Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Topography of Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor Membrane-embedded Domains*

The topography of nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (AChR) membrane-embedded domains and the relative affinity of lipids for these protein regions were studied using fluorescence methods. Intact Torpedo californica AChR protein and transmembrane peptides were derivatized withN-(1-pyrenyl)maleimide (PM), purified, and reconstituted into asolectin liposomes. Fluorescence mapped to proteolytic fragments consistent with PM labeling of cysteine residues in αM1, αM4, γM1, and γM4. The topography of the pyrene-labeled Cys residues with respect to the membrane and the apparent affinity for representative lipids were determined by differential fluorescence quenching with spin-labeled derivatives of fatty acids, phosphatidylcholine, and the steroids cholestane and androstane. Different spin label lipid analogs exhibit different selectivity for the whole AChR protein and its transmembrane domains. In all cases labeled residues were found to lie in a shallow position. For M4 segments, this is compatible with a linear α-helical structure, but not so for M1, for which “classical” models locate Cys residues at the center of the hydrophobic stretch. The transmembrane topography of M1 can be rationalized on the basis of the presence of a substantial amount of non-helical structure, and/or of kinks attributable to the occurrence of the evolutionarily conserved proline residues. The latter is a striking feature of M1 in the AChR and all members of the rapid ligand-gated ion channel superfamily.
A centered DFT-based discrete fractional Fourier transform and its application to chirp signal parameter estimation

We propose a new discrete fractional Fourier transform (DFrFT) scheme based on eigentransforms of the centered DFT matrix and present its application to chirp parameter estimation problem. We show that eigentransforms of the centered DFT provides a simple and straightforward method in the derivation of the centered DFrFT matrix. The method makes use of Gram-Schmidt orthogonalization algorithm to refine the eigenvectors that are employed in the DFrFT matrix computation. The simulation results show how the proposed DFrFT mimics its continuous counterpart and finally an application on chirp rate estimation is presented.
AN ACTIVE LEARNING EXERCISE : THE MATCH DISTRIBUTION GAME

We describe a supply chain management board game which is the first of its kind to illustrate the concepts of shortage gaming, synchronization of the flow of parts, demand uncertainty and its impact on location selection, and customer service. The game in which students assume the roles of supply chain enterprises, builds skills in both decision-making and the execution of operations plans. The Match Distribution Game also provides professionals an opportunity to visualize the new role of the purchasing function, and thus prepares them for the needs of today’s supply chain management principles.
Control of Carbon Assimilation and Partitioning by Jasmonate: An Accounting of Growth–Defense Tradeoffs

Plant growth is often constrained by the limited availability of resources in the microenvironment. Despite the continuous threat of attack from insect herbivores and pathogens, investment in defense represents a lost opportunity to expand photosynthetic capacity in leaves and absorption of nutrients and water by roots. To mitigate the metabolic expenditure on defense, plants have evolved inducible defense strategies. The plant hormone jasmonate (JA) is a key regulator of many inducible defenses. Synthesis of JA in response to perceived danger leads to the deployment of a variety of defensive structures and compounds, along with a potent inhibition of growth. Genetic studies have established an important role for JA in mediating tradeoffs between growth and defense. However, several gaps remain in understanding of how JA signaling inhibits growth, either through direct transcriptional control of JA-response genes or crosstalk with other signaling pathways. Here, we highlight recent progress in uncovering the role of JA in controlling growth-defense balance and its relationship to resource acquisition and allocation. We also discuss tradeoffs in the context of the ability of JA to promote increased leaf mass per area (LMA), which is a key indicator of leaf construction costs and leaf life span.
Interface degradation of Al heavy wire bonds on power semiconductors during active power cycling measured by the shear test

