Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Extension of the Fourth Transmembrane Helix of the Sensor Kinase KdpD of Escherichia coli Is Involved in Sensing

ABSTRACT The KdpD sensor kinase and the KdpE response regulator control expression of the kdpFABC operon coding for the KdpFABC high-affinity K+ transport system of Escherichia coli. In search of a distinct part of the input domain of KdpD which is solely responsible for K+ sensing, sequences of kdpD encoding the transmembrane region and adjacent N-terminal and C-terminal extensions were subjected to random mutagenesis. Nine KdpD derivatives were identified that had lost tight regulation of kdpFABC expression. They all carried single amino acid replacements located in a region encompassing the fourth transmembrane helix and the adjacent arginine cluster of KdpD. All mutants exhibited high levels of kdpFABC expression regardless of the external K+ concentration. However, 3- to 14-fold induction was observed under extreme K+-limiting conditions and in response to an osmotic upshift when sucrose was used as an osmolyte. These KdpD derivatives were characterized by a reduced phosphatase activity in comparison to the autokinase activity in vitro, which explains constitutive expression. Whereas for wild-type KdpD the autokinase activity and also, in turn, the phosphotransfer activity to KdpE were inhibited by increasing concentrations of K+, both activities were unaffected in the KdpD derivatives. These data clearly show that the extension of the fourth transmembrane helix encompassing the arginine cluster is mainly involved in sensing both K+ limitation and osmotic upshift, which may not be separated mechanistically.
A vision system for 2D real-time vector motion estimation of a random-sized moving pattern

A 2D motion detection and estimation vision system is here presented. It performs real-time template matching on edges extracted from successive frames, acquired with an addressable CMOS camera. The x-y motion vector components are estimated counting the number of matched edges moving over less than one pixel within two subsequent frames. The algorithm has been implemented on an FPGA and uses a 20 times 20 pixel binary- image. The system computes up to 350 motion-vector-estimation/s on a random-sized pattern. The computation rate is mainly limited by the frame rate of the camera. The system was linked to a PC through an USB interface.
The role of the CroR response regulator in resistance of Enterococcus faecalis to D‐cycloserine is defined using an inducible receiver domain

Enterococcus faecalis is an opportunistic multidrug‐resistant human pathogen causing severe nosocomial infections. Previous investigations revealed that the CroRS two‐component regulatory pathway likely displays a pleiotropic role in E. faecalis, involved in virulence, macrophage survival, oxidative stress response as well as antibiotic resistance. Therefore, CroRS represents an attractive potential new target for antibiotherapy. In this report, we further explored CroRS cellular functions by characterizing the CroR regulon: the ‘domain swapping’ method was applied and a CroR chimera protein was generated by fusing the receiver domain from NisR to the output domain from CroR. After demonstrating that the chimera CroR complements a croR gene deletion in E. faecalis (stress response, virulence), we conducted a global gene expression analysis using RNA‐Seq and identified 50 potential CroR targets involved in multiple cellular functions such as cell envelope homeostasis, substrate transport, cell metabolism, gene expression regulation, stress response, virulence and antibiotic resistance. For validation, CroR direct binding to several candidate targets was demonstrated by EMSA. Further, this work identified alr, the gene encoding the alanine racemase enzyme involved in E. faecalis resistance to D‐cycloserine, a promising antimicrobial drug to treat enterococcal infections, as a member of the CroR regulon.
Minimization of baseband electrical memory effects in GaN HEMTs using active IF load-pull

This paper presents a rigorous way to quantify the role played by higher baseband impedances in determining baseband electrical memory effects observed in power transistors under two-carrier excitation. These effects typically appear not only as asymmetrical distortion terms in the frequency domain, but also more reliably as a recognizeable hysteresis or looping in the dynamic transfer characteristics extracted from measured input voltage and output current envelopes of a power device. Investigations have been carried out using a commercially available 10W GaN HEMT device characterised at 2GHz within a high-power modulated wavefor measurement system. Active IF loadpull has been employed to present specific baseband impedance environments, allowing the sensitivity of IMD symmetry to baseband impedance variations to be investigated.
Freeing Trade: Why a Unilateral Approach Makes Sense for Canada

