Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Characterization and Movement of the Class 1 Integron Known as Tn2521 and Tn1405

ABSTRACT Two putative transposons, Tn2521 and Tn1405, carrying determinants for the PSE-4 β-lactamase and for resistance to streptomycin, spectinomycin, and sulfonamides were previously isolated from the chromosome of Pseudomonas aeruginosa Dalgleish. Detailed mapping and determination of the complete sequence of Tn2521 revealed that it is a class 1 integron, here renamed In33, with a backbone structure identical to that of In4 from Tn1696. In33 contains two gene cassettes, blaP1 and aadA1, replacing the aacC1-orfE-aadA2-cmlA1 cassette array in In4. Although In33 does not include any transposition genes, movement of In33 (Tn2521) targeted to a single location in the IncP-1 plasmid R18-18 has been reported previously (M. I. Sinclair and B. W. Holloway, J. Bacteriol. 151:569-579, 1982). A 5-bp duplication of the target, which lies within the res site recognized by the ParA resolvase of R18-18, was present, indicating that the mechanism of movement was transposition. Together, these data indicate that class 1 integrons that are defective in self-transposition can move under appropriate circumstances. The Tn1405 isolate studied was found to represent only the cassette array of In33, which had replaced the cassette array in the recipient plasmid R388, probably by homologous recombination.
Catalysed ozonation for removal of an endocrine-disrupting compound using the O3/Fenton reagents system

Aqueous solutions of diethyl phthalate (DEP) were oxidized by using ozone combined with Fenton reagents. The effects of operating parameters such as initial pH; initial concentration of DEP, H2O2 and Fe2+; [H2O2]0/[Fe2+]0 ratio and O3 dosage on the degradation rates of DEP were investigated. The results showed that DEP degradation is strongly dependant on the pH; initial concentrations of the phthalate, H2O2 and Fe2+; [H2O2]0/[Fe2+]0 ratio and O3 dosage. The addition of H2O2 and Fe2+ ions was effective to achieve almost 98% degradation of 200 mg L−1 of DEP in about 40 min using a dose of O3 = 45 g m−3 NTP; [H2O2]0 = 2.5 × 10−2 mol L−1 and [Fe(II)]0 = 5 × 10−3 mol L−1, as compared to over 60 min by using O3 and Fenton processes applied separately. DEP degradation followed apparent pseudo-first-order kinetics under ozonation, Fenton's reagents oxidation and the combined ozonation/Fenton reagents oxidation process. The overall reaction rates were significantly enhanced in the O3/Fe2+/H2O2 oxidation system, and allows achieving 100% degradation of DEP (100 mg L−1) in 30 min of reaction time. The notable decrease in DEP removal rate observed in the presence of a radical scavenger indicates that there was an obvious synergetic effect in the combined ozonation/Fenton reagent process most likely because ozonation could accelerate Fenton reagents to generate hydroxyl radical HO•. Thus, the reaction between DEP and HO• proceeds mainly in the bulk of the aqueous phase. Under optimal conditions, the O3/Fe2+/H2O2 system oxidation was the most effective in DEP removal in water.
Color Shift Keying Communication System With a Modified PPM Synchronization Scheme

In this letter, a new synchronization scheme for color shift keying (CSK) modulation is presented. Proposed system uses pulse position modulation in combination with CSK to increase the bit rate and simultaneously control illumination intensity, avoiding flickering effects. Additionally, this modulation also provides synchronization for the color detection. CMOS sensors are also proposed as receiver devices in order to improve the bit error rate using a mean value calculation inside a region of interest. These devices give the RGB components in digital format, simplifying the receiver block.
Ethical Challenges of Complex Products: Case of Goldman Sachs and the Synthetic Collateralized Debt Obligations

