Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
BIOTECHNOLOGICALLY RELEVANT ENZYMES AND PROTEINS β-Glucuronidase from Lactobacillus brevis useful for baicalin hydrolysis belongs to glycoside hydrolase family 30

Baicalin (baicalein 7-O-β-D-glucuronide) is one of the major flavonoid glucuronides found in traditional herbal medicines. Because its aglycone, baicalein, is absorbed more quickly and shows more effective properties than baicalin, the conversion of baicalin into baicalein by β-glucuronidase (GUS) has drawn the attention of researchers. Recently, we have found that Lactobacillus brevis subsp. coagulans can convert baicalin to baicalein. Therefore, we aimed to identify and characterize the converting enzyme from L. brevis subsp. coagulans . First, we purified this enzyme from the cell-free extracts of L. brevis subsp. coagulans and cloned its gene. Surprisingly, this enzyme was found to be a GUS belonging to glycoside hydrolase (GH) family 30 (designated as LcGUS30), and its amino acid sequence has little similarity with any GUS belonging to GH families 1, 2, and 79 that have been reported so far. We then established a high-level expression and simple purification system of the recombinant LcGUS30 in Escherichia coli . The detailed analysis of the substrate specificity revealed that LcGUS30 has strict specificity toward glycon but not toward aglycones. Interestingly, LcGUS30 prefers baicalin rather than estrone 3-(β-D-glucuronide), one of the human endogenous steroid hormones. These results indicated that L. brevis subsp. coagulans and LcGUS30 should serve as powerful tools for the construction of a safe bioconversion system for baicalin. In addition, we propose that this novel type of GUS forms a new group in subfamily 3 of GH family 30.
Increased nuclear ?-catenin expression in oral potentially malignant lesions: A marker of epithelial dysplasia

Background Deregulation of ? -catenin is associated with malignant transformation; however, its relationship with potentially malignant and malignant oral processes is not fully understood. The aim of this study was to determine and compare the nuclear ? -catenin expression in oral dysplasia and oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). Material and Methods Cross sectional study. Immunodetection of ? -catenin was performed on 72 samples, with the following distribution: 21 mild dysplasia, 12 moderate dysplasia, severe dysplasia 3, 36 OSCC including 19 well differentiated, 15 moderately differentiated and 2 poorly differentiated. Through microscopic observation the number of positive cells per 1000 epithelial cells was counted. For the statistical analysis, the Kruskal Wallis test was used. Results Nuclear expression of ? -catenin was observed in all samples with severe and moderate dysplasia, with a median of 267.5, in comparison to mild dysplasia whose median was 103.75. Only 10 samples (27.7%) with OSCC showed nuclear expression, with statistically significant differences between groups (p < 0.05). Conclusions Our results are consistent with most of the reports which show increased presence of ? -catenin in severe and moderate dysplasia compared to mild dysplasia; however the expression of nuclear ? -catenin decreased after starting the invasive neoplastic process. This suggests a role for this protein in the progression of dysplasia and early malignant transformation to OSCC. Immunodetection of ? -catenin could be a possible immune marker in the detection of oral dysplasia. Key words:Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), ? -catenin, oral dysplasia.
A 0.54 THz Signal Generator in 40 nm Bulk CMOS With 22 GHz Tuning Range and Integrated Planar Antenna

This work presents the design and measurements of a 0.54 THz signal generator implemented in a 40 nm bulk CMOS technology. An LC-VCO operating at 180 GHz is connected to a nonlinear buffer, which is designed to generate the wanted third harmonic at 540 GHz. The third harmonic is coupled via a transformer to the output. The developed techniques are implemented on two different chips: one with a probe pad for on-wafer measurements and one with an on-chip planar dipole. The measured peak output power using a WR-1.5 probe is -31 dBm at 543 GHz, for 16.8 mW of dc power consumption. By changing value of the parasitic I-MOS varactors of the LC-VCO (“parasitic tuning”), the output frequency can be tuned from 561.5 to 539.6 GHz, resulting in a 21.9 GHz tuning range, which is the highest reported so far for CMOS THz oscillators. The 3-dB output bandwidth is 5.5 GHz. The 540 GHz signal generator with on-chip antenna is used for THz imaging without the use of substrate or focusing lenses, demonstrating some of the capabilities of CMOS for low-cost, mass-produced THz imagers.
An efficient algorithm for adaptive cell sectoring in CDMA systems

