Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Development of High-purity Certified Reference Materials for 17 Proteinogenic Amino Acids by Traceable Titration Methods

To ensure the reliability of amino acid analyses, the National Metrology Institute of Japan of the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (NMIJ/AIST) has developed high-purity certified reference materials (CRMs) for 17 proteinogenic amino acids. These CRMs are intended for use as primary reference materials to enable the traceable quantification of amino acids. The purity of the present CRMs was determined based on two traceable methods: nonaqueous acidimetric titration and nitrogen determination by the Kjeldahl method. Since neither method could distinguish compounds with similar structures, such as amino acid-related impurities, impurities were thoroughly quantified by combining several HPLC methods, and subtracted from the obtained purity of each method. The property value of each amino acid was calculated as a weighted mean of the corrected purities by the two methods. The uncertainty of the property value was obtained by combining measurement uncertainties of the two methods, a difference between the two methods, the uncertainty from the contribution of impurities, and the uncertainty derived from inhomogeneity. The uncertainty derived from instability was considered to be negligible based on stability monitoring of some CRMs. The certified value of each amino acid, property value with uncertainty, was given for both with or without enantiomeric separation.
FREAD revisited: Accurate loop structure prediction using a database search algorithm

Loops are the most variable regions of protein structure and are, in general, the least accurately predicted. Their prediction has been approached in two ways, ab initio and database search. In recent years, it has been thought that ab initio methods are more powerful. In light of the continued rapid expansion in the number of known protein structures, we have re‐evaluated FREAD, a database search method and demonstrate that the power of database search methods may have been underestimated. We found that sequence similarity as quantified by environment specific substitution scores can be used to significantly improve prediction. In fact, FREAD performs appreciably better for an identifiable subset of loops (two thirds of shorter loops and half of the longer loops tested) than the ab initio methods of MODELLER, PLOP, and RAPPER. Within this subset, FREAD's predictive ability is length independent, in general, producing results within 2Å RMSD, compared to an average of over 10Å for loop length 20 for any of the other tested methods. We also benchmarked the prediction protocols on a set of 212 loops from the model structures in CASP 7 and 8. An extended version of FREAD is able to make predictions for 127 of these, it gives the best prediction of the methods tested in 61 of these cases. In examining FREAD's ability to predict in the model environment, we found that whole structure quality did not affect the quality of loop predictions. Proteins 2010. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Performance Analysis of Data Filtering in Scientific Workflows

A major issue during scientific workflow execution is how to manage the large volume of data to be processed. This issue is even more complex in cloud computing where all resources are configurable in a pay per use model. A possible solution is to take advantage of the exploratory nature of the experiment and adopt filters to reduce data flow between activities. During a data exploration evaluation, the scientist may discard superfluous data (which is producing results that do not comply with a given quality criteria) produced during the workflow execution, avoiding unnecessary computations in the future. These quality criteria can be evaluated based on provenance and domain-specific data. We claim that the final decision on whether to discard superfluous data may become feasible only when workflows can be steered by scientists at runtime using provenance data enriched with domain-specific data. In this article, we introduce Provenance Analyzer (PA), which is an approach that allows for examining the quality of data during the workflow execution by querying provenance. PA removes superfluous data, improving execution time that typically lasts for days or weeks. Our approach introduces a component that enables sophisticated provenance analysis that allows for deciding at runtime if data have to be propagated or not to the subsequent activities of the workflow. This is possible as PA relies on data centric workflow algebra. In this context, PA plays the role of filter operator in the algebra. Scientists are able to change filter criteria during workflow execution according to the behavior of the execution. Our experiments use a real phylogenetic analysis workflow on top of SciCumulus parallel workflow cloud execution engine. Results show data reduction of 23\%, which led to performance improvements of up to 36.2\% when compared to a workflow without PA.
Analysis of transients in adsorption-desorption at the surface of plasmonic sensors: Nonlinear versus linear approach

