Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Overview of Post Cohen‐Boyer Methods for Single Segment Cloning and for Multisegment DNA Assembly

In 1973, Cohen and coworkers published a foundational paper describing the cloning of DNA fragments into plasmid vectors. In it, they used DNA segments made by digestion with restriction enzymes and joined these in vitro with DNA ligase. These methods established working recombinant DNA technology and enabled the immediate start of the biotechnology industry. Since then, “classical” recombinant DNA technology using restriction enzymes and DNA ligase has matured. At the same time, researchers have developed numerous ways to generate large, complex, multisegment DNA constructions that offer advantages over classical techniques. Here, we provide an overview of “post‐Cohen‐Boyer” techniques used for cloning single segments into vectors (T/A, Topo cloning, Gateway and Recombineering) and for multisegment DNA assembly (BioBricks, Golden Gate, Gibson, yeast homologous recombination in vivo, and ligase cycling reaction). We compare and contrast these methods and also discuss issues that researchers should consider before choosing a particular multisegment DNA assembly method. © 2016 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
PDGFRα Regulated by miR-34a and FoxO1 Promotes Adipogenesis in Porcine Intramuscular Preadipocytes through Erk Signaling Pathway

Suitable intramuscular fat (IMF) content improves porcine meat quality. The vital genes regulating IMF deposition are necessary for the selection and breeding of an IMF trait. However, the effect and mechanism of PDGFRα on IMF deposition are still unclear. Here, PDGFRα is moderately expressed in porcine longissimus dorsi muscle (LD), whereas it highly expressed in white adipose tissue (WAT). Moreover, PDGFRα-positive cells were located in the gaps of LD fibers which there were IMF adipocytes. Compared with 180-day-old and lean-type pigs, the levels of PDGFRα were much higher in one-day-old and fat-type pigs. Meanwhile the levels of PDGFRα gradually decreased during IMF preadipocyte differentiation. Furthermore, PDGFRα promoted adipogenic differentiation through activating Erk signaling pathway. Based on PDGFRα upstream regulation analysis, we found that the knockdown of FoxO1 repressed lipogenesis by downregulating PDGFRα, and miR-34a inhibited adipogenesis through targeting PDGFRα. Collectively, PDGFRα is a positive regulator of IMF deposition. Therefore, we suggest that PDGFRα is a possible target to improve meat quality.
Measurement of Acetate Concentrations in Marine Pore Waters by Using an Enzymatic Approach

Acetate concentrations in marine and freshwater matrices were measured by an enzymatic technique which coupled the synthesis of acetyl coenzyme A to AMP production. The resulting AMP was assayed by a sensitive and relatively rapid high-pressure liquid chromatography method, using an aqueous, isocratic mobile phase for elution. The method was insensitive to the presence of seawater salts and required no sample prepurification or distillation. Propionate caused a minor, but statistically insignificant, interference when equimolar with acetate; butyrate caused no interference, even at relatively high concentrations. Detection limits for acetate were approximately 100 nM with a precision of about 5%. Pore waters from two intertidal sediments contained approximately 1 to 12 μM acetate; the concentrations were linearly but inversely correlated with porewater sulfate.
A framework for risk analysis in software engineering

The paper is concerned with the risks associated with software development and with the range of factors that can impact on the quality of the project management process. The management goal is to mitigate these risks leaving the project plan as unperturbed as possible. To achieve this goal risk analysis must attempt to identify the high risk elements of the project, provide ways of documenting the impacts of risk mitigation strategies and review the risks on a continuing basis as the project proceeds. A model is proposed for such risk analysis and to demonstrate its realization in a risk management tool, ProRisk.
Epidemiology of Pathological Gambling in Edmonton *

Thirty lifetime pathological gamblers (DSM-III, no exclusion criteria) were identified when 7,214 randomly selected household residents of Edmonton were interviewed by trained lay interviewers using the Diagnostic Interview Schedule. The lifelong prevalence of pathological gambling was 0.42% (ratio of males to females 3:1). The peak age of onset was 25 to 29 years. Gamblers had high rates of comorbidity with other psychiatric disorders. They were likely to have made suicide attempts (13.3%), to have been convicted of offences (26.7%), to be spouse and child abusers (23.3% and 16.7% respectively) and to have spent long periods unemployed (40%). In addition, 80% had trouble at home or work because of gambling, and 60% borrowed or stole to gamble.
The effects of human capital on competitive strategies and performance—Evidence from listed companies in China's SME board

