Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Mutational Biosynthesis of Novel Rapamycins by a Strain of Streptomyces hygroscopicus NRRL 5491 Disrupted inrapL, Encoding a Putative Lysine Cyclodeaminase

ABSTRACT The gene rapL lies within the region of theStreptomyces hygroscopicus chromosome which contains the biosynthetic gene cluster for the immunosuppressant rapamycin. Introduction of a frameshift mutation into rapLby ΦC31 phage-mediated gene replacement gave rise to a mutant which did not produce significant amounts of rapamycin. Growth of thisrapL mutant on media containing addedl-pipecolate restored wild-type levels of rapamycin production, consistent with a proposal that rapL encodes a specific l-lysine cyclodeaminase important for the production of the l-pipecolate precursor. In the presence of added proline derivatives, rapL mutants synthesized novel rapamycin analogs, indicating a relaxed substrate specificity for the enzyme catalyzing pipecolate incorporation into the macrocycle.
Apples-to-Apples : Clustering and Ranking NHL Players Using Location Information and Scoring Impact

Using new game events and location data, we introduce a player performance assessment system that supports drafting, trading, and coaching decisions in the NHL. Players who tend to play in similar locations are clustered together using machine learning techniques, which capture similarity in styles and roles. Clustering players avoids apples-to-oranges comparisons, like comparing offensive and defensive players. Within each cluster, players are ranked according to how much their actions impact their team’s chance of scoring the next goal. Our player ranking is based on assigning location-dependent values to actions. A high-resolution Markov model also pinpoints the game situations and rink locations in which players tend to do actions with exceptionally high/low values.
Path planning in practice; lazy evaluation on a multi-resolution grid

We present a resolution complete path planner based on an implicit grid in the configuration space. The planner can be described as a two-level process in which a global planner restricts a local planner to certain subsets of the grid. The global planner starts by letting the local planner search in a coarse subset of the grid, and successively refines the grid until a solution is found. The local planner applies a scheme for lazy evaluation on each subgrid in order to minimize collision checking and thereby increase the performance. Experimental results in an industrial application show that lazy evaluation on a grid is very efficient in practice. The algorithm is particularly useful in high dimensional, relatively uncluttered configuration spaces, especially when collision checking is computationally expensive. Single queries are handled quickly since no preprocessing is required.
The Earth Microbiome Project: The Meeting Report for the 1st International Earth Microbiome Project Conference, Shenzhen, China, June 13th-15th 2011

This report details the outcome of the 1st International Earth Microbiome Project Conference. The 2-day conference was held at the Kingkey Palace Hotel, Shenzhen, China, on the 14th–15th June 2011, and was hosted by BGI (formally the Beijing Genomics Institute). The conference was arranged as a formal launch for the Earth Microbiome Project, to highlight some of the exciting research projects, results of the preliminary pilot studies, and to provide a discussion forum for the types of technology and experimental approaches that will come to define the standard operating procedures of this project.
Platelet function and association of bovine viral diarrhea virus with platelets of persistently infected cattle.

OBJECTIVE To determine whether viral involvement with platelets obtained from cattle persistently infected (PI) with bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) is associated with altered platelet function or decreased platelet counts. SAMPLE POPULATION Platelets obtained from 8 cattle PI with BVDV and 6 age-, sex-, and breed-matched uninfected control cattle. PROCEDURE Manual platelet counts were determined, and platelet function was assessed through optical aggregometry by use of the aggregation agonists ADP and platelet-activating factor. Identification of BVDV in serum and preparations of purified platelets was determined by use of virus isolation tests. RESULTS No significant difference in platelet counts was detected between cattle PI with BVDV and control cattle. In response to the aggregation agonists, maximum aggregation percentage and slope of the aggregation curve were not significantly different between cattle PI with BVDV and control cattle. We isolated BVDV from serum of all PI cattle and from purified platelets of 6 of 8 PI cattle, but BVDV was not isolated from serum or platelets of control cattle. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Isolation of BVDV from platelets in the peripheral circulation of cattle immunotolerant to BVDV does not result in altered platelet function or decreases in platelet counts.
Virtual navigation in the ancient Egyptian funerary rituals

