Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Substrate specificity of the MUS81-EME2 structure selective endonuclease

MUS81 plays important cellular roles in the restart of stalled replication forks, the resolution of recombination intermediates and in telomere length maintenance. Although the actions of MUS81-EME1 have been extensively investigated, MUS81 is the catalytic subunit of two human structure-selective endonucleases, MUS81-EME1 and MUS81-EME2. Little is presently known about the activities of MUS81-EME2. Here, we have purified MUS81-EME2 and compared its activities with MUS81-EME1. We find that MUS81-EME2 is a more active endonuclease than MUS81-EME1 and exhibits broader substrate specificity. Like MUS81-EME1, MUS81-EME2 cleaves 3′-flaps, replication forks and nicked Holliday junctions, and exhibits limited endonuclease activity with intact Holliday junctions. In contrast to MUS81-EME1, however, MUS81-EME2 cuts D-loop recombination intermediates and in so doing disengages the D-loop structure by cleaving the 3′-invading strand. Additionally, MUS81-EME2 acts on 5′-flap structures to cleave off a duplex arm, in reactions that cannot be promoted by MUS81-EME1. These studies suggest that MUS81-EME1 and MUS81-EME2 exhibit similar and yet distinct DNA structure selectivity, indicating that the two MUS81 complexes may promote different nucleolytic cleavage reactions in vivo.
Low-power test pattern generator design for BIST via non-uniform cellular automata

An efficient low-power test pattern generator (TPG) design for built-in self-test (BIST) is introduced. The approach uses the non-uniform cellular automata (NUCA) model. For our purpose, we designed a polynomial-time algorithm that converts the test pattern generation problem into the classical combinatorial problem called minimum set covering (MSC) which is known to be NP-complete. Solutions to the MSC problems give the low-power design topology for the test pattern sequence. Comparative analysis of the experimental results showed that even though the obtained designs lack in wiring uniformity they are promising in terms of overall performance criteria based on fault-coverage, test length, used area and dynamic power consumed.
A 25-MHz Self-Referenced Solid-State Frequency Source Suitable for XO-Replacement

Recent trends in the development of integrated silicon frequency sources are discussed. Within that context, a 25-MHz self-referenced solid-state frequency source is presented and demonstrated where measured performance makes it suitable for replacement of crystal oscillators (XOs) in data interface applications. The frequency source is referenced to a frequency-trimmed and temperature-compensated 800-MHz free-running LC oscillator (LCO) that is implemented in a standard logic CMOS process and with no specialized analog process options. Mechanisms giving rise to frequency drift in integrated LCOs are discussed and supported by analytical expressions. Design objectives and a compensation technique are presented where several implementation challenges are uncovered. Fabricated in a 0.25-mum 1P5M CMOS process, and with no external components, the prototype frequency source dissipates 59.4 mW while maintaining plusmn152 ppm frequency inaccuracy over process, plusmn 10% variation in the power supply voltage, and from - 10degC to 80degC. Variation against other environmental factors is also presented. Nominal period jitter and power-on start-up latency are 2.75 psrms and 268 mus, respectively. These performance metrics are compared with an XO at the same frequency.
MixGroup: Accumulative Pseudonym Exchanging for Location Privacy Enhancement in Vehicular Social Networks

Vehicular social network (VSN) is envisioned to serve as an essential data sensing, exchanging and processing platform for the future Intelligent Transportation Systems. In this paper, we aim to address the location privacy issue in VSNs. In traditional pseudonym-based solutions, the privacy-preserving strength is mainly dependent on the number of vehicles meeting at the same occasion. We notice that an individual vehicle actually has many chances to meet several other vehicles. In most meeting occasions, there are only few vehicles appearing concurrently. Motivated by these observations, we propose a new privacy-preserving scheme, called MixGroup, which is capable of efficiently exploiting the sparse meeting opportunities for pseudonym changing. By integrating the group signature mechanism, MixGroup constructs extended pseudonym-changing regions, in which vehicles are allowed to successively exchange their pseudonyms. As a consequence, for the tracking adversary, the uncertainty of pseudonym mixture is accumulatively enlarged, and therefore location privacy preservation is considerably improved. We carry out simulations to verify the performance of MixGroup. Results indicate that MixGroup significantly outperforms the existing schemes. In addition, MixGroup is able to achieve favorable performance even in low traffic conditions.
Edge radial electric field structure and its connections to H-mode confinement in Alcator C-Mod plasmas