In analyzing complex products, this study selected the company Goldman Sachs and one of its product offerings, the synthetic collateralized debt obligation (synthetic CDO). The study later analyzed the ethical implications of providing such a complex product to customers. A review of the literature indicates that researchers identified this product and other associated derivatives of the mortgage backed securities as the main causes of the 2008 financial crisis in the United States of America. As such, Goldman Sachs’ offering of the product posed ethical and moral issues. An analysis of the company and its offering was done under the lenses of various ethical theories such as Kohlberg's theory of moral reasoning, the Kantian ethics, the utilitarian perspective, Friedman’s shareholder theory, the stakeholder theory, the market approach to consumer protection, and the contract view of consumer protection. Besides Friedman’s shareholder theory, all other theories judged the product offering morally wrong and unethical. At the end of the study, the author suggested a contribution to knowledge regarding Kohlberg’s theory of moral reasoning in its application to organizations. The author also suggested further research to validate the outcome of Friedman’s shareholder theory regarding this case.
Glutamate‐induced increase in intracellular Ca2+ concentration in isolated hippocampal neurones

1 A system for real‐time quantitative monitoring of intracellular free calcium ion concentration ([Ca2+]i) on a single cell basis was developed by the combination of a fluorescent Ca2+ indicator fura‐2, a fluorescence microscope, a video‐camera and photometrical devices. It was applied to rat individual hippocampal neurones under culture for detection of L‐glutamate‐induced alterations in the [Ca2+]i level. 2 L‐Glutamate (0.01–100 μM) induced a dose‐dependent elevation of the [Ca2+]i. The [Ca2+]i in the rat hippocampal neurone was found to be around 30 nM in the resting state, and was increased up to 500 nM by the application of 100 μM L‐glutamate. N‐methyl‐D‐aspartate, kainate and quisqualate in a concentration of 10 μM also increased the [Ca2+]i level in the same single neurone, but their efficacy varied between individual cells. 3 The L‐glutamate‐induced [Ca2+]i elevation was abolished after removal of extracellular Ca2+ and was much reduced by Mg2+ (3 mM). The increase was, however, still observed in a Na+‐free medium. 4 The L‐glutamate‐induced [Ca2+]i elevation was not affected substantially after treatment with nitrendipine (10 μM) which blocked the increase in [Ca2+]i induced by an isotonic high KCl‐medium (50 mM). 5 The present results suggest that the L‐glutamate‐induced [Ca2+]i elevation in the hippocampal neurone is due to an influx of Ca2+ through both L‐glutamate receptor‐coupled and voltage‐sensitive ionic channels.
Chlamydia‐dependent biosynthesis of a heparan sulphate‐like compound in eukaryotic cells

One hypothesis for the mechanism of chlamydial interaction with its eukaryotic host cell invokes a trimolecular mechanism, whereby a Chlamydia‐derived glycosaminoglycan bridges a chlamydial acceptor molecule and a host receptor enabling attachment and invasion. We show that a heparan sulphate‐specific monoclonal antibody specifically binds a glycosaminoglycan localized to the surface of the chlamydial organism and effectively neutralizes infectivity of both C. trachomatis and C. pneumoniae. In addition to the ability of this antibody to neutralize infectivity, direct visualization using immunofluorescence demonstrated staining of chlamydial organisms localized to the intracellular vacuole. The chlamydial‐associated glycosaminoglycan was specifically labelled with [14C]‐glucosamine, and the labelled compound was immunoprecipitated and resolved by gel electrophoresis. The chlamydial‐associated glycosaminoglycan is a high‐molecular‐weight compound similar in size to heparin or heparan sulphate and was sensitive to cleavage by heparan sulphate lyase. These data demonstrate that a glucosamine‐containing sulphated polysaccharide is produced within the intracellular vacuole containing chlamydiae and is a target for antibody‐mediated neutralization of infectivity.
Magnetostratigraphy of Oligocene-Miocene glaciomarine strata from CRP-2/ 2A, Victoria Land Basin, Antarctica

