Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Analysis of smu-1, a Gene That Regulates the Alternative Splicing of unc-52 Pre-mRNA inCaenorhabditis elegans

ABSTRACT Mutations in the smu-1 gene of Caenorhabditis elegans were previously shown to suppress mutations in the genes mec-8 and unc-52.mec-8 encodes a putative RNA binding protein that affects the accumulation of specific alternatively spliced mRNA isoforms produced by unc-52 and other genes.unc-52 encodes a set of basement membrane proteins, homologs of mammalian perlecan, that are important for body wall muscle assembly and attachment to basement membrane, hypodermis, and cuticle. We show that a presumptive null mutation in smu-1suppresses nonsense mutations in exon 17 but not exon 18 ofunc-52 and enhances the phenotype conferred by anunc-52 splice site mutation in intron 16. We have used reverse transcription-PCR and RNase protection to show that loss-of-function smu-1 mutations enhance accumulation in larvae of an alternatively spliced isoform that skips exon 17 but not exon 18 of unc-52. We have identified smu-1 molecularly; it encodes a nuclearly localized protein that contains five WD motifs and is ubiquitously expressed. The SMU-1 amino acid sequence is more than 60% identical to a predicted human protein of unknown function. We propose that smu-1 encodes a trans-acting factor that regulates the alternative splicing of the pre-mRNA ofunc-52 and other genes.
Urban Management Development From The Perspective Of The Living Standard In Bucharest

The paper is based on a current research study developed by the author in order to know the perception of the citizens of Bucharest concerning their living standard and to analyse the changes appeared along the selected period 2008-2011. The work contains the main results of the survey that has taken into account some of the most relevant living standard parameters in dynamic and was applied to the main population categories. The research methodology was based on an interdisciplinary approach which means that both economic and sociological perspectives were considered for analyzing the urban living standard along the above mentioned period. The last part of the paper includes the main research conclusions, a sort of living standard barometer which can be used by Bucharest local public administration later on for designing a sustainable urban management strategy.
Changes in pulmonary vascular responsiveness to hypoxia

We read with interest the recent article by Luks et al. (2017), which reports the relationship between arterial oxygen saturation and an echocardiographic index of pulmonary artery pressure (tricuspid transvalvular pressure gradient, TVPG) in healthy volunteers at sea level and after undertaking a two-week trek to Everest base camp. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved
Local Readjustment for High-Resolution 3D Reconstruction

Global bundle adjustment usually converges to a non-zero residual and produces sub-optimal camera poses for local areas, which leads to loss of details for high- resolution reconstruction. Instead of trying harder to optimize everything globally, we argue that we should live with the non-zero residual and adapt the camera poses to local areas. To this end, we propose a segment-based approach to readjust the camera poses locally and improve the reconstruction for fine geometry details. The key idea is to partition the globally optimized structure from motion points into well-conditioned segments for re-optimization, reconstruct their geometry individually, and fuse everything back into a consistent global model. This significantly reduces severe propagated errors and estimation biases caused by the initial global adjustment. The results on several datasets demonstrate that this approach can significantly improve the reconstruction accuracy, while maintaining the consistency of the 3D structure between segments.
Unequal Crossing-Over between Aldosterone Synthase and 11-Hydroxylase Genes Causes Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia

Congenital adrenal hyperplasia is one of the most frequently inherited diseases. It is characterized by a severe decline in cortisol secretion, which results in a compensatory increase in ACTH and consequent adrenal growth (hyperplasia). Here we describe the first case of 11 -hydroxylase deficiency that is caused by an unequal cross-over of the genes encoding aldosterone synthase (CYP11B2) and 11 -hydroxylase (CYP11B1). CYP11B1 and CYP11B2 are located on chromosome 8q24 approximately 45 kb apart from each other. The investigated genetic recombination deleted the normal alleles of the two genes and created a chimeric fusion gene, which consists of the promotor and exons 1 through 4 of the aldosterone synthase gene plus intron 4 through exon 9 of the 11 -hydroxylase gene. This recombination event subordinates any remaining 11 -hydroxylase activity of the chimeric enzyme to the control mechanisms of CYP11B2, the expression of which is mainly regulated by angiotensin II and K . Normally the 11 -hydroxylase activity is controlled by ACTH. The existence of the CYP11B2/CYP11B1 chimera was discovered by means of a PCR method and was confirmed with a Southern blot. Furthermore, by applying a minigene expression method we demonstrated a point mutation in intron 3 (IVS3 16G3T) of the patient’s second 11 -hydroxylase allele that radically diminishes proper splicing of the pre-mRNA by giving rise to a new, highly preferred donor splice site. (J Clin Endocrinol Metab 86: 4445–4452, 2001)
Chimeric Gastrocnemius Muscle and Sural Artery Perforator Local Flap

Under special circumstances, a chimeric form of combined flap can be advantageous. The formation of such a combination should be possible with any muscle perforator flap and its underlying muscle as a branch-based form of chimeric flap. In 2 patients with knee infections, this concept facilitated the use of local flaps only to simultaneously allow deep obliteration within the knee joint with the muscle portion while providing tension-free skin closure. Specifically, a chimeric gastrocnemius muscle and sural artery perforator flap, the latter based on either the medial or lateral sural source vessels, provided this reasonable solution. This is yet another new example of branch-based chimeric flaps, where the cutaneous component is a muscle perforator flap.
(De)politicising and Ecologising Bicycles

Self-service bicycle systems are today being set up in a number of cities across the world. Seen as a means to promote a sustainable city and new forms of ecology, and valued for their ‘planet friendly’ character, these systems have become a hallmark for cities that want to become part of the so-called green culture. Drawing from the experience of the Vélib’ programme in Paris and adopting a pragmatist perspective, this paper analyses the controversies which developed as this transportation infrastructure was implemented, as well as the definitions of ‘ecology’ which were at the centre of the dispute. In doing so it shows the capacity of the private firm involved in the system, JCDecaux, to ‘hijack’ and integrate the ecological critique, its rather powerful capacity to persuade other actors, and the popularity that the project achieved through a hard-won process of justification. At the same time, this paper argues that the mobility turn played a performative role in the justification and the definition of this new transport project.
Enabling photon counting clinical X-ray CT

Photon counting x-ray detectors (PCXDs) with energy discrimination capabilities offer various advantages over the current intensity integrating detectors, such as improved accuracy in material decomposition, reduced image noise, reduced radiation dose, etc. The major problem of PCXDs, however, is the limited speed. The required count rate for clinical x-ray CT scanners may be 109 counts-per-second-per-square-millimeters (cps), while the operational count rates (where a count rate loss is less than 5%) of available PCXDs are much lower, e.g., 5 × 105 cps. In this study, we propose to enable PCXD-based clinical CT imaging using these slower-than-desired detectors by a combination of four methods that reduce the count rate requirements and compensate for the effect of pileup.
Efficiency increasing of induction motor scalar control systems

The main peculiarities of the centrifugal fans' and pumps' electric drives are highlighted. The induction motor electric drives are thoroughly described to satisfy the requirements of such applications. The relevance of electric drives with a scalar control system providing the minimum of the induction motor stator current is shown. The scalar control system delivering the search control of the induction motor stator current in the steady state is designed. The search control is implemented by small-magnitude triangular additional voltage injection that increases or decreases the stator voltage and leads to corresponding change of the stator current. The designed system could be implemented by the technical capacity of a standard industrial frequency converter. The simulation results obtained by Matlab for the electric drive with the 11 kW induction motor are presented.
Mycobacterium avium Genes Expressed during Growth in Human Macrophages Detected by Selective Capture of Transcribed Sequences (SCOTS)