This paper shows a VR application for explaining the meaning of the various pictograms and hieroglyphs typical of the ancient Egypt funerary rituals. The interaction between the user and the 3D environment is obtained through an Oculus Rift head mounted stereoscopic display, coupled with a Leap Motion controller as input device that digitize in real-time the hands of the end-user, displaying a skeletal version of those in the virtual environment. The interactive application is based on Unity3D and it explains the details of the rituals starting from the crate of an Egyptian sarcophagus and some typical funerary objects like the Heart Scarab and the Ushabty.
Functional connectivity patterns of autism spectrum disorder identified by deep feature learning

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is regarded as a brain disease with globally disrupted neuronal networks. Even though fMRI studies have revealed abnormal functional connectivity in ASD, they have not reached a consensus of the disrupted patterns. Here, a deep learning-based feature extraction method identifies multivariate and nonlinear functional connectivity patterns of ASD. Resting-state fMRI data of 972 subjects (465 ASD 507 normal controls) acquired from the Autism Brain Imaging Data Exchange were used. A functional connectivity matrix of each subject was generated using 90 predefined brain regions. As a data-driven feature extraction method without prior knowledge such as subjects diagnosis, variational autoencoder (VAE) summarized the functional connectivity matrix into 2 features. Those feature values of ASD patients were statistically compared with those of controls. A feature was significantly different between ASD and normal controls. The extracted features were visualized by VAE-based generator which can produce virtual functional connectivity matrices. The ASD-related feature was associated with frontoparietal connections, interconnections of the dorsal medial frontal cortex and corticostriatal connections. It also showed a trend of negative correlation with full-scale IQ. A data-driven feature extraction based on deep learning could identify complex patterns of functional connectivity of ASD. This approach will help discover complex patterns of abnormalities in brain connectivity in various brain disorders.
Factors influencing pre-race serum concentration of total carbon dioxide in Thoroughbred horses racing in California.

REASONS FOR PERFORMING STUDY Many racing jurisdictions monitor pre-race serum concentration of total carbon dioxide (TCO2) among racing horses. To our knowledge, factors influencing concentration of TCO2 among horses participating in racing have not been systematically evaluated and reported. OBJECTIVES To determine if characteristics of horses and racing conditions routinely recorded were significantly associated with pre-race concentration of TCO2, while accounting for and estimating effects of trainer and horse. METHODS Pre-race serum TCO2 concentrations from 5028 starts made by 2,349 horses trained by 287 trainers at 2 racetracks in California during 2005 were examined. Data regarding characteristics of starters and race conditions obtained from a commercial database were recorded for each start. Data were analysed using mixed-effects, with TCO2 concentration as the dependent variable, and trainer and horse nested within trainer as random effects. RESULTS Sex, class and distance of race, frusemide administration and cloudy weather conditions were significantly (P<0.001) associated with pre-race TCO2 concentration. Horses that finished in the top 3 positions had values that were slightly (0.2 mmol/) but significantly (P<0.001) greater than horses not finishing in the top 3. There were significant effects of trainer on pre-race TCO2 concentration. CONCLUSIONS A variety of factors may influence pre-race TCO2 concentration in horses. Horses with better performance tend to have higher pre-race TCO2 concentrations. POTENTIAL RELEVANCE TCO2 concentration is associated with improved performance although the magnitude of effect was quite small. Regulatory programmes based on monitoring should consider the influence of other factors on TCO2 concentration.
Effect of the Mission Profile on the Reliability of a Power Converter Aimed at Photovoltaic Applications—A Case Study

