Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Develop a Wed-Based Platform Using User-Oriented Design for Knowledge Management System

Recently, the user-orientated design used in product/service innovative process has been received considerable attention from both academia and industry. Products considering the user-orientated design are able to meet the users' needs more effectively. Conventionally, the user-oriented design method adopts the sticky note to document the inconvenient experiences from brainstorming or observation when users use the produce/service. The results of diverging and converging user's needs are presented in the form of placard. However, this method is not conducive to the reuse of information and knowledge. In addition, the results cannot be shared with design team that did not involve in the process so that creative ideals cannot be systematically recorded as database to provide future innovative design. This study proposes a web-based product innovative design platform, which utilizes user-oriented design with the user-friendliness aspect, to effectively support the information management system of firms. In this study, the focus team is considered in collecting and converging the required and desired functions from the results of innovative product/service design, including creative note and user requirements analysis. Then, a unified modeling language is used to describe and analyze the platform's requirement. This is followed by using FLASH to stimulate user-friendliness of the platform. Finally, a real case of a large-scale Taiwanese furniture firm researching new bed model is used to illustrate the applicability of the proposed platform.
Financial Slack and Performance of Bulgarian Firms

Financial slack is a valuable buffer that makes a firm more robust in an uncertain and changing environment. In addition to this strategic advantage, it mitigates conflicts in organization, stimulates innovation activity of firm, and increases the potential for long-term growth. On the other hand, financial slack has negative effects due to reduced control on management. Abundant financial resources could slow the reaction of firm to changes in environment and stimulate irresponsible and reckless behavior of management. This study examines the relationship between financial slack and performance of the Bulgarian firms. The results show positive effects on firm performance, especially for small firms. There are positive effects for both types of slack – available and potential. Some negative influence is found only for the largest companies. The study identifies weak nonlinear relationship between financial slack and performance. This means that negative effects of financial slack will dominate only at very high level.
Secretion of Cpn0796 from Chlamydia pneumoniae into the host cell cytoplasm by an autotransporter mechanism

By comparison of proteome profiles of purified Chlamydia pneumoniae and whole lysates of C. pneumoniae infected HEp‐2 cells, an N‐terminal fragment of the previously uncharacterized chlamydial protein Cpn0796 was identified as a secreted protein. A 38 kDa cleavage product of Cpn0796 was present in infected cells, whereas only the 65 kDa full‐length Cpn0796 could be detected in purified Chlamydia. Confocal immunofluorescence microscopy demonstrated that Cpn0796 was localized in the Chlamydia membrane in young inclusions. However, at 36 h post infection and later Cpn0796 was detected in the cytoplasm of C. pneumoniae infected HEp‐2 and BHK cells. Furthermore, Cpn0796 was detected in the cytoplasm of infected cells in the lungs of C. pneumoniae infected C57Bl mice. When cleavage was inhibited, Cpn0796 was retained in the chlamydiae. We propose that Cpn0796 is an autotransporter the N‐terminal of which is translocated to the host cell cytoplasm. This is the first example of secretion of a Chlamydia autotransporter passenger domain into the host cell cytoplasm. Cpn0796 is specific for C. pneumoniae, where five homologous proteins are encoded by clustered genes. None of these five proteins were found to be secreted.
Prediction of brain-computer interface aptitude from individual brain structure

Objective: Brain-computer interface (BCI) provide a non-muscular communication channel for patients with impairments of the motor system. A significant number of BCI users is unable to obtain voluntary control of a BCI-system in proper time. This makes methods that can be used to determine the aptitude of a user necessary. Methods: We hypothesized that integrity and connectivity of involved white matter connections may serve as a predictor of individual BCI-performance. Therefore, we analyzed structural data from anatomical scans and DTI of motor imagery BCI-users differentiated into high and low BCI-aptitude groups based on their overall performance. Results: Using a machine learning classification method we identified discriminating structural brain trait features and correlated the best features with a continuous measure of individual BCI-performance. Prediction of the aptitude group of each participant was possible with near perfect accuracy (one error). Conclusions: Tissue volumetric analysis yielded only poor classification results. In contrast, the structural integrity and myelination quality of deep white matter structures such as the Corpus Callosum, Cingulum, and Superior Fronto-Occipital Fascicle were positively correlated with individual BCI-performance. Significance: This confirms that structural brain traits contribute to individual performance in BCI use.
The Continuing Evolution of H5N1 and H9N2 Influenza Viruses in Bangladesh Between 2013 and 2014