Cell sectorization is a promising method for improving the capacity of code division multiple access (CDMA) systems. It has been shown that the use of adaptive antenna arrays with dynamic cell sectoring is particularly suitable for non-uniformly distributed users. In this paper, we present a novel cluster-based sectoring algorithm for adaptive cell sectorization. The complexity of our algorithms, and more important, in a high-density case, it does not depend on the number of users in a cell. Extensive simulations show that the performance of our solution is comparable to the optimal solutions.
Protein Kinase Activation and Protein Phosphorylation in Naegleria fowleri Amebae in Response to Normal Human Serum

Abstract Activation of signal transduction pathways in response to serum complement in Naegleria fowleri amebae was investigated. We examined the activation of protein kinases and changes in the phosphorylation state of proteins in N. fowleri stimulated by normal human serum (NHS). To determine differences in phosphorylation of proteins when amebae were exposed to NHS or heat inactivated serum (HIS) lacking complement, amebae were labeled with [32P] orthophosphate. An increase in phosphorylation of relatively low molecular weight proteins was noted in N. fowleri incubated in NHS with a concomitant decrease in phosphorylation of high molecular mass polypeptides. To investigate whether serine/threonine or tyrosine kinases were stimulated by NHS, amebae were treated with protein kinase inhibitors H7, staurosporine or genistein, prior to serum exposure and examined for susceptibility to complement. Treatment with each of these inhibitors resulted in increased complement lysis. Incubation of N. fowleri with genistein specifically inhibited tyrosine phosphorylation of proteins stimulated by NHS. A tyrosine kinase activity assay using exogenous polyGlu-Tyr substrate demonstrated differential activation of tyrosine kinases in amebae treated with NHS when compared to treatment with HIS. The results suggest that activation of protein kinases and subsequent protein phosphorylation are important in mediating complement resistance in N. fowleri.
Searching for the M Best Solutions in Graphical Models

The paper focuses on finding the m best solutions to combinatorial optimization problems using best-first or depth-first branch and bound search. Specifically, we present a new algorithm m-A*, extending the well-known A* to the m-best task, and for the first time prove that all its desirable properties, including soundness, completeness and optimal efficiency, are maintained. Since best-first algorithms require extensive memory, we also extend the memory-efficient depth-first branch and bound to the m-best task. We adapt both algorithms to optimization tasks over graphical models (e.g., Weighted CSP and MPE in Bayesian networks), provide complexity analysis and an empirical evaluation. Our experiments confirm theory that the best-first approach is largely superior when memory is available, but depth-first branch and bound is more robust. We also show that our algorithms are competitive with related schemes recently developed for the m-best task.
SRI Submissions to Chinese-English PatentMT NTCIR 10

The SRI team joined the subtask of Chinese-English Patent machine translation evaluation, and submitted the transla­ tion results using a combined output from two types of gram­ mars supported in SRlnterp, with two different word seg­ mentations. We investigated the effect of adding sparse fea­ tures, together with several optimization strategies. Also,for the PatentMT domain, we carried out preliminary experi­ ments on adapting language models. Our results showed positive improvements using these approaches.
Performance Analysis of Power Control Effects in Channel Estimation for AF Relaying Network

In this letter, we analyze the power control effects in a least-square (LS) channel estimation for an amplify-and-forward (AF) relaying network over frequency-selective fading channel. In particular, we analyze such effects through a mean-square-error (MSE) performance for relaying link signal-to-noise ratios (SNRs) between source-to-relay and source-to-destination. Finally, it is shown that the performance evaluations confirm the analysis results.
Enabling Low Power Listening on IEEE 802.15.4-Based Sensor Nodes

