Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Structure and expression of the rat relaxin‐like factor (RLF) gene

The relaxin‐like factor (RLF) is a novel member of the insulin‐IGF‐relaxin family of growth factors and hormones, and its mRNA is expressed very specifically in the Leydig cells of the testis and in the theca and luteal cells of the ovary. Here we report the cloning of the RLF gene and cDNA from the rat. The 0.8kb mRNA is produced from a small gene comprising two exons situated less than 1 kb downstream of the gene for the signalling factor JAK3. Northern hybridization confirms high RLF mRNA expression in the adult rat testis, and low expression in the ovary, but in no other tissues examined. Northern analysis of fetal and neonatal gonadal tissues showed that RLF mRNA is highly upregulated in the testes of day 19 embryos, but not in later neonatal stages, nor in any ovarian tissue from this period. This would indicate that RLF is a marker for the mature fetal as well as the adult‐type Leydig cell, but is not expressed in premature, precursor, or dedifferentiated Leydig cells of either cell type. Finally, RNA was analysed from the testes of rats which had been treated with ethylene dimethane sulfonate (EDS), an alkylating agent that specifically destroys rat Leydig cells. RLF mRNA was absent from the acutely treated testes, but became detectable between 15 and 20 days post‐treatment, concomitant with the repopulation of the testes by new Leydig cells. Continuous testosterone substitution of EDS‐treated rats suppressed the production of gonadotropins, and LH‐dependent Leydig cell differentiation, with the result that RLF mRNA remained undetectable throughout the study period. In conclusion, RLF is a very specific marker for the mature Leydig cell phenotype in both the adult‐type and fetal Leydig cell populations of the rat testis. Mol. Reprod. Dev. 54:319–325, 1999. © 1999 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Identification of tRNAs incorporated into wild-type and mutant human immunodeficiency virus type 1

We have identified the tRNAs which are incorporated into both wild-type human immunodeficiency virus type 1 strain IIIB (HIV-1IIIB) produced in COS-7 cells transfected with HIV-1 proviral DNA and mutant, noninfectious HIV-1Lai particles produced in a genetically engineered Vero cell line. The mutant proviral DNA contains nucleotides 678 to 8944; i.e., both long terminal repeats and the primer binding site are absent. As analyzed by two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, both mutant and wild-type HIV-1 contain four major-abundance tRNA species, which include tRNA(1,2Lys), tRNA(3Lys) (the putative primer for HIV-1 reverse transcriptase) and tRNA(Ile). Identification was accomplished by comparing the electrophoretic mobilities and RNase T1 digests with those of tRNA(3Lys) and tRNA(1,2Lys) purified from human placenta and comparing the partial nucleotide sequence at the 3' end of each viral tRNA species with published tRNA sequences. Thus, the absence of the primer binding site in the mutant virus does not affect tRNA(Lys) incorporation into HIV-1. However, only the wild-type virus contains tRNA(3Lys) tightly associated with the viral RNA genome. The identification of the tightly associated tRNA as tRNA(3Lys) is based upon an electrophoretic mobility identical to that of tRNA(3Lys) and the ability of this RNA to hybridize with a tRNA(3Lys)-specific DNA probe. In addition to the four wild-type tRNA species, the mutant HIV-1-like particle contains two tRNA(His) species and three tRNA-sized species that we have been unable to identify. Their absence in wild-type virus makes it unlikely that they are required for viral infectivity.
Design Specification for BER Analysis Methods Using Built-In Jitter Measurements

