Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Never say never again: protein glycosylation in pathogenic bacteria

In recent years, accumulating evidence for glycosylated bacterial proteins has overthrown an almost dogmatic belief that prokaryotes are not able to synthesize glycoproteins. Now it is widely accepted that eubacteria express glycoproteins. Although, at present, detailed information about glycosylation and structure–function relationships is available for only few eubacterial proteins, the variety of different components and structures observed already indicates that the variations in bacterial glycoproteins seem to exceed the rather limited display found in eukaryotes. Numerous virulence factors of bacterial pathogens have been found to be covalently modified with carbohydrate residues, thereby identifying these factors as true glycoproteins. In several bacterial species, gene clusters suggested to represent a general pro‐tein glycosylation system have been identified. In other cases, genes encoding highly specific glycosyltransferases have been found to be directly linked with virulence genes. These findings raise interesting questions concerning a potential role of glycosylation in pathogenesis. In this review, we will therefore focus on protein glycosylation in Gram‐negative bacterial pathogens.
An adaptive slope compensation circuit for buck DC-DC converter

An adaptive slope compensation circuit applied to buck DC-DC converters is presented in this paper. Based on the basic theory of slope compensation, the conditional expression of the loop stability is gained. According to the conditional expression, using feed-forward control of the input voltage and the feed-back control of the output voltage, the slope compensation is provided with adaptivity, which makes the system stable with the variation of duty cycle all the time. In addition, the proposed slope compensation circuit improves the system's loading capacity and transient response in high duty cycle. The circuit is designed on the base of Samsung BCH4 process, and its performances have been verified by Hspice simulation.
Modulation of TFIIH‐associated kinase activity by complex formation and its relationship with CTD phosphorylation of RNA polymerase II

The general transcription factor TFIIH plays important roles in initiation and the transition to elongation steps of transcription by RNA polymerase II (PolII). Both roles are dependent on the protein kinase, DNA‐dependent ATPase and DNA helicase activities of TFIIH. However, how these enzyme activities of TFIIH contribute to transcription has remained elusive. TFIIH consists of nine subunits, and one of them, Cdk7, possesses kinase activity. Here the substrate specificities of TFIIH and two forms of the Cdk7‐containing kinase complex are compared, and the relationship between transcription activity and the TFIIH‐dependent phosphorylation of the carboxy terminal domain of the largest subunit of PolII (CTD) is studied.
Corn trypsin inhibitor in fluorogenic thrombin-generation measurements is only necessary at low tissue factor concentrations and influences the relationship between factor VIII coagulant activity and thrombogram parameters

The fluorogenic calibrated automated thrombin-generation assay is influenced by contact pathway activation in platelet-rich and platelet-poor plasma. This influence lessens with increasing tissue factor (TF) concentrations and is inhibited by corn trypsin inhibitor (CTI). CTI is expensive and at what TF concentration its influence becomes irrelevant is unclear. Spiking of factor VIII (FVIII)-depleted plasma with FVIII, in samples without CTI, shows a plateau of thrombin generation at low normal FVIII levels. Given the association with thrombosis at high levels, a continuing increase in thrombin generation would be expected. We studied the effect of CTI on this relation by spiking experiments up to 4.8 IU/ml at 1 pmol/l TF and compared the influence of CTI at 1 and 5 pmol/l in platelet-poor plasma. CTI significantly influences thrombin generation in platelet-poor plasma at 1 pmol/l TF (difference of means for endogenous thrombin potential of 232.5 nmol/l per min, P < 0.0001) and peak of 48 nmol/l (P < 0.0001)) but not at 5 pmol/l. Spiking experiments without CTI confirm the hyperbolic relation between FVIII coagulant activity (FVIII:C) and endogenous thrombin potential with a plateau at 0.70–1.40 IU/ml. With CTI, a near-linear response up to 1.0 IU/ml was found with a plateau at 2.4–4.8 IU/ml. For peak thrombin, no plateau was reached with CTI. The present study confirms and extends previous data on CTI and the relationship between FVIII:C and thrombin generation. CTI is not necessary at 5 pmol/l TF, and thrombin generation remains dependent on FVIII:C up to 4.8 IU/ml at 1 pmol/l with CTI. Higher levels than previously thought may be needed to normalize thrombin generation.
Lead Article Immigration , Acculturation , and Adaptation