Wire bonding is still the dominant interconnection technology for power semiconductors in power modules, e.g. for automotive or photovoltaic applications. In the past, many research activities have occurred in the field of reliability of power modules, where the life time of the complete module is affected by bond wire lift offs, heel cracks and other failures. Less effort was spent for investigating the degradation process at the wire bond itself. This paper addresses a new approach and focuses on the investigation of the cracks in the interface region between the die and the wire by using the shear test. These cracks form after several thousand temperature swings due to CTE mismatch and ultimately lead to wire bond lift off. New results of active power cycling with different temperature amplitudes and medium temperatures will be discussed. Shear tests have been carried out in regular intervals to monitor the degradation of the 400 μm wire bonds on power MOS-FETs. It was found out that the rate of the shear force reduction was mostly dependent on the amplitude of the temperature cycling. A significant effect of different medium temperatures could not be identified. These results will contribute to the development of an enhanced life time model for heavy wire bonds on power semiconductors.
CD45 Deficiency Drives Amyloid-β Peptide Oligomers and Neuronal Loss in Alzheimer's Disease Mice

Converging lines of evidence indicate dysregulation of the key immunoregulatory molecule CD45 (also known as leukocyte common antigen) in Alzheimer's disease (AD). We report that transgenic mice overproducing amyloid-β peptide (Aβ) but deficient in CD45 (PSAPP/CD45−/− mice) faithfully recapitulate AD neuropathology. Specifically, we find increased abundance of cerebral intracellular and extracellular soluble oligomeric and insoluble Aβ, decreased plasma soluble Aβ, increased abundance of microglial neurotoxic cytokines tumor necrosis factor-α and interleukin-1β, and neuronal loss in PSAPP/CD45−/− mice compared with CD45-sufficient PSAPP littermates (bearing mutant human amyloid precursor protein and mutant human presenilin-1 transgenes). After CD45 ablation, in vitro and in vivo studies demonstrate an anti-Aβ phagocytic but proinflammatory microglial phenotype. This form of microglial activation occurs with elevated Aβ oligomers and neural injury and loss as determined by decreased ratio of anti-apoptotic Bcl-xL to proapoptotic Bax, increased activated caspase-3, mitochondrial dysfunction, and loss of cortical neurons in PSAPP/CD45−/− mice. These data show that deficiency in CD45 activity leads to brain accumulation of neurotoxic Aβ oligomers and validate CD45-mediated microglial clearance of oligomeric Aβ as a novel AD therapeutic target.
Eddy Viscosity and Diffusivity: Exact Formulas and Approximations

Exact asymptotic expressions for eddy diffus ivity and eddy viscosity are ob tained as the lead in g terms of in finite-series rep­ rese ntations of integral equations which express the act ion of t urbu­ lence on an infinites imal mean field. The series are transformed term by te rm from Euler ian to Lagrangian form. The latter is more suitable for constructing approximations to the exact asymptotic express ions. T he analysis is prefaced by some qualitative remarks on possible im­ provements of eddy transport algorithms in turbulence computations.
The roles of teachers’ science talk in revealing language demands within diverse elementary school classrooms: a study of teaching heat and temperature in Singapore

ABSTRACT This study of three science teachers’ lessons on heat and temperature seeks to characterise classroom talk that highlighted the ways language is used and to examine the nature of the language demands revealed in constructing, negotiating, arguing and communicating science ideas. The transcripts from the entire instructional units for these teachers’ four culturally and linguistically diverse Grade 4 classes (10 years old) with English as the language of instruction constitute the data for this investigation. Analysis of these transcripts focused on teachers’ talk that made explicit reference to the form or function of the language of science and led to the inductive development of the ‘Attending to Language Demands in Science’ analytical framework. This framework in turn revealed that the major foregrounding purposes of teachers’ talk include labelling, explaining, differentiating, selecting and constructing. Further classification of the instances within these categories revealed the extensive and contextualised nature of the language demands. The results challenge the conventional assumption that basic literacy skills dominate over disciplinary literacy skills in primary school science. Potential uses of the analytical framework that could further expand our understanding of the forms, functions and demands of language used in elementary school science are also discussed.
A comparative study of general self-efficacy of University level swimmers