High-resolution charge-exchange recombination spectroscopic measurements of B5+ ions have enabled the first spatially resolved calculations of the radial electric field (Er) in the Alcator C-Mod pedestal region [E. S. Marmar, Fusion Sci. Technol. 51, 261 (2006)]. These observations offer new challenges for theory and simulation and provide for important comparisons with other devices. Qualitatively, the field structure observed on C-Mod is similar to that on other tokamaks. However, the narrow high-confinement mode (H-mode) Er well widths (5 mm) observed on C-Mod suggest a scaling with machine size, while the observed depths (up to 300 kV/m) are unprecedented. Due to the strong ion-electron thermal coupling in the C-Mod pedestal, it is possible to infer information about the main ion population in this region. The results indicate that in H-mode the main ion pressure gradient is the dominant contributor to the Er well and that the main ions have significant edge flow. C-Mod H-mode data show a clear correl.
Job security matters: A systematic review and meta-analysis of the relationship between job security and work attitudes

This article synthesizes public and private sector accumulated research regarding the relationship between job security and employee work attitudes (i.e., job satisfaction and organizational commitment). The present meta-analysis of 37 studies (including 45 independent samples) shows that the medium-sized associations between job security and each work attitude variables (i.e., job satisfaction and organizational commitment) were found, with true score correlations (ρ) of . 327 for job satisfaction, and . 253 for organizational commitment. These results highlight the significance of job security at the workplace, in shaping and enhancing attitudes of employee and job security is worth retaining in some form in the public sector, contrary to the logic of at-will employment. This meta-analysis findings also call attention to several important considerations for developing effective public job security policy.
Alleviation of neuropathic pain by intrathecal injection of antisense oligonucleotides to p65 subunit of NF-kappaB.

BACKGROUND Treatment of neuropathic pain remains a challenge. The current study investigated the therapeutic effect of intrathecal administration of NF-kappaB antisense oligodeoxynucleotides (ODNs) on mechanical allodynia and thermal hyperalgesia in a chronic constriction injury (CCI) model of rats. METHODS Lumbar intrathecal catheters were implanted in male Sprague-Dawley rats and a CCI model was established. Thermal and mechanical nociceptive thresholds were assessed with paw withdrawal latency (PWL) to radiant heat and von Frey filaments. The phosphorothioate-modified antisense ODNs to p65 subunit of NF-kappaB were administered intrathecally on each of five consecutive days post-CCI. Nuclear NF-kappaB p65 expression was assessed by western blot. RESULTS CCI induced mechanical allodynia and thermal hyperalgesia and significantly increased NF-kappaB p65 protein expression. Intrathecal injection of antisense ODN markedly suppressed the expression of NF-kappaB p65 protein and significantly attenuated CCI-induced mechanical allodynia and thermal hyperalgesia. CONCLUSION The activation of NF-kappaB pathway may contribute to neuropathic pain in CCI rats. Suppression of NF-kappaB could be a potential new strategy for the treatment of neuropathic pain.
Capture of linear fragments at a double-strand break in yeast

Double-strand breaks (DSBs) are dangerous chromosomal lesions that must be efficiently repaired in order to avoid loss of genetic information or cell death. In all organisms studied to date, two different mechanisms are used to repair DSBs: homologous recombination (HR) and non-homologous end joining (NHEJ). Previous studies have shown that during DSB repair, non-homologous exogenous DNA (also termed ‘filler DNA’) can be incorporated at the site of a DSB. We have created a genetic system in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae to study the mechanism of fragment capture. Our yeast strains carry recognition sites for the HO endonuclease at a unique chromosomal site, and plasmids in which a LEU2 gene is flanked by HO cut sites. Upon induction of the HO endonuclease, a linear extrachromosomal fragment is generated in each cell and its incorporation at the chromosomal DSB site can be genetically monitored. Our results show that linear fragments are captured at the repaired DSB site at frequencies of 10−6 to 10−4 per plated cell depending on strain background and specific end sequences. The mechanism of fragment capture depends on the NHEJ machinery, but only partially on the homologous recombination proteins. More than one fragment can be used during repair, by a mechanism that relies on the annealing of small complementary sequences. We present a model to explain the basis for fragment capture.
2 Years of INTEGRAL Monitoring of GRS 1915+105. I. Multiwavelength Coverage with INTEGRAL, RXTE, and the Ryle Radio Telescope

We report the results of simultaneous monitoring observations of the Galactic microquasar GRS 1915+105 with INTEGRAL and RXTE from 3 up to ~300 keV, and the Ryle Telescope at 15 GHz. We first identify the classes of variability in which GRS 1915+105 is found, and report some direct transitions between them. The accretion ejection connections are studied in a model-independent manner through the source light curves, hardness ratio, and color-color diagrams. During a period of steady “hard” X-ray state (class χ) we observe a steady radio flux interpreted as the signature of a compact jet. We then turn to three particular observations during which we observe several types of soft X-ray dip and spike cycles, followed by radio flares, corresponding to classes ν, λ, and β types of variability. This is the first time ejections are reported during a class λ observation. We generalize the fact that a (nonmajor) discrete ejection always occurs, in GRS 1915+105, as a response to an X-ray sequence composed of a spectrally hard X-ray dip terminated by an X-ray spike marking the disappearance of the emission above 18 keV. We identify the trigger of the ejection as the X-ray spike. A possible correlation between the amplitude of the radio flare and the duration of the X-ray dip is found. The X-ray dips prior to ejections could thus represent the time during which the source accumulates energy and material that is ejected later. The fact that these results do not rely on any spectral modelling enhances their robustness.
Do Inflation Expectations Propagate the Inflationary Impact of Real Oil Price Shocks?: Evidence from the Michigan Survey

