Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Examining the influence of ultraviolet C irradiation on recombinant human γD-crystallin

Purpose Human γD crystallin is a principal protein component of the human eye lens and associated with the development of juvenile and mature-onset cataracts. Exposure to ultraviolet (UV) light is thought to perturb protein structure and eventually lead to aggregation. This work is aimed at exploring the effects of UV-C irradiation on recombinant human γD-crystallin (HGDC). Methods Recombinant HGDC proteins were expressed in E. coli strain BL21(DE3) harboring plasmid pEHisHGDC and purified using chromatographic methods. The proteins were then exposed to UV-C light (λmax=254 nm, 15 W) at the intensity of 420, 800, or 1850 μW/cm2. The UV-C-unexposed, supernatant fraction of UV-C-exposed, and re-dissolved precipitated fraction of UV-C exposed preparations were characterized by SDS–PAGE, turbidity measurement, CD spectroscopy, tryptophan fluorescence spectroscopy, acrylamide fluorescence quenching analysis, and sulfhydryl group measurements. Results The turbidity of the HGDC sample solution was found to be positively correlated with HGDC concentration, UV-C irradiation intensity, and UV-C irradiation duration. When exposed to UV-C, HGDC sample solutions became visibly turbid and a noticeable amount of larger protein particle, perceptible to the naked eye, was observed upon prolonged irradiation. The precipitated fraction of irradiated HGDC sample was found to be re-dissolved by guanidine hydrochloride. Electrophoresis, acrylamide fluorescence quenching, and spectroscopic analyses revealed differences in structures among the non-irradiated HGDC, the supernatant fraction of irradiated HGDC, and the re-dissolved precipitated fraction of irradiated HGDC. Through the use of L-cysteine, the measurements of sulfhydryl contents, and the reducing as well as non-reducing SDS–PAGE, our data further suggested that disulfide bond formation and/or cleavage probably play an important role in aggregation and/or precipitation of HGDC elicited by UV-C irradiation. Conclusions Our findings highlight the close connections among disulfide bond cleavage and/or formation, intermolecular interactions, and the resultant formation of aggregates of HGDC induced by UV-C irradiation. The results from this research may not only contribute to the understanding of the environmental factors causing protein aggregation but also have implications for deciphering the molecular mechanism of cataractogenesis.
Ridgelets and the Representation of Mutilated Sobolev Functions

We show that ridgelets, a system introduced in [E. J. Candes, Appl. Comput. Harmon. Anal. , 6 (1999), pp. 197--218], are optimal to represent smooth multivariate functions that may exhibit linear singularities. For instance, let $\{u\cdot x - b >0\}$ be an arbitrary hyperplane and consider the singular function $f(x) = 1_{\{u\cdot x - b > 0\}} g(x)$, where g is compactly supported with finite Sobolev L2 norm $\|g\|_{H^s}$, $s > 0$. The ridgelet coefficient sequence of such an object is as sparse as if f were without singularity, allowing optimal partial reconstructions. For instance, the n-term approximation obtained by keeping the terms corresponding to the n largest coefficients in the ridgelet series achieves a rate of approximation of order n-s/d ; the presence of the singularity does not spoil the quality of the ridgelet approximation. This is unlike all systems currently in use, especially Fourier or wavelet representations.
Crafting Sustainable Development Solutions: Frugal Innovations of Grassroots Entrepreneurs

A shift in the entrepreneurial landscape is taking place brought about by grassroots innovators with little formal education and technological knowhow, living and working in penurious environments. This research represents an emerging third wave of literature on Bottom of the Pyramid innovation, where products are offered for and by the underserved. Using primary and secondary data derived from four cases of grassroots entrepreneurs in the Indian Subcontinent, the study explores the phenomenon where resource scarce entrepreneurs craft solutions that are environmental friendly, with low overall ownership costs, and use locally available material. We argue that the grassroots phenomenon can be fruitfully exploited to achieve the new Sustainable Development Goals proposed by the UN as a post-2015 strategy for the future of global governance. These innovations might have a tremendous impact not only in terms of serving unmet and ignored consumer needs, but also longer term impacts through enhanced productivity, sustainability, poverty reduction and inclusion promotion.
Temporal diversity in recommender systems