Monolayer adsorption-desorption processes at the surface of plasmonic sensors are modeled, first in an exact way, as a nonlinear second-order reaction, and then, after some approximations justified from the practical point of view, as a first order linear reaction. The time evolution of the number of adsorbed molecules from the beginning of the process to the moment in which the system reaches its equilibrium is derived in both cases. A comparative analysis of transients and steady state response is performed for a plasmon sensor with gold surface for some saturated and cyclic hydrocarbons including benzene, as well as for carbon monoxide. The results show in which practical situations the simpler linear model can be used and when the nonlinear model of adsorption-desorption must be applied instead.
A Double-Blind Study of Topical Massage with Rado-Salil® Ointment in Mechanical Low-Back Pain

Forty patients with acute mechanical low-back pain were treated in a double-blind manner with either Rado-Salil® or placebo for 14 days. Statistically significant improvements in spontaneous pain, muscular contracture and in both the patient's and physician's opinions occurred by day 3. These improvements persisted at day 14 and, in addition, there were statistically significant improvements in the finger–floor distance and the degree of lumbar extension. Treatment with Rado-Salil® also allowed significant reduction in the use of oral analgesics. Only a few localized transient side-effects, requiring no specific treatment, were observed.
A hybrid signalling scheme for cellular mobile networks over flat fading

Although recent studies have shown the potential benefits of base station (BS) cooperation technology, existing schemes rely on the assumptions of (i) perfect backbone links between the central network controller (CNC) and the base stations (BSs), and (ii) mobile stations (MSs) at the cell edges. The contribution of this paper is twofold. The authors first relax the aforementioned assumptions and present an in-depth investigation of their impact on the performance of conventional and BS cooperation transmission techniques. A hybrid signalling algorithm for cellular multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) networks that performs well under such non-ideal scenarios is then presented. The proposed algorithm outperforms the joint transmitter minimum mean squared error (JT-MMSE) method at low to moderate signal-to-noise ratios (SNRs). It is also shown to be more robust to imperfect channel estimates than the JT-MMSE method.
Long‐term safety and feasibility of arteriovenous fistulae as vascular accesses in children with haemophilia: a prospective study

Summary. Infectious and thrombotic complications limit the long‐term use of subcutaneous ports as venous accesses for children with haemophilia. This study has evaluated for the first time the safety and feasibility of internal arteriovenous fistulae (AVF) as alternative accesses. During the 3‐year study period, 27 severe haemophiliacs, 14 with factor VIII inhibitors (52%), underwent the creation of 31 proximal AVF in the forearm. Mild forearm haematomas were observed after five procedures (16%) in five patients who had or developed inhibitors after surgery. Inadequate AVF maturation was observed after five of 31 procedures (16%) in four children. AVF were first accessed after a median of 42 d and regularly used at home by 26 patients (96%) for a median follow‐up period of 29 months. Thrombosis of a venous branch occurred in one AVF (3%) after 9 months of uncomplicated use in a child with inhibitor who spontaneously recovered from the symptoms and still used AVF for nine additional months. Mild symptoms, referable to distal ischaemia, were transiently reported by two children (7%) who needed no remedial intervention. This study demonstrates that the use of AVF in haemophiliacs enabled long‐term treatment at home in all patients but one.
Do School Administrators Know What Practices are Appropriate in Physical Education

The purpose of thi s study was to investi gate school administrators' knowledge of appropriate instruc tional practices in phys ica l education. For this study 130 k-12 school adm inistrators from two states in the United States were su rveyed regarding thei r knowledge of appropriate instructional practices in physical education. Univers ity Institutional Review Board granted approval to conduct this study. Surveys were sent electronically to the school admini strators to take. At the completion of the survey the school administrators were able to click a submit button and have the surveys returned to the researchers. It was found that school admi ni strators identified dodge ball, rel ay races and elimination tag as an appropri ate instructional practice. Also. full-s ided games (30 students divided into two teams) were appropriate for students to partici pate in. These inst ructional practices are considered inappropriate fo r students to participate in. The implications of this study are to in form school administrators what prac ti ces are appropriate and inappropriate. It is hoped that physica l educators and school administrators wi ll work together to see that appropriate instructional practi ces are taught in physical education. thus benefitting students to become competent in their participation in physical activ ity.
A new equivalent circuit of a salient-pole synchronous machine and its phasor interpretation

