Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Charge state separation for protein applications using a quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometer.

A novel method for separating ions according to their charge state using a quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometer is presented. The benefits of charge state separation are particularly apparent in protein identification applications at low femtomole concentration levels, where in conventional TOF MS spectra peptide ions are often lost in a sea of chemical noise. When doubly and triply charged tryptic peptide ions need to be filtered from singly charged background ions, the latter are suppressed by two to three orders of magnitude, while from 10-50% of multiply charged ions remain. The suppression of chemical noise reduces the need for chromatography and can make this experimental approach the electrospray equivalent of conventional MALDI peptide maps. If unambiguous identification cannot be achieved, MS/MS experiments are performed on the precursor ions identified through charge separation, while the previously described Q2-trapping duty cycle enhancement is tuned for approximately 1.4 of the precursor m/z to enhance intensities of ions with m/z values above that of the precursor. The resulting product ion spectra contain few fragments of impurities and provide quick and unambiguous identification through database search. The multiple charge separation technique requires minimal tuning and may become a useful tool for analysis of complex mixtures.
The behaviour of disaggregated transitory and potential output over the economic cycle

This paper examines the behaviour of disaggregated transitory and potential output over the economic cycle in South Africa. Aggregate output and output of the economic sectors and industries were decomposed into their transitory and potential components. These components were then examined for comovement. The results of the transitory component generally show a moderate to strong positive comovement between aggregate output and output of all the economic sectors and majority of the industries. The results of the potential component have generally show a weak positive comovement between aggregate output and output of majority of economic sectors and the economic industries. A generally weak comovement between aggregate output and output of general government services and community, social and personal services highlights a more laissez faire approach to economic management. Contrary to the investment literature, there does not seem to be a definite distinction between the companies industry categories, such as the defensive, cyclical and sensitive industries.
Negative-Unlabeled Tensor Factorization for Location Category Inference from Highly Inaccurate Mobility Data

Identifying significant location categories visited by mobile users is the key to a variety of applications. This is an extremely challenging task due to the possible deviation between the estimated location coordinate and the actual location, which could be on the order of kilometers. We consider the location uncertainty circle determined by the reported location coordinate as the center and the associated location error as the radius. Such a location uncertainty circle is likely to cover multiple location categories, especially in densely populated areas. To estimate the actual location category more precisely, we propose a novel tensor factorization framework, through several key observations including the intrinsic correlations between users, to infer the most likely location categories within the location uncertainty circle. In addition, the proposed algorithm can also predict where users are even in the absence of location information. In order to efficiently solve the proposed framework, we propose a parameter-free and scalable optimization algorithm by effectively exploring the sparse and low-rank structure of the tensor. Our empirical studies show that the proposed algorithm is both efficient and effective: it can solve problems with millions of users and billions of location updates, and also provides superior prediction accuracies on real-world location updates and check-in data sets.
Two-stage choice-based demand model for rural feeder service to the bus stop

ABSTRACT The paper documents an experience of developing a demand model for alternatives with dissimilar attributes in the context of transportation services. The work is demonstrated with reference to feeder service to the bus stop in rural India, where the attributes and physical levels of hypothetical feeder service and presently used modes, namely bicycle, and motorcycles, are highly dissimilar. A two-stage approach was adopted in which the first stage analysis included the development of an RPL model to obtain the WTP values of hypothetical feeder service. At this stage, only the attributes of various hypothetical feeder services were considered which were similar in nature. In the second stage, the number of variables describing the hypothetical feeder service was reduced judiciously using the knowledge obtained from stage I analysis and demand models were developed for two user groups, namely bicycle users and motorcycle users. The results indicate the need for improvement of qualitative attributes of feeder service, which are often neglected in emerging countries such as India. Although the results presented in the paper are case-specific, the experiences documented in this paper are expected to encourage transportation planners to follow a similar approach while developing demand models involving dissimilar alternatives.
Nurse's perceptions of physiotherapists in critical care team: Report of a qualitative study

Background: Interprofessional relationship plays a major role in effective patient care. Specialized units such as critical care require multidisciplinary care where perception about every members role may affect the delivery of patient care. The objective of this study was to find out nurses’ perceptions of the role of physiotherapists in the critical care team. Methods: Qualitative study by using semi-structured interview was conducted among the qualified nurses working in the Intensive Care Unit of a tertiary care hospital. The interview consisted of 19 questions divided into 3 sections. Interviews were audio recorded and transcribed. In-depth content analysis was carried out to identify major themes in relation to the research question. Results: Analysis identified five major issues which included role and image of a physiotherapist, effectiveness of treatment, communications, teamwork, and interprofessional relations. Physiotherapists were perceived to be an important member of the critical team with the role of mobilizing the patients. The respondents admitted that there existed limitations in interprofessional relationship. Conclusion: Nurses perceived the role of physiotherapist in the critical care unit as an integral part and agreed on the need for inclusion of therapist multidisciplinary critical care team.
Political Participation in a Changing World: Conceptual and Empirical Challenges in the Study of Citizen Engagement

