Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A wireless accelerometer node for reliable and valid measurement of lumbar accelerations during treadmill running

Abstract This study investigated the reliability of a wireless accelerometer and its agreement with optical motion capture for the measurement of root mean square (RMS) acceleration during running. RMS acceleration provides a whole-body metric of movement mechanics and economy. Fifteen healthy college-age participants performed treadmill running for two 60-s trials at 2.22, 2.78, and 3.33 m/s and one trial of 150 s (five 30-s epochs) at 2.78 m/s. We assessed between-trial and within-trial reliability, and agreement in each axis between a trunk-mounted wireless accelerometer and a reflective marker on the accelerometer measured by optical motion capture. Intraclass correlations assessing between-trial repeatability were 0.89–0.97, depending on the axis, and intraclass correlations assessing within-trial repeatability were 0.99–1.00. Bland–Altman analyses assessing agreement indicated mean difference values between −0.03 and 0.03 g, depending on the axis. Anterio-posterior acceleration had the greatest limits of agreement (LOA) (±0.12 g) and vertical acceleration had the smallest LOA (±0.03 g). For measuring RMS acceleration of the trunk, this wireless accelerometer node provides repeatable and valid measurement compared with the standard laboratory method of optical motion capture.
A WXW Motif Is Required for the Anticancer Activity of the TAT-RasGAP317–326 Peptide*

Background: TAT-RasGAP317–326 is a Ras GTPase-activating protein (RasGAP)-derived peptide that requires deleted in liver cancer-1 (DLC1) for its antimetastatic activities. Results: A WXW motif within TAT-RasGAP317–326 mediates RasGAP-DLC1 interaction. Conclusion: The tryptophan residues of TAT-RasGAP317–326 are crucial for its activity Significance: The WXW motif could be used to design anticancer small molecules bearing TAT-RasGAP317–326 activities. TAT-RasGAP317–326, a cell-permeable 10-amino acid-long peptide derived from the N2 fragment of p120 Ras GTPase-activating protein (RasGAP), sensitizes tumor cells to apoptosis induced by various anticancer therapies. This RasGAP-derived peptide, by targeting the deleted in liver cancer-1 (DLC1) tumor suppressor, also hampers cell migration and invasion by promoting cell adherence and by inhibiting cell movement. Here, we systematically investigated the role of each amino acid within the RasGAP317–326 sequence for the anticancer activities of TAT-RasGAP317–326. We report here that the first three amino acids of this sequence, tryptophan, methionine, and tryptophan (WMW), are necessary and sufficient to sensitize cancer cells to cisplatin-induced apoptosis and to reduce cell migration. The WMW motif was found to be critical for the binding of fragment N2 to DLC1. These results define the interaction mode between the active anticancer sequence of RasGAP and DLC1. This knowledge will facilitate the design of small molecules bearing the tumor-sensitizing and antimetastatic activities of TAT-RasGAP317–326.
Identification of Essential GATA and Ets Binding Motifs within the Promoter of the Platelet Glycoprotein Ibα Gene (*)

Platelet glycoprotein (GP) Ib-IX-V is a multisubunit adhesion receptor that supports platelet attachment to thrombogenic surfaces at sites of vascular injury. The congenital absence of the receptor results in a bleeding disorder associated with “giant” platelets, a condition linking the expression of the complex to platelet morphogenesis. To understand better the expression of the GP Ib-IX-V complex, studies were undertaken to define the essential genetic elements supporting the expression of the α-subunit of the complex (GP Ibα). GP Ibα promoter activity was evaluated by transfection of human erythroleukemia cells with reporter plasmids coding for the enzyme, luciferase. Studies were initiated with a fragment extending 2,738 nucleotides 5′ to the transcription start site and lead to the identification of 253 nucleotides retaining full promoter activity in human erythroleukemia cells. In cells of nonhematopoietic lineage, human endothelial and HeLa cells, the GP Ibα promoter activity was no greater than background levels obtained with promoterless constructs. Gel shift assays and site-directed mutagenesis studies defined essential GATA and Ets binding motifs 93 and 150 nucleotides upstream of the transcription start site, a finding which further substantiates these elements as important determinants of megakaryocytic gene expression. The results define essential cis-acting elements responsible for the expression of GP Ibα and provide insights into molecular events coinciding with the release of normal platelets into the bloodstream.
Detection and characterization of a factor which rescues spliceosome assembly from a heat-inactivated HeLa cell nuclear extract

