhood and PTSD elevated overall cardiovascular risk in the group of former deportees compared with the group of persons without history of such a traumatic experience.
Functional Definition and Global Regulation of Zur, a Zinc Uptake Regulator in a Streptococcus suis Serotype 2 Strain Causing Streptococcal Toxic Shock Syndrome

ABSTRACT Zinc is an essential trace element for all living organisms and plays pivotal roles in various cellular processes. However, an excess of zinc is extremely deleterious to cells. Bacteria have evolved complex machineries (such as efflux/influx systems) to control the concentration at levels appropriate for the maintenance of zinc homeostasis in cells and adaptation to the environment. The Zur (zinc uptake regulator) protein is one of these functional members involved in the precise control of zinc homeostasis. Here we identified a zur homologue designated 310 from Streptococcus suis serotype 2, strain 05ZYH33, a highly invasive isolate causing streptococcal toxic shock syndrome. Biochemical analysis revealed that the protein product of gene 310 exists as a dimer form and carries zinc ions. An isogenic gene replacement mutant of gene 310, the Δ310 mutant, was obtained by homologous recombination. Physiological tests demonstrated that the Δ310 mutant is specifically sensitive to Zn2+, while functional complementation of the Δ310 mutant can restore its duration capability, suggesting that 310 is a functional member of the Zur family. Two-dimensional electrophoresis indicated that nine proteins in the Δ310 mutant are overexpressed in comparison with those in the wild type. DNA microarray analyses suggested that 121 genes in the Δ310 mutant are affected, of which 72 genes are upregulated and 49 are downregulated. The transcriptome of S. suis serotype 2 with high Zn2+ concentrations also showed 117 differentially expressed genes, with 71 upregulated and 46 downregulated. Surprisingly, more than 70% of the genes differentially expressed in the Δ310 mutant were the same as those in S. suis serotype 2 that were differentially expressed in response to high Zn2+ concentration, consistent with the notion that 310 is involved in zinc homeostasis. We thus report for the first time a novel zinc-responsive regulator, Zur, from Streptococcus suis serotype 2.
Sampled-data Modeling of PWM Boost Converters in Continuous and Discontinuous Inductor Current Modes

When the boost converter operates in continuous and discontinuous inductor current operation modes, owing to the relatively more complicated nature of the boost converter with non-ideal elements, a parsimonious large signal and small signal model for this converter, with and without feedback, is lacking. In this work, a zero order hold (ZOH) equivalent sampled-data (discrete-time) model of the boost converter for computing its small-signal frequency response and closed loop behavior for both large and small signals is developed and experimentally verified. In this model, non-ideal conductive loss effects can also be easily taken into account in continuous and discontinuous inductor current modes. Frequency response computation technique from the model are developed and a Newton-Raphson technique is shown to accelerate the computation of the frequency response. Experimental evaluation of the predicted small-signal frequency response from the model is presented and the computational efficiency of the Newton-Raphson technique is evaluated. Using setpoint perturbations, the ability of the discrete model in capturing nonlinear closed-loop (PI) control performance is demonstrated with experimental confirmation
Inferences on the Acquisition of Multi-Drug Resistance in Mycobacterium Tuberculosis Using Molecular Epidemiological Data

We investigate the rates of drug resistance acquisition in a natural population using molecular epidemiological data from Bolivia. First, we study the rate of direct acquisition of double resistance from the double sensitive state within patients and compare it to the rates of evolution to single resistance. In particular, we address whether or not double resistance can evolve directly from a double sensitive state within a given host. Second, we aim to understand whether the differences in mutation rates to rifampicin and isoniazid resistance translate to the epidemiological scale. Third, we estimate the proportion of MDR TB cases that are due to the transmission of MDR strains compared to acquisition of resistance through evolution. To address these problems we develop a model of TB transmission in which we track the evolution of resistance to two drugs and the evolution of VNTR loci. However, the available data is incomplete, in that it is recorded only {for a fraction of the population and} at a single point in time. The likelihood function induced by the proposed model is computationally prohibitive to evaluate and accordingly impractical to work with directly. We therefore approach statistical inference using approximate Bayesian computation techniques.
Nostalgia: A Psychological Perspective