SUMMARY. In 2011, avian influenza surveillance at the Bangladesh live bird markets (LBMs) showed complete replacement of the highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 virus of clade 2.2. 2 (Qinghai-like H5N1 lineage) by the HPAI H5N1 clade 2.3. 2.1. This clade, which continues to circulate in Bangladesh and neighboring countries, is an intra-and interclade reassortant; its HA, polymerase basic 1 (PB1), polymerase (PA), and nonstructural (NS) genes come from subclade 2.3. 2.1a; the polymerase basic 2 (PB2) comes from subclade 2.3. 2.1c; and the NA, nucleocapsid protein (NP), and matrix (M) gene from clade 2.3. 4.2. The H9N2 influenza viruses cocirculating in the Bangladesh LBMs are also reassortants, possessing five genes (NS, M, NP, PA, and PB1) from an HPAI H7N3 virus previously isolated in Pakistan. Despite frequent coinfection of chickens and ducks, reassortment between these H5N1 and H9N2 viruses has been rare. However, all such reassortants detected in 2011 through 2013 have carried seven genes from the local HPAI H5N1 lineage and the PB1 gene from the Bangladeshi H9N2 clade G1 Mideast, itself derived from HPAI H7N3 virus. Although the live birds we sampled in Bangladesh showed no clinical signs of morbidity, the emergence of this reassortant HPAI H5N1 lineage further complicates endemic circulation of H5N1 viruses in Bangladesh, posing a threat to both poultry and humans.
Maximum a posteriori Estimation of Noise from Non-Acoustic Reference Signals in Very Low Signal-to-Noise Ratio Environments

This paper examines whether non-acoustic noise reference signals can provide accurate estimates of noise at very low signal-to-noise ratios (SNRs) where conventional estimation methods are less effective. The environment chosen for the investigation is Formula 1 motor racing where SNRs are as low as -15dB and the non-acoustic reference signals are engine speed, road speed and throttle measurements. Noise is found to relate closely to these reference signals and a maximum a posteriori method (MAP) is proposed to estimate airﬂow and tyre noise from these parameters. Objective tests show MAP estimation to be more accurate than a range of conventional noise estimation methods. Subjective listening tests then compare speech enhancement using the proposed MAP estimation to conventional methods with the former found to give signiﬁcantly higher speech quality.
Interactive Persuasive Systems: A Perspective on Theory and Evaluation

Interactive systems are increasingly used in a growing number of domains to encourage users to perform certain actions or take a certain position toward a given subject. This article offers a perspective on interactive persuasive systems that emphasizes theories and concepts that can guide their design and evaluation. The goal is not to champion a theoretical model over others or to compare the effectiveness of different persuasive strategies but rather to depict the current conceptual landscape in this field and highlight emerging concepts and positions that have recently appeared in it. The article includes a discussion of some representative, general, and domain-specific constructs that can be used to evaluate the effectiveness of interactive persuasive systems.
Molecular Dissection of Mitotic Recombination in the Yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae

ABSTRACT Recombination plays a central role in the repair of broken chromosomes in all eukaryotes. We carried out a systematic study of mitotic recombination. Using several assays, we established the chronological sequence of events necessary to repair a single double-strand break. Once a chromosome is broken, yeast cells become immediately committed to recombinational repair. Recombination is completed within an hour and exhibits two kinetic gaps. By using this kinetic framework we also characterized the role played by several proteins in the recombinational process. In the absence of Rad52, the broken chromosome ends, both 5′ and 3′, are rapidly degraded. This is not due to the inability to recombine, since the 3′ single-stranded DNA ends are stable in a strain lacking donor sequences. Rad57 is required for two consecutive strand exchange reactions. Surprisingly, we found that the Srs2 helicase also plays an early positive role in the recombination process.
Detailed assessment of climate variability of the Baltic Sea area for the period 1958-2009 (solicited)

