Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Modulating the activity of short arginine-tryptophan containing antibacterial peptides with N-terminal metallocenoyl groups

A series of small synthetic arginine and tryptophan containing peptides was prepared and analyzed for their antibacterial activity. The effect of N-terminal substitution with metallocenoyl groups such as ferrocene (FcCO) and ruthenocene (RcCO) was investigated. Antibacterial activity in different media, growth inhibition, and killing kinetics of the most active peptides were determined. The toxicity of selected derivatives was determined against erythrocytes and three human cancer cell lines. It was shown that the replacement of an N-terminal arginine residue with a metallocenoyl moiety modulates the activity of WRWRW-peptides against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. MIC values of 2–6 µM for RcCO-W(RW)2 and 1–11 µM for (RW)3 were determined. Interestingly, W(RW)2-peptides derivatized with ferrocene were significantly less active than those derivatized with ruthenocene which have similar structural but different electronic properties, suggesting a major influence of the latter. The high activities observed for the RcCO-W(RW)2- and (RW)3-peptides led to an investigation of the origin of activity of these peptides using several important activity-related parameters. Firstly, killing kinetics of the RcCO-W(RW)2-peptide versus killing kinetics of the (RW)3 derivative showed faster reduction of the colony forming units for the RcCO-W(RW)2-peptide, although MIC values indicated higher activity for the (RW)3-peptide. This was confirmed by growth inhibition studies. Secondly, hemolysis studies revealed that both peptides did not lead to significant destruction of erythrocytes, even up to 500 µg/mL for (RW)3 and 250 µg/mL for RcCO-W(RW)2. In addition, toxicity against three human cancer cell lines (HepG2, HT29, MCF7) showed that the (RW)3-peptide had an IC50 value of ~140 µM and the RcW(RW)2 one of ~90 µM, indicating a potentially interesting therapeutic window. Both the killing kinetics and growth inhibition studies presented in this work point to a membrane-based mode of action for these two peptides, each having different kinetic parameters.
Learn local priors by transferring training masks for salient object detection

In this paper, we present a novel framework to incorporate high-level guidance and low-level features to automatically identify salient objects based on two ideas. The first one considers the specific location prior to encode visual saliency, while the second one estimates image saliency using contrast with respect to background regions. The proposed framework consists of the following three steps: a) Top-down process: a specific location saliency map (SlSm) is learned. Specifically, for each image window (patch), a set of image windows with similar appearances are searched from a training image set and the corresponding segmentation masks are linearly integrated to produce a prior map, which guides the saliency object detection. 2) Bottom-up process: a multi-layer segmentation framework is employed, which provides vast robust background candidate regions specified by SLSM. Then the background contrast saliency map (BCSM) is computed based on low level image stimuli features. SLSM and BCSM are finally integrated to produce a pixel-based saliency map. Extensive experiments show that our approach achieves competitive results over MSRA 1000 and SED datasets, where each image contains more than one salient object.
Effects of resistance or aerobic exercise training on interleukin-6, C-reactive protein, and body composition.