La psychologie interculturelle a montrt qu’il existait des rapports ttroits entre le contexte culture1 et le dkveloppement comportemental de I’individu. Cette relation Ctablie, I’effort des recherches interculturelles a de plus en plus portt sur ce qu’il advenait des individus quand ils tentaient de refaire leur vie dans une culture diffirente de leur culture d’origine. Les consCquences psychologiques A long terme de ce processus d’acculturation sont tres variables, dependant de variables sociales et personnelles qui renvoient a la socittC de dCpart, i la sociite d’accueil et a des phCnomtnes qui existent avant, mais qui Cmergent pendant la periode d’acculturation. Cet article esquisse un schema conceptuel a partir duquel acculturation et adaptation peuvent Ctre Ctudites, puis presente quelques conclusions et resultats genCraux tires d’un Cchantillon de travaux empiriques. On envisage des applications possibles a la politique et aux programmes d’insertion en prenant en considthation les c o i h et les bCnCfices sociaux et psychologiques Cmanant de I’adoprion d’une orientation pluraliste et intkgrationniste.
A low cost navigation unit for positioning of personnel after loss of GPS position

We have built a test unit containing a GPS, an inertial measurement unit, magnetometers and a barometer. When the GPS looses its signals, the other sensors are used to keep track of the position. Unscented Kalman filters have been used to test the performance of different aid sensor configurations. In addition to the four different sensor configurations, the gyroscope output was filtered, making it eight different test scenarios. Simulations show that filtering the gyroscope output and using inertial sensors in addition to a barometer had the lowest position error, with a standard deviation of the position of 8.5 m. For unfiltered gyroscope output the best result was obtained when using all sensors. This had a standard deviation of the position of approximatly 42 m. The preliminary real world test results had a much larger error than the simulation.
Isolation and molecular characterization of methicillin-resistant coagulase-negative staphylococci from nasal flora of healthy humans at three community institutions in Rio de Janeiro City

We describe the isolation and molecular characterization of methicillin-resistant coagulase-negative staphylococci (MRCNS) from the nasal flora of healthy humans from three institutions located in Rio de Janeiro City. Swabs were obtained from the nares of students attending a non-residential public school and adults from two military quarters. Isolates of staphylococci were tested for the presence of the mecA gene by hybridization with a specific probe. S. epidermidis was the most frequent MRCNS (38 of the total 45 CNS isolated). Twenty-five percent of nasal staphylococcal carriers studied were colonized with MRCNS. Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) of SmaI-digested genomic DNA was carried out to study the clonality of the methicillin-resistant S. epidermidis (MRSE) isolates. In addition to cross-colonization among individuals belonging to the same institution, familial cross-colonization appeared to contribute to the spread of the methicillin-resistant isolates among two inter-communicable institutions. Indeed, the wide genomic diversity among the MRSE flora suggests that the spread of the mecA gene among these isolates might also have occurred via horizontal transmission. Despite the limited number of institutions analysed, it is reasonable to conclude that our data do not represent a situation unique to the three organizations but may reflect other communities in Rio with respect to transmission of MRCNS.
Identification of outer membrane proteins as target antigens of Pseudomonas aeruginosa Homma serotype M