Collaborative Filtering (CF) algorithms, used to build web-based recommender systems, are often evaluated in terms of how accurately they predict user ratings. However, current evaluation techniques disregard the fact that users continue to rate items over time: the temporal characteristics of the system's top-N recommendations are not investigated. In particular, there is no means of measuring the extent that the same items are being recommended to users over and over again. In this work, we show that temporal diversity is an important facet of recommender systems, by showing how CF data changes over time and performing a user survey. We then evaluate three CF algorithms from the point of view of the diversity in the sequence of recommendation lists they produce over time. We examine how a number of characteristics of user rating patterns (including profile size and time between rating) affect diversity. We then propose and evaluate set methods that maximise temporal recommendation diversity without extensively penalising accuracy.
The generalized Marcum $Q-$function: an orthogonal polynomial approach

A novel power series representation of the generalized Mar- cum Q-function of positive order involving generalized Laguerre poly- nomials is presented. The absolute convergence of the proposed power series expansion is showed, together with a convergence speed analysis by means of truncation error. A brief review of related studies and some numerical results are also provided.
Cyclic Di-GMP-Mediated Repression of Swarming Motility by Pseudomonas aeruginosa PA14 Requires the MotAB Stator

ABSTRACT The second messenger cyclic diguanylate (c-di-GMP) plays a critical role in the regulation of motility. In Pseudomonas aeruginosa PA14, c-di-GMP inversely controls biofilm formation and surface swarming motility, with high levels of this dinucleotide signal stimulating biofilm formation and repressing swarming. P. aeruginosa encodes two stator complexes, MotAB and MotCD, that participate in the function of its single polar flagellum. Here we show that the repression of swarming motility requires a functional MotAB stator complex. Mutating the motAB genes restores swarming motility to a strain with artificially elevated levels of c-di-GMP as well as stimulates swarming in the wild-type strain, while overexpression of MotA from a plasmid represses swarming motility. Using point mutations in MotA and the FliG rotor protein of the motor supports the conclusion that MotA-FliG interactions are critical for c-di-GMP-mediated swarming inhibition. Finally, we show that high c-di-GMP levels affect the localization of a green fluorescent protein (GFP)-MotD fusion, indicating a mechanism whereby this second messenger has an impact on MotCD function. We propose that when c-di-GMP level is high, the MotAB stator can displace MotCD from the motor, thereby affecting motor function. Our data suggest a newly identified means of c-di-GMP-mediated control of surface motility, perhaps conserved among Pseudomonas, Xanthomonas, and other organisms that encode two stator systems.
THE PRIMORDIAL ABUNDANCE OF 4He: EVIDENCE FOR NON-STANDARD BIG BANG NUCLEOSYNTHESIS

We present a new determination of the primordial helium mass fraction Yp, based on 93 spectra of 86 low-metallicity extragalactic H ii regions, and taking into account the latest developments concerning systematic effects. These include collisional and fluorescent enhancements of He i recombination lines, underlying He i stellar absorption lines, collisional and fluorescent excitation of hydrogen lines, and temperature and ionization structure of the H ii region. Using Monte Carlo methods to solve simultaneously for the above systematic effects, we find the best value to be Yp = 0.2565 ± 0.0010 (stat.) ± 0.0050 (syst.). This value is higher at the 2σ level than the value given by standard big bang nucleosynthesis, implying deviations from it. The effective number of light neutrino species Nν is equal to 3.68+0.80−0.70 (2σ) and 3.80+0.80−0.70 (2σ) for a neutron lifetime τn equal to 885.4 ± 0.9 s and 878.5 ± 0.8 s, respectively, i.e., it is larger than the experimental value of 2.993 ± 0.011.
Hyperkalemic Recurrent Bilateral Lower Extremity Weakness in a Patient on Hemodialysis