In the last decades, political participation expanded continuously. This expansion includes activities as diverse as voting, tweeting, signing petitions, changing your social media profile, demonstrating, boycotting products, joining flash mobs, attending meetings, throwing seedbombs, and donating money. But if political participation is so diverse, how do we recognize participation when we see it? Despite the growing interest in new forms of citizen engagement in politics, there is virtually no systematic research investigating what these new and emerging forms of engagement look like, how prevalent they are in various societies, and how they fit within the broader structure of well-known participatory acts conceptually and empirically. The rapid spread of internet-based activities especially underlines the urgency to deal with such challenges.
Predictors of mortality of severe sepsis among adult patients in the medical Intensive Care Unit

Background: Sepsis is an important cause of mortality in the Intensive Care Units (ICUs) worldwide. Information regarding early predictive factors for mortality and morbidity is limited. Aims and Objectives: The primary objective of the study was to estimate the mortality of severe sepsis among adult patients admitted into the medical ICU. The secondary objective was to identify the predictors associated with mortality. Materials and Methods: Adult patients admitted with severe sepsis in the medical ICU were studied. The primary outcome was the mortality among the study population. Baseline demographic, clinical, and laboratory data were recorded upon inclusion into the study. Risk factors associated with mortality were studied by univariate analysis. The variables having statistical significance were further included in multivariate analysis to identify the independent predictors of mortality. Results: Out of eighty patients, 54 (67.5%) died. Univariate analysis showed that age >60 years, tachycardia, hypotension, elevated C-reactive protein (CRP) and lactate, thrombocytopenia, need of mechanical ventilation, and high Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE) II and Sequential Organ Failure Assessment scores were variables associated with high mortality. The independent predictors of mortality identified by multivariate regression analysis were platelet count below 1 lakhs, serum levels of CRP >100, APACHE II score >25 on the day of admission to the ICU with severe sepsis, and the need for invasive mechanical ventilation. Conclusions: Low platelet count, elevated serum levels of CRP, APACHE score >25, and the need for invasive mechanical ventilation were found to be independent predictors of mortality of severe sepsis among adult patients with severe sepsis in the medical ICU.
Biting behaviour and potential vector status of anthropophilic blackflies in a new focus of human onchocerciasis at Minaçu, central Brazil

Monthly collections were made of man‐biting female blackflies: Simulium auripellitum Enderlein, S. guianense Wise, S. minusculum Lutz and S. nigrimanum Macquart (Diptera: Simuliidae) from four catching stations in the newly discovered focus of human onchocerciasis at Minaçu (13°35′ S 48°18′ W), 300 km north of Brasília in Goiás State. These provided baseline data on biting habits, population density and seasonal prevalence during the year before completion of the Serra da Mesa hydroelectric dam on the Rio Tocantins near Minaçu, in a project investigating the effect of dam construction on onchocerciasis transmission in the area. All four simuliid species were most abundant during the dry season, and only bit in low numbers (S. auripellitum S.minusculum, S. nigrimanum) or were absent (S. guianense) in the wet season. Simulium minusculum was the predominant species at all catching stations, being particularly abundant by the large River Tocantins. The other three species were mainly associated with smaller rivers. In the dry season, biting rhythms of S. minusculum varied with catching site, while S. nigrimanum showed peaks of activity in early morning and during the afternoon. Experimental infection with Onchocerca volvulus (Leuckart) (Nematoda: Onchocercidae), from a human volunteer, showed that this parasite could develop fully in the four simuliid species, which are all considered to be potential vectors in the area.
Influence of environment and climate on occurrence of the cixiid planthopper Hyalesthes obsoletus, the vector of the grapevine disease ‘bois noir’