The aim of present study is to compare the male and female university level swimmers with regard to their general self-efficacy. To accomplish the study purposive sampling technique has been used to select the sample of the study. The sample of the study has been selected from the All India inter University Aquatics (M & W) Championship held at Panjab University Chandigarh from 24 to 28 October 2016. For this purpose, total ninety (90) swimmers male (45) and female (45) both have been selected for the study. The selected subjects were ranged between the age group of 17 to 28 years. To assess the General Self-Efficacy, Schwarzer, R. , & Jerusalem, M. (1995), General Self-Efficacy scale was used. To find out the significance difference between male and female swimmers of university level with regard to General Self-Efficacy ‘t’ test was applied through Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) version 16.0. The results of the present study show that male and female university level swimmers do not differ significantly with regard to their general self-efficacy.
Do Women in Highly Qualified Positions Face Higher Work-to-Family Conflicts in Germany than Men?

Changing employment conditions lead to new chances, but also new risks for employees. In the literature, increasing permeability between occupational and private life is discussed as one special outcome of this development that employees must face, especially those in highly qualified positions. Drawing on existing research, we investigate in how far women and men in those positions differ in their perceived work-to-family conflicts (WFC), considering the mediating role of gender specific job opportunities. Referring conflicting theoretical arguments, we hypothesize that in Germany – as a conservative welfare state – women, especially those with family responsibilities, will perceive higher WFC than men in those positions. Our analysis is based on data from the German Socio-Economic Panel Study (SOEP). Using the Siegrist instrument on effort-reward imbalance we find that women in highly qualified positions perceive higher WFC than men. This association is explained by women's lower willingness to take risks, and also party explained by lower job rewards women receive. It gets visible even more strongly if women's lower time-based burdens in the job are controlled for. Mixed results are observed concerning associations between family responsibilities and WFC, which is in line with ambivalent results in the literature.
Meta-perfiles y perfiles: Una nueva aproximación para las titulaciones en América Latina

El desarrollo de los perfiles de las titulaciones es uno de los temas mas relevantes en el ambito de la educacion superior, y por definicion, un elemento central en el proyecto Tuning. En el marco del desarrollo de las titulaciones a traves de competencias, los perfiles se han constituido como un ambito especializado y critico en los ultimos anos. En un entorno en que multiples actores aportan a la definicion de las titulaciones y los perfiles de los graduados, dichos actores —las universidades, los empleadores, los estudiantes, los padres, los responsables politicos de la educacion superior, entre otros— consideran a los perfiles de las titulaciones como el resultado de un proceso educativo en el que los intereses confluyen. Varias preguntas surgen al respecto; ? Se traduce el trabajo conjunto de todos los actores mencionados en un perfil bien articulado que sea capaz de cambiar a los individuos y trasformar la sociedad? Que tipo de sociedades demandan las diferentes variantes de perfiles? Que tipo de ciudadano requieren las sociedades para asumir el reto de un desarrollo integral? Estos aspectos precisan del esfuerzo de todos los actores involucrados a los efectos de pensar y definir las vias a traves de las cuales se articulan los perfiles que requieren las sociedades para poder responder a las multiples problematicas de los diferentes contextos.
Assessment of cardiovascular risk in Tunisia: applying the Framingham risk score to national survey data

Objective This paper aims to assess the socioeconomic determinants of a high 10 year cardiovascular risk in Tunisia. Setting We used a national population based cross sectional survey conducted in 2005 in Tunisia comprising 7780 subjects. We applied the non-laboratory version of the Framingham equation to estimate the 10 year cardiovascular risk. Participants 8007 participants, aged 35–74 years, were included in the sample but effective exclusion of individuals with cardiovascular diseases and cancer resulted in 7780 subjects (3326 men and 4454 women) included in the analysis. Results Mean age was 48.7 years. Women accounted for 50.5% of participants. According to the Framingham equation, 18.1% (17.25–18.9%) of the study population had a high risk (≥20% within 10 years). The gender difference was striking and statistically significant: 27.2% (25.7–28.7%) of men had a high risk, threefold higher than women (9.7%; 8.8–10.5%). A higher 10 year global cardiovascular risk was associated with social disadvantage in men and women; thus illiterate and divorced individuals, and adults without a professional activity had a significantly higher risk of developing a cardiovascular event in 10 years. Illiterate men were at higher risk than those with secondary and higher education (OR=7.01; 5.49 to 9.14). The risk in illiterate women was more elevated (OR=13.57; 7.58 to 24.31). Those living in an urban area had a higher risk (OR=1.45 (1.19 to 1.76) in men and OR=1.71 (1.35 to 2.18) in women). Conclusions The 10 year global cardiovascular risk in the Tunisian population is already substantially high, affecting almost a third of men and 1 in 10 women, and concentrated in those more socially disadvantaged.
Thresholds for interference with neuronal activity