Hyperkalemia is a severe life-threatening electrolyte disorder that commonly affects the cardiac conductivity and contractility. Ascending paralysis affecting the extremities with focal neurological deficit as well as quadriparesis and a seizure associated with hyperkalemia has been reported in the literature. Here, we describe a case of isolated recurrent lower extremity paralysis and an episode of seizure in an 83-year-old patient with end-stage renal disease on hemodialysis.
LOF: identifying density-based local outliers

For many KDD applications, such as detecting criminal activities in E-commerce, finding the rare instances or the outliers, can be more interesting than finding the common patterns. Existing work in outlier detection regards being an outlier as a binary property. In this paper, we contend that for many scenarios, it is more meaningful to assign to each object a degree of being an outlier. This degree is called the local outlier factor (LOF) of an object. It is local in that the degree depends on how isolated the object is with respect to the surrounding neighborhood. We give a detailed formal analysis showing that LOF enjoys many desirable properties. Using real-world datasets, we demonstrate that LOF can be used to find outliers which appear to be meaningful, but can otherwise not be identified with existing approaches. Finally, a careful performance evaluation of our algorithm confirms we show that our approach of finding local outliers can be practical.
Accretion of the Earth

The origin of the Earth and its Moon has been the focus of an enormous body of research. In this paper I review some of the current models of terrestrial planet accretion, and discuss assumptions common to most works that may require re-examination. Density-wave interactions between growing planets and the gas nebula may help to explain the current near-circular orbits of the Earth and Venus, and may result in large-scale radial migration of proto-planetary embryos. Migration would weaken the link between the present locations of the planets and the original provenance of the material that formed them. Fragmentation can potentially lead to faster accretion and could also damp final planet orbital eccentricities. The Moon-forming impact is believed to be the final major event in the Earth's accretion. Successful simulations of lunar-forming impacts involve a differentiated impactor containing between 0.1 and 0.2 Earth masses, an impact angle near 45° and an impact speed within 10 per cent of the Earth's escape velocity. All successful impacts—with or without pre-impact rotation—imply that the Moon formed primarily from material originating from the impactor rather than from the proto-Earth. This must ultimately be reconciled with compositional similarities between the Earth and the Moon.
Livestock-Associated MRSA Carriage in Patients without Direct Contact with Livestock

Background Livestock-associated MRSA (MC398) has emerged and is related to an extensive reservoir in pigs and veal calves. Individuals with direct contact with these animals and their family members are known to have high MC398 carriage rates. Until now it was assumed that MC398 does not spread to individuals in the community without pig or veal calf exposure. To test this, we identified the proportion of MC398 in MRSA positive individuals without contact with pigs/veal calves or other known risk factors (MRSA of unknown origin; MUO). Methods In 17 participating hospitals, we determined during two years the occurrence of MC398 in individuals without direct contact with livestock and no other known risk factor (n = 271) and tested in a post analysis the hypothesis whether hospitals in pig-dense areas have higher proportions of MC398 of all MUO. Results Fifty-six individuals (20.7%) without animal contact carried MC398. In hospitals with high pig-densities in the adherence area, the proportion of MC398 of all MUO was higher than this proportion in hospitals without pigs in the surroundings. Conclusions One fifth of the individuals carrying MUO carried MC398. So, MC398 is found in individuals without contact to pigs or veal calves. The way of transmission from the animal reservoir to these individuals is unclear, probably by human-to-human transmission or by exposure to the surroundings of the stables. Further research is needed to investigate the way of transmission.
Les premires rgles des jeunes filles: pubert et entre dans l'adolescence

Les premieres regles et plus largement la puberte ont rarement fait l'objet d'etudes sociologiques. En s'appuyant sur une enquete aupres de jeunes filles et de leurs meres, cet article entend montrer que la menarche constitue un moment de transition identitaire. Presente et accueilli par la famille comme un signe de feminite et de maturite, cet evenement agit sur la definition que les filles se font d'elles-memes et de leur statut et implique pour elles des changements d'actions et d'attitudes. Par consequent, les premieres regles possedent une place fondamentale dans l'entree dans l'adolescence alors meme que cet âge de la vie est surtout defini par ses codes culturels.
Effects of Local Immunization with Glucosyltransferase Fractions from Streptococcus mutans on Dental Caries in Hamsters Caused by Homologous and Heterologous Serotypes of Streptococcus mutans