This paper presents the reliability analysis of a push-pull converter intended for connection to a 125-W photovoltaic (PV) panel. Four prototypes of the converter were built and tested, using transistors with different ratings. Failure rates were calculated using the MIL HDBK 217 and the IEC TR 62380 procedures. In the latter case, the prediction was performed taking into account an annual mission profile obtained from the intended installation site, in an area with desert climate temperatures. Failure rate results obtained with MIL HDBK 217 show small differences among the converters, the best performance obtained from the prototype with the lowest on-resistance. Results obtained with IEC TR 62380 indicate that thermal cycles have a significant effect in reliability performance, and should be considered carefully, because PV systems often see large temperature variations. With both procedures, the failure rate contributions from magnetic devices were higher than expected.
A Fast Encoding Method of QC-LDPC Code Used in ABS-S System

First, the paper introduces a new generation satellite broadcasting system in China named Advanced Broadcasting System-Satellite (ABS-S) that offers system performance and service versatility suitable for future satellite digital broadcasting. Meanwhile the new system utilizes fixed frame structure to realize the CCM, VCM and ACM working modes adopted by DVB-S2 system to further simplify the complexity of the implementation. Secondly, this paper points out the shortcomings of LDPC code used in DVB-S2 and detailedly describes the LDPC code used in ABS-S. Then, based on the simulation result, we can say that the performance of LDPC codes used in ABS-S is better than that of DVB-S2 and the complexity is also lower than that of DVB-S2. At last, we put forward a fast method to encode the QC-LDPC code used in ABS-S system. Keywords-ABS-S; LDPC; satellite; broadcasting
Look Who's Talking: Evaluating the Utility of Interventions During an Interactive Think-Aloud

We report the results of a study comparing two concurrent think-aloud approaches for usability testing: the classic think-aloud (CTA) and an interactive think-aloud (ITA). The think-alouds were compared in respect of task performance and usability problem data. We also analyse the utility of the interventions used within the ITA in eliciting useful participant utterances. The most useful interventions were those focused on seeking explanations and opinions; these generated more utterances about user difficulties. Requests for clarifications, particularly about actions, resulted in fewer useful utterances: participants responded with simple procedural descriptions. In comparing the CTA and ITA, we found no differences in the number of successfully completed tasks, but the ITA did elongate the test session. The ITA led to the detection of more usability problems overall, and a greater number of causal explanations. However, the ITA produced more low-severity problems than the CTA.
A Linear-Rotary Permanent Magnet Actuator with Partitioned Stator

This paper proposes a novel partitioned- stator liner-rotary permanent magnet actuator (PS- LRPMA) which separates the stator into an inner one and an outer one. Compared with current LRPMA, the magnetic reluctance of the PS-LRPMA is decreased and the flux leakage is reduced by shortening the magnetic circuit, which flows through the iron core of the rotor. Three-dimensional finite element method (FEM) is used to analyze the magnet field distribution, the static and dynamic performance. The simulated results show that the PS-LRPMA has excellent electromagnetic performance, such as higher thrust and higher torque density.
Structured Light Phase Measuring Profilometry Pattern Design for Binary Spatial Light Modulators

Structured light illumination is an active 3-D scanning technique based on projecting/capturing a set of striped patterns and measuring the warping of the patterns as they reflect off a target object's surface. In the case of phase measuring profilometry (PMP), the projected patterns are composed of a rolling sinusoidal wave, but as a set of time-multiplexed patterns, PMP requires the target surface to remain motionless or for scanning to be performed at such high rates that any movement is small. But high speed scanning places a significant burden on the projector electronics to produce contone patterns inside of short exposure intervals. Binary patterns are, therefore, of great value, but converting contone patterns into binary comes with significant risk. As such, this paper introduces a contone-to-binary conversion algorithm for deriving binary patterns that best mimic their contone counterparts. Experimental results will show a greater than 3 times reduction in pattern noise over traditional halftoning procedures.
KnowledgeGraph Individual Features Network Features Ensemble LearningAlgorithm Predictive Model Online BehaviorData Acquisition System Automated Feature Extraction Framework