Timing jitter is a major limiting factor for data throughput in serial high-speed interfaces, which forces an accurate analysis of the impact on system performance. Histogram-based methods have been developed for this purpose, and can directly relate collected jitter distributions with the bit-error rate (BER). However, real measurements suffer from limitations introduced by the hardware, such as limited sample size, a discrete number of bins or process variations. In this paper we investigate the performance of a widely used, powerful class of fitting methods, when used together with built-in jitter measurements (BIJM). We derive equations to specify minimum requirements for sample size and time resolution, and provide empirical relations to estimate the error statistics for typical test distributions. This allows designers to characterize key parameters of a BIJM design, and to find an optimum trade-off between hardware expense and system accuracy. A typical design example is also provided and validity of the empirical equations demonstrated with experimental jitter measurements. The equations can be used as tools for configuring a BIJM system, and to assist in realizing production tests and on-chip diagnostics.
Children's Health Services in a “System of Care”: Patterns of Mental Health, Primary and Specialty Use

Objectives. This study was designed to investigate demonstrable impacts of the Mental Health Services Program for Youth (MHSPY), a highly coordinated, intentionally integrated “system of care,” on patterns of health service utilization for youth with multiple needs. Methods. The MHSPY intervention is available to a target population of urban youth who face barriers to health care and are at risk for out-of-home placement. These youth are enrolled in a non-profit managed care organization (MCO). Patterns of medical, pharmacy, and mental health and substance abuse service use were compared for children aged 3 to 19 across insurance categories. Results. Despite risks for access and engagement barriers to care, and for greater medical expense due to greater morbidity, MHSPY enrollees received significantly more ambulatory care per person-year than either the privately insured population or the Medicaid Standard population, and medical expense for MHSPY members was significantly lower than expected. During the four years studied, individuals in the privately insured and Medicaid Standard populations were less likely than MHSPY enrollees to have had an ambulatory pediatric visit (odds ratio [OR] 0.833, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.765, 0.908 and OR 0.823, 95% CI 0.775, 0.897, respectively). Medical expenses per member per month for MHSPY enrollees were significantly less than that for the similarly impaired Medicaid Disabled population with any medical claim (p<0.001) or with any outpatient mental health claim (p<0.01). Conclusions. Patterns of health care for subpopulations with known risk are important to identify to evaluate system-of-care effectiveness. The service utilization patterns for youth enrolled in the MHSYP system of care vs. those for similar MCO youth suggest health care access for individuals can be affected by delivery system design variables.
Radiographic Inspection of Thick Metal Components, Part II: a New Stochastic Approach to 3-D Reconstruction

We address the issue of reconstructing a piecewise constant 3D object from a few noisy projections in the radiographic inspection context described in Part I (Robini et al., 2006). The solution is defined as any global minimum of a discontinuous, highly multimodal cost function. To tackle this challenging optimization problem, we introduce a new class of hybrid algorithms which combines the theoretical advantages of simulated annealing with the practical advantages of deterministic continuation. We call this class of algorithms stochastic continuation (SC). SC inherits the convergence properties of generalized simulated annealing (under mild assumptions) and can be successfully applied to 3D reconstruction. Our numerical experiments indicate that SC outperforms simulated annealing and validate the model and methodology developed in Part I.
THE INFLATION - INFLATION UNCERTAINTY NEXUS IN ROMANIA

This study explores the causality between inflation and inflation uncertainty in Romania using monthly inflation data for the 1996:01-2012:12 period. If inflation uncertainty is defined as being the variance of unpredictable component of inflation then the use of autoregressive conditional heteroskedastic models can capture inflation uncertainty through the conditional variance of inflation. Inflation uncertainty is obtained from a GARCH model, while checking for any structural break in the series we find that there are possible structural breaks. The structural breaks in mean are captured using dummy variables in the AR-GARCH models and the best models are identified using the informational criterion. The influence between inflation uncertainty and inflation is tested using Granger causality. We find bidirectional causality between inflation and inflation uncertainty.
Dissecting the pathogenic mechanisms of mutations in the pore region of the human cone photoreceptor cyclic nucleotide‐gated channel