We have used palaeomagnetic methods to constrain an age model for the 624.15 m succession of Oligocene-Miocene glaciomarine sediments recovered from the CRP-2/2A drillcore, McMurdo Sound, Antarctica. Identification of characteristic remanent magnetization (ChRM) directions on vector component plots demonstrates that secondary overprints have been successfully removed by stepwise alternating field demagnetization. Antipodal normal and reversed polarity inclination data and a conglomerate test within an intraformational breccia suggest that the ChRM directions are primary. Above 306.65 metres below sea floor (mbsf), a relatively low coercivity mineral dominates the magnetization. Below 306.65 mbsf, a high coercivity magnetic carrier is also observed in low intensity zones. The CRP-2/2A magnetic polarity zonation is subdivided into three intervals: (1) an upper 185.96-m-thick interval of alternating normal and reversed polarity (magnetozones N1-R5), (2) a thick interval of normal polarity between 185.96 and 441.22 mbsf (magnetozone N6), and (3) a lower 183.93-m-thick interval of alternating normal, reversed and indeterminate polarity as well as zones with shallow inclinations (magnetozones N7-? R12). Between 26 and 306.65 mbsf, the CRP-2/2A drillcore is uppermost Oligocene lower Miocene in age with high average sediment accumulation rates (~1000 m/m.y.). Correlation with the magnetic polarity time scale (MPTS) is mostly straightforward and is constrained by biostratigraphic datums, and by Ar/Ar and Sr/Sr ages. An angular unconformity is identified at 306.65 mbsf and marks a major hiatus of up to 5 m.y. in duration. Below 306.65 mbsf, the CRP-2/2A drillcore is early Oligocene in age. The magnetic polarity record comprises numerous polarity zones, some of which may represent late Oligocene cryptochrons or geomagnetic excursions and definitive correlation with the MPTS is not possible with the existing data. While multiple hiatuses make it difficult to correlate the CRP-2/2A magnetic polarity record with the MPTS, the resulting age model demonstrates that more time is missing in the numerous sequence-bounding unconformities than is preserved in the CRP-2/2A drillcore.
Developments in functional surfaces for electrical contacts [Holm Award paper]

Electrical contacts have a major importance in electrical systems and despite a large quantity of work performed to improve their reliability; they can be the cause of failure. Mitigating the degradation mechanisms leading to dysfunctions of systems is a challenge that can be considered using surface engineering. Changing the properties of the surface of materials can be done in various ways. We are considering here coatings made from organic molecules because they can offer low friction, relatively low price and easy deposition process. Several types of films are considered from liquid lubricants to solid ones either free or bonded to the substrates; the behaviours of mixed and composites films are also described. Their friction, wear and corrosion properties are described as well as their conduction properties since these are often contradictory. The main problem is the conduction of such films and their role in particle debris circulation; the merit of each type of film is assed from both from an academic point of view and a practical one
The phylogenetic regression.

A new statistical method called the phylogenetic regression is proposed that applies multiple regression techniques to cross-species data. It allows continuous and categorical variables to be tested for and controlled for. The new method is valid despite the problem that phylogenetically close species tend to be similar, and is designed to be used when information about the phylogeny is incomplete. Information about the phylogeny of the species is assumed to be available in the form of a working phylogeny, which contains multiple nodes representing ignorance about the order of splitting of taxa. The non-independence between species is divided into that due to recognized phylogeny, that is, to phylogenetic associations represented in the working phylogeny; and that due to unrecognized phylogeny. The new method uses one linear contrast for each higher node in the working phylogeny, thus applying the ‘radiation principle’. For binary phylogenies the method is similar to an existing method. A criterion is suggested in the form of a simulation test for deciding on the acceptability of proposed statistical methods for analysing cross-species data with a continuous y-variable. This criterion is applied to the phylogenetic regression and to some other methods. The phylogenetic regression passes this test; the other methods tested fail it. Arbitrary choices have to be made about the covariance structure of the error in order to implement the method. It is argued that error results from omitted but relevant variables, and the implications for those arbitrary choices are discussed. One conclusion is that the dates of splits between taxa, even supplemented by rates of neutral gene evolution, do not provide the ‘ true ’ covariance structure. A pragmatic approach is adopted. Several analytical results about the phylogenetic regression are given, without proof, in a mathematical appendix. A computer program has been written in GLIM to implement the phylogenetic regression, and readers are informed how to obtain a copy.
Vaccination, immune and gene therapy based on virus-like particles against viral infections and cancer

Virus-like particles (VLPs) are self-assembling, non-replicating particles lacking the viral genome that are formed by one or several viral structural proteins. VLPs can be purified after expression in yeast cells, insect cells using baculoviruses, Escherichia coli or mammalian cells. Recently, vaccines based on VLPs have come into focus with the FDA approval of a VLP-based vaccine against human papilloma viruses. However, this application of VLPs is just one of many developments within the VLP field. Other potential applications under development besides vaccines against viruses or cancers also include gene delivery and treatment of different disorders.
Análise de votações nominais do legislativo brasileiro utilizando componentes principais