This paper presents evidence that inflation expectations, as measured by the Michigan Survey of Consumers, only play a minimal role in the propagation of real oil price shocks into inflation. This is despite evidence that confirms that inflation expectations are sensitive to real oil price shocks. Further analysis suggests that after the 1990s, inflation expectations may have played no part in propagating real oil price shocks into inflation.
A Language-independent and Compositional Model for Personality Trait Recognition from Short Texts

There have been many attempts at automatically recognising author personality traits from text, typically incorporating linguistic features with conventional machine learning models, e.g. linear regression or Support Vector Machines. In this work, we propose to use deep-learning-based models with atomic features of text – the characters – to build hierarchical, vectorial word and sentence representations for the task of trait inference. On a corpus of tweets, this method shows state-of-the-art performance across five traits and three languages (English, Spanish and Italian) compared with prior work in author profiling. The results, supported by preliminary visualisation work, are encouraging for the ability to detect complex human traits.
Hypotonia, Jaundice, and Chiari Malformations: Relationships to Executive Functions

Abstract This article postulates that movement and action control are the underpinning of executive functioning. We selectively examine brain regions that have traditionally been almost exclusively understood as critical to the control and expression of movement—namely, the basal ganglia and the cerebellum. We first describe the relationship between movement and cognition. This is followed by a review of common developmental disorders that are known to exhibit abnormal executive functions and movement anomalies. Against that background, we examine hypotonia, neonatal jaundice, and Chiari I malformation, and we demonstrate why these are “at-risk” factors for neurodevelopmental disorders that can feature both motor control and executive function abnormalities. Our goal is to prepare the clinical neuropsychologist for gathering information about these features of a child's birth and developmental histories, while using this as a framework for interpreting test results and applying test data in a useful, practical way to guide descriptive diagnosis and treatment.
Learning attribution in the Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award (DoEIA)

ABSTRACT The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award (as it is named in Australia) is an extremely widespread and popular youth development program. Participants (14–25 year olds) navigate the Bronze, Silver and Gold Award levels by completing: (1) Service, (2) Skills, (3) Physical Recreation, and (4) Adventurous Journey (recognising that at Gold level there is also a Residential Project requirement). Despite the international nature of the Award, with more than 1 million participants, research into its effects has been limited. This paper describes for the first time the ways in which the attribution of learning effects works with respect to the DoEIA. Using a mixed-methods approach, the research team sought results to show how participants themselves attribute their learnings to the Award, and what this could mean for youth development.
Working Paper : c © A . James O ’ Malley Domain-Level Covariance Analysis for Survey Data with Structured

Health care quality surveys in the United States are administered to individual respondents (hospital patients, health plan members) to evaluate performance of health care units (hospitals, health plans). For better understanding and more parsimonious reporting of dimensions of quality, we analyze relationships among quality measures at the unit level. Rather than specifying a full parametric model for the observed responses and the non-response patterns at the lower (patient) level, we first fit generalized variance-covariance functions that take into account nonresponse patterns in the survey responses. We then specify a likelihood function for the unit mean responses using these generalized variance-covariance functions, letting us model directly the quantities we want to report. Because the response scales are bounded we assume that the unit means follow a truncated multivariate normal distribution. We calculate maximum likelihood estimates using the EM algorithm or drawing directly from Bayesian models using Markov-chain Monte Carlo. Finally factor analysis is performed on the between-unit covariance matrices obtained from the fitted models. Using posterior draws we assess posterior distributions of the number of selected factors and the assignment of items to groups under conventional rules. We compare maximum likelihood estimates of this factor structure to those from several Bayesian models with different prior distributions for the between-unit covariance. Results are presented using data from the Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (CAHPS R ©) survey of Medicare Advantage health plans.
Early Epidemiological Assessment of the Virulence of Emerging Infectious Diseases: A Case Study of an Influenza Pandemic

