Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Psychological Restoration in Nature as a Positive Motivation for Ecological Behavior

Shifting the focus from fear, guilt, and indignation related to deteriorating environmental quality, the authors hypothesized that people who see greater potential for restorative experiences in natural environments also do more to protect them by behaving ecologically, as with recycling or reduced driving. University students (N = 488) rated a familiar freshwater marsh in terms of being away, fascination, coherence, and compatibility, qualities of restorative person-environment transactions described in attention restoration theory. They also reported on their performance of various ecological behaviors. The authors tested a structural equation model with data from a randomly drawn subset of participants and then confirmed it with the data from a second subset. For the combined subsets, perceptions of the restorative qualities predicted 23% of the variance in general ecological behavior. As the only direct predictor, fascination mediated the influences of coherence, being away, and compatibility.
Hybrid energy control using DC-DC converter for single operator fuel cell vehicle

We are developing a small, single operator fuel cell vehicle with a 1kW fuel cell, which we named the micro FCV. A hybrid energy control system using a DCDC converter was designed for the vehicle. We have entered into a micro FCV competition which challenges participants to develop vehicles which would deliver optimum performance at a low cost. During travel on flat surfaces, when the vehicle travels at constant speed, i.e. low power mode, a fuel cell is used. A battery and the fuel cell are used together when the vehicle operates in high power mode, i.e. while accelerating or ascending an incline. A micro computer controlled hybrid energy control system toggles between the energy flows dependent on the power requirements. Running experiments provided excellent performance results demonstrating that the micro FCV was able to operate efficiently using the hybrid energy control system which we developed. In this paper, we will discuss the designs of the micro FCV, the energy control system, the DCDC converter, and will provide the running experimental results.
Hospitalizations in Adolescence and Early Adulthood Among Swedish Men and Women Born Preterm or Small for Gestational Age

Background: Preterm birth and reduced intrauterine growth appear to be related to morbidity in childhood and later adulthood. We studied whether the risk of all-cause hospitalization in adolescence and early adulthood differed between individuals who were born preterm or small for gestational age (SGA) compared with those born at term and appropriate for gestational age. Methods: Using Swedish registries, we followed 304,275 men and women born in 1973–1975 for any hospitalizations occurring in 1987–1996. Preterm birth was defined as <37 weeks of gestation and SGA as babies smaller than 2 standard deviations below the mean weight for gestational length, according to Swedish standards. We created 3 mutually exclusive categories: “preterm” (<37 weeks and not SGA), “SGA” (SGA and not preterm), and “both preterm and SGA. ” The comparison group was all term births not SGA. Childhood socioeconomic characteristics were accounted for in the analyses. Results: The overall risk of hospitalization was higher for men and women born SGA (adjusted odds ratio = 1.16; 95% confidence interval = 1.12–1.21), for those born preterm (1.06; 1.02–1.10), and for those born both preterm and SGA (1.42; 1.26–1.59). In addition to higher risks for previously reported adverse health outcomes, such as neurodevelopment sequelae and congenital anomalies, men and women born SGA or preterm were more likely to be hospitalized due to unspecified symptoms. SGA also appeared to be associated with genitourinary diseases and drug use. Conclusions: Men and women born SGA or preterm were at higher risk for hospitalization during adolescence and early adulthood, with men and women born SGA more at risk than those born preterm.
Targeting of Tumor Cells by Cell Surface Urokinase Plasminogen Activator-dependent Anthrax Toxin*