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is routinely serotyped in Japan by using the Homma scheme. The serotypes (O serotypes) are based on the chemical structure of the O-polysaccharide portion of the lipopolysaccharide (LPS). However, the nature of the Homma serotype M antigen has remained obscure because strains classified as serotype M usually have the rough phenotype. I characterized the target antigen of serotype M. The results of Western blotting (immunoblotting) showed that commercially available typing monoclonal antibody (MAb) against serotype M specifically bound to outer membrane protein (Opr) G and that typing rabbit antiserum specific for serotype M mainly contained antibodies against Oprs F and H2. These Oprs were distributed among all P. aeruginosa strains tested, including the serotype standard, serotype M and nontypeable strains, and a series of LPS-core-defective mutants derived from strain PAC1. However, the rough mutants derived from strain PAC1 agglutinated with the anti-serotype M antibodies, whereas the smooth strains did not. LPS preparations from serotype M strains possessed few or no polysaccharide chains. These strains had higher levels of binding activity with anti-serotype M MAb, as well as with anti-lipid A MAb, which specifically bound to the cell surface of the rough-natured gram-negative bacterial strains with high activity. The anti-serotype M antiserum also contained rough-LPS-specific antibodies, but the epitope was distributed among only a few strains. The results suggested that the Oprs acted as the serotype M antigen and that LPS did not. In conclusion, the rough strains agglutinated with anti-Opr antibodies and were distinguished as serotype M from the smooth strains of other serotypes, because the antibodies were accessible to the cell surface lacking O polysaccharides. I supposed that Homma serotype M is an index of the rough nature of P. aeruginosa strains rather than one of the O serotypes.
An inverter layout technique for propagation delay minimization

Through various cases of inverter layout, the change in the propagation delay time (tPD) in the ring oscillator that consists of inverters can be analyzed. In this paper, an inverter layout technique for tPD minimization is presented. Through the case-by-case layout, to reduce the tPD, we propose that layout engineers should reduce the input and output node length. The proposed technique post-simulated in a 0.18um CMOS process achieves maximum 7.318% reduced tPD compared to the basic inverter layout.
Dimeric Fragment of the Insulin Receptor α-Subunit Binds Insulin with Full Holoreceptor Affinity*

The insulin receptor (IR) is a dimeric receptor, and its activation is thought to involve cross-linking between monomers initiated by binding of a single insulin molecule to separate epitopes on each monomer. We have previously shown that a minimized insulin receptor consisting of the first three domains of the human IR fused to 16 amino acids from the C-terminal of the α-subunit was monomeric and bound insulin with nanomolar affinity (Kristensen, C., Wiberg, F. C., Schäffer, L., and Andersen, A. S. (1998) J. Biol. Chem. 273, 17780–17786). To investigate the insulin binding properties of dimerized α-subunits, we have reintroduced the domains containing α-α disulfide bonds into this minireceptor. When inserting either the first fibronectin type III domain or the full-length sequence of exon 10, the receptor fragments were predominantly secreted as disulfide-linked dimers that both had nanomolar affinity for insulin, similar to the affinity found for the minireceptor. However, when both these domains were included we obtained a soluble dimeric receptor that bound insulin with 1000-fold higher affinity (4–8 pm) similar to what was obtained for the solubilized holoreceptor (14–24 pm). Moreover, dissociation of labeled insulin from this receptor was accelerated in the presence of unlabeled insulin, demonstrating another characteristic feature of the holoreceptor. This is the first direct demonstration showing that the α-subunit of IR contains all the epitopes required for binding insulin with full holoreceptor affinity.
Relationships between structure and effects of ACE inhibitors: comparative effects in myocardial ischaemic/reperfusion injury.