ABSTRACT Selective capture of transcribed sequences (SCOTS) has been employed to identify 54 cDNA molecules that represent 46 genes that are expressed by Mycobacterium avium during growth in human macrophages. Some cDNA molecules correspond to genes that are apparently expressed 48 h after infection of macrophages, while others correspond to genes expressed 110 h after infection, and still others correspond to genes expressed throughout the course of infection in our model system. Genes expressed by M. avium during growth in macrophages include genes encoding enzymes of several biosynthetic pathways (pyrimidines, mycobactin, and polyketides); genes that encode enzymes involved in intermediary metabolism, energy metabolism (tricarboxylic acid cycle, glyoxalate shunt), and nitrogen metabolism; and genes that encode regulatory proteins. A number of genes of unknown function were also identified, including genes that code for proteins similar to members of the PPE family of proteins of Mycobacterium tuberculosis and proteins similar to those encoded by the M. tuberculosis mce genes, which have been previously associated with mycobacterial virulence. The SCOTS technique, followed by enrichment for cDNA molecules that are up-regulated or are uniquely expressed by M. avium during growth in human macrophages (compared to growth in laboratory broth culture), allows recovery and identification of a greater diversity of cDNA molecules than does subtractive hybridization between cDNA mixtures from macrophage-grown and broth-grown M. avium. Data are presented demonstrating the reproducibility of recovery of a subset of cDNA molecules from cDNA mixtures purified by SCOTS on several different occasions. These results further demonstrate the beneficial utility of the SCOTS technique for identifying genes whose products are needed for successful survival and growth by an organism in a specific environment.
The Effect on Hydration of Two Diets, One with and One without Plain Water

Objective: To measure the effect on hydration of two regimens, one that included drinking water as part of the dietary beverages and one that did not. Methods: In healthy, sedentary subjects, two different diets were evaluated for their effect on hydration. Trial A provided plain water to drink as part of the beverages served. Trial B omitted plain water from the beverages served. Twenty-seven males, during two three-day confinement periods, consumed one of two diets in a random, crossover and counterbalanced fashion, while diet, physical activity and environment were controlled and monitored. Body weight and 24-hour urine volumes were measured. Pre- and post-trial urine samples and 24-hour urines were assayed for osmolality, specific gravity, chloride, sodium and potassium, and sodium/potassium ratio was calculated. Twenty-four hour creatinine levels were determined. Results: No differences (p > 0.05) were found between trials for body weight or other indicators of hydration status measured. Conclusions: Inclusion of plain drinking water compared to exclusion of plain drinking water in the diet did not affect the markers of hydration used in this study.
Facial Bone Fracture Patients Visiting Pusan National University Hospital in Busan and Yangsan: Trends and Risks

Purpose: This study examined patients with facial bone fracture visiting Pusan National University Dental Hospital to understand the trends, and to enhance appropriate care and treatment for patients with facial bone fracture. Methods: We investigated 531 patients presenting with facial bone fracture in Yangsan and 802 patients in Busan from January 2010 to December 2013. We divided the patients by year, month, gender, age, site, and cause to compare with historic data and other studies. Results: The gender ratio was 3.58:1 in Yangsan and 4.31:1 in Busan. Patients aged in their 20s had the highest number of facial bone fractures in both Yangsan and Busan. The most frequent fracture site was the mandible, and the most frequent cause was slip down in both Yangsan and Busan. Conclusion: The investigation and comparison of patients with facial bone fracture who visited Pusan National University Hospital located at Yangsan and Busan from 2010 to 2013 found a difference in the total number of patients at each hospital, but the trends were not significantly different.
An enhanced packet scheduling algorithm combined with HARQ for HSDPA system

High speed downlink packet access (HSDPA) is a packet-based data service that supports downlink data rates of up to 14 Mbps in the WCDMA (wideband code division multiple access) system. In HSDPA, the packet scheduler is a key element for high-speed and efficient transmissions. In addition, hybrid automatic request (HARQ) plays a significant role in improving system performance. We propose an enhanced scheduling algorithm combined with HARQ to reduce transfer delay without the degradation of system throughput.
A single serum glucose measurement predicts adverse outcomes across the whole range of acute coronary syndromes