This paper examines a shortcoming of the classical phasor diagram of a salient-pole synchronous machine based on the well-established two-reaction theory. Unlike in the phasor diagram of a smooth-air-gap machine, it is not possible to readily identify the internally-developed electromagnetic power of a salient-pole synchronous machine from this phasor diagram. By defining new machine reactances, a single equivalent circuit of a salient-pole synchronous machine is proposed together with a phasor diagram where the internally-developed electromagnetic power is made apparent. The revised two-reaction theory is illustrated using the mathematical model of a two-phase salient-pole synchronous machine whose equations are manipulated using complex space vectors instead of traditional matrix transformations.
What drives export performance of firms in Eastern and Western Poland?

ABSTRACT We use a unique firm-level survey dataset that draws from the EFIGE (European Firms in a Global Economy) questionnaire to unveil differences in factors driving export performance in the most structurally diverse areas of Poland. While conventional results regarding the role of size, foreign ownership and innovation activity are confirmed at the aggregate level, the picture breaks down when Western and Eastern macroregions are extracted. Our results suggest that the common perception of a more developed West (Poland ‘A’) and a backward East (Poland ‘B’) might be outdated. Rather, firms in both regions seem to follow distinct strategies for and have dissimilar success factors in competing internationally. Interestingly, export performance in the East is found to benefit from family ties in business, but also from product innovation and non-price competitiveness. In the West, it is associated mostly with size and foreign ownership. Overall, our results, on the one hand, add support to the ‘new’ new trade theory and the ‘new’ new economic geography’s premises related to the importance of microeconomic factors and, on the other, contribute to the discussion on the pattern of regional development in Poland. We also discuss some implications for policymakers and managers and suggest directions for further research.
Enantio- and Periselective Nitroalkene Diels-Alder Reactions Catalyzed by Helical-Chiral Hydrogen Bond Donor Catalysts

Helical-chiral double hydrogen bond donor catalysts promote the nitroalkene Diels-Alder reaction in an enantio- and periselective manner. This represents the first asymmetric catalytic nitroalkene Diels-Alder reaction via LUMO-lowering catalysis. To gain an insight into this new process, the substrate scope of our catalyst was investigated by exploiting readily available 5-substituted pentamethylcyclopentadienes. The catalyst was found to tolerate dienes with different steric demands as well as dienes substituted with heteroatoms. The synthetic utility of 5-substituted pentamethylcyclopentadienes is rather limited, and thus we have developed a three-step route to 1,4,5,5-tetrasubstituted cyclopentadienes from commercially available ketones.
Deletion of the transforming growth factor β receptor type II gene in articular chondrocytes leads to a progressive osteoarthritis-like phenotype in mice.