Urokinase plasminogen activator receptor (uPAR) binds pro-urokinase plasminogen activator (pro-uPA) and thereby localizes it near plasminogen, causing the generation of active uPA and plasmin on the cell surface. uPAR and uPA are overexpressed in a variety of human tumors and tumor cell lines, and expression of uPAR and uPA is highly correlated to tumor invasion and metastasis. To exploit these characteristics in the design of tumor cell-selective cytotoxins, we constructed mutated anthrax toxin-protective antigen (PrAg) proteins in which the furin cleavage site is replaced by sequences cleaved specifically by uPA. These uPA-targeted PrAg proteins were activated selectively on the surface of uPAR-expressing tumor cells in the presence of pro-uPA and plasminogen. The activated PrAg proteins caused internalization of a recombinant cytotoxin, FP59, consisting of anthrax toxin lethal factor residues 1–254 fused to the ADP-ribosylation domain of Pseudomonas exotoxin A, thereby killing the uPAR-expressing tumor cells. The activation and cytotoxicity of these uPA-targeted PrAg proteins were strictly dependent on the integrity of the tumor cell surface-associated plasminogen activation system. We also constructed a mutated PrAg protein that selectively killed tissue plasminogen activator-expressing cells. These mutated PrAg proteins may be useful as new therapeutic agents for cancer treatment.
Corrigendum: A genome-wide analysis of common fragile sites: What features determine chromosomal instability in the human genome?

The authors found that the genomic coordinates for several fragile sites were accidentally truncated during conversion from cytogenetic bands. The errors shift the genomic coordinates at five out of a total of 76 aphidicolin-induced common fragile sites (aCFSs) and at 11 nonfragile regions. Seven nonfragile regions had to be removed because their coordinates now overlap with aCFSs, reducing the number of control regions from 131 to 124. These changes affected Figures 1 and 2, and Supplemental Tables S1 and S2. Upon reanalysis, the list of significant genomic features, their directional effects on fragility, and relative contributions did not change.
A dosimetric comparison of Yb169 versus Ir192 for HDR prostate brachytherapy.

For the purpose of evaluating the use of Yb169 for prostate High Dose Rate brachytherapy (HDR), a hypothetical Yb169 source is assumed with the exact same design of the new microSelectron source replacing the Ir192 active core by pure Yb169 metal. Monte Carlo simulation is employed for the full dosimetric characterization of both sources and results are compared following the AAPM TG-43 dosimetric formalism. Monte Carlo calculated dosimetry results are incorporated in a commercially available treatment planning system (SWIFTTM), which features an inverse treatment planning option based on a multiobjective dose optimization engine. The quality of prostate HDR brachytherapy using the real Ir192 and hypothetical Yb169 source is compared in a comprehensive analysis of different prostate implants in terms of the multiobjective dose optimization solutions as well as treatment quality indices such as Dose Volume Histograms (DVH) and the Conformal Index (COIN). Given that scattering overcompensates for absorption in intermediate photon energies and distances in the range of interest to prostate HDR brachytherapy, Yb169 proves at least equivalent to Ir192 irrespective of prostate volume. This has to be evaluated in view of the shielding requirements for the Yb169 energies that are minimal relative to that for Ir192.
Benchmark Estimation for Markov chain Monte Carlo Samples

While studying various features of the posterior distribution of a vector-valued parameter using an MCMC sample, a subsample is often all that is available for analysis. The goal of benchmark estimation is to use the best available information, that is, the full MCMC sample, to improve future estimates made on the basis of the subsample. We discuss a simple approach to do this and provide a theoretical basis for the method. The methodology and benefits of benchmark estimation are illustrated using a well-known example from the literature. We obtain nearly a 90% reduction in MSE with the technique based on a 1-in-10 subsample and show that greater benefits accrue with the thinner subsamples that are often used in practice.
Susceptibility of Rhodobacter sphaeroides to beta-lactam antibiotics: isolation and characterization of a periplasmic beta-lactamase (cephalosporinase)