The warming trend for the entire globe (1850 to 2005) is 0.04°C decade–1. A specific warming period started around 1980 and continues until the present. This warming also occurred in the Baltic Sea catchment, which lies between maritime temperate and continental subarctic climate zones. A detailed study of climate variability and the associated impact on the Baltic Sea area for the period 1958 to 2009 revealed that the recent changes in the warming trend are associated with changes in large-scale atmospheric circulation over the North Atlantic. The number and pathways of deep cyclones changed considerably in line with an eastward shift of the North Atlantic Oscillation centers of action. There is a seasonal shift of strong wind events from autumn to winter and early spring. Since the late 1980s, the winter season (DJFM, i.e. December to March) of the Baltic Sea area has tended to be warmer, with less ice coverage and warmer sea surface temperatures, especially pronounced in the northern parts of the Baltic Sea. There is a tendency for increased cloud cover and precipitation in regions that are exposed to westerlies and less cloud coverage at the leeward side of the Scandinavian Mountains and over the Baltic Sea Basin.
The Dense Molecular Gas and Nuclear Activity in the ULIRG IRAS 13120–5453

We present new Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array Band 7 (∼340 GHz) observations of the dense gas tracers HCN, HCO+, and CS in the local, single-nucleus, ultraluminous infrared galaxy IRAS 13120–5453. We find centrally enhanced HCN (4–3) emission, relative to HCO+ (4–3), but do not find evidence for radiative pumping of HCN. Considering the size of the starburst (0.5 kpc) and the estimated supernovae rate of ∼1.2 yr−1, the high HCN/HCO+ ratio can be explained by an enhanced HCN abundance as a result of mechanical heating by the supernovae, though the active galactic nucleus and winds may also contribute additional mechanical heating. The starburst size implies a high ΣIR of 4.7 × 1012 L⊙ kpc−2, slightly below predictions of radiation-pressure limited starbursts. The HCN line profile has low-level wings, which we tentatively interpret as evidence for outflowing dense molecular gas. However, the dense molecular outflow seen in the HCN line wings is unlikely to escape the Galaxy and is destined to return to the nucleus and fuel future star formation. We also present modeling of Herschel observations of the H2O lines and find a nuclear dust temperature of ∼40 K. IRAS 13120–5453 has a lower dust temperature and ΣIR than is inferred for the systems termed “compact obscured nuclei (CONs)” (such as Arp 220 and Mrk 231). If IRAS 13120–5453 has undergone a CON phase, we are likely witnessing it at a time when the feedback has already inflated the nuclear ISM and diluted star formation in the starburst/active galactic nucleus core.
Dietary fibre intake and clinical indices in the French Supplementation en Vitamines et Minéraux AntioXydants (SU.VI.MAX) adult cohort

The aim of our study was to investigate the relationship between dietary fibre intake and some clinical indices, blood biochemical variables and the incidence of cardiovascular disease and cancers in France, taking advantage of an ongoing cohort, the Supplementation en Vitamines et Minéraux AntioXydants (SU.VI.MAX) intervention study. This preliminary report provides data on dietary fibre intake in this French adult population group of 4080 subjects (2168 men and 1912 women) aged 45–65 years at inclusion. The data obtained for fibre intake indicate that most men and women have low to moderate intakes of total dietary fibre (mean 21·0 and 17·1 g/d respectively), with only 21% of the men and 7% of the women having total dietary fibre intakes at the recommended level (i.e. >25 g/d) and soluble fibre accounting for 19% of the total dietary fibre intake for both genders. The main food sources of dietary fibre are cereals (30–35% total), vegetables (20–24% total) and fruit (19–22% total). No marked regional differences were observed within France. The highest dietary fibre intakes have been found to be associated with a lower BMI, blood systolic pressure, plasma triacylglycerols and plasma glucose in men and lower BMI in women. Overall, these data support the concept of a beneficial effect of a high dietary fibre intake on cardiovascular disease risk.
Anomaly Detection in Magnetic Motion Capture using a 2-Layer SOM network