Mild heat treatment of HeLa cell nuclear extracts (NE) selectively inhibits pre-mRNA splicing. Heat-inactivated extracts can be complemented by a small amount of untreated NE. Utilizing this complementation assay and a combination of ion-exchange, affinity, and hydrophobic chromatography, a heat reversal factor (HRF) was purified from NE that is required to rescue pre-mRNA splicing from a heat-inactivated extract. This activity in its most purified form consistently copurified in a fraction containing two 70-kDa proteins and a minor polypeptide of approximately 100 kDa. It was free of the major small nuclear RNAs, sensitive to protease, and required to rescue spliceosome formation from a heat-inactivated nuclear extract. These results suggest that this factor is a protein that may be an important component in pre-mRNA splicing, or alternatively, it may be involved in renaturation of a heat-sensitive splicing factor.
A Frequency-Reconfigurable Antenna Architecture Using Dielectric Fluids

A new frequency-reconfigurable antenna architecture is presented, in which a dielectric fluid is pumped into a cavity behind the antenna to change its resonant frequency. The continuous tuning provided by the changing fluid volume allows the resonant frequency to be adjusted to any value within the tunable range. This tuning method does not affect the power handling capability of the antenna and does not consume power while the resonant frequency is kept constant. This method of tuning also stands out in its class by offering a wide tuning range, high efficiency, and very good electrical isolation between the antenna and the control circuitry. The antenna was designed and optimized using Ansys HFSS software and several prototypes were built and tested. Measured results of the input response, radiation pattern, and efficiency are presented. Castor oil (εr = 2.7) and ethyl acetate (εr = 6) were used in physical tests as the tuning fluids to verify the simulated results. Good agreement between simulated and measured results was observed which is also in line with the behavior suggested by theory and earlier investigations.
10.4 A 1.22TOPS and 1.52mW/MHz augmented reality multi-core processor with neural network NoC for HMD applications

Augmented reality (AR) is being investigated in advanced displays for the augmentation of images in a real-world environment. Wearable systems, such as head-mounted display (HMD) systems, have attempted to support real-time AR as a next generation UI/UX [1-2], but have failed, due to their limited computing power. In a prior work, a chip with limited AR functionality was reported that could perform AR with the help of markers placed in the environment (usually 1D or 2D bar codes) [3]. However, for a seamless visual experience, 3D objects should be rendered directly on the natural video image without any markers. Unlike marker-based AR, markerless AR requires natural feature extraction, general object recognition, 3D reconstruction, and camera-pose estimation to be performed in parallel. For instance, markerless AR for a VGA input-test video consumes ~1.3W power at 0.2fps throughput, with TI's OMAP4430, which exceeds power limits for wearable devices. Consequently, there is a need for a high-performance energy-efficient markerless AR processor to realize a real-time AR system, especially for HMD applications.
Optimal Tax Progressivity in Unionised Labour Markets: Simulation Results for Germany

Changing the income tax progressivity in labour markets with collective wage bargaining generates a trade-off. On the one hand, higher progressivity distorts individual labour supply decisions at the hours-of-work margin, on the other hand, it reduces unemployment by exerting downward pressure on wages. This trade-off is quantitatively assessed using a numerical model for Germany. The model combines a microsimulation module, which captures the labour-supply decisions of approximately 4,600 individual households, and a macro (computable general equilibrium) module, which features collective wage bargaining and involuntary unemployment. In the simulations carried out using this model, the optimal degree of tax progressivity turns out to be higher than the one in the actual German tax schedule. The optimum is located at marginal tax rates that are 6 percentage points higher than the actual rates (combined with a transfer that balances the public budget). The welfare gain from such a reform is modest, however. It amounts to no more than two euros per person per month.
The contributions of convergent thinking, divergent thinking, and schizotypy to solving insight and non-insight problems