Online lending has exploded in China in recent years. However, the nancial agents are vulnerable for fraud aacks which reults in huge nancial losses. Anti-fraud detection methods for traditional nancial services are less eective against online frauds. As a group eort at CreditX, we designed an accurate, ecient, and scalable online fraud detecting mechnism by delivering a behavior language processing (BLP) framework. Our solution integrates multiple layers from user online behavior data acquisition, knowledge graph building, feature extraction, to nal predictive models. As a core component of BLP, we applied graph phomophily theory on selecting social relationships to build a fraud centric bipartite graph. Key graph features are generated by combining graph thoery and experts’ domain knowledge to capture linked fraudulous behaviors. e results of online fraud detection on massive realworld data have shown our graph based feature extraction method signicantly boosts the accuracy and eectiveness of BLP model.
Ca2+ sensitization due to myosin light chain phosphatase inhibition and cytoskeletal reorganization in the myogenic response of skeletal muscle resistance arteries

Blood flow to our organs is maintained within a defined range to provide an adequate supply of nutrients and remove waste products by contraction and relaxation of smooth muscle cells of resistance arteries and arterioles. The ability of these cells to contract in response to an increase in intravascular pressure, and to relax following a reduction in pressure (the ‘myogenic response’), is critical for appropriate control of blood flow, but our understanding of its mechanistic basis is incomplete. Small arteries of skeletal muscles were used to test the hypothesis that myogenic constriction involves two enzymes, Rho‐associated kinase and protein kinase C, which evoke vasoconstriction by activating the contractile protein, myosin, and by reorganizing the cytoskeleton. Knowledge of the mechanisms involved in the myogenic response contributes to understanding of how blood flow is regulated and will help to identify the molecular basis of dysfunctional control of arterial diameter in disease.
Spinal cord injury as a result of endotracheal intubation in patients with undiagnosed cervical spine fractures.

REPORTS of neurologic injury as a result of tracheal intubation in patients with undiagnosed cervical spine injuries are uncommon. ' Two reasons may account for this. First, failure to diagnose the injury and subsequent neurologic sequelae may be rare occurrences. Diagnostic delay is not infrequent, and as many as 67% of cervical spine injuries may be missed by a lateral radiograph Although the contribution of tracheal intubation is not mentioned specifically, new neurologic deficits are reported to be 7.5 times more frequent in patients with an undiagnosed cervical spine injury, 4 and permanent sequelae are common.5 Second, there may be an understandable reluctance to make such iatrogenic complications public knowledge, although unreported data of quadriplegia and death have been noted. 6 We describe two patients in whom neurologic injuries followed tracheal intubation, discuss the reasons for their occurrence, and briefly review the care of patients with possible cervical spine injuries.
Design of a muscle activity monitor for rehabilitation of post-stroke patients

Stroke accidents affect a significant number of people per year all over the world. Sequels of these accidents usually affect the ability of the patients to perform daily life tasks. Rehabilitation plays a fundamental role in assisting those people to recover (to the extent possible). Nowadays, robotic systems are being increasingly used in this area. FISIOROB is one such solution being developed by an industry-research consortium in Spain. Sensing plays a fundamental role in FISIOROB for monitoring patient's muscular activity during the exercises executed as part of the rehabilitation process. In this paper, the design and experimental validation of a muscle activity monitor for the FISIOROB system are presented.
Fermentation and Sulfur Reduction in the Mat-Building Cyanobacterium Microcoleus chthonoplastes

The mat-building cyanobacterium Microcoleus chthonoplastes carried out a mixed-acid fermentation when incubated under anoxic conditions in the dark. Endogenous storage carbohydrate was fermented to acetate, ethanol, formate, lactate, H(inf2), and CO(inf2). Cells with a low glycogen content (about 0.3 (mu)mol of glucose per mg of protein) produced acetate and ethanol in equimolar amounts. In addition to glycogen, part of the osmoprotectant, glucosyl-glycerol, was degraded. The glucose component of glucosyl-glycerol was fermented, whereas glycerol was released into the medium. Cells with a high content of glycogen (about 2 (mu)mol of glucose per mg of protein) did not utilize glucosyl-glycerol. These cells produced more acetate than ethanol. M. chthonoplastes was also capable of using elemental sulfur as the electron acceptor during fermentation, resulting in the production of sulfide. With sulfur present, acetate production increased whereas ethanol production decreased. Also, less formate was produced and the evolution of hydrogen ceased completely. In general, the carbon recoveries were satisfactory but the oxidation-reduction balances were too high. The latter could be explained by assuming the reduction of ferric iron, which is associated with the cells, mediated by the oxidation of formate. The switch from photoautotrophic to fermentative metabolism did not require de novo protein synthesis, and fermentation started immediately upon transfer to dark anoxic conditions. From the molar ratios of the fermentation products and from measurement of enzyme activities in cell extracts, we concluded that glucose derived from glycogen and glucosyl-glycerol is degraded via the Embden-Meyerhof-Parnas pathway.
Oxidation Reactions Catalyzed by Polyoxomolybdate Salts

