Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Influenza Virus M2 Protein Slows Traffic along the Secretory Pathway

M2, an acid-activated ion channel, is an influenza A virus membrane protein required for efficient nucleocapsid release after viral fusion with the endosomal membrane. Recombinant M2 slows protein traffic through the Golgi complex (Sakaguchi, T., Leser, G. P). , and Lamb, R. A. (1996) J. Cell Biol. 133, 733–47). Despite its critical role in viral infection, little is known about the subcellular distribution of M2 or its fate following delivery to the plasma membrane (PM). We measured the kinetics of M2 transport in HeLa cells, and found that active M2 reached the PM considerably more slowly than inactive M2. In addition, M2 delayed intra-Golgi transport and cell surface delivery of influenza hemagglutinin (HA). We hypothesized that the effects of M2 on transport through non-acidified compartments are due to inefficient retrieval from thetrans-Golgi of machinery required for intra-Golgi transport. In support of this, acutely activated M2 had no effect on intra-Golgi transport of HA, but still slowed HA delivery to the PM. Thus, M2 has an indirect effect on early transport steps, but a direct effect on late steps in PM delivery. These findings may help explain the conflicting and unexplained effects on protein traffic observed with other perturbants of intraorganelle pH such as weak bases and inhibitors of V-type ATPases.
Thrombospondin‐4 is expressed by early osteogenic tissues in the chick embryo

The thrombospondins are a family of related glycoproteins found in the embryonic extracellular matrix. To date, five members of this family have been identified. Thrombospondin‐1 and thrombospondin‐2 have similar primary structure, but are expressed in different tissues at different times during development. Thrombospondins‐3, ‐4, and cartilage oligomeric protein belong to a second thrombospondin subgroup in which the carboxyl‐half of each molecule is most similar to thrombospondin‐1 and ‐2. Here, we report the cloning and sequencing of a novel probe to avian thrombospondin‐4. We have used this probe to determine the origins of thrombospondin‐4 in the chick embryo by in situ hybridization. Thrombospondin‐4 transcripts first appear in the mesenchyme surrounding bone anlage coinciding with the initial stages of osteogenesis. The expression in osteogenic tissues is transient: thrombospondin‐4 mRNAs are not seen in the osteoblasts of bone collars in developing long bones. This pattern is distinct from avian thrombospondin‐2, which is expressed in perichondrium and embryonic fibrous connective tissues. Our observations indicate that connective tissues are the principal site of thrombospondin‐4 expression in the chick. The diverse origins of different thrombospondin gene family members imply distinctive roles for these proteins related to the growth and differentiation of cartilage, tendons, and bone. ©1995 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Enhanced Directional Hexagonal Search Algorithm

Hexagonal block search algorithms considerably improve the execution speed of motion estimation over previously developed fast search algorithms. These algorithms focus on improvement of either coarse search or inner search. Proposed Enhanced Directional Hexagonal Search (EDHS) algorithm improves both the searches with respect to number of search points. This algorithm reduces the number of search points by exploiting the distortion information in the neighboring search points. Directionality obtained in coarse search helps reduce inner search points. Our experimental results show that the proposed algorithm substantially outperforms previously developed hexagonal search algorithms in terms of number of search points with slight improvement in the Peak Signal-to-Noise ratio. (PSNR).
The immunopurification of tetanus toxoid.

Summary. The isolation of tetanus toxoid by immunosorption chromatography is described. The immunosorbent, a polymerized horse antitoxin, was used repeatedly with little loss in capacity and recoveries of toxoid of > 90% were achieved. In terms of specific antigenic activity, immunopurified tetanus toxoid is purer than that purified by conventional procedures and is at least as immunogenic.
The Economics of Food Insecurity in the United States