ABSTRACT The ability to generate diverse ideas (divergent thinking) is valuable in solving creative problems (e.g., insight problems); yet, however advantageous, this ability is insufficient to solve the problem alone and requires the ability to logically deduce an assessment of correctness of each solution (convergent thinking). Positive schizotypy may help isolate the aspects of divergent thinking prevalent in insight problem solving. Participants were presented with a measure of schizotypy (Oxford-Liverpool Inventory of Feelings and Experiences), divergent and convergent thinking tasks, insight problems, and non-insight problems. We found no evidence for a relationship between schizotypy and insight problem solving. Relationships between divergent thinking and insight problem solving were also surprisingly weak; however, measures of convergent thinking had a stronger relationship with problem solving. These results suggest that convergent thinking is more important than divergent thinking in problem solving.
Identification and Biochemical Characterization of Human Plasma Soluble IL-7R: Lower Concentrations in HIV-1-Infected Patients1

The IL-7R α-chain and the common γ-chain (γc) are both components of IL-7R. Human plasma harbors soluble forms of IL-7R (sIL-7Rα and sγc) that are detected and assayed by Western blotting, showing that the levels of sIL-7Rα are higher than the levels of sγc (47.5 ng/ml and 1.5 ng/ml, respectively). Gel electrophoresis and tandem mass spectrometry used to analyze deglycosylated, affinity-purified protein showed that sIL-7Rα is generated through differentially spliced mRNA, not by membrane receptor shedding. Plasma sIL-7Rα and sγc are present as heterocomplexes and sγc was found to be mainly associated with sIL-7Rα. The affinities of two IL-7 binding sites (Kd = 35 ± 8 pM and Kd = 3 ± 1 nM) were similar to that of the membrane receptor, suggesting that the sIL-7Rα/sγc complex retains high affinity for IL-7. sIL-7Rα mRNA is constitutively present among peripheral T lymphocytes and is down-modulated in vitro by IL-7. Chronically HIV-1-infected patients (n = 20) showed no significant (p > 0.714) variation in sγc levels and a significant (p < 0.0014) 2-fold decrease in plasma sIL-7Rα levels compared with those in control healthy individuals. Plasma IL-7 and sIL-7Rα levels did not show any obvious relationship.
Corner-parasitics-free low-cost trench isolation

In this work, we present results on a novel low-cost, corner-parasitics-free trench isolation process. Regarding process complexity, this approach is almost as simple as LOGOS isolation, since the isolation oxide is deposited selectively within the trench. Due to the self-planarizing nature of the fill oxide, the global planarization sequence is largely simplified. With respect to scalability, this approach offers all the advantages of trench isolation with its abrupt transition of active area to isolation. However, in contrast to previous trench isolation schemes, corner-parasitic effects are eliminated by means of the extended trench isolation gate technology (EXTIGATE) device geometry. As a result, excellent narrow width characteristics and subthreshold curves without kink effect are obtained.
Positive Influencing Factors of Commercial Property Development: Case of Lithuania

Abstract Presently the conditions for the commercial property development in Lithuania are favourable. The market indicators are demonstrating positive tendencies. Many international companies are entering the Lithuanian markets because of the supportive governmental instruments of competitive policy for these international companies. There is high demand for the commercial premises, and the respective governmental authorities are regularly improving the construction procedures. These are the factors, which are affecting the commercial property development activities in Lithuania. The aim of this paper is to highlight the factors, which are positively affecting the commercial property development in Lithuania. The key market indicators, supportive instruments for international companies and improvements of the construction procedures in Lithuania are reviewed by the authors, with prime focus on the capital of Lithuania − Vilnius. This paper is intended as guidance to the developers, who are entering the Lithuanian commercial property market.
AIS Electronic Library (AISeL)

In this study, the role of individual differences on the cognitive, motivational, and contextual aspects of digital divide is investigated. Given the binary notion on accessibility and lack of accessibility to digital technology, Internet usage is operationalized as an outcome of choice made by individuals. The pertinent underlying factors are identified by integrating the social cognitive theory with the ability, motivation, and opportunity framework. Path modeling analysis is conducted on data collected from 270 respondents in Malaysia, and results show that intrinsic motivation is the most significant predictor of Internet usage. Facilitating condition and extrinsic motivation are also significant predictors, whereas digital skill presents a moderate effect.
Validation of HeavyWater HeavyWater HeavyWater Stable Isotope Probing for the Characterization of Rapidly Responding Soil Bacteria †