Abstract Ionic compounds containing the polyoxomolybdate anion [Mo6O19]2- and [(n-C4H9)4P]+ (tetrabutylphosphonium), [(n-C4H9)3P(n-C14H29)]+ (tributyl (tetradecyl)phosphonium), [Bmim]+ (1- butyl-3-methylimidazolium) and [Dbmim]+ (1,2-dimethyl-3-butylimidazolium) cations were prepared and characterized, including the determination of three of the solid state structures by singlecrystal X-ray diffraction. These compounds were applied as catalysts for the epoxidation of olefins with urea hydrogen peroxide (UHP) as oxidant in the ionic liquid [Bmim]PF6. Additionally, the oxidation of sulfides to sulfoxides with hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) in several solvents was investigated. The polyoxomolybdate catalysts showed a good performance for epoxidation of olefins as well as for oxidation of sulfides. Furthermore, the catalysts can be recycled several times in oxidation reactions. We present this methodology for the oxidation reaction in a simple, economically, technically, and environmentally benign manner Graphical Abstract Oxidation Reactions Catalyzed by Polyoxomolybdate Salts
Proteomic Analysis of Trichinella spiralis Adult Worm Excretory-Secretory Proteins Recognized by Sera of Patients with Early Trichinellosis

The most commonly used serodiagnostic antigens for trichinellosis are the excretory-secretory (ES) antigens from T. spiralis muscle larvae (ML), but the specific antibodies against the ML ES antigens are usually negative during early stage of Trichinella infection. The recent studies demonstrated that T. spiralis adult worm (AW) antigens were recognized by mouse or swine infection sera on Western blot as early as 7–15 days post-infection (dpi), the AW antigens might contain the early diagnostic markers for trichinellosis. The purpose of this study was to screen early diagnostic antigens in T. spiralis AW ES proteins recognized by sera of early patients with trichinellosis. T. spiralis AW were collected at 72 h post-infection (hpi), and their ES antigens were analyzed by SDS-PAGE and Western blot. Our results showed that 5 protein bands (55, 48–50, 45, 44, and 36 kDa) were recognized by sera of early patients with trichinellosis collected at 19 dpi, and were subjected to shotgun LC–MS/MS and bioinformatics analyses. A total of 185 proteins were identified from T. spiralis protein database, of which 116 (67.2%) proteins had molecular weights of 30∼60 kDa, and 125 (67.6%) proteins with pI 4–7. Bioinformatic analyses showed that the identified proteins have a wide diversity of biological functions (binding of nucleotides, proteins, ions, carbohydrates, and lipids; hydrolase, transferase, and oxidoreductase, etc.). Several enzymes (e.g., adult-specific DNase II, serine protease and serine protease inhibitor) could be the invasion-related proteins and early diagnostic markers for trichinellosis. Moreover, recombinant T. spiralis serine protease (rTsSP-ZH68) was expressed in E. coli and its antigenicity was analyzed by Western blot with the early infection sera. The rTsSP-ZH68 was recognized by sera of infected mice at 8–10 dpi and sera of early patients with trichinellosis at 19 dpi. T. spiralis AW proteins identified in this study, especially serine protease, are the promising early diagnostic antigens and vaccine candidates for trichinellosis.