PURPOSE To determine the effects of 10 wk of resistance or aerobic exercise training on interleukin-6 (IL-6) and C-reactive protein (CRP). Further, to determine pretraining and posttraining associations between alterations of IL-6 and CRP and alterations of total body fat mass (TB-FM), intra-abdominal fat mass (IA-FM), and total body lean mass (TB-LM). METHODS A sample of 102 sedentary subjects were assigned to a resistance group (n = 35), an aerobic group (n = 41), or a control group (n = 26). Before and after intervention, subjects were involved in dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry, muscular strength and aerobic fitness, measurements and further provided a resting fasted venous blood sample for measures of IL-6, CRP, cholesterol profile, triglycerides, glucose, insulin, and glycosylated hemoglobin. The resistance and the aerobic groups completed a respective 10-wk supervised and periodized training program, whereas the control group maintained sedentary lifestyle and dietary patterns. RESULTS Both exercise training programs did not reduce IL-6; however, the resistance and the aerobic groups reduced CRP by 32.8% (P < 0.05) and 16.1% (P = 0.06), respectively. At baseline, CRP was positively correlated with IL-6 (r = 0.35), (TB-FM) (r = 0.36), and IA-FM (r = 0.31) and was inversely correlated with aerobic fitness measures (all r values > or = -0.24). Compared with the resistance and the control groups, the aerobic group exhibited significant (P < 0.05) improvements in all aerobic fitness measures and significant reductions in IA-FM (7.4%) and body mass (1.1%). Compared with the aerobic and the control groups, the resistance group significantly (P < 0.05) improved TB-FM (3.7%) and upper (46.3%) and lower (56.6%) body strength. CONCLUSION Despite no alteration in baseline IL-6 and significantly smaller reductions in measures of adipose tissue as compared with the aerobic training group, only resistance exercise training resulted in significant attenuation of CRP concentration.
Asymmetric dual-gate multi-fin keeper bias options and optimization for low power and robust FinFET domino logic

A variable threshold voltage keeper circuit technique using independent-gate FinFET technology is proposed in this paper for simultaneous power reduction and speed enhancement in domino logic circuits. The threshold voltage of a keeper transistor is dynamically modified during circuit operation to reduce contention current without sacrificing noise immunity. The optimum independent-gate keeper gate bias conditions are identified for achieving maximum savings in delay and power consumption while maintaining identical noise immunity as compared to the standard tied-gate FinFET domino circuits. With the variable threshold voltage asymmetric double-gate keeper circuit technique the evaluation speed is enhanced by up to 49% while reducing the power consumption by up to 46% as compared to a standard domino logic circuit designed for similar noise margin in a 32 nm FinFET technology.
A Short Anorexic Behaviour Scale

The successful investigation and development of effective treatment programmes for any disorder is closely dependent on the development of reliable and valid assessment procedures. Anorexia nervosa would seem to be no exception in this respect. At present, while the diagnosis of anorexia nervosa seems fairly easy to establish, the assessment of severity, response to various treatment regimes, and prognosis pose rather more of a problem. Reliance on criteria such as weight status and gain, return of menstruation, psychosexual adjustment, etc., is inadequate, especially in the assessment of short-term effects of various therapeutic conditions. Recently Slade and Russell (1972) have described an objective technique for measuring ‘perception of body size‘, an area in which they found anorexia nervosa patients to be defective. Clearly, however, other reliable, objective assessment techniques are needed as well.
Rattus norvegicus (Rodentia: Muridae) Infected by Leishmania (Leishmania) infantum (syn. Le. chagasi) in Brazil

In the present study we surveyed the fauna of phlebotomine sand flies and small mammals in peridomestic areas from a Brazilian municipality where the American cutaneous leishmaniasis (ACL) is endemic. A total of 608 female phlebotomine sand flies were captured during nine months in 2009 and 2010. Seven different species were represented with 60% of them being Lutzomyia intermedia and Lu. whitmani, both incriminated vectors of ACL. Lu. longipalpis, a proven vector of visceral leishmaniasis (VL) was also captured at high proportion (12.8%). Genomic DNA analysis of 136 species-specific pools of female sand flies followed by molecular genotyping showed the presence of Leishmania infantum DNA in two pools of Lu. longipalpis. The same Leishmania species was found in one blood sample from Rattus norvegicus among 119 blood and tissue samples analysed. This is the first report of Le. infantum in R. norvegicus in the Americas and suggests a possible role for this rodent species in the zoonotic cycle of VL. Our study coincided with the reemergence of VL in Governador Valadares.
A Wireless Scheduling Strategy Base on Real-Time Operating System