The realization that competitiveness depends on having access to low-cost inputs has led Canada along with many other countries to slash tariffs unilaterally in order to enhance their own competitiveness. The present study builds on and updates a 2014 study of possible unilateral free trade being adopted by Canada, by re-simulating a policy of unilateral liberalization using this time a dynamic model that incorporates FDI, on an updated data set, and in an updated trade policy context that takes into account the new FTAs that Canada has negotiated, and the increase in in its general for developing countries. In addition to tariff elimination, it also includes liberalization of services and investment policy designed to improve Canada’s attractiveness as a global production hub.
Quantitative analysis of alternative transcripts of human PCDH11X/Y genes

The Protocadherin 11X/Y (PCDH11X/Y) gene pair has been proposed as a carrier of the variation relating to cerebral asymmetry and psychosis on the ground that the Y gene was generated by duplication at 6 million years (close to the chimpanzee–human separation) and there is a case for an X/Y determinant of cerebral asymmetry. The present article investigated the patterns of alternative splicing and expression of the PCDH11X/Y genes. Twelve alternative transcripts of PCDH11X/Y genes were presently identified by in silico analysis. To investigate the biological roles of alternative transcripts of PCDH11X/Y genes, the transcripts were analyzed by real‐time reverse transcription‐polymerase chain reaction amplification. A total of 31 normal tissues including 11 different regions of human brain were used to investigate a wide spectrum of expression profiles. Dominant expression patterns were identified in several tissues (Tx1‐fetal liver; Tx3‐adult brain; Tx4‐adult brain and kidney; Tx5‐bone marrow; Ty1‐fetal brain; Ty2‐adrenal gland). Tx4 transcripts showed specific expression patterns in olfactory tissues. The findings can guide functional investigation of neuropsychiatric disorders. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Impact of the type of centre on management of AF patients: Surprising evidence for differences in antithrombotic therapy decisions

Summary Atrial fibrillation (AF) patients may receive treatment from specialists or from general medicine physicians representing different levels of care within a structured health care system. This “choice” is influenced by patient flow within a health care system, patient preference, and individual access to health care resources. We analysed how the postgraduate training and work environment of treating physicians affects management decisions in AF patients. Patient characteristics and treatment decisions were analysed at the time of enrolment into the registry of the German Atrial Fibrillation NETwork (AFNET). A total of 9,577 patients were enrolled from 2004 to 2006 in 191 German centres that belonged to the following four levels of care: 13 tertiary care centres (TCC) enrolled 3,795 patients (39.6%), 58 district hospitals (DH) enrolled 2,339 patients (24.4%), 62 office-based cardiologists (OC) enrolled 2,640 patients (27.6%), and 58 general practitioners or internists (GP) enrolled 803 patients (8.4%). Patients with new-onset AF were often treated in DH. TCC treated younger patients who more often presented with paroxysmal AF. Older patients and patients in permanent AF more often received outpatient care. Consistent with recommendations, younger patients and patients with non-permanent AF received rhythm control therapy more often. In addition, the type of centre affected the decision for rhythm control. Stroke risk was similar between centre types (mean CHADS2 scores 1.6 –1.9). TCC (68.8%) and OC (73.6%) administered adequate antithrombotic therapy more often than DH (55.1%) or GP (52.0%, p<0.001 between groups). Upon multivariate analysis, enrolment by TCC or OC was associated with a 1.60 (1.20–2.12, p=0.001) fold chance for adequate antithrombotic treatment. This difference between centre types was consistent irrespective of the type of stroke risk estimation (ESC 2001 guidelines, CHADS2 score), and also consistent when the recently suggested CHA2DS2-VASc score was used to estimate stroke risk. In conclusion, management decisions in AF are influenced by the education and clinical background of treating physicians in Germany. Inpatients receive more rhythm control therapy. Adequate antithrombotic therapy is more often administered in specialist (cardiologist) centres.
Extended time-frequency granger causality for evaluation of functional network connectivity in event-related FMRI data