The CNGA3 gene encodes the A3 subunit of the cone photoreceptor cyclic nucleotide‐gated (CNG) channel, an essential component of the phototransduction cascade. Certain mutations in CNGA3 cause autosomal recessive achromatopsia, a retinal disorder characterized by severely reduced visual acuity, lack of color discrimination, photophobia, and nystagmus. We identified three novel mutations in the pore‐forming region of CNGA3 (L363P, G367V, and E376K) in patients diagnosed with achromatopsia. We assessed the expression and function of channels with these three new and two previously described mutations (S341P and P372S) in a heterologous HEK293 cell expression system using Western blot, subcellular localization on the basis of immunocytochemistry, calcium imaging, and patch clamp recordings. In this first comparative functional analysis of disease‐associated mutations in the pore of a CNG channel, we found impaired surface expression of S341P, L363P, and P372S mutants and reduced macroscopic currents for channels with the mutations S341P, G367V, and E376K. Calcium imaging and patch clamp experiments after incubation at 37°C revealed nonfunctional homo‐ and heteromeric channels in all five mutants, but incubation at 27°C combined with coexpression of the B3 subunit restored residual function of channels with the mutations S341P, G367V, and E376K. Hum Mutat 31:830–839, 2010. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Introducing Data Primitives: Data Formats for the SKED Framework

Background: The past few years have seen a tremendous increase in the size and complexity of datasets. Scientific and clinical studies must to incorporate datasets that cross multiple spatial and temporal scales to describe a particular phenomenon. The storage and accessibility of these heterogeneous datasets in a way that is useful to researchers and yet extensible to new data types is a major challenge. Methods: In order to overcome these obstacles, we propose the use of data primitives as a common currency between analytical methods. The four data primitives we have identified are time series, text, annotated graph and triangulated mesh, with associated metadata. Using only data primitives to store data and as algorithm input, output, and intermediate results, promotes interoperability, scalability, and reproducibility in scientific studies. Results: Data primitives were used in a multi-omic, multi-scale systems biology study of malaria infection in non-human primates to perform many types of integrative analysis quickly and efficiently. Conclusions: Using data primitives as a common currency for both data storage and for cross talk between analytical methods enables the analysis of complex multi-omic, multi-scale datasets in a reproducible modular fashion.
Randomized comparison between Ramp and Burst+ atrial antitachycardia pacing therapies in patients suffering from sinus node disease and atrial fibrillation and implanted with a DDDRP device.

AIMS Atrial tachycardia and flutter frequently occur in association with atrial fibrillation and may be treated by overdrive pacing in patients who receive pacemakers with antitachycardia pacing (ATP) capabilities. The PITAGORA trial was a multi-centre, randomized, cross-over study aimed at comparing two different ATP modes for atrial tachyarrhythmia (AT) termination in patients suffering from sinus node disease (SND). METHODS AND RESULTS One hundred and seventy-six patients (72 M, age 71+/-9 years) received a Medtronic AT500 pacemaker. All patients were on class IC or III antiarrhythmic drugs. After a 5-month observation period, 170 patients were randomized to either Ramp or Burst+ ATP therapy; 4 months later they crossed over. One hundred and fifty-seven patients completed the 13 months of follow-up; 114 (72.6%) suffered 6088 AT episodes. In 75 patients, 1904 AT episodes were treated and 934 (49.1%) successfully terminated. The median value of individual patients' ATP efficacy was 60%. Burst+ terminated 387 out of 873 AT episodes (44%) in 58 patients. Ramp terminated 547 out of 1031 AT episodes (53%, P<0.001) in 56 patients. Ramp efficacy was significantly (P<0.01) and directly correlated with AT cycle length (ATCL), whereas Burst+ efficacy was not. Ramp showed higher (P<0.001) termination efficacy than Burst+ for ATCL >240 ms. Quality of life, as measured by the EuroQoL questionnaire, and number of symptoms significantly improved in the overall population. This improvement was significantly higher in patients with ATP efficacy >60%. CONCLUSION In patients suffering from SND and AT, Ramp therapy shows higher termination efficacy than Burst+ therapy in AT episodes with ATCL >240 ms. Further studies are required to show the impact of ATP on clinical outcomes.
Real-time information driven decision support system for evacuation planning