Background The case fatality ratio (CFR), the ratio of deaths from an infectious disease to the number of cases, provides an assessment of virulence. Calculation of the ratio of the cumulative number of deaths to cases during the course of an epidemic tends to result in a biased CFR. The present study develops a simple method to obtain an unbiased estimate of confirmed CFR (cCFR), using only the confirmed cases as the denominator, at an early stage of epidemic, even when there have been only a few deaths. Methodology/Principal Findings Our method adjusts the biased cCFR by a factor of underestimation which is informed by the time from symptom onset to death. We first examine the approach by analyzing an outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome in Hong Kong (2003) with known unbiased cCFR estimate, and then investigate published epidemiological datasets of novel swine-origin influenza A (H1N1) virus infection in the USA and Canada (2009). Because observation of a few deaths alone does not permit estimating the distribution of the time from onset to death, the uncertainty is addressed by means of sensitivity analysis. The maximum likelihood estimate of the unbiased cCFR for influenza may lie in the range of 0.16–4.48% within the assumed parameter space for a factor of underestimation. The estimates for influenza suggest that the virulence is comparable to the early estimate in Mexico. Even when there have been no deaths, our model permits estimating a conservative upper bound of the cCFR. Conclusions Although one has to keep in mind that the cCFR for an entire population is vulnerable to its variations among sub-populations and underdiagnosis, our method is useful for assessing virulence at the early stage of an epidemic and for informing policy makers and the public.
A novel hardware efficient Digital Neural Network architecture implemented in 130nm technology

Digital Neural Network implementations based on the perceptron model require the use of multi-bit representation of signals and weights. This results in the usage of multi-bit multipliers in each neuron, leading to prohibitively large chip areas. Another problem with hardware implementations of neural networks is the low utilization of chip area due to complex interconnection requirements between successive neuron layers. In this paper we propose an architecture having a single layer of digital neurons that is reused multiple number of times with different weight vectors in order to achieve significant reduction in the required silicon area. The proposed architecture results in a significantly reduced power consumption(55% reduction for an 8 layer, 4 neuron per layer network). The paper also includes the results obtained on implementing the proposed architecture in 130nm technology using MAGMA blast-fusion design tool.
The Influences of Race and Gender on the Leadership of African American Female Principals of Predominantly White Elementary Schools

Although small in number, the experiences of African American female principals of predominantly White schools reveal important race and gender issues that could inform the field of education leadership and perhaps encourage more minorities to lead as principals. The purpose of this study is to research the extent to which race and gender influence the leadership of African American female principals of predominantly White schools and to bring more awareness of race and gender-related issues to the education research field, education administration programs, schools districts, and individual administrators, who can better support and encourage African American women to lead all types of schools, regardless of the racial background of the students. Similarly, researching how race and gender influence the leadership of African American female principals of predominantly White schools identifies strategies to better prepare future education leaders, assist current principals who struggle with similar circumstances, and add to the discourse about race and gender in education leadership. Through semi-structured, open-ended interviews with African American female principals of predominantly White elementary schools in the Northeast region of the United States and by detailing the personal, education, and professional backgrounds and experiences that influence their leadership, this researcher analyzed their responses through the lens of the Critical Race Theory and Black Feminist Thought. From the study participants' counter-stories, seven themes emerged. Although some of these themes appear to address only the influences of race on their leadership, most of the themes are a result of the participants being both Black and female. When analyzing their counter­ stories through the Critical Race Theory and Black Feminist Thought lenses, race or gender may have been magnified in certain experiences, but the race and gender
Genomic Prediction of Hybrid Combinations in the Early Stages of a Maize Hybrid Breeding Pipeline

Prediction of single-cross hybrid performance has been a major goal of plant breeders since the beginning of hybrid breeding. Genomic prediction has shown to be a promising approach, but only limited studies have examined the accuracy of predicting single cross performance. Most of the studies rather focused on predicting top cross performance using single tester to determine the inbred parent’s worth in hybrid combinations. Moreover, no studies have examined the potential of predicting single crosses made among random progenies derived from a series of biparental families, which resembles the structure of germplasm comprising the initial stages of a hybrid maize breeding pipeline. The main objective of this study was to evaluate the potential of genomic prediction for identifying superior single crosses early in the breeding pipeline and optimize its application. To accomplish these objectives, we designed and analyzed a novel population of single-cross hybrids representing the Iowa Stiff Stalk Synthetic/Non-Stiff Stalk heterotic pattern commonly used in the development of North American commercial maize hybrids. The single cross prediction accuracies estimated using cross-validation ranged from 0.40 to 0.74 for grain yield, 0.68 to 0.91 for plant height and 0.54 to 0.94 for staygreen depending on the number of tested parents of the single crosses. The genomic estimated general and specific combining abilities showed a clear advantage over the use of genomic covariances among single crosses, especially when one or both parents of the single cross were untested in hybrid combinations. Overall, our results suggest that genomic prediction of the performance of single crosses made using random progenies from the early stages of the breeding pipeline holds great potential to re-design hybrid breeding and increase its efficiency.