This paper discusses the limitations of implementing low power listening (LPL) on the contention-based IEEE 802.15. 4 MAC protocol, and proposes an implementation technique called virtual preamble cross-checking (VPCC), which enables LPL. The proposed technique uses the concept of virtual preamble and a cross-checking method to meet the requirements of the relationship between preamble length and listening interval. These methods lead to reliable data communication, as well as the reduction of the idle listening. We implemented the mechanism on IEEE 802.15. 4-compatible RF hardware and validated the performance. The experiment results show that increasing the listening interval within a tolerable latency can optimize the duty cycle of the RF transceiver for low power consumption.
The Sociology of Critical Capacity

This article argues that many situations in social life can be analyzed by their requirement for the justification of action. It is in particular in situations of dispute that a need arises to explicate the grounds on which responsibility for errors is distributed and on which new agreement can be reached. Since a plurality of mutually incompatible modes of justification exists, disputes can be understood as disagreements either about whether the accepted rule of justification has not been violated or about which mode of justification to apply at all. The article develops a grammar of such modes of justification, called orders of worth (grandeur), and argues that the human capacity for criticism becomes visible in the daily occurrence of disputes over criteria for justification. At the same time, it is underlined that not all social situations can be interpreted with the help of such a sense of justice, which resides on a notion of equivalence. Regimes of love, of violence or of familiarity are systematically distinct from regimes of justification.
Built-in self-test for signal integrity

Unacceptable loss of signal integrity may harm the functionality of SoCs permanently or intermittently. We propose a systematic approach to model and test signal integrity in deep-submicron highspeed interconnects. Various signal integrity problems occurring on such interconnects (e.g. crosstalk, overshoot, noise, skew, etc.) are considered in a unified model. We also present a test methodology that uses a noise detection circuitry to detect low integrity signals and an inexpensive test architecture to measure and read the statistics for final observation and analysis.
Tracing Emotion: An Overview

Computational research with continuous representations depends on obtaining continuous representations from human labellers. The main method used for that purpose is tracing. Tracing raises a range of challenging issues, both psychological and statistical. Naive assumptions about these issues are easy to make, and can lead to inappropriate requirements and uses. The natural function of traces is to capture perceived affect, and as such they belong in long traditions of research on both perception and emotion. Experiments on several types of material provide information about their characteristics, particularly the ratings on which people tend to agree. Disagreement is not necessarily a problem in the technique. It may correctly show that people's impressions of emotion diverge more than commonly thought. A new system, Gtrace, is designed to let rating studies capitalise on a decade of experience and address the research questions that are opened up by the data now available.
A Longitudinal Study of Interethnic Contacts in Germany: Estimates from a Multilevel Growth Curve Model

Interethnic ties are considered important for the cohesion in society. Previous research has studied the determinants of interethnic ties with cross-sectional data or lagged panel designs. This study improves on prior research by applying multilevel growth curve modelling techniques with lagged independent variables, which provide better estimates of causal relationships than methods previously applied. Longitudinal data are used from the German Socio-Economic Panel (GSOEP), covering a 15-year period. The study analyses within- and between-person differences in contacts with native Germans for Turkish, (ex)Yugoslav, Spanish, Italian and Greek immigrants in Germany. Immigrants who learn the German language and get employed are more likely to subsequently establish contacts with Germans. Furthermore, immigrants who intend to settle permanently in Germany develop more interethnic ties than those who intend to return. No evidence is found for investments in education. The multilevel growth curve models not only confirm some of the earlier established determinants, but also question the causal impact of others.
Is Science Persistence A Matter of Values?