Food insecurity is experienced by millions of Americans and has increased dramatically in recent years. Due to its prevalence and many demonstrated negative health consequences, food insecurity is one of the most important nutrition-related public health issues in the U.S. In this article, we address three questions where economic insights and models have made important contributions: What are the determinants of food insecurity? ; What are the causal effects of food insecurity on health outcomes? ; and What is the impact of food assistance programs on food insecurity? We conclude with a discussion of the policy implications of the answers to these questions and future research opportunities in this research venue. Copyright 2011, Oxford University Press. (This abstract was borrowed from another version of this item.)
Synthesis of a 2D reconfigurable parasitic element antenna

This work presents the design of a low-cost concept of reconfigurable antenna used as a test vehicle. It is based on parasitic elements to simplify the feed distribution network of reconfigurable antenna. The synthesis of this antenna consists of the stimulation of couplings to maximize the directivity in one or several given directions. A constraint on the antenna matching is also set to avoid the addition of a dedicated circuit on the driven element. A prototype with 49 elements working at 2.45GHz has been manufactured and measured. The results present a very good agreement. The originality of this work is based on the important number of parasitic elements and on the reactive loads connected to them. These loads are synthesized to satisfy both the radiation objective and the matching constraint.
Evolution of varactor-loaded frequency and polarization reconfigurable microstrip patches

This paper briefly describes different varactor-loaded multi-subpatch microstrip antenna solutions. Different solutions form kind of an evolutionary sequence, illustrating the process of attaining quite complex final antenna design, and describing main properties of individual solutions themselves. The final antenna represents completely frequency and polarization reconfigurable antenna, adjustable by means of varactor diodes, biased by DC voltages. The final design was fabricated and tested in several variations showing extensive frequency and polarization reconfigurability, while maintaining good impedance matching and radiation performances.
Erythromycin Resistance Peptides Selected from Random Peptide Libraries*

Translation of a 5-codon mini-gene encoded inEscherichia coli 23 S rRNA was previously shown to render cells resistant to erythromycin (Tenson, T., DeBlasio, A., and Mankin, A. S. (1996) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U. S. A. 93, 5641–5646). Erythromycin resistance was mediated by a specific interaction of the 23 S rRNA-encoded pentapeptide with the ribosome. In the present study, peptides conferring erythromycin resistance were selected from in vivo expressed random peptide libraries to study structural features important for peptide activity. Screening of a 21-codon mini-gene library (the general structure ATG (NNN)20 TAA) demonstrated that only short peptides (3–6 amino acids long) conferred erythromycin resistance. Sequence comparison of erythromycin resistance peptides isolated from the 5-codon library (ATG (NNN)4 TAA) revealed a strong preference for leucine or isoleucine as a third amino acid and a hydrophobic amino acid at the C terminus of the peptide. When tested against other antibiotics, erythromycin resistance peptides rendered cells resistant to other macrolides, oleandomycin and spiramycin, but not to chloramphenicol or clindamycin. Defining the consensus amino acid sequence of erythromycin resistance peptides provided insights into a possible mode of peptide action and the nature of the peptide binding site on the ribosome.
Energy-network performance trade-off in a slotted IEEE 802.15.4 network with acknowledged uplink transmissions

This paper provides an analysis of the performance of wireless sensor network WSN under the beacon-enabled slotted CSMA/CA of IEEE 802.15. 4 Standard in non-saturation mode with acknowledged uplink and limited buffers. The performance metrics of a node considered are: reliability, average throughput per node, average packet delay and average energy consumption. An analytical model of energy is derived and used to analyse the average consumption of node. This model takes into account energy dissipation of the radio unit and also of the processing and the sensor units. All these performance metrics are evaluated with different parameters such as medium access control MAC parameters, network density and offer load per node in order to observe their influence and adjust them if necessary to obtain good performance.
Study on interior permanent magnet synchronous motors for hybrid electric vehicle traction drive application considering permanent magnet type and temperature