Mass traffic evacuations during Hurricanes Rita and Katrina demonstrated limitations of static planning-based evacuation models based on data from historical events. Evacuation dynamics are complex due to the number of people and vehicles, road networks, the uncertainty and perception of the event, public safety advisories, and human decisions regarding evacuation routes and behaviors. We describe a system under development for real-time information driven decision support system for evacuation planning and response. This system consists of an evacuation traffic prediction model injected with situational information extracted from traffic sensors and social networking sites. The situational awareness information obtained from multiple sources is fused with historic stated-preferences behavior data. Our model is novel because it augments standard evacuation models with evacuee sentiment via social media networks.
Perceptions Of Teachers And Administrators Of The Organizational Supports For Inclusion Programs In Southwest Florida Elementary Schools

The success of exceptional student education, although dependent upon the teachers involved, is largely made possible both by the role the school principal performs and the organizational support provided by the school district. The primary purpose of this study was to identify the sources and components of organizational support required to implement the inclusion of students with disabilities into general education classrooms. The provision of resources by administrators, particularly the building principal, is an example of an organizational support that helps students with disabilities learn successfully in this setting. These resources include funding, special curricula, adaptive technology, organizational resources such as time for training, and hiring of additional personnel to assist these students. The role of educational leader in inclusive education has evolved beginning with changes in federal and state legislation that were initiated in the early 1970s. Administrators are legally responsible for the education of students with special needs in the least restrictive environment. This study identifies organizational supports as well as attitudes toward inclusion reported by teachers and principals in a medium sized southwest Florida school district.
Multitouch and surface computing

Natural user interfaces (NUI) such as multitouch and surface computing are positioned as the next major evolution in computing and user interfaces. Just graphical user interfaces (GUIs) brought unprecedented interaction capabilities to their command-line predecessors, we believe multitouch and surface computing will spawn novel ways to interact with media and improve social usage patterns. Since experimentation and deployment are currently limited, the exploration of applications and interfaces in this area is still at an early stage.
Assessing the Impact of Health Literacy on Education Retention of Stroke Patients

Introduction Inadequate health literacy is a pervasive problem with major implications for reduced health status and health disparities. Despite the role of focused education in both primary and secondary prevention of stroke, the effect of health literacy on stroke education retention has not been reported. We examined the relationship of health literacy to the retention of knowledge after recommended stroke education. Methods This prospective cross-sectional study was conducted at an urban safety-net hospital. Study subjects were patients older than 18 admitted to the hospital stroke unit with a diagnosis of acute ischemic stroke who were able to provide informed consent to participate (N = 100). Health literacy levels were measured by using the short form of Test of Functional Health Literacy in Adults. Patient education was provided to patients at an inpatient stroke unit by using standardized protocols, in compliance with Joint Commission specifications. The education outcomes for poststroke care education, knowledge retention, was assessed for each subject. The effect of health literacy on the Stroke Patient Education Retention scores was assessed by using univariate and multivariate analyses. Results Of the 100 participating patients, 59% had inadequate to marginal health literacy. Stroke patients who had marginal health literacy (mean score, 7.45; standard deviation [SD], 1.9) or adequate health literacy (mean score, 7.31; SD, 1.76) had statistically higher education outcome scores than those identified as having inadequate health literacy (mean score, 5.58; SD, 2.06). Results from multivariate analysis indicated that adequate health literacy was most predictive of education outcome retention. Conclusions This study demonstrated a clear relationship between health literacy and stroke education outcomes. Studies are needed to better understand the relationship of health literacy to key educational outcomes for primary or secondary prevention of stroke and to refine stroke education for literacy levels of high-risk populations.
Gender inequalities and labour integration. An integrated approach to vocational training in Piedmont