This study investigates the hypothesis that congruence in value perspectives distinguishes science-able students who persist in science from those who do not (nonpersisters). A science values measure was administered to 173 undergraduates with high levels of commitment and ability in the sciences. On each of six hypothetical dilemmas from everyday science, respondents rated the importance of three justice and three care considerations for self and for science, using a Likert-type 7-point scale. A significant three way interaction involving sex, persistence, and point of view (self/science) emerged, with persisters generally demonstrating congruence between self and science on the value perspectives; female persisters, however, were more likely to combine justice and care perspectives than were males. Nonpersisters' self/science ratings of justice and care were sharply dissimilar, with females demonstrating the most incongruence. In all groups, justice was the prominent perspective attributed to science.
Economic inequality of the badli workers of Bangladesh: Contested entitlements and a ‘perpetually temporary’ life-world

This article discusses the experience of economic inequality of badli workers in the state-owned jute mills of the postcolonial state of Bangladesh, and how this inequality is constituted and perpetuated. Nominally appointed to fill posts during the temporary absence of permanent workers, the reality of badli workers’ employment is very different. They define themselves as ‘a different category of workers’, with limited economic entitlements. We undertake content analysis of the badli workers’ narratives to identify elements that they themselves consider constitute these economic entitlements. We consider their perceptions of discrimination and exclusion and explain how, in response to these feelings, they construct their survival strategy. From this, through the writings of Armatya Sen, we discuss the badli workers’ contextual experience and understanding of economic inequality in relation to extant theoretical understandings, seeking to contribute to the field and to empirical studies in the subaltern context.
We are musical

The challenge for music education is to nurture and develop each individual’s basic musicality. Assuming normal neurological functioning and development, we are all musical. Our musical development begins pre-birth, with musical behaviours in one form or another being evident across the lifespan. Nevertheless, early enculturation can both foster and hinder musical development and the realization of our musical potential. This means that we come to school having had a diverse range of musical experiences and, as a result, collectively demonstrate a continuum of skilled musical behaviours and attitudes to music. Consequently, the focus for music education should be to provide differentiated musical experiences that match the needs of each individual. This is exemplified in the nature of singing development and its significance in the emergence of our individual musical identity.
An SVD based zero watermarking scheme for authentication of medical images for tele-medicine applications

The proposed work presents a zero watermarking method for to solve the issue of medical image security for telemedicine, tele-radiology & tele-opthalmology applications. This method provides medical image security for tele-medicine application without tempering the medical image and no loss of clinical information. Local features in the Singular value decomposition (SVD) domain are used to generate a digital binary code (Master Share) for each fundus image. This master share is strategically combined with encrypted patient ID resulting into a secret share. At the diagnosis centre the patient ID can be accurately recovered by the authorized person only on access of the generated Secret Share. The proposed zero watermarking method is tested on the publically available DRIVE dataset of fundus image and results achieved are encouraging in the direction of medical image identification and verification. The proposed work can be used in telemedicine applications where perfect and loss-less identification is required for medical images as this has direct relevance to human life.
A New Fungal Isolate, Penidiella sp. Strain T9, Accumulates the Rare Earth Element Dysprosium

ABSTRACT With an aim to develop a highly efficient method for the recovery of rare earth elements (REEs) by using microorganisms, we attempted to isolate dysprosium (Dy)-accumulating microorganisms that grow under acidic conditions from environmental samples containing high concentrations of heavy metals. One acidophilic strain, T9, which was isolated from an abandoned mine, decreased the concentration of Dy in medium that contained 100 mg/liter Dy to 53 mg/liter Dy after 3 days of cultivation at pH 2.5. The Dy content in the cell pellet of the T9 strain was 910 μg/mg of dry cells. The T9 strain also accumulated other REEs. Based on the results of 28S-D1/D2 rRNA gene sequencing and morphological characterization, we designated this fungal strain Penidiella sp. T9. Bioaccumulation of Dy was observed on the cell surface of the T9 strain by elemental mapping using scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. Our results indicate that Penidiella sp. T9 has the potential to recover REEs such as Dy from mine drainage and industrial liquid waste under acidic conditions.
Serum response factor p67SRF is expressed and required during myogenic differentiation of both mouse C2 and rat L6 muscle cell lines