Abstract Species distribution models (SDMs), which are well established in many fields of biological research, are still uncommon in the agricultural risk analysis of pest insects. To exemplify the use of SDMs, we investigated the influence of environmental factors on the occurrence of Hyalesthes obsoletus Signoret (Hemiptera: Cixiidae). The planthopper is the only known vector of the grapevine yellows disease ‘bois noir’. The study was conducted in 145 locations in the Baden region of southwest Germany. The planthopper was surveyed on host plant patches, consisting of stinging nettle and/or bindweeds. We used a stratified modelling framework where (1) species presence–absence data were related to an extensive environmental dataset using logistic regressions; and (2) different types of average models were developed based on an information theoretic method. The results show that the incidence of H. obsoletus is associated to above- as well as below-ground environmental factors, particularly to the amount of fine soil and average annual precipitation. This result was consistent across all average models. The relative importance of other environmental variables was dependent upon the average model under consideration and thus may vary according to their intended use, either the explanation of habitat requirements or the prediction and mapping of occurrence risks. The study showed that SDMs offer a quantification of species’ habitat requirements and thus, could represent a valuable tool for pest management purposes. By providing examples of current issues of grapevine pests in viticulture, we discuss the use of SDMs in agricultural risk analysis and highlight their advantages and caveats.
55 × 86 Gb/s CSRZ-DQPSK transmission over 375 km Using Extended L-band Erbium-Doped Fiber Amplifiers

An 86 Gb/s/ch WDM transmission experiment is successfully demonstrated by using CSRZ-DQPSK format and extended L-band erbium-doped fiber amplifiers. 4.4 Tb/s capacity is achieved in just a single amplifier gain bandwidth without using polarization-multiplexing/interleaveing techniques.
CCL11 (eotaxin‐1): A new diagnostic serum marker for prostate cancer

The recent recommendation of the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force against PSA‐based screening for prostate cancer was based, in part, on the lack of demonstrated diagnostic utility of serum PSA values in the low, but detectable range to successfully predict prostate cancer. Though controversial, this recommendation reinforced the critical need to develop, validate, and determine the utility of other serum and/or urine transcript and protein markers as diagnostic markers for PCa. The studies described here were intended to determine whether inflammatory cytokines might augment serum PSA as a diagnostic marker for prostate cancer.
Interaction of LDL receptor‐related protein 4 (LRP4) with postsynaptic scaffold proteins via its C‐terminal PDZ domain‐binding motif, and its regulation by Ca2+/calmodulin‐dependent protein kinase II

We cloned here a full‐length cDNA of Dem26[ Tian et al. (1999)Mol. Brain Res., 72, 147–157], a member of the low‐density lipoprotein (LDL) receptor gene family from the rat brain. We originally named the corresponding protein synaptic LDL receptor‐related protein (synLRP) [ Tian et al. (2002) Soc. Neurosci. Abstr. , 28, 405] and have renamed it LRP4 to accord it systematic nomenclature (GenBankTM accession no. AB073317). LRP4 protein interacted with postsynaptic scaffold proteins such as postsynaptic density (PSD)‐95 via its C‐terminal tail sequence, and associated with N‐methyl‐d‐aspartate (NMDA)‐type glutamate receptor subunit. The mRNA of LRP4 was localized to dendrites, as well as somas, of neuronal cells, and the full‐length protein of 250 kDa was highly concentrated in the brain and localized to various subcellular compartments in the brain, including synaptic fractions. Immunocytochemical study using cultured cortical neurons suggested surface localization in the neuronal cells both in somas and dendrites. Ca2+/calmodulin‐dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII) phosphorylated the C‐terminal cytoplasmic region of LRP4 at Ser1887 and Ser1900, and the phosphorylation at the latter site suppressed the interaction of the protein with PSD‐95 and synapse‐associated protein 97 (SAP97). These findings suggest a postsynaptic role for LRP4, a putative endocytic multiligand receptor, and a mechanism in which CaMKII regulates PDZ‐dependent protein–protein interactions and receptor dynamics.
Biotinylated dextran amine anterograde tracing of the canine corticospinal tract

In this study, biotinylated dextran amine (BDA) was microinjected into the left cortical motor area of the canine brain. Fluorescence microscopy results showed that a large amount of BDA-labeled pyramidal cells were visible in the left cortical motor area after injection. In the left medulla oblongata, the BDA-labeled corticospinal tract was evenly distributed, with green fluorescence that had a clear boundary with the surrounding tissue. The BDA-positive corticospinal tract entered into the right lateral funiculus of the spinal cord and descended into the posterior part of the right lateral funiculus, close to the posterior horn, from cervical to sacral segments. There was a small amount of green fluorescence in the sacral segment. The distribution of BDA labeling in the canine central nervous system was consistent with the course of the corticospinal tract. Fluorescence labeling for BDA gradually diminished with time after injection. Our findings indicate that the BDA anterograde tracing technique can be used to visualize the localization and trajectory of the corticospinal tract in the canine central nervous system.
Optical edge effects create conjunctival indentation thickness artefacts