Seven serotypes of Streptococcus mutans have been identified. The biochemical, genetic, and serological characteristics of these serotypes have indicated that certain serotypes are quite similar, whereas others are quite distinct. The effect of local immunization with glucosyltransferase (GTF) enzymes from serotypes a, c, or g on infection and disease caused by homologous or heterologous cariogenic S. mutans is reported. Organisms with either similar (a and g) or different (c and g) biochemical and serological characteristics were selected for heterologous challenge. NIH white hamsters were injected four times at weekly intervals with GTF prepared by 6 M guanidine-hydrochloride elution from water-insoluble glucan of serotypes a, c, or g, which resulted in enzyme (homologous) inhibitory activity in sera and salivas. After infection of GTF-immunized and sham-immunized groups of hamsters with cariogenic S. mutans of the same serotype as the injected antigen (homologous infection) or with S. mutans of a different serotype from the injected antigen (heterologous infection), the numbers of streptomycin-labeled S. mutans, caries, and lesions were determined. Immunization with GTF preparations from each of the three serotypes resulted in statistically significant reductions in the extent of infection and disease and number of lesions caused by infections with homologous cariogenic S. mutans. Statistically significant reductions in these three parameters were also observed in groups immunized with enzyme from serotype a (strain E49) and challenged with cariogenic serotype g (strain 6715) organisms; or immunized with enzyme from serotype c (strain Ingbritt) and challenged with cariogenic serotype g (strain 6715) organisms; or immunized with enzyme from serotype g (strain 6715) and challenged with cariogenic serotype c (strain Ingbritt) organisms. These studies suggest that soluble antigen preparations containing GTF from one serotype may elicit a protective immune response against infection with cariogenic S. mutans from many or possibly all serotypes.
Gender, Race, and Affirmative Action

In this article, the authors operationalize the intersection of gender and race in survey research. Using quantitative data from the Multi-City Study of Urban Inequality, they investigate how gender/racial stereotypes about African Americans affect Whites’ attitudes about two types of affirmative action programs: (1) job training and education and (2) hiring and promotion. The authors find that gender/racial prejudice towards Black women and Black men influences Whites’ opposition to affirmative action at different levels than negative attitudes towards Blacks as a group. Prejudice toward Black women has a larger effect on Whites’ policy preferences than does prejudice toward Black men or Blacks in general. In future research, survey methodologists should develop better intersectional measures to further document these gender/racial attitudes.
Risk factors and symptoms associated with xerostomia: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND The aim of this study was to examine the symptoms and risk factors associated with self-reported xerostomia. METHODS Data were collected from 601 self-administered questionnaires among dental clinic attendees. Logistic regression models to estimate odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals were used to investigate the association for exposures of interest, such as socio-demographic characteristics, self-reported symptoms, oral hygiene habits and xerostomia. RESULTS Participants reported having dry mouth in 19.6% of cases. Xerostomia was associated with a significant increase in the odds of having dry lips, throat, eye, skin and nose. Patients with self-reported xerostomia were three times more likely to drink water to swallow food than were patients without xerstomia. Older individuals were significantly more likely to report dry mouth, and the prevalence of xerostomia increased with advancing age. The prevalence of xerostomia in patients taking one or more drugs was significantly higher compared to medication-free patients, and increased with increasing numbers of medications used. Finally, individuals with a nervous or mental disorder, or who wore removable dentures were five times more likely to develop xerostomia than patients without disorder or dentures. CONCLUSIONS Dentists should be familiar with the symptoms of xerostomia and be prepared to take an active role in the diagnosis, management and treatment of the oral complications.
The influence of caregiver mastery on depressive symptoms.