Low frequency safety assessment with regard to unintended nerve stimulation is typically aiming to avoid field strength that have been found to cause spiking in generic neuronal models. The assumptions underlying current safety approaches are investigated here using coupled EM-neuronal dynamics modelling in a computational human anatomical model. The relevant example of MRI gradient coil induced nerve stimulation is studied, considering the impact of tissue/field inhomogeneity, coupling mechanisms, neuron models, and local, RF-coil induced heating affecting ion-channel dynamics. It is found that: the inhomogeneous field affects the stimulation threshold, end-node stimulation is not the only dominant mechanism and local field foci are relevant - as opposed to the assumptions underlying the standards -, and temperature impacts significantly neuronal dynamics, but less so stimulation thresholds. The acceptability of field smoothing is discussed. These results indicate that current safety assessment guidelines should be revisited and that quantities beyond local field or current strengths could be required to properly account for the impact of in vivo field inhomogeneity.
Interferon-γ-Mediated Natural Killer Cell Activation by an Aqueous Panax ginseng Extract

Panax ginseng extracts are used in traditional herbal medicines, particularly in eastern Asia, but their effect on natural killer (NK) cell activity is not completely understood. This study aimed to examine the effects of P. ginseng extracts on the cytotoxic activity of NK cells. We orally administered P. ginseng extracts or ginsenosides to wild-type (WT) C57BL/6 (B6) and BALB/c mice and to B6 mice deficient in either recombination activating gene 2 (RAG-2) or interferon-γ (IFN-γ). We then tested the cytotoxic activity of NK cells (of spleen and liver mononuclear cells) against NK-sensitive YAC-1 cells. Oral administration of P. ginseng aqueous extract augmented the cytotoxicity of NK cells in WT B6 and BALB/c mice and in RAG-2-deficient B6 mice, but not in IFN-γ-deficient B6 mice. This effect was only observed with the aqueous extract of P. ginseng. Interestingly, the ginsenosides Rb1 and Rg1 did not augment NK cell cytotoxicity. These results demonstrated that the aqueous P. ginseng extract augmented NK cell activation in vivo via an IFN-γ-dependent pathway.
Human nasociliary nerve with special reference to its unique parasympathetic cutaneous innervation

The frontal nerve is characterized by its great content of sympathetic nerve fibers in contrast to cutaneous branches of the maxillary and mandibular nerves. However, we needed to add information about composite fibers of cutaneous branches of the nasociliary nerve. Using cadaveric specimens from 20 donated cadavers (mean age, 85), we performed immunohistochemistry of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS), and vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP). The nasocilliary nerve contained abundant nNOS-positive fibers in contrast to few TH- and VIP-positive fibers. The short ciliary nerves also contained nNOS-positive fibers, but TH-positive fibers were more numerous than nNOS-positive ones. Parasympathetic innervation to the sweat gland is well known, but the original nerve course seemed not to be demonstrated yet. The present study may be the first report on a skin nerve containing abundant nNOS-positive fibers. The unique parasympathetic contents in the nasocilliary nerve seemed to supply the forehead sweat glands as well as glands in the eyelid and nasal epithelium.
Recognition of printed Urdu script