A survey was designed to assess nostalgia for 20 aspects of experience as well as relative judgments of the world past, present, and future. Surveys were completed by 648 respondents, 268 males and 380 females, ranging in age from 4 to 80 years old. Split-half reliability was . 78. Test-retest reliability over a 1-wk. interval on a separate sample of 50 respondents was . 84. Nostalgia was related to the judgment of the past relative to the present. Gender differences were not significant, but significant differences across age groups were obtained for most items. The intensity of nostalgic sentiment varied across objects, situations, aspects of society, and people. Factor analysis suggested that nostalgia is comprised of a number of factors reflecting different spheres and levels of experience. For nostalgia, conceptualized as a multifaceted, composite construct, results were discussed with respect to four approaches—generational, developmental, personality, and transient mood state. Suggestions were made for further development of the survey and for research exploring relationships among nostalgia, motivation, emotion, and behavior.
Vous or tu? Native and non-native speakers of French on a sociolinguistic tightrope

Abstract Sociolinguistic rules governing choice of pronouns of address are notoriously difficult in French, despite the fact that the number of variants is rather limited: the more formal vous versus the more informal tu. Children with French as L1 learn to use pronouns of address appropriately as part of their socialization process. The learning curve is much steeper for instructed learners of French and many never reach the summit. The present contribution focuses on the effects of situational and sociobiographical variables on the self-reported and actual use of pronouns of address in native and non-native French. Data on self-reported pronoun use in different situations were collected from 125 participants through a written questionnaire. A corpus of conversations between native (n = 9) and non-native (n = 52) speakers of French provided data on the actual use of address pronouns.
The New (Old) War on Copyright Infringement, and How Context is Opening New Regulatory Possibilities

The internet blackout in January 2012 saw thousands of websites ‘go dark’ to protest proposed US laws designed to implement a ‘multi-system denial of service attack’ against alleged IP-infringing websites by making them both unfindable, and by cutting off any financial support. Within days, the laws – known as the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) and the Protect IP Act (PIPA) – effectively were dead. But when and how did such laws even reach the stage of serious discussion? This examines what has changed, and looks at how and why regulating internet intermediaries and making them the internet ‘police’ has gradually become more acceptable to governments.
Trace Elements and Antioxidant in Multiple Sclerosis

Background: No single environmental exposure has been consistently identified as a causal factor in MS. It has been suggested that trace elements and oxidative stress could be implicated in the pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis (MS). Aim of Study: The present work aimed to estimate serum levels of some trace elements; copper (Cu), zinc (Zn); manganese (Mn), and glutathione peroxidase (GSH PX) as a marker of antioxidant in multiple sclerosis patients in comparison to a control group and to verify whether these trace elements level related to clinical data and to correlate them with each other. Patients and Methods: Forty multiple sclerosis patients [10 males (25%) and 30 females (75%)]. Their age ranged from 17 to 44 years with a mean age 30.53±8.14 years were evaluated clinically using EDSS. In addition 15 age and sex matched healthy volunteers as a control group were recruited. The analysis of trace elements copper, zinc and manganese were performed by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. The oxidative stress in the blood were assessed by performing a multiparameter analysis of glutathione peroxidase (GSH PX) by GC-MS; UBI. Results: Serum levels (mean ± SD) of MANGANESE, (GSH PX), ZINC and COPPER were 4.44±0.93, 21.49±2.52, 5.32±0.43 and 830.2±100.04 micromol/l respectively. Mean of glutathione peroxidase and copper were statistically significantly lower in patients than in the control group whereas the mean manganese and zinc level were statistically significantly higher. Mean of zinc level was statistically significantly lower in female patients than in males. A statistically significant negative correlation was found between degree of disability as measured by EDSS scores and manganese level. Mean of copper level was significantly reduced in SPMS than the RRMS and PPMS. There was a significant correlation between serum levels of (GSH PX) and trace elements; positive with copper and negative with Zn and Mn. There was a significant negative correlation between copper and Mn. Conclusions: Patients with MS show altered trace elements and antioxidant. There is a significant correlation between investigated trace element and patients' gender and degree of disability. There is also a significant correlation between investigated trace element with each others and antioxidants. (Egypt J. Neurol. Psychiat. Neurosurg., 2006, 43(1): 459-470)
Parameterized joint densities with Gaussian mixture marginals and their potential use in nonlinear robust estimation