The study tests the performance effects of human capital, competitive strategies and the interaction of human capital with competitive strategies. Results from a survey of 131 listed companies in China's SME board support the relationship that human capital has a positive effect on the firm performance and differentiation competitive strategy positive effects on the firm performance. However, the effect of low cost strategy on firm performance is not statistically significant. Furthermore, the result also shows that human capital moderates the relationship between differentiation competitive strategy and firm performance, but human capital does not moderate the relationship between low cost competitive strategy and firm performance. These results contribute to knowledge on the resource-based view of the firm and the human capital importance of strategic implementation.
Comparison of Combined Transcatheter Arterial Chemoembolization and CT-guided Radiofrequency Ablation with Surgical Resection in Patients with Hepatocellular Carcinoma within the Up-to-seven Criteria: A Multicenter Case-matched Study

Background & Aims: We compared the efficacy of transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) in combination with CT-guided radiofrequency ablation (RFA) with that of surgical resection (SR) in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) within the up-to-seven criteria. Methods: From January 2004 to December 2014, 420 multicenter consecutive patients with HCC who conformed to the up-to-seven criteria and initially received either TACE plus CT-guided RFA (TACE-RFA) or SR were enrolled. A matched cohort composed of 206 patients was selected after adjustment with propensity score matching. The overall survival (OS) of each patient was calculated with the Kaplan-Meier method and compared by the log-rank test. Results: The median OS and 1-, 3-, and 5-year survival rates were 56.0 months, 96.1%, 76.7% and 41.3% in the TACE-RFA group and 58.0 months, 96.1%, 86.4% and 46.2% in the SR group, respectively. There was no significant difference in OS between the two groups (P = 0.138). For patients with HCC beyond the Milan criteria, TACE-RFA provided a longer median OS than SR (52.0 vs 45.0 months, P = 0.023). Conclusions: Treatment by TACE-RFA conferred an OS rate comparable with that of SR in patients within the up-to-seven criteria. For patients with HCC between the Milan and the up-to-seven criteria, TACE-RFA might be superior to SR for survival prolongation.
Gamma Knife surgery as sole treatment for multiple brain metastases: 2-center retrospective review of 1508 cases meeting the inclusion criteria of the JLGK0901 multi-institutional prospective study.

OBJECT The authors retrospectively reviewed the results of Gamma Knife surgery (GKS) used as the sole treatment for brain metastases in patients who met the eligibility criteria for the ongoing JLGK0901 multi-institutional prospective trial. They also discuss the anticipated results of the JLGK0901 study. METHODS Data from 1508 consecutive cases were analyzed. All of the patients were treated at the Gamma Knife House of Chiba Cardiovascular Center or the Mito Gamma House of Katsuta Hospital between 1998 and 2007 and met the following JLGK0901 inclusion criteria: 1) newly diagnosed brain metastases, 2) 1-10 brain lesions, 3) less than 10 cm(3) volume of the largest tumor, 4) no more than 15 cm(3) total tumor volume, 5) no findings of CSF dissemination, and 6) no impairment of activities of daily living (Karnofsky Performance Scale score < 70) due to extracranial disease. At the initial treatment, all visible lesions were irradiated with GKS without upfront whole-brain radiation therapy. Thereafter, gadolinium-enhanced MR imaging was performed every 2-3 months, and new distant lesions were appropriately retreated with GKS. Patients were divided into groups according to numbers of tumors: Group A, single lesions (565 cases); Group B, 2-4 tumors (577 cases); and Group C, 5-10 tumors (366 cases). The differences in overall survival (OS) were compared between groups. RESULTS The median age of the patients was 66 years (range 19-96 years). There were 963 men and 545 women. The primary tumors were in the lung in 1114 patients, gastrointestinal tract in 179, breast in 105, urinary tract in 66, and other sites in 44. The overall mean survival time was 0.78 years (0.99 years for Group A, 0.68 years for Group B, and 0.62 years for Group C). The differences between Groups A and B (p < 0.0001) and between Groups B and C (p = 0.0312) were statistically significant. Multivariate analysis revealed significant prognostic factors for OS to be sex (poor prognostic factor: male, p < 0.0001), recursive partitioning analysis class (Class I vs Class II and Class II vs III, both p < 0.0001), primary site (lung vs breast, p = 0.0047), and number of tumors (Group A vs Group B, p < 0.0001). However, no statistically difference was detected between Groups B and C (p = 0.1027, hazard ratio 1.124, 95% CI 0.999-1.265). CONCLUSIONS The results of this retrospective analysis revealed an upper CI of 1.265 for the hazard ratio, which was lower than the 1.3 initially set by the JLGK0901 study. The JLGK0901 study is anticipated to show noninferiority of GKS as sole treatment for patients with 5-10 brain metastases compared with those with 2-4 in terms of OS.
Classification of human activity based on smartphone inertial sensor using support vector machine