This paper deals with an Optical Character Recognitionsystem for printed Urdu, a popular Indian script. Thedevelopment of OCR for this script is difficult because (i) alarge number of characters have to be recognized (ii) thereare many similar shaped characters. In the proposedsystem individual characters are recognized using acombination of topological, contour and water reservoirconcept based features. The feature detection methods aresimple and robust. A prototype of the system has beentested on printed Urdu characters and currently achieves97.8% character level accuracy on average.
Testing Qualitative Indicators of Precollege Factors in Tinto’s Attrition Model: A Community College Student Population

This study investigated how accurately Tinto’s (1975) theoretical model predicts student attrition among academically underprepared students in a two-year community commuter college. The authors examined four exogenous variables (the effects of family background, pre-college schooling, getting ready, and encouragement from significant others) and three endogenous variables (initial commitment, academic integration, and social integration). More important, it quantifies and tests ethnographic precollege characteristics that previous quantitative tests of Tinto’s models have not used.
The Influence of Interest Groups on State Legislative Behavior

Research shows the influence of campaign contributions on congressional behavior is infrequent, but more pronounced in certain situations and for certain types of legislators. But it is unclear if these theories apply at the state level. This study examines the impact of campaign contributions in three state legislatures; results show group contributions impact roll call voting in a significant minority of cases and significant relationships are more likely for business and labor contributions, as at the national level. However, the analysis also shows there is variation in the pattern of influence across the states, which is not related to issue salience in all states.
Measurement of Physician-Patient Communication—A Systematic Review

Background Effective communication with health care providers has been found as relevant for physical and psychological health outcomes as well as the patients' adherence. However, the validity of the findings depends on the quality of the applied measures. This study aimed to provide an overview of measures of physician-patient communication and to evaluate the methodological quality of psychometric studies and the quality of psychometric properties of the identified measures. Methods A systematic review was performed to identify psychometrically tested instruments which measure physician-patient communication. The search strategy included three databases (EMBASE, PsycINFO, PubMed), reference and citation tracking and personal knowledge. Studies that report the psychometric properties of physician-patient communication measures were included. Two independent raters assessed the methodological quality of the selected studies with the COSMIN (COnsensus based Standards for the selection of health status Measurement INtruments) checklist. The quality of psychometric properties was evaluated with the quality criteria of Terwee and colleagues. Results Data of 25 studies on 20 measures of physician-patient communication were extracted, mainly from primary care samples in Europe and the USA. Included studies reported a median of 3 out of the nine COSMIN criteria. Scores for internal consistency and content validity were mainly fair or poor. Reliability and structural validity were rated mainly of fair quality. Hypothesis testing scored mostly poor. The quality of psychometric properties of measures evaluated with Terwee et al.'s criteria was rated mainly intermediate or positive. Discussion This systematic review identified a number of measures of physician-patient communication. However, further psychometric evaluation of the measures is strongly recommended. The application of quality criteria like the COSMIN checklist could improve the methodological quality of psychometric property studies as well as the comparability of the studies' results.
IL-21 Limits Peripheral Lymphocyte Numbers through T Cell Homeostatic Mechanisms

Background IL-21, a member of the common γ-chain utilizing family of cytokines, participates in immune and inflammatory processes. In addition, the cytokine has been linked to autoimmunity in humans and rodents. Methodology/Principal Findings To investigate the mechanism whereby IL-21 affects the immune system, we investigated its role in T cell homeostasis and autoimmunity in both non-autoimmune C57BL/6 and autoimmune NOD mice. Our data indicate that IL-21R knockout C57BL/6 and NOD mice show increased size of their lymphocyte population and decreased homeostatic proliferation. In addition, our experimental results demonstrate that IL-21 inhibits T cell survival. These data suggest that IL-21 acts to limit the size of the T cell pool. Furthermore, our data suggest IL-21 may contribute to the development of autoimmunity. Conclusions/Significance Taken together, our results suggest that IL-21 plays a global role in regulating T cell homeostasis, promoting the continuous adaptation of the T cell lymphoid space.