OBJECTIVE While transforming growth factor β (TGFβ) signaling plays a critical role in chondrocyte metabolism, the TGFβ signaling pathways and target genes involved in cartilage homeostasis and the development of osteoarthritis (OA) remain unclear. Using an in vitro cell culture method and an in vivo mouse genetic approach, we undertook this study to investigate TGFβ signaling in chondrocytes and to determine whether Mmp13 and Adamts5 are critical downstream target genes of TGFβ signaling. METHODS TGFβ receptor type II (TGFβRII)-conditional knockout (KO) (TGFβRII(Col2ER)) mice were generated by breeding TGFβRII(flox/flox) mice with Col2-CreER-transgenic mice. Histologic, histomorphometric, and gene expression analyses were performed. In vitro TGFβ signaling studies were performed using chondrogenic rat chondrosarcoma cells. To determine whether Mmp13 and Adamts5 are critical downstream target genes of TGFβ signaling, TGFβRII/matrix metalloproteinase 13 (MMP-13)- and TGFβRII/ADAMTS-5-double-KO mice were generated and analyzed. RESULTS Inhibition of TGFβ signaling (deletion of the Tgfbr2 gene in chondrocytes) resulted in up-regulation of Runx2, Mmp13, and Adamts5 expression in articular cartilage tissue and progressive OA development in TGFβRII(Col2ER) mice. Deletion of the Mmp13 or Adamts5 gene significantly ameliorated the OA-like phenotype induced by the loss of TGFβ signaling. Treatment of TGFβRII(Col2ER) mice with an MMP-13 inhibitor also slowed OA progression. CONCLUSION Mmp13 and Adamts5 are critical downstream target genes involved in the TGFβ signaling pathway during the development of OA.
Dental magnetic resonance imaging: study of impacted mandibular third molars.

OBJECTIVES To assess the usefulness of MRI in the evaluation of the relationships between the mandibular canal and impacted mandibular third molars. METHODS 29 young patients from our hospital dental service, all with a unilateral impacted mandibular third molar, were investigated with MR and the anatomical details were evaluated in three dimensions by two MR-experienced radiologists from our radiology division. MR images were obtained by using a 1.0 T Siemens Magnetom Expert unit with a radiofrequency (RF) head coil. T(1) weighted axial oblique images and proton density-weighted sagittal/coronal oblique images were acquired in order to evaluate the anatomical details in the three dimensions. RESULTS In all of the cases it was possible to evaluate the depth of the third molar in the alveolar bone, its inclination towards the occlusal plane and the relationships with the mandibular canal, but in 2 of 29 cases it was not possible to distinguish the mandibular canal from the third molar because of magnetic susceptibility artefacts. CONCLUSIONS Owing to the possibility of inferior alveolar nerve injury during oral surgery, where dental panoramic radiography is not sufficient to demonstrate the relationships between mandibular third molar teeth and the mandibular canal, a dental CT scan is often needed; however, in young patients, to avoid high levels of radiation dose, MRI of the jaw may be useful.
Managerial Gaming of Stock and Option Grants

In this paper, we examine managerial gaming of different types of equity grants, both at the initial award of the equity grants (front-end gaming) and the unwinding of the equity holdings in the future (back-end gaming). We find that the potential gains from stock price manipulation vary substantially across different types of equity grants. While traditional stock option grants are less vulnerable to front-end gaming, they are more vulnerable to back-end gaming than other types of equity grants (e.g., restricted stock grants). To prevent or discourage managerial gaming, firms should preset all terms of the equity grant in advance and link its future payoff to average stock prices (e.g., by granting Asian stock options).
Recent progress in ocean bottom seismic observation and new results of marine seismology

For past ten years, the technology for ocean bottom seismic observation has been greatly developed. As a result, various seismic observations have been carried out around Japan and new geophysical findings are obtained. For sea floor seismic observation, Long-Term Ocean Bottom Seismometer (LT-OBS) and Broad Band OBS (BB-OBS) were developed. As a result of long term observations, precise seismicity in marine area, especially under the landward slope of the Japan and Kuril trenches, can be obtained. Ocean Bottom Cabled Seismometers (OBCS), where the sensors are equipped in a hermetically-sealed case and these cases are connected with cables, is the best solution for real-time observation in marine area. A new OBCS system to make a high density observation in the marine areas was developed recently. The first OBCS system with a total length of 25 km and 4 observation nodes was produced. The installation of the first OBCS system carried out in end of August, 2010. At the landing station, the data are stored to hard disks, and the data are transmitted to Ea data center. It is becoming clear that emplacement of seismometers into the crust can provide low noise environments. Four borehole geophysical observatories in the western Pacific area were constructed from 1999 to 2001 and the data from the borehole sensors were obtained for more than two years. The tiltmeters in the sea floor borehole recorded the earth tides clearly and structure of the oceanic plate is obtained using data from the borehole seismometers.
The transmembrane protein FgSho1 regulates fungal development and pathogenicity via the MAPK module Ste50-Ste11-Ste7 in Fusarium graminearum.

The mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathways have been characterized in Fusarium graminearum. Currently, the upstream sensors of these pathways are unknown. Biological functions of a transmembrane protein FgSho1 were investigated using a target gene deletion strategy. The relationship between FgSho1 and the MAPK cassette FgSte50-Ste11-Ste7 was analyzed in depth. The transmembrane protein FgSho1 is required for conidiation, full virulence, and deoxynivalenol (DON) biosynthesis in F. graminearum. Furthermore, FgSho1 and FgSln1 have an additive effect on virulence of F. graminearum. The yeast two-hybrid, coimmunoprecipitation, colocalization and affinity capture-mass spectrometry analyses strongly indicated that FgSho1 physically interacts with the MAPK module FgSte50-Ste11-Ste7. Similar to the FgSho1 mutant, the mutants of FgSte50, FgSte11, and FgSte7 were defective in conidiation, pathogenicity, and DON biosynthesis. In addition, FgSho1 plays a minor role in the response to osmotic stress but it is involved in the cell wall integrity pathway, which is independent of the module FgSte50-Ste11-Ste7 in F. graminearum. Collectively, results of this study strongly indicate that FgSho1 regulates fungal development and pathogenicity via the MAPK module FgSte50-Ste11-Ste7 in F. graminearum, which is different from what is known in the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae.
Lahti University of Applied Sciences - Exploring wellbeing together

Wellbeing and regenerative growth is one of the strategic focus areas of Lahti University of Applied Sciences (Lahti UAS). This publication, Lahti University of Applied Sciences – Exploring Wellbeing together, consists of 12 articles addressing the various themes of wellbeing from different angles. This publication aims at presenting various acts of Wellbeing, which have been carried out in collaboration with the wellbeing experts and students of Lahti UAS and other stakeholders. The themes that emerge from this publication include the wellbeing of students, the impact of exercise, nature, and physical environment on wellbeing, matters related to wellbeing at work and its management, and learning through entrepreneurial activities in the field of wellbeing.
Molecular Epidemiology of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 Transmission in a Heterosexual Cohort of Discordant Couples in Zambia

ABSTRACT Most human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) transmissions in sub-Saharan Africa are believed to occur between married adults who are discordant for their HIV-1 infection status; however, no studies to date have investigated the molecular epidemiology of such transmission events. Here we report the genetic characterization of HIV-1 strains from 149 transmission pairs that were identified prospectively in a cohort of discordant couples in Lusaka, Zambia. Subgenomic gag, gp120, gp41, and/or long terminal repeat regions were amplified by PCR analysis of uncultured blood samples from both partners and sequenced without interim cloning. Pairwise genetic distances were calculated for the regions analyzed and compared to those of subtype-specific reference sequences as well as local controls. Sequence relationships were also examined by phylogenetic tree analysis. By these approaches, epidemiological linkage was established for the majority of transmission pairs. Viruses from 129 of the 149 couples (87%) were very closely related and clustered together in phylogenetic trees in a statistically highly significant manner. In contrast, viruses from 20 of the 149 couples (13%) were only distantly related in two independent genomic regions, thus ruling out transmission between the two partners. The great majority (95%) of transmitted viruses were of subtype C origin, although representatives of subtypes A, D, G, and J were also identified. There was no evidence for extensive transmission networks within the cohort, although two phylogenetic subclusters of viruses infecting two couples each were identified. Taken together, these data indicate that molecular epidemiological analyses of presumed transmission pairs are both feasible and required to determine behavioral, virological, and immunological correlates of heterosexual transmission in sub-Saharan Africa with a high level of accuracy.