Objectives: To analyse the relation between serum glucose concentration and hospital outcome across the whole spectrum of acute coronary syndromes. Methods: This was a prospective cohort study of 2127 patients presenting with acute coronary syndromes. The patients were stratified into quartile groups (Q1 to Q4) defined by serum glucose concentrations of 5.8, 7.2, and 10.0 mmol/l. The relation between quartile group and major in-hospital complications was analysed. Results: The proportion of patients with acute myocardial infarction increased incrementally across the quartile groups, from 21.4% in Q1 to 47.9% in Q4 (p < 0.0001). The trend for frequency of in-hospital major complications was similar, particularly left ventricular failure (LVF) (Q1 6.4%, Q4 25.2%, p < 0.0001) and cardiac death (Q1 0.7%, Q4 6.1%, p < 0.0001). The relations were linear, each glucose quartile increment being associated with an odds ratio of 1.46 (95% confidence interval (CI) 1.27 to 1.70) for LVF and 1.52 (95% CI 1.17 to 1.97) for cardiac death. Although complication rates were higher for a discharge diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction than for unstable angina, there was no evidence that the effects of serum glucose concentration were different for the two groups, there being no significant interaction with discharge diagnosis in the associations between glucose quartile and LVF (p = 0.69) or cardiac death (p = 0.17). Similarly there was no significant interaction with diabetic status in the associations between glucose quartile and LVF (p = 0.08) or cardiac death (p = 0.09). Conclusion: Admission glycaemia stratified patients with acute coronary syndromes according to their risk of in-hospital LVF and cardiac mortality. There was no detectable glycaemic threshold for these adverse effects. The prognostic correlates of admission glycaemia were unaffected by diabetic status and did not differ significantly between patients with acute myocardial infarction and those with unstable angina.
Protocolized Treatment Is Associated With Decreased Organ Dysfunction in Pediatric Severe Sepsis*

Objectives: To determine whether treatment with a protocolized sepsis guideline in the emergency department was associated with a lower burden of organ dysfunction by hospital day 2 compared to nonprotocolized usual care in pediatric patients with severe sepsis. Design: Retrospective cohort study. Setting: Tertiary care children’s hospital from January 1, 2012, to March 31, 2014. Subjects: Patients older than 56 days old and younger than 18 years old with international consensus defined severe sepsis and who required PICU admission within 24 hours of emergency department arrival were included. Measurements and Main Results: The exposure was the use of a protocolized emergency department sepsis guideline. The primary outcome was complete resolution of organ dysfunction by hospital day 2. One hundred eighty nine subjects were identified during the study period. Of these, 121 (64%) were treated with the protocolized emergency department guideline and 68 were not. There were no significant differences between the groups in age, sex, race, number of comorbid conditions, emergency department triage level, or organ dysfunction on arrival to the emergency department. Patients treated with protocolized emergency department care were more likely to be free of organ dysfunction on hospital day 2 after controlling for sex, comorbid condition, indwelling central venous catheter, Pediatric Index of Mortality-2 score, and timing of antibiotics and IV fluids (adjusted odds ratio, 4.2; 95% CI, 1.7–10.4). Conclusions: Use of a protocolized emergency department sepsis guideline was independently associated with resolution of organ dysfunction by hospital day 2 compared to nonprotocolized usual care. These data indicate that morbidity outcomes in children can be improved with the use of protocolized care.
An Understanding of Power Issues Influencing Employees' Acceptance of KMS: An Empirical Study of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Companies

The shift from a product-based to a knowledge-based economy is resulting in an increased demand for knowledge workers who are capable of higher-order thinking and reasoning to solve intricate problems in the work place. This requires organizations to implement knowledge management systems (KMS) at an accelerating pace to facilitate the work of their employees. However, the large investment requires for a KMS has made it imperative for organizations to understand the factors that contribute to employees' acceptance of KMS. This paper draws attention to users' concerns about loss of power and influence through the sharing of information/knowledge via KMS. We propose a new construct, perceived power security, to examine the applicability of the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) in explaining the decisions of the employees to accept KMS. The results based on a sample of 145 employees taken mostly from four international semiconductor manufacturing companies in the Hsin-Chu Science-based Industrial Park in Taiwan strongly support the extended TAM in predicting employees’ behavioral intention to use KMS.
The Global Aspects of Brain-Based Learning.