Public policies are even more interested in vocational training issues, because spillovers fall on the labour market, and then on life quality. Reports of the European Commission registered that women are disadvantaged subjects on the labour market but, at the same time, they are more ambitious and are at their best on the educational side. This paper aims at analysing data of Piedmont Region on vocational training policies, focusing on the role of women into the labour market. Data refer to subjects that accomplished their training course during 2011. Analyses have been performed on interviews, in order to evaluate the effects of training on medium-term employment outcomes of trainees. A control sample has been selected with the aim to evaluate the effect of training, with a special focus on women. Probit models and average marginal effects (AMEs) allow authors to estimate the net impact of training into the labour market. Results suggest that the employment gap between men and women is completely recovered in trainees, also when considering qualitative aspects of employment.
Low turn-on voltage field emission triodes with selective growth of carbon nanotubes

A low turn-on voltage, field emission triode array has been fabricated using the selective deposition of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) in a microwave plasma chemical vapor deposition (MPCVD) system. The field emission triodes exhibited a low turn-on voltage of 13 V and a large emission current of 23 /spl mu/A with the gate voltage at 60 V. Short-term stress reveals a 10% current fluctuation within 1800 sec. The excellent electric properties suggest that the array shows potential for application in field emission displays and vacuum microelectronics.
Improved impossible differential and biclique cryptanalysis of HIGHT

HIGHT is a lightweight block cipher introduced in CHES 2006 by Hong et al as a block cipher suitable for low‐resource applications. In this paper, we propose improved impossible differential and biclique attacks on HIGHT block cipher both exploiting the permutation‐based property of the cipher's key schedule algorithm as well as its low diffusion. For impossible differential attack, we found a new 17‐round impossible differential characteristic that enables us to propose a new 27‐round impossible differential attack. The total time complexity of the attack is 2120.4 where an amount of 259.3 chosen plaintext‐ciphertext pairs and 2107.4 memory are required. We also instantiate a new biclique cryptanalysis of HIGHT, which is based on the new idea of splitting each of the forward and backward keys into 2 parts where the computations associated to each one are performed independently. The time complexity and data complexity of this attack are 2125.7 and 242, respectively. To the best of our knowledge, this is the fastest biclique attack on full‐round HIGHT.
Essays on experimental economics in the field : lessons for public policy

Traditional economic theory has found in experimental economics a source of both support and challenge. Similarly, policy makers have found the need to understand the behavioral underpinnings of their target populations. To achieve efficiency policies need to exploit difficult concepts such as social capital, social preferences and crowding effects. Despite its importance for development and poverty alleviation, social capital remains elusive as its parts, social norms and beliefs about others, willingness to cooperate and individual connections, move together. We disentangle social capital using an artefactual field experiment, to our knowledge the first of its kind to use a minimum effort coordination game to measure coordination. Together with network information, cooperation from a Public Goods game and traditional survey measures of social capital, we report a positive relation between a CCT program and the ability to coordinate in the most efficient outcome. Social preferences help explain deviations from Nash equilibrium in game outcomes. An enduring challenge is to identify types in the presence of heterogeneity. Using data from a common pool resource (CPR) game in the field with 1,095 individuals (students and CPR users) we estimate a structural model including preferences for altruism, reciprocity and equity. Our type identification uses a latent class logit model based on exogenous determinants. A competing explanation is the existence of a cognitive factor (e.g. Quantal Response Equilibrium). We do not find much evidence for cognitive heterogeneity, and instead a great deal of behavioral heterogeneity. Types seem robust out-of-sample. Workfare programs might crowd out private labor effort. We analyze the impact of a Colombian workfare program called Job in Action to shed light on: (1) labor crowding-out, (2) gains in household labor income and (3) persistence in gains after the program has finished. We see no evidence of effort crowding out. We find large positive transfer benefits and a positive effect on individuals’ outcomes even six months after the program ended.