Recently, interior permanent magnet synchronous motors (Interior-PMSMs) have become known as a good candidate for hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) traction drive application due to their unique merits. However, the dynamic and steady-state behaviors of these motors are quite dependent on the permanent magnet (PM) type, configuration, and volume in rotor structures. This paper uses a novel structure of Interior-PMSMs for traction applications with fragmental buried rotor magnets in order to achieve low torque ripple, iron losses, and cogging torque. In this paper, first, the effect of the PM type on a d-q equivalent circuit model is examined. Next, the design and simulation of an Interior-PMSM for HEV traction drive application, in order to extract the output values of the motor and sensitivity analysis of the PM type, are done using a 3-dimensional finite element method model. We then present the back electromotive force, power factor, cogging torque, flux density, torque per ampere diagram, PM volume, and constant power speed ratio value behavior of the designed Interior-PMSM with different PMs in the rotor structure, and we discuss the effect of temperature variation on these output parameters. This study can help designers in the design approach of such motors.
The impact of Sirex noctilio in Pinus resinosa and Pinus sylvestris stands in New York and Ontario

Sirex noctilio Fabricius has a long history as an invasive insect species in pine plantations throughout the Southern Hemisphere and has been recently discovered in North America, where it is uncertain how this insect will behave in pine ecosystems. To assess the impact and attack behavior of S. noctilio, forest surveys and measurements from attacked and unattacked trees were taken in nine Pinus resinosa Ait. and Pinus sylvestris L. plantations in New York, USA, and Ontario, Canada. There was a trend of S. noctilio attacking suppressed trees with smaller live crowns and reduced growth. Some S. noctilio attacks were also found in dominant crown classes but at a lower rate than overtopped or intermediate classes. Sirex noctilio appeared to have more of an impact in P. sylvestris forests, as they attacked more stems (9%–18%) and higher basal area (1.6–5.5 m2/ha) than P. resinosa stands (3%–8% of stems and 0.4–2.4 m2/ha). Dead trees with signs of Siricidae and dead from other causes were also quantified, and .
Giant tufted angioma successfully treated with radiation

oid granulomas associated with Hodgikin’s disease. Clinical correlation in 55 previously untreated patients. Cancer 1978; 41: 562–567. 6 Noro S, Akifumi Y, Yamazaki N et al. [Comparison of the previous UICC-TNM classification (1997) and new UICC-TNM classification (2002) for malignant melanoma: analysis of 342 Japanese patients. ]. Skin Cancer 2003; 18: 214–220 (In Japanese). 7 Ishihara K, Saida T, Yamamoto A. [Statistics of malignant melanoma (1992–1996): epidemiology, prognostic factor and survival rates. ]. Skin Cancer 2002; 17: 7–15 (In Japanese). 8 Bassler R, Birke F. Histopathology of tumor associated sarcoid-like stromal reaction in breast cancer. An analysis of 5 cases with immunohistochemical investigations. Virchows Arch A Pathol Anat Histopathol 1988; 412: 231–239.
Structure‐based prediction of human intestinal membrane permeability for rapid in silico BCS classification

Human effective intestinal membrane permeability (Peff) is one of the two important indicators for drug classification according to the Biopharmaceutical Classification System (BCS), and contributes greatly to the performance of oral drug absorption. Here, a structure‐based in silico predictive model of Peff was developed successfully to facilitate in silico BCS classification in the early stage of drug discovery, even before the compound was synthesized. The quantitative structure–Peff relationship for 30 drugs was constructed based on seven structural parameters. Then the model was built by the multiple linear regression method and internally validated by the residual analysis, the normal probability–probability plot and the Williams plot. For the entire data set, the R2 and adjusted R2 values were 0.782 and 0.712, respectively. The results indicated that the fitted model was robust, stable and satisfied all the prerequisites of the regression models. As for the 102 tested drugs, the predicted Peff values had a good correlation with the experimental human absorbed fraction (Fa). This model was also used to perform high/low Peff classification for 57 drugs that have been classified according to the BCS, and 72% of drugs could be classified correctly, indicating that the developed model can be used for rapid BCS classification in the early stages of drug discovery. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Two Lipoproteins Extracted from Escherichia coli K-12 LCD25 Lipopolysaccharide Are the Major Components Responsible for Toll-Like Receptor 2-Mediated Signaling1

Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2)-mediated cell activation induced by commercial preparations of LPS was recently shown to arise from impurities whose identities are not known. In this work, we determined the molecules responsible for TLR2-mediated cell activation in LPS derived from Escherichia coli K-12 strain LCD25. When LCD25 LPS was phenol extracted, two proteins capable of TLR2-mediated cell activation were purified and identified as E. coli lipoproteins. We cloned, expressed, and purified these two lipoproteins, Lip19 and Lip12. Lip19 or Lip12 activated TNF-α production from RAW264.7 and THP-1 cells in a TLR2-dependent manner. However, neither Lip19 nor Lip12 activated HUVECs, which lack endogenous TLR2. Additionally, IκB kinase β and c-Jun N-terminal kinase 1 activation in THP-1 cells induced by Lip19 or Lip12 was observed. TLR2 activation by Lip19 and Lip12 in HEK293 cells was blocked by inhibitory anti-TLR2 mAbs. The unlipidated mutants, Lip19-C19S and Lip12-C21S, in which the NH2-terminal cysteine was substituted by serine, lost their ability to activate TLR2-transfected HEK 293 cells. Taken together, these results demonstrate that two lipoproteins constitute the major contaminants responsible for TLR2-mediated cell activation in E. coli LCD25 LPS.
New approaches to machine vision based displacement analysis

The paper describes the design and manufacturing of optical components; calibration and evaluation procedures; together with thermally stable housings. All these elements are required for the implementation of accurate optical displacement and orientation sensors. Printed hexagonal and rectangular dot-patterns on optical glass are investigated with respect to their spatial scattering properties of an incident laser beam, and as a means of implementing semi-transparent windows to image laser spots on two parallel targets. The positions of the laser spots are observed by two cameras. The mapping from pixel coordinates to real world coordinates is implemented via a bivariate tensor polynomial product, whereby the calibration coefficients are determined in a manner such that the distortion associated with the optical component, e.g., lens distortion is compensated. The covariance propagation is explicitly computed for the calibration process and used to optimize the selection of the polynomial degree. This reflects the trade-off minimizing between the systematic and stochastic errors. The new technique and methods are demonstrated in the design of and implementation of an active optical laser target for machine guidance control. This measurement instrument, rigidly fixed on a Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM), measures the orientation and position of the machine where an off-vehicle reference laser beam is projecting its laser spots on two parallel targets. Precise vision-based measurements of the laser spot positions are achieved, yielding a standard deviation of the displacement error of 0.05 [mm] and for yaw and pitch of 0.02 [degree].
Liquid-ChromatographicDeterminationof Free and Total 3 , 4-Dihydroxyphenylglycoland 3-Methoxy-4-Hydroxyphenylglycolin Urine

We describe the conjoint measurement in urine of the alcoholic catecholamine metabolites 3,4-dihydroxyphenylglycol (DHPG) and 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylgIycol (MHPG). The method involves extraction with ethyl acetate and backextraction into acetic acid (MHPG), followed by adsorption onto alumina (DHPG). The separation is performed by reversed-phase liquid chromatography with column switching and amperometric detection. Total (free plus conjugated) compounds are determined after a 24-h enzymatic hydrolysis. Twelve-hour excretion values for normal and hypertensive subjects are given, together with results obtained for patients with pheochromocytoma, chemodectoma, and congenital dopamine-beta-hydroxylase deficiency. The assay is sensitive, reproducible, and free of interferences, and may lead to a better understanding of overall catecholamine metabolism in health and disease.
Rapid Identification of Cortical Motor Areas in Rodents by High-Frequency Automatic Cortical Stimulation and Novel Motor Threshold Algorithm