Thirteen strains of the gram-negative, facultative phototrophic bacterium Rhodobacter sphaeroides were examined fro susceptibility to beta-lactam antibiotics. All strains were sensitive to the semisynthetic penicillins ampicillin, carbenicillin, oxacillin, cloxacillin, and methicillin, but 10 of the 13 strains were resistant to penicillin G, as well as a number of cephalosporins, such as cephalothin, cephapirin, and cephalosporin C. A beta-lactamase (EC 3.5.2.6) with strong cephalosporinase activity was detected in all of the resistant strains of R. sphaeroides. With strain Y-1 as a model, it was shown that the beta-lactamase was inducible by penicillin G, cephalosporin C, cephalothin, and to some minor extent, cephapirin. The beta-lactamase was located in the periplasmic space, from which it could be extracted by osmotic shock disruption. By using this fraction, the beta-lactamase was purified 34-fold to homogeneity by steps involving batch adsorption to and elution from DEAE-Sephadex A50, chromatography on Q-Sepharose, and preparative polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The molecular masses of the native and denatured enzymes were determined to be 38.5 kilodaltons by gel filtration and 40.5 kilodaltons by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, respectively, indicating a monomeric structure. The isoelectric point was estimated to be at pH 4.3. In Tris hydrochloride buffer, optimum enzyme activity was measured at pH 8.5. The beta-lactamase showed high activity in the presence of the substrates cephalothin, cephapirin, cephalosporin C, and penicillin G, for which the apparent Km values were 144, 100, 65, and 110 microM, respectively. Cephalexin, cepharidine, and cephaloridine were poor substrates. The beta-lactamase was strongly inhibited by cloxacillin and oxacillin but only slightly inhibited by phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride or thiol reagents such as iodoacetate and p-chloromercuribenzoate.
Similar Singer Search by Property of Vocal Sound through Weighted Euclidean Distance

Although using the singer's name to search for songs is the common function of music retrieval systems, people often only remember famous singers. For new singers, people often only remember that the singer’s voice is similar to a famous singer, but cannot recall his/her name. Among current studies, there is little discussion on the music search method by voice. Therefore, this study proposed a method of music search by similar vocal sound. Users can enter the name of a singer, and then the system can find the names of other singers with similar features in vocal sound. In the proposed method, the sound signal is processed by Discrete Fourier Transform, and the statistical value of frequency spectrum and formant is calculated as the characteristic value of the singer's vocal sound. Then, the similarity of the singer's vocal sound is calculated by the weighted squared Euclidean distance function to obtain similar singers' names, so as to search for music by using similar vocal sound. The experiment verified that the feature extraction method can realize the vocal sound-based search effectively.
DESIGN CHOICES OF MULTI-PORTED MEMORY FOR FPGA

Many applications need multi-ported memories to increase the process speed and allow write and read memory banks from multiple ports at the same time. Most FPGAs only support dual port RAM (including simple and true dual ports), and we must build by ourselves multi-port RAM from available logic elements and RAM building blocks of FPGAs when the number of port exceeds 2. In this paper, the conventional approaches for implementing multi-ported memories are analyzed by using Stratix FPGA of Altera. This work proposes Live Value Table-Multipumping based approach that could improve performance in area, speed and increase the memory depth compared with the previous works. The area detail is also given to help the designer defining which blocks affect significantly to the total area of design, and to help designer deciding which blocks should be optimized. This work also helps the multi-ported memory designer choosing which approach is suitable for the specific application.
Transforming Growth Factor 131 Regulation of Metalloproteinase Production in Cultured Human Cervical Epithelial Cells

Collagenase levels are regulated in a cell type-specific manner by a variety of growth factors and cytokines, and increased type IV coilagenase activity in tumor cells has been linked to metastatic growth. In this study we compare the effects of epidermal growth factor (EGF) and transforming growth factor 1~1 (TGFIB1) on gelatinase production in cervical epithelial cell lines. EGF is a strong mitogen for cervical epithelial cells and TGFIB1 suppresses growth. Metalloproteinase zymograms of conditioned medium from normal human ectocervical cells reveal two major bands of metalloproteinase activity at 72 and 92 Kd. In contrast, the level of the 92-Kd activity is greatly reduced in the human papiilomavirus type 16positive ECEI6-1 and CaSki cells. EGF treatment produces minimal changes in metalloproteinase levels. Treatment of CaSki cells with 20 ng/ml of EGF reduces by 30 to 50% the level of both activities. In ECE16-1 cells, EGF decreases the 72-Kd activity by 50% and the 92-Kd activity slightly. TGFIB1 treatment, in contrast, increases the 72-Kd activity 3to 10-fold and the 92-Kd activity by ->25-fold in each cell type. In CaSki and ECE16-1 cells, the changes in metalloproteinase level are mediated by changes in level of the corresponding mRNAs. In each case, the metalloproteinases are secreted as inactive proenzymes which can be activated by in vitro treatment with organomercurials. Tests of a series of additional cervical cell lines reveal that metalloproteinase levels are generally higher in normal cervical cells and in cells immortalized by transfection with HPV16, whereas lower levels are observed in cells derived from human tumors. Moreover, a higher percentage of cell lines derived from human tumors do not respond to TGFIB1 regulation of metailoproteinase levels. Parallel studies indicate that the TGF~l-stimulated increase in the 72and 92-Kd activities is correlated with enhanced chemotactic and chemoinvasive behavior in both ECE16--1 and CaSki cells.
Enhancing problem-solving skills of pre-service elementary school teachers through problem-based learning