A wireless scheduling platform based on ZigBee wireless communication technology was introduced in this paper. And a token ring scheduling strategy was proposed. In order to facilitate the realization of the proposed scheduling strategy, embedded real-time operating system μC/OS-II was adopted. Through a reasonable division of system scheduling tasks and priority ceiling protocol in μC/OS-II, the real-time ability and reliability of wireless scheduling system were improved greatly. Finally, a test result was shown that system scheduling error was small and could meet scheduling requirement.
Ethnic variations in chest pain and angina in men and women: Scottish Ethnicity and Health Linkage Study of 4.65 million people

Background: European research on ethnic variations in cardiovascular disease has mostly examined mortality endpoints using country of birth as a proxy for ethnicity. We report on chest pain and angina by ethnic group. Design and methods: Retrospective cohort linking the Census 2001 for Scotland (providing 14 ethnic group categories) and hospital discharge/community and hospital deaths data. Directly age-standardized rates and rate ratios were calculated. Risk ratios were adjusted for age and then highest educational qualification of the individual using Poisson regression. Ratios were multiplied by 100 and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated. The reference was the White Scottish population (100). In the results below, the 95% CI excludes 100. Results: There was raised chest pain mortality/hospital discharge risk in Indian men (rate ratio 141.2), Other South Asian women (rate ratio 140.9), and Pakistanis (rate ratio 216.2 in men, 243.0 in women). Rate ratios were lowest in other White British (rate ratio 76.1 in men, 73.7 in women) and Chinese (rate ratio 67.6 in men, 76.7 in women). Adjustment for age and education attenuated, but did not abolish, differences in other White British (risk ratio from 73.5 to 83.5) and Pakistani (risk ratio from 209.0 to 198.2) male populations and increased them in most others, e.g. other South Asian men (from risk ratio of 128.9 to 140.1). Pakistani populations had the highest risk of angina (rate ratio 189.3 in men, 159.7 in women). Other White British (rate ratio 81.4 for men, 78.0 for women), Other White (rate ratio 89.6 men, 85.2 women), and Chinese (rate ratio 60.5 men, 67.4 women) had the lowest risk. Adjustment for education did not greatly alter these patterns. Conclusions: There were important ethnic variations. The results call for replication elsewhere in Europe and targeted prevention programmes and vigilant diagnosis and management by clinicians.
A Novel Approach for Enzyme Replacement Therapy

Metabolic diseases arise from mutations in key enzymes of major metabolic pathways. One promising approach for the treatment of such diseases is based on the administration of a wild-type enzyme to substitute the activity of the impaired enzyme by the use of enzyme replacement therapy, yet it is important to deliver this enzyme to the specific deficient tissue. We suggest a new concept for the treatment of metabolic diseases using fusion proteins. We examined the feasibility of this concept in the well characterized metabolic disease, phenylketonuria (PKU), which results from a mutation in the liver enzyme phenylalanine hydroxylase (PAH). PAH is a key enzyme in the metabolic pathway of phenylalanine. Deficiency in PAH leads to high and persistent levels of this amino acid in the plasma of PKU patients, causing permanent neurological damage. Currently a low protein diet is still considered the only effective treatment for most PKU patients. To restore PAH activity in the liver of PKU patients, we constructed PAH-based fusion proteins with delivery moieties based on the HIV-transactivator of transcription peptide, and fragments of human hepatocyte growth factor aiming to specifically target PAH to the liver. We show that these new fusion proteins can be delivered into a variety of human liver cell lines and retain PAH activity after being internalized. We also show that plasma phenylalanine levels were dramatically lowered in mice treated with PAH-based fusion proteins after intravenous administration. We therefore suggest an alternative concept for the treatment of PKU using targeted fusion proteins, which may also be applied to the treatment of other metabolic diseases.
Staying Sober in Mexico City