In this article, we show that adaptive multivariate autoregressive (AMVAR) modeling accompanied by proper estimation of the delay and the width of hemodynamic response function is an effective technique for evaluation of spectral Granger causality among different functional brain networks identified by independent component analysis from event-related fMRI data. The entire concept is demonstrated on 28 subjects auditory oddball fMRI data.
Design of bike inverter using adaptive state observer of DC-link

In this paper, the design of the 3 phase inverter using the adaptive control of DC-link Current was carried for electrical bike. The SVPWM-VSI(Space Vector Pulse Width Modulation of Voltage Source Inverter) is analyzed for the induction motor of outer rotor type and a variable DC link current inverter system is applied to improve the performance of torque and speed in the overall operation range of an induction motor drive. This inverter system controls the magnitude of a DC link current actively according to the speed and load conditions of an induction motor, therefore in spite of a low speed range, the width of effective voltage vector in a gate signal is increased and the output voltage error of the inverter is decreased when compared with a fixed DC link current inverter system. The proposed algorithm is verified through experimental results.
Mechanistic view on domains mediating STIM1–Orai coupling

Summary: Calcium (Ca2+) entry into non‐excitable cells is mainly carried by store‐operated channels, which serve essential functions ranging from regulation of transcription to cell growth. The best‐characterized store‐operated current, initially discovered in T lymphocytes and mast cells, is the Ca2+ release‐activated Ca2+ (CRAC) current. The search for the molecular components of the CRAC channel has recently identified stromal interaction molecule 1 (STIM1) as the Ca2+ sensor in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and Orai1 as the CRAC channel pore. ER store depletion results in formation of STIM1 puncta that trigger Ca2+ influx via Orai1 channels. This review covers the role of domains within STIM1 and Orai and enlightens their function in the STIM1/Orai coupling process. Moreover, a molecular interpretation focuses on interactions between cytosolic portions of STIM1 and Orai together with a mechanistic view on the loss of function of the SCID (severe combined immunodeficiency)‐linked Orai1 R91W mutant channel. The architecture of the selectivity filter of Orai channels is finally elucidated based on permeation properties of Orai pore mutants.
Adaptive Market Hypothesis: Evidence from three centuries of UK data

We examine the evolving efficiency of UK stock market and currency (British Pound) during the last three centuries. Using both Automatic Variance Ratio (AVR) and Automatic Portmanteau (AQ) tests, we find evidence of time-varying degree of efficiency which supports the Adaptive Markets Hypothesis (AMH).
A Comparative-Advantage Approach to Government Debt Maturity

We study optimal government debt maturity in a model where investors derive monetary services from holding riskless short-term securities. In a simple setting where the government is the only issuer of such riskless paper, it trades off the monetary premium associated with short-term debt against the refinancing risk implied by the need to roll over its debt more often. We then extend the model to allow private financial intermediaries to compete with the government in the provision of money-like claims. We argue that if there are negative externalities associated with private money creation, the government should tilt its issuance more towards short maturities. The idea is that the government may have a comparative advantage relative to the private sector in bearing refinancing risk, and hence should aim to partially crowd out the private sector’s use of short-term debt.
Prevention of Brain Ischemia: Controversies and Perspectives