Este artigo traz uma revisao de metodos de analise quantitativa de votacoes nominais em casas legislativas e discute a utilizacao da analise de componentes principais (ACP) como um metodo simples e eficaz para analisar votacoes nominais de casas legislativas. Apresentamos tambem nossa abordagem para o tratamento de abstencoes e para analises agregadas por partido, temas pouco explorados na literatura devido a pouca relevância no contexto de casas legislativas dos Estados Unidos. A avaliacao do modelo e apresentada com medidas comparadas ao WNOMINATE, um dos metodos mais conhecidos de analise de votacoes nominais das ciencias politicas.
Applications of Image Processing for Grading Agriculture products

Image processing in the context of Computer vision, is one of the renowned topic of computer science and engineering, which has played a vital role in automation. It has eased in revealing unknown fact in medical science, remote sensing, and many other domains. Digital image processing along with classification and neural network algorithms has enabled grading of various things. One of prominent area of its application is classification of agriculture products and especially grading of seed or cereals and its cultivars. Grading and sorting system allows maintaining the consistency, uniformity and depletion of time. This paper highlights various methods used for grading various agriculture products.
Quantifying the AGN-driven outflows in ULIRGs (QUADROS) - I : VLT/Xshooter observations of nine nearby objects

Although now routinely incorporated into hydrodynamic simulations of galaxy evolution, the true importance of the feedback effect of the outflows driven by active galactic nuclei (AGNs) remains uncertain from an observational perspective. This is due to a lack of accurate information on the densities, radial scales and level of dust extinction of the outflow regions. Here we use the unique capabilities of VLT/Xshooter to investigate the warm outflows in a representative sample of nine local (0.06 <z <0.15) Ultraluminous Infrared Galaxies (ULIRGs) with AGNs and, for the first time, accurately quantify the key outflow properties. We find that the outflows are compact (0.06 <R-[O III] <1.2 kpc), significantly reddened (median E(B - V) similar to 0.5magnitudes), and have relatively high electron densities (3.4 <log(10) n(e) (cm(-3)) <4.8). It is notable that the latter densities - obtained using trans-auroral [S II] and [O II] emission-line ratios - exceed those typically assumed for the warm, emission-line outflows in active galaxies, but are similar to those estimated for broad and narrow absorption line outflow systems detected in some type 1 AGN. Even if we make the most optimistic assumptions about the true (deprojected) outflow velocities, we find relatively modest mass outflow rates (0.07 <M. <14 M-circle dot yr(-1)) and kinetic powers measured as a fraction of the AGN bolometric luminosities (4 x 10(-4) </L-BOL <0.8 per cent). Therefore, although warm, AGN-driven outflows have the potential to strongly affect the star formation histories in the inner bulge regions (r similar to 1 kpc) of nearby ULIRGs, we lack evidence that they have a significant impact on the evolution of these rapidly evolving systems on larger scales.
Cepstrum pitch determination.

The cepstrum, defined as the power spectrum of the logarithm of the power spectrum, has a strong peak corresponding to the pitch period of the voiced‐speech segment being analyzed. Cepstra were calculated on a digital computer and were automatically plotted on microfilm. Algorithms were developed heuristically for picking those peaks corresponding to voiced‐speech segments and the vocal pitch periods. This information was then used to derive the excitation for a computer‐simulated channel vocoder. The pitch quality of the vocoded speech was judged by experienced listeners in informal comparison tests to be indistinguishable from the original speech.
Quantitation of pulmonary transgene expression with PET imaging.