The aim of this paper is to compare the performance of different kernel of classification support vector machine classification for classifying the physical daily living activities. Thirty subjects from a database performed activities such as walking, sitting, standing, laying, walking upstairs and downstairs. Inertial sensors signals ((accelerometer, gyroscope and magnetometer) from the smartphone are used to measure the human movements for each activity. The inertial sensor data were processed using signal processing method with several features of time domain and frequency domain. Multiclass support vector machine polynomial kernel (MC-SVM-Polynomial) and multiclass support vector machine Linear Kernel (MC-SVM-Linear) using One Versus All (OVA) methods were employed. These classification methods are assessed using the performance criteria such as precision percentage, recall percentage and correct accuracy classification rate percentage using 10-fold cross validation procedure. The results show that MC-SVM-Polynomial produces the best result with 98.57% compared to MC-SVM-Linear with 97.04% based on correct accuracy classification rate.
Induction de réponses mémoires lymphocytaires T CD8 et protection vaccinale après transfert de gènes par le vecteur AAV recombinant

La memoire immunologique est le mecanisme biologique fondamental a la base du developpement de la vaccination. La comprehension de ce mecanisme ainsi que de ses interactions avec les differents acteurs du systeme immunitaire a permis l’elaboration de vaccins qui sont aujourd’hui les garants d’une protection accrue face a l’emergence de maladies infectieuses potentiellement mortelles. La voie d’injection et le mode de transfert de ces vaccins sont des parametres majeurs a prendre en consideration car ils definissent une modulation des reponses immunitaires et de leurs specificites d’action. De nos jours, seule la voie intramusculaire demeure la voie majoritaire d’administration de vaccins lors de la prophylaxie primaire en sante humaine. Au cours de notre etude, nous nous sommes interesses a comparer l’injection d’un antigene (l’ovalbumine) selon deux voies d’administration : la voie intramusculaire et la voie intradermique. Nous nous sommes egalement appuyes sur une technologie du laboratoire qui consiste a transferer des genes par des vecteurs AAV2/1 recombinants. Nous disposions de deux constructions de ces vecteurs ayant une specificite pour cibler les cellules musculaires et permettant l’apport d’un effet auxiliaire par les lymphocytes T CD4+ lors d’injections dans des souris femelles. De plus, une de ces constructions nous permettait d’eviter la voie de presentation directe de l’antigene par les cellules dendritiques (DCs) aux lymphocytes T CD8+. Les capacites modulatrices de ces vecteurs nous permirent de montrer pour la premiere fois que le vecteur AAV2/1 recombinant etait capable de faire exprimer un transgene au sein de la peau et d’y generer une reponse cellulaire forte. Nous avons egalement montre qu’il existait une synergie d’action entre l’effet auxiliaire et la voie intradermique qui ameliorait considerablement les reponses cellulaires issues de la presentation croisee d’antigene. Enfin, nous avons pu demontrer que les lymphocytes T CD8+ generes suite a cette synergie d’action presentaient un profil phenotypique de cellules memoires polyfonctionnelles et capables de proteger l’hote face a un challenge pathogenique.
Long-Term Cost-Effectiveness and Return-on-Investment of a Mindfulness-Based Worksite Intervention: Results of a Randomized Controlled Trial