Dyslipemia as a risk factor for ischemic stroke and indications for statins in the prevention of ischemic stroke are revised. The role of cholesterol levels as a risk factor for ischemic stroke is controversial. This could be due to failures in the design of early epidemiological studies. Recent studies, however, do suggest a clearer risk relationship between cholesterol levels and ischemic stroke. Studies conducted on the prevention of ischemic heart disease (IHD) with 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase inhibitors (statins), using pravastatin and simvastatin, unequivocally show reductions in overall mortality, cardiovascular mortality, acute myocardial infarction and other coronary events. These studies show a reduction in the risk of ischemic stroke, and although relative risk reduction is great, absolute risk reduction is low; the reasons for this are analyzed. Apart from lipid mechanisms, statins act on the atheroma plaque; they have antithrombotic and possibly neuroprotecting properties. Statins reduce the number of strokes due to the decrease of atherothrombotic strokes, cardioembolic strokes secondary to IHD, and lacunar strokes related to atherothrombosis and probably to microatheromas. Although there are currently no specific studies available on the secondary prevention of stroke with statins, which are required to clarify certain points, according to European and American guidelines for prevention, statins would be indicated in the secondary prevention of atherothrombotic stroke, and in cardioembolic and lacunar stroke associated with clinical or silent atherosclerosis (IHD, peripheral artery disease). Patients with ischemic stroke of other etiologies, except for stroke in the young or other unusual causes, are patients with a high vascular risk (cardiac and cerebral) owing to the stroke itself, age and other vascular risk factors, and they should also be treated with statins, at least from the point of view of primary prevention of IHD. Natural statins (pravastatin and simvastatin) play an essential part in secondary prevention of ischemic stroke, together with antiaggregants, anticoagulants, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors and the treatment of other vascular risk factors. Copyright © 2001 S. Karger AG, Basel
A modified constraint-induced therapy (mCIT) program for the upper extremity of a person with chronic stroke

The purpose of this case report was to assess the effect of a reduced intensity protocol for daily modified constraint-induced therapy (mCIT) without use of a restraint on the function of the upper extremity (UE) in an individual with a chronic stroke. A 57 year-old patient one year following a stroke participated in a two-hour mCIT program for ten weekdays over a period of two weeks. During this period, voluntary use of the involved extremity was encouraged for 90% of waking hours at home without use of a restraint. Examination was conducted before and after intervention, and at a one month follow-up visit. Outcome measures included: the Wolf Motor Function Test (WMFT), the Motor Activity Log (MAL), and motion analysis of a reach and grasp task using Charnwood's CODA mpx 30.1 The patient improved or remained the same in functional upper extremity tasks on both the WMFT and MAL. The data from the motion analysis showed that grasp time and maximum pinch angle improved for bilateral UEs. Reaching profile graphed over time had fewer changes in velocity and fewer periods of acceleration and deceleration post-intervention. This reduced intensity program shows promise as an effective, feasible, and patient-preferred application of mCIT in a clinical setting.
Association between body composition and conformity to the recommendations of Canada's Food Guide and the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet in peri-adolescence

Abstract Objective The role of following the recommendations of Canada's Food Guide (CFG) and the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet on body composition in children is unknown. The present study assessed how conformity to the recommendations of these diets was associated with BMI, waist-to-height ratio (WHtR), waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), waist girth (WG), hip girth (HG) and risk of overweight in peri-adolescents. Design CFG and DASH indices were derived from responses to a food questionnaire, with a higher index representing greater conformity to CFG and DASH diet recommendations. Body composition was assessed by trained research assistants. Setting Schools within the Niagara region (Ontario, Canada). Subjects Children (n 1570) aged 12·4 (sd 0·3) years. Results After adjustment for age to peak height velocity and total physical activity, a higher CFG index was associated with lower WHtR (b = −0·001, 95 % CI −0·002, −0·0004), WHR (b = −0·001, 95 % CI −0·002, −0·001) and WG (b = −0·18, 95 % CI −0·30, −0·07) in girls. No associations were observed in boys. In contrast, a higher DASH index was associated with decreased body composition measures in both genders. Specifically, the DASH index was negatively associated with BMI (girls: b = −0·07, 95 % CI −0·10, −0·04; boys: b = −0·05, 95 % CI −0·08, −0·02), WHtR (girls: b = −0·001, 95 % CI −0·002, −0·001; boys: b = −0·001, 95 % CI −0·002, −0·0004), WHR (girls: b = −0·001, 95 % CI −0·002, −0·001; boys: b = −0·001, 95 % CI −0·001, −0·00004), WG (girls: b = −0·24, 95 % CI −0·31, −0·16; boys: b = −0·15, 95 % CI −0·24, −0·07) and HG (girls: b = −0·15, 95 % CI −0·23, −0·07; boys: b = −0·12, 95 % CI −0·19, −0·04). A higher DASH index was also associated with lower odds of overweight in girls (OR = 0·70, 95 % CI 0·56, 0·87) and boys (OR = 0·76, 95 % CI 0·62, 0·93). Conclusions The DASH diet may prevent overweight in peri-adolescents.
Clinical Relevance of Shiga Toxin Concentrations in the Blood of Patients With Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome

Background: Intestinal infections with Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) in children can lead to the hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). Shiga toxins (Stx) released in the gut by bacteria enter the blood stream and target the kidney causing endothelial injury. Free toxins have never been detected in the blood of HUS patients, but they have been found on the surface of polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN). Methods: With respect to their clinical features, the clinical relevance of the amounts of serum Stx (cytotoxicity assay with human endothelial cells) and PMN-bound Stx (cytofluorimetric assay) in 46 patients with STEC-associated HUS was evaluated. Results: Stx-positive PMN were found in 60% of patients, whereas negligible amounts of free Stx were detected in the sera. Patients with high amounts of Stx on PMN showed preserved or slightly impaired renal function (incomplete form of HUS), whereas cases with low amounts of Stx usually presented evidence of acute renal failure. Conclusions: These observations suggest that the extent of renal damage in children with STEC-associated HUS could depend on the concentration of Stx present on their PMN and presumably delivered by them to the kidney. As previously shown by experimental models from our laboratory, high amounts of Stx could induce a reduced release of cytokines by the renal endothelium, with a consequent lower degree of inflammation. Conversely, low toxin amounts can trigger the cytokine cascade, provoking inflammation, thereby leading to tissue damage.
Maximizing Common Idle Time on Multicore Processors With Shared Memory

Nowadays, memory energy reduction attracts significant attention as main memory consumes large amount of energy among all the energy consuming components. This paper focuses on reducing the energy consumption of the shared main memory in multicore processors by putting the memory into sleep state when all cores are idle. Based on this idea, we present systematic analysis of different models and propose a series of scheduling schemes to maximize the common idle time of all cores. The target problem is classified into two cases based on whether task migration is allowed or not among cores. Considering task migration, an optimal scheduling scheme is proposed, assuming the number of cores is unbounded. When the number of cores is bounded, an integer linear programming formulation and two efficient heuristic algorithms are proposed. When task migration is not allowed, we first prove the NP-hardness of the problem, and then propose the optimal solutions when task partitions are given in advance. The energy overhead caused by transitions between active and sleep modes of the memory is analyzed. The experimental results show that the heuristic algorithms work efficiently and can save 7.25% and 11.71% system energy, respectively, with 1-GB memory, compared with an energy-efficient multicore scheduling scheme. Larger energy reduction can be further achieved with larger size of memory.
Transaction cost of micro and small enterprises financing

High transaction costs become one of the obstacles for the micro and small enterprises (MSEs) to access financial loans to the bank. In order to minimize the transaction costs, group lending scheme become alternative, so that both sides are pay lower transaction costs, and MSEs are able to improve their welfare. This study aims to analyze the credit process and transaction costs incurred on the model of individuals and groups lending and to compare the magnitude of transaction costs on both models. Mixed Method Analysis is used to analyze the component of transaction costs and the magnitude of the transaction cost on both models.These results indicate there are differences in transaction costs incurred on both schemes. In the amount of the transaction costs, the overall group scheme still allows for greater compared to individual schemes and dominated by the cost of the disbursement. Even so, the transaction cost per member group is much smaller than the individual schemes.