* Acknowledgments * Introduction * Chapter One. Moral Support in Mexico City * Chapter Two. Religious Adaptations in Alcoholics Anonymous * Chapter Three. Meeting and Moving * Chapter Four. Storytelling * Chapter Five. Gender and the Construction of Manhood * Chapter Six. Blurred Boundaries and the Exercise of Social Control * Chapter Seven. Illness and Recovery * Chapter Eight. Sobriety and Survival * Appendix A. The Twelve Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous/Los Doce Pasos de Alcoholicos Anonimos * Appendix B. The Twelve Traditions of Alcoholics Anonymous/Las Doce Tradiciones de Alcoholicos Anonimos * Notes * References Cited * Index
A Closed-Loop Operation to Improve GMR Sensor Accuracy

Giant magnetoresistance (GMR) magnetic field sensors are compact, low power, high sensitivity devices that are low cost and have very simple supporting electronics. One of the disadvantages of GMR sensors can be their nonlinearity, hysteresis, and temperature-dependent output, which can reduce measurement accuracy. This paper presents an approach to improve the measurement accuracy of GMR sensors using a closed-loop circuit, which includes the sensor, a biasing coil, and a feedback circuit. The current in the biasing coil is actively changed to ensure that the component of magnetic field along the sensitive axis of the device is held constant, so that as the external magnetic field or orientation of the GMR sensor changes, the output of GMR sensor remains stable. In this way, the external magnetic field component along the sensitive axis of the device can be calculated by measuring the current in the biasing coil surrounding the GMR sensor, regardless of the hysteresis and nonlinearly of GMR sensor. The linearity and the accuracy of magnetic field measurements using a GMR sensor are significantly improved and a hardware prototype has been constructed and tested under a reference magnetic field.
Yalta: A Secure Collaborative Space for Dynamic Coalitions

Dynamic coalitions are the means through which a group of entities with common interest collaborate to achieve significant mission objectives. The coalition participants are often distributed across geographic areas, have different levels of technological capability, and have language and cultural barriers to effective communications. In the information age, the execution of all the coalition functions will be heavily mediated through information technologies. The purpose of our effort is to develop, demonstrate and deliver a scalable, reliable, and survivable application platform that enables efficient formation, operation, and management of secure dynamic coalitions suitable for the military environ-
The language situation in Macao

In postcolonial societies, forces associated with globalization operate along with local geopolitical changes. The complex and multifaceted interactions between local, national, and global forces may take different sociolinguistic shapes in postcolonial societies. This study provides an overview of the language situation in Macao. The Portuguese established their colonial rule in Macao in the mid-nineteenth century. On 20 December 1999, Macao was reintegrated with the People's Republic of China and reinvented as the Macao Special Administrative Region (the Macao SAR) under the principle of “One Country, Two Systems”. The overview shows that in postcolonial Macao the dynamic interplay of local, national, and global forces prevails across all sectors from politics to economy to education. At the same time, the push and pull between the local, national, and global forces are also discernible in Macao's sociolinguistic landscape as well as the Macao SAR Government's language policy and planning.
A Herbivore Knows Its Patch: Luderick, Girella tricuspidata, Exhibit Strong Site Fidelity on Shallow Subtidal Reefs in a Temperate Marine Park

Understanding movement patterns, habitat use and behaviour of fish is critical to determining how targeted species may respond to protection provided by “no-take” sanctuary zones within marine parks. We assessed the fine and broad scale movement patterns of an exploited herbivore, luderick (Girella tricuspidata), using acoustic telemetry to evaluate how this species may respond to protection within Jervis Bay (New South Wales, Australia). We surgically implanted fourteen fish with acoustic transmitters and actively and passively tracked individuals to determine fine and broad scale movement patterns respectively. Eight fish were actively tracked for 24 h d¯1 for 6 d (May 2011), and then intermittently over the following 30 d. Six fish were passively tracked from December 2011 to March 2012, using a fixed array of receivers deployed across rocky reefs around the perimeter of the bay. Luderick exhibited strong site fidelity on shallow subtidal reefs, tending to remain on or return consistently to the reef where they were caught and released. All eight fish actively tracked used core areas solely on their release reef, with the exception of one fish that used multiple core areas, and four of the six fish passively tracked spent between 75 to 96% of days on release reefs over the entire tracking period. Luderick did move frequently to adjacent reefs, and occasionally to more distant reefs, however consistently returned to their release reef. Luderick also exhibited predictable patterns in movement between spatially distinct daytime and night-time core use areas. Night-time core use areas were generally located in sheltered areas behind the edge of reefs. Overall, our data indicate luderick exhibit strong site fidelity on shallow subtidal reefs in Jervis Bay and suggests that this important herbivore may be likely to show a positive response to protection within the marine park.
Impact of CO2-Induced Warming on Simulated Hurricane Intensity and Precipitation: Sensitivity to the Choice of Climate Model and Convective Parameterization