Objectives: The aim of this study was to conduct a cost-effectiveness and return-on-investment analysis comparing a mindfulness-based worksite intervention to usual practice. Methods: Two hundred fifty-seven governmental research institute employees were randomized to the intervention or control group. Intervention group participants received an eight-week mindfulness training, e-coaching, and supporting elements. Outcomes included work engagement, general vitality, job satisfaction, work ability, and costs. Cost-effectiveness analyses were conducted from the societal and employer's perspective, and a return-on-investment analysis from the employer's perspective. Results: After 12 months, a significant but not clinically relevant adverse effect on work engagement was found (−0.19; 95% confidence interval: −0.38 to −0.01). There were no significant differences in job satisfaction, general vitality, work ability, and total costs. Probabilities of cost-effectiveness were low (⩽0.25) and the intervention did not have a positive financial return to the employer. Conclusion: The intervention was neither cost-saving nor cost-effective. Poor e-coaching compliance might partly explain this result.
Detection of bovine herpesvirus 1 and 5 in trigeminal ganglia of beef cattle in Uruguay # Detección de herpesvirus bovinos 1 y 5 en ganglios trigéminos de bovinos de carne en Uruguay

A Furtadoa, FS Camposb, S Llambíc, J Maisonnavea, PM Roeheb,d, MT Oliveirab, FR Spilkie, AC Francob, R Puentesa* aDepartment of Microbiological Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary, University of the Oriental Republic of Uruguay, Montevideo, Uruguay. bVirology Laboratory, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, Institute of Basic Health Sciences, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. cDepartment of Genetics, Faculty of Veterinary, University of the Oriental Republic of Uruguay, Montevideo, Uruguay. dFEPAGRO Animal Health, Veterinary Research Institute Desidério Finamor, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. eMolecular Microbiology Laboratory, Institute of Health Sciences, Feevale University, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
Smart buildings and the human-machine cloud

The Human-Robot Cloud has previously been introduced as a framework for the creation of distributed, on-demand, reconfigurable human-machine cognitive systems[1]. These systems are made up of sensing, processing, and actuation components that are not limited to a specific type of application and potentially can be extended to multiple domains and may cover spatially smaller or larger areas. In this paper, we revisit the Human-Robot Cloud architecture and present its pilot deployment on the campus of NCSR Demokritos, a research institution in Greece. In particular, our concrete deployment aims to be demonstrated in three specific application scenarios; namely, Human-Aware Smart Buildings with Energy Optimization, Security and Surveillance, and Smart Tour Guide System. In this paper, we present in detail an example implementation of the Smart Buildings scenario: a real-world application with immediate benefits in energy optimization and energy savings. Environmentally sensitive issues, such as the ground-up development of energy efficient buildings or reducing the environmental impact of the existing infrastructure, has received much attention in the past. However, the traditionally offered solutions are central, non-transferable to other infrastructure, non-scalable and suffer from single points of failure. On the contrary, in this work, which is based on a specialization of the generic Human-Robot Cloud architecture, we attempt to move beyond the industrially available solutions to meet the requirements for scalable, reconfigurable and redistributable sensory, processing, and actuation units within buildings. A set of cameras, laser range finders, and other sensors, together with a number of processing and actuation elements, including face detection, expression recognition, and people trackers, are transformed to a prototypical reconfigurable distributed extended cognitive system, which can support multiple applications in the future.
An unusual structure of a putative T cell oncogene which allows production of similar proteins from distinct mRNAs.

We previously identified a putative T cell oncogene on chromosome 11 near a translocation t(11;14)(p15;q11) in a human T cell tumour. The gene is transcribed from distinct promoters which have unrelated sequences, which occur within close but distinct methylation‐free islands and which allow cell specific production of mRNA. The alternative first exons each contain a protein initiation codon from which two species of protein can be made, differing by only a single amino acid. The protein sequence is highly conserved between man and mouse (98%) and the same single codon difference between alternative first exons is also conserved. This is, therefore, a new form of eukaryotic gene organization from which similar proteins can be made from distinct mRNA species.
Fretting and Corrosion at Modular Junctions Can ceramics