Conjunctival compression observed in ultrahigh resolution optical coherence tomography (UHR‐OCT) images of contact lens edges could be actual tissue alteration, may be an optical artefact arising from the difference between the refractive indexes of the lens material and the conjunctival tissue, or could be a combination of the two. The purpose of this study is to image the artefact with contact lenses on a non‐biological (non‐indentable) medium and to determine the origins of the observed conjunctival compression.
QoS Constrained VoIP Scheduling in 1xEV-DO

A QoS constrained scheduling framework is presented and evaluated for VoIP traffic. QoS factors such as frame error rate, delay, codec related quality factors are added to the proportional fair scheduler in different manners to enhance the scheduler support for real-time traffic, like VoIP. Simulations show that the new scheduler improves the link level quality/fairness and the system capacity.
Time pressure, working time control and long-term sickness absence

Objectives Perceived time pressure at work has increased in most European countries during recent decades. Time pressure may be harmful for employees’ health and well-being. The aim of this register-based follow-up study is to investigate whether the effects of time pressure on long sickness absence vary by the level of working time control. Methods The data are taken from the Finnish Quality of Work Life Survey 2003 (n=3400), a representative sample of Finnish employees, combined with a register-based follow-up from Statistics Finland covering the years 2002–2006. In the 2003 survey, employees were asked about their perceived time pressure and to what extent they had control over working time. The register data included information on long-term (more than 10 days) sickness absence. A negative binomial model was used in the analysis of long-term sickness absence days during 2004–2006. The results are adjusted for several background and work-related factors and controlled for baseline absenteeism in 2002. Results High working time control decreased and high time pressure increased long-term sickness absence. The highest incidence of long-term sickness absence was found in time strain situations (high time pressure, low time control). However, there was no statistical interaction between working time control and time pressure. Conclusions Establishments that use working time control as a human resource instrument may benefit from reduced absenteeism. However, following the ‘strain’ hypothesis it is insufficient to focus solely on working time control as high time pressure maintains its detrimental effect on employees’ health.
Does Caregiving Stress Affect Cognitive Function in Older Women?

Increasing numbers of women provide care to their ill spouses; however, no studies have examined possible effects of caregiving stress on cognitive function. We administered 6 tests of cognitive function to 13,740 Nurses’ Health Study participants aged 70–79 years. We collected information on caregiving and numerous potential confounding variables via biennial mailed questionnaires. After adjustment for potential confounders (age, education, mental health index, vitality index, use of antidepressants, and history of high blood pressure, diabetes, and heart disease), we found modest but significantly increased risks of low cognitive function on three of the cognitive tests among women who provided care to a disabled or ill spouse compared with women who did not provide any care. For example, on the TICS, a test of general cognition, the risk of a low score was 31% higher in women who provided care compared with women who did not (RR = 1.31, 95% CI 1.10, 1.56). We found a moderately increased risk of poor performance on several cognitive tests among women who provided care to their disabled or ill husbands.
Ethnic Differences in the Cerebrovascular Impact of Hypertension

Background: Small-vessel cerebrovascular disease and vascular cognitive impairment are more prevalent in hypertensive subjects of black African origin compared with Caucasians, but the relationships between blood pressure (BP), regional white matter damage and neuropsychological function have not been studied in well-characterised samples of subjects belonging to different ethnicities. Methods: Twenty-four-hour ambulatory BP, brain white matter lesion volumes on magnetic resonance imaging and executive cognitive function were compared in 41 Caucasian and 47 African-Caribbean subjects on optimal treatment attending a hypertension clinic. Results: African-Caribbean subjects were 4 years younger but had been hypertensive for 3 years longer than Caucasians. Their mean 24-hour systolic (136.6 vs. 129.4 mm Hg, p = 0.011) and diastolic (77.8 vs. 72.6 mm Hg, p = 0.006) BP were also higher despite being well-controlled. In multivariate models, African-Caribbean subjects had a greater parieto-occipital white matter lesion volume [adjusted difference: 319 mm3 (95% CI: 62–575), p = 0.016] and poorer performance on executive function [time difference: 0.375 s (95% CI: 0.191–0.558), p = 0.0001] and verbal fluency [score difference: –6.863 (95% CI: –12.531 to –1.195), p = 0.018] tests after adjusting for covariance in age, gender, vascular risk profile, duration of hypertension and education, and premorbid intelligence. Conclusions: African-Caribbean ethnicity was independently related to increased hypertensive white matter damage and executive cognitive dysfunction, the reasons for which merit further investigation.