The purpose of this research is to enhance pre-service teachers’ problem-solving skills by giving them opportunity to understand the problem solving process. The study, using an experimental approach, was conducted with 85 pre-service elementary school teachers. The experimental group experienced problem based learning (PBL), while the control group experienced traditional instruction (TI) in their science instruction course. Independent t-test and content analysis were used to analyse the quantitative and qualitative data. The quantitative results, supported by the qualitative research, revealed
Efficient detection of missing object using Zigbee technology

In today's era, whether the client left a wallet in a taxicab or lost something at home, losing things is a genuine annoyance. What is more awful is that it feels like an issue that we shouldn't need to manage in the time of smart devices. The process of detecting the misplaced object manually is also time consuming. There are some most serious issues like size, range and area precision. To overcome these issues we use a technique to detect the misplaced objects based on Zigbee technology. Zigbee communication setup is used for detecting the misplaced objects. Zigbee is connected to mobile through OTG (On-The-Go) cable and one more Zigbee is connected to object. In case if any object is missing, with the help of Zigbee communication the object is detected automatically. The Zigbee is used to detect the objects in the indoor as well as in the outdoor environment. Thus the user can detect the missing object easily, the Zigbee and a phone app work together to do this.
Agonist-Biased Signaling at the Histamine H4 Receptor: JNJ7777120 Recruits β-Arrestin without Activating G Proteins

The Gi/o-coupled histamine H4 receptor is highly expressed in hemopoietic cells and is a promising new target for the treatment of chronic inflammatory diseases. 1-[(5-Chloro-1H-indol-2-yl)carbonyl]-4-methyl-piperazine (JNJ7777120) has been described as a selective antagonist at the H4 receptor and is widely used to characterize the physiological role of the H4 receptor. We have investigated the pharmacological properties of JNJ7777120 using two distinct downstream signaling measurements, G protein activation and β-arrestin recruitment. The H4 receptor agonists histamine and clobenpropit, but not JNJ7777120, were able to induce [35S]GTPγS binding in membranes prepared from U2OS-H4 cells. Thioperamide, a dual H3/H4 receptor antagonist, and JNJ7777120 were both able to inhibit the [35S]GTPγS binding induced by clobenpropit. Agonists and antagonists specific for other members of the histamine receptor family had no effect in this assay format. Histamine and clobenpropit increased β-arrestin recruitment to the H4 receptor in a concentration-dependent manner. This β-arrestin recruitment could be inhibited by preincubation with thioperamide. We were surprised to find that preincubation with the H4-selective antagonist JNJ7777120 potentiated rather than antagonized the response to a submaximal concentration of clobenpropit. JNJ7777120 treatment alone resulted in an increase in β-arrestin recruitment, which again could be inhibited by preincubation with thioperamide. Schild analysis demonstrated competitive antagonism between thioperamide and both clobenpropit and JNJ7777120. Histamine and clobenpropit had comparable potencies for both [35S]GTPγS binding and β-arrestin recruitment, suggesting little difference in the levels of receptor reserve between the two assays. In conclusion, we have demonstrated that JNJ7777120 recruits β-arrestin to the H4 receptor, independent of G protein activation.
Mitochondria in Cardiovascular Physiology and Disease Role of uncoupling protein 3 in ischemia-reperfusion injury , arrhythmias , and preconditioning