Rapid responses of bacteria to sudden changes in their environment can have important implications for the structure and function of microbial communities. In this study, we used heavy-water stable isotope probing (H2 O-SIP) to identify bacteria that respond to soil rewetting. First, we conducted experiments to address uncertainties regarding the H2 O-SIP method. Using liquid chromatography-mass spectroscopy (LC-MS), we determined that oxygen from H2 O was incorporated into all structural components of DNA. Although this incorporation was uneven, we could effectively separate O-labeled and unlabeled DNAs derived from laboratory cultures and environmental samples that were incubated with H2 O. We found no evidence for ex vivo exchange of oxygen atoms between DNA and extracellular H2O, suggesting that O incorporation into DNA is relatively stable. Furthermore, the rate of O incorporation into bacterial DNA was high (within 48 to 72 h), coinciding with pulses of CO2 generated from soil rewetting. Second, we examined shifts in the bacterial composition of grassland soils following rewetting, using H2 O-SIP and bar-coded pyrosequencing of 16S rRNA genes. For some groups of soil bacteria, we observed coherent responses at a relatively course taxonomic resolution. Following rewetting, the relative recovery of Alphaproteobacteria, Betaproteobacteria, and Gammaproteobacteria increased, while the relative recovery of Chloroflexi and Deltaproteobacteria decreased. Together, our results suggest that H2 O-SIP is effective at identifying metabolically active bacteria that influence soil carbon dynamics. Our results contribute to the ecological classification of soil bacteria while providing insight into some of the functional traits that influence the structure and function of microbial communities under dynamic soil moisture regimes.
Chlorhexidine susceptibilities of mutans streptococcal serotypes and ribotypes

The susceptibilities of 379 clinical mutans streptococcal isolates to chlorhexidine (CHX) were tested by agar dilution according to the standards of the National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards. Isolates were obtained from saliva samples of 34 young mothers who had high or moderate salivary levels of mutans streptococci at baseline. Samples were collected on three occasions, before childbirth, when each child was 6 months old, and 1 year later. Of these isolates, 50% were inhibited at 1 microgram of CHX per ml, 90% were inhibited at 2.0 micrograms/ml, and all were inhibited at 4.0 micrograms/ml. The MICs for Streptococcus mutans isolates (serotypes c, e, and f) were lower than those for Streptococcus sobrinus isolates (serotypes d and g). In some subjects, the MICs for isolates of the same serotype were different. This phenomenon was studied by ribotyping isolates (n = 45) from selected subjects (n = 7). It was found that if there were intraindividual differences in the MICs for isolates of the same serotype, then the ribotypes of these isolates were different. In order to decrease the mutans streptococcal infection risk for children, 24 mothers (test group) brushed their teeth periodically with a gel that contained 0.3% CHX digluconate and 0.2% NaF, pH 5.8, between the second and third sampling occasions. The gel was used twice a day for the first 10 days of each month. Development of resistant strains during CHX-NaF gel use was not detected. The serotype distribution of isolates from the test group after 1 year of periodic CHX-NaF gel use did not differ from that at baseline. Periodic CHX-NaF gel brushing did not lead to lower salivary mutans streptococcal counts.
Management of accurate profile matching using multi-cloud service interaction

The current paper describes our research towards a cloud infrastructure for the universal access and interaction with a number of services implementing methods for enriching, matching and querying information about job offers and applicant profiles in the cloud. These methods exploit well-known recruitment knowledge bases in order to deliver valuable information to such organizations as public and private employment agencies that we assume to be geographically distributed. The rationale behind our approach is to offer an universal, yet inexpensive, distribution model able to reduce the cost of installing and maintaining the recruitment technology within the client's businesses.
The Importance of Pediatric Scoring Systems of Multiorgan Failure in Intensive Care Unit