1. Coronary artery reperfusion has become the treatment of choice for evolving myocardial infarction. 2. While there is no question that timely restoration of coronary blood flow is essential for the salvage of ischaemic myocardium, coronary reperfusion has also been associated with potentially deleterious consequences. Specifically, the viable tissue salvaged by reperfusion remains 'stunned'--i.e., exhibits prolonged abnormalities in contractile function--for hours to days following reflow. Furthermore, it has been suggested that reperfusion per se may lethally injure some myocytes that were only reversibly injured prior to restoration of blood flow. 3. ACE inhibitors such as captopril and enalapril have been shown to reduce indices of myocardial injury (infarct size, creatine kinase release) and enhance contractile function of stunned myocardium in experimental models of coronary occlusion followed by reperfusion. These effects of ACE inhibitors have largely been attributed to the reduction in myocardial O2-demand and increase in myocardial blood flow associated with blunting of angiotensin II formation. 4. Recent studies suggest that the effects of some ACE inhibitors--particularly captopril--may not solely be explained on the basis of ACE inhibition. In fact, sulphydryl (-SH) containing ACE inhibitors such as captopril appear to act as scavengers of oxygen-derived free radical species thought to be important in the pathogenesis of both postischaemic contractile dysfunction and ischaemia/reperfusion induced myocyte necrosis. 5. Thus, -SH containing ACE inhibitors--which both inhibit ACE and scavenge cytotoxic free radicals--may offer a suitable form of treatment for myocardial ischaemia/reperfusion injury.
Polymer Conformation under Confinement

The conformation of polymer chains under confinement is investigated in intercalated polymer/layered silicate nanocomposites. Hydrophilic poly(ethylene oxide)/sodium montmorillonite, PEO/Na+-MMT, hybrids were prepared utilizing melt intercalation with compositions where the polymer chains are mostly within the ~1 nm galleries of the inorganic material. The polymer chains are completely amorphous in all compositions even at temperatures where the bulk polymer is highly crystalline. Attenuated total reflectance-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR) is utilized to investigate the conformation of the polymer chains over a broad range of temperatures from below to much higher than the bulk polymer melting temperature. A systematic increase of the gauche conformation relatively to the trans is found with decreasing polymer content both for the C–C and the C–O bonds that exist along the PEO backbone indicating that the severe confinement and the proximity to the inorganic surfaces results in a more disordered state of the polymer.
Structural Model Evaluation and Modification: An Interval Estimation Approach.

Dans les differentes procedures existantes pour l'evaluation et les modifications sequentielles des modeles structuraux, l'auteur s'attache a discuter celle connue sous le terme PMM. Plus generalement, les propositions de KAPLAN (1990) sont critiquees dans le detail
GABA‐ and glutamate‐activated currents in glial cells of the mouse corpus callosum slice

Whole‐cell transmitter‐activated currents were recorded with the patch‐clamp technique from glial cells in thin frontal brain slices of the corpus callosum. In slices from 6‐ to 8‐day‐old mice, glioblasts were predominantly found, while oligodendrocytes were predominant in slices from 10‐ to 13‐day‐old mice. These developmental stages could be readily distinguished by their K+ channel pattern and their morphology and ultrastructural features. Both cell types expressed GABA and glutamate receptors in this in situ preparation. GABA responses showed similarities to those described for GABAA receptors, i.e., they were mimicked by muscimol, blocked by bicuculline, and enhanced by pentobarbital. Glutamate responses showed similarities to those of the kainate/quisqualate receptor subtype. The amplitude of GABA‐activated currents recorded in oligodendrocytes was significantly smaller than that from glioblasts, while glutamate responses did not show marked differences in either cell type.
TS-LocalRank: A topic similarity local ranking algorithm for re-ranking web search results

This paper proposes a variant of the PageRank algorithm to apply for re-ranking web search results. The algorithm (named TS-LocalRank) obtains top N pages from search results of a major search engine, assigns a local rank to each page based on the topic similarity between the web pages, re-orders the web pages, and presents the results to users. The objectives of this algorithm are (i) to assign a high local rank to the web pages which are most relevant to user query, and (ii) to minimize the Mean Absolute Deviation of the similarity between web pages in top search results.
Universität Regensburg Mathematik Ideles in higher dimension