Cortical stimulation mapping is a valuable tool to test the functional organization of the motor cortex in both basic neurophysiology (e.g., elucidating the process of motor plasticity) and clinical practice (e.g., before resecting brain tumors involving the motor cortex). However, compilation of motor maps based on the motor threshold (MT) requires a large number of cortical stimulations and is therefore time consuming. Shortening the time for mapping may reduce stress on the subjects and unveil short-term plasticity mechanisms. In this study, we aimed to establish a cortical stimulation mapping procedure in which the time needed to identify a motor area is reduced to the order of minutes without compromising reliability. We developed an automatic motor mapping system that applies epidural cortical surface stimulations (CSSs) through one-by-one of 32 micro-electrocorticographic electrodes while examining the muscles represented in a cortical region. The next stimulus intensity was selected according to previously evoked electromyographic responses in a closed-loop fashion. CSS was repeated at 4 Hz and electromyographic responses were submitted to a newly proposed algorithm estimating the MT with smaller number of stimuli with respect to traditional approaches. The results showed that in all tested rats (n = 12) the motor area maps identified by our novel mapping procedure (novel MT algorithm and 4-Hz CSS) significantly correlated with the maps achieved by the conventional MT algorithm with 1-Hz CSS. The reliability of the both mapping methods was very high (intraclass correlation coefficients ≧0.8), while the time needed for the mapping was one-twelfth shorter with the novel method. Furthermore, the motor maps assessed by intracortical microstimulation and the novel CSS mapping procedure in two rats were compared and were also significantly correlated. Our novel mapping procedure that determined a cortical motor area within a few minutes could help to study the functional significance of short-term plasticity in motor learning and recovery from brain injuries. Besides this advantage, particularly in the case of human patients or experimental animals that are less trained to remain at rest, shorter mapping time is physically and mentally less demanding and might allow the evaluation of motor maps in awake individuals as well.
Mentoring experience and its effects on medical interns.

INTRODUCTION Effective mentoring helps interns in the early stages of their medical career to reach personal and professional goals. This study investigated the mentoring experience of Korean interns during medical internship and evaluated mentoring effects to facilitate the development of future mentoring programmes. METHODS Participants were interns being trained at Chonnam National University Hospital, South Korea, in 2011. Interns were asked to complete a questionnaire about their mentoring experiences and job satisfaction. RESULTS A total of 61 medical interns participated in the study, giving a response rate of 70.1%. Among these interns, 26 (42.6%) had mentoring experiences, with an average of 2.3 ± 1.9 mentors per mentee. Mentees usually discussed career planning and concerns regarding their personal and social lives with their mentors. Perceived quality of the mentor was significantly more important for male mentees than for female mentees. Female interns without a mentor made significantly less effort to seek a mentor than their male counterparts. Having and not having a mentor resulted in significant differences in the interns' job satisfaction. CONCLUSION Fewer than half of the medical interns had mentoring experiences. Results suggest that the mentoring relationship may be less satisfying and more challenging for female interns. Effective mentoring may not only help interns plan their medical career, but also increase job satisfaction. Mentoring programmes during medical internship should be expanded and supported, as it is the initial step in a medical career.
Face Recognition in Pictures is Affected by Perspective Transformation but Not by the Centre of Projection

Recognition of unfamiliar faces is susceptible to image differences caused by angular sizes subtended from the face to the camera. Research on perception of cubes suggests that apparent distortions of a shape due to large camera angle are correctable by placing the observer at the centre of projection, especially when visibility of the picture surface is low (Yang and Kubovy, 1999 Perception & Psychophysics 61 456 – 467). To explore the implication of this finding for face perception, observers performed recognition and matching tasks where face images with reduced visibility of picture surface were shown with observers either at the centre of projection or at other viewpoints. The results show that, unlike perception of cubes, the effect of perspective transformation on face recognition is largely unaffected by the centre of projection. Furthermore, the use of perspective cues is not affected by textured surfaces. The limitation of perspective in restoring 3-D information of faces suggests a stronger role for image-based, rather than model-based, processes in recognition of unfamiliar faces.