Introduction: Use scoring systems facilitates and enables decision making about the appropriate therapeutic treatment (right evaluation and classification of the patient group at high risk), which can also increase the likelihood of survival rationalize a decision on the need and intensity of therapy. Aims: To analyze the Pediatric Logistics Organ Dysfunction Scoring system (PELOD) and Pediatric Risk Score of Mortality (PRISM), in the surgical intensive care unit (ICU) of tertiary pediatric medical facility. Methods: The study included a 90 patients aged 0-18 years, in the period of three years. To analyze parameters of the PELOD and PRISM score. In the analysis were used statistical data about predictors of mortality: Receiver Operating Characteristics (ROC) curve and Hosmer-Lemeshow goodness of fit test (HL-GOF). Results: The mean value of PRISM score in the group of patients with favorable outcome of treatment was 8 and with lethal outcome 18. The mean value of PELOD score in the group of patients with favorable outcome of treatment was 7.7 and with lethal outcome 17.7. The area under the ROC curve for the PRISM score was 0.8306, for the PELOD score it was 0.7967. Calibration values expressed in HL-GOF for PRISM score were 2.913,while the PELOD score they were 0.60971). Conclusion: Initial assessment, daily monitoring and reliable prediction of the final outcome of the application of pediatric scoring systems allow rising efficiency and rationalization of work in an intensive care unit.
Identification and Characterization of Kaposi’s Sarcoma-Associated Herpesvirus K8.1 Virion Glycoprotein

ABSTRACT Kaposi’s sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) has been consistently identified in Kaposi’s sarcomas (KS), body cavity-based lymphomas (BCBL), and some forms of Castleman’s disease. Previous serological tests with KS patient sera have detected lytic-cycle polypeptides from KSHV-infected BCBL cells. We have found that these polypeptides are predominantly encoded by the K8.1 open reading frame, which is present in the same genomic position as virion envelope glycoproteins of other gammaherpesviruses. The cDNA of K8.1 from BCBL-1 cells was found to encode a glycosylated protein with an apparent molecular mass of 37 kDa. K8.1 was found to be expressed during lytic KSHV replication in BCBL-1 cells and was localized on the surface of cells and virions. The results of immunofluorescence and immunoelectron microscopy suggest that KSHV acquires K8.1 protein on its virion surface during the process of budding at the plasma cell membrane. When KSHV K8.1 derived from mammalian cells was used as an antigen in immunoblot tests, antibodies to K8.1 were detected in 18 of 20 KS patients and in 0 of 10 KS-negative control subjects. These results demonstrate that the K8.1 gene encodes a KSHV virion-associated glycoprotein and suggest that antibodies to K8.1 may prove useful as contributory serological markers for infection by KSHV.
Phosphatidic Acid Increases Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor Expression by Stabilizing mRNA Decay and by Inhibiting Lysosomal and Proteasomal Degradation of the Internalized Receptor

ABSTRACT Overexpression of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is one of the frequent mechanisms implicated in cancer progression, and so is the overexpression of the enzyme phospholipase D (PLD) and its reaction product, phosphatidic acid (PA). However, an understanding of how these signaling molecules interact at the level of gene expression is lacking. Catalytically active PLD enhanced expression of EGFR in human breast cancer cells. Overexpression of the PLD2 isoform increased EGFR mRNA and protein expression. It also negated an EGFR downregulation mediated by small interfering RNA targeting EGFR (siEGFR). Several mechanisms contributed to the alteration in EGFR expression. First was the stabilization of EGFR transcripts as PLD2 delayed mRNA decay, which prolonged their half-lives. Second, RNase enzymatic activity was inhibited by PA. Third, protein stabilization also occurred, as indicated by PLD resistance to cycloheximide-induced EGFR protein degradation. Fourth, PA inhibited lysosomal and proteasomal degradation of internalized EGFR. PLD2 and EGFR colocalized at the cell membrane, and JAK3 phosphorylation at Tyr980/Tyr981 followed receptor endocytosis. Further, the presence of PLD2 increased stabilization of intracellular EGFR in large recycling vesicles at ∼15 min of EGF stimulation. Thus, PLD2-mediated production of PA contributed to the control of EGFR exposure to ligand through a multipronged transcriptional and posttranscriptional program during the out-of-control accumulation of EGFR signaling in cancer cells.