Abstract Previous studies have found that idealized hurricanes, simulated under warmer, high-CO2 conditions, are more intense and have higher precipitation rates than under present-day conditions. The present study explores the sensitivity of this result to the choice of climate model used to define the CO2-warmed environment and to the choice of convective parameterization used in the nested regional model that simulates the hurricanes. Approximately 1300 five-day idealized simulations are performed using a higher-resolution version of the GFDL hurricane prediction system (grid spacing as fine as 9 km, with 42 levels). All storms were embedded in a uniform 5 m s−1 easterly background flow. The large-scale thermodynamic boundary conditions for the experiments— atmospheric temperature and moisture profiles and SSTs—are derived from nine different Coupled Model Intercomparison Project (CMIP2+) climate models. The CO2-induced SST changes from the global climate models, based on 80-yr linear trends from +1% y.
Silhouette Coherence for Camera Calibration under Circular Motion

We present a new approach to camera calibration as a part of a complete and practical system to recover digital copies of sculpture from uncalibrated image sequences taken under turntable motion. In this paper, we introduce the concept of the silhouette coherence of a set of silhouettes generated by a 3D object. We show how the maximization of the silhouette coherence can be exploited to recover the camera poses and focal length. Silhouette coherence can be considered as a generalization of the well-known epipolar tangency constraint for calculating motion from silhouettes or outlines alone. Further, silhouette coherence exploits all the geometric information encoded in the silhouette (not just at epipolar tangency points) and can be used in many practical situations where point correspondences or outer epipolar tangents are unavailable. We present an algorithm for exploiting silhouette coherence to efficiently and reliably estimate camera motion. We use this algorithm to reconstruct very high quality 3D models from uncalibrated circular motion sequences, even when epipolar tangency points are not available or the silhouettes are truncated. The algorithm has been integrated into a practical system and has been tested on more than 50 uncalibrated sequences to produce high quality photo-realistic models. Three illustrative examples are included in this paper. The algorithm is also evaluated quantitatively by comparing it to a state-of-the-art system that exploits only epipolar tangents
Automatic task model generation for Interface Agent development

To give the user proper assistance, an interface agent should be able to predict the user's intentions. Usually, they achieve that through the use of a detailed task model for a particular application domain. However, to develop such knowledge representations is a difficult and time-consuming activity. Generally, it is tedious and annoying for the agent developers to express such knowledge manually. Also, the necessity to have an expert that offers information on the application domain is a problematic restriction. Therefore, this paper will focus on the automatic task model generation without previous knowledge on the application domain.
Large aperture Airborne Ultrasound Tactile Display using distributed array units

Airborne Ultrasound Tactile Display (AUTD), which is developed in our laboratory, can provide tactile sensation in midair using acoustic radiation pressure without any equipment attached on your hands [1]. It can create various stimulus patterns in arbitrary point by steering the focal point using a linear phased array. However, its generating power is only 1.6×10−2 N and the "arbitrary point" is limited to a small space, so there is a need for advancement of its performance. To avoid these weaknesses of AUTD, we try to realize a large aperture of array by synchronized multiple AUTD units. In this paper, we describe the detail of the proposed method, the numerical simulation for determine the arrangement of AUTD units, and newer prototype now under construction.