We propose a notion of idele class groups of finitely generated fields using the concept of Parshin chains. This new class group allows us to give an idelic interpretation of the higher class field theory of Kato and Saito. 1. Historical Background and Introduction Let F be a one-dimensional global field, X = Spec(OF ). The classical henselian finite idele group of F is (1) Ic(F ) = lim −→ S⊂|X| (∏
AIS Electronic Library (AISeL) AIS Electronic Library (AISeL) A Framework for Inter-organizational Knowledge Sharing: A Framework for Inter-organizational Knowledge Sharing: Managerial Influences Managerial Influences

The purpose of this paper is to determine whether an existing organizational knowledge management framework could be utilized in an inter-organizational domain. We selected the threefold KM framework developed by Holsapple and Joshi (2000; 2002). This framework has been well tested and provides clearly defined elements to examine the influences on knowledge management and knowledge sharing in an organizational context. We report the results of testing the framework in three inter-organizational case studies and propose some adaptations to the managerial influences for inter-organizational analysis. describe the We
Artificial surface pressure trends in the NCEP-NCAR reanalysis over the Southern Ocean and Antarctica

An examination of 50 years of the National Centers for Environmental Prediction (NCEP)‐National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) reanalysis from 1949 to 1998 reveals that significant spurious trends occur in the surface pressure field. Long-term surface pressure reductions are apparent south of 458S. The largest trend in surface pressure is near 658S where an approximately steady long-term pressure reduction of about 0.20 hPa yr21 (10 hPa in 50 yr) is located. The negative pressure trend represents a gradual reduction in a positive bias for the reanalysis. Observations at Antarctic stations do not support this long-term trend, although short-term interannual variations are reasonably well captured after about 1970. The negative pressure tendency near 65 8S continues well into the 1990s although a reasonable number of stations between 658 and 708S began taking observations along the coast of east Antarctica during the 1950s and 1960s. Few Antarctic observations, however, are used by the reanalysis until about 1968, and the quality of the pressure field for the reanalysis appears poor in high southern latitudes prior to then. The trend in high southern latitudes appears to be a component of global temporal variations in the reanalysis, some of which are supported by observations but others are not. In the Southern Hemisphere, the sea level pressure difference between 408 and 608S, an indicator of westerly wind intensity, increases approximately from 20 hPa in the early 1950s to 25 hPa in the early 1970s and 28 hPa in recent years. The relatively high density of observing stations along the Antarctic Peninsula, however, results in an approximately steady local surface pressure after the pressure fell about 4 hPa during the late 1950s. Based upon these findings, researchers should account for jumps and long-term trends when making use of the NCEP‐NCAR reanalysis.
Efficient time propagation of U-D covariance factors

Time propagation of the Kalman filter covariance matrix involves an operation of the form ¿P¿T where for many applications ¿ is a sparse transition matrix. When the filter implementation employs U-D covariance factorization (i.e., recursions for U and D are used, where P = UDUT with U unit upper triangular and D diagonal) the corresponding time propagation involves W = ¿U. Both the ¿P¿T and ¿U computations can exploit transition matrix sparseness. If, however, the structure of W is not exploited, the computation involved with transforming W to an equivalent triangular form can be prohibitively expensive. The contribution of this paper is a streamlined Gram-Schmidt orthogonalization algorithm that can dramatically reduce UD time propagation computation costs.
A Simple Model for Neutrino Cooling of the Large Magellanic Cloud Supernova

A simplified analytic model of a cooling hot neutron star, motivated by detailed computer calculations, describes well the neutrinos detected from the recent supernova in the Large Magellanic Cloud. The observations do not require explanations that invoke exotic physics or complicated astrophysics. The parameters in this simple model are not severely constrained: 6.1-3.6+3.5 x 1052 ergs emitted in electron antineutrinos, a peak temperature of 4.2-0.8+1.2 megaelectron volts, a radius of 27-15+17 kilometers, and a cooling time of 4.5-2.0+1.7 seconds.