Ozcan C, Palmeri M, Horvath TL, Russell KS, Russell RR III. Role of uncoupling protein 3 in ischemia-reperfusion injury, arrhythmias, and preconditioning. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol 304: H1192–H1200, 2013. First published March 1, 2013; doi:10.1152/ajpheart.00592. 2012. — Overexpression of mitochondrial uncoupling proteins (UCPs) attenuates ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury in cultured cardiomyocytes. However, it is not known whether UCPs play an essential role in cardioprotection in the intact heart. This study evaluated the cardioprotective efficacy of UCPs against I/R injury and characterized the mechanism of UCP-mediated protection in addition to the role of UCPs in ischemic preconditioning (IPC). Cardiac UCP3 knockout (UCP3 / ) and wild-type (WT) mice hearts were subjected to ex vivo and in vivo models of I/R injury and IPC. Isolated UCP3 / mouse hearts were retrogradely perfused and found to have poorer recovery of left ventricular function compared with WT hearts under I/R conditions. In vivo occlusion of the left coronary artery resulted in twofold larger infarcts in UCP3 / mice compared with WT mice. Moreover, the incidence of in vivo I/R arrhythmias was higher in UCP3 / mice. Myocardial energetics were significantly impaired with I/R, as reflected by a decreased ATP content and an increase in the AMP-to-ATP ratio. UCP3 / hearts generated more reactive oxygen species (ROS) than WT hearts during I/R. Pretreatment of UCP3 / hearts with the pharmacological uncoupling agent carbonyl cyanide p-(trifluoromethoxy)phenylhydrazone improved postischemic functional recovery. Also the protective efficacy of IPC was abolished in UCP3 / mice. We conclude that UCP3 plays a critical role in cardioprotection against I/R injury and the IPC phenomenon. There is increased myocardial vulnerability to I/R injury in hearts lacking UCP3. The mechanisms of UCP3-mediated cardioprotection include regulation of myocardial energetics and ROS generation by UCP3 during I/R.
ADAPTIVE: a flexible and adaptive transport system architecture to support lightweight protocols for multimedia applications on high-speed networks

This paper describes a high-performance transport system architecture called ADAPTIVE, 'A Dynamically Assembled Protocol Transformation, Integration, and Validation Environment'. The authors are developing ADAPTIVE to support multimedia applications running on high-speed networks. ADAPTIVE is a transformational system providing policies and mechanisms that automatically specify and configure a flexible adaptive transport system. In addition, it provides a controlled prototyping environment for monitoring, analyzing, and experimenting with the effects of different transport system designs and implementations on application performance. <<ETX>>
The service design strategy of manufacturing service industry

Along with the changes of economic structure, Taiwanese manufacturing firms are facing unfavorable problems such as increasing operating costs and the matured product life cycle. In order to gain competitiveness, many manufacturers in Taiwan are transforming into “manufacturing service industry” to satisfy customer needs. Many manufacturers are moving toward to provide high value-added services by service innovation. Previous studies argue that service design is an important issue in service innovation. After literature review, this study presents a new framework for service design as a means and an end tool for modeling, designing, and developing the new manufacturing services. According to the proposed framework, service design covers service concept, customer value and science & technology. This paper applies qualitative case study method to discuss how the manufacturers apply service design to fulfill customer needs. Next, a qualitative single case study is reported, in which a troublesome service design concept was surveyed through 5 extensive interviews. We provide not only an original perspective on service design in manufacturing industry, but also a common implicit view that pure manufactures can shift to service-oriented manufactures by adding service to their customers. Our results also indicate that service differentiation and functional value are the most important customer values which were considered by experienced managers.
A new approach to use rice husk and different types of opener in punch planting of common bean

This study attempts to improve planting common bean in different soils. Punch planting method was used and the effect of different openers and rice husk mulch as a new idea in punch planting was tested. A factorial experiment in Completely randomized design was implemented in the farm of Shahrekord University. Shahrekord has a temperate and cold region with dry and warm summer. Common bean was planted to test the seedbed shape (bar, conical and grooved), sowing depth (6 and 9 cm) and the seedbed mulching (with husk and without it). The percentage of emerged plants at the time of dividing in two leaves, average height of bushes in flowering and average leaf number of each bush in flowering, the rate of height growth and the number of leaves over day and night (appropriate time of measurement from budding to flowering was considered) were measured. The grooved shape and seed coverage using rice husk mulch are recommended. There were no significant differences in depth factor.