UNLABELLED PET imaging represents a promising approach for noninvasive monitoring of reporter gene expression in living subjects. We evaluated the relationship between various methods of quantifying the imaging signal and in vitro assays of the expression of a PET reporter gene (a mutant Herpes simplex virus-1 thymidine kinase (mHSV1-tk); 9-(4-(18)F-fluoro-3-hydroxymethylbutyl)guanine ((18)F-FHBG) was used as the PET reporter probe. METHODS In 14 rats, pulmonary gene transfer was performed by intratracheal administration of various amounts of an adenovector containing a fusion gene encoding for mHSV1-tk and an enhanced green fluorescent protein. Three days later, the animals were divided into 2 groups. One group (n = 7) did not receive any other interventions. The other group was treated with alpha-naphthylthiourea (ANTU) to increase pulmonary vascular permeability. All rats were injected intravenously with (18)F-FHBG. Two additional rats in both groups received a null adenovector and served as controls. In the normal rats, repetitive blood samples were obtained and PET imaging was performed simultaneously using a dynamic imaging protocol. Rate constants estimating (18)F-FHBG transport (K(1)) or trapping (k(3)) within target cells were generated by compartmental modeling. After euthanasia, pulmonary uptake of (18)F-FHBG was determined using a gamma-counter in all rats, and in vitro assays of transgene expression were performed on lung tissue. RESULTS In normal rats, pulmonary uptake of (18)F-FHBG increased as thymidine kinase (TK) activity increased only at low levels of mHSV1-tk expression and then plateaued as TK activity continued to increase. Compartmental modeling failed to improve the correlation with in vitro assays of transgene expression. However, a linear relationship was obtained between the pulmonary uptake of (18)F-FHBG and in vitro assays of TK activity in rats treated with ANTU. CONCLUSION In rodent lungs, (18)F-FHBG uptake appears to be a function of both transport into tissues expressing the transgene as well as the level of transgene expression itself.
Fast Face Detection with Multi-Scale Window Search Free from Image Resizing Using SGI Features

Face detection is applied to many tasks such as auto focus control, surveillance, user interface, and face recognition. Processing speed and detection accuracy of the face detection have been improved continuously. This paper describes a novel method of fast face detection with multi-scale window search free from image resizing. We adopt statistics of gradient images (SGI) as image features and append an overlapping cell array to improve detection accuracy. The SGI feature is scale invariant and insensitive to small difference of pixel value. These characteristics enable the multi-scale window search without image resizing. Experimental results show that processing speed of our method is 3.66 times faster than a conventional method, adopting HOG features combined to an SVM classifier, without accuracy degradation.
The C‐terminal Domain of Snf3p is Sufficient to Complement the Growth Defect of snf3 Null Mutations in Saccharomyces cerevisiae: SNF3 Functions in Glucose Recognition

The SNF3 protein, Snf3p, of Saccharomyces cerevisiae was initially thought to be a high affinity glucose transporter required for efficient catabolism of low glucose concentrations. We now report evidence suggesting that Snf3p is a regulatory protein and not a catabolic transporter. The C‐terminal domain of Snf3p is able to complement the growth defect on solid media of snf3 null mutants independent of attachment to the membrane‐spanning domains. However, the C‐terminal domain is unable to fully restore high affinity glucose transport to a snf3 null strain. Examination of deletions of the C‐terminal domain of intact SNF3 demonstrates that this region is required for both the growth and transport functions of Snf3p. Loss of the SNF3 gene leads to a long‐term adaptation phenotype for cells grown in liquid medium at low substrate concentrations in the presence of the respiratory inhibitor, antimycin A. The presence of the C‐terminal domain shortens the time required for adaptation in a snf3 null strain. Thus, Snf3p appears to affect ability to adapt to low substrate conditions, but does not confer an absolute defect in uptake of substrate. Taken together, these data suggest that Snf3p is a regulatory protein likely functioning in the detection of glucose. © 1997 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Extracting topographic features for outdoor mobile robots

Methods are presented for building high-level terrain descriptions, referred as topographic maps, by extracting terrain features like peaks, pits, ridges, and ravines from the contour map. The resulting topographic map contains the location and type of terrain features as well as the ground topography. The authors develop new definitions for those topographic features based on the contour map. They build a contour map from an elevation map and generate the connectivity tree of all regions separated by the contours. The authors use this connectivity tree, called a topographic change tree, to extract the topographic features. Experimental results on a digital elevation model support the definitions for topographic features and the approach. <<ETX>>
Deductive verification of object-oriented software: dynamic frames, dynamic logic and predicate abstraction

Software systems play a central role in modern society, and their correctness is often crucially important. Formal specification and verification are promising approaches for ensuring correctness more rigorously than just by testing. This work presents an approach for deductively verifying design-by-contract specifications of object-oriented programs. The approach is based on dynamic logic, and addresses the challenges of modularity and automation using dynamic frames and predicate abstraction.