This paper addresses the challenges of the fusion of two random vectors with imprecisely known stochastic dependency. This problem mainly occurs in decentralized estimation, e.g. of a distributed phenomenon, where the stochastic dependencies between the individual states are not stored. To cope with such problems we propose to exploit parameterized joint densities with both Gaussian marginals and Gaussian mixture marginals. Under structural assumptions these parameterized joint densities contain all information about the stochastic dependencies between their marginal densities in terms of a generalized correlation parameter vector ξ̱. The parameterized joint densities are applied to the prediction step and the measurement step under imprecisely known correlation leading to a whole family of possible estimation results. The resulting density functions are characterized by the generalized correlation parameter vector ξ̱. Once this structure and the bounds of these parameters are known, it is possible to find bounding densities containing all possible density functions, i.e., conservative estimation results.
Biological effects of low-dose ionizing radiation exposure on interventional cardiologists.

BACKGROUND Interventional cardiologists (ICs) are likely to receive high radiation exposure as a result of procedures they undertake. AIMS To assess the effects of low-dose X-ray radiation exposure on chromosomal damage and on selected indices of cellular and humoral immunity in ICs. METHODS The study population consisted of 37 ICs and 37 clinical physicians as the control group with similar age, sex and duration of employment, without any work-related exposure to ionizing radiation. Cytogenetic studies were performed by chromosome aberration analysis and immunological studies by flow cytometry, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and immunodiffusion techniques. RESULTS The frequencies of aberrant cells, chromosome breaks and dicentrics plus centric rings were significantly higher in the exposed group compared to the control group (P < 0.05; P < 0.01; P < 0.001, respectively), without positive correlation between the frequency of dicentric and centric ring aberrations and the cumulative doses of the ICs (r = 0.24, not significant). A significant increase was observed in the expression of activation marker CD69 on TCD4(+) stimulated cells in serum immunoglobulin G and interleukin (IL)-2 (P < 0.05) and a significant decrease in serum IL-10 (P < 0.05) in the ICs compared with that of the control group. There was no statistical difference between the two groups in terms of number of white blood cells and lymphocytes, CD3(+), CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cells, CD19(+) and CD16(+) 56(+) cells and concentrations of interferon (IFN)-gamma, IL-4, IL-6 and IL-8 cytokines. CONCLUSIONS While cytogenetic results show higher chromosomal damage, some immune responses are stimulated or modulated immunologically in ICs.
Institute for Mathematical Physics Local Geometry of Singular Real Analytic Surfaces Local Geometry of Singular Real Analytic Surfaces

Let V R N be a compact real analytic surface with isolated singularities, and assume its smooth part V0 is equipped with a Riemannian metric that is induced from some analytic Riemannian metric on R N. We prove: 1. Each point of V has a neighborhood which is quasi-isometric (naturally and 'almost isometrically') to a union of metric cones and horns, glued at their tips. 2. A full asymptotic expansion, for any p 2 V , of the length of V \fq : dist (q; p) = rg as r ! 0. 3. A Gauss-Bonnet Theorem, saying that horns do not contribute an extra term, while cones contribute the leading coeecient in the length expansion of 2. 4. The L 2 Stokes Theorem, self-adjointness and discreteness of the Laplace-Beltrami operator on V0 , and a Gauss-Bonnet Theorem for the L 2 Euler characteristic. As a central tool we use resolution of singularities. 1. Introduction In this paper we investigate in detail some aspects of the geometry and analysis of a compact real analytic surface with isolated singularities. By
Instrumentation and Algorithms for Posture Estimation in Compliant Framed Modular Mobile Robotic Systems Chair: Mark A. Minor Final Reading Approval