PURPOSE The purpose of this study was to explore how the relationship between care recipients' problem behaviors and caregivers' depressive symptoms varies as a function of caregiver mastery, controlling for the effects of caregiver age, gender, and relationship to the care recipient in caregivers of people with primary malignant brain tumor (PMBT). DESIGN A cross-sectional design was used to gather data via telephone interviews from 95 caregivers of people with primary malignant brain tumor, recruited from 2003 to 2004 from a brain tumor treatment center, two national support groups, and a statewide cancer registry. METHODS Measures for the study included the Neuropsychiatric Inventory-Questionnaire, Caregiver Mastery, and the Center for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression. A stepwise regression procedure was used to evaluate potential moderating and mediating relationships. FINDINGS Data did not indicate that caregiver mastery was a moderating variable. The analysis showed caregiver mastery as a partial mediator, with both a direct effect of care recipients' problem behaviors on caregivers' depressive symptoms and an indirect effect through caregiver mastery. Concerning the indirect effect, care recipients' problem behaviors were related to lower levels of caregiver mastery, which in turn were related to more depressive symptoms in caregivers. CONCLUSIONS Findings showed a link between care recipients' problem behaviors and caregivers' depressive symptoms, a relationship that has not been well established in oncology. This association indicates one mechanism through which problem behaviors in the care recipient might lead to caregiver depressive symptoms.
A Novel Stabilization Criterion for Large-Scale T–S Fuzzy Systems

This correspondence studies the stabilization problem of large-scale Takagi-Sugeno fuzzy systems. A novel stabilization criterion with decentralized parallel distributed compensation (PDC) fuzzy controller is proposed. The criterion contains two inequalities and one negative definite matrix to be satisfied. The effects of all interconnection terms and all decentralized PDC gains are entirely included in the negative definite matrix. The size of the matrix depends on the number of subsystems; the more the number of subsystems is, the larger the size of the matrix is. By using the linear matrix inequality method, the inequalities in the criterion can be solved to synthesize the local feedback gain of each PDC fuzzy controller such that the whole closed-loop large-scale fuzzy system is asymptotically stable. Finally, we give a practical example to illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed criterion.
Angioplasty and stenting in carotid dissection with or without associated pseudoaneurysm.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Carotid angioplasty and stent placement may be the preferred treatment in patients with carotid dissection who have failed medical management. The goal of this study was to determine the procedural feasibility and safety as well as long-term complication rates of carotid angioplasty and stent placement in a consecutive cohort of relatively young, high-surgical-risk patients. PATIENTS AND TECHNIQUES A series of 26 consecutive patients (mean age, 49 years; 15 men and 11 women) who underwent angioplasty and stent placement for carotid dissection with or without pseudoaneurysm from April 1997 to April 2005 at our institution (9 traumatic, 8 spontaneous, and 9 iatrogenic) was retrospectively reviewed. Twenty-eight stents were used in 29 procedures performed on 27 vessels (20 internal carotid arteries and 7 common carotid arteries). Patients were followed with cerebral angiography, CT, sonography, or clinically for a mean of 14.6 months (range, 5 days to 48.2 months) with 17 of 26 patients having at least 6 months of follow-up. Procedural and long-term complication rates were calculated. RESULTS Dissection-induced stenosis was reduced from 71 +/- 18% to no significant stenosis in 20 of the 21 patients with measurable stenosis. The procedural transient ischemic attack (TIA) rate was 3 of 29 procedures (10.3%). There were no procedural strokes. One patient required angioplasty of a common femoral artery. One procedure was terminated when an asymptomatic new intimal flap was created before intervention. Two patients had occlusions of the treated vessel noted at 22 days (presented with contralateral stroke) and 3.4 months (asymptomatic). There were 2 unrelated deaths from myocardial infarction at 8 days and 15.2 months. Two patients had recurrent ipsilateral TIA at 2.7 months and 12 months. The 30-day occlusion and death rate was 2 of 29 procedures (6.9%). CONCLUSION In this series, angioplasty and stent placement were effective in relieving stenosis secondary to carotid dissection with or without pseudoaneurysm and have low rates of ischemic complications.