Background Previous studies regarding modular head-neck taper corrosion were largely based on cobalt chrome (CoCr) alloy femoral heads. Less is known about head-neck taper corrosion with ceramic femoral heads. Questions/purposes We asked (1) whether ceramic heads resulted in less taper corrosion than CoCr heads; (2) what device and patient factors influence taper fretting corrosion; and (3) whether the mechanism of taper fretting corrosion in ceramic heads differs from that in CoCr heads. Methods One hundred femoral head-stem pairs were analyzed for evidence of fretting and corrosion using a visual scoring technique based on the severity and extent of fretting and corrosion damage observed at the taper. A matched cohort design was used in which 50 ceramic headstem pairs were matched with 50 CoCr head-stem pairs based on implantation time, lateral offset, stem design, and flexural rigidity. Results Fretting and corrosion scores were lower for the stems in the ceramic head cohort (p = 0.03). Stem alloy (p = 0.004) and lower stem flexural rigidity (Spearman’s rho = 0.32, p = 0.02) predicted stem fretting and corrosion damage in the ceramic head cohort but not in the metal head cohort. The mechanism of mechanically assisted crevice corrosion was similar in both cohorts although in the case of ceramic femoral heads, only one of Kurtz et al. This article is published with open access at Springerlink.com Clin Orthop Relat Res (2013) 471:3270–3282 DOI 10.1007/s11999-013-3096-2 aImplant Research Center, School of Biomedical Engineering, Science, and Heath Systems bExponent, Inc, Philadelphia, PA, USA c Syracuse Biomaterials Institute, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY, USA d Orthopaedics, Presbyterian Medical Center of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA e Rubin Institute for Advanced Orthopedics, Sinai Hospital of Baltimore, Baltimore, MD, USA f University Hospitals Case Medical Center, Cleveland, OH, USA g Hartzband Center for Hip and Knee Replacement, Hackensack, NJ, USA h Rothman Institute, Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Philadelphia, PA, USA i Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA the two surfaces (the male metal taper) engaged in the oxide abrasion and repassivation process. Conclusions The results suggest that by using a eramic femoral head, CoCr fretting and corrosion from the modular head-neck taper may be mitigated but not eliminated. Clinical Relevance The findings of this study support further study of the role of ceramic heads in potentially reducing femoral taper corrosion.
A Christian theological critique of uBuntu in Swaziland

This article hopes to open a biblical discussion on the African philosophy of Ubuntu. The discourse critiques the current Swazi praxis - both from a traditional and postmodern perspective; gives a better understanding of uBuntu (especially in its rural context where patriarchalism and the Ancestral cult are so conspicuous); provides a biblical evaluation, and considers whether Ubuntu could be defended as a universal philosophy. Having reviewed the Swazi praxis, the article considers Paul's statement in Romans 2:14-15 regarding God's law being written on the hearts of all mankind. The paper argues that the statement refers to the so-called Golden Rule (Matt 22:37-39), which appears to have been prevalent throughout the primordial cultures. The research concludes that Ubuntu is only viable within a community that upholds the principle of sacrificial brotherly love as advanced by Christ Jesus.
Position and force control of a flexible robot manipulator for orthopedic surgery

Surgeons are using robots as a tool to increase surgery accuracy and decrease procedure times. One of the main problems in robotic assisted orthopedic surgery is the force control in manipulator robots. It always has been subject of great study and interest in the scientific community, where the most common approach is to consider it as a hybrid control problem, due to their complexity and non-linearities. It becomes evident, when we consider two distinct states, the pre-contact state and after contact state. In order to have faster motion and better acceptance by the surgeons the manipulator must be lightweight and therefore may vibrate. The flexible manipulator used in this study contains two flexible links, one rigid link and six revolution joints, all actuating under gravity effect. The manipulator robot control strategies are based on the Closed-Loop Inverse Kinematics algorithm (CLIK) and Linear Quadratic Regulator control (LQR).
3 D-stacking architecture for low-noise high-speed image sensors

In this paper, architectures for low-noise high-speed image sensors based on 3D stacking technology are discussed. Effectiveness of the 3D-stacking technology for low-noise high-speed image sensors is demonstrated in an implementation of a 33Mpixel 240fps 3D-stacked CMOS image sensor based on 12b 3-stage cyclic-based pipelined ADCs. For extremely low noise and wide dynamic range imaging, highly-parallel multiplesampling based ADC will be an important technique for 3-D stacked CMOS image sensors.