Posture sensing techniques for Compliant Framed Modular Mobile Robots (CFMMR) are presented in this paper using a new Relative Posture Sensor (RPS) combined with standard sensors in a tiered fusion algorithm. The fusion algorithm uses traditional Kalman filters and rigid axle kinematic models to predict the global posture of each axle. A Covariance Intersection filter then fuses disparate axle data using the RPS. The RPS consists of a compliant frame member instrumented with strain gauges and associated algorithms. Modeling and instrumentation of the RPS for large deflections is the remaining focus. While the RPS can predict relative posture, force, and moment, only posture estimates are used here. Experimental results are derived from over 60 trials operating the robot on high traction carpet, low traction sand, and sand with rugged rocky terrain. Results comparing the RPS combined with a variety of standard sensor configurations on varied terrain demonstrate that the derived posture sensing techniques yield accurate relative posture estimates and posture regulation even on rugged terrain, which is a vast improvement over previous results. For my wife and daughters – without whose long suffering and patience this would never have come to be.
Emotion expression among abusive mothers is associated with their children's emotion processing and problem behaviours

The current study evaluated the quality of facial and vocal emotional expressions in abusive and non-abusive mothers, and assessed whether mothers' emotional expression quality was related to their children's cognitive processing of emotion and behavioural problems. Relative to non-abusive mothers, abusive mothers produced less prototypical angry facial expressions, and less prototypical angry, happy, and sad vocal expressions. The intensity of mothers' facial and vocal expressions of anger was related to their children's externalising and internalising symptoms. Additionally, children's cognitive processing of their mothers' angry faces was related to the quality of mothers' facial expressions. Results are discussed with respect to the impact of early emotional learning environments on children's socioemotional development and risk for psychopathology.
Prostaglandin transporter in the rat brain: its localization and induction by lipopolysaccharide

Prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) is produced in the brain during infectious/inflammatory diseases, and it mediates acute-phase responses including fever. In the recovery phase of such diseases, PGE2 disappears from the brain through yet unidentified mechanisms. Rat prostaglandin transporter (PGT), which facilitates transmembrane transport of PGE2, might be involved in the clearance of PGE2 from the brain. Here, we examined the cellular localization of PGT mRNA and its protein in the brains of untreated rats and those injected intraperitoneally with a pyrogen lipopolysaccharide (LPS) or saline. PGT mRNA was weakly expressed in the arachnoid membrane of untreated rats and saline-injected ones, but was induced in blood vessels of the subarachnoidal space and choroid plexus and in arachnoid membrane at 5 h and 12 h after LPS injection. In the same type of cells, PGT-like immunoreactivity was found in the cytosol and cell membrane even under nonstimulated conditions, and its level was also elevated after LPS injection. PGT-positive cells in blood vessels were identified as endothelial cells. In most cases, PGT was not colocalized with cyclooxygenase-2, a marker of prostaglandin-producing cells. The PGE2 level in the cerebrospinal fluid reached its peak at 3 h after LPS, and then dropped over 50% by 5 h, which time point coincides with the maximum PGT mRNA expression and enhanced level of PGT protein. These results suggest that PGT is involved in the clearance of PGE2 from the brain during the recovery phase of LPS-induced acute-phase responses.
A Bi-modal Handwritten Text Corpus: Baseline Results

Handwritten text is generally captured through two main modalities: off-line and on-line. Smart approaches to handwritten text recognition (HTR) may take advantage of both modalities if they are available. This is for instance the case in computer-assisted transcription of text images, where on-line text can be used to interactively correct errors made by a main off-line HTR system. We present here baseline results on the biMod-IAM-PRHLT corpus, which was recently compiled for experimentation with techniques aimed at solving the proposed multi-modal HTR problem, and is being used in one of the official ICPR-2010 contests.