Over recent years, the fall in cost, and increased availability of motion capture equipment has led to an increase in non-specialist companies being able to use motion capture data to guide animation sequences for computer games and other applications by Margaret S. Geroch (2004). A bottleneck in the animation production process is in the clean-up of capture sessions to remove and/or correct anomalous (unusable) frames and noise. In this paper, an investigation is carried out on the use of a system comprising of two layers of self-organising maps in identifying anomalous frames in a magnetic motion capture session
Cloning of genes involved in the biosynthesis of pseudobactin, a high-affinity iron transport agent of a plant growth-promoting Pseudomonas strain

A gene bank of DNA from plant growth-promoting Pseudomonas sp. strain B10 was constructed using the broad host-range conjugative cosmid pLAFR1. The recombinant cosmids contained insert DNA averaging 21.5 kilobase pairs in length. Nonfluorescent mutants of Pseudomonas sp. strain B10 were obtained by mutagenesis with N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine, ethyl methanesulfonate, or UV light and were defective in the biosynthesis of its yellow-green, fluorescent siderophore (microbial iron transport agent) pseudobactin. No yellow-green, fluorescent mutants defective in the production of pseudobactin were identified. Nonfluorescent mutants were individually complemented by mating the gene bank en masse and identifying fluorescent transconjugants. Eight recombinant cosmids were sufficient to complement 154 nonfluorescent mutants. The pattern of complementation suggests that a minimum of 12 genes arranged in four gene clusters is required for the biosynthesis of pseudobactin. This minimum number of genes seems reasonable considering the structural complexity of pseudobactin.
A partial agonist of the A(1)-adenosine receptor selectively slows AV conduction in guinea pig hearts.

The use of full agonists of the A(1)-adenosine receptor (A(1)-ADOR) as antiarrhythmic agents is limited by their actions to cause high-grade atrioventricular (AV) block, profound bradycardia, atrial fibrillation, and vasodilation. It may be possible to avoid these undesired actions by use of partial agonists. We determined the effects of CVT-2759, a potential partial agonist of A(1)-ADORs, on guinea pig hearts. CVT-2759 (0.1-100 microM) increased the S-H interval of the isolated heart from 45 +/- 1 to 60 +/- 3 ms (P < 0. 01) with a half-maximal effect at 3.1 microM. CVT-2759 did not cause second-degree AV block. CVT-2759 significantly attenuated the actions of the full agonists N(6)-cyclopentyladenosine and adenosine. CVT-2759 caused a moderate slowing of atrial rate by </=13% and did not shorten the durations of either the atrial or the ventricular monophasic action potential. Coronary conductance was increased by CVT-2759 only at concentrations >10 microM. In contrast, CVT-2759 was a full agonist to decrease cAMP content of rat adipocytes and Fischer rat thyroid line 5 cells. Results of radioligand binding assays indicated that CVT-2759 stabilized a high-affinity, G protein-coupled state of the A(1)-ADOR in membranes prepared from rat adipocytes but not in membranes prepared from the guinea pig brain. The results suggest that a weak A(1)-ADOR agonist, such as CVT-2759, may be useful to slow AV nodal conduction and thereby ventricular rate without causing AV block, bradycardia, atrial arrhythmias, or vasodilation.
Internationalization of Franchise Systems