The 67-kD serum response factor (p67SRF) is a ubiquitous nuclear transcription factor that acts by direct binding to a consensus DNA sequence, the serum response element (SRE), present in the promoter region of numerous genes. Although p67SRF was initially implicated in the activation of mitogen-stimulated genes, the identification of a sequence similar to SRE, the CArG box motif, competent to interact with SRE binding factors in many muscle-specific genes, has led to speculation that, in addition to its function in cell proliferation, p67SRF may play a role in muscle differentiation. Indirect immunofluorescence using affinity-purified antibodies specifically directed against p67SRF reveals that this factor is constitutively expressed and localized in the nucleus of two skeletal muscle cell lines: rat L6 and mouse C2 myogenic cells during myogenic differentiation. This result was further confirmed through immunoblotting and Northern blot analysis. Furthermore, specific inhibition of p67SRF in vivo through microinjection of purified p67SRF antibodies prevented the myoblast-myotube transition and the expression of muscle-specific genes such as the protein troponin T. We further showed that anti-p67SRF injection also inhibited the expression of the myogenic factor myogenin, implying an early requirement for p67SRF in muscle differentiation. These results demonstrate that p67SRF is involved in the process of skeletal muscle differentiation. The potential action of p67SRF via CArG sequences is discussed.
A MAPK Cascade Downstream of ERECTA Receptor-Like Protein Kinase Regulates Arabidopsis Inflorescence Architecture by Promoting Localized Cell Proliferation[C][W]

Coordinated spatiotemporal-specific cell proliferation is critical to plant growth and development. This study demonstrates the function of a mitogen-activated protein kinase cascade downstream of the ERECTA receptor-like kinase in regulating localized cell proliferation, which determines the inflorescence architecture and size in Arabidopsis thaliana. Spatiotemporal-specific cell proliferation and cell differentiation are critical to the formation of normal tissues, organs, and organisms. The highly coordinated cell differentiation and proliferation events illustrate the importance of cell–cell communication during growth and development. In Arabidopsis thaliana, ERECTA (ER), a receptor-like protein kinase, plays important roles in promoting localized cell proliferation, which determines inflorescence architecture, organ shape, and size. However, the downstream signaling components remain unidentified. Here, we report a mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK; or MPK) cascade that functions downstream of ER in regulating localized cell proliferation. Similar to an er mutant, loss of function of MPK3/MPK6 or their upstream MAPK kinases (MAPKKs; or MKKs), MKK4/MKK5, resulted in shortened pedicels and clustered inflorescences. Epistasis analysis demonstrated that the gain of function of MKK4 and MKK5 transgenes could rescue the loss-of-function er mutant phenotype at both morphological and cellular levels, suggesting that the MPK3/MPK6 cascade functions downstream of the ER receptor. Furthermore, YODA (YDA), a MAPKK kinase, was shown to be upstream of MKK4/MKK5 and downstream of ER in regulating inflorescence architecture based on both gain- and loss-of-function data. Taken together, these results suggest that the YDA-MKK4/MKK5-MPK3/MPK6 cascade functions downstream of the ER receptor in regulating localized cell proliferation, which further shapes the morphology of plant organs.
Failures of Explanation in Darwinian Ecological Anthropology: Part II

Eric Alden Smith and Bruce Winterhalder, eds., Evolutionary Ecology and Human Behavior. Aldine de Gruyter, New York, 1992. Pp. xv, 470, tables, boxes, figures, bibliography, author index, subject index, $59.95 (cloth), $29.95 (paper).
A miniature UWB planar monopole antenna with 5-GHz band-rejection filter and the time-domain characteristics

A planar monopole antenna with a staircase shape and small volume (25times26times1 mm3) is proposed in this paper. With the use of a half-bowtie radiating element, the staircase-shape, and a modified ground plane structure, the proposed antenna has a very wide impedance bandwidth measured at about 11.6 GHz (2.9-14.5 GHz, bandwidth ratio about 1:5) below VSWR 2 including the WLAN band notched in the vicinity of 5 GHz. An omnidirectional radiation pattern is obtained. The group delay which is an indication of linearity between two proposed antennas is less than 1 ns. The electrical characteristics in terms of frequency and time domains and physical ones of the proposed antenna make it attractive for use in ultrawideband (UWB) systems