ing. Beginning in the late 1980s and the early 1990s, thousands of American teachers became intensely interested in learning about the brain-based multiple intelligences and finding multiple ways to reach their increasing numbers of diverse learners. The special significance of Howard Gardner's theory of multiple intelligences is his claim that all seven of his original intelligences, as well as his eighth, have physiological locations in the brain (Gardner 1983). Drawing upon research in neuropsychology, Gardner described how different functions of the brain can be related to particular brain-injury locations and stated: "The consequences of such brain injury may well constitute the single most instructive line of evidence regarding those distinctive abilities or computations that lie at the core of a human intelligence" (p. 63). He noted that some intelligences are "relatively independent of one another" and that "they can be fashioned and combined in a multiplicity of adaptive ways by individuals and cultures" (pp. 8-9). Gardner added that although intelligences "typically work in harmony," when "the appropriate observational lenses are donned, the peculiar nature of each intelligence emerges with sufficient (and often surprising) clarity" (p. 9). The enormous interest in the brain-based multiple intelligences helped to bring about the new field of Brain-Based Learning (BBL). Current research in the field of BBL is gleaned from the combined work of neurologists, biologists, psychologists, educators, and physicians. Professionals strive to extrapolate the most current research data on the brain and apply this information to teaching and learning in pre-K-l6+ schools. Results gleaned from BBL provide
Interaction and Usability of Simulations & Animations: A Case Study of the Flash Technology

When designing and developing simulations & animations for e-Learning purposes, basically two factors are essential: Interaction Design and Graphic Design. Both aspects are well addressed by using different Authoring Tools including the vector-based Flash technology. Although it has improved since its release, Flash still encourages superfluous animation and thus increases the likely hood of poor design. This paper is the result of practical experiences within two large projects (VMC-Graz, iVISiCE) in different domains (Medicine, Civil Engineering) where Flash amongst several other tools – was used as a tool for creating interactive content. The work is interesting due to the match of experiences of both domains resulting from Usability studies. It is essential that we include the perspective of human-computer interaction as early as possible to enhance design, an approach that is still rarely included in the solutions of traditional programmers and technologically oriented content developers.
Dry eye diagnosis.

PURPOSE To determine the most effective objective tests, applied singly or in combination in the diagnosis of dry eye disease. METHODS Two groups of subjects--41 with dry eye and 32 with no ocular surface disease--had symptoms, tear film quality, evaporation, tear turnover rate (TTR), volume and osmolarity, and meibomian gland dropout score assessed. RESULTS The subjects with dry eye had TTR, tear evaporation, and osmolarity significantly different from that of healthy normal subjects. Cutoff values between the groups were determined from distribution curves for each aspect of tear physiology, and the effectiveness of the cutoff was determined from receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curves. Values of 12%/min for TTR, 33 g/m(-2)/h for evaporation, and 317 mOsmol/L for osmolarity were found to give sensitivities, specificities, and overall accuracies of 80%, 72%, and 77%; 51%, 96%, and 67%; and 78, 78%, and 79%, respectively when applied singly as diagnostic criteria in dry eye. In combination, they yielded sensitivities, specificities, and overall accuracy of 100%, 66%, and 86% (in parallel) and 38%, 100%, and 63% (in series), respectively. Discriminant function analysis incorporating these three factors in an equation allowed diagnosis with a sensitivity of 93%, specificity of 88%, and overall accuracy of 89%. CONCLUSIONS Tear osmolarity is the best single test for the diagnosis of dry eye, whereas a battery of tests employing a weighted comparison of TTR, evaporation, and osmolarity measurements derived from discriminant function analysis is the most effective.