Mixed findings suggest that organizational characteristics such as system size and experience are not consistent predictors of international involvement. As expected, CI franchisors have been in operation for more years than AI firms (though the difference is only marginally significant). However, there is no significant difference in international experience between the two clusters. Franchise systems in the CI stage have larger international operations, but no differences emerge in total system size or size of domestic operations. Thus, the evidence in this study conflicts with theories in the extant literature and may suggest the need to reconceptualize internationalization requisites.
DISCORDANCE BETWEEN STAPHYLOCOCCUS AUREUS NASAL COLONIZATION AND SKIN INFECTIONS IN CHILDREN

We examined nasal carriage of Staphylococcus aureus in otherwise healthy children presenting with skin and soft tissue infections. We found high rates of nasal colonization with S. aureus, but significant discordance between nasal and wound isolates. Recurrent skin and soft tissue infections were common but unrelated to baseline methicillin-resistant S. aureus nasal colonization status.
Adherence to peritoneal dialysis training schedule.

BACKGROUND Shortening behaviour during peritoneal dialysis training can be easily measured, and likened to the skipping behaviour in haemodialysis subjects, although its effect on peritoneal dialysis outcomes is now well understood. We studied the clinical impact of failing to adhere to a peritoneal dialysis training programme among incident dialysis patients. METHODS This study included 159 consecutive inception peritoneal dialysis patients in a single centre from September 1999 through November 2002. We evaluated the effects of behavioural compliance quantified by the per cent time arriving late for scheduled peritoneal dialysis training. The patients were categorized by whether they arrived late in >20% of their peritoneal dialysis training sessions. RESULTS Of the 159 incident peritoneal dialysis patients (mean age 57 +/- 13 years) who attended peritoneal dialysis training, 70 subjects (44%) arrived late in >20% of the sessions. They were younger by 5 years than patients who arrived late < or =20%. Mean peritonitis-free time for subjects who arrived late for training in >20% the of sessions was 30.9 months, as compared with 41.8 months in subjects with < or =20% late attendance behaviour (log rank test, P = 0.038). Multivariable Cox proportional hazards analysis showed that late attendance behaviour and baseline serum albumin were the only independent risk factors for the time to a first peritonitis after adjustment for diabetes mellitus and relevant coexisting medical factors. Late arrival in >20% of the peritoneal dialysis training sessions was associated with >50% increased likelihood of subsequent peritonitis, with an adjusted risk ratio of 1.56 (95% confidence interval, 1.02-2.39; P = 0.04). CONCLUSION These findings show that the behavioural measure of late attendance for peritoneal dialysis training has a crucial role in predicting peritonitis. It may therefore represent a practical strategy for identifying poor adherence or predicting medical outcomes.
Effects of epigenetic modulation on reporter gene expression: implications for stem cell imaging

Tracking stem cell localization, survival, differentiation, and proliferation after transplantation in living subjects is essential for understanding stem cell biology and physiology. In this study, we investigated the long‐term stability of reporter gene expression in an embryonic rat cardiomyoblast cell line and the role of epigenetic modulation on reversing reporter gene silencing. Cells were stably transfected with plasmids carrying cytomegalovirus promoter driving firefly luciferase reporter gene (CMV‐Fluc) and passaged repeatedly for 3–8 months. Within the highest expressor clone, the firefly luciferase activity decreased progressively from passage 1 (843±28) to passage 20 (250±10) to passage 40 (44±3) to passage 60 (3±1 RLU/μg; P<0.05 vs. passage 1). Firefly luciferase activity was maximally rescued by treatment with 5azacytidine (DNA methyltransferase inhibitor) compared with trichostatin A (histone deacetylase inhibitor) and retinoic acid (transcriptional activator; P<0.05). Increasing dosages of 5azacytidine treatment led to higher levels of firefly luciferase mRNA (RT‐PCR) and protein (Western blots) and inversely lower levels of methylation in the CMV promoter (DNA nucleotide sequence). These in vitro results were extended to in vivo bioluminescence imaging (BLI) of cell transplant in living animals. Cells treated with 5‐azacytidine were monitored for 2 wk compared with 1 wk for untreated cells (P<0.05). These findings should have important implications for reporter gene‐based imaging of stem cell transplantation.